Updated: 2 days ago
Would you consider mentoring me?
Isn't that one of the most nerve-wracking questions a Christian woman could
another woman?! ask
OR... is it the scariest question
to be asked??
Growing up in the church, I was significantly blessed to experience the guidance of godly men and women, as they taught me Sunday school, Pioneer girls, took us on mission trips, and equipped us for ministry through youth ministry teams and summer camp.
In my university days, I moved, found a new church in the city and came across Christian books that imparted truth to my life. Then, marriage, and a move to Africa, found me sitting under amazing leaders and teammates, who encouraged my theology and guided the practical challenges of crossing cultures.
As I thought about all the people who played a deeply treasured role in my growth and development, I discovered a list that held many names.
These relationships represent connectedness, a fertilizer for the season, to nourish, strengthen, and lead me, through seasons of need, drought and uncertainty.
As I have been poured into by others, it is my own joy and privilege to share in the journey of others; being blessed with opportunities to walk alongside a younger woman, to hear her story, to encourage her heart and invite conversation that leads us to Jesus. You might think that the mentor is the one who does all the blessing, but I have found that these women have made a big impact on my life, in how they have persevered, demonstrated resolve, and sought Jesus through tough times; they model the Gospel to me.
But, moving back to the question, I think many women in the church fear this question, this endeavour of mentoring. Some of it, I think, is related to fears:
what will I say? what will I do? Sometimes the nervousness is related to insecurities, as if there is a 'good enough' model to reach before we are qualified to mentor. Perhaps there's also a fear that entering into a mentoring relationship is a lifelong commitment.
This is where
"Growing Together" comes in. Written by Melissa Kruger, the purpose of this book is to provide "a hands-on tool that a mentor and mentee can use together as a springboard for mentoring discussions."
She encourages us in the first two chapters of the importance of the mentoring relationship, and to clarify the expectations of what times together look like.
The next 9 chapters highlight different topics of Christian living, such as church, prayer, family and, temptations, to facilitate the conversation between the mentor and mentee. At the end of each chapter, you'll find a handful of questions that you can discuss, with the added challenge of considering an area of change.
In a nutshell, this resource will guide you to mentor another young woman, providing conversation starters and accountability. Yes, you will need to play your part, but no longer is there a reason to feel lost or an excuse that you don't know how!
I give it 5 stars. This is a great resource for all Christian women! I say
all to remind us that we all are exhorted to mentor. It's not a responsibility for the 'gifted' or the 'mature' it is for the regular women who follow Jesus, like you and me.
I lovingly challenge you to buy
two copies of this book and ask the Lord who you can share this journey with! **Thank you to Crossway for the complimentary copy of this book and the opportunity to post an honest review!


Boy Voice and Choice (2019-20)
As technology and information rapidly change, so too do the challenges our students encounter. How do we as educators encourage them to boldly and creatively adapt to these challenges? I believe the answer is to develop agency within our students by highlighting for them the value of their voices and ideas in contributing to solutions.


Strong partnership working in Cheshire West and Chester has been praised by Ofsted and other inspectorates in a Joint Targeted Area Inspection focusing on neglect.
Ofsted, HMI Probation, HMI Constabulary, Fire and Rescue Services and The Care Commission found Cheshire West and Chester had a “clear and collective commitment” to improving responses to children who suffer neglect.
“Collaborative and well-coordinated work at a strategic level to address neglect has been in place for some time and the impact is evident in effective partnership working at an operational level,” said the report. “This is resulting in many children receiving a timely and appropriate response to reduce risk and the impact of neglect.”
Many professionals in CWAC receive good-quality supervision and have access to a range of training on neglect, the report finds. A wide range of agencies are involved in LSCB audits and the findings are widely disseminated across partner agencies, leading to improvements in practice.
Other key strengths highlighted include:
There is clear evidence, across many partners, of approaches that support the early identification of neglect. The large majority of referrals where risks to children suffering neglect are first identified are dealt with in a timely manner. Social work assessments include appropriate input from a range of agencies, the identification of key risks and protective factors, and a clear rationale for the outcome. The LSCB and the local authority have worked collaboratively to develop a suite of neglect indicators. Senior managers in children’s social care have developed an environment where social workers can provide a high-quality service to children and their families. The local authority demonstrates its commitment to children and families through significant investment in staff to ensure a well-qualified and skilled workforce
“There is strong and very effective leadership in children’s social care, and a clear approach to developing innovative and child-focused practice to support children living with neglect,” the report added.
The report highlighted that there are a number of further ways in which systems for accessing information and communicating information between agencies could be improved in the early stages of the identification of risk of neglect to children. In addition, the outcome of early help assessments is not routinely shared with probation services.
“A key area for improvement is the timeliness and rigour of evaluating the progress of multi-agency work to reduce risk and the impact of neglect on children. In a small number of cases, there was drift and delay in ensuring that the plans to reduce neglect were making sufficient progress and meeting children’s needs,” the report added.
Inspectors also noted that there is no data or performance management information relating to neglect held in the police protection unit and this would assist the force to understand performance, demand, resource allocation and impact on outcomes for children and young people.
The report concluded that the director of children’s services should now prepare a written statement of proposed action, responding to the findings outlined in the report.


MENAP and the rise of person-centric measurement not audience measurement
Abstract:
With the advent of more robust digital platforms, marketing is moving from audience- and channel-based planning, to person-centric marketing. With this shift in focus, tools to quantify and analyse the behaviours at the individual level are required. However, previous research shows that consumers, when compared by age or gender, have fundamentally different media behaviours. These differences are critical to marketers who aim to tailor their plans and ensure their target audience receives the right messages, via the right touchpoints, at the right time. This presentation will highlight how, by using data capture and processing technologies, insights can be utilised to provide a complete picture of the complex cross-screen, cross-device behaviours of today's digital consumer.
Video This could also be of interest


Tea Board has invited Expression of Interest (EOI) for the proposed crop insurance scheme for small growers in which National Insurance Company has emerged as the sole bidder. The Tea Board had relaxed some terms in the crop insurance scheme following very poor response to the first round of bidding in November 2016. The cover would come into force when the loss is 15% as against the earlier 10%.Several Insurers dropped out of the race leaving the State owned firm as the lone bidder. In the initial rounds several private sector companies had participated. After internal consultations and a nod from Tea Board chief Santosh Sarangi, it was decided to proceed with a single bidder as it was a PSU and open the financial bid (the premium that would have to be paid). A pilot would be run in three districts in Assam (Golaghat), West Bengal (Jalpaiguri) and Tamil Nadu (Conoor) for one crop cycle spread over two years commencing 2016-17 and covering 57,355 small growers. At the ratio of 75:15:10 the cost is to be shared between the centre,the State Governments and the growers. The scheme for tea — Revenue Insurance Scheme for Plantation Sector for Tea — aims to protect growers from the risks of yield loss due to adverse weather and income loss due to falling prices. The emerging force in the Indian tea Industry is now the small tea growers which accounts for more than 35% of the output. Due to hailstorms,excess rainfall and pest attacks,several crops has been damaged and this is witnessed by small tea growers.


Chancellor
Rishi Sunak has hailed the commencing of ‘a new chapter’ for the UK’s financial sector following Brexit.
Describing it as one of the UK’s ‘most innovative sectors’, the UK government underlined that legislation and decisions will be led by what is best for the sector.
As well as this, he also outlined a new invigorated focus on digital currency, with the issuing of the UK’s Sovereign Green Bond, becoming the first country in the world to make TCFD-aligned disclosures mandatory, reviewing the UK’s listings regime to attract the most innovative firms, and leading the global conversation on new technologies like stablecoins and Central Bank Digital Currencies.
Sunak stated: “We are starting a new chapter in the history of financial services and renewing the UK’s position as the world’s pre-eminent financial centre. By taking as many equivalence decisions as we can in the absence of clarity from the EU, we’re doing what’s right for the UK and providing firms with certainty and stability.
“Our plans will ensure the UK moves forward as an open, attractive and well-regulated market, and continues to lead the world in pioneering new technologies and shifting finance towards a net zero future.”
Sunak is seeking to strengthen the UK’s position as a frontrunner in terms of the financial sector and specifically within financial tech.
With fresh advancements in new technologies such as stablecoins – privately-issued digital currencies – potentially transforming the way people store and exchange their money, making payments cheaper and faster.
To harness the potential benefits of stablecoins, whilst managing risks to consumers and financial stability, the Government will propose a regulatory approach for relevant stablecoin initiatives that ensures they meet the same minimum standards we expect of other payment methods.
Furthermore, the prevalence and significance of digital currency has been further grown as commerce and the economy has endured the turbulence of the coronavirus pandemic. It has led to less cash-carrying and far more reliance and desire to embrace digital currency and transactions.


Abstract
The electronic properties of two-dimensional (2D) materials, like graphene, are of considerable fundamental interest. This paper describes how physically adsorbed films probe these properties. The cases of an ideal 2D free electron gas and graphene are examined, with explicit results found for an adsorbed He film. In the free electron case, the scattering is proportional to the 2D structure factor of the film. Results are presented for He on graphene and the free electron gas in both the low coverage and fully commensurate limits.
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics Materials Science(all) Condensed Matter Physics


Leading change through a clear and compelling vision, rather than forcing, controlling or problem solving is the Transformational Leadership Principle upon which we base our work. All though this strategy works, it is not often used.
Every solution or skill set we utilize is different depending on what your needs are, what your budget is and what your willingness is to engage in this transformational process.
This is where total transformation occurs; leaders emerge and the status quo is challenged. Successful individuals and organizations are strengthened and propelled forward as teams unite under a common mindset, language and vision. We provide the tools and expertise that enable Transformational Leadership to occur every day.
Leading Change is a leadership development program that supports participants in their transformation to becoming a leader, and teaches participants how to deliberately access and shift into a state of leadership.
This management training course is designed to transform your ability to engage others by moving you from a command-and-control model of communication to one of collaboration and accountability.
A coach engages and facilitates focused dialogue, challenges, inquires, cajoles, inspires, provokes, offers support, and collaborates with their clients on business issues and goals, while focusing on the personal development of the client.


When I flew into the airport and saw the palm trees, they looked like home, but odd, almost artificial, pseudo-tropical — they weren’t pines.
I had spent the morning driving through Montana’s rolling hills, ogling the lovely farms, the sparklingly clear rivers, the pines wandering along the rivers, the pines strolling up into the hills.
But now I was back home. As we drove from the airport, into San Diego, I still had a smile on my face.
I love airplanes, I love travel, I love cities — their museums and restaurants –and I am smitten with hills, rives and pines. New places change how we see, allowing us the luxury of contextualizing love — and beauty. I love a new place, anchored in eating, sleeping, wandering, exploring, fishing, hiking, slouching and smooching.
It brings up the question, how does one enjoy life? How does one really mouth it, chew it, savor it, kiss it, dive down deep into the cold, clear, refreshing liquid-rush of it?
By sloshing in it!
In Montana, on the Blackfoot River, I stood stiff-legged in the front of the boat, locking my leg into the curved plastic of the hull and cast my dry fly to the right bank. The boat sloshed, I rocked back and forth, Matt yelled “Mend,” I did, and an eighteen inch Cutthroat trout boiled to the surface, took my fly right off the top of the boiling water, and dove.
I reared back on the fly rod, it bent toward the water, and the Cutthroat took off like crazy toward the far bank. Beautiful! Thrilling! Perfect!
That night when we got off the river my back hurt like crazy. It didn’t matter. I had sloshed in it, in the river, in life. I had done what it takes to receive the beauty. I had placed myself in a posture to receive.
This is how you do it, but something else is required too.
You have to prep like crazy!
For the last year before my Montana trip, I had worked like crazy at my job, and made and saved the money to go. And then I had thought and planned and talked and arranged. I had practiced with my fly rod on my front driveway, casting to imaginary fish in a concrete river. I had made an arrangement with my friend, I had paid my money, I had made the long trip, I had hired the skilled guide, had gotten in the boat, cast the rod and I had mended the line.
It takes an effort to enjoy life, and sometimes some pre-work. But when you do that, you get it — some pleasure, a Cutthroat trout, some loveliness, a bit of the gorgeous whip and womp and woof of the wonders.
That day, as we rocked down the river, we watched a bald eagle soar overhead, perused a black bear as it wandered along the bank, peered at a herd of elk on a far hill and watched Mayflies dance in a tall, white column above the river.
We were immersed in the Blackfoot and the ecosystem of the Backfoot — the sparkly white, rapids, the bumpy, rocky bottom, the cool rain that spotted our coats and brought a fresh, damp fragrance to our senses, the deep fish-filled water along the banks — the gorgeous speckled shinning rainbow trout, brown trout and Cutthroat Trout that we caught and released that day.
This is how you do it, how you enjoy it.
Life is so good, from time-to-time, and we can enjoy it, the columns of Mayflies, and then again, the churning fish-filled rivers, when we get a chance, the lovely pines, if we put ourselves out in it — the soaking rain — and do the work, and make a choice to get up and get out, and slosh in it.


ALDHAHERI 2
MajedAldhaheri
COM122NNS#3
Dr.Lindsey Ives
09.22.2015
AcademicWriting Development Strange Lands
Masteryof a new language is very complex. According to McCarthy, academicwriting development is contextual. This means that individuals learnhow to write within an academic community discourse by learning theprinciples and rules that guide communication in that particulardiscourse. Thus, transiting from one academic discourse to another islike to get into a strange land. This paper supports McCarthyargument that entering a new academic discourse community andperfecting its written language is like learning a language in aforeign country.
McCarthyargues that languages processes and speaking is largely influenced bythe social and cultural contexts in which they occur. Use of languageoccurs within a special community and aims at achieving a meaningfulsocial function. As a result, people within the same social contexthave similar ‘ways of speaking’. This is because the social andcultural context defines the acceptable linguistic and intellectualprinciples that govern speaking and social communication. The abilityto perfectly use these rules, largely unconsciously, results intocommunication competence. Similarly, communication through writtenmeans takes place within a particular community discourse. Effectivewriters put into consideration the details that are important for themembers of a specific community discourse. Based on thatunderstanding, McCarthy argues that when a student enters aparticular academic discourse community, they learn the rules andprinciples of communication in a similar way an individual learnswhen entering a foreign country (McCarthy, 234). Cultural factorshave a huge impact on communication. For example, cultures define howan individual addresses an elder or a senior person. Culture alsoinfluences other essentials of communication such as eye contacts andfacial expressions. The principles that guide communication within aparticular community discourse are learned progressively over time.
Aslearners advance from one level of study to the next, they master theprinciples and rules of communication that are acceptable within thatacademic discourse. The mastery of these principles and thus thewriting competence is evaluated based on the standards within thecommunity discourse. It is essential to note that even innon-academic writing there are complex norms and principles thatmust be learned, both tacit and explicit, for a writer to besuccessful within that discourse. Learning how to write within aparticular academic discourse can be compared to learning a newlanguage within a new cultural and linguistic background. Writing inthe academic discourse involves the teacher and the learner as wellas other essentials such as the subject matter, sequence of actionsand learning activities, and the structure of the task. Additionally,the academic discourse is not viewed from the school context, butrather from the professional conventions in that discipline andintellectual norms. As learners progress in their academic andprofessional life, the overlapping principles of academic writinginfluence the way students think, write and interact with theirteachers and other students ((McCarthy, 235). Progressively, thisbuilds the notion of what it means to be a nurse, a literary critic,psychologists, a scientist or a member of any other profession.
Inconclusion, in the same way learning how to speak takes place in aparticular context and is influenced by communication norms andprinciples, academic writing also occurs within a particular context.Therefore, learning the communication norms in a foreign country canbe used to understand how individuals learn how to write effectivelyin a new academic discourse. In the same way individuals perfect anew language in the cultural context progressively, learners alsolearn how to write in an academic context progressively.
WorkCited
McCarthy,Lucille Parkinson. "A Stranger in Strange Lands: A CollegeStudent Writing Across the Curriculum",
Researchin the Teaching of English,21(3) (Oct., 1987), p 233-265.


Process bottlenecks had led to significant delivery delays and cost overruns at the Singapore MRO plant of a leading aerospace manufacturing company with global service operations.
The client chose Infosys as their partner to address the challenges of delayed production, high costs and low productivity. Infosys’ initial assessment enabled an end-to-end connected factory solution, from selecting the right sensors to ensuring the right data elements were available for downstream intervention.
Key Challenges Ready to experience? OEE and condition monitoring for shop floor machines Production cost optimization through intelligent scheduling Energy and Waste Management
Enabled schedule adherence and cost optimization
Production visibility increased from 2 days to 21 days
Customer delivery adherence increased by 5% in the first six months
Operational effectiveness efficiency (OEE) increased from 57% to 70%
Reduced revenue hours per par, from 0.80 hours to 0.75 hours, in the first 12 months
~10% decrease in solid and liquid waste from machines


All honey is yummy, but raw buckwheat honey is extra special. Registered dietician Ashley Koff describes this delicious product in this video.
Raw buckwheat honey isn't just a sweet treat. In this video, integrative medicine specialist Tasneem Bhatia, MD, explains how it can fight a common illness.
Continue Learning about Dietary Supplements
Important: This content reflects information from various individuals and organizations and may offer alternative or opposing points of view. It should not be used for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. As always, you should consult with your healthcare provider about your specific health needs.


Recently, a past client came to our offices asking, “How often can I file for bankruptcy?” Some may find this surprising. We may not see it on Wall Street, but the U.S. economy has struggled for a long time. So, it is not uncommon for a person to go through cycles of doing well, only to have their rug pulled from under them. While at one time multiple bankruptcies in a lifetime were unheard of, today it is not surprising. Nevertheless, the law does place some limits on filing multiple bankruptcies.
1.
Filing a Chapter 7 after a Chapter 7 – If a Chapter 7 bankruptcy resulted in a discharge, you must wait eight years from the date you filed last to then file Chapter 7 again.
2.
Filing a Chapter 13 after a Chapter 13 – If a discharge of debts occurred with a Chapter 13, you cannot receive another Chapter 13 discharge until after two years of the first filing.
3.
Filing a Chapter 7 after a Chapter 13 – If the initial discharge came due to a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, you are not eligible for a Chapter 13 for at least four years.
4.
Filing a Chapter 13 after a Chapter 7 – Here, you must wait six years from the date of the first filing before a succeeding Chapter 7 petition. However, this does not apply if all the unsecured debts are paid or if you paid 70 percent of the unsecured debt and the court determines you gave your best effort to a plan proposed in good faith.
Regardless, there are some additional restrictions. The court may obstruct you from filing another case for a particular time. Typically, this occurs if the initial petition was dismissed with prejudice. In many cases, it is typically a 180-day bar because either you failed to obey the court’s order or they believe you are in some way abusing the bankruptcy system.
Do you have questions? Please contact us if you would like to talk about the limits on filing multiple bankruptcies.
Can a Bankruptcy Discharge be Denied? - July 30, 2018 Why Filing Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Could be a Mistake - June 28, 2018 Discover If Bankruptcy Can Be a Blessing in Disguise - May 30, 2018


Oral arguments can be challenging for many lawyers, even under the best of circumstances. Add the challenge of remote communication...Read more
If anything is constant in today’s immigration landscape, it is that change is consistently happening. September has been no different...Read more
Cannabidiol. Tetrahydrocannabinol. These are the scientific terms for the compounds found in hemp and marijuana, respectively (thank goodness for acronyms)....Read more


A positive outcome of the stay at home time has been a resurgence in bicycle riding.
Are you trying to teach your child to ride so they can enjoy the thrills of bike riding too? For a child, a bicycle represents freedom.
The ability to get out and about on their own is a significant step in a child’s self-development. It is often a big element for their social development too.
Being able to ride a bike means the freedom to:
go out to explore rendezvous with friends exercise be independent.


A growth function was developed for describing the progression of shoot elongation over time. While existing functions, such as the logistic function or Richards function, can be fitted to most sigmoid data, we observed situations where distinct lag, linear, and saturation phases were observed but not well represented by these traditional functions. A function was developed that explicitly models three phases of growth as a curvilinear (exponential) phase, followed by a linear phase, and terminating in a saturation phase. This function was found to be as flexible as the Richards function and can be used for virtually any sigmoid data. The model behavior was an improvement over the Richards function in cases where distinct transitions between the three growth phases are evident. The model also lends itself well to simulation of growth using the differential equation approximation for the function.
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NATIONAL AMERICAN BEER DAY
National American Beer Day raises a glass to the rich American beermaking history and those who savor the continued traditions. Pour your favorite pint with millions who enjoy the storied brews across the nation.
U.S. Brewing History
Brewing beer in America begins long before Europeans arrived since Native Americans brewed beer from various ingredients. They used corn, birch sap, and water to ferment their beverage. When the first colonists arrived in Virginia, they began combining their brewing traditions with the supplies at hand – that included corn, too. Since then, brewing and brewers became a principal occupation in the colonies. Interestingly, the first white child born in Manhattan grew up to be the first brewer born in America.
Today, the brewery established by David G. Yuengling is the oldest producing brewery in the United States. He established the Eagle Brewery in 1829. Amazingly, the brewery remains in the family to this day.
Unlike most other breweries of the time, the Eagle Brewery survived Prohibition. In fact, very few survived. Those that did survive tried various legal and illegal tactics. In Eagle Brewery’s case, they reduced their alcohol content to within the legal limit. They also branched out. Ice cream, anyone? Yes, the Yuengling’s started a dairy. Others turned their beermaking supplies into other products. When prohibition lifted, they returned to full-fledged beermaking.
Despite these efforts, nearly every brewer existing before prohibition dissolved. Out of just over 1,300 brewers, only about 100 remained after prohibition. Today, we recognize the names of many of those surviving breweries.
The skill of a brewer requires years of practice in the trade. It’s revered even. In Milwaukee, their professional baseball team is named after the brewer. In St. Louis and Denver, the stadiums are named after prominent brewers.
More than 2,100 breweries are manufacturing beer in the United States. They range in size from industry giants to brewpubs and microbreweries.
American Beer Facts The U.S. produced 196 million barrels of beer in 2009. Americans consume roughly 20 US gallons of beer per capita annually. In 2008, the United States ranked sixteenth in the world in per capita consumption. However, total consumption was second only to China. After Congress repealed prohibition, the industry consolidated into a small number of large-scale breweries. The majority of the new breweries in the U.S. are small breweries and brewpubs. As members of the Brewers Association, they are termed “craft breweries” to differentiate them from the larger and older breweries. Larger breweries most commonly produce the American lager. However, smaller breweries (many founded in the 1980s) produce a range of styles. Beer styles originating in the United States include: American pale ale Pennsylvania porter American IPA steam beer amber ale cream ale Cascadian dark ale. HOW TO OBSERVE #AmericanBeerDay
Enjoy your favorite American Beer. Invite a friend or two to join you. While you’re at it, try something different. American beers offer a variety of options to choose from. Do you have a favorite brewery? Give them a shout out, too! The brewmaster deserves to be recognized. Tour a brewery to learn more. While you’re there, try a sample or two.
Now, beer also holds great influence. If you didn’t know that, read about 5 Surprising Ways Beer Changed the World. Remember, always drink responsibly and never drink and drive.


After four years of deliberation and analysis, the Portland City Council adopted the Residential Infill Project (RIP) on August 12, 2020. According to the City, RIP legislation is intended to increase housing opportunities by opening up the types of dwelling units that can be constructed in residential zones that have historically not allowed them, namely those zones that allow primarily single-family residential units. Under RIP, triplexes, fourplexes, sixplexes and cottage clusters will now be allowed in many single-family residential zones they were not allowed in before. Maximum dwelling size has been reduced from approximately 6500 square feet for a single-family unit to 2500 square feet, based on the floor area ratio allowed for a typical 5,000 square foot lot in the R-5 zone. Off-street parking to accommodate the additional density has been made optional.
The legislation has been controversial, which is primarily why it has been under review since 2016. Critics state that it unnecessarily disrupts established neighborhoods, will lead to too much density, and exacerbates a lack of parking. RIP was adopted with only Commissioner Amanda Fritz voting “no,” because, in part, the increased density is not being funnelled to areas with supportive transit.


COVID-19 Testing Labs: Beware of the EKRA Law
With demand increasing for widespread COVID-19 testing, clinical laboratories processing COVID-19 tests must be diligent in ensuring that their marketing and compensation arrangements comply with the Eliminating Kickbacks in Recovery Act (EKRA).
Since the risk of fraud and abuse has increased during the pandemic, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has asked that all U.S. Attorney Generals work closely with their community to detect, deter, and punish those who seek to profit off the public’s fears during COVID-19. The federal Anti-Kickback Statute (AKS) has been predominantly used in recent cases of fraud from the DOJ, but now they are beginning to employ EKRA (18 U.S.C. § 220) to combat fraud as well.
The current enforcement climate increases the chances that the government will turn to EKRA as a prominent enforcement tool. EKRA was enacted by Congress in 2018 to stop patient brokering and kickbacks among treatment centers and testing labs involved in opioid treatment. However, the law broadly applies to all laboratories, not just those that perform testing related to substance abuse. Because of this broad application, it is imperative that all laboratories—including COVID-19 lab companies—understand EKRA and how to comply with its regulations.
What is the EKRA Law?
Enacted as part of a larger federal legislative initiative aimed at addressing the opioid crisis, the EKRA law prohibits recovery homes, clinical treatment facilities, and laboratories from accepting or paying kickbacks for referrals.
Under EKRA, it is a federal crime to knowingly and willfully do the following:
● (1) solicit or receive any remuneration (including kickbacks, bribes, or rebates) directly, or overtly in return for referring a patient to a recovery home, clinical treatment facility, or laboratory; or
● (2) pay or offer any remuneration either to induce a referral or in exchange for an individual using the services of a recovery home, clinical treatment, or laboratory.
Those that engage in these activities face serious punishment. Breaking the EKRA law can result in fines of not more than $200,000, imprisonment of no more than 10 years, or both for each occurrence.
EKRA and COVID-19 Testing Labs
While laboratories scramble to meet the nation’s demand for COVID-19 testing—playing a critical role in the diagnosis and treatment of coronavirus—they must simultaneously remain diligent in their compliance efforts. Testing labs should evaluate their compensation structures, particularly for marketing or sales staff. EKRA includes exceptions for payments to employees but the parameters are, in some cases, applied more stringently than the safe harbors defined by the AKS. “AKS allows any payments to an employee as long the employment relationship is clearly defined,” says Managing Shareholder and health law expert Trey Hendershot. “EKRA exceptions, however, are more narrowly defined. Under EKRA, payments to employees that vary based on tests performed or payments received, for example, are prohibited.”
COVID-19 testing labs should also review financial arrangements with referral sources and related to patient copay and coinsurance waivers. Similarly, physicians or physician practices referring patients for testing should review their financial arrangements with medical labs since the law applies to parties on both sides of the prohibited arrangement (both the solicitor and the receiver of prohibited referral or inducement fees).
Laboratories are not immune from federal prosecution even if testing services are not being reimbursed through federal health care programs, or if they are even being reimbursed at all.
Because the government has directed substantial funds to assist in testing, especially for clinical laboratories testing for COVID-19, DOJ will be more involved in ensuring that fraud is not taking place. Keeping a close eye on current protocol means labs can quickly identify whether they are participating in any noncompliant matters, and work to remediate their practices to ensure compliance.
Need assistance with ensuring your COVID-19 testing lab is EKRA compliant? Call Hendershot Cowart P.C. today at (713) 909-7323 to discuss how our Houston health law attorneys can help you. Categories:


All News
An ORNL-led team's observation of certain crystalline ice phases challenges accepted theories about super-cooled water and non-crystalline ice. Their findings, reported in the journal
Nature, will also lead to better understanding of ice and its various phases found on other planets, moons and elsewhere in space.
OAK RIDGE, Tenn., March 20, 2019—Direct observations of the structure and catalytic mechanism of a prototypical kinase enzyme—protein kinase A or PKA—will provide researchers and drug developers with significantly enhanced abilities to understand and treat fatal diseases and neurological disorders such as cancer, diabetes, and cystic fibrosis.
As the rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria known as superbugs threatens public health, Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s Shuo Qian and Veerendra Sharma from the Bhaba Atomic Research Centre in India are using neutron scattering to study how an antibacterial peptide interacts with and fights harmful bacteria.


Melanoma diagnosis can be done by a physical examination. During the exam, your dermatologist will examine your skin looking for lesions that can indicate melanoma. Your dermatologist may suspect melanoma based on the appearance of the lesion. In some cases, he can complete the exam by a dermatoscopic analysis, analysis of the skin lesion with a specific microscope.
However, to confirm the diagnosis, a biopsy is necessary. Your physician will remove samples from the suspect lesion (biopsy) for laboratory analysis. This histological examination is essential to accurately confirm that you have melanoma. Besides the confirmation of the disease, biopsy can also you’re your doctor measure the exact deepness or thickness of the lesion in your skin.


Civil Rights
Block on Trump's Asylum Ban Upheld by Supreme Court
If a prospective tenant asks, "Do you accept Section 8?" how do you respond? Can you say no, or must you always say yes?
Some landlords like having Section 8 tenants because it's a guaranteed source of on-time rental income. However, others are wary of having to deal with Section 8 bureaucracy and would like to avoid it altogether.
Do landlords have a choice, or do they have to accept a Section 8 tenant?
What Is Section 8?
Section 8 of the Housing Act of 1937 created the Housing Choice Voucher Program. The program, more commonly known as Section 8, provides rent assistance to low income individuals.
Section 8 allows participants to pay up to 30 percent of their adjusted income for rent. Section 8 vouchers cover the rest of the rent amount.
When a Section 8 participant picks a unit to rent, Section 8 housing authority will inspect the rental unit for building and safety code compliance. Common requirements include having an alternate exit in case of fire, working locks on every door or window, safe electrical wiring, working plumbing, and a sufficient number of fire alarms. The housing authority must approve of the unit and the landlord before a landlord can accept Section 8 vouchers.
Section 8 Discrimination
Under the Housing Act, there is no provision requiring a landlord to accept Section 8 vouchers. However, some state and local Fair Housing laws, such as Chicago's Fair Housing Ordinance, do prohibit discrimination based on source of income.
If your city or state prohibits this type of discrimination, you cannot reject all Section 8 applicants outright. You cannot advertise "No Section 8 Accepted" or "Section 8 Do Not Apply." However, this does not mean you are required to accept every prospective tenant with a Section 8 voucher.
You must consider any prospective Section 8 tenant as you would any other tenant. You cannot make screening harder or charge higher rent. If you have multiple units in your building, you cannot limit Section 8 tenants to certain areas or floors of your building.
If you are considering participating in Section 8, consult with an experienced landlord-tenant attorney to learn more about the requirements in your area.
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Another phase of construction has reached completion on the University of British Columbia’s (UBC) Biological Sciences Centre, now formally known as the Undergraduate Life Sciences Teaching Laboratories.
The grand opening was held this week for the building at 6270 University Boulevard — located at the prominent southeast corner of the intersection of University Boulevard and Main Mall within the core of the campus.
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Over the last few years, sections of the aging structure were demolished. The 40-year-old north wing’s 59,000 sq. ft. of floor area was renovated, while 57,600 sq. ft. was renewed space, and 97,600 sq. ft. was an expansion as the result of a brand new four-storey east wing.
The complex of new and renovated buildings form a quadrangle, framing the new and expanded inner courtyard. A gateway entrance into the complex and courtyard from Martha Piper Plaza features a fully glazed cantilevered lounge and a sheltered wood soffit beneath the structure.
Exterior facade elements of the building feature a biophilic design inspired by the biosciences program, incorporating frit patterns on glazing modelled on stem cell image and natural details such as the patterns on dragonfly wings.
Additionally, new building systems that improve the complex’s energy efficiency could provide the project with a LEED Gold green building certification.
“Sustainable initiatives informed our design to create a highly functional and aesthetic environment for the Biosciences Complex, inspired by connections to nature and connections with the campus to reinforce the significant role of this facility at UBC,” said Donald Schmitt, principal of Diamond Schmitt Architects, in a statement.
This project effectively allows for the consolidation of all undergraduate life and biological sciences at the Vancouver campus into one complex, including botany, zoology, microbiology, immunology, physiological sciences, biochemistry, and molecular biology.
It has created modernized physical spaces for faculty and over 2,600 students in UBC‘s life-sciences programs, such as state-of-the-art and spacious teaching laboratories, and modern classrooms and study areas that enhance the potential for collaboration and hands-on learning.
The project carried a construction cost of $91.4 million, with $32.5 million provided by the federal government, $11.8 million from the provincial government, and $47.1 million from UBC.
UBC president and vice chancellor Santa Ono says the new and renovated facilities will allow the university to “attract leading life-sciences researchers and ensure our students are inspired to innovate and discover in exceptional learning facilities.”
Renovations to the original Biological Sciences Centre’s west and south wings were completed in 2011 at a cost of $61.8 million, bringing the entire cost of the complex’s multi-phase renovation and expansion to about $153 million.


There may be occasions where students’ academic, professional, and personal development goals are best served by pursuing independent work for a more customized opportunity to learn and grow.
MBA students have the chance to pursue an independent study in three ways for academic credit with guidance and approval from faculty and the MBA Program Office:
Current Students: Visit the MBA Project Consulting & Experiential Learning Canvas site in the electives section for detailed guidelines on establishing and executing an Independent Study, including the link to submit an application! Academic Independent Study
At times, students may be interested in pursuing a traditional academic course that is not offered at the University of Washington. Under these circumstances, students may secure a syllabus from an existing course at another university, complete the work outlined on the syllabus, and author a paper that critically evaluates the content domain of the course.
Research Independent Study
Students can explore a related topic of interest to a level of depth that suits their academic or professional objectives, creating a Harvard-style teaching case to illustrate the findings and propositions resulting from the research. The case can be based on a concept or a real organization.
Applied Independent Study
Students may engage a company or organization outside UW to address a real-world challenge or opportunity, applying their skills, experience, and critical thinking to execute the project through an interdisciplinary approach. Alternatively, students may execute design and implementation activities for their own startup company (e.g. business plan, go-to-market strategy, target operating model, etc.), using research, analysis, and critical thinking.


Asa Kasher and Amos Yadlin have recently argued for a revised principle of distinction under which states should prioritize the protection of their own soldiers over that of noncombatants in certain combat scenarios. The situations that they envision are those in which a state's army is forced to fight terrorists on terrain which is not under the state's effective control. Kasher dramatizes the argument that the soldiers' safety should be prioritized by setting up a hypothetical conversation between the state and a soldier who asks 'Why should my state prefer an enemy citizen over me?' Kasher challenges his readers to offer the soldier a morally compelling answer. This article responds to Kasher's challenge by presenting a dialogue in which a commander (representing the state) offers the soldier four arguments which together provide a convincing answer. The commander grounds his arguments in differences in the amount of choice exercised by soldiers and civilians, the divergent ways the operation can be expected to impact on them, the different obligations they each have to the state, and the likely consequences of emphasizing the safety of soldiers over civilians. The dialogue provides support for the 'double intention' reading of the principle of distinction championed by Michael Walzer.


The global furfural market was valued at US$ 416.97 Mn in 2017 and is anticipated to expand at a CAGR of 5.5% from 2018 to 2026, according to a new report titled ‘
Furfural Market: Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast, 2018–2026’ published by Transparency Market Research (TMR). Rise in demand for furfuryl alcohol is driving the global furfural market. Asia Pacific accounts for major share of the global furfural market, led by the increase in usage of furfural in the manufacture of furfuryl alcohol in the region.
Request A Sample – Substitution of Fossil Fuel Resources with Renewable Alternatives
Increase in concerns about the adverse effects of fossil resources has led to the need for replacement of these fuels with renewable alternatives. Of late, furfural has gained renewed attention as a potential platform for the production of biofuels and biochemicals. U.S. Department of Energy selected furfural as one of the top 30 platform chemicals that can be derived from biomass. Furfural possesses attractive thermosetting properties such as physical strength and corrosion resistance.
REQUEST FOR COVID19 IMPACT ANALYSIS –
Furfural is mainly manufactured from biomass. Furfural is less costly and abundantly available. The yield and production of furfural and its derivatives need to improve significantly for the chemical to compete with petroleum-based products. Companies have developed a new technology to produce furfural. This has led to better yield and lower steam consumption vis-à-vis the traditional process. The technology is anticipated to gain wide acceptance in the market in the near future. This is estimated to lower the cost of furfural in the next few years.
Rise in Demand for Furfuryl Alcohol
Furfuryl alcohol is a commonly derived chemical from furfural. It accounts for almost 80% of the total consumption of furfural. Furfuryl alcohol is the major ingredient in furan foundry binders. This reactive alcohol plays a vital role in the production of foundry sand binders. It has been extensively used to produce cores and molds for metal casting since more than 40 years.
Read our Case study at :
Large portion of furfuryl alcohol is purchased by foundry binder suppliers. The chemical possesses properties such as low viscosity, high reactivity, and excellent solvent characteristics. This has boosted its usage in other fields.
Furfuryl alcohol is employed in the production of abrasive wheels and adhesives based on urea–formaldehyde resins due to its wetting-dispersant property. It is also used in the production of tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol (THFA), which is employed as a solvent in the pharmaceutical industry. Furfuryl alcohol is primarily employed in the production of furan resins employed for foundry sand binders in the metal casting industry.
Currently, furfuryl alcohol is used widely in binders for traditional furan no-bake systems. In smaller quantities, it is employed in furan hot-box, warm-box, and gas-hardened processes. In its key application, i.e. the foundry sector, furfuryl alcohol competes primarily with phenol, the feedstock for phenolic resins. Thus, increase in demand for furfuryl alcohol in foundry applications is boosting the furfural market.
Inefficient Production Leading to Low Yield and High Product Price
Currently, furfural is commercially produced by any of the following major manufacturing processes: Quaker batch process, Chinese batch process, and Rosenlew continuous process. Modern commercial production processes are inefficient (25–35 t steam t−1 furfural) and also give low yield (<50 mol% of theoretical). The cost of running plants is high, as the yield from production processes is less than 50%. This results in high product price. The price of furfural needs to be low for it to achieve higher penetration in various end-user industries.
Production processes generate significant quantities of wastewater. This wastewater, which is contaminated with acetic acid and other organic compounds, is expensive to treat. Several China-based furfural plants are compelled to either treat their effluents or cease production.
Asia Pacific Dominates Global Furfural Market
In terms of demand, Asia Pacific is expected to hold dominant share of the furfural market during the forecast period. The furfural market in the region is anticipated to expand at a faster pace than that in other regions during the forecast period owing to the rise in consumption of furfural in foundry and chemical industries in the region. The furfural market in Middle East & Africa is anticipated to expand due to the rise in demand for furfural in the metal casting industry in the region.
Latin America, especially Brazil, is projected to be an emerging region of the global furfural market during the forecast period. The market in Europe and North America is estimated to expand at a substantial pace during the forecast period due to the presence of well-established fertilizer and chemical manufacturing industries in these regions.
High Degree of Competition among Established Players
Key players profiled in the report on the global furfural market include Pennakem, LLC, Central Romana Corporation, Silvateam S.P.A., Lenzing Group, Behran Oil Co., ILLOVO SUGAR (PTY) LTD, Aurus Specialty Company, Henan Huilong Chemical Co., Ltd., Shandong Crownchem Industries Co., Ltd., and Hebei Furan International Co., Ltd.


Abstract
PURPOSE: To report the response of acute Behcet retinitis to high-dose corticosteroids. METHOD: Case report. A 58-year-old man with Behcet disease and severe bilateral glaucoma experienced a sudden decrease of visual acuity to counting fingers in his (better-seeing) left eye. Examination disclosed hypopyon uveitis and an infiltrative retinitis threatening the fovea. He received intravenous methylprednisolone hemisuccinate, 1 gram per hour on each of 3 successive days, followed by oral prednisone and cyclosporine. RESULTS: The retinal infiltrate disappeared within 24 hours. Visual acuity improved to LE, 20/400 by day 5 and returned to LE, 20/30 after 3 months. A visual field demonstrated a scotoma corresponding to the location of the previous retinitis. CONCLUSION: High-dose intravenous methylprednisolone can reverse severe vision loss in acute Behcet retinitis.
ASJC Scopus subject areas Ophthalmology


Last week, the MA House of Representatives released its Fiscal Year 2021 budget proposal. We’re pleased to share that it dramatically increases our Green Budget Coalition’s priority line-items. Areas of significant growth include the Department of Conservation and Recreation, Department of Environmental Protection, and Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program. These allocations would allow our state agencies to better safeguard our natural resources, protect public health, and work toward our essential climate targets.
The past several months have highlighted how vital our outdoor parks and open space are to our community and people. We are grateful to see the House investing in these critical resources.
Thank Your State Representative for funding the environment.


A group of Canadian citizens have formed the lobby group "Vegan Option Canada"\u00a0to help make plant-based food options mandatory in the public sector. The group, which\u00a0describes itself as a\u00a0"collective of committed citizens sharing a common dream and working together to make this dream a reality,"\u00a0is inspired by legislation passed in Portugal last year. After persistent efforts by the\u00a0Portuguese\u00a0Vegetarian Association, vegan options became mandatory in public canteens across the country. Similarly, Vegan Option Canada seeks to amend Canadian law to ensure that vegan meal options are available in all public institutions including schools, universities, hospitals, and care centers for the elderly. "People\u2019s dietary choices often are not merely preferences and can reflect deeply held ethical beliefs," notes the group, adding that in the absence of vegan options, a citizen's "personal integrity and human rights are violated." It continues, "The fact that a vegan person is forced to eat animal products can be at best, psychologically traumatic, at worst, harmful to...\u00a0health." Already, the group is engaging public support. A formal paper petition sponsored by Marjolaine Boutin-Sweet MP\u00a0is circulating around vegan-friendly eateries and events across the nation. The group is aiming toto gain 85,000 signatures before January, when the petition will be presented to the federal government. A less formal online petition\u00a0also boasts over 18,000 signatures. This petition, which the lobby group will use as a\u00a0"bonus reference,"\u00a0also encourages non-vegans to sign\u00a0because everyone benefits from a more diverse menu and the possibility of choosing healthier meals. In the future, Vegan Option Canada also plans to present parallel petitions at the provincial level to address institutions under the provincial jurisdiction. A VEGAN-FRIENDLY NATION Veganism was a top searched trend in 2017 according to Google Canada, and a study conducted by Mintel earlier this year showed that more than\u00a0half\u00a0of Canadians are opting for vegan alternatives over traditional meat. This followed a\u00a0Canadian Meat Council-funded study which revealed that the nation is consuming less meat than recommended by Canada\u2019s Food Guide. Similarly, according to data obtained by Statistics Canada this summer, Canadians are drinking significantly less milk than they once did. Even the government is taking notice,\u00a0investing $150 million\u00a0into farms focusing on vegan protein. Become a\u00a0CLUBKINDLY\u00a0member today!


Hydrocodone/Vicodin Defending Against Prescription Drug Charges
Florida has cracked down hard on the possession or sale of prescription drugs without a valid prescription. The state’s desire to cut down on illegal prescription drug use and sales has led to outrageous penalties. For instance, individuals accused of possessing a few pills without a valid prescription can face a mandatory minimum of three years in prison. While oxycodone (OxyContin) charges frequently make the news, the penalties are equally severe for the illegal possession or sale of hydrocodone. Hydrocodone is the primary ingredient in Vicodin and other medications that alleviate pain.
If you have been charged with possessing or trafficking in hydrocodone, it is critical to contact an experienced criminal defense lawyer immediately. O’Brien Hatfield Reese, PA, is based in Tampa and defends people throughout Florida against all prescription drug-related charges.
Hydrocodone Offense Lawyers Who Will Be Devoted To Protecting Your Rights
Under Florida law, possessing between 4 and 14 grams of hydrocodone without a prescription will bring a
mandatory minimum prison term of three years. While this is bad enough, penalties for possessing increased amounts of hydrocodone are even worse. Possession of between 14 and 28 grams of hydrocodone will lead to 15 years, and possession of 28 grams or more of hydrocodone brings on a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years.
To make matters worse, these charges are based on the total weight of the pill, not the total weight of the controlled substance. For instance, Vicodin pills are a combination of hydrocodone and acetaminophen, the substance used to make Tylenol. If you are found with, for instance, 5 grams of Vicodin pills without a prescription, the charge will be based on the total weight of the pills, not the total weight of the hydrocodone inside the pills.
We will take decisive action aimed at achieving the best possible result in your case. Our skilled, strategic approach has helped many clients avoid the worst penalties associated with drug charges.
Do You Need A Tampa Hydrocodone Possession Lawyer? Se habla español.


Productivity Growth and Disinflation in Chile
This paper analyzes the role productivity growth had on disinflation in Chile during the 1990s. It argues that productivity growth was key in avoiding the output costs of stabilization in a highly indexed economy. Disinflation from the early 1990s through 1998 was costless. Among the many external and domestic factors that contributed to good macroeconomic performance, which combined simultaneously very high rates of growth and declining inflation, productivity stands high. The simulations presented in this paper illustrate this point.


Intracellular adhesion molecule 1 plays a key role in acquired immunity to salmonellosis. Clare S., Goldin R., Hale C., Aspinall R., Simmons C., Mastroeni P., Dougan G.
This study investigated the role of intracellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) during Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium infection of mice. We show that ICAM-1 is expressed in and around granulomas on day 4 of infection in wild-type mice. However, when naive ICAM-1(-/-) mice were challenged with a sublethal dose of serovar Typhimurium, there were no detectable differences in systemic bacterial burden over the first 9 days of infection compared to wild-type control mice. When mice were immunized with the S. enterica serovar Typhimurium vaccine strain SL2361 and then challenged with the virulent S. enterica serovar Typhimurium strain C5, 100% of the ICAM-1(-/-) mice succumbed to infection, compared to 30% of wild-type mice. T-cell responses, as measured by activation via interleukin-2 production, as well as antibody responses were comparable in the ICAM-1(-/-) and wild-type mice. Following challenge, counts in organs were significantly higher in the ICAM-1(-/-) mice, and histological examination of organs showed pathological differences. Strain SL3261-immunized wild-type mice had cellular infiltrate and normal granuloma formation in the liver and spleen on days 5 and 10 after challenge with strain C5. ICAM-1(-/-) mice had a similar infiltrate on day 5, whereas on day 10 the infiltrate was more widespread and there were fewer macrophages associated with the granulomas. High circulating levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha and gamma interferon, as well as a high burden of strain C5 in the blood, accompanied the differences in histopathology. In this study we show that ICAM-1 plays a critical role during rechallenge of immunized mice with virulent S. enterica serovar Typhimurium.


Dangerous winter weather conditions, such as snow, sleet and ice, account for nearly 500,000 car accidents in the U.S. each year.
Following the winter storm that blanketed the east coast recently, many of Pennsylvania’s roadways were covered with thick snow and layers of ice, making it virtually impossible for motorists to drive safely.
However, according to a recent report from the American Automobile Association (AAA), winter weather-related car accidents are less likely to be fatal than accidents that occur during any other season.
The New AAA Winter Weather Driving Report
AAA researchers analyzed data pertaining to weather-related car crashes across the U.S. The results of the study were surprising, as the number of injuries and fatalities from wintertime accidents were significantly lower than those associated with rain or fog-related accidents.
The AAA winter weather driving report included the following statistics from 2015:
Rainy and foggy weather caused 539,909 car crashes, 214,641 injuries and 2,613 deaths Snowy weather caused 189,416 car accidents, 51,267 injuries and 523 fatalities Sleet was responsible for 36,491 crashes, 11, 644 injuries and 143 traffic deaths
Overall, accidents that occurred on snowy or icy roads resulted in 31 percent fewer injuries and 47 percent fewer fatalities than accidents that occurred during rainy, foggy, or even favorable weather conditions.
While this particular study did not analyze data regarding the impact wintry weather has on the overall risk of being in a car crash, other studies have found that car accident rates increase in the wintertime, yet the increase is seen in minor crashes and fender-benders that are unlikely to result in severe injury or death.
Despite the surprising results of AAA’s latest winter driving study, the car accident attorneys at Schmidt Kramer encourage everyone to stay safe while driving on icy or snow-covered roads.
During adverse winter weather conditions, always remember to decrease your speed, maintain a safe distance between your vehicle and others, and be sure your vehicle’s brakes are in good working order before driving.
If you or someone you love has been injured in a wintertime car accident, contact Schmidt Kramer today for a free evaluation of your case. We have the knowledge and experience necessary to get you the justice and compensation you deserve.


Hope and anguish in a Mexican refugee shelter
camsmanalo
This month, a caravan of nearly 1,000 Central American asylum seekers crossed Mexico’s southern border with Guatemala. They followed in the footsteps of more than 7,000 asylum seekers who passed through earlier in October.
The Northern Triangle Region of El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras continues to experience endemic poverty, extremely high homicide rates and widespread gang activity. These dire circumstances drive migration flows to the north.
The United States, until recently, was the northern destination of choice for Central American asylum-seekers. It was a “promised land” where they would find personal security and economic prosperity.
In contrast with those in earlier caravans, these newcomers to Mexico are unlikely to embark on the futile 4,000-kilometre journey north to the United States. Mobility to the U.S. is becoming increasingly more dangerous and the U.S.-Mexico border is more difficult to cross at both official and unofficial ports of entry.
President Andrés Manuel López Obrador directed officials at the Mexico-Guatemala border to distribute humanitarian visas to the newest caravan. The visas will allow the Central Americans to live and work in Mexican territory for one year while they navigate the country’s refugee determination process.
Central American asylum-seekers are now stranded in Mexico. The journey north has left them in a state of limbo, keeping them tacked down in a location where they did not intend to stay permanently.
Mexico attempts to fulfil obligation to refugees
The Cartagena Declaration grants protection for people whose lives are threatened by generalized violence who would not be considered refugees under the 1951 UN Refugee Convention.
In this respect, Mexico is attempting to fulfil its international obligation to refugees. However, its refugee-protection system is massively under-resourced and unprepared to handle so many asylum cases.
The art of the wait for asylum
Asylum-seekers who hold humanitarian visas often reside in temporary migrant shelters called
albergues. Mexico City is home to several albergues that divide guests by age and gender.
Over the past two years, I have conducted research at one of these shelters, Albergue Tochán in southwestern Mexico City. Tochán (
nuestra casa, our home in Náhuatl) houses men who have experienced violence in their country of origin or along their journey through Mexican territory.
Tochán responds to the basic needs of the men, including the provision of beds, clothing, meals and toiletries. The tall windowless structure with irregular architecture and steep stairways resembles a clean, warm, welcoming, albeit very cramped home. However, it runs over capacity with far fewer beds than guests.
While at the
albergue, the men are free to come and go. They use computers equipped with internet, watch television at specified hours and they adhere to a strict schedule of household chores.
I interviewed 15 of these men over many hours while accompanying them in daily activities, and visiting with my undergraduate students.
As a researcher, I can’t help the thousands of Central Americans who are stranded in Mexico. But, I can help tell their stories. I believe stories can bring some humanity to a population that has been vilified and rendered nameless by recent political discourse.
They want to be remembered
Refugee determination procedures create many uncertainties and anxieties. Asylum-seekers often find themselves in situations of indefinite and unpredictable waiting.
The men at Tochán spoke about their current reality and described their daily activities, frustrations and coping mechanisms. They narrated their hopes and aspirations for the future, and they detailed the abuses they endured in the past.
The men were keen to talk — they want their stories to be documented. Many asked that they be identified in publications so that they could leave a piece of themselves behind in case they did not survive deportation back to Central America.
The men spoke about their sense of exclusion in a new territory. They worried that their asylum claims would be rejected, resulting in official and permanent eviction from Mexico.
As days become weeks, and weeks turn into months, their notions of time and space need to be continually recalibrated as the wait drags on.
Waiting defines their identity. Some of the men reported no longer knowing who they are anymore or what they are waiting for. They described feeling “useless,” “not even human,” “impotent,” “powerless,” like a “beggar” and living “half lives.”
Anxiety, uncertainty and lack of control over one’s life and future are clearly factors inherent to the collective experience of the men at Tochán.
Finding unity in art
The men have been busy.
Multiple activities guide the men’s days. They attend Sunday morning mass and afternoon soccer matches, and they craft and sell wooden artesanías, masks and paintings.
They paint enormous colourful murals that cover virtually every surface of the
albergue and throughout the surrounding neighbourhood.
With the assistance of local artists, the director of Albergue Tochán has introduced art as therapy and as a source of income. While hesitant at first, the men have gradually found ways to express and distract themselves through art while they navigate daily, weekly and monthly waiting for the legal validation of their refugee status.
Through art, asylum-seekers have been provided the opportunity to share and learn from each other.
While painting together, they find a level of comfort and unity as they learn to trust and rely on each other.
As their initial dream of reaching the United States deteriorates during the long wait at the
albergue, the men learn to embrace a Mexican hope: the possibility of staying in a new location while waiting for an uncertain future.


The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors paid tribute on Tuesday, July 19, to the professionals who serve the County as Probation, Pretrial and Parole Supervision Officers, recognizing their often unsung achievements in contributing to public safety, community engagement, and support for victims.
Most public safety professionals don’t enter the profession for the recognition, appreciation or financial rewards.
“There is one particular branch of the profession, though, whose role is keeping communities safe, and yet their crews are far too often overlooked,” noted Supervisor Candace Andersen, Chair of the Board of Supervisors. “Those are the dedicated workers in the community supervision profession, who are the linchpin of the Criminal Justice System. They often don’t wear recognizable uniforms or drive marked cars with lights and sirens, yet they play an equally vital role in ensuring everyone’s safety.”
In Contra Costa County, the Probation Department supervises adults placed on Probation as well as individuals being released from prison and being placed on Post Release Community Supervision (PRCS). In the juvenile justice system, the Probation Department operates the Juvenile Hall located in Martinez and Orin Allen Rehabilitation Facility located in Byron, supervises juveniles placed on probation, and provides a wide range of in home and support services aimed at keeping at-risk kids out of custody whenever possible.
The probation profession has changed dramatically in recent years, utilizing data and evidence-based practices to more creatively and effectively manage increased caseloads. The implementation of public safety realignment in California, which has resulted in a strong Community Corrections Partnership in Contra Costa County, has added additional responsibilities and opportunities for Probation Officers to make a difference with the individuals we supervise.
Interim Probation Chief Todd Billeci notes that Contra Costa County’s Probation, Pretrial and Parole team members are innovators in the field, providing service and support for offenders while also providing protection and assistance for victims.
“Too often, the impact of our staff on public safety might go unnoticed,” Billeci said. “We appreciate the Board of Supervisors taking time to recognize this week as ‘Probation, Pretrial and Parole Supervision Officer’s Week’ and acknowledging the vital role our officers play. Our success comes when we give juveniles and adults the education, job training and life skills they need to enable them to become more industrious citizens in our community.”
Contra Costa County’s Probation Department has been honored for its innovative approaches and high degree of success. Nationally, the week of July 17 – 23, 2016, serves as the official week to recognize the professional achievements of the probation, pretrial and parole supervisors.


Question:
Why wouldn't a contribution designated to a missionary be recorded as a Liability instead of an Equity Fund account as you suggest? Then when the money is sent to that missionary the entry would simply reduce the Liability account.
Answer:
Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) states that donor designated gifts, including missions funds, are considered donor restricted funds. As restricted funds it is best practice to record designated gifts as equity accounts, which falls under GAAP standards. This is true regardless of whether the restriction is temporary or permanent. Temporarily restricted gifts are gifts given by the donor for a specific purpose or program or for use at a certain time. In a church, common temporarily restricted funds might include a missions fund, benevolence fund, building fund, and others. Permanently restricted contributions are gifts given by the donor to be permanently maintained, but the church may use any income that comes from the gift. For example, a member gives a substantial amount of cash hoping to maintain a benefit in perpetuity for missions' families. The donor mandates that the funds be invested and only earnings be used by the church to provide college scholarships to missionary children.
While it is not the best practice, if the congregation is comfortable viewing missionary collections and disbursements as debts (liabilities) the missions funds can be recorded as liabilities as long as no external party insists on a financial statement presentation in accordance with GAAP.
For more information on recording designated gifts, see...


Kujala MV, Kujala J, Carlson S, et al.
We read conspecifics’ social cues effortlessly, but little is known about our abilities to understand social gestures of other species. To investigate the neural underpinnings of such skills, we used functional magnetic resonance imaging to study the brain activity of experts and non-experts of dog behavior while they observed humans or dogs either interacting with, or facing away from a conspecific. The posterior superior temporal sulcus (pSTS) of both subject groups dissociated humans facing toward each other from humans facing away, and in dog experts, a distinction also occurred for dogs facing toward vs. away in a bilateral area extending from the pSTS to the inferior temporo-occipital cortex: the dissociation of dog behavior was significantly stronger in expert than control group. Furthermore, the control group had stronger pSTS responses to humans than dogs facing toward a conspecific, whereas in dog experts, the responses were of similar magnitude. These findings suggest that dog experts’ brains distinguish socially relevant body postures similarly in dogs and humans.


Abstract
Nucleoside N-ribohydrolases from protozoan parasites are targets for inhibitor design in these purine-auxotrophic organisms. Purine-specific and purine/pyrimidine-nonspecific nucleoside hydrolases have been reported. Iminoribitols that are 1-substituted with meta- and para-derivatized phenyl groups [(1S)-substituted 1,4-dideoxy-l,4-imino-D-ribitols] are powerful inhibitors for the nonspecific nucleoside N-ribohydrolases, but are weak inhibitiors for purine-specific isozymes [Parkin, D. W., Limberg, G., Tyler, P. C., Furneaux, R. H., Chen, X.-Y., and Schramm, V. L. (1997) Biochemisty 36, 3528-3534]. Binding of these inhibitors to nonspecific nucleoside hydrolase occurs primarily via interaction with the iminoribitol, a ribooxocarbenium ion analogue of the transition state. Weaker interactions arise from hydrophobic interactions between the phenyl group and the purine/pyrimidine site. In contrast, the purine-specific enzymes obtain equal catalytic potential from leaving group activation and ribooxocarbenium ion formation. Knowledge of the reaction mechanisms and transition states for these enzymes has guided the design of isozyme-specific transition state analogue inhibitors. New synthetic efforts have produced novel inhibitors that incorporate features of the leaving group hydrogen-bonding sites while retaining the iminoribitol group. These compounds provide the first transition state analogue inhibitors for purine-specific nucleoside hydrolase. The most inhibitory 1-substituted iminoribitol heterocycle is a sub-nanomolar inhibitor for the purine-specific nucleoside hydrolase from Trypanosoma brucei brucei. Novel nanomolar inhibitors are also described for the nonspecific nucleoside hydrolase from Crithidia fasciculata. The compounds reported here are the most powerful iminoribitol inhibitors yet described for the nucleoside hydrolases.
ASJC Scopus subject areas Biochemistry


One of these grants has been awarded to Annemarthe van der Veen of our department, head of the Molecular Biology of Innate Immunity group, for her project ‘Inflammation without infection’.
If our immune system is no longer able to distinguish between the body's own molecules and microbial molecules such as viruses, this leads to autoinflammatory disorders. "An inflammatory reaction then takes place without there being an infection", explains Van der Veen, researcher at the Immunology department. "We are going to investigate the causes of such a sterile inflammation".


"The role of the pharmaceutical industry is to deliver therapeutic innovations and bring them to real-life medical practices. Therefore, a critical component of pharma players’ operating model is using customer engagement to create a lasting bond, infused with value and trust, with the healthcare ecosystem. It is this bond which enables to transform these innovations into care practices and bring efficient and safe treatment options to patients to improve their lives
With this paper we aim to help decision makers within pharma companies reach this goal and excel in its execution while adapting it to today’s digitalized world, made even more online-driven by the covid-19 pandemic.
This paper was conceived as a pragmatic recipe based on the questions that pharmaceutical companies from all over the world are facing daily. It is not meant to reinvent theoretical bases or to be only used as inspiration, but rather to provide in the same document: basics on this matter, practical tips, a path for creation and deployment, elements of inspiration from other sectors, insights related to the digital transformation of customer engagement, and food for thought for the post covid-19 crisis. These elements form a methodological canvas, useful for reshaping and implementing new customer engagement models for 2020 and beyond."


Southern Tick-Associated Rash Illness (STARI) Southern tick-associated rash illness (STARI) is a Lyme disease-like illness that produces an expanding circular skin rash (erythema migrans) at the site of attachment from the lone star tick within approximately seven days. Lone star ticks are commonly found in Oklahoma, and are known to aggressively bite humans. It has been described in patients in the southeastern and south-central states, including Oklahoma. This illness is indistinguishable from the early stages of Lyme disease. The rash may be accompanied by a mild illness characterized by fever, generalized fatigue, headache, muscle and joint pain. STARI is not listed specifically as a reportable disease/condition, but it is uncommon and should be reported to the Acute Disease Service within one business day.
An etiologic agent has not yet been definitively identified; therefore there are no commercial laboratory tests to test patients for this illness. It is still unclear as to whether antibiotic treatment is necessary or beneficial for patients diagnosed with STARI. Nevertheless, physicians often treat patients with oral antibiotics as the illness so closely resembles Lyme disease. Contact your physician if you think you might have STARI, or any symptoms of illness that develop within two weeks of tick exposure. Prevention measures for STARI are similar to other tickborne diseases: avoid tick-infested areas, frequently check to identify and remove ticks properly, and use tick repellant when indicated.
External STARI Resources: STARI (CDC)


Projects per year
Abstract
Nanotechnology is identified as a key enabling technology due to its potential to contribute to economic growth and societal well-being across industrial sectors. Sustainable nanotechnology requires a scientifically based and proportionate risk governance structure to support innovation, including a robust framework for environmental risk assessment (ERA) that ideally builds on methods established for conventional chemicals to ensure alignment and avoid duplication. Exposure assessment developed as a tiered approach is equally beneficial to nano-specific ERA as for other classes of chemicals. Here we present the developing knowledge, practical considerations and key principles need to support exposure assessment for engineered nanomaterials for regulatory and research applications.


Abstract
We investigated the role of gathering and selling the edible tubers of wild orchids by children orphaned by AIDS as one of their livelihood strategies, through a household survey administered to 152 households in three villages in the Southern Highlands of Tanzania during 2006 and 2007. Additionally, several household heads were selected as case studies and subjected to an in-depth life-history interview. Overall, most households in the study villages were very poor. We made comparisons within a total sample of 57 households headed by children orphaned by AIDS, 43 adult female-headed AIDS-affected households, and 52 adult male-headed non-AIDS-affected households in terms of food security and wealth outcomes after engaging in orchid tuber-gathering activities. The findings reveal that the majority of the orphan heads of households regarded the gathering and selling of wild orchid tubers as the best option for satisfying their basic needs. This category of households gathered more orchid tubers than the male-headed non-AIDS-affected households but not more than the female-headed AIDS-affected households. Children in these households spent more time on tuber-gathering activities than did members of the other households but had fewer household assets. Almost all the orphan-headed households depended on the cash obtained from selling orchid tubers to purchase food throughout the year. However, we surmise that gathering and selling wild orchid tubers fails to pull these children out of poverty and functions merely as a survival strategy.
Keywords coping strategies south-africa diversification products trade aids


When drafted properly, employment contracts give employees and employers clear guidance concerning both parties’ rights and responsibilities to one another during their working relationship. If executed at the start of employment, these agreements could even reduce the likelihood of future disputes, sparing both parties from having to expend time and energy on costly litigation.
A Georgia employment contracts lawyer could represent you during negotiations and advise you on the types of provisions that should be included in your agreement. Our team could even draft an employment agreement on your behalf. Should a contract dispute arise, a seasoned employment law attorney could also provide you with zealous legal representation during arbitration or court proceedings.
In Georgia, employers do not have to enter into contracts with their workers. However, employers and employees may mutually decide to execute an agreement. Employment contracts have many benefits, such as protection from wrongful termination and protection of trade secrets.
If you are an employee, an employment contract that contains termination provisions could provide you with increased protection from being fired or discharged at-will by your employer. Work agreements may also outline your compensation schedule, bonus structure, and benefits packages, providing you with proof that you are entitled to specific compensation if a dispute arises.
As an employer, you might find that entering into employment contracts with key personnel could protect your business from outside competition. For example, you could include a non-compete clause in your agreement that restricts employees’ from working for competing companies or establishing competing companies after leaving their job. Similarly, if you want to protect trade secrets or proprietary information from your competition, you could insert a non-disclosure provision in the employment contract.
There are many advantages to hiring legal counsel to execute an employment contract. An attorney could evaluate your agreement to determine if your rights are being protected.
It is crucial that the terms of your employment agreement are clear and specific. Certain provisions that you may consider including in your contract include:
An agreement might also detail both parties’ ability to arbitrate or litigate contract disputes, where they may file claims, and the state laws governing such conflicts. A dedicated employment contracts attorney could help you draft an agreement that contains all of these critical provisions.
Even if terms of your agreement are clearly outlined, disputes may still arise. In these cases, an attorney could help you file a claim and advocate for you during legal proceedings.
Before executing an employer-employee agreement, you should speak with an attorney at Sparks Law. A Georgia employment contracts attorney could explain the advantages of executing an agreement advise you on the types of contract provisions to include in the document. Reach out to our office to find out what we could do for you.


The widespread physical activity guidelines for adults recommendsat
least 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity exercise or 75minutes of vigorous intensity exercise. The benefits of completing thisamount of weekly exercise are widely recognised. Despite this, the majority ofadults fall short of the recommended physical activity guidelines with lack oftime cited as the primary barrier to achieving weekly exercise goals. As aresult, the use of high intensity interval training (HIIT) has beeninvestigated as a more time-efficient strategy to improving health. What is HIIT?
High intensity interval training uses short bursts of high intensity activity followed by a recovery period at a lower intensity. This ‘high intensity’ period may sound daunting for those newer to cardiovascular training. However, an individualised approach based on guidance from medical specialists and heart rate data ensures a safe and effective method of training. It must be assumed that any individual with a clinically relevant cardiovascular disease risk factor or diagnosed cardiovascular disease requires both a medical examination and a physician-supervised maximal exercise test prior to participation in HIIT (ACSM, 2010).
What are the benefits of HIIT?
The benefits of HIIT within the general population have been widely researched and accepted however, a growing body of evidence has investigated the safety, efficacy and enjoyment of a HIIT protocol within a cardiac population.
Moderate intensity continuous training (MICT) has traditionally been a foundation of aerobic-base exercise prescription resulting in short and long-term clinical benefits for individuals with cardiovascular disease. However, emerging research suggests using HITT alongside or as an alternative to MICT can result in similar or greater improvements in peak VO2 (the threshold of your body’s ability to transport and use oxygen during physical activity).
Similarly, a recent study by Keech et al (2020)found positive efficacy for reducing cardiovascular risk, high levels ofpatient enjoyment and no cardiovascular-related adverse events associated withthe training. Specifically, researchers found significant reductions in both
bloodpressure and body fat. Importantly for cardiovascularrisk, the fat loss appeared to disproportionately come from central areasand visceral fat stores within the trunk.
In addition, aerobic fitness also improved by an averageof 12% or nearly 1 MET. As a reference, previous research has foundimprovements in cardiovascular fitness by 1 MET equates to a
∼ 8–17% reduction in all-cause and cardiovascular-related mortality. fatigue tolerance, running performance and bloodglucose profile specific to the interval protocol. How do we monitor HIIT?
The physiological and psychological demands of HIIT are greater compared to steady state training. Therefore, sufficient preparation and recovery is incredibly important to the safety and success of the individual. This not only includes a sufficient warm up and cool down but also adequate hydration and nutrition surrounding the HIIT sessions to ensure individuals are fuelling each session as best as possible to achieve optimal results and recovery.
Similarly, through the use of heart rate monitors, HIIT sessions can be monitored to ensure individuals are adhering to the target exercise intensity. This not only ensure optimal physiological adaptations but also the safety of the individual.
Summary
In summary, with sufficient medical screening andguidance, high intensity interval training offers individuals withcardiovascular disease an alternative method to improve cardiovascular fitness,increase physical activity and reduce cardiovascular risk. Asa team, we pride ourselves of staying at the forefront of new research to adaptand grow to find the safest, effective and enjoyable approach to help ourathletes
live longer, better.


A potential sales tax on self-storage has once again been introduced to the legislature in North Carolina, and the national and North Carolina Self Storage Associations have jumped to combat the measure. If passed, Senate Bill 658, 21
st Century Tax Modernization Plan, would impose a sales tax on self-storage rentals in the state.
SB 658 was introduced on April 19 and referred to the House Standing Committee on Finance on April 20. Information about the bill can be viewed at www.ncga.state.nc.us/gascripts/BillLookUp/BillLookUp.pl?Session=2011&BillID=S658.
The NCSSA hopes to get as many of the states self-storage owners and operators as possible to visit their local representatives and discuss why self-storage should be taxed as real estate, not a service. The association is also aiming to raise $20,000 in 2011 to battle the tax.
SSA president and CEO Mike Scanlon sent a letter to the bills sponsor, Senator Daniel G. Clodfelter (D-Mecklenburg), reminding him that the self-storage portion of the bill will be passed on to consumers, who may often be from low-income households (single parents, retirees, students, soldiers, small-business owners, etc.). Scanlon wrote it is arbitrary to include only one commercial real estate sector in the bill, and that self-storage already contributes real estate taxes. His letter ultimately urges the removal of self-storage and mini-storage from the tax proposal.
The threat of sales tax was previously faced by North Carolina self-storage operators in 2009, when senators contemplated new sources of tax revenue. In October of that year, the NCSSA met Representative William L. Wainwright to discuss the harmful impact of such a tax.


After nearly a decade of austerity our schools are at breaking point. Over 600,000 children are being taught by unqualified teachers. Nearly half a million children are crammed into super-sized classes.
That’s why this week Labour announced our plan to improve educational standards for all children. We will:
📚 Cap all class sizes at 30 by recruiting nearly 20,000 more teachers;
📚 Guarantee that every child is taught by a qualified teacher, ensuring around 25,000 currently unqualified staff are fully trained during Labour’s first term in office;
📚 Ensure teachers will have more time for lesson planning and professional development;
📚 Invest in ensuring that all school buildings are safe, with a new fund of over £7bn to tackle the backlog of vital but overdue repairs and install safety measures such as sprinklers;
📚 Close the gap in funding for pupils with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities, with extra funding to reverse deficits in the High Needs Budget;
📚 Fully reverse cuts to the Pupil Premium, and increase spending on it above inflation to support the most disadvantaged pupils.


Controlled burning is a common restoration technique in midwestern forests. This project examines its effects on soils, which are largely unknown, but can have significant impacts on tree growth and young tree establishment.
The number of species that can tolerate poor-quality of roadside soils is limited. Can we increase the diversity of trees that can thrive in this harsh environment and increase the ecosystem services they provide by matching soil amendments with tree traits?


Early fundamental guidelines on using sodium hypochlorite in swimming pools28 October 2020
In the late 1970s, Andy Elphick wrote a technical paper on
The Treatment of Swimming Pool Water With Sodium Hypochlorite, which was distributed by Wallace and Tiernan to UK pools.
The paper was written as a consequence of the phasing out of gaseous chlorine and the change to other forms of chlorine.
It provided guidance on how to convert a pool from chlorine gas to sodium hypochlorite, the differences involved and the consequences.
This was a change that many managers still regret and upon which Andy cautioned due consideration to ensure success.
You can download Andy’s paper by clicking here.


National, provincial, and local economists met at the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation Housing Outlook Conference November 4th here in Vancouver. The consensus from the conference hosted by Canada’s housing Agency: Housing in the Lower Mainland will remain strong well into 2016.
Economists at the conference cited three key reasons for their conclusions:
1) the overall economy is expected to continue to improve, attracting immigrants and new residents to the area
2) Interest and mortgage rates are expected to remain at record lows until at least the end of 2015 3) Baby boomers will continue to downsize, ensuring demand for townhouses and condos
In the final analysis, then, while the market has been hot, it does not show any sign of slowing down in the near future.


The United Pet Group announced that it is issuing a voluntary recall targeting rawhide dog chews from several brands including American Beefhide and Healthy Hide, among others. These products may potentially be contaminated with a chemical compound.
United Pet Group Voluntary Recalls Multiple Brands of Rawhide Chew Products for Dogs Due to Possible Chemical… https://t.co/cEKDkD4vKe
— U.S. FDA (@FDArecalls) June 10, 2017
The Rawhide Dog Chews Recall Targets Five Brands
United Pet Group’s decision to issue this voluntary recall was announced in a press release on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Safety page. In it, the authority offered a complete list of the recalled goods.
According to the statement, United Pet Group initiated the recall after detecting that several of its rawhide chew facilities were using a quaternary ammonium compound mixture. This was utilized in facilities situated in Colombia, Mexico, and by one of the Brazil suppliers.
The ammonium compound is an antimicrobial chemical, approved for utilization as a food processing equipment cleaner. However, these facilities used it as a processing aid when manufacturing the rawhide dog chews, which is not approved in the United States.
So the United Pet Groups decided to recall multiple packages with such products from several brands. These were distributed across the U.S. both to local retail outlets and also online. The recall includes rawhide chews from Digest-eeze, American Beefhide, Healthy Hide Good-n-fit, Healthy Hide Good-n-Fun, and Healthy Hide.
This recall is limited to just products containing rawhide. It also only includes products whose codes, listed on the back, start with A, AI, AB, AO, AH, and AV. Their expiration date must also be in between 06/01/2019 to 05/31/2020, and this includes packages of all weights and/or sizes.
One of the main complaints with these rawhide dog chew products was their unpleasant odor. Owners also reported that their dogs vomited or had similar such issues.
“United Pet Group received very limited reports of pet illness based on the volume of possibly affected rawhide chew products manufactured and distributed.”
Exposure to the ammonium compound through direct consumption has symptoms such as a reduced appetite or gastric irritation.
Consumers that acquired the recalled products are urged to dispose of them or to return them either to the point of purchase or the United Pet Group for a full product refund.
Image Source: Wikimedia


Children are an important stakeholder group for sustainable development, as they represent the interface between current and future generations. A comprehensive assessment of child development (CD) in the context of sustainable development is still missing. In this paper, as a first step, a literature review is conducted to identify relevant aspects and gaps related to the assessment of CD. The main issues of CD are categorized into seven themes: health, education, safety, economic status, relationships, participation, and newly proposed environmental aspects. The corresponding subthemes and criteria are classified accordingly (e.g., nutrition, child mortality, immunization, etc., are assigned to the theme health). However, gaps in current studies, such as the heterogeneous classification of relevant aspects, regional and societal bias in addressing certain aspects, the limited number of subthemes, and criteria and the missing inclusion of environmental aspects impede the assessment of sustainable child development. To address the existing gaps, a comprehensive framework, the Sustainable Child Development Index (SCDI), is proposed. The SCDI is based on sustainable development as the core value, considers relevant aspects of CD with regard to newly-proposed environmental aspects and includes 26 aspects on an outcome and 37 indicators on a context level to tackle the heterogeneous classifications and interdependencies of relevant aspects. The proposed index intends to strengthen the stakeholder perspective of children in sustainability assessment.