A tide has slowly been turning in the field of medicine; we are beginning to move beyond traditional small molecule drugs towards complex medicines, which are reliant on the use of advanced drug delivery systems. These medicines could, potentially, have enormous, life-changing impacts on human society and provide more focused, tailored treatments compared with historical therapies. Complex medicines – viral vectors, antibody-drug conjugates, nanomedicines, and gene therapies to name a few – are beginning to address more complex diseases. From gene editing approaches to targeted cancer treatments, these therapies offer promising treatment options for diseases with unmet clinical needs, moving beyond a one-size-fits-all approach.
Many established medical treatments, for example, traditional chemotherapy, are non-selective. This means there is no ability to target specific cells, and healthy cells can be impacted, potentially leading to negative side effects for the patient. As a result, there is a growing demand for treatments that can better target specific cells using complex approaches, such as nanotherapeutics – engineered nanomaterials designed to deliver medical substances with high specificity to a targeted site.


I recently had lunch with my two Vice Presidents and asked them an important question; one that I ask myself and others every year.
"What's my role?", I asked. "What do you and the team need of me?" "What do our clients need from me?"
You might think this a case of the obvious, especially in a professional practice like ours (and yours). After all, I'm the founder, leader, sole "official owner," chief technician and CEO of my firm. Isn't my job crystal clear? Aren't I simply the top dog; the big kahuna; the answer man; the keeper of the brand…the "doctor?"
The answer is clearly…No! Especially in growth-oriented firms, the role of the leader changes. In my particular case, I'm striving to build a sustainable enterprise; an asset that will serve all stakeholders well beyond Al Cleinman's time in this life. While a young 53, my current plan is to "die in the saddle." Retirement, like failure, is not an option. I'll be around as long as I can contribute.
Yet there are parts of my work that are not as enjoyable as others; and parts of my current job that I don't do as well as others can. So, several years ago, I set out to fire myself from those jobs; making the strategic decision to invest in the best people I can find to help take our business to its full potential; leveraging and executing on our vision. Each year, I try to add an additional manager to assume "the presidency" of their specific area of influence. As a result, each year I have to assess what my role should be for the next.
I ask you to do the same. Ask yourself that hard question, "what is my role?" Ask your stakeholders. But before you do, please consider whether you first must make a change in your thinking. That change, while subtle, is significant and comes under the heading of "the words we use determines the outcome."
For many professionals, you consider your employees "your staff." They work to serve you. I hear it all the time; you reference them as "my staff," "my employees" and even "my girls." If this is your thinking, I ask that you consider a change. In my opinion, the people in our employ are not there to serve us; together, we are all here to serve our customers/clients/patients/…and each other. When we think as a team, vs. a hierarchy, we realign our organizational focus. We become one with our mission. And our singular focus becomes that of creating an organization that serves our mission.
Thus, just as from time to time you must consider your team's individual roles…do we have the right person doing the right job…so too you must consider yours. We are all part of a team and roles must change as the enterprise changes.
By now, you may be wondering what the response was to my original question of our team leaders.


It is important for human users and operators to smoothly and effortlessly interact with many robots that function in the real world. Studying and developing methods for such human-robot interaction that involves complex robotic systems and multi-robot teams in a large environment becomes impractical when experiments are conducted only with real robots. A major challenge going forward is achieving maximum synergy between teams of robots and humans. The EU-funded TRAVERSE (Towards very large scale human-robot synergy) project addressed this open question by investigating and modelling human user and operator behaviour, perception and cognition through interaction with large-scale multi-robot systems. Project partners developed cooperative methods for robot team perception functionalities that are scalable to a very large number of robots. They implemented and verified a scalable multi-robot cooperative perception technique. It includes an optimisation-based estimator that runs in real time, robot-self localisation, teammate localisation and target tracking. Researchers modelled and studied human and system factors that affect the efficiency of joint duties when human operators interact with large-scale robot teams in performing a collaborative task. The joint task involved a mission to search for survivors during a disaster scenario. Extensive experiments with 35 human subjects led to two key findings. The collaborative task was performed much better where the robots were fully autonomous in exploring surroundings while human operators were only tasked with searching for survivors in the explored areas. When operators were additionally asked to control the robots, they performed significantly poorer if they did not possess good video gaming experience or training. A second finding showed only a slight benefit in increasing the number of robots in the team that performs the collaborative task. This is under the assumption that a single human operator is responsible for the actual survivor search and classification task. Increasing the number of robots, in a scenario where the robots together maintain certain formations, becomes detrimental to exploration as it rapidly increases the computational overhead. It was also found that for a small number of robots there is no significant difference in the collaborative task efficiency between an individually controlled multirobot team (where each robot is individually commanded) or a formation controlled team (where the group is commanded as a whole). TRAVERSE’s integrated multi-robot functionalities should maximise the collective performance of robot teams, while maintaining an intuitive, effortless and natural interaction with both human users and operators.
Keywords
Human-robot interaction, multi-robot teams, TRAVERSE, human-robot synergy, survivor search


Addressing Shippers' Top Concerns
Due to the current uncertainty of the global economy, shippers are experiencing new, unique challenges. As they navigate these challenges, understanding the shifts in consumer behavior and how they impact their supply chain is critical.
While consumer mentality is improving, concerns about COVID-19's impact on the supply chain are still top of mind for shippers. New concerns and challenges are fueling shippers to shift their strategies and plans for the remainder of 2020 and beyond.
Shippers of all sizes share one common concern: keeping their people safe, whether operating in their facilities or at home. However, in many cases, this is where the similarities end.
Shippers' priorities also center on four additional areas:
1. Maintaining operational efficiency.
2. Keeping team members productive despite disruption.
3. Making necessary strategic shifts in production.
4. Managing rapid, frequent shifts in demand.
While some shippers work to streamline operations, others focus on keeping up with demand. A high priority exists for supporting employees on the front lines, ensuring facilities have procured and made available crucial safety items.
Other priorities include managing increased production, despite lower processing rates stemming from facility regulations that require social distancing and safety procedures in addition to fewer employees on each shift. Keeping supply chains running smoothly is made more difficult as shippers deal with imbalanced inventory and volatile transportation schedules.
How 2020 Plans Will Change
Companies across all areas of the supply chain have seen the importance of developing new strategies to better address the current situation and prepare for future disruptions. They will rely less on short-term, cost-based decisions and instead will prioritize being proactive, efficient, and flexible.
We have already seen shippers pivot their 2020 plans to address these new priorities, which include:
Working with a 3PL provider that offers capacity to ship freight. Collaborating directly with other shippers to share insights and best practices. Shifting live-load pickups and deliveries into drop trailer. Creating pop-up fleets at surging origin points. Narrowing the number of SKUs to reduce unnecessary variety. Focusing production toward speed, efficiency, and flexibility.
For some, identifying ways to better prepare their businesses for future disruption and implementing new processes will go smoothly. However, this does not mean all uncertainty can be avoided. Shippers are asking the same big questions: How do I keep employees healthy and safe? How do I limit disruption to my supply chain? How do I keep facilities up and running efficiently?
Since the pandemic began, shippers are doing what they can to limit disruption within their supply chains and keep critical supplies and products moving.
As the economy moves toward recovery, we anticipate a surge in demand and, therefore, an increase in volume. Industries, especially those whose shippers slowed down or stopped, will have lean inventories and, when the demand for such products rises, need to increase production. Although shippers should be prepared to see varying results compared to their original 2020 goal, a recovery in consumer demand is not too far away.


Abstract
The original reports of human infection with Francisella tularensis noted vesicular skin rash as a manifestation. We present 2 cases of tularemia initially diagnosed as herpes simplex or varicella zoster infection. Clinicians must recognize the cutaneous manifestations of tularemia and be able to distinguish these from lesions seen with herpes viruses.
ASJC Scopus subject areas Microbiology (medical) Infectious Diseases


Which One Came First: Movement Behavior or Frailty? A Cross-Lagged Panel Model in the Toledo Study for Healthy Aging July 2020
There has been limited longitudinal assessment of the relationship between moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and sedentary behaviour (SB) with frailty, and no studies have explored the possibility of reverse causality. This study aimed to determine the…


Most concussions seem to last just a few days or weeks before symptoms are absent. However, recent research has suggested symptoms may disappear before the brain is fully healed. While symptoms may be gone, the brain may still be vulnerable and healing. The latest research to support this idea is being presented at the Sports…Read


I’m a board certified family medicine physician. I’ve had to learn to manage my own stress and find ways to remain calm. Through this process, I’ve discovered that one of my purposes in life is to help individuals to be made aware that not being able to get a hold on chronic stress is literally killing them. Empowering people to advance their physical and emotional well-being has been lifelong focus.
I want to share tools, educational resources and inspiration to help people to discover their inner calm and live a more full-filled life. I look forward to sharing this journey with you.


ECO PRO includes an intelligent package of technologies that enables drivers to reduce fuel consumption by up to 25%. This involves reducing energy-consuming loads such as the air conditioning system or seat heating for the passengers almost imperceptibly.
In ECO PRO mode, the parameters of accelerator pedal and automatic transmission change. This encourages a sedate driving style with greater fuel economy. When required, however, drivers can still access the full performance by pressing down the accelerator pedal to its full extent.
The Bonus range displayed delivers information on how many additional kilometres have come through the efficiency-optimised driving in ECO PRO mode. The combined consumption display compares the average consumption with the current value.


Photo by: Orrling and Tomer S via Wikimedia Commons
New research suggests that a protein commonly expressed in the skin—periostin—can directly activate neurons associated with the sensation of itch. These findings may open new avenues for research into itch management.
Published in
Cell Reports (Apr. 7, 2020; 31:107472), the paper identified how periostin, which is abundantly expressed in the skin of individuals with atopic dermatitis and correlates with both severity and chronicity of the condition, interacts with the receptor protein αvβ3, which is expressed on sensory neurons in skin, to turn on the itch response.In a chemically-induced mouse model of atopic dermatitis, the research team found that exposure to common allergens such as dust mites increased periostin production in skin, exacerbating the itch response. However, when the researchers “turned off” the receptor protein, itch was significantly reduced.
As well, they exposed other animal models to recombinant mouse periostin, and observed itch-scratching behaviour within 15 minutes of exposure.
“Periostin and its receptor connect the skin directly to the central nervous system,” said the study’s lead author, Santosh Mishra, PhD, in a press release. “We have identified the first junction in the itch pathway associated with eczema. If we can break that connection, we can relieve the itch.”
Dr. Mishra is an assistant professor of neuroscience at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, N.C.


SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): Unilever announced launch of 100% recyclable plastic packaging for the first time in East Africa. The announcement was made in Nairobi, Kenya. The initiative will help in reduction of thousands of tones of virgin plastics in Africa.
The company’s ‘Sunlight” cleaning product will come in fully recyclable packaging. The packaging used for half-a-kilogram and one kilogram of the product will be made from 100% recycled flexible materials. Henceforth, the “Sunlight” products will be marketed in new packaging in Kenya and other East-African regions.
The initiative is part of the “U-turn waste management project” launched in 2008, in partnership with Green Africa Trading. It aims to create a sustainable, inclusive, traceable and fair circular economy for plastics in emerging markets such as Kenya. As part of the initiative, Unilever targets reduction in use of plastic packaging by more than 100,000 tonnes by 2025. Also, it aims to use at least one-fourth of its packaging to be made of recycled plastic.
As per government estimates, the City of Nairobi generates nearly 2,500 tonnes of waste per day. Of this only 60% is collected, whereas only 10% gets recycled. It must be noted that Unilever’s “Zero Waste to Landfill” project had resulted in significant waste disposal in the city.
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A passenger railroad service announced that a data breach might have affected some passengers’ personally identifiable information (PII).
In a “Notice of Data Breach” letter sent to the Attorney General’s Office of Vermont, Amtrak revealed that it had discovered the data breach on April 16 2020.
Amtrak looked into the matter and discovered that an unknown third party had gained unauthorized access to some Amtrak Guest Reward accounts. Those types of accounts allow passengers to build up points by riding with Amtrak so that they can ultimately claim rewards.
Whoever was behind the data breach had abused compromised usernames and passwords to authenticate themselves on those Guest Reward accounts, Amtrak explained in its notice. In the process, those individuals might have viewed affected members’ personal information. That data did not include passengers’ Social Security Numbers (SSNs), payment card details or financial information, however.
According to its statement, the passenger railroad service implemented several measures to respond to the breach and to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future. As it explained in the letter:
After detecting suspicious activity, our security team immediately investigated the issue and terminated the unauthorized access within a few hours. We also reset the passwords for potentially affected accounts. Amtrak engaged outside cybersecurity experts to confirm that the incident was contained and implemented additional safeguards to protect customers.
Those affected by the data breach disclosed by Amtrak should consider availing themselves of the complimentary one-year Experian IdentityWorks membership offered by the passenger railroad service. They should also consider taking additional steps to safeguard themselves against attacks that could attempt to exploit their exposed information. Those measures should begin with creating a strong, unique password for their Guest Reward accounts. For best practices on how to do so, click here.
Finally, they can use these steps to deter the efforts of identity thieves.


Yes! It can definitely!
Some pet owners don’t realize the importance of basic training. When you teach your dog to sit, stand or behave properly, you are actually teaching him how to stay safe and healthy for years to come. You want your pet to be a good, social being who obeys you always. Consistent training can help you achieve this goal. Today, out vets in Burlington will discuss how effective and consistent training can be a bliss for your adorable pet.
Sit/stay This basic command will prevent your pet from running out of your house and getting hurt by cars or other animals. It allows you to have complete control over your pet especially when you are brushing, bathing or teaching them something new. This also promotes calm behavior and helps eliminate major behavior issues in your pets. Recall (cats too) This can help you establish a strong bond with your pet. It can save your pet from any potential threat or harmful situation. Your pet will rely on you for the next move and you can guide him according to the situation. Drop it It allows you to retrieve things without punishing your pet. It develops a sense of trust between you and them. This can protect your pet from ingesting any harmful items such as foreign objects, toxins, even people food that can cause severe illnesses. Walk on loose leash This makes walking more fun as you both can enjoy it. Moreover, it also promotes good physical fitness. There won’t be any harsh pulling so the chances of getting hurt or injuries to the trachea (windpipe) or spine are minimal. This doesn’t mean that you use a retractable leash. You want your pet to learn to walk gently without leash.
This basic training can go a long way in promoting good health. By establishing strong bond with your pet, you prevent various behavioral issues. It makes pet ownership a strong and pleasant experience for everyone.
In case, you are experiencing behavioral issues in your pets, contact Bay View Park Animal Hospital in Burlington. Our vets in Burlington will help determine and prevent the root cause of the problem.


Is your health center experiencing high turnover? Are you trying to make the case for stronger workforce retention efforts within your organization? Are you struggling to figure out what is contributing to turnover at your organization? If you answered yes to one or all of these questions, then you will want to join ACU’s webinar series focusing on health center workforce turnover.
This series will explore trends in healthcare workforce turnover, the financial cost of turnover on health centers, its effect on staff members and patients, and strategies that can be taken to minimize turnover. As part of this series, you will receive two tools to support your workforce retention efforts. The first is a financial impact calculator that shows the financial cost of turnover at your organization. The second is a tool to assess organizational characteristics that may be contributing to turnover. By the end of the series, you’ll be ready to take steps to tackle turnover at your organization.
This series will be of interest to health center leaders and human resource managers. Each session builds on the previous. To gain the most from this series, participants are encouraged to attend all three sessions.
Learning Objectives
By attending this series, you will:
Understand the impact that provider turnover has on health centers, staff, and patients Learn how to identify organizational risk factors contributing to turnover Identify steps to reduce turnover
Register once to attend the entire series:


What is an En • the • o • gen?
An entheogen is a natural plant or fungi substance that initiates non-ordinary states of consciousness which can inspire cognitive, emotional, relational, and spiritual growth and healing. Entheogens are naturally occurring and have been consumed for millennia by humans. In many cultures they are sacred and some entheogens are already recognized as such by existing U.S. law. Leading medical researchers have clinically demonstrated that entheogens have significant healing outcomes for individuals suffering from conditions including addiction, depression, trauma and terminal illness.
Entheogens include: psilocybin containing “magic” mushrooms, mescaline containing cacti, iboga containing plants, and/or DMT-containing plants and preparations, such as ayahuasca.
Research
Leading medical researchers at Johns Hopkins, New York University, UCLA, the Imperial College in London, and elsewhere have clinically demonstrated that entheogens have significant healing outcomes for individuals suffering from conditions including addiction, depression, trauma and terminal illness. Below is a brief summary of existing research:
What are some of the mental health benefits of entheogenic use? A variety of studies have found that psilocybin and ayahuasca can produce dramatic and lasting reductions in the symptoms of treatment-resistant depression. Psilocybin can reduce symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy can reduce depressed mood, anxiety, and death anxiety; and increase quality of life, life meaning, and optimism in cancer patients. Psilocybin can be a useful tool for lowering psychological defenses and treating PTSD. Lifetime use of psychedelics has been associated with significantly reduced odds of psychological distress and suicidal planning and suicide attempts. There is recent evidence that psilocybin can be highly effective for smoking cessation and more clinical trials are currently underway. A large body of literature dating back to the 1950s has found that psychedelics are effective at treating alcoholism and reducing alcohol misuse. Ibogaine is emerging as one of the most effective treatments for opioid use disorder, reducing or eliminating withdrawal symptoms and preventing relapse. What are some of the societal benefits of entheogenic use? Administration of psilocybin has led to perceptions of an increased connection to nature and lifetime psychedelic use predicts pro-environmental behavior such as saving water and recycling. Psychedelic use is associated with reduced rates of criminality across a wide range of measures, including a reduced likelihood of: supervision failure and recidivism, larceny/theft, assault, arrest for property crimes, arrest for violent crimes, and intimate partner violence. What are some of the ways entheogenic use promotes personal and spiritual growth ? Entheogens can induce mystical and spiritual experiences, including a sense of unity, transcendence of time and space, and positive mood. Users often rate their trip as “one of the five most personally significant experiences in their life.” Psilocybin use can lead to positive changes in personality; such as increases in empathy, openness, conscientiousness, and extraversion and decreases in neuroticism. Psychedelic use can facilitate creativity and problem-solving. Ritualistic and long-term use of ayahuasca has led to higher ratings of well-being, life-purpose, and prosocial behavior, as well as perceptions of a more healthy lifestyle and reduced prescription drug use. High-dose psilocybin sessions in combination with meditation can lead to increases in prosocial attitudes and behaviors and healthy psychological functioning, including in measures of interpersonal closeness, gratitude, life meaning/purpose, forgiveness, death transcendence, daily spiritual experiences, and religious faith and coping.


Can Changing Demographics or Refinancing Behaviors Explain the Rising Levels of Housing Debt Among Older Americans?
The share of older households with debt secured by their primary residence more than doubled between 1995 and 2016. This study uses the Survey of Consumer Finances (SCF) to examine the sources of this shift. The empirical analyses first use a series of regressions to examine the relative influence of several hypothesized demographic contributors. The results suggest that these factors explain approximately one quarter of the increase in housing debt. The remainder is shown to be attributable to factors that affect the incidence of housing debt conditional on homeownership and the number of years that households have owned their homes, such as equity extraction, refinancing, and extended financing terms. The detailed loan information in the SCF further suggests that rate refinancing and associated term extensions may be an overlooked contributor to the rise in housing debt.


Abstract
Certain dermatoses that present during pregnancy have a predilection for populations with skin of color (SOC). Additionally, certain systemic diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus tend to be more aggressive during pregnancy and confer worse prognoses in women with SOC. The purpose of this review is to highlight the unique implications of selected diseases during pregnancy as it relates to SOC. Dermatologists should be vigilant for the unique clinical variations of dermatological conditions in patients of color who are pregnant to ensure correct diagnoses and optimize treatment outcomes.
Keywords dermatoses pregnancy skin of color ASJC Scopus subject areas Dermatology


How the Government can support your R&D
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R&D funding support
The RDTI is part of a wide range of government initiatives designed to support R&D activity at different stages of business growth.
Other available R&D funding options include Inland Revenue's R&D loss tax credit
It's important to note that the RDTI can be claimed alongside the R&D loss tax credit. It can also be claimed alongside the other R&D funding options listed below, but not for the same expenditure or for required co-funding.
Explore the downloadable infographic and other information on this page for an overview of some of the R&D funding options available to help you achieve your innovation goals.
R&D Tax Incentive R&D Loan Scheme Getting Started Grants Project Grant R&D loss tax credit Student Grants How can I access funded expertise to help with a challenging research project? I want to add a highly skilled graduate to my R&D team, is there funding to assist? Government Support for R&D Commercialisation and Business Innovation
Additional government support is available to help commercialise R&D outputs and to promote innovation within certain sectors of the economy. For example, NZTE offers a capability vouchers scheme to offset the costs of approved training (up to $5,000) and a low-fee business mentor service. Additionally, investment funds such as the Seed Co-investment Fund and the New Zealand Venture Fund (NZVIF) can provide extra capital to startup and early stage businesses.
It’s worth being aware that while many of these R&D commercialisation and innovation support options can be claimed alongside the RDTI, some may restrict you from claiming certain expenditure, or even altogether.


Indications: Formulated to assist with relieving constipation and help promote healthy bowel function.
May support
- Regular bowel movements
- Promotion of healthy gut flora
- Cleansing large bowel
- Tonifying the nervous system
Ingredients: *Haritaki (Terminalia chebula), *Amalaki (Embelica officinalis), *Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare), *Senna Leaf (Senna alexandrina), *Trivruth (Operculina turpenthum), *Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra), *Bhibitaki (Terminalia belerica), *Shalaparni (Desmodium gangeticum), *Prishnaparni (Uraria picta), *Kantakari (Solanum xanthocarpum), *Brihati (Solanum indicum), *Gokshura (Tribulus terrestris), *Bilva (Aegle mermelos), *Agnimantha (Premna integrifolia), *Shyonaka (Oroxylum indicum), *Patala (Stereospemum suaveolens), *Gambhari (Gmelina arborea). *Certified organic
These statements have not been evaluated by the TGA or FDA. If pregnant or breastfeeding please consult with your healthcare provider before adding these herbs to your diet.


Coronavirus cases continue to rise globally, with record numbers in the Southern US Sun-Belt States. The spike upwards can be attributed to a massive expansion in testing, although the hospitalisation numbers reflect a more concerning trend, triggering remedial actions in hotspots. This has dampened enthusiasm for the rambunctious ‘V-Shaped’ recovery in global equity markets. This has also reversed trends in the US Dollar, as risk appetite diminishes, the Dollar becomes more attractive. The EUR fell back to 1.1200, while the GBP now tests 1.2400, on the downside.
US markets were boosted by actions taken by the FDIC, to remove restrictions on banks, imposed following the GFC. The rally in Bank shares offset fears over the rising spread of the coronavirus. Trade concerns remain, as the EU rejects US threats over European aircraft subsidies, while China continues to be at risk of further US sanctions. The trade threat is the biggest danger to the trade exposed commodity currencies and the rise in the reserve, reduced enthusiasm for the trans-Tasman currencies. The AUD slipped back to 0.6850, while the NZD tests 0.6400, despite a narrowing trade deficit. NZ Export returns improved, but imports declined, along with domestic demand. The improving headline number is economically undermined by the sharp fall in demand for imports, confirming weakness in consumer demand.
Trade remains a big threat to markets, while the immediate threat of a virus spike, drives daily investment emotion.


Top’s Tire Repair is a leading tire service in the greater metro area. We specialize in all types of tire service including alignment and rim repair.
Flat Tires can trigger the rim of the tire to rest on the tire tread or on the ground potentially creating a loss of control of the auto or irreparable damages to the tire.
Frequently the cause of flat tires involves the penetrating of the tire by a sharp item, such as a nail, permitting air escape. Depending on the size of the leak, the tire may deflate slowly or rapidly.
What happens when this occurs?
Valve stem damage resulting in air escaping from the valve or causing damages by means of intentional puncturing.
Too much wear of the tire tread causing explosive tire failure or permitting road debris to tear through it.
With slow leaks due to a puncture, our technicians can often repair the tire and re-inflated it with minimum loss of time. While tires with excessive wear from worn tread, must be replaced.
Cracking or bulging treads or sidewalls may imply there is wear or weak points in the tire. Foreign items that pass through into the tire (nails, screws, glass) will most often result in a flat. If the damage to the tire in minimal it maybe repaired. If there is extensive damage we will recommend the tire be replaced. If there is tread pulling away from the body of the tire, this can cause tire failure. It has to be replaced.
If you find any of these conditions exist, we’ll inspect and readjust your air pressure and do a visual tire check, and where needed we may recommend you replace the defective tire.
We keep your tires on … Top with Top’s Tire experts! Come by your Top Tires store today.


Resources Solution paper – SmartChain™ Energy Management
According to GTM Research, the growth in electric vehicle sales worldwide is expected to boost demand for charging points, with up to 40 million installed by 2030. McKinsey Research believes that unmanaged, substation peak-load increases from EV-charging power demand will eventually push local transformers beyond their capacity, requiring expensive infrastructure upgrades.
The Driivz SmartChain™ Energy Manager plays a critical role in reliably charging EVs using intelligence that ensures the safe delivery of power to electric vehicles without compromising on delivering electricity to offices and homes.
In our SmartChain™ Energy Management Solution paper, you will discover: Why do you need smart EV charging? How Driivz can help you overcome local grid capacity Balancing response and demand How the Driivz SmartChain Energy Manager works Additional features to help manage your energy The future: EVs for energy storage


Chartreux cat is a sturdy, short-haired cat with French origin, much desired for its incredible mousing skills, exotic look, and dense, water-repellent coat. This feline has a stout, muscular body, but often deemed a “potato on toothpicks,” due to its relatively short, fine-boned legs. While it is a stocky furball, the Chartreux cat is lithe and agile, graceful, and never clumsy. And, despite its Halloween-colored eyes, it has a sweet disposition and will provide its owner with years of close companionship and affection.
Origin of the Chartreux Cat
Two different conjectures surround the origin of the breed. First, it is deemed that these cats trace their roots from feral felines from Syria brought to France by crusaders in the 13th century.
The other and more popular theory suggests that Chartreux cats hail are felines brought by the Carthusian monks to the country. Literary references or records confirm the Chartreux cats’ previous existence at the Grande Chartreuse Monastery, where monks used them for their companionship and their hunting ability.
The breed, which had always been infrequent, was put into the brink of extinction in World War II. Fortunately, the Chartreux was saved due to the diligent efforts of cat breeders. However, today, the breed is still a rare breed, arriving in the United States only in 1971.
Physical Characteristics of the Chartreux Cat Length: 15 to 18 inches Weight: 10 to 15 pounds (Males), 6 to 11 pounds (Females) Coat Life Expectancy: 11 to 15 years Coat Color: Blue Type of Coat: Medium Eye Color: Gold, Orange, Copper
The Chartreux cat is a stout, muscular cat, with a conspicuous blue-gray coat and bright orange-copper to orange-gold eyes. The double coat is water-resistant, often giving a napped wool look.
It is often deemed a “potato on toothpicks” as its stocky build sits atop short, fine-boned legs. Other characteristics include a deep chest, fairish-sized ears, and a round head that narrows down to the muzzle. Lastly, these felines sometimes appear to be smiling due to their distinct facial bone structure.
Despite its odd stature, the Chartreux cat has fast reflexes and is prized for its excellent mousing skills.
Chartreux Cat Personality
Thriving alongside monks for a hundred of years, the Chartreux cats have evolved to be gentle, loyal, and sweet-tempered felines. They are people-oriented, always craving for human companionship and up for a snuggle.
As these cats build strong bonds with their owners, they can be seen following them around wherever they go. They would also amuse guests and visitors, as these furballs can warm with them pretty quickly. Having babies or toddlers in the house should not be an issue as Chartreux will harmoniously live with them, making them an ideal family cat.
When it comes to activity levels, Chartreux cats have their energetic and playful side. Known for incredible hunting skills, they love toys that move or a good game of fetch. Otherwise, they can be seen surveying the house in search of something to chase or play with.
Chartreux cats are also blessed with smarts. They can learn their names in no time and can be trained to come to their owner’s calls. However, these furballs are known for being quiet or even silent. They may open their mouths, but won’t produce any “meow.” Instead, they make small trills or chirps, which tends to be surprising given their large body. Moreover, they “talk” to their families in other ways, such as purring mightily or staring using their Halloween-colored eyes.
Caring for the Chartreux Cat
Chartreux cats need relatively low-maintenance when it comes to grooming. Their dense, short coat is repellent to water, and shedding requires regular combing instead of brushing to keep them healthy and prevent any knots. The undercoat sheds twice a year, but regular combing keeps it controlled and manageable. As with other cats, other parts of the grooming routine include dental hygiene, ear cleaning, and nail trimming.
As energetic and playful felines, they will play whenever they want to. While these furballs can easily find something to play with, if there is no toy available, it is best to provide them with playthings, as no one would like them to create one out of any valuable stuff in the house.
These cats prefer hunting games, in which they can showcase their hunting prowess. Not only will it stimulate their innate skills, but it would also ensure that they get adequate exercise. Chartreux cats may be naturally stocky and muscular, but they must engage in regular interactive plays to keep their weight at bay and avoid obesity.
Since they previously lived in large monasteries, these cats will be happiest if they have a vast place to explore. They will love plenty of spaces where they can sleep, play, or roam to look out for rodents.
In terms of health, Chartreux cats are generally a sturdy breed. However, they are vulnerable to some genetic diseases, the same as other cat breeds, such as medial patellar luxation and polycystic kidney disease. The best way to keep these furballs healthy is through proper nutrition, ample exercise, and regular consultations with the vet to prevent or detect any condition.
Chartreux cats are perfect for families looking for easy-going, quiet, and loving companions to their homes. They are fun to have around and will reward their master’s affection with their enigmatic smiles, polite disposition, and sweet devotion. Treating them patiently and kindly and will ensure any owner a friend for life.


Abstract
For patients with impaired breath-hold capacity and/or arrhythmias, real-time cine MRI may be more clinically useful than breath-hold cine MRI. However, commercially available real-time cine MRI methods using parallel imaging typically yield relatively poor spatio-temporal resolution due to their low image acquisition speed. We sought to achieve relatively high spatial resolution (∼2.5 × 2.5 mm
2) and temporal resolution (∼40 ms), to produce high-quality real-time cine MR images that could be applied clinically for wall motion assessment and measurement of left ventricular function. In this work, we present an eightfold accelerated real-time cardiac cine MRI pulse sequence using a combination of compressed sensing and parallel imaging (k-t SPARSE-SENSE). Compared with reference, breath-hold cine MRI, our eightfold accelerated real-time cine MRI produced significantly worse qualitative grades (1-5 scale), but its image quality and temporal fidelity scores were above 3.0 (adequate) and artifacts and noise scores were below 3.0 (moderate), suggesting that acceptable diagnostic image quality can be achieved. Additionally, both eightfold accelerated real-time cine and breath-hold cine MRI yielded comparable left ventricular function measurements, with coefficient of variation <10% for left ventricular volumes. Our proposed eightfold accelerated real-time cine MRI with k-t SPARSE-SENSE is a promising modality for rapid imaging of myocardial function. Keywords MRI cardiac cine compressed sensing heart k-t SPARSE-SENSE real-time ASJC Scopus subject areas Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging


Abstract:
Card-based cryptography, as first proposed by den Boer [den Boer, 1989], enables secure multiparty computation using only a deck of playing cards. Many protocols as of yet come with an “honest-but-curious” disclaimer. However, modern cryptography aims to provide security also in the presence of active attackers that deviate from the protocol description. In the few places where authors argue for the active security of their protocols, this is done ad-hoc and restricted to the concrete operations needed, often using additional physical tools, such as envelopes or sliding cover boxes. This paper provides the first systematic approach to active security in card-based protocols. The main technical contribution concerns shuffling operations. A shuffle randomly permutes the cards according to a well-defined distribution but hides the chosen permutation from the players. We show how the large and natural class of uniform closed shuffles, which are shuffles that select a permutation uniformly at random from a permutation group, can be implemented using only a linear number of helping cards. This ensures that any protocol in the model of Mizuki and Shizuya [Mizuki and Shizuya, 2014] can be realized in an actively secure fashion, as long as it is secure in this abstract model and restricted to uniform closed shuffles. ... mehrUniform closed shuffles are already sufficient for securely computing any circuit [Mizuki and Sone, 2009]. In the process, we develop a more concrete model for card-based cryptographic protocols with two players, which we believe to be of independent interest.


Orphanet journal of rare diseases2017; 12 (1): 71 Abstract
Patients' stories of their illnesses help bridge the divide between patients and providers, facilitating more humane medical care. Illness narratives have been classified into three types: restitution (expectation of recovery), chaos (suffering and loss), and quest (unexpected positive effect from illness). Undiagnosed patients have unique illness experiences and obtaining their narratives would provide insights into the medical and emotional impact of living with an undiagnosed illness. Adults and children with undiagnosed diseases apply to be evaluated by the Undiagnosed Diseases Network (UDN). Written illness narratives from 40 UDN applicants, including 20 adult probands who applied for themselves and 20 parents who applied for their children, were analyzed for: 1) narrative content and 2) narrative type.Narrative content: could be grouped into three themes: 1) Expectations of the UDN: the majority felt they had no further healthcare options and hoped the UDN would provide them with a diagnosis, with the adults expecting to return to their previously healthy life and the parents wanting information to manage their child's healthcare. 2) Personal medical information: the narratives reported worsening of symptoms and some offered opinions regarding the cause of their illness. The proband narratives had few objective findings, while parental narratives had detailed objective information. 3) Experiences related to living with their undiagnosed illness: frustration at being undiagnosed was expressed. The adults felt they had to provide validation of their symptoms to providers, given the lack of objective findings. The parents worried that something relevant to their child's management was being overlooked. Narrative type: All the narratives were of the chaos type, but for different reasons, with the probands describing loss and suffering and the parents expressing fear for their child's future. The parental narratives also had elements of restitution and quest, with acceptance of "a new normal", and an emphasis on the positive aspects of their child's illness which was absent from the probands.These narratives illustrate the chaos that coexists with being undiagnosed. The differences between the proband and parental narratives suggest that these two groups have different needs that need to be considered during their evaluation and management.
View details for DOI 10.1186/s13023-017-0623-3
View details for PubMedID 28416019
View details for PubMedCentralID PMC5392939


On other topics, online discussions, like one at a "hub" for infectious diseases set up by the American College of Emergency Physicians – have had clear, potentially life-saving impacts on how patients are evaluated and treated.
At the Jack D. Weiler Hospital in the Bronx, N.Y., a 70-year-old woman came in with a mild fever, nausea and vomiting that was causing low blood pressure. Doctors initially thought it might be a typical seasonal illness, said Deborah White, vice chair of emergency medicine at the facility.
Then doctors in Washington, where an outbreak in a nursing home led to the first U.S. hot zone, noted on the ACEP hub that many older COVID-19 patients exhibited mainly gastrointestinal issues like nausea and diarrhea.
Back in the Bronx, the 70-year-old patient immediately hit doctors' radar screen as a potential coronavirus case. The hospital – which helps care for patients of nearby nursing homes, started grouping all elderly patients with gastrointestinal symptoms and low blood pressure together as potential COVID-19 patients, a process called cohorting.
"That became a paramount piece of information for us," White said, noting that previously such patients were often sent back home or returned to nursing homes with orders of bed rest and a simple diet. Now, however, some of those patients are testing positive. Cohorting, she noted, isn't traditionally done in such cases, but instant information-sharing allowed a rapid, important change.
"This is what we do, pivoting in the very moment," White said. "It's the bread and butter of emergency medicine."___
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.


A doctor needs to know about any postmenopausal bleeding to exclude the possibility of uterine cancer or hyperplasia, a precancerous condition. Fortunately, cancer is the cause of postmenopausal bleeding in only about 10% of women who have this symptom.
An evaluation of postmenopausal bleeding begins with an exam of the vagina and cervix to see if the blood is coming from the lower genital tract. A pelvic ultrasound is often used to check the internal organs, including the uterus, Fallopian tubes and ovaries.
The width of the uterine lining (the endometrium) is measured during the ultrasound. It should be quite thin after menopause. That's because estrogen levels are too low to stimulate growth of this tissue. If the endometrium is thick, a biopsy is used to gather cells that will be inspected under a microscope. This can determine if cancer or a noncancerous (benign) process caused the thickening.
In women not yet in menopause, estrogen is secreted by the ovaries each month to prepare the uterus for pregnancy. Estrogen levels rise in the first two weeks of a menstrual cycle to stimulate the growth, or proliferation, of the endometrium. If a pregnancy does not occur, the endometrium sheds as the menstrual period.
After menopause, the production of estrogen slows and eventually stops. Since this is a gradual and sometimes irregular process, proliferative endometrium may still be found in early menopausal women. Proliferative endometrium is a noncancerous (benign) and normal cause of thickening seen on an ultrasound.
Continue Learning about Menopause
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.


Alternating current (ac) measurements involve more factors than direct current (dc) measurements. Let’s look at how some of these affect the measurement. We’ll focus on signals with a fundamental frequency below 1kHz. This is where digital multimeters and panel meters are typically used. Higher fundamental frequencies require instrumentation with wider bandwidth, such as audio meters or oscilloscopes.
The basic ac waveform is a sine wave with no dc value. In the diagram, ① indicates the peak amplitude‚ is the peak-to-peak, ƒ is the rms value (sometimes described as the heating value), and is the waveform average value. The relationships between these values in a sine wave are:
peak-to-peak = 2 x peak rms = 0.707 x peak average = 0.636 x peak
Many analog and digital meters are average responding but calibrated to display the equivalent rms value for a sine wave. Their accuracy is degraded when measuring distorted (i.e. non-sinusoidal) waveforms. An rms responding meter (often stated as true rms or TRMS) can tolerate some waveform distortion without derating. The amount of distortion is often indicated by a crest factor specification. Crest factor (CF) is the ratio of peak to rms value. The crest factor of a sine wave is 1.414 (the √2). CF of a full-wave rectified sine is also 1.414, but a half-wave rectified sine is 2. The CF of a square wave is 1; triangle wave √3. Low duty cycle pulse trains can have crest factors >10. Some meters will specify an accuracy derating for high crest factor signals.
The period is the time to complete one full cycle of the ac waveform. Frequency, expressed in Hertz, is the inverse of the period. Frequency is another factor that affects measurement accuracy. A meter has a bandwidth where the specified accuracy applies. On panel meters intended for measurement of mains circuits, this is often 45-100Hz, with some specialty meters operating down to 25Hz or up to 400Hz. A pure sine wave has only a fundamental frequency. Distortion adds high-frequency components to the signal. These may be beyond the bandwidth of the meter, which will degrade the stated accuracy. For example, a ±1V, 100Hz square wave has a 1.25V peak fundamental at 100Hz and odd harmonics of reduced amplitude at 300, 500, 700Hz, etc. Many electronic lamps and motor controls introduce significant distortion to a sine waveform and are therefore best measured with a TRMS responding meter.
Voltage measurements are made across the load or device Voltage measurements are made across the load or device under test. Three voltmeter input configurations are frequently used.
The first voltmeter block shows the meter connected directly across the load. This is typical for an analog meter or digital meter on a range below 4V full scale. An important meter specification for low-frequency signals in this configuration is input resistance. High resistance is desired to avoid altering the voltage across the load. Most voltmeters include a capacitor in series with the meter to block any dc voltage. This allows the meter to display the ac signal even in the presence of a large dc offset. Some TRMS multimeters include an ac+dc function. In this mode, the blocking capacitor is switched out so the meter reads the dc offset and the ac signal together.
The second voltmeter block includes a voltage divider to reduce the meter input to a level compatible with the voltmeter circuit. The sum of the two resistors must be a high value to avoid loading the circuit under test. The third voltmeter scheme is popular in meters dedicated to AC mains measurements, where there is no dc offset. An internal potential transformer reduces the ac signal feeding the meter section and isolates it from the ac source. For these same reasons, some meters are specified for use with an external potential transformer.
Voltmeter Loading Example: A typical DMM has an input resistance on the ac function of 10MΩ. If the circuit being measured has Rsource = 1kΩ and Rload = 10kΩ, connecting that DMM across Rload will change the voltage by <0.01%. However, a meter input resistance of 100kΩ would change the voltage by almost 1%. Fortunately, AC mains circuits have resistances significantly lower than this example, so connecting a voltmeter has a negligible effect.
Current measurements are made by placing an ammeter in series with the load. The preferred location for the ammeter is in the low leg of the circuit. This minimizes the voltage at the meter terminals, thus reducing leakage currents to earth (which would cause a reading error). This location also reduces the safety risk to users.
The first ammeter circuit shows a typical analog meter. Here it is important to minimize the resistance the meter adds to the circuit. This is often expressed as a burden, which is the voltage drop across the meter at full-scale current. The second ammeter block shows the configuration of a typical digital meter. A low-value resistor is placed in series with the load and the voltage across that resistor is measured to determine the circuit current. In the third ammeter block, a current transformer reduces the current level and isolates the meter circuitry from the circuit being tested. In some cases, an external current transformer may also be used. Transformer-rated analog ammeters are specified and calibrated for use with an external current transformer.
Ammeter Loading Example: A digital ammeter has an internal resistor of 0.1Ω for the 1A range. A 24V ac circuit drawing 1A has a combined source and load resistance of 24Ω. The addition of the meter resistance decreases the current by 4mA, causing the meter to read low by 0.4%. Using the 10A range with an internal resistor of 0.01Ω would reduce this error. However, accuracy is affected by operating at 10% of full scale.
Careful selection and application of an ac meter, either analog or digital, allows voltage or current measurements with sufficient accuracy for industrial applications. AC power measurements involve the measurement of both voltage and current, plus the phase relationship between them. These more complex measurements are described in several application notes.


Solar energy conversion must arguably play a central role in sustainably providing large-scale power to a growing global population currently undergoing a massive surge in industrialization. At present, this goal remains elusive owing to the absence of means for economical solar power generation. Organic and hybrid organic / inorganic photovoltaic cells (OPV) have the potential to fill this gap, but are currently unable to meet the efficiency required for a significant impact on the energy market. The delicate balance between high interfacial area required for efficient exciton dissociation and high mobility of both types of carriers poses fundamental challenges to device architecture that require novel spectroscopic insights on microscopic length-scales. Scanning photoionization microscopy (SPIM) is capable of providing frontier orbital position at high spatial resolution, thus generating a detailed map of interfacial electronic structure at sub-micron length-scales. We will discuss recent advances to implement this form of microscopy in the context of nano- and meso-structured hybrid materials for solar energy conversion.


COVID-19 has emphasized the
importance of getting accurate information to the right individuals, especially in a time where all our systems and resources are constrained. Under these restrictions, information efficiency is paramount.
In lieu of this, there will be a pivot towards '
information guides' and existing players/institutions have an opportunity to take on this role. It's not enough to put information out there; users need solutions that enables them to self-triage and identify the resources that apply to their situation quickly.


Our curatorial approach rests on sound frameworks, process and quality control, fostering creativity, invention and innovation.
Vestibulum scelerisque odio sed suscipit viverra.
Sed libero purus, venenatis in leo vel, pharetra fringilla lectus.
A survey and / or focus groups of your learners before you start can provide valuable information.
Project components can be identified through the option of a facilitated workshop ensuring all collaborators remain on the same page throughout the project.
Fortnightly reviews ensure changes are implemented at the most convenient time, saving costly amendments after the fact, while allowing the project to breathe, evolve and adapt.
Our curatorial approach ensures if we don’t know a subject intimately, we don’t bluff, we bring in advisors, suppliers, creators and technicians as subject matter experts. By example, our Accessibility Consultant ensures we can meet our commitment to universal inclusion.
User and client feedback during and after completion will ensure diligent assessment and improvement.


Detection of quantitative trait loci affecting caffeine metabolism by interval mapping in a genome-wide scan of C3H/HeJ x APN F(2) mice.
JOURNAL:
Drug metabolism and disposition: the biological fate of chemicalsDec 1999,Vol 27, pp. 1375-80
ABSTRACT:
Caffeine metabolite ratios have been widely used to measure cytochrome P-450 1A2 activity in humans. Serum paraxanthine/caffeine ratio is one such index of this activity. We had previously demonstrated genetic variation of this trait among inbred mouse strains. In the present study, we have undertaken a genome-wide scan for quantitative trait loci affecting this trait with an interval mapping approach on an F(2) intercross population of acetaminophen nonsusceptible and C3H/HeJ inbred mice. A statistically significant association (log-likelihood ratio = 25.0) between a locus on chromosome 9, which colocalized with the murine Cyp1a2 locus, and the plasma paraxanthine/caffeine ratio was identified. This result suggested the presence of an expression polymorphism affecting this gene. A second locus was identified on chromosome 1 (log-likelihood ratio = 9.7) for which no obvious candidate gene has been identified. The influence of this locus on the paraxanthine/caffeine index was more significant among males (log-likelihood ratio = 6.3) than females (log-likelihood ratio = 3.6). A third locus was identified on chromosome 4 with a less statistically robust association (log-likelihood ratio = 3.4) to the paraxanthine/caffeine phenotype. Collectively, these three loci accounted for 63.2% of the variation observed in the F(2) population for this phenotype. These results demonstrate the potential for genetic variation arising from factors other than CYP1A2 activity to influence the plasma paraxanthine/caffeine ratio in mice. This study demonstrates the utility of quantitative genetics in the analysis of polygenic drug metabolism.PUBMED: 10570017 Find other GeneSets from this publication


The Indian government closed international and domestic air travel to contain the spread of novel coronavirus, or COVID-19. While suspension of all international services was announced first, after just few days, a total suspension of air traffic was announced, thereby, vacating the skies of India of any commercial flights.
Suspending all domestic air travel was an act well timed – 48 hours after the last scheduled international flight, which meant that passengers having connecting flights had reached their destinations. With less than 48 hours to plan, execute and shut down, it was a scramble for airlines to get planes to base along with the crew.
With the uncertainty regarding the duration of the aviation closure, it was imperative that the airlines send the crew back to their home base. Accordingly,
as soon as the government announced the deadline of 11:59pm on March 24, 2020, for the last of flights to land, a new scramble erupted. A battle to store the aircraft. An endeavour to park them where they can be secured and safe.
Delhi airport – India’s largest by traffic and area — had already closed one of its three runways for parking of planes. This was not an unseen phenomenon. Zurich, Frankfurt, Atlanta – a lot of global peers — among others, had done the same. But India has a different problem. The nation is still partially regulated and airlines do require permission from airport operator or the government for night parking an aircraft. An aircraft cannot be imported without having night parking in place. As a result, the over 650 aircraft have a designated night parking slot when they were imported and allowed to operate in India. Thus, ideally, every aircraft should have a dedicated parking space, at least on paper. However, with majority of the airlines in the country being Low Cost Carriers, airlines obtain night parking permission from one airport and rotate the aircraft the whole night without really parking there, which is a common practice with LCCs as their business model is built around ensuring that every aircraft is fully utilised. With a lockdown in place, it was imperative that the crew had to return to base and hence additional pressure was put on major cities, further disturbing the parking pattern of over 650 aircraft.
So, how is India tackling the aircraft parking issue?
Delhi has one-third of India’s commercial fleet parked after the grounding. A staggering 205 aircraft across airlines are parked at the New Delhi airport. Mumbai is home to nearly 100 aircraft across airlines being parked, followed by Bengaluru, which has 71 aircraft, and Hyderabad with 61. Kolkata is housing 54 aircraft, while Chennai being an abode to 53. And here lies the logistic nightmare: IndiGo has parked its aircraft at eighteen airports across the country, while SpiceJet and GoAir have parked at eleven airports each. Air India has parked its aircraft at seven airports in the country, while Vistara and AirAsia India have parked their aircraft at six and five airports, respectively.
A parked plane does require some maintenance and airlines would be using minimal manpower for the same, at times, at places where facilities for carrying out the maintenance might not be always guaranteed, since aircraft are now distributed throughout the country. And thus, when the restrictions will be lifted, they would be in phases and when it happens, it would imply another logistical nightmare for the airlines for route management and crew transportation.
What do you think about the after effects of this shutdown? How long will it take for airlines to return to business as usual? And most importantly, do you think it would be ‘usual’ in the first place?
This content was provided to MentourPilot by provider, Travel Radar Media. Travel Radar offers high quality content in partnership with Mentour


Abstract
Helping professionals are easy exposed to secondary traumatic stress (STS) when engaging in treatment process with clients who had been traumatized primarily. STS contributes to different degrees of psychological distress such as compassion fatigue and burnout as well as negative impacts on job satisfaction and subjective sense of role competence.
Objectives:The study was to identify protective factors for helping professionals’ from psychological distress that might help increasing role competence and quality of human services. Methods:A cross sectional quantitative approach was conducted through online convenient sampling from 71 helping professionals (mean age=37.7; 87.3% female), measured the areas of mindfulness traits, quality of supervision, secondary traumatic stress and sense of role competence. Results:Mindfulness traits was positively associated with role of competence and was negatively associated with secondary traumatic stress. Quality of supervision had no significant correlation with role of competence. Regression analysis proved that STS partially mediated the relation between mindfulness and role competence. Two subscales of mindfulness traits, attention and present focus, had significant influence on role competence. Conclusion:Mindfulness traits were found to be a potential predictor and protective factor for helping professionals from psychological distress. Activities with mindfulness elements are suggested for stress reduction. Meanwhile, further researches on protective factors for helping professionals are recommended. All rights reserved.
Original language English Publication status Published - 2018 Keywords Secondary traumatic stress Role competence Mindfulness Alt. title: Secondary traumatic stress, role competence Theses and Dissertations Thesis (M.Soc.Sc(Psy))--The Education University of Hong Kong, 2018.


With demand for businesses to be ‘greener’ and for more efficient growth, environmental management is now a key focus for all organizations. BSI's report on sustainability discusses pressing topics for organizations, including:
Environmental challenges in business Engaging with the UN Sustainability Development Goals The circular economy Smart cities Global water stewardship Sustainable energy management
Use the form below to download the report:


The water industry introduced an alternative dispute resolution service called WATRS (the Water redress Scheme) in April 2015.
If customers are unhappy with the outcome of their case following the company’s formal complaints procedure and CCWater’s mediation, they can approach WATRS for an independent and binding decision on the matter. Take up of the scheme has been lower than expected, and this research is aimed to understand why that is.
The key findings include: Despite CCWater signposting eligible customers to the scheme, only three in ten were aware of the scheme; Communication about WATRS could be made stronger by making it bigger, making it stand out more or having a separate email or letter about it; and The most cited reason for not approaching WATRS was that the customer had given up or saw no point in continuing.
We intend to address these findings by strengthening our signposting to WATRS and making a link to WATRS case studies more visible on our website. This enables customers to see positive outcomes of what WATRS has achieved. We will also include a leaflet about WATRS in our closure letters, which will be provided to CCWater by the panel that has oversight of the WATRS scheme.


If Katie Price or David Beckham managed a hedge fund, they would probably underperform their rivals, recent research suggests.
That, at least, is one conclusion you could draw from a paper published earlier this month by academics at Edhec Business School and Boston College. It found that a hedge fund with media coverage will, on average, underperform a rival with no coverage by 3.5 percentage points. The difference is more pronounced among smaller funds, and among the largest funds the difference is "not significant".
The study doesn't establish a causal link. The authors suggest that media coverage could lead to increased flows, which would affect performance, or that journalists tend to focus on negatively performing funds - but they dismiss both hypotheses based on the data.
Still, the research focuses only on North American funds, so Katie and Becks might face better odds than their peers across the pond.
See the research here:
http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1563703


This event has passed. Implementing Blockchain Within Governments January 7, 2019 @ 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Kausar Samli, VP of Global Delivery for Learning Machine, will address the key topics and values relevant for governments considering blockchain implementations.
Talk Summary
In this age of global economic transformation, as nation-states transition from a local industrial economy to a global digital economy, technology-driven social evolution increasingly requires an information economy model of credentialing. The reforming of paper records into blockchain-secured digital documents offers a faster, simpler, and more secure way to record transactions, validate authenticity, and verify identity. These attributes directly prevent fraud, enhance operational efficiency, enable new revenue streams, increase brand and market value, and simultaneously empowering participants to be owners of official records that are theirs for a lifetime.
Nowhere is this transition more apparent than among nation-states where the constraints of a small population with limited resources necessitate innovative approaches to train, recruit, and retain a competitive workforce. Island nations like the Bahamas and Malta (and others) are at the forefront of this transformation by leveraging technologies that offer competitive advantages and attract human capital from larger nation-states. For example, both nations are implementing strategies, incentives, and legislations to facilitate a transformation into blockchain-powered governments and economies, thereby generating significant global and regional economic value. As the world leader in blockchain-secured digital records, Learning Machine has developed the technology and scalable enterprise platform to provide an information economy model of credentialing to meet market needs.


Good indoor air quality in Clearwater can improve health issues like allergies and asthma. Even individuals in good health without respiratory issues can benefit from clean air. Dust, smoke and other pollutants waft around in the air, causing your curtains and furniture to gather dust. By eliminating airborne dust particles, you decrease the level of exposure your respiratory system has to them.


What is an Offshore Closing?
By:
Andrew Holland
Occasionally we handle transactions where either a buyer or seller require a closing to occur outside of the area where the boat is currently lying. This is what we call an “offshore closing”.
Why would one require an offshore closing?
The main reason that either party would request an offshore closing most often directly coincides with potential taxation or duty ramifications on the sale of the boat in it’s given location. To avoid these potential costs, the buyer and seller may agree to perform a legal offshore closing on the sale of the boat.
An offshore closing can be defined as when a boat is sailed into international waters on the agreed day of closing – the required distance offshore for closing will depend on the boats location – and finalization of the closing documents is done directly on the boat once you are in international waters. Photos are taken of the GPS coordinates and signing of the required documents, along with a photos of the signer with a copy of the days newspaper to provide photographic evidence of the time and location of the finalization of the closing documents.
Offshore closings are most often seen in states like Florida, California and in various countries in Europe.
While an offshore closing does require logistical consideration that can potentially complicate the closing process, it does present potentially advantageous legal methods to avoid tax and duty on the purchase or sale of a vessel depending on the details of the transaction.
The procedure and requirements for an offshore closing will depend on the boats current location and where she intends to re-enter the country after the closing, so if you intend to proceed with an offshore closing it is important to consult with professionals to discuss the legal requirements that must be followed.
For questions, feel free to contact the Multihull Company offices at 215-508-2704.


Olon is a world-class drug substance contract development and manufacturing organization with expertise in API production using synthetic and biological processes for the generic market. As our exclusive sponsor of Italy, Olon has a global presence with 11 manufacturing facilities. The company’s facilities, located in Italy, Spain, the United States, India, and China, are all compliant with international requirements.
With several decades of experience and a strong background in chemical and biological processes, Olon is a reliable outsourcing partner that offers integrated services to support the full development of APIs.
How is Olon contributing to the future of healthcare?
As an API supplier to pharmaceutical companies worldwide, innovation is a key driver at Olon. The company invests in new technologies, capabilities, and processes to provide valuable solutions. Olon is closely eyeing the increasing need for personalized medicine and aims to further invest in high-containment capabilities and adopt continuous rather than batch processing for API manufacturing.
The recent COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted a critical need for a robust supply chain, as some supplier countries were placed on lockdown. Olon, with its global presence, supports health efforts through the development of multiple experimental antiviral drugs to combat COVID-19. The company will continue to develop new ideas and sustainable solutions to support the life science industry and improve the health of patients across the world.


Border safety is a critical part of national and international security. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security searches vehicles entering the country at land borders for drugs and other contraband. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents believe that such vehicles operate in groups and if the criminal links of one vehicle are known then their border crossing patterns can be used to identify other partner vehicles. We perform this association analysis by using mutual information (MI) to identify vehicles that may be involved in criminal activity. CBP agents also suggest that criminal vehicles may cross at certain times or ports to try and evade inspection. In a partnership with border-area law enforcement agencies and CBP, we include these heuristics in the MI formulation and identify suspect vehicles using large-scale, real-world data collections. Statistical tests and selected cases judged by domain experts show that the heuristic-enhanced MI performs significantly better than classical MI in identifying pairs of potentially criminal vehicles. The techniques described can be used to assist CBP agents perform their functions both efficiently and effectively.


People often suggest one role of a leader is to convince people to do something.
I disagree.
People seem to associate the act of convincing with the outcome they want. If convincing worked as people wanted, I would associate them too, but I see it work differently in practice.
If someone disagrees with you, using logic to convince someone still depends on your premises. So if the person doesn’t agree with you, you have different premises. They’ll see your attempts at convincing as imposing your values on them and push back, leading you to convince more, and so on. Argument ensues.
When people agree there’s no point in convincing either since you already agree. Trying to use logic sometimes provokes argument even when someone agrees.
If you think of convincing as a way of influencing and persuasion, you’re making yourself ineffective.
You
are leading them, just rarely where you meant to. You’re leading them to argue with you. If you get annoyed at them for arguing with you, you missed your role in provoking the debate. My model for convincing: It’s a synonym for “provoking an argument”
I’ve adopted a model for the act of convincing as a synonym for “provoking an argument.” Sometimes the model oversimplifies, but rarely. So when I catch myself thinking I’ll convince someone of something, I think to myself, “do I want to argue with this person and risk alienating them?”, because that’s the usual outcome.
Then I work on my other skills of influence, persuasion, and leadership.
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On initiative, leadership, the environment, and burpees


In this issue of
Anesthesia & Analgesia, 3 articles highlight the importance of respiratory monitoring. The Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) Death and Near Miss Registry examined OSA-related associations with death and brain damage. The PRODIGY Risk Prediction Model utilized continuous oximetry and capnography monitoring to identify 5 variables strongly associated with opioid-induced respiratory depression. Finally, investigators explored the external validity of the commonly used STOP-BANG questionnaire, as a screening tool for OSA. This infographic highlights the need to carefully identify patients at risk for respiratory depression, who should then be closely monitored. The reader is encouraged to review the cited articles for a better understanding and thorough discussion of these findings. REFERENCES
1. Bolden N, et al. Postoperative critical events associated with obstructive sleep apnea: results from the Society of Anesthesia and Sleep Medicine Obstructive Sleep Apnea Registry. Anesth Analg. 2020;131:1032–1041.
2. Khanna AK, Bergese SD, Jungquist CR, et al. Prediction of opioid-induced respiratory depression on inpatient wards using continuous capnography and oximetry: an international prospective, observational trial. Anesth Analg. 2020;131:1012–1024.
3. Seguin L, Tamisier R, Deletombe B, Lopez M, Pepin J-L, Payen J-F. Preoperative screening for obstructive sleep apnea using alternative scoring models of the sleep tiredness observed pressure-body mass index age neck circumference gender questionnaire: an external validation. Anesth Analg. 2020;131:1025–1031.


Governor Lamont Encourages Participation in Statewide Vita Program to Combat Financial Insecurity During Covid-19 Pandemic
Program Provides Free Assistance to Low-Income Families with Filing Documents Needed to Receive CARES Act Funds and Pandemic Unemployment Assistance
By Tribuna Staff | Translated by Jamal Fox & Alisson Ziza
(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont announced, on June 22, his support for the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program and its statewide expansion. The program provides free help for Connecticut’s low-income and ALICE families to file tax returns, allowing them to receive tax credits and coronavirus economic impact checks and to file for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) benefits. All residents making up to $56,000 in income are eligible for the services. Administered by the Connecticut Association for Human Services (CAHS), the virtual VITA program is the first IRS-approved end-to-end digital portal to carry out these services, allowing it to rapidly scale operations statewide.
Residents can access the full Virtual VITA services online at www.cahs.org/covid_relief. Residents can also dial 2-1-1 to find the nearest in-person VITA service site or the nearest virtual VITA portal, which offers computers for residents to log on and submit their claims. VITA works with municipalities and local community groups to provide service and accommodate residents across the state.
Economic impact payments available through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act of up to $1,200 for individuals or $2,400 for married couples, and up to $500 for each qualifying child are only available to those who have filed a 2018 or 2019 tax return, so virtual VITA opens the door for residents who don’t normally file a tax return to receive sorely needed financial support.
Since the start of the COVID-19 crisis, beneficiaries of VITA’s tax filing service have received an average of approximately $3,000 from stimulus checks and tax credits such as the Earned Income Tax Credit and the Child Tax Credit from filing their tax returns. Those whom VITA has also helped file for unemployment benefits will receive average additional benefits of approximately $20,000 during the year. In total, VITA has delivered approximately $30 million this past year in funds received for its beneficiaries in Connecticut.
“Many Connecticut families deeply affected by the COVID-19 crisis are unfortunately not receiving the financial support they are entitled to by the CARES stimulus, Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, or other government programs,” Governor Lamont said. “I applaud the work that VITA is doing to get our citizens the financial help they need and deserve, and our state is are committed to supporting the efforts of this important organization to connect with and assist eligible Connecticut residents.”
CAHS has been supported in its expansion by the philanthropic organization 4-CT, which was created with the express purpose of providing emergency assistance to the state’s residents during the current pandemic.
“VITA and CAHS have proven to be an incredibly dynamic partner in pandemic support efforts,” Ted Yang, CEO of 4-CT, said. “Few solutions empower individuals more in accelerating the pace of the government’s response to layoffs and loss of income that we’ve been seeing across the country. 4-CT will continue to work helping the state get through the COVID-19 crisis as securely as possible.”
“We appreciate the support that Governor Lamont’s administration and 4-CT have provided and are proud to offer this critical service to families in our community at a time when they need our support the most,” John Merz, CEO of CAHS, said. “We look forward to continuing to serve the population of Connecticut and getting financial resources to those that need it the most as quickly as possible.”
Connecticut residents who have not filed a 2019 tax return or who have become unemployed but have not yet filed for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance should visit the CAHS website to learn if they are eligible and register for VITA’s free assistance. VITA also recently announced a Referral Incentive Program, whereby philanthropic organizations within Connecticut can receive cash bonuses for referring eligible VITA beneficiaries who successfully complete the program.
VITA estimates that as many as 140,000 people across the State of Connecticut may be eligible for some type of cash benefit from the government. The deadline for filing tax returns has been extended to July 15, 2020, and the deadline for applying for CARES stimulus funds is October 15, 2020.


Noida: Residents hassled due to distant vegetable market at Sec 62 Noida: Despite a strict advisory to avoid coming out unnecessarily during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, residents of around 20 residential societies in Sector 62, Noida, have to walk down around a mile of distance to buy vegetables from a local mandi.
They are doing so since the time local police acted on complaints of valuable snatching from residents. They restricted entries of vegetable vendors on roads between these societies considering safety and security of residents. But this has created a new problem for them especially during the challenging time, residents complained.
They said that though they appreciate the action taken for controlling incidents of valuable snatching. But it failed as there is hardly any control on these incidents. Moreover, the residents are going through huge inconvenience as they have to cover a distance of around a mile for buying vegetables.
Gulshan Dhamija, a vigilant citizen said, “It is safe to stay indoors during the ongoing challenging time but residents haven't any alternate option rather coming out and walking down to the local mandi for meeting daily needs of buying vegetables.”
“We have heard a lot about the Noida Authority’s strict attempts to implement vending zone policy in the city. But it is not visible in this sector. The authority has not even installed any sign board indicating that the place is reserved for vendors only,” he added.
The problem can be mitigated for residents if the authority takes measuring steps for enforcing the policy on the ground. Dhamija said, “If the authority allocates space to vendors and ensures that they are coming to their designated space for selling vegetables in the identified vending zones, the problem would be solved for a long time.''
He has consistently been following the issue with concerned officers but they are yet to take action. He said, “Forget the action, they don't even bother to respond to the formal communication made to them.”


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The School Leader'' Guide to Restorative Discipline, this teacher's guide shows how to create a welcoming and responsible community within your classroom, contributing to a consistent, schoolwide approach to discipline.
Authors Luanna Meyer and Ian Evans offer field-tested strategies that transform classroom dynamics. Topics include:
A step-by-step approach to introducing restorative discipline in your classroom Developing peer support and group problem-solving among students, including preventing and stopping bullying Collaborating with administrators and colleagues on schoolwide behavior expectations Partnering with families and neighborhood organizations to support positive student conduct Managing effective individual interventions with students, including four key principles for success
This comprehensive guide helps teachers introduce and sustain a proven approach to discipline, preparing students for achievement in school and life.


Anxiety in Children
Parents often inquire if theirchildren with anxietywill outgrow theiranxietyor if they will get worse over time. Some anxiouschildren, if encouraged to face their fears, develop adjusting skills on their own as they mature. In that sense, they do surmount theirfears.On the other hand,children with anxietythat avoid theirfearscan become quite handicapped by them. With prolonged aversion of age-appropriate activities, valuable skills are lost and the children with anxietybecome increasingly dependent on the few people to whom they relate. Often,family conflictsresult due to poor coping skills. With increased family conflict and diminished ability to keep up at school and with peers, theirself-esteemplummets.
Fortunately, mostchildren with anxietycan overcome theirfearsby gradually facing them. Each time afeared situationis faced, the child becomes a little less sensitive to it. After a childis repeatedly exposed to the apprehensive situation and is helped to successfully master his or heranxiety, the fight-or-flight reaction to that situation will disappear .
Over a lifetime,anxietytends to come and go in those people who are susceptible to it. Exacerbations tend to happen when supports are lost or a new stressor is faced. For example, the expectation forchildrento behave more autonomously atadolescencecan be difficult for asensitive childwho has previously relied a great deal onparental support. However, for a child that has learned adjusting skills, this difficulty is not a cause fordespair. Instead, it is a signal that previously learned coping skills need to be reviewed, and a few new ones may need to be added. Each time a new situation is mastered, confidence builds, allowing thechildto face new challenges and live aproductive, fulfilling life.
Deciding on the best method for inducing yourchildren with anxietyto face what is feared may require some thought. As a rule, whatever works and does not harm is best. If your childlacks the skills needed to face what is feared, some training by a psychologist in those skills may be needed before exposing thechildto what isfeared. For example, a chronically shy childthat for years has not communicated with friends may lack thesocial skillsto do so. Once the required skills have been taught, yourchildmust face what is feared through repeated exposures to it.
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Paper Title Technological Aspects Related to Prebiotics Inclusion in the Macedonian Dairy Industry Abstract Probiotic dairy products have been defined as “food containing live micro-organisms believed to actively
enhance human health by improving the intestinal microbial balance”. This study was carried out to evaluate the growth and
viability of probiotic bacteria Bifidobacterium bifidus in natural set-yogurt during the period of 28 days (0, 1, 7, 14, 21, 28
days). Three series of fermented cow’s milk have been taken, prepared in three variants as follows: the first variant (B) was
prepared by the addition of the prebiotic Fibregum B, the second variant (P) with the addition of a prebiotic Fibregum P and
the third variant of the fermented milk without prebiotic, served as the control variant (K). The dynamic of probiotic’s
bacteria growth and development was determined using a colony reader (pbi international F4). The count of probiotic
bacteria Bifidobacterium bifidus was higher in natural set yogurt with prebiotic inclusion compared to the control variant
without prebiotics. It has been concluded that the development of bacteria depends on the conditions and stage of production
and the type of prebiotic.
Keywords - prebiotic, Bifidobacterium bifidus, natural - set yogurt, dynamic.


My parents are celebrating their 59th wedding anniversary this month! As I sit in their living room and listen to their familiar banter, I wonder what it is that has kept them together so long? What is it that allows love to grow within relationship and more importantly, within us individually?
A warm and loving relationship is one of the most rewarding experiences in life; embracing a long-term commitment, even more so. To get to know and accept our partner’s strengths and weaknesses in a most intimate way, is challenging and fulfilling at the same time. It is where the deepest learning of ourselves takes place and where our creativity may flourish. Creativity sits in the heart of love and enables us to persevere the difficult times that inevitably happen; creativity works within the relationship to keep it alive and gratifying; creativity dances within the framework of relationship to help us remain whole and true to ourselves.
The love that often receives the least notice is Self-love. Spending time reflecting on the inner parts of ourselves that take away from living fully in love, and releasing from the source, takes commitment. The Self-awareness required to know when the unconscious voices of unlove take over and how to replace them with kindness and compassion can be arduous at times. Without creativity this process may become overwhelming or at worst, not happen at all.
One of the ways I uncover unconscious thoughts is when I have judgment for those around me. When I hear the voices in my head being critical, angry, discriminating, self-righteous, or feeling judged by another, I spend time noticing how I may change my outlook. Often the deeper meaning of what I am feeling is where, in my life, I am critical of myself. By identifying where the source of my harsh criticism lies within, I begin to see a situation differently. This is where creativity allows expansion beyond the old voices, perceptions and patterns. Creativity engages new parts of my being to move out of the critical and into compassion.
Healing our internal relationships is essential to becoming more Self-aware. When accessing creativity in the Self-awareness process, the outcome of love is inevitable. Creativity holds curiosity, inventiveness and inspiration, all key elements in realizing and maintaining love. Love provides safety for creativity which inspires more creativity which inspires more love. As we heal our internal relationships and nurture our inner love and creativity, more love and compassion flows in our external relationships.


A case of Influenza A (H1N2)v was detected in Alberta in October.
A statement from the Province of Alberta notes that one confirmed cases of H1N2v was detected in mid-October after a patient felt flu-like symptoms and received medical care.
See also:
The symptoms were mild and the patient recovered quickly the release states.
The Province of Alberta’s website notes that H1N2v can result in mild respiratory illnesses, along with symptoms similar to the seasonal flu.
“There is no evidence at this time that the virus has spread further,” states Dr. Keith Lehman, chief provincial veterinarian, in the release.
“Health officials, in conjunction with Alberta Agriculture and Forestry, have launched a public health investigation to determine the source of the virus and to verify that no spread occurred. The Government of Alberta will continue working closely with Alberta Health Services, the Public Health Agency of Canada and other partners across Canada.”
1/3 A single case of variant influenza A(H1N2)v has been reported in Canada. This is a rare type of flu in humans, typically acquired from exposure to infected pigs and not known to spread easily from human to human. https://t.co/exhH1UTGpr
— Dr. Theresa Tam (@CPHO_Canada) November 4, 2020
Unlike another flu variant H1N1 (AKA the Swine Flu) that saw its own pandemic back in 2009, the variant Influenza H1N2 has only seen 27 cases reported globally since 2005, notes the statement, with this recent case marking the first ever seen in Canada.
“H1N2 is not a food-related illness. It is not transmissible to people through pork meat or other products that come from pigs and there is no risk associated with eating pork,” the statement reads.
“We will keep Albertans informed of the outcomes of the public health investigation.”


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A balanced energy mix is key to achieving the EU climate objectives – including net-zero GHG emissions in 2050 – in a resilient, efficient, and affordable way. The presence of renewable and decarbonised gases – biomethane and hydrogen from power-to-gas, pyrolysis, and steam methane reforming with carbon capture and storage – will increase towards the middle of the century. As each energy source has intrinsic advantages and challenges, the overarching need is to combine and optimise available sources in ways that meet the different energy demands of each country, city, district, and building. With a focus on the evolving role of gas, this brochure explores scenarios for technology and market development in residential, commercial, and industrial sectors.


Introduction: The benefits of clinical trials registration include improved transparency on clinical trials for healthcare workers and patients, increased accountability of trialists, the potential to address publication bias and selective reporting, and possibilities for research collaboration and prioritization. However, poor quality of information in registered records of trials has been found to undermine these benefits in the past. Trialists' increasing experience with trial registration and recent developments in registration systems may have positively affected data quality. This study was conducted to investigate whether the quality of registration has improved. Methods: We repeated a study from 2009, using the same methods and the same research team. A random sample of 400 records of clinical trials that were registered between 01/01/2012 and 01/01/2013 was taken from the International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP) and assessed for the quality of information on 1) contact details, 2) interventions and 3) primary outcomes. Results were compared to the equivalent assessments from our previous study. Results: There was a small and not statistically significant increase from 81.0% to 85.5% in the percentage of records that provided a name of a contact person. There was a significant increase from 68.7% to 74.9% in the number of records that provided either an email address or a telephone number. There was a significant increase from 44.2% to 51.9% in the number of intervention arms that were complete in registering intervention specifics. There was a significant increase from 38.2% to 57.6% in the number of primary outcomes that were specific measures with a meaningful timeframe. Approximately half of all trials continued to be retrospectively registered. Discussion: There have been small but significant improvements in the quality of registration since 2009. Important problems with quality remain and continue to constitute an impediment to the meaningful utilization of registered trial information.