Katerina Sfakianaki is a physicist. She also has a postgraduate Diploma, in environmental physics from the Physics Dept. of the University of Athens. She was working as a research scientist in the Group of Building Environmental Studies (University of Athens) (2002-2010) and had participated in a variety of European research and applied projects in energy conservation, integration of renewable energies in buildings, indoor air quality, thermal comfort and passive cooling.
She is currently working as a physicist in CRES and has participated in a variety of national and European projects which are contributing to RES projects, energy saving in buildings as well as in the development and implementation of legislative framework adopting EU policy directives.
Her technical skills include experimental testing, air tightness and ventilation measurements, and dynamic thermal modelling.


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The Pride and Prejudice silk scarf is ready!
|Pride and Prejudice silk scarf on ETSY|
The ideaI decided to paint Lizzy and Darcy on both ends of the scarf, so when you put the scarves around you, they meet!
|Pride and Prejudice scarves on ETSY|
I was trying to get a watercolor style and feel to the painting, as watercolors was the medium of choice of the era. Still, I know none of the Bennet sister painted :P
The designI have painted them in cameo style, profiles decorated with flowers (Lizzy) and leafs (Darcy).
|Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy on a scarf - find it on ETSY|
She is bright and lively, hence greens and colors of spring.
He is calm and quiet, therefore blues and dark greens.
In the middle of the scarf there is a title 'Pride and Prejudice' painted with fancy letters and multi-colored background.
PaintingI must say it took some time! I really enjoyed this work, but I have stayed up too late and I was to tired the next day... still, it was worth it! Thankfully, we have coffee.
It was a two day process, but on the second day I only did the 'outlines' - contours to the characters. If you like to see my process, check out this entry on painting the Peacock scarf.

domain: artistic


I thought I arrived in plenty of time, but alas, no… I just missed the South African based band, Civil Twilight. They played promptly at 8:30, which will teach me to not wait so long after doors at the Intersection on a weeknight. After the disappointment had settled and 9 PM was firmly on the clock, the activity began to quickly clear the stage for the headliner to take his place. Soon we were to see: Jimmy Eat World.
Now you may have formed your opinions of this band long ago, back when “The Sweetness” and “The Middle” were popular, but this band here this night, celebrating their 10th anniversary of the release of Bleed American, were so much more than anything assumed by the casual listener. As I watched and listened to the entirety of their set I realized I knew them far better than I had previously thought. So many familiar and enticing songs blanketed the venue as the crowd grew ever more grateful.
The band started the night with some favorites including the somewhat recent “Coffee and Cigarettes” and proceeded to play an array of music spanning the last ten years… many of the fans could not have possibly been old enough to enjoy their first national album unless they started listening at the age of 6. It was fascinating to see the overwhelming youth of their fans at this show; there was a sea of “M’s” lining the front of the stage.
As the show drew on, the fans grew more wild. The heat of the venue became intense, pushing me towards the back by the open door for smokers. I stood near the merch tables while I watched the remainder of the show, pausing to buy a tote bag from each band… I love those tote bags, so cheap and so versatile. More bands need to offer such enticing wares; not everyone wants a t-shirt.
The band itself was awesome though, they had energy and enthusiasm and great songs. They made sure to play several songs that were not the everyday as well as what the general masses desired. They finished off the night with an encore involving their oldest hits, but there were plenty of great moments beforehand. It was well worth staying for the entire show considering the level of enthusiasm they brought to this gig, as I am sure they did all the others.


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John Anderson | October 11, 2021
If you are not familiar with a checkbook IRA, it is a self-directed IRA where you use your retirement funds to create profits. You can do that by owning real estate or owning a business, property, or something else that generates income within an individual retirement account. This is known as a self-directed IRA LLC. One word of caution, the IRS is not a fan of the self-directed IRA LLC.
The profits from a checkbook IRA stay in that IRA account. When you want to invest in precious metals using the checkbook IRA route, it is more commonly known as a home storage IRA. This is where you would invest in gold, silver, and other precious metals and store those metals at home.
At first glance, it might seem easy and straightforward, but opening an account, complying with IRS regulations, and managing those accounts can be rather difficult.
In September 2021, a US Congressional subcommittee passed additions to the 2021 Budget Reconciliation Act. These additions would effectively dissolve checkbook IRA accounts and become quite a burden on existing checkbook IRA accounts.
A section in the language under the proposed bill, “Subpart B: Other Provisions Relating to Individual Retirement Accounts” tells about changes on how the Checkbook IRA will work. High-wage earners will be restricted to how much they can contribute to a retirement account, including a checkbook IRA, home storage IRA, and a self-directed IRA. The changes also include Roth IRAs and what amounts can be rolled over into them.
In 1974, Congress passed legislation creating the first individual retirement account. In 1996, there was a landmark legislative case in the IRS v. James Swanson. The case has come to be known as the Checkbook IRA court case is which Mr. Swanson prevailed over the IRS.
Until this new legislation passes, investors in gold, silver, and other precious metals are still able to use checkbook IRAs/home storage IRAs directly for their retirement funds.
Some people create this LLC (limited liability company) for the sole purpose of buying precious metals. In most cases, the self-directed IRA owner is also the owner of this checkbook IRA LLC entity, allowing the “business owner” to use the company’s checkbook to buy the IRA investments.
Sec. 138314 of the Budget Reconciliation Act proposal directly puts a bullseye on this type of action to invest your retirement funds.
At the present time, no one can own or control more than fifty percent of a company or piece of real estate property within an IRA. However, the owner creates and keeps a near-majority stake in it for the purpose of buying and holding precious metals. This is how the checkbook IRA process works today.
The proposed legislation will reduce the ownership level to less than ten percent. This makes it virtually illogical to start a business for the sole purpose of purchasing gold and silver and having checkbook control of the investments within the account.
The new proposed legislation also prohibits any IRA holder or owner from holding an officer position in any company held within an IRA. That means that the person who owns the IRA (IRA holder) can not be the majority owner or a decision-maker in their own self-directed IRA LLC.
Since the IRS v. James Swanson court case in 1996, the IRS has only been allowed to dispute the ownership and management of these checkbook IRAs and alternative investments in real estate and precious metals.
With this new legislation, the IRS can take actions the same as it did against James Swanson and claim the IRA ownership broke “IRS prohibited transactions.” for any gray area. It also includes language that permits the IRS to completely dissolve a self-directed IRA account it finds in violation of its policies. So, if the IRA administrator strays even a slight bit beyond these new rules, they could lose their IRA and face heavy fines and taxes or tax liens for their mistake.
Checkbook control IRAs will not last under these proposed rules. If the legislation passes, it will go into effect at the start of 2022. For checkbook control IRAs already invested in real estate, or alternative investments such as gold, silver, or other precious metals, the IRA owner will have to do their due diligence and untangle their investment positions or ownership stakes before the end of 2023. The account owners will want to consult their tax advisor on the next steps.
No. For the vast majority of real estate investing or gold, silver, and other precious metal investors, it shouldn’t change anything. On the other hand, if you own a checkbook IRA, it changes everything.
Luckily, if you haven't opened a checkbook IRA there's an alternative approach with an IRA custodian, better investment options that don't come under the same IRS scrutiny.
When you are looking for prospective investments, do your due diligence and take a look at the best gold IRA companies. Here you will see where to get sound advice from professionals with a track record of helping clients diversify their retirement accounts and develop an investment structure that is right for you.
For investors who want to allocate a portion of their savings in gold, silver, and other precious metals without the risk of a Home Storage IRA, then self-directed IRAs managed by an authorized IRA custodian could be just what you are looking for.
There are four of the key differences between a Home Storage IRA and a Self-Directed IRA that are quite beneficial.
Self-Directed IRAs managed by an authorized custodian and not using a Checkbook IRA were confirmed by the IRS in their 1996 court case the IRS v. James Swanson as the best legal option for real estate and precious metals (as mentioned earlier in this article).
Home Storage IRAs force the account owner to take on full liability for the ownership, administrative fees, and management of their account. Some things to consider are the pending changes to the law before Congress which could make home storage IRAs prohibited transactions under IRS rules in the future, legal counsel and fees, lack of investment guidance, increased tax liability, and more.
A Self-Directed IRA managed by a qualified custodian doesn't have ANY of those issues. You will also have a legal IRA custodian to administer your account and work with you to develop the right account structure. As the account holder, you are still in full control of your investment decisions, but having qualified professionals who work in this area every day keeps you from dealing with all the risks and hassles of home storage.
#3: Approved Precious Metals
With home storage IRAs, if you do not make yourself the trustee, which has legal complexities of its own, you can put at risk your tax-deferred benefits. Also, home storage IRAs metals are limited to American Eagle coins only.
A Self-Directed IRA administered by a professional custodian, such as Goldco, Augusta Precious Metals, Birch Gold Group, or Regal Assets, gives you many more types of gold, silver, platinum, and palladium to choose from to add to your retirement plan.
#4: Government Regulation
A huge plus with self-directed IRAs is that you can remain out of IRS scrutiny.
As opposed to very detailed records and documentation and over-the-top regulations by the IRS for Home Storage IRAs, the account holder of a Self-Directed IRA who uses a professional custodian does not have any of these issues:
● Inaccurate calculations that lead to unplanned distributions or loss of tax-deferred status are nearly zero
● No lawyers, no legal advisor, or accountants are necessary
● No IRS audit, audit risk, or reporting fees
Company recognized as GOLD STEVIE® AWARD WINNER on April 29, 2021
In excess of 250 professionals from around the globe took part in the judging process to select this year’s Stevie Award winners. Some of their comments about Goldco’s achievements over the last year included recognition for the company being “an excellent firm which offers customers exemplary service for those who are interested in diversifying their retirement portfolios.” They concluded that “investing for retirement can be complex and uncertain, but it doesn’t have to be with Goldco.”
Best Company in Transparency
Known for customer service that exceeds expectations, Augusta Precious Metals helps to educate their clients in their retirement choices using physical gold and silver as a IRA alternative to investing in the stock market to give them peace of mind.
Fees are waived in the first year
Regal Assets can assist their clients in both gold and crypto-currency IRA rollovers. They have low annual fees with outstanding customer service and support. The maintain an A+ rating through the Better Business Bureau and have a 4.9 rating out of 5 in customer reviews on Trust Pilot.
Best company in empowering clients
When you contact the company, you will be given an investment specialist to work with who will go over the stock market and how it can impact gold prices, precious metals and your IRA. They empower you to make educated decisions about your retirement objectives and to assist you to completely understand what is possible and the associated risks with any investment.
This site contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links.

domain: finance


NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday announced his government’s resolve to create about 10 million jobs over the next ten years through development of the maritime sector, spread around major and minor ports in the country.
“This includes four million direct and six million indirect jobs,” Modi said in his inaugural address at the Maritime India Summit, 2016, held in Mumbai. To broaden livelihood opportunities, the government is planning to deploy modern and sophisticated fishing vessels, he said. It would enable them to harness resources in India’s Exclusive Economic Zone.
“In addition, we are focusing on value addition in fisheries, aquaculture and cold chain development,” said Modi. The Prime Minister added that India’s vast coastline of 7,500 km and more than 14,000 km of navigable inland waterways offer a huge investment opportunity.
The Ministry of Shipping is showcasing about 250 projects with investment opportunities in the maritime sector. These include infrastructure development opportunities in 12 major ports, projects in eight maritime states and other agencies. Of these, over 100 have been identified under the Sagarmala Programme.
Modi told 4,500 dignitaries and delegates from about 40 countries, “This is the right time to come to India; it is even better to come through the sea route; the Indian ship is well equipped for a long haul; don’t miss it; missing it means missing a pleasant journey and a great destination.”
Some Indian ports were drivers of global maritime trade 2,000 years ago. They included Barygaza (Bharuch);Muziris (Kodungallur); Korkai (Thoothukudi);Kaveripattinam (in Nagaiist);Arikamedu (in Puducherry)


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News from across RSC Publishing.
The wine fraud detective
31 July 2008
An electronic tongue that can 'taste' the grape varieties and vintages of wine has been created by Spanish scientists.
Cecilia Jiménez-Jorquera from the Barcelona Institute of Microelectronics, and colleagues, created a multisensor device and trained it to distinguish between different wines and grape juices.
When speaking with specialists of the wine industry, the need for a rapid route to obtain valuable information about product quality was noticed, explains Jiménez-Jorquera. It takes a long time to send samples to a centralised laboratory for analysis with complex equipment.
The device could be used to detect frauds committed regarding the vintage year of the wine, or the grape varieties used.
Jiménez-Jorquera's electronic tongue combines an array of six ion-sensitive field effect transistor-based chemical sensors, with cross-sensitivity to multiple ions in solution. The data is then analysed with an appropriate chemometric method. 'This system enables the rapid and simultaneous measurement of different analytical parameters related to the quality control of wines and grape juices,' says Jiménez-Jorquera.
The electronic tongue is small and robust, Jiménez-Jorquera explains, and it is portable - which is essential for field measurements. She adds that the device could be used to detect frauds committed regarding the vintage year of the wine, or the grape varieties used.
The advantage of this device is that it is 'fast, easy and relatively cheap' says Sue Ebeler from the University of California, Davis, US, who has studied wine flavour chemistry. 'One of the most interesting aspects,' Ebeler adds, 'is the ability to predict sugar, acid and alcohol content using sensors that are not specifically sensitive to these components but respond to cations and heavy metals.'
The next step, says Jiménez-Jorquera, will be to extend the number of samples analysed to get more precise results, and give the best training for this electronic tongue. Other kinds of chemical sensors can then be incorporated to broaden the field of applications to other beverages and foods.
Link to journal article
Electronic integrated multisensor tongue applied to grape juice and wine analysis
Lia Moreno i Codinachs, Joachim P. Kloock, Michael J. Schöning, Antoni Baldi, Andrey Ipatov, Andrey Bratov and Cecilia Jiménez-Jorquera, Analyst, 2008, 133, 1440
Also of interest
Susan Ebeler, University of California, Davis, US, reveals the science behind the flavour in everyone's favourite tipple
Photosensor array allows quality and quantity of mixture to be measured.

domain: agronomy


The best countries have the best roads. It’s true for at least the whole United States of America. In Arizona, three projects are going to take off in the city of Chandler that will help in easing traffic movement and congestion.
As per the city officials, the project in Chandler will have one-lane and two-lane roads that will suffice to manage long traffic. Here are the details of the project to be completed in 2019.
- Chandler Heights Road expansion: Gilbert-based Hunter Contracting Co will widen the road between Chandler Heights Road from Arizona Avenue to McQueen Road. The City Council has approved the recent deal. Chandler heights road will be expanded from two lanes to four lanes.The plan will also add turn lanes, bike lanes, a raised median, and sidewalks and curb gutters. The project will start in January and scheduled to end by the end of 2019. The whole project may cost up to $8 million. The project will be consulted with Union Pacific Railroad to widen the Chandler heights where the railroad crosses the road.
- Queen Creek Road expansion- Near the Chandler Airport, the project will start in January along the Queen Creek road. The four-lane Queen Creek road will be expanded from four lanes to six lanes by Tempe-based Sunland Asphalt and Construction. The city council has approved the construction partner. The total cost will be $13 million and 70% of this will be paid by the federal grant. It will also have new turn lanes, bike lanes, a raised median, streetlights, and improved traffic signals. The construction will end after 20 months.
- Cooper Road expansion- This project is about widening a two-mile stretch of Cooper Road from Alamosa Drive to Riggs Road. As per the reports, the design will soon be finalized, and it should start in early January. For this project, land and property will need to be acquired. The city council has already approved this. The cost estimation for this project has not been finalized yet.
The Chandler City has been growing since years. And the same way roads are being widened as well. As people are flocking in huge numbers, the chances of traffic congestion and roadblocks are getting higher. So, the state hopes to free the city from major potential roadblocks and usher in smooth traffic circulation once the projects are completed. Public meetings will be started from the early January to discuss more the projects.


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Kaweco Perkeo Fountain Pen - Infrared
Kaweco's Perkeo fountain pen is a great starter fountain pen for anyone who prefers a full sized pen with a lightweight barrel. The triangular grip section allows the pen to rest comfortably in your hand while writing, and the snap-on cap can either be posted to the back of the pen or not posted. The signature octagonal Kaweco shape is found on the Perkeo's cap and ensures that the pen will not roll around when placed down on a desk.
The limited edition 'Infrared' Perkeo is a stuning colorway that is part of Kaweco's Collector edition. It is inspired by the broad spectrum of infrared light exemplified as the pen body sheens from red to magenta depending on how the light hits it. Similarly to the 'All Clear' Perkeo, the infrared also features a clear ink feed!
- Length capped: 5.5in (13.9cm)
- Snap-on cap
- Steel nib
- Includes 1 Kaweco cartridge
- Compatible with international standard cartridges
- Compatible with Kaweco Standard Converter
- Kaweco Perkeo Clip
- Kaweco cartridges also available
Kaweco is a manufacturer of writing instruments based in Heidelberg, Germany. It was founded in 1883 as Heidelberger Federhalterfabrik and later renamed to Kaweco. Kaweco has a long history of making dipping pens, pocket-sized fountain pens, fountain pens and nibs.

domain: hobby


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Sculpted Gifts and 3D Prints
I really enjoy making things for people. Not only does it allow me to be creative and experiment with new projects, it also solves my troubling inability to come up with good gift ideas. The "Fox on a Log" and the "Horse and Dog" projects on my homepage are my best examples of projects I've done for others but this is a collection of several others I've created.
The old man and the sitting dog were given as Christmas gifts to family members after I had them 3D printed. The dog was based on my sister's dog which never stops smiling no matter how big a mess it's made. The rose was sculpted as a mother's day gift (a render rather than a 3D print). Sculpture obviously wasn't the most efficient way to create a flower but it was quite challenging trying to figure out how rose petals work and how to create the right weight for the parts of the flower.


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Collected by Mike O'Neill
1529 Fillmore St, San Francisco, CA 94115, USA
Nicole Krasinski describes the novel concept of her restaurant State Bird Provisions as “dim sum and a great hors d’oeuvre party morphed into one experience.” She and her husband, chef Stuart Brioza, prepare beautifully executed...
560 Larkin St, San Francisco, CA 94102, USA
I crave this caramel-y roasted pork Banh Mi at Saigon Sandwich. The classic Vietnamese sandwich is on a fresh French baguette that is perfectly soft yet crispy, accompanied by fresh carrots, cucumbers, cilantro, and peppers, plus the most...
- 1Where to Go in FallThe Best Farm-to-Table Restaurants for a Fall Harvest Feast
- 2Travel NewsThe Best Meteor Shower of the Year Peaks This Weekend
- 3Gear8 New Books You Need to Read Before Flying to France
- 4MusicBeyond the French Quarter: Discovering New Orleans’s Downriver Delights
- 5Where to Go in FallAn Expert Guide to Working Remotely and Traveling the World

domain: food


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China’s installed wind and solar capacity is expected to overtake coal power production for the first time this year.
According to industry forecasts made in the China Electricity Council’s (CEC) annual report published on Tuesday, wind and solar power connected to the grid will account for around 40% of installed capacity by the end of 2024. Meanwhile, coal is expected to supply just 37%.
The fossil fuel still edged wind and solar power in 2023, which combined made up 36% of capacity at the end of the year.
According to the report, China is expected to produce 1.3TW of solar and wind power by the end of 2024, meaning the country will exceed its official target of 1.2TW by 2035 five years ahead of schedule.
China currently possesses more than half the global total installed solar power capacity. According to Power Technology’s parent company, GlobalData, all renewable power sources in China are set to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 11.06% during the period 2020–30.
Despite the gains made in renewable energy production, other sources claim that coal production is still growing in China. A report published by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) in November last year claimed that since the beginning of 2022, Chinese authorities have granted permits for up to 152GW of coal power and started construction on 92GW of additional capacity. This was ten-times the capacity permitted in the rest of the world in the same period.
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China has also reinstated import levies on coal to reduce the level of Russian imports and protect its domestic industry. In the first three quarters of last year, production increased by 3%. According to the Chinese state-owned energy company Sinopec, domestic demand will peak in the next two years at around 4.37 billion tonnes.

domain: news


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Churchville Dance 2021
Offering a fun, safe and creative environment for boys and girls of all ages to express themselves through dance. Learn the steps and techniques used in various forms of dance.
Summer Dance 2021 Classes Run from June 28th, 2021 to August 27th, 2021 . Cost is $95.00($10.00 discount for each additional sibling or class registered)
Head Instructor: Brittany Rosenkrans
Head Instructor Phone: 410-459-5420
Head Instructor E-mail: email@example.com
Program Website: Churchville Dance on Facebook.


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How to Play Super Mario Odyssey (with Pictures) - wikiHow How to Play Super Mario Odyssey. This wikiHow teaches you how to master the basics of Super Mario Odyssey on the Nintendo Switch. Once you've picked up the controls and Mario's basic move-set, you can proceed with using a few tips to... The Odyssey at a Glance - cliffsnotes.com The three most important aspects of The Odyssey: The Odyssey is an epic, a very long poem on a single subject. Some epics were composed in order to be performed from memory, and so they include poetic devices to make them more memorable. And many epics, probably including The Odyssey, were written ... Odyssey Essay - Samples & Examples - BookWormLab.com This is why Odyssey essay writing is a popular assignment in many curricula be it at the junior or the senior level, to test the student's ability of reasoning and analytical capabilities. In addition, an Odyssey essay does a good deal of help for students in academic pursuit to have a reference or look-up, which is compiled, synopsized ... How to Apply to Odyssey
History Odyssey Ancients Level Three - eBook • Pandia Press
Assassin's Creed Odyssey now offers a way for you to create your own ... 10 Jun 2019 ... Assassin's Creed Odyssey was definitely my favorite game of 2018, and ... You can write your own dialog, with branches that respond to player ... Did Homer write the Iliad and the Odyssey? | 🧙 The Tolkien Forum 🧝 30 Nov 2002 ... I do not think that the Odyssey was created by the same for it is so entirely ... By the way, am I the only one who thinks the Iliad is better that the ... Adventures In Odyssey Podcast » Blog Archive » Wanted: Adventures ... 11 Apr 2019 ... This apprentice will learn and develop the ability to write original ... at Melissa how have you ben this woulde be a Kool job don't you think ... Odyssey Writing Workshop 2019 Announced - SFWA
Odyssey Reviews 2019: Details, Pricing, & Features | G2
Odyssey Essay Topics List: Use This Ideas To Start Writing The Odyssey is a classical poem and an amazing literal piece written by Homer. It's a unique story that has maintained its impeccable qualities to the present day. In fact, it's quite rare to find such ancient poetic sources. The Odyssey Research Papers - Paper Masters The Odyssey Research Papers. This page is designed to show you how to write a research project on the topic you see to the left. Use our sample or order a custom written research paper from Paper Masters. Custom Research Papers - Custom written research papers on any topic you need starting at $23.95 per page. SparkNotes: The Odyssey: How to Write Literary Analysis How to Write Literary Analysis The Literary Essay: A Step-by-Step Guide. When you read for pleasure, your only goal is enjoyment. You might find yourself reading to get caught up in an exciting story, to learn about an interesting time or place, or just to pass time. Writing Software from Odyssey Writer | Time4Learning
24 May 2018 ... I wanted to know what it was like to write for this sort of website, so I ... While I waited to hear from them, I looked into the origins of Odyssey and ...
Assassin's Creed: Odyssey is the eleventh main installment in the Assassin's Creed series developed by Ubisoft. The game was primarily developed by Ubisoft Québec, which had previously worked on Assassin's Creed: Syndicate. 1.05 - Write the title of the text you have analyzed here The ... Write the title of the text you have analyzed here: The Odyssey by Homer List at least three examples of diction in the text that add to the overall tone. Explain how each word contributes to the emotional power of the piece. Super Mario Odyssey - Super Mario Wiki, the Mario encyclopedia Super Mario Odyssey is a platforming game for the Nintendo Switch released on October 27, 2017. It is the eighteenth title in the Super Mario series and the sixth 3D Mario title on a home console after Super Mario 3D World.
Odyssey eFileGA | Court E-Filing Solution for Georgia
PRIMECAP Odyssey Funds Before you invest in any PRIMECAP Odyssey Fund, please refer to the prospectus for important information about the investment company, including investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses. You may also obtain a prospectus by calling 1-800-729-2307. The Iliad and Odyssey - webpages.uidaho.edu The Odyssey, in contrast, mainly takes place outside of that common culture and describes contact with pre-Mycenaean Mediterranean cultures. The story focuses on Odysseus and his family's struggle to recover from the Trojan war's after effects and, primarily, with Odysseus struggle to make it back home. How to Write a Rhetorical Analysis Essay: 10 Techniques ... Having bad times with writing your rhetorical analysis essay? This article with 10 best tips is good for you to get to the main point and succeed. Click and read to learn more about this particular essay type or order a paper written by a professional. Propose Your Own Odyssey | Hendrix College
How Odyssey Writer Helps Teach the Writing Process? Odyssey Writer helps teach writing starting with carefully constructed assignments to stimulate students’ desire to communicate, to integrated How long did it take Homer to write the Odyssey It is unknown how long it took Homer to write The Odyssey because the consensus that homer wrote the story did not take place until 350 BC. Many scholars believe The Odyssey was written when Homer reached old age.

domain: library


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Kitchen Decoration Decoration Ideas For Kitchen Of Your Dream Kitchen Cake Decorating Set
kitchen decoration decoration ideas for kitchen of your dream kitchen cake decorating set.
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- October 9, 2018
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domain: design


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Writing in the Feb. 4 issue of the journal Science, Karen A. Bjorndal, a University of Florida biology professor and director of the Archie Carr Center for Sea Turtle Research, and other biologists said the United States needs “strategic national research plans for key marine species and ecosystems based on evaluation of cause and effect and on integrated monitoring of abundance and demographic traits.”
“It is sad to see that we are in the same place now,” said Bjorndal, adding that not much has changed since the Valdez oil spill when it comes to getting the data needed to assess and restore a marine ecosystem after an environmental disaster. She hopes it will provide an impetus for action.
“We know how to create these research plans — what is needed now is the political will and leadership to do so,” she wrote.
“Achieving mandated recovery goals depends on understanding both population trends and the demographic processes that drive those trends,” Bjorndal’s article states.
Her team argues it “is not too late to invest funds from BP to support teams of experts to develop effective strategic plans that identify, prioritize and provide methodologies for collecting essential data.”
The team identified seven elements that need to be included in most of the plans.
“In the wake of the BP oil spill, the need for this policy shift is as clear as it is compelling. The largest offshore oil spill in U.S. history should provide the impetus and opportunity to effect this policy shift.” Bjorndal wrote in her article.
Co-authors of the article, called “Better Science Needed for Restoration in the Gulf of Mexico,” are Brian Bowen, Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawaii; Milani Chaloupka, Ecological Modeling Services, University of Queensland, Australia; Larry B. Crowder, Center for Marine Conservation, Duke University; Selina S. Heppell, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife at Oregon State University; Cynthia M. Jones, Center for Quantitative Fisheries Ecology, Old Dominion University; Molly E. Lutcavage, Large Pelagics Research Center, University of Massachusetts; David Policansky, National Research Council, Washington, D.C.; Andrew R. Solow, Marine Policy Center, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and Blair E. Witherington, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.Writer
Karen Bjorndal | EurekAlert!
Litter is present throughout the world’s oceans: 1,220 species affected
27.03.2017 | Alfred-Wegener-Institut, Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung
International network connects experimental research in European waters
21.03.2017 | Leibniz-Institut für Gewässerökologie und Binnenfischerei (IGB)
Astronomers from Bonn and Tautenburg in Thuringia (Germany) used the 100-m radio telescope at Effelsberg to observe several galaxy clusters. At the edges of these large accumulations of dark matter, stellar systems (galaxies), hot gas, and charged particles, they found magnetic fields that are exceptionally ordered over distances of many million light years. This makes them the most extended magnetic fields in the universe known so far.
The results will be published on March 22 in the journal „Astronomy & Astrophysics“.
Galaxy clusters are the largest gravitationally bound structures in the universe. With a typical extent of about 10 million light years, i.e. 100 times the...
Researchers at the Goethe University Frankfurt, together with partners from the University of Tübingen in Germany and Queen Mary University as well as Francis Crick Institute from London (UK) have developed a novel technology to decipher the secret ubiquitin code.
Ubiquitin is a small protein that can be linked to other cellular proteins, thereby controlling and modulating their functions. The attachment occurs in many...
In the eternal search for next generation high-efficiency solar cells and LEDs, scientists at Los Alamos National Laboratory and their partners are creating...
Silicon nanosheets are thin, two-dimensional layers with exceptional optoelectronic properties very similar to those of graphene. Albeit, the nanosheets are less stable. Now researchers at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) have, for the first time ever, produced a composite material combining silicon nanosheets and a polymer that is both UV-resistant and easy to process. This brings the scientists a significant step closer to industrial applications like flexible displays and photosensors.
Silicon nanosheets are thin, two-dimensional layers with exceptional optoelectronic properties very similar to those of graphene. Albeit, the nanosheets are...
Enzymes behave differently in a test tube compared with the molecular scrum of a living cell. Chemists from the University of Basel have now been able to simulate these confined natural conditions in artificial vesicles for the first time. As reported in the academic journal Small, the results are offering better insight into the development of nanoreactors and artificial organelles.
Enzymes behave differently in a test tube compared with the molecular scrum of a living cell. Chemists from the University of Basel have now been able to...
20.03.2017 | Event News
14.03.2017 | Event News
07.03.2017 | Event News
27.03.2017 | Earth Sciences
27.03.2017 | Life Sciences
27.03.2017 | Life Sciences


KARACHI: The government has decided to raise Rs3,650 billion during next three months through sale of treasury papers for repayment of loan to commercial banks and for budget financing.
The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on Tuesday issued auction target for Market Treasury Bills (MTBs) and Pakistan Investment Bonds (PIBs) to be presented during the period of December to February.
According to the targets, the SBP would conduct auction of MTBs to raise Rs3,500 billion through sale of three-, six-, and 12-month treasury papers.
A small amount of Rs150 billion would be offered through sale of PIBs.
The targeted repayment against matured amount during the period is Rs3,471 billion. Out of which the maturity in MTBs is around Rs3,384 billion and another amount of Rs87.08 billion in PIBs.
The SBP said that additional requirement of funds for budget financing is at Rs178.11 billion in both types of treasury papers.


text:
The final stretch of trail to be constructed between C.R. 35 and C.R. 20 has hit an exciting milestone. We want to let you know that we recently awarded Niblock Excavating with the contract for this long-awaited project. In the coming weeks you will see machinery onsite as they begin moving dirt.
The segment provides many physical challenges due to the federally regulated wetlands and as much as 10 feet of peat below the corridor surface. Approximately 800 ft. of this 2,900 ft. stretch needs a specialized process of pre-consolidation, which prepares the soil for the trail and prevents future sinking and cracking. This process of compaction can take two to six months, and is a waiting game. The original goal was to have the trail completed by fall 2023, but it’s looking increasingly likely that it will be spring 2024 before this section sees its first users.
This new section of trail will largely follow the original Pumpkinvine railroad corridor, but also takes a slight detour on what was formerly private property. When complete, this partially wooded segment will be a user favorite and we can’t wait to share it with you.
Friends of the Pumpkinvine Nature Trail Board of Directors

domain: geography


The York Orchard Musical Theatre Company presents The Phantom of the Opera, an Amateur Youth production by arrangement with The Really Useful Group Ltd.
Tonight I’m excited to be heading to this local production of The Phantom of the Opera.
This has long been my favourite musical and the popular show is now in its 30th year in the West End.
This much loved musical features music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Charles Hart with additions from Richard Stilgoe.
I’ve not seen anything by this group before but I heard a lot of good things about their production of Jekyll & Hyde the Musical last year.
Hopefully they’ll do the show justice. By the looks of their Facebook page, it should be impressive. We’ll let you know how it is!
3-6 February 2016 at The Joseph Rowntree Theatre, Haxby Road, York.
Wednesday 3 February 7:30pm
Thursday 4 February 7:30pm
Friday 5 February 7:30pm
Saturday 6 February 2:30pm Matinée
Saturday 6 February 7:30pm
Director: Justine Hughes
Assistant Director: Beth Stevens…
Musical Director: Ben Papworth
Choreographer: Rachel Dennison
Scott Goncalves as The Phantom
Ria Williams as Christine
Sam Lightfoot-Loftus as Raoul


text:
The ministry of civil aviation (MoCA) on Wednesday expressed dissatisfaction over airline firms defaulting on refunds to passengers over flight tickets that had been booked for journey in the course of the lockdown final yr however obtained cancelled.
MoCA Secretary on Wednesday chaired a gathering with representatives of airways in reference to refund of credit score shells of passengers. A credit score shell is a credit score notice created towards a cancelled PNR and can be utilized by the passenger for a future reserving.
“MoCA Secretary has chaired the assembly at the moment with all of the airline firms relating to credit score shells refund and expressed dissatisfaction in the direction of airline firms who didn’t refund the cash. GoAir and IndiGo have submitted their endeavor to the ministry that they’ve refund all of the credit score shells to the passengers”, an official informed ANI.
The Supreme Courtroom of India had ordered MoCA to clear all of the credit score shells and refund the passengers after the deadline of March 31.
India’s low-cost airline SpiceJet wasn’t in a position to refund credit score shells to the passengers, “Refunds are ruled by the order of the Supreme Courtroom and we’re adhering to these instructions. SpiceJet had written to all its journey companions and brokers in March 2021 to share particulars of pending credit score shell PNRs in order that the airline can instantly reverse the credit score shell quantity again to the company ID,” a spokesperson for SpiceJet stated.
Nationwide provider Air India can also be but to refund whole credit score shells to the passengers. As per sources stated Air India has to clear credit score shells to round 5 lakh twenty-five thousand passengers which quantity to round ₹2000 crore.
“Air India is dedicated to processing its pending refunds claims expeditiously. Dissemination of knowledge relating to refunds is already initiated. Air India has cleared near ₹1000 Crore from 1st April 2020 until date in India. We’re additionally addressing queries associated to refunds from passengers by way of our social media platforms.” Air India Spokesperson stated.
Air Asia and Vistara can also be but clear the credit score shell to the passengers. “We’re thorough with all our refunds besides in a only a few instances the place we try to succeed in out to the passengers to revert with their checking account particulars during which the cash is to be credited.” An Air Asia India official informed ANI.
MoCA has to file an affidavit within the Supreme Courtroom relating to the refund of credit score shells. MoCA Secretary has proven dissatisfaction within the assembly over the airline firms’ response within the assembly over refund on cancelled tickets.
The Supreme Courtroom in October accepting a suggestion of the civil aviation ministry and directorate normal of civil aviation (DGCA) ordered airways to refund passengers the price of the tickets of flights cancelled between March 25 to Could 24 final yr, additionally accredited a credit score shell scheme which was legitimate until March 31, this yr.


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What a great weekend for BalloonFest in Wayland, Michigan – the average wind speed in Grand Rapids on Saturday was 1.9 mph – making it the calmest day in Grand Rapids so far in 2023 (pic. from Marie Steffen). Sunday, the wind was even calmer, with an average wind speed of 1.7 mph.
The last day that was this calm in Grand Rapids was December 11, 2022 when the average wind speed was 1.6 mph.
The windiest day of the year so far has been February 15, when we had an average wind speed midnight-to-midnight of 20.3 mph and a peak gust of 56 mph.
Other average wind speeds on Saturday: Kalamazoo 2.3 mph, Lansing 2.5 mph, Holland (airport) 2.7 mph, Jackson 3.3 mph and Muskegon (airport) 5.7 mph.
It was windier at the lakeshore. The wind at 2 pm in the afternoon at the Muskegon lighthouse was 13.0 mph and at the S. Haven Lighthouse, the wind at 8 pm was 15.2 mph.
The graph above shows wave height at the S. Haven buoy over the past week. Waves peaked around 8 feet early Thursday AM. Yesterday waves were running 1.2 feet at the buoy. Early Sunday AM (10th), the water temp. at the buoy was 71.
We had our first below freezing temperatures of the season in the U.P. Saturday morning. Spincich Lake plummeted to a low of 30 degrees and Doe Lake reached 31.
While Grand Rapids had a low of 51, it was much cooler to the north. Both Manistee and Baldwin dipped to 38.
Both Saturday morning and this Sunday morning we had patchy fog.


text:
It was about getting comfortable with being uncomfortable,
Facing and embracing challenges and coming up better. You're becoming.
This winter saw me shrugging off snow storms with nonchalance, singing cheerily as I headed home from work in the thick of two terribly cold and windy Nor’easters.
I remember last winter. It was my first real one as I had just become a New Yorker then. When the seasons changed and winter fell, it struck both my body and self esteem so hard that it left me sulking for days, losing sleep, joy and motivation, feeling stuck, overanalyzing my life and counting each of the days left till spring. I must have been something of a hybrid between a wet puppy and a deflated peacock.
This time, this second time around, it's way colder than last and even previous years, but I don't fuss. I don't remember to. I'm in the thick of hosting my family members for the first time, creating new memories, and appreciating the moments we have together. I have different priorities and sensibilities. But don't be deceived - a girl, this girl will still fly off to California, in a heartbeat.
If you can make it here, you can make it anywhere. Now I know.
While traveling last week in Portland, OR, I went to Powell's City of Books. It's a local bookstore with a huge supply (four floors?) of books both new and used. Very impressive spot. As some books were already in transit from Amazon to my apartment, finding out that Portland (and the state of Oregon) had no sales tax gingered my whim and I ended up buying three books from the store. Two oldies: The Light and The Dark by C.P. Snow, Kiss As Many Women As You Can by Franki Elliot & Shawn Stucky, and the new one was Zadie Smith's novel White Teeth. As I flew back home, I read Elliot's Kiss As Many Women As You Can and the book was a total delight. The simplicity of the writing style and the genuineness of the content did it for me.
“Show up, show up, show up, and after a while the muse shows up, too.” - Isabel Allende.
Bookmarking, reposting the 117 gems from this Brainpickings article by Maria Popova titled, "Timeless Advice on Writing: The Collected Wisdom of Great Writers, Fitzgerald, Hemingway, Didion, Sontag, Vonnegut, Bradbury, Orwell, and other literary icons."

domain: literature


Ball Transfer, Ball Transfer Units, Flange Ball Transfer manufacturer / supplier in China, offering Flange Mount Ball Transfer Units, Automatic Box Erector with Siemens PLC, Automatic Glue Bottom Seal Carton Erector Equipment and so on.
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Acer P1285B Review
|$1,300 Over 5 Years|
Why Has it Scored 69?
At over a year old this projector is slightly out of date, and newer projectors with more up to date technology are available. View the latest projectors 2018.
It has running costs of $1,300 over 5 years, which puts it in the most expensive 4% of all 2,027 multimedia projectors that we have compared it to. View all energy saving projectors.
This projector has some good features, but is also missing a couple of features:
Acer P1285B In-Depth Analysis
Running Costs Are High
The P1285B is one of the less economic to run projectors that we have looked at for running costs. Based on average usage levels and energy prices, we estimate the P1285B will cost $1,300 over 5 years to run.
Only 1024 X 768 (XGA) Resolution
The Acer P1285B has a 1024 x 768 (XGA) projector native resolution which is higher than most data projectors. Most multimedia projectors have a 1280 x 800 resolution. The worst resolution of all data projectors is 640 x 360 (nHD) and the best is 4096 x 2400 (4K).
Quieter Than Average Noise Level
The Acer P1285B's noise level of only 26dB is quieter than 96% of all data projectors when ranked by this feature. The quietest noise level of projectors is 20dB, the loudest is 93dB, and the average noise level is 34dB.
Higher Than Average Contrast Ratio (typical)
Data projectors have contrast ratio (typical) of between 1.5 and 2,500,000, and the average contrast ratio (typical) is 27,000. The Acer P1285B's contrast ratio (typical) of 20,000 is in the highest 15% of all data projectors when ranked by this feature.
Average Projector Brightness
The projector brightness of the Acer P1285B of 3,300 ANSI lumens is pretty standard compared to most other projectors. It is in the brightest 57% of all data projectors when ordered by this feature.
The Acer P1285B supports 3D, which is unusual. 59% of multimedia projectors do not support 3D.
Average Service Life of Lamp
The service life of lamp of the Acer P1285B of 4,000h is fairly typical compared to most other data projectors. It is in the longest 49% of all projectors when sorted by this feature.
Has a Built-In Speaker
The Acer P1285B has a built-in speaker, as do 76% of projectors.
Has a Handheld Remote Control
The Acer P1285B has a handheld remote control. 80% of projectors also have a handheld remote control.
Smaller Than Average Bulb Power
The Acer P1285B's bulb power of only 203W is smaller than average when compared to most other data projectors. It is smaller than 73% of all data projectors when ranked by this feature. The smallest bulb power of projectors is 15W, the biggest is 840W, and the average bulb power is 250W.
Has a Carrying Case
The Acer P1285B has a carrying case. 81% of multimedia projectors do not have a carrying case.
Features Digital Keystone Correction
The Acer P1285B features digital keystone correction, which is unusual. 93% of projectors do not feature digital keystone correction.
Supports Full HD
The Acer P1285B supports full HD, unlike 63% of multimedia projectors which do not support full HD.
acer mrjm01100g, acer mrjm011002, acer bcw7za00, acer bcw7zs00, acer p1285b
04053162949898, 04058154222874, 04713147874972, 04713147874989, 04713147874996, 04713392819339, 04713392819346


Dealers reported strong attendance from collectors, who exhibited little hesitation to purchase new works, at the opening of Art Basel Miami Beach on Tuesday.
The placement of works in institutional collections at museums in the United States and Europe, according to gallerists, was successful.
Dealers gave a positive impression of the Art Basel scene in their sales reports. Some claimed to have sold works for as much as $7 million, implying that more significant sales might come after.
On Tuesday, the day before the event officially began, it was still unclear how the market would behave. We had a “wait and see” attitude when we arrived in Miami since we weren’t sure what the art market would indicate in the context of broader economic worries.
However, any general worries that the rate of sales may not match years before were quickly allayed, with dealers bringing in sales in the millions for both postwar artists and up-and-coming artists.
Gagosian announced that 50 of its pieces were sold during the fair’s opening hours. Gagosian presented artwork by Ashley Bickerton, Amoako Boafo, Jim Shaw, Alexandria Smith, Anna Weyant, and others.
Senior director Millicent Wilner of the dealer’s London headquarters said that the fair’s influence has held intact after 20 years.
Agnes Martin at Pace
$7 million was paid for it.
Pace Gallery had many transactions over $1 million within the first few hours of Tuesday’s opening day of the Miami Beach event.
Agnes Martin’s Untitled #14 from 1998 was one of those sales. The canvas, which featured fading stripes in Martin’s distinctive style on an off-white backdrop, sold for $7 million.
As VIP visitors rummaged for trophy pieces, it wasn’t the first exorbitant price set for a postwar artist. Andy Warhol’s 1964 artwork Flowers, which was also auctioned in Pace’s exhibit, brought in $3.8 million.
In addition, Pace reported sales of pieces by Beatriz Milhazes, Loie Hollowell, Robert Nava, Fred Wilson, Adrian Ghenie, and Maysha Mohamedi, the latter of whom will have a solo exhibition at the gallery in 2023. Prices ranged from $75,000 to $1 million for each of these pieces.


AS Monaco overcame a late scare at La Meinau on Saturday to beat ‘bogey team’ Strasbourg 2-1 and get their Ligue 1 campaign off to a perfect start.
Prior to the Ligue 1 opener, Monaco had only won one of their last eight games against Strasbourg. But Philippe Clement’s men sought to defy that troubling statistic from the first whistle, showing plenty of attacking intent and starting on the front foot.
The team itself was high on energy, partially thanks to a raft of changes from last Tuesday’s draw against PSV Eindhoven. Amongst the six changes were Breel Embolo, who was making his first start for the club and Krépin Diatta, who was making his long-awaited return following an ACL injury last November.
To mark the special occasion, it was Senegalese international Diatta, who opened Monaco’s account for the 2022/23 season. He volleyed home from outside the box from a corner to convert what will certainly be one of the goals of the opening Ligue 1 game week. Post-match, Diatta dedicated his goal to “all those who contributed to his return.”
Into the second-half, Monaco continued to push and deservedly scored a second. Gelson Martins’ deflected effort was only parried by the goalkeeper and Sofiane Diop was in the right place at the right time to slot home into the empty net.
In need of two goals just to salvage a draw, Strasbourg pushed, leaving themselves exposed at the back. Monaco could – and should – have got a third to kill the game, but their decision-making and finishing let them down. Jean Lucas almost put the tie to bed, but one-on-one, his shot was deflected onto the post by the goalkeeper.
Strasbourg made the most of the lifeline and dragged themselves back into the tie. Habib Diallo rose above Ruben Aguilar at the back post to head past Alexander Nübel to set up a nervy finish for Clement’s side.
It had looked as though Monaco had squandered their two goal advantage at the death. It was Diallo once again who headed over the on-rushing Nübel to send La Meinau into raptures and saw Julien Stéphan steam down the touchline to join his team in the celebrations. However, following a lengthy VAR check, there was deemed to be an offside in the build-up and the goal was chalked off. It was a let off for Monaco, who held on to secure the three points.
Clement was happy with the three points, especially given the wholesale changes made to the side. “Even with a complete side, it’s hard to win here. It’s a good team with a good coach, but my players were ready and that’s important… many players scored points during today’s match and that’s perfect for the upcoming weeks and months,” said Clement.
Although Clement is aware that he can count on the depth within his squad, Tuesday’s second-leg against PSV will likely herald the returns of Wissam Ben Yedder, Aleksandr Golovin and Kevin Volland. Monaco will go into that tie high on confidence, and refreshed, as they look to proceed to the final knockout round of the Champions League qualifiers.
Photo source: AS Monaco football club


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Suppose you send a driver out with a shipment to a customer, and in the meantime, their DOT drug test results return positive. According to the FMCSA, the employer is legally obliged to remove the driver from their safety-sensitive duties immediately. That means immediately. Meaning NOW.
However, with your shipment already on the way, and if you remove your driver now, you would have to find another driver to complete the delivery. This would definitely disrupt the shipment, as it can cause a delay in the process. And in the worst-case scenario, you may not have anyone available to get the job done.
You might think it will be all right if you get your driver to complete this particular shipment, and then remove the driver from his duties.
This would be a very serious DOT violation, and you may end up being subject to penalties.
Failed DOT Drug Test! What’s Next?
If you’re an employer and your driver fails a drug test, the regulations state that s/he must be removed from safety-sensitive duties immediately. Fortunately, this is not permanent. The driver can be reinstated to his position, provided that s/he goes through the Substance Abuse Program with a DOT qualified professional. This is referred to as the Return To Duty Process.
This includes a drug or alcohol treatment plan alongside counseling, after which the driver will be required to take a DOT-mandated Return to Duty test. If this is cleared, they can return to safety-sensitive duties. But they will have to go through a minimum of six random follow-up tests to ensure that the problem does not persist. This Follow Up Program can last as long as five years.
Follow Up Testing Program
The employer is responsible for managing the follow up program. But the regulations do not specify who gets to pay for it.
If a driver loses his job as a result of a failed drug or alcohol test, then what?
A driver cannot manage his own follow up program. He must either find employment, with the new employer taking responsibility for managing the follow up testing, or he must set himself up as an owner-operator and find a C/TPA willing to take him on.
In any case, the violation is recorded in the FMCSA Clearinghouse, and the driver is not qualified to drive until s/he successfully completes a Return To Duty test.
What if a Driver Refuses to Take a Test?
A refusal to take a DOT drug test is the equivalent of a failed test and must result in immediate removal from safety-sensitive duties. A driver who refuses a test is reported to the Clearinghouse and is subject to the Return to Duty process.
The exception to this is a pre-employment test (the driver may not be mandated to go through the Substance Abuse Program). However, the company looking to employ them cannot hire them for safety-sensitive positions.
As an employer, you must keep a record of any and all positive or refused drug or alcohol tests for five years. Until January 5, 2023, you will be required to produce such records should they be requested about a former employee during the three year history check. After that date, a Clearinghouse pre-employment query will satisfy that requirement.
Whether you are a driver or an employer, it is essential to understand the consequences of a driver failing a drug test. Continuing to allow such a driver in a safety-sensitive position without having completed the Return To Duty process can subject both driver and employer to severe penalties from the FMCSA.
A failed drug test is not the end of the road. Returning to work is a simple, but necessary process.
If your driver fails a drug test, make sure you understand the RTD and Follow Up Process. Need a C/TPA that will help you though the process? Call InOut Labs today.

domain: law


text:
Critical Conversations Panel on Artificial Intelligence Explores Ethics, Possibilities
What is AI (artificial intelligence), how will it affect healthcare, how we do business, and how do we drive cars? What is the social impact of AI?
Panelists explored those questions and others during the recent Critical Conversations: Artificial Intelligence panel discussion in the Rubin Campus Center.
The panelists, who also fielded questions from the packed audience, were Dmitry Korkin, associate professor and director of the bioinformatics and computational biology program; Bengisu Tulu, associate professor, Foisie Business School; Xinming Huang, professor and Dean’s Excellence and Joseph Samuel Satin Fellow, electrical and computer engineering; Matthew Spofford ‘22, computer science; and Soundar Srinivasan, head and director of the AI program at Microsoft New England.
Jean King, professor and Peterson Family Dean of Arts and Sciences, moderated the event.
Robotics and AI are part of WPI’s Smart World initiative, which includes the construction of a new academic and research facility on campus, King said. Development of AI is at the forefront of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and will transform every aspect of society over the next 10 years, according to the panelists.
“It is a combination of WPI strengths across all disciplines,” Korkin said, “and a great opportunity where we can look at the robots not as individual components, but as part of society and human interactions.”
AI will also impact business degrees, Tulu explained, with WPI and other institutions embedding data science into the core of all undergraduate programs.
“Any business school that refuses to do that will be left behind.”
Huang said all students will have to deal with data in some capacity after they graduate from WPI.
“It is an opportunity to learn all new topics and enhance your chance in the job market,” he said. “(Our students) will be at the forefront of AI.”
Panel Discussion Includes Ethics, Concerns of Privacy
AI, also referred to as machine intelligence, is transforming the world as we know it. Panelists agreed that it is important to consider ethical implications of the emerging technology, including privacy issues related to data collection and the impact on workers potentially displaced by the technology.
“Social justice is a piece of what we do,” King said. “We are never just building technology and doing science. We are trying to do that while impacting the world in a positive way.”
Huang said those advancing AI do not want the technology to replace workers, but rather to create jobs. AI technology has advanced but is unable to substitute for humans in some of our most common business operations.
AI cannot currently account for certain human factors, he said, such as one driver waving another driver ahead in a busy intersection—something self-driving trucks cannot do. Researchers need to look at how robots interact with other vehicles when designing self-driving technology, he said, while also considering displaced workers.
“Truck driving is big business. There are a lot of workers,” Huang said. “We need to look at how we use AI and create jobs for those people. We don’t want them left out of society.”
Panelists cited data collection as another ethical concern for AI researchers.
King asked the audience how many people who use Amazon’s cloud-based Alexa Voice Service (AVS) have misgivings about using it at home. Many in the audience raised their hands or nodded.
The concern, King said, is how much of a person’s life is being exposed, and fears that data collected is “identifying you to the microcosm.”
Korkin responded that his kids, ages 6 and 9, are using Alexa, which is “more frightening than an adult who is able to control what to feed it.”
“Kids are just talking to it and telling their life stories and telling it what Dad and Mom do,” Korkin said. “It is natural for them to talk to a device like it’s a human,” he said, because children are growing up with smart devices.
Panelists agreed that those working in data collection should adhere to strict ethics, and that additional public policies are needed to protect privacy.
A second panel discussion on AI as part of the Critical Conversations forum—which has tackled other prominent issues, such as gene editing, 5G, and online education—is planned for the spring.
-By Paula Owen


text:
CEOs feel the chill in first 'Gong Sleepout
22/06/2012 , 9:47 AM by Robert Virtue
The St Vincent De Paul Society's CEO Sleepout was held across Australia last night, with Wollongong hosting its own regional sleepout for the first time since the event started six years ago.
Almost 30 CEOs and community leaders were at the Wollongong sleepout at Lang Park- with many using nothing but cardboard and sleeping bags.
One of the participants in the Sleepout- Illawarra Divisional General Manager of Australian Health Management, Franca Venetico, said there was no way she could sleep outdoors every night.
"I've just got so much empathy for people who do sleep out. I think we take it for granted that we have a house and a roof and even a wardrobe. I just don't know how you could do this," she said.
"I don't really understand why in such a society and a country that we are so lucky in, why people have to live on the streets," said Ms Venetico.
Homeless people, and people who have previously been homeless visited the CEOs to share their experiences with them.
Trevor, a previously homeless man spoke with Peter Riley on this morning's Breakfast show.
"I spent nearly fourteen years on the streets."
"It gives them a chance to understand what it's like for the poor, homeless and the mentally ill that we have in society out there that do it night after night, week after week, year after year," he said.
With a target of $50 000 the Wollongong CEOs have currently raised $73 196. For further details, visit www.ceosleepout.org.au.
WORDS BY: Mylee Hogan (University of Wollongong Intern)
Peter Riley speaking to former homeless man, Trevor.
Peter Riley speaking to organiser, Nieves Murray.

domain: sociology


Change of heart from Androni Giocattoli-Venezuela rider
Roberto Ferrari (Androni Giocattoli-Venezuela) will make a public apology to Mark Cavendish (Team Sky) at the start of stage 4 of the Giro d'Italia, after the Italian was blamed for causing a mass-pile up during the sprint to decide stage 3.
Mark Cavendish and race leader Taylor Phinney (BMC) were among those that crashed after Ferrari deviated from his racing line.
After the finish Ferrari appeared unapologetic, while Cavendish questioned whether the Italian should be removed from the race by the UCI commissaires.
In a clear PR exercise to ease the tension and bury the hatchet, Ferrari will greet Cavendish - quite likely in full view of television cameras, and offer his apology.
In a team statement, Androni announced: "After getting over the nervous tension of the race, Roberto Ferrari has declared he will publicly apologize to Mark Cavendish and to the other riders involved in the fall at the end of stage 3."
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Introducing Cargill’s pea protein offer for Europe
Europeans are increasing their intake of nutritious, plant-based foods. That’s why we’re adding pea protein to our ingredient portfolio. Consumers are drawn to pea protein’s label-friendly benefits and neutral taste profile. It’s a great solution that’s suitable in anything from sports drinks, to meat and dairy alternatives, and bakery.
Watch this webinar to learn all about the drivers of protein transition and the importance of protein nutrition. Discover why our high quality, functional pea protein solutions will enable you to create truly on trend products.
In this webinar, you will:
- Learn all about the drivers of the protein evolution and the importance of protein nutrition.
- Discover why our high quality, functional pea protein solutions will enable you to create truly on trend products.
- Dive inside Cargill’s pea protein offer for Europe and how it meets today’s market trends
Dr. Diederik Esser, Senior researcher, Wageningen University & Research
Diederik Esser obtained his PhD at the department of Human Nutrition and Health at Wageningen University. Now he works as a food clinical trial specialist at Wageningen Food & Biobased Research, where he conducts clinical trials to scientifically substantiate health effects of food products and ingredients. He also coordinates the Gerrit Grijns Initiative (GGI), a new Wageningen University, interdepartmental research initiative dedicated to study Food, Nutrition and Functional Health.
Tom Vanderborght, Product Line Manager Proteins, Cargill Europe
Tom Vanderborght is Product Line Manager Proteins at Cargill Europe. Tom holds a masters degree in Cell and Gene Biotechhnology from Leuven University (Belgium) and Strategic B2B Marketing from Vlerick Management School. He has extensive experience in animal nutrition, having previously held roles at Kemin Animal Nutrition in Latin America, and more recently at DSM. Tom joined Cargill’s Industrial & Protein Segment in May 2020.
Robin Wyers, Marketing Communications Specialist, Cargill
Robin Wyers works within Cargill’s EMEA Marketing team as Marketing Communications Specialist. His primary role involves developing compelling “Cargill stories” across multiple businesses, where he coordinates and supports internal and external resources to deploy content. Robin has a wealth of experience in writing about the food & beverage industry, due to his former position as Chief Editor of industry titles The World of Food Ingredients and FoodIngredientsFirst.com. Prior to joining Cargill, Robin was Head of Editorial at specialized marketing communications agency EMG.


KAOHSIUNG, TAIWAN - AUGUST 01: Rescue workers stand in the damaged road after gas explosions in southern Kaohsiung on August 1, 2014 in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. A series of powerful gas blasts killed 25 people and injured up to 267 in the southern Taiwanese city of Kaohsiung, overturning cars and ripping up roads, officials said. (Photo by Ashley Pon/Getty Images) *** BESTPIX ***
Content engaging our readers now, with additional prominence accorded if the story is rapidly gaining attention. Our WSJ algorithm comprises 30% page views, 20% Facebook, 20% Twitter, 20% email shares and 10% comments.


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Where do you get your ideas from? Probably one of the questions I (along with other novelists) get asked the most.
So I thought from time to time as I think about it, I'll share a random story idea. One that pops in my head that I know I won't ever write but that's an interesting story idea regardless (note--interesting doesn't always mean good). I just want to show my thought process.
I just read this today on CNN.com: "Michael Jackson's body will be returned to Neverland Ranch on Thursday for a public viewing on Friday, CNN has learned."
So a story idea pops in my head.
A group of friends who have grown distant over the years reconnect to go view Michael Jackson's body. Could be a comedy, could be a love story, could be a drama. They might not even make it to Neverland Ranch--who knows. They (along with millions of others) grew up listening to Jackson and still share this bond even though their lives have gone in opposite directions.
I looked on iTunes to see if Jackson has a song with the word "Never" in it. Of course--a classic: "Never Can Say Goodbye."
There's your title.
The theme of saying goodbye resonates in the story, along with the word "never."
Am I a huge Michael Jackson fan? No. But doesn't mean that it couldn't be a moving story.
See--a story idea simply from seeing a blurb on CNN.com. That's how my mind works.
Labels: story ideas


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ERP correlates of placebo and 'anti-placebo' effects
Keywords:placebo, analgesics, thermal stimulus, ERP
AbstractIn the study we observed the effects of placebo and 'anti-placebo' messages on the neural activities registered through the event related potentials (ERP). Instead of commonly used term nocebo, we used the term 'anti-placebo', given that the message we delivered was not supposed to induce the negative effects, but just to diminish the effect of placebo. Thermal stimulus of 45 degrees of Celsius was applied on the skin of 29 students in a four different experimental situations: without analgesia, after receiving dermal analgesic EMLA Cream, after receiving neutral skin cream presented as an analgesic (placebo situation), and after receiving again EMLA Cream, but presented as the herbal analgesic not officially accepted as a medicament ('anti-placebo' situation). Immediately after stimulation, participants were asked to estimate the level of 'unpleasantness' of the stimuli on the subjective scale ranging from 1-10, and to start a cognitive experiment, during which the ERP responses were measured. Results showed three main ERP effects. In the early effect, we noticed that all three experimental situations with analgesia (that is, two conditions with the pharmaco-analgesia + the condition with the placebo analgesia) showed a different ERP effects in comparison to the condition with no analgesia. We interpreted these results as early expectancies that any analgesic (including placebo) should produce some effect in comparison to no-analgesic condition. In the medium effect, we observed significantly longer durations of the ERP effects in the situation of the 'anti-placebo' and no-analgesia, whereas in the analgesia and placebo condition these effects were much shorter. This result led us to the conclusion, that on the neural level, our suggestion of 'bad medicament' (similar to situation of no-medicament) caused a specific mental activity registered on ERP. This effect is the one which calls into a question doctors’ recommendations (which contain negative connotation) of medicaments, as they could potentially and unconsciously diminish a valuable impact that the placebo could have during a treatment. Finally, in the late effect, we also observed significant differences across the four experimental conditions, but these differences were directly correspondent with the order of presentation of experimental situations, and we interpret them as an artefact of the experimental design.
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Biro, M., Ković, V., Novović, Z., Pejović, J., Sokić, J., & Sovilj, P. (2013). ERP correlates of placebo and ’anti-placebo’ effects. Primenjena Psihologija, 6(4), 339–354. https://doi.org/10.19090/pp.2013.4.339-354


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Welcome to Mario's
Please note this is just a demo page to try out the front-end of our Food Delivery System. If you enter a valid email address when you place a test order you will recieve email confirmation.
Order and pay online for deliveries and pickup services. Vouchers available for all front line workers. Fresh sandwiches and pizza delivered to your place of work.


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Irish twin duo Jedward have announced their intention to re-record their 2010 hit single “Under Pressure (Ice Ice Baby)” after their former label deleted the song off streaming platforms and YouTube.
Calling out Simon Cowell and Sony on Twitter
Jedward voiced their dismay over the decision on their official Twitter, making sure to tag both Simon Cowell and Sony Music UK.
In a statement to The Sun, they revealed that they’re planning on re-recording it featuring vocals from either Vanilla Ice (who appeared on the original) or Niall Horan of One Direction fame.
“Under Pressure (Ice Ice Baby)” reached #1 in Ireland and peaked at #2 in the UK, making it the duo’s first hit straight out of X-Factor.
Taste the Heat
Earlier this month, Jedward released the music video for their latest single “Taste the Heat”. It’s an uptempo pop song with the music video set in a colorful diner.
Hopefully the new music release won’t get in the way of their re-recording plans!
Jedward at the Eurovision Song Contest
Jedward represented Ireland two years in a row, a rather rare feat. Their 2011 entry “Lipstick” finished in 8th place. The song became a decent hit in Europe. The following year they returned with “Waterline” which failed to repeat the success of their first entry.
Which Jedward Eurovision entry is your favorite? Have you kept up with their music career? Let us know in the comment section and be sure to stay updated by following @ESCXTRA on Twitter, @escxtra on Instagram and liking our Facebook page for the latest updates! Also, be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel to see our reactions to the news in the upcoming months.


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The Library of Shree L. R. Tiwari Degree College of Arts Commerce & Science is automated using Software for University Libraries (SOUL). The software is integrated library management software designed and developed by the INFLIBNET Centre. The college purchased SOUL version 3.0 in the year 2023 to enhance the efficiency of its library services to the users.
All the documents received by the library are catalogued in SOUL using the catalogue module of the software. Moreover, the library create/edit/delete/search user records, renew membership and also establish relationship between the user and resources by creating transaction records through circulation module of the software.


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Turkey: Prison conditions and the treatment of prisoners in civilian and F-type prisons, including the prevalence of torture and the state response to it (2006-2007)
|Publisher||Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada|
|Author||Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ottawa|
|Publication Date||7 June 2007|
|Citation / Document Symbol||TUR102517.E|
|Cite as||Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Turkey: Prison conditions and the treatment of prisoners in civilian and F-type prisons, including the prevalence of torture and the state response to it (2006-2007), 7 June 2007, TUR102517.E, available at: http://www.refworld.org/docid/47d6547e23.html [accessed 21 May 2013]|
|Disclaimer||This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.|
The Turkish prison system
With 91 detainees per 100,000 inhabitants, Turkey is considered to have a low rate of incarceration (UN 7 Feb. 2007, para. 60). As of 2006, there were 67,772 prisoners in Turkey's 503 prisons, out of an official prison capacity of 70,994 (World Encyclopedia of Police Forces and Correctional Systems 2007, 912).
Turkish prisons are divided into three security categories: F-type, which are maximum-security; E-type and special type, which are medium-security; and, open prisons and juvenile reformations, which are minimum-security (ibid.).
Rules governing prison administration
Prisoners whose behaviour is deemed disruptive may be denied contact with visitors or other inmates (World Encyclopedia of Police Forces and Correctional Systems 2007, 911). Turkish law forbids the use of collective, physical, cruel, degrading and inhumane methods of punishment in Turkish prisons (ibid.). Prisoners, prison directors, or two or more members of the disciplinary board have the right to appeal any punishment decision within a 24-hour period (ibid.).
Prisoners who maintain good behaviour for the first fifth of their incarceration may be transferred to open prisons; they may also be eligible for "excuse permission" for up to ten days in case of death, illness or a grave situation affecting a close relative (ibid.), although the Research Directorate was unable to clarify the meaning of the term "excuse permission." Prisoners who serve one fourth of their imprisonment with good behaviour and are selected for an open prison may be granted a three-day special leave (ibid.).
Reports of prison conditions
Various sources note that conditions in Turkish prisons have been improving, although there are areas that remain inadequate (EU 8 Nov. 2006; Freedom House 2006). There remain serious concerns in some prisons (Turkish Daily News 16 Mar. 2007). According to the European Union (EU), the lack of communal activities, problems regarding prisoner-staff interaction, limited medical and psychological care and the high prisoner-to-cell ratio are the principle areas of concern (8 Nov. 2006).
In its report on human rights violations in Turkey in 2006, the Human Rights Association of Turkey (IHD) recorded a total of 2,764 violations of human rights in Turkish prisons, including:
- 44 violations of rights of health;
- 491 arbitrary and ill-treatments;
- 88 violations of sending to medical (sic.);
- 615 violations of right of communication;
- 1 preventing meetings with lawyers;
- 1,525 disciplinary punishments, including 57 cell punishments, 588 bans on family interviews; 391 prohibitions on publishing; and 489 prohibitions on social activities. (IHD 27 Feb. 2007)
Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2006 cites a medical association as stating that the number of doctors and psychologists in Turkish prisons is insufficient and available only in some of the larger prisons; some inmates have reportedly claimed that they were denied treatment for serious medical situations (US 6 Mar. 2007, Sec. 1.c).
Additionally, Country Reports 2006 states that juveniles and adults were sometimes held in the same facilities, as were detainees and convicts (ibid.). In some cases, persons convicted for non-violent crimes (such as speeches) were held in high-security institutions (ibid.). Further information on the nature of these speeches could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.
While some international organizations, such as the Council of Europe's Committee on the Prevention of Torture (CPT), are allowed to make prison visits, others, such as domestic non-governmental organizations, are not (ibid.). Country Reports 2006 cited Turkish human rights activists as stating that Prison Monitoring Boards (which include government officials and private individuals) are ineffective (ibid.), while the UN notes that the Boards' reports and findings are not made public (16 Nov. 2006, para. 58).
In December 2005, the CPT sent a delegation to visit the Adana E-type Prison (COE 6 Sept. 2006, para. 41). Numerous current and former prisoners reported allegations of ill-treatment at the hands of prison staff at this prison, including "slaps, punches and kicks, as well as verbal abuse"; there were also reports of falaka (ibid.), which involves beating of the soles of the feet (AI 1 Sept. 2002). NGO representatives describe the prison as implementing a "very strict code of behaviour" and punishing minor breaches (ibid.). The Turkish government responded that all complaints of ill-treatment were subjected to administrative and judicial investigations and denied accusations that falaka was used as a form of punishment (Turkey 6 Sept. 2006, para. 41).
In addition, the Adana E-type prison reportedly held 950 inmates even though it has a capacity of 450; in one case, 22 prisoners were found sharing a 24 square-metre room (COE 6 Sept. 2006, para. 41). In response, Turkey stated that it was building a new prison to alleviate this overcrowding (Turkey 6 Sept. 2006, para. 41).
Another example of an overcrowded penitentiary is Buca Jail, where there are reportedly 2,600 prisoners in a prison made for 1,300 (Turkish Daily News 28 Apr. 2007). While the prison contains a theatre, cinema, concert hall, sports center and infirmary, residents cannot take full advantage of these amenities due to the overcrowding (ibid.).
The CPT further complains of a lack of adequate medical care in some medium- or minimum-security prisons, with some prisons having only one doctor per 1,000 inmates (COE 6 Sept. 2006, para. 55).
On the other hand, after having visited seven prisons in October 2006 and interviewed 200 detainees (UN 7 Feb. 2007, 2), the United Nation's Working Group on Arbitrary Detention considered that
[t]he administration of the penitentiary institutions also appeared to be professional and well funded. There are fewer prisoners than places in the penitentiary system and conditions of detention in the new prisons, which the Government is building at considerable speed to replace older facilities, are respectful of international standards. (7 Feb. 2007, para. 59)
In February 2007, the Istanbul daily Today's Zaman reported that, in 2006, 99 Turkish citizens convicted for crimes abroad requested to complete their sentence in Turkey, of which 51 were granted their wish; the newspaper considers this a sign of Turkey's improving prison conditions (27 Feb. 2007).
Turkish prisons reportedly allow for a variety of recreational activities for inmates, including: reading classes and elementary to university education; vocational courses and creative activities; cultural and athletic activities; and, religious education (ibid.). The Associated Press (AP) notes that a recently inaugurated prison that it visited "resembles a muted, austere summer camp, where militants, killers and miscreants weave carpets in workshops, study computers, play zithers and volleyball, and jog on gym treatments. They can even attend 'anger management' class" (15 Mar. 2007).
As of 15 March 2007, Turkey was reportedly building 30 new prisons across the country (AP 15 Mar. 2007). As of May 2007, no additional data on their proposed date of completion could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
F-type prisons were created in 2000 by the Turkish government to house prisoners in cells alone or with only two fellow inmates (IADL 31 Oct. 2006; Turkish Daily News 16 Dec. 2006; AFP 20 Nov. 2006). The F-type prison was a response to the frequent prison mutinies and hostage situations that characterized previous housing arrangements in which dozens of prisoners were kept in the same cell (ibid.). There are an estimated 2,000 convicts held in F-type prisons in Turkey today (IADL 31 Oct. 2006).
F-type prisons have received criticism from human rights organizations, and a number of activists have called for their abolition (ibid.; AFP 20 Nov. 2006; IHD 17 Jan. 2007). According to the Turkish Medical Association (TTB), the Union of Turkish Bars (TBB) and the Association of Engineers and Architects (TMMOB), "F-type prisons are geared to break prisoners psychologically through isolation" (Turkish Daily News 16 Dec. 2006).
Since 20 October 2000, some 122 prisoners in F-type prisons have died from hunger strikes they were leading in protest of their treatment (ibid.; IADL 31 Oct. 2006). The EU has complained that solitary confinement for prisoners sentenced to aggravated life imprisonment is "too extensive" (8 Nov. 2006). In October 2006, two Brussels-based lawyers, representing the Belgian League of Human Rights (Ligue belge des droits de l'homme) and the International Association of Democratic Lawyers (IADL), led a fact-finding mission to Turkey to visit domestic civil society groups to assess the situation of F-type prisons (IADL 31 Oct. 2006). The lawyers' assessment was that the disciplinary measures taken against prisoners in F-type prisons were "humiliating" and that prisoners were subject to [translation] "excessive disciplinary sanctions," such as deprivation of contact with family members for periods of up to one year (ibid.).
However, during a December 2005 visit to three different F-type prisons (at Adana and Tekirdag), the CPT stated that there were almost no complaints by prisoners of ill-treatment by prison staff (COE 6 Sept. 2006, para. 39). In addition, the CPT's delegation "formed an overall positive impression of the quality of the staff assigned to the above-mentioned F-type establishments," although it found that interactions between prison staff and inmates could be improved (ibid., para. 40). In response, Turkey noted that prisoner-staff communication is encouraged and that many staff are trained in courses such as human relations and convict psychology (Turkey 6 Sept. 2006, para. 40).
While the amount of time that the average prisoner spent outside of his or her cell ranged from 6 to 20 hours per month, some prisoners were spending up to 30 hours per week in workshops (COE 6 Sept. 2006, para. 44-46). However, the CPT noted that the F-type prisons that it visited appeared to restrict prisoner access to social activities and sports (ibid., para. 43). Turkey responded that, in the absence of any security risks, F-type prison inmates are guaranteed one hour of exercise per day (Turkey 6 Sept. 2006, para. 54), and are encouraged to socialize with other prisoners for a set period every week, although in some cases this is hindered by enmity among convicts (ibid., para. 47)
The CPT further noted that the medical, psychological and psychiatric resources devoted to F-type prisons were inadequate (COE 6 Sept. 2006, para. 55). However, the Turkish government states that
[t]he level of medical care provided to remand and sentenced prisoners accommodated in prisons is no less than the one provided to regular citizens. In fact, it is even higher than the medical care level provided to regular citizens without social security. (Turkey 6 Sept. 2006, para. 57)
In January 2007, Turkey's Justice Ministry announced that it would alleviate F-type prison conditions by allowing inmates to socialize for up to 10 hours a week, versus the previous maximum of 5 hours a week (Today's Zaman 23 Jan. 2007; Turkish Daily News 23 Jan. 2007). Yet, human rights organizations, such as the Human Rights Association of Turkey (IHD), observe that some 60 to 70 percent of detainees could not take advantage of more lenient measures in F-type prisons because they were currently undergoing disciplinary punishments (ibid. 12 Feb. 2007).
Use of torture in prisons
In February 2006, a UN Special Rapporteur on human rights visited Turkey to assess the effect of counter-terrorism initiatives on human rights (UN 16 Nov. 2006). According to the Special Rapporteur,
[a]fter the Government's announcement of a zero-tolerance policy towards torture in 2003, many steps have been taken to prevent torture and also to improve the bringing to justice of perpetrators. The pattern of a decrease in torture was acknowledged by all of the interlocutors. Safeguards which have a preventative effect on torture include the duty to inform the family of detainees of detention, medical examinations before and after detention, access to counsel, and human rights training of Jandarma and police officers. (ibid., para. 48)
Additionally, the Special Rapporteur observed that the "past widespread use of torture" that took place in Turkish prisons in the 1990s was not always properly addressed, with some victims unaware that their torturers had later been brought to justice (ibid., para. 49).
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
Agence France-Presse (AFP). 20 November 2006. "Prisons: Fin de l'occupation du bureau de l'Associated Press à Ankara." (Factiva)
Amnesty International (AI). 1 September 2002. Turkey: Systematic Torture Continues in early 2002.
Associated Press (AP). 15 March 2007. Christopher Torchia. "Turkey Reforms One of Its Most Troubled Institutions: The Prison System." (Factiva)
Council of Europe (COE). 6 September 2006. European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT). Report to the Turkish Government on the Visit to Turkey Carried Out by the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) on Its Visit to Turkey from 7 to 14 December 2005.
European Union (EU). 8 November 2006. Commission of the European Communities. Turkey 2006 Progress Report.
Freedom House. 2006. "Turkey." Freedom in the World 2006.
Human Rights Association of Turkey (IHD). 27 February 2007. Human Rights Violation in Turkey – Summary Table of 2006.
_____. 17 January 2007. "Three Doors and Three Locks in F Type Prisons Should be Opened."
International Association of Democratic Lawyers (IADL) [Brussels]. 31 October 2006. Georges Henri Beauthier and Jan Fermon. L'isolement carcéral et le « jeûne jusqu'à la mort » de Maître Behic Asci, avocat au barreau d'Istanbul.
Today's Zaman [Istanbul]. 27 February 2007. "Turkish Prisons Prove Magnet for Turks Convicted Overseas."
_____. 23 January 2007. "F-Type Prisoner Asci Ending His Death Fast."
Turkey. 6 September 2006. Response of the Turkish Government to the Report of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatmwent or Punishment (CPT) on Its Visit to Turkey From 7 to 14 December 2005.
Turkish Daily News [Ankara]. 28 April 2007. "No Vacancy in Jails."
_____. 16 March 2007. Goksel Bozkurt. "Parliament Slams Istanbul on Rights." (Factiva)
_____. 12 February 2007. "Prisons Remodeled, Scrutiny Remains."
_____. 23 January 2007. "Justice Ministry Eases Inmate Isolation."
_____. 16 December 2006. Isil Siriyuce. "Dying Alone to Protest Prison Isolation." (Factiva)
United Nations (UN). 7 February 2007. Human Rights Council (HRC). Implementation of General Assembly Resolution 60/251 of 15 March 2006 Entitled "Human Rights Council": Report of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention – Addendum: Mission to Turkey.
_____. 16 November 2006. Human Rights Council (HRC). Implementation of General Assembly Resolution 60/251 of 15 March 2006 Entitlted "Human Rights Council": Report of the Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms While Countering Terrorism" – Addendum: Mission to Turkey.
United States (US). 6 March 2006. Department of State. "Turkey." Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2006.
World Encyclopedia of Police Forces and Correctional Systems, 2nd Ed. 2007. "Turkey." Farmington Hills, MI: Thomson Gale.
Additional Sources Consulted
Oral sources, including: Amnesty International Turkey, the Human Rights Foundation of Turkey (HRFT), the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the Organisation mondiale contre la torture (OMCT), the Organization for Human Rights and Solidarity for Oppressed People (Mazlumder), and the Turkish Red Crescent Society did not respond to requests for information within the time constraints of this Response.
Internet sites, including: Amnesty International (AI), British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), European Country of Origin Information Network (ecoi.net), Fédération internationale des ligues des droits de l'homme (FIDH), Human Rights Foundation of Turkey (HRFT), Human Rights Watch (HRW), International Centre for Prison Studies, International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC), International Corrections and Prisons Association (ICPA), International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights (IHF), Observatoire international des prisons (OIP), Organisation mondiale contre la torture (OMCT), Prisons de femmes en Europe, Prisons en Turquie, Tayad, Turkish Red Crescent Society.