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The Impact of State Taxes on the Development and Growth of the Trucking Industry
Lambert, Thomas, Min, Hokey, Journal of Transportation Management
On the average, a typical U.S. trucking firm earns only 3 to 4 cents on the dollar after taxes, compared to the 7 to 9% average profit margin of the heavy manufacturing industry (Dun and Bradstreet, 1999). As such, there is a growing concern regarding the profitability of the U.S. trucking industry, despite strong shipment growth and a moderate increase in freight rates over the last few years. Such anxiety partially originates from volatile fuel prices, and chronic truck driver shortage and retention problems. To make matters worse, some states such as Kentucky, still levy taxes on regionally based trucking firms and their assets. These taxes include the motor vehicle usage tax (MVUT) and the weight distance tax (WDT). These taxes can further reduce the trucking industry's thin profit margin and exacerbate its competitiveness.
For instance, in Kentucky where both MVUT and WDT are still intact, it has the second highest trucking business failure rate among eight neighboring states (see Appendix A). Such a high business failure rate is puzzling, given that the average revenue per trucking establishment in Kentucky during 1997 was above the national average and far greater than those of three neighboring states (Missouri, Virginia, and West Virginia) (See Appendix D). Many trucking firms believe that Kentucky's unique tax policy is the culprit.
Kentucky's MVUT is similar to taxes charged in many other states. It is basically a sales tax on all motor vehicles, including the rolling stock purchased by trucking firms. Some states, such as Kentucky, make all rolling stock fully taxable, whereas others cap the tax at a maximum fee or apportion it according to mileage driven in state. The last two methods are often less of a burden than those imposed by full coverage. Florida apportions sales taxes so that the more a truck is driven out of state, the less its owner pays. Some states, such as Indiana, exempt rolling stock from usage/sales taxation completely (American Trucking Association, 2000).
For example, a $100,000 purchase of rolling stock by a trucking firm that chooses to register and plate the truck in Kentucky, results in the owner having to pay an additional $6,000 in usage/sales taxes (6% sales tax ' $100,000). In Indiana, where rolling stock is exempt from that state's sales taxes, an owner would not have to pay $6,000. A trucking firm owner in Kentucky would do better to license his/her truck in Indiana and buy parts or rolling stock from an Indiana supplier than to conduct such transactions in Kentucky. In states where there is a cap, like North Carolina or Vermont, the owner pays a pro-rated amount of what the tax bill would ordinarily be. Since equipment costs account for 34.3% of a truckload carrier's costs, MVUT can raise an owner's cost of capital substantially and thus can be perceived as an economic burden by the carrier (Boyer, 1998). Kentucky's weight distance tax (WDT) is unique in that Kentucky is one of only four states (Kentucky, New York, New Mexico, and Idaho) that levy such a tax. Weight distance taxes also have been called ton-mile taxes or ton-axle taxes in other states because the intent of such taxes is to penalize the heaviest users of roadways and those who cause the greatest amount of depreciation in highway pavement and infrastructure. Thus, the owners of large, heavy commercial trucks pay a greater amount in taxes to a state's road fund than would the owners of much smaller vehicles. These trucks usually have five or more axles for both tractor and trailer and usually weigh around 60,000 pounds or more. From a public finance standpoint, such a tax makes sense if the heaviest user of a public good can be identified.
The dilemma is whether the user can pay the tax, and if so, can the tax be collected in a fair and efficient manner using self-reports. If not, some trucking firms will take the opportunity to "cheat" on taxes. Their marginal costs of creating road depreciation and restoration are borne by someone else (Boyer, 1998). …

domain: finance


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Choosing one of the case studies that you developed within your group during the class. Explain the cause of the person's symptoms and construct a hypnoanalysis treatment plan and required outcome. In this essay I will describe person G who I will now refer to as the client in the case study below. I will explain the issues that have caused my client to suffer from low self esteem. I will devise a hypnoanalysis treatment plan for them, with an attached screed.
My response has always been no. I responded no simply because I didn’t know what HPV was, so why get a vaccine for something that I didn’t know what I was trying to prevent. What I didn’t know was that when I receive my pap they check to make sure nothing is wrong with my cervix which is what HPV attacks. HPVSafety.com stated “High-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) can be detected through a simple test and among women, who stand a higher risk of cervical cancer; this can be done along with the Pap smear test. On the other hand, there is as of now no FDA-approved test to detect HPV in men.
There must be a crisis 4. There are no effective sources of aid at the moment of crisis” (O’Hagan, M; Smith, M 2002) For several years the pattern of which was used for intervening when a child was being abused hence focused on Kempe’s work to promote programmes to break the ‘cycle of abuse’ such as therapy for children who have been abused, crisis counselling and help lines for parents. The model consequently puts forward that child abuse is a type of disease which has precise signs and symptoms. By presenting it as if it was a disease led people believing that it was ‘predictable, preventable and curable’ just like all the other diseases in the world however, as we know, that is not the case. In the 1970’s this caused the medical model to be immensely criticized
Jerry still wants to help the patient but as he still knows that he is not licensed to prescribe any medication to any patient. Even if the medication was for controlling high blood pressure or is as small as aspirin Jerry will still not be able to fill or refill and prescriptions. If any of the patients call the office for any prescriptions to be refilled, then Jerry or anyone in that office will need to tell the patient to call in ahead as to get the prescription filled before they run low or run out. In some cases the patient will still need to be evaluated to get a
Observation Notes This assignment addresses the etiology of each child and the varying Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) strategies used to enhance the child’s communicative ability. The report features a description of the overall interaction with the individuals in natural communicative context with a discussion on the types of vocabulary and graphic symbols selection used on the AAC device. Furthermore, it addresses the treatment method and type of team approach used for therapy as well issues related to funding and service delivery of AAC services. Before meeting the students Joe and John, I met briefly with Jen, the speech language pathologist (SLP) to discuss my assignment and the expectations and treatment outcomes. Both students use direction selection, AAC devices.
The FDA requires that all commercials list the side effects and that the individual discuss with a doctor prior to trying said medication. Due to the drugs needing a prescription, an individual would not be able to take the medication unless a doctor has confirmed their disease and written a prescription. The individual may have the disease in question but by no means is the doctor required to give the advertised drug, there may be a drug in the same classification that
In this particular task, I am going to write report that clarifies/explain how biological and social learning perspectives approaches are used in health care practice. In school nursery- biological perspective is used to check on children`s progress, behaviour and development as well as identifying early diagnosis of any disorders. This perspective is used to diagnose, prevent and treat the most common childhood-onset behavioural disorder ADHD-the attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. This is when children have a reduced ability to uphold attention without being distracted, a control of what they do/say or control of the amount of physical activity appropriate to the situation. Using biology test and standards they deliver treatments which include helping with behaviour/stress management, educational support and medication which normal assist the children`s concentrate and being less disruptive.
Identified issue During self-assessment, co-ordinators found that some educators did not have copies of health management plans for children with health needs, such as anaphylaxis and asthma. Improvement plan Standard/ element 2.1.1 What outcome or goal do we seek? For children’s health needs, such as anaphylaxis and asthma, health management plans must be kept at the educator’s residence, as well as at the scheme co-ordination office. Priority How will we get this (L/M/H) outcome? (Steps) High – Review all children’s enrolment forms and health management plans.
This allowed our class to become informed on the process of admitting a patient in the field. Our class gained an understanding of the process of providing substance abuse services to clients. We learned the importance of prioritizing a client’s treatment plan. Our insight also included understanding the different treatment stages and familiarizing ourselves with local agencies offering treatment by looking up agencies and resources using 211, the phonebook and the internet. We gained an understanding of peer pressure in adolescents and discussed prevention programs created to teach adolescents the skills needed to make good decisions.
One of the tests is an Autism Diagnostic Interview. That’s when the parents of the child who has been told to have the evaluation done to them. They hold an interview with the parents of the individual. Another evaluation we use is the Childhood Autism Rating Scale. This is an evaluation used to test the child’s autism is severe or moderate.

domain: medical


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Small Bottle Tortilla Soup
These are the perfect gift-for you or a loved one! We layer dried ingredients to make colorful decorative items for any kitchen.
To make, you will need 1 lb. ground turkey, water, 2 - 14.5oz cans of chicken broth and 1- 15 oz can of tomato sauce.
Ingredients: Tomato, Corn, Bell Pepper
Seasonings: Salt, Cumin, Garlic Powder, Chili Powder, Minced Onion & Jalapeno Pepper
Allergen Information: Manufactured on shared equipment that processes peanuts, tree nuts, milk, wheat, soybean and egg products.

domain: food


Six Nations: England coach Stuart Lancaster delighted to unleash Tom Croft from the start against Wales in Cardiff
Tom Croft adds "presence" to England's pack, explained Stuart Lancaster after picking him for the Six Nations decider.
Last Updated: 15/03/13 7:08am
Croft is preferred to James Haskell at blindside flanker for Saturday's fixture, which England need to win to claim their first Grand Slam since 2003.
It will be the first time Croft has started for his country since suffering a triple neck fracture while playing for his club Leicester almost a year ago.
He made his international comeback off the bench during the win over Italy last week and has done enough to be upgraded to the starting XV.
"What tipped the balance were his performances for Leicester, the way he played when he came off the bench against Italy and also the way he's trained, the presence he's brought to the team," Lancaster said.
"(We'll see) whether he plays the full 80 minutes or not... The reason we've got James Haskell on the bench is because he covers six, seven and eight - and also James has done well off the bench for us (in the past).
"We'll make the decision as to if and when we use James as the game goes on."
Croft is looking forward to the challenge of taking on Wales, who have won three in a row since losing their opening game of the tournament against Ireland.
"I'm just happy to be fit and back in the England squad at all. To get the start is brilliant," he told Sky Sports News.
"Wales are on an upward trend but we are focusing on ourselves and making sure we improve on what we did against Italy.
"In our minds we go in favourites for this game. If we get everything right, we are a very difficult team to beat."
Croft is one of four changes to England's starting XV. Joe Marler has reclaimed the loosehead prop position from Mako Vunipola and England revert to Ben Youngs and fit-again Owen Farrell in the half-backs.
Wales, who did the Grand Slam last year, need to win by seven points or more to claim the Six Nations title and Lancaster knows his relatively inexperienced side are in for a stern examination.
"They are a very experienced side in terms of the number of caps - I think they've got about 600 in their starting team compared to our 280 odd," Lancaster said.
"They have played in big games and they've closed out those Grand Slams in the last few years.
"Playing at home for any team is a big advantage but we go into the game with a strong self-belief.
"We've won four out of four in the Six Nations - which is a difficult tournament to win games in consistently - and we've got that New Zealand game (during the autumn) as well.
"We are pretty confident but very respectful of the opposition."


Imo state residents have been reported to have destroyed the Ellen Sirleaf Johnson road sign which was built by governor Rochas Okorocha in Owerri, as a show of their displeasure.
The Liberian president; Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, Jacob Zuma of South Africa and Nana Ado Akufo of Ghana, were honored last year with their statues and signposts erected in Owerri by the Imo state governor.
Many Nigerians especially Imo state residents criticized and condemned the governor for honoring foreign leaders and “doing less” for his people in Imo state.
And now, it appears some of the residents have made their displeasure and threats real by destroying the signpost.
The other statues are located at the Ikemba Ojukwu Square which is heavily guarded.


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The sooner cancer is discovered, the quicker treatment can begin – and it does save lives. Next time you’re off to the urinal, take a mental note of your flow.
Symptoms of prostate cancer appear when the cancerous mass is big enough to press onto the urethra, explained the NHS.
The urethra is the tube that carries urine from the bladder out of the penis.
This is why observing your urinary flow is important to uncover signs of cancer.
How powerful is it? A cancerous mass pressing onto the urethra can result in a weak urinary flow.
Some people may experience hesitancy, added the NHS. This is when it’s difficult to start peeing.
Do note, hesitancy can be normal if you’re feeling shy, but it’s abnormal when it happens wherever you go.
You may find yourself straining to urinate, or take a really long time to pee.
And, when you do eventually pee, there may be trickles of blood. Then there’s the feeling that no matter how often you pee, your bladder still feels as though it hasn’t emptied.
In fact, you may have noticed you’re peeing more frequently, often during the night.
These symptoms require a discussion with your GP – you could arrange a phone call with your doctor.
Many of these symptoms could be indicative of a prostate enlargement – a normal part of ageing.
However, it’s always better to be checked over, in case it could be prostate cancer.
Your doctor may want to ask for urine and blood samples, and any further investigation is likely to happen at a hospital.
There are certain risk factors that somebody more susceptible to the disease.
These include a family history of prostate cancer and being over the age of 50.
Recent research, cited by the NHS, suggested that there may be a link between obesity and prostate cancer.
Thus, a balanced diet and regular exercise helps to lower a person’s risk of the disease.
At present, further research has proposed that a diet high in calcium is also linked to an increased risk of developing prostate cancer.
Sometimes, should prostate cancer be diagnosed, it may not need any treatment if it’s at low risk of spreading to other body parts.
People who have cancer that is more likely to spread may undergo surgery or radiotherapy.
These treatment options hope to cure the cancer, but side effects may be felt.
After surgery, or radiotherapy, you’re likely to feel tired and will need time to recover.
For more information on prostate cancer, visit the informative charity Prostate Cancer UK.
Source: Read Full Article

domain: biology


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Following the controversy surrounding a call from his bishop to return to his diocese as a response to unsubstantiated allegations that he is unresponsive to the bishop and Priests for Life has financial problems, Father Frank Pavone is considering a new step.
While he has been faithful to the call and has returned to Texas as requested by Amarillo Bishop Patrick J. Zurek, who left town for two weeks the day Pavone returned, Pavone is considering other options. He has already appealed to The Vatican to help him in his quest to return to full-time pro-life ministry with Priests for Life, but Pavone told EWTN he may consider another option if the Catholic Church doesn’t resolve the matter or Zurek doesn’t allow him to resume his role.
Pavone says if Bishop Zurek doesn’t grant him permission to return to full-time pro-life ministry, he will consider either being incardinated in another Catholic diocese or founding a new religious order for priests seeking to be involved in full-time pro-life work.
In an interview with EWTN News, Pavone said the situation is frustrating because Zurek left town and did not provide him any duties or assignments — so he has been conducting his Priests for Life work from Amarillo. He said he had been in discussions with Bishop Zurek about doing more in Texas and sent him a list of dates he requested when he could do that — which the bishop now claims he never received.
“We have been talking with the bishop for years about these issues,” he said, abbot the issues the bishop says are unresolved.
But he told EWTN he may look elsewhere if the situation can’t be resolved amicably.
“I do have various options,” he said. “The Church is bigger than Amarillo. The Church is the Church. “I have experienced the call to full-time pro-life work. I want to do that for the rest of my life. It’s a vocational matter”
Pavone pointed to other religious orders established by prominent Catholic figures who, at first, had tenuous relationships with the Church that eventually moved in a positive direction.
In a followup to the question of a potential new religious order, Pavone told Lifenews there “is no specific plan right now” to create one. “These are just theoretical possibilities that we’ve been discussing from the very beginning of Priests for Life,” he added.
Meanwhile, Monsignor Harold Waldow, vicar of clergy for the Diocese of Amarillo, who released a statement yesterday saying Pavone is not under investigation by the Catholic Church for any wrongdoing and that he is a priest in good standing. Waldow described more of the issues the diocese has with Priests for Life, saying that while PFL provided its financial details, other portions of financial information from Rachel’s Vineyard and Missionaries of the Gospel of Life are missing.
“Two of the major pieces of the international pro-life movement and national pro-life movement are missing,” he told the Amarillo Globe-News, adding that he believes the money Priests for Life brings in belongs to the Catholic Church. “This is patrimony of the Church. It belongs to the Church. People give their money over the understanding that it goes to the Church or Church auspices and programs and ministries.”
“I’m sure that our bishop does not stand alone on this,” he added. “I think Rome has been quite clear the bishops of the United States need to exercise more prudential guidance and governance over the patrimony of the Church.”
The dispute between the diocese and Father Pavone has caused quite a debate within the pro-life Catholic community as both supporters of Pavone and Priests for Life and naysayers are squabbling over whether Pavone or the Texas diocese is correct.

domain: news


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There are 7 coronavirus infections in Liguria today, 3 July, according to data from the region’s bulletin. The new cases were identified on 2,346 molecular swabs carried out in the last 24 hours, in addition to another 3,0161 rapid antigenic swabs. Since yesterday, 1 death has been recorded, there have been 4,352 deaths since the beginning of the covid-19 epidemic. There are 20 patients hospitalized for covid, 6 people in intensive care.
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We have a wonderful slate of candidates for this year’s election, so we invite you to get to know each of them. This year, we’ll be electing one Co-Chair and one Steering Committee member; we have one candidate running unopposed for Co-Chair and nine candidates for an opening on the Steering Committee.
The online ballot will follow within a few weeks, so do watch for that!
Leslie Van Veen McRoberts
Thank you for considering me for the position of Co-Chair for the Women Archivists Roundtable; I am looking forward to expanding my experience within the SAA and am elated at the opportunity to contribute. Currently, I am the Archivist at the Edward H. Nabb Research Center for Delmarva History and Culture at Salisbury University. I received my MLIS and Archival Administration Graduate Certificate from Wayne State University and also hold an MS in Historic Preservation with a Historic Administration concentration. My research interests include architectural preservation specifically the archival documentation thereof, early automotive labor history, and archival material access through theory and practice. While my interests may be specific to the archival field, I also have previous experience as a Model T driver for the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village, thus explaining my love of labor and automotive history.
I am an early-career archivist who has been working full-time for two years; I have a BA from Wake Forest University (go Deacs!) and a MSLIS from Simmons College. I currently work at Iowa State University; previously, I held a term position at Boston College. I’m very excited about the prospect of working with WAR! The Roundtable’s use of social media recently has been a great way to interact with the group. I enjoy the community-building that has gone on via the Twitter book clubs; the blog entries are a great way to “meet” women leaders around the profession in a longer format. I promise to bring my enthusiasm and curiosity to the great work the Roundtable is already doing.
I am a Visiting Archival Operations and Reference Specialist at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign where I manage the American Library Association Archives and provide reference services for the University Archives. I received my MA in History with a certificate in Archives and Records Management from Western Washington University.
I am excited about the current activities that WAR has been engaging in and would like to become more involved. I see WAR as a valuable resource for archivists to talk about the issues and concerns faced by women within our profession, such as advancement, leadership opportunities, and recognition within the field. I want to help continue these talks and in endeavors to spread these discussions to SAA as a whole.
My name is Meghan Courtney, and I am writing to express my interest in participating in the Women Archivist Roundtable as a member of the steering committee.
I have recently started a job as the AFSCME Archivist at the Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs at Wayne State University. In this role, I work closely with the union to maintain institutional records, both physical and digital. In the past 35 years, the union has shifted to represent a much larger proportion of women, and I am interested in further exploring that change through the collection of oral histories.
I recently joined Wayne State’s Commission on the Status of Women. As the new academic year approaches, we are preparing to partner with various student groups to create a stronger sense of community around women’s issues on campus.
Before moving to Detroit, I worked with the Black Metropolis Research Consortium to process collections related to African-American history in the Chicago area. I learned a great deal from Lisa Calahan, the lead archivist on the project. Her style of leadership inspires me to contribute to our predominantly female field in a way that supports the free exchange of ideas.
While I am relatively new to the field as a professional, I am excited to share my ideas with a group of similarly enthusiastic women working to challenge each other and our profession. I hope I can be of service to the roundtable, and I look forward to seeing both of you at the SAA annual meeting.
Laura Farley earned her BA in history with a minor in english and a certificate in museum studies from the University of Iowa and her MLIS from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She works at the Wisconsin Historical Society as the project manager of the map and atlas digitization project, and at the Wisconsin Veterans Museum as a reference archivist. Previously Laura has interned at the Herbert Hoover Presentation Library and Museum and the Chicago History Museum. She has been active in student and volunteer projects revolving around archival advocacy and outreach innovation. She has so much enthusiasm for the archives field and has had a particular interest in women’s collections and getting more women taking on leadership roles. Laura is an excellent team player and has many great ideas that she really inspire WAR members
Carrie Hintz is the Head of Archives Processing at the Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Columbia University where she manages the accessioning, processing, and technical services operations for the unit and oversees a staff of 7 archivists. She received her MSI from the University of Michigan’s School of Information in 2008.
I believe very strongly in the Women Archivist Roundtable and its mission to “monitor the status of women in the archival profession” and to “promote the participation of women in all phases of SAA’s activities and the profession as a whole.” With the A*Census indicating that women make up 65% of the archival profession, WAR has a clear role to play in advocating for fair labor practices and for opportunities for leadership within SAA and the profession.
Ellen is a PhD Candidate and research fellow with the School of Library and Information Studies at the University of Wisconsin – Madison. She has also worked for the past two years as a graduate assistant with the archives at the Wisconsin Center for Film and Theater Research. Ellen possesses leadership qualities and enthusiasm for archival science that would be of great benefit to the WAR Committee. In addition, Ellen is a genuinely fun and personable professional.
Danielle is the Curator of Manuscripts for the Northern Illinois University Regional History Center and University Archives. She is responsible for collections management for the center’s regional history collections. She promotes the use of collections via social media, providing archival bibliographic instruction, and providing reference services. She is also a team member for the Digital POWRR Project, an IMLS-funded grant at NIU that investigates digital preservation resources for institutions with limited resources. Danielle also serves on the Board of the Directors for the DeKalb Area Agricultural Heritage Association where she acts as the Social Media Manager. Before joining NIU in July 2013, Danielle worked as an Archivist at the Wisconsin Veterans Museum and the Wisconsin Historical Society. Danielle holds a MA-LIS with a specialization in Archival Administration from the University of Wisconsin-Madison (2011).
Danielle is passionate about the archival professional and is an excellent team member. She will use the drive she’s demonstrated in her career to act as a leader and innovator for the WAR roundtable.
Ashley L. Taylor
Ashley L. Taylor is the Arlen Specter Project Archivist at the University of Pittsburgh’s Archives Service Center. She has been with Pitt since 2009, first as a graduate student, and shortly thereafter as a professional archivist. In addition to her processing duties, she also manages her repository’s social media presence, supervises student workers, and is helping develop an electronic records policy for the Archives. She is currently pursuing a DAS certificate through SAA, and is an active member of both SAA and MARAC. Ashley has a strong interest in issues of access, advocacy, and the future of archives, including the ways in which women affect and are affected by professional trends. She had the pleasure of speaking on a panel of fellow women archivists at the Spring 2014 MARAC in Rochester, where they examined whether or not the recently popular “Lean In” phenomenon had any relevancy to our profession. She hopes that by serving as a steering committee member for the Women Archivists Roundtable, she can provide a voice for young female archivists looking to make their mark on the archival field.
I am currently the archivist for the Rio Grande Historical Collections at New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, New Mexico, and I am interested in serving on the steering committee for the Women Archivists Roundtable because I am passionate about the roles and concerns of women within the archival profession. I’ve always been interested in the role gender plays in the archival profession and concentrated much of my work in library school on the challenges facing female archivists within a workforce that is becoming increasingly younger and more female, including issues such as pay discrimination, workplace climate, and balancing job commitments with family demands. I hope to use a position on the WAR steering committee to contribute to the work of the roundtable and continue to advocate for women within the archival field.

domain: library


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6mm Copper Capri CAL or copper coated beads. The CAL stands for Comet Argent Light as in a silver light and the coating is applied to 1/2 of a transparent crystal bead. What happens is that you see the coating through and it gives such an amazing look. Transparent with colour on the back or very shiny when looking directly at the coating. Very interesting beads.
This product was added to our catalog on Wednesday 10 March, 2010.

domain: artistic


A program developed by a local college student could revolutionize the way we use energy across the country.
The Oral Roberts University student hasn't even graduated yet, but companies are already taking an interest in his research, which combines math and meteorology.
While the math may be hard to understand, the results are not; and the research has already garnered interest from local companies, and even the U.S. government.
Michael Buonaiuto is a senior at ORU majoring in math. He's back on campus after spending the summer in a prestigious internship at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee.
"It ended up they needed someone to do similar research like I'd done with Dr. Lang," he said.
The research was predicting energy usage based on weather conditions.
“They could just input the weather forecast for the next 84 hours and this would just shoot out the energy predictions," Buonaiuto said.
And the math is pretty spot on. Buonaiuto's original experiment was done at the ORU Hamill Student Center, where energy use is plenty and varied.
"This is a great way to save energy without really any extra work, except for implementing these models," he said.
His research is already getting interest; THG, an Austin-based energy company, has already started using Buonaiuto's math models to see how it could help them.
Buonaiuto said, “They had a use for this kind of information on how they can predict energy and relay that to their customers and help them utilize their energy more efficiently."
He said the algorithm could also help with the development of "smart appliances" that save energy while they run.
And, while the college senior isn't sure what his next move is after graduation, if this is any indication, there are bright things ahead.
Buonaiuto said he'll most likely look into some Ph.D. programs, but, at this point, he's not ruling anything out.


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A Rightist Revival Attempt
Yuba Nath Lamsal
The provocative remarks that deposed king Gyanendra Shah made through a statement on December 21 have, as expected, stirred up a hornets' nest in the Nepalese political circle. His remarks have drawn both flak as well as commendation. As a citizen, Gyanendra Shah, too, has every right to enjoy his freedom of expression. In that sense, his remarks should not be construed in a negative sense as he has spoken his mind on the state of affairs in the country. But given the circumstances and moves he has made over the last couple of months, one can easily presume that something fishy is afoot in the dark rooms of the rightist camp in Nepal.
The Nepali society is politically charged and politics is highly polarised. Every sector, including our intelligentsia, is politically divided and polarised. Our intellectual circle, which is supposed to be independent and to make its analysis and judgment based on the facts and reasons, often tends to toe party line. So our political pundits analyse and interpret any event and its consequence in a way that suits their personal or partisan interests. Their analyses often do not reflect the reality, but the opinion of a particular political party or interest group. This is perhaps the chronic disease that Nepal, in particular, is suffering for a long time.
If we are to drive Nepal forward onto the path of prosperity, a new culture of democracy must be established wherein the politicians will behave like politicians and professionals will act like true professionals. There must be a clear demarcation between the politicians and professionals. Politics is the domain of politicians whereas professionals have their own sphere of domain of telling people what is right and wrong without any kind of fear, pride and prejudice. Social and political scientists, economists, analysts and professionals must be honest and do justice to their profession.
Given the highly polarised politics and politically charged society, the ex-king's remarks have definitely given rise to different speculations. This is because we have the tradition and trend to analyse everything and every incident in a way that suits one's own interest. Nepal is a democracy which allows all hues of ideologies and political beliefs to exist. We have political parties which have varied orientation and leanings—from far right to the far left. Different political parties have different stance and position on different issues, which is natural in a democracy. This is the beauty of democracy, which allows all kinds of flowers to blossom in the pluralistic garden. We have diverse society in which different ethnic, lingual, cultural and religious communities have been living in a perfect harmony. This diversity is our pride, property and heritage, which must be protected and strengthened. Unity in diversity is what our constitution visualises. The ex-kings opinions should also be taken in this light.
The issues and concerns raised by the ex-king are nothing new. The politicians, activists and civil society leaders have often been saying and expressing similar views and opinions on different occasions and forums. In his statement, the ex-king has raised the concern on national unity stating, "Nepal’s national unity is under attack by the so-called progressive, revolutionary and modern elements". He even went one step forward in attacking the political parties that they (political parties and their leaders) were trying to create rift between the hill and plain people at the behest of external forces. It is a direct reference to and attack on political parties. In it also there is nothing objectionable as every citizen has right to criticise the conduct of political parties and their leaders. In principle, none is expected and even allowed to act anything against our national unity and integrity in any name, form and manifestation and under any pretext. If anyone tries to do so, it is treason. Necessary action must be taken against anyone who tries to harm our national interest as well as one who allows the external forces to interfere in our internal matters.
Nepal is an independent country and Nepalese people are capable of charting out their own political course and solving their own problem. Any kind of interference and dictates in our internal political affairs from external forces and country are unacceptable and intolerable. But the question is whether our leaders are as dishonest in a way the ex-king has claimed. It's a big no as our leaders are not less patriotic than the ex-king or anybody else.
This is an indication that attempts are afoot from certain quarters both at home and abroad to portray the ex-king as the symbol of national unity and patriotism and malign our political leaders. This is a serious conspiracy against our democracy, republican set up and all other achievements gained through the Jana Andolan of 2006. An individual can never be a symbol of national unity in this modern democratic era. But the ex-king is being instigated by a section of ultra rightist and ultra-nationalist elements to try to reap political benefit out of the rising rightist trend in the world.
Although the rightist trend is on the rise right from 1990 after the collapse of the Soviet Union, it is more pronounced in the recent years. The rise of BJP and Modi in India, Shinzo Abe in Japan, Theresa May in the United Kingdom and most recently Donald Trump in the United States are the clearer manifestations of rising rightist trend in the world. The ex-king and his supporters might, perhaps, have been encouraged by these developments abroad and political chaos at home. The ex-king is trying to raise the specter of rightist nationalism and at the same time the sentiments of some hilly people more particularly after the registration of the constitution amendment bill in the parliament. The king's statements and moves are nothing more than an attempt to fish in Nepal's troubled political waters and he is not likely to gain anything out of this.
Although Nepalese people may have short memory, the history of monarchy in Nepal is still in our fresh memory. There were of course some kings who have made positive contribution to Nepal's nation-building, but most of the kings were tyrants. Prithivi Narayan Shah's role is definitely praiseworthy and historic and there is no doubt about that. King Mahendra murdered democracy and portrayed himself as a political tyrant, but his contribution to national integration and development is positive. But there is nothing in Gyanendra to command people's respect. He came to power after the royal massacre, but he left his footprint as the worst political tyrant and a crooked businessman, rather than a king. Moreover, the attempt of ex-king to raise the slogan of patriotism and national unity, too, is farce as he, himself, is running from New Delhi to Beijing seeking support for his political regain. What we need to understand is the fact that when a person is dead he/she cannot be revived. Similarly, the monarchy is already dead and abolished, which cannot be revived again, and the ex-king and his supporters must realise this more clearly. Moreover, the monarchy is an anti-democratic political institution, which cannot be compatible with the modern democratic era.
Political parties and leaders have definitely their own limitations, shortcomings and weaknesses. But it does not mean that this is the fault of the system. Democracy is the best political system which alone can solve all political problems and create positive ground for participatory development. So there should not be any attempt from any quarter to defame the republican democratic system and malign the parties as there is no alternative to democracy in the present era. Similarly, there is no alternative to political parties in the multi-party democracy which we have adopted.
Of late, our universities are losing the public trust because of the various malpractices existing there. There is confusion among the public as to which...

domain: sociology


Marvin C. McClendon Jr. is the suspect arrested in the 1988 murder of 11-year-old Melissa Tremblay in Massachusetts. McClendon, now 74, was arrested in Alabama on April 26, 2022, the Essex District Attorney’s Office said in a press release. McClendon has been a “person of interest for a period of time … we believe we have the right person,” the district attorney said.
Marvin McClendon, who also goes by “Skip” McClendon, is accused of killing Melissa Ann Tremblay, of Salem, New Hampshire, on September 12, 1988, in Lawrence, Massachusetts, the prosecutor’s office said. Her body was found, “in the old Boston & Maine Railway Yard near Andover Street and South Broadway in Lawrence. She had been stabbed to death. Postmortem, her body was run over by a train car causing her left leg to be amputated,” the press release said.
Officials released few details about what led them to make the arrest, saying more information would be provided after McClendon appeared in court. “I want to thank everyone involved in this investigation from beginning to end,” District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett said in a statement after McClendon’s arrest. “Their tireless pursuit of justice for Melissa has brought us to this moment. We never forgot about Melissa, nor did we give up on holding her killer accountable.”
Here’s what you need to know about Marvin McClendon and the cold case murder of Melissa Tremblay:
1. Melissa Tremblay Had Last Been Seen Playing in the Neighborhood Near a Social Club Before Her Body Was Found
The Essex District Attorney’s Office said in its press release that after Melissa “Missy” Tremblay’s body was found, “An investigation ensued and police learned that Melissa Tremblay had accompanied her mother and mother’s boyfriend to the LaSalle Social Club at 397 Andover Street in Lawrence on Sunday, September 11, 1988. She was a sixth grader at the Lancaster School in Salem, New Hampshire, at the time.
The district attorney’s office added, “While her mother and mother’s boyfriend remained inside the club, Melissa played in the adjacent neighborhoods and was last seen by a railroad employee and pizza delivery driver during the late afternoon hours. That night, Melissa’s mother and mother’s boyfriend frantically searched the area and then reported her missing to the Lawrence Police around 9:00 p.m.”
Melissa Tremblay’s mother has since died, but the district attorney’s office said aunts and a causing were contacted about the arrest. Blodgett said the family was “very relieved” and “very happy” to hear an arrest was made and that authorities “never gave up in pursuing justice for Melissa.” Blodgett added, “I can’t even express how gratified we are to solve this … It is extremely gratifying that after all these years, never giving up, we believe we have the right suspect.”
2. Marvin C. McClendon, Who Worked for the Massachusetts Department of Corrections, Lived in Chelmsford at the Time of Melissa’s Murder & Had Ties to Lawrence, Where She Was Killed, the District Attorney’s Office Said
Marvin C. McClendon is a retired corrections officer for the Massachusetts Department of Corrections, Blodgett said at a press conference. The district attorney said he was not sure if McClendon was a correctional officer at the time of Melissa’s murder or exactly when he started working for the DOC and how long he worked there.
According to the district attorney’s office, “The investigation found that the suspect lived in Chelmsford in 1988, and had multiple ties to Lawrence. Specifically, investigators learned that he worked and frequented establishments in the city of Lawrence including the Seventh Day Adventist Church on Salem Street.”
Blodgett said he was not aware of any criminal history for McClendon or any other cases he could be connected to. McClendon has also worked in carpentry, including at the time of Melissa’s death, according to Boston.com. He worked for the Massachusetts DOC on three separate occasions from 1970 to 2002.
3. McClendon, Who Is Married, Now Lives in Bremen, Alabama
McClendon now lives in Bremen, Alabama, with his wife, according to public records. Other details about his life, including when he retired from the Massachusetts DOC and how long he has lived in Alabama were not immediately available. The district attorney said he could not comment yet on whether McClendon knew the victim or the victim’s family.
“We’re not going to stop, we’re going to pursue every single lead,” Blodgett said. He said his team is “totally committed to justice, no matter how long it takes. I don’t care if it is 30 years or 60 years, we will continue to the best we can to bring some solace and justice to the families who have lost loved ones to murder.”
Blodgett said he wasn’t able to give many details about McClendon’s life in Alabama. He said he believes he was working at one point in Bremen.
4. A Cold Case Team Has Been Working ‘Diligently’ on the Case Since 2014, the District Attorney’s Office Says, Adding ‘Evidence Recovered From the Victim’s Body Was Instrumental in Solving the Case’
According to the district attorney’s office, “Over the years, scores of witnesses, suspects, and persons-of-interest were interviewed by police.” They did not say exactly how long McClendon has been considered a person of interest or suspect in the case and what exactly led to his arrest.
“Assistant District Attorneys and State Police Detectives assigned to the Essex District Attorney’s Office specializing in cold cases have worked diligently on this case since 2014. Evidence recovered from the victim’s body was instrumental in solving the case,” the district attorney’s office said. “Essex Victim Advocates contacted surviving members of Melissa’s family last night and again this morning.”
The district attorney’s office said, “DA Blodgett thanked Essex Chief Homicide Prosecutor Jessica Strasnick and Appeals Unit ADA Marina Moriarty; the Essex State Police Detective Unit, headed by Captain Steve McDonald and lead investigator Lieutenant Peter Sherber and Lawrence Police Detectives, both current and retired, particularly retired detective Thomas Murphy, for their tireless and relentless pursuit of justice for Melissa. They were assisted by the Massachusetts Department of Corrections, the FBI, Tewksbury Police, the Cullman County Sheriff’s Department, and the Alabama State Bureau of Investigation.”
In 2017, Murphy told The Eagle-Tribune, “I was young and I had a daughter the same age at the time. It was a tough case to digest. You never forget those cases. There were a lot of days and a lot of nights. … We worked on it forever and ever.”
5. McClendon is Being Held on a Fugitive From Justice Charge in Alabama Pending His Return to Massachusetts to Face Charges There
Marvin McClendon is being held by the Cullman County Sheriff’s Office after his arrest in Alabama on a fugitive from justice charge, officials said. He is scheduled to be arraigned in court there on Thursday, April 28, 2022. The Essex County District Attorney’s Office said, “The timing of his return to Massachusetts is dependent on his decision to waive rendition. He is presumed innocent until proven guilty.”
It was not immediately clear if McClendon has hired an attorney who could speak on his behalf. When asked if he was surprised that investigators came to question and arrest him, Blodgett, the district attorney, said at a press conference, “I can’t say he was surprised when he was interviewed in Alabama. I will tell you he has been a person of interest for a period of time, so I can’t speculate as to whether he was surprised or not.”
McClendon was arrested in Alabama about 4 p.m. on April 27, the Cullman County Sheriff’s Office said ina press release. The sheriff’s office added, “McClendon is being held at the Cullman County Detention Center until he can be extradited to Massachusetts.”


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Adult Male Dubia Roaches
Our adult male Dubia roaches are naturally strong breeders. They’re fit, fertile, and ready to fulfill their primal duty.
Male Dubia also make excellent feeders. Just because they aren’t necessary in large numbers for breeding doesn’t mean they’re any less nutritious. We raise all our Dubia roaches with equal attention, care, and access to nutrition. We love them all the same, and the animals that eat them seem to really love them too!

domain: pet


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Like most genres, chiptune music is a little hard to pin down. Some people say that chiptune is easier thought of as an instrument than a genre, in the same way that ‘guitar music’ is such a broad category as to be relatively useless.
So what exactly is chiptune music? Simply put, it’s music created with the synthesized sounds from early sound chips, such as those found on computers and video game consoles like the Nintendo GameBoy. But chiptune music is decidedly different from other forms of synthesized music; it’s not a rearrangement of sounds intended to simulate the nostalgic bleeps and bloops that made up early game music. Chiptune music is made from the actual sound chip technology, itself.
Of course, many modern chiptune artists use emulators or sound files from these original sources—using programs like Little Sound DJ—to enhance their arrangements. But the foundational use of the original technology is still there. With such a basic baseline for music, there’s plenty of diversity in the chiptune music scene. If you’re interested in seeing and hearing exactly what sound chips can do, check out a few of these chiptune music acts.
Anamanaguchi Mixes Up Familiar Electronic Sounds With Pop-Rock Sensibilities
Anamanaguchi is one of the better-known bands to use chiptune music, attracting enough attention to raise over $270,000 on Kickstarter to fund their second album. It’s important to note that Anamanaguchi isn’t purely chiptune music. While they use a GameBoy and NES in their music, they also use more traditional instruments, such as guitar and bass, to round out their tracks. That doesn’t lessen their contribution, as chiptune music is as wide and varied as the people that produce it.
Anamanaguchi has two albums out currently, with a third—which will reportedly not use chiptunes—forthcoming. They’ve also contributed significantly to the gaming scene, providing the soundtracks to Bit.Trip Runner and Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game. Check out Anamanaguchi’s “Helix Nebula” and “Meow” for a taste of their unique sound.
8Bit bEtty Turns Beeps and Blops Into Unique 8-bit Tunes
8Bit bEtty sounds a lot more like what you’d expect from chiptune music—as if it came straight out of your favorite childhood video game—but it’s all original in scope and sound. Every song sounds different from the next, and the upbeat nature of the tracks makes it a perfect listen for when you’re struggling through a difficult gaming level.
Featuring album titles like “Too Bleep to Blop” and “Break Out. Out Break. Break Even?” 8Bit bEtty’s music is fun and has totally earned the Bandcamp tag of “cutetronica.” All of 8Bit bEtty’s music is available for listening on Bandcamp, and “Mostly Dead Music” is available in its entirety for free. For a better sense of their sound, check out the cute and dreamy sounding “The Game (Flirting is Hard)” and the long (but wonderful) soundscape that is “Everything Changes (Reprise).”
godinpants Creates a Whole New Chiptunes Music Genre
As if the differences between Anamanaguchi and 8Bit bEtty weren’t enough to show the variations in chiptune music, there’s godinpants, which blends chiptune sounds with punk guitar thrums. There’s less bleeping in godinpants; heavy beats and bass guitar set their style apart from the cheerful tones of many other chiptune acts.
They’ve even proclaimed themselves as progenitors of the WHALECORE genre, including their album “WHALECORE Manifesto.” It’s a noisy frenzy of sound, but that’s what makes it interesting—if their music was in a video game, it would be the theme for a frightening final boss battle. For a good sampling of godinpants, check out “Fins Without Thumbs” and “ANAMANAGETFUCKED,” which may or may not be named after certain other chiptune musicians.
Chipzel’s Game Soundtracks Support an Original Chiptunes Discography
If you’re one of Super Hexagon‘s many fans, you might already be familiar with Chipzel, a chiptune musician whose work comprises the soundtrack of the immensely difficult and addictive game. If you can’t make it long enough to hear the soundtrack in total, Chipzel has your back—the soundtrack is available to own for just over $3, or is free to listen to via the artist’s Bandcamp.
And Chipzel’s work isn’t confined to just the one game. Chipzel will also be creating the soundtrack for the upcoming Spectra, and has several original albums as well. Her music is frequently fast-paced and addictive, encouraging you to nod your head and get into the beat without realizing it. Check out “Child’s Play” and “Spectra” for more of Chipzel’s brilliant sound.
Are there other chiptune artists or tracks you really enjoy?

domain: entertainment


text:
UNDERSTAND YOUR KIDS ABILITY
We growth in our kids
Skills, Knowledge, Learning, Training, Ability, Growth, Competence
Few Words By Publisher
We understand that children have to choose the right course according to their interest, it will be better and easier for us. Our priority should be to find the hidden talent in the children and at the same time take care that whatever the children do, they can learn with pleasure without any fear and without considering the learning as a burden. Children’s mind is very soft, which one of our small mistakes can hurt that child’s mind a lot, he may be very scared and this fear of him can cause a lot of disruption in learning it.
It is very important to increase the following things in children:
If these things are completed in the children then we will be able to say that we are taking the children in the right direction. If we believe that we will get students to perform in the best studies by taking the spirit of the contestant, then we think wrong and we should never do this.
Children should never create such a feeling that children should study with their co-learners with some kind of competitive spirit or do something which creates a feeling of wrong or overtaking each other. We should develop their intelligence in children, they should have our full attention on knowledge, training, their growth, ability. We have to focus a lot on not just teaching, but learning, otherwise you will find a educated person breaking the rules made by us. Nowadays we focus only on teaching and not on learning.
If children are made to learn about anything in a better way, then they cannot forget throughout their life.
We children should learn what works for them, we are still teaching them to our children, perhaps they do not need them.

domain: psychology


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In April, HIGHGRND announced its project named “PLAYGRND”, a venture into bringing artists together and collaborate on various projects. The first collaboration brought by this project was “Mismatch” featuring Life&Time’s Jinsil and Rollercoaster’s Joe Wonsun.
This time around, PLAYGRND Vol. 2 brings us a collaboration between Lovelyz’ Kei and the Solutions.
Park Sol and Naru produced the song, with Tablo creating the lyrics, Kei and Park Sol providing vocals. The song features a fun beat, something that the Solutions is known for, and talks about how a person is beautiful in their own way. While Lovelyz’ Kei has been in a number of KDrama OST projects, this is the first collaboration for the Solutions since they became a four-member band.
I was really happy to have heard of this collaboration. The Solutions belong to the same label as Life&Time, Happy Robot Records. I am really hoping that more artists from the label join this project. In the meanwhile, listen and watch the fun MV to “Beautiful” below!


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I believe that music is the heartbeat of my life.
Music is a way to express my emotions in a calm, fulfilling way, instead of yelling, screaming, or punching a wall. I can sing to it, dance to it, or I can just simply listen and find the beat, just like in my color guard routine. We find the beat, dance, and put together a show to the music.
The summer before my freshmen year in high school, my mother placed me in a youth shelter. We didn’t have a radio to listen to. All we had was the music we made ourselves or heard on the television. I was beginning to lose my mind when I didn’t have music to hear or a journal to write in.
Not having those things, I became very angry. I kept everything all bottled up for so long that I began to believe that was whom I was, a very angry teenage girl. Music had always been my way of knowing who I was and what I was here for. Ever since I was a young girl, music had always been something I cherished. Not having the most important thing in my life there at my disposal was really taking its toll on me.
Another girl, just a little over a year older than me, also loved music. She had an amazing voice and she loved people to hear it. I had been there a few days before I actually even heard her sing, but once I did, I instantly felt much better. She started to sing more often. She sang random songs that were on the radio that stuck in her head while we were out on the bus. When I felt more comfortable, I started to sing along with the songs I knew. She really did save me when I was in that place. She had such and effect on me because she a sweet, loving person who thought that music would calm peoples nerves, and of course, she was right. I never told her that she had such an effect on me, but I think she knew.
The songs she sang and the softness of her voice always made me feel instantly better. I am glad I met her and I would never want to forget how she saved me from going insane. I am very grateful for her and her amazing voice.
Music has been the center of my life for so long that I would never be able to go back to that place. Not having any music would just kill my soul. Music truly is the heartbeat of my life, and even though I’m not totally sure, also of many other peoples’ as well.
If you enjoyed this essay, please consider making a tax-deductible contribution to This I Believe, Inc.


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See the secret side of Mykonos with yacht charters in Greece
When you think of Mykonos, you almost certainly imagine an island that parties non-stop around the clock. Whilst this is undoubtedly true, Mykonos has a softer side with plenty to entertain those whose idea of fun is not dancing until dawn.
The village of Ano Mera is one of those perfect settlements where you can enjoy Greece as the locals do. There are animals grazing, crops growing and – to top it all off – the fabulous monastery of Panagia Tourliani in the main square. Admire the wooden carvings of the monastery’s interior before enjoying a drink and a spot of people-watching in the sunshine.
Greece is blessed with thousands of churches, each celebrating their special saint’s day during the year. If you are lucky enough to be visiting when one of these local celebrations, known as a panigiri, is taking place, you are definitely in for a treat.
The beaches on Mykonos are rightly famous and consequently draw the crowds, but there are plenty of more secluded ones to explore if you know where to look. Explore the north of the island to find quieter spots at Tigani and Fokos, which are blissfully free from tourist development; alternatively, head south to romantic Kapari to watch the sunset.
The island of Mykonos has plenty to offer in terms of vibrant nightlife, but yacht charters in Greece are the perfect way to see the other delights that can be found here.

domain: travel


text:
Watch Kofu vs Urawa Live Streaming
Kofu vs Urawa
Date: July 30, 2016 (UTC/GMT+0)
Start Time: 09:00 (UTC/GMT+0)
Your Local Time: 30/07 17:00 (UTC/GMT+8)
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Hello there dear gamers, hope you are doing great. Today I want to present you free online game – Fireboy and Watergirl which features amazing adventures, a lot of hidden secrets and awesome quests. There are two main characters in the game and you must use their help to reach the finish line.
Try to use a different approach if you find the game difficult, you can also check various online guides and video guides to improve your knowledge and experience. I will try to write my own guide below, you will find it helpful and useful.
How to play:
So we have already mentioned that there are two characters in the game, one is Fireboy and another is Watergirl. Both characters have their own element, as the name suggests fire and water elements. Game maps have various traps and obstacles in it, these obstacles usually involve different natural elements. In order to overcome obstacles in the game, you will have to use different characters in different situations.
Let’s say you have a huge wall of fire in front of you, this wall in too high to jump over it, what do you do? Asking help from Watergirl would be an unwise move, she won’t be able to overcome this obstacle, but you could ask for a help Fireboy, his element is fire after all and he can easily walk through this wall of fire and reach another side of it.
This is exactly how you should play this game, you must analyze the situation carefully, learn every obstacle and move your characters according to the situation. It is pretty easy actually.
Use A, W, D to move Watergirl
Use arrow keys (← ↑ →) to move Fireboy
As you can see controls are pretty simple, you could use both hands and control both characters simultaneously.
In order to finish the game, you will have to collect all the crystals and reach the finish line. Usually, crystals are located in hard to reach locations making the collecting process challenging and entertaining.
Keep in mind that there are two different crystals: red and blue. As you can see red crystals can be picked up by Fireboy and blue crystals can be picked up by Watergirl. You have to use both characters in the game if you want to succeed in this game.
Obstacles by color:
Blue obstacles are dangerous for Fireboy and red obstacles are deadly for Watergirl. But there are other situations as well when specific obstacles are dangerous for both characters. For example, green goo is deadly for both characters, whenever you will face it avoid it at all costs, jump over it and do your best to not fall in it.
The game has various interactive objects in it, for example, buttons. Buttons must be held and they do various things, in some cases, they start an elevator, in some cases they stop spinning blade, etc. Take a look at the map, locate different interactive objects on it and control your characters according to the situation.
Remember every level can be completed, look around you, use items to your advantage and reach the finish line alive.
At the end of the level, the game calculates your overall score, it takes into account how much time did it took you to finish the level, it takes into account how many lives you have lost, how many crystals you have picked, etc. Game analyzes your moves and grants you a fair score.
Try to play as fast as it is possible and try not to make any mistakes.
There are two exit points on the map, one is for Fireboy and Another is for Watergirl. These exit points are located at the end of the level, in some cases, they are side by side and in some cases, they are apart from each other. The location of the gate plays an important part as well, this game is pretty much one big puzzle and how your reach finish line can determine whether or not you will be able to win the match.
So what good adventure game needs the most? It is thrill, creativity, quests, challenges and interesting levels. This game is pretty rich in terms of level section, there are tons of different maps, each one is unique and different, each one is challenging and will require from you to think well.
Puzzles are hard to solve and they hardly ever repeat the same scenario, in each case you will have to find new solutions and new methods to succeed in the game.
Playing from the phone:
This game can be downloaded on your device and you can play it from the phone. I personally love mobile gaming and I always appreciated when games support mobile platforms.
Apart from article guides, we have video guides as well. Check out the following video where we go through all levels. You will learn a lot from it, I’m sure of that.
Well, I hope you enjoyed my guide, I think I have covered all the important aspects of this game. We have discussed what kind of game it is, how to play it, how to control characters, etc. I hope you found it useful.
Don’t forget to leave your feedback guys, you can use our contact form below. Good luck and have fun in this world of Fireboy and Watergirl Unblocked, where adventures and magic await you!

domain: game


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Posted on 4th, January, 2011 by Rogue States
Unfortunately tonight’s charity concert at Newhampton Arts Centre in Wolverhampton has been postponed at the last minute due to illness.
We are planning on rescheduling the event ASAP – please check back for the rescheduled date.
Apologies to everyone who was planning on attending – we hate cancelling shows.
– Rogue States
This Friday we will be playing an acoustic show to benefit Krasif Aid – a charity which works supporting vulnerable people in Bulgaria.
Friday’s gig won’t be your usual run-of-the-mill show, artist Elena Thomas has created a one of her unique shed installations and we will be performing inside this shed which will be on stage at the venue.
Alongside the live music there will a small craft fair and all proceeds from tickets and craft sales will be going to Krasif Aid.
See you there!


Speaker and Affliation:
Professor of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering
Graduate Aerospace Laboratories
California Institute of Technology
Guruswami (Ravi) Ravichandran is the John E. Goode, Jr. Professor of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering at the California Institute of Technology. He received his B.E. (Honors) in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Madras, Sc.M. in Engineering and Applied Mathematics and Ph.D. in Engineering (Solid Mechanics and Structures) from Brown University. He is a member of the U.S. National Academy of Engineering and Academia Europaea. He is a Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), Society for Experimental Mechanics (SEM) and American Academy of Mechanics (AAM). He was named Chevalier de l’ordre des Palmes Academiques by the Republic of France. His awards include A. C. Eringen Medal from the Society of Engineering Science, Warner T. Koiter Medal from ASME, and William M. Murray Lecture Award from SEM. His research interests are in mechanics of materials including micro/nano mechanics, wave propagation, composites, active materials, biomaterials and cell mechanics, and experimental methods.
15th April, 2022 (Friday), 04:00 PM (India Standard Time)
Iron is an abundant metal featured in many applications and planetary physics involving dynamic loading. Constitutive models for the flow strength as a function of strain, strain rate, pressure, and temperature are needed to model and simulate applications. This talk focuses on the behavior of iron at high strain rates using a split Hopkinson (Kolsky) pressure bar (SHPB) and at high pressures using the pressure shear plate impact (PSPI) technique. A shear-compression specimen (SCS) used to attain high strain rates, large strains, and shear dominant deformation provides a seamless characterization of a-iron over a range of strain rates, 10-4 to 2x104 s-1. In addition to the mechanical response (stress-strain), a high-speed infrared detector is used to measure in-situ temperature rise during dynamic deformation. Strong strain rate sensitivity of flow stress is observed, with strengths exceeding 1 GPa, comparable to pre-shocked iron and high strength steels. The microstructural evolution characterized using optical, SEM, TEM, and EBSD provides insights into the strengthening and deformation mechanisms. Results from PSPI experiments on iron at pressures ranging from 10 to 43 GPa and strain rates ~105 s-1 are presented. The mechanical response of the low pressure a phase (bcc) and the high-pressure e phase (hcp) is obtained, with the a to e transformation occurring at ~13 GPa. A strong pressure hardening in strength is observed, and the possible mechanisms for the hardening are discussed.


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Fifth Angel was one of the most exciting melodic metal band in the 80’s. Their two albums, ‘Fifth Angel’ and ‘Time Will Tell’ are timeless classics, including great songs like ‘Cathedral’, ‘In the Fallout’ and ‘Fifth Angel’. Unfortunately band members went their separate ways in 1990.
After a long time without Fifth Angel some signs of life were noticeable in 2010. Things got even more exciting when the band recently announced that they inked a new record deal with Nuclear Blast with a new album being on its way. This is enough reason to check for some additional news and info about this recent development. MHMB had the chance to ask some questions to the band and it was bassist John Macko that gave insights into the current work and the upcoming album. Fifth Angels is back, that’s for sure.
Markus’ Heavy Music Blog: Hello everybody. This is Markus from Markus’ Heavy Music Blog and it’s great having the chance to get some insights about what’s happening at the moment when it comes to Fifth Angel. I hope things are going well at the moment.
John Macko: Yes, thank you Markus! We would happy to fill you in!
MHMB: There are some exciting news about Fifth Angel having inked a deal with Nuclear Blast for a new Fifth Angel album. Can you tell a bit about how this cooperation was established?
JM: Jaap Wagemaker, head of A&R for Nuclear Blast was present for our performance at the 2017 KIT festival and he was very impressed with our show and wound up speaking to a few us afterwards and heard some of Kendall’s demos, which prompted him to ask if we would want to make a new record with them, so over the course of several months we sent them 3 new demos which sparked the contract offer.
MHMB: There was a lot of positive feedback when the deal was announced. Were you surprised that there are still so many Fifth Angel fans around after an absence of almost three decades?
JM: Absolutely! We had no idea! But we are grateful they hung in there!
MHMB: Such a new deal also means that a new longplayer is on its way. Can you mention in some words what fans can expect of a new Fifth Angel album?
JM: They can expect another great record like the first two with great songs, melodies and lyrics that will hopefully move them. This record is definitely heavier than “Time Will Tell”, probably leaning more towards the first record.
MHMB: The kick-start for re-vitalizing the band was in 2010 when you played the KIT festival in Germany. Was it planned as a one-time show or have there already been plans to bring Fifth Angel back to life?
JM: Initially it was just a one-time thing, but after that show we did try to bring the band back to life, but for one reason after another, things just didn’t fall into place and the momentum died out.
MHMB: How easy or difficult was it to bring the band together for such a show?
JM: Well for both shows, it wasn’t easy! We didn’t have all the original members and it had been a long time since we performed. There is a lot of work in putting a show together, especially when you headline!
MHMB: Was there something special with this show that sparked the fire? It seems like things felt extremely good for each of you and that the show created hunger for more Fifth Angel.
JM: I’m assuming you are referring to the 2017 KIT show? I wouldn’t say there was anything special other than we were a bit more prepared having done the festival in 2010. I think we were just in better shape musically and mentally and a bit more relaxed on stage.
MHMB: Fifth Angel has released two albums in the second half of the eighties. These records created some magic and still belong to the best, melodic heavy metal brought up to surface. It’s almost 30 years that ‘Time Will Tell’ has seen the light of day and how would you describe the sound from these early days compared with the new material for the next album.
JM: As I mentioned before, we wanted to stay true to the old style as much as possible focusing on what Fifth Angel does best, and that is write great songs! Songs that are memorable and have strong hook lines that the fans can sing along too. The main difference is going to be modern production; this record is going to sound bigger and more in your face!
MHMB: Another question is about the line-up. Who is currently in the band?
JM: At this point in time it is just Kendall Bechtel, Ken Mary and John Macko. Ed Archer decided to step down for personal reasons.
MHMB: Next to a new album there has been a reissue of the first two longplayers via Metal Blade. How does it feel, having these two records again back in the offer?
JM: We are thrilled for the fans!
MHMB: We mentioned the 2010 KIT show and the question is if Fifth Angel planned, with all the current activities, some upcoming Fifth Angel live shows?
JM: We defiantly would like to play more shows and hope that there will be some touring in the near future, but we have to see first how the new record will be received?
MHMB: Is there anything more you want to share with the readers and fans?
JM: We want them to know that even though past band members are no longer with us that we did our best to stay true to first two records, while bringing it into current times. We have all changed over the years with life experiences and new ideas, nobody stays the same and it’s impossible to re-create the past. There is only the now and the future. Our goal with this record was to try to create art that had a great energy and emotion, and capture that special quality that you cannot put into words. You know it when you hear it. Sometimes you put on a record for the first time and you just hear that something magical has happened. That is what we wanted to do with this album, and for us we feel very, very strongly that we put everything we have into this album. We only hope our fans agree!!
MHMB: Thanks a lot for spending some time with Markus’ Heavy Music Blog and I’m very much looking forward to the new album.
JM: Thank you Markus for supporting us!


Laparoscopic Electronic CO2 Insufflators
The insufflator maintains pneumoperitoneum under extreme conditions for reliability during all laparoscopic procedures. It offers real-time pressure sensing for increased accuracy during a procedure. Active exsufflation in case of continuing excess pressure in the connected body cavity is taken for higher patient safety.
The ECONT 0401.3 is a new generation of CO2 insufflators with outstanding technical specifications. The unit is controlled by built-in microprocessor system to ensure highest level of patient safety. The insufflator maintains pneumoperitoneum under extreme conditions for reliability during all laparoscopic procedures. It offers real time pressure sensing for increased accuracy during a procedure. Stable pressure balance in the abdomen is guaranteed by high gas flow performance (40 liter per minute) and low insufflation pressure.
Electronic CO2 insufflator with 30 l/min flow rate and smart insufflation algorithm. Gas pre-heating is available as an option.ECONT 0401.2 insufflator is the next step in perfomance for surgeon and in safety for patient. This microprocessor-controlled unit with high flow rate (up to 30 l/min), gas heating subsystem and automatic gas exsufflation can be used with devices like argon beamers, gas lasers etc. simultaneously. It is equipped with all needed safety systems to ensure maximum comfort for surgeon and minimum hazard for patient during operation.
according to ISO 13485:2016
is 2 times longer than that of competitors
more than 30 countries
Features and advantages of Laparoscopic Electronic CO2 Insufflators
The Electronic CO2 Insufflators units of ECONT-0401 series designed to create and automatically maintain filling the patient’s peritoneal cavity with CO2 gas to distend it for diagnostic and/or operative laparoscopy.
The main features of the units are:
- High level of patient safety;
- High performance and accuracy of the abdominal pressure control;
- Gas preheating (option);
- Exsufflation and smoke evacuation (for ECONT-0401.5);
- Ergonomic design;
- Saving in memory last used presets.


text:
How do you make homemade air water?
Water from the air. Homemade atmospheric water generator (AWG)
How do you distill water from air?
How do you make water with nothing?
Can you suck water from air?
Can we create water?
How much is a Watergen?
The company’s newest model a home or office generator called “Genny ” produces around 27 liters a day or the equivalent of 54 water bottles. The model will soon be sold through distributors who determine the price but the estimated cost is around $1 500 per unit.
Is Rainwater distilled water?
This is because rainwater is pure distilled water evaporated from the sun – nothing else. However when rainwater falls from the sky substances from the air and land melt into the rainwater. Fortunately when rainwater soaks into the ground it then becomes mineral water.
Is boiled water distilled water?
How much is a atmospheric water generator?
Prices start at $18 000 for the Gen-40 vehicle model and $30 000 for the larger Gen-350 ground unit (shown at left).
How do you make pure water?
Distillation. Distilled water is produced by a process of distillation. Distillation involves boiling the water and then condensing the vapor into a clean container leaving solid contaminants behind. Distillation produces very pure water.
Is a water alive?
Water is not a living thing and its neither alive or dead.
How do you make pure drinking water?
- 1 – Boiling. Boiling water is the cheapest and safest method of water purification. …
- 2 – Filtration. Filtration is one of the effective ways of purifying water and when using the right multimedia filters it’s effective in ridding water of the compounds. …
- 3 – Distillation. …
- 4 – Chlorination.
Is there a machine that can make water?
Yes you can create water from thin air using a machine called an Atmospheric Water Generator which is a water creator from the air. The machine extracts water from the air to give you 100% pure clean water anytime you want.
How do you convert moisture to water?
Can India use air tech water?
In fact the Hyderabad-based Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT) has developed a technology with private-sector company called Maithri Aquatech for ‘atmospheric water generation’ that has been deployed at several places. … The technology we have developed provides extremely clean water from air.
Can water get expired?
Though water itself doesn’t expire bottled water often has an expiration date. … This is because plastic can begin to leach into the water over time contaminating it with chemicals such as antimony and bisphenol A (BPA) ( 5 6 7 ).
Can the earth run out of water?
Can water be destroyed?
Where is Watergen located?
Who invented Watergen?
Watergen was founded in 2009 by entrepreneur and former military commander Arye Kohavi and a team of engineers with the goal of providing freely accessible water to troops around the world.
Can you drink dehumidifier water?
The water the dehumidifier collects is actually very clean water comparable to distilled water. … We don’t have to resort to drinking water that drips from a dehumidifier. Tap water is perfectly acceptable!
Why is rain collecting illegal?
Some states and towns may have regulations on the amount of rainwater you may harvest. Collection amount regulations are in place because any rainwater you harvest is rainwater that won’t go into nearby streams ponds and other natural bodies of water—and that has the potential to disrupt ecosystems.
Is boiled rainwater safe to drink?
Environmental pollutants harmful bacteria and parasites can contaminate rainwater and drinking it can make you sick. Boiling filtering and chemically treating rainwater can help make it safer for human consumption.
Can you drink rain water at sea?
One thing to remember here is that it is advisable to drink as much rain water possible as it is very much safe. If stuck in the Polar Regions one can melt the bluish-greyed ice and consume it as potable water.
Is kettle water distilled?
Because distilled water has undergone a physical separation from its impurities it is classed as having been purified. Boiled water is not processed in this way and therefore can’t be classified as a purified product. Therefore if you boil water it does not make it distilled because it does not make it pure.
What is the healthiest water to drink?
What Is The Healthiest Water To Drink? When sourced and stored safely spring water is typically the healthiest option. When spring water is tested and minimally processed it offers the rich mineral profile that our bodies desperately crave.
Can you distill water in the microwave?
Microwaving distilled water is riskier since it contains no impurities although Prakash says explosions can occur in tap water too if the dissolved minerals are not large enough to act as nucleation sites for the bubbles.
Are atmospheric water generators safe?
How do you make filtered water?
- Boiling. Heating water at a rolling boil for 1 minute makes it safe to drink. …
- Tablets or drops. Some common water purification or disinfecting tablets and drops include: …
- UV treatment. …
- Activated charcoal. …
- Travel-size sediment filters. …
- DIY portable sediment filters. …
- Fruit peel filters.
How can I naturally purify water at home?
Sunlight is considered to be one of the most natural ways to purify water. Fill clear water in a container and keep it under the sun for a minimum of six hours. Make sure the water does not have any sedimentation. The solar radiation and heat will kill the pathogens present in the water.
Can you boil salt water to get fresh water?
Can you boil salt water to make it drinkable? No boiling saltwater alone is not enough to make that water drinkable. The process of removing salt from water is called desalination and is more than simply boiling salt water.
Does water have DNA?
River water lake water and seawater contain DNA belonging to organisms such as animals and plants. Ecologists have begun to actively analyze such DNA molecules called environmental DNA to assess the distribution of macro-organisms. … In a natural environment these processes can operate in a complex way.
Is a car alive?
A car can move it gets energy from petrol (like nutrition and respiration) it might have a car alarm (sensitivity) and it gets rid of waste gases through its exhaust pipe (excretion). But it cannot grow or make baby cars. So a car is not alive.
Are seeds alive?
Viable seeds are living entities. They must contain living healthy embryonic tissue in order to germinate. All fully developed seeds contain an embryo and in most plant species a store of food reserves wrapped in a seed coat.
DIY Atmospheric Water Generator! – Produces/Extracts Distilled Water from the air! – DIY distiller
Free Energy – making Water Pump for Aquarium – Pump Water Without Electricity
DIY fresh water – free solar soda bottle still easy quick to make
Off-Grid Water With Air and Sunlight

domain: chemistry


text: NEW DELHI: Anil Ambani-owned Reliance Infocomm on Sunday became the first telecom operator to launch a limited edition of IndiaOne tariff plan offering STD calls anywhere in the country for just Re 1 per minute. Under the offer, a call from a Reliance mobile to any mobile or a landline across India will cost just Re 1 a minute. The plan is applicable for both pre-paid and post-paid connections with effect from Monday Announcing the initiative, S P Shukla, president, wireless, Reliance Infocomm said, "It's our new year's gift to subscribers. They can now exchange greetings without worrying about the calling rate. Coming close on the heels of the lifetime validity voucher, this aggressive plan will further increase the options for our subscribers." However, one needs to read the fine print carefully since the aggressive pricing will be applicable only on an e-recharge of Rs 1,100, inclusive of service tax. This e-recharge comes bundled with 1,100 free SMS' that can be sent to any phone within the state. Reliance officials confirmed that e-recharge will have a talk-time of Rs 750 and will be valid for one month. This means that if a subscriber does not consume his talk-time within a month, the remaining talk-time will be considered null and void. A similar plan is available for the post-paid subscribers on New Joy 499. The STD rates for its existing Rs 499 post-paid plan is already pegged at Re 1 a minute, so Reliance has merely chosen to maintain its existing tariffs. Current RIM customers can call any Reliance IndiaMobile within the state at 40 paise a minute. Industry sources said that RIM's tariff plan was aimed at high-value customers for the moment, given that a majority of prepaid customers use recharge vouchers of about Rs 399 or the new Rs 199. Airtel and Hutch said they would have to study the scheme carefully before they decide to match the Reliance offer. A telecom industry executive said that limiting validity to one month for the Rs 1100 prepaid voucher would deter most customers.


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Went there tonight and had a great time. Food is DELICIOUS, service was friendly and fantastic, the prices are very reasonable, and overall it was a wonderful experience. The duck in soya sauce was absolutely divine, and while the shrimp with broccoli was a little short on shrimp, it still tasted amazing. We can't wait to go back...we just found our new favourite little haunt!
We ate there in Feb of this year and the General Tso's chicken tasted like it was all steak sauce..We were regular customers of the Chu's until it changed hands, now it is nothing like what it used to be. It's very sad..
I used to love eating at Chu's, but stopped going there a few years ago because my General Tso's sauce was thin every time I ordered it.
But the owners are very nice and it's entirely possible that the food has returned to its former delicious glory.
July 08 visit. Very easy to find. We arrived at 2:30 on a Sunday. Only one other party. Food obviously freshly prepared from fresh ingredients. My sesame chicken, though, had a little too much breading, but came with magnificently fresh green broccoli. The won ton soup was delightful, and there were plenty of won ton's in it. My hubby's entree of kung pao shrimp was very good, too.
Welcome to the very best location in Niagara Falls, New York. The Red Coach Inn overlooks Niagara's majestic Upper Rapids,
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GDP of Indonesias Fisheries Sector Rises Significantly: Minister of Marine and Fisheries
In 2015, fisheries sectors GDP increased by 7.35% and 7.89%, and it continues to rise by 5.95 percent in 2017. This achievement is stimulated by the Governments decision to implement the eradication of Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing or illegal fishing activities that are not reported to authorized institutions or have not been regulated in the existing regulations.
In the third quarter of 2018 this number is predicted to be much higher than in the same quarter last year, said Minister of Marine and Fisheries Susi Pudjiastuti in a press conference on the 4-Year Report of Joko Widodo-Jusuf Kalla Administration, at Auditorium of Building III Ministry of State Secretariat, Jakarta, Tuesday (23/10).
Susi explained, Indonesias GDP from fisheries sector in 2014 was Rp 245.48 trillion, in 2015 Rp was 288.9 trillion, in 2016 Rp 317 trillion, in 2017 Rp 349.53 trillion and in the second quarter of 2018 was Rp 187 trillion, respectively.
Our exports and GDP from fisheries sector are rising significantly, said Susi.
Susi affirmed that the Indonesian Navy also has a pivotal role in the increase because since November 2014, foreign fishing vessels cannot operate in Indonesian territory.
Regarding the significant increase in fisheries production, Susi said that the increase in value is actually higher than its volume. So, there is a wide gap between the volume and the value.
This means that our fisheries sector is already heading towards sustainable fisheries with better value and quality. Thus, the volume may decrease but the value increases, Susi added.
Susi went on say, aquaculture production also shows a significant increase, such as shrimp, catfish, tilapia, crab, snapper, etc. However, seaweed production in 2017 experienced a decrease because of bad weather and high waves that caused low productivity.
We also continuously conduct a campaign to increase fish consumption in order to improve Indonesias human resources. This is in line with President Joko Jokowi Widodos program which will prioritize the development of Indonesian human resources, continued Susi.
On the occasion, Susi denied the allegations that our fisheries exports are declined. She explained, Indonesian fish exports are mostly in the form of processed food.
The increase is in the form of processed food, including meatballs, nuggets, fish cakes, and so on, Susi explained.
According to Susi, the export value at the end of 2018 will be much higher than 2017, because until the second quarter of 2018, the number already reaches US$ 2,272.67 million. Meanwhile, in the same period last year it only reached US$ 2,013 million, thus the increase is more than 12.88 percent, she continues.
For the first time, our fisheries volume has exceeded other ASEAN countries and be number 1 in Southeast Asia, Susi concluded. (DND / FID / UN / AGG / ES) (STU/MMB/Naster)


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Q and A with Dr Christopher P Austin, NCATS director
March / April 2013 | Volume 12, Issue 2
Christopher P. Austin, M.D.,
Christopher P. Austin, M.D., became director of the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS), NIH's newest component, in September 2012. Launched in December 2011, NCATS aims to transform the process by which human health interventions are developed and delivered, making it more efficient, productive and scientifically robust. Austin applies his experiences in academia, industry and government - including work in rural hospitals in Africa and Alaska - to lead NCATS.
What is your vision for NCATS?
NCATS will work with collaborators and stakeholders to transform translation from a largely empirical, trial-and-error process to a more science-based, predictive enterprise. We will focus on solving problems that are common to the translational process for all diseases, and so tend not to be a focus for others. Examples include developing models to help more accurately predict efficacy and toxicology, repurposing drugs, providing starting points for novel targets and untreatable diseases, improving clinical trial recruitment and endpoint criteria, and Institutional Review Board harmonization.
Since translation is a team sport, NCATS will serve as a catalyst, connector and adaptor to complement - not compete with - the work of the other NIH Institutes and Centers, industry and the nonprofit sector.
How do collaborations advance NCATS' global health research?
In NCATS' preclinical programs, each project is a collaboration with an academic, industry or nonprofit researcher. The deliverable may be a novel target, a probe to test a therapeutic hypothesis, or an early-stage drug. For example, NCATS' NIH Chemical Genomics Center (NCGC) has collaborated on the identification and development of early stage compounds to treat many tropical diseases, including Chagas disease, schistosomiasis, giardia, malaria, HIV and hepatitis C. These diseases affect millions globally. NCGC enables researchers who are experts in global health problems but not necessarily equipped or experienced in translation to access the industrial-scale assay development, small molecule and RNAi screening, informatics, and medicinal chemistry necessary to identify chemical probes and drug leads.
Collaborative projects in our Therapeutics for Rare and Neglected Diseases (TRND) and Bridging Interventional Development Gaps (BrIDGs) programs address the next stages of translation, aiming to deliver new interventions for testing in first-in-human trials. Current TRND projects include new, more potent treatments for cryptococcal meningitis, an infectious disease leading to hundreds of thousands of HIV-related deaths in sub-Saharan Africa each year, as well as the first drug candidate to target directly the molecular cause of sickle cell disease, a genetic disorder affecting millions worldwide. Through TRND, we also took on two projects targeting different biological pathways to treat schistosomiasis. Although these projects now have been discontinued based on preset project milestones, both advanced knowledge in schistosomiasis disease research.
In what other ways does NCATS support global health research?
NCATS' Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSA) program, which supports a consortium of more than 60 academic institutions nationwide, is focused principally on the clinical and implementation stages of translational research, including areas critical to global health. For example, a team at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), is working to track and treat tuberculosis in developing countries by applying implementation science techniques from a CTSA-supported clinical research training program. Focused on translating findings from the clinic into real-world tuberculosis interventions, the team is testing several approaches in Ugandan health centers to improve the quality of treatment and using a cell phone-based LED microscope in Vietnam to decentralize diagnosis. The lead investigator learned broad translational skills through a CTSA-supported career development award and mentoring.
In addition, the NIH Office of Rare Diseases Research (ORDR), now housed at NCATS, was instrumental in starting the International Rare Diseases Research Consortium, which began as a joint effort between the European Commission and NIH to link global rare disease communities. By 2020, this consortium aims to develop 200 new therapies and diagnostic tests for most rare diseases. And, through ORDR's Rare Diseases Clinical Research Network, scientific collaborations continue with international sites in Australia, Canada, Europe, Iceland and India. ORDR also is connected with European and Asian countries to develop components of the Global Rare Diseases Registry and Data Repository, and ORDR staff from the Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center respond to inquiries from patients, families, and providers around the globe.
NCATS will continue to evolve over the next several years to address the enormous needs and opportunities in translational science. We look forward to partnering with Fogarty to make that vision a reality for global health.
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We have explored a general approach for the determination of absolute amounts and the relative stoichiometry of proteins in a mixture using fluorescence and mass spectrometry. We engineered a gene to express green fluorescent protein (GFP) with a synthetic fusion protein (GAB-GFP) in Escherichia coli to function as a spectroscopic standard for the quantification of an analogous stable isotope-labeled, non-fluorescent fusion protein (GAB*) and for the quantification and stoichiometric analysis of purified transducin, a heterotrimeric G-protein complex. Both GAB-GFP and GAB* contain concatenated sequences of specific proteotypic peptides that are derived from the α, β, and γ protein subunits of transducin and that are each flanked by spacer regions that maintain the native proteolytic properties for these peptide fragments. Spectroscopic quantification of GAB-GFP provided a molar scale for mass spectrometric ratios from tryptic peptides of GAB* and defined molar responses for mass spectrometric signal intensities from a purified transducin complex. The stoichiometry of transducin subunits α, β, and γ was measured to be 1:1.1:1.15 over a 5-fold range of labeled internal standard with a relative standard deviation of 9%. Fusing a unique genetically coded spectroscopic signal element with concatenated proteotypic peptides provides a powerful method to accurately quantify and determine the relative stoichiometry of multiple proteins present in complexes or mixtures that cannot be readily assessed using classical gravimetric, enzymatic, or antibody-based technologies.
ASJC Scopus subject areas