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The pancreas contains important structures called the islets that produce important glucose-regulating hormones, including insulin. Diabetes happens when the islets fail to produce enough insulin to control blood sugar, resulting in high blood sugar levels. Mounting evidence, from DREAM researchers and others suggests that what we are exposed to in early life (i.e. during fetal life) can affect our metabolic health later in life. For example, exposure of an unborn child to diabetes during pregnancy (gestational diabetes) is strongly associated with significant risk of type 2 diabetes development for that child later in life. A connection between gestational diabetes and diabetes risk in the offspring makes sense since cells in the islets of the pancreas undergo major structural and functional changes while a baby is developing in utero.
The purpose of this study was to characterize how exposure to gestational diabetes impacts islet function and gene expression profiles. We also examined whether gestational diabetes exposure further affected the offspring pancreatic islets when the offspring were challenged with consuming unhealthy diets consisting of high fat content and refined sugars.
How did we test our hypothesis?
Since it is challenging to test these research questions in people, we used a rat model of gestational diabetes. To induce gestational diabetes, female rats were placed on a high fat and high sugar diet. Following mating, these female rats became diabetic during pregnancy. After being weaned from their mothers, offspring were randomly placed on either a healthy low fat diet or a high fat and sugar diet. When the rat offspring reached the young adult stage, we isolated their islet cells and tested their ability to secrete insulin. We also used a technique called “RNA-Seq” to measure how exposure to gestational diabetes impacted the gene expression profile of the islets in the offspring.
What did we find?
We found that insulin secretion was reduced in islets from offspring born to mothers with diabetes. Insulin secretion was even lower if the offspring consumed a poor diet. Interestingly, when we examined gene expression, we found that genes that promote inflammation were increased in the islets from offspring exposed to gestational diabetes. Inflammation is a normal response to infection, but in this case, inflammation could be an early event that damages pancreatic islets, although this needs to be further examined in follow-up studies.
Why is this important?
While associations have been made between diabetes during pregnancy and the development of type 2 diabetes in the offspring, our study directly demonstrates the negative impact of diabetes exposure during pregnancy on insulin secretion by pancreatic islets. We also present the first data showing that exposure to gestational diabetes impacts gene expression in the pancreatic islets of the offspring. Given that the incidence of gestational diabetes appears to be on the rise, public health measures focused on maternal health could yield health benefits for both mothers and future generations.
The full text of the paper published in the latest issue of Endocrinology can be found HERE


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Why Healthy and Delicious Food is Important to Me
Every week, I have a LIVE cooking show on my FB group, Get Nourished with Renata. I love to share healthy and delicious recipes that are quick to make and that the whole family loves.
The reason I do this is to show that healthy recipes do not have to be boring and bland. Healthy food can, and should, be delicious! Healthy food should be easy to make, and, most of all healthy food should make you feel good!
The power of food is something that I have witnessed in my own life. I’ve shared the stories of my daughter and my husband in this video, and those experiences have profoundly impacted the way I see food. Making mindful food choices have helped not only myself, but my whole family live happier and healthier lives.…

domain: sociology


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Vermont's largest and perhaps most cosmopolitan city, Burlington beckons with the perfect blend of old New England charm, arts, culture and nature. Located on the shores of Lake Champlain, between the Adirondack and Green Mountains, Burlington is one of those places you can't help but fall in love with. During the spring and summer, the streets come alive with festivals and outdoor concerts. The picnic benches, playground and bike paths of Leddy Park are filled with warm weather revelers, and opportunities to swim, fish or just kick back on the beach abound. In the fall, the Burlington Bike Path is bustling with leaf peepers who come to view the vibrant autumn colours. In winter, lace up your ice skates and head to the Paquette Arena or grab your skis and head to any of the nearby resorts. Church Street Marketplace, with its early 1900s architecture, great restaurants, live entertainment, one-of-a-kind shops and well-known stores, is the focal point of the downtown area. Anytime of the year is a good time for chocolate. Be sure to stop by Lake Champlain Chocolates for a tour and taste.
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*Prices are based on 1-21 day travel. These are the best fares found by travellers who searched TripAdvisor and a select group of our fare search partners in the past 72 hours. Ticket prices and seat availability change rapidly and cannot be guaranteed.

domain: geography


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Texans re-sign Quintin Demps
The 5-foot-11, 206-pound Demps had a career year with Houston last season with 22 tackles, two interceptions and two passes defended in nine games. He also returned five kickoffs for 169 yards (33.8 average), including a 50-yarder against Carolina, the longest by a Texans player last season.
The fifth-year veteran originally signed with Houston in December 2010. Demps was a fourth-round draft pick out of UTEP by the Philadelphia Eagles in 2008.
He has 34 career tackles, one sack and three interceptions, and 63 kickoff returns for 1,638 yards (26.0 average) and one touchdown.
Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press
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domain: news


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Harold Soto Boigues is an entrepreneur with extraordinary abilities, has made strategic alliances with several banks and investment companies in Hong Kong, Dubai, Panama and England. Harold Soto Boigues is an executive director of Hanson Group USA Finance and CEO of The Hanson Group of Companies & Investment in World Trade Center-Panama. As well as a businessman, he is a family man also and mostly loves to spend time exploring Miami with his family.
Harold Soto Boigues is one of the most successful businessmen with extraordinary abilities in the United States of America. The most important lesson that Harold Soto Boigues taught his kids is to be discipline & hard working in life. Harold soto Boigues is the husband of Almellis soto who is a social worker and well known celebrity from U.S.A. Both of them are role models for many of youngsters in the U.s.a. Every Weekned they go to the church where they find protection from the sinful and demonic forces of this world
Harold Soto Boigues attended the University of Florida and earned a degree in Information Technologies Engineering.He Successfully built channel through China, the United States of America, and the rest of the Caribbean and Central America.
Meet Harold Soto Boigues, the famous businessman of Dominican Republic. He has a great experience of 20+ years. He wants to become the top businessman in the field of export between North America and China. He is very ambitious. View his journey to become the best businessman through these pictures:
Harold Soto Boigues started his business from zero and now he is the President and CEO of several international.
The Soto Group of Companies, a Dominican-funded holding company Founded by Mr. Fidel A. Soto and managed by his son Mr. Harold Soto Boigues.
When you ask for a man that is most successful entrepreneur from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic’s capital, you would be sent Harold Soto Boigues. Not only is he a successful businessman, but he also donates a large amount of his time in various philanthropic endeavours. He is now the vice president of Latin America. He love his family more and spend free time exploring Miami with his family.
Failure is not the alternative to success. Harold Soto Boigues is one of the most famous entrepreneur in the world, but he didn’t earn his fortune in a straight line to success. He struggled very hard at starting. Because of his boundless innovations, now he is an impressive entrepreneur. Along with a top businessman, he’s a family man also and mostly loves to spend time with his family.
Harold soto Boigues is a successful business man from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic’s capital. He loves to travel and love to visit long distant places with his family on vacations.
Harold soto Boigues is a good family man. His wife Almellis Soto is very much caring about him and pay much attention to him.

domain: economics


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Mumbai reports 1725 new cases of coronavirus, 39 deaths today
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], May 24 (ANI): Mumbai reported 1,725 new COVID-19 positive cases on Sunday, taking the number of cases so far to 30,359.
According to Municipal Corporation Greater Mumbai, 1725 new COVID-19 positive cases have been reported in Mumbai today, taking the total number of cases to 30,359.
The death toll has risen to 988 after 39 deaths were reported today in the metropolitan city.
The total number of cases recovered and discharged today stands at 598, while the total number of recovered and discharged so far in the city is 8074.
According to BMC, 27 new COVID-19 positive cases and two deaths were reported in the Dharavi area here today. With this, the total positive cases in Dharavi increased to 1541. (ANI)


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Thanks so much to everyone who submitted guesses in my crazy contest! And the final TARDIS tally: 34! Congratulations to the following: Kelly M., the random winner of a hardcopy of their choice from the Steel Empires series Kat S. and Jules D., who both guessed the closest at 32, the winners of an ebookContinue reading “TARDIS Contest: Winners and Final Tally!”
Tag Archives: steel magic
Holiday Romance Special Part 1: Kane & Archer
I’ve been happily married for a few years, and while I could wax poetic about my amazing husband, when it comes to real life, we’re not the most romantic couple. He doesn’t work on Mondays, so our Valentine’s Day plan is to get some take-out Indian food and catch up on the DVR tonight. Honestly,Continue reading “Holiday Romance Special Part 1: Kane & Archer”
Steel Magic Featured at Library Journal
I had a bit of a SNAFU earlier this year with professional review sites, so I hadn’t been paying that much attention to them since the release of the second book in the Steel Empires series, Steel Magic. Therefore, I’m about half a year late in telling you all the fantastic news! Steel Magic receivedContinue reading “Steel Magic Featured at Library Journal”
STEEL MAGIC Launch Party Recap
Thank you so much to everyone who came out to East City Bookshop in Washington DC last night for the official launch party for my second novel, Steel Magic!
Calico in Conversation Interview, part 3!
The final installment of my interview series at Calico in Conversation is now live! Go check out my thoughts on attending conventions, a few book recommendations, and other projects percolating in my brain. Don’t forget, there will be a quiz next week.
STEEL MAGIC Launch Party
I hope that all of you who are local to the Maryland/Virginia/Washington DC area will consider joining me for the launch party for Steel Magic! Date: Tuesday, July 19, 2016 Time: 6:30-8:30 PM Address: East City Bookshop 645 Pennsylvania Ave, Ste 100 Washington, DC 20003 This is the link to RSVP for the event.Continue reading “STEEL MAGIC Launch Party”
Every Wednesday night, or at least as many as I can manage, I meet with three friends for what we call “Writing Group.” Most of the time, we meet at an independent coffee shop in Historic Ellicott City, Maryland. The funniest part about it is that sometimes we don’t get much writing done (we wentContinue reading ““Writing Group””
STEEL MAGIC Blog Tour, Stop 5: Whose Fault Is It, Anyway?
For the final stop on the Steel Magic blog tour, I swung by the online home of YA Dark Fantasy author Andi Adams! She asked me to talk a little bit about the origin of the Steel Empires series. Read my post, “Evolution of an Urban Fantasy Series” to learn how Highlander inspired my love ofContinue reading “STEEL MAGIC Blog Tour, Stop 5: Whose Fault Is It, Anyway?”
Steel Empires Fan Art!
My best friend Julia (the Kane to my Toria, as it were) regularly makes goofy comics of our friend group using ridiculous stick figures of us. Today, in honor of the release of Steel Magic, she made fan art for me! I’m sure it is the beginning of much more to come, and I willContinue reading “Steel Empires Fan Art!”
STEEL MAGIC Release Day and Blog Tour, Stop 4: After “The End”
It’s finally book release day! The Steel Empires series now has two books, making it officially a series! I know I’ve been spamming it a lot, but here’s the link to purchase your print or ebook copy of Steel Magic, just in case you’re new to my little corner of the internet. If you are,Continue reading “STEEL MAGIC Release Day and Blog Tour, Stop 4: After “The End””

domain: hobby


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Sarah Traubel's Debut CD on Sony Classical
Josepha Hofer (1758-1819) grew up in Mannheim and became a star in Vienna. She was W.A.Mozart‘s sister-in-law – and his first Queen of the Night. In her debut album, Mannheim-born soprano Sarah Traubel pays tribute to a legend of the high notes, with a recording of works originally written for and performed by Josepha‘s stunning coloratura voice. Includes several world premieres on compact disc. Available March 6, 2020, on streaming platforms distributed by Sony Classical.
Artwork - K2MPR _ BUSCHE
Video Art - Alexander Busche
Marketing/PR - Alexander Busche
Campaign development - K2MPR _ BUSCHE

domain: library


Hyderabad: The miscreants had beaten a Muslim youth in Kamatipura during the Shobha Yatra procession which was taken out on the occasion of Ram Navami. Shah Inayat Gunj Police Station registered a case against the miscreants who beat Mohammed Chand. He was injured and sent to Osmania General Hospital.
Mr. M. Ravinder Reddy, Inspector of Police, Shah Inayat Gunj told that a criminal case has been registered and the recordings of CCTV cameras are being analyzed.
It may be mentioned that during this yatra, people had thrown water bottles and Gulab near Masjid Malakunta, near Moazzam Jahi Market but no case has been registered.


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Rude Health - Organic Corn Triangles
In public, as a megascoop with dips of salsa and sour cream. Among friends, devour a pack in front of a trashy film. With no witnesses, as an instant pasta substitute. Just bosh on some leftover Bolognese sauce.
Organic corn (89%), Organic sunflower oil, Organic corn oil, Sea salt

domain: food


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Editorial Multiple Sclerosis Advances in Multiple Sclerosis Ioannis Milonas Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece T here are an increasing number of new drugs in the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS). These new treatments along with the use of the older disease modifying drugs provide the neurologist with an increasing number of options in treatment of MS patients. These treatments have also contributed to the better understanding of the underlying immunopathology of the disease. Keywords Multiple sclerosis, treatment, immunopathology Disclosure: Ioannis Milonas has nothing to disclose in relation to this article. This article is a short opinion piece and has not been submitted to external peer reviewers. No funding was received for the publication of this article. Authorship: The named author meets the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) criteria for authorship of this manuscript, takes responsibility for the integrity of the work as a whole, and has given final approval to the version to be published. Open Access: This article is published under the Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial License, which permits any non-commercial use, distribution, adaptation and reproduction provided the original author(s) and source are given appropriate credit. Received: 27 March 2017 Published Online: 8 May 2017 Citation: European Neurological Review, 2017;12(1):13–4 Corresponding Author: Ioannis Milonas, 8 Papakyritsi Steet,Thessaloniki 55133, Greece. E: firstname.lastname@example.org Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune demyelinating disorder of the central nervous system (CNS), mainly affecting young people. An increasing number of disease modifying treatments (DMTs) is currently available, aiming to control the disease activity, i.e., the inflammatory demyelinating attacks in the CNS parenchyma clinically expressed as relapses and the ongoing disability progression. Thanks to the progress that has been made in MS treatment, from the first immunomodulatory agents to the use of various monoclonal antibodies, much of the underlying immunopathology that would otherwise not be identified has been unmasked. 1 Most importantly, it has become clear that MS is a chronic multicellular disease where the role of a number cells has been identified. In particular, antigen presenting, Th1, Th17, T, B and regulatory cells may participate in the ongoing immunopathology leading to axonal injury and nerve cell death. 1 Moreover, CNS microglia and astocytes have also a crucial role in the ongoing demyelination and axonal injury. 2,3 In addition, CNS neural precursor cells (NPCs) are able to migrate and differentiate toward glial cells thus contributing to the remyelination process. However, these cells are no more able to differentiate particularly during the chronic stages of the disease. 4 Thus, efforts to increase the function of the endogenous NPCs may be of benefit for the protection of axons. The vast majority of DMTs target the activation of adaptive immunity, particularly the T cells and concomitant T cell-related immune reactions. However, there is increasing evidence that B cells are also important players in the underlying immunopathology of the disease, as indicated by the presence of plasma cells, myelin-specific antibodies and, to a lesser extent, B cells in both chronic MS plaques and acute MS lesions. In addition, the presence of immunoglobulin in MS CNS tissues, lymphoid-like tissues in MS CNS, B cells and plasma cells in MS cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), immunoglobulin in CSF and autoantibodies targeting myelin proteins in of MS patients highlight B-cell involvement in MS immunopathology. 5 It has long ago been shown that the presence of B cells characterises the subtype II MS lesions, which benefit from plasmapheresis. B cells can contribute to the pathogenesis of MS through cytokine production, antigen presentation and formation of autoantibodies. T and B cells do not function independently. B cells can activate autoreactive T cells; in return, T cells signal to B cells to enable maturation to plasma cells, which produce highly specific antibodies. 6 These findings indicate the importance of targeting B cells in order to control the disease activity. Interestingly enough, there is some evidence that even currently available DMTs have some effect on B cells, thus resulting in a shift in circulating B cell immunophenotypes, thus increasing the relative frequency of immature and naive B cells, decreasing the proportion of memory B cells, increased B cell production of interleukin-10 (IL-10) with concurrent suppression of proinflammatory cytokine secretion. B cells from DMT-treated patients are generally less able to support a proinflammatory T cell response. 7 There is also increasing recent evidence that DMTs targeting exclusively CD-20 on B cells are able to control MS relapses and ongoing disability progression, even in progressive forms of the disease. 8 Evidently, despite the enrichment of our armamentarium to control MS, there is much concern in which cases should the anti-B cell treatment be used and what the biomarkers indicating the predominant activity in an individual case might be. Most importantly, long-term TOU CH MED ICA L MEDIA 13

domain: health


- Marvel may have postponed its Phase 4 movies to 2021, but there’s no shortage of rumors about the future of the MCU.
- A trusted insider revealed that one of the most exciting Phase 4 films might get one of the best possible cameos in the MCU so far.
- A less believable leak suggests an equally epic cameo for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, one that many Marvel fans would appreciate.
confirmed our worst fears earlier this week when it postponed Black Widow to May 2021. It’s not like it was a big surprise, considering that the novel coronavirus pandemic is hardly contained. Theaters are open but people aren’t going to see new films, and
WandaVision seems like it’ll be the only MCU Phase 4 action we get to see this year, as it’s unclear when Loki will launch. That’s Marvel’s third TV series that should have been completed this year, in time for an early 2021 release. But there’s no shortage of Marvel rumors as work on the MCU resumes, and now there is a wild new rumor about one of the biggest movies of MCU Phase 4 that I desperately want to be true.
I’ve read plenty of WandaVision and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness leaks and rumors so far to make up my mind about the importance of these two titles in the upcoming storyline. I think the TV show and the Strange sequel will deliver pivotal story details and influence everything about to come, both in Phase 4 and in the grander scheme of things in the MCU.
We’ll get to see Wanda’s character from an entirely different angle in WandaVision. The most powerful Avenger might also be one of the most troubled ones, and that’s totally understandable given the personal trauma she has experienced. Everyone she ever cared about died around her, and Wanda is about to create a perfect universe where she gets to have a normal life with Vision. That includes a marriage and children.
Somewhere along the way, things may go wrong and she might snap. It may be very well that Stephen Strange brings Wanda back from her fake universe, angering her in the process to the point where she’ll finally crack. Some rumors say Scarlett Witch will turn and become one of the antagonists in Strange 2, quite possibly the main villain. The film will also offer plenty of other exciting cameos, including Avengers from different realities and maybe even some mutants.
A rumor from a trusted insider a few days ago said that Marvel wants high-profile cameos for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, which might include Tom Cruise as Iron Man from an alternate reality. That would be an incredible Easter egg for those Marvel fans who know that Cruise wanted to play Tony Stark in the late ’90s, but the deal reportedly fell through.
Unlike the Tom Cruise rumor, which comes from a credible source, there’s also a new report from a far less trustworthy source that says Marvel might be looking at John Krasinski for an unexpected role. The actor is a fan favorite to play Reed Richards in the upcoming Fantastic Four reboot, although Marvel has never acknowledged that it might be considering Krasinski for the role. The actor did address those rumors in the past, without confirming his involvement in the project.
Fans already know that Krasinski was short-listed for the Captain America role that went to Chris Evans. That’s where this wild rumor comes in, saying that Marvel wants Krasinski to play a different version of Rogers in Doctor Strange 2 movie.
Having Avengers from alternate realities appear in Strange 2 is a critical step towards establishing the Secret Wars storyline as the main overarching theme of the MCU now that the Infinity War storyline ended with Endgame and Spider-Man 2. And if the Tom Cruise rumor is accurate, then it would be just amazing to see other high-profile actors play alternate Avengers. Krasinski playing Steve Rogers should deliver some memorable scenes for the MCU.
Again, there’s no reason to trust the Krasinski rumor at this time, but it would be an exciting development for the MCU storyline. Having Krasinski play Mr. Fantastic would be even better, of course. But if Krasinski has too many other projects he’s working on to be locked into multiple MCU movies, a Captain America cameo would be a lot easier to pull off — and it would be immensely rewarding for diehard fans.


You may associate this supermarket with picking up a bargain or browsing the mythical curiosities of its middle aisles. But German grocery giant Lidl is soon to become the highest-paying supermarket in the UK.
Here’s exactly how much it’ll be paying staff, how its wages compare to those of other supermarkets, and why it’s bumping up salaries.
How much is Lidl paying its supermarket staff?
Beginning in March 2022, Lidl will not only be a cheap supermarket for your groceries it’ll also be paying the highest wages in comparison to other supermarkets.
According to the BBC, the new minimum pay for employees outside London will be £10.10 an hour. Rates will rise to £11.40 for workers with more experience.
For those working within the capital, the supermarket will pay a ‘Lidl’ more to compensate for higher living costs. Sorry, I couldn’t resist the pun.
Why is Lidl increasing pay for workers?
Lidl has long been one of the highest-paying supermarkets in the UK. It says that part of the motivation behind this latest increase is to recognise the hard work and dedication of frontline workers during the coronavirus pandemic.
With rising prices and inflation leading to an increase in the cost of living, I’m sure this wage increase will be well received by the supermarket’s employees.
Without sounding too cynical, another big reason for the increase is probably to attract more workers. The UK has a high level of job vacancies, and realistically, money talks.
If you’re looking for a job in a supermarket and they’re all hiring, you’ll probably go for the one offering highest wages, right?
How does Lidl compare with other supermarkets?
Earlier in the year, Morrisons became the first UK supermarket to pay at least £10 an hour.
It’s great to see these giant businesses competing with each other to offer workers a fair shake when it comes to wages. Here’s how the other big supermarkets shape up with their minimum pay:
|Supermarket||Pay per hour|
|Marks & Spencer||£9.50|
It’s interesting to see that more expensive supermarkets like Waitrose, Sainsbury’s and Marks & Spencer aren’t leading the way when it comes to pay. Could it be that knowing these rates might impact your choice of supermarket in future?
Should higher pay be all you look for in a new job?
If you’re currently looking for work, pay is probably going to be the main factor in making your decision. But don’t let it be the only thing you consider.
It’s always a good idea to take into account factors such as:
- How long the commute or travel takes
- The number of hours days your shifts will fall on
- Whether you’ll be able to get enough hours to support yourself
- Whether there any other benefits, like generous pension matching
Luckily, there are lots of opportunities available right now. If you are in search of work, here are some tips to help you find your next job. Remember, you can always be creative and perhaps combine part-time hours and a side hustle to help boost your income.
The post Want more money? Here’s the supermarket that pays the highest wage appeared first on The Motley Fool UK.
Cybersecurity is surging, with experts predicting that the cybersecurity market will reach US$366 billion by 2028 — more than double what it is today!
And with that kind of growth, this North American company stands to be the biggest winner.
Because their patented “self-repairing” technology is changing the cybersecurity landscape as we know it…
We think it has the potential to become the next famous tech success story.
In fact, we think it could become as big… or even BIGGER than Shopify.


Rain drenches Windward Oahu
BRUCE ASATO / BASATO@STARADVERTISER.COM
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The waters of Waikane Stream rushed from the valley toward the ocean Sunday, flowing under the Kamehameha Highway bridge after heavy morning rain. Debris in the foreground was trapped at the bridge.
Photos: UH basketball vs. Nicholls State, Nov. 22
Photos: Island Images: November 2015, Part 2
Photos: Wahine basketball vs. Washington State, Nov. 22
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Fighting out of China, Zhao Zhi Kang, 22, has just earned his second victory in ONE Championship. On July 7, 2018, he defeated a fellow Chinese mixed martial artist at “ONE: Battle for the Heavens,” which took place at the Guangzhou Tianhe Gymnasium in Guangzhou, China.
“ONE: Battle for the Heavens” featured seven MMA matches and three striking-only bouts under ONE Super Series. In the fifth bout of the evening, Zhao battled it out with Ma Xu Dong.
Zhao is a Chinese sanda champion while Ma is a professional kickboxer. The two competed at a catch weight of 68kg at “ONE: Battle for the Heavens.”
Referee Yuji Shimada put a stop to the bout between Zhao and Ma in the third round. The former submitted the latter via guillotine choke.
After beating Ma at “ONE: Battle for the Heavens,” Zhao improved his professional MMA record to 10 wins and 3 losses. On the other hand, Ma’s record downgraded to 1 win and 1 loss.
“ONE: Battle for the Heavens” marked Ma’s ONE Championship debut. He was the third opponent Zhao encountered in the promotion.
In the co-main event of the evening, Reece “Lightning” McLaren, 26, of Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia competed against Tatsumitsu “The Sweeper” Wada, 29, of Kofu, Yamanashi, Japan in the flyweight division.
In the main event, Yodcherry Sityodtong, 19, of Thailand and Kai Ting “Killer Bee” Chuang, 23, of Taiwan competed for the inaugural ONE Super Series Kickboxing Atomweight World Championship.


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AC Milan’s list of injuries is the shortest it has been for some time as the team continue their preparations ahead of the weekend’s trip to Spezia.
As MilanLive writes, the Rossoneri will have to do without David Calabria who received a yellow card in the 4-0 win over Crotone at San Siro which means he has reached the threshold for a suspension.
Stefano Pioli will have to evaluate the conditions of midfield duo Ismael Bennacer and Sandro Tonali, but it is anticipated that they could play some part in the game.
Regarding Simon Kjaer, the Danish defender is targeting a return for the derby and the performances provided by Fikayo Tomori means he does not need to be risked ahead of the crucial game against Inter.
Good news for the Rossoneri who will return to play practically every three days from Saturday. After Spezia, in fact, Milan will be called to go down against the Red Star, in the two matches valid for the round of 32 of the Europa League, Inter and Rome.
Taking a look at Spezia, Diego Farias could miss the game as he has a low-grade post-traumatic injury to the left adductor, which will be monitored in the next few days.
Claudio Terzi is also a doubt due to an adductor injury in the right leg.
Piccoli and Ferrer continue in their respective recoveries, while striker Nzola is undergoing a personalised program with the aim of getting back on the field as soon as possible. He could feature against Milan on Saturday evening at 20:45 CET.

domain: sports


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In the two years since announcing its business-driven security strategy, RSA Security has begun evolving that strategy to focus more on managing digital risk, according to company president Rohit Ghai.
While parent company Dell Technologies continues to power the digital transformation of companies, the mission and purpose of RSA Security has evolved to helping customers manage digital risk, he told Computer Weekly on a recent visit to London ahead of RSA Conference 2019 in San Francisco.
“In any journey to the digital future, there is risk along the way, and we believe digital risk will be the largest facet of risk going forward, so we want to help customers manage it with a business-driven approach because this is a business issue, not a technology issue,” he said.
According to Ghai, RSA Security does not have to explain the concept of digital risk. “Companies understand that embracing digital technologies entails risk because they are grappling with it, and we are getting a lot more resonance with the managing digital risk approach than we did with business-driven security,” he said.
RSA Security recognises that managing digital risk is a promising nascent market, and it is investing in an effort to get a head start and a first-mover advantage, but Ghai believes that RSA Security already has competencies in the key areas of integrated risk management and cyber security.
“That is why we feel RSA is uniquely positioned to serve customer needs in this area because we have a leadership position in those two areas,” he said.
The investment in developing the company’s digital risk management capability is mainly in building a digital risk platform.
“We are moving in the direction of a digital native platform served from the cloud. We have made the investment and the yield of those investments will come in the next few years, but it is early days,” said Ghai, adding that RSA Security feels well-positioned and is betting on the hypothesis that the digital risk management market will be an “attractive and vibrant” one.
Observing that there is currently an overall erosion of trust globally, Ghai described the business climate as “a little volatile”. Although volatility usually means there is some reluctance to make bold moves, which tends to slow down the formation of new markets, he said that now is the time to act.
“I believe it is the perfect opportunity to take trust head on and be the force that reinstates trust in a world that is getting a little fractured. If the world is more digital, then the way to reinstate trust is to de-risk the path to digital. That is what it will take, and it’s a big challenge, but the time is now.”
Asked whether it is also time for organisations to start preparing for cryptography in a post-quantum world, when today’s encryption algorithms are expected to become vulnerable to cracking by quantum computers, Ghai said quantum computing will be a force both for the person trying to break the cryptography as well as for the cryptographic algorithms themselves.
“In many ways it is like Moore’s Law. As computing power has progressed over the years, it is not one side or the other. The good and the bad side both benefit from the progress, and it will be the same with quantum computing,” he said.
Ghai said one of the inventors of the RSA algorithm, Ron Rivest, made the point that even as quantum computing develops, it will balance itself out because it can be used for cryptography with much larger keys that are harder to decrypt.
Although it will still be some time before quantum computers pose any threat to existing encryption algorithms, he said it is an issue organisations that depend on encryption should keep in mind and ensure they are prepared when the time comes.
However, Ghai said there are other innovations that can occur that obviate the need for cryptography in terms of ensuring secure communications. “As much as quantum computing is developing, there are alternative approaches which would also be good to keep in your peripheral vision as you think about your strategy going forward,” he added.
As examples of these alternative approaches, he cited distributed ledger technology and blockchain, which have use cases that can address some of the business needs, as well as using biometrics and machine learning (ML) for assuring identity.
“We believe the shift to risk-based analysis, using machine learning that can reason over vast quantities of data to assess your level of risk, thereby informing your authentication and other business needs. So machine learning, artificial intelligence (AI) and blockchain technology are examples of alternative technologies that can come to the rescue,” he said.
Many within the information security community believe that in the digital era, authentication will become increasingly important. Asked about RSA’s thinking in this regard, Ghai said a risk-based approach is critical.
“In the digital world, you need to optimise for security, speed and convenience. To do that, you can’t have a binary, one-size-fits all approach. You need an approach, where based on the level of risk, you are placing less or more friction in terms of the transaction.
“Second, you need a continuous model where you are not just checking at the point of entry. You have to assure security throughout the life of the transaction. Once again, ML and AI can be very helpful in this area,” he said.
For more than a decade, Ghai said RSA has had a risk-based authentication offering for mitigating fraud for consumers. “We have taken inspiration from that business to consumer solution and brought that risk engine over to the enterprise, and now using that risk-based authentication for business to employee identity and access management use cases as well,” he said.
Looking to the future, Ghai said RSA Security is also doing research in terms of identity of things as opposed to just identity of people.
“In the future, actors on the network will increasingly not just be people, but a mixture of people and things and we need to assure the identity of things as well,” he said.
Read more about digital risk
- Cyber security and risk management among top business priorities for 2019.
- Mid-sized firms taking risks to get digital.
- Digitised companies must find the balance between the benefits and risks that come with rapidly advancing IT innovation.
- UK lags behind Europe in digital risk awareness, study shows.


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Bullying in schools is often a taboo.
Stolen Names makes the topic tangible and wants to encourage people to take a stand.
In a school, all the people are depicted with apples as heads. There is a lively hustle and bustle in the schoolyard and in the classroom. Only one boy is isolated, bullied and ridiculed. When his only friend also turns away from him, he no longer recognises himself in the mirror.
It is the reader who redeems him by perceiving him.
This children’s book is dedicated to the topics of bullying and being an outsider. In schools and in therapy in particular can the book with its impressive pictures be used to talk to children about hidden feelings.
“We are all called upon to better shape our togetherness by accepting and valuing our complexity and our sometimes great differences. We can do this because we are neither apples nor oranges: We are all human beings.” – Tàssies
Original title: Geraubte Namen
32 pp | € 22
hc | 235 x 240 mm
Publication: Sept 2022
Author & Illustrator: Tàssies
Rights sold: Catalan, Spanish, Russian, Greek, Korean, Japanese
“A boy who leads a life as an outsider at school finally finds a girlfriend. But his happiness is short-lived. Soon they take away his girlfriend and with her the joy of life. What begins as a list of good things ends in a tale about the deficient circumstances of a boy who is even robbed of his name. With colourful illustrations and sophisticated compositions, the picture book is an unsparing examination of the consequences of bullying.” – Internationales Literaturfestival Berlin
By the same author and illustrator

domain: literature


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Rebuke of SC gov, budget mess await legislators
A rebuke of South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford is expected to come up in the House Tuesday as legislators return eager to close that chapter and begin work on mending a massive hole in the state budget.
House members expect to quickly deal with a censure of Sanford, who disappeared in June to Argentina and returned to admit having an affair with an Argentine woman. The measure is expected to be sent briefly to the House Judiciary Committee and could be debated Wednesday.
The House resolution castigates Sanford for “dereliction in his duties of office, for official misconduct in office and for abuses of power while in office that has brought ridicule and dishonor to himself, the state of South Carolina, and to its citizens.”
House members don’t want the rebuke to delay efforts to deal with $563 million in budget cuts expected to hit schools, colleges and social service programs the hardest. But the censure resolution is going to stall in the Senate, where a single objection of a senator means the effort can be sidelined.
Sen. Jake Knotts said Monday legislators need to take more time looking at what Sanford has done. Passing a censure resolution may close the door to dealing with possible charges from the State Ethics Commission, as well as details first lady Jenny Sanford reveals in a memoir to be published next month.
“The state of South Carolina don’t need to keep continuing to be embarrassed nationally. The proper thing to do is send it to a committee,” Knotts said.
Meanwhile, Knotts and others said that resolution shouldn’t preoccupy the state while other important issues loom.
“We need to address it and put the matter behind us,” said Senate Rules Committee Chairman Larry Martin, R-Pickens. Martin was one of the first to call for Sanford’s resignation.
“We’ve got so many challenges ahead of us this year. We don’t need to be distracted by Mark Sanford’s problem. We’ve heard quite enough about that,” Martin said.
Legislators are only beginning to hear about the toll another round of budget cuts will take on programs that affect the state’s and youngest and oldest residents. Three years ago, the annual spending bill was $7 billion. Repeated budget cuts, including $439 million since September, have left legislators with only about $5.3 billion as they start writing the fiscal 2011 spending plan.
After covering property tax breaks, repaying money borrowed from reserves and covering debt, state budget estimates show lawmakers will need $563 million more in budget cuts to balance the budget. Pressures on the budget aren’t letting up as soaring unemployment drives demands for Medicaid and other social service programs. Meanwhile, federal help to cure state budget meltdowns looms as a problem with $752 million in aid disappearing in December 2010.
Gov. Mark Sanford has proposed cutting $107 million from health care programs, particularly Medicaid, the federal-state program that pays for most of the state’s births.
“Just cutting is not a smart way to do it,” said John Ruoff of South Carolina Fair Share and committee member of Focus on Kids, a collaboration of 60 groups. “We’ve been cutting back for years. There’s no fat left.”
Focus on Kids released a report Monday that detailed budget cuts to nine state agencies that serve children, including education, social services and juvenile justice, while the recession and job losses have pushed more children into poverty. It found classroom overcrowding, child care centers shuttered and disabled children on growing waiting lists for service.
“Children in need really suffer more than anyone else,” said former Democratic Gov. Dick Riley, a Democrat who also a secretary of education under President Clinton. “Hungry children cannot learn. Sick children cannot excel.”
Meanwhile, police and prison agencies are bracing for more bad news. The state Corrections Department, which finished last year with a deficit and has warned it will run one this year, is briefing legislators on its budget this week.
State Law Enforcement Division Chief Reggie Lloyd said his agency should be able to survive the cuts proposed for the next budget, even though it’s 110 agents, or a third, short of full staff, mostly because of retirements and departures that he hasn’t been able to fill. He warned most public safety agencies can’t take any more. “We’re at the edge of the cliff when it comes to public safety right now,” Lloyd said. “We have squeezed out every efficiency we can,” Lloyd said.
Associated Press writers Seanna Adcox and Jeffrey Collins contributed to this story.

domain: politics


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Treating herself to a delicious meal, Rihanna headed over to “Scarpetta” restaurant in Beverly Hills last night.
| 15 October ~ Rihanna heads to “Scarpetta” restaurant in Beverly Hills | 29 picture(s).
About Post Author
I am a fan since 2005, a stan since 2007. She is empowering, daring, fearless and anything anyone always dreams to be in their lives. She also makes amazing music and never fails to surprise her fans.

domain: celebrity


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Although many hypotheses have been put forward to explain how the ketogenic diet works, it remains a mystery. Disproven hypotheses include systemic acidosis (high levels of acid in the blood), electrolyte changes and hypoglycaemia (low blood glucose). Although many biochemical changes are known to occur in the brain of a patient on the ketogenic diet, it is not known which of these has an anticonvulsant effect. The lack of understanding in this area is similar to the situation with many anticonvulsant drugs.
Pilates exercises mostly involve strength and flexibility, with a little balance thrown in. A complete workout regimen must include strength, flexibility, balance, and cardiovascular exercise. That means that you should also be doing something like walking, biking, running, jogging, swimming, or some other activity that gets your heart rate up. That's the big time calorie burner, and you're not going to lose a lot of weight if you leave that out. You're also not going to lose much weight if you neglect to eat well and in moderation.
PILATES, while isolating a working muscle group, simultaneously utilizes the core to stabilize every movement – this way, appropriate stabilizing muscles are deeply engaged and protecting the above mentioned joints throughout movement. The musculature of the body is worked on a broader and deeper scale. Pilates works the body safely and efficiently and I am a huge fan of efficiency!
Wondering how does swimming help you lose weight, especially since it doesn’t help in spot reduction? Since it uses all muscle groups (large and small), it can lead to quicker weight loss than other workouts. “Swimming with resistance is harder than being on the treadmill. You could increase and decrease the intensity without stressing the body. It helps burn more calories and works the core continuously burning more belly fat. And doing some crunches post the swim could further help in toning the abs,” says Kothari.
A ketogenic diet also has been shown to improve blood sugar control for patients with type 2 diabetes, at least in the short term. There is even more controversy when we consider the effect on cholesterol levels. A few studies show some patients have increase in cholesterol levels in the beginning, only to see cholesterol fall a few months later. However, there is no long-term research analyzing its effects over time on diabetes and high cholesterol.
FitFarm is a gym for all shapes, sizes, ages and ability. We don't just workout, we train. We all train for different reasons. Some of us are looking to compete, some are looking to lose weight and some are looking to simply be in good shape. We aim to serve every individual by providing CrossFit classes, personal training and one-on-one sessions. We strive to do this by creating an environment for fitness that is approachable and effective for everyone. At FitFarm, we have built a diverse community in which all feel welcome. As a gym, we seek to make every person grow belief in themselves by helping them overcome fears and pushing them to new levels of success, all while improving physical abilities.
No matter how fit you are, climbing up a flight of stairs is always a challenge. That's because steps are designed to be short so that you have to engage additional muscles, like your glutes, quads, and calves, to bring your body up. Take your cardio to the next level, er, step by doing this HIIT StairMaster workout, working your way from a comfortable, moderate pace to all-out effort.
Because swimming is non to very-low-impact and a non-weight bearing form of cardiovascular exercise, it makes it very valuable to people who may be struggling with limitations that go along with obesity, range of motion issues and injuries. While in the water, you will also be stretching your muscles and increasing your mobility and you have 80-90 percent less weight pulling and pressing at your bones and joints.
After initiation, the child regularly visits the hospital outpatient clinic where they are seen by the dietitian and neurologist, and various tests and examinations are performed. These are held every three months for the first year and then every six months thereafter. Infants under one year old are seen more frequently, with the initial visit held after just two to four weeks. A period of minor adjustments is necessary to ensure consistent ketosis is maintained and to better adapt the meal plans to the patient. This fine-tuning is typically done over the telephone with the hospital dietitian and includes changing the number of calories, altering the ketogenic ratio, or adding some MCT or coconut oils to a classic diet. Urinary ketone levels are checked daily to detect whether ketosis has been achieved and to confirm that the patient is following the diet, though the level of ketones does not correlate with an anticonvulsant effect. This is performed using ketone test strips containing nitroprusside, which change colour from buff-pink to maroon in the presence of acetoacetate (one of the three ketone bodies).
So what makes cycling so special for weight loss? In short, it makes you happy, says Jimmy Weber, of Enid, Oklahoma, who at 6’2” and 260 pounds is not a small rider, but is now 150 pounds lighter than his max weight of 410 pounds eight years ago. He initially shed weight through bariatric surgery and a lot of walking. But walking his usual seven miles a day got boring and running was out of the question.

domain: medical


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J Transl Med. 2023 Jan 9;21(1):12. doi: 10.1186/s12967-022-03760-6.
BACKGROUND/AIMS: Nonobese metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is paradoxically associated with improved metabolic and pathological features at diagnosis but similar cardiovascular diseases (CVD) prognosis to obese MAFLD. We aimed to utilize the metabolomics to identify the potential metabolite profiles accounting for this phenomenon.
METHODS: This prospective multicenter cross-sectional study was conducted in China enrolling derivation and validation cohorts. Liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry were applied to perform a metabolomics measurement.
RESULTS: The study involved 120 MAFLD patients and 60 non-MAFLD controls in the derivation cohort. Controls were divided into two groups according to the presence of carotid atherosclerosis (CAS). The MAFLD group was further divided into nonobese MAFLD with/without CAS groups and obese MAFLD with/without CAS groups. Fifty-six metabolites were statistically significant for discriminating the six groups. Among the top 10 metabolites related to CAS in nonobese MAFLD, only phosphatidylethanolamine (PE 20:2/16:0), phosphatidylglycerol (PG 18:0/20:4) and de novo lipogenesis (16:0/18:2n-6) achieved significant areas under the ROC curve (AUCs, 0.67, p = 0.03; 0.79, p = 0.02; 0.63, p = 0.03, respectively). The combination of these three metabolites and liver stiffness achieved a significantly higher AUC (0.92, p < 0.01). In obese MAFLD patients, cystine was found to be significant with an AUC of 0.69 (p = 0.015), followed by sphingomyelin (SM 16:1/18:1) (0.71, p = 0.004) and de novo lipogenesis (16:0/18:2n-6) (0.73, p = 0.004). The combination of these three metabolites, liver fat content and age attained a significantly higher AUC of 0.91 (p < 0.001). The AUCs of these metabolites remained highly significant in the independent validation cohorts involving 200 MAFLD patients and 90 controls.
CONCLUSIONS: Diagnostic models combining different metabolites according to BMI categories could raise the accuracy of identifying subclinical CAS. Trial registration The study protocol was approved by the local ethics committee and all the participants have provided written informed consent (Approval number:  No. 112, registered at the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR-ChiCTR2000034197).
PMID:36624524 | DOI:10.1186/s12967-022-03760-6


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SUSAN G. KOMEN NO. NEV. NEWS RELEASE
The Northern Nevada Susan G. Komen Affiliate kicks off 2014 in style with the second annual Pink Tie Gala scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 8, 6 p.m., at The Grove in south Reno. The evening’s program features a formal dinner with an array of silent and live experiential auction items.
Bobbi Gillis, former breast nurse navigator at Renown and self-described “treatment buddy” to women diagnosed with breast cancer, is the Gala’s honored guest. She will receive the 2014 Diane Wyness Award.
The Diane Wyness Award bears the name of local television anchor Wendy Damonte’s mother. Damonte, a long-time supporter of Susan G. Komen Northern Nevada, lost her mother to the battle with breast cancer. She documented her mother’s strong fight and has chosen to share her compelling story with others in the hope they be vigilant about early detection. The award, a dedication to Wyness’ bravery, recognizes courageous individuals in our community whose service in the battle against breast cancer truly inspires.
Niki Patin, Susan G. Komen Northern Nevada executive director, says Gillis certainly fits that bill. She served as breast program coordinator/RN navigator at Renown for more than six years before recently moving into a position as clinical informatics specialist.
“Bobbi has helped countless women through diagnosis, treatment, recovery and survivorship. She dedicates her time and energy to her patients,” Patin said. “She is a true advocate for better breast cancer diagnoses and treatment resources.”
Nominations for the Diane Wyness Award were provided by 2013 Race for the Cure participants.
The Pink Tie Gala has generated several key sponsors for this year’s event, including the E.L. Cord Foundation, The Eldorado, General and Vascular Associates, Northern Nevada Emergency Physicians and Saint Mary’s Regional Medical Center. Additional sponsorship is provided by Evans Nelson, CPA’s; Nevada Health Centers, Dr. Joseph Kiener, Thomas Hall Esq., McLean International, Reno Tahoe Limo, Community Health Alliance and Boomtown.
Individual tickets may still be purchased for $125 per seat. Discounted tickets for breast cancer survivors are available for $100. Tables of 10 may also be purchased for a discount of $100 per seat.
Pink Tie Gala Emcee Mark Ashworth, president of Reno Sparks Association of Realtors, will present several exciting auction items throughout the evening sure to generate a bidding war: a Dutch Diva Dining Experience, MINI vacation and trip to Cabo San Lucas. Seventy-five percent of the money raised from these and other auction items and ticket sales will support breast cancer prevention and awareness efforts in Northern Nevada and a portion of Northern California. The affiliate contributes the remaining 25 percent of net funds to national breast cancer research.
The 2014 Pink Tie Gala will take place at The Grove, 95 Foothill Road, Reno Saturday, Feb.8, from 6 p.m. until approximately 9 p.m.
About Susan G. Komen®
Nancy G. Brinker promised her dying sister, Suzy, she would do everything in her power to end breast cancer. Today, Susan G. Komen® works to end breast cancer in the U.S. and throughout the world by investing more than $750 million in breast cancer research and $1.5 billion in community outreach programs over the past 30 years; providing funding to help low-income and uninsured women get screened and get treatment; advocating for cancer research and outreach programs; and working globally in more than 30 countries. Visit komen.org. Connect with us on Facebook and Twitter. Visit the Northern Nevada Affiliate at www.komennorthnv.org or call 775-355-7311.


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Ready in: 20 minutes
Serves: 1-2 people
Tips from Naz
After adding the shiro powder, stir it quickly but gently on a low heat.
You might have a few lumps throughout cooking. If you do, mix them in until they go.
3 tbsp of Shiro (see our shop)
2 tbsp vegetable oil
1 finely chopped medium onion
½ cup chopped tomatoes
1 tsp garlic and ginger
1 1/2 cup boiling water
Salt to taste
(optional garnish - Jalepeno or coriander)
Put the onion in a pan and cook until soft. Add oil and leave until lightly caramelised.
Add the tomatoes. Continue to stir cook for 5 min, add the hot water and bring it to the pan to boil.
Lower the heat. Lower the heat, add the chickpea powder, garlic and ginger and slowly and stir briskly to remove any lumps. Add the salt & leave the mixture to simmer for 10-15 minutes in a low heat, stirring occasionally. Leave to cook for 5 mins without stirring until some oil rises to the surface.


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Costs are soaring as cooperation rates remain at or near record lows. In some surveys, less than one in five calls produces a completed interview -- raising doubts whether such polls accurately reflect the views of the public or merely report the opinions of stay-at-home Americans who are too bored, too infirm or too lonely to hang up.
Shrinking Response Rates
Rick Klaastad, 41, of Springfield, Ore., had been working as a telephone interviewer on opinion polls for about a year when he dialed a number and an elderly man answered the phone.
After the Minneapolis Star Tribune published a poll showing John Kerry with a 9-point lead over the president, pro-Bush demonstrators gathered outside its offices demanding that Rob Daves, the newspaper's pollster, be fired.
(Minneapolis Star Tribune)
"He declined to be interviewed," recalls Klaastad, who works for TNS of Horsham, Pa., the research firm that conducts the Washington Post-ABC News surveys. "But apparently he has some electronic device attached to the phone and the next thing I hear was this loud, painful sound. It was about as bad as it gets -- imagine turning an FM stereo up full blast with a really good set of speakers. It bruised my eardrum."
Not all Americans say no so rudely -- or painfully. But far more refuse to participate in surveys today than a few decades ago. In the 1960s, it was common for two-thirds of those contacted to complete a telephone survey. But participation dropped steeply through the 1980s and early 1990s, when it appears to have leveled off.
No surveys are immune. "Phone surveys are suffering, but so are response rates to mail surveys and even mall intercept surveys" in which people are interviewed while shopping, says Tom Smith, director of the General Social Survey at the University of Chicago, the best source of data on social trends in the United States. "All of the dominoes are being knocked down because the whole table is being shaken."
Currently cooperation rates hover at about 38 percent for the big national media surveys conducted over several days, but can dip down into the teens for surveys completed in a single night, says Jon Krosnick, a psychologist at Stanford University who has completed a groundbreaking study of response rates.
Even exit polls are feeling the pinch. In each of the past three presidential elections the proportion of people who agree to be interviewed after leaving the voting booth has dropped -- from 60 percent in 1992 to 55 percent in 1996 to 51 percent in 2000.
For decades, the conventional wisdom has been that high response rates equaled high-quality, more accurate surveys. Generations of pollsters-in-training were told in graduate school that the people who decline to participate in a poll, or cannot be reached, could be different than those who are contacted, in ways that would affect results.
Two converging trends -- the rise of telemarketing and growing time pressures in the home -- have frayed America's nerves and left many people unwilling or downright hostile when it comes to talking to pollsters. But a bigger problem seems to be that people are simply harder to reach. They're working longer, going out more and using call-screening devices when they're home, Krosnick says.
If anemic response rates are polling's dirty little secret, new research suggests this dirty little truth: It may not matter much -- at least not yet.
Last year Krosnick collected data from the five largest media polling operations, including The Washington Post, to determine what impact response rates had on the results.
"As far as I can tell, those who don't participate in surveys are busy people or people who maybe are unhappy with being deluged by telemarketers. But either way, it doesn't seem to be powerfully correlated with the kinds of things people measure in polls. Missing those people doesn't distort our predictions appreciably."
Some research organizations are taking extraordinary steps to increase response rates. Last year, Nielsen Media Research saturated Chicago with slick advertisements designed to raise public awareness of the company and increase the likelihood that people would participate in its media usage surveys.
The ads were deliberately over-the-top. One featured a gaggle of Elvis impersonators. Another starred a pouty-lipped, slightly disheveled hunk in sunglasses above the caption: "What do you see? No matter what you see, tell us what you watch," and identified the sponsor as the Nielsen Ratings: "We listen to TV viewers."


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- Lightweight textured fabric.
- Invisible zip at back.
- Fully lined.
- A-line mini skirt.
- Butterfly-shaped cut-outs on side waist.
- Hardware and contrast binding detail.
You're fun babe, that's why we know you'd love the Finders Keepers Foxy Mini Skirt. Featuring cut-outs on the waist, A-line style and invisible zip. Wear with your fave sneakers.

domain: design