Q&A: Lindsey Ullom Has a Plan to Keep Projects on Track
Project Controls Help Identify and Mitigate Risks So Projects Stay on Schedule and Budget
Lindsey Ullom
in Connect on LinkedIn
While project controls has always been a critical component of project execution, its value was showcased in 2020 when faced with intense risk mitigation: the COVID-19 pandemic. During this time, project controllers worked alongside project managers to assess and mitigate potential risks, such as labor shortages, material shortages and shipping delays, to determine the cost and schedule impacts to current and future projects.
Though the pandemic was an unprecedented situation, projects experience unexpected events, weather and more all the time. As a vital piece of a successful project management approach, project controls focuses on creating plans and budgets, tracking progress against the plan and helping teams identify the risks that these events can cause.
Project controls department manager Lindsey Ullom has a lot to say on its importance. With more than 13 years of experience in project controls, she is dedicated to collecting, analyzing and communicating vital data for a holistic view of projects that helps mitigate risk.
Q: What exactly is project controls?
A: I'm frequently asked that question, and I have found that the answer varies across industries. The Association for the Advancement of Cost Engineering International defines project controls as a management process for controlling the investment of resources in an asset where investments are made through the execution of a project. To me, that definition means we collect, analyze and report on the health of a project to help our teams understand the progress, risks and trends occurring throughout the project life cycle. This can include tracking actual costs incurred against budgets, looking at schedule trends compared to the plan, and helping identify potential risks or savings to our teams.
Q: How do project controls provide value for an engineer-procure-construct (EPC) team?
A: Project controls can add value in various ways, but perhaps the most significant is the early identification of risks on a project. By working with the team to document a solid plan and budget at the beginning, as well as a plan for tracking and reporting on progress, management teams can truly know how their projects are performing and make quick decisions on corrective actions when necessary.
For example, if the shipment of a critical piece of equipment is delayed due to severe weather and no one is tracking its progress, crews might be unnecessarily waiting on-site. This installation delay could further push other trades back as well, snowballing up to the project's completion, potentially resulting in additional costs for extended labor time, extended equipment rentals and costs to the client.
However, if a plan is in place and someone is tracking it, that unexpected delay could be identified the moment the storm hits, along with all the downstream impacts. Then the team can work with crews on mitigation plans and time the labor appropriately to get the schedule back on track to meet the project completion target date — reducing the overall cost of that storm delay.
Q: What are the tools in a project controller's toolbox?
A: An extensive number of tools are used for project controls to see that the data collected and analyzed is accurate. After all, bad data in is bad data out. At Burns & McDonnell we use tools for cost management, change management, schedule management and analytics to visualize trends, so our toolbox is filled.
The most meaningful tool of all, though, is the person. Projects need someone who understands the data and then can analyze and communicate it in a way so the entire project team can visualize and understand it quickly when critical decisions need to be made.
Q: What are the benefits of having a project controller embedded on a job site?
A: Having project controls staff on-site can be essential to capture real-time, daily data for time-sensitive and critical project progress, as well as knowing exactly how to use that data. My personal "aha" moment regarding the importance of on-site project controls happened when I was on a job site and my project manager came to me asking when we could close the exterior wall of a building being constructed. If I were in the office and simply looked at the schedule, I wouldn't have seen a reason not to close the wall the next day. However, I decided to walk the site with my manager and saw all the large equipment still inside the building that was needed to complete ongoing pipe and duct installations. If we closed the exterior wall, there would be no way to get the equipment out, which could have caused costly issues. That is my personal example of one of the many benefits to having a project controller on-site to track the project schedule and progress.
Efficient project delivery is critical to the successful construction of projects. Learn about the benefits of EPC achieve project goals.
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Hundreds of patients have received lung transplants due to COVID-19 in the United States. According to data from the United Network for Organ Transplants (UNOS), in the U.S., about one in 10 lung transplants now go to COVID-19 patients.
We sat down with Selim M. Arcasoy, MD, Medical Program Director of the Lung Transplant Program at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia, to learn more about COVID-19 related transplants—when they happen, how it works, and what this means for patients, surgeons, and the future of transplant surgery in America.
[Note: This conversation was lightly edited for the page]
Can you tell me a bit about how COVID damages the lungs, and what would lead to the point of transplant?
COVID seems to cause very severe pneumonia in some patients, leading to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and even leading to pulmonary fibrosis in some patients. Patients who develop ARDS typically end up on high flow oxygen, many need mechanical ventilator support, and many need extracorporeal membrane oxygenator (ECMO) support. And some of those patients could never come off of those supports.
We've been consulted for several people who've been on vent and ECMO for five or six months seeking a lung transplant. And some of those patients recover partially, or never progress to going on a ventilator and ECMO but are stuck with very rapid development of pulmonary fibrosis that results in chronic hypoxemic respiratory failure. They either have to stay in the hospital, requiring a lot of oxygen, or they're eventually discharged home, needing nasal or mask oxygen or even a tracheostomy. Those people would be candidates for transplants.
So, for the subacute cases, say, maybe six or eight weeks after the development of acute COVID-19, and more subacute to chronic cases, they are several months beyond their initial infection. That's the typical patient population.
Has COVID-19 impacted the overall incidence of lung transplant in the US?
About eight months after the pandemic exploded in the US, UNOS actually came up with diagnostic codes for "COVID ARDS" and "COVID pulmonary fibrosis," as categories that belong to different disease groups and are assigned lung allocation scores. Previously, it would be, say, just "general pulmonary fibrosis" group, or just "ARDS due to any cause."
Since the coding was implemented, we found out that 7 percent of the transplants in the US have been for COVID-19. To go from not existing to becoming nearly 10 percent of the indication for transplant is pretty amazing.
How does a lung transplant operation for COVID-19 differ from lung transplants indicated for other causes?
We have our own experience of, I believe, six or seven patients that we transplanted here [at Columbia]. In COVID ARDS patients—who require ventilator and ECMO support, who require chest tube placement because they commonly develop pneumothoraces or lung collapse on both sides or either side and who develop recurrent bacterial or fungal infections because of either the indirect effects of severe viral infection or the treatments for it that are immunocompromising—in those patients, we found the surgery to be quite difficult, with severe adhesions of the lung to the chest wall and very bloody, difficult surgeries. Removing the lungs is difficult; the risk of bleeding is higher.
And then, the patients themselves are kind of marginal in that they've been hospitalized for a long time. They have musculoskeletal weakness. They commonly have other medical issues, whether it be kidney dysfunction or recent opportunistic infections. So, their course has been rather difficult.
We have had the ECMO cohort and we also have had the cohort of those who never required ventilators and high flow oxygen, and the latter does a little bit better.
Is there a difference in survival rates between COVID transplant patients and other lung transplant surgeries?
We don't have long-term data for everybody yet, but in our analysis of the UNOS database, when you look at the three-month survival rate, COVID transplants do fairly well, actually, compared to the rest of the diseases. They have non-inferior survival at three months. This is not published yet, but hopefully, it will be accepted for publication and we could talk more about it formally. But they do okay.
I think the resource utilization is dramatically different and higher in COVID cases. The pre-transplant care, post-transplant care, longer hospital stay, longer ICU stay, and things like that are much higher. The economical cost of COVID transplant is unknown, but likely to be super high.
You mentioned there are more transplants recorded in the system for COVID-related ARDS than general ARDS. Are CARDS patients better candidates for transplant than patients with general ARDS? Why?
Yes. So, ARDS by definition means a severely ill patient on a ventilator and/or ECMO who's been in bed, not mobile, potentially sedated and paralyzed for some time, so that they could tolerate being on a ventilator. Traditionally, those patients were not considered to be great candidates for transplant, unless they were super young and thought to be salvageable. So, there are very few transplants reported in non-COVID ARDS cases from 2005 to 2020.
Once the COVID pandemic started, all of a sudden, we had lots of young to middle aged people in our hospitals who were stuck on a ventilator, and the paradigm shifted dramatically. We thought maybe this is something we could do.
We also have better support tools. For example, the improvements in ECMO compared to a decade ago have been dramatic. When on the ventilator, patients are typically uncomfortable, they need to be sedated. On ECMO support, they can be awake. We could keep people alive, and we could potentially get them physical therapy and do other things, because of ECMO support.
Due to that paradigm shift in our thinking, and better technologies, we started accepting these people little by little for transplant listing, and many of those patients ended up getting transplanted.
What else has changed or advanced in the science, technology, or just availability of lung transplants in the wake of COVID-19?
I think the culture change was really due to an unprecedented and devastating impact of COVID on numerous, relatively young people who have no other medical illnesses, who ended up with respiratory impariment, and without a transplant, dying. That caused a cultural shift in transplant candidacy as we know it. And that's resulted in us taking on these high-risk transplants, not just our program, but the rest of the world in places that do transplants.
In terms of the science, there hasn't been a direct impact related to transplantation, but obviously, we all observe the rapid progression of say, vaccine development or treatment trials and things like that.
I think COVID absorbed or sucked up a lot of resources from other medical fields because of the urgency that was needed. And in addition to that, we've been super busy because of COVID, because of resources that were pulled away. At the beginning of the pandemic, I was attending in the ICU to help my colleagues rather than performing transplant-related work because that's what had to be done.
I think we all experienced that a lot of the research studies had to be stopped or halted. So, it had a kind of a negative impact on other fields.
Over the last two years, some people have had to put off their routine or scheduled procedures and treatments because of reduced capacity due to COVID–does lung transplant for COVID impact patients awaiting transplant for different reasons?
Yes, for sure. When 7 percent of our indications come from a new disease, those patients displace others who are on the list or hoping to get on the list. The system by which transplant works, at least in the US and many parts of Europe, is a severity-based system for which a "lung allocation score" is used. Typically, COVID patients have very high lung allocation scores due to the fact that they're hospitalized, they're on life support. They rank immediately on top of their blood group, displacing or moving down others who are listed. We'll eventually find out the impact on waitlist mortality for other patients as more data comes along.
The good news is that all the transplant centers are more aggressive. Every year in the past maybe 10 years, there are more transplants being done, especially in the US. I think we topped 2,700-plus lung transplants a couple of years ago, just in the US. That number used to be 800 or 900 when I got in the field two decades ago. It's a big, big change. So that may actually cancel out some of the adverse effects of COVID becoming a main indication.
Are there any differences in aftercare or management following COVID-related lung transplant? Is it the same immunosuppressant therapy any other transplant patient would receive?
We use the same medicine. There's nothing special about postCOVID lung transplant.
The main difference we've been experiencing is patient acceptance. I don't want to comment on compliance yet because we don't have that much experience. But imagine, these are previously healthy people who got thrown into transplant, and they wake up with new lungs, and they need to all of a sudden take 12 to 15 medicines for the rest of their lives, and they're told to be careful, and that they're immunocompromised, and they're at risk of this and that. So, I think that's been rather difficult for patients and for us.
I would say that it's going fairly well because we do as much education as possible beforehand. And that's one of the major ethical issues related to COVID transplants: when do you consent patients for transplant? I think it's good to talk to

source: openbmb/Ultra-FineWeb


10 facts you may not know about Edinburgh Castle
SCOTLAND'S leading tourist attraction towers over the capital city.
SCOTLAND'S leading tourist attraction towers over the capital city.
The Royal castle has stood in this spot since the 12th century and remained the Scottish Royal residence until the Union of the Crowns in 1603.
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Built on top of an extinct volcano, its geographical location made it one of the best defended fortresses in Scottish history.
Its role in wars aside, Edinburgh Castle has had a colourful history to say the least.
Here are some lesser known facts about the historical landmark:
1. Castle Rock has been inhabited for 2865 years
Archaeologists have found evidence that there were early settlers on top of castle rock since the Bronze Age – or 850 BCE. A 1990s dig at the castle found clear signs of habitation including pottery, bronzes and broaches, making it one of the longest continually inhabited sites in Scotland.
2. St Margaret's Chapel is the oldest surviving building in Scotland
Queen Margaret married the Scottish king Malcolm III around 1070. She was known as a good, charitable woman, who also established a ferry service for those wanting to make the pilgrimage to Dunfermline Abbey, the resting place for the kings of Scotland.
When King Malcolm was killed in battle, Margaret was so overcome with grief that she died just a few days later. Her son, David I built the chapel in her memory.
When Robert the Bruce laid siege against the castle in 1314, he had every building destroyed except this one, cementing its status as the oldest building in the country.
3. Witches were burnt at the stake here
Scotland has a well documented, bloody history throughout the years, but none as violent as the witch trials it conducted. One such person was Janet Douglas, Lady Glamis who stood trial accused of using witchcraft against King James V. Even though it was clear Janet was innocent, King James held a vendetta against her family and tortured her servants until they confessed to their mistress being a witch. She was burnt at the stake on the esplanade just outside the castle walls.
Read More
Read More
Eight facts you may not know about Stirling Castle
4. Size does matter in sieges'
In 1715, the Jacobites were determined to overthrow the throne. In one particular siege event, the Jacobites tried to storm the castle under the clock of night, using a ladder. However, the ladder proved to be too short, leaving the Jacobite rebellions stranded until morning, where they were discovered and promptly arrested.
5. Many people believe it is haunted
One of the more infamous stories about the castle ghosts is that of the bagpiper. When the tunnels underneath the Royal Mile was first discovered, a piper was sent down to investigate, playing his bagpipes along the way so people above could track him. When the music suddenly stopped playing around half way down the Mile, a search party was sent down to retrieve the boy, however he was never found. Several search parties combed the tunnels, looking for him, but the body was never retrieved. People say his music can still be heard under the castle and the Royal Mile.
6. The castle housed many prisoners of war
Having spent a significant part of its history as an army fortress, the castle has seen many prisoners housed here over the year. These notably include 21 pirates of the Caribbean, most of who were found guilty of piracy and hung off the coast of Leith. American prisoners were held here from 1776 to 1781 when the two nations were at war during the War of Independence. Over 1000 prisoners were thought to have been held here.
7. The Scottish crown jewels were lost in the castle for over 100 years
After the unification of the crowns, the Scottish crown jewels no longer had any significant part to play in the newly formed British government. These Honours of Scotland were then locked away in a chest and stored in the castle, all but forgotten about. A group of men, including Sir Walter Scott, set out to recover the Honours in 1818, and they have been on almost constant display since.
8. University of Edinburgh students will fail their final exams
While it's not really a fact, many University of Edinburgh students hold it to be one. Legend has it that any student of the university who passes through the castle gates will fail their final examinations. While it sounds a bit far fetched to us, many students are unwilling to visit the castle in their time at the university, preferring to play it safe until they've graduated.
9. There is a swastika in the castle
In the War Memorial room, opened to the public in 1927, there is a stained glass window which contains the symbol. Before the Nazis hijacked the symbol during the Second World War, the swastika was still a symbol of good fortune, used in Hinduism and Buddhism and was placed in the glass before the wide-spread use by Hitler.
10. The KGB had the castle altered
King James IV liked to spy on his subjects who gathered in the Great Hall through a tiny barred up window on the right hand side of the fireplace, termed the "laird's lug" (lord's ears).
Mikhail Gorbachev was set to visit the castle in 1984 during the final years of the Cold War and the Soviet secret service asked that they brick up this hole in the wall for security reasons.
Mikhail never made it to the castle, as on the morning he was set to visit, he recieved the news that the then General, Konstantin Chernenko had died.


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A lactic acid bacterium discovered by Estonian scientists has passed muster with the European Food Safety Authority, paving the way for use throughout the EU.
Estonia is notable for the probiotic bacteria in yogurt, but this particular strain, Lactobacillus plantarum NCIMB 30236, is used in animal feed to ferment silage.
Discovered by the Bio-Competence Centre for Healthy Dairy Products (TAK), it is one of the first microorganisms in the EU to be granted European Commission permission and entered in the registered list of feed additives.
The director of TAK, Ene Tammsaare, credited scientists from the University of Life Sciences, University of Tartu and the Estonian Research Institute of Agriculture, and the company Starter ST, who had done years of work.
"To this point Estonia has imported silage preservatives but now we have a domestic one with high export potential," she said.
The product could be marketed by next spring, said the chairman of the board of Starter ST, Üllas Jaaska.
The bacterium was isolated on southern Estonian grasslands. The lactic acid produced keeps harmful bacterial growth in check.
The bacterial species L. plantarum is considered by EFSA to be suitable for the Qualified Presumption of Safety approach.
Therefore, it does not require any specific demonstration of safety other than confirming the absence of any determinants of resistance to antibiotics of human and veterinary clinical significance and the safety for the user.
As the identity of the strain has been clearly established and as no antibiotic resistance was detected, the use of the strain in the production of silage is considered safe for livestock species, consumers of products from animals fed the treated silage and for the environment.
Once an active agent has been authorised as a silage additive, different formulations can be placed on the market with reference to that authorisation.
The applicant listed several cryoprotectants and carriers which would allow multiple formulations of the additive to be produced and consequently, not all forms can be directly tested for user safety.
However, for assessing the safety for the user of the additive, the active agent is the principal concern provided that other components do not introduce concerns.

source: HuggingFaceFW/fineweb-edu


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Web Development, Programming and Internet ToolsHere is a collection of various tools web developers and programmers will find useful.
- ASCII Code Table A table of decimal, hex, binary, and ASCII characters.
- ASCII: Hex Code: Unicode Converter Converts plain text into both hex code and unicode.
- What's My IP Address? See the external IP address of your computer if it is behind a router/firewall.
- Is It Up or Down? Check to see is if a website is up and available or down.
Electronic and Mathematic ToolsHere is a collection of various tools for calculation and conversion.
- Interactive Resistor Color Code Calculator Determine the value and tolerance of a resistor based on the colors of the bands.
- Measurement Unit Prefix Converter How many microfarads in a 4.7 picofarad capacitor? This makes it easy to discover the answer.


Public Release:
Scientists unlock the molecular secret behind long-lived bat species
University College Dublin
IMAGE: The longest-lived species of bats (Myotis) in which telomeres don't shorten with age view more
Credit: UCD
Scientists have identified part of the molecular mechanism that gives long-lived bat species their extraordinary lifespans compared to other animals. The findings published in the journal Science Advances point to the protective structures at the end of chromosomes, called telomeres.
According to the international team of scientists, in the longest-lived species of bats (Myotis) telomeres don't shorten with age. Whereas in other bats species, humans and other animals they do, causing the age-related breakdown of cells that over the course of a lifetime can drive tissue deterioration and ultimately death.
To conduct the study, researchers took 3-mm wing biopsies from some 500 wild bats from across four species that they captured, marked and released. The samples were flash frozen in liquid nitrogen or desiccated using silica beads, high-molecular DNA was extracted, and change in telomere length was assessed.
"Our results show that telomeres shorten with age in two of the bat species (Rhinolophus ferrumequinum and Miniopterus schreibersii), typical of most mammals," says Dr. Nicole Foley of University College Dublin, Ireland, the lead author of the study.
To uncover how the long-lived species of bats can maintain their telomeres over time, they compared their genomes with those of 52 other mammals, focusing on 225 genes associated with the maintenance of telomeres.
"Our results suggest that long-lived bats have evolved better mechanisms to prevent and repair age induced cellular damage. In particular two genes ATM, SETX may drive this," says Professor Emma Teeling from University College Dublin, senior author of the scientific paper.
"Bats showed no expression of telomerase but rather, may have evolved a unique process to lengthen their chromosomes without inducing cancer. These are exiting new results that we need to further explore to uncover how bats can remain healthy as time passes."
The results of the study are a first step in helping us to understand the molecular mechanisms bats have evolved that underlie their unusual and long, life-spans.
Studying wild bats in an ageing context may provide exciting new solutions to slow down the ageing process and ultimately extend human health-spans.
The study involving 10 different research and conservation institutes from across five different countries was funded by the European Research Council and included bat biologists from Ireland, France, Portugal, Germany, and the United Kingdom.


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Causes of Cracks in concrete structures:
The principal causes of occurrence of cracks in a building are as follows:
1. Permeability of concrete.
As deterioration process in concrete begins with penetration of various aggressive agents, low permeability is the key to its durability. Concrete permeability is controlled by factors like water-cement ratio, degree of hydration/curing, air voids due to deficient compaction, micro-cracks due to loading and cyclic exposure to thermal variations. The first three are allied to the concrete strength as well. The permeability of cement paste is a function of water-cement ratio given good quality materials, satisfactory proportioning and good construction practice; the permeability of the concrete is a direct function of the porosity and interconnection of pores of the cement paste.
2. Thermal movement:
Thermal movement is one of the most potent causes of cracking in buildings. All materials more or less expand on heating and contract on cooling. The thermal movement in a component depends on a number of factors such as temperature variations, dimensions, coefficient of thermal expansion and some other physical properties of materials. The coefficient of thermal expansion of brickwork in the vertical direction is fifty percent greater than that in the horizontal direction, because there is no restraint to movement in the vertical direction.
Thermal variations in the internal walls and intermediate floors are not much and thus do not cause cracking. It is mainly the external walls especially thin walls exposed to direct solar radiation and the roof which are subject to substantial thermal variation that are liable to cracking.
Thermal joints can be avoided by introducing expansion joints, control joints and slip joints. In structures having rigid frames or shell roofs where provision of movement joints is not structurally feasible, thermal stresses have to be taken into account in the structural design itself to enable the structure to withstand thermal stresses without developing any undesirable cracks.
Concrete when subjected to sustained loading exhibits a gradual and slow time dependant deformation known as creep. Creep increases with increase in water and cement content, water cement ratio and temperature. It decreases with increase in humidity of surrounding atmosphere and age of material at the time of loading. Use of admixtures and pozzolonas in concrete increases creep. Amount of creep in steel increases with rise in temperature.
4. Corrosion of Reinforcement
A properly designed and constructed concrete is initially water-tight and the reinforcement steel within it is well protected by a physical barrier of concrete cover which has low permeability and high density. Concrete also gives steel within it a chemical protection. Steel will not corrode as long as concrete around it is impervious and does not allow moisture or chlorides to penetrate within the cover area. Steel corrosion will also not occur as long as concrete surrounding it is alkaline in nature having a high pH value.
Concrete normally provides excellent protection to reinforcing steel. Notwithstanding this, there are large number of cases in which corrosion of reinforcement has caused damage to concrete structures within a few years from the time of construction. One of the most difficult problems in repairing a reinforced concrete element is to handle corrosion damage. Reinforcement corrosion caused by carbonation is arrested to a great extent through repairs executed in a sound manner. However, the treatment of chloride-induced corrosion is more difficult and more often the problem continues even after extensive repairs have been carried out. It invariably re-occurs in a short period of time. Repairing reinforcement corrosion involves a number of steps, namely, removal of carbonated concrete, cleaning of reinforcement application of protection coat, making good the reduced steel area, applying bond coat and cover replacement. Each step has to be executed with utmost care. When chlorides are present in concrete, it is extremely difficult to protect reinforcing steel from chloride attack particularly in cases where chlorides have entered through materials used in construction and residing in the hardened concrete.
This increase in volume causes high radial bursting stresses around reinforcing bars and result in local radial cracks. These splitting cracks results in the formation of longitudinal cracks parallel to the bar. Corrosion causes loss of mass, stiffness and bond and therefore concrete repair becomes inevitable as considerable loss of strength takes place
Corrosion of steel in a canopy
Reinforcement steel in concrete structures plays a very important role as concrete alone is not capable of resisting tensile forces to which it is often subjected. It is therefore important that a good physical and chemical bond must exist between reinforcement steel and concrete surrounding it. Due to inadequacy of structural design and /or construction, moisture and chemicals like chlorides penetrate concrete and attack steel. Steel oxidizes and rust is formed. This results in loss of bond between steel and concrete which ultimately weakens the structure.
The best control measure against corrosion is the use of concrete with low permeability. Increased concrete cover over the reinforcing bar is effective in delaying the corrosion process and also in resisting the splitting.
5. Moisture Movement:
Most of the building materials with pores in their structure in the form of intermolecular space expand on absorbing moisture and shrink on drying. These movements are cyclic in nature and are caused by increase or decrease in inter pore pressure with moisture changes.
Initial shrinkage occurs in all building materials that are cement/lime based such as concrete, mortar, masonry and plasters. Generally heavy aggregate concrete shows less shrinkage than light weight aggregate concrete.
Controlling shrinkage cracks.
Shrinkage cracks in masonry could be minimized by avoiding use of rich cement mortar in masonry and by delaying plaster work till masonry has dried after proper curing and undergone most of its initial shrinkage. In case of structural concrete shrinkage cracks are controlled by using temperature reinforcement. Plaster with coarse well graded sand or stone chip will suffer less from shrinkage cracks and is preferred for plastering for external face of walls.
Considering the building as a whole, an effective method of controlling shrinkage cracks is the provision of movement joints. The work done in cold weather will be less liable to shrinkage cracks than that in hot weather since movement due to thermal expansion of materials will be opposite to that of drying shrinkage.
6. Poor Construction practices.
The construction industry has in general fallen prey to non-technical persons most of whom have little or no knowledge of correct construction practices. There is a general lack of good construction practices either due to ignorance, carelessness, greed or negligence. Or worse still, a combination of all of these.
The building or structure during construction is in its formative period like a child in mother's womb. It is very important that the child's mother is well nourished and maintains good health during the pregnancy, so that her child is healthily formed. Similarly for a healthy building it is absolutely necessary for the construction agency and the owner to ensure good quality materials selection and good construction practices. All the way to building completion every step must be properly supervised and controlled without cutting corners.
Some of the main causes for poor construction practices and inadequate quality of buildings are given below:
- Improper selection of materials.
- Selection of poor quality cheap materials.
- Inadequate and improper proportioning of mix constituents of concrete, mortar etc.
- Inadequate control on various steps of concrete production such as batching, mixing, transporting, placing, finishing and curing
- Inadequate quality control and supervision causing large voids (honey combs) and cracks resulting in leakages and ultimately causing faster deterioration of concrete.
- Improper construction joints between subsequent concrete pours or between concrete framework and masonry.
- Addition of excess water in concrete and mortar mixes.
- Poor quality of plumbing and sanitation materials and practices.
7. Poor structural design and specifications
Very often, the building loses its durability on the blue print itself or at the time of preparation of specifications for concrete materials, concrete and various other related parameters.
It is of crucial that the designer and specifier must first consider the environmental conditions existing around the building site. It is also equally important to do geotechnical (soil) investigations to determine the type of foundations, the type of concrete materials to be used in concrete and the grade of concrete depending on chemicals present in ground water and subsoil.
It is critical for the structural designer and architect to know whether the agency proposed to carry out the construction has the requisite skills and experience to execute their designs. Often complicated designs with dense reinforcement steel in slender sections result in poor quality construction. In addition, inadequate skills and poor experience of the contractor, ultimately causes deterioration of the building.
Closely spaced of reinforcement steel bars due to inadequate detailing and slender concrete shapes causes segregation. If concrete is placed carelessly into the formwork mould, concrete hits the reinforcement steel and segregates causing fine materials to stick to the steel, obstructing its placement and is lost from the concrete mix while the coarse material falls below causing large porosity (honeycombs).
Slender structural members like canopies (chajjas), fins and parapets often become the first target of aggressive environment because of dense reinforcement, poor detailing, less cover of concrete to the reinforcement steel. Added to all this, low grade of concrete and poor construction practices can make the things worse. It is necessary for the structural consultant to provide adequate reinforcement steel to prevent structural members from developing large cracks when loaded.
To sum up, the following precautions are required to be taken by the Architects, Structural Consultants and Specifiers:
- Proper specification for concrete materials and concrete.
- Proper specifications to take care of environmental as well as sub – soil conditions.
- Constructable and adequate structural design.
- Proper quality and thickness of concrete cover around the reinforcement steel.
- Planning proper reinforcement layout and detailing the same in slender structures to facilitate proper placing of concrete without segregation.
- Selection of proper agency to construct their designs.
Architects and Engineers are parents of the buildings they plan and design and therefore their contribution to the health and life of the building is quite significant. Once the plans are drawn the structural designs and specifications are prepared, it


Tampakan | South Cotabato
General Information
Tampakan was once a barangay of the municipality of Tupi, South Cotabato. It was a forested area inhabited by the natives called B'laans. The place by that time was still diverse in terms of flora and fauna.
Tampakan was derived from the word "Tamfaken", a native language of B'laan which means spring, for the place has plenty of it. Abundant springs spread at the center of the barrio and flowed out to streams traversing almost the entire area and served as the main source of potable water to the inhabitants.
Mid-year of 1940 when the first batch of landless pioneer settlers was brought in from Luzon, Leyte and Panay in search for a greener pasture. Determination coupled with courage, the settlers crossed the ocean to a place unknown to them.
Settlers abode on a bunkhouse built of round logs during that time. The building was big enough to accommodate a hundred families and once stood at where the present Petron Gas Station is situated. Dwelling unit condition continued that way until home lots were distributed to each of the family settlers to build their own with the facilitation of the National Land Settlement Administration (NLSA).
Not long enough, in December 1940 World War II broke out and has lasted for about 4 years of struggle. An allied landing strip was constructed in July of 1941. During the midst of the war a US plane has dropped 13 bombs in Tampakan. Months later, the Japanese Imperial Forces came in to confiscate settlers' working animals and carts. They used it to carry their ammunitions and other war weapons from Koronadal to Tacurong of Sultan Kudarat.
Despite the disturbance of war, development effort continued. There were settlers who went back to their origins due to a very hard physical and economic condition of the place. Too determined, many of them chose to stay and established a place to live.
When more and more Christian settlers came in to settle, the natives who felt out-numbered and inferior had gradually transferred their living on the uplands of the locality. The once abundant spring eventually vanished as the settlers making the spring a dumping place for garbage. Hence at present "tamfaken", a spring is no longer visible.
Years passed and Tampakan gradually has turned agriculturally promising. From the once forested area, it has become an ideal place to live in for the settlers and their families and even their grand children. Through years of dedication and hard work Tamfaken was changed to Tampakan and became a municipality in the Province of South Cotabato, by virtue of Republic Act No.5661 as approved in the House of Senate and House of Representatives on June 21, 1969.


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What is privation in religion?
Privation is the lack of a quality or form normally required by the nature of a thing. It is a type of contrariety, and is thus to be distinguished from simple negation, which is based on contradictory opposition. Privation (Gr.
What part of speech is privation?
|part of speech:||noun|
|definition 2:||an act, instance, or condition of deprivation. synonyms: deprivation, destitution, dispossession, need, want similar words: confiscation, deficiency, lack, loss|
|related words:||crunch, famine, poverty|
What is a destitution?
: the state of being destitute especially : such extreme want as threatens life unless relieved.
What are the different types of loss?
Different kinds of loss
- Loss of a close friend.
- Death of a partner.
- Death of a classmate or colleague.
- Serious illness of a loved one.
- Relationship breakup.
- Death of a family member.
What is a symbolic loss?
When you grieve beyond a person's actual death and grieve the intangible roles the person filled, you experience something called "symbolic loss." On top of missing your loved ones' personality, you miss what they provided: their relationship to you, their societal role, their support, their brand of wisdom.
What is an intuitive griever?
The Intuitive Griever This is the family member who is showing outward signs of their grief. They are openly emotional and that is how they process their grief. Do not try to stunt that emotion or re-direct it. You have to let the emotions flow.
What is pathological mourning?
The term "Pathological Grief" is sometimes applied to people who are unable to work through their grief despite the passage of time. It can take most people up to several years to get past a serious loss.
What does disenfranchised grief mean?
Disenfranchised grief, also known as hidden grief or sorrow, refers to any grief that goes unacknowledged or unvalidated by social norms. This kind of grief is often minimized or not understood by others, which makes it particularly hard to process and work through.
What grieving does to your body?
The heartbreak of grief can increase blood pressure and the risk of blood clots. Intense grief can alter the heart muscle so much that it causes "broken heart syndrome," a form of heart disease with the same symptoms as a heart attack. Stress links the emotional and physical aspects of grief.
Does grief damage the brain?
When you're grieving, a flood of neurochemicals and hormones dance around in your head. "There can be a disruption in hormones that results in specific symptoms, such as disturbed sleep, loss of appetite, fatigue and anxiety," says Dr. Phillips. When those symptoms converge, your brain function takes a hit.
Does grief rewire your brain?
Grief can reinforce brain wiring that effectively locks the brain in a permanent stress response, Shulman said. To promote healthy rewiring, people need to strengthen the parts of the brain that can regulate that response.
How do you let go of someone who has died?
Here are important things we can do to help let go of lost ones in our lives and put our best foot forward.
- Focus on the good times with them.
- Remember what you learned from them.
- Celebrate their life instead of mourning their death.
- Move toward future relationships.


Working remotely can help you if you as a patient of ADHD. However, the challenge comes when all other family members are home and you cannot concentrate on a single task. If you live alone at home, there will be no co-workers making noise in the background or tapping you to attention just when you started concentrating on a task. Family members can also be a distraction, so you need to ensure your home office is conducive to work.
Working at home requires stellar focus, organization, and time management. These are skills that patients of ADHD lack. Your boss and your colleagues might motivate you at the workplace, but at home, you are left to your element. Granted, you have to learn to self-motivate and self-direct. Below are tips to help you focus on tasks while telecommuting.
Get in touch with experienced healthcare professionals for ADHD treatment!
Book an Appointment
Set Up a Quiet Workspace
Even if you live alone with no spouse, children, or pets, there are still lots of distractions in your home, there are still lots of distractions. Your favorite shows on TV, your phone, texts from friends, the internet, and social media are all distractions.
To avoid these distractions, set up an office in the quietest room in your home. This room should be free of distractions. Your study or a home office can help. If you live with your family, put a "Do Not Disturb" sign on the door. Let your family understand when you are busy.
If you prefer background noise, you can play soft music or turn on a fan. Ensure your desk is free of clutter as this makes you more productive. You can improve your focus on tasks by changing positions while working. Start by having a standing desk to avoid sitting all day to get rid of anxiety.
Why ADHD patients cant work remotely
Why ADHD Patients Find it Difficult to Work Remotely?
Create a Schedule and Follow It Strictly
A work schedule helps you stay focused and organized and keeps anxiety away. Although you do not have to wake up at 6 like you would while working from the office, you still need to maintain a schedule every day.
For starters, dress up for work every morning. It puts you in the right frame for a workday and also makes you presentable on video calls. You can still have your sleeping pants on but a decent shirt or blouse comes in handy.
In your schedule, including time for tea and lunch breaks. Also, schedule time to walk out and enjoy the fresh air outside as you stretch your muscles. Working from home is not a ticket to work late every day, set your end time to create a boundary between home and work.
Book an appointment for ADHD treatment!
Book an Appointment
Use Planning and Organization Tools
You can create a daily to-do list. You can also put sticky notes as reminders on your computer. You can also use apps on your computer or smartphone such as Google Calendar.
If you have upcoming meetings and deadlines to meet, set reminders on your smartphone or computer calendar to ensure you do not forget. When setting reminders set for meetings and deadlines set them a day earlier. If you are setting reminders for other events, set them an hour earlier to have enough time to prepare and ditch the worry of compulsive behavior.
Every morning before you start your tasks, look at your schedule, and create a to-do list. Break up your work into small manageable chunks and set a time for each task. If there is a task that you did not do at the end of the day, update your list.
Mental health during lockdown
How to support mental health during the lockdown
Take One Task at a Time
Focus is a challenge when you have ADHD. You need to take one task at a time and complete it before moving to the next task. When you multitask, you might end up not completing any task at the end of the day. You could also lose focus and work slower than your schedule requires. This is when you might start working late or working on weekends. This will interfere with your home life and take away your leisure time.
When working, use a timer so you can complete tasks on time. For instance, you can power down on a project for 45 minutes and then take a 10 minutes break. Ensure that the amount of time you set for a task is enough to complete a significant portion of the project.
Book an appointment for ADHD treatment!
Book an Appointment
Stay In Touch With Colleagues and Take Your Meds
Even though you may not be meeting your colleagues physically, you need to stay connected with your co-workers and your manager. Make regular calls when you need clarification on tasks, attend all conference calls, and talk through emails and texts. Constant communication helps not feel isolated and gives you the motivation you need to carry on the tasks. You also need to take your ADHD medicine as prescribed.
If you have trouble concentrating even on the smallest tasks, you can walk into EZ Care Clinic in San Francisco. You can also schedule an appointment online and we will help you through it. Regardless of the stage of your ADHD, EZ Care Clinic has you covered.
Book your appointment now!
Schedule appointment with EzCare Clinic
Book an Appointment Today!
Leave a Reply


Australian Professor Denies Existence of the Pied Piper
Sydney Morning Herald: Was the Pied Piper real or a myth created to explain the outbreak of the plague? A Sydney University professor has a theory. The Pied Piper of Hamelin, the allegorical figure who led the town's children away after being denied his just pay, is celebrated throughout the world as a warning to "Pay the Piper," but is it a true story? Sydney University professor Alex Jones says no.
"It is most unlikely that a figure like the Pied Piper of Hamelin ever existed," said Jones. "The story is a myth most likely constructed to represent an outbreak of the plague."
Jones has other theories too, including the pagan origins of the figure, possibly as the German god Woden.
To read the entire story, visit the website.
Pied Piper
Interesting, I had always figured it was an allegory for the Children's Crusade. Randy Colby


Average Weather Data for Diamond, Missouri
Monthly Averages
January February March April May June July August September October November December
Average Monthly high in °F: 46° 50° 59° 68° 77° 85° 89° 90° 81° 71° 59° 48°
Average Monthly low in °F: 22° 26° 35° 44° 54° 63° 67° 66° 57° 45° 36° 25°
Yearly Averages
What's The Average High Temp in Diamond? 68.6 °F
What's the Average Low in Diamond? 45 °F
What's the Average Temperature in Diamond? 56.8 °F
How Many Inches of Rain per year does Diamond get? 46.37 inches
How Many Rainy Days a year are there in Diamond? N/A
How Much Sunshine each year is there in Diamond (in hours)? N/A
How much, if any, snow falls each year in Diamond? 6 inches
Diamond Temperature and Rain Graphs
Average high in °F
Average low in °F
Average precipitation in inches


Does Charles Manson Have Any Children?
Charles Manson had a son who goes by the name Charles Manson Jr. He was born in March 1956. His wife was Rosalie Willis, who was a waitress.
Q&A Related to "Does Charles Manson Have Any Children?"
Most are near or over the age of 60. Nearing retirement age. Some are still in prison.
Charles Manson is a well known criminal who formed his own type of cult, the "Manson Family". This group of people are responsible for several violent murders. Look here
I think he ate them.
Charles Manson is at Corcoran State Prison in California where he is serving a life sentence. He is now 74 years old. This August marked the 40th anniversary of the Manson killings.
Explore this Topic
Charles Manson had a son, Charles Manson, Jr., who committed suicide in 1993. He was in his late 30's when he died. He likely had other children from...
Charles Dickens had ten children namely: Charles Culliford Dickens, Mary Dickens, Kate Macready Dickens, Walter Savage Landor Dickens, Francis Jeffrey Dickens,...
Charles Darwin was a British naturalist and is famous for introducing the theory of evolution. He had ten children two of whom died while still infants. The other...


text:
Identifying cortical and subcortical sites responsible for the divergent sympathetic responses to long-lasting muscle pain
This NHMRC-funded project aims to identify areas of the brain involved in the divergent sympathetic responses to long-lasting muscle pain, induced by a one-hour intramuscular infusion of hypertonic saline. This mimics some of the early physiological changes seen in the development of chronic pain, and we are trying to identify why certain individuals show a sustained increase in muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) – recorded via a fine microelectrode inserted into a nerve at the side of the knee – while others show a sustained decrease. These patterns are consistent over time, and cannot be explained by sex, or baseline MSNA, blood pressure, anxiety levels or attitudes to pain. By recording MSNA at the same time as performing functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) of the brain we have identified, in a previous NHMRC-funded project, the cortical and subcortical sites involved in the generation of MSNA and the control of blood pressure. Here we are trying to identify how a constant sensory input (muscle pain) causes two divergent patterns of sympathetic response: an increase in MSNA and blood pressure in some individuals and a decrease in others. We shall also be comparing these changes during experimental muscle pain with those produced by a model of chronic pain: 7 days of muscle pain produced by repeated episodes of eccentric leg exercise.


Statistical Capacity score (Overall average) in Serbia was reported at 88.89 in 2020, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Serbia - Overall level of statistical capacity (scale 0 - 100) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2021.
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 serbia overall level of statistical capacity scale 0 100 wb data
The Statistical Capacity Indicator is a composite score assessing the capacity of a country's statistical system. It is based on a diagnostic framework assessing the following areas: methodology; data sources; and periodicity and timeliness. Countries are scored against 25 criteria in these areas, using publicly available information and/or country input. The overall Statistical Capacity score is then calculated as a simple average of all three area scores on a scale of 0-100.
Serbia | World Bank Development Indicators


Synonyms - Verbal Ability Questions and Answers
Synonyms - Verbal Ability Questions and Answers
Learn and Practice "Synonyms - Verbal Ability Questions and Answers" for your competitive exams. These objective type solved questions are provided with a right answer, explanation and examples to help you understand the concepts quickly and easily.
Use of Synonyms Verbal Ability Questions
The objective type questions and examples given in this section will be useful to all the freshers, college students and engineering students preparing for placement tests or any competitive exam like MBA, CAT, MAT, SNAP, MHCET, XAT, NMAT, GATE, Bank exams - IBPS, SBI, RBI, RRB, SSB, SSC, UPSC etc.
Practice with this online test to crack your placement and entrance tests!
Directions: In each of the questions below, choose the word that best expresses the meaning of the given word.
1. Comprehensive
a. partial
b. circumscribe
c. complete
d. definite
Answer: c. complete
Explanation: When something is comprehensive, it is concise and complete. And, something
The words 'partial', 'definite' and 'circumscribe' are antonyms of the word 'comprehensive' as they mean limited.
E.g. The book is comprehensive. It deals with all my problems about the subject.
2. Candid
a. tactful
b. truthful
c. brutish
d. hostile
Answer: b. truthful
Explanation: When something is candid (usually thoughts and opinion), it is truthful, straightforward and frank. In some cases it also means informal or unposed.
The meanings of other words are:
Tactful - thoughtful, careful, etc.
Brutish - wild
Hostile - opposed, hateful, etc.
E.g. His candid opinion was admired by everyone.
3. Explicit
a. obscure
b. careless
c. accurate
d. avoid
Answer: c. accurate
Explanation: Explicit means accurate, correct etc. It also means something which is clear and easy to understand.
Options (a) and (b) are antonyms of the word explicit.
Eg. The trainer gave explicit instructions to take the test.
4. Perpetuate
a. halt
b. neglect
c. maintain
d. let go
Answer: c. maintain
Explanation: When you perpetuate something, you keep it going or continuing.
When you halt, neglect or let go something, you stop or ignore it.
So, options (a), (b) and (d) are antonyms of the word 'Perpetuate'.
E.g. She perpetuated the thoughts of Swami Vivekananda through her books and workshops.
5. Hindrance
a. assistance
b. barrier
c. release
d. sensual
Answer: b. barrier
Explanation: Hindrance means interruption, obstacle, obstruction to something or someone.
Options (a) and (c) are antonyms of the word hindrance.
Option (d) sensual means earthly, unspiritual, etc.
E.g. He wanted to pursue a masters degree, but the high fee charged by the institution was a hindrance.
6. Inferior
a. secondary
b. chief
c. major
d. foremost
Answer: a. secondary
Explanation: Chief, major or foremost refer to things or people with high priority.
Hence, they mean superior and are opposite of the word inferior.
Inferior means lower in rank, position, quality, etc. and hence is secondary.
E.g. These products are inferior in quality.


text:
Note the RAMA is in brackets [ ]
Chapter 587: The Laws Concerning One Who Blew A Shofer in a Pit.
1. One who blew the Shofer inside a pit or a cave, those standing inside the cave or pit are Yotzai (covered). Those who stand outside: If the sound of the Shofer was heard, they are Yotzai. But if they heard the sound of the cave, they are not Yotzai. The same applies if one blows the Shofer inside a large barrel and similar things. If they heard the sound of the Shofer, they are Yotzai. But if they heard the sound of the pit, they are not Yotzai.
2. If one began blowing the Shofer inside a pit and got up outside the pit and completed it, they are Yotzai. Since whatever was heard inside and outside was the sound of the Shofer. [Also the ones originally standing inside the pit are Yotzai.]
3. If one heard part of the Shofer blast in a not valid way (M.B: like part before sunrise) and part of it in a valid way, or if he told the blower when he was in the middle of blowing, "have in mind to be Yotzai me", and when he blows, leaves over the minimum amount of time needed for a Shofer blast, he is not Yotzai. Some say that he is Yotzai if he heard the minimum length of time needed for a blast, in a valid way. [The same applies if he heard part of the Shofer blast and part of the sound of the pit; for example, if the blower was inside a pit and he was standing outside and in the middle of the blast, he went inside the pit.]
Translated by Jay Dinovitser _URL_ 6/23/06


text:
Ornamental crops, which include floriculture and nursery products, have been the fastest growing agricultural sector in North Carolina over the last decade. This colorful and diverse industry accounts for the highest percentage of total crop sales in the state surpassing traditional crops such as tobacco and cotton. North Carolina produced $841million worth of nursery and greenhouse crops in 2002 making it the eighth largest producer of floriculture crops and fifth largest producer of nursery crops in the United States. Floriculture crops include bedding/garden plants, perennials, cut flowers, potted flowering plants, and indoor foliage plants. Nursery crops include shrubs and trees, including broadleaf and coniferous evergreens, deciduous shade and flowering trees, and Christmas trees.
Because the value of ornamental horticulture products is derived from their appearance and size, market expectations for plant quality are very high and tolerances for pest damage are very low. Disease management in ornamental crop production can be extremely difficult. It is not uncommon to have 300 different plant species growing in one nursery. And to a large extent, crop production practices encourage the development and rapid spread of plant diseases. In both nursery and greenhouse production, plants tend to be tightly spaced to maximize the available growing space. Overhead irrigation is also a common practice. Both of these conditions contribute to creating an environment (high humidity, prolonged leaf wetness, poor light penetration) that is highly conducive to disease development of plant pathogens. Because disease development can be swift under these conditions, rapid diagnosis of plant problems is critical.
Nurseries and greenhouses are not isolated geographically, and the movement of both propagation and finished stock occurs across the globe. Due to this movement of plant material, ornamental crop production in North Carolina is faced with the constant threat of introducing exotic or regulated pathogens into our state on infested plant material or in potting substrates.
Some additional web sites:
More information about disease in ornamentals is availble from the Plant Disease and Insect Clinic.


text:
What is difference between drug use and drug abuse?
3 Answers | Add Yours
The difference between drug use and drug abuse is that drug use is infrequent and drug abuse is constant.
Basically, the difference between use and abuse is degree. Any drug use can turn into abuse if the user becomes dependent. Drug dependency means that the person cannot live without the drug. This is when a person is said to be abusing the drug. Some drugs are very addictive, and drug use quickly turns into drug abuse. However, even just using a drug can be dangerous. One does not have to abuse a drug to have serious health consequences.
Drug use is not as frequent as drug abuse. When a person abuses drugs they use it too often, and too much.
Drug use is different because people use it when they're sick or in need of drugs or if it is the case of bad drugs such as meth then that is a different story. But if a person abuses drugs they use it way too often and way too much and get an overdose
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Calc Builder Support
Calc Builder support
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Help making a calculator 21.01.2020 14:43
I'm in doubt how to make a calculator.
need to convert a unit of weight (kg) into caloric weight, as follows:
if weight is <10kg = caloric weight is: weight x 1
if the weight is> 10kg and <20kg = (weight - 10) x 0.5 + 10
if weight is> 20 = (weight - 15) x 0.2 + 15
weight: ( form )
caloric weight: ( result )
result example 1:
Weight: 7kg
Caloric Weight : 7kg
result example 2:
Weight: 15kg
Caloric Weight : 12,5kg
result example 3:
Weight: 35kg
Caloric Weight : 18kg
Re: Help making a calculator 22.01.2020 08:55
first you need to create your input fields, in this case weight, that you will receive at the code section as $weight. Then you can write your math at the code section and introduce the result into your variable (if you call it'result', then you need to fill the $result variable, for ex):
For your case you also need to use 'if' clauses, so you can check the proper syntax here:
In order to build this kind of code
if($weight<10) {
And finally, you can write your result at the output section with
Hope this helps, regards
Moonsoft Team
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text:
square wave images
This is the output of a 1 kHz square wave on an oscilloscope. Only the tops and bottoms of the waves are displayed, because the rising and falling is faster than the scope is set for.
Computer Desktop Encyclopedia THIS DEFINITION IS FOR PERSONAL USE ONLY
All other reproduction is strictly prohibited without permission from the publisher.
Copyright © _PHONE_ by Computer Language Company Inc. All rights reserved.
More square wave images
Learn more about square wave


text:
Low Fertility, Socioeconomic Development, and Gender Equity
While new empirical findings and theoretical frameworks provide insight into the interrelations between socioeconomic development, gender equity, and low fertility, puzzling exceptions and outliers in these findings call for a more all‐encompassing framework to understand the interplay between these processes. We argue that the pace and onset of development are two important factors to be considered when analyzing gender equity and fertility. Within the developed world, "first‐wave developers"—or countries that began socioeconomic development in the nineteenth/early twentieth century—currently have much higher fertility levels than "late developers." We lay out a novel theoretical approach to explain why this is the case and provide empirical evidence to support our argument. Our approach not only explains historical periods of low fertility but also sheds light on why there exists such large variance in fertility rates among today's developed countries.
No Supplementary Data
No Article Media
Document Type: Research Article
Publication date: September 1, 2015


text: Using data on the firms' voluntary disclosures from the Korea Stock Exchange from 2011 to 2014, we first empirically examine the association between voluntary disclosure and information asymmetry and then investigate the extent to which this association is affected by accruals quality since Korea adopted International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) in 2011. We use Comprix et al. (2011) and Shin and Park (2014)'s measures of information asymmetry. They are daily stock return volatility (VOLA) and trading volume turnover (VOL). We use the Dechow et al.'s (1995) revised Jones model and the Kothari et al.'s (2005) performance matched discretionary accrual model to measure the discretionary accruals. The absolute values of discretionay accruals are used as proxies for accruals quality. Final research samples with voluntary disclosure for this study are 1,226 (firms-years) companies. The research findings generally support our hypotheses. First, the relation between voluntary disclosure and information asymmetry is statistically and significantly positive as we have expected. The Korean companies with high voluntary disclosure would experience higher daily stock return volatility and less trading volume, which implies that companies tend to disclose biased information to the outside, which is consistent with prior studies in Korea. Second, the accruals quality (moderating variable) on the relation between voluntary disclosure and information asymmetry is statistically and significantly negative. Thus, we can conclude that when accruals quality is high, more voluntary disclosure decreases information asymmetry. These findings imply that accruals quality works as a mechanism in reducing the negative effect of voluntary disclosure on information asymmetry after the adoption of IFRS in Korea. The limitation of this study is such that we might not have considered other omitted variables and other proxies for the accruals quality, voluntary disclosure, and information asymmetry.


text:
People frequently use fluctuating string in AdS black hole (see 1,2,3 etc) to study dynamics of a "free external quark" in quark-gluon-plasma (QGP) at finite temperature. The background black hole geometry induces a black hole in the string world sheet. Many interesting results about the boundary theory can be obtained, at least qualitatively, just studying the Nambu-Goto action.
My question is : Why do people usually choose just one of the transverse spatial directions along which the world sheet can fluctuate? Suppose there is a background magnetic field in addition. Shouldn't one need at least two spatial directions for the world sheet to fluctuate to observe/study its effect on the "quark"?
This post imported from StackExchange Physics at 2015-11-09 19:45 (UTC), posted by SE-user pinu


text:
Animals & comic scenes
Other popular themes in Victorian Christmas cards are birds and animals, often depicted in amusing ways, and comic scenes. Dogs, cats, and songbirds were regular subjects in Victorian cards, as they are today. However, the use of frogs, rats, mice, and insects in Christmas cards has declined over the years.
Comic cards usually present situations involving winter scenes, Christmas customs, or politics and current events. While some still amuse us, others treated topics of a less enduring nature and now tend to baffle us.


text:
Ground Water Program
Sources of high quality ground water underlie virtually all
of Florida. Ninety percent of this state's population relies
on these ground water resources for their drinking water.
Additionally, over 50% of all other water needs including
agricultural, industry, mining, and electric power
generation are supplied by ground water resources. Ground
water also serves as the source for Florida's many springs
and provides a significant input to many of Florida's lakes
In DEP, responsibility for ground water is distributed
throughout the agency, but ground water quality on a
regional scale is addressed in two programs, the Aquifer
Protection and Ground Water Management Programs.
The Ground Water Management
Program is responsible for evaluating and addressing
ground water resources that adversely affect surface water
quality as part of Florida's Watershed Restoration Program.
These activities include conducting assessments of the
interaction of ground water with surface waters that are
impaired, identifying causes of these impairments and
helping to identify actions that can be taken to restore
them. Much of this work focuses on springs, which are among
the most treasured natural resources of the state. Other
responsibilities of this section are to coordinate with
other programs in the development of Florida's Integrated
Water Quality Assessment Report to EPA, manage spring
research and monitoring, provide oversight of agricultural
best management practice ground water monitoring studies,
and participate in evaluations of new pesticides that have
potential ground water impacts.
Ground Water Management activities include:
- Ground Water – Surface Water Interaction & Basin
- Springs Restoration
- Ground Water and Springs Data Management
- Agrichemical Effects – Pesticides & Best
Management Practices (BMPs)
The Aquifer Protection Program
is responsible for implementation and support of regulatory
programs affecting ground water. The Department of
Environmental Protection exercises regulatory authority over
ground water quality under Chapter 62-520, F.A.C. In Florida
the ground water standards are equivalent to the drinking
water standards. By definition, a violation of any ground
water standard or criterion constitutes pollution.
Regulatory programs within the Aquifer Protection
Underground Injection Control Program (UIC)
Regulation of Wells
Water Well Construction
Source Water and Wellhead Protection Programs
Ground Water Classes, Standards and Monitoring
Protection of ground water is integrated into many other
Department Programs, including Solid Waste, Phosphogypsum,
Industrial and Domestic Wastewater and Drinking Water. The
following list provides links to some of the most frequently
Where do I go if I need information about:
Ground Water Cleanup Target Levels?
Discharge of Produced Ground Water from any
Non-Contaminated Site Activity?
DEP Document 62-621.300(2), F.A.C.
For additional information on rule and permit
requirements, please contact the Industrial
Wastewater Program at _PHONE_. For specific
sites, please contact the
office covering the area where the proposed
discharge will occur.
What is this tag on my
Water Well Contractors?
My Household Water Well?
Wells that serve public water


Biotechnology Engineering Notes | Syllabus, Reference Books and Important Questions
Biotechnology Engineering Notes: Are you planning to study Biotechnology Engineering course? Notes on Biotechnology Engineering help students apply engineering fundamentals, science, and mathematics to complex engineering problems. Engineering graduates can identify, formulate, and analyze critical questions to reach verified conclusions using these notes. Students will get information about the latest syllabus, reference books, and a list of important questions for Biotechnology Engineering notes.
Students can use research-based knowledge, including analysis, interpretation of data, and experiment designs, to give valid conclusions. Referring to Biotechnology Engineering notes encourages candidates to create, select, and apply suitable techniques and IT tools to intricate activities. Avail subject-wise B.Tech Notes related to Engineering Departments like ECE, CSE, Mech, EEE, Civil, etc. all in one place and plan your preparation according to your requirements.
The article given below helps candidates access the best Biotechnology Engineering notes as per the updated curriculum.
Introduction to Biotechnology Engineering Notes
Biotechnology Engineering is the combined education of biology and engineering for in-depth research and development. It is the field of chemical engineering plus applied biology that includes living things in engineering, technology, and other applications. The program uses various biological processes that involve the study of microorganisms. Students will get the knowledge of antibiotics and a tremendous chance to implement them for different industrial purposes.
Biotechnology Engineering Notes and Study Material PDF Free Download
Notes on Biotechnology Engineering aids students apply to reason informed by the associated knowledge to evaluate societal issues pertinent to engineering training. Interested aspirants can acquire knowledge on the biotechnology fundamentals for a solid base. This pdf enables candidates to understand the latest and emerging concepts of engineering in life sciences. Students can gain information in the domain of biotechnology, aiding their applications in research and industry.
Biotechnology Engineering notes empower students to attain technological know-how by linking interdisciplinary aspects of biotechnology with discipline. Students can refer to and use Biotechnology Engineering notes pdf while preparing for annual and competitive exams.
Biotechnology Engineering Reference Books
Reference books of Biotechnology Engineering are beneficial for B.Tech students of top institutions and universities. These books aid aspirants to find all vital and scoring topics effortlessly. Exam appearing candidates will find these reference books for proper exam preparation.
Practising Biotechnology Engineering reference books thoroughly in a comprehensive manner is useful for students. Here is the list of best-recommended books for the subject:
Book Title Author
Biotech Innovations and Fundamental Rights Roberto Bin and Sara Lorenzon
Biopatent Law: Patent Strategies and Patent Management Andreas Hubel and Thilo Schemlcher
Nanotechnology for Biology and Medicine: At The Building Block Level Gabriel A. Silva and Vladimir Parpura
Biotechnology and Its Applications in Science P.B. Bansal
Molecular Biotechnology: Principles and Applications of Recombinant DNA Jack J Pasternak and Bernard J Glick
Biotechnology: Fundamentals and Applications Purohit and SS
Biotechnology: Applications and Careers Meenakshi Munshi and SK Sopory
Bio-Inspired Nanotechnology: From Surface Analysis to Applications Marc R Knecht and Tiffany R Walsh
Engineering Graphics B Bhattacharyya
Biotechnology Engineering Syllabus
The syllabus for Biotechnology Engineering generally varies from university to university. The best way to start preparing for the Biotechnology Engineering exam is to go through the syllabus and vital topics. It will give a brief idea of what and how to study, a topic-wise breakup of the sections, and how to allot time for each section. Here, students will find a general list of syllabus topics included in the course:
Subjects Topics
Foundation course in Physics Diffraction
Interference by the Division of Wavefront
Fibre Optics
Introduction to Lasers
Inorganic Chemistry Acids and Bases
Chemical Bonding
Life Sciences Histology
Origin of Life
Energy Utilization
Introduction to Computers Introduction to Basics of Computers
Programming using C
Syntax and Programming Codes
Data Storage
Concepts in Biotechnology Introduction to Biotechnology
Plant Cell Structure
Protein Structure and Engineering
Essential in Mathematics Quadratic Forms
Algebra of Matrices
Mean Value Theorems
Partial Derivatives
Electric Sciences Alternating Currents
Properties of Conductor and Insulators
Measuring Instruments
Foundation Course in Organic Chemistry Electronic Displacements
Reactive Intermediates
Microbiology Microbial Growth
Microbes in Human Life
Functional Anatomy
Life Sciences Homeostasis
Coordination and Control
Asexual Reproduction
Bioenergetics Carbohydrates
Biochemical Evolution
Nucleic Acids
Chemical Engineering Chemical Equations
Basic Concepts of Chemical Engineering
The flow of incompressible fluids
Hearts of solution
Cell Biology Cell
Cell Signalling
Structure and Function of Living Cells
Cell Cycle and Division
Enzyme Technology Introduction to Enzymes
Immobilization of Enzyme
Specificity of Enzymes
Molecular Biology Structure of Nucleic Acids
Properties of Nucleic Acids
Gene Mutation
DNA Replication
Animal Biotechnology Introduction to Animal Tissue Culture
Design, Layout, and Equipment of Animal Tissue
Primary Culture
Developmental Biology History and Basic Concepts
Germ Cell Morphongenesis
Plant Tissue Culture Cellular Totipotency
Cell and Suspension Culture
Haploid Culture
Protoplast Culture
List of Biotechnology Engineering Important Questions
Students preparing for the Biotechnology Engineering exam and refer to the list of vital questions stated below. These questions aim to enhance students' understanding and preparation skills.
 1. How can you define the concentration of drugs in human plasma?
 2. Give Norton's Theorem. Explain with Norton's equivalent circuit.
 3. How can one claim the use of biotechnology in developing agriculture processes?
 4. Explain what genetic engineering and its scope is.
 5. Write some points of difference between traditional and biotechnology.
 6. What is the source of the first endonuclease?
 7. What is EFB?
 8. Which compound is used to stain the isolated DNA?
 9. Write an example of a palindromic DNA sequence.
 10. What primers set are required for gene amplification?
 11. Define the process of electrophoresis.
 12. Explain with a suitable diagramDNA recombination.
 13. Write a short note on the recognition sequence.
 14. Define the function of cells.
 15. Differentiate between the properties of insulators and conductors.
Frequently Asked Questions on Biotechnology Engineering Notes
Question 1.
Why should one opt for Biotechnology Engineering as an option of the profession?
Biotechnology Engineering is one of the rapidly growing sectors encompassing the innovative entrepreneurial ecosystem and better academic interface. There is a wide scope for the graduate and post-graduate students to pursue their career in the Biotechnology Engineering field. They can either apply for private sectors or in development centres created by the government.
Question 2.
What kinds of jobs can an individual expect in the Biotechnology field?
Jobs related to the Biotechnology Engineering field are available in both the private and public sectors. One can join research institutes at positions like technical assistants, research assistants, officers, associates, or others. Students can also get into quality and production management divisions of the drug and vaccine industry, food and pharmaceutical industry, and more.
Question 3.
What are some important Biotechnology Engineering questions from an exam point of view?
Students can take a hint from the list of important questions about the difficulty level before appearing for the Biotechnology Engineering exam. Some of the vital questions that students can practice includes:
 - Differentiate between rDNA technology and conventional hybridization.
 - What is the purpose of conventional biotechnology?
 - To which class restriction enzymes belong?
 - Write a short note on microbes in human life.
 - Explain with a diagramplant cell structure.
Question 4.
What are some important subjects in the Biotechnology Engineering course?
There are several subjects that students will study while pursuing Biotechnology Engineering. It includes food microbiology, biochemistry, food packaging technology, bioremediation technology, molecular biology, applied mathematics, electrical sciences, life sciences, and more.
The Biotechnology Engineering Notes and Study Material provided above aim to help students at the time of exam preparations. Candidates can improve their knowledge and understanding of the course while studying for competitive exams. Students can practice the given important questions from the provided Biotechnology Engineering notes.
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Faith is a virtue
Definition of faith and virtue
The meaning of faith, from the same dictionary, can be defined as a trust or belief in something that is not proven. Out of all the definitions of "faith" that exist, the only definition that atheists tend to object to is:
- Accepting a claim as true without sufficient evidence
Often, theists will conflate these multiple definitions interchangeably, sometimes, mid-conversation. It's important to maintain focus on the above definition, as the pertinent one. The problem with the concept of "virtue", as defined, is that it's very subjective. Depending on the definitions, an argument could be made either way as to the virtue of faith.
Theistic Argument for the Virtue of Faith
Using faith in the terms of a belief that does not rest on logical proof or material evidence.
A virtue is a character trait valued as being good. Faith may not fall under the four western cardinal virtues of prudence, temperance, fortitude, and justice, but is still seen as good to Christians based on the following passages:
"Without faith, it is impossible to please God" (Hebrews 11:6)
"Jesus said to him, 'Because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen, and have believed.'" (John 20:29)
"Now abide, faith, hope, love, these three, but the greatest of these is Love." (I Corinthians 13:13)
"For we are living a life of faith, and not one of sight." (2 Corinthians 5:7)
Aquinas believed that (living) faith is a virtue:
"The will can not strive after God in perfect love unless the intellect have true faith toward him."
It is by human virtue that human acts are rendered good; hence, any habit that is always the principle of a good act, may be called a human virtue. Such a habit is living faith. For since to believe is an act of the intellect assenting to the truth at the command of the will, two things are required that this act may be perfect: one of which is that the intellect should infallibly tend to its object, which is the true; while the other is that the will should be infallibly directed to the last end, on account of which it assents to the true: and both of these are to be found in the act of living faith. For it belongs to the very essence of faith that the intellect should ever tend to the true, since nothing false can be the object of faith, as proved above (1, 3): while the effect of charity, which is the form of faith, is that the soul ever has its will directed to a good end. Therefore living faith is a virtue.
"The faith of which we are speaking is based on the Divine Truth, which is infallible, and consequently its object cannot be anything false; so that faith of this kind can be a virtue."
Non-Theistic Argument against the Virtue of Faith
Faith can lead to wrong doing, sometimes faith based humility lead Roman Catholics to be respectful to their priests and to avoid questions about what paedophile priests were doing to their children. Other times faith leads to arrogance as in, "We're superior because of our faith" whichever faith that is and even to, "We have the right to punish those who don't share our faith." Again many faiths take that attitude.
Virtue is established by what results in real, true beliefs. For instance, there's no virtue in believing something if there's no good reason to. It's nearly impossible to make rational and accurate decisions if the beliefs one holds are in error. Exercising skepticism, while discarding faith, can drastically increase how well tuned into reality one is. Accepting things on faith effectively halts investigation, retards progress in learning about how the universe works, and leads people to take actions that an otherwise rational person wouldn't. The Salem Witch Trials, for instance, occurred because a group of people simply accepted accusations of witchcraft as true, instead of skeptically and critically examining the accusations to ensure they actually were true.
Faith has nothing to do with being a good person, being charitable, or being intellectual. The argument for the virtue of faith commits the errors originally pointed out, in that the meaning of faith and virtue are twisted and spun to have multiple loaded meanings, instead of the clearly defined scope of meanings already defined.
To say that faith is a virtue is like saying that error, fallacy, and inhibited critical thinking is a virtue.


10 Reasons Startups Should Start Talking Trash To Save Money, Protect The Planet & Go Green
Shannon Bergstrom March 30, 2020
Today, with the rising awareness of our impact on the planet, more people than ever before are taking an interest in their trash.
Whether it's separating recyclables into the right boxes, cutting down on single-use plastics, or cleaning up a local beach, waste management and recycling are hot topics.
That's why for startups and small businesses, effective waste management is fast becoming the cornerstone of sustainable operation.
Waste management is something that is not only part of a commitment to social responsibility, but that also offers a broad range of benefits that go far beyond the environment.
So, if you're looking for some green business tips we've got you covered.
For startups everywhere, here are 10 reasons you should start talking trash.
1. Protect The Environment
Naturally, the end game of better waste management is to protect the environment and build more sustainable economies.
Startups and small businesses committed to this type of approach are in good company as consumers become increasingly concerned with environmental issues.
Doing everything you can to reduce your environmental impact will not only give you a clean conscience but will also ensure that your customers can buy from you without fear of making the problem worse than it already is.
2. Reduce Costs
Among the most compelling reasons for startups to reduce waste is the potential cost reductions it can offer.
Put simply, less waste generated means less waste hauled away, something which can reduce expenses over longer periods of time.
Whether cutting down on waste during the manufacturing process or simply ditching single-use plastics in the office, the less waste you generate, the less you will have to spend on removing it.
3. Earn Money For Nothing
Today, there's a huge range of startups that focus on products made from waste.
Whether it's sneakers made from ocean plastic or beer brewed from stale bread, reusing discarded materials gives startups a chance to make cash from trash.
Using a waste product as the foundation of your new product means less outlay on raw materials, and in most cases, waste is abundant enough to be collected for free.
4. Champion Innovative Products
Processing waste products to make new products also has another advantage; it gives your startup the opportunity to champion innovation.
Recycled plastic, wood, and textiles are just some of the materials that can be used in new and exciting ways. There's almost no limit on the types of waste that can be processed into new products.
5. Work In Healthier Spaces
Healthy offices and factories are crucial to keeping staff working to their full potential. Billions of dollars are lost each year to sickness, and often, the places in which people work are part of the problem.
Implementing efficient waste management practices can help remove harmful waste, reduce the potential for disease-carrying pests, and generally improve the atmosphere and air quality of any space.
It also helps workers who aren't sick to concentrate better and generally be more productive while working.
6. Boost Employee Morale
Your employees are the foundation of your success, so ensuring they are fully on board with your vision is important across all aspects of your business.
Engaging staff with your recycling initiatives and waste management operations can have a number of surprising benefits.
Staff will take more pride in their workspace, will feel as though they are contributing to the solution rather than the problem, and by implementing outreach schemes to reduce, reuse, and recycle, will be able to engage with the local community too.
7. Bring A Garden To Life
If you're lucky enough to have a little green space to call your own, then you can easily set up a compost pile and deal with all of your recycling initiatives.
By keeping this waste onsite, you save haulage fees and also the time and energy required to separate organic materials for proper recycling.
Particularly for restaurants or food-based startups, your vibrant garden can also serve as a natural source of food or other materials that will help you to build a truly sustainable business.
A garden is much more than just something nice to look at, it can also be a recycling hub and a resource generator at the same time!
8. Ensure Compliance
As governments catch on to both the environmental and financial costs of waste management, they are introducing increasingly stringent regulations designed to make businesses more accountable.
This means that to operate within any given municipality, your startup may need to be your recycling initiatives.
Managing waste effectively is often at the top of the list, and ensuring you are recycling and disposing of any waste in the correct way will ensure you avoid fines and possible loss of license.
It will also prepare you better for the next wave of regulations.
9. Boost Brand Image
As consumers are now more engaged than ever before with sustainability issues, boosting your brand image through recycling and sustainable waste management is another significant benefit.
Increasingly, consumers are looking to how you source your materials, whether a product is recyclable or not, and what happens to the waste you create.
Providing transparent reports on these, and other elements, will boost your brand image and help build trust with your customer base.
It can also help push your business above the crowd with consumers that are only too happy to choose a sustainable brand over a conventional brand.
10. Give Something Back
Faceless corporations are so last century. Today, startups and small businesses are all about giving something back to the local communities they operate in.
Perhaps a little surprisingly, this can also be your trash. Donating old equipment, furniture, and even your recycling initiatives is the ideal way to reduce waste and boost your brand—both locally and nationally.
Local outreach programs are another great idea, bringing people together to deal with waste generated by your company, surrounding companies, and the community at large.
Over To You
Today, raising awareness of the trash generated by businesses is crucial to addressing society's wider waste management issues.
Startups have a real opportunity to pave the way towards a more sustainable economy, and by building more robust waste management systems, businesses can both benefit themselves and the environment.
We hope these green business tips will help you get started!
ebook cta
Shannon Bergstrom
Shannon Bergstrom Manager at Recycle Track Systems
Shannon is a LEED-accredited, TRUE waste advisor at RTS, a tech-driven waste and recycling management company. As a sustainability operations manager, Shannon helps businesses use sustainable waste practices to reduce costs and protect the planet.


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Voices of the Poor
A multicountry research initiative to understand poverty through the eyes of the poor, the Voices of the Poor project was undertaken to inform the World Bank's activities and the World Development Report 2000/2001. It provides a unique and detailed picture of life of the poor and explains the constraints they face in a way that more traditional survey techniques do not capture well. Each volume demonstrates the importance of voice and power in poor people's definition of poverty. The consultation involved 23 countries, reaching 200 communities and 20,000 people.


What's new
P1.T4.905. Gross versus net bond returns, bond spread and bond yield (Tuckman Ch. 3)
Nicole Seaman
Director of FRM Operations
Staff member
Learning objectives: Distinguish between gross and net realized returns, and calculate the realized return for a bond over a holding period including reinvestments. Define and interpret the spread of a bond, and explain how a spread is derived from a bond price and a term structure of rates. Define, interpret, and apply a bond's yield-to-maturity (YTM) to bond pricing.
905.1. On June 1st, 2018, Jack borrowed the entire purchase price to buy a bond with a price of $103.20 which matures on November 30th, 2019. The bond pays a semi-annual coupon with a coupon rate of 5.50% per annum; this bond can be referred to as "5 1/2 of November 30, 2019." On November 30, 2018, the price of the bond was $106.90. At that time, Jack collected the coupon and sold the bond. His borrowing rate was 40 basis points per annum. Compound frequency is semi-annual to match the coupon cash flows (consistent with the entirely of Tuckman). What was Jack's net realized return?
a. 6.050%
b. 8.715%
c. Infinite due to 100% financing
d. Cannot solve because we need the bond's full/flat price at time of sale
905.2. Let the two-year term structure of zero rates include the following four spot rates: 1.0% @ 0.5 years, 2.0% @ 1.0, 3.0% @ 1.5, and 4.0% @ 2.0 years. Using these discount rates, the price of a two-year $100.00 face value bond with 4.0% coupon rate is $100.10 (see blue cell) as shown in the exhibit below, where $100.10 is the sum of four discounted cash flows:
Assume the term structure above (i.e., 1.0% @ 0.5 years, 2.0% @ 1.0, 3.0% @ 1.5, and 4.0% @ 2.0 years) remains valid, but a different bond trades at a price of only $95.12. Which of the following is nearest to this bond's spread?
a. 30 basis points
b. 90 basis points
c. 140 basis points
d. 270 basis points
905.3. Peter paid $93.40 to purchase a bond on June 1st, 2018; the bond pays a semi-annual coupon with a coupon rate of 3.0% per annum and matures in 10.0 years on June 1st, 2028. One year later, on June 1st, 2019, the bond's yield is unchanged; aka, unchanged yield assumption. Peter can reinvest his received coupons at a rate of 4.0% per annum. If Peter were to sell the bond on June 1st, 2019, which of the following is nearest to his gross realized return over the one year period since he purchased the bond?
a. -1.09%
b. 2.50%
c. 3.84%
d. 4.11%
Answers here:
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