text:
About Optum
Blog Policies, Guidelines and Disclaimers
CMS Issues WCMSA Reference Guide
April 1, 2013 by Settlement Solutions
On March 29, 2013, CMS issued its first ever WCMSA Reference Guide. To view and download a copy of the guide, please click here.
At the beginning of this 88 page guide, CMS states that the guide was written to ". . . help you understand CMS' Workers' Compensation Medicare Set-Aside Arrangement amount approval process and to serve as a reference for those electing to submit such proposals to CMS for approval."
The guide appears to reflect information compiled from previously issued WCMSA Regional Office Memorandums issued by CMS, and information provided on the CMS WCMSA website. Therefore, the vast majority of the information contained within the guide is not new and rather is more of a compilation of previously issued guidance into one document.
However, PMSI has noted a few minor interesting items included within the WCMSA Reference guide:
WCMSA Portal: CMS has included information relevant to the online WCMSAP online portal. This portal is not new and has existed since November of 2011; however, it appears to be the first time in which CMS has issued formal guidance around the portal since it was initially introduced (see section 9.1 for more information on the WCMSA portal).
List of WCRC Review Reference Tools: CMS has provided a list of review reference tools used by the WCRC (the WCRC is instructed to utilize these tools when reviewing a proposed WCMSA). While a list of the reference tools is helpful, one of the items that would have been very beneficial to have been included within this guide would be an updated set of Operating Rules (see top of page 44). The last time these Operating Rules were updated was April 22, 2010, and they were published under the prior WCRC contractor. Therefore, an updated set of Operating Rules would provide insight as to how the new WCRC contractor might review WCMSAs differently than the prior contractor. This would be great assistance to submitters of WCMSAs currently trying to track the allocating trends of the new contractor.
WCMSAs not meeting CMS Review Threshold: The guide states that ". . . if an individual's WC settlement does not meet the current workload review thresholds, CMS will not issue responses indicating that the review criteria have not been met." In the past, CMS has verbally stated that they will no longer issue "Does Not Meet Threshold" (DNMT) letters; however, in PMSI's experience CMS has continued to issue these letters nonetheless. Regardless, CMS does still maintain the following: "These thresholds are created based on CMS' workload, and are not intended to indicate that claimants may settle below the threshold with impunity. Claimants must still consider Medicare's interests in all WC cases and ensure that Medicare pays secondary to WC in such cases" (see section 8.1).
Independent Medical Evaluations (IMEs): The guide also provides further insight as to CMS' view of IME records. The guide states that an IME opinion may be sufficient under certain circumstances, e.g., the claimant has not received treatment in several years and there is no primary care physician (see section 10.1.7). However, under the Do Not Submit section the guide states that IME evaluations are not treatment records, but they may be appropriate to determine future treatment requirements under certain circumstances; however they are not appropriate as medical records. This information regarding IME opinions is not new either; however, it does provide further clarification regarding CMS' view/deference to IME opinions when reviewing proposed WCMSA allocations.
In summary, the WCMSA Reference Guide is a great reference tool which combines previously issued guidance from CMS into one document; however, the guide does not seem to provide any new insight into the current WCMSA process. PMSI is hopeful that CMS will continue to revise the WCMSA Reference Guide as updates from CMS arise. Within these future updates, PMSI hopes to see a more comprehensive set of WCRC Operating Rules as well as adding an appeals process to WCMSA submissions to create greater visibility and fairness into the WCMSA approval process.
Categories Medicare Secondary Payer (MSP), Medicare Set-Asides (MSAs), News BulletinsTags CMS, Medicare, Medicare Secondary Payer Act, Medicare Set-Aside, MSA, MSP, Provider Resources, WCMSA, workers' compensation, Workers' Compensation MSA, Workers' Compensation Review Contractor	Post navigation
Connecticut Decision Demonstrates Scattered Opinions with Regard to MSP Compliance in Liability Settlements
CMS to Host a WCMSA Teleconference
Visit OWCA's Website
Conditional Payments
Mandatory Insurer Reporting (MIR)
Medicare Secondary Payer (MSP)
Medicare Set-Asides (MSAs)
Questions? Ask the Experts!
MedicareInsights.com is the only blog with integrated medical, pharmacy, claims and legal expertise to help support MSP compliance.
Click below to send your question to the experts. Please be sure to include your name, title, and company.
Archives Select Month April 2019 (4) March 2019 (3) February 2019 (3) January 2019 (3) December 2018 (4) November 2018 (4) October 2018 (3) September 2018 (1) August 2018 (2) July 2018 (2) May 2018 (2) April 2018 (3) March 2018 (3) February 2018 (1) January 2018 (2) December 2017 (1) October 2017 (3) September 2017 (2) August 2017 (2) July 2017 (2) May 2017 (1) April 2017 (1) March 2017 (3) January 2017 (2) November 2016 (1) October 2016 (5) August 2016 (1) July 2016 (2) June 2016 (3) May 2016 (5) April 2016 (2) March 2016 (4) February 2016 (4) December 2015 (4) November 2015 (4) October 2015 (4) September 2015 (3) August 2015 (2) July 2015 (6) June 2015 (3) May 2015 (3) April 2015 (4) March 2015 (3) February 2015 (6) January 2015 (7) December 2014 (3) November 2014 (7) October 2014 (5) September 2014 (5) August 2014 (6) July 2014 (3) June 2014 (2) May 2014 (2) April 2014 (2) March 2014 (4) February 2014 (4) January 2014 (3) December 2013 (4) November 2013 (2) October 2013 (3) September 2013 (3) August 2013 (5) July 2013 (4) June 2013 (5) May 2013 (4) April 2013 (7) March 2013 (4) February 2013 (3) January 2013 (3) December 2012 (3) November 2012 (3) October 2012 (3) September 2012 (3) August 2012 (6) July 2012 (3) June 2012 (5) May 2012 (6) April 2012 (6) March 2012 (4) February 2012 (4) January 2012 (6) December 2011 (7) November 2011 (5) October 2011 (8) September 2011 (7) August 2011 (5) July 2011 (6) June 2011 (8) May 2011 (7) September 2010 (1) June 2010 (1)
© 2020 MedicareInsights • Powered by GeneratePress


Drew Brees hooked up with Jimmy Graham for a 44-yard touchdown. Graham celebrated by dunking on the goalpost and breaking it. Um, this is a first.
The game was briefly delayed as they bent it back in place. Graham was not given a penalty.


After graduating with a BFA in sculpture concentrating in clay modeling from life, I taught myself woodworking and more recently cold working of sheet metal. The common element in my current work is a hand carved wooden form to which I piece, dap, and nail or screw a closely fitted metal surface. I use tin, pewter, copper, rusted steel, galvanized steel, aluminum, bottle caps, and antique painted tins for the surface.


text:
Member injured in road accident backs Unite calls to remove 'whiplash proposals'
A Unite member who suffered whiplash when another vehicle drove into the back of him has received just over £4,000 in damages as result of legal support. He has called for the government to scrap proposals that would leave nearly a million people injured like him without the right to free, independent legal advice.
Paul Pearce was waiting in his car at a pedestrian crossing on High Street in Royal Wootton Bassett when another car accelerated into the back of him, causing his car to shunt forward and Paul to suffer a whiplash to his neck, shoulder and lower back.
The 54-year-old, who works as a heavy goods vehicle (HGV) driver, visited hospital later that day where it was found that he had pulled muscles in his neck and back. His injuries meant that he had to have six weeks off work and he still requires physiotherapy more than a year after the accident happened.
Paul contacted his union, Unite, to look into a claim for compensation. Through Unite Legal Services, he was awarded £4,062.25 plus additional settlements for credit hire charges and physiotherapy.
Paul had free independent legal advice to help him get full compensation, yet government proposals to increase the small claims limit from £1,000 to £5,000 would see people injured like him either having to take on insurers' lawyers themselves or pay out of their compensation for legal support.
He said: "I still find it difficult playing golf, which has been a hobby of mine for years, and general housework became a lot more difficult in the months after I suffered the injury.
"The idea that whiplash isn't a real injury is a joke. If that's the case why did the insurers for the other driver pay compensation to me? They clearly accepted I wasn't swinging the lead which they know, and I know, I wasn't.
"If Unite Legal Services had not been there to help me I don't know what I would have done - taking on insurers and their lawyers on my own would have been a nightmare."
Stuart Davies, South West regional legal officer at Unite the Union, said: "To dismiss Paul's injury as part of a 'compensation culture' is not only an insult to him, but to anyone who has suffered like him.
"Thankfully, Paul's union membership meant that he was able to receive full compensation with no deductions, which is right considering this accident wasn't his fault at all and had a big impact on his work and personal life. The government siding with the insurers to get them even more money and taking away injured people's rights will have a huge impact on workers across the UK."
Read the latest news relating to: Road traffic accident claims
Unite member receives compensation after being knocked off her bike
Unite member secures £1 million settlement after road accident
A guide to claiming compensation after a cycling accident
See our members' stories relating to: Road traffic accident claims
Thomas P's story
Alan Y's Story
Peter D's Story

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Windows.Data;
using FluentAssertions;
using Metrolib.Converters;
using NUnit.Framework;

namespace Metrolib.Test.Converters
{
	[TestFixture]
	public sealed class UInt32ListToStringConverterTest
		: AbstractListToStringConverterTest<UInt32>
	{
		private UInt32ListToStringConverter _converter;

		[OneTimeSetUp]
		public void OneTimeSetUp()
		{
			_converter = new UInt32ListToStringConverter();
		}

		[Test]
		public void TestConvert1()
		{
			_converter.Convert(new UInt32[] {}, null, null, null).Should().Be("");
		}

		[Test]
		public void TestConvert2()
		{
			_converter.Convert(new UInt32[] { 1 }, null, null, null).Should().Be("1");
		}

		[Test]
		public void TestConvert3()
		{
			_converter.Convert(new UInt32[] { 1, 3 }, null, null, null).Should().Be("1, 3");
		}

		[Test]
		public void TestConvert4()
		{
			_converter.Convert(new UInt32[] { 1, 2, 3 }, null, null, null).Should().Be("1-3");
		}

		[Test]
		public void TestConvert5()
		{
			_converter.Convert(new UInt32[] { 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11 }, null, null, null).Should().Be("1-3, 5, 8-11");
		}

		[Test]
		public new void TestConvertBack1()
		{
			var values = _converter.ConvertBack("1", typeof(IEnumerable<UInt32>), null, null) as IEnumerable<UInt32>;
			values.Should().BeEquivalentTo(new UInt32[] {1});
		}

		[Test]
		public new void TestConvertBack2()
		{
			var values = _converter.ConvertBack("1, 2", typeof(IEnumerable<UInt32>), null, null) as IEnumerable<UInt32>;
			values.Should().BeEquivalentTo(new UInt32[] { 1, 2 });
		}

		[Test]
		public new void TestConvertBack3()
		{
			var values = _converter.ConvertBack("1-5", typeof(IEnumerable<UInt32>), null, null) as IEnumerable<UInt32>;
			values.Should().BeEquivalentTo(new UInt32[] {1, 2, 3, 4, 5});
		}

		public static IEnumerable<string> UnfinishedInputs
		{
			get
			{
				return new[]
				{
					"1,",
					"1, ",
					"1 ,",
					"1 ,\t",
					"1-10,",
					"1,3-",
					"1-",
					"1 -",
					"2 - "
				};
			}
		}

		[Test]
		public void TestConvertBack4([ValueSource(nameof(UnfinishedInputs))] string unfinishedInput)
		{
			var values = _converter.ConvertBack(unfinishedInput, typeof(IEnumerable<UInt32>), null, null);
			values.Should().Be(Binding.DoNothing, "because the user isn't finished typing");
		}

		protected override IValueConverter Converter
		{
			get { return _converter; }
		}
	}
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Progress report: Albuquerque neighborhood among many tricky for 2020 census in NM
Web Admin2019-07-29T13:21:01-06:00Human Rights/Civic Participation News Coverage, News Coverage, Racial and Ethnic Equity News Coverage|
"The big challenges in those areas are connecting to the folks who we know are likely to be undercounted," said Amber Wallin, deputy director of New Mexico Voices for Children. "So people who may be poor or housing-insecure can be a real challenge in those areas, especially in communities that are changing."
Air Force facing lawsuit over Kirtland fuel cleanup
Web Admin2019-06-06T14:41:51-06:00Health News Coverage, Human Rights/Civic Participation News Coverage, News Coverage|
"Laws exist in the U.S. for people to take action when they feel that the government is failing to protect human health and resources," says Douglas Meiklejohn, New Mexico Environmental Law Center Executive Director.
Ready for Census 2020?
Web Admin2019-04-03T09:43:15-06:00Economic Security News Coverage, Education News Coverage, Health News Coverage, Human Rights/Civic Participation News Coverage, News Coverage, Racial and Ethnic Equity News Coverage|
The nonprofit New Mexico Voices For Children recently issued a news release that cites an estimate that the feds will have as much as a $1 billion shortfall to pay for the count, along with the dire prediction that "Trump's underfunding … is likely to hurt NM."
Eye on New Mexico: Improving the lives of children
Web Admin2019-03-15T12:06:35-06:00Economic Security News Coverage, Education News Coverage, Health News Coverage, Human Rights/Civic Participation News Coverage, Kids Count News Coverage, News Coverage, Racial and Ethnic Equity News Coverage, Tax and Budget News Coverage|
Hosts Chris Ramirez and Nathan O'Neal discussed what's in store for New Mexico's children. From the 2020 census to the bills working through the Roundhouse right now, there are many impacts on the future generations. Featured on the show are James Jimenez and Amber Wallin with New Mexico Voices for Children.
Child advocates offer voters info on candidate positions
Web Admin2018-10-23T12:31:36-06:00Blog Posts, Human Rights/Civic Participation Blog, Human Rights/Civic Participation News Coverage, News Coverage|
Election issues are at the very heart of the values that matter most to us and our families – educating our children; improving our communities; and protecting our rights, safety and the world around us.
Children's Advocacy Focus Of Voter Info Website
Web Admin2018-09-06T12:10:42-06:00Education News Coverage, Health News Coverage, Human Rights/Civic Participation News Coverage, Kids Count News Coverage, News Coverage, Racial and Ethnic Equity News Coverage|
Pediatric society president Brian Etheridge said it's a resource for voters to hear from candidates on more detailed questions. "What we're trying to do is draw attention to various issues that obviously affect children," Etheridge said.
Website quizzes governor, Congress and Land Office candidates on child well-being
"Unfortunately, children are not necessarily a topic of conversation when it comes to elections. People talk about jobs and the economy, which are all very important to child well-being, but there are other issues and we wanted to get some of those out there," said Sharon Kayne, communications director for NM Voices.
Underfunded, undercounted: New Mexico at risk in the 2020 census
Web Admin2018-08-03T12:51:13-06:00Economic Security News Coverage, Health News Coverage, Human Rights/Civic Participation News Coverage, News Coverage, Racial and Ethnic Equity News Coverage|
"That means that New Mexico will receive fewer Medicaid dollars, fewer SNAP dollars, fewer Title 1 grants for schools, less money for our school lunch program, and less funding for Head Start," said Amber Wallin, deputy director of New Mexico Voices for Children.
Advocate Says Election Could Bring More Help For Rural N.M. Kids
Sharon Kayne2018-06-26T12:26:47-06:00Human Rights/Civic Participation News Coverage, News Coverage|
"Everyone says that our children are our most important asset, but it doesn't really mean much if you're not putting your votes behind the programs that really make a difference," he said.
Youth Organizations Oppose the Administration Ending DACA
The future of nearly 800,000 young people is under threat as President Donald Trump phases out the program giving work permits and deportation relief to Dreamers, young immigrants brought to the United States as children. No new applications will be accepted, the administration announced today. Young people will lose their DACA status as soon as their permits, which are granted for two years, expire. Some youth-led organizations shifted into high gear to protest, and some youth-serving organizations have rallied to the defense of young immigrants
InstagramFacebookFlickr


If you currently are a senior in high school, whether traditionally schooled or homeschooled, or have graduated from high school or earned your GED but have not enrolled in a regular session at any college or university, this information is for you. International students should see information under the International Student link.
Contact our Office of Recruitment at (580) 327-8546 or email recruit@nwosu.edu with questions.
This event will provide an opportunity to you as an incoming freshman to connect to your campus and the Alva community early!
Take advantage of attending Freshman Funday in July to get a head start on completing the paperwork needed before the first day of classes. Register at the link above if planning to attend.
Freshman Orientation on the Saturday prior to the first day of school in August is a required event for all freshmen. If you have decided to take summer classes, we'll see you in May, June and/or July.
Standards for admission to Northwestern are established by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education and are based on performance and curricular requirements.
The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education have established high school curricular and performance requirements for admission to programs leading to baccalaureate degrees. Students who graduate from an accredited high school and meet both the curricular and performance criteria are eligible for admission. All first-time freshmen must also have an ACT score on file in the Registrar's Office.
These items will show proof of immunization for certain diseases. See more information in our Immunization Policy. We won't be able to make a room assignment in University Housing until we receive your Immunization information.
Take the right courses in high school (see Criteria You'll Need to Meet above).
Register for the ACT at www.act.org. Northwestern is a national testing site.
If you're planning to attend Northwestern, you may take the Residual ACT exam on campus through our Academic Success Center.
Register for the SAT at https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat/register. Northwestern's code is 6493.
Visit with a member of the Office of Recruitment - (580) 327-8546 or recruit@nwosu.edu or see us a local College Fair.
Register for and attend Ranger Preview when you're a senior to learn more about Northwestern and qualify for a $600 scholarship just for attending! Here you will fill out an Application for Admission ($15 fee waived at Ranger Preview) and a scholarship application.
Register for a campus tour to see what life could be like as a Ranger if unable to attend Ranger Preview.
Register for college classes as a concurrent student during your junior or senior year.
Complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form between January 1 and March 1 for best consideration. Students must complete a FAFSA form every year to continue receiving aid. Northwestern's FAFSA code is 003163.
If you plan to attend Northwestern in the fall, register online for Freshman Connection so you can enroll early for the fall semester.
If you miss Freshman Connection, contact the Office of Recruitment to schedule an enrollment session.
Check into taking the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) subject exams through our Academic Success Center.
(You've done the research, you've visited the campus, and now you're ready to take that next step to become a Northwestern Oklahoma State University Ranger and proudly wear the Red and Black.
1. Apply Online and pay the $15 application fee by credit or debit card.
2. OR Fill out a paper application and return to the Registry Office, 709 Oklahoma Blvd., Alva, OK 73717, with the $15 application fee. If you want to pay with a credit card, you can call the Business Office at (580) 327-8534. (Application fees and dorm deposits are the only things you can pay for by phone or in person with a credit card in the Business Office).
3. Fill out the Immunization Records Form and Hepatitis B Statement (See Northwestern's Immunization Policy).
4. Send your current high school transcript to the Registrar's Office, 709 Oklahoma Blvd, Alva, OK 73717, and upon your graduation, we'll need an official copy of your final high school transcript that includes your graduation date, GPA and rank.
5. Submit official ACT or SAT scores to the Registrar's Office (if you did not have them sent directly to Northwestern upon taking these tests). Web scores will not be accepted.
6. Apply for scholarships by May 15 (best if returned by March 31).
What is the deadline to apply for admission?
If you are a United States citizen or United States permanent resident you can apply up until classes begin for the semester you wish to attend. We encourage you to apply as soon as possible as some of the other applications such as Scholarships, Financial Aid and Student Housing have deadlines, and awards are dependent upon being admitted. Please see Paying for College and Living on Campus for more information.
1. Send your final transcript to the Registrar's Office, 709 Oklahoma Blvd., Alva, OK 73717.
2. Fill out the online Scholarship Application before May 15th (best if returned by March 31) to apply for academic and participation scholarships.
3. Apply for Housing/Meal Contract from the Living on Campus web page.
Your first chance to enroll is in April at Freshman Connection, a day created just for you! Your parents are welcome to tag along because we have a special time devoted to them as well. Please register by clicking the link provided.
Call (580) 327-8546 or email recruit@nwosu.edu with questions.
All first-time freshmen must take Ranger Connection, a one credit hour class that helps students adjust to college life.
On the left hand side (under the Student Dashboard box) click on "Everfi-Haven Course Student (CCv3)"
Freshmen can apply for a number of academic and participation scholarships by using the online Scholarship Application. Freshmen interested in being involved in a leadership role at Northwestern may be interested in applying for the coveted President's Leadership Class Scholarship.
First-time freshmen and transfer students attending Northwestern-Alva on a full-time basis who establish a residence in the city may be eligible for additional financial assistance through a unique toNorthwestern incentive program. Administered through the Financial Aid Office, this incentive program provides assistance for tuition, university housing and other school-related expenses. To qualify for this scholarship money, you'll need to live within the Alva city limits.
More information on Scholarships, Financial Aid and Costs to attend Northwestern are available at Paying for College.


Are you ready to hit the trail? You'll need to be prepared for how hiking on a natural trail is different from walking around the city or through parks in urban areas. Here are tips for beginner hikers.
Hikers traditionally dress in layers so they can take off a layer after warming up and put it back on when they stop and cool down. You should carry a pack so you can stow your gear and carry enough water and snacks to get you through your hike. You will need to wear trail shoes for good traction, stability, and protection against rocks.
Stream and river water is not safe to drink in most areas. That mountain stream that looks so pure can be a source of the Giardia parasite. Carry a water filter or water purification tablets if you plan to drink out of streams or springs. For a day hike, plan to carry enough water so you won't need to drink from natural sources.
The first thing to realize is that you will be slower when you are hiking compared with walking or jogging on a pavement. A natural trail requires more care in where you step. The surface is uneven and there can be rocks and roots to trip you up.
Most maps and guidebooks give an estimate of how long it will take to complete a trail segment, and they may seem ridiculously long. They aren't. You'll want to plan for that much time.
Even if you are speedy, you may want to take the extra time to appreciate the natural environment. Soak in the scenery, take photos, appreciate the birds, deer, and squirrels. Time in the woods, mountains, and deserts should be spent observing and enjoying rather than hurrying to a destination or through a workout.
Hiking up and down hills and mountains requires care, especially on slopes covered with loose gravel or loose dirt. Keep your knees bent and use side-stepping maneuvers on the steepest parts. A hiking stick or a pair of hiking poles can give you an extra stability.
Take your time, breathe, turn around and enjoy the views while catching your breath. The view from the top of a hill is worth savoring. Remember that you may have gained altitude where the air is thinner and has less oxygen.
You may have to cross where there are no bridges or the bridges have not been replaced after seasonal floods. Rocks and debris in the river may seem like stepping stones, but can be slippery hazards. It can be wiser to move down to where the stream has fanned out and is shallow. If you cross at a narrow spot where the water is deeper and the current is swift, you can be swept you off your feet.
Leave no trace — take only memories and leave only footprints. When nature calls and you need a restroom but there are none, remove yourself from the trail and away from any running water. Dig a trench at least six inches deep. Do your duty and bury it. Take all other trash out with you, including apple cores and other food waste. You may think an orange rind here or there is just compost, but most trails are used enough that if each hiker left one, they would smell like garbage dumps.
A day out as a family is wonderful and makes memories. Use this as a chance to teach respect for nature rather than letting your kids or pets run wild. Don't let your child pick wildflowers, teach him or her to appreciate them in their natural settings. Some species, such as trilliums, will not bloom again for years if they are picked. Don't let your child throw rocks, rip branches from trees, or slide down slopes. This casual destruction can lead to erosion and the closing of trails.
Dog owners may see this as a great time for Fido to run wild. The squirrels get enough exercise without his help, and having a beast charge around the corner of a narrow exposed trail is dangerous. Keep your dog under control and expect that there are other hikers, dogs, llamas, and horses on the trail who Fido might encounter. You don't need the sorrow of losing your dog in a fight when he is unleashed.


Our 36 inch velvet windshield bows are constructed from durable red velvet ribbon with gold lame trim. Two substantial 2.5 inch suction cups are built-in on the back of the bow to easily secure the bow to the car windshield. These bows are manufactured by us in our Warminster, PA facility. 10 Yard Rolls of Velvet Ribbon are available separately for wrapping your car or gift.


I've been meaning to write a review for this book for ages, but you know how it goes – things just get in the way and the good intentions get pushed lower down the pile. Since reading this fantastic book, I've devoured the next three in the Prism series (there will be six in total), so I've decided to treat you to all four reviews, one after the other. Here is the first one; the rest of them will follow over the next couple of weeks.
I've always loved fantasy so when this book was recommended to me by a friend, I jumped at the chance to read it. I expected it to be good, but it wasn't – it was fantastic!
Emelia is an impoverished girl who was sold into servitude by her island-dwelling parents. She works hard, dreams a great deal, and has a sassy side (although she doesn't dare show it at the beginning). She has a voice in her head (Emebaka), an alter-ego of sorts, who often encourages her to step outside her comfort zone yet is occasionally the voice of reason. When Emelia's closest friend is murdered by the father of her unborn child, Emelia's wild magic awakens within her.
I loved Emelia's growth as a character in the story. When she meets Hunor (a thief), and Jem (a sorcerer and thief), she's gradually accepted into their 'team' and learns survival skills; she becomes proficient in the use of weapons, Hunor teaches her how to steal without getting caught, and Jem guides her in gaining control of her magic.
Emelia is not without flaws, but that makes her more real, and I found myself rooting for her.
The main supporting characters of Hunor and Jem were extremely well-crafted. Hunor comes across as a cocky, cheeky chap with a 'devil-may-care' attitude. He's an accomplished thief who has made quite a few enemies on his many journeys yet he seems, on the surface, to have no fear. Jem's Obsessive Compulsive Disorder adds a twist to his character. He's obviously gifted in the magical arts, but at the same time, there's a vulnerability about him that is refreshing.
Vildor, Lord of the Ghasts, is deliciously evil. He and his minions will stop at nothing to get what they want and, as one might expect, are prepared to murder, subvert and possess whomever they choose.
I found all the characters to be totally believable in their respective roles and superbly written. They are complex, riveting and vibrant. I loved the way they grew naturally through the story.
One of the most important things in writing an epic fantasy is the world-building and Kitson has built a memorable, realistic and relatable realm. His description brings each city, each land, to life with colour and clarity. The history and cultures of the different lands and the events which shaped them make an impressive and interesting background which has been cleverly created. It's richly detailed, diverse and its inhabitants are as atypical as those in our own world.
The plots and sub-plots have many twists and turns, and while some may view the overall premise of the tale as 'predictable fantasy fodder', I found it exciting, compelling and unexpected.
This book is incredibly well-written. The author took me on a fantastic journey that I didn't want to end. Ross Kitson is certainly a name to watch out for – if there's any justice in the world of publishing, he'll be bombarded with offers and contracts!
If you love an epic fantasy that grabs you in the first couple of pages and leaves you breathless at the end for more then don't hesitate – get this book NOW! 5 STARS FROM ME!


However, in the Ellipses section, I would have mentioned that if ellipses follows a complete sentence, there are actually four dots the period and the three ellipses dots. For instance, it is easy to imagine the following email or text message: Before a quotation, and sometimes direction speech, e.
The ellipsis is also sometimes used to represent a continuation of a list, as in We danced the salsa, tango, rumba, the Twist … However, in recent years, people have started using the ellipsis in email and informal written communication to signify general pauses and hesitations, rather than pauses intended to create specific dramatic effect. Christopher Iacono. Typically, you want to use a semicolon when two main clauses balance each other and are too closely linked to be made into separate sentences, as in these two examples:.
This use of ellipses is frowned upon in formal settings; these pauses can be indicated otherwise with different punctuation. In regards to their example, a comma would have sufficed.
You can change your cookie settings at any time. Rewritten in a more formal manner, the above sentence might read: The study showed the following: Typically, you want to use a semicolon when two main clauses balance each other and are too closely linked to be made into separate sentences, as in these two examples: Check out this full rundown.
Thanks a lot! I am basing my answer off current MLA format guidelines.
That sounds easy enough, but it can be hard to tell when you should be linking two clauses with a semicolon rather than simply separating them into two sentences. Check out this punctuation page.
Take this quiz to find out if... You might alternately use a semicolon in that instance. Competitions and quizzes 173 Dictionaries and lexicography 333 English in use 752 Grammar and writing help 151 Interactive features 31 OED Appeals 24 Other languages 153 Varieties of English 62 Word origins 370 Word trends and new words 259.
For example, you might see: Additionally, a colon should only be used to introduce a block quotation which is necessary when a quote is more than 4 lines. The place it gets tricky is with personal names, such as Charles and Ulysses , which already end in an s sound.
There are three main uses of the colon: Other punctuation questions? Between two main clauses in cases where the second clause explains or follows from the first, e.


Posted May 26, 2011 by Gary Combs & filed under Religion, Uncategorized, Weblogs.
Posted May 20, 2011 by Gary Combs & filed under Current Affairs, Religion, Uncategorized, Weblogs.
Posted May 13, 2011 by Gary Combs & filed under Religion, Uncategorized, Weblogs.
Posted May 6, 2011 by Gary Combs & filed under Religion, Uncategorized, Weblogs.


text:
Rio 2016 - Hancharou ends a decade of Chinese supremacy in Trampoline with Olympic gold
Written by Redaction
Rio de Janeiro (Brazil -) Belarusian prodigy Uladzislau Hancharou ended a nine-year undefeated run by Chinese gymnasts in Olympic and World Trampoline competition Saturday in Rio, capturing the gold medal over 2012 Olympic champion Dong Dong and 2015 World Champion Gao Lei.
Hancharou jumps to the crown
Two years ago, at only 18, Hancharou made a name for himself by bouncing to bronze at the World Championships. A year later, he took silver behind Gao Lei. He confirmed his status as a contender who could beat the Chinese with a victory at the Test Event in the Olympic Arena in April.
In the hour of decision, Hancharou performed with elegance. Second in qualification behind Gao, the 20-year-old Belarussian delivered a squeaky clean if less difficult routine compared to the Chinese in the final to take gold, his country's first Olympic title in the sport.
Third Olympic medal completes the set for Dong Dong
After bronze in Beijing in 2008 and gold in London in 2012, Dong Dong was decked in silver this time, becoming the first gymnast to gather a complete set of Olympic medals in Trampoline. The triple World champion, 27, may not have won the title in Rio, but he was delighted to be on the podium, where he has stood at all World Championships and Olympic Games between 2007 and 2014.
Gao Lei's airshow merits bronze
As the reigning World champion, armed with a routine of incredible difficulty and amplitude, Gao Lei came to Rio as a serious contender for gold. The 23-year-old led after the qualification round, but in the final, he had control problems and wasn't able to count on his strengths -- time of flight and the highest difficulty score of the field -- to make the difference. As a result, he settled for bronze in his first Olympic appearance.
FIG: The International Gymnastics Federation is the governing body for gymnastics worldwide. It is the oldest established international sports federation and has participated in the Olympic Games since their revival in 1896. The FIG governs seven disciplines: Gymnastics for All, Men's Artistic, Women's Artistic, Rhythmic, Trampoline, Aerobic and Acrobatic. It counts 142 national member federations and boasts a 28-person staff at its international seat in Lausanne (SUI), host city of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
Published in Sport UK
Federation Internationale de Gymnastique
Olympic gold
Latest from Redaction
For people who don't know or to those who have forgotten
Meet "Your Italian Hub" The New Italian Communication in the U.S.
L'Aquila - "Reconstruction, Recovery and Resilience in Historic Cities and Societies".
Sino-italian forum on green industry development
The United States, UK and France launch military strikes on Syria
Federica Pellegrini apunta a Tokio 2020
Citius, Altius, Fortius - A look back at the 2016 Rio Olympics
Rio remembered: Olympians honoured in Doha
No games for Rome as city council scotches Olympic bid
Rome council meets to ratify Olympic no
More in this category: « Ledecky wins 800-metres freestyle, completes rare Olympic swimming treble	Usain Bolt wins a hat-trick of 100 metres Olympic titles »


text:
When Strengthening Environmental Regulation Reduces Green Innovation: Theory and Evidence from the Auto Industry
Matthieu Glachant, CERNA, MINES ParisTech
It is commonly believed that strengthening environmental standards increases green innovation. We develop a model and produce empirical evidence which partly disconfirm this view. The model pre- dicts that regulatory change has opposite impacts on innovation when the country is a regulatory leader or a country adopting a standard previously introduced elsewhere. The analysis of panel data from the auto industry from 1992 to 2007 confirms these predictions. We find that regulatory leadership increases innovation whereas innovation falls when the country is a regulatory follower.
Matthieu Glachant is head of CERNA – Centre for industrial economics and a professor of economics at MINES ParisTech. He is also a Visiting Professor at the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment at the London School of Economics since 2012. Matthieu holds a PhD in economics from the Ecole des mines in Paris. Before joining MINES ParisTech in 2001, he was Jean Monnet Fellow at the European University Institute. His research is in the fields of environmental economics and energy economics. Specific areas of expertise include the economics of green innovation, renewable energy, the economics of Corporate Social Responsibility, waste policies, and climate change issues. He is an associate editor of the journal Resource and Energy Economics.
Venue: Room H0.06 (SBE, Tongersestraat 53)


Ну вот и моржи пошли, с настроением девушка , а ей наверно всё же холодно!
I bet the model had to brace herself against the cold to pose for this.Great clarity,tones and light.
hot winter, nice with the girl and the birch!


text:
< Previous standard ^ Up a level ^ Next standard >
ISO/IEC 27036:2013+ — Information technology — Security techniques — Information security for supplier relationships (four parts)
ISO/IEC 27036 is a multi-part standard offering guidance on the evaluation and treatment of information risks involved in the acquisition of goods and services from suppliers. The implied context is business-to-business relationships, rather than retailing, and information-related products. The terms acquisition and acquirer are used rather than purchase and purchasing since the process and the risks are much the same whether the transactions are commercial or not (e.g. one part of an organization or group acquiring products from another).
Scope and purpose
Being an information security standard, the products most obviously covered by the standards include:
IT outsourcing and cloud computing services;
Other professional services e.g. legal, accounting/tax and HR services, security guards, cleaners, delivery services (couriers), equipment maintenance/servicing, consulting and specialist advisory services, knowledge management, research and development, manufacturing, logistics, source code escrow and healthcare;
Provision of ICT hardware, software and services including telecommunications and Internet services;
Bespoke products and services where the acquirer specifies the requirements and often has an active role in the product design (as opposed to commodities and standard off-the-shelf products);
Utilities such as electric power and water.
The standards could cover:
Strategic goals, objectives, business needs and compliance obligations in relation to information security and assurance when acquiring ICT-related or information products;
Information risks such as:
Acquirer's reliance on providers, complicating the acquirer's business continuity arrangements (both resilience and recovery);
Physical and logical access to and protection of second and third party information assets;
Creating an 'extended trust' environment with shared responsibilities for information security;
Creating a shared responsibility for compliance with information security policies, standards, laws, regulations, contracts and other commitments/obligations;
Coordination between supplier and acquirer to adapt or respond to new/changed information security requirements;
... and more.
Information security controls such as:
Relationship management covering the entire lifecycle of the business relationship;
Preliminary analysis, preparation of a sound business case, Invitation To Tender etc., taking into account the risks, controls, costs and benefits associated with maintaining adequate information security;
Creation of explicit shared strategic goals to align acquirer and provider on information security and other aspects (e.g. a jointly-owned 'relationship strategy');
Specification of important information security requirements (such as requiring that suppliers are certified compliant with ISO/IEC 27001 and/or use standards such as ISO27k) in contracts, Service Level Agreements etc.;
Security management procedures, including those that may be jointly developed and operated such as risk analysis, security design, identity and access management, incident management and business continuity;
Special controls to cater for unique risks (such as testing and fallback arrangements associated with the transition/implementation stage when an outsourcing supplier first provides services);
Clear ownership, accountability and responsibility for the protection of valuable information assets, including security logs, audit records and forensic evidence;
A 'right of audit' and other compliance/assurance controls, with penalties or liabilities in case of identified non-compliance, or bonuses for full compliance;
The entire relationship lifecycle:
Initiation - scoping, business case/cost-benefit analysis, comparison of insource versus outsource options as well as variant or hybrid approaches such as co-sourcing;
Definition of requirements including the information security requirements, of course;
Procurement including selecting, evaluating and contracting with supplier/s;
Transition to or implementation of the supply arrangements, with enhanced risks around the implementation period;
Operation including aspects such as routine relationship management, compliance, incident and change management, monitoring etc.;
Refresh - an optional stage to renew the contract, perhaps reviewing the terms and conditions, performance, issues, working processes etc.;
Termination and exit i.e. ending a business relationship that has run its course in a controlled manner, perhaps leading back to step 1.
ISO/IEC 27036-1:2014 — Information security for supplier relationships — Part 1: Overview and concepts [FREE!]
Abstract: "Provides an overview of the guidance intended to assist organizations in securing their information and information systems within the context of supplier relationships. It addresses perspectives of both acquirers and suppliers." [Source: SC27 Standing Document 11 (2021)]
Scope & purpose: part 1 introduces all parts of this standard, providing general background information and introducing the key terms and concepts in relation to information security in supplier relationships, including "any supplier relationship that can have information security implications, e.g. information technology, healthcare services, janitorial services, consulting services, R&D partnerships, outsourced applications (ASPs), or cloud computing services (such as software, platform, or infrastructure as a service)."
It outlines a number of information risks commonly arising from or relating to business relationships between acquirers and suppliers, where goods/services acquired have an information content or information security relevance, or where the supplier gains access to the acquirer's internal information.
Interestingly, the converse situation - i.e. acquirers gaining access to suppliers' internal information - is not explicitly mentioned in part 1, but is noted in part 2. The standard is primarily written from the perspective of the acquirer, covering the acquirer's information security concerns that ought to be addressed when forming relationships with suppliers.
Status: published in 2014 and downloadable for free from the ITTF site.
The next version of this standard will be "Cybersecurity — Supplier relationships — Part 1: Overview and concepts". It is at Final Draft International Standard stage and may be published towards the end of 2021 or in 2022.
ISO/IEC 27036-2:2014 — Information security for supplier relationships — Part 2: Requirements
Abstract: "Specifies fundamental information security requirements for defining, implementing, operating, monitoring, reviewing, maintaining and improving supplier and acquirer relationships." [Source: SC27 Standing Document 11 (2021)]
Scope & purpose: part 2 specifies fundamental information security requirements pertaining to business relationships between suppliers and acquirers of various products (goods and services). It helps them reach a common understanding of the associated information risks, and treat them accordingly to their mutual satisfaction.
The introduction explicitly states that ISO/IEC 27036 Part 2 is not intended for certification purposes, despite having "Requirements" in the title and "shall" in the content [these are normally reserved words in ISO-land].
The control measures recommended in part 2 cover various aspects of governance and business management (e.g. operations, HR management, IT management, relationship management, metrics) as well as information security management (e.g. information risk analysis and treatment, controls specification, architecture/design, strategy).
Given the presumptions, style, structure, depth, breadth, rigour and documentation requirements laid out in part 2, following the standard in detail would impose a significant burden of red-tape in the case of commodity supplies but may be entirely appropriate for those with strong information security implications (e.g. military and government procurement of classified ICT systems and services, or commercial procurement of safety- or business-critical ICT systems and services including cloud computing support for core business processes, plus information services such as consulting, legal or HR services). Nevertheless, the standard is a useful checklist or reminder of the information security aspects that ought to be considered in most if not all business relationships.
Status: published in 2014.
Part 2 is being revised following changes in ISO/IEC 15288.
The revised standard is at Draft International Standard stage. It is due to be published in 2023 but has already been approved by SC27 and looks likely to surface earlier.
Personal comments: although this is not intended to be a certifiable standard with formally-specified requirements that are mandatory for certification, wording along the lines of "The following minimum activities shall be executed by the acquirer to meet the objective defined at [a specific clause]" apparently leaves little latitude for organisations to interpret, adapt and apply the standard according to their particular business situations and needs, despite an explanatory note:
"The user of this document needs to correctly interpret each of the forms of the expression of provisions (e.g. "shall"€�, "shall not"€�, "should"� and "should not") as being either requirements to be satisfied or recommendations where there is a certain freedom of choice."
I guess it comes down to the business and legal arrangements in place between supplier and acquirer as to how much 'freedom of choice' there is in interpreting, applying and complying with this standard. In the absence of explicit, perfectly worded, unambiguous and binding contractual clauses, lawyers smile wryly and rub their hands together ...
ISO/IEC 27036-3:2013 — Information security for supplier relationships — Part 3:- Guidelines for information and communications technology supply chain security
Abstract: "Provides product and service acquirers and suppliers in ICT supply chain with guidance." [Source: SC27 Standing Document 11 (2021)]
Scope & purpose: this part of the standard guides both suppliers and acquirers of ICT goods and services on information risk management relating to the widely dispersed and complex supply chain, including risks such as malware and counterfeit products plus 'organizational risks', and the integration of risk management with system and software lifecycle processes, drawing on ISO/IEC 15288, 12207 and 27002.
This part of ISO/IEC 27036 does not cover the business continuity aspects.
It explicitly concerns ICT.
Content: a wide range of information security controls are noted in part 3, such as: chain of custody; least privilege access; separation of duties; tamper resistance and evidence; persistent protection; compliance management; code assessment and verification; security training; vulnerability assessment and response; defined security expectations; intellectual property rights and responsibilities; avoiding the gray-market; procurement processes including anonymous and all-at-once acquisition; passing security requirements to upstream suppliers; quality management; HR management; project management; supplier/relationship management; risk and security management (e.g. requirements analysis should include information security requirements addressing potential risks); configuration and change management; information management; security architecture/design; ICT implementation and transition; ICT integration; ICT testing and verification (e.g. security/penetration testing, vulnerability scanning, stress testing, compliance testing); malware protection; ICT management, maintenance and disposal etc. Most of these are covered in general terms by ISO/IEC 27002: 27036-3 provides additional guidance in the specific context of ICT supplies. An annex includes a breakdown of comparable clauses in ISO/IEC 15288 and 12207, and another identifies relevant clauses from the forthcoming 2022 version of ISO/IEC 27002.
Status: published in 2013, currently being revised.
The revised standard is at 2nd Committee Draft stage. The title will become: Cybersecurity — Supplier relationships — Part 3: Guidelines for information and communication technology supply chain security
ISO/IEC 27036–4:2016 — Information security for supplier relationships — Part 4: Guidelines for security of cloud services
Abstract: "Define guidelines supporting the implementation of Information Security Management for the use of cloud service." [Source: SC27 Standing Document 11 (2021)]
Scope & purpose: part 4 offers information security guidance to the vendors and customers of cloud services. The scope is to:
"provide cloud service customers and cloud service providers with guidance on
a) gaining visibility into the information security risks associated with the use of cloud services and managing those risks effectively, and
b) responding to risks specific to the acquisition or provision of cloud services that can have an information security impact on organizations using these services.
[The standard] does not include business continuity management/resiliency issues involved with the cloud service. ISO/IEC 27031 addresses business continuity. [The standard] does not provide guidance on how a cloud service provider should implement, manage and operate information security. Guidance on those can be found in ISO/IEC 27002 and ISO/IEC 27017. The scope of this [standard] is to define guidelines supporting the implementation of information security management for the use of cloud services." [quoting from the FDIS version]
Personal comments: part 4 explicitly describes the information risks that the standard addresses. Full marks!
Revision of ISO/IEC 27036
The revision of this multi-part standard is under way. It has been proposed to revise the set to improve internal consistency, and to align with ISO/IEC 15288 (IT system lifecycles). Bit of a clue that: the standards are so ICT-centric they barely even mention non-ICT goods and services, even those with a substantial information component and hence significant risks (e.g. professional services such as legal advice, accounting, HR, information risk and security management consulting ...).
Copyright © 2021 IsecT Ltd.


We may be in the heat of the summer, but it's the right time to start planning for those fall garden vegetables. The time is now. The vegetables you plant in the next few weeks will be ready to be picked and enjoyed once autumn strolls around. Take your green thumb outside, get on your hands and knees and get ready to reap what you sow. Here are 6 leaves and vegetables to plant in your August garden.
The focus for fall garden vegetables is on fast-maturing cool season crops.
Ready to harvest after 45 to 75 days, depending on the variety, kale is a highly versatile crop that can be planted in most seasons, though it prefers colder weather. Plant kale in partial shade and grow with companion plants, such as beets, celery, herbs, onions and potatoes. It does not, however, like to be planted with strawberries, tomatoes or beans. Seeds will germinate best in soil at about 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
Arugula has a short growing season and is ready to harvest in just 40 days. Avoid planting with other cabbage family crops. Plant ¼-inch deep and 1-inch apart.
Sow the seeds in late summer. Keep them moist and in shade under the afternoon sun. It will take 45 to 60 days before harvest.
Late crops for beets can be planted anytime from June to September, but in weather that doesn't exceed 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Plant seed ½ inch deep and 1-2 inches apart. Mulch and water the area well. Thinning may be necessary as you may get more than one seedling out of each seed. Maturity lasts between 50 and 70 days. Don't let greens grow above 6 inches before harvesting.
Spinach seeds should be sown 5 weeks before the first frost. It will take the crop 45 days to mature. Spinach is able to survive temperatures as low as the 20s and grows rapidly in very fertile soil.
Sow seeds about four weeks before the first frost in fertile and well-drained soil. Radishes mature quickly and will take just 25 to 50 days to mature.


text:
By Philip Ball2004-02-01T00:00:00+00:00
Philip Ball sizes up the latest developments in nanotechnology.
International Sematech
One day in the not-so-distant future, the current interest in nanotechnology will seem quaint. Not because nanotechnology will have failed and vanished, but because it will be so ubiquitous and so diverse that people will consider it curious, if not perverse, that it was once all lumped together under a single umbrella. In engineering terms, there seems so far to be nothing we can do on the macroscale that we can't do at the nanoscale. We can make nanoelectronic circuits, nano light emitters, nanomechanical devices with moving parts, nanohydraulic turbines, sensors, medical devices, composite materials, energy-generating units. We can even write nano-books and create nano-art.
That's not to say that nanotechnology is no more than macrotechnology writ small. Some things are very different down at the scale of molecules and cells. Fluids start to look grainy and highly viscous. Surface tension becomes a dominant force. Quantum effects come into play, and everything is buffeted by Brownian motion. But with a bit of ingenuity, all of these things can be used to advantage.
In this fecund field, new research is always likely to take unexpected directions. The current smattering of commercial applications of nanoscience seems at face value to present a romanticised contrast to the field's futuristic image. If there are nanoparticles in tennis balls, stain-resistant trousers, sun creams and dirt-repellent paint, it's not because that's the best use anyone could find for them. Such relatively low-tech applications merely face the lowest barriers to commercialisation and so will be the first to spin off. The zinc oxide nanoparticles supplied by the tonne to BASF and Schering-Plough for their sun creams and other cosmetics can be more or less poured into the mix straight from the sack.
That's why, for some researchers, nanotechnology (as opposed to exploratory nanoscience) is at present very much an extrapolation of the familiar, an evolutionary rather than revolutionary affair. Semiconductor manufacturing for computers can already claim to have entered the nano regime (it currently works at scales of about 100-200 nm) without a substantial change in methodology.
Silicon chips are made using photolithography: photochemical patterning of a 'resist' through a mask, followed by chemical etching of exposed areas. The minimum feature size accessible by such a process is determined by the wavelength of the illumination - to extend to the nanoscale, optical wavelengths are being replaced by extreme ultraviolet. But although the principles remain the same, changing the wavelength to this degree demands new kinds of optics, and the technology is challenging.
So this traditionally competitive arena is being forced to become collaborative, as big companies share the cost of the technical innovations. A consortium of key semiconductor manufacturers called Sematech, which includes IBM, Intel, Motorola and Hewlett-Packard, is currently funding the development of a $125 million 'nanotechnology centre' at the State University of New York at Albany, US, which looks set to develop the next-generation methods of manufacturing. To these people, nanotechnology is about taking current practice and making it smaller. 'For very good reasons, it's quite a conservative world technically,' says George Whitesides of Harvard University, US.
The successor to Intel's Pentium 4 microprocessor chip, called the Prescott and due to be launched on 2 February 2004, contains transistors just 50 nm in size, made lithographically with ultraviolet light of 193 nm wavelength. But that won't be enough to keep pace for long with the seemingly inexorable trend in miniaturisation dictated by Moore's Law, and Intel has its sights set on wavelengths of 157 nm by 2007.
And even if the industry succeeds in developing new kinds of photolithography, it will not be long before it encounters a more fundamental limit. In less than 10 years' time, Moore's Law would take us to the point where conventional semiconductor transistors have some features only a few nm thick. At this point the traditional materials and circuits no longer fulfil their tasks: silicon dioxide, the usual insulator, becomes leaky for example, and electrons in adjacent wires begin to interact strongly. So that is when an entirely new materials basis for electronic devices will be needed.
Small wonder that companies such as IBM are starting to look seriously at nascent technologies, including molecular self-assembly, carbon nanotubes and other nanowires, and scanning-probe devices. One such approach being explored at IBM's research laboratories in Zurich, Switzerland, is the Millipede. This is a device not for data processing but for data storage. The information revolution has relied not only on ever smaller transistors but on ever more capacious memories, which has entailed a steady increase in data storage densities. (Magnetic storage densities doubled every year in the late 1990s.) This demands that the bit size gets smaller.
In state-of-the-art hard drives, the magnetic domains used to store a single bit are just 10 nm or so across. But there are fundamental limits on how small conventional magnetic storage can go, largely because the energy required to 'flip' the magnetisation of nanoscale domains begins to fall towards the energy of room-temperature thermal fluctuations.
The Millipede stores data not magnetically but mechanically, rather like an old-fashioned punch card. It uses the needle tip of an atomic force microscope (AFM), attached to a flexible cantilever arm, to impress indentations into a plastic film. This kind of surface modification has been possible with the AFM for several years now, and indeed this device and its sibling the scanning tunnelling microscope (STM) have been used to manipulate individual atoms and molecules. The potential of these tools for nanotechnological data storage was literally spelled out in 1990 when researchers at IBM's Almaden lab in California, US, wrote their company name with xenon atoms moved over a nickel surface by an STM tip.
The drawback for any practical technology, however, is that this is a very slow way to write and read data. The Millipede seeks to address this limitation by a fantastic proliferation of tips: hence the name. The latest version of the device deploys over 4000 AFM tips, each of them individually controllable, vastly speeding up the operating rate. To write a bit, a tip is brought into contact with the plastic film and heated electrically, which softens the plastic locally. This allows the tip to sink into the film, creating an indentation 10 nm across. At that size, 200 billion bits can be stored in one square inch of material. The marks are erasable by using the tip to press around the pit and fill it in. To read data, the tip is heated to a lower temperature than for writing. When the tip dips into a depression, it experiences greater heat loss, and the electrical resistance through the cantilever arm drops measurably.
The Millipede has low power consumption, well below that of magnetic recording. It is still rather slow, being able to write at a rate of a few megabits per second. But IBM researchers think that it should be possible to achieve that rate for each tip separately, in which case the entire tip array would be several thousand times faster because of its parallel operation. Thanks to micromachining technology, the array is just a few mm across, and the IBM team hopes that it will find its way into the memories used for personal organisers, mobile phones, video cameras and watches.
Such natural nanotechnology is strictly of the 'bottom-up' variety, being manufactured from atoms or molecules in 'factories' that are often far smaller than their products. Biology shows that self-assembly and hierarchical organisation of programmed components might ultimately be the most efficient way to do nanotechnology.
But some of the near-term applications of bio-nanotechnology don't involve direct intervention with living systems. They are instead diagnostics to be used for in vitro analysis of biomolecules (Box 2, p36). For example, techniques for depositing nanoscale domains of DNA or proteins onto solid substrates could be used to create 'gene chips' and protein arrays that will enable molecular biologists to obtain instantaneous genetic or proteomic profiles of cells. Dip-pen nanolithography, devised by Chad Mirkin and coworkers at Northwestern University in Illinois, represents one such tool, in which an AFM tip is used as a kind of quill for writing monolayers of molecular 'ink' with nanoscale precision.
Some groups have more ambitious plans for biological nanotech. NanoMateria is a US company that aims to apply the self-assembling nanostructures developed by Sam Stupp of Northwestern University, Illinois, US, for tissue engineering. Stupp has created chain-like molecules that aggregate like the amphiphilic molecules of cell membranes, but in ways that can be controlled by the molecular architecture. Gels formed from such molecules could serve as scaffolds for colonisation by cells to form new tissue, and could self-assemble after being injected into the body. 'We had interesting systems for the regeneration of the central nervous system, bone and cartilage, and for organ transplantation,' says Stupp. 'There will be more to come, and I think it will take five years or more to develop them into products.'
While nanotechnology could benefit biology, the converse is perhaps even more true. Researchers are finding ingenious ways to adapt the nanoscale machinery of cells for technological ends. If we want to make nanomachines with moving parts, for example, it hardly seems worthwhile struggling to make tiny motors from scratch when they already exist in nature.
The corkscrew-like flagella that propel some bacteria are driven by one of the very few natural 'wheels', a motor just 10 nm or so across made from proteins and powered by the flow of protons. No one has yet found a way to harness the flagella motor for nanotechnology, but that is not the case for another rotary protein motor, the enzyme ATP synthase. This device sits in a cell membrane and spins as it converts ADP to energy-rich ATP during metabolism or photosynthesis.
Carlo Montemagno, formerly at Cornell University, US, and coworkers have chemically modified ATP synthase so that it can be stuck by its rotating 'head' to nanoscale pillars of nickel. This leaves the 'spindle' of the device, which is normally embedded in a cell membrane, sticking up and free to spin. The researchers fixed nickel propellers 150 nm long to the spindle and watched them rotate as the motor was provided with ATP fuel. Montemagno's group has genetically engineered a switch in the enzyme to turn it on and off, triggered by zinc ions.
Viola Vogel of the University of Washington in Seattle, US, Jonathon Howard of the Max Planck Institute for Cell Biology in Dresden, Germany, and their coworkers have used a linear motor protein, kinesin, to transport nanoscale objects around on a surface. Kinesin moves step-like along protein filaments called microtubules and kinesin molecules adsorbed onto a surface will pass microtubules between them. This motion can be controlled by confining the microtubules in lithographically defined nanoscale ravines, and Vogel and colleagues have attached nanoscale cargo to the microtubules.
Howard's team has used this system to transport and stretch strands of DNA, and believes this might be a way to guide DNA components into place to make templates for, say, nanoscale circuits. Howard predicts that the first applications of this kind of naturally based nanotechnology will be found in biotechnology - for example, manipulating DNA for genetic analysis. But he adds that 'the main thing that interests me is whether biological principles of self-organisation - variation, selection and stabilisation - can be used in engineering'.
DNA is an ideal nanoscale building block because it can be programmed, via its base sequences, to self-assemble into complex architectures. Ned Seeman of New York University, US, who has pioneered this approach, has made polyhedral cages of interwoven double-stranded DNA, as well as two-dimensional tiling patterns that can clip together in such a way as to embody Boolean logic operations, permitting a kind of DNA computing.
And if you're going to build with DNA, why not exploit its capabilities to the full? G&0x00FC;nter von Kiedrowski at the Ruhr University of Bochum, Germany, is exploring ways of creating DNA nanostructures that can replicate, and has already demonstrated that the chemical information in the arms of self-assembling molecular units can be copied.
Proteins too look set to become valuable nano building blocks. Using in vitro evolution techniques, they can be tuned to functions not found in nature. For example, Angela Belcher, now at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, US, has developed peptide molecules that can selectively recognise and bind to the surfaces of a wide variety of semiconductors. These could be used to tailor motor proteins so that they transport particular types of inorganic nanoparticle.
And by attaching such selective 'hooks' to the protein coats of viruses, Belcher and coworkers have been able to exploit the self-organisation of viruses into liquid-crystalline arrays to make ordered nanoparticle composites. 'You can put anything - organics, inorganics, biologicals - onto the tip of a virus and then self-assemble it into a multidimensional structure,' says Belcher.
Like most commercialised nanotech today, it looks pretty quick and dirty compared with the latest dispatches from research labs. But such applications remind us that nanotechnology will become more sophisticated as we gain ever more control over the way the components are organised. In the same way, applications of carbon nanotubes might progress from composite materials in which they are more or less randomly dispersed as toughening elements in a binding matrix, to memory and logic devices in which they are organised into precise and ordered grids.
It is telling that, while the kind of top-down nanotechnology envisaged by the likes of Sematech faces the prospect of ever-escalating costs (and the danger of ever-diminishing returns), bottom-up approaches receive much of their impetus from the possibility of adopting cheap, 'wet' and mild fabrication methods like those of soft lithography (see Box 3, p36). So we might ultimately see a fabulous synthesis of high and low technology: machines made in a bucket from beautifully engineered components. Which sounds a lot like the way things happen in nature.
Thanks to the George Whitesides' research group for helpful advice during the preparation of the outline for this article.
Philip Ball
1. Nanoethics
Until 2002, nanoscientists had to worry only about getting the science to work. But then came the rumours that nanotechnology was the next threat to humankind: like GM crops, but maybe even scarier. Some environmental groups, notably the Canadian-based ETC Group, started calling for a moratorium on nanotech until its potential risks were more clearly known. The pot was stirred by Michael Crichton's bestselling book Prey, in which nanoscale robots run amok and begin hunting and devouring anything that moves.
This scenario was lifted from Eric Drexler's 1986 book Engines of Creation, which proselytised for nanotech but also suggested a terrifying danger. Drexler imagined that researchers might create 'nanobots' that can replicate by pulling other (particularly carbon-based) materials apart and building copies of themselves from the molecular fragments. If these replicators got out of hand, they would reproduce relentlessly, transforming the world into a 'grey goo'.
Grey goo is a red herring, since no one is actually trying to make replicating nanobots along the lines that Drexler outlined, nor does anyone have the slightest idea how that might be done. But it sounded scary enough to send out ripples about the safety of nanotech, and has served as a focus for a variety of fears, some of them better grounded. For instance, it is not clear yet whether nanoparticles such as carbon nanotubes might pose health hazards akin to those of asbestos. Yet because they are not technically new chemicals, there is no formal requirement for their toxicity to be investigated.
In the face of such concerns, the scientific community has recognised a need to attend to the safety, ethical and societal questions raised by nanotechnology. The toxicology issues are now being studied in several labs, notably the Center for Biological and Environmental Nanotechnology at Rice University, US. The US Senate has called for the National Science Foundation to establish a centre for 'Societal, Ethical, Educational, Legal and Workforce Issues Related to Nanotechnology', with funding of $5 m (ca ?3 m) per year.
In the UK, the Economic and Social Research Council has recently issued a report on the 'social and economic challenges of nanotechnology', while the Royal Society and the Royal Academy of Engineering have been commissioned by the government to produce a wide-ranging report. on these issues, including an assessment where regulation needs to be applied.
2. Nanoparticle diagnostics
Quick genetic profiling is one of the major aims of post-genomic biology. Chad Mirkin's group at Northwestern University, US, has formed a start-up company, Nanosphere, to commercialise a technique for the cheap, rapid detection of specific DNA sequences. Gold nanoparticles are tagged with short stretches of single-stranded DNA, with sequences that are complementary to that of the target strand. If present, the target pairs up with the tags and binds the nanoparticles into a colloidal network that scatters light and changes the colour of the solution.
This simple colour-change system can detect single base-pair mismatches in a sequence. Nanosphere claims that its current systems can provide diagnostic results in hours, rather than days. The company has won a US governmental contract to develop the technology for the detection of biological warfare agents.
Nanoparticles are also becoming widely used as labels to track biomolecules in cells. Gold nanoparticles, for example, are inert but clearly visible in the electron microscope. Semiconductor nanoparticles fluoresce at a wavelength determined by their band gap, which at the nanoscale is governed by quantum size effects. This means that particles can be tuned to a particular colour simply by controlling their size.
3. Soft lithography
One of the most fertile commercially applicable techniques for creating nanoscale structures sprung from George Whitesides' laboratory at Harvard University, US. It is called soft lithography, because it replaces the high-vacuum conditions of traditional photolithography with a cheap, 'wet' chemical process - while allowing for a remarkable improvement in resolution.
Whitesides and his colleagues perfected a technique for printing surfaces with an orderly monolayer of organic molecules transferred from a rubber stamp. These self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) are typically made from alkylthiols, which form strong chemical bonds with gold. The soft stamps can be used to transfer a pattern onto curved surfaces, unlike traditional microlithography. The stamp itself is cast from a mould patterned lithographically, and by using high-resolution techniques such as electron-beam etching it can be given features as small as 10 nm. These features are reproduced faithfully in the SAM imprinted on a surface, which then acts as an etching resist for patterning the substrate.
Whitesides' collaborators have founded a Boston-based company called Surface Logix, which uses soft lithography to create patterned surfaces for biological assays - for example, for screening libraries of candidate drug molecules or detecting bioweapons. Another spin-off company from the Harvard group, called EM Logix, aims to use the method to make optical and electronic devices - but 'this is much tougher', Whitesides admits. 'There is a strong technical case for it, but the venture community does not recognise it.' Nonetheless, big electronics companies such as IBM, Lucent and Philips have all dabbled in soft lithography. 'I think these methods will be adopted in microelectronics', says Whitesides. 'Come back in 10 years and it will be a successful technology.'
Stephen Quake at the California Institute of Technology, US, has seized on soft lithography for making cheap micropatterned surfaces for microfluidics. His San Francisco-based company Fluidigm is exploring the growth of hard-to-crystallise protein crystals from very small volumes of solution in a microfluidic system called Topaz, which is being developed with GlaxoSmithKline. Several other companies, such as GeneOhm and Aviva Biosciences (both in San Diego, US), are using soft lithographic patterning in combination with microfluidics or electronics for creating miniaturised assays for cells and DNA.
4. Nanotech timeline
1959: Richard Feynman gives a talk to the West Coast section of the America entitled 'There's Plenty of Room at the Bottom', now considered to be the founding text of nanotechnology.
1974: The word 'nanotechnology' is coined by University of Tokyo, Japan, researcher Norio Taniguchi. Arieh Aviram and Mark Ratner launch the field of molecular electronics.
c.1981: The scanning tunnelling microscope is invented by Gerd Binnig and Heinrich R?hrer at IBM's Zurich laboratories in Switzerland. It is later used to manipulate atoms one by one.
1985: C60 and the fullerenes are discovered. This establishes the idea that sheets of graphite-like carbon can be moulded into nanostructures.
1986: Publication of K. Eric Drexler's Engines of Creation introduced the public to nanotechnology - albeit a particular, controversial vision of it.
1986: Gerd Binnig, Christoph Gerber and Calvin Quate devise the atomic force microscope, which can image non-conducting samples.
1986: Binnig and R?hrer are awarded the Nobel prize in physics for their invention of the STM.
1987: Charles Pedersen, Donald Cram and Jean-Marie Lehn are awarded the Nobel prize for their work on supramolecular chemistry, which established the basis of self-assembly, considered by many to be central to a bottom-up nanotechnology.
1990: Don Eigler and Erhard Schweizer at IBM Almaden in San Jose, US, write their company logo in xenon atoms using the STM.
1991: The discovery of carbon nanotubes by Sumio Iijima of NEC in Japan provides nanotechnology with one of its fundamental building blocks.
1993: Eigler's group makes a 'quantum corral' - a ring of iron atoms pushed into place with the STM.
1996: Richard Smalley, Harry Kroto and Bob Curl win the Nobel prize in chemistry for their discovery of C60.
1997: Paul Boyer, John Walker and Jens Skou receive the Nobel prize in chemistry for deducing the mechanism behind the action of ATP synthase, a nanoscale biological motor.
1998: Cees Dekker and coworkers at Delft Technical University in The Netherlands produce the first carbon nanotube transistor.
2001: Groups at IBM Yorktown Heights and at Delft report the first nanotube-based logic circuits. Mitsubishi announces plans to build an industrial-scale plant for manufacturing fullerenes. The plant is now working, and intends to ramp up production to 1500 tonnes per year.
This article is a co-production of the RSC and the Gesellschaft Deutscher Chemiker (GDCh) and also published in Nachrichten aus der Chemie
Contact and Further Information
Nature consultant editor
4-6 Crinan Street, London N1 9XW
Omega-3s and brain health
Modern diets can leave us short on essential fatty acids. Barbara Pinho looks into how this is affecting our health and our brains in particular
Are everyday chemicals contributing to global obesity?
Research in animal models suggests the simple 'energy in, energy out' model doesn't tell the whole story. Anthony King talks to researchers worried about obesogens


We at POPS Health understand that the personal nature of your health information. We therefore are committed to protecting this information to the fullest extent. We will create a file for all members in order to comply with legal requirements. This notice will discuss the ways in which we use and disclose your health information. We also describe your rights and our obligations regarding the use and disclosure of your health information. Federal law requires that we: (i) make sure that health information that identifies you is kept private; (ii) give you this notice of our privacy practices with respect to your health information; and (iii) follow the terms of the current notice.
We will use information about you to provide you with a personal health and fitness program. We will most likely disclose health information about you to professional fitness staff and others involved in your health and fitness program. We may use your name to send membership bills to you or your company; to send you information about the fitness center and other programs or communications, including posting it on a bulletin board; unless you specifically object. We may contact you to provide appointment reminders, information about health and fitness program alternatives or other health and fitness center-related benefit and services that may be of interest to you. We may keep your work-out information about you in an unsecured file cabinet unless you object.
We will disclose information about you when required to do so by law, in a lawsuit, to worker's compensation, for public health, for health oversight activities or to the military if applicable.
We reserve the right to change this notice from time to time. The revised notice will be effective for information we already have about you as well as any future information.
Other uses and disclosures of information not covered by this notice will only be made with your written permission. You may revoke your permission in writing at any time. Understand that we are unable to take back any permitted disclosures, and that we are required to retain records of your care.
Right to Request Confidential Communications. You have the right to specify the manner in which you want us to communicate with you regarding your health information. You must submit your request in writing.
Right to Inspect and Copy. You have the right to inspect and copy your medical information, including your member file. You must submit your request in writing. We may charge a fee for the costs of copying. We may deny your request to see and obtain copies of your health information in certain, very limited circumstances. If you are denied access to your health information, you may request that the denial be reviewed.
Right to Amend. If you feel that your information is incorrect or incomplete, you may ask us to amend the information. You may request an amendment as long as the fitness center has this information. You must submit your request in writing. We may deny your request in certain circumstances.
Right to an Accounting of Disclosures. You have the right to request a list of the accounting of disclosures we made of your medical information. You must submit your request in writing. Your first requested list within a year is free.
Right to Request Restrictions. You have the right to request a restriction or limitation on the information we use or disclose about you for treatment, payment, and health care operations or to someone who is involved in your care or the payment for your care. We are not required to agree to your request. You must submit your request in writing.
POPS Health, Inc. collects personal information when you register and when you use our services. We may combine information about you that we have with information we obtain from business partners or other companies. When you register we ask for information such as your name, email address, birth date, gender, zip code, occupation, industry, and personal interests as well as general health questions. We use information for the following general purposes: to customize the advertising and content you see, fulfill your requests for products and services, improve our services, contact you, conduct research, and provide anonymous reporting for internal and external clients.
We provide the information to trusted partners who work on behalf of or with us under confidentiality agreements. These companies may use your personal information to help us communicate with you. However, these companies do not have any independent right to share this information.
We limit access to personal information about you to employees and other personnel who we believe reasonably need to come into contact with that information to provide products or services to you or in order to do their jobs.


How long did it take you to make that mug/luminaria/vase?
X years and counting. Any craft is a skill that improves and grows with time. Everything I make contributes to the next piece in progress.
A bisque firing is a partial firing, where the chemical water is evaporated out of the clay. At the molecular level, clay is composed of alumina, silica, and water. A bisque firing goes part of the way up to maximum temperature, in order to remove the water molecule bonded to the clay molecule (I bisque to cone 06, or 1828 degrees F). It also partially crystallizes the remaining alumina and silica, making the piece more durable. While not strictly necessary, it's a common practice in modern ceramic studios. Bisque ware is very porous and better able to absorb the glaze that will be applied later.
Your electric bill must be enormous. How much does it cost to fire your kiln?
Surprisingly, not that much. A few years ago, I calculated the costs of a bisque firing, and a glaze firing. By using my electric utility's online website, I was able to determine the average cost of a kilowatt hour for a short period (2 weeks) before I fired. And I was able to figure out my normal amount of household kilowatts used per day during that time, also. Then I fired, and noted the increase in the number of kilowatts consumed during that time. Subtract the normal average, from the larger number (firing day), and multiply by the average cost per kilowatt hour. In my area (Valley of the Sun, Arizona), these costs can vary widely during the year. And our local utility continuously adjusts rates depending on overall demand and availability. However, even with seasonal fluctuations, I can generally cover the cost of the electricity, by selling at least one pot from the kiln load.
Are you selling online? Are you on Etsy? Where can I find more of your work?
Etsy is a great site, but at the moment, I spend 8 to 10 hours a day on the computer for my day job; I don't want to spend even more time constantly posting and updating an Etsy shop, which is pretty much required in order to be successful there. Selling items via ecommerce on my own website requires a level of constant maintenance that I am not able to commit to, at the moment.
Do you ever make those French butter keepers/yarn bowls/silverware drainer jars?
There are lots of fads that make their way around the ceramics communities. Ultimately, any forms that I make, are items that I regularly use in my own home. I don't do butter keepers because I keep my butter in a regular bowl; I never found it necessary to keep it fresh by dunking it in water. I've sometimes make yarn bowls, but the market for this is pretty limited (at least, here in Arizona, where knitting sweaters and other warm clothing just doesn't appeal quite as much as it might in a colder climate). A silverware drainer is a utensil jar with holes in the bottom, to go next to (or in) the sink. I haven't tried to market this one yet.


I just heard from eBay's fraud department that "court-approved forensic document examiners" Christopher Morales and Nick Burzyk have been banned by eBay!
Behind The Scenes have been collecting autographs since 1998 and taking video footage since 2002. They have now started to add this footage to their YouTube account so that everyone can view the video.
With video proof from stars such as Hugh Jackman, Top Cruise, Jason Patric, Paul Weller, Martin Sheen, The Late Great Ronnie Barker and many more.
Police investigating the sale of memorabilia bearing fake signatures of Winston Churchill have arrested a man in Hampshire.


text:
HomeHeadlineFermanagh filmmaker cleared of sexual assault
Fermanagh filmmaker cleared of sexual assault
Posted: 7:33 pm February 14, 2019
AN ENNISKILLEN film director has been cleared of sexually assaulting an actress at her flat in London.
Stephen Fingleton (35) was found not guilty of the charge by a jury of six men and six women at Isleworth Crown Court this week. Fingleton wept in the dock as the verdict was read and turned to the jury and said "thank you."
The Enniskillen director had been accused of assaulting the woman after having lunch with her at her flat on October 27, 2017. The woman, who had said she had invited Fingleton to discuss work opportunities, claimed he had grabbed her head and pushed it towards his crotch. She also alleged he had tried to kiss her and put his hand under her t-shirt.
The court heard the woman had sent a message to a friend afterwards stating Finlgeton had been "totally Harvey Weinstein."
Fingleton's defence team argued the lunch had not been planned as a professional meeting and the defendant had been honest about wanting to see the woman and "thought it might go somewhere."
They argued the situation was not the same as that of a Hollywood "mogul", where there would have been "an imbalance of power", and said the woman had lied about the assault after becoming upset Fingleton did not like a film she had made.
Fingleton had told the court he had been on the point of becoming successful at the time the allegation was first made, and had lost his involvement with an American film with well known actors as a result.