It might seem surprising that marine scientists are proposing a way for the oil and gas industry to save billions of dollars decommissioning old offshore rigs, but it's a plan where the main beneficiary is intended to be the environment.
In a new paper for the journal Frontiers of Ecology and the Environment, published by the Ecological Society of America, three scientists from the University of Technology, Sydney propose a large-scale expansion of the so-called "rigs-to-reefs" concept – leaving decommissioned rigs where they stand or moving them elsewhere to create artificial reefs.
Professor David Booth, Dr Peter Macreadie and Ashley Fowler have formed the Decommissioning Ecology Group to promote consideration of the idea, which Professor Booth took to the national congress of the Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association in Perth this week.
"The oil and gas industry worldwide is looking at the decommissioning of 6500 offshore rigs by 2025," Professor Booth said. "In Australia more than 60 rigs face decommissioning soon and government policy is still not set. Policy based on science is badly needed in this area.
"A rigs-to-reef project in the Gulf of Mexico dates back to 1979, but most other regions of the US and the world still require complete removal of subsea structures. With mandatory removal targets set to increase, removal and disposal activities will cost the industry billions and would leave a major carbon footprint."
In their article Macreadie, Fowler and Booth caution that a lot more research is needed, but artificial reefs potentially have important benefits in deep-sea locations.
"Rigs themselves have been described as 'de facto marine protected areas' because they exclude trawl fishing and their large internal spaces offer shelter to fish and other organisms," the authors said.
"Deep-sea communities in particular may benefit because the characteristics of their species (longevity, slow growth, late reproduction, low fecundity) make them highly vulnerable to exploitation.
"We suggest that a rigs-to-reef program in the deep sea, in conjunction with the establishment of marine protected areas, may offer a means of conserving deep-sea communities.
"Partnerships between scientists and industry, such as the SERPENT project, will improve the capacity for further research.
"We recommend that industry savings from a rigs-to-reef program should support independent research and monitoring to evaluate the effectiveness of rigs in fulfilling their intended purpose as artificial reefs in the deep sea."
Great Idea. Have studies been done to evaluate the Gulf "rigs-to-reefs" over the past 30+ yrs and whether there are long term effects on the environment...perhaps one not conducted by proponents of the rigs-to-reefs solution??
Creating policy, especially policy which supports a multi-billion dollar industry, I certainly have concerns about the long term - what we believe to be good for the environment may, in the future, contradict actual circumstances - once it becomes policy, the multi-billion dollar industry, irrespective of the actual effects, will make it very difficult to reverse.
Lastly, if we are to adopt a "rigs-to-reefs" policy, I expect (you know what they say when you assume) and hope that we would consider a quota whereby, oil companies can only convert "x" amount per "y" time frame - 6500 rigs to be decommissioned today - I don't want my children (and grandchildren etc...)only knowing an ocean overburdened with rig-reefs..
We did not find any comprehensive scientific studies evaluating the "rigs-to-reef" program in the Gulf – this is not to say they don't exist (indeed, some form of environmental assessment would have been required to have the "rigs-to-reef" bill passed through government), but rather that they are not accessible to the general public (it is likely they are buried in the gray literature, as opposed to published in scientific peer-reviewed journals). Nevertheless, there are some good studies that have evaluated the ecological effects of rigs in operation. For example, Dr Milton Love and colleagues (www.lovelab.id.ucsb.edu/ - a very interesting lab webpage...) monitored rockfish associated with Californian oil rigs and found that 20% of juvenile fish in the region were supported by 8 rigs, and that those fish associated with rigs grew faster and survived longer (essentially, rigs were acting as fish nurseries and were boosting regional fish production). They predicted that the loss of a single rig would be equivalent to removing 29 hectares of natural habitat.
But it's not all rosy; there are serious risks. Potential negative impacts include the release of contaminants as rigs corrode, physical damage to habitats and organisms within the "drop zone", spread of invasive species, and undesired changes to food web dynamics. Assessing these risks will require serious financial investment in deep sea research programs, and as you say, these assessments need to be done by groups who are unbiased. Our suggestion is that industry savings from rigs-to-reef programs could fund environmental impact assessments by independent bodies, which could be overseen by representatives from government, community and industry to ensure transparency.
You raise a very important point: "what we believe to be good for the environment may, in the future, contradict actual circumstances". My personal viewpoint is that we need to run some "rigs-to-reefs" pilot studies now, and have some money put aside to remove these rigs if things go bad.
I understand your feelings about the deep sea being overburdened by rig-reefs. In response to this I think it's worth noting that the oil industry is moving into deeper waters, and the new deep-water rig designs have much less structure (check out the diagram of rig types at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oil_platform – what we have is a large number of rigs that look like the conventional fixed platform design, but we're moving to the vertically moored design). This means that in future we probably won't have the burden of getting rid of all this structure (FYI: most of these fixed platforms stand the size of the Eiffel Tower and have a footprint the size of a football field!). The other point is that we're starting to get better at controlling illegal fisheries in the deep-sea, which means our ideas about using rigs to exclude illegal fishing trawlers may not be necessary in the future.


The Green Lake Conservancy is a community-based non-profit 501(c)(3) tax-deductible land trust that works to preserve, protect and enhance the aesthetic, ecological and recreational qualities of places that make the greater Big Green Lake Watershed special.
Establish conservation easements that allow landowners to protect their land in perpetuity while they continue to hold title.
The Conservancy collaborates with landowners who wish to see their special properties protected for the benefit of future generations.
Please contact us with questions, or to request additional information.


An exhibition of work by Ed van der Elsken, known as the "enfant terrible" of Dutch photography, will be on view at Howard Greenberg Gallery from March 22 through May 5, 2018. "Love" & Other Stories will focus on the celebrated street photographer's work from the 1950s and 60s documenting the social culture around him in Amsterdam, Paris, and Tokyo. An opening reception will be held on Thursday, March 22, from 6-8 p.m.
One of the leading street photographers of the 20th century, Ed van der Elsken began shooting photography on the streets of Amsterdam after WWII, inspired in part by the publication of Weegee's Naked City in 1945. He moved to Paris in 1950 where he worked in the darkroom at the Magnum Photos agency, printing photographs for Henri Cartier-Bresson and Robert Capa. In Paris he encountered the bohemian society of Saint-Germain-des-Prés and its bitter post-war malaise, and met his first wife, photographer Ata Kando. In 1953, his photographs were selected for two exhibitions by Edward Steichen, the curator of photography at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, whom he met in Paris. Steichen encouraged van der Elsken to create his groundbreaking photo novel, Love on the Left Bank, 1956, which is now a classic. He went on to publish more than 20 photography books.
In 1960, he and his second wife, Gerda van der Veen sold all of their possessions to travel around the world for over a year. The book that followed, Sweet Life, 1966, is considered one of his major accomplishments. In 1971, van der Elsken and his third wife, the photographer Anneke Hilhorst, settled on a farm in Edam in the Netherlands. Van der Elsken's work has been widely shown at contemporary art museums throughout the world. Recent solo and group shows were held at the Museum Boerhaave, Leiden, Netherlands, 2014; Stadsarchief, Amsterdam, 2014; Netherlands Fotomuseum, Rotterdam, 2010; Foam, Amsterdam, 2005; The Metropolitan Museum, Tokyo, 2003; and The Palazzina di Giardini, Modena, 2002.


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Estimate your vehicle trade-in value against a 2023 Ford Maverick in Niagara Falls, Niagara-on-the-lake, Fort Erie
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Publisher Allerdale Borough Council Animal and Plant Health Agency Barrow Borough Council Bath and North East Somerset Council Birmingham City Council Blackpool Borough Council Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council Borough Council of King's Lynn and West Norfolk Bristol City Council British Geological Survey (BGS) Broads Authority Broxtowe Borough Council Cabinet Office Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council Cambridgeshire County Council Cambridgeshire Insight Centre for Environment, Fisheries & Aquaculture Science Centre for Environmental Data Analysis Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy Chelmsford City Council Cheshire East Council Cheshire West and Chester Council Christchurch Borough Council City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council City of London City of York Council Civil Aviation Authority Colchester Borough Council Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment Copeland Borough Council Cornwall Council Cranfield University Criminal Records Bureau Crown Prosecution Service Defence Science and Technology Laboratory Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Department for Business, Innovation and Skills Department for Children, Schools and Families Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Department for Education Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Department for International Development Department for International Trade Department for Transport Department for Work and Pensions Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure Department of Health and Social Care Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety Department of the Environment Derbyshire County Council Devon County Council Driving Standards Agency Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council East Cambridgeshire District Council East Dorset District Council East Staffordshire Borough Council Education and Skills Funding Agency Environment Agency Environmental Information Data Centre Eurostat Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) Food Standards Agency Foreign and Commonwealth Office Forestry Commission Gambling Commission Gateshead Council Geoplace Gosport Borough Council Greater London Authority Greater Manchester Ecology Unit HM Inspectorate of Constabulary HM Revenue and Customs Hastings Borough Council Health and Safety Executive Health and Safety Laboratory Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership Higher Education Funding Council for England Higher Education Statistics Agency Highways England Home Office Hyndburn Borough Council ISD Scotland Independent Police Complaints Commission Ipswich Borough Council Joint Nature Conservation Committee Kettering Borough Council Leeds City Council Lichfield District Council Lincolnshire County Council London Borough of Barnet London Borough of Bexley London Borough of Camden London Borough of Hackney London Borough of Hounslow London Borough of Sutton Marine Environmental Data & Information Network Marine Management Organisation Met Office Mid Devon District Council Ministry of Defence Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government Ministry of Justice Mole Valley District Council NHS Choices NHS Digital NHS England NHS London (SHA) National College for Teaching and Leadership National Records of Scotland Natural England Natural Resources Wales Newcastle City Council North Hertfordshire District Council North Somerset Council North West Fungus Group North York Moors National Park Authority North Yorkshire County Council Northamptonshire Biodiversity Records Centre Northern Ireland Spatial Data Infrastructure Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency Nottinghamshire County Council Ofcom Office for National Statistics Ofsted OpenDataNI Ordnance Survey Oxfordshire County Council Peak District National Park Authority Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority Pendle Borough Council Plymouth City Council Public Health England Race Disparity Unit Registry Trust Limited Rother District Council Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames Runnymede Borough Council Rural Payments Agency Salford City Council Scottish Government Scottish Government SpatialData.gov.scot Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council Service Personnel and Veterans Agency Skills Funding Agency Skills for Care South Gloucestershire Council South Norfolk District Council Stafford Borough Council Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council Tate The Food and Environment Research Agency The Pensions Regulator Thurrock Council Trafford Council Transport for Greater Manchester Traveline Information Limited UK Trade & Investment Defence & Security Organisation UK Trade and Investment University of Edinburgh Valuation Office Agency Vehicle Certification Agency Vehicle and Operator Services Agency Wakefield Metropolitan District Council Warrington Borough Council Warwickshire County Council West Berkshire Council Wiltshire Council Worcester City Council Worcestershire County Council Wycombe District Council
Topic Business and economy Crime and justice Defence Education Environment Government Government spending Health Mapping Society Towns and cities Transport
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3,841 results found
Photo analysis (geological) from Anton Dohrn and East Rockall Bank
Joint Nature Conservation Committee
Photo analysis (geological) from Anton Dohrn and East Rockall Bank (2009_07-RVFranklin-AntonDhorn-RockallBank). The cruise 2009_03_MV_Franklin Surveyed two Areas of Search for offshore SACs Anton...
Area Based Grants
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
Area Based Grant is a general grant allocated directly to local authorities as additional revenue funding to areas. It is allocated according to specific policy criteria rather than general...
Revenue-based Taxes and Benefits: Pensions
Provides general information on all HMRC taxes, including tax receipts, the number of taxpayers, personal tax credits, child benefit and estimates of the cost of tax expenditures and structural...
Revenue-based Taxes and Benefits: Trusts
Revenue-based Taxes and Benefits: Corporate Tax
Revenue-based Taxes and Benefits: Inheritance Tax
Revenue-based Taxes and Benefits: Property Transactions
Revenue-based Taxes and Benefits: Personal incomes
Revenue-based Taxes and Benefits: Stamp Duties
Base Year Freight Matrices
Department for Transport
Modelled road freight vehicle movements for a base year of 2006, produced by the Base Year Freight Matrices (BYFM) study. Data consists of numbers of vehicles per average day between a set of...
Work Based Learning for Adults
The Work Based Learning for Adults scheme was a voluntary training programme aimed principally at those over 25 years who had been on Jobseekers Allowance for over six months. The data includes...
Revenue-based Taxes and Benefits: Child Trust Funds
Revenue-based Taxes and Benefits: Personal Tax Credits
Provides monthly and quarterly information on all HMRC taxes, including tax receipts, the number of taxpayers, personal tax credits, child benefit and estimates of the cost of tax expenditures and...
Revenue-based Taxes and Benefits: Capital Gains Tax
Revenue-based Taxes and Benefits: Enterprise investment scheme
Revenue-based Taxes and Benefits: Tax receipts and taxpayers
Revenue-based Taxes and Benefits: Venture Capital Trusts
Revenue-based Taxes and Benefits: Individual Savings Accounts
Revenue-based Taxes and Benefits: Personal Equity Plans
Revenue-based Taxes and Benefits: Child Benefit Statistics
Displaying datasets 1 - 20 of 3841 in total 1 2 3 … Next


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3/9/13: LAte night recap
This update will be brief because it's 1AM in the East. But I have a few bullet points on the key aspects of Saturdays surprises.
New Mexico was a safe bet for a 2 seed and even had a legit argument for a 1 seed. The Lobos lost in heartbreaking fashion to Air Force today, which moves them down to a 3. Lobo fans shouldn't get too worried, however. If they take care of business in the MWC Tournament they should be back in contention for a 2.
Baylor, you're killing us. Everyone had written you off as the bubble team that couldn't come up big when it matters. By the start of this weekend, you weren't even in my last six teams OUT, much less in. But then the Bears smacked Kansas Saturday and they are right back in the thick of things. I currently have them as my first team out. All they need to do is win one or two more marquee games in the Big 12 tournament and it would be very difficult to exclude them.
Congrats to the Boise State Broncos. They have locked up an at-large for the first time in the school's history with their impressive win against San Diego State. Boise fans should not be sweating on Selection Sunday. And trust me, you don't want to see Derrick Marks in the first round. They can do serious damage. Think Sweet 16.


4oz refill. This one is for the spicy food lovers. Masa Harina, Sea Salt, Ancho, Tomato Powder, Garlic, Hungarian Paprika, Minced White Onion, Cayenne, Cumin, Allspice, Coriander Aleppo Pepper, Chimayo Pepper and other spices.


For nearly ninety years, more than eight thousand scientists and scholars at the Institute for Advanced Study have sought to understand the complexities of the physical world and of humanity, prompting advances in science and society. The Institute actively supports the development of the next generation of academic leaders and connects a worldwide community enriched by academic freedom. Research extends across the humanities and sciences, a broad reach that is fundamental to our mission.


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Extreme climate may hamper post-Thanksgiving journey throughout the jap U.S.
Heavy rain and robust winds stretched this weekend from Texas to Florida, threatening post-Thanksgiving journey plans, in accordance with the Nationwide Climate Service.
Almost 55 million individuals had been anticipated to journey 50 miles or extra from their properties this Thanksgiving weekend — 98% of pre-pandemic ranges, in accordance with AAA.
A deep upper-level low made its manner by way of the Southwest and into the South on Saturday, with impacts on main cities corresponding to Dallas, Oklahoma Metropolis, New Orleans and Memphis, Tennessee.
Saturday afternoon, a twister with sustained winds estimated to have reached 100 mph touched down within the city of Paradis, Louisiana, roughly 30 miles from New Orleans. The storm peeled the roof from a home, flipped an RV, and broken the roof of a church, stated Phil Grigsby of the Nationwide Climate Service.
The twister, 200 yards vast, swept on for practically three-quarters of a mile, additionally felling branches, damaging bushes, and eradicating shingles from residential roofs, he stated.
A Nationwide Climate Service affiliate occurred to be within the space and shortly confirmed the twister and its injury, Grigsby stated. It hit the bottom at 2:18 p.m. and was again within the air at 2:20, he stated.
Wind advisories had been in place for round 9 million individuals throughout the Southeast, together with New Orleans and Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and Birmingham, Huntsville and Asheville, Alabama. These alerts had been in impact from Saturday evening by way of Sunday morning.
The southeastern storm entrance, shifting north and east, is bringing with it heat air from the Gulf of Mexico that is colliding with decrease temperatures and cooler air and producing instability, wind, rain and potent cells, forecasters stated.
"We had the cells start to tackle rotation and evolve into this twister," Grigsby stated.
The entrance line of the exercise had moved out of Louisiana and into Alabama and Florida by Saturday evening, he stated.
By Sunday morning, the rain will shift into the southeast, mid-Atlantic and Nice Lakes areas, which may threaten morning journey for cities corresponding to Chicago, St. Louis, Detroit, Indianapolis, Cleveland, Atlanta, Washington, D.C., Charlotte, North Carolina, and Nashville, Tennessee.
This wall of rain will ultimately arrive within the Northeast by Sunday afternoon, affecting New York, Philadelphia and Boston. The heaviest downpours ought to finish between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m., with rain ending by the late night.
Though the extreme climate danger could be very low on Sunday, there would be the potential for sturdy winds and frequent lightning that would hinder journey, particularly within the Northeast.
One other creating storm system was anticipated to proceed to carry heavy rain along with mountain snow to the Pacific Northwest this weekend, in accordance with the climate service.
Winter climate advisories are in place for elements of the Cascades and Northern Rockies, together with northern Idaho, Montana, and southeast Wyoming.
Excessive wind watch alerts are additionally in place for this area by way of Sunday, with gusts as much as 50 to 70 mph doable. It will create hazardous journey situations, particularly within the increased elevations and passes.
Christine Rapp
Christine Rapp is a meteorologist for NBC Information.
Mirna Alsharif is a breaking information reporter for NBC Information.
Dennis Romero contributed.
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Home News SW landlords first to get rent arrears cash from Government's £65m fund
SW landlords first to get rent arrears cash from Government's £65m fund
Nigel Lewis
Private landlords and tenants in Cornwall are being offered up to £5,000 to help address problem rent arrears.
Cornwall Council's new scheme – the tenancy sustainment and rescue project – has £700,000 of government funding from the Covid Outbreak Management Fund and a government fund to deal with homelessness, by targeting those most at risk of eviction.
Citizens' Advice Cornwall and Cornwall Housing's Prevention and Engagement team have been tasked with identifying the most deserving cases, working directly with those who ask for help or who are referred by partner organisations.
Citizens' Advice will work with tenants and landlords on a case-by-case basis, looking at the reason for the arrears, and can provide support to sustain the tenancy for a minimum period of 12 months. They can hand out up to £5,000 per case.
Cornwall Council wants landlords who are thinking about serving notice to get in touch, says Olly Monk, portfolio holder for housing and planning.
"This gives both the tenant and landlord a chance to reset their relationship," he explains. "It gives the landlord the means to continue the tenancy and allows the tenant some much-needed respite and a chance to remain in the property and the area in which they have chosen to live."
Adds Monk: "It's really important that we understand the issues that landlords and tenants can sometimes find themselves faced with and try to find a working solution to sometimes relatively straightforward issues."
Gill Pipkin, from Citizens' Advice Cornwall, says: "This is a much-needed lifeline to help people stay in their homes. We look forward to working with tenants and landlords to maintain tenancies and avoid homelessness over the next few months."
To apply, landlords can contact tenancyhelp@citizensadvicecornwall.org.uk
Citizens Advice
Olly Monk
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https://www.landlordzone.co.uk/author-bios-nigel-lewis
Nigel Lewis is a property writer and editor with a 27-year track record working for national newspapers, magazines, websites and also leading content media agencies and portals. nigellewis67@gmail.com
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Princess Caroline of Monaco was in London on Monday, and she packed a major statement piece of jewelry in her luggage for the trip!
Caroline was in the city to attend the "Bienvenu au Congo" exhibition at Bonhams. She co-hosted the event alongside Noella Coursaris, founder of Malaika, a foundation that uses health and education programs to empower Congolese girls and their communities. The event benefitted both Malaika and Princess Caroline's own foundation.
For the event, she wore a massive statement necklace with a stylized eagle pendant.
Here's another, closer view of the necklace. She very smartly paired it with a much simpler pair of hoop earrings.
Her jewelry look was rounded out by rings on both hands, including some fashionably stacked pieces.


The Hunt Institute and the National Governors Association hosted 11 of the nation's governors in Chicago, Illinois, at the 2013 Governors Education Symposium: Advance America | A Commitment to Quality Education. The Symposium, conceived by The Hunt Institute, is designed to bring the nation's governors together to engage in candid dialogue about critical challenges facing education. Governors Jim Hunt, Dannel Malloy (CT), and Terry Branstad (IA) served as co-chairs and provided strong, thoughtful leadership throughout the discussions.
The Symposium focused on the importance of governors being at the helm of college- and career-ready reforms in their states. Governors engaged in a series of discussions with national and state leaders to consider implementation of college- and career-ready standards, coalition-building, teacher and leader effectiveness, and resource reallocation to advance student achievement and attainment. Throughout the Symposium, governors shared the success and challenges they have found in their states. Governors also brought state teams that included their chief state school officer, state higher education executive, and education advisor to give them time to collaborate with key education leaders in their states and ensure that these individuals had access to the information and resources shared at the Symposium.
During the Symposium, governors considered the need to engage business leaders to help overcome anticipated challenges during the next two years of state standards implementation. To address these challenges – such as the anticipated score drop when new assessments go into effect or the need to achieve buy-in from newly-elected leaders – states will need strong leadership and coalitions. Resource experts from Tennessee and Arizona shared their experiences and advised governors on how they might form or strengthen stakeholder coalitions in their states. Governors also discussed the importance of effective teaching and leadership to improve student achievement and considered the policy levers at their disposal to spur improvement in teacher preparation, certification, and evaluation. Governors benefited from the perspective of resource experts who helped them think strategically about resource allocation and the need to re-examine policies that might hinder innovation in K-12 and postsecondary education.
Governors also had an opportunity for a frank discussion with U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan that focused on early childhood education, college and career readiness, and higher education affordability. The Secretary sought feedback and suggestions from the governors about the Administration's work and governors were candid about their concerns and needs.
For more information about the Symposium, see the following event materials.


Our rich and varied curriculum will provide opportunities to develop skills to be successful in the future, including Language, Literacy, Maths, Science and ICT as well as History, Geography, Art and Design, RE, PSHE, PE, Music and Modern Foreign Languages. As an Academy we will follow the outline of the National Curriculum.
The emphasis will be teaching through engaging topics, where creative learning is linked through exciting and relevant contexts that meet the different interests and needs of all its pupils.
Teachers and Learning Assistants will support the children's learning, using their knowledge and skill to make a difference to every child.
The curriculum of the school comprises all the opportunities for learning which the child encounters during the school day. Our expectations are high and we hope that by ensuring each child becomes an independent learner, they are able to achieve their full academic potential.
The curriculum is designed to help children acquire the essential skills of literacy and numeracy so that they become fluent in the use of spoken language, in reading and in writing, and that they become increasingly competent in the understanding and application of Mathematics.
All the learning which takes place in school is dependent on the four inter-related skills of talking, listening, reading and writing.
In addition to this the school follows the Surrey Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education. Parents and carers who do not want their child to take part in Religious Education lessons or in collective acts of worship should express their wishes in writing to the Head of School.


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How did we get our name Mick's Fiji?
Mick is my nephew's name, that is my elder brother's son and he is the third generation in my family. He was born when Hurricane Mick hit Fiji in December 2009. Broadcasting Fiji announced that family & friends at the hospital need to be evacuated. My brothers and I were fighting with the wind from the village to the hospital with an old Carrie truck. Trees were lying on the road so we needed to pull them away at the side of the road. It wasn't easy to go and move my nephew home, so we reached the hospital safely. The wind was blowing so strong and we reached home safe and my Dad named him Mick after the name of the hurricane and the remembrance of us three brothers who risked our lives to go across the hurricane to save Micks life and now Mick is 5 year old. When I start our family business my Dad said to name the business after Mick.
How Did Mick's Fiji Start?
Jenelle Fielding
Bula. Everyone please feel free to read how we started our family Fijian owned business. This was written by my friend Jenelle.
I recently made a new friend from Fiji. Talking the other night he shared a story with me which really touched me and I thought I would share it with you.
First...ly I need to say that this young man comes from a family who have very little. Neither of his parents work and he has 3 other siblings all living in the village. One of his brothers was doing horse riding tours trying to make a living.
This guy was working in a resort as a waiter when he met an Australian family holidaying. Every night he would walk the grandmother of the family back to her room throughout her stay, making sure she was safe and taken care of. They chatted about many topics on the walks. On the last night the family were staying he said goodnight as he had every other night and went to leave but the grandmother asked him to come inside. He had no idea what was about to happen but what unfolded changed his life forever.
The grandmother handed him an envelope which contained $1000 AUD and told him to spend it however he wished and thanked him for looking after her so well during her stay. As we all know $1000 is a huge amount of money to Fijian people. He couldn't believe what was happening and how lucky he was.
What he did with the money is where this story touched me. He used the $1000 AUD as a deposit to buy a car. Once he had that car he started a business doing transfers and tours. The business now employs him and his 2 brothers and supports his whole family. That first car is now a small fleet of 3 and growing.
He kept in touch with the family who were so generous. When they saw what he was trying to achieve they decided to sponsor him to come to Australia where he is now studying business.
This guy is now only 23 years old and wise way beyond his years. It amazed me how $1000 could change the lives of so many people, not just now but for the rest of their lives just by choosing a smart way to spend it.
What is a small gesture to some can be life changing to another.
If you are in Fiji and needing a transfer or day tour. Please consider showing your support to Micks Fiji.


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Competition Authority weighs in on regional aircraft noise tax
Aviation Italy
Both the Italian carriers' association (Assaereo) and the Italian airport association (Assaeroporti) have raised concerns over the effects of the new regional tax on aircraft noise implemented in six regions – Lazio, Lombardia, Emilia Romagna, March, Calabria and Campania (for further details please see "New tax on aircraft noise raises concerns"). On August 27 2013 the Italian Competition Authority responded to these concerns by issuing a communication to Parliament and the government under the Competition and Fair Trading Act (Law 287/1990) regarding the competition distortions caused by the varied implementation of the tax.
The communication follows complaints submitted to the authority by Società Aeroporti di Roma SpA (the management company of Rome's Ciampino and Fiumicino airports), Assaeroporti and Assaereo. The issues and concerns raised in their claims have mostly been addressed in the authority's communication. In particular, the authority assessed the potential distortive effects on competition of the implementation of the new tax in the Italian regions.
The authority noted that certain material differences in the assessment and collection of the tax in each region were not justified on technical or geographical grounds, but were merely due to a lack of proper coordination among the regions. As a consequence, such differences will inevitably and unjustifiably alter the investment return conditions of air carriers that operate in different airports.
The authority further noted that these circumstances will clearly have distortive consequences for competition among sector operators, as well as negative effects for passengers. In particular, the most relevant effects will be on:
air carriers that mainly operate in airports where the tax rate is higher, and that cannot easily transfer their operations to another airport;
passengers who will be more attracted to airports where the tax rate is lower, as the flight fares applied by the air carriers operating in such airports will thus be lower; and
the management companies of the airports subject to a higher tax rate, which will face a reduction in the number of air carriers and passengers.
Moreover, in its communication the authority considered other important weaknesses of the regional tax regime, such as the lack of an efficiency ratio in the parameters of tax calculation and collection. For instance, unlike the law of other EU member states, the Italian tax regime does not take into account the particular urban characteristics of each airport, the actual noise level of particular aircraft and the distinction between daytime and night-time flights.
In addition, the new tax does not seem to comply with its specific and main purpose, as in some regions (eg, Lazio) only 10% of the collected amount is assigned to the management of the social costs arising from aircraft noise (eg, airport monitoring systems, anti-pollution measures and indemnification of communities affected by aircraft acoustic pollution).
Finally, the authority also suggested measures that should be adopted at a national level to remove the risk of competition distortion, as well as uniform standards for the implementation of the tax across the regions. Such criteria should set the tax level according to the type and characteristics of aircraft with the aim of avoiding arbitrary discrimination among airports, their management companies and air carriers. In this regard, Parliament should consider the criteria adopted by other EU member states, such as:
different rates for daytime and night-time flights;
tax rates and tax collection parameters based on the aircraft's noise efficiency, instead of its weight; and
a set of rates that take into account the distinct urban characteristics of airports' surrounding geographical areas.
The suggested measures should also be combined with adequate provisions to ensure that tax revenues are allocated mainly for noise abatement measures, which would be the only way to fulfil the main purpose of the tax and to justify the negative impact on aviation sector competitiveness.
For further information on this topic please contact Laura Pierallini at Studio Legale Pierallini e Associati by telephone (+39 06 88 41 713), fax (+39 06 88 40 249) or email (l.pierallini@pierallini.it).
Laura Pierallini
General ban on operation of night-time flights removed
Mind your drone business – recent ENAC initiatives
Italian antitrust procedure in respect of airlines' new hand baggage policy
A step forward in Alitalia sale process
Application of tax on aircraft noise overruled


By: Jeannie Lenberg, Program Manager, Spartanburg Family Medicine Residency Program, Spartanburg, South Carolina, recounts this year's AAFP National Conference in Kansas City.
The annual American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) National Conference of Family Medicine Residents and Medical Students was held on July 28-July 30, in Kansas City, Missouri. Residents, faculty and staff from each of the eight South Carolina family medicine residency training programs attended. The conference affords medical students and residents an opportunity to learn more about family medicine residency programs and fellowships, attend educational sessions, learn more about family medicine, and participate in several hands-on learning opportunities. Areas of focus encompassed leadership development, clinical skills, musculoskeletal clinics, procedural skills, health policy and advocacy, career planning courses and much more.
Throughout the conference, all eight of South Carolina's family medicine residency programs stayed active at the recruiting booth, meeting medical students, potential fellows and explaining the benefits of completing residency training in South Carolina. This year approximately 300 medical students from around the country visited the booths, doubling the number of last year's attendance. All of whom desired to learn more about South Carolina and our outstanding residency programs.
This year's conference was a big success for each of South Carolina's family medicine residency programs and for the residents and students who attended. I want to thank Kristin Cochran, Director of Recruitment and Student Programs for the South Carolina AHEC and Karen Turner, Trident/MUSC Family Medicine Residency Program Coordinator, for their help in the planning and organization of this year's trip! Special thanks go out to all program faculty and residents who helped with the set up and take down at the event. It has been an honor to work with you for the past two years on this event!
For more information about the South Carolina family medicine residency training programs, please contact Kristin Cochran at cochrak@musc.edu.


text:
Cannabis Regulations Continue to Thaw Throughout the World
FinancialBuzz.com
FinancialBuzz.com News Commentary
NEW YORK, July 24, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- In recent years, the cannabis industry has witnessed immense support from countries across the world. Numerous national governments have their own unique perspective regarding the plant, however, most still have not moved to legalize cannabis because of the stigma surrounding its psychoactive nature. Nonetheless, cannabis has already tapped into several of the largest global markets. For instance, Canada became the first and only G-7 nation to legalize cannabis entirely in late 2018. Meanwhile, among the other G-7 nations, France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom and the U.S. have all adopted partial or full medical cannabis legislation. The only G-7 nation to not have adopted any form of cannabis legislation is currently Japan. Overall, many Asian countries enforce stricter regulations, which result in severe consequences if violated. As such, cannabis companies have not had much luck tapping into the Asian markets. However, South Korea and Thailand are two Asian nations that decided to take steps forward and dive into the cannabis industry. South Korea's medical cannabis program launched in early March and paved the way for select THC and CBD-based medication imports. In particular, Canopy Growth Corporation is among the several Canadian multinational firms looking to enter the South Korean market. Similarly, Thailand has moved to legalize medical cannabis, with many expecting the legislation to be implemented next year after Thailand's military-appointed National Legislative Assembly voted 166 to 0 in favor of legalizing medical cannabis. The profound movement stirring throughout Asia further highlights the impact that cannabis is making on a global scale. Moreover, ongoing international legalization efforts are expected to accelerate and further bolster the market in the near future. According to data compiled by MarketsandMarkets research, the cannabis market was valued at USD 10.3 Billion in 2018. By 2023, the market is expected to reach USD 39.4 Billion while registering a CAGR of 30.7% during the forecast period. Pasha Brands Ltd. (OTC: CRFTF) (CSE: CRFT), Canopy Growth Corporation (NYSE: CGC) (TSX: WEED), Cronos Group Inc. (NASDAQ: CRON) (TSX: CRON), Aphria Inc. (NYSE: APHA) (APHA.TO), HEXO Corp. (NYSE-A: HEXO) (TSX: HEXO)
ArcView Market Research and BDS Analytics highlight that the entry of big tobacco and large beverage producers into the sector is attributable to the potential growth in consumer spending. Moreover, the firms also note that the passage of the U.S. Farm Bill is a key factor in the global market's growth. Predominantly, the majority of the global cannabis revenue derives from the U.S. because of its early adoption. However, most of the large cannabis corporations are headquartered within Canada. At the end of 2018, the top five licensed producers in Canada reached a combined market capitalization of nearly USD 20 Billion. Notably, the five producers have all established international operations, supplying the various regions across the world with medicinal cannabis. Furthermore, as investments continue to pour in from other public or private sectors, licensed producers are expected to benefit greatly. Producers can use investment funds towards obtaining more licenses or expanding their facilities. In return, producers can obtain higher yields during each harvest. However, sometimes higher yields can interfere with the quality of the bud. As a result, more producers are using funds in order to tend to each individual plant to grow more potent and high quality strains as consumer demand continues to increase. In conclusion, Canadian consumers can expect cannabis supply to stabilize if licensed producers can overcome legal barriers. "If you look at the data from 2017, and you compare it to pace of production right now, you can see how licensed producers were stockpiling cannabis at a hectic rate," Armstrong said. "Something's definitely going on with getting supply to consumers, that's one of the possibilities, but I'm pretty sure this will all eventually get resolved."
Pasha Brands Ltd. (OTC: CRFTF) (CSE: CRFT) is also listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange under the ticker (CSE: CRFT). Earlier today, the company announced breaking news that, "it has signed an agreement with Great North Distributors, Inc. ("Great North"), Canada's first national sales broker for legalized adult-use cannabis, to distribute Pasha's craft cannabis products throughout Canada.
Through the newly formed partnership, Great North will give Pasha Brands access to its nationwide sales and distribution network, which includes experienced sales and marketing teams, established relationships with all government cannabis distribution boards, as well as coverage with Canada's numerous private retailers.
"Our agreement with Great North is very significant for a variety of reasons," said Jason Longden, CEO of Pasha Brands. "Through BC Craft Supply Co., small craft producers throughout Canada will now have nationwide sales representation for their world-famous craft products – without ever having to make a sales call. The Great North leadership team's experience in the wine and spirits sector translates well into the newly established Canadian cannabis industry and is of great value as we look to build our business throughout Canada."
Established by the owners of Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits, the world's preeminent distributor for beverage alcohol, Great North has reach across every province in Canada, including established relationships and expertise in working with provincially-owned and operated retailers and private retailers. Great North applies industry-leading data analytics capabilities from the wine and spirits industry to the new cannabis industry, providing suppliers with a powerful data-driven approach to cannabis sales.
Doug Wieland, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits of Canada and Great North Distributors, provided insight into the decision to partner with Pasha Brands, saying, "Having spent the past year meeting the Pasha team and craft producers in BC Craft Supply Co.'s supply chain, we believe that the next big move in Canada's cannabis sector will be craft products. We look forward to bringing these products to market in a timely and accessible fashion and can't wait to see how Canadians react to this highly coveted class of cannabis products."
With a proven track record of performance and driving sales from coast-to-coast, Great North will ensure that Pasha Brands, its subsidiaries and their products will be well-represented at cannabis retailers across the country. Great North's established cannabis sales team has been operational pre-legalization and will be responsible for selling Pasha's growing portfolio of brands and products to Canadian cannabis retailers.
Under the agreement, BC Craft Supply Co. will purchase cannabis products from licensed micro-cultivators for processing and sell the finished products through provincial and territorial government distribution systems in Canada.
About Pasha Brands: Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Pasha is a vertically integrated, prohibition-era brand house firmly rooted in BC's craft cannabis industry, which boasts an international reputation. With proven capabilities in cannabis cultivation, genetic research and development, product processing, and retail, Pasha is uniquely positioned in the new legal cannabis market through its network of hundreds of craft cannabis suppliers under the Pasha umbrella. Pasha subsidiary, Medcann Health Products Ltd., is a Health Canada licensed cultivator and processor with a license to sell medical cannabis products in Canada. Pasha and BC Craft are also developing a craft cannabis campus, which is dedicated to bringing craft quality into the newly legal cannabis market in Canada. BC Craft is driven to assist craft growers in obtaining security clearance and licensing to grow as micro-cultivators, specializing in education and compliance to bring growers into the regulated cannabis supply market. Pasha's common shares trade on the CSE under the symbol "CRFT" and on the FSE under the symbol "ZZD". For more information, please visit www.pashabrands.com"
For our latest "Buzz on the Street" Show featuring Pasha Brands Ltd. recent corporate news, please head over to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhaATntJ52Y
Canopy Growth Corporation (NYSE: CGC) (TSX: WEED) is a world-leading diversified cannabis, hemp and cannabis device company, offering distinct brands and curated cannabis varieties in dried, oil and Softgel capsule forms, as well as medical devices through Canopy Growth's subsidiary, Storz & Bickel GMbH & Co. KG. Canopy Growth Corporation recently announced that it has received a new license from Health Canada permitting it to grow cannabis at an outdoor site in northern Saskatchewan. Hours after receiving the licence, the first cannabis cuttings were planted at a 7 million sq. ft. (160 acres) secure cultivation field in the province. The new license expands Canopy Growth's diversified Canadian footprint and complements its existing indoor and greenhouse facilities to provide a leading balance of facilities to produce low-cost input materials for value-add products while ensuring more sophisticated growing operations for in-demand flower products. "Our team has outdoor, at-scale cannabis expertise gained from over a decade of hemp farming experience, including Canopy's 4,000-acre hemp operation executed last year, the extract of which is bolstering our CBD supply for the medical and recreational markets," said Mark Zekulin, President and Co-Chief Executive Officer, Canopy Growth. "At this stage in the summer planting season we view this as a pilot and ramp up project for outdoor cannabis cultivation, though the team will do everything it can to deliver low cost yields this year."
Cronos Group Inc. (NASDAQ: CRON) (TSX: CRON) is a globally diversified and vertically integrated cannabis company with a presence across five continents. Cronos Group Inc. recently announced that the CAD 2.4 Billion equity investment in the Company by Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE: MO) has closed. As previously announced, Altria's investment represents an approximate 45% ownership interest in Cronos Group. Altria also has a warrant to acquire additional ownership in Cronos Group, which is exercisable over the next four years. If exercised in full today, the warrant would increase Altria's ownership in Cronos Group to approximately 55% and provide Cronos Group with additional proceeds of approximately CAD 1.4 Billion. "We are delighted to close this transaction and kick-off a relationship that we expect to lead to significant growth and value creation," said Mike Gorenstein, Cronos Group's Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. "Altria's investment and the services they will provide to Cronos Group will enhance our financial resources, and allow us to expand our product development and commercialization capabilities, and regulatory expertise to better position Cronos Group to compete, scale and lead the rapidly growing global cannabis industry. We look forward to the many opportunities we expect this relationship to create."
Aphria Inc. (NYSE: APHA) (APHA.TO) is a leading global cannabis company driven by an unrelenting commitment to our people, product quality and innovation. Aphria Inc. recently announced that it had expanded the scope of its previously announced agreement expanding the territory where Aphria has been granted exclusive preferred rights to license, manufacture, distribute and sell RDT's QuickStrip™ innovative, proprietary delivery technology for the cannabis market to Germany. RDT's proprietary QuickStrip™ technology is a Quick, Convenient, Precise, Discreet™ oral fast-dissolving drug delivery system that offers a smoke-free choice to consumers. Aphria expects to produce and distribute CBD-only Quickstrips™ in Germany by Spring 2019. "Germany is one of the most sought-after cannabis markets today, and Aphria continues to take a comprehensive approach to ensure a leading presence in the country as the opportunity evolves," said Jakob Ripshtein, President of Aphria. "Aphria is committed to bringing advanced products and innovations to cannabis markets around the world, and this agreement with RDT will enable us to bring QuickStrip™ technology to the German market and offer a unique nutraceutical product that delivers a consistent dosage."
HEXO Corp. (NYSE-A: HEXO) (TSX: HEXO) is an award-winning consumer packaged goods cannabis company that creates and distributes prize-winning products to serve the global cannabis market. HEXO Corp and Newstrike Brands Ltd. ("Newstrike") (TSX-V: HIP) recently announced that they have entered into a definitive arrangement agreement (the "Arrangement Agreement") under which HEXO will acquire, by way of a plan of arrangement under the Business Corporations Act (Ontario), all of Newstrike's issued and outstanding common shares in an all-share transaction valued at approximately USD 263 Million (the "Transaction"). The Transaction gives HEXO the capacity to produce approximately 150,000 kg of high-quality cannabis annually. The Transaction also provides HEXO access to four cutting-edge production campuses totalling close to 1.8 million sq. ft. of near-term cultivation space and diversified growing and production techniques. This is in addition to HEXO's 579,000 sq. ft. facility for a manufacturing and product development centre of excellence in Belleville, Ontario. Combined, HEXO and Newstrike have established distribution agreements in 8 provinces including Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island, allowing broad consumer access to HEXO's products across Canada. Newstrike's licensed indoor facility provide HEXO with access to diversified growing techniques and positions HEXO for flexibility for international exports as global cannabis markets continue to open. "We're thrilled to welcome the Newstrike team into the HEXO family. Jay Wilgar (Chief Executive Officer of Newstrike) and his team have built incredible relationships, including teaming up with The Tragically Hip, and they share HEXO's vision of bringing exceptional branded cannabis experiences to adults everywhere," said Sebastien St-Louis, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of HEXO Corp "With Newstrike, we're adding talented employees and infrastructure to take HEXO to the next level on our journey to become one of the largest cannabis companies in the world. We're extremely proud of our record of execution, and today are committing to achieving over USD 400 Million in net revenue in 2020."
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Please Note: FinancialBuzz.com is not a financial advisory or advisor, investment advisor or broker-dealer and do not undertake any activities that would require such registration. The information provided on http://www.FinancialBuzz.com (the 'Site') is either original financial news or paid advertisements provided [exclusively] by our affiliates (sponsored content), FinancialBuzz.com, a financial news media and marketing firm enters into media buys or service agreements with the companies which are the subject to the articles posted on the Site or other editorials for advertising such companies. We are not an independent news media provider and therefore do not represent or warrant that the information posted on the Site is accurate, unbiased or complete. FinancialBuzz.com receives fees for producing and presenting high quality and sophisticated content on FinancialBuzz.com along with other financial news PR media services. FinancialBuzz.com does not offer any personal opinions, recommendations or bias commentary as we purely incorporate public market information along with financial and corporate news. FinancialBuzz.com only aggregates or regurgitates financial or corporate news through our unique financial newswire and media platform. For Pasha Brands Ltd. financial and corporate news dissemination, FinancialBuzz.com has been compensated five thousand dollars by the company. Our fees may be either a flat cash sum or negotiated number of securities of the companies featured on this editorial or site, or a combination thereof. The securities are commonly paid in segments, of which a portion is received upon engagement and the balance is paid on or near the conclusion of the engagement. FinancialBuzz.com will always disclose any compensation in securities or cash payments for financial news PR advertising. FinancialBuzz.com does not undertake to update any of the information on the editorial or Site or continue to post information about any companies the information contained herein is not intended to be used as the basis for investment decisions and should not be considered as investment advice or a recommendation. The information contained herein is not an offer or solicitation to buy, hold or sell any security. FinancialBuzz.com, members and affiliates are not responsible for any gains or losses that result from the opinions expressed on this editorial or Site, company profiles, quotations or in other materials or presentations that it publishes electronically or in print. Investors accept full responsibility for any and all of their investment decisions based on their own independent research and evaluation of their own investment goals, risk tolerance, and financial condition. FinancialBuzz.com. By accessing this editorial and website and any pages thereof, you agree to be bound by the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, as may be amended from time to time. None of the content issued by FinancialBuzz.com constitutes a recommendation for any investor to purchase, hold or sell any particular security, pursue a particular investment strategy or that any security is suitable for any investor. This publication is provided by FinancialBuzz.com. Each investor is solely responsible for determining whether a particular security or investment strategy is suitable based on their objectives, other securities holdings, financial situation needs, and tax status. You agree to consult with your investment advisor, tax and legal consultant before making any investment decisions. We make no representations as to the completeness, accuracy or timeless of the material provided. All materials are subject to change without notice. Information is obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but its accuracy and completeness are not guaranteed. For our full disclaimer, disclosure and Terms of Use, please visit: http://www.financialbuzz.com.
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Gold Prices Continue to Fluctuate Early in the Year...
Plant-Based Movement Continues Growing as Consumers Flock to...


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Database Open Access
Wilson Central Terminal ECG Database
Hossein Moeinzadeh , Gaetano Gargiulo
Published: March 8, 2019. Version: 1.0.0 <View latest version>
This is not the latest version. Click here for the latest version.
When using this resource, please cite: (show more options)
Moeinzadeh, H., & Gargiulo, G. (2019). Wilson Central Terminal ECG Database (version 1.0.0). PhysioNet. https://doi.org/10.13026/wrn5-3v80.
Moeinzadeh, Hossein, and Gaetano Gargiulo. "Wilson Central Terminal ECG Database" (version 1.0.0). PhysioNet (2019), https://doi.org/10.13026/wrn5-3v80.
Moeinzadeh, Hossein, and Gaetano Gargiulo. "Wilson Central Terminal ECG Database" (version 1.0.0). PhysioNet (2019). https://doi.org/10.13026/wrn5-3v80.
Moeinzadeh, H., and Gargiulo, G. (2019) 'Wilson Central Terminal ECG Database' (version 1.0.0), PhysioNet. Available at: https://doi.org/10.13026/wrn5-3v80.
Moeinzadeh H, Gargiulo G. Wilson Central Terminal ECG Database (version 1.0.0). PhysioNet. 2019. Available from: https://doi.org/10.13026/wrn5-3v80.
Additionally, please cite the original publication:
Gargiulo, G., Bifulco, P., Cesarelli, M., Mcewan, A., Moeinzadeh, H., O'Loughlin, A., Thiagalingam, A. (2016). On the "Zero of Potential of the Electric Field Produced by the Heart Beat". A Machine Capable of Estimating this Underlying Persistent Error in Electrocardiography. Machines, 4(4), 18. doi:10.3390/machines4040018
Please include the standard citation for PhysioNet: (show more options)
Goldberger, A., Amaral, L., Glass, L., Hausdorff, J., Ivanov, P. C., Mark, R., ... & Stanley, H. E. (2000). PhysioBank, PhysioToolkit, and PhysioNet: Components of a new research resource for complex physiologic signals. Circulation [Online]. 101 (23), pp. e215–e220.
Goldberger, A., et al. "PhysioBank, PhysioToolkit, and PhysioNet: Components of a new research resource for complex physiologic signals. Circulation [Online]. 101 (23), pp. e215–e220." (2000).
Goldberger, A., L. Amaral, L. Glass, J. Hausdorff, P. C. Ivanov, R. Mark, J. E. Mietus, G. B. Moody, C. K. Peng, and H. E. Stanley. "PhysioBank, PhysioToolkit, and PhysioNet: Components of a new research resource for complex physiologic signals. Circulation [Online]. 101 (23), pp. e215–e220." (2000).
Goldberger, A., Amaral, L., Glass, L., Hausdorff, J., Ivanov, P.C., Mark, R., Mietus, J.E., Moody, G.B., Peng, C.K. and Stanley, H.E., 2000. PhysioBank, PhysioToolkit, and PhysioNet: Components of a new research resource for complex physiologic signals. Circulation [Online]. 101 (23), pp. e215–e220.
Goldberger A, Amaral L, Glass L, Hausdorff J, Ivanov PC, Mark R, Mietus JE, Moody GB, Peng CK, Stanley HE. PhysioBank, PhysioToolkit, and PhysioNet: Components of a new research resource for complex physiologic signals. Circulation [Online]. 101 (23), pp. e215–e220.
We present a unique dataset which contains the Wilson Central Terminal (WCT), the voltage of right arm (RA), left arm (LA) and left leg (LL), six unipolar chest leads associated with three limb leads and six precordial leads.
With our ECG device, the potentials of RA, LA, LL and six true unipolar leads are measured using the right leg as the reference point. Having this configuration, we have been able to overcome the difficulty of recording the WCT in a clinical setting. Our data confirmed once again that the WCT does not have a small value, and could be as high as 241% of lead II and has standard ECG characteristics such as the p-wave and the t-wave. The dataset comprises of 540 ten second segments recorded from 92 patients.
Precordial leads are recorded as the potential differences between the electrodes on the chest and the reference point of the body, named Wilson central terminal. The WCT was initially assumed to have null amplitude. Therefore, precordial leads are also known as unipolar leads. However, this assumption has been found to be incorrect. In other words, the so-called unipolar leads are not really unipolar, but this systematic error has been accepted widely due to the difficulty of recording the WCT signal.
Our ECG device is designed to record traditional ECG signals in addition to the nine true unipolar leads: three limb potentials (LA, RA, LL) and six unipolar precordial leads (UV1: UV6). We are able to measure the WCT signal by averaging the three limb potentials. The true unipolar leads are the raw biopotentials measured from the exploring electrodes directly referred to the right leg (RL).
The ECG signals were recorded from 92 patients (27 were female). Each recording is segmented to ten-second sections. As the total recording duration was different for each participant, the number of segments per patient ranges form one to thirty one. The total number of ten-second segments is 540 for all patients. The average age of the patient population is 65.23 years (with a standard deviation of 12.12 years); the majority of the patients had a history of cardiac disease and had been admitted to the hospital.
We applied the low pass filter, and dc-removal filter to clean the dataset, and improve the signal to noise ratio. Both the raw and cleaned data are included in this dataset. The raw data is specified by -Raw in the signal names (e.g. V1-Raw). Each segment contains 37 signals listed below:
Three limb leads (I, II, III)
Six precordial leads (V1: V6)
Three limb potentials (LA, RA, LL)
Six true unipolar leads (UV1: UV6)
We included age, gender, and patient diagnosis in the header file for each segment. We did not receive the patient diagnosis from the hospital for ten patients. Consequently, the patient diagnosis is filled as "not reported" for these patients.
Our ECG hardware details can be found in the link below: https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1702/4/4/18
The files are provided in WFDB format.
We wish to thank the patients at Campbelltown Hospital (Campbelltown, Australia) who volunteered for this study, the nurses and the ECG technicians who helped with the data collection, Mr. Colin Symons (Technical Officer at the MARCS Institute, Western Sydney University) that helped with construction of the prototype, developed the custom ECG cable required as well as the device enclosure.
This study is funded by the office for Research Engagement and Development with Industry (REDI) at the Western Sydney University and by the MARCS Institute.
Authors declare no conflict of interest.
Gargiulo, G. D., Mcewan, A. L., Bifulco, P., Cesarelli, M., Jin, C., Tapson, J., Schaik, A. V. (2013). Towards true unipolar ECG recording without the Wilson central terminal (preliminary results). Physiological Measurement, 34(9), 991-1012. doi:10.1088/0967-3334/34/9/991
Gargiulo, G. D. (2015). True Unipolar ECG Machine for Wilson Central Terminal Measurements. BioMed Research International, 2015, 1-7. doi:10.1155/2015/586397
Gargiulo, G. D., Varaki, E. S., Hamilton, T. J., Bifulco, P., Cesarelli, M., & Romano, M. (2015). A 9-independent-leads ECG system from 10 electrodes: A practice preserving WCT-less true unipolar ECG system. 2015 IEEE Biomedical Circuits and Systems Conference (BioCAS). doi:10.1109/biocas.2015.7348300
Abstract Background Methods Data Description Usage Notes Acknowledgements Conflicts of Interest References Files
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Open Data Commons Attribution License v1.0
https://doi.org/10.13026/wrn5-3v80
wilson central terminal limb potential electrocardiography ecg
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1.0.0 - March 8, 2019
1.0.1 - Nov. 13, 2019
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Dentistry Research
Referring Physicians & Providers
General Practice Residency Program
Eastman Institute for Oral Health / Educational Programs / General Practice Residency Program / How to Apply
The program accepts applications from graduates of CODA-accredited dental schools in United States and Canada. Applicants must have:
a minimum of 60 semester hours of preprofessional education, including courses in general chemistry, organic chemistry, biology or zoology, and physics
and a program of professional education consisting of either:
at least four academic years, or the equivalent thereof, in a program registered by the Department as licensure qualifying or accredited by an organization acceptable to the Department; or
at least four academic years of dental education satisfactory to the Department, culminating in a degree, diploma or certificate in dentistry recognized by the appropriate civil authorities of the country in which the school is located, as acceptable for entry into practice in the country in which the school is located.
The application requirements can be found here. Eleven applicants are accepted every year.
The program requires a PASS application. We participate in the MATCH. Our program numbers in PASS and MATCH are as follows:
PASS: GPR628
MATCH: 285325
For questions related to applying to the program, please contact the EIOH Admissions Office.
The COVID19 Pandemic is preventing site visits and tours to the Eastman Institute for Oral Health campus, part of the University of Rochester. We are producing many videos that will provide you facility tours, information about the program from residents, faculty and department chairs. Thank you for your understanding!
Short-Term Observation
We invite prospective applicants to visit the program for a short-term observation. Please read the Short-Term General Information and Policy documents below, and send the completed Application Form to Munza Bashir along with your preferred dates to visit. She will forward the forms to the EIOH Office of Quality Improvement and Compliance. We will do our best to accommodate requests to visit the program.
Short-Term Observation General Information
EIOH Short-Term Observation Policy
EIOH Short-Term Observation Application Form
For questions about stipend and benefits, please contact the Registrar's Office.