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Reading: Disrupted Cortical Connectivity as an Explanatory Model for Autism Spectrum Disorder
Disrupted Cortical Connectivity as an Explanatory Model for Autism Spectrum Disorder
Jenniefer Drude Borup,
University of Copenhagen, DK
About Jenniefer
University of Copenhagen, Institute of Psychology
Bac. psych.
Christoffer Bøving Kølgaard
About Christoffer
Research Assisstant
The aim of this article is to explain the theory of Disrupted Cortical Connectivity and discuss whether or not it can integrate the following three theories: Theory of Mind, Executive Functioning, and Weak Central Coherence that dominate the field of autism spectrum disorder research. Due to a lack of existing literature discussing this potential integration, we have consequentially undertaken such an endeavour. In our opinion, integration appears to be possible since this explanatory model can account for difficulties in both social cognition and executive functioning commonly found in autism spectrum disorder. Moreover, the theory of Disrupted Cortical Connectivity could be described as an extension of the theory of Weak Central Coherence.
Keywords: Autism, ASD, Review, Brain connectivity, Theory of Disrupted Cortical Connectivity, Theory of Mind, Executive Functioning, Weak Central Coherence
How to Cite: Borup, J.D. and Kølgaard, C.B., 2014. Disrupted Cortical Connectivity as an Explanatory Model for Autism Spectrum Disorder. Journal of European Psychology Students, 5(1), pp.19–24. DOI: http://doi.org/10.5334/jeps.bn
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterised by impairment in social communication and restrictive or repetitive behaviours, interests and activities (APA, 2013). Many contesting theories exist within the field of autism research, each individually attempting to explain the basis for ASD (Happé & Ronald, 2008). One theory argues that ASD results from an impaired Theory of Mind. This perspective focuses on deficits in social cognition and suggests that an inability to ascribe mental states to oneself and others represents the central issue in ASD (Baron-Cohen, Leslie, & Frith, 1985). Another theory points to impairment in Executive Functioning as a primary explanation. Executive Functioning describes the higher-level cognitive processes that regulate, control, and manage other cognitive functions. Thus, explanations of ASD based on this theory suggest that executive dysfunction underlies the observable cognitive and social deficits associated with the disorder (Ozonoff, 1997). Finally, a third dominant theory argues that Weak Central Coherence can be used as a basis of explanation. The theory of Weak Central Coherence suggests that a limited ability to integrate representations of stimuli, resulting in a fragmented information-processing style, underlies this neurodevelopmental disorder (Frith, 1989).
Although an extensive number of explanatory theories exist, Theory of Mind, Executive Functioning and Weak Central Coherence are typically the most prevalent in reference books on the subject. However, taken in isolation, none of these can fully account for the entire spectrum of both social-communicative and non-socially restrictive and repetitive patterns of behaviour seen in individuals with ASD. This has led to Happé and Ronald (2008) questioning whether it is advisable to look at ASD as a unified disorder composed of the core symptoms outlined in the DSM-IV. They argue that the complexity of this neurodevelopmental disorder far exceeds our ability to describe it through a single model. Instead, they suggest that it is caused by numerous isolated factors, which researchers in this area have, essentially, arbitrarily chosen to label as ASD (Happé & Ronald, 2008).
We conceive this problematisation of ASD as a unified disorder as exceptionally interesting, particularly with regards to the changes in the autism diagnosis made in the new DSM-V. Here, Asperger's syndrome, childhood disintegrative disorder, autistic disorder and Perversive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified have have been replaced by the simple umbrella diagnosis 'autism spectrum disorder' to reflect the state of knowledge about autism (Lord & Jones, 2012; APA, 2013).
Furthermore, within the field of autism research, there have long been attempts to localise the dysfunctions of ASD to specific neural structures. However, no convincing candidate region has been found (Anagnostou & Taylor, 2011). Arguably, such attempts are also quite optimistic considering the complexity of ASD symptoms.
Moreover, a relevant distinction between high and low functioning individuals with ASD is often neglected in the empirical literature. The majority of research has involved experiments conducted with high functioning individuals since difficulties with, for example, compliance and task comprehension may arise when experiments are conducted with low functioning participants. However, such findings are often generalised to the whole population of people experiencing ASD symptoms (Stefanatos & Joe, 2008).
A relatively new approach in investigating the neural basis for ASD has been to consider the brain as a system of coordinated components. From this perspective, ASD is not explained as a dysfunction in certain neural structures but as a system-level disorder. This approach was already introduced by Horwitz, Rumsey, Grady, and Rapoport (1988) about twenty-five years ago. It is only with recent improvements in advanced scanning techniques, however, that researchers have been able to provide a more solid basis for the theory of Disrupted Cortical Connectivity as an explanatory model for ASD.
Additionally, this theory strives to incorporate the three, previously mentioned, theories (Just, Cherkassky, Keller, Kana, & Minshew, 2007; Just, Keller, Malave, Kana, & Varma, 2012). In line with Happé and Ronald's (2008) critique of perceiving ASD as a unified disorder, and unlike the earlier mentioned theories which appear insufficient in their ability to solely account for the whole spectrum of ASD, the theory of Disrupted Cortical Connectivity could be considered a potentially unifying, explanatory model.
It must be noted that the term 'Disrupted Cortical Connectivity' was recently introduced by Kana, Libero, and Moore (2011) to replace the term 'under-connectivity', which is otherwise used in the majority of the current, reviewed literature. Changing this term is considered important as it indicates that this new theory includes both neural under- and over-connectivity. Thus, we have also chosen to use this term in our article. Finally, it is important to highlight that recent research, upon which the theory of Disrupted Cortical Connectivity is based, like most research in this area, has been generalised to the wider ASD population from empirical findings using primarily high functioning participants.
The Theory of Disrupted Cortical Connectivity
It has been well established that the execution of any task depends on the activation of multiple cortical and subcortical regions of the brain. Effective problem solving requires the integration of neural inputs and outputs to and from these different areas. It is this integrative function, referring to the connectivity between different neural regions, that, according to the Theory of Disrupted Cortical Connectivity, is compromised in individuals with ASD (Just et al. 2007; Vissers, Cohen, & Geurts, 2012).
From a developmental point of view, the disrupted connectivity in ASD does not result from a reduction in the connectivity of previously connected regions as seen in traditional disconnection syndromes, such as conduction aphasia, visual agnosia and pure alexia (Catani & ffytche, 2005). Instead, the problem occurs during early development. These connections are a determining factor for both the normal and continuous development and reorganisation of further connections (Geschwind & Levitt, 2007). Such disrupted connectivity typically manifests itself in under-connectivity across neural systems that involve a more complex level of co-operation. This may be the case, in particular, when long distance connections, such as the communication between frontal and posterior brain areas, appears reduced (Just et al., 2012). Conversely, within both the frontal and posterior parts of the brain, an abnormally high level of connectivity has been observed. Within the frontal regions of the brain, this high level of connectivity can be unorganised and responsible for reduced integration. Meanwhile, within the posterior parts of the brain, the functional coordination may be intact, if not working at an even higher level than is seen in neurotypical participants (Kana et al., 2011). This well organised over-connectivity in individuals with ASD is notably observed in the visuospatial and visual areas of the brain (Mizuno, Villalobos, Davies, Dahl, & Müller, 2006). Thus, individuals with ASD are assumed to rely on an information processing style which is less reliant on frontal input and more dependent on posterior processing (Kana et al., 2011).
At a Microscopic Level
Advances in brain scanning methods and technology have paved the way for the theory of Disrupted Cortical Connectivity. At a microscopic or cellular level, a number of structural studies have collectively suggested that there are differences in the neural development of individuals with ASD as compared with individuals without an ASD diagnosis (Stefanatos & Joe, 2008). Possible explanations for these variations include abnormalities in neurogenesis, neuronal migration, axon pathfinding and deficient apoptosis and pruning (Anagnostou & Taylor, 2011; Geschwind & Levitt, 2007).
In studies of connectivity in individuals with ASD, special attention is often paid to the observed atypical distribution of white matter. This refers to myelinated axons that are white in appearance. In contrast, grey matter primarily consists of neuronal cell bodies and capillary blood vessels that are grey in appearance. The main function of myelination, also known as 'white matter tracts', is to increase the speed at which electrical impulses are able to travel along the axon. Thus, connectivity both within, and between, different neural regions is greatly affected by the extent of axonal myelination (Just et al., 2012).
Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) studies are particularly beneficial when investigating white matter tracts and the connections between different brain areas. DTI studies can provide a measure of the directional dependency of water diffusion in white matter tracts, referred to as Fractional Anisotropy (FA). An FA value of zero (values range from zero to one) indicates that the diffusion is equal in all directions, whereas a value of one means that diffusion occurs only along one axis. The assumption is that a more directionally dependent water flow, which would represent a relatively linear diffusion and an FA value close to one, is indicative of the presence of more myelinated axons and a greater level of structural connectivity (Vissers et al., 2012).
Finally, it has been suggested that an atypical development of the frontal and temporal minicolumns (vertical columns through the cortical layers of the brain) could account for any local over-connectivity, and decreased long distance connectivity, observed in individuals with ASD (Casanova, 2005; Courchesne & Pierce, 2005; Just et al., 2012). This supports previous claims about unorganised connectivity resulting in reduced integration within the frontal areas of the brain.
At a Macroscopic Level
At the macroscopic level, which in this case refers to the connectivity between different neural areas, a series of research studies have identified disrupted connectivity as a factor in sentence comprehension (Just, Cherkassky, Keller, & Minshew, 2004), verbal working memory (Koshino et al., 2005) and visuomotor coordination (Mizuno et al., 2006). Disrupted connectivity has also been observed in studies involving Theory of Mind and Executive Functions (Just et al., 2007; Kana, Keller, Cherkassky, Minshew, & Just, 2009; Kana, Libero, Hu, Deshpande, & Colburn, in press). Synchronisation between brain regions in such studies is typically measured by calculating the co-variance between the fluctuations in blood flow between functionally related neural areas (Just et al., 2007). In the following section, we will primarily refer to two of these studies – one concerning Theory of Mind and the other in relation to Executive Function.
Empirical Studies
Throughout the literature, different concepts such as social cognition, mentalisation and Theory of Mind are often used interchangeably when describing how we, as social agents, are able to read and attribute emotional and cognitive mental states to ourselves and others (Gade, 2009). In relation to Theory of Mind, a Positron Emission Tomography (PET) study by Castelli, Frith, Happé, and Frith (2002) found that individuals with ASD do not experience activation of the superior temporal sulcus, the temporo partial junction and the medial prefrontal cortex to the same extent as controls when asked to attribute mental states to animated geometric figures. These particular brain areas are arguably some of the most important regarding social cognition, which is why they were initially investigated. Kana et al. (2009) decided to replicate these findings by conducting a similar study using fMRI scanning techniques. In keeping with the previous research, a reduced activation of these neural regions was identified. The two studies differed in their conclusions however. Whereas Castelli et al. (2002) only theorised about a possible problematic feedback loop between the implicated neural areas, Kana et al. (2009) empirically revealed a decreased level of frontal-posterior connectivity in the mentalisation system among individuals with ASD (Kana et al., 2009). Consequently, as the theory of Disrupted Cortical Connectivity suggests connectivity issues between different brain areas, this could be useful when applied to explaining the impaired Theory of Mind abilities in individuals with ASD.
Executive Functioning refers to the mental activity involved in the planning, initiation, inhibition, regulation and flexible adaption of behaviour to external and internal circumstances. These functions all have different neural sub-components, both cortically and sub-cortically. Thus, they are not limited to any one single area of the brain, but rather are all dependent on the prefrontal cortex for integration and supervision (Gade, 2009). In a functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) study by Just et al. (2007), cerebral activation while planning was examined during the performance of the 'Tower of London' test. During this, participants are typically presented with a model board complete with three rods and differently coloured beads strategically positioned on them. The participants are then asked to manipulate the beads on a similar problem-solving board to match these positions. The findings of this study revealed lower levels of synchronisation between frontal and parietal cortical areas in the group with ASD when compared to controls (Just et al., 2007). In line with the theory of Disrupted Cortical Connectivity, the planning deficits typically found in individuals with ASD could potentially be understood as a result of this inferior integration of information across frontal and parietal areas due to reduced connectivity.
The evidence reviewed thus far suggests that communication across certain cortical areas involved in particular types of social and executive functioning is less effective in individuals with ASD (Just et al. 2007; Kana et al., 2009). This lack of efficient connectivity is likely to have an impairing influence on more complex and higher order functions, such as social, linguistic and problem-solving abilities, which are all crucially dependent on the cooperation between numerous different brain areas (Kana et al., 2011). More complex and higher order functions require the simultaneous coordination of many different types of information processing. This explains why otherwise dissimilar symptoms may often co-exist in individuals with ASD (Just et al., 2007; Just et al., 2012).
Studies have also been conducted to examine the unique behavioural patterns often observed in individuals with ASD. For example, Monk et al. (2009) found that restrictive and repetitive behaviour among individuals with ASD was correlated with over-connectivity between the posterior gyrus cingularis and the right parahippocampal gyrus in a resting state (i.e. the level of brain activity wherein an individual is unaffected by external stimuli). These correlations do not, however, reveal whether this over-connectivity should be regarded as the cause of the restrictive and repetitive behaviours, or if it should be seen as the result of them. The authors proposed that increased connectivity may also be a neural manifestation of a constant effort to control these behaviours. Any interpretation of these results, in terms of cause and effect, can therefore only be a tentative one. Further empirical investigations are required to fully appreciate and understand these findings (Monk et al., 2009).
It is thus possible to argue that the studies reviewed can provide an explanation for the impairments related to both Theory of Mind and Executive Function. The theory of Disrupted Cortical Connectivity also agrees with, or can even be defined as, a more precise and neurologically detailed expansion of the theory of Weak Central Coherence (Just et al., 2007). As previously stated, individuals with ASD have difficulties integrating representations resulting in a fragmented information-processing style (Frith, 1989). The theory of Disrupted Cortical Connectivity specifies the neural mechanisms underlying these difficulties and expands the decreased integration to include complex, cortically mediated functions in general (Just et al., 2007).
Disrupted Cortical Connectivity as an Explanatory Model for ASD
The Theory of Disrupted Cortical Connectivity can account for the deficits typically observed across the autism spectrum. Furthermore, the theory can be considered as a uniquely unifying explanatory model, integrating the three predominant theories within autism research. Moreover, the theory is strengthened by its foundation in advanced neuro-imaging methods which have facilitated a more extensive examination of this neurodevelopmental disorder at system-level. This has greatly advanced autism research, as the majority of prior studies have been conducted without a strong neuropsychological foundation, or have attempted to localise the dysfunctions of ASD to specific neural structures.
Certain issues must be considered in relation to the Theory of Disrupted Cortical Connectivity however. First, this theory has not been evaluated among low functioning individuals with autism, even though this group represents a major portion of the ASD population (Stefanatos & Joe, 2008). Testing these hypotheses among low functioning individuals with ASD could prove remarkably useful however, and reveal whether there is a correlation between disrupted cortical connectivity and symptom severity, potentially strengthening the theory. An additional area to investigate further, in relation to the theory of Disrupted Cortical Connectivity, could also involve evaluating the potential of early intervention and behavioural training in altering the course of brain development and connectivity in young children with ASD (Dawson, 2008; Keller & Just, 2009).
Additional criticisms have been recently proposed by Vissers et al. (2012). In this article, the emphasis placed on the frontal lobe areas regarding over-connectivity is called into question, as findings on this matter have not been conclusive. Nonetheless, the most consistent finding across DTI studies, when comparing neurotypical individuals and those with ASD, is a volumetric reduction of white matter tracts in the corpus callosum of participants with ASD (Stefenatos & Joe, 2008, Vissers et al., 2012). Similar volumetric reductions of white matter tracts have been found in other brain areas. However, these results are relatively inconsistent, and as such their importance remains undetermined (Vissers et al., 2012). Additionally, across studies, a consensus has not yet been reached as to how one should define local connectivity and long distance connectivity respectively, rendering it difficult to draw comparisons across studies that have been carried out thus far (Vissers et al., 2012). Furthermore, it is our opinion that the frequent co-morbidity of other disorders in individuals with ASD has been overlooked in the theory of Disrupted Cortical Connectivity thus far. This is problematic, in that it can then prove difficult to determine whether findings are caused by ASD or are expressions of co-morbid disorders, such as epilepsy or intellectual impairment (Casanova, 2005).
The theory of Disrupted Cortical Connectivity faces other additional challenges, as disrupted cortical connectivity can also be observed in other distinct disorders, such as schizophrenia and dyslexia (Catani & ffytche, 2005; Just et al., 2007). A recent study, for example, has shown that children and adolescents at risk for developing psychosis, or who experience psychotic symptoms, show similar structural and functional abnormalities as individuals with ASD (Jacobson et al., 2010). Interestingly, there is a resemblance between the structural and functional deficits of ASD and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Co-morbidity between these two neurodevelopmental disorders is often discussed in clinical settings and trials (Gargaro, Rinehart, Bradshaw, Tonge & Sheppard, 2011). In addition, disrupted cortical connectivity is also found among individuals with ADHD (Corbett, Constantine, Hendre, Rocke & Ozonoff, 2010; Gargaro et al., 2011; Tomasi & Volkow, 2012, Liston, Cohen, Theresa & Casey, 2011; Uekermann et al., 2010). Individuals with ASD generally have more severe executive difficulties relative to individuals with ADHD, but the structural and functional resemblances are unmistakable (Corbett et al., 2010; Gargaro et al., 2011). From these findings, it could be argued that disrupted cortical connectivity is merely a predictor for different kinds of psychopathology and not necessarily a predictor of ASD as such.
The purpose of this article was to explain the theory of Disrupted Cortical Connectivity, and discuss whether or not it could integrate three of the predominant theories in autism research: Theory of Mind, Executive Functioning and Weak Central Coherence. We have also discussed the strengths and limitations of this theory and approach. We have shown how the theory of Disrupted Cortical Connectivity can account for social cognitive and executive difficulties in high functioning individuals with ASD. As such, we suggest that the theory of Disrupted Cortical Connectivity as an explanatory model for ASD is capable of synthesising both Theory of Mind and Executive Functioning based explanations. Furthermore, the theory of Disrupted Cortical Connectivity corresponds with and extends the theory of Weak Central Coherence by specifying the underlying neural mechanisms of ASD. Consequently, the theory of Disrupted Cortical Connectivity appears capable of integrating all three theories. In addition, it can account for the otherwise dissimilar symptoms such as social, linguistic and problem-solving difficulties that co-exist in individuals with ASD, by proposing that such complex and higher order functions are crucially dependent on the cooperation between different brain areas. As a relatively novel theory, much empirical work still remains to be done before it can be accepted as an inclusive explanatory model for ASD. Despite this, we remain optimistic about its potential to offer a more comprehensive explanation of ASD and a number of other neurological and neurodevelopmental disorders.
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Borup, J.D. and Kølgaard, C.B., 2014. Disrupted Cortical Connectivity as an Explanatory Model for Autism Spectrum Disorder. Journal of European Psychology Students, 5(1), pp.19–24. DOI: http://doi.org/10.5334/jeps.bn
Borup JD, Kølgaard CB. Disrupted Cortical Connectivity as an Explanatory Model for Autism Spectrum Disorder. Journal of European Psychology Students. 2014;5(1):19–24. DOI: http://doi.org/10.5334/jeps.bn
Borup, J. D., & Kølgaard, C. B. (2014). Disrupted Cortical Connectivity as an Explanatory Model for Autism Spectrum Disorder. Journal of European Psychology Students, 5(1), 19–24. DOI: http://doi.org/10.5334/jeps.bn
Borup JD and Kølgaard CB, 'Disrupted Cortical Connectivity as an Explanatory Model for Autism Spectrum Disorder' (2014) 5 Journal of European Psychology Students 19 DOI: http://doi.org/10.5334/jeps.bn
Borup, Jenniefer Drude, and Christoffer Bøving Kølgaard. 2014. "Disrupted Cortical Connectivity as an Explanatory Model for Autism Spectrum Disorder". Journal of European Psychology Students 5 (1): 19–24. DOI: http://doi.org/10.5334/jeps.bn
Borup, Jenniefer Drude, and Christoffer Bøving Kølgaard. "Disrupted Cortical Connectivity as an Explanatory Model for Autism Spectrum Disorder". Journal of European Psychology Students 5, no. 1 (2014): 19–24. DOI: http://doi.org/10.5334/jeps.bn
Borup, J. D.and C. B. Kølgaard. "Disrupted Cortical Connectivity as an Explanatory Model for Autism Spectrum Disorder". Journal of European Psychology Students, vol. 5, no. 1, 2014, pp. 19–24. DOI: http://doi.org/10.5334/jeps.bn


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})
public class ProductConditionOperand {

    protected String operand;

    /**
     * Gets the value of the operand property.
     *
     * @return
     *     possible object is
     *     {@link String }
     *
     */
    public String getOperand() {
        return operand;
    }

    /**
     * Sets the value of the operand property.
     *
     * @param value
     *     allowed object is
     *     {@link String }
     *
     */
    public void setOperand(String value) {
        this.operand = value;
    }

}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Торсен е механичен самоблокиращ се междинен диференциал (изравнителна предавка), който регулира силата между предната и задната оси според нуждите им. Понятието "Torsen " е съставено от английските думи "torque" (въртящ момент) и "sensoring " (чувстващ). Диференциалът работи, чувстващ въртящия момент. Системата реагира на различните въртящи усилия между входящия и изходящия валове (предна и задна оси). Така е възможно едно вариращо разпределение на задвижващия момент между осите. При Torsen -диференциала двете задвижващи зъбни колела са свързани чрез червячни предавки. Те ограничават оборотните разлики, но продължават да се грижат за изравняване на оборотите при движение в завой.

Устройство на автомобила
Машинни елементи

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Scene: Velicity and Keiran are up for a major drawing, she has just about fucked her way to the top to secure her chances. Keiran who seems not to care is just hoping to win so he can have the perfect wedding anniversary gift. When the results come in and Keiran wins, Velicity steps up her game and goes as far as she can to get part of the prize.


text:
Q: java component not visible in windows 8 and 10 or its variant due to corrupted graphics driver I tested my application based on java(javafx)  in various version of windows(7,8,10) and it worked perfectly but when i tried to run it my client machine(Windows-10 Home(freshly installed)), it is getting run but the internal component of it is not visible, only thing what i can see is border, minimize,maximize and close button.
For the sake of convenience, attached here
are the results of simple java program or output which I got in my machine and client's machine respectively:
However when i made the same version of jar using Swing...it worked.
Note: Required version of JRE is there in system.
Follwing is the source code:::
the code is simple:::
/*
 * To change this license header, choose License Headers in Project Properties.
 * To change this template file, choose Tools | Templates
 * and open the template in the editor.
 */

package hello;

import javafx.application.Application;
import javafx.event.ActionEvent;
import javafx.event.EventHandler;
import javafx.scene.Scene;
import javafx.scene.control.Button;
import javafx.scene.layout.StackPane;
import javafx.stage.Stage;

/**
 *
 * @author oa
 */
public class Hello extends Application {

    @Override
    public void start(Stage primaryStage) {
        Button btn = new Button();
        btn.setText("Say 'Hello World'");
        btn.setOnAction(new EventHandler<ActionEvent>() {

            @Override
            public void handle(ActionEvent event) {
                System.out.println("Hello World!");
            }
        });

        StackPane root = new StackPane();
        root.getChildren().add(btn);

        Scene scene = new Scene(root, 300, 250);

        primaryStage.setTitle("Hello World!");
        primaryStage.setScene(scene);
        primaryStage.show();
    }

    /**
     * @param args the command line arguments
     */
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        launch(args);
    }

}

Note: I can smell the conflicts between javafx and windows-10 version

A: Finally got a solution, after an hour of work out... As javafx rely on the graphic card installed on the system..
For JavaFX applications to take advantage of the new hardware acceleration pipeline provided by JavaFX, your system must feature one of a wide range of GPUs currently available in the market. If your system does not support hardware acceleration, then JavaFX uses the Java2D software pipeline.
 so one has to ensure that its working properly. In any case if its corrupted or not working properly then javafx doesnt give you the desired result. So in any case if you found that your graphics card is not working properly then just disable it(graphics card)... the javafx will give the desired result thereafter. So basically it was not an WINDOWS 10 and javafx problem...it was graphic related issues

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Ankara: Turkey and Russia have agreed on the need to improve relations
Tuesday, June 28, 2016 10:28:13 AM
Turkey has confirmed that its President, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, has sent a letter to his Russian counterpart, President Vladimir Putin.
"In the letter, he stated that he wanted to inform the family of the deceased Russian pilot that he shares their pain and that he expresses his condolences. Perhaps they will forgive us," this was said on the 27th of June by Erdoğan's representative, Ibrahim Kalin, who was quoted by Turkish media.
"Turkey and Russia have agreed on the need to take immediate steps to improve bilateral relations," Kalin said.
On the 27th of June, the Kremlin announced that President Erdoğan had apologized for the Russian Su-24 bomber who was shot down by the Turkish military. Erdoğan also expressed an interest in resolving the situation.
Relations between the two countries deteriorated after the Russian Su-24 bomber was shot down at the Turkish-Syrian border on the 24th of November last year. Ankara argued that aircraft violated the country's airspace but Moscow denied this. Russia then imposed sanctions against Turkey after the incident.
turkey, Russia

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


The new tax law, known as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, allows states, the District of Columbia, U.S. possessions, and Puerto Rico to designate Qualified Opportunity Zones to encourage new capital investment in low income census tracts by allowing a taxpayer to defer eligible gain by investing in a Qualified Opportunity Zone. Each Qualified Opportunity Zone exists until the December 31 on or after the 10th anniversary of its designation. (See our e-alerts addressing how opportunity zones are designated and the Treasury's expanded list of eligible opportunity zones).
The Opportunity Zone tax incentives are designed to encourage investors to redirect gain from prior investments into investments in Opportunity Zones. Electing taxpayers will be able to defer, and in some cases permanently exclude, certain gains by investing in a Qualified Opportunity Fund. To be eligible, within 180 days of a sale or exchange, a taxpayer must roll-over gain into a Qualified Opportunity Fund and the Qualified Opportunity Fund must use that cash to purchase Qualified Opportunity Zone Property. A Qualified Opportunity Fund is a corporation, LLC, or partnership organized for the purpose of investing in Qualified Opportunity Zone Property that satisfies certain other rules set forth below.
The Qualified Opportunity Zone tax incentives build on incentives provided under the New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) program and prior capital gains exclusion programs for investments in federally-designated enterprise communities, empowerment zones, and renewal communities. Unlike the NMTC program, however, there is no national limitation on the amount of gain that can be deferred or excluded under this program. Many of the specifics related to the investments and the parameters for the tax relief will need to be clarified by the IRS and the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI Fund), which are jointly administering the Qualified Opportunity Zone program. Ballard Spahr will monitor guidance and provide additional updates as guidance is released.
What are tax benefits of a roll-over investment in a Qualified Opportunity Fund?
A taxpayer may elect to defer gain from a sale or exchange to an unrelated person of any property—including stock, partnership interests, real estate, property used for personal purposes, etc. — (Eligible Gain). Although the Code does not limit this benefit to capital gains, the Senate Committee Report states that the deferral is available for capital gains.1 This issue will require clarification from the IRS. To defer Eligible Gain, the taxpayer must reinvest all or part of its Eligible Gain in a Qualified Opportunity Fund within 180 days of its sale of the property producing the gain and elect to defer gain that is rolled-over. The method for making that election is unclear and will require clarification. Any Eligible Gain that the taxpayer does not invest in a Qualified Opportunity Fund must be recognized and, in contrast to like-kind exchanges, only the amount of the Eligible Gain must be reinvested in the Qualified Opportunity Fund, not all of the proceeds from the sale of the property that produced the Eligible Gain.
If the taxpayer timely invests in a Qualified Opportunity Fund, its Eligible Gain may be deferred until the earlier of the taxpayer's disposition of its Qualified Opportunity Fund investment or December 31, 2026 (the deferral period). At the end of the deferral period, the taxpayer must include in income the excess of (A) the lesser of (i) the Eligible Gain the taxpayer rolled-over or (ii) the fair market value of the taxpayer's Qualified Opportunity Fund's investment as of the end of the deferral period over (B) the taxpayer's basis for the Qualified Opportunity Fund investment (the Recognition Amount).
Qualified Opportunity Fund Investment held for at least five years. If the taxpayer holds its Qualified Opportunity Fund investment for at least five years, 10 percent of the Eligible Gain that the taxpayer rolled-over is added to the taxpayer's basis for its Qualified Opportunity Fund investment. Thus, if the Qualified Opportunity Fund investment is held by the taxpayer for at least five years, at least 10 percent of the taxpayer's deferred Eligible Gain is permanently excluded.
Qualified Opportunity Fund Investments held for at least seven years. If the taxpayer holds its Qualified Opportunity Fund investment for at least seven years, 15 percent of the Eligible Gain that the taxpayer rolled-over is added to the taxpayer's basis for its Qualified Opportunity Fund investment. Thus, if the Qualified Opportunity Fund investment is held by the taxpayer for at least seven years, at least 15 percent of the taxpayer's deferred Eligible Gain is permanently excluded.
Qualified Opportunity Fund Investments held for at least 10 years. If the taxpayer holds its Qualified Opportunity Fund investment for at least 10 years, all of the gain attributed to appreciation in the value of the taxpayer's investment in the Qualified Opportunity Fund is permanently excluded. This benefit is only available if the taxpayer elected to defer gain. Because the Qualified Opportunity Zones will expire after December 31, 2028, and to be eligible for this benefit, a Qualified Opportunity Fund must invest in property in a Qualified Opportunity Zone, guidance is needed from the IRS to determine how this benefit might apply to an investment made in 2019 or later.
1. Eligible Gain is deferred until the earlier of December 31, 2026, or the year the taxpayer disposes of its interest in the Qualified Opportunity Fund, at which point the Recognition Amount is recognized.
2. Eligible Gain must be rolled-over within 180 days of the date of the sale of the asset.
As noted above, if the taxpayer holds its interest in the Qualified Opportunity Fund for at least 10 years, its Recognition Amount (determined after the basis increases described above) is recognized on December 31, 2026. However, when the taxpayer disposes of its interest in the Qualified Opportunity Fund after 10 years, no further gain is recognized.
What Must a Qualified Opportunity Fund Invest In?
A direct investment in Qualified Opportunity Zone Property or an investment vehicle that is not certified as a Qualified Opportunity Fund will not be eligible for the tax relief described here. It is unclear at what point an entity must be certified as a Qualified Opportunity Fund in order for investors to be eligible to make elections required to take advantage of capital gains deferral.
Tangible property used in the trade or business of the Qualified Opportunity Fund if the property is acquired by the Qualified Opportunity Fund by purchase after December 31, 2017; the original use of the property in the Qualified Opportunity Zone commences with the Qualified Opportunity Fund or the Qualified Opportunity Fund substantially improves the property; and during the time a Qualified Opportunity Fund owns the property, substantially all of the property is in a Qualified Opportunity Zone. For this purpose, property is treated as substantially improved only if the capital expenditures made with respect to the property in the 30 months after its acquisition by the Qualified Opportunity Fund exceed the Qualified Opportunity Fund's purchase price for the property. Property does not qualify as Qualified Opportunity Zone Property if it is acquired from a related person (generally, certain 20-percent commonly-owned entities).
What is a Qualified Opportunity Business?
it does not conduct any of the following businesses: commercial golf courses, country clubs, massage parlors, hot tub facilities, suntan facilities, racetracks or other facilities used for gambling, or any stores the principal business of which is the sale of alcoholic beverages for consumption off premises.
As described above, taxpayers can achieve significant tax benefits by rolling-over Eligible Gain into a Qualified Opportunity Fund. However, there are a great many uncertainties concerning how these rules apply. For further advice about Qualified Opportunity Zone Investments, please contact Wendi Kotzen, Linda Schakel, or Adam Wallwork.
1. We anticipate that, for this purpose, capital gain includes gain from the sale or exchange of real estate used in a trade or business that is held for more than one year (Section 1231 Property). However, we will have to wait for guidance from the Treasury and IRS on this issue.
2. UPDATE: The IRS provided for a simpler process for self-certification of Qualified Opportunity Funds in FAQs released on April 24, 2018. Please see our alert titled "IRS Allows Self-Certification of Qualified Opportunity Funds" dated May 7, 2018.


So, another of our elected officials has shown us that he is human. That he has human emotions. That he has human failings. That he is, just one of us.
I'm talking of course about Randy Dorn, the head school person in the state, the Superintendent of Public Instruction.
Dorn was picked up recently for drunk driving, actually while Driving Under the Influence (DUI). He was initially stopped for exceeding the speed limit and then charged with DUI.
So, how does Dorn's crime correspond to Joe Hyer's crime. Hyer you remember was the former deputy mayor of Olympia who was arrested for selling marijuana to a police informer. Hyer has stepped down from his job as deputy mayor but stays on the city council despite calls from some for him to resign.
Is there any connection between Dorn's crime and Hyer's crime? After all, they are both crimes, and some can argue that Dorn's crime is greater because he could have killed someone.
But ask anyone, and they will tell you that Dorn's crime isn't as significant as Hyer's crime. And, if you push a little harder, they'll tell you its because they too have driven after consuming alcohol but not many of them have purchased illegal marijuana.
So, that seems to be the difference. Dorn can and will be excused for his actions because he's just like us. He drank a few beers, got in his car and drove.
He isn't the first elected official to do so and be picked up and charged with a DUI. One of our own state supreme court justices was picked up for drunk driving and her blood alcohol level was twice that of Dorns. She was left off with a fine and community service.
One of our own county commissioners, who, when she was a state legislator, was picked up for drunk driving. it didn't seem to affect her political career because she was later elected to serve as county commissioner.
The point, is that many of us, I might say most of us, has had a drink or two, gotten in our car and realized that we might be impaired. It's only through luck that we made it home without an accident or being picked up by the law.
So, we give the benefit of the doubt to those elected officials who get arrested for drunk driving. We give them the benefit, because, just through luck, it could have been us.
Joe Hyer should be as lucky.


text:
December 2014 (Volume XXXV Issue 12)
Bentley salutes 25 projects built with BIM
AS MANY as 700 delegates from across the world including leading AEC (architectural, engineering and construction) executives, infrastructure owner-operators, and 100-plus journalists attended a major infrastructure conference held in the UK where two Gulf projects emerged as finalists in the prestigious awards that were the highlight of the event.
The Year in Infrastructure 2014 Conference, which was held at the Hilton Hotel Metropole in London, was hosted by Bentley Systems of the US, which offers comprehensive software solutions for the infrastructure lifecycle. The event included the Be Inspired Awards, which honour users of Bentley's building information modelling (BIM) software that achieve excellence in design, delivery, and operations of the world's infrastructure.
The conference featured a series of presentations and interactive workshops exploring technology and business drivers, and how they are shaping the future of infrastructure delivery and investment returns. It included summits on project delivery and infrastructure asset performance, and forums on building, the rail and road, oil, gas, chemical, and mining, EPC (engineering, procurement and construction) and architecture and engineering, utilities, visions for the future.
Special guest keynoters included Professor Andrew McNaughton, chief engineer and technical director of HS2, which is spearheading the development of Britain's $66.5-billion high-speed rail project.
At the conference, Greg Bentley, the chief executive officer of Bentley, indicated that of the top 500 owners of infrastructure around the world – with assets worth a total of more than $16.7 billion – some 385 are Bentley subscribers.
During the awards ceremony, 18 Be Inspired Awards winners and seven Be Inspired Special Recognition Awards winners were honoured.
The winners of the Be Inspired awards (above) and delegates at the conference.
Nine independent panels of jurors, comprising distinguished industry experts, selected the winners from 54 project finalists, which had been previously chosen from submissions by organisations in 49 countries.
Two projects in the Gulf that were among the finalists in the annual competition included the Fairmont Hotel in Abu Dhabi, UAE, work on which has earned recognition for leading UAE-based contractor Arabtec in the Innovation in Construction category and a proposed sports campus projects in Doha, Qatar, which put global consultancy firm Arup in the limelight in the Innovation in Land Development category.
Speaking to Gulf Construction magazine at the conference, Ahmed Balawi, BIM manager at Arabtec's Building Information Modelling Section, said Bentley's BIM software has enabled the company to integrate its own in-house designing software, while producing considerable savings in cost and time on the 30-month contract.
On the sports campus projects, meanwhile, which is still in the early design stage, Arup earned recognition for its innovative use of Bentley's BIM software, according to Oscar Julian Veneros, based at Arup's Madrid office. Work on the project is slated to start in 2016.
On the campus project, to modernise its project delivery, Arup decided to implement a BIM methodology that was not typically used for transportation-related infrastructure projects.
The Be Inspired Awards has recognised more than 2,000 of the world's most outstanding infrastructure projects since its inception in 2004. The programme boasts a unique competition – which is claimed to be the only of its kind that is global in scope and comprehensive in categories covered, encompassing all types of infrastructure projects.
Bentley is a global leader dedicated to providing architects, engineers, geospatial professionals, constructors, and owner-operators with comprehensive software solutions for sustaining infrastructure.
Its solutions encompass the MicroStation platform for infrastructure design and modelling, the ProjectWise platform for infrastructure project team collaboration and work sharing, and the AssetWise platform for infrastructure asset operations.
At the conference, Bentley unveiled the Connect Edition, its next generation of software for sustaining infrastructure and launched its new MineCycle software applications. The Connect Edition will support a hybrid computing environment for comprehensive project delivery – from desktop applications to Cloud services and mobile devices.
MicroStation Connect Edition has already been made available to 'early access' participants, and many of the ProjectWise Connect Edition services, along with the Navigator Connect Edition application, will be available for early access by the year's end.
The Connect Edition of Bentley's modelling applications and AssetWise offerings will be released throughout 2015 and 2016.
"Our conference this year has been filled with insightful presentations and productive dialogue about BIM advancements. The effective strategies behind these advancements are helping infrastructure organisations achieve better performing assets through increased depth of information modelling and better performing projects through increased breadth of information mobility," Bentley's CEO commented.
Pools and spa expo lines up innovative products
Saudi Build 2014 highlights key construction solutions
Quality focus of Dubai forum
Cleaner cities aim of DC event
Dorma highlights safety solutions at conference
Big 5 concludes 'most successful' show
Kuwait Review Scaffolding & Formwork Transport Makkah & Madinah Environment Bathrooms Facades Jeddah Just Out Legally Bound Regional News Saudi Focus UAE Focus Events Diary of Events Tenders Real Estate Interiors Contractors Manufacturers & Procurement


text:
Erb4Herb
Book by B.C. researcher says media, police not talking straight on pot
For the book, titled "Killer Weed: Marijuana Grow Ops, Media, and Justice," Boyd examined 2,500 articles from four major daily newspapers in British Columbia from 1995 to 2009.
She found news coverage about cannabis enforcement in B.C. frequently contained inaccurate information or exaggerated claims about the size and scope of the underground marijuana industry, the sorts of people associated with grow-ops, and the industry's connection to gangs.
Assertions by police – particularly the RCMP, which is responsible for policing in much of B.C. — were left unchallenged, she says, and politicians, in turn, relied on such misinformation to push for stricter drug laws.
For example, the news articles she examined repeatedly asserted marijuana grow-ops are inextricable linked to gangs and other criminal organizations. Police spokespeople were frequently quoted explaining that modern-day grow-ops are not "mom and pop" operations.
But Boyd says the federal government's own research does not support that claim.
She cited a Justice Department study that was completed in 2011, obtained by a reporter through an access to information request, that examined a random sample of 500 marijuana grow operations. Of those, just five per cent had apparent links to gangs or organized crime.
"This study wasn't released by our federal government, and you could see why," says Boyd.
"It doesn't fit with their Safe Streets and Communities Act, which frames marijuana grow-ops as always being associated with organized crime and gangs. I would say it's probably the reverse."
By The Canadian Press — CP — Dec 25 2013
Who's afraid of the big, bad weed? Canada
Marijuana production "is a $7-billion-a-year industry in B.C. that's currently in the hands of criminals. That's not a sensible approach to drug policy."
Who's afraid of the big, bad weed? We are, apparently. Forty-one years after the Le Dain commission recommended decriminalization in Canada (and a commission appointed by that noted hedonist Richard Nixon came to the same conclusion in the U.S.), our thinking about the management of pot has actually regressed. It's like we're trapped in a time machine where the only in-flight movie is Reefer Madness.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-debate/whos-afraid-of-the-big-bad-weed-canada/article15815931/
Sensible B.C. among causes supported by lottery millionaire
Erb has bought a majority stake in Deviant Fibres, a hemp goods store in Terrace.
He's also developing an online merchandise operation. He plans to donate 30 per cent of sales from that venture to those he sees as victims of Canada's pot laws.
Marijuana, according to Erb, leaves him in a state of enhanced mindfulness.
"People have asked what it does for me," he says. "It makes whatever I'm doing more enjoyable.
http://www.theprovince.com/business/million+with+heart+Lotto+jackpot/9055519/story.html
Extraordinary Beckley Report Hundreds of Millions in Revenue to be Gained from Regulation of Cannabis Market
Commissioned by the Beckley Foundation and carried out by the Institute for Social and Economic Research at the University of Essex UK
New Beckley Report
Extraordinary Beckley Report Hundreds of Millions in Revenue to be Gained from Regulation of Cannabis Market in England and Wales New Report from The Beckley Foundation Quantifies Cost-Benefit of Cannabis
"In these times of economic crisis, it is essential to examine the possibilities of more cost-effective drug policy."
"Our present prohibitionist policies have proved to be a failure."
"Cannabis comprises 80% of all illicit drugs consumed worldwide."
"If we are to protect the young, surely governments can do a much better job than the cartels."
Amanda Feilding
Director of the Beckley Foundation
http://www.beckleyfoundation.org/2013/09/cannabis-market-in-england-and-wales-cost-benefit-analysis/
Second Erb4Herb Legalize It Conference
Second Bob Erb 4 Herb Legalize It! conference for 2013 in Terrace BC, Aug. 30 to Sept. 2, 2013
Once again in 2013 drug policy reform activists / advocates gathered together as Bob Erb's guests to discuss plans for continuing drug policy reform efforts and Erb4Herb national 420 events in Canada.
This was the second time NORML Canada, NORML Women's Alliance of Canada, Calgary 420 and Sensible BC along with first time attendees Canadian Drug Policy Coalition-Transforming Drug Policy and Skunk Magazine attended the second Erb4Herb legalize conference in beautiful Terrace and Thornhill B.C. Both Erb4Herb legalize conferences were also attended by long time friends of Bob Erb.
Bob Erb once again wrote generous cheques to the organizations attending as his guests to be used for drug policy reform efforts in Canada.
Bob Erb, Dana Larsen, Rielle Capler, John Vergados, Kelly Coulter, Brian Taylor, Sita von Windheim, Urban Grower, John Conroy, Debbie Fagin, Keith Fagin, Debbie Stultz-Giffin, Zachary Canuel and more.
Liberal Party of Canada – Legalize!
By now you should of heard the Liberal Party of Canada leader Justin Trudeau speak out publicly in favour of ending decades of criminal prohibition of cannabis.
Join the Liberal Party's call for an end to marijuana prohibition.
The status quo isn't working. It's time to regulate and legalize marijuana. Sign the petition if you agree. http://lpc.ca/end-prohibition
Marijuana prohibition is costly and unsafe. That's why the Liberal Party supports legalizing and regulating marijuana.
Stephen Harper keeps fighting a failed war on drugs that has resulted in more than 475,000 Canadians being arrested on marijuana-related charges.
And while gangsters and thugs get rich dealing marijuana, prohibition has cost Canadian taxpayers more than $500 million (est.) since 2006.
Liberals believe in a smart on crime approach, targeting real criminals instead of ordinary Canadians.
Scientific evidence and history have proven beyond any doubt prohibition is far more harmful to our own communities then a responsible adult growing and consuming a cannabis plant has ever been or ever could be. There are many quality drug policy studies over the last eleven decades now that have concluded cannabis prohibition is costly, unsafe. Prohibition has never has come close to prohibition supporters claimed desired results of a drug free society at any cost including millions of people being killed to date.
Although there have been drug policy studies around the world including in Canada released since the holy grail for cannabis drug policy in Canada was release on September 4, 2002.
Senate Special Committee on Illegal Drugs, entitled: "Cannabis: Our Position for a Canadian Public Policy"
Justin Trudeau and the Liberal Party are now being responsible rational adults. We all to need to do the same even if we don't like that type of drug policy change. Science, evidence and even history have proven change will be all so much better for all out communities for a large host of reasons.
Best case for 2015 would be to copy the beer and wine regulations. Produce your own and share with friends and family. Also allows for micro grows to large corporations. Micro breweries and wineries have been able to secure a profitable piece of the market. No reason cannabis can't do the same if not better. Also the vast amount of research that this encourage would be incredible to say the least.
As for the very destructive drug alcohol, prohibition only provided violent crime organization to become very powerful and unstoppable. Our governments should be ending alcohol advertising with the strong messaging, consume our products and you will be popular with the pretty people crowd and of course enjoy yourself all so much more
Why it's time to legalize marijuana
Maclean's:
After decades of wasted resources, clogged courtrooms and a shift in public perception, let's end the war on weed
Sometime this year, if it hasn't happened already, the millionth Canadian will be arrested for marijuana possession, Dana Larsen estimates. The indefatigable B.C.-based activist for pot legalization is thinking of marking the occasion with a special ceremony. True, it will be impossible to know exactly who the millionth person is, but with the Conservative government's amped-up war on drugs, it won't be hard to find a nominee. As Larsen notes, the war on drugs in Canada is mostly a war on marijuana, "and most of that is a war on marijuana users."
http://www2.macleans.ca/2013/06/10/why-its-time-to-legalize-marijuana/
New Report : Canada's Drug Laws Failing, Coalition Calls For Sweeping Reform
Thursday May 23, 2013 – Canadian Drug Policy Coalition – http://drugpolicy.ca/
Last week, we released our first report on the state of Canadian drug policy. Entitled "Getting to Tomorrow: A Report on Canadian Drug Policy", it examines the overwhelming failure of Canada's drug laws and provides recommendations on how we can improve the health and safety of Canadians when it comes to drugs. Please download it, read it and share it.
At the beginning of the report you will find the recommendations we have made, which include the regulation of cannabis, the decriminalization of other drugs, the scaling-up of harm reduction services, and the expansion of overdose prevention strategies, among others.
In the coming year we will be working hard to advocate and promote these recommendations. If you would like to help make this happen, please consider making a donation to CDPC. It will be greatly appreciated and your support makes our work possible.
One of our supporters has agreed to match all donations up to $5,000 over the coming months, so please consider making a tax-refundable donation to CDPC on our SFU secure donations page.
Download Report Here
The report release received ample coverage from the Canadian media, which included articles in major newspapers across the country, network television news segments and countless radio interviews. Overall, the response was positive and productive.
Read about it here:
Calgary Herald: Report calls for decriminalizing both 'hard' and 'soft' drugs
National Post: Canadian Drug Policy Coalition recommends decriminalizing hard drugs
CBC Radio: Decriminalizing Drugs
The Province: Harper government to stay tough on drugs
420 Terrace BC celebrations
THREE HUNDRED FILL COURT YARD AND STREETS TO SMOKE WITH BOB
It was a spectacular day in many ways. The weather was perfect as were the people. A full 300 gathered together to demonstrate their collective disapproval of the prohibition laws against hemp; a medically and socially beneficial product.
Bob Erb, the local Terrace man who won $25 million dollars determined to make this happen. Erb ran as a candidate for mayor of Terrace many years ago and has been a long time advocate for the legalization of marihuana. He has always been a vocal and written supporter of the freedom and collective rights of the common man. Immediately after he collected his winnings he began a campaign to put legalization of the green weed on the public and political agenda.
April 20, more broadly known in the cannabis community as 4-20, is a world wide day for the public to gather and show their disapproval of the idiotic law against the possession, growing and smoking of the Herb. Bob Erb, more broadly known as Erb 4 Herb decided to make 2013 the first year for this celebration to happen in Terrace.
Many speak out against the use of the plant but Bob Erb is a model citizen and a smoker of the substance for his entire adult life, from dawn to dusk. His thinking is clear and without any signs of impairment. In fact he is able to function at a higher level consistently than most people who are stone cold sober. Articulate, organized and focused are words which describe Bob Erb. Socially progressive is another one of his fine attributes.
Bob Erb has donated to hundreds of causes in Terrace and the region. More to his socially progressive thinking, when he sees someone who is not smiling he tries to determine why. He always begins with a compliment. In one encounter we watched him state, "You are such a beautiful woman why are you hiding your smile?" When he discovered her teeth were an issue he immediately went to the Dentist and started an account to have her teeth fixed.
Dr. Neninger has confirmed how Bob Erb has filed many community members into his office.
Thank you Bob Erb for everything you have done for the people of Terrace and the surrounding area. And thank you Bob, on behalf of all those who enjoy the relaxing and medically beneficial attributes of Cannabis, for organizing and hosting the event on Saturday, April 20, 2013, in Terrace.
For those who wish to learn more about the products currently available, products which are environmentally and socially better than those made from Crude oil (which most are), check out Deviant Fibres in the Lazelle Mini Mall near Cafenara and the local politicians offices.
And speaking of local politicians, Robin Austin came out and spoke in favour of the message Bob Erb was delivering along with two local Municipal councillors, Stacey Tyers and James Cordeiro. All others were noticeably absent. It is curious to consider how so many business owners and politicians considered right wing speak harshly about the intoxication problems in the community (along with the difficulties the local RCMP have in maintaining the issues) that they do not take the time to support an effort to show a better way.
Click here to watch a video compilation of the gathering.
Click here to read more including a composition by Bob Erb himself.
First Erb4Herb Legalize It conference
November 2012 Bob Erb commits 1 million dollars to legalize marijuana efforts in Canada. 2012 Bob invites drug policy reform representatives from across Canada to attend the first Erb4Herb Legalize It conference in his home town of beautiful Terrace B.C. at the Blackstone's Restaurant at The Lodge at Skeena Landing February 2 – 4. A dozen drug policy reform representatives attended with local friends of Bob's for 2 days of informal meeting to organize and sponsor national drug policy reform campaigns and 420 celebration events for 2013.
Generous donations from Bob were received for drug policy reform actions by current organizations in Canada that were invited to attend the Erb for Herb legalize it conference. These included Sensible BC, Stop The Violence BC, NORML Canada, NORML Women's Alliance of Canada, Marijuana Party, Alberta / Calgary 420 and others.
In addition generous donations were given by Bob for 4/20 celebration events across Canada. The total Erb 4 Herb sponsorship for the April 20, 2013 4/20 celebration events across Canada came to $125,000.00. Included was Erb 4 Herb merchandise all with legalize it messages. 420 promotional posters were also created and supplied to over 30 cities in Canada.
Saturday, Blackstone's Restaurant at The Lodge at Skeena Landing
Sunday, Blackstone's Restaurant at The Lodge at Skeena Landing
Bob Erb and John Conroy (QC) NORML Canada Blackstone's Restaurant at The Lodge at Skeena Landing


text:
What's New for Paid Leave Laws on Jan. 1, 2023?
By Jana Bjorklund, GovDocs Senior Counsel and Director, Employment Law and Compliance
Published Dec. 1, 2022
As we wind down the calendar year of 2022, there are several jurisdictions that have changes to paid leave laws taking effect Jan. 1, 2023.
To keep you in compliance with your paid leave requirements, following are the changes taking effect at the start of 2023.
California has two updates for employers to note.
Family Member Definition Updated
Under the California Family Rights Act and California's Healthy Workplaces Healthy Family Act, the definition of a family member will also include a "designated person."
Employees may designate an individual for whom they may use time off under these two laws.
Employers with five or more employees will need to provide their employees up to five days of bereavement leave, which must be taken within three months of the death.
This leave would need to be taken pursuant to an employer's existing bereavement leave policy. In the absence of an existing policy, the leave may be unpaid.
Colorado has an update to its paid family and medical leave law, effective Jan. 1, 2023.
Premiums Due
Employers need to submit premiums under Colorado's new Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance Act beginning Jan. 1, 2023.
Benefits are not available until 2024, however.
Employees will be able to take up to 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave (and up to an additional 4 weeks for pregnancy or childbirth complications) starting January 1, 2024.
Whitepaper: What Employers Need to Know About Paid Leave Laws
Like California, there is another new definition of family member under a paid leave law in New York.
Siblings Included as Family Members
Under legislation signed by the New York governor back in November 2021, beginning Jan. 1, 2023, siblings are included in the definition of family members under New York's State Paid Family Leave.
That means employees may take leave to care for their siblings, which includes:
Biological siblings
Adopted siblings
Half-siblings
Paid leave laws often require more examination than other employment laws. And Oregon illustrates that with its Jan. 1, 2023, update.
Benefit Year Modified
The definition of a benefit year under Oregon's paid family medical leave insurance program has been modified to account for overlap of a benefit year with any quarter of the base year of a previously filed valid claim.
Lastly, we come to Maine on our list of what's new for paid leave laws on Jan. 1, 2023.
Maine's wage statute deserves a special mention.
Payout of Accrued Vacation Required
The amended law requires private employers with 11 or more workers to pay out all unused, accrued vacation to separated employees starting Jan. 1, 2023.
This is required regardless of the employer's policy to the contrary.
Paid Leave Glossary
Ah, paid leave. It continues to evolve in jurisdictions across the U.S.
The updates to paid leave laws on Jan. 1, 2023, are a perfect illustration of the challenges facing large employers.
And 2023 promises to be an interesting year for employment law. As always, Employment Law News will be watching to keep you informed of changes you need to know to stay in compliance.
Maryland Employers Must Accommodate Disabled Job Applicants State Minimum Wage Rates 2023


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Intellectual disability: Scientists achieve major genetics breakthrough
Thu, 31 Jan 2008 17:42 UTC
University of Adelaide geneticist Dr Jozef Gecz and a team of Belgium and UK scientists have achieved a major breakthrough in discovering the causes of intellectual disability.
Dr Gecz, a senior researcher who is based at the Women's and Children's Hospital in Adelaide, has collaborated with an international research team to reveal that various mutations of a small part of the X chromosome lead to mental retardation.
Research suggests why scratching is so relieving
Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center
In the first study to use imaging technology to see what goes on in the brain when we scratch, researchers at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center have uncovered new clues about why scratching may be so relieving - and why it can be hard to stop. The work is reported online in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology and will appear in a future print issue.
"Our study shows for the first time how scratching may relieve itch," said lead author Gil Yosipovitch, M.D., a dermatologist who specializes in itch. "It's important to understand the mechanism of relief so we can develop more effective treatments. For some people, itch is a chronic condition that affects overall health."
The study involved 13 healthy participants who underwent testing with functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technology that highlights areas of the brain activated during an activity. Participants were scratched on the lower leg with a small brush. The scratching went on for 30 seconds and was then stopped for 30 seconds - for a total of about five minutes.
Diabetes makes it hard for blood vessels to relax
Medical College of Georgia
One way diabetes is bad for your blood vessels is by creating too much competition for an amino acid that helps blood vessels relax, researchers say.
That amino acid, L-arginine, is broken down by the enzyme arginase to urea, which helps the body eliminate toxins resulting from the proteins we eat. Diabetics have a lot of arginase activity, which means they use a lot more L-arginine, says Dr. Maritza Romero, postdoctoral fellow at the Medical College of Georgia and lead author of the paper published in the current issue of Circulation Research.
It also means too little L-arginine is available to help nitric oxide synthase make nitric oxide, the powerful vasodilator that helps blood vessels relax, says Dr. Romero, who works in the lab of Dr. R. William Caldwell, chair of the MCG Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology and the study's corresponding author.
Undercover Video Shows Abuse Of Sick Cows
Undercover video shows sickened cows, too weak to walk, being jabbed with forklift blades, kicked, shocked and even sprayed in the face with powerful jets of water by workers at the Hallmark Meat Packing Company in Chino, California.
I.Q . Testing Damages Self -Worth of Test-takers and Reduces their Opportunity for Success
I.Q. testing not only damages the self-worth of many test-takers but it has denied millions of them the opportunity to better their educational and economic lot, a new book asserts.
Blatant Damage Control! Mercury From Vaccines Disappears Quickly
Carla K. Johnson
Wed, 30 Jan 2008 19:59 UTC
Chicago - Mercury from vaccines seems to disappear rapidly from the blood, returning to pre-vaccination levels in one month, according to a small study of children in Argentina.
Vending Machines Dispense Pot in LA
Daisy Nguyen
Los Angeles - The city that popularized the fast food drive-thru has a new innovation: 24-hour medical marijuana vending machines.
Consumption of Fruits May Reduce the Risk of Alzheimer's Disease
Apples, bananas, and oranges are the most common fruits in both Western and Asian diets, and are important sources of vitamins, minerals, and fiber. A new study in the Journal of Food Science explores the additional health benefits of these fruits and reveals they also protect against neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's Disease.
Creative and noncreative problem solvers exhibit different patterns of brain activity, study reveals
Why do some people solve problems more creatively than others? Are people who think creatively somehow different from those who tend to think in a more methodical fashion?
These questions are part of a long-standing debate, with some researchers arguing that what we call "creative thought" and "noncreative thought" are not basically different. If this is the case, then people who are thought of as creative do not really think in a fundamentally different way from those who are thought of as noncreative. On the other side of this debate, some researchers have argued that creative thought is fundamentally different from other forms of thought. If this is true, then those who tend to think creatively really are somehow different.
A new study led by John Kounios, professor of psychology at Drexel University and Mark Jung-Beeman of Northwestern University addresses these questions by comparing the brain activity of creative and noncreative problem solvers. The study published in the journal Neuropsychologia, reveals a distinct pattern of brain activity, even at rest, in people who tend to solve problems with a sudden creative insight -- an "Aha! Moment" - compared to people who tend to solve problems more methodically.
Allergic Disease Linked to Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Rush University
Adults with allergy symptoms report a high incidence of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), suggesting a link between atopic disorders and IBS according to a study published this month in Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology,the scientific journal of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.
In a study of 125 adults, Rush University Medical Center's Dr. Mary C. Tobin and colleagues found the likelihood of IBS was significantly higher in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis (2.67 times), patients with allergic eczema (3.85 times), and patients with depression (2.56 times).
A dollar collapse is now in motion - Saudi Arabia signals the end of petro status
The only solution I can see is to start a counter-revolution, so I'm hereby establishing, "Potassium rebellion". .. The first order of business is...
azigzagidiot
In my opinion, administering DMT intravenously cuts out the whole shaman-mediated aspect entirely. The shaman will usually take a little ayahuasca...
endescent
At least the sane people will have lots of room to stretch out and choice land to live on once the morons die off.
Not the first time this kinda thing happens when a Mothe-WEFer jackass leaves the farm before their expiration date.
beherenow
Just a little bit of logic and all their BS becomes uproariously hilarious... [Link]


"Mom, Mom! I found a sheep in a tree!" HUH? My youngest proceeds to show me his video game screen with the sheep stuck on a higher tree limb nervously moving from side to side. I laugh. The video game he plays is a 3D world adventure in which he can build constructions out of cubes. I learn so much from my children. The video games are nothing like the adventures Pitfall Harry and I used to have together back in the 80's.
The image of the sheep flash through my mind. I wonder if there is something else to learn here. While finding God's purpose is an adventure, other kinds of adventure parallel or even look like God's purpose even when it's not. How do I know what purpose I have or what gift God wants me to use when I see others who have the same gifts?
Pretend I am a sheep. I have a wonderful Shepherd who loves me. If I seek the Shepherd's purpose for me, do I end up in a tree? Possibly. Yet, I know my shepherd will come for me if I get stuck in a tree. I might dance from side to side while I wait, but I know my Shepherd will come. Jesus will come!
What if His purpose is to allow me to climb the same tree not once but twice? All the sheep on the ground look up at me in the tree. What do the sheep think? Am I to explain why I climbed the tree? What if my sheep buddies start bleating me (pun intended)? My Shepherd did not retaliate when He was insulted nor did he threaten revenge. I am to leave my case in the hands of God and not compare to any other sheep in the flock. I dance again from side to side while I wait impatiently never realizing the show I put on for the other sheep. Confidence in my Shepherd alone reminds me that anything others may say or do is a form of judgment. Even Jesus tells us that He does not have the power to judge on his own will until God tells him.
John 5:30 I can do nothing on my own. I judge as God tells me. Therefore, my judgment is just, because I carry out the will of the one who sent me, not my own will.
The same tree might be a purpose for one sheep and a temptation or threat to another. Is it fair? It doesn't matter if it's fair or not. It's based on God's purpose for each one of us which is not revealed to us all.
The Good Shepherd knows me and takes care of me when I seek His purpose regardless if it's in a tree. The view is spectacular from up here.
John 10:10b,14-15 My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me, just as my Father knows me and I know the Father. So I sacrifice my life for the sheep.


We need to stop looking down and start looking up!
Rising heart rate, a sense of panic, breathing becoming shallow and inconsistent. It is highly likely that you have experienced these very symptoms at some point during your life. Perhaps you were in a confined space, feeling claustrophobic, or you were in a large crowd feeling disorientated….or perhaps you misplaced or lost your smart phone. Maybe you hadn't even lost it, but the battery symbol was flashing red – oh no my cell's going to die! If this sounds like you or someone you know, chances are you have smartphone separation anxiety – a.k.a. "nomophobia". This has led to the need for us to have a digital detox.
This term was coined in 2010 and relates to the feelings of anxiety linked to losing your phone, having no network coverage or when your battery is running low. Researchers at Iowa State University have found that there are four main components to nomophobia. The first is the fear of not being able to communicate with people or being in contact; the second is losing connectedness in general; the third not being able to access information and the fourth is not having the convenience that a smartphone brings. Watch the video below from Iowa State University to find out more about nomophobia.
But why does this anxiety happen?
Smartphones and technology have many benefits, but it has also infiltrated every aspect of our daily lives. Let's face it, we rely on our phones an enormous amount – because they can do so much! Need directions? Check a date in the calendar? Don't know the answer to a question? Need to make a call? More often than not, we all reach for our phone. If we think about it, they organise and navigate our daily lives more than we think.
Research has shown that we rely on our devices as much as we rely on a life partner. That is a scary thought – surely a device can't replace someone as important as a spouse or significant other? The psychology behind this subconscious thought process though is very interesting. If we have a reliable source of external information on a specific topic, then we are less motivated and likely to remember that information for ourselves. If we need the answer to something we go to our reliable information source.
Before now, these reliable sources of information would take the form of people, and to some extent still do. For example, my dad knows a lot about cars I however, live in blissful ignorance and know very little. But I know all too well I can go to him for help so I am less motivated to learn and retain information about anything car-related. The exact same process happens in our brains except now we don't turn to people for help, we turn to our smartphones. Why should we bother remembering things when we can ask Siri? This reliance has led to what scientists are calling "digital dementia" – reduced cognitive abilities related to the overuse of gadgets.
Even when we're on holiday, we're still connected to our phones and technology – no online detoxing happening!
There are plenty of other health impacts from the overuse of our devices. Staring at phones and screens for extended periods of time, especially in low light, can lead to eye strain and headaches. The blue light can also impact our sleep patterns, especially with use just before sleep. After all, who isn't tempted to check your favourite social media site just one last time before you close your eyes? Plus using social media sites in place of social interactions with actual people, can also lead to depression and anxiety. Constantly comparing yourself to others through an Instagram filter or the selfies on Facebook can impact your self-esteem.
Decreases in physical activity are also common place. After a long day at work, it's very tempting to veg out in front of the television, laptop, i-pad, or pick up your phone to keep connected.
So far it's all sounding pretty doom and gloom isn't it? But there is hope on the horizon, in the form of a digital detox. A study, funded by company Kovert Designs, observed 35 people with no gadgets in the Moroccan Desert. The results were astounding. After four days researchers observed improved posture with greater eye contact being made during conversations. Memory also improved as people were more present in conversations instead of having one eye on their phone, meaning they were better able to process and store more information from the conversation. Remembering finer details from conversations also helps people to build stronger bonds and relationships with each other. Improved sleep patterns were also seen as the participants weren't checking phones before sleeping. Therefore, their melatonin levels weren't suppressed, enabling them to have a more uninterrupted night's sleep.
The results of the study have shown that digitally detoxing can have health benefits as well as improving your relationships with those around you. It also helps stem your whirring mind and unplug from the world for a short while – which is no bad thing!
Companies like Digital Detox, offer retreats providing off-grid accommodation and workshops – no digital technology allowed! The idea behind these retreats is to disconnect with the online world and reconnect with your sense of self. Camp Grounded, Mendocino, California is set in a beautiful 2,000 acres of woodland and described as a pure, unadulterated camp for grown-ups! Hiking through the countryside, practising mindfulness and yoga, as well as art and writing workshops are all a part of this all-inclusive program. Testimonials from Digital Detox include it being a "rejuvenating time" and a "transformational experience".
The next Camp Grounded retreat offered by Digital Detox is from May 20th to May 23rd with tickets starting at $695 based on options chosen.
What can you do day to day?
If you don't have the funds to spend a long weekend detoxing from your smartphone device, there are some things you can do at home. Tania Mulry, a digital marketing guru gave some tips on having an immediate digital detox in a TEDx talk at La Sierra University.
Turn off your notifications to quiet unnecessary noise from all of those apps.
Get rid of toxic apps and pages that bait you into wasting hours of your life by dragging you into commenting.
Go into Airplane mode, just because it's in the title doesn't mean this has to be solely used for airplanes. This takes you out of the rat race of notifications until you're ready to reconnect with the online world.
Set a time in the evening after which you don't touch your devices and gadgets, this will help you settle back into a healthy sleep pattern without your melatonin levels being interrupted.
Occupy your free time with a new hobby instead of filling your time with scrolling through screens.
Deepen connections with those around you by interacting face to face rather than through an online device.
See the full TED Talk from Digital Marketer Tania Mulry about the need for a Digital Detox.


text:
import JWT from './util/jwt'

function plugin(Vue, options) {

    if (plugin.installed) {
        return;
    }

    options = options || {};

    Vue.auth = {

        storagePrefix: options.storagePrefix || '_auth.',
        redirectType: options.redirectType || 'router',
        authPath: options.authPath || '/login',
        userData: undefined,

        getStorageKey(part) {

            return this.storagePrefix + part

        },

        setUserData(data) {

            this.userData = data;

            return localStorage.setItem(this.getStorageKey('user'), JSON.stringify(data));

        },

        getUserData() {

            return JSON.parse(localStorage.getItem(this.getStorageKey('user')))

        },

        setToken(token) {

            return localStorage.setItem(this.getStorageKey('token'), token)

        },

        getToken() {

            return localStorage.getItem(this.getStorageKey('token'))

        },

        removeToken() {

            return localStorage.removeItem(this.getStorageKey('token'))

        },

        hasToken() {

            return this.getToken() !== null

        },

        isAuthenticated() {

            return ! JWT.isExpired(this.getToken());

        },

        installInterceptor(instance) {

            if (typeof Vue.http === 'undefined') {
                throw new Error('Please install vue-resource before attempting to install the interceptor.');
            }

            return (request, next) => {
                request.headers['Authorization'] = 'Bearer ' + this.getToken();

                next(response => {
                    if (response.status === 401) {
                        instance.$auth.setToken(undefined);

                        if (instance.$auth.redirectType === 'browser') {
                            window.location.href = instance.$auth.authPath;
                        }
                        else {
                            instance.$router.go(instance.$auth.authPath);
                        }
                    }

                    return response;
                });
            }
        }

    };

    Object.defineProperties(Vue.prototype, {

        $auth: {
            get() {
                return Vue.auth;
            }
        }

    });

}

if (typeof window !== 'undefined' && window.Vue) {
    window.Vue.use(plugin);
}

export default plugin


The statistics are impressive (to say the least).
There are 2.27 Facebook BILLION users.
Over half of millennials check Snapchat daily.
85% of followers feel more connected with a small business after following them.
So surely, social media is the Holy Grail of marketing for small businesses? Well, not quite. 39% of small businesses feel social media is not working. The question is why?
As you're about to discover, it's nowhere near as cut and dry as you may think, and if your marketing is failing, social media isn't going to save it. Here's why (and what to do about it).
Consumers who purchase products through email spend 138% more than those who don't receive email offers.
The average return for direct mail campaigns is between 18 and 20 percent.
Are your followers even following?
Even more shocking, one study found that just 1% of users who like a business page will engage with it at some point (and after all that hard work, too – how depressing).
Some platforms are more effective than others (Instagram offers a per-follower engagement rate of 4.21%, which is 58 times higher than on Facebook, and 120 times higher than on Twitter).
Some small businesses simply don't fit into the social world very well – particularly those with high-ticket products or services. No matter how many likes or comments you have, it isn't going to make the sale when it comes to buying a £15,000 extension or a £4,000 designer sofa.
Some small businesses have prioritised social media over tried and tested marketing tools – such as having a website and delivering direct mail.
As a small business, unless you're based exclusively online, you need to target customers within a set radius. This introduces a little complexity to your social strategy, and while an 'easy' fix for this may seem to be social paid advertising, 61% of small businesses see no return on their social media activities.
If your business is based on the High Street, you're likely feeling the squeeze from falling footfall that runs alongside skyrocketing business rates and one in every five pounds being splurged online.
In the face of a lot of adversity, one potentially promising piece of news for these small businesses emerged this week, when Chancellor Philip Hammond announced a possible tax on online businesses such as Amazon (an arch nemesis of the high street). The aim of which would be to level the playing field.
Last (but by no means least) – is there a deeper problem with your business?
Has the market changed or your product become obsolete?
Have your costs shot up, while your profits have plateaued?
Are you in the wrong location or targeting the wrong demographic?
Is your business underfunded and you're unable to maintain sufficient stock?
You don't have the cash (and time) to do social media right.
You don't have a strategy (and don't have a deep understanding of how to create one) – that includes metrics, planned content, a competitor analysis, and more.
Your business is lacking the staff it needs to support social media sufficiently – that means being ready to engage with every comment and direct message (42% of consumers expect a response on social media within 60 minutes).
All of which is not to say that social media doesn't have a place within your small business marketing strategy – only that it's not the be all and end all. Ultimately social media demands expertise, and unless you can drop everything else to master it, you may pay hand over fist for few results (while neglecting other key areas of your small business).
Session with me to find out how I can help!


The Nilfisk BA551D Refurbished Battery Scrubber Dryer offers more of everything that is important for floor cleaning efficiency: more productivity, more running time, more ergonomic features, more reliability, more options and more cost-effectiveness.
The Nilfisk BA551D Refurbished Battery Scrubber Dryer is a medium sized walk-behind scrubber dryer suitable for efficient floor cleaning in retail outlets, warehouses, restaurants and hotels.
Advanced features include low noise level and a dashboard designed to reduce operator errors. It is equipped with an easy fill tank system that enables the tank to be filled from the nearest water supply. The large opening for the recovery tank enables quick and easy effective cleaning of the machine.


i want monitoring the inbound and outbound bandwith of Paketshaper 2500 on his outside network card to be informed whenthe traffic is under a specified value. The OID is 1.3.6.1.2.1.2.2.1.10.2 for InOctects and 1.3.6.1.2.1.2.2.1.16.2 for OutOctecs.
The problem is that the values of this OID is absolute (incremental) while I have need to rate per second value.
Is possible with serverscheck transform an absolute value into a per second value like Whatsup Gold of Ipswitch?
what is the formula for this OID to obtain the rate per second? is it just the difference between two OID requests and divide the difference by the time in seconds between the two requests?
Yes, I suppose that the value is the result of that formula.
OK I'll pass it on to development.