The Parkinson's Disease Biomarkers Program (PDBP) is a recently-formed NIH initiative to advance research into biomarkers for the disease in order to better understand its progress and develop treatments. Some funded projects will focus on statistical analysis tools and data sharing among researchers. Others will examine early clinical manifestations of PD in patients. Still more will involve lab studies, including identification of genetic biomarkers as well as antibodies in the blood and changes in body chemistry. All projects "must inform the etiology, pathogenesis or treatment of PD," according to grant program guidelines. Research supported by the PDBP is being carried out at the 11 Morris K. Udall Centers of Excellence in Parkinson's Disease Research (logo right), directed by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) within the NIH.
Parkinson's Disease Biomarkers research at Penn is led by Dr. Alice Chen-Plotkin's research team in the Chen-Plotkin Lab within the Neurology Department (located in the Johnson Pavilion). She is a recipient of PDBP funding of $475K for her study Unbiased Approaches to Novel Biomarker Discovery in Parkinson's Disease. Unbiased refers to taking an untargeted approach to seeking biomarkers -- a technique that is only now possible because of advanced processing capabilities. Now researchers like Chen-Plotkin can look at hundreds or thousands of potential biomarkers at once, which is a major advance in genetics/genomics research. This unbiased method of investigation in the past few years has led the Chen-Plotkin Lab (established in 2010) to discover, and subsequently replicate, a novel association between plasma levels of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and cognitive impairment in PD. The current research will seek to validate those results, identify further plasma-based PD biomarkers, and push results into translational studies. Dr. Chen-Plotkin, MD, is also a clinical neurologist at Pennsylvania Hospital.
In addition to the recent PDBP grant, Dr. Chen-Plotkin has ongoing research funding from the Burroughs Wellcome Fund Career Award for Medical Scientists and an ongoing NIA award for the study Regulation Of Gene Expression In Frontotemporal Dementia: A Genome-Wide Approach. Her hard-working lab group enjoys occasional bowling matches against her husband's lab team in the Plotkin Research Group in Mathematical Biology, also at Penn.
Biotechnology Calendar, Inc. is a full-service event marketing and planning company producing on-campus life science research tradeshows nationwide for going on 21 years. We plan and promote each event to bring the best products and services to the best research campuses across the country. Life science researchers, purchasing agents, and lab managers are actively invited to attend to see the latest products and equipment and discuss their laboratory tool and service needs. See our Nationwide Show Schedule for 2013.


Scottish Veterans Residences (SVR), provides accommodation and support for men and women of all ages who have served in the armed forces who find themselves homeless or in need. From WW2 and Korea to Iraq and Afghanistan, our residents have served their country with pride, now they need your help. Can you support them by taking on an event on behalf of SVR? We believe that every resident deserves the best quality of support, accommodation, kindness and understanding that we can provide. Dignity, privacy and respect are of paramount importance in delivering our support within a homely, safe, warm and caring community environment. Take part in an event for us, either with your own place or one of SVR's charity assured places and you will receive an SVR T-shirt and running vest, as well as the satisfaction of knowing that every penny you raise will go towards the support of our Veterans.
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• As a technique to provide ambulation in patients with spinal cord injury.
Functional neuromuscular electrical stimulation (FNMES) involves the use of an orthotic device with microprocessor-controlled electrical muscular stimulation. These devices are being developed to restore function to patients with damaged or destroyed nerve pathways (e.g., spinal cord injury [SCI], stroke, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy).
Functional neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) is an approach to rehabilitation that applies low-level electrical current to stimulate functional movements in muscles affected by nerve damage. It focuses on the restoration of useful movements, like standing, stepping, pedaling for exercise, reaching, or grasping.
Functional NMES devices consist of an orthotic and a microprocessor-based electronic stimulator with one or more channels for delivery of individual pulses through surface or implanted electrodes connected to the neuromuscular system. Microprocessor programs activate the channels sequentially or in unison to stimulate peripheral nerves and trigger muscle contractions to produce functionally useful movements that allow patients to sit, stand, walk, and grasp. Functional neuromuscular stimulators are closed-loop systems that provide feedback information on muscle force and joint position, thus allowing constant modification of stimulation parameters, which are required for complex activities (e.g., walking). These systems are contrasted with open-loop systems, which are used for simple tasks (e.g., muscle strengthening alone); healthy individuals with intact neural control benefit the most from this technology.
One application of FNMES is to restore upper extremity functions such as grasp-release, forearm pronation, and elbow extension in patients with stroke, or C5 and C6 tetraplegia (quadriplegia). The NeuroControl Corp. developed the Freehand® system, an implantable upper extremity neuroprosthesis to improve a patient's ability to grasp, hold, and release objects for patients with tetraplegia due to C5 or C6 spinal cord injury (SCI). NeuroControl is no longer in business, but FNMES centers in the United States and the United Kingdom provide maintenance for implanted devices. The NESS H200® (previously known as the Handmaster NMS I system) is an upper extremity device that uses a forearm splint and surface electrodes. The device, controlled by a user-activated button, is intended to provide hand function (fine finger grasping, larger palmar grasping) for patients with C5 tetraplegia or stroke.
Other FNMES devices have been developed to provide FNMES in patients with footdrop. Footdrop is weakness of the foot and ankle that causes reduced dorsiflexion and difficulty with ambulation. It can have various causes such as cerebral palsy, stroke or multiple sclerosis (MS). Functional electrical stimulation of the peroneal nerve has been suggested for these patients as an aid in raising the toes during the swing phase of ambulation. With these devices, a pressure sensor detects heel off and initial contact during walking. A signal is then sent to the stimulation cuff, initiating or pausing the stimulation of the peroneal nerve, which activates the foot dorsiflexors. Examples of such devices used for treatment of footdrop are the Innovative Neurotronics' WalkAide®, Bioness' radiofrequency controlled NESS L300™, Otto Bock's MyGait and the OFDS®. An implantable peroneal nerve stimulator system (ActiGait®) is being developed in Europe.
Another application of functional electrical stimulation is to provide patients with SCI the ability to stand and walk. Generally, only SCI patients with lesions from T4 to T12 are considered candidates for ambulation systems. Lesions at T1 to T3 are associated with poor trunk stability, while lumbar lesions imply lower-extremity nerve damage. Using percutaneous stimulation, the device delivers trains of electrical pulses to trigger action potentials at selected nerves at the quadriceps (for knee extension), the common peroneal nerve (for hip flexion), and the paraspinals and gluteals (for trunk stability). Patients use a walker or elbow-support crutches for further support. The electrical impulses are controlled by a computer microchip attached to the patient's belt that synchronizes and distributes the signals. In addition, there is a finger-controlled switch that permits patient activation of the stepping.
Other devices include a reciprocating gait orthosis with electrical stimulation. The orthosis used is a cumbersome hip-knee-ankle-foot device linked together with a cable at the hip joint. The use of this device may be limited by the difficulties in donning and doffing the device.
Other devices, such as the ReGrasp (Rehabtronics), are used for rehabilitation rather than home use. Neuromuscular stimulation is also proposed for motor restoration in hemiplegia and treatment of secondary dysfunction (e.g., muscle atrophy and alterations in cardiovascular function and bone density) associated with damage to motor nerve pathways. These applications are not addressed in this policy.
In 1997, the Freehand® System was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) through the premarket approval (PMA) process. The implantable Freehand® System is no longer marketed in the United States. The Handmaster NMS I system (now named NESS H200) was originally cleared for marketing by the FDA through the 510(k) process for maintaining or improving range of motion, reducing muscle spasm, preventing or retarding muscle atrophy, providing muscle re-education, and improving circulation (K022776); in 2001, its 510(k) marketing clearance was expanded to include provision of hand active range of motion and function for patients with C5 tetraplegia. FDA product code: GZC.
The WalkAide® System (Innovative Neurotronics, Gainesville, FL; formerly NeuroMotion) was first cleared for marketing by the FDA through the 510(k) process in the 1990s (K052329); the current version of the WalkAide® device received 510(k) marketing clearance in 2005. The OFDS® (Odstock Dropped Foot Stimlator; Odstock Medical, Salisbury, U.K.) received 510(k) marketing clearance in 2005 (K050991). The NESS L300® (Bioness, Valencia, CA) was cleared for marketing by the FDA through the 510(k) process in 2006. In 2015, the MyGait® Stimulation System (Otto Bock HealthCare, Duderstadt, Germany) received 510(k) marketing clearance (K141812). FDA summaries of the devices state that they are intended for patients with footdrop and assist with ankle dorsiflexion during the swing phase of gait. FDA product code: GZI.
To date, the Parastep® Ambulation System (Sigmedics, Northfield, IL) is the only noninvasive functional walking neuromuscular stimulation device to receive PMA from the FDA. The Parastep® device is approved to "enable appropriately selected skeletally mature spinal cord injured patients (level C6-T12) to stand and attain limited ambulation and/or take steps, with assistance if required, following a prescribed period of physical therapy training in conjunction with rehabilitation management of spinal cord injury." FDA product code: MKD.
This policy was created in 2010 and has been updated periodically using the MEDLINE database. The most recent literature update was performed through January 8, 2018.
To assess whether the evidence is sufficient to draw conclusions about the net health outcome of a technology, 2 domains are examined: the relevance and the quality and credibility. To be relevant, studies must represent one or more intended clinical use of the technology in the intended population and compare an effective and appropriate alternative at a comparable intensity. For some conditions, the alternative will be supportive care or surveillance. The quality and credibility of the evidence depend on study design and conduct, minimizing bias and confounding that can generate incorrect findings. The randomized controlled trial (RCT) is preferred to assess efficacy; however, in some circumstances, nonrandomized studies may be adequate. RCTs are rarely large enough or long enough to capture less common adverse events and long-term effects. Other types of studies can be used for these purposes and to assess generalizability to broader clinical populations and settings of clinical practice. The following is a summary of the key literature to date.
Much of the early published evidence assessing upper-extremity devices to restore function in patients with spinal cord injuries (SCIs) reported on experience with the Freehand System, an implantable device no longer marketed in the United States. (1-4) The published studies have suggested that the device might give patients the ability to grasp and release objects and independence or greater independence in such activities of daily living (ADLs) as using a fork or the telephone in the study setting. User satisfaction was generally high, and most subjects reported continued use of the device at home, although details of specific activities or frequency of use at home were not provided.
Use of the Handmaster NMS I (NESS L200), another upper-extremity device, was reported in a 2000 series of 10 patients with cervical SCIs. (5) After 2 months of training, performance on a defined set of tasks and one or more tasks chosen by the patient was evaluated. In 6 patients, a stimulated grasp and release with either one or both grasp modes (key and palmar pinch) of the Handmaster was possible. Four patients could perform the set of tasks with but not without the Handmaster. Eventually one patient continued using the Handmaster during ADLs at home. In another study (2003) using the Handmaster device, 7 subjects with C5 or C6 SCI practiced using the device daily in an effort to regain the ability to grasp, hold, and release objects. (6) All patients were observed 2 to 3 times during the week for 3 weeks, and they were evaluated on their ability to perform the following tasks: pick up a telephone, eat food with a fork, perform an individually selected ADL task, and perform 2 tasks relating to grasping, holding, and releasing certain items. At the end of the study, all 7 subjects successfully used the device for each required task. Improvements occurred in secondary measures of grip strength, finger linear motion, and Fugl-Meyer Assessment scores (the instrument assesses sensorimotor recovery after stroke).
Alon et al. (2002), reporting on a case series of 29 patients, investigated whether the Handmaster system (NESS L200) could improve select hand function in persons with chronic upper-extremity paresis following stroke. (7) The main outcome measures were 3 ADL tasks: lifting a 2-handled pot, holding a bag while standing with a cane, and another ADL chosen by the patient. Secondary measures included lifting a 600-gram weight, grip strength, electrically induced finger motion, Fugl-Meyer Assessment spherical grasp, and perceived pain scale. At the end of the 3-week study period, the percentage of successful trials compared with baseline were: lifting pot, 93% vs 0%, lifting 600-gram weight, 100% vs 14%; and lifting bag, 93% vs 17% -- all respectively. All subjects performed their selected ADLs successfully and improved their Fugl- Meyer Assessment scores using the neuroprosthesis.
The evidence on FNMES for the upper limb in patients with SCI or stroke includes a limited number of small case series. Interpretation of the evidence for upper-extremity neuroprostheses for these populations is limited by the small number of patients studied and lack of data demonstrating its utility outside the investigational (study) setting.
Functional NMES with a footdrop stimulator (WalkAide) was compared with an ankle-foot orthosis (AFO) in a 2014 industry-sponsored multicenter RCT (NCT01087957) that included 495 Medicare-eligible individuals who were at least 6 months poststroke. (8) A total of 399 individuals completed the 6-month study. Primary outcome measures were the 10-Meter Walk Test (10MWT), a composite measure of daily function, and device-related serious adverse events. Seven secondary outcome measures assessed function and quality of life. The intention-to-treat analysis found that both groups improved walking performance over the 6 months, and the NMES device was found noninferior to the AFO for the primary outcome measures. Only the WalkAide group showed significant improvements from baseline to 6 months on several secondary outcome measures, but there were no statistically significant between- group differences for any outcome.
FASTEST (NCT01138995) was a 2013 industry-sponsored, single-blinded, multicenter trial that randomized 197 stroke patients to 30 weeks of a footdrop stimulator (NESS L300) or a conventional AFO. (9) The AFO group received transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation at each physical therapy visit during the first 2 weeks to provide a sensory control for stimulation of the peroneal nerve received by the NESS L300 group. Evaluation by physical therapists blinded to group assignment found that both groups improved gait speed and other secondary outcome measures over time, with a similar improvement in the 2 groups. There were no between-group differences in the number of steps per day at home, which was measured by an activity monitor over a week. User satisfaction was higher with the footdrop stimulator.
Secondary analysis of data from this study was reported by O'Dell et al. (2014). (10) Comfortable gait speed was assessed in the 99 individuals from the NESS L300 group at 6, 12, 30, 36, and 42 weeks, with and without the use of the footdrop stimulator. A responder was defined as one achieving a minimal clinically important difference of 0.1 m/s on the 10MWT or advancing by at least 1 Perry Ambulation Category (which measures functional walking ability in the home or community). Noncompleters were classified as nonresponders. Seventy percent of participants completed the assessments at 42 weeks, and 67% of participants were classified as responders. Of the 32 participants classified as nonresponders, 2 were nonresponders, and 30 were noncompleters. The percentage of patients in the conventional AFO group classified as responders at 30 weeks was not reported. There were 160 adverse events, of which 92% were classified as mild. Fifty percent of the adverse events were related to reversible skin issues, and 27% were falls.
An RCT by Barrett et al. (2009) assessed FNMES to improve walking performance in patients with MS. (11) Fifty-three patients with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis and unilateral dropped foot were randomized to an 18-week program of an Odstock Dropped Foot Stimulator device or a home exercise program. Patients in the stimulator group were encouraged to wear the device most of the day, switching it on initially for short walks and increasing daily for 2 weeks, after which they could use the device without restriction. Subjects in the control group were taught a series of exercises tailored to the individual to be done twice daily. Six patients in the NMES group and 3 in the exercise group dropped out, leaving 20 in the NMES group and 24 in the exercise group. The primary outcome measure was walking speed over a 10-meter distance. At 18 weeks, the exercise group walked significantly faster than the NMES group (p=0.028). The authors noted a number of limitations of their study: power calculations were based on the 10-meter walking speed measure only and indicated that 25 subjects would be required in each group, patients were highly selected, clinical assessors also provided treatment (compromising blinding), and the validity and reliability of the 3-minute walk test have not been confirmed (fatigue prevented use of the validated 6-minute test). In addition, subjects in the exercise group were told they would receive a stimulator at the end of the trial, which may have biased exercise adherence and retention in the trial.
A 2010 publication by the same investigators reported on the impact of 18 weeks of physical therapy exercises or ODFS use on ADLs. (12) Results of 53 patients from the trial previously described were reported, using the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure. The Canadian Occupational Performance Measure is a validated semi-structured interview (higher scores indicate improvement) originally designed to assist occupational therapy interventions. The interviews at baseline identified 265 problems of which 260 activities were related to walking and mobility. Subjective evaluation at 18 weeks showed greater improvements in performance and satisfaction scores in the NMES group (35% of the identified problems increased by a score of >2) than in the exercise group (17% of problems increased by a score of >2). The median satisfaction rating improved from 2.2 to 4.0 in the NMES group and remained stable (2.6 to 2.4) in the exercise group. The median number of falls recorded per patient over the 18- week study was 5 in the NMES group and 18 in the exercise group. About 70% of the falls occurred while not using the NMES device or an AFO.
A study by Stein et al. (2010) assessed the orthotic and therapeutic effects of NMES in 32 patients with progressive footdrop (31 multiple sclerosis, 1 familial spastic paresis). (13) With the stimulator on (orthotic effect), walking speed improved by 2% for the figure-8 test and by 4% for the 10MWT. With the stimulator off (therapeutic effect), walking speed at 3 months had improved by 9% for the figure-8 test and by 5% for the 10MWT compared with baseline. The combined improvement in walking speed over the 3 months was 13% for the figure 8 (0.61 m/s vs 0.53 m/s) and 13% for the 10MWT (0.88 m/s vs 0.78 m/s, both respectively). The 20 (63%) subjects who returned for testing at 11 months did not show continued improvement compared with 3-month test results, with a combined (orthotic and therapeutic) improvement of 13% on the figure 8 (0.62 m/s vs 0.55 m/s) and 10% on the 10MWT (0.86 m/s vs 0.78 m/s, both respectively) compared with baseline. The Physiological Cost Index did not improve significantly (0.73 beats/min vs 0.78 beats/min, respectively). Subjects with nonprogressive footdrop used the device for an average 85% of days, 9.2 hours per day, and walked about 2 km per day.
Cauraugh et al. (2010) conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of 17 studies on NMES and gait in children with cerebral palsy. (14) Fourteen studies used a pretest-posttest that included a within-subjects design. A total of 238 participants had NMES. Included were studies on acute NMES, functional NMES, and therapeutic NMES (continuous subthreshold stimulation). Five studies examined functional NMES, and one of these studies examined percutaneous NMES. There were 3 outcome measures for impairment: range of motion, torque/movement, and strength/force. There were 6 outcome measures for activity limitations: gross motor functions, gait parameters, hopping on 1 foot, 6-minute walk, Leg Ability Index, and Gillette Gait Index. Moderate effect sizes were found for impairment (0.616) and activity limitations (0.635). Studies selected for the review lacked blinding and were heterogeneous for outcome measures. Reviewers did not report whether any study used a commercially available device.
A 2012 report examined the acceptability and effectiveness of a commercially available footdrop stimulator in 21 children with mild cerebral palsy, gait impairments, and unilateral footdrop. (15) Three children who did not improve walking did not complete the study. Gait analysis in the remaining 18 showed improved dorsiflexion compared with baseline. There was no significant change in other gait parameters, including walking speed. Average daily device use was 5.6 hours (range, 1.5-9.4 hours) over the 3-month study, although participants had been instructed to use the device for at least 6 hours per day. Eighteen (86%) children kept using the device after the 3-month trial. Data from this period were collected but not reported.
Meilahn (2013) assessed the tolerability and efficacy of a commercially available device in 10 children (age, 7-12 years) with hemiparetic cerebral palsy who typically wore an AFO for correction of footdrop. (16) All children tolerated the fitting and wore the device for the first 6 weeks. The mean wear times were 8.4 hours per day for the first 3 weeks and 5.8 hours per day for the next 3 weeks. Seven (70%) children wore the device for the 3-month study period, with average device use of 2.3 hours daily (range, 1.0-6.3 h/d). Six (60%) children continued to use the neuroprosthesis after study completion. Gait analysis was performed, but quantitative results were not reported. Although half of the subjects improved their gait velocity, the mean velocity was relatively unchanged with the neuroprosthesis.
For chronic poststroke footdrop, 2 large RCTs comparing NMES with a standard AFO showed improved patient satisfaction with NMES but no significant differences between groups in objective measures like walking. An RCT with 53 subjects examining neuromuscular stimulation for footdrop in patients with multiple sclerosis showed a reduction in falls and improved patient satisfaction compared with an exercise program but did not demonstrate a clinically significant benefit in walking speed. A reduction in falls is an important health outcome. However, it was not a primary study outcome and should be confirmed in a larger number of patients. The literature on NMES in children with cerebral palsy includes a systematic review of small studies with within-subject designs. Two within-subject studies evaluated tolerability and efficacy of a commercially available device in this population. Both studies, which should be considered preliminary investigations, showed no improvement in walking speed with the device. Further study in a larger number of subjects over a longer duration is needed to permit conclusions on the effect of the technology on health outcomes.
The clinical impact of the Parastep device rests on the identification of clinically important outcomes. The primary purpose of this device is to provide a degree of ambulation that improves patient ability to complete the ADLs or positively affect the patient's quality of life. Physiologic outcomes (i.e., conditioning, oxygen uptake) have also been reported, but they are intermediate, short-term outcomes.
Brissot et al. (2000) found that 13 of 15 patients evaluated in a case series achieved independent ambulation. (24) Five of the 13 patients continued using the device for physical fitness at home, but none used it for ambulation. Sykes et al. (1996) found low use of a reciprocating gait orthosis device with or without stimulation over an 18-month period, (25) and Davis et al. (2001) found mixed usability/preference scale results for ambulation, standing, and transfers with a surgically implanted neuroprosthesis in 12 patients followed for 12 months. (26) The effects of a surgically implanted neuroprosthesis on exercise, standing, transfers, and quality of life were also reported in 2012. (27, 28) The device used in both studies was not commercially available at that time.
The evidence on FNMES for standing and walking in patients with SCI consists of case series. Case series are considered adequate for this condition because there is no chance for ambulation in patients with SCI between segments T4 to T12. As stated by various authors, these systems are not designed as alternatives to a wheelchair and offer, at best, limited, short-term ambulation. Some studies have reported improvements in intermediate outcomes, but improvement in health outcomes (e.g., ability to perform ADLs) have not been demonstrated. Finally, evaluations of these devices were performed immediately after initial training or during limited study period durations. There are no data in which patients remained compliant and committed with long-term use.
For individuals who have loss of hand and upper-extremity function due to spinal cord injury (SCI) or stroke who receive functional neuromuscular electrical stimulation (FNMES), the evidence includes case series. Relevant outcomes are functional outcomes and quality of life. Evidence on FNMES for the upper limb in patients with SCI or stroke includes a few small case series. Interpretation of the evidence is limited by the low number of patients studied and lack of data demonstrating the utility of NMES outside the investigational setting. It is uncertain whether NMES can restore some upper-extremity function or improve the quality of life. The evidence is insufficient to determine the effects of the technology on health outcomes.
For individuals who have chronic footdrop who receive functional NMES, the evidence includes randomized controlled trials and a systematic review. Relevant outcomes are functional outcomes and quality of life. For chronic poststroke footdrop, 2 large randomized trials have shown improved patient satisfaction with NMES; however, in objective measures (e.g., walking), no significant difference has been observed between NMES and a standard ankle-foot orthosis. A small randomized trial examining neuromuscular stimulation for footdrop in patients with multiple sclerosis revealed a clinically significant reduction in falls; the trial also revealed an improvement in patient satisfaction with the neuromuscular stimulation (as opposed to an exercise program). However, in the area of walking speed, the trial failed to demonstrate a clinically significant benefit to the neuromuscular stimulation over an exercise class.
Studies in a larger number of patients are needed to provide greater certainty about the generalizability of this health outcome. The literature on NMES for footdrop in children with cerebral palsy includes a systematic review of small studies that feature within-subject designs; additional study in a larger number of subjects is needed. Overall, there is insufficient evidence for some indications, and a lack of improvement in objective measures for others. The evidence is insufficient to determine the effects of the technology on health outcomes.
For individuals who have SCI at segments T4 to T12 who receive functional NMES, the evidence includes case series. Relevant outcomes are functional outcomes and quality of life. No controlled trials were identified on functional NMES for standing and walking in patients with SCI. However, case series are considered adequate for this condition, because there is no chance for unaided ambulation in this population with SCI at this level. Some studies have reported improvements in intermediate outcomes, but improvements in health outcomes (e.g., ability to perform activities of daily living, quality of life) have not been demonstrated. The evidence is insufficient to determine the effects of the technology on health outcomes.
In 2009, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence published guidance stating that the evidence on functional electrical stimulation for footdrop of neurologic origin appeared adequate to support its use. (29) The Institute noted that patient selection should involve a multidisciplinary team. The Institute advised that further publication on the efficacy of functional electrical stimulation would be useful, specifically including patient-reported outcomes (e.g., quality of life, activities of daily living) and these outcomes should be examined in different ethnic and socioeconomic groups.
There are no specific CPT codes for functional neuromuscular electrical stimulation devices and associated services. The associated training required for use of a device would probably be coded as physical therapy visits, i.e., 97760, 97760 and/or 97530.
HCPCS code E0764 is specific to a functional neuromuscular stimulator, such as the Parastep, to be used in spinal cord injury patients as an aid in ambulation.
HCPCS code E0770 can be used for other types of functional neuromuscular stimulators such as the stimulators used in patients with footdrop.
7. Alon G, McBride K, Ring H. Improving selected hand functions using a noninvasive neuroprosthesis in persons with chronic stroke. J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis. Mar-Apr 2002; 11(2):99-106. PMID 17903863.
29. National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence. Functional electrical stimulation for drop foot of central neurological origin (IPG278) 2009. Available at <http://www.nice.org> (accessed January 22, 2018).
30. Functional Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation. Chicago, Illinois: Blue Cross Blue Shield Association Medical Policy Reference Manual (2018 March). Therapy 8.03.01.
7/15/2018 Document updated with literature review. Coverage statement modified to include " following nerve damage or nerve injury". Reference 4 added.
4/15/2016 Document updated with literature review. The following was added to the experimental, investigational and/or unproven indications: "To improve ambulation in patients with foot drop caused by congenital disorders (e g., cerebral palsy)". Otherwise coverage unchanged.
6/1/2014 Document updated with literature review. Coverage unchanged.
5/1/2012 Document updated with literature review. Coverage unchanged. Rationale completely revised.


Politics, Law and Life: Who Gets Stornoway If There's a Tie for Second Place?
Who Gets Stornoway If There's a Tie for Second Place?
The big electoral prize in any election is always the capacity to form government. However, the closeness of Canada's 2015 federal campaign between Conservatives, Liberals and New Democrats also raises an unlikely, but real possibility, of a tie in the number of seats won by two second-place parties.
Opposition is an important consolation for an electoral runner-up in Canada's Parliamentary system. Official status brings both prestige and profile as a 'government in waiting', and the very real benefits of money and resources for administration and research. Compared to conventions for determining the winner though, there are only a few practices in place to choose who is entitled to take the residence at Stornoway, the official home in Ottawa of the Leader of 'Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition'.
Based on the limited precedents, and the uncertainty of outcomes in the current 3-way election, there are a few possible scenarios in the event of a second place tie.
The governing Conservatives win and Liberal and New Democrats tie for second place in the number of seats.
Unlike concerns about who would form government, determined by the Governor-General, Opposition status is determined by the Speaker of the House of Commons. The key factor in making such a decision in the event of a tie would likely be incumbency.
Current Opposition, the New Democratic Party, wins election and the Conservatives and Liberals tie for second.
In this case the incumbency principle would not apply. Though there appears to be little precedent, I would argue that a reasonable corollary to the incumbency principle would be to award Official Opposition status to the party with the higher standing in the last Parliament. In this hypothetical, as the former government, the Conservatives would consequently win the right to occupy Stornoway.
Justin Trudeau's Liberals win and Conservatives and New Democrats tie for second in the number of seats.
What would happen in this situation seems uncertain. As the incumbent Opposition, New Democrats would likely argue that they should form Opposition. However, the Conservatives might well have an argument that, as the defeated government, their status in the previous session meant that the incumbency principle should be superseded.
In this case, few precedents and no clear rules might mean other considerations are taken into account. For example, the Speaker might well apply other minor factors to help determine the matter, such as who amongst the second place parties had the higher share of the popular vote.
To be fair, all 3 scenarios described above appear improbable. However, it's worth remembering that unusual things do sometimes occur in Canadian politics. Who would have predicted in advance, for example, the unexpected and seemingly unprecedented request by Prime Minister Harper for prorogation in 2008, in the face of the prospect that he would be defeated in the House of Commons within a few weeks of the previous election?
In a similar unlikely, but not impossible circumstance, that there was a tie for second place in the 2015 election, who would form the Official Opposition and be entitled to the keys to Stornoway, is not entirely clear.
 Though not exactly factually consistent with the scenarios set out below since ties occurred during the legislative session, rather than immediately following an election, the two modern precedents occurred in New Brunswick in 1994, see Speaker's Ruling "Tie or Equal Number of Members in Two Opposition Parties" Journals of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of New Brunswick, Third Session of the Fifty-second Legislative Assembly, December 16, 1994, pp 330-335, and; briefly at the Federal level in 1993, ibid.


text:
What It's Like to Be a Female Cop
August 12, 2015 • #female • #officer • #police
Answer by India L.J.Mitchell, Retired Police officer
It can be different for every woman but in general, there are a few assumptions made by some male cops and some civilians.
Many civilian women would warn me to call for back up (although it was usually on its way) if they were in a fight with their boyfriend and he was a big guy. Most guys would go into their flirtation mode and even try to get me to go out with them!
Another assumption is that women just can't handle the job physically the way a man can. Interestingly, most women are better at calming people down with verbal techniques so they don't often have to be as physical. But when the adrenaline hits, most women can get that superhuman strength they need, to contain a suspect when necessary.
The smartest male cops always saw the benefit in having a female on a call with him. When a male cop goes into a house and starts telling another male what to do, many feel they must take action. But female officers bring a sort of peaceful vibe and seem less threatening.
Female cops are also stereotyped as being gay a lot and some are. But if you are heterosexual, it's assumed you will probably have sex with most of the male officers. This is an "inside" the department problem, but it's a problem nonetheless. And it's part of being a female cop.
There's a sense of constantly having to prove yourself over and over.
The first three years I worked patrol (and even later at times) when I would get a radio call with a male officer, I knew another male officer would come to back him up to protect him in case I didn't. It was very annoying to realize that the accepted thought process was that because someone had male genitalia, he was automatically qualified for the job, but no woman ever was.
It was the same for minority officers. They also were considered (but not as obviously) less competent than the average white male officer.
Now, women didn't really become a fixture here until the 1990s and we all knew each other. But even today women make up a rather low percentage of most departments.
Another big issue is emptying one's bladder.
Men can still get behind a tree or down an alley. Female cops have to take almost all their gear off, not to mention get somewhere to go! The uniform and gear can weigh around 22-25 pounds. On a 200 pound person that's 1/8th their body weight.
When you are female and weigh 125 pounds that changes the percentage you are carrying around to 1/5 your body weight. Yet you are expected to run as fast, jump over the same fences and wrestle the same people and not hurt them and then arrest them. That's why the smart women learned to use their brains when dealing with volatile people.
Some female cops think to be the best cop is to imitate the male cop's behaviors. I disagree. I tried that and it got me nowhere.
One shift I was driving down the street of my district and a young man "cat called" me and whistled. It irritated me as I felt it disrespectful to my profession and to me. I spun my cruiser around, got out and walked up to this young guy and began my lecture. I told him how hard I had to work to just get hired, then get through the academy of 40 plus men and five women and three years on the street with people who didn't believe in me.
He apologized and so did I as I felt I was being too hard on him. He said he admired me but he thought I was "cute too." Back then I was exasperated. Today I'd be grateful for his comment.
There's much more I could tell, but being a cop is a difficult job. No matter who you are. But being female and a cop, is probably more challenging than most people know.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Q: Why is the text not aligned to top? I have this menu bar at the top of my page and it's not aligned properly.
The links are meant to be aligned to the bar so they are the same height.
Example here.
HTML:

<title>DatNerd - Home</title>

<link rel="stylesheet" href="externals/css/main.css" />
<link rel="stylesheet" href="externals/css/jquery-ui.css" />

Home

Contact

Stats

Projects

CSS:
#toolbar
{
background: #b2b2b2; /* Old browsers */
background: -moz-linear-gradient(top,  #b2b2b2 2%, #2b2b2b 100%); /* FF3.6+ */
background: -webkit-gradient(linear, left top, left bottom, color-stop(2%,#b2b2b2), color-stop(100%,#2b2b2b)); /* Chrome,Safari4+ */
background: -webkit-linear-gradient(top,  #b2b2b2 2%,#2b2b2b 100%); /* Chrome10+,Safari5.1+ */
background: -o-linear-gradient(top,  #b2b2b2 2%,#2b2b2b 100%); /* Opera 11.10+ */
background: -ms-linear-gradient(top,  #b2b2b2 2%,#2b2b2b 100%); /* IE10+ */
background: linear-gradient(to bottom,  #b2b2b2 2%,#2b2b2b 100%); /* W3C */
filter: progid:DXImageTransform.Microsoft.gradient( startColorstr='#b2b2b2', endColorstr='#2b2b2b',GradientType=0 ); /* IE6-9 */
width:100%;
height:40px;
position:fixed;
top:0;
left:0;
line-height:40px;
}

#toolbar ul
{
list-style-type:none;
}
#toolbar a
{
float:left;
width:100px;
text-decoration:none;
color:white;
background-color:purple;
height:100%;
text-align:center;
}

#toolbar a:hover
{
background-color:#ff3300;
}

#toolbar li {
display:inline;
}

A: You need to set the margin and padding of the ul to 0. Your browser (user agent) has default styles. For ul, this includes margin, padding, list-style, etc. You've cleared the list-style-type, but nothing else.
#toolbar ul {
    padding: 0;
    margin: 0;
}

Hit F12 in your browser to launch the developer tools. Here, you can inspect the element to locate the offending CSS. If you're using FireFox, you may need to install FireBug. Other major browsers come with dev tools preinstalled.

A: #toolbar ul {
  margin: 0;
  padding: 0;
}

In general, you may find a reset stylesheet helpful.

A: Try this:
#toolbar ul {
    list-style-type: none;
    margin: 0;
    padding: 0;
}

A: Stick this in your css as it helps stop bulletpoints ect.. when making a ul li list
ol, ul{list-style:none;}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Big tech firms like Wayfair and LogMeIn are cutting jobs. Don't panic
By Andy Rosen Globe Staff,Updated February 21, 2020, 6:52 p.m.
Akamai Technologies cut more than 70 jobs last month. Above, an Akamai employee at work at the Cambridge company.Suzanne Kreiter/Globe staff
Two months into 2020, an unwelcome trend has emerged in Boston's technology circles: layoffs at some of the industry's biggest companies. First, it was job cuts at Akamai Technologies and TripAdvisor. More recently, Wayfair and LogMeIn showed hundreds of employees the door.
Analysts say there's no reason to hit the panic button ― thousands of other jobs remain open throughout the region ― but the recent rash of payroll cuts do serve as something of a gut check: The state's long-running tech boom eventually must reach an expiration date, with companies pulling back on spending to preserve profits, or to trim losses.
"If the horizon has been totally clear the last year and a half or so, maybe you've got a couple of storm clouds that are starting to form," said Ben Z. Rose, a financial analyst who is president of Battle Road Research in Lexington. Rose said ongoing uncertainty over the coronavirus in China and a decreased appetite on Wall Street for pushing growth over profitability have many companies taking a hard look at their costs.
But he also emphasized that the Massachusetts firms that have carried out layoffs this year have their own unique characteristics that help explain their decisions.
LogMeIn, which this week said it had laid off 300 workers, including nearly 70 in Boston, was recently purchased by a private equity firm, a move that often brings restructuring, though the company says the decision to let workers go was unrelated to its new ownership. Wayfair ― which laid off 550 employees last week, 350 of them in Boston ― has been under pressure from investors to slow losses even as it plows resources into growing revenue. Needham-based TripAdvisor, which eliminated 200 positions in January, has been locked in a battle with Google to get more consumers using its online travel listings.
And Akamai, which cut more than 70 jobs last month, according to the Boston Business Journal, has periodically adjusted the size of its workforce over the last few years as the Cambridge company has sought to balance its slower-growing content delivery business with a promising cybersecurity trade.
Nationwide, technology companies have been shedding jobs of late. Research conducted by the outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas found that 13,869 US technology jobs were cut in January, up from 638 a year earlier. In Massachusetts, 2,323 jobs were eliminated across all sectors of the economy, up from 143 in January of 2019.
Andrew Challenger, vice president of the Chicago-based firm, said many of those job cuts have come from established technology employers such as those in Massachusetts that have resorted to layoffs. But he noted that lost jobs have largely been offset by younger firms that have grown up during this long economic expansion and continue to hire at a brisk pace.
There continues to be huge demand for tech workers in the region, according to research by the Boston job market analytics firm Burning Glass Technologies. The company reported that there were about 6,600 software engineering jobs open in the Boston area over the past 60 days, up 18 percent from the comparable period a year earlier.
It may sound contradictory — some tech workers being told to clean out their desks while thousands of positions remain unfilled — but Burning Glass CEO Matt Sigelman said it's all part of a natural cycle.
"You can see growth and cuts happening simultaneously, and that sounds weird. Actually, a healthy job market needs liquidity," he said. "The notion that some companies are scaling back and others are scaling up ― that's actually the sign of a healthy economy."
Another hopeful sign for the economy in the Boston area, Sigelman said, is that tech employment isn't concentrated among a handful of firms. The biggest companies get most of the attention, he said, but the average employer hiring software engineers is looking for three people. That means there are potential landing spots for laid-off workers both at smaller startups and at firms in other sectors that are adding new technical capabilities.
And even as some big players in the industry retool, other companies in the region are expanding. For example, Toast, the Boston-based maker of technology for restaurants that now employs about 2,700 people, said last week that it took in $400 million in new investment to help it grow. Kronos, the huge Lowell-based firm making workforce management software, announced that it would add 3,000 employees to its global operations following a merger with a Florida-based rival.
In fact, the competition for talent in Boston remains one of the main constraints to companies that want to grow. Rose, of Battle Road Research, noted that ― in a counterintuitive way ― cost-cutting at publicly traded companies seeking to improve their stock price can actually help retain employees. Many are paid in stock options, he said, so when the company does well on Wall Street, it makes their compensation more valuable.
Still, tech is not an industry for those who seek stability; it's common for people to move from one company to another after a relatively brief tenure. The constant churn of the workforce was on display this week at a job fair organized following the Wayfair layoffs. Argosight, a recruiting firm that focuses on high-ranking executives, expected a handful of people to show up. But the Wednesday evening event on Huntington Avenue attracted more than 1,000 job seekers, and 60 employers, all of whom were hiring tech talent. They included hot startups, rapidly growing firms, and tech behemoths such as Drift, DraftKings, and Amazon, along with companies in other sectors, such as BJ's Wholesale Club.
Brent Kleiman, chief executive of Argosight, said that when "pillar companies" such as Wayfair lay off workers, it can create opportunities for companies that need to get bigger.
"Yes it shocks people. But it's going to foster goodness, and if it doesn't, there's a bigger issue," Kleiman said. "There are jobs out there. There are good-paying jobs. If you can deliver value, people are going to want it."
Material from Bloomberg News was used in this report.
Andy Rosen can be reached at andrew.rosen@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @andyrosen.


text:
Programme of Research in Experimental Particle Physics at the University of Warwick, 2009-2014
Lead Research Organisation: University of Warwick
The scope of the proposed research lies in four distinct areas: the physics of particles containing the beauty quark, and the physics of neutrinos, accelerator and detector research and development. It also includes Outreach and Knowledge Exchange programmes, as follows: o We aim to further our research into matter/anti-matter asymmetry (CP Violation) with Beauty mesons at the LHCb experiment. This is important, because we have shown in past experiments that the leading source of CP violation at low energies is consistent with the Standard Model mechanism of CP violation. However, cosmological considerations indicate that there should be other sources of CP violation in Nature, so we aim to make further sensitive tests with beauty mesons, in order to see if any evidence for additional sources of CP violation in Nature may appear there. o The elucidation of the properties of neutrinos. These are very light, neutral particles which are emitted, for example, by the sun, and in radioactive beta decay. They have recently been found to oscillate, ie. transmute from one type to another, while they propagate. We propose to build part of the T2K experiment, operate it and analyse its data., This experiment aims to determine the details of the oscillation behaviour. In particular, it aims to establish the rate and extent of oscillations between muon- and electron-neutrinos, and to derive related information on neutrino masses. o We propose to continue our research and development on the Neutrino Factory project, which aims to provide crucial information for the design of such a particle accelerator, which, in turn, could be built in the future to search for CP violation in the oscillations of neutrinos. o We propose to continue our research and development of position- and energy-sensitive detectors for applications in neutrino experiments and with potential spin-off applications in industry. o We will continue to develop our outreach programme which includes activities for local schools and articles in popular science publications. o Supported by a strong University strategy and ethos in KE, we will continue to pursue all avenues for possible KE.
Paul Fraser Harrison
Facility Development (10%)
Particle physics - experiment (90%)
Accelerator R&D (10%)
Beyond the Standard Model (90%)
ISIS T1
University of Warwick, United Kingdom (Lead Research Organisation)
T2K Collaboration (Collaboration)
Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Oxford (Collaboration)
International Muon Ionization Cooling Experiment (Collaboration)
European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) (Collaboration)
Paul Fraser Harrison (Principal Investigator)
Yorck Alexander Ramachers (Co-Investigator) http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7403-775X
Steven Barry Boyd (Co-Investigator)
Timothy John Gershon (Co-Investigator) http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3183-5065
G Barker (Co-Investigator)
|< < 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 > >|
Aubert B (2009) Dalitz plot analysis of B ± ? p ± p ± p ± decays in Physical Review D
Aubert B (2013) The BaBar detector: Upgrades, operation and performance in Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment
Back J (2011) Energy deposition studies for the Neutrino Factory target station in Journal of Instrumentation
Back J (2013) Implementation of a cellular automaton algorithm for neutrino interaction reconstruction in a liquid argon volume in The European Physical Journal C
Back J (2014) Implementation of a local principal curves algorithm for neutrino interaction reconstruction in a liquid argon volume in The European Physical Journal C
Back, John And Alonso, Jesus And Bermejo, F. Javier And Enparantza, Rafael And Faircloth, Dan And Others (2010) Commissioning of the Low Energy Beam Transport of the Front End Test Stand in Conf.Proc.
Bayes R (2017) Measurements of muon multiple scattering in MICE in Journal of Physics: Conference Series
Bennett J (2011) Lifetime and strength tests of tantalum and tungsten under thermal shock for a Neutrino Factory target in Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment
Bernard D (2014) Measurement of $e+e- \rightarrow$ hadrons cross sections at BABAR, and implication for the muon g-2
Bharucha A (2013) Implications of LHCb measurements and future prospects in The European Physical Journal C
Bogomilov M (2012) The MICE Muon Beam on ISIS and the beam-line instrumentation of the Muon Ionization Cooling Experiment in Journal of Instrumentation
Bogomilov M (2014) Neutrino factory in Physical Review Special Topics - Accelerators and Beams
Choubey, S. And Gandhi, R. And Goswami, S. And Berg, J.S. And Gallardo, J.C. And Others (2010) International Design Study for the Neutrino Factory: First Progress Report
Collins P (2013) The LHCb VELO (VErtex LOcator) and the LHCb VELO upgrade in Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment
Cowan G (2013) Performance of the LHCb silicon tracker in Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment
Davies G (2013) Higgs boson searches at the Tevatron in Frontiers of Physics
Dobbs A (2017) The Status of MICE in Journal of Physics: Conference Series
Dobbs A (2017) The Muon Ionization Cooling Experiment User Software in Journal of Physics: Conference Series
Dossett D (2013) Radiation damage in the LHCb VELO in Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment
DÉLIOT F (2013) TOP QUARK PHYSICS AT THE TEVATRON in International Journal of Modern Physics A
Edgecock, Thomas And Back, John And Bennett, Roger And Booth, Christopher And Skoro, Goran And Others (2010) Overview of Solid Target Studies for a Neutrino Factory in Conf.Proc.
Gabor C (2012) H- beam transport experiments in a solenoid low energy beam transport. in The Review of scientific instruments
Gligorov V (2013) Performance and upgrade plans of the LHCb trigger system in Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment
Green A (2010) Median recoil direction as a WIMP directional detection signal in Physical Review D
Harrison P (2010) Exact one-loop evolution invariants in the standard model in Physical Review D
ST/H001085/1 01/10/2009 31/03/2011 £410,595
ST/H001085/2 Transfer ST/H001085/1 01/10/2010 30/09/2012 £971,339
Description LHcb
Organisation European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN)
Department Large Hadron Collider Beauty Experiment (LHCb)
PI Contribution The research team at The University of Warwick have provides expertise and personnel to help with the continued operation and data collection at LHcb as well as data analysis and interpretation of results collected by Warwick.
Collaborator Contribution Members of the LHcb team have provided resources and experimental time to allow for the collection of data which has been used by members of Warwick to produce output for LHcb, with the appropriate acknowledgements to Warwick staff.
Impact Any publication which indicates a LHcb Collaboration or authored by 'Aaij, R. and others'
Description MICE
Organisation International Muon Ionization Cooling Experiment
PI Contribution The research team at The University of Warwick have provides expertise and personnel to help with the continued operation and data collection at MICE as well as data analysis and interpretation of results collected by Warwick.
Collaborator Contribution Members of the MICE team have provided resources and experimental time to allow for the collection of data which has been used by members of Warwick to produce output for MICE, with the appropriate acknowledgements to Warwick staff.
Impact Publications with reference MICE experimental data
Description Neutrino Factory
Organisation Rutherford Appleton Laboratory
PI Contribution The research team at The University of Warwick have provides expertise and personnel to help with the continued Research and development into the Neutrino Factory as well as data analysis and interpretation of results collected by Warwick and other institutions.
Collaborator Contribution Members of the Neutrino Factory team have provided resources and ideas to allow for the development of new techniques which have been used by members of Warwick to produce new insights into techniques and equipment.
Impact Publication which make reference to the Neutrino Factory
Description T2K
Organisation T2K Collaboration
PI Contribution The research team at The University of Warwick have provides expertise and personnel to help with the continued operation and data collection at ATLAS as well as data analysis and interpretation of results collected by Warwick.
Collaborator Contribution Members of the T2K team have provided resources and experimental time to allow for the collection of data which has been used by members of Warwick to produce output for T2K, with the appropriate acknowledgements to Warwick staff.
Impact All publications which have used T2K data.


text:
January 7, 2020 Preemption Watch Newsletter
California Colorado Florida Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Missouri Montana Nevada Ohio Pennsylvania South Carolina Texas Vermont Washington
How Red States Are Steamrolling Blue Cities
The Washington Monthly, 12/4/2019
The Florida Legislature is strongly opposed to gun control. Even in the aftermath of the shooting in Parkland, state legislators opposed strict restrictions on the sale and use of firearms. But there's another kind of control that they do believe in: the control of gun control.
In 1987, Florida passed a bill that prohibits localities from enacting their own gun ordinances. This was an act of "preemption"—the name for when a higher level of government, like a state, withdraws or limits the authority of a lower level government, like a city or town…
Old preemption gave deference to judicial determination. It respected citizen initiative and the role of local governance. It allowed municipalities to work with states in pursuit of the right regional policies. That has all vanished. Now, preemption "is being used as a blunt instrument to destroy local democracy," said Mark Pertschuk, director of Grassroots Change and Preemption Watch. [Emphasis added]
Eliminating Food Deserts Won't Help Poorer Americans Eat Healthier — Here's What Will
NextCity.org, 12/3/2019
[W]e would recommend tweaking prices as a better approach to encouraging healthier habits. Taxes on sugary drinks can discourage their consumption, while food-stamp programs could be modified to make fruits and vegetables cheaper…
Health inequality is one of our society's most important problems. We hope that this research can direct efforts toward ideas that can materially improve health — and away from ideas that do not.
Note: This research report adds to the growing body of evidence that substantial local soda taxes, with the revenues reinvested to benefit the community, are among the most effective policies to address health inequality – which is the reason that the soda industry's highest priority is preempting grassroots soda tax movements, especially in states like California that have historically led the nation in adopting real solutions to public health problems.
Plastic Bags & Other Disposable Containers
Kickstart: Ban battles in Ohio and Hawaii
DON LOEPP, Editor, Plastics News, 12/6/2019
There's been a battle in Ohio, one of the top states for plastics industry employment, over the issue of preemption laws.
A few Ohio cities and counties have passed plastic bag bans, but the Republican-controlled legislature is pushing a law that would prevent local bans. This story probably sounds familiar, because it's a debate that's been playing out in states around the country.
But a surprise twist came this week, when GOP Gov. Mike DeWine said he doesn't think the state should interfere with local bag bans.
"I think this would be a mistake. I think the state government should allow local communities to do what they think is best in regard to this area," DeWine told the Statehouse News Bureau. [Emphasis added]
Broadband & Wireless
The Promise Of 5G Comes With A Regulatory Headache And Health Risk Concerns
WAMU.org, 12/7/2019
There's a battle playing out between state and local governments over who should be allowed to regulate 5G — the new mobile technology that will hasten internet data speeds.
Climate Change & the Natural Environment
AG Donovan joins lawsuit to preserve California's advanced clean car standards
VTDigger.org, 11/20/2019
MONTPELIER – Attorney General T.J. Donovan joined a coalition of states to file a lawsuit opposing the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) attempt to revoke portions of a waiver it previously granted to the State of California permitting the state to implement its greenhouse gas (GHG) and zero emission vehicle (ZEV) standards. Today's action, filed in the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, is part of the states' ongoing fight to protect California's Advanced Clean Car Standards. The California standards, which are more protective than those established by the federal government, are followed, in whole or in part, by 13 other states – including Vermont. They are a key part of state-level efforts to protect public health, clean air, and the environment.
California officials side with marijuana company in new fight over home deliveries
Los Angeles Times, 11/26/2019
Earlier this month, Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra filed a motion on behalf of the California Bureau of Cannabis Control to join a lawsuit by Salinas-based East of Eden Cannabis Co. against Santa Cruz County, which has banned deliveries by companies it has not licensed.
The legal action comes as a group of cities is challenging California's home delivery rules in Fresno County Superior Court, arguing that state law allows them to decide whether businesses can sell pot in their communities. In January, the Bureau of Cannabis Control issued regulations that permit firms it licenses to deliver marijuana to homes anywhere in the state, including in cities and counties that have banned pot shops.
Celebrating Five Years of Berkeley's Soda Tax
Voices for Healthy Kids, 12/4/2019
In 2014, Berkeley, California became the first city in the U.S. to implement a tax on sugary drinks, with 76% of voters approving of the ballot measure. In celebration of the fifth anniversary of the ballot measure, the Praxis Project (a member of the Voices for Healthy Kids Strategic Advisory Committee) released a video that shows the city's investments from the tax.
Colorado's Broomfield Extends Drilling Moratorium to June, Rankling Energy Industry
NaturalGasIntel.com, 12/5/2019
A persistent advocate for local control over oil and natural gas development, officials in Broomfield, CO, on Tuesday extended a moratorium on new drilling for another six months.
Broomfield extends temporary oil and gas moratorium
The Gazette, 12/4/2019
DeSantis hears 'sirens at night ' — says it's up to locals to solve Tallahassee gun violence
Tallahassee Democrat, 12/4/2019
Since 1987, Florida has prevented cities from passing regulations that are stricter than the state firearms [laws]. DeSantis filed motions in support of the preemption.
NRA, local governments square off on gun law
The Gainesville Sun, 12/4/2019
Florida since 1987 has barred cities and counties from passing regulations that are stricter than state firearms laws, and the penalties in the 2011 law were designed to strengthen that "preemption." The law, for example, could lead to local officials facing $5,000 fines and potential removal from office for passing gun regulations.
Senate renews push for single-use plastic bag ban
South Coast Today, 11/21/2019
The Senate bill forbids communities from imposing any additional limitations beyond those included in the legislation.
"The bill that was sent to the House did not have the fee, and it also had preemption for any current city policies," Eldridge said. "This bill has preemption, but only for anything that's above what this bill does, so that creates a state uniform policy."
Florida House 'assault weapons' ban bill filed, Senate companion coming soon
The Center Square, 11/15/2019
SB 134/HB 6009, companion Senate-House bills filed by Sen. Annette Taddeo, D-Miami, and Rep. Dan Daley, D-Sunrise, seeking to repeal a 1987 preemption law that prohibits local governments from adopting gun regulations more restrictive than the state's.
Senate passes Plastic Bag Ban Bill
CommunityAdvocate.com, 12/3/2019
To provide consistency for retailers across the state, the bill would preempt existing plastic bag bans already implemented in cities and towns. In addition, the ban would continue to allow for plastic bags for specific products where plastic serves an enhanced purpose, such as for produce, poultry or other food items to keep them fresh, or for frozen items or items prone to leak, for example.
Massachusetts one step closer to statewide plastic bag ban
WCVB.com, 11/21/2019
More than 100 Massachusetts cities and towns have already passed local laws banning plastic bags.
The Senate bill would preempt existing local plastic bag bans already implemented in cities and towns.
State Senate Plans Plastic Bag Ban
WGBH.org, 11/18/2019
The upper chamber's Ways and Means Committee will release a bill Monday morning that would ban single-use plastic shopping bags at store checkouts statewide and would preempt any plastic bag regulations already in place at the municipal level, such as Boston's local ordinance.
Fernandes goes to bat for local control of pesticides
Martha's Vineyard Times, 11/13/2019
State Rep. Dylan Fernandes, D-Falmouth, who represents the Island in the House of Representatives, testified on a bill he filed to regulate pesticides and give local towns a say in what's used.
Huron Daily Tribune, 12/9/2019
Preempt local knife regulations — House Bill 5286
Introduced by Rep. Steven Johnson (R) on December 4, 2019
To preempt local government ordinances or rules on the transportation, possession, carrying, sale, purchase, manufacturing, etc. of a knife or knife-making components. A similar preemption restricts local gun regulations.
Court rejects Nestle plan for bottled water pump building
Star-Tribune, 12/3/2019
Nestle contended Osceola Township's denial of its zoning permit was a backdoor means of preventing the company from stepping up withdrawals from its well, contrary to state law. But the appeals panel said there was no proof of that.
"Ultimately, the township is attempting to enforce its zoning ordinances," according to the opinion by Judges Cynthia Stephens, Deborah Servitto and Amy Krause. "Enforcing a zoning ordinance is neither exceptional nor forbidden."
Pro-gun group files suit over Eastpointe's gun law
Iosco County News-Herald, 12/2/2019
A Michigan gun rights organization Monday filed a lawsuit against the City of Eastpointe over an ordinance that bans storage of a firearm in an unlocked motor vehicle…
The ordinance directly violates a firearms preemption law in the Michigan Constitution, according to Michigan Gun Owners attorney, James Makowski.
House OKs gun law pre-emption, fine for CPL violation
Valliant News, 11/19/2019
Lansing — The Republican-controlled state House passed two new gun measures Wednesday that would stop local governments from adopting ordinances stricter than state gun laws and impose a civil fine instead of the current felony charge for those carrying expired concealed pistol licenses.
Nickel per single-use store bag approved by Minneapolis City Council
Brainerd Dispatch, 11/22/2019
Passing the bag ban was easy; the council approved it 10-3. But a year later, just before the ordinance was to take effect, the Minnesota Legislature — then controlled by Republicans — banned cities from banning bags. DFL Gov. Mark Dayton said he didn't like the preemption measure, but still approved it because it was tucked into a jobs bill.
Pokin Around: I thought we liked local control over local issues; just not with CAFOs?
Steve Pokin, Springfield News-Leader, 12/7/2019
Dixon explained in November that he would not ask the commission to vote on a non-binding resolution criticizing a new state law on concentrated area feeding operations (CAFOs) because he didn't want to upset the Republican lawmakers from Greene County who voted for it…
The law says that no local governmental body, including and most importantly counties, can have tighter controls on CAFO operations than the state of Missouri.
County Commission Should Not Give Up Local Control, Local Zoning
eMissourian.com, 11/21/2019
[O]f the 42 different types of land uses in the new District "W," which is about 90 percent of the county, an entity could build a utility waste landfill or industrial animal farm, without a public hearing and with no local restrictions that would protect neighbors and adjacent businesses.
Montana Supreme Court Rules Unanimously in Favor of Gun Rights
NRA, 11/10/2019
The Montana Supreme Court voted unanimously Oct. 22 to reverse a district judge's decision to uphold extreme gun-control measures in Missoula, Mont.
The Missoula City Council passed an ordinance in 2016 that criminalized virtually all private firearms transfers in the city by requiring a background check for the sale or transfer of every firearm, including purchases at gun shows.
Fake guns banned in downtown Las Vegas district, but real guns OK
Las Vegas Review-Journal, 11/20/2019
Local policymakers do not have regulatory authority over real firearms — an issue left to state lawmakers.
Don Turner, president of the Nevada Firearms Coalition, said the reason that local governments may even regulate fake guns is because an actual firearm is well-defined in state statute, and "that's how they skirt the state pre-emption law."
Ohio House passes ban on plastic bag bans
Columbus Dispatch, 12/11/2019
The Ohio House again has waded into local decision making, forbidding cities and counties from imposing bans on the use of plastic bags by grocery stores, restaurants and other retailers.
Ohio regulations prompt changes to Oberlin gun ordinances
The Morning Journal, 12/6/2019
The city of Oberlin is looking at repealing local gun ordinances due to updated regulations under Ohio Revised Code.
Oberlin Law Director Jon Clark wrote a Nov. 27 memo to City Council outlining the necessity to repeal additional references to firearms.
"Earlier this year, Section 9.68 was amended," Clark wrote. "While poorly drafted, the amendments expand upon state legislature's preemption of the ability of local governments to regulate firearms in any manner."
HOME RULE THREATENED [Letter to the Editor]
geaugamapleleaf.com, 12/2/2019
Ohio legislators are preparing to vote on bills that would prohibit local governments in establishing ordinances that make sense for their communities. Known as "home rule," this has been a long standing approach that local communities "know best" what works in their area.
Unfortunately, large corporate donors are pressuring some Ohio legislators to eliminate local control. Specifically, HB 242 in the Ohio House and SB 222 are bills that would prohibit local control over single-use plastic bags.
City Council passes new gun regulation in spite of state's preemption law
Philadelphia Tribune, 11/14/2019
Philadelphia City Council passed a new gun regulation on Thursday that will no doubt face a legal challenge at the state level if Mayor Jim Kenney signs it.
The legislation would establish a court process to temporarily remove firearms from individuals who pose an imminent threat to themselves or the public — commonly known as a "red flag" law.
SC Attorney General Demands Democrat Mayor Repeal Gun Control
Breitbart.com, 12/4/2019
South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson is demanding that Columbia Mayor Stephen Benjamin (D) repeal city-level gun controls instituted despite the state's firearm preemption law.
Officials advocate for local control
Cleburne Times-Review, 11/24/2019
Texas House Speaker Dennis Bonnen-R's October announcement that he will not seek re-election last year did little to quell Johnson County Commissioner Rick Bailey's concerns.
"No, because I don't trust the guy not to try to run again," Bailey said. "He may not. But he may also be thinking that by keeping quiet for a while he'll get forgiveness from the inner Austin circle and that the local leaders in the rest of Texas will forget about him.
"Even if he doesn't run our lieutenant governor and governor are as adamant as [Bonnen] on local control and other issues adversely affecting Texas counties and cities. So either way, local governments are still going to face a lot of issues and challenges in the next legislative session."
Five years later: Denton's epic battle to ban fracking and keep local control
Denton Record-Chronicle, 11/2/2019
Frustrated by years of industry maneuvers around zoning powers, residents became activists. They wrote a citizens referendum that tapped the city's police powers in public health and safety to ban hydraulic fracturing. Voters made it local law on Nov. 4, 2014.
Mineral owners, operators and related businesses would have none of it. The state and the industry sued Denton. Then, in one fell swoop, the Texas Legislature passed a law undoing Denton's vote and putting an end to most local rules for urban drillers. [Emphasis added]
AG says state must act on tax and reg (Marijuana regulation)
Vermont Digger (vtdigger.org), 12/6/2019
Massachusetts has a very strong local control option, which gives towns the power to decide whether to allow [marijuana] sales or not. Vermont lawmakers are considering how much control towns should have. Conroy said that in his view Massachusetts has "too much local control."
2020 gun control agenda targets limits on high-capacity magazines
MyNorthwest.com, 11/22/2019
The 12-point agenda is thorough, including goals to regulate access to ammunition and high-capacity magazines, "address the intersection of alcohol and firearm violence," allow local governments to enact stricter gun control, create a centralized background check system, and more.
Tacoma Gun & Ammunition Tax Passes City Council Unanimously
Ammoland.com, 11/15/2019
U.S.A. –-(Ammoland.com)- On 12 November 2019, the Tacoma City Council passed its controversial tax on guns and ammunition. The tax is based on a similar tax in Seattle. The vote was unanimous, 8-0. 112 people were reported to have spoken on the issue.
To an ordinary reader, the tax would seem to violate the Washington State preemption law. The Washington Supreme Court held differently in 2017. It voted that a tax was not a regulation.
Tacoma, Washington Gun Tax Based on False Premises
When Seattle imposed a tax on guns and ammunition, the Washington Supreme Court has held a tax on guns is not a regulation of guns. It upheld the ability of cities to tax guns and ammunition in 2017. The Washington Supreme Court can not be counted on to protect the Citizens of Tacoma from the gun tax.
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Q: Angular reactive form pass wrong date I am using PrimeNg calendar module for picking up a date. I have the following code :
 <p-calendar formControlName="valid_till" [dateFormat]="'mm/dd/yy'"></p-calendar>

Now when I select a date for eg: 31st July 2020, in the component, if I log the value I am getting the following :
Fri Jul 31 2020 00:00:00 GMT+0530 (India Standard Time)

But when I pass this value to the server as follows :
this.myService
    .save(this.myForm.value, this.editId);

It is passing the date as valid_till: "2020-07-30T18:30:00.000Z" and this value is saved in the database as 2020-07-30 23:59:59. But I have to save it as 2020-07-31 23:59:59. why it is happening like this and how can I save the exact date that I am selected ?
I have tried to add the offset as seen in another post like
newDate =  new Date(date_valid_till.getTime() +date_valid_till.getTimezoneOffset() * 60000);

But this has again given me Thu Jul 30 2020 18:29:59 GMT+0530 (India Standard Time), still not the date I would like to have. I only need Thu Jul 31 which I have selected in the date picker.
PS : I am using MySQL database and the column is of type DateTime.

A: Use dataType as string.
<p-calendar formControlName="valid_till" dataType="string"></p-calendar>

I have created the stackblitz, its working
https://stackblitz.com/edit/angular-z5ifcn


text:
10248 Фіхтельґебірґе (10248 Fichtelgebirge) — астероїд головного поясу, відкритий 17 жовтня 1960 року.

Тіссеранів параметр щодо Юпітера — 3,399.

Примітки

Див. також
 Список астероїдів (10201-10300)

Посилання

 http://www.minorplanetcenter.net/iau/lists/NumberedMPs

Астрономічні об'єкти, відкриті 1960
Головний пояс астероїдів

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Department of Greek & Latin
Classical Play
Full-time Staff
Antony Makrinos
Teaching Fellow in Classics
Email: a.makrinos@ucl.ac.uk
Research interests: Homer, scholarship in Byzantium (esp. reception of the Homeric text with emphasis on allegorical interpretation), modern reception of Homer.
I was born and educated in Chios (Greece). I took an undergraduate degree in Classics at the Philosophy School, University of Athens where I wrote a dissertation on the "Professions in Homer". I then moved to University College London with a private scholarship in 1998-9 in order to take a one-year MA in Classics at the department of Greek and Latin. I had the opportunity to follow classes on Homer, Thucydides and Greek Lyric Poetry and to produce a dissertation on "Koraes and Homer" under the supervision of Prof. R. Janko. In 2000, I was offered a scholarship for a PhD in Classics on "Eustathius' Commentary on Homer's Odyssey (ch. 1379-97)" under the supervision of Prof. R. Janko and Prof. C. Carey and in the following years I continued my research on this subject with a post-doc.
IRIS Research Profile
• Eustathius' Commentary on the Odyssey - book 1 (Routledge ~ contracted for 2019)
• Codex Sinaiticus: New Perspectives on the Ancient Biblical Manuscript (assistant editor), British Library 2015
• "Paraphrasing Homer: In search of Demosthenes Thrax" chapter in Companion to the Reception of Homer, from the Hellenistic Age to Late Antiquity, ed. by Ch. Manolea (submitted - to be published by Brill, 2017).
• "We are all Trojans...": Homer's poetic legacy, BBC History Magazine, May 2016
• "Perceptions of Greece in the works of Roman authors" (in Europatria, ed. F. de Oliveira, Centre of Classical and Humanistic Studies of the University of Coimbra, Lisbon 2013)
• "Tragedy in Byzantium: Sophocles in Eustathius' Commentary on the Odyssey" (in Dialogues with the Past, vol. I, (BICS Supplement 125), ed. by A. Bakogianni, London 2013)
• "In search of ancient myths: documentaries and the quest for the Homeric world" (in Classics in the Modern World: a 'Democratic Turn'?, ed. by L. Hardwick and S. J. Harrison, Oxford University Press: Oxford 2013).
• The Homer Encyclopedia (edited by M. Finkelberg) Includes three entries "Eustathius", "Byzantine Reception", "Homeric paraphrases" Blackwell, 2011
• "Eustathius' archbishop of Thessalonica Commentary on the Odyssey: Codex Marcianus 460 and Parisinus 2702 revisited" Bulletin of the Institute of Classical Studies, vol. 50, (2007) pp. 171-192
• R. J. Cunliffe, "A Lexicon of the Homeric Dialect", International Journal of the Classical Tradition, 2014.
• S. Montiglio, "From Villain to Hero: Odysseus in Ancient Thought", BMCR 2012
• G. D. Bird, Multitextuality in the Homeric Iliad, The Witness of the Ptolemaic Papyri, (Hellenic Studies 43), The Classical Review 62 (2012) no 1, 8-10.
• K. A. Raaflaub - H. Van Wees, "A Companion to Archaic Greece", The Classical Review - Aug. 2010
• M. Mueller, "The Iliad" Second edition, The Classical Review 60 (2010) no 2, 604.
• M.M.Winkler, "Troy: from Homer's Iliad to Hollywood epic", Scholia 16 (2007) 47
Radio & Film
• "Katherine of Alexandria" 2011, Carol Winifred Film Studios - Spiked Wheel films, inspired by the recent discovery of the 4th c. diary of St. Katherine (academic advice & translation)
• "Byzantium Unearthed", BBC Radio 4, presented by Bettany Hughes (contribution on Homer and Eustathius)
• "The Forum: The Iliad Beauty, Brutes and Battles", BBC World Service, presented by Bettany Hughes (contribution to a panel about the Iliad)
Eustathius project: The aim of this project is to accomplish an edition of Eustathius' Commentary on the Odyssey (Book 1) with an English translation, and expanded explanatory notes.
• Brill's Companion to the Reception of Homer: from Byzantium to the Enlightenment, (co-editor) Includes a chapter by myself on "Eustathius: Homeric commentator, critic and allegorist" (contracted Brill, 2019).
Talks for Schools
• Homer and popular media
• Homer in Cinema
• The World of Homer
• The Gods in the Iliad and the Odyssey
• Modern reception of Homer
• Women in the Homeric epics
for some innovative teaching news and projects have a look here: -
Plautus Amphitruo
Roman Love Poetry: A visit to the National Gallery
Teaching Greek for Beginners: a special class in the Petrie Museum
Teaching Latin for Beginners: a special class in the Wellcome Library
Arachne Versus Athena: A live performance for Roman Epic
Summer School in Homer


text:
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CBS News February 8, 2013, 5:16 PM
Calif. Gov. Jerry Brown: Prop 30 a "tough battle"
Jerry Brown talks to reporters about his temporary tax hike initiative, Proposition 30, during an election night party in Sacramento, Calif., on Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012.
AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli
(CBS News) California voters agreed to raise their own taxes to fund education, passing Proposition 30 on Tuesday. That's a victory for Gov. Jerry Brown who personally campaigned for its passage in his state.
High stakes for Calif. Prop 30 Election Day decision
Voters approve Prop 30 increasing sales, income taxes
Pictures: Obama celebrates election win
Brown said on "CBS This Morning," "People believe in our schools and our university and what it represents for opportunity for people who are in low-income circumstances.
"Look, this was a tough battle," he added. "A lot of people say we couldn't do it. A lot of people said 'you're crazy to go to the people,' but I ran for governor on the pledge that there would be no taxes unless the people themselves voted for them and in this case, they did and it's only after, however, 30,000 fewer teachers, we had a massive budget deficit of $27 billion and I've cut that thing and we'll be balanced. This January, we'll have the first balanced budget since 1998 and that's a positive. And I think the reason why is because I think people were willing to ask for some more revenue because the cuts have been -- across the board...this has been a very tough fiscal program of austerity. Three dollars of cuts for every dollar of income and I think that's the reason why people finally said, 'OK. Enough is enough. We'll vote you some more money.'"
Prop 30 will increase the state sales tax by a quarter cent and raise income tax rates on people making more than $250,000.
The stakes were high as the Election Day decision loomed. If the measure didn't pass, the state budget would have put $6 billion in education cuts automatically into effect. That could have shortened the school year by up to three weeks.
Out-of-state anti-tax groups helped fund a $53 million war chest to fight Prop 30. Opponents questioned if the tax money will really go to schools. They also said raising sales tax to as high as 10 percent is bad policy.
The Yes on 30 campaign, promoted by Brown, raised more than $69 million. But heading into Tuesday's vote, support was below 50 percent -- the threshold Prop 30 needed to pass.
For more with Brown, watch the video in the player above.
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Does Nicholasville get to be a bit boring, or is there always plenty to do?
There's always plenty to do in Nicholasville. It's a very nice town, and you're so close to Lexington! You won't have to drive far to find more to do if you ever do get bored.
Where is the Nicholasville post office?
Are there any private schools in Nicholasville?
What is the zip code for Nicholasville?
Where is the library in Nicholasville?


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Culture&arts
Gadgets and Science
5 Reasons Why "Logan" Is The Best Wolverine Movie Ever
We've waited for so long to see Hugh Jackman as "Old man Logan" Wolverine, and the movie is finally here! I cannot believe how amazing the end result was. From the characters motivations, and fan service, to incredibly shot scenes and the R rating. We finally got an R rated Wolverine movie, Reddit! And, oh boy was I giddy when I first saw Laura in action on the big screen. But more on that in a moment.
Anyway, if you have not seen Logan and you're still on the fence, please, do yourself a favor and go watch it. If you happen to not like it, well, suck to be a bitter old stuck-up then! Check out these 5 reasons why Logan is probably the best Wolverine movie we'll get in a while!
Blood, guts, and severed heads
Alright, this is not the biggest reason to watch this movie, but it does help you to look at the world from Logan's perspective. He's got these adamantium claws that can slice and dice anyone or anything, and while in previous installments we didn't actually see that much blood and gore, this time, since it was an R rated film, we finally got to experience that wild, feral side of Wolverine (and X-23). Now we know why he's the best at what he does. The violence levels here feel grounded and real (at least as real as a comic book movie can get). Logan is now old and tired of all the fighting, which is why he uses his skills only if it's absolutely needed. In fact, you can tell all this from the very first scene in the movie. Not gonna spoil it, just go and see it!
Fan service done right!
Fan service is not always easy to do. If you go overboard with it, then your whole movie will be a mess, like Sharknado 4 *shivers*. But you also can't NOT include some Easter eggs, nods, and references that only the fans will get. It's really tricky, but Logan threads that line perfectly. You get that nostalgia fix with hints about the previous events in the X-Men universe, but that's all they are – just hints. They don't tug the "plot blanket" to their side, and don't overshadow the main story, as it usually happens. Just imagine if the "Westchester incident" was given like 10 minutes of screen time. Everyone would think "oh hey, this is what the movie must be about – the X-Men!", which it wasn't. Hell, even the X-Men comic books served their purpose and were not just another glorified Easter Egg. It all makes perfect sense, and it's so subtle, you won't even see it coming.
The meat and potatoes of pretty much every comic book movie. You can't have a Wolverine movie without action, right? And oh boy is there action! You got your shooting, slicing, tackling, skewering, growling, chasing, running, and aaaaall the other stuff you're expecting to see from 2 human blenders, an army of gun-toting cyborgs, and an old grandpa with deadly seizures.
The first time Laura gets serious I got freaking chills all over, which happened last time during the first Avengers. We get some exposition, of course, it's been 30-something years, after all, but it's nothing too complex (at first) and takes almost no time. You'll be like "huh, neat, but let's move on". Sure, the character development takes precedence over action, but they're presented in perfect harmony. With the run time of 2h 20min, I've not felt like the movie was dragging, or vice versa – too action packed. Also, NO SHAKY CAM during the fights!
A perfect cast for a perfect movie. You got your Hugh Jackman as Logan (obviously), Patrick Stewart as the 90 year old Prof. Xavier, Stephen Merchant as Caliban, and my new favorite child actress – Dafne Keen as X-23. Not going to lie, I'm not too familiar with all the other names, so you can just go check the IMDB page, but I am fascinated with everyone's performance. Even the villains and their low-ranked crooks with guns for hands feel super real, which can't be said for any of the previous X-Men movies. I really hope at least some of them get nominated for the Oscars, or else we riot!
Laura Kinney AKA X-23
And lastly, as if you'd need any other reasons to drop everything and buy the tickets, I have to talk about the genius that is Dafne Keen. I hate child actors. I feel like 90% of the time they're about as articulate as a wooden door, when it comes to acting, but I'm so glad I was wrong this time. Dafne's performance makes X-23 seem like she's a legit feral creature, who only knows how to snarl, look vicious, and be a bad news for any bad guy going after her. Like I said before, the first time she showed her claws, I got all the chills. And since then, whenever they showed her fighting, the chills would come back. By the end of the movie she finally opened her mouth, which was probably the funniest scene I've seen in a while. I'm waiting for the big announcement from FOX saying "X-23 will be the new Wolverine, and you'll see Dafne Keen a bunch more times in our future movies!" (just wishful thinking, shut up!)
So yeah, without spoiling too much, I hope I've managed to convince you to watch this masterpiece of a movie. 10/10 will go see it again myself!
Yura Lysenko
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Beer Maker Hops on Solar Energy Bandwagon
ALCOHOL: MillerCoors uncorks massive array at facility in Irwindale.
By Omar Shamout
The next time you crack open a cold Miller Lite on a warm day, there's a chance that the energy used to brew the beer came from the very same sun that made you thirsty in the first place.
That's because Chicago beer conglomerate MillerCoors has installed what it's calling the largest photovoltaic solar array at any U.S. brewery – 10,000 solar panels stretched across 10 acres – on the grounds of its Irwindale plant.
"You can see the panels right off the freeway, said Kim Marotta, director of sustainability for MillerCoors, referencing the aesthetic changes to the brewery's façade visible from the 210 freeway in the San Gabriel Valley.
The installation was done by San Mateo's SolarCity, the nation's largest solar services company. The company, chaired by Elon Musk, beat out 17 other bidders to win the contract. MillerCoors purchased the system and installation, though company representatives wouldn't say for how much.
The solar array will produce 3.2 megawatts of power, enough energy to brew more than 7 million of the 86 million cases of beer produced at the facility every year, according to the company. To put that in another context, 3.2 megawatts of capacity can generate enough electricity over its expected life of 30 years to power more than 13,000 California homes for a year, Marotta said.
The decision to take a greener path to help satisfy its energy needs also will have a fiscal impact. The installation at the Irwindale plant qualifies the company for a 30 percent federal tax credit as part of a government program to incentivize clean-energy use, and it is expected to shave $350,000 off the brewery's yearly electric bill, according to Marotta.
"We really want to push that needle, be a strong leader and be an example for other breweries and other industries," she said.
Major contribution
On any given day, the solar panels will contribute between 7 percent and 40 percent of the brewery's electrical energy, she said, adding that the wide range is due to variations in the weather.
Weather was a factor when MillerCoors officials, who had committed to installing solar power on a brewery, had to pick which of its eight U.S. plants would be the test case. Breweries in other sunny locales are in Texas, Georgia and North Carolina.
"California was always our top choice," said Marotta, who is based in Milwaukee.
Though MillerCoors claims the largest solar array in the country, it is not the first to fuel the brewing process with energy drawn from the Sun. Anheuser-Busch Cos. Inc. placed 3,000 solar panels at its Newark, N.J., facility back in 2010, and some smaller craft breweries operate partly off of solar power, too, including Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. in Chico and Anderson Valley Brewing Co. in Boonville, which proudly notes that it's a solar-powered brewery on its bottle caps.
A representative from a prominent environmental policy group has also backed the brewer's plan.
"This is a great thing," said Peter Miller, a senior scientist at the Natural Resources Defense Council in San Francisco. "It's definitely on the leading edge of a trend, and it's good news for California, for the environment, the economy and as a model for the rest of the country."
Miller said market trends and government incentives are making clean-energy solutions more feasible for large manufacturers, even in crowded urban areas.
In addition to solar panels, wind energy is now a viable option for many ranchers, and industrial facilities can also capture methane and convert it to energy, he said.
That last tactic is also being employed by MillerCoors at its Irwindale brewery, as well as three of its other plants in the U.S. where wastewater is captured and transformed into what's known as biogas.
Using this practice, the company said that it has reduced its traditional energy use over the past five years by 30 percent.
"We're focused on becoming energy independent, taking energy off the grid and reducing our greenhouse gas emissions," Marotta said.
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