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Moms are giving nannies psych checks to avoid hiring a killer
By Dana Schuster
March 24, 2018 | 2:39pm | Updated May 18, 2018 | 2:50pm
Limor Weinstein's consulting business aims to make sure families are safe from potentially disturbed nannies. Chad Rachman
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With the Killer Nanny trial underway, NYC parents are reassessing how they hire nannies and keeping an eye out for warning signs that their caretakers could become unhinged.
Limor Weinstein, who has a nanny consulting business in Manhattan, says she's had more clients sending their nannies in for psych evaluations ever since Yoselyn Ortega's trial commenced March 1 for the 2012 murders of Lucia, 6, and Leo Krim, 2.
"They want to have a professional reviewing their nanny and their mental history to make sure they don't have any demons in their closet," said Weinstein.
For $450, Weinstein will conduct a general screening and check references, as well as a candidate's social media presence. A mental health assessment interview by a licensed professional is an additional $450, plus an extra $200 for a personality test.
"There are so many mentally unstable nannies it scares me," said Weinstein, a psychotherapist who served as a commander in the Israeli military. On Friday morning, Weinstein said she received a text from an interviewee canceling her assessment because she was having a panic attack stemming from sexual abuse she endured as a teenager.
"I almost called 911 on her," said Weinstein, who says the week prior another nanny, who had attended a nanny-training class of Weinstein's months earlier, called her at 10:30 p.m. to tell Weinstein that she was feeling depressed.
"I was thinking about the nanny on the Upper West Side and I was like, 'Oh my God, what if I hang up and she kills someone?' I ended up calling her the next day to make sure the family is safe and she's safe."
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For Corinne Jarvis, a speech language pathologist and mother of three, the trial was a reminder of how important it was to go the extra step when vetting potential hires.
"It seems like a no-brainer," said Jarvis, who moved back to the Upper East Side last year from Oregon, and has been searching for a nanny since early March.
She decided to hire Weinstein to help with her search, particularly because of the mental health evaluation.
"It makes me feel more secure," she said. "I think a lot of parents are really desperate to find a nanny. It's a constant pressure, like finding the right school. It's something, as a parent, that is the top priority and they panic, because when you need that person, you don't always take the time to go in-depth enough into someone's history and health."
While it's technically illegal to ask job candidates about their medications and whether they take anything for depression or anxiety, one
woman, who owns a nanny agency in NYC, still does so.
"I want to get down to the nitty gritty to how mentally stable they are. If they are on a dose, what dose are they on? If they are taking something, are they taking care of themselves?" said the woman, who asked to remain anonymous.
'I want to get down to the nitty gritty to how mentally stable they are. If they are on a dose, what dose are they on? If they are taking something, are they taking care of themselves?'
Weinstein says she even advises suspicious parents to go through their nannies' bags.
"It's okay if you have medication, but look to see if it's from different doctors or it's not the nanny's name on the containers," she warned.
Deb Crisford, who owns a nanny placement service Crisford & Co. in Manhattan, said she's seen more people requesting credit checks since the trial began. (Leading up to the murders, Ortega was kicked out of her Bronx sublet. She complained to a detective that she did not make enough money.)
"It really comes down to seeing how somebody handles themselves financially and how they keep themselves together in the city," said
Crisford, who says she's seeing more people seeking nannies with legal immigration status than ever before.
"How else are you going to run a criminal background check on a candidate?" she asked.
But as Jarvis points, out, all the due diligence in the world can't provide full-proof protection.
"At the end of the day, a lot of people who have mental health issues are hiding them," she said.
Filed under babysitting , children , nannies , parenting , spies , Yoselyn Ortega
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To get in long rides before work, my best option is to stash a bag with a week's worth of clothes at work. That way, I don't have to ride with a backpack and I only have to figure out lunch. It's also easier to get out the door if all I have to pick out from my wardrobe is one of 4 identical sets of bibs and jersies.
But even if it weren't faster and more convenient, I'd still stash my duds under the desk because it's also the best way to feel like 1) you're a secret agent, and 2) every morning is Christmas morning.
Picture this: you ride under the cover of darkness (okay, dawnness) wearing a specially designed skin suit, on a cutting-edge blade of carbon fiber; you're above the law with your license to...run stop signs; after darting through an alley and up the wrong way on a one-way sidewalk, you slip into the side door of a nondescript downtown building. After noting your exit options, you stash your bike and wipe it down with masking tape and rubbing alchohol to get rid of prints. Aside from your boss, one of the tenants with whom you chat for 10 minutes about house sitting this weekend, and Kim in marketing, you remain completely undetected--a master of stealth. You find where you stashed your burn bag--the bag that, should everything go south, has everything you need to make it through the next 48 hours alive: socks, underwear, a handsome belt, a pair of flattering slacks, an admittedly well-ironed button up, and a pastel v-neck undershirt you're convinced goes with everything. You look around. You weren't made--no one could have followed you. You might just make it to see tomorrow, which is important because one of the partners just reminded you to pick up some turbinado sugar for the break room.
Now, picture this: you're a secret agent. Merry Christmas.


Most of the security measures defined in the security section of the API definition are to do with authenticating the API consumer one way or another. This is only natural because knowing who accesses your API creates the basis of additional security, such as authorization or non-repudiation.
API definitions have security components on both global and operation level. Global components are at the top level and apply to the whole API. Operation-level components apply only to the individual API operations in question.
Most of the global components are only available at the global level. Some, like the security component, can also exist on the operation level. The global level component provides the default behavior. On the operation level, you can override the global component and provide a specific exception to the behavior.


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Media Release: Survey shows Penrith wants more on Affordable Housing
Survey shows Penrith wants more on Affordable Housing
Posted by Liliana Capacchione 636.40sc on March 19, 2018
MEDIA RELEASE *** MEDIA RELEASE *** MEDIA RELEASE
MON 19 MAR
Penrith voters strongly support affordable rental targets
NSW Government not doing enough: survey
A new opinion survey in the marginal NSW electorate of Penrith shows voters want the NSW Government to do much more to fix the lack of affordable and secure rental housing.
Policies strongly supported by respondents include provision for affordable units in new developments, and not allowing landlords to evict tenants without good reason.
The face-to-face poll was conducted across the Western Sydney electorate by the Sydney Alliance of not-for-profit organisations on Saturday March 17 – the day before the release, on March 18, of the government's Greater Sydney Commission final report recommending adoption of affordability targets.
The Sydney Alliance asked 628 people in the electorate their views on the crisis and its effects on them. The key results, released today, were:
72% disagreed that the NSW Government is doing enough to make housing more affordable (40.29% strongly disagreed with this and 31.69% disagreed).
87% said new housing developments in Western Sydney should include units that people on lower incomes can afford to rent (50.96% strongly agreed, 36.46% agreed).
82% disagreed that landlords should be able to evict tenants without giving any good reason (51.59% strongly disagreed with this and 30.89% disagreed).
83% said they were concerned about the lack of affordable rental housing in Western Sydney (48.41% strongly agreed with this and 34.24% agreed).
Over 96% agreed that everyone has a right to affordable rental housing (64.81% strongly agreed with this, 31.85% agreed) and to housing that is secure (71.66% strongly agreed, 26.11% agreed).
70% disagreed that it's easy for people on lower incomes to find affordable rental housing
(38.22% strongly disagreed with this and 32.17% disagreed.)
The Sydney Alliance is a coalition of more than 40 not-for-profit community, educational, faith and union organisations. It's been campaigning for NSW and local governments to adopt meaningful "inclusionary zoning" targets for affordable rentals in new developments, and to end "no-grounds" eviction of tenants after the end of their lease, currently allowed by NSW law.
Magnus Linder, Chair of the Alliance's Housing Committee said: "These findings confirm the concerns we've heard from people across Greater Sydney and beyond over the past three years. This crisis has been hurting people, their families and communities.
With housing now the leading issue of concern to NSW voters, our political leaders must make a firm commitment to significant legislated targets for affordable units in new developments. This has been done successfully in cities worldwide, without hurting housing supply or increasing prices.
The proposed targets recommended by the Greater Sydney Commission don't go far enough. The community needs enforceable targets commensurate with the scale of Sydney's affordability crisis – our city's housing is now the second least affordable in the world, behind only Hong Kong.
Several local councils have adopted or improved affordability targets; the NSW government must now show leadership and ensure some consistency by establishing city-wide minimums – at least 15% on private land and 30% on government-owned land.
NSW should also respond to the community's wish that we end the 'no-grounds' eviction, as Victoria has, and give renters proper security."
More than one hundred volunteers from the Sydney Alliance and partner organisations, including Citizen Action Penrith Affordable Housing, took part in the survey, whose content and methodology was developed with expert advice from top research academics and professionals.
Magnus Linder, Housing Committee chair magnus.linder@churcheshousing.org.au 0417 487 052
David Barrow, Lead Organiser dbarrow@sydneyalliance.org.au 0416 028 001
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


An initial intake form before our live session so that I can get to know you better.
A plan of action we discuss together before I do any work.
A Healing session where I disconnect, so that I can give you my full complete attention. This is where I do the healing work, while you sit in a quiet meditative space.
A Re-connection on the phone where I discuss what occurred and how you can move forward.
2 Follow up e-mails you can send me anytime where i'll respond and give you advice and further guidance.
Sometimes a person can loose one or more of their helping spirits.
Clear your energy field from harmful spirits & curses.
Bring back parts of yourself that has fled due to trauma & sadness.
There is a $50 dollar discount if you purchase this package.


text:
Hydrodynamics of the Vadose Zone of a Layered Soil Column
Waterflooding Interwell Connectivity Characterization and Productivity Forecast with Physical Knowledge Fusion and Model Structure Transfer
Meteorological and Water Quality Factors Associated with Microbial Diversity in Coastal Water from Intensified Oyster Production Areas of Thailand
Marco Guida
Nhantumbo, C.
Cangi Vaz, N.
Rodrigues, M.
Manuel, C.
Rapulua, S.
Langa, J.
Nhantumbo, H.
Joaquim, D.
Dosse, M.
Sumbana, J.
Santos, R.
Monteiro, S.
Juízo, D.
Open AccessFeature PaperArticle
Assessment of Microbial Contamination in the Infulene River Basin, Mozambique
Clemêncio Nhantumbo
Nídia Cangi Vaz
Mery Rodrigues
Cândido Manuel
Sífia Rapulua
Jéssica Langa
Hélio Nhantumbo
Dominic Joaquim
Michaque Dosse
José Sumbana
Ricardo Santos
Silvia Monteiro
Dinis Juízo
Faculty of Engineering, Eduardo Mondlane University, Av. de Moçambique km 1.5, Maputo 1102, Mozambique
Biotechnology Centre, Eduardo Mondlane University, Av. de Moçambique km 1.5, Maputo 1102, Mozambique
Sciences Faculty, Eduardo Mondlane University, Main Campus, Av. Julius Nyerere 3453, Maputo 1102, Mozambique
Faculty of Medicine, Eduardo Mondlane University, Av. Salvador Allende no 702, Maputo 1102, Mozambique
Instituto Superior Tecnico, Universidade Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal
Received: 11 October 2022 / Revised: 11 November 2022 / Accepted: 20 November 2022 / Published: 4 January 2023
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Waterborne Pathogens—Threats to Water Quality)
Water microbial contamination is one of the major threats to human health. The study focus is on Infulene River Basin, a urban catchment with mainly informal settlements, with limited water supply and sanitation. In the catchment there are two wastewater treatment plants, one hospital and beer factory located on the banks of the main stream; water from this stream is used for urban agriculture and domestic uses by some dwellers. These factors present a significant health risk from water-borne diseases. At the moment there is limited knowledge about the level of microbial contamination of the different sources of water at the disposal of the communities. Thus, a preliminary study on fecal microbial contamination was conducted targeting the Infulene River and the drainage system from the nearby Maputo city draining into the system, with additional investigation on the drinking water provided by the city water supply company. The quantification of Total Coliforms (TC) and Escherichia coli (EC) was conducted at several sampling locations. Results were compared with official drinking water standards. Eighty two percent (82%) and 61% of Infulene river water and drainage water samples were positive for TC (105 to 109 NPN/100 mL) and EC (105 to 107 NPN/100 mL), respectively. For drinking water samples, 63% and 23% were positive for TC (up to 6000 NPN/100 mL) and EC (up to 1000 NPN/100 mL), respectively. Higher microbial contamination was found in neighborhoods with the poorest sanitation and shallow groundwater, i.e., Chamanculo, Xipamanine, Mafalala, Aeroporto and Maxaquene, a situation that was more expressive during the rainy season. Overall, the study confirmed the high vulnerability to microbial contamination of all sources investigated due to poor sanitation and lack of drainage infrastructure. The risks to human health might be even higher considering that contaminated water is used for gardening of vegetable watering and domestic use.
microbial contamination; river water; total coliforms; Escherichia coli; drinking water
Rivers are important sources of water, playing an important role by providing water for domestic and industrial activities, livestock production, agriculture, drinking water and other uses [1,2]. Nevertheless, anthropogenic activities cause water contamination through direct discharge of effluents into the receiving water bodies and streams. Globally, more than 80% of wastewater is discharged directly into the environment without proper treatment, which leads to contamination by pathogenic microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, protozoa and helminths [3,4].
Microbial pollution in aquatic environments is one of the pressing issues affecting the sanitary state of water sources for domestic water uses, recreational activities and harvesting seafood [5]. Pathogenic organisms are natural livings things of all ecosystems, but microbiological contamination with fecal bacteria from anthropogenic activity is increasingly contributing to the degradation of water sources throughout the rivers and drinking water systems worldwide [4,6,7,8]. There is an increased body of literature reporting on microbial contaminated waters from human and animal activities affecting river water quality, with prominent impacts on the lower reaches of the cities [9,10,11].
Assessment of human enteric pathogens in eight rivers used as rural household drinking water sources in the northern region of South Africa showed that the indicator bacteria counts exceeded drinking water quality guideline limits [11]. Another study conducted in Kelani River Basin, Sri Lanka revealed that the entire river was contaminated with total coliform and E. coli bacteria at almost all the sampling locations [10].
Recently, the reliability of fecal indicators as a means of assuring water safety is considered increasingly challenging for the water quality and public health sectors [8]. While in developing countries, water-borne pathogens are the second cause of gastrointestinal diseases of children, where 21% of children do not reach the age of five, with about 2.5 million of deaths per year [12].
In Mozambique, there are many cases of diarrhea associated with consumption of contaminated water, especially after the rainy season, with diarrhea being the third cause of death in infants and young children [13,14,15]. Among diseases that cause gastroenteritis, cholera is endemic in Mozambique and Maputo with 65% of total cases in the whole country. This situation has nevertheless improved between 2011 and 2017; of the 278 cases, only one fatality was reported [16]. Additionally, the same study revealed the occurrence of EC, TC and V. cholerae in drinking water in Maputo [16]. Peri-urban areas with unplanned settlement seem to be much more affected by the problem due to lack of sanitation compounded by poor water supply services.
This study focuses on the Infulene River, a small river of approximately a 20 km stretch. It is located in the Southern part of Mozambique between the cities of Maputo and Matola, flowing into Espirito Santo estuary [17]. The land use of the basin encompasses urban, peri-urban characterized by informal settlements with poor sanitation systems and rural areas. The informal settlements are characterized by low quality domestic water distribution services, with intermittent water supply, together with poor sanitation. In these circumstances, when water supply is interrupted and hydraulic pressure in the distribution system decreases, there is a possibility of ingress of contaminated water into the distribution pipes, especially during the rainy seasons [18]. Additionally, surface runoff contributes to the spreading of contaminants from the informal settlements, thus decreasing the water quality of receiving streams [19].
A study recently published aims to assess the microbiological quality of water sold by street vendors along the main drainage channel in Maputo city, targeting the determination of the antibiotic resistance profile of selected Enterobacteriaceae isolates. The study reported that 88% of samples analyzed were positive for fecal coliforms and 66% were positive for EC on bottled water. These results where compared to samples of tap water, and 64% were found positive for fecal coliforms and 28% were positive for EC [20]. Additionally, of the 44 selected Enterobacteriaceae isolates from water samples (28 isolates of EC and 16 isolates of Klebsiella spp.), 45.5% were not susceptible to the beta-lactams ampicillin and imipenem, 43.2% to amoxicillin, and 31.8% to amoxicillin/clavulanic acid. Regarding non-beta-lactam antibiotics, there was a high percentage of isolates with tolerance to tetracycline (52.3%) and azithromycin (31.8%) [20]. Another study on microbial contamination in Maputo Bay, in the part of Maputo city center which has better sanitation infrastructure, demonstrated that pathogens are common at some sites [21]. While both studies demonstrated prevalence of contaminated water used in some areas of the city, none of them have been specific in terms of determining the origins of the waters analyzed. For example, the first study was more concerned in comparing the quality of water from street vendors without examining the sources, while the second study evaluated the efficacy of the drainage system in eliminating pollution of the receiving waters at the Maputo Bay.
This study aims to reduce the knowledge gap on the status of microbial contamination of the Influene system, as well as detect the patterns of spreading of contaminated water during rainy season in a urban catchment [22]. To this end, an integrated study covering the drainage system, natural stream, as well as drinking water is conducted to map the potentially spreading of microorganisms during the rainy season.
2.1.1. Infulene River
The Infulene River has a total area of 147 km2 and its longest stream is approximately 20 km. The basin boundaries are Marracuene District to the north, Maputo Bay to the south, Maputo City to the east and Matola City to the west, Figure 1. The climate of the area shows a clearly distinguishable rainy season (October to March) and a dry season (April–September). The annual rainfall ranges from 400 to 1000 mm. The mean annual temperature varies from 22 °C to 29 °C. The relative air humidity varies between 67.3% and 80.5%.
2.1.2. Drainage System
In part of the basin there is a sanitation infrastructure designed to safely collect domestic and industrial wastewater and rainwater to discharge points. This minimizes the risk of flooding and prevents the pollutants from reaching the receiving environments [23,24]. In the Municipality of Maputo, during the rainy season, the wastewater and rainwater drainage networks are interconnected, constituting a combined sewer system. The high population density in the informal settlements that characterize the peri-urban areas, coupled with lack of sanitation leads to direct discharge of domestic wastewater into the drainage ditches, causing not only microbiological contamination, but also attracting insects and a bad smell. This situation is further exacerbated by the high groundwater table that limits infiltration and makes the construction of pit latrines difficult [25].
2.1.3. Drinking Water Systems
This study conducts a comprehensive assessment of water used by the communities from different sources in order to identify the main macrobiotic contamination risks associated with it. Three main drinking water sources are used in the study area, Figure 2. The conventional city water distribution system serves two distinct areas: (a) the consolidated urban area with sanitation system and (b) the informal settlement with both low-quality water distribution system and sanitation. There are also small, reticulated water distribution systems in suburbs that tap into groundwater using shallow water wells.
The consolidate city center is served by a water system that includes a conventional water treatment process, where the chlorination is the final step, aiming to disinfect and prevent re-contamination post treatment. Nevertheless, in the informal settlements the sanitation system is poor, where latrines are flooded during rainy season contaminating surface runoff, with a high probability of sewage water entering the pipes at the time of low pressure, or following a water supply pipe burst, Figure 2c.
In peri-urban areas and informal settlement, there are small pipe water distribution systems that tap into the groundwater through conventional boreholes and store water in elevated tanks for distribution to nearby unserved households or those experiencing low quality of services from the main water system, Figure 2b. In the majority of cases, water is distributed to the final consumers without treatment. This leads to a high probability of water quality degradation in tanks, the water distribution system or even at the household storage of the final user.
In some of the areas, because of financial limitations to construct deep boreholes, dwellers dig shallow large diameter water wells, tapping into the phreatic groundwater aquifer system, Figure 2a. The water is collected using small buckets tied with a rope and carried in 20 L containers to final consumers where it is stored and used without treatment. In this case, the water is more vulnerable to contamination both at the unprotected well and at the household storage.
2.2. Sampling
For the current study, the sampling campaign was conducted between 25 July and 6 August 2022, coinciding with the dry season. Seventy-nine (79) sampling points were selected within the river basin, covering the main pollution sources and water abstraction for agriculture and domestic uses, as well as drinking water sources, Figure 1. The sampling points encompass 13 points on the main river streams, 2 points at the outlets of wastewater treatment plants, 13 points along the stormwater drainage system, and 51 points to evaluating drinking water at the end user. Sampling points for drinking water were selected to gather comparative water quality information for the three main drinking water source used by communities as described above.
Water samples were collected in duplicate at a depth of 10–15 cm and stored in 1-L sterile plastic containers. Thereafter, the samples were refrigerated and transported to the Environmental Engineering Laboratory in the Chemical Engineering Department at Eduardo Mondlane University and kept at a temperature of about 4 °C, for no longer than 24 hours for further analyses.
2.3. Physicochemical and Environmental Parameters
Water quality parameters including temperature, conductivity, dissolved oxygen (DO), turbidity and pH of the river water and drinking water were measured in situ using a multi-parameter monitoring instrument (Hach HQ40d, Hach, Loveland, CO, USA). The equipment was calibrated prior to use following the internal standard reference materials, based on the manufacturer's instructions to ensure detection precision.
2.4. Laboratory Analysis
The laboratory analysis focused on the most relevant chemical and biological environmental parameters for this study. For chemical parameters, the chemical oxygen demand (COD), nitrates, and phosphates where considered, while biological parameters included Total Coliforms (TC) and Escherichia coli (EC).
For measuring phosphates, a total phosphorus test (USEPA PhosVer 3® (Ascorbic Acid), Method 8048 Powder Pillows or AccuVac® Method, Hach, Johannesburg, South Africa) was used. For nitrates, a Cadmium Reduction Method was used (Method 8039 Powder Pillows; AccuVac® Ampuls, Hach, Johannesburg, South Africa). While for COD, a TNT 822 Chemical Oxygen Demand test was used (TNTplus®—Method 8000, Hach, Johannesburg, South Africa). All the results were measured using a DR9000 spectrophotometer (Hach, Johanesburg, South Africa) [26].
The Total Coliforms (TC) and Escherichia coli (EC) where determined using the Colilert-18 Test, Product Number: 98-27164-00, Cat. No WP100I-18 (IDEXX, Westbrook, ME, USA), following the manufacturer's instructions. One hundred ml (100 mL) of each water sample was incubated at 35 °C for 18 h and the number of positive wells were converted into a most-probable number (MPN) using the MPN table.
Parameters values were compared with standard threshold values described in Government Decree No. 18/2004 approving the Regulation on Environmental Quality and Effluents' Emissions [27].
2.5. Data Analysis
Data was analyzed using statistical and GIS tools. The statistical methods were employed using excel to determine the statistical properties of the data, specifically the average, the errors and variance where average values of measured parameters were calculated and compared with standards and the associated errors and variabilities were further analyzed. The GIS methods were employed using the QGIS Desktop 3.20 software [28], where spatial distribution of the most relevant parameters was analyzed to identify more vulnerable areas.
3.1. Characterization of the Area: Point Pollution Sources
Possible point and diffuse pollution sources can be found in the Infulene River Basin, Figure 3. The possible point pollution sources are two wastewater treatment plants, one hospital, one paper manufacturing company, and one beer factory. The likely diffuse pollution sources are urban agriculture—that is developed on the riverbanks, drainage and wastewater from the dense urban areas—and suburbs (informal settlements) with a deficient sanitation system, Figure 3 and Figure 4. These activities create conditions for possible contamination by microorganisms, nutrients, and organic matter.
The use of a combined system that mixes wastewater and stormwater, such is the case of Maputo, is the most well-known reason of spreading of pathogens, such as bacteria, viruses, and protozoa. Additionally, certain microorganisms adapt and reproduce in the drainage systems [29]. The presence of these contaminants in the urban drainage system can have environmental consequences for the aquatic biota present in the receiving body and for human health [23].
3.2. Water Quality Parameters
The results of water quality parameters analyzed are divided in two groups: (1) Group I that includes two outlets of wastewater treatment plants, drainage, and river water and (2) Group II that includes drinking water from different sources available in the area, i.e., water from boreholes, conventional distribution system and shallow water wells.
3.2.1. Group I—Outlet of Wastewater Treatment Plants, Drainage, and River Water
For the 28 sampling points of river water, drainage system, and the two outlets of wastewater treatment plants, the average values of water quality parameters are temperature [22.3 (±0.4) °C], pH [7.07 ± 0.05], DO [4.4 (±2.5) mg/L], electrical conductivity [1218 (±411) µS/cm], and COD [75 (±150) mg/L], Figure 5. The results of river water, drainage water, and outlets from the wastewater treatment plants were further analyzed separately. The temperature and pH values were similar for the three sources of water, Figure 5a,c,e. The DO was low for the river water and outlets of wastewater treatment plant, demonstrating a low aeration rate in the river and a heavy load of organic matter in the outlets of wastewater treatment plant, confirmed by the values of COD, Figure 5a,c. In the drainage water, the DO was high which is explained by a high aeration rate because the values of COD were high demonstrating high concentration of organic matter, Figure 5e.
For the case of Infulene River Basin, where agriculture takes place in the margins of the stream, the temperature is within the suitable temperature range, with the optimal range of water for irrigation between 20–30 °C [30]. The pH of the Infulene river is also within the standards, which is 7.25 for natural waters and it may vary between 6.5 to 8.5 [31]. The DO is not in the normal range, (3.2 mg/L), as the level of DO usually required for most of the fish population is between 5 to 6 ppm [31]. Additionally, the value of COD is above the standard, which is 4.0 mg/L [31].
The average nutrients concentration in Group I waters are 7.8 (±6.4) mg/L and 1.7 (±2.1) mg/L] for nitrates and phosphates, respectively. Considering only the nitrogen and phosphorus within the nitrate and phosphate ions, the average concentration of nitrogen and phosphorus are 1.8 mg/L and 0.54 mg/L, falling in the eutrophic level by being above 1.5 mg/L and 0.075 mg/L for nitrogen and phosphorus, respectively [32]. However, the average concentration of nitrogen and phosphorus, in the river water only, considering the nitrogen and phosphorus within the nitrate and phosphate leads to better results, which are 1.2 mg N/L and 0.35 mg P/L.
The TC [56,000,000 ± 161,000,000 MPN/100 mL] and EC [4,300,000 ± 13,000,000 MPN/100 mL] exhibit both high values and variability. Thus, the parameters were considered for spatial variability analyses of water quality of Group I. Separate analysis of river water, outlets from the wastewater treatment plant, and drainage water demonstrated lower concentration of TC and EC in river water samples and higher concentrations in the outlets of wastewater treatment plants and drainage water, Figure 5b–d.
Additionally, from the 28 samples of river water and drainage water analyzed, 82% and 61% of samples were positive for TC and EC, respectively. Sixty seven percent (67%) and twenty seven percent (27%) of the river water samples were positive for TC and EC, respectively, while all samples of drainage water and the outlets from the wastewater treatment plants were positive for both TC and EC.
3.2.2. Group II—Water from Boreholes, the Conventional Drinking Water Distribution System, and Shallow Water Wells
The results from the 51 drinking water sampling points exhibit a similar pattern as the results from the river stream and drainage system, with a temperature of [24.1 (±0.2) °C], pH [7.6 ± 2.5], DO [7.1 (±2.5) mg/L], electrical conductivity [612 (±364) µS/cm], and turbidity [1.34 ± 1.30] which are within standard values, as the standard values for drinking water are (Temperature = not defined, pH = 6.5 to 8.5, DO = not defined, electrical conductivity = 50 to 2000 µS/cm and turbidity = 5 NUTs) [26]. Nevertheless, turbidity exhibited a larger variability, Figure 6. The TC [541 (±1523) MPN/100 mL] and EC [43 (±183) MPN/100 mL] exhibit both high values that exceed the standards for drinking water [27]. Thus, these two parameters will be used for the spatial variability analyses of drinking water quality.
Separate analysis was done for samples of water collected from boreholes, the conventional drinking water system, and shallow water wells. The results of standard parameters (temperature, pH, electrical conductivity, and turbidity) did not exhibit considerably different values for the three classes of sources of water, Figure 6a,c,e. Nevertheless, the concentration of TC and EC were considerably low for samples of water collected in the conventional drinking water system compared to the concentration of TC and EC in samples collected from boreholes and shallow water wells, Figure 6b,d.
Similarly, from the 51 samples of drinking water analyzed, 63% and 23% were positive for TC and EC, respectively. The discrimination between the different sources of drinking water showed that for boreholes and water samples, 92% and 38% of samples were positive for TC and EC, respectively; for conventional water distribution systems 29% and 8% were positive for TC and EC, respectively; and for shallow water wells, 100% of water samples were positive for TC and 50% of water samples were positive for EC.
When analyzing the occurrence of TC within the river basin, considering Group I water sources, it was observed that the concentration is high along the drainage system with considerably higher concentration at the outlet of the drainage system, Figure 7. TC were ubiquitous in the river and drainage system waters, with extremely high concentrations. High concentrations of TC were also registered from residual waters, in particular, at the outlets of wastewater treatment plants (the discharge of Zimpeto wastewater treatment plant and discharge of the wastewater from the beer company).
For better visualization, data on TC from the river and drainage system is further presented separately from the drinking water, Figure 8. A high concentration of TC, around 109 MPN/100 mL, are observed at the outlet of the wastewater coming from the beer company. The drainage system also transports a high concentration of TC with the drainage from Chamanculo and Xipamanine contributing more with TC, followed by the drainage from Mafalala, Aeroporto, and Maxaquene which are areas characterized by informal settlements with very limited sanitation system (Figure 7 and Figure 8a). However, the concentration of TC along the river stream before the interception with the drainage system is low compared to the water from the drainage system, except at the two points, the point immediately before the interception with the drainage system and the interception with the outlet of Zimpeto wastewater treatment plant that exhibited values around 107 NPN/100 mL.
When analyzing the drinking water separately, high concentrations of up to 6000 MPN/100 mL are observed for TC at the end users in water from boreholes and shallow wells. The occurrence of TC in boreholes does not show any spatial pattern (Figure 9b). Although being present in 29% of the samples, water from conventional water samples showed lower concentrations of TC (up to 300 NPN/100 mL).
As expected, EC was found at lower concentrations than TC in most of the sampling sites following the same distribution as TC. The concentration observed at the outlet of the wastewater from the beer company is around 107 MPN/100 mL and the drainage system exhibits values between (105 to 107 MPN/100 mL), Figure 8. The points immediately before mixing with the drainage water and near the outlet of the Zimpeto wastewater treatment plant exhibit concentrations between 106 and 107 MPN/100 mL, respectively.
The occurrence of TC and EC in the boreholes and shallow water wells is explained by the lack of disinfection, poor sanitation, and shallow water table in the areas where those sources are used for drinking water. The borehole water normally is contaminated during storage and utilization while the water from the shallow wells can be contaminated directly at the source. The water from the conventional water distribution system is disinfected at the drinking treatment plant and it carries residual chlorine that is expected to continue disinfecting the water through the distribution system. However, the presence of TC and EC that is observed in some of the sample in some places at the end user might be caused by the depletion of residual chlorine. This fact could be associated with a situation whereby there is poor sanitation, pipes that allow ingress of external contaminated water, as well as the intermittent water supply that characterizes the water supply in informal settlements of Chamanculo, Xipamanine, Mafalala, Aeroporto, and Maxaquene. A previous study on the Maputo Water Supply has shown that drinking water from treatment plants with residual chlorine and without EC gets contaminated in the distribution system when the water supply is intermittent [33].
Another study conducted in Bairro dos Pescadores revealed that the concentration of TC in Costa do Sol, Ponta Vermelha, and Zambi were 465 MPN/100 mL, 225 MPN/100 mL, and 136 MPN/100 mL, respectively [21]. These results, although from a different part of the city, found similar concentrations of TC in drinking water. Additionally, a study conducted in the city of Maputo analyzing drinking water, showed the existence of microbiological contamination on water sold by street vendors along the main drainage channel. This study also included the antibiotic resistance profile of selected Enterobacteriaceae isolates [20]. In the present study, high levels of fecal contamination on tap water samples and even higher in small water suppliers that rely on boreholes were observed. Similar results on TC and EC were observed on studies about river water quality around the world, involving other developing countries [10].
With the finding in the current study, there is a pressing need to identify potential solutions on how to improve the microbial quality of drinking water within the Infulene River Basin. Still, some common solutions should be applied such as introducing disinfection for the small water suppliers that rely on boreholes and shallow wells and increase the chlorine dose in the water treatment plant and/or introduce or improve the disinfection in the storages along the conventional water distribution system. The last solutions were tested in an experiment that demonstrated that increasing chlorine dosage in drinking water at the water treatment plant reduces the probability of having microbiological contamination at the end user [33].
3.2.3. Spreading of Contaminated Water
The high concentration of TC and EC in Group I water was observed in the southern part of the Infulene River Basin. As stated before, the southern part is the area with informal settlements, with limited sanitation, and the water is supplied from a conventional water distribution system with an intermittent supply and poor piping. During rain events, the area is flooded and the contaminants are spread throughout the area and the quality of shallow water might be affected significantly.
4. Conclusions and Recommendations
4.1. Conclusions
Five points and diffuse sources of pollution were identified in the Infulene River Basin: two wastewater treatment plants, one hospital, one paper manufacturing company, and one beer factory. Data analysis was performed dividing the set of data in two groups, one related to water in the natural environment and the second dealing with domestic water supplied from different sources in an underserved peri-urban area in a developing world country.
Group I water sources—represented by river water, outlets of wastewater plants, and the drainage system—have been found to present poor results in terms of water quality when comparing most of measured parameters with the standard values. Dissolved oxygen was found to be low in the river water and outlets of wastewater, posing a risk of eutrophication events. Eighty-two (82%) and sixty-one (61%) percent of Group I water samples were positive for TC and EC, respectively. The TC and EC exhibited higher concentrations in the outlets of wastewater treatment plants and drainage waters, with all samples positive, compared to river waters with sixty seven (67%) and twenty seven (27%) percent positive for TC and EC, respectively.
Group II drinking water sources, represented by boreholes, a conventional drinking water distribution system, and shallow water wells, have also been found to have water of poor quality in relation to specific measures parameters threshold values contained in the National Standards for drinking water quality. Observed values of microbial parameters analyzed are TC [541 (±1523) MPN/100 mL] and EC [43 (±183) MPN/100 mL].
Sixty three (63%) and twenty-three (23%) percent of Group II drinking water was positive for TC and EC, respectively. Within the group, the borehole and shallow water wells exhibited a considerably higher concentration of TC and EC, compared to the conventional drinking water distribution system water. For samples collected in boreholes, 92% and 38% of samples were positive for TC and EC, respectively; for conventional drinking water distribution systems, 29% and 8% were positive for TC and EC, respectively; and for shallow water wells, 100% of samples were positive for TC and 50% of samples for EC.
4.2. Recommendations
Considering the threshold value in the National Standards for water quality parameters for various uses, the river water is good for urban agriculture. However, microbial contamination is an issue that must be considered and impairs its uses for drinking water for example. Further studies require aiming to generate recommendations on how to reduce the risk of use of water for irrigation and on safe handling and consumption of agricultural products from these fields using microbially contaminated water.
Regarding drinking water, studies on the level of residual chlorine at the end users in the conventional drinking water distribution system and how to ensure that there is no microbial contamination before the end user are required. For borehole and shallow well water, a treatment process must be considered to eliminate microbial contamination.
Conceptualization, C.N. and N.C.V.; validation, R.S. and S.M., methods, M.R.; investigation—river water, M.D. and S.R.; investigation—drainage water, H.N.; hydrological modeling, C.M.; investigation—drinking water, D.J. (Dominic Joaquim) and J.L., writing—original draft preparation, C.N. and N.C.V.; writing—review and editing, D.J. (Dinis Juízo), R.S., S.M. and J.S.; supervision, D.J. (Dinis Juízo). All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.
This research was funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation (SIDA) through the Joint Programming Initiative on Antimicrobial Resistance (JPIAMR) program, funding grant number: 274.846C.
All data are provided as tables and figures.
We acknowledge the sharing of experience and support of all colleagues of the consortium that implemented the project on the Surveillance of Emerging Pathogens and Antibiotic Resistances in Aquatic Ecosystems. We also acknowledge the support of the African Population Health Research Center on grant management.
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Figure 1. Study area and sampling points.
Figure 2. Group II—drinking water sources (a) Shallow water well, (b) small reticulated water supply systems that relay on groundwater, (c) poor water distribution and drinking water distribution system in informal settlements.
Figure 3. Main water point and defuse pollution sources identified.
Figure 4. Stream and drainage water: (a) discharge of drainage water into river stream, (b) stream blocked due to excessive growth of vegetation, (c) last monitoring point after all target pollution sources, and (d) urban agriculture.
Figure 5. Results of water quality parameters from Group I: (a) Standard water quality parameters, including Dissolved oxygen (DO), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), nitrates and phosphates in river water; (b) Biological parameters in river water; (c) Standard water quality parameters, including DO, COD, nitrates and phosphates in the outlets of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs); (d) Biological parameters in the outlets of WWTPs; (e) Standard water quality parameters, including DO, COD, nitrates and phosphates in the drainage water; (f) Biological parameters in the in the drainage water.
Figure 6. Results of water quality parameters from Group II—drinking water sources: (a) Standard water quality parameters, including Dissolved oxygen (DO) and Turbidity in the boreholes water; (b) Biological parameters in the boreholes water; (c) Standard water quality parameters, including DO and Turbidity in the samples collected from the conventional drinking water system; (d) Biological parameters in the samples collected from the conventional drinking water system; (e) Standard water quality parameters, including DO and Turbidity in the shallow water wells; (f) Biological parameters in the shallow water wells; Spatial Analysis.
Figure 7. Spatial analysis of concentration of TC within the Infulene River Basin, considering both the river water, drainage water; and drinking water.
Figure 8. Spatial analysis of concentration of TC, considering separately (a) the river water with drainage water and (b) the drinking water.
Figure 9. Spatial analysis of concentration of E. coli, considering separately (a) the river water with drainage water and (b) the drinking water.
Nhantumbo, C.; Cangi Vaz, N.; Rodrigues, M.; Manuel, C.; Rapulua, S.; Langa, J.; Nhantumbo, H.; Joaquim, D.; Dosse, M.; Sumbana, J.; Santos, R.; Monteiro, S.; Juízo, D. Assessment of Microbial Contamination in the Infulene River Basin, Mozambique. Water 2023, 15, 219. https://doi.org/10.3390/w15020219
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Happy wanderer
Weekend Glitz | Crystal Wu 11 Sep 2020
A passion for travel and Asia means Heavens Portfolio founder Christine Galle-Luczak understands just what luxury travelers want.
Born and raised in France, Galle-Luczak's spark for Asia was kindled on her first trip to Myanmar at 25. "My first trip to Asia was an eye-opener and I fell in love," she said. Sometimes a place can seem like home, even though it is the first time you've visited."
So she sold everything she owned - including her car and the marketing company she had started in Paris - told her parents a lie about getting a job offer in Singapore and caught a flight out with just two suitcases.
"I never looked back. As I sat on the flight, I said to myself: 'This feels right to me.'"
For Galle-Luczak, Asia is brimming with opportunities and people are motivated in their work. Another plus is that the region is home to cuisines she enjoys. Though her hometown is famous for its food, she was drawn to the diversity and taste of Asian food.
She never doubted her gut decision, and as she traveled more, it reinforced her conviction that Asia was where she wanted to be.
Despite living just 500 meters away from her now-husband when they both resided in Bali, their paths did not cross until a trade show in Singapore, where she was an exhibitor and he was a buyer.
He later tracked her down via mutual friends and set up a date under the pretext of looking for crystalware samples for his hotel. It worked, and they fell in love.
Soon afterward, he accepted a job in Singapore and asked her to go with him.
Although Galle-Luczak was ready to give up her job in sales and marketing to follow her husband, it was her employer - the owner of Thai resort Chiva-Som - who gave her the idea of starting her own business in a similar line of work.
Upon her arrival in Singapore, she set up her hotel representative company, Heavens Portfolio, and worked out of her living room.
Though the couple soon relocated again to Macau, where they have called home for the past 14 years, she continued her business.
While some entrepreneurs try to make sure that they receive a salary, Galle-Luczak worked without compensation for three years and reinvested all the profits back into the company to open up branches across Asia.
Celebrating its 15th anniversary this year, Heavens Portfolio now has 40 clients spread across the world with a range of luxury travel experiences on offer, including boutique hotels, beachfront resorts, remote experience-driven camps and wellness enclaves.
As a business owner, her favorite part of work is the diversity of her duties. With no partners or shareholders and only a team of 43 across 13 cities, she wears many hats - from sales and marketing to accounting.
"My days are never the same. If I don't have to multitask, I feel that it is a boring day."
Galle-Luczak is also drawn to meeting people from all over the globe. The world is big, she says, and she enjoys getting "a bit of a feel on all of these cities" by meeting her clients and networking.
Before the Covid-19 pandemic, she could be in a different city every week.
Luckily, her husband is very hands-on with their daughter's upbringing, and they have a helper. "Finding a balance is not easy," she admitted. "But it doesn't necessarily mean you need to plan things hour by hour. You need to give yourself some room for spontaneity."
Weekends are reserved for family, though.
"On weekdays, we all have our own lives and busy schedules. Then we regroup on Saturday and Sunday."
The family also takes short weekend getaways up to eight times each year, traveling to nearby Asian destinations and always bringing their daughter, who was only three months old on her first trip to Thailand.
Having worked in luxury travel for over a decade, Galle-Luczak believes the industry has come full circle. Small travel agencies are coming back in much the way it was when she first started out.
"The very wealthy are quite well traveled and have been to many places. Now they are looking for real and authentic experiences."
Local knowledge and personal touch are key. "We're still human, so we still need that human touch. Booking a trip is not only transactional, it's also much more humanized."
While this shift has been around for quite a few years, the Covid-19 pandemic accelerated the change. For example, when international borders closed in March, tourists stranded in Bali found it easier to reach smaller operators than larger companies with unwieldy bureaucracies and hierarchies.
Much like everyone in the industry, the biggest challenge for Galle-Luczak now is not knowing when the pandemic will run its course and allow international travel again.
"We can do pretty much everything online now, but the travel industry still relies a lot on human connection," she said.
Although she misses traveling for work, Galle-Luczak is glad to be spending more time at home with her husband and daughter.
"Covid is teaching us how to slow down and realize what is most important in life - which is your health and your family."
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text:
Oseberg, un des plus grands gisements pétroliers norvégiens.
 Bateau d'Oseberg, un bateau viking.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Teen Actress Tia Mowry, Grown Up, Talks Motherhood
MICHEL MARTIN, HOST:
We're switching gears now. You might know Tia Mowry from her days as a teen actress. She starred alongside her identical twin sister Tamera on the television show, "Sister, Sister." Today, she's all grown up and starring in BET's sexy, provocative series "The Game."
This will be her last season on the show, where she played medical student turned football wife, Melanie Barnett, but behind the scenes, Tia had her own medical drama. She was trying to get pregnant and then conceal her pregnancy with her real life husband, Cory. How she pulled it off is just one of the tidbits of advice she shares in her new book, "Oh, Baby: Pregnancy Tales and Advice From One Hot Mama to Another."
And Tia Mowry is with us now. Welcome. Thanks so much for joining us.
TIA MOWRY: Hi. Thank you. I'm so excited to be here.
MARTIN: What gave you the idea to write the book?
MOWRY: Well, the main reason is, you know, when I was pregnant - you know, and especially if it's your first baby, you're anxious, you're nervous, you're scared and the first thing that you do is you just go out there and you just buy all of the pregnant books that are out there on the shelves. And I just found out that all of them were extremely medically driven and they just focused on all of the scary stuff that goes on through pregnancy.
And I was like, I don't really need to be reminded of this. I'm already scared as it is. I need, you know, someone to just talk to me and just, you know, make me feel like - you know, you're just talking to their girlfriend. And it needed to be fun, informative at the same time and that's why I decided to write this book because I felt like that's what was missing.
MARTIN: Well, on the cover, you are actually a very hot mama. You were wearing some killer heels.
MOWRY: Yeah.
MARTIN: Which, even now, some of us would have trouble staying upright on.
MARTIN: But one of the things that I liked about the book is, first of all, you are very candid about the struggle you had just getting pregnant.
MARTIN: I think that's important because I think that, particularly for women of color, perhaps there is not a lot of literature that even describes the emotional...
MARTIN: ...challenge of dealing with infertility.
MARTIN: I wondered if you'd talk a little bit about that.
MOWRY: Yeah. You know, I didn't even know what endometriosis was when my doctor diagnosed me with it. I was having a lot of pain whenever I would, you know, have my menstrual and I even went to several doctors and they were like, oh, these are just cramps. And, one day, I was just having really, really bad cramps that I was really close to calling an ambulance and I called, you know, my family doctor at the time and she was like, Tia, just get on the treadmill, take a hot bath, put some heat on it. I'm like, look, I am in pain.
So my friend, who was staying in the same building - she knew the OB/GYN that delivered Will Smith's kids, Dr. Dolores Kent. She's amazing and I saw her and, the first time, I just sat down with her. She did an ultrasound and she's like, I think you have endometriosis.
MARTIN: But you know what I'm interested in is I have to assume you have medical insurance. You certainly have access to...
MOWRY: Yes.
MARTIN: ...health care.
MARTIN: You are a young woman.
MARTIN: And I guess I think that a lot of people might be surprised that there was still so much ignorance...
MARTIN: ...around a common medical condition and one...
MARTIN: ...that seems to particularly affect women of color. We're not really...
MARTIN: ...quite sure why.
MOWRY: I had no...
MARTIN: What do you make of that?
MOWRY: You know what? I don't know. Like I said, I had no idea what this was and here I am, a woman of color, and my first doctor, who was just my family doctor, never said anything about it. I had more than one ultrasound. More than one. And she never mentioned it to me whatsoever and I think, also, when you're young, you're like, oh, well, you know, this is just cramps. So - yeah.
MARTIN: The other thing that you are very candid about in the book was your concern for your career...
MARTIN: ...once you became pregnant.
MARTIN: And, again, I'm really interested in this because this is an experience that I think other people will have, although it's kind of unique in your case in the sense that...
MARTIN: ...as you point out in the book, you spend a lot of time in lingerie. You know, it's a little different from most workplaces...
MARTIN: ...at least, that I've been familiar with.
MARTIN: But it is a challenge that I think a lot of people aren't particularly honest about. And could you just talk a little bit about that? I mean, is it just...
MARTIN: Is it the idea that, you know, if you're not sexy, then you're not employable? What's the issue here?
MOWRY: Well, unfortunately, I will say this. There was this one director that I was working with and they were auditioning some girls and I knew the girl that they were seeing and I thought she was great and I was like, why did she not get that role? He specifically told me she did not get this role because she just had a baby.
MARTIN: Now, we've heard this some from other artists like, for example, Toni Braxton has...
MOWRY: Wow.
MARTIN: ...previously spoken about how the record label that she was with at one time was not aggressive in pushing one of her albums after she had her child.
MARTIN: So what is that? Do you think - is this a woman problem? Is this a...
MOWRY: I will be really honest with you.
MARTIN: What is this?
MOWRY: I think, for me, you know, because I was a little - I was scared and afraid, but ever since I had Cree, it seems like my career has opened up even more. I wanted to write a book and they were able to, you know, work everything out so I could write a book and then, right after that, I was able to, you know, do a movie. I just finished doing a movie with Tori Spelling, who just had a baby, as well.
I think it's harder for women who are viewed as vixens in this business. So, if they are seen as these, you know, sexy kittens, you know, and it's harder for men to view them as sexy again, you know, because they just had their baby, which I think is not cool. I feel more sexy. I feel, you know, empowered because I gave life. I have a son now. I feel like I'm stronger.
MARTIN: I am woman. Hear me roar.
MOWRY: Yeah. I am woman. Hear me. I mean, that's what I wrote in my book.
MARTIN: You try this, director.
MARTIN: Not giving people a job. You try this.
MOWRY: Yeah. But, with me, I've always had this, you know, girl next door - you know, I have a very clean image, so I think it's an easier transition.
MARTIN: If you're just joining us, this is TELL ME MORE from NPR News. I'm Michel Martin. I'm joined by Tia Mowry. Her new book tells about the joys and the pains of pregnancy. The title is "Oh, Baby: Pregnancy Tales and Advice From One Hot Mama to Another."
So let's get to some of the fun parts. What was the best thing about being pregnant and what was the worst?
MOWRY: I think the best thing about being pregnant would definitely have to be seeing just my belly grow and seeing, like, wow, there is, you know, something inside of me. Really, no matter what I do, it's going to be working. Like, just - you know, it's unbelievable how the human body is.
The worst part about pregnancy would definitely have to be my nausea. I don't know why it's just called morning sickness because morning sickness never just happened in the morning for me and it's not happening just in the morning for my sister. She's pregnant, four months right now. Mine happened in the morning, afternoon and in the evening and, not only did it just happen in the first trimester, it happened throughout my whole entire pregnancy. I'm like, dang, how come nobody told me about this?
MARTIN: Well, that's why you have this book now.
MARTIN: So let's talk a little bit about your career now. You have a lot of fans on "The Game." What is it about that series that you think connected with people?
MOWRY: One thing that I love about the show, number one, is it focuses on women and, you know, women who are powerful, women who are successful, but also, these women were real and relatable and one thing in particular that I loved about my character was it showed her flaws. Not everybody is perfect. Everybody goes through certain journeys, you know, within their lives and they showed that.
The show also talks about things that a lot of people don't talk about. We talked about infidelity and, you know, baby mama drama. You know, we talked about realistic stories, I think, that women go through and that we overcome.
MARTIN: And now, you're working on a reality show with your sister.
MARTIN: Your twin, Tamera.
MARTIN: I understand that that's actually going very well, too.
MARTIN: It's a top-ranked show...
MARTIN: ...on Style network.
MARTIN: What do you think people are interested in with that?
MOWRY: For some reason, I think people resonate with my sister and I because we're real people. We're honest. And then, also, they feel like they grew up with us and we're hilarious.
MARTIN: What's your best bit of advice for somebody who's maybe just starting on this journey?
MOWRY: The one advice that I would give just to moms who have a child or a newborn is definitely sleep while the baby sleeps. I've heard that so many times. I never realized how true it really is. If you don't, you'll be walking around like a zombie. The other thing is, as a new mom, trust your instincts. It's embedded in you. We were created, I think personally, for this. We were born to just know, really, what to do.
For women who are pregnant, sometimes, when you're pregnant, everybody, especially your mother-in-law - your whatever - sister-in-law who's already had kids - they kind of want to throw all of their ways on how they had a child, whether that's - make sure you breastfeed or make sure you don't get an epidural. You know, it's up to you. This is your baby. You have the right to do whatever you want and if you have a mother-in-law that's constantly pointing her finger, don't argue with her. Just smile and nod and just say, OK. Thank you. Because you don't want to get into an argument. You're pregnant. You don't need to be stressed.
MARTIN: Bring out your inner Tia. Right?
MARTIN: Tia Mowry is an actress. She joins her identical twin on the Style network's "Tia and Tamera." She was kind enough to join me in our Washington, D.C. studio to talk about her book "Oh, Baby: Pregnancy Tales and Advice From One Hot Mama to Another."
Tia, thank you so much for joining us.
MOWRY: Thank you. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.


text:
The 2001 Seattle Seahawks season was the franchise's 26th season in the National Football League (NFL), The second of two seasons the Seahawks played at Husky Stadium while Qwest Field was being built and the third under head coach Mike Holmgren. They improved on their 6–10 record from 2000 and finished the season at 9–7. The Seahawks were in the playoff hunt until the last game of the season; the Baltimore Ravens' win over the Minnesota Vikings on the last Monday Night game of the year ended Seattle's post-season bid. The 2001 season was the final season for the Seahawks in the American Football Conference (AFC) and the second and final season they played at Husky Stadium while Seahawks Stadium (now known as Lumen Field) was being built.

Before the season, the Seahawks signed free agent quarterback Trent Dilfer, and traded for quarterback Matt Hasselbeck. Hasselbeck eventually won the starting position over Dilfer. The Seahawks also signed future Hall of Fame defensive tackle John Randle, who spent the last 11 seasons with the Minnesota Vikings and would make the Pro Bowl in his first season with the Seahawks.

The season saw the emergence of the second year running back Shaun Alexander after Ricky Watters was injured for most of the season. Watters retired after the season ended.

It was also the final season the Seahawks wore their traditional blue and green uniforms, and their last year in the AFC West as they returned to the NFC West in the 2002 NFL season.

The last remaining active member of the 2001 Seattle Seahawks was quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, who retired after the 2015 season.

Offseason

NFL draft

Personnel

Staff

Final roster

     Starters in bold.
 (*) Denotes players that were selected for the 2002 Pro Bowl.

Schedule

Preseason

Source: Seahawks Media Guides

Regular season
Divisional matchups have the AFC West playing the NFC East.

Source: 2001 NFL season results

Standings

Game Summaries

Preseason

Week P1: at Indianapolis Colts

Week P2: vs. Arizona Cardinals

Week P3: at San Francisco 49ers

Week P4: vs. New Orleans Saints

Regular season

Week 1: at Cleveland Browns

Week 2: vs. Philadelphia Eagles

Week 3: at Oakland Raiders

Week 4: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

Week 5: vs. Denver Broncos

Week 7: vs. Miami Dolphins

Week 8: at Washington Redskins

Week 9: vs. Oakland Raiders

Week 10: at Buffalo Bills

Week 11: at Kansas City Chiefs

Week 12: vs. San Diego Chargers

Week 13 at Denver Broncos

Week 14: vs. Dallas Cowboys

Week 15: at New York Giants

Week 16: at San Diego Chargers

Week 17: vs. Kansas City Chiefs

References

External links
Seahawks draft history at NFL.com
2001 NFL season results at NFL.com

Seattle
Seattle Seahawks seasons
Seattle Seahawks


Ballyclare Comrades have confirmed that Clifford Adams has left the club.
The Championship club said that after negotiations with Adams that it was agreed to end his tenure as first team manager.
Adams was appointed manager in March last year after moving from Ballymena and Provincial Intermediate League side Wakehurst.
Ballyclare finished third in the Championship last season and currently lie fifth and out of promotion contention with just one game remaining this term.
"We would like to put on record our appreciation for the work put in by Clifford and the dedication during his time at the club," Ballyclare said in a statement.
"We also wish him every success for the future.
"Clifford has asked us to place on record his thank to the fans for their support and that he wishes the club all the very best for the future.
"We are not currently seeking applications for the position of first team manager.
"The Committee will meet later in the week to consider the way forward."


text:
Bulqiza város, egyúttal községközpont és alközség Albánia északkeleti részén, Peshkopia városától légvonalban 27, közúton 46 kilométerre délnyugati irányban, a Zall i Bulqizës völgyében. Dibra megyén belül Bulqiza község székhelye, Bulqiza alközség központja. Az alközség további települése Vajkal (Qytet i Ri). A 2011-es népszámlálás alapján az alközség népessége . A környék krómbányáinak köszönhetően a kommunizmus évtizedeiben létrejött, fiatal bányászváros.

Fekvése
A település a Zall i Bulqizës (a. m. 'Bulqizai-kavicsos') nevű pataknak a Dhoks- és a Balgjaj-hegység közé bevágódó völgyében, a Bulqiza-völgy (Lugina e Bulqizës) medenceszerűen kiszélesedő pontján fekszik, 740 méteres tengerszint feletti magasságban. Bulqiza a patak jobb partján terül el, a Dhoks-hegység beerdősült északnyugati lábánál, de az alközség területe a Zall i Bulqizës bal oldali völgyoldalára is kiterjed. A településtől északra fut a Mat völgyén át Milot, Burrel és Peshkopia között összeköttetést biztosító, SH6-os jelű főút, amelynek azonban egyes szakaszai a Bulqiza-völgyben telente nehezen vagy nem járhatóak.

Története
A középkor korai szakaszában, a bizánci időkben a feltételezések szerint a mai Bulqiza helyén egy Valiosz (albán Val) nevű erődített település állt, amely a szláv betörések alkalmával megsemmisült. A fáma szerint ugyanitt, a mai Vajkal helyén zajlott le 1465-ben az albán fejedelem, Kasztrióta György egyik győztes csatája a törökök ellen. Az 1924-es júniusi forradalom elbukásakor, 1924. december 19-én ugyancsak a Bulqiza-völgyben került sor az egyik legnagyobb összecsapásra a Fan Nolit támogató kormánycsapatok és a hatalmát visszaszerző Ahmet Zogu fegyveresei között.

A második világháborút követően, 1948-ban bukkantak rá a Bulqiza közeli kromitlelőhelyekre, majd megnyitották az ország legjövedelmezőbb krómbányáit, egyúttal ércdúsító üzemet is telepítettek a bányaterületek mellett 1950-ben létrejött településre. A bányászok elhelyezését eleinte barakkszerű épületekben oldották meg, majd az 1950-es évek folyamán emeletes blokkházakból fokozatosan felépült Bulqiza, az 1970-es években pedig geológiai és bányaművelési technikum is nyílt a településen. Az állampárti időszakban internálótábor is működött Bulqizában. A Zalli i Bulqizës északi oldalán, a régi Vajkal helyén az 1980-as években épült fel az új városrész Qytet i Ri ('Újváros') néven. Az 1991-es rendszerváltást követően a bányák nagy részét bezárták, és bár az azóta eltelt időszakban részlegesen ismét megindult az érckitermelés, a munkanélküliség még 2010-ben is 25%-os volt.

Nevezetességei
Bulqiza a kommunizmus évtizedeiben született, blokkházakból álló bányászvároskák közé tartozik, azoknak is a legtipikusabb példája, amelyet a 20. században egyszerűen csak "a Bányászvárosként" (albán Qyteza e Minatorëve) emlegettek az országban.

Jegyzetek

Források

Albánia települései
Albánia alközségei


February 8, 2019 (MLN): Mr. Waheed Ahmed, Patron-in-Chief and convener of standing committee of the FPCCI on Agriculture and Horticulture has said that so far export order worth of US$ 15 million has been received for Pakistani Kinnow, dates, Value-added products of dates, Fresh Vegetables, Mango and Guava Pulp and apple concentrate.
The exhibition "Fruit Logistica – 2019" is being held from February 6-8, 2019 in Berlin where a national pavilion for companies participating in the exhibition has also been set up.
Pakistani companies participating in the exhibition are getting very encouraging response from foreign buyers while the big companies participating in this great exhibition, engaged in manufacturing of technology related to production and logistics of fruits & vegetables, economical & efficient use of water technology and related machineries / equipment are displaying keen interest to introduce their technologies in Pakistan.
Meanwhile on other, hand giant companies promoting modern methods of Agriculture and production of Fruits & Vegetables and transportation facilities for Food items have shown deep interest in investment for joint ventures with Pakistan.
25 representatives from various export companies as well as the growers are participating in the exhibition to get themselves well versed with the current modern trends in this specific sector (Fruits & Vegetables).
On the other hand, the Ministry of National Food security and the Primer Imran Khan himself is taking personal interest and with implementation of the "horticulture vision -2030" , a comprehensive policy covering issues and solution of the sector.
Export of Fruits & Vegetables can be enhanced to US$2.5 billion within 5 years simultaneously creating employment opportunities for 1.5 million people while export can be further increased to US$ 6 billion in a decade generating new jobs for 2.9 million people and these initiatives would not only further strengthen economy of Pakistan but also ensure Food Security .


Green Concrete PPT. ... Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd. Flag for inappropriate content. GREEN CONCRETE What is Green Concrete?
Full-Text Paper (PDF): A Review on Green Concrete | ResearchGate, the professional network for scientists.
PPT ON GREEN CONCRETE BY TANMAY KUMAR 1. Submitted by:- Tanmay Kumar Das Civil Engineering BBIT 2. CONTENT 1.What is Green Concrete ? 2.Whygreen concrete 3.


Trail walks, kayak tours, and other ways to learn all about this national treasure.
To discover the most about everything the Wells Reserve has to offer, join a planned walk, a kayak tour, or other program led by an informed guide. These offerings include something for all ages and experience levels.
Our experienced guides are ready to reveal the secrets of the Wells Reserve at Laudholm. Whether it's tadpoles or tide pools, sparrows or spartina, come on up for a tour with a purpose.
Join Maine Master Naturalist Linda Littlefield Grenfell to explore wildflowers along the trail.
Slow down and connect with nature.
Search for birds with a leader from York County Audubon.
Explore the world of mosses and lichens with a Maine Master Naturalist.
The wonders of dragonflies and butterflies.
Explore the benefits of weeds!
Explore the Reserve's accessible trail at Wells Harbor and learn about estuaries.
Experience the Reserve by moonlight.
Explore wildflower natural history and identification.
Join us to explore mushrooms with a Maine Master Naturalist!
Explore the world of ferns with a Maine Master Naturalist!
Our registered Maine Kayak Guides take small groups onto the estuary for an enjoyable and educational paddle lasting about 2½ hours. Enjoy a unique perspective on the estuary.
Interested in kayaking a Wells estuary on your own? Access to the Little River estuary is inconvenient, so we recommend putting in at Wells Harbor to explore the Webhannet estuary.
Paddle the salt marsh with a registered Maine kayak guide and knowledgeable naturalist.
Sometimes you're ready to explore without a guide. Learn about our trail system and make your own way.
You may encounter biting insects, ticks, poison ivy, and other wonders of nature.
Carry water and a snack.
Our banner image shows two kayakers on the Little River in September 2014.


text:
Africa Media Review for April 30, 2018
Suspected Jihadists Kill Dozens of Tuaregs in Mali
Suspected jihadists killed dozens of Tuaregs on Mali's northeastern border with Niger, informed sources said Saturday, in the second such attack in two days. The former Tuareg rebel group MSA and tribal leaders said the massacre occurred Friday, a day after another attack by gunmen on motorbikes had left 12 people dead outside the town of Anderamboukane, which is also in the same area. "There have been 43 deaths in two days, all civilians, from the same community," tribal leader Sidigui Ag Hamadi told AFP from the regional capital Menaka. "Our fighters are destroying their bases and wiping them out. They are targeting innocent civilians," he added seeing the bloodletting as reprisals for attacks on jihadists by armed Tuarag groups. France 24
Nigeria's Buhari to Discuss Terrorism, Economy with Trump in Washington
Nigerian president Muhammadu Buhari is slated to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington Monday. The two leaders are expected to discuss the threat of terrorism and economic growth in Africa's most populous country of almost 200 million people. Nigeria has been plagued by extremist group Boko Haram, which launched an insurgency nine years ago with the aim of creating an Islamic State. Tens of thousands of people have been killed, and hundreds of school girls kidnapped, as the group gained notoriety and spread to neighboring countries, posing one of the most severe threats to West Africa's Sahel region in recent years. VOA
Islamic State Offshoot Stakes Lake Chad Territory
From the shores of Lake Chad, Islamic State's West African ally is on a mission: winning over the local people. Digging wells, giving out seeds and fertilizer and providing safe pasture for herders are among the inducements offered by Islamic State in West Africa (ISWA), which split from Nigeria's Boko Haram in 2016. "If you are a herder, driver or trader, they won't touch you — just follow their rules and regulations governing the territory," said a herder, who moves cattle in and out of ISWA territory and whose identity Reuters is withholding for his safety. "They don't touch civilians, just security personnel." The campaign, which has created an economy for ISWA to tax, is part of the armed insurgent group's push to control territory in northeastern Nigeria and in Niger. VOA
At Least 47 Drown Fleeing Clashes in Northwestern Congo
At least 47 people drowned when their boat capsized as they fled clashes between soldiers in northwestern Democratic Republic of Congo and armed men who had crossed the border from neighboring Congo Republic, a provincial governor said on Friday. The overcrowded river boat overturned on the Ubangi River that divides the two countries on Tuesday as residents of the town of Dongo raced to flee an outbreak of fighting between the soldiers and "bandits" from a tribal militia, said the governor of South Ubangi province, Joachim Taila Nage. Tens of thousands of Congolese fled violence that broke out in 2009 between the local Enyele and Munzaya tribes over farming and fishing rights around Dongo. Reuters
Motive for Mass Killings in Congo Is Mystery, but Suffering Is Clear
The resource-rich but deeply troubled Democratic Republic of Congo is the site of some of Africa's longest-running conflicts — and the world's largest peacekeeping mission.About 20,000 United Nations peacekeepers operate in Congo, Africa's second-largest country by land mass, trying to keep its residents safe from the hundreds of armed groups that hide in and strike from its hills, especially in its east. Violence is nothing new here, but a recent wave of brutal fighting has broken out in the province of Ituri, on the border with Uganda, raising concerns about a humanitarian catastrophe. More than 260 people have died and more than 200,000 have fled their homes since December in a conflict started by a scuffle between youths from two local ethnic communities, the Lendu and Hema. The United Nations peacekeeping mission announced this past week it had discovered five suspected mass grave sites near some of the villages attacked in February and March, when the violence peaked. The New York Times
Suicide Bomber Kills 4 Somali Army Officers
At least four Somali government soldiers have been killed and six wounded by a suicide bomber who attacked a tea restaurant in the divided town of Galkayo in central Somalia, witnesses and officials said Saturday. The attack happened on the northern side of the town controlled by the Puntland semi-autonomous region. "A young man wearing a suicide vest rushed toward the restaurant where government security officials and their guards gathered and blew himself up," a witnesses told VOA. Government officials in the region have confirmed that two senior military commanders were among those killed in the attack. VOA
US Delegation in Sudan for 'Normalization' Talks
A U.S. congressional delegation arrived in Sudan on Sunday for talks with Sudanese officials — the first visit since the lifting of U.S. sanctions last year. Led by Congressman Luis Vicente Gutierrez, the delegation will meet with Sudanese Prime Minister Bakri Hassan Salih and a host of senior official as well as opposition leaders and representatives of the civil society organizations. Talks are expected to focus on ways of normalizing relations between Khartoum and Washington following the lifting of the U.S. sanctions in October. In statements to local media, Sudanese parliament speaker Ibrahim Ahmed Omer said the discussions will include a host of issues, including lifting Sudan from the U.S. list of states sponsoring terrorism. Anadolu Agency
Igad Foreign Ministers in Juba on Shuttle Diplomacy
The Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (Igad) Foreign ministers Sunday met South Sudanese President Salva Kiir in Juba over peace in the country. The Igad team arrived in the capital of the young nation on Saturday. The South Sudanese Presidency said the Igad team's mission was to narrow the disagreements between government and rebels threatening to collapse the upcoming peace talks. The visit to Juba comes a few days after the regional bloc announced the postponement of the talks to May 17-21. Igad faces intense pressure from the US, the UK, the Netherlands and Norway and other donors to achieve peace in the upcoming final talks. Juba recently warned that it would hold elections if the upcoming talks failed. The East African
European Union Agrees to Send Election Observers to Zimbabwe
The European Union said it will send a delegation to monitor Zimbabwe's general elections for the first time in 16 years as relations between the southern African nation and Western countries continue to improve. Zimbabwe is required by its constitution to hold general and presidential elections by Aug. 22. The vote will be the first without Robert Mugabe, who stepped down as the nation's leader in November, since 1980. President Emmerson Mnangagwa, the 75-year-old former intelligence chief who replaced Mugabe, has been nominated by the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front as its presidential candidate. Five elections between 2000 and 2013 were marred by allegations of rigging, violence and intimidation, with Western nations accusing Mugabe of human-rights abuses and manipulating the vote. The EU has been blocked from observing polls since after the 2002 vote. Bloomberg
US Counterterror Fight in Africa Also Turns to Local Police
Under the watchful eyes of U.S. authorities, an elite group of local police officers in Niger's capital slipped into a home, rescued a "hostage," detained an "extremist" and pretended to kill another. The police training in one of Africa's most remote, impoverished countries is crucial as extremists linked to the Islamic State group and al-Qaida carry out increasingly bold attacks in West Africa's vast Sahel region. In October, four U.S. soldiers and five Nigeriens were killed in an ambush claimed by Islamic State group-linked fighters in rural Niger. Amid questions over the role of the U.S. military in this part of the world, there is a renewed focus on training local law enforcement officers in the hopes that extremism can be better countered at the community level and along borders. The challenges are great in Niger, where residents of its vast, largely ungoverned spaces say they are losing confidence in authorities. AP
Police Intervene as Opening of Sierra Leone Parliament Is Overtaken by Chaos
Julius Maada Bio's fledgling tenure as president of Sierra Leone was punctuated by renewed controversy after police forcibly removed members of the opposition from the opening session of the new parliament. A week of mounting tensions in Freetown culminated on Wednesday with officers escorting 16 members of the All People's Congress party from the chamber for disruptive behaviour. In a show of political solidarity, they were followed by the remaining members of the APC party, which was unseated after a decade in power when Bio won a contentious run-off election against Samura Kamara at the beginning of April. "Today, yesterday, they were both chaotic," said Khursve Kargbo, regional operations manager for the Sierra Leone police. The Guardian
Tunisia's Police, Military Vote for First Time in Decades
More than 36,000 soldiers and police officers have registered to vote in the first local elections since the Arab Spring. But some police unions have pushed back, saying security forces should remain "neutral." Security personnel on Sunday cast votes in municipal elections for the first time since a ban on voting for members of the police and military was lifted earlier this year. "This is a historic day," a police officer told AFP news agency after casting his vote in the capital Tunis. "For the first time we are exercising a right of citizenship." In January, parliament struck down the decades-old ban preventing members of the military and police from voting. The ban against service members came into effect shortly after independence in 1956 and was later expanded to include police and state security in the 1980s. Deutsche Welle
At Least 15 Migrants Die after Boat Sinks off Algerian Coast
At least 15 African migrants died on Sunday when their boat trying to reach Europe capsized off the Algerian coast, a coast guard official said. Coast guard and civil protection authorities rescued 19 of 34 people on board, state news agency APS said. The boat sank off the coast of Oran, a city some 450 kilometers west of the capital Algiers, the official told Ennahar TV station, adding that the boat had departed from Morocco. No details on nationalities were provided. Reuters
Rwanda's Paul Kagame Accuses ICC of Bias against Africa
Rwandan President Paul Kagame has repeated his harsh criticism of the International Criminal Court (ICC) for what he calls open bias against Africa, saying it has failed to mete out justice in any other part of the world. "The ICC was supposed to address the whole world, but it ended up covering only Africa," Kagame said on Saturday at a meeting with British-Sudanese telecoms tycoon and philanthropist Mo Ibrahim in Rwanda's capital, Kigali. "From the time of its inception, I said there was a fraud basis on which it was set up and how it was going to be used. I told people that this would be a court to try Africans, not people from across the world. Al Jazeera
UN Adopts Resolution Urging Solution for Western Sahara
The U.N. Security Council approved a resolution Friday aimed at speeding up a solution to the 42-year conflict over the Western Sahara between Morocco and the Polisario Front independence movement amid heightened tensions over the mineral-rich territory. The vote on the U.S.-sponsored resolution in the 15-member council was 12-0 with Russia, China and Ethiopia abstaining. The three countries complained that the United States refused to accept suggested changes to the text and said it was unbalanced — indicating it was too critical of the Polisario and too pro-Moroccan. Morocco annexed Western Sahara, a former Spanish colony, in 1975 and fought the Polisario Front. The U.N. brokered a cease-fire in 1991 and established a peacekeeping mission to monitor it and to help prepare a referendum on the territory's future that has never taken place. AP
Angola's Wealth Fund to Sack Asset Manager, President Consolidates Power
The most powerful body in Angola's ruling MPLA party said on Friday it had approved the candidacy of state president Joao Lourenco to become head of the party, replacing his predecessor as head of state Jose Eduardo dos Santos. The move coincided with an announcement by Angola's $5 billion sovereign wealth fund that it was sacking Swiss-based Quantum Global as its asset manager because it was concerned about the way its capital was being invested. Both developments will further cement the political grip of Lourenco, who has taken action against dos Santos' allies and removed family members from key positions while pledging to root out endemic corruption and clean up public finances in Africa's No. 2 crude producer. Reuters
Sirleaf Knocks Africa's Sit Tight Presidents, Tells Them to Leave Power
African leaders resisting "democratic transformation" must heed their citizens' calls for change, former Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf said on Saturday after receiving an award aimed at promoting good leadership on the continent. Without naming specific countries or leaders, she referred to "laggard" countries in the region of one billion people who are "not meeting democratic transformation". "Their own citizens are making the call for change and I don't think they can continue to resist or deny that call for change," Johnson Sirleaf told Reuters after accepting the award in Rwanda's capital Kigali. Reuters