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Amazon Go revamping convenience store shopping
20 March 2019 Consulting.us
The new checkout-free stores from e-commerce and tech giant Amazon are upping how convenient a convenience store can be.
Amazon Go is one of the more recent cards played from the technology juggernaut's deck of disruption. It aims to shake up the convenience and grocery store sector, though Amazon has plans to eventually try out 40,000-square-foot, Ikea-style megastores. For now, Amazon Go locations have a smaller, convenience store-size footprint, with similar product options, as well as "millennial bait" such as chef-designed Amazon Meal Kits, in the vein of meal preparation delivery start-ups such like Blue Apron.
As of February, there were four Amazon Go stores in Seattle, four in Chicago, two in San Francisco, and plans to launch a London location. Amazon hopes to eventually open 2,000 grocery and convenience stores in the US.
As with most Amazon offerings, the new Go stores center on technological innovation and leading-edge customer experience. Customers don't have to wait in line, there are no cash registers, no checkouts, no item scanning -- consumer simply pick their items and leave.
After downloading the Amazon Go app on a smartphone, consumers tap their phones to pass an automated turnstile to enter the store. Technologies such as computer vision, sensor fusion, and deep learning are used to detect when products are taken, and keep track of them in the shopper's "virtual cart." When consumers leave the store, their Amazon account is automatically charged and a receipt is sent.
The trade-off for extreme convenience and good prices is decreased consumer privacy. Customers will be tracked by higher-tier technology than typical convenience store cameras to ensure the billing process is accurate. Obviously all purchases are recorded, giving Amazon a full rundown of what (and potentially how) people make purchases. Amazon receives valuable data on purchasing habits and history, and on a surface level can find and revise an optimal mix of products for consumers at particular Go locations.
Many users are impressed by the Amazon Go experience, including Brian D. Gray, a managing director at Accenture's Energy industry group. In a recent blog post, Gray related how he was able to get the exact product he wanted (a sparkling Smart Water) at a Chicago location in 15 seconds. When he later went to a competing convenience store, it took him three minutes and two seconds to get in and out - and he had to settle for a non-carbonated Smart Water.
According to Gray, Amazon Go has changed the convenience store experience in five ways: speed, product selection, no checkouts, price, and consumer tracking.
"It is absolutely incredible that my experience through Amazon Go was over 2.5 minutes faster than the typical convenience store," Gray wrote.
Because Amazon is tracking everything that is purchased and updating inventory accordingly, you're more likely to get the product you want. "Amazon Go has a carefully curated product assortment that aligns to the demographic of their consumers," Gray wrote.
Amazon Go's products are also priced to entice. According to Gray, his Go-bought sparkling Smart Water cost $1.75, while the (non-sparkling) Smart Water from the traditional convenience store was a heftier $2.60. Though they're transforming the convenience experience, Amazon's still keeping its eyes on what consumers often most value: price.
As previously stated, Amazon Go is logging huge amounts of consumer data. "No more guessing what consumers want and how often they are coming back – it is all right there for Amazon to make better future decisions in service of their consumers," Gray concluded.
Related: Amazon, Berkshire Hathaway and JPMorgan Chase hire Monitor Deloitte
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December retail sales to be muted amid shutdowns and earlier holiday purchasing US retail sales are projected to fall by as much as 4% in December, according to consulting firm Berkeley Research Group (BRG).
McKinsey partner Saf Yeboah-Amankwah joins Intel as chief strategy officer Saf Yeboah-Amankwah, a senior partner at management consultancy McKinsey & Company, has joined semiconductor manufacturer Intel as SVP and chief strategy officer (CSO), effective November 1.
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Solutions to food loss and waste (FLW) rely on a combination of the right policy, application of appropriate technology, skills and knowledge, services and infrastructure, regulatory environment, social and gender equity, good linkages to and knowledge of markets. These topics cut across all stages of the value chain. For example, marketing skills and knowledge are applicable to producers, processors, and retailers.
Solutions to FLW will provide economic benefits, have a positive impact on food and nutrition security, improve natural resource use efficiency, and reduce environmental impacts and waste streams. Solutions however will require action by either the public and/or private sectors. Actors in the value chain will require an incentive to change, such as cost effectiveness or increased profit, a secured environment for business where there is sustained support towards promoting effective loss reduction and enforcement of the rules to deter irresponsible practices. Policy makers and the public sector require solutions to be not only economically beneficial but also to generate benefits for society.
To assist in decision-making, a cost benefit analysis (CBA) of proposed solutions can be used. As there can be a myriad of FLW scenarios and potential solutions across a range of entry points, decision makers are encouraged to carry out their own CBA as part of the decision making process. It is important to remember that it might not be practical to reduce FLW to zero, and that a solution to FLW at one stage in the value chain can have an impact on FLW at other stages. For example, good on-board handling at the fishing stage will help reduce FLW at other downstream stages of the chain.
Measuring the impact of solutions in terms of FLW reduction is important. One approach to do this is to measure before and after situations. Load Tracking can be used to help with this.
This website presents guidance and examples of these solution entry points for value chain stages and different product types. The aim is to demonstrate that sustainable solutions may require actions for different entry points.
The impacts of food loss and waste as well as strategies to mitigate this are important components in the FAO's Global Initiative on Food Loss and Waste Reduction.
A simple cost benefit analysis can help business leaders understand the risks and benefits of making or failing to make a capital investment. Guidelines to performing a cost benefit analysis are included.
Global standard that presents information on freezing and cold storage practices which aim to reduce spoilage and waste.


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The Biggest Fashion Moments That Made Headlines In 2018
Viva's fashion team Dan Ahwa and Rosie Herdman take a look back at this year's most memorable fashion moments
Friday Dec. 28, 2018
"This year saw some landmark covers, with The Fashion Spot reporting more racial diversity than ever, with size and gender representation more than doubled. The September issues saw people of colour shining this year, with Beyonce's Vogue US cover one of the most talked about thanks to it being the first cover shot by an African-American photographer, 23-year-old Tyler Mitchell.
Other notable covers of the year included the Beckham family's UK Vogue cover, as it was the first time the whole clan has officially appeared in a magazine. Just this month, Yalitza Aparicio Martinez, the star of Alfonso Cuaron's acclaimed film Roma, was featured in Vogue Mexico in what many are saying is the first instance of the magazine putting a woman with indigenous features on the cover. While the fashion industry has a long way to go in terms of embracing diversity in a non-tokenistic way, increased representation is a start." — R.H
OLD CELINE VS NEW CELINE
"When it was announced Hedi Slimane would be taking over at Celine after Phoebe Philo's departure, fans of the brand were bereft and trepidatious about what was to come next. Hedi's first show for Celine (now sans accented 'e') tore up and threw out the beloved design sensibility so carefully crafted by Phoebe during her years at the brand's helm, and established a thoroughly singular, though not unfamiliar from Hedi, point of view that felt out of step with our times of female empowerment and increased celebration of the female gaze. It was "the same old skinny black suits and skinny ties, the same old hiked-as-you-care dresses, the same old tiny bombers and bikers and Mod and Factory and new wave and no wave," as Tim Blanks wrote in his Business of Fashion review. While Hedi's bankability can't be argued with, to many it felt like Hedi was purposefully digging in his heels against progression." — R.H
"In February this year, emerging designer Richard Quinn showed his debut collection at London Fashion Week for Fall 2018. The show went down in history, as Queen Elizabeth sat front row in a surprise appearance. She was sitting next to US Vogue editor Anna Wintour, and photos of the two together quickly went viral. It was a royal seal of approval for Richard, who has since gone on to become one of Britain's most-watched new designers." — R.H
D&G'S SHANGHAI SAGA
"What would we do without Diet Prada? The popular Instagram account has exchanged fighting words with foot-in-mouth-prone Stefano Gabbana of Dolce & Gabbana several times this year, but the latest instance of this stretched far beyond the social media platform. In a bid to increase their favourability in the Asian market, Dolce & Gabbana were to hold their so-called 'Great Show' in Shanghai in November. Unfortunately for the brand, the shows promotional video, showing a model trying to eat Italian food with chopsticks, offended the very people they were trying to appeal to. To make matters worse, Diet Prada published a series of offensive and racists posts being made from Stefano's Instagram account, after which he claimed it was hacked. Chinese celebrities with millions of social media followers announced they were boycotting the event, and the show was swiftly cancelled, resulting in an estimated 400 million euro-loss in sales." — R.H
BLACKOUT #TIMESUP
"We entered the year in a post-Harvey Weinstein expose world. This was the spark that ignited a new order, and it was interesting to see how this affected Hollywood industry events like awards ceremonies at the start of the year. The Golden Globes saw actors and activists come together and wear black in support of Time's Up, an initiative aimed at combatting sexual harassment and supporting equality for the genders across many industries. It was a powerful visual, and the support continued even after colour was brought back to the red carpet with people wearing Time's Up pins in support of the initiative." — R.H
SAVAGE GARDEN
"Rihanna's Garden of Eden-style first show for her lingerie line Savage x Fenty was an out-of-this-world experience, even for those watching at home. With the relevance of the Victoria's Secret show being questioned (and denied) more than ever, Rihanna's Savage x Fenty showcase was a welcome expression of inclusion that felt effortless. And, of course, no one should overlook the fact that the fashion show/dance performance extravaganza was choreographed by New Zealand's very own Parris Goebel." — R.H
HI, BYE!
"The merry-go-round of designers continued this year. More notable debuts came interestingly, from an all-male coterie of designers: Virgil Abloh debuted his menswear collection for Louis Vuitton, a position held by Kim Jones who debuted his first menswear collection for Dior Homme; Riccardo Tisci debuted his traditional take on Burberry, while Carolina Herrera tapped Wes Gordon for the creative director role, debuting his first collection for the house in September.
But the most polarising debut came from Hedi Sliamane of course; his first collection for Celine was a stark contrast to the designs of the band's popular predecessor Phoebe Philo. Phoebe's contemporary take on womenswear was replaced by a runway line up of mostly European waifs dressed in Hedi's signature aesthetic: skinny jeans, tutu dresses, leather jackets." — D.A
"Nike's controversial campaign featuring former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick featured a close up of his face with the words "Believe in something. Even if it means sacrificing everything" — a reference to Kaepernick's lawsuit against the NFL for allegedly colluding to keep the former San Francisco 49ers quarterback out of the league over his protests against police brutality, racism and social inequality. In a time where everyone with a profile is using their voice to protest against injustices, it was a bold move for the sportswear brand." — D.A
Photo / Getty Images
FUR-GET IT
"The idea of a fur coat seems outdated these days, so it came as welcome news to hear several influential luxury labels announcing it will no longer be using fur in its collections. This year saw the likes of Gucci, Burberry and Chanel all committed to a fur-free ban following in the footsteps of a string of other luxury labels, such as Stella McCartney and Giorgio Armani. "Do you think using furs today is still modern? I don't think it's still modern and that's the reason why we decided not to do that. It's a little bit out-dated," Gucci's chief executive and president Marco Bizzarri told Business of Fashion. "Creativity can jump in many different directions instead of using fur. — D.A
"It was also a year where we said goodbye to some iconic figures in fashion including Kate Spade who committed suicide in June and the legendary courtier Hubert de Givenchy, who passed away that same month. Supermodel hair stylist Oribe Canales also passed away and Irish designer Richard Lewis, known as 'The King of Cling' passed away in September. Their legacy lives on forever." — D.A
IT'S YOUR ANNIVERSARY
"It was a year of milestones and designers celebrated anniversaries. Ralph Lauren's 50th anniversary show in New York attended by a powerhouse clientele including Oprah Winfrey and Hilary Clinton, showcased the power and might of such an iconic American brand, the milestone collection running the gamut of all his inspirations from various facets of American life; including the Western frontier, Palm Springs kitsch, Orange County nautical references and Ivy League prep.
Victoria Beckham debuted her 10 year anniversary collection at London Fashion Week in September, moving away from her usual Sunday spot at New York Fashion week. And while not a fashion brand, Micky and Minnie Mouse celebrated its 90th anniversary by collaborating with a coterie of fashion designers and brands including Lacoste, Rag & Bone, Marc Jacobs, Coach and our own Karen Walker. — D.A
"Probably one of the more disturbing moments in fashion this year, the First Lady of the United States of America Melania Trump visiting migrant children at the US-Mexico border in June wearing a Zara military jacket emblazoned with the slogan across the back that read "I REALLY DON"T CARE, DO U?". For a former fashion model, I find it hard to believe she was making a flipant wardrobe choice that day. Melania knows that every item of clothing worn, particularly in the political realm, is representative of something, whether intentionally or inadvertently. After the incident Melania told reporters it was a way of sending message to left-wing media. Irregardless of the fact, her timing wearing this jacket in relation to the specific engagement she was on was a terrible move on her part." — D.A
Apple's Best Of 2018 Sums Up This Year In Music
The tech powerhouse takes a closer look at the music we've been coveting this year
How Ralph Lauren Has Defined Fashion For 50 Years
From politicians to A-listers, Ralph Lauren is the man who dresses America. We look at his legacy
Victoria Beckham Celebrates A Decade Of Design With Another Elegant Collection
For her collection's 10th anniversary, Victoria Beckham swapped New York Fashion Week for London
Meet The New Artistic Director of Louis Vuitton Menswear
Why Virgil Abloh's appointment at Louis Vuitton proves the winds of change are whistling through luxury fashion

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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DayZ will be hitting Xbox Game Preview this year, PlayStation 4 'eventually'
Are you looking forward to playing DayZ on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One? It looks like that could very well become a reality in the future, according to the DayZ development team.
The survival game will be coming to Xbox Game Preview on Xbox One "at some point" in 2018, and an "eventual" PlayStation 4 debut is planned down the line.
DayZ has been in Early Access for five years, and it's hurtling toward Update 0.63, which is a pretty jam-packed slice of content, including core feature updates like new crafting, zombies, animals, diseases, and more. DayZ will make its way to Xbox Game Preview after the original finally hits the beta stage, though Update 0.63 was actually pushed back from last year because several of its features weren't ready for a full release. You can see a full list of proposed features from lead producer Eugen Harton here, which was established in November.
For the uninitiated, DayZ was originally an ARMA 2 mod. It has since grown into its own, sprawling game with the kind of popularity that merits multiple console releases, though we don't know when PS4 will be joining the party.
There's a lot to come for the game still, and to finally see it exiting Early Access is a big moment for fans. This could be a big year for DayZ, most likely.
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Sattenapalle is a town in Guntur district of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It is a municipality and the headquarters of Sattenapalle mandal under Guntur revenue division. The town has a total road length of 110.60 km (68.72 mi). APSRTC operates buses from Sattenapalle bus station to most of the cities and towns in the district. SH 2 passes through the town. Sattenapalle railway station is located on Nallapadu–Pagidipalli section of Guntur railway division.


Fast customer service! Prices are okay.
Great experience! Lots of items are not always in stock, but the selection is better than most. Unfortunately, some of the prices are good for some items, but for others they are $50 to $150 more than other websites. Yet still, it was a pleasant experience. Just be selective and do your research.


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Who was in the Final Four in 1985?
This year's Final Four saw an unprecedented and unmatched three teams from the same conference, with Big East members Villanova and Georgetown joined by St….1985 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament.
Champions Villanova Wildcats (1st title, 1st title game, 2nd Final Four)
Runner-up Georgetown Hoyas (3rd title game, 4th Final Four)
Who won the NCAA championship in 1986?
Louisville Cardinals men's basketball1986 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament / ChampionThe Louisville Cardinals men's basketball team is the men's college basketball program representing the University of Louisville in the Atlantic Coast Conference of NCAA Division I. Wikipedia
Who won the 1985 NCAA basketball championship?
Villanova Wildcats men's basketball1985 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament / ChampionThe Villanova Wildcats men's basketball program represent Villanova University in men's college basketball and competes in the Big East Conference of NCAA Division I. Their first season was the 1920–21 season. Wikipedia
What year did Louisville beat Duke in the national championship?
The 1986 National Title Game was played between the 1986 East Regional Champions, Duke and the 1986 West Regional Champions, Louisville….1986 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship Game.
Head coach: Denny Crum Head coach: Mike Krzyzewski
AP: 7 Coaches: 3 AP: 1 Coaches: 1
Has a 14 seed ever made the Final Four?
In a fun twist, three of the last four No. 14-seed upsets — Georgia State against Baylor, UAB against Iowa State in 2015 and Abilene Christian vs. Texas in 2021 — were all decided by one point. In the 2019 NCAA tournament, No….
The history of every NCAA seed
No. 5 No. 13
What is the lowest seed to win Final Four?
The lowest seed ever to reach the Final Four is an 11 seed, which has happened five times — LSU (1986), George Mason (2006), VCU (2011), Loyola Chicago (2018) and UCLA (2021). There have only been two other No. 8 seeds reach the national championship game.
Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball1987 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament / Champion
Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball1981 NCAA Division I Basketball Tournament / Champion
Georgetown Hoyas men's basketball1984 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament / Champion
UNLV Runnin' Rebels men's basketball1990 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament / Champion
Has 2 seeds ever lost to 15?
Saint Peter's became the 10th No. 15 seed to defeat a No. 2 seed when it shocked Kentucky, 85-79, in overtime in the first round of the 2022 NCAA tournament. It marked the second year in a row a 15 downed a 2, as Oral Roberts upset Ohio State in 2021.
Has a number 16 ever beaten a 1?
Virginia and UMBC competed for the right to face ninth-seeded Kansas State, which had already won their first-round game against Creighton earlier in the day. The Retrievers defeated the Cavaliers 74–54, becoming the first No. 16 seed to defeat a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament.
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What are clinical trials? Definition and examples
We call medical experiments involving human beings clinical trials. Clinical trials contrast with animal testing or in vivo testing, which uses non-human animals.
Researchers carry out clinical trials to determine whether a drug, device, or therapy effective for humans. They also use them to determine whether it is safe.
According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, part of the National Institutes for Health (NIH):
"Clinical trials are research studies that explore whether a medical strategy, treatment, or device is safe and effective for humans.
"These studies also may show which medical approaches work best for certain illnesses or groups of people. Clinical trials produce the best data available for health care decision making."
The National Institutes of Health of the United States has the following definition of clinical trials: "A research study in which one or more human subjects are prospectively assigned to one or more interventions (which may include placebo or other control) to evaluate the effects of those interventions on health-related biomedical or behavioral outcomes."
Processes before clinical trials
The aim of clinical trials is research. Therefore, the studies must follow strict scientific guidelines or procedures.
Typically, the process starts in the lab, where researchers first develop an active ingredient, device, or idea. The active ingredient is the part of a medication that is biologically active.
If, for example, a substance shows promise, the scientists move onto the next step. The next step is animal testing.
Animal testing determines whether the substance has an effect on a living body. It can also tell us whether it is harmful.
Even if it works well on animals, that is no guarantee that it will do the same with humans. Although humans are animals, not all animals respond to substances in the same way.
From animal testing to clinical trials
To determine whether something is effective and safe for humans, we need to carry out clinical trials. In other words, we need to test it on human beings.
Trials on humans typically begin with very small groups for safety purposes. At this stage, researchers need to determine whether whatever they are testing harms humans.
During the later phases of clinical trials, scientists learn more about its risks and benefits.
There are three main types of clinical trials: 1. Blind – the doctor knows what the patient is taking, but the patient doesn't. 2. Double-blind – neither the doctor nor the patient knows. 3. Open-label – they both know.
Clinical trials – three possibilities
Clinical trials may determine that, for example, a new substance:
– Helps patients by reducing the severity of their symptoms, curing them, or improving their outcomes.
– Makes no difference. In other words, neither benefits nor harms patients.
– Has unexpected and undesirable side-effects. We also use the term 'adverse events.' In other words, the substance causes unexpected harm.
Clinical trials – cancer therapies
According to Cancer Research UK, clinical trials may look at:
– Causes and risks – how lifestyles, genetics, the environment, and other factors may raise a human's risk of developing cancer.
– Prevention – using medications to reduce the risk of developing cancer. Trials may also look at lifestyle changes.
– Screening – for high-risk individuals. In other words, people with a higher-than-average risk of developing cancer. If a woman has a mother who had breast cancer, her risk of developing the disease is higher.
– Diagnosis – new scans and tests.
– Treatments – new medications or combinations of them. Also, new ways of administering treatment as well as new types of treatment.
– Reducing symptoms' severity – new medications or complementary therapies. There may also be ways of reducing the incidence or severity of side effects.
Types of clinical trials – phases
There are typically three main clinical trial phases. There is Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not all trials reach the Phase 4 stage. In some cases, there is also a Phase 0.
We can also write them using Roman numerals. We can write either Phase 4 or Phase IV.
Phase 4 occurs after regulatory authorities, such as the FDA in the USA, have approved the drug. In other words, after the medication has been licensed. Phase 4 gathers information about safety, long-term risks and benefits, and the side effects of the drug.
In the explanations of the Phases below, the words 'drugs' or 'medications' could be replaced by 'devices' or 'therapies.'
Some clinical trials have a Phase 0. This phase involves a very small number of participants. In most cases, fewer than fifteen patients.
Healthline says the following regarding Phase 0:
"Investigators use a very small dose of medication to make sure it isn't harmful to humans before they start using it in higher doses for later phases."
"If the medication acts differently than expected, the investigators will likely to do some additional preclinical research before deciding whether to continue the trial."
During Phase 1 clinical trials, researchers look at the effect of a drug on between 20 and 100 participants. These are 'healthy' volunteers. In other words, they have no underlying health conditions.
The researchers spend several months observing the effects of the drug.
Phase 1 also tries to determine what the highest dose is. In other words, how much of a substance can a human tolerate without serious side effects?
During this phase, researchers are also looking at the administration options, i.e., injection, oral, eye-drops, etc.
The FDA says that most drugs, i.e., 70%, move from Phase 1 to Phase 2. FDA stands for Food and Drug Administration. It is the United State's regulatory agency in charge of drugs, medical devices, foods, cosmetics, and tobacco products.
Phase 2 clinical trials involve many more patients than Phase 1; usually several hundred. The participants are people who live with the illness or condition that the new drug targets.
This phase can last from several months to two years.
According to the FDA, Phase 2 focuses on the substance's efficacy and side effects. It also says that about one-third of drugs in Phase 2 move onto Phase 3.
Phase 3 involves between 300 and 3,000 participants. We also call them volunteers. All the volunteers live with the illness or condition that the new medication targets.
Phase 3 trials can last from one to four years. During this phase, researchers focus on the drug's efficacy as well as adverse reactions.
The FDA informs that between 25% and 30% of new drugs move onto Phase 4.
Phase 4 clinical trials take place after the regulatory authority, such as the FDA, has approved the new drug. This phase typically includes several thousand patients. It tries to identify and evaluate the long-term effects of the new medication. The monitoring may continue for several years.
Accord Clinical Research says the following regarding Phase 4 clinical trials:
"Phase IV research takes place after the FDA approves the marketing of a new drug."
"Through Phase IV clinical studies, new drugs can be tested continuously to uncover more information about efficacy, safety and side effects after being approved for marketing."
Blind, double-blind, and open-label
There are blind, double-blind, and open-label clinical trials. What do they mean?
Blind trial
In a blind trial, the participants or volunteers do not know whether they are taking the target drug or a placebo. In other words, they do not know which group they are in. The researchers or doctors, on the other hand, do know.
However, clever participants may pick up on subtle clues that the researchers give out unintentionally. We call this 'observer bias.' Observer bias can distort the results, i.e., make them unreliable.
The BBC GCSE Bitesize website says the following about doctors and placebos:
"Many doctors do not like giving a placebo to patients with a disease because they feel the patient will not benefit from taking a fake drug and will not get better. They do not think this is fair to the patient."
Double-blind trial
In double-blind clinical trials, neither the researchers/doctors not the participants know what group people are in. Nobody knows until the end of the trial.
In this type of trial, there is no risk of bias, which makes the results much more reliable. However, setting up a double-blind trial is much more complicated than a blind one.
Open-label trial
In open-label trials, both patient and doctor know what the patient is taking. People often use this type of trial as a last resort. In other words, there is no other treatment, and the doctor believes that the patient won't recover.
Video – Clinical Trials
This Cancer Research UK video talks about clinical trials. The video begins by introducing John, a cancer patient, who is participating in a cancer research trial.


Title III, Child Abuse Amendments of 1984, Public Law 98-457, 42 U.S.C. 10401 et seq.; Family Violence Prevention and Services Act(FVPSA) of 1986, as amended; Child Abuse Prevention, Adoptions, and Family Services Act of 1988, Public Law 100-294; Public Law 102-295; Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act, Public Law 103-322; Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) OF 1996, Public Law 104-235; Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act, Public Law 106-386; Keeping Children and Families Safe Act of 2003, Public Law 108-36; Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2005, Public Law 109-162.
To further the purposes of domestic violence intervention and prevention through coordination, training, and collaboration with systems that affect battered women; to provide services, community education and technical assistance to such programs to establish and maintain shelter and related services for victims of domestic violence and their dependents.
To be eligible for a grant under this Section, an entity shall be a statewide nonprofit State Domestic Violence Coalition, or a membership organization consisting of the battered women's shelters in the state, or territory.
This program will benefit victims of domestic violence, their children and other dependents, their families, and other persons affected by such violence including friends, relatives, and the general public.
Applications must be submitted for approval by the Secretary of Heath and Human Services. Costs will be determined in accordance with 45 CFR 74.
Applications must be submitted to the Administration on Children, Youth and Families. No standard application forms are required. Specific instructions are published via the Internet under the Form section at the following website: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants Contact Headquarters Office listed below for further information.
Funds are awarded directly to State Domestic Violence Coalitions.
See 45 CFR 16, Procedures of the Department Appeals Board.
No less than 10 percent of the amount available for grants will be made available to the State Domestic Violence Coalition in each of the 50 States, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia. Grants for the Coalitions in the combined U.S. Territories of Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa shall not receive less than 1/53 of the funds appropriated for each fiscal year.
The annual grant award must be expended by each State Domestic Violence Coalition by the end of the fiscal year following the fiscal year for which funds are awarded. Payments are made through the Electronic Transfer System.
Each State Domestic Violence Coalition receiving amounts under this section shall submit an annual report to the Secretary describing the coordination, training and technical assistance, and public education services performed with the grant funds received and evaluating the effectiveness of those services.
Audits are conducted in accordance with the requirements in 45 CFR 74 and 92 and OMB Circular No. A-133. In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133, (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal Awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for the year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133.
State coalitions are required to maintain records documenting the purposes for which expenditures were made. Requirements are found in 45 CFR Part 92.
(Grants) FY 07 $12,473,100; FY 08 $12,255,200; and FY 09 est $12,255,200.
Each State Domestic Violence Coalition received $235,341 in fiscal 2007; each coalition will receive approximately the same amount in fiscal year 2008 and 2009 based on small changes in the allotment.
During fiscal year 2007, 53 grants were made to State Domestic Violence Coalitions for coordination, training, technical assistance, and public education activities. It is anticipated that 53 grants will be awarded in fiscal years 2008 and 2009.
Regulations codified in 45 CFR 1300. Final Rulemaking was published February 22, 1996 at 45 CFR 1370.
Marylouise Kelley; Family and Youth Services Bureau, Administration on Children, Youth and Families, 1250 Maryland Avenue, SW. Suite 8216, Washington, DC 20024. Telephone: (202) 401-5756.
Based on State and local priorities, Domestic Violence Coalitions determine the activities to be funded for training and technical assistance, public information and education, and coordination with other governmental systems in developing and improving comprehensive services.
Each State Domestic Violence Coalition will receive its respective share of funds if the application submitted meets the necessary requirements.


Find the perfect complement to your home with beautiful replacement windows and exterior doors from Pella. Start with a free, no-obligation quote and fall in love with your home all over again.
Affordable replacement windows in a number of designs and options are available.
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Pella windows and patio doors can light up your home with so many ingenious features and options.
We know a lot of thought goes into major home improvement projects, so we make sure to keep you informed all along the way, from order status to the post-installation follow-up.
Our goal is to make the whole process as smooth and easy as possible. Learn more about the process of replacing windows and doors.


At Palms Trading Company, we offer beautiful pieces of art from Native American Indian artisans. Many of these pieces of art are hand-crafted using techniques passed down through generations, just like the techniques used to create the heishi beads.
Heishi (hee shee) beads were being made long before the introduction of silversmithing and metalwork by the Europeans. The word heishi means "shell necklace" in the Keres language spoken in Kewa Pueblo. It refers specifically to single or multi-strand necklaces of pieces of shell that were ground into beads and strung. The ancient Pueblo peoples obtained their shells through extensive trade networks that extended from the Gulf of California down to South America.
Turquoise can be used to make the beads; however the stone is difficult to work with, so it is rarely used.
True heishi bead jewelry is hand-made from beginning to end by skilled artisans in a labor-intensive process.
The process begins when the artisan snips small, rough squares off of a strip of material. He or she carefully drills a small hole into the center of each square, then strings the squares onto fine wire.
The next step it to shape the string of beads. The artisan moves the string repeatedly against a turning stone or grinding wheel, using his or her hands to control the shape and diameter of the beads. Different materials require different shaping techniques. Pipestone, for example, can be ground down much faster than a harder material like lapis. Once the string is ground and shaped, the artisan further shapes and smoothes the beads on a sanding wheel with increasingly finer grades of sandpaper.
The last step is to wash and air dry the beads before polishing them with wax on a leather turning belt. The beads are then strung to create the finished piece of jewelry. They can be strung in a combination of colors to create patterns, on multiple strings to make a multi-strand piece of jewelry, or strung with other types of beads.
The finished product is a beautiful, unique piece of hand-made jewelry. You can see and purchase these exquisite pieces our store and online!


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Star Wars: Episode VIII's new villain is Benicio del Toro
magicinfoto / Shutterstock.com
Benicio del Toro is going cosmic. After a crowd-pleasing turn as The Collector in Marvel Studios' Guardians of the Galaxy, the actor has been attached to a role in the upcoming Star Wars: Episode VIII.
Exactly what that role is has been a mystery though, but new reports from a casting sheet appear to confirm long-running rumours that del Toro will be playing the main villain in Brick and Looper director Rian Johnson's mid-trilogy instalment.
That's according to MovieCastingCall.com, a site run by Hollywood PR Alan Baltes, which is hosting a purported talent call for new actors.
It's also noteworthy that the call itself is for two lead female roles, asking for women of "any ethnicity, who can play between 25-30 years of age". That's potentially good news for the Star Wars movie universe, which has come under fire for a lack of diversity, even in a galaxy far, far, away.
The source also indicates cast from J.J. Abrams' upcoming The Force Awakens will return for Episode VIII, including newcomers John Boyega, Daisy Ridley, and Oscar Isaac, and Star Wars veterans Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, and Harrison Ford.
Del Toro had been rumoured for the role of the main villain since at least July, though the actor himself has been coy on the unknown character's villainous nature.
He would only confirm to ET Online last month that "I am going to be playing in Episode VIII of Star Wars", adding that "I don't know if he's a villain. People are saying that, but it's like they read a different script than I read. It's nice to keep people in the dark, a little bit of mystery is good."
Star Wars: Episode VIII is shooting now, with a worldwide release date of 26 May 2017 pencilled in. Johnson will also be writing Episode IX, set to be directed by Jurassic World's Colin Trevorrow and targeting a 2019 release.
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