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PCT Magazine
[Cover Story] Forecast: A New Termite Reality
Features - Cover Story
Most PMPs aren't counting on weather or the market to boost this year's termite revenue. Instead, they're banking on their sales ability.
Anne Nagro
Photo by Dr. Michael Potter
It's starting to sound like a broken record: The termite season ain't what it used to be.
Swarmers, once the main reason phones rang, seem to have dried up with the weather.
"Weather patterns have a huge impact on what people see," said Cindy Mannes, chief marketing officer for Arrow Exterminators in Atlanta. Without this visual reminder, "it's going to be very challenging."
Termites need moisture and they're not going to find much this spring in the Southeast, South Central or Southwest United States, according the National Weather Service's Climate Prediction Center. Drought is expected to persist, intensify or become a problem from California to Florida through March, at least.
That's not good news for PMPs. Bobby Jenkins, president of ABC Home & Commercial Services, Austin, Texas, lowered his termite revenue expectations this year. In 2011, revenue from rodent and wildlife control exceeded termite revenue "by a good bit."
RID Pest Control Owner Ron Durall in Blair, Okla., said, "The market is going down." From a revenue standpoint, "it's hard to count on it now."
J&J Exterminating Regional Manager Bryan Gaspard in Alexandria, La., saw fewer Formosan termite swarms last year than in 2010 and his market is "probably in line for the same this year."
In 2011, 39 percent of pest management professionals said termite revenue remained at the same level as 2010, according to a PCT direct mail survey. Forty-six percent characterized the 2011 termite season as "average," closely followed by 41 percent who called it "below average."
It's going to be "another year of self-generation" from a sales standpoint, said Northwest Exterminating Sales Leader Jeff Dunn in Marietta, Ga. He doesn't think real estate transactions will drive a big need for termite letters.
Any uptick in the housing market could help. The number of improving housing markets nearly doubled in January, reported the National Association of Home Builders. And the National Association of Realtors expects existing home sales to increase by 200,000 units, new home sales to increase nearly 50,000 units and new home starts to jump by 110,000 units in 2012.
Orkin Senior Technical Director Paul Hardy said he believes the economy is getting better and people who put off pest service last year will get onboard in 2012. He said Orkin sold more termite jobs in 2011 than 2010, and expects more growth this year.
The industry may see even more crawling insect activity in 2012, said Hardy, who recently spotted termites under the hedges in his yard. "Not all termites have gone away. We could have a very good year this year. It's possible," he said.
Alan Schumacher, vice president of Integrity Pest Control in North Richland Hills, Texas, also remains optimistic. Termite work has stayed consistent the last four years, and "I would expect a small increase if we get rain this spring."
Not Giving it Away. Most PMPs don't plan to cut the price of termite treatment. Last year, 72 percent of PMPs surveyed by PCT said they maintained termite treatment prices.
"My pricing will stay the same as it has over the last five years," said Schumacher. Cutting price is not the way to grow the business, cautioned D.R. Sapp Jr., CEO of Florida Pest Control & Chemical Co. in Gainesville, Fla. "It's a short-term solution to a permanent problem."
Having good quality people doing the work "costs a little extra in most cases," added Rentokil North America Termite Control Manager Sean Hunter in Reading, Pa.
Still, price is always a consideration in a competitive market and termite control seems to be getting more competitive.
Durall hasn't cut his prices but has lost jobs to the "squirrels" in his market. "It's pretty aggravating" and not good for the customer or industry, he said.
A termite warranty is an important and valuable insurance policy for the homeowner, said Dunn. Commoditizing treatment may cause its perceived value to drop.
"The market has a place for a value-driven termite option," said Mannes, as long as the company providing it is there should the customer have a problem.
Investment to hold steady. PMPs continue to seek new and better ways to detect and control termites. Orkin is investing in better inspection tools, like improved moisture meters, infrared cameras and electronic "sniffers."
"These won't replace good, quality inspections, but they are useful tools," said Hardy.
Schumacher began using a dry termi-ticide formulation for wood floor infestations and has had "good results so far."
Compared to 40 years ago, "we're in the driver('s) seat" with a lot of great control options, said Hardy. The advancement of bait technology is "going to be huge for the pest control industry." So are products with low toxicity and that protect groundwater.
With 48 percent of his business termite-related, Gaspard always will invest in products and technologies that make termite work more efficient or productive. When it comes to Formosans, "you want every tool that's available," he said.
Selling Value. Given market conditions, the best strategy is a proactive one. This requires trained "people on the ground keeping an eye open" for opportunities, Hunter explained.
At J&J Exterminating, "the whole team is knowledgeable and can educate customers" on preventive service, said Gaspard.
"It's our responsibility" to make termite revenue happen through networking, cross-selling and prospecting, added Dunn.
This is certainly true when it comes to pretreats. Hunter advised leveraging relationships with contractors and builders to communicate the value of this service. Though not an expensive cost, customers who aren't required to have it won't want a pretreat "unless they see the value."
Orkin is outfitting field inspectors with iPads so they can deliver electronic proposals that incorporate photos of a property's problem areas. "It's amazing how clear the story is," said Hardy.
Schumacher is capitalizing on his expertise in tilt wall construction to build his referral base. Other companies are encasing crawlspaces and installing vents to reduce conducive conditions and increase revenue.
Pest management professionals may need to adjust their business models. "What got you where you're at is most likely not going to take you where you want to go," said Sapp, especially if your termite revenue came from real estate transactions or pretreats.
Jenkins made termite service an add-on to his pest service agreement. "We think it's the ultimate win-win, particularly for customers."
Compared to an annual inspection, technicians look for termite damage and conducive conditions four to six times a year. Technicians get a better idea of what's going on at the house, and they can respond faster if remedial treatment is needed.
The program helps retain customers: Cancelling pest control service annuls the termite warranty.
Could Bed Bugs Trump Termites?
Bed bugs may have the customer's ear (and back, arms and legs), but the money spent controlling them still falls short of termite revenue.
Customers spent $319 million controlling bed bugs in 2010 compared to $1.19 billion for termites, said Gary Curl, president of Specialty Products Consultants in Mendham, N.J. "Bed bugs have been gaining on termites, but there is still a big gap."
They are a welcome sight given the economic challenges, said D.R. Sapp, Jr., CEO of Florida Pest Control & Chemical Co.
Bed bugs "could be the new termite," said Jeff Dunn, sales leader at Northwest Exterminating, Marietta, Ga. They cause people to make quick, emotional decisions with little regard to price. He's found people are quicker to treat for bed bugs or exclude rodents than address termite swarms.
Bobby Jenkins, president of ABC Home & Commercial Services, predicts "bed bugs continuing to grow at a very rapid rate for the next several years." His market is "still new to the game" compared to others, but, like termites, bed bugs are not a do-it-yourself problem and cannot be ignored.
In Louisiana, the number of bed bug jobs is increasing monthly, said J & J Exterminating Regional Manager Bryan Gaspard. They are "becoming part of our regular daily business."
In a 2011 PCT survey, PMPs said their top three growth market opportunities were pest control (28 percent), ant control (19 percent) and bed bug control (18) percent. Termites were a distant fourth.
Interesting? Yes. But don't count termites out.
In the Southeast, it's not a question of if you get termites but when, reminded Arrow Exterminators Chief Marketing Officer Cindy Mannes.
The cost of homes and termite damage is still high on customers' minds in Texas, too, agreed Integrity Pest Control Vice President Alan Schumacher.
Given the damage they can cause, "termites are a stand-alone pest," said Sapp.
— A.N.
Housing Makes a Positive Move
Forty metropolitan markets were added to the National Association of Home Builders/First American Improving Market Index in January. These markets showed measurable improvement for at least six consecutive months in housing permits, employment and house prices:
Florence, Ala.
Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Fayetteville, Ark.
Greeley, Colo.
Bridgeport, Conn.
New Haven, Conn.
Jacksonville, Fla.
Punta Gorda, Fla.
Dubuque, Iowa
Elkhart, Ind.
Indianapolis, Ind.
Lafayette, Ind.
Lake Charles, La.
Worcester, Mass.
Grand Rapids, Mich.
Lansing, Mich.
Monroe, Mich.
Columbia, Mo.
Joplin, Mo.
Fargo, N.D.
Manchester, N.H.
Oklahoma City, Okla.
Tulsa, Okla.
Corvallis, Ore.
Erie, Pa.
Chattanooga, Tenn.
Clarksville, Tenn.
College Station, Texas
Madison, Wis.
The author is a frequent contributor to PCT magazine. She can be reached via e-mail at anagro@giemedia.com.
[Market Watch] Split Decision
Features - Termite Control
In the latest round of fipronil-related litigation, BASF and Cheminova reach a settlement, while the U.S. District Court of North Carolina rules in favor of Makhteshim in these high-profile patent infringement cases.
Dan Moreland
For nearly two years all eyes have been on the U.S. District Court of North Carolina, where lawyers representing some of the largest chemical companies in the world have engaged in a pitched legal battle before Judge William L. Osteen, Jr., with millions of dollars of potential business hanging in the balance. The high-stakes litigation, with significant ramifications for the pest management industry, involves two patent infringement lawsuits filed by BASF on April 8, 2010, against Cheminova A/S and Makhteshim Agan of North America (MANA), along with its U.S. subsidiary, Control Solutions Inc. (CSI).
At the center of the proceedings are several fipronil-related patents, the broad-spectrum phenylpyrazole insecticide found in Termidor, the most widely used liquid termiticide in the United States. One of those patents ('940), covering the fipronil molecule itself, expired on Aug. 3, 2010. Two additional manufacturing process patents ('943 and '945) remain in force, while the method-of-use patents – sometimes referred to as "perimeter use patents" ('010 and '743) – will expire in 2017. The "perimeter use patents" are owned by Bayer S.A.S. and exclusively licensed to BASF Agro.
Since BASF originally filed suit, both cases have taken numerous twists and turns, but after dozens of depositions, thousands of pages of legal documents, and more than 250 different motions, court orders and other related legal filings, Judge Osteen and the North Carolina District Court officially closed the books on their role in the litigation in early January, although the final chapter in one case remains to be written. An overview of the status of the two cases follows.
Cheminova Litigation. On Oct. 3, Judge Osteen announced that BASF and Cheminova had reached a settlement "in principle" on all matters relating to the case, with the court granting 60 days to conclude the settlement talks and file a notice or stipulation of dismissal. At the conclusion of those settlement talks, which were extended to Dec. 19, Cheminova acknowledged the validity and enforceability of BASF's patents relating to the manufacture and use of fipronil-based termiticide products.
The Disputed Patents: A Brief History
Very few people in the pest management industry had ever heard of Inventor Yasuo Kimura before BASF filed suit against Cheminova and Makhteshim Agan of North America in April of 2010. Since that time, however, his patents have played a central role in the ongoing litigation between the parties.
Kimura acquired the '010 patent in 2002 and the '743 patent in 2004. Both patents are entitled "Pesticidal Pyrazoles and Derivatives" and both describe a method of use for applying certain insecticidal compounds.
According to court documents, "Bayer S.A.S. is the assignee and owner of both the '010 patent and the '743 patent (collectively described as the 'Kimura patents'), and BASF is the exclusive licensee of the Kimura patents in the United States with respect to the insecticidal compound Fipronil."
BASF files two separate patent-infringement lawsuits against Cheminova A/S and Makhteshim Agan of North America, along with its U.S. subsidiary CSI, in U.S. District Court.
BASF files preliminary injunctions in both lawsuits seeking to prevent the sale and application of fipronil-based products the company claims infringe on its patented technologies.
Fipronil chemical patent ('940) expires.
Jury trial set for July 5, 2011.
Request for summary judgment by Cheminova.
Court suggests the possibility of consolidating the Markman hearings in the two patent infringement cases. The parties are directed to determine whether consolidation would be practical and then to contact the case manager to set up a further status conference.
Court grants Temporary Restraining Order (TRO), preventing Makhteshim from "using, importing, marketing, offering to sell, or selling" any fipronil-related product that infringes on BASF's '010 patent and '743 patent.
BASF posts $1 million bond to pay Makhteshim's court costs and damages in the event – at the conclusion of the litigation – the company is found to have been wrongfully restrained.
Judge William L. Osteen, Jr., orders a consolidated Markman hearing. Plaintiffs and Defendants instructed to confer and prepare a single, joint pre-hearing statement, which shall address Markman issues in both cases as to the '010 and '743 patents.
Markman hearing begins. Parties present oral arguments relating to the claim construction terms in dispute. Summary Judgment hearing tentatively scheduled for mid-June.
Hearing on BASF's motion for a Preliminary Injunction held before Judge Osteen.
Control Solutions introduces Taurus SC Termiticide/Insecticide.
Judge Osteen denies BASF's request for a Preliminary Injunction against Makhteshim Agan of North America for infringing on the company's "method-of-use" patents.
Jury trial scheduled to begin on patent liability issues.
Judge Osteen announces BASF and Cheminova had reached a settlement "in principle" on all matters relating to their litigation, with the court granting 60 days to conclude the settlement talks.
Judge Osteen signs order extending the time for BASF and Cheminova to conclude settlement talks to December 19, 2011.
Judge Osteen rules that Makhteshim Agan had not infringed on the BASF method-of-use patents, granting a summary judgment in the case.
BASF announces plans to appeal the lower court's ruling to the United States Circuit Court of Appeals for the Federal District in Washington, D.C.
In addition, it was agreed Cheminova would be restricted from "using, selling, or offering to sell in the United States any fipronil or fipronil-containing product" until the application patents expire in 2017. According to the stipulation order, Cheminova also agreed not to make, sell, offer to sell, or import any fipronil or fipronil-containing product into the United States "until the expiration of the '943 patent on Oct. 22, 2019."
As part of the settlement agreement, BASF, Merial and Cheminova each waived "any and all of their respective appellate rights as to the instant civil action in the United States District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina" and agreed to cover the cost of their own attorneys' fees, the order states. Specific terms of the settlement were not disclosed.
"Cheminova determined that, after close to two years of expansive, and expensive, litigation, the matter should be resolved, if at all possible, short of trial and subsequent appeals," a Cheminova spokesperson told PCT. "The principal factors that led to resolution from Cheminova's perspective were continued costs, as well as the uncertainties and vagaries of any litigation. Cheminova is looking forward to 2012 and beyond where it will be able to focus on its core businesses."
As a result of the agreement, "this chapter (of the litigation) is completely settled and closed," observed Jan Buberl, director of specialty products, BASF North America Crop Protection. "Both of these intellectual properties have been validated and acknowledged by Cheminova."
Mana Litigation. The second case – BASF Agro and Bayer S.A.S. vs. Makhteshim Agan of North America and CSI – resulted in a very different outcome.
On Jan. 9, Judge Osteen ruled that Makhteshim Agan had not infringed upon the BASF method-of-use patents, granting a summary judgment in the case. (Editor's note: Earlier in the proceedings, the parties already had agreed to a consent judgment dismissing the claim that MANA and Control Solutions had infringed on the manufacturing patent for fipronil.)
According to court documents, "Inventor Yasuo Kimura acquired the '010 patent in 2002 and the '743 patent in 2004. Both patents are entitled 'Pesticidal Pyrazoles and Derivatives,' and both teach a method of using certain insecticidal compounds in order to protect a building or future building against damage caused by insects." (See "The Disputed Patents" on page 46.)
Judge Osteen determined the patents in question describe a method of use that results in the deliberate creation of untreated zones around the perimeter of a structure (i.e., "loopholes"), what inventor Kimura described in his patents as "a termite treatment without barrier."
Control Solutions' Taurus label, on the other hand, recommends creating a "continuous treated zone" around the exterior of the structure to effectively prevent termites from infesting wood. "Because Defendants' Taurus SC label instructs users to apply the product without loopholes around a building and thus requires a treatment method that Mr. Kimura specifically disclaimed, this court concludes as a matter of law that the label does not infringe, or induce infringement of, the Kimura patents," the Memorandum Opinion and Order signed by Judge Osteen states. Based on these findings, the court ruled Makhteshim had not infringed the BASF patents.
Following the court's ruling, BASF said in a statement it would appeal the case to the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Washington, D.C., which has exclusive jurisdiction over patent appeals, and the decision did not affect the validity or enforceability of BASF manufacturing patents for fipronil.
"The rodeo continues but the trophy has been presented," observed Mark Boyd, president and CEO, Control Solutions. "We are delighted that the North Carolina court has ruled in our favor, confirming that our products do not infringe on the patents of any of our competitors. We are proud to lead the industry by offering simple, effective solutions for all uses and pleased with the market reception so far."
In late May, following the court's decision to deny BASF's bid for a preliminary injunction in the case, Control Solutions introduced Taurus SC Termiticide/Insecticide, a 9.1% formulation of fipronil.
"The addition of fipronil to our product portfolio has strengthened our position as a comprehensive provider of simple effective crop protection and related solutions, and has further broadened our capabilities to supply more solutions to our customers," added Shaul Friedland, head of Makhteshim Agan Industries' (MAI) Americas region. "In creating Taurus, MAI has taken advantage of novel, advanced technologies to design a new manufacturing process (and) these capabilities will continue to support our portfolio expansion."
In a letter to customers following the court ruling, Boyd wrote, "BASF indicated that it will appeal the court's decision, which is routinely the case for losing parties in lawsuits. MANA and CSI are confident that the original judgment will hold up on appeal." In addition, he stated "all Taurus SC will now be labeled with EP/LI applications (language pending in CA and exempt in LA)."
Buberl said while BASF "respectfully disagrees" with the court's latest ruling, the company is undeterred in its efforts to defend its intellectual property and remains committed to its innovation strategy. "From our standpoint, this is just another milestone in the journey," he said.
In addition, Buberl said he's confident BASF will prevail on appeal, in part, because of the nature of the appeals court. "The United States Circuit Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has an exclusive jurisdiction over the patent appeals, so they are really IP [intellectual property] specialists – so there is certainly a different discussion around the subject matter due to the experience of the court. They really start with a blank piece of paper."
Despite the decision of the lower court, Buberl said BASF has no plans to "change its litigation strategy" and the company is convinced it has a strong case "as was demonstrated in the settlement discussion" (with Cheminova). Buberl added that should the lower court's ruling be reversed upon appeal, there is the "same (legal) risk" associated with violating BASF's intellectual property as "before this decision of the court in North Carolina." In other words, until there is a final abjudication on the merits of the case through the appeal process, end user customers may infringe BASF's patents by purchasing and using MANA's products.
Interestingly, two days after Judge Osteen filed his Memorandum Opinion and Order granting summary judgment in the Makhteshim case, he filed an Amended Memorandum Opinion and Order, striking his original opinion and providing additional background facts and supporting evidence, perhaps anticipating an appeal to the Federal Circuit Court. In the amended document, Judge Osteen provided additional background about his reasoning for awarding defendants' Modified Motion for summary judgment, focusing largely on the "localized interior treatment" portion of the Taurus SC label.
"Plaintiffs do not contend that the Taurus SC exterior perimeter instructions, standing alone, infringe the patents at issue in this case," stated the order by Judge Osteen. "Instead, it is the Taurus SC 'Localized Interior Treatment' portion of Defendants' EP/LI instructions that leads to the alleged infringement of the Kimura patents."
Since language on the Taurus label "implies that a 'continuous treated zone' is unnecessary on the structure's interior and the formation of discrete untreated locations is acceptable," the plaintiffs "assert that these instructions constitute, or induce, infringement of the Kimura patents, as the asserted claims of the Kimura patents specifically teach the purposeful formation of 'untreated locations,'" according to the order.
The court went on to say, "Plaintiffs argue that Defendants' Taurus SC label instructs users to practice the Kimura patents' invention and merely adds prior art to that invention. Plaintiffs' argument is premised upon their belief that the claims of the Kimura patents are open-ended 'comprising' claims and that 'the addition of elements or steps to [such a] claim is still an infringement.'"
Ultimately, Judge Osteen concluded: "…even assuming…that Defendants' Taurus SC label instructs users to practice the invention that is claimed in the Kimura patents on the interior of a building, this court must find the Taurus SC label to be non-infringing if that label also instructs users to apply the product in a manner which has been clearly and unmistakably disclaimed…that is, without loopholes around a building, under a building, or both around and under a building."
The U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Washington, D.C., will either affirm, reverse, amend or remand (i.e., send the case back to the District Court for further proceedings with specific instructions) the District Court's ruling, a process which could take up to 12 to 18 months, meaning PMPs likely haven't heard the last of fipronil-related litigation.
Despite the District Court's recent decision and the time and effort required to defend its intellectual property, Buberl said BASF remains focused on the future, eager to make its case to the appellate court, while continuing to introduce innovations to its Termidor product line, like the recent announcement that the company has received federal registration for its new termiticide, Termidor H·E High-Efficiency Termiticide Copack with Termidor HE Technology (see related story on page 60). Termidor HE Copack expands upon the Termidor SC formulation and application standard with the addition of a BASF proprietary molecule that temporarily "boosts" the transport of fipronil into the soil and creates an enhanced protection zone around the structure being treated, the company says, resulting in less water usage and less labor (for most label applications).
"Innovation is a way of life at BASF that has led to significant improvement in the products we can offer pest control professionals," Buberl said. "We are confident in our intellectual property rights and are committed to vigorously protecting our investments in innovation for this marketplace."
[School IPM] IPM in Schools: Better Defining the PMP's Role
Features - Pest Management In Schools
ASPCRO supports pest management professionals and the role they play in implementing IPM in schools.
DACS field training coordinator Paul Mitola (Florida DACS) demonstrating how to do an inspection for German cockroaches in kitchen equipment. Mitola is holding the head of the scale where a live German cockroach is resting.
The Association of Structural Pest Control Regulatory Officials (ASPCRO) has supported IPM in schools since the inception of the program; however, in 2008 ASPCRO formalized its interest by creating a subcommittee solely dedicated to regulatory issues related to IPM in schools. During the 2011 ASPCRO annual meeting, an informal gathering of EPA Region 4 reps and 3 to 4 people representing different states turned into a school IPM meeting of almost 20 people, representing more than 15 different states, demonstrating the great interest ASPCRO members have in this issue.
ASPCRO established its Pest Management in Schools Committee to assist member states working toward implementation of IPM programs in schools. ASPCRO sees a need for IPM programs in school facilities, indoors and outdoors, based on two concerns: (1) health and safety effects of allowing pests to infest school facilities; and (2) possible unintended effects of pest management tactics used to control pests. The goal of a school IPM program is to reduce children's exposure to pests. When this is accomplished, children's risks to exposure from pesticides also is reduced. The committee has worked to identify impediments to implementation and develop what it hopes will be useful strategies for IPM implementation. This article discusses some of the work being done by ASPCRO, problems related to implementation of IPM programs in schools and the important role pest management professionals (PMPs) play in IPM in our nation's schools.
While PMPs have long practiced IPM, schools are just beginning to realize the benefits of IPM programs as an alternative to a reactive, spray-only pest control service. IPM is a prevention-based, highly effective approach that has demonstrated reductions in pest complaints and pesticide use by as much as 90% in schools and other public buildings. IPM relies heavily on a community effort to coordinate practices such as de-cluttering, sanitation and exclusion as primary means of managing pests. It coordinates the use of pest biology, environmental information, and available technology to prevent unacceptable pest levels by the most economical means, while posing the least possible risk to people, property, resources and the environment.
Pest Problems in Schools. Information provided to ASPCRO shows that there is an uptick in nationwide pest problems in schools related to ants, cockroaches, rodents, dust mites and — more recently — bed bugs. Pest infestations from cockroaches and rodents degrade the quality of our living environments, resulting in sanitation problems and poor air quality. Cockroach dander (exoskeleton particles), is known to trigger asthma and allergies in susceptible populations.
Each day approximately 49 million children and 7 million teachers and staff spend a minimum of six hours in our nation's schools in environments that may harbor these and other pests. Although approximately 70%-90% of schools contract pest control services to licensed PMPs, data suggest that pest management in our nation's schools needs improvement. ASPCRO believes that pest problems existing in our nation's schools are due to factors that limit the effectiveness of PMPs and those responsible for pest management — not a lack of effort.
Manatee County's IPM Coordinator, also a certified operator, demonstrating monitor placement to Mike Page (Florida DACS) and Danielle Dimon (MCSD).
Insufficient School Resources. One of the biggest factors contributing to inefficient pest management in schools is the lack of resources and implementation expertise to address pest management problems. In many states, school funding is dependent on meeting mandated testing requirements. When schools have to compete for limited funds based on expected test results, it means that school administrators and teachers are focused on educating students, and pest management gets shorted. The myriad social problems schools must address on a daily basis almost guarantees pest control is given a low priority. Pest management is viewed as another low-priority responsibility for overloaded school personnel and not as a duty that should be incorporated into daily operations related to sanitation. Incorporation into daily operational activities can drastically reduce this overload. In addition, when pest control services need to be purchased, schools, like any other government agency, must acquire these services through a bid process. Unfortunately, schools are often forced to accept the "low bid," which can lead to a level of service that does not include IPM as the basis of a pest management program.
ASPCRO, through its Pest Management in Schools Committee, is promoting partnerships that include PMPs, state regulators and state land-grant universities (extension) as the logical solution to the lack of available resources. State regulators are qualified to help form these partnerships because they regulate the industry that can administer IPM programs. In addition, state regulators maintain well established and productive relationships with the state land grant universities that are appropriately the main developers and implementers of these programs. Establishing PMPs as "change agents" in a three-way partnership with state regulators and extension experts makes sense when PMPs are the front line in controlling pests in schools.
A 'Pesticide-Centric' Paradigm. The technology and chemical tools available to PMPs have changed rapidly during the past decade-plus. Pesticides have been viewed as a quick fix since their early development in both agricultural and non-agricultural settings. This led to a "pesticide-centric" paradigm. The operating paradigm that chemical tools can be used alone to efficiently control pests in a school facility has to change. Although new advancements are being made in the area of polymers to improve the residual effectiveness of pesticides, it is important for PMPs to adopt and incorporate the use of other non-chemical interventions such as sanitation, de-cluttering and exclusion in their pest management programs because they directly eliminate sources of food, shelter and access to pests and reduce pest pressure without the need for product use.
To shift the paradigm away from "spray and pray" pest control, ASPCRO is developing and recommending the use of model standards, or Best Management Practices (BMPs), for IPM by PMPs. The National Pest Management Association developed such standards for their Quality Pro Green program in April 2009. Model standards can help communicate expectations to administrators so they understand the benefits of IPM in schools. PMPs that adopt IPM methods to control pests makes them important "change agents" in the implementation process.
Typical school office illustrating the need to de-clutter as a component of an IPM program.
Anti-Pesticide Influence. While overreliance on pesticides may contribute to pest problems, the opposite can also be problematic. Limiting the use of pesticides may be contributing to the resurgence of pest problems nationwide. The move to severely restrict, or eliminate altogether, the application of registered pesticides in schools is a result of the general public's lack of understanding behind the science of modern pesticide chemistries and application technologies. ASPCRO supports the product registration system used by EPA to ensure that pesticides, when used according to label directions, pose no unreasonable adverse effects to people or the environment, including schools. ASPCRO also recognizes that application techniques and some pesticides pose inherently lower risks for human exposure and have lower toxicity ratings and these products are more appropriate for school facilities.
Legislation in some states has been influenced by non-government organizations in ways that limit the use of efficacious chemical intervention tactics requiring "least toxic" products that have unproven or no efficacy against pests. These groups argue that pesticides are the real threat to children's health. This is a mischaracterization because pests such as cockroaches and rodents may pose a greater risk to children's health than those resulting from the use of registered pesticides.
It also should be pointed out that the phrase "least toxic" can be a trap that results in increased risk of exposure. An example that state regulators have experience with is the use of boric acid to control fleas. Although touted as a "least toxic" product, it is also relatively ineffective in controlling fleas, resulting in repeated applications that significantly increase unnecessary exposure. The use of unregistered "25 (b)" products are another example. Although sold as "safe" products, they are still toxic when used inappropriately, and repeated applications of ineffective products can lead to unnecessary exposures.
ASPCRO has worked diligently to balance national discussions related to "toxicity" and "risk" and the use of pesticides in schools. ASPCRO also advocates for maintaining the science-based, risk-benefit regulatory framework delineated in the Federal Insecticide Fungicide and Rodenticide Act. ASPCRO was recently invited to be part of a subcommittee that is part of EPA's Pesticide Program Dialogue Committee. The PPDC is a group of stakeholders that make recommendations to the agency on a number of environmental issues, one of which is IPM. ASPCRO is committed to participating in the national discussion of IPM implementation and has recommended the inclusion of PMPs in an overall strategy for the implementation of IPM in schools.
Meaningful School Regulations. There are 39 states in the nation (and the District of Columbia) that have enacted regulations related to pest management in schools. This may sound encouraging; however, estimates suggest that only 5%-8% of the schools nationwide have implemented verifiable IPM programs. There are a few states that are the exception, but the failure of laws to address the need for effective pest management appears evident. The laws that have been enacted by states are mostly concerned with posting and notification standards; neither of which are components of an IPM program. Appropriate funding and regulatory support also are lacking in many state laws. IPM is a prevention-based approach to pest management that emphasizes interventions such as de-cluttering, sanitation and exclusion as the first line of defense for managing pests. Meaningful legislation would require contractors and responsible school personnel to implement components such as monitoring and surveillance, sanitation and exclusion techniques as primary activities for the control of pests. In addition, training requirements specific to IPM in school facilities, the need for a knowledgeable IPM coordinator in school systems and appropriate funding for activities such as improving the building envelope to help exclude pests and make facilities more energy efficient need to be considered.
In response, ASPCRO drafted a position paper addressing what it believes are fundamental requirements that, if enacted by states, will help move IPM implementation in a positive direction.
PMPs as Change Agents. PMPs already play an important role in protecting the public's health from unwanted pests that often invade our homes, work places, and our nation's schools. Working together with state regulators and extension experts, PMPs can become effective change agents by helping inform, train and develop school personnel to become "participating consumers" in an effort to achieve the goal of implementing IPM in our nation's schools.
The author is chief of the Bureau of Entomology and Pest Control at the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services. He also is co-chair of ASPCRO's Pest Management in Schools Committee and can be contacted at mpage@giemedia.com.
[Ant Control] Carpenter Ants Up Close
Features - Ants
One PMP recounts how his first carpenter ant treatment went terribly wrong. Today he's doing things a whole lot different.
Damisi Bailey
Photo by Henrikhl, Dreamstime.com
I became an avid student of carpenter ants in hopes to redeem my professional dignity after my first failed treatment. The account in question, a house in the West End of Richmond, Va., sat on a plot of land no more than 150 feet from the James River. The initial inspection did not show much at all, in fact the first two or three visits were on cloudy and unusually cool days for summertime. The only evidence I had to help identify the pest species was the description from the owner, "I'm seeing huge, intimidating black ants everywhere! And I want them gone!"
OK, so it didn't take a pest control veteran to figure out that the pest species was indeed the black carpenter ant (Camponotus pennsylvanicus). What it did require was someone who understood the life cycle, colony structure, eating habits and required harborage — none of which I knew thoroughly. Since the house was so close to the James River, I could not fire up the 100-gallon rig to create a hefty chemical barrier for fear of creating a runoff situation and to avoid any type of drift.
So I pulled out my trustworthy air-compressed spray can and saturated the foundation. After several premature, "that ought to do it" statements, both my customer and her neighbors were quite disappointed. What was I missing? Was this some new breed of carpenter ant that smiled in the face of death and drank my insecticide for breakfast? After receiving an earful of disappointment and regret, I convinced my customer to allow me one more shot.
What to do? With only two days before the treatment, I made my way to the library. There I found books similar to a book that was already in my possession — NPCA's Field Guide. I spent nearly six hours reading and learning about the carpenter ant. When I returned to my customer's house, I was more than equipped with knowledge and confidence. The problem was solved by simply detaching the clothing line that connected the house to a huge tree where the ants were living. After weeks of headaches, confusion and dismay, the solution was not in a chemical formulation alone. Somehow, at that moment, I knew that there was a universe of information, techniques and resources I had yet to discover.
A decade later, I was afforded the opportunity to spend a year in the Dodson Urban Entomology Lab in Blacksburg, Va., feeding, watering and observing Dr. Dini Miller's colonies of Blaberus giganteus, Periplaneta americana, Blattella germanica and Cimex lectularius. I can say that not one second was wasted.
However, the most fascinating species to care for were the two colonies of carpenter ants. I spent hours watching them forage, consume sugar water (with red food coloring) and feast on wounded American cockroaches. This lab time was in combination with textbook descriptions, studying theories of ecological dominance and developing an in-depth understanding of Integrated Pest Management (IPM). All of this helped greatly in being able to develop customized treatment strategies. There is no rubber-stamp strategy sufficient for every single home, regardless of the similarities. There are, however, means and methods that allow for complete customer satisfaction and promote environmental responsibility.
Defining IPM. IPM dictates that before any thought goes into a treatment strategy, positive identification needs to be made first. Too often a customer will exaggerate the size, out of entomophobia, and this could lead you down the path of a misapplication, an unsatisfied customer and even worse — a marred reputation. Once a positive identification has been made, we can move on to determine the approximate size of the population.
If your client's property is being invaded by small workers, this indicates that the colony is rather young and newly formed. A new queen nourishes her first born with the flight muscles from her thoracic region, therefore, the first workers are relatively small in comparison to the next generation of sisters. Having a working knowledge of not only the life cycle but understanding the colony hierarchy will help you design an effective program.
In most situations, the carpenter ant nest will be extremely hard to find, but this does not necessarily spell failure. Black carpenter ant photo courtesy of Clemson University — USDA Cooperative Extension Slide Series, Bugwood.org
Once the colony has grown to the second and third generation, it begins to socially function. The queen initiates job assignments and each ant falls into line. The colony is separated into workers who forage for food and workers who attend to the needs of the nest. The queen steadily produces eggs.
Whether the colony is small or large, you must identify the needs of the survival triangle: food, water and shelter. I always search for a structural satellite nest (shelter) first. A satellite nest by definition is a temporary dwelling. It does not require the mandatory moisture content like the parent colony because there are no eggs in this nest — only workers, pupae and mature larvae. Therefore, you may find a satellite nest in the insulation under the house, in the wall voids or even around the dishwasher. Many extension agencies' literature suggests that locating the nest prior to a treatment is crucial to the success of any given program. In most situations, the nest will be extremely hard to find, but this does not necessarily spell failure — there are two more needs that can be sought out and stressed or eliminated.
While water is an absolute necessity for all living creatures, carpenter ants can acquire their hydration from a food source if necessary. Other sources, such as condensation, droplets on leaves, puddles in shaded areas (but more commonly backed-up and leaf-littered gutters) provide an adequate amount of water for this insect. Of the three elements needed, shelter and water can be obtained outside of the client's home. A professional may never truly find the nest or the source that provides hydration for a colony — but if there's a constant ant trail in the house, there is a food source.
Common knowledge suggests that most species of ant love sweet sugary foods and juices. This may hold some truth but carpenter ants will feed on an array of foods, including proteins and starches. Have you ever noticed they rarely stop to eat? Of all the bread crumbs they are hoisting away, why don't they stop for a lunch break to re-energize? The reason is if the substance is not a liquid, the adult worker cannot consume it. Those huge and strong mandibles are for pulling, fighting and carrying only. The worker carries the food particles back to the nest and feed them to the larvae (wormlike immatures), who possess chewing mouthparts. They chew the food and then regurgitate it to feed the entire colony including the egg producing queen (trophallaxis).
Formulation Choice. So why did I spray to create a chemical barrier on my first carpenter ant job? Oh that's right, because spraying was the only technique I knew. Locating the nest may be virtually impossible and determining a viable water source may present a barrage of possibilities but you know absolutely that the carpenter ants are entering the house for food. Having an understanding of trophallaxis encourages me to utilize a method to eliminate the queen as quickly as possible. Therefore, granular baiting is the technique and formulation of choice for me.
This formulation's label does allow for broadcast applications but I choose to use it in a more controlled environment. In cases where I cannot find one single ant during my inspection, I will sprinkle a few particles at each corner on the exterior and within minutes, I'll see activity on at least one location, if not all. This formulation is great but is susceptible to moisture and may have an odor that may attract non-target domestic animals. To eliminate the threat of being compromised by water and also to avoid exposure to children and domestic animals, I prefer to use rodent stations as shelter and protectant for the bait.
Over the years, I have obtained favorable results by creating a chemical barrier and still find success with this treatment. Now that I find myself in a position to not only teach pest control techniques but to preserve my environment, my choices for everyday strategies are greatly influenced. This is why my IPM programs usually lead to granular baits for carpenter ants. IPM is more than just professional lingo and by no means translates into "no chemical." It is a methodology that can be used in every aspect of the pest management professional's daily routine.
The author is with Environmental & Consumer Educators, Spring Valley, N.Y. He can be reached at dbailey@giemedia.com.
[Legislative Update] Raising Capitol Hill Awareness
Features - Industry Events
Legislative Day attendees will be asking their representatives to consider the pest control industry's position on several issues.
Brad Harbison
The National Pest Management Association (NPMA) represents the pest control industry's interests on Capitol Hill through intense lobbying efforts. But the nature of politics is such that the work of a few individuals can only do so much. No one voice carries more weight with PCOs' elected officials than their own voice. It was for this reason that NPMA created Legislative Day 25 years ago. The idea was to hold a once-a-year educational conference in which attendees would meet with their representatives to increase the awareness of key legislative and regulatory issues impacting the pest management industry.
Throughout the years Legislative Day issues have changed, but the need to raise Capitol Hill awareness of issues impacting the pest control industry is as strong as ever. Attendees of the 2012 Legislative Day are heading to Capitol Hill to make their collective voices heard on the following issues.
Clean Water Act. Legislative Day attendees will be asking their representatives to support H.R. 872, the Reducing Regulatory Burdens Act, legislation introduced in response to a January 2009 Federal Appeals Court ruling that requires costly and burdensome Clean Water Act National Pollutant Discharge and Elimination System (NPDES) permits for millions of pesticide applications. This ruling would impact many pest management professionals, especially those performing mosquito and aquatic weed treatments.
Russ Ives, president of Rose Pest Solutions, said it's important to recognize the scope of these NPDES permits — that it's not just about those making mosquito applications. "For example, making the argument alongside of us are agricultural interests," said Ives. "There are many PMPs out there doing spider work around boathouses or homes near water that are making applications near areas that could be construed as bodies of water, even though they may not have appeared to be at the time of the service. They could be impacted."
H.R. 872 passed the House in March 2011, but has stalled in the Senate.
"Essentially there are two senators — Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD) and Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) — that have blocked it from coming to the floor," said NPMA Director of Government Affairs Gene Harrington. "Supporters of this bill are looking for ways to get around that block, such as inserting the language of 872 into other bills, but have not had success yet. It's important for Legislative Day attendees to remind their senators that the requirements associated with these permits are onerous, burdensome and, most importantly, completely unnecessary."
Bed Bug Legislation Strategy Shifts
One of the goals of last year's Legislative Day was for attendees to encourage their representatives to support H.R. 967, the "Bed Bug Management, Prevention and Research Act of 2011." H.R. 967, introduced by Rep. Jean Schmidt (R-OH), initiated and directed a commonsense strategic federal response to the bed bug pandemic. H.R. 967 has been referred to the House Subcommittee on Nutrition and Horticulture, but NPMA Director of Government Affairs Gene Harrington said there might be opportunities to insert provisions or language from H.R. 967 into the Farm Bill. NPMA worked with Schmidt and her staff to develop many of the concepts in H.R. 967, including:
Authorizing a federal bed bug research funding program to resume research that has been neglected for 50 years;
Requiring efficacy testing for minimum risk pesticides to protect consumers from products that don't effectively manage bed bug infestations;
Adding "quality of life" criteria the EPA must consider when registering a public health pesticide so as to help provide professionals and consumers with safe, affordable and effective tools;
Establishing a Bed Bug Mitigation Pilot Program to provide subsidized treatments for those on fixed and low incomes.
Endangered Species Act. In January 2011, the Center for Biological Diversity and Pesticide Action Network filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the federal district court for the northern district of California, alleging that EPA had failed to take steps required by the Endangered Species Act to protect more than 200 endangered species that are located in every state and territory in the United States, except Alaska, American Samoa, Guam and the Northern Marianas Islands.
The "megasuit" is more than 400 pages long and asks the court to protect more than 200 species by requiring EPA to initiate consultations with the Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service on almost 400 pesticide active ingredients, including most products used by PMPs. The pest management industry continues working closely with pesticide manufacturers and other affected stakeholders to represent the industry and defend the future use of threatened pesticides.
"These lawsuits pose a tremendous threat to the future availability of pesticides," said Harrington. "It's an issue we continue to be involved with on the legal side. NPMA has retained counsel to represent us in the megasuit, but at some point in time the law is going to have to be changed. It's a train wreck. The activist groups have found a slam dunk legal strategy and it is definitely going to start to interfere with the use of legally registered products."
Sulfuryl Fluoride Uses. In 2004, EPA registered sulfuryl fluoride for control of insect pests in harvested and processed foods such as cereal grains, dried fruits, tree nuts, cocoa beans, coffee beans, and also in food handling and processing facilities. The fumigant is considered an alternative to methyl bromide, which is being phased out. However, the product has come under attack from the activist group FAN (Fluoride Action Network), which has a waged a lengthy campaign to remove sulfuryl fluoride usage in food-processing facilities. FAN claims the use of sulfuryl fluoride will introduce unacceptable levels of fluoride to consumers and can cause medical risks, mainly dental fluorosis, a condition where overexposure to fluoride can damage the enamel on teeth.
Ives and others believe that the amount of fluoride people could be exposed to from sulfuryl fluoride is minimal, especially in comparison to other sources of fluoride such as water, food and toothpastes. "We really don't believe that any of the dangers or issues related to fluoride are related to this product. It's kind of a return to the Risk Cup concept," Ives said. "In other words, eliminating it from [this use] will have virtually no impact on the exposure of the U.S. population to fluoride and conditions that overexposure may cause, such as flourosis."
Nevertheless, in January 2011 EPA announced it is taking steps to begin a phased-down withdrawal of sulfuryl fluoride, and the agency accepted comments about this action from January 2011 until July 2011. NPMA and other groups submitted their comments to EPA; NPMA also has met with the agency about this issue several times. "At this time, EPA doesn't appear to concede there is an administrative fix," Harrington said. "They believe their hands are tied because of possible litigation and that they have to cancel the [food tolerance use]. We disagree with that assessment, so it is going to be increasingly important for PMPs to let their members of Congress know how valuable this product is."
Featured Speakers. In addition to lobbying for the aforementioned issues, attendees of Legislative Day will hear from the following keynote speakers Haley Barbour (R-MS) and political strategist Dick Morris. Barbour, called one of "the most powerful Republicans in politics," is the former governor of Mississippi and former chairman of the Republican Governor's Association. Barbour now works as a political strategist. Barbour's presentation is sponsored by FMC Professional Solutions.
Among the most prominent American political consultants in the country, Morris is almost universally credited with piloting Bill Clinton to a stunning comeback re-election victory in 1996 after the president lost Congress to the Republicans two years prior. His presentation is sponsored by Dow AgroSciences.
For more information about Legislative Day visit www.npmapestworld.org or call 800/678-6722.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


6380 Oxford Cr. 101 Vero Beach, FL | Florida Real Estate - Property Listing - ML Executive Realty, Inc.
Fabulous villa in active 55+ community! Diagonal tile flooring, crown molding, great room with sliding doors that open to covered screened patio. Cafe off kitchen, white cabinets, deep blue granite counters, with black appliances. Master suite has a huge walk in closet, 2 sinks in master bath and shower with floor to ceiling tiles. Plantation shutters on all windows! Intercom/radio. Located on the lake.
Community has a state of art clubhouse, resort style living! Ballroom, theater, card rooms, fitness, and billiards rooms. Heated pool, tennis courts, walking trail and more!


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Q: How to select or sort using order by array in Laravel $return=DB::table('products')
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A: Another way,  put this line before your get
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A:         $arr=[];
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*

*Ohh this is easy

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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Pinnacle Awards Requirements
Ed Minaya Lifetime Achievement Award
The Minaya Lifetime Achievement Award honors a person that has committed their span of life to the cause of "giving back" and has exemplified the ideals of citizenship through continuing community service activities, promoting better business community relations and contributing to the social and economic development objectives of southwest Broward, specifically the Miramar and Pembroke Pines communities. Named in honor of the founder of our Chamber of Commerce, Ed Minaya, this award represents an individual that has literally spent a lifetime in service to community, Chamber, and in a successful career, much like our founder.
Coceano Community Leadership Award
The Coceano Leadership Award honors a person that has contributed their leadership abilities to the overall good of the community inclusive of Miramar and/or Pembroke Pines. Through their involvement, the Chamber and the communities it serves has become a healthier and more productive environment for business and to live. This award was named after Mayor Vickie Coceano, past Mayor of the City of Miramar and a leader extraordinaire in the local community and abroad.
Corporate Stewardship Award
Bigger businesses are very strategic in where they choose to plant their corporations. They understand that outreach and support through their local Chamber of Commerce is instrumental to the continued vitality of economic development of the community where they have chosen to locate. The Corporate Stewardship Award acknowledges the business that has met and/or exceeded the standards and expectations of that responsibility.
• Must have more than 200 employees and/or must have gross revenues of more than $10 million annually
• Must be current with occupational licensing qualifications of the city of business residence
• Must be in business for a minimum of five years
Small Business Award
The Small Business of the Year Award pays tribute to the small business community and the outstanding examples of entrepreneurship found across the communities of Miramar and Pembroke Pines. This award recognizes the hard work of the employees and the success of a company and its leadership. Companies that demonstrate excellence in business history and commitment to customers, employees, and the community qualify to be considered to receive the Pinnacle Small Business Award.
• Must have fewer than 200 employees and/or must have gross revenues of less than $10 million annually
• Must be able to validate contributions to the business community
• Must show that business has experienced growth or other measurable indicator of business success
Success of any company is backed by a true leader and a lot of hard work. The Pinnacle Award recognizes the accomplishments of individuals who are consummate servant leaders. They are engaged not only in the growth and development of their own business, but also find time to give back to the community in a variety of ways. This award highlights the individual's professional achievements, contribution to community and involvement in Chamber.
• Must be in business a minimum of two years
• Must be actively involved in the Chamber and community
Pinnacle Awards Nomination Form
Please complete the information below about your nominee.
Company/Org Name *
Business Category *
Nominated by (Your Name): *
Enter your full name as the nominator, even if you are nominating yourself.
Nomination Category *
Pinnacle Award Corporate Stewardship Award Coceano Leadership Award Minaya Lifetime Achievement Award Small Business of the Year
Please select the award category for which you are submitting this nomination from the drop-down menu.
Please briefly support your nomination. *
HIGHLIGHT OF 2021 -2022 *


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Q: Why running this env-cmd command is giving me this error? I am trying to configure the local environment inside my project.
i am running npm run dev command.
here is my package.json

As you can see i am using env-cmd package.
But when i run the command window is giving me this error.
This file does not have an app associated with it for performing this action...

Why am i getting this error?

A: According to this post:
https://medium.com/@rishi.vedpathak/react-environment-specific-builds-using-env-with-cra-and-env-cmd-5960a1253fe6
"scripts": {
    "start": "react-scripts start",
    "start:staging": "env-cmd -f .env.staging react-scripts start",
    "start:prod": "env-cmd -f .env.production react-scripts start",
    "build:staging": "env-cmd -f .env.staging react-scripts build",
    "build:prod": "env-cmd -f .env.production react-scripts build"
}

You are missing the -f parameter


Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are currently on royal tour of Australia, where they're spending their time cuddling under umbrellas, baking banana bread, and—in the case of Harry—causing the internet to fully panic because of some jewelry.
Fans were quick to notice that the prince stepped out for a recent appearance wearing a brand new black ring on his right hand. Everyone immediately lost it. Is it a wedding ring? A gift from Meghan? A shout out to the Invictus Games? A fashion moment? None/all of the above?
While Twitter was losing all chill over this, we did some research. According to People, it's actually the Oura Ring—a sleep and fitness tracker made from titanium. And it costs a cool $299.
Welp, there you have it. Guess Harry's simply working on his fitness, and wants to look stylish in the process. As you were.


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Azithromycin did not reduce the rate of severe exacerbations and lower respiratory tract infections in patients with severe asthma, but may benefit patietns with non-eosinophilic severe forms, a small randomized controlled trial found.
The double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in Belgium randomly assigned low-dose azithromycin (n=55) or placebo (n=54) as add-on treatment to combination therapy of inhaled corticosteroids and long-acting beta-two agonists for 6 months.
The rate of severe exacerbations and lower respiratory tract infections was not significantly different between the two treatment groups: 0.75 (95% CI, 0.55 to 1.01) in the azithromycin group versus 0.81 (95% CI, 0.61 to 1.09) in the placebo group (P=0.682).
But, azithromycin was associated with a significantly lower rate of severe exacerbations and lower respiratory tract infections than placebo in subjects with non-eosinophilic severe asthma (blood eosinophilia less than 200/µL): 0.44 (95% CI, 0.25 to 0.78) versus 1.03 (95% CI, 0.72 to 1.48) (P=0.013).
Azithromycin significantly improved scores on the Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire, but there were no significant between-group differences in the score for the Asthma Control Questionnaire or for lung function.
Long-term treatment with azithromycin was associated with an increased proportion of macrolide-resistant oropharyngeal streptococci, but there was no evidence suggesting that colonization with macrolide-resistant organisms increased the risk of lower respiratory tract infections or pneumonia.
Researchers noted that the significant reduction in the severe exacerbations and lower respiratory tract infections in azithromycin-treated patients with non-eosinophilic severe asthma, possibly due to antibiotic properties or anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects, warrants further study.


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Single father speaks about nontraditional families
Patricia Williams
Special to the Knoxville Sentinel
Jered Croom (Photo: Special to the News Sentinel)
Eliza Croom gets a hug from first lady Michelle Obama. (Photo: Special to the News Sentinel)
From left, students Danita Perez, Justice Thompson, Kyla Bourne and Eliza Croom, who holds an award-winning book written by the 2010 third-graders of Sarah Moore Greene School. Former Knox County Schools Superintendent Dr. Jim McIntyre, Tennessee first lady Crissy Haslam and Mark Wolf, director of the K-Town Youth Empowerment Network. Crissy Haslam wrote the introduction to the students' book. (Photo: Special to the News Sentinel)
Eliza and her father, Jere Croom, in a recent selfie. (Photo: Special to the News Sentinel)
Timyiaka Waithe of New York hugs her daughter, Eliza Croom. (Photo: Special to the News Sentinel)
The myth of the lost black father is just that — a myth, according to Jered Croom, who is a single father to his 14-year-old daughter, Eliza. Croom sees his family structure as nontraditional as in many of today's households.
'So many men in the black community who are being fathers in nontraditional ways get overlooked,' said Croom. 'I see examples of good black fathers all the time' among his fraternity brothers of Phi Beta Sigma and others who have helped him along the way.
'I consider myself to be co-parenting with her mother, Timyiaka Waithe,' Croom said. Eliza lives with her father during the school year and spends summers with her mother in New York.
'Everybody doesn't have the perfect (family) situation. There are realities out there, but there are also solutions,' said Croom. 'I thank God that her mother and I had the good sense and foresight to realize that we were better parents than partners.'
The couple agreed that Croom's hometown of Knoxville would be better suited to raise their child. Croom had cousins, uncles, aunts and a support base in Knoxville willing to help him. So Croom returned to Knoxville from New York with his 2-year-old daughter and his last paycheck in his pocket.
'I had nothing when I got here. We stayed with a cousin and got government assistance,' he said. But he also had a bachelor's degree in psychology from Medgar Evers College in New York and a master's from the University of Southern California that he earned through online courses. Croom landed a job at Knox Area Rescue Ministries and was able to step out on his own within a month.
What could have been stumbling blocks in his life Croom used as stepping stones. He was raised by his mother, Peggy 'Tena' Croom, in a single-parent household. He reflects on his childhood without his father or a male role model, saying, 'I cried a lot as a child. People teased me because my father was incarcerated; it was painful.'
He grew into a rebellious, frustrated teenager who lacked the aptitude to express his feelings.
'I didn't come around until I was in college,' said Croom. 'Medgar Evers College shaped me to see education through a different lens of empowerment for the African-American community. It gave me the historical context of blackness, and what it means to be an African person in this diaspora and how to shape that to impact the community in which you live. I can never repay what Medgar Evers College did for me. What I experienced there definitely shaped who I am today.'
While in college, Croom was also a reserve Marine. When the twin towers were struck on Sept. 11, 2001, Croom said he could smell the smoke from his home in Brooklyn. 'I was angry, like everybody else. I had to do something,' he said. He jumped in, helping out where he could; then he volunteered for active duty and was shipped to Quantico, assigned to security in Norfolk, Va.
Croom's life took another turn when Eliza was born. He took a leave of absence to be present for her scheduled birth. But being away from his newborn was too much to bear. 'I just couldn't leave her by herself, unprotected, so I chose to be a father and go home (to New York),' said Croom.
Equipped with an honorable discharge and two degrees, Croom was working odd jobs. 'It was disconcerting that after serving my country for seven years that I couldn't find a real job,' he said. That was part of the decision to relocate to Knoxville.
This fall, Eliza will start high school at Austin-East, where her father also attended.
Croom said Eliza has led a charmed life and has had an illustrious academic career thus far. She has been privileged to meet two first ladies — Michelle Obama and Crissy Haslam.
Eliza was among the third-graders at Sarah Moore Greene School who wrote the book, 'Be True to You: Celebrating the Things that Make Us Unique,' a collection of essays and drawings by the students. The forward for the book was contributed by Tennessee's first lady, Crissy Haslam. The book was acknowledged as the 2011 Model Youth Program by the National Youth Family Services Network. Eliza was one of the students chosen to present a copy of the book to Crissy Haslam in a student assembly.
Eliza's matriculation at Sarah Moore Greene culminated with an invitation from first lady Michele Obama to visit the White House Kitchen Garden — on two occasions. Word about the Jefferson Garden, a project of a group of fifth-graders including Eliza, had made it to the White House. The five students were invited to help plant the White House Kitchen Garden and then return to help harvest the bounty.
'At her schools they know me as Eliza's daddy,' said Croom. 'I interact with all of her classmates when I'm there. I want the children to know that there are people in the community that support you and love you unconditionally, from the very start of your life to wherever you may go. I have lunch with her and participate in the classroom and on field trips when I can.
'Any support I could lend to her classroom I've tried to provide, whether it's my presence and modeled behavior, going on field trips, or just little stuff I can buy like pencils and glue to support a learning environment,' said Croom.
'Whatever she has wanted to do, I have supported it. When she wanted to be a rock star, I bought her a microphone; when she wanted to be a doctor, I got her a stethoscope and anatomy books appropriate for her age.'
For Croom, being a father has been a privilege and his most important job. 'I get to be a part of this little person's life. I make it a point to tell her every day that you are loved, wanted and your parents are here for you,' he said.
He encourages parents who are not partners to allow your head to take you where your heart couldn't, find common ground and create a healthy environment for the child because ultimately that's your job.


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Blog | November 11, 2021
Celebrating the Most Recycled Consumer Product – Lead Batteries – on America Recycles Day
Most people think plastic, aluminum or paper reign as the most recycled consumer product in America. Not so. On America Recycles Day, November 15, we like to celebrate the real sustainability superstar – lead batteries.
It's official, too. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recognizes lead batteries as the most recycled consumer product in the U.S. Furthermore, lead batteries will continue to grow and perform as the most sustainable battery chemistry.
A World-Class Model of Circularity
The lead battery industry has been recycling batteries for a century and developed a truly circular battery manufacturing system. Using its large network of recycling distribution centers and an established closed-loop system, the industry hopes to serve as a circular economy model to new battery chemistries.
With a 99% recycling rate, nearly all used lead batteries are recycled. Each year, more than 130 million used lead batteries are recovered and recycled, rather than heading to landfills. At their end of life, lead batteries are separated into three key components: lead, plastic and acid, which are then reused to manufacture a new lead battery and restart the cycle of use-recycle-remanufacture.
Typically, a new lead battery is comprised of 80% recycled material. Much of that recycling occurs within the U.S. where the industry is highly regulated and supports a strong domestic manufacturing sector. It provides 26,000 clean-energy manufacturing jobs.
Another bonus: This ability to recycle lead battery componentry domestically is essential to the nation's focus on securing a reliable, domestically sourced supply chain to manufacture batteries and meet the growing needs of both energy storage and a low-carbon future.
Drastically Reducing Resource Requirements
The environmental success of lead batteries is proven, especially when compared to the very low recycling rates of, for example, lithium-ion batteries (15% or less).
Only a small portion of the materials in a used lithium battery can be economically recovered for reuse. Thus, many of the materials needed to manufacture a typical 1,000 lb. electric vehicle (EV) lithium-ion battery must be sourced from raw ore – nearly 90,000 lbs. of ore per vehicle, by some estimates – and mostly from overseas.
That's in contrast to a lead battery where the lead has a high intrinsic value, is infinitely recyclable, and is returned to the supply chain to make new batteries or other products. In fact, 73% of the lead required for U.S. manufacturing needs is produced by the U.S. lead battery recycling industry.
Our industry has proven that by embracing responsible, domestic recycling, a battery manufacturing industry can dramatically reduce its resource requirements and simultaneously increase its independence from imported raw materials.
Lead Batteries are Critical in EVs
The low-carbon future envisioned by global leaders recently in Glasgow will put a greater emphasis on EVs. That will expand the market for the types of batteries we rely on for transportation and energy storage.
There's no argument that EVs will change our way of life, but that doesn't mean lead batteries will go away. Vehicles are just one part of the global battery market, which, today, is about $90 billion in value, of which 60% is lead batteries.
In 2019, sales of battery electric and plug-in electric vehicles surpassed the 2 million mark, yet were still only about 2.6% of global car sales. Research from Deloitte Insights predicts EV sales will reach 31.2 million by 2030, about a 32% share of total new sales. Although EV sales will increase, their penetration in the U.S. car parc by 2030 is minimal, at just 4%.
Also consider that, in addition to lithium batteries, each EV contains an essential 12V lead battery for critical functions. But these "low-voltage" batteries are anything but an afterthought. Rather, proven lead batteries are the technology of choice to provide the critical and reliable power needed for the vehicle's radio, locks, doors, and life safety features, including airbags, hazard lights, anti-lock brakes, power steering and the car's emergency system. Lead batteries provide the best solution for low-voltage EV applications and will be the first choice for that role in the future.
Acknowledging the Success of Lead Batteries
Policymakers, researchers and industry leaders must continue to weigh the true environmental costs of battery manufacturing. That includes mineral requirements and ways to achieve our nation's electrification goals without becoming solely dependent on imports from mines in other countries.
We are certain that lead batteries will continue as the most sustainable battery chemistry. The industry's remarkable sustainability story is to be celebrated on America Recycles Day and every day!
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Cast and crew were on site at the shuttered Richter Pass Motor Inn this morning for ongoing filming of The Humanity Bureau, a Canadian-produced film that stars Hollywood icon Nicolas Cage.
Mr. Cage plays a caseworker who investigates a case appealed by a single mother (Sarah Lind) and her son (Jakob Davies).
Mr. Cage made a bit of a stir in the Osoyoos community in November when he wandered in to the local Buy-Low Foods store to pick up some groceries.
Entertainment, VMI worldwide and Bridgegate Pictures following Wesley Snipes' The Recall, which sold to scores of buyers during the 2016 American Film Market.
Vegas! Vaudeville! Vamp! — Just Vantastic!


text:
Latest NewsPrison Protest
House Subcommittee Report Highlights 'Culture Of Fear And Retaliation' In Federal Prisons
17 Jan 2019 Brian Sonenstein
House Subcommittee Report Highlights 'Culture Of Fear And Retaliation' In Federal Prisons Brian Sonenstein 2019-01-17
Wardens and other senior officials in the federal prison system engage in gross misconduct, avoid consequences by disrupting investigations and disciplinary proceedings, and encourage a "culture of fear and retaliation," according to a report from a subcommittee of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.
The deep-seated abuses documented in the report [PDF] have appeared in other government oversight records going back to at least 2004, yet according to the report, "the culture apparently remains." That culture may impact some efforts to bring relief to federal prisoners via reforms like the First Step Act, which will be implemented this year.
The report was submitted during the last Congress by Republicans on the Subcommittee on National Security and is dated January 2, 2019.
"These measures of protection have given management at many [Bureau of Prisons (BOP)] facilities a disturbing level of impunity," the report states.
The subcommittee found 12 complaints against five wardens that were opened and closed on a single day. Complaints against senior staff included assaults on prisoners, falsifying records, creating a hostile work environment, embezzlement, harassment, and retaliation. None of the people who lodged complaints were notified of their outcome.
Misconduct was "largely tolerated or ignored altogether." The names of specific facilities and personnel were not published in the report.
The report highlighted two cases in which reports of sexual harassment by senior officials led to retaliation. Subordinates were verbally berated, transferred to other facilities, and demoted.
Rather than operate in accordance with shared policies and practices, each facility is run as "its own island within BOP" and local investigators are "superficially independent," susceptible to influence by senior staff, the report indicated
Management is in a position to learn sensitive details of allegations against them, including the name of their accuser and the subject of investigation. They can influence how and whether there is an investigation and what actions, if any, are taken. Knowing the identity of their accusers increases the chance that accusers face retaliation, and whistleblowers have experienced discrimination within a week of filing a complaint.
The management structure within BOP facilities contributes to the breakdown in oversight. Local investigators are typically lieutenants chosen by the warden and are subordinate to upper management.
The report noted investigators have three levels of supervisors above them with the power to threaten their employment, especially if upper management are the subject of complaints and they are unhappy with an investigator's findings.
Senior officials who engaged in misconduct received extremely lenient consequences and were moved to different facilities to avoid punishment.
In some cases, they received commendations and awards after reports were made against them. Some were allowed to retire with a clean record and full benefits, and cases were delayed to allow them to end their careers unscathed.
The subcommittee recommended that senior prison officials be excluded from the investigative process and barred from influencing decisions. (This recommendation has been made in previous years.)
They also suggested that people who report misconduct be informed of the status and outcome of the investigation.
The report omitted the perspectives of people incarcerated in the federal prison system and their loved ones, focusing primarily on BOP employees. But prisoners also suffer from the impunity of senior officials in their facilities.
"Overall, people often fear retribution for reporting waste fraud and abuse. The difference is incarcerated people do not have whistleblower protections like federal employees," Maureen told Shadowproof. (Her daughter is in federal prison, and we're withholding identifying information to protect her from retaliation.)
"Like the military, the prison environment is ripe for sexual harassment and abuse and sweeping incidents under the rug."
"Incarcerated people know to expect retribution if they speak up about wrongdoing behind bars," Maureen added. "They know there is a serious lack of oversight and no independent oversight authority outside of DOJ [Department of Justice] or DOC [Department of Corrections]."
Maureen described how her daughter and other incarcerated women spoke out against poor living conditions and medical care following a natural disaster.
"The women knew if they complained they would face some serious consequences. They accepted those consequences because someone needed to do something about the terrible conditions in that prison."
"Like other families with incarcerated loved ones," Maureen continued, "I was afraid to complain because I was concerned about what would happen to our loved ones. The women kept telling us though, we have to do something. The administrative remedy process was not working. Their complaints were getting lost, misfiled or simply thrown away and the poor conditions were not getting addressed."
"With their consent, the families of these women filed complaints with the DOJ OIG. The DOJ OIG showed up at that prison unannounced a few weeks later."
Maureen said her daughter and some of the women were put in solitary confinement after investigators came. Though allegations of misconduct against her were not substantiated, she was transferred to a different facility.
"Despite having been a model inmate, excellent conduct and having a strong work and programming history, she arrived at the next facility being labeled a troublemaker. She was fortunately able to overcome that hurdle and continues to do her time well."
She said the "lesson that incarcerated people have learned is that you should expect retribution just like this or worse if you speak up about waste, fraud, and abuse."
The BOP management culture highlighted in the report will likely affect the efficacy of certain aspects of the First Step Act.
Some provisions of the new law rely on the discretion and approval of wardens. For example, one important provision of the law involves keeping families connected to their networks and communities by moving them to facilities within 500 miles of home.
However, the language of the bill makes clear that these transfers are subject to "the recommendation from the warden of the prison at which the prisoner is incarcerated at the time of making the request."
Wardens also play a role in determining who is eligible for pre-release custody. According to the law, among the criteria for such a placement is that the individual is either assessed to have a low risk of recidivism in their last two assessments or that they have a petition to be transferred approved by a warden.
Those petitioning prisoners will be placed at the mercy of a warden, who must determine the individual is not "a danger to society," has made a "good faith effort to lower their recidivism risk" through programs and activities, and is "unlikely to recidivate."
The First Step Act also lets wardens prohibit mentoring, reentry, or spiritual services for prisoners in pre-release custody "if the warden finds that the provision of such services would pose a significant security risk to the prisoner, persons who provide such services, or any other person."
For wardens who engage in patterns of abuse and retaliation described in the report, these areas of discretion could be a major cause for concern.
Tags:Bureau of PrisonsFirst Step Act
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NSA Whistleblower Reality Winner Files Appeal For Compassionate Release During COVID-19 Pandemic
Judge Rejects Reality Winner's Request For Release As COVID-19 Spreads At Women's Prison
Barbed wire fence. Photo by BOP.gov


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Q: Spring boot app cant connect to mysql db - docker-compose I tried many ways and every time the application runs in the container I get such errors:
WARN 1 --- [           main] o.h.e.j.e.i.JdbcEnvironmentInitiator     : HHH000342: Could not obtain connection to query metadata

java.lang.IllegalStateException: Cannot get a connection as the driver manager is not properly initialized

my docker-compose:
version: '3.8'
networks:
  my_network:
    external: true
services:
  mysql:
    container_name: configs_mysql
    image: mysql:latest
    restart: always
    ports:
      - "3306:3306"
    environment:
      MYSQL_ROOT_PASSWORD: scrap
      MYSQL_USER: scrap
      MYSQL_PASSWORD: scrap
      MYSQL_DATABASE: configs
    networks:
      - my_network
  web:
    build: .
    image: scrapyconfigmanager_web
    ports:
      - "8181:8181"
    networks:
      - my_network
    depends_on:
      - mysql

my Dockerfile:
FROM openjdk:11
# Copy source code to temporary building location
WORKDIR /source_code
COPY . .
RUN ./gradlew bootJar

WORKDIR /scrapy
RUN cp /source_code/build/libs/ScrapyConfigManager-1.0.jar .

EXPOSE 8181
ENTRYPOINT ["java","-jar","ScrapyConfigManager-1.0.jar"]

my hibernate.cfg:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE hibernate-configuration PUBLIC "-//Hibernate/Hibernate Configuration DTD 3.0//EN" "http://hibernate.org/dtd/hibernate-configuration-3.0.dtd">
<hibernate-configuration>
    <session-factory>
        <property name="hibernate.connection.driver_class">com.mysql.cj.jdbc.Driver</property>
        <property name="hibernate.connection.url">jdbc:mysql://configs_mysql:3306/configs</property>
        <property name="hibernate.connection.username">scrap</property>
        <property name="hibernate.connection.password">scrap</property>
        <property name="hibernate.show_sql">true</property>
        <property name="hibernate.dialect">org.hibernate.dialect.MySQLInnoDBDialect</property>
        <mapping class="org.scrapeusz.model.OlxCar" />
    </session-factory>
</hibernate-configuration>

Both containers start up, but after a while the spring container stops.
Below I paste part of the code from the terminal after the "docker-compose up" command:
Creating configs_mysql ... done
Creating scrapyconfigmanager_web_1 ... done
Attaching to configs_mysql, scrapyconfigmanager_web_1
configs_mysql | 2022-07-21 10:34:49+00:00 [Note] [Entrypoint]: Entrypoint script for MySQL Server 8.0.29-1.el8 started.
configs_mysql | 2022-07-21 10:34:49+00:00 [Note] [Entrypoint]: Switching to dedicated user 'mysql'
configs_mysql | 2022-07-21 10:34:49+00:00 [Note] [Entrypoint]: Entrypoint script for MySQL Server 8.0.29-1.el8 started.
configs_mysql | 2022-07-21 10:34:49+00:00 [Note] [Entrypoint]: Initializing database files
configs_mysql | 2022-07-21T10:34:49.504138Z 0 [System] [MY-013169] [Server] /usr/sbin/mysqld (mysqld 8.0.29) initializing of server in progress as process 42
configs_mysql | 2022-07-21T10:34:49.515175Z 1 [System] [MY-013576] [InnoDB] InnoDB initialization has started.
configs_mysql | 2022-07-21T10:34:49.795876Z 1 [System] [MY-013577] [InnoDB] InnoDB initialization has ended.
web_1    |
web_1    |   .   ____          _            __ _ _
web_1    |  /\\ / ___'_ __ _ _(_)_ __  __ _ \ \ \ \
web_1    | ( ( )\___ | '_ | '_| | '_ \/ _` | \ \ \ \
web_1    |  \\/  ___)| |_)| | | | | || (_| |  ) ) ) )
web_1    |   '  |____| .__|_| |_|_| |_\__, | / / / /
web_1    |  =========|_|==============|___/=/_/_/_/
web_1    |  :: Spring Boot ::                (v2.6.6)
web_1    |
web_1    | 2022-07-21 10:34:50.905  INFO 1 --- [           main] org.scrapeusz.ScrapyConfigManager        : Starting ScrapyConfigManager using Java 11.0.15 on 71d7d66bbd3b with PID 1 (/scrapy/ScrapyConfigManager-1.0.jar started by root in /scrapy)
web_1    | 2022-07-21 10:34:50.910  INFO 1 --- [           main] org.scrapeusz.ScrapyConfigManager        : No active profile set, falling back to 1 default profile: "default"
configs_mysql | 2022-07-21T10:34:51.393524Z 6 [Warning] [MY-010453] [Server] root@localhost is created with an empty password ! Please consider switching off the --initialize-insecure option.
web_1    | 2022-07-21 10:34:52.239  INFO 1 --- [           main] o.s.b.w.embedded.tomcat.TomcatWebServer  : Tomcat initialized with port(s): 8080 (http)
web_1    | 2022-07-21 10:34:52.255  INFO 1 --- [           main] o.apache.catalina.core.StandardService   : Starting service [Tomcat]
web_1    | 2022-07-21 10:34:52.255  INFO 1 --- [           main] org.apache.catalina.core.StandardEngine  : Starting Servlet engine: [Apache Tomcat/9.0.60]
web_1    | 2022-07-21 10:34:52.364  INFO 1 --- [           main] o.a.c.c.C.[Tomcat].[localhost].[/]       : Initializing Spring embedded WebApplicationContext
web_1    | 2022-07-21 10:34:52.364  INFO 1 --- [           main] w.s.c.ServletWebServerApplicationContext : Root WebApplicationContext: initialization completed in 1388 ms
web_1    | 2022-07-21 10:34:52.577  INFO 1 --- [           main] org.hibernate.Version                    : HHH000412: Hibernate ORM core version 6.0.0.Final
web_1    | 2022-07-21 10:34:53.269  WARN 1 --- [           main] org.hibernate.orm.connections.pooling    : HHH10001002: Using built-in connection pool (not intended for production use)
web_1    | 2022-07-21 10:34:53.275  INFO 1 --- [           main] org.hibernate.orm.connections.pooling    : HHH10001005: Loaded JDBC driver class: com.mysql.cj.jdbc.Driver
web_1    | 2022-07-21 10:34:53.275  INFO 1 --- [           main] org.hibernate.orm.connections.pooling    : HHH10001012: Connecting with JDBC URL [jdbc:mysql://configs_mysql:3306/configs]
web_1    | 2022-07-21 10:34:53.275  INFO 1 --- [           main] org.hibernate.orm.connections.pooling    : HHH10001001: Connection properties: {password=****, user=scrap}
web_1    | 2022-07-21 10:34:53.276  INFO 1 --- [           main] org.hibernate.orm.connections.pooling    : HHH10001003: Autocommit mode: false
web_1    | 2022-07-21 10:34:53.279  INFO 1 --- [           main] org.hibernate.orm.connections.pooling    : HHH10001115: Connection pool size: 20 (min=1)
web_1    | 2022-07-21 10:34:53.407  WARN 1 --- [           main] o.h.e.j.e.i.JdbcEnvironmentInitiator     : HHH000342: Could not obtain connection to query metadata
web_1    |
web_1    | java.lang.IllegalStateException: Cannot get a connection as the driver manager is not properly initialized
web_1    |  at org.hibernate.engine.jdbc.connections.internal.DriverManagerConnectionProviderImpl.getConnection(DriverManagerConnectionProviderImpl.java:259) ~[hibernate-core-6.0.0.Final.jar!/:6.0.0.Final]
web_1    |  at org.hibernate.engine.jdbc.env.internal.JdbcEnvironmentInitiator$ConnectionProviderJdbcConnectionAccess.obtainConnection(JdbcEnvironmentInitiator.java:284) ~[hibernate-core-6.0.0.Final.jar!/:6.0.0.Final]
web_1    |  at org.hibernate.engine.jdbc.env.internal.JdbcEnvironmentInitiator.initiateService(JdbcEnvironmentInitiator.java:177) ~[hibernate-core-6.0.0.Final.jar!/:6.0.0.Final]
web_1    |  at org.hibernate.engine.jdbc.env.internal.JdbcEnvironmentInitiator.initiateService(JdbcEnvironmentInitiator.java:36) ~[hibernate-core-6.0.0.Final.jar!/:6.0.0.Final]
web_1    |  at org.hibernate.boot.registry.internal.StandardServiceRegistryImpl.initiateService(StandardServiceRegistryImpl.java:100) ~[hibernate-core-6.0.0.Final.jar!/:6.0.0.Final]
web_1    |  at org.hibernate.service.internal.AbstractServiceRegistryImpl.createService(AbstractServiceRegistryImpl.java:255) ~[hibernate-core-6.0.0.Final.jar!/:6.0.0.Final]
web_1    |  at org.hibernate.service.internal.AbstractServiceRegistryImpl.initializeService(AbstractServiceRegistryImpl.java:230) ~[hibernate-core-6.0.0.Final.jar!/:6.0.0.Final]
web_1    |  at org.hibernate.service.internal.AbstractServiceRegistryImpl.getService(AbstractServiceRegistryImpl.java:207) ~[hibernate-core-6.0.0.Final.jar!/:6.0.0.Final]
web_1    |  at org.hibernate.engine.jdbc.internal.JdbcServicesImpl.configure(JdbcServicesImpl.java:48) ~[hibernate-core-6.0.0.Final.jar!/:6.0.0.Final]

A: The issue is with your hibernate.cfg file.
You are referring container name as database host in that config file.
<property name="hibernate.connection.url">jdbc:mysql://configs_mysql:3306/configs</property>

configs_mysql is your container name but it not your DB host in the docker world. Remember communication between the docker containers inside the docker compose network will happen through service name.
For Database service you defined mysql as your service name.
Change the hibernate.connection.url to below
<property name="hibernate.connection.url">jdbc:mysql://mysql:3306/configs</property>

Refer: Docker compose with multiple services (app and DB)


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