text:
The U.S. Supreme Court dealt a blow Tuesday to nascent efforts to track the quality and cost of health care, ruling that a 1974 law precludes states from requiring that every health care claim involving their residents be submitted to a massive database.
The arguments were arcane, but the effect is clear: We're a long way off from having a true picture of the country's health care spending, especially differences in the way hospitals treat patients and doctors practice medicine.
It also means that, for the time being at least, we'll remain heavily reliant on data being released by Medicare, the federal health insurance program for the elderly and disabled, to study variations in health care. ProPublica has used Medicare data to study differences in medication prescribing, surgeons' complication rates and use of services by doctors, but it's still not clear that Medicare is representative of all health care in the country.
The court's decision involves a case from Vermont, one of 18 states that created so-called all-payer claims databases. Vermont's law called for health insurers, health providers, medical facilities and government agencies to report data on health care costs, prices, quality and use of services to the state. That included employers who pay the costs of their workers' treatments themselves, and not through an insurance contract. (Self-insurance is common for large companies.)
But Liberty Mutual Insurance Co. objected, saying the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, or ERISA, prevents states from imposing such a requirement on self-funded plans. The idea is that companies that have operations across the country shouldn't be subjected to 50 different state laws, but instead should only have to abide by rules from one agency, namely the U.S. Department of Labor.
The court sided with Liberty Mutual, in a 6-2 decision, ruling it didn't have to submit the data demanded by Vermont.
In a friend-of-the-court brief filed last September, the American Hospital Association and the Association of American Medical Colleges said that without the data from self-funded plans, all-payer claims databases will be incomplete and not as valuable as they could be.
"Hospitals only have data for the patients they treat," the groups wrote. "Information from across the spectrum of an individual's health care experience is needed to inform clinical, payment, and public health policy...Complete data across all payers (including self-insurers like Respondent) is required so that both health care providers and policymakers can understand the variations in the health care system, and address those that need to change."
They also noted that self-insured plans cover a "large majority of the working population: in 2013, nearly 60 percent of workers with health insurance were enrolled in such plans, and that figure is growing."
So what now? One option is for self-insured plans like Liberty Mutual to voluntarily provide their data to state-run databases. But given the lawsuit, that appears unlikely.
Another possibility, raised by Justice Stephen Breyer, is for the federal government to require self-insured plans to disclose their data. "I see no reason why the Secretary of Labor could not develop reporting requirements that satisfy the states' needs, including some state-specific requirements, as appropriate," he wrote.
For now, though, we may have to do what we have done for years: Settle for an incomplete picture of health care spending and utilization.
Our team at ProPublica has already found fascinating patterns in Medicare data. In one example, 1,800 doctors billed Medicare for the most expensive type of office visits at least 90 percent of the time, compared to just 4 percent of office visits for all doctors.
Another group, the Health Care Cost Institute, has greenlighted research using data from three of the nation's largest private insurance companies. It has found some interesting trends too, but hasn't released data on individual doctors and hospitals.
Medicare could release more data, as could the Health Care Cost Institute.
The Supreme Court decision means transparency has a long way to go.
Charles Ornstein is a senior reporter at ProPublica, an independent investigative newsroom based in New York.
Copyright 2021 ProPublica. To see more, visit .


text:
Johannes Jaeger Centralbangården, Stockholm, no 7
Signed on printed cardboard, Jaeger, n.d (c.1870s)
Quality: Very Good
- Category
- Vintage
- Format
- Landscape
- Technique
- Albumen Silver Print
Image size: 18x26 cm
Mounted on cardboard 24x31,5 cm
Vintage photography is by definition old and part of their beauty is the sign of ageing both of the motif and the unique print. To get an indication of the condition of the photography we rate them on a scale from poor to excellent.
Poor quality. We don't sell poor quality unless the photograph is extremely unique.
Good quality. Normal condition for the age.
Very good quality. Close to perfect with very small faults.
Excellent quality. As close to perfect as can be.
The photography will be delivered with a certificate of authenticity.
The photography will be delivered in a museum plastic cover without plasticizer between cardboard sheets for protection. We pack the image with care and cotton gloves.
When you buy an item directly from our web shop you will receive a delivery confirmation including a tracking link once your new piece of art is packed and leaves our warehouse.
If you register on our website, you can always access your profile to follow the status and history of your order.
Please allow 5-10 days delivery for this image

subset: commoncrawl


text:
In this age of "information overload," many Americans possess the knowledge to develop and maintain successful financial lives. Through a quick online Google search or by listening to so-called "financial talking heads," Americans have access to split-second information to answer most any financial question. Yet regardless of easy access to financially sound advice, many are burdened with crippling debt, habitual overspending, and scarce savings. Perhaps the more recent financial ills of Americans may be attributed to the following financial choices made by consumers: (1) The lack of a monthly budget manifests into reactive buying habits instead of proactive spending habits. Put more succinctly, the average consumer might say, "Money just slips through my fingers and I don't know where it all goes." (2) Easy money through savvy financial marketing of credit offers facilitates unaffordable buying power. It's also likely not an accident, that we have all grown accustomed to being referred to as "consumers." It begs the question: Why are we not referred to as "savers" or "investors?" The very connotation of the term "consumer" assumes that Americans will buy and spend and not restrain and save. Since the main-stream American has easy access to information pertaining to sound financial choices, yet so many have not followed these principles, an apparent disconnect appears to exist between financial knowledge and the application of that knowledge into every-day financial lives. So it would appear that Americans perhaps suffer from a case of too much information and too little financial education. As an example, read about John, an 18-year old who is ready to depart for college.
Like many teenagers, John's primary financial education has been nearly non-existent in the school classroom. Rather, John's financial education has been shaped through marketing advertisements from print, online, and television media-which has bombarded him with messages of affording the unaffordable through so-called "easy" financial terms. Our story begins with John on-track to graduate with honors from high school. He is accepted to several colleges but forgoes a full in-state scholarship to attend his out-of-state choice, UNC Chapel Hill. To afford his dream college, John takes out $12,000/year in subsidized student loans. In his eyes, John's choice was quite simple: He could stay close to home to go to college or attend his dream college at UNC Chapel Hill. Because of easy access to extreme amounts of student loan debt, John's unaffordable dream is transformed into reality. And because the acquisition of debt is made so easy through student loan programs, the debt is not a major deciding factor in John's choice. Before John leaves for college, he also buys a new car. The easy financing offer includes 72-month financing and no money down. His Dad cosigns the loan and Dad's rationale is that he is helping John "establish credit." In 4 years, John graduates from UNC Chapel Hill and his debt total is $58,000 ($48,000 from student loan debt and $10,000 remaining on car loan). John is keenly aware of his debt load and he also knows that his student loan repayment will begin promptly 6 months after graduation. So needless to say, he looks forward to his first paycheck.
Through his connections at UNC Chapel Hill, John lands a good first job but his excitement is turned to shock when he looks at his first paycheck. He takes the paystub to H.R. and asks, "Who is FICA and what did he do with my money!" Regardless of the hard lesson in taxes, John is excited to have his own money and he wants his apartment to look good. John visits the local furniture store and charges $3,000 to the store credit card-which promises 12 months "same as cash." John has also grown tired of his "college car" and decides to trade it in for a new one. He learns what it means to be "upside down" when he goes to trade-in his college car but through the liberal financing terms of the dealership, he's permitted to roll the negative equity of his trade into the new car loan. Whereas many of John's financial decisions to this point have resulted in debt, John realizes that he needs to save some money as well. So he's quite happy to learn that his company offers a matching contribution through a 401k plan. John signs-up and feels good that he's saving money for the future and getting "free money" in the way of a company match.
But 6 months after graduation, the bills come due. John is faced with starting student loan repayments but in order to keep the payments low and afford his auto and credit card payments, John chooses the interest-only option, as advertised by the student loan company. The result of all this debt spending is that in only 4-5 years following high school, John's financial condition is quite poor. But life seems fine to him-thanks in large part to the promise of easy financing of an unaffordable lifestyle.
Our story continues as John meets Mary, the girl of his dreams. They quickly fall in love and decide to get married. Rings and the honeymoon are bought on credit as the parents pay for the wedding (by taking out a loan on their own 401k plans). John and Mary also find the house of their dreams and are happy to learn that the financial terms of the mortgage company include no down payment. Even the closing costs are rolled into the mortgage-meaning John and Mary won't even have to write a single check to move into their dream home. With their incomes stretched paper-thin, John and Mary decide to temporarily opt out of their health insurance plans. They plan to restart their health plans when their income increases from expected salary raises. With the accumulation of a mortgage payment, student loan repayments, credit card bills, and car payments, John and Mary begin arguing over their finances. Unable to afford all their minimum payments, John cashes-out his 401k but he elects not to have any taxes withheld upon withdrawal (401k withdrawals are subject to taxes and a 10% IRS penalty). When he files his tax return, he doesn't have the money to pay the taxes and penalties. And to top it all off, Mary has news for him. She's pregnant.
After reading John and Mary's financial plight, this story may sound quite familiar as many stories have been written of homeowners who have been foreclosed or been forced into bankruptcy. And these occurrences were magnified during the Great Recession. The overuse of easy financing facilitates an unaffordable standard of living. And this "house of cards" easily crumbles through financial emergencies such as job loss. As mentioned earlier, it would appear that a lack of financial education, not financial knowledge is at least partly to blame for financial challenges faced by our young couple, John and Mary.
With the apparent need for financial education in our country, a man by the name of Dave Ramsey has heeded the call through his solution, known as Financial Peace University (FPU). FPU consists of a 13-week class taught through churches and community centers across the country. And the most important elements of the FPU class focuses on Dave Ramsey's 7 baby steps. The following is a brief summary of the 7 baby steps taught through Dave Ramsey's FPU class. But this summary is no substitute for attending FPU, which is highly encouraged.
Baby step 1 recommends a $1,000 savings for an emergency fund. This first baby step is the most important in my view. It represents a "line drawn in the sand." It is a conscience decision to recognize that financial emergencies will occur again. Yet, with a $1,000 saved for emergencies, the emergencies perhaps won't seem as pressing. Perhaps even more important, Dave Ramsey encourages the development of a preliminary, first-time budget. And he recognizes that the first-time budget is likely to fail. But through trial and error, he emphatically addresses the need to create a budget in order to faithfully plan how to spend and account for every dollar before pay-day arrives. Through diligent trial and error, Dave will encourage you to review the budget every month, especially between married couples. This type of systematic planning may eliminate many arguments over money-because both partners must first agree on the budget each and every month.
Baby step 2 recommends debt pay off using the "debt snowball." This baby step constitutes several commitments. As the old saying goes, "If you find yourself in a hole, stop digging." Regarding credit card debt, consider for a moment that your plastic credit cards symbolize the spade on the end of a shovel. Every time you use credit cards, that shovel digs a deeper financial hole. The solution is simple, but many resist this solution. Dave recommends that you cut up your credit cards. That's how you "throw away the shovel" and stop the madness of digging a deeper financial hole. Dave believes that until you've made this commitment, your steps to financial peace will be made in vain. I agree that this concept may seem radical to some, and also, some "talking heads" are adamantly opposed to eliminating the use of credit cards. But it's hard to argue with the sound financial principle that if you can't afford something, you shouldn't buy it. Eliminating credit cards and so-called "easy credit" offers from your financial life also eliminates the tool that facilitates an unaffordable lifestyle. Once you have cut-up credit cards, Dave then encourages you to begin your "debt snowball." The debt snowball concept recommends that you pay off the lowest balance first. And once you have eliminated one debt, apply that payment to the next debt in order to pay it off more quickly. Through his FPU class, Dave claims that the average family eliminates $5,300 in debt while building $2,700 in savings (Source: Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University class). At the successful completion of the debt snowball (all non-mortgage debt paid off), Dave Ramsey encourages the use of an envelope system for your daily spending. So if you follow his teaching, your everyday spending should consist of: cash, automatic payments (for monthly bills) debited from your checking account, and lastly, a debit card.
Baby step 3 recommends saving 3-6 months of expenses. The age-old advice of saving 3-6 months of income is not a new concept. But rather than just state the obvious and leave it at that, Dave continually encourages the use of a budget in order to systematically accomplish any and all goals, including step-by-step savings to fully fund baby step 3. Regarding the 3 to 6 month question, I believe a good rule of thumb is to review the security of your employment to determine how much should constitute your emergency savings. A government job, for example, is generally more secure than a private sector job. For example, with a married couple, if the husband is a school teacher and the wife works for a technology firm, I would encourage them to split the difference and work to save the equivalent of 4 months of household expenses.
Baby step 4 recommends investing 15% of income into Roth IRAs and Pre-Tax Retirement Plans. This is where investing with a financial professional may be most advantageous. For some financial advisors, being assigned the #4 priority through Dave's FPU class might not sit well. But it makes good sense. I've learned that long-term investment accounts such as 401ks and IRAs are raided when clients fail to save sufficiently for emergencies. But if baby steps 1-3 were fully implemented, then long-term investing using retirement accounts might better serve its purpose. I won't spend time in this article detailing why Dave Ramsey encourages Roth IRA and Pre-Tax retirement plan investing, but I fully agree with this point and I've advised clients on this type of investing for my entire career. So rest assured that the benefits of retirement account investing affords tax advantages that may be financially beneficial to the investor.
Baby step 5 focuses on college funding. It's quite important that college funding by parents/grandparents is ranked below other vital financial priorities. But it goes against the grain when compared to the media messages that are conveyed. Even colleges have a formula which dictates to parents how much they are "expected" to contribute to their children's college education. So according to Dave, college funding may commence only upon successfully completing baby steps 1-4, and no sooner. On that note, there are several different investment account types designed for college funding, including the Coverdell Educational Savings Account (ESA), Uniform Transfer to Minors Act (UTMA), and 529 College Savings Plans. Each account type has advantages and disadvantages and prior to opening any of these type of accounts, a conversation with your Financial Advisor and CPA is warranted.
Baby step 6 recommends paying off your home early. With baby steps 1-5 fully implemented, it's time to increase payments and pay off your home early. Also, if you find yourself in a 30-year loan, consider refinancing to a 15-year loan. With lower interest rates, you might be surprised to learn that the payments are not that much more expensive. And the interest savings for a 15-year loan vs. a 30-year loan can be substantial.
Baby step 7 states to build wealth and give. Wouldn't it be rewarding to give more money to your favorite charities? Perhaps you have a loved one that was saved by the caring hands of a medical provider and you would like to offer your financial support for future families. Personally, my family will be forever indebted to the folks at the NICU at Northside Hospital in Atlanta for the love and care they provided to my daughter, who was born prematurely. Most every one of us has a similar story or passion. But there are simple needs as well. Do you enjoy the service of a long-time waitress from your favorite coffee spot-like the Waffle House? Imagine dropping a $100 tip to that sweet waitress who always warms your cup without asking. It would be worth the $100 tip just to see her surprise. Although we can give regardless of our financial position, it takes wealth in order to make generous and life-changing gifts to churches, hospitals, and other charities. But once you progress past baby step 6, your finances should permit you to "live like no one else, so that you can give like no one else" (Quote by Dave Ramsey through Financial Peace University class videos).
It is my hope that this summary of Dave Ramsey's 7 baby steps will lead the reader to s


text:
$25694.217 - $28549.130 | 1 Pieces(Min. Order)
For product pricing customization or other inquiries
Contact NowFPGAKey Technical Documents
Download DatasheetIntel's 14-nm Intel Stratix 10 GX 1SG280HU3F50E1VGS3 FPGAs and SX SoCs deliver 2X the core performance and up to 70% lower power over previous generation high-performance FPGAs.Featuring several groundbreaking innovations, including the all new HyperFlex core architecture, this 1SG280HU3F50E1VGS3 device enables you to meet the demand for ever-increasing.bandwidth and processing performance in your most advanced applications, while meeting your power budget.
With an embedded hard processor system (HPS) based on a quad-core 64-bit ARM Cortex-A53, the Intel Stratix 10 SoC devices deliver power efficient, application-class
processing and allow designers to extend hardware virtualization into the FPGA fabric. Intel Stratix 10 SoC devices demonstrate Intel's commitment to high-performance SoCs and extend Intel's leadership in programmable devices featuring an ARM-based processor system.
Artificial Intelligence
5G Technology
Cloud Computing
Consumer Electronics
Wireless Technology
Industrial Control
Internet of Things
Medical Equipment
Specification | Value |
Standard Package | 1 |
Category | Integrated Circuits (ICs) |
Family | Embedded - FPGAs (Field Programmable Gate Array) |
Series | Stratix® 10 GX |
Part Status | Discontinued at Digi-Key |
Number of LABs/CLBs | 350000 |
Number of Logic Elements/Cells | 2800000 |
Number of I/O | 704 |
Voltage - Supply | 0.77V ~ 0.97V |
Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
Operating Temperature | 0°C ~ 100°C (TJ) |
Package / Case | 2397-BBGA, FCBGA |
Supplier Device Package | 2397-FBGA (50x50) |
1+ $28,549.130


text:
HONOLULU (AP) — A high school prom in Hawaii where masked dancers weren't allowed to touch. A return to virtual city council meetings in one Colorado town after the mayor and others tested positive following an in-person session. A reinstated mask mandate at skilled nursing facilities in Los Angeles County after 22 new outbreaks in a single week.
A COVID-19 surge is underway that is starting to cause disruptions as the school year wraps up and Americans prepare for summer vacations. Many people, though, have returned to their pre-pandemic routines and plans, which often involve travel.
Case counts are as high as they've been since mid-February and those figures are likely a major undercount because of unreported positive home test results and asymptomatic infections. Earlier this month, an influential modeling group at the University of Washington in Seattle estimated that only 13% of cases were being reported to U.S. health authorities.
Hospitalizations are also up and more than one-third of the U.S. population lives in areas that are considered at high risk by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Northeast has been hit the hardest.
Yet vaccinations have stagnated and elected officials nationwide seem loath to impose new restrictions on a public that's ready to move on even as the U.S. death toll surpassed 1 million people less than 2 1/2 years into the outbreak.
"People probably are underestimating the prevalence of COVID," said Crystal Watson, public health lead in the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security's Coronavirus Resource Center. "I think there's a lot more virus out there than we recognize, and so people are much, much more likely than they anticipate to be exposed and infected."
A major metric for the pandemic — the seven-day rolling average for daily new cases in the U.S. — skyrocketed over the last two weeks, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. The figure was about 76,000 on May 9 and jumped to nearly 109,000 on Monday. That was the highest it had been since mid-February, when the omicron-fueled surge was winding down.
Deaths are still on the decline and hospital intensive care units aren't swamped like they were at other times during the pandemic, likely because vaccinations and immunity from people who have already had the disease are keeping many cases less severe.
"The nature of the disease has changed. Two years ago I was seeing a steady flow of bad pneumonia cases. Now we are in a situation where people should be able to avoid that outcome by taking advantage of vaccines, pre-exposure prophylaxis (for high risk), and early anti-viral therapy," Dr. Jonathan Dworkin, a clinical infectious diseases physician in Hawaii, said by email.
In Hawaii, which once had one of the nation's lowest rates of infection, hospitalization and death, new cases are surging among the state's 1.4 million residents. The University of Hawaii will again require masks indoors across its 10-campus system beginning Wednesday.
With cases climbing for eight straight weeks, Hawaii has the second highest infection rate of any state, trailing only Rhode Island. But because positive home test results aren't counted in official data, Hawaii's health department estimates that the case count is actually five or six times higher.
Despite its surge, visitors have been flocking to Hawaii's beaches, especially in recent months.
Yaling Fisher, owner of Hawaii Aloha Travel, said bookings to the islands haven't slowed during the surge. On the contrary, they've increased.
"Even now we are still busy," she said. "We don't see any cancellations."
Samantha Hanberg, who was in Hawaii this week with her newlywed husband, said the couple left their masks at home in California when they left for vacation. She said she contracted COVID-19 early in the pandemic and subsequently got fully vaccinated, so she too feels safe.
"Nobody wants to get sick, but it's definitely not at the forefront of my thought process anymore," she said, snacking on shave ice on Waikiki Beach. "I'm to the point now where I just I want to go back to living and enjoying life, and not being so worried."
Officials initially shut down Hawaii's tourism industry by requiring all incoming passengers to quarantine. They shifted to a testing requirement and then a vaccination exemption before dropping all restrictions in March.
Hawaii was the last state in the nation to drop its mask mandate, though it remains the only state to require all public school students to wear masks while indoors — a rule that will remain in effect throughout the summer and possibly into the next school year.
Nearly two years after California Gov. Gavin Newsom imposed the nation's first statewide stay-home order, the state formally shifted to an "endemic" approach in February. Like Hawaii and many other states, its weekly infection rate has risen dramatically of late.
The new surge led the school districts in Pacific Grove and Berkeley to reinstate their indoor mask mandates, while an outbreak at a Northern California long-term healthcare facility had sickened 26 residents and 10 staff members by Monday.
Some Northeastern school districts have also revived their mask mandates, including those in Philadelphia and Providence, Rhode Island.
However New York, which was once the U.S. epicenter of the pandemic, doesn't seem likely to follow suit. The city is dealing with another surge in cases, but Mayor Eric Adams has all but ruled out bringing back a citywide mask mandate unless hospitals get inundated again.
The city's school district jettisoned its practice of closing classrooms if multiple students test positive, merely recommends that masks be worn and even abandoned its requirement that students need to be vaccinated to attend prom.


text:
Under fire from all sides, House Republican leaders have agreed to make changes to their bill to repeal and replace Obamacare.
The legislation, known as the American Health Care Act, is currently being reworked to give states more flexibility under Medicaid and to help older Americans afford coverage on the individual market. The full House is expected to vote on the bill on Thursday, the seventh anniversary of former President Obama signing the Affordable Care Act into law.
To appease conservative lawmakers, House Speaker Paul Ryan and Republican leadership are looking at giving states the option of requiring able-bodied Medicaid recipients to work, a provision Republicans have long wanted. Right-leaning members have been especially irked since Obamacare expanded Medicaid to 11 million able-bodied adults without children.
The Trump administration is already moving in this direction through the Medicaid waiver system. Health & Human Services Secretary Tom Price and Seema Verma, the administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, sent a letter to governors Tuesday saying they are open to allowing states to add work requirements for Medicaid recipients -- as well as premiums and co-pays. Granting such waiver requests from the states would be a major departure from how the Obama administration oversaw Medicaid. It rejected attempts by states to add a work mandate.
Republicans argue that work requirements better prepare participants to transition off government assistance and into jobs. But consumer advocates say that many Medicaid recipients who can work already do. Requiring more enrollees to get jobs would make it harder for those who face hurdles to employment -- such as transportation or child care costs -- to get health care coverage.
Also, the legislation would give states the option to receive federal Medicaid funding as a block grant. The current legislation calls for giving states a set amount of money per enrollee, known as a per capita cap system. Both would be a major change from the current way Medicaid is funded, which is open-ended federal support tied to state spending on the program.
Under a block grant, states would receive a fixed amount of federal funding each year, regardless of how many participants are in the program. This would reduce federal support for Medicaid even more since the funding level would not adjust for increases in enrollment, which often happens in bad economic times.
These changes to Medicaid would likely further reduce the number of people covered under the program. Adding requirements will likely dampen enrollment, while reducing federal support means states will likely have to tighten eligibility rules, cut benefits or reduce provider payments.
In its assessment of the original legislation, the Congressional Budget Office predicted 14 million fewer people would be covered by Medicaid in 2026, and federal funding would be cut by about 25%.
Separately, lawmakers have been getting hammered over how the legislation would affect Americans in their 50s and early 60s who purchase plans on the individual market. So Republicans are now looking to enhance the tax credits for this group. The GOP's tax credits are not as generous as Obamacare's subsidies for lower-income enrollees.
"We believe that we do need to add some additional assistance with people in those older cohorts," Ryan said on Fox News Sunday.
The American Health Care Act would give refundable tax credits of $3,500 to those in their 50s and $4,000 to those in their early 60s. (Americans over age 65 are eligible for Medicare.) But Obamacare's subsidies take into account both income and cost of coverage, which is typically much higher for an older consumer. So the Republican tax credits are expected to cover less of the premium for these enrollees, particularly those with lower incomes.
The original bill also would allow insurers to charge these folks more than younger consumers, causing premiums for older enrollees to spike. The CBO projected that premiums would be 20% to 25% higher for a 64-year-old in 2026 than they would be under Obamacare.
All told, a 64-year-old making $26,500 would pay $1,700 for coverage in 2026 under Obamacare, thanks to the subsidies, according to CBO. But under the GOP plan, his annual premium would be $14,600 since the tax credit would not offset as much of the cost. The difference would likely drive many older consumers out of the individual market, CBO predicted.
The legislation has drawn the ire of influential groups, such as the AARP. The advocacy group released a statement Friday that it intends to inform its 38 million members how their representatives voted on the bill.


text:
Pre-packaged Lentivirus: SignaGen launches a novel LentiMAX™
Lentivirus Packaging System
with inclusion of a proprietary shRNA construct targeting protein kinase R for maximum lentivirus
Based on this system, >200 in vivo grade lentiviral vectors were pre-packaged at
>10^9 TU/mL and kept in stock for immediate shipping... [ GO ]
> DNA/siRNA Transfection:
LipoJet™ In Vitro Transfection Kit, formulated from novel fluorinated cationic
lipids which show most powerful transfection efficiency for a variety of
applications including plasmid DNA/siRNA single transfection and DNA/siRNA co-transfection... [ GO ]
> DNA Transfection: PolyJet™ In Vitro DNA Transfection Reagent, a
novel biodegradable cationic polymer which was formulated to beat the leading
products in terms of transfection efficiency at more affordable price ... [ GO ]
> 37,430 Adenoviruses Ready to Package: More than 37,430 human ORFs
were cloned into our Ad.MAX™ adenovirus expression system and ready to package,
providing faster yet more economical way to produce adenoviruses... [ GO ]
> Custom Adenovirus Production: Custom adenovirus service with Ad.MAX™
System, a streamlined adenovirus construction procedure that guarantees the expression of gene of interests (GOI), maximum viral yield, timely delivery and high-standard quality control... [ GO ]
> siRNA Transfection: PepMute™ siRNA Transfection Reagent, a novel viral
protein analog, gives up to 95% gene silencing at 1.0 nM of siRNA to variety of
mammalian cells... [ GO ]
> siRNA Transfection: GenMute™ siRNA Transfection Reagent (Ver. II), A
novel non-liposomal, PDCC technology formulated siRNA transfection reagent,
gives up to 95% gene knockdown at 1.0 nM of siRNA... [ GO ]
> Lentivirus Production: LipoD293™ In Vitro DNA Transfection Reagent (Ver.
II), An Enhanced Liposome-based Transfection Reagent, gives terrific lentivirus
titer with very affordable price... [ GO ]
> Western Blotting: BlotFresh™ Western Blot Stripping Reagent
Formulated for Complete Removal of Antibodies from Blot at Room Temperature, No
Stench Odor... [ GO ]
> In Vitro DNA Transfection: GenJet™ In Vitro DNA Transfection Reagent
(Ver. II), an upgraded version of GenJet™ with 100% DNA condensing groups
liberated, leading to significant increase in efficiency without sacrificing
cell viability... [ GO ]
> In Vivo DNA Transfection: GenJet™ Plus In Vivo DNA Transfection
Reagent, formulated by cross-linking a shield peptide, gives superior efficiency
on lung and spleen in vivo... [ GO ]


text:
Privacy Policy
© BeyondSixFigures | Last Updated: 5/26/2021
The website you have entered (its sub-domains, affiliated websites, and any services available therefrom, including any mobile versions of the website or mobile applications) (the "Site") is operated by TitleSeventy, LLC; D.B.A BeyondSixFigures; and its parents, subsidiaries, and affiliates ("BeyondSixFigures," "we" or "us"). We respect your privacy rights and recognize the importance of protecting data collected from you and about you. This privacy policy (the "Privacy Policy") describes how we collect, use, share, and protect that data.
If you do not accept and agree with this Privacy Policy, you must stop using the Site immediately. Your continued use of the Site constitutes your acceptance of this Privacy Policy.
Collection of Data
- We collect personal data when you voluntarily provide it to us.
We collect personal data from you in several different ways on the Site. Personal data means information that can reasonably be used to identify you personally (such as your name, phone number, address, and email address). We collect this personal data when you voluntarily provide it to us (such as when you submit an inquiry or apply for a job online). You can choose not to provide the requested data, but you might not be able to take advantage of certain Site features.
- We automatically collect data about your browser or device and your use of the Site.
When you access and use the Site, our technology and tools may automatically collect and record certain data (which does not identify you as an individual) about your use of the Site (your IP address, browser type, the make and model of device used to view the Site, unique device identifiers, the referring web page, pages visited, search terms and other information relating to your use of the Site, browser or device).
We also use various tracking technologies (such as cookies, clear GIFs, and/or pixel tags) to collect data about your use of and access to the Site. Cookies are small bits of information that may be placed on your computer by websites you visit, applications you use, or advertisements you view. Cookies alone tell us nothing about who you are. Pixel tags generate a generic notice of a visit to the Site. Pixel tags are used in conjunction with cookies to anonymously track the activity on the Site by a particular browser on a particular site.
- Third-parties may also automatically collect data about you.
Some embedded content on the Site may be served by third-party content providers. Please note that these companies may also use cookies, pixels, tags or other similar technologies to collect data about you, both on the Site and throughout the Internet. Data collection and use by those third-parties is subject to the privacy policies of those third-parties.
- Our "Do Not Track" (DNT) Policy
Some websites have "do not track" features that allow you to tell a website not to track you. We do not currently respond to those signals or similar mechanism transmitted by web browsers. To learn more about browser tracking signals and DNT, please visit http://allaboutdnt.org.
Use of Collected Data
We collect and use the types of data described above to assist in the administration and operation of the Site and to provide you an efficient, meaningful, and customized experience. We may use the data to:
- Fulfill our obligations with respect to the reason you volunteered the data (e.g., to respond to an inquiry, evaluate your job application, etc.);
- Allow you to participate in certain features of the Site;
- Improve the Site or our products, events and services;
- Optimize your experience on the Site (e.g., troubleshooting technical programs, storing your preferences, etc.);
- Notify you about changes to the Site (including this Privacy Policy);
- Carry out our obligations and enforce our rights arising from arrangements between you and us; and
- For any other purpose with your consent or as permitted by law.
Additionally, we may use the data for marketing purposes to:
- Provide you with additional information regarding products, events and services from BeyondSixFigures, and its subsidiaries and affiliated companies via email or through advertising on various social media platforms or websites (both desktop and mobile) that you may visit; and
- Develop, improve, and target our promotional messaging to you and others via retargeting, online behavioral advertising, and use of social media platform tools for advertising (such as creation of Facebook Lookalike Audiences).
Legal Basis for Processing Personal Data To the extent you provide us with personal data, we are processing your personal data under the following lawful basis:
- Consent: by clicking the opt-in button on the Site you consent to permit us to process your personal data for the purposes set forth in this Privacy Policy.
- Processing necessary for compliance with legal obligations.
Third-Party Websites and Third-Party Embedded Content
We do not control the privacy policies of third-party websites, our affiliates, service providers, and business partners which may be accessed, directly or indirectly, through your use of the Site. Any data you provide to, or that is collected by, third-party sites may be subject to the privacy policies of those sites (including third-party content embedded on the Site), if any. It is up to you to review the terms of use and privacy policy of third-party websites or third-party content originators.
How We Share Data
- Affiliates and Subsidiaries. We may share your data collected on this Site with our subsidiaries or affiliated companies.
- Service Providers. We may provide collected data to our service providers. They may use your data to perform services for us and may have access to, store and process your personal data to provide services on our behalf.
- Sponsors or Event Partners. In the instance of ticketed events, we may share your personal data with sponsors or event partners.
- Law Enforcement and Safety. We may also share or disclose your data to comply with a court order or other legal obligation, to enforce the Site terms of use, and to protect the rights, property or safety of our users and other third-parties. We may disclose data to government or law enforcement officials or private parties as we determine, in our sole and absolute discretion, is necessary or appropriate to respond to claims or to comply with legal processes, to comply with laws, regulations or ordinances or to prevent or stop illegal, unethical or actionable activity.
- Business Transfer. In the event that BeyondSixFigures undergoes a merger, acquisition by another company or sale of its assets, your data will, in most instances, be part of the assets transferred.
Your Rights under the GDPR
If you are accessing the Site from the European Economic Area, which includes the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway, you have the following rights under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
- Right to be informed about the collection and use of your personal data
- Right to access your personal data
- Right to have any inaccurate personal data corrected
- Right to have your personal data erased
- Right to restrict use of your personal data
- Right to personal data portability
- Right to object to the processing of your personal data
If you wish to exercise any of these rights under the GDPR, please email us at [email protected] or write to us at the address below with such request. We will respond to any requests without undue delay and no later than one-month after receipt of your request.
Opting-Out of Data Use or Withdrawing Consent
As described above, we collect personal data about you when you voluntarily provide it to us, collect other data about you and your use of the Site automatically when you interact with us. If you do not want us to use your collected data as described above or if you wish to withdraw your consent to permit us to process your personal data, please email us at [email protected]
If you no longer wish to receive communications from BeyondSixFigures, you can opt-out from receiving such messages in the future by following the instructions in the emails or contacting us at [email protected].
With respect to the Site's use of cookies, pixels, tags, and other similar technologies, by adjusting settings on your browser, you may elect not to allow cookies to be placed, and thus opt-out of certain features of the Site and the Site's automatic collection of certain data about you.
You may remove certain tracking technologies and opt-out of online behavioral advertising messaging by using the opt-out tools available from the Digital Advertising Alliance (DAA Opt-Out Tool) and the Network Advertising Initiative (NAI Opt-Out Tools). Please note that these opt-out tools are device and browser specific, so you must repeat the opt-out from each of your browsers and devices.
You may also adjust your advertising preferences on various social media websites by adjusting your Settings on the platform.
Protection and Retention of Data
We use appropriate technical and organizational measures to ensure a level of security appropriate to the risk and to safeguard your data in our possession. However, no data transmission over the Internet is completely secure and no security mechanism is impenetrable. Therefore, although we take steps to protect your data, we cannot guarantee the security of the data that we collect from you or the security of our servers or the Site. By accessing the Site, any transmission of data is at your own risk and you agree to assume all risk in connection with data sent to us or collected by us.
We retain data only as long as necessary in light of the reasons it was collected as set forth in this Privacy Policy, or until you inform us you wish to have your data deleted, whichever comes first. Please note that we may retain your data for longer periods of time as necessary to comply with our legal obligations or respond to governmental authorities.
Foreign Jurisdictions; Personal Data Transfers
The data that you provide to us or we obtain as a result of your use of this Site will be collected, stored, and processed in a destination outside the European Economic Area ("EEA") that may not be subject to equivalent data protection laws, including the United States. We may transfer your personal data outside the EEA in order to store it and enable us to provide advertising, products or services to you. Where your personal data is transferred outside the EEA, including the US, we will take all steps reasonably necessary to ensure that your data is subject to appropriate safeguards and ensure that your data is treated securely and in accordance with this Privacy Policy. By using this Site and/or providing us with your personal data, you (a) consent to the transfer and/or processing of any personal data outside the EEA, including to the U.S., (b) acknowledge that U.S. law may not be equivalent to the data protection laws of your location and (c) understand that we will collect, transfer, store, process and/or deal with your personal data in accordance with this Privacy Policy.
Children and Parents
We respect children's privacy. We do not target or knowingly or intentionally collect personally identifiable information from children under the age of 13. By using the Site, you have represented and warranted that you are either at least 18 years of age or using the Site with the supervision of a parent or guardian. If you are under the age of 13, you may not use the Site. If you become aware that your child has provided us with personal information without your consent, please email us at [email protected].
Your California Privacy Rights
If you are a resident of California, California law permits you to request certain information regarding the disclosure of your personal data by BeyondSixFigures, or its affiliates and subsidiaries, to a third-party for direct marketing purposes. To make such a request, please email us at [email protected].
Data Controllers
If you live in the United States, the data controller for the personal data that you provide or that is collected by BeyondSixFigures or its affiliates is BeyondSixFigures, LLC.
From time to time, we may update this Privacy Policy to reflect, among other things, changes in the law or our data collection and use practices and such modifications shall be effective upon posting by BeyondSixFigures. Your continued use of the Site after an updated Privacy Policy signifies your acceptance of the updated Privacy Policy. It is important that you review this Privacy Policy regularly to ensure you are updated as to any changes. If we make a material change to this Privacy Policy, as determined in our sole discretion, we will notify you via email.
Contact Us
If you have any general questions about this Privacy Policy or other aspects of the Site or would like to correct, update or erase data provided to us, please email us at [email protected]


text:
Proven Success
MERLIN Case Studies
The MEMEX smart manufacturing tool-kit makes data-driven manufacturing happen every day for manufacturers intent on realizing the promise of IIoT and Industry 4.0. From mid-size manufacturers like Homeyer Precision Manufacturing right up to multi-plant multinational giants like Mazak, the MERLIN software foundation of that tool-kit:
- Delivers a 10%-50% average productivity increase with an acknowledged industry leader
- Earns 20%-plus profit improvement based on just a 10% increase in Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE)
- Achieves payback in less than four months with an Internal Rate of Return (IRR) greater than 300%
- Ensures no machine is left behind, connecting them with MTConnect, other protocols, or MERLIN hardware adapters for older machines
- Reveals ongoing factory productivity gains and ROI for years to come with MEMEX's Continuous Improvement Fast-Track Services
MEMEX customer testimonials prove the power of MERLIN.
Case Studies
Customer Testimonials
We ended up choosing MERLIN for its ability to collect data using MTConnect adapters and through their Universal Machine Interface circuit board for legacy machines.
In particular we liked MERLIN's ability to display and report on information related to downtime and answer questions such as 'Why is the machine not running and what can we do to get it running?
"We have had a significant increase. In the last year and a half we have gone from an average of 40% OEE across the shop to 82% OEE across the shop."
"The Memex system is working great; the assistance is A+++"
"You saved us a tremendous amount of work." "Thanks for the help. I have downloaded the files suggested and the program recognizes our files and shuttle."
"In the metal cutting business, time is money and with the Memex tools we have minimized downtime, ensuring we maximize our revenue and profitability. Thank you very much for your support. The system is fully working…I would like you to know that the support provided by your technician was excellent. He was able to find out what the problem was with the Server and he fixed it very quickly. I was amazed about his skills and knowledge."
"The Memex memory boards and DNC software were able to eliminate data starvation so that the machines could run at full potential. The result was a 150% INCREASE in feed rates It is estimated that the increase in productivity will repay the costs to Ford before the payment is due."
"To have all production CNC programs loaded on a machine tool and reside there permanently would eliminate uploading and downloading programs on a daily basis. This saves us three hours per week per machining center. With 13 machining centers we estimate savings of nearly 2,000 hrs per year, representing over $200,000 of savings per year."
"We are thrilled with our 2 Port DNC system and your willingness and expertise to be of service."
"With 45+ machines we are thrilled with our connectivity and responsiveness to operators on the shop floor."
"We are very happy with our DNC system and the knowledge and technical support offered by your company."
"We were able to save $3,000 per week per gantry mill machine using Memex DNC software compared to your previous tape load times. This represents a significant cost savings for us."
"We are very happy with our DNC system and the customer service we have received."


text:
When I did my holiday gift guide over at TWC, I realized it was only fair to do a Berlin-specific gift guide for those of you who are local or on the hunt for delicious and pretty discoveries right here in town. Without further ado, here it is:
1. Sironi, a Milanese baker plying his goods in Kreuzberg's Markthalle Neun, makes a lovely panettone (€11), all wrapped up in cellphone and tied with a bow, that makes for a delicious gift. My mother, a panettone devotee, ate half of hers in about as many days and couldn't stop raving.
2. Paper & Tea, the loveliest tea store I've ever been to, already got a mention in my other gift guide, but I can't help but mention it again. Their teas are pretty great and the tea cups and pots sourced from all over Asia are astonishingly beautiful. We're hoping to take one of their tea seminars in the new year. Lately, I've been drinking their Harijan classic chai daily, with a splash of milk and a spoonful of honey. I highly recommend it - it's nicely balanced, with just the right amounts of warming spices.
3. If you've never been to the Hamann-Haus on the Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf border, it's worth a visit. While the factory is strictly off-limits to visitors, the shop is stocked with every single chocolate item Hamann makes. I'm obsessed with their chocolate St. Nikolauses, which I first spied at Andreas Murkudis. They are gothically stern, simple and mesmerizing and their size packs an amazing punch. They come in both dark and milk chocolate and in a whole variety of sizes. But my advice? Go big (see photo above).
4. Another place to visit, if you haven't already been, is the tiny Wald shop at the very western end of Pestalozzistrasse in Charlottenburg (stop in at Café Manstein afterwards for a reviving cup of tea). Wald, which has devoted fans all over the world, specializes in Königsberger Marzipan. Their painstakingly made and delicious marzipan confections come in little wooden boxes or simple cellphone bags and would please any of your sweet-toothed loves who prize artisanal craftsmanship and supporting a family business.
5. Any object from Hedwig Bollhagen, the iconic Bauhaus-influenced potter from Marwitz in Brandenburg, makes for a pretty fantastic gift - from stark black-and-white vases to the cozier striped tea sets or nesting bowls. You can buy Bollhagen ceramics at KaDeWe these days, but instead I suggest you make a little pilgrimage to the wonderful Bollhagen shop on Wilmersdorfer Strasse, which also sells vintage originals made by the woman herself.
6. Strictly speaking, Monkey 47's spirits aren't made in Berlin, but in the Black Forest. But let's stretch the rules a little here. Their gin, made with 47 botanical extracts, is too good to pass by. You can buy it in various other stores in Berlin, but if you go to Andreas Murkudis, you'll also get to ogle about a hundred other things to covet as well (Nymphenburg vases! Céline bags! This place is a wonderland for high rollers and a pretty museum for the rest of us, sigh.)
7. I know I already mentioned marzipan and chocolate, but I can't make a gift guide without also including Sawade's Marzipanbrot, which is the very best the city (the world?) has to offer. It comes in different sizes (the bigger, the better, in my opinion - their marzipan is really the best I've ever tasted) and is just so iconic. I've always been amazed that Sawade isn't better known outside of Berlin or Germany. But maybe it's best that it stays our little secret. They also make lovely chocolate Christmas ornaments, to be purchased in their three bricks-and-mortar stores or Karstadt.
8. While I love my little corner of Berlin, I would give at least one pinky finger to live closer to the wonderful food emporium that is Goldhahn & Sampson. Head there for any number of wondrous gifts: spectacular olive oils, vinegars, chocolates, great cookbooks, or the gift certificate to a cooking class (I want to attend at least - Mar y Seoul, anyone?). I'm so happy to have a place like G&S in our lovely city and only wish they could open an outpost for those of us in the west.
9. And finally, Paul Sullivan and his crew at Slow Travel Berlin have just published their guide to Berlin, 100 Favourite Places. With handdrawn maps and a thoughtful approach to showcasing all this city has to offer, this is a great gift for any Berlin lover, new or old. And today, Slow Travel Berlin is generous enough to give away one e-book to a Berlin on a Platter reader. So tell me, dear readers, what is on your wish list from Berlin this year? Leave me a comment below and I'll choose a winner at random tomorrow.
UPDATE: Wendy (ww1614) is the winner! Thanks for participating; the giveaway is now closed.
Happy holidays!