text:
- Original Article
- Open Access
Spatial clustering and risk factors of infant mortality: district-level assessment of high-focus states in India
- Ashish Kumar Gupta1Email author,
- Laishram Ladusingh2 and
- Kakoli Borkotoky1
© The Author(s) 2016
- Received: 22 June 2015
- Accepted: 8 March 2016
- Published: 14 July 2016
The study analyzes the spatial clustering and risk factors of infant mortality across high-focus states of India, using the Annual Health Survey (2010–2011), Census of India (2011), and District Level Household and Facility Survey-3 (2007–2008). Research has found substantial spatial autocorrelation across the districts and identified the "hot spots" characterized by higher infant mortality rate (IMR) in the districts of the central region (Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh) of India. This study has considered several theoretical perspectives and implements a series of spatial regression models that allows accounting for household amenities and mother/child and health facility variables to determine the key risk factors of infant mortality. Our empirical analysis underscores the importance of the infrastructure of the health facility in improving the infant mortality scenario of the districts. The regression results show that the districts with a higher proportion of 24-h functioning primary healthcare centers have overall less infant mortality. In addition, the absence of drinking water from a treated source, unavailability of toilet facilities, and higher proportion of people in the bottom wealth quintile in the household were adversely associated with the IMR. In conclusion, reduction of infant mortality would be possible only if area-specific measures would be adopted on those clusters of districts where infant mortality is high irrespective of the state they belong to.
- Infant Mortality Rate
- Birth Interval
- Ordinary Less Square Model
- Household Amenity
- High Infant Mortality Rate
Infant and child survival depend on a host of socioeconomic, environmental, and contextual factors. Determining the contribution of each of these factors provides useful feedback to the programs related to maternal and child health. The distribution of infant and child mortality and their determinants vary across genders, socioeconomic groups, and geographical regions. Mapping of the variation in infant mortality can help in improving programs in terms of the allocation of limited resources to those regions with high unmet needs of healthcare. It is also widely accepted that infant mortality is an indicator of both economic and social wellbeing and represents multiple social determinants of health (Rodwin and Neuberg, 2005).
Although infant mortality is declining worldwide, the pace of decline has been rather slow in India. A further concern is that it is uneven across regions and socioeconomic groups. Reduction in infant mortality is the major focus of India's maternal and child health programs from their inception (James 2014). However, given the current rate of decline and assuming a linear trend, India's infant mortality rate (IMR) would be about 42 in 2015. At this pace, the MDG 4 target of 28 would only be achieved in 2023–2024 (Reddy 2012). The unsatisfactory pace of decline of infant mortality is largely attributed to regional inequality in the improvement of IMRs. There is a cluster of states, namely Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Assam that has higher infant mortality than India's national average. More significantly, these states have 48.5 % of India's population and thus shape national targets related to infant and child mortality.
According to SRS (Registrar General of India 2014), the four states of Madhya Pradesh (MP), Assam (AS), Uttar Pradesh (UP), and Odisha (OD) have IMRs above 50, the highest in the country. However, state-level infant mortality has masked the intra-district clustering of infant mortality. An empirical examination of district-level infant mortality revealed that the numbers of districts having IMR above their respective state averages are 28 out of 45 in MP, 9 out of 23 in Assam, 34 out of 70 in UP, and 12 out of 30 in Odisha (RGI 2012).
The slow decline of infant mortality has been the concern of policy makers and researchers equally. The National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) by the Government of India in 2005 is regarded as the flagship public health program for improving infant and child health. Although significant progress has been achieved in this direction, the improvement is not uniform across regions/sub-groups of population in the high-focus states (Hussain 2011; Programme evaluation organization 2011). The high-focus states were designated as such by the Indian government because of their persistently high IMRs. In the context of intra-district variation in infant mortality, the main questions that emerge are as follows: Where are the "hot spots" of infant mortality in the high-focus states? Whether maternal- and child-level factors at the aggregated level are enough to explain regional disparity in IMR? Would district-level contextual factors be more appropriate for programmatic intervention? Could emphasis on health infrastructure in primary healthcare centers further improve infant survival? The objective of this paper is to address some of these questions by investigating the determinants of IMR in the high-focus states of India.
There is a sufficiently large body of documented research investigating the sociodemographic covariates of infant and child mortality. For decades, demographic research has pointed out that sociodemographic factors such as age of the mother, parity, birth interval, religion, place of residence, and standard of living/economic status have independent as well as combined effect on child survival (Stockel and Chaudhury 1972; Adlakha 1973; Hobcraft et al. 1984; Syamala 2004). Several studies have also emphasized the significant relationship between maternal characteristics such as education and age of the mother at the time of birth and infant and child mortality (Gubhaju 1985; Dasgupta 1990; Reichman and Pagnini 1997; Curtis et al. 1993; Sastry 1997). Some studies also discussed the rural-urban gap (or the urban advantage) in infant and child mortality (Dyson 1977; Cleland et al. 1992; Sastry 1997; Cai and Chongsuvivatwong 2006; Saikia et al. 2013). Besides, epidemiologist and medical geographers have long acknowledged geographic space and place as important determinants of health outcome disparities (Taylor 1975; Cutis and Rees 1998; Diez 2001; Krävdal 2004; Balk et al. 2004; Ladusingh and Singh 2006; Pradha and Arokiasamy 2006; Rodrigues et al. 2013).
Earlier studies using geo-spatial analysis (Singh et al. 2011) found evidence of the importance of spatial risk factors in explaining differential IMRs in the region. Adjusting for biophysical and geographical factors, Kumar et al. (2012) showed the importance of health program initiatives in curtailing under-five mortality in the high-focus states. These analyses suggest that there is a strong geographic clustering in IMR and that a substantial portion of this patterning remains even after controlling for socioeconomic and demographic variables.
The present study contributes to the debate about intra-district differentials and risk factors of IMR by reintroducing geography in a number of ways. Firstly, the study used detailed information about the household amenities, sociogeographic, demographic, healthcare utilization, and health facility variables at the district level as risk factors of IMR using geo-spatial methods for the high-focus states. Secondly, health facility variables are included in the analysis to show the spatial association between the availability of health infrastructure and IMR in the high-focus states. Finally, the identification of risk factors which accounts for the unevenness in the pace of decline in IMR would provide feedback for the betterment of backward and underdeveloped high-focus states of India.
Our attempt is consistent with recent studies that focused on exploring macro-level determinants of child health (Gouda et al. 2015; Goli and Jaleel 2014; Bhattacharya and Cornilius 2011). We have tried to show that there is a high degree of spatial clustering in IMR. Detailed data were used to demonstrate that the geographical clustering persists even after controlling for all the known household, maternal- and child-level, healthcare, and health facility variables. Later, a series of spatial maps are developed to investigate whether the clustering of IMR in a given area is related to conditions in the neighboring areas. These maps show that being adjacent to areas with high IMR appears to be an important predictor of high mortality in that area. IMRs can increase (or decrease) in a given area because of conditions in that area or because the area is adjacent to another in which mortality is increasing (or decreasing) through a combination of both the factors.
Data and methods
Data for analysis was drawn from 284 districts of the high-focus states. These states are Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand, and Assam. The district-level data for all nine states were obtained from the Annual Health Survey (2010–2011), Census (2011), and District level household and facility survey (DLHS-3; 2007–2008).
Realizing the need for decentralized district-based health planning in India, the Office of the Registrar General, Government of India, implemented the annual health survey (AHS) in all 284 districts (as per the 2001 census) of the eight EAG states and Assam (for a 3-year period) during the 11th 5-year plan period (2007–2012). These nine states, which account for about 48.5 % of India's total population, are designated as high-focus states in view of their poor maternal and child health outcome indicators and high fertility rates. For the first time in the country, the survey provides district-level estimates on a set of child mortality indicators, including infant mortality rate (IMR), under-five mortality rate (U5MR), neonatal mortality rate, and postnatal mortality rate in these high-focus states. AHS is the largest district-level survey in terms of sample size ever conducted in India and has been specially designed to generate estimates of IMR, neonatal and postnatal mortality rates, and U5MR at the district level. The sample size requirement is calculated for estimation of IMR within 1 % relative standard error (RSE). The district-level estimate of IMR from AHS is statistically robust as it is based on a very large sample size as shown in the Appendix.
The present study used the district-level estimates on IMR provided by the AHS conducted during 2010–2011 in the nine high-focus states as outcome variables.1 Further, household economic condition and maternal and child healthcare variables given in the AHS were used as predictors of infant mortality. Census 2011 covered 640 districts including 7935 towns and 640,867 villages. District-level information on household amenities such as availability of drinking water from a treated source, percentage literate and working females in the households, and percentage of urban households with drainage and sanitation facilities in the high-focus states was modeled with IMR.
Besides, information related to health facilities has been extracted from the facility survey of DLHS-3 (2007–2008). DLHS is the only source of information on health facilities along with maternal and child health indicators at the district level.
Description of the variables
Exposure variables used in spatial modeling the infant mortality in nine high-focus states in India, AHS (2010–2011) and DLHS-3 (2007–2008)
Description/data source
Total infant deaths aged below 1 year per 1000 live births (infant deaths/total live births * 1000) (AHS 2010)
The information on children suffering from ARI in respect of all the living children [last two outcomes of pregnancy(s) resulting in live births during the reference period, i.e., 2007–2009] during 15 days preceding the date the survey has been collected (AHS 2010)
The information on children suffering from diarrhea in respect of all the living children [last two outcomes of pregnancy(s) resulting in live births during the reference period, i.e., 2007–2009] during 15 days preceding the date the survey has been collected. (AHS 2010)
Female work participation
Total female workers irrespective of type of work/total female population * 100 (Census 2011)
Proportion of urban population
Total of urban population/total population * 100 (Census 2011)
Bottom wealth quintile
The wealth index is computed using household assets in AHS and used in this study. Lowest quintile is considered in the analysis as a proxy of low socioeconomic status (AHS 2010).
Drainage facility
Includes both open and closed drainage available in a household (Census 2011)
Drinking water from treated water
Includes drinking water from a treated/untreated source, covered well, and tube well/borehole/hand pump at the household level (Census 2011)
Improved toilet facilities
Includes flush toilet, piped to a sewer system or a septic tank, and a pit with slab/ventilated improved pit
Average Household Size
Number of members in a household (AHS 2010)
Percentage of household with kachha house/electricity
Percentage of household with kachha house and electricity (Census 2011)
Drinking water from a treated source
This is considered as the availability of drinking water from a treated source in a household. (Census 2011)
Percentage of SC/ST
(Percentage of SC/total population) * 100 (Census 2011)
Percentage of literate women
Defined using percentage of literate women in district (Census 2011)
Percentage of safe delivery
Based on proportion of women's reporting safe delivery (AHS, 2-11)
Percentage of women with more than 3 ANC
Based on proportion of women's reporting more than 3 ANC (DLHS-3)
Percentage of children who received care within 24 h of birth (PNC)
Based on proportion of women's receiving care within 24 h of birth (DLHS-3)
Percentage of women availed JSY
Based on proportion of women's receiving care within 24 h of birth (DLHS-3)
Proportion of PHC functional 24 h in districts
Calculated based on facility information whether PHC functional 24 h. (DLHS-3)
Distance to district hospital
Based on facility information distance to district hospital (DLHS-3)
Percentage of PHC with labor room available in district
Information obtained from facility survey percentage of PHC having labor room (DLHS-3)
Average population covered by PHC
Calculated based on facility information at PHC level (DLHS-3)
Access to toilet facilities, drinking water from a treated source, and availability of electricity were used as the proxy indicators of household amenities to examine their relationship with infant mortality. Variables such as birth interval, low birth weight, incidence of acute respiratory infection (ARI), and diarrhea are included in the analysis to control for the maternal/child confounders. In order to capture the effect of healthcare utilization on infant survival, variables such as mothers who received three or more ante natal care (ANC), percentage of women who had a safe delivery, and those who received postnatal care are included. In most of the literature available in the public domain, the component of health facility has not been investigated while analyzing the risk factors for IMR. In this study, health facility variables such as 24-h fully functioning primary health centers (PHCs), distance to the district hospital, population covered by a PHC, and 24-h operation theater (OT) have also been incorporated.
The methods used in this paper are described in the following sections. First, district-level maps of IMR were generated using Arc-GIS to determine the spatial patterns for the high-focus states of India.
Computation of spatial autocorrelation index
The computation of spatial autocorrelation requires construction of a matrix known as spatial weight matrix (W) to quantify the spatial proximity between each possible pair of observational units. The matrix can be constructed in different ways depending on the definition of the neighbor employed. The simplest way is to construct a binary connectivity matrix. An element w ij of a binary connectivity matrix W equals unity if district j adjoins district i and equals zero in all the other cases. To observe the spatial clustering of infant mortality across districts, Moran's I Index is computed to measure the extent of the autocorrelation among the neighborhood sections of society. Spatial analysis software, GeoDa 1.6.0, is used to compute Moran's I statistic and to generate respective cluster maps (Anselin et al. 2006). The index used to observe spatial autocorrelation at the local level is Anselin's LISA, which can be seen as the local equivalent of Moran's I. For each location, LISA values allow for the computation of its similarity with its neighbors and also test its significance.
Locations with high values, with similar neighbors (high-high). Such locations are also known as "hot spots."
Location with low values, with similar neighbors (low-low). These are also known as "cold spots."
Locations with high values, but with low-value neighbors (high-low). These locations are referred to as potential "spatial outliers."
Locations with low values, but with high-value neighbors (low-high). These are referred to as potential "spatial outliers."
Locations with no significant local autocorrelation.
Bivariate LISA: spatial pattern in association between IMR and selected predictors
The purpose of bivariate LISA is to analyze the association of certain characteristics of districts with their IMR level. In this section, an attempt has been made to explore the association between IMR levels of the area with those of the average neighboring value of another variable. For this purpose, the percentage of women who received more than three ANC and had a safe delivery, percentage of households in the bottom wealth quintile, and percentage of women who availed of Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) facilities are considered for the study of bivariate association.
Spatial risk factors of IMR
After confirming the presence of spatial autocorrelation in IMR across the high-focus districts, it is possible that such correlation in dependent variables may lead to correlation among the error terms rendering the ordinary least square (OLS) estimator inappropriate owing to violation of its underlying assumptions. Spatial regression technique is used to examine determinants of infant mortality.
Spatial regression
The "spatial effect" can be modeled in the following two ways:
Spatial lag model
Here, ρ is the spatial lag parameter, W is the spatial weight matrix, X is the vector of explanatory variables, and β is the corresponding coefficient vector. It is assumed here that the error term ε is identically and independently distributed (iid) although one can correct for heteroscedasticity (Anselin et al. 2006). The OLS would, therefore, provide biased and inconsistent estimates of the model parameters due to simultaneity bias.
Spatial error model
Here, λ is the spatial autoregressive parameter and the error μ is the iid. Thus, this is a special case of regression with a non-spherical error term and in which OLS, although unbiased, is inefficient. Therefore, here, the spatial regression takes into account proximity among geographical units through the weight matrix W. Both spatial error and spatial lag models are estimated by maximizing the corresponding likelihood functions discussed further by Anselin et al. (2006).
Descriptive findings and model result
Thus, the four quadrants of the Moran scatter plot depict the section with high IMR (high-high) in a manner similar to the section characterized by low IMR surrounded by the section having low IMR (low-low) and the spatial outlier sections as low-high and high-low. Overall, Global Moran's spatial autocorrelation is 0.447 (p < 0.01, 999 permutations) implying moderate correlation but significant positive association with the levels of IMR in the high-focus districts. Therefore, there is a need to analyze spatial clustering at the local level to identify the areas with significant clustering of the values.
LISA maps for IMR of high-focus districts
For obtaining significant clustering of IMR values, we tried to generate the LISA cluster maps. The LISA cluster map (Fig. 1b) shows high-high clustering (red color), low-low clustering (green color), and the spatial outlier. From the cluster map, it can be seen that the red and green sections have significant neighborhood clustering and that the pattern cannot be analyzed by Global Moran's I autocorrelation index. We can also see that all hot-spot (high-high) districts are located in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh (at a 5 % level of significance), while the cold-spot (low-low) districts are located in Jharkhand and Uttarakhand. Before turning to spatial regression models, an attempt was made to show the spatial clustering of IMR and its association with the selected predictors.
Bivariate LISA statistic for IMR and selected predictors
Spatial regressions and diagnostics
Result of OLS model and spatial error model assessing determinants of IMR, High Focus States, 2010–2011
Mother + child
Health facility
Mother + child
Health facility
% urban household
% household in lowest quintile
Treated water
Average household size
% household living in kachha house
Access to improved toilet facilities
% household with access to electricity
% household with no drainage facility
% of SC
% of ST
% women with literacy
% working women
% children with 3 years' birth interval
% children with low birth weight
% children suffered from diarrhea
% children who had ARI
% children breastfed within 1 h
% safe delivery
% women with 3+ ANC
% children who received care within 24 h of birth
24 h PHC
Distance to DH
Labor room available
Pop PHC
Result of Spatial Lag model assessing determinants of IMR, High Focus States, 2010–2011
Mother + child
Health facility
% urban household
% household in lowest quintile
Treated water
Average household size
% household living in kachha house
Access to improved toilets facility
% household with access to electricity
% household with no drainage facility
% of SC
% of ST
% women with effective literacy
% working women
% children with 3 years' birth interval
% children with low birth weight
% children suffered from diarrhea
% children who had ARI
% children breastfed within 1 h
% safe delivery
% women with 3+ ANC
% children who received care within 24 h of birth
24 h functioning of PHC
Distance to DH
Labor room available
Population covered by PHC
Spatial dependence and diagnostic analysis
Diagnostics test
OLS model
Spatial error model
Spatial lag model
Adjusted R-squared
Lagrange multiplier (lag)
Lagrange multiplier (error)
Breusch-Pagan test
Despite the progress towards improving the pace of decline in infant mortality in these nine high-focus states during last four decades, India is sure to fall short of the child mortality-related Millennium Development Goal (Reddy 2012). Most of the research has highlighted the importance of maternal-, child-, and community-level variables as the factors that contribute to the slow decline of infant mortality. However, there are no studies that have used a comprehensive set of models based on potential household amenities, mother and child variables, and healthcare and health facility factors using exploratory spatial data analysis. This omission is related to the paucity of district-level information on socioeconomic and mortality indicators as well as the complexity involved in the spatial analysis. Spatial analyses are important for policy intervention at the district level as it explains intra-district variation more appropriately than by individual-, maternal-, or household-level factors. This paper assesses the significance of spatial clusters and risk factors in explaining the regional variation in IMR. However, there has been few attempts to analyze the association between spatial factors and child health indicators emphasizing change in contextual factors such as environmental covariates (Kumar et al. 2012) or spatial correlates (Singh et al. 2011). The novelty of the attempt is to render reasonable explanations of spatial clustering and risk factors of IMR by joining health and location data in the nine high-focus states.
The observed spatial pattern leads to computation of the strength of spatial clustering of infant mortality across the high-focus states of India. The significant positive Moran's I spatial correlation index of infant mortality suggests that similar traits (high/low mortality zone) are concentrated at some specific areal pockets not uniform over the whole high-focus states. The local indicator of spatial association (LISA) statistic identifies the district from the central and eastern regions (Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh) as the hot spot (having high infant death surrounded by high-value neighbors) and few districts of Jharkhand and Uttarakhand as the cold spot (low-low clustering). The bivariate LISA suggests that there are certain sections (districts) in the central and eastern regions of India that indicate the association of the selected predictor and IMR.
The analysis pointed out that the OLS model overestimated the coefficients of the model with lower R-square values. Hence, the spatial error and lag models were used for this purpose. The analysis suggests household amenities such as drinking water from treated sources and access to toilet facilities have significant association with infant mortality. In states such as Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar, none of the districts make the mentioned amenities available to even half of the households. These are demographically important states since more than one third of infant deaths occur in these three states in India (RGI 2014). Many hypotheses have been proposed for the mechanism through which increased education could lead to reduction in infant and child mortality rates, through timely use of healthcare services, economic advantages, high autonomy, and improved status in family and society (Levine and Rowe 2009). This finding also supports the hypothesis that female education is one of the driving forces for reducing IMR. This finding is particularly imperative for these nine high-focus states in the wake of the fact that nearly three in five women in these states had no or below primary level education (Singh et al. 2013). According to the 2011 Census of India, 72 districts from the high-focus states had very low levels of female literacy (<50 %) (RGI 2011). More precisely, female literacy at the district level is crucial as a catalyst for the trickling down of good practices on child care including healthcare utilization. The significant inverse association between the aggregate female literacy rate and district IMR reiterates the importance of improving female literacy to pave the way for faster reduction in IMR. The significance of district-level female literacy in reducing infant mortality at the aggregate level is also a reflection of the sociocultural practices of women in Indian society, and this fact has been ignored by demographers, social statisticians, and population geographers (Ladusingh and Singh 2006).
According to the Wilkinson income hypothesis (Wilkinson 1997), income inequality has deterrent effect on health outcome and it has been overlooked in analyzing regional variation in IMR in India. Wealth quintiles constructed on the basis of assets owned by households are a close approximation to income (Filmer and Pritchett 1999; Vyas and Kumaranayake 2006). Analyzing the effect of the proportion of households in the bottom wealth quintile on district IMR allows testing of Wilkinson's hypothesis. The finding that the higher the proportion of households in the bottom wealth quintile the higher is the IMR is a confirmation of this hypothesis and agrees with that of similar results (Shi 1999; Wilkinson 1992, 1999; Filmer and Pritchett 1999). The findings from spatial regression also confirm the positive association between percent of the household in the bottom wealth quintile and IMR. Intervention to increase access to livelihood can pave the way for reducing income inequality and reduce IMR. Factors related to pre- and postnatal care, e.g., ANC, safe delivery, PNC, and variables related to personal illness control such as recent episodes of ARI and diarrhea among children have statistically significant association with infant mortality, which is in concordance with other studies in India (Gokhale et al. 2002; Gouda et al. 2015). Interestingly, analysis reveals that labor force participation, birth weight, and birth interval were not associated with IMR in the spatial lag as well as error models.
This analysis further brings out that regional inequality of infant death within India is a major area of concern. The central region comprising Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh is the poorest in terms of infant deaths. One of the vital contributions of this study to existing literature is that the analysis has considered the health infrastructure variable as a crucial determinant of IMR. This study concluded that the increase in the population burden on PHCs has reduced the chances of survival; likewise, infrastructure in terms of manpower and newborn-care facility were significantly associated with survival of the infant. The results highlight that the well-functioning of PHCs especially the emergency obstetric care (labor room availability) matters in reducing infant deaths, particularly in the high-focus states.
Despite a consistent decline in infant mortality over the last decade or so, these rates remain high in India. Though demographic and epidemiological literature underscores the importance of geographic space in assessing clustering and risk factors of IMR, there has been no study examining the links between IMR and household amenities, MCH variable, and healthcare and infrastructure factors using exploratory spatial data analysis. Nationally representative household-level data with survey data on health facilities were linked to examine the spatial clusters and determinants of IMR. The findings help in theorizing the link between district IMR and its spatial determinants. The result of the analysis justifies the use of exploratory spatial data analysis for identifying population clusters with high-risk IMR. Reduction of infant mortality would be possible only if area-specific measures would be adopted. The focus should be on those clusters of districts where infant mortality is high irrespective of the states to which they belong. Strengthening the primary healthcare center in the context of 24-h availability of the labor room and the well-functioning of the PHC may help immensely in terms of averting newborn death. The use of spatial analysis is recommended as it can provide more accurate spatial patterns of infant mortality and thus allows public health authorities to closely monitor this indicator. In conclusion, achieving future infant and child mortality goals in India would be a realistic target, when concerted interventions are made to minimize barriers at the district level particularly in these nine high-focus states.
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text:
Do unto drivers as you would have done unto you.
A road map to better driver relations comes courtesy of a recent workplace study. The survey produces a global snapshot of worker viewpoints. Its results are as applicable to managing drivers as to any other labor force.
The International Workforce Management Study, commissioned by London-based Gemini Consulting, surveyed over 10,300 workers in 13 countries, including the U.S., Japan, and European states.
Here are some key findings pertaining to U.S. workers: 1)They want jobs they enjoy; that allow balance between work and personal life; provide good pay; offer security; and have pleasant coworkers.
2)U.S. employers "don't measure up" to workers' top expectations - with real disparities noted in terms of life/work balance, pay, security, enjoyment, and respect.
3)Americans believe their employers don't value initiative or skills development. However, they feel their jobs meet their needs for flexibility and pleasant coworkers.
4) Employees here are extremely proud to work for their companies. But 66% of the Americans would "quit tomorrow" for more opportunity, more pay, or more flexible hours.
5) American workers take themselves very seriously, but their companies' missions less so. A full 84% say their work is extremely or very important to an organization's overall success.
6) U.S. workers are just as likely as any others to view the technology involved in their jobs as old and out of date. Yet Americans were more likely to view technology as offering benefits.
Skip the stuff about the desire for pleasant coworkers (except where team operations are concerned) and the survey results bear a startling resemblance to the desires stated by countless truck drivers to legions of journalists.
Now, that may not come as a surprise. But there's an eye-opener attached. If this global study so closely mirrors the thinking of truck drivers, then they can't be all that different than your other workers. And therefore should not be much different or more difficult to manage.
That is unless a fleet's attitude toward drivers remains unadjusted, continuing to deal with them only by narrowly viewing them "as a breed apart."
For every trucker I've met who fits the classic grungy-cowboy-biker stereotype down to his gnarly T-shirt, I've also made the acquaintance of one or more drivers whose outward appearance would leave anyone guessing what they do for a living.
The point is very few of us are really all that different than the rest. In other words, the things truck drivers need and want from their employers are essentially the same as those sought by any worker the world over.
The question should be not how to get along with drivers, but how to work with those employees who are charged with the important responsibility of driving truck equipment.
Granted, that's a slight if not semantic distinction. But adopting it should filter confrontational posturing and elitist bias out of fleet programs and policies. To be sure, drivers may not know what hit them. But be assured they'll like your new attitude.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
- Every Person a Healthy Person
To encourage, promote and assure the development of an active, healthy community through innovative public health practices
Core Values
- Responsiveness and commitment to our community
- Accountability and integrity in our operation
- Excellence through evidence-based and innovative practices
Leading by example
Strategic Priorities
- How do we continually assure that Knox County Health Department infrastructure empowers us to be at the forefront of Public Health?
- How do we establish community wide understanding and value for Public Health?
- How do we respond effectively to our community's public health issues?
- How do we facilitate a community approach to better health?


text:
The Talkroute mobile app pulls your call history from your online account. It may take up to 1 min for a new call to display in your local call history.
Why is a recently placed or received call not showing in my call history?
Have more questions? Submit a request


text:
|Grabbing opportunity
|The DTTI and India-US defence relations Defence Trade and Technology Initiative (DTTI), if implemented in true spirit, will add a new dimension to India-US defence relations as it has the potentials of turning the buyer seller relationship into co-producer and co–developer of weapons systems. But the US defence industry is concerned with roadblocks enunciated in Indian FDI policy announced just on the day of US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel's arrival in New Delhi. This was pointed out during the Hagel- Jaitley meeting and publicly raised by Hagel during the ORF public lecture, as he sought clarifications from India on the 49 percent FDI limit in joint ventures. However, the US defence industry is enthused by its emergence of top supplier of weapon systems and platforms to India during the last three years surpassing Russia, France and Israel which were the top three defence suppliers in recent years. Since the Indian armed forces are likely to acquire defence systems worth over US$ 100 billion in the next decade, the US defence industry is eager to grab a big chunk of possible acquisitions. However, since Indian defence ministry has in recent years introduced a policy of indigenization in arms industry through the offset limits of over 30 to 50 percent for weapon acquisitions worth over US$ 300 million, the multinational arms companies are gradually adjusting their defence exports policy to India in order to win multi- billion dollar d
|For complete reading, kindly subscribe the print edition of Strategic Affairs magazine.
Contact us: email@example.com, +91-11-41830315


text:
Naples Culture
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- Summary
The two most famous ruins of Roman settlements have to be Pompeii and Herculaneum. Pompeii was preserved in ash by a Vesuvian eruption in 79 AD, leaving behind networks of cobbled streets, half-formed temples, residences, a forum, and even petrified human remains. Herculaneum is a smaller settlement of block houses, villas, and social gathering places also covered by the eruption of 79 AD. Accessed from the modern town of Ercolano that has been built around it, this ruin has seen deterioration since being unearthed, but still has plenty for travelers to see in a half-day trip. Despite the majority of their artifacts having been placed in the Naples Archaeological Museum, there is still so much at both of these sites that still inform us of a society two thousand years old.
As far as the historic center of Naples (Centro Storico) is concerned, as long as you heed our warnings about it not being as well-kept as may be the case with other major European cities, you'll actually enjoy much of what there is to offer. There are a handful of central plazas that are quite popular with tourists and prove to be hubs of social activity for the locals. The Piazza del Plebescito is the most grandiose of the squares, with the Church of San Francesco di Paola (reminiscent of the Pantheon in Rome) and the stately Royal Palace lining its fringes. The Piazza San Domenico Maggiore is more homely, and is known for the 500-year-old obelisk at its center and the two churches that face it. There are a number of pedestrian streets in the area, including the central Spaccanapoli, a narrow, east-west thoroughfare that has served the city for many centuries. A last highlight of the old town is Napoli Sotterranea, an underground network of caverns that were originally built by Greek settlers and later used as air raid shelters during WWII.
If you're looking for a more clean, modern part of the city, you can head to the shore (the coastal neighborhood of Chiaia is known for the Castel dell'Ovo) or head up the hill to Vomero. A more affluent part of the city, Vomero is known for its handful of shopping streets, pizzerias, and views over the city and the bay from landmarks like Castel Sant'Elmo and Certosa di San Martino, the first of which is an accessible fortress and the second of which is a large, ancient monastery.
If castles are your thing, Castello Aragonese on the nearby island of Ischia is quite possibly the coolest in the region due the fact that it perches on an island unto itself. The Amalfi Coast to the south is also quite an adventure, although you'll find it to be far overpriced and over-touristed if you plan on actually doing more than marvel at the views from the coastal road at the ocean far below.
If you're intrigued by any of the activities mentioned herein, take a look at our individual culture listings. We also have travel videos and a willing and engaged community to get you going on your next big trip.Vomero-Much nicer area on a hill, at the top is Castel Sant'Elmo and Certosa di San Martino (great views). A lot of pedestrian shopping streets and local flair. other must-see sights- Castel dell'Ovo, Castello Aragonese on Ischia, Amalfi Coast, Pompeii, Herculaneum


text:
As of now the unique Burmester sound is also an attractive option for the new generation of the Porsche Carrera, the Cayman and the Boxster. Compact and powerful: For a matchless solution as it can originate in this world only from this combination.
The fully active drive of all twelve speaker chassis by dedicated amplifier channels ensures an optimal adaptation of the sound system to the vehicle and its tailor-made interior. It provides the music reproduction with top athlete dynamics and, owing to an intelligent, optimized time behavior, also a truly convincing spatial stage imaging.
Air Motion Transformers (AMT) with their large, feather–light diaphragms combine maximum precision with unsurpassed response characteristics and exemplary dynamic effi ciency. Racer–like lightweight construction also in the electronics department: with an efficient, powerful sounding amplifi er technology in a hybrid design. Soundwise the mid– and high–frequency reproduction benefits from the class A/B amplifi ers, and class D power amps for the bass range help reduce weight and current drain. Light neodymium magnets, precisely computed aluminium speakers baskets and weight–reduced plastic composite materials let the system performance stand head and shoulders way above its weight category.


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Are you in the Bay Area on Saturday March 14, 1:30 – 3:30? If so, please drop by the Petaluma Copperfield's Bookstore, a Meet & Greet where I'll have a table near the entrance and I'll be saying hello and signing books. San Rafael Copperfield's is hosting a second authorRead more →
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Writing the stories of your life doesn't happen in a day. It takes more than inspiration, writing when the urge strikes. It takes time and dedication. It wants the details that lift the story off the page, that take a reader there along with you, that share you with themRead more →


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December 2013
Chocolatier Cafe
Love food. Will
travel. That's sort of been my motto, and I've traveled far and
wide to indulge my passion.
Though I've
enjoyed sipping sake with a Buddhist monk and his family in Japan and
delighted in tasting bilberry and cardamom ice cream in Finland with
the ice cream maker, some of the best foodie trips I've discovered
are much closer to home. Here are four Wisconsin destinations you'll
want to visit and indulge.
Kohler is
Any discussion
of food trips — or even day trips — from Milwaukee has to include
Kohler. It's a foodie town, and not just when it plays host to the
likes of Jacques Pepin during the Kohler Food & Wine Experience.
From the American Club Resort's famed Immigrant Room to the
chocolate mecca called Craverie, the experience is five star every
step of the way.
We stayed at the
Inn on Woodlake, the modern-style boutique hotel with lake views and a
putting green out back that's steps away from shopping and the
aforementioned chocolate haven. We enjoyed a delightful chocolate
breakfast at Craverie Chocolatier Cafe. You'll want stop by the
candy counter and pick up some terrapins (as we did) or other
delectable treats for home.
The Winery Bar
My husband,
Kyle, and our son, QJ, also enjoyed s'mores, made tableside, after
our fireside dinner at Black Wolf Run restaurant.
I enjoyed a
culinary-themed pedicure and manicure at the Kohler Waters Spa. While
my feet were being massaged with an apple scrub, I enjoyed a glass of
sparkling cider, after which my hands were massaged with a
melon-scented lotion. During February's chocolate extravaganza
weekend don't miss the special chocolate mint treatment.
Before our
Saturday night dinner, we enjoyed Wisconsin cheeses paired with some
fascinating wines in The Winery Bar at the American Club. I tasted a
new-to-me cheese called Bohemian blue, made by Tony and Julie Hook
with Driftless sheep's milk. (After writing three cheese books,
finding such cheeses are gems.) I also enjoyed a conversation with
sommelier and mixologist Jason Van Auken, who is barrel-aging a
cocktail with Wisconsin's Death's Door gin. He plans to stop the
aging process at three months, six months and nine months.
Kohler Water Spa
The foodie
highlights of my weekend getaway included the Wisconsin Room's local
tasting menu for Saturday night dinner and its Sunday brunch. All of
the smoked seafoods, including local trout, whitefish and salmon, are
smoked and cured in-house, and they are melt-in-your-mouth amazing. I
particularly enjoyed chef Alexander Glass' smoked mussels.
At dinner, I
enjoyed the wedge salad. Wedge salads aren't fancy — iceberg
lettuce, blue cheese and maybe a few tomatoes. But Glass uses tomatoes
that are grown in a patio garden, just outside the restaurant's
windows, and he makes a ranch-style dressing using herbs grown in that
same garden. He also makes the bacon in-house, and he smokes the
artisan blue cheese in the smoker. Come winter, he will still be using
those same heirloom tomatoes, but they'll be preserved so the salad
will have a different taste to it.
A winter return
visit is already in order to the luxurious resort where food, wine and
atmosphere bring pampering to new levels.
Madison, a
perennial favorite
From roaming the
shops on State Street to checking out new restaurants or catching a
concert or show, our state capitol is always hopping.
On past visits I've
supped at L'Etoile, enjoyed a red velvet shake and truffle fries at
DLUX, and gobbled dark chocolate truffles at Gail Ambrosius
Chocolatier. I've munched on Brie at Fromagination, spent hours
strolling through the Dane County Farmers' Market, and tasted my way
through Jeanne Carpenter's Wisconsin Cheese Originals festival every
On our most
recent trip we visited Gates & Brovi and Sardine, both owned by
James Beard Foundation Best Chef Midwest semifinalists John Gadau and
Phillip Hurley.
Gates &
Brovi is aptly described as an "Italian-style fish house meets
Wisconsin tavern." I enjoyed a barrel-aged Manhattan with the
night's special, a fork-tender beef brisket. Kyle enjoyed his trout
— and QJ's pepperoni and mushroom pizza. Kyle's sea salt and
caramel drizzled apple pie won first place at the Wisconsin State
Fair. I would have been envious if I hadn't so thoroughly enjoyed my
cherry soda ice cream float.
Campus Inn
We stayed at the
boutique hotel, the Campus Inn, located in the midst of the University
of Wisconsin campus, the state capitol and downtown Madison.
At Sardine we
enjoyed Sunday brunch of baked creamed eggs with Gruyere and
prosciutto and crab, and bacon and rock shrimp cakes with eggs. This
classic bistro offers an enchanting setting on the shore of Lake
A nearby food
collective called The Underground Butcher is a supplier for Sardine,
which we visited — twice. I liked the cured sausages at The
Underground Butcher so much that I picked up some steaks and fresh
sausages to take home. The boar pepperoni and Tuscan salami are new
Leave it to
Madison to have what is likely the country's first community
supported brewery, The House of Brews, where people can partake in
beers on a weekly or monthly basis. Kyle's favorite was the
whiskey-barreled-aged Rickhouse Stout.
I'll have to
wait until next time to check off a visit Death's Door Distillery or
gourmet retailer Orange Tree Imports from my Madison bucket list,
which can't be too soon.
The Baker House
Lake Geneva
I remember
summers boating on the lake, devouring chocolate chip pancakes at
Millie's and chewing taffy candy, which I begged my parents for from
the candy store in the Riviera. I can still taste that sweet, tangy
candy clinging to my teeth.
As an adult, my
tastes have expanded beyond sticky taffy. On previous trips we've
enjoyed the seafood buffet at the Grand Geneva. For this visit we
stayed on the lake at The Abbey Resort, where I enjoyed a massage at
the Avani Spa.
Our weekend's
culinary explorations started with grilled chicken kebobs and a Friday
fish fry at Popeye's on Lake Geneva. While Millie's pancake house
was my childhood favorite, Popeye's was Kyle's, and it brims with
life and liveliness. (Millie's closed this year after 48 years in
Simple Cafe
We enjoyed a
Saturday brunch at the Simple Cafe. Warm, yet modern, this
farm-to-table restaurant has a sister restaurant on Farwell Avenue in
Kyle dined on a
perfect squash bisque, and we split a roasted vegetable salad. I
savored an interesting version of eggs Benedict crafted with Creole
hollandaise, chicken sausage and polenta cakes.
After lunch we
stopped by Wisconsin's only "urban" winery, the Studio
Winery. The owners import grapes from both the West Coast and
Michigan. For $10, I enjoyed a tasting of five wines. The best? The
Mode du Rhone, a French-styled Syrah that was bold and just a bit
For dinner we
visited The Abbey's Waterfront Restaurant. Located right on the
marina, this casual restaurant specializes in barbecue. During warmer
weather the restaurant smokes all of its meats in a smoker, right next
to the patio. The menu was designed by Matthew Whiteford, an
award-winning pit master from the Chicago area. Kyle and QJ enjoyed
the smoky, meaty ribs, while I cleaned my plate of the barbecue pork
quesadillas. We couldn't finish our bananas foster cheesecake so we
had to take it home. Next time, I'll remember to save room for it.
We had Sunday
brunch at The Baker House at the suggestion of my massage therapist at
the spa. The Baker House is a Victorian mansion that's now a bed and
breakfast and restaurant. You feel like you're dining in someone's
living room, sitting at side tables or at the non-spinning end of a
craps table. If you like, you can borrow one of the restaurant's
antique hats while you dine. Made to order eggs Benedict, crab cakes
and a plethora of desserts are some of the specialties.
The next time we
return to The Abbey, we'll try the fine dining restaurant. By next
spring, that restaurant, the Fontana Grill, will be completely
transformed. The new (not yet named) restaurant will feature both an
updated decor and a more locally focused menu.
Aspira Spa
Elkhart Lake
We've enjoyed
races at Road America, unwound with massages at the Aspira Spa at The
Osthoff Resort, and simply enjoyed the lake views when we've visited
this western Sheboygan County community.
But our favorite
thing to do in Elkhart Lake is eat and drink. The crown jewel at The
Osthoff Resort is Lola's on the Lake. I enjoyed the succulent, sweet
scallops that were perfectly caramelized. If you aren't careful, you'll
fill up on the classically prepared breads — the whole grain slices,
cheddar-laced puffy rolls and garlic-studded focaccia. Pace yourself
— the chocolate trio is a dessert worth waiting for.
For a casual
option, Otto's Restaurant is the restaurant of choice. While the
ambiance was casual, the food was more bistro than family diner.
The next time I
stay at The Osthoff, I'm going to make sure I visit on a weekend
that the resort's culinary school has classes. I got a peak at the
classroom — a gorgeous French-styled kitchen with several cooking
stations. L'ecole de la Maison offers instruction on French bistro
cooking, Italian trattoria, as well as on artisan breads, Thanksgiving
dinners and more. The classes alone seem worth a trip.
Lake Street Cafe
If you stay at
The Osthoff Resort, the dining options are so good you might not want
to venture into town. That would be a shame, because for such a tiny
town — less than 1,000 people — Elkhart Lake has some amazing
The family
friendly Lake Street Cafe seems like a pizzeria/tavern combo from the
exterior, but the menu is upscale, featuring dishes from pork rillette
to duck confit to beef cheeks. The lobster bisque is memorable, and
the wine list is pretty extensive.
Also worth a
stop is Vintage Elkhart Lake wine shop and tasting bar. Run by
certified sommelier Jaclyn Stuart, this shop sells more than 200
bottles of vino, with more than 40 under $14. Stuart regularly offers
fun and approachable wine classes, from wine and painting to wine and
chocolate pairing. Stuart knows quite a bit about pairing (she's my
co-author of "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Wine and Food
Pairing"), and every time I've visited her shop, I've learned
something new about wine and come away with a new bottle to try.
Champagne and kettle potato chips — who knew?
Our visit to
Elkhart Lake was much too short. We didn't have time to dine at the
Back Porch Bistro and the Paddock Club, two restaurants foodie friends
have recommended. And there's a summer tiki bar at the Victorian
Villa that has a mai tai with my name on it, I'm sure of it.


text:
Store "unread" flags
There's an array of messages:
let messages = [
{text: "Hello", from: "John"},
{text: "How goes?", from: "John"},
{text: "See you soon", from: "Alice"}
Your code can access it, but the messages are managed by someone else's code. New messages are added, old ones are removed regularly by that code, and you don't know the exact moments when it happens.
Now, which data structure you could use to store information whether the message "have been read"? The structure must be well-suited to give the answer "was it read?" for the given message object.
P.S. When a message is removed from
messages, it should disappear from your structure as well.
P.P.S. We shouldn't modify message objects directly. If they are managed by someone else's code, then adding extra properties to them may have bad consequences.
The sane choice here is a
let messages = [
{text: "Hello", from: "John"},
{text: "How goes?", from: "John"},
{text: "See you soon", from: "Alice"}
let readMessages = new WeakSet();
// two messages have been read
// readMessages has 2 elements
// ...let's read the first message again!
// readMessages still has 2 unique elements
// answer: was the message[0] read?
alert("Read message 0: " + readMessages.has(messages[0])); // true
// now readMessages has 1 element (technically memory may be cleaned later)
WeakSet allows to store a set of messages and easily check for the existance of a message in it.
It cleans up itself automatically. The tradeoff is that we can't iterate over it. We can't get "all read messages" directly. But we can do it by iterating over all messages and filtering those that are in the set.
P.S. Adding a property of our own to each message may be dangerous if messages are managed by someone else's code, but we can make it a symbol to evade conflicts.
Like this:
// the symbolic property is only known to our code
let isRead = Symbol("isRead");
messages[0][isRead] = true;
Now even if someone else's code uses
for..in loop for message properties, our secret flag won't appear.


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Mr. Morph - Advanced Combustion
Mr. Morph - Advanced Combustion
This combustion unit uses some of the core Sureshot Inc. parts that is used in the BL-417 spudguns.
Features of Mr. Morph
- Primarily designed as a high performance coaxial golf ball cannon
- Unique internal burst disk attachment, optional use
- Coaxial golf ball barrel is completely removable
- External fuel metering system
- 2" aluminum female cam lock breech allows for other non-coaxial barrel attachments
- Allows for 2" burst disk barrel stumps for use in noise cannon mode
Loading golf ball
Slip-On burst disk attachment. These had to be sanded down slightly on the top side so the endcap of the combustion chamber could be screwed on. These otherwise neatly bend down to be exposed to the center of the endcap chamber space. Very easy and effective.
Cut and Sanded down 45 degree elbow.
Burst disk - 2 layers of 2" Scotch 3M Painters Tape.
Detachable Barrel....66" (5 1/2 feet) in total length. Exposed SDR21 slides very snugly through the camlock and the Sureshot PVC offset and finally takes its place at the breech loading location inside the endcap. Locking the camlock effectively seals the chamber.
...uses slightly enlarged inside diameter polycarbonate male camlock. SDR21 1.5" barrel is slid through the male camlock and epoxied in place. The schedule 80 2" sleeve is PVC cemented in place in the 1.5" socket/npt adapter.
The muzzle is neatly trimmed.
The loading breech has golf ball indentions pressed into place. Indention tool available from Sureshot.
The male poly camlock requires some interior diameter sanding. This was done with a sanding drum and drill press.
A 2" nipple is cut to length...
...and cemented in place in the Sureshot Inc. adapter. This allows a female threaded aluminum camlock to be firmly screwed in place.
Burst disk barrel stump for noise production. Requires slightly higher volume of fuel because the coaxial barrel isn't in place.
...installed in the chamber camlock.
Fueling system. To save weight on the unit, an external fuel metering system was chosen.
Mr. Morph advanced combustion system.
Loading, fueling and shooting video. The barn is roughly 80-100 yards away. The ball blasted a hole in the wood sided barn even from that distance. Enjoy!!
Bonus. The mystery "walker-out-of-barner" after the shot is my brother. He thought we had finished shooting at the barn.... Please don't try that at home boys and girls!!!!!
Last edited by starman on Fri Feb 05, 2010 2:16 pm, edited 14 times in total.
I haven't performed any quantitative measurements. The feel of it is in the same neighborhood as Trip Thunder with the long barrel and burst disk coupler, minus a slight edge. The long barrel is a foot longer than the the one I presently have on Mr Morph, so that could account for a slight edge to to Trip Thunder.
Trip Thunder definitely has a somewhat louder report than Mr Morph. I attribute that to the faster ignition of the chamber. Mr Morph has the single Sureshot spark gap design, TT has 3 gaps. Side by side there is a slight but noticable difference. However, they are both still plenty loud....
Mr Morph will certainly send a golf ball on its way in impressive fashion. 3/4" MDF target material was no match...nice perfect round golf ball holes. I'll try to get some damage shots in the next few days.
It did chuck that golf ball pretty damn fast and straight, for a golf ball. Dude, if you haven't tried the sureshot rounds you have to! I took a load of those things camping and they are really impressive, more so than I expected, especially without a muzzle break.
nifty gun, starman. Congratulations on a successful build. How does that golfball indention maker work?
It's a machined die that you can put in place around the inside and outside lip of the pipe and you tighten a bolt to press the divots into the PVC. Works great! Go to Ultimatespudgun to get one.
@Moon: I plan to grab some of the 1.5" ones and "give them a shot" so to speak...
* Bump *
Here's photos of the indention die/in-action.
Edit: This is tool available from UltimateSpudguns alluded to above.
Last edited by starman on Fri Feb 05, 2010 2:06 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Niiiiiiice. As stated above, the gun looks fantastic. Another outstanding cannon to add to your collection.
Yes this is UltimateSpudgun hardware contrived into my own configuration. And yes, PVC from the plumbing store.
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Zero Additives + Zero Fillers = Genuine Love
Meal time is family time and your pet knows when they're missing out. So does their body. That's why 4health has created this wholesome, rich and delicious recipe to meet all of your pet's nutritional needs.
Easier for Small Dogs to Eat
Not all small breed dogs can handle regular size pet food. This bite-sized formula provides your dog with the ideal nutrition needed to keep them healthy, without overwhelming their stomach.
We Love Your Dog Too (and we know just what their body needs)
Who better to make food for pets than farmers? At Tractor Supply Company, we bring our deep passion for land and animals to the forefront of our products and services. By sourcing the best local produce, utilizing superior water purification processes and thoroughly testing our formulas, we guarantee excellent quality food for your pets.
About This Formula
4health Small Bites Formula Adult Dog Food is a premium quality dry dog food, developed specifically to meet the nutritional needs of small breed adult dogs. This mini sized kibbles uses real chicken as the main ingredient to aid the body to heal tissue, grow hair and maintain a smooth skin and coat.
Species Specific Probiotics
Each bag of 4health dog food formula provides species specific probiotics to specifically aid digestion and modulate the immune system of canines.
No Corn No Wheat No Soy
All 4health wet & dry formulas have minimal ingredients that may cause allergic reactions and upset stomachs in pets. By removing corn, wheat and soy from their pet's diet, owners that choose 4health notice an improvement in their pet's coat, stool consistency, teeth, weight, and overall health.
Chicken, chicken meal, cracked pearled barley, ground white rice, dried beet pulp, oatmeal, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), natural chicken flavor, flaxseed, ocean fish meal, potassium chloride, DL-methionine, choline chloride, taurine, dried chicory root, L-Carnitine, glucosamine hydrochloride, dried Lactobacillus plantarum fermentation product, dried Bacillus subtilis fermentation product, dried Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, dried Enterococcus faecium fermentation product, dried Bifidobacterium animalis fermentation product, vitamin E supplement, iron proteinate, zinc proteinate, yucca schidigera extract, copper proteinate, ferrous sulfate, zinc sulfate, copper sulfate, potassium iodide, thiamine mononitrate, manganese proteinate, manganous oxide, chondroitin sulfate, ascorbic acid, vitamin A supplement, biotin, niacin, calcium pantothenate, manganese sulfate, sodium selenite, pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), vitamin B12 supplement, riboflavin, vitamin D supplement, folic acid.
Guaranteed Analysis:
Crude Protein (min.) 26.0%
Crude Fat (min.) 12.0%
Crude Fiber (max.) 4.0%
Moisture (max.) 10.0%
Zinc (min.) 150 mg/kg
Selenium (min.) 0.35 mg/kg
Vitamin E (min.) 150 IU/kg
Taurine* (min.) 0.12%
L-Carnitine* (min.) 300 mg/kg
Omega-6 Fatty Acids* (min.) 2.0%
Omega-3 Fatty Acids* (min.) 0.3%
Glucosamine* (min.) 450 mg/kg
Chondroitin Sulfate* (min.) 150 mg/kg
Total Microorganisms* (min.) 80,000,000 CFU/lb (Lactobacillus plantarum, Bacillus subtilis, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Enterococcus faecium, Bifidobacterium animalis)
*Not recognized as an essential nutrient by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles.
Caloric Content:
Metabolizable Energy (ME) 3,439 kcal/kg (322 kcal/cup).


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Churches' Aid Request Denied
December 15, 2017
HOUSTON (AP) — A judge on Thursday denied an emergency request for relief funds by three Texas churches damaged during Hurricane Harvey that are suing the federal government over how it offers disaster aid to houses of worship.
The churches are suing the Federal Emergency Management Agency over a policy that denies disaster assistance to nonprofit organizations with facilities that are primarily used for political, athletic, vocational or religious activities.
The three houses of worship accuse FEMA of religious discrimination by denying them equal access to disaster relief grants and not...
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Don't you just hate waiting for things?
No matter how organised you are you'll find yourself waiting for things most days.
Waiting for the bus.
Waiting for your tea.
Waiting for school to start.
Waiting for your favourite programme to come on TV.
Waiting for the kettle to boil.
Waiting for other people.
Waiting in a queue.
Waiting for the phone to ring.
Yup, there's an awful lot of waiting going on.
Being a resourceful practicer you can turn all this waiting to your advantage. No matter where you are, next time you find yourself waiting for something use the opportunity to do some practice. Even if it is only for a couple of minutes. It's a couple of minutes you don't have to do another time. You don't even need your instrument as you could use some techniques that don't require it.
To be effective you'll need to do some preparation first. Make sure you are very clear on what you are trying to achieve in your practice. Each time you find yourself waiting work a little bit towards your goals. You'll be amazed by how quickly the time adds up.
We want to help you practice better. Click here to receive regular advice or here for help on your current problems.


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Thu, 9 August 2012
Kenny and Kris get in a heated debate over whether or not Mike Trout is your AL MVP, plus they take calls on the Yankees and their recent struggles. Coming off a tough win against Detroit, is there any confidence in New York going forward?
On Deck is a bi-weekly baseball podcast coming to you every Monday and Thursday. Join Kenny Ducey and Kris Venezia as they take your calls on the week's most interesting stories and matchups. Have something you'd like to say to the hosts? Leave us a message! Call/text 347-903-WFUV, or tweet @WFUVSports, and you might make it onto the show.
Direct download: ONDECK89.mp3
Category:Sports -- posted at: 10:01am EDT


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Weekend in Georgia Weekend tours
Per PAX
About Weekend in Georgia
Places to visit: Tbilisi, Mtskheta, Kazbegi
Duration: 4 days / 3 nights
Dates: For the weekend. When the vacation is still long away
and you want to diversify the gray routine by something pleasant ...
Minimum Number of Participants: no
All Activities are optional
- Walking ($0)
All facilities are optional
- Guide ($0)
- Water ($0)
- Please note that once your booking is confirmed, you will receive an e-mail as well as an SMS on your registered mobile number confirming your booking. However, if you would like to get in touch with us please call us on 0124-4859749. We are open from 8:00 am – 8:00 pm, seven days a week
- Please expect to receive your vouchers 72 hours before your departure date (subject to full payment of your package cost)
- Please note that these packages are customizable, which means that you will be able to make changes to the itinerary/activity if you so desire. The final payment will be calculated as per the activities reflecting on the website which will be outlined in the confirmatory e-mail sent to you
- Personal expenses such as laundry, telephone calls, room service, alcoholic beverages, mini bar etc., are not included
- In case your package needs to be cancelled due to any natural calamity, weather conditions etc. MakeMyTrip shall strive to give you the maximum possible refund subject to the agreement made with our trade partners/vendors
- If payment is not made as per the schedule provided in the first booking confirmation e-mail, MakeMyTrip reserves the right to cancel the booking after attempting to get in touch with you. Refunds would be as per the package cancellation policy
- The passenger names in the booking form should be exactly as per passports. MakeMyTrip will not bear any liability for the name change fee, if incorrect names and ages have been added at the time of booking
- Please note that if your package includes a flight which is a low cost carrier (Air Asia, Scoot Airlines, Air Arabia, Jetstar, Fly Dubai, Thai AirAsia, Air India Express, Tiger Airways) then baggage will not be included in the package. Baggage can be added as per your requirement at an additional cost depending on the airlines and destination. Our Travel Expert will attempt to get in touch with you within 24-hours after the booking has been confirmed for baggage addition
- Please ensure that baggage requirements are given to our Travel Expert latest by 5 days before the date of departure
- Standard check-in time at the hotel is normally 2:00 pm and check-out is 11:00 am. An early check-in, or a late check-out is solely based on the discretion of the hotel
- In case the selected hotel is unavailable for booking, an alternate arrangement will be offered to the customer in another hotel of a similar category
- Certain hotels abroad may ask for a security deposit during check-in, which is refundable at check-out subject to the hotel's policy
- Please note that 'Day at Leisure' essentially implies that no sightseeing activities have been included for that day Kindly be on time for your activities, tours and transfe$ Most countries are quite strict about following a schedule
- Cancellation stage: 10 or more days prior to departure.
- The initial booking amount will be forfeited. In case you have paid 100% of the package cost as the initial booking amount or first payment, a Makemytrip executive will share details of the non-refundable services included in the package (as per the confirmation email shared with you at the time of booking). The balance amount after deducting the cost of the non-refundable services, will be refunded to you.
- Cancellation stage: less than 10 days prior to departure.
- No refund will be provided upon cancellation done within 10 days before departure


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The city is the capital of Indian State, Kerala and is one of the most reputed cities of South India.It is also headquarter to the Thiruvananthapuram district. Geographically it is situated at west coast of India near extreme south of the Mainland. It is also an administrative center to government offices of state and center. Besides being an administrative center, the capital city is also famous for many important reasons as in beautiful landscapes, lush green ambiance and robust infrastructure it encompasses. The pin code of the city is 695xxx.
The city experiences tropical savanna weather and tropical monsoon climate. The city and its spectacular beauty upholds its charm to allure individuals from different corners of the country and overseas, making this place one of the most renownedtourist places here.
The city offers wonderful infrastructure to its inhabitants and assures quality life with strong connectivity of roads, airport and railway station. Most ideally Thiruvananthapuram is home to many temples that upholds religious sentiments of Indian people. Amid the places of entertainment and recreation one can explore zoo, local markets, malls and shopping centers. Few of the famous apparel brands found here are Lacoste, Lee, Levis, W, Biba and many more.


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"I'm really impressed with the turnout," said Nef Martinez, vice president of Elbow Grease Lubricants.
"I'm really happy with the number of people who are walking through here and I love that it's a B2B venue."
Liberator Gear showcased two of its new products, the Tenga Air and the Tenga Air Light.
"This new technology creates a personalized experience for male masturbation," said Jim Blanchard, executive vice president.
The Screaming O displayed its new twistable OGee vibe, which according to company vice president Keith Caggiano, is designed for full range customization.
Fleshlight touted its stamina training unit, its Vibro, the first vibrating Fleshlight and its re-designed ice products.
"We like it here," wholesale manager Phil Dutra said. "It's a very good nice boutique size event."
Avelli, the U.S. distributor for Baci Lingerie and also carries the Ophoria and Lover's Choice line, was promoting three new anal play toys.
The A-plug, the A-vibe and the XLVring are set to be launched soon as part of the Ophoria collection.
From Marquis Condoms, Softcup, Bon-Vue, Beamonstar, Pjur personal products, Rene Rofe Lingerie, Hustler Toys and others, the event's comfortable and relaxed atmosphere allowed buyers and attendees to mingle, connect, ask questions and strike deals.


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If your employer is treating you unfairly, then you need to obtain legal representation from an attorney that can take swift legal action. Under California & federal law, you have certain rights, including:
- Right to work in a discrimination & harassment-free environment.
- Right to be fairly paid.
- Right to have your employment contract honored.
To prove that your boss is not upholding your employee rights, you must be able to provide evidence that your boss was not following certain laws. Find out if you have a case by discussing your situation with Newman and Horton LLP. Call 805.232.3220 or submit an online case evaluation today!
Recognizing Illegal Workplace Harrasment And Discrimination
Although California is an at-will employment state, meaning your employer can fire you for no reason at all, there are several protections guaranteed by California law and federal law that restrict when an employer can be held responsible for harrassment, discrimination, retaliation or wrongful termination. You may have an employment lawsuit against your employer if you have experienced discrimination because of your:
- Gender, including how you express your gender and your gender identity
- Sexual Orientation, whether you identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender.
- Race
- Disability, whether an actual disability, an impairment that you have experienced in the past or a perceived disability by your employer
- Medical Condition
- Pregnancy, including requesting time off for FMLA leave during or after childbirth
- Age
- National Origin
- Religion, including requiring uniforms that don't recognize religious dress requirements or allow you to practice your religion on required days or at certain times
- Medical Condition
- Military Service, such as violations of the protections guaranteed by USERRA
- Association with a disabled coworker or disabled family member.
Those who work in in the service industry, such as a waiter, waitress, server, retail worker, housekeeper and other positions, unfortunately are often targets for illegal employment discrimination or harassment. If you work in the service industry remember that you have the same right as anyone else to be free from discrimination or harassment based on any your gender, race, sexual orientation, age, religion or any other factor listed above. If you have experienced harassment or discrimination at work, you also have the right to seek a legal remedy.
Sexual Harassment In The California Workplace
Sexual harassment in the California workplace is strictly prohibited by both state and federal law. However, in 2011 alone, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission received more than 11,000 complaints of sexual harrassment by a supervisor or coworker. The bottom line is that workers continue to be illegally harassed and made to feel uncomfortable or forced to quit because of sexual comments, inappropriate touching and requests for sexual contact that has no place in the work environment. If you have experienced sexual harassment call today to discuss your legal options.
In his legal career, Attorney Horton has represented over 120 public employee and organizations. He is extremely familiar with employment law, and has dealt with many boards, hearings, as well as state and federal courts.
No matter what type of employment law issue you may be facing,Newman and Horton LLP can help. Our firm will provide honest counsel so that you can have an accurate idea of what to expect. Contact us today for more details.


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We need your innovation
And luckily, we already work with some of the best-known technology suppliers to bring our products to life.
We use Adobe's software, among others, to create our iOS Newsstand digital editions of our magazines.
We work hand-in-hand with Google's measurement teams for our analytics.
And we use Outbrain's content discovery network, and BazaarVoice and LiveFyre for user generated content and social engagement.
Think you can help? Get in touch
We'll ask you to complete a short pre-qualification questionnaire, and provide references for your work.
If you know that you can open new avenues for us, tell us how - we'll pass your details on to the right teams here.
Want to know more?
Contact Haymarket Procurement.


text: Films to choose from About SFC What is Spanish Film Club? Why Spanish Film Club? How it Works The Films / New Releases FAQs Curators & Staff The Grant Grant Recipients What Universities Say Eligibility Online Application Form Online Evaluation Form Other Info Programming Ideas Financing Suggestions Promotional Recommendations and Materials Ensuring Student Attendance Join Us! Be a Sponsor firstname.lastname@example.com Share with a friend Spanish Film Club Grant ApplicationWhen giving us your proposed festival and screening dates, please be as detailed as possible. We realize that these dates may change, but if you receive a grant, we will ask that you keep us updated of all changes. Please explain why you are interested in this program. Also, let us know if you plan to collaborate (highly recommended) with other academic departments, and if you already show foreign films on your campus. Please note that a Grant Selection Committee chooses the grant recipients by carefully reviewing the applications. For this reason, it is extremely important that you are as detailed as possible when answering the questions. Ideally, you will be thorough in describing the concept of your festival while conveying excitement for the project. School Information (*Required)Select*---Mr.Mrs.Ms.First Name*Last Name*Title*Department*School*Street Address*Address Line 2City*State / Province / Region*ZIP / Postal Code*Phone*FaxEmail* Website* University EIN#Is this school a public or private institution?*---PublicPrivateHow many students attend the University?*Does the school already show foreign films on campus?*---YesNoIs there a movie theatre near campus that shows foreign films?*---YesNoIf YES, what is the theater's name?Are you familiar with any of the films on the SFC roster? If so, how did you hear of them?*Where did you learn about Spanish Film Club?*Please select the five SFC films that you plan to show in your festival:*To select multiple films on a PC, please use Control-Click. Use Command-Click on Mac.3 Beauties339 Amín Abel Hasbun. Memory of a Crime7 Boxes7 WeeksA Moonless NightAfter LucíaAmerikanuakAsier and IBad HairBajarí: Gypsy BarcelonaBirdboy: The Forgotten ChildrenBirds of PassageBlack BreadCamila's AwakeningChico & RitaChinese Take-AwayClandestine ChildhoodCows Wearing GlassesDelicate BalanceDon't Call Me SonEl AmparoEmbrace of the SerpentEternal AmazonEven the RainEverybody KnowsEverybody LeavesFrom the Land to Your TableGuaraníHere and ThereI Am From ChileI GirlI Thought It Was A PartyIlliterateIxcanul, VolcanoLa SoledadLa YumaLiquid TruthMr. KaplanNerudaNNOn The RoofOpen CageOperation EPanama Canal StoriesParadisePost MortemRed GringoRuben Blades is not my NameSealed CargoSouthern DistrictSpider ThievesSummer 1993TempestThe Boss, Anatomy of a CrimeThe CandidateThe ClubThe CompanionThe Country of FearThe Crow's NestThe Death of PinochetThe DelayThe Empty ClassroomThe FacilitatorThe Future PerfectThe Invisible HandThe LiberatorThe Queen of SpainThe ReturnThe Second MotherThe Tenth ManThe TerritoriesThe Travel AgentTrue SmileTrumanUn TranductorUrgent LoveWho is Dayani Cristal?WilayaWith My Heart in YamboWrinklesYvy Maraey, Land Without EvilPlease list the five SFC films that you plan to show in your festival:Film ScreeningsIS YOUR SCREENING ROOM ON- OR OFF-CAMPUS?*---On-campusOff-campusWHAT IS THE SEATING CAPACITY OF YOUR SCREENING ROOM?WILL THESE SCREENINGS FORM PART OF A COURSE CURRICULUM OR SERVE AS EXTRA-CREDIT FOR A COURSE? IF SO, WHICH ONE(S)?*WILL YOU BE SCREENING MORE THAN THE FIVE SFC FILMS AT YOUR FESTIVAL? IF SO, IS IT PART OF A LARGER FESTIVAL? PLEASE EXPLAIN IN DETAIL.*WHEN WILL THE SCREENINGS TAKE PLACE?*WILL THE SCREENINGS BE FREE OR PAID?*Promotion and FundraisingWE RECOMMEND THAT YOU COLLABORATE AND WORK WITH OTHER DEPARTMENTS IN PLANNING YOUR FESTIVAL. PLEASE EXPLAIN HOW YOU WILL BE COLLABORATING WITH OTHER ACADEMIC DEPARTMENTS IN ORDER TO ORGANIZE AND PROMOTE YOUR SCREENINGS.*THE SFC GRANT WILL NOT COVER ALL OF THE EXPENSES FOR YOUR FESTIVAL. HOW DO YOU PLAN TO RAISE THE ADDITIONAL FUNDS?*HOW WILL YOU BE PROMOTING THE FESTIVAL?*WHY DO YOU WANT TO SHOW SPANISH AND LATIN AMERICAN FILMS ON YOUR CAMPUS AND WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THE ABOVE FIVE FILMS IN PARTICULAR?*You may attach your response in a PDF or text document or you may write your response in the space above.ATTACHED RESPONSE TO ABOVE QUESTIONAccepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf.Application Agreement I, the applicant, hereby certify that the information contained in this application is true and correct. In the event that our application is accepted, we agree that the following credits line(s) will be mentioned on all printed documents and publicity materials: "The Spanish Film Club series was made possible with the support of Pragda, and the Embassy of Spain in Washington DC, Spain-USA Foundation. Special thanks to the Secretary of State for Culture of Spain." In the event that The SFC films are being shown as part of a larger festival, the following must be included after each SFC film description: "Presented as part of The Spanish Film Club series with the support of Pragda, and the Embassy of Spain in Washington DC, Spain-USA Foundation. Special thanks to the Secretary of State for Culture of Spain." All screenings are open to university audiences. Your grant is contingent upon the mention of the above credit line(s).YOUR COMPLETE NAME*Enter your name to serve as a digital signature certifying the authenticity of your application.YOUR INITIALS*Enter your name to serve as a digital signature certifying the authenticity of your application.Title


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During our cross-cultural observations in Finland I welcomed the opportunity to visit math classrooms, interview several students and look through math textbooks. I noted small differences between three particular classes and teaching and learning I have observed in the United States.
At Helsinki Normal Lyceum I observed seventh graders studying geometry, computing the volume of cones, rectangular solids and cylinders. The class began with informal conversation among students. The teacher then gathered the class attention by asking about difficulties with specific homework problems (from what I observed, the notion that there is no homework in Finland is a myth). The teacher took note of the confusing points. Then students completed the correct answers, on the board, to four illustrative problems. While students wrote on the chalkboard, the teacher circulated throughout the room, checking that other students had completed homework. She made marks in her grade book. Students were looking at their own and their table partner's homework, and checking answers on the board. When done with the homework check, the class noted that one of the sample solutions on the board was incorrect and the teacher, through asking the class questions, walked through the correct solution.
Once homework review was complete, one student from each table pair picked up an I-pad. Students used Socrative software to compute and then report results for four different problems – results appeared projected from the LCD on the screen. Once done, the teacher assigned about twelve progressively more difficult area problems from the text. As an example the students had to calculate the area of a slanted cylinder, or half of a cylinder disguised as a suitcase with a handle. Students needed to re-think the shape and apply the formula and perform an additional calculation such as doubling or halving. Students worked in pairs. At the end of the work session the teacher asked the class for attention and students were assigned homework. Almost all students pulled out their Nokia phones, got up from their desks and took a picture of the assignment which was projected via the LCD.
This class in structure, presentation and topic varied little from a typical class I have observed in the U.S. However, two differences were noted:
Textbook: The textbook was about a quarter the thickness of your standard U.S. book, and there were only formulas and problems. That is it. No glossy photos, connections to careers, historical facts, no bright bolded sections, tabs, outlines of notes, no step-by-step tiered examples walking students through prescribed process explanations of how to do the math.
Student Affect: The students were motivated and worked. They sought each other out. They laughed, they talked at times while the teacher talked, they asked each other questions. The room felt very relaxed, and there was no tension, competition, control issues or discomfort between the teachers and/or the students. Two students shared with me that they often had time to work in class, and they would all get through most of the problems. He said that if they decided to talk to each other and be distracted it was their own responsibility. He said if they did not do the work then they did not learn.
At Helsingin Suomalainen Yhteiskoulu (HYK) I observed an International Baccalaureate (IB) calculus class that was taught in English. Students arrived in the classroom at the same time as the teacher (teachers in this school did not have set classrooms, they simply used a rooms for a particular class). The door shut and locked, the teacher turned on the document camera and asked the students which homework problems they had trouble solving using the product and quotient rule. Then teacher then sat at one desk, facing the board, as various students came forward to solve problems—both the teacher and other students asked questions about the solutions. In two of the problems the students had solved the problem in different ways and they discussed how you can simplify/solve various parts of the equation in a different order, but the solutions end up the same.
The teacher then launched into the lesson which was about finding the volume of an oil spill- using the chain rule and determining the change in the radius with respect to time. The textbook was the same text used by the AP (AB) calculus teacher(s) at my home High School in Jericho, Vermont. The structure of the class was not that different in terms of review of homework, new material, discussion, notes, and the homework assignment. One student arrived late with a quiet knock on the door, he quietly said, "Sorry I am late" and sat down.
The students appeared in total control of their learning. They ran the review of the homework problems, and when a student had a question during the teacher lecture portion of the class, (about the use of inverse, reciprocal and negative reciprocals within the context of the chain rule) the other students explained to her, moving form English to Finish. It was not just one student but four different individuals chimed in, watching the confused student's body language, seeing her perplexed look at the explanation by one classmate and adjusting to Finnish when filling in the details to complete the understanding.
Questions: how much learning and teaching is directed by students as motivated independent thinkers? How much is controlled or directed by the teacher? How do we create a space and culture in our schools that promotes students taking complete ownership of their learning?
My third classroom visit was a fifth grade math classroom at Innokas Koulumestari—the teacher presented how he used technology in the class, and two students, using a powerpoint and smart board, showed us examples. Later two other students showed us lego robots they had built as part of their exploration.
The learning was not divided into distinct content segments, but rather embedded. The teacher explained that there were also times when students received lessons and completed work from a workbook, but they did not do every assignment in the book. I took a moment to look through the math textbook sitting on the desk. First, the physical size of the book was considerably smaller than our Investigations books used at our elementary level. When I looked closer at the book, I noticed developmentally appropriate progressions in difficulty of the problems, and lots and lots of applications of fractions – number lines, pie charts and music. There were problems where musical notes illustrated and explained adding and subtracting. The teacher was a musician and he would use drum beats to teach fractions!
One can not make assumptions about math education in Finland based on these three observations; they merely provide a snapshot for reflections on teaching and learning in our own schools. In trying to summarize what was different, it occurred to me that what I was observing was the Common Core Standards for Mathematical Practice. In particular, students were: making sense of problems and persevering in solving them, constructing viable arguments and critique the reasoning of others, modeling with mathematics, looking for and making use of structure, and looking for and expressing regularity in repeated reasoning. The teacher, however, did not articulate the need or value in these standards of practice, it was simply a part of the learning.
Actionable Items:
- Create school and classroom environments so that students own learning.
- Use multiple modes to teach math, bringing in interdisciplinary topics such as robotics, music and other applications.
- Allow for students to work through answers with each other, to answer each other's questions, organically.
- Less is more: utilize math texts and resources that promote independent thinking and solving problems, not prescriptive lock-step methods.
- "Flip the classroom" supports some of the math learning I observed in Finland.
- Promote the notion of "80/20" — 80% of the time in the classroom the student is completing the work, 20% of the time the teacher is talking/presenting work. See Building School-based Teacher Learning Communities: Professional Strategies, By Milbrey W. McLaughlin and Joan E. Talbert.
On a final note, when I was walking on the streets of a small northern city in Lapland, I came across a section covered with graffiti. There was construction with plywood barriers and generators. On one particular generator there was a math problem, smiling face and peace symbol with the statement concerning nine years of primary school. What does this say about a culture when such pleasant graffiti, with correct math, mentions school?