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Commons, resource use and management characterized by a direct democratic and hands-on approach by users, present a new possibility for the inclusive and innovative development of our cities, despite the numerous challenges that those cities are currently facing. Commons projects open the door for more inclusion in the decision process, empowerment of actors from civil society and a more just allocation and management of the resources that we all use every day. In addition, they provide a possible step towards reducing the hardships of the neoliberal city – blight, disenfranchisement, powerlessness, hopelessness – while also allowing a new niche for the growth of social innovation from the bottom up.
Commons as a motor of social and cultural innovation
Commons in the city are usually self-started and self-sustained projects, born out of a need or opportunity that was recognized and acted upon by the local community. It may be the community garden created to give new life to an unused plot of land or a housing cooperative whose roots were found in rising rent prices and the desire to live in a self-determined and communal way. Independent of the actual resource in question, the old adage holds true: necessity is the mother of invention. Local actors from the civil society generally have a clearer picture of the needs and opportunities present in their community than their representatives, simply because of their daily proximity to the situation. The presence of a number of local actors in one neighborhood necessitates the negotiation processes inherent in commoning. Deciding what kind of project, how it will be implemented, who gets a say and how decisions will be made are fundamental aspects of commoning, the negotiation of rules that differentiates commons from other types of resource use and management. Commons projects therefore present a breeding ground for solutions to problems that may not be visible to the elected representative or city administration, using local resources and local know-how.
Commons as a catalyst for participation in urban policy-making
This form of project development can have two important effects on the role of civil society in the policy-making process: it empowers the actors involved, who are forced to practice negotiation and self-organization, and this empowerment may lead in turn to these groups negotiating a more active form of participation in public policy development.
Commoning, described above as the negotiation of rules that differentiates commons from other types of resource use and management, requires a lot of energy. The commoning process can help empower individuals who are not used to voicing their needs and can help channel and focus latent community energy. The act of negotiating rules with one's peers and neighbors helps to strengthen the act of speaking up and speaking out. Practicing the discussion of alternatives can help local actors gain experience that they can then use in talking with policymakers. And the community-building taking place in the commons project means that the project's representative has a strong base of social capital to rely on when negotiating with the city administration.
Commons projects also present an opportunity to make citizen participation in urban development more active and genuine. Self-started projects which enter into negotiations with city administrations begin high on Arnstein's Ladder of Participation, which identifies eight levels of citizen participation ranging from non-participation to tokenism to citizen power. Since the initiative in commons projects come from civil society, if the city administration enters into negotiations with the commons project, outcomes including participation forms such as partnerships and delegated power are real possibilities, and the door can be opened to genuine changes in the status quo and an improvement in the power balance in urban policy-making.
Commons as a possibility for more inclusion
In addition, commons projects can help to make our cities more inclusive. Now more than ever, the pressure is being put on cities to absorb waves of global migration on all levels. Newcomers of all types, whether they are asylum-seekers or those who have moved internationally to take advantage of better job markets elsewhere, face barriers to integration into their new community. A prime example is the language barrier, but ignorance of local social norms and customs may present an additional stumbling block to integration into daily life, the job market and the community. Commons can provide a space in which these barriers can be overcome while cooperating on a concrete task. In the course of commoning, participants learn trust, negotiation and new terminology and have a depth of contact that might otherwise not be possible.
Moreover, commons projects create equality through the commoning process – in true commons projects every voice has the same weight. Through this inclusion as equals, newcomers are presented the opportunity to get involved in their new community, many times independent of their nationality or citizenship status. In turn, this inclusion engenders a feeling of belonging and responsibility in the new community which can greatly aid the integration process and ease the tensions inherent in global migration.
Furthermore, the spatial and social anchoring that commons projects provide can help to work against the fragmenting effects of global mobility and promote pluralistic urban communities. Local commons projects are just that: local. The anchoring provided by local commons projects helps to create meaningful spaces and strengthen the communities that use and manage them. The places and spaces created by commons projects lend richness and authenticity to the modern urban landscape, which is often characterized by commercialization, privatization and homogeneity.
Commons represent a new form of community-building in the neoliberal city that can lead to more empowerment of and inclusion within civil society. It's important to identify and protect or, in the best case scenario, structurally and financially support these endeavors, which are often at risk of financialization, privatization and instrumentalization. New administrative structures are needed to protect existing commons and create space and possibilities for new commons projects, and to pave the way for a more just, inclusive and co-produced city.


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Axios Vitals
May 31, 2017
Good morning ... Our Axios health care team has just expanded! We're thrilled that Sam Baker has joined us as the deputy health care editor. You may know his work from National Journal and The Hill, and he brings a lot of experience and a ton of smarts. We're teaming up on Vitals now, and he's going to help us make the Axios health care news stream even better, too.
Whatever happened to IPAB repeal?
There was a time when the Independent Payment Advisory Board — the panel that's supposed to recommend Medicare cuts if the spending grows too fast — was one of the most unpopular parts of the Affordable Care Act. Then it just disappeared until you forgot it was part of the storyline, kind of like Mama Pope on Scandal.
Now it could return, as Nicholas Bagley of the University of Michigan law school points out — because there will probably be a "determination" soon about whether Medicare spending is growing fast enough to trigger the IPAB cuts. It didn't happen last year, but Medicare spending could be high enough this year to require the cuts — a ruling that would be made by the chief Medicare actuary.
So, just in case, here are some IPAB facts you need to know:
It doesn't actually exist right now. Neither President Donald Trump nor former President Barack Obama ever appointed anyone to the board. So if the Medicare cuts have to happen, they would actually be made by the Department of Health and Human Services — if HHS secretary Tom Price can bring himself to do it.
IPAB isn't included in the House ACA repeal bill. Despite being a repeal target for years, it's not included because Republicans can't do it under the budget "reconciliation" rules.
But the board could be repealed separately. There are standalone IPAB repeal bills, including one from Rep. Phil Roe, that Republicans could take up if the Medicare cuts look like a real possibility. A senior GOP aide says IPAB repeal "is something that has bipartisan support and committees in the House are actively considering."
It will be a while before we know. The determination about Medicare cuts would be made around the same time as the next Medicare trustees meeting, according to an administration official, and that meeting hasn't been scheduled yet. Last year, it happened in June.
When SCOTUS says "patents," it kind of means "drug prices"
The drug industry's pricing structure took a hit yesterday at the Supreme Court, via a 7-1 decision about patent law and international sales. It's a complicated case, and not directly pharmaceutical related, but here's the upshot: The court's ruling could make it easier for middlemen to buy prescriptions drugs overseas, where they're heavily discounted, then resell them inside the United States, where they'd normally be much more expensive.Why it matters: It's not like the Supreme Court just solved our drug-pricing debate. Federal law still bans importing drugs from other countries. But if that ever changes, or if the "gray market" for imported, discounted drugs grows anyway, some experts fear that drug makers would raise their prices in the developing world. They might even quit selling certain products in some foreign markets — a possibility the industry itself raised in a Supreme Court brief.
The public really wants the Senate to rewrite the House bill
Partisanship is driving Americans' views of the GOP health care bill — and of the system it would replace. That's the gist of the Kaiser Family Foundation's latest tracking poll, which found stark partisan divides over…pretty much everything in health care. But there's a general consensus on one thing: Most Americans want the Senate to rewrite the House bill.
Why it matters: A less popular bill is less likely to pass, and harder to defend even if it does. Republicans know there's a playbook for capitalizing on an unpopular, party-line health care bill. It's a playbook they wrote.
Why it's so hard to do apples-to-apples with CBO
We got some smart pushback on our item yesterday about how the Congressional Budget Office's predictions on the ACA matched up with reality. So it's worth acknowledging that this stuff is never as cut-and-dried as it might seem.
Coverage: Peter Orszag, a former CBO director, said it doesn't work to directly compare the ACA's coverage gains — 20 million people — to CBO's prediction that 32 million would gain coverage. That's because the number of uninsured probably would have risen if the ACA had never become law.
- In reality, he says, it's more like 22 million people gained coverage. And CBO's 32 million prediction was also made before the Supreme Court made the law's Medicaid expansion optional, lessening the impact it could have had.
Premiums: A Senate Democratic aide points out that last week's HHS report, which found that individual market premiums doubled between 2013 and 2017, isn't directly comparable to CBO's prediction that individual insurance premiums in 2016 would have been 10 to 13 percent higher than under the old system.
- Why? Because the HHS report was comparing two different individual markets — one before the ACA, and a heavily changed one after the ACA. And CBO was only looking at one year. (Orszag also points out that premiums probably would have risen 30 to 50 percent between 2013 and 2017 anyway, even without changes in the law.)
The bottom line: Orszag's point is well taken — you should always consider what would have happened if the law had never passed. And it's worth noting that experts have different interpretations on the premiums — but the main point was that nothing in CBO's estimates warned Congress that people could see substantial premium increases because of the changes they were considering.
Mallinckrodt might sell its generic drug business
This would be a big deal in the business world (h/t Dan Primack): Mallinckrodt, the speciality biopharmaceutical company, is considering a sale of its generic drug unit for as much as $2 billion, Reuters reported last night. That would leave it focusing mostly on branded specialty pharmaceuticals. (One reason it might want to get rid of the generic unit, per Reuters: its products include opioids.)
More on the activist cloud hanging over Athenahealth
Two weeks ago, Bob Herman reported on how activist hedge fund Elliott Associates bought a hostile stake in Athenahealth, and how it wouldn't be surprising if Elliott pushed the cloud-based health care technology company to sell. Athenahealth CEO Jonathan Bush made his first public comments about Elliott at a J.P. Morgan event last week, indicating that he's at least open to hearing out Elliott.
Bush on why he thinks activist investing can be good: "It's a healthy thing to have someone come in and say, 'Your baby is fat. That's not a pretty baby, that's a fat baby.'"
But don't buy this as a happy relationship: Bush mentioned he spoke on the phone with Jesse Cohn, a senior manager at Elliott who is overseeing the Athenahealth stake, and basically said this while gritting his teeth: "[Cohn] gave me a nice 11 minutes before he filed…it sounds like he's got a lot of ideas."
The latest in health care lobbying
Bob Herman has your periodic reminder that D.C. is awash with lobbyists wrangling over the intricacies of health care policy, as well as the ACA repeal efforts. Here are some notable lobbying registrations from the past month:
The Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association hired Keith Fontenot of Hooper, Lundy & Bookman for a narrow reason: to lobby on "issues related to federal reimbursement for cost-sharing subsidies under the Affordable Care Act." Yep, the subsidies that Trump has threatened to cut off. Fontenot used to be Obama's top health care official in the Office of Management and Budget.Ford Motor Company hired Bose Public Affairs Group (specifically Victor Smith, who used to be Vice President Mike Pence's secretary of commerce), and Boeing hired Mehlman Castagnetti Rosen & Thomas for various, unclear health issues. Remember: Companies like Ford and Boeing have hundreds of thousands of employees with health insurance, and they are just as sick of the rising costs.Stride Health, an insurance brokerage startup that serves self-employed people, tapped Franklin Square Group to push for issues that "improve access to health insurance and other benefits for the independent workforce." This is Stride's first time lobbying.
What we're watching today: White House press briefing by Veterans Affairs secretary David Shulkin, 11:30 a.m. Eastern.
What we're watching this week: Senate Republican leaders and staff write the first draft of the health care bill over the recess.
What we're watching next week: The Senate comes back, reads their health care bill, and argues some more. Also, the investment bank Jefferies holds its global health care conference in New York City, June 6-9. And Facebook is reportedly holding a health summit on June 6 for pharmaceutical marketers, per CNBC.
Feedback? Tips? Now you can bother two of us: [email protected] and [email protected].

subset: commoncrawl


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A winter trip to Metsovo always offers beautiful experiences and gifts us with "rich" images. Staying in a 5-star chalet, however, can be considered an experience in itself. So Metsovo and Grand Forest are an attractive proposition for discerning travellers. A combination that's hard to go unnoticed.
Which season is the best to visit Metsovo? That's a tough question. Subjective answer. The magnificence of the landscape of Epirus during autumn and winter, however, has much to offer the visitor. Something similar will be supported by someone else for spring and summer. And maybe he's right. Now we choose Metsovo for winter holidays.
Friends of winter sports will be covered with activities in the ski resort of Anilio. But everyone will enjoy life in Metsovo. Walks in a mountain town with a rich culture and history. For those who prefer to stay in a luxurious chalet with many amenities, the Grand Forest Metsovo Mountain Resort awaits them to give them a journey to the senses.
Member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World and with 5-star services, it invites the visitor and challenges him to discover its luxurious hospitality. Pindos and its forests make up an imposing landscape. There, in the heart of nature, you will experience the Grand Forest.
The interior configuration of the spaces and the architecture of the lobby attract the visitor's eye and attention from the beginning. Large glass windows offer uninterrupted views of nature's exterior scenery. Elegant furnishings prevail in the area where the fireplaces heat up.
The 62 suites
The hotel has 62 luxurious suites, equipped with modern and comfortable furniture. Decorated with soft shades and oak floors, they create the relaxing atmosphere, unique luxury and tranquillity that Grand Forest customers are looking for. There are Junior Suites, Superior Suites, Mountain View Suites, Panorama Suite and Grand Forest Metsovo.
Local gastronomy with gourmet touches
At Grand Forest Metsovo they preserve tradition and enrich it with modern style and gourmet touches. Complete tasting suggestions are offered in the hotel's restaurant, café and bar.
Refined wines overlooking the Great Forest
The hotel has a corner overlooking the Great Forest where the visitor can enjoy, hot and cool drinks either alone or with company. The bar "Pines", among the opposite fireplaces, has a liquor store with all the prominent local wines of Averof Winery, as well as a wide variety of drinks and other Greek and international wines.
Spa services
The hotel offers spa services. If you trust the experts of Fontus Spa and give yourself a gift of physical and mental renewal, you will choose a program that includes an indoor heated pool with a glass ceiling (adults only), four treatment rooms, jacuzzi, sauna, hammam, gym, hairdresser. The charge is extra.
How to get to Metsovo
Metsovo is about 430 km away. from Athens and you go by road, either via Trikala or through Ioannina. It is about 60 km away from Kalampaka and another 60 from the prefecture of Ioannina. From Thessaloniki, via the Egnatia Road, Metsovo is 230 km away.
Grand Forest Metsovo Mountain Resort is located on Egnatia Street, at junction 7A Anilio, Metsovo.
Site: grand-forest.gr


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Life Net Radio Responds
(The following is a response to my blog entry by Life Net Radio host Retiarius Zogreso. Zogreso and I have corresponded via email about the coverage of MOVE's symposium at the African-American museum by LNR. I thank him for taking the time to thoughtfully respond to some of the issues raised.)
First, I don't do "reportage". And I don't "cover" them in the
reporters sense of that word. What I do is more akin to an
extended public-service announcement that's open to anyone who
has something relevant to the range of issues LNR is
meant to address. If you want to raise awareness about
something, LNR is a way to do that. If you want to hear
journalistic reporting, we don't get a lot of that on the show.
This being said, Mr. Allen certainly does raise an interesting
point. I myself was surprised that Ramona Africa was the
curator of the exhibit. The curator. I would have expected an
exhibit on MOVE to be curated by Museum staff and to be
featuring material from all sides of the story.
The symposium the next day surprised me the same way: As you
can hear on href="http://www.lifenetradio.org/show371w.ram">LNR
#371, the panelists all seemed to be coming
more-or-less from the same side of the issue.
My role, though, is to give a platform to whomever wants one
and let the listener decide who is right, so I just did my job
(unpaid, by the way) and ran the shows with the same courtesies
I extend to all our guests.


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With traveling for work and potty training, we haven't gotten back out to see Nathan and the boys had yet to meet this new little guy who is destined to be their best friends. And yes, Jake, best friends FOREVER!
The husbands planned the menu (and did the cooking) and the women had their selves a cocktail (I might have had two and you all know what that means--Chatty Kathy!) And although it had been two weeks since we had seen the little guy, he was still so small and so completely adorable and lovable. His mommy looked AMAZING and really fresh for having a 2 week old and Daddy, well he looked right at home with his little boy in his hands and laying on his chest.
I'm not sure if I could be any happier for these two. They have watched a number of people marry, get pregnant and have a baby (Justin and I included) all while hoping their time would come. And it did. Just the way it was suppose to. He is perfect in every way and such a big miracle in such a little boy. We are so in love with this little man and we can't wait to watch him grow up alongside Kaden and Logan. Who knows, maybe Logan can be his Pledge Pop like Justin was to Jake...
Holding Nathan and getting to love on Nathan made for a great evening but what put it over the edge, seeing Kaden interact with Nathan. Kaden wanted his turn to hold his new friend. I wasn't sure what to expect since when Logan was born Kaden thought it was neat for about 10 minutes and then he went back to playing on his own. This time around Kaden didn't want to give him up. He was so content with just sitting there and holding onto Nathan.
Not long ago I announced that Justin and I wanted to have two more kids and that I had babies on the brain like no one's business but lately things have really kind of settled down and we seem to be in a zone. A good zone and life, is well, pretty great. Now we have went from 'wanting two more kids' to 'maybe one more' to 'maybe we are good with what we have'. Then I captured this…
Kaden is a great big brother but because the boys were so close in age he didn't really understand what was going on at the time. But here and now, he totally does. Not sure I could deprive him of being a big brother again, its just too precious to see.
And how cool is Nathan, he has his own Jones Soda! We wanted to get him a keepsake that would mark his birthday so we took to the web and had a few sodas created with a picture from the hospital and all his birth statistics on the back. Hopefully Orange & Cream Soda stays good for awhile cause not sure its currently in his diet.


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6 Healthy Ways to Up Your Carrot Cake Game — Fall Fest
Thanksgiving is right around the corner, which means our opportunities for sampling fresh baked goods are about to quadruple. If you're choosing between a mammoth slice of cake festooned with buttery frosting and a modest piece of carrot cake, the carrot cake is clearly the better choice. Carrots are in peak season right now, and when used in baking, this vivid orange vegetable offers wonderful texture and natural sweetness. Still, the usual embellishments — chopped nuts, dried fruit, cream cheese frosting — all present opportunities for refined sugar and added fat to sneak in. So whether you prefer your carrots in cake, cupcake or muffin form, follow these six tips for turning your favorite carrot desserts into health-minded fall treats.
Giada De Laurentiis' Mini Carrot-Apple Cupcakes (pictured at top) are scaled down in size for portion control — but in every other way, they're classic carrot cupcakes topped with just a touch of cream cheese frosting. Giada uses dark brown sugar, which has a lot of molasses flavor and adds depth to the sweet apples and carrots.
Refined white sugar's heyday is over. Besides, coconut sugar makes for the most-glorious, creamy meringue frosting. You'll see for yourself when you try these Coconut Sugar Carrot-Banana Cupcakes with Coconut Sugar Meringue. It gives the topping a hint of salted caramel flavor, without requiring you to actually make any caramel.
Eliminate the frosting from the top of your carrot cupcake and you're left with a tasty, fiber-packed muffin that would be perfect for a fall brunch. Food Network Kitchen's Healthy Carrot Muffins are made with a mix of whole-wheat and all-purpose flours. You won't need much added sugar; the grated carrots and crushed pineapple add naturally sweet flavor.
Nut meals, like the almond and ground coconut in these Gluten-Free Carrot Coconut Muffins, are always a safe bet for getting a moist texture and plenty of body without the batter becoming heavy. Here, soaked chia seeds and bananas also help produce a moist, cakelike muffin with a lovely, nutty flavor that's perfect for breakfast.
Whole wheat flour and Greek yogurt keep these Mini Carrot Cakes with Cream Cheese Glaze flavorful and moist while adding fiber and protein. Each cake gets one teaspoon of sweet cream cheese glaze — with far fewer calories than the multiple tablespoons of frosting piled onto your typical cupcake.
Ellie Krieger's Carrot Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting are incredibly moist, thanks to the applesauce hidden in the batter. The applesauce also eliminates the need for a lot of oil. Here, there's only a quarter-cup.
For more ways to enjoy carrots this season, check out these recipes from our friends:
Feed Me Phoebe: Baked Moroccan Chicken with Carrots and Turmeric
The Mom 100: Roasted Cauliflower and Carrots with Olive Drizzle
Napa Farmhouse 1885: Chicken & Carrot Saute With Coconut-Basil Sauce
Red or Green: Roasted Carrot, Shallot & Coconut Soup
Taste with the Eyes: A Twist on Carrots and Quinoa
Creative Culinary: Roasted Carrots with Honey, Rosemary and Thyme


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Session 1Pharmacology
Pharmacology is a part of Biology which is concerned with the Drug action studies. Pharmacology is classified into different types. Clinical pharmacology is a branch of Pharmacology related to drugs and their clinical use. Clinical Pharmacology is the most complete, easiest-to-use and most dependable drug information solution available today. Neuropharmacology is the study of how drugs affect the function of Nervous system.Psychopharmacology is the study of the use of medications in treating mental disorders.Cardiovascular pharmacology is the science which evaluates the drugs used in the treatment of Cardiovascular Disorders. Systems pharmacology is an application of system biology principles to the field of Pharmacology. Toxicology is a branch related to Biology, Medicine and Chemistry concerned with the adverse effects of Chemicals on Living organisms. Theoretical pharmacology uses techniques of computational quantum chemistry and the method of Molecular Mechanics. Environmental pharmacology is a branch of pharmacology that deals entry of chemicals or drugs into the environment after elimination from humans and animals as post-therapy. Dental pharmacology is the study of drugs of the oral cavity.
Session 2COVID-19
A corona virus is a kind of common virus that causes an infection in nose, sinuses, or upper throat. In early 2020, after a December 2019 outbreak in China, the World Health Organization identified SARS-CoV-2 as a new type of corona virus. The outbreak quickly spread around the world. COVID-19 is a disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 that can trigger a respiratory tract infection. It can affect upper respiratory tract (sinuses, nose, and throat) or lower respiratory tract (windpipe and lungs). It spreads the same way as other co.ronaviruses do, mainly through person-to-person contact. Infections range from mild to deadly. The virus can lead to pneumonia, respiratory failure, septic shock and death. Many COVID-19 complications may be caused by a condition known as cytokine release syndrome or a cytokine storm
Session 3Receptors, Drug action and Mechanism
A receptor is a protein molecule that receives chemical signals from outside a cell. The structures of receptors are very diverse and can broadly be classified into L (Ionic receptors), G protein couple receptors (metabotropic), Kinase-linked and related receptors, Nuclear receptors. Drugs interact with receptors by bonding at specific binding sites. Most receptors are made up of proteins, and the drugs can therefore interact with the amino acids to change the conformation of the receptor proteins. Drugs interact with receptors by bonding at specific binding sites. Most receptors are made up of proteins, and the drugs can therefore interact with the amino acids to change the conformation of the receptor proteins. Drug mechanism of action is determined by Microscopy-based methods, direct biochemical method, Computation inference methods. When talking about the shape of molecules, biochemists are mainly concerned with the three-dimensional conformation of drug molecules. There are many isomers of a particular drug, and each one will have its own effects. Differences in isomer affect not only what the drug activates, but also changes the potency of each drug.
Session 4Drug metabolism and excretion
The metabolism of drugs and other xenobiotics into more hydrophilic metabolites is essential for the elimination of these compounds from the body and termination of their biological activity. The liver is the principal site of drug metabolism. Although metabolism typically inactivates drugs, some drug metabolites are pharmacologically active—sometimes even more so than the parent compound. Drug Metabolism is concerned with Permeability barriers and detoxification, Phases of detoxification, Endogenous toxins and the factors that affect drug metabolism. Excretion is a process whereby drugs are transferred from the internal to the external environment. Despite the reduction in activity that occurs as a drug leaves its site of action, it may remain in the body for a considerable period, especially if it is strongly bound to tissue components. Excretion, along with metabolism and tissue redistribution, is important in determining both the duration of drug action and the rate of drug elimination. Principal organs involved Kidneys, Lungs, Biliary system, Intestines, Saliva, and Milk.
Session 5Drug discovery and development
The idea that the effect of a drug in the human body is mediated by specific interactions of the drug molecule with biological macromolecules, (proteins or nucleic acids in most cases) led scientists to the conclusion that individual chemicals are required for the biological activity of the drug. The first step in the drug discovery process is to identify a suitable target. This is a molecule or a protein receptor that is specifically associated with a disease condition or pathology. For this purpose, it is important to understand how the disease occurs at the molecular, cellular, and genetic levels. The drug development phase involves rigorous testing and optimization of the selected compounds to identify the lead structure or candidate drug' which might be the most effective. Testing required by the health authorities is done in cells (in vitro) and in animals (in vivo) to study metabolism safety, toxicity, dosage, and efficacy.
Session 6Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics
Pharmacokinetics is the quantitative study of drug movement in, through and out of the body. Intensity of effect is related to concentration of the drug at the site of action, which depends on its pharmacokinetic properties and these properties of particular drug is important to determine the route of administration, dose, onset of action, peak action time, duration of action and frequency of dosing. Pharmacodynamics is the branch of pharmacology concerned with the action of drugs on the body or on microorganisms within or on the body.
Session 7Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacovigilance
Pharmacoepidemiology is the study of drug efficacy, toxicity and patterns of use in large populations. Thus, pharmacoepidemiology can be called a bridge science spanning both pharmacology and epidemiology. Pharmacoepidemiology sometimes also involves the conduct and evaluation of programmatic efforts to improve medication use on a population basis. Pharmacovigilance is a type of continual monitoring for unwanted effects and other safety-related aspects of drugs that are already on the market. Pharmacovigilance has been defined by the World Health Organisation as "The science and activities relating to the detection, assessment, understanding and prevention of adverse effects or any other possible drug-related problem"
Session 8Pharmacogenetics and Genomics
Pharmacogenetics is the study of how the actions of and reactions to drugs vary with the patient's genes. Pharmacogenetics studies the genetic variation between people underlying differential response to drugs. Genes determine the make-up of all the body's proteins, and as medicines travel through the body they interact with many of these proteins. This relatively new field allows us to combine pharmacology and genomics to develop effective and safe medication dosages which are specific to an individual's DNA makeup.
Session 9Pharmaceutical engineering
Pharmaceutical engineering is a branch ofpharmaceutical science and technology that involves development and manufacturing of products, processes, and components in the pharmaceuticals industry. A pharmaceutical engineer is a specialized chemical engineer who focuses on creating new pharmaceutical drugs and improving upon existing products and manufacturing processes. Pharmaceutical engineering is subject to various regulations in different countries, and pharmaceutical engineers must ensure they maintain personal and environmental safety at all times.
Session 10Pharmaceutical formulation
Pharmaceutical formulation is a process in which different chemical substances i.e., active chemical substances will combined together to produce a medical compound i.e., medical drug. The pharmaceutical formulations process involves the entire process of a how a drug is developed and how it is finally accepted by the patient. The drug form varies by the route of administration. Like capsules , tablets and pills etc. Parenteral formulations also called injectable formulations and are used with intravenous, subcutaneous, intramuscular, and intra-articular administration. In the pharmaceutical drug formulations, the different physical, chemical, and mechanical properties of a drug are considered so as to know what other ingredients should be used in the preparation.
Session 11Pharmaceutical Microbiology
Pharmaceutical Microbiology is an applied branch of Microbiology. It involves the study of microorganisms associated with the manufacture of pharmaceuticals like minimizing the number of microorganisms in a process environment, excluding microorganisms and microbial by-products like exotoxin and endotoxin from water and other starting materials, and ensuring the finished pharmaceutical product is sterile. The most important contribution of microbiology to the pharmaceutical industry is the development of antibiotics. Apart from drugs and bio products development, microbiology contributes towards quality control of a pharmaceutical laboratory. Prevention of microbial contamination of drugs, injectables, eye drops, nasal solutions and inhalation products is undertaken following pharmacopeial guidelines.
Session 12Pharmacognosy
Pharmacognosy is the study of medicines or crude drugs produced from natural sources such as plants, microbes, and animals. It includes analysis of their biological, chemical, biochemical, and physical properties. It includes the study of various disciples such as ethnobotony, ethnopharmacology, Phytotherapy, Phytochemistry, Zoopharmacognosy, Marine pharmacognosy etc. The part of pharmacognosy focusing on the use of crude extracts or semi-pure mixtures originating from nature, namely phytotherapy, is probably the best known and also the most debated area in pharmacognosy.
Session 13Medicinal Chemistry
Medicinal chemistry is the chemistry discipline concerned with the design, development and synthesis of pharmaceutical drugs. The discipline combines expertise from chemistry and pharmacology to identify, develop and synthesize chemical agents that have a therapeutic use and to evaluate the properties of existing drugs.
Session 14Biopharmaceutics
Biopharmaceutics is the study of the physical and chemical properties of a drug, and its dosage form, as related to the onset, duration, and intensity of drug action, including coconstituents and mode of manufacture. Different from totally synthesized pharmaceuticals, they include vaccines, blood, blood components, allergenics, somatic cells, gene therapies, tissues, recombinant therapeutic protein, and living cells used in cell therapy. Biopharmaceuticals are majorly extracted from living systems (Whole blood and other blood components, Organs and tissue transplants, Stem cell therapy, Antibodies for passive immunization, Human breast milk, Fecal microbiota, Human reproductive cells) produced by recombinant DNA (Body's own signelling proteins like Erythropoetin, Human insulin etc and other Monoclonal antibodies and fusion proteins) Major kinds of biopharmaceuticals include Blood factors, Thrombolytic agents, Hormones, Haematopoietic growth factors, Interferons, Interleukin-based products, Vaccines, Monoclonal antibodies etc.
Session 15Pharmacotherapy
Pharmacotherapy is the Study of the use and effects produced by drugs on patients as well as the treatment of illnesses by administering drugs. Pharmacists are experts in pharmacotherapy and are responsible for ensuring the safe, appropriate, and economical use of pharmaceutical drugs. The skills required to function as a pharmacist require knowledge, training and experience in biomedical, pharmaceutical and clinical sciences.
Session 16Clinical Pharmacy
Clinical pharmacy is the branch of pharmacy in which pharmacists provide patient care that optimizes the use of medication and promotes health, wellness, and disease prevention. Clinical pharmacists often work in collaboration with physicians, nurse practitioners, and other healthcare professionals. Transitional care refers to the coordination and continuity of health care during a movement from one healthcare setting to either another or to home, called care transition, between health care practitioners and settings as their condition and care needs change during the course of a chronic or acute illness. By integrating pharmacy and medical data, clients gain the visibility needed to make informed decisions with regard to the pharmacy benefits offered to their members.
Session 17Hospital pharmacy
Hospital Pharmacy is a department or service in a hospital, responsible for the supply of medications to hospital wards as well as ambulatory patients, The department is headed by professionally competent, legally qualified pharmacist who directly supervises and ensures the correct dispensing, compounding, and distribution of medication to in and out-patients. The major goals include providing the benefits of a qualified hospital pharmacist to patients and health care institutions, to the allied health professions, and to the profession of pharmacy, To assist in providing an adequate supply of such qualified hospital pharmacists, To assure a high quality of professional practice through the establishment and maintenance of standards of professional ethics, education, and attainments and through the promotion of economic welfare, To promote research in hospital pharmacy practices and in the pharmaceutical sciences in general, To disseminate pharmaceutical knowledge by providing for interchange of information among hospital pharmacists and with members of allied specialties and professions.
Session 18Pharmaceutical Management
Pharmaceutical Management is a division of management that deals with chemical and health sciences and ensures the effective and safe use of pharmaceutical drugs. Pharmaceutical Management integrates business strategy with science and technology and the unique perspective of the industry.
Session 19Process Validation, Qualification and Good Manufacturing Practices
Validation is establishing documented evidence which provides a high degree of assurance that a specific process or equipment will consistently produce a product or result meeting its pre-determined specification and quality attributes. Validation is a key process for effective Quality Assurance. A GMP is a system for ensuring that products are consistently produced and controlled according to quality standards. It is designed to minimize the risks involved in any pharmaceutical production that cannot be eliminated through testing the final product. GMP covers all aspects of production from the starting materials, premises and equipment to the training and personal hygiene of staff.
Sesssion20Pharmaceutical Chemsitry
Pharmaceutical Chemistry is the science of design and chemical synthesis of a drug or a molecule by the application of analytical techniques. It is majorly involved in drug design and its synthesis. Pharmaceutical Chemistry is applied in laboratories either to discover a new API (Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient) or to enhance the bioavailability of an existing drug or a molecule by either rearranging the structure of the molecule or by modifying its synthesis. These studies are generally performed for low potent drugs to increase their pharmacological activity. Pharmaceutical Chemistry includes organic, inorganic chemistry and analytical chemistry related to pharmaceuticals and other biomolecules.
Session 21Pharmaceutical Analysis
Pharmaceutical analysis in drug development mainly focuses on methods to identify and quantify potential new drug candidates, determine purity, identify by – products and degradation products in compatibility and stability studies, and to determine the drug substance's fate in the organism.
Session 22BioInformatics
Biological research can be compared with the role of data analysis in the age of information and the Internet. In earlier days, the primary challenge was getting to the information. Advances in reading DNA sequences have lowered that barrier substantially. Going forward, the challenge is how to understand and interpret the information that has been collected. Because the data sets are large, whether you're talking about information about website visits or the human genome, computer-based methods are the default approach. In the end, bioinformatics work with human genomes seeks to discover practical insights about human health and biology with all its complexity.


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The ArchivesSpace program team is announcing the availability of a small patch release, 2.0.1. This release remedies an issue where the resource tree display appears to become unresponsive after saving a record.
You can download this release at https://github.com/archivesspace/archivesspace/releases/tag/v2.0.1. Information on upgrading to a new version of ArchivesSpace is available at http://archivesspace.github.io/archivesspace/user/upgrading-to-a-new-release-of-archivesspace/.
Thanks to Payten Giles of our development partner Hudson Molonglo for uncovering this issue and delivering a quick fix for it. If you have any questions or need help upgrading, please let us know.


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This program is useful for the activation of various software products, including the operating system Windows. The application is useful to any user as it can save a lot of money.
KMSAuto Net v1.4.8 (Updated): what is this program?
KMSAuto Net works by the following principle: on your PC a virtual server is created and substituted as a real developer site, through which the software is activated. When the activation ends, this virtual server is deleted. At the request of the user, you can create an automatic re-activation, which will not allow such a "fly" when upgrading the software or OS.
Activation Proof (Windows)
Activation Proof (Office)
Advantages of KMSAuto Net
This version of KMS Auto is able to activate not only Microsoft Windows, but any version of Office, beginning in 2010 and ending in 2016. Contrary to popular belief, this application is completely legal. After all, it was created specifically for the activation of Microsoft's corporate software segment.
Consider the merits of KMS activator Ultimate:
- high speed of work;
- user-friendly interface (how to use the program is understandable from the first minutes);
- there is a good reference system;
- there is the possibility of installing a product key;
- many additional useful tools.
System requirements
The new version of KMSAuto in english works without failures, for correct functioning you need the following hardware:
- operating system Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10 Maximum
- installed package. NET Framework
- Administrator privileges
- 5 MB of free hard disk space
These are the system requirements from Ratiborus (developer KMSAuto and KMSAuto mini).
What KMSAuto Net can do
Let's look at the modes of operation that can be used in the program. You can find out about them in detail on the official KMSAuto website. The first and most common mode in the CCM Auto No it's automatic. When you use it, the application itself chooses the best way to activate and applies it.
The Hacktool program or a hacking tool will remember the activation algorithm and, if it is successful, next time it will apply it by default. There is also a manual setting (NoAuto). Its use is recommended only for experienced users or administrators of operating systems, an unprepared person is able at best not to be able to activate the software, and at worst do him harm.
Another mode is Hook. In this case, the original program file is replaced with a modified one, and when activation occurs, the software is returned to the site. In new versions of the application, the file is no longer replaced, the whole process is in RAM.
The WinDivert mode installs a special driver into the operating system, through which the connection to the KMS server is made, through which the product is activated.
There is another mode called TAP. In the operating system, a special interface is installed, through which activation is carried out. In total there are two TAP-adapters (drivers) in the program, if one of them is already installed, then, to avoid affecting it, the program will install the other and will work through it.
KMSAuto can be customized. First of all, you can switch the mode, and during the program several tabs appear in the program, these are: "Main window", "System" and "About the program".
The main window – how to activate
How to Activate Microsoft Product with KMSAuto Net 1.4.8 ?
- Install KMSAuto Net 1.4.8 on your PC.
- Disable your Anti-malware utility. Some Antiviruses may 'flag' the program as potential malware.
- Turn off your Internet Connection.
- Open Activator with administrative rights.
- Choose Microsoft or Windows from the main menu.
- Now you'll have to choose your current MS Office version.
- Click 'Activate'.
- Wait for the process to finish.
- You may need to restart your machine for the changes to take effect.
There are 2 big buttons "Activation" and "Information". If we press the first, we have to choose what to activate, Windows or Office. When you press the "Information" button in the lower half of the window, information about the software activation status is displayed.
Manual mode
If for some reason the automatic method did not work, you can activate it manually.
- To do this, switch to the " System " tab .
- Start the installation or reinstall the KMS-Service.
- After that, in the " Installing GVLK key " section, install the key.
- In the Scheduler, create a task so that the system will re-activate itself every 10 days, if necessary.
Work with the command line
You can also activate via the command line.
- Run the command prompt (cmd), be sure to do this as an administrator, otherwise the activation will not be performed – in Windows 10, right-click on the Start button and select "Windows PowerShell (administrator) from the context menu. Or run the Task Manager. and create a new task.
- First you need to delete the old keys, if any. To do this, type the command in the console – slmgr.vbs -upk
- To install a new command is needed – slmgr / ipk (key). For example;
slmgr / ipk W269U-JFGWX-Y5C9B-4J8V9-T87GX
Copy the command in the usual way in the command line will not work. To paste any text into the command line, use the hotkeys: Ctrl + C (copy), Ctrl + V (paste). Do not forget about spaces and short hyphens (-).
You can check the license status information in the system properties window.
Team tails – slmgr.
- / Ipk – Change the product key.
- / Upk — Deletes a license record, when errors occur, to reactivate (delete key).
- / Ato – Automatic activation of Windows.
- / dli – Displays license information.
- / Dlv – Displays detailed license information.
- / Xpr – Check the validity period and license status.
- / Cpky – Remove license information from the registry.
- / ILC – Install licenses.
- / rearm – Extension of the activation of the trial version of Windows for 30 days
After each command, press Enter.
Additional utilities
The program has built-in additional utilities for convenient operation.
- MSActBask Up – saving and restoring activation when reinstalling Windows.
- Work with services – access to the services of the Windows system, disabling or enabling certain services for successful activation.
- Task Scheduler – create and import tasks, configure the log of all tasks.
- Account Settings – here you can add a system user, change the name, password.
- Viewing Windows events – here you can find out why this or that error is caused, which occurred during activation.
- Reset Negliding System status – delete key information.
- Show or hide updates – a utility for diagnosing and preventing computer problems.
- Checking the integrity of system files – log file.
- Determine ePID and Hwid KMS-Service (fine tuning)
- Task management in the scheduler – enable or disable tasks to collect information and provide it to Microsoft Corp.
- Change edition of Windows.
To perform the conversion of Windows 8 Enterprise to Windows 8 Pro, for example, you will need to restart the computer and start the installation in the update mode. Available versions for changing editions:
- Core (base).
- Core Single Language (basic for one language)
- Professional (professional)
- ProfessionalWMC (Professional with Windows Media Center)
- Enterprise (corporate)
How to view license status
- Open the Start menu .
- Switch to the " Applications " tab .
- Locate this computer in the list and right click on it.
- In the bottom panel, select " Properties ."
- In the system properties window that opens, the status of the license is below.
You can also see the details of the license through the command line. Run it as an administrator and enter the command – slmgr.vbs / Dlv
The register is not important, you can write with a small letter, and with a large one. But after vds there must be a space.
Error codes
Sometimes when you try to activate the system or Office, various kinds of errors appear.
0xc004f074 – an error means that the key entered into the system, for some reason, was not confirmed by the remote server. Occurs when upgrading to Windows 10. And also when working or running third-party software. For server operating systems, this is an incompatibility between the KMS client and the Host computer.
- To eliminate the cause, check the validity of the entered values.
- Wait a while and try again. (sometimes due to heavy server load).
- Contact support.
0xc004f050 – occurs when you cleanly reinstall the OS on a computer with formatting the system disk. All information about licenses is erased from the disk. Actually for versions Windows 7/8 / 8,1. When you try to enter a reusable key. In Windows 10, the key is bound to the hardware permanently and this error does not occur.
- Check the correctness of the entered key values when activated.
- Contact customer support.
- If there is no key, activate the OS using KMS Auto.
0x8007007b – Occurs when the network settings are incorrect. When trying to activate the system without an internet connection. When you enter the key of another edition. For example: if you activate Windows 10 Home, the key to Windows 10 Professional.
0x8007232b – DNS name does not exist. Failed to connect to a key management node (KMS). In this case, you need to contact support or try to activate the system via the command line manually, using the multiple activation key (MAC).
0x803f7001 – When upgrading to Windows 10, when the system did not detect a valid license. Occurs when trying to upgrade the OS to the "ten" from the pirated "seven".
- When replacing or repairing components (the system believes that Windows is running on new hardware).
- Invalid product key values - hyphens (-) are replaced with long dashes (-).
- Problems with transferring data to a remote server.
0x803fa067 – Installation does not have a valid digital license. Occurs when trying to upgrade a non-licensed Windows 7 or 8 to the "dozens".
0xc004f012 – found on Windows 10. It means that the licensing suppository is missing or damaged.
- Sometimes occurs when first turned on.
- With the next major update.
0x8007000d – When trying to access the "Update Center" file on a disk that is missing or damaged. Missing or not actual driver versions on the computer. Found on Windows 10.
0xc004f014 – At the established corporate "seven" or 8 / 8,1 when trying to upgrade to the "ten" for free. Corporate OS versions are not subject to free upgrade).
0xc004c060 – use an invalid product key.
Antivirus and Kms Activator
Antivirus software is often taken by KMSAuto as a malicious utility. If you use the file downloaded from our site, we guarantee the absence of viruses and trojans in it.
To easily use the activator for Windows and Office, you need to add it to the list of exceptions if you have Kaspersky Anti-Virus or Comodo. Other antiviruses may call this function differently.
False actuation of the antivirus is due to the fact that the activator contains complex utilities that modify the system files of the Windows OS.
If you use the built-in antivirus in Windows then follow our instructions below.
1. Open the "Windows Defender Security Center".
2. Go to "Protection against viruses and threats."
3. Go to "Options for protection against viruses and other threats."
4. Disable Real-time Protection.
The procedure for adding a KMS to to Windows 10 Defender exceptions:
- Open the Defender.
- Select "Options" in the bottom left corner.
- In the "Virus and Threat Protection Notifications" section, select "Virus and Threat Protection Settings".
- Scroll down the list and in the "Exceptions" section, select "Add or remove exceptions."
- Click on the plus sign – "Add an exception".
- Select File, Folder, File Type, or Process.
- In the opened explorer, find the required file or folder, and click "Open". KMS avto will be added to the exceptions and the antivirus will no longer identify it as a threat.
- Or disable for some time the antivirus, completely (not recommended).
- The order of adding a program to exceptions or shutdowns varies for different antiviruses. For each specific antivirus information can be found on the network.
How to delete and whether to delete?
The program itself does not require removal, since it is not installed as a stationary utility or application. It is easy enough to run, it is portable (except for the KMSAuto Helper version, which runs in the background). Since antiviruses define it as malicious or potentially unwanted software, it is advisable to delete the file itself with the .exe extension. When you first scan the antivirus will detect it as a threat.
KMS-Service is not worth deleting. The program will activate the system with a specified frequency. Otherwise, during the next security update (KB971033), the current activation may fail when the key fails validation on a real KMS. On Windows 7/8 / 8.1, such updates come only once a year. On the "top ten" with every large-scale update (every half year). Periodic confirmation of activation occurs unnoticed by the user.
Here you can configure the activator program, for example, install a KMS server, select one of the operating modes, create a task in the scheduler, install the GVLK-key or select the language of the interface.
About the program
Here everything is standard, we see information about the KMSAuto lite program. But there is one nuance – the inclusion of a professional regime. For this purpose, the "Professional Mode" button is here.
After clicking it, several new tabs appear, namely: "Settings", "Advanced" and "Utilities".
Here you can configure the removal of the IP address of KMS, turn off the sounds of the program or its splash screen, disable the addition of the Windows key and click the button "I have few settings !!!".
What is behind this button? After pressing it, an additional menu appears, in which we can configure in more detail the parameters -Pwin, -PO14, -PO15 and -PO16.
There was information about the license for Windows and Office, as well as the button for saving the activation.
In this section, you can set your own GVLK-key, administrator services, scheduler, accounts, events and reset the "invisible system" settings. You can also change the version of Windows and show its updates.
There is also a button "Other utilities", which opens an additional window with the ability to verify the integrity of files, the definition of ePID and Hwid KMS-Service.


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Kale is deservedly called a super food. It is packed with nutrients that will nourish your body and your cells, and leave you feeling great. I would definitely define myself as a kale lover. I make sure I include this dark, leafy green in my menu at least once a week. It is a source of so many vitamins and minerals, and is especially interesting for vegetarians and vegans, as it has more iron per calorie, than beef! Yeah, you read that right – more iron per calorie than beef.
So let me list some of the numerous benefits of kale and give you 8 reasons why you should start including it in your diet today:
- Kale is rich in fiber, contains zero fat and is low in calories. The fiber in kale will aid with digestion, and this veggie will provide you with more nutrients for fewer calories than any other food around. And when I say few calories, I mean 36 calories per cup of kale.
- Kale contains powerful antioxidants and can help prevent cancer. The concentration of the antioxidants carotenoids and flavonoids in kale plays a role in cancer prevention.
- This leafy green is known for its anti-inflammatory properties and offers a great support to your cardiovascular system.
- Kale is high in Vitamin K. Vitamin K is essential for healthy bones, prevents the blood from clotting, and can help people suffering from Alzheimer's disease.
- Kale is a good source of calcium. It has more calcium per calorie than milk. Calcium is essential to your bone health, can prevent osteoporosis and helps maintain a healthy metabolism.
- Kale is great for the detoxification of your body. The fiber and sulfur in kale are great for detoxing your body and will keep your liver healthy.
- Kale is high in vitamin C. Important for your immune system and metabolism.
- Kale is high in vitamin A. Important for your eyes and skin.
When is best to buy your kale?
You can find kale all year round, but its peak season is from the middle of winter through to the beginning of spring.
Where to buy kale in Luxembourg?
A lot of people have asked me where I get my kale from. Recently, since kale is in season I see it often in the local supermarkets . and most recently at Auchan. You should look for "Chou Mousse" in French, or "Grünkohl" in German.
I always find kale in the farmers market at Place Guillaume II in Luxembourg City, every Wednesday and Saturday from 07:30 until 13:00h. Here are a few pics I took from the market today.
How to prepare kale to optimize its benefits?
First off, make sure you always rinse the kale well. Then remove the stems, as they are quite bitter. I love my kale steamed, raw or baked. I consume it raw in some of my salads and smoothies, and I looovee making myself kale chips! Check out my kale chips recipe here.


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When you and your spouse aren't getting along too well and are considering a divorce, you might decide that you want to try living apart to see how it works. In some cases, these trial separations end with the marriage continuing. In other cases, they end in divorce. It is important for you to understand some points about separation if you are considering one.
A trial separation doesn't have any legal impact on your marriage. You don't have to do anything to show that you are in the midst of a trial separation, and you don't have to do anything if you decide to continue the marriage.
Another type of separation is a legal separation. In this case, you and your ex would divide all of the property just as you would in a divorce. You would also have to go through making child custody agreements and child support agreements. Even though these are all in place, you are still married.
When it comes to a legal separation, there are many different reasons why this might be the option a couple chooses. In some cases, they are trying to work things out but can't live together in the interim. Some people might choose this option for religious reasons. Others might need to stay married for insurance or other purposes.
In Colorado, you can move from a legal separation to a divorce with relative ease. It is crucial that you file the paperwork for the separation properly and that you execute the motion seeking divorce properly. If you are considering a separation, you should take the time to learn exactly what it entails and how it will affect your life.
Source: FindLaw, "Legal Separation vs. Divorce," accessed Nov. 17, 2016


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About Jess
just the facts
I am a big nerd.
My destination was inevitable.
I've always loved words, stories, and books. Despite going through a few iterations of what I wanted to be when I grew up — fashion designer, Broadway star, and opera singer, to name a few — writer never fell off the list of careers. After college, with a fresh communications degree in hand, it was harder than I realized to pin down what I really wanted to do, or even what I could do. But I still had my universal truth: I have always wanted to tell stories.
Content = stories + connections
It didn't take long after jumping into the working world with both feet to realize that making connections with people, something I took for granted as a part of my personality, was a professional strength. And not just a strength, but a skill that would become a valuable asset in my career.
So I took my love of storytelling and married it together with that talent for making connections, and I started looking for companies who needed someone like me. To my surprise, they weren't that hard to find. That's how I found my niche, and I've never looked back.
I'm more than just a marketer.
Just like everyone I know, I'm not totally defined by my career. I believe that the awesome things about a person are a huge driver behind their success at whatever they choose to do. And the most interesting thing about me definitely isn't that I'm a great content marketer!
What else should you know about me?
- I've got an idea-hungry mind that is never satiated and an elephant memory for recall.
- I talk fast, and read even faster. And I read everything, from romance novels to psychology textbooks.
- I can probably beat you at Mario Kart, Street Fighter, and maybe Overwatch. I believe Tetris is a life skill.
- I may not have become an opera singer, but I trained to be one for three years. I love music and I love to sing.
- I moonlight as a local theater critic and arts journalist. I love supporting the arts communities through my writing.
- I am a technology junkie who is always on the lookout for cool new gadgets or awesome apps.
- I love alliteration, em dashes, consistent subheads, my red editing pen, and the Chicago Manual of Style.
I've had an industry-spanning career doing a little bit of everything and a whole lot of writing. These are some of my favorite projects to date.
I'm an input person who is always collecting great articles, resources, and additions to my personal martech stack. These are a few of the things I'm into right now.
follow me


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There is high susceptibility of restaurants, hotels and other companies within the hospitality realm. As such, a trusted litigation team is critical to running a successful business and ensuring longevity. Our clients look to us for help in managing the associated risks of providing services to the public. This often includes proactive training sessions with employees, consultations with management, compliance audits, etc.
With regard to litigation support, we advise clients on matters relating to premises liability, product liability, workers' compensation and infestations, among other areas. The attentiveness we provide to our clients and our enviable defense record are two of the main reasons we are regularly called upon to represent clients. We represent a variety of clients, including large chain retailers and local neighborhood establishments. To stay abreast of updates within the industry, members of our team actively participate in organizations such as the National Retail & Restaurant Defense Association.
Defense Verdict for Restaurant Franchisee


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Join Rapid Response to Stop Offshore Drilling in NC
The Trump administration is gearing up to open our Atlantic coast to offshore drilling, despite the overwhelming objections of governors and citizens of coastal states. The Center for Biological Diversity has set up a Rapid Response protest, so that within 48 hours of the release of the administration's plans, there will be protests across North Carolina, in Morehead City, the Outer Banks, Wilmington, Asheville, and Raleigh.
Sign up here to join the Rapid Response Team and be notified of protest locations and time as soon as the plan is released.
To learn more about offshore drilling, check out the resources at DontDrillNC.org or visit Oceana.org.
Sign up now for Rapid Response and protect our coasts!


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Getting a degree from a top-ranking business school can add significant value to your career growth. The Management degree, if earned globally from a school abroad put you ahead with prospective employers and improves your chances of landing a high-paying job. Mostly top B-schools in the world accept GMAT(Graduate Management Admission Test) score for admissions to their management programs. So it is very necessary to write GMAT and score well in it. However, a good GMAT score will not be sufficient to get into a top-ranked B-school. There are some other prerequisites for admission in different management programs.
Admission Prerequisites for Management Programs Globally
Globally, business school applications require a complete undergraduate degree, GMAT score, TOEFL score and Letter of recommendation. The eligibility criteria may vary for different universities at the time of admission. Here are some requirements and prerequisites on the business school admissions process used by most top-ranking business schools-
- Strong Academics: Many business schools have no minimum requirement, but a better CGPA is a must for serious consideration.
- Good GMAT scores: Although for GMAT scores there is also no formal minimum requirement, but most B-schools like to see scores of 600 or higher (out of 800). Top league business schools may require scores of 700-750 or more.
- Work experience: Some business schools may not need this, but all the right B-schools recommend work experience. Most B-schools recommend at least two or three years of work experience after college, before admitting students into an MBA program. Although some B-schools may overlook your lack of work experience if your academics are strong enough.
These all are the basic requirements if you want to get into a top class B-school anywhere in the world. Since you can take the GMAT more than once so, your most recent and your previous GMAT scores will be sent to the schools you have applied to. So you can plan to take the test close to the date when you submitted your applications.
Why GMAT?
More than 2,100 universities and B-schools across the globe offering 5,900 Management programs use the score as part of their selection criteria. Business schools use the test as a criterion for admission into a wide range of graduate management programs. These programs include MBA, Master of Finance and Master of Accountancy and more courses like these. The GMAT exam is conducted in standardized test centers in about 112 countries around the world. Apart from this, GMAT is also the premier option for top MBA programs in top B-schools of India such as ISB, IIMs, MDI, XLRI and much more that require students to have work experience for some management programs.
What is GMAT?
The GMAT is the standardized entrance test required by many business schools globally. According to the GMAC (the conducting body of GMAT) – GMAT is specifically designed to test the verbal, writing, and quantitative skills of applicants for graduate study in business. GMAT score is valid for five years. There is no specific eligibility requirement to take GMAT. However, a graduation degree from a recognized university is compulsory to sit for GMAT as it is for post graduate management programs. However, the eligibility criterion may vary from institute to institute after the candidate clears GMAT.
GMATExam consists of four separate sections with different time durations. The first two sections contain a 30-minute writing task each. The other two sections contain multiple-choice questions and are of 75 minutes each. GMAT is conducted all year-round in hundreds of locations, and it only takes about two weeks for scores to be mailed. GMAT score ranges between 200 and 800. A candidate can take this exam more than once in a year (maximum five times) if he does not attain his targeted score. The registration fee for GMAT exam is USD 250 (currently 16500 INR). You can schedule your GMAT test according to your convenient time and location, and also you can reschedule it if it doesn't suit you. However, rescheduling may cost you extra USD 50 approx. 3300 rupees, so schedule your test after making up your mind. The GMATexam is offered all year-round at the 26 cities in India through 29 test centers.
Interviews, the important aspect of Business Schools' selection process!
After appearing in GMAT and scoring a good GMAT score is the first step towards your dream b school. Interviews during the selection process also play a crucial role in the admission. A good or bad interview can do much to sway an admission committee of any good B-school. A candidate who's mediocre on paper, but confident, and sincere in person stands a better chance of getting into a B-school than a candidate who is excellent on paper, but awkward in the interview. Business schools schedule the interviews only after reviewing applications and shortlisting the applicant those whom they are seriously considering. So your strong application is a gateway to most of the b schools.
So, you can see that gateway to the most top level b schools of the globe is GMAT. If you are planning to get a business administration degree from a globally reputed institute, you should start preparing for GMAT.


text: Rev ProJan 24, 20201 min readJanuary 25th - Huntingdon - JAYDE vs LANA AUSTIN - Grlz Vol. 1Yesterday, it was announced JAYDE will take on LANA AUSTIN at Grlz Vol. 1 in Huntingdon. Each of these Queen of the Ring semi-finalists will look to kick off their 2020 with a win in Revolution Pro.Grab your tickets for Grlz Vol. 1 here.Or grab your tickets for both shows in Huntingdon here.News•Events92 views0 commentsPost not marked as liked


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One of the reasons I love my wife is that she understands my need for release. She understands that I love her and my kid entirely...but I still gotta have something else. And since that day I bought my first guitar (a Chicago-brand Les Paul copy) with saved-up lunch money, that thing I need most is music. It is my sanity, my release...and possibly the the only thing keeping me sane at this point.
Last Friday, my band played a show in Bowling Green. Things went rather well. Several friends showed up (more than for my first Black Swamp Rats gig). The other acts (Mark Hutchins and The Half Hearts) were both awesome. I only moderately aggravated my bad shoulders loading my gear in and out of the bar (via the fire escape, mind you). And if my friends are to be believed, I even played well. Well, hell, don't take my word for it:
I would be lying, though, if I said I didn't feel guilty about leaving the wife and kids to play...but experience has taught me that it's much worse, though, for everyone involved if I don't have music as my outlet. In spite of shoulder pain and slightly ringing ears, I was a much better person after this night than before. Still, though, as I made my way into my house and crawled into bed, a song popped into my head:
Yeah. It's just like that...except Kenny was a rich man singing about someone who's poor but still thinks he might possibly be able to make it. I, on the other hand, am poor and hold no illusions of ever being otherwise. The need for what we do, though, is the same.
Oh yeah, our song is better.


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We are now taking pre-orders for the new Limited Edition Hardy Hotspur Cascapedia 10/11 Salmon Fly Reel. Contact us now or ask instore to reserve yours, a list of available numbers will be available very soon and the reels will be due for delivery by the end of June 2017! CLICK HERE TO SEE THE REEL NOW!
The new Hotspur Cascapedia is a limited edition Hardy reel made to celebrate 950th anniversary of the Percy family. Commissioned exclusively by the The Duke of Northumberland, The Hotspur is based on the legendary Hardy Cascapedia reel of the 1930's. This reel is exclusively designed and built by Hardys in Alnwick, England.
Reel 001 of 150 was released to The Atlantic Salmon Trust to auction off at their Gala Dinner on the 25th May 2017, the reel fetched an amazing £55,000, a world record for a reel sold at auction! This phenomenal sum will go towards helping the charity continue their vital work. A proportion of the monies generated from the remaining 149 reels will also be donated to both the Atlantic Salmon Trust and Salmon & Trout Conservation.
- Only 150 limited edition Reels will be created
- The Hotspur Cascapedia will feature a brushed gold anodized cage and drum in bar stock 6061 aluminium
- The drag wheel will feature the Percy Coat of Arms, a prancing lion, blue on gold
- Modified side plates feature a three badge design and improved drag system
- Badges to the outer will feature production number, fin and fly logo and reel makers mark (P Lundy)
- Reels will be protected in rigid leather stud/slit closure case with debossed Percy Coat of Arms
- Each reel is packaged in a premium presentation box.
- The presentation box includes an inner tray box with 6 hand tied "Hotspur" fly's designed by The Duke of Northumberland's own Ghillie, Gerald Binovec,
- Exclusively designed and built in Alnwick, UK
William de Percy, a descendant of Viking raiders, left Normandy with William the Conqueror and started a dynasty in the north of England. In 1309 his descendants bought Alnwick Castle and, 708 years later, Percy's continue to live there and play a major role in the town of Alnwick where in 1837 the Hardy Brothers set up their now world famous fishing rod and tackle manufacturing business. Since then, Hardy's have played an equally important role in Alnwick as well.
Hotspur Cascapedia reel was numbered 001 of only 150 of this model which will be made in the Hardy factory in Alnwick. The reel sits protected in a full leather hard reel case made exclusively by Pringle of Scotland, encased commemorative outer presentation box. As a final homage to the Percy family, Hardy have included 6 hand tied "Hotspur" Salmon flies bearing the colours of the famous knight, designed, developed (and tested) by the Duke of Northumberland's North Tyne ghillie, Mr Gerald Binovec.
HERE to buy now.


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The following piece by Amy Carmichael has long been a challenging favorite of mine.
It is real…
It is earthy…
It speaks of the truth that wounds and scars are a part of life…
Not something to run away from…
Not something to turn us into victims…
Not the end of the journey…
Rather, it's the beginning of the journey.
What wounds do you have that you have tried to cover, to fix, to identify you?
In my book Sacred Space I wrote a chapter called Sacred Wounds. The big idea of the chapter is how God longs to take our wounds and redeem them in order to become restorative for others…yet, if we leave them unattended, they turn into bitter wounds and we become victims… and victims never realize the power of wounds and realized in scars when redeemed.
Hast Thou No Scar
by Amy Carmichael
Hast thou no scar?
No hidden scar on foot, or side, or hand?
I hear thee sung as mighty in the land,
I hear them hail thy bright ascendant star,
Hast thou no scar?
Hast thou no wound?
Yet, I was wounded by the archers, spent.
Leaned me against the tree to die, and rent
By ravening beasts that compassed me, I swooned:
Hast thou no wound?
No wound? No scar?
Yet as the Master shall the servant be,
And pierced are the feet that follow Me;
But thine are whole. Can he have followed far
Who has no wound nor scar?


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Welcome to River Square Family Dentistry, where we place care and compassion into every visit! In addition to our excellence in dental care, we also accommodate patients who speak Arabic, English and Spanish at our office. To meet with our compassionate and experienced dentist, Dr. Gehan Girgis , a University of Michigan graduate, we invite you to contact us today. We offer dentistry in Rochester Hills, Michigan, and to those in surrounding areas, such as Oxford, Lake Orion, Dryden, and Troy. We also see patients from Pontiac, Warren, Auburn Hills, Sterling Heights, Shelby, Bloomfield Hills and Utica, Michigan. Our team looks forward to helping you achieve outstanding oral health.Meet Dr. Gehan Girgis
"Dr. Girgis goes out of her way to make sure her patients are satisfied. This is the first dentist office I have been to that numbs my gums before a cleaning, because I have sensitive teeth. I have been going to her for years and will continue to do so."
-Dan W.
"I have been a patient for almost 20 years and have experienced an outstanding level of care on a consistent basis. Dr Girgis and her staff invest in keeping well-informed and trained in the latest dental practices and procedures that support her patients' needs..
-Elizabeth H.
"My family has been seeing Dr. Girgis for the past 7-8 years. A wonderful, talented, caring doctor whose primary focus is her patients. She even gave me her cell phone number to call 24/7 if there is any problem following a filling. I can't say enough good things about her. A true professional."
-Kevin B.
"Excellent dentist staff… Ever since day 1, Dr. Girgis has been and is wonderful, amazing, thoughtful and caring!! Best dentist I ever had and have, been through 5 dentists until I found her!! "
-Kristina I..
"I have been going to Dr. Girgis for a very long time, Not that any one really want to go to a dentist, but when you have to go, she makes every effort to fit your schedule weather it is a scheduled appointment or an emergency. Dr. Girgis takes the time needed with her patients"
- Ron S
"My family and I have been seeing Dr. Girgis for 15 years. The doctor and her staff are outstanding. They are professional and friendly and most of all always concerned and caring. I would offer an unqualified recommendation of their practice."
-Ed L.


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The Trump Times
1) Why is Trump so unwilling to be a role model for the country and simply wear a mask? Is it a macho thing? Is a GOP thing? Seems those state governors who are predominantly male and GOP require masks only to key parts of the community but merely recommend masks to the general public.
2) Why is the Trump White House gassing Portland protesters, shooting non-lethal ammo and firing stun grenades at Portland citizens and throwing them into unmarked vehicles? Why is the Trump Administration parachuting in federal agents when the Governor of Oregon, the Mayor of Portland and local state law enforcement don't want them there and have told them to leave, complaining that it is the feds who are exacerbating the trouble in Portland?
3) Why does the White House fear TikTok, a social media platform, and allege that it is a threat to national security? Could the White House fear more interference from TikTok as the November election nears? TIkTok did successfully disrupt the Trump rally in Tulsa by registering for seats they had no intention of filling and does promise more hijinks.
4) Why is the GOP and Trump making sure that employees and the public cannot sue employers, businesses, universities and others establishments if they contract Covid 19, at their sites?
Is the White House admitting that insufficient safeguards exist and these groups could face expensive lawsuits and bankruptcies? What about the people who incur expense and bankruptcy from contracting Covid 19 at these unsafe establishments?
5) Why is Trump barring Anthony Fauci and CDC Director Redfield from testifying to Congress concerning Covid 19? What threat
do either of them pose from answering questions about the pandemic?
6) Why have DACA applications not restarted? It has been more than a month since the Supreme Court ruled the Trump denial of DACA unconstitutional.
7) Why do U.S. soldiers have a $100,000 Russian bounty on their backs in Afghanistan with no effort whatsoever from the Trump White House to stop this egregious Russian assault?
8) Why is the stock market strong while the country weakens more by the day as it faces massive unemployment, closed businesses and a pandemic?
9) Why is the President unwilling to commit to the 2020 election results no matter what they are?
Why are so many questions left unanswered?
Comments are closed.


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4.1: Discrete-Time Models with Difference Equations
- Page ID
- 7782
Discrete-time models are easy to understand, develop and simulate. They are easily implementable for stepwise computer simulations, and they are often suitable for modeling experimental data that are almost always already discrete. Moreover, they can represent abrupt changes in the system's states, and possibly chaotic dynamics, using fewer variables than their continuous-time counterparts (this will be discussed more in Chapter 9). The discrete-time models of dynamical systems are often called Difference Equations, because you can rewrite any first-order discrete-time dynamical system with a state variable \(x\) (Eq. (3.1.1)), i.e.,
\[x_t = F(x_{t-1}, t) \label{4.1} \]
into a "difference" form
\[∆ x = x_t -x_{t-1} = x_t = F(x_{t-1}, t) - x_{t-1} \label{4.2} \]
which is mathematically more similar to differential equations. But in this book, we mostly stick to the original form that directly specifies the next value of x, which is more straightforward and easier to understand.
Note that Equation \ref{4.1} can also be written as
\[x_{t+1}= F(x_t, t) \label{4.3} \]
which is mathematically equivalent to Equation \ref{4.1} and perhaps more commonly used in the literature. But we will use the notation with \(x_t, x_{t−1}, x_{t−2}\), etc., in this textbook, because this notation makes it easier to see how many previous steps are needed to calculate the next step (e.g., if the right hand side contains \(x_{t−1}\) and \(x_{t−2}\), that means you will need to know the system's state in previous two steps to determine its next state). From a difference equation, you can produce a series of values of the state variable x over time, starting with initial condition \(x_0\):
\[{x_0, x_1, x_2, x_3....}\label {(4.4)} \]
This is called time series. In this case, it is a prediction made using the difference equation model, but in other contexts, time series also means sequential values obtained by empirical observation of real-world systems as well.
Here is a very simple example of a discrete-time, discrete-state dynamical system. The system is made of two interacting components: A and B. Each component takes one of two possible states: Blue or red. Their behaviors are determined by the following rules:
- A tries to stay the same color as B.
- B tries to be the opposite color of A.
These rules are applied to their states simultaneously in discrete time steps
Write the state transition functions \(F_A(S_A, S_B)\) and \(F_B(S_A, S_B)\) for this system, where \(S_A\) and \(S_B\) are the states of A and B, respectively.
Produce a time series of \(S_A, S_B\) starting with an initial condition with both components in blue, using the model you created. What kind of behavior will arise?


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Field agents working in a fast-paced environment need "emerging subject matter experts" to quickly acquire and apply specific domain knowledge and supporting data to make critical mission decisions on the fly.
eSimplicity engineers integrate key Palantir products, including Palantir Gotham and Palantir Foundry to deliver insights from complex and disparate data sets.
Field agents can quickly gain insights, track trends, and create strategic plans to respond to these trends. End users benefit from the ability to quickly review external data sources through the use of federated search capabilities, and then enhance these search results through creating new data artifacts. The system promotes support for a "right here, right now" workflow, allowing users to take immediate action on new information when necessary.
Bringing together multiple Palantir technologies into a single government system provides unparalleled capabilities for customers and end users.
Data management and governance tools should be visually intuitive and easy to use for a variety of users with different technical backgrounds while supporting security controls, catalog management, transformation/masking management, machine learning/AI with built-in accuracy measures, and lineage traceability (e.g., for a user journey), and versioning management for parallel development. Palantir Gotham and Palantir Foundry, with their open-architecture platform, powerful user interface tools, and an end-to-end approach to holistic data management, accelerate data pipeline modernization timelines. Government and industry currently use Palantir to take down financial crimes and expedite new drug development, etc. Via drag and drop solutions, Investigator/Analyst Foundry users can perform data analysis or use widgets to quickly put together 360 views of entity data that can be drilled down to the detail events or transactions. Field agent or investigator users can have their own workspace with full security control.
eSimplicity delivers solutions that support integration of a front-end government management system with a custom Java middle-tier system that integrates with Palantir's AtlasDB solution. This management system provides key insights through the integration of data analytics tools that interact with the system's data model. The system is hosted on the cloud with security implementation at every layer. Multiple external integrations are facilitated via http, and custom data warehouse exports and data ingest.
eSimplicity supports system monitoring through usage of tools such as Datadog, Nagios, PagerDuty, and AWS Management Console, as well as custom alerting solutions. The system's monitoring platform integrates with enterprise communication tools such as Slack to promote immediate notification and resolution of issues and to encourage collaboration for developing solutions. Our team proactively addresses and monitors issues that affect system availability and documents the solutions executed to support a rapid service restoration model both for present and future system issues.


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Here's a piece of comment I got from part 1.
I will be answering you like a gentleman.
- The registration to vote is only 4 times a year. If I register now, it'll be pointless
- I do not want to register at my parents area. I will register once I settled for a place.
- I did not say I want to start a political party. I have very little interest in politics. I only want change.
- I promote VOTE FOR CHANGE banner to seek balance in publicity.
- I am immature, I admit. But I do not compare myself with others. I am one of a kind and so are you.
- I understand that 1 vote makes a difference, Najib won by 6 majority in the last election.
- My blog is not a living being, I am. Hence blog does not have a pride.
Enough of the gentleman hood, now let's get cranky.
- Who the fuck are you to compare me and yourself? You only write to earn money. It shows, you are in for yourself. I write to portray my mind.
- When did I SAY I wanted to start a political party? Do you fucking understand english?
- Mature? I specifically wrote "MATURING ADULT" and that's me.
- NH promoting Opposition? Maybe I have not made myself clear, I AM A REBEL not a nationalist.
- Do you know that everyone contesting for a seat is allowed to use RM100,000 for their campaign? Fucking insolent.
- I am not ashamed of what ever fuck I am portraying on NH.
- I FUCKING APOLOGIES ALREADY! do you want me to give you a BJ also? Fuck no.
- and since this is my blog, I SUGGEST YOU READ BEFORE MAKING A COMMENT.
No longer mad. It's too bad, NH is only spam proof but not idiot proof. It's also too bad that, I made a fool of myself, going on rampage against a 'kid'. Heck, for what I care, God only looks at one's iman, so I don't really give a fuck what others think.
ps: Sometimes I feel like hacking blogs and delete the user from JPN too. But I don't think that's enough to feed my anger.. oh well, another day in bolehland 😥


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Bespoke Training and Development for Individuals and Organisations.
Equine Assisted Learning and Development takes place using horses to teach and educate people or teams. The work is carried out on the ground using various exercises that create an optimum for growth and development.
Individuals will develop:-
- Authentic Leadership and Management skills.
- Improve communication and confidence.
- Build resilience and develop awareness.
- Break down barriers and expand potential.
- Incentive, motivation inspiration and focus.
- Be more sustainable.
Specialized one to one sessions (3 hours)
Corporate or Group work:-
- Authentic Leadership and Management skills.
- Team building and goal setting.
- Improve communication skills and gain confidence.
- Develop strengths and recognise weaknesses within
- The team to overcome obstacles and build community.
- Create solutions and build resilience.
- Create success and coherence.
- Develop motivation, inspiration and focus.
Executive one to one session (3 hours)
Team Building One Day (10 people) per day.
Team Building two Day (10 people)per day.
These days will involve exploring the company's internal culture and help to build motivation, incentive and focus to create a healthy sustainable culture that allows for success and potential to be achieved.


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Our self-contained studio apartments are situated on the top floor of the property. They're equipped with the basic necessities and all have a private balcony with relaxing ocean views.
- Cookware, dishware, and utensils
- Free Wifi
- Iron and Ironing board
- Kitchenette
- Private bathroom
- Refrigerator
- Stove
- Television


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6 Ways Privacy and Security Work Together to Improve Patient Care
With data breaches continuing to expose millions of people's sensitive data every year, it's natural that healthcare organizations and their customers are concerned. When the security of PHI is at stake, it's essential to know what to do to keep this information safe with privacy and security measures. Protecting patient privacy and data security is, after all, essential to growing trust and providing excellent patient care.
While privacy and security are often intertwined at healthcare organizations, there are factors that differentiate the two. According to the Department of Health and Human Services, "privacy addresses the use and disclosure of individuals' health information" and security "establish[es] a national set of security standards for protecting certain health information that is held or transferred in electronic form." In short, privacy refers to a patient's health information while security has to do with the technology that is used to keep their data confidential. But while they are distinct, the two must – and often do — work hand-in-hand to improve patient care.
Here are six ways privacy and security work together to improve patient care.
1. Keeping data safe from cybersecurity attacks
If a patient doesn't believe their PHI is protected at a facility, they may be less than forthcoming with their care providers, or even choose a different facility altogether. The task of keeping personal health information (PHI) and personally identifiable information (PII) safe from hacking and security threats is table stakes in the healthcare world. And that task is becoming even more difficult, with hackers both domestically and globally working tirelessly to obtain sensitive data in any way they can, including through phishing emails. By implementing security measures and maintaining internal training, facilities are less likely to fall for email phishing attempts, social engineering, and other advanced threats to patient privacy.
But external attackers aren't the only threat to PHI privacy: According to the Verizon Threat Research Advisory Center's Insider Threat Report, the healthcare industry is the most hard-hit by insider threats, with internal personnel being responsible for a higher percentage of breaches than external actors. Healthcare organizations can prevent breaches and maintain patient privacy by putting security safeguards in place — such as ensuring that only those with a need-to-know can access PHI and that ex-employees are deprovisioned.
This way, patients' most sensitive data remains protected from breaches, improving patient care by elevating their level of trust in knowing that their information is safe.
2. Minimizing loss from data breaches
Each year, data breaches compromise the sensitive data of millions of patients. In 2018, the amount of healthcare record breaches doubled since the previous year – from roughly five million breaches in 2017 to over 13 million in 2018. If you're not already worried about how breaches can affect your facility, you should be. But the bright side of awareness is that the more prepared you are, the less costly a breach will be.
The alternative is costly – United States organizations had the highest cost of a breach, averaging about $7.91 million per record breached. Of all industries, the healthcare industry suffered the highest breach costs by far in 2018 at $408 per record, far exceeding the average cost of other industries.
3. GDPR-readiness
Although the regulation was passed in the EU, United States organizations must be compliant if they are handling the PII of EU residents. GDPR applies to every organization that processes the personal information of EU citizens — which is especially relevant for U.S. care providers that treat patients visiting from the EU.
Just like HIPAA, the cornerstone of GDPR is maintaining data privacy by ensuring that people are in control of their own personal information. Facilities that adhere to GDPR, or focus on security frameworks, will have a much stronger culture of security and privacy overall.
4. Greater transparency for patients
Thanks to years of HIPAA notices and recent high-profile privacy snafus at corporate giants like Facebook and Google – not to mention the near-daily press mentions of healthcare privacy breaches — patients are more aware of their rights than ever, and taking a more active role in asking how their data is being handled. Interoperability – the process of exchanging healthcare information – has played a significant role in giving patients more control over their PHI. But it's also introduced privacy and security concerns, making it essential for both sides of the house to come together to find ways to enable interoperability without violating privacy.
5. Increasing patient satisfaction
Along with data transparency, patients have taken a more active role in both knowing and asking about how their information is stored, transferred, used, shared, and destroyed. Armed with that knowledge, they're able to have greater control over their most sensitive data and a better understanding of the security measures that are put into place to keep that information private, leading to a greater level of satisfaction.
"Privacy is such a vital ingredient to organizational success, both to protect data and foster innovation." John N. Stewart, Senior Vice President and Chief Security and Trust Officer,
6. Gaining competitive advantage
The more an organization invests in combatting privacy and security challenges, the more competitive advantages they'll come to enjoy. Organizations that had prepared ahead of time through adherence to security frameworks like NIST, ISO 27001, and compliance with regulations like HIPAA and GDPR experienced fewer breaches. Among those organizations that were breached, those who had put security measures in place and maintained HIPAA compliance paid less on average as well.
There are many advantages to putting security in place to meet and maintain compliance with regulations like HIPAA, NIST, and GDPR. Keeping data safe from hacks and other threats while remaining transparent and compliant not only galvanizes your organization, but it also increases patient satisfaction by nurturing a sense of trust in knowing their important data is protected.