Clinic Services

Chiropractic is a healing profession that optimizes the neurological function of the body to maximize physical and mental health. It focuses on disorders of the musculoskeletal system and the nervous system, and the effects of these disorders on general health.  Chiropractic care is used most often to treat neuromusculoskeletal complaints, including but not limited to back pain, neck pain, pain in the joints of the arms or legs, and headaches.  Chiropractic is scientifically based, has well researched benefits and is practised worldwide.

Laser Therapy

Laser therapy utilizes superluminous and laser diodes to irradiate diseased or traumatized tissue with photons. These particles of energy are selectively absorbed by the cell membrane and intracellular molecules, resulting in a cascade of complex physiological reactions, leading to the restoration of normal cell structure and function. The process is curative and therefore results in the elimination of symptoms including pain. In addition, it enhances the body's immune system response and facilitates natural healing. The therapy is completely safe and has no adverse side effects. Watch an informative video below about how the K-Laser Therapy system works:

Spinal Decompression

Both traction and decompression therapy are applied with the goals of relieving pain and promoting an optimal healing environment for bulging, degenerating, or herniated discs.  Watch an informative video explaining the theory of Spinal Decompression below:

Massage Therapy

Accelerate Healing
with Shockwave Therapy

A shockwave is an intense, but very short energy wave traveling faster than the speed of sound. The basic technology involved with extracorporeal shockwave technology has been used for decades on millions of people. Therapy sessions are short, usually 20 – 30 minutes in length, and provide successful relief of chronic pain and restores mobility painlessly. Permanent relief typically begins about 72 hours following treatment. Watch an informative video below:


Animal Testing Should Be Used In Scientific Experiments

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The controversial topic that I chose to do my research paper on is whether or not animal testing should be used in scientific experiments. This topic is important because 26 million animals are used annually in the U.S alone. I chose this topic because of the strong views of both sides and how well backed up they are. This is a major discussion that has been going on for years with no apparent resolution in sight. There are two sides to using animal testing, which are that using animals has helped us in experiments, making us able to test on living subjects without using human volunteers, and that animal testing is abusive, cruel and unnecessary because of the other resources we could use, being that animals are different from humans. Animal testing has been practiced around the 17th century at least and has been used for the majority of scientific testing around the globe. The oldest known experiment with animal testing was with William Harvey 's experiment by demonstrating blood circulation on multiple animal types. Animal testing continued to spread throughout Europe in the 19th century where anesthetics were developed which made the use of animals in testing possible. In 1876, the Cruelty to Animals Act passed. This set limits on animal…show more content…
Chimpanzees are one of the most commonly used animals in the lab for mainly one reason, that the share 99% of the DNA that humans have. Mice, another very common animal in testing, share 98% of the same DNA we have. Animal testing only works if the animal we are testing on is similar to humans. If the subject the scientist is experimenting on is not similar to humans, the experiment will not be conclusive if it will work on a human subject. The animals tested have the same seat of organs we have with nearly the same functioning bloodstream and nervous system. Also animals are susceptible to the same illnesses that we
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How the Internet of Things can transform customer experiences

From preventative maintenance on white goods to smart mirrors in clothes stores, the IoT is ready to change customer relationships

If there's one phrase that plays a fundamental role in the business world, it's that "the customer is always right". While it might seem like a cliché, it’s just as relevant now as it was when it was coined in 1909 by Harry Gordon Selfridge to stress the importance of giving customers a good service and good products.

It’s vital that any modern-day business prioritises customer experience and satisfaction. Not only might you lose valued customers if they are unhappy with the service you provide, but in today’s interconnected world, bad reviews can damage the reputation of your organisation and prevent new customers from choosing you. Nowadays, very few businesses have a monopoly in their industry, so there’s almost always a competitor that unsatisfied customers or unconvinced potential customers can go to.

While good deals for new customers, loyalty schemes, and staff training in customer service can go a long way to enhance your offering, it’s simply no longer enough. To really thrive, businesses must use all of the tools at their disposal to create a memorable and personal customer experience. And as we move ever-more firmly into the digital age, technology plays an important role in this.

The savviest and most sophisticated retailers are now enabling customers to convert on any channel, combining physical stores, online, mobile and social into a seamless brand experience. This means identifying how your customers behave and prefer to shop, taking into account important factors such as new technologies and increased digital-literacy as a result of the pandemic – even older customers who were wedded to the instore experience may now be shopping more online.

The Internet of Things (IoT) can be a valuable tool, and is only set to expand in value with the rollout of 5G, which will enable a far more sophisticated and widespread world of interconnected devices. From augmented reality to big data, here’s how IoT is transforming customer experiences.

Addressing customer problems

Having an effective customer service operation is crucial if you want to survive in the business world. If customers have a problem and can't get an answer fast, they'll end up unhappy, and that could put your firm's reputation at risk. Luckily, connected technology could change the cards here.

Adam Wilkinson, head of technology at customer relationship management firm Experience Assist, believes that the Internet of Things has the potential to revolutionise the customer service process. Currently, if a customer has a problem, they'll have to contact the company online or over the phone. But this is time-consuming for both the company and customer. Wilkinson says technology could be used to identify problems and address them effectively.

"The dramatic expansion of the Internet of Things has the potential to transform the way we deliver customer service. Customer relationship management providers should be considering how connected devices might give them the opportunity to enhance their service and offering," he tells IT Pro.

"In future, connected devices and systems will automatically initiate customer service interactions by reporting issues, often before the customer is aware. This will allow CRM providers to deliver proactive rather than reactive customer service, from simple processes like reordering refillable items such as printer ink, to offering to repair major malfunctions.

"For many providers, the main benefit of IoT will be the vast amount of customer data it will allow them to collect as connected devices regularly gather and transmit information. This will provide a valuable insight into customer behaviour and trends that providers can capitalise on. Using this information intelligently will allow providers to reach their customers more efficiently and effectively, letting them know about tailored offers and promotions, for example."

More personalised experiences

Offering personalised products and services is another way to win over customers, and connected technology could bring this to the next level. Paul Winsor, director of market development and retail at software company Qlik, says that big data is letting companies offer customers tailored experiences.

"Across all sectors, IoT is helping organisations connect with their customers or citizens in more ways than ever before, paving the way for the most targeted and personalised experience to date. The best way for organisations to provide the ultimate level of customer service is to combine these new sources of IoT data with traditional data and analytics. We're helping one of the UK's leading energy suppliers do just that with its smart meters," he says.

"Smart meter data analytics is helping the company better understand the energy usage of its account holders. By connecting IoT data to other data sources, the energy provider can not only supply accurate bills with no surprise charges, but also offer personalised tariffs that reflect individual usage and needs."

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Prasad Satyavolu, chief digital officer for Manufacturing and Logistics at consultancy Cognizant, is also a big believer in the power of big data. He says it gives companies the ability to identify the needs of their customers and ensure products are always up to standard. "Access to real-time data through intelligent embedded products means that manufacturers are able to continuously collect, analyse and make sense of customer data, allowing them to also continuously enhance the experience. In a world where consumers have high expectations, coupling data and design is crucial," he says.

"Connected tech can offer great customer experiences by leveraging the real-time data coming from those connected devices. With all the actions consumers take and the data their devices generate, things like real-time preventative maintenance can occur, where remote sensing of issues in real time can lead to prevention of device failure, or the provision of an alternate device before the current one fails."

Revolutionising traditional retail

There's definitely a big emphasis on how data can be used to improve customer experiences, but there are other exciting developments involving connected technology. Andy Martin, business development manager of retail at Axis Communications, says that technologies such as augmented reality, smart mirrors and camera systems can transform the traditional retail store.

"In future, what will be particularly interesting is how EPOS (electronic point of sale) technology integrates with augmented reality. We could potentially see loyalty cards integrated with headsets similar to the Google Glass, combining online promotional strategies with the customer service that bricks and mortar stores are known for," he says.

"Among fashion retailers, smart mirrors' are a key method of boosting customer experience. They can be placed next to specific items, allowing customers to digitally try on' an item without the hassle of actually visiting a changing room, overlaying a digital image of the item over a customer's likeness on screen.

"Another example is smart climate control. On a hot day, this technology can link with an IP camera-based surveillance system to assess how many customers are in the store, combining that data with the outside ambient temperature and maintaining an optimal environment, enhancing comfort and encouraging customers to stay longer."

Much of the future of retail depends on being able to connect up the digital experience and the experience customers have in physical stores. This could also include having in-store beacon technology which provides shoppers with promotions based on their online habits as they browse through the store.

The quality of customer experience can make or break a company. If a firm fails to adhere to the needs of their stakeholders, then they're putting themselves at risk. This isn't always easy, but the Internet of Things has the potential to make things easier for business owners. As connected technology evolves, there's no doubt that more possibilities will come to light.

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How state of Michigan’s new COVID restrictions impact U-M sports

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A ‘three-week pause’ has been announced in the state.

The state of Michigan has been experiencing a surge in COVID-19 cases recently along with the rest of the country. As a result, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services have enacted a “three-week pause” to enforce social distancing and curb the spread of the virus in the state. The full details of that order can be read here.

What people in this sphere of the internet are wondering about is how it might affect the Michigan Wolverines on the field, court and ice. Despite cries for the pandemic to cancel what has been a brutal football season, college and pro sports will be able to resume with the testing and safety protocols that they have in place. High school sports have been paused indefinitely until the order is lifted.

No friends, family or fans will be allowed to attend any events as long as the emergency order is in place. Football previously was allowing family and media into events, albeit on an extremely limited capacity.

There have been three games canceled in the Big Ten this year, so the virus very much is still a factor and a cloud that hangs over completing the season. Even with as painful as the Michigan product has been in recent weeks, the games shall continue.

Michigan basketball still does not have an official schedule listed despite the start date of Nov. 25 rapidly approaching. As of now, everything moves forward as scheduled.


Treasury moves to cut Lebanese bank access to U.S

WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) - The Treasury Department moved on Thursday to cut off access to U.S. financial markets for The Lebanese Canadian Bank, a private bank based in Beirut, for alleged money laundering activities. Treasury has the power under the Patriot Act to require U.S. banks to distance themselves from any financial institution deemed a primary laundering concern. Treasury said it believes managers at the Lebanese Canadian Bank are complicit in a scheme to move more than $200 million per month of proceeds from drug sales of Lebanese narcotics trafficker Ayman Journaa into the formal financial system. Last month, Treasury labeled Journaa as a drug trafficker, meaning that U.S. citizens can have no financial dealings with him. This is the first time the Treasury has used its Patriot Act powers since it targeted a North Korean bank in 2005.


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Researchers in the Sir William Dunn School of Pathology have identified a mechanism by which the rod-shaped bacterium, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, can evade antibiotics by surrounding its cells with a self-made protective casing.

Pathogenic rod-shaped bacteria are responsible for causing many human infectious diseases such as meningitis and cholera. A wide variety of these bacteria are becoming tolerant to current antibiotics, rendering treatments ineffective. It is therefore of critical importance to understand the mechanisms used by these bacteria to evade antibiotics.

Abul Tarafder and colleagues from Tanmay Bharat’s group in the Dunn School have identified a mechanism by which the rod-shaped bacterium, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, can evade antibiotics by surrounding its cells with a self-made protective casing. The bacteria produce a symbiotic filament-shaped phage, Pf4, that phase-separates into spindle-shaped liquid crystals. These encapsulate bacterial cells, preventing effective concentrations of antibiotic reaching the cell, thus ensuring bacterial survival. Interestingly, the authors found that this phage-mediated antibiotic tolerance mechanism is profoundly influenced by biophysical size and shape complementarity rather than the biochemical properties of the phage and bacteria, as the phage liquid crystals could encapsulate inanimate rods of comparable size to bacteria.

Read more on the Sir William Dunn School of Pathology website

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What Should a Writer Plan to Include in the End of a Narrative Essay?

When writing a narrative the sequence of events is vital. The author should place the sequence of events so that it develops interest. In deciding on what events to put in the last the writer may also add a conflict or conflicting incident midway through the story. It will help make the story more interesting and less repetitious. Find these suggestions in writing the narrative.

A compelling narrative essay’s conclusion summarizes the main idea or topic of the essay with a final statement that makes the message crystal clear. It is similar to the thesis for essays, or even the headline on a newspaper. It must contain emotions, reflection and analysis as well as a summary of the most important elements. Here are some suggestions to help you write a compelling conclusion to your narrative essay.

The story needs to be presented in chronological order. It helps make the flow easier. Also, it is possible to order body paragraphs by learnings. It demonstrates the depth of your thinking. While it’s simple to explain the events the way you want to, it is a process that requires thought and critical thinking. Both methods are acceptable so in the end, it must convey an enlightening message. Remember, the reader has read a tale to learn from the experience. It’s crucial that the concluding paragraph leaves readers thinking.

The final paragraph of a narrative essay must reflect the author’s thoughts and feelings. The final paragraph should be as engaging as the opening, yet give enough space to the reader to take the essay in their own manner. Don’t forget that spilling words over paper isn’t easy. Write the beginning and end sentences will simplify the process. Then, describe how the character might feel following the event. Your reader should be able to feel empathy towards your protagonist.

An essay that is narrative may include a reflection on one’s own life or a moral stance. The conclusion, unlike a conventional essay, is not required to provide answers to every query. The conclusion may just hint at some meaning or offer the solution. It is possible to pick an area of study that isn’t discussed widely https://buzzmyhub.com/read-blog/39872 over the web. The article could be rejected for lack of interest or isn’t well written. To help readers comprehend the story, you may utilize metaphors and lyric phrases.

A well-written narrative essay break down a major incident into smaller incidents with clear explanations on the events that transpired. The essay can also contain comparisons with other events, or the account of a thought-leader. The narrative essay may include literary devices such as strong introductions and final sentences that conclude with a solution of the issue and repeat the theme. After creating a powerful opening, a writer should end their piece with a witty joke or unexpected twist.

The final paragraph of a narrative essay ought to convey the story to the reader. The essay can be based on your own experiences or use an imaginary one. In a personal narrative, it should explain your experiences or lessons learned and the things you’d do differently in the same situation. The conclusion should also offer tips for anyone else. The ideal is to include a brief conclusion near the conclusion of the story essay.

A great narrative essay has to be able to invoke the five senses as well as have a tension. Avoid being too broad or too tight. Narrative essays should be written with clarity and devoid of using jargon. They shouldn’t make arguments the way you would do in an essay that is persuasive. Do not go into detail about every individual’s actions. The focus should be on the principal themes.

The opening paragraph establishes the background for the story. It tends to be shorter than the other paragraphs in an essay. The introduction paragraph must connect your story with a wider topic. An essay on loss might be the result of a fish’s death, while a story about losing a key in a car may be the inspiration behind any reflection about your life. A great introduction paragraph will include an introduction to the writer. A short biographical sketch along with an introduction to the person, and details about the background.

The suspense

When writing a narrative essay, look for the following elements. Suspense is necessary for stories to generate tension. The reader, or the viewer needs to be kept engaged to keep them guessing. Sometimes, the author may give a few clues about the future. It keeps the reader in suspense and wanting to know more. The primary theme of suspense usually involves something that’s serious. It could be the result of a recent incident or something that the writer may have been through.

The anticipation is built by suspense. The writer can create suspense with the use of withholding information, leaving the reader wondering until the final page. The writer can also build tension by asking key questions. Depending upon the style of story , can make readers feel awestruck or curious. The suspense of a narrative essay can be created through dramatically ironic writing or by withholding all the information.

A story can create suspense , especially if the main character suffers from a weakness that leaves the reader wondering. Frodo, for example, must bring the One Ring to Mt. Doom He is not permitted to depart Rivendell since Gimli broke that One Ring during Rivendell. As the story progresses, the reader is unsure of how the events will be for the main character.

There are many ways to build suspense in a narrative essay. The best way to do this is to organize the suspense components ahead of time. This will make it simpler and clearer. It is achievable by ensuring your reader is keeping up with your story. Furthermore, the writer should lay the groundwork for the next scene or event. This ensures that the tale is highly suspenseful. It will improve your odds that you will get an A score and keep you on your toes.

Temporary words

An effective way of tying up loose ends is by using transitional words that help make sentences flow smoothly. They establish clear connections and allow sentences to flow easily. They also help reinforce the ideas that precede them. For example, the word « therefore, » connects two sentences. The word ‘therefore’ tells the audience Carla did not get enough sleep on the night prior to her talk. She needed an extra large cup of coffee prior to going into the office.

Transitions are words of a sentence, phrase or even an entire paragraph. It summarises or explains the previous events and helps the reader anticipate what’s coming next. These are just a few examples.

https://theopenmic.co/user/marktopen77/ A word that is transitional can include « also ». This word serves two purpose: it signals the end of a paragraph, as well as the commencement of the next. It signifies a change within the mind of the reader, and without this, the relation between the paragraphs becomes less apparent. This is the same function the camera plays in film. It appears to reflect reality and makes no mental demands upon the viewers. Viewers can depend on the camera’s passive intelligence to understand what’s going on.

Writing an essay, the use of a transitional word is essential. It shows how diverse sections in your essay connect. The paragraph also aids readers in understanding what https://trello.com/c/bMHIMPRv/1-different-law-degree-options a paragraph means. In the event of using transitional phrases be sure to put similar details to make it easier for readers to understand what is being said. A three-paragraph text will seem repetitive, and a text with fewer transitions https://www.zintro.com/profile/zicefa1063 appears more natural and readable.

Strong details

In a story, strong information in the essay must include a sensory part. Particularly, strong information should contain sensory elements like the sense of hearing, sight, and smell. They should be added at the end to solve the principal problem. The plot of the essay should be established. The essay must conclude by concluding the theme and conflict. Your essay will be more successful if you include significant details to conclude.

Be sure to draw on your own personal experiences in writing your essays. Be sure to avoid citing external sources unless you are required to. Don’t write about a subject which has received a lot of discussion on the internet. An article that is more focused will grab readers’ attention and retain their interest. Whatever type of narrative essayis written, the author can convince readers to believe that the story is true at the end.

It is important to remember that a narrative essay can take many forms. Narrative essays can consist of a sequence of events and experiences, or one or all three. It is possible to include several conflicts or resolutions. If you are choosing a subject take note about the structure of your story. Always include a call to action or a question to help your readers decide the best course of action.

With no conclusion that is clear an unfinished story. Certain stories appear unimportant and lack even no conclusion. It’s difficult to wrap up a story, even for gifted writers. Learn to write a https://bodaciousshops.com/members/oliviasmith/activity/227815/ compelling conclusion to increase your writing proficiency. Take note of these points and make sure you write an engaging narrative essay that shows your motivation and inspires people to act. If you need writing help do not be afraid to ask for help.

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Science and early childhood: why the first five years are so important

Welcome to March! So far this year we have explored two core concepts of early childhood development: 'You are Your Child’s First and Most Important Teacher' (January) and 'Play: The Work of Children' (February). As we move into March, we will be looking at 'Science and Early Childhood,' a core concept that covers brain development and its importance in a child's journey to successful adulthood.

Roughly 90% of the brain is developed by the age of five, which is why the early years are so crucial and why this month's core concept is so important to Norwood. Throughout the month, we will be exploring science and early childhood through five main topics:

Serve and Return

From infancy, you begin helping your child build a big strong brain with the seemingly simple concept of ‘serve and return.’ Serve and return is like a tennis match: when your baby cries, they are serving; when you respond by cooing or picking them up, you are returning their serve. Speaking back and forth with your child, mimicking their sounds, answering their questions, and making eye contact with them help build neural connections in their brains.

Executive Function and Self-Regulation

Executive function is the ability to focus, pay attention, remember instructions, and practice self-control-all at the same time! You might think of an air traffic controller, sending all the different planes (or thoughts) to where they need to be. Self-regulation is being able to process and control emotions. Caregiver modeling is very important for children to learn how to self-regulate.

Resilience is the ability to ‘bounce back’ from challenges. For example, if your child is stacking blocks and the blocks all fall, resilience tells them that the tower can be built again. If your child pours their own drink and it spills, resilience helps them take action to clean it up and pour again.

Toxic Stress

Toxic stress is just what it sounds like: stress that is a challenge for a child to handle, such as lack of nutritious food, witnessing violence, or experiencing neglect. Toxic stress prevents the brain from making connections. But the good news is that having a supportive and responsive caregiver (like you) can make toxic stress tolerable.

Early Experiences and Brain Architecture

Every single experience your child has, whether it be positive or negative, has an impact on their developing brain. Think of early experiences as the foundation of a house. Positive experiences create a strong foundation for a house to be built on. Negative experiences and toxic stress make the foundation weaker.

We can’t wait to continue this journey of learning with you! Please keep following our blog and social media---be sure to like and subscribe to learn more about science and early childhood.

Use hashtag #norwoodccbforecd


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California trucking group slams CARB fuel policies

The California Trucking Association released a study that shows significant job losses directly attributable to the California Air Resources Board’s fuel policies. Goods movement and agriculture sectors especially will be hard hit if the policies are allowed to go into effect as currently designed, CTA says.

CTA says the report, titled “The Impact of the Low Carbon Fuel Standard and Cap-and-Trade Programs on California Retail Diesel Prices,” demonstrates the effect that CARB’s regulatory actions will have on the state’s retail diesel future, leading to a $6.69 per gallon price tag.

The Stonebridge Associates study finds that by 2020, CARB’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard, in combination with the AB 32 Cap-and-Trade Program, could increase the price of diesel fuel by $2.22 per gallon; that would represent more than a 50 percent increase in the price of diesel fuel and $6.69 per gallon at the retail pump. The average price difference between California and neighboring states would be $2.33 per gallon when accounting for taxes.

According to the study, between 2015 and 2020, these higher “California-only” diesel fuel costs will cause a loss of nearly 617,000 jobs in the containerized import sector, $68.5 billion in lost state domestic product, $21.7 billion in lost income and $5.3 billion in lost state and local taxes. CTA says the study states that a “California-only” diesel will put California’s transportation sector at a significant competitive disadvantage.

“CTA is supportive of the production and use of alternative fuels, but the cost gap between CARB’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard and the diesel fuel that the other 49 states will continue to use is unacceptable,” says Scott Blevins, president of Mountain Valley Express and 2012 CTA president. “This is a serious setback for any business dependent on diesel fuel for its operations. State regulators need to step down from their ‘ivory tower’ and understand the impact of these unfair policies on California truckers. CARB’s blind pursuit of policies that will drive many California-based trucking companies out of state or out of business should be of great concern to all Californians.”

CTA says the report states the diesel fuel price increases will cast an even wider net, affecting food, fuel, clothing and other essential services transported by trucks. The report can be downloaded at

“It simply makes no sense that here in California where we wake up every day to double-digit unemployment, businesses struggling to keep their doors open or wheels turning that CARB would intentionally impose policies that makes fuel more expensive,” says Michael Campbell, executive vice president and chief executive officer of the California Trucking Association. “Higher fuel prices create an incentive for companies to fuel up outside of our state costing us jobs that provide for our families and critical tax dollars that fund our roads and transit programs.”

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UC Berkeley digs big hole for geothermal heat pump

From pv magazine USA

Geothermal heat pumps use the thermal properties of subsurface rock to help heat and cool buildings, and when powered by solar, they eliminate the use of fossil fuels. While geothermal is becoming the new clean heating and cooling system for residential use, they can also be used in commercial or community installations.

At the University of California, Berkeley, engineers have been digging a massive hole eight inches wide and 400 feet deep in order to study the properties of the bedrock. The want to see if it’s a good candidate for a geothermal heat pump system. If so, the clean energy system would help push UC Berkeley closer to its goal of moving off of all fossil fuels by 2030.

“Nobody has ever drilled this deep beneath the campus,” said Kenichi Soga, the chancellor’s Pprofessor and Donald H. McLaughlin chair in mineral engineering at UC Berkeley. “Most of the boreholes that we have on campus are used for designing new buildings and typically only go down to 60 or 80 feet. Now, we’re going to 400 feet. It’s going to let us see what is happening at that depth and better understand the possibility of using geothermal heat pumps on campus.”

The campus is currently heated with steam and electricity from its 30-plus year old on-campus natural gas-fired cogeneration plant that serves over 100 buildings and 12 million square feet.  While the cogeneration plant is nearing the end of its life and will need to be replaced, it is also a major emitter of greenhouse gases, responsible for 71% of the 190,00 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent produced by the campus every year. If the school turns to geothermal for all of its heating and cooling needs, Berkeley will be the first University of California campus to achieve on-site zero-carbon energy goals and meet the State’s intent to get large emitters to reduce emissions to levels below Cap-and-Trade thresholds, according to the Berkely Clean Energy Campus committee.

Geothermal heat pump systems use the thermal properties of the near underground to provide heating and cooling through a network of water pipes that run through shallow boreholes that extend approximately 400 to 500 feet below the surface. The way the systems work is by taking heat that is generated by cooling buildings during the summer and storing it underground, where it can be used to heat buildings during the winter.

By replacing the cogeneration plant with a new geothermal system that uses electricity for power and thermal needs, and providing the electricity from wind and solar, the campus’s future power, heating and cooling needs would be entirely carbon-free.

“We need to replace this cogeneration plant because its useful life is almost over, and we want to pivot and build something for the future,” said Kira Stoll, chief sustainability and carbon solutions officer at UC Berkeley. “Our goal is to have the campus transition to using 100% clean energy to heat and cool our buildings by 2028. I’m looking forward to finding whether we do have geothermal potential on the campus and whether we can integrate that into our plans to make a very efficient clean energy system.”

To determine the feasibility of geothermal for campus-wide use, the research team will be making detailed measurements of the geological conditions hundreds of feet below the campus

Typically, ground-source heat pumps are used for residential homes and are not as commonly used for larger installations, such as for a campus community. But for three years, through a project sponsored by the US Department of Energy’s Geothermal Technologies Office, researchers from UC Berkeley and Berkeley Lab have been investigating how communities can use ground source heat pumps and other geothermal technologies to provide clean energy to communities.

Before the school can commit to geothermal, the team will need to thoroughly explore the geological conditions hundreds of feet below the surface of campus.

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“Designing geothermal systems correctly is very important for reducing costs and ensuring their overall effectiveness,” Nico said. “The better you understand what’s happening underground, the better you can design and build your system.”

To make its geological studies, the research team will install a variety of instruments to monitor the conditions underground. These instruments, which were donated by Berkeley Lab or funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation, include a geothermal heat loop, which will pump water deep into the borehole and back out again, allowing the team to monitor how the trip underground impacts the water temperature. In addition, fiber optic cables will measure the temperature and vibrations at different strata of the soil, and pressure gauges will measure the groundwater pressure at different depths.

Taka’aki Taira, a research seismologist at the Berkeley Seismology Lab, will also be installing a device called a geophone to measure seismic activity. Data from the geophone, along with the Seismology Lab’s network of seismic sensors, will be used to explore micro-earthquake activity near the campus.

“If you put the sensor deep in the ground, you can minimize the noise caused by cars or humans,” Taira said. “It makes it easier to see small vibrations, such as those caused by the Hayward Fault.”

The data gathered from the borehole will allow the research team to build a “digital twin” of the campus heating system, which is a detailed model of both the heating needs of the buildings above ground and the rock and groundwater conditions below ground.

With this model, the researchers will be able to run simulations to determine the most efficient design for the new system.

When installing geothermal for a residence, only one or two boreholes are needed, as opposed to a large system such as that required on the Berkeley campus. To heat and cool its large buildings they may need hundreds of boreholes. And because drilling boreholes is one of the largest costs associated with geothermal heat storage, it is critical to know how many are needed, how deep they should be, and where they should be located

“Our research is looking at whether these systems are more efficient using a centralized field of ground source heat pumps, where you have a lot of boreholes placed in one location, or whether it better to have boreholes placed in discrete locations across campus,” said Soga.

In addition to contributing to a new clean energy system on campus, the project is also helping to train the next generation of scientists and engineers on how to design and implement these systems in the future. Soga said he hopes the undergraduate and graduate students working on the project start to see how these different technologies, including geothermal heat pumps and renewable energy, can work together to help decarbonize our energy needs.

The primary support for this initial borehole was provided by The Green Initiative Fund, a grant program funded by UC Berkeley student fees and administered by a student-majority committee.


Recession Fear Drives Traders To Change Strategy

Are you afraid?

While scary to many, a recession in the economy isn’t a new or unfamiliar event in the U.S. or the world.

This offers little comfort to consumers and traders who feel battered from the effects of a two-year pandemic, a Eurocentric war, escalating prices of goods, and impending interest rate hikes. Looming recession fear has a psychological effect on traders which transfers in the form of volatility into the stock market.

When will a recession begin?

There is a wide debate about what causes a recession, and no one can determine the “moment” a recession begins. A variety of factors contribute to a state of the economy that sets off a recession.

For traders, the events leading into a recession can cause panic in the stock market and global economy. This can be a dangerous time for unprepared traders and lead to losses in trading accounts.

The U.S. has experienced 34 recessions since 1854 with the most recent one occurring in 2020 (pandemic induced). Since 1980, the U.S. has experienced five periods of negative economic growth that were considered recessions. The most well-known examples include the 2008 financial and housing crisis and the Great Depression of the 1930s (preceded by the Wall Street Crash Of 1929).

The U.S. fell into a recession during the coronavirus pandemic that began in the first quarter of 2020. This recession was the shortest on record ending only two months later in April of that same year.

Often the term recession is associated with a longer period of economic distress – a depression. They are technically not the same. A depression is a deep and long-lasting recession.

No specific criteria exists to declare a depression, but the Great Depression included a decline of 33% in the quantity of goods and services produced in the United States, an 80% loss of value in the stock market, and an unemployment rate that briefly touched 25%. A depression is a severe decline that can last for many years.

What causes a recession?

Trying to pinpoint what causes a recession is complicated.

According to several economists, there are some generally accepted predictors that can occur at the same time and point to a possible recession. Leading indicators historically show changes in market trends and economic growth rates before corresponding shifts in macroeconomic trends.

The accepted definition of a recession is two consecutive quarters of negative economic growth as measured by the gross domestic product (GDP). That being said, quarterly declines in GDP do not always align with the decision to declare a recession.

Some economists believe that real changes and structural shifts in industries best explain when and how economic recessions occur. For example, a sudden, sustained spike in oil prices due to a geopolitical crisis might simultaneously raise costs across many industries.

Some Wall Street banks are forecasting an eventual economic recession as a result of the Russian war in Ukraine, record highs in inflation, and an increasingly hawkish Federal Reserve.

Others point to the rising cost of diesel as a flashing indicator of a nearing recession. The fuel is heavily used by farmers, truckers, and construction workers. The national average is now at a record high of $5.32 a gallon, which is an increase of 40% from a year ago.

A variety of economic theories have been developed to explain how and why recessions occur.

Recessions are visible in industrial production, employment, real income, and wholesale-retail trade. Analysts refer to official data from government agencies. This data represents key sectors of the economy, such as housing and capital goods. Lagging indicators, such as a rise in unemployment rates, are also used to confirm an economic shift into recession.

Recession is an unpleasant, but normal, part of the business cycle. Business cycles are marked by the alternation of the phases of expansion and contraction in the collective economy.  Recessions are characterized by failures of several businesses and banks, slowed or negative growth in production, and high unemployment numbers.

Even though temporary, the economic pain caused by recessions can have major effects that alter an economy for years, even decades. As the economy shifts structurally as vulnerable or obsolete firms, industries, or technologies fail, dramatic policy responses by the government can literally rewrite the rules for business.

Watching out for a recession ahead

Traders at Simpler Trading have been discussing a potential recession ahead.

“Talks of a recession are circling and it's scary,” according to John Carter, Founder of Simpler Trading.  “With that though, in the short term I'm looking for a small bounce and for the market to roll over.”

Current market and economic conditions reveal that recession does sound possible. Last quarter the U.S. GDP was -1.4%, according to government reports. The expectation was that GDP would grow by 1% for the quarter. When analysts see two GDP reports in a row that are negative, then a recession is highly probable. The lagging trend in the GDP appears to be continuing into the second quarter.

John thinks it’s possible for the hawkish Central Bank (Fed) to complicate recovery.

“I think the Federal Reserve is panicking that they are behind the curve so they could overcorrect on rate increases and put us into a recession,” according to John. The economy is still very strong at the moment, he said, which may complicate any actions by the Fed.

As expert traders who are in the markets daily, Simpler traders have been consistent as they anticipate the market to continue to roll over following each bounce. This has resulted in strategic trading to the downside rather than “buying-the-dip.”

There is significant weakening in the markets right now.

Three main areas are being affected – U.S. bonds, the Yen (Japanese currency), and technology stocks.

U.S. bonds have had the biggest decline in decades followed by the Yen.

National news reports are showing that investors find it confusing when a rising interest rate causes a market decline. However, publicly traded funds reflect the market value of the securities they hold, and the value of many bonds has been dropping. (Rising yields may eventually benefit bond fund investors.)

Futures traders are finding that Yen is inverted. This can make traders pause to consider that six months from now a fund may blow up that used the Yen as a carry trade (when an investor borrows at a low-interest rate and then reinvests that money into a financial asset offering a rate of return higher than the borrowed interest rate).

Technology stocks dropped in price on the idea that these assets are losing the trust of investors. One market assumption is that of an inverse relationship between tech stocks and interest rates. While most Big Tech stocks are not particularly sensitive to interest rate changes, their company valuations are sensitive to rising interest rates. Higher rates mean lower present values and lower stock prices.

If “strong” stocks of the past can’t be trusted, where do people go?

Traders often consider gold or silver as a safe resort against market concerns.

This fear of the markets and “run” for precious metals can be a multi-year process.

Consider that when interest rates go as high as they are right now the increase affects billions of dollars in investments. Interest rates were at almost 1% a year a year ago, and now they're at 3%. Would traders rather hold onto a steady 3% return or put money in a now volatile technology stock?

All of these factors are combining to affect what is happening in the markets. As interest rates continue to go higher, traders can anticipate more weakening of technology stocks.

Recessions hard to predict

One thing is certain, this will not be a dull year for traders thanks to all the recession factors in play, but no declared recession.

While the Fed has intervened in the bond market, it has less influence over longer-term bonds – five, 10, or 30 years. These yields haven’t risen as rapidly as those for shorter-term securities.

Some shorter-term rates have already exceeded the rates for longer-term bonds. When that happens, there is a yield-curve inversion. These inversions suggest that traders doubt that the Central Bank will be able to keep increasing interest rates because the economic impact will be too severe.

An inverted yield curve generally signals an impending recession.

With all the fear of a recession, traders should closely watch market signals for changes in the trending direction, structure, or momentum.

Some recession theories explain recessions as dependent on financial factors. This can be  the overexpansion of credit and financial risk during the good economic times preceding the recession or the contraction of money and credit at the onset of recessions – or both.

There are also psychology-based theories of recession that look at the excessive exuberance of the preceding economic “boom” or the deep pessimism to explain why recessions occur… and even persist.

It has been suggested the pessimism of investors can become a self-fulfilling prophecy of curtailed investment spending. This can then lead to decreased incomes that reduce consumer spending.

How to trade during recession fears

Using stock scanners and chart indicators allows traders to find the “diamonds in the rough” as potential trades are setting up.

Simpler traders adjust strategies to look for setups for the squeeze whether a stock is moving in a bullish or a bearish direction. Traders will find these setups tend to gravitate toward company stocks with strong balance sheets and will generally avoid those that are highly leveraged, cyclical, or speculative.

Simpler’s traders are trading cautiously using the most current data while relying on charts and indicators to determine if, or when, a recession “officially” begins.

Should recession fears come to fruition, traders should adjust strategies to find setups for that market environment. Traders should then continue to monitor indicators for when the economy will move back in the other direction. The post-recession environment is typically marked by low interest rates and rising growth.

No matter the market environment, traders should adjust trading strategies according to what the market reveals.


Training and technology help Savannah neurosurgeon Dr. Davis Reames give patients their quality of life back

Davis Reames, MD

Specialty: Neurological Surgery

Dr. Davis Reames

Office Location:
Neurological & Spine Institute
4 East Jackson Blvd.,
Savannah, Ga. 31405

Undergraduate: The Citadel, magna cum laude
Medical School: Medical University of South Carolina, AOA
Residency: University of Virginia
General Intracranial Infolded Fellowship: Auckland City Hospital, New Zealand
Minimally Invasive and Complex Spine Fellowship: Semmes-Murphey Clinic, University of Tennessee

SJ/C: Why did you decide to become a neurosurgeon?

Choosing neurosurgery was actually very easy for me. My curiosity with the nervous system’s control over our bodies began early in college. I developed an appreciation during medical school how people’s lives could be improved with neurosurgery, and as a result, I never really considered anything else.

SJ/C: What are some common procedures you perform or conditions you treat?

The majority of my practice reflects my interest in treating spinal conditions. This includes focusing on quality-of-life outcomes through minimally-invasive outpatient surgeries to alleviate pain and improve weakness and more complex deformity corrections to treat structural instability.

SJ/C: As a neurosurgeon, how does technology help you do your job?

Technology is critical to the practice of medicine and especially within the field of neurosurgery. Even in the last 10 years, we have seen significant advances in surgical techniques and spinal implants resulting in more efficient, less invasive and more durable correction of spinal conditions. Areas we will continue to see the impact of technological advances will be biologics for improving bone healing, robotics, motion preserving surgeries and less invasive or even non-surgical means of combating the degenerative changes to the spine.

SJ/C: What do you see in the future of neurology and neurosurgery?

One of the most exciting things about the field of neurosurgery is the potential we have to continue to improve upon the options for treating pain through less invasive means and more quickly returning patients to what they enjoy about their lives, which is extremely gratifying as a surgeon.

SJ/C: Do you have a moment in your career where you thought, ‘This is why I became a doctor?’

Neurosurgical training is a long process during which the focus is on surgical techniques and medical treatments. However, the most gratifying experience for me once I started my own practice is seeing a patient through the process from initial consultation, surgical treatment and recovery. Appreciating the gratitude they have for making a positive impact on their life is worth it for me.

SJ/C: What is some common advice you share with to patients?

The best ‘advice’ I can give patients is a better understanding of their condition, what they can expect with and without the treatment options available to them and to help them navigate often challenging decisions.

Family: Happily married for 12 years with two children
Hobbies/Interests: Spending time with family

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Biden to pull US troops from Afghanistan by Sept 11: Sources

A 2018 photo shows a US soldier keeping watch at an Afghan National Army base in Logar province, Afghanistan. PHOTO: REUTERS

WASHINGTON (REUTERS) - President Joe Biden plans to withdraw the remaining 2,500 US troops from Afghanistan by Sept 11, 2021, 20 years to the day after the Al-Qaeda attacks that triggered America's longest war, US officials said on Tuesday (April 13).

The disclosure of the plan came on the same day that the US intelligence community released a gloomy outlook for Afghanistan, forecasting "low" chances of a peace deal this year and warning that its government would struggle to hold the Taleban insurgency at bay if the US-led coalition withdraws support.

Biden's decision would miss a May 1 deadline for withdrawal agreed to with the Taleban by his predecessor Donald Trump. The insurgents had threatened to resume hostilities against foreign troops if that deadline was missed. But Biden would still be setting a near-term withdrawal date, potentially allaying Taleban concerns.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin are expected to discuss the decision with Nato allies in Brussels on Wednesday, sources said.

The US intelligence report, which was sent to Congress, stated: "Kabul continues to face setbacks on the battlefield, and the Taleban is confident it can achieve military victory."

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US President Joe Biden will deliver remarks on Wednesday on his decision to withdraw the remaining US troops from Afghanistan by Sept 11, 2021, 20 years to the day after Al-Qaeda's attacks triggered America's longest war, the White House.

The Taleban said they would not take part in any summits that would make decisions about Afghanistan until all foreign forces had left the country.

US officials have also blamed the Taleban for failing to live up to commitments to reduce violence and some have warned about persistent Taleban links to Al-Qaeda.

It was those ties that triggered U.S. military intervention in 2001 following Al-Qaeda's Sept 11 attacks, when hijackers slammed airplanes into the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon outside Washington, killing almost 3,000 people. The Biden administration has said al Qaeda does not pose a threat to the US homeland now.

'Abandon the fight'

Officials in Afghanistan are bracing for the withdrawal.

"We will have to survive the impact of it and it should not be considered as Taleban's victory or takeover," said a senior Afghan government source, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Although successive US presidents sought to extricate themselves from Afghanistan, those hopes were confounded by concerns about Afghan security forces, endemic corruption in Afghanistan and the resiliency of a Taleban insurgency that enjoyed safe haven across the border in Pakistan.

Democratic US Senator Bob Menendez, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said the United States could cut off financial assistance to Afghanistan "if there is backsliding on civil society, the rights that women have achieved." Under previous Taleban rule, the rights of women and girls were curtailed.

"There is no easy answer," Reed said.


Biocomplexity is an emerging area of science that integrates core concepts of ecology, biogeography, social sciences, ecosystem services, and landscape ecology to address how humans are an integral part of nature. Using a range of science tools and ideas, Biocomplexity explores the consequences of humans’ choices about the biological communities we inhabit.

Over the past two centuries, humans have made great scientific advances and innovations in chemistry, biology, and ecology. However, these studies often ignored the role of humans in biological systems. Biocomplexity considers humans as essential players in ecological systems, shaping and shaped by our environment. This new way of studying humans and the places where we live, build, and harvest resources has led to exciting and surprising scientific insights.

Students can view the world through the lens of Biocomplexity by studying real situations in which humans play an essential role in their environment. The units in this curriculum demonstrate how Biocomplexity may be the most important field of science for the next century. With an increased knowledge of how Earth’s systems work, students can make a positive difference in their environment.

How to Buy

The curriculum is available in electronic and/or print-on-demand form from Activate Learning. Purchase also includes access to the Teacher Guide, an electronic version of student materials and extensive online resources. You can find it on the publisher’s website.

This brief 3-minute video, What is Biocomplexity?, provides more detail.


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Cultural care: Midwifery and Indigenous women

Access to culturally appropriate health-care services such as childbirth can be a challenge for Indigenous peoples. Ryerson midwifery professor Cheryllee Bourgeois is researching how to create more accessible and culturally welcoming services, particularly in sexual and reproductive health care.

Professor Bourgeois’ research has sought to address how health-care services can be more inclusive to Indigenous peoples, including a particular focus on Métis. Her research has found that Métis women living in Toronto feel they need more health-care services than they are receiving. Many Indigenous individuals avoid health-care services due to encounters with anti-Indigenous racism in Canadian health-care systems, studies from organizations such as St. Michael’s Hospital and Indigenous health research action centre Well Living House have shown, while professor Bourgeois’ research finds that Métis people can face a lack of Métis-focused services, addressing the complexities of Métis identity.

She points out that issues of accessibility for Indigenous peoples aren’t just a concern for those living in rural or remote locations. For example, infant mortality rates tend to be higher for Indigenous people than non-Indigenous people according to Statistics Canada,, external link, opens in new window and those poor health outcomes aren’t as related to location as some might assume. Professor Bourgeois notes similarly poor birth outcomes for Indigenous women occur regardless of urban or rural status, suggesting something more systemic. “When you understand that it’s not necessarily about access alone, and you understand that maybe there’s something more fundamental about the way that our society and our institutions are structured that actually contribute to those poor outcomes,” she said.

Better birth outcomes for Indigenous individuals occur when they receive prenatal care, said professor Bourgeois, particularly in reducing pre-term births. She said that culturally specific care also helps to reduce pre-term births. Professor Bourgeois and her collaborators are examining accessibility through the lens of cultural safety, a concept developed by Māori nurses in New Zealand. The concept encompasses providing and evaluating health care while creating a space for each person to express who they are and their individual needs, and has shifted how health care is delivered to Indigenous peoples in New Zealand and Australia. Professor Bourgeois’ recent publications explore cultural safety from Indigenous and non-Indigenous perspectives in Canada and how spaces could be made more culturally welcoming.

Part of Professor Bourgeois’ research used feedback from the clients at Seventh Generation Midwives Toronto, a clinic where she also practices. The research found that clients of all backgrounds felt positively impacted by culturally safe care at the clinic. Other perceptions of what makes a service feel culturally safe included access to Indigenous knowledge and protocols, even for some of the non-Indigenous clients, and having access to a space that made them feel comfortable.

Recommendations on what attributes would make a social service or health-care space feel culturally safe to urban Métis women were developed as part of the studies. These included having a Métis presence, signalling that presence openly through signs or other symbols, and a holistic interior design approach that included Indigenous artwork, warm colours and natural elements. In addition, client feedback specifically suggested having an open-concept, front-desk reception area, so that clients don’t feel stigmatized or disconnected. The last recommendation was to have culturally informed service providers, with interviewees saying that even if the midwife wasn’t Indigenous, their awareness of Indigenous history or Métis identity complexities added to the clients feeling more culturally safe.

The recommendations the researchers developed have been implemented at Seventh Generation Midwives Toronto, says professor Bourgeois, as well as being applied during the development of the Toronto Birth Centre and in the Baby Bundle Project, a research project turned ongoing program that studied the barriers and challenges facing Indigenous families before and after birth.

Overall, professor Bourgeois says she has seen the impacts that are possible when Indigenous peoples are empowered to provide health care, like midwife services, to their communities. “We need to create space. When Indigenous people are in a position to be able to take the lead to serve their own communities, the outcomes go far beyond the health outcomes, and it actually contributes to healthier communities and healthier community well-being.”

Professor Bourgeois’ recent papers on these topics have been published in AlterNative: An International Journal of Indigenous Peoples and BMJ Open. Co-authors and collaborators include professor Renée Monchalin of the University of Victoria, Mackenzie Churchill and Well Living House.

This research has been supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.

Related links:

After a storied career in nursing, prof Barbara Chyzzy uses new technology to bring community support to young mothers

A spotlight on research, teaching & community: Professors Oona St. Amant & Manavi Handa


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Clouds Over Merkel's Legacy as Russian Invasion Lays Flaws Bare

FILE - Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel talks with the former leader of Germany's Christian Democratic Union (CDU) Armin Laschet in Berlin on Feb. 13, 2022.

Up to the final hours before Russia began its invasion of Ukraine, former chancellor Angela Merkel had been touted as the person favored by Germans to try to talk President Vladimir Putin out of the conflict.

But as Russian bombs fell on Ukrainian cities, a shadow has fallen on Merkel's 16 years in office, with some observers now questioning if her detente policies with Putin had in fact left Germany, and Europe, vulnerable.

Once hailed as the leader of the free world, the veteran center-right leader has been accused by some of increasing Europe's reliance on Russian energy and neglecting Germany's defense in what appeared to be a devastating miscalculation of Putin's ambitions.

Merkel's push for diplomacy and bids to bind regimes to treaties and business contracts now look like "an error", conservative daily Die Welt, long critical of Merkel, charged.

"What Germany and Europe have experienced over the last days is nothing short of a reversal of Merkel's policies of guaranteeing peace and freedom through treaties with despots," it wrote.

Over the last decade, Germany's energy reliance on Russia rose from 36% of its total gas imports in 2014 to 55% currently, with the deal for the controversial Nord Stream 2 signed after the Kremlin's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine.

That has left Germany nearly helpless to follow allies like the United States and impose an oil and gas embargo against Russia.

And Germany's defense profile had been blunted by successive years of under-investment. That has drawn the ire of the United States and allies which have repeatedly pressed Europe's biggest economy to meet the NATO defense spending target of 2% of national output.

One of Merkel's closest aides and former defense minister, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, has condemned Germany's "historical failure" to bolster its military over the years.

"After Georgia, Crimea, and Donbas, we have not prepared anything that would have really deterred Putin," she tweeted, referring to incursions carried out by Russia while Merkel was in power.

'Terrible mistake'

Merkel took power in 2005 after beating Social Democrat Gerhard Schroeder at the polls.

Schroeder himself has been pilloried for his friendship with Putin, and his refusal to quit key posts at Russian energy giants Rosneft and Gazprom.

But her critics say that while Schroeder had started the ball rolling on Nord Stream 1, a pipeline funneling Russian gas to Germany, Merkel signed off on Nord Stream 2.

The controversial $11-billion pipeline is disputed because it bypasses Ukraine, depriving Kyiv of gas transit fees. It has been put on ice in the wake of the invasion.

Merkel "must take her share of the blame with her eagerness to seek close economic ties to Russia" as it led to Germany's dependency on Russian energy, Sueddeutsche daily concluded.

"We are now seeing the consequences of that terrible mistake," it said.

On the geopolitical front, her government's reluctance in admitting Georgia and Ukraine to the NATO fold in 2008 -- despite a push by Washington -- was now also under scrutiny.

Joerg Forbrig, director for central and eastern Europe at the German Marshall Fund, rejected the notion that Merkel may have been too naive about the Kremlin boss.

"She had a pretty good appreciation of who Vladimir Putin is and what Russia is today," he said.

But she had made her decisions in the face of pressure from her coalition partners during 12 out of 16 years -- the Social Democrats -- who favored closeness with Russia, he said.

A business lobby that sought economic ties with Russia and Germany's need to find alternative energy sources as it wound down nuclear power plants were also part of the considerations.

"All these cross pressures didn't really allow her to implement a Russia policy that would have been commensurate with the problem that Russia is," said Forbrig.

Marina Henke, professor of international relations at the Hertie School, said keeping her coalition together had been crucial for Merkel, "a bridge-builder" not known for lofty visions but who favored step-by-step progress.

"She was much more thinking about... how can I make things better in the next one, two years," said Henke.

While the analysts noted that she made a clear mistake over energy, they believe that the Russia question would not lead to a rewrite of her overall political legacy, and that she would still be credited for steering Germany through a multitude of crises and for keeping the EU together.

For Henke this is because the responsibility of the SPD far outweighs Merkel's in Germany's past stance towards Russia.

"If you don't know Germany and think that the chancellor or the head of state is omnipotent, then it might come across like (Merkel's to blame). But if you're German... then you know... it's basically a major mistake of the SPD."

Forbrig pointed to a meeting when Merkel told Belarusian opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya "not to overestimate" how much she could help because the leeway she is working with is "much more limited than many people think."

"She had an acute understanding of the limits of her power," he said.


The Washington PostDemocracy Dies in Darkness

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As states lift their lockdowns, furloughed workers are being recalled. That’s as it should be as the economy thaws from its deep freeze. But some of these workers are being forced to choose between their health and their income, and the U.S. Labor Department, an institution long tasked with protecting workers’ safety, is pushing hard in the wrong direction, providing flawed guidance and scheming with employers to force people back to work under conditions that put them and their families at risk of catching the coronavirus.

The conflict hinges on the interpretation of the word “suitable.” If a laid-off worker is receiving unemployment insurance and she is offered a “suitable” job, under business as usual, she must take it or risk losing benefits. However, “suitable” must be understood to imply a higher bar during the pandemic. Business is anything but usual. Absent adequate protections from infection, no job is suitable, and any worker who refuses to go back to that job must be able to stay on the unemployment rolls. No one should be forced to put themselves and their families at risk of illness and death to draw a paycheck.

But that’s not the position of the agency that’s supposed to be protecting workers. It has issued guidance that virtually ignores health risks and encourages employers to report workers who refuse job offers so their unemployment payments can be taken away. The agency is busy urging employers to snitch on “claimants that have turned down suitable work.” Under its new guidance, “states are strongly encouraged to request employers to provide information when workers refuse to return to their jobs for reasons that do not support their continued eligibility for benefits.” In a denial of the reality of our situation, the department’s guidance expects “historically high levels of suitable return to work opportunities. As such, states must work to maintain program integrity by ensuring claimants are not continuing to claim benefits when they have been offered suitable work.” Unemployment offices in Georgia, Oklahoma, Texas, Tennessee and South Carolina are actively urging employers to report on workers who refuse to go back to work.

The Labor Department’s stance is indefensible based on its own rules governing this issue. In a letter to the department signed by 224 organizations, lawyers from the National Employment Law Project (whose board I chair) took it upon themselves to explain to Labor Secretary Eugene Scalia that the concept of suitable work includes any intervening changes that occurred at the workplace that increase workers’ perceived health risks.

In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, also a government agency, have provided medically based guidance on what constitutes a safe workplace, guidance the Labor Department should obviously embrace. These are all common-sense measures that have heretofore helped to control the spread of the virus, including hazard assessments, regular health checks, social distancing, face masks, proper ventilation, disinfectant application, access to hand-washing facilities and more. The CDC guidance also makes clear older workers and those who are immunocompromised should not be called back to unsafe workplaces.

Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) is trying to legislate legal immunity from lawsuits brought by workers who believe their company’s negligence made them sick.

In other words, Senate Republicans and the Trump administration are trying to put workers and their families in a vise, then tighten it by taking away unemployment benefits and the legal ability to fight back against employers’ actions that expose them to the virus. This affects not just any workers, but the most vulnerable ones, disproportionately women and people of color, who can’t work from home and have nothing to fall back on once they lose unemployment payments.

To their credit, some states are stepping up and doing what the Labor Department should be doing on a national basis. In Colorado, the state labor department considers job offers unsuitable if “the work environment is not complying with social distancing or the guidelines of Colorado’s recent safer-at-home order” or the worker “is part of a group that is more vulnerable to COVID-19 than others.” As Virginia reopens, state officials acknowledged “many workers have very valid concerns” about their safety. North Carolina has posted a particularly comprehensive list of valid health concerns that would make a job offer unsuitable, thus allowing concerned workers to keep collecting benefits.

To be clear, suitable job offers exist, and the fact that the federal boost to unemployment now includes a $600 weekly plus-up through July 31 (on top of regular state benefits) means that lower-wage workers have an incentive to stay home. Every refusal must thus be adjudicated, but such reviews must be done in the context of the CDC guidelines, not those of the business-as-usual Labor Department.

What’s playing out here is a microcosm of a much larger, deeply entrenched problem in our labor market: employer power over worker power and the demise of labor standards and protections. Given historically low union membership, the increased dominance of certain employers in key industries — such as retail, health care, technology and food production — and the interaction between concentrated wealth and money in politics, institutions designed to protect workers are missing in action. The goals of the Labor Department have become indistinguishable from those of the Commerce Department.

In the name of fairness and equity, we must solve these structural problems, but that’s a longer-term project, one requiring very different players in positions of political power. For now, we can concentrate on a more manageable task: keeping workers from having to choose between getting the virus or going broke.


An Elusive Gravity Signal Could Mean Faster Earthquake Warnings

Tiny wobbles in Earth’s gravitational field could help detect big tremors faster, but they’re hard to tease out from the planet’s seismic noise.
Photograph: Luis Diaz Devesa/Getty Images

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For a brief period in 2011, just after two tectonic plates gave way off the eastern coast of Japan, gravity wobbled. The Earth’s gravitational field is the result of a distribution of matter—a slightly firmer tug where the world is denser; a looser grasp where it is not. When massive volumes of earth and water are suddenly displaced, like in an earthquake, that distribution changes. The forces that hold the moon close, keep the atmosphere thick, and tie our feet to the ground jerked into a new alignment. The whole world tripped, seconds before the seismic waves arrived and Japan really shook.

Not that anyone noticed. Even the very biggest tremors, like the 2011 Tohoku earthquake, have a subtle effect on gravity. But for seismologists accustomed to listening closely to the Earth’s rumblings, such changes have long offered a tantalizing possibility: an earthquake signal that is practically instantaneous, spreading through the globe at the speed of light. In recent years, scientists have scoured data from big quakes for signs of these gravity perturbations. They’re elusive, and still fairly controversial in seismology. But with the help of more sensitive instruments and better computer models, the hunters have started to find them.

Now they’re getting closer to putting that data to use. In a paper published in Nature, researchers describe an earthquake early warning system that relies on those gravity-derived signals alone. They tested their model on seismic data from the Tohoku earthquake, finding it could accurately detect the quake about eight seconds faster than previous methods and give a better estimate of its massive size. The work is a proof of concept, looking back on a single event. But it’s meant to test if the method could add precious seconds to early warning systems in the future. “We’re showing that this is actually a signal, and it can be used,” says Andrea Licciardi, a seismologist at Côte d'Azur University in France who led the research. “People weren’t even looking at this part of the data, but it is comparable, if not better than, existing signals.”

Those existing signals are primarily P-waves, seismic ripples that occur as rock compresses and vibrates from a sudden shock. When these waves reach seismic stations, software quickly pinpoints where the earthquake originated and estimates its size. The goal is to give people a heads-up, however brief, before the up-and-down motion of S-waves, a slower type of tremor that often causes the most damage. In recent years, better instruments and algorithms have resulted in faster and more reliable warning systems. But P-waves typically only travel at a few kilometers per second, putting a theoretical limit on the speed of detection.

Gravity perturbations are quicker—as in speed-of-light quicker. “It is faster than any other method we have today,” says Martin Vallée, a seismologist at the University of Paris who has worked on detecting the signals. But they’re also far less forceful than P-waves, making them tricky to pick out from seismologists’ greatest enemy: noise. The din of the earth is constant, a chorus of tiny events generated by people, seismic tremors, and air and ocean turbulence that makes the early hints of a major quake exceedingly difficult to hear. Seismologists want a clear signal of what’s coming. Mishear the noise and millions of city residents may end up flooding the streets or cowering in door frames for no reason at all.

For decades, seismologists have debated whether a clear detection is possible. There are tools to observe gravitational waves directly, like the massive LIGO facilities in Louisiana and Washington. But they’re mostly of use to astronomers and aren’t practical for picking up the tiny shifts caused by earthquakes. Instead, the fluctuations are observed indirectly by seismometers, which pick up the response of the Earth as it pushes and pulls away to counteract the shift in mass. Trouble is, the gravity changes and the elastic responses to them mostly cancel each other out. This leaves a remarkably faint signal, known as a “prompt elastogravity signal,” or PEGS, to observe.

Seismic waves from a big quake are easy to see—think of the classic image of a seismograph, pencil scratching out telltale waves on a rotating paper as the tremor arrives. Even to highly trained eyes, PEGS are just squiggles, indistinguishable from the noise. It’s hard to prove they’re there. In 2017, early identifications of PEGS in Tohoku seismic data received pushback from other seismologists.

But over time, researchers have collected more observations from earthquakes around the world. “I’ve managed to convince myself that the theory is correct,” says Maarten de Hoop, a computational seismologist at Rice University who wasn’t involved in the research. Inspired in part by the controversy over the early detections, he set out to mathematically prove whether the gravitational fluctuations should be observable. The key, he says, is looking at data from the earliest moments of the quake, before P-waves arrive at sensors. At that point, the two forces “don’t totally cancel each other out,” meaning there’s theoretically a signal to be found in the noise. But the question of whether seismologists can actually separate the two has remained.

The new research offers initial validation that they can, de Hoop says. One thing that’s clear is that current instruments can only distinguish gravity signals from other noisy data during the biggest earthquakes—those larger than a magnitude 8.0, like the massive megathrust earthquakes that affect places like Japan, Alaska, and Chile. Since those big earthquakes are rare, Licciardi’s team created a data set of hypothetical earthquakes, sprinkling in real-world seismic noise observed at stations across Japan. This was used to train a machine-learning algorithm that would detect the start of a quake and estimate its size based on the gravity signal.

When the researchers applied the model to real-time data from sensors during the Tohoku quake, it took about 50 seconds of data to give an accurate detection, beating recent state-of-the-art approaches, including space-based GPS methods that measure the movement of the ground just after a quake. The eight-second difference may sound small, but it “is still a lot in the context of early warning,” Licciardi notes—especially in scenarios like the Tohoku quake, where coastal residents were given only minutes to evacuate in anticipation of the coming tsunami.

In addition, the researchers note that the model was more accurate in estimating the size of the earthquake, which is vital in predicting a tsunami’s size. In Japan in 2011, initial estimates of a sub-8.0 earthquake suggested a much smaller wave.

The method is still a ways off from being practical. Thomas Heaton, a seismologist at CalTech, describes the continued hunt for gravity perturbations as “a hammer looking for a nail,” given advances in more traditional approaches to earthquake detection—including in Japan, where officials responded to Tohoku by adding more sensors along the offshore subduction zones and expanding their models to account for massive, 9.0-plus earthquakes. To him, the biggest task for early warning systems is making the warnings more practical: battle-testing existing methods so that if a warning is issued, people hear it and know how to react. “Our problem isn’t sensors. It's how to get data from the system and tell people what to do,” he says.

But de Hoop, who calls himself “enthusiastic” about the new work, notes that it provides a road map for improving the methods with better data and machine-learning techniques. The key to making this work for more common, smaller quakes will be figuring out how to lower the magnitude threshold for detecting the gravity signals—something that may require sensors that directly detect changes in the gravitational field. “I think there’s a wealth of information out there, and a wealth of work to be done,” he says.


Parlodel (Bromocriptine Mesylate)- FDA

Parlodel (Bromocriptine Mesylate)- FDA something also

In practice the distinction may be difficult to make and a definite diagnosis of factitious disorder ultimately Parlodel (Bromocriptine Mesylate)- FDA on the patient confessing their intent to deceive.

Most authorities suggest that most patients are unconscious of any wilful component Parlodel (Bromocriptine Mesylate)- FDA their seizures and factitious disorder is held to be rare. In fact, factitious disorder will often be suspected whenever one of these three conditions is not met.

Psychiatric assessment should aim to identify putative risk factors for DS that (Bromocroptine help the patient understand why they have the disorder and may direct psychological and other approaches to treatment. What follows is an account of the demographic characteristics of DS and possible predisposing and maintaining factors identified in the literature. About three quarters of patients are women. The recently reported association of a diagnosis of asthma in patients with DS may be an example cite score this.

Maladaptive personality features Parloodel a borderline type are common,72 often in the form of trait accentuations rather than personality disorder in itself. Although there have been negative findings,78,79 a number of large studies in which abuse has been carefully defined have shown Parlodel (Bromocriptine Mesylate)- FDA rates of reported abuse in patients with DS compared with epileptic controls and unselected psychiatric patients.

There is evidence that adverse life events are more common in the year preceding onset of DS72 but triggers for initial seizures are often not apparent. It should be noted that DS share many possible aetiological factors with other somatoform disorders. The paroxysmal nature of the symptoms, however, gives this disorder a unique quality that creates special difficulties for diagnosis but also raises specific treatment approaches.

Treatment begins with an (Bomocriptine of diagnosis. A description of what Parlodel (Bromocriptine Mesylate)- FDA patient does have then follows.

Many patients will react unfavourably to the news that no medical explanation has been found and great care should be taken to emphasise Parlodel (Bromocriptine Mesylate)- FDA the doctor understands the attacks are real, disabling, and that the patient is not suspected Parlodel (Bromocriptine Mesylate)- FDA putting them on.

It is often helpful to describe the concept of dissociation, Pralodel that the attacks represent an extreme form of something that is part of everyday experience using examples illustrating selective and divided attention (for Meaylate)- reading a book and not hearing your name called, travelling home from work and remembering nothing of the journey). It should be explained that the symptoms are stress related but that it is Parlodel (Bromocriptine Mesylate)- FDA for the stresses to be difficult to identify.

Patients commonly object that the seizures cannot be caused by stress as they Parlodel (Bromocriptine Mesylate)- FDA at times when they are relaxed. In this situation it may be helpful to explain that attacks may be triggered by stressful or Parlodel (Bromocriptine Mesylate)- FDA thoughts that the patient is barely aware of (or cannot remember) and may have little to do with their immediate circumstances.

The concept that thinking may occur on Parlodel (Bromocriptine Mesylate)- FDA number of different levels at any one time can be described.

Examples of the link between physical symptoms and emotional state (for example, crying, autonomic symptoms of arousal) and complex involuntary behavioural accompaniments to emotions (for example, as seen with sudden grief or with rage) may help illustrate some of the physical attributes of seizures. They should be reassured that the condition they have is common and the profile of a typical patient should be described, emphasising the points that apply to them. Some88 have prejudice definition raising the subject of (Bromocfiptine as a causal factor even if a history of Parlodel (Bromocriptine Mesylate)- FDA has not emerged.

A description of maintaining factors is important Parlodel (Bromocriptine Mesylate)- FDA is often welcomed by patients who are sceptical about supposed psychological origins of Parlodel (Bromocriptine Mesylate)- FDA symptoms. It can be explained that whatever caused the seizures in Methotrexate Injection (Otrexup)- FDA first place may remain (Bromocriptinf but that worry about seizures, including what they are attributable to, and worry about the consequences of having a seizure may actually make the seizures worse and more frequent.

Finally, the patient should be given hope that their problems are treatable. Most patients are delighted to hear they may discontinue AEDs but they should be warned that this must be done gradually for fear of triggering a withdrawal seizure.

It is worth emphasising that once confusion about diagnosis is resolved a significant proportion of patients find that this explanation alone leads to a resolution of the attacks over time. The evidence comes from case reports and small treatment series. For most, however, some form of psychotherapy will be the mainstay of treatment.

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Serger Compared To Sewing-Machine: What Is A Serger As Well As Why Do You Need One?

Need help with if or not employ a serger vs sewing machine? Learn how it differs out of the sewing device and just what really is actually just a serger machine, when to use it.

Even a Serger is a specialized stitching machine that contrasts fabric while creating a professional appearing and neat hem. They differ by a sewing machine as they’ve got ribbons and bobbins. This makes them more effective for sewing projects and more rapidly where professional and durable edges are wanted.

Want to find out more of course should it’d be a useful accession to your package? Keep reading even as we share.

What is serger? As we mentioned before a sewing machine can be just actually really a stitching machine that is specialized. Contrary to a regular sewing machine, even because you sew a serger will cut the edge of your fabric while sewing a thread projecting with a overlocking sew. You may alter the width of this edging itself , in addition to that this thread edging is.

The Way To Really a Serger Distinct In A Sewing-machine

The distinction between a Serger and a machine is a sword for cutting, together with the number of needles and bobbins.

A sewing machine normally has something ribbon and 1 bobbin. A serger machine can consume 3 to 5 bobbins and 3 to 5 threads. This obviously can make them far more efficient for several projects like edging and hemming.

Even a serger has a blade that trims the cloth border as it sews. This will of course be turned off if not needed such as for a hem.

The moment it regards matters like zippers, generating other sewing practices and button pockets, while a serger could do a few incredible things it cannot replace a stitching machine. You can find great answer on about what is serger by means of going to our site.

Serger Compared to Overlock

You maybe amazed to find out a serger and also an overlocker machine are precisely exactly the same! A serger is the term used with this machine while in the united states while some other places in the World such as Australia and Europe use the expression overlocker.

And this can cause a confusion, the sew is usually known as an overlocking or even overlock stitch.

Thus, what can one serger do?

The Way to Use A Serger

Now you know just what there is that a serger. How and where would you utilize one?

What’s a Serger Used For

Sergers have been utilised to create edges on single layers of cloth and tiles. They cut off the seam whilst stitching and depart a finish that is sewn each of concurrently. Helps prevent fraying while rendering it even more quickly to edge or hem sewing projects. These advantages are far more durable than hems created with a machine, especially.

The Way To Make Use Of A Serger vs Sewing Machine

There are many applications to get a serger and You’re just Restricted by Your imagination but here are a few Suggestions to Acquire you started:

Use to create

Creates neat and professional hems on fabrics.

Create cosmetic hems in projects using advantages that are visible. That will be ideal for levels of cloth such as ruffle collars.

Create edges that are solid on endeavors which need to be durable like toys that are soft and children’s clothing.

Can be used for quilting

Utilizing A Serger Device

That it may be quite overwhelming since there are many bobbins and threads, as well as dials and switches After you see that a serger.

Do not let that overwhelm because once you’ve mastered how to use your machine you may love that your own sewing endeavors look, you from using it.

You may make edges with intentions and a variety of appearances.

Reading some instruction manual can be hard work and complicated. We like to know from seeing movies and taking classes.


Investors weigh up oil ban's impact

After three days of falls European stock indexes clawed back some ground in early trading.
Elizabeth Howcroft / Markets / Updated 09.03.2022

Risking even higher US fuel prices, President Joe Biden has imposed an immediate ban on Russian oil.

European stock indexes have clawed back some ground in early trading after three days of falls, as crude prices rose after the United States banned Russian oil imports.

Western sanctions have cut Russia off from global trade and financial markets in response to its invasion of Ukraine, and oil prices only edged higher after the US ban, which Goldman Sachs analysts said had already been priced in.

At 0815 GMT, Brent crude futures were at $128.89 a barrel, up 0.6 per cent on the day. While this was below Monday's high of $139.13, it was roughly double December's lows.

Britain said it would phase out importing Russian oil and oil products by the end of 2022, while the European Union published plans to cut its reliance on Russian gas by two thirds this year. Europe is more dependent on Russian oil than the United States is.

Russia said that it was working on a broad response to sanctions that would be swift and felt in the West's most sensitive areas.

Marcelo Assalin, head of Emerging Market Debt at William Blair IM, said key questions for investors are: if there will be further military escalation; whether Moscow will restrict its gas exports if countries such as Germany join the oil buying ban; how the surge in energy prices will hit the global economy; and how major central banks will react.

Central banks will tighten monetary policy "less than they will have otherwise done," Assalin said.

The MSCI world equity index, which tracks shares in 50 countries, was up 0.5 per cent on the day.

European indexes opened higher, with the STOXX 600 up 2.4 per cent and London's FTSE 100 up 1.6 per cent.

With markets volatile, analysts said the slight recovery in equities did not necessarily mean that investors had changed their view on the conflict, which is the largest war in Europe since World War Two.

Chinese shares had struggled following inflation data that showed a combination of soft domestic demand and high commodity prices, while coronavirus cases there continue to rise.

The Russian invasion and ensuing sanctions have played havoc with global supply chains, sending prices soaring across the commodities market.

UBS said in a client note that it had raised its commodities forecasts.

"The global commodity market was already facing a supply challenge before the ...conflict. Now, disruption to supplies arising from the war will exert even more pressure on supply."

Nickel trading remained suspended on the London Metals Exchange after prices doubled in a surge sources attributed to short-covering by a top producer.

Gold edged down from the previous session's 19-month highs .

The safe-haven dollar was down 0.4 per cent, at 98.726 versus a basket of currencies.

The benchmark 10-year German government bond yield calmed after Tuesday's jump, up around one basis point on the day at 0.118 per cent.

The 10-year US Treasury yield was steady at 1.8663 per cent .

Elsewhere, bitcoin led a rally in cryptocurrencies after an apparently a prematurely published statement on calls for a "coordinated and comprehensive approach to digital asset policy" briefly appeared on the US Treasury website, calming fears about a sudden tightening of US rules around such assets.

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Construction Laborer salary in Melbourne Western Suburbs VIC

How much does a Construction Laborer make in Melbourne Western Suburbs VIC?

8 salaries reported, updated at 27 April 2022
$63,675per year

The average salary for a construction laborer is $63,675 per year in Melbourne Western Suburbs VIC.

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