Is there an injection for allergies?

Allergy shots are regular injections over a period of time — generally around three to five years — to stop or reduce allergy attacks. Allergy shots are a form of treatment called immunotherapy. Each allergy shot contains a tiny amount of the specific substance or substances that trigger your allergic reactions.

What injection is used for allergies?

Hydrocortisone injection is used to treat symptoms of low corticosteroid levels (lack of certain substances that are usually produced by the body and are needed for normal body functioning). It is also used to treat severe allergic reactions.15 мая 2016 г.

Do allergy shots really work?

Allergy shots are usually a very effective way of treating chronic allergies. It may take some time, but most people find that regular shots can help them when other common treatments haven’t worked. Studies show that 85% of people who suffer from hay fever see a reduction in their symptoms when they receive shots.

What is the name of allergy shots?

Omalizumab (Xolair) and Allergy Shots For the Treatment of Seasonal Allergies.

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Can allergies weaken your immune system?

What is the success rate of immunotherapy for allergies?

They found that the conventional approach produced a 64.5% success rate, compared with an 84.4% success rate for those doing the faster protocol (P less than . 001). Typically, allergen immunotherapy takes 6 months, with patients making weekly visits with gradually increasing doses.

Do allergy shots have steroids in them?

Allergy shots are a type of immunotherapy and don’t contain steroids. Allergy shots are administered over a period of several years. Each shot contains a tiny amount of an allergen.

Do allergy shots cause weight gain?

Could the shots cause me to gain weight? No, allergy shots are not known to be associated with weight gain. On the other hand, some allergy medications are. If you are taking antihistamines on a regular basis, they may be contributing to your weight gain, as some of them are known to increase appetite.

How quickly do allergy shots work?

How long will it take to feel better on allergy shots? Some patients will notice an early improvement of symptoms within several weeks during the build up phase, but it may take as long as 6 to 12 months on the maintenance dose to see a significant improvement.

Can Allergies Be Cured?

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Is there an injection to stop itching?

Which allergy medicine works best?

If your allergies only appear sporadically – say when pollen count is high or you have that random encounter with your friend’s cat – fast-acting antihistamines will be your best bet. These include medications like Benadryl (diphenhydramine), Claritin (loratidine), Allegra (fexofenadine), and Zyrtec (cetirizine).7 мая 2018 г.

Do antihistamines weaken immune system?

How can I boost my immune system to fight allergies?

Can vitamin C help allergies?

A potent antioxidant, vitamin C protects your cells from damage, reduces the severity of allergic reactions and helps your body to fight infections. When taken during allergy season, vitamin C can slow down the overreaction of your body to environmental triggers by decreasing your body’s histamine production.

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No runny nose


Christie Auctions Deinonychus Dinosaur Skeleton in New York

Satyen Mohapatra

Would you like to display the skeleton of a Raptor dinosaur in your living room?

International auction house in New York, Christie’s will give you the opportunity to bid on Deinonychus antirrhopus on May 12, 2022.

The estimated price is $4,000,000-6,000,000.

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The most expensive dinosaur skeleton sold to date is naturally a Tyrannosaurus rex, the largest carnivore on earth, known as ‘Stan’ which was brought back by an anonymous buyer in 2020 for the sum of 31.8 million U.S. dollars. Now, it is reported that Stan will be housed in the new Natural History Museum in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates.

It’s not the first time a dinosaur skeleton has been auctioned off, many dinosaur specimens have been sold at auction. Nearly five dinosaur skeletons fall under the hammer each year despite strong criticism from paleontologists that these rare specimens should not fall into private hands but remain in public bodies for research purposes.

In the United States, where most dinosaurs are found, laws allow the sale of specimens found on private property.

The current dinosaur Deinonychus antirrhopuits was found in a good state of preservation. It was excavated in Wolf Canyon, Carbon County, Montana several years ago.

It belongs to the Lower Cretaceous period around 115-108 million years ago.

Deinonychus is a highly agile predatory dinosaur that hunts in packs and was one of the most feared animals of its time.

A similar species like Deinonychus, Velociraptor has been seen in Michael Crichton’s Jurassic Park and The Lost World novels, or Steven Spielberg’s film adaptations.

Theraptor was seen running after children in a kitchen.

This dinosaur is named after the famous Trojan warrior “Hector”.

This is the most complete Deinonychus skeleton ever found. The name Deinonychus which means “terrible claw” was coined by paleontologist John Ostrom in 1969 because of the sharp deadly claw on each of the dinosaur’s feet.

Hector was excavated from Wolf Creek Canyon, Montana, from 2012 to 2014 and has since been in private hands, on display only once before, in Copenhagen at the Natural History Museum of Denmark. The King of Dinosaurs exhibit (2020-21) showed Hector alongside five other dinosaurs, including the iconic Tyrannosaurus rex.

Deinonychus belongs to the dinosaurs called theropods which are carnivorous animals that can walk on two legs. These sickle predators could deliver a lethal kick.

Deinonychus stood on one leg, held his target with his long arms, then killed it with a mighty kick. It could stand on its hind legs when attacking other dinosaurs, its long tail aiding its balance and posture.

Deinonychus stretched this tail horizontally when running, which contributed to the exceptional length of this animal, about three meters long in total.

Its large skull was light and had a number of openings giving Deinonychus great speed and maneuverability while running.

It had large eyes and 60 or 70 extremely sharp teeth which gave it its deadly bite.

As the first raptor of the Deinonychus species, it represents one of the most important paleontological discoveries of the 20th century. Hector can now be added as the most complete individual Deinonychus ever found.

Deinonychus was positively identified by Ostrom who studied its fossils found in 1964 and established their connection to birds. From an evolutionary perspective, Deinonychus was found to be closer to that of a bird than to any other reptile-like dinosaur.

Unlike dinosaurs and other reptiles which were slow moving, Deinonychus was agile and intelligent. The discovery sparked a debate about the links between dinosaurs and the origin of birds.

The first fossilized remains of Deinonychus were recovered from the Cloverly Formation in southern Montana by paleontologist Barnum Brown in 1931.

Brown found a small carnivorous dinosaur skeleton like that of a Tenontosaurus; however, because it was coated in lime and therefore difficult to prepare, he never exhibited it. It wasn’t until 1969 that John Ostrom and his assistant, Grant Meyer, re-examined it in detail and identified it as Deinonychus.

This specimen is now housed in the American Museum of Natural History in New York and is the second most complete Deinonychus skeleton, after Hector.

In August 1964, Ostrom and Meyer led an expedition from Yale’s Peabody Museum of Natural History to a newly discovered quarry in the Cloverly Formation. Here they found about a thousand bones of various Deinonychus, but no complete skeletons. They could only determine two feet from the same source – it became the type specimen of the species. The remaining bones have been cataloged at Yale’s Peabody Museum.

A Harvard University expedition to Montana in 1974 led by Steven Orzack unearthed more bones crucial to understanding Deinonychus, including the femurs, pubis, sacrum, ilia, pes, and metatarsus. . These are housed in the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard University.

To this handful of recorded specimens found over the decades, with only two complete skeletons – both in museum collections – Hector can now be added as the most complete individual of Deinonychus ever found.

Our current view of Deinonychus is a feathered animal.

He noted that the agility, high activity level, and sensitivity to stimuli of Deinonychus was closer to that of a bird than a reptile, as most dinosaurs were categorized.

He proposed that Deinonychus was warm-blooded like a bird, and argued that it shared many other characteristics of flightless birds, including long legs, a long neck, a horizontal body, and potentially feathers.

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Are detention ponds the answer to Lafayette’s flooding problems?

LCG is pursuing five massive detention projects to address flooding in Lafayette Parish. One project would convert a sugar cane field into a 200-acre pond. Detention ponds hold water during storm events, slowing flows to the river and other drainage channels. In the floods 2016, water overflowed out of drainage channels and into thousands of homes.

LCG made public necessity declarations for five parcels, freezing them from commercial development while studies are completed. KLFY reports that public works officials have reviewed 90 sites, narrowing the field to 20, including the five currently under consideration.


The Russian Invasion Of Ukraine Exposes The Depths Of Corruption, Says Mercy Panel

When the invasion of Ukraine was announced on Feb. 24, 2022, at 10:30 a.m., journalist Frank Brown was in his apartment in Washington D.C. watching Russian president Vladimir Putin speak from his office in Moscow. While he did not know what the invasion would turn into, he knew that starting now, democracy as we knew it would change forever.

This was it, he thought.

His wife, who is half Russian and half Kazakhstani, immediately began crying in the other room as Putin continued his announcement on live TV. She understood that to be Russian was something she could not be proud of anymore. She would have to live the rest of her life dealing with the divisions that will come from her family back home and the nation she was born in.

Division and false narratives were just some of the topics discussed at Mercy College’s panel discussing the ongoing invasion of Ukraine held on March 30. The event, hosted by Prof. Eduardo Albrecht of the International Relations and Diplomacy program, featured keynote speakers Dr. Inna Melnykovska, Assistant Professor, Comparative Political Economy, Central European University, Dr. Natalia Forrat, Visiting Associate, Weiser Center for Emerging Democracies, University of Michigan and Frank Brown, Director, Anti-Corruption & Governance Center, Center for International Private Enterprise, Washington, DC.

To understand the ongoing invasion of Ukraine, it important to lay out the background of how this began to take place, according to Forrat.

Long before the millions of dollars raised and billions of dollars worth of weapons were sent over Ukraine, the tension between Russia and Ukraine goes back decades with has left many in the two countries divided on much and unity on extraordinarily little.

Up until the fall of the Soviet Union, the majority of Ukraine was a part of the Russian Soviet Republic. Since declaring independence on Dec. 1, 1991, Ukraine has had one of the largest populations of Russian born citizens. Three years later, contracts were signed between the two countries with the agreement that Ukraine would send all their nuclear weapons held during the Cold War to the Russian Federation known as the Budapest Memorandum. The significance of this was large as Ukraine would thus lose their nuclear power as they were previously the world’s third-largest nuclear stockpile.

As time went on, tensions between the two nations began to mount. The 2004 presidential election between western favored candidate Viktor Yushchenko and Russian supported Canidate Viktor Yanukovych created controversy between the two nations as Yanukovych won but further divided the nationals both internally and between the two as it was widely seen as fixed. Many took the street to protest the election by wearing orange, which was Yushchenko’s campaign color and shortly after, with the help of a forced re-vote, Yushchenko the declared the new winner, much to Russia’s displeasure.

The 2008 opposition from Russia of the ongoing debate on if Ukraine was going to join NATO and the 2014 Russian invasion of Ukraine where they took control over Crimea, a piece of Ukrainian land holding a mostly ethnic Russian population created worldwide backlash towards Russia.

The 2014 invasion changed a lot of the people in Ukraine, says Forrat.

“Russia and Ukraine have been divided way before the current invasion,” says Forrat. “There were many that believed we should develop deep connections with Russia opposed to Europe and many they believed the opposite.”

However, Forrat notes that since the seize of Crimea, the mindsets of the Ukranian people have changed and became more united because of the ongoing developments of the Russian invasions. The risk of Ukraine joining NATO and conforming to the Western way of thinking are Putin’s primary driving forces for the ongoing 2022 invasion.

The worldwide response to the invasion has been powerful with many countries including the United States and Germany opposing Russia’s invasion and has sent collectively billions of dollars of equipment to the invaded country to defend off Russian military. However, the belief that many Russians are supporting the invasion might not be factual, according to Forrat.

“People tend to agree with the idea of belief other than reality,” says Forrat. “Most of these surveys have been conducted in the first week [of the invasion] rather than the second, then at the third an increasing number of people are afraid to answer. Many are afraid to say anything that goes against the Russian political line.”

For many Russians who have spoken out against the invasion in the country, they have found themselves either imprisoned or faced with fines.

However, many countries, such as the United States, have had their own protests against the war, one of which were placing sanctions against the Russian government causing them to have a significant financial blow to their government. Unlike many countries, Russia relies heavily on their natural resources such as gas and oil, which makes up 45 percent of the countries national budget. However, more than half of Russian wealth is held offshore.

While the current sanctions are proving to be a step in the right direction to the deterring Putin, Dr. Melnykovska states that the next strategies will affected Russian business.

“What is likely to happen is exit strategy” says Dr. Melnykovska. “Russian businesses would be set to leave Russia and have partnerships with China and Japan and rally around the flag of Russian oligarchs to demonstrate loyalty to Crimea and Putin against foreign sanctions”

In addition to exit strategy, Melnykovska predicts that long term sanctions will have elites change foreign policy and will have Crimea shared with Russia and their alliances will shrink.

“The war against Ukraine is the war against liberal ideas,” says Dr. Melnykovska. “It threatens Russia’s governance.”

Economic problems within Russia has caused Putin’s favorability to decrease over the years. The outside view of Russian patriotic and favoritism is also a stereotype that is not particularly true.

While it is true that there are many in Russia who fully agree with the political positions Putin has taken up, there is a generational gap in the country, and it has become clearer amidst the war as much of the younger generation are more against the war then the older, more conservative generation. Families get divided because of it.

Anti-war resistance is a growing in Russia yet is especially dangerous in the often-closed country of Russia. Many who have decided to protest various laws and norms in the past have been imprisoned, exiled, and placed on house arrest.

The increasing resistance has been spread mostly through telegram channels with the feminists’ groups making up the majority of the protesters. Podcasts by feminists in Russia has garnered tens and thousands of subscribers and have used their popularity to form flash mobs, one of which were held in different public places within large Russian cities where women were dressed in black and held a white flower. The majority were arrested for their protest.

However, while the resistance is growing, most of the Russian population are still surrounded by Russian news often propaganda which affects how they think and make decisions according to Dr. Forrat.

“They [Russians] often tend to take the side of the government and believe the Russian propaganda” says Forrat. “It is not much that Russian people think this is the reality, but they undermine that a truth that exists. There is no way for you to figure out what the truth is as both sides are trying to push a narrative to you, so you tend to side with what your country is saying because you do not know what to believe.”

Dr. Frank Brown, who has lived in Russia and has been traveling back and forth from Ukraine for the past 25 years has seen firsthand, has seen the division between the two countries before the Crimea invasion took place.

 It reminded him of the Chechen War that took place in 1999, with the early crisis of the bombings to apartment buildings in Moscow. It later was speculated in following days that Russia themselves bombed the apartments to purposely start war.

 “I remember speaking to some soldiers on the Russian side and hearing their stories,” says Brown. “They looked like zombies… I felt my view of humanity changing.”

The threat that Russia has imposed on humanity has only increased over the years and with the invasion of Ukraine, that threat has increased even more, especially with the internal division within the Russian people.

Division within a nation has been a trend on the other side of the Atlantic in North America. The Jan. 6, 2020, attempted Capitol Hill seize in the United States and the Freedom Convoy protests in Canada in 2022 has been hot topics in the discussions of how a nation can be divided. However, as the speakers point out, protesting in North America is vastly different than the protests going on in Russia.

“If you show up to Russia holding up a blank paper in the city square, you can be imprisoned for 15 years,” says Brown. “I’ve known people who have been poisoned, jailed, and lost their jobs [from protesting].”

When something is not approved by the Russian government, it is not allowed. That is why Russian propaganda can change as frequently as it does and many agree with it, not because they believe it but because they believe their leaders and tend to follow their leader, says Forrat.

“In the U.S., the challenge of voicing your opinion is most risky when you’re in an environment that is not your own. In Russia, we do not see a divided country. The country is too united. The challenge is to break the unity,” says Forrat. “Russian identity is connected to great power. Every Russian including myself was raised like that. We do not want to face the dark sides of our country’s history… it’s not in the books. You cannot compare Russian and Canadian protests when you include deaths and jail.”

The ongoing invasion in Ukraine has brought many together, but has also isolated many in the process. In the United States alone, there have been an increase of racism to Russian citizens and vandilism to Russian owned businesses. Emotions are high on both sides, but one thing that is undeniable, is that the world we are living in is changing drastically and democracy is on the line for everyone whether they are fighting in the war or watching it on TV.

For the United States, there has been a mixture of praise for the help they have given to Ukraine but frustration of the things they refuse to give, one of which is the refusal to bring their own soldiers to Ukraine directly. However, as Brown points out, a degree of restraint is required when it comes to nuclear power and the unfortunate cost of that has been Ukrainian death.


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Problem Addressed

DNA nanostructures, also known as DNA origami, are 3D structures made of numerous short staple strands of DNA which guide the folding of a long scaffold polynucleotide strand into a custom polyhedral shape. There are currently several computational design tools that facilitate manual, bottom-up programming of DNA origami to form a desired shape using complementary Watson-Crick base pairing. However, only one approach tackles the inverse problem of using the geometry of a target shape to design a DNA nanostructure, and this method has its limitations. For example, it is only semi-automated and may produce unstable nanostructures that are unsuitable for many applications. Additionally, the geometries produced through this method must be spherical, restricting its scope. This MIT technology is fully automated and can produce a wide variety of non-spherical shapes, providing more versatility for applications with specific shape requirements.


ARC Ride Global Limited

ARC Ride is rolling out an EV ecosystem in Nairobi and beyond. They are assembling Electric 2 wheelers in-country, and selling them on hire-purchase to customers, saving them 30% per day compared to ICE vehicles due to the reduced fuel and maintenance costs. They have identified the lack of, and therefore opportunity to build, charging/battery swap infrastructure. This led, ARC Ride to create an end-to-end interoperable ecosystem.

Country: United Kingdom
Field of Transport: Passenger transport
Offer: Vehicles: low-carbon, Energy: low carbon, Infrastructure
Solutions for: Inclusiveness and equal access, Health and safety, Emission reduction and low-carbon economy


Travertine Stone

Travertine is a mineral composed of calcium carbonate, usually containing a layer of aragonite or calcite, which is composed of sediment from spring waters, or especially hot springs. Travertine has been used for centuries to build exquisite architectural structures. Buildings that are still standing and its durability and lasting beauty continue to show. This durability and beauty has caused the builders and architects of the building to use it abundantly in construction projects. This natural stone is so versatile that you can use it in any space you want. Travertine is a versatile product because it has different types that help you easily implement your desired style and design.

There are different types of travertines, but here we mention some beautiful and well-known examples.

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Daughteres of the American Revolution

The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution is a nonprofit, nonpolitical women’s service organization dedicated to preserving the memory and spirit of the men and women who achieved American independence.

As an organization committed to historic preservation, education and patriotism, we know that examining history helps us to better understand our nation’s long struggle to provide equality, justice and humanity for all Americans. We recognize that the United States of America was built on the promise of equality for all, and we share an obligation to help our nation fulfill that founding promise.

Our National Society encourages and celebrates a diverse membership, and we embrace the opportunity to support our members of color. DAR reaffirms to the membership and the public alike that our organization condemns racism. Bias, prejudice and intolerance have no place in the DAR or America.


Fertilizer plays an integral role in the growing process by providing key nutrients that customers need to nourish their soil and crops. AGI specializes in delivering exceptional complete solutions that allow for superior receiving, blending, conveying and loading for customer applications. Utilizing a combination of innovative technology, automation, and software solutions, AGI provides an uncompromised level of accuracy throughout fertilizer storage, blending, and usage in both dry and liquid applications.

AGI is a global leader in delivering high-quality, cost-effective total fertilizer solutions to our customers. Whether you require volumetric/declining weight, conveying, batch blending, tower blending or in-plant receiving systems AGI is your one stop solution around the world.


Welcome to Casey's Clubhouse!

Casey's Clubhouse helps both parents and professionals teach children essential social-emotional skills. We believe Social-Emotional Learning is crucial to a child's healthy development, so we offer holistic learning tools that make building social skills accessible and downright fun!
Parents and kids can learn social-emotional skills from home with our comprehensive At-Home Parent/Child Enrichment Program, complete with 30 animated videos and lessons, plus tons of parenting resources and materials along the way.
Our professional online program is designed for specialists, therapists, and educators to use with individual clients, in groups called Casey’s Clubs, or in schools through a yearly licensing membership.
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Casey and his friends face many social and emotional challenges throughout the school year. They discover solutions and learn new skills with the help of parents, teachers, counselors, and each other.

Help your child learn the skills of regulation, awareness, determination, problem-solving, confidence, and mastery with our 30-week curriculum. Children discover more about their individuality, energy, emotions, thoughts, and behaviors by recognizing and using skills that offer greater social success.

"From a parent’s perspective, Casey’s Clubhouse has been such a welcome and important piece of my son’s social development.

Navigating the dynamics of starting and maintaining healthy friendships is something every parent wants for their child, and Casey’s Clubhouse helped my son do exactly that. It was amazing to see how my son began to grasp social fundamentals that he uses to this day in school and other activities.”

- a proud Casey's Parent

What Makes Casey's Clubhouse Different?

It's animated.

Our animated series is engaging, original, and accessible, making it fun to watch and learn. Casey begins to feel like a real friend that kids can depend on, and the animation helps break down and examine tough social situations. Skills become memorable and handy to use in the real world.

It feels familiar.

Our animated stories are told by a sole narrator with a distinct and spirited voice, which creates a familiar and inviting environment for students to return to again and again. Think of that timeless bedtime story, or a tale told around the campfire.

It allows for individual experience.

Much like a coloring book, the characters are presented as black-and-white line drawings, which allows students to imagine their own identities and experiences as they watch the animated videos.

It uses real-life application.

Wouldn't it be nice if life were just a series of clean-cut problems and solutions? Well, it's not! And neither is our curriculum.

We tell stories in which problems arise realistically and solutions are found through consideration and experience, which helps students learn how to apply skills in the real world. Life is not a textbook of monotonous skills, and learning tools shouldn't be either!
the curriculum

30 Weeks:
30 Stories, 30 Lessons, and 30 Homeactivities.

Casey’s Clubhouse™ curriculum is a 30-lesson journey divided into 6 sections. It builds upon six umbrella skills that are matched with distinctive concepts. Each section rotates through five solid approaches to learning. These repeated approaches reinforce the concepts and honor the different needs of the group.

1. Regulation

The ability to monitor and manage your energy, emotions, thoughts, and behaviors.

2. Awareness

The ability to notice what's going on outside and inside of you.

3. Determination

The ability to focus your energy, emotions, thoughts, and behaviors toward a certain goal.

4. Problem-Solving

The ability to react and respond to problems by way of calmly assessing and applying fair solutions.

5. Confidence

The ability to rely on, trust, and believe in yourself and your power in your life and in this world.

6. Mastery

The dedication to learn, practice, and perform something so confidently that you can teach another.
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Stay up to date on the happenings at Casey's Clubhouse!

Receive updates and newsletters as we launch our business!
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Merck Symposium 2022 - DTC Applications Poster

The acquisition of fresh human tissue is often an impediment to significant research advances. As an alternative, Discovery Life Sciences offers cryopreserved dissociated human tissues as a viable specimen source for many downstream applications, including immunophenotyping, bulk and single cell sequencing, and single cell functionality. Extensive cellular profiling of these samples by flow cytometry revealed indication-specific trends in the composition of the tumor microenvironment. Additionally, these specimens provide the opportunity to screen for novel biomarker expressions including the expression patterns of PD1/PDL1. These specimens are amendable to the 10X Genomics single cell pipelines, and workflows have been established to optimize sample preparation into these assays. Finally, as viable cell suspensions, dissociated human tissues can be utilized in both short term and long term cultures, and the functionality of tumor-infiltrating T cells can be evaluated using IsoPlexis Single Cell Proteomics pipelines. Collectively, cryopreserved dissociated human tissue allows for multifaceted analysis of the next generation of cancer therapies.


Thursday, 7 June 2018

Ask someone who cares for a loved one, "How are you?" Chances are, they'll answer "I'm fine", but if they were being completely honest, they'd probably confess, "I'm exhausted." And that's a scary, dangerous truth. It's dangerous because sleep deprivation has the same effects as being drunk.

No wonder I lost my car insurance in 2004. They said I'd had too many minor accidents. It was the worst year of our lives. Nicholas' unrelenting pain caused him to wake every half hour. He needed us to reposition him for comfort on top of managing medications, seizures and tube feeds. No one was hurt in my long list of fender benders, but when I read a study showing that 100,000 crashes are caused by fatigued drivers, I felt plain lucky because I was one of them. It could have been so much worse.

But driving isn't the only important responsibility that is impaired by exhaustion. Caregivers have medications to give, food to prepare, bills to pay and care to coordinate. Sometimes we need to physically lift our loved one. These are tasks that could go seriously wrong, causing bodily harm and even death to the person in our care. Exhaustion is no joke.

I remember telling my doctor that I was worried about myself. I worried that I would make a medication error or that I would fall asleep behind the wheel with the children in their seats behind me. He didn't have any answers. There are no magic bullets for fatigue when caring for someone whose needs are 24/7.

The only thing I can suggest to fellow carers is to arrange respite if and when possible. And say 'yes' to every single offer of help. If you're lucky and can get a nap during the day, leave the dishes and go lie down. Do it for safety's sake. Slow down in the car and double check the medications. For tired caregivers, that's the best we can do.

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How Drones Can Benefit Construction Sites

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Brian King

Geographic Information System Specialist

Drones are becoming a valuable tool on construction sites as the industry continues to keep up with technology.

Using drones for mapping, surveying and inspections saves time and money, gives easier access to dangerous areas, collects data quickly, offers high-resolution orthoimagery and high positional accuracy, and boasts survey-grade precision with less time, people and equipment.

Traditional survey methods only measure individual points, are a significant time and cost investment, and can only be done in accessible areas. Aerial photography using a plane or helicopter can get costly with pilot and fuel costs, and the footage must be from higher elevations.

GIS Analyst Brian King and Construction Manager Rami Abusheikh examined the range of uses for drone data in a presentation for CMAA Focus2.0, the online version of the Construction Management Association of America’s Focus20 Conference, created after the in-person event was canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Each mission can produce footage and data that can be applied for a variety of insights:

Proposals and bidding

Make proposals stand out, give accurate estimates, verify and calculate bid quantities, create virtual designs and models, and improve planning.

Existing conditions

Create high-resolution 3-D models, help with site planning and layout, assess existing damage, superimpose drawings over images and model.

Measurements and calculations

Gauge stockpile measurement and tracking, and check cut and fill quantities, field measurements and elevation profiles.

Progress and inspection photos

Capture the entire project, track progress in a side-by-side comparison, save time, increase efficiency, reduce risk/liability and create live-streaming video.

Final completion photos

Eliminate using a plane and cut out the pilot and fuel costs, fly at lower elevations for a higher quality image and have increased client satisfaction.

FAA Operational Limitations

While drones provide substantial benefits, they’re governed by Federal Aviation Administration regulations. Limitations include a maximum groundspeed of 100 mph, maximum altitude of 400 feet Above Ground Level or within 400 feet of a structure, and minimum weather visibility of 3 miles. Pilots can’t operate from a moving vehicle unless operation is over a sparsely populated area, can’t operate directly over people or directly moving vehicles and must yield right of way to other aircraft.

To operate a drone for commercial use, pilots must obtain an FAA Part 107 certificate by passing an Initial Aeronautical Knowledge Test. Pilots must be 16 years old; be able to read, speak, write and understand English; and be in a physical and mental condition to safely fly a drone. The certificate is then valid for two years.

This drone footage shows a stream’s shift that threatened a community’s utilities in North Carolina. Thanks for drone footage versus traditional methods, teams were able to quickly assess the streambank.

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Brian King, GISP, RPA, CFM, is a Geographic Information System Specialist and approved drone pilot in Austin.


Swiss Re Institute’s latest sigma study forecasts the global insurance industry to reach a new record in global premiums by mid-2022, exceeding USD 7 trillion.

This comes earlier than Swiss Re estimated in July and reflects rising risk awareness, increasing demand for protection and rate hardening in non-life insurance commercial lines. The insurance industry outlook is also supported by a strong cyclical recovery from the COVID-19 shock, but economic growth is expected to slow in the next two years due to an unfolding energy price crisis, prolonged supply-side issues, and inflation risks. Long-term structural support for growth is needed, as Swiss Re Institute’s resilience analysis in this sigma report shows.

Climate change and digitalisation are significant trends shaping the world economy and insurance markets. Rapid decarbonisation is becoming imperative and societies’ approach to transitioning to a green economy will determine the economic outlook. The insurance industry can support the transition to a low-carbon economy, not only by absorbing disaster losses but also by promoting sustainable infrastructure investments that help mitigate the impact of volatile extreme weather. Adopting digital technologies is not only playing a role in increasing global productivity growth, but Swiss Re research also found that the pandemic has transformed consumers’ receptiveness to interacting with insurance digitally, pointing to growth potential.[1] A third significant trend is the growing divergence of countries’ growth and socio-economic indicators such as inequality – a potential downside risk.

“The economic recovery we are experiencing is cyclical and not structural, with macroeconomic resilience weaker today than before the COVID-19 crisis. As such, we should be anything but complacent. Given its capacity and expertise to absorb risks, the insurance industry is crucial in making societies and economies more resilient. Yet for inclusive and sustainable growth, everyone must be on board. Green growth is sustainable only if it is also inclusive. We have a unique opportunity to build a better market system. For this, all stakeholders will need to accept and internalise the costs of climate change, and policymakers to take into account the distributional effects of their economic policies across their populations. This will help to create the transition we need for a sustainable path to a net-zero economy by 2050,” said Jerome Haegeli, Swiss Re Group Chief Economist.

Swiss Re Institute’s sigma study forecasts that global GDP growth will be strong in 2021, at 5.6%, slowing to 4.1% in 2022 and 3.0% in 2023. Inflation is the prevailing near-term macro risk, fuelled by the energy crisis and prolonged supply-side issues. The price pressure is expected to be most acute among emerging markets and in the UK and US.

Market rebound reflects resilience of insurance industry
Swiss Re Institute estimates that global non-life premiums will grow by 3.3% in 2021, 3.7% in 2022 and 3.3% in 2023. Property-catastrophe rates are forecast to improve in 2022 after a year of above-average losses. Casualty rates should also be stronger next year due to ongoing social inflation while personal lines are expected to benefit from early signs of improving motor pricing in the US and Europe. Global health and medical insurance premium is expected to rise, driven by growth in the US economy and stable advanced market demand. Expansion in emerging markets is expected to be strong, with China projected to grow by 10% in each of the next two years, largely driven by strong demand for medical insurance, including critical illness covers.

Global life premiums are expected to increase by 3.5% in 2021, 2.9% in 2022 and 2.7% in 2023. Protection-type products should see strong demand, supported by higher risk awareness, a recovery in group business and increased digital interaction. Savings business is expected to grow moderately in the next two years, reflecting a slight improvement in government bond yields and a recovery in employment and household incomes. As the pandemic continues to affect the life insurance industry, excess mortality shows a mixed trend. Unlike many European countries, the US has experienced continuous excess mortality since the start of the pandemic and death benefits paid increased in the first half of this year. Life insurers in Latin America have faced unprecedented pandemic claims as the region has been hit particularly hard by COVID-19. In Brazil, the life insurance benefit ratio more than doubled in April 2021, while the pandemic is the costliest event ever recorded for the local insurance industry in Mexico, totalling USD 2.5 billion in insured losses over 18 months as of September 2021. This surpasses the USD 2.4 billion loss from hurricane Wilma in 2005.

Rising risk awareness is generating demand for more insurance protection. The pandemic shock has highlighted the important role the insurance industry plays as a risk absorber in times of crisis by providing financial relief to households, businesses and governments. At the same time, supply chain disruptions show that better protection is required to improve societal resilience and record-breaking weather extremes this year add urgency to the global race to net zero. Consumers also welcome digital and online insurance, and it is expected to grow rapidly. However, increasing inequality could exacerbate social inflation, which is defined as the increase in insurance claims driven by large litigation costs.

“Market conditions suggest that positive pricing momentum will continue across all lines and regions. Inflation-driven higher claims development in all lines of business, continued social inflation in the US and persistently low interest rates will be the main factors for market hardening,” said Jerome Haegeli.

Read full report


What is Mindfulness?

Jul 03, 2020

“What is mindfulness?” Asked my friend the other day.

Let me show you what mindfulness is for me.

Mindfulness is noticing the very welcome winter sun warming my back on my Sunday walk.

Mindfulness is noticing how cold my fingers are compared to my back.

Mindfulness is listening attentively as my daughter fleshes out the details of her holiday fantasies of cruises and crazy adventures.

Mindfulness is noticing when my thoughts interrupt and want to drag my attention away to the things I need to do this afternoon; letting it go and bringing my attention back to my daughter.

Mindfulness is noticing how deliciously sweet and silky that hot chocolate tastes as I wrap my cold fingers round the hot mug, face still glowing from the walk.

Mindfulness is watching my eldest daughter destroys the 4 tier kinesthetic sand castle my youngest daughter has carefully constructed and seeing them both flick sand all over the rug and noticing just in time how dangerously close I am to losing it and shouting angrily.

Mindfulness is noticing how tight my tummy muscles are and how my eyes just narrowed upon accidentally hearing that news headline as my youngest daughter experiments and discovers one of the things Alexa -her Christmas present from her Uncle- can do.

Mindfulness is noticing how that news headline triggers a cascade of worrying thoughts about next year, about whether my children will actually be able to go back to school, to the teachers and the friends they so love.

Mindfulness is choosing to let go of that thought and deliberately reach for a happier thought instead...to think about how lovely it was to do the washing up last night not on my own as usual but as a team, one washing, one rinsing, one drying, all telling jokes.

Mindfulness is not just meditation.

Mindfulness is training your mind, your attention, to be present, aware of what is happening, what you are doing, how you are feeling and what you are thinking, with curiosity and without judgement.

Mindfulness is practicing coming out of the thought stream and into sensory reality, into the here and now, something very beneficial for your brain. This is so important because where you place your attention can have a profound effect on your mental health.

Mindfulness gives you more control over your attention; it allows you to bring choice into how your attention is focused; your attention is no longer continuously grabbed by every or external distraction or thought.

Overthinking and mind wandering can, not surprisingly, lead to depression, anxiety and serious stress.

Our thoughts influence our emotions in a big way but normally we are too distracted or too busy to notice what is really going on and make the connection.

Mindfulness practice allows us to start to develop a whole new level of self-knowledge and become aware of the recurrent thoughts and emotions that are stealing our happiness, focus and inner peace.

Think about the ocean in a storm; Your mind is normally so full of thoughts and the emotions they provoke that it is like being in the middle of a storm. But below the surface of the sea at the bottom of the ocean is calm.

When we practice mindfulness it’s like the waves of our mind settle enough for us to see more clearly what is going on beneath the surface. It gives you the ability to sail the stormy seas of change and find the calmness below the waves on the surface.

Mindfulness also increases empathy, resilience, concentration, memory and immune function and allows you to simply enjoy your life more, by spending more time being present.

It has famously been said, that if we teach mindfulness to all 8-year-olds we can eliminate violence in one generation.

Mindfulness is a life skill that is making people kinder to themselves and others, calmer and more present in the here and now.

If there is one thing that is certain right now it is that nobody knows what the future holds, how and when this pandemic will end.

That is why we need to plan for the future but live in the present.

That is why we need to spend some time each day practicing letting go of the story that is constantly running in our heads and embrace the direct experience of life, as it is unfolding.

That is where you will find happiness.

That is where you will find peace.


Enjoy us in this tour exploring up close the modern buildings and skyscrapers marking the new skyline of Milan.

These advanced skyscrapers and cutting-edge architectural solutions are already famous all over the world, and stand alongside the old district buildings.

Walking through pedestrian areas, urban parks and lively piazzas, we’ll get to know where these areas come from.

Piazza Giulio Cesare

Biblioteca degli alberi

Amazingly, they were very large areas left deserted for many years and now are redefining the new skyline.

In a relatively short time span, and consistent with the Milanese nature, these urban areas have been completely revolutionized and returned to the city and its inhabitants.
They have quickly become aggregation and leisure centers highly appreciated by all.

In this mix of tradition and ultra-modern, we will have a more complete view of Milan’s vitality and continuous search for the renewal, a distinctive trait of the city.

If you would like to book a tour for visiting the New Skyline, please write to Guided Tour Milan or use our form.


Zero Emissions in the Grocery Industry

Zero Emissions in the Grocery Industry

Sustainability is becoming a topic that big businesses, grocers among them, cannot ignore. 37% of European consumers deeply care about sustainability irrespective of which generation they belong to. Many consumers are already paying more for sustainable options. What’s more, governments and institutions are introducing laws to reduce emissions. An increasingly popular concept is net zero emissions. But what are they exactly and what do they mean for the grocery sector? This is what we will share with you in this article.

Zero Emissions in the Grocery Industry

What are Net Zero Emissions?

Net zero emissions mean that as many greenhouse gas emissions are taken out of the atmosphere as are being produced. It is like a scale, the emitted emissions pull one side of the scale down and the goal is to take out enough emissions, so the scale becomes balanced. This is essential to stave off the looming climate catastrophe.

To positively affect the environment, we will need to tip the scales the other way to make up for the human-made emissions of the past. But for now, a more realistic goal is to aim for a net zero emission balance.

Direct and Indirect Emissions (Scopes 1-3)

Currently, the food system accounts for more than 30% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. However, when it comes to grocers, the situation becomes quite complex. Grocers’ direct emissions only make up a small part of the overall emissions created in the food chain. A much larger part is made up of Scope 2 and 3 emissions.

Scope 1: Direct emissions from grocers’ operations

Scope 2: Emissions from the generation of electricity and heat that grocers use

Scope 3: Emissions from agriculture, food processing, transport, consumption and waste

According to McKinsey, Scope 1 and 2 emissions only account for about 7% of the total, while over 90% of emissions are outside grocers’ direct control. Yet, this does not mean grocers should ignore these indirect emissions. Instead, they can leverage their unique position as intermediaries between producer and consumer to advance decarbonisation efforts.

Reducing Scopes 1 & 2 as Grocers

Were you aware that energy consumption in stores can be reduced by 30% - 50% simply by modernizing lighting, refrigeration, heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and cooling? Saving energy in stores is, however, only one of many decarbonization opportunities for grocers. Here is what you can do as a grocer to reduce Scope 1 & 2 emissions:

Many grocers can considerably reduce their emissions by optimising operations. This includes increasing the temperature in fridges or finding a better route for vehicles moving from warehouses to stores. A larger endeavour is to replace all vehicles with electric ones. Retailers that are also producers can make their manufacturing process more efficient and sustainable, e.g. by using heat emissions from production to generate electricity and by reducing or recycling waste.

Interestingly, investing in emission reductions can also be a smart move for retailers’ bottom line. Reducing emissions can result in lower costs due to higher efficiency. The only thing to be aware of is that payback periods for decarbonisation investments can be slightly longer. But be aware that short-sightedness in business will come back to haunt you.

Tackling Scope 3 as a Grocer

As we mentioned before, a vast majority of grocery emissions occur during production and consumption and are therefore not under the grocers’ direct control. Tackling these emissions is both more difficult and at the same time more important.

Here are four strategies to reduce Scope 3 emissions as a grocer:

  1. Offer plant-based alternatives to dairy and meat (both private label and third-party items)

This is certainly an emerging trend. In Vienna, the first Austrian fully plant-based Burger King opened in July 2022. In September, one of Vienna’s leading grocery retailers opened the first completely plant-based grocery store called Billa Pflanzilla.

  1. Work with farmers to reduce emissions

Grocers should help farmers understand how to decrease emissions and provide access to funding. One company that has put a lot of effort into minimising the emissions of the farmers they work with is European dairy company Arla. With the help of Lifecycle Assessment consultants, they calculated the CO2 footprint of the almost 8000 dairy farms they work with. They discovered that the footprint of the milk produced by their farmers was half of the global average.

  1. Work with food suppliers of all sizes

Grocers can collaborate with smaller suppliers to optimise product design and decarbonize their operations. As smaller suppliers tend to lack the resources to realise decarbonisation on a large scale, grocers can support them by setting science-based targets and providing analytical support.

When it comes to working with large food companies, who have the resources to conduct their own calculations, grocers can offer these companies incentives to set more ambitious targets to decarbonise their operations.

  1. Adding food labels to products

Ideally, all food products should feature labels informing the customer about the impact of the product on their health and the environment.. We at inoqo calculate the impact of your food products accross eight different impact dimensions and provide you with a clear label.

Three Grocers Already Committed to Scope 3 Net Zero

Many grocers all over the world are setting ambitious targets when it comes to net zero. Here are three examples.

The trailblazer of the grocery industry is committed to being net-zero in Scope 3 emissions by 2050. To achieve this, they plan to work closely with their suppliers and are going to release a Scope 3 climate roadmap to net zero, which will point out key actions for their supply chain.

When it comes to Scope 3, Sainsbury’s is aiming for net zero by 2050. To that end, Sainsbury’s has already asked 400 of its top suppliers to share their carbon reduction targets.

Aldi (aka Hofer)

The retailer has asked suppliers to set Science Based Targets by 2024 to reduce Scope 3 emissions. In 2025, the company wants selected suppliers to put climate footprint reductions in their operations into practice.

It is clear that lowering emissions is non-negotiable for grocers who want to remain successful in a future where the push for lower emissions is increasing rapidly.

Starting your net zero journey with our support

We at inoqo measure the impact of your food products across eight different categories including animal welfare, biodiversity and social impact. Our insights can help you on your journey to net zero. Here’s how:

Step 1: We calculate your product impact across all three scopes

Step 2: We provide consultation on how to decrease these emissions

Step 3: You communicate the optimised impacts to the consumer via food labels

If you are ready to tackle your emissions and would like to understand our methodology further, simply reach out to us at

Zero Emissions in the Grocery Industry

Our Partners


Aiming to explore the imagery of being in a transitional state is displayed through wrapping and bounding the body, reflecting the preservation of a growing creature. Influences from 'Tetsuo: The Iron Man' are paramount in this project, with the experimentation of materials, textiles and video media.

(December 2019).

'Transposition' Short Film:

Developed from film photography/material trials by experimenting with video media, editing and audio to explore discomforting imagery of being in a transitional process- inspiration from Mark Leckey's use of video collage (as seen at Tate Britain in 2019) and David Lynch's 'Eraserhead'.


Are you Idealistic or Materialistic?

There are different ways in which we can explain the world around us and the things that we experience. Sometimes, this philosophy we hold can be so ingrained we don’t realize it. But it definitely affects the choices we make. In particular, whether we are idealists or materialists can have a significant impact on our lives.

Let’s examine these two approaches and how you can identify where you are.

Idealism is a philosophy and a way of viewing the world that centers around the intangible. That is, it centers around things like the mind, the spirit, and so on. It seeks explanations for one’s behaviors and circumstances in the person’s inner reality and the spiritual world, depending on what they believe in and which values they hold.

How does that work? If a idealistic person is seeking to change their current situation, they might focus on improving themselves and changing their mindset. They would focus more on understanding why their situation is like it is and what thoughts, beliefs, or attitudes might be leading to it.

Often, people with idealistic views believe in specific ideas about the universe, like the idea of karma that dictates that people get what they deserve, if not right away, then eventually.

The materialistic individuals are more focused on the tangible world around them. They are interested in concrete factors and situations that can be modified around them. A materialist is concerned with the environment and especially with the things they can see and can use to take action.

A materialist might be less concerned with aspects such as thoughts or ideas and instead focus on taking concrete steps towards changing their situation. They seek causes in the world around them and usually center actionable solutions that can have a direct impact in the world.

There is no right or wrong way to be. You might identify yourself more with the idealists if you are more interested in the ideas and theories behind a situation.

An idealist might put more weight on what goes on in the spiritual world and an individual’s own inner life, for example, their beliefs or their attitudes. They seek explanations in spirituality, psychology, philosophy, and similar things.

A materialist, on the other hand, might look for a concrete chain of events and causes. They are more interested in practical things and solutions that take place in the outside world, not inner changes.

Each approach has its own immediate advantages and disadvantages. An idealist might sometimes struggle to take action in the outside world, while a materialist might neglect their own inner life or fail to understand the motives of other people. This doesn’t mean that you should change your approach, but it might help to recognize some blind spots.

Consider whether you feel you are more prone to an idealistic or materialistic worldview. Then, remember to ask yourself what might be missing from this type of approach. Are you neglecting to consider elements within or without, depending on your usual approach?

An idealist can find it helpful to consider more practical elements as well. What can they see in the real world? Which environmental factors might also be associated with the situation they are facing? Are there actionable steps to be taken?

Materialists, on the other hand, could find it useful to consider inner motivations, beliefs, and attitudes. What emotions or ideas might be contributing to the current situation? How do they feel about their lives and how might other people feel about it? How does the current situation align with their values and spiritual beliefs?

Your own approach might feel more natural, but complementing it in this way can help you view everything more in-depth and in a more comprehensive manner. It might allow you to identify new solutions and keep a more holistic perspective on your situation.

Overall, both materialists and idealists have a useful perspective on the world that they have built over the course of their life. By expanding it to take into account something that they might have missed originally, this perspective becomes even stronger and allow the individual to discover new solutions and broaden their horizons.

Don’t forget to share this article on WhatsApp, Facebook, and Twitter.


Effective Ways To Improve Mental Health

Mental health is one of the most important aspects of our lives, but it can also be one of the most difficult to maintain. It’s crucial that we take care of our mental health by improving our habits, thoughts, and lifestyles. No matter what your mental health goals are, there are some effective ways to improve your mental health. Keep reading to learn more about how to improve your mental health.

Connect with a mental health professional.

When it comes to our mental health, we all have different needs. For some people, simply talking to a friend or family member may be enough to help them work through a tough time. For others, more intensive care may be necessary. If you’re finding that you’re struggling to cope and aren’t sure where to turn, it may be time to consider connecting with a mental health professional.

Mental health professionals come in a variety of formats, like online or in-person, but they all have one common goal: helping people heal and grow. The mentors at peakpsychologyla.com can offer you support, guidance, and resources that can be instrumental in your healing process. Peak also doesn’t use a one-size-fits-all approach. Instead, their staff creates a personalized clinical plan to maximize your treatment.

Prioritize self-care.

Improve Mental Health

There are many different ways to improve mental health, and one of the most important is making time for oneself. This can mean taking some time each day for relaxation and self-care or taking a break from work or other obligations every once in a while to focus on oneself. It’s important to find what works best for each person and to make sure that time is carved out regularly. One way to incorporate self-care into your routine is by introducing new vitamins and supplements. CoreMedScience.com has a wide variety of supplements, including B Complex vitamins. B Complex offers many mental health benefits, including boosted energy levels, as well as mood and stress improvements. Be sure to chat with your doctor before introducing new supplements into your diet.

Taking time for self-care can help reduce stress levels. When stress accumulates, it can take a toll on mental health, so taking some time each day to relax can be really helpful. Another benefit is that it can help improve moods. When people feel good about themselves, they’re generally happier and more contented, leading to improved mental health overall. Additionally, spending time on activities that we enjoy or that are relaxing can help us feel more connected with ourselves, which is another key component of good mental health.

Challenge yourself mentally and emotionally.

One way to challenge yourself mentally and emotionally is by setting goals. When you set goals, you aim to achieve something challenging for you. This can help push you to reach your potential and improve your mental health. Additionally, accomplishing a goal can give you a sense of accomplishment and boost your self-esteem.

Another way to challenge yourself mentally and emotionally is by facing your fears. If there is something that you are afraid of, try to face it head-on. This can be scary, but it can also be rewarding. When you face your fears, you are proving to yourself that you can handle anything that comes your way. This can build resilience and improve your mental health overall.

Take breaks from technology.

It is no secret that technology has taken over almost every aspect of our lives. From the time we wake up to the time we go to bed, there is a good chance that we are using some kind of electronic device. While technology has many benefits, it can also harm our mental health if we do not take breaks from it.

One way to improve your mental health is to take breaks from technology. This could mean turning off your phone or computer for a certain amount of time each day or taking a weekend away from all electronics. Taking breaks gives your mind a chance to relax and recharge, which can help improve your mood and outlook on life.

Another way to improve your mental health is by getting outside and being active. Exercise releases endorphins, which have been shown to improve moods and reduce stress levels. Spending time in nature has also been shown to reduce anxiety and stress levels. So, next time you feel like you need a break from work or school, try going for a walk or hike instead of sitting in front of a screen.

Stay connected to others.

Staying connected to others is a great way to maintain good mental health. This can be done through friends, family, or a support group. It’s important to have people in your life that you can talk to and rely on. These people can provide a listening ear and helpful advice when you need it. They can also offer emotional support during tough times. Spending time with loved ones is an excellent way to reduce stress and promote happiness.

Overall, there are many effective ways to improve mental health. If you are struggling with a major mental health issue, the best thing you can do is seek help. There are many resources available, including doctors, therapists, and support groups. The most important thing is getting help and starting to take steps to improve your mental health.

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What are the best metrics for NFL Quarterbacks

August 28th, 2022 / QBs /

Measuring NFL Quarterbacks

While football is the quintessential team sport, no individual player is more important in the NFL than the quarterback. Quarterbacks are involved in nearly every offensive play and are directly responsible for a significant portion of an offense's production. Unsurprisingly, there's a strong desire to better quantify the position through the use of different stats and metrics.

These approaches range from simple volume stats like passing yards, to more complex composites like Adjusted Yards Per Attempt (AY/A), to advanced stats like expected points added (EPA). The expansive set of stats and metrics available for measuring a quarterback's play leaves us with a simple question -- what are the best metrics for NFL QBs?

In this post, we'll take a look at the following stats:

  • Yards per attempt - How many yards a QB gains per pass attempt.

  • Completion Percentage (Comp %) - The number of completed passes per pass attempt.

  • Completion Percentage Over Expectation (CPOE) - An advanced stat that adjusts Completion percentage for contexts like depth of target.

  • Touchdown % - How many touchdowns passes a QB throws per pass attempt.

  • Interception % - How many interceptions a QB throws per pass attempt.

  • TD% - INT% - The net difference between TD% and INT%.

  • Passer Rating - A composite metric that looks at QB efficiency over yards, completions, touchdowns and interceptions.

  • Adjusted Net Yards per attempt (ANY/A) - a composite metric similar to passer rating, but with additional consideration for sacks.

  • Pro Football Focus' Passer Grade (PFF Grade) - a metric derived from film analysis and play charting.

  • ESPN's Quarterback Rating (QBR) - A custom formula that seeks to better attribute team performance and win probability to the quarterback.

  • 538 QB Elo - a composite metric meant to mimic QBR, but with a much simpler formula.

  • Expected Points Added (EPA) - An advanced stat that uses game context and play-by-play data to determine how much a given play play helped a team generate points.

Specifically, we'll look at how well they describe game outcomes, and how stable they are from one season to the next to determine which passing game metrics are the most useful.

How Passing Metrics Align to Winning Games

In statistics, correlation is often used to measure how closely related two sets of numbers are. If two sets of numbers are closely related, they'll move together and result in a strong correlation. R Squared (RSQ) is a very similar stat to correlation, but instead measures how well one variable predicts another. For instance, if pass attempts has a high RSQ to touchdown passes, we might say that knowing how many pass attempts a quarterback had allows us to predict how many touchdown passes they likely threw.

For our analysis, we'll measure each passing metric's RSQ relative to Margin of Victory (MoV). You might be asking yourself, if we're trying to measure how well a metric aligns to winning games, why use MoV instead of a team's win loss record? In the NFL, wins and losses can be swung by individual plays. In a tight game, a fourth quarter dropped pass can be the difference between winning and losing. With MoV, the more a team wins by, the less likely it is that any individual play or randomness would have made the difference had it gone the other way. Perhaps counterintuitively, MoV is a better measure of a team's ability to win than their actual winning percentage.

Looking at the RSQ of our QB metrics, we see that EPA aligns most closely to wins, followed, by the seemingly less advanced metrics ANY/A and Passer Rating:

EPA aligns best with winning

Expected Points Added measures how a quarterback's play contributed to scoring points, so it's not all that surprising that it does the best job predicting MoV, and by extension, wins. The higher the QB's EPA, the more points the team was likely to score (even if those points really shouldn't have been fully attributed to the QB).

Less advanced stats still do well

On one hand, it makes sense that both ANY/A and Passer Rating have high RSQ's. They both measure overall production and efficiency, which should help them correlate with points scored. But how are they outperforming more advanced metrics like QBR or PFF Grades?

When a team is winning they become more conservative. They're less likely to attempt deep passes or create explosive plays, which, in turn, are the types of plays that are more likely to result in interceptions and sacks. Since ANY/A and Passer Rating penalize these types of mistakes heavily, QBs that happen to be winning further benefit statistically from play style rather than performance. This isn't to say that ANY/A and Passer Rating are misleadingly correlated to winning percentage, but rather, that we should discount them slightly.

Outside of EPA, we see that ESPN's QBR is the next best performing amongst the advanced stats. QBR is based on ESPN's own internal EPA model, so again, we should expect it to have a high RSQ. It's RSQ is likely not as high as straight EPA because it also takes into account the performance of the QB's supporting cast. If a running back breaks a tackle and turns a simple screen into an explosive play, EPA will give full credit to the QB, while QBR will not. So, while EPA aligns most closely to what happened in the score, QBR may do a better job determining the role of quarterback play in those events. Again, RSQ is just one way to measure a metric and we can't discount the additional nuance at play.

538's QB Elo

QB Elo is a composite regression that uses simple stats like passing yards, passing touchdowns, interceptions, and even a QB's rushing touchdowns to simulate QBR. It can't take into consideration supporting cast the way QBR can, but it appears to do a fairly good job at predicting wins and losses, beating out other advanced stats like PFF Grades and CPOE. QB Elo has sometimes been criticized for overweighting the rushing element of QB play, but, as it turns out, QB rushing ability is still a very important part of the game.

PFF Grades

Some may look at the RSQ of PFF Passer Grades and question how valuable a qualitative assessment of film is towards measuring performance. This would be a mistake. Winning is not a QB stat on its own. As a metric does a better job isolating quarterback performance, it will increasingly align less and less to the final score. PFF grades can give the QB positive credit for dropped passes even if those plays made their team less likely to win. Like with QBR, this better isolating of QB performance hurts the metric's RSQ relative to MoV even though it likely improves the fundamental quality of the metric at the same time.

Simple Stats

It goes without saying that simple stats like completion percentage, YPA, TD%, and INT% do a fairly poor job at predicting margin of victory. While these metrics are fairly popular, they really only look at one element of a quarterback's performance, leaving fans and analysts to determine how best to combine them into a more holistic view of QB play. And if simple stats are only valuable when combined together, why not use a composite like Passer Rating or ANY/A that already does that work for you?

The Seasonal Reliability of QB Metrics

In the analysis above, we looked at how well various metrics described winning and losing by comparing their RSQs relative to margin of victory. While an ability to predict margin of victory is useful, it's only half of the equation.

Football is a highly random sport. Injuries, flukey plays, mismatched gameplays, and blown calls all have the potential to create misalignment between true ability and the final score. It's why we can see a team earn a playoff berth one year only to finish last in their division the following season.

For a metric to be considered a true measure of a QB's ability, it should remain fairly stable over time. While game-to-game fluctuations will exist, over a large enough sample, players a metric considers high quality in one season should, on average, be considered high quality in another. Using the same RSQ framework, we can assess metric stability by comparing a player's performance in one year to their performance in the following season.

For instance, in 2020, Aaron Rodgers posted a league best 0.362 EPA / Play on his way to an NFL MVP. To measure the season level stability of EPA, we would compare that datapoint to his EPA / Play in 2021, which happened to be 0.251. While these two numbers don't align perfectly, that 0.251 EPA / Play in 2021 was still league best and earned Aaron Rodgers another NFL MVP award. In this specific example, EPA looks rather stable -- the best quarterback in 2020 was the best quarterback in 2021.

To measure a metric's stability, we make a similar comparison, but for all quarterbacks in the league, looking at how well their performance in one season predicted their performance in the next season. The measure of this predictiveness is, again, RSQ.

RSQ Scatter Plot

To visualize metric performance, each metric has been plotted in the scatter below. The x-axis represents the metric's ability to predict an individual game outcome (further to the right is better), and the y-axis represents the metric's ability to predict a player's performance in that metric from one year to the next (further up is better):

Inverse Relationship Between Predictiveness and Stability

Setting aside the simple statistics that don't offer much predictive power, we see an inverse relationship between how well a metric predicts an individual game outcome and how well it predicts future performance -- why is this?

As mentioned previously, the more a metric is able to parse out the individual performance of a quarterback the less it's able to describe the game outcome because the game outcome is determined by much more than quarterback performance alone. Metrics like PFF Grade, QB Elo, and CPOE, are substantially better at predicting season over season performance at the expense of being able to predict individual games.

The Descriptive / Predictive Tradeoff

The clear tradeoff between isolating individual performance and identifying metrics that result in wins makes it difficult to determine the best metric for measuring quarterback performance. On one hand, we want to measure the performance of the quarterback and the quarterback alone, but on the other, we also need to make sure that what we're calling performance is actually results in wins.

Said another way, the best quarterback metric is the one that balances the descriptive/predictive tradeoff most efficiently. In my mind, this is EPA. EPA is the best predictor of margin of victory, while also being more stable than other game-predicting metrics like Passer Rating, ANY/A, and QBR.

One potential workaround to the tradeoff problem would be to measure a metric's seasonal predictiveness not against itself, but rather to the next season's average margin of victory. This approach combines stability and ability to predict wins into a single number. Interestingly, all the metrics we care about -- EPA, ANY/A, Passer Rating, QBR, QB Elo, and PFF Grades -- have roughly the same RSQ:

So What's the Best Metric?

Regardless of how the data is cut, no one metric stands out as a clear winner. Furthermore, the line between advanced stats like EPA, QBR, and PFF grades and simpler composites like Passer Rating, ANY/A, and QB Elo is surprisingly narrow, especially for Passer Rating, a 50 year old metric that predicts future margin of victory better than the machine learning driven EPA.

Ultimately, statistical measurement of QB play is a work in progress that requires understanding of context and an appreciation for uncertainty. If we want to know which QB is worthy of the MVP, we might want to consider EPA most heavily as it aligns closest to actual wins. If instead we want to know which QB is most likely to be successful in the future, we might consider PFF Grades, which do a better job at isolating individual play and predicting future success.

But perhaps above all else, we should avoid the temptation to dogmatically crown one metric over another. As for myself, I plan to use Passer Rating a bit more just to prove a point.


cereal grain are related with food intolerance or allergy to gliten

Food intolerance or food allergy?

Food allergies are estimated to affect between 4 to 6% of children and 1 to 3% of adults of the Portuguese population. Most people don’t know the difference between a food intolerance or an allergic reaction. This makes them think that they are allergic to a certain food when they aren’t. In reality, it is common for someone to be intolerant to certain foods, but it is rare to find people that are allergic to them.

Allergy vs. intolerance

When a person has a food allergy, their body’s immune system responds incorrectly to a substance known as an allergen.

The most common allergens are cow's milk, eggs, peanuts, nuts, some fish, seafood, and cereals (wheat and soy).

An allergen is not necessarily a harmful substance. But they trigger an immune system response that, in certain persons, can be dangerous. However, allergens do not cause an adverse effect in most people.

Food intolerances usually involve the digestive system, not the immune system. A food intolerance usually means that a person has an enzyme deficiency.

Enzymes are substances in the body that enable people to digest food. If a person has an enzyme deficiency, their body cannot digest certain foods properly. The problematic food depends on the enzyme that is lacking.

The symptoms of food intolerances may be similar to the allergic food reactions, but they typically take longer to appear. When a person has an allergic reaction, the symptoms appear seconds after the contact with that food. An allergic reaction involves not only not eating the particular food, but also inhaling it, touching it, or eating foods with traces of it.

Not every person will experience all of the possible symptoms of a food allergy, and each reaction may be slightly different. However, common signs and symptoms include:

-tingling in the mouth

-burning sensation in the lips and mouth

-facial swelling

-a skin rash known as hives

-nausea or vomiting

-a runny nose

-streaming eyes

-Or, in several cases, anaphylaxis.

Common symptoms of food intolerance include:

-excess gas

-stomach pain

-a runny nose

How to know if you have a food allergy?

A good way to know if you have an allergy or an intolerant reaction to a certain food is to pay attention to the signs that your body gives to you. You can also answer these questions:

-what symptoms occur

-how long it takes for the reaction to begin

-which foods cause it

-whether the food is cooked

-where you eat it

You should always check the situation with your doctor, and probably he will want to know if you have any other existing allergies, such as seasonal allergies or asthma, and your family history of allergies.

Your doctor can ask you to make some of the following tests too:

-Skin prick test: A healthcare professional places diluted foods onto the person’s arm and lightly pierces the skin. Any reaction, such as itching, swelling, or redness, indicates that the person may have an allergy.

-Blood test: This test looks for the presence of antibodies that are specific to certain food proteins and can indicate an allergy.

-Food diary: The person writes down everything they eat and describes symptoms if they occur.

-Physician-supervised blinded oral food challenge: This is the most scientific method to diagnose a food allergy accurately. A physician gives the person a suspected food allergen in increasing amounts, monitoring for symptoms under close supervision. This method removes the chance of psychological reactions.

How to prevent these reactions?

If a person has a food allergy or an intolerance, they may have to avoid the food that appears to cause it. They may also have to check the ingredients of food products carefully, whether buying for home consumption or eating out.

Check out our post about how to read a product label: 5 things to check when you buy a product.

Anyone who knows they have an allergy and may have a severe reaction should carry an injector, such as an EpiPen, that delivers epinephrine or adrenaline. They should carry two doses in case one is not sufficient.

A food intolerance will not usually need urgent treatment. The best treatment is a long-term plan to manage the problem.

Managing an intolerance usually starts with an exclusion diet. This is when a person avoids a food that may be causing the problem for some time, usually 2 to 6 weeks.

The individual may benefit from keeping a food diary to record whether their symptoms improve. After this, they reintroduce the food and note any new reactions.

People may need to repeat this monitoring with different food items to pinpoint which food is causing the problem.

Sometimes, people can reintroduce a food without any reaction occurring. It may be that they develop a tolerance or that a small amount of the food does not cause a problem any longer.

  Os alergénios: carmen costa video

Photo: @melsvision

Brazier, Y. (December 10, 2020). What is a food intolerance?. Medical News Today. Consulted19/04/2021.

Brazier, Y. (January 14, 2019). Is it a food allergy or an intolerance? Medical News Today. Consulted 19/04/2021.

Newman, T. (December 10, 2020). Food allergies: What you need to know. Medical News Today. Consulted 19/04/2021.

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