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The Newly Unemployed and the UIF Take-up Rate in the South African Labour Market
This paper investigates the take-up rate or claim-waiting rate of the unemployed under the South African Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) system. The goal is to identify disincentive effects that income replacement rates (IRR) and accumulated credits may have on the claimants behaviour in terms of their claim waiting period rate (or how quickly they apply for UIF benefits). Utilizing nonparametric and semi-parametric estimation techniques, we find that there is little evidence, if any, for job disincentives or moral hazard problems. More specifically, the majority of claimants that are quickest to claim the UIF benefits are those who have worked continuously for at least four years and accumulated the maximum allowable amount of credits. We also note that claimants" claim-waiting periods are indifferent with regard to levels of income replacements yet extremely sensitive to the amount of credits accumulated. Ultimately, the recipients of the UIF benefits do not depend heavily on the replacement incomes and prefer waiting longer for employment opportunities to arise as opposed to exhausting their accumulated credits. The semi-parametric Cox's Proportional Hazard (PH) model confirms that there is a positive relationship between the claimants accumulation of credits and the associated take-up rate of the UIF. Acknowledgements: The research, from which this paper emanates, was commissioned by the Africa Growth Initiative (AGI), at the Brookings Institution.
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|25 pages
|Date of creation:
|Jul 2012
|Publication status:
|Published in Working Paper Series by the Development Policy Research Unit, July 2012, pages 1-25
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References listed on IDEAS
Please report citation or reference errors to , or , if you are the registered author of the cited work, log in to your RePEc Author Service profile, click on "citations" and make appropriate adjustments.:
- Holmlund, Bertil, 1998.
" Unemployment Insurance in Theory and Practice,"
Scandinavian Journal of Economics,
Wiley Blackwell, vol. 100(1), pages 113-141, March.
- Holmlund, B., 1997. "Unemployment Insurance in Theory and Practice," CEPR Discussion Papers 380, Centre for Economic Policy Research, Research School of Economics, Australian National University.
- Holmlund, Bertil, 1997. "Unemployment Insurance in Theory and Practice," Working Paper Series 1997:25, Uppsala University, Department of Economics.
- Holmlund, B., 1997. "Unemployment Insurance in Theory and Practice," Papers 1997-25, Uppsala - Working Paper Series.
- Robert H. Topel, 1982. "Unemployment Insurance, Experience Rating, and the Occurrence of Unemployment," University of Chicago - George G. Stigler Center for Study of Economy and State 21, Chicago - Center for Study of Economy and State.
- Addison, John T. & Blackburn, McKinley L., 2000. "The effects of unemployment insurance on postunemployment earnings," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 7(1), pages 21-53, January.
- Paul L. Burgess & Jerry L. Kingston, 1976. "The Impact of Unemployment Insurance Benefits on Reemployment Success," ILR Review, Cornell University, ILR School, vol. 30(1), pages 25-31, October.
- Feldstein, Martin S, 1978. "The Private and Social Costs of Unemployment," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 68(2), pages 155-158, May.
- Martin Feldstein, 1977. "The Private and Social Costs of Unemployment," NBER Working Papers 0223, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
- Hansen, Gary D & Imrohoroglu, Ayse, 1992. "The Role of Unemployment Insurance in an Economy with Liquidity Constraints and Moral Hazard," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 100(1), pages 118-142, February.
- Gary D. Hansen & Ayse Imrohoroglu, 1990. "The Role of Unemployment Insurance in an Economy with Liquidity Constraints and Moral Hazard," UCLA Economics Working Papers 583, UCLA Department of Economics.
- Hansen, G.D. & Imrohoroglu, A., 1990. "The Role Of Unemployment Insurance In An Economy With Liquidity Constraints And Moral Hazard," Papers 21, California Los Angeles - Applied Econometrics.
- Kiefer, Nicholas M & Lundberg, Shelly J & Neumann, George R, 1985. "How Long Is a Spell of Unemployment? Illusions and Biases in the Use of CPS Data," Journal of Business & Economic Statistics, American Statistical Association, vol. 3(2), pages 118-128, April.
- Nicholas M. Kiefer & Shelly J. Lundberg & George R. Neumann, 1984. "How Long is a Spell of Unemployment?: Illusions and Biases in the Use of CPS Data," NBER Working Papers 1467, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
- Acemoglu, Daron & Shimer, Robert, 2000. "Productivity gains from unemployment insurance," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 44(7), pages 1195-1224, June.
- Daron Acemoglu & Robert Shimer, 1999. "Productivity Gains from Unemployment Insurance," NBER Working Papers 7352, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
- Daron Acemoglu & Robert Shimer, 1999. "Productivity Gains from Unemployment Insurance," Working papers 99-29, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Department of Economics.
- Vodopivec, Milan, 2008. "How Viable Are Unemployment Insurance Savings Accounts: Simulation Results for Slovenia," IZA Discussion Papers 3438, Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA).
- Moffitt, Robert & Nicholson, Walter, 1982. "The Effect of Unemployment Insurance on Unemployment: The Case of Federal Supplemental Benefits," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 64(1), pages 1-11, February.
- Raj Chetty, 2008. "Moral Hazard vs. Liquidity and Optimal Unemployment Insurance," NBER Working Papers 13967, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
- Blau, David M. & Robins, Philip K., 1986. "Job search, wage offers, and unemployment insurance," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 29(2), pages 173-197, March.
- John M. Barron & Wesley Mellow, 1979. "Search Effort in the Labor Market," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 14(3), pages 389-404.
- Ehrenberg, Ronald G & Oaxaca, Ronald L, 1976. "Unemployment Insurance, Duration of Unemployment, and Subsequent Wage Gain," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 66(5), pages 754-766, December.
- Jonathan Gruber, 1994. "The Consumption Smoothing Benefits of Unemployment Insurance," NBER Working Papers 4750, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
- Hopenhayn, Hugo A & Nicolini, Juan Pablo, 1997. "Optimal Unemployment Insurance," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 105(2), pages 412-438, April.
- Hopenhayn, H. & Nicolini, P.J., 1996. "Optimal Unemployment Insurance," RCER Working Papers 421, University of Rochester - Center for Economic Research (RCER).
- Lars Ljungqvist & Thomas Sargent, 1999. "Matlab code for Hopenhayn-Nicolini's optimal unemployment insurance model," QM&RBC Codes 18, Quantitative Macroeconomics & Real Business Cycles.
- Dale T. Mortensen, 1977. "Unemployment Insurance and Labor Supply Decisions," Discussion Papers 271, Northwestern University, Center for Mathematical Studies in Economics and Management Science.
- Eric M. Engen & Jonathan Gruber, 1995. "Unemployment Insurance and Precautionary Saving," NBER Working Papers 5252, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
- Jan C. van Ours & Milan Vodopivec, 2006. "How Shortening the Potential Duration of Unemployment Benefits Affects the Duration of Unemployment: Evidence from a Natural Experiment," Journal of Labor Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 24(2), pages 351-378, April. Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)
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Hathaway-Sycamores Child and Family Services recently appointed Trey Massar to serve on its advisory board.
Massar, a financial adviser in the downtown Los Angeles office of Crowell Weedon, also serves as the junior varsity lacrosse team coach at St. Francis High School and as youth lacrosse coach for the Pasadena Tribe.
"Trey's financial-planning expertise will unquestionably be an asset to our organization," stated William Martone, Hathaway-Sycamores' president and chief executive. "Finding ways to fund the many services we provide is always a challenge, so we are fortunate that Trey is now part of our team."

subset: commoncrawl


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Canvas Draw Created Dec 31, 2012 1024 x 736px Unless noted Copyright 2012 cimpurple.
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cimpurple Jan 05, 2013
Yes. This was not planned...at all.
Luana Paully Jan 02, 2013
Interesting ! 5/5 ^_^
crinaanca Jan 01, 2013
very nice effect !
pencildream Jan 01, 2013
very cool sketch!
Page 1


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Haven't seen this high end restaurant reported here, so having just eaten there, thought I would add this brief report.
An elegant, traditional decor, a bit on the dark side, I instead sat in the garden which is brighter and more open.
I opted for the tasting with premium wine.
1. Amuse Bouche
Krug, "Grande Cutre," Reims, Champagne
A small, molded moose with classic, light flavor, lingering and blending well with the champagne. Gripe of mine is that too many domestic pourers go for a head on the champagne, seems American go for that, but a slow pour down the side will allow for more robust, and enduring bubbles.
2. Green Asparagus Soup
Asparagus Marmalade, Smoked Olive Oil, Black Pepper Cream
Nigl, Griiner Veltliner, "Privat," Kremstal, Austria
Simply wonderful bisque of asparagus that changed with each spoonful. Some diced celeriac and shallot (?) gave a balance keeping the bisque interesting while the black pepper grew slowly. The wine is an easy drinking wine too much with vegetable aroma and flavor, kind of faded in the face of the soup, but allowed the soup to shine.
3. English Pea Panna Cotta
Serrano Ham, Pea Tendrils, Lemon Oil, Ricotta
Kistlel~ Chardonnay, "Vine Hill," Russian River Valley
Coming across as a timbale, balanced by cream lemon oil ricotta. A thin sliced ham with the peas, crisped chips of ham with the cheese, the latter lingering nicely on the palate. The tendrils and blanched, not cooked peas, made for a complex of texture, while highlighting the fresh pea quality of these heavily re-processed peas. This was not sweet, but quit fresh and vegetable.(no doubt use of gelatin keeps it technically panna cotta) I would have preferred more contrast or complement of lemon and peach from a dry Jurancon, but understand why the tie in of a chardonnay.
4. Filet of Dover Sole "Bourguignon"
Lardons, Seasonal Mushrooms, Red Wine Jus
II Confuron, Chambolle-Musigny, Burgundy, France 2007
This was just brilliant. A poached fillet of sole in a beef based sauce, complemented by red wine! Complemented with amix of seasonal mushrooms, I identified dainty slivers of morel, Shimeji, one I couldn't identified with lardons, blending the various texture and quality of complementary mushrooms, some dark, smokey tendency from the lardon that was a bit of overkill, but didn't detract in any way. To taste how the fish, which is sweat and mild is enhanced by the beef and madeira flavors is a jolt to the expectations. The beef only enhanced the natural sweetness of the sole, high relief carving of the desirable nature of this fish. The strawberry/prune quality of the wine further embroidered this enhancement.
5. Medallion of Veal Tenderloin
Truffled Macaroni and Cheese, Crispy Sweetbreads, Spinach Cream,
Madeira Jus
Fratelli Brovia, Barolo, Piedmont, Italy
Beautifully tender veal sits in a smear of madeira sauce. The first thing after the visual is the blend of odors rising from the plate; so much going on that I just sat there taking it in for a good minute, The veal is tender, melting gently, a savory lightness, not dominating the gentle flavor of the veal, rare but warm in the center, outer sear providing some "crunch." The mac and cheese was a hoot! Baked ditali lischi with a perfect crust, the flavor of truffle literally explodes and sets off the al dente pasta and a subtle, rather than dominating cheese. The sweet breads sit in a bed of spinach that at first reminded me a bit of creamed spinach. The dish needed a few minutes to blend, so it grew on me. Some nice crust on the sweet bread, made for a blend that served more as an aftertaste that makes eating this dish slowly, enjoying some playful illusoriness. Paired with the Barolo, characterized by some rhubarb and chocolate, with the long dry finish of a classic Barolo makes the whole dish a circus of varying savory. Note, a ramekin fork would have come in handy for slicing through the crust and cheese.
6. A pleasant berry sorbet "pre-dessert" with actually ripe, fresh blueberries. Sweet, tangy, fresh.
7. Pistachio Creme Brulee
Morello Cherry Compote, Yuzu Ice Cream
Chateau d'Yquem, Premier Cru Class» Superieur, Sauternes, France
Mix of pistachio with the subtle citris of the yuzu much more fun than if it had been cut with simple vanilla, Tangy, but not sour morello, sweat but not cloying. Light, not burnt crust.
I didn't pair with the wine, but had the d"Yquem after. 1998, so still young, but it is superb, and was a half hour on its own. No need to describe; you know this wine, or you don't.
I took home the small pastries (Mignardises and Chocolates) served afterward, as there is no need to add cake and coffee while d"Yquem lingers. I will have those tonight at home.


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Maurice's return spoiled
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Petr Sykora scored two goals, Sidney Crosby had four assists, and the Pittsburgh Penguins routed Carolina, 5-2, last night to spoil the start of Paul Maurice's second stint coaching the slumping Hurricanes in Raleigh, N.C.
Pascal Dupuis scored an early goal and NHL scoring leader Evgeni Malkin added two assists, even as his lead over Crosby dwindled to 2 points.
One night after blowing a 2-0 lead in a shootout loss to the New York Rangers, Pittsburgh led, 3-0, less than two minutes into the second period and never let Carolina get closer than two goals after that. The Penguins scored five goals on their first 13 shots, including first-period goals by Sykora and Dupuis roughly 1 1/2 minutes apart.
Crosby assisted on both, giving him 39 points this season.
Tuomo Ruutu and Matt Cullen scored for the Hurricanes, who shook up their coaching staff yet wound up with more of the same results.
"We made some - I guess 'glaring' would be the word - mistakes, where you look at it and you may not see that mistake made again," Maurice said.
The Hurricanes fired coach Peter Laviolette a day earlier and replaced him with Maurice, who coached them to a franchise-best 268 wins from 1995 until he was fired in December 2003. They brought Hall of Fame player Ron Francis out of the front office and made him associate coach. But they couldn't provide any quick fixes for a team that lost its fifth in six games.
Sharks 3, Blue Jackets 2 - Joe Thornton scored the go-ahead goal with 12:19 to play, and the NHL-leading Sharks shook off a terrible start to earn their ninth straight victory. The Sharks are 14-0-1 at home.
Canadiens 6, Rangers 2 - Steve Begin and Maxim Lapierre each had a goal and an assist and host Montreal scored three times in the first period to celebrate its 99th birthday with a victory.
Devils 3, Flyers 2 - Patrik Elias scored the tying goal late in the third period, then pulled into a tie with Mats Sundin and Jaromir Jagr for the NHL record with his 15th overtime goal as New Jersey won in Philadelphia.
Red Wings 6, Canucks 5 - Jiri Hudler and Dan Cleary each scored twice for host Detroit.
Coyotes 6, Maple Leafs 3 - Martin Hanzal had his first three-goal game in the NHL, and Steven Reinprecht added a pair of third-period goals in host Phoenix's victory over Toronto.
Panthers 2, Sabres 1 - Craig Anderson made 45 saves, and Gregory Campbell and Keith Ballard scored 35 seconds apart in the second period as host Florida beat reeling Buffalo.
Capitals 5, Islanders 2 - Enforcer Donald Brashear scored his first goal of the season with 13:10 left to snap a tie as host Washington beat New York.
Predators 3, Avalanche 2 - Vernon Fiddler, Shea Weber, and David Legwand scored early goals and Pekka Rinne made 19 saves for host Nashville.


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Specialist Engineering Analysis Solutions
Specialist engineering analysis is what it says, because sometimes it takes something special. Oasys has a range of programs to help, whether its to analyse a feather-light fabric roof or cable net, extreme non-linear blast analysis or impact damage, the structural use of carbon fibre,simulating pedestrians and analyzing crowds, or even a geotechnical problem that just cannot be solved using empirical methods.
When it comes to compression-only and tension-only structures, the geometry (the form) is crucial. Fabrics are very unforgiving if the shape is wrong: they wrinkle or sag visibly. With GSA Suite, engineers can avoid these problems, using GSA's unique dynamic relaxation methods to form-find the ideal geometry then analyse the resulting structure under multiple load cases. They can also design the supporting steelwork to the latest codes.
MassMotion is the next generation of advanced software for simulating pedestrians and analyzing crowds. Being the only tool that can predict the movement of tens of thousands of individual personalities in a complex 3D environment, MassMotion has truly unique qualities.
Most geotechnical programs are based on empirical methods. So although they are excellent for standard problems, more complex cases require the geotechnical finite element analysis of Safe. Safe can analyse stress-based problems over the construction sequence, whether a retaining wall, slope, excavation, or tunnel. It can also analysis hydro-geotechnical problems of water flow through partially and fully saturated soils.
Most structural engineers are familiar with designing with steel and concrete, but AdSec also includes a wide range of glass and carbon fibre materials. This gives engineers the ability to design a bridge using GRP rebar or add carbon-fibre plates to existing concrete beams and columns to boost their strength.
LS-DYNA is the finite element analysis program offering the most advanced non-linear analyses for civil, structural and mechanical engineering. It includes fully automated contact analysis, making it ideal for crash and blast analysis, metal forming, drop testing and seismic checks. It can also analyse multi-physics problems such as fluid-structure interaction and thermal-structure coupling. The Oasys suite for LS-Dyna also includes leading-edge pre- and post-processors for LS-Dyna, increasing productivity.


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3 Things You Can Do to Empower Women
As early as the 9th century, Khmer people respected women, giving them the right to own property, the right to conduct business, and honoring female images in their temples. 3 Things You Can Do to Empower Women
Devata.org is dedicated to understanding the role of ancient women in Southeast Asia, and to sharing that knowledge with the modern world to inspire equality, education and advancement for women.
A new book presents compelling evidence that unleashing women's full potential is the key to economic progress in the world. "Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide" offers practical, effective ways to empower women and to improve the world we live in.
Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn are the husband-and-wife Pulitzer Prize winning team that wrote the book, and they practice what they preach. The great news is that it's easy to do something good; there are plenty of quality organizations that maximize the influence of your contributions, no matter how modest.
Here are three ways you can help today:
1. Help girls go to school.
Girls who get an education have fewer children, earn more money, and are able to help younger siblings. American Assistance for Cambodia enables individuals and organizations to revolutionize life in a village forever by actually building a new school for as little as $13,000.
In 2005, DatAsia, the publishing firm that supports Devata.org, funded construction of Srei Devata Middle School in Kampong Thom Province, as well as an initial operating budget, through AAfC. While Nick Kristof doesn't flaunt the fact, he and his family also funded a school with this efficient foundation in 2008.
Another excellent program AAfC operates to help girls in Cambodia is Girls Be Ambitious, where uneducated girls are at great risk of being trafficked into brothels or exploitative labor situations in factories. For $10 a month, you can keep a girl in school and help her build a better future.
2. Support woman's business and education.
A microloan of $50 can help a woman start a business, producing income she can use to feed her children and send them to school. Two great groups helping women around the world are Mercy Corps and BRAC.
Have you read about Mukhtar Mai's courageous efforts to bring educational equality to girls and women in one of Pakistan's poorest regions? Her story and other accounts from Pakistan were so shocking that we immediately donated to her cause on behalf of the students of Srei Devata School. Cambodia is slowly recovering from its time of genocidal horror, but many others still live in the agony and ignorance of human cruelty. Anyone can help with the click of a mouse and PayPal.
3. Make girls smarter.
How can a few pennies per person change lives? Many pregnant women living in poverty don't get enough iodine, so their fetuses' brains do not develop properly. Their children routinely lose ten to 15 IQ points—particularly girls, for reasons not fully understood. The solution: Iodize salt, at the cost of a couple of pennies per person per year.
Helen Keller International provides technical assistance to establish nutrition and eye health programs in partnership with host countries throughout the world. Did you know that 80% of blindness worldwide is preventable? Neither did I.
For details go to Helen Keller International.
There you have it. Three ways and multiple efficient foundations that enable you to improve the lives of women now. Do you have $10? $100? Pick one and see how it feels.
Article by Kent Davis


text:
Celebrate with us during our pre-Father's day sale! Save up to 30% on Rhinestones, Rhinestone Trims, Buttons, Supplies and Ribbons. This special will only run through June 9th at 11:59pm EST. Hurry, while supplies last. Save big, save now.
One thought on "SALE! SALE!"
I for all time emailed this weblog post page to all
my contacts, as if like to read it next my contacts will too.


text:
|Numéro de publication
|Type de publication
|Numéro de demande
|Date de publication
|19 sept. 2000
|Date de dépôt
|27 janv. 1999
|Date de priorité
|27 janv. 1999
|État de paiement des frais
|Numéro de publication
|Jerry Falkowski, Mizanu Kebede, Edna I. Hu
|Cessionnaire d'origine
|Steris Corporation
|Exporter la citation
|BiBTeX, EndNote, RefMan
|Citations de brevets (4), Citations hors brevets (6), Référencé par (16), Classifications (20), Événements juridiques (4)
|Liens externes: USPTO, Cession USPTO, Espacenet
The present invention relates to the sterility assurance arts. It finds particular application in connection with the distribution of microbial spores onto a spore carrier, and will be described with particular reference thereto.
Currently, the instrument of choice for monitoring the effectiveness of a sterilization process is the biological indicator. A typical biological indicator contains a calibrated population of microorganisms having a high resistance to the sterilization process under investigation. After exposure to the sterilization process, the biological indicators are incubated in a culture medium to encourage growth of any remaining viable microorganisms. Self-contained biological indicators contain the culture medium within the indicator, typically in a frangible vial. Spore strip biological indicators are combined with a separate container of culture medium after the monitored sterilization process. Subsequent microbial growth is an indication that the sterilization process was ineffective.
Bacterial spores are favored for biological indicator microorganisms because they are typical of the worst case microbes that are targeted in the sterilization procedure. The selected spores are highly resistant to the physical and chemical agents utilized in the sterilization process. The biological stability of the spores permits the manufacture of a product that exhibits a long shelf life relative to one comprising vegetative cells. The choice of bacteria is dependent on the sterilization to be evaluated. For example, Bacillus stearothermophilus spores are used to monitor moist heat sterilization and hydrogen peroxide sterilization because of their high resistance to these processes. Similarly, Bacillus subtilis spores are employed to monitor ethylene oxide sterilization, dry heat sterilization, and sterilization systems utilizing peroxy compounds in the plasma state. Because the type of microorganisms in the biological indicator are not readily identifiable by the user, the culture medium of self-contained biological indicators is sometimes color-coded according to the type of sterilization process to be evaluated.
The microorganisms are generally supported on a carrier, such as a spore strip or disk. The carrier is formed from a material which is resistant to the sterilization process and does not contain additives which may influence the sterility assessment. Materials, such as filter paper, chromatography paper, blotter paper, glass fibers, polymer plastics, and stainless steel articles are among those most often used for the carrier.
To distribute the microorganisms on the carrier, a suspension of microorganisms in water is conventionally pumped to a needle which is suspended over a web of the paper or other carrier material. The paper is moved under the needle at a constant rate, causing a trail of the suspension to form on the paper as it passes beneath the needle. Alternatively, the suspension is manually transferred by use of a micropipette to the carrier. The web of impregnated paper is then cut to the appropriate size for inserting into the indicator, typically as strips or disks.
It is important that each of the spore strips or disks contains a calibrated population of the microorganisms. The rate of delivery of the suspension and the rate of transport of the paper are adjusted so that the web receives an even distribution of a selected concentration of the microorganisms. However, occasional malfunctioning of the delivery system can result in uneven distribution of the microorganisms. For example, the needle delivering the microorganism suspension sometimes becomes blocked and the suspension is not delivered to the paper web. Additionally, the pumps used to deliver the microorganism suspension to the needles are generally peristaltic pumps which deliver the suspension as a series of short pulses. This can cause the suspension to be delivered from the needle intermittently, resulting in incomplete coverage of the web. Clearly, a spore strip which is free, or relatively free of microorganisms will be unable to detect an unsatisfactory sterilization process. When non-absorptive or hydrophobic carriers are inoculated, it is important to be able to tell on which side of the carrier the spores were deposited, for reproducible packaging and subsequent exposure. This recognition is often extremely important for the arrangement of inoculated non-penetrable carriers otherwise the access of a sterilization agent may be hindered.
At present, the method used to evaluate coverage of the paper web is visual observation. Because the microorganism dispersion is generally milky white or clear in color and the blotter paper is also white, it is difficult to determine whether the paper web has been impregnated. Accordingly, an observer constantly monitors the impregnation process to reject regions which are not wetted by the suspension. This method tends to result in a unreliable evaluation of the coverage of the paper web. An observer may fail to spot an unsatisfactory region on the quickly passing paper web. The observer can also monitor the supply of suspension to be sure it is dropping. However, with multi-nozzle systems the suspension still drops when one of the nozzles is clogged.
Additionally, the paper web is not cut to size until after it is dry. Disks for self-contained indicators span a very short length of the paper, typically about 5 mm. At this stage, there is no means of readily checking whether the selected portions of the paper web are coated with microorganisms. As a result, the selected portions may not contain a calibrated microorganism population.
The present invention provides a new and improved indication system for ensuring that a microorganism carrier is impregnated with a population of microorganisms, which overcomes the above-referenced problems and others.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, an apparatus for delivering a population of microorganisms to a carrier material is provided. The system includes a delivery system which supplies a suspension to a carrier. The suspension includes both the microorganisms and a detectable indicator material. The system further includes a detector which evaluates the carrier for the indicator material and provides a signal indicative of the presence or absence of the indicator material on the carrier.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a method for ensuring that a biological indicator receives a population of microorganisms is provided. The method includes mixing a dye with a suspension of microorganisms and distributing the suspension and the dye on a carrier. The method further includes examining the carrier for the presence of the dye.
In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, a biological indicator composition is provided. The composition includes a liquid and a detectable indicator material. Microorganisms are suspended in the liquid. The indicator material is one which is detectable irrespective of a viability of the microorganisms without influencing the viability of the microorganisms.
One advantage of the present invention is that it ensures that the spore strip, dot, or other carrier article has been impregnated with a population of microorganisms.
Another advantage of the present invention is that it provides a means of identifying the nature of the microorganisms, or the sterilization process in which the microorganisms are to be used.
Yet another advantage of the present invention is that it does not require verification testing for FDA approval.
Still further advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading and understanding the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment.
The invention may take form in various components and arrangement of components and in various steps and arrangements of steps. The drawings are only for purposes of illustrating a preferred embodiment and are not to be construed as limiting the invention.
The FIGURE is a schematic view of a microorganism distribution system according to the present invention.
A system for ensuring that a biological indicator receives a calibrated population of microorganisms includes combining an detectable indicator material with a suspension of the microorganisms. The suspension is delivered to a carrier. Subsequent inspection of the carrier allows portions of the carrier which are free of the indicator material, or poorly covered with the indicator material, to be identified and rejected. A portion containing the indicator material, and hence the microorganisms, is used for the biological indicator.
With reference to the FIGURE, a microorganism distribution system includes a reservoir, such as a tank 10, which contains a suspension of test microorganisms, such as bacterial spores, dispersed in a menstrum, such as water. If water is utilized, it is preferably purified and free of additives which may influence the viability of the test microorganisms and free of other microorganisms. Optionally, one or more alcohols may be used in place of a portion of the pure water used in the suspension. A magnetic stirrer 12 stirs the suspension to maintain an even distribution of test microorganisms in the suspension. The suspension includes a known concentration of the test microorganisms. A concentration of around 1010 viable test microorganisms per liter of suspension is preferred.
The test microorganism is one which has a high resistance to a sterilization process to be evaluated. The choice of microorganism depends on the type of sterilization process to be assessed. While bacterial spores are preferred test microorganisms, because they generally have a high resistance to many sterilization processes, other microorganisms, including yeasts, fungi, and bacteria in the vegetative state, may also be used in place of the spores. Preferred spores include Bacillus pumilus, Bacillus coagulanis, Clostridium sporegenes, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus stearothermophilus, and Aspergillus niger, depending on the sterilization system to be evaluated. The test microorganism may be a single specie or a combination of species.
A small amount of a detectable indicator material, such as a visually or spectroscopically detectable dye, is added to the suspension of microorganisms. The dye is preferably one which does not influence the viability of the microorganism, such as a food coloring prepared according to FDA approved specifications, or other cellular, non-toxic dye. Food colorings are particularly preferred dyes because they have been previously certified not to have a biocidal effect, and thus will not interfere with the microorganisms. The food coloring tints the suspension to a preselected color which is readily visible against a white background material. Alternatively, other indicator materials which are readily detectable by a detection instrument, or other means, and which do not interfere with the viability of the microorganisms, are also contemplated.
For ease of reference the invention will be described with reference to a food coloring, or similar visible dye, although it should be understood that other indicator materials are alternatively used.
Preferably, the color of the dye is selected according to the microorganism in the suspension, or according to the sterilization process in which it is to be used. For example, a red food coloring is used for coloring a suspension containing Bacillus stearothermophilus, a blue color for a biological indicator containing Bacillus subtilis, and a green coloring is used for Bacillus pumilus.
A pump, such as a peristaltic pump 14, pumps the suspension tinted with the food coloring at a selected rate along a fluid line 16. The fluid line 16 connects the tank 10 with a plurality of needles 18. In the illustrated embodiment, three needles 18A, 18B, and 18C are used. These are connected with the fluid line 16 via a manifold 20 or other distribution system which ensures an equal distribution of the suspension to each of the needles. The pump is adjustable for varying the rate of delivery of the suspension to the needles.
A carrier material 22, such as a web of filter or blotter paper is supplied from a supply reel assembly 24. The paper is wound onto the reel to form a spool 26 with a starting diameter of about 40 cm. In the illustrated embodiment, three spools are carried on a single shaft 29. The paper webs are delivered from the supply reel assembly 24 to a take-up reel assembly 28. Each of the paper webs passes beneath the corresponding needle 18. A friction drive 30, preferably mounted beneath each of the webs, moves the web at a selected speed in the direction of the take-up reel assembly 28. The impregnated web 22 forms a spool on the take up reel assembly 28.
The tinted suspension flows from the needles 18 onto the paper web 22 passing beneath. A trail of tinted microorganism-impregnated paper is thus formed along the central portion of each web. The trail preferably has a width of approximately 4 mm wide, or greater. The water in the impregnated web evaporates, leaving a region of the paper which is impregnated with the test microorganisms and tinted with the food coloring. Optionally, driers (not shown) are used to accelerate the evaporation.
The presence of the food coloring, or other indicator material, in the paper web allows the paper to be evaluated for the presence of microorganisms at any point during processing of the web. Areas of the web which are free of food coloring are highlighted as containing no microorganisms and are rejected.
The pump 14 and the friction drive 30 are preferably adjusted to provide a desired concentration of microorganisms on the web. A preferred rate of delivery is one which provides a 5 mm diameter disc of the web cut from the impregnated region with about 0.1 ml of the suspension, or a population of 106 microorganisms.
Optionally, a detector 32 is positioned above the microorganism-impregnated web 22 as it passes between the needles and the take-up roller 28. The detector detects for discontinuities in the impregnated region of the web by sensing the color of the impregnated region, or some other detectable property of the indicator material. The detector may be a human observer, who visually scans the passing impregnated web, a photo-optimetric instrument, such as a spectrophotometer, the viabilnstruments which do not influence the viability of the microorganisms during the detection process. The detector is preferably capable of detecting discontinuities in the tinted trail of impregnated paper and regions which are otherwise poorly impregnated.
If a discontinuity in the color is detected, the detector signals a controller 36. For example, the needle 18B of the FIGURE is delivering an interrupted trail of the suspension to the web. The detector recognizes that the trail is not satisfactory and signals the controller.
Where the detector is a spectrophotometer, the spectrophotometer shines a beam of light onto the passing web which is aimed at the region which should be tinted with the dye. The detector receives light reflected from the web and compares the intensity of one or more spectral bands of the received light with the intensity of the same spectral bands for a calibration sample known to be impregnated with the dye. If the measured intensity is below a threshold level, the detector signals the controller 36.
In one embodiment, the controller operates an alarm 38 to provide a visible or audible signal to indicate to an operator that the system has malfunctioned. In another embodiment, the controller 36 controls the coordinated operation of the pump 14 and the friction drive 30 to ensure the prescribed microbe distribution. In response to the detector 32 detecting a malfunction, the controller stops the operation of the system, including halting the pump 14, the friction drive 30, and a take up reel drive 40 until the malfunction can be corrected by an operator.
Optionally, the detector 32 detects a level of tint or other indicator material on the impregnated region of the web which varies with the amount of suspension delivered per unit area of the web. The detector compares the detected level of tint with a preselected set range, corresponding to the tolerance limits for the desired concentration of the microorganisms on the web. The detector determines when the level of tint is outside the preselected range. If the level of tint is outside the preselected range, either above or below the range, the detector signals the controller.
In one embodiment, the controller adjusts the rate of delivery of the suspension to the web in accordance with the detected tint level. This may be done by signaling the friction drive 30 to adjust the rate of transport of the web 22 or signaling the pump 14 to adjust the flow rate of the microorganism suspension in the fluid line 16.
Alternatively, the controller signals an alarm to indicate that the concentration of microorganisms is outside the preselected range. The operator then makes adjustments to the delivery rate or transport rate. In this way, the concentration of microorganisms on the web may be maintained within the preselected range.
The microorganism impregnated paper web is then cut into sections, such as strips or discs, which are inserted into biological indicators. The strips or disks are further checked at this stage for the tint of the food coloring, or other indicator material, to ensure that each biological indicator receives a population of microorganisms. Strips are preferred for spore strip indicators. To form the spore strip indicator, the strip is preferably surrounded by a sheet of a material which provides a challenge to the penetration of sterilants, such as a glassine material, although the strip may also be used without such a sheet. Disks are preferred for self-contained biological indicators. A disc is inserted into a vial which also contains an ample of nutrient media.
The user of the biological indicator is also able to confirm the presence of microorganisms by a quick inspection of the spore strip or disk. When the microorganisms have been color coded, this check also ensures that the correct species for the particular sterilization process are used.
The application of the suspension of microorganisms and indicator material to a carrier has been described with reference to an automated application system, which is a preferred method for achieving a uniform distribution of microorganisms. However, it should be readily appreciated that a variety of other methods for applying the suspension to the carrier may alternatively be employed. For example, the suspension may be manually applied to the carrier, or sprayed from jets onto a sheet of the carrier.
The invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiment. Obviously, modifications and alterations will occur to others upon reading and understanding the preceding detailed description. It is intended that the invention be construed as including all such modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.
|Brevet cité
|Date de dépôt
|Date de publication
|23 oct. 1965
|10 oct. 1967
|Ritter Pfaudler Corp
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|American Sterilizer Company
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|Frangible container with rupturing device
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|9 mai 1989
|Edward Weck Incorporated
|EO biological test pack
|21 CFR §70--Food and Drugs--Color Additive (1998) Month not available.
|21 CFR 70 Food and Drugs Color Additive (1998) Month not available.
|Abou Zeid et al, Indian J. Pharm ., vol. 31(3), p 72 75, (Abstract), 1969.
|Abou-Zeid et al, "Indian J. Pharm"., vol. 31(3), p 72-75, (Abstract), 1969.
|Tsuda et al, "Chemotherapy", vol. 41(6), p 641-648, (Abstract), 1993.
|Tsuda et al, Chemotherapy , vol. 41(6), p 641 648, (Abstract), 1993.
|Brevet citant
|Date de dépôt
|Date de publication
|2 mai 2002
|14 juin 2005
|Smart Anti-Microbial Solutions, Llc
|Antimicrobial agents, products incorporating said agents and methods of making products incorporating antimicrobial agents
|24 mai 2005
|26 aoűt 2008
|Steris Inc.
|Biological indicator
|11 avr. 2008
|22 juin 2010
|American Sterilizer Company
|Biological indicator
|5 févr. 2010
|14 juin 2011
|American Sterilizer Company
|Biological indicator
|25 avr. 2006
|21 juin 2011
|Sgm Biotech, Inc.
|Evaluating bacterial lethality of containerized food production
|4 févr. 2010
|18 oct. 2011
|American Sterilizer Company
|Biological indicator
|4 févr. 2010
|27 déc. 2011
|American Sterilizer Company
|Biological indicator
|30 sept. 2008
|8 mai 2012
|American Sterilizer Company
|Self-contained biological indicator
|24 mai 2005
|30 nov. 2006
|Cregger Tricia A
|Biological indicator
|11 avr. 2008
|21 aoűt 2008
|Steris Inc.
|Biological indicator
|11 mars 2005
|4 sept. 2008
|Tullo Louis J
|Polymer-Based Antimicrobial Agents, Methods of Making Said Agents, and Products Incorporating Said Agents
|30 sept. 2008
|1 avr. 2010
|Mark Edward Pasmore
|Self-contained biological indicator
|5 févr. 2010
|10 juin 2010
|American Sterilizer Company
|Biological indicator
|4 févr. 2010
|17 juin 2010
|American Sterilizer Company
|Biological indicator
|4 févr. 2010
|17 juin 2010
|American Sterilizer Company
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|25 avr. 2006
|17 janv. 2008
|John R Gillis
|Evaluating bacterial lethality of containerized food production
|Classification aux États-Unis
|435/39, 435/34, 435/31, 435/283.1, 435/832, 435/4, 422/50, 435/839, 422/401, 422/404
|Classification internationale
|Classification coopérative
|Classification européenne
|27 janv. 1999
Owner name: STERIS CORPORATION, OHIO
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:FALKOWSKI, JERRY;KEBEDE, MIZANU;HU, EDNA I.;REEL/FRAME:009734/0150;SIGNING DATES FROM 19980126 TO 19990126
|19 mars 2004
|Fee payment
Year of fee payment: 4
|19 mars 2008
|Fee payment
Year of fee payment: 8
|19 mars 2012
|Fee payment
Year of fee payment: 12


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Why Homebuyers Should Get a Home Inspection
No home is perfect. Every home – including newly constructed ones – has issues. You should not expect sellers to disclose any information about the condition of the house you want to buy, or about any potential hazards to the property. Even if the seller provides you a recent home inspection report, it's best not to rely on it as the seller may have chosen an inspector who's a friend or family member, or someone who's not known to be tough on rooting out problems.
You should also ask the seller to provide any and all disclosures about the property before you hire a home inspector. You should be aware that not all sellers will know about all of the problems with the house. Some do know, but will feign ignorance, while others may disclose some but not all of the known issues with the house. In any case, the disclosures will be useful for your home inspector to better check out any known problems.
This makes a home inspection an important part of the home-buying process. So, long before you make settlement on a home, you should have the home checked out by a professional home inspector. And, it should be included in your purchase and sale agreement as a condition of closing the sale.
Before paying for a professional inspection, you can and should conduct your own informal inspection with your agent. The best time to do this is before you make an offer to purchase the house. You'll save yourself both the time and trouble if you find any serious problems.
When doing your informal inspection, look for issues such as missing roof shingles or gutters coming loose, old or low-quality fixtures and appliances, signs of water damage, problems with the electrical or plumbing system, sloping floors or bowing walls, doors or windows not opening or closing properly, as well as other signs of wear, tear, and things in need of repair.
If you find the issues are relatively minor in nature, you'd most likely will be able to submit a purchase offer without an inspection contingency. This will reassure the seller that your offer is firm, and is not something you're likely to whittle away at after you completed the home inspection.
If you decide that you want the home inspected anyway, it should be done immediately after all parties have signed the Purchase and Sale Agreement. You usually have 10 days from the signing of the agreement to complete the home inspection. And, you'll want any major issues addressed early on – not on the day of settlement.
As a home buyer, you want someone who will be tough and thorough. Ask homeowning friends for recommendations, or check with the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) at www.ashi.org.
Inspectors vary in experience, ability and thoroughness. But, a good inspector should examine certain components of the home you want to purchase, and then produce a detailed report covering his or her findings. A home inspection will cost you around $300 – $500 and about 3 – 4 hours of your time – depending on the age, size and type of home. But when it's done, you'll be glad you did it.


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Ashridge is proud to present its portfolio of Executive Degree Programmes.
Whether you are looking for an Executive MBA, Masters in Management or are a practitioner looking for a specialist qualification such as in coaching or organisational change, our part-time, blended or online qualifications are designed suit your requirements. In addition, thanks to our experience of customising programmes for our global network of clients, we are also able to work collaboratively with you to design and deliver fully accredited, customised qualifications for your organisation.
During this two-year part-time programme you will have the opportunity to work with professional coaches and consultants who have extensive experience as organisation consultants. Ashridge's coaches understand the commercial realities, including the dynamics and patterns of organisational life. You also have the opportunity to become an accredited coach yourself.
Find out more
This Executive MBA is for busy professionals either already working in the creative sector or looking to make the transition into the sector.
The programme is designed and taught by Ashridge with the expertise and contribution from two experienced industry partners: Creative Skillset and Lord Puttnam's company, Atticus Education.
This two-year part-time programme has been developed by a team of experienced organisational change practitioners to meet the needs of their peers. You will explore different perspectives on organisations, change and new approaches grounded in years of practical experience as well as sound academic research.
A truly international, 100% online programme, the Master in Management is designed to cater for the demands of busy managers and professionals. You can study at your own pace and customise the programme to address your specific workplace challenges and your personal developmental interests.
If you want to make a unique contribution to the understanding and knowledge of initiating and sustaining change in organisations, this qualification is for you.
Supervision is an essential quality assurance process for coaches and consultants and is also your key differentiator in the marketplace. This programme is designed for experienced organisation development consultants and executive coaches looking to qualify as a supervisor of other consultants and coaches.
GenerationQ is a prestigious, stimulating and highly relevant leadership programme for senior leaders in health in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. It is run by Ashridge and Unipart Expert Practices and funded by The Health Foundation.
Throughout the year, we run informal events, webinars and open days for anyone interested in one of our programmes. They are an opportunity to meet our admissions team, faculty, alumni and find out more about our programmes:
Organisational Change
Executive MBA for the Creative Industries
Ashridge works with you to develop customised qualifications that give your organisation a competitive advantage. Our customised qualifications equip your leaders with the right skills to take your business forward. We also provide you with effective methods for measuring the business impact.
Whether you are looking to train new or current employees, here at Ashridge, we offer a range of programmes for private, public and third-sector organisations. We can help develop your employees to be the future leaders of your organisation.


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Earlier this month, China took a big step to expand the use of renminbi for cross-border payments and trade settlement. The move makes it easier for international corporations to pay more of their Chinese suppliers in RMB and allows those with subsidiaries engaged in manufacturing and exporting in China to include RMB as a strategic currency in their treasury portfolios, says Sam Xu, executive director at J.P. Morgan Treasury Services.
The People's Bank of China announced March 2 that it would extend eligibility to collect cross-border renminbi payments far beyond the 67,000 exporters that were included in the Mainland Designated Enterprises (MDE) list established in December 2010, Xu explains. All companies in China that have import/export licenses will be allowed to settle in RMB with buyers or sellers outside of China unless they appear on an exceptions roster of "enterprises under close supervision," which replaces the MDE list, says Xu, pictured at right.
"That means the eligibility will be expanded dramatically, given the size of China's import/export sector," he says. "It's a huge number."
Often U.S. companies wanted to pay for goods in yuan instead of U.S. dollars, but were unable to do so because their suppliers were not on the original MDE list, Xu says. With this change, "U.S. sourcing companies should be able to cross-check the exception list and if the supplier is not on it, then they will be able to make RMB payments into China right away," he says. The municipal level of government is charged with compiling the new list of companies that require close monitoring, says Xu, who predicts that process to take one to two months.
"The general message is 'Stay tuned,'" he says. "This is new. It will take some time to figure out, but the time is imminent."
Meanwhile, U.S. companies could save a bundle by paying in yuan instead of dollars, according to a survey of 1,000 Chinese companies conducted by global payments services provider Western Union. The survey revealed that 36% prefer to be paid in yuan, but 42% of those companies are reluctant to broach the subject with U.S. companies.
"The U.S. is the number one destination for companies based in China," says Alfred Nader, vice president of corporate strategy and development for Western Union Business Solutions. More than 20% of the Chinese companies cite exporter convenience and reduced foreign exchange risk as the main reasons for their preference to be paid in yuan. Chinese companies also perceive the U.S. as less willing to settle in yuan (42%) than European companies (23%).
"In reality, what we found was that on average the Chinese are adding 3% to every invoice to cover their foreign exchange risk," Nader says. Western Union Business Solutions extrapolates that paying their suppliers in yuan instead of dollars would have saved U.S. companies as much as $2.4 billion in such fees in 2011.
For a recent look at the economic, political and cultural shifts that could complicate doing business in China, see Change Grabs China.


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Blockbuster Warns About Continued Operations6 Apr, 2009 By: Erik Gruenwedel
Blockbuster Inc. April 6 warned shareholders if it doesn't close a previously announced amended credit facility by May 11, its ability to continue operations could be in "substantial doubt."
The Dallas-based No. 1 DVD rental company issued the caveat in its annual report filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Blockbuster, which had a credit facility and Term A loan facility come due April 2, last week received a $250 million revolving credit facility commitment from JP Morgan and others lenders, due Sept. 30, 2010.
"The risk that we may not successfully complete this refinancing ... raises substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern," the company said in the 290-page filing.
Edward Woo, analyst with Wedbush Morgan Securities in Los Angeles, which covers Blockbuster, said there is a heightened risk due to the current credit market. He said Blockbuster has already publicly stated the "going concern" risk and outlining it in the 10K filing was merely a formality.
"I think [bankruptcy] would be the exception since they have gone so far and it would be a waste of everybody [including the creditors] time if [funding] wasn't completed," he said.
Blockbuster operates 5,800 company-owned stores globally (3,878 in the United States), in addition to 1,599 franchise stores worldwide (707 domestically).
Blockbuster shares declined 12.5% to 77 cents per share in midday trading.


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Home > Hughes Net > New Jersey > M > Monmouth
Satellite Internet in Monmouth, NJ
Rural residents have limited options when it comes to Internet, but that doesn't mean that you should have to pick a last resort Internet solution. Satellite Internet is a lifesaver for people who live in sparsely-populated areas because it is faster than dial up, and more widely available than DSL.
The great thing about satellite Internet is that there are few question marks.
Wondering about availability? HughesNet is available to anyone in Monmouth in the contiguous United States who has a clear view of the southern sky.
Wondering about affordability? HughesNet has different services and packages that fit every Monmouth family's needs.
Wondering about accessibility? HughesNet doesn't use your phone line like dial up providers and DSL providers do, so you have an always-on Internet connection.
Dial up providers are a cheap way to get Internet service, but you'll pay for it in the long run with slow dial up speeds and a spotty connection.
Satellite vs Dial up speeds
Take a look at how dial up speeds compare to satellite Internet speeds with HughesNet service in Monmouth:
- Downloading a .5mb image: With a dial up connection, downloading a .5mb imagine could take over a minute. HughesNet can download the same image in 2 seconds.
- Downloading a 1mb video clip: With a dial up connection, downloading a 1mb video clip could take a well over two minutes. HughesNet can download the same video clip in 4 seconds.
- Downloading a 4mb MP3 audio file: With a dial up connection, this download could take almost ten minutes. HughesNet can download the same audio file in 16 seconds.
- Downloading a 25mb software upgrade: With a dial up connection, this download could take more than an hour. HughesNet can download the same software upgrade in under two minutes.
DSL providers aren't available everywhere, and your Internet speeds are affected by your distance from the provider's local office. That means that if you have the misfortune of living further away from the Monmouth local office, you have the misfortune of having slow Internet speeds.
Find your hometown from the list below to learn more about your HughesNet packages in your area!
|Elberon Park
|Fort Monmouth
|Little Silver
|Little Silver Point
|Long Branch
|Monmouth Park
|Red Bank
|Sands Point
|Shrewsbury Township
|Tinton Falls
|Vail Homes
|West End
|West Long Branch
Monmouth Hughes Net is easy to set up and use
One of the biggest deterrents of investing in new technology is the frustrating installation process. With HughesNet in Monmouth, installation is less of a process and more of a well-executed plan.
Instead of having to climb up on your roof and trying to properly install a satellite, HughesNet sends out a Monmouth professional that can install your equipment usually within a few days of your order.
Your local installer will mount your satellite dish in the appropriate location, usually at least 5 feet from the ground. Then, your installer will put a coaxial cable jack in the room your HughesNet system will be in, and route two exterior cables from your satellite dish to that coaxial cable jack.
Hughesnet will also provide you with all the hardware required to correctly ground your new system.
All that's left is for your Monmouth professional to verify that your satellite signal is working properly – then you will on your way to get the finest satellite Internet service available!
Want to become a part of the HughesNet family?
If you want to learn more about HughesNet packages and your options in Monmouth, all you need is a phone. By calling one of our satellite Internet experts, you can speak to a trained and friendly professional who can answer all your questions.
Why wait until tomorrow? Today is a great day to switch to personal and professional satellite Internet service.


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Udupi: The district police will be setting up 47 check posts around the district on the eve of Bakrid and Ganeshotsava festivals said K Annamalai, District Superintendent of Police. He was speaking during a public meeting organised at the Jagannath auditorium here on September 13.
Check posts will operate from September 13 in the districts. Suspicious vehicles will be thoroughly checked. Illegal cattle slaughtering should be prevented by the community leaders. The police are authorised to fire on the perpetrators who try to attack the police at check posts.
The Ganeshotsava will be held on September 17 and Bakrid on September 24. Leaders of both communities should celebrate the festivals in peace and harmony.
The Ganesha idols are erected in 406 places around the district. The Ganeshotsava celebrations will conclude on October 10.
The district is ahead in using the social media. Rumours posted on social media like WhatsApp and Facebook should not be trusted and should be brought to the notice of the police department.
Programmes organised during festival seasons should end by 10:00 PM. Sound should not exceed 50 decibels. The sound system should not be used beyond 10:00 PM, he added.'
Additional Superintendent of Police Santosh Kumar; Newly appointed Karkal ASP Suman; DySP Chandrashekar; Udupi CPI Srikanth; PSI Udupi Girish; and others were present.


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Skip to comments.Post-FBI Work Can Pose Pitfalls For Ex-Agents
Posted on 10/13/2012 6:41:14 AM PDT by AtlasStalled
Former special agents who once served their country in the fight against mobsters, terrorists and fraudsters often have second careers in the security or investigation departments of big companies and law firms.
However, jumping into the private sector is not without its pitfalls for one-time G-men. As much as they are prized assets by corporate America for their training, experience and contacts, the good reputation of these former agents also can be cynically exploited by those with sharp practices or shady reputations as a cover to deflect any suspicion into wrongdoing.
For example, Assistant Director Louis Nichols -- J. Edgar's No. 2 man -- left the FBI in 1957, and took a plum job making $100,000 a year at Schenley Industries which mob lackey Roy Cohn allegedly secured for him, and Louis Rosensteil, the company's president, was suspected of ties to Genovese mobsters Meyer Lansky and Frank Costello. And former special agent H. Paul Rico left the Boston field office in 1975 to become security head at World Jai Alai, and then was indicted for his alleged role in a 1981 murder as a tool of Winter Hill boss Whitey Bulger although Rico died in 2004 before the charge against him was resolved.
Indeed, in May 1962 while staying at the Volney Hotel in New York City, Meyer Lansky was recorded on a wire describing how the G-men could be co-opted in the private sector as "racketeers" and the "new mafia":
"They're nothing but racketeers, every one of them. After five years they get out, get on a big corporation's payroll. Now what happens, you and I . . . let's say I work for IBM. You came. They say [redacted] is doing the same business. He has no FBI guys working for him. Pop, they chop his legs off. They find him with a sweetheart, they find him with this, they find him with that. This thing's gonna get an investigation. It's a new mafia."
The potential pitfalls for former agents joining the civilian life came to the forefront recently for U.S. Congressman Michael Grimm, a Republican from Staten Island, NY, who spent a decade as a special agent with the FBI until leaving the agency in 2006. Grimm then opened a restaurant on the Upper East Side called Healthalicious with partner Bennett Orfaly, and federal prosecutors now allege that Orfaly has personal ties to reputed Gambino capo Anthony "Fat Tony" Morelli who "is serving a 20-year prison sentence for racketeering and extortion in an elaborate tax fraud" as reported by Alison Leigh Cowan for The New York Times:
"'Mr. Orfaly maintains constant contact' with Mr. Morelli in prison, [Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony] Capozzolo told the court, noting that Mr. Orfaly 'has visited him and engaged in telephone conversations.'"
One unidentified source claims that Morelli is "like an uncle" to Orfaly as reported by Mitchel Maddux and Dan Mangan for the New York Post.
Orfaly is not accused of any wrongdoing, and Grimm previously sold his interest in the restaurant and insists he was unware of Orfaly's supposed ties to Morelli. In any event, many citizens probably are not thrilled with the idea that a special agent who worked undercover assignments targeting the mob after leaving the FBI became involved with a business partner who allegedly has a personal relationship with a reputed mobster. It's just not the prettiest picture.
Another former agent got employment at a law firm which subsequently was indicted. Steve Bursey spent 27 years at the FBI, and among his assignments was serving as the contact agent for undercover agent Joe Pistone who infiltrated the Bonanno crime family as Donnie Brasco. Immediately following his FBI retirement in 1997 Bursey joined the class action law firm Milberg Weiss to head its investigations department. In 2006 the law firm was indicted by federal prosecutors for an alleged decades-long scheme in which serial plaintiffs were illegally paid kickbacks out of the attorneys' fees for filing their shareholder lawsuits. Several heavy-weight partners were convicted for their roles and sent to prison, and the firm itself -- now known simply as Milberg LLP -- settled the criminal case by paying a $75 million fine and hiring a compliance monitor for two years according to a Department of Justice press release: "the settlement with Milberg reflects the seriousness of what was probably the longest-running scheme ever conducted by a law firm," said United States Attorney Thomas P. OBrien, and "the monetary payment will punish the firm for allowing this conduct to occur."
Bursey and the others remaining at the firm were not involved in any wrongdoing but the optics of a former agent at a law firm which otherwise was thick with corruption may not have inspired a lot of confidence among all the good citizens who once paid his public salary. The federal investigation into Milberg Weiss commenced in 1999 -- two years after Bursey gained employment there -- but unflattering press about "professional plaintiffs" had been written about the firm going back to 1992 as reported by Peter Elkind for Fortune magazine. Indeed, Milberg Weiss was seen by many as the principal target of Congress in its passage of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 to address some of the perceived abuses in the lawsuit industry. Given Bursey's FBI background one reasonably may ask whether he ever entertained any suspicions about the kickback scheme prior to the indictment against his employer and several of its partners.
FBI agents see a lot in their work but once they leave the protective cocoon of the Bureau for civilian life maybe that's when they fully appreciate just what a wild world it is.
There would be nothing wrong with forbidding agents from certain associations and/or activities after they leave federal service. They get ample retirement benefits from the public.
I think government employees should not be able to operate in conflict of interest to the public they are paid to serve and protect. For example, I don't think it is appropriate for public employees to be unionized because that activity is a conflict of interest pitting them against the public and in service to themselves. If they want to serve themselves, they can forgo working for the public and work in the private sector instead.
you mention a half dozen agents over a 55 year period. How many THOUSANDS of agents have retired during those 55 yrs. You've got to be kidding
you mention a half dozen agents over a 55 year period. How many THOUSANDS of agents have retired during those 55 yrs? You've got to be kidding
Another source of employment for these folks is in security with defense contractors. Performing background checks for people applying to sensitive positions, performing security briefings, maintaining physical security, processing and transporting classified documents.
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Vitamin K Supplements
Vitamin K was first identified as a vital blood coagulating factor and named for the German word 'Koagulationsvitamin'. Vitamin K is actually a group of fat soluble vitamins.
GO Healthy Go K2 75mcg Activk - Advanced Bone Care 30 vegecaps$22.50
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Solgar Vitamin K 1 100 tablets$15.10
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You save 17% ($7.90)
Vitamin K Info
Vitamin K was first identified as a vital blood coagulating factor and named for the German word 'Koagulationsvitamin'. Vitamin K is actually a group of fat soluble vitamins. In its natural state vitamin K is found as either K1 produced by plants, or a range of K2 forms produced by bacteria in the small intestine. These naturally produced forms are non-toxic, while K3 (menadione), one of several synthetic forms, can be toxic.
Antibiotic use can severely reduce vitamin K production in the gut. Low dietary vitamin K and reduced intestinal production due to aging processes can also decrease the body's vitamin K levels.
Vitamin K Benefits
Vitamin K helps the blood to clot. A deficiency leads to haemorrhaging and blood loss. It is current practice in New Zealand for all newborns to be given an intramuscular injection of vitamin K as a prophylactic prevention of VKDB (vitamin K deficiency bleeding).
Vitamin K also has a specific role in calcium absorption, and prevention of calcium plaquing in blood vessels. It is essential for proper matrix GLA activity, which is the mechanism that stops calcium attaching to soft tissue and blood vessel walls, and instead helps it reach the cells.
Vitamin K Side Effects
Super fast bone healing!
I badly broke my ankle (tibia and fibula) 6 weeks ago and I was taking 4 capsules a day to help heal my bones quickly. At my 6 week x-ray they could no longer even see where the breaks had been (and they had been completely snapped off). I would say that this is pretty good proof that this product really gets the calcium into your bones. I believe that this would apply to teeth as well as bones. Highly recommend.
go healthy calcium 1 a day
Great product. Decide to try as low calcium in diet.
Always had problems in pass with other tablets digesting the calcium.
Notice the difference nails stronger, and hopefully will help bones as been diagnosed with arthritis in knee.
Also nice just to take the one capsule a day as many other brands are 3-4.
Good value for money.
Health post always delivers quick, never had any issues, and loving the value for money. Way cheaper than the shops. Great product
Excellent product
After many years taking 4 large calcium tablets a day it has been a pleasure to take one capsule instead. Seems to be working well.
Vitamin K2 – The Vitamin 'Bricklayer' for Bone Health
Bone density is an issue that continues to be on everyone's lips when it comes to conditions such as Osteoporosis. According to the National Institute of Health and Welfare, an estimated 692,000 Australians (3.4% of […]
Food for thought: Nutrients that feed our Brain
Jellyfish don't have one; neither do starfish nor sponges. But moving slightly further along our evolutionary timeline of animal ancestors, nowadays we find brains in every living multicellular organism in the animal kingdom. And, seeing […]
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"County Home." Picture of Durham County Home known by many as the "poor house." Built in 1881 on site now occupied by Durham County General Hospital. The picture replaced the first facility. n.d.
We reserve the right to remove comments deemed inappropriate. We also reserve the right to delete comments that are off-topic or abusive, and do not allow messages that sell products or promote commercial ventures. Posted comments do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Duke University Libraries. Please contact David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library with research questions.


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Colts to go forward with import draft
The Barrie Colts will seek out a forward when the Canadian Hockey League import draft unfolds today.
The Colts hold the 52nd pick in the first round and the 76th selection in Round 2 of the draft, which is conducted via teleconference and the Internet.
"First and foremost, we'll be looking for a forward," the OHL club's assistant general manager Jason Ford said. "Hopefully, a top-six forward."
Barrie originally held the 16th overall selection, but dealt that pick to the Toronto St. Michael's Majors as part of previous dealings with the Majors.
Barrie's rights to the 52nd pick come from the Soo Greyhounds as part of a package that also brought defenceman Brett Halstead to Barrie early last year.
The Colts will make their best attempt at landing a gem in a draft that's considered night and day in comparison to the Priority Selection, the North American talent pipeline to the OHL.
"If you compare the two drafts, with the main draft, we have guys watching players all season," Ford said. "The challenge here is trying to rate guys, because you don't get a chance to see many of them (play).
"(But) it's something we work at, because it is important." The import draft is always a numbers game, and the 2008 edition is no different for the Colts, who are expected to have one opening for an import player this season.
Colts Slovakian captain Tomas Marcinko has signed with the New York Islanders and is expected to go pro this season. Czech Rep. blue-liner Jaroslav Kruzik will enter his second season after being selected 50th overall by Barrie in last year's import draft.
CHL teams are allowed two import players.
"Right now, it looks like (Tomas) is pegged to play professionally (this season)," Ford said, adding Barrie plans to keep its first-round pick, but would consider trading away its second-round selection, or not using the selection at all.
Ford said the current lack of a transfer agreement between the International Ice Hockey Federation and NHL could also affect this year's import draft, as some import players could not be allowed to commit to play in North America.
Another decision the Colts will have to make is whether to select an older, more experienced player that could provide an instant boost, or go with a younger player and try to ease him into the system.
"We're trying to weight those two," he said.
Contact the writer at


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Hey guys so i have a problem that is driving me NUTS.
So I am doing some simple css3 animations on :target.
Sliding in Windows that are hidden from the frame.
My issues is that animation works fine on the TOP and LEFT buttons.
But on the BOTTOM and RIGHT buttons, the animation does not work.
It simply "snaps" into place, rather than animating.
You can see the website here at http://www.aaron-armstrong.com
You can view all of the HTML and CSS there,
if you would like me to post the HTML & CSS here as well, i can do that.
Thanks in advanced for your help.


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William T. Wiley
|William T. Wiley
William T Wiley in San Francisco, 2006, photograph by Sally Larsen
October 21, 1937
Bedford, Indiana, US
|California School of Fine Arts
|Known for
|drawing, painting, sculpture, film, and performance
|Purchase Prize from the Whitney Museum of American Art 1968. Honorary Doctorate at San Francisco Art Institute, San Francisco, California 1980. 2004 Guggenheim Fellowship Award.
William T. Wiley (born October 21, 1937)[1] is an American artist. His practice spans a broad range of media including drawing, painting, sculpture, film, performance, and pinball. At least some of Wiley's work has been referred to as funk art.[2]
Life and work[edit]
He was born in Bedford, Indiana. Raised in Indiana, Texas, and Richland, Washington, Wiley moved to San Francisco to study at the California School of Fine Arts where he earned his BFA in 1960 and his MFA two years later.[3] In 1963, Wiley joined the faculty of the UC Davis art department with Bay Area Funk Movement artists Robert Arneson and Roy DeForest. During that time Wiley instructed students including Bruce Nauman and Deborah Butterfield.[4] According to Dan Graham, the literary, punning element of Nauman's work came from Wiley.[5] Wiley also acknowledges the effect Nauman had on his own work.[6]
His first solo exhibition was held at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art in 1960.
In the late 1960s Wiley collaborated with the minimalist composer Steve Reich and introduced him to Bruce Nauman.[7]
Wiley continued to build upon his growing stature as a major artist with works appearing in the Venice Biennial (1980) and Whitney Biennial (1983). He also had major exhibitions at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (1981), M. H. de Young Memorial Museum, San Francisco (1996), and the Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C. (2005).[8]
In 2009, the Smithsonian American Art Museum presented a retrospective of Wiley's career titled What's It All Mean: William T. Wiley in Retrospect, from October 2, 2009 through January 24, 2010. A review in the Wall Street Journal stated: "Mr. Wiley's work is unlike any other in recent art... He is less a contemporary artist than a national treasure." [9][10]
In 2010, the retrospective moved to the Berkeley Art Museum, from March 17 to July 18. The catalogue for the retrospective, "What's It All Mean: William T. Wiley in Retrospect", was co-published by the Smithsonian American Art Museum and University of California Press.[11] In 2017, Wiley was the subject of a solo exhibition at Bivins Gallery, William T. Wiley: Where the Rub Her Meats the Rode.
Wiley also has works in the collections of the Art Institute of Chicago, the Museum of Modern Art, New York, the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, the Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington D.C., the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Washington, D.C., the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, among many others. Wiley was the recipient of the Guggenheim Fellowship Award in 2004.[8] He is represented by Bivins Gallery in Dallas, TX, Hosfelt Gallery[12] in San Francisco and by Maxwell Davidson Gallery in New York City.
- Art Institute of Chicago
- Baltimore Museum of Art
- di Rosa[14]
- Dallas Museum of Art
- Denver Art Museum
- Los Angeles County Museum of Art
- Minneapolis Institute of Arts
- Museum of Fine Art, Boston
- Museum of Modern Art, New York
- New Britain Museum of American Art, Connecticut
- Nelson-Atkins Museum, Kansas City, Missouri
- Philadelphia Museum of Art
- San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
- Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, D.C.
- Van Abbemuseum, Eindhoven, Netherlands
- Walker Art Center, Minneapolis
- Whitney Museum of American Art
- ^ http://www.williamtwiley.com/Wiley%20Words/Wiley06bio.pdf
- ^ Artspeak, by Robert Atkins, 1990, ISBN 1-55859-127-3
- ^ William Wiley - San Francisco Art Institute
- ^ myartspace>blog: Art Space Talk: William T. Wiley
- ^ Dan Graham, Alexander Alberro, Two-Way Mirror Power: Selected Writings by Dan Graham on His Art, MIT Press, 1999, p112. ISBN 0-262-57130-7
- ^ Wiley quoted by Paul J. Karlstrom in Stephanie Barron, Sheri Bernstein, Ilene Susan Fort, Reading California: Art, Image, and Identity, 1900-2000, University of California Press, 2000, p100. ISBN 0-520-22767-0
- ^ Robert C. Morgan, Bruce Nauman, JHU Press, 2002, p61. ISBN 0-8018-6906-4
- ^ a b http://www.williamtwiley.com
- ^ http://americanart.si.edu/exhibitions/archive/2009/wiley/
- ^ https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748703683804574532482514890604
- ^ https://www.amazon.com/dp/0520261216
- ^ http://hosfeltgallery.com
- ^ List of Collections from http://www.magical-secrets.com/artists/wiley
- ^ "The Collection". dirosaart.org. Retrieved 2016-11-03.
Further reading[edit]
- Joann Moser with John Yau and John G. Hanhardt; WHAT'S IT ALL MEAN, WILLIAM T. WILEY, IN RETROSPECT; Smithsonian American Art Museum, University of California Press, Berkeley 2009; ISBN 978-0-520-26120-4
External links[edit]
- Official website
- On KQED's Spark program
- YOU SEE Panel discussion with Manuel Neri and Wayne Thiebaud
- Punball: Only One Earth, O.O.E.
- Video interview and artist's films at www.artbabble.org
- In Case You Missed the Revolution, Man New York Times review of Wiley's 2009-2010 Smithsonian American Art Museum show.
- He's Wily, And Witty Wall Street Journal of Wiley's 2009-2010 Smithsonian American Art Museum show.


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JACKSONVILLE -- Jaguars receiver Jerry Porter made nearly $1 million a catch this season before going on injured reserve Tuesday.
Jacksonville placed Porter, linebacker Daryl Smith and defensive tackle Tony McDaniel on injured reserve, ending their seasons.
Porter finished with 11 receptions for 181 yards and a touchdown, far below expectations when the franchise signed him to a six-year, $30 million contract in March that included $10 million guaranteed. Porter missed all of training camp, the preseason and the first three games because of a hamstring injury.
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Raekwon McMillan is one of the nation's top prospects from the 2014 class and while he's got a long way to go before he has to make his decision he's already putting a lot of thought into the process.
Since the contact period opened up a little bit towards the beginning of this month the 6-foot-3, 235-pound linebacker has been in regular contact with many of the schools that have already offered.
And you can bet things aren't going to slow down anytime soon for the junior from Hinesville (Ga.) Liberty County.
Article Continues Below
"I've been building relationships with Michigan State, USC and most of the schools that had been on me harder before (the dead period)," McMillan said. "Schools like Georgia and Ohio State."
McMillan isn't going to box himself in and narrow things down permanently just yet, but he did admit that a few schools are standing out.
"My top five is Ohio State, Georgia, Clemson, Alabama and USC," McMillan said. "That's just kind of a rough list. It could change."
McMillan added that he's probably going to attend a college game this weekend but hasn't decided where he wants to go yet.
He has offers from all of the schools in his current top five as well as just about every other major program in the nation.


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FPGA Based Turnkey Design for Data Storage Products
Post a comment
Actel Corporation announced it has joined with Inicore, an intellectual property (IP) and design services partner, to deliver a turnkey design solution to the Targa Systems Division of L3 Communications for a new line of data storage products for military and rugged applications. The silicon, software, IP and design services provided by Actel and Inicore, a member of Actel's Solution Partner Program, enabled L-3 Targa Systems to achieve first-time product success, while also providing the added benefits of rapid time-to-market and reduced overall design costs.
L-3 Targa Systems designed two new data storage products -- one utilizing Actel's high-performance, single-chip, nonvolatile A54SX08A field-programmable gate array (FPGA) and the other using an A54SX72A FPGA device. In addition, Inicore provided VME and ATA IP cores for the designs, while Actel delivered a CorePCI core that served as a bridge interface for the new products. By providing pre-verified IP, Actel and Inicore helped reduce design time and provided L-3 Targa Systems with the ability to integrate multiple design elements into a one-chip solution, reducing component count and cost.
"We were extremely impressed with the complete package that was delivered by Actel and Inicore and believe these types of turnkey design solutions are the wave of the future," said Dave Saunders, general manager at L-3 Targa Systems. "By leaving the semiconductor IP building blocks and silicon design work to Actel and Inicore, we were able to concentrate on adding value to the products in other areas, which substantially benefited the overall system designs."
Yankin Tanurhan, senior director of applications and IP solutions at Actel, said, "These two design wins with L-3 Targa Systems are a great example of the value-add that Actel and its Solutions Partners, such as Inicore, can deliver. IP building blocks coupled with Inicore's system-level integration expertise played an integral role in enabling first-pass design success. In addition, the high reliability and extended temperature range provided by our tamper-proof SX-A devices met the stringent requirements for L-3 Targa Systems' extremely rugged products."
"One of the key goals for L-3 Targa Systems was to minimize software code changes from previous designs," added Hans J. Kuffer, vice president of business development at Inicore. "This was easier to accomplish using FPGA devices and RTL IP cores, versus alternative silicon solutions, such as an ASIC or ASSP. Leveraging the pre-built IP offered by Actel and Inicore, in tandem with our design service knowledge, we were able to provide L-3 Targa Systems with a time-to-market and cost-reduction advantage that is vital for today's highly competitive market."
Qualified to operate over the full military temperature range from -55 degrees C to +125 degrees C, Actel's SX-A FPGAs deliver high-performance at extended temperatures. L-3 Targa Systems wanted the extended temperature ranges of the SX-A devices because of their ability to outperform standard bridge devices in extreme environmental conditions.
The SX-A devices, based on Actel's nonvolatile antifuse technology, provide an inherently secure, low-cost, single-chip solution. Featuring up to 72,000 typical gates, or 36,000 ASIC gates, the SX-A devices deliver system performance of up to 250 MHz.


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(3BL Media/Justmeans) Many children can spend years or even at times, their entire childhoods with foster caregivers, enjoying every benefit of the stability and support they should normally expect from birth families. All children need and deserve a strong, supportive family. Fostering provides a safe haven and allows the professionals to work, for as long as it takes, on the best outcome for the child. It is not a second-rate solution, and continues to provide a positive, long-term substitute family experience for thousands of children. Yet, for the nearly half-million children in foster care in the U.S. on any given day, the connection to a safe, loving, and nurturing family is too often lost.
The average age of these children in waiting to be fostered and loved is seven. Yet, sadly, there are few families who come forward to foster as some are traumatised by costly failed attempts to adopt abroad, and therefore may not be ready to risk fostering a U.S. child, only to lose guardianship later to birth parents whose parental rights are restored. However, things could be changing. It is possible that domestic foster care adoption will increase in America as countries like Russia and South Korea, both major suppliers of children to the U.S., seek to limit or completely ban inter-country adoption. Already, international adoptions have slowed, falling from a high of 22,991 in 2004 to 9,319 in 2012.
When vital foster systems are not available to children who need homes, then the children suffer, and the likelihood that they will come out of the system to adulthood marked by poor outcomes increases. This is why Keystone Human Services, a leader in supporting vulnerable populations since 1972, is currently seeking families and individuals who are willing to temporarily host a young boy or girl who cannot currently live at home.
Families who are willing to open their homes and hearts have the opportunity to change a child's life. They receive training and round the clock support from Keystone's experts, as well as compensation for their efforts. Participating families need to be able to provide a private bedroom, meals and practical support for the child's participation in school, doctor's appointments, community activities and all the other things you need growing up.
Host family arrangements are typically designed for a specified period of time, yet the dividends often last a lifetime. Countless children in crisis are patiently waiting for a warm refuge and kindness to change their life. It's easy to imagine what a real home might mean to a young person who has challenges or who must be removed from his or her family through no fault of their own. As a society we need to value and support foster carers and families. Society has a responsibility towards these children.
Photo Credit:Â Mike Baird
*This post originally appeared on Justmeans