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Professional interventions for general practitioners (GPs) on the management of musculoskeletal conditions
Thirty studies met our inclusion criteria.
Eleven studies evaluated interventions aiming to improve the management of osteoporosis by GPs. Five of these studies were sufficiently similar that we were able to combine their results. Our findings suggest that alerting the GP that a patient is at risk of osteoporosis and educating the patient, reminding them to visit their GP, leads to improved GP behaviour (diagnostic testing and medication prescribing). We determined that the quality or certainty of the evidence from these studies is high, so we are confident in these results. GP alerting on its own is also probably effective according to two studies and adding the patient-directed component probably does not lead to a greater effect.
Of the ten studies on low back pain, seven showed that GP education and distribution of guidelines may lead to little or no improvement with regards to GPs' clinical behaviour. Two studies showed that providing GPs with guidelines and information on the total number of tests they request may have an effect on GP behaviour (resulting in a slight reduction in the number of tests). One study showed that using a combination of guidelines and GP reminders attached to test reports may result in a small but sustained reduction in the number of tests.
Of the four studies on osteoarthritis, one found that GP behaviour may improve when prominent GPs are recruited to educate their colleagues. A second study showed slight improvements in patient outcomes (pain control) after training GPs on pain management.
Of the three studies on shoulder pain, one study showed that there may be little or no improvement in patient outcomes (functional capacity) after GP education on shoulder pain and injection training.
Of the two studies on other musculoskeletal conditions, one study on pain management showed worse patient outcomes (pain control) after GP training on the use of tools to measure pain.
The 12 remaining studies across all musculoskeletal conditions showed little or no improvement in GP behaviour and patient outcomes. The majority of the studies did not investigate the potential adverse effects of the interventions and only three studies included a cost-effectiveness analysis.
The direction of the targeted behaviour (i.e. increasing or decreasing a behaviour) does not seem to affect the effectiveness of an intervention.
The certainty of the evidence was high from studies that examined the effectiveness of interventions to improve the management of osteoporosis by GPs, so we are confident in these findings. There were important limitations in how most of the remaining studies were conducted or reported, and we are less certain of the likely effects of these interventions to improve the management of musculoskeletal conditions.
There is good-quality evidence that a GP alerting system with or without patient-directed education on osteoporosis improves guideline-consistent GP behaviour, resulting in better diagnosis and treatment rates.
Interventions such as GP reminder messages and GP feedback on performance combined with guideline dissemination may lead to small improvements in guideline-consistent GP behaviour with regard to low back pain, while GP education on osteoarthritis pain and the use of educationally influential physicians may lead to slight improvement in patient outcomes and guideline-consistent behaviour respectively. However, further studies are needed to ascertain the effectiveness of such interventions in improving GP behaviour and patient outcomes.
Musculoskeletal conditions require particular management skills. Identification of interventions which are effective in equipping general practitioners (GPs) with such necessary skills could translate to improved health outcomes for patients and reduced healthcare and societal costs.
To determine the effectiveness of professional interventions for GPs that aim to improve the management of musculoskeletal conditions in primary care.
We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), 2010, Issue 2; MEDLINE, Ovid (1950 - October 2013); EMBASE, Ovid (1980 - Ocotber 2013); CINAHL, EbscoHost (1980 - November 2013), and the EPOC Specialised Register. We conducted cited reference searches using ISI Web of Knowledge and Google Scholar; and handsearched selected issues of Arthritis and Rheumatism and Primary Care-Clinics in Office Practice. The latest search was conducted in November 2013.
We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs), non-randomised controlled trials (NRCTs), controlled before-and-after studies (CBAs) and interrupted time series (ITS) studies of professional interventions for GPs, taking place in a community setting, aiming to improve the management (including diagnosis and treatment) of musculoskeletal conditions and reporting any objective measure of GP behaviour, patient or economic outcomes. We considered professional interventions of any length, duration, intensity and complexity compared with active or inactive controls.
Two review authors independently abstracted all data. We calculated the risk difference (RD) and risk ratio (RR) of compliance with desired practice for dichotomous outcomes, and the mean difference (MD) and standardised mean difference (SMD) for continuous outcomes. We investigated whether the direction of the targeted behavioural change affects the effectiveness of interventions.
From 11 studies on osteoporosis, meta-analysis of five studies (high-certainty evidence) showed that a combination of a GP alerting system on a patient's increased risk of osteoporosis and a patient-directed intervention (including patient education and a reminder to see their GP) improves GP behaviour with regard to diagnostic bone mineral density (BMD) testing and osteoporosis medication prescribing (RR 4.44; (95% confidence interval (CI) 3.54 to 5.55; 3 studies; 3,386 participants)) for BMD and RR 1.71 (95% CI 1.50 to 1.94; 5 studies; 4,223 participants) for osteoporosis medication. Meta-analysis of two studies showed that GP alerting on its own also probably improves osteoporosis guideline-consistent GP behaviour (RR 4.75 (95% CI 3.62 to 6.24; 3,047 participants)) for BMD and RR 1.52 (95% CI 1.26 to 1.84; 3.047 participants) for osteoporosis medication) and that adding the patient-directed component probably does not lead to a greater effect (RR 0.94 (95% CI 0.81 to 1.09; 2,995 participants)) for BMD and RR 0.93 (95% CI 0.79 to 1.10; 2,995 participants) for osteoporosis medication.
Of the 10 studies on low back pain, seven showed that guideline dissemination and educational opportunities for GPs may lead to little or no improvement with regard to guideline-consistent GP behaviour. Two studies showed that the combination of guidelines and GP feedback on the total number of investigations requested may have an effect on GP behaviour and result in a slight reduction in the number of tests, while one of these studies showed that the combination of guidelines and GP reminders attached to radiology reports may result in a small but sustained reduction in the number of investigation requests.
Of the four studies on osteoarthritis, one study showed that using educationally influential physicians may result in improvement in guideline-consistent GP behaviour. Another study showed slight improvements in patient outcomes (pain control) after training GPs on pain management.
Of three studies on shoulder pain, one study reported that there may be little or no improvement in patient outcomes (functional capacity) after GP education on shoulder pain and injection training.
Of two studies on other musculoskeletal conditions, one study on pain management showed that there may be worse patient outcomes (pain control) after GP training on the use of validated assessment scales.
The 12 remaining studies across all musculoskeletal conditions showed little or no improvement in GP behaviour and patient outcomes.
The direction of the targeted behaviour (i.e. increasing or decreasing a behaviour) does not seem to affect the effectiveness of an intervention. The majority of the studies did not investigate the potential adverse effects of the interventions and only three studies included a cost-effectiveness analysis.
Overall, there were important methodological limitations in the body of evidence, with just a third of the studies reporting adequate allocation concealment and blinded outcome assessments. While our confidence in the pooled effect estimate of interventions for improving diagnostic testing and medication prescribing in osteoporosis is high, our confidence in the reported effect estimates in the remaining studies is low.
Effective practice & health systems > Implementation strategies
Rheumatology > Back disorders > Non-specific low back pain
Rheumatology > Osteoarthritis > Non-pharmacological treatment
Rheumatology > Osteoporosis > Non-pharmacological therapies
Rheumatology > Soft tissue disorders > Shoulder pain
Insurance medicine > Costs > Effective practice & health systems
Insurance medicine > Costs > Musculoskeletal conditions
Insurance medicine > Return to Work > Effective practice & health systems
Insurance medicine > Return to Work > Musculoskeletal conditions
Insurance medicine > Sick Leave > Effective practice & health systems
Tzortziou Brown V, Underwood M, Mohamed N, Westwood O, Morrissey D
Effective Practice and Organisation of Care Group
Tzortziou Brown V, Underwood M, Mohamed N, Westwood O, Morrissey D. Professional interventions for general practitioners on the management of musculoskeletal conditions. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2016, Issue 5. Art. No.: CD007495. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD007495.pub2


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Staying Healthy: Recipes feature time-honored ingredients for nutrition
Danville author analyzes herbs and teas in latest cookbook
by Dolores Fox Ciardelli
"Enlightened Home-Chef: Green Pharmacy" is the sixth book by Parisa Z. Ambwani, a dedicated believer in cooking to nourish the body and soul. (Contributed photo)
As the creator of more than 900 recipes, Tri-Valley resident Parisa Z. Ambwani obviously loves to cook.
But her kitchen skills go beyond satisfying meals and tasty treats. She undertakes to provide nutrition via fresh ingredients and seasonings, served with a dose of philosophy. She has followed this recipe to write and photograph six books that weave her beliefs into caring words on how to live life to the fullest.
The latest, "Enlightened Home-Chef: Green Pharmacy," focuses on defining and using 150 herbal plants, citing their benefits and therapeutic properties, as well as more than 60 ancient aromatic teas. The book "makes it easy to understand how to use nature's gentle green pharmacy to enjoy a healthier, happier and fuller life," Ambwani states in the introduction.
"Dr. Elson Haas, a nutritionist, a very famous doctor, who lives in Marin, edited the glossary and the tea (section) for me," Ambwani said. "I had to be sure that this book is completely correct."
Haas, author of "The Detox Diet" and "Staying Healthy with Nutrition," describes her food as "delightful, sumptuous, elegant and healthy."
Ambwani also noted that the material she presents is not intended to take the place of a doctor's care.
"This is information I studied on my own," she said.
Her father was good in philosophy, she observed, and her mother was a wonderful cook, as they raised their six sons and one daughter in Iran. Ambwani -- a Danville resident for many years -- learned from them both and now her mission is to share these lessons.
"Nourishment for the body and sustenance for the soul is the vast philosophy behind my writing," she said.
In preparing information for this book, Ambwani traveled to Jodhpur, India, where she did research at Rajasthan Ayurveda University on medicinal herbs and spices, and attaining good health using the ancient Hindu art of medicine and wisdom.
"Someone recommended this, and they really helped me," Ambwani said.
She also composed a poem for the book, "Being in Nature," after contemplating for a long time, which is printed on page 315.
"I thought, 'How can I bring people together in peace, so they are not fighting,'" she said.
Ambwani won two International Cordon d'Or-Gold Ribbon Culinary Academy awards in 2005. The next year, she participated in a Culinary Tour of Ireland with Noreen Kinney, honorary culinary ambassador of Ireland to the USA.
"I am delighted to see Parisa has now written a book about the world of herbs and spices," Kinney wrote in the book's forward. "It is of considerable interest to me as I grew up in India, a country famous for their use of herbs and spices to impart delicious, nutritious healthy flavors to food."
Ambwani describes her 324-page book: "A unique health handbook of 'natural cuisine' with 200 recipes to balance and emphasize the elements of taste, simplicity and sound nutrition." She said she would study the benefits of an ingredient and then go about developing a recipe that included it.
"The book is not only about recipes, it is an encyclopedia," she said.
Recipes range from appetizers and snacks to smoothies to fish dishes, fruit dishes, main dishes, pickles and relishes, pastas, pizza, soups, sauces, vegetarian dishes and more. Other information includes food safety and herbal wisdom along with medicinal plants to provide well being, such as digestive support and antioxidants.
Learn more about "Enlightened Home-Chef: Green Pharmacy" and her other books at enlightenedrecipes.com.
Delightful summery salad with peaches
2 large ripe peaches, divided
2 cups plain cooked chicken breast, divided
1 small red onion, sliced, diced
1 tablespoon lemon juice freshly squeezed
1/2 teaspoon sea salt or to taste
8 cups baby lettuce, cut into bite size pieces plus lettuce for decoration
1/4 cup walnuts, lightly toasted, coarsely chopped
1 tablespoon basil leaves, chopped
Slice one peach and cut into small pieces. Combine with cooked chicken and onion in a medium-size bowl and set aside. In a small bowl mix olive oil, vinegar, lemon juice, honey, salt and pepper; whisk until blended. Add to chicken mixture and stir to coat. Cover bowl and refrigerate for a few hours.
Prior to serving, toss bite-size pieces of lettuce, walnut and chicken mixture together. Mound salad in serving bowl. Cut remaining peach into thin wedges. Garnish salad perimeter with green lettuce and peach wedges and sprinkle center with basil leaves and serve.
Note: You may use 2 teaspoons brown sugar and 1 pinch cayenne instead of honey and black pepper.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Wimbledon Historical Pageant
Wimbledon Park
Sport & General Press Agency
Wim_Events_8-9
This representation of Elizabeth I and a dancing girl was just one of several tableaux depicting scenes from local history, part of the Historical Pageant staged at Wimbledon Park House in 1925.
Prominent members of the community volunteered to portray the various characters. Elizabeth I was played by Mrs. Montgomery-Williams, while Lord Burghley was played by Mr. R.C Bowright.
Proceeds from the Pageant were used to build a hall for Wimbledon Park.


Contrary to how things look out your window, spring is actually here and both the April Membership Meeting and Spring Luncheon are just around the corner.
Please join us Thursday, April 25th at Calvary Lutheran Church to hear Joshua Dambert, Associate Attorney, share his insights on Elder Law and May 9th at Plymouth Creek Center for the Spring Luncheon. We would love to see you there and you can register for the luncheon at the link below.
We also still need your vote on several proposed changes to the MASWA bylaws. We ask that all members please click here and take a few minutes to vote on these changes. We appreciate your participation.
Robbinsdale for their support in sponsoring the March meeting.
This presentation addresses the questions: What is an Elder Law attorney? How are they different from an estate attorney? What is the scope of their practice? How are referrals made? Who should be referred to this service? Do you have to be a specific age to use an Elder Law attorney? How do Elder Law attorneys determine fees?
Compare and contrast Elder Law from other legal practice areas.
Identify clientele who can benefit from an Elder Law Attorney's expertise.
Review the process, role players, and costs associated with engaging an Elder Law Attorney.
Joshua T. Damberg is an associate attorney in Maser, Amundson & Boggio, P.A.'s Elder Law Department. He practices in the areas of estate planning, medical assistance, special needs trusts, guardianship and conservatorship cases as well as probate matters. He prides himself on being able to connect with people, listen to their concerns, and help protect what matters most; their loved ones. While walking through situations that can be very difficult, Josh likes to make sure everyone has a clear understanding and a shared vision of what comes next.
Our MASWA Board is working hard to put together a schedule that is worthy of your time and attendance. YES, let's talk about Spring and Summer! Thank you to Charlotte Hoes and Elizabeth Rose for all of their work in creating a great Spring Luncheon event for us that is being held in Plymouth on May 9th. Please sign up today as they will need to get our final numbers to the caterer soon. We also host the Public Policy meeting in June and we have decided to do another Summer Social in July.
We love to get your feedback! Please help us help you get as much as you can from your membership. Talk to the people on the board or jot us a note.
I am looking forward to seeing all of you at one (or all) of our upcoming events! Take care for now.


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Photographing Southern Resident Killer Whales
See wildlife photography in action when you travel with professional photographers Doug Gardner and Aaron Baggenstos to the Pacific Ocean to take pictures of Southern Resident killer whales. You'll learn how to capture clear images in spite of never knowing where or when these elusive creatures will surface.
Doug and Aaron will show you how to overcome the challenges of shooting on a moving boat and capturing unpredictable whales that emerge out of the water when they're ready, even if you aren't. You may never know where to point your camera, so it's important to be watchful and ready to shoot at all times. You'll learn all this and more while getting to know this incredible endangered species.
See all of the videos in our Photographing Whales and Seals Along Washington's Coast Course:
Photographing Whales and Seals Along Washington's Coast – Course Preview
Locating Harbor Seals: Wildlife Photography
Wildlife Photography: Capturing Southern Resident Killer Whales
Processing the Tower Window
How do you go about processing the tower window, given the difficult lighting? In this video, post-production instructor, Tony Sweet, explains, "This is the classic, high dynamic range situation." The tower window glows with bright, diffused light, while the cell block falls to deep shadows. You will learn Photomatix software and how Tony goes about…
Capturing the Barber Shop in HDR Photography
When professional photographer and instructor, Tony Sweet, discovered a musty, old barber shop in the prison, he knew he had an ideal HDR photograph. He calls it, "one of the greatest shots in all of the prison, challenging but worth the effort." Tony shows you how to balance the bright, red barber chair with the…
HDR Editing of the Yard Photographs
After capturing the prison yard in extreme lighting conditions, how would you go about processing the yard? Post-production instructor, Tony Sweet, walks you through the steps to achieve the final HDR photograph. Using Photomatix software, he discovers haloing around the clouds and pulls back the strength. In the default setting, Tony makes general adjustments: white…
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package plugin;

import android.util.Log;
import java.io.File;
import com.shortsands.aws.DownloadZipFileListener;
import org.apache.cordova.CallbackContext;
/**
 * Created by garygriswold on 5/22/17.
 */

public class DownloadPluginZipFileListener extends DownloadZipFileListener {

    private static String TAG = "DownloadPluginZipFileListener";
    protected CallbackContext callbackContext;

    private File unzipped = null;

    public DownloadPluginZipFileListener(CallbackContext callbackContext) {
        super();
	    this.callbackContext = callbackContext;
    }

    //public void setZipFile(File zipFile) {
    //    this.unzipped = this.file; // This will be the final result file.
    //    this.file = zipFile; // this will be the downloaded file.
    //}
    @Override
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        super.onComplete(id);
        this.callbackContext.success();
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        this.callbackContext.error(error.toString() + " on " + this.file.getAbsolutePath());
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Our Fox Terrier is very cute, yet dynamic, sturdy, and tough. He's not a delicate lapdog but very good on the table or desk. People say Fox Terriers seldom walk when they can run, but these are different – with his marked stubborn streak he just stays still!


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Jul 20 Prototype 'smart bandage' can detect infections and auto-apply antibiotics
Originally published on Digital Trends
Here at Digital Trends we have covered a surprising number of fascinating high-tech wound dressings, such as one made of spider silk and a futuristic Star Trek-style patch, which uses cold plasma as part of the healing process. Adding to this growing subgenre of stories is a new smart bandage developed by researchers at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Not only is it capable of checking whether a wound is infected, but it can also proactively treat it with medication if it deems this to be the case.
"We have developed an automated and smart bandage that can measure the level of pH, and use that for identifying potential infection in chronic wounds and deliver antibiotics if infection is detected," Ali Tamayol, an assistant professor in the department of mechanical & materials engineering, told Digital Trends. "This platform reduces the number of hospital visits by patients, and facilitates quick treatment of infection in wounds to reduce the life threatening complications associated with that."
The smart wound dressing contains both pH and temperature sensors. Between them, these two sensors can tell when a wound turns more alkaline, thereby signalling the presence of bacteria, as well as the presence of inflamation. The sensors are located in a hydrogel sheet, which carries capsules containing medicine, including antibiotics. If an infection is detected, the bandage can automatically release the drugs. In tests, it was able to wipe out more than 90 percent of bacteria, and bring pH levels back within normal range.
"The treatment of chronic diabetic wounds is an immediate application," Tamayol explained. "However, this approach can be extended to other chronic diseases in which drugs should be delivered to control the level of biomarkers. For example, a similar platform can be used for controlling the level of glucose in patients suffering from diabetes."
The next stage in the development process will involve improving the drug delivery platform, along with testing the bandage on small animal models. Should this be a success, hopefully it won't be long before clinical trials on humans might be carried out, prior to this becoming a standardized tool available to physicians. "There are many people suffering from chronic wounds, and my hope is to find a solution to help them out," Tamayol said.
A paper describing the work was recently published in the journal Small.
Jul 23 Flu cases 'unseasonably low'
Jul 19 Deadly 'superbug' strain found in tourists to India
Jul 30 How chronic infections can outsmart the immune system
Aug 28 Prenatal infections that can affect mother's and baby's mental health
Nov 14 Our relationship with antibiotics: cure and concern


Miss World Manabi 2018 Nina Solórzano was showered with love and appreciation as she was announced Miss Intercontinental Ecuador 2018 at the finale night of Miss World Ecuador 2018, held on 23rd June 2018. As a part of the top 3 and then being sashed as the second princess, Nina Solórzano really made a mark at the competition.
After the coronation night, Nina Solórzano and Carla Prado were presented with their crowns and official sashes in the after finale ceremony. Carla Prado was crowned Miss Supranational Ecuador 2018. Nina was crowned by the outgoing Miss Intercontinental Ecuador 2017 Joselyn Valeria Ruiz Sánchez. She will now represent Ecuador at Miss Intercontinental 2018.
She went on to thank her whole team who handled her outfits to her hair and makeup at the finale. Nina also thanked her beautiful family, her unconditional friends and the strangers who joined her to praise the name of Manabí. There is no doubt Nina will represent her country with hard work and determination at the international pageant as well.
Nina was also the winner of Beach Beauty at Miss World Ecuador 2018 preliminaries. She also placed second at the Talent round. So what do you think of this beauty queen? Let us know your opinion in the comments section below.


Posted in: Brian's Presentations.	Tagged: dust devils, exoplanets.
A friend and colleague, Prof. Hannah Jang-Condell, invited me to visit her home department, the Physics and Astronomy Dept. at University of Wyoming. Having never been to Laramie, I was happy to accept.
I gave two presentations while at Wyoming, one to the geology dept. about our work on martian dust devils and another our SuPerPiG's work looking for ultra-short-period planets. I've included my presentations below.
I watched a lot of TV when I was growing up, and some shows made a strong impression on me. "Twin Peaks" stands out among them – I can still hum the theme song, and I can see the eerie photo of Laura Palmer that lingered behind the ending credits. The show had a unique blend of off-kilter comedy and claustrophobic unease that still colors my taste in TV.
I was excited to read that, true to Laura's promise in the Black Lodge, David Lynch and Mark Frost are continuing the series later this year. While I wait for the new series, I read Frost's recently published book The Secret History of Twin Peaks. It was just as spooky as the original series.
History fleshes out some of the underlying mythos of "Twin Peaks", answering a few questions from the show (Who was BOB? Why did owls feature so often in the show?) but raising a lot of others. Presumably, the book is meant as an entrée into the coming series, to stir up interest in new story lines, which the book seems to hint at.
History takes the form of a dossier, written and hand-bound by a mysterious author, about the history of the Twin Peaks area, going back to shortly after the American revolution and seemingly running up to the end of the show.
It opens with a letter from a familiar FBI agent, instructing another agent to evaluate the dossier's contents and determine its author. Throughout the dossier, the investigating agent inserts marginalia, confirming or questioning remarks and assertions by the author, all of which gives the writing a crisp, matter-of-fact tone that contrasts with the mystical and murky events in the story.
This is actually the first non-science book I've read in a while, and the story was so engaging, I gulped it down in a weekend. So, highly recommended reading for fans of the show or lovers of supernatural thrillers. Along with your reading, be sure to give yourself the present of a cup of hot, black coffee.
Posted in: BSU Journal Club.	Tagged: astrobiology, exoplanets, habitability.
Glint from a sea on Saturn's moon Titan. From http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/spaceimages/details.php?id=PIA18433.
Our spring semester journal club opened with a nice review paper on finding habitable planets from Tyler Robinson, NASA Sagan Fellow at UC Santa Cruz.
The traditional definition of a habitable planet is "a world that can maintain stable liquid water on its surface", but, as astrobiologists have explored for decades, this definition involves a vast flotilla of assumptions and very narrowly focuses our search for Earth-like life.
Even with all its limitations, this definition provides a very useful and practical starting point – at the first order, whether a world can host stable liquid water on its surface depends on the amount of sunlight it receives and whether it has a sufficiently thick (but not too thick) atmosphere.
Having found countless worlds outside our solar solar, astronomers are able to assess whether those worlds satisfy these conditions using observations we can already make, and a few dozen (probably) do.
In his review paper, Robinson discusses the observational and theoretical techniques astronomers can employ in the near future to take the next steps in deciding whether a world really has liquid water. Among the different approaches he describes, one is the most striking is the search for the glint from an alien ocean.
Robinson points out that Galileo was the first person to propose how to look for an ocean on another world. In his controversial Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief Worlds Systems, he says that, if the Moon had seas, "the surface of the seas would appear darker, and that of the land brighter", just as on Earth.
Seas can also appear very bright compared to land, given the right observing geometry: seas exhibit specular reflection – this is the same effect you see looking out a plane's window when the Sun reflects off the ocean. So looking for the glint provides a way to find large bodies of water on a distant world. Indeed, the first extraterrestrial oceans were found on Saturn's moon Titan using this method, and one of the sea glints now frequently observed by the Cassini mission is shown in the figure at left.
Of course, we don't have spacecraft orbiting any extrasolar worlds (yet), so we can't resolve individual points on their surfaces. But, as discussed by Robinson, as they orbit their host stars, some of those worlds line up the right way that we could see a spike in the total amount of light coming from the planets. Observing such a spike over and over again whenever the planet was in the right geometry would be a strong hint that it had a large body of liquid reflecting sunlight. Given a little more information about planetary conditions, we could confidently infer such a planet had liquid water on its surface.
Amazingly, astronomers have used Earthshine reflected from the Moon to indirectly observe sea glints from the Earth. And so we've actually detected oceans on two worlds using distant spacecraft (if you let me call the Moon a "spacecraft"). As Robinson's review implies, astronomers are probably on the cusp of finding oceans on extrasolar worlds. From there, it's just a hop, skip, and a jump to finding life.
Posted in: Books.	Tagged: astrobiology, geology.
I just finished Don Canfield's book Oxygen, a sweeping exploration of the history of Earth's most volatile atmospheric constituent.
Canfield starts by exploring how cyanobacteria generate oxygen during photosynthesis and how the process evolved. For instance, chloroplasts, the photosynthetic power plants of cyanobacteria, were once free-floating cyanobacteria themselves that took up residence in and eventually merged with eukaryotes that evolved into present-day cyanobacteria.
Subsequently, Canfield discusses Earth's oxygen removal and renewal processes – decomposition of organics burns up oxygen, while their rapid burial preserves it.
The next several chapters present the geochemical evidence for changes in oxygen throughout Earth's history, including variations in the ratios of different isotopes, sensitive to biological and abiological processes. Since I teach a class on astrobiology at Boise State, I focused a lot of attention on these parts, trying the piece together the interplay between biology and geology betokened by the isotopic variations.
One element of that story especially relevant to my class: variations in the carbon-13 isotope. As it turns out, one enzyme in cyanobacteria, RuBisCO, helps convert atmospheric C02 into organic carbon compounds, but it preferentially selects the lighter carbon-12 isotope 2.5% more often than the carbon-13 isotope. The organic compounds built using RuBisCO are therefore slightly depleted in carbon-13 relative to the atmosphere and when they are later incorporated into geological strata, the slight depletion gives a measure of how much life was around when the stratum was laid down.
Zooplankton salp pellets. From http://www.whoi.edu/oceanus/feature/will-ocean-iron-fertilization-work.
Since the old sinking biomass took a long time to sink to the ocean floor, it had a long time for bacteria to decompose it, using up a lot of oxygen in the process. But the new, faster-sinking poop made it to the ocean floor before it decomposed much and so left the oxygen dissolved in the ocean instead.
I did have to spend a lot of time reading and re-reading the discussions of geochemical cycles and signals because it's been a long time since high school chemistry for me, but I was willing to struggle through these parts because I found the underlying story so interesting.
So a really fascinating and challenging read about the complex (and poop-filled) evolution of Earth's bio-geo-atmosphere.


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Statements and messages of the President of RA
RA President Serzh Sargsyan's address at the concert devoted to May victories
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Dear veterans,
Honorable guests,
I once again congratulate you on the occasion of May 9 – Victory and Peace Day. This year marks the 70th anniversary of the triumphant end to the Great Patriotic War. It cannot be denied that such a jubilee makes our much loved holiday appear more brightly.
The Second World War was one of the most terrific events ever happened in human history which took around 50 million lives, more than 20 million of which was brought to the altar of victory by Soviet peoples. Perhaps, these numbers are easy to say, but hard, almost impossible to imagine and comprehend. However, it occurred and it is a fact which we are obliged to remember forever.
For me the Great Victory day is first of all a day to honor war veterans. We should demonstrate more care towards the memories of all those who were killed in battle, who returned home as victors and continued to work in peace, but who are unfortunately no longer with us today. We should pay special attention to our veterans, our pride, whose presence contains an important precept for all our young people.
With their heroic deeds, all war veterans saved countries, peoples and generations. They won a truly severe struggle and deserve the highest level of gratitude. They managed to defend, thereby saving Armenia and its people as well.
Of course, during the days of May celebrations we first of all remember Armenian soldiers and officers, Armenian military commanders and heroes. Indeed, our compatriots stood that difficult test creditably. Armenians glorified their names and their people's name on all frontlines, on land, at sea and in the air, in guerilla and underground activities.
Two decades after the Mets Eghern, Armenians living in the Soviet Union sent about half a million soldiers to fight against the enemy. They were joined by our diaspora Armenians 100 thousand of whom filled up the ranks of Allied troops during the Second World War.
Many brave Armenians of Armenia and Artsakh demonstrated brilliant acts of heroism and self-sacrifice. And it is no accident that in terms of a number of crucial indicators of participation in the Great Patriotic War, e.g. awards for heroism, highest military ranks, Heroes of the Soviet Union per 10 thousand population, we displayed high levels of effectiveness – very high. Unfortunately, for obvious reasons, the number of victims was also high.
Indeed, Armenians' participation was so complete that we even can take pride in it. I am very sorry that today, after 70 years, some people, driven from their narrow interests, openly try to make speculations about our people's struggle against fascism and their devotion. Firstly, everybody knows about Armenians' devotion to true ideas, which has been proved many times throughout history. Secondly, I am not going to pay attention to such speculations and to bring forward strong counterarguments; this is a disrespectful behavior towards the magnitude of our joint historic victory. The patriotic war was won by all the Soviet peoples, and it was a glorious victory.
Yes, we, Armenians, are aware of what is meant by historical memory. Memory does not imply that we must be full of revenge and vengeance. Memory means a lesson. Anti-humanistic ideologies, misanthropic and xenophobic propaganda and bellicose rhetoric finally result in war and mass destruction of innocent people. This is the lesson that we must not forget.
All the people in the world, especially those in power, must be the preservers of historical memory. There are certain conditions necessary to preserve human nature. Those conditions are well-known and must be adhered.
Dear compatriots,
Talking about May 9 and the defense of the homeland also means for us, Armenians, to speak up about the liberation of Shushi.
The liberation of Shushi – the historical and cultural center of Artsakh – was not only a strategic necessity, but also the only precondition to survival. It was exactly in Shushi that the new generation of Armenians proved itself to be the true and genuine successor of its brave ancestors. It was exactly here that Armenians proved to themselves and to the opponent once more that we are better. We are not half-dead, frightened and poor debris that survived genocide. Once again we are a viable and strong nation that is very thirsty for and capable of living and getting liberated. We are a nation which has taken lessons from the past, but is filled with fresh zeal and has serious civilizational reserves to build its own army and state. The testimony to this is the Republic of Armenia – the homeland of all Armenians. The testimony to this is free Artsakh – the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic – with its domestic stability, economic and cultural development and democratic institutions. The testimony to this was the quite high level of the parliamentary elections held in the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic last week; a thing which could hardly be comprehended by people with obscure ambitions whose only argument is brutal force. The testimony to this was the brilliant victory of the pavilion titled "Armenity" featured by 18 Armenian diaspora artists on the Island of St Lazzaro; three days ago it won the Golden Lion Award at the 56th International Art Exhibition of the Venice Biennale.
Honorable partakers,
For us May 9 is a day of physiological, military and moral victory. It is Victory and Peace Day. Today the Armenian army and our fighters safeguarding the borders are the true guarantors of our victories and the watchful guardians of our peace. Today our soldiers not only maintain peace and tranquility in our homeland, but also are involved in international peace-keeping missions, displaying themselves brilliantly and everyday accumulating their reputation as being both professional and brave. Like their fathers, they, too, are the genuine successors of their grandfathers, and it is true.
I once again congratulate our people on the occasion of this wonderful holiday and jubilee. Peaceful and creative work lies at the core of all blessings. I wish peace to us and the whole world.
I congratulate you on your holiday, dear veterans!
I congratulate you on your holiday, dear freedom fighters!
Congratulations to us on this holiday!


In a blender add all the ingredients except for the chocolate chips. Blend thoroughly.
Place cookie dough in a bowl, then add chocolate chips and serve.
TO BAKE follow exact directions as mentioned above. Then preheat oven to 350F and prepare baking sheet.
Add cookie dough to sheet and bake for 13-15 minutes.
Amazing vegan recipe! This is so yum!


JAKARTA - Christian and Muslim leaders from Indonesia's eastern Maluku islands on Monday began talks to end three years of sectarian bloodshed in which some 9,000 people have died, an official said.
"The talks started this morning with a meeting between the team of government mediators and the Muslim representatives," AFP quoted an official from the South Sulawesi provincial government, who identified himself only as Amir.
A similar meeting between the mediating team and the Christian representatives will take place in the afternoon, he added. The talks are being held at a neutral venue at the hill resort of Malino in the neighbouring island chain of Sulawesi.


Whether you are extracting nucleic acid for input into NGS library preparation, quantitating DNA or RNA, or confirming your NGS result, find what you need to ensure quality input and reagents at every step in your workflow.
Share your story and win the 2019 Promega iGEM Grant!
Follow apoptosis progression with this add-and-read method that detects Annexin V binding with a simple luminescent signal.
Want to measure cell health and reporter activity in real time? Learn how to overcome live-cell assay challenges.


Left to right: Gladys Mincks,Sandy Rickes,and Mary Holkesvik taken April 7th or 8th.
Left to right Gladys Mincks Corrina Voigt and Nathan Frana.
Left to right: Damon Henry,Dominic Mincks,Gladys Mincks,Eugene Mincks and Degan Mincks. Taken April 14 2013.
Frank Cronin and Pat Graham.


text:
Baton Rouge Metro Airport passenger count up in March
Total passenger volume at the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport (BTR) increased 7.3% in March compared to the same month last year.
The statistics as reported by the airlines show 69,808 passengers traveled through the airport in March. The departing passengers, or enplanements, were up 7.5% at 35,033; arriving passengers, or deplanements, were up 7.1% at 34,774. United saw the largest increase at 27.4% over last March, followed by Delta Air Lines with a 3.7% jump. American Airlines passenger numbers were flat year-over-year.
For the last two years combined, passenger volume has been up 8% at BTR.


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Consider these factors to detect potentially fraudulent claims.
Monday Morning: The reported injury occurs first thing on Monday morning, or it occurs late on Friday but doesn't get reported until Monday.
Employment Change: The reported accident occurs just before or after a strike, layoffs, the conclusion of a big project or the end of a seasonal job.
Did the employee exhaust their unemployment benefits prior to claiming workers' compensation benefits?
History of Changes: The employee has a history of frequently changing physicians, addresses and places of employment.
Medical History: The employee has a pre-existing medical condition similar to the alleged work injury.
No Witnesses: The accident has no witnesses and the employee's description does not logically support the cause of injury.
Conflicting Descriptions: The employee's description of the accident is significantly different from the medical history or first report of injury.
History of Claims: The employee has a history of multiple suspicious or litigated claims.
Treatment Is Refused: The employee refuses a diagnostic test or procedure to confirm the nature/extent of the injury.
Hard to Reach: You have difficulty contacting a claimant at home when they are allegedly disabled.
Unusual Coincidence: There is an unusual coincidence between the employee's alleged date of injury and their need for personal time off.
Financial Problems: The employee has tried to borrow money from coworkers or the company, or requested pay advances.
Remember, these warning signs are simply indicators. If you suspect a claim to be fraudulent, contact Lea Lundquist at (800) 644-5501, ext. 2668, or llundquist@protectiveinsurance.com.


text:
Lotus Symphony (1984) 1 Word Processor Spreadsheet Presentations Graphics Communications Database DOS
Lotus Symphony is a an integrated software program that combines five tools: spreadsheet - word processing, graphics, database management, and data communications - in one package. The spreadsheet has similar functionality to Lotus 1-2-3, however it uses a different software "engine". These releases are of the original suite produced by Lotus. For the unrelated suite produced by IBM under the same name, see "IBM Lotus Symphony".
Lotus Works (1990) 4 Word Processor Spreadsheet Presentations Database DOS
Formerly Electric Desk/AlphaWorks from Alpha Software, Lotus Works is an all in one office suite for DOS that includes a word processor, spell check, spreadsheet, graphics, database, and communications. It targeted the lower end and first time computer buyers. It competed against other all in one office suites such as FrameWork, PFS First Choice, and Microsoft Works
Lucid 3-D (1990) 0 Spreadsheet DOS
Lucid 3-D, created by PCSG, Inc. and sold by DacEasy, Inc., is a spreadsheet program for MS-DOS. The feature that sets it apart from others is that it is memory-resident, so you can bring it up on top of other DOS programs and exchange data with them. Unlike simple TSRs, however, Ludid 3D is a full featured spreadsheet. It features linking, macros, windowing, intelligent recalculation, background recalculation, and user-definable functions.
Lumena (1985) 0 Graphics DOS
Lumina is a comprehensive, feature-packed, high resolution, high-end graphics drawing system targeted at professional computer artists. It requires the use of high resolution displays and graphics tablets. Time Arts also produced video and tablet hardware as well as complete computer systems.
Mace Utilities (1987) 0 Utility DOS
The Mace Utilities, from Paul Mace Software, is a suite of disk and system tools similar to the Norton Utilities and PC-Tools. Notable features in included the ability to undelete files, recover re-formatted disks, a defragmenter, and disk caching software. In 1989, Paul Mace Software Inc sold the Mace Utilities to 5th Generation Systems. After "Mace Express" in 1991, the product seemed to vanish?
Master Graphics Presentation Pack (1987) 0 Presentations Graphics DOS
The Ashton-Tate Master Graphics Presentation Pack is a bundle of Ashton-Tate's graphics programs. This includes Chart-Master, Diagram-Master, and Sign-Master. These appear identical to the standalone versions, the only different is the inclusion of a unified menu disk.
Max Blast (1999) 0 DOS
Max Blast is a utility for setting up Maxtor hard drives. It includes a partitioning tool, BIOS overlay, bad sector re-mapping, and an advanced diagnostic program. It also includes 32-bit mode IDE drivers for Windows 3.1.
Plus 1.x
Plus II
McAfee VirusScan (1999) 1 Utility DOS Windows OS2
McAfee VirusScan was a very popular and reliable virus scanner during the late 90s. Notably, they distributed a free shareware version of their product. VirusScan was often pre-loaded with OEM computers.
Memory Commander (1992) 0 Utility DOS
Memory Commander, from V Communications, Inc, is a memory manager similar to QEMM or 386MAX, but can expand the DOS base memory beyond 640K with some kinds of applications.
MenuWorks (1988) 3 Utility DOS
MenuWorks, from PC Dynamics, Inc., Allows you to create custom DOS menus and sub-menus to organize programs.
MG Advanced Diagnostic (1985) 0 Utility Other
MG Advanced Diagnostic is a floppy disk editor and diagnostic tool. Released in 1985 by Millers GraphicsFor the TI-99/4a with CorComp 9900 disk controller
Micrografx Designer (1988) 2 Graphics Publishing DOS
Micrografx Designer, originally released as IN-A-VISON for Windows 1.x, is a vector based drawing and design program. It features ease of use, multiple layers, and dimensioning. Micrografx also sold large libraries of clip art. It competed against Corel Draw.
Micrografx PC-Draw (1985) 0 Graphics DOS
PC-Draw is a vector based drawing program for DOS. You can use it to make diagrams, schematics, charts, and drawings. It has optional support for plotters and light pens.
MicroPro DataStar (1983) 0 Database DOS
MicroPro DataStar is a general purpose forms based desktop database for early IBM PCs and compatibles. It is often used in conjunction with ReportStar and sometimes bundled as InfoStar. MicroPro products were commonly bundled with OEM systems.
MicroPro ReportStar (1983) 0 Database DOS
MicroPro ReportStar is a report generator for DOS used in conjunction with DataStar and sometimes bundled as InfoStar.
Microsoft Excel (1985) 68 Spreadsheet DOS MacOS
Excel, from Microsoft, is a powerful spreadsheet application for Mac, Windows, and OS/2. Excel was first released for the Mac. When it was ported to Windows 2.x, they started at version "2.0" to one up current Mac version. There was never a DOS version. Instead, DOS and 8-bit platforms used the older Microsoft Multiplan. Excel was later bundled as part of Microsoft Office
Microsoft MS-DOS Manager (1987) 6 Utility DOS
MS-DOS Manager is a friendly file manager shell provided through OEMs for use with MS-DOS 3.x. It was bundled with systems from Zenith, 3COM, and others. It is similar in operation to the Windows 1.x and 2.x MS-DOS Executive. single or split screen file list (but no drag-and-drop), files may be viewed with details or as a compact list, supports associating file type with external applications, and programs installed on your computer are easily added to an "Applications" dropdown menu.
Microsoft Paintbrush (1987) 3 Graphics DOS
Microsoft Paintbrush is Microsoft's OEM version of Zsoft PC/Publisher's Paintbrush for MS-DOS. It was commonly bundled with Microsoft mice in the late 80s and early 90s.
Microsoft Spell (1984) 0 Word Processor Utility DOS
Microsoft Spell is a spell checking application intended for use with Microsoft Word 1.x for DOS. You can also use it as a standalone program. Microsoft Spell 1.0 was available for purchase by itself, but later versions were bundled with Microsoft Word for DOS.
Microsoft Word (1983) 102 Word Processor DOS Unix OS2 Windows MacOS
The Microsoft Word word processor was first introduced for MS-DOS in 1983. Its design made use of a mouse and WYSIWYG graphics. Its crude WYSIWYG/mouse support was a direct response to the Apple Lisa/Mac, and VisiCorp Visi On. Initially it competed against many popular word processors such as WordStar, Multimate, and WordPerfect. Word for DOS was never really successful.
3.x (Unix)
5.x (DOS and OS/2)
Microsoft Works (1986) 90 Word Processor Spreadsheet Communications Database DOS
Microsoft Works was an all-in-one scaled-down Word Processor, Spreadsheet, and Database geared towards the home user. It was released in variants for early DOS, Windows, and Macintosh. Microsoft Works competed against Lotus Jazz, FrameWork, AlphaWorks/LotusWorks, PFS First Choice, and many others.
MicroStation (1991) 0 Graphics DOS
First released in 1985, MicroStation is a computer aided design program originally written to read and later write Interactive Graphics Design System (an early single-purpose hardware/software CAD system) design files. It was influenced by Bentley System's 1984 graphics terminal based PseudoStation software. The file format, and therefore the software, became a standard in government agencies.
MindReader 2.0 (1988) 0 Word Processor DOS
Mindreader, originally by Kalman Toth of BusinesSoft and later from Brown Bag Software, is an "Artificial Intelligence based word processor" that learns the way you write, and anticipates what you are going to type next. It may suggest words, phrases, or entire paragraphs that you may add with a single keystroke.
Monarch (1992) 0 Utility DOS
Monarch is an easy to use business tool that extracts data from printed reports and mainframe data files that you can then import in to tools like Lotus 1-2-3 or Excel. Printed reports files are not always formatted in a consistent fashion - they are formatted for people to read, not machines. But this tool makes sorting through all of that easy.
Multi-Job (1984) 0 Utility DOS
Multi-Job is a rudimentary multitasking program for IBM PC-DOS 1.10, 2.00 and 2.10. This gives IBM PC and XT users the ability to run multiple simultaneous jobs and switch between them by pressing ALT-Keypad 1, ALT-Keypad 2, and so on. Programs running in the background must not write directly to the screen.


text:
Teachers' Retirement Board welcomes new member
Bradford previously served as chair of the CTA Retirement Committee.
News release | Thomas Lawrence
Denise Bradford
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. (January 28, 2020) — Denise Bradford, a longtime elementary school teacher from the Saddleback Valley Unified School District in Orange County, has begun serving a four-year term on the Teachers' Retirement Board as one of three elected members on the 12-member board.
Bradford, who is representing current educators, starts her work on the board with this week's meeting, which will be held from January 30–31. Her term extends through calendar year 2023.
"It is an honor to join the board, and I am humbled to represent my peers statewide," said Bradford, who previously chaired the California Teachers Association's Retirement Committee. "I am excited to continue fighting for the financial future of California's educators and their families."
Bradford, who is a new-educator mentor and curriculum leader, is president of the Saddleback Valley Educators Association—representing 1,200 members.
"Denise is a relentless advocate for the secure retirement of educators," Teachers' Retirement Board Chair Sharon Hendricks said. "Her immense experience as both an educator and CTA leader will strengthen our board and serve our members. We're excited to have Denise join the board and add her unique perspective."
Bradford graduated from the University of Southern California with bachelor's degrees in German language and literature and international relations and obtained her master's in educational leadership and administration from California State University, Fullerton.
She replaces Dana Dillon, who retired following a 16-year stint on the board.
Thomas Lawrence
CalSTRS provides a secure retirement to more than 964,000 members whose CalSTRS-covered service is not eligible for Social Security participation. Members retire on average after more than 24 years in the classroom with a monthly benefit of approximately $4,547. Established in 1913, CalSTRS is the largest educator-only pension fund in the world with approximately $254 billion in assets under management. CalSTRS demonstrates its strong commitment to long-term corporate sustainability principles in its annual Global Reporting Initiative Sustainability Report. For more information, visit CalSTRS.com.