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Arts & Crafts Busy Book : 365 Activities Trish Kuffner (Author), Bruce Lansky (Editor) (17)
New!: $9.95 (as of 01/25/2013 22:45 PST) 76 Used! | New! from $5.09 (as of 01/25/2013 22:45 PST)
Family Activities
365 FUN, CREATIVE ACTIVITIES TO STIMULATE YOUR CHILD EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR This book contains 365 creative and educational arts and crafts projects for children ages two to six that provide a great alternative to using TV as a babysitter. It shows parents and daycare providers how to: --Stimulate creativity and self-expression with activities that encourage a child to explore his or her place in the world. --Create experiments with paint, glue, playdough, paper, and markers that focus a child's energy constructively. --Encourage the development of a child's concentration and coordination, as well as organizational and manipulative skills, with well-chosen arts and crafts projects. --Save money by making arts and crafts supplies such as paints, playdough, and craft clay with ingredients that can be found around the home. Celebrate the holidays and other occasions with special projects and activities. The Arts and Crafts Busy Book is written with warmth and sprinkled with humor and insight. It should be required reading for anyone raising or teaching young children. iParenting Media Awards 2003?Greatest Holiday Winner: BookAn iParenting Media Award Winner!
Rank: #43756 in Books
Brand: Meadowbrook Press
Published on: 2003-06-01
Released on: 2003-06-01
Original language: English
Number of items: 1
Dimensions: 1.00" h x 5.40" w x 6.90" l, .80 pounds
The soaring tax on domestic airline tickets was blamed by Flybe yesterday for a worsening financial predicament that has prompted it to cut 300 jobs.
Faced with the prospect of dipping ?15 million into the red in the year to March, the short-haul airline has conceded it needs to ?streamline? to survive and is making cuts to employment, aircraft, management, check-in procedures and ground handling.
Jim French, its chairman, said he was ?extremely disappointed? to be shedding a tenth of the airline?s UK staff but added that he had no option, given Europe?s dismal economy and the Government?s steady increases
Guess what? It's my birthday!!! In honor of my birthday, I wanted to give one of you a present. So besides the book launch giveaway that's still going on (you can find that here), I'm hosting a separate giveaway today :) In order to enter, all you have to do is comment on this post with a marketing tip or prompt - who knows, you might even be quoted in part 2 of "A Year of Book Marketing"... Speaking of which here's today's entry: ?Don?t be an expert, be a filter.?
Being an expert in your niche will help you sell books. But one thing that is needed more than another expert, is someone to filter all of the experts that are already out there. Most authors don?t realize it, but promoting other authors in their niche, is a great marketing tactic. Do you write fiction novels? Write what you like about another author?s book(s). Do you write non-fiction? Let your readers know what you?re reading, or what books you would recommend.
Besides providing your readers a filter, promoting other authors in your niche is also a great networking opportunity. Let them know that?you've?reviewed their book, or that you?re promoting it and ask if they have anything they would like you to include ? they might just decide to return the favor.
Marketing prompt:
Write a book review of a book similar to yours for your blog ? remember the golden rule. If you don?t want that author to turn around and say the same thing about you, don?t say it about them.
Days to go: 342?
And of course, here's the free stuff I mentioned:
I don't know what genre you write in, but I'm currently looking for people to review my book. If you already have a copy of my book, I'd love it if you could take a moment to review it in one or more of the following places:
If you don't have a copy, but would like to review it for me please send me an e-mail at: authorassistant@hotmail.com and I'll get a review copy to you. Note: to get a free review copy, you must agree to post a review on both your blog and one or more of the above places within 1 month.
My Birthday Giveaway:
Comment below with a book marketing tip or prompt to be entered to win a FREE book marketing plan package. Here's what's included:
Building a Book Marketing Plan Report
Book Marketing Profile Template
Book Marketing Tracking Sheet
Marketing Checklist
And a Mini Book Launch Report
Entry requirements: You must first comment with a book marketing tip or prompt in the comments section of this blog - this is a required entry to win. By commenting you grant me the right to use your comment in the second half of my book if I choose to do so.
For additional entries:
Share about this giveaway on Facebook
Share about this giveaway on Twitter
Write a blog post about this giveaway?
Write a blog post about "A Year of Book Marketing - Part 1" and link back to the launch page.
All entries must be left in separate comments with the links to the posts to be counted, and the will only count if you have submitted the required entry of a marketing tip or prompt.
Western Australian businesses expect 2013 to be a tough one.
Recent data from the Commonwealth Bank ? CCI Survey of Business Expectations shows that just 13 per cent of WA businesses expect the WA economy will improve over the next 12 months, while 45 per cent expect it to deteriorate. Significantly, wage costs were revealed as the number one priority for businesses in 2013 ? just ahead of domestic and global economic conditions.
A quick round of crystal ball gazing by Australia?s top economists (facilitated by independent website Crikey) found that the general consensus was a slowdown in 2013.
We last experienced a business climate like this in 2009. Doom and gloom everywhere. Companies were going out of business on a weekly basis, and mass redundancies were happening almost daily.
It was during this time that I had the pleasure of working with TSG?? a (then) small specialist consultancy based in Perth. TSG worked predominantly with large mining clients, helping them to simulate, analyse and optimise complex supply chains.
The directors were of the view that the post-GFC downturn presented an unparalleled opportunity for them to reinvent their business and lay the groundwork for future growth. They rejected the commonly held view that cost cutting and redundancies were the order of the day. Instead they believed that by taking informed, intelligent steps ? they could distance themselves from the competition in the years to come.
Fast forward four years and this group has significantly increased revenues, is expanding internationally, has increased headcount significantly and has positioned themselves as a world leader in their field.
Here are some of the secrets to their success:
?1.?????? A focus on engagement and collaboration
The directors understood that high levels of engagement would:
make it easier to attract talented people
minimise unwanted staff turnover
increase efficiency and innovation from their existing team
reduce the ?compensation premium? required? to attract talented people
?They took the opportunity to review rewards structures, training and development, organisational culture, the way work was organised and the way their people interacted and communicated.? Every change they made was aimed at promoting meritocracy, improving communication and increasing social interaction.
?The result was much higher levels of engagement throughout the organisation.? This led to the delivery of exceptional work for clients, which of course led to repeat business. In fact over 90 per cent of TSG?s work is now on-going or repeat business.
?More and more businesses are becoming aware of the benefits associated with a more engaged and collaborative workforce ? and it is not as expensive or difficult to achieve as it may seem.
?2.?????? Workforce planning
The company?s strategic plan involved an international expansion and a significant increase in headcount.? The directors knew that a key factor in the success of any new interstate and international offices was getting the staffing mix right.? Workforce planning was essential.? The directors forecast future staffing requirements to reveal potential gaps (staff numbers, expertise, and skills and abilities) and implemented the appropriate HR and recruitment strategies to achieve the desired outcomes.
?The result was the successful opening and performance of interstate and international offices ? all headed by suitably experienced directors or senior employees and backed up by locally sourced talent.? The directors also brought in a General Manager to provide input into and oversee the implementation of the strategic plan ? allowing them to focus on leading their people and opening new offices.
?Regardless of whether your crystal ball predicts growth or contraction in 2013 ? workforce planning is an important step towards effective implementation of your business strategy.
?3.?????? A new approach to performance management and communication
The company had an out-dated template that they used to facilitate their annual performance reviews.? Employees dreaded the process.? So did managers.? It was yielding almost zero value to the organisation and was chewing up a great deal of time and resources.
?The directors decided to throw out the old process and move to a process that:
was aligned with the company culture
was simple and efficient
focused on development and succession
linked to incentives
involved employees in setting objectives (aligned to company strategy)
?The result was more regular and meaningful communication between managers and their teams.? Employees and managers alike now enjoy participating in the review process.? The company now benefits from increased efficiency of the process and improved communication within teams. ?Unwanted staff turnover is ridiculously low.
?With recent advances in social performance management software like Small Improvements, Work.com and WorkSimple, it is now even easier for employers to achieve similar results.
?4.?????? Get serious about the recruitment process
With layoffs happening almost daily in both client and competitor companies ? and given the group?s forecast workforce needs, the directors saw an unprecedented opportunity to grab good people.? But how did they know if they were recruiting the right ones?
?Historically, the group relied on networks and contacts to source good people.? More often than not this was effective in their ?home State? of WA ? but the directors knew they wouldn?t have this luxury in the future.
?The directors looked to their existing team to identify:
what personality attributes were (or were not) a fit for their culture?
what cognitive abilities were required to ensure success?
What technical skills or work experience were required?
What motivated their best people to join and stay?
?Once they had answered these questions the directors structured the screening, assessment and selection process to reduce risk and improve the odds of hiring the right people.
?The key to long-term recruitment success is objective, fact based decision making and a robust recruitment process. ?By doing this, companies don?t just recruit great people ? they can also protect and enhance their employer brand.
?So whilst the economic outlook may not be particularly rosy, times like these do provide opportunities to increase your company?s competitiveness and build its long term value.? Make the most of it!
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NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 12: 'TODAY' Show correspondent Matt Lauer attends the 'TODAY' Show 60th anniversary celebration at The Edison Ballroom on January 12, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)
Ann Curry
NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 24: Ann Curry attends the TIME 100 Gala celebrating TIME'S 100 Most Influential People In The World at Jazz at Lincoln Center on April 24, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Fernando Leon/Getty Images for TIME)
Savannah Guthrie
WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 28: Savannah Guthrie attends the 98th Annual White House Correspondents' Association Dinner at the Washington Hilton on April 28, 2012 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images)
Al Roker
NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 23: Al Roker attends the 2012 Matrix Awards Luncheon at Waldorf Astoria Hotel on April 23, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images)
Brian Williams
NEW YORK, NY - MAY 07: Television Journalist Brian Williams speaks at the Robin Hood Veterans Summit at Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum on May 7, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Craig Barritt/Getty Images for The Robin Hood Foundation)
Meredith Vieira (with Ann Curry)
NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 23: (L-R) Ann Curry and Meredith Vieira attend the 2012 Matrix Awards Luncheon at Waldorf Astoria Hotel on April 23, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images)
Lester Holt
NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 09: NBC Weekend Nightly News anchor Lester Holt speaks onstage at the 49th USO Armed Forces Gala & Gold Medal Dinner to Honor Military Heroes and Volunteers at 583 Park Avenue on December 9, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for USO of Metropolitan New York)
Natalie Morales
NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 12: (L-R) 'TODAY' Show correspondent Natalie Morales attends the 'TODAY' Show 60th anniversary celebration at The Edison Ballroom on January 12, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)
Hoda Kotb
NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 30: TV personality Hoda Kotb attends The Breast Cancer Research Foundation's 'Hot Pink Party' at The Waldorf=Astoria on April 30, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images)
Kathie Lee Gifford
NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 01: (EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE) Kathy Lee Gifford and Frank Gifford attend the New York Giants Super Bowl Pep Rally Luncheon at Michael's on February 1, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for New York Giants)
Tamron Hall
WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 30: MSNBC News Anchor Tamron Hall attends the MSNBC Correspondents' after party with FIJI Water at Embassy of Italy on April 30, 2011 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Paul Morigi/Getty Images for The New Yorker)
David Gregory
ATLANTA, GA - MAY 07: NBC's Meet the Press Host David Gregory attends NBC News Education Nation Job One Panel Discussion at Georgia Aquarium on May 7, 2012 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Moses Robinson/Getty Images for NBCUniversal)
Tom Brokaw
NEW YORK, NY - MAY 07: Television Journalist Tom Brokaw speaks at the Robin Hood Veterans Summit at Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum on May 7, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Craig Barritt/Getty Images for The Robin Hood Foundation)
Luke Russert
NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 12: News correspondent Luke Russert attends the 'TODAY' Show 60th anniversary celebration at The Edison Ballroom on January 12, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)
Andrea Mitchell
WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 30: Andrea Mitchell attends the MSNBC Correspondents' after party with FIJI Water at Embassy of Italy on April 30, 2011 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Paul Morigi/Getty Images for The New Yorker)
Richard Engel
WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 4: (AFP OUT) In this television screen grab taken and provided by NBC, NBC News' Chief Foreign Correspondent Richard Engel speaks via satellite from to Sderot, Israel to host David Gregory during a live taping of 'Meet the Press' at the NBC studios on January 4, 2009 in Washington, DC. Engel discussed the current Israel Gaza Conflict which is now in its ninth day. (Photo by NBC/Meet the Press via Getty Images)
Peter Alexander
NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 05: Journalist Peter Alexander attends 'A Funny Affair for Autism' at The Plaza Hotel on December 5, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Ben Hider/Getty Images for Autism Speaks)
Chuck Todd
WASHINGTON, DC - AUGUST 09: Chuck Todd, NBC News Chief White House Correspondent and Political Director Contributing Editor to Meet the Press, attends 'A Night At The Park' to benefit the ziMS Foundation hosted by Ryan Zimmerman at Nationals Park on August 9, 2010 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Paul Morigi/Getty Images for ziMS Foundation)
Kate Snow
NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 09: Kate Snow attends 2011 Stand Up for Heroes at the Beacon Theatre on November 9, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Donna Ward/Getty Images)
Harry Smith
NEW YORK - MARCH 02: Co-anchor for the CBS News morning show Harry Smith on-set at the 45th Annual Academy Of Country Music Awards Nominations at CBS Early Show Studio Plaza on March 2, 2010 in New York, New York. (Photo by Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images for ACM)
Martin Bashir
NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 10: Correspondent Martin Bashir attends the 'Veep' screening at the Time Warner Screening Room on April 10, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)
Bob Costas
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 02: NBC Sportscaster Bob Costas looks on during the 2012 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic at Citizens Bank Park on January 2, 2012 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Jenna Wolfe
NEW YORK - AUGUST 17: Media correspondent Jenna Wolfe attends the New York premiere of 'Nanny McPhee Returns' at AMC Loews Lincoln Square 13 on August 17, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images)
Willard Scott
NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 12: Former 'TODAY' Show correspondent Willard Scott attends the 'TODAY' Show 60th anniversary celebration at The Edison Ballroom on January 12, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)
Mark Hoffman, Duncan Niederauer, Carl Quintanilla, Melissa Lee, Maria Bartiromo
Bob Dotson
Star Jones
NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 28: TV personality Star Jones attends the American Heart Association's 2012 New York City Go Red for Women luncheon at the Hilton New York on February 28, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images)
Donny Deutsch
NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 09: Television personality Donny Deutsch attends Love Heals, The Alison Gertz Foundation For AIDS Education 20th Anniversary gala at the Four Seasons Restaurant on November 9, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images)
Women and their health care providers are already well aware of the importance of the Pap smear in diagnosing cervical cancer, but a new study indicates that in the future this test may become even more useful.
The report comes from Johns Hopkins University?s Ludwig Center for Cancer Genetics and Therapeutics, and while it will be some time before the results can be applied in practical application, the findings are quite encouraging.
Researchers performed Pap tests on patients with specific types of cancers, and were able to detect genetic material from both uterine and ovarian cancer. The test found ovarian cancer in 41% of participants, but for uterine cancer the rate was 100%. While further studies will be necessary to confirm the findings and refine techniques, it seems likely that eventually a woman?s annual Pap test will become an even more powerful tool in early detection of many, if not all, forms of female reproductive cancer.
The doctors who conducted the study, which was led by the Ludwig Center?s Dr. Bert Vogelstein, stress that there are still many steps necessary before the Pap test procedure can be adjusted, the next phase being testing healthy women to look for these indicators. Still, though, they find the results of their research promising. Dr. Vogelstein refers to these findings as ?. . . the harbinger of things to come.?
Another senior researcher, Dr. Luis A. Diaz, believes that these early findings are only the tip of the iceberg. The Johns Hopkins team plans to widen the parameters of the genetic testing in future studies to include a broader scope of genetic material. The researchers also see promise in adapting these techniques to develop tests for other types of cancer utilizing urine or fecal matter.
Dr. Diaz makes another point about why these findings are so encouraging: the results of the study mean that even more cancers can be detected without any additional impact on well woman care procedures. Expanding the Pap test to detect even more types of cancer allows for broader diagnosis within an existing test. Annual well woman care appointments will not need to change. The same tests women are already accustomed to will simply be made more effective.
Annual Pap tests already save women?s lives every year by helping gynecologists find human papillomavirus and detect abnormal, pre-cancerous cells in the cervix. The idea that this test could eventually aid in the early detection of other female reproductive cancers is one of the most exciting developments gynecology has seen in some time.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) ? A 15-year-old boy remained in custody Sunday night as detectives tried to piece together what led to the shooting of five people, including three young children, who were found dead in a New Mexico home.
The teenager was arrested on murder and other charges in connection with the shootings, which happened Saturday night at the home in a rural area southwest of downtown Albuquerque, said Lt. Sid Covington, a Bernalillo County sheriff's spokesman.
Detectives did not immediately release the victims' names, but word of the shootings traveled quickly through the law enforcement community, and officials began offering their condolences for Greg Griego, a spiritual leader known for his work with firefighters and the 13 years he spent as a volunteer chaplain at the county jail.
"Chaplin Griego was a dedicated professional that passionately served his fellow man and the firefighters of this community," Fire Chief James Breen said in a statement. "His calming spirit and gentle nature will be greatly missed."
Jail Chief Ramon Rustin said Griego was instrumental in the creation of the Metropolitan Detention Center's chaplain program and worked to get inmates integrated back into the community.
Griego also was a former member of the pastoral staff at Calvary, a Christian church in Albuquerque. As part of his work there, he oversaw the Straight Street program for jail inmates.
Covington said detectives were working to positively identify the five victims as well as the teenager's relationship to them.
"Right now we're to the meticulous points of processing the scene and collecting physical evidence, and this is a vast scene with a lot of physical evidence," Covington said.
Authorities said each victim suffered more than one gunshot wound, and several guns were found at the home, one of which was a semi-automatic military-style rifle. Investigators were trying to determine who owned the guns.
Authorities also declined to release details of any conversation that the 15-year-old had with investigators. The teenager was booked on two counts of murder and three counts of child abuse resulting in death.
On Sunday, a police roadblock cut off public access to the narrow dirt road that leads to the home, which is surrounded by trees and an agricultural field on one side.
Neighbors said they saw the first police cars and ambulances arrive at the home Saturday night. The road was blocked and word of the shootings began to make its way through the neighborhood.
Peter Gomez, a 54-year-old carpenter who lives about 200 yards from the home, said he had seen the family ? a husband and wife and their four children ? pass by many times but didn't know them personally.
"It's a horrible thing," Gomez said. "You see all this stuff that happens all over the country, the shootings in the schools and theaters, and then it happens right here. It's sad."
___
Associated Press writer Jacques Billeaud in Phoenix contributed to this report.
This is a little gem, that looks small from the outside but perfectly formed and beautiful on the inside, come and see.
Contact An Agent
This house is a wonderfully restored gem hidden away between Santa Ana and Santiago. It is a mix of Yucatecan and Colonial and it is perfect for an investment or a permanent home. All the rooms are airy and light allowing for the al fresco feel in the hot summers and of course there is the upstairs terrace for evening entertaining with friends and family on those balmy evenings. This house has all the facilities needed to make it comfortable at low cost living.
Details?.. Lot 6 x 36 Construction 145 m2 2 beds 2.5 baths 110/220 electrics Air conditiong and ceiling fans Pool with waterfall features Gravelled maintained garden Aluminium and wood windows Mosquiteros Lounge Breakfast kitchen Dining area Rooftop terrace Washer/dryer Pasta and polished tiles and worktops Master bedroom off garden Fideicomiso (Bank Trust)
Total privacy with low cost maintenance, come and see this home !
Jim Thomson is principal oceanographer at the Applied Physics Lab at the University of Washington. He studies ocean surface waves and coastal processes and wrote about his expedition to the North Pacific in the fall.
Monday, Jan. 14
One of the many quirks in renewable energy research is the amount of energy it takes to conduct the research. A senior colleague of mine likes to joke that marine renewable energy, in particular, is very likely to run at a deficit of watts for some years to come.
He is mostly thinking of the jet fuel used by people flying around in airplanes to meetings and such, but he would do well to consider the batteries in all of my instruments. The instruments we will deploy to measure turbulence in Chacao Channel, Chile, and assess the prospects for turbines to generate electricity from currents, are all autonomous; they are powered internally by batteries and record data to flash memory. The obvious choice for battery type is lithium, because of higher energy density and steady voltage during discharge.
The lithium battery is not without problems, however. Lithium is a hazardous material, both by regulation and by reality. Early in graduate school I had a near miss with a lithium battery inside an instrument case that leaked and filled with seawater. Lithium + water = explosion.
Now, lithium is causing problems again (and not just for Boeing). The last report on our shipment of equipment to Chile was ?arriving in port, all well.? The update now, 24 hours before we were to board a plane, was not well at all.
Apparently the port is not licensed to store hazardous material, like lithium batteries, while waiting for the shipment to clear customs. Despite having arranged our shipping details months in advance, including completing reams of ?hazmat? paperwork, the port was unprepared for our shipment?s arrival and so they simply did not unload it.
That?s right: all of our equipment, including said batteries (which constitute a tiny part of what we shipped), is still on the cargo ship. And that cargo ship set a course for Peru. As an old captain I used to sail with would say, ?well, now, that?s a pickle.?
The ultimate irony in this story pertains to the lithium itself: much of it comes from Chile to begin with. Some estimates put Chilean production at 40 percent of the global total.
The shipping company has assured us that the cargo ship will be back in Chilean waters soon, and they will try again to deliver it. I was hoping for a more definitive word than ?try,? but perhaps that?s just a problem in translation.
For now, we have postponed our flights and begun shuffling calendars to make room for the same trip ? just a week or two later.
We have a contingency plan, of sorts. We have a few spare instruments still in the lab in Seattle, complete with standard alkaline batteries (which are not designated as hazardous material). We can hand-carry these instruments on the plane with us.
When we get to Puerto Montt, we can build a mooring from scratch with whatever we can source locally. It?s a sizable fishing community, so we should be able to find plenty of shackles, line, chain and anchors. It might not be pretty, but if that cargo ship never makes it back to Chile, it should work.
In the meantime, I am left to contemplate those lithium batteries. We could have gone with alkaline batteries instead to begin with and just planned to collect less data. I could have been less greedy, using less energy for less time. Perhaps that?s an obvious choice for a renewable energy project.
Power density is the Achilles? heel of all renewable energy generation. The power available from the sun, wind, and ocean is diffuse. The standard metric is watts per square meter. There are plenty of watts to be had, certainly, but it will take a lot of square meters to get those watts.
Fossil fuels, by contrast, are highly concentrated (a result of cooking underground for millions of years). Batteries are concentrated, too. Neither lasts forever. A pickle, indeed.
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The environmental group Friends of the Earth made its case to federal regulators last week that Southern California Edison should be barred from restarting the San Onofre nuclear plant unless it goes through a trial-like hearing process.
The meeting between Friends of the Earth and a U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission review board on Wednesday was the latest step in a dispute that has lasted for more than six months.
San Onofre has been closed for nearly a year because of unusual wear on tubes at the plant, which resulted in a small leak of radioactive steam last January. The tubes are part of four giant steam generators that Edison replaced in 2010 and 2011.
An NRC investigation found that the issues arose because computer modeling by manufacturer Mitsubishi Heavy Industries failed to accurately predict the flow of steam and water in the generators, leading the tubes to vibrate excessively and rub against support structures and adjacent tubes.
Friends of the Earth alleges that the "root cause" of the issue was design changes ordered by Edison, and that the company should have requested a license amendment for the changes made between the old and new steam generators.
If the NRC petition review board agrees, the group argued, it should take enforcement action by suspending the plant's license until Edison applies for a license amendment for all the design changes.
The new steam generators used a different alloy for the tubing, increased the number of tubes and have changes in the design of the support structures. Edison has said that the changes were made to improve the equipment's performance and were in line with industry standards.
But Arnie Gundersen, a consultant for Friends of the Earth, contended that a more thorough review of the changes by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission might have prevented the defects.
In Wednesday's presentation, Friends of the Earth argued that the problems were foreseeable and that "Edison should have notified the NRC that the significance of all the changes required" a license amendment.
"In the past 10 years, nobody has screwed up a piece of equipment more than the steam generators at San Onofre," Gundersen told the board.
Edison did apply for and receive a license amendment in connection with the replacement steam generators, but not for the design changes.
Edison spokeswoman Maureen Brown said that since the early 1980s, most steam generator replacements have been done without license amendments ? unless the replacement was done in connection with another change, such as increasing the power the plant is licensed to produce.
In its filing with the NRC, Edison argued that commission staff had already reviewed the process followed for the design changes ? both when the generators were installed and as part of the more recent investigation ? and that there was no way to foresee that Mitsubishi's computer model would fail to predict a potential issue.
It is unclear when the review board will issue a decision.
A separate but related petition by Friends of the Earth is pending before another NRC board. Meanwhile, the commission is also reviewing Edison's restart plan for San Onofre and may make a decision on that issue in March.
When considering a move to a new home, one of the biggest factors for families with children is often the?school district. That explains why this is such a common request when we perform searches for clients.
While Gwinnett County has a number of high performing schools, the?Suwanee?area is fortunate to have award-winning schools at the elementary, middle and high school levels.
Related Topic:
Of the around?200 homes?on the market in Suwanee, close to half are in the?North Gwinnett High School district. This week, Suwanee Real Estate takes a closer look at five homes in the North Gwinnett cluster. If you are curious about a particular property, click the address link for all the details of that particular home.
1. ?160 Bayswater Drive ?$309,500
This fabulous lakefront home with four bedrooms and 2.5 baths has it all. Located in?Bayswater Common, the large level lot on the lake with a dock is wooded and private. Enjoy your lake view year round from the cedar sunroom with its vaulted ceilings. The country kitchen boasts a keeping room with a fireplace. There is also a separate formal living room and formal dining room. The full, finished terrace level offers an exercise room, a bonus room, and a rec room as well as a wine cellar. If you have ever dreamed of living on the water in a sought-after school district, this is the home for you!
2. ?625 Grove Manor Court ?$279,900
Welcome to this gorgeous six bedroom, five bath home in the much sought after Village Grove. This home boasts designer colors throughout, wide plank hardwoods and a open and light floor plan. It has been freshly painted inside and out. A formal dining room, a cozy keeping room, and oversized bedrooms are just a few of the many features this home offers. The third floor bedroom and full bath would make a wonderful teen suite. This home shows like a model home!? A great opportunity!
3. ?3811 Portland Trail Drive ?$239,900
The perfect package! This lovely four bedroom, 2.5 bath home in?Shadowbrook?is a short walk to parks, shopping and restaurants. The relaxing, rocking chair porch welcomes you to this charming house with a brick front and mature, professional landscaping. The kitchen has hardwood floors, stained cabinets, a center island, and a pantry. The breakfast nook has a view to the open family room, which is centered around a fireplace. The master suite features vaulted ceilings, a double vanity and a separate tub/shower. You will live life to the fullest as part of this active, desirable community.
4. 4110 Baxter Trail ?$210,000
This pristine, three bedroom, two full bath Craftsman style home is part of the Old Suwanee subdivision. Features include two covered porches, a premium corner lot, hardwood floors, maple cabinets, and corian countertops in the chef?s kitchen. The master suite has a private door to the second story covered flagstone patio. Step out the back door to your own private oasis with a hot tub and built-in grill on a secluded flagstone patio. HOA fees include lawn care and maintenance as well as trash pickup.? Wow!
5. 825 Yosemite Drive ?$199,900
This is a beautiful two-story, five-bedroom, 2.5 bath home in the much sought-after?Forest Plantation?neighborhood. The open floor plan from kitchen to breakfast area and family room is great for entertaining friends and family. Imagine relaxing every evening in the large master suite with its trey ceiling and garden tub in the master bath. The nice, spacious basement is perfect for a workout/play area or teenage retreat. You will love the beautiful fenced-in backyard with both a pool and a hot tub. This is one home you must see for yourself!
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AT&T (NYSE: T) is teaming with Polycom (Nasdaq: PLCM) to offer cloud-based videoconferencing services, the firms announced Tuesday.
As part of the agreement, AT&T will incorporate the Polycom RealPresence platform into its AT&T Telepresence Solution service, enabling the telecom giant to offer on-demand virtual meeting room capabilities and collaboration with business customers, partners and suppliers through AT&T Business Exchange.
The AT&T Telepresence Solution creates an immersive "in-person" video conferencing experience. The service enables multipoint intercompany connectivity, so businesses are able to interact and collaborate via high-definition video and spatial audio, AT&T explained.
Prior to this agreement, AT&T had been working exclusively with Cisco (Nasdaq: CSCO) for its Telepresence Solution service, according to Tim Stone, vice president of European marketing for Polycom. "Being one of the world's largest service providers, AT&T historically only used Cisco, so this is a strategic win," Stone told V3.co.uk.
Polycom and Cisco have been battling for top position in the declining immersive telepresence market. Research firm IDC found that the immersive telepresence market has posted declining revenues over the last couple of years.
As part of the partnership agreement, customers who use the AT&T Telepresence Solution will have access to the RealPresence video platform in 40 countries. This platform will include immersive and multipurpose rooms and personal video conferencing systems as part of a managed service bundle that includes equipment for a monthly fee.
Polycom has selected AT&T to become its preferred wide area network service provider using AT&T's multiprotocol label switching VPN service. ?
Reflecting a growing move toward mobile videoconferencing, the partnership will also enable AT&T to offer mobile access to its Telepresence Solution customers. According to Wainhouse Research, mobile applications will soon outpace other offerings in the videoconferencing market.
For more: - see the AT&T/Polycom release - read the V3.co.uk article
Related articles: Cisco and Polycom dominate declining immersive telepresence market, says IDC Videoconferencing market moves away from telepresence, toward mobile
ASH international clinical collaboration replicates high cure rate of APL in developing countriesPublic release date: 14-Jan-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Andrea Slesinski aslesinski@hematology.org American Society of Hematology
(WASHINGTON) Data published online today in Blood, the Journal of the American Society of Hematology (ASH) describe the work of an ASH international clinical network collaborative focused on modernizing treatment protocols for patients in the developing world with acute promyeloctyic leukemia (APL) that has drastically improved cure rates in patients in Central and South America, achieving comparable outcomes to those observed in patients in the United States and in Europe.
APL is a rare, aggressive cancer of the blood and bone marrow that can be fatal in a matter of hours or days without prompt diagnosis and treatment. Thanks to the introduction of combination therapy with all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and anthracycline-based chemotherapy, APL has become a highly curable disease for patients in most developed countries. Although recent clinical trials conducted in the developed world have reported very high rates of complete remission (CR) and long-term disease-free survival (DFS) in patients treated with this regimen (90% achieving CR and 85% achieving DFS, respectively), this progress has not yet reached developing countries, where the reported long-term overall survival for patients with APL is below 60 percent.
Recognizing the need to increase APL survival rates in developing countries, in 2005 ASH founded the International Consortium on Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia (IC-APL). The goal of the IC-APL was to foster collaboration between researchers, clinicians, and laboratory scientists from institutions in developing countries and well-established international cooperative groups based in the United States and in Europe. Founding members of the initiative created the program with the hope that the resulting exchange of clinical expertise and support would ultimately improve the diagnosis and treatment of patients in developing countries with this often deadly hematologic malignancy.
"We chose APL as a model disease for the initiative because of the opportunity to improve patient outcomes in the developing world by collaborating with and learning from colleagues who have already successfully made these strides against this disease," said Eduardo Rego, MD, PhD, founding member of the IC-APL and Professor of Hematology/Oncology at the University of So Paulo in Brazil. "This initiative aims to build the capacity of local clinicians in the developing world to conduct clinical trials by introducing and fostering clinical and laboratory procedures that represent the standard of care for the treatment of acute leukemia in many countries around the world."
As part of the IC-APL, four transitioning countries Brazil, Chile, Mexico, and Uruguay were chosen to participate in a registry study modeling a clinical trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of a standard-of-care protocol for APL. During the registry study, which was governed by a panel of acute leukemia experts from Europe, Latin America, and the United States, medical representatives from each participating country received essential clinical trial administration training, including standard patient enrollment, data collection and reporting, administration of therapy, and outcomes reporting. Participants also attended regular face-to-face and online meetings with the expert panel to discuss progress and share data.
Following this extensive training, clinicians and scientists from the four participating countries began their registry trial, enrolling 183 adult patients with a suspected APL diagnosis between June 2006 and September 2010. An important change in the induction therapy protocol in the IC-APL registry study conducted in Brazil, Chile, Mexico, and Uruguay compared to regimens used in trials in developed countries was the replacement of the commonly used anthracycline idarubicin with the less expensive and more readily available drug daunorubicin. Patients enrolled in the trial received combination therapy including oral ATRA in two daily doses until complete remission and daunorubicin given intravenously on days 2, 4, 6, and 8. Throughout the trial, participating sites registered all cases using common clinical record forms in the Pediatric Oncology Network Database (POND) and collaborated with national clinical trial coordinators and reference laboratories to confirm the integrity and accuracy of treatment data.
After approximately three years of follow-up, investigators observed incredibly promising results: 80 percent of patients achieved two-year OS and 91 percent achieved DFS, all with a low cumulative incidence of relapse (4.5%). Early patient mortality (death occurring between diagnosis and first evaluation at 30 days) in the trial was reduced by nearly half compared to historical controls, and overall survival improved by 30 percent. Of the 180 evaluable patients that participated in the four host countries, 153 (85%) achieved complete remission.
After five years of follow-up, 75.4 percent of all patients enrolled and 90.2 percent of those who achieved CR remained alive. Early death occurred in 27 patients (15%). These rates of death are considerably lower than other population-based studies analyzing early mortality of APL patients conducted in the United States and Sweden (17.3% and 29%, respectively), further demonstrating the safety of this treatment combination. The most frequent hematologic toxicity was grade 4 neutropenia (low neutrophil count), which was observed in a small group (3.3%) of patients. No significant toxicities were reported during maintenance therapy and no secondary malignancies were reported.
"In a very short time period, we observed an extraordinary increase in survival rates of our participants, who, before this trial, might not have had much hope for survival," said Dr. Rego.
The outstanding patient survival rates observed in the IC-APL trial demonstrate the efficacy of this affordable and readily available treatment protocol and are comparable to those observed in studies conducted in developed countries by both the Spanish group Programa para el Estudio de la Teraputica en Hemopata Maligna (PETHEMA, CR: 92.5% and 90%) and the North American Leukemia Intergroup (CR: 90%).
By refining and standardizing diagnostic procedures and implementing a standard-of-care treatment protocol, members of this innovative ASH collaborative have taken the first step toward significantly improving the prognosis of patients with severe and rapidly fatal diseases, such as APL, in developing countries using affordable and available treatments.
"Our initial success truly demonstrates that when we work closely with colleagues from around the world we can close the gap in treatment outcomes between patients in developed countries and those in developing countries. Our next challenge will be to improve the outcome of patients with other types of acute myeloid leukemias," added Dr. Rego, who also serves as the IC-APL's Brazilian national coordinator. "We are also expanding this initiative to additional countries, where we hope to further integrate education and networking and refine our treatment design to determine if we can achieve improved outcomes and possibly translate this model to other diseases."
Based on the initial success of the IC-APL, its governing body voted to expand the collaborative model to address other subtypes of acute leukemias, beginning with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). To reflect this change, the cooperative group is now called the International Consortium on Acute Leukemia (ICAL). For more information on ICAL, visit the ASH Global Programs website.
###
Blood (www.bloodjournal.org) the most cited peer-reviewed publication in the field of hematology, is available weekly in print and online. Blood is the official journal of the American Society of Hematology (ASH) (www.hematology.org), the world's largest professional society concerned with the causes and treatment of blood disorders.
ASH's mission is to further the understanding, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disorders affecting blood, bone marrow, and the immunologic, hemostatic, and vascular systems by promoting research, clinical care, education, training, and advocacy in hematology.
blood is a registered trademark of the American Society of Hematology.
[ | E-mail | Share ]
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AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
ASH international clinical collaboration replicates high cure rate of APL in developing countriesPublic release date: 14-Jan-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Andrea Slesinski aslesinski@hematology.org American Society of Hematology
(WASHINGTON) Data published online today in Blood, the Journal of the American Society of Hematology (ASH) describe the work of an ASH international clinical network collaborative focused on modernizing treatment protocols for patients in the developing world with acute promyeloctyic leukemia (APL) that has drastically improved cure rates in patients in Central and South America, achieving comparable outcomes to those observed in patients in the United States and in Europe.
APL is a rare, aggressive cancer of the blood and bone marrow that can be fatal in a matter of hours or days without prompt diagnosis and treatment. Thanks to the introduction of combination therapy with all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and anthracycline-based chemotherapy, APL has become a highly curable disease for patients in most developed countries. Although recent clinical trials conducted in the developed world have reported very high rates of complete remission (CR) and long-term disease-free survival (DFS) in patients treated with this regimen (90% achieving CR and 85% achieving DFS, respectively), this progress has not yet reached developing countries, where the reported long-term overall survival for patients with APL is below 60 percent.
Recognizing the need to increase APL survival rates in developing countries, in 2005 ASH founded the International Consortium on Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia (IC-APL). The goal of the IC-APL was to foster collaboration between researchers, clinicians, and laboratory scientists from institutions in developing countries and well-established international cooperative groups based in the United States and in Europe. Founding members of the initiative created the program with the hope that the resulting exchange of clinical expertise and support would ultimately improve the diagnosis and treatment of patients in developing countries with this often deadly hematologic malignancy.
"We chose APL as a model disease for the initiative because of the opportunity to improve patient outcomes in the developing world by collaborating with and learning from colleagues who have already successfully made these strides against this disease," said Eduardo Rego, MD, PhD, founding member of the IC-APL and Professor of Hematology/Oncology at the University of So Paulo in Brazil. "This initiative aims to build the capacity of local clinicians in the developing world to conduct clinical trials by introducing and fostering clinical and laboratory procedures that represent the standard of care for the treatment of acute leukemia in many countries around the world."
As part of the IC-APL, four transitioning countries Brazil, Chile, Mexico, and Uruguay were chosen to participate in a registry study modeling a clinical trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of a standard-of-care protocol for APL. During the registry study, which was governed by a panel of acute leukemia experts from Europe, Latin America, and the United States, medical representatives from each participating country received essential clinical trial administration training, including standard patient enrollment, data collection and reporting, administration of therapy, and outcomes reporting. Participants also attended regular face-to-face and online meetings with the expert panel to discuss progress and share data.
Following this extensive training, clinicians and scientists from the four participating countries began their registry trial, enrolling 183 adult patients with a suspected APL diagnosis between June 2006 and September 2010. An important change in the induction therapy protocol in the IC-APL registry study conducted in Brazil, Chile, Mexico, and Uruguay compared to regimens used in trials in developed countries was the replacement of the commonly used anthracycline idarubicin with the less expensive and more readily available drug daunorubicin. Patients enrolled in the trial received combination therapy including oral ATRA in two daily doses until complete remission and daunorubicin given intravenously on days 2, 4, 6, and 8. Throughout the trial, participating sites registered all cases using common clinical record forms in the Pediatric Oncology Network Database (POND) and collaborated with national clinical trial coordinators and reference laboratories to confirm the integrity and accuracy of treatment data.
After approximately three years of follow-up, investigators observed incredibly promising results: 80 percent of patients achieved two-year OS and 91 percent achieved DFS, all with a low cumulative incidence of relapse (4.5%). Early patient mortality (death occurring between diagnosis and first evaluation at 30 days) in the trial was reduced by nearly half compared to historical controls, and overall survival improved by 30 percent. Of the 180 evaluable patients that participated in the four host countries, 153 (85%) achieved complete remission.
After five years of follow-up, 75.4 percent of all patients enrolled and 90.2 percent of those who achieved CR remained alive. Early death occurred in 27 patients (15%). These rates of death are considerably lower than other population-based studies analyzing early mortality of APL patients conducted in the United States and Sweden (17.3% and 29%, respectively), further demonstrating the safety of this treatment combination. The most frequent hematologic toxicity was grade 4 neutropenia (low neutrophil count), which was observed in a small group (3.3%) of patients. No significant toxicities were reported during maintenance therapy and no secondary malignancies were reported.
"In a very short time period, we observed an extraordinary increase in survival rates of our participants, who, before this trial, might not have had much hope for survival," said Dr. Rego.
The outstanding patient survival rates observed in the IC-APL trial demonstrate the efficacy of this affordable and readily available treatment protocol and are comparable to those observed in studies conducted in developed countries by both the Spanish group Programa para el Estudio de la Teraputica en Hemopata Maligna (PETHEMA, CR: 92.5% and 90%) and the North American Leukemia Intergroup (CR: 90%).
By refining and standardizing diagnostic procedures and implementing a standard-of-care treatment protocol, members of this innovative ASH collaborative have taken the first step toward significantly improving the prognosis of patients with severe and rapidly fatal diseases, such as APL, in developing countries using affordable and available treatments.
"Our initial success truly demonstrates that when we work closely with colleagues from around the world we can close the gap in treatment outcomes between patients in developed countries and those in developing countries. Our next challenge will be to improve the outcome of patients with other types of acute myeloid leukemias," added Dr. Rego, who also serves as the IC-APL's Brazilian national coordinator. "We are also expanding this initiative to additional countries, where we hope to further integrate education and networking and refine our treatment design to determine if we can achieve improved outcomes and possibly translate this model to other diseases."
Based on the initial success of the IC-APL, its governing body voted to expand the collaborative model to address other subtypes of acute leukemias, beginning with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). To reflect this change, the cooperative group is now called the International Consortium on Acute Leukemia (ICAL). For more information on ICAL, visit the ASH Global Programs website.
###
Blood (www.bloodjournal.org) the most cited peer-reviewed publication in the field of hematology, is available weekly in print and online. Blood is the official journal of the American Society of Hematology (ASH) (www.hematology.org), the world's largest professional society concerned with the causes and treatment of blood disorders.
ASH's mission is to further the understanding, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disorders affecting blood, bone marrow, and the immunologic, hemostatic, and vascular systems by promoting research, clinical care, education, training, and advocacy in hematology.
blood is a registered trademark of the American Society of Hematology.
[ | E-mail | Share ]
?
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
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Public release date: 14-Jan-2013
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