Long time mayor of West Covington and proponent of the city’s annexation to Covington. Joseph J. Moser was born on March 17, 1861 in Pennsylvania. His parents were Gottlieb Moser and Marie Schwartz Moser. Joseph J. Moser was a strong advocate for the annexation of West Covington by Covington. In 1908 he called for all the cities of Kenton County to be annexed by Covington. He argued that all the citizens would be better served in they lived in one city. The issue of gambling caused considerable political problems for Mayor Moser. In 1906, Covington city officials began a crackdown on poolrooms and other gambling establishments. A few of these individuals left Covington and set up shop in Romanowitz Hall in West Covington. The Reverend John Bentz of the Crescent Avenue Methodist Mission requested that the mayor take immediate action to stop the gambling activities. Mayor Moser refused to take action. The Reverend Betz filed charges against the mayor for failure to do his duty. A warrant for Moser’s arrest was issued. When Mayor Moser appeared before the courts, Reverend Betz voiced his concerns, “I know that Mr. Moser could be bought, and that he had been bought by the parties operating the poolroom in West Covington.” Mayor Moser responded by filing a suit against the minister for damaging his reputation in the community. Gambling continued to be a problem for Moser in 1907. The Kentucky Post ran a story calling West Covington the “Monte Carlo” of Kentucky. Poker, betting and roulette were commonplace. The establishments included Romanowitz Hall and the Respess-Kirby Poolroom. The story also claimed that another group was building a new building in the town that would be used for gambling purposes. Moser was again elected mayor of West Covington in 1913. He defeated Charles Miller (203-165). Moser was also active in the banking industry. In 1906 he was appointed the first president of the Merchants National bank of Covington. Many well-known Covington businessmen were also named officers of this new venture. Joseph J. Moser died on February 12, 1919 at his home, 70 Highway Avenue, Covington. Services were held in the family home with burial at Highland Cemetery in Fort Mitchell, Kentucky. Moser was survived by his wife, Lillie May Craner Moser. He was the father of four children: John G. Moser of Louisville, Clarence C. Moser of Covington, Eliza Moser Kautter of Covington and Mrs. Harry Sillman of Covington.
Kentucky Post, November 26, 1906, p. 2, November 27, 1906, p. 2, November 28, 1906, p. 7, December 12, 1906, p. 2, February 8, 1907, p. 1, July 19, 1907, p. 2, July 20, 1908, p. 2, November 5, 1913, p. 9, December 12, 1919, p. 1 and December 13, 1919, p. 2; Commonwealth of Kentucky Death Certificate 1919.


On Saturday, Sept. 29, MSUM hosted a day of STEM Workshops organized by the MSUM Noyce Program. This and future workshops are intended to better prepare future math and science teachers in the use of technology and new instructional methods. Preservice science and mathematics education majors from MSUM and Concordia along with professors from Concordia, NDSU, and MSUM were treated to ways teachers are incorporating programming and robotics into mathematics classrooms; applying optics to biology, chemistry, math and physics; building “black boxes” to explore the nature of science; learning about individualized learning techniques; 3-D printing applications; and iNaturalist used to identify the plants and animals.
External presenters included Lisa Conzemius from Detroit Lakes High School, Fernando Zamora from Montevideo High School, Paula Comeau from the MN DNR, and Teresa Shume from NDSU. MSUM presenters included faculty Karen Cloud from the School of Teaching and Learning, Steve Lindaas from the Department of Physics, Chris Merkord from the Biosciences Department, and Tyler Eidsness, MSUM Noyce Scholar and chemistry, chemistry education and life science triple major.
The MSUM Noyce Program “Preparing STEM Teachers to Successfully Navigate the Urban to Rural Gradient” is funded by a $1.2 million grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF). The purpose of the Noyce Program is to prepare excellent STEM teachers. The program has paid summer education internships and competitive scholarships for STEM majors adding and a secondary education major. Noyce Scholars receive full tuition scholarships plus partial living expenses. If you would like more information visit https://www.mnstate.edu/noyce or contact firstname.lastname@example.org.


STEAM Connections: Wind Energy
The wind is all around us, but did you know we can use wind to create electricity? Let’s explore wind energy with our very own windmills!
Wind energy is an alternative energy source that can be used to produce electricity. In this STEAM Connections activity, we are going to build a wind mill to see how the wind can be harnessed to create energy. But first, let’s get some background information.
Windmills have been used by people for more than 1,000 years: the first windmills were used to grind grain. Later, windmills were used by the Dutch to pump water; and today, we use wind mills called wind turbines, to harness energy from the wind.
Wind turbines are tall towers with long blades on the top. These blades are connected to a vertical rod called shaft. When the wind causes the blades to spin, the shaft turns. The turning shaft powers the generator, which produces electricity. Because this power is created by the movement of the shaft, the energy created by wind turbines is kinetic energy.
Windmills are a type of simple machine. The oldest windmills and the newest wind turbines are both examples of a wheel and axle machine.
A group of wind turbines is called a wind farm. If you have ever visited Lubbock, Texas you might have driven past a wind farm on your way there. Large wind turbines can produce up to 1.8 megawatts of power with blades reaching over 130 feet in length. These turbines can be around 260 feet tall!
Watch our video to see how we made a windmill will some household supplies, and keep scrolling for the supply list and instructions.
- Cardstock or construction paper (thicker is better)
- String (cotton or poly is best)
- Paper Clips
- Rubber bands
- Large disposable cups (Rec 16oz)
- Small disposable cups (Rec 6oz)
- Large Straws
- Small Straws (small straw should move freely within large straw)
Optional Add-Ons: hole punch; box fan or blow dryer; crayons, markers or other materials to decorate their windmill; stopwatch or timing device; and pennies
- Cut out a 6.5” by 6.5” square.
- Mark the center of your square and cut from the corners diagonally towards the center of the square, stopping about 1.5 inches from the center point.
- Use scissors or a hole punch to make a hole in the center and at the end of every other one of your 8 corners. The hole should be large enough for the small straw to fit into.
- Push the small straw through the center of your square and then bend (don’t fold) each of the corners onto the straw.
- Secure the front and back of the pinwheel with tape, a paperclip or rubber bands to keep the pinwheel together. There should be about an inch of space between the front and back of the pinwheel.
- Cut the large straw so that it is equal in length to the bottom of your large cup and secure it there using tape.
- Slide the end of your small straw through the large straw on your base. There should be about 1.5 inches of the small straw that extends past the base. You can trim the small straw if needed.
- Take your small cup and cut two holes in opposite sides and tie a small piece of string between the two holes, creating a sort of bucket handle.
- Secure one end of your string to the end of the small straw and tie the other end to the small cup handle.
- Place tape or a binder clip on the end of the small straw to keep the pieces together.
Now blow on your pinwheel and watch it lift the small cup!
Questions to consider
- What changes can you make that might make your design work faster or make it stronger?
- What is the maximum number of pennies your machine is able to lift?
- How long does it take your machine to lift the cup? What about with four pennies or eight?


Long-term variations in Atlantic plankton species in the North Sea were investigated in order to find support for the hypothesis of a reduced inflow of Atlantic water into the North Sea during the 1960s and 1970s. The material was derived from samples of the Continuous Plankton Recorder Survey during 1948-1996. Fourteen Atlantic plankton species were selected as potential indicators of Atlantic inflow to the North Sea. Principal Component Analysis allowed the classification of these species into a number of sub-groups, each of which showed a different variation over time. One of these groups, consisting of Candacia armata, Metridia lucens, and Tomopteris spp., showed temporal variations that were apparently related to changes in Atlantic inflow. This group was at a low level in the North Sea from 1965 to 1982, and it increased in subsequent years. These variations correspond in time and direction with observed changes in pelagic fish stocks in the area.
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NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms
The NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms features 8,413 terms related to cancer and medicine.
We offer a widget that you can add to your website to let users look up cancer-related terms. Get NCI’s Dictionary of Cancer Terms Widget.
- vitamin C
- listen (VY-tuh-min…)
- A nutrient that the body needs in small amounts to function and stay healthy. Vitamin C helps fight infections, heal wounds, and keep tissues healthy. It is an antioxidant that helps prevent cell damage caused by free radicals (highly reactive chemicals). Vitamin C is found in all fruits and vegetables, especially citrus fruits, strawberries, cantaloupe, green peppers, tomatoes, broccoli, leafy greens, and potatoes. It is water-soluble (can dissolve in water) and must be taken in every day. Vitamin C is being studied in the prevention and treatment of some types of cancer. Also called ascorbic acid.


In recent years, Ireland has become a popular immigration destination because of its lower living costs and the relatively less stringent immigration procedures. In addition, many high-tech giants such as Google, Facebook have set their European headquarters in Dublin, turning the capital city into the leading destination for foreign investment in headquarters, and providing jobs and investment opportunities to international professionals and immigrants.
The quality of education is one of the crucial factors for family to consider before finalising the destination. And Ireland has its unique school system, consisting of three parts, Primary (junior infants, senior infants, and 1st to 6th classes), Junior Cycle (12/13 and 15/16 years) and Senior Cycle (age 15-18) before university.
The Senior cycle includes an optional Transition Year, which follows immediately after the Junior Cycle. During the final two years of Senior Cycle, students take one of three following programmes, each leading to a State Examination.
Established Leaving Certificate and Its Assessment
Most Senior Cycle students choose the Established Leaving Certificate programme.
34 Leaving Certificate subjects are available to schools. They are normally studied at either Ordinary(informally Pass) or Higher Level(informally called Honours) , though two subjects, Irish and Mathematics, can also be studied at Foundation Level.
In general, students take five or more subjects (usually seven) for examination, one of which must be Irish.
Subjects are assessed by an examination paper and additional assessment methods at the end of the two-year programme of study. The Leaving Certificate is the terminal examination of post-primary education.The grading scale has 8 grades. The highest grade is Grade 1 and the lowest grade is Grade 8.
Admission Requirement on Leaving Certificate
As Leaving Certificate is quite different from international qualifications such as IB or A-level, applicants wishing to apply for universities outside Ireland need to know how Leaving Certificate is recognised by their desired schools.
We have looked into several schools in UK, US and Hong Kong:
Entry requirements vary for different subjects and universities. Take Oxbridge as an example:
Cambridge The typical offers for students taking the Irish Leaving Certificate and applying for most subjects would be based on H1H1H1H2H2H2.
OXford: For courses with an A-level entrance requirement of AAA，the requirement is H2H2H2H2H2H2 at Higher level Leaving Certificate; A*AA: H1H1H2H2H2H2 at Higher level, and for courses with an A-level entrance requirement of A*A*A，students need to have H1H1H1H1H2H2 at Higher level.
Applicants with Ireland Leaving Certificate are no different from other international students. They need to submit the required materials and may take standardized tests such as SAT or ACT though the results are not required now due to the Covid-19.
Few schools in Hong Kong have clearly stated requirements for Ireland Leaving Certificate. According to the website of HKU, admission to Dental Surgery or Law, for example, requires H2 or better in five subjects at the Higher Level.
Students who are interested in other universities in Hong Kong are suggested to contact admission offices at individual universities for specific requirements, if such information cannot be found on its website.
Given that the Ireland Leaving Certificate is less commonly recognised, we suggest international students who wish to apply for universities outside Ireland to check thoroughly before taking the qualification or they may also look for schools where IB is taught just to make the future admissions planning easier!
Norton House has helped many students achieve excellent results in IB and other international curriculum in the past decade and gained admissions to world's top universities, so feel free to contact us if you need any advice or academic assistance.


Holston Chilhowee Ballfields History
The Holston River is a major river system of southwestern Virginia and East Tennessee. The three major forks of the Holston (North, Middle and South Forks) rise in southwestern Virginia and have their confluence near Kingsport, Tennessee. From there, the river flows roughly southwestward, just north of Bays Mountain, until it reaches its confluence with the French Broad River just east of downtown Knoxville. This confluence is considered to be the headwaters of the Tennessee River.
Although the present day Holston River ends at the French Broad River to form the Tennessee River in Knoxville, the river did not originally end there. Until 1933, the Holston River flowed past Knoxville and continued to its confluence with the Little Tennessee River at Lenoir City 51 miles downstream. At that point, the Tennessee River began.
The river was named after Stephen Holston, who built a cabin on the upper reaches of the river in 1746. Holston Mountain was named after the Holston River.


Knee injuries can affect everyone, especially athletes. They need to leap and the impact with the hard surface could accumulate pressure to their knees. Athletes shouldn’t only improve their skills; they also need to strengthen their body, because they experience significant physical pressures. As an example, they need to strengthen all muscles connected to the knees, so they become a unified structure that can better survive repeated impacts. They also need to trim excess pounds, because if you are heavier, the impact on your knees will become more severe. Athletes should work with strength coach and they need to stay abreast on various training techniques that can help to minimize the possibilities of injuries. Athletes also need to check their postures. As an example, people who have problems like scoliosis, lordosis and kyphosis will perform differently during sports sessions. Poor postures may cause us to put extra stress on our knees and this could elevate the possibilities of injuries.
One good way to prevent knee injuries is by training the core, which can be the weakest link in our body. If you want to have an excellent athletic stance, you also need to train the hips and back. Athletic stance is the knee-protecting position and you need to master it quite well. With excellent conditioning and strength program, you should be able to make yourself more resistant to significant pressures in life. It is important for you to avoid specific actions, such as full squats, too often. Climbing two stairs at a time, running downhill and allowing your hip to drop below the knees can put significant pressure to your knees. These activities shouldn’t become the part of your daily training sessions. It is also important that you able to properly land and jump. Your spine position should be straight and neutral. At any time during the training session, you should keep your chest over your knees and also knees over feet. When you land on a hard a surface, you should make sure that you land on the ball of your feet and let most of the impact to sink into your heel.
You need to perform separate jump exercises on different surfaces, such as wood floor, dirt, mats and concrete. So, you will know how to properly deal with different impacts. Train should be performed functionally, so you can prevent injurt and improve the overall performance. By being functional, it means that everything that you should have purpose, benefit and result. As an example, you need to perform light resistance exercises to start strengthening your muscles, joints and bones. The intensity of the training and the overall weight should be increased gradually, until you get the expected results. If you want to prevent knees injuries, you also need shorten your reaction times and improve the overall agility. You should learn from tennis players on how they rely on athletic stance most of the time. They tend to stay low and move only when it’s necessary. They also know how to accelerate, turn, twist and stop depending on the situation. If you can adopt the same movement style, you should be able to minimize the occurrence of knees injuries.


Last Updated: Oct 12, 2016 Views: 74
According to Audrey Whitty, our Curator of European Glass, the Warrior Vase with Stand is made of 'snowflake' glass (and gold ruby glass). She mentioned that this type of glass is sometimes referred to as camphor glass, and pointed out this buckle as another example of a piece that uses snowflake/camphor glass. According to an article on our website, "Eight Sledgehammers on Glass: The 'Warrior' Vase in The Corning Museum of Glass" (by Dedo von Kerssenbrock-Krosigk), the glass is "colourless glass, speckled with white 'snowflake' glass." I recommend reading the full article for more information on the vase, if you are interested!
Merriam-Webster defines camphor glass as: "glass with a cloudy white appearance resembling gum camphor." This definition is supported by this explanation: "Camphor glass is clear glass that has been treated with hydrofluoric acid vapors to give it a frosted whitish appearance. This effect resembles gum camphor, hence the name. Camphor glass was used throughout the decorative arts to make bottles, glass objects, lamp shades and more."


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Learn how to improve the quality of your lawn with Monty's video advice, including demonstrations of how to scarify, aerate and fill in holes left by moss.autumn and springMore advice on lawn careHow to maintain a healthy lawnHow to repair a lawn
. Improving the soil with plenty of organic matter in the form of compost helps drainage and aeration on heavy soils and conserves essential moisture on light ones.SoilGarden spadeGarden forkGarden rakeOrganic matter in the form of compost or well
Learn how to improve the condition of your soil by sowing rye seeds to create green manure, with Monty Don's video demonstration and advice.summer and autumnMore advice on improving soilHow to mulch beds and bordersFeeding plantsImproving soil
Chris Beardshaw shows how to reinvigorate your lawn in an afternoon, offering a comprehensive guide to improving soil structure, scarifying, aerating and dressing.springMore advice on lawn careHow to renovate a lawnHow to improve your lawnHow to cut
To loosen soil in order to relieve compaction, allowing improved drainage and movement of air.
To improve the condition and fertility of soils by ploughing in cover crops while still green.
The addition of lime to the soil to improve its structure, reduce acidity and remedy calcium deficiency.
Carol Klein demonstrates how to add mulch to beds and borders to enrich the soil and ensure healthy plants.spring and autumnCarolMore ways to improve soilImproving soil with green manure.How to feed plants.Improving your soil.Making a soil sieve.
Refers to non-animal, non-vegetable substances that do not contain carbon. Often applied to chemical products used to improve the soil.
The practice of improving soil, by adding a layer of fertiliser to the surface and allowing it to settle in without digging over. Replacing the top layer of soil with compost.


The fires sweeping through Mexico and Central America have destroyed crops, villages, irreplaceable ecological preserves and the hopes and fortunes of many thousands of people.
In Mexico, 12,800 fires have consumed more than 1.1 million acres since January. Almost 1 million acres surrounding Peten, Guatemala's timeless Mayan archeological zone, have been scorched. Nicaragua has become a raging hell with more than 13,000 fires since last December. In Honduras, nearly 130,000 acres have burned. Similar damage is reported in Costa Rica and El Salvador.
All this is the work of man, exacerbated by terrible drought caused by El Nino. Smoke from the fires has drifted to Texas, Florida and even as far north as Wisconsin. The U.S. Agency for International Development has sent south a heavy-lift helicopter, safety equipment for up to 3,000 firefighters, communications equipment and the very valuable assistance of 41 experts. But much more needs to be done--and continued U.S. assistance and expertise will be important.
The vast majority of the fires have found fuel in the forest and grassland areas where centuries-old slash-and-burn agriculture is practiced by peasant farmers. Sadly, there are also reports of blazes set by wealthy landowners who want to clear the land for grazing and drug traffickers who use fires as diversions to keep the army busy, away from their turf.


The lowest level of procedural element in the procedural control model.
The smallest element of procedural control that can accomplish a process-oriented task is a phase. A phase may be subdivided into smaller parts. The steps and transitions as described in IEC 848: 1988 document one method of defining subdivisions of a phase.
A phase can issue one or more commands or cause one or more actions, such as
The execution of a phase may result in
The intent of the phase is to cause or define a process oriented action, while the logic or set of steps that make up a phase are equipment specific. Examples of phases include the following:
You can use SFC diagrams for phases.


Type 2 diabetes is a condition that develops when your body begins to become tolerant to the insulin in your body. Insulin is used to break down the sugar in the blood, and when this process is slowed down, the result is high levels of glucose in the bloodstream. This condition will damage your body. The problem is that many people develop type 2 diabetes and are not aware of it. There are, however, symptoms to look for. The following are only four of the most common symptoms.
Cuts and bruises that heal slowly
Because of the increased sugar level in the blood, you will find that a small cut may take a much longer time to heal than it has in the past. Often, people will chalk this up to a sign of aging, and this may be the case, but it can also be a sign of type 2 diabetes. Slow healing cuts can lead to infections, so if you have type 2 diabetes, you need to get a diagnosis and get it under control.
If you find yourself needing to use the bathroom more frequently than in the past, you may have a classic sign of type 2 diabetes. Diabetes that is not under control can result in the inability to make it through the night. Often several trips to the bathroom, at a time when you should be sleeping, are common.
Numbness in your extremities
This is a sign that you are not only diabetic, but you have had diabetes for an extended period of time. Nerve damage from type 2 diabetes is common, and it strikes the hands and feet first. Known as neuropathy, this condition can be stopped, but not reversed.
Spots in your vision
High levels of glucose in the blood can lead to capillaries in the eyes being damaged. They can grow back, but when they do, they are unstable and can break down. The end result is damage to your retinas, and this results in a partial blindness. Any obstruction to your vision could mean that you have type 2 diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes is a silent killer, so it must be identified. If you or a loved one are showing any of the symptoms listed above, you should contact a houston family doctor.
There are a couple of blood tests that can be done to determine if you have type 2 diabetes and to what extent this disease has developed in your body. These symptoms alone or in combination do not mean you have type 2 diabetes, but you need to have it checked out.


A rather unconventional take on complexity in cities and global military power’s views on its rights to interfere in anybody else’s affairs
The City as a System
This era’s unprecedented urbanization is concentrated in the least developed areas of Asia, Latin America and Africa. The data shows that coastal cities are about to be swamped by a human tide that will force them to absorb—in less than 40 years—almost the entire increase in population absorbed by the whole planet, in all of recorded human history up to 1960. And virtually all this urbanization will happen in the world’s least developed areas, by definition the poorest equipped to handle it—a recipe for conflict, crises in health, education and governance, and food, energy and water scarcity.
Rapid urbanization creates economic, social and governance challenges while simultaneously straining city infrastructure, making the most vulnerable cities less able to meet these challenges. The implications for future conflict are profound, with more people fighting over scarcer resources in crowded, under-serviced and under-governed urban areas.
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The reality is that today’s babies seem smarter and more tech savvy than ever! And their interests are becoming more sophisticated and their questions are getting harder. There is no way we will keep up if we don’t go back to basics. We are raising children that will work in careers that don’t even exist yet, spell words that are not in today’s dictionary, and solve problems that we can’t even imagine right now. What can we do today to raise children that are excited about the careers of the future?
In this edWebinar, Marnie Forestieri, Chief Learning Officer and founder at Amazing Explorers Academy® Early Learning Childhood Centers, will provide ideas for educators of children from ages three to six to support STEAM learning. Topics she will cover include:
- Helping young children explore STEAM concepts with fun and engaging activities
- STEAM learning opportunities in everyday activities and experiences
- Preparing children for kindergarten
- How to build crucial 21st century learning skills—including collaboration, communication, creativity and problem solving, curiosity, and critical thinking—with young learners
- An introduction to a model that promotes lifelong learning skills
Early childhood educators and administrators working with children ages three to six are invited to attend this live, interactive event. There will be time for questions after the presentation. Join us to learn how to prepare the young children you work with for careers of the future!
More information and registration


// Disclaimer:: Fog Index is not developed by me. I am just presenting it in my words. 🙂
Fog Index measures the complexity of writing samples. It provides a means of calculating the educational level (in years) required to understand a particular passage.
To calculate Fog Index of a passage, follow the following steps:-
Count the number of words in a paragraph/passage
Count number of sentences.
Calculate Average Sentence Length by dividing Number of Words by Number of Sentence
Count the Number of Long or Hard Words (more than three syllables). Divide this number by total number of words in the passage. Multiply this number with 100. This will give you Percentage of Hard Words in the passage/paragraph.
Add the Average Sentence Length to the Percentage of Hard Words. Multiply the outcome with 0.4. The number you get is Fog Index. This number indicates the number of years of education required to easily understand the passage
Suppose, in a passage,
Number of Words = 126
Number of Sentence = 9
Average Sentence Length = 126/9 = 14
Number of Hard Words = 13
% Hard Words = 13/126 * 100 = 10.314
Fog Index = (Average Sentence Length + % Hard Words) * 0.4 = (14 + 10.314) = 9.72.
So, one needs an education spanning a little less than 10 years to understand this passage.


PHS 100 Environmental Studies
David Terrell Ph. D.
Warner Pacific College
December 9, 2010
When using natural resources it is important for us as a community to educate ourselves on what resources are available as well as the pros and cons of the different resources. Some natural resources that are available are air or wind, plants, animals, forestry, coal, soils, sun, and our water ways. As time goes by and we are using up one source it is becoming increasingly important for us to find new and creative way to create energy sources using other types of natural resources. Growing up in the 1980’s my family use to sale solar powered energy systems. At the time we were way ahead of the environmentally conscious community and the systems were too expensive for the average America to be able to purchase. However, many improvements have been made to make this natural resource more economic.
According to the website Alternative Energy News, “Solar power is produced by collecting sunlight and converting it into electricity. This is done by using solar panels, which are large flat panels made up of many individual solar cells. It is most often used in remote locations, although it is becoming more popular in urban areas as well.” In fact, even Wal-Mart is getting involved according to one of their articles. This website is full of useful information on many different natural resources and shares a lot of the most current information available. This website is just one of the tools that can be useful for our community to educate ourselves on natural resources.
The government’s involvement has impacted our lifestyle in many ways. For example, the majority of the states have enforced a litter law. Some states have fines while other states have possible jail time that can be enforced. In Oregon the fine is, “Class A misdemeanor. Fine not exceeding $6,250 or imprisonment not exceeding one year or both.” (NCSL, 2010) In establishing these fines, the government has reduced the amount of trash and helped to make our environment a friendlier, cleaner place. They have also played a major role in our parks and wildlife being maintained for us now as well as for our kids in the future. Without the US Forest service our parks would not be in the well maintained manner they are currently in. It would also make it so that they would not be sustained for our children to enjoy many years from now. Without the government we would not have laws such as the clean air act that regulates emissions and is helping to protect our ozone or the Clean Water Act that regulates pollutants in our waters.
It is important for us as a community to get involved and not simply wait until the government sets a mandate as to the different types of sources we are allowed to use. If we become more involved than we could possible stop the destruction before it happens. The easiest way for us to get involved is by being conscious of how we are using our resources. This includes conserving water, recycling when possible, and be generally conscious of the environment and our actions. While recycling bins are common in most schools and work places in Oregon I know that we are ahead of the curve when compared to the rest of the nation. If we all get involved we can help the government to accomplish the daunting task of preserving our environment and in turn our lives.
World Legal Directory (2010) Environmental and Natural Resources Law – US, Retrieved December 9, 2010 from http://www.hg.org/environ.html
National Conference of State Legislation (2010) States with Littering Penalties, Retrieved December 9, 2010 from http://www.ncsl.org/default.aspx?tabid=13215
Alternative Energy News (2010) Solar Power, Retrieved December 9, 2010 from http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/headlines


The Excel SINH Function
The basic hyperbolic functions, cosh, sinh and tanh are related to the equilateral hyperbola, x2-y2=1.
If the area between a line through the origin, the x-axis, and the hyperbola x2-y2=1 has area α/2, then:
- cosh α is the x coordinate of the intersection between the line through the origin and the hyperbola x2-y2=1
- sinh α is the y coordinate of the intersection between the line through the origin and the hyperbola x2-y2=1
- tanh α is equal to sinh α / cosh α
The equation used to calculate the hyperbolic sine is:
The Excel Sinh function calculates the hyperbolic sine (sinh) of a supplied number.
The format of the function is:
SINH( number )
Where the number argument is a real number that you want to calculate the hyperbolic sine of.
Sinh Function Examples
Column B of the spreadsheet below, shows examples of the Excel Sinh Function, used to calculate the hyperbolic sine of three different values.
Further details and examples of the Excel Sinh function can be found on the Microsoft Office website.


Be Alert to Fire Danger
For up-to-date information on wildfires across California, see:
Fires ARE Health Emergencies
Damage from fires reaches far beyond the active blaze zone. Smoke plumes can travel long distances in the air, and injure all breathing organisms. Tiny particles in smoke, odorless carbon monoxide, and extreme heat are all dangerous - and then there are toxic fumes and chemicals from burning human-made structures, too.
The information from Washington State Dept. of Health is also available in Korean, Russian, Somali, Ukranian, as well as the languages linked below:
Unfortunately just smelling smoke isn't enough to tell whether breathing outside air is dangerous. Here are links to air quality tracking and advisory websites:
Different methods used to calculate air quality give us different numbers, and it can be confusing. This article helps to explain why - and suggests how to find the best resource for your location:
Stay indoors as much as possible to minimize exposure. Filter indoors air with a HEPA air filter or an air fan that has a HEPA filter over the intake.
Wear a mask that is rated N-95, KN-95, or higher (rated to filter PM2.5 or smaller) when outside. Tiny combustion particles (as small as 2.5 microns or less) in smoke are particularly dangerous - and unfortunately, most of the masks we've been wearing to avoid spreading the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus generally won't protect against such small particles.
Check the air quality frequently when there's a fire warning (don't just rely on sense of smell). Instead, use the air quality tracking links shown above to see when it is at a dangerous level.
Take precautions to protect your animals, too.
photo: CAUSE (Central Coast Alliance United for a Sustainable Economy) @CAUSE805
Protecting Outdoor Workers
Both state and federal government agencies have guidance to protect people who work outdoors, including:
- emergency response teams - farm workers
- construction crews - landscapers and gardeners
- utility workers - day laborers
- wildlife rescuers
Cal/OSHA's Emergency Standards are required whenever the air quality index (AQI) at the worksite measures PM2.5 at 151 or higher.
No one (except emergency response teams) should be working in an evacuation zone.
Cal/OSHA's Contact Us webpage has phone numbers and a pop-up chat function for questions about working in COVID-19, extreme heat, wildfires, etc., in English and in Spanish.
Returning Home After a Fire
Once emergency response teams allow people to return after a fire, there still may be hazards as well as a lot of clean up work ahead. Water supply or electrical power may be unavailable for awhile; air quality may still be unhealthy. Even if incinerated, dangerous chemicals from building materials or from materials stored on the site are still present (and may be even more toxic).
Continue to follow notification and advice from your local office of emergency services.
Coping With Fire Emergencies
Mental and emotional health are as important as physical safety. These resources may help when facing challenges.
Helping children recover from fire disasters:
The text on this page is copyright PlaneTree Health Library, licensed under Creative Commons CC BY-NC-SA 4.0. Linked contents are the responsibility of their creators or copyright holders.


Genetics Breakthrough Changes Thinking About DNA
Daniel J. DeNoon
WebMD Health News
Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD
Sept. 7, 2012 -- In what scientists call the biggest breakthrough in genetics since the unraveling of the human genome, a massive research effort now shows how the genome works.
The human genome contains 3 billion letters of code containing a person's complete genetic makeup.
The biggest surprise is that most of the DNA in the genome -- which had been called "junk DNA" because it didn't seem to do anything -- turns out to play a crucial role. While only 2% of the genome encodes actual genes, at least 80% of the genome contains millions of "switches" that not only turn genes on and off, but also tell them what to do and when to do it.
Eleven years ago, the Human Genome Project discovered the blueprint carried by every cell in the body. The new ENCODE project now has opened the toolbox each cell uses to follow its individual part of the blueprint. The effort is the work of more than 400 researchers who performed more than 1,600 experiments.
The genome, with its 3-billion-letter code, reads from beginning to end like a book. But in real life, the genome isn't read like a book. The ENCODE data shows it's an intricate dance, with each step carefully choreographed.
'Science for This Century'
Ewan Birney, PhD, associate director of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory, was one of the leaders of the Human Genome Project. He also helped lead the ENCODE project.
"The ENCODE data is just amazing. It shows how complex the human genome is," Birney said at a news conference. "This is the science for this century. We are going to be working out how we make humans, starting out from a simple instruction manual."
"We think this will lead to changes in medicine and therapeutic treatment of disease," Michael Snyder, PhD, director of Stanford University's Center of Genomics and Personalized Medicine, said the conference.
Eric D. Green, MD, PhD, director of the NIH's National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI), notes that most known disease-causing DNA mutations are in the small part of the genome that encodes genes.
"Most of these known mutations cause rare diseases," Green said. "But for the great majority of diseases, it's changes in the switches themselves. Diseases that are more common probably involve multiple DNA variants outside the genes. Common diseases like hypertension, heart disease, and diabetes are probably caused by things sitting in these switches."
The ENCODE data is being published this week in more than 30 journal articles, including an overview article and other papers in the journal Nature. Nature is making all the data available through its web site and is creating online information "threads," so people interested in one part of the research can follow the data across all of the papers.
A New Start
While ENCODE has assembled a huge mountain of data, the job is far from done. Scientists still have to work out what the various "switches" do and how they do it, both by themselves and in different combinations.
The first discoveries to come from the work likely will be new ways of diagnosing disease based on an individual patient's genome. Next will come new ways to treat disease.
"Particularly exciting is that clinical researchers already are beating our doors down," Green says. "We are in striking distance of really benefiting disease research with this new knowledge."
SOURCES:ENCODE Project Consortium, Nature, Sept. 6, 2012.Ecker, J. Nature, Sept. 6, 2012.News teleconference with Eric D. Green, MD, PhD, director, National Human Genome Research Institute, NIH; Ewan Birney, PhD, associate director, European Molecular Biology Laboratory-European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI); Richard Myers, PhD, president, director, and faculty investigator, HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology; John Stamatoyannopoulos, MD, PhD, associate professor of genome sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine; Michael Snyder, PhD, professor and chair of genetics and director, Center of Genomics and Personalized Medicine, Stanford University; and Magdalena Skipper, PhD, senior editor for biology, Nature.
©2012 WebMD, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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This Calcite crystal is an excellent example of a complex doubly terminated scalenohedral crystal.
Found in 1927 at New Glencrieff mine, Wanlockhead, Dumfriesshire, Scotland
Height 124mm, width 143mm
Purchased from Robert Brown
Earth in Space, Level 1, National Museum of Scotland
Did you know?
The crystal has been nicknamed 'The Rocket'.
This beautiful crystal formation was retrieved from deep within the New Glencrieff mine at Wanlockhead on the Leadhills ore field.
A mine worker, Robert Brown rescued the piece from going to the crusher around 1927. He then sold the crystal to the museum, along with two other pieces, for the princely sum of £3.
Back in the 1920s, when the Calcite crystal was uncovered, the mines of Wanlockhead and Leadhills were important sources of lead.
Now the site is a world-class mineral site and a Site of Special Scientific Interest, because over 80 minerals occur there, some of which are very rare.
The particular conditions of pressure, temperature and acidity in the Leadhills ore field have created a collection of secondary lead minerals that is quite unique.
There are a number of mineral species that were first identified here, such as Leadhillite, Lanarkite, Susannite and Caledonite. The mineral Macphersonite from Leadhills was named after Harry MacPherson, Head of Mineralogy at the Museum in 1984.


Information last updated on March 19, 2020
On March 11, 2020, the IRS issued Notice 2020-15, which allows high deductible health plans (HDHPs) to pay for COVID-19 testing and treatment without a deductible. This Legal Update video explains more.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has designated the recent coronavirus outbreak (COVID-19) a global public health emergency. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), coronaviruses are common in animal species. Although most don’t affect humans, the most recent strain, COVID-19, does and can easily spread from person to person.
What Is Coronavirus?
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), coronavirus is a family of viruses that cause illnesses ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases. Common signs of infection include headache, fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose and breathing difficulties. In more severe cases, infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and even death. Individuals who are elderly or pregnant, and anyone with preexisting medical conditions are at the greatest risk of becoming seriously ill from coronaviruses.
How Does Coronavirus Spread?
Although the ongoing outbreak likely resulted from people who were exposed to infected animals, COVID-19 can spread between people through their respiratory secretions, especially when they cough or sneeze.
According the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the spread of COVID-19 from person-to-person most likely occurs among close contacts who are within about 6 feet of each other. It’s unclear at this time if a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose or eyes.
How is my carrier handling COVID-19?
Aetna will be sending out Care Packages to those Aetna members diagnosed with Coronavirus:
Healing Better COVID-19 kits will be delivered to the member’s home (at their last known address) within 1-3 days of Aetna receiving notification of diagnosis. Members diagnosed with Coronavirus COVID-19 will be identified using Aetna Risk Management’s running database of inpatient hospitalizations and self-reports.
The kit will come in two different varieties. Members who have been hospitalized will receive a kit with a more robust set of personal and household cleaning supplies (“Full Suite”) while all other members will receive a lighter set of supplies (“Limited Suite”). The exact supplies contained in the kits are subject to change based on CVS retail supply chain restrictions. There is no cost to either the member or the client for these kits currently.
All kits will include an introductory note and educational content intended to reinforce the answers to frequently asked questions around managing symptoms and preventing the spread of the virus, adapted from current CDC guidelines. The kit will also reference additional resources such as the Aetna COVID-19 microsite (Aetna.com/coronavirus) and 24/7 Resources for Living hotline for emotional support and counseling services.
Examples of products included in the Full Suite kit provided to members identified through hospitalization include: 1 bag of cough drops; lavender Scented Shower Vapor Tablets, Facial Tissue; Antibacterial hand soap; Disinfecting Wipes Lemon Fresh; Hand lotion. Note: Products and information supplied to members through this program may vary due to supply chain restrictions and new information made available by the CDC and others as the Coronavirus situation evolves.
The Full Suite kit is intended to assist members with the most severe symptoms upon their return from the hospital, at which time they may be in isolation and unable to purchase personal or household supplies. The kit allows the member to return home to items waiting at his or her doorstep while reinforcing important information around preventing the spread of the virus to family and the community. Clinical experts agree that patients normally need to hear information multiples times before internalizing it, especially during periods of high stress. As misinformation spreads about the virus, the content included in the kit will reinforce the correct protocols per CDC guidelines.
The first batch of Full Suite kits will begin shipping to Aetna commercial members identified through hospitalization on March 18th, 2020. Members who were previously infected and would not benefit from the kit will receive an email outreach on Monday, March 16th with FAQs to cope with their illness, as well as a link to our dedicated microsite and direct line to Resources For Living.
The Limited Suite kits will be available by the end of March. Availability and structure of the program may change as the nationwide situation continues to develop.
CVS Health to Assist with Coronavirus Testing/Waiving charges for Home Delivery
Given the physical presence of CVS Pharmacies in communities across the country and ability to reach millions of consumers with innovative, local solutions, we’re in a unique position to help address the COVID-19 pandemic. We’re working with the administration and other partners to help facilitate COVID-19 testing with a common goal of increasing frequency and efficiency.
While details are still being worked out based on the number of tests available and geographic needs, it’s important for CVS Pharmacy customers to understand that they won’t be impacted. We expect testing will take place in secure areas of parking lots at select stores – not inside – and individuals being tested will not have to leave their cars. We look forward to sharing more details as they become available.
More information on the steps CVS Health has already taken to address the COVID-19 pandemic — including waiving charges for home delivery of prescription medications and making diagnostic testing and Aetna-covered telemedicine visits available with no co-pay — is available at our frequently updated COVID-19 resource center.
$0 Copay Telemedicine Testing
For the next 90 days, Aetna will offer zero co-pay telemedicine visits for any reason. Aetna members should use telemedicine as their first line of defense in order to limit potential exposure in physician offices. Cost-sharing will be waived for all video visits through the CVS MinuteClinic app, Aetna-covered Teladoc offerings, and in-network providers delivering synchronous virtual care (live videoconferencing) for all Commercial plan designs. Self-insured plan sponsors will be able to opt-out of this program at their discretion.
Through Aetna’s Healing Better program, members who are diagnosed with COVID-19 will receive a care package containing CVS over-the-counter medications to help relieve symptoms. The package will also include personal and household cleaning supplies to help keep others in the home protected from potential exposure.
Through existing care management programs, Aetna will proactively reach out to members most at-risk for COVID-19. Care managers will walk members through what they can do to protect themselves, where to get information on the virus, and where to go to get tested.
Aetna resources available to both plan sponsors and members regarding COVID-19:
- Member Crisis Response Line – 1-833-327-AETNA / 1-833-327-2386
- Employer Management consultation to help organizations respond to the needs of their employees. Employers may contact our specialized support line at 1-800-243-5240
- Resources for Living Toolkit
- Teladoc FAQ & member flyer
Updates are also being posted to aetna.com website under the top banner labeled Stay informed about coronavirus. Be sure to check back frequently as new information becomes available.
All Allied health plans that cover basic lab & diagnostic testing, automatically include testing for COVID-19.
If you use your LabOne benefits (through Quest Diagnostics), the cost of testing is free.
If you are not using the LabOne benefit, the cost is still a covered benefit, subject to normal out-of-pocket costs.
The test must be ordered by a medical professional who is equipped to take the proper respiratory specimen from individuals meeting the Center for Disease Control (CDC) clinical and/or epidemiological criteria for COVID-19 testing.
To learn more about LabOne testing through Quest Diagnostics visit www.questdiagnostics.com/home/Covid-19.
Responding to the Coronavirus Outbreak
Helping to ensure the security and peace of mind of our members is our top priority. We wanted to let you know how we are responding to help you and your employees access needed medical care related to the coronavirus outbreak.
As you know, the first case of coronavirus, otherwise known as COVID-19, was recently confirmed in Nebraska. We want to take this opportunity to assure you that we have a plan in place to continue to provide quality service to our customers while also protecting the health and safety of our employees.
Coverage for coronavirus testing and treatment
For all members, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska will cover, with no cost share, the appropriate medically necessary diagnostic testing for COVID-19, where it is not covered as part of the Public Health Service response. Diagnostic testing includes the testing kit and interpretation of the COVID-19 test. Please note that medically necessary treatment of COVID-19 will be payable subject to the plan’s usual deductible, coinsurance and copay amounts.
Coverage for prescription medications
Effective immediately, we are increasing access to prescription medications by waiving early medication refill limits on 30-day prescription maintenance medications (according to the terms of the member’s plan). We also encourage members to use their plan’s 90-day mail order benefit.
Patients will not be liable for additional charges that stem from obtaining a non-preferred medication if the preferred medication is not available due to shortage or access issues.
Coverage for telehealth visits
Starting Monday, March 16, 2020, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska will cover, with no cost share to the member, the cost of all telehealth visits until further notice.
This expanded coverage applies to all types of health plans, including high deductible health plans, regardless of whether or not the member’s plan currently offers benefits for telehealth.
To register to use services provided by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska’s preferred telehealth provider, AmWell, members will need to enter their BCBSNE ID number, along with the appropriate service key and code. There is one service key for all eligible members; the coupon code to be used depends on what type of plan the member has.
Service Key (for all members)
|BCBSNE||BCBSNEFREE – for all members covered under an employer group plan, and individuals covered under our Armor Health plan|
|MSFREE – for BCBSNE members covered under one of our Medicare Supplement plans|
|MAFREE – for BCBSNE members covered under one of our Medicare Advantage plans|
These codes and more information about accessing telehealth are on our website at NebraskaBlue.com/Telehealth.
- Does testing include office visit and facility charges incurred for testing or just the testing alone? Only the testing is covered at 100%. Any other charges for the office visit or treatment would be covered with the normal member cost shares.
- How, if at all, is testing covered differently on a traditional copay plan vs. a qualified high deductible plan? The testing is covered at 100% for either plan. What the member cost share would be depends on how the provider bills for the service. If the member has a copay, the normal copay would apply (if the provider bills for an office visit, etc.). On the HSA, again the member would be responsible for an office visit charge, etc.
- Would testing be covered at 100% for all testing or would require a known exposure in order to be covered at 100%? Coverage at 100% is not contingent on a known exposure. However, the doctor may not authorize a test without a known exposure.
More information and resources
NebraskaBlue.com/Coronavirus provides important information for members about coverage for coronavirus testing and treatment, expanded access to prescription drugs and telehealth services and more, and will be updated regularly.
As an additional resource for you, the CDC has created an interim guide for businesses and employers to help plan and respond to COVID-19.
If you have any questions, please reach out to a member of your Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska sales or account management team.
Lincoln is diligently monitoring developments related to the Coronavirus (COVID-19), declared by the World Health Organization as a public health emergency of international concern. As a leader in leave and disability, we are here to partner with you to help you lead your employees during this rapidly evolving situation.
Informational Tools to Support You
We’re sharing the following materials to support you and your employees:
- Revised Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document: Since our last touch base, we’ve updated our FAQ to include more information that may be helpful for you.
- Employer Best Practice Recommendations: Our Chief Medical Officer, Dr. David Berube, compiled a list of best practice considerations for you.
Also, for transparency, we are pleased to share our business continuity protocols that would be leveraged should a Lincoln office be impacted by the virus.
We’ll share more guidance as the situation evolves and welcome any additional questions you may have through your Lincoln sales or service contact.
Medica has announced a coverage change related to the diagnostic testing for COVID-19 that follow guidelines issued through the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and state health departments. Medica will waive co-pays, co-insurance, and deductibles related to COVID-19 testing for all individuals and Medicare members.
To help limit the spread of COVID-19, Medica provides coverage for virtual care or telehealth services, often a more convenient way to access health care services from home. When appropriate, members are encouraged to utilize virtual care benefits.
The health and well-being of members is a priority and Medica will continue to monitor the status of COVID-19 and its impact on our members.
What MetLife is doing for our customers
MetLife has launched a comprehensive approach to assess business readiness across all critical functions and markets through the lens of a global pandemic. This includes a review of a number of areas including operational readiness, employee mobility, infrastructure resiliency and information security.
MetLife remains committed to ensuring our customers get the service they expect and the timely handling of claims. To achieve this, we are:
- Activating our business continuity planning to assess readiness throughout the enterprise
- Conducting a review of end to end plans and interdependencies
- Stress testing critical processes and systems including information technology and security
- Determining alternate solutions for all critical processes, including resources and technology
- Testing employee mobility and connectivity by enacting elements of our business continuity plan in a controlled environment
- Scenario planning for a high number of resources being out due to illness and counter-measures and supplemental staffing should this situation arise
Additionally, MetLife is prepared to handle a shift to a remote workforce with the majority of our team already equipped to work remotely and securely.
Federal Leave Legislation
How does the Federal Leave Legislation in Response to the Coronavirus impact my business?
How does the Federal Leave Legislation in Response to the Coronavirus impact my business?
Mutual of Omaha continues to monitor coronavirus (COVID-19)
As you’ve likely seen in recent news coverage, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are closely monitoring a global outbreak of respiratory illness referred to as the coronavirus or COVID-19. Although the situation continues to evolve, we would like to share a few updates with you around ensuring the safety of both our employees and our commitment to our customers.
Business Continuity Plan in Place
Mutual of Omaha has a multi-disciplinary team of subject matter experts meeting daily to closely monitor, assess and respond to the coronavirus situation as it develops. We are activating precautionary measures in our office locations nationwide and working with associates regarding travel and other health-related questions and concerns. Mutual of Omaha remains committed to providing superior service to our customers, business partners, policyowners and insureds, and we are taking active steps to prevent any interruption in our business processes.
Group Disability Claims
As with any illness, disability and similar leave claims related to the COVID-19 virus will be evaluated according to the terms of the policy and the facts specific to that claim. Generally, a person who is not sick but misses work due to a quarantine is not entitled to disability benefits. However, certain paid leave programs may be involved depending on the situation, so as always, it is best to review the applicable policy, plan or program documentation.
Also, due to the nature and typical length of isolation, we expect that some absences will fall under employers’ paid sick or PTO plans. Mutual of Omaha is here to help if you’d like to review how your disability plan fits with other paid leave policies.
AbsenceProSM – FMLA Claims
One of the primary questions related to the coronavirus is whether leave taken due to COVID-19 qualifies for protection under FMLA. Click here for a document on information and guidance.
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Customers who have EAP services with us have access to a broad range of resources and services. This includes:
- Access to EAP Professionals 24 hours a day, seven days a week (Toll-free Number: 800-316-2796)
- Face-to-face sessions with a counselor, if eligible
- A comprehensive online legal and financial resource library
If you have any questions, please contact your local Sales Representative.
National General Reduces Financial Burden and Improves Ease of Access to COVID-19 Diagnostic Testing
NEW YORK, March 09, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — To help limit the spread of COVID-19, National General Holdings Corp. (NASDAQ:NGHC) will waive 100% of customers’ out-of-pocket costs for COVID-19 diagnostic tests and will ease access for customers seeking diagnostic testing. This waiver will extend to all National General Short Term Medical customers and will be made available to employers in the National General Benefits Solutions Program.
As part of the effort regarding COVID-19 diagnostic testing, National General will:
- Waive all member cost-sharing for COVID-19 diagnostic tests and related services, including the associated office visit, emergency room, or urgent care charges. The waiver applies to any out-of-pocket costs, including deductibles, copays, and co-insurance for diagnostic testing related to COVID-19.
- Waive all prior authorization requirements as they relate to COVID-19 diagnostic testing.
- Allow early refills and up to a 90-day supply of a member’s prescription drugs in the event of hardship related to COVID-19.
Customers concerned about exposure to COVID-19 should contact their healthcare provider or state health department. National General’s customer service call center will be available to assist if customers have any questions about COVID-19 testing-related services.
About National General Holdings Corp.
National General Holdings Corp., headquartered in New York City, is a specialty personal lines insurance holding company. National General traces its roots to 1939, has a financial strength rating of A- (excellent) from A.M. Best, and provides personal and commercial automobile, homeowners, umbrella, recreational vehicle, motorcycle, supplemental health, and other niche insurance products.
Prinicpal is prepared for potential effects of COVID-19 (coronavirus), and we’ll be here to help you address questions from your employers and their employees.
Read what Principal is doing to manage the impact of COVID-19 in our business.
Get answers to common questions regarding how COVID-19 applies to your coverage.
Dealing with the effects of COVID-19 (coronavirus) on you, your investments, your retirement account, and your business
This information will be updated if needed, as Principal continues to monitor the situation and address common questions.
You can also get the latest on all COVID-19 resources from Principal as they continue to share information on our approach, market volatility and what individuals, businesses and advisors can do to manage uncertainty.
UnitedHealth Group Reinforces Actions Taken to Provide Members and Patients with COVID-19 Support and Resources
- UnitedHealthcare has waived all diagnostic test cost-sharing for insured members
- OptumCare clinicians are trained, well-prepared and addressing patients’ needs
- Optum’s Emotional-Support Help Line is free of charge to help anyone dealing with stress and anxiety
Read the March 9th press release
Watch the UHC video regarding Covid-19
Virtual visit providers have developed guidelines for members who think they may have been infected by COVID-19.
The Teladoc Health team has been monitoring this situation closely. Recent activities to support members who may be impacted by the coronavirus include:
- Keeping global medical leadership team updated on the latest information regarding the COVID-19 and the most recent recommendations by the World Health Organization (WHO) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
- Training all front-line clinicians on how to evaluate respiratory illnesses given the outbreak of this infection.
- Launching a coronavirus landing page* on Teladoc.com, which provides information about the virus and helps members navigate the best ways to receive care
*Members are being steered to this landing page through social and digital media.
Following CDC guidelines, AmWell clinicians screen to determine who should be sent to an in-person facility for further testing and who is at low risk for contracting COVID-19 by:
- Evaluating a patient’s symptoms
- Understanding a patient’s risk factors (e.g., recent travel or exposure to persons under investigation for COVID-19)
Doctor On Demand
- Doctor On Demand has distributed several practice-wide communications, educating providers about the latest developments regarding COVID-19. These educational communications are intended to ensure providers have the appropriate tools and resources to assist patients calling in with general questions about the coronavirus or about their risk of exposure.
- Doctor On Demand launched a 2-minute assessment to help patients determine what precautions they should take in the event COVID-19 impacts their community. The assessment provides prevention recommendations, as well as categorizing individuals based on their risk level. High-risk individuals are directed to a doctor’s office to develop an individualized care plan. The assessment is available via the Doctor On Demand website and app.
- Doctor On Demand is a beneficial resource for patients to utilize when differentiating between symptoms of the flu or common cold, or when they should seek in-person care for testing of COVID-19. Doctors can ask recommended historical questions as listed in the Interim 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) Patient Under Investigation (PUI) form, and can reassure patients if they don’t meet the criteria as outlined by the WHO and CDC.
- A thorough medical evaluation to include a patient’s travel history and symptoms, as well as referral to the appropriate level of care for any patient who is determined to be a potential PUI, per the CDC’s guidelines.
- These patients are then reported to the appropriate public health department as recommended by the CDC and given instructions on how to seek local care, including contacting the local health care facility prior to arrival to ensure that isolation precautions are followed for the safety of others in the facility.
COVID-19 Outbreak Response Frequently Asked Quesitons
Unum is taking several steps to ensure we can support customers and their employees through the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. As always, the health and safety of our customers, colleagues, and communities remain our top priority. Our business continuity program prepares us to respond to disruptive events through robust planning, regular testing, and constant monitoring – ensuring we can continue to support you and your employees as the situation progresses.
How is Unum Responding to Coronavirus?
We have created a cross-functional team that is closely monitoring developments as inquiries begin to emerge from our customers and providing guidance on the impact a quarantine or Coronavirus diagnosis will have on our policies. Our company is prepared to work closely with employers and policyholders to answer their questions and meet their needs.
Short-Term Disability and Long-Term Disability
Unum is continuing to actively monitor the situation as things develop, but at this time from a disability determination standpoint.
We would evaluate each situation where an individual is quarantined on a case-by-case basis.
If an illness results from the underlying condition for which the individual was quarantined, it would be treated as any other condition. For example, complications arising from receipt of the Coronavirus would be considered a disability if those complications result in restrictions and limitations that satisfy the contractual definition of disability and are not otherwise excluded by the policy.
Additionally, there are a few states that have unpaid leave where quarantine is a qualifying leave reason.
Unpaid State leaves – Standard Leave Administration if qualifying event (unless the Employer has specifically opted out of these laws, which would be listed in service agreement)
- MN Quarantine
- SC Quarantine
- ME Public Health
Quarantine, in and of itself, would not be considered a medical impairment, similar to how loss of license alone does not result in disability if not accompanied by medical symptoms.
Important health plan benefit updates regarding coronavirus (COVID-19)
Last week, we communicated to our members and groups about benefit updates regarding coronavirus (COVID-19) and this week we have an important update.
Effective March 16, 2020, all Wellmark members will have access to virtual health care visits with no cost-share. To avoid the spread of COVID-19, we encourage our members to take advantage of virtual visits with their current primary care physician, if they have this capability. For those who don’t currently have a primary care physician, please use an in-network provider or Doctor on Demand®. The cost-share for such visits, including those for mental health reasons, are waived for the next 90 days. At that time, we will reassess. This update applies to all fully-insured and self-funded plans.
The other updates we communicated previously still apply to Wellmark’s fully-insured members. If your plan is self-funded by an employer or other entity, there may be some variation. Wellmark is currently working with our self-funded groups on how they wish to implement these or similar updates to their benefit plans with respect to COVID-19.
- Waiving prior authorization processes. Wellmark will waive prior authorization processes for covered services related to COVID-19 to ensure patients receive the right care at the right time and location.
- Covering diagnostic tests for COVID-19. Members will have no cost-share for appropriate testing to establish the diagnosis of COVID-19.
- Increasing access to prescription medications. Wellmark prescription drug benefit plans allow for early refill (up to 30 days of medication) and we encourage the use of your 90-day retail and mail order benefits for maintenance drugs. We also will ensure formulary flexibility if there are medication shortages or other access issues. Members will not be liable for any additional charges if they receive a non-formulary medication as a result of a shortage of their current medication.
- 24/7 support. Members also have access to Wellmark’s BeWell 24/7 service that connects them to real people who can help with a variety of health-related concerns 24/7.
If you are a Wellmark Medicare Supplement member, please visit Medicare.gov to learn what is covered related to your COVID-19 health care needs. As your supplemental carrier, Wellmark will continue to pay for out-of-pocket expenses according to your policy related to Medicare covered services, such as deductibles, copays and coinsurance. Visit your prescription drug plan’s website (YourMedicareSolutions.com/Covid-19 or JourneyRxMedicare.com/Covid-19) to see specific information about drug coverage related to coronavirus.
COVID-19 vs. Other Common Illnesses
Upper Respiratory Infection
|How long it takes to develop?
Occurs 2 to 14 days after exposure
|How long it takes to develop?
Starts quickly, symptoms develop immediately
|How long it takes to develop?
Develops slowly over time
|How it spreads
Spreads from person to person through coughing and sneezing and it can also be spread through infected surfaces or objects
Note: Exposure is higher if traveling from or living in regions where others have contracted it.
|How it spreads
Spreads from person to person through coughing, sneezing, talking, or touching germs on an object
|How it spreads
Spreads from person to person through coughing, sneezing, or touching germs on an object
|What are the symptoms?
Fever, cough, and shortness of breath
|What are the symptoms?
Fever, chills, cough, sore throat, body aches, headaches, fatigue
|What are the symptoms?
Coughing, runny nose, congestion, pain or pressure behind the face, scratchy or sore throat
Information provided by: Teladoc


Norway’s oil company, Statoil, is drilling wells in the far north, in the Barents Sea. This offshore drilling project includes many safeguards because of Norway’s relatively strong environmental regulations. According to the University of Alaska, some of the features of this project include reinjecting carbon dioxide into the field, as well as drill cuttings. The Norwegian government does not allow any discharges during normal drilling conditions, whether the discharge is mud, oil, or water.
One interesting feature of the Snohvit, or Snow White, drilling operation is that the drilling equipment is located on the floor of the sea, and engineers on the coast operate the facility remotely. This underwater rig is 89 miles offshore, so it sets a record for operating a drill at a distance. This seems like a very long distance for remotely controlling a complicated system such as a drill. In addition, the natural gas pipeline must also be at least 89 miles long to transport the liquid natural gas to the shore facility. According to Statoil, the shore facility is located in Melkoya in the Hammerfest region.
Snohvit is also located farther north than any other oil field in the world. According to Statoil, the ocean this far north in Alaska is frozen solid, although warmer currents prevent this part of the Barents Sea from freezing. Using an underwater rig is necessary here because of the icy winter storms which would damage a rig above the waves. Underwater temperatures are much warmer than temperatures at the surface of the ocean. The freezing temperatures require additional precautions, such as using electrical heating and antifreeze to keep the pipeline free of ice. Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim plans to improve control room technology so that equipment in future oil fields can also be controlled from a long distance.
Pipelines only bring the oil from Snohvit to the shore. The main facility converts this natural gas into liquid natural gas so tankers can deliver it across the ocean to other ports. According to Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, the Snohvit rigs collect gas as well as liquid petroleum compounds, producing a multiphase flow which is complicated to transport to the facility on the shore.
This project is also designed to reduce the use of toxic chemicals. According to Alaska University, the Snohvit operation replaces chemical or petroleum based muds with water based muds. Dope was not used to coat the pipes and casings, so this product which contains petroleum as well as metal particles will not leak into the sea. The decision not to use dope is another unique feature of this project. E and P Magazine reports that the oil company ConocoPhillips is also working on dope free projects in the North Sea, which reduce waste disposal costs and involve less risk to oil rig workers along with their environmental benefits.


By: Jake Kerr
In writing terms, pacing means how quickly the reader perceives things as happening in a story. This is different from rhythm, which is more about how the reader perceives something as “sounding” as they read it. Pacing is most often discussed at the narrative level—the pace of a chapter and a novel as a whole.
Pacing, like any other tool in the writer’s toolbox, has no definitive correct or incorrect usage—just the RIGHT usage. It all depends on the author’s intent and the reader experience. The King of Elfland’s Daughter is a very slowly paced novel, but that does not mean it is weaker than a brisk fantasy like The Hunger Games.
itself is not right or wrong, its execution can be. Parts of a novel (or
even the whole thing) can be paced too fast or too slow. Let’s look at some
“This book starts out too slow.”
This is a common pacing problem and can be due to one or more problems. Probably the most common reason for a slow start is that the narrative tension is introduced too late. This can be countered by the introduction of interesting characters who are engaging in and of themselves, but interesting characters only buy you so much time. Eventually you’ll need to get to the conflict that drives the plot. Take too long and you get pacing complaints.
Solutions here generally involve either introducing the conflict of the novel quicker within the scenes you already have or just starting later in the book. It is not uncommon for chapter three in my first draft to end up as chapter one in the final draft.
As I mentioned, another solution is to just make those earlier chapters more interesting, with vibrant characters and atmosphere. Note that this can actually make the problem worse. Adding lots of description
to a slow chapter
doesn’t exactly make it move quicker. So be careful.
“This section of the book is
. . .
Read the full article HERE!
If you missed my writing & marketing tweets and retweets yesterday, here they are again:
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of Writing: Dealing with Pacing Problems
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What You Don’t Like about Book Marketing Will Hurt
YourBook | Warner CoachingWarner Coaching http://ow.ly/HTBOo
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About This Image
The Great Red Spot is a vast storm system on Jupiter. It spins like a cyclone, with speeds reaching 270 miles per hour (430 km/h). The storm, which is twice the size of the Earth, was first seen when 17th century astronomers turned their telescopes on the planet. More than 300 years later, it's still going strong.Learn more in NewsCenter HubbleSite's NewsCenter is the place to find the story behind this image, along with its original news release and all related images.


During this cold and flu season, everyone is trying to stay healthy.Â Here are four ways to keep from getting sick and spreading your germs:
Â Â Â 1.Â Get vaccinated.
Â Â Â 2.Â Cover your cough.
Â Â Â 3.Â Stay home when you're sick.
Â Â Â 4.Â Wash your hands!
Children's musician Bill Harley has written a fun song to remind us all about the importance of washing our hands to stay well and healthy.Â Click the graphic below to hear this great little song, "Wash Your Hands (lÃ¡vate las manos)."Â And don't forget to wash your hands!


A tooth abscess is a pocket of pus that's caused by a bacterial infection. The abscess can occur at different regions of the tooth for different reasons. A periapical (per-e-AP-ih-kul) abscess occurs at the tip of the root, whereas a periodontal (per-e-o-DON-tul) abscess occurs in the gums next to a tooth root. The information here refers specifically to periapical abscesses.
A periapical tooth abscess usually occurs as a result of an untreated dental cavity, injury or prior dental work.
Dentists will treat a tooth abscess by draining it and getting rid of the infection. They may be able to save your tooth with a root canal treatment, but in some instances it may need to be pulled. Leaving a tooth abscess untreated can lead to serious, even life-threatening, complications.


Science Doesn't Always Boost Sales, Study Finds
WEDNESDAY, May 11, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- Does science sell? Sometimes.
Using science to sell chocolate chip cookies and other yummy products is likely to backfire, a new study shows, but touting scientific research behind more practical, everyday items -- such as body wash -- can be an effective marketing strategy.
"People see science as cold, but competent. That doesn’t pair well with products designed to be warm and pleasurable to consumers," explained study co-author Rebecca Reczek, a professor of marketing at Ohio State University.
"But the cold competence of science is seen as perfectly appropriate to sell practical products that serve a utilitarian purpose," Reczek said in a school news release.
Her team conducted a series of experiments with hundreds of U.S. college students. In one, students were given a menu with three chocolate chip cookie choices -- option A, B or C -- that were described in different terms.
Half of the participants had a menu that described option A as having "Luscious chocolatey taste," while the other had a menu that described option A as "Scientifically developed to have a luscious chocolatey taste."
On both menus, options B and C were the same and didn't mention science.
The science reference reduced the likelihood that participants would choose option A by 30%, according to the study. The results were published May 5 in the Journal of Consumer Research.
In another experiment, participants said they were more likely to buy a new body wash if they were told the lather will "wash away odor-causing bacteria," rather than the lather will "immerse your senses in an indulgent experience."
And another experiment found that mentioning a "rigorous scientific development process" in marketing an indulgent smoothie brand was described by participants as "disjointed." They were also more likely to say "something seemed weird about the slogan."
The findings have implications beyond marketing, according to Reczek.
"The fact that consumers have stereotypes about science and scientists may be a barrier to accepting science, whether it is products or scientific findings," she said.
"People need a more realistic view of what scientists are really like and how science is a part of our everyday lives, including many of the products we use," Reczek added.
For more about Americans' views on science, go to the Pew Research Center.
SOURCE: Ohio State University, news release, May 9, 2022


Researchers from the University of Washington, Seattle, have discovered that genes in animals remain 'turned on' days after death, possibly opening the door to new and better ways for preserving donated organs for transplantation and more accurate methods of determining when murder victims were killed.
Led by microbiologist Peter Noble, the research team wanted to test a new method they had developed for calibrating gene activity measurements. Following research they had undertaken 2 years ago on the abundance of microbes in different human organs after death, they decided to apply their method to post-mortem samples. "It's an experiment of curiosity to see what happens when you die," Noble commented. The paper based on the outcomes of this research is currently being peer-reviewed for publication.
Noble and his colleagues extracted and measured messenger RNA (mRNA) levels in the tissue of recently deceased mice and zebrafish. As mRNA plays an important role in gene expression, higher levels of this molecule should indicate more genetic activity. The research team were able to describe over 1 000 genes that 'stayed alive' post-mortem. A total of 515 mice genes continued to operate for up to two days, whilst 548 zebrafish genes remained functional for an entire four days after death.
One of the most surprising findings was that hundreds of genes actually fired up - boosting their activity - within the first 24 hours after death. Noble suspects that many of them might have been suppressed or shut off by a network of other genes when their host was alive, and only after death were they free to 'reawaken".
The team also found that many of the genes that persisted post-mortem are typically active during embryonic development, which led them to theorise that, on a cellular level, newly developing lifeforms might share a lot in common with degenerating corpses. They also found that several genes that promote cancer became more active following death. This could explain why people who receive organ transplants from the recently deceased have a higher risk of cancer, although this has long been attributed to the immunosuppressive drugs transplant patients are typically prescribed.
In an accompanying paper, Noble and two of his colleagues demonstrated another possible use for gene activity measurements, showing that they can provide accurate estimates on the actual time of death. Estimating the time of death is crucial for criminal investigations but this process is mostly done using non-biological factors (for example, the last SMS sent or call made on the victim's mobile phone). Following Noble and his colleagues' discoveries on gene activation after death, there is now the real possibility of being able to biologically affirm the actual time of death, which will greatly benefit forensic and criminal investigations.
"The headline of this study is that we can probably get a lot of information about life by studying death," Noble concluded.
It's no secret that feeling positive vibes from people you work with makes the job more enjoyable.
But a new University of Michigan study shows a leader's positive energy has a direct impact on productivity, absenteeism and commitment. People who work with positive energy leaders also do more work outside their official roles, and have more satisfying family lives.
Kim Cameron and Wayne Baker of U-M's Ross School of Business and colleagues Brad Owens of Brigham Young University and Dana Sumpter of California State University-Long Beach measured relational energy—the energy you get when you interact with people who make you feel good when you spend time with them. Through surveys and field studies they documented how this energy works and the effect it has on organizations.
They found that the more relational energy a leader exudes, the better employees on that team perform in terms of productivity, absenteeism, engagement and job retention.
Employees also are more likely to help each other and volunteer for tasks outside their job description.
"Managers spend so much time managing information and influence," said Cameron, the William Russell Kelly Professor of Management and Organizations. "But relational energy trumps both of those by a factor of four as an outcome determiner."
A related study by Cameron, Baker and their co-authors found that people who experience relational energy at work have better home lives as well.
"There's a spillover from relational energy at work to the home, said Baker, the Robert P. Thome Professor of Management and Organizations and professor of sociology. "When we interact with people, some buoy us up and others bring us down. When you're buoyed up you tend to bring that home."
Relational energy isn't to be confused with charisma or personality, say Cameron and Baker, who are both core faculty members for the Center for Positive Organizations at the Ross School. Being an extrovert isn't necessary. It's simply the way people feel after you interact with them.
The research uncovers a cost-free way leaders can improve results and loyalty, and create a positive work environment. The key is finding the centers of energy in the company.
"Early in our research, we'd meet leaders who knew something was wrong, but they couldn't put their finger on it," Baker said. "Now they can do a relational energy survey, draw an energy map and show the bright parts of their organization and the black holes. It's hard to figure out what's going on until they see a map. It's like seeing an X-ray."
Cameron says there's a need for companies to recognize relational energy and find ways to make it work for them.
"Do people get promoted or hired because they're a positive energizer? No, it's not even on the agenda," Cameron said. "So here's a resource that's been ignored but is a major predictor of performance."
Explore further: A little respect can kindle creativity at work


On December 15 the Springfield News-Leader reported that three lots of H1N1 pediatric vaccine had been recalled from the Springfield Greene County Health Department. H1N1 is commonly referred to as "swine flu." The issue with these "swine flu" vaccines was not one of safety, but one of potency. Tests revealed that the potency, or strength, of the recalled vaccines wasn't as high as is preferred. In all, around 800,000 vaccines were recalled from various suppliers throughout the United States.
There is no concern for the safety of children who received vaccinations from the recalled lots, according to information released from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Nor do those children need to be re-vaccinated. For more information, contact your local physician or the Springfield Greene County Health Department at (417) 864-1658.
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