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Attitude statements form key parts of many surveys. In this post I’m not going to look at how to generate attitude statements for surveys or at the best scales to use (this subject is dealt with here). Rather I am providing a checklist that will help to present your attitude statements to respondents in the best possible way.
1. Attitude statements should be debatable i.e. they should be worded so that respondents can agree or disagree with them.
The statement should not be a widely accepted fact. For example the statement Mobile phones allow us to communicate with other people is undoubtedly true, everyone will agree with it. Re-word or remove any attitude statements from your survey that everyone will almost certainly either agree or disagree with.
Try to use more extreme words in attitude statements. For example, Makes cars that are OK will tend not to generate a wide variation in response. The vast majority of people will probably agree. If there is no variation in response the data from the attitude statement is not telling us anything about differences in respondents’ attitudes. We may as well have not asked the question.
The statement Makes great cars is a better alternative as the wording is more emotive, the statement becomes something that you can agree or disagree with. Responses for each brand are more likely to show differences.
3. Attitude statements should focus on just one concept.
Many years ago I worked on a tracking survey for a large telecoms company. One of the attitude statements on the survey was Makes a fair and reasonable profit. Results from the statement were difficult to interpret as we were asking respondents to judge the company profit on 2 dimensions, fair and reasonable, which are not necessarily the same thing. Interpretation was also hindered by the fact that the word fair could be interpreted in 2 ways; either as the amount of profit is just, or that the amount of profit is quite good.
A few days ago I answered a survey about mobile phone manufacturers. A range of attitude statements was presented for each brand I said I had previously heard of. One of the statements was Makes the best mobile phones.
With this statement each brand cannot be considered in isolation as you are forced to make a comparison. One of the brands is the best and the others aren’t no matter how good their phones are – the use of an attitude statement is inappropriate here.
The statement could be turned into a question asking Which brand do you think makes the best mobile phones? Or a better alternative statement would have been Makes great mobile phones. Each brand is therefore considered in isolation and you can agree or disagree with the statement to a varying extent.
Wordy statements tend to be less easy for respondents to understand and more likely to be subject to different interpretations. Always review the wording of your attitude statements with a view to shortening them. A good target is to try to ensure that none of your statements are more than 15 words long.
Including only positive statements tends to make respondents bored and prone to giving the same answer for each statement. Including a mix of positive and negative statements is more likely to make respondents consider each statement individually avoiding a pattern of answers forming.
A mix of positive and negative statements can also be a good quality control mechanism. If a respondent gives the same answer for each statement then it is likely that they are cheating and just going through the questionnaire as quickly as possible, a practice called “flatlining”. Any respondents identified as flatliners can then be excluded from the final data set.
Nice piece of writing. Found useful.


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HTC has already released quite a lot of information about the new Android 7.0 Nougat update to its smartphones. The HTC 10 is finally going to receive the new software. The final date is far off. According to sources, the update will be available in early December.
The update will be available for the HTC 10, HTC One M9 and HTC One A9. It was previously known that the company would bring out the Android 7.0 Nougat update in the fourth quarter of 2016. However, up to now, no update is available for these smartphones. According to sources, the European HTC devices will get the update around the end of November.
The update will start to roll out at end of November and be continued till early December. Also, HTC One M9 will be the first to get the update to the newer Android version. However, some latest rumors say the handset will get the update to Android 7.0 in late December.

industry_corpus2: Computing & Telecommunications


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POSSE is a powerful workflow engine that automates, integrates, monitors and enforces business process rules.
For the user, this means that POSSE connects all of their agency's data, so that they can easily search and work with it. It takes tasks and automates them to increase efficiency and allow you to spend more time doing your job, rather than filling out paperwork or searching for information.
Several modules are available for all POSSE solutions. These tools add value, increase efficiency, and make it easier to visualize data.
Provides a quick visual overview of your organization's performance, making it easier to track productivity and identify areas for improvement.
The geographical information systems interface allows you to track and compare data onto a visual map.
POSSE solutions are fully functional on mobile devices, even offline. This makes them ideal for inspectors and enforcement officials to use.
Reporting Using POSSE's ad hoc reporting tool, you can quickly and easily build clean, attractive, and informative reports.
Computronix's Land Management System solution is built on POSSE, and uses the POSSE engine to automate workflow associated with building, planning, engineering, permitting, inspections, code enforcement, and other land management actions.
Computronix has used POSSE to create an Alcoholic Beverage Control solution, for managing the business and data relevant to Liquor Licensing and Licensee Compliance and Enforcement. It is intended for liquor control boards.
POSSE Enterprise Licensing System can handle any licensing need, from professional licensing to hunting and fishing licenses. It is a fully-integrated POSSE solution that connects all your data in a single system.
Contact us now to learn how POSSE can transform your agency!


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One of the main things the renaissance genius Leonardo da Vinci did was to challenge the orthodox thinking. He constantly asked skeptical questions and challenged deeply entrenched beliefs that had long been taken for granted. This has made him probably the most important inventor of all times and the father of disruptive innovation.
Don’t believe that da Vinci’s radical ideas and innovations came out of the blue. No, he was indeed a curious person. Just think about the 13,000 pages of his famous journals, in which he made a daily record of his observations and studies. These observations made it possible for him to think about and at least try to solve problems that nobody had been seriously considering before. Nobody was asking for a parachute, a car, a submarine, a hang glider, a diving suit, a helicopter or a calculator, and yet, Leonardo da Vinci invented, or at least conceptualized, these things.
How was it even possible to come up with such “crazy” ideas so many centuries ago? Because da Vinci was able to spot unmet needs and innovation opportunities since he was more observant and more engaged with his environment than others. He had a strong urge to constantly develop deep insights into all kinds of phenomena and to use the knowledge to solve problems and address needs in completely new ways. And it certainly paid off.
You can do the same. You need to regularly engage in activities that awaken your curiosity by exposing yourself to new trends, impressions and perspectives. You can do so by talking with people from different industries, other countries and various levels of your organization. Or how about visiting new and out of-the-ordinary places and why not follow new fashions in clothing, music and movies to mention a few? There are certainly plenty of ways to get your finger on the pulse of change and this will help you understand the latent needs that your customers can’t articulate. So don’t ask them what they want, ask them about their problems, frustrations and challenges as a great way to see the world through the eyes of your customers.
How important is that? Extremely important and here is why. If there were one universal law of innovation, it would be this: Powerful new ideas are never simply snatched out of the air. There is no way you can come up with breakthrough ideas without the right kinds of insights - the output is dependent on the input. So investing time and money in innovation without a rich portfolio of insights is more often than not a fruitless exercise. Because without, how can you challenge orthodoxies and propose often seemingly crazy alternatives which, after all, is one of the fundamental driving forces for true innovation? The answer is: You can’t.
You want to learn about a shortcut to these powerful insights? We have developed a tool called OpportunityDetectorTM that not only identifies your market’s problems, frustrations and challenges, it also ranks them in terms of impact and frequency. Knowing this will make it so much easier for you to come up with that amazing idea that has the ability to perhaps even disrupt your market and leave your competitors behind.
Based on this concept we have launched a new mini eBook that we are offering as a free download. The eBook will help you better understand your target group's explicit and implicit motivations, and explain how this insight can be turned into innovation. Please click on the link above to download.

industry_corpus2: Technology & Research


text: Here we have our very first glimpse of Gendry, the apprentice smith, and the master armorer Tobho Mott. Dempsie, though very different in some particulars from the character as described, still manages to convey the same humble origins and something of his bull-headed stubborness. The clothing Mott is wearing certainly suggests a foreign origin, but his accent is pure English—has the Qohorik smith lived in Westeros so long that he’s lost any trace of his native accent, or are they not referring to Qohor at all?

industry_corpus2: Literature & Emotions


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GILGIT: Speakers at a function here on Friday emphasised for need of creating awareness among people about snow leopard’s survival for healthy ecosystem.
The function was held to launch Pakistan Snow Leopard and Ecosystem Protection Programme (PSLEP) in Gilgit-Baltistan. The event was jointly organised by ministry of climate change, UNDP-Pakistan and Snow Leopard Foundation (SLF).
Wildlife experts, officials from government and non-government organisations, educational institutions and representatives of local communities participated in the event.
GB secretary agriculture, livestock and fisheries Khadim Hussain Saleem was the chief guest.
On the occasion, SLF director Dr Mohammad Ali Nawaz said prime objectives of the project were to promote landscape approach for survival of snow leopard and its prey species by reducing threats and applying sustainable land and forest management in critical habitats in northern Pakistan.
He also briefed the participants about the key challenges and barriers the project intended to address, including inadequate capacity, knowledge and proven models for conserving snow leopard and wildlife species at a landscape level; inadequate representation and protection of important habitats, including forests, in existing protected area network; insufficient economic incentives and alternatives to current practices of unsustainable land and forest use by local communities; and lack of awareness and skills necessary for wildlife monitoring, wildlife crime prevention and detection and effective conservation decision-making.
Syed Mahmood Nasir, inspector general forests, ministry of climate change, stressed the conservation of snow leopard as the animal is symbol of healthy ecosystem. He said climate change was major threat to snow leopards as agricultural lands were shifting in high mountains due to fast melting of glaciers and snow.
He appreciated initiatives of SLF like livestock vaccination and insurance schemes to support the community.
On the occasion, Mr Saleem acknowledged the conservation efforts of the organisations, particularly those working for snow leopard and its ecosystem conservation.
Talking about PSLEP, he said he hoped that the project would bring positive impact on the selected landscapes and valleys of Gilgit-Baltistan.
He offered full support of his department in implementation of the project.
A documentary on PSLEP introduction was also screened at the event.

industry_corpus2: Agriculture & Fisheries


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Make the most of your time at Grand Lake o' the Cherokees with lake tours. Experienced guides take you out on the water where you can relax, unwind, and take in the sights. Book your Grand Lake tour today.
The Grand House offers 7,000 square feet of comfort and relaxation for all it's guests with 500 feet of lakefront access.
We invite you to Dream Catcher Point Resort on Grand Lake..A special place to relax and enjoy yourself! Whether it be a Weekend Retreat, a Wedding or an Event Center.

industry_corpus2: Travel & Geography


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KP Duffle Travel Bag Comes With Ventilated Shoe Pocket & Water Resistant Zippers!
If you are looking for a slick water resistant travel bag with plenty of room that you can also wear with a pinstripe suit, check out the KP Duffle by Keep Pursuing!
The KP Duffle pictured is the Predawn Gray model with orange interior which comes inside a nicely presented drawstring bag.
The KP Duffle travel bag is easy to pack and has plenty of storage with side zip up pockets and quick-access pockets which are great for keeping things like earphones, cable chargers, mobile phones, travel papers, passports and boarding tickets.
The padded handle on the KP Duffle travel bag has magnetic snaps, while the exterior of the bag and zippers are all 100% water-resistant.
The KP Duffle shoulder strap is durable and comes with a thick shoulder pad and heavy duty hinges. The stitching of the shoulder strap and bag throughout is high quality and very detailed.
The top compartment is the largest pocket of the KP Duffle and it's great for keeping your laptops and tablets.
The other two main sections of the bag are on the front and back. The front compartment is a utility section for keeping car keys, house keys and other useful stuff.
The back compartment of the KP Duffle travel bag is a ventilated section for keeping things like snicker trainers, used socks, underwear, etc.
The ventilated pocket is very spacious and can fit workout shoes as well as high top boots, or two pairs of shoes.
The bottom of the KP Duffle bag features raised rubber feet to prevent the bottom of the bag from scratching and dirt adhering to it.
The KP Duffle comes with a Dopp Kit bag for your toiletries. The Dopp Kit has a velcro strip on the back to attach it inside the KP Duffle bag. Inside the Dopp Kit, you will find a zip up pocket, two mesh pockets and a 6-piece clear plastic bottle set for storing shampoo, shaving cream, etc.
A few other goodies that come with the KP Duffle bag include a laser pen, 15% discount code and a smaller drawstring bag.

industry_corpus2: Others


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With Randi Allen, Alan Scarfe, Sylvie Lenoir, Beverly Murray, Hubert Noël, Dorothy Davis, Roy Witham, Renée Girard, Sony Forbes.
After her family relocates back into her father's childhood home, little Cathy finds a strange unkempt doll in the attic.
Is Cathy in control, or does some mysterious power from the past instead control Cathy?
Rather unjustifiably slighted, this acceptable possession horror boasts an earnest atmosphere of suspense, some heartfelt FX and easygoing narrative. Decent performances (most notably Allen as Cathy and Scarfe as her father).

industry_corpus2: Film & Entertainment


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Have you or someone you know been wondering how to sell LTO 4 tapes? That’s what we’re here for. Rather than building an inventory of surplus tapes around the workplace, We Buy Used Tape will help you sell LTO 4 quickly and at fair market value. The largest organizations in the world rely on tape backup for archiving, disaster recovery, and even cloud backup as their data requirements grow exponentially.
LTO Ultrium 4 media is designed to deliver excellent capacity and reliability at a lower cost per GB than other types of storage medium. LTO Ultrium 4 helps reduce the number of cartridges and the amount of equipment, space and labor associated with tape-based storage. Additionally, it helps reduce the time associated with backup and restore operations by reducing the amount of cartridge handling, further lowering operational costs.
LTO 4 Ultrium tape storage, is typically used for data backup, archiving and offline storage. LTO 4 can also be used for high-capacity transfers, in some cases physically moving terabytes of data faster than an upload to the cloud or a remote data center.
Our data supply experts will audit your LTO 4 tapes and make an offer.
Below is a list of LTO 4 tape cartridges we purchase.


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Jive has a brief number of network requirements in order for their business VoIP service to properly function to maximum potential.
Routers – Jive business VoIP phones are considered network devices. Thus, they each require a business-grade router with access to a broadband Internet connection. Each business phone requires an IP address assignment from the router via DHCP. Jive highly recommends investing in a Quality of Service device, which is typically is installed between the VoIP phone and router. This greatly improves audio call quality.
Firewalls – Most routers have an internal firewall. A firewall protects your network and server from spyware, viruses and unwanted Internet attacks. The firewall should be set up to allow VoIP phones to access the following through the network: HTTPS, UDP and HTTP.
Hardware – For a complete list of recommended hardware, please contact Jive directly.
Internet Service Provider (ISP) – For business VoIP telephones to work a Broadband Internet connection is required. Without the proper ISP, calls cannot be made or received. Jive recommends contacting your current ISP provider for more information based on compatibility requirements.
Bandwidth – Jive’s service requires both upload and download speeds of approximately 100kbps. Some types of bandwidths will not support multiple concurrent calls so Jive recommends speaking to your ISP Provider for more information about possible capability issues and/or necessary upgrades.
Latency – This is defined at the amount of time between a request to a network and the response given by the network. Optimal latency should be 100ms or less. Latency that exceeds 150ms will have negative results, leading to unclear, “choppy” calls.
Jitter – Defined as the amplitude and frequency that latency operates at; Jitter occurs when latency either uncontrollably spikes or jumps beyond 20ms (either up or down), which results in very poor audio quality.
Packet Loss – This is data send directly from a business’ network that is lost in the networking transit. This should never exceed 1%, as this will result in poor audio quality and/or dropped calls.
In a technology-driven world where business VoIP providers are becoming more common, most IT professionals are familiar with the basic hardware and software requirements to support these systems.


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The Prabhakar Post: Gold or Crude?
I have been following the commodities markets for a while now.Unlike the 'specialists' I leave the predictions to the pundits.Yet the feeling remains that the co relation between commodities is a topic that needs more exploring.
Everytime I switch on the television someone or the other is delivering a monologue on why they think what will happen.Same with long winded columns in the pink papers.
The Economic activity in the US is definitely slow but nowhere near a double dip neither has it stalled.The growth concerns of the Global Economy are frankly overdone.For the year I would buy crude and sell gold at current levels with the expectation that a growth of anything over 2% in the developed world and 7-8% in the developing BRICS economies would revive crude demand and the overlong speculative positions in gold would reduce.
Listening to Jeff Imelt say that the confidence on the ground amoungstUS cos is greater than it seems from commentors is a very intuitive comment.I am yet to see any demand destruction in India and even the Chinese are aiming for a soft landing in growth rates to bring down inflation and till now there have been no drastic repercussions.
Again the retail investors are sitting on the sidelines and not buying frontline stock,some of the top companies are available below 1 of Book Value and a PE of 8-12.Are they repeating the historic mistakes of the past?
I feel 8 to 10 months down the line a lot of investors would be rueing why they did not start investing...but then thats what happens all the time.....!

industry_corpus2: Finance & Economics


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Imaginary internet points don't really matter dude, they're just pixels. Except these. You're worthless without badges. As of the wiki migration badges are kill. Good riddance.
This page was last modified on 19 September 2018, at 06:23.


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Dark green cloth boards; lettered in gold up the spine: Stone circles & monuments – A.L. Lewis.
British stone circles (Stonehenge, Stennes, etc.): their mysteries unveiled.


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Everett, MA - A man accused of beating his girlfriend’s dog to death showed up in Malden District Court this past Tuesday, where he faced animal cruelty charges.
Steven Severino, age 31, beat his girlfriend’s dog this past Monday, on Labor Day. Severino broke the small dog’s jaw initially but went on further to give the dog several other injuries, according to the Everett Police Department. Sources say the dog’s name was Cocoa.
On Tuesday, prosecutors stated that several neighbors came forward to state that they had heard the dog yelping for quite some time. In addition, some of the neighbors stated that they had heard the dog being thrown up against something, quite possibly a structure in or around the house. The dog was beaten to death on Tuesday, September 4, 2018, and died this morning, Wednesday, September 5, 2018.
After showing up in Malden District Court on Tuesday, Severino posted his $150 bail. The court ordered him to not interact with any animal(s) unless under supervision.
The small dog’s autopsy is scheduled at some point later this week. The medical personnel responsible for the autopsy will then determine the root cause of the dog’s death. No further details have been released about this part of the investigation as of yet.
The mayor of Everett, Carlo DeMaria, came forward in a statement regarding Severino’s case. He stated that he was extremely shocked and saddened to hear about the death of this small dog. In addition, DeMaria stated that dogs love humans unconditionally and that this series of events should have never unfolded. Going forward, the city of Everett will not tolerate such behavior to any animal. Those who do hurt animals in the future will be “prosecuted to the full extent of the law,” according to Mayor DeMaria.
Police have no assumptions regarding the dog’s death. Officials are unaware if there was a fight between the girlfriend and boyfriend. Officials are also unaware of what triggered Severino to act out against the dog.
Severino is said to appear in court regarding the case again in November.

industry_corpus2: Law & Justice


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Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, or ERCP, is a specialized technique used to study the bile ducts, pancreatic duct and gallbladder. Ducts are drainage routes; the drainage channels from the liver are called bile or biliary ducts. The pancreatic duct is the drainage channel from the pancreas.
How is an ERCP Performed?
With ERCP, a bendable lighted tube about the thickness of your index finger is placed through your mouth. Your doctor will pass the endoscope through the mouth, esophagus and stomach into the duodenum. After the doctor sees the common opening to the ducts from the liver and pancreas, called the major duodenal papilla, your doctor will pass a narrow plastic tube called a catheter through the endoscope and into the ducts.
When is an ERCP Performed?
An ERCP is commonly performed to diagnose conditions of the pancreas or bile ducts. The procedure can also be used to treat those conditions. Common symptoms that would result in the use of ERCP include weight loss, abdominal pain, jaundice, or an ultrasound or CT scan showing stones or a mass in these organs.
For an ERCP, the stomach must be empty, which includes fasting for at least 6 hours before the examination. Your physician will have more specific details about fasting and additional preparation instructions.
Digestive Center of the Palm Beaches is a full-service gastroenterology practice specializing in diseases of the digestive tract and liver. Our gastroenterologists utilize a wide range of digestive endoscopy techniques, including ERCP procedures in Palm Beach and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography procedures.
With over 80 years of combined experience, our gastroenterologist in Jupiter performs thousands of procedures each year, including ERCP procedures in Palm Beach. Our patients are in the hands of the most qualified and highly trained board-certified gastroenterologists in Palm Beach. Our physicians are the foremost experts in digestive wellness and gastrointestinal diseases in Palm Beach County.
Our center for gastroenterology is a doctor’s office, as well as an outpatient endoscopic facility in West Palm Beach, specializing in colon cancer screening and gastroenterology. We take pride in providing high-quality healthcare services in a warm and welcoming environment, where guests feel comfortable and secure. The stomach doctors in Palm Beach, nurses and staff appreciate the confidence and trust that you have placed in us.
For more information on ERCP procedures in Palm Beach, as well as additional procedures performed, please browse our website, call or visit one of our office locations, or feel free to send us a message on our ‘Contact Us’ page.

industry_corpus2: Health & Medicine


text:
The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) focuses on three distinct and equally important dimensions to learning science. These dimensions are combined to form each standard -or performance expectation-and each dimension works with the other to help students build a cohesive understanding of science over time.
Helps students explore connections with Physical Science, Life Science, Earth and Space Science, and Engineering Design.
The key ideas that have a broad importance within or across multiple science or engineering disciplines.
Describes behaviors that scientists engage in as they investigate and build models and systems.
Fifth Grade focuses on matter, energy, motion, structures, Earth's systems, and engineering design.

industry_corpus2: Subject Education


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Given the public-private mix of the Greek health system, the purpose of this study was to assess whether variations in the utilisation of health services, both primary and inpatient care, were associated with underlying health care needs and/or various socio-economic factors.
Data was obtained from a representative sample (N = 1426) residing in the broader Athens area (response rate 70.6%). Perceived health-related quality of life (HRQOL), as measured by the physical and mental summary component scores of the SF-36 Health Survey, was used as a proxy of health care need. Health care utilization was measured by a) last-month visits to public sector physicians, b) last-month visits to private sector physicians, c) last-year visits to hospital emergency departments and d) last-year hospital admissions. Statistical analysis involved the implementation of logistic regression models.
Health care need was the factor most strongly associated with all measures of health care utilization, except for visits to public physicians. Women, elderly, less wealthy and individuals of lower physical health status visited physicians contracted to their insurance fund (public sector). Women, well educated and those once again of lower physical health status were more likely to visit private providers. Visits to hospital emergency departments and hospital admissions were related to need and no socio-economic factor was related to the use of those types of care.
This study has demonstrated a positive relationship between health care need and utilisation of health services within a mixed public-private health care system. Concurrently, interesting differences are evident in the utilization of various types of services. The results have potential implications in health policy-making and particularly in the proper allocation of scarce health resources.
Several studies have identified perceived health status or health-related quality of life (HRQOL) as a very important predictor of health service utilization [1–7]. Furthermore, many studies provide evidence that demographic characteristics also affect health care need and utilization. Specifically, women report poorer health and use primary health services more often than men, have higher rates of hospitalisation and surgery and increased total expenditures, whereas men are less likely to receive preventive medical services [3, 6, 8, 9]. Age is positively related to hospital admissions , and also to an above average length of stay, increased utilization of services and, overall, to greater need . Regarding men, marital status and specifically married, in a de facto relationship or divorced, was found to be positively associated with a first or further visits to a GP [3, 4].
Other studies have focused on the extent to which socio-economic differences affect the use of health services. Individuals with a lower level of education make fewer visits to specialists [11, 12]. Contrarily, those with a higher education or income, after adjustment for socio-demographic and need variables [1, 4, 13], demonstrate an increased likelihood of accessing GP services or making at least one visit to a specialist. Morris  reports a pro-rich inequality in all types of hospital care and a pro-poor inequality in GP visits. Furthermore, an inverse income relationship has been observed with respect to needed, but not sought, medical care, with the proportion of individuals not seeking needed medical care increasing significantly in lower income groups . On the other hand, visit delay and/or cancellation, and underutilization of physician services were more evident in younger individuals, low-income and economically troubled, in chronic medical conditions or in individuals without a regular source of care or a physical care discount card .
Many studies have examined the influence, on service utilization, of factors such as race/ethnicity or community area (rural/urban), with the latter differentiating access in favour of urban area residents . In the UK, it has been shown that Indians use more GP services than other minorities. Moreover children and young people from all minority ethnic groups make lower use of outpatient and inpatient services compared to white children and young people, and these differences persisted after controlling for socio-economic and health status variables [17, 18].
The purpose of this study was to examine if demographic, socio-economic and need characteristics of individuals influenced their use of the following health services: visits to public sector physicians, visits to private sector physicians, visits to hospital emergency outpatient departments and admissions to hospitals. In addition we attempted to identify factors that differentiate the use of public and private services. Based on previous research it was hypothesized that need factors ranked as the most important determinant of health care use. Concerning the different use of public and private services, it was assumed that socio-economic factors played an important role. This study contributes to the available literature as it investigates variations in health care service utilization in Greece, by using SF-36 Summary Scores, instead of the usual eight subscales, as proxies of health care needs. The results have potential health policy and planning implications and could support administrators in their difficult task of properly allocating health resources.
Self-assessed health status was measured with the SF-36 Health Survey, a generic instrument constructed to be a brief alternative in health policy evaluations, general population surveys, clinical research and practice. It is the most widely used measure of self-perceived health with the aim of assessing concepts representing basic human values relevant to health status and well-being. The SF-36 has proven useful in comparing general and specific populations and for assessing the impact of disease and treatments on patients' perceived health state and quality of life . The SF-36 is a multi-item questionnaire comprised of eight scales: Physical Functioning (PF), Role limitations due to Physical problems (RP), Bodily Pain (BP), General Health (GH), Vitality (VT), Social Functioning (SF), Role limitations due to Emotional problems (RE) and Mental Health (MH) .
Factor analytic studies have shown that the physical and mental summary factors account for 80%–85% of the reliable variance in the eight scales, leading eventually to the construction of two summary scores for physical and mental HRQOL. The use of summary scores provides the advantage of requiring fewer statistical comparisons in order to analyze SF-36 results, while not forfeiting the discrimination potential between physical and mental health status and outcomes. The two summary scores are usually normalized to a mean value of 50 and a standard deviation of 10 [20, 21]. In a recent study in Greece, the SF-36 was validated and the results were comparable to those from studies in other European countries and the USA . In a subsequent Greek study, the validity of the Physical Component Summary (PCS) and Mental Component Summary (MCS) scores was also established .
The National Health System (ESY) in Greece was established in 1983 with an axiomatic aim to provide coverage for the entire population. It has evolved during the 1980s, and this is reflected by a substantial increase in public resources (e.g. beds, health centres and medical personnel) . Meanwhile, the private sector, with a great tradition in Greece, managed to find ways to increase its market share by setting up diagnostic centres and investing in expensive medical technology . Given also the increased number of physicians in Greece (physicians per 1000 individuals: 2.0 (1974), 2.8 (1983), 3.9 (1993) and 4.5 (2000)) , the Greek health care system continued to expand and became a typical example of a mixed (public-private) system .
The Greek health care system provides full coverage to the entire population, but at the same time has observed an increased use of the private sector. Access to all public services is free and there are no fees at the point of use, whereas the private sector requires out of pocket payments. Differences, between more and less prosperous insurance funds, concerning the extent and quality of services provided are evident. Health care services in Greece are basically provided by: a) the National Health System (public hospitals and health centres in rural and semi-urban areas) b) health units of Health Insurance Funds (health centres with salaried physicians or contracted physicians working in the private sector) and c) the private sector (hospitals, diagnostic centres, and private practitioners).
Health insurance funds are public schemes financed by employees, employers and the public budget. In Greece it is mandatory for the entire workforce (including their families) to be insured according to professional status, via one of 32 different health insurance funds . It is worth mentioning that Greece spends 9.4% of its GDP on health, 59.1% of which is public expenditure coming from general taxation and social insurance contributions . The rest is covered by private sources and mainly out of pocket payments, which confirms the noteworthy growth of the private sector . Even after twenty years and a number of attempts to reform it, the Greek health care system remains fragmented in terms of coverage, and quite distanced from its principles of equity and efficiency .
The study involved a stratified sample of residents of the broader Athens area, where approximately 35% of the Greek population lives. Institutionalized people were excluded. Participants were chosen proportionally to the population size, according to a three-staged sampling methodology. Specifically, in the first stage a random sample of 84 blocks of residences were selected according to information from the 1991 national census. In the second stage, households were selected from every block by systematic sampling. In the third stage, a participant (> 18 years) was chosen from every household by simple random sampling. Totally, 1007 out of 1426 candidates (response rate 70.6%) agreed to participate, constituting a representative sample of the population living in this particular area.
Participants were interviewed and the survey included the SF-36 and various health service utilization and socio-demographic questions. The necessary approval for carrying out this study has been provided by the Review Board of the Hellenic Open University. Physical and mental health summary scores, calculated and presented in previous work, were used as a proxy of health need. Principal Component Analysis was conducted to extract two components, which were subsequently rotated to an orthogonal simple structure using the Varimax method in order to facilitate comparisons with published results and simplify interpretation .
Health service utilization was measured by the visits: a) to public sector physicians within the last month b) to private sector physicians within the last month, c) to hospital emergency outpatient departments within the last year and by d) admissions to hospitals within the last year. Dependent variables were dichotomised to 0,1 values (0 → non use and 1 → use). Independent variables were grouped into three clusters, specifically i) demographic: age (continuous), gender (1 = male, 0 = women), marital status (dummy variable with reference category singles: 1 = married, 2 = divorced, 3 = widowed), ii) socio-economic: education level (1 = primary, 2 = secondary, 3 = lyceum, 4 = university), net monthly family income (continuous) and self-owned or rented residence (dummy variable with reference category residence freely provided) and iii) a proxy measure of need variable: SF-36 PCS and MCS scores. Only the variables demonstrating statistical significance (P < 0.05) were included.
Multivariate logistic regression models were implemented, one for each type of service, in order to determine predictors of health service utilization. Initially, access to health services was assessed and particularly the characteristics of those using the services compared to those not, and secondly the frequency of health service use, i.e. characteristics of those having used the services once compared to those using them more frequently. As Andersen and Newman , underline "it makes considerable difference whether we are studying initial contact during a given period or whether we are studying the number of services received in a given period of time". There is no clear perception on how frequent and non-frequent users should be distinguished, as they are defined arbitrarily and there is a lack of consensus in the literature .
Subsequently, we explored different predicting factors for the use of public, compared to private, services. Separate regression models were employed for primary and secondary services. The independent variables remained the same as in the analysis previously mentioned. The dependent variables were binary variables with 0, 1 values (0 → use of private services and 1 → use of public services). All statistical analyses were undertaken using SPSS v13.0.
Out of 1007 participants, 53.4% were women and the entire sample, with a mean age of 45 years, is classified into six age groups. Detailed socio-economic characteristics are provided in table 1. Four hundred fifty seven individuals had utilized at least one of the four types of health services, implying that 42.4% of the sample was considered as "users" (at least once) of public or private health services. Specifically, 26.5% of them used services affiliated to health insurance funds and 67.6% were one-time users. Accordingly, 13.9% of the participants had visited a private doctor and 64.9% of them were one-time users. The mean annual admission rates to emergency departments and to hospitals were 12.4% and 12.2% respectively, with 9.7% and 10.3% admitted at least once.
Upon initial investigation of the socio-economic characteristics of users and non-users (table 2), we observed that the users assessed that their general health was worse than that of non-users. At the same time their mental health, and even more so their physical health, was significantly lower. Women reported poorer physical and mental health compared to men (48.7% and 48.1% against 51.3% and 52.1%). Furthermore, an inverse relationship was witnessed between physical and mental health and age. Primary school graduates, the widowed and those with monthly family income less than 440 euros reported the poorest physical and mental health. Comparing physical and mental health of users and non-users (table 2) to that of the entire sample (table 1), users of all age groups -as it was expected- reported worse physical and mental health scores, with the exception of those aged 25–34 and 55–64. The same applies for all levels of education except in the case of high school graduates who report better mental health. In the case of marital status, it is the widowed (users) that report, once again, better mental health.
Given the four types of health service utilization designated in this study, we used regression models combining both public and private sector users, in order to determine the best predictors of utilization. Utilization of primary health services (table 3) appears to depend on demographic variables (13.8%), minimally on need variables (1%) and not at all on socio-economic factors. Women, elderly and those with worse physical health were more likely to use primary health services. Following this, separate models were implemented for public and private primary care users, and this resulted in various interesting observations.
Table 4 shows the regression model for last-month use of insurance fund primary services, which explained 18.2% of the variance. Demographic variables predicted 11.9% of the variation, socio-economic variables contributed with a further 2.3% to the explanation of health service utilization and health status, as measured by PCS and MCS scores, predicted a further 4.4%. More specifically, it appears that women utilized significantly more primary services, provided by health funds, than men. The elderly were 26.6% more likely to use these services, whereas wealthier people reported lower use. As for self-perceived health status, we observed that those with lower PCS scores were more likely to use health insurance services than individuals with higher PCS scores. Concerning visits to private physicians, within the context of primary health care, the regression model (table 3) explained only 13% of the variation. This figure is broken down to 7.9%, 3.0% and 2.1% variation explained by health status, socio-economic and demographic factors respectively. Women were more likely to visit private physicians. People with higher education were about 42% more likely to use primary health services from the private sector. Individuals with higher PCS scores were less likely to have consulted a private doctor within the last month.
Table 5 shows the regression model for the utilization of emergency department services and, in this case, only health status explained the variation. A trend was evident individuals with lower PCS and MCS summary scores reported higher use of emergency departments within the last year. The regression model for hospital admissions, shown also in table 4, predicted only 12.3% of the variation, with 10.1% predicted by health status and the remaining 2.2% by age. Specifically, age was related with admission and the elderly were more likely to be admitted, but after adjusting for health status, age was marginally not statistically significant. People with low PCS and MCS summary scores demonstrated a higher likelihood of having been admitted to a hospital within the last year.
In the previous analysis, regression models were implemented to distinguish between users and non-users in an attempt to examine possible socioeconomic barriers to initial care seeking. Another basic element, in this study, is the frequency of use for those making at least one visit, and the identification of predictors of the number of subsequent visits . In the context of primary care, we classified people into two groups, those making one visit and those making more, and this was chosen because those who had made one visit to public and private sector physicians constituted 67.6% and 64.9% of the sample respectively. An inverse relationship was evident between family income and more than one visit to public sector physicians working for health insurance funds (table 6). Less wealthy and people with poorer mental health were associated with a higher likelihood of having made more than one visit. The regression model for subsequent visits to providers of the private sector resulted in statistical insignificance.
The logistic regression model in table 7 focuses on the factors associated with utilization of public vs private primary health care services. Demographic variables explain only 7.8% of the total variance, and the addition of socioeconomic variables increases the explained proportion significantly to 16.9%. Married people were more likely to visit doctors affiliated to their insurance funds. More educated and wealthier people show higher likelihood to contact private doctors rather than their insurance fund doctors. The logistic regression model concerning hospitalization in public, compared to private, hospitals explains 44.8% of the total variance. Demographic, socioeconomic and health status variables contribute 19.5%, 21.6% and 3.7% respectively. Married, divorced and widowed are more likely (than singles), to be admitted to private (rather than to public) hospitals. The elderly show a significantly higher likelihood of being admitted to public hospitals. Indeed, the risk of being admitted to public hospitals increases 98% with age. Contrarily, as net monthly family income increases, people make more admissions to private hospitals. Finally people with higher MCS scores -better mental health- use the private hospitals more.
In this study we investigated the impact of demographic, socio-economic and need factors on the utilization of health services. The data showed that self-perceived health status -as a proxy measure of need- is the most important contributor to the utilization variance for three of the designated services (private physician, emergency departments and hospital admissions), a finding which is consistent with many previous studies [1–7]. Demographic variables such as age and gender were most strongly associated with visits to public (provided by health insurance funds) sector physicians. Socio-economic variables such as income and education did not have a statistically significant relationship with utilization, particularly in the case of secondary health services.
The results of the study seem to suggest the existence of equity in the use of primary health care services. Demographic and, to a lesser degree, need factors affected utilisation and no socio-economic gradient was apparent. Things were slightly different when the public and primary sectors were analysed separately, but once again inequity is not implied. Use of primary health services, provided by health insurance funds, was made according to demographic, socioeconomic and health care need variables. Women, elderly, less wealthy individuals and people with a lower physical health status visited their insurance fund physicians more. Demographic variables were the most important contributors and this may be explained by the fact that women reported higher consumption due to their increased awareness of health problems and symptoms when assessing their health status . Furthermore age is a factor inversely linked to health, therefore elderly -a high-risk group from the aspect of health status and economic welfare- seek more public primary services, which are free at the point of use.
Utilisation of private services was also affected by socio-demographic and need factors. Women, well educated and those once again of lower physical health status were more likely to visit private providers. It was expected that economic factors like income would affect utilisation of private physicians, which involves out of pocket payments. However, this was not confirmed by our study as opposed to an earlier study in Italy , where a linear relationship between the level of income and private utilization was observed. A possible explanation, in our case, is the underestimation of income. One third of the sample had not reported income. Even people who did may have underestimated it because the Greek population is often reluctant to answer these kinds of questions.
Another noteworthy fact is that the independent variables in the regression model (table 4) explain only a low portion of utilisation of private primary services. Besides the underestimation of income mentioned previously, another reason could be the small proportion of users having visited a private physician (14.0%), since the sample comprises an overall healthy population. An interesting topic for future research is the users' satisfaction from public primary services and if quality variations actually directed them towards private physicians. An important implication, which will be discussed subsequently, is that low-income individuals use primary private services as well.
Visits to hospital emergency departments and hospital admissions were related to health care needs, and no socio-economic factor characterized the use of those types of care. As reported in an earlier study, hospital utilization and the volume of inpatient services were significantly influenced by medical needs  or as Andersen  explains, hospital services received in response to serious problems and conditions would be primarily explained by need and demographic characteristics. The small amount of variance explained here implies the coexistence of other factors (e.g. lifestyle) that could affect the utilization of these health services, and this itself is another issue for future research.
Upon examining the number of visits, no socio-economic influence was revealed. The poorer and those with worse mental health visited more frequently physicians linked to their health insurance fund. Other studies [3, 4] have shown that people with higher education visited specialists more frequently or that they were more frequently referred to one. Socio-economic variations in the utilization of specialist services seem to be well-established in health systems in which referrals to specialists are made by primary physicians who play an important role in follow-up visits and hospital admissions. The structure of the Greek health system is different, primary health services concern mainly specialist services, which people choose freely without a referral.
Patients' preferences, awareness of their medical profile, availability of services and their expectations are important factors in seeking referred health care, mainly from specialists, in many European countries. Higher educated or wealthier individuals have different attitudes about the potential benefits, so they are more motivated to request specialist care . In the Greek health system there is no observed inequality in access or frequent use, but patients' expectations, awareness of their condition and educational level consist basic factors in tackling a health problem within a complex mixed public-private health system.
After studying the different use of public/private services (table 7), a pro-rich inequality was observed. This does not contradict what has been previously mentioned about the use of private services only (table 4), where the effect of income is not evident, most likely because the respondents are homogenous (i.e. users of private services). Contrarily, income is important when the combined (public/private) users are studied. People better off in respect to education and income levels were more likely to use private health services. Results from another study in Greece  reported that the two higher income groups spend approximately the same amount of money as the others combined. This inequality becomes more severe when low-income people are forced to use needed health services from the private sector (because of the incomplete network of public primary health services, long waiting lists, "under the table" payments and low quality of provided services) burdening their limited family budget.
Low-income individuals have greater health care needs expressed by lower physical and mental summary scores, and further supported by research in western European countries showing that morbidity and mortality risks are higher in lower socioeconomic groups . Although it seems that low-income individuals generally use health services, it is apparent that they are not exclusive users of the public services, but they are often forced to use private health services as well. This implies inequity in the distribution of care since the consumption of private health services is not limited to the higher incomes, but is extended to the lower ones as well, thus giving rise to issues of horizontal and vertical inequity. A possible explanation could be the inadequate public financing. Greece has the lowest percentage of public health expenditures among the EU countries. According to OECD data in 2002 , total health expenditures per capita were 1814$, of which public health expenditures per capita were only 960$. On the contrary, private expenditures are the highest among the EU countries, and this means that the income, in all socio-economic classes, is burdened for the use of health services.
Another possible explanation is the structural problems of the system. The large number of health insurance funds and the different range of health services they cover is the most typical characteristic in this case. More specifically, wealthier funds cover a large range of services, provide a better set of inpatient services or, in many instances, offer reimbursement when individuals purchase from private providers. Often, people insured by the most prosperous health insurance funds (approximately 10% of the insured population) are covered, to a large extent, for hospitalization in prestigious private hospitals, for all illnesses, specialized operations and examinations . This unequal distribution of provided health services, within the public sector, constitutes a structural weakness of the Greek health system, which the private sector exploits.
In spite of social insurance coverage of Greek citizens, the use of private services is extensive throughout the country. This could be attributed also to the absence of the "family doctor" in Greece, and the inability to select the desired physician in primary and secondary health care. The absence of the family doctor affects the delivery of care, access and the referrals to the health system. This results in patients accessing secondary care based on their own initiative. The adoption of a gate keeping system could result in a link between primary and secondary care, and an effective patient transfer. Moreover it could give emphasis to issues such as prevention and over-consumption (especially of hospital care), which pose a great burden on the health system . On the other hand, insurance funds covering people of low income are either incapable of fulfilling their needs, or they provide lower quality health care, in conjunction to long waiting lists, all of which affect the degree of satisfaction. Overall, a significant personal cost is created for the users, who are forced to turn to the private sector and spend a large part of their income. This implies that a more complete and satisfactory network of services could result in lower use of the private sector.
Finally, two limitations should be briefly underlined. First, this study concerned the broader Athens area, the capital of Greece, where medical personnel is more experienced and better equipped technologically, and consequently more specialised health services are available. The heterogeneous dispersion of resources in relation to the population throughout the country reflects an unequal availability of health services, which is expected to be more intense in rural areas. So the first restriction reflects lack of data on the pattern of use of the rural population. Another limitation, reported also in a study by Morris , was the fact that utilization measures were zero-one variables for four defined types of use and there was no information on the quality of provided services.
This study has demonstrated a positive relationship between health need and the utilisation of health services under a mixed public-private funded health care system. Health need, defined by self-perceived health status, was the most important determinant for visiting public or private sector physicians, emergency departments and admissions to the hospitals. Moreover, health need and low income were the main factors influencing subsequent visits to public sector physicians. Concerning the use of public vs private services, we observed that socio-economic characteristics of individuals were the main determinants. People with higher education and income levels used more private sector services, although they were not the exclusive users, since low-income groups used private services as well. In Greece, it seems that access into the health system is relatively easy. However the aim is to access a complete, uniform and satisfying public health system with respect to the quality and the extent of provided services. Despite 25 years of Greek NHS reform, this target has not yet been achieved.
Collection of data for this study was supported by grants from the Greek Ministry of Health and Social Solidarity.
We are grateful to our colleagues Dr. Fotios Anagnostopoulos for statistical assistance in preparation of this manuscript and Mr. Nick Kontodimopoulos for useful comments in an early version of this paper.
EP has participated in the design of the study, the statistical analysis, the interpretation of the results and drafted the manuscript. DN conceived the study, interpreted the results and made refinements of the manuscript. Both authors have read and approved the final manuscript.


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The Thursday, Feb. 7, Ridge Writers meeting shines the spotlight on “Authorpreneurship: Writing, Publishing, Selling the Good, the Bad and the Ugly” with speakers Jonathan and Jynafer Yanez. The program begins at 6:30 p.m. and takes place in the meeting room of Ridgecrest Presbyterian Church, 633 W. Las Flores Ave.
Jonathan Yanez has authored over a dozen fantasy novels. His works include “The Elite Series,” “The Nephilim Chronicles,” “Thrive, Bad Land,” and “The DeCadia Code,” and have been both traditionally and independently published, released in ebook, print, audiobook format, and optioned for film. His latest is currently under development being adapted into a mobile game. His tenure in sales leadership and one-to-one client training have helped him council numerous authors to reach their publishing goals.
When not writing his next novel that more than likely involves some kind of zombie, superhero, angel or alternative steampunk universe, he enjoys running with his dogs and working out at the gym. President of the Orange County Branch of the California Writers Club, he holds the Jack London Award for his contributions to literacy having partnered with Scholastic.
Jynafer Yanez, who directs the marketing and advertising side of their company, has led limited-budget as well as multimillion-dollar client campaigns. Leveraging her experience in behavioral marketing, psychology of influence strategy, results analysis, copywriting, events development, and project management, she also runs her own marketing company for authors, providing services from blurbs to Facebook and Amazon ads, sales analysis, and market consulting.
Ridge Writers (CWC-ridgewriters.org) is the East Sierra Branch of the 110-year-old California Writers Club (calwriters.org). The public is invited to attend this talk and admission is free.


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9th Age Registration is now LIVE!
Buckeye Battles 2019 is Coming!!!


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Data is any information about you or your health. It can mean your name, your date of birth, NHS number or your address. It can also mean your blood test results or results of any other tests carried out such as a scan or your medical history.
When you come to hospital we ask you for information about yourself. Clinicians, such as doctors and nurses, need to find out as much as possible about your health so they can provide the best treatment for you. This information is recorded and used in many different ways. It allows us to contact you if we need to, and it allows us to make an accurate diagnosis and give you appropriate treatment.
Why do we share your data?
In order to provide you with appropriate treatment we need to share your data with a range of organisations who are experts in their field. For example, like most other trusts, we keep your patient records in a variety of computer systems which may be run by a third party organisation. We have a data-sharing agreement with the third party organisation which sets out the rules for how your data can be shared and used.
We always want the world’s best technology and equipment to help us deliver world class care. That’s why we work with other organisations, the world-leaders in their fields.
We share data with other healthcare organisations such as GPs or other hospital trusts in order to ensure continuity of care. We also share data with a number of different expert organisations. The data is only ever shared on a ‘need to know’ basis which means that the data is shared only with those who need to see it in order to provide you with appropriate care. We currently have a number of data sharing agreements with organisations which provide a range of different services for the trust and enable us to provide the best quality care. This includes IT organisations, those which process blood test results or provide clinical alerts which help staff make quick diagnoses and the company that provides the trust email system.
Under the Act the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust is defined as a ‘data controller’ of personal information, which means we are responsible for the data. We collect information to help us provide and manage healthcare to our patients and the organisations we share data with are known as the data processors.
The trust is registered with the Information Commissioners Office (ICO), which regulates how information is shared (registration number Z6460180). There is more information about the ICO below.
At the trust there is a Caldicott Guardian, a data protection officer and a senior information risk owner who all have a responsibility to ensure patient data is kept safe and only shared with those who need to see it.
A Caldicott Guardian is a senior person responsible for protecting the confidentiality of patient information and enabling appropriate information-sharing. Each NHS organisation is required to have a Caldicott Guardian. The name Caldicott is taken from Dame Fiona Caldicott, who was appointed the national data guardian in 2014 – a health data watchdog.
At the Royal Free London the Caldicott Guardian is Dr Killian Hynes. If you have any concerns about your data you can contact him by email: kilian.hynes@nhs.net.
The data protection officer is a designated person within an organisation who is responsible for ensuring that the organisation complies with the Data Protection Act 1998 regulations.
Who is the senior information risk owner (SIRO)?
The SIRO is responsible for the overall information risk policy and risk assessment process ensuring we have a robust incident reporting process for information risks. The SIRO reports to the trust board.
What is a data or information sharing agreement?
A data sharing agreement is a signed agreement which sets out the rules for sharing data. The agreement is between the data controller (The Royal Free London) and another data controller or a data processor – the third party organisation who uses the data to help us provide care.
How do we share data with the data processor?
The majority of the time data is shared electronically using industry standard security techniques. Occasionally there is paper based sharing such as post or secure courier.
Can I ask for data not to be shared?
Unless we can share your data with a range of expert providers we are unable to deliver planned healthcare to you safely. As a consequence we do not generally allow patients to opt out of the data sharing agreements we have unless in exceptional circumstances.
If we disclose your data to someone who is not authorised this could be reported to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), which is a national regulator for information. The ICO will investigate any claim that there has been a breach of the data protection rules. There are a number of different actions that can be taken if such a breach occurs, including issuing a fine and enforcement notices.
The trust has an obligation to report any breaches of data protection rules to the ICO itself.


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In the pharmaceutical industry, a consistently high product quality is critical to the survival of any manufacturer. Apart from reliable and reproducible process monitoring, this requires components that can be cleaned and sterilized with absolutely no residue. The systems and sensors used in production must be designed to refl ect this requirement. Negele Messtechnik has brought out two build-in systems for the pharmaceutical industry that it developed specifi cally to meet these demands.
Many systems in the pharmaceutical industry exhibit very small nominal diameters. With PHARMadapt ESP, Negele off ers precisely sized measurement points with nominal diameters from DN 9 for pipe elbows and DN 10 for straight pipe. The exactly defi ned submersion depth of these sensors ensures measurement precision in both installation situations. Highly accurate temperature measurement, rapid response times and the lack of need to open process pipelines are the main advantages of this system, giving it a signifi cant edge over the commonly used pipe-mounted sensors.With a design that is devoid of dead leg, the ESP measurement points are easy to clean. In addition, cleaning is supported by the high fl ow speeds in the CIP process that cause the measurement tip to be actively fl ushed. The hygienic construction has been awarded certifi cation according to the 3-A 74-06 Sanitary Standard.
The prefabricated build-in pipes can be quickly integrated in the production pipelines in a clean and cost-eff ective manner by means of orbital welding. In addition to all nominal diameters up to DN 100 as per the DIN, ISO and ASME pipe standards, the units are also available in diff erent surface qualities (electropolished). All standard certifi cates in this sector can be provided (including inspection certifi cate 3.1, surface roughness, and delta ferrite content). The temperature sensor comes in a variety of models that are compatible with the build-in system.These include a standard sensor head for diff erent head transmitters and a miniature version for cramped installation conditions. A major advantage of the ESP system is the ability to remove the sensor for calibration without opening the process pipelines or detaching the electrical connection. As a result, system maintenance is quick and cost-eff ective. Another benefi t is reliability, since lines cannot be accidentally opened during procedures such as steam sterilization.
A further build-in system for pharmaceutical applications is the PHARMadapt EPA product series.In developing the EPA system, the special requirements and standards of the pharmaceutical industry were taken into account, resulting in a very compact measurement point with an elastomer seal, optimal hygienic design and rapid sensor installation.With EPA-8, the user can now not only measure temperatures, but can also record the level in pipes with a nominal diameter of DN 8 and larger. For pipes with diameters larger than DN 25, the EPA-18 installation system is available as a variant with the necessary geometry.The weld-in pipe and sensor are constructed in such a way that the sensor tip always reduces the cross-sectional area of the pipe by a fi xed amount. In addition, the confi guration is free of dead leg and gaps. The measurement point design was developed in view of the EHEDG guidelines, and the hygienic design of the installation fl anges and sensors is certifi ed according to the 3-A 74-06 Sanitary Standard.Like the ESP build-in system described above, the PHARMadapt EPA off ers the advantage of prefabricated build-in pipes, enabling the unit to be installed rapidly and cost-eff ectively by means of orbital welding. Here, too, the DIN, ISO und ASME pipe standards are available with the various surface qualities and certifi cations.
The EPA system makes use of temperature sensors that are equipped with weight-optimized and vibration-resistant pharmaceutical sensor heads and that are capable of holding a variety of measurement transducers. These process connections can also hold miniature temperature sensors that feature a M12 plug-in connection or a fi xed cable connection.Components in contact with the product are made of stainless steel 1.4435, for which an inspection certifi cate 3.1 as per EN 10204 is available. To achieve optimal measuring results, the build-in pipes are available in lengths that are in accordance with the respective nominal pipe diameters.
The new capacitive level switches of the NCS series can now be used in these applications. Designed specifi cally for the pharmaceutical industry, these devices have been fully reworked and their scope of functions broadened. Thanks to their extended measurement range, the new devices can be used with media that up to now could not be measured.Thus, this new generation of sensors can be used to reliably detect media with a dielectric constant > 2, such as sun screen and skin lotion. A particularly useful technical innovation is the heated electronics, which prevent the development of condensation in the sensor housing. Other features are a very short response time and the possibility of simulating the sensor states. The new electronics are housed in a weight-optimized sensor head.The standard head design features a window in the cover for viewing the switching state of the sensor and an M12 plug-in connector with protection class IP 69 K.The parts of the sensor that are in contact with the process media are made from FDA-compliant materials. The NCS level switch for EPA-8 has a sensor tip of stainless steel 1.4435 with a PFA coating.The coating ensures that the sensor will function properly even in cramped conditions and with very small nominal pipe diameters. The plastic material PEEK is used in the variant for the EPA-18 build-in system. The corresponding material verifi cations are available on request.With the PHARMadapt EPA and PHARMadapt ESP build-in systems, Negele Messtechnik GmbH is once again proving itself to be an innovative and fl exible provider of measurement point solutions that are a perfect response to customer demands.

industry_corpus2: Biopharmaceuticals


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Finkworld.co.uk - Finkworld: The Official Site of Fink - New Album 'Perfect Darkness' out now.
The Official Site of Fink - New Album 'Perfect Darkness' out now.
Finkworld.co.uk has 724 daily visitors and has the potential to earn up to 87 USD per month by showing ads. See traffic statistics for more information.
Hosted on IP address 54.228.235.54 in Dublin, Ireland.
Finkworld.co.uk has an estimated worth of 3,129 USD.
Title: The Official Site of Fink - New Album 'Perfect Darkness' out now.
Description: The Official Site of Fink - New Album 'Perfect Darkness' out now.


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We can argue if this was or wasn't a "bug" in the approved DITA 1.0 and 1.1 specifications, but it doesn't really matter since the "fix" being proposed is incompatible with what that DITA 1.0 and 1.1 called for. We shouldn't be making incompatible changes in a 1.x version and certainly not at this late stage in the DITA 1.2 cycle.  Something like this requires a full proposal, dissuasion, and a vote.
Note that this is not just an issue for implementors.  @type is something that can be set by authors.  And the proposal that is currently on the table would make existing documents that use what are perfectly valid values such as "fig" or "fn" rather than "topic/fig" or "topic/fn" invalid.  We can't do that.
We might be able to allow both the old and new values, but I think even that would be better left until DITA 1.3.
> concern ourselves with such usability hits?
any names defined in other standard-defined specialized vocabulary modules.
exists for duplicate local names in different domain or topic modules.
check type= constraints, either during authoring or during rendition.
if not all, DITA-aware tools.
wide spread that we've even realized the problem but it is a real problem.
seems like an easy fix with minimal cost to implementors.


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School of Education December graduates and up to 3 guests are invited to celebrate at a pre-commencement breakfast at Gordon Dining & Event Center.
8 - 9:30 a.m. | Program 8:45 a.m.
* Complimentary breakfast for all Education graduates and up to 3 guests.
* Photo booth to capture the moment with family and friends.
- Master's and Ph.D. graduates will be individually recognized. Doctoral students will have hoods bestowed by their advisor.
* Slideshow featuring names of all graduates, photos, & "Education Stories" - Please submit your photos & stories when you register for the event.
**PLEASE NOTE: Registration is required to attend this School of Education event. In order to receive an email invitation to this event, graduates must first apply to graduate in the Student Center of My UW by Friday, November 2. Invitations will be sent and registration for the School of Education event will open in mid-November.


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Why not arrange your conference in these unique and stunning surroundings?
Our conference center is based on a long and fruitful cooperation with Statkraft, Europe’s largest company of renewable energy, and Tyssedal Hotell. We have arranged international conferences, seminars and courses - from large banquets in the impressive power station to smaller events; meetings, kick offs and teambuilding.
In Tyssedal you are in the middle of the industrial history of Norway. Surrounded by stunning scenery wich has provided the country its natural resource - water. It started at the beginning of the last century. Learn more about the pioneers with their visionary plans that laid the foundations of Norwegian prosperity.
Take a stroll in Tyssedal, visit the museum and see the film ”The industrial Adventure”.
We offer modern and inspirating conference accomodations. All rooms have daylight, are comfortable and airy. They are highly equipped with technical fascilities. Our staff will be available at all times.
The living room area at the conference center.
Small conference room for 12 persons.
Large conference room for 60 persons.
A banquet in the powerstation.
If you want an extraordinary experience, just ask us! We have an an exciting and varied menu. How about a climb along the penstock, safely accompanied by climbing experts and gear from www.trolltunga-active.com or maybe you would prefer a hike in the footsteps of the ”navvy” - the old construction workers - following the trails up in the mountainside and into the old water tunnels?
Welcome to Tyssedal. We are here to make your stay a success!

industry_corpus2: Power & Energy


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Tired of chasing after your loose papers? Don't want to use that eyesore of a paperweight that your coworkers gave you? Maybe it's time to create a custom 3D printed paperweight that will suit you. This Instructable will hopefully give you insight on some basic 3D modeling skills and offer a new 3D printing technique. 3D printer filament is too expensive to print solid as a paperweight, so why not add a filler to gain some weight? We add sugar mid-print for a hidden weight that is sealed into the print.
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Start by opening your CAD software. Remember that all 3D models start from 2D sketches. Create a new 2D sketch. Now you need to choose what you want to model your paperweight after. I will explain how to create both text and an image.
Text: To create a paperweight made out of a letter or words, select the "Text" tool in the "Create" category of your toolbar. Type your desired lettering at set the dimensions. I chose to make my letters 50 mm in length. Now exit the sketch. Extrude your lettering 30 mm. Export a .stl file and save it in a place you will remember.
Image: Choose a basic image that has minimal details. Two-color outline designs work best. In a 2D sketch, import the image using the "Image" tool in the "Insert" category. Scale your picture to how you like. Create a new 2D sketch and trace the image using the "Spline" tool. When you are finished, you can finish the 2D sketch and delete the original picture. Extrude the splined face 30 mm and export a .stl file.
*** The video above demonstrates both methods.
Now we need to find out when to fill the print with sugar. We will let the printer print for a while, pause the print, fill with sugar, and continue printing. The printer will then cover up the sugar, leaving a sealed, solid object.
Navigate to the "Preview" tab of your sliced model. Find the heading "Visualization" and select "Show Single Layer." This graphic shows how the printer will extrude for each layer. Scroll through the layers- most of them should show a hollow middle. When the graphic nears the final layer and shows a complete top infill, note the layer number. We will want to pause the printer before this point.
Start your print and watch the layer number to make sure the top doesn't get covered up. When the print is close to getting covered up, pause the printer. Remember that it can take a few seconds to pause. Raise the extruder 50 mm to get it out of the way (the printer will automatically lower the extruder when it resumes).
Use a funnel to pour sugar into your print, filling it to just below the current layer. It is okay if you spill on the print bed- you can clean it up later. Continue the print and watch as the sugary interior is covered up in layers of plastic. You may have to manually turn off your extruder fan if your printer has one; otherwise sugar gets blown out of the print and everywhere.
When the printer finishes, remove the sealed paperweight from the print bed and clamp down your papers.
Let me know if you have any questions or suggestions. I would also like to know if you fill the paperweight with any other materials. Good luck and thanks for reading this Instructable.
Great idea! We are going to try this with sand? I bet this really cuts down on the print time - something we are always trying to do in class situations.
Indeed- less print time and less filament.
Nice! I always love messing with 3D printers and incorporating other things into them.
My most recent accomplishment was creating a fully integrated robot that you place motors, sensors, and an arduino into mid-print that then drives off the build plate once finished.
great idea...but why sugar? though it's sealed up, if a Crack forms, you'll have an ant problem. I suggest something such as fine sand, or something non organic.
I think salt and small amount of rice to keep it dry. would be better than sugar and its cheaper.
G0 Z3 ; Get extruder out of way.
And as @caitlinsdad mentioned, I would also use something like metal or sand to fill the paper weight.
Great ideas. Will the code you attached run when you press the pause button?
It will run when you click the Pause button in Repetier Host. I use this when I want to change filament mid-print.
This is a great idea. If you finish the outside with a metallic paint you get the heft of real metal. I would use something inorganic for the fill though, maybe fine sand. I've also got this huge container of glass microbead sandblasting abrasive that could be used as the fill.
Great ideas and thank you for the kind remarks. I hope you give it a shot.
Haha, lead shot or bbs would work too. Make mexican jumping bean toys. Sadly, I don't have a 3D printer...yet.

industry_corpus2: Manufacturing


text: No Worries. No Fear. No Problem.


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Official title of these paper toys? for my dissertation please help.
Started this discussion. Last reply by Matthijs Kamstra aka [mck] Oct 31, 2009.


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Find Western Saddle Pads from top brands..
Western saddle pads or blankets fit between the horse and the saddle to protect the horse's back as well as to absorb sweat. Western saddle pads or blankets come in just about any color or pattern imaginable and various shapes to suit your type of riding. Made of wool, cotton or synthetic materials, Western saddle pads or blankets give the rider the opportunity to coordinate their show outfit with their horse's pad. These pads are reinforced in certain areas or made of therapeutic materials to aid in saddle fit as well as to eliminate back discomfort for the horse.
We carry Western saddle pads or blankets from brands like Classic Equine, Back on Track or Professional's Choice. All our saddle pads or blankets come with the Equestrian Collections 100% Satisfaction Guarantee.
Western reins and can also be found at Equestrian Collections. We also carry a full line of English horse tack. A full line of tack no matter what your discipline.


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Explain the Compensation Integration Process.
Recall the Compensation integration transaction codes used.
Explain how to use the field and selection criteria in each Compensation integration transaction.
Identify where the integration is sending data from and to.
Configure the Compensation integration from SAP.
Configure Business Add-Ins (BADIs) for customer-specific code enhancements.


text: Berco has been a table manufacturer for over 40 years, focused on the corporate, healthcare, government, education, and hospitality markets. They provide over 25 different styles of tables that can be used throughout a facility. Whether you need a fliptop nesting table for your training room, a mobile table for your classroom, a dining table for your cafe or cafeteria, or a conference room table with electricity and data to support teleconferencing, Berco has the solution.


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Combine an Ohio State football bowl game with New Year’s Eve and what is the result?
A big party — or parties — throughout Delaware and central Ohio.
Fans watching the game at Restoration Brew Worx Saturday night got plenty to eat and drink, even if the Buckeyes’ performance on the field was a bit disappointing.
Barickman is a Grand Master II Beer Judge, and was formerly the beer critic for The Other Paper.
Diners at Restoration had their choice of about 10 craft beers. The dinner special was corned beef and cabbage, which paired nicely with Maltimatum, a Scottish ale.
Frank and Kim Volenik were among those at Restoration enjoying a meal prior to kickoff.
“Our son, Andy, graduated from Ohio State so we feel like we own a piece of it,” Frank joked.
The Buckeyes, heading into the Fiesta Bowl playoff game against Clemson, produced an 11-win season.
But turnovers and an anemic offense hurt OSU in the 31-0 loss to Clemson.
“Obviously Clemson is a great team and Alabama is outstanding.” Volenik said.
The Voleniks have been longtime Ohio State fans and have a connection with former head coach Jim Tressel.
“We both had Tressel as an instructor at the University of Akron in 1976. I had him for tennis,” Kim recalled.
After dinner and the game the couple headed back to Marion to watch the traditional New Year’s Eve ball drop downtown.
Other patrons like Dereck Keller and Lindsey Davenport wore Buckeye attire and watched from the bar.
“We’ll probably be home early,” Keller said.
Keller was pulling for the Buckeyes and wanted a showdown with The Crimson Tide, an earlier victor over Washington in the other semi-final game.
An early interception by OSU cornerback Gareon Conley and a nifty run by Curtis Samuel produced chants of “OH-IO” inside the 25 N. Sandusky Street establishment. But those were short-lived as the Tigers built a 17-0 halftime lead and punched their ticket to next Monday’s championship game.
Jim Delatore summed up the feelings of many Ohio State faithful.
Reach Gazette Editor Anthony Conchel at 740-413-0900.

industry_corpus2: Sports


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Elisabeth Charles drives the vision and strategy for brand marketing, creative, and consumer loyalty. She also spearheads consumer engagement, marketing for product launches, and global campaigns, and drives forward the brand’s digital marketing strategy.
Ms. Charles brings more than 25 years of experience scaling and managing international, high-growth companies and driving marketing campaigns for iconic brands. Most recently, she was the SVP and GM at Old Navy Outlet, following CMO roles at Old Navy and Athleta. She has also held executive marketing roles at Petco Animal Supplies and Victoria’s Secret.
Ms. Charles earned a bachelor’s degree in international political economy from the University of California, Berkeley, and has a master’s degree from Harvard Business School.


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I am sorry to hear of our loss. I have known the Sonics for about 30 years and will mourn their passing. Rejoice in the knowledge that others will care and root for a home team as we have for over a quarter century. Who knows, maybe in 41 years they will have a better offer and move back to an actual city.
In our time of loss, let us not forget we still have the Seahawks, Mariners, Thunderbirds, and even the Blazers. These teams will also need fans, people to buy merchandise, and most importantly buy tickets so they will not have to move too.
Farewell Sonics, I hope lawsuits keep you in court for many years to come.
Yeah, the funny thing is Paul Allen is one of the two owners who voted against it. Good for him.
Even though I bleed Blazer, I must do nothing but mourn with you brother. Years of rivalry between Portland and Seattle have provided more than enough amazing games and match-ups.
At the risk of being exegetically crazy, I can think of nothing else than God's words through Micah, "I will surely gather all of you, O Jacob, I will surely bring together the remnant of Israel."
Yes, James, the Sonics are soon to be but a remnant that is led into the exilic world of Oklahoma.
Does this mean that the next closest rival is Sacramento? Go KINGS!
Thank you for your openness and lack of vitriol to those who have wronged you.
through faith to faith realized.
How do you use apocryphal texts?


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This is the third in a series on urban naturalism (following Thunder & Evergreen)."Stone" is an anolog to "mineral", the common denominator between organic and inorganic life (as crystalline forms).
This one moves closer to the flesh of the film - a much more interior film. It lives within the near present. And I guess that's the real title, 'presences', but "qualities of stone" it remains, as stone can only exist that way once carved. I wonder about this title because it applies to so many films I've made, or maybe it applies to my way of seeing them.
1) Glass as a means of seeing to or seeing through, a liquid masquerading as a solid.
4) The complex of interactions between our artificial forms and "natural" forms, active physical space used between inorganic and organic, and the time they share.
Appearing: Bilbao Sidewalks, Montmartre Cemetary, Paris, Southwest Corridor Park and Common, Boston, Flowers of Day/MacLaughlin, Studio of Deb Todd Wheeler, Tree of Tessa Day and Rob Todd.


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Dear little cottage nestled in native bush just South of Oamaru (25 minutes to Oamaru town with no traffic) in the Herbert Forest set on 30 acres of farm land. Only 15 minutes from Moeraki boat ramp, private, secluded, fully self contained and furnished.
Two queen beds and 2 singles in three bedrooms (one a sleepout attached to the cottage). Also a portacot for the baby.
Ideal for families or couples wanting complete privacy. The nearest house is 300 meters away!
The river with ample swimming holes is only a short walk away and there are restaurants and pubs at Moeraki and Hampden.
There is room for the boat or horse float and there is grazing available for horses at $10 per night per horse including hay if necessary. Great for those on a long trip and wanting to have a break with their horses.
If there is anything you need the owners are up the hill and can provide. They also run a bed and breakfast in their new home, which also sleeps 6, so great for a big party of 12 on the same property. Tarriffs available on request.
Travel South from Oamaru through Herbert and take the first right down the hill into Breakneck Road (right hand filter available) then go past Timber Mill and go across river and turn left into Reid Road. Take the second right drive ('Forest Hill' sign on drive) and the cottage is the left fork.
From Dunedin 1 hour North take the first left after the Mill House motels into Breakneck Road.
Horse floats and boats can be parked in the adjacent paddock just before the fork and adjacent to the cottage.
The bush forest walks are outstanding and there is a new mountain bike track (right next door) in the bush.
The beaches are only a short drive away. Moeraki Boulders being the big main attraction - we thoroughly recommend the restaurant there, only open for lunch. Fleurs Place is also at Moeraki Harbour, recommended by Rick Stein and should be booked in advance (lunch or dinner).
Linen can be provided at extra cost and for a two night minimum stay.
Thank you dear Lesley again for your hospitality and very easy way of communication.
I’m very appreciated. We will see you you next year again.
I walked in the door to find dead bugs on the table, no towels, half empty milk bottle in refrigerator, no linens. I walked out and stayed at a motel 2 hours away.
This is complete rubbish. Towels are always on the beds and beds were made up. I cannot believe dead bugs on the table either, however, I cannot be responsible for the odd one coming in after the place has been cleaned. I did notice all the instructions all over the table so you did read the information about the cottage. We have next to no complaints so I will quite happily ignore this one. If you had looked at the milk bottle in the fridge, you would have noticed it had 'Fresh Milk' written on it. Yes, you would have had to stay a long way away because of the Eagles Concert. I have one question - why on earth did you not ring and ask me to come down and rectify what you thought was so awful? Both my numbers are in the information folder and you did not ring either of them.
I will be in touch on my return home.
Really enjoyed our time in this kiwi cottage. The area was a great place to explore with the kids. They especially loved the welcome we received from the chickens upon arrival.
Thank you for your kind words we enjoyed having you!
Thank you so much for reviewing our cottage. We appreciated reviews especially now that Homeaway are the new Bookabach.
To you personally we enjoyed having you and I know Brian enjoyed meeting you during your stay. We hope you can consider staying again one day.
Cosy and comfortable and a stunning setting. We had a swim in the water hole. Thank you for the Christmas tree - kids loved it.

industry_corpus2: Hospitality & Catering


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Well DC, we made it. This controversial and divisive election cycle is over, and whether your side won or lost, it’s now time for us all to move forward – together. As I scrolled through my social media feeds last week on the bus to work, I saw a lot of emotions being expressed by many of my SMPS colleagues here in DC and across the nation. It struck me how different we all can be, both in what we believe and how we choose to express those beliefs. Then I saw a post from SMPS Fellow Holly Bolton, who, instead of taking part in the commentary from both sides of the aisle, was inspired to seek opportunities to continue supporting the causes near and dear to her heart.
Standing out from the political noise, this post reminded me of something we all have in common here at SMPS – the desire to make a difference. As marketers and business developers, we are creative, resilient, and resourceful. We overcome challenges in the workplace on a daily basis – whether it’s juggling multiple deadlines, stretching a budget, or managing difficult personalities – to create solutions and impact. Why should today be any different? Every four years, we’re given the opportunity to make a difference with a ballot, but the other three years and 364 days we can choose to do it through our actions. As we approach Thanksgiving and the holiday season, let’s choose to rise above the politics, whatever yours may be, to instead leverage our strengths as marketers to improve our communities, our firms, and our careers. I promise you that this chapter and organization are here to support each of you however we can.
This December, the SMPS DC chapter is hosting two events that provide an opportunity to give back to our local community and causes we care deeply about. First, our annual holiday party and fundraiser, LocalMotive, will be held on December 6th at Prequel in Chinatown and will benefit our longtime philanthropic partner, The Children’s Inn at NIH. Join us for a festive event, complete with a silent auction and raffle full of fantastic prizes, courtesy of local firms and sponsors, and help make a difference for families striving to provide comfort and medical care for children undergoing research at NIH.
We’re also continuing our support of the Wreaths Across America event at Arlington National Cemetery on Saturday, December 17th. This will be our fourth year supporting this cause to honor and remember the veterans who give their lives to defend our freedom, and we hope you will join us to take part in recognizing their sacrifice. The chapter will be organizing brunch afterwards at Epic Smokehouse for participants to gather and share this memorable experience with other volunteers. These events are both great ways to meet other SMPS DC members and contribute to two meaningful local causes.
Start your year off right this January with a seller-doer program led by HDR’s Wally Wise to learn more about strategic client management and how it can help your firm build business and win work. As we all know, there’s no better way to impact the success of your firm than creating a thriving, successful seller-doer culture. More information on this program will be released in the coming weeks.
Lastly, we hope you all enjoyed the second annual CPSM Week, which highlighted the benefits of CPSM certification and featured stories from local SMPS DC members on how the designation has impacted their careers and their firms. If you’re looking for a way to take the next step in your career, there is no better way than to earn your CPSM. I speak from experience when I say that it will expand your knowledge of the marketing and business development functions, expose you to an elite group of marketing peers, and elevate your reputation in the industry. SMPS DC’s CPSM Bootcamp will kick off in January with a cram session for experience professionals, followed by a series of webinars and in-person sessions aimed at preparing you for certification success. Contact Career Advancement Director Amy Cuddy to learn more about the upcoming bootcamp and the CPSM designation, and let us help you take control of your career.
This year’s campaign trail has been a bumpy one for all involved, but I choose to see the future as bright. As Americans and residents of the nation’s capital, we have much to be grateful for – things that I will gladly raise a glass to this holiday season. Our country is one that’s full of passion and opportunity, one where all voices matter, one where every individual can make a difference. Whether you’re in the majority this time around or not, I encourage each of you to look beyond your personal politics to channel your inner Holly Bolton. Find a cause that’s near and dear to your heart, and then find a way to make an impact, no matter how small. People that care will always make a difference – and we, our industry, and our country will all be better for it.


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To a finance manager, inventory refers to the value of raw materials, consumables, spares, work in progress, finished goods and scrap in which the company's funds have been invested. Good Inventory Management is good Finance Management. And an efficient management of inventory should ultimately result in the maximization of the owners' wealth.
This course will give you knowledge related to Inventory Management and its techniques. It aims to explain the nature of inventory, its purpose, the various types of inventories and the costs associated with them. It also explains the various techniques used for Inventory Control. The course is highly informative and interactive with several practice questions.
Course Duration: Approximately 90 minutes.


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Customers were happy with our cotton soft toys.
Our cotton soft toys and decorative items are Handmade with 100% cotton fabrics and thread.
Great for home decoration and for kids.
Very nice and soft. Idea for present.