what is an efficient market

T he efficient markets theory (EMT) of financial economics states that the price of an asset reflects all relevant information that is available about the intrinsic value of the asset.

Efficient Capital Markets

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Although the EMT applies to all types of financial securities, discussions of the theory usually focus on one kind of security, namely, shares of common stock in a company. A financial security represents a claim on future cash flows, and thus the intrinsic value is the present value of the cash flows the owner of the security expects to receive. 1Theoretically, the profit opportunities represented by the existence of “undervalued” and “overvalued” stocks motivate investors to trade, and their trading moves the prices of stocks toward the present value of future cash flows. Thus, investment analysts’ search for mispriced stocks and their subsequent trading make the market efficient and cause prices to reflect intrinsic values. Because new information is randomly favorable or unfavorable relative to expectations, changes in stock prices in an efficient market should be random, resulting in the well-known “random walk” in stock prices. Thus, investors cannot earn abnormally high risk-adjusted returns in an efficient market where prices reflect intrinsic value. As Eugene Fama (1991) notes, market efficiency is a continuum. The lower the transaction costs in a market, including the costs of obtaining information and trading, the more efficient the market. In the United States, reliable information about firms is relatively cheap to obtain (partly due to mandated disclosure and partly due to technology of information provision) and trading securities is cheap. For those reasons, U. S. security markets are thought to be relatively efficient. The informational efficiency of stock prices matters in two main ways. First, investors care about whether various trading strategies can earn excess returns (i.e., “beat the market”). Second, if stock prices accurately reflect all information, new investment capital goes to its highest-valued use. French mathematician Louis Bachelier performed the first rigorous analysis of stock market returns in his 1900 dissertation. This remarkable work documents statistical independence in stock returns—meaning that today’s return signals nothing about the sign or magnitude of tomorrow’s return—and this led him to model stock returns as a random walk, in anticipation of the EMT. Unfortunately, Bachelier’s work was largely ignored outside mathematics until the 1950s. One of the first to recognize the potential information content of stock prices was John Burr Williams (1938) in his work on intrinsic value, which argues that stock prices are based on economic fundamentals. The alternative view, which dominated prior to Williams, is probably best exemplified by John Maynard Keynes ’s beauty contest analogy, in which each stock analyst recommends not the stock he thinks best, but rather the stock he thinks most other analysts think is best. In Keynes’s view, therefore, stock prices are based more on speculation than on economic fundamentals. In the long run, prices driven by speculation may converge to those that would exist based on economic fundamentals, but, as Keynes noted in another context, “in the long run we are all dead.”Stock returns and their economic meaning received scant attention before the 1950s because there was little appreciation of the role of stock markets in allocating capital. This oversight had several contributing factors: (1) Keynes’s emphasis on the speculative nature of stock prices led many to believe that stock markets were little more than “casinos,” with no essential economic role; (2) many economists during the Great Depression and the immediate post–World War II era emphasized government-directed capital investment; and (3) the modern corporation, and the resulting need to raise large sums of capital, was a relatively recent development. But the invention of computing power in the 1950s, which made rigorous empirical analysis with large data sets more feasible, brought renewed attention from academic researchers. In 1953, British statistician Maurice Kendall documented statistical independence in weekly returns from various British stock indices. Harry Roberts (1959) found similar results for the Dow Jones Industrial Index, and later, Eugene Fama (1965) provided comprehensive evidence not only of statistical independence in stock returns, but also that various techniques of “chartists” (i.e., technical analysts) had no predictive power. While this evidence was generally viewed as supporting the random walk model of stock returns, there was no formal understanding of its economic meaning, and some mistakenly took this randomness as an indication that stock returns were unrelated to fundamentals, and thus had no economic meaning or content. Fortunately, the timely work of Paul Samuelson (1965) and Benoit Mandelbrot (1966) explained that such randomness in returns should be expected from a well-functioning stock market. Their key insight was that competition implies that investing in stocks is a “fair game,” meaning that a trader cannot expect to beat the market without some informational advantage. The essence of the “fair game” is that today’s stock price reflects the expectations of investors given all the available information. Therefore, tomorrow’s price should change only if investors’ expectations of future events change, and such changes should be randomly positive or negative as long as investors’ expectations are unbiased. This revelation had its roots in the developing rational expectations theory of macroeconomics, and thus, some economists refer to the EMT as the “rational markets theory.” It was later recognized that the “fair game” model allows for the expectation of a positive price change, which is necessary to compensate risk-averse investors. In 1970, Eugene Fama published his now-famous paper, “Efficient Capital Markets: A Review of Theory and Empirical Work.” Fama synthesized the existing work and contributed to the focus and direction of future research by defining three different forms of market efficiency: weak form, semistrong form, and strong form. In a weak-form efficient market, future returns cannot be predicted from past returns or any other market-based indicator, such as trading volume or the ratio of puts (options to sell stocks) to calls (options to buy stocks). In a semistrong efficient market, prices reflect all publicly available information about economic fundamentals, including the public market data (in weak form), as well as the content of financial reports, economic forecasts, company announcements, and so on. The distinction between the weak and semistrong forms is that it is virtually costless to observe public market data, whereas a high level of fundamental analysis is required if prices are to fully reflect all publicly available information, such as public accounting data, public information regarding competition, and industry-specific knowledge. In strong form, the highest level of market efficiency, prices reflect all public and private information. This extreme form serves mainly as a limiting case because it would require even the private information of corporate officers about their own firm to be already captured in stock prices. A simple way to distinguish among the three forms of market efficiency is to recognize that weak form precludes only technical analysis from being profitable, while semi-strong form precludes the profitability of both technical and fundamental analysis, and strong form implies that even those with privileged information cannot expect to earn excess returns. Sanford Grossman and Joseph Stiglitz (1980) recognized that an extremely high level of market efficiency is internally inconsistent: it would preclude the profitable opportunities necessary to motivate the very security analysis required to produce information. Their main point is that market frictions, including the costs of security analysis and trading, limit market efficiency. Thus, we should expect to see the level of efficiency differ across markets, depending on the costs of analysis and trading. Although weak-form efficiency allows for profitable fundamental analysis, it is not difficult to imagine a market that is less than weak form but still relatively efficient in some sense. Thus, it can be useful to define the efficiency of a market in a more general, continuous sense, with faster price reaction equating to greater informational efficiency. While most of the empirical research of the 1970s supported semistrong market efficiency, a number of apparent inconsistencies arose by the late 1970s and early 1980s. These so-called anomalies include, among others, the “small-firm effect” and the “January effect,” which together document the tendency of small-capitalization stocks to earn excessive returns, especially in January. But financial economists today attribute most of the anomalies to either misspecification of the asset-pricing model or market frictions. For example, the small-firm and January effects are now commonly perceived as premiums necessary to compensate investors in small stocks, which tend to be illiquid, especially at the turn of the year. Fama (1998) also notes that the anomalies sometimes involved underreaction and sometimes overreaction and, thus, could be viewed as random occurrences that often went away when different time periods or methodologies were used. More serious challenges to the EMT emerged from research on long-term returns. Robert Shiller (1981) argued that stock index returns are overly volatile relative to aggregate dividends, and many took this as support for Keynes’s view that stock prices are driven more by speculators than by fundamentals. Related work by Werner De Bondt and Richard Thaler (1985) presented evidence of apparent overreaction in individual stocks over long horizons of three to five years. Specifically, the prices of stocks that had performed relatively well over three- to five-year horizons tended to revert to their means over the subsequent three to five years, resulting in negative excess returns; the prices of stocks that had performed relatively poorly tended to revert to their means, resulting in positive excess returns. This is called “reversion to the mean” or “mean reversion.” Lawrence Summers (1986) showed that, in theory, prices could take long, slow swings away from fundamentals that would be undetectable with short horizon returns. Additional empirical support for mispricing came from Narasimhan Jegadeesh and Sheridan Titman (1993), who found that stocks earning relatively high or low returns over three- to twelve-month intervals continued the trend over the subsequent three to twelve months. These apparent inefficiencies contributed to the emergence of a new school of thought called behavioral finance (see behavioral economics ), which countered the assumption of rational expectations with evidence from the field of psychology that people tend to make systematic cognitive errors when forming expectations. One such error that might explain overreaction in stock prices is the representative heuristic, which holds that individuals attempt to identify trends even where there are none and that this can lead to the mistaken belief that future patterns will resemble those of the recent past. On the other hand, momentum in stock returns may be explained by anchoring, the tendency to overweight initial beliefs and underweight the relevance of new information. It follows that momentum observed over intermediate horizons could be extrapolated over longer time horizons until overreaction develops. This does not, however, imply any easily exploitable trading strategy, because the point where momentum stops and overreaction starts will never be obvious until after the fact. Resistance to the view that stock prices systematically overreact, as well as to the behavioral interpretation of this evidence, came along two fronts. First, Fama and Kenneth French (1988) found that stocks earn larger returns during more difficult economic conditions when capital is relatively scarce and the default-risk premiums in interest rates are high. Higher interest rates initially drive prices down, but eventually prices recover with improved business conditions, and hence the mean-reverting pattern in aggregate returns. Second, adherents of the EMT argued that the cognitive failures of certain individuals would have little influence on stock markets because mispriced stocks should attract rational investors who buy underpriced and sell overpriced stocks. Critics of the EMT responded to both of these charges. In response to the Fama and French evidence, James Poterba and Lawrence Summers argued that the mean-reverting pattern in aggregate index returns is too volatile to be explained by cyclical economic conditions alone. They claimed that excessive mean reversion resulted from prices straying from fundamentals, similar to Shiller’s excess volatility story. As to whether the marginal trader is fully rational or subject to systematic cognitive errors, Andrei Shleifer and Robert Vishny (1997) and others noted that, while market efficiency requires traders to act quickly on their information out of fear of losing their advantage, mispricing can persist because it offers few opportunities for low-risk arbitrage trading. For example, how should one have responded during the bubble in Internet -based stocks of the late 1990s? Most of these stocks were difficult to short sell, and even if it was possible, a well-informed, fully rational short seller faced the risk that less than fully rational traders (also known as “noise traders”) would continue to move prices away from fundamentals. Thus, the market will not necessarily correct as soon as rational traders recognize mispricing. Instead, the correction may come only after the mispricing becomes so large that noise traders lose confidence in the trend or rational traders act in response to the additional risk introduced by the noise traders. The most striking examples of apparent inconsistencies with the EMT are the 1987 stock market crash and the movement of Internet stock prices beginning in the late 1990s. Some economists, admittedly a minority, believe that the 1987 crash and the Internet run-up and fall are consistent with market efficiency. For example, Mark Mitchell and Jeffry Netter (1989) argued that the large market decline in the days before the market crash in 1987 was triggered by an initially rational response to an unanticipated tax proposal, which in turn triggered a temporary liquidity crunch (or panic) due to much higher sales volumes than the market was prepared to handle. The exchanges, traders, and regulators learned from this experience making markets more efficient. Burton Malkiel (2003a, 2003b), analyzing the Internet bubble, notes that Internet company values were difficult to determine, and while traders in most cases were wrong after the fact, there were no obvious unexploited arbitrage opportunities. Regardless of whether it is the exception or the rule, the favorable market conditions of the late 1990s for technology and Internet-based stocks illustrate the stock market’s critical role in resource allocation. A firm whose stock has appreciated rapidly finds it easier to raise additional funds through a secondary offering because higher prices mean a smaller percentage ownership of the firm needs to be offered to raise a given amount of capital. Favorable conditions also make it easier for privately held firms to raise funds through an initial public offering (IPO) of stock. Furthermore, a so-called hot IPO market entices venture capital firms to invest funds in hot industries and sectors in hopes of taking their firms public in such a favorable market. Many view these favorable market conditions as consistent with the market’s valuation of growth options and the motivating incentive necessary to make the fundraising portion of venture growth and creation possible. But while favorable market conditions can attract the investment capital necessary to grow a fledgling new industry, the market for technology and Internet-based stocks in the late 1990s appears to have overheated and, in hindsight, directed too much investment capital toward this sector. Thus, by the late 1990s, the return an investor in this sector could have rationally expected had fallen below what economic conditions could justify, as well as below what most investors actually anticipated. While prices may take long, slow swings away from fundamentals, the EMT is still useful in at least two important ways. First, over shorter horizons, such as days, weeks, or months, there is considerable evidence that the EMT can explain the direction of stock price changes. That is, the response of stock prices to new information reasonably approximates the change in the intrinsic value of equity. Second, the EMT serves as a benchmark for how prices should behave if capital investments and other resources are to be allocated efficiently. Just how close markets come to this benchmark depends on the transparency of information, the effectiveness of regulation, and the likelihood that rational arbitragers will drive out noise traders. In fact, the informational efficiency of stock prices varies across markets and from country to country. Whatever the shortcomings of capital markets, there appears to be no better alternative means of allocating investment capital. In fact, the privatization movement of the 1990s and early 2000s suggests that most governments, including China’s, now recognize this fact. Thus, academic inquiry in this area is likely to focus more on the conditions that explain and improve the informational efficiency of capital markets than on whether capital markets are efficient. About the Authors Steven L. Jones is an associate professor of finance at Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business, Indianapolis. Jeffry M. Netter is the C. Herman and Mary Virginia Terry Chair of Business Administration in the University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business. From 1986 to 1988, he was a senior research scholar at the U. S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Further Reading De Bondt, Werner F. M., and Richard Thaler. “Does the Stock Market Overreact?” Journal of Finance 40 (1985): 793–805. Fama, Eugene F. “The Behavior of Stock Market Prices.” Journal of Business 38 (January 1965): 34–105. Fama, Eugene F. “Efficient Capital Markets: A Review of Empirical Work.” Journal of Finance 25, no. 2 (1970): 383–417. Fama, Eugene F. “Efficient Capital Markets II.” Journal of Finance 46, no. 5 (1991): 1575–1617. Fama, Eugene F. “Market Efficiency, Long-Term Returns, and Behavioral Finance.” Journal of Financial Economics 49, no. 3 (1998): 283–306. Fama, Eugene F., and Kenneth R. French. “Dividend Yields and Expected Stock Returns.” Journal of Financial Economics 22 (October 1988): 3–25. Grossman, Sanford J., and Joseph E. Stiglitz. “On the Impossibility of Informationally Efficient Markets.” American Economic Review 70 (June 1980): 393–408. Jegadeesh, Narasimhan, and Sheridan Titman. “Returns to Buying Winners and Selling Losers: Implications for Stock Market Efficiency.” Journal of Finance 48 (March 1993): 65–91. Kendall, Maurice. “The Analysis of Economic Time Series, Part I: Prices.” Journal of the Royal Statistical Society 96 (1953): 11–25. Keynes, John M. The General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money. New York: Harcourt, 1936. Malkiel, Burton G. “The Efficient Market Hypothesis and Its Critics.” Journal of Economic Perspectives 17, no. 1 (2003a): 59–82. Malkiel, Burton G. A Random Walk down Wall Street. 8th ed. New York: Norton, 2003b. Mandelbrot, Benoit. “Forecasts of Future Prices, Unbiased Markets and ‘Martingale Models.’” Journal of Business, special supplement (January 1966): 242–255. Mitchell, Mark, and Jeffry Netter. “Triggering the 1987 Stock Market Crash: Antitakeover Provisions in the Proposed House Ways and Means Tax Bill?” Journal of Financial Economics 24 (1989): 37–68. Poterba, James M., and Lawrence Summers. “Mean Reversion in Stock Market Prices: Evidence and Implications.” Journal of Financial Economics 22 (1987): 27–59. Roberts, Harry. “Stock Market ‘Patterns’ and Financial Analysis: Methodological Suggestions.” Journal of Finance 14 (1959): 11–25. Samuelson, Paul. “Proof that Properly Anticipated Prices Fluctuate Randomly.” Industrial Management Review 6 (1965): 49. Shiller, Robert J. “Do Stock Prices Move Too Much to Be Justified by Subsequent Changes in Dividends?” American Economic Review 71 (June 1981): 421–435. Shiller, Robert J. “From Efficient Markets to Behavioral Finance.” Journal of Economic Perspectives 17, no. 1 (2003): 83–104. Shleifer, Andrei, and Robert W. Vishny. “The Limits of Arbitrage.” Journal of Finance 52 (March 1997): 35–55. Summers, Lawrence. “Does the Stock Market Rationally Reflect Fundamental Values?” Journal of Finance 41 (July 1986): 591–601. Williams, John Burr. The Theory of Investment Value. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1938. Footnotes1. For an excellent review of the debate on market efficiency, see Shiller 2003 for the behavioral finance view, and Malkiel 2003a for the proefficiency view. Return to top


how important technology in education

How important is technology in education? The role of technology in the field of education is four-fold: it is included as a part of the curriculum, as an instructional delivery system, as a means of aiding instructions and also as a tool to enhance the entire learning process.

Importance of technology

How important is technology in education Nov25Technology So how important is technology in education? In the past, learning and education simply meant face-to-face lectures, reading books or printed handouts, taking notes and completing assignments generally in the form of answering questions or writing essays. In short; education, learning and teaching were considered impossible without a teacher, books and chalkboards. Today, education and training have taken on a whole new meaning. Computers are an essential part of every classroom and teachers are using DVDs, CD-ROMs and videos to show students how things work and operate. Students can interact with the subject matters through the use of such web based tools and CD-ROMs. Moreover, each student can progress at his/her own pace.

Thanks to technology; education has gone from passive and reactive to interactive and aggressive. Education is essential in corporate and academic settings. In the former, education or training is used to help workers do things differently than they did before. In the latter; education is geared towards creating curiosity in the minds of students. In either case, the use of technology can help students understand and retain concepts better. Factors that help students learn better Research has shown, time and again, that students learn best when they are engaged. Through the use of technology, students can become active participants as opposed to passive ones where they simply receive instructions or information. Trust is another factor that enhances the learning ability of students. With the help of technology, teachers can establish credibility in what they are teaching. Web based tools can be used for providing demonstrations and examples that can help students establish credence in what they are learning. Technology allows distance learning Perhaps the greatest impact of technology in the field of learning is its ability to help several people learn simultaneously from different locations. Learners are not required to gather at a predetermined time or place in order to learn and receive instructions and information. All one needs is a computer connected to a modem (or with a CD drive); these tools can literally deliver a ‘classroom’ in the homes and offices of people. Technology allows group Learning There are naysayers who argue that distance learning of this sort cannot help students receive the support of traditional group-based learning. For proving this theory wrong, technology has helped provide distance learners with online communities, live chat rooms and bulletin boards. All these allow students to collaborate and communicate even though they are isolated in their own space. Technology allows individual pacing Multimedia tools, on-line and CD-ROM based training have helped eliminate the need for an instructor-based lesson plans. Students who grasp concepts faster proceed and move along, without being held back by ones who need more time and help for learning. Such individual pacing is beneficial to all. Technology helps lower training costs and increases productivity Another benefit of using technology to reach many students in shorter time is lowering training costs. Corporate and academic Institutions can reduce their costs of delivering lessons to students on a per-student basis. Moreover, technology produces quantifiable results and allows students to put into practice this information quickly and with better results. Through the use of technology, students can considerably save time and increase their productivity. Both these points justify the higher costs of advanced technological tools. Roadblocks in the use of technology in learning Naturally, for education technology to have a positive impact on students, it should be designed and prepared well. Tools used for disseminating information must be developed with students in mind. There are also factors like lack of computer/technology literacy to be considered. Schools and businesses must bear in mind that education technology is simply a tool and its success depends largely on the amount of planning that goes into it. Using education technology can be a right choice as long as all such factors are considered. Summary When used properly, technology in the field of education can be a powerful tool that can help:engage and challenge learnersprovide students with practice Include demos, feedback and avenues that can help students reflect on what they have learned. It is evident that technology has changed classroom training in myriad ways. It has also helped enhance learning experience as well as a student’s perception of what he/she can do. Over the years it became obvious for us, how important is technology in education.none


what is restoril medication

What is temazepam (Restoril)? Temazepam is in a group of drugs called benzodiazepines (ben-zoe-dye-AZE-eh-peens). Temazepam affects chemicals in the brain that may become unbalanced and cause sleep problems (insomnia). Temazepam is used to treat insomnia symptoms, such as trouble falling or staying asleep. Temazepam may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Restoril

Restoril Patient Information Including Side Effects Insomnia Slideshow Pictures: 10 Tips to Avoid Insomnia Sleep Slideshow: Foods That Help or Harm Your Sleep Quiz: Suffer From Insomnia? Find Lowest Prices on Brand Names: Restoril Generic Name: temazepam (Pronunciation: te MAZ e pam)What is temazepam (Restoril)? What are the possible side effects of temazepam (Restoril)? What is the most important information I should know about temazepam (Restoril)? What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking temazepam (Restoril)? How should I take temazepam (Restoril)? What happens if I miss a dose (Restoril)? What happens if I overdose (Restoril)? What should I avoid while taking temazepam (Restoril)? What other drugs will affect temazepam (Restoril)? Where can I get more information?

What are the possible side effects of temazepam (Restoril)? Temazepam may cause a severe allergic reaction. Stop taking temazepam and get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Stop using temazepam and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:weak or shallow breathing;fast or pounding heartbeats;confusion, slurred speech, unusual thoughts or behavior;hallucinations, agitation, aggression;thoughts of suicide or hurting yourself;restless muscle movements in your eyes, tongue, jaw, or neck;pale skin, easy bruising or bleeding, unusual weakness;fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms;problems with urination; ornausea, stomach pain, low fever, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes). Less serious side effects may include:daytime drowsiness (or during hours when you are not normally sleeping);amnesia or forgetfulness;muscle weakness, lack of balance or coordination;numbness, burning, pain, or tingly feeling;headache, blurred vision, depressed mood;feeling nervous, excited, or irritable;nausea, vomiting, stomach discomfort; ordry mouth, increased thirst. This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. What is the most important information I should know about temazepam (Restoril)? Temazepam may cause a severe allergic reaction. Stop taking temazepam and get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Take temazepam only when you are getting ready for several hours of sleep. You may fall asleep very quickly after taking the medicine. Some people using this medicine have engaged in activity such as driving, eating, or making phone calls and later having no memory of the activity. If this happens to you, stop taking temazepam and talk with your doctor about another treatment for your sleep disorder. Do not use this medication if you are allergic to temazepam or to other benzodiazepines, such as alprazolam (Xanax), chlordiazepoxide (Librium), clorazepate (Tranxene), diazepam (Valium), lorazepam (Ativan), or triazolam (Halcion). This medication can cause birth defects in an unborn baby, or withdrawal symptoms in a newborn. Do not use temazepam if you are pregnant. Before taking temazepam, tell your doctor if you have any breathing problems, glaucoma, kidney or liver disease, myasthenia gravis, or a history of depression, suicidal thoughts, or addiction to drugs or alcohol. Do not drink alcohol while taking temazepam. It can increase some of the side effects, and could possibly cause a fatal overdose. Avoid using other medicines that make you sleepy. They can add to sleepiness caused by temazepam. Temazepam may be habit-forming and should be used only by the person it was prescribed for. Temazepam should never be shared with another person, especially someone who has a history of drug abuse or addiction. Keep the medication in a secure place where others cannot get to it. Restoril Patient Information including How Should I Take Insomnia Slideshow Pictures: 10 Tips to Avoid Insomnia Sleep Slideshow: Foods That Help or Harm Your Sleep Quiz: Suffer From Insomnia? What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking temazepam (Restoril)? Some people using this medicine have engaged in activity such as driving, eating, or making phone calls and later having no memory of the activity. If this happens to you, stop taking temazepam and talk with your doctor about another treatment for your sleep disorder. Do not use this medication if you are allergic to temazepam or to other benzodiazepines, such as alprazolam (Xanax), chlordiazepoxide (Librium), clorazepate (Tranxene), diazepam (Valium), lorazepam (Ativan), or triazolam (Halcion). Before taking temazepam, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:asthma, emphysema, bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), or other breathing problems;glaucoma;kidney or liver disease;myasthenia gravis;a history of depression or suicidal thoughts or behavior; ora history of drug or alcohol addiction. If you have any of these conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take temazepam. Temazepam can cause birth defects in an unborn baby. It may also cause addiction or withdrawal symptoms in a newborn if the mother takes temazepam late in pregnancy. Do not use temazepam if you are pregnant. Tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant during treatment. Use an effective form of birth control while you are using this medication. Temazepam may pass into breast milk and could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby. The sedative effects of temazepam may last longer in older adults. Accidental falls are common in elderly patients who take benzodiazepines. Use caution to avoid falling or accidental injury while you are taking temazepam. Do not give this medication to anyone under 18 years old. How should I take temazepam (Restoril)? Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label. Take temazepam only when you are getting ready for several hours of sleep. You may fall asleep very quickly after taking the medicine. Contact your doctor if this medicine seems to stop working as well in helping you fall asleep and stay asleep. Temazepam should be used for only a short time to treat insomnia. After 7 to 10 nights of use, talk with your doctor about whether or not you should keep taking temazepam. Your insomnia symptoms may return when you stop using temazepam after using it over a long period of time. You may need to use less and less before you stop the medication completely. Temazepam may be habit-forming and should be used only by the person it was prescribed for. Temazepam should never be shared with another person, especially someone who has a history of drug abuse or addiction. Keep the medication in a secure place where others cannot get to it. Store temazepam at room temperature away from moisture and heat. Keep track of how many tablets have been used from each new bottle of this medicine. Benzodiazepines are drugs of abuse and you should be aware if any person in the household is using this medicine improperly or without a prescription. Restoril Patient Information including If I Miss a Dose Insomnia Slideshow Pictures: 10 Tips to Avoid Insomnia Sleep Slideshow: Foods That Help or Harm Your Sleep Quiz: Suffer From Insomnia? What happens if I miss a dose (Restoril)? Since temazepam is taken as needed, you are not likely to be on a dosing schedule. Take temazepam only when you have time for several hours of sleep. What happens if I overdose (Restoril)? Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. An overdose of temazepam can be fatal, especially if taken with alcohol. Overdose symptoms may include extreme drowsiness, confusion, muscle weakness, slurred speech, tremors, a slow heartbeat, shallow breathing, feeling light-headed, fainting, seizure (black-out or convulsions), and coma. What should I avoid while taking temazepam (Restoril)? Do not drink alcohol while you are taking temazepam. It can increase some of the side effects, and could possibly cause a fatal overdose. Temazepam can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert. What other drugs will affect temazepam (Restoril)? Before using temazepam, tell your doctor if you regularly use other medicines that make you sleepy (such as cold or allergy medicine, narcotic pain medicine, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and medicine for seizures, depression, or anxiety). They can add to sleepiness caused by temazepam. Before taking temazepam, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following drugs:fluvoxamine (Luvox);itraconazole (Sporanox);ketoconazole (Nizoral); ornefazodone (Serzone). This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with temazepam. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor. Where can I get more information? Your pharmacist can provide more information about temazepam. Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed. Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist. Copyright 1996-2013 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 8.03. Revision date: 12/15/2010. Your use of the content provided in this service indicates that you have read,understood and agree to the End-User License Agreement,which can be accessed by clicking on this link. From Featured Centers How Could You Live Better With Migraine? Not Being Defined by Your Cancer Track Cold & Flu in Your Area Health Solutions From Our Sponsors Frequent Constipation? Greater Food Accessibility


where is london hilton on park lane

oms Enjoy classically-styled Guest Rooms at London Hilton on Park Lane, located on floors 5-8 of the hotel. Upgrade to a Deluxe Room for fantastic views over Hyde Park, Mayfair or the city of London from the large windows, on floors 9-17, and enjoy the modern styling. Each Guest Room features: Air conditioning Well-lit work desk

London Hilton on Park Lane

Guest Ro

TV with BT Sports and on-demand movies Safe Elegant bathroom with exclusive bath products Hairdryer Mini bar Telephone with voicemail Tea and coffee making facilities Trouser press Book Direct on Hilton.com for Free Standard Wi Fi. Hilton Honors Members Only. Premium Wi Fi has a fee. View All Guest Rooms Suites For an unforgettable experience at London Hilton on Park Lane, select a spacious Suite. All Suites offer separate living rooms and views of Hyde Park, Mayfair or the city. Many have unique features, such as dining areas, floor-to-ceiling windows, window seats, walk-in wardrobes, whirlpool tubs and original artwork. Enjoy access to the Executive Lounge with complimentary breakfast each morning. Each Suite features: Executive Lounge access with complimentary continental breakfast Bathrobes and slippers Butler service (fees apply)High floor location (most suites)Air conditioning Complimentary standard Wi Fi Well-lit work desk TV with BT Sports and on-demand movies Safe Elegant bathroom with exclusive bath products Hairdryer Mini bar Telephone with voicemail Tea and coffee making facilities Trouser press Learn More (PDF)View All Suites Executive Rooms Step up to an Executive Room and enjoy a range of exclusive benefits, including access to the Executive Lounge with complimentary continental breakfast each morning. Special touches include bathrobes and slippers. All Executive Rooms offer views over Hyde Park, Mayfair or the city of London. Each Executive Room features: Executive Lounge access with complimentary continental breakfast Bathrobes and slippers High floor location Air conditioning Well-lit work desk TV with BT Sports and on-demand movies Safe Elegant bathroom with exclusive bath products Hairdryer Mini bar Telephone with voicemail Tea and coffee making facilities Trouser press Book Direct on Hilton.com for Free Standard Wi Fi. Hilton Honors Members Only. Premium Wi Fi has a fee. View All Executive Rooms


what is region 2

Region 2 is a chapter of the International Code Council (ICC) representing Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Montana, Idaho and Wyoming. As with all other ICC Associations, it’s a member-focused association.

WHAT IS REGION 2 of ICC

WHAT IS REGION 2 of ICCPublished on June 24, 2015Sign in to like this article6Sign in to comment on this article2Share0David S. Follow Sign in to follow this author ICC Board of Directors at International Code Council Many of you might say one or more of the following things when it comes to Region 2: How does it have anything to do with me? I don’t have time to waste. Why should I care? What’s in it for me or my jurisdiction? If you will give us a few minutes of your time, we at Region 2 would like to hopefully address some of these questions.

Each one of us is the Association Almost all of us share the vision and mission of ICC: protecting the health, safety and welfare of all individuals by creating safe buildings and communities thru the provisions of the highest quality service to the jurisdictions we serve. For Region 2, some of its purposes are: As with ICC, to promote maximum safety to life, health and property at minimum costs through the emphasis of uniformity in the application, interpretation and enforcement of the I-Codes Promotion of improved public understanding and appreciation of the proper and consistent enforcement and administration of the I-Codes and their importance to the safety, welfare and prosperity for all jurisdictions within Region 2To support all the Chapters of Region 2The promotion and support of regional code consensus The promotion and support of regional code development To promote professional assistance and technical advice to legislative and other governmental bodies in the declaration and administration of the building codes and related regulations To provide opportunities and forums for member networking and to discuss issues of mutual concern The promotion of continued educational opportunities that improve the prestige of Code Officials through high quality training in the standards of consistent enforcement and administration of the I-Codes Promotion of a better understanding and appreciation of the Association and its individual member’s responsibilities to the public through sponsorship and promotion of Building Safety Week You can find many of these goals and ideas in our Mission Statement: MISSION: Region II consisting of Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, & Wyoming are dedicated to excellence in the built environment through education and engagement at the local, regional, national, and international levels, promoting a safer environment for all by bringing together individuals engaged in the administration, enforcement and implementation of all codes related to the construction industry. Region 2 knows that serving many members in our six states can be a big challenge. Trying to hit every point of the Association’s purpose can best be achieved by each of us helping to make every member better by participating whenever possible within our individual chapters and within Region 2. The best way this can be facilitated is through education, training and member interaction. Some of the continued and ongoing goals of Region 2 are: Continued conference calls with Region 2, its committees and its member chapters Support of candidates through the Candidate Support Committee process Support of code development though the Code Development Committee Continued support and participation in educational opportunities Continued growth and participation within Region 2 and its member chapters Region 2 is calling on each and every one of you to ask what you can do to help all of us achieve our goals. We ask you to assist us in pursuing excellence and strengthening each and every member of our profession within our six states. Region 2 is rich in the experience and knowledge and it is time to tap in to this great resource in our possession. We encourage you to attend the monthly conference calls and be an active participant in the workings of your Regional Chapter. If a member of the Board can ever be of service, or if you have ideas, please let us know. Sign in to like this article Sign in to comment on this article Share Follow Sign in to follow this author David S. ICC Board of Directors at International Code Council29 articles2 comments Newest Comment settings Sign in to leave your comment2y Gary Schenk Building Official at City of Sea Tac Good job, Dave. You stated it well. Like Sign in to like this comment Reply Sign in to reply to this comment1 Like2y ICC Region IIICC Region IIPlease join us at Region II. Learn what we are about! !Like Sign in to like this comment Reply Sign in to reply to this comment1 Like Don't miss more articles by David S. Learning Center at ICC Webinars David S. on Linked In SDCI Releases URM Policy Committee Recommendations David S. on Linked In The WABO News Letter - Summer 2017David S. on Linked In Looking for more of the latest headlines on Linked In? Discover more stories


foodborne trematodiases symptoms

Food-borne illnesses, also referred to as food borne diseases, food borne infections and food poisoning, are a common, yet preventable, public health problem across the globe. Foodborne illnesses are diseases that are usually infectious and toxic in nature and can range from mild to severe health problems and risks.

Food-borne illnesses

Food-borne illnesses

What is a foodborne illness? A food-borne illness is any illness or disease contracted from the food spoilage of contaminated food. During the food processing cycle, many disease causing organisms can infect and contaminate foods. This can occur from failure to cook food thoroughly or infestations from pests such as rodents and cockroaches in food processing facilities. According to the Centres for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), these examples of contamination, along with several others, result in 48 million cases of foodborne illnesses reported each year in the US alone. Types of food-borne illnesses There are roughly around 250 different food-borne illnesses currently in existence. The majority of these food borne diseases are caused by: Bacteria Viruses Parasites Prions Chemicals Bacteria Below is a list of the most common food-borne illnesses caused by bacteria: Salmonella The CDC reports that salmonella is estimated to cause one million illnesses in the United States alone each year. Globally, the WHO estimate this figure to be around the tens of millions. The majority of salmonella infections result in developing diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps. These causes usually happen 12 to 72 hours after infection. The majority of salmonella infections usually last between 4 and 7 days, with most patients recovering without treatment. However, there are some cases where the diarrhea becomes quite severe leading to hospitalisation due to dehydration. Campylobacteriosis Campylobacteriosis is an infectious disease caused by the bacteria of the genus Campylobacter. It is the main cause of foodborne diarrheal infections, and is the most common bacteria that causes gastroenteritis worldwide. Most infections result in patients developing diarrhea, cramping, abdominal pain, and a fever within two to five days. The diarrhea can sometimes be bloody and patients can sometimes develop nausea and vomiting as a result of infection. The infection usually lasts around 1 week. Patients with compromised and weak immune systems can sometimes develop life-threatening infections due to campylobacteriosis spreading to the bloodstream. Escherichia Coli Escherichia Coli ( E. coli) is a bacterium that is commonly found in the gut of humans. Most strains of E.coli are harmless, however, some strains can cause serious food borne diseases. Enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC)ETEC can cause profuse watery diarrhea and abdominal cramping. Other symptoms, which are less common, include: Fever Nausea with or without vomiting Chills Loss of appetite Headache Muscle Aches Bloating The food borne illness usually develops 1-3 days after infection and usually lasts 4 days, with some taking a week or longer to resolve. Symptoms usually only last 3 weeks, with most patients recovering with little to no medical support. Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC)EHEC causes symptoms such as abdominal cramps and diarrhoea, and in some cases progresses to bloody diarrhea. Fever and vomiting may also occur. Symptoms usually occur between 3 and 8 days of contraction with patients typically recovering after 10. According to the WHO, in a small number of patients (around 10%) EHEC develops into life threatening diseases such as Haemolytic Uraemic Syndrome. Listeria The food borne disease, listeria, is caused by the bacterium Listeria Monocytogenes. This infection can lead to miscarriages and deaths of newborn babies. Although, the number of listeria cases worldwide is quite low, its severe health risks and consequences makes it one of the most serious food borne diseases. Symptoms usually consist of a fever, fatigue and aches in pregnant women. Other symptoms include headaches, stiff necks, confusion, loss of balance as well as fever and muscle aches. Vibrio Cholerae Vibrio Cholerae is responsible for causing cholera. Around 3-5 million cases and over 100,000 deaths occur each year around the world. The infection is usually mild, but around 5-10% of cholerae cases develop into a severe disease where water diarrhea, vomiting and leg cramps are present. In these cases the rapid loss of body fluids results in dehydration and shock. Viruses To add to the food borne infections transmitted through bacteria, viruses also contribute to certain diseases being spread by food. Norovirus Norovirus is a very contagious virus. This foodborne illness causes its patients stomach and intestines to become inflamed resulting in stomach pain, nausea, diarrhea and vomiting. According to the CDC, norovirus is the most common cause of acute gastroenteritis in the United States. Symptoms for this food-borne disease usually develop between 12 and 48 of infection. However, most people recover within 1 to 3 days. Parasites Some parasites which cause foodborne illnesses can only be transmitted through food, others can also infect a subject through direct contact with animals, as well as by entering the food chain via water or soil and contaminated produce. Foodborne trematodes Foodborne trematodes is one of those parasites which can only be transmitted through food. According to the WHO, at least 56 million people globally suffer from one or more foodborne trematodiases. Foodborne trematodiases are caused by the trematode worms. The most common species which affect humans are: Clonorchis Opisthorchis Fasciola Paragonimus Infection is spread through the consumption of produce which harbours the parasite larvae and can result in severe liver and lung disease. Echinococcosis Echinococcosis is a parasitic disease caused by the tapeworm of the Echinococcus genus. Infection is spread through consumption of produce harbouring the parasite as well as direct contact with an animal host. Echinococcosis can affect both the lungs and the liver, depending on where the parasite has nested. If located in the liver symptoms include abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, whilst infection in the lungs symptoms show as a chronic cough, chest pain and shortness of breath. The WHO states that treatment of this parasite is often expensive and complicated and may require extensive surgery and/or prolonged drug therapy. Cryptosporidium The cryptosporidium parasite is responsible for transmitting the cryptosporidiosis disease (crypto for short) which causes watery diarrhea. Individuals with a weak immune system may experience more severe symptoms and can develop a life threatening illness. Prions Prions are infectious agents composed of protein. They are a unique food-borne illness as they are associated with specific forms of neurodegenerative disease. They are also presumed to be the cause of the transmissible spongiform encephalopathies. Unlike other forms of food borne diseases, prions cannot be eliminated through the traditional methods such as heating. Mad cow disease Mad cow disease (bovine spongiform encephalopathy) is a food borne infection commonly found in cattle and causes a spongy degeneration in the brain and spinal cord. The disease is believed to be caused by cattle being fed the remains of other cattle in the form of meat and bone meal. The human version of mad cow disease is called variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob (v CJD). It is believed to be caused by eating beef products contaminated with nervous system tissue such as brain and spinal cord, from cattle infected with mad cow disease.v CJD is quite hard to diagnose until it has nearly run its course. In the early stages of infection symptoms of depression and loss of coordination become apparent. Dementia develops in later stages of the illness. Only in advanced stages of the disease can brain abnormalities be detected by MRI scans. Fatal cases lead to the deterioration of the brain's nerve cells which usually happens after 13 months of the onset of symptoms. Chemicals caused by contaminated food Food contaminated with naturally occurring toxins and environmental pollutions are a major health concern due to their ability to cause food-borne illnesses. Naturally occurring toxins There are a whole range of naturally occurring toxins which can lead to becoming infected with a food borne disease. Naturally occurring toxins in food can range from the toxins found in poisonous mushrooms, to the high levels of mycotoxins such as aflatoxin and ochratoxin found in corn and cereals. Long term exposure to these toxins can severely affect the immune system, and in some cases, cause cancer, according to the WHO. Persistent organic pollutants Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) refer to compounds which accumulate in the environment and the human body. The most well known examples of POPs are dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls. These are the chemicals released as a result of industrial processes and waste incineration, and are found worldwide in the environment and infect animal food chains. Humans are at risk by consuming food products contaminated by POPs. Dioxins are extremely toxic. Dioxins cause reproductive and developmental problems and damages to the immune system. They are also known to interfere with hormones as well as cause cancer. Metals Food can become contaminated with metals such as lead, calcium and mercury. This happens via pollution of the air, water and soil. These lead to illnesses such as lead and mercury poisoning which can result in neurological and kidney damage. Of course there are a lot more food borne diseases circulating the world, the ones mentioned above are the most common. How do you get food poisoning? The biggest cause of food poisoning (foodborne illness) is consuming contaminated foods and beverages. What is contaminated food? Contaminated food refers to items which are infected with harmful diseases. This can range from bacteria such as salmonella to contagious viruses which cause gastroenteritis and harmful prions which cause mad cow disease. How is food contaminated? Food contamination happens due to a whole range of contributing factors. It is relatively easy for food to become contaminated. Within the food retailing and hospitality sectors a foodborne illness outbreak can potentially affect a large number of people. Poor hand hygiene Arguably one of the biggest causes of food borne illness is poor hand hygiene. Businesses involved in food preparation such as manufacturing, hotels and restaurants must pay special attention to hygiene standards and enforce safe practices. The human hand is responsible for spreading 88% of infections. Harmful pathogens such as bacteria and viruses present on a person's hand can easily be introduced during food handling. Pests Pests present a big risk to the food industry. Not only can they cause damage to a business’ reputation, but can also contaminate food throughout the food supply chain. Rodents and cockroaches are known for spreading harmful bacteria and viruses through their urine, droppings, vomit, and also their feet and bodies. If a pest comes into contact with an item of food then there’s a strong possibility for food borne infections such as salmonella could be transmitted. Food storage For foodborne illnesses to develop the microbes which cause them need to multiply into large numbers. For this to happen, microbes need warm, moist conditions. Food left out overnight is often at great risk. Food preparation Food preparation areas can be at high risk of food contamination. This can happen through a range of ways, however the main source is cross contamination. Cross contamination happens by transferring germs from one food to another. This can be done through using the same knife, cutting board, and other utensils on multiple food products without washing properly in between each usage. Animals and plants Many germs responsible for creating food borne illnesses (such as E.coli) can be found in the intestines of healthy animals. Although these germs remain in the sections of the animal which are discarded, the edible sections can become contaminated during the food manufacturing process. It only takes a small amount of the animal’s intestinal contents to cause a food borne infection. Plants such as fruits and vegetables (even organic ones) can also be contaminated. This can be via a range of different factors such as being grown in infested soil, or being washed with water contaminated with feces and excrement. Who is at risk of food poisoning? Unlike some diseases, food borne illnesses can affect everyone. Anyone can catch food poisoning, and relatively easily. Some people are more likely to develop food poisoning than others. Apparently some people are naturally more resistant to food poisoning that others. Factors such as stress can also play a part in a person's resistance to food borne diseases. Certain groups of people are naturally less resistant to food borne illnesses due to a weaker immune system, these are: The elderly Sick people Babies and young children Pregnant women Food borne illness symptoms Although there is a wide range of different foodborne diseases you can catch, they all show relatively the same symptoms. Foodborne illness can have various symptoms including: Diarrhea Vomiting Nausea Abdominal cramps Fever The number of these symptoms present and their severity depends on the type of food borne illness. Treating food poisoning Whilst food borne infections are fairly common, thankfully treatment can be quite simple. Food poisoning can usually be treated at home on your own, without the need for medical intervention. Treatment When treating a foodborne illness it is important to replenish your fluids by drinking plenty of water. Avoiding dehydration is key to recovery. You can also treat food poisoning by: Resting as much as possible. Try to eat, if and when you feel up to it. But stick to small, light, non-fatty meals first. Bland carbohydrates such as toast, crackers and rice are a good option. Avoid alcoholic, caffeinated and carbonated drinks as well as spicy and fatty foods. These will make you feel worse. If you find yourself not recovering after a few days, or if you’re showing severe signs of a food borne illness, get professional medical help. Preventing foodborne illness Preventing foodborne illnesses is relatively simple. In order to prevent food contamination from harmful pathogens, always follow food safety guidelines and basic food hygiene practises. Food safety Food safety is a scientific discipline that ensures the prevention of foodborne illnesses through the handling, preparation, and storage of food. It includes a number of food hygiene routines that should be adhered to in order to prevent the potentially severe health hazards food borne diseases can cause.5 Principles to safer food According to WHO the five key principles to safer food are: Keep clean Separate raw and cooked Cook thoroughly Keep food at safe temperatures Use safe water and raw materials Keep clean Following proper food hygiene and hand hygiene practices can ensure the spread of foodborne illnesses is kept to a minimum. The harmful microorganisms which cause food borne illnesses are carried on hands, wiping cloths, and cooking utensils. Even the slightest bit of contact can transfer these organisms to food. You can prevent food borne illnesses by: Ensuring hands are washed regularly — before and after handling food, during preparation, and after using a washroom. If wearing gloves, remember to dispose of them safely and wear a fresh pair when handling different items of food. Wash, sanitize and disinfect all surfaces and equipment used within the food processing cycle. Protect food supply and preparation areas from pests such as rodents, cockroaches, flies and stored product insects. Separate raw and cooked Raw food, and in particular meat, poultry and seafood are riddled with dangerous microorganisms (which are eliminated during the cooking process). These microorganisms can easily be transferred during food preparation, transportation and storage and lead to infection from a variety of different food-borne illnesses. You can prevent foodborne illnesses by: Separating raw meat, poultry and seafood from other foods during preparation, transportation and storage. Use separate equipment and utensils such as knives, chopping boards and plates whilst handling raw foods. Store raw foods in airtight containers and away from cooked foods, and items such as fruit and vegetables which don’t require cooking before consumption. Cook thoroughly The majority of the microorganisms that cause food-borne infections are eliminated through heat. Studies have shown that cooking food to a temperature of 70℃ can help ensure it is safe for consumption by thoroughly eradicating any pathogens on the item. 70℃ is the advised temperature as it can kill off even the highest concentrations of microorganisms within 30 seconds. However, in the UK it is advised by food safety professionals that food is held at 70℃ for 2 minutes to reduce harmful bacteria to a safe level. However, foods such as large joints of meat require special attention to ensure they are thoroughly cooked. You can prevent food-borne illnesses by: Ensure all food is cooked through thoroughly, especially meat, poultry and seafood. Use a thermometer to check food has reached 70℃ before serving. For meat and poultry make sure the juices run clear. Reheat cooked food thoroughly before serving. Keep food at safe temperatures Improper food storing methods can lead to products becoming infected with foodborne illnesses. The microorganisms responsible for causing these diseases can multiply very quickly in food stored at room temperatures. Ensuring that food is stored at temperatures below 5℃ and above 60℃ (63℃ in the UK) slows down and stops the growth of these microorganisms. However, it is worth noting that some dangerous microorganisms can still grow below 5℃. You can prevent foodborne diseases by: Ensuring cooked food is not left at room temperature for more than 2 hours. Promptly refrigerating all cooked and perishable food, preferably below 5℃. Keep cooked food at 60℃ (63℃ in the UK) or above before serving. Quickly cool and store leftovers. Prepare food in smaller amounts to reduce the amount of leftovers. Do not store food for longer than 3 days, even in the refrigerator. Do not thaw frozen food at room temperature, use a refrigerator or another cool location instead. Use safe water and raw materials Raw materials, ice, and water can be contaminated with dangerous microorganisms and chemicals. Damaged and mouldy foods are often littered with toxic chemicals as well. The same can also be said for soil. You can prevent food-borne infections by: Taking care in the selection of raw materials. Washing and peeling fruit and vegetables before using. If growing produce, ensure the soil and water used is free from chemicals. Do not use food beyond expiry date. Opt for foods processed for safety such as pasteurized milk. Avoid using food which is damaged or rotting. Throw away smashed, swollen or oxidized cans. For more information on food safety, and the regulations surrounding it, visit our food safety regulations page.


what type of cancer did jim kelly have

As of December 2014, Jim Kelly is free of cancer. The Hall of Fame quarterback was first diagnosed with upper jaw-bone cancer resulting from squamous cell carcinoma in 2013.

Sports & Active Lifestyle Athletes Q: What kind of cancer does Jim Kelly have? A: Quick Answer

Continue Reading Keep Learning When did Miah and Jim Harbaugh divorce? Does Jim Brown have any kids? Is there a list of men that Kelly Tilghman has dated? Full Answer After undergoing surgery in June 2013 to remove part of his jawbone, Kelly was cancer-free. However, in March 2014, doctors announced that the cancer had returned. Following additional treatment, biopsies came back negative in September 2014. Kelly played 11 seasons with the Buffalo Bills, leading the team to four consecutive Super Bowl appearances from 1990 to 1993. As of 2014, Kelly remains in western New York where he spends much of his time devoted to his charity, Kelly for Kids. Learn more about Athletes Sources: cbssports.com cbssports.com espn.go.com Related Questions Q: What are Kelly and Michael contests? A: Contests on the Kelly and Michael show vary each month. Details for the current contest can be found at Livekellyandmichael.dadt.com. The currently listed ... Full Answer >Filed Under: Athletes Q: How old is Shaun White? A: Professional snowboard Shaun White was born on September 3, 1986, making him 28 years old as of December, 2014. White is a two-time Winter Olympic gold med... Full Answer >Filed Under: Athletes Q: Who is the highest-paid soccer player in England? A: As of December of 2014, the highest-paid soccer player on one of England's soccer teams is Wayne Rooney, who is a striker for the Manchester United Red Dev... Full Answer >Filed Under: Athletes Q: What type of cancer did Lance Armstrong have? A: According to Biography.com, Lance Armstrong was diagnosed in October 1996 with testicular cancer. By the time the doctors discovered the athlete's cancer, ... Full Answer >Filed Under: Athletes You May Also Like Q: How old is Tim Tebow? Q: What information is available about Manny Pacquiao on the HBO Boxing website? Q: Who are some popular vintage lady wrestlers? Q: Where does Kobe Bryant live? Q: How fast did Nolan Ryan pitch? Q: What are some statistical facts about Peyton Manning's career?


cost of simple cremation in los angeles california

Cremation services are available from most funeral homes in California. The average cost of a cremation can vary quite significantly though, so it is important to compare cremation prices, and ensure you are comparing like for like. For example the cost of a basic cremation in Los Angeles can range between $625 and $3,000. No casket is required by law for a cremation but a suitable rigid cremation container is required. This can be a simple cardboard container.

Arranging a Funeral or Cremation in California

"We have put together this article to provide some general guidance on how to arrange a funeral or cremation in California. It provides some tips on Californian funeral legislation, some key points you may be considering if you are planning a funeral or cremation, and an overview of cremation costs. Choosing a funeral home in California One of the first things many families turn to do when a death occurs is choose a funeral services provider to handle the services. There are in the region of 1,200 funeral homes throughout California, so deciding upon which funeral home to select can be a pretty daunting task to do. It can help you to formulate some clear criteria for what you want from a funeral director before you start contacting any mortuaries. Do you require a burial or cremation? Do you want traditional or contemporary? Are you planning ceremony services at the funeral home and therefore require a suitablevenue/location? What budget do you have for funeral expenses? Just these few questions can help present a clearer idea of what kind of funeral services provider you need. If you need to find a funeral home in California, you can use our funeral home directory, which lists funeral homes by city and zip code. What is the average cost of a cremation in California? California is one of the states where the cremation rate is higher [7 out of 10 Californians choose cremation], this generally means that you can you arrange a cremation at a lesser cost than in many other states. California is one of only 2 states where ‘direct disposers’ are licensed. If the cost of a cremation is important to you then you may wish to check with DFS Memorials. This is a network of family-owned low cost funeral and cremation providers, with several locations throughout California, who all offer affordable prices for a direct cremation and/or a traditional funeral. By law funeral establishments MUST quote prices over the telephone, and provide you with a General Price List (GPL) when you make an inquiry. Cremation Services in California – laws that govern cremation & what you need to know

If a service is to be held before the cremation, some funeral homes offer rental caskets. The next of kin must sign the Declaration for Disposition of Cremated Remains, and a funeral home will usually arrange this as part of their services. Most states have a mandatory wait time (24-48 hours) after death before a cremation can proceed. However, the County Medical Examiner or a Justice of the Peace can waive this requirement Who has the legal responsibility for making funeral arrangements? California stature states that an agent under a power of attorney, a spouse or registered domestic partner, any adult children, parents, adult siblings or other surviving competent adult kin have the right to make decisions about disposition arrangements after an individual's death unless other written instructions are left.. Arranging a direct cremation in California As California direct cremation services are popular, and the state licenses direct disposition, a complete direct cremation can be obtained at a very competitive price. Do be sure to check around and make sure any direct cremation prices quoted include the same service/products. There is something of a ‘price-war’ on direct cremation in California but some cremation providers may not include all costs in an advertised direct cremation package. Be sure to check the price includes the cremation container and crematory fee. The fees for the cremation permit and death certificate are often additional ‘cash advance’ or cash disbursements. What is the average cost of a traditional funeral? Funeral costs do vary considerably. The cost of a funeral can differ between different providers for the exact same service, and many funeral homes refrain from disclosing prices because they claim that funerals are not “cookie-cutter”. The NFDA (2012) surveyed the average cost of a funeral at $7,045 and this was without cemetery costs. Therefore, it is fair to say that the average traditional burial costs in the region of $10,000. Now, of course, there are much more inexpensive burial options and this is where it is important to ensure you shop around and make inquiries from at least 3 funeral homes.. Arranging a traditional burial in California Californian law does not require vaults or grave liners. Many cemeteries may have their own policies requiring them as they keep the ground from settling after burial and make mowing and maintenance easier. A vault completely surrounds the funeral casket in concrete or other material, whereas grave liners cover only the top and sides. Neither is designed to prevent the eventual decomposition of human remains. Many cemeteries also have their own regulations governing the erection of grave markers, so it is wise to fully check cemetery regulation before committing to any vault, grave liner or grave marker purchases. Can I conduct a home funeral in California? Yes. The law does permit for you to prepare the body of your loved one for disposition. If you choose to do this, you have to file a completed certificate of death that has been signed by the attending physician or coroner with the local registrar of births and deaths. In addition you must obtain a permit for disposition from the local registrar of births and death, and ensure you provide a casket or suitable container. You would then need to make arrangements directly with the cemetery or crematory for interment or cremation. Human remains may be kept at home until disposition without embalming or refrigeration. Although you must bear in mind that decomposition will proceed more rapidly without refrigeration or embalming. Is embalming required by law in California? Californian law states that embalming is not required. However, a funeral establishment must refrigerate an unembalmed body in its possession within 24 hours if disposition by burial or cremation does not otherwise take place. You may wish to authorize embalming if there will be a delay before a public viewing period, however, you need to realize that embalming does not prevent decomposition. Purchasing a casket in California California law permits casket sellers to sell caskets direct to the public. You do not have to purchase your casket directly from a funeral home, but can purchase one from a casket seller and have it delivered to your funeral home. They MUST accept it, and cannot add a service charge for this. The law does require that casket sellers MUST disclose prices at the onset of any discussion about purchasing a casket. Casket retailers are not bound by the same laws that govern funeral homes. It is advisable to ensure that you are dealing with a reputable casket supplier. You can often save a significant amount of money by buying a casket direct from a casket retailer, and most can arrange a next-day delivery to your chosen funeral home if required. Purchasing a grave marker in California Similarly a grave marker does not have to be purchased at the time of interment. Generally cemeteries will not permit a memorial marker to be erected until a few months after the burial. This gives the ground a chance to settle and prevents potential subsidence of the monument. Therefore, this gives you time to shop around without feeling you have to commit to a marker whilst making funeral arrangements. Check out our ‘ Caskets ’ and ‘ Grave Markers ’ sections for much more detailed overview of purchasing these items. What can I do with the cremated remains? Laws for scattering ashes in California In California, you may choose any of the following methods of disposition of cremated remains: Placement in a columbarium Burial in a plot in a cemetery Retention at a residence - The funeral establishment or crematory will have you sign the Permit for Disposition showing that the remains were released to you and will file it with the local registrar of births and deaths. You may not remove the cremated remains from the container and you must arrange for their disposition upon your death Storing in a house of worship or religious shrine dependent upon local zoning laws Ash Scattering in areas of the state where no local prohibition exists and with written permission of the property owner or governing agency. The cremated remains must be removed from the container and scattered in a manner so they are not distinguishable to the public Ash Scattering in a cemetery scattering garden Ash Scattering at sea, at least 500 yards from shore In California cremated remains cannot be transported without a permit from the county health department and they may not be disposed of in refuse. How do I obtain a death certificate in California? The State Registrar of California Office of Vital Records (OVR) registers all deaths. The fee for a death certificate in California is currently $14.00. You may require more than one death certificate, as you will need to send them off to more than one institution, organization or government office at the same time. Most authority bodies that need evidence of the death, i.e. a life insurance company, will require an original copy of a death certificate. Certified copies of a death certificate are usually available within 10 days after the death. Transporting mortal remains from California to another state or country If a death has occurred and you need to arrange to transport your loved one’s body back to a country of origin for burial, then you will need the services of a funeral home in California familiar with funeral shipping. Transporting a body within the U. S is relatively straightforward but international mortuary shipping is quite specialized. There are funeral homes that are especially versant with the processes for shipping a Mexican national back to their state in Mexico. Read our funeral shipping page for more information. Can I donate my body to science in California? Yes, you can. You can donate via a local medical school or with a national body donation program. Visit our Body Donation page to read further about this option. Hispanic Funerals in California California has the highest concentration of Hispanic population, mainly immigrants from Mexico. Although many Hispanics and Latinos choose to repatriate remains, the rapidly growing Hispanic-American population in California places a significant emphasis on ""memorialization."" What this means is that Hispanics are more likely to spend money on a funeral as part of the tradition ingrained within their culture. This has meant that a number of Hispanic mortuaries operate in California. The deceased had no life insurance and I can’t afford a funeral. What help is there with cremation costs in California? Sadly more families are finding themselves in such a situation. The reality is that there is very limited public or state assistance for funeral costs. The state takes care of any indigent deaths (as is their responsibility) but this is done by the means of a pauper burial or cremation. Social Security offer a $255 death benefit payment (if qualifying) and the funeral director will assist you with claiming this. For some further guidance read our article ‘ What do I do if I Can’t Afford a Funeral’? What steps do I need to take when a death has occurred? If you are choosing to use the services of a funeral director, you need to select a funeral services provider to work with. He/she will be able to help walk you through the next steps once they have the deceased in their care. Visit our article ‘ How to Save Money Arranging a Funeral or Cremation ’ for detailed tips to save money and checklists to help you make preparations. What should I do if I have a complaint against a funeral home? If you should have reason to be dissatisfied with the services of a licensed funeral home you can make a formal complaint to the California Department of Consumer Affairs Cemetery and Funeral Bureau. 1625 North Market Blvd, Suite S208, Sacramento, CA 95834 Phone: (916) 574-7870Hopefully, this basic guide to arranging a funeral or cremation in California has answered some of your questions. Please use our Library / Info section to access further funeral resources. If you have a question, or need assistance, please contact us or use the live chat facility to speak with an advisor. Expert Author: Sara J. Marsden Sara is the Editor in Chief for US Funerals Online and has been researching and writing about the death care industry in the US for the last 5 years. Resources: Funeral Homes in California DFS Memorials - Low cost providers in California Last Revised: 09/04/2014 "


what plants go well together

Beans, beets, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, corn, cucumbers and strawberries make good neighbors -- as long as you plant the onions, garlic, leeks and shallots elsewhere. Peppers do well with carrots, eggplant, onions, parsley and tomatoes, but do not plant kohlrabi anywhere near them. Keep lettuce away from cabbage and keep onions away from asparagus, beans and peas. Spinach gets along with everyone.

What Vegetables Should Not Be Planted Next Each Other in a Garden?

"Print PDFRelated Articles Vegetables That Don't Grow Well Together What Not to Plant Near Cucumbers Compatible Plants With Onions & Garlic What Vegetables Should Be Planted Together? Companion planting is not an exact science, and the reason why some plants get along while others do not is not always clear. To numerous gardeners and farmers, trial and error has shown that some plants certainly do not make good neighbors. Several reasons dictate why vegetables should be planted together and apart. The issues include cross-contamination, release of certain compounds and excessive shade cast by taller plants over smaller neighbors. Planning Your Garden Small gardens require vegetables to be planted close together, so making sure they get along is essential. Even in larger gardens, spacing your plants is extremely important because of water, nutrient and pest control. According to Duane Newcomb, author of ""The Backyard Vegetable Factory,"" conventional advice is based on science, but trial and error or experimentation often yields the best result. Depending on the size of your garden or container and the list of vegetables you want to plant, you may have to experiment a little to know exactly which ones make good neighbors. Bad Plant Combinations Plants release varying amounts of compounds, such as nitrogen and potassium, which can stunt the growth of other plants by altering the p H level of the soil. While cucumbers thrive when planted near bush beans, lettuce and radishes, they choke when planted near potatoes.

Cross-Contamination Another reason to keep selected vegetable plants separate is because of common pests, fungal and bacterial infections and parasites, which can easily spread from one plant to another. Keep corn and tomatoes separate because they are both prone to a common fungal infection. This way, if your tomatoes become infected, it will not take down your corn crop. The same holds true for potatoes and tomatoes and peppers and potatoes. Keep these plants on opposite sides of your garden. Shade vs. Sun Planting tall, towering plants over smaller, ground-dwelling, sun-loving plants shields the smaller plants from much-needed sunlight. If you have limited space, pair plants that thrive in shade or partial shade, and plant these vegetables near your taller, companion plants. For instance, you can plant pumpkins between rows of corn. Pumpkins and corn are companion plants. Both plants need full sun during early growth, but as the corn matures and towers over the pumpkins, it creates partial shade and a respite from the hot sun. References (4)The Backyard Vegetable Factory: Duane Newcomb Cornell Cooperative Extension: Companion Planting Ecological Agriculture Projects: Companion Plants; Stuart Hill North Dakota State University: Cass County Extension; Companion Planting About the Author Based in Atlanta, Valerie Liles has been writing about landscape and garden design since 1980. As a registered respiratory therapist, she also has experience in family health, nutrition and pediatric and adult asthma managment. Liles holds a Bachelor of Arts in journalism from Colorado State University and a Master of Science in technical communication from the University of Colorado. Photo Credits Jupiterimages/Pixland/Getty Images Cite this Article "


how much time it take to get transit visa

a. Persons from the countries that qualify for the Visa Waiver Program can transit to the U. S. without the transit visa. An immigration officer at the port of entry can admit a person holding a C-1 transit visa for the duration determined by him/her, but for a maximum duration of 29 days. You must leave the U. S. on the proposed flight or ship of departure, or within 29 days, whichever is earlier.

Printer Friendly Send to Friend C-1 Transit Visa If you are a non-US citizen and are merely passing through the United States while transiting to another foreign country, a C-1 transit visa is an appropriate non-immigrant visa. If you are traveling with your family, each person regardless of age, even children and babies listed in parents' passports, needs to apply for a separate C-1 Vis

You must pass in immediate and continuous transit through the U. S. A transit visa is particularly very useful if you need to change airports in the U. S. Even if you don't need to change the airport, if there is a long delay before you can board your flight to the final destination, instead of waiting in the airport, you can get out and tour the nearby places, visit friends or family members, or do shopping. However, even if you are planning to stay in the U. S. even for a day, you should apply for the B1/B2 visa. Documents The following documents are required for a C-1 transit visa: Mandatory documents Passport One photograph Confirmation page of online submitted Form DS-160 with CEAC bar code. Visa Fees Fees to be paid in advance at the Bank before taking an appointment. Interview appointment letter. Sample Supporting documents Proof of permission to enter the country of your final destination such as passport with a valid visa, or an evidence that a visa is not required. Proof of the purpose of your visit to the foreign destination. A common carrier (flight or ship) ticket or other proof of transportation arrangement to final destination. Financial documents to show that you have adequate funds to cover the cost of your transit journey. Evidence of a residence abroad to which you intend to return at the end of the stay in the U. S. This can be established by evidence of family, professional, property, employment or other ties and commitments to some country other than the U. S., through sufficient evidence to compel you to return there at the conclusion of your stay. Consular officer may require additional documents at the time of interview to verify the purpose of obtaining the visa. It is not possible to predict what additional documents may be required. Additional documents for HIV positive persons: A letter from the applicant's physician describing the current state of the health, the risk to the U. S. public health and the risk of spread of infection. A letter describing the purpose of trip (essentially transiting the U. S.), anticipated travel dates in and out of the U. S., and the date by which you will confirm travel arrangements. The letter should also indicate the person will be covered by medical insurance during his/her stay. Prior arrests/convictions in the U. S.: Obtain court records from the court (s) in which you were tried if you were arrested and convicted of an offense in the U. S. Such court records must show the nature of the offense (s) committed, the section (s) of law contravened and the actual penalty imposed. If your arrest did not result in a conviction, or if you are unable to obtain a copy of the court records, submit a sworn affidavit stating the arrest location (state and county), and the reason for the arrest. If your arrest resulted in a conviction, the affidavit must describe the nature of the offense committed, section of the law contravened and penalty imposed by the court (s). Application You must apply for a C-1 transit visa at the nearest U. S. embassy or consulate . All applicants over 14 years to 79 years of age must apply in person and must schedule an appointment before visiting the U. S. embassy or consulate. Applicants under the age of 14 and those 80 years and above may apply for a transit visa by mail. Application procedures vary depending upon the consulates in different countries. If you are applying for a transit visa in India, you can find a detailed application procedure. Processing times can vary a lot in different countries and there are delays of several months in places like India before you can get the visa appointment. It is wise to plan very early because of constant heavy demand for U. S. visas. If you have a medical ineligibility, have been denied entry into or deported from the United States, require additional administrative processing, or if you are a temporary resident of the the country where you are applying for a transit visa, your application may be delayed further. If you are being deported by another country by transiting through the U. S., either with or without an escort, you will not be admitted as a transit without visa. You may be paroled for the purpose of transiting the U. S.


who was involved in the locarno treaties

It resulted in the Rhineland Security Pact as well as 6 other treaties. In October of 1925, representatives of seven European countries met in Locarno, Switzerland. The seven countries involved were Belgium, United Kingdom, Czechoslovakia, France, Germany, Italy and Poland.

6. Locarno Pact:

6. Locarno Pact: A. The Locarno Conference was called partly because of the failure of the Treaty of Versailles to satisfy many nations and solve conflicts between countries that remained after World War I. The Treaty of Versailles ended military actions against Germany in World War I.

The purpose of the conference was to discuss political borders and to build permanent peace. It was the second peace conference (the first was the Congress of Vienna). However the most important issue was to find settlement between France and Germany and for the first time, nations treated Germany as a friendly nation. The Rhineland Security Pact developed as the most important treaty. Germany had joined the League of Nations, it helped set up a neutral zone in the Rhineland, which was an area covering Belgian, French and German soil. All signing powers vowed to guarantee France’s and Belgium’s borders with Germany,The six other treaties made all seven nations promise to discuss its problems before resorting to war; they were all to submit all future disputes to international authority. It was guaranteed by Britain and Italy who pledged to resist whatever country that violated the demilitarized Rhineland. B. Cooperation: Nations promised to guarantee political borders discussed. Internationalism: The seven European nations had gotten together in order to establish a peace settlement. National security: All nations involved had to promise to keep to their political borders Regional security: No nations were to go into the Rhineland as it was a neutral zone. Total war: This Locarno Pact was an attempt to remove tensions between Germany and France. Countries wanted an overall peace settlement and wanted to prevent a second world war. C. The Locarno Pact of 1925 was an attempt to remove tensions between countries, especially between France and Germany. However, it failed in 1936 when Germany had denounced the Locarno treaties and sent troops into the neutral Rhineland. The other Locarno powers did not try to prevent these aggressions because they were not ready for war yet and wanted to avoid the total war feared. In 1929, the world fell in a Great Depression; countries became isolationalists and tried to save their own economies. Germany tried to get out of the depression by created jobs for people through militarization which violated the Treaty of Versailles but no one, including the League of Nations tried to stop it because they were not ready for the war. Copyright ©2009 by Ben Pi, Tony Fu, Amere Huang, Jeff Fong, Edwin Li, Irena Liu SS 20IB