Monthly Archives: July 2020

Black Lives Matter: A primer on what it is and what it stands for

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Speaking from Madrid, President Obama said the Black Lives Matter movement shouldn't be judged by the actions of a few non-peaceful protestors.

Black Lives Matter rally in Oklahoma City, Sunday, July 10, 2016.(Photo: Sue Ogrocki, AP)

After a week of conflict in the United States that included the police-involved shooting deaths ofAlton Sterling andPhilando Castile,and the subsequent sniper attack thatleftfive Dallas police officers dead,the Black Lives Matter movement once again hasbeen at the center of controversy.

But lost in the discussion is a sense of what Black Lives Matter isand what it stands for.

What is Black Lives Matter?

Black Lives Matter was founded by PatrisseCullors, Alicia Garza, and Opal Tometi as botha hashtagand a political projectaftertheacquittal of George Zimmerman in the 2012 killing of Trayvon Martin. Distraught at the verdict, Oakland, Calif., community activist Garza wrote an impassioned Facebook plea ending with the words "black lives matter." Cullors, a community organizer from Los Angeles, shared the Facebook post and put a hashtag in front of those three words. The ideals expressed the economic, political and socialempowerment ofAfrican-Americans resonated nationwide.

Since 2013, Black Lives Matter has movedfromsocial media platforms to the streets, morphing into an organization andamovement that gainednationalrecognitionduring demonstrations after the 2014 police-involved killings of Michael Brown and Eric Garner.

How does Black Lives Matter work?

What setsBlack Lives Matter apart from other social justice groups, however,is its decentralized approach and reliance almost solely on local, rather than national, leadership. Cullors said organizing is often spontaneous and not directed byone person or group of people.

We dont get (people) onto the streets, they get themselves onto the street, she said.

Black Lives Matteris made up of a network of local chapters who operate mostly independently. Chelsea Fuller of the Advancement Project, a nonprofit that works with grassroots justice and race movements, said that local organizing is a powerful way to address poverty, access to housing and jobs, community policingand other issues that intersect with systemic racism.

We cant affect national narrative, we cant affect national legislation that comes down and affects local people if local people dont push back and take a stand about what's happening in local communities, Fuller said.

Black Lives Matter founder Patrisse Cullors shares her thoughts about race in America.

What does Black Lives Matter stand for?

Themost important directive of Black Lives Matter,Cullors said,is to deal with anti-black racism,to push for black peoples right to live with dignity and respect and be included in theAmerican democracy that they helped create.

This is about the quality of life for black people, for poor people in this country, said Umi Selah, co-director of Dream Defenders in Miami. Though not officially affiliated, Dream Defenders and similar social justice groups often align themselves with Black Lives Matter.

The conception that all were mad about is police and policing is a strong misconception, Selah said.In fact, Black Lives Matter released a statement last weekcondemning the shooting in Dallas as counter to whatthe movement is trying to accomplish.

Ralikh Hayes of Baltimore BLOC echoed Selah, saying that Black Lives Matter is not inherently anti-police or anti-white, nor does the phrase Black Lives Matter means other lives aren't important.

We are against a system that views people as tools, Hayes said.

Cullors also hears claims that Black Lives Matterlacks direction or strategy. But Cullors said the strategyis clear -- working to ensure that black people live with the full dignity of theirhuman rights.

We are not leaderless, were leader-full, she said. "We're trying to change the world...developing a new vision for what this generation of black leaders can look like."

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Black Lives Matter: A primer on what it is and what it stands for

Black Lives Matter — Manifesto in Ten Points | National Review

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Black Lives Matter has delivered a ten-point manifesto of what they want. I have to say, it isnt as bad as I expected. In fact, some of it makes a lot of sense. For example, they ask for the end of broken windows policing, the end of for-profit policing practices such as civil asset forfeiture as well and the end of the police use of military equipment.

What I am, however, surprised about is that the list doesnt at all mention ending the failed Drug War even though many of their demands are to end policies (like the ones mentioned above) that are by-products of the Drug War. It is even more surprising since manyhave noted how the black community suffers disproportionately from the policy.

I find this essay from John McWhorter extremely compelling and moving about the disastrous results the Drug War has had on Black families. Far from finding excuses for the decisions made by those who choose employment in the illegal drug market rather than lower-paying jobs in the legal labor market due to the incentives created by the Drug War, McWhorter explains the consequences and the vicious cycle that follows. He writes:

The War on Drugs destroys black families. It has become a norm for black children to grow up in single-parent homes, their fathers away in prison for long spells and barely knowing them. In poor and working-class black America, a man and a woman raising their children together is, of all things, an unusual sight. The War on Drugs plays a large part in this. It must stop.

I know this is a controversial issue among conservatives, even though acknowledging that the Drug War has failed and needs to be scaled back is different from condoning the use of drugs.National Review even called for legalization of Marijuana back in 1996, long before the New York Times did in 2014.

That being said, no matter what conservatives think about the policy, it remains strange that it doesnt appear on the BLMs list of demands.

Less surprising, but important, is a failure to ask for the end of minimum-wage policies. Over at Cafe Hayek, Don Boudreaux posted a great discussion between George Mason Universitys Walter Williams and the Hoover Institutions Thomas Sowell on, as Boudreaux writes, the minimum wage governments practice of ordering low-skilled workers to remain unemployed if, and for however long as, those workers are unable to persuade or entice employers to hire them at wages at least as high as the wage that government dictates. As Williams says during the interview:

The minimum-wage law has been, and continues to be, one of the most effective tools in the arsenal of racists everywhere around the world.

It is worth also reading the article published a few months ago over at the TNR about the racist origins of the minimum-wage laws. While the intentions behind the law have changed dramatically, it doesnt mean that the policy has become low-income-worker friendly. As we know, the road to hell is paved with good intentions.

Even less surprising is the absence on the BLMs list of the need to reform Social Security. As I have mentioned before Social Security redistributes money from blacks and other minorities to white people. You would think that considering the stakes, BLM would put it on their list.

All this goes to say that while the list wasnt as bad as I expected, it fails to address important policy changes that would really make a difference.

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Black Lives Matter -- Manifesto in Ten Points | National Review

Unspeakable video highlights the role of Deaf and hard-of-hearing people in Black Lives Matter – The Verge

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Filmmaker Emmai Alaquiva of Pittsburgh wanted to talk to his 8-year-old daughter about the racial climate in the US, but was concerned that at her age, she might not be able to fully grasp the issues.

I told her the name George Floyd and we talked about what Black Lives Matter means, he says. I sort of gave her the Cliffs Notes version, to give her some inspiration.

His daughter surprised him, however, and came back to him with a question: She said, hey, Dad, how come theres no people doing sign language or ASL in your photos and videos? It was a great point, we werent. He says he and his daughter take ASL classes together, part of his mission to help her learn to express herself in different mediums.

Over the next few days Alaquiva reached out to professionals in the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community including freelance sign language interpreter Amy Crawford, Danielle Filip of Pittsburgh-area Sign Language Interpreting Professionals, and Greg Pollock, an accessibility officer at a local bank, to be consultants on the script for the video he wanted to do, featuring a message in American Sign Language.

I wanted to make sure the messaging was clear, and that we werent appropriating anything from the community, Alaquiva said.

The result is Unspeakable, a public service announcement featuring members of the Deaf community: Although we may be Deaf, we can hear the world loud and clear, the group signs.

It is my hope that Unspeakable brings attention to the basic human right of communication access as a thread which connects us all, Filip said.

The nuances of communicating in sign language were important to get right in the video, Alaquiva said: for instance, the word black referring to the color can be signed with one finger pointed out in the ASL 1 handshape moving horizontally across the forehead. But when referring to a Black person, the sign uses four fingers pressed together in the ASL b handshape moving horizontally across the forehead, and is generally reserved for use by Black people, Alaquiva said.

Participating in public rallies is often challenging for Deaf and hard-of-hearing people, especially in large crowds with many people wearing face masks that cover their mouths. Activists have worked with the National Alliance of Multicultural Disabled Advocates to push for the #BlackDisabledLivesMatter efforts, to spotlight these challenges, as Teen Vogue columnist Sarah Kim reported. They also seek to call attention to the number of police violence victims who had disabilities.

Alaquiva said he hopes the PSA is inspiration for others involved in protest movements to be more inclusive, not necessarily just for people who are Deaf or hard of hearing, but anyone with a disability. Its not our job to just do something then go about our business, he said, adding he and his production team built a website with additional resources.

Theres a photo I took at a protest in Oakland and the persons sign said Im sorry Im late, I had a lot to learn. That can apply to any movement you want to be a part of. Whether youre on time or late, you gotta show up.

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Investigating the Effect of Nano-Curcumin on the Expression of Biofilm | IDR – Dove Medical Press

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Parastoo Sharifian,1 Somayeh Yaslianifard,2 Parviz Fallah,3 Siavash Aynesazi,4 Mahmood Bakhtiyari,5 Mohammad Mohammadzadeh2

1Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran; 2Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Dietary Supplements and Probiotic Research Center, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran; 3Department of Laboratory Science, Faculty of Allied Medicine, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran; 4Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, North Branch, Islamic Azad, Tehran, Iran; 5Department of Community Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Medicine, Non-Communicable Diseases Research Center, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran

Correspondence: Mohammad Mohammadzadeh Tel +989126767995Email M.mohammadzadeh84@yahoo.com

Background: Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen that causes serious nosocomial infections, especially in immunodeficient patients and cystic fibrosis, cancer, and burned individuals. The biofilm that plays an important role in the virulence of P. aeruginosa is under the regulation of quorum sensing and two-component regulatory systems of bacteria. Curcumin, an active phenolic extract of turmeric has shown an inhibitory effect on the biofilm formation of some pathogenic bacteria. Thus, the present study aims to evaluate the effect of Nano-Curcumin on the expression of major regulatory genes involved in biofilm formation of P. aeruginosa.Materials and Methods: The biofilm formation of P. aeruginosa ATCC 10145 was assessed in the presence of 15, 20, and 25 g/mL concentrations of Nano-Curcumin using the microplate titer method. The effect of Nano-Curcumin on the expression level of regulatory genes were determined by relative reverse transcriptase-realtime PCR.Results: In the absence of Nano-Curcumin, P. aeruginosa strain ATCC 10145 strongly produced biofilm (3+) and in the presence of 15 and 20 g/mL, biofilm formation was reduced to moderate (2+) and weak biofilm producer (1+), respectively. Nano-Curcumin at a concentration of 25g/mL inhibited biofilm formation in P. aeruginosa. The expression of regulatory genes was not affected by biofilm inhibitory concentrations of Nano-Curcumin.Conclusion: The antibiofilm mechanism of Curcumin is not related to the downregulation of regulatory systems of P. aeruginosa and probably it prevents the formation of a complete biofilm structure.

Keywords: Pseudomonas aeruginosa, biofilm formation, Nano-Curcumin

This work is published and licensed by Dove Medical Press Limited. The full terms of this license are available at https://www.dovepress.com/terms.php and incorporate the Creative Commons Attribution - Non Commercial (unported, v3.0) License.By accessing the work you hereby accept the Terms. Non-commercial uses of the work are permitted without any further permission from Dove Medical Press Limited, provided the work is properly attributed. For permission for commercial use of this work, please see paragraphs 4.2 and 5 of our Terms.

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Bright future for the global offshore wind turbines market – Energy Global

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Transparency Market Research has conducted analysis into the offshore wind turbines market. In terms of value, the global offshore wind turbines market is expected to reach US$120 billion by 2030, expanding at a CAGR of approximately 8% during the forecast period. Based on volume, the global offshore wind turbines market is estimated to reach 65 037 MW by 2030, expanding at a CAGR of approximately 8% during the forecast period. Among foundation types, the monopile segment is anticipated to contract due to increase in average turbine size, which requires large foundations. In terms of location proximity, the shallow water segment held larger share of the global offshore wind turbines market in 2019. However, the trend for deeper waters (up to 60 m) for proposed wind farms is projected to rise by 2030. The 5 MW and above capacity segment is likely to account a major share of the global offshore wind turbines market by 2030 due to installations of large-sized turbines in Europe and Asia Pacific. The offshore wind turbines market in Asia Pacific is expected to expand at a substantial pace during the forecast period. The region installed 2.5 GW of offshore wind capacity in 2019; of this, China installed 2.4 GW capacity.

Major drivers of offshore wind turbines market

Lucrative incentive mechanism with favourable regulatory frameworks for offshore wind power generation is propelling the demand for offshore wind turbines across the globe. Essential support incentive schemes and regulatory frameworks are driving the global offshore wind turbines market. Incentives are anticipated to be provided until the offshore wind power generation technology develops significantly. The offshore wind turbines market is likely to remain largely dependent on policy-based incentive schemes provided to offshore wind power generation projects in order to ensure capacity addition unless considerable reduction in cost is achieved in these projects.

Rapid advancements in offshore wind technologies and addition of large capacity offshore wind turbines are increasingly becoming a possibility with rise in the pace of advancement of offshore wind technology in Europe, the US, and China. This advancement of technology is anticipated to reduce the levelised cost of electricity from offshore wind in the near future. This, in turn, is likely to propel the demand for offshore wind turbines across the globe.

Asia Pacific offers opportunities to offshore wind turbines market

Asia Pacific dominated the global offshore wind turbines market in 2019, owing to significant demand for renewable fuel generation in the region. The wind power sector has been dominated by China and South-East Asia (particularly Thailand and Vietnam). These countries are projected to play a key role in the growth of installations of offshore wind turbines. Rise in penetration of offshore wind turbines in major countries such as China is also projected to boost the offshore wind turbines market in Asia Pacific during the forecast period.

Prominent developments in offshore wind turbines market

In June 2020, Lloyds Register Group Limited announced that it had won a contract to provide consultancy design services for control rooms at the 88 MW Hywind Tampen floating wind farm in the Norwegian North Sea. As part of the human-machine interface (HMI) engineering services contract, Lloyd's Register Group Limited will help with the integration into the existing onshore wind control room for Hywind Tampen, which would be located together with an existing control room for Valemon, an unmanned offshore installation in the North Sea. In June 2020, DEME, a dredging company, announced that the first of 58 Siemens Gamesa turbines had been installed at the 487 MW SeaMade cluster of offshore wind projects off the coast of Belgium. The Belgian firm is tasked with the installation of monopile foundations, subsea cables, and two offshore substations for wind farms.

Competition landscape of offshore wind turbines market

Dynamics of the global offshore wind turbines market are dependent on long-term contracts, goodwill of companies, and product portfolio. Internationally organised players and manufacturers with integrated operations possess competitive advantages due to the expertise in turbine manufacturing and power supply. Major players operating in the global offshore wind turbines market are Enercon GmbH, Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy, S.A., General Electric, Nordex S.E., Xinjiang Goldwind Science & Technology Co., Ltd, Vestas, Scheidt & Bachmann GmbH, Suzlon Energy Limited,Guodian United Power Technology Company Ltd, and rsted A/S.

Read the article online at: https://www.energyglobal.com/wind/20072020/bright-future-for-the-global-offshore-wind-turbines-market/

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Bright future for the global offshore wind turbines market - Energy Global

Offshore Remote Operated Vehicle Market Analysis by Current Developments, New Entrants and Application To 2027 – Cole of Duty

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What is Offshore Remote Operated Vehicle ?

Remote operated vehicles (ROV) plays a major role in carrying out underwater activities in offshore industries. The offshore industries such as oil & gas requires ROV to perform underwater installation, maintenance and repair of oil pipelines and inspection activities. The ROVs are underwater robots and are controlled by operator from the surface. The ROVs are connected to the ship by series of cables and these cables transmits commands and signals to the operator. Now a days, the ROVs are equipped with HD camera for better inspection of underwater sites. Moreover, the ROV manufactures are also focusing on technological advancements to transform large ROVs into compact ROVs.

Global Offshore Remote Operated Vehicle Market Competitive Landscape

The major players in the market areDeepOcean Group, Inc., DOF ASA, Forum Energy Technologies, Fugro, Helix ESG Group, TeckChek Inc., Oceaneering International Inc., Saab AB, Saipem, Sapura Energy Berhad TechnipFMC PLC, and Teledyne Technologies Incorporation.We also need a market analysis section solely dedicated to major players such as where analysts give us an insight into the financial statements of all the major players, along with product benchmarking and SWOT analysis. Global Offshore Remote Operated Vehicle market with great emphasis on its market share, recent developments, business overview, market served, and growth strategies.

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Offshore Remote Operated Vehicle Market: Research Methodology

Coherent Market Insights followsa comprehensive research methodology focused on providing the most precise market analysis. The company leverages a data triangulation model which helps company to gauge the market dynamics and provide accurate estimates. Key components of the research methodologies followed for all our market reports include:

As part of Primary research, our analysts interviewed a number of primary sources from the demand and supply sides of the global Offshore Remote Operated Vehicle Market. This helped them to obtain both quantitative and qualitative data and information. On the demand side of the global Offshore Remote Operated Vehicle Market are end-users, whereas on the supply side are distributors, vendors, and manufacturers.

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During our Secondary research, we collect information from different sources such as databases, regulatory bodies, gold and silver-standard websites, articles by recognized authors, certified publications, white papers, investor presentations and press releases of companies, and annual reports.

Offshore Remote Operated Vehicle Market: Regional Analysis

This part of the report includes detailed information on the market in various regions. Each region offers different scope for markets because every region has different government policies and other factors. The regions included in this report areNorth America, Europe, The Asia Pacific, and the Middle East and Africa. Information about the different areas helps the reader to understand better the global market.

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Complete SWOT Analysis of the Global Market

SWOT analysisis one technique that is quite that helps to gain an insight into the past and find a solution for the benefit of current or future blemish, useful for existing companies as well as the new plan. SWOT-analysis helps reduce weaknesses while maximizing the strong side of the company. Its can also be used when it comes to achieving certain goals in non-profit organizations or private companies. This tool can be used to make a reconsideration during the study.

Importance of SWOT Analysis in Business :

The mostimportantpart of aSWOT analysisis to improve the viability of your company.Importantthreats coupled with a company weakness typically put at risk your companys future, and theSWOT analysisidentifies these risks. You can eliminate internal weaknesses by assigning company resources to fix the problems.

Factors of SWOT-analysis will help businesses to understand their strengths to the threat that what is the strength of the company and what could be a threat or a risk in the future. With the help of SWOT analysis, companies can increase the chances of success and reduce the possibility of failure.

When the company conducted a SWOT analysis they need to know what are the weak points of the company. Then, managers can provide training to employees who help the company to improve employee performance.

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When managers know each and every aspect of the company from strength to threats. Time strategy formulation becomes easy. It helps companies to formulate a strategy.

It helps the company to motivate employees because when companies must know their weaknesses are trying to remove and send employees. When employees know their weaknesses are also working hard to eliminate the weaknesses

It helps companies to identify potential opportunities. SWOT analysis company because when they come to know about any potential opportunities that can help a business to grow.

Competitor analysis is critical to any marketing plan and SWOT analysis provides a perfect way to do this. Typically, PEST analysis is done before a SWOT analysis to provide details on opportunities and threats sections. Once you have a complete SWOT diagram you and your competitors, you can make better decisions about your marketing plan.

PESTEL Analysis :

APESTEL analysisor more recently named PESTELE is a framework or tool used by marketers to analyse and monitor the macro-environmental (external marketing environment) factors that have an impact on an organisation. The result of which is used to identify threats and weaknesses which are used in a SWOTanalysis.

Opportunities come in various forms, then the value of doing a PEST analysis. PEST stands for:

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SWOT Analysis for Market

There are three steps to follow in this analysis.

In this stage, and we collect all the information regarding the first two internal factors, strengths and weaknesses. However, this information collection can be done in a number of different ways. One-to-one interview or a group discussion can be carried to gather information. There will be a number of different views, questions, and issues related to these elements.

Here, we can make a list of all the opportunities that it may encounter in the future. It can make another list of all the future possible threats within the organization.

In this stage, the plan of action will have carried out to meet these opportunities and to secure the company from the threats. In this stage, the organization makes sure that they can maintain the strengths, change or stop the weaknesses, prioritize opportunism and minimize threats.

If you are not doing a SWOT analysis for your business or new start-ups you will face some of these Problems or Issues:

Appendix

Offshore Remote Operated Vehicle Marketreport gives you details about the market research finding and conclusion which helps you to develop profitable market strategies to gain a competitive advantage. Supported by comprehensive primary as well as secondary research, the Offshore Remote Operated Vehicle Market the report is then verified using expert advice, quality check and final review. The market data was analyzed and foretasted using market dynamics and consistent models.

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Offshore Remote Operated Vehicle Market Analysis by Current Developments, New Entrants and Application To 2027 - Cole of Duty

EU all ears on offshore wind views – reNEWS

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The European Commission has launched consultations on its planned strategy for offshore renewable energy which aims to set out best ways to exploit and scale-up the sector's generation.

Offshore wind is expected to play an instrumental role in building the region's largely renewable energy power system between 2030 and 2050 as stated in the European Green Deal communication.

An EU offshore renewable energy strategy is to be published before the end of the year.

The public consultation aims to gather input from all interested stakeholders and is open until 24 September.

A separate four-week consultation has also been launched on an offshore renewable energy roadmap that aims to inform citizens and stakeholders about the Commission's work in order to allow them to provide feedback and to participate effectively in future consultation activities.

Citizens and stakeholders are in particular invited to provide views on the Commission's understanding of the issue and possible solutions and to make available any relevant information that they may have.

This consultation is open until 13 August.

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EU all ears on offshore wind views - reNEWS

Strategic Analysis to Understand the Competitive Outlook of Offshore Drilling Rigs Market – 3rd Watch News

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Prophecy Market Insights has recently published a Offshore Drilling Rigs report which represents the latest industry data and future trends, allowing users to recognize the products and driving revenue growth and profitability of the market.

The report offers a broad analysis of key segments, key drivers, regions, and leading market players. The report contains an analysis of different geographical areas and presents a competitive scenario to promote leading market players, new entrants, and investors determine emerging economies. The key highlights offered in the report would benefit market players to formulate strategies for the future and gain a strong position in the Offshore Drilling Rigs market.

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Detailed analysis of the COVID-19 impact will be given in the report, as our analyst and research associates are working hard to understand the impact of COVID-19 disaster on many corporations, sectors and help our clients in taking excellent business decisions. We acknowledge everyone who is doing their part in this financial and healthcare crisis.

The Offshore Drilling Rigs report begins with a brief introduction which contains a market overview of the industry followed by its market size and research scope. Further, the report provides an overview of market segmentation, for example- type, application, and region. The drivers, restraints, and opportunities for the market are also mentioned, along with current policies and trends in the industry. The Offshore Drilling Rigs market also covers PEST analysis for the market. Thisanalysisprovides information based on four external factors (political, economic, social and technological) in relation to your business situation. Basically, it helps to understand how these factorswillaffect the performance and activities of your business in the long-term. The report describes the growth rate of each segment in-depth with the help of charts and tables. Moreover, various regions related to the growth of the Offshore Drilling Rigs market are analyzed in the report. These regions include North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa, and Latin America.

Segmentation Overview:

Offshore Drilling Rigs market report states the overview, historical data along with size, share, growth, demand, and revenue of the global industry. In this research report, there is an accurate analysis of the current and upcoming opportunities in the market by explaining the fastest and largest growing segments across regions. The survey report includes vast investigation of the geographical scene of the Offshore Drilling Rigs market, which is manifestly arranged into the localities

Australia, New Zealand, Rest of Asia-Pacific

The study presents the performance of each player active in the Offshore Drilling Rigs market. It also provides a summary and highlights the current advancements of each player in the market along with its SWOT analysis. The information provided in the research report is a great source for study investors and stakeholders interested in the market. In addition, the report offers insights on buyers, suppliers, and merchants in the market. There is a comprehensive analysis of consumption, market share, and growth rate of each application is offered for the historic period.

Offshore Drilling Rigs Market Key Players:

Key players operating in the global offshore drilling rigs market includes Halliburton Company, Schlumberger Limited, Weatherford International Inc, Seadrill Ltd., Aban Offshore Limited, China Oilfield Services Ltd., Ensco plc, Diamond Offshore Drilling Inc., Vantage Drilling Co., Pacific Drilling, KCA Deutag, Maersk Drilling, Nabors Industries Ltd., and Nobel Corporation.

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Strategic Analysis to Understand the Competitive Outlook of Offshore Drilling Rigs Market - 3rd Watch News

Korean Government to Promote Offshore Wind Farm in Waters off North Jeolla Province – BusinessKorea

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The South Korean government is promoting the construction of a 2.4 GW offshore wind farm in waters off North Jeolla Province as the first project in its plan to increase the nations offshore wind power generation to 12 GW by 2030 and become one of the worlds top five offshore wind power producers.

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) announced on July 17 that it has signed an agreement with the parties involved in the project, including the governments of North Jeolla Province, Gochang County and Buan County, and Korea Electric Power Corp. (KEPCO), and Korea Wind Power.

The ministry plans to start the construction of a 400 MW plant and a 2 GW plant in 2022 and 2023, respectively. The project will cost 14 trillion won in total.

Although the central government and local governments signed a development agreement regarding the wind power project in 2011, little progress had been made until the construction of a test bed complex began in 2017 due to difficulties in securing residents agreement.

When the large-scale offshore wind power complex project is completed in 2028, it will have a production capacity of 2.46 GW, which is enough to supply electricity to 2.24 million households.

Meanwhile, global offshore wind power generation reached 29.1 GW in 2019, with Europe and China accounting for the lions share. Currently, Japan and Taiwan are also focusing on developing offshore wind power farms. Global offshore wind power generation is expected to increase six-fold to 177 GW by 2030.

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Korean Government to Promote Offshore Wind Farm in Waters off North Jeolla Province - BusinessKorea

Zhong Neng Offshore Wind Project to Feature Locally-Made Pin Piles – Offshore WIND

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CTCI Machinery Corporation (CTCI MAC) has signed a contract with China Steel Power Corporation to supply nearly ahundred pin piles for the Zhong Neng offshore wind project in Taiwan.

Four production lines will be set up at CTCI MACs Ta-Lin Shop in Kaohsiungs Nansing Free Trade Zone. The pin piles are expected to be ready for load out from March 2023 onwards.

Thanks to our previous experience in offshore wind projects, we are now capable of carrying out simultaneous welding tasks with four -SAW welding machines on sections even with various section diameters, said CTCI MAC Chairman Yun-Peng Tan.

China Steel Power Corporation, a joint venture of Taiwans China Steel Corporation and Denmarks Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP), is developing Zhong Neng off the Changhua coast in central Taiwan.

Commercial operation of the 300 MW wind farm is expected to begin in 2024.

According to CTCI MAC, the project is committed to delivering all 27 localization items required by the Taiwanese government, making it one of the offshore wind farms with the highest level of localization in the industry.

MHI Vestas has been selected as the preferred supplier of turbines, and CSBC-DEME Wind Engineering (CDWE) is responsible for the transportation and installation of foundations.

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Zhong Neng Offshore Wind Project to Feature Locally-Made Pin Piles - Offshore WIND

Celebrating neurodiversity in the workplace: The Dell example | TheHill – The Hill

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There is a tremendous amount of untapped talent among those in the autism spectrum community who stand ready and able to contribute to the workforce. Thanks to an increasing number of companies who value a culture of diversity and inclusion and go the distance in implementing the proper accommodations, there is less untapped talent and more bright, motivated autistic folks at work than there would be otherwise. Dell Technologies is one such company.

It comes as no surprise that Dell has chosen to pursue a culture of neurodiversity. CEO Michael Dell has been quoted as saying diversity and inclusion helps drive innovation and growth, and is critical to the long-term success of our company. I'm proud of the legacy we are building as an employer of choice for all. New ideas from a diversity of perspectives result in a greater capacity for problem solving. New ways of thinking are incorporated into the technology offerings, fostering greater accessibility. And the autistic employees benefit as well. As such, Dell's Autism Hiring Program is a win-win-win proposition: for the company, for its people and for its customers.

When asked to speak about their employment experience at Dell, a few of the autistic members of Dells workforce have had wonderful things to say, as have their nonautistic colleagues. These folks admit to being eager to learn and to try new things. They value having an impact on those around them and being able to teach others. Dell affords them these opportunities, and taking advantage of them instills in them a sense of fulfillment, empowerment, belonging and connectivity with their colleagues. The business impact of these outcomes is the enhancement of team spirit, cohesion and focus.

There are abilities which are prevalent among many on the autism spectrum, including me, which lend themselves well to careers in technology. Attention to detail, commitment to quality and consistency and capacities for analytical and "outside the box" thinking are common. I would not be half the information technology consultant I am today if it werent for these skills and work habits. With respect to commitment and consistency, there is a correlation between these and longevity at a company. Dell reports a significantly lower turnover rate among its autistic employees. I am in my 25th year of employment at my company, largely because I see value and take pride in loyalty, and because I prefer the predictability and structure associated with going to the same workplace, working with familiar people and attending to the same kinds of tasks day after day. The evolution of the technology with which my colleagues and I work has kept the job interesting and stimulating over the long term.

When Dell launched their Autism Hiring Program in 2018, they recognized the need to re-think the hiring process and how to best attract talent. They chose to partner with an organization connected to the Autism Resource Center (ARC) of Philadelphia, known as Neurodiversity in the Workplace (NITW) in order to achieve these goals. The Neurodiversity in the Workplace Initiative connects autistic folks to jobs that fit their skill sets. NITW partners with Human Resources departments in helping to identify the right candidate(s) for the companys open position(s). They support managers and other nonautistic co-workers as to how to best interact and work with new autistic hires.

Candidates are thoroughly prepared for long-term careers. They are trained to advocate for themselves which promotes independence. They learn how to manage differences between how they and their coworkers process sensory input. Emotional regulation and expression, understanding the unwritten rules of the workplace, teamwork with managers and colleagues, and navigating e-communications are also addressed. NITW helps implement an onboarding process after the hire is made, providing onsite training as necessary to ensure success. Finally, the organizations work in supporting a neurodiverse workforce is promoted to the community.

Dell's Autism Hiring Program was first put to the test at one of their Massachusetts-based locations and was later implemented at the companys headquarters in Texas as a result of its initial success. The program allows candidates to demonstrate their skills outside the traditional job interview which is often problematic for folks on the spectrum. Interview proficiency requires both strong verbal and nonverbal communication skills. The latter is a particularly common challenge for autistic people, and I am no exception.

Throughout my youthful years and into adulthood, I didnt even understand what nonverbal communication entails, much less be competent at it. I could only comprehend spoken words and only the most obvious gestures, like how somebodys face looks when she is angry or overly excited. Relatively subtle and nuanced forms of nonverbal communication almost always eluded me, and so I would be unable to respond accordingly. As such, I did not fare well when it came to dating and romance. I cant even recall having kissed a woman with my eyes closed during my bachelor days, not once. If I did, it was purely by coincidence, and without any awareness of what I was actually doing. Considering that a date and an interview have much in common, certainly with respect to body language, it becomes evident that a traditional job interview will often fall short of doing an autistic candidate justice, leading to unfavorable and misleading yet all too important first impressions. Kudos to Dell Technologies for recognizing this reality and for offering a more equitable path to employment.

Candidates entering the Autism Hiring Program are initially screened for their interest in the open employment opportunities and for the pertinent skills, experience and qualifications. If they qualify, they are invited to a two-week skills assessment/mentorship session. Those who succeed move on to a 12-week Summer internship from which several have been hired as full-time Dell employees. Cyber-Security, Artificial Intelligence and Software Engineering are among the technology areas that are taught during the internship. Ample opportunity exists within this kind of framework for candidates to showcase their talents, prove what they are capable of, build self-esteem and grow along the way. No high stakes all or nothing job interview which, if it happened, could very well deny the organization of a worthy asset.

Now is as good a time as any for more companies to follow Dell Technologies example and that of other companies who implement accommodations for neurodiversity in the workplace. Folks on the autism spectrum and others who are neurologically different (including people diagnosed with ADHD) are all too often overlooked because they are typically not thought about by those who make recruiting and hiring decisions. And yet, neurodivergent people who are able and ready to get to work represent phenomenal levels of untapped talent and potential eagerly waiting to be put to use. Consequently, the unemployment rate is regrettably and disproportionately too high among neurodiverse individuals. Now is the time to re-imagine who can be successful members of the workforce and how to best bring them in.

SamFarmerwears many hats, among these father, husband, musician, computer consultant, and autism spectrum community contributor. Diagnosed later in life with Aspergers Syndrome, he writes blogs and articles, records coaching videos, and presents at conferences, sharing stories, ideas, and insights as to how one can achieve greater happiness and success in life despite facing challenges and adversity that often interfere in these pursuits. To learn more, visitsamfarmerauthor.com.

A Long Walk Down a Winding Road: Small Steps, Challenges, & Triumphs Through an Autistic Lensis available on Amazon and can be purchased at all major booksellers.

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Celebrating neurodiversity in the workplace: The Dell example | TheHill - The Hill

Switch Your Regular Tea With Ashwagandha Tea For Better Immunity, Improved Mental Health And Much More – NDTV Doctor

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Ashwagandha is a herb loaded with multiple health benefits. It may also help control symptoms of various conditions. Here are some notable health benefits of drinking ashwagandha tea you must know.

Ashwagandha tea can help boost immunity

Ashwagandha is an ancient medicinal herb. This magical herb can offer you some amazing health benefits. Ashwagandha is beneficial for various medical conditions as well as for your mental health. It can also aid in weight loss. The scientific name of Ashwagandha is Withania Somnifera. Many are not aware of the ways to add ashwagandha to diet. One of the easiest ways to reap the benefits of this tea is by preparing ashwagandha tea. If you love sipping tea you can sometimes switch your daily cup with ashwagandha tea. In this article, you will learn about different health benefits of this tea and the method to prepare it.

1. Good for your mental health: Ashwagandha tea is good for your mental health as it helps in controlling stress and anxiety. Studies also suggest reduction in stress and anxiety with the help of ashwagandha.

2. May help reduce inflammation: Several conditions can lead to chronic inflammation. Drinking this tea may help reduce inflammation.

3. Good for your cholesterol levels: Unhealthy cholesterol levels can increase the risk of heart disease significantly. A healthy diet may promote good cholesterol numbers. Ashwagandha tea may also help.

4. Ashwagandha is also beneficial for diabetics. Several human studies have suggested that it can reduce blood sugar levels in both healthy people and those with diabetes.

5. A strong immune system can help prevent the risk of diseases. Several foods and drinks can help promote a strong immune system, ashwagandha tea is one of these.

Also read:Ashwagandha: 8 Reasons To Include It In Your Diet

Ashwagandha tea can help you beat stress and anxietyPhoto Credit: iStock

You can find ashwagandha tea bags easily. You can also prepare this tea with ashwagandha powder or dried roots. Bring a glass of water to boil, add 1 ashwagandha root to this boiling water. Boil for at least 5 minutes. Later, turn off the gas and add lemon or honey to enhance the taste. Lemon and honey will also enhance the immunity-boosting properties of the drink.

Do not overdose with this tea. If you have any underlying health condition, consult your doctor to know the exact quantity.

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Also read:Ashwagandha Health Benefits: From Better Immunity To Improved Brain Function Know All The Health Benefits Of Ashwagandha

Disclaimer: This content including advice provides generic information only. It is in no way a substitute for qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist or your own doctor for more information. NDTV does not claim responsibility for this information.

DoctorNDTV is the one stop site for all your health needs providing the most credible health information, health news and tips with expert advice on healthy living, diet plans, informative videos etc. You can get the most relevant and accurate info you need about health problems like diabetes, cancer, pregnancy, HIV and AIDS, weight loss and many other lifestyle diseases. We have a panel of over 350 experts who help us develop content by giving their valuable inputs and bringing to us the latest in the world of healthcare.

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Switch Your Regular Tea With Ashwagandha Tea For Better Immunity, Improved Mental Health And Much More - NDTV Doctor

Live Healthy Franklin Co. selected for $200K grant – The Ottawa Herald

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Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas announced last week it has selected the Live Healthy Franklin County Coalition, along with 23 other communities in Kansas, as grantees for its second phase of Pathways to a Healthy Kansas initiative.

This includes 12 returning communities that were selected in the initiative's first phase of grants. Pathways to a Healthy Kansas is the largest community grant program ever funded by BCBSKS.

Since the initiative began in 2016, BCBSKS has donated more than $11.7 million in grants and assistance to communities throughout Kansas. The Pathways program was created to inspire long-lasting, community-wide health and wellness in communities across Kansas.

"We are excited to recognize our second cohort of Pathways grantees," said Matt All, president and CEO of BCBSKS. "We have been rooted in Kansas for over 75 years and have a commitment to our neighbors to strengthen the health of all Kansans."

The Pathways initiative aims to help remove barriers to accessing healthy foods, increasing physical activity and preventing commercial tobacco use.

The grant funding includes a coordination grant of $200,000 for each community. In addition, Live Healthy Franklin County will have the opportunity to apply for non-competitive implementation grants amounting to $200,000, for a total of up to $400,000.

"The Pathways funding has empowered our coalition to make great progress across all of Franklin County over the last four years," said Sheila Robertson, Live Healthy Franklin County Coalitions grant coordinator. "Every town/city in Franklin County has had an interest in promoting healthy living throughout their community. The Live Healthy Franklin County Coalition is thrilled to be chosen as a recipient of this additional funding and is looking forward to making an even bigger impact on Healthy Living in Franklin County."

The Pathways grant addresses the three behaviors of focus physical activity, commercial tobacco prevention and healthy eating that reduce risk for serious health conditions though six areas or work, or pathways. The pathways include community and social context; neighborhood and physical environment; food; health care; education; economic stability; and striving to improve conditions that are the drivers of health in a community.

"COVID-19 has brought about stress, anxiety and uncertainty. During these trying times, it is ever so important to make personal and community well-being a priority," said Erin Laurie, Franklin County Health Department health educator and WIC nutritionist. "Pathways funding will enable our Coalition to focus on the social, mental and physical well-being of Franklin County residents. The Franklin County Health Department is very grateful for this investment in our community."

The mission of the Live Healthy Franklin County Coalition is to improve community health through policies that support healthy eating and active living. In 2016, the coalition was one of eight Kansas community coalitions to receive a four-year Pathways to a Healthy Kansas grant from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas. Over that time, the coalitions focus has been on increasing the number of community venues that offer healthy food and beverage choices, as well as enhancing active living through bicycle/pedestrian and playground improvements, to promote a safer, family-friendly, healthy living environment.

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Live Healthy Franklin Co. selected for $200K grant - The Ottawa Herald

Here’s Your Guide To Maintaining Good Posture; Know Some Tips To Combat The Side Effects Of Prolonged Sitting – Doctor NDTV

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Sitting for too long can take a toll on your overall health. Poor posture can worsen the condition. Expert explains tips to maintain right posture and how to control the side effects of sitting for too long.

Sitting for too long is linked with several health conditions

From a sedentary lifestyle to job requirements, there can be several possible reasons behind prolonged sitting. These challenging times have also lead to increased inactivity throughout the day. Sitting for long hours leads to muscle stiffness, chronic back and neck pains. Increased screen time is also one of the leading causes that leads to such issues more than the usual. Elevated stress levels, fewer opportunities for movement and upended routines are also some triggers of body aches. When sitting all day, poor posture worsens the side effects of prolonged sitting. It is a risk factor for several health conditions. Dr. Thirumalesh K Reddy, Lead Consultant, Joint Replacement, and Arthroscopic shares some tips to maintain right posture.

Also read: Sitting All Day? Mind Your Posture! Know Surprising Ill-Effects Of Bad Posture

Poor posture can lead to muscle stiffness and back painPhoto Credit: iStock

Also read:Poor Posture? Try This 15-Minute Posture Workout By Kayla Itsines

Physical activity of some sort, from simple stretching exercises to a brisk walk for 20 minutes is necessary. Yoga poses may also work wonders. It helps stretch properly and relieves pain. Regular exercise helps improve blood circulation to the affected area and reduces joint stiffness.

Exercise regularly for at least 30 minutes to stay fitPhoto Credit: iStock

Sometimes, mild heat therapy helps in improving joint function. A heating pad or even a thick towel dipped in warm water and wrapped over the affected area would help.

Maintain a nutritionally balanced diet with adequate intake of vitamins and minerals including calcium and vitamin D intake.

Maintaining proper spine alignment in all aspects of life is vital to preventing long-term, debilitating conditions. Total body wellness is the key to living a longer, healthier life free of pain and disease.

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Also read: Exercise For Back Pain

Disclaimer: This content including advice provides generic information only. It is in no way a substitute for qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist or your own doctor for more information. NDTV does not claim responsibility for this information.

DoctorNDTV is the one stop site for all your health needs providing the most credible health information, health news and tips with expert advice on healthy living, diet plans, informative videos etc. You can get the most relevant and accurate info you need about health problems like diabetes, cancer, pregnancy, HIV and AIDS, weight loss and many other lifestyle diseases. We have a panel of over 350 experts who help us develop content by giving their valuable inputs and bringing to us the latest in the world of healthcare.

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Here's Your Guide To Maintaining Good Posture; Know Some Tips To Combat The Side Effects Of Prolonged Sitting - Doctor NDTV

Can You Still Have a Baby If You Have Uterine Factor Infertility? How Uterus Transplants May Offer Hope – Health Essentials from Cleveland Clinic

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The consequences of infertility can be devastating for women and couples.

Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services.Policy

Medical experts are working hard to find better solutions to help these women. For a certain type of infertility known as uterine factor infertility, theyre testing an amazing procedure that could give some women with UFI hope for having a baby.

Women with UFI either dont have a uterus or have one that is not functional. In the past, there has been no way for these women to get pregnant. But in recent years, uterus transplant has emerged as a potential solution for certain women. This involves removing a functioning uterus from one woman who is done having children and implanting it into a woman with UFI so that she can get pregnant and carry a baby.

It might sound futuristic, but its really happening.

As part of a clinical trial at Cleveland Clinic, two mothers who received uterus transplants from deceased donors have now given birth to healthy babies.

Maternal-fetal medicine specialist Uma Perni, MD; transplant surgeon Cristiano Quintini, MD, who is the principal investigator on the clinical trial; and transplant surgeon Andreas Tzakis, MD, PhD, who spearheaded bringing uterus transplantation to Cleveland Clinic in 2015, explain how this process works and what the future holds.

A: UFI can be what we call acquired, which means that a woman has undergone surgery to remove her uterus. Or it can be congenital, meaning there is an underlying abnormality that caused her to be born without a functioning uterus.

A: The main options would be adoption or surrogacy. Some women are happy with those solutions, but they may not work for everyone because of cultural or religious reasons. Some women also have a deep desire to carry a child on their own.

These are the women who could benefit from a uterus transplant. Its a recent kind of transplant, and it was a significant innovation in the medical field when we first showed that it can be successful. We place a new uterus into a woman that will allow her to become pregnant and carry a child of her own. Its the only available treatment for uterine factor infertility.

A: Its a new procedure, so its not widely available. Its still considered experimental and is only performed as part of a clinical trial.

A: The first step is for us to identify a uterus donor who is of childbearing age and has previously given birth. Meanwhile, the woman who is going to receive the uterus transplant goes through in-vitro fertilization. Her eggs are retrieved and fertilized with sperm in the IVF lab.

The surgery to remove the uterus from the donor is extremely technically challenging. Having a perfectly harvested uterus is critical for the success of the transplant. The uterus is then transplanted into the recipient. Thats also a long and delicate procedure.

During recovery, the recipient takes immunosuppressant medication to prevent her immune system from rejecting the new uterus. If theres no sign of rejection after several months, infertility specialists complete the embryo transfer and work with the patient to make sure her pregnancy is carried out successfully until the delivery.

A: From what we know so far, these pregnancies are pretty similar to pregnancies in women with their own uterus. We are still very early in this field, though, and were still learning what the risks are and how these pregnancies are different. We know theres an increased risk for preeclampsia in women who have had a uterus transplant. They also must stay on immunosuppressant medications during pregnancy to avoid their body rejecting the uterus. Delivery must happen via C-section, so thats different as well.

A: The uterus is removed after the woman delivers one or two babies, depending on her preference. This minimizes the amount of time she needs to be on immunosuppressant medications.

A: We want to establish uterus transplantation as a viable treatment option for women with absolute uterine factor infertility. The main challenge remains how to have this procedure become available and affordable for use in a broader population.

Here at Cleveland Clinic, we are pioneering a new aspect of uterus transplantation which involves the use of a uterus from a donor who has died, as opposed to one from a living donor. Recently, a second patient in our clinical trial gave birth after receiving a transplanted uterus from a deceased donor. Both of these births were incredibly joyous occasions for the families and for our entire transplant team. Its a very exciting time because were finally seeing the amazing and life-changing outcomes this transplant can have.

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Can You Still Have a Baby If You Have Uterine Factor Infertility? How Uterus Transplants May Offer Hope - Health Essentials from Cleveland Clinic

‘A Guide To The Birdsong: Volume II’ Uses Electronic Music To Save The Birds – NPR

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Ten artists from Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean recorded tracks using birdsong from their country, with all profits of the vinyl and digital release going to bird conservation projects. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

Ten artists from Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean recorded tracks using birdsong from their country, with all profits of the vinyl and digital release going to bird conservation projects.

An international collective of electronic music DJs and composers is taking beats from the dance club to jungles and forests and back, all to help save nature's greatest singers. A Guide to the Birdsong of Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean is a new album that samples the sounds of endangered birds and whose proceeds go directly towards efforts to save them.

Robin Perkins is a 33-year-old DJ, composer and producer originally from Glassup, England. He goes by the name El Bho or "the Owl." Perkins produced the first volume of this project in 2015, A Guide to the Birdsong of South America.

"The whole project," Perkins says, "was born out of this idea of taking the songs of endangered birds and challenging musicians to make a piece of music from them, and so trying to marry these worlds of activism of conservation, birdsong and electronic music."

Perkins invited artists from each of the endangered or threatened birds' homelands to build their own songs around the birds' songs. Electronic music, he says, allows artists to do that in a special way.

"The beautiful thing about electronic music is that it opens up this whole toolbox of things that you couldn't otherwise do, right?" he says. "So you can take a sample of a bird song and do 5 million things to it. You can turn it into an instrument itself. You can reverse it, you can add effects, you can sample it."

Perkins has just finished the second project, A Guide to the Birdsong of Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean. One of the musicians who responded to his call is Nicaraguan sonic artist Tamara Montenegro. She chose the turquoise-browed motmot, or Guardabarranco.

"To me it was a very clear choice," Montenegro says. "As a child, I would see this bird freely flying around and meeting his partner they travel in pairs most of the time in my backyard for sunsets. It was a beautiful, mystical moment every day."

The Guardabarranco is threatened by loss of habitat primarily due to deforestation. It's also Nicaragua's national bird.

"This bird represents a lot of symbology in my area of the world because it represents freedom," she says. "And these Central American countries have been striving for political, social, economic freedom for a long time."

The idea of freedom was also part of the impetus for Al Ovando's choice. Ovando is a member of the renowned group The Garifuna Collective that also includes musicians from Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. For the collective's contribution to the album, Ovando chose the endangered Black Catbird. Like the Guardabarranco, the Black Catbirds's freedom is threatened by loss of habitat. Ovando feels his people have a special kinship with the bird and its struggle for survival.

"You just imagine us coming all the way from the coast of West Africa into the Caribbean, ending up in Belize and still continuing the struggle and trying to be part of what the world is today," he says.

Ovando also happens to be a devoted birder. He even convinced the band to add a technical rider to its contracts when the group performs at festivals.

"If there is anybody at the festival who would like to go birding," he says, he wanted it to be known that they "would love to go birding with them, or if they would know some places, some hotspots we could check out some birds."

As with the first album, all of the profits from the new release will support specific organizations, including Birds Caribbean. Its executive director, Lisa Sorensen, explains how A Guide to the Birdsong of Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean will not only help her efforts but may also yield extended benefits.

"There might be a beautiful place to go see birds but there's no trail, there's no interpretive signage there to tell you about what you're seeing," Sorensen says. "So we're envisioning that funding from this project will help us advance both those efforts: building the supply and building the demand for sustainable bird and nature tourism."

That's project founder Robin Perkins' wish too.

"Hopefully people will come away from the album feeling inspired and feeling the need to listen again to the bird song around them," Perkins says, and "to do something to protect the natural spaces that we need to survive."

A Guide to the Birdsong of Central America, Mexico & the Caribbean is out now via Shika Shika. All proceeds generated from album sales go towards Fundacin Txori, Aves de Costa Rica and Birds Caribbean.

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'A Guide To The Birdsong: Volume II' Uses Electronic Music To Save The Birds - NPR

Latin America & The Caribbean – Weekly Situation Update (6-12 July 2020) As of 13 July 2020 – Colombia – ReliefWeb

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Key Figures

3.2M CONFIRMED COVID-19 CASES IN LATIN AMERICA & THE CARIBBEAN AS OF 12 JULY

UN SECRETARY-GENERAL POLICY BRIEF

On 9 July, UN Secretary-General Antnio Guterres launched a policy brief on the impact of COVID-19 on Latin America and the Caribbean highlighting that the region, plagued by weak social protection and high inequality, is home to some of the most affected areas in the world.

The brief notes that COVID-19 will cause a 9.1 per cent contraction in regional GDP in 2020, the worst recession in a century, which could push the number of poor and extremely poor by 45 million and 28 million, respectively.

Short-term policy recommendations include immediate multilateral response for middle-income countries largely excluded from cooperation and full access to economic and humanitarian assistance and basic services for all.

The policy brief is available in English and Spanish.

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Latin America & The Caribbean - Weekly Situation Update (6-12 July 2020) As of 13 July 2020 - Colombia - ReliefWeb

Education of highest order in Caribbean – Royal Gazette

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Published Jul 20, 2020 at 8:00 am(Updated Jul 20, 2020 at 8:35 am)

Elite but not elitist: Sir Hilary Beckles

Densil Williams, pro vice-chancellor

Just short of a year ago, Sir Hilary Beckles, vice-chancellor at The University of the West Indies indicated the intention of the university to be located in the top 3 per cent of ranked universities by the end of the current strategic planning cycle in 2023.

Referencing an energetic and proactive leadership team of campus principals, pro vice-chancellors, multilayered administrators and academics, research professors and student leaders, the vice-chancellor expressed confidence in the teams ability to remove doubt from the institution in respect of its capacity to break new ground.

On July 17, vice-chancellor Beckles declared a resounding surpassing of this target by the Caribbeans leading university, as Times Higher Education, the globally recognised and most prestigious ranking agency for higher education, announced its 2020 rankings, and The University of the West Indies secured top spots on its three latest lists Latin America University Rankings, Golden Age University Rankings and Impact Rankings.

Triple Firsts, as coined by vice-chancellor Beckles, marks The UWIs breaking into the top 1 per cent of universities in the Latin America and Caribbean region; the top 1 per cent of Golden Age universities that is, the category of global universities between 50 to 80 years old and retention of its No 1 position as the only Caribbean university to be ranked.

Vice-chancellor Beckles added: This remarkable achievement puts The UWI in an elite band. We are elite, but not elitist.

He went on to explain that, the magnitude of this achievement is further contextualised within a landscape comprised of at least 209 Caribbean-based higher education institutions, an approximate 5,497 universities within Latin America and the Caribbean, and over 30,000 universities registered worldwide.

In 2016, when vice-chancellor Beckles conceived and began rolling out the strategic plan together with The UWIs leadership, he set an immediate objective to radically upgrade and globalise the regional universitys reputation and enhance its international visibility and competitiveness. THEs Latin America University Rankings and Golden Age University Rankings have both allowed for The UWI to be assessed by standardised indicators that judge research-intensive universities worldwide across all their core strategic missions of teaching, research, knowledge transfers and international outlook.

According to professor Densil Williams, the pro vice-chancellor, planning, who is credited with overseeing the implementation of The UWIs strategic plan, The UWIs excellent performance in these rankings demonstrate the success of a series of deliberate strategic initiatives implemented under the framework of its Triple A strategy (Strategic Plan 2017-2022).

These include but are not limited to global expansion through partnership with internationally recognised universities to establish centres and institutes across the globe; advancement in the entrepreneurial ethos of The UWI through greater linkages with the corporate sector; and production of impactful research to address societal problems in climate change, nutrition, economic development inter alia.

The vice-chancellor offered special commendation to the entire UWI community, recognising, the tremendous work being done university-system wide to meet the Triple A targets, which has not only driven overall productivity, but has stirred an upsurge in engagement and brand reputation regionally, internationally and in scholastic advocacy on multiple issues of global significance.

He concluded: In spite of this years myriad challenges for the Caribbean community and the wider world, our university has had some high moments, signalling our strength and the success of our strategic plan and efforts. This is yet another of The UWIs finest hours.

The ranking criteria used by the British-based agency provide comprehensive and balanced comparisons that are trusted and used by students, academics, university leaders, industry and even governments. The UWIs continued appearances and progressions in these rankings affirm its prestige and leadership as a now familiar and consistent name in the global higher education arena.

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Education of highest order in Caribbean - Royal Gazette

Elon Musk Says Neuralink Will Stream Music Straight Into Your Brain

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According to Musk, brain computer interfaces in the future will allow us to ditch the headphones and beam music straight to our brains.

Yes Man

Elon Musk’s brain-hacking startup Neuralink is gearing up for a long-awaited reveal on August 28.

And Musk himself can’t seem to help himself from teasing the brain-computer interface. On Sunday afternoon, when computer scientist Austin Howard asked Musk on Twitter if we could one day listen to music directly through such an interface — streaming it directly into the brain, in other words, with no headphones needed — Musk replied with a curt “yes.”

Skull Lasers

We still know very little about what Neuralink has been working on. Our best look so far came during a 2019 presentation in which the company showed off a device that hooks up to the brain via holes in the skull cut by lasers.

Early iterations of such a device are largely aimed at repairing broken neural connections in those who suffer brain disorders including Parkinson’s, Musk said during a recent podcast appearance.

It’s still entirely unclear if Neuralink’s brain-computer interfaces will ever be able to bypass the ear, the cochlear nerves, and beam music magically to the auditory brain.

But Musk has already set his sights on bigger things. When asked by another Twitter user if Neuralink’s devices could also help “stimulate the release of oxytocin, serotonin, and other chemicals when needed,” Musk replied with another “yes.”

Now Hiring

While some high-tech headphones have promised to beam music “straight to your brain,” they achieve this by sending vibrations to the skull — not stimulating neurons inside the brain.

To make that feature and more a reality, Neuralink is looking to add more, well, brains to its operations.

“If you’ve solved hard problems with phones/ wearables (sealing, signal processing, inductive charging, power management, etc.), please consider working at [Neuralink],” Musk tweeted over the weekend.

READ MORE: Elon Musk claims his Neuralink chip will allow you to stream music directly to your brain [The Independent]

More on Neuralink: Elon Musk Teases Major Neuralink Reveal

The post Elon Musk Says Neuralink Will Stream Music Straight Into Your Brain appeared first on Futurism.

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Elon Musk Says Neuralink Will Stream Music Straight Into Your Brain

NASA’s Mars Rover Spent the Weekend Shooting a Weird-Looking Rock With a Laser

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NASA's Curiosity rover encountered a strangely-colored rock on Mars and did what any smart robot would do: blasted it with a laser to see what was inside.

No-Scope

Over the weekend, NASA’s Curiosity rover spent its time blasting a bizarre rock on Mars with a laser.

To clarify, Curiosity wasn’t just killing time. This particular rock, Digital Trends reports, was adorned with unusual colors for the area, and vaporizing it with a laser is one of the best tricks Curiosity that has for figuring out what it’s made of.

Target Practice

The laser is just one of Curiosity’s tools for analyzing an object’s chemical composition. In the past, the rover has used them to make discoveries suggesting that Mars once harbored life. The findings for this particular rock aren’t available yet, but Digital Trends reports that the colors could suggest the presence of organic compounds.

But it won’t be until the next rover, Perseverance, shows up with more sophisticated tools that NASA can kick up the hunt for signs of ancient microbes to the next level.

Scouting Ahead

While NASA prepares for its Perseverance launch, Curiosity is continuing on what NASA is calling a “summer road trip” to scout ahead and study more regions of the planet that may have once harbored life.

“Curiosity was designed to go beyond Opportunity’s search for the history of water,” NASA researcher Abigail Fraeman said in a press release. “We’re uncovering an ancient world that offered life a foothold for longer than we realized.”

READ MORE: Curiosity is investigating a strangely colored rock it found on Mars [Digital Trends]

More on Curiosity: Next NASA Mars Rover Will Sport a Rock-Vaporizing Laser

The post NASA’s Mars Rover Spent the Weekend Shooting a Weird-Looking Rock With a Laser appeared first on Futurism.

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NASA’s Mars Rover Spent the Weekend Shooting a Weird-Looking Rock With a Laser