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The article explores the limitations of traditional philanthropy in addressing societal challenges and proposes a new approach called empowerment philanthropy. It challenges the assumptions that beneficiaries are incapable of solving their own problems and that wealthy donors have all the answers. The article emphasizes the need for philanthropy to engage with the political process and work towards systemic change. It also critiques the paternalistic views of philanthropy and highlights the importance of trusting individuals in poverty to make responsible decisions. The article concludes that philanthropy cannot replace government and calls for a shift towards empowering individuals economically and politically. [Extracted from the article]

The article titled "Should Biden Drop Out?" presents two contrasting perspectives on whether Joe Biden should continue his presidential campaign. The first perspective argues that Biden is a poor candidate who is on track to lose badly to Donald Trump. It suggests that Biden's problems may be due to his own arrogance and inability to lead an effective campaign. The second perspective counters these claims, stating that Biden is actually the front-runner in the 2024 election. It highlights factors such as the strong economy, the changing composition of the electorate, and the shrinking significance of swing voters that favor Biden's prospects. [Extracted from the article]

It's cold, wet, muddy and just off of two 4' snowfalls in middle Tennessee. Last night, I pulled out my collection of John Connor's Guncrank Diaries from American Handgunner as [...]

Background: The use of quadratus lumborum nerve blocks (QLB) for pain control following elective total hip arthroplasty (THA) has increased substantially in recent years. The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to compare outcomes from randomised controlled trials (RCTs) utilising QLBs following elective THA.Methods: MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases were searched for RCTs perioperative QLBs for THA. Quantitative synthesis was conducted for pain scores, opioid consumption and adverse events.Results: A total of 7 RCTs with 429 patients undergoing THA were included. No differences in pain scores were demonstrated between QLBs and control interventions. Subgroup analysis demonstrated no differences between QLBs and sham procedures or active comparators. No differences in postoperative opioid consumption between QLB and control interventions was found. In trials reporting adverse events, they were rare and similar between groups. Overall, the certainty of the evidence was graded as low or very lowConclusions: The current literature suggests that a QLB for THA does not reduce pain or opioid consumption compared to sham or active comparators.

Lean manufacturing is based on many principles, but the two principles that have the greatest impact on an organization are eliminating waste and continuous improvement. Why are these principles important? […]

Q. How can we boost the immersion degreasing operation for cleaning parts in our shop?A. Cleanliness specifications continue to rise for manufacturers of high-precision components in every sector. Aqueous cleaning [...]

Closure of an abdominal stoma, a common elective operation, is associated with frequent complications; one of the commonest and impactful is incisional hernia formation. We aimed to investigate whether biological mesh (collagen tissue matrix) can safely reduce the incidence of incisional hernias at the stoma closure site.

Banks generate precious revenues by utilizing call centers that are able to help customers with questions and concerns, while functioning as a means to market and cross-sell. Unfortunately, credit unions [...]

Quotas and tariffs will undercut your business. There will be less crab on the market, increased prices and unhappy customers. That's a price you shouldn't pay. Crab meat has greatly [...]

Early last bow season I returned to a North Georgia location I hadn't hunted in over 20 years. The land was once a working cattle farm in our family, and [...]

Democrats need candidates and consultants who know how to navigate the racially charged minefield that is the United States political landscape. If they demonstrate this cultural competence, they can turn [...]

KNOWLEDGE IS POWER. There is no question about that. But for an industry that has faced scrutiny in recent years, the power to change a negative perception regarding fixed insurance [...]

Today's technology allows policyholders to switch insurance companies more quickly and painlessly than ever before. The democratization of information has made insurance a commodity, and online quoting and comparison shopping [...]

Touch-trigger probes could be improved by careful stylus selection specifically by stylus bending. The procedure's success could be ensured by several methods including the maintenance of simple stylus configuration, the use of short styli made of stiff stylus materials, and the use of low probing forces. The thorough calibration of the stylus being used will also ensure minimal errors but it was also suggested that a personal probe-performance test be conducted.

Common N--based rates for poultry litter (PL) application in the mid-Atlantic region were tested over nine years to track changes in soil profile pH and P concentration. A common in-house best management practice of modifying P solubility by lowering PL pH with alum did little to prevent P build-up over time and did not reduce plant available P that would limit growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract:The Dimensional Metrology Group (DMG) at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has developed a new in-situ temperature calibration system. This paper discusses the system components, an in-situ calibration procedure, and the uncertainty sources involved in the calibration process. It also presents an uncertainty budget, and examines it with a Monte Carlo simulation. This system enables the DMG to perform quicker in-situ temperature calibration, at frequent intervals with minimal downtime, and provides lower uncertainties for the dimensional measurements.

Poems by Steve Phillips from Spirit of the Pines . . . . This is mystery, forest peacefulness, when pines sing their vesper hymns in dialects of wooden reverence, endlessly [...]

The authors share the story of the Confederate coal torpedo, one of the weapons used in the Civil War that was dug by detectorist Steve Phillips, and the research leading to the discovery of the three known examples. The authors describes their experience of obtaining one device from a collector in Canada. It outlines the story of Thomas E. Courtenay, who developed a system of packing holes in cordwood with gun powder and claimed destruction of vessels of the enemy of the Secret Service Corps.

A personal narrative is presented which explores the author's day-to-day experience of looking for serious gold in the wilds of Alaska from August 15, 2010 to September 7, 2010.

Letters to the editor are presented in response to previous articles, including a report from the April 20, 2013 issue on bananas as food crops, an article in the May 11, 2013 issue about a non-lethal pain ray weapon, and an article by David Hobday in the April 27, 2013 issue about the concept of self.

An interview with Cash American International director Steve Phillips and Treasury Management Solutions president Peter J. Biglin is presented. They explain the importance of project management for treasury and the special project management component for treasury teams. They discuss how project management is benchmarked, and the smartest steps treasury personnel can take when performing project management.

Great advances in food production have been made in China, but the continuous increase of nutrient inputs has caused a series of environmental problems. Nutrient management for crops must be improved. Yield gaps, indigenous nutrient supplies, and nutrient use efficiencies (NUEs) must be assessed to design management strategies for further yield increase. In this study, data from 1022 field experiments with wheat (Triticum aestivumL.) conducted between 2000 and 2008 in north central China, the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, and northwest China were analyzed. Treatments in these experiments consisted of a check without fertilizer use, an optimum nutrient application, the farmers’ practice, and a series of nutrient omission treatments. The results showed that gaps between attainable yields and yields in experimental plots with farmers’ practices averaged 0.76 Mg ha−1. Indigenous nutrient supplies of N, P, and K averaged 133.0, 30.2, and 131.7 kg ha−1, respectively, in the regions studied. On a national scale and under optimum fertilization, agronomic efficiency of N, P, and K were 9.8, 19.2, and 7.2 kg kg−1, while recovery efficiencies were 37.9, 19.0, and 27.0%, respectively. Compared with values obtained 10 yr previous, agronomic efficiencies and recovery efficiencies determined between 2000 and 2008 were lower but also lower than world averages. Successive inputs of large amounts of nutrients significantly increased the indigenous nutrient supply and therefore are contributing to lower NUE because recommendations for N, P, and K have not been adjusted downward in China.

Scientists must publish the findings of their research for the public good while making an impact on behalf of their funding agencies and institutions or organizations. In this article, we examine associate editor responsibilities and functions to determine the suitability of manuscripts for publication in Agronomy Journal. Associate editors comprise the largest component of scientific editors on the Agronomy JournalEditorial Board and have more one‐on‐one contact with authors than do technical editors, the Managing Editor, the Assistant Editor, or the Editor. A large number of scientific reviewers assist associate editors in evaluating manuscripts submitted to the journal. Identifying qualified reviewers is a critical task for associate editors. Reviewers of manuscripts provide comments, suggestions, and recommendations for publication, while associate editors assess that information to determine if the manuscript should be published. During the review process, associate editors correspond and work with authors and reviewers, obtain revisions as needed, and mediate technical issues and differences. Because the ultimate goal is to help authors publish their papers, associate editors often find themselves as author advocates during the review process. Thus, associate editors carry a dual obligation in that they must serve the needs of authors and also uphold the standards and reputation of the journal.

Presents the views of two chief information officers regarding the transfer of power after the acquisition of Memec Group Holdings Ltd., a global semiconductor distributor, by Avnet Inc., a global distributor of technology products and services in the U.S. Ed Kamins; Steve Phillips. INSET: The 90-Day Plan.

The article discusses the application of the 4R Nutrient Stewardship principles in precision soil management.

The article focuses on the importance of precision agriculture (PA) in enhancing food production and ensuring food security with evolving tools and technologies in the U.S. Topics discussed include the ability of PA to create knowledgeable farmers with the use of mobile device technologies, the nutrient management in PA technologies, and the U.S. farmers adopting the PA which involve data integration and equipment technologies. It mentions providing variable rates of fertilizer.

This article discusses the financial crisis of Cardinal Industries Inc. as of March 20, 1989. Chairman Austin Guirlinger of Cardinal Industries Inc. has long been known as the housing industry's Henry Ford. By applying mass production techniques to construction, his Columbus (Ohio)-based company cranked out motels, apartments, and single-family houses by the thousands. But now the U.S. second-largest homebuilder may face financial problems. On Feb. 13, 1989, Guirlinger found himself hat-in-hand before more than 150 bankers in a Columbus hotel. His plea: forbearance on nearly $8 million in monthly interest payments. He also asked creditors to extend Cardinal a $55 million line of credit while it tries to unload $45 million worth of apartment complexes and other properties. Before the 1968 changes, high-bracket taxpayers invested in rental property to take advantage of deduction. Tax reform tightened the rules, cutting Cardinal's revenues from syndicating the limited partnerships. Guirlinger has shown he is willing to take drastic steps. In the past three months he has closed four plants and cut the number of employees working for the patent company to 1,000, from 3,300. But if he fails to convince this creditors, the Henry Ford of housing could end up more like Preston Tucker.

The article reports on the increasing trend of wheat production as well as the use of fertilizer worldwide. It notes the growth of wheat production more than two and a half times since 1960 due to improved cultivars, balanced nutrition, and better farming practices. It shows the 4.3 times increase of fertilizer use in agriculture equating the increase in food demand. Growers are expected to use approximately 15% of the consumed fertilizer in producing wheat grain.

In drill-seeded, delayed flood rice production in the mid-southern United States, N fertilizer is most commonly applied using a two-way split application. The second application occurs at midseason near the panicle initiation stage of rice development where approximately one-third of the estimated N fertilizer requirement is applied. Midseason N rates are often adjusted either up or down by rice producers or crop consultants by visual assessment of the rice. In rice cropping systems such as these, instruments which could make in-season estimates of yield potential and available soil N would provide the initial framework to predict midseason N needs and greatly improve N fertilizer use efficiency in rice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the assistance of numerous private and public soil testing laboratories, the International Plant Nutrition Institute (IPNI) periodically summarizes soil test levels in North America (NA). Soil tests indicate the relative capacity of soil to provide nutrients to plants. Therefore, this summary can be viewed as an indicator of the nutrient supplying capacity or fertility of soils in NA. This is the tenth summary completed by IPNI or its predecessor, the Potash & Phosphate Institute (PPI), with the first summary dating back to the late 1960s (Nelson, 1980). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Several letters to the editor are presented on topics that were published in the previous issue efficacy of operating system Windows 10, reinstallation of Windows 7, and computer active services.

There are no two ways about it; companies must innovate if they expect to survive and grow. An acceleration of technological advancement means the new measure of success depends on who gets there first. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the effort of Avnet to create a globally aligned team to handle its information technology (IT) requirements. The company needed to establish a structure that could remain responsive to local businesses while creating synergies throughout the enterprise. Under the new model, the company's IT staff has solid reporting lines within the global team, although business-facing IT leaders also have dotted-line reporting relationships with their respective business leaders. To ensure ready access to management and guidance, regional IT staffers report to an IT manager from the same locale.