A complete guide to yoga and how a regular yoga exercise routine can offer you a range of positive mental, emotional, and physical benefits.

Discover the athletic benefits of cheerleading and the importance of cheerleaders in the NFL and in US college, high school sports. Explore why cheerleading is recognized as a sport and how cheerleaders contribute to the overall sporting experience.

The water sports you love or want to explore can also be amazing for your health. Discover the unexpected health benefits of stand-up paddle boarding.

Enhance workout experiences with maximized gym layouts! Discover the benefits of an open floor plan, and uncover the influence of gym layouts.

Science behind NMN, nicotinamide mononucleotide supplements - possible better aging and longer longevity health benefits and points to consider for those who want to include it in their health and wellness program.

1. Relationship Building
2. Infinitely Recurring Revenue
3. Securing Media

RSS streamlines communication between publishers and readers. Since RSS has had a popularity surge, webmasters have been experimenting and using RSS feeds to deliver content in new and innovative ways.

How I Made Up To $11,212.00 A Month On eBay And How You Can Too

Finding a shop that offers car detailing can often be a tedious process. Especially for those who have recently moved and are unsure of their surroundings, knowing where to look can sometimes be frustrating. Customers may also be unsure of what is a reputable company. Luckily, car detailing services have now gone mobile. Rather than the customer physically going to a shop to have the service completed, the service is simply brought straight to the customer's doorstep. Here are a few benefits of choosing this forward-thinking service. 

Comes to You

One of the best perks of a mobile car detailing service is that the services comes directly to the customer. Without having to leave their doorstep, an appointment can easily be made by calling the shop and setting a date and timeframe. The mobile service will simply arrive at the agreed-upon time and complete the service. With such a convenient ability to come to the customer, the work can be completed while the customer goes about their day. Since most car detailing services last a few hours, the customer does not have to deal with waiting in an uncomfortable waiting room without access to a car and can simply relax at home while the service is completed.  

Find the Right Provider

Another perk to going with a mobile car detailing service is overall quality. Since many car detailing companies compete with each other, it is easy to pick out those who deliver quality service and results at reasonable prices. Checking online reviews of local mobile car detailing services beforehand can help eliminate companies that the customer is not interested in. What should stand out to the customer is what others have to say regarding their service. Excellent testimonials that speak of quality work, professional attitudes, punctuality and competitive prices will lead the customer to a mobile car detailing service that will be a perfect fit.

With these benefits to keep in mind, going with a mobile car detailing service is simply the most convenient and reliable method the customer can choose. Not only will the convenience of having the service come to the customer be a plus, but knowing that the work completed is done with customer satisfaction in mind will also be hard to beat. Even with the hustle and bustle of daily life, car detailing does not have to be a hassle. Through a mobile car detailing service, convenience and quality come together for a finished product that will be sure to turn heads. Look for a mobile car detailing service in your area. 

Auto detailing goes far beyond a simple car wash. It is a meticulous process that involves cleaning, restoring, and finishing both the interior and exterior of a vehicle to achieve a show-quality level of detail. This process offers numerous benefits that every car owner should consider.

Enhanced Appearance

One of the most noticeable benefits of auto detailing is the enhanced appearance of your vehicle. Professional detailing can remove surface imperfections, such as scratches, swirls, and oxidation, leaving your car looking brand new. This not only improves the aesthetic appeal but also helps maintain the vehicle's value over time.

Improved Resale Value

When it comes time to sell or trade-in your vehicle, a well-maintained car will always fetch a higher price. Auto detailing helps preserve the car's exterior paint and interior finishes, making it more appealing to potential buyers. A detailed car signals that the owner has taken good care of the vehicle, which can significantly boost its resale value.

Protection from the Elements

Regular auto detailing provides a protective layer against environmental hazards. The application of wax, sealants, and ceramic coatings creates a barrier that shields the car's paint from UV rays, acid rain, bird droppings, and road salt. This protection extends the life of the paintwork and reduces the likelihood of rust and corrosion.

Enhanced Comfort and Safety

A clean car is a comfortable car. Interior detailing involves thorough cleaning and conditioning of all surfaces, including seats, carpets, and dashboards. This process removes dust, dirt, and allergens, creating a healthier environment for the driver and passengers. Additionally, clean windows and mirrors improve visibility, enhancing overall driving safety.

Extended Lifespan of Vehicle Components

Auto detailing is not just about aesthetics; it also involves maintaining and preserving various components of the vehicle. Regular cleaning and conditioning of leather seats, for example, prevent cracking and fading. Likewise, keeping the engine bay clean can improve the vehicle's performance and extend its lifespan.

Cost-Effective Maintenance

Investing in regular auto detailing can save money in the long run. You can avoid costly repairs and replacements by maintaining the car's exterior and interior surfaces. For instance, removing contaminants from the paintwork prevents permanent damage that could require expensive repainting.

Enhanced Driving Experience

Driving a clean and well-maintained car enhances the overall driving experience. The feeling of stepping into a fresh, spotless vehicle can boost your mood and make every drive more enjoyable. The attention to detail in every corner of the car reflects the pride and care put into maintaining it.

Learn more from a company near you like Grizzly Clean.

Vehicle detailing goes beyond a simple wash and wax. It is a meticulous process that addresses both the interior and exterior of your vehicle, providing a thorough cleaning and rejuvenation. The benefits of regular vehicle detailing extend beyond aesthetics, impacting the longevity, value, and overall experience of vehicle ownership.

Enhance Your Vehicle’s Appearance

Regular detailing can significantly enhance the appearance of your vehicle. The process involves polishing the exterior to remove scratches, swirl marks, and imperfections, restoring your car's paint to its original glory. A well-detailed car stands out, showcasing a glossy finish that makes it look like it just rolled off the showroom floor. Interior detailing ensures that every nook and cranny is cleaned, leaving the cabin fresh and inviting.

Protect Your Investment

One of the key benefits of vehicle detailing is protection. By applying wax or sealant, detailing creates a barrier that protects your vehicle’s paint from UV rays, road salt, oxidation, and other environmental contaminants. This layer of protection helps maintain the exterior's integrity, preventing fading and corrosion. Inside, cleaning and conditioning the upholstery, carpets, and dashboard prevent wear and tear, preserving the interior's value over time.

Improve Resale Value

Detailing your vehicle before selling or trading it can significantly boost its resale value. A meticulously maintained car attracts more buyers and fetches a higher price. Buyers frequently pay a premium for vehicles that are immaculate and well-maintained, both inside and out. Detailed work indicates to potential buyers that the car has been meticulously cared for, providing reassurance about its condition and history.

Enhance Safety and Functionality

Vehicle detailing contributes to safety by ensuring that headlights, taillights, and windows are clean and clear. Properly detailed lights improve visibility at night or in adverse weather conditions, while streak-free windows enhance overall driving safety. Additionally, detailing can improve the functionality of your vehicle by keeping components such as the engine bay clean, ensuring optimal performance.

Enjoy a Better Driving Experience

A clean, fresh-smelling interior enhances the driving experience, making your time behind the wheel more enjoyable. Detailing removes allergens, dust, and bacteria from your vehicle, promoting a healthier environment. The attention to detail in cleaning every surface contributes to a more pleasant and comfortable ride, whether you're commuting to work or embarking on a road trip.

In conclusion, vehicle detailing offers numerous benefits that go beyond simply having a clean car. By enhancing appearance, protecting your investment, improving resale value, ensuring safety, and elevating the driving experience, detailing proves to be a wise investment for any vehicle owner. Consider regular detailing as part of your vehicle maintenance routine to keep your car looking and performing its best.

For more info, contact a local company like Ted's Express Car Wash.

Is web hosting with dedicated (static) IP address better than having a shared IP address for your website? Due to the rapid increase of the number of registered domain names and the finite number of IP addresses, web hosting providers are forced to use shared IP's when possible. In fact, hundreds of websites often share the same address. Dedicated IP hosting is no longer the norm and usually costs more.

These simple lifestyle changes could protect your brain health and reduce the risk of dementia, here are a few powerful habits that can help keep your mind sharp for years to come.

A new trend is brewing in the coffee world: adding olive oil to coffee. While this combination may sound odd at first, it's gaining popularity among health enthusiasts and coffee fans alike.

Figs are a nutrient packed superfood with benefits that go beyond bone health. Here's what makes them so powerful.

Toyota had introduced Festival Limited Edition variants of the Glanza, Taisor and Hyryder a couple of months ago, with free dealer-level accessories. Now, Toyota is offering the same accessories packages at a discounted price on the Glanza, Taisor and Hyryder as part of year-end benefits.  

1. Glanza and Taisor get dealer-level accessories at discounted price
2. Other exclusive year-end offers extend to over Rs 1 lakh

Toyota Special Limited-Edition variants: what’s new?

All three cars essentially come with dealer-level accessories such as chrome highlights for the grilles and bumpers, 3D door mats, door visors and full body covers. These accessories can be availed on all trims of the Glanza, on the lower-spec E, S and S+ trims of the Taisor, and on the S, G and V trims of the Urban Cruiser Hyryder. These, however, cannot be opted for with the CNG variants of any car.

The accessory package on the Glanza is available for Rs 17,381 (down from Rs 20,567); the one for the Taisor costs Rs 17,931 (down from Rs 20,160), while the Hyryder’s accessories package is listed for Rs 50,817 (no change from regular price). These prices are applicable till December 31, 2024.

Apart from these accessories, customers can also avail of other exclusive year-end offers worth over Rs 1 lakh, although Toyota has not specified the exact nature of these benefits. Toyota is likely to have extended these benefits in an effort to clear stocks before the year-end. 

Also See:

Kia Syros name confirmed for upcoming compact SUV

New Honda Amaze exterior design, interior previewed

Toyota had introduced Festival Limited Edition variants of the Glanza, Taisor and Hyryder a couple of months ago, with free dealer-level accessories. Now, Toyota is offering the same accessories packages at a discounted price on the Glanza, Taisor and Hyryder as part of year-end benefits.  

1. Glanza and Taisor get dealer-level accessories at discounted price
2. Other exclusive year-end offers extend to over Rs 1 lakh

Toyota Special Limited-Edition variants: what’s new?

All three cars essentially come with dealer-level accessories such as chrome highlights for the grilles and bumpers, 3D door mats, door visors and full body covers. These accessories can be availed on all trims of the Glanza, on the lower-spec E, S and S+ trims of the Taisor, and on the S, G and V trims of the Urban Cruiser Hyryder. These, however, cannot be opted for with the CNG variants of any car.

The accessory package on the Glanza is available for Rs 17,381 (down from Rs 20,567); the one for the Taisor costs Rs 17,931 (down from Rs 20,160), while the Hyryder’s accessories package is listed for Rs 50,817 (no change from regular price). These prices are applicable till December 31, 2024.

Apart from these accessories, customers can also avail of other exclusive year-end offers worth over Rs 1 lakh, although Toyota has not specified the exact nature of these benefits. Toyota is likely to have extended these benefits in an effort to clear stocks before the year-end. 

Also See:

Kia Syros name confirmed for upcoming compact SUV

New Honda Amaze exterior design, interior previewed

Women are continuing to reshape the dynamics of property ownership. Tax reduction and favourable interest rates are among the perks they receive for their self-reliance

The real estate industry warned that eliminating indexation benefits for long-term capital gains would stunt its expansion, negatively affecting property owners and potentially increasing taxes. While experts thought low returns could still be a problem, authorities disagreed, citing high real … Continue reading →

A new system called Pomelo has been developed to estimate population densities during emergencies with unerring accuracy using artificial intelligence. The system has been designed to provide a fast and accurate mini census in times of emergency, such as natural disasters or war. Pomelo, created as a joint venture between the International Red Cross, Lausanne Polytechnic and Bin Khalifa University in Qatar, uses large sets of data from remote sensing systems, and uses a neural network to identify likely population...

The post Pomelo – New AI System Offers Benefits For Humanitarian Relief appeared first on The Red Ferret Journal.

What is the Orthodox practice of total fasting? How do you keep it and why would you? What are the spiritual benefits of fasting for a period from all food and water for the love of Christ?

The story of Baker Sullivan reveals the importance and significance of the life of prayer.

In this homily from Palm Sunday, Fr. Pat fortifies us on our journey with three points about the Cross: two negative and one positive.

If you're looking to grow profits next year, you've likely already made your plans for the new year. I get that. And it's the last days of this year, so you've stopped reading blogs. I get that too. But there's a good chance that while you've used one or a couple of the strategies below, ... Read more

The post Grow Your Business Profits in 2023 appeared first on Chris Lema.

Electronic portfolios (e-portfolios) have a positive impact on the learning process in a broad range of educational sectors and on learners of all ages. Yet because most e-portfolio-related studies are about their implementation in higher education, this type of research is less usual in the early childhood context, and there is no available research for Greek schools. This study aims to investigate the impact of e-portfolios on learning in a Greek primary school and to provide a resource regarding the educational benefits of e-portfolio in primary education. To do that, it employs the qualitative naturalistic method to collect data, along with mixed methods which were used to achieve triangulation and strengthen confidence in the outcomes. Participants in the research were fourteen 8-year-old pupils, and one of the researchers was their regular teacher. Data evaluation revealed that the e-portfolio added value in pupils’ learning, acted as a medium to involve parents, promoted pupils’ self-esteem, and was acknowledged as a valuable assessment tool and a challenge for the school community. Based on the experience of the e-portfolio implementation, the authors provide some suggestions that would possibly help researchers and primary school teachers adopt and develop e-portfolio systems in their particular settings.

Pair programming is a collaborative programming practice that places participants in dyads, working in tandem at one computer to complete programming assignments. Pair programming studies with Computer Science (CS) and Software Engineering (SE) majors have identified benefits such as technical productivity, program/design quality, academic performance, and increased satisfaction for their participants. In this paper, pair programming is studied with Management Information Systems (MIS) majors, who (unlike CS and SE majors taking several programming courses) typically take only one programming course and often struggle to develop advanced programming skills within that single course. The researchers conducted two pair programming experiments in an introductory software development course for MIS majors over three semesters to determine if pair programming could enhance learning for MIS students. The program results, researchers’ direct observations, and participants’ responses to a survey questionnaire were analyzed after each experiment. The results indicate that pair programming appears to be beneficial to MIS students’ technical productivity and program design quality, specifically the ability to create programs using high-level concepts. Additionally, results confirmed increased student satisfaction and reduced frustration, as the pairs worked collaboratively to produce a program while actively communicating and enjoying the process.

This paper describes the employment of a Personal Response System (PRS) during a Decision Analysis course for Management Information Systems (MIS) students. The description shows how the carefully designed PRS-based questions, the delivery, and the follow-up discussions; provided a context for eliciting and exercising central concepts of the course topics as well as central skills required for MIS majors. A sample of PRS-based questions is presented along with a description for each question of its purpose, the way it was delivered, the response rate, the responses and their frequencies, and the respective in-class discussion. Lessons from these findings are discussed.

This study aims to examine the impact of organizational environment (top management support, company-wide support, business process reengineering, effective project management, and organizational culture) and enterprise resource planning (ERP) vendor environment (ERP vendor support) on ERP perceived benefits. In order to achieve the study’s aim, a questionnaire was developed based on the extant literature to collect relevant data from the research informants. The population for this research consisted of all users of Microsoft Dynamics Great Plains (a typical type of enterprise system), which is frequently used in Jordanian companies in Amman City. A random sample of 30% of the research population was selected. The results revealed that business process reengineering, effective project management, company-wide support, and organizational culture have a positive correlation with ERP perceived benefits, whereas top management support does not. In addition, there is a significant positive correlation between vendor support and ERP perceived benefits. Academic and practical recommendations are provided.

Aim/Purpose: This study examined the relationship between critical success factors (CSFs), perceived benefits, and usage intention of Mobile Knowledge Management Systems (MKMS) via an integrated Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and Information Systems Success Model (ISSM). Background: This study investigates the CSFs (i.e., Strategic Leadership, Employee Training, System Quality, and Information Quality) that impact the usage intention of KMS in mobile contexts which have been neglected. Since users normally consider the usefulness belief in a system before usage, this study examines the role of perceived benefits as a mediator between the CSFs and usage intention. Methodology: A survey-based research approach in the Malaysian semiconductor industry was employed via an integrated model of TAM and ISSM. At a response rate of 59.52%, the findings of this study were based on 375 usable responses. The data collected was analyzed using the Partial Least Squares with SmartPLS 3.0. Contribution: This study contributes to the body of knowledge in the areas of mobile technology acceptance and knowledge management. Specifically, it helps to validate the integrated model of TAM and ISSM with the CSFs from knowledge management and information system. In addition, it provides the would-be adopters of MKMS with valuable guidelines and insights to consider before embarking on the adoption stage. Findings: The findings suggest that Employee Training and Information Quality have a positive significant relationship with Perceived MKMS Benefits. On the contrary, Strategic Leadership, System Quality, and Perceived User-friendliness showed an insignificant relationship with Perceived MKMS Benefits. Additionally, Employee Training and Information Quality have an indirect relationship with MKMS Usage Intention which is mediated by Perceived MKMS Benefits. Recommendations for Practitioners: The findings are valuable for managers, engineers, KM practitioners, KM consultants, MKMS developers, and mobile device producers to enhance MKMS usage intention. Recommendation for Researchers: Researchers would be able to conduct more inter-disciplinary studies to better understand the relevant issues concerning both fields – knowledge management and mobile computing disciplines. Additionally, the mediation effect of TAM via Perceived Usefulness (i.e., perceived MKMS benefits) on usage intention of MKMS should be further investigated with other CSFs. Future Research: Future studies could perhaps include other critical factors from both KM and IS as part of the external variables. Furthermore, Perceived Ease of Use (i.e., Perceived User-friendly) should be tested as a mediator in the future, together with Perceived Usefulness (i.e., perceived MKMS Benefits) to compare which would be a more powerful predictor of usage intention. Moreover, it may prove interesting to find out how the research framework would fit into other industries to verify the findings of this study for better accuracy and generalizability.

Aim/Purpose: The purpose of the current study is to explore positive and negative aspects of student-teacher communication via Facebook, as perceived by students in secondary education. Background: Student-teacher relationship is key to students’ cognitive, social and emotional development. In recent years, as social networking sites (e.g., Facebook) became popular, these connections have extended to such platforms. However, most studies of the use of social networking sites in the school context are pedagogically-driven, and research on the ways student-teacher relationship is facilitated by these platforms is meager. Methodology: We utilized a qualitative approach, analyzing middle- and high-school students’ responses to open-ended questions about this topic (N=667). We used both top-down and bottom-up analyses. Contribution: This study contributes to the growing literature about the overall impact of using social networking sites on the educational milieu. Specifically, it contributes by shedding light on students’ perspectives of that phenomenon. Insights from this study are important for educators and education policy makers. Findings: We found that student-teacher communication is mostly practical, although students who are not connected de facto but wish to connect romanticize it as more appealing. Furthermore, we found that students’ perceptions of negative aspects of such communication is complex, reflecting a deep understanding of the social media. Students were mostly concerned with privacy issues, and much less with other pedagogical, technological and social concerns. Altogether, it seems that the students acknowledge the benefits of connecting with their teachers online and implement this communication rather responsibly. Recommendations for Practitioners: We recommend that educators who wish to do so wisely use social networking sites and instant messaging services as part of their professional conduct, taking advantage of the benefits of using these platforms, and being aware of (and cautious about) potential drawbacks. We encourage educators to learn more about the potential uses of social networking sites and instant messaging services, and then to examine whether these uses may fit their educational agenda. We recommend education policymakers make evidence-based decisions regarding the use of social networking sites by teachers and encourage school communities to discuss these issues together. Recommendation for Researchers: As technology develops rapidly, we recommend researchers examine the topics raised in the current research with regards to other platforms, in order to better understand the technological aspects that may affect students’ perceptions of the use of social networking sites and instant messaging services to communicate with their students. We also recommend studying what types of resources are available to education policymakers when making decisions on relevant policies. Impact on Society: Understanding teens’ perspectives of their relationship with their teachers in today’s digital, networked world gives us a better understanding of this generation, hence may assist in planning and realizing a better educational system. Future Research: Future studies should focus on other social networking sites and instant messaging services, as well as on other countries and cultures.

Social exchange theory is a broad theory that has been used to explain trust as an outcome of various exchange relationships, and research commonly presumes trust exists between exchange partners that have prior relationships. In this paper, we contribute to social exchange theory by isolating the trust outcomes of interorganizational exchanges from other outcomes emphasized by learning and knowledge-based perspectives, and by specifying important boundary conditions for the emergence of trust in interorganizational exchanges. We make such a theoretical contribution within the domain of strategic alliances by investigating the effects of previous alliance agreements, or prior ties, between the partnering firms. We find that prior ties generally lead to learning about a partner's anticipated behavioral patterns, which helps a firm predict when self-interested behavior may occur and know how to interact with the partner during the coordination and execution of the alliance tasks. By contrast, it is evident that the kind of trust emphasized in social exchange theory is not generally rooted in prior ties and only emerges from prior relationships under certain conditions. We discuss the implications of these findings for research on social exchange theory and for delineating the theory's domain of applicability.

The work life of misfits - employees whose important values are incongruent with the values of their organization - represents an under-researched area of the person-environment fit literature. The unfortunate reality is that these individuals are likely to be disengaged and unproductive at work. In this manuscript, we entertain the possibility that employees can protect themselves from this situation if they engage in alternative actions that supplement the fundamental needs that go unmet from value incongruence. We integrate theorizing about the motivational role of need fulfillment and work/non-work behaviors in order to examine whether two actions in particular - job crafting and leisure activity - can potentially mitigate the negative effects of value incongruence on employee performance. In a field study of employees from diverse organizations and industries, the results suggest that both job crafting and leisure activity indeed act as a buffer, mitigating the otherwise negative effects of value incongruence on employee engagement and job performance (both task performance and citizenship behavior).

Labor codes have been voluntarily adopted and used by manufacturers in emerging economies for the past two decades, as a means of ensuring minimally acceptable or core labor standards for workers. However, far too little is known of the potential benefits from the voluntary adoption of labor codes to the manufacturer, and prior human resource management research has been virtually silent on the business implications of their use for emerging economy manufacturers participating in global supply chains. Drawing on previous work across multiple disciplines and proposing a framework that extends human resource management theory more explicitly and rigorously to the context of emerging economy manufacturing, I theorize and demonstrate that the voluntary adoption of a labor code may constitute an effective human resource investment in emerging economies in improving establishment-level employee outcomes and operational and financial performance. The hypotheses are tested using longitudinal data on a sample of apparel manufacturing plants in Sri Lanka. Implications of this study include providing insight into how to expand the scope and relevance of human resource management theory to better understand research and practice in emerging economies.

What are the long-term consequences of initially beneficial high-reputation workplace ties? Under uncertainty, acolytes (i.e., subordinates with work connections to high-reputation industry leaders) are likely to benefit in terms of signaling fitness for promotion in the external job market. Analysis of promotion outcomes of coaches in the NFL over 31 years showed that the acolyte effect was reduced for individuals for whom uncertainty was the least (acolytes with considerable industry experience or high centrality in the co-worker industry network). There was no support for either a knowledge-transfer or an intrinsic quality explanation for why acolytes initially gained advantage. Rather, the evidence supported the idea that ties to high-reputation leaders were somewhat randomly distributed so that acolytes faced ex post settling up consequences after their promotions: fewer further promotions or lateral moves, more demotions. Thus, acolytes initially benefited from a loose-linkage between their unobservable quality and signals offered by their industry-leader ties, but they also suffered as the unreliability of social network signals became evident. The results suggest that a competitive job market may exhibit self-correction over time. We offer countervailing theory and evidence to the prevailing view that high-reputation third-party endorsements perpetuate a rich-get-richer social structure resistant to performance outcomes.

CYBERJAYA: Pure play enterprise Internet of Things (IoT) solutions provider SMRT Holdings Bhd (SHB) posted a net profit of RM7.04 million for the first quarter (Q1) ended September 30, 2024, an increase of 0.82% from RM6.99 million posted in the same quarter last year.

The increase was due to a higher-margin revenue mix, realisations of economies of scale from the higher number of managed sites and reduced administrative expenses.

Revenue for Q1 decreased 10.4% to RM16.5 million compared to RM18.42 million posted in Q1 last year.

SHB group managing director Maha Palan said the company’s key markets in Malaysia and Indonesia continue to show growth trajectory.

“Our previous strategic entry into the Philippines’ financial services sector has laid the foundation for further growth, and we are now actively exploring new opportunities in the country,“ he said.

On the venture into new verticals, Palan said the group’s IoT deployments for the water utility sector are delivering positive results and will tangibly contribute to results in this financial year.

Meanwhile, SHB has appointed Au Wong Lian (Kit) as its new group CEO, effective November 8, 2024.

Au brings over 30 years of experience in the technology and telecommunications industries, during which he has held leadership positions in various leading companies, including TimeDotCom and Microsoft Malaysia.

“Given Au’s extensive experience, deep domain expertise, and proven track record in driving growth and profitability, I am confident he will help lead SHB to the next level.

“More importantly, there is a strong alignment in corporate culture and core values between Au and our team, ensuring a smooth integration that will support our shared vision of leading the provision of IoT services across the Asean region,“ Palan said.

Once you’ve decided to continue your education past high school, the next step is choosing where you want to go to school. From less debt to smaller class sizes, community colleges have more to offer than you may realize. In this article, I’ll look at five key benefits of community college you should consider before […]

The post The Top 5 Benefits of Community College appeared first on Clark Howard.

Emily’s deliberately over-the-top style highlights her bubbly American identity and is an assault on our senses

In this article series of articles, I have recorded somewhat of a manifesto for using cash in your budget. You can listen to the whole thing in my podcast for week 4 of my 12 Weeks to Fiscal Fitness program, Using Cash In Your Budget. In week 3 I talked in considerable detail about how […]

The post Benefits of a Cash Budget – Part 1 first appeared on Getting Finances Done.

Be sure to check out part 1 about the benefits of a cash budget. In that article I explain how cash is the ultimate tool to help you control your spending and staying within your budget. In part 2, I explain how budgeting will help save you time in the budgeting process. How Cash Will […]

The post Benefits of a Cash Budget – Part 2 first appeared on Getting Finances Done.

The Miami sideline was loaded with talent this past weekend. Michael Irvin was there, just like he's been all season no matter where the game is. Ray Lewis did his trademark dance. Edgerrin James, Jessie Armstead, Bryant McKinnie, Rohan Marley,Bernie Kosar and Clinton Portis all showed up as well.

Sony's profit rose 69% in July-September from a year earlier on the back of strong sales of its image sensors, games, music and network services, the Japanese electronics and entertainment company said on Friday.

One of the main outputs of EU BON will be the establishment of an European Biodiversity Portal based on data collected and compiled from a variety of sources including earth observations but also observations and monitoring data from (local) sites. One of the main points of this portal is to serve as a substantial building block of a global biodiversity portal planned by the Group of Earth Observations project GEO BON.

But how will this portal be useful to stakeholders on a more local level - for example for people involved in questions connected to biodiversity across European regions? What will be the real benefits of it for biodiversity monitoring and conservation? Just a couple of weeks after the Third EU BON Stakeholder Round Table in Granada, Spain, Mr Clint Alibrandi from REDIAM (Environment and Water Agency in Andalusia) gives us his views on these questions.

Picture:  Excursion to Sierra Nevada.; Credit: Katrin Vohland

Q: REDIAM shares a mission with EU BON in its attempt to collect, standardize and distribute available biodiversity data. What will be the expected benefits and challenges in the process of making this type of datasets available for society and environmental policy?

A: Among the responsibilities of the Regional Environmental Government of Andalusia are promoting Social Environmental Awareness, Managing a vast, diverse and very complex territory, Control and Mitigate any threats posed to the fragile ecosystems present in our region as well as all the responsibilities derived from the management and planning of the existing natural resources.

Considering these facts, it is necessary to be able to account for the best environmental information available. Since the early 80’s the Regional Environmental Government of Andalusia has been working on its Environmental Information System with the purpose of generating, compiling, standardizing and analyzing Environmental Information covering topics such as Climate, Water, Air Quality and Biodiversity by means of ICTs. This the REDIAM. The name comes from the Spanish Acronym "REd De Información AMbiental de Andalucía" which means the Environmental Information Network of Andalusia. It serves as a Unified Regional Environmental Information Registry.

From this effort, the information obtained by the REDIAM is made publicly available to be then employed in Decision Making processes and Management Planning on behalf of the Administrations, for Dissemination and Awareness as well as for Research purposes.

As such, it is of vital importance for the REDIAM to be able to account for updated and verifiable Information and Data Sources and this is what we consider to be the most important benefit on behalf of EU BON, as it will offer the possibility to have a higher level reference covering a larger perspective, allowing stakeholders, be it either from a local, regional or national level, to consult or work with data, tools and have reference to relevant policies concerning Biodiversity on the European scale in order to be able to better transpose them to a more local context.

Yet the greatest challenge we believe that EU BON might come to face is the fact that the different contexts that exist over the whole European territory make it very difficult to tailor tools and information formats which can cover the different priorities or needs that exist in the diverse makeup of stakeholders that exist from a local, regional and national perspective. The same can most probably apply to the feedback, queries or requests made to EU BON on behalf of the stakeholder and user community. It is never easy to reach a common base level and from the regional perspective, REDIAM has faced the same type of situations.

Q: What type of stakeholders do you hope to engage through your network - who is using your data and for what purposes?

A: The stakeholders which are currently engaged with the REDIAM consist in Universities, Research Centres, Public Bodies, Local Administrations, Private Companies just to name a few examples. There are over 150 organizations which are partners of the REDIAM, they provide relevant Environmental Information to the REDIAM and are responsible for updating the information.

And as can be expected,the information provided is as diverse as the makeup of stakeholders that are part of the REDIAM, with the following formats being made available: Cartography, Satellites Images, Databases, Reports, Statistics, Applications, Management Plans and Programmes, Orthophotos, Indicators, Studies.

Additionally the REDIAM offers the user community different alternatives in order to access the previously indicated information. The REDIAM Channel is a web portal with a Catalogue and Information Search System, OGC Services, Query and Viewer tools, Downloader. The user community is able to access its information and services. This community consists in Citizens, Universities, Public Administrations and Companies from the Public and Private Sector.

Q: Where do you see the cross section between REDIAM’s work and EU BON - what are the products from EU BON and other European projects that would be helpful for the work that you are doing?

A: The REDIAM has great interest in the following issues and we believe that EU BON would be up to the task of providing solutions and/or guidelines on how to be able to proceed to solve them:

• The elaboration of a common tool for the description and localization of species throughout the European Territory. This can prove a very useful service for Environmental Impact Assessments by providing a more complete view on different species distribution on determined area.
• Defining a standardized list of species which contains the taxonomically correct name for each one of them. EU BON could serve as a base reference to set guidelines for standardizing the taxonomical classification of species.
• Support and guidance in defining specific biodiversity indicators as proposed by EUROSTAT, a methodological and assessment guide of some sort.

Q: In your opinion what are the three greatest benefits of a European level biodiversity portal?

A: 1) Offering an opportunity of Standardizing and Harmonizing Biodiversity related information. We all speak the same "language" when referring to Biodiversity, but it is necessary that we all be able to follow the same "rules" as well. This is the first and most important pillar we believe that a European level Biodiversity portal can bring into play.

2) It would allow for and facilitate a widespread exchange of information amongst stakeholders throughout the whole European Territory.

3) And finally, it would allow a common analysis on a European level which would provide a general assessment on how different efforts and policies are effective, value which is the real status of Biodiversity and/or specific species independently from the limit of administrative or country borders.

About REDIAM:

The Environmental Information Network REDIAM has onboard experts from the Regional Ministry of Environment in Andalusia and its Water and Environmental Agency. With a team expertise ranging from local to regional and European level and from technical know-how to regional and thematic assessment, the main aim of the network is to integrate all spatially-referenced biodiversity data produced in Andalusia. Raw data are used to generate knowledge and improve its distribution, making it accessible and comprehensible for the general public.

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