#Combine NSF Database

[jcmarchi]

Sam Madden named faculty head of computer science in EECS

New Post has been published on https://thedigitalinsider.com/sam-madden-named-faculty-head-of-computer-science-in-eecs/

Sam Madden named faculty head of computer science in EECS

Sam Madden, the College of Computing Distinguished Professor of Computing at MIT, has been named the new faculty head of computer science in the MIT Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS), effective Aug. 1.

Madden succeeds Arvind, a longtime MIT professor and prolific computer scientist, who passed away in June.

“Sam’s research leadership and commitment to excellence, along with his thoughtful and supportive approach, makes him a natural fit to help lead the department going forward. In light of Arvind’s passing, we are particularly grateful that Sam has agreed to take on this role on such short notice,” says Daniel Huttenlocher, dean of the MIT Schwarzman College of Computing and the Henry Ellis Warren Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.

“Sam’s exceptional research contributions in database management systems, coupled with his deep understanding of both academia and industry, make him an excellent fit for faculty head of computer science. The EECS department and broader School of Engineering will greatly benefit from his expertise and passion,” adds Anantha Chandrakasan, chief innovation and strategy officer, dean of engineering, and Vannevar Bush Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.

Madden joins the leadership of EECS, which jointly reports to the MIT Schwarzman College of Computing and the School of Engineering. The largest academic department at MIT, EECS was reorganized in 2019 as part of the formation of the college into three overlapping sub-units in electrical engineering (EE), computer science (CS), and artificial intelligence and decision-making (AI+D). The restructuring has enabled each of the three sub-units to concentrate on faculty recruitment, mentoring, promotion, academic programs, and community building in coordination with the others.

“I am delighted that Sam has agreed to step up to take on this important leadership role. His unique combination of academic excellence and forward-looking focus will be invaluable for us,” says Asu Ozdaglar, MathWorks Professor and head of EECS, who also serves as the deputy dean of the MIT Schwarzman College of Computing. “I am confident that he will offer exceptional leadership in his new role and further strengthen EECS for our students and the MIT community.”

A member of the MIT faculty since 2004, Madden is a professor in EECS and a principal investigator in the Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory. He was recognized as the inaugural College of Computing Distinguished Professor of Computing in 2020 for being an outstanding faculty member, leader, and innovator.

Madden’s research interest is in database systems, focusing on database analytics and query processing, ranging from clouds to sensors to modern high-performance server architectures. He co-directs the Data Systems for AI Lab initiative and the Data Systems Group, investigating issues related to systems and algorithms for data focusing on applying new methodologies for processing data, including applying machine learning methods to data systems and engineering data systems for applying machine learning at scale.

He was named one of MIT Technology Review’s “Top 35 Under 35” in 2005 and an ACM Fellow in 2020. He is the recipient of several awards, including an NSF CAREER award, a Sloan Foundation Fellowship, the ACM SIGMOD Edgar F. Codd Innovations Award, and “test of time” awards from VLDB, SIGMOD, SIGMOBILE, and SenSys. He is also the co-founder and chief scientist at Cambridge Mobile Telematics, which develops technology to make roads safer and drivers better.

[waterfiltergurus]

SoftPro Chlorine+ & Fluoride Filter Review: A Data-Driven Analysis

The SoftPro Chlorine+ & Fluoride Filter is a whole-home water filtration system that uses catalytic and bone char carbon media to remove chlorine, chloramine, fluoride, PFAs and more from an entire home’s water supply. We installed and tested this system in a home in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, with the primary intention of reducing fluoride. Overall Score: 9.13 How We Test & Score 9.42 Contaminant Reduction 8.40 Design 9.75 Maintenance 10.00 Filtration Rate 7.00 Setup 8.65 Company What We Like Fast peak flow rate of 14 GPM Completely removed most of the contaminants in our water Long-lasting filter media of 6-10 years No annual maintenance required Upflow design increases filter media contact with water Long warranty & free shipping for orders over $75 What We Don’t Like Difficult install - may require a professional installation costing extra Doesn’t address all contaminants Not certified for performance or materials safety Returns policy is poor Price$900.00Contaminants Reduced10+CertificationsNot certified for any reduction claimsProcessCatalytic + Bone Char CarbonFilter Capacity1,000,000 gallonsAnnual Cost~$40WarrantyLifetime 📊 Scoring Data We measured the SoftPro Chlorine+ & Fluoride Filter’s performance across 6 key testing categories, combining and averaging the data to obtain an overall score for the system. Below, we’ve shared the key performance data that we used when testing the system. CriteriaResultsOverall Score9.13Health Related Contaminants9.80Aesthetic Related Contaminants9.90Performance CertificationNot certified for any reduction claimsFiltration Rate14 GPMComponent QualityExceptionalComponent CertificationNot certifiedSetupWeakServicing RequirementsOutstandingCosts$0.0009/ gallonWarranty LengthLimited lifetimeShippingFree on orders over $75ReturnsFailing 🚰 Contaminant Reduction Score: 9.42 The big advantage of a whole-house system like the SoftPro Chlorine+ & Fluoride Filter is that it can remove contaminants from an entire home water supply, rather than at a single faucet or fixture. But for this reason, the system is significantly more expensive than a point-of-use system, so we wanted evidence of its contaminant reduction abilities to ensure it was money well spent.  There were two factors that we used to test the SoftPo system’s contaminant removal performance: data from our own water testing using a third-party lab, and official performance certifications, which (if applicable) are found on NSF, IAMPO, and WQA databases. Our Performance Testing Score: 9.81 We used a SimpleLab Tap Score test to assess the SoftPro Chlorine+ & Fluoride Filter’s contaminant reduction performance with our own home’s water. We choose to use laboratory tests instead of DIY tests for this aspect of our analysis due to their increased accuracy and ability to test for a more extensive range of contaminants. We received SimpleLab’s sample kit to collect samples of our water, then shipped them off to the lab for professional testing. Our sample-taking process involved following Tap Score’s strict protocol to ensure our results were as accurate as possible.  We took the “before” water sample several weeks ahead of the “after” sample: - We took our first sample of water before we installed the system at the beginning of March 2024. - We then took our post-install test samples a month and a half later at the end of April 2024, after the system had been in use for that long. We wanted to give the system at least a month to operate before we took our samples to ensure it could capably filter our water beyond the initial few days after installation.  Good to Know: When analyzing our results, we could toggle between a few different water quality guidelines to determine the safety of the contaminants detected in our water. We chose to use the Tap Score HGL (Health Guideline Level), a benchmark that prioritizes human health and is stricter than the federal MCL.  The next table lists our pre- and post-filtration test data, so you can see how each contaminant was addressed by the SoftPro Chlorine+ Filter. Health-Related Contaminants Score: 9.80 Our unfiltered water test detected trace levels of 9 contaminants with possible health effects: chloroform, total THMs (two disinfection byproducts), copper, fluoride, zinc, aluminum, barium, nickel, and strontium. Some of the known health effects of these contaminants are: - Developmental outcomes - Immune system issues - Kidney and liver problems - Carcinogenic (cancer-causing) effects We used a separate test for PFAS - the Cyclopure PFAS test - since we wanted a more in-depth PFAS analysis option than our Tap Score test offered. This test detected 2.5 PPT (parts per trillion) of a PFAS compound, MeFBSA, which we also wanted to remove from our water due to the dangerous health effects associated with PFAS exposure.  Our water quality wasn't terrible to begin with, but we were still concerned about a number of contaminants detected - especially disinfection byproducts, which were detected in concentrations very close to exceeding the Tap Score HGL.  Also, a big reason why we tested this SoftPro system is that we wanted a whole home filter that would remove fluoride from every tap, so we had high expectations for the unit’s fluoride reduction abilities. When we got our post-filtration test results back, we were pleased to see that the SoftPro Chlorine+ & Fluoride Filter had completely eliminated both disinfection byproducts, fluoride, zinc, aluminum, nickel, and strontium from our water. Copper was also reduced by 97%, and our separate PFAS test showed that MeFBSA had been eliminated entirely.  Barium and strontium actually increased slightly post-filtration, and 0.2 PPM of nitrate was detected when it wasn’t present in our unfiltered water, but we think these were normal fluctuations in our water quality that occurred in the 1.5 months between the two tests. However, it does tell us that the SoftPro Chlorine+ & Fluoride Filter doesn’t address any of these contaminants. We were super pleased with the outcome of these results, especially the fact that the system eliminated fluoride thanks to its bone char carbon media, which has been proven in studies to be highly effective for this purpose - something that similar systems we’ve tested (like the SpringWell CF) couldn’t remove.  Aesthetic Contaminants Score: 9.90 Chlorine was the only aesthetic contaminant that our unfiltered water contained. We used a rapid-results test strip to DIY-test for chlorine ourselves because of chlorine’s highly volatile nature - it would dissipate from the water before it arrived at the testing lab. Our water is a chlorine-disinfected municipal supply, so we were unsurprised that the test detected 1 PPM of chlorine.  In our second post-filtration test, no chlorine was detected, so the SoftPro Chlorine+& Fluoride system’s carbon media had performed exactly as we’d expected, capturing and removing chlorine to undetectable levels.  Plumbing-Related Contaminants Several plumbing-related contaminants, or those that could be coming from our pipes or affecting our plumbing and appliances, were also detected in our water. These were copper, zinc, nickel, and sulfate.  Post-filtration, the SoftPro Chlorine+ Filter had reduced 97% copper, and 100% zinc and nickel.  Our water’s sulfate concentrations actually increased from 7.5 PPM to 23.6 PPM, which was an unexpected outcome. We don’t suspect an issue with the SoftPro system here - it’s more likely that the sulfate concentrations in our water fluctuated.  Performance Certifications Score: 6.00 We have evidence from our own personal testing showing that the SoftPro system does a great job of reducing chlorine, fluoride, a certain PFAS, a couple of disinfection byproducts, and several metals, under our own specific testing conditions and water parameters.  But what about the dozens of other contaminants that our water doesn’t contain? Unfortunately, we can only test a filter’s ability to reduce the impurities in our own water. That’s why a system’s contaminant reduction score is also influenced by whether or not it has any performance certifications.  The bad news is that the SoftPro Chlorine+ & Fluoride filter isn’t currently certified to reduce any contaminants, so it got the poorer score from us here.  We know that the road to obtaining certifications is long and costly, but we think they’re especially important for expensive, whole-home systems like the SoftPro model and provide extra reassurance to folks who might be hesitant to part with their money.  We still wanted to compare the contaminants that the Chlorine+ & Fluoride Filter reduced in our testing with the contaminants it’s claimed to reduce.  The system was excellent at reducing or removing chlorine, tastes, and odors from our water, as well as zinc, aluminum, nickel, and strontium. SoftPro claims to reduce all of these contaminants, so our own results were in line with SoftPro’s performance info. As for fluoride, this is a contaminant that SoftPro’s bone char carbon filter can remove, and was a big selling point of the system for us. The fact that the Chlorine+ & Fluoride Filter also reduced MeFBSA was a bonus because this isn’t a contaminant that SoftPro claims it can address. The system didn’t reduce barium in our water, so in our testing, SoftPro’s claims to “remove 99%” of heavy metals weren’t true.  We were also unable to evaluate the Chlorine+ & Fluoride Filter’s ability to reduce the other contaminants listed on the product page - chloramine, pharmaceuticals, pesticides, herbicides, VOCs, iron, and hydrogen sulfide - because these weren’t present in our water.  🚦Filtration Rate Score: 10.00 Sustaining your home’s water pressure is particularly important when installing a point-of-entry system, since a PSI drop could affect the performance of your appliances and fixtures. That means finding a water filtration system with a flow rate that’s adequate for your household water usage.  When we reviewed it, the SoftPro Chlorine+ & Fluoride Filter was available in just one size, with a maximum flow rate of 14 GPM (it’s designed to operate on pressures of 30 -125 PSI). That’s a really decent flow rate that should suit homes with up to 6 bathrooms. We were pleased to see that the base model has this maximum flow rate because competitors’ base models have slower flow rates - for instance, the SpringWell CF1 has a flow rate of 9 GPM but costs the same price. Post-installation, our flow rate and water pressure remained the same, so the Chlorine+ system got the top score from us in this category.  📐 Design Score: 8.40 Design-wise, the SoftPro Chlorine+ & Fluoride Filter is our preferred configuration. We’d rather make a bigger upfront investment in a tank-based system that doesn’t have the same long-term maintenance requirements as a cartridge-based system.  The system has only a few main components and is intended for a POE installation, upstream of your hot water heater. It gets shipped in a box that contains:  - The control valve - The tank - The parts box, containing smaller components for the installation process - The owner’s manual We noted that the system felt sturdy and durable, but it didn’t get the top score from us in this category because it isn’t certified for materials safety.  Component Quality Score: 10.00 We awarded the SoftPro Chlorine+ & Fluoride Filter the highest score for component quality because it looks and feels solid and resistant to years of use.  The tank also has a neoprene jacket guard to protect against corrosion and humidity.  However, some of the fittings and fixtures use plastic components, which may not be as durable as copper or brass alternatives.  Certification Score: 6.00 Our own experience with the SoftPro system’s design was positive, but it would have been further sweetened with an official design certification for materials safety.  Unfortunately, this isn’t something that the system currently has, so it got the lower score from us here.  Filter Materials & Media The SoftPro Chlorine+ & Fluoride Filter contains high-grade catalytic carbon filtration media and a bone char carbon filter.  Catalytic carbon is an upgraded version of activated carbon that’s capable of reducing additional contaminants, including chloramine and hydrogen sulfide.  Bone char carbon has its own unique performance benefits, including the ability to remove fluoride, which is what sold the system to us.  Like activated carbon, both these carbon media are derived from natural materials and are considered safe to use for water filtration purposes.  Unlike some of its competitors, the SoftPro system doesn’t use a sediment pre-filter, so you might need to install one if your water contains sediment. (This is more common for groundwater well supplies).  Upflow Filtration Something unique to note about the SoftPro Chlorine+ & Fluoride system is that it has an upflow design.  That means the filter media is turned upwards from the bottom, so water can circulate through the tank better. The purpose of this is to improve the contact time between the water and the carbon media, improving efficiency and allowing for more thorough water filtration.  As far as we could tell, this upflow design didn’t have any negative effects and didn’t reduce flow rate.  ⚙️ Setup Score: 7.00 We awarded the SoftPro Chlorine+ & Fluoride Filter’s setup score based on the time required for the installation, and its difficulty level.  It got a lower score here because it needs to be installed at your POE, which is a more complicated process.  The SoftPro Chlorine+ installation manual is helpful and detailed, covering all the information you might to know about the install process and answering a lot fo questions.  The manual states that a professional installation is recommended. We gave the system to a friend with a lot of professional DIY experience, and he was able to install the system himself. If we were installing the system in our own home, we would have hired a plumber as we’re not handy and we wouldn’t want to risk getting something wrong and damaging our plumbing supply. We also wanted to ensure that we complied with our local plumbing codes. The installation process took just under 2 hours.  While most of the parts for installation were provided, our friend reported that he needed his own tools, including two adjustable wrenches, a copper pipe cutter, a copper pipe measuring tool, an abrasive scotch-brite pad to smooth the cut pipe, and plumber’s tape. The home's plumbing was copper, so he installed the system with copper pipe. He did have to buy a few parts that weren’t included with the unit, including copper pipe, elbow connectors, shark bite connectors, and grounding wire - this last component is essential and prevents dangerous shocks in the event of a short circuit.  Note: You may need two people to carry the unit to the install location due to the weight of the box.  🔧 Maintenance Score: 9.75 One of the reasons why we were interested in the SoftPro Chlorine+ & Fluoride Filter is its lack of maintenance.  It got a great score in this category because it costs virtually nothing to operate and requires only one maintenance task.  Servicing Requirements 9.50 This SoftPro model doesn’t have a sediment filter, and the media in the tank is designed to last up to 1 million gallons or 6-10 years*, so its servicing requirements were essentially non-existent.  We haven’t had to replace the carbon media yet, but we’ve checked the instructions in the user manual and the process seems DIY-friendly, if not a bit fiddly. You may need to enlist in a strong family member or friend to help you empty the old media out of the tank.  *If you’re wondering why the estimated media lifespan varies, it’s because it’s affected by your water quality and usage. The quicker you reach the 1-million-gallon capacity, the sooner the media will need to be replaced. Additionally, if your water’s TDS is high, the media will get clogged at a faster rate, shortening its lifespan.  Costs Score: 10.00 The SoftPro Chlorine+ & Fluoride Filter is very affordable to maintain, largely owing to its lack of any filter cartridges.  We calculated the system’s ongoing cost as $0.0016/ gallon, based on the system cost divided by the number of gallons that the media is expected to last.  If you prefer to invest slightly more upfront in a system that costs pennies to run in the long term, this SoftPro model should tick your boxes.  🏢 Company Score: 8.65 Finally, we wanted to assess SoftPro as a company, comparing its warranty, returns, and shipping offerings to its competitors.  SoftPro got a good score here, and its warranty impressed us the most. But once we read the terms for the returns policy, we were less impressed - and that affected its overall score in this category. Warranty  Score: 10.00 SoftPro warrants its systems’ control valves with a limited lifetime warranty (this excludes wear parts such as the piston, spacers, seals, and injectors as applicable).  The tanks also have a lifetime warranty, but the media doesn’t have a warranty of any length.  You can view SoftPro’s warranty terms here.  Shipping  Score: 9.00 All SoftPro orders of $75.00 and over receive free shipping in the USA, excluding Alaska and Hawaii. SoftPro didn’t get the best score here because it requires a minimum spend for free shipping, but given the price of the system, you’ll get free shipping with your initial order anyway.  Returns Score: 6.50 SoftPro does offer a returns policy, which is good. You can try the Chlorine+ & Fluoride Filter for 6 months, and if you choose to return it within this time, you’ll get a refund.  But there are a few stipulations - your refunded total will be minus the original shipping cost and a 25% restocking fee. That means you can’t actually try the system risk-free as you’ll lose at least a quarter of your initial investment if you choose to return it.  This guarantee also excludes special orders, commercial systems, media, consumables, and test kits. Found this review helpful? Comment below or share this article! Read the full article

[carnegiemuseumnaturalhistory]

Going Digital for Nature

The Section of Botany continues to make progress on our NSF funded Mid-Atlantic Megalopolis digitization project. This massive three-year effort involves the creation of a searchable database of nearly a million herbarium specimens from thirteen institutions within the urban corridor stretching from New York City to Washington, D.C. 

Although the imaging portion of the project has come to a screeching halt with no access to the specimens and the camera, work continues with the processing and posting of existing images. Since 2018, when the Museum became involved in this project, critical work has been masterfully handled by Curatorial Assistant Sarah Williams. Please check out our collection and their images at midatlanticherbaria.org.

Despite all work being performed away from the museum since March 14, great strides have been made in getting specimens georeferenced. This term refers to the electronic pairing of the historic recorded location for each collected plant with an established system of geographic ground coordinates. In an effort to keep this project on schedule, I have spent about half my time working on it, adding over 7000 images to our Symbiota portal and georeferencing over 3800 specimens.

Screenshot of georeferencing portal for CM specimens.

With more images going up almost every day, the georeferencing problems have become easier to find and fix. In addition to being able to see the specimen and its label, it is also possible to query where the collector was on a given day. So not only can we see if the data was possibly mistyped or misread, we can also check to see if the locality is within the known range for each species collected. All this associated information makes for fun sleuthing projects. With almost half of our specimens currently georeferenced, I am also currently working on fixing problems with localities that map outside of the geopolitical unit to which they were assigned.

Screenshot of Pennsylvania locations with collections by former Botany Curator, Dr. Dorothy Pearth.

Georeferencing has become a bit of an obsession for a few of our volunteers and me because it combines history, plant collecting, and old maps into one big bundle. I must sometimes watch that I don’t go down some historical wormholes while looking for some very obscure place names. Some sets of georeferenced specimens have also added insights into the habits of some former Carnegie staff and volunteers and the haunts they liked to visit. I now know which collectors were precise in their collecting locality descriptions and which were more likely to stick to roadsides. We had at least one former curator who preferred to make localities vague when they were near parks and another who seemed to favor collecting where roads crossed streams. Fun times were had by all electronic explorers, or at least by me, and I’m learning a lot in the process.

Bonnie Isaac is the Collection Manager in the Section of Botany at Carnegie Museum of Natural History. Museum staff, volunteers, and interns are encouraged to blog about their unique experiences and knowledge gained from working at the museum.

[bluewaterh]

How to Choose Home Water Filter?

There's a much better option for ensuring that the water you and your family drink is as safe as it can be: a home water filter.

How Safe Is Public Water?

Under the Safe Water Drinking Act, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is responsible for setting national drinking water standards. The EPA regulates over 80 contaminants—including arsenic, e-coli, cryptosporidia, chlorine, and lead—that may be found in drinking water from public water systems. While the EPA says that 90 percent of US public water systems meet its standards, you may want to use a water filter to further ensure your water's safety.

A 2003 study by the nonprofit Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) found that due to a combination of pollution and deteriorating equipment and pipes, the public water supplies in 19 of America's largest cities delivered drinking water that contained contaminant levels exceeding EPA limits (either legal limits or unenforceable suggested limits) and may pose health risks to some residents. So even though it may test fine at its source, public water may still pick up contaminants on the way to your house.

Contaminants that snuck into city water supplies studied by the NRDC include rocket fuel, arsenic, lead, fecal waste, and chemical by-products created during water treatment.

Step One: Assess Your Tap Water

There isn't a one-type-fits-all kind of home water filter: not every filter type will eliminate every contaminant. You'll save money and ensure that you're targeting the contaminants of concern in your area by doing a little research up front.

"Most people purchase the wrong home water filter because they skip this very important step, and then they've wasted money and resources on a system that isn't making their water any safer," says James P. McMahon, owner of Sweetwater, LLC, which provides consulting and products for people wanting to purify their air or water.

To start, check your water utility's "Consumer Confidence Report," the report details where your drinking water comes from, what contaminants have been found in it, and how contaminant levels compare to national standards.

While your report can tell you what's going on with the water in your area, only a test of the water coming out of your tap will tell you what you and your family are drinking for sure.

If your water comes from a private well, so you should have your water tested annually in late spring (when pesticide runoff will be at its worst), and anytime you notice a change in the color or taste of your water.

Step Two: Find the Best Type

Home Water filters come in a dizzying variety, from plastic pitcher filters and built-in refrigerator filters, to faucet and under-the-sink filters, to whole-house models that combine a variety of media types and treat all of the water in your house. What type you want depends on your needs.

The best type of filter to remove chlorine and its byproducts is a combination carbon/KDF adsorption filter (which is a different chemical process than absorption) , which range from shower and faucet filters to sink and whole-house filters. A regular carbon filter won't remove chloramine, so look for a catalytic carbon filter instead.

If you only have one or two contaminants, a smaller unit, such as a countertop or under-the-sink filter, may meet your needs. To find a filter certified to remove the contaminants you're most concerned about, visit the NSF's online database.

Finally, if you find your water has serious safety issues, consider a multi-stage filter that can tackle a variety of contaminants. Many combine a variety of home water filter types.

Step Three: Look at the Labels

Some experts recommend looking for a filter certified by NSF International, a nonprofit organization that conducts safety testing for the food and water industries. NSF tests and certifies water filters to ensure that they both meet NSF safety standards and are effective at removing contaminants as claimed by the manufacturer. Underwriters Laboratories and the Water Quality Association also offer similar certification, based on NSF standards.

NSF has different certifications, so when you read the label, first make sure it says the filter will remove the contaminants you're most concerned about. A filter certified by NSF to remove chlorine isn't going to be helpful if you need it to remove nitrates. Then, look for the NSF seal, Underwriters Laboratories' "UL Water Quality" mark, or the Water Quality Association Gold Seal for added assurance that your filter will actually do what the box claims.

[evoldir]

Fwd: Postdoc: CityTech_NewYork.LizardGeneFlow

Begin forwarded message: > From: evoldir@evol.biology.mcmaster.ca > Subject: Postdoc: CityTech_NewYork.LizardGeneFlow > Date: 5 May 2022 at 07:27:57 BST > To: rdmpage@gmail.com > > > > The Blair lab at NYC College of Technology (City Tech/CUNY) focuses on > using genomic data and sophisticated computational methods to understand > evolutionary patterns and elucidate the processes giving rise to > such patterns. Specific areas of focus include population genomics, > molecular phylogenetics, phylogeography, species delimitation, and > DNA barcoding. The lab is currently seeking a postdoctoral scholar > who will work on an NSF funded project that uses multiple species of > phrynosomatid lizards to understand the influence of gene flow during > the diversification of arid-adapted organisms distributed throughout > the major deserts of western North America. A second major goal of the > project is to combine genomic data, mtDNA, morphology, and ecology to > refine species limits and describe new taxa. Data will be collected from > approximately 10 species/species complexes from multiple phrynosomatid > genera. This project is a collaborative effort with researchers from > multiple institutions with expertise in genomics, phylogenetics, and > morphological analysis. The successful candidate will be given some > degree of flexibility to explore related interests within the overall > scope of the project. The initial appointment is for one year, with the > possibility of a second year given satisfactory progress. Although the > PIs laboratory is in NYC, there will be some flexibility regarding the > location of postdoctoral position. However, the successful candidate > must be able to periodically spend time in NYC to perform laboratory > work and potentially assist in the field throughout the western US. > > Specific duties > > � Assist in the collection of tissue and voucher samples in the field. > > � Maintain databases pertaining to current tissue holdings. > > � Collect and analyze meristic and morphometric data to aid in species > delimitation. > > � Perform standard molecular lab work (e.g. DNA extraction, > quantification, PCR, sample prep for next-generation sequencing). > > � Analyze newly obtained molecular data using recently developed > software. > > � Write manuscripts in collaboration with other researchers involved > with the project. > > � Assist in supervising undergraduate researchers. > > � Present results at national scientific meetings. > > � Meet with PI at least once per week to discuss progress. > > Requirements > > A PhD degree in a relevant discipline is required prior to the official > start date. Candidates should have previous experience with genomics, > phylogenetic analysis, population genomics, bioinformatics, and cluster > computing. Prior programming experience is not required, but would be > beneficial. An interest and background in the biology of reptiles and > amphibians would also be helpful, but is not required. Strong written and > oral communication skills are required. Candidates should be available for > periodic laboratory work. However, many other duties can be done remotely. > > Application > > Interested candidates should submit a single pdf document containing a > cover letter, CV, and research statement to cblair@citytech.cuny.edu. In > addition, please include contact information for three professional > references. Applications will continue to be screened until a suitable > candidate is found. The official start date is somewhat flexible, > but candidates who can begin sooner will be given priority. Informal > inquires can be submitted prior to a formal application. > > Christopher Blair, Ph.D. > Associate Professor > > Department of Biological Sciences > > New York City College of Technology and > > Ecology, Evolution and Behavior PhD Program > > Graduate Center > > The City University of New York > > 285 Jay Street > > Brooklyn, NY 11201 > > CBlair@citytech.cuny.edu; > cblair@gc.cuny.edu > > Website:https://ift.tt/7sZ3FR0 > > Office: Academic Complex 501A; Ph: 718-260-5342 > > Lab: Academic Complex 401 > > Christopher Blair, Ph.D. > Associate Professor > Director,Biomedical Informatics Program > Department of Biological Sciences > New York City College ofTechnology and > Ecology, Evolution and BehaviorPhD Program > Graduate Center > The City University of New York > 285 Jay Street > Brooklyn, NY 11201 > CBlair@citytech.cuny.edu;cblair@gc.cuny.edu > Website:https://ift.tt/7sZ3FR0 > Office: Academic Complex 501A;Ph: 718-260-5342 > Lab: Academic Complex 401 > > > Christopher Blair > via IFTTT

[vicshush]

[Text ID:

Twitter user franz, crab content (@franzanth) writes

"Hello, artist. Nice art you have there. You know what would make it better? Crabs. But crabs are hard to draw, you say. I agree. That's why I teamed up with @jopabinia & @JaviPaleobiovto make this cheat sheet so you too, can #InsertAnInvert into your artwork with confidence."

Instructional art poster titled "How to crab"

To the left of the central image is an introduction : "A visual guide for people who want to draw crabs, but can't figure out which part goes where.

Can't blame you, really. They have too many parts and they're all over the place.

"Crabs" refers to two groups of animals, the true crabs (Brachymura) and false crabs (Anomura).

This guide covers the "typical crab" body shape from both groups.

However, there are many outliers, like the frog crab, a brachyuran, or the hermit crab and mole crab, both are anomurans.

And many others. Many, many others. Really. Crabs are weird."

The central image is a multi-colored, simplified, segmented anatomy drawing of a crab, arms arcing over its head. The main body shows a dividing line down the center with the explanatory text labeling the halves "seen from Above", where the shell hides roughly the first quarter of the legs, and "seen from Below", where all of the small, initial leg segments are fully visible.

Beneath the central image are the citations, "References : - Davie, P. J., Gguinot, D., and Ng, P. K., 2015. Anatomy and functional morphology of brachyura. In Treatise on Zoology-Anatomy, Taxonomy, Biology. The Crustacea. Volume 9 Part C (2 vol.) (pp. 11-163) [artist-added commentary on this work =] Brill. - Wolfe, J. M., Luque, J., and Bracken-Grissom, H. D., 2021. How to become a crab : Phenotypic constraints on a recurring body plan. BioEssays. DOI 10:1002/bies202100020."

To the right of the central image are the credits : "Put together by Franz Anthony, crab drawer for hire ; Dr. Jo Wolfe & Dr. Javier Luque, actual crab scientists (yes, they both have a PhD in crabs). Funding by NSF-DEB #1856679.

Version 1.0 published 2 April 2021

tweet @franzanth for updates

This guide was published as part of the #InsertAnInvert project where we encourage artists to put unsolicited crabs in their artwork. Because everything looks better with inverts in it."

Left sidebar:

"Arm parts. In a crab claw, only one finger is movable. The other, fixed finger is fused to the "palm".

[Pincing range of the claw is illustrated, with the claw closed and opened.]

These segments [two of three chunks that make up the main part of the crab's arm are highlighted in dark blue] function like our arm but without the elbow. The wrist [final chunk of the crab arm is highlighted in dark green] is flexible and helps the crab swing its arm around.

The first segment [a small gray square of a segment] attaches the whole arm to the body. Not visible from above."

Right sidebar:

"Leg parts. The first segment [a small gray square of a segment] attaches the whole leg to the body. Not visible from above.

Three segments [highlighted in red] that don't bend very much. Usually only the big one [the segments are two small squares and a rectangle roughly three times their combined length] is visible from above, like our thigh.

Two segments [highlighted in orange, visible in the central image as angling off the prior leg segment at about a 20-degree angle] that don't bend very much. Think of our lower leg.

The tip of a limb [segment highlighted in yellow] usually pointy."

Two circles below illustrate the bending of the crab's 'knee'.

"All parts of a crab's legs can bend. However, in most" typical-looking" crabs, the joint between the red and orange segments is the only one that can make acute angles like our knees. Disclaimer: there are so many exceptions to this rule, because crustaceans like to make things overly complicated."

Bottom bar:

"Body parts. The carapace or back shell comes in many shapes and forms. It's often spiky to protect the crab from predators. Having a wide, flattened carapace is one of the characteristic features of carcinized crabs. [A variety of crab shell shapes meeting this description are shown in a line.]

The pleon, which looks like a flap, is the same structure as the abdomen or "butt" in insects or shrimps. Having a pleon that's folded under the carapace is one of the characteristic features of carcinized crabs."

Bottom right sidebar:

"True or false?

True Crabs [a crab head, four short silver lines between the eyes] :

Two short pairs of antennae between the eyes.

False Crab [a crab head, two long silver lines framing the eyes, two short silver lines between the eyes] :

A pair of (usually long) antennae outside the eyes, another shorter pair between.

True Crab [four crab legs] :

Four pairs of visible walking legs.

False Crab [three crab legs and a red 'x' where a fourth isn't] :

Three pairs of visible walking legs, the fourth pair is usually tiny and hidden."

Following the art poster are two more replies from the original poster:

"If you decided to put a crab in your artwork, @ us and use the hashtag #InsertAnInvert! We're also committed to making this a month-long learning opportunity, so we'll be tweeting crab art resources throughout April 2021 a.k.a #CrabMonth. Ask us questions if you're stuck!"

"If you feel like drawing crabs, check out Crab Database for inspiration. The site has lots of photos showing all sorts of weird crabs, it's a good site for procrastination [procrastination]. https://crabdatabase.info/en/crabs"

/end text]

[waterfiltershq]

How To Remove Arsenic From Your Drinking Water

Thanks to crime novelists like Agatha Christie, arsenic is a well known as a poison. As the symptoms of arsenic poisoning are similar to the ones in patients with Cholera,  it was often misdiagnosed in former times.

What is Arsenic?

Arsenic is also chemical element and present in groundwater all over the world. Especially in deeper levels. And well owners should be aware of this problem.

Does your tap water contain arsenic?

Very likely.

Although, municipal water suppliers in the U.S. have the legal obligation to remove excessive amounts of arsenic before they deliver it to their customers.

But is that enough?

Recent studies show, that even small amounts consumed over a long period of time do pose a health risk.

How to find out if my water contains arsenic?

Arsenic is tasteless, colorless, and odorless. To find out if, and how much arsenic is in your water, you need to test it.

Or call your water supplier.

Another way would be to take a look at the Environmental Working Group's database.

For those of you who want to test yourself, arsenic water test kits exist.

Is arsenic regulated?

EPA Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL)10 ppb)10 μg/LEWG Health Guideline)0.004 ppb)0.004 μg/LWHO Recommended Limit in drinking-water)10 ppb)10 μg/Lppb = parts per billion

μg/L = Microgram/liter

The higher EPA MCL seems to be a compromise between health risk and economic concerns. If the legal limit were lower, water treatment plants would have to shoulder significantly higher costs.

Arsenic Health Effects - How dangerous is it?

Arsenic has some quite serious effect on your health. Especially when consumed over a long period of time or in higher concentration.

It can cause cancer, harm the brain and your central nervous system, damages skin and increases the risk diabetes. Arsenic is also known to change blood vessels and the heart, leading to a higher risk of heart disease or stroke. Small amounts also may harm your lung.

What are the Symptom of Arsenic Poisoning?

Overexposure to arsenic leads to common symptoms like stomach pain, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting.

Not so common effects are numbness in hand and feet, paralysis and blindness as arsenic effects the nervous system.

Additionally the skin may be discolored and is thickening.

How to remove Arsenic from Drinking Water?

If you are worried about arsenic in your drinking water, home water filters can help.

The caveat is that you first need to find out which type of arsenic hides in your water. The most common types are arsenic III and arsenic V.

Unfortunately, each one requires a different approach to remove it from water.

How to remove Pentavalent Arsenic (also known as Arsenic (As) V or Arsenat)?

Recommended treatment technologies for arsenic V are

Reverse Osmosis (see our list of certified systems) and

Anionic exchange

Reverse osmosis systems are available as under-sink or countertop units. Whole house systems also exist, but they are expensive to maintain.

Anionic exchange systems are typically whole house systems only. You need to add salt regularly or your system may fail and release all arsenic from the raisin at once. Without knowing, you would suddenly have a very high concentration of arsenic in your water.

How to remove Trivalent Arsenic (also known as Arsenic (As) III or Arsenite)?

First the bad news. Trivalent arsenic is very difficult to remove from water. And even water filters certified by NSF to reduce arsenic, usually only reduce arsenic V.

So, what should you do?

A common solution is to add chlorine to the water. It will react with arsenic III and turn it into arsenic V.

This is a feasible solution for well owners, but not if you get your water from a public water supplier.

Why, they usually add chlorine, don‘t they?

Yes, but ...

Many water suppliers use a combined form of chlorine called chloramines. And chloramines are not as effective as pure chlorine. Same is true for chlorine dioxide, UV and monochloramine.

Simply put, chloramines do not turn all arsenic III into arsenic V 3..

Best course of action is to call your water supplier and ask what they use.

Alternative ways to turn As III into As V are the use of permanganate, ozone and manganese-oxide-based solid media. Maybe they use one of these alternatives, so you can use a reverse osmosis system.

A word of caution, the presence of Fe II, Mn II and sulfide and other reductants will reduce or slow down the oxidization of As III into As V.3.

So, what works on trivalent arsenic?

Your best choice are Iron Oxide Filters2.

Public water suppliers use iron oxide filter systems for a long time. Now the same technique is also available in small filters for home use.

[mitchbattros]

World's Largest Digital Sky Survey Issues Biggest Astronomical Data Release Ever

The Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) in Baltimore, Maryland, in conjunction with the University of Hawai'i Institute for Astronomy (IfA), is releasing the second edition of data from Pan-STARRS—the Panoramic Survey Telescope & Rapid Response System—the world's largest digital sky survey. This second release contains over 1.6 petabytes of data (a petabyte is 1015 bytes or one million gigabytes), making it the largest volume of astronomical information ever released. The amount of imaging data is equivalent to two billion selfies, or 30,000 times the total text content of Wikipedia. The catalog data is 15 times the volume of the Library of Congress.

The Pan-STARRS observatory consists of a 1.8-meter telescope equipped with a 1.4-billion-pixel digital camera, located at the summit of Haleakalā, on Maui. Conceived and developed by the IfA, it embarked on a digital survey of the sky in visible and near-infrared light in May 2010. Pan-STARRS was the first survey to observe the entire sky visible from Hawai'i multiple times in many colors of light. One of the survey's goals was to identify moving, transient, and variable objects, including asteroids that could potentially threaten the Earth. The survey took approximately four years to complete, scanning the sky 12 times in five filters. This second data release provides, for the first time, access to all of the individual exposures at each epoch of time. This will allow astronomers and public users of the archive to search the full survey for high-energy explosive events in the cosmos, discover moving objects in our own solar system, and explore the time domain of the universe. Dr. Heather Flewelling, a researcher at the Institute for Astronomy in Hawai'i, and a key designer of the PS1 database, stated that "Pan-STARRS DR2 represents a vast quantity of astronomical data, with many great discoveries already unveiled. These discoveries just barely scratch the surface of what is possible, however, and the astronomy community will now be able to dig deep, mine the data, and find the astronomical treasures within that we have not even begun to imagine." "We put the universe in a box and everyone can take a peek," said database engineer Conrad Holmberg. The four years of data comprise 3 billion separate sources, including stars, galaxies, and various other objects. This research program was undertaken by the PS1 Science Consortium—a collaboration among 10 research institutions in four countries, with support from NASA and the National Science Foundation (NSF). Consortium observations for the sky survey were completed in April 2014. The initial Pan-STARRS public data release occurred in December 2016, but included only the combined data and not the individual exposures at each epoch of time. "The Pan-STARRS1 Survey allows anyone access to millions of images and catalogs containing precision measurements of billions of stars, galaxies, and moving objects," said Dr. Ken Chambers, Director of the Pan-STARRS Observatories. "While searching for Near Earth Objects, Pan-STARRS has made many discoveries from 'Oumuamua passing through our solar system to lonely planets between the stars; it has mapped the dust in three dimensions in our galaxy and found new streams of stars; and it has found new kinds of exploding stars and distant quasars in the early universe. We hope people will discover all kinds of things we missed in this incredibly large and rich dataset." The Space Telescope Science Institute hosts the storage hardware, the computers that handle the database queries, and the user-friendly interfaces to access the data. The survey data resides in the Mikulski Archive for Space Telescopes (MAST), which serves as NASA's repository for all of its optical and ultraviolet-light observations, some of which date to the early 1970s. It includes all of the observational data from such space astrophysics missions as Hubble, Kepler, GALEX, and a wide variety of other telescopes, as well as several all-sky surveys. Pan-STARRS marks the nineteenth mission to be archived in MAST. Read the full article

[dorcasrempel]

MIT-led team to develop software to help forecast space storms

On a moonless night on Aug. 28, 1859, the sky began to bleed. The phenomenon behind the northern lights had gone global: an aurora stretching luminous, rainbow fingers across time zones and continents illuminated the night sky with an undulating backdrop of crimson. From New England to Australia, people stood in the streets looking up with admiration, inspiration, and fear as the night sky shimmered in Technicolor. But the beautiful display came with a cost. The global telegraph system — which at the time was responsible for nearly all long-distance communication — experienced widespread disruption. Some telegraph operators experienced electric shocks while sending and receiving messages; others witnessed sparks flying from cable pylons. Telegraph transmissions were halted for days.  

The aurora and the damage that followed were later attributed to a geomagnetic storm caused by a series of coronal mass ejections (CMEs) that burst from the sun’s surface, raced across the solar system, and barraged our atmosphere with magnetic solar energy, wreaking havoc on the electricity that powered the telegraph system. Although we no longer rely on the global telegraph system to stay connected around the world, experiencing a geomagnetic storm on a similar scale in today’s world would still be catastrophic. Such a storm could cause worldwide blackouts, massive network failures, and widespread damage to the satellites that enable GPS and telecommunication — not to mention the potential threat to human health from increased levels of radiation. Unlike storms on Earth, solar storms’ arrival and intensity can be difficult to predict. Without a better understanding of space weather, we might not even see the next great solar storm coming until it’s too late.

To advance our ability to forecast space weather like we do on weather Earth, Richard Linares, an assistant professor in the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AeroAstro) at MIT, is leading a multidisciplinary team of researchers to develop software that can effectively address this challenge. With better models, we can use historical observational data to better predict the impact of space weather events like CMEs, solar wind, and other space plasma phenomena as they interact with our atmosphere. Under the Space Weather with Quantified Uncertainties (SWQU) program, a partnership between the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) and NASA, the team was awarded a $3 million grant for their proposal “Composable Next Generation Software Framework.”

“By bringing together experts in geospace sciences, uncertainty quantification, software development, management, and sustainability, we hope to develop the next generation of software for space weather modeling and prediction,” says Linares. “Improving space weather predictions is a national need, and we saw a unique opportunity at MIT to combine the expertise we have across campus to solve this problem.”

Linares’ MIT collaborators include Philip Erickson, assistant director at MIT Haystack Observatory and head of Haystack’s atmospheric and geospace sciences group; Jaime Peraire, the H.N. Slater Professor of Aeronautics and Astronautics; Youssef Marzouk, professor of aeronautics and astronautics; Ngoc Cuong Nguyen, a research scientist in AeroAstro; Alan Edelman, professor of applied mathematics; and Christopher Rackauckas, instructor in the Department of Mathematics. External collaborators include Aaron Ridley (University of Michigan) and Boris Kramer (University of California at San Diego). Together, the team will focus on resolving this gap by creating a model-focused composable software framework that allows a wide variety of observation data collected across the world to be ingested into a global model of the ionosphere/thermosphere system. 

“MIT Haystack research programs include a focus on conditions in near-Earth space, and our NSF-sponsored Madrigal online distributed database provides the largest single repository of ground-based community data on space weather and its effects in the atmosphere using worldwide scientific observations. This extensive data includes ionospheric remote sensing information on total electron content (TEC), spanning the globe on a nearly continuous basis and calculated from networks of thousands of individual global navigation satellite system community receivers,” says Erickson. “TEC data, when analyzed jointly with results of next-generation atmosphere and magnetosphere modeling systems, provides a key future innovation that will significantly improve human understanding of critically important space weather effects.”

The project aims to create a powerful, flexible software platform using cutting-edge computational tools to collect and analyze huge sets of observational data that can be easily shared and reproduced among researchers. The platform will also be designed to work even as computer technology rapidly advances and new researchers contribute to the project from new places, using new machines. Using Julia, a high-performance programming language developed by Edelman at MIT, researchers from all over the world will be able to tailor the software for their own purposes to contribute their data without having to rewrite the program from scratch.

“I’m very excited that Julia, already fast becoming the language of scientific machine learning, and a great tool for collaborative software, can play a key role in space weather applications,” says Edelman. 

According to Linares, the composable software framework will serve as a foundation that can be expanded and improved over time, growing both the space weather prediction capabilities and the space weather modeling community itself.

The MIT-led project was one of six projects selected for three-year grant awards under the SWQU program. Motivated by the White House National Space Weather Strategy and Action Plan and the National Strategic Computing Initiative, the goal of the SWQU program is to bring together teams from across scientific disciplines to advance the latest statistical analysis and high-performance computing methods within the field of space weather modeling.

“One key goal of the SWQU program is development of sustainable software with built-in capability to evaluate likelihood and magnitude of electromagnetic geospace disturbances based on sparse observational data,” says Vyacheslav Lukin, NSF program director in the Division of Physics. “We look forward to this multidisciplinary MIT-led team laying the foundations for such development to enable advances that will transform our future space weather forecasting capabilities.”

MIT-led team to develop software to help forecast space storms syndicated from https://osmowaterfilters.blogspot.com/

[kathleenseiber]

First mass extinctions in 13,000 years may be on the way

Reduced resilience of plant biomes in North America could be setting the stage for the kind of mass extinctions not seen since the retreat of glaciers and arrival of humans about 13,000 years ago, a new study shows.

The warning comes from a study of 14,189 fossil pollen samples taken from 358 locations across the continent.

“…landscapes today are once again exhibiting low resilience, foreboding potential extinctions to come.”

The researchers used data from the samples to determine landscape resilience, including how long specific landscapes such as forests and grasslands existed—a factor known as residence time—and how well they rebounded following perturbations such as forest fires—a factor termed recovery.

“Our work indicates that landscapes today are once again exhibiting low resilience, foreboding potential extinctions to come,” the authors write. “Conservation strategies focused on improving both landscape and ecosystem resilience by increasing local connectivity and targeting regions with high richness and diverse landforms can mitigate these extinction risks.”

Plant biomes and mass extinctions

The research is believed to be the first to quantify biome residence and recovery time over an extended period. The researchers studied 12 major plant biomes in North America over the past 20,000 years using pollen data from the Neotoma Paleoecology Database.

“We find that the retreat of North American glaciers destabilized ecosystems, causing large herbivores—including mammoths, horses, and camels—to struggle for food supplies,” says Jenny McGuire, an assistant professor at the School of Biological Sciences and School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences at the Georgia Institute of Technology.

“That destabilization combined with the arrival of humans in North America to land a one-two punch that resulted in the extinction of large terrestrial mammals on the continent.”

The researchers found that landscapes today are experiencing resilience lower than any seen since the end of the Pleistocene megafauna extinctions.

“Today, we see a similarly low landscape resilience, and we see a similar one-two punch: humans are expanding our footprint and climates are changing rapidly,” says Yue Wang, a postdoctoral researcher who led the study. “Though we know that strategies exist to mitigate some of these effects, our findings serve as a dire warning about the vulnerability of natural systems to extinction.”

By studying the mix of plants represented by pollen samples, the researchers found that over the past 20,000 years, forests persisted for longer than grassland habitats—averaging 700 years versus about 360 years, though they also took much longer to reestablish after being perturbed—averaging 360 years versus 260 years.

“These findings were somewhat surprising,” says McGuire. “We had expected biomes to persist much longer, perhaps for thousands of years rather than hundreds.”

The researchers also found that forests and grasslands transition quickly when temperatures are changing fast, and that they recover most rapidly if the ecosystem contains high plant biodiversity. Yet not all biomes recover; the study found that only 64% regain their original biome type through a process that can take up to three centuries. Arctic systems were least likely to recover, the study shows.

Looking at ‘landscape resilience’

Landscape resilience, the ability of habitats to persist or quickly rebound in response to disturbances, has helped maintain terrestrial biodiversity during periods of climatic and environmental changes, the researchers note.

“Identifying the tempo and mode of landscape transitions and the drivers of landscape resilience is critical to maintaining natural systems and preserving biodiversity given today’s rapid climate and land use changes,” the authors write. “However, resilient landscapes are difficult to recognize on short time scales, as perturbations are challenging to quantify and ecosystem transitions are rare.”

Contrary to prevailing ecological theory, the researchers found that pollen richness—indicating diversity of species—did not necessarily correlate with residence time. Ecological theory suggests that biodiversity increases ecosystem resilience by improving “functional redundancy,” allowing a system to maintain stability even if a single or several species are lost. “But species richness does not necessarily reflect functional redundancy, and as a result may not be correlated with ecosystem stability,” the researchers write.

The study used pollen data from five forest types—forest-tundra, conifer/hardwood, boreal forest, deciduous forest, and coastal forest; five shrub/herb biome types—Arctic vegetation, desert, mountain vegetation, prairies, and Mediterranean vegetation; and two no-analog biome types—spruce parkland and mixed parkland.

The Neotoma Paleoecology Database contains fossil pollen and spores that are ubiquitous in lake and mire sediments. Collected through core sampling, the samples represent a wide diversity of plant taxa and cover an extended period of time.

Though the effects of climate change and human environmental impacts don’t bode well for the future of North American plant biomes, there are ways to address it, Wang says.

“We know that strategies exist to mitigate some of these effects, such as prioritizing biodiverse regions that can rebound quickly and increasing the connectivity between natural habitats so that species can move in response to warming.”

The research appears in Global Change Biology.

Support for the work came from the National Science Foundation. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the NSF.

Source: Georgia Tech

The post First mass extinctions in 13,000 years may be on the way appeared first on Futurity.

First mass extinctions in 13,000 years may be on the way published first on https://triviaqaweb.weebly.com/

[lauramalchowblog]

How to Choose the Best Water Filter

Water, water everywhere… and so many ways to mess with it!

You’ve got your bottled water, alkaline water, structured water, deuterium-depleted water. It turns out the water can be pretty darn complicated—and contentious. People have strong opinions about what makes the healthiest, most hydrating water. I’m glad to see folks care so much about what they put in their body, but it can be overwhelming.

Today I’m starting with the basics: filtering your water, why you might want to, and how to choose the best water filter for your household. Let me know in the comments if there are other water-related topics you’d like me to cover in the future.

Instantly access our FREE download: Guide to a Healthy Gut

Why Should You Filter Your Water?

The most basic reason to get a filter is that you don’t enjoy the taste or odor of your tap water. You don’t have to live with whatever funky water comes out of the tap. An inexpensive filter can completely change how your water tastes and smells.

Second, of course, is if you believe your tap water is contaminated. In the U.S., all municipal water is tested annually. Testing doesn’t necessarily guarantee safe water, though. Municipal testing won’t catch all impurities, nor contamination that occurs within your own home (leaching from lead pipes, for example).

The Environmental Protection Agency is responsible for setting water safety standards. Currently the EPA has legal limits on more than 90 potential water contaminants.1 Some areas of the country log more violations than others. 2 3

In an interview last year, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Andrew Wheeler bragged that 92 percent of Americans drink have access to drinking water that meets all EPA standards.4 What about those other 8 percent?

Good Enough Isn’t Good Enough

Even if you’re in that lucky 92 percent, a bigger point for some folks—and for many of my readers, I know—is that they aren’t content with “acceptable” levels of certain chemicals in their water.

“Safe” drinking water can still contain compounds that you don’t want to voluntarily put in your body. These include chemical contaminants like lead and arsenic, and microbes that can cause water-borne illness.

Many people are also concerned about the chemicals added to water in the name of public health. Your tap water almost certainly contains chlorine or chloramine—a chlorine-ammonia compound—which is added in order to sanitize drinking water.5 6 Don’t get me wrong, I’m not complaining. Chemical disinfectants are the reason so many of us now enjoy tap water that doesn’t make us acutely ill. I get why you’d want to remove them before drinking, though, especially folks who are sensitive to chlorine.

Another source of contention is the fluoride that some water districts add to drinking water, purportedly to increase dental health. This is a huge hornet nest I’m not going to step in today. Suffice it to say that lots of people don’t want to ingest fluoridated water.

FYI, the Environmental Working Group offers more stringent drinking water standards you can reference if EPA standards are laxer than you’d like.7

How to Choose a Water Filter: Test Before You Invest

Different water filters offer different benefits. Before handing over your money, do a little bit of research into the water coming out of your tap. This will help you decide which filter technology you need.

First, go online and search for “[my water district] water quality report,” or contact your water provider and ask for a copy of recent consumer confidence reports.8 This will tell you what type of disinfectant your water district adds, as well as if they are in violation of any EPA regulations. You might want to email your local water quality division to ask if they rotate disinfectants throughout the year. The CDC also keeps a database of which water systems add fluoride.9

If you have a private well or cistern, you already know (hopefully!) that the onus is on you to have your water tested annually by a state-certified lab. The CDC recommends testing for pH levels, total coliform bacteria, nitrates, total dissolved solids, as well as any known contaminants in your area.10 11 Your local health department can help determine what tests are advisable. If you collect rainwater, check out the CDC’s safety recommendations.12

Whether or not you have a well, it is wise to have your water tested if you are concerned about the pipes in your home, or if the taste or smell of your water noticeably changes. Make sure you use a certified lab.13

Once you have determined what, specifically, you want to remove from your water, you can select the proper filtration system.

The Differences Between Water Filtration Systems

As I said, all water filters are not created equal. Each technology has pros and cons. I’m going to cover the three most common.

Activated Carbon Filters

Activated carbon filters work by attracting and absorbing particles from water. There are two types of activated carbon filters: activated carbon blocks and granular activated carbon (GAC). They have similar pros and cons, but carbon blocks are generally more effective at removing impurities.

The most important thing to know about carbon filters is that they can vary considerably in terms of what they do and do not filter out of your water. When selecting a specific product, you must verify that it removes the specific contaminants you want.

Pros

Good for removing large particles like silt and for improving the taste and odor of water

Probably effective for removing chlorine and lead (check product claims)

Tend to be affordable

Don’t require power or heat

Does not filter out essential minerals

Cons

Does not filter viruses, minerals, or inorganic pollutants like arsenic and fluoride

Filters may need frequent replacing

Reverse Osmosis

Water is forced through a semi-permeable membrane, which traps contaminants. In home reverse osmosis units, water is generally passed through a carbon filter first to remove large particulate that could clog the membrane.

Pros

Generally considered the best all-around system for removing the greatest number/amount of contaminants

Can remove fluoride, arsenic, and other compounds that activated carbon cannot

Effective for certain pathogens14

Membranes do not require frequent replacement

Cons

Cannot remove chlorine, chloramine, or most volatile organic compounds

Removes most minerals from water

Water storage tanks can grow bacteria if not properly maintained

Produces a lot of wastewater

More expensive up front than carbon filtration systems

That looks like a lot of cons, but the superior filtration ability of reverse osmosis systems will outweigh all those cons for many people. Proponents of reverse osmosis will point out that you can collect wastewater, which is sanitary, and feed it into a graywater system or use it to wash your car. Most reverse osmosis systems simply drain it, though.

Distillers

Work by boiling water, then collecting and condensing the steam. When the water vaporizes, impurities are left behind. The condensed water is largely free from contaminants.

Pros

Effective at removing most impurities and killing bacteria and viruses

Does not require replacement filters

Cons

Cannot remove all pesticides or organic compounds

Very slow compared to other systems (One popular model I looked at took 5.5 hours to make 1 gallon of distilled water!)

Requires electricity (usually)

Removes essential minerals

Many people dislike the taste of distilled water

“Add-Ons”

Depending on your needs, you might include additional steps that aren’t filtration per se, but they do purify your water:

Ultraviolet lamps emit UV rays that kill pathogens in the water.

Activated alumina filters can remove lead and arsenic.

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) can neutralize chloramine.15 You can install vitamin C filters for showerheads, and you can also add 1000 mg of vitamin C (as in, the supplements you’d buy at any health food store) to your bath.16

How to Choose a Water Filter for Your Home

Certification

Water filters may be certified by NSF or the Water Quality Association (WQA).

Filters that have the WQA Gold Seal have been tested for quality assurance and to make sure the claims listed on the packaging are accurate.17 NSF has an extremely rigorous testing process that guarantees the ability of a product to remove specific contaminants.18

Before choosing a specific water filter, you can search the NSF website to see what certifications, if any, it has. If you have a specific contaminant concern, refer to the NSF Contaminant Reduction Claims Guide for compliant products.19

You don’t have to buy a certified product, of course, but do your due diligence. Ask the manufacturer for reports that verify the have conducted certified laboratory testing. Consider having your water tested before and after using the filter to verify that it’s working as intended.

Factors to Take Into Consideration

Your purpose: Are you just trying to improve taste and odor, or are you trying to remove specific substances?

Size: How many people are in your household? How much space do you have available in your kitchen?

Budget: How much can you afford to spend up front?

Types of Systems

Water pitchers are convenient. You can store them on the counter or in the fridge and choose the size you need. Pitchers will naturally have limited capacity but are easily refilled. Most pitchers will use some type of carbon filtration. Before purchasing a pitcher, check the product claims to see what it will remove.

Counter filters may have any of type of filtration. They usually take up considerable space, but ones with large tanks might be ideal for big families.

Under-the-sink filters are great because they don’t take up any room in your fridge or on the counter. These units generally have two or more steps in the filtration process. This lets you select a system that includes the combination of technologies you want. They do require installation.

Faucet filters attach directly to your kitchen faucet and filter the water as it flows through.

Whole-house filters are, as you’d expect, the most expensive option. If you have lead pipes or bacteria in your plumbing, your water can become re-contaminated between the filter and your drinking glass. There’s also the concern that by removing the chlorine as the water enters your home, you increase the chance that bacteria will grow in your home’s pipes.

The advantage of a whole-house system is that it also cleans the water you use to wash and bathe. A more cost-effective option is using both a kitchen water filter and a showerhead water filter. This won’t hit every water source in your house, but it will cover your main exposure. There are also filters you can hang from your bathtub water faucet if you are a bubble bath enthusiast.

The Bottom Line

All these systems “work.” Choosing a water filter comes down to what you need it to do.

The best all-around option is a multi-stage filter that includes an activated carbon filter and reverse osmosis. Some units also have one or more of the add-ons I listed above built in.

The major concern with reverse osmosis, as well as distillation, is that it removes desirable calcium, magnesium, and trace minerals from drinking water. For that reason, some people choose to remineralize their water after filtering. (The WHO wants you to, too.20) Some multi-stage filters include this step at the end. You can also run the filtered water through an alkalizing pitcher. This is too many steps for me. I’d rather just add a few drops of a trace mineral solution to my water.

Whatever system you choose, you must maintain it according to the manufacturer’s specifications. That means changing filters on schedule and disinfecting the system as indicated. Dirty filters and water tanks aren’t effective and can even be a source of contamination. Take care of it.

What about Berkeys?

I know if I don’t mention them, I’ll get a bunch of questions about Berkey water filters. They seem to be the darlings of the ancestral health community. Berkey uses a proprietary filtration system, which makes it hard to compare their systems to other products. They do provide their own laboratory testing results on their website, but they are not NSF certified. This isn’t a dealbreaker; it’s an expensive, arduous process. Still, other companies have opted for it. Furthermore, it’s not hard to find naysayers who raise questions about whether Berkey’s products live up to their claims. I’ll leave it up to you to do your own research here. At this point, I can’t unequivocally recommend them without seeing more data.

What about you? Are you passionate about your water filtration device? Are you perfectly happy to drink water right out of the tap? Let me know.

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References

https://ift.tt/3c5g4dO

https://ift.tt/3b1HsI5

https://ift.tt/3b6vm0n

https://ift.tt/2Fj0Suc

https://ift.tt/2z9e1Xs

https://ift.tt/3dpPIU9

https://ift.tt/2xz2dgC

https://www.epa.gov/ccr

https://ift.tt/1LFeIXU

https://ift.tt/2YISUps

https://ift.tt/2aZC648

https://ift.tt/2Hyd9iF

https://ift.tt/27mzZxu

https://ift.tt/2L8qkWx

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/nep.13119

https://ift.tt/2ynxC6m

https://ift.tt/2SFdCTA

https://ift.tt/2L4l7ze

https://ift.tt/2yxG3Md

https://ift.tt/310hoKg

The post How to Choose the Best Water Filter appeared first on Mark's Daily Apple.

How to Choose the Best Water Filter published first on https://venabeahan.tumblr.com

[jesseneufeld]

How to Choose the Best Water Filter

Water, water everywhere… and so many ways to mess with it!

You’ve got your bottled water, alkaline water, structured water, deuterium-depleted water. It turns out the water can be pretty darn complicated—and contentious. People have strong opinions about what makes the healthiest, most hydrating water. I’m glad to see folks care so much about what they put in their body, but it can be overwhelming.

Today I’m starting with the basics: filtering your water, why you might want to, and how to choose the best water filter for your household. Let me know in the comments if there are other water-related topics you’d like me to cover in the future.

Instantly access our FREE download: Guide to a Healthy Gut

Why Should You Filter Your Water?

The most basic reason to get a filter is that you don’t enjoy the taste or odor of your tap water. You don’t have to live with whatever funky water comes out of the tap. An inexpensive filter can completely change how your water tastes and smells.

Second, of course, is if you believe your tap water is contaminated. In the U.S., all municipal water is tested annually. Testing doesn’t necessarily guarantee safe water, though. Municipal testing won’t catch all impurities, nor contamination that occurs within your own home (leaching from lead pipes, for example).

The Environmental Protection Agency is responsible for setting water safety standards. Currently the EPA has legal limits on more than 90 potential water contaminants.1 Some areas of the country log more violations than others. 2 3

In an interview last year, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Andrew Wheeler bragged that 92 percent of Americans drink have access to drinking water that meets all EPA standards.4 What about those other 8 percent?

Good Enough Isn’t Good Enough

Even if you’re in that lucky 92 percent, a bigger point for some folks—and for many of my readers, I know—is that they aren’t content with “acceptable” levels of certain chemicals in their water.

“Safe” drinking water can still contain compounds that you don’t want to voluntarily put in your body. These include chemical contaminants like lead and arsenic, and microbes that can cause water-borne illness.

Many people are also concerned about the chemicals added to water in the name of public health. Your tap water almost certainly contains chlorine or chloramine—a chlorine-ammonia compound—which is added in order to sanitize drinking water.5 6 Don’t get me wrong, I’m not complaining. Chemical disinfectants are the reason so many of us now enjoy tap water that doesn’t make us acutely ill. I get why you’d want to remove them before drinking, though, especially folks who are sensitive to chlorine.

Another source of contention is the fluoride that some water districts add to drinking water, purportedly to increase dental health. This is a huge hornet nest I’m not going to step in today. Suffice it to say that lots of people don’t want to ingest fluoridated water.

FYI, the Environmental Working Group offers more stringent drinking water standards you can reference if EPA standards are laxer than you’d like.7

How to Choose a Water Filter: Test Before You Invest

Different water filters offer different benefits. Before handing over your money, do a little bit of research into the water coming out of your tap. This will help you decide which filter technology you need.

First, go online and search for “[my water district] water quality report,” or contact your water provider and ask for a copy of recent consumer confidence reports.8 This will tell you what type of disinfectant your water district adds, as well as if they are in violation of any EPA regulations. You might want to email your local water quality division to ask if they rotate disinfectants throughout the year. The CDC also keeps a database of which water systems add fluoride.9

If you have a private well or cistern, you already know (hopefully!) that the onus is on you to have your water tested annually by a state-certified lab. The CDC recommends testing for pH levels, total coliform bacteria, nitrates, total dissolved solids, as well as any known contaminants in your area.10 11 Your local health department can help determine what tests are advisable. If you collect rainwater, check out the CDC’s safety recommendations.12

Whether or not you have a well, it is wise to have your water tested if you are concerned about the pipes in your home, or if the taste or smell of your water noticeably changes. Make sure you use a certified lab.13

Once you have determined what, specifically, you want to remove from your water, you can select the proper filtration system.

The Differences Between Water Filtration Systems

As I said, all water filters are not created equal. Each technology has pros and cons. I’m going to cover the three most common.

Activated Carbon Filters

Activated carbon filters work by attracting and absorbing particles from water. There are two types of activated carbon filters: activated carbon blocks and granular activated carbon (GAC). They have similar pros and cons, but carbon blocks are generally more effective at removing impurities.

The most important thing to know about carbon filters is that they can vary considerably in terms of what they do and do not filter out of your water. When selecting a specific product, you must verify that it removes the specific contaminants you want.

Pros

Good for removing large particles like silt and for improving the taste and odor of water

Probably effective for removing chlorine and lead (check product claims)

Tend to be affordable

Don’t require power or heat

Does not filter out essential minerals

Cons

Does not filter viruses, minerals, or inorganic pollutants like arsenic and fluoride

Filters may need frequent replacing

Reverse Osmosis

Water is forced through a semi-permeable membrane, which traps contaminants. In home reverse osmosis units, water is generally passed through a carbon filter first to remove large particulate that could clog the membrane.

Pros

Generally considered the best all-around system for removing the greatest number/amount of contaminants

Can remove fluoride, arsenic, and other compounds that activated carbon cannot

Effective for certain pathogens14

Membranes do not require frequent replacement

Cons

Cannot remove chlorine, chloramine, or most volatile organic compounds

Removes most minerals from water

Water storage tanks can grow bacteria if not properly maintained

Produces a lot of wastewater

More expensive up front than carbon filtration systems

That looks like a lot of cons, but the superior filtration ability of reverse osmosis systems will outweigh all those cons for many people. Proponents of reverse osmosis will point out that you can collect wastewater, which is sanitary, and feed it into a graywater system or use it to wash your car. Most reverse osmosis systems simply drain it, though.

Distillers

Work by boiling water, then collecting and condensing the steam. When the water vaporizes, impurities are left behind. The condensed water is largely free from contaminants.

Pros

Effective at removing most impurities and killing bacteria and viruses

Does not require replacement filters

Cons

Cannot remove all pesticides or organic compounds

Very slow compared to other systems (One popular model I looked at took 5.5 hours to make 1 gallon of distilled water!)

Requires electricity (usually)

Removes essential minerals

Many people dislike the taste of distilled water

“Add-Ons”

Depending on your needs, you might include additional steps that aren’t filtration per se, but they do purify your water:

Ultraviolet lamps emit UV rays that kill pathogens in the water.

Activated alumina filters can remove lead and arsenic.

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) can neutralize chloramine.15 You can install vitamin C filters for showerheads, and you can also add 1000 mg of vitamin C (as in, the supplements you’d buy at any health food store) to your bath.16

How to Choose a Water Filter for Your Home

Certification

Water filters may be certified by NSF or the Water Quality Association (WQA).

Filters that have the WQA Gold Seal have been tested for quality assurance and to make sure the claims listed on the packaging are accurate.17 NSF has an extremely rigorous testing process that guarantees the ability of a product to remove specific contaminants.18

Before choosing a specific water filter, you can search the NSF website to see what certifications, if any, it has. If you have a specific contaminant concern, refer to the NSF Contaminant Reduction Claims Guide for compliant products.19

You don’t have to buy a certified product, of course, but do your due diligence. Ask the manufacturer for reports that verify the have conducted certified laboratory testing. Consider having your water tested before and after using the filter to verify that it’s working as intended.

Factors to Take Into Consideration

Your purpose: Are you just trying to improve taste and odor, or are you trying to remove specific substances?

Size: How many people are in your household? How much space do you have available in your kitchen?

Budget: How much can you afford to spend up front?

Types of Systems

Water pitchers are convenient. You can store them on the counter or in the fridge and choose the size you need. Pitchers will naturally have limited capacity but are easily refilled. Most pitchers will use some type of carbon filtration. Before purchasing a pitcher, check the product claims to see what it will remove.

Counter filters may have any of type of filtration. They usually take up considerable space, but ones with large tanks might be ideal for big families.

Under-the-sink filters are great because they don’t take up any room in your fridge or on the counter. These units generally have two or more steps in the filtration process. This lets you select a system that includes the combination of technologies you want. They do require installation.

Faucet filters attach directly to your kitchen faucet and filter the water as it flows through.

Whole-house filters are, as you’d expect, the most expensive option. If you have lead pipes or bacteria in your plumbing, your water can become re-contaminated between the filter and your drinking glass. There’s also the concern that by removing the chlorine as the water enters your home, you increase the chance that bacteria will grow in your home’s pipes.

The advantage of a whole-house system is that it also cleans the water you use to wash and bathe. A more cost-effective option is using both a kitchen water filter and a showerhead water filter. This won’t hit every water source in your house, but it will cover your main exposure. There are also filters you can hang from your bathtub water faucet if you are a bubble bath enthusiast.

The Bottom Line

All these systems “work.” Choosing a water filter comes down to what you need it to do.

The best all-around option is a multi-stage filter that includes an activated carbon filter and reverse osmosis. Some units also have one or more of the add-ons I listed above built in.

The major concern with reverse osmosis, as well as distillation, is that it removes desirable calcium, magnesium, and trace minerals from drinking water. For that reason, some people choose to remineralize their water after filtering. (The WHO wants you to, too.20) Some multi-stage filters include this step at the end. You can also run the filtered water through an alkalizing pitcher. This is too many steps for me. I’d rather just add a few drops of a trace mineral solution to my water.

Whatever system you choose, you must maintain it according to the manufacturer’s specifications. That means changing filters on schedule and disinfecting the system as indicated. Dirty filters and water tanks aren’t effective and can even be a source of contamination. Take care of it.

What about Berkeys?

I know if I don’t mention them, I’ll get a bunch of questions about Berkey water filters. They seem to be the darlings of the ancestral health community. Berkey uses a proprietary filtration system, which makes it hard to compare their systems to other products. They do provide their own laboratory testing results on their website, but they are not NSF certified. This isn’t a dealbreaker; it’s an expensive, arduous process. Still, other companies have opted for it. Furthermore, it’s not hard to find naysayers who raise questions about whether Berkey’s products live up to their claims. I’ll leave it up to you to do your own research here. At this point, I can’t unequivocally recommend them without seeing more data.

What about you? Are you passionate about your water filtration device? Are you perfectly happy to drink water right out of the tap? Let me know.

(function($) { $("#dfLBPHV").load("https://www.marksdailyapple.com/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php?action=dfads_ajax_load_ads&groups=674&limit=1&orderby=random&order=ASC&container_id=&container_html=none&container_class=&ad_html=div&ad_class=&callback_function=&return_javascript=0&_block_id=dfLBPHV" ); })( jQuery );

References

https://ift.tt/3c5g4dO

https://ift.tt/3b1HsI5

https://ift.tt/3b6vm0n

https://ift.tt/2Fj0Suc

https://ift.tt/2z9e1Xs

https://ift.tt/3dpPIU9

https://ift.tt/2xz2dgC

https://www.epa.gov/ccr

https://ift.tt/1LFeIXU

https://ift.tt/2YISUps

https://ift.tt/2aZC648

https://ift.tt/2Hyd9iF

https://ift.tt/27mzZxu

https://ift.tt/2L8qkWx

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/nep.13119

https://ift.tt/2ynxC6m

https://ift.tt/2SFdCTA

https://ift.tt/2L4l7ze

https://ift.tt/2yxG3Md

https://ift.tt/310hoKg

The post How to Choose the Best Water Filter appeared first on Mark's Daily Apple.

How to Choose the Best Water Filter published first on https://drugaddictionsrehab.tumblr.com/

[evoldir]

Fwd: Graduate position: UWyoming.EvolutionaryEcol

Begin forwarded message: > From: evoldir@web.rhpcs.mcmaster.ca > Subject: Graduate position: UWyoming.EvolutionaryEcol > Date: 13 December 2021 at 05:42:46 GMT > To: rdmpage@gmail.com > > > PhD position intergrating evolutionary biology and ecological > stoichiometry > > The Wagner Lab (cewagnerlab.com) at the University of Wyoming is > recruiting a PhD student to work on integrating ideas in evolutionary > biology and ecological stoichiometry as part of the NSF-funded grant, > Stoichiometric Traits of Organisms In their Chemical Habitats (STOICH) > project (https://ift.tt/2ZSI17f). Specifically, the student will > work on topics related to the evolution and assembly of stoichiometric > traits in animal communities. We will use community datasets combined > with information about environmental and organismal stoichiometry and > phylogenetic data to better understand 1) how stoichometric traits > evolve and 2) the influence of stoichiometric traits on community > assembly processes. The student will work within the context of our > large, multi-institutional project integrating data on aquatic ecological > stoichiometric data in the STOICH database, and will be part of a diverse, > multidisciplinary team. There is considerable room for motivated students > to shape research directions based upon individual interests within > this research context. The student will work on diverse taxa, including > macroinvertebrates and fishes, with opportunity to connect with several > study systems that are the focus of work in the Wagner Lab and labs of > STOICH project collaborators. > > The Wagner Lab is committed to diversity and inclusion and particularly > welcomes applications from historically underrepresented individuals. The > University of Wyoming has strong research programs in ecology and > evolutionary biology across multiple departments, including Botany, > Zoology and Physiology, Ecosystem Science and Management, Plant > Sciences. The student will join UW's Program in Ecology and Evolution, > an interdepartmental PhD program (https://ift.tt/3rYYoex). The > university is located in Laramie, a community in southeastern Wyoming > that is nestled between the Laramie and Snowy Mountain ranges, which > offer ample opportunity for skiing, climbing, hiking, and mountain > biking. Laramie has a relatively low cost of living, is close to field > sites across a wide variety of vegetation types from mixed grass prairie > to alpine tundra, rivers and lakes, and is within easy driving distance > of Colorado's Front Range corridor (Fort Collins, Boulder, and Denver). > > To express interest in the position, please email Dr. Catherine > ("Katie") Wagner (catherine.wagner@uwyo.edu) with the subject line > "STOICH PhD Position" and include a CV and a brief cover letter > describing your research background and motivation for interest in > working on this project. Inquiries are welcome until the position is > filled, but applicants are encouraged to write to express interest in > the position before the end of December 2021. > > > "Catherine E. Wagner" > via IFTTT

[usjobsfinder]

Office Assistant - WVU Research Office - Morgan Hill, USA

The WVU Research Office is seeking applications for an Office Assistant. This position is responsible for providing efficient, professional, and friendly service to all customers; as well as, handling the clerical responsibilities for the WVU Research Office.

In order to be successful in this position, the ideal candidate will:

Greet and screen all visitors, helping as needed, alert office staff of visitors, and at the request of the office staff, direct visitors to their destination. In the event of building security issues, notify WVU DPS and building supervisor.

Answer multiple telephone lines for the Office of Sponsored Program and the main line for the Research Office; directing all calls to the proper individual and messages as required via e-mail, voice mail or in writing to appropriate staff member s. Respond to routine inquiries and provide general information using OSP and Research Office web site as a primary source.

Maintain and distribute parking permits for visitors to 886 Chestnut Ridge Road Building.

Receive all in-coming mail from the University Mail Services and Health Sciences Courier, sort and distribute mail for all occupants within 886 Chestnut Ridge. Sign for special mailings and packages (i.e. UPS, Fed Ex. Etc.).

Assist with multiple departmental bulk mailings preparations which may include copying and collating of materials as needed.

Assist with typing of labels and other preparation of file folders, binders, etc. for documentsand/or event/ meeting preparation upon request by using a personal computer andtypewriter.

Maintain Conference Room Schedule for GO1.

Responsible for CITI training verification and follow-up regarding university-wide research activities requiring CITI training to include checking all research protocols during the approval stages and following through and tracking to ensure compliance with training requirements. May include all areas of WVU research compliance. Requires the use of database systems and spreadsheets on a regular basis.

Access Research Administration Software to build knowledge and assist clients as necessary.

Update Lobby Directory and add new staff members to the email list.

Other duties as assigned by Supervisor.

Pay Grade: 7

Qualifications

High School Diploma or GED or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Six (6) months of experience working in a professional office environment with administrative and computer experience, and the ability to interact in a professional manner with the general public.

Ability to communicate routine information in English.

Ability to take complete messages from visitors and telephone callers.

Demonstrated analytical and problem solving skills.

Ability to develop and maintain rapport with others in person and over the phone.

Demonstrated effective verbal and listening communication skills

Knowledge of appropriate office procedures and operations.

Ability to understand and communicate simple policies and procedures to others.

Ability to maintain security by following procedures.

Requirements

Accuracy is needed, hand-eye coordination for the operation of computers, printers and general office equipment. Work requires skill and accuracy involving rapid motions and closely coordinated performance on or with office equipment.

About WVU

At West Virginia University, we pride ourselves on a tireless endeavor for achievement. We are home to some of the most passionate, innovative minds in the country who push their limits for the sake of progress, constantly moving the world forward. Our students, faculty and staff make this institution one of the best out there, and we are proud to stand as one voice, one university, one WVU. Find out more about your opportunities as a Mountaineer at https://talentandculture.wvu.edu/

West Virginia University is proud to be an Equal Opportunity employer, and is the recipient of an NSF ADVANCE award for gender equity. The University values diversity among its faculty, staff, and students, and invites applications from all qualified applicants regardless of race, ethnicity, color, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, nationality, genetics, disability, or Veteran status.

Job Posting: Mar 4, 2020

Posting Classification: Classified

Exemption Status: Non-Exempt

Benefits Eligible: Yes

Schedule: Full-time

source https://usjobsfinder.com/en/office-assistant-wvu-research-office/1191

[donovanscott-001-blog]

EML to NSF Converter Flawlessly Imports EML Files to Lotus Notes

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