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liliannorman · 5 years

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New success in treating allergies to peanuts and other foods

Ten years ago at a kindergarten party, Isaac Judy took a bite of a peanut-butter cookie. It tasted weird to him, so he spit it out. Hives soon appeared on his face. His lips also began to swell. When his dad came to pick him up, Isaac was coughing and wheezing. Riding in the car to the other side of St. Louis, Mo., where they lived, Isaac fell asleep — or so it seemed.

When Isaac’s mother saw what was happening, she suspected something more serious. “He hadn’t fallen asleep. He lost consciousness,” Jaelithe Judy explains. After a trip to the emergency room, her five-year-old recovered. But doctors confirmed her hunch: Isaac has a peanut allergy.

Just a few generations ago, hardly anyone talked about food allergies. But over the past two decades, childhood food allergies in the United States have more than doubled. A little more than a year ago, a study in Pediatrics reported that 7.6 percent of U.S. kids under age 18 have food allergies. That’s almost 8 million youth — about two students per classroom. And it’s much more than a childhood issue. Surprisingly, a study last year in JAMA Network Open found that nearly 11 percent of adults have food allergies, too. More than one in every four of them said they had not been allergic to foods as children.

There has been a sharp increase in the share of U.S. children with food allergies in the past two decades.Data from R.S. Gupta et al/2018 and the CDC

These days nearly everyone has “come across a family member or person who has been touched by food allergies, or has one themselves,” says Tamara Hubbard. She works in the suburbs of Chicago, Ill., as a licensed counselor. Hubbard and a growing number of counselors are helping families through the stress of managing food allergies.

For years, doctors have told families there’s nothing they can do but avoid the trigger food — or inject a fast-acting medication called epinephrine (Ep-ih-NEF-rinn) to stop a severe reaction. But researchers are learning more about why some people overreact to certain foods. And new treatments are emerging. Late last month, the first treatment for peanut allergy earned approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Another could do so within a year or so. Scientists also are continuing to develop and test other ways to treat food allergies.

Immunity run amok

Allergic reactions occur when the immune system overreacts. Normally immune cells help fight bacteria, viruses and other pathogens. Yet some people’s immune systems also react to harmless stuff like pollen or mold — or peanuts, milk or other foods.

Such run-ins trigger a release of histamine (HIS-tuh-meen) and other chemicals. These molecules “get the ball rolling for an allergic reaction,” explains Tina Sindher. She works as an allergist at Stanford University School of Medicine in Palo Alto, Calif.

During an allergic reaction, someone may get itchy and develop hives. If the reaction worsens, the person might cough, wheeze and suffer a whole-body reaction known as anaphylaxis (An-uh-fuh-LAX-iss). That’s what happened to Isaac — and to Shea Tritt’s son, Gaines, in Abingdon, Va.

Gaines’ peanut allergy surfaced in the fall of 2012. At the time, he was a baby and his diagnosis put the whole family on edge. For the next few years “he never trick-or-treated. He never went to a birthday party. I was scared to put him in preschool,” says Tritt. “My husband and I had a lot of stress because he could tell I wasn’t letting Gaines do normal things. So we would argue.”

Even Gaines’ older sister got nervous. If she went to a party, she worried about bringing back traces of peanut-containing treats that might sicken her brother, Tritt recalls. Living in such constant vigilance can be emotionally draining for families with food allergies.

Anxious and desperate, Tritt wondered if her son would outgrow his allergies, and how she could ever find out. “I became obsessed with information — anything I could do to get us out of this situation,” she says.

When a kiss can make you sick

Silly greeting cards often depict a kiss on the cheek of a cartoon figure as a big red imprint of lips. For people with a serious food allergy, real kisses sometimes leave the same mark. But it’s not funny. That red wheal signals an allergic hypersensitivity to food residues on the smoocher’s mouth.

One renowned study at the University of California, Davis School of Medicine surveyed 379 people with especially severe allergies to peanuts, tree nuts or seeds. Twenty had experienced hives or other symptoms after a kiss. In all but one case, the kisser had eaten nuts up to 6 hours earlier; at least four had first brushed their teeth.

Most reactions proved mild. But five people developed wheezing or flushing with light-headedness — potentially dangerous signs. And one three-year old was rushed to the hospital to treat respiratory distress after his mother pecked him on the cheek. — Janet Raloff

One day, Tritt saw a TV interview with David Stukus. He’s an allergist at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. Stukus saw that many patients with food allergy are fearful. They often are confused because they’re not getting the facts they need. So Stukus opened a Twitter account to spread evidence-based information. Tritt took note.

Looking at her son’s blood-test results, year after year, Tritt suspected his immune response to peanuts was lessening. However, blood tests cannot give a clear “yes” or “no.” These tests detect specialized immune proteins. They are called IgE antibodies. These molecules trigger allergic reactions. But IgE levels only indicate that someone is sensitive to a certain food. They cannot predict whether that person will react if they eat it. Proving Gaines had outgrown his peanut allergy would require an oral food challenge. And that would require that the patient eat increasing amounts of the food while a doctor watches for allergic reactions.

Trouble is, Tritt could not find a local allergist to perform the food challenge. This procedure needs extra time and staff. It also runs a risk of triggering anaphylaxis. So, many clinics won’t offer it unless a patient’s blood results are low — low enough to suggest they would tolerate the food. Gaines’ numbers had steadily dropped over the years but were still a tad too high.

Peanuts: Becoming bite-proof

For about half of people with peanut allergies, “a bite or two of the wrong food typically contains enough peanut protein to trigger a reaction,” notes Brian Vickery. He is a pediatric allergist at Emory University in Atlanta, Ga. For these people, he says, 100 milligrams (0.004 ounce) of peanut protein, or about one-third of a peanut kernel, can set off such a reaction.

Vickery used to work at Aimmune Therapeutics. This California company is developing a treatment for peanut allergy. It is called oral immunotherapy, or OIT for short. The procedure involves each day eating a wee bit of peanut protein — pre-measured into capsules. The capsule dose goes up every few weeks over a period of months. If the treatment works, it can raise the immune system’s threshold for the food. That means it would take more of the food to trigger an allergic reaction. In other words, it’s possible for the person to become “bite-proof.”

Aimmune tested its capsules — or a dummy version called a placebo — in 551 children and teens with peanut allergies. The starting dose was half a milligram (0.00002 ounce) of peanut protein. (One peanut contains 600 times that much.) Over a six-month period, the daily dose went up to 300 milligrams (0.01 ounce), or about one peanut’s worth. And each day for six more months, participants had to continue eating that much.

During the study, many participants experienced allergic reactions to the peanut pills. Forty-five quit because of these unpleasant symptoms. But among those who finished the study, two-thirds of the treated group became bite-proof. After about a year, they could safely eat roughly two peanuts. “They’re still careful about avoiding peanuts,” says Vickery. “But it provides that additional margin of safety.”

Those results appeared in the November 2018 New England Journal of Medicine.

Based on these and other findings, the FDA approved those peanut capsules on January 31.

Similar work underway

Over the past decade and prior to the FDA approval, a small number of allergists had already started offering OIT using store-bought foods. Tritt found one such clinic several hours away. However, that clinic was not willing to give her son a peanut challenge to confirm whether he still was allergic.

Tritt didn’t want to sign her son up for a long, costly treatment if he might in fact be outgrowing his allergy. But they couldn’t know for sure without the gold-standard test, that oral food challenge.

Blood tests can indicate if someone has specialized proteins that sensitize their immune system to a given food. However, these tests cannot predict if someone will actually develop an allergic reaction to that food.jarun011/iStock/Getty Images Plus

She discussed her dilemma with Stukus on Twitter. Reviewing Gaines’ blood-test results, Stukus agreed to conduct the food challenge. Just before Gaines started kindergarten, his family travelled from Virginia to the doctor’s clinic in Ohio. It was a nine-hour drive.

Gaines started the challenge with a “small, laughable amount” of peanut butter, Tritt recalls. Fifteen minutes later, he ate a bit more. Then some more. Over several hours he chomped a dozen Reese’s peanut butter cups. And he never reacted.

The test proved Gaines had outgrown his allergy. That makes him one of the lucky few. Many children outgrow some food allergies by the time they enter school. But eight out of every 10 kids with allergies to peanuts or tree nuts will remain allergic.

Freedom and failure

Gian Lagemann, a high school senior in Saratoga, Calif., is allergic to 11 kinds of nuts, including peanuts (which actually is not a nut; it’s a legume). When he started kindergarten, his mother brought “no nuts allowed” signs to the classroom. She asked other parents to tell her whenever they brought in food — so she could make sure it was safe for Gian. Every day Gian ate his lunch at a designated peanut-free table.

Several years ago, Gian’s mom told her son about a peanut OIT trial. The study was starting nearby at Stanford University. “For most of my life, I haven’t been able to eat things where the ingredient labels say ‘may contain peanuts’ or ‘processed in a facility with peanuts,’” Gian says. “Once she explained that [after the trial] I’d be able to eat those foods, I was pretty happy. I was sold.”

Thanks to an experimental peanut-allergy treatment called oral immunotherapy, high-school student Gian Lagemann can now dig into M&Ms. It’s something he previously had to avoid because its label notes that it “may contain peanuts.”Luci Lagemann

At the start of the trial, his family bought a bag of peanut flour. For about six months, Gian took his dose each day after dinner. He doesn’t like the taste of peanuts. So he often mixed his dose into a spoonful of chocolate ice cream. The dose started at 1.3 milligrams of peanut protein (about 1/200th the amount in a peanut). Over the six-month trial it went up to 240 milligrams (0.008 ounce, or a little less than one peanut’s worth).

More broadly, some 8,000 U.S. patients have tried such an oral therapy. Typically, about one in five will withdraw because of side effects or anxiety. Completing such a trial takes focus and discipline — like playing sports. But, Gian recalls, “They told us with every dose we took, our body was just going to get stronger.”

Participants also learned to expect some allergic reactions. “If you’re going to build your immune muscle against a food allergy, you know you’re going to have a little ‘ache’ during the process,” says Kari Nadeau. This Stanford allergist was a leader of the trial.

Gian felt a few such responses during the study. “My throat would feel a little tight for 15 minutes,” he says. “But after that, it was fine.” So he persevered. And it paid off. When the trial ended, he could eat a full peanut without having an allergic reaction. That means Gian now can safely eat candy with labels warning they’re made in facilities that process nuts. “I was able to try Kit Kats for the first time, and Milky Ways,” Gian says.

Two years ago, Isaac also tried this oral peanut therapy. At the time, he was 13. But his experiences were quite different. During the treatment he suffered sinus and gastrointestinal troubles. He also had an anaphylactic reaction. Six months in, Isaac dropped out. He quit because he had developed an immune condition called eosinophilic esophagitis (Ee-oh-sin-oh-FILL-ick Ee-SOF-uh-JY-tis). The oral therapy triggers it in a small share of people.

And there’s something else to keep in mind: People could lose their desensitization to peanut once they end the oral therapy. That finding was confirmed in a 2019 study by Nadeau’s team. For many people, effective treatment might have to continue long-term.

Other treatments

Some people have taken part in research trials testing a different treatment for peanut allergy — a skin patch. Instead of eating bits of peanut by mouth, patients every day stick a coin-sized disc onto their back or upper arm. Each disc contains a quarter-milligram of peanut protein. That’s about a thousandth as much as what’s in a peanut. (By comparison, Aimmune’s capsules start with twice that much. Over months, patients then take doses that increase to 1, 10, 20, 100 and 300 milligrams.) From the patch, peanut proteins seep through the skin but do not enter the blood. Peanut patches are therefore less likely to cause anaphylaxis than is the oral therapy.

DBV Technologies in France makes the patch. This company conducted a year-long trial of its product in 356 children with peanut allergies. Nine in every 10 participants finished the trial. The most common side effect was a skin rash at the patch site. However, this trial didn’t work as well as the company had hoped. By the end of the study, only a little more than one in every three patients treated could safely eat the “exit dose” of one to three peanuts. The study leaders reported their findings in the March 12, 2019 Journal of the American Medical Association.

Still, the patch has worked wonders for some. In 2012, Sharon Wong was desperate. Her son’s allergies to peanuts and tree nuts had intensified to an alarming degree. Once during a shopping trip, he went into a coughing fit while walking past a batch of freshly baked walnut cookies. At a restaurant buffet, he started vomiting after merely looking at a steamy tray of pesto pasta. (Pesto is made with pine nuts.)

“It was really awful,” recalls Wong. “We cannot control the air he breathes. But we didn’t want to keep him confined at home. We wanted him to be able to go shopping, to go down the street, to go to friends’ homes and not stress about his allergies.”

That year she enrolled her son, then nine years old, in an earlier-stage peanut patch trial in the San Francisco Bay area of California. At first, it took just 1/240th of a peanut to trigger an allergic reaction. After two years on the patch, he could tolerate about six peanuts.

Egg is one of the most common food allergies in children. Research shows that more than two-thirds of kids will outgrow their egg allergy by age 16.denizya/iStock/Getty Images Plus

“We feel more comfortable about traveling longer distances and dining in restaurants with precautions in place,” Wong wrote in a blog about the patch trial. “Each mini-success gives us confidence and improves our quality of life. My son is happier and healthier.”

In August, the FDA plans to review data on the peanut patch and recommend if it should be approved. DBV Technologies is also researching and developing patches to treat milk and egg allergies. And as for oral therapies, Aimmune recently started a new trial for its egg-allergy treatment. The company is also developing an oral therapy for walnut allergy.

Scientists are studying other related approaches, too. One is an immune therapy that uses liquid droplets containing allergens. These are placed under the tongue rather than swallowed directly. Edwin Kim, an allergist at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine, in Chapel Hill, led one study of children treated for three to five years with this sublingual therapy. All had peanut allergies. Of the 37 kids who completed the study, two in every three could now consume 750 milligrams (0.03 ounce) or more of the peanut allergen. Kim, whose center has helped conduct studies for DBV and Aimmune (among other companies), reported the findings last November in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.

Additional experimental treatments block other parts of the immune response to allergens. Some act together with oral therapy, allowing fewer allergic reactions during therapy. Others supply helpful gut microbes that seem to guard against food allergies. And one company is developing a toothpaste to treat peanut allergy.

In the end, each family must decide whether to seek an emerging treatment or stick with just avoiding exposure to the sensitizing foods. Treatments require diligence. They’re not yet widely available. And they don’t always work. But if the allergy is unbearable, trying a new treatment might prove worth the time and risk. Clearly, concludes Stukus, the Ohio doctor, “food-allergy management is not one-size-fits-all.”

New success in treating allergies to peanuts and other foods published first on https://triviaqaweb.tumblr.com/

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shopperchecked-blog · 6 years

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Tired of Yelp? 10 Alternative Business Review Websites( Full Reviews)

The biggest online review website name is probably Yelp, but there are plenty of other reputable review websites that could prove even more useful for niche projects. Here are 10 review websites that are worth checking out when you're in need of honest feedback about a business you're considering hiring.

1. Business.com:

Business.com, their sister site(Yelp), offers customer feedback and reviews of products and services that business owners are looking for. This expert reviews not only help illuminate the decision-making process, but they come alongside a sprawling community of experts and business owners looking to offer advice, ask questions, and collaborate with one another. Business.com serves as a melting pot for ideas and discussion, all while allowing experts to contribute their own original content on the topics they know most about.

2. Angie's List:

Angie’s List is a service listing and review site that offers user-based rankings and reviews of service professionals in local areas. Angie Hicks launched the company in 1995 after a friend moved to Columbus, Ohio, and had a difficult time finding reliable contractors. It has over 1 million members, who post about 40,000 reports each month, generally seem satisfied. The Better Business Bureau gives Angie’s List an A+ overall ranking.

3. Foursquare:

Foursquare is a technology company that uses location intelligence to build meaningful consumer experiences and business solutions. Foursquare, "check in" every time you visit a business or attraction in the place you live or where you are visiting. When you tap "Check In," the app will pull up a list of nearby places. Foursquare to find local attractions if you are undecided about where you want to shop, eat or explore.

Foursquare have approx more than 50 million people use Foursquare City Guide and Foursquare Swarm each month, across desktop, mobile web, and mobile apps. We recently surpassed more than 12 billion check-ins, and our record high is over 9 million check-ins in a single day on Swarm.

4. ShopperChecked:

ShopperCheceked is one of The most powerful review platforms, free and open to all, whether it be Local business or Small Companies or Users looking to share their experience. Their mission is to bring people and companies together to create ever-improving experiences for everyone.

As of now, Shopperchecked.com is one of the fastest growing review websites.

Why Shopperchecked is different from typical website review sites?

It is because:

1. Unbuyers Reviews with Real users.

2. Easy to use UI.

3. Easily Collect Reviews (For Business)

5. HomeAdvisor:

HomeAdvisor provides homeowners the tools and resources they need to complete their home improvement, maintenance and repair projects. With HomeAdvisor, homeowners can view average project costs, find local prescreened home professionals and instantly book appointments online. HomeAdvisor has grown tremendously and has helped more than 45 million homeowners tackle home projects.

6. OpenTable:

OpenTable also has apps and says reservations via mobile have been increasing, and are bringing in more business for its partner restaurants. OpenTable Founded Since 1998 we’ve been committed to empowering that experience.

The company says more than 7,000,000 people have made reservations through their mobile apps. OpenTable finds restaurants for more than 26 million diners each month. Every month, OpenTable diners write more than 1 million restaurant reviews.

7. PlanetRate:

PlanetRate Inc. is a new start-up based on a revolutionary and transformative platform for ratings and reviews. It allows people to provide feedback on specific topics and helps businesses to understand their customers. The platform is currently translated in French, English and Romanian languages and is a portal to more than 2.7 million cities in over 250 countries.

PlanetRate is currently looking to add a talented Content Writer to work closely with our marketing team, keeping the brand and the tone consistent and aligned.

PlanetRate young and ambitious team of developers that came together to make a social impact on people's lives and help businesses improve their products and services.

8. VendOp:

VendOp, LLC operates a business-to-business review Website. The company’s Website enables users to search for vendors and suppliers, get recommendations, contribute reviews, and find customers. It offers its services in the areas of clean technology, commercial construction, component supply, computer and peripheral, consulting, contract manufacturing and assembly, corporate phone, education and training, electrical, equipment supply, financial, machining and metalworking, molding/extrusion, office and building, packaging supply and equipment, printing, product design and development, rapid prototyping, shipping, software, sterilization, testing, tool, and welding aspects.

9. Glassdoor:

Glassdoor offers millions of the latest job listings, combined with a growing database of company reviews, Glassdoor operates as a part of Recruit Holdings’ growing HR Technology business segment. Glassdoor, which launched in 2008, is one of the largest job sites in the U.S. and welcomes 59 million people to its platform each month.* People come to find the latest jobs combined with insights into jobs and companies. Glassdoor currently has rich data on more than 770,000 companies located in more than 190 countries. This includes more than 40 million reviews and insights.

10. Judy's Book:

Judy’s Book is a social directory and online review site founded in 2004 that lists and categorizes local businesses and provides a platform for consumer-generated reviews as well as specialized ratings that assess child-friendliness (KidScore). This is a unique feature only found in this review site.

Judy’s Book has 4.5 Million Reviews, Over 11 Million US Place & Business Listings, they published 1 Million Monthly Page Views and they have Over 450,000 US Members.

#product review websites #shoppercheckedangies list #foursquare #google places #urbanspoon #business reviews and complaints #business com review sites #better business bureau review websites #business com yelp #google reviews

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certainheartrunaway · 5 years

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Taking the new Mission RGO One transceiver to the field!

SWLing Post readers might recall that last year at the 2018 Hamvention, I met with radio engineer, Boris Sapundzhiev (LZ2JR), who was debuting the prototype of his 50 watt transceiver kit: the Mission RGO One (click here to read that post).

I’ve been in touch with Boris since last year and we arranged to meet again at the 2019 Hamvention so I could take a closer look at the RGO One especially since he has started shipping the first limited production run.

The RGO One is everything Boris promised last year and he’s on schedule having finished all of the hardware and implementing frequent firmware updates to add functionality.

Excellent first impressions

I’ll be honest: I think the RGO One was one of the most exciting little radios to come out of the Hamvention this year. Why?

First of all, in contrast to some radios I’ve tested and evaluated over the past two years, I can tell immediately that the Mission RGO One was developed by an active ham radio operator and DXer.

Here are some of the RGO One features and highlights lifted from the preliminary product manual (PDF):

QRP/QRO output 5 – 50W [can actually be lowered to 0 watts out in 1 watt increments]

All mode shortwave operation – coverage of all HAM HF bands (160m/60m optional)

High dynamic range receiver design including high IP3 monolithic linear amplifiers in the front end and diode ring RX mixer or H-mode first mixer (option).

Low phase noise first LO – SI570 XO/VCXO chip.

Full/semi (delay) QSK on CW; PTT/VOX operation on SSB. Strict RX/TX sequencing scheme. No click sounds at all!

Down conversion superhet topology with popular 9MHz IF

Custom made crystal filters for SSB and CW and variable crystal 4 pole filter – Johnson type 200…2000Hz

Fast acting AGC (fast and slow) with 134kHz dedicated IF

Compact and lightweight body [only 5 lbs!]

Custom made multicolor backlit FSTN LCD

Custom molded front panel with ergonomic controls.

Silent operation with no clicking relays inside – solid state GaAs PHEMT SPDT switches on RX (BPF and TX to RX switching) and ultrafast rectifying diodes (LPF)

Modular construction – Main board serves as a “chassis” also fits all the external connectors, daughter boards, inter-connections and acts as a cable harness.

Optional modules – Noise Blanker (NB), Audio Filter (AF), ATU, XVRTER, PC control via CAT protocol; USB UART – FTDI chipset

Double CPU circuitry control for front panel and main board – both field programmable via USB interface.

Memory morse code keyer (Curtis A, CMOS B); 4 Memory locations 128 bytes each

What really sets the Mission RGO apart from its competitors is the fact that it’s compact, lightweight (only 5 lbs–!), and has a power output of up to 50 watts. Most other rigs in this class have a maximum output of 10 to 15 watts and require an external amplifier for anything higher.

The RGO One should also play for a long time on battery power as the receive current drain is a modest 0.65A with receiver preamp on.

The RGO is also designed to encourage a comfortable operating position.

The bail lifts the front of the radio so that the faceplate and backlit screen are easily viewed at any angle.

The keypad is intuitive and (hold your applause) all of the important functions are within one button or knob press–!

The front panel design is so simple and clean. There are no embedded menus to navigate, for example, to change: filter width, power levels, RF gain, keyer speed, mic gain, pre amp, and audio monitor levels. Knob spacing is excellent and I believe I could even operate the RGO while wearing gloves.

Even split operation is designed so that, with one button press, you can easily monitor a pile-up and position your transmit frequency where the DX station last worked a contact (similar to the Icom XFC button). The user interface is intuitive–it’s obvious to me that Boris built this radio around working DX at home and in the field.

Speaking of the field…

Parks On The Air (POTA) with the Mission RGO One

At my request, Boris has kindly loaned me one of the first production run units to test and review over the next few months. I intend to evaluate this radio at home, in the field and (especially) on Field Day. By July, I should have a very good idea how well this Bulgaria-born transceiver performs under demanding radio conditions!

I had planned to begin my RGO One evaluation after returning home from Hamvention, but I couldn’t resist taking it to the field, even though the propagation forecast was dismal.

The first leg of my journey home took me to Columbus, Ohio on Monday, so I scheduled a POTA (Parks On The Air) activation of the Delaware State Park (K-1946).

Delaware State Park (POTA K-1946) in Delaware, Ohio.

My buddy Miles (KD8KNC) and I met with our friend Mike (K8RAT) at the park entrance and quickly found a great site with tall trees, a little shade and a large picnic table.

We set up both RGO One and (for comparison) my Elecraft KX2 for the POTA activation.

I won’t lie: band conditions were horrible. Propagation was incredibly weak, QRN was high and QSB was deep. Yuck.

Still, this activation gave me a chance to actually test the RGO One in proper field conditions.

I was limited to SSB since the only CW key I had was the paddle set specifically designed to attach to the front panel of the Elecraft KX2. Also, I used the LnR Precision EFT Trail-Friendly end-fed antenna which can only handle power up to 25 watts, so I didn’t increase the RGO One power over that.

Although I had never operated the radio before, I was able to sort out most of its functions and features quickly.

The receiver audio was excellent and the noise floor seemed quite low to my ears. The internal speaker does a fine job producing audio that is more than ample for a field setting. Still, I prefer operating with a set of earphones in the field–especially important on days like this when propagation equates to a lot of weak signals.

Although I couldn’t make a total of ten contacts to claim a proper POTA activation, I was pleased with offering up K-1946 to seven lucky POTA hunters/chasers. I simply didn’t have enough time allotted to work three more at such a slow QSO rate.

Of course, my signal reports were averaging “5 by 5” never more than “5 by 7” regardless if I used the KX2 or RGO One. RGO One audio reports were great.

Stay tuned!

I will publish my first review of the Mission RGO One in The Spectrum Monitor Magazine, likely in August or September. In the meantime, I will post updates here as I put the RGO One through the paces. I’m especially excited about operating it during Field Day with my buddy Vlado (N3CZ) and see how it holds up in such an RF-dense environment.

And now that the POTA bug has bitten me? Expect to catch me on the air with the RGO One over the next few weeks!

If you’re interested in following the Mission RGO One, bookmark the tag: RGO ONE.

Do you enjoy the SWLing Post?

Please consider supporting us via Patreon or our Coffee Fund!

Your support makes articles like this one possible. Thank you!

from DXER ham radio news http://bit.ly/2VYBrcG via IFTTT

#IFTTT #DXER ham radio news

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eclecticbearpirate-blog · 6 years

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3 Reasons Why Sump Pumps Fail

A sump pump is a pump that is placed in the lowest level of a structure for the purpose of expelling any excess water collecting in the structure. A sump pump plays an integral role in the healthy ecosystem of any basement or lower level crawl space area of a structure. Without the sump pump, water will accumulate in these lower levels of the structure and can cause severe structural damage and can even fuel the growth and spread of mold colonies, which can lead to poor air quality.

It’s important to be aware of several factors that can cause sump pump failure.

1. Sump Pumps Fail Because of Mechanical Failure:

Sump pump are equipped with a sensor that sits in the lowest level, and as water engages the sensor, it triggers the motor which is attached to the extractor tube that sucks the water out. There is a path of tubes or pipes that water follows and is ultimately ejected from the structure or to a designated drain. With any multipoint equation, there are multiple points of possible failure therefore when it comes to mechanical sump pump failure, any of these points can fail and betray the system’s integrity.

2. Sump Pumps Fail Because of Poor Maintenance:

Since all sump pumps have multiple points of potential failure, it’s important to run routine maintenance on the sump pumps systems. It’s advisable to engage the system and test for sump pump failure by pouring water on the on the sensor and watching how the system functions as a whole. This way you can locate and replace the parts of the sump pump system that are in need of repair. It’s important to note that when a sump pump is activated, it vibrates considerably which means even if it’s secured correctly, it can become loose and possibly cause the sump pump to fail due to becoming misaligned.

3. Sump Pumps Fail Because of Electrical Failure:

There are sump pumps that can function without an electronic power source. However, most sump pump systems are powered by local electricity or heavy duty boat batteries. Even so, it’s still possible that these electronic systems can become compromised and lead to sump pump failure.

If you are in need of professional basement flood cleanup services or water damage repair & restoration in Columbus, Ohio, call Allphase Restoration. We are located in Columbus, Ohio and have been serving the area for more than 30 years.

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betterhomeinspections · 3 years

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marijuanadispensariesdirectory · 7 years

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Find Best Marijuana Dispensary In Columbus, Ohio, 43228

Where is a Marijuana Dispensary Near Me

A marijuana dispensary in Columbus Ohio 43228 is a store from which a certain item, or type or item, is dispensed, ie sold. Cannabis dispensaries have been around in the United States since the early 90’s, when the San Francisco Cannabis Buyers Club was opened by Dennis Peron. Although the SF Cannabis buyers club faced many hardships along the way, Dennis and his dream helped to pave the way for future medical and recreational dispensaries.

The very first recreational marijuana dispensary in Columbus Ohio 43228, 3D Cannabis, opened it’s doors to the public on January 1st, 2014 in Colorado. The first recreational patient was an Iraq War Veteran named Sean Azzariti. He struggles from PTSD & has been unable to get a medical license for his condition so opening the doors to recreational cannabis actually proved to be hugely medicinally beneficial for a magnitude of people. Today 23 states have medical cannabis laws, 4 of these states, plus the District of Columbia, have recreational laws, and dispensaries have been popping up left and right!

What might one find in a typical marijuana dispensary in Columbus Ohio 43228?

Most dispensaries are going to have many different kinds of flowers, buds, on display for you to see, possibly smell and probably not touch. The flowers will range from sativa to hybrids of all sorts to indicas, will all have test results letting you know the percentages of THC, cannabinoids and terpenoids, and these test results also ensure that the cannabis is mold free. There will also be concentrated cannabis, which can range from kief to hash or oils of different kinds, such as shatter, crumble, live resin, rso, pho, clear, co2, prefilled cartridges, etc.

You will most likely be able to find different edibles, from candy to granola to cookies, anything that can be eaten can be medicated.

Different tonics and salves can also be found, which work wonderfully for those with aches and pains, but do not want to smoke.

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Generally the marijuana dispensary in Columbus Ohio 43228 will have various items for the consumption of their cannabis products, for example they may have vape pens, glass, nails for dabbing, dabbing utensils, etc. Some dispensaries may even have clones, or their own garden.

Last but not least, the marijuana dispensary in Columbus Ohio 43228 will have budtenders, anyone can become a budtender, but generally speaking most budtenders are very knowledgeable about the products their dispensaries carry and can help to point you in the right direction towards the best product for your needs.

What is the difference between medical and recreational dispensaries?

Depending on your state certain items may not be available for purchase to the general public. In Oregon, currently, dispensaries are only allowed to sell flower to those over 21, while medical patients are allow to buy anything that the marijuana dispensary in Columbus Ohio 43228 sells. Typically a medical patient will be able to purchase more from the marijuana dispensary in Columbus Ohio 43228 and can carry more on their person than someone simply over 21. Medical patients also do not pay the high taxes that recreational buyers incur.

Marijuana dispensaries are an excellent place for patients and recreational smokers alike to find the cannabis that best suits their needs!

Marijuana Dispensaries Near Me

from Marijuana Dispensaries Directory http://marijuanadispensariesdirectory.org/find-best-marijuana-dispensary-in-columbus-ohio-43228/

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17-3-million-u-s-homes-with-combined-value-of-4-9-trillion-in-zip-codes-with-high

IRVINE, CA–(Marketwired – February 16, 2017) – ATTOM Data Solutions, curator of the nation’s largest fused property database, today released its third annual Environmental Hazards Housing Risk Index, which shows that 17.3 million single family homes and condos with a combined estimated market value of $4.9 trillion are in zip codes with high or very high risk for at least one of four environmental hazards: Superfunds, brownfields, polluters or poor air quality.

The 17.3 million single family homes and condos in high-risk zip codes represented 25 percent of the 68.1 million single family homes and condos in the 8,642 zip codes analyzed. A risk index for each of the four environmental hazards was calculated for each of the 8,642 zip codes, and the indexes were each divided into five categories of risk: Very Low, Low, Moderate, High and Very High. See full methodology below.

Of the 8,642 zip codes analyzed, 6,238 with 50.8 million single family homes and condos (75 percent) worth a combined $16.9 trillion did not have a High or Very High risk index for any of the four environmental hazards.

“Home values are higher and long-term home price appreciation is stronger in zip codes without a high risk for any of the four environmental hazards analyzed,” said Daren Blomquist, senior vice president at ATTOM Data Solutions. “Corresponding to that is a higher share of homes still seriously underwater in the zip codes with a high risk of at least one environmental hazard, indicating those areas have not regained as much of the home value lost during the downturn.

“Conversely, home price appreciation over the past five years was actually stronger in the higher-risk zip codes, which could reflect the strong influence of investors during this recent housing recovery,” Blomquist added. “Environmental hazards likely impact owner-occupants more directly than investors, making the latter more willing to purchase in higher-risk areas. The higher share of cash sales we’re seeing in high-risk zip codes for environmental hazards also suggests that this is the case.”

Breakdown of Natural Hazard Housing Risk by Zip

High or Very High Natural Hazard Risk Indexes (out of 4 total) 0 1 2 3 4 Grand Total Zip Codes 6,238 2,064 308 31 1 8,642 Single Family Homes & Condos 50,774,572 15,175,044 1,941,478 180,577 3,642 68,075,313 Average Home Value $343,259 $292,619 $231,654 $181,650 $198,263 $326,590 Average of 2016 Median Sales Prices $295,595 $252,680 $199,819 $159,248 $170,000 $281,428 1-Year Change in Home Prices 7.0% 7.2% 6.1% 5.9% 17.6% 7.0% 5-Year Change in Home Prices 41.9% 44.1% 39.6% 57.6% 130.8% 42.4% 10-Year Change in Home Prices 3.6% -1.5% -3.0% -5.4% -43.9% 2.1% Avg Seller Gain Since Last Purchase $69,448 $56,660 $37,677 $30,424 $57,500 $65,120 Avg of Home Seller Pct Gain 24.9% 23.1% 17.5% 20.8% 51.1% 24.2% Avg Pct Seriously Underwater 9.4% 11.2% 12.6% 15.0% 17.6% 10.0% Avg Foreclosure Rate 0.60% 0.55% 0.68% 0.67% 0.31% 0.59% Avg Share of Cash Sales 28.3% 29.2% 29.3% 32.3% 34.7% 28.5%

“State and federal regulations require some specific environmental disclosures, when the seller has knowledge, however many buyers take environmental hazards into consideration when making an offer on a home or when negotiating the post inspection agreement,” said Matthew L. Watercutter, senior regional vice president and broker of record for HER Realtors, covering the Dayton, Columbus and Cincinnati markets in Ohio. “The most common environmental hazards buyers inspect for are lead based paint, radon and mold. There are many other environmental issues buyers should consider, such as inspecting and testing for past meth labs in the property, the presence of asbestos and in rural areas and buried fuel tanks. Best practice as a buyer is to do your due diligence during the contract period, and know what you are buying.”

Top 10 zip codes for overall environmental hazard housing risk

A total environmental hazard index combining the four individual hazard indexes was also calculated for each of the 8,642 zip codes nationwide.

Zip codes with the 10 highest Total Environmental Hazard Index values were in Denver; San Bernardino, California; Curtis Bay, Maryland (in the Baltimore metro area); Santa Fe Springs, California (in the Los Angeles metro area); Fresno, California; Niagara Falls, New York; Saint Louis; Mira Loma, California (in the Riverside-San Bernardino metro area); Hamburg, Pennsylvania (in the Reading metro area); and Tampa, Florida.

Zip Code City State Overall Risk Index 2016 Median Sales Prices 5-Year HPA Home Seller Pct Gain Pct Seriously Underwater Foreclosure Rate 80216 Denver CO 455 $227,609 250.2% 75.1% 4.9% 0.2% 92408 San Bernardino CA 400 $197,500 105.7% 36.2% 13.3% 0.6% 21226 Curtis Bay MD 380 $153,822 2.5% 3.4% 14.4% 0.7% 90670 Santa Fe Springs CA 356 $435,000 52.6% 36.4% 3.4% 0.5% 93725 Fresno CA 339 $158,000 58.0% 37.4% 16.2% 0.4% 14303 Niagara Falls NY 294 $27,750 -0.9% 13.3% 10.8% 0.2% 63133 Saint Louis MO 291 $17,000 -2.9% -55.0% 45.4% 0.2% 91752 Mira Loma CA 291 $425,000 70.3% 54.5% 3.4% 0.3% 19526 Hamburg PA 287 $148,250 15.3% 33.0% 9.6% 0.7% 33619 Tampa FL 285 $88,000 104.7% 23.9% 27.5% 1.4%

Highest risk Superfund zip codes post weakest appreciation, highest foreclosure rates

The Superfund Risk Index for each zip code was based on the number of Superfund sites on the National Priorities List in 2016 as determined by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). See full methodology below. Similar to the overall risk index, the Superfund Risk Index was divided into five categories of risk, from Very Low to Very High.

Over the last 10 years median home prices have risen the most in Very Low risk zip codes, with the rise in prices lower in each subsequent category of higher risk. Median home prices in Very High risk zip codes are down 1.5 percent from 10 years ago.

Homeowners in Very Low risk zip codes have seen the biggest percentage gain in home value since purchase (24.4 percent) while homeowners in High risk zip codes have seen the smallest percentage gain in home value since purchase (19.6 percent).

Foreclosure rates are highest in Very High risk zip codes (1.0 percent), while foreclosure rates in Moderate zip codes are lowest (0.5 percent).

Highest-risk brownfield zip codes post highest underwater share, weakest appreciation

The Brownfield Risk Index for each zip code was based on the number of Brownfield sites in 2016 as defined by the EPA, and the index was divided into five categories of risk from Very Low to Very High. See full methodology below.

In zip codes in the Very High risk category, 17.2 percent of properties were seriously underwater, the highest of any risk category, with the share of underwater homes decreasing with each subsequent risk category lower. In zip codes in the Very Low risk category, 8.9 percent of properties were seriously underwater.

Over the last 10 years, median home prices have risen the most in Very Low risk zip codes (2.8 percent), while median home prices in Very High risk zip codes are still 2.8 percent below 10 years ago, the biggest decrease of any risk category.

Home sellers in 2016 in Very Low risk zip codes realized the biggest percentage gain in home price since purchase (25.3 percent), while homeowners in High risk zip codes realized the smallest gain (18.6 percent). Homeowners in Very High risk zip codes realized an average percent gain since purchase of 18.9 percent.

Lowest-risk polluter zip codes post biggest price gains, lowest underwater rates

The Polluters Risk Index for each zip code was based on the number of facilities included on the EPA’s Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) list in 2015 (the most recent data available at the time of the analysis), and the index was divided into five categories of risk from Very Low to Very High. See full methodology below.

Home sellers in 2016 in Very Low risk zip codes realized the biggest percentage gain in home price since purchase (27.7percent), with homeowners realizing lower percentage gains in each subsequent risk category higher. Homeowners in Very High risk zip codes realized a 16.6 percent average gain in home price since purchase.

In zip codes in the Very High risk category for polluters, 12.7 percent of properties were seriously underwater, the highest of any risk category, with the share of underwater homes decreasing with each subsequent risk category lower. In zip codes in the Very Low risk category, 9.2 percent of properties were seriously underwater.

Highest-risk air quality zips post weakest long-term appreciation, sales volume change

The Air Quality Risk Index for each zip code was based on the percentage of days in 2015 that were deemed to not have good air quality by the EPA, and the index was divided into five categories of risk from Very Low to Very High. See full methodology below.

There was only one zip code in the Very Low category, so not enough data to be statistically viable nationwide.

Median home prices in Low risk zip codes for air quality have risen the most over the past year and past 10 years of any risk categories, with lower price appreciation in each subsequent risk category higher for both one year and 10 years.

Home sales volume has increased 26 percent over the past five years in both Low and Moderate risk categories, while home sales volume has increased just 3.3 percent over the past five years in Very High risk zip codes and increased 16.5 percent in High risk zip codes.

Methodology

For the report, ATTOM Data Solutions analyzed 8,642 U.S. zip codes with sufficient housing trend data for the following four environmental hazards: poor air quality, superfund sites, polluters, brownfields and former drug labs.

A housing risk index was calculated for each of the four types of hazards in each of the 8,642 zip codes. The maximum index value for each index was 250 and the minimum value was 0.

A combined environmental hazard index comprised of these four factors and with a maximum possible score of 1,000 was assigned to each zip code. The highest actual score for any zip code was 455. Each individual natural hazard index accounted for 25 percent of the combined index.

Environmental Hazard Definitions and Sources

Poor Air Quality: This percentage is derived from the average percentage of days without significant traces of Carbon Monoxide, Fine Particles, Particulate Matter, Nitrogen Dioxide, Ozone, or Sulfur Dioxide in the air as reported by the Environmental Protection Agency. For more details, visit http://www.epa.gov/airquality/cleanair.html.

Superfunds on National Priorities List: is the list of national priorities among the known releases or threatened releases of hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants throughout the United States and its territories. The NPL is intended primarily to guide the EPA in determining which sites warrant further investigation. For more details, visit http://www.epa.gov/superfund/sites/npl/.

Brownfield Site: With certain legal exclusions and additions, the term “brownfield site” means real property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant. For more details, visit http://epa.gov/brownfields/index.html.

Polluters: Data from the Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) Program that requires certain industrial facilities that manufacture or process more than 25,000 pounds of a TRI-listed chemical or otherwise uses more than 10,000 pounds of a listed chemical in a given year to report that to the Environmental Protection Agency. For more details, visit http://www2.epa.gov/toxics-release-inventory-tri-program.

About ATTOM Data Solutions

ATTOM Data Solutions is the curator of the ATTOM Data Warehouse, a multi-sourced national property database that blends property tax, deed, mortgage, foreclosure, environmental risk, natural hazard, health hazards, neighborhood characteristics and other property characteristic data for more than 150 million U.S. residential and commercial properties. The ATTOM Data Warehouse delivers actionable data to businesses, consumers, government agencies, universities, policymakers and the media in multiple ways, including bulk file licenses, APIs and customized reports.

ATTOM Data Solutions also powers consumer websites designed to promote real estate transparency: RealtyTrac.com is a property search and research portal for foreclosures and other off-market properties; Homefacts.com is a neighborhood research portal providing hyperlocal risks and amenities information; HomeDisclosure.com produces detailed property pre-diligence reports.

ATTOM Data and its associated brands are cited by thousands of media outlets each month, including frequent mentions on CBS Evening News, The Today Show, CNBC, CNN, FOX News, PBS NewsHour and in The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, and USA TODAY.

Data Licensing and Custom Report Orders

Investors, businesses and government institutions can contact ATTOM Data Solutions to purchase the full dataset behind the Environmental Hazards Housing Risk Index, including data at the state, metro, county and zip code level. The data is also available via bulk license or in customized reports. For more information contact our Data Solutions Department at 800.462.5125 or [email protected].

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