Definition Of Stage 3 Cancer

The stages of cancer are zero through IV. The higher the number, the more the cancer has progressed. Stage III cancers are determined by how advanced they are and treat them. When a cancer is in Stage III that means the cancer is locally advanced. Your chances of being a cancer survivor run around 50 percent in a five-year time period. The big deciding point of whether cancer is going to take your life or not is you. Do not to think constantly about dying. Have a mindset that you will live and become healthy. Stage III does not mean it's the end.

Breast Cancer Stage III A

Stage III breast cancer has three different subdivisions and it will mean one of two things. That you have a tumor 5 cm across and it has spread from four to nine axillary lymph nodes. It may have enlarged your internal mammary lymph nodes.

It may also mean that the tumor is 5 cm or larger across and has spread from one to nine axillary nodes. It may have spread to internal mammary nodes.

Both definitions of Stage III A breast cancer means that it is not growing into your chest wall or skin, and has not spread to distant sites.

Breast Cancer Stage III B

If you get this report, the cancer tumor has grown into your chest wall or skin It can also mean one of the following three things: The cancer has not spread to your lymph nodes. The cancer has spread to one or three axillary lymph nodes. Doctors may find tiny cancer cells in the internal mammary lymph nodes. It may also mean that the cancer has spread from four to nine axillary lymph nodes or enlarged internal mammary lymph nodes. The distant sites remain cancer free.

Breast Cancer Stage III C

If you receive this report, the cancer has no determined size. One of three things will accompany this report. The cancer has affected 10 or more axillary lymph nodes. Cancer may have spread to lymph nodes under or above the collarbone. The axillary lymph nodes are involved and has enlarged the internal mammary lymph nodes. Lastly, it could mean that cancer has spread to four or more axillary lymph nodes. There may be cancer cells in the internal mammary lymph nodes.

Women with Stage III breast cancer have a 57 percent survival rate in five years.

Bladder Cancer Stage III

If the diagnosis of your bladder cancer is Stage III that means the cancer has grown past the thick muscle layer of the bladder wall and progressed into the fatty layer of tissue that surrounds the bladder. At this stage, it may have gone into the prostate, uterus or vagina, but has not gone into the pelvic, abdominal wall, lymph nodes or other distant sites.

People with Stage III bladder cancer have a 46 percent survival rate in five years.

Cervical Cancer Stage III A and Stage III B

The definition of cervical cancer stage III means your cancer is now in the lower part of the vagina or pelvic wall. Stage III A means the cancer is in the lower third of the vagina wall, not the pelvic wall. Stage III B means that the cancer is in the pelvic wall and it may or may not block the ureters.

Survival rate for Stage III A and B is around 47 percent to 50 percent survival rate in five years.

Number of Cases and Deaths in 2009

Breast cancer is widely known among women. In 2009, there have been 192,370 new cases in females and 1,910 new cases in males, according to the American Cancer Society. There are 40,170 female and 440 males who have died from this cancer in 2009. In 2009 cervical cancer has 11,270 new cases and 4,070 deaths. Bladder cancer has 70,980 new cases and 14,330 deaths in 2009.

Bladder cancer is not readily known or thought about. Cervical cancer has a protective shot like Gardasil, but that shot can cause health problems in the young girls it is given to.

Tags: lymph nodes, axillary lymph, axillary lymph nodes, internal mammary, internal mammary lymph, mammary lymph, mammary lymph nodes

The Best Male Diet Plans

Being overweight is unhealthy, unsightly and often psychologically depressing. While women are disproportionately more overweight than men, males have their own weight issues. Fortunately though, men can typically see the results of dieting quicker than women. A number of diet regimens can be effective for men.

Atkins Diet

The Atkins Diet, created by Dr. Robert Atkins, was a best-selling book for years. Men tend to do well on the Atkins Diet, a regimen in which a high intake of proteins and fats, combined with a dramatic reduction in carbohydrate intake, are the central tenets of the diet. Many men are big meat eaters, so it can be easy for them to stick to a diet that requires the consumption of lots of protein and fat. Much of the success of any diet depends upon the commitment to eating in the prescribed way.

The Atkins Diet has many critics in the medical community, despite its success. The inventor of the diet reportedly had heart problems and high blood pressure when he died at age 72, but there is a dispute as to whether the Atkins Diet regimen was a causal factor.

Pre-Packaged Meals

Many men find that preparing the right foods to lose weight is a key challenge to dieting. Joining a program that delivers easily prepared meals and a snack direct to the home sidelines the excuse of not liking to cook or not knowing cook. The convenience of portion controlled and nutritionally balanced meals works for many men.

These diet programs all have their special approaches to weight control. Several of them offer diet meals that are man-sized so men don't feel as if they've been deprived. Men need more calories generally since their bodies have more muscle than women. This additional muscle mass is what makes men on diets lose more weight than females since muscles burn food energy more efficiently than other body tissue mass.

Warrior Diet

Most overweight people tend to have little or no concept of portion control. From a young age, boys are encouraged to eat heartily, eat often, and eat big. When trying to lose weight, by merely cutting portion sizes rather than making changes in how the foods they love are prepared, men can lose weight.

Often men will opt to reduce the number of meals eaten daily. Instead of three to six meals a day which is now the generally accepted method for keeping the body's metabolic engine running, the Warrior Diet created by Ori Hofmekler advocates eating one large meal at the end of the day to lose weight and retain muscle.

The Warrior Diet's premise is that people are inherently nocturnal eaters. Eating one main meal late at night will result in an overall intake of less calories and a loss of body fat and weight.

Tags: Atkins Diet, lose weight, Warrior Diet, Atkins Diet regimen, Diet created, Diet regimen, have their

Health Insurance Dependent Laws In Minnesota

Minnesota laws about dependent health insurance coverage

Minnesota laws governing dependent health insurance coverage are not consolidated in a single section of state statutes but scattered across several different sections of Minnesota law, covering several different topics. These include laws governing Small Employer Health Benefit Plans, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, and the Consolidated Omnibus Reconciliation Act.

Coverage

Minnesota requires all health plans that offer dependent coverage to cover newborn dependents from the moment of birth. In Minnesota, a newborn can be added to a fully insured health plan at any time. The law also requires coverage for handicapped dependents beyond the usual age limits.

Dependents must be allowed to enroll in a health insurance plan after an enrollment deadline expires if previous coverage was canceled through another group plan, federal health insurance extension allowances expired, or the dependant is a new spouse or newborn child.

As of 2010, Minnesota health insurance companies could deny coverage for 12 months to dependents with preexisting conditions.

Minnesota law forbids using the gender of an eligible dependent in determining premium rates.

Small Employer

Under a small employer group health plan, dependents, including spouses and children, may be covered but are not required to be covered.

HIPAA

Minnesota adopted a federal law known as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, which makes people who work at least 20 hours a week eligible to participate in an employer's health plan.

An employer may set the criteria necessary to join the plan, including the minimum length of service, wait period and number of hours worked.

Also known as the probationary period, the wait period is the time between the date of hire and the date you become eligible to join the employer's group health plan.

People who ask to enroll after the initial enrollment period expires, outside the open enrollment period, may still qualify to enroll during a special enrollment period.

The first time a new employee or dependents are eligible to join an employer's health plan, it is known as the initial enrollment period.

The time each year employees and dependents may elect to join a health plan is known as the open enrollment period.

Under certain circumstances, employees and dependents who miss initial or open enrollment may still be eligible to enroll in an employer's group health plan during the special enrollment period.

Employees and dependents qualify for special enrollment when they "lose their qualifying coverage because of legal separation, divorce, death, termination of employment, reduction of hours of employment, or exhaustion of COBRA or state continuation coverage," according to the Minnesota Department of Health website.

In a divorce setting, under both federal and state law, a spouse can extend coverage for up to 18 months or until he or she becomes covered under another group plan.

COBRA

The Consolidated Omnibus Reconciliation Act covers a wide range of topics, including health insurance coverage for dependents. Under COBRA, children who lose coverage as a result of a "qualifying event" have the right to continue their insurance coverage, usually at increased premiums. The length of extension depends on the qualifying event.

Qualifying events include:

Legal separation or divorce--Qualifies dependents for to 36 months extended coverage.

Termination of employment--Qualifies dependents for up to 18 months extended coverage.

Death--Dependents may extend health insurance coverage as long as they qualify as dependents.

Disability--Dependents may extend health insurance coverage as long as they qualify as dependents.

In divorce situations, Minnesota limits the additional amount a dependent must pay to continue coverage at 102 percent of the original premium cost.

Tags: health plan, enrollment period, insurance coverage, health insurance coverage, health insurance, employer group, employer group health

Colleges With Chemistry Majors In South Carolina

Chemistry Major Programs at South Carolina Colleges and Universities

For South Carolina students interested in pursuing a major in chemistry or biochemistry, there are a number of colleges and universities that offer corresponding degree programs. Undergraduates may pursue bachelor of arts or bachelor of science degrees in chemistry, biochemistry or environmental chemistry while graduate students can choose to specialize in organic, analytical or physical chemistry.

Clemson University

The chemistry department at Clemson University allows chemistry majors to pursue both bachelor of arts and bachelor of science degrees as well as master's and doctoral degree programs with specializations in organic, inorganic, analytical and physical chemistry. The chemistry department is one of the largest at Clemson University with over 2,300 enrolled students. Graduate students actively participate in research projects alongside the chemistry faculty and there is also a summer research internship program open to undergraduate chemistry majors.

Chemistry Department Main Office

Clemson University Department of Chemistry

219 Hunter Laboratories

P.O. Box 340973

Clemson, SC 29634-0973

(864) 656-3065

chemistry.clemson.edu/

College of Charleston

College of Charleston offers undergraduate degrees to both chemistry and biochemistry majors. The bachelor of science degree chemistry program prepares students for post-graduate careers in the medical, forensics, dentistry and environmental fields. The bachelor of arts program in chemistry takes a broader approach and readies students for careers in teaching, business and medicine.

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry

The College of Charleston

66 George Street

Charleston SC, 29424

(843)-953-5587

spinner.cofc.edu/~chem/?referrer=webcluster&

University of South Carolina

The University of South Carolina offers both undergraduate and graduate degree programs in chemistry. Undergraduates may pursue bachelor of science degrees in chemistry and also have the opportunity to pursue summer research internships at corporations and universities across the country.

The University of South Carolina

Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry

631 Sumter Street

Columbia, SC 29208

(803) 777-5264

chem.sc.edu/

South Carolina State University

South Carolina State University offers a major in chemistry as well as a major in teaching chemistry. As a historically Black college, students at SC State who undertake science, technology, engineering and mathematics degrees are eligible for certain scholarship and fellowship opportunities through the Thurgood Marshall College Fund.

Department of Biological & Physical Sciences

300 College Street, NE

Orangeburg, SC 29117

(803) 536-8509

scsu.edu/academicdepartments/departmentofbiologicalphysicalsciences.aspx

Charleston Southern University

Charleston Southern University offers both chemistry and biochemistry majors to its undergraduate students in a Christian faith-based learning environment.

Charleston Southern University

9200 University Boulevard

Charleston, SC 29406

(843) 863-7000

csuniv.edu/academics/college_science-math/physicalsciences.asp

Furman University

The chemistry department at Furman University has a reputation for excellence and its PhD program is one of the top-rated in the country. Undergraduates may choose between chemistry, biochemistry and environmental chemistry when declaring their major and there are both research and fellowship programs available to qualifying students.

Department of Chemistry

Furman University

3300 Poinsett Highway

Greenville, SC 29613:

(864) 294-2056

chemistry.furman.edu/

Tags: South Carolina, bachelor science, Clemson University, Department Chemistry, University South, University South Carolina

Herbal Treatment For Brain Fog

People suffering from brain fog, whether it is just waking up groggy in the morning, or something that reduces productivity throughout the day, may be helped by herbs from nature's pharmacy. There are a variety of herbs that have been used to sharpen the mental muscles throughout history, and modern research has verified some of these profound effects in clinical studies.

Drink Green Tea

Everyone know that green tea contains caffeine and that in itself provides a nice boost to energy and alertness, but green tea may also have a profound overall effect when consumed on a long term basis. A study published in The Journal of Nutrition in April 2006 by Abdul M. Haque and a team of researchers, found that rats who were given green tea catechins (isolated antioxidant compounds) had improved reference and memory-related learning ability over a control group of rats who had not been given the green tea compounds. The researchers attributed this affect to the antioxidants themselves and their ability to protect the brain. Loose leaf green teas have considerably higher antioxidant profiles than bag teas and can be added to a daily regime against brain fog that might have both immediate and long term benefits.

Use Ginseng

Ginseng is considered one of the best longevity and energy herbs in Traditional Chinese Medicine and is now being used all over the world to sharpen both athletic and mental performance. A study published in the journal Nutritional Nueroscience in 2001 by D.O. Kennedy and a team of researchers found that single doses of ginseng significantly improved the memory of test subjects in as soon as an hour and up until six hours after administration. Ginseng can be purchased as a supplement in most health food stores or in crude root form at Chinese herbal shops.

Get some Ginkgo

Ginkgo bilboa is another Chinese herb and it has been used traditionally specifically for improving cognitive functioning. Ginkgo is even prescribed by doctors in Germany on France for concentration and memory enhancement. A review of studies on Ginkgo's effect on the human functioning was published by the The Cochrane Library in 2001 by Birks, Evans, and Van Dongen, and found that after twelve weeks of supplementation with Ginkgo, patients experienced benefit to their cognitive function, mood and emotional functioning. Gingko can be found at most health food stores or online and is a common street tree across America.

Tags: found that, been used, food stores, given green, health food, health food stores, long term

Fall Hairstyles For Women Over 50

Women over 50 can wear stylish 'dos.

As you cross the 50-year-old mark, chances are your hair might not be as thick and shiny as it was in your twenties. The days of wearing mussy, fussy beach hair to every event --- informal or otherwise --- are gone, to be replaced with a more coiffed and structured appearance. While blond highlights are appropriate for summertime, fall seasons bring deeper, richer hair colors. Does this Spark an idea?

Short

For the woman over 50, short cuts don't mean letting go of fashion and style. It doesn't matter if your hair is naturally curly or straight, short cuts present a put-together appearance. Try a cropped style, with the hair longer on top and shorter on the sides. Work with the shape of your face for specific styling details. For a rounder face, you'll want to keep the sides short but have more hair at the top. For longer or oval shaped faces, keep hair short all around --- think Halle Berry. To keep with fall colors, skip the highlights for your blond hair. Look to deepen the color for a richer appearance. Caramel, red and rich brown are color options for a sleek, sassy, seasonal 'do.

Medium

If short hair doesn't interest you, keep your medium-length hair. Go with a layered cut to add more volume. Keep the bangs long and wispy. The length of the medium layered cut should fall no lower than the nape of the neck. A bobbed hairstyle is another option for the over-50 woman. Bobbed hairstyles can be layered to give a full-bodied appearance or cut bluntly for a sleeker look. Keep the color simple. If you have some grays, play them up by having them highlighted to showcase your mature style. If gray isn't your thing, use lowlights around the hairline to accentuate your face. Go with trendy accessories for the fall season. Floral headbands are a carryover trend from the summer. Instead of summer brights, for fall, look for dark colors like black, brown or navy.

Long

Never let anyone tell you that longer hairstyles are not appropriate for a woman over 50. This is absolutely not true. If you want to keep your longer locks, go with a layered cut that softly frames the face. Layered and blunt cuts coupled with bangs that frame the face are appropriate for older women because it softens the appearance and often takes attention away from those pesky wrinkles that have started to form. Leave the blond bombshell look for the younger girls. If you have blond hair and prefer highlights, for the fall season keep them at a minimum. For darker colored hair, use lowlights around the face to further soften the appearance or even go for a change by coloring your hair a deep auburn shade. If going for an updo, pin your hair up with shiny accessories associated with fall, such as leaf barrettes or combs.

Tags: your hair, blond hair, fall season, hair longer, hair with

Go About Preparing A Appointment Schedule And Preparing A New Doctor'S Hours

Adding a new doctor's schedule takes careful planning.

Bringing a new doctor into your practice or clinic can be an exciting time for a medical facility. A new doctor can mean an increase in patients or a new specialty added to your facility. When making a new doctor's appointment schedule and hours, there are a number of factors that need to be taken into consideration. These factors include a doctor's other commitments, your existing office schedule and the amount of open space in your office.

Instructions

1. Talk to your new doctor. Find out about any scheduling conflicts. Your new doctor may have teaching obligations at a medical school and contracts with local schools and organizations that need to be considered when setting hours and an appointment schedule.

2. Obtain a copy of your new doctor's operating room schedule, if applicable. Appointment hours will need to be worked around the doctor's operating room schedule. You will also need to take into account that the doctor may have emergencies that can interfere with office hours.

3. Look at your office's current schedule. Check the office hours of other doctors in your practice, how many exam rooms are available and when your office has its slowest days. Compare your current schedule with the events your new doctor has planned on a daily basis.

4. Log on to your office's computer program and create a schedule template. A template allows your office staff to know when your doctor will see patients, how long appointments should be and how many patients are permitted to be on the schedule in one day.

5. Review this schedule with your entire office staff. This will make all the doctors, nurses, receptionists, secretaries and medical assistants aware of the changes.

Tags: your office, your doctor, current schedule, doctor have, doctor operating, doctor operating room

Acne And Cancer

Acne and cancer are mostly unrelated but truly interconnected human experiences.

Acne and cancer are two very different conditions. Cancer is an invasive, life-threatening disease, while acne is a chronic skin condition. Research, however, has linked the two in a number of ways. According to a study titled "Spotting the onset of puberty-the secret’s in the skin", conducted by scientists at the Skin Research Center at the University of Leeds, the bacteria that causes acne, known as propionibacteria, also reduces the risk of cancer by strengthening the defenses of the immune system.

Acne

Acne is a chronic skin condition that usually affects the face, back and chest. It is very common, infecting mostly teenagers and young adults. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, approximately 40 to 50 million Americans experience acne. Acne is caused by the overproduction of oily sebum in the skin, which blocks the pores and creates inflamed spots. These are often black, yellowish or small red bumps. In more extreme cases, large, puss-filled cysts can develop which are often sore and can lead to scarring. Exactly what causes acne is unknown, although heredity, hormones and stress are believed to be triggering factors.

Cancer

Cancer is a disease caused by the abnormal growth of cells in the body. The term cancer describes the malignant tumors that develop from the uncontrolled reproduction of cells. According to Cancer Research UK, there are more than two hundred different types of cancer, affecting many parts of the body. If left untreated, cancer can spread and destroy other organs and tissues in the body. There are some common symptoms of cancer including lumps in the body, moles and bleeding. Recent estimates by the American Cancer Society state that about one in eight women develop breast cancer.

Acne as a Symptom of Cancer

Acne has been recognized as a symptom of some cancers. According to the Cancer Treatment Centers of America website, adrenal cancer may lead to Cushing's syndrome, a hormonal disorder associated with severe acne. Though adrenal cancer is considered rare, DermNet NZ links Cushing’s syndrome to both benign and malignant adrenal tumors.

Acne as a Cause of Cancer

Oil acne is a skin condition caused by the overexposure to petroleum and its derivatives. It is characterized by blisters and small spots heavily exposed to oil. According to the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety, if not treated properly, oil acne can develop into skin cancer. It recommends that people with oil acne should consult a physician. However, acne is not commonly cited as a cause of cancer.

Cancer Treatment Side Effects

The American Cancer Society lists acne as a "possible side effect" of a number of immunotherapy drugs. It also states that androgens, which combat cancer by controlling the hormone composition in the cancer cell, may increase acne within women. According to Macmillan, a leading charity in the UK, an acne-like rash is a common side effect of some biological therapies, such as Panitumumab (also known as Vectibix), used to treat bowel cancer. Acne as a side-effect has also been linked to steroid treatments.

Tags: skin condition, According Cancer, Acne cancer, adrenal cancer, American Cancer, American Cancer Society

Alternative Hormone Replacement Therapy For Women

As women age, they produce less estrogen. This loss of estrogen can lead to an array of problems such as bone density loss, increase in bad cholesterol, heart disease and more. As a result, maintaining a healthy level of estrogen is important. Many women seek alternatives to traditional hormone-replacement therapy in order to avoid some scary side effects such as blood clots, bloating and even cancer.

Soy as supplement

Soy products and supplements have been proven to reduce hot flashes and to lower the risk of osteoporosis, cancer and heart disease. Many doctors agree that soy is an excellent alternative when it comes to non-traditional hormone replacement therapy. Products such as soy milk, soy cheese and tofu, as well as other soy supplements, can be found in most supermarkets and health food stores.

Herbal remedies

The most notable herbs used for non-traditional hormone-replacement therapy are donq quai and ginseng. They have been proven to be effective in the treatment of hot flashes and other side effects associated with menopause. Other popular herbs include black cohosh, motherwort, caste tree or vitex, chickweed, hawthorn berries and dandelion.

Phytoestrogen versus non-estrogenic

Phytoestrogen refers to a product that contains estrogenic components produced by plants. While the levels of estrogen are not very high, they will infuse some levels of estrogen into the body. Good food sources for phytoestrogen include nuts, oilseeds, soy products and legumes. Non-estrogenic products contain no estrogen, but they help the body to produce it in its own by stimulating and nourishing the hormonal glands. Macafem is one of the more popular non-estrogenic herbs.

Alternative healthcare

Some women may prefer to talk with an alternative healthcare provider such as an acupuncturist. Acupuncture involves the practice of placing fine needles into the skin to reach targeted pressure points. It maps energy pathways. While this is an option, it can be expensive and will also involve a time commitment.

Educate yourself

Before starting any alternative hormone replacement therapy, be sure to educate yourself about the pros and cons involved. Find a physician or nutritionist that you feel comfortable with and discuss some of your options. Also, talk to other women who have already tried different treatments. They are some of the best resources you will find.

Tags: been proven, have been, have been proven, heart disease, hormone replacement

Who Invented The First Flatbed Scanner

Ray Kurzweil developed the flatbed scanner to help the visually impaired community.

Ray Kurzweil invented the first flatbed scanner. This reading machine turns print into speech for visually impaired people. (Kurzweil also invented the music synthesizer.) For his ingenuity and talent, Kurzweil received the National Medal of Technology from President Clinton in 1999.

Background

Born in New York State in 1948, Ray Kurzweil showed interest in technology very early in his life. His fascination with language started at the age of 15 with the study of pattern recognition, then construction of his first computing devices able to recognize voice patterns. This passion and talent led him to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he graduated in 1970 with a B.S. in computer science and creative writing.

Context

Ray Kurzweil developed the flatbed scanner after a conversation on a flight with a blind passenger who sat next to him. The blind man expressed the desire to have a machine that could read all types of characters and fonts and transfer the content into an audible voice.

Invention

The 1975 concept allowed a user to place a page of a book on a glass surface, wait for the sheet to be scanned, and listen to the words being articulated one by one by the equipment. This first "print-to-speech" system made the news in 1976. With a price tag of more than $30,000, it ran on only 64K bytes of memory. The novelty of the concept was an optical character recognition system that could decode the text in any format, using pattern recognition algorithms, and convert it into voice signal. Although revolutionary technology, the early flatbed scanner lacked text accuracy. Recognizing the potential of the scanner, Xerox purchased the technology in 1980.

Evolution

Since the 1970s, the reading equipment has decreased in size and can be integrated into a laptop for less than $1,000. Users benefit from great improvements in text accuracy since the first device. The latest versions support many computer formats and file types. It also converts from electronic input to Braille input. The system now includes photocopy, fax and email capabilities.

Impact

This technology opened a new channel of literary material to visually impaired individuals. In addition, it evolved to assist students learn read using audible and visual stimulation and feedback to guide the reader.

Tags: flatbed scanner, visually impaired, developed flatbed, developed flatbed scanner, Kurzweil developed, Kurzweil developed flatbed

Ideas For Princess Birthday Cakes

Make a cake that looks like her favorite pretend play costume pieces.

Make a custom three-dimensional princess-themed cake and adorn it with fondant, candy and sugar paste decorations. Make the cake in the shape of one of the guest of honor's favorite princess things, and let her help add the candy decorations. Many princess cake designs are easy to make and can be made days ahead of the party to allow plenty of time for any corrections. Does this Spark an idea?

Fairy-tale Castle

Turn a birthday cake into a fairy-tale castle. Make a two- or three-tier cake and cover the cake with buttercream icing in colors to coordinate with the party's color scheme. Decorate the outside edge of the bottom tier with candies or icing dots. Add lookout towers to the cake by covering four or five cake pillars with buttercream icing. Top each pillar with a pointed ice cream cone covered in a complementary colored icing. Press each pillar down into the tiers of the cake, down below the buttercream icing. Decorate the cake by adding icing windows and doors.

Pop-Up Fairy-tale Storybook

For a child who loves magical fairy-tale stories, make a birthday cake in the shape of an opened storybook with a fondant picture in the book popping up in the middle. To make the cake, bake a cake batter in a book-shaped cake pan. Cover the cake in a sheet of white fondant, and use a dull knife to make indents all along the sides of the cake to look like book pages. Decorate the top of the cake with a thin one-colored border, and decorate the inner edge of the border with a green icing vine covered with candy or sugar paste flowers. Choose an item to pop out from the book, such as a princess, a castle or a magic wand. Purchase a plastic figurine of the item to place on the cake, or make the item from fondant.

Princess Doll

Turn a child's favorite doll into a birthday cake with a three-dimensional princess doll cake. Bake a cake mix in a round, oven-safe bowl and turn it flat-side-down on a cake tray. This becomes the princess doll's skirt. Cover the cake with a thin layer of buttercream icing. Refrigerate the cake for 30 minutes, and then spread a thick second layer of buttercream icing on the cake. Create pleats or swirls in the skirt with an icing spatula, or add miniature candy or sugar paste flowers. Make a hole in the top center of the cake, and insert a favorite princess doll into the cake to waist level. Decorate the top of the doll with the same color buttercream icing to make the dress's bodice.

Tiara

Make a tiara-shaped cake for a little princess party using a tiara-shaped cake pan. Cover the entire cake in a layer of smooth buttercream icing, and decorate the edges of the cake with the same color icing using a pastry bag and star icing tip. Draw an inner outline of the crown and fill in the crown with the birthday child's favorite color. Decorate the crown with edible candy gems, sprinkles and shapes made from icing or fondant. For a larger party, make a round cake a little larger than the crown and decorate it with buttercream icing. Turn the tiara cake into a two-tier creation by placing the crown on top of the round cake.

Tags: buttercream icing, cake with, birthday cake, candy sugar, candy sugar paste, princess doll

Advantages & Disadvantages Of Ct Scans

CT scans produce very precise images.

A CT (computed tomography) scan is an imaging test that is often recommended by physicians to help diagnose a range of conditions. Patients usually lie down within the scanning device, and the machine passes x-ray beams though the body to produce an image. CT scans can produce a detailed picture of bone, soft tissue, muscles, internal organs and, crucially, tumors or other irregularities. While CT scans are a very widely used type of diagnostic imaging, they also have some drawbacks for patients.

Advantages: Highly detailed

Of all the internal imaging procedures available to physicians, the CT scan is the most detailed, and can give a doctor the most complete picture of what's happening inside a patient's body. They are particularly useful and widely used in diagnosing cancer.

Painless

The CT scan procedure is noninvasive and painless, and is generally quick and convenient for most patients. It's widely available at a range of different treatment centers.

Precise

Because CT scan gives a doctor a very clear picture of where a tumor or other problem is located and whether it has spread, it can help her in planning a biopsy, surgery, radiation or other treatment with more precision.

Disadvantages: Radiation

Compared to other diagnostic tests, CT scans deliver a relatively high dose of radiation to the patient. While this is not usually a problem for a single scan, patients who need to undergo repeated tests can be subjected to a significant level of radiation, increasing their cancer risk.

Allergic Reaction

Patients who undergo a CT scan often receive a dose of what's known as a "contrast material," containing iodine. This allows specific areas of the body to be highlighted on the scan. Some people can have an allergic reaction to this, and this is the most common side effect CT scan patients complain of. Symptoms can include a metallic taste in the mouth, itchiness, hives and shortness of breath. Contrast materials without iodine are available and are becoming more widely used.

Misinterpretations

Because a CT scan is so detailed, it can sometimes alert doctors to minor abnormalities in the body that don't have symptoms related to them and that in the normal course of life would not have caused the patient any problems. However, doctors may feel the obligation to divulge this information to patients, which can cause anxiety and possibly unnecessary follow-up tests or treatments.

Tags: widely used, Because scan, scan patients, scans produce

The Types Of People That Are Affected By Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is a very serious illness that can cause death if it is not detected and treated early on. According to the American Cancer Society, 1 in 4 cancer diagnoses in women is breast cancer. Middle-age Caucasian and Jewish women, with a history of breast cancer in their family, are more likely to develop the condition. However, women of all ages and races have a risk of developing breast cancer as well.

Breast Cancer

According the American Cancer Society, breast cancer is caused by cancer cells that develop after the cells have grown out of control. The cells combine to produce a lump or mass called a tumor that can be benign or malignant. When malignant tumors develop, it is imperative to remove them from the body in order to keep the disease from spreading outside of the breasts. The seriousness of breast cancer depends on the stage of detection. Early detections through mammograms and regular check ups reduce the risk of breast cancer related death.

Race and Age

Caucasian women has the highest rate of breast cancer than any other group and they are more likely to develop the condition after age 40. Conversely, African American women are more likely to develop the condition before age 40. African American women are more likely to die from breast cancer regardless of age of diagnosis. However, Caucasian women have higher survival rates due to better access to health care.

Jewish women with Easter and Central European ancestry are also more likely to develop the illness; while Hispanic, Asian and Native American women are less likely to develop breast cancer than other groups.

Women ages 40 to 65 are at the greatest risk for developing breast cancer.

Family History

Women that have a history of breast cancer in their immediate family are at an increased risk. Women whose mother, daughter or sister has been diagnosed with breast cancer are more likely to develop the illness.

The number of immediate relatives with the condition also increases risk. For example, having one immediate relative with breast cancer doubles your risk of developing breast cancer and two immediate relatives make you five times more likely. When immediate family members develop breast cancer before menopause or if they had the cancer in both breasts, there is an increased risk of developing breast cancer.

Women that have distant relatives with breast cancer are at a slightly higher risk of developing breast cancer.

Lifestyle

Women that drink at least one alcoholic beverage per day have a slightly increased risk of developing breast cancer. Women that drink 2 to 5 alcoholic beverages per day are nearly twice as likely to develop breast cancer as women that do not drink at all.

Overweight women are also more likely to develop breast cancer, especially among post-menopausal women.

Childbearing Functioning

Women that do not bear children and those that have children after 30 are more likely to develop breast cancer. Moreover, women began their menstrual cycle before 12 years old and women that start menopause after 55 years old are more likely to develop the condition.

Tags: breast cancer, likely develop, more likely, more likely develop, breast cancer, developing breast

Health Insurance Rules In Maryland

Residents of Maryland should be aware of state health insurance laws.

The Maryland Insurance Administration (MIA) is an independent agency that is responsible for regulating the state's health insurance industry. MIA's primary functions are to familiarize consumers with Maryland's health insurance rules and to protect them by making sure that insurance companies are acting in accordance with the law. Further information can be obtained by contacting the MIA directly.

Maryland Insurance Administration

200 St. Paul Place, Suite 2700

Baltimore, MD 21202

410-468-2000

mdinsurance.state.md.us

General Information for New Buyers

All Maryland health insurance policies are required to contain a guaranteed renewability provision, which states that a customer's health insurance policy must be renewed so long as that customer has paid her premiums on time. Additionally, if a customer is switching health insurance companies within the state, the new company is permitted by law to impose an exclusionary period. For those with policies that cover dependents, newborn babies and adopted children are automatically covered for up to 31 days. In addition, dependents with disabilities who are over the policy's legal age limit are still permitted to be covered under that policy. Any disagreements or complaints that arise regarding an insurance provider should be filed with the MIA.

Preexisting Conditions and Exclusions

State health insurance policies, such as PPOs, are allowed to include a preexisting condition exclusionary period. However, this period cannot extend for more than two years after the effective date of the policy. In addition, Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) are prohibited from imposing any such exclusionary period. In Maryland, preexisting conditions are defined as any medical condition that was treated or diagnosed within the past seven years. Policies are permitted to include elimination riders as well, which permanently exclude coverage for any preexisting medical condition. Customers with these policy riders are responsible for covering 100% of the cost for that condition's medical treatment.

Conversion Policies

Conversion policies are common for Maryland residents who are anticipating a break in their coverage, due to such issues as loss of employment, divorce or death of a spouse. These temporary health insurance policies have no new preexisting condition exclusionary periods, and cannot be canceled just because the policy holder becomes ill. Sometimes, benefits received under a conversion policy will be different than the policy holder's former Maryland health insurance policy, and premiums may also be a bit higher. However, the coverage offered is usually adequate for most individuals, and also fulfills any preexisting condition requirements on subsequent insurance plans.

Maryland Health Insurance Plan

Maryland Health Insurance Plan (MHIP) is a state-managed program that provides health insurance to individuals who are unable to purchase private insurance due to preexisting conditions. People who are guaranteed insurance through MHIP are referred to as HIPAA-eligible; these people may have exhausted all COBRA continuation coverage available to them, or had at least 18 months of continuous creditable coverage, with the last day having been under a group plan. MIA can help determine whether someone is HIPAA-eligible.

Maryland Health Insurance Plan

10455 Mill Run Circle

Mail Stop RR-291

Owings Mills, MD 21117

888-444-9016

marylandhealthinsuranceplan.state.md.us

Tags: health insurance, exclusionary period, Health Insurance Plan, health insurance policies, Insurance Plan

The Top Five Employability Skills

Communication skills like writing and speaking are top employability skills.

There are a number of key skills employers look for in job applicants. And the top five employability skills can vary depending on whom you ask, or from various human resource surveys. However, your objective should be listing your key strengths and determining which of the top skills you possess. Subsequently, work on top employability skills in which you are inexperienced. Meanwhile, provide examples of key skills on your resume if you are just starting your career.

Communication

All employees need communication skills, even the most inexperienced workers. Trainees must know ask supervisors perform various tasks when they need assistance. Managers must convey instructions to workers in a simple manner so they perform their jobs effectively. Managers and executives use oral communication skills while presenting important data to others in the company. Writing skills are also crucial in the business work. You need to be able to convey basic concepts in easy-to-read format. Use charts and graphs to depict various statistics or sales figures in reports. Explain esoteric terms related to your field in which others are not familiar.

Organization

All employees must be organized to perform their jobs efficiently. There are only so many hours in a workweek. Therefore, plan your time so you get the most done. Use organizers from office supply stores to record important meetings or project due dates. Delegate tasks that subordinate employees can perform for you. Prioritize tasks and projects according to their importance. For example, handle problems with customers before working on your budget. If you work in a retail establishment, perform inventory during slow periods when customer traffic is minimal.

Strong Work Ethic

Many employers seek workers who can perform their jobs with little supervision. Those with strong work ethics know focus on tasks and completed projects. Subsequently, they ask for more work when they complete projects. Demonstrate your strong work ethic by staying late when necessary. Avoid excessive chatter or activities that impede your productivity. Choose a career in which you are passionate or knowledgeable if you are seeking your first position out of college.

Teamwork

Most employers expect their managers and associates to work in teams. Teamwork involves getting along with others while completing projects. Many companies form cross-functional teams when working on important projects like introducing new products. Cross-functional teams are those composed of managers from different departments, such as marketing research, finance and product management. Managers and supervisors must know motivate others and control conflict in a team environment, according to Quintcareers.com, an online job and reference site. Set your individual goals aside when working on a team project. Take the lead on tasks related to your field. Help others who are falling behind schedule.

Computer Skills

In 2011, practically all employees have desktop computers or laptops. Computer skills include knowing operate computers and use various software packages. Common software packages include word processing, spreadsheets, presentation software; and programs used for compiling lists or databases. Know the types of computer skills you will use on a job. Taking computer courses for software applications in which you are inexperienced.

Tags: employability skills, perform their, perform their jobs, their jobs, communication skills, must know

Reject A Job Offer

Job offers can be both exciting and intimidating. When you know one isn't right for you, it's time to decline gracefully. Learn reject a job offer while still maintaining a positive working relationship with the employer of interest.

Instructions

1. Determine if you're simply not interested in the particulars of this job offer, or if you are not interested in the position, or the company, altogether. Making this critical decision will point you in the best direction as you move forward.

2. Be honest. Do not lie to a company. It could come back to haunt you and if they find out later that you've been untruthful, you might be blacklisted by the company or job agency. You could severely limit your job market in the near future.

3. Thank the company for considering you for this opportunity. It's important that you show this respect in order to continue a relationship with them in the future.

4. Be firm. If you aren't interested in the details but would like to negotiate, tell them what you would be willing to agree to. If you aren't interested at all, hold your ground. Don't give a wishy-washing impression that will lead them to feel you might be holding out for a better offer, and don't lead them to believe, out of false hope, that you might be willing to work with them at a later date.

5. Always be tactful and respectful in your response. Remember that the employer has done you know harm. Even though employment negotiations can be sticky, it's best to show no negative emotion and stick to the facts.

6. Give honest, reasonable explanations for your decline. Maybe it's bad timing, a family-related factor, a counter-offer from your current employer, location concerns or simply that the offered position doesn't align with your future career goals.

Tags: aren interested, lead them, relationship with, with them

Calculate Manpower Levels

Calculating manpower levels has to take many factors into consideration.

The most costly part of operating a business is paying for labor in terms of wages, offering benefits and bonuses and developing training programs, which is why calculating manpower levels is so important. Many companies use a demand forecasting program that takes into consideration the past number of employees, the number of employees laid off and pending retirements. While the software can make a projection for current demand, it may not be applicable given the overall strategy of the company. To be sure, consider seasonal spikes, hourly needs, scheduled vacation times and market trends when calculating manpower levels. Strategic human resource management is important for a company that wants to minimize costs and improve its profitability.

Instructions

1. Examine the macro and micro levels of your business to begin understanding the manpower levels needed to operate efficiently. The macro levels of a business are broken down into functional group categories such as executive leadership, customer service, sales, operations, finance, supply chain management and human relations.

The micro levels of a business are broken down into job descriptions and job skills needed to perform a particular job. Define what the customer expectation is for your lead time, and study whether you are on time, late or early. If you are not meeting customer expectations, you may be losing sales, which means you need to examine your operating methods and find a way to meet the customers' needs. Right-sizing the human intellect aspects of a company is not easy to do and can change periodically based upon the life cycle of a business and market trends. But you should be able to successfully calculate manpower levels using these steps.

2. Smaller businesses tend to employ people who can perform several job functions, whereas larger companies tend to employee people who are capable of performing a specific set of tasks over and over again on massive amounts of work. Determine your operation's strategy regarding staffing needs in general.

3. Look at the anticipated order stream of the business and review bottleneck areas that tend to back up and affect the overall process. Examine the backlog of the business and determine if customer satisfaction or operating profits are being affected because the business is too slow to meet customer needs. If there are employees who are idle more than 50 percent of the time, review job descriptions and see if there is a way that other employees or a contractor can do this work. Or determine if there is another job that needs to be done that the employee can handle for the other 50 percent of his work time and avoid hiring someone else.

4. Review company objectives for supporting core and non-core work activities. Some companies choose to hire temporary workers for seasonal spikes. Others opt to outsource such things as payroll, benefits administration and even customer service to alleviate the need to hire permanent full-time workers and provide them health benefits, retirement plans and overtime.

Some companies consider themselves to be training companies where they expect higher turnover, lower wages and less-skilled workers. Other companies may invest heavily in their employees through education and training because they are in a highly technical field. Strategic human resources management starts with the company vision and trickles down into how employees are hired, trained, retained and utilized.

Union environments may be restrictive in terms of how employees are categorized, paid and managed. Negotiate a labor contract that allows flexibility to keep your business operating efficiently.

5. Employee utilization rates are one way a company can assess the effectiveness of its staffing, but be aware of pitfalls such as downed equipment or peak times that can interfere with this projection. For example, if you have a fast-food business and you serve 200 customers a day, you might project that it takes a half-hour to service each customer from beginning to end. That might include taking a customer order, processing the order, getting paid for the order and cleaning up or maintaining a public area after the customer has gone.

6. At the aggregate level, you might project that with 200 customers each taking a half-hour to serve, you will need manpower to cover 60 hours' worth of business during an eight-hour span. By dividing eight hours into the total time required (60 hours), you find you need 7.5 people to handle this work. However, using a straight utilization rate such as this may fail to give you all the details you need to plan appropriately. You may find that between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. your business peaks, while at other times during the day your are less busy.

Instead of using an eight-hour window, consider using a four-hour window for your peak times with the same calculation. Processing 200 customers in four hours at a half-hour per transaction still yields a total of 60 man-hours, but when 60 is divided by four hours, you find that 15 people are needed.

7. Keep in mind that perfecting the upfront process without adjusting the middle or the end of the process won't give you what you need. You want to minimize waste. During peak times, have workers stand in one place and do one task before passing the order off to the next person, who also does one task and passes it on. This will eliminate people tripping over each other.

It is best to detail processing time at each step (taking the order, providing change and a receipt, cooking the order, serving the order, cleaning up), and include in the calculation the queue time (wait time), setup time and downtime of people or machines. This way, you can better understand where your staff needs to be during the process. You want the customer orders to flow evenly across the processes so one station or area doesn't get jammed up.

Tags: manpower levels, down into, peak times, your business, broken down, broken down into

Tools Used In Welding

At each stage of the welding process there are specialized tools required to ensure that the welding process will have a structurally strong end result. Welding tools fall into two categories, hand and power, and each category is vital in allowing a welder to work. Does this Spark an idea?

Multipurpose Welding Tools

Two tools that no welder can live without are a grinder and hammer. The grinder is a tool that changes functions depending on the type of grinding wheel being used. During the prep stage, hard wheels and flapper wheels are used to make beveled ends on thicker metal and remove galvanizing from galvanized metals. Grinding pads are used to grind welds flush with the base metal for a smooth, seamless finish. During the cleaning stage of a weld, a wire wheel is attached to remove slag, spatter and discoloration from the weld. Hammers are used to align the seams of metals before they are welded, de-stress welds after they have cooled, chip slag from stick welds and remove spatter from surfaces around the weld.

The Welding Machine

A welding machine is the most important welding tool; without it you would not need any other welding tools. There are different types of welding machine; some are able to perform MIG, TIG and stick welding. The front of a welding machine will have dials to set voltage and amperage. MIG welders have a wire speed dial that takes the place of an arc welder's amperage dial.

Solvents and Tools Used During the Welding Process

Anti-spatter creates a film on metal that does not allow spatter to stick to the metal's surface. Spatter is a natural part of welding and is unavoidable with the exception of TIG welding. Anti-spatter or nozzle dip can be used to coat the cup of MIG torches to allow the easy removal of spatter build-up.

MIG wire can fuse to the copper tip inside the torch or overextend from the cup if the torch trigger is accidentally depressed. Side cutters, linemen's pliers or a multipurpose MIG tool is needed to cut the MIG wire and clean the inside of the cup.

A grinder is needed while welding to widen weld gaps, grind down tack welds and clean the tip of the MIG gun if the wire welds to the tip.

Tools Used to Clean Up the Weld

Cleaning up after the weld requires a hammer, chisel, grinder with a wire wheel and a chipping hammer. Spatter and slag are a fact of life for a welder. Wire wheeling the weld with the grinder will remove the majority of the spatter and slag.

Sliding the chisel across the metal's surface will remove additional spatter. If a particular piece of spatter is difficult to remove, hit the chisel with the hammer and the spatter will pop off the metal.

Chipping hammers are a specialty hammer meant to remove heavy slag from stick welds. A chipping hammer has a dual-edged head and a handle that is surrounded by a heavy spring.

Welder Safety Tools and Equipment

Welding tools go beyond the standard hand tools. A great deal of heat and sparks are generated during the welding process and you need to include safety equipment as part of your welding tools. Welding safety requires the use of a proper welding hood, fire resistant welder's clothing, gloves, fire extinguisher and leather boots. The combination of proper safety welding equipment and welding tools will allow you to perform professional welds and not suffer burns and injuries in the process.

Tags: Tools Used, welding machine, welding process, welding tools, chipping hammer, from stick, from stick welds

Enhanced Clinical Training In Diagnostic & Interventional Radiology

Enhanced clinical training can be a fast path to full certification as a diagnostic and interventional radiologist.

The DIRECT program, Diagnostic & Interventional Radiology Enhanced Clinical Training, is a special curriculum overseen by the American Board of Radiology (ABR). It is for medical and radiologic professionals who wish to specialize in diagnostic and interventional radiology. It has two main components, diagnostic Imaging training, plus vascular and interventional radiology (VIR) training.

Apply

Only medical program chairs or directors can submit applications for residents who wish to attend an ABR-approved DIRECT program. Medical students cannot apply directly themselves.

Requirements

Candidates must have the support of medical school program directors in order to be considered for a DIRECT program. They must also have already completed two years of clinical training in a related medical field or successfully completed medical school.

Duration of the DIRECT Course

DIRECT courses are only available at select medical schools around the United States. Once a candidate is accepted at one of the DIRECT programs, he will have a total of four years of diagnostic and interventional radiological training, plus undertake one year of clinical practice.

Diagnostic Imaging Training

Twenty-seven months of diagnostic imaging training is required during the DIRECT course. Diagnostic imaging entails specialized training in obtaining and interpreting medical images using available technologies ranging from sonography to MRI. The aim is to diagnose medical conditions successfully.

Vascular and Interventional Training

Nine months of vascular and interventional training is required, plus a 12-month fellowship. Interventional radiology uses minimally invasive interventional techniques to treat cardiovascular conditions through the use of angiography, angioplasty and stents. Other medical conditions such as fibroids and abscesses can be treated with the help of accurate imaging techniques.

Examinations

Candidates will take an initial certificate exam in diagnostic radiology in their final year of training and a sub-certification examination in VIR at the end of their year of clinical practice.

Tags: DIRECT program, clinical practice, clinical training, diagnostic interventional, Diagnostic Interventional Radiology, Enhanced Clinical Training, interventional radiology

Federal Law On Medical Records Retention Requirements

How long to do you have to keep them?

In 1996, Congress passed the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act--HIPAA--which set national standards for handling of electronic medical records, including restricting who has access to them and how long records have to be retained before they're destroyed. HIPAA isn't the only federal program that sets record-retention requirements, and many states have set their own stricter standards for how long records must be preserved. HMOs and groups such as the American Medical Association may set added requirements based on what they consider necessary.

HIPAA

The American Speech and Hearing Association says members who are covered by HIPAA must keep medical records on file for 6 years. If a patient dies, records must be kept for 2 years after his death. Health plans and healthcare providers who transmit records electronically are covered by HIPAA.

Medicare and Medicaid

Medicare requires healthcare providers to retain records for Medicare patients for 5 years; if the provider is covered by HIPAA, the HIPAA 6-year requirement takes precedence. Medicaid requirements vary by state.

Non-HIPAA Information

If a medical practice falls outside HIPAA, other federal rules apply. The American Health Information Management Association has a downloadable list on its website covering rules for laboratory tests, radiology labs, mammographies and other tests.

Tags: covered HIPAA, healthcare providers, long records, medical records, records must

The Steps To Becoming A Licensed Radiographer In Ohio

The need for radiographers or radiologic technologists in Ohio will increase by more than 11 percent from 2008 through 2018, according to the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. To enter the field, prospective radiographers must gain a license from the Ohio Department of Health. The steps you must take to earn this licensure depend upon your previous experience and education.

Registration Route

One path to radiographer licensing in Ohio is through obtaining the Registered Radiologic Technologist certification offered through the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists. To begin this route, you must first attend a radiography education program approved by the ARRT. As of January 2011, 29 colleges in Ohio had such programs, most of which lasted around two years. Next, obtain an application from the ARRT website, complete it and return it to the ARRT by mail along with the necessary registration fee. As of January 2011, this fee was $200. You will then receive verification from the ARRT that you are eligible to complete the required examination. Contact the nearest Pearson Vue Testing Center or visit Pearson's online website to schedule a date and time for your examination. Eight centers were located in Ohio as of January 2011.

Out-of-State License Route

If you have a license as a radiographer from another state, you qualify for licensing in Ohio, provided your credentials are not expired. For this path to licensure, simply make a copy of your unexpired license from another state. If you no longer have a copy of your license, you can typically request a duplicate from the agency that issued the licensing. States may charge a fee for a duplicate license.

Education and Exam Route

For the third path to certification, you can attend a radiography training program at any college or university that has regional accreditation from an organization approved by the U.S. Department of Education. When you successfully finish your course, you can obtain a registration form for the Ohio state radiography examination or contact the Ohio Department of Health by phone to receive one. Complete the form and return it to the Cleveland Clinic at that address provided on the form along with the required fee, which was $165 as of January 2010. You will then receive notification that you are eligible to take the examination. Then, you can select a date to take the test. You will need to travel to the Quest Business Center in Columbus, Ohio, to take the examination.

Other Steps

Once you have completed one set of steps toward radiography licensing in Ohio, the final step is to formally apply for licensing. To do this, visit the Ohio Department of Health website, where complete the application online or download and print an application. You must pay an initial application fee either online with a credit card or by mail with the paper form. As of January 2011, the amount of the fee was $45.

Tags: January 2011, Ohio Department, Department Health, licensing Ohio, Ohio Department Health, along with

Survive Tough Economic Times With Your Dog

Survive Tough Economic Times With Your Dog

When you are facing tough economic times-there is no need for your best friend to go with less or to go without. Your dog has some basic needs that can be tended to at a discount. Your dog's needs are: exercise, food, training, veterinary care, social contact and grooming. Here are some ways to take care of those needs when you are facing tough economic times.

Instructions

1. The first thing most people think about when it comes to tough economic times with a dog is being able to afford food. There are ways that you can feed your dog without spending a lot of money, yet also provide maximum health.

Fifty years ago, there was no such thing as commercial dog food. The dog ate whatever the family was eating. A lot of experts think this is much healthier for a dog. How can food that can be stored on a shelf for up to six months provide all of the nutrients for your dog? I strongly believe that leftover fruits, vegetables and meat is good for your dog. Anytime you have overripe fruit (except grapes and raisins) vegetables and chicken, fish or beef, add it to your dog's regular food. Supplementing with leftovers will reduce the amount of food needed from the bag.

2. Check if there is a low-cost spay and neuter clinic in your area. These have become very popular and many also provide quality veterinary services at a reduced cost.

3. Provide proper training; this is one of the best ways to ensure that your dog lives a long, happy life. Most people don't know this, but the number one reason for dogs being put to sleep in the United States is behavior problems. There are some excellent training programs that you can get for a very low cost on the Internet (see Resources below for recommendations).

4. Keep your dog properly groomed with a few simple grooming tools. For short coat breeds (terriers), all you need is some shampoo and conditioner, cotton balls to clean the ears and a nail trimmer.

Dogs with longer coats require the same, but you will need a slicker brush, and I also recommend a Furminator if your dog sheds a lot.

5. Get a group of friends together to form a play group for your dogs. Dogs are extremely social animals and need to interact with people and other dogs. Meeting at least once a week will provide them with all of their social needs.

6. Keep a positive attitude. The tough times will pass-and when they do-you will be much happier knowing that you can get through them together.

Tags: tough economic, also provide, Economic Times, facing tough, facing tough economic, Survive Tough, Survive Tough Economic

Bodybuild With Breast Implants

Breast implants can make your body appear more balanced.

Bodybuilding is a way to transform the body. Whether you just enjoy the look of a bodybuilding physique, or plan to compete in the sport, it is an investment in time or money. For female bodybuilders, losing breast tissue often happens. It just happens when the body fat goes down exceptionally low. Getting breast implants is complicated, cosmetic surgery. Before getting the surgery, consider multiple factors about bodybuild with breast implants.

Instructions

1. Get full clearance from your doctor. Do not begin bodybuilding until you have full clearance from the doctor that performed the surgery. The recommendation is to wait at least eight weeks after surgery before lifting weights.

2. Lift lighter weights than you are used to when training your chest and shoulder areas. Lifting excessively heavy weight can cause an breast implant blow out. Avoid any jerky moves as it can shift the implants.

3. Gradually increase the weight of your chest or shoulder exercises. You may still want to keep it lighter when you bodybuild than what you lifted before the breast implants. Pay attention to your body and visit the doctor if there are concerns.

Tags: breast implants, chest shoulder, clearance from, full clearance, full clearance from, your body

Illinois State Guidelines For Medicaid

Medicaid is an option for Illinois residents who cannot afford private health insurance or are not eligible for benefits through their employer. Although federally-funded, each state offers its own Medicaid program. If you are interested in applying for Medicaid, you must meet certain requirements. After determining if you are eligible, visit your local Illinois Department of Human Services in person or online to apply.

Eligibility

Medicaid is available to children, parents or caretakers of children in the household, pregnant women, medically needy, elderly, disabled or blind and those with breast or cervical cancer. Medicaid covers nursing home costs for seniors who require long-term treatment.

Income

For some eligibility groups, the income limit is based on household size. You cannot exceed a certain percentage of the federal poverty level (FPL). For example, if you are applying for a child in a household with two parents, the limit is 133 percent of the FPL, which is $24,352 a year for a household of three in 2011. Medically needy adults cannot earn more than 40 percent of the FPL. A medically needy individual is one who qualifies for Medicaid after deducting their medical expenses from monthly income. If you are applying for an infant, you are allowed up to 200 percent of the FPL. All sources of income, both earned and unearned, are considered.

Assets

Illinois Medicaid restricts the amount of assets an applicant can have to be deemed eligible. Pregnant women and children do not have asset limits. If you are applying for nursing home assistance, you cannot exceed $2,000 in countable assets for an individual or $3,000 for a couple. A medicaid spend-down is an option for those who have too many resources to qualify. A spend-down is the process of reducing assets to qualify for coverage. Your home, vehicle and personal possessions are not included in the asset limit.

Documents

Medicaid will require certain documents to process your application. You must supply proof of identity and citizenship, such as a birth certificate, government-issued identification card or immigration documents. You will need to provide Social Security numbers for all household members. Medicaid will require proof of all assets, including bank accounts and vehicles. Recent pay stubs and bank statements are also needed.

Tags: cannot exceed, Medicaid will, Medicaid will require, nursing home, will require

University Of Phoenix Admission Requirements

The University of Phoenix offers traditional and online classes.

The University of Phoenix is the largest private university in the United States with 400,000 enrolled students (as of early 2011). It offers more than 100 degree programs at more than 200 locations scattered across 42 states. The university also offers online courses internationally. It has certain admission requirements for its undergraduate, master's and doctoral degree programs as well as language, state-specific and program-specific requirements.

Undergraduate Degree Program Requirements

Prospective students applying for University of Phoenix undergraduate programs need to have a high school diploma, General Education Development (GED), California High School Proficiency Examination Certificate or a foreign equivalent. They must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents, or have a valid visa if studying on a U.S. campus.

Prospective undergraduate students also must provide all required forms as well as official transcripts and test scores from universities and colleges they previously attended.

Some programs require undergraduates to be employed. Applicants may contact an enrollment adviser to find out whether that is required for them.

Master's Degree Program Requirements

Graduate school applicants face additional admission requirements.

Applicants to the university's master's degree programs must have an undergraduate degree from an approved and regionally or nationally accredited college or university. A comparable degree from a recognized institution outside the United States is also accepted. They must have a grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.5 indicated on their official undergraduate transcript. Besides the transcript, they must submit all other required forms.

Applicants also must have at least three years of full-time, post-high school work experience. Some of the school's programs have other, specific requirements.

Applicants must be employed or have access to an organizational environment that requires them to apply their skills.

Doctoral Degree Program Requirements

Applicants to a University of Phoenix doctoral degree program must have a master's degree from an approved regionally or nationally accredited college or university. A comparable degree from a recognized institution outside the United States is also accepted. They also must have a GPA of at least 3.0 as indicated on their transcript.

Applicants also must have at least three years of professional work experience in a leadership position. Some of the university's doctoral programs have other, specific requirements.

Doctoral program applicants must have a laptop with Internet access, membership in a research library and a signed university hardware/software agreement.

State-Specific Requirements

Individuals from Nevada and South Carolina applying for University of Phoenix undergraduate programs must submit high school graduation documentation.

Residents of Oklahoma and Tennessee applying for undergraduate or master's degree programs at the school must submit immunization documentation if they apply for campus-based programs.

Program-Specific Requirements

Several University of Phoenix programs have additional requirements. They include: licensed practical nurse to bachelor of science in nursing, licensed vocational nurse to bachelor of science in nursing and registered nurse to bachelor of science in nursing.

Additional requirements also apply to master of arts in education, master of science in nursing, doctor of philosophy in industrial/organizational psychology, doctor of business administration and doctor of philosophy in nursing.

Language Requirements

Non-native English speakers must take a language test.

Non-native English speakers applying for undergraduate or master's degree programs must pass the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the Test of English as an International Communication (TOEIC), the Berlitz Online English Proficiency Exam or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).

Non-native English speakers applying for doctoral degree programs must have a minimum score of 213 on TOEFL or 550 on the Berlitz test. They also provide copies of transcripts as well as translations if necessary.

Tags: must have, University Phoenix, degree programs, also must, degree from

Prototype System Development

Prototyping is useful for developing systems when requirements are not well-known.

In the past, system development processes relied heavily on individual skill sets to define requirements, design systems, and complete tasks. Because this type of ad hoc development is often unpredictable and can lead to poor system definition, many models have been developed that you can use to improve productivity, reduce errors and help ensure accurate system delivery. One of these models, known as prototyping, is based on the assumption that a system's requirements are difficult to understand upfront. It employs a repetitive approach that incorporates stakeholder input.

Instructions

1. Define the new system's requirements in as much detail as possible, especially by interviewing the users, also known as stakeholders, who represent the various aspects of the new system. Typically, the set of defined requirements does not comprise all the final system requirements.

2. Design the prototype based on the requirements subset. During prototype design, more information may result in more requirements to include.

3. Develop the prototype. The gathered requirements are rolled into a simplified version of the final system. A prototype may be a working model, a paper product, a modification to an existing system, or a presentational prototype created to identify additional requirements.

4. Present the prototype to the stakeholders and customers, assessing it and gathering comments and suggestions. Typically, a prototype presentation results in more requirements, although it may also led to deleting requirements or abandoning the working prototype.

5. Refine the prototype based on the feedback gathered from the prototype presentation, adding functions to meet the new requirements. This step may be repeated many times in conjunction with stakeholder assessments until you have the final prototype.

6. Develop and deliver the system. Although the prototyping process often results in a complete list of system requirements to use in development, it may result in a working model that is a cornerstone of the final system.

Tags: system requirements, final system, more requirements, prototype based, prototype presentation

Mri Schools In South Florida

Become an MRI technologist

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a technology used to take high resolution images of the body to help doctors diagnose a wide range of conditions including cancer, hernias and ulcers. MRI is so precise that it can point out deformities that measure in the micron range, which is one-millionth of a meter. With the health care industry so dominant in South Florida, there is high demand for MRI technologists and several opportunities to receive the necessary training. However, MRI is a sub-specialization of the broader field of radiological technology, so previous training in radiology is required. If you do not have previous radiology training, then you should look into radiological technology or diagnostic imaging programs, of which there are many across South Florida.

MRI Education Group

MRI Education Group offers both on site and online MRI courses as well as practical hands-on clinical experience. The prerequisites include graduation from an approved Diagnostic Imaging program and registration with ARDMS (American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography) among other requirements. For the 2010 course offerings, a complete package including the full course load and 100 hours of clinical practice will cost $3,200. Courses are all offered on Saturdays and can be completed in 10 weeks.

MRI Education Group Inc.

11801 SW 90th Street, Suite 102

Miami, FL 33186

305-828-4398

mricourses.com

Institute of Allied Medical Professions

Located in Delray Beach, the Institute of Allied Medical Professions (IAMP) offers a 6-month specialization program fro registered sonographers and a two-year program for those who have no previous radiography training. A personal meeting with an admissions counselor is required before enrolling so the school can ensure you choose the right program.

IAMP

5150 Linton Boulevard

Suite 340

Delray Beach, FL 33484

561-381-4990

iamp.edu

Palm Beach Community College

Palm Beach Community College offers an advanced technical certificate program in Magnetic Resonance Imaging. The program consists of five courses over two semesters. As with the other specialization programs listed above, this program requires previous certification as a radiological technician.

Palm Beach State College

4200 Congress Avenue

Lake Worth, FL 33461

561-868-3350

pbcc.edu

Tags: Education Group, Palm Beach, South Florida, Allied Medical, Allied Medical Professions, Beach Community

Make Real Looking Breast Forms

Homemade breast forms give the appearance of cleavage.

Whether you're making a costume, enhancing your appearance or balancing the effects of a mastectomy, making homemade breast forms proves easy to do at home. You only need a few basic materials to make breast forms that are cheaper than expensive commercial pads and falsies. Making your own gives you the ability to fill out some of your favorite outfits with ease.

Instructions

Instructions

1. Place your bra, front side down on the sheet of tracing paper. Trace the cups with the marker.

2. Cut out the traced cups from the paper.

3. Place the traced paper cups over a sheet of satin fabric. Cut four pieces of fabric matching the cutouts.

4. Place one of the fabric cutouts down flat in front of you. Layer about an inch of batting over the fabric. Batting is commonly used in quilting and can be found at fabric stores.

5. Squeeze a thin line of glue along the edges of the satin cutout. Use glue that can survive being washed, if possible. If you know sew, you could place the right sides of two cutouts together with one batting cutout on the outside of one of the forms and pin to hold it together while you sew. Sew 1/2 inch from the edge around the form, leaving a space large enough to turn the form inside out. Slipstitch seam to close. Repeat with the other two cutouts. If you choose this method, you may want to add an extra half inch around the form to allow for the seam width.

6. Press a second cutout over the first, encasing the cotton batting. Press the edges together to adhere them.

7. Repeat steps 4 through 6 with the other two satin cutouts to create homemade breast forms.

8. Insert the breast forms into your bra to enhance the look of your bust.

Tags: breast forms, around form, homemade breast, homemade breast forms, with other

What Are The Benefits & Consequences Of Genetic Testing

Genetic testing begins with blood being drawn.

There are many reasons and ways that genetic testing is done, such as diagnostic testing, pre-symptomatic testing, carrier testing, prenatal testing and newborn screening. You should talk to your family before undergoing the test to get an idea of what they think about it and how they will handle your results. Genetic testing is not painful; it is usually done by taking a blood sample or swabbing the inside of your cheek. There are different views on genetic testing. Some think it is a good idea, while others see serious drawbacks.

Benefits

Genetic testing can have several benefits, such as helping you identify any genetic defects. It will help a woman identify any major problems during a pregnancy. Some diseases might be treatable, you might be able to keep from dying an early death and you can find out if you have or might pass on a certain genetic problem.

Negative Consequences

Genetic testing has some negative consequences, including parents who are expecting to choose what traits they want or do not want their child to have. Genetic testing is not 100 percent accurate, and some people feel it is an invasion of privacy.

Things to Consider

Genetic testing is not for everyone, but if you or your family have a history of serious medical conditions, it is definitely something to consider. There are positive and negative consequences with genetic testing; you should consider all options and decide if this is right for you. The results of genetic testing are not just going to affect you, they will affect everyone around you.

Tags: Genetic testing, Consequences Genetic, genetic testing, negative consequences, they will, your family