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Updated December 3, 2015
WHAT'S UP?—Dog-to-Dog Greetings
Camille Ward, MS, PhD, CAAB
What's in a dog greeting? Popular opinions on what dog-to-dog greetings look like and what they may mean abound, but there is a scarcity of data on the topic. Understanding the form and structure of greetings are prerequisites to hypotheses testing of function. Through observations and data collected on greetings at a dog park in Ann Arbor, MI, I will present the results of a pilot project aimed at systematically describing off-leash greeting behavior between dogs. I collected data based on dyadic interactions and measured variables related to initiations, sniffing, potential status (using body posture indicators), and interaction outcome. Such data could be used to further work on greeting behaviors from both evolutionary (comparative) and applied perspectives.
The Validity of a Fake Dog for Assessing Dog Sociability in Dogs from Rescue Hoarders
Pamela Reid, PhD, CAAB and Sharon Wirant, MA, ACAAB, KPA CTP, CPDT, CBCC-KA
Evaluating intraspecies sociability in shelter dogs is time consuming, risky and requires suitable stimulus dogs. Variation in stimulus dogs is also likely to strongly influence test dogs' reactions. To avoid these complications, more and more shelters are opting to use a fake dog as a stand-in for a real dog. However, Shabelansky et al. (2015) found that a fake dog was only useful for identifying friendly behavior. When it came to fearful or aggressive behavior, there was little agreement between test dogs' reactions to the fake and real dogs. In contrast, Reid et al. (unpublished) found a reasonable correlation between responses to fake and real dogs in a large population of dogs seized from a dogfighting case. In this study, we examined the validity of the fake dog for evaluating dogs removed from rescue hoarding situations.
Relationship Between Scarring and Dog Aggression in Gamebred Pit Bull Type Dogs
Katherine Miller, PhD, CAAB, CPDT and Pamela Reid, PhD CAAB
The ASPCA Anti-Cruelty Behavior Team and Forensics Sciences departments deploy nationally to large scale cases of animal cruelty, such as dogfighting. The behavior team evaluates the behavior of the animals, including dog-dog aggression, while the forensic medical team evaluates the health and condition of the animals, including the presence of wounds and scars. To our knowledge, no analysis has been conducted to determine the relationship between the presence and extent of wounds or scarring and dog aggression among dogs seized from professional or amateur dogfighters. Heavily scarred dogs are often assumed to be highly dog aggressive as the result of a history of being pitted against other dogs. However it has been observed that many dogs seized from dogfighting investigations, including some bearing scars, are not aggressive to other dogs in their behavior evaluation. On the other hand, some dogs with no or very few scars have been found to have dog-aggressive tendencies. Having information concerning the validity of utilizing the extent of scarring as a proxy for dog aggression would assist animal welfare organizations in making more informed decisions with respect to disposition, and potentially reduce the euthanasia of non-dog aggressive pit bull type dogs. The ASPCA conducted an analysis of data on injuries observed and behavior towards other dogs, using information already gathered by the behavior and forensic medical teams during four criminal dogfighting cases. This study examined the strength of the relationship between these variables, and whether location of scarring on the dog's body, age, and sex of the dog are factors in this relationship.
Why Social Separation in Animals Hurts: Examining the Neurocognitive Overlap Between Physical and Social Pain
Franklin D. McMillan, DVM
Research in humans and nonhuman animals has provided compelling evidence that social pain and physical pain rely on shared neurobiological substrates. Substantial neuropsychological and neuroimaging research in humans has revealed that the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) and anterior insula, brain regions known for their role in processing the affective unpleasantness of physical pain, are also activated during the unpleasant experience of social separation. The dACC has also been shown to relate to social pain distress in nonhuman mammals. For example, ablating the dACC in squirrel monkeys eliminates the production of distress vocalizations, and lesions of the ACC in macaques leads to decreases in affiliative behavior. Conversely, electrical stimulation of the dACC leads to the production of distress vocalizations in rhesus monkeys. Furthermore, in animals and humans, physical and social pain are alleviated many of the same interventions. Studies provide evidence that an enhanced sensitivity to physical pain accompanies an enhanced sensitivity to social pain in humans. Perhaps most intriguing, acetaminophen – a drug effective in alleviating physical pain – has recently been found to alleviate social pain in humans.
With evidence that in humans and animals social pain can actually be more distressing than physical pain, these findings have profound consequences for the well-being of all social animals. But of special concern is social pain in the domestic dog. It is now generally assumed that domestication in dogs enhanced the dependency on and attachment to humans, which would imply a strengthening of the social bonding emotions. This would suggest the likelihood that social pain may be more intense in socially deprived dogs than in other species.
A better understanding of the neuropsychology of physical and social pain may lead to improved care for social animals as well as new therapies to alleviate the emotional suffering association with social deprivation.
Small Animal Veterinarians Perspective On Behavioral Diagnoses For Use Of Fluoxetine
Gagandeep Kaur, DVM and Victoria Voith, DVM, MSc, MA, PhD, DACVB
Dogs and cats are frequently presented to veterinarians for behavioral problems and psychopharmacological treatment. Arriving at a differential or definitive diagnosis for behavioral problems, based on the history and signs described by the owners can be a challenge for the general veterinary practitioner. Our preliminary study showed the use of fluoxetine for a wide range of behavioral disorders in dogs and cats, but how practitioners arrive at behavioral diagnoses is not clear. Subsequently data was collected from small animal veterinarians who agreed to participate further in the study. They were asked to describe what behaviors did they consider indicative of their diagnoses. Specific behaviors used by the practitioners to reach the diagnoses were described. The practitioners also provided additional information on diagnostic criteria and terminology to describe behaviors. For dogs, 40 anxiety related problems were described by 32 practitioners. For cats, 25 problems related to feline elimination behaviors were described by19 practitioners. The questions regarding reaching the behavioral diagnoses were answered in a variety of ways. Behavioral signs and terminology varied widely among the participants. This study shows a variety of terminology used by the general practitioners in veterinary behavior medicine. This demonstrates the importance of obtaining exact descriptions of behaviors when communicating behavior problems among interdisciplinary professionals.
Maximizing the Fear Extinction Process
Mindy Waite, PhD
A variety of client cases require the planning of fear extinction procedures by the behaviorist, which must then be implemented by the client. Because the client typically has limited time and energy, it is critical that the procedural setup is optimized as much as possible. This requires a familiarity with the most recent and/or relevant research on fear extinction procedures and processes. This presentation will cover basic and applied research on the processes of fear acquisition and extinction as well as fear extinction procedures to provide a background for effective extinction planning.
Less Stress for Veterinary Patients
Ellen Lindell, VMD, DACVB
There are many consequences of fear and distress in animals. While well studied in shelters and laboratories, the consequences of distress on animals at the veterinary hospital has received little formal discussion. This oversight is changing rapidly, and the Fear Free movement is underway.
This talk will discuss documented support for the need to reduce patient distress when veterinary treatment is required. The first step is to help clients and veterinarians recognize signs of distress in veterinary patients. Also included will be a discussion of the Fear Free movement. Progress to date as well as future plans will be discussed.
Clients need to learn how to advocate for their pets, gently approaching their veterinarians when they feel their pet is unnecessarily uncomfortable. Trainers can work with their local veterinarians, offering services designed to teach patients skills that will facilitate handling. Discussion will include ideas for networking with clinicians to assure that bad does not stay normal in the veterinary setting.
Comparative Trauma in People and Dogs—From Diagnosing to Treating
Patricia McConnell, PhD, CAAB
Psychological Trauma is defined as an event or experience that completely overwhelms an individual's ability to cope. This presentation will initiate an inquiry into three basic questions related to trauma dogs:
* If we accept that both dogs and people can be traumatized, (which I will argue), how would our experiences be similar? How would they be different? [And how would the answers to that question help us understand it in dogs?]
* What can treatments for human victims of trauma teach us about treating trauma in dogs? What about the other direction—from dogs to people?
* What do we know, both from science and anecdotal experience, that can help us evaluate the practice of using dogs help people recover from trauma? [There might not be time for this issue, but I add it here in case we do.]
I would like this presentation to include a lot of discussion about these issues, from understanding the effects of psychological trauma in mammals, to discussions about how to help dogs recover from it.
Hunters Helpers, Dumpster Divers, and Man's Best Friend: A Novel Account for the Origin of Dogs
Clive Wynne, PhD
Where we believe dogs came from informs what we think dogs are and how we should best live with them. In the last decade, an account of the origin of dogs that is at least as old as Darwin has experienced a resurgence. According to Pat Shipman, Mark Derr, John Franklin and others, dogs arose when people selected the most tractable wolf pups to be the parents of the next generation and, by artificial selection, created dogs. This idea was opposed by Ray and Lorna Coppinger 15 years ago, and their arguments are as valid against Shipman, Derr, Franklin as they were against earlier advocates of this viewpoint. However, the Coppingers' position, that dogs arose as a byproduct of agriculture in the Neolithic, has not stood up to the accumulating evidence for dogs prior to the onset of agriculture. I will present a new view of the origins of dogs that leans heavily on the ideas of Angela Perri, of the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig. Perri recognizes that phenotypic dogs arose before the end of the last ice age; they did not, however, become valuable to people until the climate warmed and humans needed assistance hunting in the denser forests that arose at that time. At no stage did humans intentionally select among wolves – and yet the result was a companion as versatile and practical as anything that has fallen into human hands since.
Citizen Science — Fad or Meaningful Endeavor for Researchers and the Public?
Julie Hecht, MSc
If it seems like you're hearing the term 'citizen science' more and more, it's because you are. Citizen scientists not only help researchers monitor the sky — classifying galaxies and tracking bird migration — and the land — identifying wild animals via camera traps — but citizen science is increasingly making its way into companion animal studies. This talk orients animal behavior professionals to the growing field of citizen science and will help you answer the question, "Should my next project include citizen science?"
This talk provides a general overview of the citizen science field, from its early days to today. I highlight the field's overarching principles — which traditionally include benefits to both researchers and the public — and discuss notable issues like study design and data quality. Finally, I compare citizen science to more traditional research approaches using a few companion animal projects as a guide. Is citizen science something to recommend to a friend or to consider for your next project? This talk provides the background for an informed position.
Hecht, J. & Cooper, C.B. 2014. Tribute to Tinbergen: Public engagement in ethology. Ethology, 120, 207–214.
Turning Practitioners into Scientists: Research Designs for Applied Animal Behaviorists
Erica Feurbacher, PhD
Typically, group research designs require large sample sizes for adequate statistical control, precluding many applied animal behavior practitioners from not only being able to scientifically assess their own practices but also from contributing to the larger scientific field. Our field could expand greatly in its knowledge base and better identify best practices if practitioners could more easily contribute scientifically to our field. In the field of applied human behavioral science, clinicians working with human populations contribute regularly to the scientific enterprise and assess the experimental control of their own clinical practices. This field has been able to turn practitioners into scientists through employing designs that allow for small n research which maintain, and even increase, the experimental rigor found in group designs. Moreover, such designs allow us to see individual variability and, because our field is based on treating the individual animal rather than the statistical average animal, these designs allow us to parse out critical variables that can influence the effectiveness of our treatment for different individuals. These designs are so useful that the medical field is also making a push for clinicians and clinical trials to use small n designs. In this talk, I will discuss the basic small n designs, including reversal, multiple baseline, and multielement designs, as well as their strengths and limitations, how they can be creatively combined to meet practitioners' needs, and how practitioners can usefully implement them.
Getting It Right: Canine Research and the Academic Covenant of the Lit Review
Janis Bradley
During the decades I spent teaching undergraduates, one situation I was never able to confront with equanimity was the student paper that filled me with the conviction that the student had spent less time and attention writing it than I was spending responding to it. Since I became a serious student of the dog bite and canine aggression literature, I often experience the same conviction that I am spending more time examining the references in the lit reviews than the author did. This is not simply the schoolmarm's pet peeve. The lit review is the foundation supporting the entire structure of any research endeavor. It establishes not just the prior attempts to address the question at hand or related ones, but the underlying assumptions on the subject, the premises from which the authors reason to their conclusions which usually include the social or humane benefit of doing the research in the first place. Yet when a careful reader pulls on these threads, she too often finds that the author has used material from an abstract or even just a title which on closer examination doesn't faithfully represent actual findings in the body of the paper. In other cases, a writer may present an offhand comment from the text as a concrete finding, or present repetition as replication, or even attribute findings to a paper that actually includes no mention of the topic. This presentation will use the dog bite and canine aggression literature, where the consequences of getting it wrong are transparently dire for dogs, as an example to suggest best practices for responsibly performing this crucial part of the research process, and to foster a healthy level of critical reading in the consumers of the dog behavior literature. Participants will be encouraged to share their experiences in both roles.
Judging a Dog by Its Cover: Morphology but Not Training Influences Visitor Behavior towards Kenneled Dogs at Animal Shelters
Sasha Protopopova, PhD, CPDT
Currently, visitor behavior in companion animal shelters is not adequately explored. A sequence of experiments investigated how visitors interacted with kenneled dogs at an animal shelter and whether training dogs to exhibit appropriate behavior in their kennels would evoke more interest from shelter visitors. Two sides of an animal shelter were differentially entered into training phases in a multiple baseline design. During the training phase, dogs were trained to exhibit appropriate in-kennel behavior. Visitors attended to approximately 35% of kenneled dogs and only spent an average of 15 s looking at individual dogs. We found that whereas training was effective in decreasing undesirable behavior in dogs, only morphology influenced visitor behavior. Morphologically preferred dogs (i.e., puppies, long-coated dogs, small dogs, and certain breeds) had a 1.3 times higher frequency of visits to their kennel and had a 9 times higher frequency of being taken out of their kennel for further inspection compared to other dogs. These results suggest that shelter visitors pay much more attention to morphology rather than behavior of kenneled dogs.
The Mistaken Ubiquity of Lab Mixes: How DNA is Changing What We Thought We Knew About Shelter Dogs
Lisa Gunter, MA, CBCC-KA, CPDT
Dog breed identification in shelters is often based upon the relinquishing owner's claims or determination by staff looking at the animal. Previous research has indicated discrepancies between breed identification assessed by welfare agencies and the results of DNA analysis. In this two-site study, we analyzed the breed heritage of nearly 1000 shelter dogs to better understand who these dogs really are and what effect DNA-derived breed assignment could have on the adoption process. While providing MARS Wisdom Panel information to potential adopters did not have a significant impact on adoption rates, the far more interesting story is that shelter canines have much more varied and complex breed identities than we could have imagined. In this presentation, I'll discuss what breeds were identified at each shelter, the prevalence of the different breeds identified, the degree to which individual breeds were present – and how these results provide further evidence that breed identification of mixed breed dogs at animal shelters is inherently complex at best, and, at worst, untenable.
Food Aggression Tests in Shelter Dogs: Do We Need Them?
Amy Marder, PhD, CAAB
Two recent studies (Marder A et al, 2014; Mohan-Gibbons et al, 2012) have shown that when a dog demonstrates food aggression on a behavior evaluation in the shelter it often does not display the same behavior in the home after adoption. In addition, food aggression is not a barrier to adoption or the formation of healthy human-canine bonds. Although the studies show that the presence of food aggression is often not considered a problem to adopters, some shelters continue to consider food aggressive dogs unadoptable and euthanize them.
In 2014, the Dumb Friends League in Denver discontinued testing their dogs for food aggression. Before and after data was collected on adoptions, euthanasia, live release rate, return rate, length of stay. Data was also collected on bite reports in the shelter and in dogs after adoption. There were no differences found.
The ASPCA has started a study with a number of shelters who are willing to discontinue the food aggression test. Before and after data is currently being collected.
If little difference is found in the before and after data do you feel comfortable recommending the discontinuation of food aggression tests in shelter dogs? What about the other tests in the behavior evaluation?
Rehabilitating Homeless Undersocialized, Fearful Dogs – A 2-Year Update
Kristen Collins, MS, CPDT, ACAAB; Katherine Miller, PhD, CAAB, CPDT; Pia Silvani, CPDT, CCBC; Pamela Reid, PhD CAAB
Dog victims of cruelty are sometimes so behaviorally traumatized by their experiences that they are not suitable for adoption. Those often find their way to the ASPCA's Behavior Rehabilitation Center, a facility dedicated to the study and rehabilitation of fearful, undersocialized dogs. The Rehab Center collects a wide variety of behavioral data to ensure that we capture of the effects of treatment and progress over time. These data include a survey completed pre-intake, at graduation, and after adoption; behavior evaluations every 3 weeks; daily treatment data; aggregate treatment progress reports every 3 weeks; total number of treatments; length of stay; and disposition. Research goals are to determine if we can predict future rehab success at intake or after 9 weeks of treatment. We will discuss our progress in this quest and how results to date are being applied to refine procedures at the Rehab Center.
Rethinking the "A" word. Are Pet Owners Ahead of the Curve on Aggression? Is Conflict a Synonym for Aggression? Does or Does Not "Dominance Aggression" Exist in Dogs?
Victoria Voith, DVM, MSc, MA, PhD, DACVB; Amy Marder, PhD, CAAB; Janis Bradley
It's time to get a conversation started about de-pathologizing aggression, particularly human directed conflict behaviors. The discussion must start by making distinctions according to actual harm, e.g., a growl is not an "attack," and a nip is not a "mauling." Incidence of conflict behaviors tells us little about actual injury incidence. Low bite reporting rates often decried in studies may actually reflect appropriately proportional responses on the part of regular people, as may the lack of concern about food guarding among adopters. This panel will provide case examples, encourage contributions, and lead a discussion regarding realistic and appropriate ways to frame and respond to canine conflict behaviors.
A CAAB, DVM, LVT and CPDT Walk Into a Bar …: Building Partnerships in the Animal Behavior Community
Amanda Florsheim, DVM; Jessica Lockhart, MS, PhD; Cathy Painter-Rigdon, LVT, CBCC-KA; Fanna Easter, CPDT, KPA CTP, ACDBC, ABCDT-L2
Most communities are seeing an increase in the number and types of professionals available to work with pets with behavior problems. With this increasing number of professionals in a community, some isolate themselves to protect their client base. Rather than isolate ourselves, we should partner together for the betterment of our patients and clients. We feel that each professional can bring different strengths to a case for the betterment of the patient, client as well as the professionals working with the dog. Through case studies, we will demonstrate how each of us have contributed to a patient's benefit compared to any of us working with the clients and patients alone. The presentation will include actionable items and suggestions on how to implement these items.
Your Place or Mine: The Effect of Setting on Behavior Consulting Process and Treatment
Suzanne Hetts, PhD, CAAB, CVJ; John Wright, PhD, CAAB; Dan Estep, PhD, CAAB; Mary Lee Nitschke, PhD, CAAB, CPDT
Behaviorists, behavior consultants and trainers have the option of offering their services in a variety of settings. Offering clients in-home, office, telephone, or even email or Skype consulting options has usually been a matter of personal preference, expediency, availability, and what the client is willing to pay. Opinions also vary about the value of having pet owners acquire video of various aspects of their pets' behavior.
Are there more definitive and objective criteria we can use to suggest to a client which option would be best for an individual situation OR why, as individual consultants, we might choose to forego some settings and not others? Sociology and anthropology define "participant observation" – a technique of field research by which a participant observer studies the life of a group by sharing in its activities. Does that describe our role during in-person consultations? Or are we active or passive observers? And how does that differ from being a participant observer?
Does our presence in the home affect the pet's "natural environment" and is therefore detrimental to observing and understanding the nature of the behavior problem? Is an office appointment more beneficial because it allows us to gather information about the pet in a "novel" environment?
What about hands-on work with the pet during the appointment? Is demonstrating to pet owners a crucial aspect of what we do or is it just as effective, or more so, to refer to dog trainers for the hands-on component? Is this also personal preference or is there a theoretical model or actual "success rate" numbers we can apply comparing the two approaches?
We'll discuss these questions and others suggested by the audience during this panel presentation.
PTSD Dogs: Obstacles to Success
Karen London, PhD, CAAB, CPDT
In recent years, veterans with psychological service dogs have become a larger part of my caseload. The veterans typically have PTSD and some also have TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury.) The challenges of these cases are unusual compared with other types of cases for many reasons. There are very high and sometimes unrealistic expectations of the dogs by their owners. The dogs often come to the people with very little training. The people typically lack training skills themselves, and their psychological issues can make it challenging for them to care for their dogs and to train them. Many of the dogs do not have the emotional stability that predicts a high likelihood of success as a service dog. Several of my clients with a Native American heritage struggle with the negative views their culture has of dogs. I will discuss some cases to share the obstacles facing the creation and maintenance of successful service dog/veteran teams. I hope to encourage a discussion about meeting the challenges relating to service dogs for veterans.
Risky Business – Helping Shelters and Rescues Navigate Legal Risks involving Dog Bites and Euthanasia Practices
Heidi Meinzer, JD, CPDT-KSA, CNWI
The practical answer to the question "Can I be sued?" is always yes – but whether a plaintiff will succeed is a different question. Unfortunately, even when a defendant wins, litigation is an expensive and frustrating process. Dog bite claims have become more and more prevalent, constituting over one third of all homeowner insurance liability claims paid out in 2014. In litigation, defendants are often "judgment proof" or have insurance policy limits, which will push parties to be creative in finding another "deep pocket" to reach into. This has led to a number of lawsuits against localities, shelters and rescues, with claims of failing to act against a known aggressive dog or failing to warn about an adopted dog's behavior issues. At the same time, some jurisdictions and shelters have come under fire by No Kill proponents and animal advocates for euthanizing too much. These competing dilemmas create risk management landmines for rescues, shelters, and training and behavior staff. What are the actual legal risks involved, what is the proper balance, and how can rescues and shelters protect themselves? An animal law attorney will analyze recent cases and applicable laws to help navigate these risks.
Recommending Euthanasia
Melissa Shyan, PhD, CAAB
"You've done the best you could, you've given your pet the best life you could, and more chances than most people would have, you've tried everything, but…" We've all had to do it. We all hate to do it. We all know that sometimes owners will listen, and sometimes they won't accept the suggestion. When and how do you determine when to recommend euthanasia? Do you have a criterion? Is it "gut instinct" based on experience? We all know that it can be terribly hard to make the recommendation. How do you decide? What reasoning do you use? What reasoning do you give?
A brief review of relevant literature will be presented. Then a free flowing discussion will be attempted. IFAAB attendees, who are willing, will be asked to talk about how they determine to make that recommendation; i.e., when is "enough, enough.
A Different Approach to Group Classes for Puppies and Problem Dogs
Nancy Williams, MA, ACAAB, RVT and Mary Huntsberry, MA, ACAAB
While there is consensus in our field regarding importance of early training and socialization for puppies, opinions differ on how to teach the class, and the manner in which the puppies can interact with each other. There is little literature on the efficacy of the varying methods used to train puppies in a group setting.
Based on client' reports that despite past attendance at puppy classes, we were seeing cases of serious aggression toward people or dogs. Based on this, we designed puppy classes to attempt to thwart future problems! A number of the techniques used to solve behavior problems in these private cases are novel, often using a number of response prevention techniques during training while gradually increasing distractions. Using these techniques in our puppy classes has resulted in increased focus on the owner while "socializing" the puppies with other dogs, people, and even horses! Our classes are small, and limited to five puppies and owners.
Our talk will describe how classes are set up, handling of puppies is demonstrated, and practice maximizes the potential for progress. We hope that other behaviorists will find our methods useful and be able to work with groups that they had not previously considered. We look forward to group discussion of the overall topic.
Toys, Pets & Passion
Mark Hines
It's no surprise that top animal care professionals around the world are passionate about their careers. They have a keen understanding of the importance of play on an animal's physical, mental, and emotional development. My talk will explore best practices in using toys as tools for enrichment, rehabilitation, and behavior modification. It is vital when using toys to understand proper toy selection, supervision and safety, as well as the difference between quality and sub-par materials. This talk aims to bridge the gap between animal behavior and toy implementation while answering questions you may have regarding the connection between the two.
A Tale of Two Prison Dog Training Programs: Is Bigger Necessarily Better?
Lynne Gilbert-Norton, PhD, MSc
Canines with a Cause rescues and trains shelter dogs for public adoption and as potential service dogs for veterans with PTSD in the Utah Department of Corrections women's facility. In our yearlong pilot program, we have faced many challenges including constant changes in handlers, limited training and accommodation space, and demoralization. But we have also had successes; both objective and anecdotal, including the training of 21 dogs, a reduction in infractions and an increase in the sense of purpose and giving back by our 20 inmate handlers. We attribute much of our success with both the dogs and the inmates to the positive training methods we use. In looking to expand and improve our prison program by training more dogs and improving benefits for our inmate handlers, we recently visited an established dog program in Colorado that provides an impressive model for training programs in prison environments. In the span of 20 years, 159 male inmates have successfully trained approximately 10,000 dogs; and private clients send their dogs to board and train at the prison, which provides funding for the rescue work. Colorado relies on punitive methods to meet the time expectations of their training goals; however the sense of purpose and pride in achievement by the inmates is comparable. Could the success of their program be a function of using a training language and method that incarcerated inmates understand? Given state efforts on reform and rehabilitation within the prison system, isn't it time we encouraged a more positive approach in prison training programs?
Effect of Breed and Prior Odor Exposure on Dogs' Detection Performance
Nathaniel Hall, PhD
I will present three studies that explore variables related to canine odor detection performance. In the first study, we trained ten dogs each of three breeds (German Shepherds, Pugs, and Greyhounds) on an odor detection task in which we assessed acquisition of an odor discrimination, detectability of varying concentrations of an odorant, and performance on a control visual task. We found that Pugs outperformed the German Shepherds on odor acquisition and the dilution test, but showed similar performances on the control visual task. Greyhounds showed a general failure to participate. I will present on two additional studies that evaluate the effects of varying types of odor pre-exposure on subsequent detection performance. In the first study, we evaluated the effects of odor exposure on the acquisition rate of an odor discrimination. We found exposure alone had little effect, but pre-exposure in the form of Pavlovian conditioning facilitated acquisition compared to no-exposure. In a follow-up study, we demonstrate that odor Pavlovian conditioning, but not odor exposure alone, leads to greater odorant sensitivity, as measured by threshold detection of the odorant in a liquid-dilution olfactometer. To conclude, I will highlight what implications these results have for scent-training and will indicate what areas need further research.
Teaching New Tricks to Old and Young Dogs – Part 1
Rachel Gilchrist
People have been training dogs for centuries, yet very few empirical studies have directly compared different techniques for teaching dogs new behaviors. In this presentation we will report a comparison of three different ways to train young dogs to sit and stay. One group was trained with just a primary reinforcer (preferred food); one group was trained with a verbal marker accompanied by the primary reinforcer; and the final group was trained with a click sound – as promulgated by Pryor (1999) among others – followed by the primary reinforcer. Although previous studies have examined these positive reinforcement training methods, ours is the first to compare the three methods within one research design. The surprising results from this project will be presented and discussed.
Teaching New Tricks to Old and Young Dogs – Part 2
Sophie Raymond
We have developed a radial arm maze with which to test the memory of dogs of different ages. Dogs are the only non-primates to spontaneously develop a form of age-related cognitive decline similar to human Alzheimer's disease, but research into treatments for this tragic condition is stymied by the lack of sensitive measures of dog memory. We have developed protocols that clearly show age-related decline even in apparently normal healthy dogs. We also see that aging dogs adopt different strategies in the maze. Because the maze is challenging for movement-impaired dogs we have also developed simpler tests of dog memory that are also very sensitive to the dog's age. Now that we have an excellent test of memory, we can test dogs that have been diagnosed with cognitive decline, and investigate putative mitigating interventions.


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Screening for prostate cancer might not save lives
Two major studies raise questions about the efficacy of screening for prostate cancer and whether treatment for the disease does more harm than good.Posted — Updated
Two major studies raise questions about the efficacy of screening for prostate cancer and whether treatment for the disease does more harm than good.
More than 186,000 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in the U.S. this year, and nearly 29,000 will die from it.
Although doctors stress the importance of early detection through screening, researchers found that the test saves few lives. It might also lead to risky and often unnecessary treatment.
"Even if you are screened and found to have prostate cancer, you don't automatically have to be treated," Dr. Ronald Ennis, a radiation oncologist at St. Luke's Roosevelt Medical Center in New York, said.
Unlike most cancers, many prostate tumors grow so slowly that the patient is likely to die of other causes before the tumor becomes a threat.
Ennis said that screening for the prostate specific antigen doesn't always answer a key question. "It doesn't really help us with, 'Is this cancer life-threatening or not?'" he said.
A biopsy must be done to confirm if there is a tumor and to determine how aggressive the cancer is.
Treatments range from surgery to hormone therapy to radiation. All of those can lead to serious side effects, including "incontinence, losing control of urine and sexual problems," Ennis said.
Researchers said that patients need to weigh the risk of therapy against the risk of cancer, because if the tumor isn't aggressive, they might not need any treatment at all. However, if a person has an aggressive tumor, testing can lead to life-saving treatment.
Doctors said that work is under way on tests that should more accurately detect prostate cancer and determine how aggressive it is. That, they said, would make treatment decisions easier for patients.
• Credits
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subset: commoncrawl


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- Message from the Dean
- History
- Education and Research
Staff Introduction
- Seminars & Events
- Distinctive Programs
- Access
- Job Openings
- Publications
- Related Links
- Contacts
Education & Research Map
(* :Member of Institute of Mathematics for Industry)
(** :Member of Faculty of Arts and Science)
(***:Member of Reaserch Institute of Information Technology)
Probability Theory
Probability theory is a mathematical body of theory for analyzing random phenomena in a logical manner. The world, indeed the universe, is full of randomness making this a highly broad field of research.
Academic Supervisors
|INAHAMA, Yuzuru , Professor
|Stochastic Analysis, Rough Path Theory, Malliavin Calculus, Stochastic Differential Equation
|SHIRAI, Tomoyuki* , Professor
|Probability Theory, Determinantal Point Processes
|TANIGUCHI, Setsuo** , Professor
|Stochastic Analysis, Malliavin Calculus, Stochastic Differential Equation
|MURAYAMA, Takuya , Assistant Professor
|stochastic analysis, geometric function theory, Schramm-Loewner evolution
Cooperative Professors
|HARA, Takashi , Professor
|Mathematical Physics
|HIROSHIMA, Fumio , Professor
|Quantum Field Theory, Spectral Analysis, Functional Integration, Representation of CCR
|MASUDA, Hiroki , Professor
|Stochastic Process, Mathematical Statistics, Statistical Asymptotic Theory
|OKADA, Izumi , Assistant Professor
|Probability Theory, Simple Random Walk, Local Time


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Apple buys social media analytics firm Topsy Labs
- Published
Apple has bought social media data analytics firm, Topsy Labs, which specialises in using data from Twitter to track customer sentiment.
Topsy is one of the few firms to have access to Twitter's entire data stream.
It has recently created a searchable database of all tweets sent - more than 400 billion - since Twitter's launch.
Apple did not say how much it paid for the firm, but the Wall Street Journal which first reported the story put the figure at around $200m (£122m).
Topsy competes with firms like DataSift and Gnip to figure out who is influential on Twitter, what terms are trending, and the impact of specific Twitter campaigns.
It is Apple's second acquisition in recent weeks.
Last month, it announced it had bought Israeli firm PrimeSense, which specialises in making 3-D motion detection technology.
Surprise move?
Apple is one of the world's biggest firms in the technology sector but the firm is not known for its forays into the world of social media.
The company's earlier effort at social networking - the Ping music sharing service - failed to catch on with consumers.
As it confirmed the latest deal, an Apple spokesperson declined to give details of the firm's plans with Topsy.
"Apple buys smaller technology companies from time to time and we generally do not discuss our purpose," the spokesperson said.
However, some analysts said Apple could look to use the data analytics for a variety of purposes, not least a better placement of its products across social media.
"There are millions of people sharing their thoughts on platforms such as Twitter on any given day," Sanjana Chappalli, Asia-Pac head of LEWIS Pulse, a firm specialising in digital marketing services, told the BBC.
"For companies to be able to understand what is popular with these users and what they are interested in, and then use it to their advantage, they need to filter the content and understand it.
"Topsy gives Apple the tools to do just that," she explained.
Manoj Menon, managing director at consulting firm Frost & Sullivan added: "Brands across the world are looking at ways to use the time spent by customers on social media to enhance their brands, and Apple is no different".
Personalised search
At the same time, companies operating internet search engines have also been looking to tap into the social media sector to try and offer more personalised search results to users.
"They are looking at what your friends are commenting on or tweeting about and then giving you similar recommendations when you look for information online," said Ms Chappalli.
She added that search engines such as Google and Bing have been moving in that direction for some time.
"Apple, with its Safari web browser on all its devices, could do with such an analytics capability provided by Topsy to achieve that," she added.
At the same time, some analysts suggested that Apple could also use Topsy's technology to its own data, such as information from the App Store.
"Apple may also be able to provide better user experience to customers by integration of analytical capability to its products and services," said Mr Menon.


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Elior have a team of qualified dietitians and they have provided us with several blog posts on health and wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Here we share tips for keeping vitamin D levels up and exercising at home.
Vitamin D and Isolation
Vitamin D is needed in our bodies to keep our bones, teeth and muscles healthy. Not enough can cause bone problems in both children and adults. It has also had links to helping improve mood and heart health.
If you are staying at home, it is important to keep your vitamin D levels topped up. Try to get into the garden or another isolated space outside as sunlight helps improve vitamin D levels. Good food sources include egg yolks, salmon, mackerel, sardines, red meat or fortified plant milks, spreads, yogurts or cereals. Supplements are recommended for children under 5 and if you aren't managing to get enough from your diet or the sun.
Exercising at Home
If we are isolating, we won't be going to the gym, playing sport or even walking as much. If you are at home it is important not to spend too much time curled up on the sofa as exercise prevents us gaining too much weight, keeps our muscles and heart strong, and helps improve sleep and mood.
- Get a routine: Long periods at home can mean certain disciplines stop. Set aside 30-60 minutes a day to do some sort of physical activity.
- Cleaning, hovering and gardening all can count
- Dance – Put on your favourite songs or copy the moves off music videos whilst you burn up to 350kcals per hour.
- Jump – Try star jumps or rocket jumps on the spot
- Internet – There are lots of free videos and exercise guides available online including Pilates, yoga, dance and cardio workouts.
- Step – Use the bottom stair as part of a step routine as it will strengthen your legs. Or try and climb your stairs more often in the day.
- Mini sports day– If you can get in the garden with the family set up egg and spoon, three legged and backwards races. Alternatively, if you cannot go out organise a competition for who can jump the highest, stand on one leg the longest or the greatest number of press ups inside.
- Strengthen muscles – Press ups, planks, sit ups can all improve muscle tone. Or lift water bottles or tin cans as homemade dumbbells.
- Always start slowly and protect your back and knees if you are unused to certain exercises.
- If you feel unwell it is important to let your body rest and avoid anything that makes you breathless if you feel poorly. Additionally, if you are struggling to eat or have low appetite limit activity until you are eating better.


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Durham Hosts Youth Job Fair & Career Expo Feb. 24
Employment Opportunities Available for Ages 14-21;
Free Booth Space Still Available for Interested Employers until Feb. 20
What: Mayor's Annual Summer Youth Work Program Job Fair & Career Expo
Who: Mayor William V. "Bill" Bell and the City of Durham Office on Youth
When: Friday, February 24, 2012, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.
1 p.m. to 3 p.m. ― 14-15 year olds
4 p.m. to 6 p.m. ― 16-21 year olds
Where:Holton Career & Resource Center
401 North Driver Street
Durham, N.C. 27701
Fast Facts
· The Mayor's Summer Youth Work Program offers Durham youth ages 14 to 21 the opportunity to gain work experience and develop skills while connecting with City and County governments and local employers.
– Approximately 300 summer employment opportunities will be available this year. Participants will begin work on Monday, June 11 and work until Friday, August 10.
· Potential youth applicants may visit the City's website at http://www.DurhamTeenCenter.org to download an application as well as review the job listings and criteria needed to ensure eligibility for each position. There will also be an interview process.
· Some of the partnering public organizations and private-sector companies with job opportunities are the City's Office of Economic and Workforce Development, Durham Parks & Recreation, Neighborhood Improvement Services Department, General Services Department, and Durham Fire Department. Other partners include Durham County Government, Durham Technical Community College, and North Carolina Central University.
· To help interested youth find employment, the City's Office on Youth will visit all high schools with Durham Public Schools between now and February 23 to assist youth with completion of the application process, which will be reviewed and turned in directly to the City's Human Resources Department. For a schedule of school site visits, contact the Office on Youth at (919) 354-2730.
· The Mayor's Summer Youth Work Program is still in need of employers interested in hiring youth for the summer. Employers at the Job Fair & Career Expo will have an opportunity to interview interested youth for job opportunities within their organizations, including positions that are for the summer, year-round, full time, and part time. Employers receive free booth space at the event and must reserve their spot by Monday, February 20.
· For more information about the Mayor's Summer Youth Work Program, visit the City's website at http://DurhamNC.gov/ich/cmo/Pages/Mayor's-Summer-Youth-Work-Program.aspx.
· Businesses interested in hiring youth for summer employment by participating in the Mayor's Summer Youth Work Program or next reserving a booth at this year's Job Fair should contact Kim Moss at (919) 354-2730, ext.11103 or by email at firstname.lastname@example.com. Interested employers may also contact Evelyn Scott at (919) 354-2730, ext. 11104 or by email at firstname.lastname@example.com.


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The end of the year is near, so to celebrate not buying waaaay too many books these past few months, I bought waaaay too many books! Its great. I love it. The first part of my end of the year book haul contains everything from classic crime novels to sci-fi and fantasy. I'm extremely pleased with all of the books I've acquired this winter. The only problem I face with this stack of books, is where to put them all. I might need to do a culling of my shelves, or perhaps buy another. What a wonderful idea!
Double Indemnity by James M. Cain is classic crime noir. It was published in 1943 and adapted for the silver screen the year after. James M. Cain is said to one of the original creators of the roman noir genre. With its' femme fatales, murder and portrayal of humanity's flaws, noir remains enticing and seductively timeless. I read the author's first novel in November. It had its faults, but the atmosphere of the story and writing made me want more. Thus purchasing Double Indemnity.
Miss Lonelyhearts and The Day of the Locust by Nathaniel West. I've heard of both the stories in this combined book. Only very brief mentions here and there, but I wasn't even sure of what either is about. Now I'm more enlightened, and as such, I can tell you a little bit. Miss Lonelyhearts is about a man who writes a column at a newspaper. Under the pseudonym of Miss Lonelyhearts, he receives letters from desperate New Yorkers and give them advice. His column is seen as a joke by the other staff at the paper. At one point he falls into a depressive cycle, which I believe is the central focus of the novel. The second novel in the bind-up, The Day of the Locust, follows a young artist in Hollywood. It's about the elusiveness of the American dream as all hell breaks loose.
The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett. Like Double Indemnity, this is a classic roman noir novel. And just like the aforementioned, it was also made into a movie. It was published in 1929, and has actually had several movie adaptions made of it. The most famous is the one from 1941 starring none other than Humphrey Bogart. I believe I've heard that Raymond Chandler's famous fictional detective, Philip Marlowe, was heavily inspired by the main detective in this novel.
Dreams from Bunker Hill by John Fante. Fante is quintessential Los Angeles, even to this day. His most well known work, Ask the Dust, has been classified as one of, if not the best fictional book about L.A.. I can't confirm nor deny as I have yet to read it. But, when I was in Los Angeles in the beginning of December, I had to buy a book by John Fante. Since I already had Ask the Dust at home, I decided to get this one.
Metamorphoses by Ovid. After listening to the audiobook of Stephen Fry's new Greek mythology book, Mythos, and visiting the Getty Villa, it felt natural to graduate to reading some of the original material of the myths. I've always been fascinated by mythology, Norse mostly, but also Greek and Roman (thanks Rick Riordan!). Since I haven't read any classical/antique literature since high school, I think it's time.
Fresh Complaint by Jeffrey Eugenides is a short story collection, which features stories about characters experiencing both personal and national crises. It sounds intriguing. Although the main reason why I decided pick it up is because I adore one of his other books, The Virgin Suicides.
Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie. I picked this one up right before watching the movie. The movie was great in my humble opinion, which made me want to read the book even more. I'd only read one Agatha Christie novel prior to Murder on the Orient Express, but I grew up watching the TV adaptions of Poirot and Miss Marple. So, you can imagine my excitement over the new adaption. I don't want to go into too much detail of the plot. You really have to read it (or watch the movie) without knowing too much to fully appreciate it. With that said, it's basically about a murder on the orient express. No shit.
Leia, Princess of Alderaan by Claudia Gray. It's time for Star Wars yet again. I've never read a Star Wars novel, and I wasn't planning on it. That was, of course, until I learned that this was a thing. Leia is a great character in the franchise. And it was a great loss for the fandom and the world in general when Carrie Fisher passed away. I see this book as an honor to her, as well as to one of the best female characters in sci-fi ever.
Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco has been on my radar since it came out sometime last year. From what I know is it's about a girl, who pretends to be a boy in order to complete her studies as a pathologist. Somehow she crosses paths with the infamous serial killer, Jack the Ripper. I don't know more than that, and frankly I'd rather not know any more going in. The sequel centeres around Dracula. I desperately want to read that one, so even if I didn't plan on reading Stalking Jack the Ripper, I would have just to get to the Dracula one.
Otherworld by Jason Segel and Kirsten Miller. From what I can tell from the synopsis, it's about a virtual reality paradise that turns out to be much more than anyone bargained for. I believe I heard it was a tiny bit like Westworld. In which case I'm all in. Westworld is an amazing TV show, and if you haven't watched it yet, what are you doing? I really hope it's good, because I really need to experience a good YA sci-fi book for once.
The Girl in the Tower by Katherine Arden is the sequel to one of my favorite books of the year, The Bear and The Nightingale. It's such a fantastically intriguing world of Russian folklore, which is simply a delight to experience. I have no doubt this one will amaze me as much as the first book in the series. I feel like a kid in a candy store when I imagine all of the emotions and goodness ahead when I start reading The Girl in the Tower.
As you've probably noticed by now, I rarely go into books knowing very much about the content. Regardless, I always have a reason for why I want to read a certain book. In some cases it's because I want to dive deeper into a subject or genre, while in other cases, it's about how the cover caught my eye, ect. I'm curious to know how you pick out books, and how you prefer to go into books?


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Bibliothèque Érotique
Bibliothèque Érotique is an international collective, set in Netherlands. Its
members are YY (China), Vivi (Netherlands), Lilly Miao and Luscious (both Italy).
Bibliothèque Érotique's main goal is to create a public – pop-up – library in Amsterdam with a collection of books, films, and recordings in the fields of eroticism, sex, and sexuality. Bibliothèque Érotique finds eroticism, sex and sexuality a crucial, and still somewhat neglected, parts our lives. Therefore, they are dedicated to create a place where people are able to dive into the world of the most subtle poetry and astonishingly vulgar pornographic scenes. By creating such a place, Bibliothèque Érotique also hopes to create more openness for, and interest in, the topics they bring to light, and perhaps even break some taboos which surrounds them.


text: For Sale $1,129,000 40 20321 80 AVENUE , Langley, BC V0V 0V0 Townhouse 4 Beds 3+1 Baths Remarks SKYLARK is a boutique collection of spacious townhomes in Willoughby designed with uniquely wide and high layout. 10' ceilings on Main and 9' on Upper. ALL UPGRADES included: AC, laminate throughout, security system, window screens and more. Quartz used throughout. Pantry and loads of storage in kitchen as well as open shelving. Deck, patio and LARGE FENCED YARD. Vaulted ceiling and 5 piece ensuite in Master. Large WIC. Forced air powered by gas and tankless hot water on demand. Gas range. Side x side washer/dryer with quartz folding countertop and built-in cabinetry. Low strata. Highly sought after school catchment incl R.E. Mtn Secondary. CENTRAL location to all! Built by Pinora Homes with attention to quality and design. Property Summary Neighbourhood: Willoughby Heights Building Style: Townhouse Annual Tax Amount: $0.00 (2022) Floor Space (approx): 1723 Square Feet Built in: 2022 Bedrooms: 4 Bathrooms (Total): 3+1


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Earlier this month, EA revealed its third big UFC game, which brings an improved career mode and quickplay options to the franchise. Though UFC 3 is set to launch on February 2nd, console owners can get an early look this weekend: The beta is live for Xbox One and PS4 owners through 11:59pm on Monday, December 4th.
Join the fight. Download the #EAUFC3 Open Beta now.— EA SPORTS UFC (@EASPORTSUFC) December 1, 2017
Play on Xbox One 👉 https://t.co/JCis0uikg5
Play on PS4 👉 https://t.co/PuYqyibnPh pic.twitter.com/PzqnLT3g0K
The beta provides access to Fight Now, Online Quick Fight, Practice Mode and UFC Ultimate Team modes. That means fans won't get to try out the improved GOAT Career Mode, which will require players to make choices outside fights to grow their fanbase and generate hype. But if you want a preview of the actual, y'know, combat, the beta is free and open to all for the weekend.


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Sure, getting rid of clutter is a great way to make your home feel fresh and give you a sense of accomplishment. But, it's more than that. Those piles and closets full of junk aren't doing good things to your mental health, either. It's overwhelming and affects you more than you really even know. The thing is, it can be difficult to know exactly how and where to begin.
If clearing clutter from your home is on your spring cleaning checklist, but you're having trouble getting started, these reasons are sure to motivate you.
1. You'll have more free time.
A space that's free of clutter makes it easier to find things and easier to clean. You'll stop wasting time looking for lost things and cleaning will become surprisingly efficient. You'll be shocked by how much extra time you have to enjoy.
2. You'll feel less stressed.
Researchers found a link between stress hormones and a high density of household objects. In other words, having an overcrowded home is connected to increased anxiety levels. Clearing some stuff from your house can clear some space in your mind, resulting in a peaceful and serene environment where you can finally relax.
3. It improves your home value.
If you're considering putting your house on the market, decluttering is a no-cost way of increasing it's value. A clutter-free home looks fresh, airy and inviting, which helps to boost your asking price.
4. You'll be more productive.
In a nutshell, clutter competes for your attention, making it harder to focus, harder to sleep and harder to relax. Decluttering has also been found to stimulate creativity and sharpen your mind. Productivity is at its highest when you feel creative and sharp.
5. It purifies the air around you.
The more clutter in your home, the more dust there is collecting on that clutter. That dust is affecting the air quality in your home, so getting rid of clutter this spring could actually help purify the air you breathe on a daily basis.
So, you have your motivation for decluttering, now what? First things first, you need to decide exactly what is worth keeping around, what's worth storing away and what you should let go of once and for all.
Key Questions to Ask Yourself Before Putting Something in Storage
Storage areas everywhere, whether in a basement, attic, shed or rented unit, tend to be filled with unnecessary things. You probably throw in items without really thinking them through, creating more clutter and making it impossible to find anything ever again. Instead of immediately putting that unused exercise machine or old tablecloth in storage, stop and ask yourself these questions.
Is it necessary?
While it seems like a simple question, this tends to be the hardest one for most people to answer. If you have a similar item, do you really need another? Will you actually use it again? If you're making an effort to cut back on clutter, you have to be honest with yourself about what is important to you.
Do you like it?
Just because you have saved that old tablecloth year after year doesn't mean you must keep doing so. If you hate it and know it's never actually going on a table in your home, ditch it. Tastes evolve and trends come and go. Really take the time to look at each item you consider storing and decide whether you like it enough to keep it around.
What shape is it in?
Don't let your storage space become a graveyard of broken items. This happens all too often. Something breaks, or rips, or stains, and you tell yourself you'll fix it one day. But, then one day gets pushed further and further into the future and the pile of broken things keeps growing. Here's the thing: if you don't care enough to fix it ASAP, it's not worth keeping.
Is it yours?
If you're storing something for someone else, like a friend or a child, set a limit and give it back so you can free up the space for your own stuff.
Why are you saving it?
This question goes along with "Is it necessary?" When you begin storing things away, ask yourself why you want to save it. Is it for your future grandchildren? Is it because you know you'll use it again in a year or two? Make sure there's a legitimate reason you're keeping something before taking up the space in your storage place. Oh, and LABEL EVERYTHING so that you can find it when you need it again.
Spring cleaning is more than just dusting your home and hiring someone to clean your windows. It's the perfect chance to clear the clutter and live a better life. There are so many reasons to declutter, from improving your health to improving your home value. Why not get started today?


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Nature and authenticity, at Hotel Rural El Patio you will discover one of the most exclusive and complete rural hotels in Tenerife.
A 16th Century house that has been completely restored and lies in Garachico (Isla Baja). This is the perfect place to disconnect, organise events and experience the best of Tenerife. Concert, exhibition, dance, fashion, films… We offer personalised and professional service.If you are thinking of organising an event we would be delighted to help you.
Fill in this form and we will respond as soon as possible.


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Some of the features of the app as described in the windows store are:
- View colleagues' availability in real time and select the best way to communicate – initiating an instant message (IM), email, voice or video call.
- Connect to Lync Meetings with a single touch, without requiring long numeric passcodes or conference numbers.
- Forward or simultaneously ring calls to your Enterprise Voice (Lync ID) number so you'll never miss a call.
- Lync 2013 for Windows Phone provides transport layer security (TLS) and perimeter/internal network protection without requiring a VPN, so your communications experience is safer no matter where you are or what network you use.
Download the app from windows store.


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Cheri J. Meiners, M.Ed., has her master s degree in elementary education and gifted education. The author of the award-winning Learning to Get Along social skills series for young children and a former first-grade teacher, she has taught education classes at Utah State University and has supervised student teachers. Cheri enjoys visiting and sharing her books in classrooms, libraries, and bookstores. She and her husband, David, have six children and two grandchildren. She lives in Laurel, Maryland.Elizabeth Allen is an artist and professional illustrator of children s picture books as well as a former songwriter and jazz musician. She has exhibited her art in galleries in the Midwest and on the East Coast. Elizabeth lives on a river running through a forest near St. Paul, Minnesota."
Praise for the series: More than ever before, children today need a foundation of strong emotional skills to guide their choices in life. These books focus on positive thinking and assertive, kind behavior that can bolster children s mental health, their relationships, and their performance in school. An exciting tool for empowering children to live their best lives. Sean Covey, best-selling author of "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens" and "The 7 Habits of Happy Kids"


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Burj Al-Luqluq Social Center Society launched Saifna Maqdisi 3 summer camp, funded by the EU, in partnership with CISP and TdH and with the participation of 200 male and female children from the Old City of Jerusalem and the surrounding Jerusalemite villages.
The children were divided into 6 age groups alongside with leaders, operators and facilitators for corners including parkour, ceramic, indoor games, Dabkeh, computer and tele-match. Moreover, cultural trips and recreational trips were organized once a week.


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Why redo what's already been done? Check out this great post by 123 homeschool 4 me!
The Transplanted Southerner has this great list!
Living History Farms – Homeschool days are held in June and September. FREE for members, but nonmembers can receive a $1 discount by preregistering online. Walk-ins are welcome, however.
Blank Park Zoo – offers homeschool classes, zoo members receive a discounted rate. They also host a homeschool day on April 22nd (Earth Day).
The Brenton Arboretum – Homeschool members receive free admission to tours and activities in groups of 10+. or individuals with membership can pay $1 per activity. Family membership is $50.
Nahant Marsh Education Center – offers homeschool classes. You can pay per class or per session, with members receiving a discount.
Iowa Children's Museum – . Group field trips can be arranged for $5 a child for self-guided field trips.
Iowa State Fair – in the past they have held a Homeschool Day. You can read about last years event HERE
African American Museum of Iowa – has held homeschool days in the past, though there is no mention of them on the website currently.
Effigy Mounds – FREE – HERE is a link specific for Kids information in regards to the mounds. Over 200 Indian Mounds are preserved here.
Herbert Hoover National Historic Site – FREE (There is a fee to enter the Museum and Library). The site includes the Visitor Center,Birthplace Cottage, Blacksmith Shop, Schoolhouse, Friends Meetinghouse, Gravesite, and Tallgrass Prairie.
PUTNAM – Field trips can be arranged. Admission is $7.50 for 13+ and $6 for ages 3-12. Education Resource Guides are also available.
Grout Museum District – Educational Programs are available, though no specific homeschool programs are mentioned. Includes Veterans Museum, Museum of History and Science, Science Imaginarium, Rensselaer Russell House Museum and Snowden House.
Science Center of Iowa – Group rates are available, memberships are also available (including combo memberships with other locations for one price). Has an IMAX theater on site.
POLK County Conservation – Field Trips are available, though not listed as Homeschool specific.
Union Pacific Railroad Museum – FREE Gypsy Road School tells all about it!
You can also join us in our Facebook Group Homeschooling Tips for Moms


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A composite (tooth colored) filling is used to repair a tooth that is affected by decay, cracks, fractures, etc. The decayed or affected portion of the tooth will be removed and then filled with a composite filling.
There are many types of filling materials available, each with their own advantages and disadvantages. You and your dentist can discuss the best options for restoring your teeth. Composite fillings, along with silver amalgam fillings, are the most widely used today. Because composite fillings are tooth colored, they can be closely matched to the color of existing teeth, and are more aesthetically suited for use in front teeth or the more visible areas of the teeth.
As with most dental restorations, composite fillings are not permanent and may someday have to be replaced. They are very durable, and will last many years, giving you a long lasting, beautiful smile.
Reasons for composite fillings:
It is normal to experience sensitivity to hot and cold when composite fillings are first placed, however this will subside shortly after your tooth acclimates to the new filling.
You will be given care instructions at the conclusion of your treatment. Good oral hygiene practices, eating habits, and regular dental visits will aid in the life of your new fillings.
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Boca Raton Dentist, Dr. Gregg Weinstein is a dental professional dedicated to Restorative and Cosmetic dentistry such as Exams, Cleanings, Teeth Whitening, Veneers, Crowns, Bridges, Invisalign, Dental Implants, Gumlifts, and much more. Please come and visit Boca Raton, Florida dentist, Gregg Weinstein, DDS.


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The Sea Lion is the keeper of wisdom and shows us what is hidden deep within ourselves. They teach us how to integrate our imagination with the reasoning power of the intellect.
A Sea Lion totem can show you how to develop and focus your imagination. Seal people are highly imaginative and very creative, and they need activities that channel and direct those activities. Hearing and balance are very important for a Sea Lion totem. Learn to listen to your inner self and balance your life to it. Tap into your Sea Lion totem and expect your dreams to become more vivid and significant.


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It took me awhile to learn how to read. I remember my mother being frustrated that I stumbled over words even entering first grade. To be honest, I don't truly know when children should know how to read, but every child in my family, except for poor me came out of the womb with a book in their hands. In fact, I have clear memories of little brother reading off street signs at the tender age of three (talk about sibling jealousy! That made me furious!!).
Reading is a cornerstone to my family. We swap books amongst each other, we all have bookshelves littered with our favorites—many have been read countless times. It was my great grandfather who instilled this value in us; he read every spare moment he had. He would have books stacked on books in his lap, switching between them at his leisure. When he died in 2004, he was in his favorite armchair, reading a book about the Second World War. Before he died, he carefully marked his page and closed his eyes. My dear papa couldn't imagine, even in death not being able to find his page.
Though it took me longer than most, once I began to read on my own I never stopped. I gobbled up every word on every cereal box, shampoo bottle, book, and whatever I could get my hands on. To this day I am still an avid reader. I love slipping off into my own imaginary world for hours at a time; nothing is more soothing to me than a good book and a cozy blanket. In elementary school I read probably a book a day. I love the Accelerated Reader program at my school (getting to be competitive over something not athletic was a breath of fresh air to a kid like me), and because of all this practice I read well beyond grade level by the time I entered third grade.
I read biographies, thrillers, cheap romance novels, young adult fiction, historical fiction, you name it. I average about five books a month, not including the reading I do for my doctoral program.
Reading on a PhD level is among the most difficult things I have ever had to do. The comprehension skills necessary to understand some of the writers assigned to me is unimaginable. I am grateful for such a background in reading to be able to wade through some of what is handed to me. Sometimes, I get frustrated when I have to read and reread to know what is going on. In fact, over the last year my vision has worsened tremendously because of how often I am poring over books and computer screens. It's worth it though; I truly believe the appreciation of reading is one of the most important values that can be instilled in an individual. No matter the style of writing you like to read, it will have something to offer you for life. As Oscar Wilde said, "It is what you read when you don't have to that determines what you will be when you can't help it."
Below is a list of my top ten favorite books, which I can currently think of, in no particular order!
- Bridge to Terabithia — Katherine Paterson
- Before Women had Wings — Connie May Fowler
- Gone Girl — Gillian Flynn
- Girl, Interrupted — Susanna Kaysen
- Lamb — Christopher Moore
- Me Talk Pretty One Day — David Sedaris
- The Great Gatsby — F. Scott Fitzgerald
- The Other Boleyn Girl — Philippa Gregory
- Mrs. Kennedy and Me — Clint Hill
- Let's Pretend this Never Happened — Jenny Lawson
There are so many other books I treasure, but I know for a fact I could read each of these over and over again. I hope you too have a list of books that you hold dear, and that you feel the need to consume the words of others. Reading is a magical experience, which cannot be compared to television or movies. I hope that my daughter will develop my same love of books and that she will pass that down to her children as well.


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'Black Panther' Stuntman: God Set Up Role 'Because I Am Fearfully and Wonderfully Made'
Travis Love did not have a great deal of preparation to become a stuntman in the "Black Panther" blockbuster, but the budding actor believes God gave him the opportunity.
Love, 39, has television shows like "The Walking Dead" and "The Haves and The Have Nots" on his resume, but became a warrior in the Jabari tribe for the film "Black Panther." When his friend asked if he wanted to do stunts on the film, Love jumped at the opportunity.
While most stunt people have to undergo a rigorous training or have experience, Love believes God allowed him to appear in the film without it.
"He called me back three minutes later and said, 'They want you to come in today.' ... So that was God working in the midst of things," he told The Times And Democrat. "Stunt people train, rehearse and practice all of their lives to get a gig like stunts on 'Black Panther,' and God made it so that I was qualified with that picture I sent in."
The actor believes God has been opening doors for him to do both acting and stunt work with his latest role.
"Because I am fearfully and wonderfully made, God equipped me to do both and I hope that that makes me a more viable option moving ahead in the future when these roles come up. I'm trying to establish myself as an actor with the potential to pull off stunts if necessary," he said. "I can do whatever is necessary for the production, and I really see God working in my life in that manner."
The set of "Black Panther" seemed to be a spiritual one for a number of people. Sope Aluko, a Christian actress who has landed the role of Shaman in the film, likened the environment to church.
"It felt very familiar and like home. We had early call times but I didn't even feel the long set hours because it was such a good time," she previously told OkayAfrica. "I didn't feel like I was amongst stars, everyone was so down to earth and normal. During breaks we shared our testimony of how we got to where [we] did and most of the people were testifying to God's miracles, it was almost like church."


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Dear Friends,
I am so sorry I haven't written a post here in what feels like a decade but was really two weeks-ish. I have been in the midst of a transition - physical, emotional, whatever - and found it impossible to find the inspiration, energy, internet access, good vibes, and other necessary ingredients that go into these blog posts.
First, a big thank you to those of you who got cloud paint through my rep link. I know it seems like such a little thing, but for me it's not. While I packed up my whole life to move cross country, spent three days recovering from chemo sleeping on an air mattress in an empty apartment, those tiny moments made me feel like a contributing and connected member of society. Less puddle of dizziness and fatigue, more beauty/good vibes ambassador to the larger world.
Such a small thing - to be connected to the rest of the universe - and yet it can sometimes feel like I am in a comfortable pile of linen sheets cocooned, safe and wholly separated from the lives of the world around me.
There's the second thing, my feelings of aloneness and isolation as everyone in the world springs forth fecund and fertile. Beyonce is pregnant with twins. People magazine is basically 75 pages of bumps. 90% of my friends have tiny, perfect, precocious, baby geniuses who's intellect and gentle temperament is second only to their physical beauty. I just discovered that a baby dose of a blood thinner will help control the menopause induced hot flashes that wake me up dripping in sweat in the middle of the night. So at least I get more sleep than them?
I'm cranky, I'm exhausted, my chin has broken out again, and my stuff is in boxes in a truck somewhere. The stress of the move has broken Bit's potty training, as she appears to determined to mark all of her new terrain and her crate lies in pieces left behind in a fit of pique in Chicago.
I am in a bad mood.
I know it seems like it never happens. I know my brand is positive to a fault. I know after everything I've been through a few chin pimples, some piddle puddles the size of a coffee creamer, and sleeping on an air mattress for a few nights in an empty apartment shouldn't break me. But hoo boy it did. I cannot find my silver lining. Someone tell me this is a side effect of my extreme altitude sickness and will go away soon, once I finally adapt to the lack of oxygen in this new city I find myself in.
I wish I had a happy ending for you here, that I could tie this up in a little bow with a story of how I hoisted myself up by my bootstraps, did some yoga and a mask, and found my light again. On Saturday it was 75ish degrees and I got to lay in the shade outside in a bathing suit - even that wasn't enough to cut through this fug.
Sometimes you just need to be sad. Sometimes the only way out is through.
If you need me I will be binge watching Big Little Lies, which is the best show on TV right now, and hugging some puppies.


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Silence, as it relates to childhood sexual abuse, can be devastating. In this post, Alexis powerfully shares how the Silence that came with abuse affected her.
Dedicated to all the survivors I've met and the ones I've yet to meet along the way. For those who have found their voice and those who are still working on finding it. Silence can mean so many things…this is my interpretation of how the silence felt.
The silence was the worst sometimes.
That moment when an abusive event ends.
The silence is sometimes the most uncomfortable part of being hurt. It's a strange feeling to see someone who has just hurt you in ways that are abhorrent just turn around and walk away.
Watching them leave. It felt as if they were also taking a little piece of my spirit with them leaving another tatter, another rip in my already shredded soul.
It wasn't very often that my abusers would say anything when they are finished.
The feeling of invisibility was palpable.
No yelling, crying, blaming, scolding; they just simply finish and leave…
View original post 229 more words


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Alice Chauchat : Différence entre versions
(Page créée avec « by Alice Chauchat on COLLECTIVE SENSATIONS (praticable) January 31st 2007 '''Hi Alice,''' Hi Alice, '''Can you explain me this project you're working on at the moment... »)
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by Alice Chauchat on COLLECTIVE SENSATIONS (praticable)
January 31st 2007
by Alice Chauchat on COLLECTIVE SENSATIONS (praticable)
January 31st 2007
'''Hi Alice,'''
'''Hi Alice,'''
Version actuelle en date du 30 juillet 2014 à 14:52
by Alice Chauchat on COLLECTIVE SENSATIONS (praticable) January 31st 2007
Hi Alice,
Hi Alice,
Can you explain me this project you're working on at the moment?
Well, it's still a bit blurry I have to admit, but maybe i can try and lay out its different entries, the starting points, desires or questions that bring me to do this: what can an audience get from watching a group of people on stage? can people share sensations? can people share imagination?
When you say "people share", which people are you talking about? And what do you mean by sharing?
By sharing, I mean to invest in a common question, and to experience this investment as togetherness. That brings us to the 1st question. In the last years I've been working a lot on the relation between audience and performers, but always in small formats (solo, duet, or one-on-one relation). I've always wanted to make space for complicity, in the sense that we (audience and performers) would all know what was at stake and how this was being dealt with, to open the door for the spectators to engage in the performance as active members of a collective event. This doesn't necessarily mean to have the same role, but it means that roles are acknowledged and that their investment forms the event, together with all relations at work during it. In a solo it is clear that the only human relation going on (at least for the performer) is that with the audience. In the duets I did, we focused on our relation with the audience, not on the couple story happening on stage.
... so the shows are about the theatre situation of people watching other people do something the latter have prepared.
yes, in a way, very much so. Now when you look at group performances, the complicity between the author and the audience can still be there, but complicity between performers and audience runs the risk of being replaced by that between performers, where the audience becomes excluded from the action and can only witness or experience the stage activity by proxy.
but what is it that you want instead?
I want the presence of the audience to be a constitutive element of the performance, I want the performance to need the audience in order to make sense. That's what I mean when I say performance making is the organisation of the conditions for an experience, an experience for the audience. If the piece can happen on its own I don't need to ask people to look at it.
mmh, maybe you should read Brecht to be a bit more articulated on that point.
yes, probably. But from what i know, I'm probably looking for alienation and transe in the same time: to provoke a trance state that is not a result of identification.
Now, I checked the french translation for complicity and the word seems to have a slightly other meaning in both languages. In french complicité points to a positive sense of togetherness supported by the notion that the people involved understand something in the same way and enjoy this shared understanding. In english complicity has a negative connotation of shared crime.
Well, thank you for the clarification. I will go on using complicity as if it was complicité. So, I started to wonder how this complicity between performers could be mediated in a way that would allow the audience to join in. Not to dissolve this togetherness but to open it up to another type of togetherness that would include all the people present in the room.
I see. Now, to involve together in something you need something. What is this something in your project?
It is the relation between movement, sensation and imagination. If we reject the body / mind split we have to consider these 3 as bodily activities, that connect without being the same. Each can activate the others, for example imagination can motivate movement, movement induces sensation, and sensation can feed imagination. I find sensation and imagination very interesting for a group work because they are so extremely intimate. And they give urgency to the question of what can be shared, both on stage and in the whole room. They also make individuality explicit: we might be as much a group as we can, still experience will not be shared. And this is interesting, because if we can't share experience, still, for me, performance making is very much about laying out the conditions for an experience. I think these are contradictions that can push me to look at things from another angle. For example, when watching someone move, sensation is shared through kinesthesia. In this project I want to reverse the relation between movement and sensation: instead of movement producing sensations as by-products, to use movement in order to produce a pre-defined sensation. Then instead of a performance producing imagination, I want imagination to be the motor of the performance. In both cases, individual sensation and imagination precede movement. The idea being that the resulting movement can in turn nourish more sensation and imagination for the other performers, and for the audience.
You mentioned mediating the complicity between the performers. Can you explain?
For the group activity to be the sharing of individual activities, and for this sharing to exist in itself, this sharing needs a mode of communication which remains separated from that of the activity itself. If we use verbal language, the audience can receive the same information as the performers and the performers can appropriate it in an individual way. The point here is to maintain a distinction and thus a friction between individual and group, to make their relations perceivable. I also think that the openness of this exchange can give space for the spectators to develop their own relation to the spoken words, in the same time as they can watch the effects of these words on the performers.
what kind of words? fragmentary descriptions of one's own activity
Are you interested in the individual? In psychology?
I'm not so interested in psychology, but very much in human relations, in the politics of performance and the politics of collaboration. To think about relations and group you need to consider the individual as unique, to honor alterity. By this I mean to consider that the other is different from oneself, and that one doesn't know where these differences lay. Individuality is what makes someone not the same as someone else. In this case the differences interest me less than the acknowledgement of these differences. If I consider you to be the same as me, there can be no movement between us, no change, no effort towards understanding.
yes, it's true that I often don't understand you very well, like now for example: you say you want to underline alterity but not its specific appearance; how can you do this?
well, I'm not sure. Maybe it's more a question of degree than of exclusion. What i want to show is a group as a heterogeneous ensemble of radically different persons that is fed by each of them and by the relations between all of them. And then I also want to set up a situation in which the audience's position is affirmed as different from that of the performers, where it is clear that audience and performers don't perceive the situation in a similar or even mirrored way; where the spectator understands what is going on onstage but can't follow the exact steps of its unfolding. The stage activity, with its own motivations and resorts, should induce an experience that exists for itself and not by proxy.
Well, it seems that the interest here is to bring forth alterity in its various degrees and figure out communication possibilities based on it instead of despite it. But I'm getting a bit lost... How about a concrete description, so I can have an idea of what we're talking about?
For now I started developing a group practice, at first for the sake of practice in the frame of praticable, and then further on as a potential base for a performance, which is what I'm working on now. It has many variations but all function on the same model. My favorite goes like this: each participant invents an imaginary body for herself, with as many details as possible, and will move in order to produce the sensation of this imaginary body in one's own actual body. Then one by one the participants name a detail about their own body (ex: "5 giant tongues are coming out of the back of my head"), and the others integrate this feature to their own body, so that change happens in the same time for all but not in the same way. The performers don't copy each other but infect each other through language. The activity of imagining and moving in order to make real an imaginary sensation produces very intense concentration and body presence. The movements don't look like forms so much as textures, in contrast to the descriptive quality of the words spoken.
Your example with the tongues is rather unexpected I must say. Are you into science fiction?
You know, this is something I've always loved about dance classes, that the teacher would say things like "feel the roots grow under you foot", or "your body is suspended by the top of your ears", "bring the space with you as you run" and we would understand exactly what they meant even though they obviously didn't expect us to turn into trees or defy gravity laws. They used these images to help us produce a sensation, and the production of this sensation would be the desire movement. I've been thinking more and more about this mind-as-body idea, and came to this: if we consider imagination to be a physical activity that is rooted in sensation, i.e. in a super personal experience, what could be a practice of collective imagination? Performances are also a place where we can experiment with our perception of the body. Maybe the wish here is to produce a body that invents itself, and that is transformed by the other's imagination. And to address the spectators' bodies in the same way, where they can be touched kinesthetically by the bodies onstage as well as suggestively by the words.
Is it important to you that imagination produces new, are you into invention, like, creating from scratch, or if not, what role does culture play in this practice?
Bodies carry stories, histories, memories, and with this complex of knowledge they can imagine. It is interesting to leave a bit the idea of cultural repetition aside, and embrace its appearance, because it cannot not appear. This leaves space to focus on the activity itself, to invent together and to immerse in it, and possibly to hallucinate the implicit of this shared imagination.
Well, thanks… I'm curious what this will be like.
Yes, me too. Thanks.


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Why Do Pedestrian Accidents Rise on Halloween in Florida?
During Halloween week, the average number of pedestrians who get hit by cars in Florida rises 23 percent. This troubling statistic comes from Allstate Insurance company and was reported on by TC Palm. This huge increase in pedestrian accidents means a lot of people are getting hurt or killed. It is important to understand why this happens, so steps can be taken to try to prevent it.
Who Do Pedestrian Accident Risks Rise on Halloween?
It's easy to understand the main reason why pedestrian accidents rise on Halloween: trick-or-treating means a lot more people out walking around than on an average night.
The rise in the number of people walking after dark is a big reason for the rise in pedestrian accidents on Halloween night, but it is not the only reason why more accidents involving pedestrians happen.
Another problem is many kids who are out on Halloween night will be wearing dark colored costumes, which can make it harder for drivers to see them. According to Fortune, superhero costumes for kids are very popular this year, which could mean some kids are decked out in brighter clothing. However, other costumes topping the "most popular" list include Batman, a witch, and a zombie. Dressing in any of these outfits can mean wearing black and blending in. If face make-up is part of the outfit, like it often is when kids are wearing costumes, these kids could be even harder to see than if they're just wearing dark clothing.
Another issue, aside from the costume problem, is many teens and adults decide to attend Halloween parties instead of trick-or-treating. Sometimes, alcohol is served at those parties. If a motorist drinks too much on Halloween and gets into the car to head home, this intoxicated motorist could be a menace to himself and others while driving.
A drunk motorist could put every parent and child on the road at risk of pedestrian accidents over Halloween. Since Halloween parties can happen at any time in the days leading up to and including the holiday, the added risk of intoxication is one reason why the danger of pedestrian accidents goes up for the whole week around Halloween and not just on Halloween night.
Drivers and trick-or-treaters need to know of the increased risk of pedestrian accidents during the week of the October 31 celebration, as well as understanding the special risks on Halloween night. If a driver doesn't obey the rules of the road and hurts a pedestrian who is out on Halloween, that driver could face serious consequences, including being held liable for losses resulting from a motor vehicle accident he caused.


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Due to the riches of the movie and music businesses, video and audio gain the most attention when it comes to online copyright violation, but unauthorized use of photographs and other artwork is also an issue, particularly for individuals with no corporate protection.
To address the problem of uncredited copying in the world of private and commercial blogs, a team at Tokyo's Waseda University has developed a system that can compare hundreds of thousands of images online and find duplicates [Subscription link].
The first step looks for color and angle patterns in the target photo among random samples of images on websites to find possible violations. After that, the system searches for five sections of the target photo among the candidates with a view to finding an actual match.
Demonstrations show that performing the analysis on samples of almost half a million images takes just five seconds, although the number of blogs already in existence suggests that the Waseda team will need to speed things up if it is to find a commercial application.
(Crossposted to Tech.co.uk)
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Since our beginning in 1903, the Hunterdon County YMCA has been strengthening our community. Together with people like you, we nurture the potential of kids, help people understand and improve their health, and provide opportunities to give back and support neighbors.
Today, the Hunterdon County YMCA is one of the largest not-for-profit community service organizations in Hunterdon County. It is an important part of community life in the many neighborhoods it serves. It works to meet the health and social service needs of the 10,000 men, women and children served each year. Your YMCA works to promote strong children and families, good health, a solid community, and a better world.
Best known for health and fitness, our Y also provides childcare, summer camp, preschool, family programs, swim lessons, activities for seniors, teen programs, volunteer opportunities and much more. The abundance of offerings allows your YMCA to effectively meet a variety of needs and serve a community that is growing more diverse. The Hunterdon County YMCA has two main branches located in Flemington and Annandale, New Jersey. There are 22 satellite locations that include before/after school programs at 17 county schools, a preschool, and three summer camp locations.
The Deer Path facility in Flemington is made up of a comprehensive 27,800 square foot health and physical education facility that opened in 1984. The Round Valley branch in Annandale is made up of 16,000 square foot fitness center and childcare center that was first leased by the Y in 1999 and purchased in 2012. Numerous community facilities including schools, church and municipal buildings provide space for childcare and programs for seniors. The decentralization of our programs allows the YMCA to serve neighborhoods throughout the area.
As a nonprofit, the Y is able to strengthen community because of the dedicated youth, families and individuals who share our passion and make the Y part of their lives. They give their time, resources and talents—every day and in hundreds of ways—because they know they can improve the lives of others while enhancing their own through the Y.
Well-being for many of our neighbors is all too frequently limited by income or social isolation. The Y offers opportunities for every child, teen or adult to achieve his or her potential regardless of economic status. With your help, the Y can continue to expand programming and outreach where it is needed most.
On April 1, 2022, YMCA of Bucks County in Pennsylvania and Hunterdon County YMCA in New Jersey came together as one organization, now the YMCA of Bucks and Hunterdon Counties. Learn more.
Mission Statement
YMCA of Bucks and Hunterdon Counties is a charitable, nonprofit organization committed to strengthening our communities through membership and programs that foster youth development, healthy living and social responsibility for all.
Core Values
The YMCA is guided by our Core Values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility.
The Hunterdon County YMCA is a United Way Member Agency.


text: Raj Roy is a professor of physics and Director of the Institute for Physical Science and Technology. He earned his Ph.D. in 1981 from the University of Rochester. He is a Fellow of American Physical Society and a Fellow of the Optical Society of America. His research interests include the study of nonlinear dynamics and noise in optical devices and systems relevant to very practical technological applications such as compact disk players, fiber optic communications, and the development of optical switching devices and laser arrays.