These are the top recreational cities

These are the top recreational citiesThese are the top recreational citiesNew research from WalletHub found that Orlando, Florida is the best city for recreational activities this year.WalletHub took a look at the 100 most populated U.S. cities in terms of four factors Costs, Weather, Quality of Parks and Entertainment Recreational Facilities.Then, they broke things down further by comparing them in terms of 45 other factors before eventually giving each city a total score out of 100. WalletHub used data from the U.S. Census Bureau, among many other sources.The top 10 cities for recreation in 20181) Orlando, FL (total score 60.03)2) Las Vegas, NV (total score 57.47)3) San Diego, CA (total score 55.15)4) Cincinnati, OH (total score 53.68)5) Tampa, FL (total score 53.02)6) Atlanta, GA (total score 52.32)7) Scottsdale, AZ (total score 51.75)8) Tucson, AZ (total score 51.11)9) Boise, ID (total score 50.10)10) Philadelphia, PA (total score 49.62)Irving, TX came in last place (100) with a total score of 34.45.How the cities compare to one anotherCheck it out.The makings of a good park systemAmy R. Hurd, CPRE, professor of Recreation and Park Administration and Director of Graduate Studies at Illinois State University, told WalletHub about the five most important factors that cities with good recreational options have.First, I feel a good park system will focus on quality of programs, facilities and parks over quantity. Second, these services should be equitably distributed among the community. Place the services where they are needed. Third, services should be accessible. For example, that may mean that there is a park within a half mile of every house, or within a 10 minute walk, she told the site. People have to be able to get to the service to use it. Fourth, the best cities for recreation adequately fund the departments and hire a professional staff trained in parks and recreation to manage the system. Lastly, great parks systems have a plan for the future that guides growth to best meet the needs of the community.Clearly, a lot goes into creating the right recreational facilities.

How to Get Security Clearance for Employment

How to Get Security Clearance for EmploymentHow to Get Security Clearance for EmploymentWhatis a security clearance for employment, and how do you get one? Job applicants may notlageice that some vacancies mention that applicants must be eligible for a security clearance or must already possess a security clearance in order to be hired. Security clearances are primarily required bygovernment employersandprivate contractorswho will have access to sensitive information that has a bearing on national security. Hereis information on how to get a security clearance for employment. Levels of Security Clearance There are three standard levels of security clearance Confidential, Secret, and Top Secret. AConfidential clearance is the easiest to obtain and covers positions where the disclosure of classified information would cause damage to national security.ASecret clearanceindicates that the type of confidential information covered would cause serious damage to national security if divul ged.If an individual would be able to access classified information of the highest sensitivity, then aTopSecret clearance would be required. There are alsotwo categories of classified informationthat require additional handling and access restrictions Sensitivecompartmentedinformation (SCI), which includes intelligence sources, methods, and processes.Specialaccessprograms (SAPs), which are highly sensitive projects and programs. These categories are for classified information that has been deemed particularly vulnerable, and eligibility standards and investigative requirements for access to SCI and SAPs clearances are higher than for other clearances. HowtheSecurity Clearance Process Works Applicants for a security clearance undergo a thorough evaluation to determine if they are loyal to the U.S. governmentand arefree from influence by foreign individuals,arehonest, trustworthy, morally upright, mentally and psychologically sound, and have avoided criminal activity. Only U.S. ci tizens are eligible for a security clearance. The process begins with the applicant completing the Personnel Security Questionnaire (SF-86) through thee-Quip application site. The next leiter of the process involves an investigation conducted by the governments Office of Personnel Management, the Defense Department, and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence or another investigation service provider (ISP), depending on the position. Agents conducting the investigation will interview a broad range of the candidates contacts, potentially including current and past employers, neighbors, business associates, former classmates, fraternity/sorority members, and other individuals who may have associated with the applicant. The applicant will be interviewed- and possibly re-interviewed as additional information is gathered- to clarify any potential issues that couldaffectthe clearance. Candidates should be sure that they are honest and inclusive as they complete the SF-86 and a nswer interview questions,since discrepancies uncovered in the investigation may be grounds for disqualification. The final stage of the investigative process involves a review of all the information gathered to determine eligibility for a specified clearance. The duration of the entire investigation and review will vary,but the average length of time is 120 days. Interim Eligibility Pending Approval According to theDefense Security Service(an agency of the Department of Defense), all applicants for a personnel security clearance submitted by a cleared contractor will be routinely considered for interim eligibility. The Personnel Security Management Office for Industry reviews the Personnel Security Questionnaire (SF-86) and other files and systems. The interim eligibility is issued only when access to classified information is clearly consistent with the national security interestsof the United States. The interim eligibility is issued at the saatkorn time as the initiation of the investigation and will generally remain in effect until the investigation is completed. At that time, the applicant is considered for final eligibility. Statuses in the Review Process The Defense Security Service issues the following statuses throughout the investigation to let candidates know what is happening during the process Received The investigative service provider (ISP) has acknowledged receipt of the investigation request and will be reviewing it for acceptability.Unacceptable The ISP determined the investigation request to be deficient. The applicant will then receive a message with the reasonwhythe request was rejected. If the employee still requires a clearance, a new investigation request will need to be initiated and submitted with the corrected information.Scheduled The ISP has determined the investigation request to be acceptable and the investigation is currently ongoing/open. Closed The ISP has completed the investigation and the investigation has been sen t for adjudication. Delays in Investigations Themost common reasons an investigationcould be delayed include security application packages that are not complete, issues with fingerprints, and investigations that involve coverage of extensive overseas activities. To expedite the process, be sure to include all the requireddocumentswith the applicant. Why Would an Applicant be Denied a Security Clearance? Various reasons exist for why someone may be denied a security clearance. The most important factors in an investigation are the individuals honesty, candor, and thoroughness in the completion of their security clearance forms. Every case is individually assessed, using theSecurity Executive Directive 4 National Security Adjudicative Guidelines,to determine whether the granting or continuing of eligibility for a security clearance is clearly consistent with the interests of national security. Theadjudicative guidelinesinclude allegiance to the United States foreign influence foreign preference sexual behavior personal conduct financial considerations alcohol consumption drug involvement and substance misuse emotional, mental, and personality disorders criminal conduct handling protected information outside activities and misuse of information technology. How to Appeal if Denied a Clearance If you aredenied a security clearance, or your continued eligibility for access to classified information is revoked, you will be informed why and you willthenbe givenaprocedure for filing an appeal. You will also be able to address any derogatory information that was gathered during the investigation and will be able to correct or clarify the details. How Long Security Clearances Are in Effect Security clearances are active only for the time when an individual holds the original job for which the clearance was designated. A clearance holder may be re-investigated at any time, but a formal review is required after five years for aTopSecret clearance, ten years for aSecret clearance, and 15 years for aConfidential clearance. A clearance may be reactivated in certain cases without going through the entire investigative process again. However, the break in employment must be less than two years and the original investigation cannot be more than 5, 10, or 15 years old for theTopSecret,Secret, andConfidential categories, respectively. More Information Before you apply for a security clearance, be sure to review thelatest guidelines and updates from the U.S. Department of Statesothatyou have current information on requirements, the process, and approval. The information contained in this article is not legal advice and is not a substitute for such advice. State and federal laws change frequently, and the information in this article may not reflect your own states laws or the most recent changes to the law.

The Role of Force in Neurons

The Role of Force in Neurons The Role of Force in Neurons Muscles and bones are the stuff of force. In the body, these two do the heavy lifting, providing support. Neurons, of course, serve an altogether different purpose, transmitting messages, for which theres no need for strength.And yet, as neuroscientists have known for the past 30 or so years, if you grow a neuron in a petri dish, it comes out straight and taut. If its very straight it must be taut, there must be more force in it, says Taher Saif, a professor of mechanical science and engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Why do the neurons have this force?Saif set out to answer this question. First, he needed to know if the stiff neuron phenomenon was exclusive to the petri dish, or could be found in living flesh. A few sensors in a fruit fly embryo revealed that indeed the neurons were taut in vivo as well. But that didnt explain why.That was important to find, but not as exciting, because, you know, what is this tension doing? So Saif and his kollektiv got back inside a fruit fly. This time they severed the neuron in the middle.Doctoral student Scott Siechen, left, and professor Taher Saif and their colleagues found that tension in axons is required for proper neuron signaling. Image L. Brian Stauffer / Illinois.eduSnipping the NeuronA typical, unsevered neuron has a phalanx of neurotransmitters at the end waiting for a signal from brain or spine. They dont leap off to do their thingactivate a muscle, gland, or another neuronuntil they get the signal. But after Saifs snip, the neurotransmitters diffused themselves in the neuron. The left their usual gathering spot and simply dispersed.But these messengers were not at all lost forever. When Saif pulled the cut ends taut again, using micropipettes, the neurotransmitters returned to their proper place at neurons end. Retightening of the neuron brought the neurotransmitters back to their rightful place where they could properly awa it orders from above. Neurons were never supposed to have anything to do with mechanical force, says Saif. They are for carrying signals, making us think, making us sense. What we found is that, for as yet unknown reasons, they generate this force, and it needs the tautness to accumulate neurotransmitters at the junctions.There was no way for Saif to use his micropipettes to slacken the fruit fly neuron from the ends, rather than snip, to see the saatkorn effect. Neurons want to remain taut, and when slackness is introduced by bringing the ends together, they shorten themselves in a matter of seconds to maintain the same level of tension. But it takes about half an hour for the neurotransmitters to redistribute themselves throughout the neuron. So cutting them was the only option.Memory LossExactly why the neurotransmitters leave their posts when a neuron is loosened isnt yet known, but Saif has his ideas. If its taut, all the segments align themselves and the route is very continuo us, he says. But if it loses its tautness, they tend to randomly orient themselves. The neurotransmitters may get lost at the bends, unsure of how to find the end where they belong.Normally, the neurotransmitters remain stuck where they should be in a dense network of fibers at the end of the neuron. But these fibers are dependent on tension. Snipping the neuron destabilizes them and the neurotransmitters run back inside the length of the neuron.Though this is just the first glimpse of the role of neuron force, Saifs research could conceivably point the way toward understanding neurological diseases. If the tautness cannot be maintained, from a lack of glucose or whatever it is, it begins to relax, and the neurotransmitters are not available, he conjectures. That may be one of the reasons for memory loss.As we learn more and more about the role of tautness, well also learn the price of loosing it.Michael Abrams is an independent writer.Learn about the latest trends in bioengineering at ASMEs Global Congress onNanoEngineering for Medicine and Biology. For Further Discussion Neurons were never supposed to have anything to do with mechanical force.Prof. Taher Saif, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign