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Flooding can have all kinds of effects on vehicles, so let’s take a look at some of the ways in which water damage can be assessed and repaired.

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Always remember that the responsibility for keeping commercial vehicles roadworthy lies with the owner. Details about the systems and responsibilities involved and are available on the government website.

Salt water or fresh?

The first thing to ascertain is whether the damage caused by fresh water or salt water. If the answer is salt water, you will probably need to start replacing parts; for example, air brake valves will lose their lubrication if submerged in salty water and will begin to corrode.

Any brake valve that has been in contact with salt water will need replacing, as will ABS (antilock brake system), relay modulators, air reservoirs and air compressors.

Sea water will also corrode wheel-ends over time, so they will need checking and replacing if damaged.

If the vehicle could have been flooded by sea or fresh water, it is best to assume salt water damage and act accordingly.

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If you are certain that the flood was purely fresh water, you should power wash your vehicle to determine the damage to components, including the foundation brakes.

Once everything is cleaned up, pay special attention to the brake valves, charging system and wheel-ends.

Electronics

Whether it was fresh or salt water that flooded your vehicle, the electronics are likely to be shot. Check the extent of the damage by running a diagnostic download on the stability control system and the ABS.

If your ECU is working, this will check the harnesses, sensors and solenoids for you. If you are lucky and the electrical damage is limited, you should contact electrical control components manufacturers to order replacements. There are some great online sellers out there, such as www.osmelectrical.com/.

Safety first

If you are in any doubt as to the extent of the flood damage caused to a vehicle, get it checked over by a professional before you use it again. Using a vehicle that may not be roadworthy is a danger to you and to other road users, and is also highly illegal. Once you have ordered your replacement parts, it is best to have them fitted by a trained mechanic rather than attempting this yourself.

A new scheme is being launched from next April requiring landlords to have an Energy Performance Certificate with a minimum rating of E. This has been brought about after it was revealed that many renters are overpaying their energy bills, with as much as £13 million being overpaid in total per month! This amounts to an average of £612 during a year, a number that landlords have a legal duty to take responsibility for.

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Fines for landlords

Starting next April, landlords could be fined up to £5,000 if there isn’t an improvement in their property’s energy efficiency. The insurance company, Axa reported that more than 200,000 properties are facing an “excess cold hazard” for those homes that fall into a rating of F and G bands. When the new legislation comes into force, these properties are at danger of having a rental ban imposed on them. On average, homes from the F and G bands are nearly double the amount per month than those in band A. According to the Independent newspaper, analysis from the Chartered Institute of Housing finds that as much as a third of rented homes won’t meet the government’s decency standards for improving housing.

Rental Improvements

The study found that some action has been taken by many landlords with homes from F and G, contributing to properties from this band being halved in 2015. More good news comes in the disclosure that more than half of the tenants Axa interviewed are in the A to C bands. It further revealed that 69 per cent had an energy-efficient boiler, 57 per cent had roof insulation, and more than 70 per cent of rental properties have double glazing, such as those with Double Glazing in Leicester.

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Ways to lower your energy consumption

There are a variety of ways to help lower your fuel bills, including insulating your walls and roof, turning off your appliances and lights, and changing your energy supplier. If your property has single-pane window glass, companies such as http://www.absolutewindowsolutions.co.uk/ offer help to ensure the windows in your property are updated so you don’t lose heat over the winter.

On the whole, Axa found, many landlords are updating and investing more frequently in their homes for tenants. Despite failures existing within the market, most landlords are doing the right thing and improving their rental housing.

To improve their healthcare offerings, earlier this October the Chinese government declared their intention to use overseas clinical trial data.

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Benefits of Overseas Trial Data

The move by the Central Committee to accept the findings from clinical trials from abroad has been the result of the slow process of approving medicines in China. By using results from elsewhere, it is hoped that the research, development, registering and implementation of new drugs and treatments could be greatly improved and sped up.

Providing the organisations conducting the trials are in line with the device and drug regulatory standards in China, the results can be used with the CFDA and be put forward for the acceptance process.

It’s thought that this decision could benefit pharmaceutical companies abroad wanting to trade with China, where there is tough competition in having drugs launched due to the control over pricing imposed by the government. In addition, the State Council anticipate this could help 1.4 billion people in the country.

With the inclusion of international data, those organisations seeking registration for their products will be required to analyse and submit findings of genetic differences that may be pertinent to the potential users in China.

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Fertile Pharmaceutical Ground

The pharmaceutical market in China is booming. It is considered the second largest in the world and had sales estimated at $117 billion in 2016.

Organisations that can provide quality design and implementation of clinical studies, such as the Adaptive Phase 1 Clinical Studies offered by http://www.richmondpharmacology.com, are vital to the future of worldwide healthcare and advancement.

The sheer size of the population and prevalence of certain illnesses make China a tempting proposition for many pharmaceutical companies, in addition to the growth of its healthcare system. The likes of Boehringer Ingelheim’s Giotrif drug for lung cancer obtained FDA approval after nearly three-quarters of the third trial phase were selected from China. In the near future, BeyondSpring has plans to develop their Plinabulin drug in China in a move that could cut costs.

Alongside cancer treatments, diabetes is of growing interest given that an estimated 150 million individuals by 2040 are set to suffer type 2 of the condition. AstraZeneca aims to develop and register Bevespi Aerosphere for COPD, while Novo Nordisk are focusing on Victoza and Semaglutide.

There are numerous tools available that will assist in the successful creation of a functional website, and selecting the best option for your specific set of requirements is important to produce a final product that works seamlessly for your business.

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Strikingly

Streamlined and contemporary, Strikingly is an innovative platform helping people across a variety of different sectors to create modern and aesthetically pleasing websites that are easy to navigate. Designs are locked into the platform however, meaning if you choose to migrate to a different platform, you will have to invest time in creating a new design.

Weebly

Widely regarded as one of the most user-friendly website construction tools, Weebly’s interface is easy to navigate and simple to use. As there are only 18 different templates to choose from, however, your creative vision may not be able to be fulfilled in its entirety.

Jimdo

Considered one of the best interfaces for eCommerce websites, Jimdo’s drag and drop capabilities make it simple to efficiently construct a streamlined and professional looking website. Switching between templates is also a simple process, helping you to select the best design for your requirements.

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Wix

Featuring highly on this list put together by Wired, with more than 500 different templates, there is no shortage of customisable features, providing opportunities to apply your creativity and strengthen your brand identity. The tools themselves are relatively simple to use, and as there are also a variety of handy guides and instructions available to follow, you certainly don’t have to be a proficient web designer to create a sleek and functional website.

As multiple people can work on a design, Wix can be a useful tool for the communication of ideas within large teams. You may, for example, choose to input your ideas into a Wix template before approaching a professional agency, such as star web innovations, who are specialists in web design in Reading. This concept design can then be used as a visual tool to communicate your initial ideas and provide a framework for your team to expand upon and refine.

Squarespace

One of the more expensive web design tools, Squarespace offers a wealth of useful features that will benefit every business. The software doesn’t require any prior design or technical knowledge and provides countless options for increased customisation and full Google Analytics integration.

Double gauze is a relatively new fabric that has been introduced from Japan. It is made by taking two thin layers of cotton gauze and using a stab stitch to bond them together at roughly 1cm intervals.

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The resulting fabric is amazingly soft. It also breathes really well, which makes it perfect for summer clothes.

Like all new fabrics though, there are tips and tricks to using cotton gauze. If you’d like to save yourself a little trial and error in using this material ,then read on and we will share our top tips for sewing double gauze.

Double gauze is probably not for beginners, but if you would like to choose a good beginner’s sewing machine, and get started with something else, you’d soon have the basic skills needed to use it.

Browse a range of designs at stores such as http://www.quality-fabrics.co.uk/dressmaking-fabrics-14-c.asp, and you’re sure to find something that inspires.

Pre-care

Although the shrinkage isn’t significant with this fabric, if you like to prewash your material, then you can put this through on a cool wash before using it. Don’t tumble dry, and press with a cool iron to get the best results.

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Cutting out

Cotton gauze handles like linen. It can be a little slippery, but not overly so. Your best bet for making sure that you don’t get snags when you cut is to pin with sharp, fine pins or to use fabric weights when cutting.

Sewing

A fine needle works best with this fabric, so choose a size 80 or similar. Make sure that it is sharp, as duller needles can lead to snagging. If you don’t spot them, they can cause a run that will continue for the length of the piece of fabric.

Pick a lightweight thread like a number 50wt. Gutermann Sew-All is a good choice in polyester, or Aurifil 50wt in cotton. Use a standard stitch length, like 2.5.

Finishing seams

Like all gauzes, this dressmaking fabric does have a tendency to fray. It’s probably best to overlock your seams if you can. If you don’t have an overlocker, then using French seams would be an alternative.

Handling the gauze

Double gauze is a delicate fabric that needs gentle handling. Because of its tendency to snag and fray, you want to minimise touching it where possible.

Wales is a relatively small and inoffensive British country. We have a tendency to overlook it, but that is unwise as it is a place with an economy that is steadily on the up and up. The unemployment rates are down and exports are up, meaning that this small country is showing some moderate gains in the world market. This article will highlight some of the reasons for the current growth in the Welsh economy.

The Welsh Business Barometer reported some expansive growth in the UK and export markets. This includes an increased number of sales and orders in the July through September quarter of 2017. This means that there has been an increase in the workforce in the last three months, and many companies are planning to expand even more.

Despite this recent growth, the uncertainty of Brexit and the skills gap in Wales on the whole has contributed to a difficulty in recruiting employees in many companies. Needed skills are on whole at a low, and it is difficult to outsource help right now. This has sparked a fear in some for the future of the jobs market.

There is a benefit to this however, the unemployment rate in Wales has fallen below the UK average, which is great for its citizens. It has been reported that it is down 11,000 just this quarter, leaving the unemployment rate at only 4 percent. Compared with the UK’s 4.3 percent, Wales is doing pretty well. Affirmed also by job search sites like Jobrapido, the number of jobs in Wales is growing and is therefore a sure bet for many current and future citizens.

Speaking of the future, First Minister Carwyn Jones has said “we are continuing to work hard and grow and build resilience within Wales’ economy and today we are launching the Development Bank of Wales – the first of its kind in the UK”. This is proving that Wales is experiencing a prosperous period overall. Along with this there is a strong amount of job creation in Wales, which positively impacts the future.

All in all, Wales is a great place to settle if you are looking for somewhere with a relatively stable market, and a high chance that you will find a job.

Picture source: https://pixabay.com/en/welsh-flag-pennant-welsh-wales-2412265/

This article is an introductory material that gives a brief description of simple but critically important items for professional photography. To beginners, such advice will help avoid many mistakes and quickly approach professionals, and also encourage them to further study the necessary materials.

If you want to make competent photos, these tips, tricks, and techniques from the top-class photographer, we will help you improve your skills.

Whether you want to take pictures for design work, take pictures of models for illustrations or do anything else – these tips will be useful to everyone.

In the next 15 points, we will talk about equipment, lighting, and editing – all you need to know to get the best photos.

1. Draw up a plan

Before you tackle the camera, make a couple of sketches or a storyboard of what you want to get. This will adhere to a certain idea during the shooting.

2. Background

 The continuous background color in the studio will make sure that the subject is a focal point and it will be easier to separate it if you need to create a composition.

Gray is an excellent color, as it is well suited for most situations. You can also shoot on a white background if you need a lighter composition or on a black for dark shots.

Whichever background you choose, make sure that the background color does not match the color of the subject.

3. Light sources

 Also, if you plan to make a composite image, you need all the objects/people on it to be shot with the same lighting source (s).

Before you press the camera shutter button, think about where the subject will be located and at what angle the light will fall on it. Perhaps it needs to be illuminated from above or below?

Also it is necessary to think about the type and color of lighting. We will talk about this in the next steps.

4. Natural light: “golden hour”

Natural lighting can be used by everyone, although its quality varies greatly depending on location, time of day and weather.

If you rely on natural light, the best time for shooting is the so-called “golden hour”. This is the last hour before sunset when the sun is already close to the horizon.

 5. Natural light: hard light

At noon, when the sun’s rays fall almost perpendicular to the ground, hard shadows are obtained, especially under the eyes and chin. If you have to shoot at this time of day, put the subject in the shade or use a reflector to scatter part of the light and soften the shadows.

Alternatively, you can try shooting in a room near the window, using curtains to diffuse light. However, hard light can be used to your advantage – it’s great for shooting textures!

6. Artificial light

If natural lighting is not an option, you can always create it yourself. Such light sources as lamps can perfectly help in lighting sections of the frame and, perhaps, are always easily accessible.

If you do not want to stamp on the level of a beginner, a good investment will be a flash along with wireless shutter release controls or even a set of portable lighting fixtures.

7. Camera

 Obviously, if you want the best results, you can not do without a DSLR or a compact mirrorless camera with removable lenses. Both types provide full control over the settings. How to properly dispose of them – read the following paragraphs. There are many camera options for any wallet, so you can always find the optimal model.

8. The correct lens

To some, this item may also seem too simple, but it would be nice to recall it. The lens is an important part of the camera, which should be chosen with the mind. Each lens has its own focal length, which varies from wide (14 mm) to telephoto (200 – 400 mm).

50 mm is the best option for most situations if you just try yourself in the sphere of photography and want something cheap, simple and better than the whale lens of the camera.

The next step is to invest in 85 mm / 135 mm for portrait and detailed shots, as well as 35 mm for photographing landscapes.

9. Shoot in RAW

If you work with DSLR or mirrorless, make sure that you shoot in RAW, not JPEG.

This will allow the camera to shoot and process images without compression, providing more free space for processing in Lightroom or Photoshop in case you need to fix the exposure.

10. Working in the dark

If you shoot with a DLSR or a compact mirrorless, you have very flexible sensor sensitivity control options with the help of ISO control.

The higher the number, the more noise in the picture, so try to set the ISO to the minimum acceptable mark. Here are the approximate indicators for different situations.

• Outdoors in sunny weather:100-200
• Outside in cloudy weather:400
• In a well-lit room:800-1000
• In a dark room:1600-2000

11. Depth of field

The aperture does not just adjust the size of the hole that transmits light, but also what part of the frame will be in focus, depending on the distance.

If you need the focus is to be sharp from the foreground to the background, shoot with f / 8 or higher. Otherwise, if you need a blurry background and a sense of depth, experiment with the value in the f / 1.8 areas.

12. High-speed shooting

A short shutter speed (1/200 sec or less) is great when you need to “freeze” the moment, while a long exposure (1 sec or more) will help convey a sense of movement or create a slow-motion effect.

When working with long exposure, do not forget to take a tripod and the shutter release with you to avoid jolting the camera.

13. Different options

After you’ve got the picture you need, take a couple more frames, varying the data. The main difficulty is setting, so when everything is ready, try taking a photo from different angles, change the settings and lighting styles. If a lot of time is spent on setting the frame, then this approach can save a lot of time in the future.

14. Color Harmony

If the conditions are limited and you have to use different lighting sources, you may need to correct the colors to make the image look harmonious.

This can be done using the White Balance tool in Adobe Camera Raw or Lightroom or you can.

15. Competent pruning of the background

After the release of Adobe Photoshop CC 2015.5, it was even easier to cut the background. Why not take advantage of this?

Windowsills can far too easily be overlooked, not just practically but figuratively as well. They are often an example of the way small nooks in homes can be ignored, being left bare when there is plenty of potential to be taken advantage of.

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It is undoubtedly a shame that windowsills are so often the forgotten feature in a home, especially given how many interesting ways there are to dress them and add character and beauty to your living space.

Make a reading nook

If your windowsills are wide enough for a seat you can create your own reading nook. Add pillows to make it comfortable and a light for evening reading and you’ve got the perfect place for a bookworm to relax.

An indoor garden

Show off your green fingers, and your window sill, by positioning plants in a variety of different canisters. Try mason jars, tin cans, old-fashioned pots and glass bottles. The possibilities are endless.

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You could use bright flowers, delicate stems or even herbs to create a natural beauty spot that could be tailor-made to fit any room. Kitchens could have vegetables, whilst moisture-loving plants would love to sit in front of waterproof roller blinds from companies such as http://www.ucblinds.co.uk/Roller-Blinds/PVC-Waterproof-Roller-Blinds in a bathroom or wet room.

An arty area

Let your imagination run wild and create an area to showcase your own tastes or interests, however eclectic they may be. Your windowsill doesn’t have to be made up of one style. Perhaps you have a range of knick-knacks that could be grouped together to create a perfectly imperfect representation of you.

Added romance

Inject romance into your room by adding candles to your windowsills and light them when night starts to fall. The light will bounce off the glass and create interesting shadows in your room. Just beware of safety issues, especially if there are window fabrics nearby, and never leave candles unattended. You can find more fire safety advice about using candles on the London Fire Brigade website at http://www.london-fire.gov.uk/UsingCandles.asp.

Take a seat

If your window ledge isn’t quite wide enough to add pillows and cushions to make a seat, why not add a bench just in front of the window. That way you can take advantage of the natural light coming through the window and the view too.

Condensation is a common problem for property owners. It is unsightly on windows, and it can also cause severe problems like mould, peeling wallpaper, and damp patches. Condensation is caused by a buildup of moisture in your property, causing humidity levels to rise. Fortunately, there are some simple things you can do to get it under control.

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Ventilation

One of the best ways to cut condensation in your home is by having adequate ventilation. Everyday activities like cooking, taking a shower and even breathing lead to moisture being put into the air, and if there’s no way for it to escape, you will get condensation.

When you cook or take a shower, make sure you turn on the extractor fan and/or open a window to allow moisture to escape, and keep the door to other rooms closed. Leave the fan running for a few minutes after you’ve finished to clear the air; some fans have a timer and will switch off automatically after a set interval. Drying laundry indoors is a major source of condensation, so you should dry outdoors wherever possible. If you have to dry indoors, put clothes in the bathroom with the window open and the door closed.

Circulation and insulation

Insulating your home with double glazing in Worcester from a supplier like https://www.firmfix.co.uk and making sure you have adequate loft and other insulation helps to reduce the amount of heat lost from the house. This means there’s less chance of walls and windows being cold enough for water to condense on them. You need to combine insulation with an adequate level of heating to ensure that surfaces don’t get cold. In rooms that aren’t regularly used, like spare bedrooms, you still need some heat, so turn the radiator down but not completely off.

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It’s also important to allow air to circulate. In rooms that are used regularly, especially bedrooms, open the window slightly or leave a trickle vent open as much as possible to allow air to circulate.

It’s also a good idea to leave a gap of an inch or so between any furniture and the outside walls of your property so that moisture isn’t trapped. Wardrobes should be placed against internal walls as these are likely to be warmer, which means there’s less chance of mould growth.