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A marked change in traffic patterns as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic during lockdown times has been noted across the United States. These new traffic patterns led to changes in the way Google Maps predicts traffic, while also providing new opportunities for researchers as long term effects of a significant economic shutdown and reduced traffic can now be studied to determine new travel needs moving forward. While the number of drivers on the road drastically decreased during the height of economic shutdown, the effects of reduced traffic on the prevalence of car accidents varied from state to state. Though little information exists presently, experts have already begun to explore the relationship between the COVID-19 pandemic and traffic patterns.

How Has Google Maps Adapted to New Traffic Patterns During The COVID-19 Pandemic?

In the past, Google predicted traffic patterns based on years worth of data crumpled with live traffic information. This method was effective for over 13 years. However, the drastic reduction in global traffic was so severe that a need for adaptation surfaced. As the level of economic shutdown progressed earlier this year, traffic patterns dropped nearly 50% globally. The new reality pushed Google to utilize more recent data and continuously update navigation systems based on driving conditions from a 2-4 week period. This shorter, more recent period of data will constantly be updated as the economy rebounds and traffic patterns increase. Accuracy is especially crucial as experts in transportation have predicted that there may be permanent changes to traffic patterns as a result of the pandemic. Though navigation systems have been able to respond and adjust to the new normal for traffic predictions, the drop in road travel has offered new opportunities for researchers as they investigate travel behavior moving forward.

What Novel Research Opportunities Are Emerging As We Rebound From A Global Economic Shutdown?

As the economy enters uncharted territory, there is a constant emergence of novel research opportunities. Researchers can now begin to investigate the impact of a nearly total economic shutdown on human travel behavior. Though significant research has yet to be conducted, a relationship between traffic behavior and economic shutdown/ pandemic level events has begun to emerge. First, the relationship between road safety and the economic downturn would be of note: specifically, the way in which significant economic downturn directly relates to road safety through elements of exposure to traffic, traffic composition, and driver influence/ behavior. Second, the relationship between driver behavior and traffic accidents in regard to the increased levels of stress and anxiety experienced by the general population under pandemic conditions could be explored. Finally, and perhaps the primary concern to be explored as the U.S. experiences potentially permanently altered traffic patterns is the relationship between the reduction in traffic as a result of economic downturn and the rate of fatal and nonfatal car accidents.

Has The Marked Reduction In Traffic Due To The Economic Shutdown Affected The Rate of Traffic Accidents?

As the economic shutdown progressed it would be expected that traffic would also see a significant decrease and, as a result, so would the prevalence of vehicular accidents. However, it has instead been found that there are varied effects on traffic accidents state to state. This is hypothesized by researchers to be influenced by a marked increase in anxiety and stress, an increase in recreational drug and alcohol use, or a significant uptake in idle time and open roads leading to more opportunity for speeding and “stunt” driving throughout the general population. While some states, such as California, have seen the predicted reduction in casualty collisions from March 1, 2020 to April 30, 2020, others have noticed no change, or even an increase in fatality crashes as a result of these influences.

There are going to be times that you are going to combine your PDF files. It could be for convenience to organize your files, or to keep all info in one place. Whatever reason you may have, you need a tool that can help you merge files. Don’t worry! It’s not as hard as it sounds. You might not be aware of this, but you probably already have the tools we’re going to mention on your device. So without further ado, here are some tips on how to merge your files into a single PDF.

PDFBear

Technically, PDFBear is not on your device, but rather a website that you can easily access anytime, anywhere. PDFBear lets you merge PDF files free of charge, and more! You can also have access to its other PDF tools such as compress, convert, secure, edit, view, repair, and split PDF.

1. To start merging your PDF files, open your browser, and visit www.PDFBear.com. Once you’re on the website, you’ll notice how clean and straightforward the interface is. Look for the Merge PDF tool and click it.
2. The PDF merger is the quickest and simplest way to combine your files without spending too much time on editing. Believe it or not, you can combine your files in less than a minute! Upload the files that you want to merge and wait for the server to load.
3. If necessary, you can modify, add more files, and rearrange your PDF files first before merging. When you’re done, press the Combine button.
4. And that’s it! All that is left to do is to download the new file to your device or upload it to your drive. You can also make further edits to your file, such as converting to Word or compressing the PDF to reduce file size.

PDFBear is 256-Bit SSL-encrypted and makes sure to erase all your tracks whenever you use its website. So whether you are working on a top-secret file or not, your files will not be at risk for malware. Since PDFBear is cloud-based software, you can access it even if you are using your phone, as long as you have an internet connection.

Adobe Acrobat

Why not use the software of the company that created the PDF format? If there’s anyone who knows what they’re doing, that’s Adobe Acrobat. I mean, they are the ones who invented the PDF format so it’s only logical to think that they also have some tools that can simply merge files into one PDF. Before we can start, make sure that you have the software downloaded on your device. Unlike PDFBear, which is a cloud-based tool, you need to have the Adobe Acrobat subscription and software for it to work. Though you can only ideally merge your files using a desktop or a laptop, you can combine your files offline. Here are the steps on how to combine your files:

1. Open the Adobe Acrobat software. Click Tools and look for the Combine Files option.
2. Next, add the files that you want to merge, then click Open.
3. You can now rearrange the order of the files. When you’re done, click Combine Files.
4. Adobe Acrobat will now merge your file. You still have to manually save the new file. To do this, go to File, Save As, then choose the location where you want to save the file.
5. Rename the file then press Save.

Use macOS Preview

If you’re an Apple user, you might not be utilizing this built-in tool. Preview is the default software for viewing your photos and PDF files. But you can also use this app to combine your PDF files. You don’t even have to pay for a fee! Here’s how you can use Preview:

1. Open one of the files using Preview. Click on the sidebar, then thumbnails option. You should be able to see the list of pages of your PDF.
2. Now, go to Edit, click Insert, then select Page From File.
3. Choose the other file that you want to merge with the current file you have in Preview. Click the Open button and observe what’s going to happen. The PDF you’ve selected will be added to the end of the first PDF file.
4. Save the new PDF by going to File, then select Export As PDF. Choose the file name and the location where you want to save the file. That’s all you have to do!

Merging PDF shouldn’t be a chore

Combining PDF files may not be the most exciting thing in the world, but admit that sometimes you get a sense of pride whenever you finish such a task. Thanks to these tips, you no longer need to research more on how to combine files. Bookmark this article so you can go back to this the next time you need to merge your PDF files.

Editing Word files is convenient whenever you use software like Microsoft Word or Google Docs. Now, what if you need to send that file to another person? Sending the Word file without converting it to PDF can mess up the formatting of the file. Also, PDF files are compatible with all devices, unlike the Word format. To make sure that your files are always in the best shape before sharing it with other people, you can use a cloud-based tool like the ones below.

PDFBear

PDFBear is a free word to PDF converter that you can use anytime, anywhere. In just two minutes, you can get your newly converted file. You get to download your new file in just a few clicks. PDFBear is an online conversion tool that handles the job for you. PDFBear uses advanced technology that will not alter your document in any way. This platform will preserve the quality of your file. PDFBear is 256-Bit-encrypted to protect its users. Furthermore, PDFBear removes all processed files in their server after one hour of inactivity.

SodaPDF

SodaPDF’s user interface is simple and easy to navigate. To start using its website, upload the Doc file that you want to convert into PDF. Wait for SodaPDF to upload the file and convert it. After a few minutes, your file should be ready for download. Aside from the website, you can also download the software so you can use SodaPDF offline. So if you think this is going to work to your advantage, you can go ahead and download the desktop version.

PDF2Go

PDF2Go is another go-to tool when it comes to converting Word to PDF. PDF2Go lets you convert with OCR for more precision. You can also input the language of the file so PDF2Go for better scanning quality. Aside from Docs, you can also convert ODT, RTF, TXT, Microsoft PowerPoint PPT, JPG, PNG, GIF, and more into PDF using this converter! Converting files into PDF means they occupy less storage space.

ILovePDF

ILovePDF lets you do batch conversion if you’re subscribed to its services. But if you want a quick scan and convert, ILovePDF lets you do it one at a time for free. Once you have uploaded a file, all you need is to click Convert and wait for the download button. ILovePDF also generates a unique QR code that you can share with other people. If you want to share your file with a little pizzazz, ILovePDF can do it for you in seconds.

SmallPDF

With SmallPDF, you don’t have to adjust the settings whenever you use this website. There are also no limits when it comes to the file size of the PDF that you are going to upload. After converting your Word to PDF, you can further edit it. For example, you can use the compress tool to lower the file size. This makes it more ideal when you’re going to send the file via email.

PDFCandy

All the features of the PDFCandy website are for free. File security is also guaranteed whenever you use any of its tools. You don’t even have to sign up and register your email to use PDFCandy. You can use PDFCandy using any device. It doesn’t matter whether you are using a phone or a tablet, you will have access to PDFCandy as long as you have an internet connection.

Why Convert Word to PDF?

We’ve already mentioned two of the most important reasons why you should convert Word to PDF. The first one is it preserves the formatting of the document, and the second one is it makes your file more presentable. Here are other practical reasons why you should convert Word to PDF.

1. Saves you some storage space. Your device will thank you if you take the time to convert some space-consuming Word docs into PDF.
2. Easier to send. PDF files are the handiest file format ever invented. Plus, there’s a file limit of 25MB whenever you attach a file in an email.
3. You can protect your PDF files. You can add a password to your confidential files so information will not get leaked. Make sure to send the password to the recipient as well so they can also have access to your file.

In A Nutshell

If you currently don’t have any software on your device that can help you convert Word to PDF, you can use these cloud-based tools that you can access anytime. Most of these are free and can deliver the best results for your file.

If you’ve ever had an annoying, constant ringing or rushing sound in your ears, then you’ve experienced tinnitus before. While tinnitus is sometimes an acute phenomenon, in some situations it can feel chronic, especially without the right kind of treatment. Tinnitus, while seemingly harmless, can really take a toll on you depending on its severity.

Like other medical conditions, getting the right treatment can make a world of difference when it comes to leading a happy life without tinnitus. However, it can be tricky to nail down, which is why many people just choose to suffer through their condition instead of getting their tinnitus treated. Here’s what you should know about tinnitus, as well as the most effective treatments to address this annoying condition.

What is tinnitus?

While most people think of tinnitus as a ringing in the ears, it can also manifest as other noises, including a hiss, rushing sounds, buzzing, clicking, and humming. Tinnitus, whilst being a problem with the auditory system, isn’t a disease in and of itself. Instead, tinnitus is generally a symptom of a deeper underlying condition, such as a circulatory issue or head trauma. But whilst ear injuries are a common reason for tinnitus, sometimes tinnitus is just a symptom of larger hearing loss as a result of the natural aging process.

Although tinnitus is relatively harmless, it can certainly be quite disruptive to your day-to-day life. Thankfully, the effects of tinnitus can be reduced or even mitigated completely thanks to different kinds of treatments. In some situations, the underlying condition is treated and solves all of your hearing problems, perhaps even preventing any hearing loss. Other times, tinnitus can be reduced by masking the noise and making it less easy to be perceived.

How is tinnitus diagnosed?

Tinnitus diagnosis involves a few different tests in order to try and get to the bottom of what’s causing the ringing in your ears in the first place. Remember that tinnitus is generally a symptom of a larger problem, and so a medical professional will need to rule out different issues, in order to determine what’s wrong and ultimately treat your issue. For starters, your ear canal will be examined and you’ll likely need an examination by an audiologist to ensure that your inner ear or auditory nerve hasn’t sustained any damage.

After damage to your inner ear has been ruled out, you may undergo physical tests that examine your range of movement. For example, you may be asked to move your jaw in certain ways in order to identify, and/or rule out, TMJ and other jaw-related issues. In some situations, audiologists may even refer to get an MRI or CT scan performed, to find out what might be the root of the problem. Even the type of sound you’re hearing can be used to distinguish between a pulmonary problem and something like Meniere’s disease.

What are the best treatments for tinnitus?

Ultimately, if the underlying condition of your tinnitus can be identified and controlled, that’s the easiest way to address your tinnitus symptoms. That being said, there are a variety of treatment options tinnitus patients can look to, in order to address their tinnitus symptoms. For example, some tinnitus treatment involves acupuncture or relaxation techniques to help reduce the blood pressure or pulmonary issues that may serve as a cause of tinnitus.

When relaxation doesn’t work, sometimes the way to address the background sound patients experience is through white noise or masking devices. These items ultimately reduce the bothersome noise either by distraction, as is the case of white noise machines, or by making it easier to listen beyond it with hearing aids. In some situations, patients with severe tinnitus can even address the symptoms of tinnitus by using a device that helps retrain the brain to not notice the noise so much, through the use of biofeedback.

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Champion Reverse Weave

Where preferred to begin once again with the designer of the style? Legacy athletic apparel brand champion has been fabricating official packs for American public groups and pro athletics clubs for ages, so they know some things about delivering hoodies that look great and perform. It’s protected opposite weave cotton is additionally hard-wearing and diminishes shrinkage, so you can have confidence your hoodie will search usefully for a long time to come.

Sunspel

English brand Sunspel are eminent for their top notch take on closet fundamentals, and its scope of sweats satisfies this notoriety. Their hoodies are created from great loopback cotton to guarantee life span and breathability, and arrive in a scope of nonpartisan, you can check block-shading plans that will coordinate everything in your current closet . you can visit Juice wrld Merch.

Reigning Champ

A side-effect of the ascent of sports luxury and decent, famous brand Reigning Champ has some expertise in premium athletic wear. Made from great materials that they plan and create in-house, with an accentuation on tough development and unmatched solace, this is advanced active apparel that is intended to be worn both all-around of the exercise center.

Stussy

Streetwear has become huge business over ongoing years with everybody from the high road to extravagance architects looting skate culture for plan motivation. So, on the off chance that you need to get in on the pattern in a real way, look to one of the first purveyors and supporters of the scene: Stussy. Made by its diligent author Shaun in 1980, expect hardwearing hoodies that can face day by day wear and accompany a solid portion of road cred.

Gucci

There’s no more sweltering originator mark on the planet right now than Gucci. Under the inventive course of Alessandro Michele, the extravagance Italian spic and span’s 1970s-motivated tasteful requests to everybody from style insiders to hip-bounce stars to Hollywood A-listers. But Juice wrld Hoodies item most selling item in Stockloot have all hoodies style, It was likewise the brand that reignited the current logo pattern, so in case you will a month’s lease on a hoodie, it should earn desirous looks.

Carhartt WIP

Skatewear isn’t for everybody, especially in case you’re a man of a particular age. In any case, when it’s as basic and elegantly executed as Carhartt WIP, we would all be able to get in on the activity. The legacy American workwear name’s metropolitan neighborly European partner makes the absolute best hoodies going, and at costs that won’t keep you separate from pocket. The best part? That exemplary Carhartt fabricate quality that implies you’ll be still be going after it in 20 years’ time.

Stone Island

You may know it for its deplorable football-convict implications or it’s propensity to be worn head to toe by Drake. Devoted enthusiasts of Stone Island, notwithstanding, know it’s actually about the creative textures and noteworthy coloring strategies. Without a doubt, loopback shirt cotton isn’t so imaginative, however we’d lie in the event that we explain we weren’t grabber for it when it’s been delightfully piece of clothing colored. What’s more, that is the situation with the entirety of the Italian extravagance brand’s hoodies.

The rise of the construction business has contributed to several construction injury related cases all over the world. Some of the accidents might be mild while others are very deadly. If there is negligence on the job site, no injury should be considered as part of the job no matter how mild it is. This might lead to more people getting hurt through the same avenues that you did. It’s no secret that construction work is risky, however, that doesn’t mean construction-related injuries should not be reported and workers not compensated.

If you are hurt due to negligence in the construction site, these signs will show you that it’s time to get the services of a construction injury lawyer.

You suffered a severe injury

Minor injuries may not require the services of a lawyer; you can do all the paperwork and work out the legal claim by yourself. However, if you were severely injured, it is essential to hire a construction injury lawyer to help you negotiate with the insurance company. Severe injuries come with several consequences that might require a huge compensation, a construction injury lawyer will ensure you get the fair compensation you deserve. For example, if you broke your hand, you might recover, but you’ll probably live with the after-effects. You will not be able to return to work leading to lost wages and job opportunities. Thus the need of hiring a construction injury lawyer to get you the compensation you deserve is crucial.

You need expert advice

The fact that you are unsure whether or not you need a lawyer is a clear sign that you need one. Many people fail to file a claim because they feel they don’t have a strong case. Others feel the accident was partly their fault and the insurance company will not offer compensation. If you are injured while working construction in Schenectady, there is a need for a piece of expert advice from an attorney to assess your case and provide you with a legal strategy and inform you whether or not you have a strong case.

The trouble with the insurance company

A lot of insurance companies deny the claim and are always ruthless when negotiating for compensation. If they don’t agree to pay you, they might offer you a low-ball offer. Also, if you have other insurances such as medical insurance, they might reduce the offer. If you are having any such trouble, it would be in your best interest to seek the help of a construction injury lawyer.

You are getting an unfair offer

Lawsuits can either be settled outside the court or taken to trial. The most appealing option is to settle outside court without hiring a lawyer or going through the stressful process of a trial. However, without a lawyer present during the settlement, the company will, in most cases, offer unfair settlements. If you are going through the settlement process by yourself and the insurance company offers you an unfair offer, you need to hire a professional immediately. The professionals have excellent negotiation skills and will value your compensation right.

Unclear liability

Winning a construction injury-related case requires you to prove the company’s fault in the accident. Sometime, it might be unclear who’s at fault. If that’s your situation, you need to hire a professional lawyer who knows where and what to look for to determine which party is at fault.

Conclusion

If you are injured while working construction in Schenectady, there is no reason to avoid hiring a construction accident lawyer. There is no need to battle the insurance company by yourself and probably get no or unfair compensation. You need to seek advice before you write off the case as your fault or not strong enough.

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Whenever talking about the best books or even movies out there, there is one characteristic that always stands out. The best stories have the very best characters. Roger Wolfson was quoted as saying that it is impossible for someone to relate to a story if they do not relate to a character. This is why he mentions the following as the most important character writing tips that every single writer needs to know.

Characters Have To Be Humans

In order for someone to relate to a character, he/she needs to instantly stand out as a relatable individual. Chances are, the writing is about humans and the truth is that humans are not perfect. There are always flaws and quirks that exist. With this in mind, it is very easy to understand why people do not relate to a character that is perfect.

As a character is created, it needs to have some negative aspects to appear human. This is one point that few writers understand and then they wonder why people do not relate.

Characters Need Backstories

So many written stories start in the middle of an action. This is not a problem but in the event that there is no backstory that appears in the writing, relating is close to impossible. Does the character have a family? Are there troubles that appeared during upbringing? Why is the character invested in saving the environment? This is the type of questions that have to be asked in order to create a good backstory that will be appreciated by the reader.

Characters Have To Believe In Something

The character of Gemma Monroe in “Inherit The Bones” is memorable in part because she is driven to find justice for victims of a crime that is decades-old. There is a set of morals or principals that help the reader to quickly understand the character’s motivation. Such morals or principals do not need to be accepted at a universal rate in order to become appealing. A great example of this is Hannibal Lector. People are drawn to this terrible individual when he believes in the activities of Clarice Starling.

Minor Characters Challenge Main Characters

It is impossible to write a compelling and attractive story without the addition of minor characters. It is the secondary characters that help to move stories forward and highlight important things about the story’s main characters. Writers need to utilize minor characters in order to create compelling situations and dialogues. These small roles may seem like nothing, but they create life.

Cliches

Cliches should be avoided unless they present an important part of the story. For writers, it is very easy to fall into the trap of using clichés like the timid character that is a librarian or the shy individual that cannot talk to a girl because he is an introvert. Why not challenge the cliché and create a librarian that is very bold and outspoken? Few people expect this and can easily create a very interesting situation that the reader would be drawn into.

Cigars are not just a way of smoking; it defines smoking in original terms. It is one of the best ways of smoking tobacco and experiencing the pure taste of tobacco for a long time. Although you do not need anything else to feel the essence of a cigar, there have been a few accessories and things that have been developed and manufactured for cigars with time. These extra accessories make sure that smoking a cigar becomes a much more enjoyable and pleasant experience. Thes help you not only smoke them properly but also make sure that you always have them with you when needed. Let’s look at some of the most basic cigar accessories that you can buy online for cigars like Black and Mild Cigars, which are popular among the tobacco product users for their refined taste and smell.

Travel case

The cigar travel case is one of the most important and basic things that you should have with you at all times. Cigars are very big and cannot be carried just like a cigarette that is small and can also fit in a pocket or a small box. Many different types of travel cases are available for cigars both in the online and offline markets. You can buy one and carry your cigars in it anywhere. These cases can also be used while traveling overseas or just through the local area. They keep the cigars safe from overexposure of air and keep the quality of cigar much better.

Cigar cutter

It is one of the most important things without which you cannot smoke a cigar properly. Most of the cigars that come in authentic form have a pointed edge. To smoke a cigar, you need to use a cigar cutter to cut that edge into a flat surface. Not only that but since the cigar is large, people can’t smoke it at one time. Therefore, they smoke it a bit and then cut it using the cutter to smoke it later. Using the cutter makes sure that the cigars are cut plain and flat in a proper way, and it does not damage the shape of the cigar.

Ashtray

Since you are smoking a big cigar, it is obvious that it will produce a large amount of smoke when burnt. It is why you need to have a good ashtray to collect all the ash that comes from the cigar. You would not want to spill the ash over the floor of your home, car, or office. It is why to make sure to get a good quality ashtray with a shape that does not let the ash fly out of it due to blowing air.

Filter tips

Filter tips are a great addition to a cigar if you want to experience a different dimension while smoking it. Cigar filter tips act as a filter that may or may not be flavored. Yes, they also come in various flavors and are mainly made out of food. It does provide the user with some filtration, but most of them are not used for that. The major use of the filter is to add a particular kind of flavor to it while smoking. This way, the user has the option to buy an unflavoured cigar and use the tip on it whenever required.

Pipe smokers are very little and rare to see, but most of them treat pipe smoking as a luxury and tradition that they have been carrying with them for a long time now. Pipe smoking is an art in itself and those who do it will agree that nothing can give the same type of feeling and experience as a pipe can. Pipe smoking is not something that you can just start immediately without any information or prior experience of having a pipe. Since pipe smoking is generally much stronger in essence and tastes that a normal commercial tobacco product, not everyone can easily do it. It is why pipe smoking has a big statue of being classic in the field of smoking. There are many things that set pipe smoking apart from the normal smoking techniques and all of them make pipe smoking a true experience in itself.

When it comes to pipe smoking, there are a few things that you would need to get started. First should be a good quality pipe, which you can easily get from the market. Most of the exotic and premium looking pipes are carved from wood with beautiful polish and design work on it, which makes it look more beautiful and remarkable. Apart from a good quality pipe, you would need good quality tobacco like American Club Pipe Tobacco. There are a lot more options in the market when it comes to selecting tobacco for your pipe and you can find many options for the same. Depending upon the type of blend and selection of tobacco leaf, you can select the tobacco from a specific brand. With it, you would also need a long matchstick or a lighter that is specifically made to light the tobacco in the pipe. You would also require a tool that is used to press the tobacco in the pipe to compress it and make room for more tobacco.

Once you have all the things ready you will be able to use the pipe tobacco with the pipe. Simply enter the tobacco in the pipe while compressing it. Do not compress too hard or the air will not be able to pass through it, leading it not to light up properly. When compressed, use the match stick or the lighter to light up the tobacco, which you try to pull in and out the air from the other end. This will allow the air to pass through the pipe and burn the tobacco immediately leading to a thick smoke of tobacco. Just make sure that you do not pull the tobacco smoke with force or it could lead to cough and burnt tongue. Pipe smoking is meant to be done slowly to make sure that you can enjoy the taste and experience of tobacco for a long time.

While you are slowly inhaling the smoke from the tobacco you will feel the sense of serenity flowing through your blood, making you relaxed and stress-free. However, once you are done with smoking the tobacco through the pipe, please make sure to clean the tobacco pipe using the long cleaners which will remove any stuck nicotine, which can stop the proper airflow in the pipe. Once done, you can use a pipe stand to keep it at your table and or place it like a showpiece.