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HOUSTON , Dec. 19, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Sterling Group, a Houston -based, operationally focused middle market private equity firm, is pleased to announce that John Griffin and Claudine Lussier have been promoted to Partner. "We are excited to recognize the extraordinary contributions of John and Claudine," said Brad Staller , Partner at The Sterling Group. "Each has played a critical part in Sterling's success to date. We are thrilled to celebrate their accomplishments and welcome them as Partners." John Griffin , Partner, joined Sterling in 2018 from McKinsey & Company's Houston office where he focused on strategic and operational initiatives for industrial and energy companies. John has been a leader on the PrimeFlight Aviation, West Star Aviation, Fencing Supply Group, Tangent Technologies, and Lynx FBO Network investment teams. John has also been a key member of the firm's Operations Committee, which drives continuous improvement in Sterling's own value creation capabilities. Claudine Lussier , Partner, Human Capital, joined Sterling in 2017 to lead Human Capital at Sterling and its portfolio companies. During Claudine's time at Sterling, she has contributed to a significant build-out of the team and has driven a dramatic improvement in Sterling's ability to drive value creation through the Human Capital lever. Claudine is a critical business partner to investment teams and management teams alike. To learn more about a career at The Sterling Group, please visit www.sterling-group.com/careers/ About The Sterling Group Founded in 1982, The Sterling Group is a private equity and private credit investment firm that targets investments in basic manufacturing, distribution, and industrial services companies. Typical enterprise values of these companies at initial formation range from $100 million to $750 million . Sterling has sponsored the buyout of 73 platform companies and numerous add-on acquisitions for a total transaction value of over $24 billion . Sterling currently has $9.4 billion of assets under management. For further information, please visit www.sterling-group.com . Past performance is no guarantee of future results and all investments are subject to loss. View original content: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-sterling-group-names-two-new-partners-302336718.html SOURCE The Sterling Group, L.P.
Xore’s Boxray on-stream analysers provide fast and accurate on-line elemental analysis on slurry, electrolyte, leaching solutions or even process water. The company’s X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) measurement concept with established good properties, combined with the latest detector technology is the foundation for the analysers’ performance. With proven technology and high availability, the Boxray analysers let the customer focus on process control, productivity and profitability. State-of-the-art, on-stream analysers for mining projects The Boxray 24 on-stream analyser can measure 24 sample streams in eight minutes with the same accuracy and repeatability as slower systems. All sample streams have completely separated paths from the primary sampler to their individual measurement cells in the analyser, which eliminates any chance of cross-contamination between the samples. The intelligent sample handling also enables the analyser to measure continuously without waiting for the measurement cells to be filled or flushed. The secondary sampler tanks feature pots for composite samples on the backside. These pots drain the water from the sample to save drying time for the laboratory personnel. On the front side of the tanks there are taps for spot samples. The tanks also have light fixtures to provide laboratory and service personnel with a good working environment. Versatile analyser for high-grade mining samples The Boxray Compact uses the same measurement technology as the Boxray 24 and is capable of handling up to 16 sample streams. It uses two multiplexing secondary sampler tanks handling eight measurement streams each, going to two measurement cells. With this configuration you can keep high-grade samples in one secondary sampler tank and measurement cell, with the low-grade samples in the other. This reduces risk of cross-contamination and is a less complex and more affordable solution than the Boxray 24. The secondary sampler tanks for the Boxray Compact features pots for composite daily samples, which drain the specimen to save drying time for the laboratory personnel, taps for spot samples and light fixtures for a high-quality working environment. The Boxray Compact is also suitable for applications other than slurry, such as monitoring copper content in electrolyte at a copper smelter. For 15 years the system has been used to measure copper content in electrolyte in a de-copperisation tank house, allowing the client to control the de-copperisation process with a high level of precision. If you have a need for accurate online analysis but cannot find a suitable analyser, the company can tailor one for you. Elemental analysis for concentrator plant slurry The Boxray XRF analysers provide online elemental analysis on slurry in concentrator plants. With 16 or 24 samples you can monitor everything from primary mill to waste and concentrate with short measurement cycle time. Monitoring copper content in electrolyte Using the Boxray Compact to monitor copper content in electrolyte is an economic way of achieving full control over a de-copperisation tank house. The data from the analyser can be displayed in the control room or retrieved automatically to your plant control system to create a fully automated de-copperisation process. While primarily monitoring copper content, the user will at the same time be able to monitor content of precious metals or contaminants from the ore, or recycled electronics. Water treatment for mining operations The Boxray Compact system can be utilised to monitor contents of used process water. Using the same principle as for electrolyte, process water is pumped to the analyser and its metal content is monitored on-line. The results can either be displayed in your control room or used for a fully automated water treatment process. The optimised measurement geometry of the Boxray analysers gives very low detection limits and thus allowing these very sensitive applications. By making sure that cleaning reagents are not overdosed the water treatment plant can save money while still being sure that the cleaning process is working properly. A well-functioning water treatment process is good for the environment, but as process water often is recycled to boost productivity there can be plenty of savings to be made from an optimised water treatment process. Elemental analysis of metal in leaching solutions The Boxray analysers can also be used for online elemental analysis of metal content in leaching solutions, such as gold in cyanide leach at high-temperatures and high-pH. The design and materials of the analysers allow them to be used on aggressive solutions where online measurements would otherwise be difficult to implement.President-elect Donald Trump on Friday nominated Dr. Marty Makary to lead the Food and Drug Administration , selecting a surgeon and author who gained national attention for opposing vaccine mandates and some other public health measures during the COVID-19 pandemic. Makary, a professor at Johns Hopkins University, is the latest in a string of Trump nominees who have declared the U.S. health system “broken” and in need of a shakeup. 24/7 San Diego news stream: Watch NBC 7 free wherever you are In books and articles Makary has decried the overprescribing of drugs, the use of pesticides on foods and the undue influence of pharmaceutical and insurance companies over doctors and government regulators. He will need to be confirmed by the Republican-led Senate to take the post. Trump announced the nomination in a statement Friday night, saying Makary “will restore FDA to the gold standard of scientific research, and cut the bureaucratic red tape at the agency to make sure Americans get the medical cures and treatments they deserve.” Headquartered in the Maryland suburbs outside Washington, the 18,000 employees of the FDA are responsible for the safety and effectiveness of prescription drugs , vaccines and medical devices as well as a swath of other consumer goods, including food , cosmetics and vaping products . Altogether those products represent an estimated 20% of U.S. consumer spending annually, or $2.6 trillion. Makary gained prominence on Fox News and other conservative outlets for his contrarian views during the COVID-19 pandemic. He questioned the need for masking and, though not opposed to the COVID-19 vaccine, had concerns about vaccinations in young children. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated that COVID-19 vaccinations prevented more than 686,000 U.S. deaths in 2020 and 2021 alone. While children faced much lower rates of hospitalization and death from the virus, medical societies including the American Academy of Pediatrics concluded that vaccinations significantly reduced severe disease in the age group. Politics Trump chooses Bessent to be treasury secretary, Vought as budget chief, Chavez-DeRemer for Labor Trump picks Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer to lead Labor Department Trained as a surgeon and cancer specialist, Makary was part of a vocal group of physicians calling for greater emphasis on herd immunity to stop the virus, or the idea that mass infections would quickly lead to population-level protection. In a February 2021 Wall Street Journal piece , he wrote that “COVID will be mostly gone by April, allowing Americans to resume normal life.” That summer the delta variant of the virus ripped through the U.S. , followed by omicron in the winter, leading to hundreds of thousands of additional deaths. If confirmed, Makary would be expected to report to anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. , Trump's pick to oversee the nation’s Department of Health and Human Services , which includes the FDA. Makary does not share Kennedy’s discredited views on vaccines , but he has a similar distrust of the pharmaceutical industry. Makary has lamented how drugmakers used misleading data to urge doctors to prescribe OxyContin and other opioids as low-risk, non-addictive pain relievers. That marketing was permitted under FDA-approved labeling from the 1990s, suggesting the drugs were safe for common ailments like back pain. In more recent years, the FDA has come under fire for approving drugs for Alzheimer's , ALS and other conditions based on incomplete data that failed to show meaningful benefits for patients. A push toward greater scrutiny of drug safety and effectiveness would be a major reversal at FDA, which for decades has focused on speedier drug approvals . That trend has been fueled by industry lobbying and fees paid by drugmakers to help the FDA hire additional reviewers. Kennedy has proposed ending those payments, which would require billions in new funding from the federal budget. Other administration priorities would likely run into similar roadblocks. For instance, Kennedy wants to bar drugmakers from advertising on TV , a multibillion-dollar market that supports many TV and cable networks. The Supreme Court and other conservative judges would likely overturn such a ban on First Amendment grounds that protect commercial speech, experts note. Makary would also inherit a raft of ongoing projects at the FDA kicked off by outgoing Commissioner Robert Califf, including the reorganization of the agency's food division and plans to regulate artificial intelligence in medical technology. In the event of other controversial initiatives under Trump, career staffers may simply drag the work out until a new administration comes to power. “The bureaucracy can wait anybody out, and that’s an attitude I think you’ll hear a lot,” said Wayne Pines, a former FDA official under Republican and Democratic administrations. Trump appointments and nominees Here are some of the people that President-elect Donald Trump has named for high-profile positions in his administration. Positions in orange require Senate confirmation. Source: NBC News The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. 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Moira Deeming has released a statement, saying that she is “grateful to God” for the outcome. She thanked her lawyers and the court. “The judge found that I was defamed in five separate publications and that each of those also caused serious harm to my reputation,” she wrote on X. Moira Deeming wore purple during the trial, a colour historically associated with efforts to achieve gender equality. Credit: The Age Every single one of Mr Pesutto’s defences, failed. “This judgment is a public acknowledgment that there was never any justification – legal, moral or political – for what the Opposition Leader did to me and to my family. The organisers and attendees of the 2023 Melbourne ‘Let Women Speak’ Rally did nothing wrong and it is shameful that they were treated without fairness or respect by so many in public office. I will continue to fight for the rights of parents, women and children - and I know I won’t be alone. I am pleased with this result and relieved to have been vindicated. It has been an incredibly tough 22 months for me and my family but I can now start to move forward with the judgment today clearing my name. Thank you to everyone who stood by me and defended me despite personal and political differences and regardless of the cost – friends, strangers, opponents, Liberal members and colleagues. Thanks to everyone who prayed, wrote, donated and told the truth. And finally, thank you to my family, especially my husband. Former shadow attorney general Tim Smith has called for Opposition Leader John Pesutto to resign. Former Liberal MP for Kew Tim Smith. Credit: Justin McManus Smith, who left the parliamentary Liberal Party in 2022 after a drunken car crash, called on Pesutto to resign immediately. “As a long time member of the Liberal Party I’m calling on @JohnPesutto to resign immediately,” he said on X. Opposition Leader John Pesutto argued four defences in the defamation case: public interest, honest opinion, qualified privilege and contextual truth. John Pesutto and Moira Deeming. Credit: Darrian Traynor Justice David O’Callaghan found the defences either failed, or did not arise. However, he wrote in his lengthy reasons that he was satisfied the Opposition Leader did “subjectively” believe what he published was in the public interest. “I accept Mr Pesutto’s evidence that he subjectively believed that it was necessary immediately to explain to the public why he proposed to move a motion to expel Mrs [Moira] Deeming,” the judge wrote. “I also accept Mr Pesutto’s evidence that he thought staying silent was not an option and that he needed to address the issue to retain credibility because the public would be watching to see how the party responded to the presence of Nazis on the steps of Parliament.” The judge criticised Pesutto for “time and time again” giving lengthy and non-responsive answers to questions asked of him by Deeming’s barrister, Sue Chrysanthou, SC. “I understand that when politicians are engaged in the cut and thrust of politics – facing tough questions in press conferences, for example – their job can involve deflecting questions, pivoting to another topic, or running out the clock,” the judge wrote. “But that is not the role of a witness in a court proceeding.” Chrysanthou argued Pesutto was an untruthful witness in many aspects of his evidence. “Ultimately, however, I am unable to conclude that he gave dishonest evidence about his subjective belief on the public interest question, as infuriatingly unresponsive as much of his evidence was,” O’Callaghan wrote. Justice David O’Callaghan said it was “extraordinary” that both Opposition Leader John Pesutto and deputy David Southwick had failed to mention a secret recording of the March 19, 2023, meeting held the day after the rally. Southwick secretly recorded the meeting and informed Pesutto months later. Pesutto only raised it with his lawyers a week before the trial began. As it turns out, no witness’s account of the meeting in their affidavits was anywhere near accurate or complete. Both parties invited me to draw adverse inferences against each relevant deponent for having failed to give an accurate account of it. Each witness might be said to varying degrees to have provided their own slant to things, and to have recorded their memories through the prism of their own cause, but I do not accept that any witness gave a deliberately untruthful version of the meeting in their affidavits. O’Callaghan also said it was “mystifying” Southwick kept the recording secret so long and that Pesutto’s explanation was “dubious.” For Sue Chrysanthou, celebrity lawyer, today’s decision is another notch in her defamation belt. The Sydney silk has become the barrister du jour in the defamation capital of the world, representing everyone from actors to moguls with reputations to rescue. Read here for the time that Chrysanthou found herself in the witness box ... Moira Deeming arriving in court this morning to hear the judgment in her defamation hearing. Credit: AAP Read the full court summary here. Justice David O’Callaghan has published his reasons for deciding in Moira Deeming’s favour, rather than read them out in court this morning. Moira Deeming arriving in court this morning to hear the judgment in her defamation hearing. Credit: AAP He awarded Deeming $300,000 in damages after Opposition Leader John Pesutto defamed her. Court costs are yet to be determined, and will be decided upon at a later date, which is yet to be set. “The only order that will be made today upon the publication of these reasons is to adjourn the matter to a date to be fixed for the purpose of the parties bringing in orders to give effect to the published reasons and to deal with any argument as to the grant of any injunctive relief, and as to the calculation of interests and costs,” the judge wrote. Justice David O’Callaghan found that Opposition Leader John Pesutto conveyed several defamatory imputations against ousted Liberal MP Moira Deeming, including that she knowingly associated with neo-Nazis and was unfit to belong in the Victorian Liberals. The imputations were conveyed through a media release, 3AW interview, ABC interview, press conference, and an expulsion motion and dossier, he said. Here’s what the court found: Media release: The media release carried the imputation Deeming was unfit to belong in the Victorian parliamentary Liberal Party because she knowingly associates with neo-Nazis. 3AW radio interview: Conveyed that Deeming associates with Nazis and is thus unfit to be a member of the parliamentary Liberal Party. ABC interview: Conveyed that Deeming knowingly associates or sympathises with neo-Nazis and white supremacists and is thus unfit to be a member of the parliamentary Liberal Party and the Liberal Party. Press conference: Conveyed that Deeming participated in a rally and knowingly worked with Kellie-Jay Keen and other organisers to help them promote their odious agenda and white supremacist and ethnofascist views. Expulsion motion and dossier: Conveyed that a) Deeming so conducted herself on 18 March 2023 in relation to a public rally that it warranted her expulsion from the Victorian parliamentary Liberal Party. b) Conducted activities in a manner likely to bring discredit on the parliament or the parliamentary Liberal Party by organising, promoting and attending a rally on 18 March 2023. O’Callaghan found Deeming had established serious harm and that Pesutto’s defences failed or did not arise. Supporters for Deeming applauded as they exited courtroom 8A. Aggravated damages will not be awarded. The court will return to determine costs. Justice David O’Callaghan has found that ousted Liberal MP Moira Deeming should be awarded $300,000 in damages after Opposition Leader John Pesutto defamed her, harming her reputation. Independent MP Moira Deeming (centre) pictured arriving at court ahead of the judgement. Credit: AAPIMAGE
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Often imitated but never duplicated, Pittsburgh Steelers HC Mike Tomlin is one of a kind when it comes to how he handles the media. And after yet another drama-filled game from WR George Pickens , many are starting to wonder when Coach T steps in, if he hasn't already. Well according to him, that's none of you, I, or anyone else's business: Mike Tomlin Keeping Pickens Disclipine In-House "I'm not going to give you any detail about what goes on behind the scenes in terms of his growth and development," said Coach Tomlin when asked about disciplining Pickens. "You know that's my style, and I'm gonna be really consistent in it. Being transparent with you guys doesn't necessarily help or accelerate the growth process, and that's my agenda, not necessarily feeding the beast... "...If it is, or isn't I wouldn't tell you to be quiet honest with you," added coach Tomlin when asked if he was concerned that Pickens penalties are becoming costly." After recording not one, not two, but three personal fouls against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday it's safe to say George Pickens is unhinged at this point , or at least from a behavioral standpoint. George Pickens called for another unsportsmanlike conduct for this celebration. #steelers pic.twitter.com/G8yBc6yYZe "Yeah, they said they got the gesture wrong," said Pickens when asked about his pointing to the stands in his postgame presser. "You know what I mean? [The refs] thought it was something else. You know, you can't hurt the team. I never intend to hurt the team. But he just thought the gesture was different. I'm not sure [why] I was doing the first down. He said he thought [it was] something else." Whether he meant anything by it or not, where there's smoke there tends to be fire with George Pickens . He has already been fined for three separate incidents this season, and the NFL let him off easy after last week's fight on the last play of the game against the Cleveland Browns . 'He's just gotta grow up," said Tomlin when asked about George Pickens penalties during the Bengals game. "This is an emotional game man. "These divisional games are big. He's got a target on his back because he's George. He understands that, but he's got to grow up. He's got to grow up in a hurry." This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.
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Seahawks place running back Kenneth Walker III on injured reserveBarguna’s Tiakhali College: Teachers, staffers without salary for 2 decadesThe NBA Cup continues Wednesday night with the last two spots in the final four on the line. The Knicks and Hawks meet at Madison Square Garden, where Trae Young will try to pull off an upset in front of the New York crowd before the Rockets and Warriors battle for a trip to Las Vegas. The NBA Cup knockout stage began Tuesday night with the Bucks and the Thunder punching their tickets to the semifinals. Here's what to know about Wednesday's games, including best bets for each quarterfinal matchup. Knicks vs. Hawks Where: Madison Square Garden; New York When: Wednesday, Dec. 11; 7:00 p.m. ET TV channel/live stream: ESPN/ fubo (Try for free) Betting line: Knicks -7; O/U 236.5 The Nuggets just ran the Hawks off of the floor. Losses like that aren't exactly uncommon for Atlanta, who have lost four games by at least 20 points this season, but think about their big-game resume. They are the only team this season to beat both the Celtics and Cavaliers , and they've beaten Cleveland twice. They beat Milwaukee a week ago, and sure enough, they beat the Knicks in their first matchup back in November. For whatever reason, the Hawks rise to the occasion against top Eastern Conference competition, and I'm not betting against that now. The Pick: Hawks +7 Rockets vs. Warriors Where: Toyota Center; Houston When: Wednesday, Dec. 11; 9:30 p.m. ET TV channel: TNT Betting line: Rockets -2.5; O/U 221.5 The Warriors have beaten the Rockets twice this season, but it's hard to take too much from either game as Stephen Curry played in neither of them. The simple leap from there is that if the Warriors could beat the Rockets without Curry then surely they can do so with him, but basketball obviously isn't that simple and this is a tiny sample. In a slightly bigger one: the Warriors are 2-6 in their last eight games with a -5.2 net rating. The Rockets have been consistently good without any real dips across nearly two months now. This is a good matchup for them with both Amen Thompson and Dillon Brooks to throw at Curry. And, if you're looking for an analogue to Indiana last season, Houston feels like the safest pick. This tournament is a chance for the Rockets to announce their presence as a real contender to the rest of the league. It's not unreasonable to assume they will take this game a bit more seriously than the Warriors do. The Pick: Rockets -2.5
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