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[email protected] / August 24, 2026

Experience That Goes Beyond Accounting: Unified Accountants Inc.

I’m pleased to share this video on behalf of Unified Accountants Inc., an experienced B.C.-based accounting firm. Give it a watch and find out how Unified Accountants Inc. goes above and beyond for all clients big and small.

Unified Accountants Inc. is a full-service accounting firm providing customized tax, accounting, and business advisory services to individuals, small businesses, and corporations. With offices in both Surrey and Smithers, B.C., they serve a wide range of industries, including retail, construction, oil & gas, seasonal operations, and consulting.

Learn more about Unified Accountants Inc. on their webpage: www.unifiedaccountants.com

 

/ August 24, 2026

More ELD changes may have left your fleet noncompliant

Last year, we shared an article on the importance of keeping aware of changing laws and regulations regarding electronic logging devices (ELDs). In the article, we recommended keeping an eye on updates and changes that may impact the solutions you’re using so you don’t inadvertently become noncompliant with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).  

That advice remains critical, as ongoing changes are as frequent as ever. Recently the FMCSA has declared several devices noncompliant. For fleets operating in the United States, whether or not they are headquartered there, this information is important. 

Which ELDs have been recently ruled noncompliant? 

The five devices which have become noncompliant were previously on the list of usable devices, so it’s important to check if the device your fleet uses is included. Those devices are: 

  • Moonlight ELD 
  • HGRS ELD 
  • Highest ELD 
  • TruckFord ELD 
  • Sparkle ELD 

If you are using one of these devices, your business has until October 5th, 2026 to replace it. If a driver is found using a revoked device on or after October 6th, they will be placed out of service, leading to potential downtime and financial losses for your company.  

According to Landline Media, “the five devices were added to the revoked list for “failure to meet the minimum requirements” outlined in Title 49 CFR Appendix A to Subpart B of Part 395, which establishes functional specifications for all ELDs. FMCSA did not disclose the exact reason for the revocation.  

If the issues are corrected, the devices can be reapproved at a later date.  

In conclusion… 

As we said last year, it’s crucial to be on top of current ELD regulations. Revoked devices can have a real consequence for your operations, and there may be less time than you’d like to make any changes. Working with an expert on current regulations can save a lot of headaches and buy you time when facing this sort of challenge. 

 

Stacey Shackleton / August 18, 2026

Duke Discoveries: seeing diets through wastewater, regrowing blood vessels, heat alerts, and more

Duke Discoveries: seeing diets through wastewater, regrowing blood vessels, heat alerts, and more

Duke University

August 18, 2026

Welcome to the inaugural edition of Duke Discoveries, a newsletter showcasing research from across Duke University!

This monthly offering will inform you about the cutting-edge science and scholarship happening across Duke – and introduce you to the innovators behind the work. Each issue will come in parts as we experiment with formats. The issues will be based loosely around a theme to capture the incredible discoveries being made, beginning with “Research in Our Backyard.” This is Part 1, come back for Part 2 next week!

From a new way of quantifying diets to keeping communities safe during heat waves, Duke researchers don’t need to venture far to blend expertise with impact – all for the benefit of communities near and far. Join us on the journey, and please feel free to engage and ask questions!

– Fedor Kossakovski, Director of Research Communications for Duke University

Remember how North Carolina – and places around the world – began sampling wastewater to track COVID outbreaks? Well, that infrastructure is still being used for public health monitoring of infectious diseases. What else can it be used for?

Lawrence David, a Duke University School of Medicine researcher, recently published a study in PNAS with colleagues from Duke, UNC and Virginia Tech that used this same wastewater sampling setup to mine for genetic signatures of food.

The team developed a new technique dubbed FoodSeq-FLOW, a DNA-sequencing platform attuned to plant and animal DNA, deploying it on wastewater samples from across the state. Some interesting findings include beer hops correlating with wealthier neighborhoods and specific species of fish linked to coastal regions.

Tracking nutrition and diet is notoriously tricky, often relying on self-reported surveys. Wastewater sampling can provide a new tool for researchers and policymakers to discuss food consumption with quantitative data.

There’s interest in this tech locally. David and the team have started a partnership with Durham’s Hayti neighborhood – which is looking for ways to show changes in community nutrition as they work to bring a Black-owned full-service grocery store to the area.

Read more about this research on the School of Medicine website and in The New York Times.

Sharon Gerecht and her lab at Duke University Pratt School of Engineering used induced pluripotent stem cells to rebuild specialized retinal blood vessel cells in mice. This work provides a path to new treatments for various eye diseases. Read more from Pratt – original paper in Nature Biomedical Engineering.

Jin Bai and Lydia Olander at the Nicholas Institute for Energy, Environment & Sustainability were part of a project helping the NC Wildlife Resources Commission assess streams in western North Carolina impacted by Hurricane Helene. Read more from Bai on how this work can help protect Eastern Hellbenders.

Daniel D. Richter and his lab at the Duke University Nicholas School of the Environment led a study characterizing toxic metals left behind in Los Angeles neighborhoods after the 2025 Palisades and Eaton fires. The study offers insights on the effectiveness of post-fire cleanup efforts. Read more from Nicholas – original paper in Environmental Science & Technology Letters.

Nobel Laureate Robert Lefkowitz and his lab at the Duke University School of Medicine have, for the first time, managed to chemically control β-arrestins – important signaling proteins found throughout bodily systems. Read more from School of Medicine – original paper in Nature.

Anna P. Smith, Ph.D. and her advisors at the Duke Trinity College of Arts & Sciences investigated how memory enhances viewers’ appreciation of abstract art. Read more from Trinity – original paper in Memory & Cognition.

Amelia McDonald and Diandre’ Richie, MEM, masters students at the Duke University Nicholas School of the Environment , are part of a Duke University, Bass Connections team that has been exploring the effects of a changing climate on oysters.

Working at the Duke Aquafarm at the Duke University Marine Lab, the team measured how environmental stressors like warming temperatures and rising acidification impact the growth of oysters. They also tracked changes in which genes are expressed by the oysters, hoping to identify markers of resilience.

Oysters are not only a delicacy; they are also effective filterers of coastal waters. Understanding how oysters are responding to climate change will allow oyster farmers and coastal managers to make informed, collaborative decisions on the future of aquaculture and climate resilience for the N.C. coast.

Dive into oyster research on the Nicholas School of the Environment website.

 

 

The extreme heat in our backyard and beyond has been brutal this summer. But when does heat become dangerous? And how can we be better prepared when temperatures spike?

The Heat Policy Innovation Hub at the Nicholas Institute for Energy, Environment & Sustainability has been collaborating with the state of North Carolina to build out its N.C. Heat Health Alert System.

Hub researchers, led by director Ashley Ward, helped update the system to feature temperature thresholds for alerts based on when people have historically shown up in N.C. emergency departments with heat-related issues. This has led to a more dynamic and effective system, providing more regionally- and seasonally-specific alerts.

Learn more about how heat alerts keep N.C. communities safe on the Nicholas Institute website.

[email protected] / August 18, 2026

Turning Everyday Conversations into Business Opportunities

It is a common misconception that business connections are only made through polished elevator pitches or planned presentations to a room full of prospects. In reality, the best business connections can often be made through everyday interactions; the neighbor you walk by every morning, the regular at the coffee shop you frequent, or the supplier you see every other week at the office.

In this issue of the Pulse, we discuss how true connection begins with conversation.

Networking events and formal, scheduled business meetings, while effective, are not exclusive paths to forging prosperous business relationships. Many opportunities come from being an active and engaging listener and having an open and curious mindset.

I recently ran into an old friend. We got to catching up on each others lives and she mentioned some issues she’d been running into lately with the restaurant she owns. The onset of rising ingredient costs had made it impossible for her to keep costs under control without making difficult decisions around menu prices and portion sizes. It wasn’t a sales conversation, and I certainly wasn’t looking for one. It was simply two friends talking. Yet by the end of our conversation, I realized it was a perfect example of how everyday discussions can uncover opportunities.

Reflect on your day-to-day; what interactions do you often have? Next time one arises, approach it with these tips at the forefront of your mind:

  • Be genuinely curious
    • ‘What changes have surprised you most over the last few years?’
  • Listen for challenges rather than waiting for an opportunity to sell
    • ‘What area of the business is causing the most headaches right now?’
  • Ask follow-up questions
    • ‘What have you tried so far to address the problem?’
  • Focus first on how you may be able to help
    • ‘Is there anything you’ve been wanting to look into but haven’t had the time?’
  • Stay engaged
    • “Has anything improved since you first started dealing with those challenges?’

When my friend explained the impact rising ingredient costs were having on her restaurant, I could have immediately started offering suggestions. Instead, asking a few simple questions: “What has been the biggest challenge?” and “Are there any other expenses putting pressure on the business?” would lead to a better understanding of her situation and would lead to a much more meaningful conversation.

These tips still apply in the traditional sense too; be curious, attentive and helpful when speaking to a potential prospect, during a scheduled pitch meeting or when discussing referral opportunities.

But remember that, often, the most valuable business conversations don’t feel like business conversation at all. Your next casual run-in may just lead to discovering opportunity where you least expected it.

[email protected] / August 17, 2026

Featured Contact Business Lynx International

Located in Southlake, Texas, Business Lynx is a business advisory and brokerage firm that assists clients with buying, selling, and scaling businesses. Its services include business sales and mergers and acquisitions, business valuations, exit planning, franchising, and international investment and trade consulting.

[email protected] / August 17, 2026

Featured Client Orono Schools

Orono Schools is a public school district located in Long Lake, Minnesota. It provides services including early childhood education, elementary and secondary instruction, community education programs, special education services, student support resources, extracurricular activities, technology integration initiatives, and college and career readiness programs for students and families throughout the district.

[email protected] / August 17, 2026

Featured Contact JTO Advisors

Located in Haddonfield, New Jersey, JTO Advisors is led by Joe Ohlweiler, an experienced business advisor who provides strategic consulting and financial leadership services to organizations. His services include fractional CFO support, financial planning and analysis, budgeting and forecasting, executive coaching, leadership development, and strategic business planning to help companies strengthen operations and make informed decisions.

[email protected] / August 17, 2026

Featured Contact Maximus Partners

Located in Audubon, Pennsylvania, Maximus Partners is a business advisory firm that provides strategic consulting and financial leadership services to organizations across a variety of industries. Its services include fractional CFO support, financial planning and analysis, business strategy development, operational improvement consulting, and merger and acquisition advisory services designed to help businesses strengthen performance and achieve their objectives.

[email protected] / August 17, 2026

Featured Contact Converge HR Solutions

Located in Berwyn, Pennsylvania, Converge HR Solutions is a human resources consulting firm that provides strategic workforce and organizational support to businesses. Its services include HR consulting, talent acquisition, employee relations guidance, performance management, compliance support, leadership development, and organizational planning designed to help companies effectively manage their workforce.