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She’s a little ball of sass and her attitude has made her become one of the music industry’s leading social media influencers. ZaZa became a viral sensation after Instagram clips of her dancing to popular rap songs circulated online. In less than a year, the four-year-old has amassed 1.6 million Instagram followers and released two rap singles: “What I Do?” and “That’s a No-No.“
Image Via HNHH
ZaZa isn’t out of kindergarten and she’s a pint-sized celebrity with a bank account that would make the average person green with envy. Her parents are making sure her moment in the spotlight lasts as long as possible, and it looks as if they’re on the right track to keep her rubbing elbows with the rich and famous for many years to come.
The tiny rapper shared a video on Instagram that shows her running around PUMA’s Women’s Conference, and by the looks of things, ZaZa stole the show. She was able to meet up with Lauren London who was impressed by ZaZa’s sassy ways and the little girl even danced alongside DaniLeigh. ZaZa had a great time capturing the attention of everyone who she interacted with, so check out her clip below and watch her enjoy herself while meeting a few famous figures. When you’re finished with that, watch our episode of This or That? with ZaZa, as well.

domain: celebrity


text:
Wayne Rooney’s late penalty saved Louis van Gaal from running the gauntlet at Old Trafford.
The Reds’ captain kept his cool in stoppage time to send Sheffield United keeper George Long the wrong way after referee Jon Moss had ruled that Dean Hammond had fouled substitute Memphis Depay.
The home fans still there at the end were preparing to show Van Gaal what they thought of another slow, sluggish and sterile performance.
Instead, when Moss adjudged that Hammond’s tired challenge was enough to take Depay off his feet, they were celebrating their team’s passage into round four.
But Van Gaal insisted his side weren’t lucky. “We escaped from jail? No, I don’t think so,” he said.
In pictures: Manchester united 1-0 Sheffield United
“It is very difficult to play against an opponent when they are defending with 10 and 11 men.
“You have to play quicker and with wingers. We didn’t do that in the first half.
“It was better in the second half – but not much better because Sheffield United were well organised. We have won the match – and that is the most important thing.”
Van Gaal added: “It was a definite penalty. It was a tackle with a straight leg.”
It was a cruel FA Cup exit for Nigel Adkins’ brave Blades.
Roared on by an 8,500-strong travelling army, they kept the Premier League hosts at arm’s length with some ease.
They could almost taste a mouth-watering Bramall Lane replay when disaster struck.
Rooney’s cool penalty prevented a seventh home goalless draw of the season and got his under-pressure manager off the hook.
But Rooney said: “The important thing is that we won the game and we’re in the draw for the next round. It was important that we just got through and thankfully we did that.
“You can go on and jump on the bandwagon, but we’re improving as a team and we can feel that.
“You saw Chelsea last season. They won the Premier League and yet they got beat 4-2 at home to Bradford.”
United dominated the first half – without managing a single shot on target. It took 69 minutes for that to happen.
It was the 10th home game in succession that Van Gaal’s men have failed to score in the opening 45 minutes.
But at least, Blades’ keeper George Long found some employment after 20 minutes.
Matteo Darmian’s threaded pass found the galloping Rooney and he skipped around Long as he came racing out of his area.
The home skipper had been forced wide, however, and his attempt to find Ander Herrera in the middle was blocked by Jay McEveley.
Herrera then thought he had put Rooney in with a neat pass but Long raced out to smother the danger at the striker’s feet.
It got little better for the home side after the break – and the men from Sheffield even started to believe that there might be something better for them than just a replay.
Van Gaal sent on Jesse Lingard and Memphis Depay on the hour for Herrera and Juan Mata.
And when Depay saw his 25-yard blast fly a foot wide, home supporters made their feelings clear by producing a standing ovation.
The home side continued to press and the Blades were clearly running out of energy.
Then Depay cut into the box and Hammond’s desperate lunge saw him fall as if taken out by a sniper.
But while contact was minimal, TV replays showed that Hammond had indeed caught the winger’s shin with his studs.
Rooney did the rest to finally give the Stretford End a genuine reason to get off their feet.

domain: sports


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* ONE BOTTLE OF TREATS! *
Twinkle Little Stars (One Size: 90-100 treats)
Organic Oat Flour, Banana
Organic Oat Flour, Dragonfruit
Organic Oat Flour, Cranberry
Organic Oat Flour, Pumpkin
Organic Oat Flour, Cilantro
Organic Oat Flour, Blueberry, Chamomile, Lavender
One Size: 90-100 treats in bottle
100% Organic Fruits
No Added Sugars
No Added Coloring
NO NASTIES: All of our treats are handmade with all organic ingredients containing as little as oats/hay + fruit veggies. We do not add any added ingredients in any of our products. The coloring of each treat is due to the beautiful colors that the fruit and veggies create.
SAFE FOR: Rabbits & Guinea Pigs. Our treats may be safe for other small pets to consume however, we strongly recommend speaking directly with a vet expert before giving our treats to other species.
FEEDING INSTRUCTIONS: You may feed 5 mini stars a day to your fur baby.
✨ We bake and dehydrate all treats slowly to ensure the highest nutrients and flavor in each treat. Each batch is made to order to ensure you are receiving freshest product.
STORAGE: You may keep in the same bag I provide; however it is recommended to keep in an air tight jar. Store in a dry, cool area away from sunlight to ensure quality and freshness.
CAUTION: Serving size is for the average healthy rabbit, you know your rabbit more than anyone else, so please if your rabbit is having health issues including: poopy butt, diarrhea, etc please consult with a vet before giving treats as you should have a proper diet set up. Always remember, anytime you add anything new into your fur babies diet, you are going to want to introduce it to them slowly to see how your your baby reacts to it, if everything goes well you can slowly increase it but keep in mind of the serving size. Everything should always be in moderation. All our treats are recommended at the age of 6 months.
Some treats may be lighter/darker or thinner/thicker than pictures shown - We do our best to make the same sizes and colors but some may be different from shown above however, satisfaction is guaranteed :)
Thanks for shopping at FluffyBunConfections!
If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us via Etsy, or email us at FluffyBunConfections [!at] gmail.com - We will do our best to respond within 24-48 hours.
🚨 Please check out our FAQ before ordering. We answer many questions there. ☺
My Sadie LOVES these star treats. I tried the bottle with the cork but never again- she climbed up and got the bottles and started chewing the cork out! Caught just in time, I’ll opt for the screw top next time!
Okay, not only am I obsessed with this easy, tiny, bite sized treat for my Netherland Dwarf, but of course HE IS TOO!! He rushed to me as soon as I opened and admired our package and the moment he smelled these treats. It's perfectly sized since he is such a small bun (~3lbs). If you're on the fence at all, these are so absolutely worth it. The time it may have taken to make all the thank you notes, including hand-written, and informational stickers is so greatly appreciated. We will be back!
My bunny lovesssss these! These treats are the first time he has tried anything with oat flour so he goes absolutely nuts for them lol. Guna purchase other flavors later and see if he likes those, too!
My bunny loves these! She gets so excited when she knows I'm about to give her some!

domain: pet


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I believe when most people call up the image of a nerd in their head it looks like the stereotypical Revenge of the Nerds poster boy: glasses, short sleeve white button down shirt, high-water dress pants, pens in the shirt pocket, etc. However, I have rarely met this mythical nerd and I’ve worked in internet technology for close to 20 years now. I’ve known from a young age what nerdy things are and who nerdy people are, even if I wasn’t consciously aware of it. Then I discovered the The Nerdist and WheelNerds podcasts and now I finally have a definition for and example of something I have felt for a long time but couldn’t put into words. Chris Hardwick, the Nerdist podcast co-host and creator, wrote a book entitled The Nerdist Way in which he defines a nerd as a creatively obsessive person with the ability to fixate on one thing to a very minute level. Todd and Chuck from WheelNerds offer a real life example of Hardwick’s definition of a nerd as applied to motorcycles. This fixation is what separates the hobbyist from the truly dedicated enthusiast in any pursuit. It’s in this context that I can answer the question: Can you be a nerd and ride a motorcycle?
So why even ask this question? Because, just as there’s a stereotype out there of what a nerd is there’s also one of what a motorcycle rider is. According to a certain motorcycle manufacturer’s marketing department, and every motorcycle show on television, the image of a motorcycle rider is one of a leather wearing, bearded, outlaw rebel. I don’t think this characterization is any more accurate than the one of a nerd. Most motorcycle riders I know are just people with jobs, families, and all that goes with that. They don’t fit the “biker” image any more than the programmers and engineers I work with fit the nerd image. Are there those out there that do? Sure. Do they represent the majority? No.
According to the definition of a nerdist by Hardwick I think I, and many others, are motorcycle nerds. I’ve learned to embrace this idea, but it wasn’t easy. My last bike was a Harley-Davidson Electra Glide®. I know that it shouldn’t matter what I ride as long as I’m riding, but every time I walked into an H-D dealership I felt out of place. I didn’t see many guys on an H-D in textile riding pants, full armored yellow riding jacket, and a yellow full face Nolan helmet. It doesn’t fit the “image” of an H-D rider. I even got ribbed by the guys in my riding club, and they all wear the same gear I do! But they don’t ride Harley’s. I felt like I was fighting with the idea of what I was supposed to be because of the bike that I rode and knowing that it wasn’t me. This should not have bothered me, but it did. I can’t help that, it’s how I’m wired. Having been a nerdy kid I’ve worked hard, like so many other nerds, just to blend and fit in with the crowd. I’ve become acutely sensitive to the feeling of being out of place or in the “wrong” place, and my first reaction is to flee and find somewhere I can be among my tribe.
What changed was my becoming aware of others like me in the motorcycling world. Commuters, long distance riders, camping riders, ADV riders, all manner of motorcyclists who pursue riding like my nerdy child self obsessed over video games, D&D, and computers. Obsessive may be too strong a word (unless you’re talking about the Iron Butt riders) but the enthusiasm these riders have for their bikes, for riding, for gear and gadgets, is refreshing in a very comfortable and familiar way to me.
For example there are gear-heads who are all consumed by upkeep, maintenance, and modification of motorcycles, specifically their engines. I equate these folks with robotics and mechanical enthusiasts. They can tell you anything you want to know about a motorcycle engine from almost any aspect. Kevin Cameron, a columnist for Cycle World magazine is an archetype for the mechanical motorcycle nerd. He writes about subjects that regularly require explanations of metallurgy, viscosity, structural integrity, and complex mechanical interactions. I admire his ability to textually illustrate intricate concepts that most people could only do with parts diagrams and pictures, yet I always feel like I understand what he’s written as if I’d seen it with my own eyes instead of just reading about it.
Also there are the gadget hounds in the motorcycle world. These folks are the closest to computer nerds in my opinion. Probably because most of them are computer nerds and the motorcycle is simply an extension of their love of technology. These are guys who put every gadget imaginable on their bikes: GPS, radar detectors, satellite radio, MP3 player, communications systems, etc. They also tend to buy bikes that are equipped from the factory with a lot of technology built in: tire pressure monitors, temperature gauge, fuel range, heated grips and/or seat, electronically adjustable suspension, the list goes on and on. I have a propensity to fall under the spell of putting many shiny things on my bike that have screens and tell me things, just like I do in life.
There are endless arguments that appeal to my nerd brain related to riding: chain vs. shaft vs. belt final drive, sport vs. cruiser vs. dual-sport, naked vs. fairing, textile vs. leather. The discussions are as varied and heated as any Mac vs. PC debate I’ve ever been a part of. In the true nerd fashion there are ardent supporters of all these topics who delve deep into the subjects innermost details. Conversations at motorcycles gatherings about the abrasion resistance relative to speed between leather and textile jackets or self lubricating o-ring chains are better than Kevlar belts are not uncommon. There are just so many aspects of riding a motorcycle that lend themselves to discussion and debate. It’s fascinating!
So, can you be a nerd and be a motorcyclist? I think that you can, and that I’m proud to be one. I hope that there are others out there who find out that motorcycling, like most things in life, can be molded to fit your life. It’s what you put into it and not what others tell you it is that’s important.
February 25, 2012 at 9:36 pm
My boss looks like Austin Powers and is an accountant and would fit the mold of a nerd. Hi is a really nice guy who I like and respect. Well he has 4 cycles 2 of which he built from the ground up. He does all his own wrenching and is my go to person with any motorcycle question. If he is a nerd then I wish I was one as well. Heck I very could be a nerd but may be in denial.
February 26, 2012 at 12:38 pm
I think there’s lots of “nerd” riders out there. Many high-tech workers would fall in this category. I have proof…(http://edibleapple.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/steve-jobs-motorcycle_bmw.jpg). There’s a bike for every type of person today. Learning to wrench passed the basics would be a later goal of mine.
February 26, 2012 at 8:36 pm
Ummmm yeah. Lets see here.
Degree in physics….. check
Network architect and engineer…. check
2 motorcycles, one in bits (73 Triumph) and the other ready for another track season…. check
Looks like I qualify, with room to spare. I think I earned bonus points for using a 20 year old motorcycle to make it through the ranks of the trackday orgs and put over 50k miles on an old GSXR going on rides through VA, WV, PA, OH, NC and TN.
I don’t think you have to have all of the gadgets or really know that much about the bikes. I work with a bunch of riders. HD to sport bikes and varying degrees of wrenching skills, but we are all in IT and very much nerds at some level greater than the normal person.
February 27, 2012 at 1:33 pm
Awesome!! All of you thanks for replying!
If there are other nerds out there that are also riding, please share this with them. I’d love to hear from more of us. It build my confidence to know that there are others out there like me.
March 10, 2013 at 3:40 pm
Reblogged this on HardRider and commented:
Of course you can. I know many nerdy motorcyclists
January 28, 2015 at 8:46 pm
Major nerd/geek Harley Ultra rider. I never fit in with the “biker” crowd. I don’t have a crowd–that’s how much of a nerd I am! Well, actually, I do have a kind of crowd: Motovloggers. I like riding best when I am by myself but can share the ride via video or use of my BlueTooth-able bike. I’m not bad-ass, just an ESL professor and Scottie owner who happens to ride a Harley. 🙂 You are not alone!

domain: hobby


Lord Dying - "Summon The Faithless" (CD)
"Summon The Faithless" track listing:
1. In a Frightful State of Gnawed Dismemberment (5:10)
2. Summoning the Faithless (4:43)
3. Greed Is Your Horse (4:41)
4. Descend into External (4:53)
5. Dreams of Mercy (4:58)
6. Perverse Osmosis (4:03)
7. Water Under a Burning Bridge (4:52)
8. What Is Not...Is (6:33)
Reviewed by heavytothebone2 on August 2, 2013
Do you enjoy a good riff or two? Who doesn’t? Lord Dying loves the riff, like any other sludge metal band. The power of a great riff is what “Summon the Faithless” banks on, and it’s enough to get by. It's certainly not the Matt Pike-esque vocals or the pointless lyrics that raise this album up. This is a debut that does very little with the little they have, putting so much emphasis on the riffs that almost everything else suffers by default.
These guys have performed with well-known talent like Yob and Black Cobra, though they seem to be big fans of High on Fire. The drenched-in-heavy guitar tones serve their role well. Most songs have a lead break, though it’s more of a diversion than anything spectacular. The lyrics are repetitive and don’t say anything insightful, though the vocals are put on the back burner on a few songs for more riffage.
There’s been a lot of hoopla throughout this review about the riffs, but that’s the foundation of Lord Dying’s sound. How is that different from any other band? It’s because the riffs are what a listener will remember by the end of the 40 minutes; it’s what to talk about with another metal head when they ask, “Bro, have you heard that new Lord Dying record?” Moments like two minutes into “In a Frightful State of Gnawed Dismemberment” and the groove laced into the guitars during the title track are memorable traits to the album.
However, there isn’t much else going on through these eight songs. On occasion, they’ll break into a quicker tempo, as they do on “Descend into External.” That song also contains a stand-out melodic guitar section, something the band doesn’t do enough. Closer “What Is Not...Is” seems to have a grander scheme in mind with its almost-seven minute running length, but over a quarter of that is wasted on endless feedback that fades away to reveal a hollow finish.
There's nothing wrong with loving the riff, but when other aspects of the band come off as inferior due to it, that’s a problem. Lord Dying can write a mean song, as long as you avoid digging into the lyrics too much. There’s just not much that hasn’t been heard by a dozen other bands, who have the advantage of more experience and better songwriting. “Summon the Faithless” gets the sludge metal treatment down, but doesn’t leave much else worth sharing.
Highs: Quality riffs throughout, inspired faster tempos break up the sludgy sound, fans of High on Fire will find a lot to like
Lows: Beyond the riffs, not much else going for the band, lyrics are repetitive and lacking in value, songwriting is not as sharp as it should be
Bottom line: Lord Dying loves the riff, and it's just enough to get them through their otherwise average debut album.
Get more info including news, reviews, interviews, links, etc. on our Lord Dying band page.


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Learn more about the Wireless Environmental Monitoring Solution from RF Code. Contact us for more information.


text: The effect of frost on the successful growth and quality of crops is well understood by growers as leading potentially to total harvest failure. Studying the frost phenomenon, especially in order to predict its occurrence has been the focus of numerous research projects and investigations. Frost prone areas are of particular concern. Grape growing for wine production is a specific area of viticulture and agricultural research. This paper describes the problem, outlines a wider project that is gathering climate and atmospheric data, together with soil, and plant data in order to determine the inter-dependencies of variable values that both inform enhanced crop management practices and where possible, predict optimal growing conditions. The application of some novel data mining techniques together with the use of computational neural networks as a means to modeling and then predicting frost is the focus of the investigation described here as part of the wider project.

domain: agronomy


Celebrity life coach and big-time podcaster Jay Shetty is expected to officiate the wedding between Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck in Georgia this weekend, Page Six has learned.
It seems Shetty — who has hosted a ton of stars including Kobe Bryant, Will Smith and Gwyneth Paltrow on his “On Purpose” podcast — has been close with the superstar singer for a couple of years.
Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck have chosen their wedding officiant.GC Images
Lopez has also appeared on the show, and she invited him to officiate four weddings that she orchestrated as part of a PR stunt for her latest movie, “Marry Me,” in February.
The British spiritual star, who is a former Hindu monk and Accenture strategist, also officiated the wedding of Lily Collins and director Charlie McDowell in Colorado September last year.
They chose Lopez’s longtime friend and podcast host Jay Shetty for the job.Getty Images for American Expres
When she appeared on his YouTube series, “Coach Conversations,” last summer, Lopez discussed her relationship struggles over the years.
She said that when she was doing therapy in her 30s, “there [was] a lot of talk about loving yourself and I was like ‘I love myself!’ But obviously I was doing all of these things in my personal relationship that didn’t seem like I was loving myself but I didn’t even understand the concept of it.” She added, “I took time and it’s a journey and it’s still a journey for me.”
Shetty is also the author of the bestselling book “Think Like a Monk.”
Lopez and Affleck are planning to say “I do” a second time in front of the friends and family who weren’t at their Vegas wedding.Jennifer Lopez
To promote their rom-com, Lopez and Maluma performed a special concert in Los Angeles, and had four couples get married by Shetty on the stage.
Shetty said on social media at the time, “When Jennifer Lopez asks you to officiate 4 weddings and speak on the power of love during her ‘Marry Me’ Special Performance you say yes. What an incredible experience it was seeing 4 beautiful couples take their vows and having Jennifer Lopez and Maluma as their wedding singers! Their stories and journeys brought tears to everyone’s eyes and I’m so grateful I got to be a part of it.”


While a lot of industries have embraced new technologies to better operations, efficiency and profitability, the construction industry has either failed to do so or has been late to the party. However, now we are seeing some dramatic changes on the construction sites, mainly in site safety, as the industry is finally starting to embrace new technology. While tradition hard hats and hi-vis are still of importance, lets go through 4 ways technology is improving the modern construction site.
1: Smart Sensors
Smart sensors are a new safety feature on construction sites. They measure a range of different factors that have the potential to harm works and produce an alarm or warning when harmful levels are reached. A common example of a smart sensor is gas detectors, they’re used in areas where there can a high concentration of gas (generally confined spaces or vehicles). These require gas detector calibration to work properly and are put in place to save lives. This is just one example of a smart sensor but they can be used to measure anything from temperature to air quality as well.
2: Virtual Reality
Virtual reality is starting to be used for construction site training. It allows users to practice and train for emergencies without being put in harms way. Although this isn’t used on site, it is a technology used to make the site safer for everyone. Ensuring workers, especially those that are new to the job and appropriately trained can only increase safety. Better training makes for better and more skilled workers, and virtual reality training is one way the construction industry is making improvements.
Drones have really taken off in the construction industry. These unmanned flying machines are being used in many ways on the construction site, but are most commonly used for surveying and inspecting. Being able to survey a dangerous plot or inspect and faulty structure with a drone means sites can reduce to risk of injury or death to workers. Allowing these tasks to be carried out at a safe distance has meant drones are now being used on pretty much every major construction site.
While walkie talkies have been used on construction sites for some time now, technology has come a long way since then in improving communication. Mobile phones have almost completely overtaken walkie talkies and handsfree devices are more prevalent then ever. Being able to communicate hands free is very useful in an industry that is so hands on. Despite the increased use of mobile, people still prefer to use two way radios for building sites, construction sites, rally management and many other events.


A NEW $6 million-plus, multi-purpose sports facility has opened at Pontville, and it promises to revitalise sport and recreation in the Brighton Municipality
The new Brighton Regional Sports Pavilion, funded by a $6 million Federal Government grant with support from the Brighton Council., was officially opened by Tasmanian Liberal Senator Claire Chandler
Located between the two main ovals at Pontville, the pavilion provides headquarters for the local cricket and football clubs. It will become a high-standard regional hub for sporting and recreational activity, meeting the AFL-preferred facility guidelines for a regional facility and Cricket Tasmania’s guidelines for a premier facility.
The new, two-storey building includes a gymnasium, club rooms, meeting rooms, male and female change rooms, function space, dining areas and commercial kitchen.
Former Brighton Mayor Tony Foster said the opening of the new pavilion was the culmination of many years of work by Brighton Council and Council officers, the local sporting groups that will now benefit from this facility and of course the contractors who have constructed the centre.
“It is gratifying to see Council’s initial vision become a reality and this development would not have been possible without this joint effort and without the support of the Federal Government that provided the major funding, first secured by former Senator Steve Martin and then overseen by Senator Chandler.
“Already a major venue for cricket and football and other sports, this pavilion will take this sporting complex to the next level and give our municipality a facility that is the envy of many.
“It has created a revitalised multi-purpose centre to cater for the needs of local sports clubs, particularly providing modern, upgraded facilities for the Brighton Football and Cricket Clubs and the wider community.
“Importantly, it provides excellent facilities for the increasing numbers of girls and women who are participating in sporting activities.
“Brighton is a fast-growing community, and it is essential we provide facilities like this so our people can participate and enjoy healthy sport and recreation.
Cr Foster thanked Senator Chandler and the Federal Government for providing the major funding. He commended the work of Council officers who designed and had managed the construction of the project.
“With the contractors and everyone who has worked on the project, they have done an outstanding job, and I am confident this facility will quickly become a high-standard regional hub for sport and recreational activities.
“The development aligns with Brighton Municipality’s recently released 2050 vision, which focuses on a range of major themes, in the sports centre’s case on ‘a good life at every age’ and ‘a thriving place’,” Cr Foster said.


Welcome to Central Park Gardens in Davis, California
Come visit our volunteer-managed demonstration garden devoted to sustainable gardening!
Central Park Gardens is a lovely place to relax and enjoy the flowers, share a picnic with a friend, or gather ideas and inspiration to take home.
Established in Davis’ award-winning Central Park in the early 1990s, the gardens are currently maintained by community volunteers in partnership with the City of Davis. Our volunteers strive to create beautiful demonstration gardens and engaging educational programs that will motivate local gardeners to adopt more sustainable gardening practices.
- Explore our themed gardens and public art collection
- Learn more about gardening at one of our free educational programs
- Help us care for the gardens by volunteering or making a donation


text:
Title: Oeuvres De Virgile, 1892
Author: Virgil; G. Hinston
Publisher: Paris, Alphonse Lemerre
Condition: Very Good
A late 19th century edition of the Works of Virgil, a new translation into French by Hinston. These two volumes comprise of his great poetical work, the Aeneid.
Two volumes in 12mo, 340, 363 pages
On note of condition, these volumes are in very good shape, with rubbing and wear to the binding, namely to the hinges. There is some toning to the page edges.

domain: literature


text:
Last football season going into week #5, the EP Panthers were 2-2 after coming off a nail biting win over Rockridge. They went on to win their final 5 games. While not arriving at 2-2 in the same manner this year, Friday’s homecoming game with Orion begins a 4 game home stand against teams that EP defeated last season.
Coach Jesse Abbott says that means “Everyone is going to be gunning for us, looking for payback from last year.” That is an unfamiliar position for the EP program. As the defending TRAC West champions and with a playoff win last year, the home game stretch will determine if the team can return to the level of success they achieved in 2021.
The team will take the field on Friday with several players returning to the line-up including senior quarterback Jack Minssen. The senior missed the past two weeks following concussion protocol after the loss at St. Bede.
Orion comes in with a 2-2 mark following a forfeit win last week with Riverdale.
Abbott expects to see a balanced offensive attack from the Chargers and hopes last week’s decisive loss to Rockridge will have his team ready to get back in the win column.
Senior running back, Tyler Ballard, is also featured in this week’s edition of Panther Points Preview.

domain: game


text:
Best Push Up Wireless Bra
The best push-up wireless bra has an adjustable strap to adjust the fit. The cups are completely opaque and lightly padded, with a smooth back. The molded cups are easy to get on and off, and the bra has a wide, padded band. The Aeire is one of the most comfortable wireless bras, with a tank-style design and soft fabric. While the Aeire’s wireless bra lacks the hook-and-eye closure, testers appreciated its comfort and support.
The Warner Intuition push-up bra is a great choice for a budget-conscious woman. It features light padding for a natural lift and doesn’t fall out of V-neck tops. It also comes in many colors and prints to suit every taste. The Lively bra offers a wireless strap and a J-hook on the straps and can convert to a racerback if needed.
The True & Co Intuition Push Up Bra has a deep plunge neck that lifts the breasts and prevents shoulder pain. It also has adjustable straps that provide extra support. The removable cups are comfortable and cool to wear. The True & Co Intuition is also available in 10 colors. The company has a wireless nursing bra that is best for nursing women and has big breasts.
The Wacoal Intuition Push Up Bra is an adjustable wireless push-up bra with a deep plunge neck. It makes breasts look perky and has adjustable straps. The bra also has a J-hook on the straps for extra support. The lively bra features wireless straps and can also be converted into a racerback. With its high comfort and support, it is one of the best choices for a push-up wireless bra.
While choosing the best push-up wireless bra is a personal preference, there are many different models to choose from. You can choose the style and the fabric to match your body type and budget. The best push up wireless bra is made to offer the perfect combination of comfort and support. It will give you the perfect shape and look great in every outfit. The most comfortable ones have an adjustable strap. If you want a racerback, this one is the right choice for you.
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domain: design


Six militants including a top commander of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) were killed on Friday in a predawn fierce gunfight in Jammu and Kashmir’s Anantnag district, police said.
The gunfight erupted early Friday in Setkipora village of Bijbehara in Anantnag, about 48 km south from here.
According to police, the militants, who were identified as local cadres of LeT, were killed inside a hideout.
“A cordon and search operation was launched jointly by police and army on specific intelligence information suggesting presence of militants,” a police official said.
“As the searches were going on, the search party was fired upon by the militants, leading to a gunfight and the killing of six militants.”
“Azad Malik, a top commander of LeT and his associate Basit Mir were among the six militants killed in today’s encounter in Anantnag di strict”, sources said.
According to police, Azad Malik was among the three militants involved in assassination of senior journalist and editor of Rising Kashmir Syed Shujaat Bukhari in Srinagar.
Bukhari and his two guards were killed after masked gunmen indiscriminately fired upon them outside Rising Kashmir office in Srinagar’s Press Enclave on June 14.
Reports from Anantnag said the bodies of the militants were handed over to their families for burial.
As the news about the killings spread, a spontaneous shutdown was observed in the district.
Local youth at several places pelted stones at government forces shouting pro-freedom slogans. Authorities have suspended mobile internet services, fearing it would intensify the protests.
The local administration has also suspended train services in the region.


text:
Angela Carella: Gun debate calls for a priority of rights
Published 9:23 pm, Saturday, February 2, 2013
As the father of a 6-year-old killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School testified last week before the state legislature's task force on gun violence, he turned to ask the audience why a citizen needs a military-style weapon that fires 30 bullets in seconds.
The audience included many gun advocates. After Neil Heslin posed his question, some of them called out, "The Second Amendment."
But that isn't an answer.
The Second Amendment protects the right of an individual to possess a firearm and use it for a lawful purpose, such as self-defense. But, like all rights, it comes with limitations.
The First Amendment, for example, guarantees the right to free speech. But some types of speech, such as obscenity, character defamation and threats, can be regulated. A citizen cannot shout "Fire!" in a crowded theater when there is no fire because it endangers the public safety.
The same is true for the Second Amendment. You cannot arm yourself with a rocket launcher, for example, because it would endanger the public safety.
United States courts historically have prohibited "dangerous and unusual weapons." In 1934, when the favorite weapon of gangsters was the automatic machine gun, or "Tommy gun," which fired 875 bullets a minute, Congress passed the National Firearms Act to restrict it.
In a 2008 case, District of Columbia v. Heller, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld that the Second Amendment guarantees an individual's right to keep a firearm in the home for self-defense, but also upheld that regulation of guns is permissible under the Constitution.
Judge Antonin Scalia wrote that restrictions on "dangerous and unusual" weapons are constitutional, and " ... nothing in our opinion should be taken to cast doubt on longstanding prohibitions on the possession of firearms by felons and the mentally ill, or laws forbidding the carrying of firearms in sensitive places such as schools and government buildings, or laws imposing conditions and qualifications on the commercial sale of arms."
So the Second Amendment potentially does allow for a ban on weapons such as the Bushmaster AR-15 assault rifle and 30-bullet clips that Adam Lanza used at Sandy Hook on Dec. 14 to blast his way into the building and gun down 20 first-graders and six educators.
Law enforcement authorities said all of the victims were shot with the rifle more than once. At least one 6-year-old was shot 11 times, his mouth and hand blown away, his mother has said. Witnesses have said Lanza killed all 26 people in three or four minutes.
In Hartford and other state capitols and in Washington, lawmakers now must make a determination about whether such semiautomatic weapons should be restricted because they are "dangerous and unusual."
And the question posed by Heslin, father of 6-year-old Jesse, remains: Why does anyone need to own such a weapon?
Last week, Richard Burgess, president of Connecticut Carry, said the concept behind his group is that "anybody who wishes may be armed in whatever manner they choose."
Bad guys are out there with semiautomatic rifles, Burgess said, and "good people should always have the right to defend themselves with superior tools."
After Sandy Hook, lawmakers should be looking for ways to help citizens arm themselves, not seeking to disarm them, Burgess said.
But lawmakers are seeking to restrict only military-style weapons and high-capacity clips.
On a website called ammoland.com someone named Evan Nappen who claims he was the attorney for the New Jersey Coalition of Sportsmen created a list, "101 Reasons Why You NEED an Assault Weapon." On the website Nappen says he made the list for the coalition's newsletter and it later was published in Harper's magazine.
Nappen writes that he has updated the list "as the issue is being pushed again by the blood-dancing anti-gunners."
Among his reasons for needing an assault weapon -- to help continue the American tradition of citizen-soldier; for recreation; to collect military small arms; to get quick extra shots at more game while hunting; to defend yourself against a street gang; to defend yourself against mob violence; to defend yourself against looters; to shoot in a Civilian Marksmanship Program competition; to assist police in an emergency; to help defend the country from a foreign invasion; to help defend the country from an internal takeover; to help the firearms industry remain economically strong; to appreciate the evolution of firearm technology; to defend your business; to defend your home; to reject anti-gun bias; to protect yourself against a pack of feral dogs; to own a firearm which the media glamorizes; to own a firearm which might be banned.
Six reasons why you need an assault weapon have to do with rights, according to Nappen -- to exercise your constitutional rights; to exercise a natural right; to exercise a civil right; to exercise a fundamental right; to exercise an inalienable right; to exercise a human right.
Last Wednesday night in Newtown, David Wheeler, father of another slain Sandy Hook first-grader, Benjamin, talked about rights during the legislature's final hearing on gun violence.
"Thomas Jefferson described our inalienable rights as life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness," Wheeler said. "I do not think the composition of that foundational phrase was an accident. I do not think the order of those important words was haphazard or casual. The liberty of any person to own a military-style assault weapon and high-capacity magazine and keep them in their home is second to the right of my son to his life."

domain: law


(This clip features snow water quality testing by local herders in Inner Mongolia and Wuqiriletu’s research collaboration with Dr D.C. “Bear” McPhail in Australia. Filmed by Uchralt Otede)
Co-creating Community-based Environmental Knowledge: one scene from my fieldwork in Inner Mongolia
On 20 July 2016, Mergen (deputy head of T village), and Nakazawa, Nagafuchi (two Japanese environmental scientists) and I gathered in Mergen’s home to discuss the findings of last year’s well water testing project. The two Japanese scientists brought the test results for 33 wells printed on A4 sheets. Professor Nagafuchi explained the overall results to me in Japanese, and I then translated them to Mergen in Mongolian. Results show that Fluoride (F-) and Nitrate (NO3-3) are the two most problematic items in many of the wells exceeding the Chinese national standard for drinking water (Fluoride 85%and Nitrate 30%). Therefore, the Japanese scientists focused on those two items, and provided us a detailed explanation of what F- and NO3-3 are, where they come from, and how they impact on human health. For Mergen and me, it was not easy to fully understand what these explanations sometimes. When language was not sufficient, we communicated with pictures. We planned to report these findings to other villagers a few days later. In order to do this efficiently we created a map displaying concentrations of F- and NO3-3 of each wells.
CONFERENCE PRESENTATION PRIZE – 7th Living Knowledge Conference 2016
Uchralt Otede made a presentation at the 7th Living Knowledge Conference, 23 Jun 2016, at Dublin Institute of Technology, organised by the International Science Shop Network of Living Knowledge. The conference was funded by the European Commission as part of the EnRRICH project-Enhancing Responsible Research and Innovation through Curricula in Higher Education (detailed information is available from the conference website in the following:http://www.livingknowledge.org/lk7/).
Uchralt Otde’s presentation, titled ‘Bridging the Gap between Herders and Scientist: PACK TEST in Community-Based Environmental Research’, is focused on forming effective collaborations between scientists and ordinary people to work together on real life issues. Based on his participatory observation of community-based environmental project in Inner Mongolia, which involves Mongolian herders, Japanese scientists and Chinese environmental activists, he emphasises that it is important to choose appropriate technologies to ease the community members walk into science and technology. His poster presentation was awarded the 3rd Prize for EnRRICH Advisory Board Award at the Living knowledge 7 Conference. (The poster is available here: Wuqiriletu NO.62 poster session room 6)
(This clip features well water quality testing by local herders in Inner Mongolia and their research collaboration with scientists in Japan. Filmed by Uchralt Otede)
Community Science in Action – Part I
Herders’ Kitchen and Scientist’s Laboratory
In May 2014, I conducted my fieldwork in a small village in Eastern Ujimchin banner of Inner Mongolia. During my fieldtrip, the local herders told me that they were worrying about the quality of their well water because they thought the well may be polluted nearby industrial wastewater. About a year later, I began to plan and implement an action research project to explore the quality of the well water. One of the main strategies in this project is to address villagers’ concerns by connecting local herders with professional scientists and let them interact to discover which wells have problems and find out what kind of problems. Thus, the basic idea of my action research project is similar to some established models of citizen science such as “Co-created Public Participation in Scientific Research Project Model” and “Community Consulting Model”, which are described hereunder.
Co-created PPSR project Model: “in co-created projects, members of the public come up with a question or issue, often a community concern such as point-source pollution, and they work with scientists to answer the question and suggest solutions.” (ACAISE Inquiry Group Report, 2009:18)
Community Consulting Model: “this is when the community itself defines the problem and the professional scientists-whether they be graduate students or whatever-actually do the study, so they act in a sense as consultants to the community” (Candie C. Wilderman,2009:3)
In carrying out this study, I found an interesting phenomenon: both the herders’ kitchen and scientist’s laboratory were acting as places for knowledge production. However, I had never thought about the association between the two until I encountered a herdsman called Chuluu in Inner Mongolia in May 2015. He had brought a bottle of well water to Mergent’s home where I was staying during my fieldwork. He told me that he suspected a problem with his well water when he made milk tea. He said that good milk tea is characterized by a harmonious blend of water, tea and milk; however that was not happening in his kitchen when he was using well water. “They are not fused together, suggesting a chemical reaction” he said.
After listening to him talk, I took out PackTest – a simplified chemical analysis kit that I had brought from Japan to check water quality – to start testing the well water quality (see photo 2).
The detectors I used were named after COD, NO3(C), SO3(C) and Me. Of these four PackTest detections, the PackTest Me showed that Chuluu’s water sample was significantly contaminated beyond the standard water quality parameters (see photo 3). The PackTest Me tests for five metals: Copper, Zinc, Manganese, Nickel and Cadmium.
When the colour of the well water turned red after mixing with the test powder, Chuluu, Mergent’s family and I were a little excited although we all knew it was not a good sign. The result confirmed Chuluu’s suspicions that there was a problem with the well water. So Chuluu invited me to go to the well to take some more water samples to take to Japan for further testing.
The well was deep, about eighty metres, dug in 2008. Chuluu said that the well water sometimes had an unpleasant smell. For that reason, his family has not been drinking from the well water since they suspected the deterioration of water quality. Chuluu carries water from his neighbour’s well for the daily needs of his family. However, it requires too much work to do the same for his livestock; his cattle, sheep and goats are still drinking well water. I took water samples from the well and tested it again with PackTest Me: It again indicated excessive amounts of heavy metals. I had taken four sterilised water containers of water from the well, and recorded the geographic location with GPS positioning equipment (see photo 5).
In June, I went to visit Professor Osamu Nagafuchi, head of water quality testing lab, at the School of Environmental Science, University of Shiga Prefecture in Japan. I had visited the lab in April 2015 before my fieldwork trip to Inner Mongolia. The main purpose of that visit was to attract their support for my action research project, and to request they share their professional scientific knowledge and technology with local herders in Inner Mongolia and me. They showed deep interest in my research plan and expressed their willingness to share their expertise and equipment for scientific testing. In particular, they voluntarily provided me with four types of PackTest, dozens of plastic bottles for taking water samples, and detailed training on how to test. With their professional support, I was able to bring back dozens of water samples from the small village as a ‘citizen scientist’.
Upon the receipt of the well water samples from Inner Mongolia, the lab members – Nagafuchi, Nakazawa and Yoshida – began testing the quality of the water. I used Arabic numerals to label water samples. Chuluu’s well water sample was No.14. After preparatory work, researcher Nakazawa had placed the sample No.14 together with other samples into a high-performance detection machine (see photo 6).
The machine was connected to a computer and a printer. I could not see how the samples were being tested inside the machine; however, about ten minutes later the printer automatically started to print out the data (see photo 7).
Following a preliminary analysis, Professor Nagafuchi told me that sample No.14 showed excessive manganeser. However, he said that further testing was necessary before drawing a final conclusion. I had to leave before they conducted a second analysis but we arranged to meet in late August to discuss the results.


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News Wrap: PM Naftali Bennett unseats Netanyahu in Israel
Clip: 06/14/2021 | 5m 11s | Video has closed captioning.
In our news wrap Monday, new Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett formally took office, ending Benjamin Netanyahu's 12-year rule. The U.S. neared 600,000 deaths from COVID-19. U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland promised tighter rules for obtaining information on members of Congress after reports that the Trump Justice Department gathered phone records on House Democrats and journalists.
Problems Playing Video? | Closed Captioning


text:
Trying the director’s chair
Theatre performance major Trevor Baty ’19 sat in an empty auditorium this spring anxiously eyeing the stage below. After a year of thinking, planning and rehearsing, “Silent Sky” was about to take the stage for a final tune-up. The rookie director intently watched line by line, one technical cue after another.
The dress rehearsal unfolded, nerves giving way to excitement, when the senior realized his dream had been embraced by the entire team. Each line, step and stage prop reflected that collective unity.
When acting, Baty was used to getting lost in his character’s life, personality and quirks. This time, the second Bradley student to direct a mainstage show lost himself in details and found his creative identity in the process.
“I was speechless taking it all in,” Baty said. “It’s strange letting go of my vision. It’s my baby, but I handed it over to a talented cast and crew to carry the show.”
Plans for the play began the spring before, when Baty accepted an invitation to direct a play of his choice. He researched productions over the summer, knowing he had to find a small, female-dominant cast. Once he read Lauren Gunderson’s “Silent Sky,” he knew he found his piece.
The play chronicles Henrietta Leavitt’s pioneering astronomy work at Harvard Observatory. Baty wrestled with the text, sorting through themes like romance, feminism, hope and sisterhood.
“I had the most visceral experience reading the play,” he said. “It’s a true story, but under that, it’s about pressing questions for college students. I needed to be reminded that life is about the journey and I need to enjoy the process more.”
As he grappled with the work, Baty struggled with his identity. Usually focused on his small part in the bigger process, director duties forced him to consider the bigger picture. All the little decisions — lights, costumes, blocking and even opening night refreshments — fit into this process.
Little things gave big confidence boosts. Take, for example, a rehearsal of the scene in which the romance between the Leavitt character and coworker Peter Shaw is brought into the open. It’s a late night at work for Leavitt, and Shaw stops by the lab intent on declaring his love and running off with Leavitt. He puts his heart on the line: “Hey, I like you, I think you like me, too. We don’t have to do anything about it, but I need you to know I’m crazy about you.”
“That kind of honesty, intimacy and vulnerability can be difficult as an actor, and they nailed it” Baty said. “I yelled ‘Yes, that’s what this is about!’”
When the curtain rose opening night, Baty sat in the audience, reflecting on his journey.
“I realized myself as an artist, not just an actor,” he said. “Figuring that out is incredibly important because it’s a place not many people get to. I’m happy with my work in the moment, but at the same time I’m never fully satisfied.”

domain: artistic


Comprehensive Ultrasonic Air Leak Detection / Repair Programs
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text:
- Research article
- Open Access
Systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical outcomes comparison between different initial dialysis modalities in end-stage renal disease patients due to lupus nephritis prior to renal transplantation
BMC Nephrology volume 21, Article number: 156 (2020)
Regarding lupus disease activity, morbidity and survival, limited literature concluded conflicting results when comparing hemodialysis versus peritoneal dialysis as initial renal replacement therapies (RRT) prior to transplantation, in lupus nephritis end-stage renal disease (LN-ESRD) patients. This study was aimed to compare the risks of lupus flares, all-cause infections, all-cause cardiovascular events, and mortality, between hemodialysis versus peritoneal dialysis as initial RRT - modality before renal-transplant in LN-ESRD patients, by systematic review and meta-analysis.
PubMed, EMBASE, and SCOPUS were searched for observational-studies comparing LN-ESRD -patients undergoing hemodialysis (Group1) versus peritoneal-dialysis (Group 2) prior to renal-transplantation, by their risks of lupus flare, all-cause infections, all-cause cardiovascular events, and mortality as outcome measures. Relative-Risks of outcomes between the groups measured overall effects at a 95% significance level. RevMan 5.3 computer software was used for analysis.
From search, 16 eligible studies reported 15,636 LN-ESRD -patients prior to renal transplantation with 4616 patients on hemodialysis, 2089 on peritoneal dialysis, 280 directly underwent kidney transplantation, 8319 were eliminated with reasons and 332 participants’ details were not reported. Hemodialysis group had higher risk of all-cause cardiovascular events, Relative-Risk = 1.44 (Confidence Interval:1.02, 2.04), p-Value< 0.05. With regards to risks for mortality, flare and all-cause infections, there were trends that were not statistically significant (p-Value> 0.05).
Except for all-cause cardiovascular events in which peritoneal dialysis is superior to hemodialysis offering better outcomes, both treatment modalities offer more or less similar clinical outcomes as effective initial choices of RRT in LN-ESRD patients prior to renal transplant.
The protocol registration
PROSPERO 2019 CRD42019131600.
End-stage renal disease (ESRD) is an advanced stage of progressively function-loss of kidneys, commonly characterized by an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of lower than 15 ml per minute per 1.73 square meters. ESRD results from an ultimate complication of underlying renal debilitating chronic conditions that could range from systemic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, inflammatory conditions such as glomerulonephritis and tubulointerstitial nephritis, autoimmune disorders like systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), genetic disorders including polycystic kidney diseases to chronic urinary tract infections and obstructive conditions [1,2,3,4].
Being a systemic disease, SLE manifestations spin from causing mucocutaneous inflammations, neurological symptoms, arthritis, and pancytopenia to multi-organ failures. SLE pathogenesis results from the formation of autoantibodies, activation of serum complements, and deposition of immune complexes in various tissues followed by the initiation of inflammation. The deposition of these immune complexes and their associated inflammations in the kidneys result in lupus nephritis . About 60% of SLE patients will eventually complicate to lupus nephritis, with male gender and black ancestry in preference [1, 6].
About 10% of all lupus nephritis patients will eventually progress to ESRD which may necessitate RRT such as hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis and/or kidney transplant . Previous literature has shown that the choice of RRT modality strongly depends on ethnicity , employment status, medical insurance type [8, 9] and comorbidities burden . Behind diabetes mellitus and hypertension which are by far the major causes of ESRD in adults, by the year 2012, lupus nephritis constituted 1.60% of all ESRD patients in the United States of America . In children, however, during the 2009–2013 period, cystic and congenital disorders constituted the leading causes of ESRD with 33% ahead of glomerular disease (24.60%), and other secondary causes of glomerulonephritis which constituted about 13% .
Hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis serve as initial RRT modalities prior to kidney transplantation which is considered a superior modality of the 3, in terms of patients’ survival and quality of life [13, 14]. On adequate immunosuppressive drugs, 10 to 28% of LN-ESRD patients on dialysis will improve enough not to require dialysis any further . Therefore, though debatable, a short period of time (i.e. not exceeding 24 months ) on dialysis after developing ESRD due to lupus nephritis is advised, before transplantation is opted [15, 17, 18].
In terms of SLE disease activity and morbidity, a few publications available have concluded conflicting results when comparing hemodialysis versus peritoneal dialysis as initial RRT modalities prior to renal transplantation in LN-ESRD patients. Tsai  opposed by Krane , reported more SLE disease activity in hemodialysis patients than in peritoneal dialysis, Chang  opposed by Kang , reported higher risk of infections in hemodialysis than peritoneal dialysis patients, Tsai  opposed by Weng , reported a higher risk of all-cause cardiovascular events in hemodialysis than peritoneal dialysis and Wu  opposed by Contreras , reported a higher risk of mortality in hemodialysis than in peritoneal group. Ntatsaki et al.  in a large study reported similar risks of mortality between the groups.
Therefore, this study will compare between hemodialysis versus peritoneal dialysis modalities in terms of the risks for disease activity, all-cause infection, all-cause cardiovascular events, and mortality in LN-ESRD adult patients, as initial RRT modality before renal transplant, by systematic review and meta-analysis of available literature.
The protocol for this study was registered at PROSPERO 2019 CRD42019131600 and it can be found via the following link; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=131600
This study included participants with ESRD (i.e. eGFR of lower than 15 ml per minute per 1.73 square meters) due to lupus nephritis receiving either of the 2 initial RRT namely, hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis, prior to renal transplant. Both adults (i.e. more or equal to 18 years of age) and pediatric (i.e. less than 18 years old) participants were eligible for inclusion. The main outcomes were; risks of lupus flare, all-cause infections, all-cause cardiovascular events and mortality. Both prospective and retrospective conducted matched case-control studies comparing the suitable outcomes between the 2 initial dialysis modalities in LN-ESRD were eligible for inclusion. To increase the external validity of this study, accessible literature from all around the world were eligible for inclusion. Only English publications were eligible for inclusion.
The 3 online databases, namely PubMed, EMBASE and the SCOPUS were searched to come up with eligible included studies. The searches were not customized for searching within any restricted date ranges. Secondary referencing of eligible studies was done to extend the search scope. The last date of the search was 28th September 2019.
To generate a set of citations that were relevant to our study’s search question, an advanced search tool was used in all of the 3 databases aforementioned. Using PubMed, MeSH search builder was utilized; ((“Kidney Failure, Chronic”[MeSH] AND “Renal Replacement Therapy”[MeSH]) AND “Renal Dialysis”[MeSH]) AND “Lupus Nephritis”[MeSH] AND “humans”[MeSH Terms]. The search was Repeated with; (((“Lupus Nephritis”[MeSH] AND “Peritoneal Dialysis”[MeSH]) AND “Renal Dialysis”[MeSH]) AND “Kidney Transplantation”[MeSH]) AND “Kidney Failure, Chronic”[MeSH] AND “humans”[MeSH Terms]. Furthermore, a combination of keywords (non-Mesh) was also used to provide more results. These searches were independently performed by 2 authors; JS and XZ. Results were exported to computer software, EndNote X9 (Bld 12,062) which was used to manage and keep track of references throughout this study.
Study selection process
All studies resulting from the online database search, independently conducted by 2 authors, were screened by their titles and abstracts to initially assess their relevance to our study question. This was, the first-level screening, and was done by the same 2 authors; JS and XZ. Compiled results of first-level screening were then searched for their full-text articles. Second-level scrutiny involved assessing the retrieved full-text articles for eligibility for inclusion or exclusion. Any differences of thoughts in the search process were settled by the third author, JN. The search process is summarized in Fig. 1.
Before data was extracted from full-text articles meeting eligibility criteria for inclusion, assessment for methodological biases was done using the Newcastle - Ottawa quality assessment scale . PRISMA (preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses) tool  was used for this study write-up to minimize reporting bias.
The process of data extraction was independently performed by 2 authors, namely JS and XZ. Any difference in thoughts was settled by the third author, GM. Data collected included participants’ demographics, study characteristics and reported clinical outcomes in line with our study question.
Demographic data included participants’ mean age and ethnicity. Modality of dialysis used, whether hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis and the number of participants undertaking the modality prior to renal transplant were also recorded. Follow-up time and whether a participant switched to another treatment modality during the follow-up period was recorded as well. These participants were later eliminated from the analysis.
In line with this study question, outcomes recorded from the eligible studies included; risks of lupus flare, all-cause infection, all-cause cardiovascular events, and mortality. These outcomes were recorded depending on the treatment group of occurrences i.e. hemodialysis group or peritoneal dialysis group. The risk was defined as the number of participants developing an outcome of interest (i.e. all-cause infection, flare, all-cause cardiovascular event or mortality) during the study follow-up period, divided by total number of participants in the treatment group.
Data were analyzed separately according to the outcomes of interest. This gave rise to 4 separate analyses; comparison of risk of all-cause infections between hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis groups; comparison of risk of lupus flares between hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis groups; comparison of risk of all-cause cardiovascular events between hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis groups; and lastly comparison of risk of mortality between hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis groups. Risk ratio (RR) was used to measure and compare outcomes modified by the 2 dialysis modalities.
The overall effects of dialysis modalities were diagrammatically depicted by forest-plots. Data synthesis, analysis, and generation of forest-plots were done utilizing computer software, Review Manager (RevMan Version 5.3). The software was customized to a random or fixed effect model depending on the heterogeneity (I2) of the studies when analyzing the outcomes. The fixed-effect model was used when I2 was less than 50% and the random effect model was used if I2 was more than 50%.
Assumptions and simplifications
For this study purpose, all participants were considered to have been correctly diagnosed with end-stage renal disease strictly due to lupus nephritis and not due to other causes of ESRD such as diabetes or hypertension. Amid 6 guidelines to manage lupus nephritis , none is currently specified for LN-ESRD, hence authors assumed that all participants, despite study country had received standard care aligning with internationally accepted guidelines with KDIGO (Kidney Disease- Improving global outcomes – CKD evaluation and management) .
Preliminary search from online databases using a combination of terms in the advanced search tool and MeSH terms resulted in 302 studies. Of 302 studies, 33 were duplicates, hence discarded. Of 269 remaining studies, 84 were from PubMed, 102 from EMBASE and 83 were from SCOPUS. These were exported to EndNote.
First level scrutiny i.e. screening titles and abstracts, resulted in the elimination of 233 studies as were irrelevant to our study question. Full-text articles for the remaining 66 studies were sought and were screened for inclusion and exclusion criteria i.e. Second level scrutiny. Full-text articles of 3 otherwise eligible studies, ,  and  were published in Italian, German and Croatian respectively, hence excluded. A study by Goo et al. , was excluded because it did not report the exact number of patients developed our outcome of interests, only reported increase in maximum SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) score after RRT and insignificant difference at 2, 5 and 10 year survival between the modalities. After the second scrutiny and elimination of duplicate studies, 16 studies were ultimately eligible for inclusion in this review and meta-analysis.
A characteristic summary of 16 articles included in this study is illustrated in Table 1. From 16 ultimately eligible studies, 15,636 patients were diagnosed to have LN-ESRD prior to renal transplantation. Of 15,636 patients, 4616 were on hemodialysis and 2089 were on peritoneal dialysis, 280 directly underwent kidney transplantation, 8319 were eliminated in 1 study  after matching participants utilizing propensity scores by the primary author and for 332 participants details were not reported .
All 16 studies reported 1 or more outcomes of interest. Studies reporting similar outcomes of interest were analyzed together. A total of 7 studies compared lupus flare risk [13, 19, 20, 31, 36, 37] between the 2 dialysis modality groups, 5 compared all-cause infection risk [13, 19, 21, 22, 36], 6 compared all-cause cardiovascular events risk [13, 19, 21, 22, 34, 36] and 12 compared the risk of mortality [13, 16, 19, 21,22,23,24, 33,34,35, 37, 38] between the 2 dialysis modality groups.
A total of 5 studies were conducted in Taiwan [19, 21,22,23, 38], 3 in the United States of America (USA) [20, 24, 31], 1 in China , UK, Australia, France, Croatia, Brazil, and 2 in South Korea [13, 36]. All studies were retrospectively conducted studies while 2 [22, 38] were prospectively conducted.
Sources of bias
All 16 eligible studies included in this study were assessed for risk of bias using the Newcastle - Ottawa quality assessment scale (Table 2). Sample sizes for participants differed from study to study. Other studies had larger sample sizes  while other studies had as smaller sample sizes . Larger sample sizes are more likely to represent the general population (i.e. Generalizability) than are smaller sample sizes. Furthermore, none of these 16 eligible studies showed to have calculated required sample sizes prior to conducting the studies.
Except for Contreras , who matched the 2 comparison groups by age, 15 other studies used different mean-aged groups to compare outcomes in hemodialysis versus peritoneal dialysis groups. Furthermore, 2 same comparison groups, say hemodialysis group, from 2 different studies, had different mean-age of their participants. This reduces the comparability of the studies and increases heterogeneity.
Both retrospective [13, 21] and prospective study  designs were found to be eligible for inclusion in this study. Generally, prospectively conducted studies have fewer chances of bias and confounders as compared to retrospectively conducted studies. Prospective studies have lesser information and recall bias risks for bias than retrospective studies. On the other hand, retrospective studies have lesser attrition bias risks. All studies reported having used American College of Rheumatology criteria to diagnose SLE hence low selection biases. Furthermore, the dialysis modality utilized was obtained from patients’ records hence mitigating selection biases. However, despite a number of factors reported to be influencing the selection of either HD or PD [9, 39], physicians’ clinical judgment could be playing a role as a clinically sicker patient is likely to be administered more aggressive approaches as HD than PD, inducing selection biases.
Sampling participants from various countries could be beneficial in increasing generalizability but on the other hand, could mean different treatment guidelines or access to healthcare hence reduce comparability. Also, of all 16 studies, none is from a country from Africa thus less representative of the world’s population. This creates bias as different ethnicities have also been reported to have different clinical outcomes  in regards to SLE outcomes, with Black having the worst course than Caucasians.
Despite the fact that all participants had ESRD due to lupus nephritis, 3 [21, 23, 24] studies reported having had LN-ESRD participants with other comorbidities. Different comorbidities in different participants are sources of biases and reduce comparability. Furthermore, comparing all-cause infection risk between the 2 groups could be confounded by different doses of immunosuppressive drugs among participants as per their SLE disease severity. The higher the burden of immunosuppressive drugs would mean the higher the probability of infections.
Lupus flare risk
Figure 2 illustrates 7 of 16 studies that reported risk of lupus flares in LN-ESRD undergoing hemodialysis and those undergoing peritoneal dialysis. In hemodialysis group flares risk ranged from 0.18  to 1 . In peritoneal dialysis group, flare risk ranged from 0  to 1 . The overall risk ratio (RR) of lupus flare between the 2 groups was 1.23 (Confidence Interval: 0.82, 1.85). The difference that hemodialysis is associated with more lupus flares, did not reach statistical significance (P-value = 0.31). Fixed-effect model was used since heterogeneity, I2, was 0% (i.e. I2 < 50%).
All-cause cardiovascular events risk
Figure 3 illustrates 6 of 16 studies that reported risk of all-cause cardiovascular events in LN-ESRD undergoing hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis. In hemodialysis group, risk of all-cause cardiovascular events ranged from 0.04  to 0.45 . In the peritoneal dialysis group, risk of all-cause cardiovascular events ranged from 0.25  to 0.16 . The overall risk ratio between the groups was 1.44 (Confidence Interval: 1.02, 2.04). The difference that hemodialysis is associated with more all-cause cardiovascular events than peritoneal dialysis, reached statistical significance (P-value = 0.04). A fixed-effect model was used since heterogeneity, I2, was 25% (i.e. I2 < 50%).
All cause infection risk
Figure 4 illustrates 5 of 16 studies that reported risk of all-cause infections in LN-ESRD undergoing hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis. From hemodialysis group, infection rate ranged from 0.09  to 0.46 . From peritoneal dialysis group, all-cause infection risk ranged from 0.07  to 0.79 . The overall risk ratio between the 2 groups was 1.02 (Confidence Interval: 0.66, 1.59). This difference that peritoneal dialysis is associated with lesser all-cause infection risk, did not reach statistical significance (P-value = 0.92). A random-effect model was used since heterogeneity, I2, was 53% (i.e. I2 > 50%).
Figure 5 illustrates 11 of 16 eligible studies that reported risk of mortality of LN-ESRD patients undergoing hemodialysis and those undergoing peritoneal dialysis. In hemodialysis group, the risk ranged from 0.07  to 0.58 . In peritoneal dialysis group, mortality risk ranged from 0.13  to 0.29 . The overall risk ratio between the 2 groups was 1.29 (Confidence Interval: 0.95, 1.75). The difference that hemodialysis is associated with higher risk of mortality than peritoneal dialysis, did not reach statistical significance (P-value = 0.10). A random-effect model was used since heterogeneity, I2, was 76% (i.e. I2 > 50%).
Following a high heterogeneity observed in analyzing risk of mortality, we attempted to eliminate 1 peculiar study, Mustapic et al. (2013), whom unlike others, assessed pediatric patients. However, the statistical significance on mortality did not change significantly. The newly obtained overall risk ratio was 1.29 (Confidence Interval: 0.95, 1.76), I2 = 78%, p-Value = 0.10.
Many studies have compared clinical outcomes between LN-ESRD patients versus ESRD patients due to other causes like diabetes and hypertension. Many have also compared clinical outcomes between different RRT in ESRD due to various causes. Only a few studies have compared clinical outcomes of different RRT in lupus nephritis-caused ESRD. Furthermore, of few studies comparing the RRT in lupus nephritis-caused ESRD, conflicting results about their clinical outcomes have been reported. Our study compared patients’ clinical outcomes between LN-ESRD undergoing hemodialysis versus LN-ESRD undergoing peritoneal dialysis prior to a kidney transplant.
From our study, hemodialysis was associated with higher lupus flare risk than peritoneal dialysis, RR = 1.23 (Confidence Interval: 0.82, 1.85) but the difference did not reach statistical significance (P-value = 0.31), P > 0.05. Hemodialysis was associated with higher all-cause infection risk than peritoneal dialysis, 1.02 (Confidence Interval: 0.66, 1.59) but the difference did not reach statistical significance, (P-value = 0.92), P > 0.05. Hemodialysis was associated with higher risk of all-cause cardiovascular events than peritoneal dialysis, 1.44 (Confidence Interval: 1.02, 2.04) and the difference reached statistical significance, (P-value = 0.04). P < 0.05. Hemodialysis was associated with higher risk of mortality, 1.29 (Confidence Interval: 0.0.95, 1.75) than peritoneal dialysis but the difference did not reach statistical significance, (P-value = 0.10), P > 0.05. From these results, despite statistical insignificance of all-cause infection risk, lupus flare risk, and mortality, peritoneal dialysis in LN-ESRD is superior to hemodialysis as an initial RRT of choice prior to renal transplant, in terms of better cardiovascular outcomes.
Higher risk of all-cause cardiovascular events in hemodialysis group aligns with contemporary literature that it is accounted for by thrombotic events, vein injury, fibrosis and stenosis associated with central vein access devices such as dialysis catheters [40,41,42]. The statistically insignificant differences in risk of all-cause infections between the 2 groups could be accounted for by the fact that both modalities are associated with dialysis devices induced infections [43,44,45,46,47]; peritoneal dialysis with peritonitis [48, 49] and hemodialysis with central vein access-devices infections [41, 42]. Statistical insignificant difference between the risk of lupus flares in the 2 comparison groups could be explained by the fact that SLE activity undergoes quiescence, “burn out”, when a lupus nephritis patient progresses to ESRD [15, 18] and during RRT as shown by Gonzalez-Pulido et al. (2014) , ideally due to immunosuppressants administration as illustrated by Maroz et al. (2013) . A small study, by Althaf et al. (2014)  however, reported that the activity of SLE could exacerbate, preferably to lupus nephritis if the patient becomes pregnant. Regarding mortality, a study by Mustapic et al. (2013, 36), have reported more deaths to be associated with hemodialysis than peritoneal dialysis, specifically due to cardiovascular events.
According to our study, however, the mortality difference did not reach statistical significance. On the other hand, from our study, PD showed statistically significant benefits in terms of all-cause cardiovascular outcomes as compared to its counterpart group. This is supported by Kang et al. (2010)  who concluded the superiority of PD over HD. In another study, Sekkarie  shows no recovery advantage for patients treated by peritoneal dialysis as compared with hemodialysis, but in the same study, it was concluded that peritoneal dialysis preserves residual renal function better than hemodialysis.
The results of this study should be interpreted with caution. This is because of possible sources of biases observed at individual studies level as well as this review level. Other included studies used larger sample sizes while others used smaller sample sizes and none of the studies calculated sample sizes and power, thus introducing chances of type-1 error [54,55,56]. Participants had different mean age groups and some studies reported different comorbidities in their participants. Study settings were also different among included studies with 5 conducted in Taiwan, 3 in the United States of America, 2 in South Korea and 1 from China, Australia, Brazil, and the UK each. These different settings could be advantageous but could also mean different economical levels, different advancements in healthcare facilities. Furthermore, none of the studies was from Africa, thus reduced generalizability. A total of 2 studies, though fulfilling inclusion criteria were prospectively conducted while others were retrospectively conducted. Prospective studies could have lower chances of bias than retrospective studies [57, 58].
Except for all-cause cardiovascular events in which PD is superior to hemodialysis offering better outcomes, both treatment modalities offer more or less similar clinical outcomes as effective initial choices of RRT in LN-ESRD patients prior to renal transplant. We, however, encourage further research on the question addressing better the possible sources of biases encountered in this study.
Availability of data and materials
The datasets used and analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
Estimated glomerular filtration rate
End-stage renal disease
Lupus nephritis end-stage renal disease
Systemic lupus erythematosus
Systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity index
Renal replacement therapies
Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses
Kidney disease- improving global outcomes
Chronic kidney disease
Medical subject headings
Lupus flare risk
Cardiovascular events risk
Joel Swai (Author)
Xiexiong Zhao (Author)
Julie-Raisa Noube (Author)
Gui Ming (Author)
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Authors acknowledge supervisory input from Dr. Alphonce Chandika, Executive Director, Benjamin Mkapa Hospital, Dodoma city, Tanzania, East Africa. Authors also acknowledge English language proofreading by Dr. Hu Zixuan; Department of Gastroenterology, Xiangya Third Hospital, Central South University, Changsha City, Hunan Province, Peoples’ Republic of China.
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Swai, J., Zhao, X., Noube, JR. et al. Systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical outcomes comparison between different initial dialysis modalities in end-stage renal disease patients due to lupus nephritis prior to renal transplantation. BMC Nephrol 21, 156 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12882-020-01811-y
- Renal Dialysis
- Lupus nephritis
- Kidney failure, chronic

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