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MIDDLEBOROUGH, Mass. – June 11, 2019 – Sager Electronics, a leading North American distributor of Interconnect, Power and Electromechanical components and provider of value-add solutions, today announced it’s been named OTTO’s 2018 Distributor of the Year. Sager was presented the award by OTTO at the 2019 EDS Leadership Summit held May 7-10 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
“OTTO is delighted to recognize Sager Electronics as its Distributor of the Year for 2018. This award reflects the Sager team’s success in supporting existing and developing new customers for OTTO’s products ,” commented John O’Sullivan, Distribution Sales Manager for OTTO. “We are grateful for the strong distribution partnership we have with Sager.”
“OTTO’s product offering, designed for unique and demanding applications, has proven to be an ideal solution for many of our customers’ requirements, and enabled us to expand our customer base significantly in 2018,” remarked Pam Berigan, Supplier Marketing and Product Manager for Sager Electronics. “We are honored to be awarded this distinction from OTTO.”
About Sager Electronics
Sager Electronics, a wholly owned subsidiary of TTI Inc., a Berkshire Hathaway Inc. company, is a North American distributor of Interconnect, Power and Electromechanical components from leading manufacturers worldwide and a provider of value-add solutions. Grounded in over 130 years of innovation and service, Sager Electronics provides customers and suppliers a unique combination of operational excellence and innovative business solutions through its Distributing Confidence® business model. Headquartered in Middleborough, MA, Sager Electronics operates a national network of field sales representatives and power systems sales engineers, strategically located service centers across North America, and a value-add Power Solutions Center located in Carrollton, TX. To learn more about Sager, visit www.sager.com.
For over 50 years, OTTO has been designing and manufacturing a full line of products specifically for unique and demanding applications. OTTO is recognized worldwide as a manufacturer of switches, joysticks, and control grips. Through its OTTO Controls division, the company designs and manufactures precision switches and control grips including mechanical switches with up to 1 million cycle life; Hall Effect switches with digital and analog output options; sealed and lighted, high performance, snap action, rocker, pushbutton, toggle and rotary switches, commercial and military control grips and Hall Effect technology joysticks. For more information, visit: https://www.ottoexcellence.com/.
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Fly-fishing (or fly-casting), whether in fresh water or salt water, is a method of fishing that involves the presentation of artificial flies to a variety of game fish via a fly rod and fly line (housed in a fly reel). The rods, reels and terminal tackle differ significantly from those used for conventional, bait-casting, spinning and spin-casting methods. Flies are relatively small and much lighter than other artificial lures, and are delivered by a unique casting stroke and usually retrieved by hand sometimes not at all. While the majority of freshwater flies are tied to imitate insects, saltwater flies are mostly designed to resemble baitfish, crustaceans, shrimp and other invertebrates.
The most fundamental difference between fly-fishing and other styles of fishing is that a heavy line is used to cast a near weightless fly, rather than a heavy lure or bait that carries a near weightless line. The line is made of a flexible plastic that is much larger in diameter than conventional fishing line, providing the weight and mass necessary to propel the fly toward the target.
Though fly-anglers make up a small segment of the saltwater fishing population, their numbers are growing fast. Fly-fishing has been a popular method for several inshore species for years, but anglers have only recently discovered the opportunities it offers for large offshore fish. Saltwater fly-fishing is generally confined to shallow-dwelling fish or fish that will feed at or near the surface of deep waters.
Fly-fishing is one of the oldest methods in the history of freshwater fishing, but its saltwater history is relatively short. Although fly-fishing in general is over 1,800 years old, the first recorded mention of saltwater fly-fishing was in a book published in 1884. Written by a doctor who fished and hunted both coasts of Florida, the book talks about fly-fishing for large snook, redfish, bluefish and tarpon.
Much has changed since then, especially over the past two decades. Technology has done much to expand opportunities for saltwater fly-anglers. Advances in boat design can better accommodate fly-fishing and provide access to once unreachable waters. Use of new materials and product designs have produced stronger rods that allow anglers to land larger fish more effectively than they ever could before. As a result, more anglers explore fly-fishing opportunities and are lured to the challenge of light-tackle fishing.
Fly-fishing works just about anywhere there are shallow-dwelling fish or deepwater fish that will feed near the surface. These include inshore areas such as the surf, jetties, piers, mangrove banks, tidal rivers and estuaries, tropical flats, canals and bays. Offshore saltwater fly-fishing usually occurs 20 to 40 miles offshore, but can occasionally be even farther out to sea, typically near the edges of continental shelves and around oil rigs, wrecks and reefs.
Popular inshore species include bonefish, tarpon, snook, red drum, striped bass, bluefish spotted seatrout and permit. Offshore species commonly caught on fly-fishing tackle include wahoo, yellowfin and bluefin tuna, king mackerel (kingfish), dorado (dolphinfish), and marlin and other billfish.

domain: hobby


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Painting Time: Approx 1 hrs.
“Piggy Beach” is a kid friendly scenic painting.
Book this painting for your kids upcoming Birthday Party, School Function, Holiday Event, or Family Get-Together. Just get in touch with your desired date and time and we’ll take care of the rest!Kids Painting Party Info
| Chelz Franzer |

domain: artistic


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I was the first employee of the Casablanca Fan Company which had its beginnings in 1973, in fact my first day there was 38 years ago today. I went independent with my portion of the company in January of 1984. However, my dream to do that had begun 3 years earlier (I had many obstacles to overcome).
One of the first things I did was come up with a company name. I had done some projects for Disneyland, in particular their design department which is called Disney Imagineering the combination of imagine and engineering. I had always liked the way they had done that so I came up with Fanimation a combination of fan and animation. I printed out the name in a very large font on a card about 2” high and 8″ wide. I kept it in the pencil drawer of desk so every time I opened my desk drawer I was reminded of my goal.
We started out as Fanimation Design and Manufacturing, Inc. That was a lot of name to say and to put on forms and such so several years ago I shortened it to Fanimation, Inc., you can thank me later.
That’s whole truth and nothing but…
Founder & CEO

domain: history


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Manama, – (BNA): Minister of Information Affairs Isa bin Abdulrahman Al Hammadi emphasized the importance of openness and direct face-the-press meetings in compliance with the directives of Kingdom’s leadership and holding direct meetings with journalists to provide them with information.The Minister told Al Ayam newspaper that there are four routes of ongoing work regarding opening
Manama, – (BNA): Minister of Information Affairs Isa bin Abdulrahman Al Hammadi emphasized the importance of openness and direct face-the-press meetings in compliance with the directives of Kingdom’s leadership and holding direct meetings with journalists to provide them with information.
The Minister told Al Ayam newspaper that there are four routes of ongoing work regarding opening the door for investment in the media field, creating suitable legislative frames for this sector by activating the role of the Media and Communication High Commission and the enactment of the Media Law, boosting the role of External Media and the official media and communication institution.
The Minister affirmed his seeking to break what he termed as the stereotypical ” taboo” in the mind of journalists regarding the Ministry of Information.
Al Hammadi said that there should be a welcoming environment where journalists opinions can be heard without reservation which enables them to pose questions and to express their viewpoints and that the duty of a media official would be to answer the questions of journalists. The Minister said that these are the preferences of HM King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, His Royal Highness Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa and His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister.
He added that there are always the directives of the leadership regarding the importance of opening onto the press, hearkening to journalists and answering their questions, pointing there are various channels to communicate citizen’s concerns over service issues on radio programmes, which should be met with an official voice replying to the citizen.
The Minister said that there is a thoroughfare onto the press and the mass media, hence, we’re now working on breaking this prevalent stereotype of the Information Ministry and our ambition does not stop at just meeting with the press but open various channels of communication with all mass media.
The Minister of Information Affairs stressed the importance of holding weekly meets that are open for the press to directly speak and communicate their viewpoints.
The Minister dismissed any reservations around media faces previously excluded from the screen for certain reasons, remarking that anybody who enjoys media efficiency won’t have the door closed in their face.
Isa Abdulrahman Al Hammadi stressed that there is a coordination mechanism with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for activation of an integrated setup which seeks to create continuous communication channels with all external media abroad.
Regarding official media, the Minister said that there is a media discussion which comes in context of reaction towards developments, and what we need today is a media that takes the initiative and which is readily available to respond with an event, and this does not only lack staff but also specific coordination mechanisms of work in order to apply such policies which enable us to reach our aspired goals, currently there are ideas tabled which we began to discuss with other ministries in order to be available in the circle of an event without delay in responding and dealing with the event and mass media and the expediting of the official voice, and also under government media we would like to exit from the frame of concise official statement(s) to give sufficient background regarding important topics by communicating directly with the media.
Minister Al Hamamdi added that giving details on important issues to the press would be done through meetings with chief editors in order to provide adequate information to the press in order to enable them to professionally and independently deal with such information according to their capacity as the “fourth authority”.
He said that we intend to have meetings with chief editors, opinion columnists in order to obtain full details regarding key issues during such meetings, stressing that the freedom of the press continues to be maintained which is an unarguable issue. He said that we aim to keep the official point of view clear and uncontestable however this cannot be accomplished unless we provide the press with information and therefore we fully seek to keep away from centralism, and I have great trust in our national media staff who are working with me today in the Ministry.
And regarding training of media staff, the Minister said that today we are considering cooperation with various media institutions in order to training our media staff through the provision of suitable training required for the media staff members.
And regarding the Press Law, the Minister said, as you know there is more than one proposals pertaining to the law presented earlier until it reached the legislative branch, and we now seek to hear the opinions of journalists. There is a tendency to have a comprehensive law and there is a tendency to have the visual aspect separate from publishing matters, but what is most important is that there should be an opinion from journalists regarding the Press Law and there shall be consultation with the body of journalists regarding the law to have a mutual view in order to ensure that everybody participate in drafting the law. We may not arrive a unanimously conceded law however everyone should partake in its drafting. Therefore, we are looking forward to the formation of a committee in the Ministry to communicate with all press institutions today and also with the Bahrain Journalist Association (BJA) before we begin with the technical aspects. There was an opinion from the BJA regarding its involvement in the bill of law and we therefore look forward to a bigger role for the society in the future.
And regarding Bahrain Television (BTV) and the development of its channels, the Minister said BTV is a moving and not a fixed target since viewers would always like to view the best and as the competition is always strong in the presence of several channels and the issue of developing channels does not only relate to content but also to technical aspects.
The Minister said that there will be focus on local channels content, investment in developing infrastructures such as studios which will be used in the requisite form, pointing out that the available array of channels will be developed in future in order to provide specialized channels.
The Minister added that the Information Affairs Authority (IAA) tends to develop Radio and TV content and we can see today positive indicators which require more coordination and that you will feel the requisite development in the foreseeable future. What we need today is to measure opinion regarding displayed TV programmes. We must hear people’s opinion according to methodical instruments so that the viewer and listener shall be part of the developmental process and not only relying on in-house assessment in order to meet people’s aspirations.
Regarding Al-Arab TV Channel’s anticipated broadcast from Bahrain in February 2015, the Minister said the door will be open for investment in the media for private channels. And regarding the importance of existence of a Visual Media Law Minister Al Hammadi said that this is the strategic preference currently and also the present circumstances point out that there investment in the media should be opened so as to have an attractive environment capable of contributing into economic development and the provision of job opportunities for citizens as part of available ideas, which will have coordination with the relevant economic sides, and when we say that we would like to have a media city we must have the suitable legislative frames for such disposition and also suitable infrastructures.
The Minister said that there is a tendency from His Highness Shaikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Khalifa the President of the Media and Communication High Commission to activating the Commission in order to assume its role in the requisite manner and also the existence of a Visual Media Law capable of organizing such investment as well as the development of government media frames to become more effective in responding to events and also activation of the role of External Media.
And regarding the activation of the Media and Communication High Commission, the Minister said that there was a huge interest towards the establishment of a Media and Communication High Commission and eventually the Royal Decree was issued with its formation, citing the aspirations of His Highness Shaikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Khalifa for activation of the Commission in order as to assume its role in accomplishing the objectives of its formation.

domain: news


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Are you looking for a way to connect to the outdoors while getting a little exercise? If so, there’s nothing better than beginning your own organic gardening journey. Whether you have a small city balcony or a large rural backyard, the joys of gardening can bring you closer to nature and help you appreciate simple living. Here are just a few of the many benefits of finding joy in the activity of gardening.
The joy of being in nature. There’s something peaceful and calming about being in nature, and gardening is a great way to get in touch with that natural vibe. Gardening can provide an outlet for stress, as the focus is often on simply being rather than getting caught up in the hustle and bustle of life. Immersing yourself in nature can often provide a creative outlet and help remind us to appreciate the smaller things in life.
The joy of growing your own food. Nothing beats the taste of farm-fresh produce that you’ve grown yourself! Gardening provides the opportunity to learn about different types of plants, fruits and vegetables and the experience of watching a plant grow and develop from seed to harvest. And of course, the added perk of knowing exactly what kind of pesticides and fertilizers — if any — you’ve used with your plants can give you peace of mind when it comes to what you’re eating and serving your family or friends.
The joy of physical activity. Gardening can be a great form of exercise, even if you’re on a small balcony or terrace. Planting, weeding, digging and pruning are all excellent forms of low-impact exercise that can give you the opportunity to move your body without putting too much strain on it, which makes it an excellent choice for all ages.
The joy of bringing beauty to your home. There’s nothing quite like a vibrant garden to bring a touch of life to your space. With the right combination of flowers, foliage, and fruit-bearing plants, you can create a beautiful, welcoming and inviting atmosphere that adds life and color to your home’s exterior and can even improve the view from your windows or balcony.
Gardening is a wonderful way to get in touch with nature, to stay active, and to add beauty to your home. Not to mention all the delicious produce you get to enjoy when your garden is in full bloom. So if you’re looking for a way to embrace simple living and reap the joys of gardening, now’s the perfect time to get started.

domain: agronomy


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We are taking a short break, orders will be sent MONDAY 1ST NOVEMBER. FREE pick up on the Coffs Coast or FREE delivery when you spend $200
Adding product to your cart
Australian Map Puzzle by Qtoys
This Australian map is the perfect educational addition to learn about geography and cognitive development. The wooden flags are used to match the names of each capital city to their state.

domain: geography


NASA Satellites Will Change two observers so as Hubble Telescope.
NASA will use two observation satellites that are not used by the U.S.’s National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) is converted into a telescope like Hubble that can be used to search for dark energy (dark energy). In an article in the Washington Post and New York Times, NASA and the NRO said the two satellites are not used and not yet fully completed. Although the two satellites do not have the astronomical instrument of accession and still be in storage, both have a size 2.4-meter mirror like Hubble telescope, with a wide viewing area and a movable secondary mirror, allows to obtain images with better focus.
“The game changed completely,” said David N. Spergel, chairman of the committee of astronomy and astrophysics from the National Academy of Science.
Quoted from universetoday.com, Tuesday (05/06/2012), was reported previously that the NRO contacted NASA in 2011 about two spy satellites. Since taken over by the NASA Science Directorate at the beginning of this year, a former technician telescope Hubble John Grunsfeld who work with other technicians, studying the possibility of using satellites such as the two telescopes.
Further explained that Grunsfeld and his friends will not be fully remodel the satellite is to be converted into a telescope, but NASA will decide about the designation and what instruments will be added, until the process of launching and operation of the telescope if it’ll actually happen.


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- Research article
- Open Access
Circ-SPG11 knockdown hampers IL-1β-induced osteoarthritis progression via targeting miR-337-3p/ADAMTS5
Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research volume 16, Article number: 392 (2021)
Osteoarthritis (OA) is responsible for the impotent disability in old people. Circular RNA (circRNA) has been reported to be related to the development of diseases. The lack of research on the role of circRNA spastic paraplegia 11 (circ-SPG11) results in conducting this study.
The expression of circ-SPG11, microRNA-337-3p (miR-337-3p), and aggrecanases like a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs 5 (ADAMTS5) mRNA was detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Western blot was used to measure the protein expression of extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation-related markers and ADAMTS5. Ribonuclease R (RNase R) was applied to test the stability of circ-SPG11 in CHON-001 cells. The viability, apoptosis, TNF-α and IL-6 production were determined by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, flow cytometry assay, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), respectively. Meanwhile, the interaction between miR-337-3p and circ-SPG11 or ADAMTS5 was respectively predicted by Circinteractome or Starbase2.0, which was further verified by dual-luciferase reporter system and RNA binding protein immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay.
Circ-SPG11 and ADAMTS5 were upregulated and miR-337-3p was downregulated in OA tissues and OA model cells. Circ-SPG11 knockdown allayed interleukin 1β (IL-1β)-induced restraint in viability and promotion in apoptosis, TNF-α, and IL-6 generation and ECM degradation in CHON-001 cells. Anti-miR-337-3p or ADAMTS5 overexpression correspondingly reversed si-circ-SPG11 or miR-337-3p overexpression-mediated facilitation in viability, and inhibition in apoptosis, TNF-α and IL-6 generation and ECM degradation in OA model cells. Moreover, anti-miR-337-3p ameliorated si-circ-SPG11-mediated inhibition in ADAMTS5 mRNA and protein expression in OA model cells.
Circ-SPG11 facilitated OA development via regulating miR-337-3p/ADAMTS5 axis. This finding might contribute to the improvement of OA therapy.
Circ-SPG11 was upregulated in OA tissues and OA model cells.
Circ-SPG11 knockdown facilitated the proliferation and suppressed the apoptosis, inflammatory factors generation, and ECM degradation in OA model cells.
Circ-SPG11/miR-337-3p/ADAMTS5 axis stimulated OA development.
As a degenerative arthropathy, osteoarthritis (OA) extensively occurs in the aged including 10% males and 18% females . The irreversible OA progression eventually results in a loss of function of sufferers, thus imposes a heavy burden on mentality and physiology . OA is characterized by the progressive damage in the structure and function of articular subassemblies, especially in cartilage . The disequilibrium between anabolism and catabolism of extracellular matrix (ECM) is the main cause of cartilage damage, which further contributes to the deterioration of mechanical properties . ECM degradation initially occurs in the surface of cartilage with the variation of matrix-degrading enzymes including collagenases metalloproteinases 13 (MMP13) and aggrecan-degrading enzymes (Aggrecan), and calcification in cartilage area gradually forms with the prolongation of degradation time . In the process of self-healing, chondrocytes lead to the reaction of pro-inflammatory including the generation of interleukin 1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), and interleukin 6 (IL-6), and stimulate the proliferation of synovial cells which further release pro-inflammatory products . The only effective treatment for arthritis is surgery; however, such costly operation only marginally improves the quality of life of OA patients . Thus, the precision therapy which could alleviate the suffering of OA patients is appealed, and this needs to further understand the regulatory mechanism of OA.
As a novel non-coding RNA, circular RNA (circRNA) has been repeatedly documented to be associated with various diseases. The unique circular structure that formed by the exons, introns, or intergenic regions endows a stable status to circRNA in cells . The endogenous competitive role of circRNA to micro RNA (miRNA) in diseases becomes even more common in numerous reports. For instance, circ-TTBK2 sponged miR-761 to regulate the metastasis and proliferation in glioma . Circ_0076305 harbored miR-296-5p to regulate STAT3 expression, thus participated in the development of non-small cell lung cancer . In terms of the OA, circRNA-9119 protected against apoptosis by sponging miR-26a to regulate PTEN . CircRNA-UBE2G1 acted as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) to interact with miR-373/HIF-1a to deteriorate lipopolysaccharide-induced OA . CircRNA_Atp9b harbored miR-138-5p to advance OA development . There was no consensus on the role of circRNA in OA; thus, more researches are needed to perfect the theory about the regulatory pathway of circRNA in OA. However, we could hardly find any reports about the role of circRNA spastic paraplegia 11 (circ-SPG11) in OA through consulting literature materials, which resulted in setting out to determine the functional mechanism of circ-SPG11 in OA.
In this study, the dysregulation of circ-SPG11 was widely presented in OA tissues and IL-1β-induced OA model cells. Circ-SPG11 deletion or miR-337-3p overexpression resulted in facilitating the proliferation and inhibiting the apoptosis, inflammatory cytokines secretion, and ECM degradation, which was correspondingly reversed by miR-337-3p inhibition or aggrecanases like a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs 5 (ADAMTS5) overexpression in OA model cells. Moreover, circ-SPG11/miR-337-3p/ADAMTS5 axis regulated IL-1β-induced OA development, which might bring novel targeted therapy sites for OA treatment.
Materials and methods
Patients and sample collection
All the experiments involved in this study have been approved by the Ethics Committee of Shijiazhuang People’s Hospital. Informed consent has been signed by participants or their legal guardians. The tissue samples used in this experiment were obtained from 29 OA patients who suffered total knee arthroplasty, and 23 non-OA patients who unfortunately suffered a traumatic amputation in Shijiazhuang People’s Hospital. The surgically separated cartilage tissues were promptly saved in liquid nitrogen for further testing.
Cell culture and treatment
Human chondrogenic cell line CHON-001 was obtained from American Type Culture Collection (ATCC, Rockville, MD, USA). Cells were cultured in Dulbecco’s modified Eagle’s medium (DMEM, Gibco, Carlsbad, CA, USA) supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS; Gibco) at 37 °C with 5% CO2. For the establishment of OA cellular model in vitro, cells were firstly treated with IL-1β (Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, MO, USA) at the concentrations of 0 ng/mL, 5 ng/mL, and 10 ng/mL, 15 ng/mL for 24 h. Then, 10 ng/mL of 1L-1β was chose to further stimulate cells for 0 h, 12 h, 24 h, and 48 h, respectively.
Small interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting circ-SPG11 (si-circ-SPG11), circ-SPG11 overexpression (circ-SPG11), miR-337-3p overexpression (miR-337-3p), miR-337-3p inhibition (anti-miR-337-3p), ADAMTS5 overexpression (ADAMTS5), and the corresponding negative controls (si-NC, vector, miR-NC, anti-miR-NC, pcDNA) were purchased from Ribobio (Guangzhou, China). Lipofectomine 3000 transfection reagent (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, CA, USA) was used to perform the transient transfection just following the instruction.
RNA isolation, ribonuclease R (RNase R) treatment and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR)
For the isolation of total RNA from CHON-001 cells, TRIzol reagent (Thermo Fisher Scientific, Waltham, MA, USA) was used. For the RNase R treatment, 1 μg total RNA was devoted to incubating with 1 μL RNase R (Epicenter, Madison, WI, USA) at 37 °C for 20 min. For qRT-PCR, the depurative RNA was reverse transcribed into cDNA via applying cDNA reverse transcription kit (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, CA, USA). Then, cDNAs were used as templates for the amplification of the interested genes, which were accomplished by using Prime Script™ RT reagent kit (Takara, Shiga, Japan). Following, the detection of the interested genes expression was realized by Platinum SYBR Green qPCR SuperMix UDG (Invitrogen). GAPDH was used as an internal reference to normalize the expression of circ-SPG11, Linear SPG11, and ADAMTS5, and U6 was used as an internal reference to normalize the expression of miR-337-3p. The 2−ΔΔCt method was applied to calculate relative expression. Primers used in this study were showed as (5′-3′): Circ-SPG11, Forward (F), 5′-AGCTATAGGAGATCCCAAACTG-3′, Reverse (R), 5′-TGGCCTGATTGGTGGGAATC-3′; SPG11, F, 5′-AGTCCACAGCAGACATAAGCAG-3′, R, 5′-CCAATGTGCGGTCTTGACAC-3′; miR-337-3p, F, 5′-CGCGCTCCTATATGATGCCT-3′, R, 5′-AGTGCAGGGTCCGAGGTATT-3′; ADAMTS5, F, 5′-TATGTTCTCCAGAGCGCAGC-3′, R, 5′-GGAATCGTCATGGGAGAGGC-3′; U6, F, 5′-CTCGCTTCGGCAGCACATATACT-3′, R, 5′-ACGCTTCACGAATTTGCGTGTC-3′; GAPDH, F, 5′-GGAGTCCACTGGCGTCTTCA-3′, R, 5′-GGTTCACACCCATGACGAAC-3′.
Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay
CCK8 assay was applied to measure the viability of CHON-001 cells. Cell were seeded into 96-well plates and then incubated with CCK-8 solution (Beyotime, Shanghai, China) at 37 °C for 2 h. MultiMode Microplate Reader (Thermo Fisher Scientific) was applied to collect and analyze the signal about the absorbance at 450 nm.
Flow cytometry assay
The apoptosis rate of CHON-001 cells was measured by Annexin V-Fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)/Propidium lodide (PI) (BD Biosciences, San Jose, CA, USA) according to the protocol. Briefly, CHON-001 cells were collected and treated with or without 10 ng/mL of 1L-1β after transient transfection. Afterwards, cells were incubated with Annexin V-FITC and PI for 20 min. A flow cytometry (BD Biosciences) was used to detect the apoptosis.
Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)
The supernatant of CHON-001 cells culture was isolated and collected. The production of TNF-α and IL-6 in the supernatant was measured by ELISA kits (RayBiotech, Peachtree Corners, GA, USA) following the manufacture’s protocol.
The total protein of CHON-001 cells was isolated by RIPA buffer (Beyotime). Then, the crude extracted proteins were further subdivided by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamidegel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE, Beyotime) and polyvinylidene difluoride membranes (PVDF, Millipore, Danvers, MA, USA). Following, the membranes were blocked by non-fat milk and washed by 1 × Tris-buffered saline tween-20 (TBST, Sigma-Aldrich). Afterwards, the membranes containing the proteins were incubated with the primary antibodies, including anti-MMP13 (1: 3,000, Abcam, Cambridge, UK), anti-ADAMTS5 (1: 250, Abcam), anti-GAPDH (1: 2,500, Abcam), and anti-Aggrecan (1: 100, Abcam), and then incubated with the second antibodies anti-rabbit IgG (1: 20,000, Abcam) or anti-mouse IgG (1: 2,000, Abcam). The result was detected by Electrochemiluminescence (ECL) detection kit (Roche Diagnostics GmbH, Mannheim, Germany).
Bioinformatic analysis and dual-luciferase reporter system
The combination between miR-337-3p and circ-SPG11 or ADAMTS5 was predicted by Circinteractome and Starbase2.0. The reporter plasmids (pmirGLO, Promega, Madison, WI, USA) containing the potential binding sequences or corresponding mutated sequences between miR-337-3p and circ-SPG11 or ADAMTS5, which were named as WT-circ-SPG11, WT-ADAMTS5 3′ untranslated regions (UTR) or MUT-circ-SPG11, MUT-ADAMTS5 3′UTR, were transfected with miR-337-3p or miR-NC into CHON-001 cells by using Lipofectamine3000 (Invitrogen). The luciferase activity was detected by Dual-Luciferase® Reporter Assay System (Promega) following the instruction.
RNA binding protein immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay
Magna RNA-binding protein immunoprecipitation kit (Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany) was devoted to performing RIP assay. Prior to conduct the RIP assay, CHON-001 cells were lysed by RIP Lysis Buffer (Beyotime). Then, the lysates were incubated with magnetic beads which were conjugated with Argonaute-2 (Ago2, Millipore) or control immunoglobulin G (IgG, Millipore). The complex was digested by proteinase K (Sigma-Aldrich) and the binding RNAs were identified by qRT-PCR.
Data used in this study were obtained from three replicates and presented as mean ± standard deviation (SD). The statistical analysis was performed by GraphPad Prism version 7.0 (GraphPad Inc., San Diego, CA, USA). The difference between two or more groups was compared by Student’s t test or one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Pearson correlation coefficient analysis was conducted to analyze the relationship between the expression of miR-337-3p and circ-SPG11 or ADAMTS5 in OA tissues. P < 0.05 was determined as statistical significance.
Circ-SPG11 was upregulated in OA tissues and OA model cells
Due to a supply gap about researching the role of circ-SPG11 in OA, the expression of circ-SPG11 in OA tissues was primarily explored. Circ-SPG11 was significantly upregulated in OA tissues compared with normal tissues (Fig. 1A). In order to further complete the experimental exploration, IL-1β was applied to establish an OA model cells by treating CHON-001 cells with different concentrations of IL-1β or different times. Obviously, IL-1β treatment resulted in dose-dependent and time-dependent increases in circ-SPG11 expression in CHON-001 cells (Fig. 1B, C). Interestingly, circ-SPG11 was mainly distributed in cytoplasm rather than nuclear (Fig. 1D). Meanwhile, the stronger tolerance on RNase R indicated that circ-SPG11 possessed a stable circular structure when compared with Linear SPG11 (Fig. 1E). Taken together, circ-SPG11, which was located primarily in the cytoplasm, was upregulated in OA tissues and IL-1β-induced OA model cells.
IL-1β inhibited cell viability and induced apoptosis in CHON-001 cells
In order to detect the effects of IL-1β on CHON-001 cells, the cell viability was detected using CCK-8 assay. The data indicated that the cell viability was significantly decreased under different concentrations of IL-1β (5 ng/mL, 10 ng/mL, and 15 ng/mL) (Fig. 2A). In addition, with the increase of IL-1β concentration, the cell apoptosis rate was upregulated (Fig. 2B, C). The secretion of inflammatory factors (TNF-α and IL-6) was markedly increased in CHON-001 cells induced by IL-1β (Fig. 2D). ECM degradation-related marker MMP13 was upregulated and Aggrecan was downregulated with the treatment with IL-1β in CHON-001 cells (Fig. 2E). These results demonstrated that IL-1β inhibited cell viability and promoted cell apoptosis, TNF-α and IL-6 generation, and ECM degradation with the increase of ox-LDL concentrations.
Circ-SPG11 deletion allayed IL-1β-induced suppression in proliferation and facilitation in apoptosis, inflammatory cytokines secretion, and ECM degradation in CHON-001 cells
To examine the functional role of circ-SPG11 in OA, loss-of-function approaches were designed. As expected, IL-1β treatment resulted in a noticeable increase in circ-SPG11 expression, which was eliminated by circ-SPG11 deletion in CHON-001 cells (Fig. 3A). The viability of CHON-001 cells was restrained by IL-1β; however, this restraint was further reversed by circ-SPG11 deletion (Fig. 3B). IL-1β-mediated promotion in apoptosis rate was ameliorated by circ-SPG11 deletion in CHON-001 cells (Fig. 3C). The secretion of TNF-α and IL-6 was motivated by IL-1β treatment, which was restored by circ-SPG11 deletion in CHON-001 cells (Fig. 3D). In terms of ECM degradation, the promotion in MMP13 protein expression and the inhibition in Aggrecan protein expression were induced by IL-1β treatment; however, the effects of IL-1β on ECM degradation-related markers protein expression were abolished by circ-SPG11 deletion in CHON-001 cells (Fig. 3E). These data proposed that circ-SPG11 knockdown alleviated OA development.
Circ-SPG11 sponged miR-337-3p
The potential regulatory mechanism of circ-SPG11 in OA was further studied. The underlying binding sites between circ-SPG11 and miR-337-3p, which were predicted by Circinteractome online tool, and together with the corresponding mutated sites were presented in Fig. 4A. Subsequently, the dual-luciferase reporter system presented a striking decrease in luciferase activity in CHON-001 cells transfected with miR-337-3p and WT-circ-SPG11, which highlighted the existence of the combination between circ-SPG11 and miR-337-3p in CHON-001 cells (Fig. 4B). Moreover, the marked increase in the level of miR-337-3p and circ-SPG11, which was presented by RIP assay, indicated a direct combination between circ-SPG11 and miR-337-3p (Fig. 4C). MiR-337-3p was strikingly lowly expressed in OA tissues (Fig. 4D). Logically, miR-337-3p expression was negatively correlated with circ-SPG11 expression (Fig. 4E). Interestingly, the decrease in miR-337-3p expression showed a dose-dependent manner and a time-dependent manner to the treatment of IL-1β in CHON-001 cells (Fig. 4F, G). In addition, circ-SPG11 overexpression further boosted IL-1β-induced upregulation in circ-SPG11 expression in CHON-001 cells (Fig. 4H). However, circ-SPG11 knockdown reversed IL-1β-induced inhibition in miR-337-3p expression and circ-SPG11 overexpression further enhanced IL-1β-induced inhibition in miR-337-3p expression in CHON-001 cells (Fig. 4I). These data illustrated that circ-SPG11 harbored miR-337-3p and negatively regulated miR-337-3p expression in IL-1β-treated CHON-001 cells.
Circ-SPG11 knockdown impeded OA development by sponging miR-337-3p
To further study the functional regulatory relationship between circ-SPG11 and miR-337-3p, loss-of-function experiments were applied. Mechanically, IL-1β treatment induced the suppression in miR-337-3p expression in CHON-001 cells; meanwhile, anti-miR-337-3p reversed si-circ-SPG11-induced upregulation in miR-337-3p expression in IL-1β-treated CHON-001 cells (Fig. 5A). Furthermore, anti-miR-337-3p allayed si-circ-SPG11-induced promotion in viability in IL-1β-treated CHON-001 cells (Fig. 5B). For the apoptosis rate, si-circ-SPG11 attenuated IL-1β-induced motivation, which was further abrogated by anti-miR-337-3p in CHON-001 cells (Fig. 5C). Similarly, the inflammatory cytokines secretion was restrained by si-circ-SPG11 via interacting with miR-337-3p in IL-1β-treated CHON-001 cells (Fig. 5D). The protein expression of ECM degradation-related markers showed that anti-miR-337-3p rescued si-circ-SPG11 induced suppression in ECM degradation in IL-1β-treated CHON-001 cells (Fig. 5E). These results uncovered that circ-SPG11 sponged miR-337-3p to regulate the proliferation, apoptosis, inflammatory cytokines, and ECM degradation in OA model cells.
MiR-337-3p targeted ADAMTS5 3′UTR
The downstream regulatory factor of circ-SPG11/miR-337-3p was unceasingly explored to further study the role of circ-SPG11 in OA. As presented in Fig. 6A, the potential targeted sequences in ADAMTS5 3′UTR to miR-337-3p were predicted by Starbase2.0 online database. Dual-luciferase reporter system illustrated that the combination between ADAMTS5 and miR-337-3p actually existed (Fig. 6B), which was in accordance with the result of RIP assay (Fig. 6C). Clearly, a significant increase in ADAMTS5 expression was appeared in OA tissues compared with normal tissues (Fig. 6D). Meanwhile, ADAMTS5 protein expression was abundantly expressed by a dose-dependent manner and a time-dependent manner to IL-1β treatment in CHON-001 cells (Fig. 6E, F). Moreover, Pearson correlation coefficient analysis showed a negatively relationship between the expression of ADAMTS5 and miR-337-3p (Fig. 6G). In addition, miR-337-3p was downregulated in OA model cells, however, miR-337-3p was upregulated by miR-337-3p overexpression or further downregulated by anti-miR-337-3p in OA model cells (Fig. 6H). Besides, miR-337-3p could negatively regulate ADAMTS5 protein expression in OA model cells (Fig. 6I). These data elucidated that miR-337-3p directly targeted ADAMTS5 and negatively regulated ADAMTS5 expression.
MiR-337-3p targeted ADAMTS5 to regulate the proliferation, apoptosis, inflammatory cytokines secretion, and ECM degradation in OA model cells
Given the regulatory mechanism between ADAMTS5 and miR-337-3p, the functional relationship between ADAMTS5 and miR-337-3p was explored. MiR-337-3p overexpression allayed IL-1β-induced upregulation in ADAMTS5 protein expression, which was further counteracted by ADAMTS5 overexpression in CHOH-001 cells (Fig. 7A). ADAMTS5 overexpression ameliorated miR-337-3p overexpression-induced revivification in IL-1β-induced inhibition in viability in CHON-001 cells (Fig. 7B). IL-1β-induced motivation in apoptosis, inflammatory cytokines secretion, and ECM degradation was reversed by miR-337-3p overexpression, which was further allayed by ADAMTS5 overexpression in CHON-001 cells (Fig. 7C–E). These data highlighted that ADAMTS5 stimulated OA development by interacting with miR-337-3p.
Circ-SPG11 stimulated OA progression by miR-337-3p/ADAMTS5 axis
To perfect the regulatory mechanism, the relationship among circ-SPG11, miR-337-3p, and ADAMTS5 was further studied. ADAMTS5 mRNA or protein expression was elevated by IL-1β treatment, and this elevation was restored by si-circ-SPG11; however, anti-miR-337-3p reversed the effect of si-circ-SPG11 on IL-1β-treated CHON-001 cells (Fig. 8A, B). The schematic diagram described the circ-SPG11/miR-337-3p/ADAMTS5 pathway in regulating OA development that circ-SPG11 sponged miR-337-3p to positively regulate ADAMTS5 expression, which resulted in motivating ECM degradation, so as to stimulate OA progression (Fig. 8C). These data revealed that circ-SPG11 advanced OA development by miR-337-3p/ADAMTS5 axis.
OA is a time-consuming and excruciating disease for the elderly with high incidence . The ECM degradation has been recognized as the primarily feature of OA . The activation of chondrocytes was the inevitable result of the reaction to the dynamic alteration of the chemical and mechanical surroundings . Thus, the generation of inflammatory factors (IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α) and the matrix-degrading enzymes (MMP13, Aggrecan) were triggered in the activated chondrocytes . CircRNAs were frequently found to be associated with various diseases. Recently, Zhou et al. exposed 255 circRNAs which were differentially expressed in IL-1β-treated mouse articular chondrocytes . Liu et al. found that 71 circRNAs were dysregulated in human OA tissues . In this study, circ-SPG11 was abundantly expressed in OA tissues compared with normal tissues. Meanwhile, IL-1β treatment led to an increase in circ-SPG11 expression by time-dependent and dose-dependent manners in CHON-001 cells. Besides, circ-SPG11 knockdown expedited the proliferation, abated the apoptosis, inflammatory cytokines secretion, and ECM degradation in OA model cells. Has_circ_0005105 facilitated ECM degradation, inflammatory cytokines generation in IL-1β-treated chondrocytes . Has_circ_0045714 promoted the apoptosis and inhibited the proliferation in chondrocytes .
MiRNAs always interact with circRNAs to play a bridging role in perfecting the signal pathway in diseases . CircDUSP16 harbored miR-145-5p to expedite gastric cancer (GC) development . CircHIPK2 sponged miR-124-2HG to activate astrocyte . CircLARP4 hampered GC progression by miR-424-5p/LATS1 signal pathway . CircPVT1 harbored miR-145-5p to regulate the expression of ABCC1 in chemotherapy-resistant lung cancer . Analogously, circ-SPG11 directly sponged miR-337-3p to negatively regulate miR-337-3p expression. CircRNA-CDR1as harbored miR-641 to accelerate OA development . CircRNA.33186 boosted OA procession by harboring miR-127-5p . MiR-337-3p inhibition allayed circ-SPG11 deletion-mediated stimulation in proliferation and repression in apoptosis, inflammatory factors generation and ECM degradation in OA model cells. MiR-337-3p facilitated the proliferation and restrained the apoptosis via interacting with PTEN and AKT in OA cells . Moreover, miR-337-3p directly targeted ADAMTS5 and negatively regulated ADAMTS5 expression. ADAMTS5 was targeted by miR-15a to retard the development of OA . ADAMTS5 overexpression ameliorated miR-337-3p overexpression-mediated promotion in proliferation and suppression in apoptosis, inflammatory factors production, and ECM degradation in OA model cells. ADAMTS5 was the downstream factor of LncRNA MALAT1/miR-145 axis in inhibiting the proliferation and promoting the ECM degradation in OA model cells . ADAMTS5 was targeted by miR-140-5p to suppress the metastasis in colorectal cancer . Associatively, circ-SPG11 sponged miR-337-3p to regulate ADAMTS5 expression in OA model cells.
Collectively, circ-SPG11 and ADAMTS5 were upregulated and miR-337-3p was downregulated in OA tissues and OA model cells. Circ-SPG11 knockdown promoted the proliferation and undermined the apoptosis, inflammatory factors generation, and ECM degradation in OA model cells. Meanwhile, circ-SPG11 accelerated OA development by interacting with miR-337-3p/ADAMTS5 pathway. The novel findings about the regulatory pathway of circ-SPG11 in OA might point a way for targeted therapy in OA.
Availability of data and materials
The analyzed datasets generated during the present study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
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Liu, Y., Li, Q., Gao, Z. et al. Circ-SPG11 knockdown hampers IL-1β-induced osteoarthritis progression via targeting miR-337-3p/ADAMTS5. J Orthop Surg Res 16, 392 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13018-021-02526-y

domain: medical


text:
A new biopic about the life of Grand Prix motorcycle legend Barry Sheene is currently in development.
The new film - simply entitled 'Sheene' - is based on the book “Barry: The Story of Motorcycling Legend Barry Sheene", which was co-authored by respected MotoGP commentator Nick Harris and Sheene's former teammate Steve Parrish.
London-born Sheene remains the last Briton to have won Grand Prix motorcycle racing's premier class, having taken back-to-back 500cc crowns in 1976 and 1977 for Suzuki.
He scored his 23rd and final Grand Prix win in 1981, bowing out of the sport in 1984, after which he forged a new career as a TV commentator and property developer in Australia.
Sheene died of cancer at the age of 52 in 2003, but is still credited with helping to bring motorcycle racing to a more mainstream audience, as well as kickstarting safety improvements in the sport.
“It’s a rush to be making a movie about Barry Sheene - bringing his story and legacy to the big screen," said producer Will Stoppard.
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"He was a superstar who transcended his sport, someone we all looked up to and lived our dreams through."
He added: "When the project was presented to me I was immediately excited. I knew what the movie had to be - I was doing this film come what may.
"Making the movie will be fulfilling and we look forward to audiences experiencing what made this icon into a true legend."
The release date for the movie is currently unknown, but filming is expected to start later this year.
The script will be written by Ian La Frenais and Dick Clement, who are best known for classic British TV series Porridge and Auf Wiedersehen, Pet. However, they also gained worldwide acclaim for movies The Commitments and Across the Universe.

domain: entertainment


Selle Italia’s Green-Tech production process was developed as an eco-friendly production process to minimize environmental impact, utilize sustainable materials and achieve competitive pricing points. The Model X Green Superflow is the first bike saddle to emerge from the Green-Tech process and is constructed from 100% sustainable materials. It’s an innovative saddle that achieves a high performance design without the use of any glue. Despite the sustainable made in Italy construction, the Model X Green Superflow has a highly accessible retail price of only $55.99. The saddle uses FeC alloy rails, a Carbon Iron Steel alloy, combined with Flex Control design that improves flexibility and rigidity. Total Gel covers the top of the shell and provides dampening and keeps you stable while riding.
The Selle Italia Model X Green SuperFlow combines a 100% sustainable construction with a high-performance yet affordably priced cycling saddle.
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|Dislikes||– Visible molding edges|
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ON THE ROAD
While the budget price point of Model X Green Superflow may make it sound like it would be an entry-level saddle, it’s surprisingly high-performance. The combination of the L3 idmatch, Superflow center cutout and Flex Control rail design creates a comfortable yet supportive saddle that works on short or long rides. The Total Gel padding has a nice non-slip surface that we found helped us stay securely in position even during hard efforts. It’s hard to quantify the dampening effect of the Flex Control rails and Total Gel padding but we found it to be comfortable even on pothole filled roads and fast descends.
Overall, we found the Selle Italia Model X Green Superflow to be a comfortable and innovative saddle. Despite the budget price point, the saddle features an eco-friendly construction that leverages Selle Italia’s Green-Tech sustainable production process. The saddle has a short-nosed profile that provides flexibility and comfort as well as a Superflow center cutout. We were also impressed with the Flex Control rails and Total Gel padding which help dampen imperfections on the road. It’s also an easy saddle to clean as the Total Gel padding sits on top of the base. The only downsides of the saddle is that sizing is limited to the L3 idmatch and some of the molding lines are visible on the saddle base. That said, if you’re looking for an eco-friendly and high-performance saddle then the Model X Green Superflow is one to consider.
Disclaimer: The product for this review was provided by Selle Italia. The views expressed on this website are solely those of the authors and are here to help people make an informed choice before a purchase. The authors or the blog itself does not get any monetary compensation from the product manufacturer or third-party websites/vendor links that are posted here.


The driver of a white car thought to have witnessed a fatal collision on the A470 is being sought by police.
Jennifer Mary Taylor, 72, from the Dolgarrog area, died after the motorcycle she was on crashed into a car near Betws-y-Coed on Sunday afternoon.
The 54-year-old male driver of the motorbike remains at Ysbyty Gwynedd in Bangor, where his condition is said to be improving.
North Wales Police are continuing to appeal for witnesses and are keen to speak to the driver of a white 15 plate Skoda.
Sergeant Jason Diamond said: “We believe the driver of this white vehicle would have witnessed the collision, and as such we are keen on speaking to them as soon as possible to assist with our investigation.”
The accident, which involved a BMW motorcycle and a Nissan Qashqai, happened at about 2.15pm near the Waterloo Bridge.
Officers cordoned off the crash scene while investigations were carried out and an air ambulance landed near the bridge.
The road reopened shortly before 6.30pm.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Roads Policing Unit at Llandegai on 101, quoting reference number S152191.


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Over the past few weeks and months we have had many queries at The Legal Advice Office from clients and consumers who have bought cars from both new and second hand car dealers; and who are a short while later are discovering various serious defects in those vehicles.
This clearly is a problem and the dealers, by and large, do not abide by the law or the CPA or otherwise seek to interpret that Act or portions of that Act in a manner which is beneficial to them and not the consumer customer.
Let us get one thing very straight. All of us, as consumers and customers, should be aware of this fact. The Consumer Protect Act, Act No 68 of 2008 (CPA); which became law at midnight on the 31st March 2011 has radically shifted the balance of power from the supplier to the customer when it comes to the question of defective, unsuitable and damaged goods.
Since this Act came into effect; consumers have had the choice of remedy if the item they purchase breaks, is defective or stops working as it was intended to; but this choice and your action must take place within six (6) months of the date of purchase or within 3 months of any subsequent repair carried out by the seller supplier.
You no longer have to accept the supplier’s first choice of a repair to the item; and the supplier or service provider cannot dictate to you what you should choose. It is your choice and you decide whether YOU want a REFUND, a REPLACEMENT item or a REPAIR. Do NOT let the supplier decide for you. It is your choice in terms of the CPA.
However be careful in exercising this choice as it really is a formal legal process and you need proper, professional advice in exercising that choice.
This new state of affairs is a massive boon for consumers; and retailers are understandably reeling from the consequences of the Act; and try to avoid liability for replacing or refunding a customer as that is a lot more expensive option for them as opposed to simply repairing the item in question.
It stands to reason therefore that one of the industries with the most to lose is this regard is the motor industry and motor trade generally, given the high price of its products and this is precisely why the industry has pretty much decided that the sections of the Consumer Protection Act which cover defective goods (mainly sections 55 and 56) don’t really apply to them and do their best in any given set of circumstances to duck and dive their way out of responsibility to their customers and almost invariable try and get the customer to agree to a repair without ever explaining to the consumer their legal rights in terms of the CPA. We literally deal with these situations on a daily basis.
We have also had to deal with motor vehicle dealers who tell us flat out that the CPA does not apply to them; and even their attorneys have contacted us and written e-mails to us advising us that the provisions of the CPA do not apply to their clients; as they are motor car dealers and not suppliers. That is absolute rubbish!
The Act does apply to all motor vehicle manufacturers and dealers and there is no question about that. It is a fact.
Remember that the cardinal rule in the event of the purchase or a defective or damaged vehicle is that it is your choice.
Thereafter use a professional to enforce your rights and a remedy to a repair, refund or replacement.
The CPA in Part B also deals will the purpose, policy and application of the Act and sets out in some detail the whole purpose and policy of the Act and the rationale for it having been brought into existence in the first place. The purpose of this Act it goes on to say in section 3 is “to promote and advance the social and economic welfare of consumers in South Africa by…” and then it sets out the framework and purpose in more detail. So its primary purpose is just that: to protect us as consumers from bad business practices which are sometimes provided to us by service providers.
The Legal Advice Office Team.

domain: law


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This is the old United Nations University website. Visit the new site at http://unu.edu
Toshie Nishizawa and Juha I. Uitto
Since its discovery, the Amazon region has been a source of fascination for humanity. In years past, adventurers flocked to the unknown and uncharted expanses seeking fame and fortune. Today, Amazonia is recognised as an important part of the global ecology and many concerned with environmental issues, often outsiders, are now trying to impede the overexploitation and destruction of this region.
The first European explorers of Amazonia were the sixteenthcentury conquistadores who came in search of El Dorado. At that time, the rain forest was only an obstacle with its great size, density, and lushness. Some three centuries later the explorer scientists began to investigate the Amazon rain forests. Among these scientists were Alexander von Humboldt, Alfred Russel Wallace, and Henry Walter Bates, who viewed the rain forest as a subject of intense scientific curiosity.
The rain forest at that time was often evaluated to have high potential, based on the knowledge gained in the temperate latitude forests, where larger trees indicated greater soil potential. However, the size of trees in the tropical regions generally does not indicate soil potential because the nutrient cycle of the region is quite different from that of the temperate regions.
Amazonia is hot, humid, and rainy, drained by a dense network of large, year-round rivers mostly debauching into the Amazon River, which alone accounts for about one-fifth of all the fresh water discharged into the world's oceans. Although there are many different ecosystems in Amazonia, most of them fall into two major groups: those of the várzea (floodplains) and those of the terra firme or tierras firmes (uplands). About one-third of the world's tropical rain forests is located in Amazonia, mostly within Brazilian territory. Those on the highly leached soils of the terra firme exhibit a number of adaptations to their oligotrophic milieu. The fertile soils of the várzea, where traditional agriculture is carried out, are rejuvenated by yearly flooding and occasionally subjected to catastrophic inundations.
North-East Brazil or the Nordeste comprises nine states and includes 18 per cent of the area and 30 per cent of the population of the country. Its development began with the arrival of the Portuguese in the sixteenth century, but it still remains one of the poorest regions in Latin America. The Nordeste is divided into three longitudinal zones, starting from the seashore: the humid zona da mata, an intermediate agreste, and the interior sertão. The latter, characterized by deficient and erratic rainfall falling on largely impervious rocks, experiences severe and frequent droughts. The scorching backlands are devoid of perennial streams, except for one exotic river, the São Francisco. The vegetation is typically drought-resistant xerophytic forest (caatinga).
The coastal humid region was originally covered by seasonal tropical rain forest. Gradual deforestation in the area has caused serious environmental problems. Development of the coastal humid region started with forest cutting of Brazil-wood for red dye. The Portuguese and other Europeans also found the climate and the fertile alluvial coastal lowlands ideal for sugar cane production. The forest on the nearby uplands was cleared for use as firewood at the sugar cane mills. Recent expansion of sugar cane production for gasohol has resulted in environmental as well as socio-economic distress.
Frontier settlements advanced into the semi-arid interior during the seventeenth century. Due to the limited natural resources, this region was not initially attractive to the settlers, but it gradually developed when cattle grazing became widespread. Despite striking contrasts, the Brazilian portion of Amazonia and the Nordeste, especially the sertão, have been intimately linked historically, demographically, and culturally.
After the middle of the nineteenth century, penetration and settlement of Brazilian Amazonia was to reflect the spatial distribution of the seringueira, or rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensia). Following the discovery of vulcanization, and at a time when the demand for rubber was increasing, the disastrous droughts of 1855 and 1866 uprooted a considerable part of the rural population of the sertão, intensifying an incipient migration to the Amazon.
When the drought struck again in 1877 and 1888, the government directed to Amazonia a good part of those flagelados (lit. "lashed"; victims of drought) who managed to reach the coast. The tattered refugees were to form the backbone of Brazil's rubber extractive industry, and put the stamp of their culture on Amazonia, a region whose Amerindian stock had been dramatically depleted following contact with Europeans, and where the Portuguese and their African slaves had never represented more than a modest, mostly urban, demographic contingent.
During the Second World War, when the Allies were cut off from the Asian sources, Brazil, pursuant to what became known as the Washington Agreements, undertook to supply them with rubber. The federal government in Rio de Janeiro turned to the Nordeste and, with appropriate propaganda, mobilized its people for a second assault into the rubber forests. During the so-called Batalha da Borracha, the ill-fated Rubber Battle, malaria and other diseases took a heavy toll on the north-easterners.
Amazonia and the Nordeste, each in its own way, have long been the cause of serious apprehension on the part of successive Brazilian governments. The former, a sparsely settled economic backwater isolated from the seat of government, has been perceived as an easy prey to foreign covetousness. The latter, a victim of endemic poverty, is a traditional exporter of people. When the backlands are smitten by catastrophic droughts, farm families are uprooted and transformed into refugees, who make their way to the humid coast. Here, a teeming, landless population, born of the plantation system, embittered and dehumanized, has been seen by nervous officials and landowners as a potential hotbed of social and political unrest.
Significantly, when the 1946 Brazilian Federal Constitution was drafted, two consecutive articles addressed the twin problems of Amazonia and the Nordeste. Article 198 mandated that "in implementing the plan to provide for protection from the effects of the socalled sêca [drought] of the Nordeste, the [federal government] shall expend annually ... an amount never inferior to three percent of its tax revenue." The same article also called for "the States included in the drought area to expend three percent of their tax revenue in the construction of dams,... and in ... assistance to their populations." According to Article 199, the federal government was enjoined to "appropriate, during at least twenty consecutive years, an amount not inferior to three percent of its tax revenues" to be applied in executing the plan for economic development of Amazonia. The same directive applied to the "States and Territories within that region, as well as to their respective MunicÍpios."
When the Programme of National Integration (PIN) was launched in 1970, construction of the Trans-Amazon and Cuiabá-Santarém highways was linked to the plight of the semi-arid backlands, afflicted by yet another drought. While the PIN stressed effective occupation of the vastness of Amazonia, it also addressed itself to the source region of the settlers, and was perceived as a means, in the words of President Medici, "to absorb the population of areas considered totally unfit for human life." Amazonia is frequently thought of, by those who eschew a deep-cutting agrarian reform, as a convenient substitute, a safety valve to absorb surplus populations, especially from the Nordeste.
With water as its most limiting resource, an option long considered for the Nordeste is the importation of this most basic resource. One possibility, examined in the early 1980s, was the transposition of water from the Tocantins River into the sertão. While not properly an affluent of the Amazon River, the Tocantins, a tributary of the Pará River, is part of Amazonia. Although the idea is not being pursued at present, it serves as a final example to underline the linkages between Amazonia and the Nordeste.
With international attention focused especially on Brazilian Amazonia, a dilemma exists between development and preservation, or conservation, of Amazonian resources. What should scientists do to resolve this dilemma? Are the traditional forest management and agriculture methods effective today?
The origin of this volume stems from an international symposium entitled The Fragile Tropics of Latin America: Changing Environments and Their Sustainable Management, organized by the Centro de Estudos Latinoamericanos of the University of Tsukuba, Japan, in May 1990. The symposium was sponsored by the University of Tsukuba, the United Nations University (UNU), and the Associação Central Nipo-Brasileira.
The symposium had as its background the recognition of the sever ity, multiplicity, and global nature of the environmental problems facing humanity on the threshold of the twenty-first century. A central theme underlying several contributions was, therefore, the dilemma confronting the countries of Latin America: on the one hand, the desire to utilize the resources of their tropical regions to improve the living standard of their citizens; on the other, a growing concern with the ecological fragility of such regions, and the realization of the urgent need to find sustainable alternatives to the prevalent models of destructive so-called economic development, which is only too often at the service of special interests. Because some aspects of environmental degradation have the potential to affect remote corners of the earth, and because the explosive growth of global, satellitebased TV coverage has stimulated worldwide interest in a "green" Earth, such preoccupations now transcend political boundaries.
Issues highlighted by the agenda of the symposium included the following: ¹ the fragility of tropical ecosystems, both humid and arid or semi-arid; ² changes wrought in the natural environment of the neotropics by human activities; ³ multiple interactions and complementarity between tropical and other regions; and 4 technological, cultural, and land tenure strategies in greater harmony with nature than those promoted by prevalent models and hence more favourable to the sustained development of tropical regions.
Some questions that surfaced during the meeting, such as the palaeoclimatic history of Amazonia, or the size and antiquity of precontact Amerindian populations, remain controversial, and it was not the editors' purpose to generate a unified point of view on any issue. The authors alone are responsible for the opinions set forth in their contributions. That said, it must be pointed out that during the period between the symposium and the publication of this volume, the papers selected for publication have gone through extensive review and revisions.
The chapters are classified into four groups. Environmental problems are discussed for Peruvian and Brazilian Amazonia, North-East Brazil, and the entire tropical Latin American region. From an ecological point of view, these regions span an enormous variety. Similarly, the myriad of subjects makes generalized conclusions difficult. The disciplines represented include meteorology, physical and human geography, plant ecology, anthropology, archaeology, and economics. Such a variety of viewpoints may help facilitate solutions to local, regional, and global environmental problems. Each chapter discusses problems unique to the tropics of Latin America.
Gilberto C. GallopÍn and Manuel Winograd outline the results of a modelling exercise containing two basic scenarios for the ecological prospects of Latin America, one based on the continuation of present trends, and another for achievement of ecological sustainability. They conclude that, based on the application of present technological and management options, it would be possible to reach sustainability for the entire region in the coming fifty years, assuming major changes in development and land use policies. However, the actual recent trends in the region give less reason for optimism.
Emilio F. Moran, emphasizing the diversity of Amazonian ecosystems, recognizes and describes the extreme environments in the region, differentiating between the oligotrophic black-water river basins and the anthropogenic forests with nutrient-rich soils. The goal is not simply to describe them, but also to move from characterization to understanding how such areas might be managed to balance the conservation and production concerns. He suggests that agricultural development should largely be confined to the latter in order to maximize benefits and to minimize harm to the environment and biological diversity.
Betty J. Meggers issues a warning on the delicacy and vulnerability of the tropical rain forest, based on archaeological evidence utilizing specialized methods of ceramic analysis. Her analysis suggests that surviving unacculturated groups preserve a way of life already established by the beginning of the Christian era, that this represents a sustainable adaptation under normal conditions, that ethnohistorical accounts exaggerate preColumbian population densities, and that several episodes of climatic fluctuation during the past two millennia seriously disrupted populations in many parts of the lowlands.
Minoru Tanaka, Akio Tsuchiya, and Toshie Nishizawa clarify the cause of low rainfall from the standpoint of tropospheric circulation. The variability of rainfall is also correlated with the sea surface temperature of the tropical Atlantic Ocean. Moreover, the differences of interannual fluctuation of rainfall between southern and northern North-East Brazil are discussed. The details of regional characteristics of rainfall are important to an understanding of the recurrent droughts and floods that contribute to the poverty cycle of the semiarid interior.
Hilgard O'Reilly Sternberg, after reviewing aspects of the aquatic and wetlands ecosystems of Amazonia, examines changes in the Amazon Basin discharge due to deforestation and the consequential influences on floodplain land use and wetland fauna. He suggests that it is reasonable to believe that the opening of Amazonia will affect the regimen of the trunk stream, but that, given the great number of variables involved, it is impossible to predict when human-induced changes will become manifest. The future remains elusive as the range of uncertainties, influenced, for instance by political and economic decisions, increases. In addition, Amazonian floodplains will be affected by a number of other factors, such as global warming and associated sealevel rise, contributing to the uncertainties.
Roberto M.C. Motta discusses the rationale for the establishment in 1967 of the Free Trade Zone of Manaus as a growth pole, and focuses on the problems of origin and recruitment of entrepreneurs and the role of state bureaucracies. The zone epitomizes some of the characteristics of Latin American economic development, including the alliance of an entrepreneurial elite, often of foreign extraction, supported by tax incentives and protective trade barriers, and a large state bureaucracy able to share in the profits of economic growth and to assert their social and political supremacy. Yet, according to Motta, the ecological and demographic peculiarities of the Amazon region seem to preclude a self-sustained process of development independent of state-supported incentives.
Mario Hiraoka studies the floodland management practices of riverine inhabitants of the Peruvian Amazon, known collectively as ribereños. The biological productivity of the floodlands is undeniable, but his findings suggest that the key to understanding the dense and permanent occupation of these areas should be sought in aboriginal resource management techniques. The ribereño production and management practices are based largely on the aboriginal patterns.
Christine Padoch and Wil de Jong describe five agroforestry systems found in the vicinity of Iquitos in north-eastern Peru. Although all begin as shifting cultivation fields, they differ greatly in species composition and richness, in intensity and length of management, in economic orientation, and in adaptation to particular ecological conditions. Their information shows that the basic traditional swiddenfallow agroforestry practices are adaptable to varying environmental and economic situations, including market access.
Miguel Pinedo-Vasquez, Daniel Zarin, and Peter Jipp outline the diverse and complex indigenous systems of forest management in a ribereño community in the lowland Peruvian Amazon. In the detailed case study, they examine the conditions for sustainable use of the forest resources in the communal monte alto areas.
Moving the focus to north-eastern Brazil, Eiji Matsumoto shows that the white sand soils are also associated with podzolic and latozoic redyellow soils in the coastal region. Sandy soil is one of the most infertile tropical soils and is distributed throughout the humid coastal North-East and Amazonia. Thus, it is very important to know the characteristics, formation, and geographical distribution of this white sand soil type. Matsumoto concludes that the soil on the tabuleiros, the low uplands of the North-East, have suffered severe modifications, especially in the development of white sand soil formations through a long, continuous deforestation process.
Ichiroku Hayashi contrasts the nitrogen content from tree leaves of the North-East with those found in Amazonian caatinga, finding those of the North-East to contain three times as much nitrogen as those in Amazonia. Caatinga is a unique vegetation that has adapted to the poor soil and cycles of drought and floods. Hayashi shows that caatinga soils contain 0.01-0.14 per cent nitrogen and 0.39-1.65 per cent carbon. The nitrogen content is very low compared with welldeveloped soils in the temperate forests. Finally, Hayashi stresses the importance of soil preservation for sustainable production of caatinga trees.
Toshie Nishizawa, Akio Tsuchiya, and Maria Magdalena Vieira Pinto estimate the response rates to water storage and water deficits, and the magnitude of tolerance of water deficits, for seventeen different caatinga tree species. As a consequence of the transformation of agricultural land-use patterns, the original caatinga has been deforested and a secondary growth of vegetation has resulted. The need for a holistic development approach benefiting both the North-East and Amazonia is demonstrated by the case of charcoal production in North-East Brazil.
Finally, Isao Saito and Noritaka Yagasaki present results from detailed field data on the changes in agriculture due to reservoir and river irrigation projects. Major problems related to irrigation are plant diseases and soil salinization. Solutions to these problems point to the necessity of an effective crop rotation system and processes to remove accumulated salt. Although their observations clearly suggest that irrigation farming has largely modified the traditional landscape and land use, they emphasize the need for continued observation of the process of change in the semi-arid interior.
The problems related to Amazonia and North-East Brazil should be approached individually as well as in a complementary fashion in order to benefit both regions. The complementary relationships of geographical characteristics of the regions are important to the reso lution of environmental problems. Moreover, perceptions and assessments of the future trends in global and/or continental scale environments are required.
The need for scientific research that strikes a balance between nature, socio-economic and political factors, and technology is demonstrated by the variety of issues raised in the present volume. Emphasis must be placed on the necessity of fieldwork for primary data gathering. Harmony between nature and human activities must be achieved in order to develop sustainable management for the fragile tropics.
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domain: biology


text: Beef StewBy Ginny's TeamFrench Dip BeefBy Ginny's TeamMeet the easiest, most comforting meal you’ll make all winter: French dip beef. You only need a gallon zip top bag and two simple ingredients—yes, only two! Just combine four pounds of beef chuck roast and two cans of beef consommé soup in the gallon bag, and then let it sit in the freezer for up to three months. When you’re feeling like a delicious, savory home cooked meal but don’t want to put it any effort, simply take out the freezer bag, dump the contents into a slow cooker, and let the appliance work its magic! This French dip beef practically falls apart on the plate, and is just the right amount of tender and creamy.Slow Cooker FajitasBy Ginny's TeamHaving weeknight slow cooker fajitas has never been easier with this recipe that makes it easy to just have the right ingredients on hand! All you need are two one gallon freezer bags and a handful of easy to find ingredients, like beef round steak, diced tomatoes, onion, pepper, and spices. Combine it all together and then let it sit in the freezer for up to three months. When you’re feeling like a delicious, savory home cooked meal but don’t want to put it any effort, simply take out the freezer bag, dump the contents into a slow cooker, and let the appliance work its magic! Slow cooker fajitas are a great way to feed a crowd, and an even better way to add a little spice to an otherwise boring weeknight.Taco MeatBy Ginny's TeamOn the nights when no one can agree what they want for dinner, everyone will be able to settle on tacos; but of course, you’re going to need taco meat first! That’s why we love this freezer recipe, which lets us always keep some taco meat on hand and cuts our mealtime prep down on those busy weeknights. You only need two ingredients, ground beef and taco seasoning, and three one gallon freezer safe bags. After you cook the ground beef and taco seasoning per the directions on the package, simply divide the ingredients between the three bags and let freeze for up to three months. When you’re feeling like a delicious home cooked meal but don’t want to put it any effort, simply take out the freezer bag, dump the contents into a slow cooker, and let the appliance work its magic! And don’t forget the other taco essentials beyond the taco meat: shredded cheese, lettuce, salsa, and sour cream. Enjoy!Shepherd’s PieBy Ginny's TeamNothing says "comfort food" like shepherd's pie! With hearty ingredients like ground beef, peas and carrots, gravy, and mashed potatoes, you can't go wrong with this delicious main dish on a blustery spring day. This recipe is full of tweaks that can be made based on your personal preference. Like a thinner crust on your shepherd's pie? Use fewer mashed potatoes to decrease the thickness. Have some fresh parsley from the garden? Feel free to throw it on the finished meal! A Dutch oven will ensure that your shepherd's pie heats evenly and quickly, taking the worry out of cooking so you can simply enjoy your hearty meal.Corned Beef HashBy Ginny's TeamIf you're trying to use up leftovers from St. Patrick's Day, look no further than corned beef hash! It's an easy way to empty your freezer, fridge, and icebox of all your Patty Day essentials. Fried potatoes are a great way to transform the standard mashed potatoes of the holiday, while sautéing onion and bell pepper adds a healthy and delicious twist. We love the hearty and handy combination of cabbage and corned beef. It tastes great, and it gives new life to what would otherwise be boring leftovers! Corned beef hash is the perfect big breakfast to serve on the weekend; try it on the Friday or Saturday after St. Patrick's Day when everyone is in a mood to relax. Corned Beef Hash upgrade: For a twist on the typical plate of Corned Beef Hash, scramble the eggs instead of frying. Then, roll it all up in a tortilla for an easy to eat, festive option.Slow Cooker Corned Beef and CabbageBy Ginny's TeamA St. Patrick's Day feast doesn't have to be labor-intensive or time-consuming; try slow cooker corned beef and cabbage for a hands-off twist on a St. Patrick's Day classic! Simply place the beef brisket and the potatoes in the slow cooker and let the the slow cooker work its magic. Because the meat will have time to stew in its own juices, it will be extra moist and tender when you're ready to serve! Another helpful hint? Use aluminum foil pieces crumbled around the brisket to keep the potatoes from getting greasy. This slow cooker corned beef and cabbage will let you focus on other dishes as you prepare the main course!Oven Porcupine PizzaBy Ginny's TeamThis porcupine pizza isn't your average pizza- and that's one of the reasons we love it so much! Instead of using basic, store-bought toppings like sausage or pepperoni, porcupine pizza toppings are homemade meatballs topped with tomato and Worcestershire sauce. Recipe Submitted by Elizabeth T. of Fort Worth, TX.Beef Barley SoupBy Ginny's TeamWouldn't a hot bowl of Beef Barley Soup be perfect for a cold winter night at home? Some nights, it's nice to just cuddle in with a blanket and an easily made bowl of soup - and even some homemade bread! Beef Barley Soup is great because it can easily be adjusted with different vegetables. Wouldn't some corn or potatoes be wonderful? What else would you add? Recipe Submitted by J. Johnson from California.Taco SeasoningBy Ginny's TeamHomemade taco seasoning is one of the easiest homemade spice combinations to make, and it can add a big pop of flavor to otherwise boring tacos! Raid your spice drawer for essentials like chili powder, salt, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, and more, and get ready to stir all your dry ingredients together. Homemade taco seasoning is easily customizable; just add a favorite spice or subtract one that you don't love so much. When you're done mixing all the spices together, simply brown some ground beef and mix in the seasoning. Delicious!

domain: food