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Swales, bioretention planters, and rain gardens are all types of landscaping features with and engineering element, that are designed to manage stormwater runoff and improve water quality. However, they are different in their design and purpose.
A swale is a shallow depression in the landscape that is designed to channel and temporarily store stormwater runoff. It is usually wide and shallow, with gently sloping sides. Swales are often used to slow down the flow of water and reduce erosion, and they can also help to recharge groundwater. They are typically located in low-lying areas where water naturally collects, such as alongside roads or in drainage areas.
One of the key characteristics of a swale is its shape. Swales are typically designed as gentle, sloping channels that allow water to flow slowly and infiltrate into the ground. The slope of the swale may vary depending on the site’s conditions and the amount of water expected to flow through it.
Another important characteristic of a swale is its vegetation. Swales are typically planted with a variety of native species, including grasses, shrubs, and trees. These plants help to slow down the flow of water and absorb nutrients and pollutants, which helps to improve water quality. The vegetation in a swale can also provide habitat for wildlife and enhance the aesthetic value of the landscape.
In terms of construction, swales are typically designed as open systems that allow water to infiltrate into the ground. However, some swales may be designed as closed systems, which involve the use of a drainage layer to collect and transport runoff away from the site. Closed swales are typically used in areas with limited space or where there is a risk of flooding.
The soil mix used in a swale also is important. It should be well-draining and permeable, with a high infiltration rate and also be able to retain moisture without becoming waterlogged. Swales are typically lined with a layer of sand or gravel, which helps to improve infiltration and drainage.
A bioretention planter is a type of landscape feature that combines the functions of a planter and a bioretention area. They can be constructed as a raised planter box or container but also as a shallow depression in the ground filled with soil, compost, and plants that is designed to capture and treat stormwater runoff. They can be used to filter pollutants from the runoff and they also help to reduce runoff volume and peak flows.
One of the key characteristics of a bioretention planter is its location. Like a rain garden, a bioretention planter is typically located in a low-lying area where runoff from impervious surfaces can naturally collect, or it may be located near downspouts or other sources of runoff. Bioretention planters may also be used in urban areas where space is limited, as they can be constructed on rooftops, sidewalks, or other areas where there is no available ground space.
Another important characteristic of bioretention planters is their design. They typically include a variety of layers that help to capture, treat, and infiltrate stormwater runoff. These layers may include a gravel layer for drainage, a sand layer for filtration, a soil layer for plant growth, and an organic layer for nutrient removal.
The vegetation used in a bioretention planter is also important. Like rain gardens, the plants used in a bioretention planter are typically native species that are well adapted to local growing conditions. However, because bioretention planters are typically constructed in raised planter boxes or containers, the plants used may be different from those used in a rain garden. For example, plants with deeper root systems may be used in bioretention planters to help enhance infiltration and drainage.
In terms of construction, bioretention planters are typically designed as open systems, which means that water is allowed to infiltrate the ground below. However, as with rain gardens, a closed system may be used in some cases, which involves the use of a drainage layer to collect and transport runoff away from the site.
The soil mix used in a bioretention planter is also similar to that used in a rain garden. It should be well-draining and permeable, and it should be able to retain moisture without becoming waterlogged. The soil mix in a bioretention planter may also include perlite or vermiculite to improve drainage and aeration.
A rain garden is a shallow depression in the landscape that is designed to collect and temporarily store stormwater runoff from impervious surfaces, such as rooftops, driveways, and parking lots. The main purpose of a rain garden is to reduce the volume and velocity of stormwater runoff, as well as to filter out pollutants and nutrients from the runoff.
Like bioretention planters, rain gardens are filled with a mixture of soil and plants. However, rain gardens are typically larger than bioretention planters and they are often used to manage runoff from large impervious surfaces, such as parking lots and roofs.
One of the key characteristics of a rain garden is its location. Rain gardens are typically located in low-lying areas where runoff from impervious surfaces naturally collects, or they may be strategically placed to capture runoff from downspouts or other sources. The shape of a rain garden is typically a shallow depression with slightly raised edges, which allows water to pool and infiltrate into the ground slowly.
Another important characteristic of a rain garden is its vegetation. The plants used in a rain garden are typically native species that are well adapted to local growing conditions, and they are chosen for their ability to withstand both periods of drought and heavy rainfall. The vegetation in a rain garden not only helps to slow down runoff and enhance infiltration, but also provides important ecological benefits, such as habitat for birds and insects.
In terms of construction, a rain garden is typically designed as an open system, which means that water is allowed to infiltrate the ground below. However, in some cases, a closed system may be used, which involves the use of a drainage layer to collect and transport runoff away from the site. The choice of open or closed system will depend on a variety of factors, such as soil conditions, site hydrology, and project goals.
The soil mix used in a rain garden should be well-draining and permeable, and it should be able to retain moisture without becoming waterlogged. In addition to compost, sand, and topsoil, perlite or vermiculite may also be added to improve drainage and aeration.
Here’s a table that summarises some of the typical features of swales, bioretention planters, and rain gardens:
|Feature||Swale||Bioretention Planter||Rain Garden|
|Shape||Shallow depression with gently sloping sides||Shallow basin||Shallow depression with slightly raised edges|
|Purpose||Slow down and temporarily store stormwater runoff||Filter pollutants from runoff||Filter pollutants from runoff and reduce runoff volume|
|Size||Can be large and spread out over a large area||Typically smaller than rain gardens||Typically larger than bioretention planters|
|Material||Typically grass or gravel with native vegetation on sides||Soil, compost, and plants||Soil, compost, and plants|
|Runoff type||Used to manage runoff from small to large areas||Used to manage runoff from smaller areas||Used to manage runoff from large impervious surfaces|
|Drainage||Open; water infiltrates the ground below||Open or closed; can be designed with a drainage layer to collect and take water away, or it can be designed to allow water to penetrate the ground below||Open or closed; can be designed with a drainage layer to collect and take water away, or it can be designed to allow water to penetrate the ground below|
|Drainage layer (if closed system)||N/A||Typically 200-300 mm of gravel or crushed stone, covered with a permeable geotextile fabric||Typically 200-300 mm of gravel or crushed stone, covered with a permeable geotextile fabric|
In closed system bioretention planters and rain gardens, a permeable geotextile fabric is typically placed on top of the drainage layer (gravel or crushed stone) to separate the drainage layer from the soil and compost mixture. The permeable geotextile fabric allows water to flow through it and into the drainage layer, but prevents soil from clogging the drainage layer. The permeable geotextile fabric is typically made of a material that is specifically designed to allow water to pass through while still providing structural stability and protection against clogging.
The soil mix used in bioretention planters and rain gardens typically contains a mixture of compost, sand, and topsoil, with the exact proportions depending on local conditions and design specifications. Here are some general requirements for the soil mix used in these types of systems:
- Compost: A high-quality compost that is rich in organic matter is typically used as a growing medium in bioretention planters and rain gardens. It helps to improve soil structure, retain moisture, and provide essential nutrients for plant growth.
- Sand: Sand is typically used in the soil mix to improve drainage and help prevent soil compaction. A coarse sand with a particle size of 2-3 mm is often used, as it allows water to flow freely through the soil mixture.
- Topsoil: Topsoil is typically used to provide a suitable growing medium for plants and to help improve soil structure. It is important to choose a topsoil that is well-draining, as plants in bioretention planters and rain gardens need to be able to access adequate amounts of oxygen in the soil.
In addition to compost, sand, and topsoil, grit is another commonly used material in these types of systems. Grit, which is made up of small, sharp fragments of crushed rock, is added to the soil mix to improve drainage and prevent soil compaction.
The use of grit is particularly important in areas with heavy clay soils, which can become compacted and limit the movement of water and air through the soil. Grit helps to create spaces between soil particles, allowing water to move more freely and ensuring that plant roots have access to oxygen and other essential nutrients.
However, it is important to choose the right type of grit for your bioretention planter or rain garden. The grit should be clean, free of contaminants, and have a particle size of around 1-2 mm. Grit that is too fine or too large can impede drainage or make it difficult for plants to establish roots.
In general, the soil mix used in bioretention planters and rain gardens should have good permeability and should be able to retain moisture without becoming waterlogged. The pH of the soil mix should also be suitable for the types of plants that will be grown in the system, as different plants have different soil pH requirements.
It’s important to note that these are general guidelines, and the specific soil type requirements for bioretention planters and rain gardens can vary depending on local conditions and design specifications. For example, in some cases, an engineered soil mix may be required to meet specific performance criteria, such as enhanced nutrient and pollutant removal or to provide better growth conditions for certain types of plants. In these cases, the soil mix may need to be custom-made to meet specific project requirements.

domain: geography


text:
Artist Leopoldo Plentz Takes Trash to Another Level with 'Useless Things'
Leopoldo Plentz's mission was to force the viewer to rethink what is considered useless, essential, beautiful, and ordinary.
Implications - "I try to explore tiny findings: remains of torn, destroyed, deformed wrappings found on the street," Leopoldo Plentz says of his 'Useless Things' series. "Choosing these wrappings is totally intuitive, just seeing and picking them up, without second thoughts, otherwise reason would take over and they would be left behind." Well, aren't we lucky Plentz trusts his gut?Stats for City Litter Portraits Trending: Older & Chilly
Traction: 4,024 clicks in 254 w
Interest: 4 minutes Concept: Leopoldo Plentz
Related: 44 examples / 34 photos
Segment: Neutral, 18-35 Comparison Set: 16 similar articles, including: garbage art, top 50 pieces of garbage recycled into art , and garbage-filled furniture.

domain: artistic


text:
The Netflix adaptation of Leigh Bardugo’s book, Shadow and Bone, has been out for a couple of weeks now, and if you have already binged the written stories and TV series you may need to fill the Darkling-sized hole in your life with some YA books similar to the Grishaverse. This list of dark, emotional, magical, and action-filled fantasy series will get you through until the next season is announced.
Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor
The dream chooses the dreamer, not the other way around—and Lazlo Strange, war orphan, and junior librarian has always feared that his dream chose poorly. Since he was five years old he’s been obsessed with the mythic lost city of Weep, but it would take someone bolder than he to cross half the world in search of it. Then a stunning opportunity presents itself, in the person of a hero called the Godslayer and a band of legendary warriors, and he has to seize his chance or lose his dream forever.
What happened in Weep two hundred years ago to cut it off from the rest of the world? What exactly did the Godslayer slay that went by the name of god? And what is the mysterious problem he now seeks help in solving?
The answers await in Weep, but so do more mysteries—including the blue-skinned goddess who appears in Lazlo’s dreams. How did he dream her before he knew she existed? And if all the gods are dead, why does she seem so real?
The Cruel Prince by Holly Black
Of course, I want to be like them. They’re beautiful as blades forged in some divine fire. They will live forever.
And Cardan is even more beautiful than the rest. I hate him more than all the others. I hate him so much that sometimes when I look at him, I can hardly breathe.
Jude was seven when her parents were murdered, and she and her two sisters were stolen away to live in the treacherous High Court of Faerie. Ten years later, Jude wants nothing more than to belong there, despite her mortality. But many of the fey despise humans—especially Prince Cardan, the youngest and wickedest son of the High King.
To win a place at the Court, she must defy him–and face the consequences.
As Jude becomes more deeply embroiled in palace intrigues and deceptions, she discovers her own trickery and bloodshed capacity. But as betrayal threatens to drown the Courts of Faerie in violence, Jude will need to risk her life in a dangerous alliance to save her sisters and Faerie itself.
Truthwitch by Susan Dennard
In a continent on the edge of war, two witches hold its fate in their hands.
Young witches Safiya and Iseult have a habit of finding trouble. After clashing with a powerful Guildmaster and his ruthless Bloodwitch bodyguard, the friends are forced to flee their home.
Safi must avoid capture at all costs as she's a rare Truthwitch, able to discern truth from lies. Many would kill for her magic, so Safi must keep it hidden - lest she be used in the struggle between empires. And Iseult's true powers are hidden even from herself.
In a chance encounter at Court, Safi meets Prince Merik and makes him a reluctant ally. However, his help may not slow down the Bloodwitch now hot on the girls' heels. All Safi and Iseult want is their freedom, but danger lies ahead. With war coming, treaties breaking, and a magical contagion sweeping the land, the friends will have to fight emperors and mercenaries alike, for some will stop at nothing to get their hands on a Truthwitch.
Through the White Wood by Jessica Leake
Katya’s power to freeze anything she touches has made her an outcast in her isolated village. And when she loses control of her ability, accidentally killing several villagers, she is banished to the terrifying Prince Sasha's palace in Kiev.
At the castle, though, she is surprised to find that Sasha is just like her—with his own strange talent, the ability to summon fire. Instead of punishment, Sasha offers Katya friendship and the chance to embrace her power rather than fear it.
But outside the walls of Kiev, Sasha’s enemies have organized their own army of people who can control the very earth. Bent on taking over the entire world, they won’t stop until they’ve destroyed everything.
Katya and Sasha are desperate to stop the encroaching army, and together their powers are a fearsome weapon. But as their enemies draw nearer, leaving destruction in their wake, will fire and frost be enough to save the world? Or will they lose everything they hold dear?
The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi
No one believes in them. But soon, no one will forget them.
It's 1889. The city is on the cusp of industry and power, and the Exposition Universelle has breathed new life into the streets and dredged up ancient secrets. Here, no one keeps tabs on dark truths better than treasure-hunter and wealthy hotelier Séverin Montagnet-Alarie. When the elite, ever-powerful Order of Babel coerces him to help them on a mission, Séverin is offered a treasure he never imagined: his true inheritance.
To hunt down the ancient artifact the Order seeks, Séverin calls upon a band of unlikely experts: An engineer with a debt to pay. A historian banished from his home. A dancer with a sinister past. And a brother in arms if not blood.
Together, they will join Séverin as he explores the dark, glittering heart of Paris. What they find might change the course of history--but only if they can stay alive.
The Crown's Game by Evelyn Skye
Vika Andreyeva can summon the snow and turn ash into gold. Nikolai Karimov can see through walls and conjure bridges out of thin air. They are enchanters—the only two in Russia—and with the Ottoman Empire and the Kazakhs threatening, the Tsar needs a powerful enchanter by his side.
And so he initiates the Crown’s Game, an ancient duel of magical skill—the greatest test an enchanter will ever know. The victor becomes the Imperial Enchanter and the tsar’s most respected adviser. The defeated is sentenced to death.
Raised on tiny Ovchinin Island her whole life, Vika is eager for the chance to show off her talent in the grand capital of Saint Petersburg. But can she kill another enchanter—even when his magic calls to her like nothing else ever has?
For Nikolai, an orphan, the Crown’s Game is the chance of a lifetime. But his deadly opponent is a force to be reckoned with—beautiful, whip-smart, imaginative—and he can’t stop thinking about her.
And when Pasha, Nikolai’s best friend, and heir to the throne, also starts to fall for the mysterious enchantress, Nikolai must defeat the girl they both love…or be killed himself.
As long-buried secrets emerge, threatening the empire's future, it becomes dangerously clear—the Crown’s Game is not one to lose.

domain: library


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|Corky came here on loan as a younger player,
Dyche said. Back then, they changed at the ground, got in a car and came down here to train on the old area which was under water from October through to the following March.
|It's going to be inching forwards, not massive strides,
says Dyche. That's how it should be for a team like us.

domain: news


George Lucas reveals Star Wars plan
- Bang Showbiz
- 14 June 2018
George Lucas has revealed his planned final three 'Star Wars' movies and admitted many fans would have "hated" them
George Lucas has revealed what he'd planned to do with his third 'Star Wars' trilogy.
The director had planned to make Episodes VII to IX before he sold LucasFilm to Disney in 2012, and he's now divulged what he had in mind for the movies - and though they told a "whole story", he thinks a lot of fans would have "hated" them.
In an interview published in the companion book to 'Avatar' filmmaker James Cameron's new 'Story of Science Fiction' TV series, he said: "[The next three Star Wars films] were going to get into the microbiotic world. But there's this world of creatures that operate differently than we do.
"I call them the Whills. And the Whills are the ones that actually control the universe. They feed off the Force.
"If I'd held onto the company I could have done it, and then it would have been done. Of course, a lot of the fans would have hated it, just like they did 'Phantom Menace' and everything, but at least the whole story from beginning to end would be told."
Mark Hamill, who portrays Luke Skywalker in the franchise, previously teased Lucas' previously-unheard ideas, admitting they differed from the recent movies that have been seen on screen, 'The Force Awakens' and 'The Last Jedi', and explaining how the director for each - including 2019's as-yet untitled ninth movie - just works on their installment ready for it to be picked up by someone else on the next.
He said: "George had an overall arc - if he didn't have all the details, he had sort of an overall feel for where the [sequel trilogy was] going - but this one's more like a relay race.
"You run and hand the torch off to the next guy, he picks it up and goes.
"Rian [Johnson] didn't write what happens in 9 - he was going to hand it off to, originally, Colin Trevorrow and now J.J. [Abrams]. It's an ever-evolving, living, breathing thing. Whoever's on board gets to play with the life-size action figures that we all are."


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LONDON: Big brands including Nokia, O2 and Land Rover are taking an increasingly integrated approach to managing their social media activity in the UK.
Nokia's communications and PR departments initially took responsibility for this area, when marketers were still gaining an understanding of an untested medium.
"It was there to promote key messages, almost like press releases, so it was a very one-way message in a very corporate tone of voice," Ash Choudhury, Nokia's head, digital marketing, UK and Ireland, told Marketing Week.
While Nokia now employs a team solely for this field, alongside a community manager, a collective ethos defines the overall model.
"The opportunity to have feedback and comment and encourage people into conversation led to a realisation that the space is not owned by PR or marketing or customer relations - it is a combined effort," said Choudhury.
Internet dating platform Match has pursued a similar strategy, and Katie Sheppard, the company's head of marketing, suggested this holistic view was essential to successfully exploiting Web 2.0 properties.
"Brands won't make it work with a singular approach because it's one of the few routes to customers that touches almost every aspect of the business, including PR, customer service, online acquisition and brand," she said.
"For this reason our social media is supported by a core group from across the business to ensure full visibility across the organisation."
"Day-to-day it's run by PR and online and offline marketing, supported by specialist agencies."
Auto marque Land Rover equally believes joined-up thinking is vital as the number of tasks undertaken in the social sector grows, and is developing its current set-up, centred around the firm's PR and marketing units.
"The big problem you have … is that many areas of the business are talking in the social media space - so you have product, design, IT, HR - but there needs to be something that pulls it all together," said Mark Beamont, Land Rover's marketing communications manager.
"There is a move to bring together an editorial board so we have control over what is being put out there."
Mobile network O2 was an early adopter of numerous social media tools, from blogging to Facebook and Twitter, and is thus at a relatively advanced stage regarding refining structures and strategies.
"The last 12 months has been a continuation and acceleration of this investment," said Alex Pearmain, O2's head, social media.
"O2 has a dedicated social media team, but our focus is on true integration, and to have a truly cross-functional approach, involving all aspects of the business.
"One milestone has been the creation of a real-time response team within the social media team, to engage minute-by-minute with people."
For retailer Asda, expert professionals retain the primary role in implementing schemes on this evolving channel, although their efforts are then supplemented by input from elsewhere.
"We look at social media as a conversation with customers and therefore it needs editorial control to ensure you get the balance right," said Dominic Burch, head of corporate communications, Asda.
"We still feel the best people in the business to manage that are the communicators. We don't think of ourselves in PR as being a media relations function.
"That doesn't mean social media can't open up access points to lots of other parts of the business."
Data sourced from Marketing Week; additional content by Warc staff


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Oral Beraprost Sodium, a Prostaglandin I2 Analogue, for Intermittent Claudication
A Double-Blind, Randomized, Multicenter Controlled Trial
Background—Beraprost sodium (BPS) is a new stable, orally active prostaglandin I2 analogue with antiplatelet and vasodilating properties. We report the results of a phase III clinical trial of BPS in patients with intermittent claudication.
Methods and Results—Patients (n=549) with a pain-free walking distance of between 50 and 300 m were entered into a 4-week single-blind placebo run-in phase. Patients whose pain-free walking distance had changed by <25% were then randomized to receive either BPS (40 μg TID, n=209) or placebo (n=213) in a double-blind manner for 6 months. Pain-free and maximum walking distances were measured on the occasion of treadmill exercise tests performed at baseline and 1.5, 3, 4.5, and 6 months after randomization. Success was defined as an improvement of >50% in pain-free walking distance at month 6 and in ≥1 earlier treadmill exercise test in the absence of critical cardiovascular events. Success was observed more frequently in the BPS group (43.5%) than in the placebo group (33.3%, P=0.036). Pain-free walking distances increased by 81.5% and 52.5%, respectively, in the BPS and placebo groups (P=0.001) and maximum walking distances by 60.1% and 35.0%, respectively (P=0.004). The incidence of critical cardiovascular events was 4.8% in the BPS group and 8.9% in the placebo group.
Conclusions—These results show that BPS is an effective symptomatic treatment of patients with intermittent claudication. The beneficial effects of BPS on critical cardiovascular events should be confirmed in appropriate clinical trials.
Intermittent claudication is a common presentation of lower-limb arterial disease, with a prevalence of 1% to 7% in men 50 to 75 years old.1 2 Medical therapy for patients with intermittent claudication has 2 goals: improvement of symptoms and prevention of cardiovascular events. Many agents, including vasodilators, have been tried for the relief of symptoms, although their effectiveness is still subject to debate. The antiplatelet and vasodilating properties of epoprostenol (prostaglandin [PG] I2) make it a theoretically interesting agent in the treatment of peripheral vascular disease.3 Although promising results were reported for its use in the treatment of intermittent claudication,4 its very short half-life and high chemical instability precluded its use as a therapeutic agent and led to the development of more stable synthetic analogues. Iloprost, to date the most extensively studied of these analogues, has been shown to provide pain relief and to accelerate ulcer healing in patients with stage III or IV critical leg ischemia5 and has been licensed in some countries for the treatment of thromboangiitis obliterans. The need for an intravenous infusion of iloprost, although acceptable for the treatment of critical ischemia, makes it unacceptable for the long-term treatment of intermittent claudication.
Beraprost sodium (BPS) is a new stable, orally active PGI2 analogue with antiplatelet and vasodilating properties.6 7 8 It has linear kinetic characteristics at doses ranging from 20 to 60 μg TID, with a half-life for the active isomer of ≈0.6 hours after repeated doses in healthy volunteers.7 We assessed the effects of BPS on walking distances in patients with intermittent claudication in the Beraprost et Claudication Intermittente (BERCI) dose-effect study.9 In this 12-week study, BPS increased the pain-free walking distance, compared with placebo, at doses of 20 and 40 μg TID but not at 60 μg. Because 40 μg TID appeared to offer the best combination of both the antiplatelet and the symptomatic effects of BPS, this dose regimen was chosen for the phase III trial that we report in this article. This trial (BERCI-2) was designed to demonstrate the 6-month efficacy of BPS on walking distances and cardiovascular events in patients with intermittent claudication.
BERCI-2 was a randomized, double-blind, multicenter, placebo-controlled trial conducted in France and Italy. After a 4-week single-blind placebo run-in phase, eligible patients were randomly assigned through a computer network (Minitel) to receive placebo or BPS 40 μg TID for 6 months in a double-blind manner. Randomization was stratified by clinical center in blocks of 2 treatments. The study was conducted in accordance with good clinical practices, the current version of the Declaration of Helsinki, and local regulations. The protocol was approved by an ethical committee, and patients were required to give informed written consent before being included.
The main study outcome was success, defined as an improvement of >50% in the treadmill exercise pain-free walking distance compared with that at baseline (day of randomization, D0), at the 6-month test, and in ≥1 of the earlier tests in the absence of critical cardiovascular events.
Critical cardiovascular events were defined as death of cardiovascular origin (fully confirmed or sudden death), myocardial infarction, unstable angina, coronary angioplasty, coronary artery bypass graft surgery, stroke, transient ischemic attack, critical leg ischemia (ischemia with trophic signs necessitating urgent medical or surgical measures to avoid amputation), subacute critical ischemia (continuous rest pain for ≥2 weeks requiring analgesics), peripheral angioplasty, peripheral bypass graft surgery, and amputation at any level.
Changes in pain-free and maximum walking distances, subjective walking distance, and the incidence of critical events were secondary outcomes. In addition, changes in ankle-brachial indices (ABIs) were analyzed, although they were not considered a secondary outcome by the protocol.
Quality of life was assessed as a tertiary outcome by use of the Quality of Life Subjective Profile questionnaire,10 which includes 17 items exploring functional, relational, and interior life and evaluates the patient’s satisfaction related to changes in each item. This was completed at baseline and month 6.
Clinical examination data and vital signs were recorded at D0 and months 1.5, 3, and 6. Treadmill exercise tests were performed at entry into the run-in phase (D −28), at inclusion (D0), and 1.5, 3, 4.5, and 6 months after randomization (at D0). Pain-free and maximum walking distances and ABIs before and immediately after exercise were measured on these occasions. Treadmill exercise tests were performed at 3 km/h and 10% gradient by the same operator and at the same time of the day for a given patient throughout the trial. In the absence of onset of claudication, the test was stopped after 24 minutes (1200 m). Critical cardiovascular events were looked for during the 6-month period after randomization even in patients who had withdrawn from the study prematurely. Every potential critical cardiovascular event was fully documented and evaluated blindly by 3 experienced cardiologists. Standard biological analyses were performed at D0 and month 6. Patients performed a subjective assessment of treatment usefulness at 6 months. The patients completed the quality-of-life questionnaires in the absence of the investigator and mailed them directly to the coordinating center.
Male or female patients 35 to 75 years old with intermittent claudication due to noninflammatory arterial disease of the lower limbs of >6 months’ duration who had been fully investigated by arteriography or Doppler scan and were stable during the previous 3 months were considered for inclusion. Those for whom invasive interventions were not indicated, with a pain-free walking distance of 50 to 300 m at the D −28 treadmill exercise test; who had no ischemic rest pain, ulceration, or gangrene; and who were not on antiplatelet therapy were eligible for entry into the run-in phase of the study. Patients were required to have no other disease that affected walking or was likely to interfere with follow-up, no history of myocardial infarction or stroke in the previous 3 months, no unstable or severe angina pectoris, and no insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Patients were given appropriate dietary recommendations and were counseled to stop smoking.
At the end of the placebo run-in phase (D0), patients were eligible for randomization only if their pain-free walking distance had changed by <25% between the 2 run-in treadmill exercise tests performed at D −28 and D0. Finally, anticoagulants and vasodilators were not allowed during the trial.
Assuming a 50% success rate in the BPS group and 35% in the placebo group, with α=5% (1-sided) and β=10%, the sample size required was 368. We decided to evaluate 400 patients.
All randomized patients who had taken ≥1 tablet of the study treatment were considered for analysis. Although the sample size was calculated with a 1-sided approach, all the tests performed were 2-sided. Except where specified, results are given as mean±SD.
The 2 treatment groups were compared for the proportion of responders by Fisher’s exact test. The incidence of the first cardiovascular critical event was analyzed by the log-rank test.
Because walking distances and their change from baseline at any measurement time were not distributed normally, they were analyzed as log-transformed values [log (value/baseline), where log=natural logarithm]. Consequently, the results are presented as geometric means. For the sake of clarity, however, walking distances at baseline are described as mean±SD. Because transformed values were not normally distributed either, they were analyzed with Wilcoxon’s test.
Because a number of patients did not complete the trial for different reasons, missing values were estimated by use of the conservative rule of last observation carried forward.
The limits of the CIs for the percentage of change from baseline were obtained by the inverse transformation of the limits of the CI calculated on the transformed data.
Satisfaction related to changes in quality of life was subjected to a principal-component analysis. The first factor of this analysis was linear combination of satisfaction related to changes in the 17 items of the questionnaire and was used as an evaluation of the global satisfaction related to changes in quality of life. The 2 groups were compared for global satisfaction related to changes in quality of life by Student’s t test. Satisfaction related to change in each item was analyzed by Wilcoxon’s rank sum test.
Between November 1993 and September 1995, 549 patients were entered into the 4-week single-blind run-in phase (Figure 1⇓). Of these, 424 patients were randomized to receive either BPS or placebo in the double-blind 6-month active treatment phase. The main reason for nonrandomization was a change in pain-free walking distance of >25% during the run-in phase (83 patients). Other reasons for noninclusion were biological abnormality (10 patients), withdrawal of consent (10 patients), an aggravation of symptoms (5 patients), and the occurrence of an adverse event (6 patients). In addition, 2 randomized patients withdrew before receiving the study drug, leaving 422 patients for analysis. The remaining treatment groups were well balanced, with 209 in the BPS group and 213 in the placebo group. Patients were mainly men, with a mean age of 62±9 years, and few of them had a history of myocardial infarction, stroke, or angina pectoris (Table 1⇓). At entry into the double-blind period, the BPS and placebo groups were similar, especially with regard to the duration of intermittent claudication, previous treatments, walking distances, and ABIs. There were significant differences only with regard to the number of patients following lifestyle modification prescriptions (57.9% in the BPS group versus 47.4% in the placebo group, P=0.032), the number of patients with presence of the left popliteal or anterior tibial pulse (higher in the BPS group, P<0.004), and the level of physical activity (higher in the BPS group, P=0.030).
The mean duration of intermittent claudication at entry into the run-in phase of the study was 5 years 8 months, ranging from 5 months to 28 years. As shown in Table 1⇑, a majority of patients had had previous medical treatment (73.7%) and/or surgical treatment (27.0%) for peripheral arterial disease.
The most frequent concomitant medications at inclusion were antihypertensive and antianginal drugs (45.9%; calcium channel blockers, ACE inhibitors, nitrates, or α-adrenergic receptor–blocking agents), lipid-lowering drugs (32.7%), oral antidiabetics (15.6%), and diuretics (14.5%).
Of the 422 patients who received study medication in the double-blind phase of the study, a total of 74 patients (17.5%) discontinued treatment prematurely (Figure 1⇑). The main reason for withdrawal was an “adverse event,” which included both nonserious and serious adverse events and critical cardiovascular events (Table 2⇓). Six of the patients who had prematurely discontinued study treatment nevertheless subsequently performed the month 6 treadmill exercise test.
A total of 162 patients were reported to be responders with regard to the main study outcome: success, defined as an improvement of >50% in pain-free walking distance at the 6-month and ≥1 earlier treadmill exercise test, in the absence of critical cardiovascular events. There was a significant difference between the treatment groups, the BPS group having a larger number of responders, 91 (43.5%), than the placebo group, 71 (33.3%), P=0.036.
Throughout the 6-month treatment period, the BPS group showed longer mean pain-free walking distances and mean absolute walking distances than the placebo group (Figure 2⇓). There was a significant increase in the percentage change in pain-free walking distance at 6 months for patients in the BPS group compared with the placebo group (geometric mean increase, 81.5% for the BPS group and 52.5% for the placebo group, P=0.001). Figure 3a⇓ compares the change from baseline pain-free walking distance between the 2 groups. Likewise, the percentage change in absolute walking distance was significantly different in favor of the BPS group, as shown in Figure 3b⇓, with a geometric mean increase of 60.1% for the BPS group and 35.0% for the placebo group (P=0.004). The difference between the BPS and the placebo groups was 36 m for the increase in pain-free walking distance and 70 m for the increase in absolute walking distance at 6 months compared with baseline.
An improvement of >50% in pain-free walking distance at the 6-month treadmill exercise test was achieved in 56.5% of patients in the BPS group and in 42.2% in the placebo group (P=0.0047).
ABI measured before treadmill exercise remained stable in both groups. There was no difference between the 2 groups in the loss in ABI during the treadmill exercise test. No difference between the groups was found regarding compliance with lifestyle modification prescriptions and tobacco consumption.
When results at month 6 for pain-free and maximum walking distances were analyzed with adjustment for a set of background variables, which included smoking, hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia, no interaction was found.
Incidence of Critical Cardiovascular Events
Critical cardiovascular events were assessed at 6 months in all patients but 2, 1 of whom had already presented with a critical event during follow-up. Nearly twice as many patients reported critical cardiovascular events in the placebo group (19 of 213, 8.9%) as in the BPS group (10 of 209, 4.8%), although this difference was not statistically significant (P=0.092). The most common critical cardiovascular event in both treatment groups was arterial thrombosis of the leg (BPS, 8 events; placebo, 14 events).
Changes in Quality of Life
There was a marginally significant difference in favor of the BPS group for global satisfaction related to changes in quality of life (P=0.049). There were significant differences in favor of the BPS group for satisfaction related to changes regarding the items “going out” (P=0.017), “general condition” (P=0.046), “relationships with people” (P=0.034), and “concerns about health” (P=0.025). In addition, the treatment was deemed useful at 6 months by 92% of patients in the BPS group and 83% of patients in the placebo group (P=0.023).
No patient receiving BPS died, whereas 2 patients receiving placebo died suddenly. Adverse events (including critical cardiovascular events) considered by the investigators to be drug-related were observed in 35 patients (16.7%) in the BPS group and in 15 patients (7.0%) in the placebo group. In patients receiving BPS, the most common drug-related adverse events were headache (n=13) and vasodilatation (n=11), compared with headache (n=4) and arterial thrombosis of the leg (n=3) in the placebo group. Forty-nine patients experienced serious or nonserious adverse events (including cardiovascular critical events) that led to the permanent discontinuation of the study drug, 31 in the placebo group and 18 in the BPS group. There were no differences between the groups at any time regarding blood pressure and heart rate or in the standard biological analyses performed at D0 and month 6.
The BERCI-2 study showed that BPS, 40 μg TID, over a period of 6 months increases both the pain-free and the maximum walking distances, with respect to placebo, in patients with intermittent claudication. Treatment success, defined as an increase in pain-free walking distance of >50% at month 6 and ≥1 other treadmill exercise test with no critical event during follow-up, was significantly more frequent (by 30.6%) in the BPS group than in the placebo group. Successes were due to the conjunction of higher increases in pain-free walking distance and a lower risk of critical event in the BPS group, which is clinically meaningful. It was necessary to treat only 10 patients to gain 1 success.
Two reviews of trials of drug treatment of intermittent claudication have detected methodological failures in many of these trials.11 12 The design of the present trial responded to the criticisms of the former studies. Notwithstanding the quality of the design, missing treadmill exercise values may have impaired the final quality of the results. Because it was impossible to avoid having missing exercise test values in a 6-month trial, we decided to replace the missing values in a conservative way (see Methods section) so that the analysis could be performed according to the intention-to-treat principle. In addition, the only patient lost to follow-up with no known critical event was in the placebo group. This patient was counted as having had no critical event during follow-up, and it can therefore be considered that the assessment of critical events was done under the “maximum-bias hypothesis.”
Large increases in walking distances, both pain-free and maximum, were observed in the placebo group. This is a common feature of most of the trials that used treadmill exercise tests to assess intermittent claudication and can be explained by the effects of exercise itself or habituation to the treadmill test.13 14 A regression-to-the-mean phenomenon cannot be excluded either, although it should have been partly avoided by excluding from randomization patients with great changes in pain-free walking distance during the run-in part of the study.15 The mean differences between the BPS and placebo groups for the increases in pain-free (36 m) and in absolute (70 m) walking distances were in the range of what was observed in clinical trials of pentoxifylline and cilostazol.16 17 18
In a meta-analysis of 12 study arms from 11 trials, the difference between the pentoxifylline and placebo groups was 29 m for the increase in pain-free walking distance and 48 m for the increase in absolute walking distance.16 In a 12-week pilot study, the difference between cilostazol and placebo was 39 m and 106 m for the increases in pain-free and absolute walking distances, respectively.17 Compared with BERCI-2, the patients in this study had shorter baseline pain-free (78 m) and absolute (169 m) walking distances, but the treadmill exercise was performed at a 12.5% gradient instead of 10%. In addition, there was an unexpected decrease in walking distances at week 12 in the placebo group. In another 16-week study of cilostazol, the difference between the active and placebo groups was 28 m for the increase in pain-free walking distance and 62 m for the increase in absolute walking distance.18 In this latter study, however, a variable-grade, constant-speed treadmill exercise protocol was used, which makes the results difficult to compare with those of BERCI-2.
The absence of any effect of the treatment on the ABI before treadmill exercise and on the loss in this index during exercise could be anticipated from the results of the BERCI dose-effect study9 and are in accordance with the results of most clinical trials in intermittent claudication.11 19 20 In 1 study of cilostazol, however, the increase in walking distance was accompanied by a small but significant increase in the ABI compared with placebo.18
BPS had no significant effect on blood pressure and heart rate. This posed, once more, the problem of the mechanism of action of BPS in particular and prostanoids in general in the treatment of intermittent claudication. The trend toward fewer critical cardiovascular events observed in the BPS group suggests that BPS might exert antithrombotic effects in the clinical setting. The sample size and the duration of the trial were not, however, planned to allow the detection of an effect of the treatment on critical events with enough power.
The results of the quality-of-life assessment show that patients felt better on BPS than on placebo, the improvement in walking distance being paralleled by an improvement in relational and interior life. It is not surprising that no significant improvement in individual functional items was shown, because our patients suffered no major impact of their illness on everyday activities.
Among prostanoids, prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) was recently evaluated in intermittent claudication.21 22 23 The largest published study21 evaluated 213 patients with a maximum walking distance of 50 to 200 m at treadmill exercise. PGE1 was infused 5 days a week for 4 weeks. After 4 weeks, pain-free walking distances increased by 101% in the PGE1 group, compared with 60% in the placebo group, a relative increase comparable to that observed at 6 months in BERCI-2. In a smaller placebo-controlled study, a PGE1 prodrug induced short-term, dose-related increases in both pain-free and maximal walking distances.22 In a small, uncontrolled study,23 a 7-day infusion of PGE1 increased resting calf and skin blood flows compared with baseline but left the ABI unchanged. It seems, therefore, that oral BPS and intravenous PGE1 have comparable effects on walking distances. The oral route is a great advantage of BPS in intermittent claudication, a condition for which long-term treatment is necessary.
Although the exact mechanism of action of BPS remains to be elucidated, the present study shows that its ability to increase both pain-free and maximum walking distances makes it an effective drug in the treatment of intermittent claudication. Although not significant and observed in patients who did not receive the usual antiplatelet therapy, the 46% decrease in cardiovascular events observed in the BPS group is an interesting result, which should be confirmed in an appropriate clinical trial.
Coordinating Center: S. Azoulay, S. Morand. Data Handling Center: J.P. Boissel, C. Fernandez, M. Lievre, C. Mercier, I. Njem. Data Handling Center: Service de Pharmacologie Clinique, Lyon, France. Steering Committee: S. Azoulay, J.P. Boissel, J.N. Fiessinger, J.P. Girre, and M. Lievre.
Investigators: In France: Drs Leseche (Clichy), Azorin, Minveille (Bobigny), Barroussel (Annemasse), Dany (Limoges), Dumeril (Lyon), Eisenman (Strasbourg), Gallot-Lavallée (Saint Etienne), Hamel-Desnos (Caen), Hachulla (Lille), Page (Grenoble), Henry (Essey les Nancy), Janbon (Montpellier), Malgrange (Reims), Ponsonnaille (Clermont Ferrand), Sandreau (Lorient), Schmidt (Nancy), Testart, Pasquis (Rouen), Chabanier (Bayonne), Bizé (Cambo les Bains), Boutboul (Marseille), Breton, Breda (Béziers), Frédéric (Tours), Clerson (Wattrelos), Copere, Polverelli (Roanne), Cozic, Ferry (Nantes), El Sawy (St Martin d’Hères), Feuillette (Vallet), Fieux, Dufour (Paris), Gorlier (La Seyne/Mer), Dagorn (Toulon), Grégoire (Tallard), Tafani (Gap), Huin, Peyretou (Cenon), De la Chevasnerie (Perigny), Lafont, Alessandrini (Marseille), Lejay (Vieux Conde), Dalle (Conde/Escaut), Merijen, Diss (Mallemort), Ferrière, Musso (Eaunes), Speiser (Muret), Pradeau (Limoges), Carne (Noth), De Sainte Lorette, Dyan (Paris), Sicard (St Romain/Cher), Lefèvre (St Aignan/Cher), Villarroya, Deleporte (Wattrelos), Hardy (Argenteuil), Attia (Clichy), Guingal, Cordon, Kayanakis (Bayonne), Longhi (Pau), Sollier (Argeles/Mer), Lapeyre (Albi), Constans, Mouysset (Agen), Garrigues (Saint Orens), Dandine (Montauban), Olivier (Rouen), Elbèze (St Laurent du Var), Degeilh (Toulouse). In Italy: Profs Dipperri (Siena), Agrifoglio (Milan), Belcaro (Pescara), Catalano (Milan), Cernigliaro (Novara), Pedone (Forli), Pessina (Padova), Fogari (Pavia).
This trial was financed by an unrestricted grant from Laboratories Hoechst Houde (France). We would like to thank Alison Foote for her editorial assistance in the preparation of the manuscript.
This trial was financed by an unrestricted grant from Laboratories Hoechst Houde (France). Drs Lievre and Boissel received an institutional grant from Laboratories Hoechst Houde for data management and analysis of the BERCI-2 study. In addition, they are members of the steering committee of the DIABHYCAR study, for which their institution has received a grant from Laboratories Hoechst Houde. Drs Morand and Besse are employees of Laboratories Hoechst Houde.
- Received December 15, 1999.
- Revision received January 18, 2000.
- Accepted February 21, 2000.
- Copyright © 2000 by American Heart Association
Fowkes FGR, Housley E, Cawood EHH, et al. Edinburgh Artery Study. prevalence of asymptomatic and symptomatic peripheral arterial disease in the general population. Int J Epidemiol. 1991;20:384–391.
Kato R, Uji Y, Matsumoto K. Phase I study of beraprost sodium (TRK-100), an epoprostenol derivative: repeated oral administration for 10 days. Jpn J Clin Pharmacol Ther. 1989;20:529–539.
Radaack K, Wyderski RJ. Conservative management of intermittent claudication. Ann Intern Med. 1990;113:135–146.
Dahllöf AG, Holm J, Scherstén T, et al. Peripheral arterial insufficiency: effects of physical training on walking tolerance, calf blood flow, and blood flow resistance. Scand J Rehab Med. 1976;8:19–26.
Hiatt WR, Regensteiner JG, Hargarten ME, et al. Benefit of exercise conditioning for patients with peripheral arterial disease. Circulation. 1990;81:602–609.
Davis CE. The effect of regression to the mean in epidemiologic and clinical studies. Am J Epidemiol. 1976;104:493–498.
Hood SC, Moher D, Barber GG. Management of intermittent claudication with pentoxifylline: meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Can Med Assoc J. 1996;155:1053–1059.
Dawson DL, Cutler BS, Meissner MH, et al. Cilostazol has beneficial effects in treatment of intermittent claudication. Circulation. 1998;98:678–686.
Coffmann JD, Mannick JA. Failure of vasodilator drugs in arteriosclerosis obliterans. Ann Intern Med. 1972;76:35–39.
Bagger JP, Helligsoe P, Randsbaek F, et al. Effect of verapamil in intermittent claudication: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over study after individual dose-response assessment. Circulation. 1997;95:411–414.
Belch JJF, Bell PRF, Creissen D, et al. Randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study evaluating the efficacy and safety of AS-013, a prostaglandin E1 prodrug, in patients with intermittent claudication. Circulation. 1997;95:2298–2302.

domain: literature


text:
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — If you can’t make it to Arrowhead Sunday, just bring the game to you. The senior executive chef of Aramark for the Chiefs, Erin Wishon, stopped by the morning show to share new playoff recipes.
Mac Shack Mac & Cheese
Yield: 12 portions Active Time: 20 Minutes Total Time: 20 Minutes
Your favorite cheese 2 cups
Milk, Whole 1 cup
Boursin Cheese 2 Tablespoons
Parmesan Cheese, Grated ¼ cup
Pasta – Any 2 pounds
1. Combine cheese and milk – melt over low heat.
2. Stir in Boursin and Parmesan until thoroughly mixed.
3. Hold warm and toss with warm pasta.
Savory Gruyere Bread Pudding
Yield: 4 portions Active Time: 30 Minutes Total Time: 45 Minutes
Texas Toast 1 loaf
Heavy Cream 1 cup
Egg, Whole 1 ea
Basil 1 Tablespoon
Rosemary 1 teaspoon
Chives 2 Tablespoons
Gruyere, Shaved ½ cup
Parmesan, Shaved ¼ cup
Salt & Pepper To Taste
Butter ¼ cup
1. Remove crust from bread and dice into large cubes.
2. Whisk together egg, heavy cream, and finely chopped herbs.
3. Toss cream mixture with bread cubes to evenly coat.
4. Sprinkle cheeses into bread mixture and toss – careful not to break apart bread cubes.
5. Place in a greased loaf pan and bake at 350 for approximately 40 minutes, or until bread bounces back upon touch.
6. Allow bread to cool and then slice.
7. Sear slices with butter to lightly toast.
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domain: food


We love the Butler Tarkington neighborhood. The walking path along the canal is a great place to walk, run or ride your bike.
The Butler-Tarkington area encases Butler University just north of Downtown Indianapolis offering a small town college feel near the heart of a big city.
Consisting mainly of working-class and upper-middle-class households, much more upscale homes can be found along the western edge of Meridian Street and those parts of Illinois Street north of 40th. Butler-Tarkington is known for its stunning residential architecture. The neighborhood was named after nearby Butler University, which relocated here in 1928, and famous writer, Booth Tarkington.


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We decided to hit the wineries today on bicycles, but first we needed a home base from which to launch our attack on the Mendoza bodegas. We found a place called Tikaykilla, with an excellent host named Francisco and a perfect location nestled into the vineyards of the Maipu region just outside Mendoza. The bikes were there waiting for us and we pulled into the villa, parked the motos and headed out right away. We went to the beer garden before we got going on the wine so that we could have some lunch and get a good base in our stomachs to handle the massive amount of wine we were about to stuff into them. The beer was some of the best I have ever had and the empanadas were outstanding! There was even a puppy to play with and a couple of varieties of fresh plums on the trees in the garden to snack on for desert. The first winery on our tour was the biggest, Trapiche. The grounds were impressive and the wine even more so. We took the tour to start off and saw how the region got its start as the building had a ton of history. The first wine makers were housed there and they revolutionized the wine production industry in the region with automatic presses and a train track to haul the wine away. The bottling all takes place at the point of creation nowadays because of a crazy past where they would ship the wine all the way to BA and get charged by the bottle and the bottlers would dilute the wine to increase profits, with sometimes deadly results. The wine tasting was a blast because the jefe was gone and we got to sample some premium wines! She also just left us with the bottles and said we could have as much as we wanted! We loaded up and headed for our next stop, a small family run bodega called Di Tomasso. The wine there was excellent as well and we got to tour the inside of the old fermentation tanks and even had another light meal before heading back to the hotel. A great day was had by all and we woke up the next morning to a fresh cooked breakfast and blue skies. The sky soon took a turn for the worse though as towering cumulus began to build over the mountains. We met a road block on our way into the pass that turned us back to Mendoza due to rock slides that had covered the roads because of heavy rains. We decided to check out a local hot springs and wait for the road to be cleared, but we encountered strike two when we needed a reservation to get in. Instead of giving up we found a pool and lounged the day away in the sun. The water was refreshing and the pool was clean. We headed for the road block in the afternoon and found it open. With such a late start on the pass we decided to stop short and stay in Uspallata for the night at a nice camp in the trees. The night was quite stormy and when we woke up it was pouring rain and we were in a giant mud puddle. We managed to pack up only to find that the nights rains had caused 20, yes 20, more rocks slides covering the highway and blocking our route into Chile. We decided to turn back and head south for a different pass over the mountains. It was bitter sweet as we could see Aconcagua in the distance and we were
really looking forward to the Andes, but this way we got to see some more of Argentina. The countryside was full of hills and twists and we made our way to Malangue and found a campsite just in time to chef up some vegetable soup and get some groceries before it started to rain. We played some cards in the tent as it started to hail! The stones got up to quarter size! Safe and warm in the tents now we are falling asleep to dreams of crossing into Chile tomorrow, and sea bass leaping into our helmets once we reach the coast.


THE terminus station for the State Government’s $1.8 billion Forrestfield-Airport Link will be permanently renamed after more than three quarters of survey respondents opted for the station to be named High Wycombe to reflect its geographical location.
The new station is one of three under construction as part of the Forrestfield-Airport Link, which will also be officially rebadged the Airport Line when it becomes operational.
More than 3500 votes were cast in the community survey, in which City of Kalamunda residents and business operators were invited to choose between High Wycombe and Forrestfield for the station’s permanent name.
High Wycombe was the runaway winner, with 76.1 per cent opting to name the station after the suburb in which it is located.
WA Transport Minister Rita Saffioti said there was overwhelming local community support to change the name to High Wycombe Station.
“Asking members of the community to be part of the naming decision for both Redcliffe and High Wycombe stations allows those who will use the new Airport Line the opportunity to have their say before the line opens,” she said.
“It’s pleasing to see the progress on the new High Wycombe Station, which will be a jewel in the crown for the wider City of Kalamunda community and an important piece of infrastructure for decades to come.”
Federal Member for Swan Steve Irons said he was pleased the new name had been chosen by the local community.
“The station name of High Wycombe reflects the feedback from the community that I have had since 2017,” he said.
“Everyone I have heard from were overwhelming in support for naming the station High Wycombe, reflecting its geographical location.”
State Member for Forrestfield Stephen Price MLA said the name of the station had been topical since the commencement of the project.
“As a strong advocate for my community to be able to have their say I’m pleased that so many people took part in the community survey,” he said.
Construction has also started on High Wycombe Station’s 1200 bay multi-deck car park.
The Metronet project will connect Perth’s eastern suburbs to the CBD via Bayswater, with new stations at Redcliffe, Airport Central and High Wycombe.
Trains are expected to start running in late 2021.
Federal Minister for Population, Cities and Urban Infrastructure Alan Tudge said the new rail line will take cars off Perth roads and reduce congestion.


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A Long Way to Paradise
A New History of British Columbia Politics
The political landscape of British Columbia has been characterized by divisiveness since Confederation. But why and how did it become Canada’s most fractious province? A Long Way to Paradise traces the evolution of political ideas in the province from 1871 to 1972, exploring British Columbia’s journey to socio-political maturity. Robert McDonald explains its classic left-right divide as a product of “common sense” liberalism that also shaped how British Columbians met the demands and challenges of a modernizing world. This lively, richly detailed overview provides fresh insight into the fascinating story of provincial politics in Canada’s lotus land.
A new history of British Columbia richly blends political history with the not-so-new social history in the late Robert A.J. McDonald’s A Long Way to Paradise.- Gene Homel
...a masterful book that will undoubtedly be the definitive political history of British Columbia for years to come.- Forrest Pass
This book is one of the very best histories of Canadian provincial politics.- J. L. Granatstein, emeritus, York University


5G will create the biggest future cybersecurity threat according to Rik Ferguson, vice president of security research at Trend Micro.
The next generation of cellular technology is expected to revolutionise the way we communicate, with its increased bandwidth and lower latency expected to facilitate emerging technologies such as autonomous vehicles.
“5G is really the first time that you’re going to see the next industrial revolution that results directly from a new communications infrastructure,” said Ferguson, speaking at Cyber Security Nordic, an information security conference in Helsinki, Finland.
But for all the benefits it has been touted to bring, the proliferation of connected devices will cause headaches among security professionals in the “not too distant future”, he warned.
While autonomous digital weapons and deepfakes are “emotionally frightening”, these problems are much further down the line and will be at a much smaller scale compared to the threats that will arise in a hyperconnected 5G world, he said.
IPv6: Running out of room?
Previous generations of cellular technology have created fresh cybersecurity challenges. Faster mobile speeds – in combination with cheaper computing power – means more people are connected than ever. And more connections mean a greater attack surface for malicious hackers to target.
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5G will follow the same principle, said Ferguson – but on steroids. More connected devices also demands more internet protocol (IP) addresses – the framework that devices use to find and connect to each other online.
The current standard, IPv6, was introduced in 1998 after IPv4’s 4 billion addresses started to run out. By contrast, IPv6 offers a mind-boggling 340 undecillion addresses.
“If you want to be able to visualise that, with IPv6, there are enough root level addresses to be able to give an address to every atom on the surface of the planet, and still have enough left for two or three more planets,” explained Ferguson.
While it may seem impossible to have enough space on the planet to have more internet-connected devices than there are atoms in several planets, Ferguson pointed out that digital services and entities in the future will need addresses.
These will take up no physical space, but gradually eat into the available IP addresses under IPv6.
“I’d say it’s a racing certainty, and we’ll be faced with the same problem again in the future,” said Ferguson.
So, what’s the security risk?
As has been demonstrated by the slow adoption of IPv6, running it alongside IPv4 in a misconfigured manner could nullify the security of each protocol. If a new protocol is needed, slow adoption could
IPv6 also offered security benefits, such as end-to-end encryption, over the previous standard.
However, the threat landscape does not remain still. Malware has emerged that targets IPv6, and cybercriminals will likely adapt in the event of new protocols.
The answers to this challenge are not yet clear, but one that will have to be tackled if 5G continues to breed more connected devices.
Streetlamp DDoS attacks
Cybersecurity professionals already face a tough challenge of maintaining oversight over all the devices on their network. That problem will get exponentially more difficult in a 5G world.
“You have to work out a way to get visibility of all of that stuff. And to make that stuff manageable when it probably wasn’t designed to be manageable in the first place. You can’t go and install an agent on all of those things,” says Ferguson.
“Because there’s no way to install it, you might be looking at a bunch of legacy technology that you have to be able to manage and have oversight and enforce policy. And all of that will be increasing in volume exponentially as more things become connected in this 5G enabled world.”
Ferguson gives the example of connected streetlamps, which are already being used today (such as in Hong Kong, where protestors recently cut one down and destroyed the facial recognition hardware).
“Imagine your role as a network admin or security admin at some point in the very near future. And one of the things that is now part of your network are all of the streetlights. This is a whole new different thing that you’ve got to learn to deal with,” says Ferguson.
“Your threat model might say, okay, all of these streetlights have an IP address… So What does that mean? That means I’ve got 100,000 streetlamps in the city. That’s 100,000 IP addresses that I need to work out how to stop them being used and misused by somebody else in a distributed denial of service attack (DDoS).”
More data, more problems
But even if firewalls are put in place to prevent a DDoS attack, security admins will have to adapt to prevent the SIM cards in in the streetlights being hijacked to call 100,000 premium numbers.
“So if your threat model is stuck in the IP agent is still worrying about the things that apply to your other IP based devices, you need to take into account all of the other architectural changes that underlie this,” said Ferguson.
And more devices and users means more data – making companies much more enticing targets for criminals.
Ferguson doesn’t claim to have the answers to these looming 5G security problems. But his advice is that we will need security that can quickly adapt to “rapidly changing environments” and have correct policies and procedures in place to mitigate against new models with increasing machine to machine communications.
Cyber Security Nordic 2019 was organised by Messukeskus Helsinki Expo and Convention Centre, Finnfacts/Business Finland, in co-operation with F-Secure.


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The John Langan Band are a dynamic three piece offering a unique sound emerging from Celtic, Gypsy Swing, Roma and Flamenco influences, known for their high energy performances delivered with punk abandonment and virtuosic flare. Wrapping pan European traditional acoustic music with infectious grooves, epic, pounding, sing along, punch the air anthems with intricately arranged instrumentals. Challenging the limitations of what people might expect acoustic instruments to sound like, the use of bowed harmonics between fiddle and bass can be as menacing and eerie as it can be psychedelic and mesmerising. The front man Langan, whilst singing and driving the rhythm guitar, simultaneously co-ordinates the operating of a cajon and a tambourine with his feet bringing the swinging groove of the rhythm guitar together with his foot percussion resulting in an impressively tight band sound with a tempo that is free to go anywhere. Add scorching hot fiddle lines and a guy thumping the groove out a double bass and prepare to be taken on a wild ride!
Catch the band at one of their energetic live headlining shows or at a festival cranking up the masses into a frenzy, live dates can be found on their website www.thejohnlanganband.com
Song writer Adam Beattie, whose distinctive voice ties together an eclectic mix of ‘folk stews and dirty blues’, leads his band ‘The Consultants’. They perform varied, emotional shows, focused around Adam’s philosophical musings of the modern life of a Scotsman living in London. Their popular song ‘A song of One Hundred Years’ is a ballad written for Adam’s grandfather who lived to be one hundred. If you are lucky enough to catch Adam playing a gig soon you are in for a treat – keep up to date with his tour schedule and hear more of his enchanting tunes at www.adambeattie.com
London based singer songwriter Brooke Sharkey was raised in both France and England. At the age of 16 her musician father gave Brooke the best piece of advice, which was to go out on the street and start busking the first few songs she’d written. Since then Brooke has released two EP’s, her debut album ‘One Dress’ was released in December 2012. Her latest EP ‘I crossed the line’ was released in 2014 to critical acclaim. Brooke has lured a considerable audience with her intense and expressive style, drawing the listener into her ever more narrative songs with a spacious backdrop of chanson, blues, folk and Latin music. Her current band includes Adam Beattie on electric guitar and backing vocals, a singer songwriter in his own right who often shares the bill with Brooke. Brooke has a busy gigging schedule, where she can be found touring the UK and Europe regularly playing everything from intimate jazz clubs and handpicked venues to large festivals such as Glastonbury.
Hang Massive is a breakthrough act in the expanding world of hang based musicians. The Hang is a new instrument handmade in Switzerland since the year 2000. Only a small number of instruments have been made and for now they are very rare.
With almost 10 million views on YouTube, an amazing new live album and a lot of exiting new projects on the go, Hang Massive have established themselves as the worlds leading hang duo and promise to deliver many original and unique works in the future.
Danny Cudd and Markus Offbeat have been playing together as a duo since the summer of 2010 and since then have performed all over the world. They have gained recognition globally, captivating audiences with their unique and entertaining performances.
Hang Massive are now on a Global tour and performing at many interesting and varied venues and events. Their unique style of music and more recent fusion with electronic production has further set Hang Massive into a world and genre of their own. Hang Massive is also part of a new International music project ‘Massive Vibe Live‘ – produced by Candice O’Denver and Balanced View. Check out what the formidable hang playing duo are upto at their page www.hangmusic.com
Brickwood Records is a boutique label based in Oakland, California. Since 2012 they have focused on releasing quality electronic music. Their premier release ‘Complications’ features up and coming artists from North America and Europe and they represent a plethora of the West coast’s freshest beat makers. Their multi media parties showcase both their signed artists and a wealth of Bay area talent crossing over DJ’s, VJ’s and the cream of the East Bay’s live painters.
Head over to www.brickwoodrecords.bandcamp.com and www.soundcloud.com/brickwoodrecords for more of their music


Keep reading below to see an overview of our results.
Similar to the community, we also have a high interest in learning TypeScript and Elm, which some of our developers have dabbled with already. If you’ve encountered the Zalando 404 page, you would have noticed the Elm Street 404 game, put together in merely five days by one of our teams.
Frameworks and Libraries
When it comes to using frameworks and libraries, React is definitely our library of choice. 77.3% of survey respondents stated that they’ve used React and would use it again, with a further 18.2% interested in learning. All of our frontend teams looking after the Fashion Store work exclusively with React for their projects.
Our survey also shows that Angular 1 is officially dead at Zalando. Over 50% of respondents stated that they had used it before and wouldn’t use it again. With new frameworks and libraries like React and Angular 2 on the rise, this reaction was somewhat expected.
Future Gazing for Frontend
The purpose of this survey was to collect insight into what kind of technologies and frameworks our teams are using, ensuring transparency and sharing knowledge. We have the autonomy to choose, so it can be hard to track what teams are using and experimenting with.
What we can now do with these results is match people who have experience with a particular technology or framework to those who have questions. We can also start planning for activities in terms of trainings and further development for those interested in learning.
It’s fascinating to see what our engineers are working with in a fast developing area like frontend. We need to stay on top of the game and make smart decisions when it comes to choosing which frameworks and technologies we explore – we can only do that by sharing knowledge.
If you’re interested in more information from these results, come and find me on Twitter at @frontendherodk and let’s chat.


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The trick is to smoke the meat and not make the meat smoke
CHICKEN - THYME RAVIOLI
Date:Febraury 23, 2011 Viewing:Click on THUMBNAIL to bring up larger image with captions. There will also be controls for manual or self running slide show. Learn More:ClickHERE to jump to additional Info about this recipe.
Step one was to roast some garlic to be used as a paste on the chicken and in the filling for the ravioli
The sauce used the roasted garlic, fresh minced thyme, EVOO, chicken stock & kosher salt
The herb sauce is ready to be mixed
The herb sauce is mixed & ready to go out to the smoker
The chicken breasts get brushed with an herb paste made from the roasted garlic, olive oil & kosher salt
The herb paste is finished & is ready to be rubbed on the chicken
The boneless chicken breasts have been rubbed with the garlic paste, the temp probes are in & it is off to the smoker
The sauce & chickens are on the smoker along with some onions for a smoked onion soup
The chicken breasts have been taken to 165 degrees & they are done
The herb sauce has been taken off the smoker
The chicken breasts were cut into several chunks which were then shredded in a food processor
The stuffing used the chicken, ricotta & Pecorinno-Romano cheese, walnuts, chicken stock, thyme & kosher salt
The filling was ground up in the food processor
Two wonton wrappers were used. One received 2 tbsp. of filling & then both were brushed with water on the edges
The two wonton wrappers were joined, sealed & trimmed with a pastry trimmer
The 16 wonton raviolis were refrigerated briefly before cooking
The ravioli were cooked in boiling water for 3 minutes
The herb sauce was reheated while the ravioli was cooking
This was a great change of pace meal. The raviolis were topped with walnut & grated cheese & a garnish of thyme.
NOTE: USE LANDSCAPE MODE ON YOUR MOBILE DEVICE TO BEST VIEW THIS PAGE.
This was an interesting cook courtesy of Smoke & Spice that got me out of my normal comfort zone. Chicken breasts were smoked and ground up to become part of an cheese and herb filling. For the ravioli the recipe had you use wonton wrappers. There was and herb sauce that was served with the ravioli and I heated this up on the smoker as well. The raviolis were boiled for 3 minutes, drained and served with a garnish of thyme sprigs and topped off with Pecorino-Romano cheese and crushed walnuts. This was a very good dish with lots of subtle flavors and I liked stepping outside my comfort zone.


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Bee Watson is a paper florist. Make your own Hellebores, Magnolias or Anemones with a comprehensive kit and step by step guide.
WHAT'S THIS ALL ABOUT?
Paper flowers as art. This is flower making taken to a whole new level. For a start they actually look like the real thing. Choose a Hellebore stem, a branch of Magnolia, or maybe you prefer the languid beauty of a Japanese Anemone. You don’t have to be a gardener to see immediately that these are the real deal, created by a designer who is passionate about the natural word and really studies the flora around her. Every petal and every stamen has been lovingly poured over, and now you can make a statement flower of your own.
You don’t need a bunch. This is Ikebana. Just one flower says it all. This is about form. So stems away and bring the outside in, petal by petal.
TELL ME MORE
Bee Watson is a paper florist and isn’t that a good career move? What a lovely thing to be.
Your kit will include the paper, instructions, templates, wire, tape and step by step photo instruction booklet.
Make sure you have some really sharp scissors - these flowers are precise.
Please choose your kit in option
- Japanese Anemone
- Double Peony
- Sweet Pea
THE ALL IMPORTANT DETAILS
Shipping Nationwide included
You will need a glue gun, if you'd like the kit with a glue gun please go here>

domain: hobby


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WARNING: SPOIILERS AHEAD My take on the long-awaited return of my favourite television duo, the Gilmore Girls.
So ... I recently started writing for HerCampus in Durham and when asked what I wanted to write my first article on, I just knew, it had to be Gilmore Girls. Ever since it was announced that the show would be returning on Netflix I have barely been able to contain my excitement. Every casting announcement,… Continue reading 8 Life Lessons to Learn from Gilmore Girls
*SPOILER WARNING* In all honesty I started writing this post a few days ago simply because I felt like writing about a television series that is very close to my heart. I'd planned a nostalgic piece about a show long off the air and yet still unbelievably important to many fans. I feel its important… Continue reading Why I can’t stop watching Gilmore Girls


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Listen to your favorite songs from Ru Fus by Ru Fus Now. Stream ad-free with Amazon Music Unlimited on mobile, desktop, and tablet. Download our mobile app now. History. By , Rufus and lead front woman Chaka Khan had become one of the most popular bands in popular music.  With their successful mixing of funk, rock, soul and jazz and the powerful vocals of year-old Khan, the group had set themselves apart from similar groups such as The Isley Brothers and Earth, Wind & kenotihytosoundbicobicakingmul.coinfo the now, the group's billing had kenotihytosoundbicobicakingmul.coinfo: Funk, soul, R&B, disco. Jul 06, · Now, as middle age bears down and married life carries on, Wainwright returns to us with Unfollow The Rules. Unfollow The Rules Rufus Wainwright BMG, July 10 7/10 The album opens with “Trouble In Paradise,” a humorous look at the shifting tides of not just the world but perhaps of Rufus Wainwright himself.
Ask Rufus album for sale If you are a big fan of Rufus/Chaka Khan this is a must have. Its all remastered and sounds great. CDR: The Nazarene Silvertones of Barbados (now known as the Silvertones of Barbados),is a group of young, talented, dynamic and anointed ministers of the gospel of Jesus Christ, who have blessed and touched the hearts. Jul 09, · New album UNFOLLOW THE RULES out now! Rufus Wainwright Tour Dates June 26 - Bath @ Bath Forum June 27 - Llandudno @ Venue Cymru July 1 - Rudolstadt, Germany @ Rudolstadt Festival. Such solo activity meant that Chaka was absent from Rufus’ Party ‘Til You’re Broke set, but she was back again before the end of for their Camouflage album. Rufus ended their studio. The world works in mysterious ways. Despite not releasing a studio album since ’s Out of the Game, Rufus Wainwright has hardly been kenotihytosoundbicobicakingmul.coinfo involvement in writing and producing two pieces of operatic work, alongside reciting and performing Shakespeare Sonnet’s has kept Wainwright busy and in the public consciousness. Oct 20, · RUFUS DU SOL have been a favorite of mine for years now. Their new album SOLACE is the perfect reason why. They’ve been slowly unveiling the album singles at a time over the course of the past few months. Well yesterday the entire album finally dropped and it’s gorgeous. Jun 17, · In , he released an album of nine Shakespearean sonnets set to music. Although he wouldn’t share specifics, he said he’s also now working on a ballet project: “Rufus is going to the ballet very soon.” He said he left the pop world behind because he had grown bored of it and the industry, which consisted of repetitive album cycles.
Myself Esteem - Gemini Five - Babylon Rockets (CD, Album), A Whiter Shade Of Pale - Various - Golden Oldies Party (Vinyl, LP), Κατερίνα Κυρμιζή - Το Παιδί Με Την Κεραία (CD, Album), Bambole (#4) - Ennio Morricone - Cosa avete fatto a Solange? / Spasmo (CD, Album), Menuet - Haydn* - Buchberger Quartet* - String Quartets Op. 20 (CD), A Gershwin Fantasia


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SOUTH ELGIN, ILL. — Principle Construction has completed an expansion and renovation project totaling 78,000 square feet for food packaging manufacturer CV-Tek in South Elgin. Middleby Cos. owns the building, which now features 56,000 square feet of warehouse space and 22,000 square feet of office space. The project also included new electrical distribution system for computerized manufacturing equipment, enhanced lighting, new flooring and roof upgrades. Cornerstone Architects provided architectural services. Principle completed the project in 16 weeks.
Principle Construction Completes Expansion, Renovation of Warehouse for CV-Tek in South Elgin, Illinois

domain: economics


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Find Out MoreKeep a journal and track your progress. That’s the best way to move things forward with this program. Hypnosis is powerful and it’s used in the media to influence us, hypnotic commands are used by cults to brain wash people. Why not use something so powerful for good in our lives? My name […]
Archive for the ‘Hypnosis’ Category
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domain: psychology


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Genflow signs new collaborative research agreement with Organips
UK-based biotech Genflow has announced it has entered into a collaborative research agreement with Organips, a France-based biotechnology company founded by Professor Jean Marc Lemaitre, an innovator in cellular aging reversibility through induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) reprogramming strategies.
Longevity.Technology: The collaboration will initially research the potential of the Sirtuin-6 (SIRT6) gene variant found in centenarians in reversing the aging process in cells from patients with Werner Syndrome (WS), a rare disease characterised by premature aging.
Through the collaboration, Genflow and Organips will work on the generation of iPSC and will focus on pre-clinical exploratory research studies evaluating the potential of SIRT6 to reprogram WS liver organoids (artificial multi-cellular tissue) and make them young again as a prerequisite for future SIRT6 therapies.
The cellular reprogramming research will seek to demonstrate both the safety and efficacy of SIRT6 in reliable WS models, leveraging Organips’ significant expertise in taking old cells and rejuvenating them. Professor Jean Marc Lemaitre, who has published several papers on reprogramming cells, is a pioneer in this field, having already filed several patents.
This ties in with Genflow’s aims, as it is focused on longevity and the development of therapies to counteract the effects of aging and diseases associated with advanced age.
Dr Eric Leire, Founder and CEO of Genflow, said: “Genflow is very excited with this collaboration which gives the company the opportunity to work with a company under the scientific advisory of Professor Jean Marc Lemaitre, who has tremendous experience in reprograming cells.
“Through this collaboration, Genflow will work on reprogramming cells from patients with Werner Syndrome with the aim of taking the prematurely aged cells from Werner patients and making them young again. Reprograming is one of the most exciting research areas within the longevity field and is attracting significant investment, with prominent deals in the sector attracting investment capital of over $3bn last year.”
Disclosure: First Longevity Ltd which operates this website (Longevity.Technology) has a commercial interest in Genflow Biosciences Ltd.

domain: biology


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Funds are getting so much $$$ coming in that they are....
throwing in into small priced stocks, like this and EXEL, BDSI, ENZN and too many others to mention.
It's the only place for them to make $$$ If they can hit a few it makes their year.
So just spread some spec. $$ around like them.
IMHO, stay well all.


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Karen Clark & Company (KCC) has announced the release of a new update to its RiskInsight® open loss modeling platform, which will “make it easier for model builders to create high resolution probabilistic catastrophe models reflecting their own knowledge, expertise and views of risk.”
KCC, a risk modeling, analytics and consultancy firm, developed RiskInsight as “an open global platform for catastrophe risk assessment and management.”
With the release of an RI4 update for RiskInsight, KCC is providing users of the platform with “enhanced global mapping capabilities, more detailed and interactive underwriter and CEO dashboards, and significantly advanced model-building tools.”
“External stakeholders, such as rating agencies and regulators, now expect (re)insurers to take ownership of the risk and not just rely on third party model output,” commented Glen Daraskevich, KCC Senior Vice President. “RI4 is the most efficient platform for companies to fully understand, customize and control their catastrophe model assumptions. Only with the full transparency available in RiskInsight can companies truly verify the credibility of the information driving their loss estimates.”
The latest version of the platform will allow insurance, reinsurance and insurance-linked securities (ILS) firms to generate their own views of risk, by building hurricane and earthquake models for any region in the world, using custom event catalogs and damage functions which the user deems as appropriate for specific peril regions.
Increasingly having the ability to generate your own view of risk is a differentiation for the reinsurance and ILS market and risk modeling firms have been moving towards enabling firms to achieve this.
The update to RiskInsight will enable firms to develop and generate “high resolution probabilistic catastrophe models reflecting their own knowledge, expertise and views of risk,” KCC explained today.
“We’ve already started building catastrophe models on the RiskInsight open loss modeling platform, and RI4 promises to make that process even more efficient,” said Eric Letourneau, Senior Vice President at Australian headquartered insurer QBE Group. “A dynamic global company like QBE requires transparent models and the most advanced tools for our pricing and risk management decisions. It’s still the early stage, but RI4 RiskInsight could represent a significant innovation in the catastrophe modeling space.”
RI4 adds detailed global soil maps and terrain datasets covering the world. Risk modelers can now select scientific intensity formulas deemed most appropriate for a peril region from a dropdown box. This enables a customised and personal view of risk. RI4 includes dozens of earthquake attenuation functions allowing various views on ground motion for all types of seismic sources to be assessed.
An updated financial module has global application and is operational for all peril regions in RI4 as well. Using just an event catalog and set of damage functions a new risk model can be created. KCC says that experts will be able to build and customise new risk models in a matter of weeks with RI4.
The platform also makes it simpler for insurers to refine model damage functions using their own claims data and other information. This is important, in terms of developing and maintaining a personal view of risk as it allows model results to be more closely linked to actual loss experience.
“The catastrophe model damage functions are expressed as the ratio of the financial loss to a property divided by the replacement value of that property,” said Daraskevich. “But each insurer has different insurance-to-value assumptions, policy conditions, and claims handling practices. This means that the damage to a specific property will result in a different claim and loss amount depending on which insurer underwrites the property.”
The platform also features risk analytics that can help underwriters or ILS portfolio managers to better understand correlations within their portfolios, important when considering how new contracts fit within a portfolio or ILS fund.
“Underwriters can generate custom dashboards reports, including interactive maps of exposures and market shares, data quality scores, and dozens of histograms illustrating construction, occupancy, year built, and other metrics. The 100 year Characteristic Event (CE) profiles—unique to RiskInsight—are automatically displayed on the dashboard reports. These profiles enable underwriters to quickly see the correlations in their portfolios,” KCC explains.
Karen Clark, co-founder and CEO of the company, commented on the new release; “We’ve listened very carefully to our clients, and RI4 is designed for modeling experts who want full transparency on model assumptions and the flexibility to build sophisticated custom models efficiently and scientifically.
“We’re extremely pleased and excited to deliver such a powerful innovation and to be working with industry leaders who are ready to implement the new generation of open loss models and risk management tools.”
The shift to provide more flexibility to end-users of risk models, by enabling greater customisation and personalised views of risk to be created promises to enhance the analytics behind insurance and reinsurance underwriting, making decisions better informed.
This benefits both the traditional and alternative sides of reinsurance, with the portfolio based approach of ILS fund managers likely to benefit. As ILS funds and the ILS market grows, the ability to have a personalised view of the risks in the portfolio is likely to add to ILS fund managers ability to differentiate.
The ability to differentiate will bring opportunities to outperform, resulting in a greater choice for end-investors and likely an enhanced ability for managers to create portfolios of risk that perform and meet return expectations.
View all of our Artemis Live video interviews and subscribe to our podcast.
All of our Artemis Live insurance-linked securities (ILS), catastrophe bonds and reinsurance video content and video interviews can be accessed online.
Our Artemis Live podcast can be subscribed to using the typical podcast services providers, including Apple, Google, Spotify and more.


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WAIPOULI — Members of the Aloha! Visit Kaua‘i 2004 organization were on hand Tuesday to answer questions as well as announce the opening of their Web site designed to attract more visitors to Kaua‘i.
Billed as “Hawai‘i’s Island of Discovery,” the site invites visitors from a world marketplace to “a year-long jubilee celebrating Kaua‘i’s past, present, and future” by encouraging shared experiences between island residents and visitors.
This is done by creating monthly themes with existing and new events being used to reinforce the themes, the intent being to increase visitor arrivals, increase their stays, and encourage expenditures.
January is billed as the month of aloha, February is the month of romance, while March celebrates Ka Mele.
April celebrates healing and wellness with May centering on Nature’s treasures. June is the month of Family Exploration, July is the month of Heritage Past, and the waiwai theme in August celebrates Kaua‘i’s abundance of produce, flowers, and beauty of its land, sea, and air.
September is the month of Kauaian Arts, October celebrates festivals, with November being the month of Sharing, and the year ends with December highlighting the unique island’s Tropical Holidays.
Barbara Bennett of This Week magazine, who sits on the Board of the Kaua‘i Visitors Bureau, noted that Aloha! Visit Kaua‘i is the next step forward from this year’s Kauaian Days celebration which had an underlying theme of unifying the island in a common vision that was born from a model presented to the island by the Hindu monastery, and used by several countries including Australia as a marketing tool.
Bennett said the 2004 Aloha! Visit Kaua‘i program is designed to unify the community and the visitor industry while giving potential visitors a reason to select Kaua‘i as a destination while encouraging residents to explore their own “island of discovery.”
Kamika Smith of Smith’s Motorboats, in Wailua gave a presentation on the honu, or sea turtle, being selected as the unifying logo for the program. Smith said that he experienced the meaningful memories visitors took with them after being able to chat with him about his family, and employees of Smith’s Motorboats.
“Visitors give back, too,” Smith, another Kaua‘i Visitors Bureau Board member, said. “There is a mutual sharing when residents talk about their families, making the interaction between visitors and residents more heartfelt.”
“Kauaians can get more from visitors as well as make their stay here more meaningful,” Smith said.
Smith said that when something is done for the island, we need to do it for ourselves first.
Bennett agreed that in order for visitors to have a good Kaua‘i experience, attitude is important, and if we do things for ourselves, the visitors will feel good because we feel good.
As an example, Smith cited the recent example of derelict cars being waylaid along Kaua‘i’s roadways and how the media insinuated that we need to clean up the mess for the visitors’ sake – what about us?
Roger Jacobs encouraged everyone to visit the organization’s now-operational Web site at www.AlohaVisitKauai.com in order for them to provide feedback on any tweaking that might be needed to make the site more attractive and appealing.
Jacobs said that people planning events on the island could use the site to publicize their events, tying in with the themed year approach while noting that all organizers need to do is e-mail them the information.
Committee members of the Aloha! Visit Kaua‘i program include former mayor Maryanne Kusaka, Nalani Brun and Bernard Carvalho from the County of Kaua‘i, Smith, Edee Bandman of the Kaua‘i Visitors Bureau, West Side resident Joanne Watanabe, Bennett, Jacobs, Dandapaniswami of the Hindu monastery, Margy Parker of the Poipu Beach Resort Association and Marianne Martin.

domain: sociology