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In the dynamic landscape of global finance, access to accurate and up-to-date foreign exchange rates is crucial for businesses, investors, and developers alike. With the proliferation of free currency APIs (Application Programming Interfaces), obtaining real-time currency data has become more accessible than ever before. These APIs serve as invaluable tools for integrating currency exchange functionality into various applications, from e-commerce platforms to financial analysis tools. Let's delve into the latest trends surrounding free currency API and how they are revolutionizing access to foreign exchange rates.
The Rise of Free Currency APIs
Free currency APIs have witnessed a significant surge in popularity due to their cost-effectiveness and ease of integration. Traditionally, accessing reliable currency data required costly subscriptions or complex data aggregation processes. However, the emergence of free APIs has democratized this access, empowering businesses of all sizes to harness the power of foreign exchange data without financial barriers.
Real-Time Data Feeds
One of the most notable features of modern currency APIs is their ability to provide real-time exchange rates. This real-time data feed enables users to access the most accurate and up-to-date currency information, facilitating timely decision-making and reducing exposure to currency volatility. Whether it's monitoring exchange rates for international transactions or conducting currency risk analysis, real-time data feeds offer unparalleled insights into the ever-changing forex market.
Another trend in free currency APIs is the emphasis on customization and flexibility. Developers now have the freedom to tailor currency exchange functionalities according to their specific requirements. Whether it's integrating multi-currency support into a mobile app or automating currency conversion within an e-commerce platform, APIs offer a wide range of customization options to suit diverse use cases. This flexibility empowers developers to create seamless user experiences and streamline financial processes.
Enhanced Security Measures
In an era marked by heightened concerns over data security and privacy, free currency APIs are prioritizing enhanced security measures. From encryption protocols to strict authentication mechanisms, API providers are implementing robust security measures to safeguard sensitive financial data. These security enhancements not only instill trust among users but also ensure compliance with regulatory requirements such as GDPR and PCI DSS.
Advanced Analytics Capabilities
Beyond basic exchange rate data, modern currency APIs are equipped with advanced analytics capabilities that enable deeper insights into currency trends and market behavior. These analytics tools may include historical exchange rate charts, volatility indicators, and trend analysis algorithms. By harnessing these analytics capabilities, businesses can make informed decisions regarding currency exposure, hedging strategies, and investment opportunities.
Seamless Integration with Financial Platforms
Integration capabilities have become a key differentiator among free currency APIs. Today's APIs offer seamless integration with a wide range of financial platforms, including accounting software, trading platforms, and treasury management systems. This seamless integration streamlines workflows, eliminates manual data entry tasks, and enhances overall efficiency in managing currency-related processes.
Global Coverage and Multi-Currency Support
With the increasing globalization of markets, free currency APIs are expanding their coverage to include a wide range of currencies from across the globe. Whether it's major currencies like USD, EUR, and GBP or exotic currencies from emerging markets, APIs offer comprehensive coverage to meet diverse user needs. Furthermore, multi-currency support enables seamless conversion between different currency pairs, facilitating cross-border transactions and international business operations.
In conclusion, foreign exchange rates api are revolutionizing access to foreign exchange rates by providing real-time data feeds, customizable solutions, enhanced security measures, advanced analytics capabilities, seamless integration with financial platforms, and global coverage with multi-currency support. As businesses continue to navigate the complexities of the global economy, these APIs serve as indispensable tools for managing currency-related processes and making informed financial decisions. By staying abreast of the latest trends in free currency APIs, businesses can leverage these powerful tools to gain a competitive edge in today's interconnected marketplace.

domain: finance


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FOX 8 received this news release from the New Orleans's Mayor's Office Thursday evening:
Today, the City of New Orleans issued parking instructions and reminders in advance of the 7th Annual San Fermin in Nueva Orleans "The Running of the Bulls" parade scheduled for the Saturday, July 13, 2013. As many as 14,000 runners are anticipated to participate.
Beginning at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 13, runners will depart from 1021 Convention Center Blvd. and proceed on Convention Center Blvd to Poydras Street, turn left onto Poydras Street, continue on Poydras Street turning left onto Tchoupitoulas Street towards St. Joseph Street. Runners will turn left onto St. Joseph Street back to Convention Center Blvd. then turn right returning back to their original starting location and disbanding at 9:00 a.m.
Parking enforcement personnel will be monitoring for illegal parking, including blocking hydrants, driveways and sidewalks, or parking within 20 feet of a crosswalk, intersection or stop signs. Motorists are also reminded to park in the direction of travel on one-way streets, and with the right wheel to the curb on two-way streets.
In addition, RTA services, including bus service may be interrupted during these events. Details on route changes are available at www.norta.com.
Thursday, April 24 2014 5:41 AM EDT2014-04-24 09:41:16 GMT
Officials say a body has been found in the Dutch Bayou in St. John the Baptist Parish Wednesday afternoon.The St. John Coroner's Office has been called to the scene to collect the body that was found inmore>>
Officials said a body was found in a bayou in St. John the Baptist Parish on Wednesday. The victim's name was not released and the cause of death is unknown. more>>
Thursday, April 24 2014 9:49 AM EDT2014-04-24 13:49:46 GMT
According to WTVA, an Amber Alert has been issued for a missing Lowndes County toddler. Lowndes County Chief Deputy Marc Miley says they are searching for 2-year-old Malia Harris of Columbus. Officialsmore>>
Georgia officials believe suspects in the Mississippi Amber Alert case may be in southwest Georgia. Cook County, GA investigators have been actively searching the Lenox area for the suspects. Officials confirmed a heavy presence of law enforcement in that area Wednesday night.more>>
Wednesday, April 23 2014 5:26 PM EDT2014-04-23 21:26:16 GMT
A music teacher from Monroe accused of inappropriately touching two students was scheduled to make a court appearance Wednesday.Bruce Connery, 68, was set for an arraignment in Bridgeport.Police said themore>>
A music teacher from Monroe, who is accused of inappropriately touching two students, blamed his behavior on being Italian, according to court records.more>>

domain: news


Tag Archives: Ernie Els
Jonathan Wall of Yahoo! Sports’ Devil’s Ball Golf blog looks into the first day of the 2012 PGA Championship, and how things will probably play out for the next three days at Kiawah .
Ryan Ballangee of the Golf Channel looks back at the British Open and how Adam Scott choked to Ernie Els at the third day.
Peter Kostis of CBS Sports talks about how cruel the winds were during the British Open.
Devil Ball Golf’s Jay Busbee reviews the wild final day of the British Open with John Harris.
PGA Tour Golfer Jason Dufner talks about winning the Zurich Open.


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Dow and UPM partner to produce plastics made with renewable feedstock
Dow (NYSE: DOW), in partnership with UPM Biofuels, a producer of advanced biofuels, announces the commercialization of a plastics offering for the packaging industry made from a bio-based renewable feedstock. Dow is integrating wood-based UPM...
United Nations recognises UPM as one of the 36 Global Compact LEAD participants demonstrating world-class commitment to corporate responsibility
United Nations recognises UPM as one of the 36 Global Compact LEAD participants demonstrating world-class commitment to corporate responsibility (UPM, Helsinki, 23 September 2019 at 9:30 EET) — UPM will today be recognised as a Global Compact LEAD...
UPM Raflatac and UPM Biofuels join forces to create innovative new fossil-free labeling materials
UPM Raflatac and UPM Biofuels have joined forces to innovate for a future beyond fossils. As a concrete result of this collaboration, UPM Raflatac brings two wood-based renewable labeling materials into the market: UPM Raflatac Forest Film™ and UP...


This new city ordinance, known as the Fair Chance Ordinance, places restrictions on, and establishes procedures for, the use of criminal history information by employers, certain housing providers, and City contractors and subcontractors. This update looks at the restrictions placed on employers. The parts of the ordinance discussed below go into effect on August 13, 2014.
The restrictions apply to employers who are located or doing business in the City and employ 20 or more persons, regardless of location, including the owner or owners, and management and supervisorial employees. But the ordinance only applies to the workers in San Francisco, and to workers who only spend some time in San Francisco.
The ordinance also appears to apply outside of traditional employer-employee relationships. It defines “employment” to mean any occupation, vocation, job, or work, including but not limited to temporary or seasonal work, part-time work, contracted work, contingent work, work on commission, and work through the services of a temporary or other employment agency, or any form of vocational or educational training with or without pay. This clearly appears to include individual contractors and individual agents who are not traditional employees.
The ordinance mandates certain notices be given to the applicant or employee at certain times. The employer must provide a copy of a notice that the Office of Labor Standards Enforcement will issue to the applicant or employee before making an inquiry about conviction history (either by asking the individual or by a criminal history search). This notice will describe restrictions and requirements that the law imposes on employers and rights of the applicant. It must also be posted in a conspicuous place at every workplace, job site, or other location in San Francisco that is frequently visited by applicants and prospective applicants. It must be posted in English, Spanish, Chinese, and any language spoken by at least 5% of the employees in the workplace or job site.
Before obtaining a copy of a background check report, employers must comply with all state and federal notice requirements including the California Investigative Consumer Reporting Agencies Act, California Civil Code, and the Federal Consumer Reporting Act.
Finally, the ordinance compels employers to give notice in all hiring solicitations or advertisements that the employer will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the law.
The ordinance bans any inquiries about an applicant’s criminal history on a job application form. Also banned are any inquiries about criminal history, including asking applicants or potential applicants to disclose conviction and unresolved arrest history, and including running a background check, until after the first live interview with the applicant or after a conditional offer of employment is made.
If the timing is proper, and notice is given, employers may inquire about criminal history and receive information through a background check report. However, employers are banned from considering the following when making employment decisions:
- An arrest not leading to a conviction (other than an arrest that is still the subject of a criminal investigation or trial);
- Participation in or completion of a diversion or deferral of judgment program;
- A conviction that has been expunged or otherwise made inoperative;
- A conviction or other determination in the juvenile justice system;
- A conviction that is more than 7 years old (measured from date of sentencing);
- Criminal offenses other than felonies or misdemeanors, such as infractions; and
- A conviction for which the individual was not placed on probation, fined, imprisoned, or paroled.
Point #5 above is the most counter-intuitive. It appears to bar an employer from considering the most severe crimes – those where the sentence is more than seven years – because the date of sentencing will always be more than seven years before the date of the job application.
Only convictions and unresolved arrests that directly relate to the job may be considered. The ordinance defines “directly-related conviction” to mean the conduct for which a person was convicted, or that is the subject of an unresolved arrest, that has a direct and specific negative bearing on that person’s ability to perform the duties or responsibilities necessarily related to the employment position. In determining whether the conviction or unresolved arrest is directly related to the employment position, the employer must consider whether the employment position offers the opportunity for the same or a similar offense to occur, and whether circumstances leading to the conduct for which the person was convicted or that is the subject of an unresolved arrest will occur in the employment position. An unresolved arrest is one that is active and pending criminal investigation or trial.
Employers are restricted when considering conviction information during an individualized assessment. They may only consider:
- “Directly-related convictions”;
- The time elapsed since the conviction or unresolved arrest;
- Any evidence of inaccuracy in the background check; and
- Any “evidence of rehabilitation or other mitigating factors.”
The ordinance defines “evidence of rehabilitation or other mitigating factors” to mean:
- A person’s satisfactory compliance with all terms and conditions of parole and/or probation (however, inability to pay fines, fees, and restitutions due to indigence must not be considered to be noncompliance);
- Employer recommendations, especially concerning a person’s post-conviction employment;
- Educational attainment or vocational or professional training since the conviction, including training received while incarcerated;
- Completion of or active participation in rehabilitative treatment (e.g. alcohol or drug treatment);
- Letters of recommendation from community organizations, counselors, case managers, teachers, community leaders, or parole/probation officers who have observed the person since his or her conviction;
- Age of the person at the time of the conviction, and
- Mitigating factors that are offered voluntarily by the applicant, including explanation of any coercive conditions, intimate physical or emotional abuse, or untreated substance abuse or mental illness that contributed to the conviction.
The ordinance requires employers to give notice before taking adverse action based on any conviction history, regardless of whether that conviction history was in a background check or was self-disclosed. The notice must include a copy of any background check report, what action might be taken based on the conviction history, and what the specific items were that could cause the adverse action. (We believe that a normal pre-adverse-action notice under the Fair Credit Reporting Act would usually fulfill this requirement, if the adverse action is to be based on a background check report.) The employer must then wait seven days after giving notice before taking any adverse action. (The ordinance does not appear to define the word “days,” so we believe that this period will be satisfied by the five business days that the Federal Trade Commission’s guidance under the Fair Credit Reporting Act provides.) If the applicant provides any evidence of inaccuracy in the background check report or provides any evidence of rehabilitation or other mitigating factors, the employer must delay any adverse action for a reasonable period of time and reconsider its decision, taking the evidence into account. On making a final decision, the employer must notify the applicant or employee of the decision. (We believe that a normal adverse-action notice under the Fair Credit Reporting Act would usually fulfill this requirement.)
The ordinance requires employers to keep “records of employment, application forms, and other pertinent data and records” for three years. The ordinance requires employers to give the City access to those records, unless that disclosure would violate state or federal law. Employers must annually verify compliance with the ordinance in a form that the City requires. Failing to maintain “adequate records documenting compliance” or failing to give the City access to the records results in a presumption that the employer did not comply with the ordinance. The employer may overcome that presumption only by showing compliance with clear and convincing evidence.
The City has the power to levy fines at $50 for a second violation and $100 for each subsequent violation of the ordinance. Additionally, the City may bring a civil action on behalf of the individuals affected within one year of the violation. In such a lawsuit, the court must award liquidated damages of $50 to each person whose rights were violated for each day of violation, reinstatement, back pay, payment of benefits and pay withheld, appropriate injunctive relief, attorney’s fees, court costs, and interest on all the foregoing. The City is prohibited from finding a violation based on an employer’s decision, after an individualized assessment that is limited to criminal history allowed by the law, that the criminal history is directly related to the job.
The San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance may be viewed here: http://op.bna.com/dlrcases.nsf/id/mcan-9gfmxn/$File/San%20Fran%20Law%20Bckgrnd%20Checks.pdf


Charles Haley hopes the fifth time is the charm.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame announced the 15 finalists for the Class of 2014 on Thursday, and Haley again is on the list. Four times he has been rejected in his bid to earn a permanent spot in Canton.
Four first-year eligible nominees — linebacker Derrick Brooks, coach Tony Dungy, receiver Marvin Harrison and tackle Walter Jones — also made the list of modern-era candidates.
Jimmy Johnson, who won two Super Bowls with the Cowboys, did not make the cut. Johnson, who retired after the 1999 season, was a semifinalist for the first time.
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The Cowboys have had seven players inducted since 2006, and Bill Parcells, who coached in Dallas from 2003-06, earned induction last year. But Haley, with Dallas from 1992-96, is the franchise’s only candidate this year.
Haley had 100.5 sacks, made five Pro Bowls and twice was named All-Pro in a 13-year NFL career with San Francisco and Dallas.
Better still, his teams went 153-66, including 19-6 in the postseason. Only once in 12 regular seasons did his team have a losing record. That was in 1999 after he had retired and then unretired.
Haley’s teams won 10 division titles, and he played in seven NFC Championship Games. His teams missed the playoffs only twice.
He remains the only player with five Super Bowl rings.
Other finalists are kicker Morten Andersen, running back Jerome Bettis, receiver Tim Brown, owner Edward DeBartolo Jr., linebacker Kevin Greene, tackle Walter Jones, safety John Lynch, receiver Andre Reed, guard Will Shields, defensive end Michael Strahan and defensive back Aeneas Williams.
The finalists are joined on the ballot by two senior nominees previously announced, punter Ray Guy and defensive end Claude Humphrey. The 46-member selection committee will elect the Class of 2014 on Feb. 1 in New York City.


UNCW professor Mike Adams died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to a news release from the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office.
Detectives began their investigation in partnership with the medical examiner and it was ascertained that Mr. Adams committed suicide with a single gunshot wound to the head,” the news release stated.
No one else was in the home at the time of the incident and no foul play is suspected, the sheriff’s office says.
Because he was so depressed about being paid more than $500k to go and do whatever he wanted? I am… skeptical.
Prince Charles has tested positive for coronavirus, suffering mild symptoms. He is self-isolating at his home in Scotland with the Duchess of Cornwall, who does not have the virus, Clarence House has confirmed. A statement released on Wednesday morning, said that it was “not possible to ascertain” from whom His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales had caught the virus, but that he had been continuing to work from home “throughout the last few days as usual.”
Well, that’s not going to inspire calm and tranquility in the UK. But in related news, Corona-chan is good for nationalist trade policy:
Pharmacists are urging UK drug firms to manufacture paracetamol in Britain amid a nationwide shortage caused by panic buying and production lines drying up in Asia amid the coronavirus crisis.
Britain relies heavily on India – the world’s biggest supplier of generic drugs – for the painkiller, but the South Asian nation has restricted exports of the painkiller after factories in China, where the ingredient is mainly made, ground to a halt…. UK manufacturers now need to step up and start making the painkiller in Britain to prevent the ‘grim reality’ of COVID-19 patients not being able to get pain relief, pharmacists say.
Free Trade Kills. That’s the important takeaway here. Open Borders = Open Virus.
Another Python has left the building. RIP Terry Jones:
‘We are deeply saddened to have to announce the passing of beloved husband and father, Terry Jones.
‘Terry passed away on the evening of 21 January 2020 at the age of 77 with his wife Anna Soderstrom by his side after a long, extremely brave but always good humoured battle with a rare form of dementia, FTD. Over the past few days his wife, children, extended family and many close friends have been constantly with Terry as he gently slipped away at his home in North London.
We have all lost a kind, funny, warm, creative and truly loving man whose uncompromising individuality, relentless intellect and extraordinary humour has given pleasure to countless millions across six decades.’
With Terry Gilliam, Jones wrote and directed what is almost certainly the funniest movie ever filmed, Monty Python and the Holy Grail. The mere fact that it is still being quoted on a daily basis around the world despite having been released 45 years ago is astonishing, as is the fact that young men today find it every bit as funny as young men did twenty and thirty years ago. The humor is truly timeless.
Monty Python never again reached such heights, but then, no one else ever did either. And while people will point to the mother in Life of Brian, Cardinal Biggles of the Spanish Inquisition sketch, or Mr. Creosote from the famous “wafer thin” sketch, for my money, his greatest character was Sir Bedivere and his most unforgettable line was from the Holy Grail.
“Who are you, who are so wise in the ways of science?”
It still makes me laugh, every single time.
It looks as if the Republican Establishment is making a run at OANN:
Allies of President Trump are pursuing an effort to acquire right-leaning news channel One America News Network, according to people familiar with the matter, in a bid to shake up a conservative media market that has been dominated by Fox News. The investment firm Hicks Equity Partners is looking to acquire the channel and is pitching other wealthy GOP donors to arrange a bid of roughly $250 million for the channel’s parent company, the people said. The firm is owned by the family of Thomas Hicks Jr., co-chairman of the Republican National Committee.
Because that’s just what we need, one more outlet repeating the mainstream narrative. The RNC group – who almost certainly are not genuine “allies of President Trump” – say they want to buy OANN to “compete” with Fox News. Which is precisely the opposite of their intentions. The next step would be a merger with Fox, or a sale to Warner or the Devil Mouse.
This is all about control, not competition.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin “Blackface” Trudeau is reportedly attempting to buy the silence of his accuser in what appears to be a teacher sex scandal dating back to his substitute teacher days:
Less than two weeks ahead of federal elections that have already been looking conclusively grim for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, rumors of an explosive sex scandal are percolating at the highest echelons of Canada’s media establishment.
Ottawa’s longest-tenured political observers had been expecting a career-ending expose in Sunday’s edition of The Globe and Mail — but that story never came. Sources are now telling The Chronicle that Trudeau is in private talks with the principal source of that piece to suppress explosive sex allegations that, if made public, would likely force Trudeau to resign his office.
Trudeau’s accuser is said to be a former student at West Point Grey Academy and the daughter of a wealthy Canadian businessman. Sources tell The Chronicle that she is being represented by counsel and is being offered monetary compensation in exchange for a pending, but not yet signed, non-disclosure agreement.
One way or another, young Blackface’s political career would appear to be finished.
Or perhaps they managed to disappear him. Regardless, it appears that Jeffrey Epstein will not be naming any more names:
Jeffrey Epstein, the disgraced millionaire who was facing federal sex trafficking charges, died by suicide Friday night in his Lower Manhattan jail cell, three law enforcement officials told ABC News.
The exact timing and circumstances were not immediately clear.
Still dubious about the reality of the Gate that shall not be named? It’s also a salutory lesson to those who are tempted to serve evil in return for massages, lollipops, and fancy pants. Once you have no further utility to the god of this world, once he is done with you, he won’t hesitate to cast you aside and send you to Hell.
Keep in mind, however, that he may already have been interrogated and the material that he had amassed over the years may already be in the possession of the good guys. So, don’t feel let down about this. It is always an occasion for celebration when the wicked fall.
The Lord watches over all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy.
UPDATE: According to a prison officer, Epstein was being kept in a special unit with additional security, but he was not being actively surveyed by officials at the facility.
UPDATE: The billionaire had been taken off suicide watch before taking his own life on Saturday morning.
Sounds likely, doesn’t it? As I have stated in the past, the Official Story is the one scenario we can be certain did not happen.
Another mass shooting, this time in El Paso:
KTSM can confirm that 18 people were shot inside the Walmart. The extent of their injuries is unknown at this time. El Paso Police and multiple other law enforcement agencies are responding to a shooting at the Walmart an active shooter situation.
I wonder how many people from Las Vegas and Gilroy will just happen to be there to be interviewed by the media? I’d put the over/under on three.
Update: A fake white nationalist manifesto has already made the rounds and been debunked.
Update: The Associated Press quotes three witnesses who report seeing four gunmen:
A family of three was among a dozen people waiting outside a bus station. They were trying to return to their car that was in a blocked-off Walmart parking lot. “I heard the shots but I thought they were hits, like roof construction,” said Adriana Quezada, 39, who was in the women’s clothing section of Walmart with her two children. Quezada said she saw four men, dressed in black, moving together firing guns indiscriminately. Police confirmed only one gunman.
And yet, the only shooter in custody is a young drug-addled man. Again. I understand that eyewitness reports in stressful situations are intrinsically unreliable, but “four men dressed in black” are considerably more likely to be confused with “three men dressed in dark brown” or “six men dressed in blue” than zero men.
Looks like the wind-up toys are being activated in a futile attempt to distract the American public:
A shooting at the famed Gilroy Garlic Festival on Sunday evening left at least three dead and 15 injured, sending hundreds of terrified visitors running for their lives.
The popular food festival at the “Garlic Capital of the World” in Santa Clara County was about to close around 5:30 p.m. when at least one gunman opened fire. Authorities said police officers fatally shot the assailant, but they were continuing to investigate whether he had an accomplice.
Gilroy Police Chief Scot Smithee said witnesses reported that a second man was somehow involved, but police were still searching for him. He said the gunman was able to circumvent the festival’s security by entering from a creek area and cutting through a fence.
It’s reported that the shooter did it because he was “really angry.” Right. I’m only surprised it wasn’t reported that he did it because he was angry that Democrats were talking about impeaching the God-Emperor Trump and to Make America Great Again. Notice that Anonymous Conservative saw these attempted distractions coming one week ago.
I assume whatever the plan, they need some unseen foundation eroded, such as media control, before you move into the exposure phase and take them down. I view it like Hillary still walking around free, or perhaps more accurately, Epstein still walking around free a month ago. You know under Trump that cannot continue, but for the time being it is an apparently necessary reality. Something we don’t understand just has to happen first. Clearly with Epstein, no matter how free he was, his time was coming, and now he looks set to take down a massive chunk of Cabal’s leadership in one fell swoop. Hillary is the same, as is anybody who has been helping to create and deploy these little MK Ultra wind-up toys.
Sex trafficker to the stars Jeffrey Epstein is denied bail:
Multimillionaire financier Jeffrey Epstein was denied bail Thursday pending trial on child sex-trafficking charges.
“Starting with my conclusions, the government’s application for continued remand is hereby granted and the defense’s application for pretrial release is respectfully hereby denied,” Manhattan federal Judge Richard Berman said at the start of a hotly anticipated hearing.
“The government has established danger to others and to the community by clear and convincing evidence, and the government has established a risk of flight by a preponderance of evidence.”
It’s a sign that they might actually be serious. We won’t know, of course, until more arrests of the rich and famous start taking place. Which may be coming sooner than anyone thinks, if Vanity Fair has it right:
“There were other business associates of Mr. Epstein’s who engaged in improper sexual misconduct at one or more of his homes. We do know that,” said Brad Edwards, a lawyer for Courtney Wild, one of the Epstein accusers who gave emotional testimony at Epstein’s bail hearing. “In due time the names are going to start coming out.” (Attorneys for Epstein did not respond to a request for comment.)
Likely within days, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit will release almost 2,000 pages of documents that could reveal sexual abuse by “numerous prominent American politicians, powerful business executives, foreign presidents, a well-known prime minister, and other world leaders,” according to the three-judge panel’s ruling. The documents were filed during a civil defamation lawsuit brought by Epstein accuser Virginia Roberts Giuffre, a former Mar-a-Lago locker-room attendant, against Epstein’s former girlfriend and alleged madam, Ghislaine Maxwell. “Nobody who was around Epstein a lot is going to have an easy time now. It’s all going to come out,” said Giuffre’s lawyer David Boies. Another person involved with litigation against Epstein told me: “It’s going to be staggering, the amount of names. It’s going to be contagion numbers.”
Shine the light on them. All of them.
Tommy Robinson is found guilty of contempt of court:
Tommy Robinson could be sent back to jail after he was again found in contempt of court today. Robinson was found to have broken the law by ‘aggressively confronting and filming’ defendants in a criminal trial and posting the footage on social media, in breach of a reporting ban, outside Leeds Crown Court in May 2018.
Following a long-running legal back-and-forth, the case was settled at the Old Bailey today, where a large crowd of Robinson’s fans turned nasty after the verdict.
As news of the judges’ ruling trickled through, a group of his supporters ran at barriers sectioning off police from the public, throwing missiles and chanting ‘shame on you’.
Robinson was previously jailed for the offence, but freed on appeal.
He’ll now have to wait to see whether he’ll be sent back to prison or be allowed to keep his freedom having already served two months of a 13-month sentence.
Today’s verdict means Robinson will return to prison if he is given a sentence of four months or more when he returns to court later this month. Anything less than that and he will have already served half the custodial period.
This strikes me as more gatekeeping kabuki than anything else. Tommy Robinson is clearly not a genuine nationalist or someone I would consider it meaningful to support. He’s very nearly as neoclownish as Jordan Peterson.


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Background and Aim
Children chronically infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV) are at high risk of progressive liver disease. However, no treatment is available that is consistently effective in curing chronic hepatitis B (CHB) in children. Improved understanding of the natural course of disease is warranted. Identification of specific microRNA (miRNA) profiles in children chronically infected with HBV may provide insight into the pathogenesis of CHB and lead to advances in the management of children with CHB.
Patients and Methods
MiRNA PCR panels were employed to screen plasma levels of 739 miRNAs in pooled samples from HBeAg positive, HBeAg negative, and healthy children. The three groups’ plasma miRNA profiles were compared, and aberrantly expressed miRNAs were identified. The identified miRNAs were then validated. Individual RT-qPCRs were performed on plasma from 34 HBeAg positive, 26 HBeAg negative, and 60 healthy children.
A panel of 16 plasma miRNAs were identified as aberrantly expressed in HBeAg positive and HBeAg negative children (p<0.001). Levels of all of the miRNAs were upregulated in HBeAg positive children compared with in HBeAg negative children. A positive correlation was furthermore found between plasma levels of the identified miRNAs and HBV DNA (p<0.001).
We are the first to investigate the plasma miRNA profile of children chronically infected with HBV. Our data indicates the existence of a relationship between abundance of circulating miRNAs and immunological stages in the natural course of disease. Certain miRNAs may contribute to the establishment and maintenance of CHB in children. Further studies are warranted to advance understanding of miRNAs in the pathogenesis of CHB, hopefully leading to the identification of future therapeutic targets.
GB virus C (GBV-C) is a member of the Flaviviridae family and the most closely related human virus to HCV. However, GBV-C does not replicate in hepatocytes, but rather in lymphocytes. GBV-C has a worldwide distribution and is transmitted sexually, parenterally and through mother-to-child transmission. Thus, co-infection with HCV and HIV is common. Until now, no human disease has been associated with GBV-C infection. However, there are several reports of a beneficial effect of GBV-C on HIV disease progression in vivo. Different mechanisms to explain these observations have been proposed, including modification of antiviral cytokine production, HIV co-receptor expression, direct inhibition of HIV-1 entry, T-cell activation and Fas-mediated apoptosis. Further understanding of these mechanisms may open new strategies for the treatment of HIV/AIDS.
co-infection; GBV-C; HCV; HIV
DNA methylation is being increasingly recognized to play a role in regulation of hepatitis B virus (HBV) gene expression. The aim of this study was to compare the CpG island distribution among different HBV genotypes. We analyzed 176 full-length HBV genomic sequences obtained from the GenBank database, belonging to genotypes A through J, to identify the CpG islands in the HBV genomes. Our results showed that while 79 out of 176 sequences contained three conventional CpG islands (I–III) as previously described, 83 HBV sequences harbored only two of the three known islands. Novel CpG islands were identified in the remaining 14 HBV isolates and named as CpG island IV, V, and VI. Among the eight known HBV genotypes and two putative genotypes, while HBV genomes containing three CpG islands were predominant in genotypes A, B, D, E, and I; genotypes C, F, G, and H tended to contain only two CpG islands (II and III). In conclusion, the CpG islands, which are potential targets for DNA methylation mediated by the host functions, differ among HBV genotypes, and these genotype-specific differences in CpG island distribution could provide new insights into the understanding of epigenetic regulation of HBV gene expression and hepatitis B disease outcome.
Viral diversity is a hallmark of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection; however, only limited data are available regarding HCV variability in extrahepatic sites, and none have systematically compared diversity in non-structural and structural genomic regions. Therefore, HCV diversity in the NS5B and envelope 1 (E1) hypervariable region 1 (HVR1) genes was evaluated in matched sera and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) obtained from 13 HCV-infected women. Multiple clonal sequences were compared to evaluate quasispecies diversity and viral compartmentalization in PBMCs.
Genetic distances were higher for E1/HVR1 compared to NS5B in both the sera and PBMCs (p = 0.0511 and p = 0.0284). Genetic distances were higher in serum NS5B compared to PBMC NS5B (p = 0.0003); however, they were not different when comparing E1/HVR1 in sera to PBMCs. By phylogenetic analysis of NS5B, evidence of possible PBMC compartmentalization was observed for 1 woman, while statistical methods were consistent with PBMC compartmentalization for 6 women. Evidence of compartmentalization within a non-structural genomic region may suggest that viral adaptation to a unique extracellular microenvironment(s) may be required for efficient replication and could contribute to HCV persistence.
NS5B; HVR1; diversity; quasispecies; extrahepatic replication
Wuwei City has the highest prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) in China. From 2007 to 2011, the average reported incidence rate of hepatitis B was 634.56/100,000 people. However, studies assessing the epidemic features and risk factors of HCV in the general population of Wuwei City are limited.
A total of 7189 people were interviewed and screened for HCV antibodies. HCV RNA and HCV genotypes were analyzed by PCR. Relevant information was obtained from the general population using a standardized questionnaire, and association and logistic regression analyses were conducted.
The anti-HCV prevalence was 1.64% (118/7189), and HCV-RNA was detected in 37.29% (44/118) of the anti-HCV positive samples. The current HCV infection rate was 0.61% (44/7189) in the Wuwei general population. Hepatitis C infection rate was generally higher in the plains regions (χ2 = 27.54,P<0.05), and the most predominant HCV genotypes were 2a (59.1%) and 1b (34.1%). The concurrent HCV and HBV infection rate was 1.37%, and a history of blood transfusion (OR = 17.9, 95% CI: 6.1 to 52.6, p<0.001) was an independent risk factor for HCV positivity.
Although Wuwei is a highly endemic area for HBV, the anti-HCV positive rate in the general population is low. More than one-third of HCV-infected people were unaware of their infection; this may become an important risk factor for hepatitis C prevalence in the general population. Maintaining blood safety is important in order to help reduce the burden of HCV infection in developing regions of China.
Molecular mechanisms related to occult hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, particularly those based on genotype C infection, have rarely been determined thus far in the ongoing efforts to determine infection mechanisms. Therefore, we aim to elucidate the mutation patterns in the surface open reading frame (S ORF) underlying occult infections of HBV genotype C in the present study. Nested PCRs were applied to 624 HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) negative Korean subjects. Cloning and sequencing of the S ORF gene was applied to 41 occult cases and 40 control chronic carriers. Forty-one (6.6%) of the 624 Korean adults with HBsAg-negative serostatus were found to be positive for DNA according to nested PCR tests. Mutation frequencies in the three regions labeled here as preS1, preS2, and S were significantly higher in the occult subjects compared to the carriers in all cases. A total of two types of deletions, preS1 deletions in the start codon and preS2 deletions as well as nine types of point mutations were significantly implicated in the occult infection cases. Mutations within the “a” determinant region in HBsAg were found more frequently in the occult subjects than in the carriers. Mutations leading to premature termination of S ORF were found in 16 occult subjects (39.0%) but only in one subject from among the carriers (2.5%). In conclusion, our data suggest that preS deletions, the premature termination of S ORF, and “a” determinant mutations are associated with occult infections of HBV genotype C among a HBsAg-negative population. The novel mutation patterns related to occult infection introduced in the present study can help to broaden our understanding of HBV occult infections.
Due to shared transmission routes, hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is highly prevalent among people infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) is associated with hepatotoxicity, leading to the negative effects on patients with HIV/HCV co-infection. In order to provide valuable information for HCV management in this particular population, we investigated the HCV genotypes in HIV-infected individuals from Henan and Guangxi, the two provinces with the most HIV-infected cases in China.
Individuals, who acquired HIV infection through various risk routes, were recruited from Henan and Guangxi. Test of antibodies against HCV (anti-HCV) was conducted, and detection of HCV RNA was performed by PCR amplification. HCV subtypes were determined by direct sequencing of amplicons, followed by phylogenetic analysis.
We recruited a total of 1,112 HIV-infected people in this present study. Anti-HCV was detected from 218 (50.1%) patients from Henan and 81 (12.0%) patients from Guangxi, respectively. The highest prevalence of HIV/HCV co-infection was observed from FBDs (former blood donors) (87.2%) in Henan and IDUs (intravenous drug users) (81.8%) in Guangxi, respectively. The seroprevalence rate of HCV among people with sexual contact was significantly higher in Henan than in Guangxi (18.7% vs. 3.5%, P<0.05). The positive rate of HCV RNA in Henan and Guangxi was 30.6% (133/435) and 11.2% (76/677), respectively. Moreover, we found that 20 anti-HCV negative samples were HCV positive by PCR amplification. HCV subtype 1b (52.7%) was predominant in Henan, followed by subtype 2a (41.9%). The most frequently detected subtypes in Guangxi were 6a (35.6%) and 3b (32.9%).
The HCV genotype distributions were different in HIV-infected people from Henan and Guangxi. HIV/HCV co-infection was not only linked to the transmission routes, but also associated with the geographic position.
Areas endemic for malaria and Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection largely overlap geographically. A recent study has suggested the existence of an interaction between the two pathogens in symptomatic co-infected individuals on the South-American continent. We examined this issue in a hyperendemic area for both pathogens in sub-Saharan Africa.
Methodology and Findings
Pre-transfusion samples from a retrospective cohort of 154 blood transfusion recipients were screened for both serological and molecular markers of HBV and Plasmodium genomes using species-specific nested PCR and quantitative real-time PCR. Thirty-seven individuals met exclusion criteria and were subsequently eliminated from further analysis. Of 117 participants, 90% of recipients exhibited evidence of exposure to HBV, 42% with HBsAg and/or HBV DNA and 48% anti-HBc reactive without detectable HBV DNA. Plasmodium genome prevalence by NAT was 50%. Parasitemic individuals were significantly younger than non-parasitemic individuals (P = 0.04). Parasitemia level was not significantly lower in individuals with HBV DNA positive infections compared to those with HBV DNA negative exposures. HBV DNA load was not significantly different in parasitemic and non-parasitemic individuals.
The data presented suggests that, in sub-Saharan Africa, asymptomatic co-infections with these two ubiquitous pathogens do not appear to significantly affect each other and evolve independently.
A novel multiplex real-time PCR assay for concurrent detection of hepatitis viruses was evaluated for its clinical performance in screening patients with acute hepatitis. A total of 648 serum samples were collected from patients with acute symptoms of hepatitis. Concurrent detection of nucleic acids of HAV, HBV and HCV was performed using the Magicplex™ HepaTrio Real-time Detection test. Serum nucleic acid levels of HBV and HCV were also quantified by the Cobas® AmpliPrep/Cobas® TaqMan® (CAP/CTM) HBV and HCV tests. Patients’ medical records were also reviewed. Concordance rates between the results from the HepaTrio and the CAP/CTM tests for the detection of HBV and HCV were 94.9% (k = 0.88) and 99.2% (k = 0.98), respectively. The cycle threshold values with the HepaTrio test were also correlated well with the levels of HBV DNA (r = −0.9230) and HCV RNA (r = −0.8458). The sensitivity and specificity of the HepaTrio test were 93.8% and 98.2%, respectively, for detecting HBV infection, and 99.1% and 100.0%, respectively, for HCV infection. For the HepaTrio test, 21 (3.2%) cases were positive for both HBV and HCV. Among the positive cases, 6 (0.9%) were true coinfections. This test also detected 18 (2.8%) HAV positives. The HepaTrio test demonstrated good clinical performance and produced results that agreed well with those of the CAP/CTM assays, especially for the detection of HCV. This assay was also able to detect HAV RNA from anti-HAV IgM-positive individuals. Therefore, this new multiplex PCR assay could be useful for the concurrent detection of the three hepatitis viruses.
It is hypothesized that social networks facilitate transmission of the hepatitis C virus (HCV). We tested for association between HCV phylogeny and reported injecting relationships using longitudinal data from a social network design study. People who inject drugs were recruited from street drug markets in Melbourne, Australia. Interviews and blood tests took place three monthly (during 2005–2008), with participants asked to nominate up to five injecting partners at each interview. The HCV core region of individual isolates was then sequenced and phylogenetic trees were constructed. Genetic clusters were identified using bootstrapping (cut-off: 70%). An adjusted Jaccard similarity coefficient was used to measure the association between the reported injecting relationships and relationships defined by clustering in the phylogenetic analysis (statistical significance assessed using the quadratic assignment procedure). 402 participants consented to participate; 244 HCV infections were observed in 238 individuals. 26 genetic clusters were identified, with 2–7 infections per cluster. Newly acquired infection (AOR = 2.03, 95% CI: 1.04–3.96, p = 0.037, and HCV genotype 3 (vs. genotype 1, AOR = 2.72, 95% CI: 1.48–4.99) were independent predictors of being in a cluster. 54% of participants whose infections were part of a cluster in the phylogenetic analysis reported injecting with at least one other participant in that cluster during the study. Overall, 16% of participants who were infected at study entry and 40% of participants with newly acquired infections had molecular evidence of related infections with at least one injecting partner. Likely transmission clusters identified in phylogenetic analysis correlated with reported injecting relationships (adjusted Jaccard coefficient: 0.300; p<0.001). This is the first study to show that HCV phylogeny is associated with the injecting network, highlighting the importance of the injecting network in HCV transmission.
Previous studies have proved the presence of several distinct types of mutations in hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections, which are related to the progression of liver disease. However, few reports have detailed the mutation frequencies and mutation patterns in the precore/core (preC/C) region, which are based on the clinical status and HBeAg serostatus. Our aim in this study is to investigate the relationships between the preC/C mutations and clinical severity or HBeAg serostatus from patients chronically infected with HBV genotype C. A total of 70 Korean chronic patients, including 35 with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), participated in this study. HBV genotyping and precore/core mutations were analyzed by direct sequencing. All patients were confirmed to have genotype C infections. Mutations in the C region were distributed in a non-random manner. In particular, mutations in the MHC class II restricted region were found to be significantly related to HCC. Six (preC-W28*, C-P5H/L/T, C-E83D, C-I97F/L, C-L100I and C-Q182K/*) and seven types (preC-W28*, preC-G29D, C-D32N/H, C-E43K, C-P50A/H/Y, C-A131G/N/P and C-S181H/P) of mutations in the preC/C region were found to be related to HCC and to affect the HBeAg serostatus, respectively. In conclusion, our data indicated that HBV variants in the C region, particularly in the MHC class II restricted region, may contribute to the progress of HCC in chronic patients infected with genotype C. In addition, we found several distinct preC/C mutations in the Korean chronic cohort, which affect the clinical status of HCC and HBeAg serostatus of patients infected with genotype C.
There is growing evidence to suggest that HIV may interact with several hepatic cell types; however, evaluation of HIV variability in liver tissue has not been addressed to date. Among 16 HIV-positive individuals examined, nine (56%) had detectable HIV RNA in the liver. The mean CD4 cell count for these nine individuals was 337 cells/mm3 (range: 0–601), while their mean plasma HIV RNA level was 106,974 copies/ml (range: 1200–320,740). Among individuals in this study with detectable HIV in both the plasma and the liver, the consensus gag nucleotide sequences for each tissue type were different for seven of seven (100%) individuals, while amino acid sequences were distinct for five of seven (71%). Consensus envelope (env) nucleotide and amino acid sequences were also distinct in the plasma and liver tissue for six of six (100%) individuals. Statistical evidence of compartmentalization between HIV in the plasma and in the liver was demonstrated, and multiple liver-specific amino acids were identified that may distinguish HIV variants replicating within the liver. These preliminary data demonstrate that HIV is frequently detectable in the liver of HIV-positive persons at various levels of immunosuppression. Possible compartmentalization may reflect tissue-specific selection pressures that drive viral adaptation to the liver microenvironment and may facilitate interactions with other hepatotropic viruses.
To estimate the cost, effectiveness, and cost effectiveness of HIV and HCV screening of injection drug users (IDUs) in opioid replacement therapy (ORT).
Dynamic compartmental model of HIV and HCV in a population of IDUs and non-IDUs for a representative U.S. urban center with 2.5 million adults (age 15–59).
We considered strategies of screening individuals in ORT for HIV, HCV, or both infections by antibody or antibody and viral RNA testing. We evaluated one-time and repeat screening at intervals from annually to once every 3 months. We calculated the number of HIV and HCV infections, quality-adjusted life years (QALYs), costs, and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs).
Adding HIV and HCV viral RNA testing to antibody testing averts 14.8–30.3 HIV and 3.7–7.7 HCV infections in a screened population of 26,100 IDUs entering ORT over 20 years, depending on screening frequency. Screening for HIV antibodies every 6 months costs $30,700/QALY gained. Screening for HIV antibodies and viral RNA every 6 months has an ICER of $65,900/QALY gained. Strategies including HCV testing have ICERs exceeding $100,000/QALY gained unless awareness of HCV-infection status results in a substantial reduction in needle-sharing behavior.
Although annual screening for antibodies to HIV and HCV is modestly cost effective compared to no screening, more frequent screening for HIV provides additional benefit at less cost. Screening individuals in ORT every 3–6 months for HIV infection using both antibody and viral RNA technologies and initiating ART for acute HIV infection appears cost effective.
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a genetically diverse pathogen infecting approximately 2–3% of the world's population. Herein, we describe results of a large, multicentre serological and molecular epidemiological study cataloguing the prevalence and genetic diversity of HCV in five regions of Vietnam; Ha Noi, Hai Phong, Da Nang, Khanh Hoa and Can Tho. Individuals (n = 8654) with varying risk factors for infection were analysed for the presence of HCV Ab/Ag and, in a subset of positive specimens, for HCV RNA levels (n = 475) and genotype (n = 282). In lower risk individuals, including voluntary blood donors, military recruits and pregnant women, the prevalence of infection was 0.5% (n = 26/5250). Prevalence rates were significantly higher (p<0.001) in intravenous drug users (IDUs; 55.6%, n = 556/1000), dialysis patients (26.6%, n = 153/575) commercial sex workers (CSWs; 8.7%, n = 87/1000), and recipients of multiple blood transfusions (6.0%, n = 32/529). The prevalence of HCV in dialysis patients varied but remained high in all regions (11–43%) and was associated with the receipt of blood transfusions [OR: 2.08 (1.85–2.34), p = 0.001], time from first transfusion [OR: 1.07 (1.01–1.13), p = 0.023], duration of dialysis [OR: 1.31 (1.19–1.43), p<0.001] and male gender [OR: 1.60 (1.06–2.41), p = 0.026]. Phylogenetic analysis revealed high genetic diversity, particularly amongst dialysis and multi-transfused patients, identifying subtypes 1a (33%), 1b (27%), 2a (0.4%), 3a (0.7%), 3b (1.1%), 6a (18.8%), 6e (6.0%), 6h (4.6%), 6l (6.4%) and 2 clusters of novel genotype 6 variants (2.1%). HCV genotype 1 predominated in Vietnam (60%, n = 169/282) but the proportion of infections attributable to genotype 1 varied between regions and risk groups and, in the Southern part of Vietnam, genotype 6 viruses dominated in dialysis and multi-transfused patients (73.9%). This study confirms a high prevalence of HCV infection in Vietnamese IDUs and, notably, reveals high levels of HCV infection associated with dialysis and blood transfusion.
Over 350 million people worldwide are infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV), a major cause of liver failure and hepatocellular carcinoma. Current therapeutic agents are highly effective, but are also associated with development of viral resistance. Therefore, strategies for identifying other anti-HBV agents with specific, but distinctive mechanisms of action are needed. The human La (hLa) protein, which forms a stabilizing complex with HBV RNA ribonucleoprotein to promote HBV replication, is a promising target of molecular therapy.
This study aimed to discover novel inhibitors of hLa that could inhibit HBV replication and expression.
A multistage molecular docking approach was used to screen a Specs database and an in-house library against hLa binding sites. Sequential in vitro evaluations were performed to detect potential compounds with high scores in HepG2.2.15 cells.
Of the 26 potential compounds with high scores chosen for experimental verification, 12 had HBV DNA inhibition ratios of less than 50% with P<0.05. Six had significant inhibition of HBV e antigen (HBeAg) levels, and 13 had significant inhibition of HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) levels by in vitro assays. Compounds HBSC-11, HBSC-15 and HBSC-34 (HBSC is system prefix for active compounds screened by the library) were selected for evaluation. HBSC-11 was found to have an obvious inhibitory effect on hLa transcription and expression.
Our findings suggest that anti-HBV activity of HBSC-11 may be mediated by a reduction in hLa levels. In addition, our data suggest the potential clinical use of hLa inhibitors, such as HBSC-11, for treating HBV infection.
Multiple genotypes of GB virus C (GBV-C) – a non-pathogenic flavivirus – have been identified to date, although they are not uniformly distributed worldwide. It has also been suggested that GBV-C genotype may play a role in modulating HIV disease; however, the prevalence and genotype distribution of GBV-C has not been adequately studied in most countries. Among 408 HIV positive subjects in Germany, 97 (23.8%) had detectable GBV-C RNA. Based on sequencing of the 5′ untranslated region (5′UTR), the GBV-C genotypes were 1 (n = 8; 8.2%), 2 (n = 81; 83.5%), and 3 (n = 2; 2.1%), as well as a unique genotype not previously reported (n = 6; 6.2%). Among 17 samples also sequenced in the envelope 2 (E2) region, 14 had concordant genotype results when comparing the 5′UTR and E2, while evidence of intergenotypic recombination was observed among E2 sequences from 3 individuals. These results suggest that genotypic diversity and viral recombination contribute to the overall genetic variability of GB virus C.
GB virus C (GBV-C) HIV; diversity; genotype; recombination
Predictors of liver fibrosis were evaluated in women using a noninvasive index (FIB-4). HIV RNA levels were associated with increased FIB-4 in the absence of viral hepatitis, alcohol use, or antiretroviral therapy. These data complement evidence suggesting a potential relationship between HIV infection and hepatic fibrosis.
Background. FIB-4 represents a noninvasive, composite index that is a validated measure of hepatic fibrosis, which is an important indicator of liver disease. To date, there are limited data regarding hepatic fibrosis in women.
Methods. FIB-4 was evaluated in a cohort of 1227 women, and associations were evaluated in univariate and multivariate regression models among 4 groups of subjects classified by their human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection status.
Results. The median FIB-4 scores were 0.60 in HIV-/HCV- women, 0.83 in HIV-/HCV+ women, 0.86 in HIV+/HCV- women, and 1.30 in HIV+/HCV+ women. In the HIV/HCV co-infected group, multivariate analysis showed that CD4+ cell count and albumin level were negatively associated with FIB-4 (P <.0001), whereas antiretroviral therapy (ART) was positively associated with FIB-4 score (P =.0008). For the HIV mono-infected group, multivariate analysis showed that CD4+ cell count (P <.0001) and albumin level (P =.0019) were negatively correlated with FIB-4 score, ART was positively associated with FIB-4 score (P =.0008), and plasma HIV RNA level was marginally associated with FIB-4 score (P =.080). In 72 HIV mono-infected women who were also hepatitis B surface antigen negative, ART naive, and reported no recent alcohol intake, plasma HIV RNA level was associated with increased FIB-4 score (P =.030).
Conclusions. HIV RNA level was associated with increased FIB-4 score in the absence of hepatitis B, hepatitis C, ART, or alcohol use, suggesting a potential relationship between HIV infection and hepatic fibrosis in vivo. A better understanding of the various demographic and virologic variables that contribute to hepatic fibrosis may lead to more effective treatment of HIV infection and its co-morbid conditions.
Extrahepatic replication has important implications for the transmission and treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV). We analyzed longitudinal HCV diversity in peripheral-blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and serum during HCV monoinfection and HCV/HIV coinfection to determine whether distinct amino acid signatures characterized HCV replicating within PBMCs. Analysis of E1-HVR1 sequences demonstrated higher serum genetic distances among HCV/human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)–coinfected persons. Moreover, consensus PBMC sequences were rarely identical to those in the corresponding serum, suggesting divergence in these 2 compartments. Three of 5 HCV/HIV-coinfected participants showed evidence of HCV compartmentalization in PBMCs. Additionally, signature sequence analysis identified PBMC-specific amino acids in all HCV/HIV-coinfected persons. To our knowledge, this is the first study to identify specific amino acids that may distinguish HCV variants replicating in PBMCs. It is provocative to speculate that extrahepatic HCV diversity may be an important determinant of treatment response and thus warrants additional study, particularly during HCV/HIV coinfection.
There are limited data on diversity within the hepatitis C virus polymerase (NS5B). In concordance with its key functional role during the life cycle, NS5B intrapatient variability was low. Moreover, differences between NS5B nonsynonymous (dN) and synonymous (dS) mutation rates (dN − dS) were positively correlated with CD4 cell count, while nonsynonymous mutations were strongly correlated with reduced replication in vivo.
HCV/HIV coinfection has emerged as a major cause of morbidity and mortality due to liver disease. Interferon-based therapy response rates have been disappointingly low. Baseline HCV complexity and the relationship between complexity and viral kinetic parameters has not been well described in HCV/HIV subjects. A subset of patients enrolled in ACTG 5071 underwent sampling to evaluate viral kinetics and HCV complexity changes. Early kinetic parameters, baseline complexity, and treatment outcomes, including rapid (RVR), early (EVR), and sustained (SVR) viral response were evaluated. HCV monoinfected subjects were matched to HCV/HIV coinfected subjects.
Baseline complexity was determined in 108 HCV/HIV coinfected subjects and 13 HCV controls. Quasispecies complexity was 2.24 in HCV/HIV and 1.90 in monoinfected subjects (p=0.14). Lower baseline complexity was associated with EVR (p=0.04) and approached significance for SVR. In patients who underwent viral kinetic modeling, complexity decrease was associated with RVR (p= 0.03), and was independent of the correlation between first phase viral decline efficiency and RVR.
Baseline HCV complexity is an independent predictor of early viral response in HCV/HIV subjects. Complexity decrease occurs by 4 weeks of interferon-based therapy and is associated with RVR. These findings may enhance predictive modeling of treatment outcomes in HCV/HIV patients.
HCV; HIV; RNA; Quasispecies; Complexity; Pegylated-interferon; Coinfection
Chronic hepatitis B virus infection is characterized by persistent detectable levels of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and HBV DNA in the serum. In contrast, HBsAg is not detectable during occult HBV infection, despite the presence of HBV DNA. An altered host immune response could play a role in the development of occult HBV infection; however, potential differences in immune responses among chronic and occult HBV-infected patients have not been evaluated in vivo. In the current study, we evaluated serum levels of regulatory, apoptotic, and fibrotic/anti-fibrotic cytokines/markers as indicators of immune responses in 25 chronic and 12 occult HBV-infected patients. More than half of the patients in both chronic and occult HBV infection groups had IL-2, IL-4, IL-13, and IFN-γ levels below detectable limits. In contrast, most patients had detectable levels of IL-8, IL-10, IP-10, sFas, sFasL, and TGF-β1. Of these, only sFas was significantly different between the two groups, with lower levels observed during occult compared to chronic HBV infection (p = 0.01). As a surrogate marker of apoptotic inhibition, decreased sFas during occult HBV infection suggests that apoptosis occurs at different rates in occult compared to chronic HBV infection and therefore, may contribute to persistence of occult HBV infection.
Cytokine; HBV/HIV co-infection; Occult hepatitis B virus; Soluble Fas (sFas)
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) non-nucleoside inhibitors (NNIs) target the viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase encoded by the NS5B gene. Several NNIs share a similar allosteric binding site, and their antiviral efficacy is attenuated by a cysteine-to-tyrosine mutation at amino acid 316 (C316Y). In the current study, we assessed NS5B resistance mutations in treatment-naive individuals from a prospective natural history study of viral infections in women.
Partial NS5B sequences from HCV-positive women were amplified by RT–PCR. Additionally, subcloning was performed to evaluate intrapatient variability in selected samples.
HCV NS5B genotypes were 45 genotype 1a (57.0%), 11 genotype 1b (13.9%), 5 genotype 2a (6.3%), 3 genotype 2b (3.8%), 9 genotype 3a (11.4%) and 6 genotype 4a (7.6%). One HCV genotype 1a-infected patient was found to have the C316Y mutation (1.3%). Clonal analysis further revealed that all NS5B sequences from this individual—representing three serum samples collected 4 years apart—contained the C316Y mutation. In contrast, the S282T resistance mutation was not found in any samples.
The C316Y polymerase resistance mutation was found in 1.3% of samples from HCV-infected women. The presence of this mutation over time suggests significant replicative fitness of this variant and has implications for development of new specifically targeted antiviral therapies against HCV (STAT-C) targeting this region.
HCV; NS5B; C316Y
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a common cause of acute viral hepatitis (AVH) in many developing countries. In Egypt, HEV seroprevalence is among the highest in the world; however, only a very limited number of Egyptian HEV sequences are currently available.
The objectives were to determine the HEV genotype(s) currently circulating in Egypt.
AVH patients without serologic evidence of hepatitis A, B, and C viruses were evaluated for possible HEV infection using serologic assays for anti-HEV IgM and anti-HEV IgG and real-time PCR for HEV RNA. Stool suspensions from suspected cases were inoculated into rhesus macaques to confirm the presence of HEV. Sequence analysis was utilized to determine HEV genotype.
Of 287 subjects with AVH enrolled, 58 had serologic evidence of acute HEV infection. Stool samples for two of these patients were repeatedly positive for HEV RNA by real-time PCR. Macaques experimentally inoculated with these human stools also developed viremia. Sequence analysis of open reading frame (ORF) 1 demonstrated that these isolates belonged to HEV genotype 1 and were 3.9% – 9.5% divergent from other genotype 1 isolates. ORF2 was 5.3% – 8.7% divergent from previously reported Egyptian isolates.
This study strongly suggests that genotype 1 HEV related to other North African isolates is circulating in acute symptomatic patients in Egypt. Further evaluation of genotypic variability is underway in this highly endemic cohort and is considered an important component of our increased understanding of HEV pathogenesis.
Hepatitis E virus (HEV); Egypt; symptomatic; genotype; diversity
Regulatory T cells (Treg) are a subpopulation of CD4+ T cells characterized by the suppressive activity they exert on effector immune responses, including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-specific immune responses. Because Treg express CXCR4 and CCR5, they represent potential targets for HIV; however, Treg susceptibility to HIV infection is still unclear. We therefore performed an extensive study of Treg susceptibility to HIV, using lab strains and primary isolates with either CCR5 or CXCR4 tropism. Furthermore, we quantified HIV infection at early and late time points of the virus life cycle. We found that Treg were clearly susceptible to HIV infection. Circulating Treg were not preferentially infected with HIV compared to effector T cells (Teff) in vivo. Conversely, in vitro infection with either CCR5-using (R5) or CXCR4-using (X4) viruses occurred with different dynamics. For instance, HIV infection by R5 viruses (lab strains and primary isolates) resulted in lower levels of infection in Treg compared with Teff at both early and late time points. In contrast, X4 viruses induced higher levels of infection in Treg compared to Teff at early time points, but this difference disappeared at the late time points of the virus life cycle. Our results suggest that the relative susceptibility of Treg to HIV infection compared to Teff varies, depending on both viral and host factors. These variations may play an important role in HIV pathogenesis.
We have previously reported hepatitis C virus (HCV) replication using a novel binary expression system in which mammalian cells were transfected with a T7 polymerase-driven full-length genotype 1a HCV cDNA plasmid (pT7-flHCV-Rz) and infected with vaccinia-T7 polymerase. We hypothesized that the use of replication-defective adenoviral vectors expressing T7 (Ad-T7pol) or cell lines stably transfected with T7 (Huh-T7) would alleviate cell toxicity and allow for more sustained HCV replication.
CV-1, Huh7, and Huh-T7 cells were transfected with pT7-flHCV-Rz and treated with Ad-T7pol (CV-1 and Huh7 only). Protein and RNA were harvested from cells on days 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, and 9 post-infection. No cytotoxicity was observed at 9 days post-infection in any cell type. HCV positive- and negative-strand RNA expression were strongest during days 1–3 post-infection; however, HCV RNA remained detectable throughout the 9-day observation period. Furthermore, transfection with a replication-incompetent plasmid suggested that efficient HCV replication is dependent upon NS5B gene expression. Finally, after 1–2 days of IFN treatment, HCV positive-strand levels decreased significantly compared to HCV-infected but untreated samples (p < 0.05).
In conclusion, these refined binary systems offer more durable and authentic models for identification of host cellular processes critical to HCV replication and will permit longer-term analysis of virus–host interactions critical to HCV pathogenesis and the treatment of genotype 1 infections.
Hepatitis C virus; HCV; Replication; Genotype 1; Adenovirus vector; Huh-T7

domain: medical


What is a V-port Valve?
May 14,2022Read More
MstnLand's series of steam trap valve is to discharge the condensed water, air and carbon dioxide gas in the steam system as soon as possible, while automatically preventing the leakage of steam to the maximum extent.CONTACT
Carbon steel, Stainless steel, Brass,
Alloy steel 400 (monel), Dual-phase steel2205
Threaded, Ferrule, Welded
Mode of operation:
Boiler pipe, etc.
Design & Manufacture:
GB/T22654, ASME B16.34, ASME B1.20.1


text:
Globalisation/migration (domestic vs external inequality) and educational expansion (education vs property inequality) have created new multi-dimensional conflicts about inequality, leading to the collapse of the postwar left-vs-right party system.
Why didn’t democracy reduce inequality?
Because multi-dimensional coalitions are complicated.
Without a strong egalitarian-internationalist platform, it’s difficult to have the low-education, low-income voters from all origins vote for the same party.
Racism/nativism & higher education = powerful forces dividing the poor if there’s no strong uniting platform.-Thomas Piketty, “Brahmin Left vs. Merchant Right: Rising Inequality and the Changing Structure of Political Conflict.” EHESS & Paris School of Economics Sciences Po, January 24 2019
h/t Boing Boing, which provides a nice overview. Open Question: Am I a member of the Brahmin Left?

domain: politics


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On February 21, 2018, Haryana Agriculture and Farmer’s Welfare Minister OP Dhankar inaugurated “State-Level Crop Cluster Development Programme” at village Uchhamajra in District Gurugram.
Important Fact about this Programme –
- OP Dhankar will launch the scheme in 140 clusters of 340 villages.
- In Gururgram district, eight clusters have been formed of 32 horticulture villages.
- Horticulture is an important initiative for the strengthening of clusters.
- There is provision to spend Rs 510.36 crore in three years under the Crop Cluster Development Programme and it’s an ambitious scheme for horticulture farmers.
- Under the scheme, there is a provision of consolidated pack house under which crop arrival facility, grading, packing machinery and cold house are included.
- Similarly, primary processing units, sales centres and sales vehicles or refer vans, crop residue management and solar energy facilities are also the main components of this scheme.

domain: agronomy


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It is not only talent that these had 10 beautiful women from the golden age of Mexican cinema, but its beauty captivated thousands of viewers in their time and even today they continue to do so.
Surely you may know some names that you are beautiful women and you recognize them even if they are old or just happen to know some of their movies.
The golden age represents one of the greatest pillars of mexico It consists of approximately the late 1930s to the late 1950s.
It may interest you: María Félix, the beautiful face of Mexican cinema made an impact with an impressive wedding dress
This accommodated the mexican cinema in the world and is currently still remembered for its beauty not only for the content but for the actors and actresses who appeared in these cinematographic films.
Juan Pablo Silva Escobar explains in his book entitled "The Golden Age of Mexican Cinema: The Colonization of a Social Imaginary" that this era "contributed to the elaboration of a social imaginary that has inscribed in the collective consciousness what is conceived as what typically Mexican ”, according to the MXCity portal.
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In these films there were two types of women: "heroines " and the "antihero0ines" the former were characterized by having a more docile character, everything related to love and even beauty, while the latter were rebellious womenirreverent and even strong.
When describing an "antiher0ina" of this golden age, surely a name came to mind, that's right Maria Felix his name became international becoming an icon of Mexican cinema, he was known as "La Doña" or "María Bonita".
How to forget Sara Montiel that next to Pedro Infante fell in love and eclipsed everyone with her beauty and charisma, although she was born in Spain she naturalized as mexicanTo date, she is also one of the most remembered actresses in Mexican cinema.
In second place is Dolores del Río She was the top star of Mexican and Hollywood cinema, Diego Rivera and Frida Khalo were close friends who managed to conquer the United States with their beauty and talent.
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Katy Jurado She is number three, you can remember her when she rose to fame in the company of Pedro Infante when she appeared in the movie "We poor"Although he was born in Mexico, he spent time working in the United States, but later returned to his native country and continued working.
Surely you remember Elsa Aguirre One of the greatest divas of Mexican cinema at that time collaborated in several films with Pedro Infante and Jorge Negrete with a beautiful face he conquered hundreds and thousands of men.
Halfway there we have Evangelina Elizondo, the pretty blonde had a varied but very productive career, you know she doubled the voice of Disney's Cinderella.
Silvia Pinal She is also in this Top, actress and singer who fell in love with her beauty and talent, today she is a first actress and although she has time not to appear on screen, her films and programs continue to air.
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#repost @mexicoretro ・ ・ ・ A day like today, but from 1931, the actress of the Gold Cinema Silvia Pinal was born in Guaymas, Sonora. Throughout her 70-year career, she has participated in innumerable films, soap operas and plays, in addition to venturing as a producer, bringing the musical genre to Mexican theatrical stages and unit programs on television with the successful "Woman cases of real life "that lasted more than 25 years on air; In addition, she is the mother of actresses Sylvia Pasquel and Viridiana Alatriste, rock singer Alejandra Guzmán and musician Luis Enrique Guzmán; as well as grandmother of actress and singer Stephanie Salas, singer Frida Sofía, and great-grandmother of designer Michelle Salas and actress Camila Valero. Congratulations! . . . #elmexicoquesefue #elmexicodelayer #mexicoretro #mexicoantiguo # elmexicodeantaño #silviapinal #divas #cinedeoromexicano #depelicula #oldfashion #pinupgirls #blackandwhite #retro #vintage
Even if Marga López He was of Argentine origin and became Mexican national, his performances have had international recognition and he also starred in several films alongside Mexican actor Pedro Infante.
This list could not miss a worthy representative of the rumberas cinema Ninón Sevilla, was part of around 20 movies among which stood out Adventurer, Sinner and Mulata.
Last but not least is the actress Miroslava, of Czech origin who later became a naturalized Mexican, she collaborated with Cantinflas in A Volar Joven.
Read also: Guillermo Del Toro praises the Mexican film Ya No Esta Aqui on Netflix

domain: entertainment


Imagine gives Selenio Network Processor new personality
Imagine has added what it describes as a comprehensive production multiviewer functionality as a new software ‘personality’ for its Selenio Network Processor (SNP).
The company believes that when you are covering sport you need a technical architecture that it almost infinitely flexible. The equipment needs to be able to transform between different production requirements almost every day. That also applies to the setup of monitor walls, Imagine continues, which will change between different sports and live events, as well as between directors. Monitoring and multiviewers cannot be ‘set and forget’, they have to be as flexible as every other part of the system, the company said.
Adding HDR to the production makes all these challenges even harder, since each event has different HDR requirements, and different operating positions in the facility also have different needs for seeing the HDR. It is too meet these challenges that Imagine added production multiviewer functionality to the capabilities offered by its SNP.
Already said to be familiar in many production environments, Imagine claims that the SNP is an extremely powerful processing platform. Each 1RU appliance has four independent processing chains, with functionality defined by software and the ability to switch between roles to suit production needs. SNPs are widely used as bridges between SDI and IP (ST 2110 or ST 2022-6); as converters between HD and 4K and between standard dynamic range and HDR (HLG, PQ or S Log 3); and for video processing and synchronisation.
The SNP-MV personality allows one or more processors within the SNP to become an instantly configurable multiviewer. Each one of the four processor paths supports up to nine input signals, rendered into one or two UHD displays. Ganging processors in an SNP supports up to 36 PiPs across two displays, or drives as many as eight 4K displays, all with extremely low latency.
Colour space conversion is included in the processing and is fully configurable, allowing different input colour formats to be mapped to the desired output formats. Outputs are always UHD, with an HD output simultaneously available, over 2110-IP. The inputs and outputs can be SDR or HDR or mixed according to production requirements, with the SNP-MV harmonising to the display format as needed.
SNP-MV provides full support for tally and UMD systems, compatible with Imagine’s Magellan SDN Orchestrator, as well as industry standards such as TSL 5.0. The SNP’s IP interfaces are managed via AMWA NMOS IS-04/05 to maximise interoperability. Setup is said to be easily configured using graphical web-based controls.
The result, according to Imagine, is enhanced production agility using low-power compact hardware which is already familiar to production engineers. Depending on daily requirements, the SNP platforms can provide multiviewers or be reassigned to other production requirements as necessary. As productions introduce enhanced quality elements including HDR and 4K, they can be integrated on the same multiviewer display, which itself can be HDR or SDR. All this, the company claims, can be achieved without extra hardware, and without adding latency.


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One of the earliest publishers of bass fishing content on the Internet. 17 years after the creation of THE BASS ZONE, Mark and his team comprise a one-two punch of delivering daily, live, on-location interviews with the nation’s top pro anglers. Jeffreys, a former Univ. of Oklahoma athlete, has a tenacious belief that “It’s all about being there” is the force behind the hundred or so nights the team spend each year at every Bassmaster Elite Series event to serve the BASSZONE.com audience in a way that very few other sites do. Jeffreys and his team currently live stream a daily talk show called Bass Talk Live basstalklive.com, the nation’s only daily sport’s talk format covering bass fishing.
Bass Rankings Suspends Site
After eight years, the team behind Bass Rankings has made the tough decision to suspend the site indefinitely.


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~Welcome to Cripple-Mode~
Publisher » » »
Silence is Golden:Noise is Glorious
Review::The Diary of Pelly D by L.J. Adlington
|The Diary of Pelly D by L.J. Adlington|
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The Diary of Pelly D by L.J. Adlington
I was doing my semi annual purchase of paper books from Amazon, so usually I have a full list of possibilities in my wish list. This time I was a bit scarce to making my numbers and knowing that at least three of the novels I was ordering were going to be epic fiction I thought I'd check a few that looked a bit light and that's how The Diary of Pelly D managed to get on my list. That and the excellent bargain Amazon let me have it for. I was a bit concerned that this was listed for ages 7-10 and that one of the main characters was 14 years of age. But I'm not one of those that subscribe to the notion that books for young adults should be avoided at all cost: by adults. Still this is more middle age and published under a children's label and at some point in my selections I was pushed over my limit and could’ve let it slide off my list. I'm certainly glad I left it there and I have to say that light reading is not what this is. This book is for all ages and is quite thought provoking and would definitely be a double treat for the target age level.
Being written in diary form the author L.J. Adlington takes some advantage in style by having the writer use strange abbreviations such as Shd Cd Wd for Should Would and Could. Fortunately for the reader it's mostly limited to those or I for one would have been a bit troubled. Another strange convention is the naming of characters like Tony V and Pelly D. There's reason for this that shows up later in the narrative. This is a tale that takes place in a fictional future world that has been founded with the notion that the planet would avoid the pitfalls of their home world (presumably our Earth) and the people lead an idyllic life in a virtual paradise.
But the story itself starts with Tony V a fourteen year old enlisted in the work group to rebuild a city after a great war (obviously a war that should never have occurred). Tony's job is to break away the rubble for clean-up and, though there are some who look for treasures in the rubble, treasure hunting is not his function. So when he finds a simple water container that should be tossed out, but weighs more than it should; his job is to either put it in the trash or turn it over to his supervisor. He instead opens it to find a diary, which he perceives as trash and should go in the dumpster; yet he instead takes it to his bunk and begins reading it.
The story that unfolds is two-fold in that at the beginning there is the impression that Pelly D is some over-privileged youth trying to skirt through life and just narrowly make the grade while having a good time. This is probably the one weakness that this narrative has especially for the age group; because nothing happens for a long time and even when it begins to happen it's all so subtle that it might be a difficult read for those raised in a culture of instant gratification with the rolling thunder of action packed story telling. This is a story of a different pace that, in the long run, though ponderous, is also thought provoking and eye opening in enough ways that I'd suggest the reader to give it time to grab their interest; because it is well worth reading.
This is a story about prejudice and racism; but it is mostly a story about how simple things that seem to be harmless, though questionable, can easily be used to turn people against each other. It also highlights the realization that even in the best planned environment there may always be undercurrents of old hazards and baggage that have made the long trip with the new pilgrims into their paradise. It's also a story of the growth of Pelly D from a self absorbed youth into someone who has had their eyes opened to full understanding that her perfect world was not so perfect and will never be the same.
The setting and some other characteristics of the characters make this science fiction though it's less of the technical science fiction and adventure and more the thought provoking type similar to H.G. Wells 1984 and Audous Huxley's Brave New World while touching close to terrors from out ot World War II.
Social Science Fiction for all ages; don't let the listing fool you. I recommend this to all ages; just don't expect it to be a light read.
View all my reviews
|Category: Reviews | Added by: Lucia (2015-09-28)

domain: library


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We've compiled a list of gorgeous Aspen spas to help you rejuvenate and forget about RSVPs and seating charts for a bit. Go ahead… you deserve it!
Today, Yampah Spa, Vapor Caves & Mineral Baths take the hot mineral waters naturally high in sulphur and other therapeutic minerals and create a modern day spa with all of the comforts you'd expect. www.yampahspa.com
This is where you need to be... in your element, in the mountains, in the healing mineral waters of Glenwood Hot Springs. This is a new and refreshing approach to hydrotherapy and natural wellness. www.hotspringspool.com
Samsara Holistic Spa is a unique experience. Located in Aspen, Colorado, we offer facials, massage, and energy work, among other services. samsaraholisticspa.com
Ooh La La Pampering Parties is a premiere mobile spa service, offering luxurious spa packages for your wedding or special occasion. We provide therapeutic massage, facials & body treatments. www.oohlalapamperingparties.com
Paradise Day Spa has been in the beautiful Roaring Fork Valley since 1993. www.paradise-day-spa.com
Enjoy a relaxing spa day in the beautiful Rocky Mountains at A Sanctuary Spa & Salon in Glenwood Springs, Colorado. We promise to work as a full-service team dedicated to meet your needs. www.asanctuaryspa.com
Book your next treatment with The Wildflower Spa located at the base of the ski area in Mt. Crested Butte, Colorado. www.enhancedhealinginc.com

domain: geography


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By Ekta Chanana Last Updated:
As we grow up, we learn to accept their constant nagging to cribbing attitude and bossy nature of our siblings. Every time we see them, we think, 'tujhse banti bhi nahi, tere bina jindagi chalti bhi nahi'. But we all will agree to the fact that growing up with a sibling, whether older or younger, can be incredibly frustrating and at times entertaining. From fighting like enemies to making up like best friends, there is nothing like sibling love. And a perfect example of it is Bollywood actress, Sara Ali Khan and her bond with her 'not-so-anymore' baby brother, Ibrahim Ali Khan. (Recommend Read: Nakuul Mehta's Wife, Jankee Parekh On Embracing Motherhood, Shares A Video Flaunting Her Baby Bump)
We all know Sara shares a beautiful bond with her brother, Ibrahim Ali Khan. We have often seen the brother-sister duo cracking funny jokes and pulling each other's leg. On top of it, Sara loves playing 'knock-knock' jokes on her brother. She had once shared a video with her brother, wherein, we could see her having fun while irritating her little brother, Ibrahim Ali Khan. The actress had enjoyed her knock-knock stint and asked her brother to say something really funny and really fast. To which, Ibrahim had said, "Knock knock". Check out the full video below:
On January 22, 2021, Sara, who is vacationing in the Maldives with her brother, Ibrahim Ali Khan, took to her Instagram handle and shared a cute picture of him. Sara posted a dapper picture of Ibrahim on her Instagram story. In the picture, we can see Ibrahim in a blue button-down shirt and he was posing on a cruise. Atop it, Sara wrote, "Bhaiya mere, I love my little brother." (Also Read: Throwback: Rishi Kapoor Revealed Exactly When Wife, Neetu Kapoor Conceived Their Son, Ranbir Kapoor)
Talking about the brother-sister duo's relationship, in an interview with the HELLO! magazine, Ibrahim Ali Khan had opened up on his bond with sister, Sara Ali Khan. He had shared, “The relationship we (Sara and I) share is just perfect – we rarely fight and that’s perhaps because we have a five-year gap between us. On occasions that we do, it’s over the stupidest things. We are very close and love each other a lot.”
In an interview with the Mumbai Mirror, Sara Ali Khan had talked about her brother, Ibrahim’s acting skills and had said, "He does and from what I’ve seen of him on stage, he’ll be a better actor than me. Recently he gave me a page from his play. I’ve no idea if he had got his lines right because I couldn’t take my eyes off his face. He’s that good. But wanting to be an actor and understanding what it’s about and knowing this is what you want to do is a journey. I think he’s 99 per cent there." (Don't Miss: 'Gale Lagana Hai' Actress, Nia Sharma Is Dating Her 'Twisted' Co-Star, Rrahul Sudhir? Details Inside)
Well, we love Sara love for her brother, Ibrahim!
Bollywood actor, Saif Ali Khan and his former wife, Amrita Singh's children, Sara Ali Khan and Ibrahim Ali Khan share a warm bond with each other. Ever since Sara joined the film industry, we have often seen the sibling duo's masti. From attending glamourous events together to going on vacations, SaraRead More

domain: celebrity