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The determinants of cancellous bone turnover and trabecular structure are not understood in normal bone or skeletal disease. Bone remodeling is initiated by osteoclastic resorption followed by osteoblastic formation of new bone. Receptor activator of nuclear factor κB ligand (RANKL) is a newly described regulator of osteoclast formation and function, the activity of which appears to be a balance between interaction with its receptor RANK and with an antagonist binding protein osteoprotegerin (OPG). Therefore, we have examined the relationship between the expression of RANKL, RANK, and OPG and indices of bone structure and turnover in human cancellous bone from the proximal femur. Bone samples were obtained from individuals with osteoarthritis (OA) at joint replacement surgery and from autopsy controls. Histomorphometric analysis of these samples showed that eroded surface (ES/BS) and osteoid surface (OS/BS) were positively associated in both control (p < 0.001) and OA (p < 0.02), indicating that the processes of bone resorption and bone formation remain coupled in OA, as they are in controls. RANKL, OPG, and RANK messenger RNA (mRNA) were abundant in human cancellous bone, with significant differences between control and OA individuals. In coplotting the molecular and histomorphometric data, strong associations were found between the ratio of RANKL/OPG mRNA and the indices of bone turnover (RANKL/OPG vs. ES/BS: r = 0.93, p < 0.001; RANKL/OPG vs. OS/BS: r = 0.80, p < 0.001). These relationships were not evident in trabecular bone from severe OA, suggesting that bone turnover may be regulated differently in this disease. We propose that the effective concentration of RANKL is related causally to bone turnover.
OSTEOARTHRITIS (OA) is a common skeletal disease in both men and women, characterized by progressive degenerative damage to the articular joint cartilage and in severe cases, considerable pain and disability. The etiology of OA is not understood and there are no proven treatments to reduce the severity or slow the progression of this disease. For many sufferers of hip and knee OA, symptoms become sufficiently severe to require resolution by joint replacement surgery.
Although the major focus in OA has been on the articular cartilage, the disease also is associated consistently with marked changes in the subchondral bone. Analysis of femoral heads in hip OA has shown that the subchondral cancellous bone typically is sclerotic and trabecular bone volume is increased compared with age-matched controls.(1–3) It has been postulated that such changes are caused by alteration of loading through the joint because of the articular disease(4) or, alternatively, that they are secondary to pathology within the joint. However, similar changes also are found at sites distal to the joint articular surface, in the proximal femur, and in the iliac crest,(2, 5) suggesting that they are not reactive simply to the joint pathology. The different bone structure in hip OA is accompanied by altered mechanical properties, with a more rigid cancellous bone.(6) Because this more rigid bone would have a reduced ability to absorb shock, it has been postulated that the bone changes in OA might exacerbate the disease or could even precede and be causative of the cartilage degeneration.(7, 8)
The cellular and molecular mechanisms that lead to particular trabecular structures in healthy bone or in the pathology of OA are not well understood. However, now there is a large amount of information about the factors that are capable of regulating the differentiation and activity of the cell types that are responsible for the remodeling of bone, the osteoblast, and the osteoclast. It is understood that physiological bone remodeling is achieved by the initial activity of osteoclasts to resorb bone followed by the formation of new bone by osteoblasts and that these processes are strongly interrelated. Signals that promote osteoclast differentiation appear to act via receptors expressed by cells of the osteoblast lineage,(9) suggesting that in situ, localized activation of osteoclastogenesis leads to site-directed remodeling.
Considerable progress has been made toward an understanding of the mechanisms responsible for the formation and activation of osteoclasts. A large number of hormones and cytokines have been identified that can stimulate the development of osteoclasts from their hematopoietic precursors.(9, 10) Recently, a cell-surface member of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) ligand family, termed receptor activator of nuclear factor κB ligand (RANKL),(11) or variously termed TNF-related activation-induced cytokine osteoprotegerin ligand/osteoclast differentiation factor (TRANCE(12)/OPGL(13)/ODF(14)) was shown to be central in both osteoclast development and activity.(13) Agents that induce bone resorption have been shown to induce the presentation of RANKL on the surface of osteoblastic cells, which are then able to promote osteoclast formation.(14, 15) RANKL binds to a TNF-receptor superfamily member RANK(16) that is expressed on the surface of osteoclasts and their precursors.(17) RANK has been shown to be essential for osteoclast formation, and RANK-deficient mice exhibit profound osteopetrosis.(18) Likewise, a natural RANKL antagonist, a soluble TNF-receptor family member termed OPG, can inhibit osteoclast formation and bone resorption.(19) Overexpression of OPG in mice resulted in an osteopetrotic phenotype,(19) whereas mice in which the OPG gene is deleted develop extensive osteoporosis and increased numbers of osteoclasts.(20) OPG is expressed by a wide variety of cell types, including osteoblasts, in which its expression is down-regulated by many of the same factors that promote bone resorption and RANKL expression.(21) Thus, there is now good evidence that the local amount of RANKL, relative to OPG, is important in osteoclast formation.(22)
We set out to examine the relationship in human cancellous bone between the expression of RANKL, OPG, and RANK and parameters of bone structure and turnover. We found strong associations between the ratio of RANKL/OPG messenger RNA (mRNA) and indices of bone turnover, consistent with the notion that the corresponding RANKL and OPG molecules have a central role in human bone remodeling. In contrast, these relationships were not evident in trabecular bone from severe OA of the hip, suggesting that bone turnover may be regulated differently in this disease.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Human bone specimens
Proximal femur surgical specimens were obtained from 16 patients (8 from the left side and 8 from the right side) undergoing total hip arthroplasty for primary OA (8 women, 49-84 years old, and 8 men, 50-85 years old; mean ± SD; age, 68.6 ± 11.8 years). The control group (11 left and 2 right) was selected from routine autopsy cases (7 women, 20-83 years old, and 6 men, 24-85 years old; 60.7 ± 21.1 years), not known to have suffered from any disease affecting the skeleton. The mean age of the OA group did not significantly differ from the control group. The intertrochanteric region was chosen for sampling because the cancellous architecture in this region depends on stresses in the proximal femoral shaft while being unaffected by the sclerotic and cystic changes of the osteoarthritic femoral head.(23) The surgical and autopsy femoral heads were graded macroscopically for OA by assessment of the location and degree of fibrillation and degeneration according to the criteria of Collins.(24) At surgery, primary OA femoral heads were either grade III or grade IV, characterized by cartilage loss, eburnation of bone, osteophytes, and remodeling of the articular contour; none of the autopsy femoral heads had worse than grade II OA.
A 10-mm tube saw core biopsy specimen from the intertrochanteric region of the femur was taken for each OA case at surgery. For the control group, a cancellous bone sample was cut with a band saw from the same site. Each biopsy specimen was divided lengthwise for tissue processing and molecular analyses. There was insufficient bone tissue for histology for one OA case and one control case. For histology, the tissue sample was placed in 70% ethanol and the remainder was processed for total RNA extraction. Fixed tissue was processed undecalcified, embedded in K-plast resin, and sectioned on a Jung K microtome (Reichert Jung, Heidelburg, West Germany). Sections, 5 μm thick, were stained by the von Kossa silver method and counterstained with hematoxylin and eosin to distinguish between the mineralized bone, the osteoid, and the cellular components of the marrow. Morphometric analysis was performed using an ocular-mounted 10 × 10 graticule at a magnification of ×100. Estimates were made of the following parameters: percentage of bone tissue volume (BV/TV); surface density of bone in squared millimeters per cubed millimeters (BS/TV); specific surface of bone in squared millimeters per cubed millimeters (BS/BV); trabecular thickness (Tb.Th) in microns; trabecular separation (Tb.Sp) in microns; trabecular number (Tb.N) in number per millimeter; percentage of osteoid volume (OV/TV); percentage of osteoid surface (OS/BS); and percentage of eroded surface (ES/BS).
High-quality total RNA was isolated from fresh surgical cancellous bone (after storage at 4°C up to 24 h in sterile RNAse-free phosphate-buffered saline [PBS]) and control bone (obtained 24-96 h after death) samples, as we have described previously.(25) Briefly, bone fragments were placed in 4 M guanidinium thiocyanate solution and homogenized using an Ultra-Turrax (TP 18-10; Janke & Kunkel, KG, IKA WERK, Staufen i. Breisgau, Germany). The homogenized sample was clarified by centrifugation (1000g for 5 minutes), vortexed in 0.1 vol of 2 M sodium acetate, pH 4.0, and then extracted with 1 vol of phenol and 0.2 vol of chloroform/isoamylalcohol (49:1). Total RNA was precipitated with isopropanol, resuspended in 1 × 10 mM Tris-HCl, 1 mM EDTA (TE) containing 0.1 vol of 3 M sodium acetate, pH 5.2, then reextracted with 0.5 vol phenol, followed by 0.5 vol chloroform/isoamylalcohol. The RNA was then extracted with 3 vol of 4M sodium acetate, pH 7.0, to remove contaminating proteoglycans, and then precipitated at −20°C overnight. Total RNA was recovered by centrifugation, washed with 75% ethanol, air-dried, dissolved in diethylpyrocarbonate (DEPC)-treated water, and stored at −70°C until further use.
Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction
First-strand complementary DNA (cDNA) was synthesized from 1.6 μg of total RNA isolated from 13 OA and 12 control bone samples, using a cDNA synthesis kit, as per manufacturer's instructions (cat. no. A3500; Promega Corp., Madison, WI, USA). cDNA was then amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to generate products corresponding to mRNA encoding human OPG, RANKL, RANK, and the housekeeping gene glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), using oligonucleotide primer sequences and reaction conditions, as we have previously described.(26) GAPDH was chosen to ensure that the various mRNA levels were normalized against the total mRNA content in the samples. PCR was performed for 26 cycles for GAPDH and 30 cycles for each of OPG, RANKL, and RANK. In all cases, the primers were mRNA-specific in that the recognition sites of the upstream and downstream primers resided in separate exons or at intron/exon boundaries in the genomic sequence. To allow semiquantitation of the PCR products, preliminary experiments were performed to ensure that the number of PCR cycles were within the exponential phase of the amplification curve. Amplification products were resolved by electrophoresis on a 2% wt/vol agarose gel poststained with SYBR-1 Green (cat. no. S-7565; Molecular Probes, Eugene, OR, USA). The intensity of the PCR products was quantified using FluorImager and ImageQuant software (Molecular Dynamics, Sunnyvale, CA, USA). Amplified products corresponding to OPG, RANKL, and RANK mRNA are represented as a ratio of the respective PCR product/GAPDH PCR product. It was important for this method that all samples in each amplification reaction were electrophoresed in a single gel, and good interassay variability was obtained by adhering to this procedure. To validate the extraction of RNA from autopsy bone, we confirmed that there was no evidence for any significant degradation of the RNA according to ethidium bromide-stained formaldehyde gels or the differential degradation of particular mRNA species, as we have described previously.(25)
The statistical significance of differences between the control and experimental groups were determined by Student's t-test. Regression analysis was used to examine the relationship between PCR products and bone histomorphometric variables (EXCEL; Microsoft Corp., Redmond, WA, USA). The critical value for significance was chosen for p = 0.05.
In this study we sought to examine the relationship between indices of human cancellous bone structure and remodeling and gene expression of the cytokines RANKL, OPG, and RANK, which are potentially involved in regulating bone turnover in the bone microenvironment. We have previously reported on bone histomorphometric parameters in trabecular bone samples taken from a number of sites in the proximal femur and the iliac crest.(1, 5, 27) In this study we have compared the bone architecture and bone remodeling in OA with control individuals, specifically in cancellous bone samples isolated from the intertrochanteric region of the proximal femur.
Comparison of mean bone structural indices and bone remodeling indices between OA and control individuals
As described in the Materials and Methods section, histomorphometry was performed on cancellous bone samples obtained from patients with severe OA undergoing total hip arthroplasty and from controls without evidence of severe OA pathology taken at autopsy. The mean values for the structural parameters of trabecular bone at this site were similar for the OA and control groups (Table 1). To enable comparison of age-matched control and OA groups, analysis also was performed after exclusion of the two younger control individuals (Table 1). In the latter comparison, OA bone had significantly decreased mean Tb.Sp (p < 0.03), consistent with our previous reports.(5) The static indices of bone turnover, OV/TV, OS/BS, and ES/BS showed the same overall relationships (Table 1), whether all samples were included in the analysis or only those from individuals greater than 40 years of age. In both cases, ES/BS was significantly decreased in the OA group (p < 0.01), indicating reduced bone resorption at this bone site in OA. Although the mean values for parameters corresponding to bone formation, OV/TV, and OS/BS were higher in OA than in the controls, these did not reach a difference of statistical significance.
Table Table 1.. Trabecular Bone Structure and Bone Turnover Indices in OA and Control Intertrochanteric Cancellous Bone Samples
Age dependence of bone structural indices and bone remodeling indices in OA and control individuals
When the histomorphometric measures were plotted against age, the following relationships emerged. First, we found a significant decrease in BV/TV with age for the controls (r = −0.70; p < 0.008; Fig. 1), as reported previously.(2) This relationship was not seen for the age-matched control cohort, which excludes the two younger samples, and the OA group (Fig. 1). In the case of ES/BS, there was a significant increase with age (r = 0.65; p < 0.02) for controls, indicating an increased extent of bone resorption with age (Fig. 2A). This relationship was not observed for the age-matched control and OA groups (Fig. 2A). The OA values for ES/BS segregated such that they were, in general, lower than the control values in each corresponding age range, which was consistent with the difference in mean values discussed previously (Table 1). For OS/BS there was a significant increase with age for controls (r = 0.61; p < 0.03; Fig. 2B), indicating an increased extent of bone formation with age. This relationship was maintained even after exclusion of the two younger control individuals. This, together with an age-dependent increase in ES/BS, indicates an increase in the rate of bone turnover with aging in control individuals. In the OA samples, OS/BS was not significantly correlated with age. Despite the lack of correlation with age in OA for either ES/BS or OS/BS, ES/BS significantly correlated with OS/BS for both the OA and the control groups (r = 0.57 and p < 0.02 and r = 0.79 and p < 0.001, respectively; Fig. 3). This indicates that the processes of bone resorption and bone formation remain coupled in OA, as they are in controls. However, the intercepts of the regression lines shown in Fig. 3 are different (p < 0.003), indicating that for a given amount of resorption there is more bone-forming surface in the OA group than for the control group (Fig. 3). These results have important implications for bone remodeling in OA.
Expression of RANKL, OPG, and RANK mRNA in OA and control trabecular bone
Reverse-transcription (RT)-PCR was used to examine the expression of RANKL, OPG, and RANK mRNA in cancellous bone samples contiguous with those used for histomorphometric analysis from OA patients and autopsy control individuals. Because the results of this study rely on the ability to reliably harvest mRNA species from autopsy bone, we were careful to exclude the possibility of either overall RNA degradation or targeted degradation of specific mRNA species in the bone samples. Thus, RNA samples were used only where there was no evidence of degradation on ethidium bromide-stained gels. In addition, extensive testing showed conclusively that none of the mRNA species of interest was selectively degraded in bone samples stored at 4°C and there was no evidence for selective degradation between the time of death and autopsy in non-OA controls.(25)
mRNA corresponding to each of RANKL, OPG, and RANK was abundant in cancellous bone samples analyzed from the proximal femur. This is the first direct demonstration that these molecules are expressed in the human bone microenvironment. Typical PCR products corresponding to mRNA expression for RANKL, OPG, and RANK for the OA and control groups are shown in Fig. 4. The PCR products were authenticated by comparison with the expected product size and by hybridization to an internal oligonucleotide probe. The number of PCR cycles used for each of these transcripts was within the exponential phase of the amplification curve, enabling comparison of expression between samples. Relative levels of RANKL, OPG, and RANK mRNA were determined by normalizing values to the GAPDH mRNA level determined for each sample.
Expression of OPG, RANKL, and RANK mRNA in females and males
The pooled OA and control group data for OPG/GAPDH mRNA showed no difference between females and males (female: 0.27 ± 0.14 [mean ± SD], n = 14; male: 0.25 ± 0.24, n = 11; p = NS). There also was no difference for RANKL/GAPDH (female, 0.66 ± 0.47; male, 0.55 ± 0.54; p = NS) or RANK/GAPDH (female, 0.48 ± 0.30; male, 0.55 ± 0.47; p = NS) mRNA expression. In addition, when the data were separated into the OA and control groups, no significant difference was found between females and males. Based on these comparisons, analyses of the data were made, independent of sex, for the OA and control groups.
RANK mRNA expression is elevated in OA bone
The mean values obtained for RANKL, OPG, and RANK mRNA expression in the OA and control groups are shown in Table 2. In OA, the mean mRNA expression of RANK/GAPDH was significantly elevated in comparison with the control group (p < 0.01). In contrast, there was no significant difference in mean RANKL/GAPDH or OPG/GAPDH mRNA levels between the OA and control groups. There was comparable variance from the mean for RANKL mRNA in OA and the controls.
Table Table 2.. RT-PCR Product/GAPDH Ratio in OA and Control Intertrochanteric Cancellous Bone Samples
Relationships between RANKL versus OPG mRNA, RANK versus OPG mRNA, and RANKL versus RANK mRNA expression in the proximal femur
When the results for RANKL and OPG mRNA, and RANKL and RANK mRNA were coplotted, significant positive associations were observed. First, RANKL/GAPDH mRNA versus OPG/GAPDH mRNA values were positively associated for both control and OA samples (r = 0.55 and p < 0.05 and r = 0.79 and p < 0.001, respectively; Fig. 5A). However, the slope of the regression line for the control samples was greater than for the OA samples (p < 0.003) so that for a given level of RANKL mRNA, the corresponding level of OPG mRNA was greater in OA samples. Per unit of OPG gene expression, the level of RANKL gene expression in OA was about half that in the controls (regression slopes = 1.67 for OA vs. regression slopes = 3.06 for controls). Taken together, these results suggest that there is a relationship between the positive and negative osteoclastic influences in the bone microenvironment and that the inhibitory influence is relatively greater in OA. When the RANKL/GAPDH mRNA levels were plotted versus RANK/GAPDH mRNA, the level of RANKL gene expression increased in parallel as the level of RANK gene expression increased in both OA and controls (r = 0.95 and p < 0.001 and r = 0.66 and p < 0.01, respectively; Fig. 5B). However, the results segregated such that for a given level of RANK mRNA, the level of RANKL mRNA was higher in the control group. Hence, for a given level of OPG or RANK gene expression, there was a lower level of RANKL gene expression in OA compared with controls (Figs. 5A and 5B). The plot of RANK/GAPDH mRNA versus OPG/GAPDH mRNA expression shows the level of RANK gene expression associated positively with OPG gene expression in OA (r = 0.74; p < 0.003) but not in controls (Fig. 5C). These data suggest that in vivo, as has been shown in vitro,(14) a competitive binding between RANK and OPG with RANKL is a significant factor in osteoclastogenesis. The mean ratios of RANKL/OPG mRNA and RANKL/RANK mRNA were significantly lower (p < 0.02 and p < 0.001, respectively), and RANK/OPG mRNA was significantly increased (p < 0.03) in OA (Table 3). As discussed in more detail in the following sections, there is now good evidence in cell culture model systems that it is the effective concentration of RANKL, as reflected by the ratio of RANKL/OPG, that is of central importance in osteoclastogenesis and osteoclast activity.(22)
Table Table 3.. RT-PCR Product Ratios in OA and Control Intertrochanteric Cancellous Bone Samples
Expression of RANKL, OPG, and RANK mRNA as a function of age
Plotting the values corresponding to mRNA levels for RANKL, OPG, and RANK as a function of age showed that the RANKL/GAPDH mRNA ratio increased with age in the control group (r = 0.62; p < 0.02; Fig. 6A), although this relationship was dependent on inclusion of the two younger samples. There was a positive association between RANK/GAPDH mRNA expression and age for the OA samples (r = 0.58; p < 0.04; Fig. 6C) and the level of RANK gene expression tended to be higher than controls at each age. OPG/GAPDH mRNA showed no dependence on age (Fig. 6B) and remained relatively constant with aging. It should be noted that although the mean OPG/GAPDH mRNA expression was similar in both groups (Table 2), the variance in this value in OA was nine times the variance in controls so that the level of OPG gene expression may be more tightly regulated during aging in controls than in OA.
Because, as mentioned previously, it is the ratio of RANKL/OPG that appears to be of central importance in osteoclastogenesis and osteoclast activity, it was of great interest to investigate this relationship during aging. It was found that the ratio of RANKL/OPG mRNA levels increased in parallel as age increased in both OA (r = 0.58; p < 0.03) and the controls (r = 0.60; p < 0.03; Fig. 7A), although this relationship in the controls was dependent on inclusion of the two younger samples. Importantly, the values segregated such that the RANKL/OPG mRNA levels in control bone were higher than for OA across the entire age range examined, consistent with our observation of reduced bone resorption in OA, compared with controls. The RANKL/RANK mRNA ratio was age-dependent in OA (r = 0.58; p < 0.04) but was not dependent on age in controls (Fig. 7B), which was reflected in the 24 times greater variance in this value in controls than OA (Table 3). More importantly, RANKL/RANK mRNA versus age showed a clear segregation of values between controls and OA individuals, such that the values for OA were lower than controls across the age range examined. RANK/OPG mRNA was not age dependent in either group (Fig. 7C).
Bone volume and bone turnover correlate with the ratio of RANKL/OPG mRNA expression in control bone but not in OA
Because it is the ratio of RANKL/OPG that determines the effective level of RANKL, we explored the relationship between the RANKL/OPG mRNA ratio and indices of trabecular bone volume and turnover. There were 11 control and 12 OA cases in which both molecular and histomorphometric data were available for analysis. The plot of BV/TV versus RANKL/OPG showed a significant decrease in controls (r = −0.67; p < 0.05; Fig. 8). However, no relationship was seen in the OA samples or in the age-matched control cohort excluding the two younger samples. A strong association was found between both ES/BS and RANKL/OPG mRNA (r = 0.93; p < 0.001) and OS/BS and RANKL/OPG mRNA (r = 0.80; p < 0.001) for control bone samples. In both cases, there was a strong positive correlation, suggesting that the ratio of RANKL/OPG may well be of central importance in bone remodeling (Figs. 9A and 9C). The relationships between ES/BS and RANKL/OPG mRNA levels and OS/BS and RANKL/OPG mRNA levels were determined by the levels of RANKL mRNA. In neither OA nor controls was there an observable relationship between ES/BS or OS/BS and OPG mRNA or RANK mRNA. However, ES/BS increased in the control samples as the RANKL/GAPDH mRNA ratio increased (r = 0.83; p < 0.001; results not shown) and OS/BS also was found to increase in controls with the RANKL/GAPDH mRNA ratio (r = 0.84; p < 0.001; results not shown).
The relationships between RANKL/OPG mRNA and ES/BS and OS/BS were not evident for the OA samples (Figs. 9B and 9D). We propose that there may be a fundamental difference in the regulation of bone turnover and remodeling in trabecular bone in OA.
Presently, the etiology of OA is unknown. It is possible that the different presentations of OA, with different spectra of joints involved, indicate that OA is actually a cluster of diseases, with the common feature of relatively noninflammatory degeneration of the articular cartilage. Thus, OA of the hand, OA of the hip, and generalized OA appear to have different genetic bases.(28, 29) Despite these differences, a common feature of OA is a set of changes in the subchondral trabecular bone. Characteristically, the subchondral bone is sclerotic, with increased Tb.Th and decreased intertrabecular spacing.(1) The altered trabecular architecture is associated with altered mechanical properties, such that the tissue is rendered more rigid and less able to absorb shock.(6) These changes in the subchondral bone therefore may exacerbate the disease by transferring more of the load to the articular surface. In hip OA, it has been found that the trabecular bone more distal from the affected joint surface also is reproducibly different from bone in the corresponding site in control individuals.(5) We have described similar architectural changes as found in the femoral head in the intertrochanteric region,(2) more than 15 cm from the joint surface, as well as in the iliac crest. These findings in severe OA have led several investigators to hypothesize that the bone changes in OA may precede and even be causative of the degeneration of the articular cartilage, as first proposed by Radin et al.(7) Thus, the trabecular bone changes may precede the joint degeneration of OA or may arise secondarily to the joint pathology or indeed may occur in parallel with the cartilage damage, driven by the same causative agent(s) that led to cartilage disease. Whichever of these is the case, to devise effective treatments for OA, clearly, it is important to develop an understanding of the processes that lead to the bony component of this disease.
Previous studies have described the relative maintenance with age of trabecular bone volume in OA, compared with the well-known decrease in trabecular bone volume with age in non-OA controls.(2) Although we have confirmed the relationship between BV/TV with age for control subjects without progressive OA, comparison with OA subjects will require a greater sample size than the current study. In addition to the conservation of trabecular volume in OA, the femoral cancellous bone adjacent to the intertrochanteric region in OA is reported to have less well-mineralized bone than non-OA bone. However, bone in OA with increased BV/TV is structurally more rigid.(2, 6) Our results suggest that the principal reason for these differences in trabecular bone in OA may be an altered bone turnover balance, where a decrease in eroded surface (ES/BS), relative to bone formation (OS/BS; Fig. 3), could result in maintenance of BV/TV. This suggestion would be consistent with other studies of the hip and the iliac crest, which provided evidence that bone volume in OA is increased or maintained as a result of reduced bone turnover.(30, 31) Because those observations were made at sites distant from the joint, they were thought not to be subject to loading abnormalities or simply reactive to the joint pathology.
Our data suggest that the decreased ES/BS, relative to OS/BS, in OA primarily is caused by reduced resorption surface in OA (Fig. 3). We interpret these data as describing events within the bone remodeling structures known as basic multicellular units (BMUs), in which both osteoclastic resorption and osteoblastic bone formation occur.(32) Our results focus on cytokines that promote osteoclast formation and activity. Almost certainly, signals also control the rate and extent of bone formation by osteoblasts, although the nature of these signals has not been determined. It is artificial to separate, conceptually or functionally, the processes of bone resorption and formation. However, as shown previously,(33) and now by our results, the relative extent of the two processes may alter under particular circumstances and disease states. Therefore, we were interested in exploring the molecular basis for the difference in resorption between the two groups. After the identification of RANKL as a central player in osteoclastic formation and activity, we designed experiments to investigate its role in the human bone microenvironment. Our data provide new insights into the expression of RANKL, as well as its receptor/effector partner RANK, and OPG, the natural inhibitor of RANKL, in cancellous bone. We have shown for the first time that mRNA corresponding to all three molecules is expressed abundantly in human cancellous bone. Although this result might have been expected, based on a growing amount of information derived largely from cell culture systems and from nonhuman species (reviewed by Hofbauer et al.),(22) the way in which the expression of these molecules relates to events in the human bone microenvironment needs to be established.
The data indicate strong positive associations between the expression of RANKL and OPG mRNA, as well as RANKL and RANK mRNA, in the cancellous bone of the proximal femur. This suggests that, as OPG and RANK increase, RANKL also is increased. However, we found that resorption increases as the RANKL/OPG ratio increases. The changes in the magnitude of this ratio can be the result of changes in the magnitude of RANKL and OPG independently or linked. The data show that the effective osteoclastogenic influence, represented by the ratio of RANKL/OPG, is positively associated with age in both control and OA bone and that this is largely driven by the changing RANKL levels. Experiments in vitro, in which bone marrow stromal cells and osteoblast-like cells were treated with proresorptive agents, have shown concomitant up-regulation of RANKL mRNA and down-regulation of OPG mRNA or up-regulation of RANKL with no change or even an increase in OPG, with the end result in each case an increase in the RANKL/OPG mRNA ratio.(15, 34) In interpreting in vivo results, it is important to note that while RANKL is expressed by a relatively restricted number of cell types, including stromal/osteoblastic cells and T cells, OPG is expressed widely by many cell types. The lower ratio of RANKL/OPG mRNA in OA (Table 3) occurs in the context of no statistical difference in the mean RANKL/GAPDH and OPG/GAPDH mRNA expression (Table 2). This is indicative of a robust and multidimensional control process operating to maintain the integrity of the skeleton. The association between RANKL mRNA and RANK mRNA levels (Fig. 5) suggests either that the same stimulus regulates the expression of both molecules or, more likely, that the same stimulus up-regulates RANKL and causes recruitment of RANK-expressing osteoclast precursor cells. Although these overall relationships were observed in both control and OA bone, the data show clear differences. For a given level of RANKL mRNA there was a higher level of OPG mRNA in OA, consistent with a lower net osteoclastogenic influence in OA samples. In fact, we recently have reported that OA bone has lower levels than control of mRNA for interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IL-11,(25) both of which act on cells of the osteoblast lineage to promote osteoclast formation.(10)
Coplots of the molecular measures of RANKL, OPG, and RANK mRNA and indices of bone structure and turnover revealed strong associations in bone samples from control individuals. The bone resorption index ES/BS was strongly positively associated with RANKL/OPG mRNA levels and this was found to be almost entirely because of the RANKL component. The ratio of RANKL/OPG, as already discussed, is likely to represent the actual local osteoclastogenic influence. This relationship strongly supports the concept that our surrogate measures of RANKL and OPG mRNA levels relate directly to levels of expression of the corresponding proteins in the bone tissue and that the effective concentration of RANKL is dominant in controlling the extent of bone resorption in trabecular bone. It also was interesting to find that the index of bone formation OS/BS was also strongly positively associated with the RANKL/OPG mRNA ratio. This result is consistent with the notion that bone resorption and bone formation are tightly coupled in the human bone microenvironment and that bone turnover is initiated by bone resorption, which is in turn dependent on the effective levels of RANKL. It is important to note here that the molecular indices are completely consistent with the histomorphometric parameters, a highly significant finding given the totally different means of assessing these two types of data. Most importantly, the data shown in Figs. 8 and 9 indicate that the relationships between RANKL/OPG and bone turnover were not evident for the OA bone samples. We thus conclude that the molecular mechanisms of bone turnover may be different fundamentally in OA. We further speculate that the trabecular bone structures in OA arise by subversion of the physiological RANKL-controlled mechanisms.
The mechanisms that lead to the particular shape and structure of bony trabeculae in general and in the proximal hip in particular are clearly complex, involving both mechanical and chemical inputs. However, we have obtained strong evidence in this study that RANKL may be of central importance in determining the trabecular volume and turnover at this site. The strikingly different results obtained with bone from individuals with severe OA suggest that our experimental approach of molecular histomorphometry has great potential to point to the mechanisms that lead to the altered bone structures found in this disease. If, as we hypothesize, this altered bone is an early event in OA, causing or exacerbating the condition, an understanding of these mechanisms, together with early recognition of potential OA sufferers, may enable preventative treatment of these individuals in the future.
The authors thank the Orthopedic Surgeons and Sister Lynn Betts in the Royal Adelaide Hospital for their support and cooperation in the collection of femoral specimens and the Mortuary Staff of the Institute of Medical and Veterinary Science for the collection of autopsy specimens. This work was supported in part by the Adelaide University Faculty of Medicine Research Committee, Adelaide Bone and Joint Research Foundation, Royal Adelaide Hospital and Arthritis Foundation of Australia.

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Questions About This Book?
What version or edition is this?
This is the Revised edition with a publication date of 10/8/2012.
What is included with this book?
- The New copy of this book will include any supplemental materials advertised. Please check the title of the book to determine if it should include any CDs, lab manuals, study guides, etc.
Choral music is now undoubtedly the foremost genre of participatory music making, with more people singing in choirs than ever before. Written by a team of leading international practitioners and scholars, this Companion addresses the history of choral music, its emergence and growth worldwide and its professional practice. The volume sets out a historical survey of the genre and follows with a kaleidoscopic bird's eye view of choral music from all over the world. Chapters vividly portray the emergence and growth of choral music from its Quranic antecedents in West and Central Asia to the baroque churches of Latin America, representing its global diversity. Uniquely, the book includes a pedagogical section where several leading choral musicians write about the voice and the inner workings of a choir and give their professional insights into choral practice. This Companion will appeal to choral scholars, directors and performers alike.
Table of Contents
|Foreword John Rutter|
|Introduction: choral music - a dynamic global genre|
|Choral Music: History and Context:|
|A brief anatomy of choirs, c.1470-1770|
|Choral music in the culture of the nineteenth century|
|Choral music in the twentieth and early twenty-first centuries|
|The nature of chorus|
|Choral Music the World Over:|
|Choral music and tradition in Europe and Israel|
|Canada's choral landscape|
|A multiplicity of voices: choral music in the United States|
|A hundred years of choral music in Latin America, 1908-2008|
|Choral music in East Asia: China, Japan, and Korea|
|New voices in ancient lands: choral music in South and Southeast|
|From chanting Quran to singing oratorio: choral music in West and Central Asia|
|Voices of the Pacific: the (ch)oral traditions of Oceania|
|Choral music in Africa: history, content, and performance practice|
|Choral Philosophy, Practice, and Pedagogy:|
|Globalization, multiculturalism, and the children's chorus|
|Exploring the universal voice|
|Authentic choral music experience as 'good work': the practice of engaged musicianship|
|The making of a choir: understanding individuality and consensus in choral singing|
|A point of departure for rehearsal preparation and planning|
|Small ensemble rehearsal techniques for choirs of all sizes|
|Table of Contents provided by Publisher. All Rights Reserved.|


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World trial cancelled
The British Round of the World Trials Championship – Trial GP, Trial 2 and Trial 125 – has been cancelled.
The event was due to have been held over the weekend of October 9/10 at Tong near Bradford with the cancellation notified a few days ago.
No specific reason has been given for calling off the event at such relatively short notice, but it has been clear for some time that the trial was unlikely to go ahead.
Tong, which was used for two previous rounds in 2016 and 2017 has been heavily used by enduro riders and events which have dramatically altered much of the land, whilst the rock sections constructed by the previous organisers have been almost completely levelled to cater for the enduro riders.
In addition, world rounds are not generally held after the Trial des Nations (scheduled for September 17-19 in Portugal) and it has also been suggested that riders and factories were not keen to travel to Britain for an event in October when the weather could be inclement, together with the onerous conditions imposed by the UK government for visitors to the UK when compared to the open border policy within Europe.
So there’s no chance of seeing Toni Bou (lead image) in action in the UK this year.

domain: news


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These turned out just how i wanted look so cute!
These have maybe been some of my favorite keychains i’ve made so far. The colors are so cool and they look AWESOME in the light. My pink one was probably my favorite of the two, it just looks so pretty.
I love how my keychains came out. The ordering process was super simple and quick to fill out. When I received my product they were carefully packaged with bubble wrap, individually in plastic, and each one had a protective peel away plastic on them to prevent any scratching in transit.
I got the solid black printing, and it's a nice alternative if you wanna do single-sided printing but don't want the back to look empty.
No issues with printing, but I chose an opaque option so I'm not sure how the translucent ones would go!
Love how vibrant these are! Choosing a couple of different colours makes for more interesting sets of charms.

domain: design


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Birthstone Collection - September
Our Birthstone Collection is the perfect way to give special occasions thoughtful meaning. A singular grand rose is carefully placed in a lucite case, and meticulously embellished with Swarovski® crystals mimicking each month’s gemstone. Keep your loved ones close with the Birthstone Collection in your home or select stones that have personal meaning to you. A keepsake that will last for years featuring our Lifetime® rose.
Sapphire is a symbol of sincerity and commitment. The beautiful blue gem is said to promote calmness and balance . Did you know that early astrologers believed each gemstone brought healing powers to the people born in each respective month? The Sapphire's astrological signs are held in Virgo and Libra, known for their role in balance and faithfulness.

domain: artistic


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An alliance of environmentalists, trade unionists, and trade associations has come together to voice their concerns over the installation of hydrogen-capable gas heaters.
In an open letter addressed to members of the Bundestag, the signatories argue for the abolition of the Building Energy Act, which allows for the installation of such heaters. The letter emphasizes the urgent need to address the climate crisis and criticizes the reliance on what they consider to be inadequate solutions that would continue the use of natural gas for heating.
According to the Federal Government’s plans, gas heating systems will no longer be permitted for installation starting next year, except for those that can operate with climate-neutral hydrogen. However, the signatories view this exception as a mere facade and raise concerns about the high costs and risks associated with the installation of gas heating systems in the hope of eventually transitioning to hydrogen.
The associations argue that converting natural gas networks to pure hydrogen is not practical for the entire building sector. They highlight that even beyond 2030, hydrogen production will remain limited and expensive. Even if grid conversion succeeds in certain areas, consumers may face exorbitant operating costs.
The draft of the Building Energy Act, which includes the exception for hydrogen heaters, was approved by the Federal Cabinet in mid-April. This exception was largely influenced by the Free Democratic Party (FDP), which advocates for “technology openness.” In the parliamentary process, the FDP is pushing for further changes, such as extended deadlines for the expansion of hydrogen networks.
The debate surrounding hydrogen-capable gas heaters reflects the broader discussions on the role of hydrogen in the energy transition. While hydrogen is considered a promising energy carrier for decarbonization, concerns about its practicality, cost-effectiveness, and scalability persist. Balancing the need for immediate action against the long-term vision for a sustainable energy system is a challenge that requires careful consideration of various factors.


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Trolgar Accent Table - Brown Oak & Black Finish
Description of the Trolgar Collection:
Minimalist wooden frame with some metal accents brings a soft industrial vibe that makes your decor feel breezy and fresh. The accent table is finished in a brown oak for a warm wood tone, sitting atop black metal legs which employ a sense of industrial rawness. Two storage drawers offer the perfect place for all your little odds and ends, with an open compartment design for storage or display. Infusing your empty sapce with big style, this versatile work can be used as a nightstand or sofa table,
The description above and photos shown apply to the entire Trolgar collection, and may include references to other products from the same collection that are sold separately/not included. See below for a list of exactly what is included with your purchase.
- Accent Table
- Any other items shown in the picture(s) or mentioned in this product's description are sold separately and are not included
Trolgar Collection Features:
- 2 Storage Drawers
- 1 Open Compartment
- Metal Leg
- Side Metal Drawer Glide
- 3/4 Extension Drawer Glide
- Drawer Pull: Metal Bar
- Leg Height: 5"
Dimensions and Weight:
- 23"L x 16"W x 18"H
- Product Weight: 26 pounds
Click this link to view the entire Trolgar collection.


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Green roofs are one of the method of recovering green space in urban are-as. They are also effective in improvement of air quality and local climate as well as play an important role in thermal insulation of buildings. The most important role they play in urban areas is rain water retention and delaying of the runoff. The main goal of the research was to estimate potential influence of the green roof substrate on runoff water quality. Preliminary results show increase of the con-centration of phosphates and total solids in leachate. Mean concentration of solids in intensive roof substrate leachate amounted 231 mg dm-3 and in extensive sub-strate leachate 274 mg dm-3, comparing to concentration 6-7 mg dm-3 in simulated rain. Phosphorus concentration in intensive and extensive substrate runoff amounted 0,112 mgPO4-P dm-3 and 0,126 mgPO4-P dm-3 respectively. Phosphorus concentration in simulated rain amounted 0,056 mgPO4-P dm-3. Even if the concentrations in substrate leachate are low, phosphorus can still be an important factor influencing green roofs runoff receiver quality.
ul. Nowoursynowska 159, 02-776 Warszawa http://wiks.sggw.pl/struktura_f.htm

domain: geography


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New rules allow for safety-watch system
The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries has consolidated fall-protection requirements in WAC 296-155, "Safety Standards for Construction Work," into one set of requirements and added new rules that went into effect April 1, including a provision for a safety-watch system.
A safety-watch system is a "fall protection system as described in WAC 296-155-24615(6), in which a competent person monitors one worker who is engaged in repair work or servicing equipment on low pitch roofs only." The rule states when one employee is conducting any repair work or servicing equipment on a roof with a slope no greater than 4:12 (18 degrees), employers are allowed to use a safety-watch system.
A safety-watch system requires only two employees be on the roof while the safety-watch system is being used—one employee acting as the safety watch and one employee performing repair work or servicing equipment. The employee performing the task must comply with fall-hazard warnings from the safety watch.
The requirement also states mechanical equipment cannot be used with a safety-watch system. Mechanical equipment means all motor or human-propelled wheeled equipment except for wheelbarrows, mop carts, robotic welders or robotic crimpers. In addition, a safety-watch system must not be used when weather conditions create additional hazards.
The employee acting as the safety watch must be a competent person as defined in WAC 296-155-24603; have full control over the work as it relates to fall protection; have a clear, unobstructed view of the worker; be able to maintain normal voice communication; and must not perform other duties while acting as the safety watch.
More information is available at www.lni.wa.gov.
OSHA reminds employers to post injury and illness form
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has reminded employers to post OSHA Form 300A until April 30. The form lists a summary of the total number of job-related injuries and illnesses that occurred during 2012.
The summary must include the total number of job-related injuries and illnesses that occurred during 2012 and were logged on OSHA Form 300, "Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses." To assist with calculating incidence rates, information about the annual average number of employees and total hours worked during the calendar year also is required. If a company recorded no injuries or illnesses during 2012, the employer must enter "zero" on the total line. The form must be signed and certified by a company executive. Form 300A should be displayed in a common area where notices to employees usually are posted.
More information regarding record-keeping requirements is available on OSHA's Injury and Illness Recordkeeping and Reporting Requirements Web page, www.osha.gov/recordkeeping. Copies of OSHA Forms 300 and 300A are available at www.osha.gov/recordkeeping/RKforms.html.
IRS expands employee classification program
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has expanded its Voluntary Classification Settlement Program (VCSP), which will allow more taxpayers to achieve certainty under the law by reclassifying their workers as employees for future tax periods.
The VCSP provides partial relief from federal payroll taxes for eligible employers who treat their workers or a class or group of workers as independent contractors or other nonemployees and now want to treat them as employees. Businesses, tax-exempt organizations and government entities may qualify.
Under the expanded program, employers under IRS audit, other than an employment tax audit, can qualify for the VCSP. Employers accepted into the program no longer will be subject to a special six-year statute of limitations; a three-year statute of limitations typically is applied to payroll taxes.
Also, until June 30, the IRS is waiving the VCSP ban on employers who fail to file required Forms 1099 with respect to workers they seek to reclassify for the past three years.
U.S. Air Force will use regional contract model
The Enterprise Sourcing Group (ESG) at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is changing the way the U.S. Air Force purchases its roof repair and replacement needs. The Air Force now will use a regional contract model representing about $325 million in total roofing requirements during five years.
As part of an ongoing effort to more efficiently procure roofing for the Air Force, ESG will solicit five multiple-award, regional indefinite delivery and indefinite quantity-type contracts covering Air Force bases located in the contiguous U.S. This change from base-specific contracts to a more strategic approach is designed to address ongoing budget and manpower challenges. Preliminary roofing requirements were released in a draft request for proposal (RFP) in mid-March, and first contract awards are expected in early 2014.
Additionally, ESG will host a preproposal conference at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base April 17. The event will communicate the preliminary contract requirements, obtain input from interested roofing contractors and provide prospective bidders with a better understanding of Air Force needs, as well as suggestions for creating winning proposals.
For those who are unable to travel to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, the conference also will be conducted online through a web conferencing service. There is no conference fee to participate. Proposed discussion topics for the event include an overview of strategic sourcing, the role of small business and optimal teaming arrangements, an overview of the Air Force's roofing strategy and objectives, and a review of the draft RFP and suggestions for successful proposals. More information about the conference is available at www.fbo.gov.
To be eligible for the VCSP, an employer must currently be treating the workers as nonemployees; consistently have treated the workers in the past as nonemployees, including having filed any required Forms 1099; and not currently be under audit regarding payroll tax issues by the IRS. Also, the employer cannot currently be under audit by the Department of Labor or a state agency regarding the classification of these workers or contesting the classification of the workers in court.
Interested employers can apply for the VCSP by filing Form 8952, "Application for Voluntary Classification Settlement Program," at least 60 days before they want to begin treating the workers as employees.
More information is available by entering VCSP in the search box at www.irs.gov.

domain: law


Show in Amsterdam on January 17 and Rotterdam on January 18
Composer and multi-instrumentalist Jeff Parker’s Suite for Max Brown will be released on January 24th, 2020 via International Anthem. The album, named for and dedicated to Parker’s mother, features nine original songs as well as “Gnarciss,” an interpretation of Joe Henderson’s “Black Narcissus,” and John Coltrane’s “After the Rain.”
The album follow’s Parker’s critically praised 2016 record The New Breed, which, as the composer says, “became a kind of tribute to my father who he passed away while I was making the album. It’s named for a clothing store he owned when I was a kid. I thought it would be nice this time to dedicate something to my mom while she’s still here to see it. Maxine Brown is her maiden name and everybody calls her Max. The picture on the cover is her when she was nineteen.”
Parker’s bandmates on Suite for Max Brown, dubbed The New Breed, include pianist-saxophonist Josh Johnson; bassist Paul Bryan, who co-produced and mixed the album with Parker; Rob Mazurek, his frequent duo partner; trumpeter Nate Walcott, a veteran of Conor Oberst’s Bright Eyes; drummers Jamire Williams, Makaya McCraven, and Jay Bellerose, Parker’s Berklee School of Music classmate; cellist Katinka Kleijn of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra; and his daughter Ruby Parker, who sings on the opening track.
Parker says of his new album, “I used to deejay a lot when I lived in Chicago. I was spinning records one night and for about ten minutes I was able to perfectly synch up a Nobukazu Takemura record with the first movement of John Coltrane’s A Love Supreme and it had this free jazz, abstract jazz thing going on with a sequenced beat underneath. It sounded so good. That’s what I’m trying to do with Suite for Max Brown. It’s got a sequenced beat and there are musicians improvising on top or beneath the sequenced drum pattern. That’s what I was going for. Man vs. machine."
Tracklist 1. Build a Nest 2. C’mon Now 3. Fusion Swirl 4. After the Rain 5. Metamorphoses 6. Gnarciss 7. Lydian, Etc. 8. Del Rio 9. 3 for L 10. Go Away 11. Max Brown
Judy Blank winnaar Pop Stipendium 2020
Low Hill brengt tweede single uit
Bobbi brengt ode aan 'summer of love'
Nieuw album Moby verschijnt op 6 maart
V2 artists at Eurosonic Noorderslag
Darlyn dagdroomt op debuutalbum
Áslaug de belofte van 2020
Tin Fingers keren terug met nieuwe single 'Fomo For Kids'
Platosonic voegt Áslaug toe aan het programma
Het nieuwe jaar begint goed: Elsa Birgitta Bekman deelt schitterende nieuwe video
Ibrahim Maalouf's 'S3NS' benoemd tot meest invloedrijke albums 2019


'Ian Anderson on Jethro Tull 2020 Tour' adds 6 new dates and will feature 'intimate evening of performance and chat'
The show, called 'Ian Anderson on Jethro Tull 2020 Tour' would feature archival footage and will see Anderson talking about his career, the history of Jethro Tull and answering audience questions, along with performances
Ian Anderson, the frontman of Jethro Tull, the British progressive rock band formed in the late sixties, has announced six new dates for his tour. Earlier this month, Anderson -- the band’s vocalist, flutist and guitarist -- announced he would visit smaller venues along with guitarist Joe Parrish and have "an intimate evening of performance and chat."
The show, called 'Ian Anderson on Jethro Tull 2020 Tour' would feature archival footage and will see Anderson talking about his career, the history of Jethro Tull and answering audience questions, along with performances.
Originally, only three dates were announced for this tour. But with six more, now there are a total of nine shows. The dates and the venues are: Westlands (Yeovil ) on April 20, 2020; St George's (Bristol) on April 21, 2020; Town Hall (Cheltenham) on April 22, 2020; Drill Hall (Lincoln) on May 3, 2020; City Varieties (Leeds) on May 4, 2020; Opera House (Buxton) on May 5, 2020; Blackheath Halls (London) on May 17, 2020; Palace Theatre (Southend on Sea) on May 18, 2020; and G Live (Guildford) on May 19, 2020.
On the idea of these shows, Anderson said: “I’m looking forward to visiting some lesser-played Tull songs and receiving some tricky questions from the audience!” Tickets will go on sale direct from the venues on November 23.
Earlier this month, Louder reported Anderson will also hit the road on the 'Jethro Tull: The Prog Years tour' in late 2020, where the band will play material from albums including ‘Stand Up’, ‘Benefit’, ‘Aqualung’, ‘Thick As A Brick’ and ‘A Passion Play’. On the tour, Anderson will be accompanied by Jethro Tull band musicians David Goodier on bass, John O'Hara on keyboards, Parrish on guitar and Scott Hammond on drums.
Anderson said about the tour, “Dusting off many older progressive songs amongst my earliest attempts to experiment outside the blues repertoire we began with, has proved hugely enjoyable. Along the way, over the last 50 years, there have been a good few pieces that still strongly resonate with me today on either a musical or lyrical level. Hopefully both.”
Jethro Tull is among the most iconic bands of rock history. Initially playing blues rock and jazz fusion, the band later developed their unique sound, a mixture of rock and folk. The band spent much of last year on the road celebrating their 50th anniversary with a massive tour.


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Salman Khan seeks bank details of Rio athletes to send prize moneyAlmost a month ago we had reported that Salman Khan wants to give away Rs.1,01,000 as cash prize to all the Olympic participants. Now keeping up his promise, the superstar has approached the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) for the details of the contestants and hence has written a letter to them for the same.
Salman Khan has decided to transfer the said amount to the bank accounts of the participants directly and hence has asked the IOA to give him information about the same. Interestingly, Salman was also the brand ambassador for Rio Olympics 2016 from the Indian contingent. However he soon got trapped into a controversy owing to the 'rape' comment that invited the wrath of several women organizations. Terming it as 'insensitive', the superstar received flak from varied sections by the society and followed by the outrage, the IOA authorities threatened Salman Khan of being removed as the ambassador if he doesn't apologize publically.
Last seen in the blockbuster Sultan, Salman Khan is now gearing up for the schedule of Kabir Khan's Tubelight which marks the debut of Chinese actress Zhu Zhu.
Katrina Kaif and Sidharth Malhotra promotes Baar Baar Dekho at Ahmedabad
Actors Katrina Kaif and Sidharth Malhotra promoted their movie ‘Baar Baar Dekho’ at Ahmedabad on August 29, 2016. Katrina and Sidharth danced to the blockbuster song ‘Kaala Chashma’ and interacted with the media. Katrina looked cool in jeans, t-shirt and a long shrug while Sidharth carried a casual look in a shirt, jeans and a
The post Katrina Kaif and Sidharth Malhotra promotes Baar Baar Dekho at Ahmedabad appeared first on Bollywood Garam.
&TV launches new TV show Badho Bahu
TV channel &TV launched a new show ‘Badho Bahu’ at an event in Mumbai on August 30, 2016. The upcoming TV show has Prince Narula, Rytasha Rathore and Pankaj Dheer in lead roles. The story of the show is about a plus size woman and her dreams of marriage. Rathore will be playing the role
Shilpa Shetty, Anurag Basu and Geeta Kapur promote Super Dancer on The Kapil Sharma Show
Actress Shilpa Shetty, Anurag Basu and Geeta Kapur promoted their upcoming show ‘Super Dancer’ on the sets of ‘The Kapil Sharma Show’ in Mumbai on August 30, 2016. The contestants of the show Jeetu and Varsha showed their skills on the show. Host Kapil Sharma and his team had a great time with the judges
The post Shilpa Shetty, Anurag Basu and Geeta Kapur promote Super Dancer on The Kapil Sharma Show appeared first on Bollywood Garam.
PV Sindhu, Sakshi Malik and Dipa Karmarkar presented with Khel Ratna Awards
President Pranab Mukherjee presented the prestigious Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna awards to four Indian Olympians in New Delhi on August 29, 2016. Wrestler Sakshi Malik, shuttler PV Sindhu, gymnast Dipa Karmarkar and shooter Jitu Rai were awarded with the highest sporting honour of the country for their remarkable performances at the Rio Olympics 2016. For
The post PV Sindhu, Sakshi Malik and Dipa Karmarkar presented with Khel Ratna Awards appeared first on Bollywood Garam.
Shilpa Shetty launches TV show Super Dancer on Sony
Actress Shilpa Shetty along with choreographer Geeta Kapur, director Anurag Basu and actor Rithvik Dhanjani launched the show ‘Super Dancer’ at an event in Mumbai on August 29, 2016. The show will be providing the children an opportunity to show their dance skills and be famous. The actress turned businesswoman looked splendid in a Masaba
The post Shilpa Shetty launches TV show Super Dancer on Sony appeared first on Bollywood Garam.
Sonakshi Sinha promotes Akira at photoshoot
Indian actress Sonakshi Sinha promoted her upcoming movie ‘Akira’ at a photoshoot in Mumbai on August 29, 2016. Sinha looked pretty in a black t-shirt and jeans with a blue long jacket. ‘Akira’ is directed by A.R. Murugadoss and is all set to hit the theatres on September 2, 2016. The movie is the remake
Akshay Kumar hosts special bash for Will Smith
Bollywood star Akshay Kumar hosted a special bash for Hollywood star Will Smith during his visit to Mumbai on August 28, 2016. The bash was hosted at Akshay’s residence to celebrate the ‘Rustom’ star’s successful year. Akshay has delivered three Rs. 100 crore hits ‘Airlift’, ‘Housefull 3’ and ‘Rustom’ in the year 2016. Other attendees
Sidharth Malhotra shows off killer moves at Baar Baar Dekho promotional event
Bollywood actor Sidharth Malhotra promoted his upcoming movie ‘Baar Baar Dekho’ at a promotional event in Mumbai on August 28, 2016. Despite heavy rain, Sidharth was in high spirits and made sure that the audience had a great time. Sidharth interacted with the crowd and also clicked selfies. The movie ‘Baar Baar Dekho’ also stars
The post Sidharth Malhotra shows off killer moves at Baar Baar Dekho promotional event appeared first on Bollywood Garam.
Shah Rukh Khan banks on AE DIL HAI MUSHKIL for his next with Aanand L RaiShah Rukh Khan is very good shrewd with marketing and promotions of his films....
After Aishwarya's JAZBAA, M-Tech ties up with Rajniesh-Sonarika's SAANSEINMTech, a leading mobile company, is gradually making its space in Bollywood arena. Last time M tech Mobile Group...
Uttarakhand High Court stays Rakesh Roshans arrest till September 19In May 2016, we had reported that a complaint was filed against filmmaker Rakesh Roshan for copyright violation and was accused of using some parts of a novel in his movie Krrish 3. The said complaint was filed by Dehradun-based writer Roop Kumar Sonkar.
The case was filed under section 63 of the Copyright Act 1957 in which the author stated that Rakesh Roshan had used similar storyline and characters from his book 'Suardan'. Mr. Roshan had said that he had co-written the script and that there was no copyright violation.
On Tuesday, August 30, Rakesh Roshan requested the court to withdraw the FIR but Justice U.C Dhyani refused to do so. Instead, HC has stayed the arrest of the filmmaker and will take a decision on September 19.
Shailendra Singhs directorial debut gets special censoring treatment Singh happy with an AThe CBFC (Censor Board Of Film Certification)'s office was opened on Sunday specially to view Percept Pictures' head honcho's directorial debut Sunshine Music Tours & Travels, only because the film's release would have otherwise been delayed.
Says a source from the CBFC, "There was an unusual number of films to be censored this week and Thursday was a holiday. So we decided to open our office on Sunday as an exceptional case,"
However, the "special" treatment ended there. Sunshine Music Tours & Travel was granted an 'Adults Only' certificate. And Shailendra is happy, "I expected and in fact welcomed an 'A' certificate. The film has several dialogues and situations that are suitable for adult viewing."
After success of Happy Bhag Jayegi makers to develop sequelThe Diana Penty, Abhay Deol, Jimmy Sheirgill and Ali Fazal starrer Happy Bhag Jayegi released a couple of weeks back. Directed by Mudassar Aziz, the film did decent business at the box office. Now we hear that the makers of the film are contemplating on developing a sequel to it.
Commenting on the same, Aziz stated that while they do plan on making a sequel to Happy Bhag Jayegi, discussions are on how to take the story forward. However, Aziz added that till the time a convincing story for the sequel isn't locked, a second film will be just on papers. Similarly sources from Eros also confirm the same saying, "Yes there is a sequel on the cards, however currently nothing has been finalized yet."
Vivek Oberoi to celebrate his birthday with cancer affected childrenBesides making his mark as an established actor in Bollywood, Vivek Oberoi has been equally known for his philanthropic activities. And when the occasion happens to be his birthday, he ensures that he makes it really special by doing something worthwhile for the less privileged.
Readers may recall that Vivek Oberoi had announced a sanitation project on his birthday last year. This year, Vivek Oberoi will be bringing in his birthday by hosting a special screening of a film for the kids affected with cancer. The event has been organised in association with CPAA (Cancer Patients Aid Association). Besides the film's screening, Vivek Oberoi has also arranged for a special meal for these children.
Speaking about the same, Vivek Oberoi said that, he has been associated with CPAA for more than a decade now and that he finds immense happiness to bring in his birthday amidst these children.
Deepika Padukone purchases office space in MumbaiAfter having made it to the prestigious Forbes' top 10 highest paid actresses of the world, Deepika Padukone is definitely on a roll. And by the looks of it, it seems there is no stopping her now.
The latest update on Deepika Padukone is that, she has now purchased a place in 'Beaumonde', the very building where she stays. Reports state that, the newly acquired space will be converted as her office.
On the professional front, Deepika Padukone will soon be seen in the much awaited Hollywood flick XXX: Return of Xander Cage and Sanjay Leela Bhansali's magnum opus Padmavati. Besides these, Deepika Padukone will also be seen in an item number in the Sushant Singh Rajput-Kriti Sanon starrer Raabta.
Om Puri to act in Seema Kapoors directorial debut Mr KabaadiTheir personal differences notwithstanding, the veteran actor Om Puri is now all set to act in his first wife Seema Kapoor's directorial venture, Mr. Kabaadi.
Speaking about Mr. Kabaadi, Seema Kapoor said that the film is a satirical comedy that has been set in Uttar Pradesh. Besides directing the film, she has also written the film's script. She added that Om Puri will be seen in a 'stellar' role in the film.
Besides Om Puri, Mr. Kabaadi also stars Vinay Pathak, Sarika and Annu Kapoor in pivotal roles. The film will be going on the floors on September 5 and is scheduled to be shot in Lucknow on a start-to-finish schedule.
SHIVAAY or AE DIL HAI MUSHKIL which one will you watch!Its a season of clashes in Bollywood. And this Diwali you will witness clash of two titans Karan Johar...
OMG! This is what Shah Rukh Khan said about AE DIL HAI MUSHKILAE DIL HAI MUSHKILs teaser just released yesterday and surely it has broken all records....
SAAJAN - the movie that strengthened Sanjay Dutt-Salman Khan's bondFilm actor Sanjay Dutt and Salman Khans blockbuster hit movie SAAJAN completed 25 years yesterday...
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domain: entertainment


The Enugu State Government said it is targeting 20 per cent of the state population, representing at least one million children under five years, for vaccination against wild poliovirus.
George Ugwu, the executive secretary, Enugu State Primary Health Care Development Agency (ENS-PHCDA), disclosed this in Enugu during a sensitisation meeting with stakeholders and partners on the forthcoming statewide mass polio vaccination.
Mr Ugwu said: “Enugu State does not have any case of wild polio but the exercise is to ensure we do not have a resurgence or suspected case”.
According to him, “What we intend to do is to emphasise prevention and total elimination of polio in the state forever.”
The ENS-PHCDA boss said the agency had trained and kitted 2,834 vaccinating teams, comprising 1,643 home-to-home teams, 780 special teams and 411 fixed teams.
“The exercise will reach all nooks and crannies of the state, covering our 17 council areas, 291 wards and over 3,000 settlements.
“The vaccinators have been mandated to look out for every child and ensure no child is left out.
“We are going to homes, schools, churches, malls, parks, markets, farms as well as all living areas, where a child can be found.
“We are appealing to parents, teachers, caregivers and family members to support this exercise and ensure no child known to them is left out of the oral polio vaccine,” he said.
Responding, the chief Imam of Nsukka Central Mosque, Yakubu Omeh, promised that the Muslim community would ensure that all children under five found in all mosque and Islamic schools were vaccinated.’
“Education is key and today you have enlightened us more on why polio must be totally eliminated.
The vice-chairman, National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools, Enugu State, Lily Okechukwu, said the association would fully mobilise all the private schools and inform parents about the exercise to ensure full compliance.
“The association is assuring the agency of maximum cooperation in order to get our children fully protected from the dreaded polio disease in the state,” Ms Okechukwu said.
Jonathan Agbo, the secretary-general of the Christian Association of Nigeria, South-east, said the body would ensure through all its communication platforms that churches in the state comply with the vaccination.
“I have already sent out e-mail(s) and WhatsApp messages to churches to ensure they comply because of the seriousness the vaccination deserves,” Mr Agbo, who is also the Archdeacon of Ogui Archdeaconry in Anglican Communion in Enugu, said.
Other concerned parties at the meeting included local and international health partners, representatives of state ministries of education, health, gender affairs and planning.
The rest were representatives of different ethnic communities in the state, traditional rulers and town union executives, amongst others.
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The 2010 Chase for the Sprint Cup is already half-way over, with drivers rising to the occasion of the intense pressure and others coming up short, the championship picture is starting to become more and more clear.
Heading into the legendary track of Martinsville for this Sunday's TUMS Fast Relief 500, these are the top 10 drivers in the series based on fan support and on-track performance.
Ah, what a win will do for you... As McMurray's 2010 dream season continues with another victory Saturday night at Charlotte, he has emerged as the 13th driver in the points standings and is primed to take home the $1 million bonus at season's end.
Just two weeks ago, Edwards would have easily graced the top five of the power rankings, but with his ride of momentum heading into the chase seemingly fizzling out and some of his best chances to win behind him, cousin Carl has slipped back to the rear.
Happy dominated the points for almost the entire regular season, but has been playing second fiddle since the Chase started a month ago. To no surprise, Kevin has continued his streak of consistent finishes during the postseason and is third in points, just 77 markers out of the lead.
Biffle's championship hopes for this season may seem o be out the window, but he is still leading the Roush Fenway charge as the only driver on the team to find victory lane this season.
Eighth in points is a long way back, but if he comes out of Talladega next week in one piece and others being swept up in the big wreck, the championship might fall right into his lap.
If it weren't for the late race caution Saturday night at Charlotte, Kyle Busch would have won the race.
Many fans called Kyle Busch a championship dark horse, but he has come out a bit stale in the postseason and is now a middle of the pack chase driver holding down the fifth spot in the points standings.
The 2010 Sprint Cup season for Dale Jr can be summed up in one word: Disappointment.
Another lackluster season with a few flashes of brilliance has caused him to miss the chase once again. However, looking at the bight side, Junior's fan base is the largest in the sport, which is why he is ranked so high.
Stewart's win at California a few weeks ago resurrected his title hopes after starting the chase off poorly, but with another poor finish at Charlotte, they may have just fizzled out again—this time for good.
After snagging the pole during Friday night's qualifying at Charlotte, Gordon appeared to be primed to finally get that all important win that has eluded him the entire season.
Again, Jeff and his team came up short, but have a lot to look forward to at Martinsville, where he has seven wins.
Hamlin has continued to live up to the preseason championship hype and has finished very close to points leader Jimmie Johnson almost every week in the chase.
With an old fashioned shootout at Martinsville between he and Johnson set to take place at Martinsville, Denny looks to sweep the track's two Sprint Cup dates and possibly take over the points lead.
Although not dominating the chase like he has in season's past, Johnson has silenced the skeptics by being the most consistent driver during the postseason and has a 41-point lead over Denny Hamlin.
No driver may be more happy to be heading to Martinsville than Jimmie, who has seven career wins at the track and a series high average finish of fifth.


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The importance of the Defensive Midfielder in football today. In theory, football is (should be) a simple game. Eleven players attempting to put the ball in a net, in the process moving it among themselves and keeping it away from the grasp of the opposing team. In practice though, the task of scoring a goal has become far more nuanced and intricate. It wasn’t’ always so.
When the rules of the game were drawn up in the 1860s, the approach to scoring a goal was far simpler and a lot more primal than it is today. Simply put, a player would pick up the ball with his feet, run towards the opposing goal, all while his teammates attempted to shove, push and block the oncoming players of the opposing team away from him, thus keeping his path clear. As soon as he was tackled and possession was lost, another member of the team would take control of the ball and repeat the same task until a shot at goal was within reach. Matches regularly concluded with multiple broken bones on either side but, as a doting wife in Victorian England egged you on, a standout performance at the weekly village game could buy you a lifetime’s worth of glory. Remember, it’s still the mid-nineteenth century and there are probably worse avenues to lose a little blood and be remembered for it.
Moving on to the modern game, football is now won or lost on the tactics board. Managers that do not display tactical nous, flexibility with formations, a love for data analytics and general familiarity with software that mine player performance, fitness, conditioning, strength, stamina speed, flair etc. are considered out of sync with today’s game and dealt with harshly. Even in England, the bastion of ‘Good Old Traditional Football’, the long ball punt to the lumpy striker up front no longer finds any takers. It’s all about ‘philosophy’ (think Pep) and ‘finding the right solutions’ (think Conte) and ‘heavy metal football’ (think Klopp). At the same time, fans demand attacking football and pay big bucks to watch players that put on a show. Within this complex web of tactics and expectations, one may wonder if there is room for an additional player that neither contributes to goal scoring nor directly prevents it. After all, when you are visiting London and paying close to 100 pounds for a day out at the Emirates or perhaps at the Bridge, you can be forgiven for wanting to be thoroughly entertained for all 90 minutes. An extra shield in midfield apart from the four defenders (in a 4-4-2) and goalkeeper makes it six players that are primarily involved in preventing the occasion of a scored goal. Moreover, let’s say you are neutral and could care less which team won. All you want for your money is to see a high scoring, frenetic, end to end game that is memorialized on Youtube for generations to come just so you could say “I was There Lads. I saw it with my own eyes!”. The sight of N’golo Kante in front of the Chelsea defence however, is makes you a little sick and you wonder if you should go back to the ticket window and plead for your money back.
No one starts out in football dreaming to be a holding or a defensive midfielder. The role itself is recent in the history of the game. DMs don’t sell millions of dollars’ worth of jerseys, they don’t make it to the cover of the latest FIFA Installment, and they stay far away from the back pages of tabloids. Basically, they come with minimum fuss, do their work, go home and go to bed. Just like the rest of us. Except if you ask any decent coach in the world today, what it means to have a Kante or a Matic or a Casemiro in their side, an entirely different perspective is revealed.
In 2004, the idea of a central midfielder who could win possession back around the centre circle and spray the ball in either direction to initiate a counter-attack was not entirely new. Mourinho though gave it a fresh lease of life. He made an ageing Claude Makelele, recently spewed out of Madrid unceremoniously, the mainstay of his back to back title-winning seasons. If you looked purely at numbers, Makelele scored a single goal (a weak penalty from the spot followed by a more confident tap in at the rebound that sealed the Blues’ second title in ’06) over 67 league appearance in 2004-05 and 2005-06 However, his relentless and tireless presence in midfield freed up the likes of Lampard, Duff, a younger sprightlier Joe Cole and other players of the kind. The Premier League sat up and took notice. Chelsea conceded a meagre 15 goals on their way to the title in 2004-05. That Madrid did not win another league title, despite signing Galactico after Galactico, for four years is no mere coincidence. That in their next La Liga triumph a certain Mahamadou Diarra featured in 33 out of 38 league games is further proof that the ‘Makelele Role’ was now a real thing. To win in Europe now, to win big, you needed your own Makelele in midfield, you needed a grafter that was never more three feet from the action, a hunter that hunted everything, someone that broke opposition plays, sprung attacks, mopped up loose balls, was first to every second ball, never broke down and played every minute of every game. Eden Hazard once said of his teammate (Kante) – “I think sometimes when I am on the pitch, I see him twice”.
Mourinho would go on to use the role masterfully in his time at Italy with the likes of Esteban Cambiasso and Thiago Motta. Any willing student of the game must watch the second leg of the 2009-10 UEFA Champions League Semi-Final at the Camp Nou. Barcelona laid siege for the better part of the game. Inter held on, after going a man down at the half hour mark, using the likes of Cambiasso and Sneijder as make shift DMs. Again, in Madrid, he used Sami Khedira masterfully to snatch a league title from Pep’s ominous Barca, their first in four years. In his second spell at Chelsea, he never really got going until the re-signing of Nemanja Matic, following which Chelsea coasted to the title in his second season.
But this is not merely a development attributable only to Mourinho, rather a shift in managerial mindset since Italy’s victory at the 2006 FIFA World Cup. To do it at the club level is commendable, but to influence tactical innovation at the international stage is another ball game altogether, literally. Marcelo Lippi went with the dual force of Genaro Gattuso and Andrea Pirlo at the center of the pitch for the Azzuri.
A similar partnership was visible in the finalists at the subsequent World Cup. Holland went with Van Bommel and the feisty De Jong while Del Bosque plced his faith in the evergreen Xabi Alonso and dependable ‘Master of the Dark Arts’ Sergio Busquets, who by now had become a household name in Spain after two stellar seasons with Barcelona. The match was a tight affair and any creative impetus was being stifled by Busquets and De Jong. The match would be won in midfield and the midfield was being controlled by the two best defensive midfielders of the time. De Jong’s ‘Kung Fu’ kick on Xabi Alonso has become the most enduring image of the tournament. The Dutch manager Bert Van Marwijk blinked first and took De Jong off in the first half of extra time while Del Bosque held on to his midfield lynchpin. The move backfired for the former. Deep in the second half, as Jesus Navas charged ahead with the ball, the Dutch had three chances to intercept and clear the ball but all three attempts were in vain. The ball found its way to Iniesta who slotted it neatly to take home the Cup for Spain. Poor tackling in an important run of play cost them, too bad their number one tackler was already back in the shed.
In time, Madrid learnt their lesson too, if only the hard way. It took a former Champions League Winning player to take over as manager for them to realise the value of a ball winning midfielder in Casemiro. Zidane was a member of the 2002 Champions League winning squad and he must have known the importance of Makelele even back then. Barring Mahmadou Diarra and the lesser established Lassana Diarra, they were without an engine room for the better part of a decade. By integrating an intelligent, hardworking, traditional, un-Madrid like player like Casemiro, he unlocked the potential of an otherwise star studded squad and landed back to back Champions League titles, a feat never achieved before.
It would be unfair to label DMs as the sole reason for any squad’s success over the past decade and a half, but there is an undeniable pattern of them showing up in trophy winning teams. Whether it be Mascherano with Barcelona and Argentina, Luka Modric and Casemiro during Madrid’s Champions League sweep, N’golo Kante with Leicester and Chelsea, Willian Carvalho with Portugal at the 2016 Euros – managers can scarcely overlook their presence or their importance. With the game progressing to a newer and higher tempo in the past few years, the DM has also evolved into a force of nature in his own right. Players like Tiemoue Bakayoko, Ander Herrera, Axel Witsel, Marouanne Fellaini and Blaise Matuidi are blurring the lines between a DM and a CAM (Central Attacking Midfielder). One could say that these modern versions of the ‘Makele Role’ are box-to-box midfielders, ball winning midfielders, deep lying playmakers and trequartistas all packed in one.
The modern game cannot afford any player to be limited to a single role anymore, hence the DM’s workload will increasingly include more attacking responsibility, that allows a team to utilize an additional player in the opposition’s half instead of the four or five that are usable with conventional formations. In an ideal world, a world governed by sensible free market capitalism, it is likely that one day a Kante’s asking price could match that of a Neymar, as the work done by the former is no less important in winning a game anymore.
However, the lack of a burdensome price tag also offers relative anonymity in the media, and allows players like Kante to be less mindful of their cost and more worried about racking up tackles and interceptions, week in week out. In a footballing age, full of prima donnas and Semi-Gods, perhaps kids would do well to idolize defensive midfielders like Kante, who are team players, who work hard, work for others and do not expect to be at the centre of everyone’s attention all the time
Xabi Alonso- Wallpaper Cave
Claudio Makelele- Art Station
Sergio Busquets – Wallsdesk
N’Golo Kante – Pinterest
More from Ayush Sarkar

domain: sports


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Today, John Zorn’s eclectic Tzadik Records presents Vonals, the second album by New York City experimental/jazz metal quartet TITAN TO TACHYONS.
TITAN TO TACHYONS is led by New Zealand/New York composer and guitarist Sally Gates (ex-Orbweaver), joined by drummer Kenny Grohowski (Secret Chiefs 3, Imperial Triumphant, John Zorn), and dueling bassists Trevor Dunn (Mr. Bungle, Fantômas, Tomahawk) and Matt Hollenberg (Cleric, John Zorn). The quartet instrumentally depicts the realms of surrealism and science-fiction through eclectic and improvisational passages, juxtaposed by fluid grooves and metallic flurries. Their debut LP, Cactides, was released through Nefarious Industries mid-2020 to critical acclaim, and now the band returns with its follow-up, Vonals.
With six new tracks encompassing more than forty-five minutes, TITAN TO TACHYONS’ Vonals is a mesmerizing and entrancing album, as alluring as it is unpredictable. Spaced-out free-flowing jams merge with explosive metallic outbursts as if the listener was watching a time-lapse video of the cosmos forming from an ominous jazz lounge in a David Lynch film. The bass interplay of Dunn and bass VI of Hollenberg create a web of intricately developed low-end flow over Grohowski’s hammering buildups and fills, while Gates’ instantly recognizable technical axemanship blooms with both finesse and volatility.
Vonals was recorded and mixed by Colin Marston at Menegroth, the Thousand Caves (Dysrhythmia, Krallice, Imperial Triumphant), mastered by Scott Hull at Masterdisk (Miles Davis, Steely Dan, Herbie Hancock), and completed with band photography by Naeemah Z. Maddox and cover paintings by Sally Gates. A visualizer for “Blue Thought Particles” was created by David Brenner.
Decibel Magazine proclaims, “If an album’s being issued on avant garde composer-saxophonist John Zorn’s Tzadik label, there’s a 100 percent chance the content is gonna be experimental, unconventional and expertly played… six tracks of similarly out-there material incorporating improv, psych, jazz and metal landscapes backed with Grohowski’s complex rhythms and Gates’ entrancing guitar work.” According to Burning Ambulance, “Vonals is no shred-fest, but it’s consistently obvious that these are some of the highest caliber musicians active today. There is an emphasis on texture and composition that takes precedence over any need to show off. Yet it’s that much more impressive that the performances can leave one in awe, and they probably aren’t even trying. This album is a fantastic follow-up to the group’s debut and hopefully is a sign of more great work to come.” Avant Music News writes, “A true genre-blending outfit led by guitarist Sally Gates, on Vonals the group fuses technical metal, prog rock, jazz, blues, and generally heavy weirdness… another brilliant piece of work from Gates and company.”
Sally Gates writes, “We’re thrilled to finally share Vonals with everyone! Take a synesthetic journey with us through hallucinatory worlds of Surrealism and wavering realities, as the band expands its expressionistic tendencies and explores possibility with the dual bass interplay. It’s an honor to present this work through John Zorn’s label, Tzadik, and we’re looking forward to bringing the new tunes to you on the road this month!”
While there is no digital release of Vonals, in celebration of its release TITAN TO TACHYONS unveils a new video of the album track “Neutron Wrangler” filmed by Don Mount at NuBlu in NYC in April.
Watch TITAN TO TACHYONS’ “Neutron Wrangler” live now at THIS LOCATION.
TITAN TO TACHYONS will support the release of Vonals with an East Coast tour running from September 28th through October 2nd. Upon their return, a hometown release show has been booked at Saint Vitus in Brooklyn on October 11th. Watch for additional shows to be announced.
TITAN TO TACHYONS Tour Dates:
9/29/2022 etc. – Greensboro, NC w/ Cloutchaser, Voidward
9/30/2022 Sabbath Brewing – Atlanta, GA w/ Dead Register, Shane Parish
10/01/2022 Jam Room Music Festival – Columbia, SC w/ Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Titus Andronicus, Shiner, more
10/02/2022 Gallery5 – Richmond, VA w/ Dumb Waiter, Bermuda Triangles
10/11/2022 Saint Vitus Bar – Brooklyn, NY w/ Editrix, Dumb Waiter


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Think-tank raises immigration fears
Migrationwatch claimed that the Government had little to show for its negotiations with other EU states over the Constitution's provisions on immigration and asylum.
The organisation's chairman Sir Andrew Green said: "The Government are keeping as quiet as possible on this subject - and for good reason.
"The British delegation have been ignored and we are now expected simply to sign up to European laws which have not yet even been drafted. When they are, they will be subject to Qualified Majority Voting, under which we will have less than 10% of the votes.
"It follows that the laws governing the protection of our borders and the right of foreigners to enter and reside in Britain will no longer be in our own hands. It is time that the Government set out honestly what is involved."
Sir Andrew claimed that no language has been agreed on the preservation of the 'opt out' which permits the UK to retain its own border controls.
The Home Office dismissed a research paper laying out Sir Andrew's case placed on the organisation's website.
In a statement, the Home Office said: "The Convention (which drew up the draft Constitution) will not affect our position on border controls. We have made it quite clear in the Convention that we plan to retain our frontier controls on people arriving from other EU countries.
"We will also retain the right to decide whether or not to opt in to asylum and immigration measures."
It continued: "However in the real world, the UK is a leading player in co-ordinating joint EU work against illegal migration where it is in the UK's interests, including on a shared EU database of asylum seeker's fingerprints (EURODAC) and sharing intelligence to tackle organised immigration crime."
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“I hadn’t had any time to prepare outfits for us but I wanted my 4-year-old son Justus to look really cool,” she said. After that, she began hand-beading the shoes to make them look like conventional moccasins. she continued, “People were stopping us to take photos, he made such a splash.”
Along with the shoes did not only wow other people they gave Charlene’s son a opportunity to “express his tribal identity” and partake in the typical child antics (like jogging), and he was pleased to show them off. “It wasn’t entirely traditional but a modern adaptation in helping him expressing his culture,” she tells Teen Vogue.
Following the photos from the festival were posted on social media, Charlene began getting contacted by people wanting her to create them sneakers as well, and that’s when it removed. On her website, Charlene shows examples of already-completed custom orders, each with their own special spin, alongside stunning hand beaded jewelry that’s also available for purchase.
Her current pieces stem from Charlene’s authentic work as a Native artist producing dolls and figures with a historical background, in which she utilized traditional Lakota beadwork.
“I feel that I am continuing the process while establishing a Native unique aesthetic, as well as communicating Native survival and commitment to showing that,” she says. “In this case, I expressed it in beading a pair of slip-ons.”
There is a historical tradition design that I used specifically for the Vans based off Lakota moccasins.”


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LISBON (May. 27)
All Jews in Belgrade were ordered by the Nazi authorities to vacate their residences in order to make room for German soldiers who are now being billeted in the Yugoslavian capital in preparation for their departure for the Mediterranean front, the press here today reports.
The German radio today announced that “important negotiations” are being carried on in Berlin between the ex-Mufti of Jerusalem and the German government. The negotiations follow conferences between the ex-Mufti and Fascist officials in Rome, the Nazi broadcaster stated.
The Novoye Slowo, a pro-Nazi Russian newspaper published in Berlin, reached here today with violent anti-Jewish articles aimed at inciting the Russian population in Nazi-occupied territories. The paper is being distributed among Russians in France as well as in the occupied Soviet territory and in the Baltic states.


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Steve Purdham's "Horse"
Lancaster, PA based artist Steve Purdham explores the lives and interests of the American people:
"In my photographic works, I pay attention to certain classes of the semi-rural American population in search of interesting nuances in their landscapes. My curiosity is raised by scenes that might hint to a more primal human hidden behind a need to stay within social structure. I want to see where an animal instinct, an awakening of the imagination has taken control.
These photos in Guess We’re Already There are pulled from quiet areas in central Pennsylvania, places with a factor or flavor that might summon a spectacle that is sculptural and symbolic. My hope is that these works offer a ground on which to pose the peculiarities of American people."