text:
- Research article
- Open Access
Fine-scale genetic analysis of the exploited Nile monitor (Varanus niloticus) in Sahelian Africa
BMC Genetics volume 16, Article number: 32 (2015)
Overexploitation of wildlife populations results in direct consequences, such as extinction and local extirpation, as well as indirect effects including genetic diversity loss and changes in genetic structure. A clear understanding of the underlying genetic patterns of harvested species is necessary for sustainable management. The Nile monitor (Varanus niloticus) is a commercially valuable species in the international leather industry, with the highest levels of exploitation concentrated throughout Sahelian Africa. In this study, we examined the fine-scale genetic patterns of V. niloticus populations in the Sahel, with the expectation that the genetic structure would correspond to riverine drainage basins. The analyses were based on genotypes at 11 microsatellite loci for 318 individuals, spanning three separate watersheds throughout the Sahel.
Our analyses identified four genetic clusters throughout the region, one of which (the westernmost population) exhibited very high levels of genetic differentiation (F ST = 0.47). Contrary to our expectation, the largest genetic break occurred within a single watershed, the Niger basin, rather than between watersheds. However, other localities displayed evidence of reduced gene flow between watershed boundaries. Across methods, the westernmost population exhibited lower estimates of N e as well as lower levels of genetic diversity compared to the other inferred populations. While we did not detect evidence for recent population bottlenecks, our analyses indicated historic population declines around 1,000–1,800 years ago.
We found that the underlying genetic structure of Varanus niloticus across Sahelian Africa reflects historic as well as present-day patterns of riverine drainages. The high degree of differentiation found for the westernmost population indicates the presence of a separate lineage, and should be taken into consideration when setting harvest limits. The historic population decline for two of the populations corresponds to a drastic expansion of an ancient human civilization in the region, suggesting that human exploitation of V. niloticus has a longer history than previously thought.
Overexploitation has been identified as the main source of decline in many threatened species worldwide . Direct effects of overharvesting are well-supported, including population declines, extirpation, and even extinction . However, indirect consequences of exploitation, such as changes in genetic diversity and population structure, must also be considered in order for species to be sustainably harvested . Overharvesting can alter genetic subdivisions and gene flow patterns, either leading to population isolation and genetic drift, or to increased gene flow resulting in genetic swamping and the loss of local adaptations . By targeting a specific age class or sex, harvesting can reduce the effective population size (N e ), and thus the genetic diversity, without affecting the overall population size . Even non-specific hunting can cause significant genetic and morphological changes in a population .
The Nile monitor (Varanus niloticus) is the second most heavily traded varanid species in both the leather and the pet industries [6,7]. Reaching lengths of over two meters, V. niloticus is also commonly used as a source of food in some regions . The distribution of this species encompasses most of sub-Saharan Africa and additionally extends northward along the Nile River into Egypt . Due to their semi-aquatic nature, the only consistent habitat requirement throughout their range is the presence of permanent bodies of water [9,10]. The diet of V. niloticus is entirely carnivorous, preying upon a large variety of organisms from snails and insects to small mammals .
While the distribution of Varanus niloticus is widespread across Africa, the major skin exporters are concentrated in the Sahelian region, specifically Mali, Cameroon, Chad, Nigeria, and Sudan [6,11,12]. Approximately 500,000 V. niloticus skins legally enter international trade annually to be used for shoes, wallets, belts, handbags, and watchstraps [6,8,11,12]. Accounting for damaged skins and undocumented trade, harvest estimates in the Sahelian region alone have reached two million in peak years . The pet trade adds additional pressure to V. niloticus populations. Between 1975 and 2005, live exports of V. niloticus constituted 22.9% of the global trade in varanids, totaling 309,759 individuals .
Although Varanus niloticus displays high fecundity (average of 20 eggs per clutch) and relatively early sexual maturation (around two years of age), intense exploitation could be affecting their populations [9,13]. Highly exploited populations in eastern Mali were shown to exhibit earlier sexual maturation, higher reproductive output, and shorter longevity than populations near Lake Chad with lower harvest rates [13,14]. A study by de Buffrénil and Hémery  additionally reported that V. niloticus individuals collected near Lake Chad after years of intense harvesting were significantly smaller than those collected in a similar location years earlier when harvesting was minimal. Furthermore, the combined effects of harvesting V. niloticus for food, leather, and the pet trade are likely leading to local extirpation of subpopulations . However, unless the genetic subdivisions within this species are identified, recognizing or preventing the loss of genetically unique populations will not be possible.
While Varanus niloticus is protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES, Appendix II), little is known about the population size and genetic structure of this species, which hinders effective management decisions . This study examines the genetic structure, effective population size, and dispersal patterns of V. niloticus populations throughout Sahelian Africa, where harvesting is heavily concentrated. Due to the semi-aquatic behavior and habitat requirements of this species , we expected the genetic partitioning within V. niloticus to correspond to river drainage basins throughout the region.
All tissue samples used in this study were collected and transported in compliance with the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora.
Sample collection and DNA extraction
We obtained 434 Varanus niloticus tissue samples collected from 18 separate localities throughout Sahel (Table 1). Collection dates ranged from 1991 through 2009 and were largely dependent on local hunters (see de Buffrénil and Hémery  for a more detailed description of collection methods). All Chad localities except Fodiawalli near Lake Chad had been subjected to intense harvest rates for at least five years before sample collection . Additionally, V. niloticus populations in Mali have been under constant, high levels of exploitation for a prolonged period of time .
Sample sites are located in three separate drainage basins: the Senegal, Niger, and Lake Chad basins. Additionally, in the Lake Chad basin, sites 7–13 are located in the vicinity of Lake Chad itself, while four sites (6, 14–16) are located along tributaries (Figure 1).
A 1 cm2 section of tissue was removed from each sample of dried muscle/ bone, sterilizing instruments between sampling with DNAAway TM to prevent cross contamination. Genomic DNA extraction was performed using the Qiagen DNeasy® Blood and Tissue Kit, following manufacturer’s protocol for tissue.
Microsatellite screening and genotyping
Using a subset of Varanus niloticus DNA extracts, we screened 29 microsatellite loci identified in congeners V. komodoensis, abbreviated “K” [15,16], V. salvator, abbreviated “VARSA” , and V. acanthurus, abbreviated “VA” . Of these loci, 11 amplified consistently and were polymorphic in V. niloticus: K7, K10, K11, K15, K22, K23, VARSA10, VARSA07, VA17, VA38, and VA74.
PCR reactions contained 10.0 ng DNA template, 0.4 μM fluorescently-labeled forward primer, 0.4 mM reverse primer, and 1X AmpliTaq Gold® 360 Master Mix in a final reaction volume of 13.75 μL. PCR amplifications were performed in Techne TC-5000 or Applied Biosystems 2720 thermocycler and conditions varied by locus (Additional file 1: Table S1). PCR products were visualized on a 1.5% agarose gel to confirm successful amplification. Fragment analysis was carried out using an ABI 3100 Genetic Analyzer with GeneScan™ 500 LIZ® size standard and allele sizes were called using GeneMarker®.
The microsatellite data were examined for null alleles and mis-scoring using MICRO-CHECKER . Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) and linkage disequilibrium were assessed with the web-based program GENEPOP v.4.2 . We calculated expected heterozygosity (H e ), observed heterozygosity (H o ), and number of alleles (N a ) with GenAlEx v.6.5  and allelic richness (A R ) and private allelic richness (PA R ) were calculated with HP-Rare 1.1  which uses a rarefaction method to correct for large differences in sample size.
We used multiple approaches to examine the genetic partitioning among Varanus niloticus populations in Sahelian Africa. We measured genetic differentiation (F ST ) among sample localities in ARLEQUIN 126.96.36.199  using 10,100 permutations to test for significance. Principal Coordinate Analysis (PCoA) based on the calculated pairwise F ST values was conducted in GENALEX v.6.5  and plotted in R v.3.1 [24,25] to visualize the relationships among localities.
Bayesian clustering analyses were performed using STRUCTURE v.2.3.3  and BAPS v.6.0 . STRUCTURE groups individuals into randomly mating populations by maximizing Hardy-Weinberg and linkage equilibrium . We used a correlated allele frequency model with admixture and did not incorporate sampling locality. Ten runs were carried out for each K value, from 1 to 10, with an initial burn-in of 106 iterations and an additional 107 iterations after the burn-in. The optimal number of clusters (K) was estimated by examining the Ln P(X|K)  as well as the ΔK  with the web-based program STRUCTURE HARVESTER . For each K value analyzed, the results were averaged across runs using CLUMPP v.1.1.2 . For comparison, we also performed a spatial clustering of individuals with BAPS v.6.0 , followed by an admixture analysis with 107 iterations, 100 reference individuals, and 1,000 iterations of reference individuals . BAPS directly infers the number of populations from the dataset without the need for examining multiple K values and additional ad-hoc analyses. Results from both analyses were visualized with DISTRUCT v.1.1 .
A hierarchical analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) was carried out in ARLEQUIN v.188.8.131.52  to determine the significance of the genetic partitioning.
Effective population size and demographic changes
For the following set of analyses, we grouped samples into their inferred populations based on the results from the clustering methods. We implemented MSVAR v.1.3  for our dataset, which estimates effective population size (N e ) as well as assesses historical demographic changes by applying a Bayesian coalescent-based technique. Ten separate runs were conducted for each of the inferred populations using different starting points and 2.0x104 thinned updates with a thinning interval of 1.0x104. Following de Buffrénil and Rimblot-Baly , the generation time was set to 2 years. The initial 10% of the resulting data points were discarded to avoid starting configuration bias. The remaining data points were concatenated and then plotted in R v.3.1 [24,25] to interpret the results. We also compared the estimates of current N e with NeESTIMATOR v.2  using the linkage disequilibrium method for random mating .
To test for evidence of recent population declines, we used BOTTLENECK v.1.2.02  which tests for deviations from expected heterozygosity under the infinite allele model (IAM), stepwise mutation model (SMM), and two-phase model (TPM) with 70% SMM. The statistical analyses implemented by the program (sign test, standardized differences test, and Wilcoxon sign rank test) were used to test for significant excess in heterozygosity.
Gene flow and dispersal
To assess the degree of gene flow among the inferred populations, we used BAYESASS v.1.3  with 107 iterations, a burn-in of 106 and sampling every 2,000 iterations.
Lastly, we examined whether differences in gene flow among localities were correlated with river distance and environmental distance. Pairwise river distances between localities were measured in ArcGIS 10.1 . We performed a Mantel test using pairwise F ST /(1-F ST ) calculations, following Rousset , across all 16 localities using IBDWS v.3.23 .To assess the correlation between genetic distance and environmental heterogeneity, we performed a Partial Mantel test with IBDWS and controlled for the influence of river distance. Environmental variables included BIOCLIM layers for annual precipitation, temperature seasonality, and elevation (www.worldclim.org/bioclim), and pairwise environmental distances were calculated as the pixel value difference between each locality.
Of the 434 tissue samples originally obtained, 318 individuals from 16 localities successfully amplified at seven or more loci and were included in further analyses. Examination of the data with MICRO-CHECKER  indicated no evidence of null alleles. Two loci (K23 and VARSA10) were found to significantly depart from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (Additional file 2: Table S2); however, because this result was not consistent across sampling locations, both loci were retained in further analyses. These two loci also exhibited evidence of linkage disequilibrium at one sample locality (site 7), but because no other sample sites showed evidence of non-random associations, the loci were not removed.
A high degree of genetic partitioning was uncovered among Varanus niloticus populations throughout the Sahel. Pairwise F ST values showed a wide range, with values near zero for geographically close localities near Lake Chad, and reaching 0.58 (site 2 vs. site 5) for western sites (see Table 2). The genetic relationships among sampling localities were more clearly visualized in the principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) in Figure 2. The first two principal coordinates accounted for a total of 80.3% of the variation. The westernmost localities (sites 1 and 2) showed clear separation from the other sites, followed by the more central localities (sites 3 and 4), which grouped together. Interestingly, the eastern sampling locations exhibited genetic relationships consistent with their geographic orientation. Sites 7–13, near Lake Chad, formed a tight cluster, while those along tributaries within the same watershed (sites 6, 14–16) were more diffuse. Lake Lere (site 5), located in the Niger watershed, was not recovered within the Lake Chad cluster.
The clustering analyses showed a hierarchical pattern of structuring across Varanus niloticus sample localities throughout Sahelian Africa. Following the method of Evanno et al. , the largest ΔK occurred at K = 2, followed by a secondary peak at K = 4 (Additional file 3: Figure S1). Additionally, the plot of Ln P(X|K) did not begin to plateau until K = 4. We interpreted these results to mean that while the largest genetic break occurred at K = 2, the optimal number of genetic clusters was four. This decision was bolstered by the BAPS result which also produced four clusters.
The largest degree of genetic partitioning, occurring at K = 2, separated the two westernmost localities from the remaining sites (Figures 3 and 4). Contrary to our original hypothesis, this genetic break occurs within a single drainage basin, the Niger basin, and separates localities to the west and east of the Inner Niger Delta, a large network of interconnecting streams and rivers. The next genetic break, at K = 3, separates localities in the western portion of the Niger basin (sites 3 and 4 in the Niger River) from the eastern portion (site 5 along the Benue River). Lastly, at K = 4, genetic differentiation between the Niger and Lake Chad drainage basins becomes apparent and is more clearly demarcated in the BAPS analysis. Showing patterns consistent with the PCoA, the STRUCTURE analysis produced additional sub-structuring in the Lake Chad drainage basin.
Hierarchal analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) confirmed that the largest amount of genetic variation can be explained by grouping localities into west versus east of the Inner Niger Delta. Groups based on genetic cluster assignment as well as drainage basins also explained a significant amount of the total genetic variation (Table 3).
Effective population size and demographic changes
For the following analyses, localities were grouped into the following populations based on genetic cluster assignment: western population = Flabougou (site 1) and Niono (site 2), central population = Mopti (site 3) and Niamey (site 4), Lake Lere population = Lake Lere (site 5), and Lake Chad population = Lake Chad watershed (sites 6–16). Only one population, Lake Chad, showed evidence of a recent population bottleneck under the infinite allele model and the standardized differences test (P = 0.04234); however other mutation models and statistical tests did not produce significant results (Additional file 4: Table S3).
Current effective population size (N e ) estimates varied between methods, but showed a general trend of the western population having the smallest N e and Lake Chad having the largest N e , while the central and Lake Lere populations exhibited intermediate sizes (based on 95% CI) (Table 4). These differences in population size were also reflected in the genetic diversity measures, with the western population exhibiting the lowest level of genetic diversity, followed by Lake Lere, central, and Lake Chad (Table 4). Differences in sample size among populations could have influenced estimates of N e and genetic diversity; however, the general trends across populations did not directly reflect sample size differences providing increased confidence in the results. Interestingly, despite having the smallest N e and lowest genetic diversity estimates, the western population exhibited the highest proportion of private alleles (Table 4).
MSVAR results also indicated that Varanus niloticus populations have undergone demographic changes. Non-overlapping peaks in log(N e ) for the western, central, and Lake Lere populations (Additional file 5: Figure S2), indicated historical population declines. The Lake Chad population, however, showed evidence of having a more stable population size. Ancestral N e estimates are provided in Table 4, though our confidence in these values is lower due to their relatively flat density distributions (Additional file 5: Figure S2). The shifts in population size occurred approximately 1,000 (0.71–1,008.01) years BP for the western population and 1,800 (3.52–1,793.18) years BP for the central population (Figure 5) based on the median estimates. For Lake Lere, the density plot showing the approximate timing of demographic change does not reach a clear peak, indicating a different pattern of decline than the other populations, possibly a gradual decline that is presently continuing (Additional file 5: Figure S2).
Gene flow and dispersal among populations
Our estimation of migration rates among Varanus niloticus populations indicated that the western and Lake Chad populations are fairly isolated, having a majority of their genetic contribution from within their own population (Table 5). Conversely, the central and Lake Lere populations, both located in the Niger watershed, exchanged a large number of migrants, having approximately one third of their genetic composition from the other population.
The isolation-by-distance analysis produced a significant result, showing that river distance explains a large degree of the genetic variation among Varanus niloticus localities (Table 6). However, the result showing localities exhibiting higher than expected F ST values (Additional file 6: Figure S3) indicates that factors other than distance are likely contributing to the genetic structure within V. niloticus. To determine whether environmental heterogeneity is a factor in the observed genetic partitioning, annual precipitation, temperature seasonality, and elevation were examined while controlling for river distance (Table 6). These analyses generated non-significant results and therefore could not support the hypothesis that the environmental variables examined are contributing to the genetic structure within V. niloticus.
Although managed as a single taxonomic unit, the results of this study clearly show that Varanus niloticus exhibits a substantial degree of genetic partitioning throughout Sahelian Africa. Our results indicate considerably restricted gene flow between the westernmost population and the rest of the region, despite relatively short geographic distances (approximately 175 km between the western and central populations). The level of intraspecific differentiation found among V. niloticus populations throughout the Sahel is comparable to proposed distinct evolutionary lineages in other reptile species [42,43]. Mitochondrial sequence data from all populations matched voucher museum specimens of V. niloticus from respective localities (Dowell, unpublished dissertation), alleviating concerns of possible misidentification. Additionally, all sample localities are outside of the published distribution of the ornate monitor, V. ornatus, a morphologically similar species restricted to the forested regions of western and central Africa [44,45]. For comparison, sequences were also generated from V. ornatus museum material (Dowell, unpublished dissertation), further increasing our confidence in the sample identification. Future studies are necessary to determine whether other ecological, behavioral, or chromosomal factors are contributing to the reproductive isolation of the western population.
Contrary to our expectations, the largest genetic break occurs within a single drainage basin, near the Inner Niger Delta in Mali, an area characterized by floodplains and reticulating river networks. The Inner Niger Delta represents a suture zone for other Sahelian species, separating western and eastern lineages [46,47]. These congruent biogeographic patterns across species indicate that historic events likely shaped the evolutionary history of the Sahelian faunal community . McIntosh  provides evidence that the Niger River stopped flowing during Pleistocene glacial periods and that the redistribution of sand caused large dunes to form in the region of the Inner Delta. When the Niger River began to flow again, these sand dunes acted as a dam, forming the large Paleo-lake Debo during the late Pleistocene and early Holocene [49,50]. The drying of the Niger River during glacial periods likely acted as a barrier to Varanus niloticus dispersal, and populations isolated in riverine refugia differentiated from one another.
Other evidence suggests that historic drainage patterns could have played a large role in shaping the present-day genetic patterns within Varanus niloticus. Individuals within the Senegal and Niger watersheds were assigned to the same genetic cluster. This low degree of genetic differentiation could be a reflection of the historic connection between the Senegal and Niger drainage basins, which occurred until the late Pleistocene , and likely facilitated past migration. Presently, the frequent flooding of these riverine systems has possibly allowed for the continuing exchange of migrants. On the other hand, the relatively low yet significant pairwise F ST value between these localities suggests that gene flow might be slightly reduced, possibly due to the currently separate watersheds.
The genetic structure of the central, Lake Lere, and Lake Chad populations supports our hypothesis of reduced gene flow across present-day watershed boundaries. Our analysis of migration rates indicated a high degree of gene flow between the central and Lake Lere populations, located in the western and eastern drainages of the Niger basin, respectively. Although Lake Lere is in close proximity to locations within the Lake Chad watershed (shortest distance = 209 km), our analyses indicated reduced gene flow between these populations, evidenced by significant F ST values and the spatial clustering analysis with BAPS. In contrast to BAPS, the STRUCTURE results showed a higher level of admixture and hierarchical partitioning among these populations; however, at higher K values (not shown) the distinctiveness of the Lake Lere population became more evident. The STRUCTURE analysis also showed additional sub-structuring among Varanus niloticus localities within the Lake Chad watershed. Sample sites along tributaries displayed differing proportions of ancestry than localities within Lake Chad itself. This could reflect source-sink dynamics of individuals dispersing downstream along tributaries and intermixing in Lake Chad, where the rivers converge.
Across methods, the western population showed evidence of having a small effective population size (N e ) and lower genetic diversity compared to other Varanus niloticus populations in the region. This could be a result of the limited gene flow that we detected. Additionally, the prolonged intensive harvesting of V. niloticus in Mali  could be leading to reduced population sizes and lower genetic diversity in the region.
The decline in Varanus niloticus populations that occurred around 1,000–1,800 years BP corresponds to the drastic expansion and organization of human civilizations in West Africa . Specifically, the ancient city of Jenné-jeno inhabiting the Inner Niger Delta region, expanded rapidly to cover an area of 330 km2 in 800–900 AD before eventually declining . This ancient city was a major hub along the trans-Saharan trade route . Archaeological excavations at the Jenné-jeno site recovered a high proportion of aquatic reptiles, including varanids, and this bias was mainly attributed to exploitation by fisherman . Therefore, the negative effects of humans on V. niloticus populations in Sahelian Africa likely have a longer history than previously thought.
Our findings have important implications for the management of Sahelian Varanus niloticus populations. Although listed on Appendix II of CITES, managing international trade of V. niloticus without population size and genetic structure information could be detrimental to the species. The four genetic groups that we identified in Sahelian Africa represent separate demographic units and possibly a distinct lineage based on private allelic richness and differing allele frequencies. These genetic groups provide an objective and useful delineation for managing populations of V. niloticus throughout Mali, Niger, and Chad. In the future, a genetic assessment of V. niloticus should be expanded to the full range of this species to enable more thorough monitoring of international trade and the ability to source harvested individuals from other locations.
This study highlights the utility of genetic methods for informing management practices and conservation decisions. Many CITES-listed species are currently managed without empirical data and could greatly benefit from species- and population-level assessments of genetic structure and diversity . Monitor lizards, in particular, are all protected under CITES; however, information on population size and vulnerability status is lacking for a majority of varanid species . Genetic tools can provide an effective means to detect genetic diversity loss, estimate effective population size, and identify independent population segments within harvested species [3,55].
While biodiversity data is limited throughout the Sahel, recent studies in this region have uncovered a high degree of endemism and species richness . Similarly, genetic assessments have revealed cryptic diversity and genetic structuring in many Sahelian taxa [46,47,57-59]. With increasing aridity predicted for this region in future years  and continual destruction of habitat [8,56], genetic isolation and fragmentation of Sahelian species will likely increase. Therefore, understanding and protecting the complex patterns of biodiversity in the Sahel should be of great importance.
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McIntosh SK. Excavatons at Jenné-Jeno, Hambarketolo, and Kaniana (Inland Niger Delta, Mali), the 1981 Season, vol. 20. Los Angeles, California: University of California Press; 1995.
Smith MJ, Benítez-Díaz H, Clemente-Muñoz MÁ, Donaldson J, Hutton JM, Noel McGough H, et al. Assessing the impacts of international trade on CITES-listed species: Current practices and opportunities for scientific research. Biol Conserv. 2011;144(1):82–91.
Koch A, Ziegler T, Böhme W, Arida E, Auliya M. Pressing problems: distribution, threats, and conservation status of the monitor lizards (Varanidae: Varanus ssp.) of Southeast Asia and the Indo-Australian Archipelago. Herpetol Conserv Biol. 2013;8:1–62.
Schwartz MK, Luikart G, Waples RS. Genetic monitoring as a promising tool for conservation and management. Trends Ecol Evol. 2007;22(1):25–33.
Brito JC, Godinho R, Martínez‐Freiría F, Pleguezuelos JM, Rebelo H, Santos X, et al. Unravelling biodiversity, evolution and threats to conservation in the Sahara‐Sahel. Biol Rev. 2014;89(1):215–31.
Dobigny G, Tatard C, Gauthier P, Ba K, Duplantier J-M, Granjon L, et al. Mitochondrial and Nuclear Genes-Based Phylogeography of Arvicanthis niloticus (Murinae) and Sub-Saharan Open Habitats Pleistocene History. PLoS One. 2013;8(11):e77815.
Froufe E, Gonçalves DV, Brito JC, Harris DJ. Nuclear and mitochondrial markers reveal the existence of several geographically concordant lineages within a Sahelian gecko species, Ptyodactylus ragazzii. Amphibia-Reptilia. 2013;34:85–93.
Gonçalves DV, Brito JC, Crochet P-A, Geniez P, Padial JM, Harris DJ. Phylogeny of North African Agama lizards (Reptilia: Agamidae) and the role of the Sahara desert in vertebrate speciation. Mol Phylogenet Evol. 2012;64(3):582–91.
De Wit M, Stankiewicz J. Changes in surface water supply across Africa with predicted climate change. Science. 2006;311(5769):1917–21.
We would like to extend our gratitude to the Herpetology Department of the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH), especially David Kizirian, for facilitating the transportation of tissue samples. We would also like to thank Tim Vines and Robert Kraus at Axios Reviews for their editorial assistance as well as the three anonymous reviewers who provided valuable suggestions. Funding for this study was provided by the Clare Boothe Luce Foundation and by Fordham University.
The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
SD performed the laboratory work, genetic analyses, and prepared the manuscript. VB contributed all of the tissue samples. SOK participated in the study design and assisted with analyses. EH is the graduate advisor of SD and participated in the study design. All authors have read and approved the final manuscript.
PCR protocols for each of the microsatellite loci used.
Intraspecific genetic diversity estimates for each of the Varanus niloticus sample localities. Calculations include observed heterozygosity (H o ), expected heterozygosity (H e ), number of alleles per locus (N a ), allelic richness (A R ), and private allelic richness (PA R ) as well as loci showing deviations from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) with P <0.01. Locality numbers are consistent with Table 1.
Structure harvester results. Plots show the mean estimated Ln probability (A) and ΔK for K = 1–10 (B) and K = 2–10 (C).
BOTTLENECK results for Varanus niloticus populations.
MSVAR results for each of the inferred populations of Varanus niloticus. Density plots show the log (N e ), far left, and N e , central, of current (red) and ancestral (blue) population sizes. The density plots on the far right show the time since the change in N e occurred.
Mantel test of genetic distance [F ST / (1-F ST )] versus river distance.
About this article
Cite this article
Dowell, S.A., de Buffrénil, V., Kolokotronis, SO. et al. Fine-scale genetic analysis of the exploited Nile monitor (Varanus niloticus) in Sahelian Africa. BMC Genet 16, 32 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12863-015-0188-x
- Population genetics
- Genetic structure
- Genetic diversity
- Effective population size
- Inner Niger delta
- Population decline


text:
New technology has led to the influx of advancements that have been beneficial to daily life. It has changed the manner in which human beings view things, including those in the medical field.
One of the many aspects that scientists have been spending a bulk of their time on is cancer treatment. Over the years, more and more findings have been made, with a fairly recent one being t-cell therapy as one of the cures. It is said to be a natural method of dealing with the ailment that has claimed millions of lives but had shown a dramatic drop over the last 21 years.
What Is T-Cell Therapy And How Does It Really Work?
A known type of immunotherapy, T-cell therapy is a method that reprograms a patient’s white blood cells to attack the tumors in the body. While medical experts have been studying immunotherapy for decades now, it is only during the past few years when they finally looked deeper into this form of therapy for humans.
In T-cell therapy, the white blood cells are removed from the blood and are genetically modified to have antigen receptors on its surface. After these receptors attach themselves to the proteins on the surface of cancer cells, the T-cells are then sent back to the lab where they are multiplied. After which, they are infused into the bloodstream, leaving the patient with a more potent form of defense through the immune system.
This New Procedure Showing Extraordinary Success
Many experts are now claiming that T-cell therapy has so far been a successful experiment. According to one study, 94% of patients who had acute lymphoblastic leukemia no longer showed symptoms of the illness after going through the procedure.
As reported by researcher Stanley Riddell of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the findings were “unprecedented” in the field of medicine, stating that it is a strong statement to give sick people hope. This was concurred by another researcher Chiara Bonini, who described such developments as a “revolution” and added that the remission rates that were reported are something she has not encountered in more than 15 years.
Experts Say That This Should Be the Last Resort
Because such procedure entails dangerous side effects like the overload of defense cells and cytokine release syndrome, which causes hypertension, fever and neurotoxicity among 20 patients, T-cell therapy is considered as the final option. Riddell also clarified that the procedure is not for everyone, and that it will not be a “save-all.”
As of the moment, Riddell’s team is also working on other uses for T-cell therapy, not just for blood cancer treatment. They are also working on making the procedure a safer one and easier to design. Another factor that is being looked at and tracked is the period wherein patients remain in remission after receiving treatment before they move on to the next phase of trials.
Finding a cure for cancer that would work for a good chunk of patients could very well mark the new age of medicine. But for now, more research is needed to be conducted for T-cell therapy to be, at the very least, a workable method for cancer treatment.

domain: medical


But there is zero support in the West for bringing down Hamas. President Barack Obama helped bring a pro-Hamas regime in Egypt. And the man who never pressured Abbas pressured Israel to reduce sanctions on the Gaza Strip, thus helping Hamas remain in power so it continue firing rockets at Israel.
I do not expect the mass media to improve nor do I have any hope of educating the journalists who write this kind of thing. They are not going to change in the near- or even medium-term future. Hence, they will be ignored instead.
Equally, the governments who follow this kind of line will have no effect—at least no positive effect—on regional problems. The new feature of the last few years is that the U.S. government has contributed to making things much worse.
And that’s why there will be no “permanent end” to this rocket war madness or all of the other varieties of madness that are getting worse in the region. It is the policy of those people who do not understand what they are talking about or dealing with who are doomed. They are the ones who need a new policy.
Originally published by Rubin Reports.


text:
Orion Electric Poland
Torunsko-wloclawski; Kujawsko-Pomorskie; Polnocny
Location of affected unit(s):
Ostaszewo near Toruń
Manufacture of computer, electronic and optical products
26.40 - Manufacture of consumer electronics
Planned Job Reductions min:
Type of Restructuring:
Employment Effect Start:
In November 2012, the Japanese company Orion Electric announced plans to cut 177 jobs in the unit in Ostaszewo near Toruń (Pomeranian Special Economic Zone). According to the company’s board, the redundancies are due to a lack of orders and a deteriorating TV set market.
The company cooperates with the Poviat Employment Agency, which may offer public support for redundant workers.
Orion Electric was established in 1958 in Japan. The company produces television sets and other electronic products. Orion Electric employs about 9,000 people globally. The unit in Ostaszewo was founded in 2006.

domain: economics


Price from $446,000
Located just 4km from Melbourne thriving CBD, this magnificent contemporary designed project is connected to world-class universities, sporting venues, and arts and entertainment facilities. As part of Parkville Gardens, This apartment is situated within a superbly designed master-planned project offering community focused living adjacent to Royal Park. Enjoy the amenities to the exclusive Park Club’ which features a 25m indoor lap pool, gymnasium, future function and theatre room, and stunning outdoor residents’; retreat area.
Contact our sales agent Cindy for more information.


text:
Water – 2 litres
Gelatine – 1 tblsp, powdered
Sugar – 275 gms
Raisins – 2 tblsp
Rosewater – 1 tblsp
Pistachio Nuts – 2 tblsp, finely chopped
Mulberry Syrup – 100 ml
1. In a small bowl add the gelatine with 5 tblsp of water for 5 minutes.
2. Heat the remaining water in a pan and bring to a boil.
3. Add sugar and simmer for 5 minutes, stirring all the time till the sugar dissolves.
4. Add the softened gelatine and stir till it dissolves.
5. Remove the pan from heat.
6. Add the raisins, rosewater and pistachio.
7. Pour this mixture into freezing trays and keep aside to cool.
8. Once it has cooled, transfer it to a freezer for 2 to 3 hours or until almost frozen.
9. Remove and spoon the mixture into a bowl.
10. Stir lightly so as to distribute the raisins and nuts evenly.
11. Return to the freezing tray and freeze until solid.
12. When ready, spoon the sorbet into individual bowls.
13. Pour a little of the mulberry syrup and serve.
Mulberry Sorbet Recipe
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Feel free to comment or share your thoughts on this Mulberry Sorbet Recipe from Awesome Cuisine.

domain: food


HOUSTON Rising waters lead to mounting frustration and fear in a southeast Houston neighborhood where residents complained the city wasn t doing enough.
I pay taxes and I pay the drainage fee, said Diana Benetes. That s why I m so angry.
Benetes lives in the Southpark neighborhood along Southridge Street near Mykawa Road.
She and her neighbors said every time it rains hard, the water collects on the road and comes close to their houses.
We can t move anywhere, said Joe Brown. I couldn t even go to work today.
Crews from Houston s Department of Public Works responded to the area with a pump truck. It took them several hours to pump the water from several neighborhood streets.
Officials blamed the problem on an old concrete storm drain that needed to be replaced. They conceded the water pump was just a temporary fix.
As a homeowner living in the very same neighborhood, I have some of the same frustrations, said Public Works manager Braxton Coles.
But with more rain forecast for over the weekend, some residents remained on edge.
We won t sleep tonight, one woman said. More rain is not good.
Crews from Public Works were expected to remain in the area all night long, just in case.


text:
38 “Now this is what you shall offer on the altar: two lambs a year old day by day regularly. 39 One lamb you shall offer in the morning, and the other lamb you shall offer at twilight. 40 And with the first lamb a tenth measure of fine flour mingled with a fourth of a hin of beaten oil, and a fourth of a hin of wine for a drink offering.41 The other lamb you shall offer at twilight, and shall offer with it a grain offering and its drink offering, as in the morning, for a pleasing aroma, a food offering to the Lord. 42 It shall be a regular burnt offering throughout your generations at the entrance of the tent of meeting before the Lord, where I will meet with you, to speak to you there. 43 There I will meet with the people of Israel, and it shall be sanctified by my glory. 44 I will consecrate the tent of meeting and the altar. Aaron also and his sons I will consecrate to serve me as priests. 45 I will dwell among the people of Israel and will be their God. 46 And they shall know that I am the Lordtheir God, who brought them out of the land of Egypt that I might dwell among them. I am the Lord their God.
The Altar of Incense
30 “You shall make an altar on which to burn incense; you shall make it of acacia wood. 2 A cubit shall be its length, and a cubit its breadth. It shall be square, and two cubits shall be its height. Its horns shall be of one piece with it. 3 You shall overlay it with pure gold, its top and around its sides and its horns. And you shall make a molding of gold around it. 4 And you shall make two golden rings for it. Under its molding on two opposite sides of it you shall make them, and they shall be holders for poles with which to carry it. 5 You shall make the poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold. 6 And you shall put it in front of the veil that is above the ark of the testimony, in front of the mercy seat that is above the testimony, where I will meet with you. 7 And Aaron shall burn fragrant incense on it. Every morning when he dresses the lamps he shall burn it, 8 and when Aaron sets up the lamps at twilight, he shall burn it, a regular incense offering before the Lordthroughout your generations. 9 You shall not offer unauthorized incense on it, or a burnt offering, or a grain offering, and you shall not pour a drink offering on it.10 Aaron shall make atonement on its horns once a year. With the blood of the sin offering of atonement he shall make atonement for it once in the year throughout your generations. It is most holy to the Lord.”
The Census Tax
11 The Lord said to Moses, 12 “When you take the census of the people of Israel, then each shall give a ransom for his life to the Lord when you number them, that there be no plague among them when you number them. 13 Each one who is numbered in the census shall give this: half a shekel according to the shekel of the sanctuary (the shekel is twenty gerahs), half a shekel as an offering to the Lord.14 Everyone who is numbered in the census, from twenty years old and upward, shall give the Lord's offering. 15 The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less, than the half shekel, when you give the Lord's offering to make atonement for your lives. 16 You shall take the atonement money from the people of Israel and shall give it for the service of the tent of meeting, that it may bring the people of Israel to remembrance before the Lord, so as to make atonement for your lives.”
Forsake Me Not When My Strength Is Spent
1 In you, O Lord, do I take refuge;
let me never be put to shame!
2 In your righteousness deliver me and rescue me;
incline your ear to me, and save me!
3 Be to me a rock of refuge,
to which I may continually come;
you have given the command to save me,
for you are my rock and my fortress.
4 Rescue me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked,
from the grasp of the unjust and cruel man.
5 For you, O Lord, are my hope,
my trust, O Lord, from my youth.
6 Upon you I have leaned from before my birth;
you are he who took me from my mother's womb.
My praise is continually of you.
7 I have been as a portent to many,
but you are my strong refuge.
8 My mouth is filled with your praise,
and with your glory all the day.
9 Do not cast me off in the time of old age;
forsake me not when my strength is spent.
10 For my enemies speak concerning me;
those who watch for my life consult together
11 and say, “God has forsaken him;
pursue and seize him,
for there is none to deliver him.”
12 O God, be not far from me;
O my God, make haste to help me!
13 May my accusers be put to shame and consumed;
with scorn and disgrace may they be covered
who seek my hurt.
14 But I will hope continually
and will praise you yet more and more.
15 My mouth will tell of your righteous acts,
of your deeds of salvation all the day,
for their number is past my knowledge.
16 With the mighty deeds of the Lord God I will come;
I will remind them of your righteousness, yours alone.
17 O God, from my youth you have taught me,
and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds.
18 So even to old age and gray hairs,
O God, do not forsake me,
until I proclaim your might to another generation,
your power to all those to come.
19 Your righteousness, O God,
reaches the high heavens.
You who have done great things,
O God, who is like you?
20 You who have made me see many troubles and calamities
will revive me again;
from the depths of the earth
you will bring me up again.
21 You will increase my greatness
and comfort me again.
22 I will also praise you with the harp
for your faithfulness, O my God;
I will sing praises to you with the lyre,
O Holy One of Israel.
23 My lips will shout for joy,
when I sing praises to you;
my soul also, which you have redeemed.
24 And my tongue will talk of your righteous help all the day long,
for they have been put to shame and disappointed
who sought to do me hurt.

domain: literature


text:
And To Think I Saw It On Mulberry Street Writing Activity
Young scholars are read a Dr. Suess book. They use the same format found in the book to create a class book about what they see on the way home from school. They practice writing sentences and illustrate them for the book.
17 Views 43 Downloads
Oh! the Places You'll Go!
Honor Dr. Seuss on his birthday with a read aloud of the story Oh! the Places You'll Go! and a variety of activities that inspire scholars to dream of their future endeavors. Readers take part in conversations, research the life of...
Pre-K - 6th English Language Arts CCSS: Adaptable
Introducing the 6 Traits to Students
Put together an English language arts unit on the six traits of writing with this helpful collection of resources. From fun songs to differentiated writing exercises reinforcing each of the traits, great ideas are provided for developing...
K - 8th English Language Arts CCSS: Adaptable
Surprise!: Challenge Activities (Theme 2)
Surprise! is the theme of this series of challenge activities. The surprise comes from the information your scholars will discover when researching topics such as alligators and crocodiles, living in other countries, becoming a...
1st English Language Arts CCSS: Adaptable
Read Across America Classroom Activity Guide
Celebrate the legendary Dr. Seuss on Read Across America Day with a plethora of activities set to five stories—The Cat in the Hat, The Lorax, Horton Hears a Who, Oh, the Places You'll Go!, and Green Eggs and Ham. Activities include...
Pre-K - 4th English Language Arts CCSS: Adaptable
On-Demand Assessment: Writing of an Information Paragraph About How a Bullfrog Survives
Having read and discussed Bullfrog at Magnolia Circle, third graders demonstrate their bullfrog expertise by writing informational paragraphs. Building on the note-taking and paragraph planning from the previous lesson, learners create...
2nd - 4th English Language Arts CCSS: Designed
I Wanna New Room
A reading of Karen Kaufman Orloff's I Wanna New Room begins a unit on persuasive writing. Kids identify something they want, brainstorm reasons for their request, examples that support these reasons, anticipate objections, and provide...
2nd - 5th English Language Arts CCSS: Designed
A Reading Guide to Sarah, Plain and Tall
Eliminate the hard work of creating an entire literature unit with this reading guide for the novel Sarah, Plain and Tall. From background information about the author and her motivation for writing the story to reading comprehension...
1st - 5th English Language Arts
What Happened Next? (Grades K-4)
Explore the structure of narrative writing with this fun, collaborative lesson. Start by reading aloud a short story, asking small groups of learners to fill in key events on a large story board prepared on the class whiteboard....
K - 4th English Language Arts CCSS: Designed
Dr. Seuss Extension Activities
Extend the exhilarating learning experience of Dr. Seuss with five activities designed to reinforce literacy skills—site word reading, dialogue writing, story mapping, and more! Featured stories include The Lorax, Horton Hears a Who, The...
Pre-K - 2nd English Language Arts CCSS: Adaptable


text:
CannaZapp CannaZapp gives you a guided tour of the most extreme reactions to cannabis. Watch this 14th episode to find out what this looks like.
Welcome to the 14th episode of our CannaZapp series. This time, we give you a guided tour of the most extreme reactions to cannabis. Apparently, you don’t even need to consume it to overreact to it!
Please click on ‘CC’ to view subtitles in English, French, Spanish, German or Dutch.
If you have clip suggestions for CannaZapp, please send them to email@example.com.

domain: entertainment


text: This gorgeous gemstone stackable band is the perfect gift for mom, sister, best friend, or any family member. Seven vibrant birthstones are set in a high-polish beaded band that comfortably wraps around the finger. This band is the perfect addition to your existing ring stack or a stylish ring to be worn alone. The best kind of gift for mothers day, birthday or any other special occasion. Available in Sterling Silver, 10K or 14K White, Yellow, or Rose Gold.

domain: design


text:
Scrapbook paper collections are great options for themed cards. You have all the elements like stickers, ephemera and cute patterns to put a project together in no time.
The following post contains affiliate links which means if you click on a product link, and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission at no cost to you. My full disclosure policy can be found HERE.)
Fall is in the air and I’m layering on the colors over at CreateForLess using some die cut leaves, stenciling and pieces from Carta Bella’s Fall Break Collection Kit. You can see how this card came together over on their blog……

domain: artistic


text:
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The perfect quality paper andPosters is crisp and shiny and just fantastic. This bestow famous tools and insights on how to obtain your projects and ideas and turn them into real action plans. The item ships within 2-3 business days in durable sure tubes. The poster looks true to its online image and description, the detail and colors are thrilling. The sizes listed forPosters is the size of the produce you want to display, not the actual size of the frame. Large sparkling poster is a magnificent addition for kid's room, college dorm or classroom. The framing services of this product are available only within the United States. But anyways this unit is a grandiose quality poster. Thisposter is hand designed and printed by keyposters. These are printed on high earmark paper and ready for framing.Posters can be availed of when you emption poster online are made of high attribute materials including the paper and ink.


The 2022 Korea Open commences on Monday. This year marks the first time the ATP 250 event will be played on the ATP tour.
Alexander Zverev was initially set to compete in the tournament but later withdrew.
Two-time Grand Slam runner-up and World No. 2 Casper Ruud is the top seed at the Korea Open and the heavy favorite to win. The Norwegian has produced some impressive performances and will aim to win his fourth title of the season. Ruud will face either Nicolas Jarry or Marcos Giron in his opening match.
World No. 8 Cameron Norrie is seeded second at the ATP 250 tournament. The Brit made his top-10 debut this season while also reaching his first Grand Slam semifinal. He will be eager to put on a good showing in Seoul following Great Britain's Davis Cup exit.
Norrie will be up against either Hong Seong-chan or Kaichi Uchida in the last 16. He could potentially run into eighth seed Jenson Brooksby in the quarterfinals.
Indian Wells champion Taylor Fritz is another title contender at the Korea Open. The American currently sits at No. 12 in the ATP rankings and a good run in Seoul could see him closing in on the top 10.
Fritz will either face compatriot Mackenzie McDonald or Pedro Martinez in his opening match.
Sixth seed Borna Coric seems to be enjoying a resurgence this season. The Croat won the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati, where he beat a number of top players, namely Rafael Nadal, Felix Auger-Aliassime, Cameron Norrie and Stefanos Tsitsipas.
While Coric lost in the second round of the US Open, he is more than capable of challenging for the Korea Open.
Fourth seed Denis Shapovalov has had a disappointing season thus far, but the Canadian is a formidable opponent on his day. He will play his first tournament since a third-round defeat at the US Open.
The likes of Miomir Kecmanovic, Dan Evans and Jenson Brooksby are the dark horses at the ATP 250 event.
Where to watch the 2022 Korea Open
Amazon Prime Video - United Kingdom and Ireland
beIN Sports - Australia
Canal+ - Poland
TSN - Canada
Tennis Channel - United States
Eurosport - France
iQIYI - China
OTE TV - Greece


text:
Almost every screening will be followed by a Q&A with a stem cell scientist, an opportunity to engage more deeply with scientific developments.
You can request to host your own screening.
Stem Cells Australia and the Melbourne Neuroscience Institute invite you to attend a special film screening of STEM CELL REVOLUTIONS.
Explore the realities behind the hopes and fears associated with stem cell research.
This award-winning documentary takes the viewer on a journey from the earliest experiments that first revealed stem cells in the body, to the latest scientific and clinical developments. In particular, it explores the hopes and fears associated with stem cell research.
The film features eminent international scientists in stem cell research, including 2012 Nobel Laureates Shinya Yamanaka and Sir John Gurdon, Nobel Laureate Sir Martin Evans, as well as Sir Ian Wilmut, creator of Dolly the sheep. Acclaimed novelist Margaret Atwood serves as a non-scientific commentator in the film.
Join Associate Professor Megan Munsie from Stem Cells Australia for this special screening to find out more about stem cells and participate in a Q&A session as we reflect on the challenges of communicating science to the public.
What is the promise of stem cell therapies, and what are the new issues they raise in terms of stem cell tourism and sanctity of life?
The film-maker and scientist behind an award winning series of films on stem cells will show excerpts from Conversations and Stem Cell Revolutions. Dr Amy Hardie is head of research in the Scottish Documentary Institute. Dr Clare Blackburn is a Group Leader at the University of Edinburgh's MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine and EuroStemCell's Project Co-ordinator.
This talk is part of a series on "Science, Faith and Ethics", organised by the University Chaplaincy at King's Buildings, University of Edinburgh.
Stem cells, what are they? How were they discovered? How do they function? How are advances into this pioneering research impacting medicine both in the UK and on a global scale?
If you would like to know the answers to such questions, then you are invited to this inspirational event STEM CELL REVOLUTIONS to gain an insight this research and to discover the fundamental importance and potential of stem cells.
This event offers the opportunity to watch an international multi-award winning documentary created by film producer Amy Hardie and stem cell biologist Professor Clare Blackburn and presented in an understandable Horizon style format. The film features commentaries and case studies from experts in the field, including Nobel laureates Professor Shinya Yamanaka, Professor Sir John Gurdon, Professor Sir Martin Evans and other distinguished scientists such as Professor Ian Wilmut.
The film will be followed by a Q&A session with a panel of stem cell scientists from the Centre for Regenerative Medicine at Edinburgh University. This event will also offer the ideal platform to showcase stem cell research at Heriot-Watt and Edinburgh University and the opportunity to form collaborations.
Amb animacions dibuixades a mà i entrevistes amb eminents científics del camp de la investigació amb cèl·lules mare, STEM CELL REVOLUTIONS parla de la història i l’evolució científica de la investigació amb cèl·lules mare –des del primers experiments que van començar a mostrar l’existència de cèl·lules mare al cos humà, als principals científics i avenços clínics actuals.
Bendigo residents will have the chance to learn more about stem cells and research into vision loss at a free community event.
Dr Alice Pebay and Dr Alex Hewitt from the Centre for Eye Research Australia and Associate Professor Megan Musie from Stem Cells Australia will also host a panel discussion about stem cells and eye research.

domain: biology


text:
I know I have said it before, but I am a huge fan of Nicholas Sparks. So whenever I hear that one of his books has been made into a movie, I know I have to see it. If you are a Nicholas Sparks fan, you will be excited to learn that his book The Longest Ride will be hitting theaters on April 10th.
About the movie The Longest Ride
Based on the bestselling novel by master storyteller Nicholas Sparks, THE LONGEST RIDE centers on the star-crossed love affair between Luke, a former champion bull rider looking to make a comeback, and Sophia, a college student who is about to embark upon her dream job in New York City’s art world. As conflicting paths and ideals test their relationship, Sophia and Luke make an unexpected connection with Ira, whose memories of his own decades-long romance with his beloved wife deeply inspire the young couple. Spanning generations and two intertwining love stories, THE LONGEST RIDE explores the challenges and infinite rewards of enduring love.
Starring: Britt Robertson, Scott Eastwood, Jack Huston, Oona Chaplin, and Alan Alda
Directed by: George Tillman, Jr.
If you haven’t seen the trailer for The Longest Ride yet, you can watch it now. I have embedded the video below.
I am definitely going to be seeing this movie in the theater with a group of my friends. It’s good for moms to have a girls night out every once in awhile! And what a better way to spend the evening than with a nice dinner and a movie afterwards with a bunch of your friends?
Want to learn more about the movie The Longest Ride?
Be sure to follow the hashtag “LongestRide” on your favorite social media channels. You can also
- Like The Longest Ride on Facebook
- Follow on Twitter, Google+, Instagram
- Subscribe on YouTube
- Visit the Official Website
If this looks like a movie you would enjoy, be sure to come back here on March 26th. I will be hosting a fun giveaway that you won’t want to miss.
So tell me… Are you a Nicholas Spark fan? Will you be seeing The Longest Ride when it comes out to the theater on April 10th?


The Melfort Mustangs and Estevan Bruins have made a trade, swapping a pair of 2004-born players.
In the trade, the Mustangs receive goaltender James Venne in exchange for forward Brady Wilson.
Venne, out of Saskatoon, Sask. is a former sixth round SJHL Draft pick of the Bruins and spent the shortened 2020/2021 season with the Saskatoon Blazers in Saskatchewan’s U18 AAA league. In two games that season, he was 2-0, with a 1.50 goals-against-average, a .949 save percentage and a shutout.
Wilson is currently playing with the Moose Jaw Warriors in Saskatchewan’s U18 AAA league. He has six goals, and three assists in six games.
The Mustangs are back in game action on Friday with the Humboldt Broncos coming to town.


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Place all ingredients into a food processor (or blender) and process until very smooth. If too thick for your taste, add a little more water.
Refrigerate in air tight container for 7-10 days.
Last Step: Don't forget to share!
Make all your friends drool by posting a picture of your finished recipe on your favorite social
network. And don't forget to tag Just A Pinch and include #justapinchrecipes so we can see it too!


The following product descriptions of equipment are offered as a service to readers and are not intended as an endorsement. To obtain more information on any item listed, contact the manufacturer.
The IK-1000A- extreme low-light CCD camera capable of capturing high-resolution color video in nearly total darkness is now available from Toshiba. Incorporates a back-illuminated electron-multiplying CCD or EMCCD, a technology previously found only in scientific cameras. The IK-1000A’s EMCCD sensor amplifies very low light signals above the read noise floor of a CCD, eliminating read noise and rendering the camera single photon sensitive for use in overcast starlight conditions. The EMCCD sensor, coupled with the camera’s 12dB gain control function, provides sharper images in illumination levels at or above moonlight; www.cctv.toshiba.com.
The Envirosafe Mod-Ular Stormwater Catch Basin Filter System- is now available from Transpo Industries. EnviroSafe is a simple retrofit to existing stormwater catch basins. Equipped with advanced filtering technology, EnviroSafe is designed to address a broad range of pollutants commonly found in stormwater run-off including: sediment, oils, metals, organic matter and bacteria. The modular construction of the filter cartridges (in a rugged co-polymer basin) is designed to make it easy to target pollutants. Large storage capacity for trash and debris. High filter flow rates (over 100 gpm) coupled with an overflow bypass designed into the basin alleviate flooding concerns; www.transpo.com.
The New Super Skid HSS Series- of diesel-powered hot-water pressure washers is available from Hotsy. The Super Skid HSS series is designed for a 4.8 to 9.5 GPM (gallons per minute) of flow volume. All four models of the Super Skid HSS series use diesel (or fuel oil) to heat water and produce cleaning power ranging from 2500 to 3200 PSI of water pressure. Other features: 48-gallon fuel tank; float tank that maintains constant pressure and flow while preventing sediment from entering the unit’s components; ready plumbed for connection to remote water tank; detergent injection system; steam combination control for more efficient cleaning of oils and grease; ETL certification to UL-1776 safety standards; and 50 ft. of two-wire braid Tuff-Skin hose rated for up to 4500 PSI with a 24-inch safety hose guard for operator protection; www.hotsy.com.
The Flexaust Sto-Sack- designed for moving high volumes of air using any blower, is available from The Flexaust Company, Inc. Features a flexible, single-ply PVC laminated polyester fabric blower hose supported by helical steel wire that compresses at a 10:1 ratio and fits into a self-contained storage sack. Designed for moving large volumes of air, smoke, or fumes using positive pressure blowers, hose is flame retardant and has a belted cuff end that fits onto any blower. Protected by an external wear strip; mildew-resistant; hoses come in 6-inch to 24-inch I.D. sizes and standard 15-foot and 25-foot lengths; www.flexaust.com.
The NIMS: Incident Command System Field Guide- from Informed Publishing is now available. Produced to help emergency responders get the tools they need for effective incident command (IC) – and to support NIMS (National Incident Management System) compliance. The NIMS guide includes color-coded tabs, logically organized information, and durable materials. The all-hazards, non-jurisdiction, and non-discipline-specific guide also provides responsibilities and checklists for applying the ICS; a NIMS overview; a glossary; acronym reference; sample organizational charts, schedules, and meeting agendas; position-specific prompts for command and operations; and Incident Action Plan (IAP) and ICS forms and templates; www.informedguides.com.


TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) — Lofty Pursuits held their 10th annual Ice Cream Eating Contest on Sunday afternoon, in honor of National Ice Cream Day after taking 2020 off due to the pandemic.
The ice cream of choice for this contest? Vanilla, which is considered a more stable and neutral flavor.
"I started doing the ice cream eating competition because I thought it was fun," said Lofty Pursuits owner Greg Cohen, who has owned the place for going on 28 years now. "President Ronald Reagan declared the third Sunday of July National Ice Cream Day, in possibly the most boring proclamation that has ever been written. That made me laugh for some reason, that something as exciting and fun as ice cream was turned into boring text by a politician. So, I make sure I read it every year to remember how bad it is."
Before the ice cream eating festivities began, Cohen did just that. He recited the official proclamation as written by President Reagan in 1984.
There were two divisions: Under 16-years-old and over 16-years-old. And the rules are simple: eat the most ice cream in the time given. Though, the actual rules are more detailed and can be found by clicking here. Cohen said that these rules are standardized by the Food Eating Federation.
There were originally only three people signed up for the over 16-year-old division, but a late entry from the table of the winner of the under 16-year-old division made their way up and threw their hat into the ring.
The main event for the ice cream eating competition lasted three minutes and was won by Sean Ruane, with Cohen saying it was one of the closer competitions in the 10-year history of the event. Ruane won by eating just under 16 ounces of ice cream.
Ruane did his victory interview while holding nothing other than another bowl of ice cream.
"Victory tastes so sweet, I love this competition, I love Lofty Pursuits," said Ruane. "I never miss this if I can help it. It is not my first time competing, but it is my first victory."
The winning prize was a $25 gift card to Lofty Pursuits, which the winner Sean said he was probably going to use by treating his kids to more ice cream down the line.
"Lofty Pursuits is the best ice cream place in Tallahassee, I've been coming here for years," said Ruane. "My kids go to Gilchrist and we come every Friday after school. We like supporting the local ice cream shop."
And as for Ruane's favorite ice cream flavor? Mocha with a waffle cone.
It was all in good fun though, as no money or trophies were being handed out for winners, just bragging rights and more ice cream.


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Our 2021 Launch
We’re excited to be expanding CS in Schools nationally. In 2021, we are supporting schools across Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, and the Northern Territory, in addition to growing our successful Victorian programme. Overall, we are more than doubling the size of our programmes.
CS in Schools will be supporting around 150 teachers at over 38 schools across Australia. Those teachers will be supported by more than 30 of our volunteer computing professionals from companies such as Carsales, SEEK, Atlassian, Xero, and CultureAmp. The teachers and volunteers will in turn help around 9,000 students learn what’s arguably the most important fundamental skill today: how to code.
We are also piloting an elective course that takes student skills to the real world and is aimed at students in Year 9. Students are set a challenge by industry powerhouses, including Domain and Carsales. These real-world problems need to be analysed and researched, and then the solutions are designed and created by students. Students work in a startup squad over a semester to find and create the best solution to the industry challenge. They then get the opportunity to pitch solutions to the company itself.
It’s going to be an exciting year at CS in Schools. We are beginning the programme in the classroom at most schools this week, and looking forward to feedback as we expand nationally and launch our new course. If you’re interested in getting involved in CS in Schools, we encourage reading our programme page.

domain: news


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Sunninghill Square, Cavendish Meads, Ascot, Berkshire, SL5 9TB
New Haw, Surrey
Maddox Homes are proud to present Long Acre Place, an exclusive collection of just 11 brand new luxury houses positioned in the highly desirable area of Thames Ditton and within easy reach of Surbiton mainline train station providing fast journeys to London Waterloo in just 20 minutes..
With striking architecture and embracing the latest energy saving technology which includes air source heat pumps, double glazed windows, independent heating zones and high levels of insulation, these beautiful smart houses are finished to a high standard and offer modern comforts in a sustainable place to live.
Search new build properties on our website, register with us to find out upcoming developments launching soon.

domain: geography


text: A$AP Rocky is facing the wrath of his landlord after leaving his New York apartment in a heavily damaged state upon his departure in August. According to court documents, Rocky transformed his walk-in wardrobe into a recording booth and caused unspecified damage to the bathroom. The rapper also removed a chandelier and security camera without replacement. On top of suing for money to repair the damages, the landlord has allegedly demanded an extra $100,000 USD. Keep an eye out for more news on the rapper’s legal setback.


The AP reported that Republicans “have called on [President] Obama to veto a pending $410 billion spending bill because it includes more than 8,000 earmarks,” without noting that many of the earmarks were included at the request of Republicans.
In reporting that “Republicans in Congress have called on [President] Obama to veto a pending $410 billion spending bill because it includes more than 8,000 earmarks,” the Associated Press did not note that 40 percent of the earmarks in the bill were reportedly requested by congressional Republicans, or that an analysis by independent budget watchdog group Taxpayers for Common Sense reportedly found that six Republican senators are among the top 10 sponsors of earmarks in the bill. The March 4 AP article also ignored the fact that nine Republicans, including seven who sit on the Senate Appropriations Committee, voted against an amendment by Sen. John McCain that would have stripped earmarks out of the bill.
As Media Matters for America documented, on February 26, the AP similarly reported that “Republicans assailed” the omnibus bill as “too costly” and quoted Republicans criticizing the bill for containing earmarks, without noting that many of the earmarks were included at the request of Republicans.
From the March 4 AP article:
Asked whether Obama wanted line-item veto power, [White House press secretary Robert] Gibbs said the president -- who on Wednesday announced changes in the awarding of government contracts he said would save billions of dollars -- wants to work with Congress to reduce wasteful spending.
“That's the best way to go out and do this, to continue to look for the inefficiencies and the waste, to follow prescribed solutions for this, that in many cases have been identified and just simply not acted on,” Gibbs said at his daily news briefing.
Republicans in Congress have called on Obama to veto a pending $410 billion spending bill because it includes more than 8,000 earmarks, or spending targeted for specific projects in lawmakers' districts, totaling billions of dollars. The bill is necessary to keep the government operating through the end of its budget year on Sept. 30.
The White House has indicated that Obama will sign the bill.


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Poker is a card game that can be played in many different ways, both online and in real life. It is a popular pastime around the world, with millions of people playing it each day. It is also a very social game, allowing players to interact with each other and tell stories about their experiences at the table. It is also a fascinating game, with its own rich history and a number of interesting facts to discover.
Poker requires a high level of mental arithmetic, and it is very important to be able to make decisions quickly when the odds change. Many poker players have a strong desire to win, but they also realize that luck can play a big part in a game and it is not necessarily something that you can control. However, if you are a good player and you are able to keep your emotions in check, you will find that winning at poker becomes easier over time.
While the most common way to play poker is to have two cards in your hand and five community cards on the table, there are other ways that you can mix up your strategy. For example, you may be able to swap out your cards for new ones during the shuffle. This is usually done in order to try to improve your hand by getting rid of a weaker one. You can also bluff by betting when you don’t have the best cards in your hand. This will often confuse your opponents and they will be unsure whether or not you have the best cards in your hand.
There is no doubt that poker is a great way to practice your decision-making skills. By learning how to think critically and logically, you can become a much better poker player and you will be able to use this knowledge in other aspects of your life as well. This is especially true in business, where making good decisions is crucial.
Another way that poker can help you develop your decision-making skills is by teaching you how to make decisions when you don’t have all of the information. This is a skill that is very useful in business and in everyday life, as you will have to be able to assess risks and choose the best course of action.
Lastly, poker is a great way to improve your ability to read other people. By watching experienced players and imagining how you would react to their actions, you can build up your own quick instincts. This is a very useful skill in business, as it will allow you to read your customers and competitors more effectively. In addition, it will enable you to avoid costly mistakes that can easily be made when you are relying on your intuition alone. As you learn more about poker, your intuition will become stronger and you will be able to make better decisions in the future.

domain: game


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Updated: December 7, 2023
The annual Hawaiʻi State Judiciary juror questionnaires will be mailed Aug. 1 to individuals who have a Hawaiʻi state driver’s license or are registered to vote in Hawaiʻi.
Approximately 245,000 juror questionnaires will be mailed to 85,000 residents on Oʻahu, 60,000 in Maui County, 75,000 on Hawaiʻi Island and 25,000 on Kʻauai. They are used to help select potential jurors who may be eligible to serve in 2023. Individuals are selected at random.
Anyone receiving a questionnaire has 10 days to complete and return it to the Jury Pool Office in the envelope provided. Those who fail to respond may be penalized.
To be eligible to serve as a juror, you must be at least 18 years old, a citizen of the United States, a resident of Hawaiʻi and able to read and understand English.

domain: law


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I had watched this video and was inspired. The bg is copy paper used to mop up oxide spray in yellow and red off of the glass mat. The circle stencil had red ink from previous project so I sprayed it with alcohol and placed ink side down on this piece and pressed. Sponged more of the red ink to create contrast to the yellow. Then I followed the video to sponge the dark gray hills using stencil. Masked the moon and sponged black along skyline. My horse riders are a stencil I made and the color is black ink and a bristle ink dauber (I must say I love these things). Stamped trees in black ink then added black colored pencil under horses then water brush to create shadows and grass. I even used quikie glue pen and gold glitter around the moon. Trimmed to fit white cs base and attached.
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1) Getting A Record Deal Means You Will Be Successful In the Music Industry.
Did you know that 98% of all acts that sign to major labels fail? Meaning 98 out of 100 artists who actually get the deal don’t recoup enough money to pay for their advance and get dropped before their second (or even first) album is released. Getting a record deal is much riskier than going at your career on your own. Success in the music industry doesn’t need to mean getting on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine, selling out arenas and getting hounded by the paparazzi. It can mean making a comfortable living as a musician. And you don’t need a record deal for that.
2) Windowing Is An Effective Strategy
In the music industry, ‘windowing’ means holding off putting your album on streaming services for a window of time to maximize sales. It may have an been effective strategy in 2012. Or not. Taylor Swift windowed. Ed Sheeran did not. Adele did. Mumford and Sons did not. They’ve all done just fine. And broke sales/streams records.
But that was years ago. You can’t put your album on iTunes and not Apple Music. Not, you shouldn’t. You literally can’t. Apple won’t allow it. YouTube Red is launching and will kill windowing dead in the water.
If people can’t listen to your album they will move on. All the release day hype and marketing money will be for naught if when people go to check out the album, they can’t. They will forget about you. They aren’t going to spend $10 just to see if they like it.
Unless you’re Taylor Swift or Adele, it’s not going to work. If you want a successful touring career, break down the access barriers. And remember, fans aren’t going to pay for music anymore. And that’s Ok!
3) Streaming Is Bad For Music
A CD or download sale is treated equally no matter how great the album is. It’s a one time payment never to be earned on again.
Contrast that with streaming. If a song is great it will get played over and over again for years and years. Earning MORE than just a single sale ever could.
Streaming pays less initially, but much much more in the long run – if the music is good of course.
4) Getting Your Song On A TV Show Will Shoot You To Stardom
Yeah, it’s cool to get your song on TV. But do you know how many shows there are? And how much music is placed? This isn’t 2007 Grey’s Anatomy. Very few TV shows actually break artists anymore. It’s another music industry myth.
Commercials on the other hand can help (as made clear by American Authors and Imagine Dragons). And they also pay loads more than TV placements. Like $100,000 more. Yes, licensing can help pay your bills. And give you a bit of exposure. Definitely. But don’t bet the house on TV placements. It’s just one part of the equation.
5) Playing Well Known Venues Will Enable You To Play Other Well Known Venues
Putting on your website that you played The Whiskey means nothing. Everyone knows that if you have $400 you can pay to play any venue on the Sunset Strip. It’s much more impressive if you brought 100 people to a basement house concert than just playing a well known venue.
No one cares what venues you’ve played. Except your Uncle Joe. And he still thinks you should go on The Voice.
6) You Will Have A Music Career If You Go On A Singing TV Contest Show
Name 10 American Idol finalists. Not even winners. Finalists. There have been 14 seasons. That’s 140 top 10 finalists. And you can’t name 10. Well neither can anyone else. And how many The Voice contestants can you name? These are TV shows. Not career builders. Yes, if you’re smart, you may be able to use it as a launching pad into the music industry.
But most likely you will be locked into horrendous label deals with zero negotiating power and even if you do succeed will probably try to sue them like Phillip Phillips did.
7) Major Record Labels Develop Artists
Hilarious. Labels only want to sign artists who are already successful. Already proven. And even if you pay some lawyer loads of money to ‘shop’ you at labels and convince some hot A&R dude to sign you, you’ll be lucky if you get an EP out.
Most labels put out a single or two and if that doesn’t do well (and don’t think they’re going to put Rihanna money behind it), you’re dropped. And even if your album comes out, if it flops, you’re done. This ain’t the 1973 music industry, where Columbia Records will allow two complete flops because they believe you have Born To Run in you.
Labels demand instant success. If you don’t bring it, bye bye.
8) Major Record Labels Are Leading The Music Industry
Sure, they have loads of money still. But leaders, they are not. Their album creation and marketing strategies are paint by numbers, old school music industry. Songwriting camps. Release plans that haven’t changed in 5 years.
Today’s album marketing plan should not be the same as last year’s. But at most labels, it’s identical. Labels are the last to come around on everything from downloads to streaming. Labels fight tech in court instead of innovating creative ways to work with the technological developments.
They want the music industry to stay in the 90s. But its the 2010s.
9) If You Book A Show, People Will Show Up.
If you don’t promote your show, heavily, no one will come. Plain and simple. One Facebook event ain’t gonna cut it.
10) Record Sales Matter
Sales are done. Streaming is now more profitable than physical or download sales at Universal Music Group and Warner Music Group. And they were done for indie music lovers awhile ago. Indie artists should be working the subscription angle via BandCamp or Patreon along with pre-order, crowdfunding campaigns via PledgeMusic, Kickstarter or IndieGoGo. Sell experiences, merch and other offers on streaming services with BandPage. And of course, diversify the revenue stream. There are so many more ways to make money with music these days above just album sales. Get creative. Take your head out of the f’in sand!
11) If People Stop Paying For Music, Musicians Will Stop Creating It
That was the argument 15 years ago when Napster hit. There is more music now than ever. Musicians create music because we have to. It’s in our soul. You want to pay me $20 for a concert ticket, $20 for a T-shirt, $35 a year for a BandCamp subscription, $250 for a PledgeMusic pre-order package, and $50 for a BandPage offer, but don’t want to pay $10 for a plastic disc or digital files of data?
Fine by me!
12) You’re Either A Struggling Artist Or A Superstar
Middle class musicians are the fastest growing group of musicians out there. Just because Uncle Joe hasn’t heard of your band means nothing. Have you heard of his plumbing company? Does that mean he’s not successful? For some reason music is the only profession where people define success by fame. There are thousands of musicians making a living doing what they love who aren’t famous, but are incredibly successful.
Success is defined by happiness. Not income. Period.
13) Social Media Is More Important Than Email
Social networks come and go. Email has been the only constant. If you aren’t building your email list, you’re doing it wrong. Kevin Hart attributed selling out Madison Square Garden to his email list. Not Facebook or Twitter. Yes, it’s important to have a presence and engage with your fans on a daily basis on the social networks you feel most comfortable on and where your fans lives, but don’t prioritize it over your email list.
14) If Fans Want To Buy Merch, They’ll Find A Way
Bands b*tch all the time that their fans don’t buy merch. Bull. Maybe yours fans don’t buy merch because you aren’t selling it to them in the right way. Or maybe you have crappy merch. You can’t throw a couple CDs in the corner of the venue and expect people to buy them. If you don’t have a bright display, someone selling your merch (from when doors open to when they close), quality items, and a credit card swiper, you’re missing out on your number 1 tour income generator.
15) ‘The Music’ Is The Only Thing That Matters
Yes, the music, first and foremost, needs to be great. That’s a music industry truism. In the streaming age, you can’t throw loads of marketing cash at a pile of shit and expect people to gobble it up. But, unfortunately, great music without promotion means nothing.
Indie artists without a team around you have to work extra hard to get your music out there. Just posting it on Facebook and sending it to your email list will not turn your album into a chart topping success.
You need an interesting story. A cohesive image. A marketing budget. You need to tour and/or work YouTube.
16) It Matters What Studio You Record In
The only thing that matters is what your album sounds like, not where it was recorded. Recording vocals through a U47 in Studio 1 at Abbey Road Studios is going to sound nearly identical as recording vocals through a U47 in your bedroom. Pay for the talent, not the room.
17) You Need A Publicist To Get Press
Another laughable music industry myth. Bloggers prefer being hit up by artists and managers over publicists. Traditional press outlets like newspapers, magazines, radio and TV shows may respond better to publicists with whom they have a relationship, but a manager or artist can be just as effective. Save yourself money, do your own press outreach.


Batteries are essential in various settings, from powering vehicles to supporting off-grid living. However, not all batteries serve the same purpose. The distinction between Deep Cycle Batteries and Regular Batteries is significant, especially for those involved in activities like boating, camping, or renewable energy systems. This guide will help you understand these differences, focusing on the features and applications of each type, including the increasingly popular Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries, a variant of deep cycle batteries.
Deep Cycle Battery: Designed for prolonged, steady power supply, Deep Cycle Batteries are ideal for applications requiring a constant energy flow over extended periods. They feature thicker plates and robust construction, allowing them to be charged and discharged repeatedly without significant performance loss. This makes them suitable for powering appliances in RVs, boats, and off-grid power systems.
Lithium Iron Phosphate Batteries: A subtype of Deep Cycle Batteries, LiFePO4 batteries, are known for their safety, long life, and stability. They can be deep cycle or starter batteries, offering high energy density and a longer lifespan compared to traditional lead-acid batteries. These batteries are lightweight and environmentally friendly, making them an excellent choice for renewable energy storage and electric vehicles.
Regular Battery: Also known as a starting or automotive battery, a Regular Battery is optimized for delivering short, intense bursts of energy to start engines quickly. They are not designed for prolonged discharge, making them ideal for vehicles where rapid surges of power are needed occasionally.
Deep Cycle Battery: Common in settings where continuous power is necessary, like marine applications or renewable energy setups. They are capable of long discharge-recharge cycles, supporting devices that need a steady power supply.
Regular Battery: Best suited for vehicles requiring quick energy surges for starting engines, such as cars, motorcycles, or trucks. They are not designed for long, deep discharges, as this can significantly reduce their lifespan.
Design and Composition
Read our full guide to Deep Cycle batteries for details about design and composition.
Charging and Recharging
Deep Cycle Battery: These batteries can handle repeated deep discharges and recharges, tolerating deeper discharges before needing a recharge. This feature allows them to endure frequent cycling without harm.
Regular Battery: More prone to damage from deep discharges and rapid cycling. Frequent deep discharges can diminish their lifespan and lead to premature failure.
Choosing the right battery type is crucial for meeting specific power needs. Deep Cycle Batteries, including LiFePO4 variants, are suitable for long-term, continuous power applications, while Regular Batteries are ideal for short, high-energy bursts needed in vehicle ignition. Understanding these differences ensures efficient and effective use of battery technology in various applications.
What is a Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery?
Lithium Iron Phosphate Batteries, a type of Deep Cycle Battery, are known for their safety, long lifespan, and stability. They are environmentally friendly and used in a range of applications, from electric vehicles to renewable energy storage.
Can I use a Regular Battery in place of a Deep Cycle Battery?
Using a Regular Battery in place of a Deep Cycle Battery in applications requiring sustained power can lead to reduced performance and a shortened lifespan due to their design differences.
How do the charging needs differ between Deep Cycle and Regular Batteries?
This varies based on chemistry but in general, Deep Cycle Batteries can endure frequent discharges without significant impact on their performance. In contrast, Regular Batteries can be damaged by frequent deep cycling, affecting their longevity.