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Teamsters Local 728 Income Protection Plan
FOR FULL & PART-TIME MEMBERS
Continue getting paid if you can’t work due to illness, injury, DOT Restrictions for medical reasons, or death!
PLAN INFORMATION OVERVIEW
– Short-Term Disability (STD) pays for up to 24 weeks
Stackable up to 100% of pre-disability income with other Disability Benefits you may receive
– Long-Term Disability (LTD) pays for up to 2 or 5 years
Does not offset against other Long-Term Disability Benefits you may receive from your employer
– Life Insurance w/ AD&D for Member, Spouse, and/or Child(ren)
No medical tests, questions, or underwriting to enroll; no active working member of Teamsters Local 728 can be denied coverage!
Click the button below to log in to your UnionHub account.
To file a claim, click here
ARE YOUR CURRENT BENEFITS ENOUGH?
Short-Term Disability (STD)
The maximum benefit our Members receive through our health plan is $500/week for 26 weeks (less taxes), when you can’t work due to an illness, injury or DOT restrictions. In most cases, you’ll lose about 67% of your income every week.
Long-Term Disability (LTD)
Most Members receive ZERO benefits after 26 weeks, unless you enroll in the LTD coverages being offered, 100% of your income may be at risk!
– You may be eligible for benefits through your employer (e.g. UPS Full-Time, Motion Picture contractors, etc.) and it is your responsibility to confirm this before enrolling, as benefits offered through this plan may offset those benefits.
Teamsters Local 728 Members receive some life insurance benefits through our health plan. The additional life insurance being offered can help you continue to provide for your loved-ones.
COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Disability FAQ
It is important to understand that these Life and Disability benefits DO cover COVID-19 (Coronavirus) in the event that you contract the virus and cannot work (to include being quarantined after being diagnosed with COVID-19) or pass away as a result of the virus.
The below list provides the main parameters a member’s claim must meet in order to be eligible to file a claim for the Coronavirus. However, there may be other factors that would impact a Coronavirus claim.
- Only cases of the Coronavirus that are medically diagnosed and documented by a medical professional would constitute as eligible for benefits
- Members who are quarantined due to testing positive for Coronavirus would be eligible for benefits
- Members who are quarantined as a preventative measure and do not have an official Coronavirus diagnosis by a medical professional would not be eligible for benefits, including, but not limited to;
– Jobsite shutdowns for preventative measures
– Furloughs, layoffs, etc.
– Care for a loved one who has been diagnosed or exposed
- The normal waiting period still applies, so the member needs to be held out of work by a medical professional for longer than their waiting period in order to be eligible
Members enrolling for coverage now, but who do not yet have effective coverage, would not have an eligible Coronavirus claim if:
- The member enrolls now for a future coverage effective date and already has a medically diagnosed case of Coronavirus or has seen their doctor for signs/symptoms of the Coronavirus
- The member’s coverage is not effective and in force prior to seeing a medical professional or being diagnosed
Please call us at (224) 770-5304 for more information.

domain: finance


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Ray Donovan Preview: “S U C K” [VIDEO and PHOTOS + Exclusive Octavius J. Johnson Interview]
Warning: Spoilers Ahead
Ray’s got a lot of balls in the air right now (but, I guess he always does). He’s trying to shut down Kate McPherson’s investigation, he’s making sure Ronald Keith is on Mickey in an effort to keep him in line, he’s attempting to placate James Cochran and prevent the real story of Sully’s murder getting outÂ and he’s realized just how much trouble his marriage to Abby is in. On top of all that, Ray is still trying to fix the lives of his celebrity clients, who never seem to be able to keep themselves out of trouble. So, as I said, Ray’s got a lot going on.
Although we’ve only heard his voice so far, we’ll be seeing Octavius J. Johnson‘s Marvin Gaye Washington soon. I talked to the actor about how he got started in the business, what’s coming up for him and Kerris Dorsey‘s Bridget and what it’s been like to work with Liev Schrieber.
Octavius wasn’t sure he wanted to be an actor as first, even thought he “was always highly recommended to be in the school plays in high school.” He says he was resistant at first “mostly because of fear and being nervous to get on stage in front of everyone.” When Octavius finally decided to go for it he was in a number of his high school productions including Once Upon A Mattress, Macbeth, Rent and The Spelling Bee. With every role, he “had a bigger part and then I got the bug.” His career officially started when his father, who “did locations for The Wire” got him a small role in one of the episodes. From there he booked his first independent movie. Then six months later he booked Ray Donovan.
When asked about the audition process forÂ Ray Donovan, Octavius told me hisÂ “awesome agents and managers” submitted him for the part. He remembers the process so well because it was “one of my first bookings.Â I worked really hard on it and I just really knew in my gut, I was like, ‘Man I really relate to this character.'” Marvin Gaye Washington was never supposed to be a singer though, that was something he added saying, “I wanted to do something different for my audition so I sung the rap and they really liked it. I think that’s what sold me.”
When asked if Octavius knew what his season one storyline was going to be, heÂ says “It goes back to the audition process. When I got the audition it said a kid from Compton, rapper, lives in Calabasas.” He did get a “brief character breakdown,” but he didn’t know anything about his mom or dad. Everything he learned about his character came from “table reads and [reading] the script.” And although things with him and Bridget didn’t end well, Octavius tells me “I do end up back in Calabasas.Â They get to see each other again.” He praises the writers on “building the audience’s love for our characters.” As far as specifics go, Octavius says Bridget’s “a little upset about the fame and how Marvin’s carrying it. She’s seen some videos with him and some of the groupies. She’s not too excited about that. So it starts off with her feeling left out.” Of course he wasn’t allowed to tell me much, so I didn’t push it.
Since most of his scenes are with Kerris, I asked about their working relationship but not before telling him my take on their relationship. I like them because even though they’re misunderstood teenagers who are pretty much ignored by their parents, they see something in each other that no one else does. He Â liked my assessment and called Kerris “talented” and “so sweet to work with.” He’s a little older and always wants to make sure they’re both comfortable during some of their more intense scenes, so they “just talk” it out. But everything’s not always so serious. Octavius says Kerris is “really fun and we just goof around on set.”
When I asked him if he could tease anything else about the season, Octavius told me he’s got “a scene with Liev.” He’s not allowed to give too much away, but “there’s a new character around” as well, Â Omar Dorsey, who isÂ set to make his debut shortly. He’s “done a lot” and is “well-known in the industry.” Octavius has “some scenes with him” and “Re-Kon is back” too.
Going back to season one, Octavius’s scenes with Liev were intense. I ask him how it was to work with Liev on those scenesÂ and heÂ tells me that he had “fun” and calls Liev “awesome.” Liev’s a veteran and has been around for a while, so when they were doing the scene where Marvin finds out his “mom was murdered,” Liev “directed me and gave me advice on how to help him throw me safely and how to do it properly. He’s very professional and on his game and focused.” There’s a reason “he’s number one on the callsheet.”
“S U C K” synopsis, from Showtime:Â
With her investigation in full swing, Kate zeroes in on Mickey. The appearance of Tiny, a former member of Sullyâ€™s gang, jeopardizes Cochranâ€™s promising career. He and Ray disagree over what measures to take. Ray attempts to get Tiny out of the country safely while simultaneously closing the deal on a new house in Trousdale. Meanwhile, Mickeyâ€™s new parole officer Mr. Keith sends him to work at a Mexican restaurant. Abby meets a new friend at the gun range while Bunchy encounters a potential love interest at the bike shop where he has gotten a job.
Ray Donovan airs Sundays at 9/8c on Showtime.
All images courtesy ofÂ Suzanne Tenner/SHOWTIME.
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Scott McCord and Elizabeth Saunders Talk the From Season 2 finale
[Warning: Spoilers for the season finale.] How’s everyone doing after that finale? While we wait and wonder and hope for a third season announcement, soon, here’s what Scott McCord and Elizabeth Saunders had to say about their parts of the finale, and where they hope they get to go next….
Scott McCord and Elizabeth Saunders Talk From Season 2 + A Season Finale Preview
[Warning: General spoilers ahead.] It all comes down this, #FROMily. As Sunday’s episode wraps up Season 2, we begin with the aftermath of the terrifying onset of seemingly simultaneous attacks on Julie, Marielle, and Randall, which accelerate the “We gotta get out of this place” of it all. Sara comes…
Alison Sweeney Talks About What’s Next for Hannah and Mike After Carrot Cake Murder: A Hannah Swensen Mystery
[Warning: Spoilers for Carrot Cake Murder.] Everybody OK after that Hannah Swensen Mystery twist? Thankfully, our favorite crime-solving couple is still on speaking term, even if they’re on a break (hopefully not that kind of break). Most importantly, we already know this isn’t the last film in the series. No…
Counting Down to From Season 2
[Warning: General spoilers ahead.] We’re just shy of two weeks away from Season 2 of last spring’s obsession, From, which premieres at 9 pm/8c, Sunday, April 23rd, on MGM+ (formerly EPIX). If you never picked it up last year, now’s your chance, and you can do it for free, catching…
Thank Me Later: Will Trent
[Warning: spoilers ahead.] I’m on record as loving and losing shows over at ABC so I’m usually very reticent to pick something up on the network until it’s been renewed, and I seriously hope I’m not jinxing it, but I took a chance on the deeply odd and very sweet…
Dennis Heaton Talks The Imperfects
Longtime readers at TV Goodness will know that Motive is one of my ride-or-die series, and as such, I am fiercely loyal to its creator, Dennis Heaton. He followed up that fantastic reverse procedural with Netflix’s The Order and is back on our streaming screens with The Imperfects, which dropped…
Kelly McCormack Talks Favorite Moments in A League of Their Own
[Warning: Mild spoilers for season 1.] Now that you’ve had a chance to watch A League of Their Own, here’s the rest of my chat with Kelly McCormack about her favorite moments of the season. Seeing the iconic Peaches uniforms for the first time wasn’t just a goosebump moment for…
John Griffin and Harold Perrineau Talk From Season 1 Finale
[Warning: General spoilers ahead.] How are we doing, #FROMily? In case you missed it this morning, the very good news is that that cliffhanger will be followed by a second season, which was gifted this morning ahead of the linear broadcast of the finale. I always legitimately appreciate when we…
Elizabeth Saunders Talks From
[Warning: General spoilers ahead.] One of the things that makes EPIX’s From such a fun ride is the abundance of Canadian cast members. Elizabeth Saunders, who plays Donna, is a favorite from her turn on the third season of Mary Kills People [streaming on Global TV in Canada and Roku…
Corteon Moore Talks From “Broken Windows, Open Doors”
[Warning: Spoilers for tonight’s episode.] Tonight’s episode of From had us all in our feels as we learned through flashbacks about the Sophie’s Choice Boyd had to make to save his son, and back in the present as Boyd said his piece with Ellis before heading into the woods with…
What They Said: Three Revealing Conversations from Survivor’s Remorse “Closure”
WARNING: Spoilers for Survivor’s Remorse “Closure” The latest episode of Starz’s Survivor’s Remorse featured conversations that showed characters really digging deep into their thoughts, emotions and motivations.
Two Takes: The Catch “The Knock-Off”
Who can you trust? If this episode of The Catch was any indication, the answer is just about nobody. Betrayal was running rampant as Felicity (Shivani Ghai) arose from the dead to seduce-con Margot, Gretchen (Maria Thayer, Gotham, The Mindy Project) played gold-hearted Alice 2.0 before swindling Ethan, Tessa jumped…
What They Said: Top 3 Quotable Moments from Preacher “El Valero”
Both Quincannon and Jesse refuse to give up on what they each think is rightfully theirs. While Jesse is struggling to face the consequences of his actions, Quincannon has laid his past demons to rest and is hellbent on moving forward and putting Annville on the map again. Despite a…
What They Said: Favorite Quotes from Supergirl “Worlds Finest”
Oh, Supergirl. That ending was cold. But I can’t hate on you because the latest episode has quickly become one of my favorites.
What They Said: Top 4 Quotable Moments from Black Sails “XXIII”
The dialogue in “XXIII” is phenomenal. It’s always a fun ride when Black Sails carries its viewers along without giving them the chance to catch their breath. When an episode moves at this unforgiving pace, there is no chance for a breather nor is there a respite from the information…
What Lucifer Said: Favorite quotes from Supernatural “O Brother, Where Art Thou?”
Supernatural episodes are almost always funny but thanks to the dialogue and a certain man speaking said dialogue, I laughed a lot during “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” You know, when I wasn’t busy fearing for Sam’s life or wondering what in the world was going on with Dean and…
What They Said: The Flash, “Legends Of Today” and Arrow, “Legends Of Yesterday”
Two nights of Arrow +Â The Flash = what more could we ask for?! I don’t know what it is about blending these shows, but I canâ€™t help but feel that every time they come together, they somehow become greater than the sum of their parts. And thatâ€™s saying a lot…
What they Said: Top 4 Quotable Moments from Graceland “Little Bo Bleep”
Shoot outs. Fake outs. And long-awaited revelations. “Little Bo Bleep” was a jam-packed episode that wrapped up some loose ends and totally frayed others. Â It finally gave us one Sarkissian in jail and pulled back the curtain on Briggs’ master plan, but it also set up Jakes for a world…
What They Said: Favorite Quotes from Poldark “Part 4”
â€œWhat have I told you, I don’t require my wife to crochet and sip tea, but I do require her to remember she’s not a beast of burden.â€ No, Iâ€™m not talking about The Rolling Stones! I have to admit though, just for a second, the lyrics popped into my…
3 Moments of Goodness from Brooklyn Nine-Nine “Johnny and Dora”
The most satisfying part of this season’s finale has to the Jake and Amy kiss. Well, they kiss three times but the last one is the best one — and it means something. The Charles and Rosa dynamic was also great. I love how she’s convinced he doesn’t know anything…

domain: entertainment


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I did a little looking online for some ideas and came across this tutorial that I used as my jumping off point.
The main idea that I gained from the tutorial was a cool trick to making the basic flower shape (you should check it out, because it makes the process of cutting the flowers a lot faster). From that point on though, I pretty much changed it to suit what I was imagining a flower pin to look like.
I cut 3 coordinating fabrics into small (about 2 1/2") flowers. I used about 15 flowers, where the original instructions said to use 6; I wanted mine to be really full. The sheer fabric was my favorite element.
Then, I layered the petals in a random yet organized fashion (whatever that means).
I speared the flowers with my scissors, creating a hole for a brad to be inserted. I enjoy inventing new ways to cut myself.
The brad creates a center for the flower, while joining each layer together.
I love brads.
My flower was looking a little too perfect at this point, so I put it into a sachet and tossed it into the washer and dryer. My hope was that it would come out wrinkled and frayed.
While I waited to see if my washer/dryer hypothesis would hold up, I cut a small circle from felt, and attached a pin. You should thank me for this shot; I took it with my lips. Yes, I pressed the button to take the picture with my lips. I amaze myself.
Guess what? The washing and drying had the desired effect, so I was able to proceed by gluing (with fabric glue) the felt to the flower.
After letting it sit for a few hours, my flower was ready to be worn!
Look how much it adds to this seersucker bag!
Another one takes this simple tank top beyond ordinary.
But guess what? These flowers won't be embellishing my bag, or dressing up my tank top, or even adding an extra something to my storage bin...
Instead, they will be shipped off to a few lucky winners who can use them to adorn their favorite things!
Over the next 3 days I will give each of these away to a random lucky commenter. To start off, I will be giving the hot pink with green flower away. My only request is that you leave a comment letting me know your 4th of July plans. I will choose the winner tomorrow evening, and will then open comments for the next flower to be won.

domain: artistic


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Rescue of chloride and bicarbonate transport by elexacaftor-ivacaftor-tezacaftor in organoid-derived CF intestinal and cholangiocyte monolayers
ABSTRACT: In cystic fibrosis (CF), loss of CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR)-dependent bicarbonate secretion precipitates the accumulation of viscous mucus in the lumen of respiratory and gastrointestinal epithelial tissues. We investigated whether the combination of elexacaftor (ELX), ivacaftor (IVA) and tezacaftor (TEZ), apart from its well-documented effect on Phe508del-CFTR-mediated chloride transport, also restores bicarbonate transport.
Project description:Rationale: We recently demonstrated that the triple combination CFTR modulator therapy elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor (ELX/TEZ/IVA) improves lung ventilation and airway mucus plugging determined by multiple-breath washout and magnetic resonance imaging in CF patients with at least one F508del allele. However, effects of ELX/TEZ/IVA on viscoelastic properties of airway mucus, chronic airway infection and inflammation have not been studied. Objectives: To examine the effects of ELX/TEZ/IVA on airway mucus rheology, microbiome and inflammation in CF patients with one or two F508del alleles aged 12 years and older. Methods: In this prospective observational study, we determined sputum rheology, microbiome, inflammation markers and proteome before and 1, 3 and 12 months after initiation of ELX/TEZ/IVA. Measurements and Main Results: CF patients with at least one F508del allele and healthy controls were enrolled in this study. ELX/TEZ/IVA improved the elastic and viscous modulus of CF sputum. Further, ELX/TEZ/IVA improved the microbiome α-diversity and decreased the relative abundance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P<0.05) in CF sputum. ELX/TEZ/IVA also reduced IL-8 and free NE activity, and shifted the CF sputum proteome towards healthy. Conclusions: Our data demonstrate that ELX/TEZ/IVA improves sputum viscoelastic properties, chronic airway infection and inflammation in CF patients with at least one F508del allele, however, without reaching levels close to healthy.
Project description:Cystic fibrosis (CF) remains a life-shortening disease without a definitive cure. Novel therapeutics targeting the causative defect in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene are now in clinical use. Lumacaftor/ivacaftor is a CFTR modulator approved for patients homozygous for the CFTR mutation p.Phe508del, but there are wide variations in treatment responses preventing prediction of patient responses. We aimed to determine changes in gene expression related to treatment initiation and response. Whole-blood transcriptomics was performed using RNA-Seq in 20 patients with CF pre- and 6 months post-lumacaftor/ivacaftor (drug) initiation and 20 non-CF healthy controls. Correlation with clinical variables was performed by stratification via clinical responses. We identified 491 genes that were differentially expressed in CF patients (pre-drug) compared with non-CF controls. In addition, 36 genes were differentially expressed when comparing pre-drug to post-drug profiles within CF patients. Transcriptomics revealed novel pathways in CF patients at baseline compared to non-CF, and in clinical responders to lumacaftor/ivacaftor. Overall changes in gene expression post-lumacaftor/ivacaftor were modest compared to pre-drug CF profiles.
Project description:Background: CFTR modulators will decrease some etiologies of inflammation in the CF airway; however, current data indicate that non-resolving airway infection and inflammation will persist in individuals with CF and chronic bacterial infections. Thus, identification of therapies that diminish CF airway inflammation without allowing unrestrained bacterial growth remains a critical research goal. Novel strategies for combatting deleterious airway inflammation require a better understanding of the cellular contributions to chronic CF airway disease, and how cells change after initiation of CFTR modulator therapy. Peripheral blood monocytes, which traffic to the CF airway, can develop both pro-inflammatory and inflammation-resolving phenotypes, and represent intriguing targets for focused therapies to dampen CF airway inflammation. Material and Methods: In order to characterize the inflammatory phenotype of CF blood monocytes, and how these cells change after initiation of CFTR modulator therapy, we studied adults (n=10) with CF, chronic airway infections, and the CFTR-R117H mutations before and 7 days after initiation of ivacaftor. Transcriptomes of freshly isolated blood monocytes were interrogated by RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq). Plasma concentrations of cytokines and chemokines were evaluated by multiplex ELISA. Results: RNAseq identified approximately 50 monocyte genes for which basal expression was significantly changed in all 10 subjects after 7 days of ivacaftor. Of these, the majority were increased in expression post ivacaftor, including many genes traditionally associated with enhanced inflammation and immune responses. Pathway analyses confirmed that transcriptional pathways were overwhelmingly up-regulated in monocytes after 7 days of ivacaftor, including transcriptional modules associated with immunity, cell cycle, oxidative phosphorylation, and the unfolded protein response. Ivacaftor increased plasma concentrations of CXCL2, a neutrophil chemokine secreted by monocytes and macrophages, and CCL2, a monocyte chemokine. These results demonstrate that ivacaftor causes acute changes in blood monocytes and plasma chemokines, and suggest that increased monocyte inflammatory signals and potentially improved trafficking to the lung contribute to changes in airway inflammation in people taking CFTR modulators. To our knowledge, this is the first report investigating the transcriptomic response of isolated blood monocytes in CF subjects.
Project description:Rationale: Ivacaftor is a recently FDA-approved drug for the treatment of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients with at least one copy of the G511D mutation in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene. The transcriptomic effect of Ivacaftor in CF patients remains unclear. Objectives: We aim to examine if and how the transcriptome of patients is influenced by Ivacaftor treatment and to determine if these data allow prediction of Ivacaftor responsiveness. Methods: We performed RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) on PBMCs from CF patients and compared the transcriptomic changes before and after Ivacaftor treatments. Consensus clustering method is employed to stratify patients into sub-groups based on clinical responses post treatment, and determined differences in baseline gene expression. A random forest model is built to predict Ivacaftor responsiveness. Measurement and Main Results: We identified 239 genes that were significantly influenced by Ivacaftor in PBMC. The functions of these genes relate to cell differentiation, microbial infection, inflammation, Toll-like receptor signaling, and metabolism. We classified patients into “good” and “moderate” responders based on clinical response to Ivacraftor. We identified a panel of signature genes and built a statistical model for predicting CFTR modulator responsiveness. Despite a limited sample size, adequate prediction performance was achieved with an accuracy of 0.92. Conclusions: For the first time, the present study demonstrates profound transcriptomic impacts of Ivafactor in CF patients PBMCs and successfully built a statistical model for predicting the clinical responsiveness to Ivacaftor prior to treatment.
Project description:Background: Respiratory viruses including rhinovirus can cause pulmonary exacerbations in cystic fibrosis (CF). Aberrant responses by the CF airway epithelium during rhinovirus infection, particularly interferon production, may underly the clinical observations. Whether CFTR modulators affect antiviral responses by CF epithelia is presently unknown. We tested the hypothesis that treatment of CF epithelial cells with Ivacaftor or ivacaftor/lumacaftor (Orkambi) would improve control of rhinovirus infection. Methods: Nineteen CF epithelial cultures (CFTR Class 2: 10 homozygous for p.Phe508del, CFTR Class 3: 9 p.Phe508del/p.Gly551Asp) were infected with rhinovirus 1B at multiplicity of infection 12 for 24 hours. Culture RNA and supernatants were harvested to assess gene and protein expression respectively. Results: RNA-seq analysis comparing rhinovirus infected cultures to control identified 796 and 629 differentially expressed genes for Class 2 and Class 3, respectively. This gene response was highly conserved when cells were treated; all infected cultures (+/- treatment) were associated with the same top three over-represented biological pathways associated with interferon signalling, and were predicted to be driven by the same interferon-pathway transcriptional regulators (IFNA, IFNL1, IFNG, IRF7, STAT1). Direct comparisons between treated and untreated infected cultures did not yield any differentially expressed genes for Class 3, and only 68 genes for Class 2, related to cell metabolic pathways. In addition, CFTR modulators did not affect viral copy number, or levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines produced post-infection. Conclusions: Though long term clinical data is not yet available, results presented here suggest CFTR modulators do not interfere with core airway epithelial responses to rhinovirus infection.
Project description:Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an inherited, multi-system disease caused by dysfunction of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) protein, a ubiquitous ion channel important for epithelial hydration. A direct consequence of this dysfunction is impaired mucociliary clearance, chronic airway infection and a persistent neutrophilic inflammatory response that results in progressive loss of lung function, development of respiratory failure and premature death. Partial restoration of CFTR function is now possible for most CF patients through mutation specific CFTR modulators. Ivacaftor monotherapy produces significant clinical improvement in CF patients with the G511D mutation. Dual therapy, combining ivacaftor with lumacaftor or tezacaftor, results in modest clinical improvements in patients homozygous for F508del. More recently, triple therapy with elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor (ETI) has led to dramatic improvements in lung function and quality of life in patients homozygous and heterozygous for F508del. Sputum proteomics is a powerful research technique capable of identifying important airway disease mechanisms by interrogating the proteome, an entire set of proteins within biological samples. It has confirmed the central role of neutrophilic immune dysregulation in CF and non-CF bronchiectasis, particularly involving the release of antimicrobial proteins and neutrophil-extracellular traps (NETs), and through impaired anti-inflammatory mechanisms. These processes produce distinct molecular signatures within the sputum proteome that become increasingly abnormal with chronic airway infection and progressive lung disease severity. In CF patients, airway and systemic inflammatory cytokines potentially related to these signatures reduce with the various forms of CFTR modulation. To date, no studies of ETI therapy in CF lung disease have assessed large-scale change in protein expression using untargeted proteomics. We hypothesised that ETI therapy would shift the sputum proteome toward health, potentially normalising airway biology in people with CF. The objectives of this study were to investigate changes in the CF sputum proteome with the introduction of ETI, correlate these with changes in clinical markers of disease severity, and make comparisons with the sputum proteome in healthy controls and in repeat samples from CF patients not suitable for ETI therapy. We also explored which molecular pathways associated with CF lung disease did not change with ETI.
Project description:Background. Accumulating evidence indicates that CFTR modulators can be effective for CF sufferers. However, in vivo the microRNAs that regulate CFTR are increased in the CF lung milieu and this can nullify the beneficial effects of CFTR modulators. Methods. A panel of target site blockers (TSBs) designed against the CFTR 3’untranslated region (UTR) were tested for their ability to increase CFTR expression by CFTR 3’UTR luciferase assay and western blot. The effect of two lead TSBs on CFTR activity were tested alone or in combination with selected CFTR modulators in four separate p.Phe508del/p.Phe508del in vitro and ex vivo models (CFBE41o-, Cufi-1, primary bronchial epithelial cells, iPSC-derived lung organoids). Respirable poly-lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) nanoparticles encapsulating the TSBs were formulated and tested. Findings. TSBs that target the miR-145-5p or miR-223-3p binding sites at positons 298-305 and 166-173 in the CFTR 3’UTR, respectively, increased CFTR expression and CFTR anion channel activity, and enhance the effects of Lumacaftor/Ivacaftor or Lumacftor/Tezacaftor in CF BECs. PLGAs encapsulating the TSBs promote CFTR expression in primary BECs and retain their biophysical characteristics following nebulization. Interpretation. Alone or in combination with CFTR modulators, CFTR-targeting TSBs encapsulated in PLGA nanoparticles and nebulized to the lung could overcome microRNA-mediated inhibition of CFTR in CF bronchial epithelium. This strategy represents a promising drug-device combination therapy for the treatment for CFTR dysfunction in the lung.
Project description:Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a life-shortening disease caused by mutations in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene. Although bacterial lung infection and the resulting inflammation cause most of the morbidity and mortality, how loss of CFTR first disrupts airway host defense has remained uncertain. We asked what abnormality impairs elimination when a bacterium lands on the pristine surface of a newborn CF airway? To investigate this defect, we interrogated the viability of individual bacteria immobilized on solid grids and placed on the airway surface. As a model we studied CF pigs, which spontaneously develop hallmark features of CF lung disease. At birth, their lungs lack infection and inflammation, but have a reduced ability to eradicate bacteria. Here we show that in newborn wild-type pigs, the thin layer of airway surface liquid (ASL) rapidly killed bacteria in vivo, when removed from the lung, and in primary epithelial cultures. Lack of CFTR reduced bacterial killing. We found that ASL pH was more acidic in CF, and reducing pH inhibited the antimicrobial activity of ASL. Reducing ASL pH diminished bacterial killing in wild-type pigs, and increasing ASL pH rescued killing in CF pigs. These results directly link the initial host defense defect to loss of CFTR, an anion channel that facilitates HCO3- transport. Without CFTR, airway epithelial HCO3- secretion is defective, ASL pH falls and inhibits antimicrobial function, and thereby impairs killing of bacteria that enter the newborn lung. These findings suggest that increasing ASL pH might prevent the initial infection in patients with CF and that assaying ASL pH or bacterial killing could report on the benefit of therapeutic interventions. 11 samples of trachea primary airway epithelial cultures representing CFTR+/+ and CFTR-/- pigs. Pig samples representing 14 bronchus and 12 trachea tissue samples submitted in GSE21071.
Project description:A mathematical model of the pancreatic duct cell generating high bicarbonate concentrations in pancreatic juice
David C Whitcomb, G Bard Ermentrout, Pancreas 2004 29:e30-40; PubMedID:15257112
To develop a simple, physiologically based mathematical model of pancreatic duct cell secretion using experimentally derived parameters that generates pancreatic fluid bicarbonate concentrations of >140 mM after CFTR activation.
A new mathematical model was developed simulating a duct cell within a proximal pancreatic duct and included a sodium-2-bicarbonate cotransporter (NBC) and sodium-potassium pump (NaK pump) on a chloride-impermeable basolateral membrane, CFTR on the luminal membrane with 0.2 to 1 bicarbonate to chloride permeability ratio. Chloride-bicarbonate antiporters (Cl/HCO3 AP) were added or subtracted from the basolateral (APb) and luminal (APl) membranes. The model was integrated over time using XPPAUT.
This model predicts robust, NaK pump-dependent bicarbonate secretion with opening of the CFTR, generates and maintains pancreatic fluid secretion with bicarbonate concentrations >140 mM, and returns to basal levels with CFTR closure. Limiting CFTR permeability to bicarbonate, as seen in some CFTR mutations, markedly inhibited pancreatic bicarbonate and fluid secretion.
A simple CFTR-dependent duct cell model can explain active, high-volume, high-concentration bicarbonate secretion in pancreatic juice that reproduces the experimental findings. This model may also provide insight into why CFTR mutations that predominantly affect bicarbonate permeability predispose to pancreatic dysfunction in humans.
This SBML version of the model was created directly from the XPPAUT code found in the appendix with the exception of the parameter vr, the ratio between the duct cell volume and the duct lumen, which is defined inversely to the main text in the XPPAUT code. vr was defined as the ratio of the duct cell volume to the duct lumen volume as in the main text. The model reproduces the figures found in the article. The model uses initial assignments for the lumen volume and events to trigger CFTR opening, so only tools supporting these features can be used to simulate it (eg. Copasi and SBW/Roadrunner).

domain: biology


Today, an article from The Washington Post highlights that despite the recent drop in the unemployment rate, Americans without a high school education continue to be at an extreme disadvantage when it comes to reemployment. The article notes, “The news is worse for high school dropouts. One in five of them have lost their jobs since 2007, with about half of those losses occurring after the recession ended, the Urban Institute said. Overall, the unemployment rate for high school dropouts was 13.1 percent last month.”
Unemployment insurance reforms that recently passed the House on a bipartisan basis included a provision that would require those receiving unemployment insurance to make progress toward a GED if they have not graduated from high school, with appropriate exceptions. Compared with those who drop out of high school, high school graduates had a 4.7 percent lower unemployment rate in January 2011 and earned at least $3 more per hour on average. Helping unemployed workers without high school diplomas get this basic credential and improve their skills, employability, and earning power is common sense.
Unemployment drop still leaves low skill workers behind
By Michael A. Fletcher, Published: February 6
Bean, 36, lost his job in December. Now he is scrambling to keep up with child-support payments to his wife, who is also unemployed. “As it stands now, I can’t afford to get divorced,” he said, managing a wry smile.
By disproportionate numbers, these Americans have given up looking for work, making the nation’s recovery appear better than it is. If the unemployment rate counted the 2.8 million people who want jobs but have stopped looking, it would sit at 9.9 percent rather than its current 8.3 percent.
These would-be workers are falling behind as other people are gaining momentum, economists say. Employment prospects are modestly improving for college graduates, for instance, but dimming for those who have a high school diploma or less.
The number of Americans facing this predicament isn’t small. Nearly a third of the nation’s labor market has only a high school diploma. And more than one in 10 of these workers lost their jobs between late 2007 and early 2011, according to the Urban Institute, a nonpartisan think tank. About a third of those job losses occurred since the recovery began in mid-2009.
The news is worse for high school dropouts. One in five of them have lost their jobs since 2007, with about half of those losses occurring after the recession ended, the Urban Institute said. Overall, the unemployment rate for high school dropouts was 13.1 percent last month.
The recovery, economists say, has highlighted the consequences of not earning a college degree.
“There has been a considerable difference in who is getting those jobs,” said Pamela J. Loprest, director of the Urban Institute’s Income and Benefits Policy Center. She added that recent improvements in the jobless rate have not significantly lifted the burden on less-educated workers. “Lower-educated workers got hit harder. And the recovery has been uneven in that it has most benefited those with more skills.”
President Obama hailed the Labor Department’s most recent report that the nation’s unemployment rate had ticked down for the fifth consecutive month as evidence of an accelerating recovery.
Although the latest jobs report showed broad-based gains, the nation has a long way to go to make up for the positions lost during the recession — especially in some traditionally blue-collar occupations that were decimated by the recession.
Manufacturers, led by the auto industry, created 50,000 jobs in January and have added more than 300,000 positions in the past two years. But those gains pale in comparison with the 2 million manufacturing jobs that were lost during the recession. Similarly, construction jobs have grown in recent months, but not nearly enough to offset the 1.5 million that were lost in the recession.
The improvements that have occurred since the start of the recovery have accrued mostly to better-educated workers, analysts say. The economic challenge that lies ahead is finding a new place for workers such as Bean, who lack more academic credentials. Many of them rely on community colleges for their training, but those budgets have been cut in recent years.
The uneven nature of the recovery is particularly evident in states such as Florida that have struggled to rebuild parts of the economy that hire large numbers of less-educated workers.
Here along Florida’s Space Coast, a devastating one-two blow has left the job market reeling. Statewide, the implosion of the housing industry has put more than 350,000 construction workers, and untold numbers of real estate agents and mortgage brokers, out of work since July 2006.
“The construction industry was huge here,” said Rick Fraser, president of the workforce development board that covers Flagler and Volusia counties. “Construction workers were the first people hit by the downturn.”
Since then, both counties have struggled: Even with the recent surge in hiring, Flagler’s unemployment rate is 13.9 percent and Volusia’s is 10.1 percent.
In nearby Brevard County, about 10,000 Kennedy Space Center employees have been laid off over the past two years as the space shuttle and the constellation space programs were shut down.
Brevard’s unemployment rate is 10.8 percent, well above the state average of 9.9 percent.
Linda Rice, president of Brevard Workforce, the county’s job-training and placement service, said the ranks of the jobless include scientists, engineers, clerks and maintenance workers.
“Needless to say, those with a college degree are more capable of getting back into the workforce,” she said.
The workforce office requires job seekers who lack college training to take a basic-skills test to ensure that they are able to complete the job-training programs they pay for. But in many cases, Rice said, workers lack the math, computer and technical problem-solving skills needed to move forward.
“A lot of them just do not have the digital literacy that you need,” she said.
Even those who find work are discovering that the pay is lower than they are accustomed to. Parts clerks and administrative workers at the Kennedy Space Center used to make upward of $80,000 a year. Now, they are lucky to get half of that.
“I’m looking at a big pay drop,” said Shalene Pelton, a machinist who was recently laid off. “I was making more than $25 an hour. Now, the jobs I’m hearing about pay $18 — if I can get them.”
Paul Thirkelson, 45, an unemployed security guard and truck driver, has not worked since October and has been forced him out of his home. “I’m living with my retired, disabled father, and my two girls are living with a friend,” he said, as he prepared for a class at the workforce offices here.
Thirkelson said that the few jobs he has been able to find over the past several years pay poorly. He has done security work, warehouse work and work for a firm that cleans up flood-damaged homes. He has bookkeeper training, but says the jobs he qualifies for pay only $8 or $9 an hour.
“Let’s be honest: It is barely worth getting out of bed for less than $10 an hour,” he said. “I want to go ahead and get my Class A trucking license so I can make a decent living, but where do I get the money to do that?”


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Nov 10, 2019 Latest post:
Nov 17, 2019
My sweet step dad was diagnosed with thyroid cancer and partial mouth cancer in late August. For those of you who don’t know Van, he is the sweetest and handiest man I know! My mom re-married when me and my brother were very young and he stepped in to be the dad he didn’t have to be. We cherish our childhood and now adult memories with him. Jessica is his only biological daughter who he adores very much. This is a hard time for all of us, but he is in good spirits and has been a trooper through this sickness! Please continue to pray for us as he still has a ways to go with his recovery!

domain: medical


text:
Vehicle sales record a slight drop in August
The National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (NAAMSA) released the August 2014 new vehicle sales for Namibia. Figures for August indicate that monthly vehicle sales decreased to 1694 from a record 1919 units in July. The 11.7 % decrease in sales month on month was a result of a major decrease in light commercial vehicles. Annualized growth figures remain positive as well at 15.6% with total commercial vehicles increasing by 7.6% year on year according to Simonis Storm Securities, who released their monthly vehicle sales report this week. “Growth of sales within the market remains positive but a downward trajectory has started in comparison to last year’s sales during this period. The numbers are mainly a reflection a 26.6% drop in light commercial vehicles as businesses purchased less vehicles during the intervening period,” Simonis Storm Securities said. “Interest rates are expected to increase before the end of the year by another 25bps as the Bank of Namibia tries to manage the rate at which the foreign reserves are declining. We have experienced 2 interest rate hikes of 25 basis points this year and one more is anticipated. The next interest rate hike will be prompted by monetary policy action in South Africa which will result in higher interest rates in that economy as the reserve bank attempts to manage their currency,” Simonis Storm Securities said. Said Simonis Storm Securities, “Passenger vehicles were the most sold during the month under review recording 809 units. Light commercial vehicles followed suit with sales recorded at 777 units.
The most popular passenger vehicles also happen to be the 2 most affordable, [the] Toyota Etios 84 units sold and Toyota Corolla 51 units sold. Luxury vehicle maker BMW had a splendid month with 24 units of their 3 series vehicles being sold.” The value of total vehicles sold during the past month is approximately N$600 million. This further confirms our convictions that the Bank of Namibia will have to raise rates as foreign reserves continue their downward spiral Simonis Storm Securities said.

domain: news


text:
US and European leaders were "not up to the task" of handling their debt crises, Brazil's chief of staff Gleisi Hoffmann said Monday as world markets tumbled on the US credit rating downgrade.
Hoffmann also said that Brazil had to "protect" itself to minimise the consequences of the dual crises on its economy, one of the world's biggest emerging powers.
"The difficulties in kickstarting the European economies, and even the US economy, are enormous," Hoffmann said in a speech at a public forum on the middle class in Brasilia.
"In these countries, the political leaders were not up to the task of handling the complexity of the situation, and have forced the world to bear the consequences of their inability.
"They have so far not succeeded in finding sensible solutions" to their ballooning debt problems, Hoffmann said, predicting tough times ahead and adding: "We must be prepared to protect Brazil from this serious crisis."
Hoffmann, a key figure in the administration of President Dilma Rousseff, was making "all possible efforts" to do just that, such as spending cuts and offering incentives to businesses such as tax exemptions.
"We want to pursue our economic growth by creating jobs, distributing revenues and helping millions of people join the middle class," she said.
Global markets tumbled on Monday after Standard and Poor's handed the United States its first-ever credit rating downgrade on Friday, with investors jittery about the situation in Washington and the lingering eurozone debt crisis.


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I have this article about David in draft since almost a year now.
I was not sure I’d be able to describe in words what I see when I watch one of his portraits.
He has an extraordinary capacity of conveying emotion. A great range of emotions, from melancholy to aggressiveness.
This could not be accomplished but with a huge amount of skill. The impressive amount of details he captures in the human subjects of his work, so beautifully antagonized by the harsh cold wall they lean against make me want to be there to watch him paint.
That must be an extraordinary process.
David was born in 1977 in Arizona, went to school in Philadelphia, New York and Italy.
Here are some works I found on his website and various other sources.


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Author(s): J. R. Moehringer
One of the most notorious criminals in American history is brought blazing back to life by a master storyteller.
Willie Sutton was born in the squalid Irish slums of Brooklyn, in the first year of the twentieth century, and came of age at a time when banks were out of control Over three decades, from Prohibition through the Great Depression, from the age of Al Capone until the reign of Murder Inc., police called Sutton one of the most dangerous men in New York, and the FBI put him on its first-ever Most Wanted list. But the public loved him. He never fired a shot, after all, and his victims were merely those bloodsucking banks. Based on extensive research, Sutton is the moving story of an enigmatic man, an arch criminal driven by love, forever seeking the beautiful woman who led him into a life of crime, then broke his heart and disappeared.
J.R. Moehringer, winner of the Pulitzer Prize for feature writing in 2000, is a former national correspondent for the Los Angeles Times and a former Niemann Fellow at Harvard University. Author of the bestselling memoir The Tender Bar, and co-author of Open by Andre Agassi, he lives in Scottsdale, Arizona.

domain: library


text:
|tlc diet meal plans pdf||0.02||0.7||17||2|
On the TLC diet, you'll be eating lots of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat or nonfat dairy products, fish and skin-off poultry. Exactly how you meet these guidelines is up to you, though sample meal plans are available. Here are tips to help you get started:Can the TLC diet change your life?
Introducing the TLC Diet Transformation. It can help you lose weight, lower your cholesterol and transform your life into one of a healthy lifestyle. However, unlike most other diets, the TLC is not a deprivation diet. The TLC diet is among the most established diets for the natural management of cholesterol.What is a TLC meal plan?
Learn more ». The TLC (Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes) diet was created by the National Institute of Health’s National Cholesterol Education Program with the goal of cutting cholesterol as part of a heart-healthy eating regimen. It calls for eating plenty of veggies, fruits, breads, cereals and pasta and lean meats.What is the TLC diet and is it for You?
The TLC diet, or Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes diet, is a healthy eating plan designed to improve heart health . It was developed by the National Institutes of Health to help lessen the risk of heart disease and stroke.

domain: food


OPPO Find X5 Pro 5G
+ Sleek design
+ Impressive camera performance
- Telephoto camera disappoints
+ Long-lasting battery life
- Lack of expandable storage
+ Fast charging
+ Beautiful and smooth 120Hz AMOLED LPTO display
OPPO has sent us a few Reno devices before and this time we're getting a premium Find X5 Pro 5G, which I really looked forward to since they announced the phone. It's the first OPPO device to feature the brand-new MariSilicon X imaging neural processing unit (NPU), which helps with computational photography and video, especially in low-light scenarios.
In terms of design, the OPPO Find X5 Pro has a nanometer microcrystalline ceramic back, which OPPO claims to take 168 hours to build, creating a surface twice as hard as glass. Available in Ceramic White and Glaze Black, the back cover is reflective so while as premium as it comes, the ceramic surface sometimes appears like a plastic. Our review unit is the white model, which looks clean and sleek.
One obvious addition on the rear of the smartphone is the Hasselblad logo, whom OPPO collaborated with for the cameras, which we'll talk more about later in this article. The "Powered by MariSilicon" mark can also be found located on the camera island, marking the phone powered by the company's proprietary imaging NPU: MariSilicon X.
On the other side of the ceramic back, the front panel is protected by Gorilla Glass Victus, which is drop- and scratch-resistant. It is also IP68 rated for water and dust resistance. Unlike many flagship phones today, it still ships with a charger, much to my pleasure. There's also a special black card with a QR code on it, which will direct you to a Premium Service website, exclusively for the Find X5 Pro.
Read more about what's included in the box here.
Display and Audio
The Find X5 Pro boasts a pretty big 6.7" AMOLED LPTO display with a 3216 x 1440 resolution and a peak brightness of 1300 nits. It has a variable refresh rate that goes from as low as 1Hz to a super smooth 120Hz, depending on the content you're playing on-screen, from daily tasks to gaming.
By default, you get to enjoy a smooth 120Hz but it also offers a 60Hz mode if you need to save battery life. Overall, it's a great-looking display with bold colors, on-point contrast, and sufficient brightness. Under the display is an ultrasonic fingerprint scanner, which is very sensitive and unlocks the phone immediately that I had no issues with it.
As for audio, you get exactly what you expect on flagship devices. The stereo speakers on the Find X5 Pro are great in delivering crisp and clear output. It's more than enough for Netflix binging or songs blasting. Also, you get the speakers on both the top and bottom edges of the device so that means you'll get balanced audio even in landscape use.
The unique camera island on the back houses:
a 50MP F2.2 ultra-wide camera with a 110° field-of-view
a 50MP F1.7 wide camera
a 13MP F2.4 telephoto with 2x optical zoom
Before we look at some results taken from the cameras, let's talk a bit about the MariSilicon X NPU. The chip is built on a 6nm process, capable of providing AI computing power up to 18 TOPS and delivering a power efficiency of 11.6TOPS/W. According to OPPO, the chip allows the phone to capture HDR video with 20-bit color, 120dB dynamic range, and a contrast ratio of 1,000,000:1. Basically, you'll notice how the cameras process shots much quicker than those on other devices, especially during night mode.
Using the same IMX 766 sensor, both the wide and ultrawide snappers are fantastic for taking images in daylight. Photos taken from the main camera are bright, colorful, and detailed, and thanks to OIS, they are clearer. It works the same for close-up shots, wide shots, and pictures taken at night or in low-light conditions.
While the 50MP units are as good as they can be, the telephoto camera impresses less. If you want pretty zoomed shots, you're stuck with the 2x optical zoom - you'll notice a drop in quality for anything beyond that.
On the front, you get a 32MP F.24 camera for selfies on the top left corner of the screen. Selfies are sharp and have nice colors, and are certainly good enough for your daily social media. An interesting feature of the front camera is its ability to switch between a wider or closer field of view depending on the number of people in the frame.
When it comes to video recording, the Find X5 Pro has impressed me with its stabilization and the availability of 4K at 60fps even at 2x zoom. The video quality is superb and the colors are vivid too, with excellent details. The ultrawide camera also has stabilization and the result is just as good.
Videos taken at night or in low-light conditions are also sharp and detailed, with good color saturation too.
In collaboration with Hasselblad, OPPO has added a few filter modes, such as the Pro mode and XPan mode. The latter is my favorite; it takes shots in a wider aspect ratio with a grainy filter, resembling what you get from a 90s film camera. In the XPan mode, you can easily switch between color and monochrome, and it's fun to play around with.
The OPPO Find X5 Pro joins one of the many Android devices using the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset, coupled with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. You can boost the memory with the RAM expansion feature, which allows you to add up to 7GB of virtual RAM. Unfortunately at this price, it doesn't offer a microSD card slot for storage expansion so you're stuck with the 256GB onboard. Still, this is a powerful smartphone for gaming and intensive tasks like image editing.
Packing a 5000mAh battery, the device can easily see through a full day of use, including hours of photoshoots and social media. If you're the kind who usually puts your phone aside, it can last for around two full days of use. With the 80W SuperVOOC charger, your phone's battery won't stay low for long. While OPPO claims that it can go from zero to 50% in just 12 minutes, our test took 35 minutes to top up from 10% - 100%.
The phone also supports 50W AirVOOC wireless charging, which can juice up to 100% in 47 minutes. Since we didn't receive the charging unit from OPPO, we'll just have to take OPPO's words for it. Still, charging is very speedy and I'm just glad that OPPO decides to include the charger in the box even though most manufacturers have started to drop them out.
Buy or no buy
The flagship competition is fiercer now than ever, even between Android devices. The OPPO Find X5 Pro 5G is definitely a great and powerful phone with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor, a strong camera system, a smooth and beautiful screen, a long-lasting battery life, and fast charging.
Although the Find X5 Pro is good and all, it comes at a pricey RM4,999, which may be over your budget. Despite its perks, the telephoto camera is a slight disappointment since I expected a lot more from the cameras. At the end of the day, it's all up to you to decide what you need and want from a smartphone and what you can sacrifice.


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Salmon still pouring into the Sac!
Sacramento River - CA
by Jeff Goodwin
Today we fished in the Corning area again and found a good early morning bite. Not long after we had lost one fish and put two Kings in the fish box, our bite shut down hard. We worked for our third fish for hours, but like usual, the bite came back on right around 2:00. Raven had lost her first fish, but not her second attempt! She landed a beautiful 16 lb hen giving us our third and final fish for the day. We're catching salmon every day and its just going to get better from here on out!
Jeff Goodwin is a full time Northern California fishing guide. He guides year round for salmon, trout, steelhead, Kokanee, and bass on Northern California rivers and lakes. He fishes many bodies of water in the Redding area, but also guides the Sacramento River and Feather River during certain times of the year. Jeff can also be found on the California coast chasing ocean fresh King salmon and steelhead each year. To learn more about the fishing trips Jeff has to offer, please visit Jeff Goodwin's Guide Service. You can also find him on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, or please feel free to call him anytime at (707) 616-1905.
< Previous Report Next Report >
Big Sac bucks on the bite!Sacramento River
Today we fished the Sacramento River for King salmon down in Corning again. The first 10 seconds of the day...... Read More
Egg bite is still hot for Sac River Kings!Sacramento River
Today we fished the Corning area of the Sacramento River, landing 5 King salmon, one for each of us on...... Read More

domain: hobby


text:
|These are the squares I've crocheted so far. Lots more to go!|
Rnd 6: Slip st in next dc, ch 4 (counts as dc, ch 1), * (dc, ch 3, dc) all in next ch-3 space, [ch 1, skip next dc, dc in next dc, ch 1, dc in next ch-1 space] twice **, [ch 1, dc in next ch-1 space, ch 1, skip next dc, dc in next dc] twice, ch 1; repeat from * around, end at **; ch 1, dc in next ch-1 space, ch 1, skip next dc, dc in next dc, ch 1, dc in next ch-1 space, ch 1; join in 3rd ch of ch-4.
Even if you don't know how to interpret ch as chain, dc as double crochet, and st as stitch (or what any of those look like as a series of loops on a hook), you can still see that there are parentheses, brackets, and asterisks to navigate what gets grouped and repeated. Do you know what that entire paragraph is saying? All the way around the entire square I'm supposed to alternate a tall stitch (dc) and a single loop (ch) that will create a space between the tall stitches. That's it! So I rewrote it as:
Rnd 6: Slip st in next dc, ch 4 (counts as dc, ch 1),
In each corner: (dc, ch 3, dc)
Around the edges: ch 1, skip next st, dc in next st or space
The original instructions aren't wrong. They tell me exactly what to do every step of the way. I don't mind brackets or asterisks in patterns in general, it's much easier to be told to repeat something than it is to keep track of where I am on a long list of stitches. But my version is even easier to keep track of. Because I understand what I'm doing, I have easy to reference landmarks, and I just don't need that level of detail.
Why is the original so complicated? The previous round was worked in groups of 3. So when you're working groups of 2 into groups of 3 sometimes you land on a stitch in the middle of the group and sometimes you land on a space between the groups. Sometimes that matters, but here it really doesn't, I do the same steps to make my stitch either way and it just makes it easy to lose track of where I am when they specify the difference. Also, you don't start on the corner so you have to say "do this little bit of the side, then a corner, then a whole side, now repeat from the corner, but stop before you finish the last side because you already did a little bit of it at the beginning." My rewrite assumes you're looking at your square as a whole piece and can identify corners as well as deduce where to stop so you end up going around exactly once.
Why am I talking about crochet patterns on a math education blog? I'm sure you've already drawn parallels. It's tempting to give kids precise instructions that help them navigate every little difference they might encounter, that way they're sure to get it exactly right! But at what cost? Providing every little step means we lose track of the big picture. It's so easy to skip a step when we don't understand what it is we're trying to accomplish. And if this problem were a little different (in my case if I wanted to change the design to be a larger square or a rectangle) the hyper detailed instructions are useless and we have to start from scratch. When we're asking kids to follow a pattern, let's be sure to point out the landmarks as we go. Because that's what will help everyone navigate when they're on their own - which is absolutely my goal.