The largest aircraft in the world measures 302 feet long, and it’s almost ready to take off. British aeronautical firm Hybrid Air Vehicles (HAV) has unveiled the Airlander 10, an experimental airship with an impressive list of capabilities. The aircraft can haul literal tons of cargo, and is also designed to stay in the air, without a human crew, for up to three weeks. The airship is held aloft with the help of helium, but make no mistake: this is not just another Goodyear blimp.
HAV says the engineering team is making the final preparations to get the new airship off the ground. A series of last-minute modifications to the Airlander’s hull include an enormous lower port fin, four turbocharged diesel engines, and the airship’s lightweight but durable carbon composite payload module, which is where passengers or cargo would go. A few more improvements are still in line, and HAV expects to have the aircraft ready for launch by the end of this month.
Related: Solar-powered airship could offer emissions free cargo hauling
The massive airship is being constructed in a hangar, and HAV hopes its durable, self-sufficient design will attract buyers soon. The balloon part of the aircraft is made from a triple-layer weave of three super-tough materials: carbon fiber, mylar, and kevlar. Inside, a million cubic feet of inert helium keep the ship aloft, and the balloon is unpressurized, which actually prevents leaks even if the craft’s thick skin has a few holes. Despite the four powerful engines, nearly half of the airship’s lift is attributed to the shape of the hull and the trapped helium, cutting down on the amount of fuel needed to fly the thing.
The company plans to put Airlander 10 into mass production by 2018 and crank out as many as half a dozen giant hybrid airships a year. If the concept takes off, these enormous crafts could have unlimited potential as floating luxury resorts, high-volume cargo transportation, military assets, and even a sky-high safari-mobile.
Via The Verge
Images via Hybrid Air Vehicles


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This hotel was built on land that was owned by Joseph Faust. Joseph had built two houses side by side one being owned by him and the other being owned by his son Walter. Joseph's estate made the offer of the land and the share holders took it. His house was purchased by a Dr. Frueholz and moved down the street. Eventually Walter Faust's house was purchased by they First Protestant Church and moved.
This hotel was built by a company of businessmen in the town that knew the town needed a hotel for travel's passing through the town.
This hotel opened its doors known as the Traveler's Hotel. This hotel opened it's doors in 1929, sadly it was opened two weeks before the stock market crash. It was leased for 15 years by Nagel and Wuest out of San Antonio who agreed to furnish the hotel. The hotel was booked at its grand opening and was still unfurnished and the First National Bank of New Braunfels agreed to pay supplier's hoping to be reimbursed, this never happened. Eventually the contract was ended with Nagel and Wuest and the company took the hotel back with plans to sell it. In 1933 Walter Faust died and Hanno Faust was elected president of the company and was given full power over the hotel.
In 1946 Milton Dietz became president of the company and general manager of the Faust Hotel until 1947 when the hotel was purchased Arlon Krueger who retained the hotel till 1977.
The hotel was sold in 1977 to Jackson and Houser and they began a restoration project.
During the downturn in the economy , Mr. Faust made sure the hotel survived. It helped that during World War II the servicemen would use the hotel to commit or marry their girlfriends before being shipped off to battle. Dubbing the Hotel the Honeymoon Capitol of Texas.
In 2009 the hotel and brewing company was purchased by a company based in New Braunfels. It has slowly gone under renovations to bring it up to code and furnish the rooms back to the 1920's era.

domain: history


|Exclusives & Locked [EP] (Track 2)
The music scene just got hotter with the release of "Danger", the electrifying new Amapiano track from the powerhouse pairing of Tribesouland Nkulee501. This collaboration is the talk of the town, bringing together two of the genre's most influential artists to create a musical masterpiece that's set to become the next big hit.
"Danger" is more than just a song; it's an experience. It embodies the essence of Amapiano, a genre that has taken the world by storm with its unique blend of deep house, jazz, and lounge music, infused with captivating South African rhythms. Tribesouland Nkulee501have masterfully crafted a track that not only resonates with die-hard Amapiano fans but also has the power to attract a new legion of followers.
The genius of "Danger" lies in its ability to marry the signature styles of both Tribesoul and Nkulee501, creating a sound that is fresh yet familiar. The track's pulsating beats, mesmerizing melodies, and rhythmic prowess showcase the innovative direction of Amapiano music and its potential to break musical barriers.
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Lakeview man headed to prison after pleading guilty to gun possession
A Lakeview man who got probation for firing a rifle at his girlfriend back in 2017 entered a guilty plea Thursday to being a felon in possession of a firearm and was given a prison sentence.
As part of a plea agreement, Christopher Packley, 36, was sentenced to four years in prison followed by three years suspended after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
During the hearing, Packley's attorney told Circuit Judge Gordon Webb that Packley was requesting he be released for a day or two in order to be with his fiance Erinn Hosford, who is pregnant with the couple's second child.
Webb denied the request, noting when he has granted such requests, the individuals most often do not report back to jail and law enforcement officers then have to track the individuals down.
Packley's most recent conviction stems from a Nov. 18 incident in which Packley and another man were trespassing on Lakeview hunting property owned by a Stone County deputy.
When officers arrived, they found Packley and another man in a truck on the property. Packley was on probation at the time and had a search waiver on file. He told officers he had a rifle and marijuana in the truck.
Law enforcement officers discovered Packley's license was suspended for DWI at the time of the incident. He was arrested on a charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm and four misdemeanor charges related to marijuana and having an open beer in the truck.
The domestic incident
In February 2017, Baxter County deputies were called to Hickory Flats Lane in Lakeview when a man reported a naked woman, Hosford, rang his doorbell and stated her boyfriend had shot a gun at her and her toddler was still at the residence.
When deputies arrived, they calmed Hosford down to the point where they could ask her about the situation. Hosford kept asking about her son who was still in the home, according to the affidavit filed in the case.
Hosford told deputies she and Packley had been arguing that evening and that Packley was "very belligerent". Hosford called Packley's mother who told her to go to bed and leave Packley alone, so she did.
Packley then accused her of stealing and calling the police, Hosford told deputies. Then, Packley held her down on the floor, choked her and threatened her, she said. At one point, she held their son between them hoping to stop Packley but it didn't work, according to what Hosford told deputies.
That's when Hosford fled the home and sought help at a neighbor's residence.
When deputies spoke with Packley, they noted he smelled of alcohol and his speech was slurred. He told deputies he had been trying to prevent Hosford from taking pills that night and the night before.
He told deputies Hosford broke a lamp over his head and that blood on his fingers was due to him taking a knife from Hosford. Packley told deputies he fired three rounds from a rifle up in the air "hoping she would stop and come back to the house," according to the affidavit.
In June of 2017, Packley pled guilty to felony charges of aggravated assault and first-degree endangering the welfare of a minor. As part of a plea bargain, he was sentenced to four years of probation.
Before Packley entered the plea, Hosford asked prosecutors to drop the charges against Packley. She told the court Packley is a veteran who suffers from post traumatic stress disorder.
Prosecutors declined to drop the charges but took Hosford's wishes into account when offering Packley a plea bargain in the case.
Court records indicate Hosford has asked for an order of protection against Packley on at least three different occasions, beginning in 2016.
In the affidavits, Hosford accuses Packley of choking her, slapping her, abusing her young son and abusing her in front of relatives. In each instance, Hosford asked the court to dismiss the orders of protection.

domain: law


text: This post is about Meagan's Easter photo shoot. Meagan is the cutest baby on Earth, isn't she? She's simply adorable. She looks like one of those porcelain baby dolls that you collect and put away under lock and key to take care of forever. Mayte and Ramses, thank you for giving me the opportunity to photograph Meagan. She belongs on the cover of a magazine!!! I hope you're enjoying the baby pictures as much as I am.

domain: artistic


By Pete Offord, ex-UoS catering and Unite rep
TUPE is a piece of legislation that comes into force when workers transferred from one employer to another. Such as when one company buys another out or when a public service is privatised.
In general it gives provision to protect the terms and conditions of the transferred staff, essentially meaning that they should keep roughly the same rates of pay, hours, place of work etc.
Similarly there is provision for keeping staff within the same pension scheme, although management have already stated that this will not apply at Sussex University. There is even automatic recognition for the trade union of transferred staff.
It is a popular piece of legislation for managers to name check as a way of reassuring staff that the looming changes are nothing to be scared of as everything will stay the same.
Here's the thing, TUPE is not worth the piece of paper its written on.
Following transfer TUPE legislation can be superseded and contracts changed if the employer has a Economic, Technical and Organisational reason to do so.
This can be pretty much anything, there is no technical definition but typically a the new company will claim that it needs to restructure the service on some flimsy pretence, such as making it run more efficiently or to make it more profitable.
This means that taking on public services becomes a lot more attractive to private companies, transfer today, tear up staff contracts tomorrow. It also means that the company can de-recognise a trade union.
Recently in Hampshire Sure Start Centres (Children's Centres) were transferred into the loving hands of a third party charity under TUPE. Within a matter of days this charity (Action for Children) restructured the service, shedding jobs and offering those staff new posts ,on their own far poorer conditions.
One worker based in Basingstoke was offered an “alternative” post in the New Forest. Staff had been promised by the County Council during the consultation prior to transfer that their jobs and salaries would be safe, all because of TUPE.
At Sussex University the groundwork for privatisation has already been laid, Catering and conference staff have had their hours of working bought out and £100,000s has been sunk into a revamp of the facilities. There has been a gradual erosion in the number of security staff and cleaning, already part-privatised.
Taking over services with shiny new premises or with staff cut back to the bone is a lot more attractive to private companies, it saves them time and money. Senior Management have been leaning on the heads of the various professional services for the past few years with the warning that they must break even.
Action needs to be take now to prevent outsourcing ever taking place, that means making it clear to University Governors that workforce will not stand for privisation. A campaign should be waged as part the necessary consultation that the University must undertake to make the view of campus known.
Union members should conduct a indicative ballot to show concretely that mood is there for a fight with a view to building for a ballot for industrial action if the University does not back down.


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Bus from Petrovac to LeskovacSee timetable and Buy Ticket
The bus from PETROVAC to LESKOVAC pass through the cities of ALEKSINAC, BERANE, KOLAŠIN, KRALJEVO, KRUŠEVAC, MOJKOVAC, NIŠ, NOVI PAZAR, PODGORICA, RAŠKA, ROŽAJE, SUTOMORE, TRSTENIK, VRNJAČKA BANJA (depending on the route). On this route there is only one departure. The road is about 587 km. Average length of travel according to the timetable is 12 hours and 40 mins.
As the bus crosses the border during the tourist season unforeseen maintenance are possible. Be sure to bring your identification documents. Bus crew will create a list of the names of passengers before crossing the border. Luggage is usually paid per bag on all departures depending on the carrier.
Buses are generally high-class with air conditioning, ABS, comfortable passenger seats and similar.
Timetable From PETROVAC to LESKOVAC can be found for days:
Bus companies which operate from PETROVAC to LESKOVAC are:BOŽUR.
Leskovac is a city settlement and administrative center of the Jablanica Administrative District.
The settlement dates back to the Roman Empire. The medieval name of the settlement is Glubočica.
The legend says that under the hill near the present city there was a lake, and when its drying was occurred there was a plant of hazel (hazelnut), after which the city was named more than 700 years ago. The present name of the city as the name of the settlement was first mentioned in 1308 in the Charter of King Milutin.
During the NATO bombing of the FRY in 1999, Leskovac and its surroundings were bombarded almost daily. During a raid on April 12, 1999, a railroad bridge in Grdelicka Gorge hit the passenger train, which was crossing the bridge at that time. In this attack, several dozen civilians were killed.
In Leskovac there is the National Library Radoje Domanovic, which was created from the City Reading Room, founded in 1869. The library was designated in 1961 for the home library of the Jablanica District. The library now has over 80,000 books and other publications distributed in different sectors, among which are the loan and children's department, the foreign book, as well as the local department that was established in 2012 as a legacy and is named after Nikolai Timchenko and has over 15,000 titles.
On May 2, 1948, the National Museum was founded in Leskovac, comprised of three departments - ethnographic-archaeological, national liberation struggle with the workers' movement and the Textile Industry Museum. The museum then moved to a new building on May 10, 1974, which opened the possibility for the development of museum activities, and today it has more departments for archeology, history, art history, ethnology, conservation and souvenir making.

domain: geography


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Buffalo Chicken Dip
June 23, 2019
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup ranch dressing or blue cheese dressing
- 1/2 cup PANOLA Cajun Hot Sauce
- 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese or blue cheese
- 2 cup chopped chicken or 2 large cans of chicken
- Parmesan cheese
- Loaf of French bread
- Heat oven to 350 degrees.
- Place cream cheese into baking dish. Stir until smooth.
- Mix salad dressing, Panola Cajun hot sauce, and cheese. Stir in chicken.
- Pour dressing chicken mixture over cream cheese.
- Top with fresh chopped parsley and freshly grated Parmesan cheese.
- Bake 20 minutes or until mixture is heated.
- Slice up bread and serve.

domain: food


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UPDATE: Save 40% off your WEST ticket price with discount code TECHVIBES40 – Register now.
Imagine watching a football game as if you were seeing it through the eyes of the Quarterback or experiencing the latest Sci-Fi film as if you were living in that alien environment.
Truly immersive entertainment experiences have long been promised by new technology over the years, like high-definition and even 3D TVs, but it will be wearable technology that will finally be able to deliver.
Wearables have the potential of changing every facet of our lives. This includes our wellbeing, the way we work and also the way we can kick back and relax and have fun. Even in the early days of this new technology, we are starting to see the impact of wearables on how we make and experience sports and entertainment.
Back in April of this year, Orlando Magic was the third NBA team to use Google Glass, a heads-up display, to create an in-game experience for fans which offered unique perspectives of the game in real-time to the audience. Orlando Magic joined the Sacremento Kings and Indiana Pacers in using a wearable live streaming platform, provided by Crowdoptic, to allow fans to experience the game through the eyes of players and others at the game.
But professional sports teams aren’t just using devices like Glass to better the game, but are also using wearables to better the players themselves by tracking and analyzing biometric data. Using data to better sports is what Australian-based Catapult Sports excels at. The company, who recently saw investment from the likes of Mark Cuban, uses wearable technology equipped with both GPS and an accelerometer to quantify the progress of athletes in training and mitigate the risk of injury. Catapult’s bio-analytic platform is being used by the Toronto Raptors, Canadian Women’s Soccer team and NHL teams like the Philadelphia Flyers.
Of course its not just sports that is being disrupted by this new wave of computing. Music and film are also being pushed to new limits because of this tech. Subpac, is taking music to new heights with its patent-pending tactile audio tech. The wearable backpack works adds a physical dimension to the music experience by transferring low frequencies directly to your body, giving a whole new meaning to feeling the bass. And BioBeats, is going even deeper into your body by using your biometric data to dynamically generate music from your unique heartbeat.
Virtual reality devices like Oculus Rift, Samsung’s Gear VR and Sony’s Morpheus are blasting past the flat screen and offering a gaming, TV and film experience that will make you feel like you are part of the experience. The Canadian Film Centre’s Media lab recently partnered with 1188 Films to create an immersive teaser to their award-winning Body/Mind/Change production, a digital extension of TIFF’s David Cronenberg: Evolution exhibition. The teaser was brought to life with virtual reality headset Oculus Rift providing the audience with a 360-degree view of the “Cronenbergian” world.
The impact that wearable technology has on sports and entertainment is the focus of a new conference in Toronto on October 21, 2014 called WEST: Wearable Entertainment and Sports Toronto. A first in Canada, the event is bringing together the likes of adidas, Intel, Catapult Sports, Toronto FC, Golden State Warriors, the Canadian Film Centre and the US Olympics Committee to demo and discuss how this new technology is being used in these spaces.

domain: entertainment


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- What is MATCH Lab?
MATCH Lab is our matched funding program for independent artists and small groups.
The program aims to build artists’ skills in fundraising, increase their knowledge of philanthropy and business partnerships, develop their broader arts business experience and learn more about creating sustainable sources of revenue for their work into the future.
Recipients will have the opportunity to put those skills into practice with a fundraising campaign for a nominated project – a campaign that will be boosted by Creative Partnerships Australia matching funds raised, dollar-for-dollar.
- How does MATCH Lab work?
Successful participants will come together for the Raising Money for Your Art clinic, a two-day intensive fundraising and professional development opportunity.
This clinic will help attendees workshop their fundraising aspirations and develop their careers as creative entrepreneurs. Attendees will benefit from a wealth of information on raising money for projects, planning projects for different types of fundraising activities, strategies for fundraising success and nurturing relationships with donors and sponsors.
Armed with that planning, the next step is to develop and implement your own tailored fundraising campaign. We’ll match whatever you raise, up to $10,000 – a great incentive to get people on board with your project and practice.
- What do I get?
As part of MATCH Lab we’ll fund your attendance at the Raising Money For Your Art clinic, your return airfares, two-nights’ accommodation and selected meals; plus, we’ll match dollar-for-dollar money raised through your fundraising campaign up to $10,000 per participant.
- Why matched funding? How does that work?
Glad you asked! We are focused on helping artists learn how to fund their art in sustainable ways, so they can build a career. Our research shows that matched funding is an especially powerful tool in leveraging support from the private sector and maximising an investment in you as an artist.
It’s a great incentive that encourages more value for donations, higher levels of engagement from donors, and helps artists build relationships that can continue long after a particular project has been and gone.
- Who should apply for MATCH Lab?
MATCH Lab isn’t for everyone. This isn’t a traditional arts or grants program – it’s designed as an intensive, hands-on professional and business development opportunity.
We’re looking for people who have lots of ideas and passion for their art and want to arm themselves with knowledge of how they can make a sustainable path for their work.
When assessing applications, we’re looking for independent artists or small group of artists who can show:
- a demonstrated track record of arts practice
- your professional experience, direction and goals
- your capacity to fundraise and build private sector support (individual donations, crowdfunding, philanthropy, trusts or foundations, and business sponsorship) for your work.
- I was successful with MATCH LAB in the previous year. Can I apply?
No. If you were a recipient of MATCH Lab in the previous year you cannot apply.
- How do I apply for MATCH Lab?
Applications for the 2018/19 round of this program are now closed. Subscribe to our newsletter for future funding announcements and opportunities.
- How much funding is available?
We’re able to fund up to 25 participants to attend the two-day fundraising and professional development clinic in Melbourne and receive up to $10,000 in matched funding from us for their fundraising campaign.
- Does MATCH Lab support crowdfunding campaigns?
Yes! However, an important part of MATCH Lab is the development, with our help, of the fundraising strategy that’s right for you, your practice and your project.
- Can you help me write my application?
We can’t read over your application, but we can guide you through the process and talk through your ideas.
We’ve developed resources and case studies on our website that help you think holistically about your professional practice and develop knowledge about the various income streams available to artists across government funding, crowdfunding, donations, foundations, sponsorship, and selling products and services. Our expectation is that you have taken the time to read these important resources before applying.
- How do I maximise my chances of a success?
The most important thing you can do is read all the resources we’ve put together for you. Read the guidelines and application forms thoroughly before you apply, and well before the closing date!
- What do you mean by ‘leveraging’?
Leveraging is just another way of explaining how you will use the dollar-for-dollar matched funding to attract donors and partners and reach your fundraising target. This is not your typical grant or funding opportunity – the harder you work it, the better the result!
- Should I contact you before I submit my application?
Yes! We strongly recommend that you give us a call to discuss your application before submitting it. We’re here to help and answer any questions you may have.

domain: finance


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August 2015 - Envelope Films
A double team force to be reckoned with, in house DoP Sam Twyman and 1st AC Judith Chan have just wrapped on iShorts film ‘Spiral’ featuring John McArdle of Brookside fame. The film is a sci-fi drama set in a beautiful suburban location in Rochdale. Envelope Films worked on the project over several months with director Richard Addlesee to come up with the look of the film, the shooting schedule, assisted with getting the right crew and the equipment. The film is set to be shown at Bafta recognised Aesthetica short film festival and will be ready by Autumn 2015.


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TechDiversity Accelerator Boosts Innovation for Underrepresented Startup Founders
Tampa Bay Wave Appoints Charlotte Baker as Board Chair
Tampa Bay Wave Launches Inaugural CyberTech|X Accelerator, Announces Startup Cohort
Tampa Bay Wave names Ramit Singh Director of Startup & Entrepreneurship Programs
Tampa Bay Wave announces new cybersecurity accelerator to grow Tampa Bay reputation for cybersecurity and generate new jobs
EDA Grant For Florida Startups Yields Lakeland Group Investment
Tampa Bay Wave and Embarc Collective Partner with JPMorgan Chase to Empower Women-led Tech Startups in Florida
Tampa Bay Wave welcomes 15 new startups to 2020 TechDiversity Accelerator Cohort
Former Catalina Marketing CEO Jamie Egasti Named Newest Executive Entrepreneur-In-Residence at Tampa Bay Wave
Tampa Bay Wave welcomes 10 new startups to inaugural TechDiversity Cohort
Tampa Bay Wave collaborates with The Nielsen FoundaCon to launch the TechDiversity Accelerator Program in Tampa Bay
Tampa Bay Wave Becomes First Florida-Based GAN Accelerator
Founded in 2008,Tampa Bay Wave, Inc. is a "by entrepreneurs, for entrepreneurs" 501(c)(3) nonprofit helping to build, launch,and grow breakout tech-enabled businesses in theTampa Bay area and beyond. Wave delivers world-class support to startups, designs and manages corporate innovation programs, and provides office facilities in a downtown Tampa collaborative innovation hub.Tampa Bay Wave is a "Zero-Equity" accelerator that has mobilized a coalition of both public and private partners to fund operations and help transform the region into a significant tech hub. Since 2013,Tampa Bay Wave has supported over 300 companies raising $300M in capital and creating over 2000 jobs in the greaterTampa Bay area.
While searching for organizations to help start her own business, Linda Olson identified an unsolved problem – Tampa Bay lacked a robust ecosystem to support startups through their early business challenges – which led to her founding the Tampa Bay Wave in 2008. What started as a meetup of like-minded entrepreneurs has grown to become a multi-faceted "by entrepreneurs for entrepreneurs" organization to foster the growth of tech-enabled startups in the Tampa Bay area and beyond.
Tampa Bay Wave is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing support directly to startups through curated 90 day accelerator programs, its CORE program for year-round support, and its Venture Center which provides office space and community for entrepreneurs located in downtown Tampa. Wave is a "Zero-Equity" accelerator, taking no equity share in its member companies, that has mobilized a coalition of both public and private partners to fund operations and help transform the region into a significant tech hub. Wave’s extensive mentor network provides world-class startup support and has enabled Tampa Bay Wave to become the only Florida member of the Global Accelerator Network (GAN). Wave also designs and manages corporate accelerator programs, with a special commitment to diversity, and can customize programs based on industry vertical, founder characteristics, and location -- with the tools to recruit startups regionally, nationally, and globally. Since 2013,Tampa Bay Wave has supported over 300 companies raising $300M in capital and creating over 2000 jobs in the greaterTampa Bay Area.

domain: news


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It's finally the season where we can spend more time outdoors than inside. But if your children, pets, or even you (hey, I don't judge) are known to roll around in the grass or be one with nature when the warm weather hits, you'll probably want to heed this warning from experts: Ticks are biting in full force a lot earlier this year—and in many more areas than normal. But how do ticks get on you in the first place? And more importantly, what does a tick look like?
According to Healthline, the continuous wet weather (i.e. excessive snow and rain) is the reason for ticks coming out earlier than normal. Since it's predicted that these high levels of precipitation will continue throughout much of the United States this spring, Jim Fredericks, PhD, Chief Entomologist for the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), says pest populations will "continue to thrive and multiply."
For this reason, more and more people in various parts of the country need to be on the lookout for ticks on themselves, their children, and their pets, since many species transmit different diseases, the most common being Lyme. Here's everything you need to know to prepare yourself for tick season at home:
More From House Beautiful
What Is Lyme Disease?
Lyme disease is a tick-borne disease "transmitted to humans [and animals] by the bite of infected blacklegged ticks," the CDC writes. The CDC also believes nearly 300,000 Americans get Lyme disease annually.
Where Can I Get It?
Healthline adds that while Lyme disease is most commonly found in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and upper Midwest, health officials have issued warnings in many states across the U.S. for Lyme and other tick-borne diseases—including Indiana, Pennsylvania, and Oregon.
How Can I Prevent Lyme?
According to experts at WMUR 9, the best ways to prevent yourself from being bitten by a tick and contracting a disease is to put on insect repellent and wear long sleeves, long pants. And always check yourself after coming in from being outside. Plus, taking extra care to keep them out of your yard is also important.
To prevent ticks from transmitting disease to your pets, consider giving them preventative medication and Lyme disease vaccinations.
What Does a Tick Look Like?
Chances are you've probably come across a tick, but in case you haven't, Terminix pest control does a great job of describing what you can look for in order to identify them if they're on you, your family, or your pets.
- Size: nymphs are about the size of a poppy or sesame seed, and unfed adults are approximately the size of an apple seed or pencil eraser
- Shape: flat and oval (unless they've fed, then they're round)
- Color: grayish-white, brown, black, reddish-brown, or yellowish, depending on species
- Legs: adults have eight legs and larvae have six
- Wings: none
Tick Bites and Removal on Humans
The CDC shares that there is, believe it or not, a proper way to remove a tick that has already bitten you. Here's how:
- Grasp the tick as closely to your skin as possible using tweezers.
- Use steady, even pressure to pull up without twisting or jerking.
- Then, use tweezers to remove the mouth, if that didn't come out with the rest of it. (Gross, I know.)
- Clean the area thoroughly with rubbing alcohol or soap and water.
CDC TIP: Do not crush the tick with your fingers! Instead, put the tick in alcohol, place it in a sealed bag or container, wrap it tightly in tape, or flush it down the toilet.
What Are the Symptoms?
MayoClinic shares that the most common early signs and symptoms for Lyme disease are:
- "Bullseye" rash (erythema migrans)
- Body aches
- Neck stiffness
- Swollen lymph nodes
If left untreated, Lyme disease can cause more serious health effects, like neurological and heart problems or eye and liver inflammation. Consult your doctor if you think you may have been bitten.
Editor's Note: From experience, you may not ever find a tick on you or even see a rash. If you have other symptoms that may be linked to a tick-borne disease, contact your doctor.
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domain: biology


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causes and prevention of infectious disease.
"INFECTIOUS DISEASE SPREADING"
it is spread through the direct transfer of bacteria, viruses or other germs from one person to another.occurs when individual touches or kisses, or sneezes on someone who isn't infected
"HOW TO STOP THE SPREAD"
1.Wash your hands often
3.don't share personal items
4.stay at home if you have signs of any symptoms of infection.
"TYPES OF INFECTION"
Some infections, such as measles, malaria, HIV and yellow fever, affect the entire body. Other infections affect only one organ or system of the body. The most frequent local infections, including the common cold.

domain: medical


Reel Seat Building
While it's great to have a lathe for turning wood reel seats, I have designed methods for making the reel seats with a jig for roughing out and a jig for making a DIY lathe using a hand held speed drill. My preferred method of course is to turn on my lathe but most of my students do not have a lathe.
I also do not use a router to cut the mortise for the reel. I have found cutting by hand is an accurate and safe way to make the cut. Using a file and sandpaper works very well. I have found its not a matter of taking to much time to remove material by hand but rather removing material to fast so as to over cut. It takes a few reel seats to get the hang of it but then it comes naturally. I have included a photo below of a stacked bamboo reel seat I made by hand and will present much more examples and details in future posts.
Laminated two piece blanks
Perhaps the most difficult thing students have is getting the center hole drilled straight through the blank. I use a blank that starts out larger than most about (1-1/8") To make the blank I select the wood I want to use and then saw a thin groove in the middle of the blank. This groove provides a guide for the drill bit to keep on tract. After laminating the two pieces I then am able to drill a 5/16-3/8 hole through the blank with accuracy.( Illustration and photos below)
Another way that works well is to use a hole saw and cut out pieces and then glue and clamp. This is how I started and made the bamboo reel seat shown in the photographs. The bamboo I used was salvaged from a bamboo chopping block. The main consideration using this method is to go slow on the cutting so as to not over heat and burn the wood.
Please note, The information provided on this page is only a basic representation of the subject. My plan for this blog is to expand on each topic by presenting new rods being built, trial and error expeirments with bamboo, composite materials, tools and techniques.


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Credit: Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY/Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports
LONDON (AP) - Queen Elizabeth II has declared the 2012 London Olympics open before tens of thousands of joyous fans.
As head of state, the 86-year-old British monarch has the honor of opening the games, which run through Aug. 12.
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The Scientific World Journal
Volume 2014 (2014), Article ID 707658, 7 pages
The Polymorphism of the ACE Gene Affects Left Ventricular Hypertrophy and Causes Disturbances in Left Ventricular Systolic/Diastolic Function in Patients with Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease
Department of Nephrology, Transplantology and Internal Medicine, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 60-355 Poznan, Poland
Received 29 August 2013; Accepted 10 October 2013; Published 2 January 2014
Academic Editors: K. Finkel and O. Ortega
Copyright © 2014 Maria Wanic-Kossowska et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is one of the most frequently occurring autosomal diseases inherited in the dominant manner. Due to this, lesions in the cardiovascular system of ADPKD patients have caught the attention of clinical investigators worldwide. The aim of the study was to analyse cardiovascular complications in ADPKD patients with a focus on left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and selected components of its systolic/diastolic function based on echocardiography. The study was conducted on 55 patients with ADPKD (24 males, 31 females), subdivided into three groups according to the stage of chronic kidney disease (CKD). The patient group with ADPKD and ESRD (group C) manifested an increased incidence of the D allele as compared to group A and group B (, ). In all ADPKD patients with the DD genotype, left ventricular mass (LVM), posterior wall thickness (PWT), and interventricular septal thickness (IVS) were significantly higher compared to patients possessing the II and ID genotypes (, , and , resp.). The DD genotype exists more frequently in ADPKD patients with ESRD and is associated with a higher occurrence of LVH and disturbances in systolic-diastolic function when compared to ADPKD ESRD patients with the II and ID genotypes.
Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease is one of the most common inherited kidney diseases, with an incidence estimated at 1 : 1000 examined individuals. Patients with ADPKD comprise about 8–10% of patients on renal replacement therapy . Genetic and experimental studies on animal models, in tissue cultures, and clinical investigations have demonstrated that ADPKD manifests with the presence of multiple cysts, mostly in the kidneys (80–90%) and liver (50–90%), and less frequently in the pancreas (up to 10%), spleen (up to 5%), ovaries, uterus, central nervous system, and connective tissue structures . Such a wide spectrum of multiorgan lesions suggests that ADPKD can be rightfully regarded as a systemic disease that may manifest at any time .
Lesions of the cardiovascular system in ADPKD patients have been an area of interest for clinical investigators; analysis of these lesions was first presented by Leier et al.  in 1984. Using retrospective and prospective analyses conducted on 62 ADPKD patients, the authors demonstrated lesions of the cardiovascular system in 18% of the cases. In 6 patients the lesions were verified using histopathology. Traits of myxomatous degeneration, fragmentation, and wasting of collagen were demonstrated within the heart valves in all 6 cases. The authors related these lesions to a generalized connective tissue dysfunction, manifested by a deficiency or complete absence of type III collagen. Similar lesions in cardiac valves of ADPKD patients were described by several authors, all of whom hypothesized that the observed disturbances were linked to a defect in the extracellular matrix identical to that which composes the epithelial matrix of renal tubules [4–8].
Apart from cardiac valve lesions, structural and functional alterations of the myocardium were noted in young individuals with ADPKD in whom no arterial hypertension or signs of renal injury were detected. With the use of echocardiographic and scintigraphic analyses, there has been demonstrated a significantly higher left ventricular mass index in groups of young individuals with ADPKD as compared to control groups [9, 10]. In a study conducted by Saggar-Malik et al. , young individuals with ADPKD demonstrated a 23% higher left ventricular mass index as compared to healthy individuals. The presence of early myocardial lesions was confirmed by Bardají et al. , a study which demonstrated a significant thickening of the interventricular septum and left ventricular posterior wall apart from an increased index of left ventricular mass. This was found in a group of 46 persons with a mean age of 25 years, with normal arterial blood pressure, but burdened with polycystic kidney disease lacking traits of disturbed renal function. Interestingly, and for the first time in relevant studies, the authors also noted a decreased ability in relaxation and an abnormal diastolic compliance of the left ventricle .
In recent years, several reports have appeared related to insertional-deletional (I/D) polymorphisms of the angiotensin-converting enzyme gene I (ACE) and to the effects of individual genotypes on the development of arterial hypertension, kidney failure, and the incidence of cardiovascular complications in ADPKD patients [13–22]. Opinions regarding a correlation between the I/D polymorphism of the ACE gene and the course of ADPKD are divergent. Some authors claim that ADPKD patients representing homozygotes (DD) of the ACE deletion allele manifest a higher risk of kidney failure at a younger age . A study by Persu et al. analyzed the ACE gene polymorphism and its course of disease in 191 patients with ADPKD . In the entire studied sample of patients, the authors failed to demonstrate any relationship except for, in 97 men, the presence of the DD genotype that caused kidney failure development five years sooner . In such patients, cardiovascular complications also proved to be more frequent. Reports are also available which deny that the ACE polymorphism has any effect on the course of ADPKD. Investigations by van Dijk et al. concluded that the ACE polymorphism exerted no effect on the course of ADPKD and, furthermore, that only the genetic type or presence of the PKD1 or PKD2 gene was significant .
The aim of this study was to analyse cardiovascular complications in ADPKD patients with a particular focus on LVH and selected components of its systolic/diastolic function based on echocardiographic investigations.
2. Material and Method
The studies were performed in the Department of Nephrology at the Poznan University of Medical Sciences in Poznan, Poland, in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the Pomeranian University of Medicine in Szczecin, Poland, and in the Day Ward of Cardiological Diagnosis, Poznan-Nowe Miasto, Poland. The study was fully licensed by the Regional Ethical Commission, and all patients expressed informed consent for participation. The studies were performed in 55 patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), including 24 males and 31 females, with a mean age of years. The timeframe of the study and patient monitoring was 60 months. ADPKD was diagnosed on the base of kidney ultrasonography, in line with the Ravina classification . Arterial hypertension was recognized in 33 patients.
Patients participating in the study were divided into three groups depending on the advancement of their kidney disease according to the National Kidney Foundation Kidney Disease Outcome Quality Initiative (KDOQI) (Table 1).(i)Group A included 18 patients (4 males and 14 females, mean age of years) with no traits of a disturbed renal function or at the 1st or 2nd stage of CKD (GFR ≥ 60 mL/min/1.73 m2).(ii)Group B included 13 patients (5 males and 8 females, mean age of years) at the 3rd or 4th stage of CKD and not treated with hemodialysis (GFR 15–59 mL/min/1.73 m2).(iii)Group C included 24 patients (15 males and 9 females, mean age of years) with ESRD treated with hemodialysis.
All of the patients received a transthoracic echocardiographic examination (ECHO) according to guidelines [24, 25] and basic laboratory tests in which serum concentrations of urea, creatinine, uric acid, cholesterol, hematocrit, and hemoglobin were examined. Each patient underwent an ECHO, including 2-dimensional, Doppler, and tissue Doppler imaging. An experienced echocardiographer, blinded to other measurements and qualifications of the studied groups, then analyzed the ECHO results. Creatinine clearance was calculated using the Cockroft-Gault formula . Serum concentrations of urea, creatinine, and uric acid and the examination of blood smears were compiled using commercially available diagnostic kits.
The control group consisted of 30 healthy volunteers (12 males and 18 females, mean age of years) in whom the same examinations and laboratory tests were performed.
In every patient with ESRD (group C), hemodialysis was conducted three times a week, at an average of 4-5 hours each, for at least 6 months. In the course of the observation, the procedures were always performed in the same conditions, on the same day, and at the same hour.
2.1. Genetic Analysis
In all 55 patients with ADPKD, an insertional-deletional polymorphism of the ACE gene was determined. DNA was isolated from peripheral blood leukocytes using DNA isolation kits from Epicentre Technologies, USA (Master Pure TM Genomic DNA Purification Kit, cat. no. MG71100). For the evaluation of the polymorphism, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to amplify 40 ng/μL DNA samples in the 20 μL terminal volume, containing 4 pM of each primer pair, 2.5 mM of every deoxyribonucleotide triphosphate (dATP, dTTP, dGTP, and dCTP), 2 μL of PCR buffer (final concentrations of 1.5 mM MgCl2, 10 mM TRIS pH 8.3, and 50 mM KCl), and 0.5 U of Taq polymerase (MBI Fermentas).
The sense (ACE-1) and antisense (ACE-2) nucleotide primers involved, respectively, the oligonucleotide pairs of 5′-GCCCTGCAGGTGTCTGCAGCAGT-3′ and 5′-GGATGGCTCTCCCCGCCTTGTCTC-3′ (TIB Molbiol). Using the primers, PCR products included DNA fragments: for allele D a fragment of 319 base pair length and for allele I a fragment of 597 base pair length (79). Due to the phenomenon of preferential amplification of shorter DNA fragments (allele D) and, thus, the risk of underrating the incidence of the ID genotype, DNA samples from individuals preliminarily defined as DD homozygotes were verified using another PCR reaction with the primer pair of 5′-TGGGACCACAGCGCCCGCCACTAC-3′ as the sense primer (ACE-3) and 5′-TCGCCAGCCCTCCCATGCCCATAA-3′ as the antisense primer (ACE-4). The ACE-3 and ACE-4 primers are specific for allele I (79). A PCR product with a length of 395 base pairs provided proof for the presence of the ID genotype, and the lack of such a product confirmed the presence of the DD genotype. Amplification was achieved in a Mastercycler gradient thermocycler (Eppendorf) in the following conditions: preliminary denaturation at a temperature of 94°C for 5 min, followed by 35 cycles of denaturation at the temperature of 94°C for 15 seconds, primer annealing for 30 seconds at the temperature of 58°C (for ACE-1, ACE-2 primers) and 64°C (for ACE-3 and ACE-4 primers), and chain elongation at the temperature of 72°C for 30 seconds. PCR was completed with an 8 min chain elongation at a temperature of 72°C. Final amplification products were separated by electrophoresis in a 2% agarose gel and stained with ethidium bromide. The results were recorded using photography of the gels in UV light. Distribution of genotypes and alleles dependent on the ACE gene insertional-deletional polymorphism was evaluated in all 55 examined patients, and they were compared to the respective distribution in 100 healthy individuals, matched in respect to gender and age.
2.2. Statistical Analysis
Results were calculated using arithmetic mean and standard deviation. The normal distribution of the variables was checked using the Shapiro-Wilk test [27–29]. Relationships between examined indices were evaluated using either Pearson’s linear correlation coefficient (for samples with normal distribution) or Spearman’s correlation coefficient (for samples with distinct distribution) [27–29]. The data sets were compared to each other employing either the Student’s t-test for unlinked samples (for data with normal distribution) or the Mann-Whitney’s test (for unlinked variables with distinct distribution). In the evaluation of the ACE gene insertional-deletional polymorphism, frequency of the genotype and allele distribution was compared between groups of ADPKD patients and healthy individuals using the test. Correlations between clinical/biochemical variables and respective genotype, dependent on ACE gene I/D polymorphism, were evaluated using the ANOVA rank Kruskal-Wallis test [27–29]. The value of was accepted as a threshold for statistical significance.
The studied patients with ADPKD manifested left ventricular hypertrophy as follows: in group A the hypertrophy was noted in 7 patients (39%), in group B in 12 patients (92%), and in group C in 16 patients (67%). The anatomic parameters of the left ventricle in ADPKD patients are listed in Table 2. The systolic function of the left ventricle in all 18 patients of group A showed no deviations from values obtained in the control group, but in 12 patients of group B and in 16 patients of group C the systolic function was impaired when compared to the control group (Table 2). Parameters evaluating left ventricular diastolic function differed in all studied patients compared to the control group.
43% of patients with ADPKD () have manifested lesions within cardiac structures:(i)aneurysm of the intra-atrial septum (),(ii)atrial-septal defect (),(iii)ostium secundum atrial-septal defect (),(iv)thickened mitral and aortal valve leaflets with fine calcifications (),(v)traces of fluid in the pericardial sac (),(vi)inverted position of the heart (),(vii)mitral valve prolapse ().
3.1. Results of Genetic Analysis
The distribution of genotypes determined using the ACE gene insertional-deletional polymorphism in the entire studied group of patients was as follows: 8 patients (14%) demonstrated the DD genotype, 15 patients (27%) the II genotype, and 32 patients (59%) the ID genotype.
Distribution of genotypes in the control group of 100 healthy individuals was as follows: 35 individuals (35%) carried DD genotype, 45 persons (45%) manifested ID genotype, and 20 persons (20%) carried II genotype. Distribution of genotypes among patients with ADPKD was significantly different than the distribution noted in healthy individuals ( test, ).
In the individual groups of patients, the distribution of genotypes conditioned by the ACE gene insertional-deletional polymorphism was as follows (Table 3).(i)In 18 patients with GFR ≥ 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 (group A), 1 female patient carried the DD genotype (5.5%), 6 patients the II genotype (33.0%), and the remaining 11 patients the ID genotype (61.5%).(ii)In 13 patients with a 3rd-4th stage of CKD (group B), 1 female patient carried the DD genotype (7.7%), 5 patients the II genotype (38.0%), and the remaining 7 patients the ID genotype (54.3%).(iii)In 24 patients with ESRD (group C), 6 patients carried the DD genotype (25%), 4 patients the II genotype (16%), and the remaining 14 patients the ID genotype (59%).
Patients with ADPKD and ESRD (group C) were found to have an increased frequency of the DD genotype as compared to patients from groups I and II (, ).
In patients with the DD genotype, significantly higher PWT (cm) and IVS thickness (cm) ( versus , , and versus , , resp.) and a significantly higher left ventricle mass (g) ( versus , ) were noted, as compared to patients with the II or ID genotypes.
As compared to group C patients with the II or ID genotype, patients in the same group but homozygotic for DD demonstrated a significantly higher RWT value ( versus , ), higher LVM (g) ( versus , ), higher thicknesses of PWT (cm) ( versus , ) and IVS (cm) ( versus , ), shortened IVRT time (ms) ( versus , ), prolongation of the A wave (cm/s) ( versus , ), lower values of HCT ( versus , ), and Hb concentrations (g/dL) ( versus , ), as well as a significantly higher creatinine concentration (mg/dL) ( versus , ).
In patients from group C, the following correlations were shown: between patient’s age and creatinine clearance (), PWT thickness (), IVS thickness (), diastolic volume of left ventricle (LVESV) (), RWT value (), left ventricular mass (LVM) (), and LVFS value (); between LVEF and creatinine concentration (); between IVRT values and creatinine clearance (); between left ventricular mass (LVM) and urea concentration ().
Results of our study are consistent with observations by authors who demonstrated the presence of higher left ventricular mass in patients with ADPKD as compared to a healthy population [30, 31]. Normotensive patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease with well-preserved renal function have significantly increased carotid intimal-medial thickness and significantly decreased coronary flow velocity reserve compared with healthy subjects . These findings suggest that, in patients with ADPKD, atherosclerosis starts at an early stage in the course of the disease . In the group of dialyzed patients with ADPKD, left ventricular mass has been documented to be significantly higher than in the control group. In group C, even in the 6 patients free of arterial hypertension, the left ventricular mass was significantly increased.
Among patients with ADPKD in the 3rd and 4th stage of CKD (Group B), left ventricular mass was significantly higher in 12 patients (92%), independently of their arterial blood pressure values. On the other hand, in patients without impaired renal function, the left ventricular mass was increased only in patients with arterial hypertension.
The correlations demonstrated in the group of patients with ESRD, between parameters of hypertrophy and systolic/diastolic function of the left ventricle on one hand and parameters of renal efficiency, indicate that increasing severity of renal disease is accompanied by an increasing mass and a deteriorating function of the left ventricle.
The presence of left ventricular hypertrophy promotes development of a systolic/diastolic cardiac insufficiency. Kunz et al.  and others  have demonstrated that, in 50–60% of patients with advanced kidney disease, a diastolic insufficiency of the left ventricle accompanies its hypertrophy. In a concentric hypertrophy of the left ventricle, the systolic function remains normal while impaired diastolic function represents the earliest sign of cardiac injury. Systolic failure develops a great deal less frequently and is often accompanied by left ventricular distension. In the diagnosis of diastolic dysfunction, an echocardiographic examination is of utmost importance because it may demonstrate early-restricted left ventricle diastolic filling with normal systolic function. The earlier affected diastolic function is likely due to the fact that diastole requires more energy for the dissociation of calcium from contractile proteins and for calcium’s transport against a concentration gradient to the sarcoplasmic reticulum.
The observed decreased compliance of the ventricular wall in all studied patients with ADPKD may reflect an increased thickness of the walls, stromal fibrosis, or an increased collagen content. Decreased diastolic filling of the left ventricle leads to an increase in end-diastolic pressure and, subsequently, to an increased blood pressure in the pulmonary blood vessels. The cardiac lesions may explain the frequent complaints of exertional dyspnea noted in many patients. In our study, 80% of patients demonstrated concentric left ventricular hypertrophy and 20% demonstrated eccentric hypertrophy. The anatomical lesions have been accompanied by abnormal indices of left ventricular systolic/diastolic function. In all studied patients with ADPKD, increased end-systolic and end-diastolic left ventricular volumes were recorded. Analysis of the rate of blood flow through the mitral valve displayed a decrease in early and an increase in late mitral inflow, a lower ratio of the early to the late left ventricular filling, and an extended duration of isovolumetric diastole that may point to an extended left ventricular relaxation time.
Similar observations have been made by Oflaz et al.  during evaluation of left and right ventricular diastolic function in patients with ADPKD. It seems that, independently of their arterial blood pressure, patients manifested left ventricular hypertrophy with normal systolic function of the left ventricle, but diastolic function of both left and right ventricles was disturbed. The authors confirmed the already accepted hypothesis that hypertrophy of the left ventricle and disturbances in its function lead to a stimulation of the renin-angiotensin system, adrenergic stimulation, and hyperinsulinemia.
Turkmen at al. have demonstrated that carotid intimal and medial thickness was significantly increased, and coronary flow velocity reserve was significantly decreased in patients with ADPKD when compared with healthy subjects . Ritz et al.  evaluated the degree of left ventricular hypertrophy in patients with ADPKD and in patients with chronic glomerulonephritis. All the patients represented a benign phase of renal disease. Upon autopsy, the left ventricular mass, expressed in percent of body weight, amounted to 0.706 in patients with ADPKD versus 0.661 in patients with glomerulonephritis. The authors stressed that the left ventricular mass was higher in patients with ADPKD who also carried valve defects. The presence of aortal-mitral defects was noted in 17% of patients with ADPKD but in only 5% of patients with glomerulonephritis. No differences could be disclosed in regard to the incidence of arteriosclerotic lesions present in coronary blood vessels. Third and fourth degree arteriosclerotic lesions were present in 67% of patients with ADPKD and in 61% of patients with glomerulonephritis.
The study performed in our department has led to similar observations; as many as 24 patients with ADPKD (43%) have manifested lesions within cardiac structures. Two patients have manifested an aneurysm of the intra-atrial septum, 1 patient has manifested an atrial-septal defect, 1 patient has manifested an ostium secundum atrial-septal defect, 10 patients have been observed having thickened mitral and aortal valve leaflets with fine calcifications, 6 patients were found with traces of fluid in the pericardial sac, 1 patient has shown an inverted position of the heart, and mitral valve prolapse was noted in 3 patients.
In recent years, several reports have pointed to the role of insertion-deletion polymorphisms within the gene coding for angiotensin convertase (ACE). Results have been inconsistent, with only some authors proving the effect of the ACE DD genotype on the progression of renal insufficiency and a higher incidence of cardiovascular complications [14, 16, 20]. However, there are also available data from other studies demonstrating the effects of the ACE polymorphism on the course of ADPKD that found no relationship between such a polymorphism and a higher mortality due to cardiovascular complications [13, 17, 22].
Among patients examined in this study, the frequency of the DD genotype was 14% (8 patients), II genotype 27% (15 patients), and the ID genotype 59% (32 patients). Among dialyzed ADPKD patients, DD genotype was in 6 (25%), II genotype in 4 (16%), and the ID genotype in 14 patients (59%). Similar observations were made in a study by Uemaso et al. , which analysed the frequency of individual alleles in dialyzed patients with ADPKD.
Results of our studies have unequivocally demonstrated that patients with ESRD, the last stage of CKD, manifest the DD genotype more frequently than ADPKD patients in the first four stages of CKD. Patients with ADPKD and the DD genotype have been recognized to manifest a significant left ventricular hypertrophy more frequently than the patients with the II or ID genotypes. Analysis of the three groups of patients has shown that, in patients with ESRD (group C), manifestation of the DD genotype is linked to a significant left ventricular hypertrophy and its disturbed diastolic function, as compared to patients in groups A and B.
Lesions in cardiac valves, leading to calcifications and functional insufficiency, have been noted in 10 dialyzed patients, 6 of whom carried the DD genotype. The noted lesions have been linked, in part, to the advancement of ADPKD. In one female patient with ADPKD having the DD genotype, but free of signs or symptoms of severe renal disease, was found an inverted position of the heart and other viscera (situs inversus). No patients with a persistent foramen ovale, aneurysm of the interventricular septum, or flaccid interventricular septum were found among those having the DD genotype. Uemaso et al.  made similar observations, noting no differences in the incidence of cardiac valve defects between patients with the DD genotype and patients with the II or ID genotype.
Results of our study confirmed opinions of other authors, who suggested an influence of the DD genotype on the incidence of cardiovascular complications among ADPKD patients . Our results proved that, in men with ADPKD, the DD genotype was accompanied by an accelerated progression in kidney disease, as compared to patients with the II or ID genotype. In the presence of the DD allele, kidney failure was found to develop, on the average, 5 years earlier than in the presence of the II or ID allele. Baboolal et al.  demonstrated that a polymorphism of the angiotensinogen gene failed to affect renal function in patients with ADPKD. However, by examining effects of a polymorphism of the ACE gene, these study results noted that patients with the DD genotype manifested a higher risk of ESRD and an earlier requirement for dialysis therapy, before age 40, as compared to patients with the II genotype. Our study compared the duration in which ESRD developed between patients with the DD and those with the II genotype and found that, in homozygotes, signs of ESRD developed 7 years earlier. Similar observations were made in a study by Perez-Oller et al.  in which 151 patients with ADPKD, 32% with the DD genotype, started dialysis therapy before the age of 50. Studies by van Dijk et al.  and Saggar-Malik et al.  examined the effects of a polymorphism in the angiotensin and ACE genes on renal function in ADPKD patients and demonstrated no influence of such polymorphisms on creatinine level, creatinine clearance, incidence of cardiovascular complications, development of arterial hypertension, nor duration in which the patients developed renal failure.
In our study of patients with ADPKD and CKD, observed parameters of left ventricular hypertrophy, its systolic/diastolic function, and parameters of renal function may indirectly indicate that progression of the disease is linked to an increased left ventricular mass and its decreased function. Independently of the stage of CKD, in patients with ADPKD, diastolic function of the left ventricle becomes impaired while its systolic function remains within normal limits. The DD genotype is observed most frequently in patients with ADPKD and ESRD. As compared to patients with the II or ID genotypes, such patients show a significant left ventricular hypertrophy with a disturbed systolic/diastolic function.
In summary, cardiovascular complications, rapid development of renal failure, and arterial hypertension in patients with ADPKD are only partially dependent on the existing ACE genetic polymorphisms. In some cases, lesions in the cardiovascular and renal systems are induced or intensified by hormonal disturbances. Therefore, an early diagnosis and the implementation of nephroprotective and antihypertensive treatment may slow down CKD progression and decrease the risk of life-threatening complications.
Conflict of Interests
The authors declare that they have no conflict of interests related to this study.
The authors would like to express their special gratitude and thanks to Professor Andrzej Ciechanowicz, Pomeranian Medical University, Szczecin, Poland, for the genetic analysis, his kind co-operation, and encouragement which helped them in completion of this project.
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- C. Shufelt and R. Hachamovitch, “Statistical analysis of medical data—part II,” Journal of Nuclear Cardiology, vol. 7, no. 3, pp. 263–266, 2000.
- R. Hachamovitch and C. Shufelt, “Statistical analysis of medical data—part I: univariable analysis,” Journal of Nuclear Cardiology, vol. 7, no. 2, pp. 146–152, 2000.
- A. Martinez-Vea, A. Bardají, C. Gutierrez et al., “Exercise blood pressure, cardiac structure, and diastolic function in young normotensive patients with polycystic kidney disease: a prehypertensive state,” The American Journal of Kidney Diseases, vol. 44, no. 2, pp. 216–223, 2004.
- O. Kocaman, H. Oflaz, E. Yekeler et al., “Endothelial dysfunction and increased carotid intima-media thickness in patients with autosomal Dominant polycystic kidney disease,” The American Journal of Kidney Diseases, vol. 43, no. 5, pp. 854–860, 2004.
- K. Turkmen, H. Oflaz, B. Uslu et al., “Coronary flow velocity reserve and carotid intima media thickness in patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease: from impaired tubules to impaired carotid and coronary arteries,” Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, vol. 3, no. 4, pp. 986–991, 2008.
- K. Kunz, Y. Dimitrov, S. Muller, F. Chantrel, and T. Hannedouche, “Uraemic cardiomyopathy,” Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation, vol. 13, supplement 4, pp. 39–43, 1998.
- P. S. Parfrey, “Cardiac disease in dialysis patients: diagnosis, burden of disease, prognosis, risk factors and management,” Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation, vol. 15, supplement 5, pp. 58–68, 2000.
- H. Oflaz, S. Alisir, B. Buyukaydin et al., “Biventricular diastolic dysfunction in patients with autosomal-dominant polycystic kidney disease,” Kidney International, vol. 68, no. 5, pp. 2244–2249, 2005.
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text:
From Evidence to Action
The sector is coming together to tackle recruitment challenges, with a wide-ranging research project looking at awareness and perceptions of early education and childcare across the generations.
Building on discussions at a recent workforce round-table hosted by Ceeda, the ‘What is EY?’ project will deliver much-needed insight into how the sector is perceived today, and how best to communicate the rewards and benefits it offers in the future.
Ceeda’s independent About EY evidence base shows one in four providers have hard to fill vacancies, treble the figure for all employers of 8%. As competition in the labour market intensifies, urgent action is needed to increase the pool of talented individuals considering early years as their career of first-choice.
Any strong communication campaign starts with a thorough understanding of target audiences – who they are, what they think, what influences them and what might attract them to the sector. The ‘What is EY?’ project will deliver this insight and provide a much-needed launch-pad to raise funds for a future national communications campaign.
Dr Jo Verrill, MD at Ceeda says:
“Great things happen when early years colleagues come together, with many brilliant ideas being discussed at our recent workforce round-table. Thanks to the generosity and vision of project funders, we are thrilled to take forward this exciting project which will reveal how the sector can best communicate what it is, what it does, and what it has to offer people from a range of different backgrounds and circumstances. This is a vital first step towards a national communications campaign, and one which puts the sector firmly in the driving seat.”
Funded by the Childbase Partnership, Cache, Connect Childcare and the Early Years Alliance, the project will gather the views of:
- The current early years workforce and sector employers (what got you into childcare, why do you stay, what would attract more people like you)
- The wider labour market (adults in work, looking for work, caring for family full-time or in early retirement etc.)
- Future entrants to the labour market and those who influence them (e.g. school pupils, students, parents, careers advisers, teachers, tutors).
Emma Rooney, Managing Director at the Childbase Partnership says:
“Childbase Partnership has always prioritized effective research and analysis as the basis for informed decision-making in an uncertain and volatile sector. We are proud to support Ceeda and sponsor this important research project which gives Early Years providers the opportunity to share expertise and ideas, and the quality research and analysis needed to innovatively, and collectively, meet sector challenges.”
Fieldwork gets underway in September and will use a wide range of methods to tap into the views of different audiences. Register for Ceeda’s newsletter to find out more about the project and how you can get involved.

domain: economics


text:
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Teeth in the Grass
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REACH OUT AND TOUCH FAITH
....and the guitar goes.........doo bi doo bi doo bi doo bi doo bi doooo
good song to listen to in this weather
wow i am exxin my ass off just bcause of my wkly caffeine allowance, whew! cuz this song that normally makes me tap my toe, makes me wish i had a tambourine
@Adnegatus - Yes, you are the only one.. Your also the only one with a beard rivaling Sam's.
Am I the only one that this this song sounds as if it's coming from a black slave who helped some poor woman? With the southern theme, and the apt title of the song... well, I just thought it fit.
When I hear this song.. I picture a vagabond playing guitar in a dark empty cart on a freight train, rolling across the country.
Where's the jay-z mashup. Surely there's got to be one somewhere.
"but for some reason it makes me think of two people on horses riding through the desert O.o" after reading this its all i see when listening to it and i can't take the song seriously anymore <_<
87 more photos
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8 Surprising Things We Learned From 100 Billion Plays
Meet the Mavericks Behind Germany's Country Music Scene


text:
Entertainment Weekly has reported that the coveted role of Lisbeth Salander could be played by Inception's Ellen Page or Alice in Wonderland's Mia Wasikowska.
An Education's Carey Mulligan was also thought to be in contention, but the actress apparently told the magazine she would not be playing Lisbeth. So, now, it really looks like it's not going to be Kristen Stewart.
Other names on the short list for the David Fincher helmed The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo include Rooney Mara, who will star in the upcoming The Social Network and Emily Browning, who will be seen in next year's Sucker Punch. Australian actresses Sarah Snook and Sophie Lowe are also being mentioned for the role.
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is based on the crime novel of the same name about a journalist, Mikael Blomkvist, who teams up with tattooed, computer hacker, Lisbeth Salander, to investigate a woman's 40-year-old disappearance. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is of course more complicated than that as it includes elements of mystery, family drama, love and financial intrigue.
The latest James Bond incarnation, Daniel Craig, is in talks to play Mikael Blomkvist.
Even without a leading lady attached, the expected release date for the film is reportedly December 21, 2011.
And you'll see personalized content just for you whenever you click the My Feed .
SheKnows is making some changes!


text:
- 1 hr 27 min
Set in Florida during the 1830s, Seminole is a thrilling western that tells the story of the Seminole Native American tribe's struggle to protect their land from the encroaching white settlers. The film stars Rock Hudson as Lt. Lance Caldwell, a young officer tasked with leading a battalion of soldiers into the challenging and dangerous terrain of the Florida Everglades to establish a fort.
Barbara Hale plays Revere Muldoon, a beautiful and independent woman who is initially skeptical of Caldwell's intentions but soon finds herself falling for the charismatic Lieutenant. Meanwhile, Anthony Quinn portrays Osceola, the powerful Seminole Chief who leads his people in a fierce battle against the army's advances.
As Caldwell and his troops navigate the murky swamps and dense forests of the Everglades, they come face to face with the Seminole tribe and find themselves in a harrowing battle for survival. Against a backdrop of stunning cinematography and breathtaking natural landscapes, the film showcases intense moments of action and suspense.
Despite the military's initial attempts to establish a peaceful relationship with the Seminole, tensions soon escalate as the two groups clash over issues of land ownership and control. As Caldwell struggles to understand the motives of the Seminole and their leader, Osceola, he is forced to grapple with questions of duty and morality in what becomes a battle of wills between two formidable adversaries.
Throughout the film, the performances of its lead actors bring a depth of emotion and complexity to their characters. Rock Hudson's portrayal of Lt. Caldwell showcases the actor's natural charm and charisma, while Barbara Hale's strong-willed character provides a perfect foil to his easygoing nature.
Anthony Quinn delivers a captivating performance as Osceola, infusing the Seminole Chief with a powerful sense of pride and determination. Quinn's portrayal of the Native American warrior is both nuanced and authentic, conveying both the strength of his convictions and the deep pain and sorrow he feels as his people are oppressed and their way of life threatened.
Overall, Seminole is a classic western that provides a thought-provoking look at the complicated relationship between native peoples and the colonizing forces that sought to dominate them. With its stunning visuals, strong performances, and compelling narrative, this film is a must-see for any fan of the western genre, or anyone interested in the history of the United States and its relationship with its indigenous populations.


|Publication number||US4776586 A|
|Application number||US 07/075,640|
|Publication date||Oct 11, 1988|
|Filing date||Jul 20, 1987|
|Priority date||Jul 20, 1987|
|Publication number||07075640, 075640, US 4776586 A, US 4776586A, US-A-4776586, US4776586 A, US4776586A|
|Inventors||Kelly D. Hardee|
|Original Assignee||Hardee Kelly D|
|Export Citation||BiBTeX, EndNote, RefMan|
|Patent Citations (16), Referenced by (6), Classifications (7), Legal Events (3)|
|External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, Espacenet|
This invention relates to a pseudo-brake for use by apprehensive passengers in a moving vehicle as a stress relief or signal device to the driver.
Many individuals are apprehensive when riding in a vehicle as a passenger rather than as the operator. It is a normal feeling of most individuals to have the urge at various times to apply the brake or steer the vehicle for the operator while occupying the role of a passenger. To some it becomes an obsession and to many, being unable to have an active part in the vehicle operation, creates stress and considerable tension on the individual. Also, there are times when a passenger would like to ask the driver of the vehicle to slow down or to be more careful in his operation of the vehicle without appearing to be too much of a "back seat driver". Some drivers do not take kindly to verbal suggestions or other comments made by passengers regarding the operation of the vehicle and react adversely to their unsolicited assistance. Also, in the training of new drivers there are times when the instructor would like to advise the student to slow down or be more careful without inducing panic. Further, a number of vehicle operators are hearing impaired and this limits communication between the operator and his passenger(s).
It is thus seen that there exists a definite need in the art for a device or apparatus that can serve as a stress relieving system for apprehensive vehicle passengers, a non-verbal communication device between the passenger and the driver, a safety warning device for student and other vehicle drivers, and a communication alert for the hearing impaired vehicle operator.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a stress relieving device operable by vehicle passengers to release tension and give some feeling of vehicle control to the vehicle passenger.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a signal device operable by a vehicle passenger to alert the vehicle driver that the passenger is concerned about the operation of the vehicle.
Another object of the present invention is an apparatus controlled by a vehicle passenger that gives him some feeling of control of the vehicle operation.
Another object of the present invention is a device that permits the vehicle passenger to signal the vehicle operator without speaking.
Another object of the present invention is a portable, safety, teaching aide and stress relieving system that may be attached to a vehicle when desired, and removed therefrom, with little effort.
A further object of the present is a factory installed safety, teaching aide and stress relieving system that is operable by a vehicle passenger.
The foregoing and additional objects are attainable according to the present invention by providing a non-functioning, or pseudo-brake designed for use by passengers in a moving vehicle to depress when they desire or wish that the vehicle driver would brake or slow down. In one aspect of the present invention a portable brake pedal is positioned on the vehicle floor in front of a passenger, either front or back, and when the passenger presses on the pedal, a suitable warning light and/or buzzer is activated to let the driver know that his passenger(s) are either concerned about his driving, or if they were the driver, they would be braking. A pivotal support arm and a coil spring support the brake pedal spaced from a heavy base plate positioned on the vehicle floorboard. A suitable battery operated light and/or buzzer is actuated when the brake pedal is depressed a predetermined distance to overcome the resistance of the coil spring. This warning device is connected to the base plate by suitable connecting wires and may be temporarily attached to the vehicle dashboard by a suction cup, magnet, double-backed adhesive tape, or the like. In another aspect of the present invention the warning light and pseudo-brake are factory installed and the brake pedal may be stored out of the way when not used.
A more complete appreciation of the invention and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily apparent as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 is a view of the portable pseudo-brake system of the present invention in operable position in a vehicle with parts shown in section and parts omitted for clarity;
FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1. illustrating the locking mechanism employed when storing and/or shipping the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a top view of the pseudo brake pedal support shown in FIG. 1 with parts omitted for clarity;
FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line IV--IV of FIG. 3; and,
FIG. 5 is a partial view illustrating a modified form of the invention shown in FIG. 1.
Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows the pseudo-brake system of the present invention and is designated generally by the reference numeral 10. As shown therein, pseudo-brake system 10 includes an aluminum, stainless steel, or other heavy metal base plate 12 supporting a brake pedal member 14. An elongated stabilizing arm 16 is attached at one end to, and serves as partial support for, pedal 14. The other end of stabilizing arm 14 is pivotally connected to base plate 12 via pivot pin 18. A coil spring 20 is also attached at one end to pedal 14 and vertically extends from pedal 14 to base plate 12 with the other end of coil spring 20 being attached to base plate 12. A suitable depression or channel 22 is formed in base plate 12 and serves to receive a battery 24. Battery 24 is in electric connection with a switch 26. Lead wires 28 extend from switch 26 to connect with a housing 30 removably attached via attachment mechanism 31 to dashboard 32 of a vehicle in view of the vehicle driver. Attachment mechanism 31 in the preferred embodiment is a permanent magent attached to the back housing 30 and adapted to releasably attach to dashboard 32. Other suitable attachment mechanisms include double-backed adhesive rubber tape, a strip of VelcroŽ and a suction cup. A suitable light bulb is carried by housing 30 and is actuated when the vehicle passenger depresses pedal 14 sufficiently to close switch 26. The light employed may be a flashing or continuous light source and is preferably red, although any other colored or clear light source may be employed.
Although heavy metal plate 12 provides sufficient weight to the pedal assembly to normally restrict movement on the vehicle floorboard, additional stabilizing support is provided by attaching a pair of weighted pliable bags or supports 42, 43 to the sides of base plate 12. Bags 42, 43 are filled with granules 44 of sand, lead, or the like to supply the additional weight needed.
For packaging the pedal assembly (FIG. 2), battery 24 is omitted from the channel 22 and pedal 14 forcibly depressed toward base plate 12 to overcome the strength of coil spring 20. While in this depressed position, rotatable hook member 46 carried by base plate 12 is engaged over retainer pin 48 extending from pedal 14 and the force of coil spring 20 retains the assembly in this more compact state. Pliable bags 42, 43 are folded along the side and bottom of plate 12 and wires 28 wrapped therearound. When ready for use, wires 28 and the attached light housing 30 are unwound, pliable bags 42, 43 positioned in place (FIG. 4), hook 46 is unlatched from pin 48 and coil spring 20 positions pedal 14 as shown in FIG. 1. Battery 24 is then connected to switch 26, light housing 30 attached to the vehicle dashboard via attachment mechanism 31, the pedal assembly placed on the vehicle floorboard in front of a passenger and the system is operational.
For factory installed units, an instrument on the vehicle instrument panel, such as for example, instrument 50 (FIG. 5) is equipped with a suitable light indicator and wired into the vehicle electric system. The leads from instrument 50 extend to an outlet 51 disposed on or beneath the vehicle dashboard. In this embodiment a terminal connection 52 is provided on wires 28 and adapted to be received by outlet 51. Wires 28 lead to switch 26 on the same type movable pedal assembly, as described hereinbefore, with the exception that no separate battery would be employed. In this factory installed unit, the pedal assembly is stored in a side pocket adjacent the passenger side of the front seat or under the dash until desired for use. The switch and other components of the factory installed unit operate in the same manner as described hereinabove for the portable unit. Also, in the factory installed systems, outlet 51 may be eliminated and instrument 50 wired directly to a permanently installed pedal positioned on the vehicle over the wheel well portion of the vehicle floor. This pedal location is on the opposite vehicle side but comparable to dimmer switches employed now on some vehicles. That is, the pedal is out of the way, but readily accessible to the user.
Thus, when any passenger of a vehicle equipped with the present invention feels a need for stress relief the device may be actuated and used. Also, when a driver training instructor wants to warn a student driver to brake or be cautious, the present invention serves that need. Even when a spouse does not want to speak to their mate operating a vehicle, the present invention may be employed to communicate his or her concern or dissatisfaction about the vehicle operation.
For the hearing impaired driver, a passenger may utilize the present invention to signal the vehicle operator. In this latter situation, a prearranged signal system could be established to indicate that a rest stop was needed or the like. Also, suitable instruments could be employed with the present invention to transmit different messages.
In each of the embodiments described above, an electrically actuated buzzer or other sound producing signal device may be incorporated in the switch housing 27 to act simultaneously with or in lieu of the light signal. Also, when the stress relieving function is desired alone, and/or if the driver does not want to be exposed to the warning light or sound alert feature, these mechanisms may be disconnected and the pedal assembly still function to give the passenger some feeling of vehicle control.
Although only one hook member 46 has been described, it is to be understood that another hook and pin may be employed on the opposite side of base plate 12, if needed. Also, the position of the hook and pin retention is not confined to the side of base plate 12 and pedal 14, but may be placed on the ends thereof, if so desired.
The invention has been described relative to specific embodiments merely to demonstrate the operation thereof and it is to be understood that the inventon is not so limited. There are numerous variations and modifications of the invention that will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.
|Cited Patent||Filing date||Publication date||Applicant||Title|
|US1911390 *||Jun 27, 1932||May 30, 1933||Maurice J Pullman||Exerciser for pedal or manual extremities|
|US2814156 *||Nov 22, 1955||Nov 26, 1957||Cislak Frank W||Simulated motor vehicle steering and control unit|
|US2830816 *||Jul 12, 1957||Apr 15, 1958||Uhl Louis E||Foot exerciser|
|US2838628 *||Nov 13, 1956||Jun 10, 1958||James A Ryall||Auxiliary pedal for automobile dimmer switches|
|US3155789 *||Aug 17, 1961||Nov 3, 1964||Hull Howard L||Foot pedal for dimmer switches|
|US3231987 *||Feb 13, 1961||Feb 1, 1966||Schott Walter L||Driver training apparatus|
|US3295847 *||Jul 7, 1964||Jan 3, 1967||Matt Sr Albert R||Exercising device|
|US3404246 *||Sep 1, 1966||Oct 1, 1968||Chrysler Corp||Brake switch assembly|
|US3541703 *||Apr 15, 1968||Nov 24, 1970||Mottola Frederick R||Apparatus for training a student-passenger in a vehicle operated by a student-driver|
|US3594920 *||Jul 11, 1968||Jul 27, 1971||Kordewick Thomas J||Driving instruction for persons with a hearing handicap|
|US3741540 *||Jan 3, 1972||Jun 26, 1973||Y Shimizu||Nether limbs training implement|
|US3948514 *||Jul 12, 1974||Apr 6, 1976||James A. Von Holt||Indoor vaulting box|
|US4111416 *||Jun 6, 1977||Sep 5, 1978||Jinotti Walter J||Exerciser|
|US4172217 *||Apr 4, 1978||Oct 23, 1979||Mercury Electric Products Mfg. Corp.||Foot pedal for a motor control device|
|US4735195 *||Aug 25, 1986||Apr 5, 1988||Blum Alvin S||Device encouraging periodic joint motion and muscle activity|
|DE3042522A1 *||Nov 11, 1980||Jun 16, 1982||Raimund W Vogel||Hand- or foot-operated sports device for training - has acoustic and optical signal generators to define exercise rhythm|
|Citing Patent||Filing date||Publication date||Applicant||Title|
|US5980432 *||Apr 16, 1998||Nov 9, 1999||Ahman; Daniel||Hopping vehicle|
|US7318793 *||Nov 7, 2003||Jan 15, 2008||William Richard Dubrul||Push up/pull up exercise apparatus and methods for use|
|US20130023386 *||May 18, 2012||Jan 24, 2013||Jennifer Canter||Casual exercise device|
|US20140228178 *||Mar 13, 2013||Aug 14, 2014||Steven Ray Brooks||Devices and methods for strengthening the thenar muscles|
|CN105597264A *||Feb 19, 2014||May 25, 2016||马根昌||Color-changeable speed measurement skipping rope|
|EP1069033A1 *||Jun 29, 2000||Jan 17, 2001||Teleflex Incorporated||Fold-up pedal arm|
|U.S. Classification||482/80, 446/7, 482/128, 482/129|
|May 12, 1992||REMI||Maintenance fee reminder mailed|
|Oct 11, 1992||LAPS||Lapse for failure to pay maintenance fees|
|Dec 15, 1992||FP||Expired due to failure to pay maintenance fee|
Effective date: 19921011


text: According to a new poll, 2 out of 3 Texans support using cannabis revenue for schools. Seeing as they are already thinking of what to do with cannabis tax money, could Texas be the next state to legalize? Surprisingly that could very well be true. Out of 2 million citizens who qualify for medical cannabis, only 3,519 Texans are actually registered with the program. Expanding their medical cannabis program would be a great next step, but establishing a law that would allow all adults 21 and up to partake could very well be the best step.