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Does postural management promote spontaneous cephalic version of breech presentation in the third trimester of pregnancy?
A randomised control trial proposal
- INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND
Breech presentation involves a longitudinal lie of the fetus with the buttocks in the lower pole of the maternal uterus. The incidence of breech presentation in the UK is approximately from 4 to 5% at term, although it is much higher earlier in pregnancy (Shennan and Brewley, 2001; Hofmeyr et al., 2015; Hoffmann et al., 2016). The evidence indicates that breech presentation at any point in the third trimester is associated with an increased likelihood that the baby will remain breech at birth (Tadmor et al., 1994).
The risk factors which may predispose to a breech presentation are numerous, such as previous breech delivery, multiple pregnancy, premature labour, placenta praevia, uterine or fetus abnormalities, abnormal amniotic fluid volume, (Collins et al., 2007; Ulander et al., 2004), old maternal age, nulliparity, low neonatal weight and neonatal female gender (Fruscalzo et al., 2014).
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Maternal posture is intended to reduce the incidence of breech presentation at birth and its concomitant risks in pregnancy (Chenia and Crowther, 1987; Clay et al., 1993; Hofmeyr and Kulier, 2012). Breech delivery is associated with a higher perinatal morbidity and mortality than cephalic birth, due principally to prematurity, congenital malformations, birth asphyxia or trauma (Cheng & Hannah, 1993) and cerebral palsy (Morken et al., 2010, O’Callaghan & MacLennan 2013).
Nowadays, when women ask for alternatives to turn their babies to a cephalic presentation, they are routinely recommended External Cephalic Version (ECV) or a planned cesarean section (CS). The Term Breech Trial (TBT) in 2000 suggested a policy of planned CS for the singleton fetus in the breech presentation at term to reduce the associated perinatal problems. However, the findings of the TBT are controversial given the many concerns about the methodology and analysis (Hunter, 2014). The PREMODA study demonstrated that vaginal birth remains a safe option for women with a singleton breech presentation at term when certain criteria are met (Goffinet el at., 2006).
NICE (2008) and RCOG (2006) guidelines state that external cephalic version should be offered to women with an uncomplicated singleton breech presentation from 36 weeks gestation. Although ECV is recommended, only 30-50% of women with breech presentation in the UK currently undergo ECV (Hemelaar et al., 2015). Women should be advised that, with a trained operator, about 50% of ECV attempts will be successful (Hemelaar et al., 2015; RCOG, 2006). ECV is considered a safe procedure and it is rarely associated with complications. Nevertheless, a few case reports mention complications such as placental abruption, uterine rupture, fetomaternal haemorrhage and emergency caesarean section at the time of ECV (Shankar 2004, Collaris & Oei, 2004)
It has been witnessed an enormous growth in the use and request of complementary therapies in the general population in the last decade, particularly within the midwifery services, and this has created a consequential demand for complementary therapies to be available within the NHS (Ernst and White, 2000). Postural interventions for breech presentations are commonly recommended in practice. It is a non-invasive intervention and due to its simplicity and its query potential, it could be applied in different settings. This practice is based on tradition, anecdotal evidence and lay midwifery publications. However, research on postural management is a non-evidence based practice and research on this topic has been inconclusive (Hofmeyr & Kulier; 2012). This gap between practice and research evidence calls for further investigation by means of larger randomised control trials.
The two types of maternal posture found on the literacy are Knee-chest posture and Indian posture.
In knee-chest posture, the woman is positioned kneeling, leaning forward keeping hips elevated, and with head, arms, and chest on the floor or bed. Chenia and Crowther (1987) randomly assigned 76 pregnant women with singleton breech presenting fetuses at 37 weeks gestation or more to control or intervention groups. Spontaneous cephalic version occurred in 41% of the intervention group and 32.3% of the control group. Smith et al (1999) replicated the previous study protocol and added ECV to the research for both intervention and control groups (51 and 49 respectively) if the infants did not rotate to cephalic presentation after 1 week of maternal participation. The author reported that the postural intervention did not reduce breech presentations in their study.
Another postural method is ‘Indian posture’, where the woman is positioned lying supine with her head down, hips elevated on bolster pillows, and legs bent at the knees with feet on the floor or bed. Two trials tested for Indian Posture. Bung et al. (1987) conducted a small randomized trial of women with breech-presenting pregnancies between 30-35 weeks gestation. No statistical statements were made due to the low numbers of subjects (30 and 31 in the intervention and control group respectively), but the authors concluded that due to the low risk and good acceptance of the posture, it could be recommended. Another randomised trial carried out by Obwegeser et al., (1999) showed no significant difference among intervention and control group. One hundred and three subjects were recruited, but 3 were excluded for poor compliance. 50 women were in intervention and 50 in control group. The amount and timing of the interventions differed between the two trials.
A cochrane review conducted by Hofmeyr and Kulier (2012) reported all postural management trials enrolled too few participants to show whether there was a small or small-to-moderate difference in cephalic version by posture compared with spontaneous version. The independent variable, postural intervention, varied in each of the studies by the amount of time the posture was performed by the intervention group participants. It has not found any study which includes both postures.
Relaxation, the motion created by deep abdominal breathing, hip elevation, gravity, or the amount of space in the uterus or maternal abdomen were all possible explanatory factors for version by postural management (Founds, 2006). None of the studies reported maternal or fetal problems related to the intervention
- RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS
The primary objective of this study is to assess whether a combination of Indian posture and Knee-chest posture increases the spontaneous cephalic version of breech-presenting infants confirmed by ultrasound scan at 33-35 weeks of gestation.
It will compare the rates of spontaneous cephalic version by parity, maternal age and ethnicity as they are factors that may confound the effect of maternal posture on spontaneous version, as identified by previous researchers in limitations of their RCTs (Chenia and Crowther, 1987; Bung et al., 1987).
H1: Women in the postural management group will experience a higher rate of spontaneous cephalic version than those on the control group at 36 weeks of gestation.
Ho: There will not be significant differences of spontaneous cephalic version rate among women in the intervention group and the control group at 36 weeks of gestation.
The most appropriate design to achieve accurate and reliable results is a Randomised Control Trial (RCTs).
The selection of a Randomised Control Trial design is made by taking into consideration that RCTs use an experimental design where the participants have been randomly allocated to a control or experimental group. Although RCTs are costly and time consuming, they are considered to be the most appropriate research method to investigate the effectiveness of a treatment or intervention. This is because they examine the likelihood of a cause-effect relationship between variables thought the use of statistical calculations (Burns and Grove, 2009).
Assigning participants at random reduces the risk of bias and increases the probability that any differences between both groups can be attributed to the intervention (maternal posture). Randomisation also ensures that additional factors, called confounding variables, that may also influence the results are evenly distributed between the two groups. Random allocation will be performed by using opaque sealed envelopes so that it is not possible to anticipate the allocation until the envelope has been opened.
To reduce bias as much as possible, participants in the study would not know whether they are in the intervention or the control. This is known as single blinding.
– Study area
The study will be conducted in Homerton University Hospital, which is based in Hackney area, London. Homerton University Hospital provide care for more than 6.000 pregnant women each year (Homerton NHS Trust, 2014).
This Trust has a maternity department with high rates of antenatal care appointments at the hospital and local community services; and it has an ultra-sound scan department based within the hospital.
– Study population
Women aged 18 or more with a singleton pregnancy from 33 to 35 weeks gestation with a confirmed fetal breech presentation via ultrasound scan.
The rationale for intervening from 33 to 35 weeks gestation is to allow time for ECV if maternal posture did not promote spontaneous cephalic version.
Women with the following conditions or pregnancy complications will be excluded:
– Certain types of heart and lung diseases
– Multiple pregnancy
– Contraindications to vaginal delivery
– Placenta previa after 26 weeks of pregnancy
– Preeclampsia or pregnancy-induced high blood pressure
– Persistent 2nd / 3rd trimester bleeding
– Intrauterine growth restriction
– Cervical insufficiency or cerclage
– Preterm labour, ruptured membranes or threatened miscarriage during this pregnancy
This decision has been made according to the contraindications to exercise in pregnancy by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (2002).
Sample size calculation
The sample to be studied will be appropriate to the hypothesis being tested so that any results are appropriately generalizable. Quantitative researchers are generally advised to use the largest sample possible since it is more reliable and representative.Validity increases with sample size (Rees, 2012). The study will recruit sufficient women to allow it to have a high probability of detecting a clinically important difference between interventions if a difference truly exists.
The statistical procedure of power analysis can be used to estimate the total size of the sample needed, given an anticipated difference in the results between the two groups (Procter et al., 2010). By enrolling too few subjects, a study may not have enough statistical power to detect a difference (type II error). Enrolling too many patients can be unnecessarily costly or time-consuming.
Power analysis will also help to avoid a type I error, finding a difference when a difference does not exist, a false positive; or a type II error, not detecting a difference when one exists, a false negative.
Before the study is commenced, midwives, obstetricians and ultrasound technicians from the maternity ultrasound department in Homerton University Hospital will be informed about the study via email.
A pilot study will be carried out to familiarise data collectors with the procedure and the data collection process.
Method of recruitment
Midwives from Antenatal Clinic (ANC) and community practices within Homerton University Hospital will refer women to the scan department if any concern of a breech presentation during the 34 weeks routine antenatal appointment.
Participants who meet the inclusion criteria will be recruited following confirmation of breech presentation via ultrasound scan in the hospital-based ultrasound department.
General information about the study will be displayed through an information sheet by ultrasound technicians who are familiar with the study. Participants interested on the study will be referred on the same day to a study recruiter who will see them personally. If unable to do so on that day, the participant will be rescheduled within the week to see a study recruiter. Participants will read and discussed the consent form only with a recruiter and complete the data collection sheet. APPENDIX A.
Procedure and data collection
Participants will be randomly allocated whether in the intervention group (Group 1) or in the control group (Group 2) by using opaque sealed envelopes.
Women in the intervention group will be expected to assume an Indian posture and Knee-chest posture every day for 20 minutes twice a day.
Women in the control group will be encouraged to continue with their normal activities.
Instructions sheet for each activity and study booklet will be given and explained to each participant. APPENDIX B
Participants will be given a phone number to reach the researcher in case of questions or problems. The researcher will telephone each participant on the first, third and fifth days of study participation. Phone follow-up through the week of study participation aimed to remind subjects of the study and to screen unforeseen problems needing referral to the researcher.
Each participant will be offered an ultrasound scan at 36 weeks of gestation to determine fetal presentation. If baby persists breech, participants should be referred to the consultant in ANC. ECV should be recommended from 36 weeks gestation as per NICE (2008) and Homerton Antenatal Guidelines (2011).
Fetal presentation will be recorded on the participant’s data collection sheet and this will be collected by a study researcher following the ultrasound scan at 36 weeks.
Participants will be advised to discontinue the activities and contact immediately the maternity service if they experience vaginal bleeding, membrane rupture, acute pain or reduced fetal movements.
Quantitative research is concerned with measuring a variable in a way that produces a numeric value. Statistics are an essential part of RCTs as they indicate the extent to which the intervention introduced by the researcher had an impact on the outcome. In data analysis, statistical procedures enable the researcher to organise, interpret and communicate the numeric results.
The independent variable (Indian and Knee-chest posture) is something that the experimenter purposely changes or varies over the course of the investigation. The dependent variable (Spontaneous cephalic version) is the one that is observed and likely changes in response to the independent variable.
Descriptive statistics will be used to describe and compare the participants of both groups, intervention and control. Participants will be compared by parity, maternal age and ethnicity using a cross-tabulation table before to analyse the results. These analyses are useful not only to assess the comparability of groups but also to describe the sample of participants who entered the study. Only those participants who completed the study will be included in the analysis. Participants who have not follow the study protocol or withdraw the study before the 36 weeks ultrasound scan will not be included.
The researcher will measure the central tendency of the distribution by calculating the mean (average), median (central tendency) and mode (most frequently appearing value) of each variable. Each variable will be turned into a numeric value.
The standard deviation will be calculated as it is used to identify if the attributes of those in two groups are closely matched, or whether they are different, and if so, how different. This is achieved by comparing the mean and the standard deviation in the two groups. Identical results are not expected. However, this results will show if both groups are reasonably close and if any discrepancies might make a difference to the interpretation of the result.
Once results are analysed and processed, inferential statistics will be used to determine if a postural management helps spontaneous cephalic version. An independent t-test will be carry out and results will be represented in a table. Independent T-test is used to compare the means of two separate groups. The table will compare the number and percentage of women with infants in a breech presentation in the intervention and the control group (shown as columns) at the enrolment of the study and at 36 weeks gestation (shown as rows).
To be more certain that the differences can not just be explained by chance, the researcher will process the data using a statistical test of significance. The results shown on the table will include a p value, which indicates whether the differences could have happened by chance. The smaller the likelihood that a difference could have happened by chance, the more certain we can be the intervention does produce the desired effect. P < 0.05 is regarded as the minimum value that may suggest a relationship between the independent and the dependent variable (Rees, 2012).
Participants will have the option to be provided with a summary of the results at the end of the study.
Results will be published in midwifery or medical journals and will be presented to relevant audiences at midwifery related conferences.
The NHS Research Ethics Committee and the Research and Development Committee at the Trust will be contacted for approval before the study commences.
According to the RCN (2007) the essential elements that must be observed by all researchers include:
– Informed consent. Written consent will be obtained following a clearly written information sheet explaining the nature of the study. This information sheet will be translate to others languages.
– Confidentiality. Steps will be taken to protect the identity of the participants by neither giving their name when presenting research results, nor including identifying details that might reveal their identity.
– Data protection. The researcher will store the data in such way that no unauthorised person can gain access to it. The researcher must follow the principles of the Data Protection Act 1998. This involves the right of individuals to see the information that is kept on them, and their right not to have that information passed on to another party.
– Right to withdraw. Participants will be asked if they would like to take part in research on the understanding that they have the right to refuse or, if they accept, can withdraw from the research at any time without any adverse consequences for the care they receive.
– Potential benefits and the potential harms. The researcher has an obligation to protect the rights and well-being of those involved in research. Previous studies have not reported any harm adopting an Indian or Knee-chest posture. Participants will be advised to stop the activities if any adverse event occurs.
Breech presentation of the infant during pregnancy is a risk factor for morbidity and mortality of both mother and infant. Evidence-based low risk methods to promote spontaneous cephalic version antenatally could be incorporated into routine midwifery care to avoid the risks of vaginal breech birth or the risks and cost of medical interventions, such as ECV and CS.
Critical evaluation of the literature on maternal posture for cephalic version of breech presentation in pregnancy found inadequate evidence for or against this clinical practice.
The lack of research support for the use of maternal posture to convert breech to cephalic presentation leads to a question of its efficacy and further research.
This randomized control trial for pregnant women with infants in breech presentation will investigate whether a postural management could be substantiated as an evidence-based practice to promote spontaneous conversion to cephalic presentation. There is support in the research literature to conduct the study.
DATA COLLECTION SHEET
Date of confirmed breech presentation:
Previous breech pregnancy: YES NO
Race / Ethnicity:
Obstetric Hx in current pregnancy
Previous medical Hx
(to be completed by the researcher)
Randomised to: Group 1 Group 2
Presentation at 36 weeks gestation:
Days of intervention:
Time of intervention (hrs./min.):
RECORD OF TIME FOR BREECH PREGNANCY STUDY
- Time start
- Time start
- Time start
Please comment any other physical activities during the day.
RECORD OF TIME FOR BREECH PREGNANCY STUDY
Please comment any physical activities during the day.
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Still no rabbit. No magical moment. I have as yet received no response to my email. Many possible explanations, as any email user knows. I will keep my cursor poised above the hat. Something is bound to happen. Who knows what might come out of this hat. Charmaine Caskey is the woman’s name, Aussie to the core. I would love to get in touch with her and tell her how much I miss having tea from a samovar while she and her husband, Drew, explained the world to me.
The above painting is my homage to Andrew Murray, a British “primitive” artist whom I discovered for myself in the ‘80’s. He did this very same view in one of his paintings which became a poster that was sold all over London at one time. I bought one and it hung in my work space until I departed. It provided a nice visual retreat from the abyss I had to look into all day.
(By the way, if you turned around and looked in the opposite direction of the British Museum, you would see The Plough on the next corner. The Plough is where my wife and I spent part of our first date. It’s where my most sacred poem, “The Tongue and the Blonde,” takes place.)
Above, in fact, is Murray’s interpretation of the nearly same view. This intersection is near the center of my London “village.” Russell Square is roughly the center of that “village.” It’s interesting that Murray put the entrance to the British Museum at the end of the street, which it clearly is not. I will not admit to you how many years it took before I realized that.
The text on my painting refers to “entropy,” which, as everything continues to accelerate, seems to me the dominant feature of this hurtling planet. Entropy basically means “a process of degradation,” or “a trend or movement to disorder.”
All you have to do is think of Charlie Sheen to see the current human embodiment of entropy. Drugs basically create a lot of entropy in human biological systems that ingest them. A huge amount of “disorder” starts happening in the ingester’s life.
Then, if they have no regard for other humans but are only capable of thinking about themselves, these creatures inflict their illnesses on others. In Sheen’s case, he has no qualms about going viral (here a truly apt term!) with his sickness. He’s a bag of pus that has ruptured. And stupifyingly credulous and co-dependently indulgent media are delivering his pus to the world.
Sheen is the modern equivalent of a carnival geek. No, not the nerd type of geek, not the Bill Gates type. In the old days of carnivals, geeks were the bottom rung. They had no real talent so they resorted to the outrageous to entertain. They would bite the heads off of chickens, for example, and suck out the blood.
Sheen would bite the heads off his own children if he thought it would get him a sound bite. You can’t get away from him. I don’t even own a television. I’ve never watched his show, yet a congregation of his foul vapors follows me everywhere.
He degrades our lives. There should be fines for that!
And here’s something else degrading and a symptom of our sick time. More entropy: Ohio is following Wisconsin in targeting the rights of its American citizens to collective negotiate their working conditions. Two retro-states, having performed U-turns in the middle of the road of progress are now racing backwards, to the ‘50’s? ‘40’s? Perhaps they can take back the voting rights of African Americans while on their way to the Middle Ages.
I think Charlie Sheen would make a fine spokesman for both those states, their regard for human dignity being so similar and all.
I apologize. This was going to be a post about some fun travels in Turkey with Charmaine and Drew that, eventually, got me a small poem or two, or three. Next post, I hope.

domain: artistic


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Pet lover Beth Murray stumbled into Bryan County Animal Control by accident, but her love of animals is evident and came early in life. She has a passion for animals and exhausts all options to ensure they receive the proper care until they are placed in the right home.
Her mission is backed by a county that fully supports her efforts to be more than an old fashioned "puppy pound." Down at 250 Dog Lane, animals are being nursed back to health, socialized and being placed into new homes.
In 2009, Murray stepped away from being a pet groomer because of carpel tunnel syndrome. The condition and surgery impacted her ability to groom, but did not diminish her passion. Thomas Sanders of Animal Control in North Bryan reached out to Murray when he came upon an unfortunate situation. They discovered 45 bichon puppies in the trailer of their deceased owner. They were in very bad condition. Murray was asked to help groom the dogs that still had a fighting chance of survival.
Murray decided she would groom all 45 and faithfully stick it out until each and every dog was placed into a home. This incident was eye-opening and brought Murray into the animal control field. She began volunteering on the north end of the county.
Volunteer time eventually developed into a full-time position. With the help of Tommy Foster at the Richmond Hill location, Murray and the small Animal Control team have seen the incredible outpouring of love and support from the community. Locals have stepped up to contribute in many ways. Shelves are stocked with food and have been since February 2014.
"That was the last time I had to buy food," Murray said.
So many in the community have given of their time, energy and money. The Beta Club has helped, a local bus driver took up pet food on the last day of school, Girls Scouts have made toys and blankets, and local kids request pet food at birthday parties instead of receiving birthday gifts. Eagle Scouts have built dog beds, and the Senior Center quilting group makes pillows for the animals with their scraps.
PawParrazi Pet Boutique owner Jane Honor is "the bomb," Murray said.
"She is like fire cracker," Murray said of Honor. "If it is right it’s right, and if it’s wrong it’s wrong. Dana Lewis has helped me tremendously in getting awareness out into the community."
Murray feels strongly about being selective with the rescue agencies with which she aligns herself.
"I don’t want to work with every rescue," she said. "I think every animal should be spayed or neutered. Coastal Pet Rescue is who I work with. Cheryl Garland and her team are amazing. I have seen them go all the way to Miami to pick up a pit mix. We are willing to stand by the animal and rescue it for life. I knew I wanted to align with them."
With the help of the community and groups like Coastal Pet Rescue, Murray is able to avoid having to euthanize in most cases.
"The county allows me to do what I need to do," she said.
For more on the Bryan County Animal Control, go to www.facebook.com/BryanCoAnimalControl. For more on Coastal Pet Rescue, go to coastalpetrescue.org.

domain: pet


Willard man faces statutory rape charges
Published: Tuesday, July 22, 2014 at 3:29 p.m.
Last Modified: Tuesday, July 22, 2014 at 3:29 p.m.
BURGAW | A Willard man was arrested Monday, accused of having sex with a teen girl.
Ralph Thomas Smith, 42, is charged with three counts of statutory rape, three counts of statutory sex offense and three counts of indecent liberties with a child, according to Pender County Sheriff's Office Capt. Jamie Ezzell.
Ezzell said someone reported to both the sheriff's office and Department of Social Services that Smith was having sexual relations with a 14-year-old girl.
Smith's bail is set at $920,800.
– F.T. Norton
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That Metal Show's Don Jamieson on His Favorite Song by Mötley Crüe
To celebrate the careers of Nikki Sixx and Mötley Crüe, Revolver put the badass bassist on the cover of the March/April issue, out now. We also got some musicians and other metal figures to weigh in on their favorite songs by Sixx and the Crüe. Today, That Metal Show's Don Jamieson, who is releasing a comedy album titled Live and Hilarious (Metal Blade) on April 26, fills us in on his favorite Crüe tune.
"I'm going to go with the first Crüe song from the first Crüe album I ever heard. Still a classic after all these years."


WASHINGTON, DC — The Justice Department today presented James Shaw Jr. of Nashville, Tennessee, the Special Courage Award during the annual National Crime Victims’ Service Awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. This honor is awarded to victims or survivors who exhibit exceptional perseverance and determination in dealing with his or her own victimization, or who acted bravely to prevent victimization.
“Risking his own life, Mr. Shaw acted swiftly and bravely after a gunman killed four people early one morning at a diner, saving the lives of many others. He then followed up his courageous action by delivering comfort and aid to wounded and traumatized victims,” said Attorney General William P. Barr. “None of us knows how we would react in such a dangerous situation, but we can all be inspired by Mr. Shaw’s selflessness.”
On April 22, 2018, Shaw, an electrical technician, was eating at a restaurant when a gunman opened fire on the patrons. Despite being grazed by a bullet, a Nashville police spokesman said “Mr. Shaw saved, obviously, many lives in his heroic action.” Later, he visited wounded victims in the hospital and helped support them in their recovery.
“The trauma of those who experience a violent crime is deep and real, and their restoration to physical and emotional health can be long and difficult,” said Office of Justice Programs Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Matt M. Dummermuth. “But Mr. Shaw encourages us as individuals and as a nation to strive to meet the needs of those struggling in the aftermath of crime.”
The Department’s Office for Victims of Crime, a component of OJP, leads communities across the country in observing National Crime Victims’ Rights Week and hosts an annual award ceremony. President Reagan proclaimed the first Victims’ Rights Week in 1981, calling for greater sensitivity to the rights and needs of victims. This year’s observance takes place April 7-13, with the theme “Honoring Our Past. Creating Hope for the Future.”
The Office of Justice Programs, directed by Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Matt M. Dummermuth, provides federal leadership, grants and resources to improve the nation’s capacity to prevent and reduce crime, assist victims and enhance the rule of law by strengthening the criminal justice system. More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.


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First Round Draft Pick
Gasol slowed by tendinitis in both knees
DALLAS – Pau Gasol said after the Lakers' victory Saturday night that he has tendinitis in both knees that has been "pretty bothersome."
Gasol has been wearing bands over both knees during games for a while in an attempt to control the swelling and pain. He said: "It's something that has been lingering. So far, I'm dealing with it."
Knee pain certainly is an issue for Gasol in meeting the lofty demands of Lakers coach Mike D'Antoni to run the floor and bring energy, although Gasol managed to do exactly those things in the victory in Dallas.
Gasol is coming off minimal offseason rest as the anchor of the Spanish national team that won the silver medal in the London Olympics. He said the knees didn't bother him then, but they are now.
Kobe Bryant noted after the loss in Sacramento on Wednesday that Gasol looked slow, and he had another poor game Friday in Memphis.

domain: news


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35th International Conference on Chemical and Biochemical Engineering (ICCBE)
Тезисы до: 05.10.2015
Даты: 09.11.15 — 09.11.15
Е-мейл Оргкомитета: email@example.com
2015 35th IIER International Conference on Chemical and Biochemical Engineering (ICCBE) will be held in Malacca, Malaysia during November 9, 2015, as the Conference of ICCBE -2015. ICCBE 2015 is sponsored by International Institute of Engineers and Researchers (IIER). It aims to be one of the leading International conferences for presenting novel and fundamental advances in the fields of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering. It also serves to foster communication among researchers and practitioners working in a wide variety of scientific areas with a common interest in improving Chemical and Biochemical Engineering related techniques.
2015 is the Second year of ICCBE, it will be held every year since 2014, the conference will be an international forum for the presentation of technological advances and research results in the fields of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering. The conference will bring together leading researchers, engineers and scientists in the domain of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering interest from around the world.
Веб-сайт конференции: http://theiier.org/Conference/Malaysia/11/ICCBE/
Конференции по теме - с близкими дедлайнами:
2019 3rd International Conference on Computational Chemistry and Biology (ICCCB 2019)Прием тезисов до 25.10.19, Seoul

domain: chemistry


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The security details of Ondo State deputy governor, Agboola Ajayi, have been restored.
This came barely a day after a directive from the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu.
Allen Sowore, Media Adviser to the deputy governor, confirmed the news on Tuesday.
He said, “The security details have been restored. We have about eight of them now protecting the deputy governor.
“At least the deputy governor can now move around since those officers have been asked to be return to their duty post.
“He had been using the DSS since but now it’s good that those policemen have resumed to protect him.”

domain: law


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Learn more about Dr. Jacob Vandersteenhoven:
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Specialties & Research
Dr. Jacob Vandersteenhoven, MD is board certified in Pathology, Anatomic Pathology, Cytopathology, and Neuropathology.
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Dr. Vandersteenhoven graduated from Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston.
Dr. Vandersteenhoven has 5 hospital affiliations:
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- Dr. Jacob Jan Vandersteenhoven MD is a male Pathologist, has 25 years of experience and practices in Pathology, Neuropathology, Anatomic Pathology, Cytopathology, and Anatomic Pathology & Clinical Pathology.
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- Dr. Jacob Vandersteenhoven has 1 office location.
Dr. Jacob Vandersteenhoven practices Pathology, Neuropathology, Anatomic Pathology, Cytopathology, and Anatomic Pathology & Clinical Pathology near West Columbia, SC.
See West Columbia Pathologists.

domain: medical


TALLINN - A governmental plan to shift the main language of instruction in the nation's Russian high schools to Estonian is being viewed with uncertainty and pessimism by principals and teachers, a recent survey by the TNS Emor pollster has revealed.
The planned reform, specified in the Basic Schools and Upper Secondary Schools Act, would basically put Estonia on the same path as Latvia and require that 60 percent of instruction in grades 10 's 12 be held in the state language. The reform would affect both Russian-language schools and so-called "mixed" schools where ethnic Russian and Estonian pupils are taught in parallel.
Implementation of the controversial reform is set to begin in 2007, starting with students entering the 10th grade.
Though an overwhelming majority of principals and teachers at the Russian-language schools are generally in favor of some instruction in Estonian, most are skeptical about the new language ratio and how it will be carried out, the survey showed.
Of principals polled, 63 percent were concerned about the reform, 29 percent were negative or worried, and only 8 percent were optimistic and considered it necessary. Attitudes of teachers surveyed were slightly more polarized, with 35 percent pessimistic, 12 percent optimistic and the rest falling under what the report terms as the "worried" category.
"Regardless of the fact that they are predominantly aware of the need for subjects in Estonian, they are considerably more negative toward the 2007 reform," the survey concluded.
Piia Tammpuu, the TNS Emor project manager who undertook the study for Estonia's Integration Foundation, explained the main concerns.
"There's a kind of fear or uncertainty [with regard] to what extent students can understand the subject in a different language," she said, "how much time they have to spend on translation, and to what extent they are free to express their thoughts and opinions in class."
On a more practical level, the largest potential roadblock toward implementing the reform is a lack of teachers with necessary training, the report suggested.
Measures to address this problem are already underway in the form of specialized classes for teachers at Narva College, as well as a program for Estonian language training for teachers, according to Maie Soll, advisor on non-Estonian education at the Ministry of Education and Research.
A large part of the pessimism, in Tammpuu's opinion, stems from the fact that too few specifics are known about how the reform will in fact be carried out. "If you don't know exactly what's going to happen, you're uncertain and you might be more negative and more skeptical â€¦ [school faculty] definitely expect more certainty about what is going to happen and how it is going to happen, and what it means for children, for teachers and for schools," she said.
Hille Hinsberg, head of public relations for the Integration Foundation, agreed that more work needed to be done to iron out specifics and communicate them to the schools. "The solutionâ€¦ must lie in explaining further the details of actually implementing the transitionâ€¦ discussing the options and the models that [the schools] have selected and then helping them with advice on how to sort out all the technicalities," she said.
Kristjan Haller, deputy secretary general at the Education Ministry Research, acknowledged the difficulties due to the current lack of bilingual teachers, but was optimistic about the success of the planned reform. "There might of course be some problems, but it's not so serious," he said.
He cited new incentives, including higher pay, that the ministry would give bilingual teachers, as well as what he sees as an encouraging tendency among ethnic Russian parents to encourage their children to attend Estonian language schools.
He was also dismissive to the likelihood of a widespread backlash against the reform. A nearly identical measure introduced in Latvia last year sparked widespread protests in Riga, with Russian-speaking students and parents calling it an infringement of their minority rights.
"We have analyzed the experience of [our] Latvian colleagues and are planning to better establish a dialogue between the state and the community of teachers, pupils and parents. Already this year we are planning to issue information booklets, to work with focus groups and to discuss problems in the press," he said.
For those charged with undertaking the changes, the practical problem of qualified teachers is still daunting.
"Yes we will need new staff to be able to switch part of the subjects into Estonian, but Narva is not an attractive destination for young teachers. We mostly hope to solve the staffing issue with our own graduates, who would return to Narva after getting their university degree [in teaching]." said Tatyana Zarutskih, headmaster of Pahklimae High School in Narva.
Others are still worried about the wider effect that such a drastic switch in the language of instruction might have on future generations of Estonia's ethnic Russians.
Irina Ferman, a school teacher in Tallinn, is resigned to the reforms, but is concerned for children who cannot express themselves in subjects such as literature, which she considers vital to character development as well as a student's sense of cultural identity.
"In reality they will make the change because it's cheaper and simpler. But it would be better to invest the money in the development of Russian culture," she said.


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A new strategy to prevent radicalisation in Peterborough has been praised.
Members of the Crime & Disorder Scrutiny Committee listened on Monday to Rob Hill, assistant director for public protection.
Mr Hill said: “With the introduction of the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015, all authorities have been instructed to have due regard for the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism, or for them supporting terrorist activities.
“Accordingly, the city council has put in place a ‘Prevent’ strategy which, working with other agencies across Peterborough and Cambridgeshire, aims to recognise the signs that may lead to terrorism, or the support of terrorist activities, and prevent them as soon as possible.
“The report you have before you identifies the priorities that we feel will help scrutinise this issue thereby keeping our communities safe, in particular for the safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults.”
Cllr Ray Bisby said: “I wholly endorse this strategy and hope that any project that safeguards children from potential terrorist activities should be supported, as well as the diverse cultural communities that we have here in Peterborough.”
Chairman Cllr Nigel Simons echoed his support: “I think this is a very worthwhile strategy, and working with the many security and other agencies involved the emergency services and others, this can only help to keep Peterborough a safer place to live.”
The strategy can be read on the council’s website.

domain: sociology


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Mombasa, the young Corn Snake
The bottom of his tank is covered in green carpet...
And for the very best Corn Snake Pictures and Info
Go and See The Corn Snakes Book
(and guess who's on the cover!)
An eBook for you to purchase and download...
Click on this Link for more info about The Corn Snakes Book

domain: library


NORD-LOCK ® WASHERS
As a distributor for Nordlock, we are able to offer the full range of Nordlock products including the popular wedge lock washers which are shown below. The different materials, types and sizes available are shown in the table below. To view the full Nordlock washer brochure please use the link at the bottom of the page to download a pdf version.
254 SMO ®
EXAMPLES OF APPLICATIONS
AVAILABLE FOR BOLT SIZES
TREATMENT SURFACE COATING
* In order to assure the unique mechanical locking function of the Nord-Lock washers, the hardness of the mating surfaces must be lower than the hardness of the Nord-Lock washers (see table above).
** PREN (Pitting Resistance Equivalent Number) = %Cr + 3,3x%Mo + 16x%N. Figures in table valid for base material.
*** Temperature recommendations based on information from the raw material supplier. Locking function not affected within the specification.


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Steps Taken by the Ministry of Environment and ISKI Istanbul Water Administration
We're here to present the Latest Global Water Distribution Report— a crucial topic that demands our immediate attention.
It is possible to save Venice's future. Most importantly It also required to have effective drainage systems...
Venice is well known for its canals and waterways, but it is also enduring frequent flooding due to several factors...
We understand the importance of timelines in your projects. Our efficient production processes and project management expertise ensure that we deliver on time, every time.
Our expertise also extends to cost-effective solutions. We optimize processes to provide competitive pricing without compromising on quality or performance.


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By Maynor Salazar (Confidencial)
HAVANA TIMES – The first thing Felix Maradiaga did when he stepped on Nicaraguan soil was to sing the national anthem. In front of acquaintances, friends and media he stood firm, raised his hand to his chest and sang the sacred notes with lots of emotion.
The opposition politician and director of the Institute for Strategic Studies and Public Policies (IEEPP) returned to Nicaragua on Monday afternoon, September 16, after a year of forced exile, due to the political persecution of the Ortega-Murillo government, which accused him of financing terrorism and drug trafficking.
“I feel excited. It has felt like when a child is torn from his mother. I had to live a second exile in my life, as has happened with many Nicaraguans,” Maradiaga told the media.
He said that his stay outside the country was “hard.” He also said he had mixed feeling because he had wanted to return to a Nicaragua with freedoms and where journalists could practice their profession without risking their lives, and where university students could enter their campuses without fear.
“Many Nicaraguans knew the first Sandinista dictatorship and I remember in my teens those bitter times of war in the 80s. This second exile of just over a year was extremely hard. I come to join the work that many people are doing. I come to contribute to the work of healing wounds, but also to build democratic alternatives for Nicaragua,” said the political scientist.


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Women’s health goes far beyond just gynecology and obstetrics. Staying healthy requires a holistic approach to care, being cognizant of issues that can impact women differently than men. Arming yourself with this knowledge and awareness of health topics as they relate to women can help you live your healthiest life possible. Here are just a few:
More women experience strokes per year than men. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states one in five women in the United States will have a stroke in their lifetime, and 60% of all stroke deaths are women. Strokes appear to be slightly more prominent in women compared to men, as hormone therapy and pregnancy can increase risk. However, certain diseases can also bring greater risk of stroke in both men and women, such as atrial fibrillation and diabetes.
Many of the symptoms of heart disease are shared among men and women. These include chest pain, which can be described as a heaviness, pressure, squeezing or tightness of the chest; jaw pain; pain in one or both arms; unusual fatigue; dizziness and nausea. However, women may be more likely to present one or more of these symptoms without any chest pain at all. Because of this, heart disease can be easily overlooked. Be vigilant and speak with your doctor if you experience any unusual symptoms.
One in eight women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime, so prevention and early detection are vital. Breast self-exams play an important role in finding breast cancer early. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) stresses the importance of breast self-awareness, or knowing what is normal for your breasts and being aware of any changes in appearance or feel. A trained provider, most likely your doctor, will also perform a clinical breast exam at your annual wellness exam. For women of average risk for breast cancer, a yearly mammogram should begin at age 40 through at least age 75.
In addition to seeing your doctor for any chronic conditions, women are encouraged to schedule an annual wellness exam to discuss preventive care, including nutrition, physical activity, appropriate lab work, screenings and any other ways to stay in optimal health.
Caitlin Rogers, DO, is a BJC Medical Group primary care physician and obstetrics specialist at Progress West Hospital. You can schedule an appointment with Dr. Rogers by calling 636.928.WELL.


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As we are reviewing cases to file, we look to see what kind of income tax refund that they will be receiving next year. In Missouri and Kansas, the amount of tax refund is prorated to the date of filing. Example: If you file on the 250th day of the year then 250/365 (or in leap years 250/356) is prepetition and are part of the estate. We work to exempt or prepare our clients to turn tax refunds over to the trustee or file a motion keep them in a chapter 13 case. (That still may require that they pay over that amount over the life of the plan.) In the past, the trustees often demanded the turn over of tax refunds that were earned income credit and child tax credit. This is changed!
In re: Hardy v. Fink at the 8th Circuit
In the Hardy case, Debtor filed for relief under Chapter 13 and sought to exempt $2,000 of child tax credit as public assistance benefits. The Chapter 13 Trustee, Richard V. Fink, objected. The bankruptcy judge agreed with the Trustee and ruled that the $2,000 was not exempt. The judge reasoned that because the child tax credit was not just for the very poor that it was not a public benefit. The Debtor appealed to the BAP and using the same logic it reached the same result.
More Protection for Missouri Bankruptcy Debtors
The good news for Missouri Bankruptcy debtors is that the Debtor appealed the case to the 8th Circuit. The National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys (NACBA) filed a brief in support of the Debtor. After reviewing the intent of Congress to benefit low-income families in the history of the child tax credit law and all of the amendments to the law. The TH Circuit held that child tax credit is a public assistance. The court explained that using the same reasoning, that Judge Federman used in In re: Corbett No. 13-60042 WL 134477 (Bankr. W.D.Mo. Apr. 2, 2013) to apply the new Missouri statute to exempt earned income credit applied to child tax credit. Therefore, child tax credit is now exempt as a public benefit in bankruptcy court in Missouri.
Thank You Tracy L. Robinson!
I want to take this moment to thank Tracy and his staff for this gift for Missouri Debtors! Congratulations Tracy on your big win!

domain: finance


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Last weekend we visited family out of state and spent a bit of time looking through some of the items that belong to my grandparents who have recently downsized a bit – well, a little bit more than a bit. They wanted us to take what we wanted, what we might use or might treasure. I was talking to my grandfather about how much we were enjoying looking through the “stuff” and he kindly asked me not to refer to it as “stuff”. But he knew what I meant. It is the physical manifestation of eighty years on this earth, decades of collection and adventures, hobbies and passions, writings and readings and listenings and tellings, some things of great worth and some of things greater than worth. And as in every one’s stuff, a bit of it is just “treasure” in the eye of the beholder. We gave our six-year-old free reign of these treasures with the only limitation being the size of the bed of our truck and at least the slim hope of having a place within our house to store it. To watch her dance around and around singing at the top of her lungs “I’m getting an antique globe, I’m getting an antique globe!”…well, it was a pretty cool thing to watch.
All week long I’ve told her that her dad and I picked out something pretty cool she might enjoy, this budding poet who is constantly scribbling her thoughts and poems down in notebooks. She’s waited patiently all week to have a few free moments to open it and look inside. A typewriter in a suitcase, ready for the clickety-clickety clack of her thoughts.
The writing has begun – a letter to her grandmother who is coming tomorrow for a visit. “We can build a parking lot one day when you are here or maybe we could make a world record.”
Who knows? To me, the gift of a blank page to write on is an endless possiblity.
And the apology I mentioned earlier? It’s for this:
Heard from this kid as we loaded up our family and our clean laundry and our new things into our truck to head back home…
“Me…check! The baby…check! Mom…check! Dad…check! Laundry…check! Old fashioned stuff…CHECK!”

domain: literature


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We noticed that you're using an unsupported browser. The TripAdvisor website may not display properly.We support the following browsers: Windows: Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome. Mac: Safari.
I stayed with my family one night. The location was super handy to I-72 with tons of retail and restaurants within a few miles.
Our room was basic but the beds were comfortable with a couple different chairs. The fridge and microwave were clean. Little...More
We've stayed here before, and would stay here again. Yes, it's rough around the edges: cracked sink, rusty door frames, peeling wallpaper, and we were without plastic cups for two days, but it's clean and quiet, rooms have refrigerators and microwaves, there's a free breakfast...More
Stayed from 12/23/16. Through 12/27/16. On my last day was awakened by front desk wemon yelling with house keeper about a guest not using the rollaway bed. Sounded like two high school girls yelling and laughing very inconsiderate of paying guests. Manager should talk to...More
Thank Jimmy S
Response from Cassandra H, Manager at Welcome Hotel and SuitesResponded December 29, 2016
Thank You for your review. As manager I have taking steps to improve the worth ethics of our employees to ensure this never happens again. We value each guest stay at our Hotel and try to make them comfortable and satisfied with their stay here...More
I had a very nice stay in Decatur! The hotel was located off the freeway in a very easy to find and very quiet location. The staff was very helpful with the surrounding areas, and decorated the lobby with a lot of Christmas decorations- which...More
1 Thank Andy B
Response from Cassandra H, Manager at Welcome Hotel and SuitesResponded December 8, 2016
Thank You for your generous review of our Hotel,we are happy you enjoyed your stay here,we work hard to keep guest comfortable and satisfied we gladly appreciate your business and look forward to accommodating you in the future if ever in our area again ....More
I have stayed at this hotel while visiting my son in decatur with all positive experiences. Friendly front desk, clean rooms, reasonable rates and decent breakfast.
I beleive it is independently owned so there is the added benefit of supporting a local business.More
Response from Cassandra H, Manager at Welcome Hotel and SuitesResponded November 7, 2016
Thank you for taking the time to write a review concerning your stay at our hotel. I really appreciate the positive feedback and will make sure to share it with my staff. I am so glad you have enjoyed staying with us! I look forward...More
$75 - $103 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
Star rating provided by Expedia.
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TripAdvisor is proud to partner with Orbitz, Expedia, Priceline, Hotels.com, Booking.com, Travelocity, Hotwire and Cheap Tickets so you can book your Welcome Hotel and Suites reservations with confidence. We help millions of travelers each month to find the perfect hotel for both vacation and business trips, always with the best discounts and special offers.

domain: travel


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Awesome Art We've Found Around The Net: Akira, Fargo, Superman, The Thing
Some cliche somewhere said that 'a picture is worth a thousand words.' This has proven to be the case for me and especially when it comes to fan art. I have always sought out great fan art and have wanted to share it with as many people as possible. "Awesome Artwork We've Found Around The Net" is the outlet for that passion. In this column I will showcase the kick-ass artwork of some great artists, with the hopes that these artists get the attention they deserve. That's the aim, if you have any questions or comments, or even suggestions of art or other great artists, feel free to contact me any time at firstname.lastname@example.org.
Adventure Time by Eduardo Bessa
Akira by Filippo Morini
Fargo by Douglas Dominicali Leon The Professional by Germán Peralta Little Shop Of Horrors by Mark A Fredrickson Superman by Francis Manapul
The Thing by Dan Panosian Thor by Irene Flores
True Detective by Joanna Skiba Vampirella by Marc Simonetti


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The second IVC filter bellwether trial against Cook Medical is scheduled to start late April 2018, one of thousands of cases pending in a multi district litigation in the Southern District of Indiana. IVC filters are tiny, cage-like devices that are implanted in the inferior vena cava (IVC), a large vein that carries deoxygenated blood to the heart. They are intended as a short-term treatment to capture blood clots before they reach the heart. IVC filters have been linked to serious and sometimes fatal complications. The metal legs of the filter can perforate the vena cava and even break off ... Read More
Righting Injustice is published by the Beasley Allen Law Firm. If you are interested in a free legal consultation, please take a few moments to fill out the contact form with as many details as possible. The more information you provide us, the better we can evaluate your claim.


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SKINDRED To Headline Uxfest 2006
May 25, 2006, 17 years ago
As previously reported, the 2006 edition of Uxfest is scheduled for August 6th at Carling Islington Academy in London, England. The festival will feature 21 bands on two stages, with all proceeds going to charity.
The latest act confirmed for the festival is SKINDRED, who will headline. There is also a "mystery band" on the bill , who's identity will soon be unveiled.
Other acts on the bill include: BIOMECHANICAL, MURDER ONE, HEAD-ON, KINGSIZE BLUES, INNER RAGE, MUMRAH and SHELLSHOCK.
This year Uxfest will raise money for Youth Music (www.youthmusic.com), The Natandy Fund (www.natandy.com) and Yeldall (www.yeldall.org).
Keep up to date via the website: www.myspace.com/uxfest


As part of the Royal Hyderabad celebrations from August 26th to 30th September, Royal Challenge is organising a rock show by the renowned rock band Parikrama, on 29th September, at the lawns of Hotel Manohar.
Parikrama is a rock-and-roll band formed during 1991, and has more than 230 concerts and 1,000+ performances to its name, which have been held all over India in more than forty cities. They have also participated in various international competitions held in India and abroad.
The band often fuses Indian classical music instruments like the mridangam, tabla and flute with conventional instruments like the guitar, drums and keyboards. They have been inspired and influenced by the likes of Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Jimi Hendrix, Allman Brothers and The Doors.
The members of this big band are Nitin Malik for the lead vocals, Sonam Sherpa for the lead guitars, Saurabh Choudhary on the guitar, Subir Malik on the keyboards and synthesizers, Chintan Kalra on the bass guitar and with backing vocals, Dilip Gururaj Ramchandran on the drums, Shambu Nath on the tabla, mridangam and percussions, Imran Khan on the violin and Rajat Kakkar on the percussion.
The entry is by invitations only. Please contact 99480-24658 for invitations and further details.


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Henry Heimlich, the inventor of the famous anti-choking maneuver, announced this week that he soon will conduct human tests of a controversial new AIDS treatment in which patients are deliberately infected with malaria. Heimlich, 83, head of the Cincinnati-based Heimlich Institute, believes that using a curable form of the disease to induce high fevers can stimulate the body's immune system to fight HIV. He plans to begin the tests in five African nations and is working with doctors in the countries to organize the clinical trials. The technique was previously used in poor nations between 1918 and 1975 to combat syphilis that had spread to the brain, but that disease is now stopped at a much earlier stage by antibiotics.
Most U.S. AIDS experts believe the trials are dangerous and without scientific merit. "This comes up periodically, but malaria has never worked for anything," said Mark Herrington, executive director of Treatment Action Group, an AIDS advocacy organization. "Malaria kills 3 million people every year, and there seems to be evidence that malaria worsens HIV. These are huge, huge ethical issues. If Heimlich is really doing this, he should be put in jail." In 1993 the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a memorandum saying malarial therapy could not be justified because it may well do more harm than good.
Heimlich cites 1990s studies showing improved survival for African children who were HIV-positive and had malaria. He said in a recent interview that inducing high malarial fevers seems to stimulate the immune system, though he is not sure why. A Heimlich pilot study of the malarial therapy was carried out in China between 1993 and 1996 on eight HIV-positive patients, but the trial participants were only followed for two years. "After treatment, levels of T cells increased rapidly," Heimlich said of that study. But trial participants were not treated with HIV antiretroviral medications and were not tested to determine the amount of virus in their blood. Heimlich said his nonprofit institute will spend about $100,000 to $150,000 per year on the new studies in Africa, but he said he hopes to uncover additional funding for the trials.

domain: biology


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The Royal Brunei Police Force (RBPF) raided a room at 15A Simpang 618 Kampong Bunut, Kilanas that was carrying out gambling activity yesterday.
Eleven individuals were detained.
The operation was a collaboration between the Anti-Vice and Gambling Suppression Unit with the House Break-in and Car Theft Investigation Unit of the RBPF.
The suspects were between the ages of 35 to 50 years. Ten were foreigners and one permanent resident.
The items were brought back to the Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation.
The case is investigated under Section 6(1) Common Gambling Houses Act Chapter 28.


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Clarity Media Group
Phil Anschutz, the billionaire entrepreneur, took on a new title in the past year: media mogul.
Anschutz’s Clarity Media Group purchased the conservative magazine The Weekly Standard in June, saying it wanted to increase its size and circulation. With that, he grew his print media collection that also includes the San Francisco Examiner and Washington Examiner newspapers.
Then, in September, Clarity Media’s Examiner.com, a Denver-based string of websites nationwide that relies on unpaid “examiners” to report local news, bought Canadian counterpart NowPublic, which serves 6,000 cities worldwide. The two sites will operate separately, but Examiner.com will take some of NowPublic’s employees and use technology it gains in the acquisition to launch into Canada and other countries in the near future.
Not all was rosy in the Anschutz media empire, as Clarity shuttered the Baltimore Examiner in February. And it was a mixed year for his movie empire too. Disney announced it wouldn’t help Anschutz’s Walden Media fund a third movie in the “Chronicles of Narnia” series. But studios bid as much as $50 million to co-produce a Michael Jackson film with concert footage owned by Anschutz companies.
Crispin, Porter + Bogusky
It hasn’t been a good year for most anyone who works in advertising, but under co-chairman Alex Bogusky’s leadership, Boulder agency Crispin, Porter + Bogusky has made it through better than most.
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By Our Reporter
KAMPALA: It was a display of the glitz and glam at Uganda’s biggest hip-hop night at the 2022 MTN UG Hip-Hop awards as MTN unveiled this edition’s winners.
Bernard Ayesiga aka Crazie Wispa over the weekend won the MTN Uganda’s hip-hop ward 2022 for the Western Uganda.
Wispa who hails from Kyedikyo village in Mirya sub county Masindi district in Bunyoro sub region told ugreports Monday afternoon that it was through his fans that he managed to grab the award on behalf of Bunyoro.
‘’Due to the support of my fans, though few people listen to Hip-Hop music, I was able to grab the award for the people of Bunyoro, and I’m proud of their support and the award grabbed, I pledge to continue doing my best,’’ he said.
Wispa has so far grabbed two national awards, one for 256 Uganda Hip-Hop Awards, while two for MTN Uganda Hip-Hop Awards. ‘’I have been able to win the awards because of hard work, persistence and support from my fans,’’ he disclosed.
The UG Hip-Hop awards were created to recognize and celebrate the talent and hard work of artists in Uganda’s hip-hop industry. This year’s awards winners are:
Album of the year – Kraccbone – Ego
Male artist of the year – Navio – 30 seconds to Hollywood
Female artist of the year – STONE AGE UG – KIMALA NEKIGWA
Rookie of the year – Zedmonk Ssabatontomi – Work si myaka
Inspirational song of the year – AJ Stylz ft. Spyda MC – Nkowola
Song of the year – The Mith ft. Herbert Ssesamba – I GIVE HER LOVE
The collaboration of the Year – Lagum the Rapper ft. Bangi – Catching Flights
Rap Fusion of the Year – Keinoh – Dior
Video of the year – Keinoh – Drip
Best Producer – 207
African Artist of the year – Khaligraph Jones
Eastern Uganda artist of the year – AJ Stylz – Put in the work
Northern Uganda artist of the year – Judas Rapknowledge da Akbar – Heart of Hannibal Barca
Western Uganda artist of the year – Crazie Wispa – Mwebale /Thank you
Central Uganda artist of the year – Felista di superstar
Lyricist of the year – Lyrical G – Sikyasaaga (The L-Matic)
Hip Hop Deejay of the Year – DJ Victor 256
Mixtape of the year personality of the year – Kavali King – 16 track tape
Sweet Sixteen – 207 – Abajega
Media personality – Calvin the Entertainer
Lifetime Achievement Award – Steve Jean
Do you have a story in your community or an opinion to share with us? Email us at email@example.com


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Einstein's Brain in a Jar Lamp
Imagine having Einstein's brain sitting along side you at your desk while you work or sleep?
This is the same prop used in the London stage production "A Midsummer Nights Dream", put on by Goodmann Productions at the Courtyard Theatre in London (Photograph: David Firn).
Made of thick glass on an aluminum base and illuminated by a 25 watt lamp that lights up Einstein's brain from below, creating an eerie yet soothing glow. Measures 19 inches tall and 10 inches wide at the base. Each prop is hand made in our laboratory workshop, this is not a mass produced product.
Watch as this realistic life-sized human brain appears to float about, suspended in air waiting...for a new home perhaps.
Similar to the larger Einstein's brain in a jar prop but on a smaller scale and without an air pump.
A great gift idea for those who are hard to buy for!
VINTAGE WESTINGHOUSE GAUGE
Large metal electric gauge measure 9.5" inches round and about an inch thick, made of sturdy metal and weighs 14 lbs, lots of age to it that will add authenticity to any steam punk project.
We have many gauges and in many sizes not shown, contact us if there is something special you seek.
Regular price: $325.00
Sale price: $225.00
5 INCH STEAM GAUGE
made of heavy gauge steel and perfect for your steam project or prop
Regular price: $55.00
Sale price: $25.00
Contact Dr Karlosi by email: firstname.lastname@example.org

domain: hobby


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There has been a dramatic increase in violence at Erlestoke prison with the number of violent incidents going up from 800 to more than 1,400.
Inmates were thought to be a minimal threat at Erlestoke prison
The Devizes jail houses inmates thought to be a minimal threat, but a new report says much behaviour is more like that of a high-security prison.
The investigation by the Independent Prison Monitoring Board also reveals details of an attempted escape.
Instances of restraint having to be used on inmates have also risen.
Over the past year they went up to 23, compared to 13 occasions in 2003 and just six in 2002.
The report also shows there was one attempted escape in April last year when four prisoners tried to scale the prison security using contractors' scaffolding.
They were picked up by CCTV and brought back by staff.
A Home Office spokesman said: "Any use of force or assault on prisoner or staff is recorded as an incident and monitored.
"We believe that a significant reason for the increase is due to improved reporting by staff. Changes in population could also be a contributing factor.
It is worth noting that in the last year 1,400 incidents involving a form of violence were reported at the establishment yet only 23 of these required use of force by a member of staff."


This Sunday, more than 150 million Mother’s Day cards will be exchanged in the United States. Most of these cards cost between $4 and $5.
Now imagine what would happen if you donate that $5 to your favorite nonprofit in honor of Mom. We could change the world.
But wait, you may be wondering how $5 can change anything. Five dollars ensures that future generations of girls grow up with reliable health information. Five dollars helps create a community of support and a place to turn for questions. Five dollars gives us the ability to provide tools that enable girls and women to become better health advocates. Five dollars changes everything.
Consider making a gift to Our Bodies Ourselves in honor of all the moms in your life. And if you’re thinking a $5 donation doesn’t make a difference, think again. If every one of our blog readers and Facebook supporters made a $5 donation in honor of their mom or loved one this Mother’s Day, we’d raise more than $75,000. That’s right — $75,000.
We all know the value of accurate health information, and I know that you care deeply about women’s health issues. So this Mother’s Day, when you’re contemplating which card to buy, honor your mom with a gift to Our Bodies Ourselves.
With every $5 donation, we’re on our way to changing the world.


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My name is Abdi Duale and I am the newly elected London Young Labour BAME Officer. In a city whereby more than half of the population is BAME, the importance of ensuring BAME issues are given more than adequate consideration within the structures of London Young Labour is what encouraged me to stand for it and I look forward to working with the different groups in the Labour Party to help deliver on my campaign priorities.
Various reports have highlighted the mental health stigma that exists within BAME communities, this stigma often leads to long-term mental health illnesses such as schizophrenia and in some cases suicide. A report commissioned by Lankelly Chase Foundation, Mind, The Afiya Trust and Centre for Mental Health highlights that 23% of inpatients on mental health wards or outpatients on Community Treatment Orders were from black and minority ethnic groups and that people from BAME communities are more likely to be diagnosed with severe mental illness than their non-BAME counterparts. In light of this, the London Young Labour BAME Network will for the first time be campaigning alongside different charities and organisations to break down the barriers that exist between young people of colour and mental health services.
Now more than ever is it important that advocates and allies for BAME liberation are best equipped to fight against all forms of racism. It has been particularly tragic that post-Brexit Britain has empowered far right extremists and bigots from across the political spectrum. Such an environment has seen a rise in racially-motivated hate crimes and has fermented a climate of oppression against people of an ethnic minority background – an unacceptable state of affairs. Our young members must be trained and aware of the fight against antisemitism, islamophobia, racism and all other forms of discrimination. For that reason, I have pledged to work closely with the Jewish Labour Movement & BAME Labour to provide training workshops so that our movement is truly anti-racist.
Getting to know all the structures of the party can feel like an impossible task. For many new and current members they can often be off-putting and even appear too complex, a barrier which prevents increased BAME involvement within the party and to the detriment of the Labour Party’s longstanding aim to increase BAME representation. In the summer I shall be hosting the first ever BAME Political Education Day. What this day will encompass is training to ensure our young members have the tools that they need to take up elected roles within the Labour Party and local government. Young members will be equipped with the skills to write speeches, run campaigns and use Nationbuilder to enable them to excel within the party.
I am optimistic that London Young Labour, which now has the most diverse Labour committee in the entire country, will be at the forefront of BAME liberation within the Labour Party. It will be my utmost pleasure to implement all of my campaign pledges over the coming year and I hope it will bring about a lasting change to London Young Labour.
Abdi Duale is a student at the University of Plymouth (London Campus), he studies Oil and Gas Management. Abdi joined the Labour Party after 2015 General Election defeat, he is a party activist and the Youth Officer for Ealing North CLP.


Although it’s possible to grow all year round in an unheated greenhouse, adding greenhouse heating makes a huge difference in the winter months. Plants grow much better with in a greenhouse with heating, and you can start growing much earlier in the season than you would be able to in an unheated greenhouse.
Harvst 3-Season and 4-Season mini greenhouses are fitted with safe, low voltage heater cables to keep air and soil warm.
Even if outside temperatures are freezing, the inside of your greenhouse will be warm enough for plants to keep growing.
Harvst heater cable, as fitted to our greenhouses
Harvst 12v heating cable / soil warming cable is great for warming up the interior, running under growing containers, or for laying in the soil under the greenhouse.
Supplied as a 4m length, it’s strong, waterproof and reliable.
The heater cable is self-regulating, which means it stays at a constant temperature regardless of the ambient temperature. On a colder day, it will use more power to stay warm, and on a warmer day, it will use less. The target temperature is approximately 50 degrees. Ensure it doesn’t come into contact with roots or plants. We recommend running the cable along the shelves under your growing trays to warm the soil.
How warm can the Sprout mini greenhouse get?
For a typical UK winter, you can expect soil temperatures in your growing containers to stay above 10 degrees C, especially if you’re combining your space heating with grow lights, which also give off a lot of warmth. Run the heater cable through the mesh shelves and place growing containers (eg seed trays) on top.
Can I run heaters with a Solar Sprout greenhouse?
No, the laws of physics dictate this one. There’s just not enough energy from a reasonably sized solar panel and battery to provide the power that a heater needs.
Can I use a Harvst mini greenhouse in the north of Scotland?
Yes, absolutely, though if the outside temperatures are significantly lower than zero degrees your plant growth will slow down. Most plants like soil to be above 5-10 degrees to grow well…. though it does depend a huge amount on what plants you are growing. Choose plants that don’t mind the cold as much.
How many heaters can I power?
The Harvst control unit and mains power supply has a maximum capacity of 150 Watts.
Each heated cable is approximately 60W at max (this changes significantly based on how hard it’s self regulating). If you’re just running heater cables, then two is the maximum.
The control unit is smart enough to make the most of power, and also factors that you might be running hot grow lights too. If lights are off, both heater outputs can be run. If lights are on, then only the top heater output will be run.
Can I control mains powered heaters?
Not at the moment. In the future we may release a remote switch, controlled by the Harvst system. The inside of a Sprout mini greenhouse is a wet environment and non waterproof mains heaters should never be used.
When should I use heated seed trays?
If you have a 3-season heated greenhouse then you will have spare output capacity (as you’re not using grow lights), so you could add heated seed trays for germinating plants faster.


San Diego Union-Tribune: Barr’s redactions of Mueller report will be revealing
Attorney General William Barr’s announcement that he’ll release a redacted version of the report by special counsel Robert Mueller on the Trump campaign’s contacts with Russian operatives should not have come as a surprise. Barr says it’s not appropriate or good for national security to release grand jury and personal information or information that could compromise the intelligence community’s sources, methods and ongoing operations.
But Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee — who wanted the report by Tuesday, not the mid-April release that Barr promised — voted to subpoena the entire report Wednesday and to seek all the underlying material gathered by investigators. They note that Congress was provided grand jury testimony during the impeachment investigations of Presidents Richard Nixon and Bill Clinton, even though they fail to emphasize that both Democrats and Republicans have a history of changing their positions on this issue depending on who benefits politically.
That selective history is why some Democrats — disappointed with how Barr said Mueller’s investigation did not establish collusion between Trump and Russia — want to see Mueller’s paper trail as they search for buried bombshells. This could lead to a protracted court fight with the attorney general. But this should not drive Barr’s decision-making. Here’s what should: The credibility of Mueller’s report is directly proportional to how much of it is released. Heavy redactions would feed already-high levels of political mistrust and partisan division.


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Recognised as one of the first industrial and architectural photographers to use his corporate commissions to make cultural commentary on the workplace, Maurice Broomfield is displaying his work at the Elms Lesters Painting Rooms in London’s Flitcroft Street. The exhibition will run from 12-20 March. Broomfield took the above photograph – entitled Bearing – when he witnessed this ‘inspection of bearings while making a survey’.
City life editor at Time Out, James Manning, tells Design Week the stories behind some of the most interesting covers from the past 50 years.
A new gallery devoted to the intersection of science and art has opened with its first exhibition, Hooked, which delves into the psychology behind addictions, from drugs to gambling and
From colourful, decorative wall-tape aimed at renters through to a way to capture memories of lost loved ones – we round-up some of the best exhibition stalls at this year’s
As Carlsberg unveils a sleek new branding design this month, alongside updated packaging that looks to reduce its plastic waste production, we speak to Taxi Studio about how the beer


Michael K. Olotu, Director General, Rights, Redress and Resolution, has worn many hats at the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC). Starting off as a Correctional Officer and then a Parole Officer, Michael has gone on to serve in senior level roles at NHQ including, Senior Director of Operations with CORCAN, Director of Evaluation, Director of Investigations and Director of Strategy and Corporate Services in what is now known as the Indigenous Initiatives Directorate.
Michael’s extensive and diverse career at CSC has allowed him to build strong relationships and understand the inner workings of an organization that he appreciates.
“I enjoy the mandate of the organization,” Michael explains. “It’s a great mandate in terms of really helping people. We work with offenders to help them make changes in their lives, transition them back into the community and provide support for them including looking, finding and keeping jobs. The guidance and support allows them to continue to grow and develop.”
His passion for the job is one of the main reasons that he was asked to become CSC’s Champion of Multiculturalism, a role he has held since July 2020. He explains that his work on this file started early on.
“In 2004, in partnership with a number of NHQ colleagues (Taunya Goguen, Suzanne Leclerc, Helen Friel and Shereen Benzey-Miller) I led the group to formally establish a diversity committee at CSC. I presented my vision to NHQMC, now known as Commissioner’s Management Team (CMT), in terms of having a committee that will be the gatekeeper of all matters related to diversity at CSC. Once we had their approval, it was off to the races.”
Being Champion of Multiculturalism has many components. Firstly, Michael is committed to fostering an environment that reflects Sections 3(1 a-j) and 3(2a-f) of the Canadian Multiculturalism Act, which includes supporting CSC’s collective commitment to ensure representation for all people, regardless of race, sexual orientation, physical attributes, religion and linguistics profile. The second component involves a statutory requirement under the Canadian Multiculturalism Act. Under this Act, every federal government organization must report annually to Canadian Heritage on what they are doing to ensure their programs, policies and services are reflective and responsive to Canada’s multicultural reality.
Here at CSC, Michael embodies the spirit of this role by providing support for CSC’s various initiatives involving respectful workplaces, workplace wellness and others that celebrate diversity in the organization. This includes his input on the annual report to Canadian Heritage. He also engages with people outside of the organization, taking the pulse on what other departments are doing to improve representation and assessing if those actions could benefit CSC.
While Michael does not work directly with offenders in his capacity as Champion of Multiculturalism, he does contribute to a number of initiatives that can have a positive impact in terms of diversity. This includes his collaboration with the Programs Branch, Indigenous Initiatives Directorate, and Women Offender Sector in which he contributes his perspective in responding to the unique needs of our diverse offender population.
On a personal level, Michael is committed to the role.
“Being Champion of Multiculturalism is not my day job but I always try to bring the multiculturalism lens into everything I do at CSC.”
For instance, he participates in the Federal Internship Program for Canadians with Disabilities and works closely with academic institutions to hire students. In these roles, Michael states that he works hard to ensure he is creating opportunities for a diverse group of people as one of the many ways to make CSC an employer of choice.
When asked what he thinks CSC is doing well and where improvements are needed with respect to anti-racism efforts, Michael was clear.
“We are having conversations,” said Michael. “We are having conversations about multiculturalism, race relations, diversity and linguistic requirements. We also have a number of resources dedicated to advancing the organization’s agenda in terms of having a respectful workplace, free of discrimination and harassment. This is a good starting place and we need to continue to build on those.”
Michael also stressed that we have more work to do. He emphasized the importance of reconciliation as foundation to healing. “You cannot right the wrong if you do not name the wrong,” Michael explains. “For instance, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Calls to Action continue to guide our country in terms of what actions need to be put in place to address the trauma caused to Indigenous peoples of Canada. This is a good thing.”
Michael is passionate about history and encourages everyone to look to momentous actions of the past, such as the TRC and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, to inform and help us shape the future.
“In 1793, through the passing of the Upper Canada Act Against Slavery, which was one of the first anti-slavery legislations in the world, Canada set in motion the elimination of slavery. This was groundbreaking at the time, setting the stage for other countries, including the United States, to follow. It is on the strength of that legislation that several Black peoples, through the underground rail, came to Nova Scotia.”
Michael believes that as individuals and as communities, we need to talk about multiculturalism and address racism. There are many things we can do to empower and support the Black community.
“First, we all have to embrace the principle of self-accountability. What does that mean? It means being part of the conversation, which is one of the most fundamental contributions anyone can bring to this issue,” said Michael. “And don’t be afraid to challenge someone when you see something is wrong or you witness a discriminatory practice. Challenge it. Name it. Push back on it. Because you can never underestimate the seed you can plant when you challenge a person or their action. It could appeal to their sense of consciousness.”
Michael also emphasizes that we must work on recruiting staff from Black and Indigenous communities, as well as other visible minority communities.
“We need to do more and hire more. We need to go to these unique communities to discuss with them the value of working at CSC.”
At CSC, racism and discrimination are key areas of focus. The Service is committed to addressing systemic barriers for offenders once they are in our custody and improving correctional outcomes for Black, Indigenous, and other ethnocultural offenders. For staff, CSC is working hard to foster a work environment that is safe, respectful and inclusive for everyone.
With less than a year as Champion of Multiculturalism, Michael is serving as a driving force for these efforts. Through it all, he remains an optimist.
“I always see the best in everything. It’s not that I think everything is great, but I like to see what is great in everything. In doing so, we can build on what is great to make corrections in areas that need improvement.”


Just some general suggestions; hope they can be of help.
The first thing I would look at is the VPN connection. Is it stable? If it has a log file you can check for errors there.
If the VPN seems to be fine you can try monitoring the network from your BSD box with
tcpdump |grep "XX.XX.XX.XX" > /home/myuser/mylogfile.log
where XX.XX.XX.XX is your office IP address. It will output a lot of info, so you may want to filter the output further, depending on the output you get.
One possible cause I can think of is that your vpn refreshes its connection every few minutes, and while doing so breaking your rdesktop connection.


text: Journalism students turn Wellington Access Radio into a live newsroom 14th March 2024 ‘Breaking news! Tonight’s stories include’…. the studios of Wellington Access Radio being temporarily transformed into a live newsroom!Once a week, journalism students from Massey University will be broadcasting The Rundown, a live news show from the Ghuznee St studios. Students will spend the morning at the studio researching and creating their bulletin and then will go live on air at 1pm, showcasing local information and breaking news.Associate Professor James Hollings says that Massey’s journalism students are excited to be offering this refreshing new take on the news.‘Massey is the oldest continuously operating journalism school in the country, and the biggest. At a time when journalism has never been more important, in providing a reliable source of information that isn’t made up by AI, we know our students have got a lot to contribute. It’s a great opportunity for our students to show they can produce good quality journalism and participate in keeping our communities better informed.’Station Manager Tony Kemp says that working with the Massey students perfectly fits the ethos of ‘By, For & About’ that underlies all programmes created at the station, and that the live format is particularly exciting.‘It’s a privilege to be working with the students running a true live news broadcast from our studios. It’s a great example of community voices being heard and we hope it inspires them to pursue their dreams in media and beyond!’James Hollings agrees that the project fits well with Wellington Access Radio.‘Access Radio has a strong reputation as a community platform, and we’re very grateful to them in welcoming us in. We’re starting small, with a half hour show a week, but we hope we may grow over time and establish ourselves as a trusted news source that offers something different to what’s already out there’.You can listen to The Rundown live on Wednesdays at 1pm from 13th March. Listen in live on 106.1fm or stream via www.accessradio.org.nz.