text:
Validating pre-treatment body mass index as moderator of antidepressant treatment outcomes: Findings from CO-MED trial.
ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND:Currently, there are no valid clinical or biological markers to personalize the treatment of depression. Recent evidence suggests that body mass index (BMI) may guide the selection of antidepressant medications with different mechanisms of action. METHODS:Combining Medications to Enhance Depression Outcomes (CO-MED) trial participants with BMI measurement (n = 662) were categorized as normal- or underweight (<25), overweight (25-<30), obese I (30-<35), and obese II+ (?35). Logistic regression analysis with remission as the dependent variable and treatment arm-by-BMI category interaction as the primary independent variable was used to evaluate if BMI differentially predicted response to escitalopram (SSRI) monotherapy, bupropion-escitalopram combination, or venlafaxine-mirtazapine combination, after controlling for gender and baseline depression severity. RESULTS:Remission rates among the three treatment arms differed on the basis of pre-treatment BMI (chi-square=12.80, degrees of freedom=6, p = .046). Normal- or under-weight participants were less likely to remit with the bupropion-SSRI combination (26.8%) than SSRI monotherapy (37.3%, number needed to treat or NNT = 9.5) or venlafaxine-mirtazapine combination (44.4%, NNT = 5.7). Conversely, obese II+ participants were more likely to remit with bupropion-SSRI (47.4%) than SSRI monotherapy (28.6%, NNT = 5.3) or venlafaxine-mirtazapine combination (37.7%, NNT = 10.3). Remission rates did not differ among overweight and obese I participants. LIMITATIONS:Secondary analysis, higher rates of obesity than the general population. CONCLUSIONS:Antidepressant selection in clinical practice can be personalized with BMI measurements. Bupropion-SSRI combination should be avoided in normal- or under-weight depressed outpatients as compared to SSRI monotherapy and venlafaxine-mirtazapine combination and preferred in those with BMI?35.
Project description:Sub-threshold hypomanic symptoms are common in major depressive disorder. This study evaluated the prevalence, the clinical and sociodemographic correlates, and the overall and differential effects of the presence/absence of sub-threshold hypomanic symptoms at baseline on acute-phase treatment outcomes with bupropion-plus-escitalopram combination, escitalopram monotherapy, and venlafaxine-plus-mirtazapine combination. Combining medications to enhance depression outcomes (CO-MED) trial participants (n = 665) were designated as sub-threshold hypomanic symptoms present (Altman Self-Rating Mania Scale score (ASRM) ≥ 1) or absent (ASRM = 0) and compared on clinical and sociodemographic features and remission rates. Participants with sub-threshold hypomanic symptoms (n = 335/665, 50.4%) were more likely to be black and non-Hispanic, have comorbid medical and psychiatric disorders, experience longer index episodes, and report lower depression severity and psychosocial impairment. Intent-to-treat remission rates were lower overall (absent = 42.7%, present = 34.0%, p = 0.02), with escitalopram monotherapy (absent = 45.8%, present = 31.6%, p = 0.03), and with venlafaxine-XR-plus-mirtazapine combination (absent = 44.4%, present = 30.1%, p = 0.03) but not with bupropion-plus-escitalopram combination (absent = 37.7%, present = 40.0%, p = 0.73). Participants without sub-threshold hypomanic symptoms were more likely to remit than those with such symptoms overall [odds ratio (OR) = 1.49], with escitalopram monotherapy (OR = 1.71), and with venlafaxine-plus-mirtazapine combination (OR = 1.97) but not with bupropion-plus-escitalopram combination (OR = 0.96), even after controlling for baseline depression severity, psychosocial impairment, and number of comorbid psychiatric disorders. Sub-threshold hypomanic symptoms (found in about 50% of patients in this report) were associated with lower remission rates with escitalopram monotherapy and with venlafaxine-plus-mirtazapine combination but not with the bupropion-plus-escitalopram combination.
Project description:BACKGROUND:Interleukin 17 (IL-17) is produced by highly inflammatory Th17 cells and has been implicated in pathophysiology of depression. IL-17 putatively disrupts the blood brain barrier and affects dopamine synthesis whereas dopamine has been shown to decrease Th17 cell-mediated immune response. Nevertheless, whether IL-17 can predict differential treatment outcome with antidepressants modulating dopaminergic transmission is unknown. METHODS:IL-17 and other T cell and non-T cell markers (Th1, Th2 and non-T cell markers) were measured with the Bioplex Pro™ human cytokine 27-plex kit in the Combining Medications to Enhance Depression Outcomes (CO-MED) trial participants who provided baseline plasma and were treated with either bupropion plus escitalopram (bupropion-SSRI), escitalopram plus placebo (SSRI monotherapy), or venlafaxine plus mirtazapine (n=166). Differential changes in symptom severity and side-effects based on levels of IL-17 and other T and non-T cell markers were tested using a treatment-arm-by-biomarker interaction in separate repeated measures mixed model analyses. Subsequent analyses stratified by treatment arm were conducted for those markers with a significant interaction. RESULTS:There was a significant treatment-arm-by-IL-17 interaction for depression severity (p=0.037) but not for side-effects (p=0.28). Higher baseline IL-17 level was associated with greater reduction in depression severity (effect size=0.78, p=0.008) in the bupropion-SSRI but not the other two treatment arms. Other T and non-T cell markers were not associated with differential treatment outcomes. CONCLUSION:Higher baseline levels of IL-17 are selectively associated with greater symptomatic reduction in depressed patients treated with bupropion-SSRI combination.
Project description:BACKGROUND: Weight gain as an adverse effect of monotherapy of antidepressant has been well-studied. The effects of augmentation therapy involving multiple antidepressants, on weight changes needs to be adequately addressed. OBJECTIVE: To study the co-medication effects of bupropion in combination with six individual antidepressants on body mass index (BMI) using EMR based data analysis. METHODS: Allscripts data warehouse was used to identify patients on monotherapy of five selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) drugs, escitalopram, sertraline, citalopram, paroxetine, fluoxetine, one selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) duloxetine and the aminoketone, bupropion for at least 180 days. We also identified patients on co-medication of SSRI/SNRI drugs with bupropion. Six ANCOVA models were built to compare the short term effects on BMI, among monotherapy and co-medication groups. The patients' clinical conditions and demographics were included to account for confounding effects. RESULTS: Monotherapy of all the SSRI/SNRI drugs showed significant weight increase, consistent with that of previous studies. The co-medication of bupropion and escitalopram showed a significantly higher increase in BMI than monotherapy (P = 0.0102). The increase in BMI in the other five co-medication groups was not significantly different from their respective monotherapy groups. CONCLUSION: Our study reports an adverse weight gain on co-medication of escitalopram and bupropion, which warrants further validation studies. Considering co-medication effects of antidepressants on weight is important to design robust depression treatment plans.
Project description:Background:Major depressive disorder (MDD) is often comorbid with metabolic diseases such as obesity, cardiovascular disease, and type 2 diabetes. A potential link between these disorders is adiponectin, an adipocyte-derived circulating hormone with insulin-sensitizing, anti-inflammatory, and neuroplasticity effects. Reductions in plasma levels of adiponectin have been reported in both humans with depression and in the chronic-defeat mouse model of depression. However, the predictive value of adiponectin for treatment response to depression has not been determined. Methods:We investigated the potential predictive effect of baseline adiponectin levels in patients who provided plasma and were undergoing one of three pharmacological treatments (escitalopram monotherapy; escitalopram plus bupropion; and venlafaxine plus mirtazapine) in the Combining Medications to Enhance Depression Outcomes clinical trial (n=160). Specifically, we assessed whether adiponectin moderates-that is, differentially predicts-treatment response among the treatment arms. Improvements with treatment were assessed using change in the clinician-rated 30-item Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology (IDS-C) from baseline through week 12. Moderator effects were tested using separate pairwise repeated measures mixed-effects models with a treatment-arm-by-adiponectin interaction. Results:Baseline adiponectin levels moderated treatment outcome between two combination therapies. Specifically, low adiponectin predicted better response to escitalopram plus bupropion compared to venlafaxine plus mirtazapine, whereas high adiponectin predicted better response to venlafaxine plus mirtazapine compared to escitalopram plus bupropion (F=4.84, p=0.03). Adiponectin levels did not correlate with baseline depression severity (r=-0.03, p=.59). Conclusions:Antidepressant selection for patients with MDD can be personalized using pre-treatment blood-based biomarkers, such as adiponectin, thereby improving treatment outcomes.
Project description:BACKGROUND:Elevated S100 calcium binding protein B (S100B) levels in systemic circulation may induce neuroinflammation and reflect greater blood-brain barrier (BBB) dysfunction. Neuroinflammation in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD), in turn, may reduce likelihood of improvement with serotonergic antidepressants. METHODS:Levels of S100B were measured in plasma samples obtained prior to initiation of treatment with bupropion-plus-escitalopram, escitalopram-plus-placebo, or venlafaxine-plus-mirtazapine in participants of Combining Medications to Enhance Depression Outcomes trial (n = 153). Depression severity was measured with 16-item Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology Self-Report and anhedonia was measured with 3 items of 30-item Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology. Differential changes in depression severity and anhedonia over acute-phase (baseline, weeks 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12) in the three treatment arms were tested with logS100B-by-treatment-arm interaction in mixed model analyses after controlling for age, gender, and body mass index. RESULTS:There was a significant logS100B-by-treatment-arm interaction for anhedonia (F = 3.21; df = 2, 142; p = 0.04) but not for overall depression severity (F = 1.99; df = 2, 142; p = 0.14). Higher logS100B levels were associated with smaller reductions in anhedonia (effect size = 0.67, p = 0.047) in escitalopram monotherapy but not in the other two arms. Correlation coefficients of anhedonia severity averaged over acute-phase (including baseline) with baseline S100B levels were 0.57, -0.19, and 0.22 for escitalopram monotherapy, bupropion-plus-escitalopram and venlafaxine-plus-mirtazapine arms respectively. CONCLUSION:Higher baseline S100B levels in depressed patients resulted in poorer response to escitalopram monotherapy. Addition of bupropion, a dopaminergic antidepressant, partially mitigated this effect.
Project description:Obesity and major depressive disorder often co-occur. However, differences between obese and normal-weight depressed patients and the moderating effect of obesity on antidepressant treatment outcome are not well studied.Adults (n = 662) with major depressive disorder in the Combining Medications to Enhance Depression Outcomes study were randomized to treatment with escitalopram plus placebo, bupropion plus escitalopram, or venlafaxine plus mirtazapine for a 12-week primary treatment phase and 16-week follow-up. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated at baseline and categorized according to World Health Organization criteria: normal or low weight (NW), overweight, Obese I and Obese II+. A repeated-effects model, unadjusted and adjusted for baseline variables, assessed outcomes.Obesity was common (46.2%), only 25.5% were NW. Higher BMI was associated with greater medical illness (p < .001), social phobia (p = .003), and bulimia (p = .026). Lower BMI was associated with more frequent post-traumatic stress disorder (p = .002) and drug abuse (p < .001). Treatment outcomes did not differ including Week 12 remission rates (NW 36%, overweight 40%, Obese I 43%, Obese II+ 37%; p = .69). Lower BMI was associated with more frequent (p = .024 [unadjusted] and .053 [adjusted]) and more severe (p = .008 [unadjusted] and .053 [adjusted]) adverse effects.BMI was related to clinical presentation and prevalence of comorbidities, but not antidepressant outcomes. Lower BMI classes had more psychiatric comorbidities, potentially obscuring the relationship between BMI and antidepressant effects. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00590863.
Project description:Platelet derived growth factor is integral to maintenance of blood brain barrier, increases in response to blood brain barrier disruption, and may reflect neuroinflammation. Based on previous reports of better outcomes with dopaminergic antidepressants in depressed patients with elevated inflammatory biomarkers, we hypothesize that elevated peripheral platelet derived growth factor levels can serve as a powerful biomarker for selecting dopaminergic antidepressants.Platelet derived growth factor, basic fibroblast growth factor, and granulocyte colony stimulating factor were measured as part of Bioplex Pro human cytokine 27-plex kit in participants of the Combining Medications to Enhance Depression Outcomes trial who provided baseline plasma (n=166) and were treated with either bupropion-plus-escitalopram, escitalopram-plus-placebo, or venlafaxine-plus-mirtazapine. Differential changes in overall symptom severity and anhedonia as well as side effects were tested with a treatment-arm-by-biomarker interaction in mixed model analyses. Effect of biomarkers with significant interaction was calculated in subsequent analyses stratified by treatment arm.There was a significant treatment-arm-by-platelet derived growth factor interaction for depression severity (P=.03) and anhedonia (P=.008) but not for side effects (P=.44). Higher baseline platelet derived growth factor level was associated with greater reduction in depression severity (effect size=0.71, P=.015) and anhedonia (effect size=0.66, P=.02) in the bupropion- selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor but not the other two treatment arms. There was no significant treatment-arm-by-biomarker interaction for both depression severity and side effects with the other two biomarkers.As compared with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor monotherapy or venlafaxine-plus-mirtazapine, bupropion-plus-escitalopram selectively improves anhedonia, which in turn results in improved overall depression severity in depressed patients with elevated platelet derived growth factor levels.
Project description:OBJECTIVE:Currently, no valid measures inform treatment selection for depressed patients. Whether C-reactive protein (CRP) in particular and two other acute phase reactants (inflammatory markers) could differentiate between patients responding to either of two treatments with different mechanisms of action was assessed. METHOD:Subjects included Combining Medications to Enhance Depression Outcomes (CO-MED) trial participants randomly assigned to either escitalopram plus placebo (SSRI monotherapy, n=51) or bupropion plus escitalopram combination (bupropion-SSRI combination, n=55) with baseline plasma samples. CRP, serum amyloid P component, and alpha-2-macroglobulin were measured using the Bioplex Pro™ human acute-phase 4-plex panel. We conducted mixed model analyses of depressive symptom (Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology Self-Report) and side-effect burden (Frequency, Intensity, and Burden of Side-Effects Rating Scale) obtained weekly or every other week over the 12-week acute-phase of CO-MED trial to evaluate the relationship between these outcomes and baseline CRP and other acute-phase reactants. RESULTS:The treatment arms did not differ in depressive symptom or side effect outcomes. Most participants (69.8%, 74/106) had baseline CRP levels greater than 1mg/L (indicative of systemic inflammatory activity). Higher baseline CRP levels were associated lower depression severity (correlation coefficient=-0.63) with bupropion-SSRI combination but not with SSRI monotherapy (correlation coefficient=0.40). The overall remission rate was 41.5%. The estimated remission rate with CRP threshold based assignment (SSRI monotherapy for <1mg/L and Bupropion-SSRI for ?1mg/L) was 53.1%, with a number needed to treat of 8.6. Side effect burden was unrelated to any baseline inflammatory marker. CONCLUSIONS:Baseline CRP levels relate differentially to antidepressant treatment outcomes in persons with major depressive disorder. Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT00590863.
Project description:Prior studies suggest that women who use antidepressants during pregnancy have an increased risk for preeclampsia, yet the comparative safety of specific antidepressants remains unclear. US nationwide Medicaid Analytic eXtract (MAX) data have not been used to study medication safety during pregnancy.We identified 100,942 pregnant women with depression from 2000 to 2007 MAX data. We used pharmacy dispensing records to ascertain exposure to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), serotonin-norepenephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI), tricyclic, bupropion, other antidepressant monotherapy or polytherapy, and specific antidepressants, during the second trimester and first half of the third trimester. Relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were adjusted for delivery year, preeclampsia risk factors, depression severity proxies, other antidepressant indications, other medications, and healthcare utilization.The risk of preeclampsia was 5.4% among women with depression and no antidepressant exposure. Compared with these women, the risk for preeclampsia was higher among those receiving SNRI (RR: 1.52, 95% CI = 1.26-1.83) and tricyclic monotherapy (RR: 1.62, 95% CI = 1.23-2.12), but not SSRI monotherapy (RR: 1.00, 95% CI = 0.93-1.07) or other antidepressants. Compared with women receiving SSRI monotherapy, preeclampsia risk was higher among women with SNRI (RR: 1.54, 95% CI = 1.28-1.86) and tricyclic (RR: 1.64, 95% CI = 1.25-2.16) monotherapy. None of the specific SSRIs was associated with preeclampsia. The RR with venlafaxine was 1.57 (95% CI = 1.29-1.91) and with amitriptyline 1.72 (95% CI = 1.24-2.40).In this population, SNRIs and tricyclics were associated with a higher risk of preeclampsia than SSRIs.
Project description:Metabolomics is a developing and promising tool for exploring molecular pathways underlying symptoms of depression and predicting depression recovery. The AbsoluteIDQ™ p180 kit was used to investigate whether plasma metabolites (sphingomyelins, lysophosphatidylcholines, phosphatidylcholines, and acylcarnitines) from a subset of participants in the Combining Medications to Enhance Depression Outcomes (CO-MED) trial could act as predictors or biologic correlates of depression recovery. Participants in this trial were assigned to one of three pharmacological treatment arms: escitalopram monotherapy, bupropion-escitalopram combination, or venlafaxine-mirtazapine combination. Plasma was collected at baseline in 159 participants and again 12 weeks later at study exit in 83 of these participants. Metabolite concentrations were measured and combined with clinical and sociodemographic variables using the hierarchical lasso to simultaneously model whether specific metabolites are particularly informative of depressive recovery. Increased baseline concentrations of phosphatidylcholine C38:1 showed poorer outcome based on change in the Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptoms (QIDS). In contrast, an increased ratio of hydroxylated sphingomyelins relative to non-hydroxylated sphingomyelins at baseline and a change from baseline to exit suggested a better reduction of symptoms as measured by QIDS score. All metabolite-based models performed superior to models only using clinical and sociodemographic variables, suggesting that metabolomics may be a valuable tool for predicting antidepressant outcomes.

domain: medical


text:
Dewey-Bricker Campaign Buttons, ca. 1944
- Dewey-Bricker Campaign Buttons, ca. 1944
- Political Americana
- Intnl. Photo Engravers' Union of North America (1900-1964)
Allied Printing Trades Council
Pat Gogerty Displays
- Political Figure:
- Dewey, Thomas E., American (1902-1971), Presidential Candidate
Bricker, John W., American (1893-1986), Vice-Presidential Candidate
- ca. 1944
- Election Date:
- ID Number:
- Collection Number:
- File Name:
- Political Party:
- Work Type:
- costume by form
Buttons (Information artifacts)
Paper (fiber product)
- Buttons (information artifacts)
Bricker, John W.
Dewey, Thomas E.
- 27.94 x 21.59 (Mount) (centimeters)
- Cite As:
- Susan H. Douglas Political Americana Collection, #2214. Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library.
- Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library
- Archival Collection:
- Susan H. Douglas Political Americana Collection
- This digital collection and its contents are owned and operated by the Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library. Digital reproductions are provided for private study, scholarship and research use only and may not be downloaded for use in electronic or print publications (including web sites), exhibitions, or broadcasts, without permission. There are no known U.S. copyright restrictions on this image. The digital file is owned by the Cornell University Library which is making it freely available with the request that, when possible, the Library be credited as its source.

domain: library


text:
Petite Doubleweave Cotton Cropped Pants in Zoe Fit
Petite Doubleweave Cropped Pants in Zoe Fit
A warm-weather wardrobe must, we’re in love with the simply sleek feel of this cropped cotton pair—done in a refined cotton blend that perfectly stretches across for a polished look. Fits straightest from the waistband to the hips. Zip fly with hook and bar closure. Belt loops. Front and back welt pockets. 21" inseam.
75% Cotton, 22% Rayon, 3% Spandex

domain: design


text:
Amazon affiliate links are used in this post. A free book was provided for an honest review
|May 2016; 978-0988344914; ebook & print (246 pages)|
a free book was provided for this review
Barb Rentenbach is a woman with autism spectrum disorder that renders her mute, and she communicates by typing. Lois Prislovsky is her therapist, and also has ADHD. The two have collaborated on a number of projects, including a podcast where Barb's typed sections are read by her psychiatrist. The two alternate chapters in this book, discussing aspects of their personal lives and then giving practical advice on how to deal with similar situations. Their focus is on celebrating and respecting all people, regardless of how their brains function.
There is a lot of humor in this book, and the chapters are short and easy to read. It can sometimes feel disjointed, as the brevity of the chapters means that sometimes a topic first mentioned in one chapter isn't dealt with until later ones. The humor helps, as they are addressing concerns that many people have, even if they don't have the specific label.
Someone doesn't have to be autistic or have been diagnosed with ADHD or anxiety in order to appreciate this book. There are excerpts of therapy sessions as well, so people that might find the idea of seeing a therapist intimidating can see that it really is a conversation about how to be the best person that you can be. This is a very approachable and easy to read book, and helps bring humanity back to the labels that people carry.
Born and raised in New York City, M.K. French started writing stories when very young, dreaming of different worlds and places to visit. She always had an interest in folklore, fairy tales, and the macabre, which has definitely influenced her work. She currently lives in the Midwest with her husband, three young children, and golden retriever.
Get even more book news in your inbox by signing up for our newsletter: http://eepurl.com/mHTVL. Girl Who Reads is an Amazon advertising affiliate; a small commission is earned when purchases are made at Amazon using any Amazon links on this site. Thank you for supporting Girl Who Reads.


text:
Frontline police report that Taser stun guns have been a valuable addition to their crime-fighting arsenal and officers are keen to see them widely deployed, Commissioner Howard Broad says.
The stun guns were introduced on September 1 for a one-year trial for use in parts of greater Auckland and Wellington before a decision is made on whether they will become a mainstream crimefighting tool.
At a parliamentary select committee meeting yesterday, Mr Broad denied suggestions Tasers were a stepping stone to eventually having an armed police force.
"I do not believe at this point that the circumstances in New Zealand warrant the general arming of police," he said.
But Mr Broad said there was "overwhelming" support for Tasers from those carrying them.
Police elsewhere were anxious to follow suit.
National MP Chester Borrows suggested police were gradually losing their ability to engage in dialogue in tense or hostile situations.
The commissioner admitted that was a trend that was causing concern.
He said such situations were becoming more dangerous for police as weapons became more commonplace in the hands of criminals.
"Fighting with someone now has that added risk."
Assaults on police were increasing and the carrying of Tasers was expected to help reverse that trend.
Mr Broad said since the 180 Tasers were introduced to help crimefighting in the two cities they had been "unholstered" 20 times but had been fired only twice.
Four of the remaining 18 incidents were resolved without further action being needed.
Thirteen other incidents were resolved once the subjects had the visible laser beam on the stun guns pointed at them.
One other situation was resolved before the Taser was fully withdrawn from the holster.
Anti-Taser campaigners and some MPs say worst-case scenarios of Taser use can end in death.

domain: news


text:
FORT COLLINS, Colo. (CBS4) - Marijuana tax revenue is supposed to fund school construction in Colorado, but one district will not apply for the money and some parents are upset that they voted for the legalization hoping their district would get a cut of the revenue.
When Colorado voters approved Amendment 64 they were promised the first $40 million generated from a pot tax would go to the state's schools. In Northern Colorado this year, Poudre School District students won't get any of that money.
"There's just not enough dollars to meet the need around the state," said Danielle Clark, Poudre School District Executive Director of Communications.
They won't get it because Clark said they're not asking for any.
RELATED STORIES: Marijuana Legalization Story Archive
According to state rules, the pot tax money is handed out in grants meant to fix safety problems. While 41 of Poudre's school buildings don't have air conditioning, the district says under grant terms that problem doesn't qualify.
"Air conditioning as a health and life safety component doesn't compare to those others that are imminent life safety," said Pete Hall, Poudre School District Executive Director of Operations.
While some people agree with the district's decision not to apply, others say its short-sighted.
"I think they should apply for it, it's there," said Kathy Suiste, Fort Collins taxpayer and grandparent. "They're always complaining about not having money for computers and stuff in the schools."
"They wouldn't get (anything) out of it. It's a waste of time and money for the district," said Randy Brown, Fort Collins taxpayer and grandparent.
When it comes to fixing the air conditioning problem, Poudre School District is currently in the middle of a study to find out how much it would cost to upgrade its buildings, such as Bauder Elementary School where students will start school five days late next year to avoid extreme heat.
for more features.


Black Women, Zimmerman won't seek 'Stand Your Ground' hearing in April
Posted in the Top Stories Forum
#1 Mar 6, 2013
As you know, George Zimmerman is facing criminal prosecution in the shooting...
Add your comments below
|Roman Catholic church only true church, says Va... (Jul '07)||1 min||New Age Spiritual...||679,149|
|The Christian Atheist debate (Jun '15)||2 min||UMORONRACEUMAKEWO...||119,216|
|Plurality of Americans think Trump is failing||8 min||bad bob||2,598|
|Why Im no longer a Christian (Jul '08)||1 hr||waaasssuuup||445,838|
|God is REAL - Miracles Happen! (Jun '11)||1 hr||Peter Ross||6,269|
|Iranian Brother & Sister wanted For FRAUD!!!||2 hr||Bella Esmail Moore||1|
|______ *ANTICHRIST in plain view / (*News) ______||3 hr||NewsYTube||1|
|Prove there's a god. (Mar '08)||18 hr||UMAKEWORLDPEACEUM...||982,141|
Find what you want!
Search Top Stories Forum Now
Copyright © 2017 Topix LLC


text:
Lafayette man accused of selling meth to police
LAFAYETTE — Thirty-seven-year-old Robert John Hanthorn spent part of late June and July unwittingly selling methamphetamine to an undercover police officer, according to charges filed earlier this month.
An informant introduced Hanthorn to the undercover officer, and Hanthorn made his first meth sale to the officer behind a business on South Street on June 26, according to the probable cause affidavit.
Hanthorn then made three more sales to the officer, according to the charges. Each of these sales occurred near or in an apartment at Sixth and New York streets, according to the affidavit.
Prosecutors charged Hanthron on Jan. 16 with four counts of dealing methamphetamine and four counts of possession of methamphetamine.
Hanthron also faces a sentence-enhancing charge of habitual offender.
Police arrested Hanthorn late Thursday afternoon for these charges.
On Tuesday, he remained incarcerated at the Tippecanoe County Jail in lieu of a $30,000 surety bond and $3,000 cash bond, according to online jail records.
Reach Ron Wilkins at 765-420-5231 or at email@example.com. Follow on Twitter: @RonWilkins2.
More news at the Journal & Courier:

domain: law


Si Speed 317's BoostedK20 Si
This is Dan's 2007 Honda Civic Si Coupe, better known as "The BoostedK20 Si." This Si was built to be more than meets the eye. The initial plan for this car was to keep it a reliable, fun daily driver that can be driven hard at any time. And that's exactly what this Si stands for today. ~500whp on pump gas, perfect drivability, 30+mpg cruising, consistent normal maintenance, seats five, and is great on insurance.
We asked Dan how he was first introduced to cars. This was his response: "I'll never forget what got me into cars and modding. My parents bought me a red Power Wheels Jeep for Christmas when I was two years old. I would drive it multiple times a day, every day. I've always been fascinated with motors, speed, and power since I was a little kid. My father has always been deeply involved into cars, trucks, motorcycles - you name it. So, it was natural for me to be into it. The majority of toys I had and played with as a child were cars, trucks, and motorcycles. Almost every game I've ever owned for every console I've had has been about cars and racing. I used to ride a go-ped around town with my group of friends whenever it wasn't raining. I always kept my go-ped in the garage and detailed her weekly. My friends and I would always race each other. And when we split up to go home, we would secretly look up different ways we can go faster, order parts, and re-race days later without saying what exactly we changed. My father and I got a bigger carb, new jets, velocity stack to compliment my larger intake, huge power muffler - the mods kept going. As I got older, I would dream about what my first car would be - Corvette, RSX, NSX, Mustang GT/Cobra, and so on. I ended up with a Civic Si for logical reasoning: great reliability, great fuel efficiency, great looks, cheap on insurance, great sound system, very peppy, and it only comes in a 6 speed."
Dan's addiction to the car scene is strictly modding. He loves modding things - computers, cars, bicycles, anything. He loves speed, power, and functionality, he explained. As time went on, the more mods he would do. The first thing he changed on this car was the shift knob, which led to a new shift boot, which led to upgraded shifter cable bushings, which led to a short throw shifter - you see where this is going. He says that he loves the feeling of a new mod - the fun, pride, and pain of installing it yourself, the satisfaction of the finished product, and the never-ending enjoyment of your new upgrade. And with todays technology, there are new upgrades being introduced all the time!
The main inspiration for this build is purely enjoyment. He enjoys and appreciates the fact that he has some uncommon and super rare details of his car that you easily miss. For example, the one-off custom made top mount turbo manifold by SRT, the jet-black Mercedes paint, or the wrinkle black HKS SSQV blow-off valve with purple powdercoated nuts and bolts to match the wrinkle black/purple accent theme of his engine bay - this car has been modded to his standards and his standards alone. Whether you love it or hate it - it doesn't matter to him at all. He set this car up to handle anything that can be thrown at it, and be daily driven. Dan says "The satisfaction I have gotten over the years makes me appreciate my Si so much more than words could ever express. There is never a dull moment. If I'm ever having a bad day, hearing my turbo spool immediately puts a smile on my face. And when I boost - even if only for a second - I'm thrown in my seat and everything loose in my car flies back. And that's just in a straight line. The car is insane in the curves. I have practically every suspension component in my car upgraded - coilovers with track-inspired spring rates, sway bars, H brace, strut bars - the works. And I've put the car to the test many times - track days, canyon runs, etc. What really makes me smile is that I've done almost everything myself or with the help of close friends. And I'm glad I couldn't do certain things myself, such as tuning, bodywork/detailing, and powdercoating. That gave me the chance to meet people who have a love for cars like I do, and treated my car as they would their own. Top notch quality, amazing customer service/appreciation, and friends I will have for a lifetime."
Future plans for the BoostedK20 Si include a built transmission, built motor, and Hondata's Traction Control when it's released. "I would like to take this opportunity to send a HUGE thank you to everyone that has helped me get to this point: My family, Brian Zura, Carlo Gampero, Vitaliy Mikitchenko, Adam Winters, Mike Spencer, Michael Baumann, Jay Mallison, E-Tunez, Big "A" Detailing, Ronnie Corado, Silokin Automotive, BoostedK20.com, and everyone else that's been a part of the process. It's been a long journey, and it's not over yet. But this is definitely a check-point worth mentioning. From the custom one-off parts to the Mercedes paint - and everything in between- this package is one I'm definitely proud of."
Dan also wanted us to include this in his ROTM feature: "Paint preparation is the one thing that can make an amazing car into a miraculous car, and I have to send out another big thank you again to Big "A" Detailing for the phenomenal job he did." Link to the detail thread will be posted right here shortly, so check back soon!


Washable antimicrobial polyester/aluminum air filter with a high capture efficiency and low pressure drop
- Washable antimicrobial polyester/aluminum air filter with a high capture efficiency and low pressure drop
- 정재희; 최동윤; 허기준; 강주희; 안은정; 정수호; 이병욱; 이혜문
- Antimicrobial filter; Bioaerosol; Washable; Aluminum; Air filter
- Issue Date
- Journal of hazardous materials
- VOL 351-37
- Here, we introduce a reusable bifunctional polyester/aluminum (PET/Al) air filter for the high efficiency simultaneous capture and inactivation of airborne microorganisms. Both bacteria of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus epidermidis were collected on the PET/Al filter with a high efficiency rate (∼99.99%) via the electrostatic interactions between the charged bacteria and fibers without sacrificing pressure drop. The PET/Al filter experienced a pressure drop approximately 10 times lower per thickness compared with a commercial high-efficiency particulate air filter. As the Al nanograins grew on the fibers, the antimicrobial activity against airborne E. coli and S. epidermidis improved to ∼94.8% and ∼96.9%, respectively, due to the reinforced hydrophobicity and surface roughness of the filter. Moreover, the capture and antimicrobial performances were stably maintained during a cyclic washing test of the PET/Al filter, indicative of its reusability. The PET/Al filter shows great potential for use in energy-efficient bioaerosol control systems suitable for indoor environments.
- Appears in Collections:
- KIST Publication > Article
- Files in This Item:
There are no files associated with this item.
- RIS (EndNote)
- XLS (Excel)
Items in DSpace are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.


Here you can see is the list of all specialized SimVimX control functions that are used in many real airplanes, but which are not modelled in X-Plane.
Such functions can be implemented in custom / commercial aircraft models using their own custom set of commands and datarefs.
SimVimX allows you to implement these functionalities for any of your aircraft without need to have them programmed in the particular plane model, with no additional custom datarefs for each plane. All these functions will work just away you configure them for any aircraft model.
Radio EquipmentHere you can see all SimVimX Radio devices that are modelled (or planned to) with all specific functionality in SimVimX Panel and for hardware implementation. All devices are fully functional replicas for SimVimX Panel and "hardware" device. The universal set of custom SimVimX Com/Nav functions allows to program this radios for any plane model. You do not need it to be simulated on your virtual plane.
Combo Radio Module
|Rudder Trim Display, format [L15.5], [R20.0]
|Manual Electric Trim (MET) Input/Output
|A-510 Starter Key (5-position switch that uses only 3 inputs).
|Separate Magneto switches - for single-engine planes that have two separate toggle switches for L and R Magnetos
|Brakes Lock Switch (for Parking position). Locks the brakes when you fully depress both toe brakes and turn this switch on.
|Auto/Trottle (motorized output)
|AP - CWS hold-release button
|PWM DC motor Synchroscope - parameteres for rotation and direction
|Automatc Gear Extension ON switch on speed lower than defined.


text:
Republican senators tell Microsoft that the threat from Huawei is "real and urgent"
Huawei is considered a national security threat in the U.S., but the reason why has never been proven. Based on the laws in China, the communist government can demand that Huawei gather intelligence on any company and any person. As a result, there is a myth that the company's phones and networking equipment contain a backdoor that can act as a conduit for information that is sent to Beijing. Huawei, of course, has always denied this and to date, no such backdoor has ever been discovered. Even without proof, the U.S. Commerce Department put Huawei on its Entity List last May preventing the manufacturer from accessing its U.S. supply chain. What could be nothing more than a fairy tale also keeps Huawei's highly regarded handsets from being sold by U.S. carriers and retailers.
According to Bloomberg, Microsoft President and Chief Legal Officer Brad Smith has complained that the U.S. government is not being open about why it has essentially banned U.S. companies from doing business with Huawei; after all, the Chinese manufacturer did spend $11 billion in the U.S. for components and software last year. In fact, Huawei was memory chipmaker Micron Technology's biggest customer last year.
Trump administration tells Microsoft that it would agree with U.S. policy on Huawei if the company knew what the government knows
On Monday, five Republican senators wrote a letter to Microsoft's Smith containing allegations about Huawei's involvement in espionage, theft of technology and "economic warfare." The five senators, Tom Cotton, Marco Rubio, Rick Scott, Mike Braun, and Josh Hawley, wrote that "the security concerns about Huawei are real and urgent." To be sure, Huawei was once convicted in a civil case of stealing actual parts of T-Mobile's phone testing robot Tappy (which the U.S. is now preparing a criminal prosecution for), and the American government also has indicted the company for doing business with North Korea violating U.S. and international economic sanctions. The U.S. claims that Huawei tried to cover up these sales and committed bank fraud as a result.
International shipments of the Huawei Mate 30 Pro will be negatively impacted by the U.S. supply chain ban
Microsoft's Smith was interviewed last month by Bloomberg's Businessweek and stated that Microsoft has asked U.S. officials to explain why U.S. firms are not allowed to do business with Huawei. The executive said that Microsoft has received replies from the U.S. government that do not give specific reasons. Smith revealed that "what we get in response is, 'Well, if you knew what we knew, you would agree with us.' And our answer is, 'Great, show us what you know so we can decide for ourselves. That’s the way this country works.'"
Smith also had some pointed words for U.S. President Donald Trump, noting that as a hotel owner the president should understand why his administration's actions are putting Huawei at risk. The Microsoft executive said, "To tell a tech company that it can sell products, but not buy an operating system or chips, is like telling a hotel company that it can open its doors, but not put beds in its hotel rooms or food in its restaurant. Either way, you put the survival of that company at risk."
Huawei forecast earlier this year, before being banned from its stateside supply chain, that it would ship 300 million handsets during 2019. It planned on surpassing Samsung to become the largest smartphone manufacturer by the end of this year. However, since its latest flagship series cannot use the Google Play Services version of Android with the Play Store and Google apps, international sales of the device are expected to be well under earlier estimates. And as we pointed out yesterday, there is a good chance that Apple will reclaim its second-place slot from Huawei by the end of this quarter.


text:
Hilton Head Island
Sign up for email or text alerts and updates.
Learn more about this free service.
Already have an account?Review your preferences.
June 10, 2021
The Town of Hilton Head Island's Office of Cultural Affairs announces its next Community Creates initiative, mural panels outside the Gullah Museum of Hilton Head Island depicting Gullah cultural experiences. Produced in partnership with the Gullah Museum of Hilton Head Island, the murals were created by African American artists to teach about the history of the Gullah community.
Artists Beverly Baynes, Tony Burns, and Amiri Farris licensed the images for reproduction in support of the initiative. Images of the little blue house, Cherry Hill school, and everyday life on the Island prior to the building of the bridge are represented. Core themes of the murals are family, community and ingenuity.
"Art is core to the Gullah experience so it makes sense that we would use it as a tool to tell our story," said Louise Miller Cohen, Executive Director for the Gullah Museum, "We are excited how these installations bring the property to life and look forward to further telling the story of our people in the future."
"The Gullah community plays a deeply important role in the identity of Hilton Head Island," said Jennifer McEwen, Director of Cultural Affairs for the Town, "It is an honor to get to work with the Gullah Museum on this project on behalf of the Office of Cultural Affairs and the Arts Council of Hilton Head."
The Office of Cultural Affairs seeks ideas from local visual artists, performing artists, musicians, lecturers, and art professionals at every stage of their careers for its Community Creates initiatives. Two to three initiatives will be chosen for execution each year. The goal is to use these projects to facilitate civic engagement through art. More information about the Community Creates proposal guidelines can be found at https://culturehhi.org/about/community-create-initiatives/
The Town of Hilton Head Island's Office of Cultural Affairs works to promote and support Hilton Head Island as a vibrant cultural destination that enriches our diverse community. We strive for the island to be recognized as a vibrant & distinctive destination known for its unique arts & culture assets that serve a diverse community and create a richer quality of life.
The Gullah Museum of Hilton Head Island is to revive, restore and preserve the Hilton Head Island Gullah history for the benefit of all - lest we forget. Founded in 2013 by Executive Director, Louise Miller Cohen.
Carolyn Grant, Communications Director
View More News

domain: artistic


text:
Taeyang of Big Bang is set for a solo comeback with a 2nd album called Solar. The title track is ‘I Need a Girl’ ft. G-Dragon. Previews for several tracks on his album were revealed. He’ll be making his comeback stage on the 1st of July, in addition to the release of the album. Excited?
Under the cut: Infinite, Kwak Hyun Hwa (Psycho), and Sori
Rookie boyband Infinite has revealed a dance version for their ‘Come Back Again’ MV. Admittedly the dance and song are both quite good. They’ve got good charisma on stage as well. However, they need to work on their vocals…
Kwak Hyun Hwa (aka Psycho) has released her debut MV ‘PSYCHO’. She had a couple of controversial teaser photos and eh…not digging the song or MV.
Sori’s making a comeback with a hardcore hip hop concept with the song ‘Hero’ Her second mini album will be called Hip Girl. She really reminds me of Ciara in the teaser below. I know I shouldn’t be comparing or whatever but it’s not my fault! That’s what comes into my head when I watch it XD

domain: celebrity


text:
Arsenal could accept a £60m bid for Matteo Guendouzi from Paris Saint Germain according to the Express, and if they do, it’ll signify the club’s short-term intention.
The Gunners have been hit and miss so far this season, going on a 22-game unbeaten run followed by multiple poor performances in 2019, not least their 0-1 loss to BATE in the Europa League last week. However, the style Emery wants to have his team play is evident and it will of course take time and transfer windows.
It’s already been made clear that the manager won’t have a magic money tree to spend from in summer. That might be a disappointment, but that’s no surprise to the Arsenal faithful or Emery who knows he must sell if he wants to buy the world’s top talents to improve his team. If 19-year-old Guendouzi is one of the men to be sold in order to go on a summer spending spree then the club are making their position clear.
The sale would show Emery’s is not building a team for the future, but he’s building a team for instant success. That’s understandable, because the way football is today managers rarely get the time to develop players and see the fruits of their coaching as Arsene Wenger did. Such a sale would reflect the pressure Emery is under from the board and signifies how they don’t feel Arsene Wenger-like longevity is preferable anymore.
If the young midfielder, who has impressed in his first season in the Premier League, was to be replaced by one in his prime, say at the age of 28, the short-term investment may be successful. They could go on to win a trophy and secure Emery his job for a while longer, but surely the preference should be to plan for the future with the players they have.
With restricted funds, Arsenal’s hierarchy can go one of two ways. They can invest in young players and back their manager so he has the time to mould those players into the team he needs, or sell their brightest talents for in-form players and earn short-term success. It will be clear which path Arsenal are going down if they sell Guendouzi.
Should Arsenal sell or keep Guendouzi?Like what the TT have on offer? Sign up for more notifications!
Click here to comment on this articleor
Give us feedback on your Football Transfer Tavern experience


text:
McQ Slip Ons & Loafers For Men
Suede, nappa leather, and neoprene slip-on sneakers in black. Round toe. Rubberized logo in white, pull-tab, and perforated detailing at vamp. Padded collar. Rubberized logo at heel counter. Rubber midsole in white. Tonal stitching.
man slip on, logo eu size chart Composition: 100% Leather/rubber Sole
McQ Alexander McQueen Men's Chris Studded Leather Slip-On SneakersMcQ Alexander McQueen Men's Chris Studded Leather Slip-On Sneakers-Men
One of the top slip on shoes for men, is undeniably a McQ by Alexander McQueen. Designed in fabric, they are a nice brown colour, very trendy this season. The fabric and the fabric insole provide comfort. To complete the 309162, a rubber sole. Upper : Textile Lining : Textile Insole : Textile Sole : Rubber Origin Italia
Nappa leather slip-on sneakers in black. Hemisphere stud detailing at round toe. Elasticized gusset at sides of tongue. Grosgrain pull-tab at heel collar. Rubberized logo at heel counter. Leather lining in black. Rubber sole in white. Silver-tone hardware. Tonal stitching.
Metallic leather slip-on sneakers in gold-tone. Round toe. Black elasticized gusset at sides of tongue. Black grosgrain pull-tab at heel collar. Rubberized logo at heel counter. Rubber sole in white. Tonal stitching.


text:
Posted Oct 08, 2013By
Civil War exhibit at Senate House site in Kingston opens on Saturday, Oct. 12. Daily Freeman photos by Tania Barricklo
Photos from the 5th annual Michendorf Santa Run in Michendorf, Germany. Over 900 people took part in this year's ra
Remembering those killed in the 1941 Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor that launched the U.S. into World War II.
Photos from the Town of Esopus Library’s weekly craft, snack and music hour on Friday, December 6, 2013. Dail
The 14th Annual Catskill Fiber Arts Celebration opened Dec. 6 at the Woodstock No. 4 Firehouse on Zena Road and con
Photos of the Snowflake Festival in Uptown Kingston on Friday, Dec. 6, 2013. Daily Freeman photos by Tania Barrickl
North Korea said Saturday Dec. 7, 2013, that it has deported Merrill Newman, the 85-year-old U.S. tourist and war v

domain: history


Aviation Metal Tin Snips
Aviation metal tin snips for a straight cut when cutting Aluminium, sheet metal and threshold door bars. Comfortable soft grip handles to make cutting easier.
FREE UK Mainland Delivery
|Delivery Info:||Next Working Day|
DescriptionAviation Metal Tin Snips
|Metal tin snips are the answer to a quick and easy way in cutting aluminium, threshold door bars and sheet metal. These steel tin snips will give you a professional straight cut and unlike scissors will cut through more harsh materials.
Related Flooring Products
Customers who ordered this product also bought one or more of the following ...
Good quality carpet gripper shears. Ideal for fast accurate cutting of wooden gripper to fit the contours of your room. We also stock and sell a whole range of pack sizes in carpet gripper rods.
Price from: £24.99
Carpet gripper mitre shears with a 45 degree angle to make cutting gripper quicker and easier. Easy to use, tough and durable on many materials.
Great tool for removal of old flooring and deposits as used by all professional floor fitters for the cheap affordable price of only £16.99 including VAT and FREE DELIVERY!
Laminate flooring Z bar. Suitable for joining carpet to laminate. Packs of 3 - 35" long available in aluminium or brass effect. Now also available in 8ft lengths from Abbey Carpets.
Carpet cover plate thresholds are for joining carpet to carpet at door ways, vinyl to vinyl etc. 3ft or 8ft lengths. Aluminium or Brass effect threshold cover plates.
Price from: £4.99
8mm Laminate flooring trim. Suitable for finishing laminate flooring. Packs of 1,2 or 3 - 35" long available in aluminium or brass effect.
Cheap carpets and underlays at Abbey Carpets. Roll size 12m x 1.2m 7m m thick. Perfect carpet underlay for rental properties. FROM ONLY £18.99 per roll £1.32 m. Suitable for all carpet types
High bond strength carpet gripper adhesive is the new easy and quick way for fixing carpet gripper, stair nosings and much more for a lower affordable price.
Dual purpose Carpet Gripper for all carpets. Carpet Gripper for wood and concrete floors. 5ft lengths.Various pack sizes so no waste!
Price from: £13.99


text: Capital Gains Tax Estimator Use this calculator to estimate your capital gains tax. You are viewing this website at a small screen resolution which doesn't support calculators. Click here to view this calculator. Share | Have A Question About This Topic? Name Email Address Message Thank you! Oops! Related Content Mutual Funds vs. ETFs Exchange-traded funds have some things in common with mutual funds, but there are differences, too. The Great Debate Continues: Active vs. Passive In investments, one great debate asks the question, “Active or Passive Investing: Which Is Better?” Bulletproofing Your Business Small businesses are at risk when they lose a key employee. Here’s how you can protect yourself.

domain: economics


text:
India - The Mughal Empire, – The Mughal Empire at its zenith commanded resources unprecedented in Indian history and covered almost the entire subcontinent. From to , during the heyday of its fabulous wealth and glory, the Mughal Empire was a fairly efficient and centralized organization, with a vast complex of personnel, money, and information dedicated to the service of. The Mughal Emperors, from the early 16th century to the mid 19th century, built and ruled the Mughal Empire on the Indian subcontinent, mainly corresponding to the modern countries of India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh. The Mughals were a branch of the Timurid dynasty of Turco-Mongol origin from Central wincrokery.com monarch: Babur. It was the Mughal Empire's wealthiest province, and the economic powerhouse of the Mughal Empire, generating 50% of the empire's GDP. Domestically, much of India depended on Bengali products such as rice, silks and cotton textiles.
Empire of the mughal
Empire of the Moghul is a series of historical fiction novels written by Alex Rutherford The series consists of six volumes covering the rise and height of the . The Mughal Empire or Mogul Empire was an empire in the Indian subcontinent, founded in It was established and ruled by the Timurid dynasty, with. The Mughal Empire (also referred to as Baburid Empire, Baburid Dynasty) was founded by Zahiriddin Muhammad Babur. Raiders from the North (Empire of the Moghul, #1), Brothers At War (Empire of the Moghul, #2), Ruler of the World (Empire of the Moghul, #3), The Tainte. The first book in the Empire of the Moghul series: chronicling the rise and fall of the Moghul rulers of India, beginning with Babur who swept in from Central Asia. wincrokery.com - Buy Empire Of The Moghul Collection (5 Books) book online at best prices in India on wincrokery.com Read Empire Of The Moghul Collection (5 Books). Alternative Titles: Indo-Timurid dynasty, Mogul dynasty, Mongol dynasty, Mughal Empire. Mughal dynasty, Mughal also spelled Mogul, Arabic Mongol, Muslim. India - The Mughal Empire, – The Mughal Empire at its zenith commanded resources unprecedented in Indian history and covered almost the entire.
Watch Now Empire Of The Mughal
Fall of the Mughals - 3 Minute History, time: 4:33

domain: geography


Originally Posted by rdelcamp
The foil sensors on my water tanks have come loose from the side of the tanks. What type of glue should be used to attach them to the tanks.
Ron D 96 Monaco Windsor
I just replaced my foil sensors which came with a peel off sticky back. The instructions said to spray them with 3M formula 77 glue after sticking them to the tank so as to seal them from the elements. I would assume that this same spray on glue would work to adhere them to the tank if they should ever come off in the future.
2005 DSDP 4024, Cummins ISL 370, Spartan MM Chassis / 2007 Jeep Liberty, Blue Ox Base Plate, Aventa LX Tow Bar, RVI 2 Brakes / 1996 Mariah Shabah Z210 - 5.7L Alpha 1 Gen 2


As you can see my blog has now migrated to my new website. The website in itself is still under construction. Sorry for that guys! Where to start with my first post on my new blog other than talking again about the wines of Tuscany, and especially about Chianti Classico. There is a house…not in … Read more
Don’t we all want to finally get away on a bit of holiday at this time of the year? That’s what me and my friend Susie did, we headed off on a mini-break to the beach last week. We went to the south of Italy, more precisely Santa Maria di Castellabate south of the Amalfi coast. … Read more
Last week I held my second mini-lesson about wine in Florence, at Uva Nera, where we mainly discussed the wine region Trentino-Alto Adige. The group that had gathered for the evening was very interactive and fun to discuss wine with. As usual we alternated wine info with wine tasting. Mainly, I talked about the history … Read more
Last Friday I started a mini-course about wine, a sort of an ABC of wine and wine tasting with my friend and sommelier Nadia Padrin. We have been offered the possibility to do a small introduction to wine and wine tasting at a local wine bar here in Florence (Uva Nera). So for the next … Read more
A couple of weeks ago, Vieri, a friend of mine asked me to come along to an informal inauguration of a wine bar of friends of his. Being passionate about wine, as you all probably know by now, I went along, of course, and brought some other friends, too. Uva Nera, the name of the … Read more
The blog post this week is written by my nephew Tobias Andersson again. So there is not much talk about wine in this article. However, next week I will be back writing about wine and a new exciting wine bar in Florence, which I hope you will like. The post today is talking about the … Read more
Aperitivo, tasting Syrah from Cortona Enjoying a bottle of Syrah 2011 by Stefano Amerighi together with friends the other night, made me think about sharing the special traits of DOC Cortona. As often at our weekly aperitivo evenings, we hang out at Le volpi e l’uva, a wine bar close to Palazzo Pitti in the … Read more
My humble contribution in the special edition blog post this week, which this time will not be much about wine, but instead about how I believe there is a need for a shift in the translator social media world. This after having followed a lot of great people in the social media top circle for a … Read more
On Easter Friday, we were a group of friends meeting up in the evening to drink, eat, chat, and hang out in the centre of Florence. We had chosen a quite new and very trendy wine bar in Florence, the Spumantino, owned by Castello di Verrazzano. It is situated beautifully in front of Ponte Vecchio and with a view of the river Arno. You can sip a glass of Verrazzano’s own sparkling wine while watching the sunset over the Arno. So how do wine, Easter, bowties, the Fifth Canto of the Second Circle of Hell in Dante’s Divina Commedia, selfies, and sushi, etc. all go together in one evening? Well, read on to find out more about our evening at this fantastic place in the heart of Florence.
The blog post this week will not talk much about wine, but it will talk about thoughts around Easter, typical Easter food, springtime and football in the south of Sweden. Guest blogger is Tobias Andersson, my nephew, who will be writing a standing blog post here every month about life in Skåne, the southernmost region of Sweden. Please say hello to him and follow him here. Tobias will write in Swedish, but I will provide a translation in English here.


text:
The ability of water to dissolve and redistribute substances to widespread areas can cause adverse health effects to exposed populations. Dichotomies exist between positive and negative health impacts from various minerals or elements; fluoride is one such element. Fluoride exposure provides a viable example for the famous toxicology quote, “the dose makes the poison.” Populations are generally exposed to fluoride in drinking water, where it is either natural or manually added, it is a mineral that has the ability to help or hinder exposed populations.
Once absorbed, fluoride is rapidly circulated throughout the body. Fluoride is distributed between the plasma and blood cells, with plasma levels being twice as high as blood cell levels and the half life ranging between 3 to 10 hours. Approximately 99% of fluoride in the human body localizes to bones and teeth; fluoride is incorporated by replacing the hydroxyl ion in hydroxyapatite to form fluorohydroxyapatite. Fluoridation additives used in treating drinking water may include hexafluorosilicic acid (H 2 SiF 6), sodium fluoride (NaF), and sodium hexafluorosilicic acid (Na 2 SiF 6). According to the World Health Organization, total daily fluoride exposure in a temperate climate should be approximately 0.6 mg/l per adult per day in an area with no current fluoride additives or treatment in drinking-water resources.
The benefits of fluoride exist primarily in tooth enamel development in children. While higher than suggested fluoride levels by the World Health Organization, it has been determined that permissible levels (approximately 0.8 mg/l) reduce tooth decay and aid in the retention of calcium to strengthen teeth and bones. Fluoride use in caries prevention efforts have resulted in significant reduction of dental caries in substantial populations.
Alternatively, overexposure to fluoride (greater than approximately 1 mg/l) has been associated with many adverse health effects. The most visible physical defect is enamel fluorosis; the condition is visible through the discernible brown stains and markings on teeth occurs when enamel covering of teeth fail to crystallize properly. A study by the National Research Council, 2006, concluded that severe enamel fluorosis occurs in 10% of children exposed to fluoride concentrations of 4 mg/l. Additional health effects have been reported in various studies and include neurodevelopmental delays in children, dental fluorosis, clinical stage II skeletal fluorosis, and skeletal factures in both children and adults. Prolonged exposure to high levels of fluoride can create severe bone abnormalities which present in crippling deformities.
Choi et al., 2012 report the inverse association between high fluoride exposure and children’s intelligence. As low as 1 mg/l fluoride exposure were determined to be positively linked to lower IQ levels in children. It was recently determined that fluoride may be a developmental neurotoxicant, affecting brain development at exposures much lower than toxic levels in adults. Obviously, cognitive impairment in children has a myriad of negative developmental outcomes associated with it.
According to the World Health Organization ‘Fluoride in drinking-water’ written under the Water Quality, Guidelines, Standards, and Health, 2001, the most significant sources of fluoride exposure is located in the East African Rift through Kenya. These naturally-created veins of fluoride are associated with historical volcanic activity. In Kenya, the Soda Lake fluoride levels of Lake Elmentaita and Nakuru have concentrations up to 1,640 mg/l and 2,800 mg/l respectively. A survey completed by Nair in 1982 tested groundwater samples throughout Nairobi, the Rift Valley, and Central Province in Kenya. Fluoride levels were high in these regions, with maximum concentrations reaching between 30 to 50 mg/l. On average, over half of tested sites within these areas reached fluoride levels from 1.1 to 8.1 mg/l. These areas are physically marked by severe dental fluorosis throughout the population. Additional research needs to investigate neurotoxic effects; it is highly likely that children and adults are being significantly affected.
Fluoride contamination in Kenya needs to be addressed. Several defluoridation techniques exist today. Defluoridation processes must first be developed into centralized or de-centralized systems. Once the type of system has been evaluated and determined, defluoridation techniques may then be considered.
Defluoridation of water usually occurs through either flocculation or adsorption. Flocculation employs hydrate aluminum salts that bind with fluoride ions in water. Due to alkalinity, lyme or bleaching powder can be added to disinfect the water. This technique can be carried out in large or small containers and can be used as a point of use system per household use. Coagulation and settling of the flocculation procedure takes approximately two hours. Adsorption filters water through a column that is packed with adsorbent (e.g. activated alumina or charcoal or ion exchange resins) that becomes saturated with fluoride ions, allowing clean water to pass through. This method is also suitable for household to use, but must promote caution in the disposal process to avoid recontamination of nearby groundwater. Lastly, calcium and phosphate compounds or contact precipitation chemicals can be added to the upstream water supply; though, this technique is not necessarily sustainable and may be costly.
Populations throughout Kenya are overexposed to fluoride in the drinking water; this overexposure causes adverse health effects, including dental and skeletal fluorosis and impaired brain development. Ultimately, economical and sustainable defluoridation techniques need to be adequately adapted to the at-risk population and be easily accessible to members of the community. These technical solutions may also need to be paired with educational programs that consider aspects of fluoride contamination and re-contamination, rain-water harvesting techniques, access to health-based information within healthcare clinics. It is important to address the root of the problem, but also provide information on harmful health effects of over-exposure to fluoride, while continuing to understand, monitor, and evaluate fluoride levels in the drinking water supply throughout Kenya.

domain: chemistry


The Eastfield College Dance Department is pleased to announce the 3rd annual Faculty Dance Concert on Friday, March 31 at 8:00 p.m. in the Eastfield College Performance Hall.
This year's concert will feature premieres from Program Coordinator Danielle Georgiou, "It's Best To Consult Others Before Taking Unusual Actions", and faculty member Melissa Sanderson, "Snake". Faculty member Kiera Amison will be restaging "going Mad," which premiered this year at the Muscle Memory Dance Theatre spring concert.
Guest artist Jordan Fuchs will present an excerpt from his upcoming trio, "Torsion," and current Eastfield College Artists-in-Residence Claire Augustine and Elisa De La Rosa will both present solos. Ms. Augustine will perform the Dallas premiere of a solo from her work, "Port City." Ms. De La Rosa will perform the Dallas premiere of "immigrante". Ms. De La Rosa recently received critical acclaim for her work this summer in Dallas during Muscle Memory Dance Theatre's "Made in a Day" project with her work "Hypnotizado." We are thrilled to be hosting her here at Eastfield College!
Performers include company members from the Danielle Georgiou Dance Group, Jordan Fuchs Company, and Muscle Memory Dance Theatre, as well as independent artists from Dallas, Denton, and Houston.
The concert is one-night only on Friday, March 31 at 8:00 p.m. in the Eastfield College Performance Hall. The performance is free and open to the public.
Eastfield College is located at 3737 Motley Drive, Mesquite, TX 75150. The Performance Hall is located in the F Building. Free parking.


Pac-12 coaches explain what Pac-12 swimming is all about
Women's Swimming & Diving
Feb 24, 2013
The Pac-12 women's swimming & diving coaches discuss the dominance of this conference, which will be in the spotlight Feb. 27-March 2 at the Pac-12 Women's Swimming & Diving Championships.
25 seconds ago


text:
Darwin Aviation Attraction Combo Ticket Day Trip Combo
Explore the Northern Territory’s unique aviation history with the Aviation Combo Ticket.
Two Iconic Territory Stories across two Darwin Locations
Learn about the birth and growth of the RFDS in the Northern Territory and the Bombing of Darwin Harbour through VR technology and see over 19 aircraft & memorabilia on display.
The RFDS Darwin Tourist Facility and the Darwin Aviation Museum have come together to create a combo ticket giving you access to 2 of Australia’s premier aviation attractions. See history come to life through VR technology, learn about the Bombing of Darwin Harbour & see over 19 aircraft on display.
THE ROYAL FLYING DOCTOR TOURIST FACILITY:
Using the latest innovations in holographic technology, the life-size hologram of John Flynn is portrayed by an actor, who tells the story of Flynn’s vision and its realisation into the RFDS of today.
Experiences a decommissioned RFDS Pilatus PC 12 aircraft completely aero-medically equipped and learn about the activities of the RFDS’s pilots, engineers, doctors, nurses and the experiences of the patients that are carried and cared for each day.
The Bombing of Darwin Harbour
The second iconic story featured is the Bombing of Darwin on 19th February 1942. The bombing of the harbour brought destruction to the city of Darwin, and many of the stories have been brought to life through our innovative technology. This new and exciting world-class facility feature’s never seen before cutting-edge technology – a hologram cinema experience telling the story of Etheridge Grant, a virtual reality recounting the events of that day, and a projection window of the Japanese air attack on the harbour.
Located on Stokes Hill Wharf near to the Darwin Waterfront, the RFDS Darwin Tourist Precinct is a must-see attraction when visiting Australia’s Top End.
The Darwin Aviation Museum
Located in the Darwin suburb of Winnellie, a trip to the Darwin Aviation Museum is a must-do for any aviation and history buff.
Some items on display includes:
- 19 Civil and Military Aircraft
- Aircraft include a B-25 Mitchell Bomber (one of the few surviving in the world), a replica Spitfire, Mirage, Avon Sabre, a Royal Australian Navy Wessex helicopter that assisted in the clean-up of Darwin after Cyclone Tracy, F-111C, the legendary B52 Bomber and many more.
- 21 Engines and relicts of crashed aircraft
- Darwin’s aviation history and wartime experience
- Amy Johnston – A pioneer in the industry
BOOK ONLINE OR BUY TICKETS AT EITHER LOCATION. THERE ARE NO SPECIFIC SESSION TIMES – COME ANY TIME DURING OPENING HOURS.
RFDS TOURIST FACILITY
Wet Season Opening Hours: 9am to 4pm (last entry 3pm)
Dry Season Opening Hours: 9am to 5pm (last entry 4pm)
Public Holidays: 10am to 3pm (last entry 2pm)
Closed Christmas Day and Boxing Day
AVIATION MUSEUM Opening Hours Daily 9am to 5pm


Homeland Security hampered by maze of oversight
The House of Representatives has been in session 46 days so far this year. And in that time, officials from the Department of Homeland Security have testified at 45 House hearings.
The one-a-day average illustrates what former New Jersey Gov. Thomas H. Kean Sr. calls the "dysfunctional" way Congress treats a department intended to maintain a laser-like focus on keeping the homeland safe.
Rival committees battle over power, and sometimes provide conflicting instructions as division directors and undersecretaries scurry around Capitol Hill to hearings and briefings.
Every homeland security secretary since the department was created after the 9/11 terrorist attacks has urged Congress to cut a bureaucracy that gives more than 100 House and Senate committees and subcommittees authority over pieces of the agency.
Nothing changes, however.
"No one wants to give up on the fact that they can call the leader of Homeland Security to be at their beck and call," said Kean, who was chairman of the 9/11 Commission and has testified repeatedly since then about the need to streamline and focus oversight. "It's one of the great failures of Congress as far as homeland security goes."
It may even be getting worse. When Senate hearings are included, DHS officials appeared 57 times this year, compared with 51 during the same period last year.
Other appearances, such as briefings, totaled 944, up from 648 last year. Congress also requires hundreds of reports from the department every year.
"This often results in our principals and their staff spending more time responding to congressional requests and requirements than executing their mandated homeland security responsibilities," Secretary Janet Napolitano said in an April 2010 letter to Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y., who in January became chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee.
DHS was created in 2002 largely by putting pieces of other departments, such as the agencies that control immigration, customs and disaster response, under a new umbrella.
The House and Senate created new homeland security committees at roughly the same time. But many of the committees that previously had jurisdiction over the agencies that joined DHS held onto it.
For example, the Coast Guard was transferred from the Department of Transportation to DHS, and it followed that the House Homeland Security Committee has a border and maritime security subcommittee with jurisdiction.
But there also continues to be a Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee in the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Its chairman, Rep. Frank LoBiondo, R-Atlantic, said his subcommittee's efforts are important to coastal states such as New Jersey.
"Security is a critical part of the Coast Guard's time, but probably about 80 percent of the Coast Guard's mission, budget, resources and time are spent on non-security-related traditional missions, such as search and rescue, aids to navigation and drug interdiction, missions for which Transportation and Infrastructure reserves exclusive jurisdiction," LoBiondo said.
He noted the Coast Guard had about 1,800 security-related boardings in 2009, compared with 5,400 boardings to enforce fishing regulations and more than 23,000 distress calls.
"If the Coast Guard were to come under Homeland Security, how much attention would they pay to traditional missions?" LoBiondo said. "We're accused of too much oversight, and we're accused if there's not enough oversight, so we can't win. But this is not an attempt to drive [DHS] nuts. It's an attempt to provide appropriate oversight."
The many layers of authority worked to the North Jersey region's advantage last year, after President Obama proposed eliminating a Staten Island-based Coast Guard team responsible for patrolling critical infrastructure and escorting potentially hazardous cargo in the New York/New Jersey harbor.
LoBiondo, who was the No. 1 Republican on the Coast Guard subcommittee last year, worked his side of the aisle while Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J., worked to restore the cut as chairman of the Homeland Security Subcommittee in the Senate Appropriations Committee.
But turf wars do happen, as illustrated by action in the House this spring on the looming expiration of DHS' authority to oversee the security of chemical plants.
On March 31, the Subcommittee on Energy and Environment summoned an undersecretary from DHS to testify at a hearing on HR-908, the Full Implementation of the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards Act.


text:
Fertiliser being offloaded at the Port of Mombasa. Information gap is hindering access to subsidised fertiliser. Photo by Business Daily.
Despite the government spending more than Sh20 billion in importation of over half a million tonnes of fertiliser for subsidy for about four years to spur productivity, farmers are unfamiliar with the intricate process of accessing the cheaper input as they remain targets of middlemen exploiting the information gap.
From the use of the local administrators like chiefs in profiling farmers in respect to need to the introduction of the electronic subsidy management system, the distribution of the fertiliser has remained unreachable for the deserving people since its launch in 2013.
The Ministry of Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Willy Bett in March this year blamed the extensive vetting process of farmers before accessing the cheaper input from the nearest National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) depot. He insisted that vetting is key to root out cheats.
Subsidised DAP fertiliser is sold at Sh1,800 per bag of 50 kilogrammes. Private agro-dealers are selling the same fertiliser at between Sh2,700 and Sh3,200 depending on the place. The fertiliser is mainly distributed ahead of the planting season. Other fertilisers such as urea and CAN have different selling prices under the subsidy.
“Some businessmen posing as farmers are getting the fertiliser to resell. That is what we want to do away with (in the vetting process),” the minister said.
With the application of the quota, the NBPB releases only 40 bags per farmer.
But Patrick Njenga, a farmer in Kiambu County, received one out of the five bags he applied for in March this year. And he paid Sh2,300 to the ‘appointed agent’ after delivery to his Kimende farm.
Njenga said giving farmers less than they requested for still exposes them to the cartels, who may be running parallel businesses with insiders on the subsidised input.
After a telephony supported pilot project, the government announced last year that the farmers are required to register online through the electronic management system with their telephone numbers to access the fertiliser.
After an online vetting, they fill their details into the database to receive a unique code, which they use to access the commodity. Allocation is pegged on the profile of the farmer in the database.
The Safaricom Limited Company’s system allow for farmers to place requests and after receiving the input, they can be tracked to limit reselling.
The management module also captures the input suppliers countrywide with a timely show of stocks available in the various outlets for quick action in case of an anticipated depletion.
Registration is done via the Ministry of Agriculture’s e-services portal. After the farmer has entered their telephone number, they receive a password via short message service for logging in.
Ezekiel Ndege, another farmer from Nyamira County, said the online system is little known by the small-holders, leaving a gap for the ‘elite farmers’ to amass as much as possible to resell. Besides, the tracking system may not be fool-proof after the farmer has got the input.
“If the government estimates that 10,000 farmers in Nyamira County are to benefit from 100,000 bags, and only 500 apply for 10,000 bags through the online system, the remaining is prone to abuse as the elites will apply for more, which they resell at higher prices,” he said.
This also happens to farmers who are far away from the appointed distribution points as they prefer buying expensively from local private suppliers than incurring transportation costs from an NCPB that is 50km away.
Although maize was the initial crop targeted by the programme, more other crops such as tea and sugarcane are being included. DAP is often given during the planting season, with maize being grown from the beginning of very year to around April depending on the rains.
Kenya has reached an average of 20 kilogrammes of fertiliser per acre against the global recommended application rate of 54 kilogrammes over the same piece of land. This is higher than the Sub-Saharan Africa average application rate of seven kilos per acre.
Apart from the fertiliser, other inputs like seeds can be bought at subsidised prices at the designated outlets like the State-owned Kenya Seed Company Limited shops.

domain: agronomy


text:
Join Morrison & Foerster and PLI for a webcast on the JOBS Act. The webcast will be held Tuesday, January 8, from 1:00 – 2:00 PM EST. Since enactment of the JOBS Act in April 2012, the Staff of the Securities & Exchange Commission has published many of the required studies and released significant guidance concerning many of the JOBS Act provisions. Market practice continues to evolve in relation to emerging growth company IPOs. Topics of discussion will include:
- An overview of Title I practices, including confidential submissions, test-the-waters communications, and disclosures;
- Practice pointers on Title I;
- EGC exchange offers, mergers, spin-offs;
- Research guidance; and
- General solicitation and exempt offerings.
The speakers include:
- David Lynn, Morrison & Foerster
- Tom Kim, Chief Counsel, Division of Corporation Finance, Securities & Exchange Commission
- Anna Pinedo, Morrison & Foerster
The webcast has been approved for CLE credit.
To register for the webcast, please visit http://www.pli.edu/Content/Seminar/JOBS_Act_Growing_Momentum_Audio_only/_/N-4kZ1z12nkr?Ns=sort_date%7c0&ID=165535.