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Top 20 Southern Italian Foods (With Pictures!)
Indeed, the South of Italy accounts for a large number of Italian cultural stereotypes: just think of the typical Neapolitan man singing passionately in the streets and gobbling down his pizza Margherita while waving his hands as he tries to continue talking. This is of course only a cliché, though it goes to exemplify just how rich in cultural images and traditions the South of Italy is.
Consisting of six regions, Molise, Campania, Puglia, Basilicata, Calabria, and Sicilia, Southern Italy has historically been a very poor and rudimental land marked by sharp contrasts, with the poorest parts of society subsisting on a diet largely made of wheat and vegetables while the nobility of the Regno delle Due Sicilie feeding on luxurious and sophisticated foods.
The warm Mediterranean climate, however, lasting for a large part of the year mean the lands were constantly fertile with a steady and permanent cultivation of grains and vegetables, providing a constant and varied supply of food.
However, one thing has solidly unified social classes and eradicated cultural differences among the various southern Italian regions, and this is the common use of major landmark ingredients which colorfully sum up the Italian culinary essence: tomatoes, a wide variety of soft cheeses, and the magic touch of Mediterranean herbs such as oregano and basil.
Let’s round up some of the most popular Southern Italian dishes.
The first of the southern Italian regions we come across is Molise, Italy’s second-smallest region, almost entirely covered in mountains except for a thin strip of coastline bathed by the Adriatic Sea. The geographical morphology of the region is reflected in the cuisine, stemming from old inland farming traditions and largely based on seasonal crops with a large production of cheeses.
Dating as far back as the VII Century B.C, Caciocavallo is one of the oldest cheeses ever produced. It is a real source of local pride for the towns of Agnone, Capracotta, and Vastogirardi. Caciocavallo is made with raw cow’s milk and has a hard rind and a straw-yellow color which tends to brown when it’s very mature.
Related: Top 20 Most Popular Italian Cheeses
It is aged in natural caves for a minimum of three months: initially, it has a soft and delicate taste, but it becomes increasingly strong and spicy as it matures. Locals from Molise often eat it grilled and accompany it with fresh Italian bread. It must be tried at least once in your life!
Soppressata is an incredibly popular dry-cured pork salami renowned throughout the country, though it is not generally known it is originally from Molise.
The pork loin and neck are finely minced with a small amount of lard. The minced meat is then spiced with peppercorns and salt and placed to dry in a specific device under which it is pressed and shaped, hence the term soppressata, meaning, in this context, squashed.
The salami is considered to be ready after a maturation period of about 5 months and is then typically savored on a charcuterie board together with a selection of cheeses.
3. La Pezzata
The ancient pastoral traditions from Molise are deliciously revived in this hearty recipe, evoking the authentic flavors of the small mountain town of Capracotta. Pezzata is a chunky meat stew made with lamb which is slow-cooked in large pots of water to which potatoes, a few tomatoes, and sometimes other vegetables and herbs are then added to enrich the flavor and aroma of this dish.
A true symbol of peasant cuisine, pezzata was invented in fact during the period of transhumance, when animals who didn’t survive high altitude journeys would serve the purpose of feeding the shepherds.
Campania boasts a large number of Italy’s most renowned produce known worldwide, thanks to the fertile volcanic soils of Mount Vesuvius, where the quintessential Italian tomato, San Marzano, is produced, representing the foundation of many of the local recipes.
4. Pizza Margherita
The Queen of Italian cuisine is undoubtedly and unquestionably its most celebrated symbol, pizza Margherita. Representing the quintessential colors of the country, pizza is certainly a lot older than Italy itself!
Dating back to the Greeks and Romans, who would eat round discs made of fried dough with squashed tomatoes and cheese on top, to the 1700s when the modern concept of Pizza came about, this wonderful invention is commonly attributed to Don Raffaele Esposito, a Neapolitan cook who in 1899 was summoned to prepare a delicacy to honor King Umberto I and Queen Margherita.
5. Mozzarella di Bufala
What would pizza Margherita be without its most essential ingredients?
Made from the milk of Mediterranean buffalos, this type of Mozzarella is appreciated for its uniquely soft texture, delicate taste, and nourishing properties. In fact the milk from the buffalo was once used by farmers as an energizing and sustaining drink.
However, due to its rapid acidification and natural coagulation processes, it was soon transformed into a new produce that could be stored for longer periods and transported more easily. This is how the delicious mozzarella di bufala originated.
“Bright like the sun, sweet like love”, this is how limoncello is poetically described by the locals of the Amalfi Coast and Sorrento, the beautiful coastline crowded by bright yellow lemon trees. It is here that the symbolic drink has been prepared in homes for centuries.
Some people think that limoncello was drunk by fishermen and farmers in the 1600s, especially in the morning, to fight the cold, while others claim that the first recipe was created in a monastery to delight the monks between prayers.
Whatever the truth, limoncello represents a traditional source of Italian pride all over the world, proudly boasting the designation of Protected Geographical Indication (PGI). Its alcohol percentage is usually around 30 to 35 percent, which is why it is typically savored slowly in a small liqueur glass after meals.
7. Pastiera Napoletana
Pastiera Napoletana is a traditional Italian dessert made of custard that originates from the city of Naples. The classic recipe calls for a short crust pastry filled with a delicious ricotta cream and dusted with icing sugar on top. Probably due to the myths about origins, pastiera is thought to represent today a symbol of life and rebirth.
Related: 15 Most Popular Italian Pies & Cakes
According to legend, in fact, a couple of shipwrecked fishermen managed to return to land and were saved by the leftover food from the day before, what they called “la pasta di Ieri”, which over time became one word, pastiera.
The cuisine of Puglia boasts a wide variety of excellent products and simple dishes due in large part to the fact that for millennia Puglia had predominantly been an agricultural land.
The main culinary protagonists in fact are a great variety of fresh vegetables and olives, as well as the abundant production of durum wheat, giving the locals the reputation of authentic pasta makers.
Taralli Pugliesi are a gastronomic symbol of the local cuisine of Puglia. These ring-shaped hard crackers are simply made with flour, water, white wine, and a sprinkle of fennel seeds to add a fresh aftertaste.
These versatile snacks are an excellent addition to an aperitivo and can be savored on their own or accompanied by a board of cheese and olives and a glass of local red wine; though watch out, or you may find yourself finishing the whole packet all at once!
9. Focaccia Barese
For many people focaccia is associated with the northern region of Liguria, but don’t you dare say that to a person from Puglia! In fact, despite the use of the same terminology, the two foods are made in very different ways and hold very different culinary origins and purposes.
In Puglia, tradition dictates that breakfast or mid-morning snacks are typically enjoyed with a slice of richly-seasoned focaccia barese topped with succulent cherry tomatoes, tangy olives, and a generous sprinkle of oregano, which will undoubtedly set you up for the day!
10. Orecchiette con Cime di Rapa
A traditional culinary symbol from Bari, Orecchiette con Cime di Rapa is a delicious first course dish made with a small dome-shaped type of pasta cooked in a delicious garlicky sauce made with turnip greens.
Orecchiette, literally meaning small ears for their distinctive shape, is a typical type of pasta from the Puglia region. You will often see a row of elderly women sitting on chairs just outside their homes making orecchiette by hand, placing them neatly on large wooden trays for the pasta to dry. A true ethnographic and culinary experience!
11. Pasticciotto Leccese
If you have ever been to Lecce, you will probably have noticed that, unlike the rest of Italy, the typical breakfast is a delicious and fragrant pastry cake filled with irresistible hot custard cream, the so-called pasticciotto Leccese.
These delicious short-crust pastry shells are a true symbol of Salento Bakery. They date back to 1745 when the owner of the Ascalone pastry shop in Galatina had to improvise with the only raw materials he had available to create a cake to offer to the devotees of the Basilica of San Paolo who had come to celebrate the patron saint.
To the west of Puglia lies Basilicata, once called Lucania before being conquered by the Romans. Later on, Emperor Augustus denominated it Basilicata, which derives from the Greek basilikos, meaning governor and prince, thus conferring it values of pride and nobility.
Despite it being bathed on its south border by the Mediterranean Sea, the traditional cuisine of Basilicata is largely meat-based due to the wide consumption of meat by the Lucani, the ancient population who lived in the region.
12. Agnello alla Lucana
Agnello alla Lucana is a simple and humble traditional dish from Basilicata, that’s hard not to appreciate! The secret of its simplicity lies in the slow oven-cooking of the lamb, placed in a big casserole with peppers, garlic, and rosemary.
The final touch is given by the generous dash of vinegar which makes the top of the lamb sweet and sour and deliciously crispy! Agnello alla Lucana is not missed on any local’s table during family Sunday lunches.
13. Pecora alla Pignata
Pecora alla pignata, also known as cutturidd, is another traditional lamb stew specialty from the Alta Murgia area on the east of Basilicata. The name of the recipe comes from pignata, a special terracotta pot which is typically used to prepare the dish.
According to tradition, lampascioni, a local type of onion, and wild chicory are usually added to mitigate the strong flavor of the sheep, after which the pot is not closed by a lid but by a disc of pasta obtained by blending semolina with water.
14. Lagane e Ceci
Lagane e ceci is a traditional dish simply made with lagane pasta, a wider version of tagliatelle, cooked in a creamy chickpea broth with garlic, leeks, and laurel. This warming dish is truly soul-satisfying on a cold winter’s day and it is also known as the piatto del brigante, literally the dish of the brigands as it was believed to be the most popular dish among the ancient Lucanian brigands of the 19th century.
On the most southern tip of the Italian peninsula is the region of Calabria, known for its strong and intense culinary flavors and closely tied to history, tradition, and religious festivities.
Due to the heat and dryness of the climate, people from Calabria have always placed great importance on preserving their foods, which is why vegetables and animal produce are often laden with salt and oil, which undoubtedly helped to confer it the reputation of having a rich yet flavor-filled cuisine.
The first emblem of the cuisine from Calabria is certainly ‘nduja, a super soft and spicy sausage made with lard, bacon, jowl, and less noble parts of the pig, to which abundant chili pepper is added, conferring it its typical bright red color.
‘Nduja is traditionally from the town of Spilinga, in the province of Vibo Valentia, but it is widely produced in many other municipalities throughout the region. It can be spread on bread croutons or used to cook pasta and risotto dishes, though it is on pizza that locals really appreciate it!
16. La Sardella
Typically referred to as “the fish ‘nduja”, or “caviar of the south”, Sardella is nothing more than a mixture of ‘nduja and small local fish flavored with chili pepper and fennel. This southern specialty has a decidedly strong and distinctive spicy flavor, which makes it perfect to spread on bread and to accompany with a warming glass of red or white wine.
The recipe is thought to belong to Crucoli, a town in the province of Crotone, but it is also produced in Cirò Marina and Trebisacce.
17. Peperoncini Piccanti Ripieni
Peperoncini ripieni is a traditional appetizer from Calabria made with tasty round chilies stuffed with a filling of tuna, anchovies, and capers. Peperoncini are typically prepared in the summer, when the round chilies are just ripe and succulent enough, but they are then preserved in big jars filled with olive oil, which will make them last for long periods of time.
This simple yet delicious specialty is typically combined with soft, mild cheeses such as goat cheese or Robiola, as well as grilled meats.
Finally we come to Sicily, the largest island in the Mediterranean, famous for its culinary fusion of multicultural flavors that developed over the centuries as a result of the multiple invasions by Arabs, Greeks, Normans, and Spanish.
Sicilian cuisine today is largely based on the wide use of fresh vegetables, such as eggplant and tomatoes, as well as on the widespread use of spices and aromatic herbs.
Arancino undoubtedly deserves first place in the countless list of culinary symbols of the region. Arancini are breaded and deep-fried balls made of rice and with a delicious ragù sauce filling.
These small and delicious delicacies are indeed responsible for having divided the population over the decades over those who refer to it as Arancino, as in Catania, and those who call it Arancina, around Palermo.
But on one thing they definitely agree, the origins of this dish are rooted in Arab culture as they would typically create a mixture of saffron rice, season it with lamb, and then roll it in the palm of their hands. Moreover, there is evidence that Arabs would usually tend to name their dishes with fruit names, which goes to prove that the people in Palermo were probably getting it right.
19. Pasta alla Norma
Pasta alla Norma is by all accounts the most exquisite expression of simple yet healthy and nourishing cuisine. Eggplants are the main protagonists of this dish, originally made with rigatoni pasta, cooked in a rich and garlicky tomato sauce with the previously sautéed eggplant.
The dish is finally garnished with fresh flakes of Ricotta cheese and a few leaves of basil. Despite its humble and unpretentious essence, this wonderful specialty was in fact named after a renowned lyrical composition, Norma, by Vincenzo Bellini, a famous Sicilian composer of the 19th Century.
20. Cassata Siciliana
Last but not least, the ultimate Sicilian specialty that you have to try at least once in your life. Cassata Siciliana is a liqueur-drenched sponge cake made with almond and pistachio paste and filled with a creamy mixture of ricotta and chocolate chips.
Cassata is the Sicilian dessert par excellence, you will find it in almost every bakery in Sicily, elegantly decorated with icing sugar and candied fruits arranged in perfect geometric shapes. This pure masterpiece will tingle your taste buds even by looking at it!


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The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Chau Thanh District, An Giang, has just organized a workshop to replicate the model of growing straw mushrooms in baskets in An Chau Town. This is a new model, first deployed in An Chau Town, which has attracted local farmers to visit, learn, and share their experiences. This is a model of the cooperation project between An Giang and Sweden that is being implemented in Chau Thanh District.
After the implementation period, the model of growing straw mushrooms in baskets recorded many advantages compared to growing them outdoors. Typically, after the incubation period of straw mixed with cotton, only each straw basket yields about mushrooms 2.5 kg in one week.
As a result, it saves raw materials, has a fast mushroom production time, is highly productive, and is easy to care for, harvest, and clean the farm. In the near future, the locality will continue to replicate the model in communes such as Binh Hoa, An Hoa, Binh Thanh, and Vinh Nhuan.
According to An Giang Newspaper.

domain: agronomy


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20th Century Fox dropped the latest X-Men: Apocalypse trailer. It left me both really excited and frustrated.
Bryan Singer’s latest spin with the X-Men looks to be the most action-packed in the eight film franchise. I got a major fanboy geekout seeing Cyclops, Jean Grey and Beast battling Angel. All I needed was Iceman to have a live-action X-Factor moment. Storm didn’t do a whole lot, but she looked impressive channeling her lightning and that sequence with her and Cyclops gave me flashbacks to their battle to determine who would lead the X-Men.
While I’m not a huge fan of the costume design, it’s great actually seeing a new villain for the X-Men to battle in Apocalypse. Better yet, his size changing abilities appear to be fully realized here. Olivia Munn’s Psylocke looks like she stepped out of the comic and Ben Hardy actually made Angel look like an intimidating opponent.
As usual, I hate the armor-plated costumes. They’re too boring and make the X-Men look like a SWAT team. Psylocke’s costume is so perfect, Magneto’s is fine and neither look crazy, but everyone else looks way too nondescript and completely lacking a real sense of individuality.
The bigger offense though is the continued reliance on Professor X, Magneto and Mystique. The Avengers’ franchise doesn’t share a lot in common with its comic book origins, but the tone and spirit of the comics is tremendously faithful. Having Magneto and Mystique flip flop with their commitment to Prof. X and the X-Men undercuts the other more interesting X-Men who never get a chance to get developed.
And between Angel, Beast, Cyclops, Jean Grey, Havok, Storm, Psylocke, Jubilee and Quicksilver, we’ve got a slew of actual X-Men that look like they’re going to get shortchanged. It does seem like a bit of a missed opportunity for this 80s era X-Men epic not to have the rock star turned X-Man Dazzler.
That said, I’m actually starting to get excited about this one. I doubt Apocalypse will be my favorite movie of the month seeing as how Captain America: Civil War arrives May 6, but it could be a solid No. 2. We’ll find out when it arrives in theaters May 27.

domain: hobby


What's Better Than Sitting In NYC Traffic? Paying To Sit In NYC TrafficPlay
With Meghna Chakrabarti
New York and congestion pricing. To reduce traffic and air pollution, motorists will have to pay more to drive in the city’s congested areas. Has it worked in other international cities?
Want more from the show? You can get messages right from our hosts (and more opportunities to engage with the show) sent directly to your inbox with the On Point newsletter. Subscribe here.
Nicole Badstuber, researcher who studies urban systems and infrastructure at the University of Cambridge’s Centre for Smart Infrastructure and Construction. (@NicoleBadstuber)
David Meyer, senior reporter for the news advocacy organization StreetsblogNYC, who’s in favor of congestion pricing. (@dahvnyc)
David Weprin, Democratic state assemblyman who’s represented New York’s 24th District in Queens since 2010. (@DavidWeprin)
From The Reading List
Wall Street Journal: "New York’s Congestion-Pricing System Will Serve as Road Test for Other Cities" — "New York City is set to become the first big city in the country to put in place a charge on vehicles entering its most congested streets, and it took a booming economy, grinding traffic and a subway crisis to seal the deal.
"Drivers will pay a fee to enter a zone in Manhattan’s business district with the expectation it will reduce gridlock while raising billions of dollars needed to restore the city’s struggling mass transit system. A decade after Mayor Michael Bloomberg failed in his bid to establish a charge, New York lawmakers on Sunday approved the fee as part of the state’s latest budget with many details still to come. It is expected to begin in 2021.
"The congestion fee will be set by a panel to be established by the state-controlled Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which runs New York’s subway, buses and commuter rail. A panel convened by New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo suggested last year, a flat, per day fee of $11.52 for cars and $25.34 for trucks. But the budget directed that the fee should be variable, most likely depending upon traffic volume."
The Conversation: "London congestion charge: what worked, what didn’t, what next" — "When London’s congestion charge was introduced by the city’s first mayor, Ken Livingstone, he hoped the charge would reduce congestion, radically improve bus services, make journey times more consistent for drivers and increase efficiency for those distributing goods and services throughout the city.
"Key measures show it has been a success: in 2006, Transport for London (TfL) reported that the charge reduced traffic by 15% and congestion – that is, the extra time a trip would take because of traffic – by 30%. This effect has continued to today. Traffic volumes in the charging zone are now nearly a quarter lower than a decade ago, allowing central London road space to be given over to cyclists and pedestrians.
"The charge covers a 21km² area in London. It’s a simple system: if you enter the zone between 7am and 6pm on a weekday, you pay a flat daily rate. The charge has risen gradually from £5 in 2003 to £11.50 today. Residents receive a 90% discount and registered disabled people can travel for free. Emergency services, motorcycles, taxis and minicabs are exempt."
StreetsblogNYC: "A Slippery Slope: Do Albany’s Congestion Toll Exemptions Set A Dangerous Precedent?" — "Congestion pricing passed the state legislature on Monday morning with minimal exemptions. Don’t count on it staying that way.
"Lawmakers did make history when they mustered the votes to toll drivers who enter Manhattan below 61st Street — a plan decades in the making. But they left the key details to a newly created 'Traffic Mobility Review Board,' which will come up with the cost of the tolls, who will pay, and when the system will be implemented.
"The legislature mandated a target — enough revenue to support $15 billion in bonds for transit improvements — but specified little else [PDF]. So apres le budget, le deluge: After hearing from the public, the new panel will recommend tolling fees and exemptions to the MTA board, with just 30 days of public review before the program goes into effect in late 2020."
Bloomberg: "Congestion Pricing. Has It Worked and Can It Fix New York?" — "The handful of cities around the globe that charge motorists a premium to drive in congested areas at peak times have seen traffic go down and revenue go up. New York City’s need for both has become a crisis. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority faces near-rebellion from riders and a $40 billion estimate to repair or improve its trains, subways, buses, bridges and tunnels. To raise the cash, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo won passage of a congestion-pricing plan that will tax access to Manhattan’s priciest parts to encourage people to get around underground. Critics of the plan see it as a new round of tolls rather than a program that’s innovative and eco-friendly.
1. What’s the idea behind congestion pricing?
"Economists call it a demand-side solution. Jack up the price for almost anything and demand will fall — meaning clearer streets and cleaner air. Raising the price to create a revenue stream makes things a little tricky, though. Charge drivers too little, and you’ll make money but still have jams. Charge too much, and you risk turning off too many drivers — great if you’re going for bike- and pedestrian-friendly, not so hot if you really need the cash, too.
2. Where in the world do people pay extra just to drive?
"Singapore has charged since 1975, Stockholm made a trial run permanent in 2007 and Milan’s Area C came in 2012. Fees have been in effect in central London since 2003."
Wired: "What Will Be The Right Price To Cut Congestion In New York?" — "New Yorkers love to tout their exceptionalism. Late Sunday evening, the state legislature in Albany handed city residents another first-of-its-kind distinction: New York will be the first US city to impose a fee for driving in a busy part of town. The congestion pricing plan is an effort to fight traffic—and to raise billions for the region’s floundering mass transit system.
"The plan would, by 2021, establish a fee for cars or trucks entering the most hectic part of Manhattan, below 60th Street. A few people are expected to get a break on the charge, with planned exemptions or credits for low-income area residents, those with disabilities, and those who need to visit medical services in the area. But for everyone else, it should get a lot more expensive to drive around Manhattan—probably around $11 per car and $25 per truck. (Those numbers come from a state-commissioned task force on congestion pricing, but the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority will set the prices in coming months.) The agency might choose to assess variable fees, making it, for example, more expensive to drive in the congestion zone during rush hour or on weekdays.
"The money collected through the plan is slated to go straight to the city’s public transit system. Officials say they expect the plan to raise at least $15 billion in its first five years for capital improvement projects—which just might have pushed the plan over the finish line, politics-wise. 'What precipitated this thing getting passed is the subway crisis,' says Bruce Schaller, a former New York City transportation official. 'It doesn't have anything to do with traffic speeds in Manhattan.' "
Brian Hardzinski produced this hour for broadcast.
This program aired on April 4, 2019.


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This sturdy two-sided easels is of great help for sibling artists or the artist collectively with a friend to draw, paint or color, all while standing up, like a "real" entertainer. Recommended for children ages 2 and up.
Eminem is looking kind of creepy using the cover of XXL Magazine. For starters, naming a magazine XXL strikes me as type of odd. Many connotations and inferences one thinks of. But seriously, the only thing large and in charge on this cover are those tattoos.
As time has gone on, people attended to expect that logos are clickable and usually requires them a new homepage. cartoon yourself It's not frustrating all of them if the brand is just static, because this means offer to find your home link. Allowing them to click regarding logo makes your website easier to navigate. Be specific have your site's logo link with a homepage everywhere on the actual.
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When those we have entrusted along with money, our plans, our strategies, our loyalty or even our love betray us, we feel violated insidewithin all. We wonder if home furniture ever live through this.

domain: design


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Time Value Concepts.
Yardsticks for Evaluation of Alternatives.
Comparison of Alternatives.
The Impact of Taxes on Investment Decisions.
The Impact of Inflation.
Measuring Costs in Industry.
Aggregate Investment Decision–Making––Capital Budgeting.
Risk in Engineering Economic Analysis.
Analysis of Public Projects.
Project Scheduling and Management: Critical Path Methods.

domain: finance


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With the help of two dozen Democrats, Perry County Republican Larry Householder staged a dramatic return to political power, capturing the Ohio House speaker post on a 52-46 floor vote on Monday.
Householder, who held the speaker’s gavel from 2001 to 2004, became the first Ohioan in roughly six decades to recapture the position, according to Ohio Politics Almanac. He did so by helping elect key Republican supporters into legislative seats and wooing Democrats in the House Minority with promises of more bipartisanship.
“This has been a very divisive time, there is no doubt about that,” Householder said, in calling his rival Bidwell Republican Ryan Smith and House Minority Leader Fred Strahorn, D-Dayton, to join him on the dias.
“I will make my pledge to both of these gentlemen that I will work with them,” Householder said. He pledged to take a bipartisan approach, work to return Ohio to greatness, hire a professional human resources officer for the House and broadcast committee meetings online.
He also pledged to create standing subcommittees on primary education, criminal sentencing reform and energy generation — and name Democrats and Republicans as co-chairs.
Speaker is one of the most powerful political posts in state government. He has the power to block or move legislation and has a major say in how the state spends more than $140 billion, regulates massive industries and operates government functions such as education, criminal justice and Medicaid.
Under Householder’s leadership 15 years ago, Republican lawmakers passed Ohio’s first concealed weapons law, embraced medical malpractice and tort reforms that capped pain-and-suffering awards for victims, and adopted a state law to make sure Ohio never recognizes same-sex civil unions or marriages – a law later negated by the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in June 2015.
Related: Householder seeks to return to power in the Ohio House
Householder, however, left the Ohio House, forced out by term limits and hounded by allegations of political corruption. In 2006, the Public Integrity Section of the U.S. Department of Justice announced that its investigation concluded with no charges being filed. Householder returned to the Ohio House in 2017.
Smith won the speaker job in June to the last seven months of 2018 after Clarksville Republican Cliff Rosenberger abruptly resigned in April amid an FBI investigation. Federal agents raided Rosenberger’s home and storage unit May 23. No charges have been filed and Rosenberger has maintained that his actions as speaker were lawful and ethical.
Related: Former Ohio House speaker: Who is Cliff Rosenberger?
Related: It takes 11 rounds of voting for Ohio lawmakers to pick new speaker of the House
Over the weekend, Marissa Reyes, a Republican legislative aide, wrote to state Rep. Kristin Boggs, D-Columbus, who represents Reyes’ in the House. Reyes described racist and sexist behavior by three lawmakers who have been Householder supporters.
“It never occurred to me that at such a prestigious institution, my dark hair and olive complexion would subject me to such unwarranted racist and sexist behavior,” she wrote in the letter, which was later posted to Twitter.
She said former state representative Wes Retherford was drinking heavily at a House Christmas party held at Club 185 bar and told Reyes that he would “prefer to see me with my dress off.”
A message was left with Retherford seeking a response to the allegation.
Reyes said in her letter that she reported the behavior but she wanted to make sure Democrats knew of it before voting whether to back Householder.
Householder said he would have a zero tolerance policy when it comes to harassment and unprofessional behavior. He noted that the allegation was reported months ago and he assumed it had been handled.
Democrats, led by Strahorn, hold 38 of 99 seats in the Ohio House. They sat out the last speaker fight, opting to vote for Strahorn for speaker in June. This time around, though, labor unions urged Democrats to support Householder because they believe Householder would not seek a so-called ‘Right to Work’ law that weakens organized labor.
Miami Valley lawmakers who voted for Householder were: Niraj Antani, John Becker, Jim Butler, Sara Carruthers, Phil Plummer, Jena Powell, Nino Vitale and Paul Zeltwanger.
Those voting for Smith were: Tom Brinkman, Bill Dean, Candice Keller, Kyle Koehler, George Lang, Scott Lipps, Rick Perales and Strahorn.
About the Author

domain: politics


Research projects will investigate ways of using AI tools to meet the health care needs of ethnic minorities
“These projects will ensure the NHS can deploy safe and ethical artificial intelligence tools that meet the needs of minority communities and help our workforce deliver patient-centred and inclusive care to all.” Dr Indra Joshi, director of NHSX's AI Lab
Four artificial intelligence (AI) projects have been awarded funding from the NHSX AI Lab and the Health Foundation to address racial and ethnic inequality in health.
The four projects are:
NHSX’s AI Lab introduced the AI Ethics Initiative to promote the safe, ethical and effective adoption of AI in health care. It has a particular emphasis on making sure that AI products used in the NHS and social care do not exacerbate health inequalities.
The four projects awarded funding are all winners of a research competition run by the AI Ethics Initiative in partnership with The Health Foundation. They are being funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR).
Dr Indra Joshi, director of the AI Lab, said: “As we strive to ensure NHS patients are amongst the first in the world to benefit from leading AI, we also have a responsibility to ensure those technologies don’t exacerbate existing health inequalities.
“These projects will ensure the NHS can deploy safe and ethical artificial intelligence tools that meet the needs of minority communities and help our workforce deliver patient-centred and inclusive care to all.”
Josh Keith, a senior fellow at the Health Foundation, said that data-driven technology was having a profound impact on the health care system, but that “we need to focus on making sure the impacts are positive, so that everyone’s health and care benefits.” He said he hoped the four projects would make an important contribution to “helping ensure the advancement of AI-driven technologies improves health outcomes for minority ethnic populations in the UK.”


I might get my head bitten off for this one (by both sides of this post), and that’s fine. But I made an observation, and I cannot help but write about it. On Friday, April 20th, Igwe and I went to see the much publicized movie, Think Like A Man, which was inspired by Steve Harvey’s self-help book, Act Like A Lady, Think Like A Man. I still have not read the book. I typically don’t like self-help books, but this one seems entertaining. I just might read it — when I’m done with the unread ones sitting in front of me right now.
Our movie was at AMC Loews White Marsh (Baltimore, Maryland) and was slated to start at 9:40 PM. Knowing the rush and congestion of White Marsh — on Fridays — and especially for new movies — we bought our tickets early, and then, we went to have dinner. We came back to the theater at about 9:00 PM, and there was already a long queue in the hallway outside our theater room.
It was not until I saw a group of White people walking swiftly past us that I realized how Black my line was. The group – both males and females – walked so briskly past us and headed for the front that the only reason I stretched my neck out to look at them was to see if they were cutting the line to get to the front, but they made a right and entered another theater instead. And as soon as they went in, more and more White people followed. It was then that I realized what was going on: all the White people were going to watch The Lucky One, and all the Black people were lined up for Think Like A Man.
You know, I have lived in America for almost twelve years, and I am still yet to see myself as an African American. Of course, I realize I am Black. But I am just that – Black. I am Nigerian. And Americans – Black, White, and in between – are also just that: Americans. My decision to see a movie is never because of the color of the people inside, and if I had not heard a Black person say so, I may have never noticed that in horror/suspense movies, the Black person always seems to die first. Whether or not this is a conscious effort on the part of the filmmaker is still debatable.
But when we finally got into the movie theater, we were probably seated on the fifth row from the top, and from there to the bottom, I could only do a head count of three White people. I believe there were more, but no more than ten (and the theater was packed full), and I could not help but wonder if all-white movies are this scarce in its Black support. This is something I have never even paid attention to.
I have no intention of seeing The Lucky One, not because of its whiteness, but because it’s an overly romantic movie. And Zac Efron is in it, which makes me feel like it’s a movie for teenage girls. When it becomes available to rent on Redbox or preferably free on OnDemand premium channels, I’ll consider watching it.
Think Like A Man was exactly what I thought it would be: predictable and hella funny. This is not a movie you see for the suspense or surprise ending; you see this movie purely for entertainment. I was pleased to find out that it grossed $33 million dollars in its opening weekend (especially since it cost $12 million to produce it), and it was the top box office movie, too. It beat The Lucky One at $22.8 million, and it also kicked The Hunger Games off its four-week number one spot. It also doesn’t hurt that CinemaScore rated it a solid A.
I was disappointed, however, at how surprised critics and reviewers were (still are) at the movie’s success. They are not surprised that a predictable, romantic flick made it to the top. No, no, no. They are surprised that a Black movie made it to the top, and they are beginning to wonder why more of these are not made. Yes. I’m beginning to wonder the same, too. Sure, Tyler Perry makes movies, but where are the other African-American film makers? The man has no competition whatsoever.
If there’s a time to tap into their Motherland, it would be now. The inspiration from Africa is practically beyond bothers, and they can go anywhere with that – unless, of course, they want to wait till February (Black History Month). All of a sudden, everyone is Black and proud in February. Oh, and let’s not forget, African, too.
That said, I sincerely did not appreciate the noise in the theater. I know the movie was funny, but damn! Can a girl just watch a movie in peace? There were times that people laughed so hard and for so long that I literally did not hear anything that was said after the funny moment. And let’s not forget the loud remarks like, “Mm hmm!” and “You go, gurl!” and “Gurl, you better go get yo man.” And don’t get me started on the claps and comments when Morris Chestnut made his grand entrance into the movie. Oh. My. God. Really?! Err, speaking of Morris Chestnut, I have a post coming up about him.
Overall, it’s an entertaining movie. It has all the great people in it: Gabrielle Union, Taraji P Henson, Kevin Hart, Wendy Williams, and Michael Ealy. When I can, I will definitely watch it again. If not for anything else, I have to catch up on those lost moments.
On a side note, Michael Ealy’s eyes are entrancing. No man should have such eyes. Indeed, there is a God somewhere.


Syracuse, NY -- Already, it’s working wonders.
Shoppers are stopping stone still in their tracks on the floor of The Canyon area of Destiny USA and staring up, frozen. That upside-down building that appears to have dropped from the sky through the skylight of Destiny USA?
It's WonderWorks, the 40,000-square-foot science-oriented theme park that's all inside — and out-of-this-world.
The attraction on the third level of the mall opens at 10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 9, but it’s already attracting stares of curiosity. But wait — for more.
The attached Canyon Climb ropes-challenge course in front of WonderWorks will see visitors harnessed to steel beams and poles, dangling 70-feet above the floor below, climbing ropes, multi-level platforms and stairways. That will be a site for Canyon strollers to watch — for free (the admission price to WonderWorks is $24.99 for a day pass; Canyon Climb and the laser-tag room have separate admission fees).
Destiny USA's WonderWorks is the fifth park for the Tennessee-based company, the first in the Northeast and the first in a mall and the first to have its ropes challenge course indoors
WonderWorks hails from the mind of a former Disney executive — Robin Turner — who has certainly retained Disney's trademark for crafting the unimaginable into heightened reality and having fun while educating and entertaining.
And, like a signature Disney theme park attraction, WonderWorks has a back story. Here it is:
“WonderWorks was once a top secret research laboratory on a remote island in the Bermuda Triangle. As legend has it, the world’s greatest scientists – led by Professor Wonder – were given the task of creating a man-made tornado and harnessing the POWER of it. During this experiment, something went awry and the power of the tornado was unleashed throughout the laboratory. This created a swirling vortex that was strong enough to rip the laboratory from its foundation. It was carried thousands of miles away and landed upside-down on the 3rd level of Destiny USA in Syracuse, New York. Remarkably, all of the experiments remained intact and functional.”
And visitors get to interact with those more than 100 “experiments”: Touch lightning, experience a Category 1 hurricane, land the space shuttle, pilot a fighter jet onto an aircraft carrier, train to be an astronaut in hydraulic G-force spinners, lay on a bed of 3,500 nails, play the oversized floor piano from “Big,” experience optical illusions, throw a pitch to Derek Jeter, challenge Tiger Woods, design and ride your own rollercoaster, play Mind Ball and climb inside a giant soap bubble you create.
That’s just for starters. The Post-Standard toured the nearly completed attraction Tuesday.
The experience begins outside the attraction — and is free. The realism of the upside-down building goes from busted neoclassical pillars arching electricity and puzzled critters who were hauled with the building away from the Bermuda Triangle.
Visitors to the mall can go up an escalator and walk under the house — actually, above the house, since it’s upside down — with all its decorative touches.
But it’s inside where the rubber meets the road.
The ticketing-admission area puts visitors inside the upside-down house, with cracked wood beams and broken logs. Look up: There’s an upside-down desk, an upside-down open tackle box with its contents dangling, a tipped coat rack with clothing and a baseball glove hanging precariously above the floor where WonderWorks visitors are standing.
“We were looking to put a piano up there, but that fell through. Literally,” said Todd Buchco, the general manager of Destiny’s WonderWorks.
Pay up and you enter the “inversion tunnel” to turn you right-side-up in the upside-down world.
Once inside, there are dozens of attractions and hours to spend.
“The best part is it’s a day pass,” said Buchco. “So you can come in at 10 o’clock, leave to go have lunch, come back, leave to go have dinner and come back. You have the entire day.”
You may want to stop in the 12-seat XD Theater 4D extreme motion simulator, where you “take the ride of your life,” said Buchco.
Full-motion seats combine with 3D film with special effects on a big screen. Visitors experience “subtle sensation to intense vibrations,” according to WonderWorks.
“Chairs will move, fans will be in your face with wind coming from different directions,” said Buchco. “It’s straight out of Disney. Except we have it here at WonderWorks.”
WonderWorks will be the second entertainment attraction to open in the expansion of Destiny USA. The third level also plays host to Pole Position Raceway, already open, and coming attractions including the honky-tonk Toby Keith's I Love This Bar & Grill, the dance club Aja, two new movie theaters from Regal Entertainment, Funny Bones comedy club, OptiGolf golf simulator and more.
Contact Post-Standard reporter Bob Niedt at firstname.lastname@example.org or 315-470-2264


text:
VANCOUVER, British Columbia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Emerging leader in innovative health and wellness beverages and products, BevCanna Enterprises Inc. (CSE:BEV, Q:BVNNF, FSE:7BC) (“BevCanna” or the “Company”) shared an update today on the significant retail expansion that this underway for its TRACE line of alkaline and mineral-infused water products.
The Company announced that in tandem with its ongoing retail expansion focused on new distributor relationships, including its recently announced partnership with leading East Coast distributor Koyo Foods and recently announced U.S. distribution agreement with leading natural product wholesaler, Benefit Brand Management, that it is also launching new TRACE multi-packs in national retailers across Canada. The new beverage multi-packs are being offered in response to consumer demand for take-home and value-priced options for wellness products, and will increase the range of TRACE products sold through the Company’s growing points of distribution.
The increased range also reflects the success of BevCanna’s expert sales team, led by VP of Sales and Insights Raffael Kapusty and VP of Sales and Sales Operations Bill Niarchos. The two veteran CPG leaders have been instrumental in both the Koyo Foods and Benefit Brand Management partnerships, and in expanding TRACE’s overall distribution network, adding major retailers across the country and further solidifying TRACE’s market-leading position in Canadian retail.
“We’re pleased that consumer demand for the TRACE line of alkaline and mineral-infused water products has taken off so quickly,” said Melise Panetta, President of BevCanna. “The addition of the new multi-pack options reflects the very positive response we’ve seen in the Canadian marketplace to our wellness-focused range of products. It’s also a testament the success of our sales team in establishing new major distributor relationships – ensuring that TRACE products are widely available to consumers and in their preferred formats. We’re continuing to grow this vertical rapidly and are very encouraged with the level of success that we’re achieving.”
About BevCanna Enterprises Inc.
BevCanna Enterprises Inc. (CSE:BEV, Q:BVNNF, FSE:7BC) is a diversified health & wellness beverage and natural products company. BevCanna develops and manufactures a range of alkaline, plant-based, and cannabinoid beverages and supplements for both in-house brands and white-label clients.
With decades of experience creating, manufacturing and distributing iconic brands that resonate with consumers on a global scale, the team demonstrates an expertise unmatched in the nutraceutical and cannabis-infused beverage categories. Based in British Columbia, Canada, BevCanna owns a pristine alkaline spring water aquifer and a world–class 40,000–square–foot, HACCP certified manufacturing facility, with a bottling capacity of up to 210M bottles annually. BevCanna’s extensive distribution network includes more than 3,000 points of retail distribution through its market-leading TRACE brand, its Pure Therapy natural health and wellness e-commerce platform, its fully licensed Canadian cannabis manufacturing and distribution network, and a partnership with #1 U.S. cannabis beverage company Keef Brands.
On behalf of the Board of Directors:
John Campbell, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Strategy Officer
Director, BevCanna Enterprises Inc.
Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information
This news release contains forward-looking statements. All statements, other than statements of historical fact that address activities, events or developments that the Company believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this news release include statements regarding: the Company’s plans for national retail expansion; consumer demand for take-home and value-priced options for wellness products, including the Company's products, that the Company will increase the range of TRACE products sold through the Company’s growing points of distribution; and other statements regarding the business plans of the Company. The forward-looking statements reflect management’s current expectations based on information currently available and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause outcomes to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements.
Although the Company believes that the assumptions inherent in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and, accordingly, undue reliance should not be put on such statements due to their inherent uncertainty. Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations include, among other things: general market conditions; changes to consumer preferences; and volatility of commodity prices; and other factors beyond the control of the Company. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law, and the Company does not assume any liability for disclosure relating to any other company mentioned herein.

domain: economics


Li-air batteries are a promising opportunity for electric cars. "If we succeed in developing this technology, we are facing the ultimate breakthrough for electric cars, because in practice, the energy density of Li-air batteries will be comparable to that of petrol and diesel, if you take into account that a combustion engine only has an efficiency of around 30 percent," says Tejs Vegge, senior scientist in the Materials Research Division at Risø DTU. If batteries with an energy density this great become a reality, one could easily imagine electrically powered trucks.
The electric car was introduced by Edison as early as 1900. But, as we all know, Henry Ford's vehicle concept with a noisy, smelly combustion engine won the race to become people's most treasured individual means of transport, despite the fact that in principle, the combustion engine is hopeless.
Then, as now, the Achilles' heel of the electric car was the limited energy density of the batteries, which will only sustain short drives. Now – 110 years later – the battery technology, combined with the effect electronics and the electric engine, have come so far in performance, size and price that the electric car is again becoming interesting. The electric car does not pollute locally and it can, if used cleverly, be utilised to introduce more renewable energy into the electricity supply.
Electric cars are the perfect match for a society that has abandoned the use of fossil fuels.
This is why electric cars have been reborn as an important factor in the vision of a society without fossil fuels, and the first electric cars have already hit the roads, albeit in very limited numbers and with very short ranges between recharges.
The advantages of the electric car are first and foremost that it can be integrated into the electricity system and potentially serve as a buffer in the electricity system of tomorrow, where most of our electricity originates from fluctuating renewable energy. Where there is excess electricity from e.g. wind turbines, the electric cars can be charged. When there is a shortage of electricity, some of the power can be returned to the electricity grid. The other major advantage is that, if mass-produced, the electric car could be cheaper to produce than the current cars.
2 tonnes of batteries or 50 litres of petrol
Today, battery packs are expensive and are only able to store a relatively low amount of energy. Researchers all over the world are working to change that. In the current setting, an electric car is no good if you are taking the family on holiday to Lake Garda in Italy. For electric cars to become the consumers' preferred mode of transport, the battery capacity must be significantly increased. In Risø Energy Report 9, page 58, you can read that the energy density in today's batteries is almost two orders lower than that of fossil fuels. This means that a battery pack containing energy corresponding to 50 litres of petrol, would weigh between 1.5 and 2 tonnes.
Lithium is a soft, silver-white metal – the lightest of all metals. Lithium is extremely reactive and corrodes quickly in a humid atmosphere. There, lithium is typically stored under kerosene or in a protective atmosphere to avoid contact with oxygen and water.
The most promising electric car batteries are based on the metal lithium (Li). Lithium is a soft, silver-white metal – the lightest of all metals. Lithium is extremely reactive and corrodes quickly in a humid atmosphere. There, lithium is typically stored under kerosene to avoid contact with oxygen and water. The lightness is one of the strengths of lithium. Traditional car batteries are based on lead (Pb), which is one of the heaviest metals in existence. To reduce the weight of batteries, lithium is the way to go, which is also substantiated by the prominence of rechargeable Li-ion batteries in e.g. mobile phones, cameras and MP3 and MP4 players. These batteries have the highest energy density among rechargeable batteries.
The lithium battery market is going to grow exponentially, and a discussion has already emerged whether there is going to be enough lithium to electrify the entire world's car park. Lithium is naturally occurring with approx. 65 g per tonne in top soil and approx. 0.1 g per tonne of water and can be extracted from soil as well as water, but if the lithium content is small, the extraction is costly.
In addition to the use in batteries, lithium is used in anti-depressants, ceramics, glass, aluminium production, lubricants and synthetic rubber. In the future (after 2050), lithium will probably also be used in fusions reactors for electricity production. The world's lithium reserves are found in countries such as Chile, China, Australia, Russia, Argentina, the USA, Zimbabwe and Bolivia. Lately, large deposits have been found in Afghanistan – so large that the USA has dubbed the country 'the Saudi Arabia of lithium'. In Bolivia, lithium is found in large quantities under Salar de Uyuni – the world's largest salt lake. Last year, Bolivia's president Morales announced that the country is going to invest DKK 5 billion in extracting lithium from the dried-out salt lake that covers more than 10,000 square kilometres and contains more than a quarter of the world's total lithium deposits.
The fight over the world's lithium resources will intensify in the future, but the upside is that the lithium part of batteries can be recycled, so when the batteries are worn out, the lithium can be extracted and form part of a new battery.
Batteries, a research theme at Risø DTU
At Risø DTU, two divisions possess great expertise which can be used to develop better electric car batteries. One is the Materials Research Division and the other is the Fuel Cells and Solid State Chemistry Division.
Together, these two divisions have excellent competencies within modelling and characterisation of synthesis as well as electrochemistry, all of which are vital aspects in the development of new batteries and other forms of chemical energy storage.
Research is being conducted at Risø DTU into the development and manufacture of new battery materials, e.g. improved electrode and electrolyte materials for the next generation of Li-ion and Li-air batteries. This requires insight and 'nano-scale engineering' as well as detailed understanding of the underlying processes.
Risø DTU thus has the best possible prerequisites for delivering exactly the package required to boost battery research considerably. It's all about skills within durability and product life, energy density as well as stability and safety.
Li-air batteries could have the same efficient energy density as petrol
Li-air batteries are a promising opportunity in the long term. "If we succeed in developing this technology, we are facing the ultimate break-through for electric cars, because in practice, the energy density of Li-air batteries will be comparable to that of petrol and diesel, if you take into account that a combustion engine only has an efficiency of around 30 per cent," says Tejs Vegge, senior scientist in the Materials Research Division. If batteries with an energy density this great become a reality, one could easily imagine electrically powered trucks.
Li-air batteries are thus a promising research area, but there are many research challenges to overcome before the batteries find their way to the electric cars.
The development of rechargeable batteries has moved slowly since the invention of the traditional lead-acid batteries, which are still used in the majority of e.g. starter batteries for conventional cars. The development of the Li-ion batteries marked a significant leap in the energy density of the rechargeable batteries. The final break-through may belong to the Li-air batteries which, in practice, could have the same efficient energy density as petrol. Source: Lithium – Air Battery: Promise and Challenges, G. Girishkumar, B. McCloskey, A.C. Luntz, S. Swanson and W. Wilcke, IBM Research, published in J.Phys.Chem.Lett.2010,1,2193-2203.
The Li-air battery is designed with a lithium electrode (the anode), and electrolyte and a porous carbon electrode (the cathode), which attracts the oxygen from the air when the battery is in operation. The battery is therefore, so to speak, open at one end, or it has an oxygen supply of its own. During discharge, oxygen reacts with lithium to form lithium peroxide (Li2O2), and during charging, this process is reversed to release oxygen. Both reactions take place on the surface of the porous carbon electrode.


ENFIELD — Police are investigating the “suspicious” death of a 79-year-old woman found deceased in her home on Second Avenue Tuesday night after suffering blunt force injuries, Police Chief Alaric Fox said today.
The woman’s car was stolen from her home at 47 Second Ave., and Fox said a relative of hers, Anthony D. Ward, 35, is wanted for questioning.
“At this point, we’re characterizing him not specifically as a suspect but as an individual that we certainly need to speak to in regard to this event,” Fox said.
He said police know that Ward and the woman recently had contact with each other.
WVIT-TV30 reported today that the stolen car is a 2013 black Toyota Corolla with the license plate AS63916.
While Fox has not released the identity of the woman, a spokesperson from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Farmington said today that Frances Battagler, whom property records identify the owner of the home at 47 Second Ave., will be transported there for an autopsy.
Officers responded to the Second Avenue home Tuesday night to conduct a well-being check but upon arrival found Battagler's body.
“The circumstances of the death, the way in which she appears to have died appears to be a blunt force situation,” Fox said. “We are characterizing her death as suspicious.”
Fox explained that the well-being check was prompted after a relative of the woman brought police a letter that the family member had received in the mail.
“The recipient of the letter brought that letter to the police department,” Fox said. “That letter was reviewed by officers there and that in turn was what prompted our response to this location.”
Fox would not reveal the contents of the letter, saying “details on the letter would be premature.”
The State Police Major Crime Squad is assisting police in the investigation by conducting forensics at the scene, Fox said.
“It’s unfortunate,” Mayor Michael Ludwick said of Battagler’s death. “Violence is violence. It’s terrible. I don’t have an answer. I don’t have a solution.”
Fox said Ward is a man police have dealt with in the past. In March, he was arrested by Windsor police and charged with second-degree assault with a motor vehicle, first-degree reckless endangerment, reckless driving, and operating under the influence.
He was released on a promise to appear and is scheduled to appear in Superior Court on Sept. 20.
According to the five-page affidavit supporting his arrest in that case, Ward is accused of causing a two-car accident in January where officers believe he was either unconscious in the driver’s seat or purposely struck another vehicle in a suicide attempt.
State police have issued a Silver Alert for Ward, who was last seen on Sunday. Ward is described as white, 6 feet tall and 170 pounds. The Silver Alert did not provide a clothing description.
Anyone with information about Ward’s whereabouts or who may have seen the stolen car is urged to contact police at 860-763-6400.


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24.002224 N, 85.367609 E
Bridge of Allan. Scotland. April 2015. The sky unwilling to lose the clouds. The ground unwilling to lose the water. The space between unwilling to lose the wind.
The curious chronicler walks up the incline, shoulders drooping, his posture parallel to the ascent of the surface. A brief wait at the Clock - the umbrella is useless - and a car pulls in, its left door thrown open. Inside, the descendant. What does one make of moments like this?
In 1857, Captain Thomas Rattray dispatched 150 soldiers to Hazaribagh to end the revolt. Where did they stay? Surely in a red building. For symbolism is important.
Rattray House. Colloquially, Lal Kothi. A house ten minutes on foot. A house where, as long as the chronicler can remember, a public corporation has been keeping the accounts.
There are two students in the car now. The elder explores a map of India, the younger studies its plateau. Brought together by the love for places, they draw connections as the winding country draws them. They pull at a history older than a century, stretch it into the present, and are made by it.
Yes, the house is named after your great grandfather - here is a photo.
Setting: Administrative Building
Where in Hazaribagh Town? DVC Chowk
Entry: Controlled/ Permission Required
Nearest Railhead: Hazaribagh Railway Station
National Highway: NH 20 (Old NH 33)

domain: geography


|Assassin's Creed Revelations
The following weapons appear in the video game Assassin's Creed Revelations:
Set after the events of Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, the setting moves from renaissance Italy to Ottoman Constantinople. Due to plot reasons from the previous game, this game doesn't feature modern day sections, thus no modern guns appear; albeit numerous historical weaponry appears. With the exception of the Hidden Gun and terracotta grenades, none are usable.
Janissaries will use ornate matchlock pistols while fighting against a distant foe.
A Janissary aims his pistol to Desmond, on account of trespassing.
After shooting the anachronistic Desmond, at least he is kind enough to pose for a photo with the pistol grip visible.
A wrist-mounted firearm modification for the hidden blade is used by both Ezio and Altair, returning from II and Brotherhood.
Ottoman Matchlock Musket
Used by most factions in Constantinople; especially roofs guards. It is incorrectly referred to as "rifle" by some characters.
Desmond take a moment to look at a musket that is casually laying on the ground.
A slightly anachronistic Desmond make his way to the roofs of Constantinople to admire the most beautiful wonder of the city; authentic Ottoman muskets.
A Byzantine sniper offers us a nice view of the receiver, while he aim at Yusuf and his out of temporal place friend.
Despite their preference for bladed weapons, even the Assassins needed to keep up with the times.
Desmond use an Italian imprecation as he open a crate and find some Ottoman Matchlocks. For a modern viewer; is like open a crate and find some M4A1s
or given the Turkish setting, some MPT-76
Colt Model 6920
What appears to be a Colt 6920 appears in a picture in the Last Archieve DLC being held by a US Army soldier.
Colt Law Enforcement Carbine LE6920 for reference - 5.56x45mm
Clay Kaczmarek take a moment to look at a picture that shows us what appears to be a Model 6920, pleased to find at least a modern gun in the whole game.
Various cannons appears, mostly on ships and can be used on Den Defence missions.
Desmond watches an Ottoman ship alongside a fisherman; especially admiring the cannons. However the guns are mounted on hinged gun ports in the lower deck, which were only just invented in Western Europe. Ottoman warships would've carried their guns on the top deck instead.
Some mortars appear in Masyaf.
Desmond take a moment to admire these ancient mortars.
Greek Fire Siphon
Ezio can briefly use a Greek Fire siphon to destroy some ship in Sequence 6.
Desmond take a moment to look at a very unusual weapon...
Desmond manning the ancestor of modern flamethrowers; enjoying the ships' BBQ.
Medieval terracotta grenade
Introduced in Revelations, a new mechanic allows to craft personalized bombs based on Medieval terracotta grenades by choosing gunpowder, shell and filling.
A cutaway of the ancestor of the M67


text:
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Facilitating Group Communication in Context
Using Focus Groups to Design a Nationwide Debt
Chance to Change
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action agenda Applied Communication Research behavior bona fide groups brainstorming chapter clients co-president coders coding collaborative Commish communication in context complex Compuserve computer-mediated communication conflict created Cresskill designed discussion effective empowerment evaluation Erlbaum FACILITATING GROUP facilitation techniques focus group facilitation focused functional goals Gouran group communication facilitation group decision group development group members group processes Hirokawa included individual interac interaction intervention involved issues Journal Kenefick L. R. Frey leaders leadership learning M. S. Poole meeting ment mental model messages NAIC Naturalistic decision Oracles team organization outcomes participants performance playing stages problems productivity project teams questions responses role Sage Schein simulation Small Group Research social social loafing Social Psychology specific staff members Stempfle Stohl strategies structure substance abuse task team members team metaphor team's theory Thousand Oaks tion TOADS understanding University of Memphis USA Funds Wheelan workshop

domain: psychology


text:
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Ultra-Creative, Professional, Flexible | Urban & Hip Hop specialists. We love our work: you will be with us in every step of the process with unlimited revisions, bringing to life the ideas in your mind. MAGIC, FX & Tricks lovers, flexible, highly professional. Challenge us! Immersive, Atmos | Live streaming sessions. www.esofrecords.com
Achievements: My debut release 'Video Games' was used in 11,000+ TikToks and has collected over 15,000,000+ views on TikTok. "Heaven Spills" has over 280k views on YouTube. "Solitude" topped the student radios around NZ for 3 weeks @ #1 and was #14 on the iTunes Alternative Music Charts. "Plaztique" was licensed for an NZ Television Show.
Welcome to 1979 is an analog-centric studio in Nashville, Tennessee. With 7,000 square feet of space, all your needs from pre-production, to tracking, to mixing, to mastering (and vinyl cutting/electroplating) are housed under one roof.
Danish music award winning musician hailing from Dublin, Ireland, Richard Farrell (AKA J Fitz) is a vocalist and songwriter. An intuitive, thoughtful and soulful musician, with a the sensitive and calm approach. Warm, velvety and rough vocal timbres, a blues and soul vocalist. An ear for great harmonies,warm melodies and crafty lyrics.
As a composer, I've worked with dancers, gymnasts, circus artists, musical theatre performers, ice skaters, you name it. I specialize in giving physical performers highly rhythmic, energetic and emotionally evocative contemporary orchestral crossover music, great for live productions and performances.
I'm a multi-instrumentalist/producer that has spent over five years making music professionally (in the studio and on the road). I specialize in mandolin and acoustic guitar and do most of my work in americana/bluegrass/folk/country/rock but I'm down for any genre.
I am Creative Sound Designer & Music Producer based in Bristol, UK. I have over 3 years of experience within the sound and music industry. I learnt my trade at the famous DBS music college in Bristol where I studied music production & sound engineering.
I am currently a student at Full Sail University, and I am going for Music Production. I am getting better everyday at mixing and mastering and studio assistant work. I mix everyday that is the only way to get better. If you want a track or tracks mixed or mastered that are studio quality and cheap hire me.
I'm an adaptive, intuitive, session horn player with 30+ years of experience, who can write, arrange and record horn parts on T-Bone, Trumpet and EWI. I've played, and/or recorded with Doc Sevrensen, Joshua Redman, Justin Stanton, Dave Eggar, and many more in all genres and styles. On tour with Foreigner this fall. Remic Endorsed Artist. #remic

domain: artistic


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- American homes have large outdoor spaces that are diverse and reflective of the homeowner’s personality.
- Enhancing your outdoor area increases property value, provides additional living space, and boosts mental health.
- Aesthetic improvements to your outdoor space create a welcoming environment and allow you to connect with nature.
- Investing in outdoor fireplaces, kitchens, and landscape lighting can transform your backyard into a functional living space.
- Regular landscaping not only adds color but also creates a more inviting space, enhancing the overall appeal of your home.
The outdoors of your home is just as important as the interiors. It can be considered the first impression of your property to your guests and passersby. Therefore, investing time and resources in beautifying the outdoor area of your home is necessary. Here’s a look into the outdoors of American homes, reasons for you to spice it up, and tips to make it happen.
The Outdoors of American Homes
The outdoors of American homes are as diverse as the people living in them. From sprawling lawns and gardens to cozy porches and patios, every outdoor space is unique and reflects the homeowner’s personality. However, there is one thing that is common among the yards and backyards of American homes it’s their size.
American backyards are fairly huge, with the average being 23,000 square feet. This provides ample space for homeowners to get creative and transform their outdoor area into a functional and beautiful oasis. With such vast spaces, it’s no wonder Americans love spending time outdoors, whether for BBQs, gardening, or simply enjoying the sunshine.
Why Spice Up Your Outdoor Space?
Now you may be wondering, why should you invest in your outdoor space? Well, here are some reasons that may convince you:
1. Increased Property Value
Investing in your home’s outdoor area increases your property value. A well-maintained outdoor area can significantly increase the value of your home. According to real estate experts, a nicely landscaped outdoor can increase the home’s value by as much as 20%. Landscaping creates appeal and adds curb appeal to your home.
2. More Living Space
If you spice up your outdoor area, you create more living space for you and your family. An outdoor living area provides relaxation, dining, and entertainment. Adding a small garden, patio, or pergola will give you a perfect spot to host a party, barbeque, or family gathering.
3. Boost Mental Health
Studies have shown that being in nature, even just a few minutes in a garden or an outdoor park can boost mental health. Planting flowers or shrubs, or even sitting on a bench under the sun, can provide emotional and mental benefits such as stress relief, relaxation, and calmness. Therefore, by spicing up your outdoor area, you’ll create a sanctuary that will provide you with a much-needed escape from your daily routine.
4. Aesthetic Appeal
A well-maintained outdoor area is aesthetically pleasing to the eyes. It provides the home with a warm and welcoming feel. By adding a few potted plants, shrubs, or flowers symmetrically, you can create a beautiful and inviting outdoor space.
5. Enjoy Nature
Spicing up your outdoor area enables you to connect with nature. You can create a natural habitat that welcomes birds, butterflies, and other animals to your garden. Adding a bird feeder or a butterfly garden creates a place to watch and enjoy nature. Being out in nature can also help reduce stress over time, making it worthwhile to upgrade your home’s outdoors.
Best Ways to Spice Up Your Outdoor Space
Now that we’ve discussed the why let’s dive into how to spice up your outdoor space. Here are some tips to help you get started:
Sometimes, you’ll want a rustic and valuable but affordable addition to your backyard. This is why you need to invest in a robust outdoor fireplace. The fireplace can serve as the focal point of your garden and provide warmth and coziness for outdoor gatherings.
An outdoor kitchen is a great way to take advantage of the warm weather while cooking meals for family and friends. Adding some counter space with a built-in grill, sink, refrigerator, and storage will make your backyard an extension of your home’s living space.
Lighting is an excellent way to add ambiance and warmth to your outdoor space. From string lights and lanterns to landscape lighting, there are various options. Proper lighting not only adds value and safety but also creates a cozy atmosphere for evening gatherings.
Landscaping is crucial in creating a beautiful outdoor area. Planting flowers, shrubs, and trees not only adds color but also makes the space more inviting. Consider adding various plants to create texture and depth in your garden.
There are countless benefits to spicing up your home’s outdoor space. Not only does it increase your property value and provide additional living space, but it also improves your mental health, adds aesthetic appeal, and allows you to enjoy nature. With various ways to enhance your outdoor area, from investing in an outdoor fireplace or kitchen to adding ambient lighting and landscaping, the potential to create a beautiful, functional, and personalized space is limitless. Remember, your outdoor area is an extension of your home and a reflection of your personality, so don’t hesitate to get creative and make it your own. Make the most out of your outdoor space and enjoy the benefits it brings.


Running through a tough fight with Amazon to defend its position as the largest retailer of US, Walmart won’t relinquish the title without a fight. While in-store is still relevant to consumers across generations, Walmart is betting high on its omnichannel model. Omni-channel is growing at 10% annually from 2011 to 2017.
In an omnichannel arrangement, it is of a great advantage to have a physical store in place. Walmart has got an upper hand in this space over Amazon. With Click-And-Collect it is attracting younger consumers of the 25-34 age group who drove 47% of online purchases the previous month. Among these, 42% identified Walmart as the pickup location for their last order compared to single digit percentages for others. Also, 34% of consumers added to their baskets when on site for their order pick up.
But among the purchases, the lowest rate comes from food and groceries at 7.8%. This shows that there is a huge untapped market which has not yet been penetrated by any of the key players. Especially when the consumer is adopting the online mode with open arms. Retail giants like Amazon and Walmart have a tremendous opportunity here to capture. The one who capitalizes it earlier, might get a bigger share of the pie and get crowned as the leader.
Walmart Adapting Technology
Not only this, but collaboration with companies like AutoX for next-generation innovative grocery delivery solutions can prove helpful. While Amazon has already stepped widely into this space with their Drone Delivery, Walmart is also looking forward towards driverless cars to deliver groceries for them.
While utilizing the latest technologies, like Blockchain, at their best, it is already pushing down its operational time to serve the consumers better and faster. Either way, One thing is clear for sure, Walmart is adding a cherry on the top for the consumers with their click-and-collect service. Which is working pretty well with their existing services and might help retain its leadership position.
What do you think? Share your views in the comments section.


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Professor David N. Pellow is a Dehlsen Professor of Environmental Studies and Director of the Global Environmental Justice Project at the University of California, Santa Barbara where he teaches courses on environmental and social justice, race/class/gender and environmental conflict, human-animal conflicts, sustainability, and social change movements that confront our socioenvironmental crises and social inequality. He has volunteered for and served on the Boards of Directors of several community-based, national, and international organizations that are dedicated to improving the living and working environments for people of color, immigrants, indigenous peoples, and working class communities, including the Global Action Research Center, the Center for Urban Transformation, the Santa Clara Center for Occupational Safety and Health, Global Response, Greenpeace USA, and International Rivers.
Ph.D., Sociology, Northwestern University
M.A., Sociology, Northwestern University
B.A., Sociology, summa cum laude, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Pellow’s research has included:
- Supervising a group of UCSB students in developing a Green New Deal for California's Central Coast region in collaboration with the Central Coast Climate Justice Network;
- Leading a collaboration between UCSB and the Central Coast Climate Justice Network to advance our knowledge base concerning fossil fuel development projects in the region and to support campaigns that promote energy and climate justice;
- A study of how environmental privilege and environmental racism shape the local ecology and life chances of native born and immigrant residents of Aspen and Colorado’s Roaring Fork Valley;
- A study of radical environmental and animal rights movements’ goals, successes and failures, and the impact of government repression on these activists who are frequently labeled “eco-terrorists.”
- A study on conflicts over the disproportionate location of garbage dumps and incinerators in communities of color in Chicago from the 1880s to the 2000s 6. A study of immigrant and working class laborers and environmental justice activists who pushed Silicon Valley companies to become more attentive to demands for sustainability, environmental justice, and occupational safety and health
Dr. Pellow is the director of the Global Environmental Justice Project. For more information, please click here.

domain: sociology


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(2019 UPDATE) Daratumumab (Darzalex®) (Multiple Myeloma)
Updated: Friday, July 19, 2019
Posted: Tuesday, August 29, 2017
From its introduction as monotherapy for multiple myeloma to its increasing utilization as a combination agent for relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma, daratumumab continues to be a major tool in the hematologist’s treatment armamentarium (See original Daratumumab Spotlight). Its indications in multiple myeloma include use as a single agent and as part of several combination regimens: with bortezomib, melphalan, and prednisone; with lenalidomide and dexamethasone, or bortezomib and dexamethasone; and with pomalidomide and dexamethasone.
In fact, daratumumab appears to be the “gift that keeps on giving” to the myeloma community. “It seems we can add daratumumab to almost anything and make the regimen better. It’s got good activity and a good safety profile,” said Kenneth Shain, MD, PhD, Director of the Myeloma Working Group at Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, who commented on the benefit observed by adding the monoclonal antibody to doublets and triplets in clinical trials.1
And yet its portfolio of indications was recently further enhanced, with daratumumab being approved on June 27, 2019, for use in combination with lenalidomide and dexamethasone (Rd) in the treatment of patients newly diagnosed with multiple myeloma who are ineligible for autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT).2 The approval was supported by data from the phase III MAIA (MMY3008) study.3 The study showed that at a median follow-up of 28 months, daratumumab-Rd significantly reduced the risk of disease progression or death by 44% in this patient population compared with treatment with Rd alone. No new safety signals were observed with this regimen.
ASCO 2019: COLUMBA and CASSIOPEIA Trials
In addition, as reported at the 2019 ASCO Annual Meeting, the phase III COLUMBA trial reported that a new formulation of daratumumab specifically engineered with recombinant human hyaluronidase PH20 for subcutaneous administration had adequate pharmacokinetics, low rates of infusion-related reactions, and similar efficacy to intravenous daratumumab in patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma.4 The subcutaneous version of daratumumab showed noninferior efficacy with a reduction in the treatment burden compared with the original intravenous formulation.
Also reported at the 2019 ASCO Annual Meeting, daratumumab in combination with bortezomib/thalidomide/dexamethasone (VTd) as induction therapy before and consolidation therapy after ASCT improved the rate and depth of response and progression-free survival, with acceptable safety.5 The favorable benefit-risk profile supports the use of daratumumab in transplant-eligible newly diagnosed patients with multiple myeloma. The study, CASSIOPEIA, is the first study to demonstrate the clinical benefit of daratumumab plus the standard-of-care VTd in transplant-eligible newly diagnosed patients with multiple myeloma.5 Based on the CASSIOPEIA study, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted a Priority Review designation to a supplemental biologics license application for daratumumab in combination with bortezomib/thalidomide/dexamethasone.6
In patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma who are eligible for ASCT, the addition of daratumumab to a regimen of bortezomib, lenalidomide, and dexamethasone (D-VRd) was found to be safe and effective, with no additional safety concerns or negative effects on stem cell mobilization.7 The overall safety profile of D-VRd was consistent with those previously reported for daratumumab and the VRd combination, with manageable toxicity and no new safety findings with longer therapy.
After the earlier phase III SWOG S0777 trial showed a survival benefit with the three-drug induction regimen VRd over the two-drug regimen Rd among newly diagnosed patients, there was greater enthusiasm for exploring the use of quadruplet therapies among newly diagnosed transplant-eligible patients. It was at this point that daratumumab seemed to fit as the placeholder in the quadruplet induction therapies for multiple myeloma. A higher minimal residual disease–negativity rate and an acceptable nonoverlapping toxicity profile have made daratumumab an ideal partner to the existing backbone three-drug induction regimens.8
In Relapsed or Refractory Disease
Given the chronic nature of multiple myeloma today, patients continue to require repeated lines of therapy to maintain adequate disease control over long periods. As a result, the sequential use of the different available therapies has taken on more significance. The uniform adoption of proteasome inhibitors and immunomodulatory drugs in the setting of newly diagnosed disease and the increasing use of continuous therapy in the initial treatment setting have a major impact on subsequent therapeutic choices at the time of relapse.9
In the setting of relapsed and/or refractory disease, further treatment is guided by two major factors: (1) the presence of aggressive disease; and (2) the depth and duration of response to prior treatment. Aggressive, “high-risk” disease, which is less likely to respond well to treatment, is characterized by cytogenetic abnormalities (eg, del[17p13]), the presence of plasma cell leukemia in addition to multiple myeloma, extramedullary disease, and other factors.10
Perhaps the most challenging clinical scenario is a patient whose disease is refractory to both lenalidomide and bortezomib. The combination of daratumumab/pomalidomide/dexamethasone is approved for this indication.11
Split-Dosing Regimen Approved
On February 12, 2019, the FDA approved a split-dosing regimen for daratumumab, providing health-care professionals and patients with multiple myeloma an option to split the first infusion over 2 consecutive days. The approval is based on data from the phase Ib EQUULEUS clinical study (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT01998971), which evaluated daratumumab in combination with various treatment regimens. Splitting the first dose of daratumumab over 2 consecutive days effectively reduced the duration of the first infusion, with a similar rate and pattern of infusion reactions. Data from the study demonstrated that daratumumab concentrations were comparable at the end of weekly dosing, regardless of whether the first 16-mg/kg dose was administered as a split infusion or a single first infusion.12,13
Rapid Infusion Protocol
The prolonged infusion duration with daratumumab has created logistical challenges for both patients and infusion therapy centers. Attempts to reduce the infusion time have resulted in the development of an accelerated infusion approach. In a single-center study,14 patients who had received at least two prior doses of daratumumab received daratumumab at a customized starting rate (infusion rate was calculated to deliver 20% of the dose over 30 minutes [200 mL/h]); the rate was then increased to deliver the remaining 80% over 60 minutes (450 mL/h). This resulted in a 90-minute estimated infusion time (total volume = 550 mL). The premedication for the first dose consisted of oral acetaminophen at 650 mg, intravenous or oral diphenhydramine at 50 mg, intravenous dexamethasone at 20 mg, oral montelukast at 10 mg, and intravenous famotidine at 20 mg. This infusion strategy was well tolerated and is increasingly being adopted.
That CD38 is highly expressed in more than three-quarters of cases of multiple myeloma is widely known.9 Daratumumab can bind to CD38 present on red blood cells and interfere with routine testing for clinically significant antibodies. Treatment of the antibody panel cells with dithiothreitol and repeating testing will effectively negate the binding of daratumumab to CD38.15
It is advisable to perform a baseline antibody screen and Rh & Kell phenotyping (type and screen) before starting therapy with daratumumab. This agent can also interfere with flow cytometric evaluation of multiple myeloma, causing an apparent lack of plasma cells.16
Several methods have been proposed to overcome anti‐CD38 interference in immunohematology testing and to facilitate alloantibody screening, thus reducing the risk of incompatible transfusions and the possibility of transfusion reactions.7 They include testing the patient’s plasma against a panel of reagent red blood cells treated with dithiothreitol or trypsin. In addition, extended red blood cell phenotyping or genotyping of the patient before the first dose of daratumumab enables transfusion laboratories to provide red blood cells with a phenotype that matches the patient’s red blood cell phenotype, with the aim of preventing or at least minimizing the risk of incompatibility, particularly when daratumumab interference cannot be immediately resolved and/or the red blood cell transfusion is urgent.
Managing Grade 3 or 4 Adverse Events
According to the MAIA trial, the most common grade 3 or 4 treatment-emergent adverse events for daratumumab-Rd (at least 10%) included neutropenia (50%), lymphopenia (15%), pneumonia (14%), and anemia (12%).17 Infusion-related reactions occurred in 41% of patients receiving daratumumab-Rd, 3% of which were grade 3 or 4.2 Potential severe infusion reactions include bronchospasm, hypoxia, dyspnea, and hypertension. They usually occur during the first infusion but can also occur in subsequent infusions. Nearly all reactions seem to happen during infusion or within 4 hours of completing the infusion.
Premedication with antihistamines, antipyretics, and corticosteroids is required. The infusion should be halted for any infusion reactions and then managed as appropriate. For grade 4 infusion reactions, therapy should be discontinued permanently. The drug should be administered in a facility with immediate access to resuscitative measures (eg, glucocorticoids, epinephrine, bronchodilators, and/or oxygen). Oral corticosteroids should be administered on the first and second days after infusion to reduce the risk of delayed infusion reactions. Short- and long-acting bronchodilators and inhaled corticosteroids may be considered for patients with obstructive pulmonary disorders.17
1. Helwick C. ASH reports show benefit of adding daratumumab to initial therapy in multiple myeloma. The ASCO Post, March 25, 2019. Available at https://www.ascopost.com/issues/march-25-2019/benefit-of-adding-daratumumab-to-initial-therapy-in-multiple-myeloma/. Accessed July 12, 2019.
2. U.S Food & Drug Administration. FDA approves daratumumab for multiple myeloma ineligible for autologous stem cell transplant. Available at https://www.fda.gov/drugs/resources-information-approved-drugs/fda-approves-daratumumab-multiple-myeloma-ineligible-autologous-stem-cell-transplant. Accessed June 28, 2019.
3. Facon T, Kumar SK, Plesner T, et al. Phase 3 randomized study of daratumumab plus lenalidomide and dexamethasone (D-Rd) versus lenalidomide and dexamethasone (Rd) in patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM) ineligible for transplant (MAIA). Blood 2018;132:LBA2.
4. Mateos MV, Nahi H, Leggier W, et al. Efficacy and safety of the randomized, open-label, non-inferiority, phase 3 study of subcutaneous versus intravenous daratumumab administration in patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma: COLUMBA. J Clin Oncol 2019;37(suppl); Abstract 8005).
5. Moreau P, Attal M, Hulin C, et al. Phase 3 randomized study of daratumumab (DARA) + bortezomib/thalidomide/dexamethasone (D-VTd) vs VTd in transplant-eligible (TE) newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM): CASSIOPEIA Part 1 results. J Clin Oncol. 2019;37(suppl); Abstract 8003.
6. FDA Pipeline: Reviews and designations in multiple myeloma, lymphoma, prostate cancer. The ASCO Post, June 10, 2019. Available at https://www.ascopost.com/News/60125. Accessed July 12, 2019.
7. Voorhees PM, Rodriguez C, Reeves B, et al. Efficacy and updated safety analysis of a safety run-in cohort from Griffin, a phase 2 randomized study of daratumumab, bortezomib, lenalidomide, and dexamethasone (D; Dara‐Vrd) vs. Vrd in patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma eligible for high‐dose therapy and autologous stem cell transplantation. Blood 2018;132:151.
8. Durie BG, Hoering A, Abidi MH, et al. Bortezomib with lenalidomide and dexamethasone versus lenalidomide and dexamethasone alone in patients with newly diagnosed myeloma without intent for immediate autologous stem-cell transplant (SWOG S0777): A randomised, open-label, phase 3 trial. Lancet 2017;389:519–527.
9. Kumar SK. Reshaping the treatment landscape in refractory multiple myeloma. The ASCO Post, March 10, 2019. Available at https://www.ascopost.com/issues/march-10-2019/reshaping-the-treatment-landscape-in-refractory-multiple-myeloma/. Accessed July 12, 2019.
10. Institute for Clinical and Economic Review. Treatment options for relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma: effectiveness and value. April 2016. Available at https://icer-review.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/MWCEPAC_MM_Draft_Evidence_Report_040716.pdf. Accessed May 3, 2019.
11. Kumar SK: Emerging options and sequencing therapies for relapsed multiple myeloma. Presented at the 2018 NCCN Annual Congress: Hematologic Malignancies; September 21–22, 2018; New York, New York.
12. FDA approves split-dosing regimen of therapy for multiple myeloma. The ASCO Post, February 25, 2019. Available at https://www.ascopost.com/issues/february-25-2019/fda-approves-split-dosing-regimen-of-therapy-for-multiple-myeloma/. Accessed July 12, 2019.
13. Chari A, Suvannasankha A, Fay JW, et al. Daratumumab plus pomalidomide and dexamethasone in relapsed and/or refractory multiple myeloma. Blood 2017;130:974–981.
14. Barr H, Dempsey J, Waller A, et al. Ninety-minute daratumumab infusion is safe in multiple myeloma. Blood 2017;130:1889.
15. Chapuy CI, Nicholson RT, Aguad MD, et al. Resolving the daratumumab interference with blood compatibility testing. Transfusion 2015;55:1545–1554.
16. Perincheri S, Torres R, Tormey CA, et al. Daratumumab interferes with flow cytometric evaluation of multiple myeloma. Blood 2016;128:5630.
17. Darzalex (daratumumab). Prescribing information. Available at https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2019/761036s016lbl.pdf. Accessed May 3, 2019.
Commentary by Multiple Myeloma Site Editor for JNCCN 360
Shaji K. Kumar, MD
Professor of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
Since its introduction, the use of daratumumab has increased exponentially, with its utilization in a variety of combinations and in newly diagnosed myeloma as well as in relapsed disease. Ongoing trials are examining its potential role as an early intervention in smoldering myeloma, as well as in related plasma cell disorders such as amyloidosis. Clearly, the targeting of CD38 appears to be a strategy that is paying off in myeloma.
Dr. Kumar has received clinical research support/data safety monitoring board from Abbott Laboratories, Amgen, Inc., Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Janssen Pharmaceutical Products, LP, Kite Pharma, MedImmune Inc., Merck & Co., Inc., Roche Laboratories, Inc., sanofi-aventis U.S., and Takeda Pharmaceuticals North America, Inc. He also has served on a scientific advisory board or as a consultant or expert witness for Abbott Laboratories, Amgen Inc., Celgene Corporation, Janssen Pharmaceutical Products, LP, Karyopharm, Kite, Merck & Co., Inc., Oncopeptides, Reddy’s Laboratory, and Takeda Pharmaceuticals North America, Inc.

domain: medical