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State of Rochdale pitch doesn't worry Millwall boss
NEIL Harris isn't worried about the state of the Rochdale pitch – after they had two games called off in the last two weeks.
Dale's scheduled fixture against Southend was postponed on January 20 after persistent rain and sleet, despite it having been covered to protect the surface.
And last Tuesday, after a pitch inspection the previous day, their league clash against Wigan wasn't give the go-ahead.
The club have had the pitch covered again, and today asked fans on Twitter to help with the "drill & fill" process which drains excess water from the surface. The last Rochdale fixture at Spotland was on January 9.
However, Harris insisted his side would "get on with it".
"It doesn't worry me at all, we played on pitches like that the last two years in League One," Harris said. "We played up there last year and had a very entertaining 3-3 draw. We were excellent on the night.
"In a lot of ways the pitch could suit us more than them. We're looking forward to it, it's the same for both teams.
"We make no bones as a Millwall team what surface we're playing on, we just get on with it."
Harris made nine changes for the 2-2 draw against Keith Hill's side last Saturday week, but was keeping his cards close to his chest over his team selection at Spotland.
He said: "I might go for the same team again because the performance at the weekend [against Reading] was that good. I'll make that decision tomorrow afternoon. I'll leave it late to see how players are.
"There might be a change of formation for this game. We changed after an hour at home and could have scored eight goals.
"There is lots for me to consider."
Image: Millwall FC


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Üetliberg is a forested mountain in the Albis Range of the Swiss plateau, and bounds the city of Zurich. You can reach it via a train ride from the Zürich Hauptbahnhof station. The journey lasts for about 20 minutes, and you must stop at the Üetliberg station. The peak is particularly suited for cycling trips, as well as for hiking. You can follow a 90-minute trail there that will take you through the mountain ridge, past meadows and woodlands. The views from the summit are also striking. You'll also see there the Uetliberg TV-tower, a freestanding structure rising 186.7 meters into the air. However, it is generally not open to the public.
Address: Uetliberg, Zürich
Telephone number: +41 (0)44 457 66 66
Website: www.uetliberg.ch

subset: commoncrawl


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Guess what this is?
The last box of sewing room stuff!! YAAAYYY!!!
My new sewing room is still not finished…
but it's getting there!!
The blinds should be installed tomorrow and we finally hung the kitchen island pendant lights yesterday!! Woo hoo!!
Yogi is settling in really well!!
This neighborhood has lots of dogs for him to meet and greet!!
Soooo, whatcha up to??


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So most of us have survived January. Many feel that they ate way too much over the Christmas period so have embarked on a new regime of eating healthily, coupled with tremendous amounts of exercise. Gyms and health shops are packed but as with every year, towards February and March this health-kick seems to dissipate and before long we are back to our old routine of indulgence with the added monthly unused gym membership fee debiting from the account.
A massive problem for some is that they behave like patron of health throughout the week and then as soon as the weekend arrives, unexplained binging occurs. I'm sure you are particularly familiar with the case of having to eat the last calorie and sugar laden food item simply to finish the pack and get rid of it and also eating everything possible in sight because "I'm starting my diet tomorrow". We are all guilty of this at one stage or another, we then simply spend the next few days feeling guilty whilst looking in the mirror over-analysing, the self-conscious wishing we hadn't spent the last day gorging on treats.
So below are a few simple tips to keep you on track this February and avoid binge eating…
- Try not to purchase 'treat' food in multipacks. It sounds like a good idea at the time as cheaper but it gives rise to temptation once they are in the cupboard looking at you each time you open it.
– Include health snacks into your day as well as three planned meals. Try to get something down you first thing in the morning to get your metabolism going. If you are not a big eater in the morning, start with a small amount of natural yoghurt or a piece of fruit and work up to bigger servings. Sticking to planned eating will help avoiding temptation.
– Look for ways to reduce stress as it can have a massive impact on binge eating. Perhaps listen to a relaxation track, meditating, yoga or just simple breathing. Take regular breaks at work away from your desk to break from any stress-inducing work.
- Some find they binge eat when they are bored. Aimlessly opening the fridge and gazing into it looking to see what they can concoct. Realise this and do something to fight the boredom. Perhaps a new hobby or even exercise.
– Make sure you are getting enough sleep. If you don't get enough sleep then you are more than likely to binge eat to keep your energy up. Remember it's not just the quantity of sleep but the quality so make sure you are sleeping well.
- You are the only one that really knows yourself. Think, is it really hunger or just a craving? Remember cravings will always go away so look at prevention strategies for them.
- Realise that diets do not work and just trigger undesirable cravings for particular foods, particularly if certain food items are prohibited. Don't place a ban on foods, plan the treat into your routine and consume in moderation. You will be amazed at how good you feel and may not want to have it.
- Consider keeping a food diary to track what you eat. Track how you feel when you are eating to identify patterns of emotion and also time. This will help you see when and why you binge eat. If this sounds like a chore then take photos of your food.


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Jane Needles
Jane Needles' wide experience in the arts covers all disciplines of the cultural world, primarily arts administration and teaching administrative techniques. Born into a well-known theatre family, she learned from an early age, working hands-on, in almost every aspect of productions and latterly, of producing artistic events and theatre seasons. Along with her regular employment, she has maintained an active role in the arts world as a volunteer lobbyist, board member, consultant, teacher and participant in many groups and committees, both French and English. Her involvement with both cultures has increased her awareness of their complex diversities, and has encouraged her to pursue a Doctoral Degree in Arts Administration at the Université de Montréal and École des hautes études commerciales. Currently she is the Executive Director of the Montreal Young Company, Past President of the Quebec Drama Federation, Vice President of ELAN, President of the Centre d'activitées réatives et educatives de Montreal (Project C.A.R.E.), board member and Executive Committee member of the Quebec Community Groups Network (QCGN), and National Advisory Board Member for the Actors Fund of Canada, to name some of the volunteer activities she has taken on. She teaches Arts Administration at Bishops' University as well as career management courses for the various anglophone CEGEPs in Montreal.


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Had bookmarked these to post a while back but never got around to it. So here they are now:
More below!
Had bookmarked these to post a while back but never got around to it. So here they are now:
More below!
It looks like the Army took the muzzle brakes off of the these, which is just as well; they made the muzzle blast so violent that standing within 1/4-mile of a Stryker caused permanent hearing loss.
The recoil isn't an issue anymore either, since the propellant charges in the ammo have been watered-down. Thing is though, that makes the 105mm ammunition compatible ONLY with the MGS — no other AFV in the world can fire it, because the range, accuracy, and muzzle velocity are all too low for any 105mm gun sighted for NATO 105mm rounds.
It also seems to have been forgotten that the use of standard, unmodified US 105mm rounds (then stockpiled in the US in large quantities) and commonality of ammo with US allies were part of the official justification for the MGS' purchase.
In reality, what the Army and GDLS spent our money on was a vehicle that had and a main gun so expensive and so long to develop (that required *totally new ammunition* not previously in existence), that developing a totally new weapon and gun bore from scratch would have been cheaper, faster, and easier.
And did I mention that the autoloader jams on every 3rd-to-4th round?
The Rheinmetall M35 used on the M8 Buford was not a low-velocity weapon — it fired standard, FULL-POWER 105mm NATO ammunition!
The secret to it's manageable recoil was being an LRF (Low Recoil Force) gun, full of mechanisms that dampen recoil via mechanical disadvantage, so it could fire "hot" (compared to the M68E1) ammunition.
Now, you're probably wondering, "why didn't GDLS use this gun on the Stryker?" The answer is simple — GDLS would have to ACTUALLY SPEND MONEY to use it, because the M35 is a *Rheinmetall* product.
By contrast, Royal Ordnance (the company that built the M68-series) was absorbed into GDLS years before, so GDLS thus owned the rights to the M68A1, as well as a considerable stockpile of surplus M68A1s.
As a result, GDLS could use the M68A1 FOR FREE, and the Stryker MGS was seen as an opportunity to sell them — never mind the fact that the M68A1 has more than 27 short tons of recoil, or that the Stryker MGS was promised to weigh 18 short tons.
So there you have it; the reason the Stryker MGS is armed with a weapon with too much recoil is because GDLS opted to save a buck, and charge five more.
Unfortunately, cannot use the 25 mike mikes or above due to competition with the Bradley – the HBCTs claim that if you need more firepower – send in the HBCTs.
Comments are closed


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Empowering kids to observe the world and connect, explore, and create using technology.
The Ask
Last year, the world was taken by storm by a funny, tech-savvy eight-year-old with an enormous thirst for adventure and knowledge - Dot.
To help kids mimic their favourite animated TV character and encourage learning, REDspace partnered with Industrial Brothers, CBC Kids, The Jim Henson Company, and the Bell Fund to build a digital companion piece.
The Solution
Dotopedia is an encyclopedia-styled app for iOS and Android acting as a resource to assist kids in actively and passively navigating the world around them. It promotes content creation, learning, and play, all within a closed network.
Dotopedia comes preloaded with over 300 different article topics, extending the Dot. universe and enticing kids to explore a myriad of articles before creating their own. Kids are encouraged to populate the Dotopedia database with pictures, audio clips, and stories about anything they want. Guided by Dot, users earn rewards by completing in-app activities that focus on digital integration of their immediate environments.
The Results
Since launching in November 2016, the app has enjoyed over 45,000 downloads. In addition, the app was featured in the App Store, and has ranked #1 in Kids 6-8 downloads in over 10 countries worldwide, including Canada and the US.
Dotopedia has also created buzz among the tech world, receiving a glowing review from Common Sense Media, touting it as "Wikipedia with Training Wheels," and positive praise by other parent-trusted review sites as well.


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Sometime it is really the astonishing moment when you get anything which is your favorite in your passionate things. I am very much passionate about pokies and love to stay in its world whenever I get any spare time or I get bored. Going through the play it really gives the feel as if I am on the track of marathon and on some task to develop the personality.
Usually I go for the play of Big 5 which is the best one for them who want to make their start with the betting world and I was lucky that I got this one from the list of the suggestions which I got after making the search through online. I made the download of the application in my phone and started the fun with it. This was released by the microgaming which is facilitated to the users with three reels and single payline.
The good thing with the single payline is that you will get the maximum chance of making the win and can grab as much as you can. The only thing which you will have to do in order of triumphing is that you will have to use the symbols and make their perfect arrangement in the active slots of the reels and then make the hitting.
When you will get the symbol the very first question which will rise in your mind is that what are 502 big blocks and the best thing is that you will get to know about this while going through the play. While going through the fun you will get the different feeling according to the stages of play. Sometimes you will feel as if you are wearing boxing gloves, sometime basketball shoes and with some binoculars playing the character of spy. Overall going through this is full package of entertainment.


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Tiny Coffee Golem wrote:
With the new spells that have come out since the corebook is there a comprehensive list somewhere of what can be made permanent?
Same issue with Shapechange. The RAI is pretty clear that it's supposed to allow you to freely assume any form, but because it's a core spell it doesn't include the newer morph spells like Undead Anatomy.
Skill focus might be the obvious choice, or even the Focused Study alternate human trait. The Charming social trait would seem typical also.
Any dragon blood, regardless of colour might be the reason you failed the tests, isn't Mengkare trying to make superior humans? My theory is that he's taking the best of humanity and trying to bring back some version of the Azlanti.
Xavier319 wrote:
Azlanti do get +2 to every stat, but as Samsarens get -2 Con, +2 Int and +2 Wis I gave the overall changes.
In my opinion he'd return to the Samsaren rebirth cycle if his new Azlanti body died. He's essentially still a Samsaren soul in an Azlanti body. Pharasma won't be fooled by his temporary flesh and bone cage.
I'd say yes, he does lose the abilities and spells he gets as a Samsaren. He also loses access to any racial feats (though I'd let him reselect feats). Sorshen's brain is Azlanti, not Samsaren, it doesn't function in the same way and doesn't have the needed parts to access those past life memories. In return he gets +2 Str, +2 Dex, +4 Con, +2 Cha, a bonus feat and +1 skill point per level. Seems like a fair deal.
Also, he should be 6th-7th lvl at that point in the campaign? While his character may no longer be able to follow his planned build, adjusting to unexpected events is part of what makes the game fun. It might make his life a little more interesting, but character destroying is maybe a bit strong.
I vaguely remember somebody trying this with a "Planar Cannon". Basic idea is to create a long cylindrical demiplane with double gravity and no atmosphere. Place a portal at the bottom which opens at the top. Drop your weight into the plane and leave it to stew for a few days/weeks/months.
When you want to trigger it just redirect the bottom portal over or at your target.
No idea if it would work, but at least it sounds cool :-).
Quiche Lisp wrote:
Since identifying specific spell effects is exactly what Greater Arcane Sight is intended to do, I'd be surprised if there was a lower level method to do the same thing.
I've been very wary about allowing Gunslingers into my game, specifically due to the touch AC rule. I'm allowing them into my next campaign with the following changes:
*Gunslinger changes – No Pistoleer Archetype, Firearms do not attack touch AC by default. Deadeye Deed changed to the following:
I'm well aware that I might be being overcautious, but I'd prefer the gunslinger be weaker to start and adjusted upwards if necessary rather than the opposite.
Stalarious wrote:
It doesn't help that Sorcerers don't have the skill points to spare. Adding Diplomacy, Bluff and Sense Motive to the usual list of Perception, Spellcraft, Knowledge (Arcana) etc really stretches those 2 points per level.
ElyasRavenwood wrote:
Theres a pretty epic running battle in Dawn of the Overmind that has the players fighting through the Illithid station that circles a sun. They get there on an Illithid spelljammer ship and have to move through the station section by section, while all around them a battle rages between the Illithid and an army of Red Dragon mounted Githyanki.
Azaelas Fayth wrote:
Monk(Really weird on that...
You can pass off pretty much the entire Monk class as "Super Android Powers". What's not to love about an Android who can run like the wind, punch holes through walls, turn aside blows with his bare hands etc...
If anything it's the archetypal Android class.
HangarFlying wrote:
Stom wants rid of Chief Jubbek and his followers. She doesn't so much help the pc's as agree to take her followers and leave if they kill Jubbek & co.
joe kirner wrote:
if the party has see invis. & magic missile that will help too. make the spider move to get to you so it can't phase back same rd it attacks.
When I ran this the spider never attacked on rounds it had to move. The party bunched up and readied actions, their resident greataxe wielding loony eventually did enough damage to make it flee.
So, the Staff of the Magi, unlike other staves, has a listed save DC for a number of its abilities.
Normally, a staff uses the wielder's ability score modifier, but is this the case for the Staff of the Magi?
I know this question has been asked before and the general consensus is that the Staff of the Magi should follow the regular rules for staves, and that the listed DC's are simply a holdover from 3.5, but two things make me question this.
1. The Staff of the Magi is an Artifact, not in fact a "Magic Staff". It doesn't follow the listed rules for staves in that it has 50 charges instead of 10, and it uses a different recharge method. Aside from the fact that it has "Staff" in its name, it doesn't otherwise behave as a staff.
2. The Staff of the Magi was printed in Ultimate Equipment with no changes to its listed DC's. I'd have thought that Paizo would have taken the opportunity to correct this issue if it was in fact an error.
Just got my PDF and had a quick flick through, does it seem to anybody else that it's VERY possible for the players to lose the Shard of Envy?
If Ardathanatus is killed before the Doomsday Door is closed, his body is claimed by Yamasoth and dragged to Sekatar-Seraktis. There are suggestions on how to prevent this, but in the heat of battle players might just miss them. This puts the shard beyond their grasp and effectively ends the campaign. There's no mention of this possibility in the "Concluding the Adventure" section.
http://www.d20pfsrd.com/bestiary/rules-for-monsters/universal-monster-rules #TOC-Negative-Energy-Affinity-Ex-
It does what it says on the tin. Dhampir are still alive, negative energy affinity doesn't mention that it protects against emergy drain, so I would say your player is wrong.
Afaik negative levels are always caused by negative energy, so the Dhampir wouldn't need a specific resistance to level loss if their affinity already covered it.
gourry187 wrote:
It specifically lists breastplates as one of the armours that you can make out of dragonhide.
Wouldn't an adamant staff be pretty heavy?
mrofmist wrote:
Bring back Hex mats, all is forgiven :-).
Shuriken Nekogami wrote:
the eldritch knight who bound his soul to a suit of large magic adamantine full plate didn't have to worry about spell failure because the suit of Armor WAS his body. it's like giving a golem spell failure just because he was a construct.
Warforged wizards with the armoured body feats do get spell fail fyi. Those Plate fingers just dont have the flexibility I suppose.
DM Barcas wrote:
Citizens of Alkenstar should have a thick Texan accent. Especially the Shield Marshals.
Except Alkenstar's population is 90% Keleshite and the rest are Garundi. I have no idea where Alkenstar's "Wild West" theme comes from. I don't even think there's a picture of a Keleshite gunslinger anywhere yet. Lirianne's colouration suggests her human side is from north of the inner sea, same with the Shieldmarshal.
LazarX wrote:
Add 3.5 feats to Pathfinder characters (who will also get more of them) and measure the meter again.
Second this. I play in a game where one of the players has a fighter with 4 arms and the 3.5 Multiweapon Attacks chain and all the supporting Two Weapon Fighting feats. With 13 attacks per round plus assorted extra effects he can one round anything while the rest of us wait for him to work out the math for his damage.
So Shape Change included all of the "Polymorph: self" type spells from the original rulebook.
Should the newer Monstrous Physique IV and Undead Anatomy IV spells be included in Shape Change? I get the feeling that if those spells were printed in the core rulebook instead of Ultimate Magic they would have been included by default.


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Margot Bingham
Margot Bingham (aka 'Margot B.') is an actress, going from the pageant stage to center stage with a Grammy-nominated artist, to the HBO Boardwalk Empire sound stage.The Pittsburgh native beg ...Show more
Margot Bingham (aka 'Margot B.') is an actress, going from the pageant stage to center stage with a Grammy-nominated artist, to the HBO Boardwalk Empire sound stage.The Pittsburgh native began her career in front of the cameras at the age of nine, modeling for local and national talent agencies. It's been a steady accomplished rise ever since. At 13, she wrote a tribute to the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. called In My Dreams, which continues to be featured at MLK events nationwide. The summer of 2010 started out hot with her touring alongside Jason Mraz on select tour dates. Margot performed the duet Lucky with Jason in venues such as Nikon at Jones Beach in New York, Minneapolis' Xcel Energy Center (on her 21st birthday), and in her hometown. Bingham's"Complete" video is airing nationally in Club Com's network rotation, while her voice is showcased in a national Hoover Vacuum commercial. Her last release is "Live at the Hazlett", and a European roll-out of her pop inspired music has begun.Bingham has appeared in the off-Broadway revival of Jonathan Larson's Tony Award winning Rent in New York City. She counts commercials for Geico, Nikon, and Reebok among her resume. Her face has graced the Revlon.Com website alongside the likes of Halle Barry, Olivia Wilde, and Emma Stone, as a star of their Revlon Expression Experiment. She's the voice of the documentary short "Death of a Forest", and has been featured on CBS' The Early Show, Regis Philbin's last "Live w/ Regis & Kelly", and MTV's Made. Work on the web series In Between Men garnered her a Best Breakout Performance nod at the 2011 Indie Soap Awards, and though nominated for a 2012 Independent Music Award for Best Cover Song, performing her original music remains her one true love, as evidenced by her a rave-review earning Soul Factory Presents performance at NYC's drom Nightclub. Margot regularly performs at top NYC music venues like Rockwood Music Hall (catch a live HD recording here), Webster Hall, Sofia's, and BAM/Brooklyn Academy of Music.As of 2013, she is appearing as 'Daughter Maitland' on the Emmy Award-winning cable TV show Boardwalk Empire. Her portrayal of a sexy Onyx Club chanteuse allows her to utilize both her acting and singing skills. Two songs Bingham performs on the show, "I'm Going South" and "Somebody Loves Me," are included on the just released soundtrack, "Boardwalk Empire, Volume 2," alongside numbers by artists such as Elvis Costello, Liza Minnelli, and Patti Smith. Her image has been used extensively in the period drama's Season Four promotional campaign, which showcases her in nationally run print ads, buses, billboards, and subway signs. She walked the Red Carpet at the NYC premiere, and rubbed elbows with the likes of Sean Combs and Russell Simmons at the LA fete.Margot has also always been known to lend a helping hand to those in need. She supports philanthropic events such as the Women Who Care's luncheon benefiting Cerebral Palsy NYC; the Georges Malaika Foundation Gala fostering empowerment in the Congo; and the Point Foundation's annual fund-raiser supporting LGBTQ youth.She is based out of New York City. Hide


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Think it's time to post something new on the progress of fixing up the BMW E30! When I got the car, it was quite driveable but it looks like before I purchased it, it had not been driven for a long time (continue reading after the jump).
The small little niggles with the suspension quickly deteriorated thanks to our horrible roads and before I knew it, the rear of the car was running pretty much on springs only with the rear shocks being completely dead. There are also various rust spots that I'll fix up with a proper full treatment and paint job when I can afford it.
So off the E30 went into the shop to fix up the various issues that I've spotted so far with the car, mainly being the suspension. The radiator was leaking a little so that was replaced. The exhaust rear muffler has also been repositioned properly to be a little higher – previously it was mounted pretty low and was scraping against the ground when I went up steep ramps.
The exhaust manifold leak has been fixed by using a good used from the E34. Couldn't find any convenient E30 manifolds. Of course there had to be some mods to be done for the E34 manifold to fit but that was taken care of.
The car is still in the workshop. Alot of bits have been replaced – the rear two shocks, various bushings, mounts, gaskets, etc. Once it's out I'll be back with a full list of stuff that has been changed.


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At Parks Hyundai of Gainesville, our highly qualified technicians are here to provide exceptional service in a timely manner. From oil changes to transmission replacements, we are dedicated to maintaining top tier customer service, for both new and pre-owned car buyers! Allow our staff to demonstrate our commitment to excellence.
Click the button below to Schedule Your Service Appointment Today!


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Mop up data mess to bring order to your service delivery process
Proper categorization of data for use in service delivery lifecycles is critical to the effectiveness of IT organizations.
The service delivery process generates a ton of data -- about assets, incidents/resolutions, issues and service histories -- that we store away in
|Best Practices
Greg Lenox
Instinct tells us more detail earlier is better. Unfortunately, when it comes to categorizing and relating data, this reasoning is dead wrong. Nearly all software solutions have a three-tier hierarchical categorization scheme, such as category, type and item (CTI). This three-tier CTI scheme drives us to get into very specific details about the manufacturer, model, error code, etc., very early in the categorization of the incident or request.
Regrettably, what we started out trying to accomplish with a three-tier categorization actually backfires on us because the data flattens into an unrelated, cumbersome mess. A big part of the problem is the lack of enough relationship tiers.
Drowning in data from your service delivery process
For a demonstration of my point, look no further than your old desktop friend "C:." What do you see when you open it? A bunch of subdirectories. Within those subdirectories are folders. Folders that hold files and more folders. Now, imagine if all the files sloshed around in the root directory instead. Quick, find that document from six months ago … what was it called? Sure, you could search with wildcards, but time would be ticking away. Also, what happens if the document has a name very close to the name of hundreds of other documents? Now you're faced with a Herculean task.
Use the right buckets
Of course, your organization doesn't store everything in one data bucket. But you need the right buckets -- and the appropriate number of related hierarchical tiers (four or five levels) -- to ensure that your database stores and retains the knowledge you put into it. Many organizations are building their categorization structures on the fly based on help desk incident tracking or service deployment. So I see structures such as "Network/CISCO 7613 Router/Field Notice: Difficultly Passing Traffic Through Port 1 and 2." Network is a lot of territory to search. How likely is the first-level support group in the help desk to relate an incident to a specific manufacturer, much less a specific router model and field notice from the get-go? And what happens when you change or add vendors?
Follow a more straightforward path for your service delivery process
The trick is to have enough levels and use enough generic categories. "C:Documents and firstname.lastname@example.com DocumentsSearchCIOApril Column 3.28.04.doc" makes it easy to locate this file. Keep in mind that the interface shields me from most of this complexity. Similarly, "Network/WAN/Router/Cisco 7613" will get the help desk to a problem fix a lot faster. Generalization in those higher-level categories works in your favor. After all, users call in to complain that they can't get on the network, not that the 7613 router is down.
Get ahead
My advice is to step back, take a global perspective and increase the number of relationship tiers to four or five. Reorganize data categories in a more general, stable way for the first three tiers, and then get into more details on the fourth and/or fifth. To keep your architecture under control, create a disciplined process for adding categories. For example, the help desk can flag an incident as a possible new element. The manager can then examine it with time to think things through. Experience has proven to me that most of these cases can go into existing buckets rather than burdening your database with another category to sift through. The fewer formulas required to access the knowledge base, the more efficiently your operation can run.
And stay ahead
While I've based my discussion on the help desk, properly restructuring your service data will make many aspects of the IT service delivery process more transparent to managers. For example, you'll be able to track incidents against all 17" monitors and compare their service histories before you authorize this year's purchases (similarly for assessing QoS levels). At the organizational level, you can spot opportunities to crush stovepipes and improve service, for instance, by cross-training to distribute formerly restricted skill sets. Strategically, you'll be better able to align your service delivery process with the business, which is, after all, your job.
Greg Lenox, an expert in the processes, methods and practices of IT operations for customer support, help desk, asset management, inventory management, telecommunications management and change management, is president and CEO of Entuition Inc., a maker of operations management solutions in the infrastructure logistics marketplace. At Entuition and in previous positions, he led several major re-engineering projects. His clients included SunTrust Banks, Citibank, Target, GlaxoSmithKline, Baxter Healthcare, Nations Bank, Wachovia Bank, First Union Bank, BB&T, CCNB, CNA Insurance and others.


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The 5th annual Women in Tech & Trades Luncheon was held Friday, Feb. 13 at Lane Community College in conjunction with the Hands-On Career Exploration Day offered by High School Connections. A seven person panel of women professionals in technical fields shared their experiences and answered questions from the audience.
Each panel member said they have faced challenges while making their way to their dream jobs. Some struggled with the required math. Others had difficulty with the way people looked at them because they were in a male dominated industry. Each shared that they knew very little about their careers until they got into them. They said they kept learning and didn't give up.
Panelist Julia O'Reilly is the owner of O'Reilly Design Studio and works on projects from business cards to web design to motion graphics.
Jamie Bridgham is a biology researcher at the University of Oregon. She said that her research and pay is funded through grants.
Ellie Cooper is with Edge Construction, and has been with the company since 1979. Her roles involve sales and purchasing.
Jeanne Staton has been an owner of Staton Companies for 40 plus years and has been the sole owner since 1997. She talked about starting her company. "You don't know what you don't know when you start," she said. She lays claim to literally wrecking half of Eugene during the urban renewal when she started in 1971. Demolition is her company's main business.
Karen Jones is the owner of Double Eagle Design and Construction. She quit teaching at age 33 and decided to follow a career in construction instead. "Don't be intimidated by what you have never experienced," she said.
Jones described a Habitat for Humanity project 15 years ago. She was part of an all-woman crew that built a 1,000 square foot house for a single mother and her three children. Jones said women of all ages and backgrounds volunteered and most had little or no construction experience. She said the women succeeded because they were given the opportunity and nobody was telling them they couldn't do it.
Mary Beth Jones is a journeyman plumber with Peterson Plumbing. She reminded the women not to be afraid of the unknown and to be willing to learn. She says she gets to be a hero every day she goes to work. She calls and texts her daughter, who sees her as a rescuer, about asbestos being found at her school and about pipes that leak. She said that being in a job that pays the bills and provides security and lets her be a hero is a great job.
Naomi Boe is a Lane student with dual enrollment at the University of Oregon. She is passionate about her career choice as a construction engineer manager. Boe fought her way through from Math 10 and up until she completed two different calculus classes that she needs for her degree. "Don't stop just because it's hard," she advised the audience members. She was a teenage mother, got her GED at age 22 and started college in 2011. Her daughter is her role model she said. Her daughter is now working on her second degree.
Audience member Miranda Borgo, who does work study at Lane, said she found the panel helpful, supportive, and interesting. Borgo felt that the panel emphasized a need to maintain an attitude of curiosity and to not be afraid of learning new things.
Lisa Bohannan, Career and Technical Education advisor, hosted the luncheon, which was open to all women interested in pursuing careers in technology.


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Obama officials present a strategic redefining of Homeland Security's mission
February 2, 2010
Homeland Security News
No Comment
"The Obama administration Monday delivered to Congress the nation's first Quadrennial Homeland Security Review, defining homeland security for the first time as including hazards beyond terrorism, in a strategic document intended to drive long-term budget decisions.
Congress mandated the high-level strategic review in 2007, two years after Hurricane Katrina exposed failings in the government's response and four years after the creation of the Department of Homeland Security. The initiative was modeled after the Quadrennial Defense Review, another congressionally mandated effort that directed the Defense Department to reset its strategies and budgets against evolving threats every four years. "
(Source: Obama officials present a strategic redefining of Homeland Security's mission – washingtonpost.com.)


text:
As Ben Joravsky and Mick Dumke report in the Reader, Rahm frequently meets with bankers, CEOs, and other wealthy individuals who have donated to Political Action Committees supporting prominent Republican figures such as Mitt Romney's Restore Our Future Super PAC and Karl Rove's American Crossroads PAC. These donors include Goldman Sachs managing partner Muneer Satter, Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan, and Chicago-based Citadel Investment Group founder and CEO Ken Griffin. Griffin himself donated $100,000 to the mayor's successful mayoral campaign. He has also donated $1.5 million to David and Charles Koch's Americans for Prosperity PAC and $500,000 to Stand for Children Illinois.
Chicago Tribune's Melissa Harris noted in the introduction to her interview with Griffin that Stand for Children Illinois is "an education-reform group that helped win Chicago a longer school day and limited the chances of a Chicago teachers strike." In his article about what led up to the strike authorization vote, GB's Ramsin Canon explained that "Stand for Children co-founder Jonah Edelman famously bragged at a conference that they used access to important and influential political figures like Rahm Emanuel and Michael Madigan, and insiders like Jo Anderson to tighten restrictions on the Chicago Teachers Union." You're not going to hear it from the lips of any Chicago GOP activist, but Rahm's actions in the teachers strike crisis have been fueled by at least one of same donors fueling the presidential campaign of the man they're currently recruiting phone-bankers and making viral videos for.After all, he's a privatization and private equity-friendly Democratic mayor in a one-party town. Which makes funding a loud, visible conservative opposition party a waste of money.
For now.


text:
Looking for 2 free Hilton nights. Not weekends
I have 2 individual Be My Guest Certificates for sale, valid at any Hilton property worldwide. Includes Waldorf and Conrad properties as well as any other Hilton brand. They expire April 30, 2019. Asking $250 each OBO. Please be in touch if interested.
Selling 2 weekend nights. Diamond Account. $235 each
buying 2 gold account certs. pm offers
Have 2 Hilton weekend night certs with Expiry dates 6/11/2019, 8/20/2019 from diamond account.Asking for $200 each.


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Three residential streets in West Palm Beach will be closed at the Florida East Coast Railway tracks this week as All Aboard Florida completes work for its Brightline passenger rail service.
Avenida Hermosa, El Vedado and Monroe Drive will be closed to traffic at the FEC tracks beginning at 6 p.m. on Wednesday. The residential streets are located West of Dixie Highway between Belvedere Road and Southern Boulevard.
The roads are expected to reopen by 6 p.m. on Aug. 13, All Aboard said.
All Aboard Florida has been closing railroad crossings throughout Palm Beach County periodically as it works to install a second set of tracks on the FEC line.
As part of the rail work, All Aboard's Brightline is also making safety upgrades needed to silence train horns at rail intersections from Boca Raton to West Palm Beach. County transportation planners are paying for the "quiet zone" improvements.
The company said Monday that it has completed more than 60 percent of the planned crossing work in the City of West Palm Beach.
As part of the work set to begin Wednesday, Brightline officials said the existing track will be lowered to accommodate the construction of the second track and the company's passenger trains.


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- Research article
- Open Access
- Open Peer Review
- Published:
Serum prolactin concentrations as risk factor of metabolic syndrome or type 2 diabetes?
BMC Endocrine Disorders volume 13, Article number: 12 (2013)
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To investigate potential associations of serum prolactin concentration (PRL) with metabolic syndrome (MetS) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), previously observed in small and selected study samples, in a large population-based cohort.
Data from 3,993 individuals (2,027 women) aged 20-79 years from the population-based Study of Health of Pomerania (SHIP) were used to analyse cross-sectional and longitudinal associations of PRL with MetS and T2DM risk in age- and multivariable-adjusted Poisson regression models. PRL were log-transformed and modelled as continuous (per standard deviation (SD) increase) and categorical predictor (sex-specific quartiles) variable, separately for men and woman.
Cross-sectional analyses showed an inverse association between low PRL concentrations and prevalent T2DM risk in men and women after multivariable-adjustment (men: Q1 vs. Q4: relative risk (RR), 1.55; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.13 – 2.14; women: Q1 vs. Q4: RR, 1.70; 95% CI, 1.10 – 2.62). Likewise, higher PRL concentrations were associated with significantly lower T2DM risk (RR per SD increase in log-PRL: 0.83; 95% CI, 0.72 – 0.95 in men, and 0.84; 95% CI, 0.71 – 0.98 in women, respectively). An inverse association between PRL and MetS risk was not retained after multivariable adjustment. Longitudinal analyses yielded no association of PRL with incident MetS or T2DM.
The present study is the first large population-based study reporting a cross-sectional inverse association between PRL and prevalent T2DM in both genders. But the absent longitudinal associations do not support a causal role of PRL as a risk factor of incident MetS or T2DM.
Prolactin (PRL) is a pituitary hormone essential for various physiological functions in the human body [1–3]. It is not only important for the initiation and maintenance of lactation, but seems to be also involved in reproduction, growth and development, osmoregulation, immune regulation, brain function, behaviour, and metabolism [1–3]. These different functions of PRL can only be fulfilled due to the fact that the PRL receptor is expressed in different tissues and cells such as lymphoid cells, endometrium, prostate, and adipocytes [1–3].
The metabolic syndrome (MetS), a cluster of cardiometabolic risk factors including obesity, hypertriglyceridemia, hypertension, and insulin resistance [4, 5], is often associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) [1]. Although previous investigations about the potential effects of PRL in T2DM and its complications are scarce, existing experimental studies suggest an influence of PRL on T2DM via its metabolic effects on adipose tissue [2, 3], development and growth of pancreatic ß-cells [6, 7], insulin resistance [3, 8], and lipid metabolism [3, 9]. The ability of PRL to stimulate insulin [6] and suppress adiponectin as well as interleukin-6 release further suggests a potential role in the manifestation of insulin resistance [2]. But although these studies support the view that PRL promotes the growth and survival of pancreatic ß-cells and supports insulin secretion [6, 7], other studies were not able to detect any correlation between PRL and metabolic disturbances [10].
An observational study among erectile dysfunction patients showed an association between low PRL concentrations and adverse cardiovascular risk profiles and events [11]. However, in most of these previous studies [10, 11] the correlation between PRL and cardiometabolic risk factors including MetS or T2DM were not the main focus. Furthermore, previous studies were conducted in comparably small and selected patient populations without consideration of major confounding factors. Therefore, we aimed to investigate potential associations of PRL with MetS and T2DM using a large, representative sample of 3,993 individuals from the population-based longitudinal cohort Study of Health in Pomerania (SHIP).
Study population
The SHIP is a population-based cohort study in West Pomerania, a region in north-eastern Germany. Details regarding the design, recruitment, and procedures of the SHIP study have been published previously [12]. In brief, from the total population of West Pomerania comprising 213,057 inhabitants, a two-stage stratified cluster sample of adults aged 20-79 years was drawn in 1996. The net sample (without migrated or deceased persons) comprised 6,265 eligible subjects. Only individuals with German citizenship and main residency in the study area were included. All subjects received a maximum of three written invitations. In cases of non-response, letters were followed by repeated phone calls or by home visits if contact by phone was not possible [13]. After written informed consent was obtained, 4,308 (2,192 women) participants were examined (response 68.8%) between 1997 and 2001. During the five-year follow-up, 3,300 (1,711 women) participants were re-examined (response 83.6%) between 2002 and 2006. The study conformed to the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki and the Ethics Committee of the University of Greifswald approved the protocol. Out of 4,308 baseline participants, we excluded individuals with missing PRL data (N = 169), measured PRL >100.0 μg/l (N = 16), pregnancy (N = 8), pituitary disease (N = 1), and missing covariate data (N = 121), yielding a final study sample of 3,993 individuals (2,027 women).
Information about socio-demographic characteristics and health-related lifestyle including smoking habits (categorized into current, former, and never-smokers), educational level (< 10, = 10, or > 10 years at school), parity (number of children), physical activity (< 1 h/week physical training during summer or winter) and alcohol consumption were collected by personal interviews. Waist circumference was measured to the nearest 0.1 cm using an inelastic tape midway between the lower rib margin and the iliac crest in the horizontal plane, with the subject standing comfortably with weight distributed evenly on both feet. Height and weight were measured for the calculation of body mass index (BMI) (weight [kg]/height [m]2). After a resting period of at least five minutes, systolic and diastolic blood pressure was measured three times on the right arm of seated participants with an oscillometric digital blood pressure monitor (HEM-705CP, Omron Corporation, Tokyo, Japan). The interval between the readings was three minutes. The mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure was calculated from the second and third measurement [14]. Menopausal status (pre- and post-menopausal) was defined according to a previously established definition from our cohort: pre-menopausal: all women < 40 years of age and between 40 – 60 years who reported menstrual cycle; post-menopausal: all women ≥ 60 years of age and all women between 40 – 60 years who reported no menstrual cycle [15].
Serum high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol concentrations were measured photometrically at baseline (Hitachi 704, Roche, Mannheim, Germany), whereas follow-up HDL concentrations were quantified by lipid electrophoresis (HELENA SAS-3 system, Helena 7 BioSciences Europe, Tyne & Wear, UK). To ensure comparability in the longitudinal HDL analyses, we used baseline HDL concentrations as the reference and calculated corrected follow-up HDL concentrations based on a previously published conversion formula [16]. Doing so, we found that the average HDL concentrations produced by the two methods were virtually identical, suggesting that the differences in HDL will be small within the range of practical relevance [17]. Serum triglycerides and glucose concentrations were determined enzymatically using reagents from Roche Diagnostics (Hitachi 717, Roche Diagnostics, Mannheim, Germany). Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (Bio-Rad, Munich, Germany). During the course of the study, the inter-assay coefficient of variation for HbA1c was 2.76% in the low pool and 1.38% in the high pool. All assays were performed according to the manufacturers' recommendations by skilled technical personnel and internal quality controls were analyzed daily. In addition, the laboratory participates in official quarterly German external proficiency testing programs.
T2DM was defined based on self-reported physician's diagnosis or use of antidiabetic medication (ATC code A10) in the last seven days, or HbA1c concentrations > 6.5%. Diagnostic criteria for the assessment of MetS components were defined according the Joint Scientific Statement to harmonize MetS [18] and modified for the use of non-fasting blood samples, as previously established in SHIP [19–22] and other large cohort studies [23]:
Elevated WC: men ≥ 94 cm; women ≥ 80 cm;
Elevated non-fasting glucose: ≥ 8.0 mmol/l or antidiabetic treatment (ATC codes A10A, A10B);
Decreased HDL cholesterol: men < 1.0 mmol/l, women < 1.3 mmol/l, or lipid-lowering treatment (ATC C10AB, A10AD);
Elevated non-fasting triglycerides: ≥ 2.3 mmol/l or lipid-lowering treatment (ATC C10AB, A10AD);
Elevated blood pressure: ≥ 130/85 mmHg or self-reported antihypertensive drug treatment. Participants fulfilling at least three out of these five components were assigned to MetS.
Serum PRL concentrations were measured from frozen sera of baseline participants. Non-fasting blood samples were drawn from the cubital vein in the supine position between 7.00 a.m. and 7.00 p.m. Samples were stored at -80°C until analysis using a chemiluminescent immunometric assay on an Immulite 2500 analyzer (Ref. L5KPR, DPC Biermann GmbH, Bad Nauheim, Germany). An aliquot of two alternating levels of a third party commercial control material (Bio-Rad Lyphochek Immunoassay Plus Control, lot 40151 and lot 40152; Bio-Rad, Munich, Germany) was included in each series in single determination. During the course of the study the inter-assay coefficient of variation was 5.6% with a systematic deviation of -4.3% at the 6.3 μg/l level, and 4.3% with a systematic deviation of -6.4% at the 14.5 μg/l level. The analytical sensitivity was 0.5 μg/l by an effective measurement range of 0.5 – 150 μg/l.
Statistical analysis
Categorical data are expressed as percentage and continuous data as median (p25th, p75th). Sex-related differences were tested using the χ2 test (categorical data) and Mann-Whitney-U test (continuous data). We log-transformed the highly skewed PRL variable to achieve normality. To analyse cross-sectional and longitudinal associations of PRL with MetS and T2DM, we implemented age- and multivariable-adjusted Poisson regression models with robust standard errors and report the relative risks (RR) and their 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) per SD increase in log-PRL and for sex-specific PRL quartiles (reference: quartile four). Longitudinal incidence analyses were performed only in individuals without MetS and T2DM at baseline, respectively. P for trend test was conducted by including PRL quartiles as an ordinal score into the regression models. Covariates adjusted for in multivariable regression models included age, BMI, smoking status, physical activity, educational level, and alcohol consumption. All analyses were performed separately in men and women.
Several sensitivity analyses were performed. In women, we additionally adjust multivariable regression models for menopausal status and parity. On the basis of ATC codes for metoclopramide (A03FA01, A03FA03, N02CX59), cimetidine (A02BA01), reserpine (C02LA01), methyldopa (C02AB), and psychoanaleptics (ATC-code N06), we excluded 184 individuals indicative of these PRL influencing medications [24] and repeated the multivariable regression models accordingly. Furthermore, we used inverse probability weights to adjusted our longitudinal analyses for possible non-response bias from drop-out between the baseline and follow-up examination [25]. Finally, we additionally adjusted the multivariable models for blood sampling time to evaluate the potential impact of the diurnal cycle in PRL secretion on the revealed estimates. Two-sided probability values < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. All the statistical analyses were performed using Stata 11.0 (Stata Corporation, College Station, TX, USA).
Comparing the baseline characteristics of the study sample by sex, men showed significantly lower PRL concentrations and a higher cardiometabolic risk factor level (with regard to smoking, alcohol consumption, BMI, blood pressure, lipid levels and parameters of glycemic control) than women (Table 1). Also the prevalence of MetS (34.0% vs. 22.2%) and T2DM (12.6% vs. 9.0%) was higher in men compared to women.
Cross-sectional age-adjusted regression models showed an inverse association between PRL and MetS risk in women (Q1 vs. Q4: RR, 1.32; 95% CI, 1.04 – 1.66), but not in men (Q1 vs. Q4: RR, 1.15; 95% CI, 0.97 – 1.37). This sex-specific association was not retained after multivariable adjustment (Table 2). Low PRL concentrations were consistently associated with T2DM in age- and multivariable-adjusted regression models (men: Q1 vs. Q4: RR, 1.55; 95% CI, 1.13 – 2.14; women: Q1 vs. Q4: RR, 1.70; 95% CI, 1.10 – 2.62). Furthermore, p for trend analyses showed a progressive inverse relationship across PRL quartiles. Likewise, higher PRL concentrations were associated with a significantly lower T2DM risk (RR per SD increase in log-PRL: 0.83; 95% CI, 0.72 – 0.95 in men, and 0.84; 95% CI, 0.71 – 0.98 in women, respectively).
After a median follow-up time of 5.0 years (range 4.4 – 8.5 years) 3,078 individuals (1,589 women) were repeatedly examined. Among the individuals without the respective condition at baseline, 27.7% developed incident MetS and 5.3% incident T2DM. Longitudinal analyses revealed a significant trend of lower PRL concentrations with increasing number of MetS components in women (p = 0.033), but not in men (p = 0.331) (Figure 1). Multivariable regression models showed no association of PRL with incident MetS and T2DM (Table 2). The conducted sensitivity analyses with 1) additional adjustment for menopausal status and parity, 2) exclusion of individuals indicative of PRL influencing medications, 3) additional inclusion of 'drop-out' weights and 4) additional adjustment for blood sampling time showed no impact on the overall estimates (data not shown).
To our knowledge, this is the first population-based study to show a cross-sectional inverse association between PRL and T2DM risk in both men and women. Using a large sample of 3,993 individuals from the general population, age- and multivariable-adjusted regression models detected an inverse association between low PRL concentrations and increased risk for prevalent T2DM.
These findings are in line with previous observational studies [11, 26, 27] of the relationship between PRL and T2DM. Among those, the only large-scaled study was conducted in 2,351 male patients with sexual dysfunction, in whom low PRL concentrations were associated with an increased number of MetS factors [26]. Similarly to ours, that study [26] and its subsequent follow-up [11] showed an inverse association between serum PRL concentrations and prevalent T2DM. However, since both studies based on male patient data, the comparability with the present population-based findings is quite limited. Furthermore, a cross-sectional study in 345 healthy volunteers aged 30-55 years showed a negative association of PRL with insulin resistance and a doubled risk of prevalent MetS per SD decrease in PRL [27].
Evidence from cross-sectional patient-based studies in drug naive schizophrenia patients suggests that high dopamine and subsequently low PRL concentrations [28, 29] are related to an increased T2DM risk, including insulin resistance and impaired fasting glucose [30]. Thus, one may speculate if common anti-psychotics could probably protect from T2DM onset and progression by increasing PRL concentrations through the inhibition of the D2 receptor [31]. However, since previous studies [28–30] were exclusively cross-sectional, cause and effect in the association of PRL with T2DM are difficult to determine. For example, a small interventional study in turn suggests insulin secretion as the major determinant of PRL release [9].
In the search of potential explanations, two previous studies related alterations of serotonergic pathways caused by low PRL concentrations to the pathogenesis of MetS [27, 32]. Furthermore, PRL-receptor deficient mice show an impaired development of pancreatic ß-cells, finally leading to a blunted insulin response and mild glucose intolerance [7]. In contrast to our findings, studies including pathological hyperprolactinemia caused by PRL-secreting tumors (prolactinomas) showed that, after treatment with dopamine agonists, reduced PRL concentrations led to increased insulin sensitivity [33, 34].
These results, however, were collected in small patient-based samples with clinically confirmed prolactinoma and serum PRL concentrations outside the reference range, thus limiting its transferability to the general population. On contrary, HOMA-IR, as a measure of insulin resistance, did not change after treatment with dopamine agonists [33], and PRL concentrations did not correlate with HOMA-IR change or decrease in glucose, respectively [8, 34]. Interestingly, a previous cross-sectional study in obese non-prolactinoma patients showed similar absent correlations of PRL with insulin, HOMA-IR, and glucose levels [10]. Available in-vitro studies rather suggest an influence of prolactin on ß-cell secretion via increased glucokinase activity [35], improved ß-cell specific survival [36, 37], or inhibition of intrinsic ß-cell apoptosis [38]. However, to provide the necessary level of detail to elucidate the exact mechanisms of PRL on different tissues and its impact on cardiometabolic risk factors further experimental in-vitro research is needed.
We previously published findings from our study suggesting a positive association of PRL with biomarkers of inflammation [39] and mortality (cardiovascular and all-cause mortality) [40], as well as an inverse association of PRL with cardiac remodelling [41]. However, these observational findings from our and other studies do not provide consistent risk associations, suggesting the need for further investigations into the potential role of PRL as cardiometabolic risk marker.
For the interpretation of the present study, the following strengths and limitations need to be considered. Major strengths include the large sample, the longitudinal study design, and a broad age range. Furthermore, comprehensive sensitivity analyses were conducted to assess the validity of our findings. An important limitation of this study includes the reliance on single serum PRL measurements based on non-fasting blood samples, which is not adapted to the pulsatile release of PRL. But it was shown that the pulsatile secretion occurs mostly during the night and is relatively constant between 9.00 a.m. and 5.00 p.m. [42]. Further limitations arise from the Caucasian study sample, which restricts the generalizability of our results. Finally, we did not exclude other endocrine diseases, which possibly trigger T2DM including hyperthyroidism [43, 44], acromegaly and the Cushing Syndrome [45].
However, given the inherent limitations of observational research [46], the definite role of serum PRL concentrations as a risk factor or risk marker can not be elucidated based on epidemiological data alone. Previous associations between serum PRL concentrations and disease risk observed in clinical study samples, but not in the general population, suggest PRL rather as specific disease marker than as causal risk factor for MetS and T2DM. Thus, its application and significance in daily clinical practice is very limited to date.
In summary, this is the first population-based study to show low PRL concentrations related to a higher T2DM risk in both genders. But given the variable associations between PRL and T2DM, but not with MetS, together with the absent longitudinal associations with both outcomes, the present study does not support PRL as a causal cardiometabolic risk factor. Therefore, we hypothesize PRL rather as a marker of the complex multi-level alterations involved in the onset and progression of T2DM. However, to further elucidate the potential role of PRL in the context of this complex interplay, further observational as well as interventional research is needed.
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Oberweis B, Gragnoli C: Potential role of prolactin in antipsychotic-mediated association of schizophrenia and type 2 diabetes. J Cell Physiol. 2012, 227 (8): 3001-3006. 10.1002/jcp.24023.
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Berinder K, Nystrom T, Hoybye C, Hall K, Hulting AL: Insulin sensitivity and lipid profile in prolactinoma patients before and after normalization of prolactin by dopamine agonist therapy. Pituitary. 2011, 14 (3): 199-207. 10.1007/s11102-010-0277-9.
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dos Santos Silva CM, Barbosa FR, Lima GA, Warszawski L, Fontes R, Domingues RC, Gadelha MR: BMI and metabolic profile in patients with prolactinoma before and after treatment with dopamine agonists. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2011, 19 (4): 800-805. 10.1038/oby.2010.150.
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Yamamoto T, Ricordi C, Mita A, Miki A, Sakuma Y, Molano RD, Fornoni A, Pileggi A, Inverardi L, Ichii H: beta-Cell specific cytoprotection by prolactin on human islets. Transplant Proc. 2008, 40 (2): 382-383. 10.1016/j.transproceed.2008.01.009.
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Friedrich N, Schneider HJ, Spielhagen C, Markus MR, Haring R, Grabe HJ, Buchfelder M, Wallaschofski H, Nauck M: The association of serum prolactin concentration with inflammatory biomarkers - cross-sectional findings from the population-based Study of Health in Pomerania. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 2011, 75 (4): 561-566. 10.1111/j.1365-2265.2011.04075.x.
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Haring R, Volzke H, Vasan RS, Felix SB, Nauck M, Dorr M, Wallaschofski H: Sex-specific associations of serum prolactin concentrations with cardiac remodeling: longitudinal results from the Study of Health Pomerania (SHIP). Atherosclerosis. 2012, 221 (2): 570-576. 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2012.01.017.
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Pre-publication history
The pre-publication history for this paper can be accessed here:http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6823/13/12/prepub
The contributions to data collection made by field workers, study physicians, ultrasound technicians, interviewers, and computer assistants are gratefully acknowledged.
SHIP is part of the Community Medicine Research net of the University of Greifswald, Germany, which is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (grants no. 01ZZ9603, 01ZZ0103, and 01ZZ0403), the Ministry of Cultural Affairs as well as the Social Ministry of the Federal State of Mecklenburg-West Pomerania. This work is also part of the research project Greifswald Approach to Individualized Medicine (GANI_MED), funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research and the Ministry of Cultural Affairs of the Federal State of Mecklenburg – West Pomerania (03IS2061A). This study was also supported by the DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research) and by the BMBF (German Ministry of Education and Research). The used prolactin reagents were sponsored by Novo Nordisk Pharma GmbH, Mainz, Germany.
Additional information
Competing interest
There is no conflict of interest that could be perceived as prejudicing the impartiality of the research reported.
Authors' contributions
RH, LB, and HW contributed to the study design and ideas for the data analysis. HV, MD, MN, and HW organized the sample collection and data preparation. Statistical analyses were performed by RH. LB, RH, and HW contributed to the interpretation of the results and the discussion. LH drafted the manuscript and wrote the final version together with all other co-authors. All authors read, critically revised, and finally gave approval of the version to be published.
Lisa Balbach, Henri Wallaschofski contributed equally to this work.
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Cite this article
Balbach, L., Wallaschofski, H., Völzke, H. et al. Serum prolactin concentrations as risk factor of metabolic syndrome or type 2 diabetes?. BMC Endocr Disord 13, 12 (2013) doi:10.1186/1472-6823-13-12
- Cardiometabolic Risk Factor
- Multivariable Regression Model
- Serum Prolactin Concentration
- Incident MetS


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Left to right: Vicky March, Tim Rowbottom, Nadine Gray, Bradley Aldous, Billie Saunders, Phil Hawkes, and Nina Royle.
Collier & Catchpole says "you're hired"
Published: 24 October, 2013
East Anglian builders' merchant Collier & Catchpole has taken on three apprentices this summer.
Billie Saunders has been working with the team in Colchester since July on a warehouse and storage apprenticeship. The scheme proved such a success that further apprentices were then sought. Bradley Aldous was recruited for the Ipswich yard and Nadine Gray was recruited to work in the Colchester office; both apprentices started in August.
Collier & Catchpole became more aware of the potential of apprenticeships through its membership of the National Merchant Buying Society (NMBS) and the society's Apprenticeship Youth Enterprise 50 campaign, which was launched as part of its 50th anniversary celebrations. Supporting the scheme is approved apprentice training provider Didac.
Managing director Tim Rowbottom explained: "In difficult times it is all too easy to think only about today's problems and not look to the future. People are an essential part of Collier & Catchpole; having the right people is key to maintaining the high level of service we provide our customers. To ensure we have the right people for the years to come, we need to make that investment now and the scheme is helping us do so. It allows us to recruit enthusiastic, capable youngsters into an industry that offers all sorts of potential. The apprentices benefit by gaining valuable experience and training; we benefit by recruiting individuals who will help us to move the business forward in the coming years."


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A minivan, a sedan, and an SUV drove into a bar... wait, that's not how it goes. But if it did -- the joke would be on the sedan and SUV because the 2015 Toyota Sienna knows how to keep an audience with its stylish swagger, innovative tech and amazing handling. We know your family is itching to get into a Sienna, so leave your homes in San Clemente, Irvine and south Orange County and head on over to Capistrano Toyota in San Juan Capistrano, CA. Our seasoned sales professionals know how to keep your whole family happy, so let's pile everyone inside and take a test drive in a 2015 Toyota Sienna today!
Let's see how the 2015 Toyota Sienna compares to the Honda Odyssey.
With the cost of living always on the upswing, having a family is expensive, so you want to save cash whenever and wherever possible. You will with a 2015 Toyota Sienna, which has an MSRP of $28,600 while the Honda Odyssey starts at $28,975. That's almost 400 bucks that stays in your kid's college fund when you go with the Sienna over the Odyssey. And that lower price on the 2015 Toyota Sienna includes automatic temperature control, 17-inch alloys, integrated blind spot mirrors, HD Radio, and SiriusXM -- but don't expect them on the base Odyssey!
A minivan carries a lot of human and inanimate cargo, so it has to have a robust engine. The 2015 Toyota Sienna is propelled by a 3.5-liter V6 with 266 hp and 6-speed automatic transmission with FWD. But if you want more traction, AWD is an option. Not so much in the Honda Odyssey, which doesn't offer AWD on any model, and features a 3.5-liter V6 generating 248 hp and 6-speed automatic. Given the 2015 Sienna rides with more horses and an optional 4x4 system -- need we say more?
Space is the final frontier, and the first thing you look for in a minivan. The 2015 Toyota Sienna boasts a cargo volume with all seats folded of 150 cubic feet vs. the 148.5 you'll get in the Odyssey. And with all seats up, you'll get 39.1 cubic feet of volume behind the 3rd row in the 2015 Sienna while the Odyssey only provides 38.4 cubic feet.View Inventory


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Having a new central heating system installed in your home is the ideal way to make a real improvement to your whole property in one easy step and with the help of Arktek Heating Services it could be far more straightforward than you may first think. With an expert team to help you select the boiler that is most suited to your requirements and a fully qualified team of engineers who are able to carry out the installation for you and provide you with a full after care service as well at Arktek they will help you to ensure your boiler is fitted with the minimum of disruption to you and your family.
An efficient new heating boiler will also help you to lower your energy bills and reduce the impact that your home has on the environment. At Arktek they have an excellent range of modern combi boilers available from top manufacturers, many featuring some of the most up to date energy saving technology so you may be surprised to find out how little energy some of their boilers require to produce consistent and reliable results no matter how cold it gets and to see how much money you could potentially save on your heating bills in the future.
New central heating will help you to make every room of your home more comfortable to spend time in by maintaining an even temperature at all times, so the whole family will be able to able to benefit from one small change. Being able to keep the temperature throughout your home at a consistent level will also help to protect your property from developing problems such as damp and condensation which can be expensive and time consuming to repair, at Arktek they will be able to give you all the advice you may need to ensure any boiler that you choose is suited to the size and design of your property so you get maximum results all year round.
Having a new central heating system installed will also help you to add value to your home and make it more desirable to potential buyers or tenants if you do ever decide you want to move out, as having reliable and economical heating and hot water is a distinct benefit of any property regardless of its size or design.
Also as all boilers supplied by Arktek come with a complete warranty and aftercare maintenance services getting your new heating boiler with them means you will be able to feel the benefits of your purchase into the future with free servicing and repairs for the full term of your guarantee.
So if you want to make a real investment in your home why not consider the advantages of getting a new heating boiler installed by Arktek? Not only will you and your family have the benefit of reliable heating and hot water you will also be able to enjoy lower energy bills, a full fitting and aftercare service and be able to add value to your home while helping reduce the harm your home does to the environment, and with the competitive prices on offer at Arktek you may be surprised how affordable it can be as well.
For further information about the range of replacement gas boilers available from Arktek Heating Services, please visit our heating & plumbing services website. We will be in touch with you as soon as possible.
Has your home been on the market for more than 30 days? How about 90 days? If you find that your home has been up for sale for more than 90 days, you seriously want to sit down and consider what is happening. If you are not even getting any showings on your property, you may need to improve the curb appeal.
The curb appeal is basically a term for the appearance in the outside of your property. Stand on the sidewalk in front of your home. What do you see? The key is to try and look at it from the perspective of a buyer. If you have difficulty doing this, your realtor should be able to make suggestions or, if you are selling your property for sale by owner, ask a friend to help you out. They can give you a fresh eye to tell you what may need to be fixed.
The following are some things to look for when you want to improve your curb appeal:
- Make certain there is no chipping paint on your house, garage, or sheds. Painting the exterior of your home and other outbuildings will give everything a fresh look.
- If you have vinyl siding on your home, rent a pressure washer and give it a good cleaning. When it is dirty or covered with mildew, buyers may assume that if the outside looks this bad, the inside must be worse.
- Clean the windows. Many potential buyers can often be turned off by windows that appear dingy or dirty.
- Give your yard a good cleaning. Put all tools away and don't have toys laying around your yard. Everything should have a place, including your hose and rakes.
- Define your outdoor living space. If you have simply thrown your patio furniture out on the lawn and have it scattered about, try putting it all together to define the living space you have outdoors.
- Update your landscaping. Your landscaping should help to enhance the outdoors. If you have a tree that needs to come down, get rid of it. Planting flowers around the yard can also help to improve the appearance of your property.
These are just a few of the things you can do to give your property good curb appeal. Many potential buyers are lost by having a yard that is cluttered and a home that needs a good paint job. Get your property prepared for selling and you may find yourself with a sale.
Before proceeding with the installation of air conditioning it is necessary to remember that one part is inside the house and another outside so choose a place where the appliance well allocated for the air outlet and also consider a significant amount of pipes and wires up to other end of the appliance that should be on the outside. In this way, the closer the two ends are, the cheaper the cost will be with the pipes and the workmanship. Copper and aluminum pipes are also called refrigeration tubing that has gauges and thicknesses appropriate to the thermal load you wish to choose by making the correct BTU's beads per square meter. The piping with the correct electrical wiring, with cables sized according to the load you choose for the conditioner and also a unique circuit breaker for each air device that is installed. In order to k now more about Air conditioning installation Geelong, you can always take the help of the internet.
to Install a Split Air Conditioner Step by Step
First step
Unpack the parts of the
boxes to find out what each part is for, this can allow easier access when
installing the air conditioner , becoming familiar with all units and
Second step
Find a good place where
you can install the Split air conditioner, where you will mount the bracket on
the wall.
Third step
Then take all measures
of the unit that will be inside the house, so mark them on the wall, and
include the measure of the outlet of the pipe and the distance between the
center of the indoor unit and the center of the pipe.
These signs will help,
namely where you should drill the hole in the wall, connecting the two units both
inside and outside.
Fourth step
Once everything is
signaled the correct points is the time to drill the hole on the outside, so
remember to perform the drilling at an angle of thirty five degrees.
Fifth Step
Now you have to adjust
the height by passing all the cables through the hole in the wall to install
the air conditioner, when everything is ready you must fix the internal unit to
the bracket that is previously mounted on the wall.
Sixth Step
As soon as the internal
unit is already attached to the wall bracket, it will be time to cross the
tubes through the open opening to the outside.
Seventh Step
Now to continue to
install the air conditioner you need to unpack the box with the outdoor air
unit and begin to familiarize yourself with this component part of the air
Eighth Step
Now it is necessary
that the outer wall brackets are installed as needed for this unit, it is very
important to ensure that these brackets are properly aligned making the unit
perfectly level.
Make use of the metal
bushings that are provided to mount the outside wall bracket.
Ninth Step
Now the next step is to
carefully unroll the gas pipes by joining the unrolled part with the thermal
tape, which should be included in the assembly.
We often wonder how to
choose a good plumber. Between scams, uncertified convenience stores and poor
workmanship, the opportunity to come across an expert in piping that will not
meet your needs is great. Here are tips that must be
applied to be sure to find the provider that suits you. You may always check
information about Real
Plumbing Corporation, with the help of the official web sites.
plumber has been recommended to you
The recommendation of a
troubleshooter by someone who has already called on the latter is probably a
very good track. Nevertheless, be careful if it is a large company and not an
individual convenience store. Companies can change staff and change their
policies, so it is likely that over time the quality of service will drop.If
one of your devices is down, for example your faucet, find out about its brand
(it is almost always indicated on the device) and call the manufacturer of the latter.
Each brand normally has its authorized service providers who can intervene to
repair the device.
plumber meets his commitments
He must be able to give
you an idea of the cost of his telephone intervention for a simple operation
and to commit to a quote after a visit.The announced response time must be
respected. A good convenience store will call you back to inform you of a possible
delay.The plumber does not immediately propose to "change
everything".At first glance, you have little knowledge of plumbing, and
some stakeholders can benefit from it. A good plumber must take the time to
analyze the problem and look for the best solution, which is not necessarily
the most expensive.
plumber practices reasonable rates
The total amount of the
invoice must include the travel expenses, the cost of labor and materials. A
moving cost and a low hourly rate can mask significant margins on the
equipment.A good plumber knows the cost of his conventional equipment and will
be able to accurately assess the cost of the necessary change of equipment. It
is true that the material can be very expensive. To find out if this is really
what weighs heavily on your potential bill, ask the provider how the price will
change if you opt for another type of equipment.
good plumber has the required equipment
He must arrive at home
with the necessary tools, and have all the most common spare parts in his
vehicle.If the repair is complex and requires parts order, it must be able to
install a temporary replacement system. If it is an emergency repair which must
be followed by a more important intervention, take the time to make several
quotes.Whatever the size of the intervention, the plumber must preserve the
aesthetics of the premises, using the appropriate tools and putting in place the
necessary coverings.


text:
Testing of batteries for energy storage applications, for electic and hybrid vehicles and for battery driven devices requires a high demand of power and energy. This is an introduction of bi-directional working Multi-Channel Infeed Testsystem for testing batteries, which is saving energy and allows high power testing with limited rating of mains power supply.
Mr. Michael Reith is sales manager for international business at Gustav-Klein GmbH & Co KG. After studying electrical engineering in Kempten and business administration he specialized in power supplies and export business. He joined Gustav Klein again in 2014. He started his career as Project engineer for power supplies (3.5 yrs) at Gustav Klein, following as Produkt Manager and General Manager (in common 14yrs) at Beluk GmbH providing solutions for power quality mainly in international markets.
Michael Reith


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1.Name 3 Gins and 3 Dosters on our riding routes.
Manning Gin, Bradley Gin, and Gin Rd,
2.On what road/street is the wooden Indian located?
Manning Gin, Bradley Gin, and Gin Rd,Emmett Doster, Eliza Doster and Doster.
Bethany Church
3.On what street is Grandaddy's Crack House located?
Smith Mill
4.On what made up street is Charlene's Trim Shop located?
5.On the GTC Winter Ride, how many County line sprints are there?
None, its winter.
6.What is Ima Cool Lover and where is its home?
It is a horse and the stables are located on Michael road just past Bunk Tillman.
7. What is written on the Good Hope Store bumper sticker?
I'd rather be fishing.
8.What does the store at Fairplay not have that is very important?
An available bathroom. But, they will let you have free ice. It is in the fridge freezer.
9.What movie used a house structure located along the Bethlehem-Fairplay ride?
My Cousin Vinny.
10.On what road is the Day Lily Farm?
11.What violent act of history happened on Moores Ford road?
A lynching.
12.Name 3 roads with church in their name on which we ride.
There are so many. I already listed Bethany Church. There is
13.How long (km) is Bunk Tillman?
14. How many sections of dirt are there in the L�enfer du Walton ride?
Depending on what version, 15 right now.
15.On what hard short climb could you stop off and eat some goat cheese?
16.What small town that we ride through has the same name as 1970�s prison riot?
17.What are the names of the 2 reservoirs we ride over each year (not on the same ride)?
Willamson lake and
18.What is the name of the cobbled street on the
Finley. The tree that owns itself.
19.On what street/road is Bones restaurant located in the GTC nation?
20.What ride has the longest climb we do and what is it called?
Ride of the Fallen Leaves and it is called Maberry.
21.Where is the Trestle located?
22.How many of our current GTC rides actually start in
Any ride out of Harbins, N. Gwinnett Ride, and Grayson rides.
23.What are the names of the streets that intersect at Gratis?
Gratis Rd,
24.In the spring, it is the only road on which we always turn around.
Maple Ridge.
25.What is the name of the subdivision at the end of the La Primavera spring classic that usually decides the sprint?
26.Name 4 stills as part of a road/street name we usually use.
Callie, Randolph, Ralph and ??
27.There are 2 mountains listed on the maps in the GTC Nation. What are their names?
29.Name the roads that each have a functional wooden bridge.
30.Name the road in the GTC Nation that was the title of an R.E.M. album.


text: According to the historical data, people of Sparta were the original inventors of a hot-air bath, or laconica as it came to be known. When it spread to the city of Athens with its great social life, laconica soon became that perfect compromise between the needs of a body and the desires of human intellect. The harmony of both health and mind was reflected in the very design of Greek baths. Conveniently located between a gymnasium and a lecture hall, they became the place where Olympic athletes could listen to philosophical ideas of Plato and Socrates.


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Cafe World Renewed Renovations Goals: Everything you need to know
Back that beginning of February, Zynga launched a series of three "Free Renovations" goals in Cafe World, which offered users some pretty nice rewards for completing them - prizes that are normally only found in the game's store for Cafe Cash. Those goals apparently went over fairly well, as the "Renovations" series has been expanded with four new goals, called "Renewed Renovations."
The first of four new goals will only show up on your account once you have finished the first three goals in this series, so check out our complete guide to completing them if you still haven't made your way through them. As for this, once you're ready for what is technically the fourth mission in this series, you'll need to complete three tasks, which should look mighty familiar to those who finished the first trio of missions in this set.
Serve Eggs Benedict 14 Times
Cook Bacon and Eggs 14 Times
Ask for 10 Ladders
Eggs Benedict cooks in six hours, while Bacon and Eggs cooks in nine hours. While you're waiting for those dishes to cook, you can ask your friends for the ladders by clicking on Ask button and then sending individual requests to those friends that you think would be most likely to help you. Your rewards for completing this quest are 2 Stainless Wall Ovens, which are normally only available for 10 Cafe Cash.
Moving on from that quest, you'll start the second of these four new goals, called "A Perfect Pair." This quest asks you to serve quite a bit of food, but luckily, the particular dish doesn't take very long to prepare.
Serve Fish n Chips 45 times
Ask for 12 Lunchboxes
Ask for 12 Coolers
The item collection here is the same process as with the ladders in the first quest, and while you're waiting for your friends to send you those items, you can cook and serve the 45 Fish n Chips, which are ready after just two hours. Again, this is a quest that is nearly identical to that of that released back at the beginning of the month, so don't feel bad if you're suffering from a bit of deja vu. Your rewards for completing this mission are a Stainless Steel Cooker, and a Stainless Steel Countertop, more decorative items that will allow you to build a virtual kitchen in your equally virtual cafe.
The next quest is called Twice as Nice, and it is setup just like A Perfect Pair, asking you to cook a single dish in bulk while asking for 24 collectible items.
Serve Ginger Plum Pork Chops 35 times
Ask for 12 Bibs
Ask for 12 Serving Bowls
The Ginger Plum Pork Chops take a full day to cook, but remember, you can always speed this process up by using spices. You likely won't need to, however, as it will probably take you at least a day, or more, to collect the necessary items anyway. Finishing this quest rewards you with a Stainless Steel Counter, an actual functional item that acts as any other Counter in the game, allowing you to serve food on it.
Finally, after making it through these three new missions (technically six, if you count the missions that come before this), you'll need to run through another cooking and item collecting setup, but the prize here seems to definitely be worth it.
Serve King Crab Bisque 40 times
Ask for 12 Lunchboxes
Ask for 12 Coolers
King Crab Bisque is available to serve after one full day. Again, use spices if you'd rather not wait. Finishing this mission will reward you with two Lightning Stoves. Yes, that's correct - Lightning Stoves. If you don't consider this a worthwhile prize after this work, then I'm not quite sure what could make it better. The only problem will be in actually getting these quests to actually show up on your account in the first place, so that you can ask for these items (is a mission select screen really too much to ask Zynga?).
Let us know what you think of these new missions in the comments. Are two free Lightning Stoves enough of a prize to convince you to push through these quests, or is the item collection portion simply not worth the hassle? We'd love to know what you think.


text:
January 3, 2013 | Vol. 13 Number 1
Submit Coins
Collectors Club
Price Guide
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Dear Collector,
We are giving away a FREE 2013-W Proof Silver Eagle in a Special PCGS Holder with a Retail value of $75 to one of our readers. The Winner is William Chamberlin from Michigan. If you are the winner please send us an email to claim your prize. As always
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The 1933 Double Eagle on PCGS CoinFacts
The 1933 Double Eagle was the last gold coin struck for circulation by the U.S. Mint. Before they were legally released, however, a Presidential order was issued on March 6, 1933 prohibiting banks from payiong out gold coins or gold certificates.
Save Over 35% on PCGS CoinFacts Access
The 1995-W Proof Silver Eagle a Big Winner
By Jaime Hernandez
In 1995, the United States Mint issued a special 10th Anniversary set which was comprised of four Proof Gold Eagles and a special One-Ounce Proof Silver Eagle bearing the "W" mint mark. The 1995-W Proof Silver Eagle in this set would be the first Silver Eagle to bear the W mint mark and would also have the lowest mintage for any Silver Eagle ever produced by the U.S. Mint.
The 1958 Doubled Die Lincoln Cent
By Sam Lukes
The 1958 Class 1 Doubled Die Obverse Lincoln cent is truly an esoteric rarity. Indeed, there are many members of our numismatic fraternity who are not even aware of its existence. There are only a very few individuals who have been fortunate enough to view such an error coin or have been privileged enough to actually own one.
Exonumic Americana: PCGS Now Accepts So-Called Dollars
By Charles Morgan and Hubert Walker
PCGS recently began grading one of America's most diverse classes of commemorative medals, known in the exonumic community as so-called dollars.
David Hall Rare Coin Market Report
Click here to watch the video
Car Crash Yields Million Dollar Coin
By Jaime Hernandez
The 1913 Liberty Nickel is one of America's most famous and mysterious coins.
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Altersvorsorge (Nachrichten, Analysen und Kommentare)
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