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Trading Standards in the UK are issuing a warning to anyone who has brought a cheap mains charger over the past 18 or so months for their Nintendo DS, Lite, Gameboy, mobile phone or digital music player.
The chargers carry the code DE62347066, or are marked as "Travel Charger". They may also be carrying the CE safety mark, which is fake.
The following recall notice was issued via the Trading Standard website:
We are alerting consumers to potential electric shock and overheating problems we have found in certain non-branded gaming machine chargers imported from China and typically sold through on-line sites.
The chargers were supplied as accessories for charging Nintendo DS and DS Lite machines, although they could also be used to charge Gameboy machines.
One of the chargers causing concern can be identified by the product code: DE 62347066 which is marked on the black label attached. However, the other charger carries no identifying product code on the silver label and is simply called 'Travel Charger'. On the body of the 'Travel Charger' the abbreviation 'USB' is also visible.
If you believe that you, or a member of your family has bought one of these chargers you are urged to contact your local Trading Standards who can advise you further on the matter.
The chargers in question would have cost about £6 (US$12) to buy and cause problems due to the wiring and socket plug. The wires can come loose on repeated use giving a chance of electrocution and the socket plugs don't fit properly leading to overheating and potentially fire.
It's not known exactly how many of these chargers are actually on the market, but it is thought to be a figure at least in the hundreds of thousands.
Read more at BBC News and Trading Standards
Matthew's Opinion
You have to wonder how hundreds of thousands of faulty chargers have managed to enter the country for anything up to 2 years. They have actually killed someone while on holiday using a charger for his gaming handheld.
The fact they have a fake CE safety mark shows intent to sell unsafe goods and hopefully someone can be held accountable for the shipping and sale of these goods.
With electrical products it just isn't worth the risk of buying cheap products that typically only save you a few dollars, but can put your life at risk. Always buy from reputable online retailers and check the safety standards being used.
If you are in the UK please check your chargers to ensure they are safe. If you have brought a used Nintendo DS, for example, you may actually own one without even realizing it.


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Consider this a new year's resolution. Rather than wasting everyone's time with a list of self-improving abstract demands, like "read more books" or "get some exercise," we have a very specific idea of what we will need to discover before 2013 is all packed away and stored in time's dusty old loft. If our demands are not fully met, we will consider the year to be a failure, and may even decide not to renew the subscription on future years, to avoid further disappointment.
1: How did Sherlock die and yet not die?
A lot of people have theories about how this feat of not death could have been achieved. Few people get to fall from a tall building and land on the pavement below without suffering at least the mildest symptoms of being killed, and yet somehow Sherlock, from Sherlock, appears to have done exactly that, and it's not just Watson that is going to be hotly demanding to know how. We are too.
2: Who is Clara Oswin Oswald?
So far we are up to three iterations of Jenna-Louise Coleman's character in Doctor Who: the girl in the Dalek prison, the Victorian barmaid-stroke-governess from The Snowmen and the nowadays girl who likes to walk through graveyards. We don't know if she gathers an extra name with every new appearance – so by the fifth episode of Season 7 she's actually called something like Clara Elizabeth Mary Gavin Spandex Melancholy Oswin Oswald – or if she's being physically reincarnated each time, or what. But we'd like to know. We'd like that a lot.
3: What will Adele's "23" sound like?
Let's be honest, we like Adele best when she's fed up. Even on her first album 19 there were songs of longing and feeling lost, and what with 21 containing quite so many songs of sheer pointed frustration and sadness, no one is quite sure what the songs from a contented, successful, new mum Adele would sound like; "Please Please Go To Sleep"? "It's Your Turn To Sterilize The Baby Bottles"? "Oh Where Did That Pacifier Go?" And before you quibble, there HAS to be a new Adele album out this year, and it HAS to be called 23 or her album-titling pattern is ruined.
4: How will we all get by without Merlin?
I think we can all agree that it was a brave decision to bring Merlin to a definite end, rather than going for a sixth or seventh series and somehow diluting the fun of the show. But, even if you haven't snuck a peak at how it all pans out, and are agog for the first episode of Season Five to be shown this Friday, there has to be a nagging worry at the back of your mind that there will be a time when there is no more Camelot, no more bickering between king and wizard, no more secret magic and no more huffy Morgana. So, what magical history will we rally around then? Which mast shall we fly our flag from? Who will provide British character actors the chance to voice a TV dragon for 2013 and beyond?
5: Can we get through an entire year without seeing Sir Paul McCartney play "Hey Jude"?
Cards on the table, I'm a huge fan of Sir Paul, love the Beatles, love "Hey Jude" and generally do not get remotely wound up, as some do, by his insistence on being alive despite the continuing non-aliveity of his former band-mates John and George. It might seem an insult to some people's personal preferences on the matter, but it's just something we're all going to have to learn to accept.
However, we've had a lot of very public celebrations in Britain over the past few years, what with the Queen's Jubilee and the Royal Wedding and the London Olympics and whatnot. And the one thing you can guarantee will happen at pretty much all of them is that Sir Paul will appear at some point, and blam out "Hey Jude". He did it at the Olympic Opening Ceremony, appearing AFTER the fireworks, which is a brave place to put yourself considering how notoriously hard to top fireworks are.
So, for the sake of everyone's continuing enjoyment of the man and his astonishing muse, I would like to suggest a year off. Maybe two years off. Maybe it's time for Sir Paul to let someone else have a go at singing a crowd-pleasing anthem at the end of a public ceremony. Maybe we'll all enjoy "Hey Jude" a lot more when it's put back into its original historical context, as the A-side to "Revolution."
OK, 2013, you have your instructions. Do not let us down.
Feel free to add your own questions below, and we'll review the answers in a year (if we remember).Read More

subset: commoncrawl


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'What is a social good brand' is more of a marketing discussion than an academic one. Having said this, it is vital to distinguish between a true social good brand and a brand doing social good for building its reputation. The former category of brands excite me and are the focus of my work. In my e-Book titled 'Understanding the Art & Science of Visual Storytelling for New-age Social Good Brands', I have made an earnest effort to define a social good brand.
A Social Good Brand is an organized entity that primarily applies itself to solving a single or a multitude of socio-economic problems through resourceful and positive intervention and sustains itself towards its vision by raising funds from donors or by generating profit through business operations or both. This intervention is in form of a social innovation, delivered directly either as a product or a service or both to target communities and markets
If you relate to the above definition and can locate yourself in the below image then the ideas propounded in my book are directly relevant to you.
In my earlier post announcing the launch of my e-Book, I mentioned about an Interactive template that can help entrepreneurs and marketing managers identify what type of stories apply to their brand. As a prerequisite to that it is crucial for you to recognize that there are 4 types of stories that you can create for your brand:
Based on my experience of creating visual stories for a dozen social entrepreneurs across clean energy, education, healthcare and fair trade, I believe that there are 4 basic questions about you that need to be answered:
Who Are You?
Who Is Your Primary Audience?
What You Want Them To Do?
Why Are You Telling Your Story?
Answering the above questions equips you to take the next step to identify the most suitable brand story. Let me elucidate.
Let's say you are a For-profit social enterprise involved in providing livelihood to rural artists by giving them access to consumer market to sell their handicrafts. You want to raise funds for your startup by pitching your idea to an impact fund.
Here's how you can utilize the Interactive template in the e-Book to identify the right type of story to pitch
Try Out The Template By Downloading A Copy Of The e-Book
The template plays a small role in helping you decide what type of brand story to make depending on who you are and who is your audience. Change your audience and the template shows a different score. However it is only a tool. It is you as an entrepreneur or a marketer who needs to think about how the world wants to perceive you.


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May 18, 2017
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A new conference featuring theologian Greg Boyd. For ten years, pastor-theologian Greg Boyd has wrestled with one question: How can Christians reconcile the peaceful life and message of Jesus with the violent depictions of God in the Old Testament? The result of his struggle was a breakthrough discovery: the Cruciform
A youth conference for progressives. It can be difficult for a youth worker who identifies as "progressive" or "liberal" to find a tribe. Most events, conferences, camps, and curricula cater to evangelicals. But as progressive theology gains more of a foothold in the church, we need a place to gather as well
May 18, 2017
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Press Releases
The landmark youth event continues. Crucible Creative announces the fifth annual Progressive Youth Ministry, taking place March 7-9, 2018, at the Montreat Conference Center in North Carolina. Founded by Tony Jones and John Vest, PYM is a time of inspiration and challenge for progressive youth workers. The theme
May 1, 2017
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Press Releases
Crucible announces partnership with Re|Knew. Crucible Creative is excited to announce a new partnership with Greg Boyd and ReKnew Ministry. Boyd, a preeminent pastor and theologian, has recently published his groundbreaking study of violence in the Old Testament, The Crucifixion of the Warrior God. Re|Knew, a
April 25, 2017
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Press Releases
A new organization is born. Tony Jones is thrilled to announce the launch of Crucible Creative. Following up on many years of successful events like Christianity21, Progressive Youth Ministry, and the Church Basement Roadshow, Crucible Creative is the new home for Jones's conference planning, consulting, and
March 7, 2017
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Get Seminary Credit for a Boundary Waters Adventure. *Please note: This event is now SOLD OUT. Stay tuned for future learning adventures.* Join author and theologian Tony Jones for a week in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, one of the last untouched places in the Continental United States. Days will be spent
Donna Schillinger:
Hi there, this link isn't working: This trip can also be taken as a four-credit class in the Doctor of Ministr...
So glad to see your new undertaking! The site looks great....
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Event details:
Joins us for our upcoming "Coaching & Mentoring" session.
Further details to follow...
18:30 - Arrival and refreshments
19:00 - session start
20:30/21:00 - finish and departure
Cancellations and Refunds Policy
If you are unable to attend an event please give at least 1 working day notice and we will be happy to refund 100% of your booking fee or book you on to a subsequent event to the same value. Cancellations received after this time will be non transferable and non refundable.
Professional photography and video production may be taking place at the event, and these images may be used on future promotional materials for CIPD. Please note that by attending the event, you are giving your consent for your image to be used on any CIPD promotional materials.


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Power Women: Anouk Darling
Anouk Darling's unorthodox childhood laid the groundwork for brilliant, unorthodox thinking. Here Moon Communications' CEO talks us through her digital obsessions, motherly guilt, and her secrets to thriving in Adland's boys club.
At eight years old, Anouk Darling found herself living in a caravan on a remote Greek island trading her toys for meat and cheese. Thus began an extraordinary life of adventure, tragedy and an insatiable hunger for inspiration.
The spirited blonde was born in Australia but lived the first seven years of her life in the UK. The journey back home took her family one year, the majority of which was spent in the Mediterranean living in a campervan with two German hitchhikers and a Swiss au pair.
"We traded toothpaste and plastic toys with a Greek goat herder for meat and cheese," she recalls. "My brothers and I only had our imaginations, dad's insistence on afternoon Latin lessons and one copy of The Lord of The Rings to entertain us. There were no gadgets, no technology, no mobile phones (or any phones for that matter). Just us. I can't remember a happier time."
Darling is one of only a few women to head up a creative agency in Australia – a particularly phallic sector of the advertising landscape. Now, gizmos, gadgets and new media form a central part of her existence.
"Consuming blogs, trends, digital convergence, the new customer experience, the power of the consumer, m-comm, e-comm, the socialisation of retail, geo-mapping and real time. My head swims with it," she says.
"We all know and hear the trends – big data, content, social and digital. Advertising is creating connections through communications and therefore we have to be at the forefront of thinking. We have to be in a constant iterative state, rather than 'set and forget'."
Her path wasn't ever clear but she fell into brilliant luxury marketing roles: brand manager for Louis Vuitton, Oroton marketing manager, group marketing director at Conde Nast. She also did an MBA. Then her world came tumbling down. Her first child died prior to birth and her youngest brother committed suicide three months later.
"This was a once in a lifetime chance that only deep tragedy brings – to re-think everything," she says. She started consulting for Westfield Bondi Junction – one of Moon's current clients – and happened across Moon. They hooked up. Darling began as strategic planning director and quickly progressed to general manager. After STW bought the agency in 2007, she was promoted to managing director. It was sink or swim, and the agency did the latter.
As for working in the Adland boys' club, Darling says her STW bosses – all men – have always been entirely encouraging and supportive. Where she sometimes does feel prejudice, believe it or not, is from some clients.
"Obviously none that we partner with, but in new business meetings there is an uneducated assumption when we walk in with the team that my general manager who is a guy (albeit terrifically talented) is the head, before anyone has spoken or been formally introduced. They just start directing questions at him."
But what perpetuates the glass ceiling, from her perspective, isn't any external roadblock. Getting to the top is about choices and sacrifices and "a lot of women 'choose' not to take the top rung as other things may be a priority, like having a family."
For those who want a spot in the executive echelons, her advice is to find a champion or mentor – "someone to rally their cause and expose them to a broader network of opportunity," she says.
But her "absolute secret ingredient to success" is her husband. "He's the CEO of the household, the stay-at-home dad that allows me to have the career I have and reduce some of the 'guilt' that I'm not with the kids enough."
As for how she deals with powerful men, it's no different from connecting with your consumer.


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This year's forum will convene leading figures from the executive branch, the intelligence community, and academia for high-level discussions on key alliances and partnerships in American national security. The forum will feature keynote remarks by The Honorable Michael Pompeo, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. We will also be joined by an array of experts for four panel discussions on defense, intelligence, diplomacy, and international financial policy. The full agenda can be viewed below.
Registration is now open for the fourth annual Texas National Security Forum. The event is free and open to the public, however, advance registration is required to attend each session. Please click here to complete your registration and reserve your ticket(s).
This year's forum is co-sponsored by the Texas National Security Network, Stratfor, and the LBJ School of Public Affairs.
NOTE: Registration is required to attend the Texas National Security Forum. Registration does not ensure admittance. Please arrive early to secure your seat.
STUDENTS: You must register to attend. However, at the door, any unclaimed seats will be given to UT Austin students who can produce a valid UT ID.
8:00 am – 8:30 am
Arrival and Registration
(Coffee/Tea/Light Breakfast served)
Session I
8:30 am – 8:45 am
Welcome by William Inboden, Executive Director of the Clements Center for National Security, and Robert Chesney, Director of the Robert Strauss Center for International Security and Law
8:45 am – 10:00 am
Panel One: Defense Perspectives
Moderator: Aaron O'Connell, Clements Center and Department of History
Lt. Gen. Douglas Lute, former United States Permanent Representative to NATO
Troy Thomas, former Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs on the National Security Council staff
Kori Schake, former Director for Defense Strategy and Requirements on the National Security Council staff
Gen. Mark Welsh, former Chief of Staff of the Air Force
10:15 am – 10:30 am
Texas National Security Review
10:30 am – 11:45 am
Panel Two: Intelligence Perspectives
Moderator: Fred Burton, Chief Security Officer, Stratfor
Leslie Ireland, former Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Intelligence and Analysis
Marcel Lettre, former Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence
John McLaughlin, former Acting Director of Central Intelligence
David Shedd, former Acting Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency
Session II
11:45 am - 12:15 pm
(Box lunch for participants and registered guests)
12:15 pm – 1:30 pm
Keynote Remarks by The Honorable Michael Pompeo, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency
Introduction by Dr. Gregory Fenves, President of The University of Texas at Austin
Discussion and audience questions moderated by Stephen Slick, Director of the Intelligence Studies Project
Session III
1:45 pm – 3:00 pm
Panel Three: Diplomatic Perspectives
Moderator: Amb. Greg Engle, Strauss Center
Elliott Abrams, former Deputy National Security Advisor
Paula Dobriansky, former Under Secretary of State for Democracy and Global Affairs
David Kramer, former Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor
3:15 pm – 4:30 pm
Panel Four: International Financial Policy
Moderator: Robert Chesney, Strauss Center
Janice Gardner, former Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Intelligence and Analysis
Richard Nephew, former Principal Deputy Coordinator for Sanctions Policy at the Department of State
Samantha Ravich, former Deputy National Security Advisor to the Vice President
Juan Zarate, former Deputy National Security Advisor
4:30 pm
Forum Adjourns


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Low serum concentrations of vitamin B12 (cobalamin) have been observed in users of oral contraceptives (OCs) (1), in women during pregnancy (2), and in men treated with high doses of ethinylestradiol for prostate cancer (3). Similar effects of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) have been noticed by some (4) but not all investigators (5).
Serum cobalamin has low diagnostic accuracy as a marker of vitamin B12 status (6). Because of the long-term consequences of cobalamin deficiency [see Ref. (7) for a review], it is important to investigate whether decreased total cobalamin in OC or HRT users is associated with other evidence of impaired cobalamin status, such as increased plasma concentrations of methylmalonic acid (MMA) and total homocysteine (tHcy) and decreased plasma concentrations of holo-transcobalamin (holoTC) (8).
We performed a cross-sectional study on 264 female healthcare students and workers. All participants gave written informed consent, and the study was approved by the Regional Ethical Committee and by the Norwegian Social Science Data Services. Study groups were OC users (n = 54) and controls (n = 81; age range, 18–40 years) and HRT users (n = 51) and controls (n = 78; age range, 41–65 years). The most frequently used OCs were triphasic combination tablets containing the synthetic estrogen ethinylestradiol and the progestogens levonorgestrel or drospirenon [Trinordiol™ (Wyeth-Lederle) or Trionetta™ or Yasmin™ (Schering AG)]. The most commonly used HRTs were either tibolone (Livial™; Organon) or the naturally occurring estradiol in combination with the progestogen noretisterone (Trisekvens™, Kliogest™, or Activelle™; Novo Nordisk A/S). We did not collect data on menstrual cycle or menopause. Detailed characteristics of the study population are given in Table 1 of the Data Supplement that accompanies the online version of this Technical Brief at http://www.clinchem.org/content/vol51/issue4/.
Venous blood samples were collected over 6 months on a single occasion from each of the 264 consecutive nonfasting individuals. Blood samples used for tHcy measurements were immediately placed on ice, and EDTA-plasma was separated within 2 h after collection. For serum, blood was allowed to clot at room temperature for 30 min before centrifugation. The samples were kept at −80 °C until analysis, and the maximum storage time was 2.5 years.
Serum creatinine was analyzed by the Jaffe alkaline picrate method, and plasma MMA, plasma tHcy (9), serum folate, whole-blood cell folate (10)(11), serum cobalamin (12), and plasma holoTC(13) were measured with the cited methods. A more detailed description of the methods is given in the online Data Supplement.
We used SPSS 10.0 for Windows NT 4.0 (SPSS Inc.) for statistical analyses, if not otherwise indicated. Mean values (range) are given for gaussian-distributed variables and median values (range) for variables showing skewed distributions. Means were compared by the Student t-test and medians by the Mann–Whitney U-test. Categorical data were compared between groups with the Fisher exact test. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess whether OC and HRT use independently affected plasma concentrations of MMA and tHcy after adjustment for age, serum creatinine, serum folate, number of cigarettes smoked, vitamin supplementation, and dietary factors, and results are reported as odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Bivariate relationships were evaluated by the Spearman correlation test. The dose–response relationships between cobalamin, holoTC, and metabolites were determined with gaussian generalized models (14), as implemented in R(15). This method generates a graphic presentation of the relationships and allows adjustment for covariates. P values ≤0.05 were considered significant.
In OC users, median concentrations of both serum cobalamin and plasma holoTC were ∼25% lower than in controls (Table 1⇓ ). However, there was no difference between OC users and controls in the relationship between plasma holoTC and total serum cobalamin expressed as the holoTC/cobalamin ratio, and in plasma MMA, plasma tHcy, serum folate, whole-blood folate, and serum creatinine (Table 1⇓ ). The lower concentrations of total cobalamin and holoTC were not accompanied by signs of functional cobalamin deficiency as judged by plasma MMA (<0.26 μmol/L) and plasma tHcy (<15.0 μmol/L) values within the reference intervals for >98% of OC users. Notably, no controls and only one OC user had biochemical signs (cobalamin, 67 pmol/L; holoTC, 12 pmol/L; tHcy, 63.1 μmol/L; MMA, 0.34 μmol/L) of cobalamin deficiency. However, OC use increased the risk of having plasma MMA in the highest quartile [>0.16 μmol/L; OR (95% CI), 3.5 (1.3–9.5); P = 0.01] but was not associated with plasma tHcy in the highest quartile [>9.2 μmol/L; OR (95% CI), 1.2 (0.4–3.8); P = 0.8].
We investigated the relationships of plasma holoTC and serum cobalamin with plasma concentrations of MMA and tHcy in the young women, using a gaussian generalized model that produces dose–response curves adjusted for age, serum creatinine, and the daily number of cigarettes smoked (Fig. 1⇓ ). In women not taking OCs, the relationship of plasma holoTC and serum cobalamin with plasma MMA was weak and nonsignificant, whereas in OC users, both analytes showed a strong, inverse correlation with plasma MMA, particularly at low concentrations. Opposite interrelationships according to OC use were seen for plasma tHcy: strong negative associations were observed in the control group, whereas essentially no relationships were found in OC users (Fig. 1⇓ ). The relationships depicted in Fig. 1⇓ were supported by Spearman correlation analyses; the Spearman correlation coefficients are listed in Table 2 of the online Data Supplement.
In HRT users, the concentrations of blood markers were not significantly different from in controls (Table 1⇓ ), and we found no association between HRT use and the risk of having plasma tHcy in the highest quartile (>10.1 μmol/L), holoTC in the lowest quartile (<61 pmol/L), or serum cobalamin in the lowest quartile (<281 pmol/L). However, HRT use lowered the risk of having plasma MMA in the highest quartile [>0.19 μmol/L; OR (95% CI), 0.31 (0.11–0.93); P = 0.04].
Low serum cobalamin attributable to OC use has been described by others (1)(16), whereas low plasma holoTC in OC users has not been reported previously. The proportional decreases in both cobalamin markers may indicate that cobalamin bound to haptocorrin and to TC was equally affected in OC users. However, we have previously shown that total TC is not significantly lower in OC users (17), whereas others have found an OC-induced decrease in haptocorrins (18). Hence, the mechanism for the observed decrease in plasma holoTC is not readily apparent.
Plasma MMA values in OC users have not been published before, and earlier studies indicated that urinary MMA concentrations did not differ between OC users and controls (18). Plasma tHcy has been reported to not be influenced by OC use [see Ref. (1) and references therein], which agrees with our data. This could be attributable to the Hcy-lowering effects of female sex hormones (19), which may antagonize the tHcy increase secondary to impaired cobalamin status. Alternatively, female sex hormones may cause intracellular cobalamin redistribution favoring supply of cobalamin as a cofactor for methionine synthase at the expense of the methylmalonyl-CoA mutase reaction. Such cobalamin redistribution may explain the observed increase in the risk of having MMA values in the highest quartile [>0.16 μmol/L; OR (95% CI), 3.5 (1.3–9.5); P = 0.01], the strengthening of the relationships of plasma holoTC and serum cobalamin with plasma MMA, and the weakening of the relationships with plasma tHcy in OC users (Fig. 1⇓ ; also see Table 2 in the online Data Supplement).
In HRT users, we found no significant differences in serum cobalamin or in plasma holoTC, MMA, and tHcy compared with controls. To our knowledge, there are currently no published data on the effects of HRT on plasma holoTC, and studies on serum cobalamin have not established a clear pattern (4)(5). We observed that HRT use decreased the risk of having plasma MMA in the highest quartile but was not associated with significant changes in plasma MMA (Table 1⇓ ). In another study investigating postmenopausal women >60 years, HRT users had significantly lower plasma MMA than nonusers (5). Oral HRT lowered (20) or did not affect plasma tHcy (4). Our findings indicate at least that use of HRT has no negative effect on cobalamin status.
In conclusion, both serum cobalamin and holoTC are lower by 25% in younger women taking OCs, but this is not associated with significantly higher concentrations of the metabolic markers of impaired cobalamin status, plasma MMA and plasma tHcy. This may suggest redistribution rather than depletion of intracellular cobalamin. Such hormonal effects may weaken the diagnostic utility of total cobalamin and holoTC. Further studies are warranted to decide whether OC users with marginal cobalamin status are prone to develop cobalamin deficiency. HRT use had no noticeable effect on circulating cobalamin, holoTC, or the metabolic markers.
This study was supported by the Laboratory of Clinical Biochemistry at the Haukeland University Hospital, the Section of Pharmacology at the University of Bergen, the Foundation to promote research into functional vitamin B12 deficiency, and the EU Commission Demonstration Project (Contract NO.QLK3-CT-2002-01775).
- © 2005 The American Association for Clinical Chemistry


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Delivery Information
Tables-tennis-tables.co.uk is unique in many ways and our delivery service is one of them.
There are several different ways your delivery will be made depending on which table you choose. Each manufacturer will use a different delivery company. On the whole these are 2-man delivery teams, but their delivery times and methods vary. Below is a guide to let you know the delivery process of each manufacturer. Please note deliveries are to a room of choice, but ground floor only.


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John- "uh oh"
Morgan- "F*CK! The dress is too small"
John- "Is it doable?"
Morgan- "If I don't want to eat."
Morgan- "Or sit. OMG I HAVE TO SIT"
k that print for the first dress was so cute! BUT now you get pockets and food so I'd say you're wayyy better off. cause vacay=eating non stop. well, for me anyways haha. I love J crew and I loveeee their outlet store by my house. k so awesome she still gave you 30% off! go J crew lady! Have so much fun in Michigan!!
xo, Candace | Lovely Little Rants
Ahhh thank goodness you found another one and wow that is so amazing that she honored the 30% off! Don't nice people just make you so happy?! Have an amazing time at the wedding and enjoy all of the cake you can now eat!
Ah thats such a shame the dress didn't fit! What a bummer when that happens! Thankfully the girl at the checkout honored your coupon so you could get a new one!
I am so happy you didn't completely lose it with stress! I definitely would have! But dress with pockets are the BEST! Now you can hide so many things in there (extra treats from the wedding maybe?). Have an awesome weekend!ReplyDelete
I would have been so upset! I'm glad they exchanged it for you and honored your discount! Dresses with pockets are amazing--my wedding dress actually had pockets and it was the best thing ever!ReplyDelete


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Other ideas & longer loops from Chiang Mai:
The Mae Hong Son Loop & taking your time.
Nan & the best biking roads in North Thailand.
Doi Mae Salong is another excellent over nighter from Chiang Mai, but first timers should always include this in a longer loop 'n 3-4 day ride around the Golden Triangle.
The TJ-Hamilton – Simon Siinthai Memorial Ride in November is also a must if you are in town.
Remember from wherever you are in North Thailand, Chiang Mai is only a day's a ride away.
2014 GT-Rider.com | Design by www.Website-Redesign-Company.co


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Christchurch Drain layers
If you're in Canterbury area and need a solution to your drainage issues please contact us now for a prompt fix. We provide both Residential and Commercial Drainage services, which includes fixing blocked drains and General Repairs. As well as new installations.
Drain Laying
We offer free no obligation quotes and advice via an ex Christchurch City Council Drainage Inspector employed at Shearings. All your installation and advice are guaranteed to comply with the current building codes.
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As Certified drain layers, we have over 60 years combined Residential, Commercial drainage and Civil drainage experience.
Residential & Commercial Drain laying
For all new Residential Drain laying services, maintenance and alterations of any size.
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We offer full commercial drainage services including New subdivisions, retention tanks, detention tanks and grease traps and interceptors. Contact us today for your requirements.
Drainage Inspections
As part of our residential drainage services and commercial drainage services, we offer drain inspections using specialist camera equipment. This allows us to determine what's causing the problem before digging up your ground - it's a useful tool that could save you a lot of money.


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You must be an employee in order to be subject to the workers' compensation law.
For example, if someone walks into a store to buy something, this person isn't allowed to have a workers' compensation claim because they're not an employee.
This can be as simple as the following: "I was hired 5 minutes ago, and now I hurt myself. I was an employee. Am I entitled to workers compensation coverage?" The answer is yes, you are.
If You are an Independent Contractor for a Company, and You're Injured on Location, Is This Covered?
If you're an independent contractor for a company, and you come into the location, then no, you are not subject to workers compensation law.
For example, if you're an independent contractor and you step onto the premises of somebody else, and you slip and fall, then you do not have a viable workers' compensation claim. No workers' compensation coverage is in place for you because you are not an employee. Instead, you self-insured yourself.
Alternately, if the place where you stepped had a wet floor or a dangerous condition, then ultimately you can sue them under a negligence theory.
If You Are an Employee of a Company, and You Get Hurt by an In-coming Vendor or his Equipment, Does This Create a Workers' Comp Case?
This case could potentially have two different claims.
If you are an employee of a company, and you get hurt while working, then you are covered by workers' compensation.
In addition to this, if the vendor is an outside supplier and somehow not related to the general contractor, as long as you, yourself are not a sub-contractor, then certainly you can sue the vendor in a personal injury claim. Therefore, you could potentially have two claims (workers' compensation claims & a personal injury claim)
Is a Person Still Covered by Workers' Compensation After His Work Shift Ends?
This answer all depends on where you were at the time of the accident. Let's assume you are working in a building, you clock out, and you slip and fall while still in the building, then you should be covered in your workers' compensation claim.
If you're in the parking lot when you fall, some questions may arise about whether or not you can be covered. If it's an employer's sponsored parking lot, then usually the answer is yes. You should be covered.
If you step into your car and you have an accident on the way home, most of the time, you're not covered. However, you could potentially be covered if you're doing an errand on the way home or you're actually in an employer's automobile.
If you're a delivery driver, and you're injured while delivering, then you will be covered.
Some exceptions could exist to these general rules, but these are the basic guidelines.
What are Factors that Affect a Workers' Compensation Claim?
The real question is, "Were you hurt while working, and are you an employee?" As long as you're hurt while working, and you're an employee, then your injury is covered.
Sometimes when you're injured, you initially think it's no big deal. However, over time, you learn that it's something major. Many times, people come and say, "Listen, my neck hurts after my accident while working. I didn't think it was a big deal, but it keeps me up at night."
As time goes on, their neck gets worse and worse. Ultimately, after they have an MRI, they find out that it's actually a herniated disk. Sometimes, they have to undergo therapy, injections, or even surgery because the pain is really bad. Therefore, even for seemingly minor injuries, it's a good idea to file a claim and understand your benefits.
Contact us today to receive more information on Workers' Compensation Claims. We offer a free initial consultation which is your next best step. Get the information and legal answers you're seeking by calling (954) 677-0155 today.


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The people in Hoi An are some of the loveliest I've ever met. Though there was often a language barrier to overcome, they still made an effort to understand and be understood. They were happy to joke and barter with us in the market place, explain the different teas and coffees on offer at the tea houses, and apologised when they didn't understand our questions – not that it could possibly be their fault that we had come to their country unable to speak their language!
Some of my favourites photos from the trip were of the people; so much so that this is a two-parter. Let me start to introduce you to some of the faces and souls that make up Hoi An…
This older woman was slowly pacing around the market place, utterly oblivious to everything going on around her. Including the speeding motor bikes, almost stopping my heart several times.
We watched this beautiful lady from the porch seats of the Hoi An Roastery coffee shop. She was sitting there with a dreamy look in her eyes, until the family dog came out to investigate. Look to the balcony above her head and you'll see it; apparently pup was unhappy with the goings on outside, and made it known very loudly. Not long after this photo was taken, the lady left her post and soon later appeared on the balcony, at which point pup was unceremoniously thrown inside.
I was actually trying to take a photo of the stunning building that houses the Sakura Restaurant and divides the street, but this lady was shooting for a photobomb. When husband pointed that out, I told her to smile and I'd take her photo instead, and smile she did 🙂
We had the most amazing cao lau here! The lady on the left in the polka dot top is Bee and she runs the show like an absolute boss. Watching her make food, greet and seat guests, collect money and tidy up was street choreography at its best. Later that night, I drew up the scene in watercolour, and showed her the next night when we went back for dinner; the squeal of excitement she let out and the way her eyes lit up as she grabbed my notebook from me to show her friend was pure magic, and one of those moments I'll never forget.
And this lady we visited for donuts. She just calmly cooked her donuts in the tiny little vat of boiling oil in the middle of her cart, amidst the mayhem of the night, and looked like nothing could possibly disturb her zen…


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When you are on your computer at work, it is too easy to get distracted. A world of information and entertainment is at your fingertips. Thankfully, there are a few browser plugins and extensions that make it simple to stay on task. Here are some of the best productivity plugins for each of the major browsers. Safari: Self Control With the Self Control application for Mac computers, you can set
We all like to be as efficient as we can be. Whether you are in Word or composing an e-mail, if you prefer the keypad to the mouse, using control- keys can save you a lot of time! Our computer tip of the day will help. Computer Tip of the Day You've probably seen at least some of these, but here's a comprehensive list of Control+one letter commands. Ctrl +
Strong IT support is essential for business growth and success. But how do you know if your business is receiving high-quality IT services? Learn about IT support for your business. Companies sometimes wind up spending more money in a particular area, such as cyber security, only to find out they haven't made the right decisions and received comprehensive services. The following are some of the critical components of IT support for
Any basic computer user knows about the dangers that lurk on the Internet. From email scams, to generic computer viruses, and suspicious links, making smart decisions while surfing the web is important. As important as this is, however, one of the more common dangers lurking in cyberspace, is ransomware. A malicious tool that locks your computer and demands a ransom, it's nearly impossible to get rid of once you're infected.
Thinking of purchasing a new device? In the workplace, computers are one of the most important tools that anyone could use. They help you to access your important documents, respond to customer questions, and even collaborate with others via Skype. Not to mention some prefer to bring in their own laptops to the workplace. These devices don't last forever, however, and it'll eventually be time for you to purchase a


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Cummins&Partners Reels In John West
Cummins&Partners has been appointed by Simplot Australia as agency of record for the John West brand.
The win comes following a competitive pitch late last year, and means that Cummins&Partners will have responsibility for all communications for the iconic seafood brand effective immediately.
Managing director of C&P Melbourne Tom Ward said, "We're delighted to welcome Simplot Australia to the family here at C&P, and to be working on a brand as famous and beloved as John West – we're looking forward to doing great work together in 2016."
Chief marketing and digital officer at Simplot Australia Fiona Allen added, "Throughout the pitch process, we were impressed by Cummins&Partners' insight, energy and their progressive approach to solving our brand challenges.
"We're looking forward to working with them to further cement John West's position in the Australian market as 'The Best'."


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YES Community Counseling CenterMaking a difference today for a better tomorrow
We are a community-based, non-profit organization that has been serving the residents of southeastern Nassau County since 1977. Though historically rooted in youth programs, we changed our name from Youth Environmental Services to better reflect the scope of services we provide, including school-based social work, counseling, drug/alcohol treatment, and a wide variety of other services.
As a result, we tend to those who are struggling with issues including but not limited to domestic violence, chemical dependence, family conflict, sexual abuse, marital/peer difficulties, bereavement, and health concerns.
We are making a difference today for a better tomorrow.
Our mission is to increase awareness about personal and community issues, prevent and treat substance abuse, and to promote healthy families and a safe community.
Latest News
YES is now offering Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) to individuals with Opioid and Alcohol Use Disorder.
For more information, call us at (516)799-3203.
YES Community Counseling Center is an Accredited Charity Seal Holder of the Better Business Bureau, which indicates that our organization has met the 20 standards for Charity Accountability. For more information about the Standards, please visit the BBB of Metro New York's website at www.nycharityguide.org


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Radioactive tracing with particles
There is provided radioactive particles having a ceramic matrix and an element which can be bombarded with neutrons to produce a gamma ray-emitting isotope. The particles are manufactured by mixing the ceramic components and the element, forming particles, sintering the particles, and the particles are subsequently made radioactive by bombardment with neutrons. Particles injected into wells or flow apparatus are traced by adding the radioactive particles and detecting the radioactive particles with gamma ray-sensitive instruments. Particles containing different elements are detected by spectral analysis of gamma rays.
Latest Protechnics International, Inc. Patents:
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to radioactive isotope tracers and methods for their use and manufacture. In one aspect, sintered ceramic particles containing an element having the capability to be made radioactive are provided. In another aspect, radioactive sintered ceramic particles are provided. In still another aspect, a method of manufacturing radioactive particles is provided. In still another aspect, a method of using radioactive particles to locate particles in a wellbore or other piping system with negligible contamination of the system with radioactivity is disclosed.
2. Description of Related Art
Radioactive elements are commonly used for tracing the flow of liquids and solids in flow streams. The elements can be present as a soluble compound in a liquid, as insoluble or slightly soluble particles of the element or a compound of the element suspended in the flow stream, or as a soluble or insoluble compound attached to particles of other material which are suspended in a liquid or gas.
Slurries of particles are pumped into wells drilled through subterranean formations for several reasons. One reason is in connection with hydraulic fracturing of wells. The particles are called "proppant," and such particles function to fill the fracture created in the earth around a well and thereby to allow greater fluid flow rate into or out of the well. It is desirable to know after a well has been fractured the vertical extent of the proppant particles that have been placed around the well--particularly, whether the proppant is located in a zone of the well containing hydrocarbons or whether the proppant has been transported to another zone above or below the hydrocarbon-containing zone. It is common for radioactive particles to be added to the proppant as it is injected into the well. After the fracturing operation is complete, a logging tool is run into the well and the location of the proppant-radioactive particle mixture is located.
Slurries are also used in a well for cementing the casing in the well. The cement slurry is pumped into the well through the casing and flows upward outside the casing. It is important to know where the cement is located outside the casing in the well after it sets. Radioactive tracers are sometimes added to the cement slurry as it is pumped into a well. After the cement has set, a logging tool which measures gamma ray radiation is run into the well and the level of radiation is measured at different depths in the casing of the well. Different radioisotopes may be added to different portions of the cement slurry and the logging tool may be used to measure the location of the different tracers outside the casing. A spectral log may be used to indicate the distance of the tracer from the wellbore.
Another use of slurries in wells is in the process of gravel packing of wells, In this process particles, called "gravel," are placed near the wellbore and in the wellbore outside a screen to prevent formation solids from entering the wellbore or plugging the screen. It is important to know whether the gravel pack is continuous and how far it extends vertically in the well. Radioactive particles are added to the gravel as it is pumped into the well and a logging tool is run into the well after the gravel packing operations are complete to determine the location of the gravel.
Radioactive tracers are used in many other flow systems for measuring flow rates, flow patterns and other phenomena associated with movement of fluids or solids in industry or science. In many of these applications the radioactive tracers are placed directly in a liquid. There is often difficulty from the radioactive material plating on to surfaces or being disseminated through the flow system to contaminate the system with radioactivity.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,492,147 discloses a process for production of resin-coated solids, the resin coating incorporating radioactive materials. U.S. Pat. No. 4,731,531 discloses the use of particulate material which is nonradioactive until it is irradiated by neutrons at the surface of a well immediately before it is injected into the well or after it has been deposited in the formation around the well. The nonradioactive isotope is contained in an infusible resin coated on the surface of the particles. Radioactive particles having an infusible resin on the surface were sold by Halliburton Company under the trademark RAYFRAC.RTM.. Other radioactive particles sold for use in the oil industry are believed to be manufactured by simply immersing sand particles in a radioactive solution and drying the particles, the radioactivity then being trapped within natural cracks existing in the sand particles.
Techniques for detecting and measuring radioactivity are well known. A device such as a Geiger Counter will measure total radioactivity. Techniques for measuring the amount of radiation as a function of the energy of the gamma ray are also well known. Each radioactive isotope emits a characteristic spectrum of energies of radiation. Spectral analysis of the gamma rays from a radioactive isotope of an element used in the laboratory and surface facilities is well-known. In recent years, tools have been developed and made available for measuring the spectral analysis of gamma rays in wells. Spectral analysis makes possible use of multiple radioactive tracers in a flow system or well at the same time. In addition, technology has been developed to determine the relative distance from the detecting tool of different tracers, based on the phenomenon of Compton scattering of the gamma rays. One system for use in wells is sold by Halliburton Logging Services, Inc. under the trademark TRACERSCAN. This same detection technology could be used in other flow systems. The spectral log in a well makes possible both the vertical and radial distribution of tracers used in evaluating the effectiveness of hydraulic fracturing, cementing, and gravel packing operations. The article "Tracer Technology Finds Expanding Applications," Petroleum Engineer International, June, 1989, pp. 31-36, and references cited therein describe the new spectral analysis technology and its application to wells.
In the application of radiotracers in wells, preferably no tracers are left inside the casing, since only tagged material outside the casing contributes useful information regarding material placement within the formation. A severe limitation in using prior art radioactive particles which are initially radioactive or which are made radioactive by neutron bombardment before injection into a well or piping system is that radioactive material washes off particles or is abraded or is broken from the surface of the particles as they are pumped in a flow stream. This loss of radioactivity from the particles creates a background radiation at certain locations or throughout the well or piping system. The extraneous source of radiation can be a severe limitation in subsequent radioactive logging of wells and greatly diminishes the accuracy of measurements intended to be indicative of conditions outside the wellbore. In piping systems on the surface of the earth, radioactive contamination can be hazardous and can interfere with other operations.
Therefore, there is a great need for particles that can be made radioactive and particles that are radioactive which can be pumped into wells or other flow streams without loss of radioactivity and contamination of the flow stream. Further, a method of manufacturing such particles which allows incorporation of a variety of elements which can produce distinctive radioactive spectra is needed, and a method of employing these particles to locate slurries which have been injected into wells or other piping systems is needed.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one embodiment of this invention, sintered ceramic particles which are a precursor to radioactive particles, comprising an element which can be bombarded with neutrons to form an isotope which emits gamma rays, are provided. In another embodiment, radioactive particles are provided. In another embodiment, a method of manufacturing particles specially suited for tracing flow in a fluid or slurry is disclosed. The manufacturing process comprises the steps of mixing in powder form ceramic components and an element which, when bombarded by neutrons forms a radioactive isotope, forming the powder mixture into particles, sintering the particles to produce an effective amount of strength and irradiating the sintered particles with neutrons.
In yet another embodiment, sintered radioactive particles produced by mixing ceramic components and an isotope which can be made radioactive by neutron radiation, which are irradiated by neutrons before use, are added to a non-radioactive slurry as it is pumped into a well. The well is then logged with an instrument which measures the level of radioactivity from the gamma ray emission of the particles. Gamma ray spectra are measured to differentiate tracers when particles containing different elements are injected into the stream at different times. In still another embodiment, particles in surface piping systems are traced using radioactivity measurements. In another embodiment, the precursor particles are bombarded with neutrons after their injection into a well or other flow system.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
FIG. 1 is a diagram of steps for use of radioactive particles in a well.DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The particles which can be made radioactive of the present invention are particles which contain a target element which is embedded in a sintered ceramic matrix.
The radioactive isotope particles of the present invention are ceramic particles that emit gamma rays to allow their detection by instruments. The particles are made of sintered ceramic components and an element which has been bombarded with neutrons to become a gamma ray-emitting isotope.
The ceramic components are common oxides, normally silica or alumina, but other oxides used in the ceramic art may be used. In the mixtures comprising predominantly silica and alumina, a range of mixtures from pure alumina to predominantly silica can be used. Mixed crystalline materials of silica and alumina such as mullite may be used. The ceramic components are first finely divided or powdered and mixed with the target element. By this technique, the target element can be uniformly distributed through the particle. The structure of the powdered starting materials may still be present in the finished particles, but the particles will have an effective amount of strength resulting from bonding of the original powder of ceramic components which has occurred during the sintering process. Other components may be added to aid sintering and to substantially lower the sintering temperature, such components being well known in the ceramics art.
The sintered matrix of the particles should have sufficient strength to resist breaking when the particles are pumped in a stream of fluid. The amount of strength needed will depend upon their application. If the particles are to be pumped at high flow rates in a slurry, such as in hydraulic fracturing treatments in wells, the particles should be strong enough to prevent breaking at high stress, substantially like the ceramic particles now provided as proppant for this application. For added strength, particles having an alumina content above 30 percent by weight are preferred. Also, sintered particles made from very finely divided powder are higher in strength. Powder less than 25 microns in size is preferred. If the radioactive particles are to be incorporated into a flow stream moving at a low speed and without abrasive conditions, much lower strength ceramic particles are acceptable, although high strength will not be a disadvantage. In addition to strength, density and size may be important properties of the ceramic particles to be considered in each application.
The target element added to emit gamma rays is embedded in the matrix of the ceramic materials before sintering. The element is selected based upon several variables. One of the important characteristics is the half-life of the radioactive isotope produced by neutron bombardment. This property is selected based on the measurements to be made and does not limit this invention. Half-lives of from about two days to about 250 days are commonly used. The energies of the gamma rays emitted by the isotope are also an important factor in selecting the element This is especially true when two or more radioactive isotopes are to be used in the same flow stream, when it is desirable that the energy spectra of the different isotopes not excessively overlap It is preferred that the energy spectrum of the gamma rays of the different isotopes not overlap such that the intensity of the gamma rays from each element can be more accurately measured. Thereby, the concentration of each individual isotope can be measured by spectral analysis of the gamma rays.
The cost and availability of the target element embedded in the ceramic particles is one consideration in the selection of which element to use in a particle Target elements suitable for use in the particles of this invention include gold, iodine, iridium, scandium, antimony, silver, hafnium, zirconium, rubidium, chromium, iron, strontium, cobalt, and zinc. Preferred target elements are antimony, iridium, scandium, silver, and hafnium. Most preferred are iridium and scandium.
The target element may be present in its elemental form or as a compound. Compounds of elements useful in this invention are commonly salts or oxides. Iridium oxide is available as a black powder known as "iridium black ". Hafnium oxide is available in pure form Antimony bromide is available is very pure form as crystals. Other compounds of the element may be used, but oxides and salts are readily available. The compound should be stable at the high temperature of processing of the ceramic particle, such that sublimation does not deplete the particles of the compound. The temperature of sintering the particles will normally be above the melting point of the compound of the element.
The concentration of the element in the ceramic particle will depend on the application of the particles, but an effective amount will be less than 5 percent of the weight of the particle, preferably less than 1 percent and most preferably less than 0.5 percent by weight.
Sizes of the particles will normally range from about 8 mesh to about 400 mesh. Particles of a wide range of sizes can be separated into desired sizes by sieving or other particle size separation techniques.
Specific gravity of the particles will range from about 0.5 gm/cc to about 3.9 gm/cc. Particles of different densities can be made and separated by density using well known particle separation techniques.
Radioactive ceramic particles may be manufactured by methods known in the ceramic industry for manufacturing proppants for use in hydraulic fracturing of wells or for manufacturing synthetic gravel for use in gravel packing of wells. Such ceramic particles for proppants are manufactured and used for their strength, their density and their sphericity. U.S. Pat. 4,668,645 discloses a particle for use as a proppant and a method of manufacturing such particles. U.S. Pat. No. 4,068,718 discloses the use of high strength and high density bauxite-containing particles for use as a proppant in wells and describes the methods of manufacture of such particles. The two aforesaid U.S. patents are incorporated herein for all purposes.
Other methods for manufacturing sintered ceramic particles from powder, employing a variety of grinding, mixing, pelletizing and sintering techniques can be used. Ceramic particles of various densities and strengths can be made by mixtures of the oxides of aluminum, silicon, iron, magnesium and other minerals. Ceramic particles made for use as proppants or in gravel packing are manufactured by grinding the ceramic components to fine particle sizes, preferably less than 25 micron particle size, forming a paste of the finely ground material, forming the paste into rounded particles with pelletizing equipment and then sintering the particles. Such particles are sold by Norton Alcoa Proppants of Dallas, Tex. and by Carbo Ceramics Company of Dallas, Tex. We have discovered that the ceramic components of such particles can be mixed with an element which, when bombarded with neutrons, forms a gamma ray emitting isotope, to produce a radioactive particle which has essentially the properties of the ceramic particle not containing the element. Such particles have high strength and resistance to crushing, and can be pumped into a variety of fluid streams without loss of radioactive material to the fluid stream and the conduits for the stream.
MACROLITE.RTM. ceramic spheres sold by 3M Company of St. Paul, Minn. are made from a ceramic powder to have void spaces and specific gravities as low as about 0.58 gm/cc. The particles of this invention can be manufactured by incorporating a target element into the ceramic materials of MACROLITE.RTM. ceramic spheres before they are formed.
It is advantageous to use elements which are not radioactive during formation of the particles, so that health hazards from radioactive materials are avoided during manufacture of the particles. This is an important feature of our invention.
After the particles to be made radioactive, i.e. the precursor radioactive particles, are formed and sintered, the particles may be injected into a flow system or the particles may be transported to a nuclear reactor and radiated with neutrons such that the element present forms a radioactive isotope of that element. The equation given below describes the level of activity resulting from neutron radiation:
A=N.sub.f * (g/M)* X.sub.sect * h * N.sub.L * (1-e.sup.-(0.693/t1/2)* t/3.7.times.10.sup.7
A=Activity in millicuries
N.sub.L =6.022.times.10.sup.23
h=Isotopic Abundance
X.sub.sect =Neutron Capture Cross Section
g=Target element mass in grams
t.sub.1/2 =Half life of produced nuclide in seconds
N.sub.f =Neutron flux (neutron cm.sup.-2 sec.sup.-1)
M=Target nuclide atomic weight in grams
t=Neutron bombardment time in seconds.
Activity produced is directly proportional to neutron bombardment time, neutron flux and target element mass. Once an element has been selected for its half-life of radioactivity and its desirable gamma ray spectrum, the concentration of the element needed to seed the particles and the neutron bombardment time can be calculated for a certain location in a certain nuclear reactor having a known neutron flux rate at different locations. The costs of the element and the neutron irradiation are selected to minimize the total cost of producing particles having an effective level of radioactivity.
The selected amount of the target element is added to a suitable amount of ceramic powder which is to be formed into particles, such that the amount of powder to be irradiated, stored and injected into a stream is convenient for the irradiation facility, storage facilities and pumping equipment available for injecting the radioactive powder.
Twenty millicuries of radioactivity is a common amount of radioactivity to transport in one batch. Therefore, this amount of radioactivity will be used as an example. Other amounts, for example 40 millicuries, are often used and the same principles are applicable. The equation above shows, for example, that if 20 millicuries of radioactivity from iridium-192 is to be produced, and the nuclear reactor produces a flux in the cans to be used in the reactor of 5.times.10.sup.12 neutrons cm.sup.-2 sec.sup.-1, 11.5 milligrams of iridium is needed for a bombardment time of 96 hours. This amount of iridium in the form of iridium black is added to a measured amount of ceramic powder, thoroughly mixed and blended, and formed into particles which are then sintered in accord with known techniques for producing sintered particles. The equation shows that if the amount of target element is doubled the amount of bombardment time can be halved. Therefore, the cost of producing particles having differing amounts of target elements can readily be determined, depending on the cost of the element and the cost of irradiation time. For many elements to be made radioactive, the lowest cost of radioactivity will be obtained with the largest amount of the target element in the ceramic particles. Then the highest limiting concentration of the element is determined by that concentration which changes the physical properties of strength or specific gravity of the ceramic particles into an unacceptable range of the property. Tests should be performed to determine the maximum acceptable concentration of target element by mixing various concentrations of element and ceramic components, sintering the particles and measuring the desired property. Specific gravity of particles may be measured by well known methods. Strength may be measured by crush tests of packed beds of particles or by individual particles strength tests which are well known for testing proppant particles.
For some applications, only a small amount of particles is needed to contain 20 millicuries of radioactivity. But, it is possible to vary the concentration of target element in the ceramic over a wide range of concentrations. The lowest practical level of concentration will normally be determined by the volume available in the reactor used for irradiation or by the pump used to meter the particles into the stream where they will be used. For particles to be used in hydraulic fracturing, 20 millicuries of activity will preferably be contained in a volume of particles in the range from about 5 milliliters to about 100 milliliters of particles. Much larger amounts of particles could be used to contain the radioactivity, but the minimum concentration of target element in the ceramic will usually be determined by the pumping apparatus used to add the particles to a stream and the volume limitations of the reactor used for irradiation of the particles. Small volumes of particles can be used when accurate means are available for metering small amounts of particles into a stream. Radioactivity levels in the range from about 0.02 to about 20.0 millicuries per milliliter of particles are suitable. Preferably, the radioactivity level is in the range from about 0.2 to about 4.0 millicuries per milliliter of particles.
After the particles are radiated with neutrons, their manufacture is complete. The particles must then be handled as radioactive sources. Well known techniques are used for protecting personnel from exposure to gamma rays emitted from the particles.
Radioactive particles are added to a fluid which is being pumped into a well or are added to a fluid passing through surface piping or equipment for other applications by first mixing the radioactive particles with fluid to form a concentrated slurry. The liquid of the slurry may be viscosified by polymers. The slurry of radioactive particles is stored in a small closed radioactive materials reservoir. The reservoir may contain an agitator to keep the radioactive particles in suspension. The slurry is pumped from the reservoir into the low-pressure section of the flow stream to be traced with a low pressure pump such as a peristaltic pump. A high-pressure positive displacement pump can be used when the particles are injected into a high-pressure stream. The concentration of radioactive particles in the concentrated slurry or radioactive particles is usually in the range of about 10 grams to about 1000 grams per gallon of slurry.
Referring to FIG. 1, in one embodiment of this invention particles are formed from a mixture of a ceramic material and a selected element which, when bombarded with neutrons, forms a gamma ray-emitting isotope, the particles are then irradiated with neutrons to form radioactive particles, the particles are added to a fluid before the fluid is injected into a well, the fluid is injected into a well, and afterward the well is logged with an instrument capable of detecting the radioactive particles.
For most applications in wells, the slurry of radioactive particles is pumped out of the reservoir and into the stream at a rate such that 20 millicuries is used to trace from about 10,000 to about 100,000 pounds of solid particles or about 10,000 to about 100,000 gallons of fluid The activity level may vary in the range from about 0.1 to about 10 millicuries per thousand gallons of fluid or thousand pounds of solids. This amount of radioactivity is preferably contained in a volume of particles from about 5 cc to about 100 cc, but much larger volumes of particles may be used with a suitable pump for pumping the slurry of radioactive particles. If this amount of radioactivity is contained in a larger volume of particles, the radioactive particles will either contain a proportionately lower concentration of target element or the particles will be irradiated with neutrons for a proportionately smaller time.
Preferably, the radioactive particles have about the same size and specific gravity as the nonradioactive particles in the flow stream when applied to tracing the particles in hydraulic fracturing and gravel packing operations. The particles should be small enough to produce low settling rates when used in cement slurries. For other types of fluids, the size and specific gravity will be selected to accomplish the purpose of the tracing application. For example, particles less than a certain size may be sieved from a mixture of sizes and added to a flow stream to determine the size of constrictions in the flow stream. Other applications dependent on size and specific gravity will be obvious to users of the particles.
Specific gravity of the particles can be varied to be compatible with the application. The ceramic particles produced for hydraulic fracturing of wells vary in specific gravity from about 2.6 gm/cc to about 3.8 gm/cc. The density of these particles will not be significantly changed when the element to be made radioactive is embedded into the particles. Preferably, radioactive particles will be made to have approximately the same density as the non-radioactive particles with which they are used. Particles sold by 3M Company under the trademark MACROLITE.RTM. may have a specific gravity as low as 0.58 gm/cc. Again, preferably the radioactive particles will be made to approximately match the density of the non-radioactive particles. Strength of the particles will also vary with specific gravity, but even the relatively low strength of these low specific gravity particles will adequate for gravel packing applications. Other applications not requiring high-strength can also use the low specific gravity particles. To avoid breaking and abrasion of particles, which can lead to loss of radioactivity from the particles, strength is preferably as high as consistent with other properties of the particles.
After the radioactive particles are pumped into a well and out of the casing of the well so that they are no longer in the wellbore, a logging instrument is lowered into the well which is capable of detecting the gamma rays emitted by the isotope of the element. The gamma rays are capable of penetrating at least several inches of the earth surrounding the well and of penetrating the casing in the well. The gamma rays specific to the isotope of the element may be detected by performing an analysis of the energy of the gamma rays detected by the logging tool. A spectrum of energy of gamma rays characteristic of each radioactive element present is obtained. Techniques are used for determining, based on differing attenuation by Compton scattering of gamma rays having differing energy levels, the amount of gamma radiation coming from inside the wellbore, which would result from radioactive material lost from the particles during flow down the wellbore.
Ceramic particles containing different target elements may be used at the same time or at different times in the pumping operation, may have different specific gravity or may have different size. The locations of the particles having different target elements are then determined with the gamma ray detector.
In gravel packing operations, the radioactive particles may be inside the casing and outside a screen or other type filter in the wellbore. In this application, also, the logging tool is surrounded by the radioactive particles.
In a flow stream or other surface apparatus, the gamma ray detection instrument is located in the vicinity of the radioactive particles to detect the gamma rays. Particle location of particles containing different target elements, which may also have different sizes and specific gravities, can be determined by spectral analysis of the gamma rays.
The applications described above assumed that the particles had been irradiated by neutrons before injection into the well or flow stream. It should be understood that the precursor particles, obtained after sintering and before irradiation with neutrons, can be used in all applications if a neutron source is applied to the particles after they are in the flow stream or well. The particles of this invention will be stable to their environment of use, and can be irradiated or re-irradiated long after the time they are injected into a flow stream or well.Example
Ceramic particles containing iridium were manufactured. The procedures normally used for manufacturing a ceramic proppant particle containing primarily alumina and silica and smaller amounts of other oxide minerals were used. The ceramic materials were finely ground. About 20 grams of iridium black, available from Aldrich Chemical Company, was thoroughly mixed with 30,418 grams of the ceramic powder. The powdered mixture was then formed into a paste containing chemical binders. The paste was formed into approximately spherical particles. The ceramic materials are said to be "green" at this stage. The green ceramic particles were then sintered by firing in an oven at a temperature in the range of about 1400.degree. to 1500 .degree. C. The particles containing the iridium were essentially the same density and crush resistance as the particles of high strength ceramic material without the iridium. The size range of the particles was from about 20 mesh to about 40 mesh.
A portion of the particles containing iridium was then placed in a nuclear reactor for a period of 42 hours. A volume of 15 milliliters of particles was irradiated at a neutron flux of 9.times.10.sup.12 neutrons cm.sup.-2 sec.sup.-1. At the end of irradiation, the activity of the particles was measured to be about 20 millicuries. The activity calculated from above equation was 20.7 millicuries.
The radioactive particles are transported to a well where hydraulic fracturing operations are performed. Fracturing fluid is pumped down the casing of the well and through perforations. Sand in the size range 20-40 mesh is used as proppant. Radioactive ceramic particles manufactured according to the methods described herein are added to the fluid along with the sand at an appropriate time. The ceramic radioactive particles have about the density of sand and are 20-40 mesh size. After these fracturing operations are complete, the well is logged with the TRACERSCAN system. Results of the log show that gamma ray radiation from iridium is present only near the perforations. The very low level of radioactivity in the wellbore above the perforations shows that loss of radioactive iridium material from the particles during the operations is negligible.
The invention has been described with reference to its preferred embodiments. Those of ordinary skill in the art may, upon reading this disclosure, appreciate changes or modifications which do not depart from the scope and spirit of the invention as described above or claimed hereafter.
1. A method of locating particles pumped into a well drilled through a subterranean formation comprising:
- (a) forming a mixture of (1) an element which when bombarded with neutrons forms a gamma ray-emitting isotope and (2) a ceramic material which when properly processed forms a ceramic particle;
- (b) forming particles of the mixture;
- (c) irradiating the particles with neutrons to form radioactive particles;
- (d) adding the particles to a fluid before the fluid is injected into a well at a concentration effective to allow subsequent detection;
- (e) injecting the fluid and the particles into a well; and
- (f) logging the well with an instrument capable of detecting the radioactive particles to determine the location of the particles in and around the well.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the radioactive particles are added to the fluid in a concentration range from about 0.1 ml/1000 gallons to about 10 ml/1000 gallons.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the instrument used in step (f) is capable of detecting the spectrum of energies of gamma rays emitted by the isotope of the element in the radioactive particles.
4. A method of tracing particles by providing in a fluid particles traceable by radioactivity, said method comprising adding particles to said fluid wherein said particles are comprised of a sintered ceramic material having embedded therein a target element, said target element being non-radioactive until said particles are bombarded with neutrons, and thereafter employing apparatus to detect radioactivity from said particles to determine the location of the particles.
5. A method as defined in claim 4 wherein said particles are bombarded with neutrons after said particles are added to said fluid.
6. A method as defined in claim 4 wherein differing particles having differing target elements are added to said fluid.
7. A method as defined in claim 4 wherein said particles are added to said fluid in a range of concentration from about 0.1 ml/1000 gallons to about 10 ml/1000 gallons.
8. A method as defined in claim 4 wherein said target element is present in said particles at a concentration in the range from an amount detectable by said apparatus to about 5 percent weight.
9. A method as defined in claim 4 wherein said fluid is a slurry.
10. A method as defined in claim 9 wherein the specific gravity of said particles is selected to match approximately the specific gravity of particles in said slurry.
11. A method of treating a well drilled through a subterranean formation comprising introducing a slurry into said well, said slurry having suspended therein particles, said particles being comprised of a sintered ceramic material having embedded therein a target element, said target element being non-radioactive until said particles are bombarded with neutrons.
12. A method as defined in claim 11 wherein said method of treating said well is hydraulic fracturing.
13. A method as defined in claim 11 wherein said method of treating said well is gravel packing.
14. A method as defined in claim 11 wherein particles having differing target elements are introduced into said well at differing times.
15. A method of locating particles in and near a well comprising logging said well using logging apparatus capable of detecting radioactivity and thereby determining the proximity of said particles to said logging apparatus, said well having been treated with a fluid having suspended therein particles, said particles comprising a sintered ceramic material having embedded therein a target element, said target element being non-radioactive until said particles are bombarded with neutrons.
16. A method as defined in claim 15 wherein said target element is present in said particles at a concentration in the range from an amount detectable by said logging apparatus to about 5 percent by weight.
17. A method of treating a well drilled through a subterranean formation comprising introducing a cement slurry into said well, said cement slurry having suspended therein particles, said particles being comprised of a sintered ceramic material having embedded therein a target element, said target element being non-radioactive until said particles are bombarded with neutrons.
18. The method as defined in claim 17 wherein said particles are bombarded with neutrons before said cement slurry is introduced into said well.
19. The method as defined in claim 17 wherein said particles are bombarded with neutrons after said cement slurry is introduced into said well.
|June 1960
|Hull et al.
|October 1960
|Beerbower et al.
|December 1988
|January 1970
|March 1974
|Smith et al.
|May 4, 1976
|Case et al.
|January 3, 1978
|Cooke et al.
|May 2, 1978
|October 15, 1985
|Jones et al.
|May 26, 1987
|March 15, 1988
|December 6, 1988
|Day et al.
|February 26, 1991
|April 30, 1991
|Day et al.
- Brochure "Tracerscan Service", Halliburton Logging Services, Inc., 1990. Article "Tracer Technology Finds Expanding Applications", Petroleum Engineer International, Jun. 1989. Brochure "Macrolite Ceramic Spheres", 3M Industrial Mineral Products Div., St. Paul, Minn., Jan. 1, 1990. Article "Tracers Can Improve Hydraulic Fracturing" Petroleum Engineer International, Jun. 1989. Article "Improved Evaluation Techniques for Multiple Radioactive Tracer Applications", 12th Internatinal Logging Sym. of SAID Paris, France, Oct. 1989.
Type: Grant
Filed: Nov 15, 1991
Date of Patent: Sep 7, 1993
Assignee: Protechnics International, Inc. (Houston, TX)
Inventors: Thomas R. Bandy (Katy, TX), Donna A. Read (Houston, TX), Edward S. Wallace (Englewood, CO)
Primary Examiner: Carolyn E. Fields
Law Firm: Pravel, Hewitt, Kimball & Krieger
Application Number: 7/792,809
International Classification: G01V 500;


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This Clean Eating pumpkin pie recipe is so good, you won't miss anything. You won't miss the eggs or butter and you'll feel good after eating such a healthy pumpkin pie with a wholesome crust and no refined sugar.
It has a deep, rich flavor from the maple syrup and is nice and thick from the coconut flour. I actually love the flavor of whole wheat pie crusts. They have a bit of a nutty flavor and go so well with the flavor of pumpkin pie or pecan pie or other dark, rich pies like that.
It's November, and as much as I complain about winter, I really do love the months of October, November, and December (just not January and February so much). I love the fall and the holiday season. I also love taking extra time during November to reflect on what we are thankful for.
We have a tradition of a Thankful Tree at our house. Basically, each night we write what we are thankful for on the back of a paper leaf, and then we hang it on the tree. My children love it, and I love hearing the things they are thankful for. Plus I love Thanksgiving! Does it get better than good food and family?
Now that we are officially into November, I can post this recipe, and I am so excited about it. It really is the Best Clean Eating Pumpkin Pie Recipe ever! I promise you won't even miss the eggs or butter, plus the crust is made with whole grains and there is no refined sugar anywhere to be found, so couple that with the nutrient-rich pumpkin you have a pie that you can feel good about eating – my favorite kind of pie!
I served this Pumpkin Pie Recipe to a group of taste testers, and they all agreed it was insanely delicious, and it's just an added bonus that it is healthy!!!
I used my Clean Eating Pie Crust recipe for this pie. I didn't add any sweetener to it, but if you like your pie crust to be a little bit sweet, you can add 1-2 Tbsp coconut sugar *. I would love to know if you try this pie and what you think of it. Please comment below and let me know what you think.
You may also like these recipes:
12 of the Best Clean Eating Thanksgiving Recipes for a Healthy Meal
The 9 Best Clean Eating Pumpkin Recipes – Fresh Pumpkin is the Best!Print
Clean Eating Pumpkin Pie Recipe
This Clean Eating pumpkin pie recipe has a deep, rich flavor from the maple syrup and is allergen friendly and Vegan with no eggs or butter.
- Prep Time: 45 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Total Time: 90 minutes
- Yield: 16 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: Vegan
- Clean Eating Pie Crust
- 1 15 ounce can pumpkin puree
- 1/2 cup almond butter
- 3/4 cup pure maple syrup *
- 1/3 cup almond milk
- 2 Tbsp coconut flour *
- 2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Make the pie crust in a 9 inch pie pan or 4 mini pie pans.
- Poke air holes in the crust with a fork, or place dry beans in the pie pan and bake 10-15 minutes or until crust starts to lightly brown.
- Combine the remaining ingredients in a large bowl.
- Pour into the baked pie crust.
- Bake another 35-45 minutes.
- Allow to cool and serve.
Not all almond butter is created equal, if your almond butter is on the runny side, you may want to add 1-2 more Tbsp of coconut flour. The recipe turned out great for me as is.
Keywords: pie crust, pumpkin, almond milk, Pumpkin Pie


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As I mentioned in an earlier post, I'm going to focus my efforts in August on two things: Working towards a more whole-foods, plant-based diet, and reviewing a new workout program.
For the workout program, I have chosen to give Kubex a try. This gym offers a few features that I think will work well for me at this point in my training:
- 30 minute workouts
- guided exercise technology (a trainer without having to pay for a trainer)
- privacy (usually I like group things, but I'm so embarrassed about my weight right now that this is awesome
- convenience (not too far from work, good hours, etc.)
- a mix of cardio and strength training
Do you go to Kubex? What do you like or not like about it? Is there anything in particular that you would like to know about it that I can check on during my month sojourn here?
I'll check back in over the weekend with my beginning stats and a report on my first workout. Perhaps even a video (if I can bring myself to do that–Yikes!).


text:
The Helio P20 will be primarily for mid-range smartphones. It features a LTE Cat. 6 modem with speeds of up to 300Mbps downlink and 50Mbps uplink along with support for dual-SIM standby.
It offers up to eight A53 Cortex cores clocked at 2.3Ghz and Mali T880 GPU. Built on TSMC 16nm FF+ process, MediaTek claims the new Helio P20 is 25% more power efficient compared to Helio P10. On the memory front, it offers Samsung's LPDDR4X RAM module.
The chipset supports LTE multimedia broadcast and multicast service.
On the other hand, MediaTek's first bio-sensing analog front-end chip, MT2511 is aimed for health and fitness devices. The MT2511 enables bio signal acquisition through ECG and PPG simultaneously.
It is compatible with MediaTek's existing IoT and wearables platforms, including the MT2502, MT2523, and MT2601 for Android Wear.


text:
THE first Ingmar Bergman movie I ever saw was "The Magician," at the Fifth Avenue Cinema in the spring of 1960, when I was 17. The only way I could watch the film this week after the Swedish director's death was on a remaindered DVD I bought in Paris. Like many of his films, "The Magician" hasn't been widely available here for ages.
Nearly all the obituaries I've read take for granted Mr. Bergman's stature as one of the uncontestable major figures in cinema — for his serious themes (the loss of religious faith and the waning of relationships), for his expert direction of actors (many of whom, like Max von Sydow and Liv Ullmann, he introduced and made famous) and for the hard severity of his images. If you Google "Ingmar Bergman" and "great," you get almost six million hits.
Sometimes, though, the best indication of an artist's continuing vitality is simply what of his work remains visible and is still talked about. The hard fact is, Mr. Bergman isn't being taught in film courses or debated by film buffs with the same intensity as Alfred Hitchcock, Orson Welles and Jean-Luc Godard. His works are seen less often in retrospectives and on DVD than those of Carl Dreyer and Robert Bresson — two master filmmakers widely scorned as boring and pretentious during Mr. Bergman's heyday.
What Mr. Bergman had that those two masters lacked was the power to entertain — which often meant a reluctance to challenge conventional film-going habits, as Dreyer did when constructing his peculiar form of movie space and Bresson did when constructing his peculiar form of movie acting.
The same qualities that made Mr. Bergman's films go down more easily than theirs — his fluid storytelling and deftness in handling actresses, comparable to the skills of a Hollywood professional like George Cukor — also make them feel less important today, because they have fewer secrets to impart. What we see is what we get, and what we hear, however well written or dramatic, are things we're likely to have heard elsewhere.
So where did the outsized reputation of Mr. Bergman come from? At least part of his initial appeal in the '50s seems tied to the sexiness of his actresses and the more relaxed attitudes about nudity in Sweden; discovering the handsome look of a Bergman film also clearly meant encountering the beauty of Maj-Britt Nilsson and Harriet Andersson. And for younger cinephiles like myself, watching Mr. Bergman's films at the same time I was first encountering directors like Mr. Godard and Alain Resnais, it was tempting to regard him as a kindred spirit, the vanguard of a Swedish New Wave.
It was a seductive error, but an error nevertheless. The stylistic departures I saw in Mr. Bergman's '50s and '60s features — the silent-movie pastiche in "Sawdust and Tinsel," the punitive use of magic against a doctor-villain in "The Magician," the aggressive avant-garde prologue of "Persona" — were actually more functions of his skill and experience as a theater director than a desire or capacity to change the language of cinema in order to say something new. If the French New Wave addressed a new contemporary world, Mr. Bergman's talent was mainly devoted to preserving and perpetuating an old one.
Curiously, theater is what claimed most of Mr. Bergman's genius, but cinema is what claimed most of his reputation. He was drawn again and again to the 19th-century theater of Chekhov, Strindberg and Ibsen — these were his real roots — and based on the testimony of friends who saw some of his stage productions when they traveled to Brooklyn, there's good reason to believe a comprehensive account of his prodigious theater work, his métier, is long overdue.
We remember the late Michelangelo Antonioni for his mysteriously vacant pockets of time, Andrei Tarkovsky for his elaborately choreographed long takes and Orson Welles for his canted angles and staccato editing. And we remember all three for their deep, multifaceted investments in the modern world — the same world Mr. Bergman seemed perpetually in retreat from.
Mr. Bergman simply used film (and later, video) to translate shadow-plays staged in his mind — relatively private psychodramas about his own relationships with his cast members, and metaphysical speculations that at best condensed the thoughts of a few philosophers rather than expanded them. Riddled with wounds inflicted by Mr. Bergman's strict Lutheran upbringing and diverse spiritual doubts, these films are at times too self-absorbed to say much about the larger world, limiting the relevance that his champions often claim for them.
Above all, his movies aren't so much filmic expressions as expressions on film. One of the most striking aspects of the use of digital video in "Saraband," his last feature, is his seeming contempt for the medium apart from its usefulness as a simple recording device.
Yet what Mr. Bergman was interested in recording was pretty much the same tormented and tortured neurotic resentments, the same spite and even the same cruelty that can be traced back to his work of a half-century ago. Like John Ford, one of Mr. Bergman's favorite directors — whose taste for silhouettes moving across horizons he shared — he would endlessly reshuffle his reliable troupe of players, his favorite sores and obsessions, like shards of glass in a kaleidoscope.
It's strange to realize that his bitter and pinched emotions, once they were combined with excellent cinematography and superb acting, could become chic — and revered as emblems of higher purposes in cinema. But these emotions remain ugly ones, no matter how stylishly they might be served up.
Even stranger to me was the way he always resonated with New York audiences. The antiseptic, upscale look of Mr. Bergman's interiors and his mainly blond, blue-eyed cast members became a brand to be adopted and emulated. (His artfully presented traumas became so respectable they could help to sell espresso in the lobby of the Fifth Avenue Cinema.) Mr. Bergman, famously, not only helped fuel the art-house aspirations of Woody Allen but Mr. Allen's class aspirations as well — the dual yearnings ultimately becoming so intertwined that they seemed identical.
Despite all the compulsive superlatives offered up this week, Mr. Bergman's star has faded, maybe because we've all grown up a little, as filmgoers and as socially aware adults. It doesn't diminish his masterful use of extended close-ups or his distinctively theatrical, seemingly homemade cinema to suggest that movies can offer something more complex and challenging. And while Mr. Bergman's films may have lost much of their pertinence, they will always remain landmarks in the history of taste.


text:
Neal Conan was a news reporter and cameraman who, along with his broadcasting engineer Manoli Wetherell reported on, and then became more directly involved in the X-Men's confrontation with the Adversary in Dallas, Texas.
Magical forces around Eagle Plaza caused beings from other times and places to enter the city. Wetherell had to save Neal from being killed by a barbarian warrior by shooting the barbarian. The pair proceeded to the plaza, where they filmed the confrontation between the X-Men and the government super team Freedom Force.
When the X-Men entered the plaza to confront the Adversary, Neal accompanied them, recording events on a handheld camera, while Wetherell remained outside, relaying the images to the world. Neal even accompanied the X-Men and their then ally Madelyne Pryor up to the Adversary's citadel above the Earth. To defeat the Adversary, Forge needed nine souls to open a portal to banish him, and used those of the eight X-Men present, along with Madelyne. Neal recorded the X-Men's sacrifice, and it was transmitted to the globe.
Neal was returned to Earth by Roma, who also brought back the X-Men, who for some time pretended to be dead in order to strike at their foes.
Powers and Abilities
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Neal posseses the normal human strength of a man of his age, height, and build.
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