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Authors: Carmen T. Jacobs1 Clarke H. Scholtz1
Affiliation:1Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, South Africa
Correspondence to: Carmen Jacobs
Email: email@example.com
Postal address: Private Bag X20, Hatfield 0028, South Africa
Dates: Received: 07 Aug. 2014 Accepted: 09 Dec. 2014 Published: 16 Apr. 2015
How to cite this article: Jacobs, C.T. & Scholtz, C.H., 2015, 'A review on the effect of macrocyclic lactones on dung-dwelling insects: Toxicity of macrocyclic lactones to dung beetles', Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Research 82(1), Art. #858, 8 pages. http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/ojvr.v82i1.858
Copyright Notice: © 2015. The Authors. Licensee: AOSIS OpenJournals.
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Avermectins and milbemycins are commonly used in agro-ecosystems for the control of parasites in domestic livestock. As integral members of agro-ecosystems with importance in maintaining pasture health through dung burial behaviour, dung beetles are an excellent non-target bio-indicator taxon for examining potential detrimental effects of pesticide application. The current review focuses on the relative toxicity of four different anthelmintics (ivermectin, eprinomectin, doramectin and moxidectin) in dung residues using dung beetles as a bio-indicator species. One of the implications of this review is that there could be an effect that extends to the entire natural assemblage of insects inhabiting and feeding on the dung of cattle treated with avermectin or milbemycin products. Over time, reduced reproductive rate would result in decreased dung beetle populations and ultimately, a decrease in the rate of dung degradation and dung burial.
The importance placed on anthelmintics to bring parasite populations under control has resulted in a challenging arms race to develop a product that exhibits the perfect balance between host and non-target organism toxicity and pest resistance. The need for more effective products is becoming increasingly important because pest resistance appears to be keeping pace with the development of new products. Pest resistance is arguably one of the top challenges as far as protecting livestock is concerned and probably the main driving force behind parasite control research in the livestock industries (Sangster 1999; Wolstenholme et al. 2004) as it has been reported in many countries, in a variety of nematodes and against all currently available anthelmintics (Sutherland & Leathwick 2011).
Anthelmintics, which control helminth pests by removing them, are grouped according to their common chemistry and mode of action (Sangster & Dobson 2002; Vercruysse & Rew 2002). Currently, the avermectins (ivermectin, eprinomectin and doramectin) and the milbemycins (moxidectin), collectively known as macrocyclic lactones, are amongst the most effective anthelmintics on the market.
The avermectins are naturally produced by strains of a soil-dwelling actinomycete, Streptomyces (Burg et al. 1979; Shoop & Soll 2002). All the avermectins have a unique pharmacophore that consists of a 16-membered macrocyclic lactone backbone (Shoop & Soll 2002) with a disaccharide chain at C-13 (Steel 1993; Vercruysse & Rew 2002). Although the avermectins are a glycosidic derivative of the pentacyclic 16-membered lactone (Albers-Schoenberg et al. 1981; Chabala et al. 1980), they do not possess the antifungal and antibacterial properties associated with the macrolide antibiotics (Albers-Schoenberg et al. 1981; Burg et al. 1979; Chabala et al. 1980). They act by interfering with invertebrate neurotransmission rather than inhibiting protein synthesis (Albers-Schoenberg et al. 1981; Chabala et al. 1980).
Ivermectin was the first avermectin to be introduced in 1981 (Steel 1993; Vercruysse & Rew 2002). Ivermectin (22, 23-dihydroavermectin) is a disaccharide derivative of the pentacyclic 16-membered lactone (Burg et al. 1979; Campbell 1985; Chabala et al. 1980; Römbke et al. 2010). The antiparasitic effect of ivermectin is extremely potent against insects, nematodes and acarines (Campbell 1985; Putter et al. 1981). Although potent, ivermectin is not equally active against all species and is often highly stage specific (Campbell 1985), so that a genus known to be susceptible to ivermectin may not be susceptible at all life stages (Campbell & Benz 1984).
Abamectin, a combination of 80% avermectin B1a and 20% avermectin B1b, is the starting material for ivermectin. It is effective against nematodes as well as acarines and to date remains the only avermectin or milbemycin to be used in both the animal health and crop industries (Shoop, Mrozik & Fisher 1995).
Eprinomectin was introduced to the animal health industry in 1997 as an alternative to ivermectin as it was considered to be the only topical endectocide safe for use in lactating dairy animals (Shoop et al. 1996b; Vercruysse & Rew 2002). Although ivermectin has no side-effects on the host and has a very broad spectrum of activity, with few exceptions it cannot be used in lactating dairy animals because of the levels of residue that remain in the milk (Shoop et al. 1996a, 1996b; Vercruysse & Rew 2002).
Doramectin was commercialised in 1993 (Vercruysse et al. 1993) and is the easiest avermectin to administer. In a study by Grandin, Maxwell and Lanier (1998), it was found that doramectin caused significantly less discomfort during administration than ivermectin.
The milbemycins, although structurally similar and with a similar range of biological activity to the avermectins, differ in substituents in a few of the side chains at the C-13 position and can basically be considered to be deglycosylated avermectins (Sangster & Dobson 2002; Steel 1993; Vercruysse & Rew 2002). Although they were discovered in 1973, before the discovery of ivermectin, they were originally developed for use in crop protection and have been used in veterinary practice from about 1986 only (McKellar & Benchaoui 1996; Takiguchi et al. 1980).
Moxidectin, the only milbemycin available on the market as an endectocide, was introduced in 1989 and commercialised worldwide by the early 1990s (McKellar & Benchaoui 1996; Steel 1993). The milbemycins are highly lipophilic (moxidectin is about 100 times more lipophilic than the avermectins), soluble in organic solvents and insoluble in water, and after an initial increase in its plasma concentration post-administration, it is redistributed throughout the body fat reserves, from which it is slowly released (McKellar & Benchaoui 1996).
Various studies have shown that a characteristic of the avermectins, regardless of the animal or method of administration, is that most of the dose is excreted largely unaltered in the dung, where it retains its insecticidal activity (Campbell 1985; Steel 1993; Strong 1993; Wardhaugh & Rodriguez-Menendez 1988). This is the focus of the present review.
Numerous laboratory and field studies have been undertaken on the effects of avermectins and milbemycin in cattle dung on non-target organisms and on their effects on different aspects of dung beetle biology. Countries with large cattle populations were chosen based on Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Statistic Division (FAOSTAT)'s live animal production database (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations [FAO] 2013). Although the methods used were different in each country and changed somewhat over the years, the results have remained more or less consistent.
Ivermectin is the most extensively studied of all the avermectins. The first study that set the scene for interest in the field was that of Wall and Strong (1987), who conducted an experiment in the UK to investigate the environmental consequences of treating cattle with ivermectin. In contrast to the control dung pats, the experimental pats contained few to no Coleoptera or Diptera. The results also indicated that there was no visible dung degradation in the ivermectin-treated dung when compared to the controls. This field trial showed that treatment with a ruminal bolus that delivers 40 µg/kg ivermectin per day was enough to disrupt the entire dung-inhabiting insect community. Various subsequent studies have simulated or repeated this experiment with variable results.
Lumaret et al. (1993) studied the effects of ivermectin residues on dung beetles by running a field trial on a farm in Spain in spring. Dung toxicity was assessed by recording the mortality of the dung beetles feeding on the dung. In addition, the numbers of larvae and pupae were recorded after 29 days. No adult mortality was recorded for the duration of the study but 100% larval and pupal mortality was observed in dung collected on the day after treatment. No differences in offspring numbers between treated and untreated dung were observed from day 6 onwards. A delay in development was observed for beetles bred in treated dung when compared to the control offspring. Pitfall traps baited with dung collected 10 and 17 days after treatment were similarly attractive with treated and untreated dung for the first 3 days, and then a peak of attraction occurred between days 4 and 6, when the dung was most attractive and still relatively fresh. From day 6 onwards, the attraction to the treated dung persisted for 30 days whilst the untreated dung became unattractive after day 7. Lumaret et al. (1993) proposed that increased attractiveness is a result of biochemical modifications in the dung composition, most likely as a result of protein degradation released by ivermectin therapy.
Krüger and Scholtz (1997) ran a laboratory trial to determine the lethal and sublethal effects of ivermectin residues in dung from animals treated with a single standard injection of ivermectin at 200 µg/kg. Laboratory colonies of Euoniticellus intermedius were provided with 250 mL of dung twice a week for 2 weeks and monitored for adult mortality as well as for brood ball numbers. Brood balls were counted, removed and incubated to monitor for emergence. No results regarding adult survival were reported. There was no significant difference between treated and control populations in the number of brood balls formed; however, on average, the number of adults emerging from treated brood balls was significantly lower than in the controls (similar findings were obtained by Fincher [1992]). Ivermectin caused 100% mortality in offspring 2–7 days after treatment and significantly fewer emergences from day 14 after treatment when compared to the controls. Prolonged development in treated broods (similar to the findings of Lumaret et al. [1993]) was also recorded, roughly 2.5 times longer for dung collected 1, 7 and 14 days after treatment and a larval developmental time of 5 weeks compared to the control of 3.5 weeks for dung collected 28 days after treatment.
Ridsdill-Smith (1988) studied the effect of ivermectin on the survival and reproduction of the dung beetle Onthophagus binodis in Australia. Ivermectin had no influence on adult dung beetle survival. Immature survival, however, was zero for week 1 after treatment but steadily rose to equal that of the other anthelmintic by week 8 after treatment. There was no untreated control.
Fincher (1992) compared the effect of 20 µg/kg and 200 µg/kg ivermectin on some dung-inhabiting insects, including the introduced African dung beetle E. intermedius in Texas, USA. The results revealed that neither dosage had any significant effect on adult survival, as described by Ridsdill-Smith (1988) and Wardhaugh and Rodriguez-Menendez (1988), or brood ball production when compared to the controls; however, emergence of adult E. intermedius from brood balls made with dung from cattle that received 200 µg/kg ivermectin was reduced for no more than 2 weeks after treatment (Fincher 1992).
Cruz Rosales et al. (2012) evaluated the effect of ivermectin on the survival and fecundity of E. intermedius adults as well as on the survival and development of E. intermedius from egg to adult in Mexico. They found that at low concentrations (10 µg/kg) the ivermectin had no effect on the survival or fertility of the adults or on the survival of the larvae, but they did record an increase in the larval development time. At the medium concentration (1 mg/kg) the survival of adults was reduced to almost half and no larvae emerged. At the highest concentration (100 mg/kg) 100% mortality was observed and no oviposition was performed. They concluded that the prolonged development time may cause a phase lag in the field activity cycle, which may reduce the number of E. intermedius individuals and the efficiency of the environmental services that they provide, and that more analyses with higher concentrations between 0.01 ppm and 0.1 ppm of ivermectin are needed to establish lethal concentrations for larvae and adults of E. intermedius.
Wardhaugh and Rodriguez-Menendez (1988) studied the effect of ivermectin on the development and survival of the dung beetles Copris hispanus, Bubas bubalus and Onitis belial in southern Spain. The results showed no adult mortality, reduced egg-laying and reduced juvenile survival as described by Ridsdill-Smith (1988). A marked reduction in adult feeding activity was observed in treatments suffering the highest mortalities, namely day 1–8 dung, and the inference was made that mortality was a result of the accumulating toxic effects, which suppressed feeding (Wardhaugh & Rodriguez-Menendez 1988). Whilst this study was aimed at the development and survival of the dung beetles, a decrease in the rate of dung decomposition as a result of reduction in adult feeding activity was observed.
Madsen et al. (1990) conducted field as well as laboratory experiments in Denmark to show how treating cattle with a single therapeutic ivermectin injection affected the fauna and decomposition of dung pats. The results from the field trial showed that ivermectin had an effect on beetle larvae 1–10 days after treatment but that the number of larvae was not affected by ivermectin applied 20–30 days before collection. The decomposition rate was significantly delayed when compared to control dung but also depended on variables such as climate, season, soil type, faunal inhabitants and microclimate. The results from the laboratory bioassays showed a 95% – 100% mortality rate in Musca domestica as well as Musca autumnalis for dung collected one day after treatment. There was no clear reduction in excreted ivermectin placed in the field for 7–62 days and the 62-day assay was obscured by natural mortality. Most of the variance found in this experiment was attributed to seasonal conditions.
Sommer et al. (1992) ran a field trial in Denmark to assess the impact of ivermectin residues on dung fauna and the resulting effect on dung degradation. According to the arthropods found in the treated dung, there was no significant difference between the residues found in the pour-on and injectable formulations even though the pour-on formulation was 2.5 times the dose of the injectable formulation; however, dung collected from cattle 1–2 days after treatment with the injectable formulation showed delayed dung degradation for up to 45 days but no effect was observed on dung collected 13–14 days after treatment. Dung collected from cattle 1–2 days after treatment with the pour-on formulation led to delayed dung degradation for up to 13–14 days after treatment, which was a similar result to that of Wardhaugh and Rodriguez-Menendez (1988) and Madsen et al. (1990).
Iglesias et al. (2011) evaluated the local effects of ivermectin on dung fauna and degradation under different meteorological and biological conditions in the same area in Argentina in 2011. The results showed that fewer arthropods were found in the dung of the calves treated with ivermectin, but the difference was not statistically significant.
Krüger and Scholtz (1998a, 1998b) conducted a large-scale field study to determine the ecotoxicological effect of ivermectin on the dung beetle community structure under drought and high rainfall conditions. The results showed a large effect on the dung beetle community in the form of significantly lower species richness and evenness as well as increased species dominance in treated dung during drought conditions (Krüger & Scholtz 1998a). During high rainfall conditions, however, fewer beetle and fly larvae were found in the pats after 7 days, but no effect of ivermectin was detected after a year (Krüger & Scholtz 1998b). This suggests that these ecotoxicological effects are likely to be more severe in times of drought than under more favourable conditions.
Kryger, Deschodt and Scholtz (2005) carried out a long-term, large-scale field study in South Africa to assess the effect of ivermectin on the structure of dung beetle communities. No observable effects of ivermectin on the dung beetle communities were found, as the disparities between treated and untreated dung were insignificant and most probably a result of differences in microclimate. Species richness and diversity were also unaffected and ecologically similar to the control communities. This study showed that treatment with ivermectin under extensive farming conditions in the South African Highveld can be considered safe with regard to the dung beetle communities under high rainfall conditions.
Strong et al. (1996) carried out a comparative field trial to examine the effects of ivermectin and fenbendazole boluses on dung-colonising Diptera and Coleoptera in the UK. Although there were no significant differences in adult beetle numbers between the treated and untreated dung, not only was there a significant difference in larval and pupal numbers between the ivermectin and fenbendazole treated and untreated dung, but the larvae found in the ivermectin-treated dung were inhibited in their development. Pitfall trapping showed no significant difference in adult beetle numbers between treated and untreated dung, although a trend towards higher numbers of beetles attracted to the treated dung was noted.
Römbke et al. (2010) carried out a field study in Spain to determine the effects of ivermectin on the structure and function of dung and soil invertebrate communities. They observed a significantly lower abundance of adult dung beetles on the dung from cattle treated with ivermectin compared to the control group. They also noted that although adult dung beetles were attracted to the ivermectin-spiked dung, the rate of degradation was slower than for the control dung.
Errouissi and Lumaret (2010) studied the effects on the attractiveness to dung beetles of dung treated with ivermectin. They found that the ivermectin-contaminated dung showed a significant attractive effect, which highlighted the danger of wide-spread ivermectin use as this potentially puts the dung beetles' offspring and, indirectly, future beetle generations' survival at risk.
Only comparative studies involving the effect of these products on dung beetles were available and are discussed in the next section, but two studies involving effects on other taxa are briefly described.
Lumaret et al. (2005) examined the larvicidal activity of eprinomectin residues on the dung-inhabiting fly Neomyia cornicina in France and found that eprinomectin residues in dung had a significant effect on N. cornicina as no emergences were observed on the dung from days 1–11 but after day 12 the first flies emerged.
Floate et al. (2008) addressed concerns raised about the use of endectocides affecting birds that feed on dung-breeding insects by testing the toxicity of faecal residues after doramectin treatment. A significant reduction in insect emergence was noted for dung from cattle treated ≤ 4 weeks prior, which was attributed to higher concentrations of the residues.
Fincher and Wang (1992) tested the effects of moxidectin on two introduced African species of dung beetle, namely E. intermedius and Onthophagus gazella. They found no significant differences between the mean number of brood balls produced by either species or on the emergence of progeny between treated and untreated dung. There also seemed to be no effect on the sex ratio for either species. They concluded that moxidectin seemed to be compatible with beneficial dung-burying beetles when used at the recommended dose.
Iwasa, Suzuki and Maruyama (2008) examined the effects of moxidectin on non-target coprophilous insects, more specifically the dung beetle Caccobius jessoensis, in cattle dung in field as well as laboratory trials in Japan. The results showed that concentrations were at maximum levels 3 days after treatment, showed a marked decline by day 7 and were not detectable by day 21. No significant differences were found between the control and the treated cattle dung with regard to numbers and weight of brood balls as well as emergence rates. Results of the field study, again, showed no significant differences between the control and the treated cattle dung. They concluded that moxidectin has no, or at most, the least effect compared to other avermectins on non-target coprophagous insects.
Comparative studies have been undertaken between ivermectin and doramectin (Dadour 2000; Suárez et al. 2003; Webb et al. 2010); ivermectin and moxidectin (Doherty et al. 1994; Strong & Wall 1994); moxidectin and doramectin (Suárez et al. 2009) and moxidectin and eprinomectin (Wardhaugh, Longstaff & Morton 2001).
Dadour (2000) examined the impact that abamectin and doramectin have on the survival and reproduction of the dung beetle O. binodis. This study was carried out in Australia and abamectin, rather than ivermectin, was chosen because it was the first avermectin sold commercially for the treatment of endoparasites in Australia. Significant adult mortality was observed in abamectin-treated dung 3–6 days after treatment and in doramectin-treated dung 9 days after treatment. Whereas abamectin residues had no effect on adult mortality in sexually mature beetles, sexually immature (newly emerged) beetles, which went through a period of intense feeding during which they were exposed to maximum abamectin residues, were found to be much more affected by the residues. In contrast to other studies (Fincher 1992; Krüger & Scholtz 1997), brood ball production was also significantly lower in beetles fed on dung from cattle treated with abamectin for up to 42 days after treatment. Brood ball production was also significantly lower in beetles fed on dung from cattle treated with doramectin, but only for 3–6 days after treatment. The enhanced brood mass in beetles fed on dung from doramectin-treated cattle at 24–34 days after treatment could not be explained. According to the high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) results, doramectin reached maximum concentration on day 3 after treatment, following a linear decline, with an elimination half-life of 15 days (Dadour 2000).
Suárez et al. (2003) compared the effects of ivermectin and doramectin on the invertebrate colonisation of cattle dung in Argentina. No significant differences were found in the numbers of adult beetles, regardless of the treatment. Faecal residue concentrations for both ivermectin and doramectin were highest in the first few days and remained relatively high throughout the experimental period. Doramectin concentrations were higher than ivermectin concentrations, as the results showed that after 180 days of exposure to environmental conditions, dung collected 27 days after ivermectin treatment still contained 56% residue compared to dung collected from doramectin treatment, which contained 75% residue.
Webb et al. (2010) assessed the abundance and dispersal of dung beetles in response to ivermectin and doramectin treatment on pastured cattle in Scotland by running a 2-year field trial. In the field-scale study, significantly more beetles were trapped in fields grazed by cattle treated with an avermectin than in fields where cattle remained untreated. The colonising trials, however, indicated that Aphodius beetles preferred colonising dung from untreated cattle rather than dung from cattle treated with doramectin and could discriminate between dung from untreated cattle and dung from cattle treated with doramectin at a spatial scale of at least 70 m.
Doherty et al. (1994) compared the larvicidal activities of different concentrations of moxidectin and abamectin on O. gazella to assess the level of threat they pose to dung fauna, and consequently dung degradation, in Australia. Although oviposition was not affected by either treatment, larval survival was affected by all concentrations of abamectin and by all concentrations of moxidectin over 128 µg/kg. In fact, moxidectin at 256 µg/kg and 512 µg/kg produced survival comparable to 4 µg/kg and 8 µg/kg abamectin.
Strong and Wall (1994) compared the relative effects of ivermectin and moxidectin on the colonisation of dung by dung-inhabiting insects in England. There was no significant difference between the three treatments in adult Scarabaeidae numbers showing that neither ivermectin nor moxidectin residues repel colonising adult beetles. However, dung collected from ivermectin-treated cattle up to 7 days after treatment showed high larval mortality, unlike moxidectin-treated dung and the control.
Suárez et al. (2009) demonstrated the effects of moxidectin and doramectin faecal residues on the activity of dung-colonising insects by depositing dung from cattle treated with moxidectin, dung from cattle treated with doramectin and control dung from untreated cattle on a field. Comparisons of dung degradation were inconclusive; however, total numbers of insects recovered from control pats were significantly higher than in treated pats. Furthermore, a lower adverse effect was observed for moxidectin compared to doramectin with no significant degradation of moxidectin or doramectin observed.
Wardhaugh et al. (2001) compared eprinomectin to moxidectin by examining the survival and development of Onthophagus taurus when fed on dung from treated cattle in Australia. The results showed that moxidectin had no effect on the survival or development of the beetles but the opposite was found to be true for eprinomectin. High juvenile mortality and suppressed brood ball production amongst those that survived were recorded. They concluded by designing a model that simulated the effects of eprinomectin residues and suggested that a single treatment of eprinomectin is capable of reducing the next generation by 25% – 35%.
Two laboratory studies provided comparative results amongst ivermectin, moxidectin, doramectin and eprinomectin but they were performed under different laboratory conditions (Floate 2007; Floate, Colwell & Fox 2002). Floate (2006) also wrote a review about the global environmental effects of faecal residues left by treatment of cattle with ivermectin, doramectin, moxidectin and eprinomectin on non-target dung-inhabiting species.
Pour-on formulations of ivermectin, doramectin, eprinomectin and moxidectin were applied to four groups of heifers in Canada at the recommended dose of 500 µg/kg and dung was collected 1, 2, 4 and 6 weeks after treatment. Artificial dung pats were then randomly deposited in a block design in a pasture adjacent to grazing cattle and collected again after 8 days to analyse insect populations. To monitor dung beetle activity, dung-baited pitfall traps were placed in the centre and at either end of the study site. Based on the number of species affected and duration of suppression, the results showed that treatment of cattle with doramectin, ivermectin, eprinomectin or moxidectin, in descending order of adverse effect and reduced levels of insect activity in the dung but moxidectin was the least likely to affect the natural insect assemblage associated with cattle dung (Floate et al. 2002).
Floate (2006) raised concerns that the use of endectocides in cattle may reduce the insect diversity in Canada and lead to the accumulation of undegraded dung on pastures as a result of reduced insect activity required for dung pat degradation.
Floate (2007) also compared the field effects of ivermectin, doramectin, eprinomectin and moxidectin residues on the attractiveness of dung to dung-colonising insects over 3 years in Canada. Pitfall traps were set in spring and autumn and re-baited weekly for a month in each season. Insect captures were compared between pitfall traps baited with dung from untreated cattle and dung from cattle treated with doramectin, eprinomectin, moxidectin or ivermectin at the recommended dose of 500 µg/kg. Twofold and up to sixfold differences in captures between control and treated dung were observed. More specifically, 11 out of 29 cases of attraction and 11 out of 29 cases of repellence were recorded for doramectin, eprinomectin tended to repel insects, with 19 out of 29 cases of repellence, whilst ivermectin (17 out of 25 cases) and moxidectin (17 out of 18 cases) showed a strong attractive effect. Floate (2007) concluded that emergence of offspring from field-colonised dung should not be used as a measure of residue toxicity; standardised laboratory tests should still be the preferred method, but rather as a measure of 'insect activity', which is a composite measure of residual toxicity, the number and species composition and the mortality factors such as predation, competition and parasitism.
There are a variety of ways to administer avermectins to cattle, namely subcutaneously by injection, topically in the form of a pour-on and orally in various forms. Lumaret et al. (2005) determined the faecal concentrations of pour-on eprinomectin in cattle following treatment at the recommended dose of 500 µg/kg by using HPLC. The maximum faecal concentrations were recorded 3 days after treatment. Eprinomectin remained detectable in the faeces until 29 days after treatment. Lumaret et al. (1993) measured ivermectin concentrations in dung from cattle treated with a single dose of injectable ivermectin at the recommended dose rate of 200 µg/kg by using HPLC. Chemical analysis of the ivermectin concentration in fresh dung indicated that it increased daily on days 1–4 after treatment, reaching a peak of elimination on day 5 followed by a rapid decrease until day 12, after which the concentration was under the detection limit.
One would expect that the injectable formulations would be more effective than the pour-on formulation but this is not always the case. In the Denmark field trial by Sommer et al. (1992), the concentration of subcutaneously administered ivermectin was compared to the pour-on formulation of ivermectin using HPLC. Although there was no significant difference between the residue concentrations of the pour-on and injectable formulations, even though the pour-on formulation was 2.5 times the dose of the injectable formulation, the injectable formulation led to a longer period of delayed dung degradation than the pour-on formulation.
Herd, Sams and Ashcraft (1996) examined the persistence of ivermectin in faeces by comparing the faecal residues following different modes of administration, namely sustained-release (SR) bolus, pour-on and injectable formulations, in Ohio, USA. They emphasised the importance of formulation and route of administration in drug concentration determination, persistence and ecotoxic potential. All faecal concentrations recorded, regardless of mode of administration, were well above concentrations that are lethal or sublethal to beneficial dung-breeding invertebrates. They concluded by stating that the SR bolus and pour-on formulations are likely to be more ecotoxic to non-target organisms than the injectable formulation judging from their higher faecal concentrations, and that the SR bolus formulation is of particular concern because of the persistent excretion of toxic concentrations for prolonged periods of time.
Most recently, Wall and Beynon (2012) wrote a review on the impact of macrocyclic lactone parasiticides. They reported that macrocyclic lactone residues from parasiticide treatments may play an important role in the loss of coprophilous insects, which may in turn delay pat decomposition. They added that field studies have provided contradicting results that reflect confounding factors such as weather conditions, pat moisture content, pat location, time of year, dung insect species phenologies, timing and method of application. These factors are important in determining whether the results obtained from experimental and laboratory studies reflect the real impact on the economically important process of dung decomposition. The timely removal of dung from pastures by insects and weathering is both functionally and economically important; if appropriate decomposition does not occur, cattle farmers may suffer considerable economic losses as a result of pasture fouling, increases in dung-breeding pest fly populations and a higher transmission of livestock endoparasites. The benefits of rapid dung removal are therefore rather substantial; not only does it reduce such losses, but it helps to return nutrients to the soil, particularly nitrogen, a large proportion of which would otherwise be lost as ammonia.
Although it is difficult to recommend a control programme that will suit all forms and styles of livestock farming, a standardised procedure for the testing of antiparasitic remedies needs to be developed in order to accurately compare the toxicity of various products. The best scenario would be to farm holistically, minimising the need for pesticides.
The authors declare that they have no financial or personal relationships which may have inappropriately influenced them in writing this article.
C.T.J. (University of Pretoria) was responsible for the literature review and writing of the article whilst C.H.S. (University of Pretoria) gave invaluable input and direction.
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"The words "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang," which I saw on an Italian movie poster, are perhaps the briefest statement imaginable of the basic appeal of movies. This appeal is what attracts us, and ultimately what makes us despair when we begin to understand how seldom movies are more than this." —Pauline Kael
Quentin Tarantino makes movies for movies' sake. An unapologetic pulp scribe, Tarantino thinks nothing (or is it everything?) of dropping scores of allusions to the beloved pop culture of his youth into his movie-universe comedy-tragedies. It's all part of the arch postmodernism that makes this loony, nostalgia-act promoter who he is: repellent child to some, cult hero to others. Six years after his relatively restrained Jackie Brown, Tarantino returns in an excessive mood: Kill Bill, Volume 1 is just half of the maestro's instructional film on projectile bleeding.
The self-consciously refined opening titles literally and figuratively announce that this is "The 4th Film By Quentin Tarantino": to the loaded tune of Nancy Sinatra's "Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)," the director rolls out a series of movie-opening jokes and surprises, from a vintage "Our Feature Presentation" announcement to a scroll of "Guest Stars" and behind-the-scenes talent (Martial Arts Advisor Yuen Wo-Ping! Original Music by The RZA!). By the time the story—inspired by Truffaut's The Bride Wore Black—begins, we've sat through another "teaser trailer" for the film.
And what of the story? As in his Oscar-winning screenplay for Pulp Fiction, prepares his revenge dish like a Benihana chef, chopping it and tossing it in a dazzling display that's as appealing (if not more) than the meal itself. Flashing back and forward, the writer-director tells the tall tale of "the Bride" (Uma Thurman), a former member of "The Deadly Viper Assasination Squad." Betrayed by the team and left (for dead) at the altar, the Bride has a score to settle, so she begins ticking off names on a "Death List." First on the list: Vivica A. Fox's Vernita Green (a.k.a. "Copperhead"), who fiercely thrusts and parries with the Bride (a.k.a. "Black Mamba") as Vernita's four-year-old daughter pulls up to their Pasadena home in a school bus...last on the list, the Squad's mystery-shrouded leader, the titular Bill (David Carradine).
For all of Tarantino's fancy dancing, that's pretty much it. Amid flashbacks to the Bride's bloody betrayal, she trains herself to be back in killing shape, then sets out to kill a bunch of people. Since this is Volume 1, she only faces the first two names on her list, the second being Lucy Liu's O-Ren (a.k.a. "Cottonmouth"). The showdowns with "Copperhead" and "Cottonmouth" sandwich teases of the others on the list: Daryl Hannah's Elle Driver ("California Mountain Snake") and Michael Madsen's Budd ("Sidewinder"), still decked out in his Reservoir Dogs black-and-whites. Among numerous amusing cameos, martial-arts elder statesman Sonny Chiba has the most memorable as the Bride's sword-making mentor.
Though Kill Bill is a glib and insubstantial orgy of ultra-violence for the kid in you (which ultimately becomes numbing to the adult around the time the Isley Brothers's "Nobody But Me" kicks in under showers of blood), no one can claim it lacks style. Stealing the moves of (and often directly quoting) the likes of the Shaw Brothers, Seijun Suzuki, and Kinji Fukasaku, Tarantino whips up awe-inspiring duels and epic battles in the martial arts vein. Abandoning the ambivalence of Charlie's Angels' catfights, Tarantino isn't happy until his Bride has decimated a roomful of men and women, suggesting a parody of Gone With the Wind's wide shot of a blood-soaked, body-ridden street.
Tarantino also throws in some black-and-white photography for good measure, partly to suggest flashback or tunnel-vision mania in the heat of battle, but perhaps also to accomodate the skills of DP Robert Richardson (JFK). The climactic battle bathes Liu and Thurman in blue under gently falling snow. Like the candy-colored clown they call the sandman, Tarantino tiptoes into our movie dreams, when he's not stampeding.
With the film split, "Volume 1" has plenty of time for filigreed sidetracks, like a transit scene to the tune of the Green Hornet theme (itself a jazzed-up allusion), a DePalma-esque split screen sequence, and a lengthy anime sequence providing the graphic-novel-intense origin of O-Ren (anime "cred" provided by Production I.G.). The latter two scenes are scored to Herrmann and Morricone, respectively. The whole movie has the effect Cole Porter described in "At Long Last Love": "Is it an earthquake, or simply a shock?/Is it the good turtle soup, or is it merely the mock?" Something borrowed, something bloody. Death does us part, but only 'til Volume 2.
Buena Vista Home Entertainment sends Kill Bill home on Blu-ray for the first time with an hugely satisfying high-def upgrade. Soundly besting the previous DVD editions, the new Blu-ray discs capture every varied nuance of cinematographer Robert Richardson's color and black-and-white imagery. It's a film-like image that also serves up razor-sharp detail and brilliant color that use Blu-ray to its best advantage. In the film's brightest and darkest pockets, contrast provides a bit of a challenge, but with an image free of edge enhancement and other digital artifacts, Tarantino fans can buy with confidence. Vibrant uncompressed PCM 5.1 and Dolby Digital 5.1 tracks give surround immersion and serious "kick" to the martial arts action and robust RZA score.
In the extras department, you'll find "The Making of Kill Bill" (22:05), covering the film's script, cast (especially Uma Thurman and Sonny Chiba), music (especially the 5,6,7,8's), shooting locations (especially the Beijing Film Studios), themes, and cinematic and TV inspirations with Quentin Tarantino, Thurman, Julie Dreyfus, Vivica A. Fox, Lawrence Bender, Lucy Liu, Daryl Hannah, and the RZA. Another nifty bonus is "The 5, 6, 7, 8's Musical Performances" (5:52), comprising "I Walk Like Jayne Mansfield" and "I'm Blue." Lastly, there's a gallery of Tarantino Trailers: Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction, Jackie Brown, Kill Bill Vol. 1 Teaser, Kill Bill Vol. 1 Bootleg Trailer, and Kill Bill Vol. 2 Teaser.
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subset: commoncrawl


text:
Suicide Killers (2006)
Directed by Pierre Rehov
English, Arabic, Hebrew with English subtitles
80 minutes
The roots of evil are unfathomable — yet they must be understood in order to be confronted. What, for example, motivates someone to deliberately end his or her own life in order to murder, maim, and wreak devastation upon others?
In his seventh documentary, French filmmaker Pierre Rehov takes on this seemingly impenetrable topic, delving into the aberrant phenomenon of suicide killings that has gained currency among radical Islamists over the last decade. The filmmaker investigates the motives and driving forces behind the attackers through interviews with psychologists, terrorism experts, family members, victims, and most compellingly, with failed and would-be suicide killers themselves.
The wide spectrum of perspectives — male and female, Arab and Israeli, intellectual and uneducated, victim and perpetrator — dispels the notion that there is a single cause to the problem. What does become apparent, however, is the central role Islamic societal and religious indoctrination plays in creating suicide killers.
The film opens with a masked Palestinian man in an unknown location on the Gaza Strip donning fatigues, cocking his gun, kneeling in prayer, and practicing for a mission. Abu Hazaifa, as he is labeled, a member of the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, discusses his intent to become a "shaheed" or martyr (as Arabs refer to suicide killers). The father of three children, the eldest of whom is only five years old, Abu Hazaifa expresses his hope that they will follow in his footsteps, and says that his own mother constantly prays that he and his siblings will become martyrs.
He does not fit the common assumption of a terrorist driven to his actions by a miserable, poverty-stricken existence; Abu Hazaifa emphasizes his children are well taken care of and have everything they need. Nonetheless, he states that he wants to blow himself up among Israeli civilians because of what he vaguely claims "Jews are doing to civilians." His eagerness for his children to become "martyrs," as well as his insistence that when he detonates himself among civilians he will not feel "sorry for any Israeli child" or "regret even if it is a nursery full of kids," are chilling.
Equally chilling are the scenes interspersed throughout the film of shrines to the martyrs, rows of white-robed and hooded people strapped with explosive belts, and Palestinian children at a summer camp pretending to shoot guns, throw grenades, and train for missions. A camp leader explains that the youngsters learn it is their duty to carry out suicide attacks and that attackers will attain "the highest state in Paradise." Likewise, a would-be suicide killer reveals that the button that detonates a suicide belt is known as the "key to Paradise." Indeed, according to the film's interviewees, the Islamic belief in martyrdom as a means to Paradise is the major motivator for suicide attacks.
Palestinian would-be and failed suicide killers, as well as dispatchers and planners of suicide missions, speak from high-security Israeli prisons. They describe their society's adoration of those who carry out "martyrdom" operations, and express regret that their missions failed.
Women incarcerated for their roles in suicide bombings are interviewed as well. As the narrator states, what is "more disturbing than [the women's] desire to fight is their serenity." Their serenity is most disturbing when they describe the Muslim world's joy after the 9/11 attacks, and when they justify killing "enemies of Islam" as "a holy act."
"To be the parents of a martyr," one female Hamas prisoner declares, "that is the biggest reward. It is a big honor for the family." And several of the parents shown in the film concur. One father of two suicide killers proudly asserts that he brought up his children "to be martyrs." His daughter proclaims that having two martyrs in the family is an honor and that they will "offer" all the children of the family, both "men and women, for martyrdom."
It becomes clear that the radical Islamic world's embrace of martyrdom is the result of religious indoctrination. "The Koran deals with 'life' with contempt and in a negative way" declares an imam in a clip shown from Hezbollah's Al Manar Television, promising that those who sacrifice their lives for Allah will merit "an authentic and dignified life" after death.
There is one exception to the prisoners' frightening certitude in the rightness of their quest to die killing infidels. Hamas member Arafat Rashid Morali, who abandoned his suicide mission at the last minute, discusses his pangs of conscience as he came face to face with the civilians he was about to kill. Morali describes how he turned away without hesitation when he caught sight of a mother nursing her baby. But sadly, his is the only example of human compassion among the would-be killers.
"Suicide Killers" does an excellent job showing the unremitting indoctrination of youth within a society that uses religious beliefs to fight a political battle, while at the same time also showing Muslims who do not condone this type of indoctrination, those who oppose suicide attacks and Palestinians who do not want to use violence to attain their goals.
The filmmaker explores different factors that create suicide killers — factors that take root in a culture of anti-Semitic, religious and nationalistic indoctrination.
Gazan psychiatrist Eyad Sarraj theorizes that it is the "brutal and humiliating environment of the Israeli occupation" breeding Palestinian anger and a sense of worthlessness that leads to the desire to "die in glory" rather than to "live in humiliation."
A Hamas member incarcerated for her role in planning a suicide attack, however, brings a different perspective, emphasizing that she and her cohorts do not fight only "against the occupation" but "to spread Islam to all, everywhere." Exactly how this goal is accomplished by suicide attacks is not explained.
Others suggest feminism is the reason women participate in suicide missions. Islamic society subjugates women, according to Eras Sekalla, president of a Palestinian women's right organization. Various television clips showing Muslim imams putting down women prove her point. Women are pushed into the background, not allowed to make decisions and hidden behind curtains, Sekalla says. Carrying out an act of "martyrdom" — sanctioned by religious leaders and society — presumably allows women to assert themselves in this society and reap the same perceived benefits as men.
A significant portion of the film explores how sexual frustration among Muslims strictly separated from the opposite sex is channeled into the quest for martyrdom with its promise of 72 virgins in Paradise. They believe, the film suggests, that denial of earthly pleasures in this world will bring great rewards in the hereafter. Several would-be male suicide killers who profess to never having had a relationship with a woman describe the pleasures of heaven.
"Those who blow themselves up get a good bonus from God," says one. "They marry 72 virgins." Another reads from a Koran, grinning: "In Paradise, God places maidens in tents. They have never been touched, not by humans, not even by the devil."
A female suicide bomber shyly smiles as she fantasizes she will be the prettiest of t
he 72 virgins in Paradise.
The film provides no single, conclusive answer as to what exactly creates a suicide bomber, perhaps because none exists. As one Islamic Jihad operative describes the motives of a suicide killer he dispatched: "She got confused with three motives: religious, national and personal. It was not only the religious motives nor the national one. She got confused with her personal feelings."
The film's title — "Suicide Killers," rather than the more familiar "suicide bombers" — emphasizes the suicides' homicidal intent and their direct impact on the victims. This impact is not lost in the film, which devotes several scenes to terrorist survivors and victims — both Arab and Jewish — as well as clips of the aftermath of such attacks.
The uniqueness of "Suicide Killers" is that it allows would-be suicide bombers and their supporters to speak for themselves. Rehov is neither seen nor heard during the movie. The camera focuses on the subjects of the film, frequently zooming in on their faces, allowing viewers to look into their eyes and creating a sense of intimacy without a third party intermediary.
Where the film is weak is in its lack of a cohesive narrative. It flits back and forth between subjects and theories in a somewhat haphazard way that is occasionally confusing. Nevertheless, the gripping nature of the topic and the exclusive footage Rehov managed to obtain are engrossing.
The roots of evil might never be fully understood, but "Suicide Killers" provides a small window into the suicide bomber's mind, which makes this film essential viewing.


text:
Tim Lebbon
Photo: © Tracey Lebbon
About the Author
Tim Lebbon has won two British Fantasy awards, a Bram Stoker award, and a Tombstone award, and has been a finalist for International Horror Guild and World Fantasy awards. Several of his novels and novellas are currently under option in the USA and the UK. He lives in South Wales with his wife and two children.


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Active Hunter
Does anyone know if a topic exist in our archives on how to build one? I can't find it if we do. I had an article on how to build one but I lost it. I'm wanting to build a vacuum forming station that is pretty much affordable for the average do it yourselfer. If anyone has built one and would share with us....plus any tips, pros & cons...as well as do's and don'ts ....I'm sure I wouldn't be the only member here that would love to have one parked in the garage. Or in Seekers case.....the kitchen.
Thanks in advance...Charlie
Thanks in advance...Charlie


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As we get ready for another great summer - thoughts turn to being outdoors, BBQs and maybe enjoying life through a trip to the lake or camping at your favorite park. Whatever way you like to spend those warm summer days, my new 'Slice of Summer' Mini-Album will be the perfect little vesle to preserve all those wonderful summer memories!
This darling little Summer mini is a 5"x7" chipboard album, with 12 banner shapped pages (6 front and back) is created with Close to my Heart's new Jubilee paper line - with a little dash of Timberline for that rustic touch! The highlight of this album is all the fabulous coordinating accessories - from the dimensional compliments, Badge Button assortment and Jubilee textiles which all accompany your kit!
Can you say "super cuteness"?!!
If you would like to receive the instructions only...just place an order for $15 or more in products (before shipping and handling) on stampinallday.ctmh.com. Then email me at email@example.com and request your FREE copy of the 'Slice of Summer' Mini Album Kit!


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(Placerville, CA) – The Transportation Division of El Dorado County's Community Development Agency will implement full closures of both directions of U.S. 50 between El Dorado Hills Boulevard and Bass Lake Road, as well as closures of the Latrobe Road on-ramp to eastbound U.S. Highway 50, the Bass Lake Road on-ramp to westbound U.S. Highway 50, and White Rock Road between Valley View Parkway and Entrada Circle. Closures are as follows:
Eastbound Closures on Sunday Morning, February 21st
Westbound Closures on Sunday Morning, February 21st
These closures are necessary to facilitate blasting operations on the north side of U.S. Highway 50 for the County's Silva Valley Interchange Project. While the closures are in place, both directions of U.S. Highway 50 traffic will be detoured around the closures via El Dorado Hills Boulevard, Serrano Parkway and Bass Lake Road. Motorists are encouraged to take other alternate routes around the area which also bypass the closures. Portable changeable message signs will be placed around the work zone to keep motorists updated on any changes to the timing of the closures.
Questions regarding these temporary closures may be directed to the Aradhana Kochar, the County's resident engineer for this project, via e-mail at firstname.lastname@example.com.


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How You Can Help
Your gift will help The ALS Association support research to find a cure for ALS and provide much-needed services to patients and their families. By becoming a part of the ALSA family and making your gift today, you will help sustain hope in thousands of people affected by ALS. Please click one of the buttons below to donate, or browse the links on the right for more information.
Gifts to our Chapter Association are tax-deductible to the full extent of the Internal Revenue Code. The ALS Association (ALSA) is designated by the IRS as a not-for-profit 501 (c) (3) organization, and can be found in IRS Publication 78 as, "Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Association," and at http://www.irs.gov/. To find The ALS Association, go to the IRS Web site and enter "amyotrophic" in the "Name" search box.
The contributions of volunteers are essential to the chapter achieving its mission. Each year, our Chapter participates in numerous fundraising and information-based opportunities throughout our area. These activities create a multitude of tasks with which volunteers can easily assist, including administrative work and mailings, helping at various events and with patient services.
Please contact us if you'd like to help out


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Matt Kemp and Cole Hamels to Endorse Big League Chew
In news of product ideas that would never get approved if they were pitched today, Big League Chew — the bubble gum that was shredded to resemble chewing tobacco — has signed Matt Kemp of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Cole Hamels of the Philadelphia Phillies as celebrity endorsers.
In years past, cartoon caricatures of burly ballplayers by cartoonist Bill Mayer usually graced the package of the gum invented by Rob Nelson and former major league player Jim Bouton as a chewing-tobacco alternative in 1977.
"This was uncharted territory for us. But these guys epitomize what is good about the game of baseball and the time is right," said Nelson.
Just another reason to love the 1970s. Can you imagine someone making Bubble Balt Salts today? EXACTLY.
Since the players themselves, and not Major League Baseball, will be endorsing the gum, both Kemp and Hamels will appear without team logos. Part of the fee given to Kemp will be donated to Kemp's Kids, a charity which allows urban youth to gain exposure to baseball. Kemp and Hamels both work with PLB Sports, a maker of athlete-endorsed food products.
Big League Chew often sold more than $10 million in pouches annually. It's seemingly more popular than Bubble Tape, which is still around, and totally outlasted the Bubble Burger, which tasted better than it looked.


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St' Peter's (Sv. Petera) church is the finest example of Gothic architecture in the Baltics. It was first mentioned in documents in 1209, the church belonged to the city and was meant to serve the citizens of Riga.
To find more about the St. Peter's church visit virtual tour of Old Riga:
Originated from a small fishermen village, for centuries Riga has been an important part of the trade chain between Russia and Western Europe. A lively crossroad of cultures and backgrounds for over 800 years, the historical centre of Riga has accumulated an impressive cultural baggage and today is justly included in the UNESCO's World Heritage list.


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Tim Lincecum tosses second no-hitter against Padres
Lincecum 'Electrifying'
Doug Glanville and Manny Acta reaction to Tim Lincecum throwing a no-hitter in consecutive seasons.
SAN FRANCISCO -- Tim Lincecum's days of dominance may be in the past. That doesn't mean he can't dial up flashes of the Freak he once was -- especially against the San Diego Padres.
Lincecum pitched his second no-hitter against the Padres in less than a year, allowing only one runner Wednesday and leading the San Francisco Giants to a 4-0 win.
"I've always been that guy who will kind of go for the strikeout," Lincecum said. "I think my first no-hitter I had 13, so I think I was going for those a little bit more often."
"Today I tried to be a little bit more efficient and take what they were going to give me. They were giving me a lot of groundballs and a lot of pop flies, so I was just going to try to keep attacking the way that I was," he said.
Lincecum totally shut down the weakest-hitting team in the majors, striking out six and walking one in a 113-pitch outing -- 35 fewer than he needed last July 13 against the Padres in his first no-hitter.
Lincecum retired the final 23 batters after walking Chase Headley in the second inning, relying much more on his off-speed stuff than his fastball. Though the Padres hit a few balls hard, San Francisco fielders didn't need to make any exceptional plays to preserve Lincecum's gem.
The right-hander with two NL Cy Young Awards became just the second pitcher in major league history to twice no-hit the same team. Hall of Famer Addie Joss did it for Cleveland against the Chicago White Sox with a perfect game in 1908 and a no-hitter in 1910.
"It's hard enough to do one," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "To do two, that puts you in a little different class. I couldn't be happier."
Lincecum (6-5) threw the 16th no-hitter in Giants' team history. Just one other pitcher has thrown two -- Christy Mathewson for the New York Giants more than 100 years ago.
In fact, Lincecum joined Sandy Koufax, Randy Johnson and Roy Halladay as the only pitchers with two Cy Young awards and two no-hitters.
"Just to be in that company allows me a chance to pat myself on the back a little bit," he said.
Making the performance even sweeter was the fact that Lincecum even got two hits of his own, becoming the first pitcher with two hits in a no-hitter since Rick Wise hit two homers for Philadelphia against Cincinnati on June 23, 1971.
"Regardless of what they did, I think it's cool I got two hits anyway because up to today I only had one and a pretty poor batting average," Lincecum said. "I got that thing above .100 and I feel much better about it."
But Lincecum will always be known for his pitching. He arrived as a shaggy-haired phenom nicknamed the Freak in 2007 for his ability to generate tremendous velocity from his slight frame.
He won NL Cy Young awards in 2008 and `09 and helped lead the Giants to their first World Series title in San Francisco the following season.
As age and wear and tear ate away at his velocity, Lincecum was forced to change what kind of pitcher he is. It hasn't been an easy transformation at times as he posted a losing record the past two seasons as his ERA hovered around 5.00.
He was even relegated to the bullpen when the Giants won it all again in 2012 but was brought back with a $35 million, two-year deal last offseason for moments just like this.
"I think it's been a battle for him at times to make that transformation to what he is now," Bochy said. "Sometimes less is more, and that's what I think if anything, hopefully he learned today."
Headley walked with one out in the second after falling behind 1-2 in the count. The Padres began the day worst in the majors in batting average, runs and hits.
"He was good. It wasn't a fluke," Headley said. "His split and changeup or whatever you want to call it. If it's not the best in baseball, then it's one of the best pitches in baseball. Even with the diminished velocity, it's still a tremendous pitch. He was able to throw it for strikes when he wanted too."
This was the third no-hitter in the majors this year. Clayton Kershaw did it exactly a week ago and his Los Angeles Dodgers teammate Josh Beckett did it earlier in the season.
The Padres, incidentally, are the only franchise in the big leagues that has never pitched a no-hitter.
Lincecum made quick work of the San Diego hitters in the late innings.
He drew a standing ovation when he batted in the eighth, then got another ovation when he took the mound to begin the ninth.
"His rhythm was going," third baseman Pablo Sandoval said. "That's the best he's pitched. Two no-hitters, that's pretty impressive."
Lincecum struck out pinch-hitter Chris Denorfia to open the ninth. Pinch-hitter Yasmani Grandal followed with a tapper back to Lincecum, who tossed to first for the out.
Will Venable was up next, and Lincecum retired him on an easy grounder to second base. Lincecum took a few steps toward first when the ball was hit, stopped to watch the play and clapped his hand into his glove when it was over.
Catcher Hector Sanchez soon met Lincecum for an embrace, and the rest of the Giants joined in the celebration.
"It was amazing," Sanchez said. "Anybody wants to be part of something special like this. That's a great feeling."
Buster Posey got four hits, including a double, and drove in two runs.
Ian Kennedy (5-9) allowed four runs on nine hits over 6 1/3 innings. He walked one and struck out eight.
The Giants took a 1-0 lead in the second when Brandon Crawford tripled and Sanchez hit a sacrifice fly.
Game notes
Giants RHP Ryan Vogelsong (5-3, 4.13) is scheduled to start Thursday's series opener against Cincinnati. ... RHP Tyson Ross (6-7, 3.22) starts for the Padres against Arizona on Friday. ... The Padres are hosting a public memorial for Tony Gwynn on Thursday at 7:19 p.m. at Petco Park. Gwynn wore No. 19.
SD Wins 2-1
Game Information
- Umpires:
- Home Plate Umpire - Adam Hamari
- First Base Umpire - Doug Eddings
- Second Base Umpire - Marvin Hudson
- Third Base Umpire - Brian O'Nora


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In this Dru Dance class Christiane develops the Ananda-antara Dru Dance to include phrase 2 of the dance. Enjoy this beautiful flowing dance sequence, designed especially for you on the online studio.
Beauty, grace and flow combine in this strong sequence of yoga and dance. Re-discover phrase 1 and then develop into the complete Ananda-antara Dance. Ananda translates from the sanskrit as "bliss" and Antara means "within you". Therefore the essence of this Dru Dance is "finding bliss within".
The Ananda-antara sequence will bring you physical strength as well as vital energy which you can then use to direct towards your highest vision. Through physical and inner alignment it improves focus and concentration, helping you to find balance in your life.
Mudras (hand gestures) used in this dance are:
The Prana Mudra, the Deer mudra, the Bhrama mudra.
Aims of Ananda-antara dance sequence:
Physical benefits
The Ananda-antara sequence will bring you physical strength as well as enhanced vitality.
Mental and emotional benefits
Through physical and inner alignment Ananda-antara helps you to focus and concentrate.
Emotional benefits
Ananda means joy or bliss, Antara means 'inside you'. Therefore, it aims to awaken your innate joy which is actually part of our natural state.
Add to this the power affirmation: "I manifest my highest vision effortlessly."
Please do not attempt to do this class if you are either pregnant or if you have back problems.
The sequence
To begin with, please familiarise yourself with the first part of this series (see phrase 1) . You will also greatly benefit from revising the Tree posture (Vrksasana) as well as EBR4.
1. The Flow ins
Includes gentle mobilisation of the spine, Breath of Arjuna fearless flight (with Brahma mudra), clapping tree, sacral lumbar release (with Prana mudra), C.O.G Warrior (centre of gravity).
2. Demonstration only of phrase 1 & 2
This 3 minute sequence contains a wealth of asanas and mudras including the Pose of Sita, Vrksasana (Tree) , Heaven & Earth Alignment, the Eagle of wisdom , Fearless flight, EBR4. Watch Christiane as she performs the dance which includes both phrases.
3. Phrase 1 review Christiana takes you through a detailed and guided review of phrase 1.
4. Phrase 1 and 2 combined. Christiane guides you through the full dance. Once you have familiarised yourself with Ananda-antara, feel free to go back to the demonstation and join Christiane for this dance of inner joy!
5. The Cool Downs
Cool down with the Fig 8 (with hand on hip), table top jam jar/side stretch, painting a masterpiece
5. Relaxation
Enjoy a 10 minute gentle relaxation to complete this session.
Ananda-antara Dru Dance (Phrase 1 demo) |
Ananda-antara Dru Dance (Phrase 1) |


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Today we drove to the top of Hornisgrinde to see the water vapor DIAL. Hornisgrinde is a mountain in the black forest. It stands 1.1 km (3,609 feet) above sea level, and about 1 km (3,281 feet) above the valley floor. The DIAL sits on top of Hornisgrinde where it can get a good view all around. DIAL stands for "Differential Absorption LIDAR", and LIDAR stands for "LIght Detection And Ranging". So this instrument works with lasers and mirrors. Most of the instrument is inside the truck in the picture, but you can see the biggest mirror on top of the truck, behind the scientist.
The DIAL measures water vapor - the amount of water suspended in the air. There is always some water in the air. We call that humidity. When the air feels really dry, the humidity is low, and when it gets muggy and you sweat more easily, the humidity is high. The scientists are interested in measuring pockets of increased humidity - the places where there is alot more water vapor so clouds are more likely to form. While the DIAL measures water vapor, the DOW's measure how the air is moving, and the two together should help the scientists figure out why clouds form where they do, and what causes them to turn into thunderstorms.
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No, it's not a neat hybrid of Hoarders and Extreme Couponing, but merely an impression after viewing a piece of an episode of the latter.
Widely-renowned and nationally-syndicated consumer savings columnist Jill Cataldo broke apart a recent episode of the TLC hit with Zapruder-like detail to reveal what fundamentally is theft, your perception depending on the plumb of your ethical barometer.
Far be it for me to not want a great deal or occasionally sneak one past the goalie. There's also the "everyone else is doing it" defense, or the "system allowed it, so it's fair game." I'm very familiar. A practitioner, in fact. And honestly, why does a grocery's UPC system treat all code families from certain product manufacturers as interchangeable? I don't know, and none of us can expect a checker to parse through 4 carts of items for validity. On an off-note, who would pull a stunt like this in public without wanting to go take a long hot shower for want of feeling like such a sleaze?
But, it stands to reason that when you game the system for $1800 worth of merchandise for $100, there's no down-on-her-luck-plucky determinism origin story that can explain away why the suburban mom needed sixty bottles of yellow mustard to sit on a heavy duty rack in the garage. You aren't going to make that much potato salad. There's some kind of pathology here.
It's easy to do because of the remoteness of the nameless, faceless victim. Guess who it's not? It's not the manufacturer, or even the store. Its the saps that have to help eat that loss. The rest of us with a semblance of decorum.
In other news, the show also features "extreme" Nathan Engles, who rather than counting and hoarding groceries, puts together care packages for military families. Very cool.


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The "Unknown" Culture Club: Korean Adoptees, Then and Now Edited by Janine Myung Ja, Jenette Moon Ja, and Katherine Kim
This collection serves as a tribute to transracially adopted people sent all over the world. If you were adopted, you are not alone. This book validates the experiences of anyone who has been ridiculed or outright abused, but have found the will to survive, thrive and share their tale. AdopteeRead More →


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The Role of Quercetin in Wine
Quercetin is a naturally occurring phenol in grape skins and stems that developed to protect grapes from ultraviolet light damage. Generally speaking, the more grapes are exposed to sunlight, the more quercetin they contain. Quercetin reacts with anthocyanins to make a deeper and more vibrant color. This process makes the color of the wine more stable though aging.
*Quercetin's Role in Wine and Health*
There are a multitude of health benefits from quercetin. It is known to act as an anti-histamine and as an anti-oxidant.
- Heart Disease: Flavonoids like quercetin and resveratrol have been seen to reduce the risk of atherosclerosis by reducing LDL's which in turn reduces plaque build up in arteries.
- Cancer: Quercertin and other flavonoids have been shown to inhibit the growth of certain cancerous cells; particularly in the breast, colon, prostate, and lung.
- Cholesterol: Quercetin may reduce cholesterol levels.
- Allergies, Hayfever and Asthma: Quercetin inhibits the release of allergic and inflammatory molecules. This is not a primary mechanism of action for quercetin from wine.
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Super Glossy Text Effect
This tutorial will explain how to create an awesome super glossy text effect, using a couple of Layer Layer Style to achieve the glossy look, and some brushes for the bright squares and shiny sparkles.
The Final Result
Tutorial Details
- Software Used : Photoshop
- Version : CS5 Extended
- Time : 0:30 – 0:45
- Alfredo Heavy font.
- Sparklies Photoshop Brushes by redheadstock.
- Square Photoshop Brush.
Step 1
Create a new 1600 x 1200 px document. Create a Linear Gradient from left to right, with the Foreground color set to #713c5c
and the Background color to #97316e
. Then, duplicate the Background layer.
Set the Foreground and Background colors back to Black
and White
, then go to Filter > Noise > Add Noise. Set the Amount to 3, the Distribution to Uniform, and check the Monochromatic box.
Go to Filter > Distort > Glass, set the Distortion to 3, the Smoothness to 8, the Texture to Tiny Lens, and the Scaling to 200%.
The background should have a simple nice texture now.
Step 2
Create the text using the color Black
. The font used is Alfredo Heavy, and the Size is 370 px. The effect looks better on very bold fonts. Also, you can change the Leading value to adjust the line spacing if necessary.
Double click the text layer to apply the following Layer Style:
– Drop Shadow
- Distance : 8
- Size : 8
– Inner Shadow
- Blend Mode : Linear Dodge (Add)
- Color :
- Distance : 8
- Size : 20
– Outer Glow
- Blend Mode : Overlay
- Color :
- Size : 8
– Inner Glow
- Color :
- Size : 12
- Contour : Half Round
– Bevel and Emboss
- Depth : 300
- Size : 16
- Soften : 1
- Uncheck the Use Global Light box
- Angle : 70
- Altitude : 30
- Gloss Contour : Notched Slope
- Check the Anti-aliased box
- Highlight Mode : Vivid Light
- Color :
- Shadow Mode – Color :
– Contour
- Contour : Ring – Double
- Check the Anti-aliased box.
– Satin
- Blend Mode : Color Dodge
- Color :
- Opacity : 70%
- Distance : 17
- Size : 40
- Contour : Cone – Inverted
When you hit OK, change the text layer's Fill value to 0 so that the text becomes transparent.
Step 3
Ctrl/Cmd + click the text layer's thumbnail to create a selection.
This is optional, if you like the noise that appears beneath the text, leave it as it is, but if you want the text to stay clear then select the Background copy layer and hit Delete.
Create a new layer on top of the Background layers and call it squares. Set the Foreground color to #ffa8cf
Step 4
Load the Squares Photoshop Brush, and open the Brush panel (Window > Brush) to change the Settings as below:
The Spacing is set to 50%. If you want more squares to appear when you use the brush decrease the Spacing value, and if you want less squares, then increase the Spacing value.
Shape Dynamics
Start painting the squares inside the selection. Don't paint over the same area more than once, as this will make the squares overlap and look very bright, but if you like that then go for it!
You can undo, redo, and repeat this until you're satisfied with the final result.
Step 5
Set the Foreground color to White
, and load the Sparklies Photoshop Brushes. You can choose the sparkle you like, but here, the brush single7 one is used.
In the Brush panel, change the Size to something around 40 px.
In order for the Size to change with each click, change the Size Jitter under the Shape Dynamics tab to 50%.
Also, to change the angle of the sparkles, set the Angle Jitter to 100%. You can also check the Flip X Jitter and Flip Y Jitter boxes as well.
Create a new layer on top of all layers and call it sparkles. Start clicking over some bright edges to add sparkles. Click once only, don't click and drag.
Change the sparkles layer's Blend Mode to Overlay, then duplicate it to make the sparkles look brighter.
And you'll get an awesome super glossy "party" text effect!
Hope you enjoyed the tutorial.
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Manufactured homes are built to HUD code. Modular homes are built to state code just as any conventional site-built home. Both are built in a controlled, factory environment. More in upcoming blogs....
New Models Have Arrived!
Two 2018 Clayton Homes models have arrived. The Schult Monroe and the Schult Patriot are available for you to walk through!
Little Valley Homes Offers New and Preowned Homes
Little Valley Homes sells new and pre-owned, manufactured and modular homes for placement in a land-leased community or on your private site. To assure your home is completed on time and within budget, Little Valley Homes has a dedicated on-site...
Model Available For Purchase!
This home built by Clayton Homes has 1730 square feet of living space. It also has a Living and Family Room. View more pictures of this Manufactured Home by selecting the "Our Inventory" menu.
During the home buying process, Little Valley Homes takes great care to answer any questions and provide homebuyers with the knowledge necessary to make the most important investment in life.
Starting at $160,000.00, this beautiful Commodore home can be set on your buildable property!
The Patriot
The Clayton Homes Patriot is luxury at an affordable price. You can see more by selecting "Our Homes" and "Current Inventory" above.
10-Year Warranty
Commodore Homes is dedicated to building an excellent home, and providing superior service and support after the home is built Ten years of Insurance-backed coverage for qualifying structural defects on newly constructed homes starts the day the home closes.
We Have The Answers
During the home buying process, Little Valley Homes takes great care to answer any questions and provide homebuyers with the knowledge necessary to make the most important investment in life.
Did you know...?
Did you know that Modular Homes are treated the same by banks and lending institutions as homes stick-built on site?
Purchasing Property
Talk to one of our sales consultants before purchasing property. We can advise on the size and quality of the land needed for the modular home of your choice
We Have Your Dream Home!
Drop by our display center on the S. I-94 Service Drive in Belleville, MI. We will give you a quote on the home of your dreams.
Easy Financing
Interest rates have never been lower. Let us help you with your financing needs.
Welcome to Our New Website!
We've added great new features and updated our content to bring you the most up to date information about our company. Check back often for updates.


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(visited by Targ Parsons)
07-Jul-2012 -- Story continues from 40°N 113°E.
I check out before 6 am, foregoing the complimentary breakfast once again, which I'm sure would have been good at this up-market hotel. The commuter buses have not yet started running this early in the morning, so I take a taxi to the New South Bus Station (新南站).
At the station, I buy my ticket on the 6:50 am bus southwest to Shénchí County (神池县). For some reason, they would not sell tickets for this bus the previous day.
All the breakfast action is happening just outside the station at some impromptu stalls, so I go out and enjoy a bowl of wontons (馄饨) while waiting for my bus.
The bus leaves on schedule at 6:50 am. As we exit the station, a policeman gets on to ensure everyone is wearing their seatbelt, which of course they're not. This is the first time I've witnessed such an inspection in China. It is obviously part of a new safety drive, because there are posters prominently displayed at the exit of the bus station promoting seatbelt use.
The bus driver estimates we shall arrive in Shenchi at 11 am. But first, we head northeast into Dàtóng (大同市), where we stop to pick up about three dozen youths, predominantly female. Commotion ensues as they get themselves organised and seated. When the bus finally sets off again, it is filled with people and excited chatter.
We arrive in Shénchí a little later than the predicted 11 am, but only because there is a traffic jam of trucks for the final five kilometres. In Shénchí, I get straight onto a bus bound for Hǔběi Township (虎北乡), 20 kilometres to the southwest, which leaves immediately.
As we reach the outskirts of the tiny town of Hǔběi, I ask the driver to stop and let me off. But after I get off the bus, the ticket seller, a young lady who has been friendly to me ever since I bought my ticket at the Shénchí bus station, pleads with me to get back on, and to come and have lunch at her place before I go off to "do my stuff."
Finally I relent, after she informs me that the bus will leave Hǔběi via a different route. I don't want to have to go on a wild goose chase looking for it. So I get back on, and a short while later, in a small house in the middle of Hǔběi, am treated to a great lunch attended by the ticket seller and her mother, as well as about two dozen or so family and friends. We take turns to eat, sitting on a large kàng (炕), a heatable brick bed.
The ticket seller assures me that lunch is like this every day, and I have to believe her, because everything is already prepared before I arrive, so I know it's not something they're putting on specially for the visiting foreigner.
I eat quickly, make my excuses, then head off to find the confluence, leaving my heavy backpack there. As I make my way through Hǔběi, I discover many photo opportunities: the merry-go-round, the roadside dentist, the man with his donkey cart, etc. I really like this place!
Finding the confluence poses no difficulty whatsoever. It is located about one kilometre west of the centre of town, on a gentle slope among terraced fields of corn and potatoes. I snap the usual GPS and north-south-east-west photos.
When I return to the ticket seller's house, I am encouraged to eat some boiled dumplings (饺子), which were cooked after I left for the confluence. I wolf them down, then grab my bag and head for the bus station to catch the 2 pm bus back to Shénchí.
I needn't have rushed. It turns out to be the same bus, with the same driver and ticket seller!
Earlier, at the home of the ticket seller, I'd mentioned that I had looked for a herb called Chinese prickly ash (Huājiāo 花椒) in the Hǔběi market, but found only the ground up powder. When the ticket seller arrives at the bus, she has a large bag of Chinese prickly ash for me! We then engage in a customary Chinese "politeness contest," which I eventually win when she finally accepts the money for the condiment.
Story continues at 39°N 111°E.


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Create a Website Account - Manage notification subscriptions, save form progress and more.
2-1-1 Sacramento is a free referral services with extensive information and resources around the things that matter in people's lives: employment, housing, legal assistance, health care, children's services, and more.
The San Juan Unified School District maintains a Community Resource Directory for Students and Families which is available for review or download.
Check out the City's Volunteer Opportunities webpage to find volunteer opportunities in the city and throughout the community. Below are some organizations that regularly request the service of volunteers:
The local Sunrise Recreation and Park District serving Citrus Heights and the surrounding communities of Orangevale and Foothill Farms utilizes volunteers in various ways and may have opportunities available. Call (916) 725-1585 or email Sunrise Recreation and Park for more information.
Hands-On Sacramento is a regional volunteer clearinghouse organization and lists opportunities to volunteer both on a 1-time or ongoing basis. Contact Hands-On Sacramento at 916-447-7063, ext. 304 or by emailing Hands On Sacramento for more information.


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TechRadar Verdict
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Why you can trust TechRadar
Toshiba's Satellite Pro range aims to strike a balance between a work machine and a home laptop. The S500-15W is a strong performer and has an excellent array of features that help it to stand out in the crowd.
At 2.6kg, this laptop is only marginally heavier than the Acer Aspire 5552 and the Zoostorm 3389. It can certainly be carried around if needed, but the Dell Adamo 13 inevitably proves a much slimmer and lighter option.
The chassis is reasonably solid with just a little flex, although the black plastic design looks a little cheap. However, the screen tilts all the way back to horizontal, letting you find your ideal viewing angle.
Although it isn't the brightest display, images are colourful and pleasing to the eye, thanks to the glossy Super-TFT coating. Unfortunately, this also means that it's fairly reflective.
This laptop features an Intel Core i3 370M processor, which provides stunning performance. The Toshiba racked up some high scores in our benchmarking tests, proving it could comfortably multi-task with a number of programs without slowdown.
Despite this strong performance, we managed to use it for 272 minutes away from the mains, which is almost as good as the Dell Adamo 13.
Similarly, while a basic integrated solution has been used for graphics, this laptop almost doubled the performance of the Dell and Zoostorm 3389. While you won't be able to run the latest games, we found high-definition video played smoothly.
Battery life: 272 minutes
MobileMark 2007: 223
3DMark 2003: 3280
The touchpad is a little compact, but it's also responsive, with two firm mouse buttons. The keyboard is comfortable to type on with well-mounted, bevelled keys and a dedicated numeric keypad.
Damage limitation
You should have enough space for your files on the 250GB hard drive, which features anti-vibration technology to prevent damage during transit. Those with large media collections will, however, be better served by the Zoostorm 3389 and Acer Aspire 5552 machines, which offer 320GB and 500GB storage space respectively.
Networking is speedy, however, with both 802.11n Wi-Fi and Gigabit Ethernet onboard.
There are plenty of other features, such as a fingerprint scanner for extra security and an ExpressCard slot for upgrading the laptop.
There's also a DisplayPort connection, a VGA port for hooking up to an external display, and one of the USB ports features Sleep-and-Charge technology, for charging peripherals even when the laptop is in sleep mode.
The performance and features of the Satellite Pro S500-15W make it a worthy Silver award winner. Only the Dell Adamo 13's sleek, highly portable form kept this machine from winning the Gold award.
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