text:
- Research
- Open Access
Effects of lamivudine on serum albumin levels correlate with pretreatment HBV-DNA levels in cirrhotic patients
© Nakamuta et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. 2007
- Received: 07 July 2005
- Accepted: 01 May 2007
- Published: 01 May 2007
Lamivudine treatment has been recently demonstrated to increase the serum albumin levels in cirrhotic patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, but the precise mechanism remains unclear. We hypothesized that the improvement of hypoalbuminemia by lamivudine may be attributable to the reduction of HBV replication itself, rather than to cessation of hepatitis. In order to confirm this hypothesis, in this study we evaluated factors which correlated with the increase in serum albumin levels. Fifty-four patients (Child-Pugh A/B/C, 35/9/10) with HBV-related liver cirrhosis who had been treated with lamivudine for more than 12 months were evaluated. We analyzed the correlation between the increase in serum albumin levels at month 12 after starting treatment (Δ-albumin) and various pretreatment variables. We also analyzed the correlation between Δ-albumin and the reduction in serum levels of HBV-DNA (Δ-HBV-DNA) or alanine aminotransferase (Δ-ALT) at month 12.
The average Δ-albumin was 0.38 g/dL and only serum HBV-DNA levels before treatment correlated significantly with Δ-albumin. We also analyzed the correlation in patients whose alanine aminotransferase levels were normalized after 12 months so that the possible influence of breakthrough hepatitis could be excluded. Even among this subgroup of patients, there was no significant correlation between Δ-albumin and either pretreatment alanine aminotransferase levels or Δ-ALT. In contrast, in patients whose serum HBV-DNA was undetectable at month 12, we found a significant correlation between Δ-albumin and both pretreatment serum HBV-DNA levels and Δ-HBV-DNA.
Our results demonstrated that albumin levels are associated with pretreatment HBV-DNA but not with alanine aminotransferase levels.
- Lamivudine
- Cirrhotic Patient
- Serum Albumin Level
- Alanine Aminotransferase Level
- Lamivudine Treatment
Chronic hepatitis B is an important cause of morbidity and mortality resulting from cirrhosis-related liver failure and hepatocelluar carcinoma (HCC) [1–3]. Lamivudine, a nucleoside analogue with potent antiviral effects against hepatitis B virus (HBV), has been shown to be effective both in patients with chronic hepatitis and also those with liver cirrhosis [4–6]. In cirrhotic patients, decreased HBV-DNA loads following lamivudine treatment result in decreased serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), increased serum albumin levels, and improvement of the Child-Pugh score [7–13]. The underlying mechanism for the increase in albumin levels after lamivudine treatment has not been determined. It has been suggested that the improvement of hypoalbuminemia may be attributable to the cessation of hepatic inflammation. However, earlier treatments such as glycyrrhizin, ursodeoxycholic acid [14, 15], predonisolone [16], and Stronger Neo-Minophagen C therapy [17], all of which reduce ALT levels in viral cirrhotic patients, do not result in improvement of hypoalbuminemia. Furthermore, it has been shown that there is no significant correlation between serum ALT levels and HBV-DNA loads in patients with HBV [18–20]. We hypothesized that the improvement of hypoalbuminemia by lamivudine may be attributable to the reduction of HBV replication itself, rather than to cessation of hepatitis. In order to confirm this hypothesis, we evaluated several laboratory parameters in cirrhotic patients treated with lamivudine that could influence serum albumin levels.
Characteristics of the patients
Child A
Child B
Child C
53.0 ± 9.1
54.9 ± 4.6
49.5 ± 9.1
52.6 ± 8.8
Albumin (g/dL)
3.85 ± 0.43
3.12 ± 0.38
2.94 ± 0.57
3.56 ± 0.6
Bilirubin (mg/dL)
0.90 ± 0.43
1.25 ± 0.35
3.09 ± 1.28
1.37± 1.07
118.2 ± 125.5
62.7 ± 43.2
80.6 ± 96.8
102.0 ± 113.0
Platelet (× 104/μL)
11.8 ± 5.3
7.3 ± 3.2
6.3 ± 2.5
10.0 ± 5.2
HBeAg (+/-)
HBV-DNA (log copies/mL)
< 5.0
5.0 ≤ x < 7.0
≥ 7.0
To identify the factors associated with increased serum albumin levels, correlations between the increase in serum albumin levels at 12 months after the start of treatment (Δ-albumin) and basic variables before treatment were examined using the data for all patients. In this analysis, only HBV-DNA load correlated significantly with Δ-albumin (t = 2.66, r2 = 0.120089, p = 0.0103), whereas age, sex, HBeAg, ALT, bilirubin, platelet count, and Child-Pugh classification did not (Table 1).
This study demonstrated the followings: 1) HBV-DNA, but not ALT levels, before lamivudine treatment was associated with increased serum albumin levels at 12 months after treatment (Δ-albumin); 2) Even among those patients who showed cessation of hepatitis following treatment, there was no correlation between either pretreatment ALT levels or Δ-ALT and Δ-albumin; 3) In contrast, in the analysis of subjects with undetectable HBV-DNA levels after treatment, there was significant correlation between both pretreatment HBV-DNA levels and Δ-HBV-DNA and Δ-albumin. Taken together, these results suggest that the improvement of hypoalbuminemia following lamivudine treatment is attributable to a reduction of HBV replication, but not to cessation of hepatitis.
We do not deny the idea that cessation of hepatitis, which is represented by lowering of serum ALT levels, contributed to and increase of serum albumin levels. In true, we think that replicative HBV and inflammation are closely related; however, in our study, HBV reduction statistically showed more effect improving serum albumin levels than decreasing the inflammation marker ALT. This may happen perhaps because, in cirrhotic patients, fibrosis is the main pathological change (compared with inflammation), and the correlation between, on the one hand, serum albumin or HBV-DNA levels and, on the other hand, ALT levels was in some degree weakened as the cirrhotic change proceed. Therefore, in cirrhotic patients, Δ-ALT is within a narrower range and ALT levels cannot influence albumin levels significantly.
How does lowering of HBV load induces the increase of albumin levels in an inflammation-independent manner? Hui et al. [7] recently showed that emergence of phenotypic resistance of HBV-DNA was associated with a rapid decline in serum albumin levels following prolonged lamivudine treatment, although they did not report whether a correlation existed between serum ALT levels and serum HBV loads. In a series of studies in woodchucks and Hep G2 cells, Kosovsky et al. demonstrated that HBV replication inversely correlated with cell proliferation and DNA synthesis by hepatocytes [21–23]. Yang et al. has analyzed gene expression profiles of HepG2 cells with or without HBV [24]. However, whether HBV replication directly influences the ability of infected hepatocytes to synthesize protein is still unclear and further studies are needed.
Correlations between Δ-albumin and basic variables before treatment
HBeAg (+/-)
Sex (male/female)
Child-Pugh's classification
A total of 54 cirrhotic patients with HBV infection were evaluated, including 38 males and 16 females, ranging in age from 28 to 71 years (mean 52.6 years) (Table 1). Informed consent was obtained from each patient prior to their entering the study. Liver cirrhosis was diagnosed based on liver biopsy (n = 11), laboratory data, ultrasonography, and/or computed tomography. Patients were classified as Child-Pugh class A, B and C (35, 9, and 10 patients, respectively). For all patients, the existence of serum HBV-DNA was confirmed by TMA assay (103.7–108.7 genome equivalents/mL; 3.7–8.7 log genome equivalents [LGE]/mL) (Chugai Diagnostic Science, Tokyo, Japan) or by a Roche Monitor kit (102.6–107.6 copies/ml; 2.6–7.6 log copies/mL) (Roche Diagnostics, Tokyo, Japan) before treatment. HBe-Ag was positive in 29 patients and negative in 25 patients. Patients with fatty liver, viral hepatitis C, a history of alcohol abuse, or autoimmune disorders such as autoimmune hepatitis and primary biliary cirrhosis were excluded. None of the patients had a prior history of treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma.
Patients had been treated with lamivudine (100 mg, once a day) without interruption for more than twelve months at Kyushu University Hospital and its affiliated hospitals. Basic laboratory data, such as platelet counts, serum ALT levels, bilirubin, albumin, serum HBV-DNA load (Roche Monitor kit: Roche Diagnostics) and HBe-Ag were determined at least every 3 months.
Statistical analysis
Data are expressed as mean ± SD, and statistical comparisons were performed using chi-squared test for categorical data and one-way ANOVA for numeric data. In cases where the serum HBV-DNA load was less than 2.6 log copies/mL, it was entered as 2.6 log copies/mL. For the analysis of correlations between two continuous variables, a simple regression model was used. For the analysis of discontinuous variables, such as sex and HBe-Ag, statistical differences were confirmed using Mann-Whitney U test or Kruskal-Wallis test.
In addition to the authors, the Kyushu University Liver Disease Study Group includes the following individuals: R Sugimoto (Harasanshin Hospital, Fukuoka), H Amagase and S Tominaga (Mihagino Hospital, Kitakyushu), K Yanagita (Saiseikai Karatsu Hospital, Karatsu), K Ogiwara (Kyushu Rosai Hospital, Kitakyushu), M Tokumatsu (Saiseikai Fukuoka Hospital, Fukuoka), S Tabata (Hayashi Hospital, Fukuoka), M Yokota (National Kyushu Cancer Center, Fukuoka), H Tanaka (Chihaya Hospital, Fukuoka), S Nagase (Fukuoka Teishin Hospital, Fukuoka), S Tsuruta (Nakabaru Hospital, Fukuoka), S Tada (Moji Rosai Hospital, Kitakyushu), M Nagano (Kyushu Koseinenkin Hospital, Kitakyushu), M Honda (Nishi-Fukuoka Hospital, Fukuoka), T Umeno (Sawara Hospital, Fukuoka), T Sugimura (National Hospital Organization Fukuoka Higashi Hospital, Fukuoka), S Ueno (Kitakyushu Municipal Wakamatsu Hospital, Kitakyushu), K Miki (Kitakyushu Municipal Moji Hospital, Kitakyushu), H Okubo (Shineikai Hospital, Kitakyushu), H Fujimoto (Mitusbishikagaku Hospital, Kitakyushu), N Higuchi (Shin-Nakama Hospital, Kitakyushu), S Shigematsu (Kouseikan Hospital, Saga), and N Higashi (National Hospital Organization Beppu Hospital, Ohita). We would like to thank them for their assistance.
Authors' Affiliations
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text: DigitalEnvisioning an #OscarsSoRight MomentHow Sylvester Stallone could follow in the footsteps of Ving Rhames.By Richard Horgan|February 5, 2016ShareBy Richard Horgan|February 5, 2016ShareAt the 1998 Golden Globes, a clip shown for HBO's Don King: Only in America featured Ving Rhames as the colorful boxing promoter saying the following:"March 8, 1971… Ali, Frazier… My new birthday. That's when it hit me. Don't know why some things hit you at one time and not the other, but they do. And then wham, bam… I had what I like to call an epiphanistic experience of pure religiosity.""You see, you had all these young black fighters getting their heads beat in for a bunch of rich white promoters. Rich, white men like Bob Arum. Not a brother in the bunch!""Now in nature, that's what they call a black hole. And nature abhors a black hole, baby. Yes sir! I didn't serve time… I made time serve me."When it came time to hand out that year's Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie, the category presenters were Alan Rickman and Jada Pinkett Smith. It is of course Smith this season whose articulated feelings kicked the #OscarsSoWhite juggernaut into high gear.So here's what we're thinking. On the night of Sunday Feb. 28, when Sylvester Stallone inevitably wins Best Supporting Actor for Creed, he will have arranged to have Idris Elba in the wings. And as part of his acceptance speech, he will call Elba on stage and share the moment.It would be a twist on the Ving Rhames–Jack Lemmon golden handoff that occurred Jan. 18, 1998, one that would allow everyone in the Dolby room to exhale and cheer. Coincidentally, Pinkett announcing with delight the name of Rhames as the winner came just a few weeks after she had married Will Smith (on New Year's Eve, 1997).We are humbly proposing a boxing-drama moment to boxing-drama moment; one that does not need to involve Stallone giving over his statuette to Elba (as Rhames did with Lemmon), but rather just framing the great performances of his four fellow nominees and one, symbolic other to defuse this awards season's false non-equivalency. If this happened, it would unfold 62 years after the first NTSC color televisions were sold to the American public.A writer can dream for a sequel to their all-time favorite awards show acceptance speech, right?Previously on FishbowlNY: In 1996, #OscarsSoWhite Was a People Magazine Cover Story Sharehttp://adweek.it/1L3yCGz copy Adweek Adweek

subset: commoncrawl


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Children nowadays live in a hurry-up world of busy parents, school pressures, video games, malls, and competitive sports. We usually don't think of these influences as stressful for our kids, but often they are. The pace of our children's lives can have a profound effect on their innate joy—and usually not for the better.
Yoga has become quite mainstream for adults in recent years, but have we ever considered sharing the practice with our children? Yoga can benefit kids significantly, and in some ways, possibly even more so than it nourishes adults. Here are just some of these benefits:
Children derive enormous benefits from yoga. Physically, it enhances their flexibility, strength, coordination, self esteem and body awareness. In addition, their concentration and sense of calmness and relaxation improves. Doing yoga, children exercise, play, connect more deeply with the inner self, develop an intimate relationship with the natural world that surrounds them and cultivates a peaceful, relaxed state of body and mind.
The greatest challenge with children is to hold their attention long enough to teach them the benefits of yoga: stillness, balance, flexibility, focus, peace, grace, connection, health, and well-being. Luckily, most children love to talk, and they love to move—both of which can happen in yoga. Children will jump at the chance to assume the role of animals, trees, flowers, warriors.
Here are some fun yoga games for kids that not only teach children yoga, but also help support their learning and development.
1. Mirror, mirror.
This game is a good warm-up exercise to increase focus. One person starts as the leader. The leader chooses a pose to do and shows it to the others. The other players copy the leader's pose as if they are looking into a mirror. Change the leader with each round of poses, so that everyone has a turn at being the leader.
2. Red light, green light yoga.
One person is chosen as the Stoplight. He or she stands at the front of the room. The other players are the "cars," and they start at the opposite wall. The Stoplight starts the game by calling "Green light!" The other players then use yoga poses to move forward. When the Stoplight calls "Red light!," each player needs to be in a yoga pose and remain still. Everyone takes a turn being the Stoplight.
3. Match Yoga Poses.
Place one yoga pose card on each yoga dot. Once everyone has a chance to look at their yoga card, then everyone walks around to find someone else who has the matching color band (category) on their yoga card. Once the partners are united, they can practice the poses to get together.
4. Partner Yoga Pose Practice.
Give out a yoga card to each child. Then, the children walk around to find someone who has the same colour shirt (or eyes, pants, shoes, etc). Once everyone is matched up, the partners practice the poses on their cards together.
5. Rock/Tree/ Bridge.
The children get into groups of three and line up. The first student in each line becomes a rock (do Child's Pose), second student jumps over the rock and becomes a tree (do Tree Pose), third person jumps over the rock, goes around the tree, and becomes a bridge (do Downward-Facing Dog Pose). The first student (who was the rock) gets up and goes around the tree and underneath the bridge. The students repeat the pattern.
Once you've played a few yoga games with your class, ask the children to make up their own yoga games to share with their friends.
6. Pose Detective.
Try to give them a yoga pose challenge, like "Show me a pose with 2 feet and 1 hand only on your mat."
7. Strike a Pose.
Play music and the students dance around the room. When the music stops, the children strike a pose. The teacher could call out a pose, or try saying, "Show me a pose of an animal that is found in the water, or flies, etc". Then the teacher plays the music again, the children dance, music stops, and then they practice a different pose.
8. Freeze Dance Yoga Style.
Almost every child loves freeze dance. It's the game where children get to let loose, shake, twist, turn ,and dance to their favourite tunes and then without any notice, they have to stop their body or freeze when the music stops. There is something about anxiously waiting for the music to stop that brings excitement and laughter to children. You can do freeze dance yoga-style. Simply play a favourite song and have the children dance around. When the music stops, shout out the name of a yoga pose and the students will then have to freeze in that pose. This also tests their knowledge of poses.
Be mindful that if you do a pose that is one-sided, you must have them repeat the pose on the other side. It's fun to see which moves faster, their minds or their bodies, as they think and try to jump into the pose.
9. Body Shapes.
Draw a shape on a whiteboard or a piece of paper and everyone must try to make that shape with their body. This can be done individually, in pairs, or in small groups. A fun challenge in pairs or groups is to see if they can make the shape while working together silently. Good figures to use are circles, lines, and certain letters.
10. Sea /Shore/ Shells.
This is an active game that allows lots of movement while practicing yoga poses that the children know or have learned. Have a long jump rope or some other way to divide your room in half. When the leader says, "sea", everyone jumps to the "sea" side. When the leader says "shore", they jump to the other side. When the leader says "shells", the participants must make a yoga pose. Try going quickly and mix them up. The kids will love it!


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The complete final night of Marah's 2007 tour of Spain. From Barcelona on March 11, 2007. This is some of the best footage that PaulMurff has shot. I can't thank him enough for all the great footage of Marah he has helped provide us all with.
Rocky Theme Intro/"East"
"It's Only Money, Tyrone"
"Demon of White Sadness"
"Dishwasher's Dream"
"Roundeye Blues"
"Sooner or Later"
"Feather Boa/Baba O'Riley"
"City of Dreams"
"Poor People"
"Pigeon Heart"
"This Time"
"Freedom Park"
"My Heart is the Bums on the Street"
"Walt Whitman Bridge"
Encore: "The Apartment" & "Do You Wanna Dance"
"Point Breeze"
"The Closer"
"The History of Where Someone Has Been Killed"
Monday, June 4, 2007
3/11/07 - Barcelona, Spain - Full Show
Posted by David Hensel at 11:52 PM
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Some applications in the skin section by removing some marks on the skin, acne or some stains to be cleaned with the process of cleaning the skin. Skin rejuvenation is known as chemical peeling.
With this process applied to the skin of the person's skin to provide collagen production on the upper part of the skin is peeled off. This process helps to reveal the new skin at the bottom of the skin.
In short, chemical peeling, facial acne, blackhead, line and wrinkle are the process of cleaning and elimination of basic problems such as sessions. The operation must be done under the supervision and supervision of the expert. Any application that is recommended before and after it must be strictly followed.
Our expert team will answer all your questions in the field of aesthetic surgery and hair transplantation. Information about the operation of the hotel and transfer your reservations will be done quickly without tiring.
You can give us your number. Our team will give you a quick return.


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"Elena Goptseva has worked for our family for over a year. She is giving piano lessons to our two daughters, ages 9 and 15. Elena is very committed and reliable. We have had other piano teachers in the past however she has been by far the best. She is able to distinguish the differences in their personalities and apply different strategies with each.
She has a very positive attitude and is extremely dedicated, caring, and passionate about her work."
Christine Zgoba
"I have known Ms. Elena for over 3 years. She has been our private piano teacher for my boys who are 10 and 7 years of age.
I wanted to express how much we appreciate her musical knowledge, ability, responsibility, and demeanor as a piano teacher. During over 3 years of my children's weekly lessons, Ms. Elena never cancelled her sessions except for the time when she traveled out of country. Ms. Elena is very friendly, easy to approach. She creates fun environment for the students in learning their lessons. She gives a lot of positive enthusiasm and encouragement with students, and she's never negative about not practicing or playing incorrectly. She makes sure the kids are having fun with piano, especially with beginners".
Jenny Kim, MD
"Elena Goptseva has been my eight-year-old son's piano teacher since February 2007. During this time, my son has gone from playing a basic song by ear to reading music and playing more difficult songs. She encourages him to practice daily and reminds him that he will only get better if he does. Additionally, she is very accommodating when our schedule needs to be adjusted due to other summer activities."
Deb Gates


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DAABBCC is a C++ wrapper of AABB.cc and tinyc2 libs for Defold Engine.
Basically, it is a dynamic bounding volume hierarchy (BVH) using axis-aligned bounding boxes (AABBs). The data structure provides an efficient way of detecting potential overlap between objects of arbitrary shape and size and is commonly used in computer games engines for collision detection and ray tracing.
Defold Assets: https://www.defold.com/community/projects/98525/
Github: https://github.com/selimanac/DAABBCC
Since I am a lazy developer, you can find my terrible test files in the source. Also I am working on a simple platformer for testing this library: https://github.com/selimanac/DAABBCC-Platformer. You can test the platformer example on itch.io.
You can find the DAABBCC on Defold Assets. Supported platforms are Web, Windows, MacOS and Linux (64bit). It is also available for mobile but I couldn't test it yet.


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Jul 16th 2013 - Incorporation of Nepal Shalimar Impex Private Limited
With this endeavour the group was able to facilitate import and export of miscellaneous items that were not already in the wide umbrella of the products being traded in the country
May 17th 2013 - Shalimar Plastic Industries Private Limited formed
Shalimar group entered a new market – plastics. The plastic industry produces quality plastic pipes, strong bags, sturdy tents, and various other plastic goods
Jul 2nd 2012 - Nepal Shalimar Paints underwent a new joint venture with Kansai Paints, Japan
Shalimar group and Kansai paints collaborated to form one of the largest joint ventures of the nation – Kansai Paints Nepal Private Limited. Producing premium paints and emulsions it is a strong contender in the Nepalese paint market. Kansai Paints is the most popular paints brand in the world
May 8th 2012 - Entered the national financial market via Shalimar Investments Company Private Limited
With this venture the group has been significantly investing upon national infrastructure development while changing real estate perceptions of the people. In a bid to aid national energy development Shalimar Investments Company has invested extensively on hydro-power plants. It also invests upon geological mines excavations and research
Jan 6th 2012 - Enters food and hospitality through Shalimar Hospitality and Foods Private Limited
In collaboration with Gulab Foods of India, Shalimar Hospitality and Foods caters hygienic foods in the city. A budget hotel in Sundhara is in the pipeline for which extensive plans are being laid
Oct 16th 2008 - Unitech Cement Private Limited incorporated
Shalimar group started producing clinker by limestone. Clinker refers to lumps or nodules produced by sintering limestone and alumino-silicate materials such as clay during the cement kiln stage
Jul 19th 2006 - Entered real estate via Shalimar Homes Private Limited
Also known as Kamdhenu homes, it has completed several housing projects in Kathmandu and Birgunj. Shalimar Homes is also involved in land development – subdivividing real estate into lots, typically for the purpose of building individual homes. Its latest project is in Birgunj, where the group's head office is
Mar 26th 2006 - Enters travel and tourism through Shalimar Travels Private Limited
A leading ticketing and touring company, Shalimar Travels is efficient and effective. Thus, building it to be one of the best travel agencies of the nation
Aug 4th 2003 - Nepal Shalimar Cement Private Limited incorporated and started operations
Used in various housing projects, hydro power projects, bridges, roads and various infrastructural development projects, Shalimar Cement stands committed to quality
Jan 18th 2001 - Nepal Shalimar Metals Private Limited formed
Nepal Shalimar Metals produces non-ferrous metals such as copper and brass sheets and circles. Nepal Shalimar Metals can proudly state that they are the one of the best amongst the wide array of metals available in the market. Their main ambition is a satisfied clientele
Dec 12th 2000 - Diversified towards decorative paints with the incorporation of Nepal Shalimar Paints Private Limited
A household name until its merger with Kansai Paints Nepal Shalimar Paints was a brand that wouldn't go amiss in many parts of the nation
Apr 2nd 2000 - Rameshwarlal Rajkumar Hardware becomes Goyal Hardware
Rameshwarlal Rajkumar Hardware becomes Goyal Hardware
Mar 25th 1994 - Shalimar Steel Private Limited established
It started operations with a steel plant; manufacturing steel rods, bars, channels, etc. Manufacturing strong TMT rods, it caters to the housing development of the nation
Jan 1st 1994 - Shalimar Group formed as a joint venture collaboration between Pradeep and Company and Rameshwarlal Rajkumar Hardware
Already known to have a diverse range of industries and trade houses under their names, their collaboration synergized efforts of two individual houses. Resultingly, expansion of industries and trade houses
Jan 27th 1992 - Sidhartha Impex Private Limited established
Sidhartha Impex was established for the purposes of importing and exporting copper, brass, and construction materials. One of the group's first drives was towards importing ferrous metals and construction materials which added upon the group a wide diversity in its vested interests
Nov 30th 1991 - Sidhi Vinayak Private Limited formed
This trade house was established for the purposes of import and export of construction materials, and a new product – fertilizers
Nov 21st 1991 - Hemant Industry formed to enable production and exports of pulses
An initiative towards promoting and developing the primary goods manufacturing segment, Hemant Industry has been extensively involved with pulses – Lobia, Mansoor Dal, Udad Dal – you name it
Jun 7th 1981 - R K Impex Private Limited established
R K Impex was established to facilitate import and export of industrial raw materials and food products. A pioneer enterprise during its time, R K Impex has been instrumental in facilitating trades via its quality raw materials imports
Jan 1st 1965 - Pradeep and Company formed to facilitate miscellaneous imports and exports
This company was established as a flagship company towards all the future trade endeavours the company would be interested in undertaking, and so they did
Jan 1st 1940 - Madanlal Rameshwarlal Hardware incorporated
Madanlal Rameshwarlal primarily has and till date deals in steel and construction


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Arriving in a new country can be daunting, especially when you don't speak the language. Trying to navigate the streets using public transport can be terrifying. Here's everything you need to know about catching a bus in Nicaragua.
Before the year ends, Tyrone and I sat down to think about our year of travel so far. Here's
The past few weeks in Nicaragua have been an adventure! Here's a list of some of the five things
Since we arrived in Nicaragua, everyone has told us about the amazing beach at Huehuete - a small fishing
So Tyrone wanted to pop around the corner to a small town called Casares for a few groceries... 40min later
We're slowly settling into life in La Boquita. It's a small fishing village, and describing the area as "quiet"
My last week in South Africa was surreal. The entire time I didn't feel like I was leaving. Saying goodbye


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Baltic 360 at Baltic Creative
Client: Baltic Creative
Küla creative team:Carl Bennett
Stereographic azimuthal little planet projections of spherical, equirectangular images and rhombicuboctahedron philospheres! Obviously. Carl Bennett's Baltic 360 exhibition aims to show you places in and around the Baltic Triangle, in unusual ways - bending familiar places into unfamiliar shapes. The exhibition also presents some of the artist's private collection of images taken in and around his home city of Chester. Carl has previously had his worked featured in the Chester Chronicle, the Ellesmere Port Pioneer and the Flintshire Chronicle newspapers. He is currently exhibiting in two Chester galleries and his mind-bending photograph of the staircase simultaneously won and broke the internet when he first showed it back in January. All the photographs featured were taken with either a regular or specialist spherical camera.
Baltic 360 by Carl Bennett: a photography exhibition at Baltic Creative, Jamaica Street, Liverpool. Opens Saturday 28th February and runs throughout March 2015.


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Sverdrup Technology, Inc., Middleburg Heights, OH 44130
A computer code has been developed to perform structural optimization of turbine blades made from angle ply fiber composite laminates. Design variables available for optimization include geometric parameters such as blade thickness distribution and root chord, and composite material parameters such as ply angles and numbers of plies of each constituent material. Design constraints include resonance margins, forced response margins, maximum stress, and maximum ply combined stress. A general description of this code is given. Design optimization studies for typical blades are presented.
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I'm sure we all know someone who is completely obsessed with gaming and all manners of geekery. Luckily enough, geek chic is one of the biggest design trends at the moment, and I'm not just talking fashion. Geek chic has spread to almost anything you can think of. Whether it be pixel sunglasses or home decorations, it looks like there's something for the geek in all of us.
Just in time for Christmas, right?
I was lucky enough to receive these amazing Tetris lights as an early Christmas gift and absolutely love them! You can stack them in an endless amount of ways, meaning you're completely in control of the design. I love how bright and colorful they are, they'd make a fab addition to any room and add a playful interactive twist.


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Welcome To Soham Carpets & Soft Furnishings!
Soham Carpets & Soft Furnishings, based in Ely and St Ives, Cambridgeshire, has been providing a bespoke, personal service to clients within a 30 mile radius of the city since 1977. We offer a comprehensive supply-and-fit service for flooring, curtains, upholstery and window blinds. From our website you can explore a whole range of fabrics and products online, or contact the office and we will arrange to call and see you.
For assistance and first class service please contact Robert for Carpets and all types of Flooring on 01353 669 880, or Robert or Sue for Upholstery and Soft Furnishings also on 01353 669 880. For more information on Carpets and Flooring please click here.


text: Sending Office: Honorable Rosa L. DeLauro Sent By: email@example.com Co-sponsor the FAMILY Act, the Healthy Families Act and the Schedules that Work Act Dear Colleague, In the next couple of weeks, the Republicans will attempt to advance the so-called Working Families Flexibility Act (H.R. 1180) which would give workers less flexibility and less pay. Join me in supporting real worker friendly proposals, which would provide time to care for serious personal, family needs and better work schedules. The Healthy Families Act (H.R. 1516), with 122 cosponsors, would guarantee workers the right to earn up to seven paid sick days each year to recover from short-term illness, to care for a sick family member, to seek routine medical are or to obtain assistance related to domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking. The Family And Medical Insurance Leave (FAMILY) Act (H.R. 947), with 132 cosponsors, would create a national paid leave insurance program, modeled on successful programs in California, New Jersey, Rhode Island and, soon, New York. It would allow workers to earn a portion of their pay while they take time away from work to care for a new child; care for a seriously ill family member; address their own serious health condition; or manage certain military caregiving responsibilities. Research shows that a majority of Americans support an inclusive family and medical leave program like the FAMILY Act and a majority of small businesses support the FAMILY Act. For example, 87 percent of Americans support inclusive paid family and medical leave programs with 55 percent strongly supporting.[i] Seven out of ten small businesses favor the FAMILY Act, including 47% who strongly favor it.[ii] Lastly, I will soon reintroduce the Schedules That Work Act in May. The Schedules that Work Act would give workers more control over their schedules and offer workers true predictability and stability in shifts and work hours, consistent with current FLSA protections. It ensures that workers in selected industries are not penalized for refusing to work overtime on short notice and creates barriers to just-in-time scheduling and on-call shifts, which result in underemployment, lost opportunities and extra expenses for workers. Please join me in cosponsoring these pro-worker, family friendly pieces of legislation. If you have any questions, or would like to co-sponsor the bill please contact Elizabeth Albertine in my office at 5-3661 firstname.lastname@example.com. Sincerely, Rosa L. DeLauro Member of Congress [i] A Better Balance. (2017, February). Most Americans Support Paid Family & Medical Leave. Retrieved 10 April 2017, from http://www.abetterbalance.org/most-americans-support-paid-family-medical-leave/ [ii] Center for American Progress and Small Business Majority. (2017, March). Opinion Poll: Small Businesses Support Paid Family Leave Programs. Retrieved 30 March 2017, from http://www.smallbusinessmajority.org/sites/default/files/research-reports/033017-paid-leave-poll.pdf Related Legislative Issues Selected legislative information: Family Issues, Labor Tagged:Rosa L. DeLauro


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Venue, City
Repertoire, Orchestra
MARC-ANDRÉ DALBAVIE La source d'un regard
RAVEL Piano Concerto in G major
DEBUSSY Printemps
RAVEL Daphnis et Chloé Suite No. 2
We ensure that all concert dates, locations and times are confirmed before publishing to the website.
Performance information can change without notice however so please make sure you check with the concert venue in advance.


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Great story…. don't think fans is places such as Columbus would be so responsive.
Via AP
Associated Press
Ann Arbor — A Notre Dame fan who suffered cardiac arrest during Saturday's game at Michigan survived to watch the final touchdowns from a hospital bed.
U-M says 69-year-old Leo Staudacher's heart stopped beating during the second quarter of the game at Michigan Stadium.
The Bay City man survived thanks in part to one football fan who began CPR and others who called for medical assistance.
The medical team used a defibrillator and he was transported to the University of Michigan Health System, where he was diagnosed with suffering a heart attack.
After treatment at the hospital, he watched part of the final quarter from an intensive care unit bed — and saw Michigan's thrilling 35-31 win.
"My family watched while they shocked me with the paddles," AnnArbor.com reported that Staudacher said in a UMHS news release. "But it was the fans and their prompt CPR that saved my life."


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Car Tires, Maintenance & Repairs At 2605 Sw 34th St
At your 2605 Sw 34th St Tires Plus location, you'll receive top-quality tires, maintenance, and repair services to help keep your car running smoothly. Get a tire quote online, book an appointment, or visit your nearest Gainesville location today.
Your Tires Plus Store At 2605 Sw 34th St
When you depend on Tires Plus at 2605 Sw 34th St, you'll receive quality advice on tires, maintenance and repair services. Find a Tires Plus location in your neighborhood, or schedule your next service appointment online or by phone today.
Tires Plus
- Mon-Fri:7:00am-7:00pm
- Sat:7:00am-5:00pm
- Sun:9:00am-4:00pm
*Note Special Holiday Hours Below.
Holiday Hours
Please note our hours for Easter
- 4/21Closed
Trust Tires Plus Total Car Care
Here at Tires Plus, complete customer satisfaction is our top priority. We want our guests to be excited about the tires and services they receive. What's more, we are dedicated to helping you save money. That's why we have coupons and deals on both tires and services. Get started by finding your closest Gainesville Tires Plus store or book a service appointment now!
Auto Services And Offers Available At Tires Plus
At Tires Plus, the Plus means we strive for excellence. That's why our services include more than tires. Whether you're bringing your car for a routine maintenance check or you need a problem checked out, count on Tires Plus in Gainesville to keep your vehicle running smoothly.
Careers - Become a Teammate
Join the Tires Plus team and you'll receive more than exceptional benefits, training, certifications, and advancement opportunities. Our trusted teammates make the road a safer place, one service at a time. They're passionate problem solvers who roll up their sleeves and dedicate themselves to keeping our customer's vehicles running right every day, in every bay, and at every service center.
Become a teammate and you can have a rewarding career with hearty benefits and plenty of room to grow. Text BRIDGESTONE to 97211 to apply now or click below to find Tires Plus job opportunities near you.CAREERS AT BRIDGESTONE


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|Tax and domestic shipping included
Quantity : 1 piece(s) per House Hold
Ref : 5555
|KOTOBUKIYA Limited Edition
Release Date : January 2015
Original title : リボルテックダンボー・ミニ 年賀2015 ダンボール製 フィギュア
Brand new - Limited Edition - Factory Sealed
Material and Scale : ABS.PVC Figure non scale
Size : about 80 mm
Item requested through our Proxy Buying Service, please note the followings before you purchase it.
- Cancellation and return will NOT be possible after you order this product.
- We add Service fee and Transaction fee to your order, which shall be displayed as "Usage fee" and "Service Fee" in our Terms and Conditions.
- We cannot provide shipping quotes for pre-order items as we do not know their final size or weight.
- We will inform you of the actual shipping rates for your items when your order is in stock and ready to ship.
We shop on your behalf!
- Find the item(s) you wish to order and Click on "ADD TO CART". To access your cart please
- Click "View Cart" on the cart icon at the top of the screen.
- Edit quantities or Remove items by clicking "Remove"
- Select a payment method for your order or Pay with PayPal
Customer Service : Terms and Conditions / Shipping options / Package Consolidation Service


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As a family owned business Carefree Decks and Patio Covers are proud to provide custom services for all your patio needs. We can provide you with custom designed patios that are functional as well as beautiful. When you are looking for a patio company in Denver look no further, we have what you need.
If you have always wanted a stone patio but didn't want to spend a fortune, stamped concrete is your answer. Stamped concrete is growing in popularity because it is a low cost alternative and can be made to look like more expensive materials. We can replicate almost any surface like brick, stone, wooden slates, cobblestone, marble and slate. As a professional patio company, we can design a custom patio for you.
Let our experts create a beautiful and original one of a kind design that is sure to add beauty to your home and create an additional outdoor patio space for your family and friends to enjoy. For over 18 years, from Denver to Vail and Ft. Collins to Colorado Springs, see why we are the first choice for a patio company in Denver.
For more information about Carefree Decks and Patio Covers visit our website at www.carefreedecks.com


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My Blog
Posts for: May, 2015
When he isn't among the ten players vying for position on the basketball court, Cole Aldrich of the New York Knicks sometimes lets his dangle behind one ear. Mason Plumlee, who plays for the Brooklyn Nets, slips his snugly inside one of his socks during off times. Other players can be seen at timeouts gnawing on them nervously, or tucking them into spandex waistbands. But when the whistle blows, they go into the mouth before the players get on the court.
We're talking about protective mouthguards, of course. According to a recent story in the New York Times, only a handful of basketball players wore them regularly a few years ago. Today, more and more are wearing them, both in practice and during games. What's the reason for the change?
Partly, it's the result of better design and improved construction; today's mouthguards are more comfortable and better-fitting than ever. Part of it comes from mounting evidence that they work: Research studies have consistently demonstrated the benefits of wearing a mouthguard — not only to protect the teeth, but also to reduce the risk of concussion. And partly, it stems from the growing acceptance that safety is an important aspect of all athletic activity.
If the pros are doing it — shouldn't you be too? While you may think that only contact sports (such as football) are risky, the fact is that "non-contact" sports like baseball and basketball account for the majority of dental injuries. In fact, the American Dental Association recommends you wear a mouthguard when you participate in activities like handball, soccer, surfing and weight lifting — as well as boxing, skydiving, martial arts and "extreme sports" — whatever that may mean to you.
What's the best kind of mouthguard? It's the one that you actually wear, of course! And the most comfortable and best-fitting mouthguard is the one that's custom-made for you by your dentist. Sure, you can pick up an off-the-shelf mouthguard at a big box store; but it can't offer you the same level of protection and comfort you'll get from a mouthguard that is made from a model of your own teeth. Custom-made mouthguards from your dentist are reasonably priced — and by preventing dental trauma, they can save an untold amount of hurt… both to your body and to your pocketbook.
So take a tip from the pros: Get a custom-made mouthguard, and wear it every time you play. But when you're done playing… how about putting it away in a case?
If you would like more information about custom-made athletic mouthguards, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation. You can learn more by reading the Dear Doctor magazine articles "An Introduction to Sports Injuries & Dentistry" and "Athletic Mouthguards."
It might seem that adults who play aggressive, high-contact professional sports (ice hockey, for example) have the highest chance of sustaining dental injuries. But for many — like NHL hall-of-famer Mike Bossy — their first injured teeth came long before they hit the big time.
"The earliest [dental injury] I remember is when I was around 12," the former New York Islanders forward recently told an interviewer with the Huffington Post. That came from a stick to Bossy's mouth, and resulted in a chipped front tooth. "Unfortunately, money was not abundant back in those days, and I believe I finally had it repaired when I was 16." he said.
You may also think there's a greater chance of sustaining dental trauma from "collision sports" like football and hockey — but statistics tell a different story. In fact, according to the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD), you (or your children) are more likely to have teeth damaged while playing soccer than football — and basketball players have a risk that's 15 times higher than football players.
So — whether the game is hockey, basketball or something else — should you let the chance of dental injury stop you or your children from playing the sports they love? We think not... but you should be aware of the things you can do to prevent injury, and the treatment options that are available if it happens.
Probably the single most effective means of preventing sports-related dental injuries is to get a good, custom-made mouth guard — and wear it. The AGD says mouthguards prevent some 200,000 such injuries every year. And the American Dental Association says that athletes who don't wear mouthguards are 60 times more likely to sustain harm to the teeth than those who do.
Many studies have shown that having a custom-fitted mouthguard prepared in a dental office offers far greater protection then an off-the-shelf "small-medium-large" type, or even the so-called "boil and bite" variety. Using an exact model of your teeth, we can fabricate a mouthguard just for you, made of the highest-quality material. We will ensure that it fits correctly and feels comfortable in your mouth — because if you don't wear it, it can't help!
But even if you do have an injury, don't panic: Modern dentistry offers plenty of ways to repair it! The most common sports-related dental injuries typically involve chipped or cracked teeth. In many cases, these can be repaired by bonding with tooth-colored composite resins. For mild to moderate injury, this method of restoration can produce a restoration that's practically invisible. It's also a relatively uncomplicated and inexpensive procedure, which makes it ideal for growing kids, who may elect to have a more permanent restoration done later.
If you have questions about mouthguards or sports-related dental injuries, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation. You can learn more in the Dear Doctor magazine articles "Athletic Mouthguards," and "An Introduction to Sports Injuries & Dentistry."
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'Won't Protein Make Me Manly?'
Ah yes, the question commonly asked whenever the topic of 'protein' comes up ..
For those of you on a January health kick and are thinking about buying protein because it seems like the logical next step to take, STOP AND READ THIS FIRST!
And for those of you who are simply terrified of the idea of protein anyway, well you might want to carry on reading also..
I'm here to educate and remove the stigma of the topic surrounding protein- i'm going right back to basics here so feel free to ask me anything you'd like answered further too 🙂
I often get approached by women who just aren't seeing the results they want. They spend hours in the gym whether it be doing cardio or strength based exercises yet are unhappy with their progress. Nine times out of ten it comes down to their nutrition and a lack of education surrounding this topic mainly due to what they've read/seen on the internet
There seems to be a stigma and fear relating to post workout protein, that it makes you 'bulky' and 'manly'. This may be due to a lack of understanding about how important protein really is and what it does..
Protein is absolutely crucial in our bodies, not just to repair and rebuild broken down muscle but it participates in practically every living function our body performs.
The reason we associate protein with bodybuilding is because the people participating in this sport do consume more than those who are less active because they NEED it..
In times of extreme sports your body's demands for protein increases because your muscles are under more strain than someone who doesn't exercise. Your muscles are breaking down and rebuilding at a rapid rate in comparison to a static individual as it's very adaptive.
For example; someone weightlifting or training for a marathon will be using their muscles far more than someone who take lights walks or doesn't exercise at all.
It is however, the most specific of all the macronutrients as you consume- specific to you, your body weight and your activity levels
So how much do you need?
Different studies argue different amounts but a general rule to go by is;
0.75-1.5g of Protein per Pound of bodyweight
This range has shown to be most superior in both recovery, repair and bodybuilding
Like I said, this is totally personalised and you may choose the lower or higher end of this range dependent upon your activity level.
Let's get a little technical..
During your workout, whether it be cardio or strength focused, you're breaking down muscle tissue via a process known as catabolism to supply you with energy. Now, remember the notion 'skinny fat'… well lets explain just how it happens. Some women spend hours breaking down muscle, leave the gym, don't refuel properly and therefore end up in a state where they have in fact LOST muscle mass and kept their fat mass the same because it's actually easier for our bodies to resort to muscle break down over fat. Our bodies enter a state of gluconeogenesis (muscle breakdown) before ketosis (fat breakdown) and, especially in women, this is due to our in built survival instinct to conserve fat for pregnancy and times of starvation as it is so energy dense.
Why people drink protein shakes…
The most commonly consumed protein you may see people taking after a workout is known as whey protein. This form is most rapidly absorbed by the body and transported to your muscles to repair and help re-build mass that has been broken down during your workout. A standard serving will supply you with approximately 20g of protein, an amount which will in no way make you 'bulky'.
Think of it in terms of chicken, an average chicken breast supplies you with 25-30g protein, a tin of tuna is 30g protein.
So what exactly is the difference here and why do people drink protein?
A post workout protein shake will supply you with essential amino acids (mini building blocks) that your body cannot produce by itself. It will kick start your muscle repair and recovery. But most importantly, it will take you out of that catabolic state rapidly- It's simply a convenient way of getting some essential amino acids straight to your muscles without physically eating anything.
Alternatively you could quite literally just eat a chicken breast!
So whats the point of protein I hear you ask?
Sheer convenience!
You can throw a scoop into a shaker /blender and consume as you finish your workout, you can combine it to make a delicious smoothie, you also may have noticed its a fab thing to use in baking!
As you'll have already come across in many of my recipes 😉
It replaces ingredients which essentially change the nutritional profile of the meal into a much more nutrient dense one (and you can get some pretty amazing flavours out there too!)
So ladies and gents, do not be afraid of protein! With the correct post-workout nutrition you'll actually start to see that your muscles appear more defined and you'll feel more 'toned'. You'll recover much more efficently and find that you can actually workout more. You will become more efficient at breaking down fat and you'll start to feel stronger and fitter.
With the right amount of protein for YOU, I guarantee you'll find yourself feeling healthier, less fatigued and may even notice that your hair feels much thicker and grows faster.
Do you need it? absolutely not
Could you benefit from taking it? Absolutely
(especially if you find it hard to get enough that you require via the means of food only)
Will you get manly and bulky? Absolutely not
And ladies don't forget, one of the main hormones needed to build muscle to appear 'bulky' (Testosterone) are actually produced in the testicles so we simply don't have the the means by which to produce it at a large level to cause such an effect.
I will be following this up with a post about different sources of protein especially for those who are vegan and vegetarian
I hope you found this useful- please do let me know what your thoughts are too 🙂
Lots of love,


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Awesome! This should be on your "About Us" page!Wait... if you fell to your death, are you a ghost now?
Maybe it should, precious! Maybe it should.We may have died but the spirit of Smeagol lives forever!
Yes, leave us a comment precious! We doesn't bite! Smeagol wouldn't hurt a fly!


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It is so hard for me to sit her tonight and watch the news, yet I have been glued to the TV since I turned it on at 3:30 this afternoon. I ran two races this past weekend. I ran a 10K on Saturday and a 5K on Sunday. Both days my wife and daughter were waiting at the finish line for me to cross. On the 10K I grabbed a hold of my baby girl's hand and she ran across the finish line with me. This is a wonderful feeling of accomplishment and a great moment to share with family and friends. I just can not imagine coming to the finish line and seeing my family hurt or God forbid dead.
This is just a horrible event and I just cant believe someone would do this. Running is such a great release and what did a runner ever do to anyone? They run their own race and most of the time run alone. There is just no need for such a senseless act.
I just can not imagine what the athletes, families, medical staff, police and everyone else in Boston is going through tonight. This should be a very memorable moment of running a marathon. There months and months of training for this event. There are many dreams of crossing that finish line and receiving that medal around their neck. This should be memories some will never forget of running their first marathon – a huge accomplishment in itself. Now it is a unbelievable, unimaginable day that will forever be a memory for these runners in a completely different way than what it should be. Many runners never even got to cross that finish line. After running for 4 hours, these runners did not get to cross the finish line. I have run for 2 1/2 hours and it is exhausting. Running another 1 1/2 hours past that is a feet that I will never attempt. These runners are amazing and deserve to cross that line and deserve to get a medal around their neck and deserve to celebrate a wonderful victory. There is no need for these exhausted runners to have to go and worry about their loved ones after running for that long.
There is no reason for this kind of shit in this world. This is just horrible and I can not believe that we are still dealing with this kind of crap on our home soil. We need to get a hold of this and make America safe again! This is just ridiculous! I pray for Boston and all of these runner and all of the victims tonight. I pray that we can catch whoever did this and bring them to justice. I pray that we can make America safe again. I pray my daughter has a safe world to grow up in. Please Pray For Boston!


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San Francisco office offers hope for people stressed over loans
Office helps homeowners connect with their lenders
Fragments of conversation float out from the cubicles:
"Foreclosure is a big black eye on your credit."
"Can you scrounge up $500 to make a partial mortgage payment?"
"Have you heard of a short sale?"
Here in a downtown San Francisco high-rise is a window on America's foreclosure epidemic. The Consumer Credit Counseling Service of San Francisco is one of five nonprofit agencies around the country that staff the HOPE hot line - the free telephone assistance for struggling homeowners touted by President Bush on Thursday.
"I have a message for every homeowner worried about rising mortgage payments: The best you can do for your family is to call (the HOPE hot line)," Bush said in a televised speech, although he actually recited the number of a Christian school in Texas, instead of the correct number, (888) 995-4673.
The phones have been ringing nonstop since then, although there were already plenty of desperate people calling. As foreclosure filings nationwide have skyrocketed, the HOPE hot line has handled almost 100,000 calls this year. The San Francisco office typically fields 400 to 600 calls a day; on Thursday, that jumped to 1,900, said Rick Harper, vice president and director of housing.
The calls make one thing clear: Many callers are grateful for someone who can explain basic facts about managing their cash flow, what to say to their lender and how the foreclosure process works. Some are in so far over their heads that there is only so much counselors can do to assist them. Some might be able to qualify for a workout plan in which their lender accepts smaller monthly payments, but even with the hot line's help, getting approval from swamped lenders can take weeks.
Bush's plan to freeze some mortgage payments isn't something the counselors can assist with. Callers who ask about it are told to contact their lenders directly.
"We do counseling for people in foreclosure - sometimes days away from it," Harper said. "If someone's loan is resetting in six months, there is no crisis, we'll tell them to contact their lender." He hopes the HOPE line will set up an automated message telling people to press "1" to learn more about the loan-freeze plan.
The line is administered by the Homeownership Preservation Foundation, a Minneapolis nonprofit that was formed in 2004 with $20 million seed money from GMAC Residential Capital, one of the nation's largest mortgage lenders.
Consumer Credit Counseling Service of San Francisco, which has been in existence since 1969, was hired in April as the fifth agency to staff the HOPE hot line. Since then, it has tripled its housing counseling staff, going from 10 to 30 - and it's still hiring.
The San Francisco housing counselors patiently walk each caller through their personal situation - are they behind on mortgage payments, what is their monthly cash outlay, can they boost their income and cut expenses. Sometimes, especially if foreclosure is just days away, the counselors get the caller's lender on the phone immediately.
After spending an hour or so with each caller, the counselors write up a personalized action plan, describing the caller's financial situation and recommended next steps. They send the plan to the caller and his or her lenders. Their No. 1 recommendation to everyone: Call your lender.
In fact the HOPE line is heavily funded by lenders, which see it as the best way to make contact with overdrawn borrowers who are often too scared to call directly. Grants from government and foundations also contribute to its budget.
Lenders also hire the San Francisco agency to place calls to people who have fallen behind on their mortgage, because a call from a nonprofit is less threatening than one from a lender.
The San Francisco counselors call 3,500 such people every month, reaching about a third of them. Of those, 60 percent avoid foreclosure, although some may lose their house in the process by selling it or deeding it to the lender.
The counselors are mainly in their 20s and have an idealistic bent.
Brian Hunt, 23, exemplifies that. A public-policy major in college, he was active with Habitat for Humanity and sees this job as a natural extension.
"I wanted to do boots-on-the-ground housing counseling to help people," he said.
One call he took on Friday came from a single mother in Florida who was four months behind on payments for the home she has owned for 10 years. She's already working two jobs and her budget is clearly barebones. The good news is she's expecting a big tax refund next year.
Hunt suggested she tell her lender she could get caught up after that refund and meanwhile change her tax withholding to temporarily fatten her paycheck. He patiently ran through other options: Find cheaper home insurance, ask if the lender will add an additional 10 or 20 years onto her mortgage term to lower payments.
"I try to give (callers) a working knowledge of how they can help themselves in talking to their lender," he said. "I suggest talking points; even a tone of voice to use - 'This is my problem, is there any way we can work together?' "
Some victories are small: "Last week, I got a lady's (foreclosure) date pushed back 30 days to Jan. 6 instead of Dec. 6; her goal was no foreclosure during the holiday season." That extra time might allow the client to sell her house, he added.
A few success stories are dramatic. An elderly woman in Minnesota had set up automatic mortgage payments that stopped, due to a technical glitch around the same time she was hospitalized. She didn't realize what had happened until it was too late. The house was repossessed by the lender at a foreclosure auction; the woman was still living there but was terrified that the sheriff would soon be knocking on her door.
"I was able to call the (loan servicer) and Freddie Mac (the investor that owned the mortgage), explain the situation and they undid the foreclosure," Hunt said. "She got the house back on the day before Thanksgiving. That was the highlight of working here - to pull something back from actual foreclosure."
Coming from around the country, the calls provide a snapshot of regional economics. "When someone calls from California, you can suggest they explore getting a second job," Hunt said. "If they're from Ohio, they say, 'I'm struggling just to hold onto my first job'; there are no other jobs."
Hunt said he typically does four or five full counseling sessions a day and juggles 10 or so shorter calls.
Counselors make $30,000 to $40,000 a year. They do a lot of on-the-job training and must pass credit-counseling certification tests. In a sad reflection of how devastating foreclosures can be, they are also trained in suicide prevention.
David Lopez has been a counselor for three months.
"It's the best place I've worked in my life. I'm not selling anything or trying to trick anyone and I get thanked 20 times a day," he said.
Lopez said he made more money in construction - but he said he's learning more about money in this job.
"I learned that people really overextend themselves with a lifestyle that's extravagant for their income," he said. "It's helped me out with my own budget. I stopped eating out so much, cut out my cable and Internet and drive less. I want to save up for a home but I don't want to end up like one of these callers."


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BA, Colorado College; Columbia University; Northwestern University
professional experience includes
BBDO, Deutsch Advertising, J. Walter Thompson, Interview
Clients have included
Ikea, Condé Nast, Tommy Hilfiger, Burger King, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, United States Navy, AIG, Foot Locker, Campbell's, Kraft, Kellogg's, General Mills
Awards include
The One Show, Communication Arts, ADDY, ANDY
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