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PASADENA, Calif.—At any given moment, millions of cells are on the move in the human body, typically on their way to aid in immune response, make repairs, or provide some other benefit to the structures around them. When the migration process goes wrong, however, the results can include tumor formation and metastatic cancer. Little has been known about how cell migration actually works, but now, with the help of some tiny worms, researchers at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) have gained new insight into this highly complex task.
The team's findings are outlined this week online in the early edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
"In terms of cancer, we know how to find primary tumors and we know when they're metastatic, but we're missing information on the period in between when cells are crawling around, hanging out, and doing who knows what that leads to both of these types of diseases," says Paul Sternberg, Thomas Hunt Morgan Professor of Biology at Caltech, and corresponding author of the paper.
To learn more about those crawling, or migrating, cells, Sternberg looked at the animal he knows best—the tiny Caenorhabditis elegans, a common species of roundworm that he has been studying for many years. Despite their small size, the worms actually share quite a few genes with humans.
"Migration is such a conserved process," says Mihoko Kato, a senior research fellow in biology at Caltech and a coauthor of the paper. "So whether it happens in C. elegans or in mammals, like humans, we think that many of the same genes are going to be involved."
Contained in each cell—be it human or worm—are thousands of genes, all of which have a special job, or jobs, to do. Of these genes, roughly one-third are active in a given cell. To see what genes are expressed during migration, Sternberg and Kato, along with Erich Schwarz, a research fellow in Sternberg's lab, studied a single cell, called the linker cell (LC), in the worms; during reproductive development, LCs travel almost the entire length of the worm's body.
Using high-powered microscopy, the team identified LCs at two intervals, 12 hours apart, during the worm's larval stage, and removed them from the animals. Then, using sequencing and computational analysis, they determined the genes that were actively expressed at these two migration time points. This method of study is called transcriptional profiling.
"By understanding the normal migration of a single cell, we can understand something about how the cells are programmed to navigate their environment," says Sternberg, who is also an investigator with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. "Our view of cancer metastasis is that the tumor cells confront some obstacle and then they have to evolve to get through or around that obstacle. The way they probably do that is by using some aspect of the normal program that exists somewhere in the genome."
He says that learning more about different ways that cells migrate may lead to the development of new types of drugs that block this process by targeting specific genes. The team plans additional transcriptional profiling studies to obtain more detailed information about the functions of particular C. elegans genes involved in migration—and, eventually, of similar genes in higher organisms, including humans.
"We selected genes present in both worms and humans, but which have not been studied much before us," says Schwarz. "Since we found that some of these genes help worm LCs migrate, we think each one may have a related human gene helping cells migrate, too."
"The nice thing about this technology is that you can use it with any cell type," adds Kato, who points out that their studies have already helped identify new functions for known genes possessed by both the worms and humans. "It's a similar process to do transcriptome profiling using human cells."
In addition to identifying drug targets, the team is also hoping to find a good signature, or molecular marker, for migrating cells. "This kind of information could be very useful diagnostically, to help identify cells that are doing things that they shouldn't be doing, or weird combinations of genes that shouldn't be expressed together, which is what a tumor cell might have," says Sternberg. "This work lays the foundation for really understanding what information is critically needed from mammalian cells for tumor cells to be able to migrate."
The study, "Functional transcriptomics of a migrating cell in Caenorhabditis elegans," was funded by the National Institutes of Health and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.
Two members of the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) faculty have been given National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director's Awards. The awards are administered through the NIH's Common Fund, which provides support for research deemed to be both innovative and risky.
"The Common Fund High Risk–High Reward program provides opportunities for innovative investigators in any area of health research to take risks when the potential impact in biomedical and behavioral science is high," said NIH Director Francis S. Collins in a press release.
There are three types of NIH Director's Awards: the Pioneer Award, the New Innovator Award, and the Transformative Research Award. This year, biologist Doris Ying Tsao was given one of 10 Pioneer Awards, and geobiologist Dianne K. Newman was among the 20 scientists to receive Transformative Research Awards.
The Pioneer Award, established in 2004, "challenges investigators at all career levels to develop highly innovative approaches that have the potential to produce a high impact on a broad area of biomedical or behavioral research," according to the NIH. Tsao, an assistant professor of biology, will explore the question of how objects that we see are initially processed in the brain.
"The retina essentially transmits an array of unconnected pixels to the brain. These are first processed locally, through various local filters for color, motion, etc., and the image does not yet contain objects, or bound units," says Tsao. "But after this, there is a mysterious operation that puts all these local pieces together for the first time—and that is what I am studying. I want to know how the brain dynamically links all these pixels over space and time, based on surface contiguity, to form bound units."
For example, as a truck makes a U-turn, the pixels defining the truck can change completely, yet we have no trouble tracking those pixels and seeing they belong to a single invariant object, she explains.
"I am incredibly excited to have the chance, with the NIH Pioneer Award, to hunt for the circuits implementing these computations within the brain," says Tsao. "We just have to open our eyes to know the circuits exist, but understanding them is going to be an immense challenge that will require huge resources, and to now suddenly have these resources is unbelievable to me."
The Transformative Research Award program, established in 2009, "promotes cross-cutting, interdisciplinary approaches" for research that "has the potential to create or overturn fundamental paradigms," according to the NIH. Newman, professor of biology and geobiology, will use the award to apply geobiological approaches to understanding the progression of pulmonary infections.
Due to the challenges of working in situ, or in the body, most studies of infectious disease agents are conventionally performed with representative isolates and imperfect disease models in the laboratory, says Newman. Very few direct measurements of the physiological state of drug-tolerant populations in the host exist, and little is known about which metabolic pathways are actually in play, much less how they change over time in response to coevolving conditions within the lung, she explains.
"We will tackle this critical knowledge gap using an approach inspired by geobiology," says Newman, who is also an investigator with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. "Geobiologists are experienced in studying the growth and metabolism of microbial populations in poorly accessible natural habitats by combining molecular biology and stable isotope geochemistry; we will apply these tools to the lung."
The goal of this project, she says, is to lay a foundation for novel therapeutics to modify and control infectious disease agents.
"I am honored to have received this award because it will take our research in a meaningful new direction," says Newman. "The opportunity to collaborate with an outstanding group of colleagues at Caltech and at USC and Johns Hopkins hospitals is very exciting. I'm grateful that the NIH took a chance on our idea, and I hope it fulfills its promise."
PASADENA, Calif.—As an animal develops from an embryo, its cells take diverse paths, eventually forming different body parts—muscles, bones, heart. In order for each cell to know what to do during development, it follows a genetic blueprint, which consists of complex webs of interacting genes called gene regulatory networks.
Biologists at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) have spent the last decade or so detailing how these gene networks control development in sea-urchin embryos. Now, for the first time, they have built a computational model of one of these networks.
This model, the scientists say, does a remarkably good job of calculating what these networks do to control the fates of different cells in the early stages of sea-urchin development—confirming that the interactions among a few dozen genes suffice to tell an embryo how to start the development of different body parts in their respective spatial locations. The model is also a powerful tool for understanding gene regulatory networks in a way not previously possible, allowing scientists to better study the genetic bases of both development and evolution.
"We have never had the opportunity to explore the significance of these networks before," says Eric Davidson, the Norman Chandler Professor of Cell Biology at Caltech. "The results are amazing to us."
The researchers described their computer model in a paper in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences that appeared as an advance online publication on August 27.
The model encompasses the gene regulatory network that controls the first 30 hours of the development of endomesoderm cells, which eventually form the embryo's gut, skeleton, muscles, and immune system. This network—so far the most extensively analyzed developmental gene regulatory network of any animal organism—consists of about 50 regulatory genes that turn one another on and off.
To create the model, the researchers distilled everything they knew about the network into a series of logical statements that a computer could understand. "We translated all of our biological knowledge into very simple Boolean statements," explains Isabelle Peter, a senior research fellow and the first author of the paper. In other words, the researchers represented the network as a series of if-then statements that determine whether certain genes in different cells are on or off (i.e., if gene A is on, then genes B and C will turn off).
By computing the results of each sequence hour by hour, the model determines when and where in the embryo each gene is on and off. Comparing the computed results with experiments, the researchers found that the model reproduced the data almost exactly. "It works surprisingly well," Peter says.
Some details about the network may still be uncovered, the researchers say, but the fact that the model mirrors a real embryo so well shows that biologists have indeed identified almost all of the genes that are necessary to control these particular developmental processes. The model is accurate enough that the researchers can tweak specific parts—for example, suppress a particular gene—and get computed results that match those of previous experiments.
Allowing biologists to do these kinds of virtual experiments is precisely how computer models can be powerful tools, Peter says. Gene regulatory networks are so complex that it is almost impossible for a person to fully understand the role of each gene without the help of a computational model, which can reveal how the networks function in unprecedented detail.
Studying gene regulatory networks with models may also offer new insights into the evolutionary origins of species. By comparing the gene regulatory networks of different species, biologists can probe how they branched off from common ancestors at the genetic level.
So far, the researchers have only modeled one gene regulatory network, but their goal is to model the networks responsible for every part of a sea-urchin embryo, to build a model that covers not just the first 30 hours of a sea urchin's life but its entire embryonic development. Now that this modeling approach has been proven effective, Davidson says, creating a complete model is just a matter of time, effort, and resources.
The title of the PNAS paper is "Predictive computation of genomic logic processing functions in embryonic development." In addition to Peter and Davidson, the other author on the PNAS paper is Emmanuel Faure, a former Caltech postdoctoral scholar who is now at the École Polytechnique in France. This work was supported by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development and the National Institute of General Medical Sciences.
PASADENA, Calif.—Scientists at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) pioneered the study of the link between irregularities in the immune system and neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism a decade ago. Since then, studies of postmortem brains and of individuals with autism, as well as epidemiological studies, have supported the correlation between alterations in the immune system and autism spectrum disorder.
What has remained unanswered, however, is whether the immune changes play a causative role in the development of the disease or are merely a side effect. Now a new Caltech study suggests that specific changes in an overactive immune system can indeed contribute to autism-like behaviors in mice, and that in some cases, this activation can be related to what a developing fetus experiences in the womb.
The results appear in a paper this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
"We have long suspected that the immune system plays a role in the development of autism spectrum disorder," says Paul Patterson, the Anne P. and Benjamin F. Biaggini Professor of Biological Sciences at Caltech, who led the work. "In our studies of a mouse model based on an environmental risk factor for autism, we find that the immune system of the mother is a key factor in the eventual abnormal behaviors in the offspring."
The first step in the work was establishing a mouse model that tied the autism-related behaviors together with immune changes. Several large epidemiological studies—including one that involved tracking the medical history of every person born in Denmark between 1980 and 2005—have found a correlation between viral infection during the first trimester of a mother's pregnancy and a higher risk for autism spectrum disorder in her child. To model this in mice, the researchers injected pregnant mothers with a viral mimic that triggered the same type of immune response a viral infection would.
"In mice, this single insult to the mother translates into autism-related behavioral abnormalities and neuropathologies in the offspring," says Elaine Hsiao, a graduate student in Patterson's lab and lead author of the PNAS paper.
The team found that the offspring exhibit the core behavioral symptoms associated with autism spectrum disorder—repetitive or stereotyped behaviors, decreased social interactions, and impaired communication. In mice, this translates to such behaviors as compulsively burying marbles placed in their cage, excessively self grooming, choosing to spend time alone or with a toy rather than interacting with a new mouse, or vocalizing ultrasonically less often or in an altered way compared to typical mice.
Next, the researchers characterized the immune system of the offspring of mothers that had been infected and found that the offspring display a number of immune changes. Some of those changes parallel those seen in people with autism, including decreased levels of regulatory T cells, which play a key role in suppressing the immune response. Taken together, the observed immune alterations add up to an immune system in overdrive—one that promotes inflammation.
"Remarkably, we saw these immune abnormalities in both young and adult offspring of immune-activated mothers," Hsiao says. "This tells us that a prenatal challenge can result in long-term consequences for health and development."
With the mouse model established, the group was then able to test whether the offspring's immune problems contribute to their autism-related behaviors. In the most revealing test of this hypothesis, the researchers were able to correct many of the autism-like behaviors in the offspring of immune-activated mothers by giving the offspring a bone-marrow transplant from typical mice. The normal stem cells in the transplanted bone marrow not only replenished the immune system of the host animals but altered their autism-like behavioral impairments.
The researchers emphasize that because the work was conducted in mice, the results cannot be readily extrapolated to humans, and they certainly do not suggest that bone-marrow transplants should be considered as a treatment for autism. They also have yet to establish whether it was the infusion of stem cells or the bone-marrow transplant procedure itself—complete with irradiation—that corrected the behaviors.
However, Patterson says, the results do suggest that immune irregularities in children could be an important target for innovative immune manipulations in addressing the behaviors associated with autism spectrum disorder. By correcting these immune problems, he says, it might be possible to ameliorate some of the classic developmental delays seen in autism.
In future studies, the researchers plan to examine the effects of highly targeted anti-inflammatory treatments on mice that display autism-related behaviors and immune changes. They are also interested in considering the gastrointestinal (GI) bacteria, or microbiota, of such mice. Coauthor Sarkis Mazmanian, a professor of biology at Caltech, has shown that gut bacteria are intimately tied to the function of the immune system. He and Patterson are investigating whether changes to the microbiota of these mice might also influence their autism-related behaviors.
Along with Patterson, Hsiao, and Mazmanian, additional Caltech coauthors on the PNAS paper, "Modeling an autism risk factor in mice leads to permanent immune dysregulation," are Mazmanian lab manager Sara McBride and former graduate student Janet Chow. The work was supported by an Autism Speaks Weatherstone Fellowship, National Institutes of Health Graduate Training Grants, a Weston Havens Foundation grant, a Gregory O. and Jennifer W. Johnson Caltech Innovation Fellowship, a Caltech Innovation grant, and a Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program Idea Development Award.
PASADENA, Calif.—The California Institute of Technology (Caltech) and UCLA have launched highly productive collaborations in cancer research and other areas of biomedicine in recent years, frequently through the Caltech lab of Nobel Laureate and President Emeritus David Baltimore. Now, an endowment established by the Raymond and Beverly Sackler Foundation will strengthen the Caltech-UCLA partnership and advance the Baltimore lab's interdisciplinary research into areas where mathematics and engineering converge with biology.
The Sackler endowment will support three primary areas: postdoctoral researchers working in areas that have a convergent theme; students pursuing a joint MD/PhD degree through the Caltech-UCLA Medical Scientist Training Program; and a joint seminar series between Caltech and UCLA emphasizing the interface of medicine, engineering, and the physical sciences.
"Caltech has a strong interdisciplinary focus that is fueling its outstanding achievements in biomedical research," says Caltech's president Jean-Lou Chameau. "The support from the Raymond and Beverly Sackler Foundation further enhances this research, which can lead to therapies for some of the world's most critical diseases."
The research supported by the endowment will encompass many of the numerous disciplines that have become intertwined with biology in recent years, such as computational mathematics and physics. There is also an important educational component, as the Sackler endowment will help train MD/PhD students and strengthen the link between Caltech's basic science expertise and UCLA's translational medicine focus.
"The Sackler gift is very important because it allows us to expand our research in a direction in which I very much want it to go, and at the same time it will support our very significant MD/PhD program," says Baltimore, the Robert Andrews Millikan Professor of Biology. "We are grateful to Raymond and Beverly Sackler for their generosity and for their foresight in recognizing the importance of our work."
Dr. Raymond Sackler is a physician, entrepreneur, and philanthropist who has supported numerous scientific and cultural initiatives throughout the world. With his late brothers, Arthur and Mortimer, he sponsored the Sackler Faculty of Medicine, and with his wife, Beverly, has sponsored the Raymond and Beverly Sackler Faculty of Exact Sciences, both at Tel Aviv University. David Baltimore and Caltech are one of 10 recipients of endowments from the foundation as part of a recent global program in support of convergent research.
"The purpose of this gift is to catalyze new convergent science investigations and to honor the important research that has been carried out by David Baltimore," says Raymond Sackler. "He made groundbreaking scientific accomplishments at a relatively early age, and now—working at the crossroads of several disciplines—he continues to make major discoveries in biomedical research. We hope that this new endowment will foster his research and Caltech's dynamic collaborations with UCLA."
Baltimore is best known for his work with viruses and the immune system, and he shared the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1975 for his discoveries concerning cancer-inducing viruses. Several years ago, he decided that his research should move toward translational applications, and in 2009 he became the director of a new effort with UCLA—the Joint Center for Translational Medicine—which supports numerous research projects with the potential for clinical applications.
PASADENA, Calif.—Stephen L. Mayo, chair of the Division of Biology and Bren Professor of Biology and Chemistry at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), has been named the William K. Bowes Jr. Foundation Division Chair. The William K. Bowes, Jr. Foundation, based in San Francisco, endowed the new division leadership chair with a $5 million gift, supplemented by an additional $2.5 million provided by the Gordon and Betty Moore Matching Program.
The new chair is named after the philanthropic foundation created by William K. Bowes, Jr., founding partner of U.S. Venture Partners in Silicon Valley. For nearly 50 years, Bowes has helped launch numerous biotechnology and other high-tech companies, including Amgen, Applied Biosystems, and Sun Microsystems.
Unlike typical professorships, which fund salaries, the Bowes Foundation Chair—also called a leadership chair—is a permanent endowment that will provide funds that Mayo and future biology division chairs will use to support innovative research projects with potential for scientific and societal impact. It will also be used to support Caltech's education mission and outreach programs.
"The Bowes Chair is unprecedented at Caltech and will be a tremendous asset to advance our science and engineering research and teaching," says Caltech president Jean-Lou Chameau. "This is the first in what will be a series of leadership chairs providing high-leverage, unrestricted support that the faculty who head our divisions will use to seed the Institute's most ambitious educational and research ideas. We are extremely grateful for Bill Bowes's inspirational and generous support."
Bowes has been connected with Caltech for more than 30 years, most notably through the founding of Amgen, which included Caltech biologists Norman Davidson and Leroy Hood as two of its scientific founders; they were also original members of the company's scientific advisory board. "I have known firsthand for years that Caltech faculty have the unique intellectual skills, imagination, and track record to propel promising entrepreneurial ventures," says Bowes. "With the Bowes Foundation Division Chair, I hope to give Caltech's extremely talented biological scientists the freedom to turn more of their ideas into reality. This is really a carefully considered investment in the future."
"Bill Bowes's important gift will give Caltech's biology division critical unrestricted funding to foster valuable research, teaching, and outreach programs," says Mayo. "It is an honor to be named the first Bowes Foundation Division Chair, not only because this is such a groundbreaking initiative for Caltech, but also because Bill has been so instrumental in launching entrepreneurial ventures that have improved so many people's lives."
Bowes has had both a varied and an influential career. After service in the Army infantry in the South Pacific and Japan during and after World War II, Bowes received a BA in economics from Stanford and then an MBA from Harvard. He was an investment banker in San Francisco for nearly three decades before founding U.S. Venture Partners in 1981. He founded and served as the first chairman and treasurer of Amgen, which would become the world's largest biotech company.
U.S. Venture Partners has played a leading role in the development of the software, health-care, and e-commerce industries, building companies such as Sun Microsystems and Applied Biosystems. It has also been one of the leading investors in Caltech start-ups, including Axiom Microdevices, Cleave Biosciences, Contour Energy Systems, and Proteolix. (For more on these companies, see "A Snapshot of Start-ups.")
In recent years, Bowes has focused his energies on philanthropy, supporting nonprofit organizations in such areas as medical research, higher education, and the environment. He has also served on numerous committees and boards for a broad range of institutions, including the Environmental Defense Fund, the San Francisco Exploratorium, the Hoover Institution, and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.
"Bill Bowes has not only been one of the nation's pioneers in venture capital, but he has also demonstrated the effectiveness of prudent investing in philanthropy," says Caltech senior trustee William Davidow, founding partner of Mohr Davidow Ventures, a venture-capital firm based in Menlo Park. "The early experimental research that Bill is supporting today at Caltech will become the innovative entrepreneurial enterprises of tomorrow."
Steve Mayo is a pioneer in protein-design technology, having been the first to design a protein on a computer and then build it in a lab. Working at the interface of theory, computation, and wet-laboratory experimentation, Mayo focuses on developing quantitative approaches to protein engineering, aiming to understand the physical and chemical determinants of protein structure, stability, and function.
His design approach has been incorporated in a suite of software programs called Comprehensive Protein Design Software, and has been applied to a variety of problems ranging from protein fold stabilization to enzyme design. The end goal, he says, is to create protein-based therapies against diseases, new ways of improving agricultural production, and other applications. Mayo has founded or cofounded several companies, including Molecular Simulations, Xencor, and Protabit.
Caltech has a distinguished history of discovery in the biological sciences, recognized by numerous Nobel Prizes. Over its more than 75 years, Caltech's Division of Biology has made many of the research advances that led to the biotechnology and genetic revolutions. In the past, Caltech's biologists made fundamental insights in cellular and molecular biology; today our investigators are both continuing to blaze that path of discovery and applying their knowledge to finding innovative solutions to cancer, AIDS, and other diseases.
PASADENA, Calif.—Researchers at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) have been able, for the first time, to watch viruses infecting individual bacteria by transferring their DNA, and to measure the rate at which that transfer occurs. Shedding light on the early stages of infection by this type of virus—a bacteriophage—the scientists have determined that it is the cells targeted for infection, rather than the amount of genetic material within the viruses themselves, that dictate how quickly the bacteriophage's DNA is transferred.
"The beauty of our experiment is we were able to watch individual viruses infecting individual bacteria,"says Rob Phillips, the Fred and Nancy Morris Professor of Biophysics and Biology at Caltech and the principal investigator on the new study. "Other studies of the rate of infection have involved bulk measurements. With our methods, you can actually watch as a virus shoots out its DNA."
The new methods and results are described in a paper titled "A Single-Molecule Hershey–Chase Experiment," which will appear in the July 24 issue of the journal Current Biology and currently appears online. The lead authors of that paper, David Van Valen and David Wu, completed the work while graduate students in Phillips's group.
In the well-known 1952 Hershey-Chase experiment, Alfred Hershey and Martha Chase of the Carnegie Institution of Washington in Cold Spring Harbor convincingly confirmed earlier claims that DNA—and not protein—was the genetic material in cells. To prove this, the researchers used bacteriophages, which are able to infect bacteria using heads of tightly bundled DNA coated in a protein shell. Hershey and Chase radiolabeled sulfur, contained in the protein shell but not in the DNA, and phosphorous, found in the DNA but not in the protein shell. Then they let the bacteriophages infect the bacterial cells. When they isolated the cells and analyzed their contents, they found that only the radioactive phosphorous had made its way into the bacteria, proving that DNA is indeed the genetic material. The results also showed that, unlike the viruses that infect humans, bacteriophages transmit only their genetic information into their bacterial targets, leaving their "bodies" behind.
"This led, right from the get-go, to people wondering about the mechanism—about how the DNA gets out of the virus and into the infected cell," Phillips says. Several hypotheses have focused on the fact that the DNA in the virus is under a tremendous amount of pressure. Indeed, previous work has shown that the genetic material is under more pressure within its protein shell than champagne experiences in a corked bottle. After all, as Phillips says, "There are 16 microns of DNA inside of a tiny 0.05 micron-sized shell. It's like taking 500 meters of cable from the Golden Gate Bridge and putting it in the back of a FedEx truck."
Phillips's group wanted to find out whether that pressure plays a dominant role in transferring the DNA. Instead, he says, "What we discovered is that the thing that mattered most was not the pressure in the bacteriophage, but how much DNA was in the bacterial cell."
The researchers used a fluorescent dye to stain the DNA of two mutants of a bacteriophage known as lambda bacteriophage—one with a short genome and one with a longer genome—while that DNA was still inside the phage. Using a fluorescence microscope, they traced the glowing dye to see when and over what time period the viral DNA transferred from each phage into an E. coli bacterium. The mean ejection time was about five minutes, though that time varied considerably.
This was markedly different from what the group had seen previously when they ran a similar experiment in a test tube. In that earlier setup, they had essentially tricked the bacteriophages into ejecting their DNA into solution—a task that the phages completed in less than 10 seconds. In that case, once the phage with the longer genome had released enough DNA to make what remained inside the phage equal in length to the shorter genome, the two phages ejected DNA at the same rate. Therefore, Phillips's team reasoned, it was the amount of DNA in the phage that determined how quickly the DNA was transferred.
But Phillips says, "What was true in the test tube is not true in the cell." E. coli cells contain roughly 3 million proteins within a box that is roughly one micron on each side. Less than a hundredth of a micron separates each protein from its neighbors. "There's no room for anything else," Phillips says. "These cells are really crowded."
And so, when the bacteriophages try to inject their DNA into the cells, the factor that limits the rate of transfer is how jam-packed those cells are. "In this case," Phillips says, "it had more to do with the recipient, and less to do with the pressure that had built up inside the phage."
Looking toward the future, Phillips is interested in using the methods he and his team have developed to study different types of bacteriophages. He also wants to investigate various molecules that could be helping to actively pull the viral DNA into the cells. In the case of a bacteriophage called T7, for instance, previous work has shown that the host cell actually grabs onto the DNA and begins making copies of its genes before the virus has even delivered all the DNA into the cell. "We're curious whether that kind of mechanism is in play with the lambda bacteriophage," Phillips says.
The current findings have implications for the larger question of how biomolecules like DNA and proteins cross membranes in general, and not just into bacteria. Cells are full of membranes that divide them into separate compartments and that separate entire cells from the rest of the world. Much of the business of cellular life involves getting molecules across those barriers. "This process that we've been studying is one of the most elementary examples of what you could call polymer translocation or getting macromolecules across membranes," Phillips says. "We are starting to figure out the physics behind that process."
In addition to Phillips, Van Valen, and Wu, the other authors on the Current Biology paper are graduate student Yi-Ju Chen; Hannah Tuson of the University of Wisconsin at Madison; and Paul Wiggins of the University of Washington. Van Valen is currently a medical student at UCLA's David Geffen School of Medicine, and Wu is an intern at the University of Chicago. The work was supported by funding from the National Science Foundation, a National Institutes of Health Medical Scientist Training Program fellowship, a Fannie and John Hertz Yaser Abu-Mostafa Graduate Fellowship, and an NIH Director's Pioneer Award.
There are trillions of bacteria living in our bodies, making up complex communities of microbes regulating processes like digestion and immunity. For Caltech biologist Sarkis Mazmanian, they also make up the focus of his research: understanding how the "good" bacteria promote human health. Featured in the cover story for the June issue of Scientific American, he makes a case for devoting more attention to the helpful bugs after years of scientific dedication to pathogens. "It goes against dogma to think that bacteria would make our immune systems function better," he says, in the article. "But the picture is getting very clear: the driving force behind the features of the immune system are commensals."
The magazine is available now on newsstands and the article, "The Ultimate Social Network," can be read online with a subscription.
PASADENA, Calif.—All animals seem to have ways of exchanging information—monkeys vocalize complex messages, ants create scent trails to food, and fireflies light up their bellies to attract mates. Yet, despite the fact that nematodes, or roundworms, are among the most abundant animals on the planet, little is known about the way they network. Now, research led by California Institute of Technology (Caltech) biologists has shown that a wide range of nematodes communicate using a recently discovered class of chemical cues.
A paper outlining their studies—which were a collaborative effort with the laboratory of Frank C. Schroeder, assistant scientist at the Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research (BTI) of Cornell University—was published online April 12 in the journal Current Biology.
Previous research by several members of this team had recently shown that a much-studied nematode, Caenorhabditis elegans, uses certain chemical signals to trade data. What was unknown was whether other worms of the same phylum "talk" to one another in similar ways.
But when the researchers looked at a variety of nematodes, they found the very same types of chemicals being combined and used for communication, says Paul Sternberg, the Thomas Hunt Morgan Professor of Biology at Caltech and senior author on the study. "It really does look like we've stumbled upon the letters or words of a universal nematode language, the syntax of which we don't yet fully understand," he says.
Nematodes are wide-ranging creatures; they have been found in hot springs, arctic ice, and deep-sea sediments. Many types of nematodes are harmless, or even beneficial, but others cause damage to plants and harm to humans and animals. Decoding the language of these worms could allow us to develop strategies to prevent the spread of unwanted nematode species, saving time and money for the agricultural and health-care industries.
"We can now say that many—maybe all—nematodes are communicating by secreting small molecules to build chemical structures called ascarosides," says Sternberg, whose past research in C. elegans found that those worms secrete ascarosides both as a sexual attractant and as a way to control the social behavior of aggregation. "It's really exciting and a big breakthrough that tells us what to look for and how we, too, might be able to communicate with this entire phylum of animals."
Building upon Sternberg's previous findings, he and Andrea Choe, then a graduate student and now a postdoctoral scholar in biology at Caltech, decided to look for evidence of ascarosides in other species of nematodes. These included some parasitic organisms as well as some benign roundworm samples.
"I turned a section of Paul's lab into a parasite zoo, and people were both intrigued by it and terrified to come back there," says Choe. "One day they would see me cutting carrots to culture plant parasites, and the next I would be infecting mosquitoes or harvesting hookworms from rat intestines. We really tried to get as many different samples as we could."
Once they had cultured a sufficient number of different nematode species, the creatures were bathed in a liquid solution dubbed "worm water." This worm water collected the chemicals given off by the nematodes. The worms were then filtered out and sent to Schroeder's lab at BTI to be analyzed using a mass spectrometer—a tool used to deduce the chemical structure of molecules.
"When the results came back from BTI, showing that the same ascarosides were present in all the worm-water samples, I thought that they had made a mistake," says Choe. "It was a very surprising finding."
Using technology developed by Dima Kogan, a former graduate student at Caltech and coauthor of the paper, the researchers were also able to test the responses of various worms to particular ascarosides. Worms were placed on an agar plate, along with an experimental cue—a blend of ascarosides. Any action that might occur on the plates was then recorded; Kogan's software analyzed those recordings frame by frame, counting the number of worms that were either attracted or repelled by the given chemicals.
When asked about the development of the software, Choe explains that it all began when Kogan noticed that the current method involved counting worms by eye. "He was stunned that we would spend our time doing this," says Choe, "and he came up with this software in less than a week. It removed user bias, sped up our research 10-fold, and allowed us to study more chemicals and more species."
Next, the researchers will work to learn more about how the worms actually sense the ascarosides.
"Now that we know these chemicals are broadly present in nematodes, we want to find the genes that are responsible for the ability to respond to these chemicals," says Sternberg, who is also an investigator with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. "That knowledge could open up a whole other angle, not just for dealing with the chemicals, but for actually interfering with those communication systems a little downstream by hitting the receivers."
The team also plans to continue deconstructing the language they have found among nematodes. For example, Sternberg wonders, how many different combinations of chemicals mean "food," or "mate," or "attack"? If the scientists can crack the code in terms of what different blends mean to different species, they can begin to interfere with the actions of the nematodes that wreak havoc across the world—leading to better eradication of plant pests, as well as human and animal parasites.
"There is only one known worm pheromone used in agriculture," says Choe. "It is time for us change that. This research could be a very big breakthrough on that front."
The Current Biology study, "Ascaroside Signaling is Widely Conserved Among Nematodes," was funded by a grant from the National Institutes of Health and was supported by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. Additional authors on the study are Stephan H. von Reuss, from Schroeder's lab at BTI; Robin B. Gasser, from the University of Melbourne; and Edward G. Platzer, from UC Riverside.
PASADENA, Calif.—What happens to a stem cell at the molecular level that causes it to become one type of cell rather than another? At what point is it committed to that cell fate, and how does it become committed? The answers to these questions have been largely unknown. But now, in studies that mark a major step forward in our understanding of stem cells' fates, a team of researchers from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) has traced the stepwise developmental process that ensures certain stem cells will become T cells—cells of the immune system that help destroy invading pathogens.
"This is the first time that a natural developmental process has been dissected in such detail, going from step to step to step, looking at activities of all the genes in the genome," says Ellen Rothenberg, the principal investigator on the study and Albert Billings Ruddock Professor of Biology at Caltech. "It means that in genetic terms, there is virtually nothing left hidden in this system."
The study was led by Jingli A. Zhang, a graduate student in Rothenberg's lab, who is now a postdoctoral scholar at Caltech. The group's findings appear in the April 13 issue of the journal Cell.
The researchers studied multipotent hematopoietic precursor cells—stem-cell-like cells that express a wide variety of genes and have the capability to differentiate into a number of different blood-cell types, including those of the immune system. Taking into consideration the entire mouse genome, the researchers pinpointed all the genes that play a role in transforming such precursor cells into committed T cells and identified when in the developmental process they each turn on. At the same time, the researchers tracked genes that could guide the precursor cells to various alternative pathways. The results showed not only when but also how the T-cell-development process turned off the genes promoting alternative fates.
"We were able to ask, 'Do T-cell genes turn on before the genes that promote some specific alternative to T cells turn off, or does it go in the other order? Which genes turn on first? Which genes turn off first?'" Rothenberg explains. "In most genome-wide studies, you rarely have the ability to see what comes first, second, third, and so on, in a developmental progression. And establishing those before-after relationships is absolutely critical if you want to understand such a complicated process."
The researchers studied five stages in the cascade of molecular events that yields a T cell—two before commitment, a commitment stage, and then two following commitment. They identified the genes that are expressed throughout those stages, including many that code for regulatory proteins, called transcription factors, which turn particular genes on or off. They found that a major regulatory shift occurs between the second and third stages, when T-cell commitment sets in. At that point, a large number of the transcription factors that activate genes associated with uncommitted stem cells turn off, while others that activate genes needed for future steps in T-cell development turn on.
The researchers looked not only at which genes are expressed during the various stages but also at what makes it possible for those genes to be expressed at that particular time. One critical component of regulation is the expression of transcription-factor genes themselves. Beyond that, the researchers were interested in identifying control sequences—the parts of genes that serve as docking sites for transcription factors. These sequences are often very difficult to identify in mice and humans using classical molecular-biology techniques; scientists have spent as many as 10 years trying to create a comprehensive map of the control sequences for a single gene.
To create a map of likely control sequences, Zhang studied epigenetic markers. These are chemical modifications, such as those that change the way the DNA is bundled. They become associated with particular regions of DNA as a result of the action of transcription factors and can thereby affect how easy or hard it is for a neighboring gene to be turned on or off. By identifying DNA regions where epigenetic markers are added or removed, Rothenberg's group has paved the way for researchers to identify control sequences for many of the genes that turn on or off during T-cell development.
In some ways, Rothenberg says, her team is taking a backward approach to the problem of locating these control sequences. "What we're saying is, if we can tell that a gene is turned on at a certain point in terms of producing RNA, then we should also be able to look at the DNA sequences right around it and ask, 'Is there any stretch of DNA sequence that adds or loses epigenetic markers at the same time?'" Rothenberg says. "If we find it, that can be a really hot candidate for the control sequences that were used to turn that gene on."
Two methodologies have made it possible to complete this work. First, ultra-high-throughput DNA sequencing was used to identify when major changes in gene expression occur along the developmental pathway. This technique amplifies DNA sequences taken throughout millions of cell samples, puts all of the bits in order, compares them to the known genome sequence (for mice, in this case), and identifies which of the various genes are enriched, or found in greater numbers. Those that are enriched are the ones most likely to be expressed. The team also used a modified version of this sequencing technique to identify the parts of the genome that are associated with particular epigenetic markers. Coauthor Barbara Wold, Caltech's Bren Professor of Molecular Biology, is an expert in these so-called "next-generation" deep-sequencing technologies and provided critical inspiration for the study.
A second important methodology involved an in vitro tissue-culture system developed in the lab of Juan Carlos Zúñiga-Pflücker of the University of Toronto, which enabled the Caltech researchers to mass-produce synchronized early T-cell precursors and to see the effect of altered conditions on individual cells in terms of producing T cells or other cells.
Zhang is lead author of the paper in Cell, titled "Dynamic transformations of genome-wide epigenetic marking and transcriptional control establish T cell identity." In addition to Zhang, Rothenberg, and Wold, Brian Williams, a senior scientific researcher at Caltech, was also a coauthor. Another coauthor, developmental biologist Ali Mortazavi, was part of Wold's lab and was also associated with the lab of Paul Sternberg when the work was completed; he is now an assistant professor at the University of California, Irvine.
The work was supported by the Beckman Institute, the Millard and Muriel Jacobs Genetics and Genomics Laboratory, the L.A. Garfinkle Memorial Laboratory Fund, the Al Sherman Foundation, the Bren Professorship, the A.B. Ruddock Professorship, and grants from the National Institutes of Health.


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Honor Halls
The Honor Halls by USA Patriotism! are meant to recognize noble, extraordinary patriotic efforts ... outside of the proud, honorable duty to country in the military and other government performed responsibilities.
It is a way of proudly shining a light on patriots for outstanding volunteer efforts that might otherwise go unnoticed ... as is the case when an American troop is officially recognized as a hero for going above and beyond the call of duty ... with the Medal of Honor being the greatest tribute!
And to properly do so ... USA Patriotism! has three Honor Halls ... recognizing adults, students, and organizations for ... above and beyond patriotic actions for country's sake!
So, click on the respective link to learn more about each honor hall, inductees, and how to nominate a worthy individual.
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subset: commoncrawl


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In addition, the poll finds most Americans are also confident about the way Mr. Obama is handling the economy, even though they don't expect the recession to end any time soon.
On the Supreme Court choice, 55 percent of Americans are confident about the president's impending Supreme Court pick, one third are uneasy about the decision.
Video: CBS News Polling Director Discusses The Poll
Poll: Split On Seriousness Of H1N1 Flu
The Complete Poll (PDF)
More CBS News Polls
The split in confidence over the president's choice largely falls along party lines. More than eight in 10 Democrats are confident Mr. Obama will nominate good justices, but two in three Republicans are uneasy about whom he will choose. Sixty percent of conservatives and 63 percent of white evangelicals are also uneasy about Mr. Obama's choice.
President George W. Bush's opportunity to name a justice to the court in 2005, after the retirement of Sandra Day O'Connor, stirred even more doubts, with just 46 percent of Americans saying they were confident in Bush's choice and 52 percent claiming to be uneasy with his decision. However, President Bush faced lower popularity ratings at the time than Mr. Obama does now.
Mr. Obama's approval ratings stand at 63 percent, down 5 percentage points from last month, according to the poll. The percentage of Americans who say the country is heading in the right direction, though, continues to inch up. Currently, 45 percent of Americans agree with that sentiment, which is four points higher than last month and the highest that figure has been since December 2003, shortly after the capture of Saddam Hussein.
Correspondingly, 48 percent of Americans say the country is headed in the wrong direction, down from 50 percent in April and 68 percent in February.
The public's outlook for the economy is also improving. Thirty-two percent of Americans think the economy is getting better, which is the most optimistic economic outlook in the United States since February 2004, according to the poll.
Still, 42 percent of Americans expect the economic recession to last another two years or more. Another 39 percent think it will last one more year, while one in 10 Americans expect the recession to last another six months.
The percentage of Americans who approve of the way Mr. Obama is handling the economy has decreased slightly from 61 percent in March and April to 56 percent.
This poll was conducted among a random sample of 1,874 adults nationwide, interviewed by telephone May 6-12, 2009. Phone numbers were dialed from RDD samples of both standard land-lines and cell phones. The error due to sampling for results based on the entire sample could be plus or minus two percentage points. The error for subgroups is higher.
This poll release conforms to the Standards of Disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls.


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i have a problem with the ids. I have 2 sliders with different promotions for each slider.
I'll try to explain:
I have promotions 1 and 2 on myslider1. Promotions 3 and 4 on myslider2.
In my code i have this for example : <?php echo do_shortcode('[promoslider id="myslider1" width="100%" height="300px"]'); ?>
But on my page the promotionslider show all 4 promotions of all sliders! it seams like sliders id doesn't exist or not included in this. I have checked promotions and it's ok.
I'm working with wordpress 3.6 and wpml.
Do you have any idea?
(sorry for my english)


text:
Monty by Jim Meddick
- December 03, 2012
- From Beginning
- Previous feature
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Comments (18) (Please sign in to comment)
Butler: "The Gardener did it!"
I think Jarvis will get a pay cut for manhandling master Sedgewick like that
Good old Jarvis, putting his own body on the line for the Young Master! I wonder if in earlier days he served with the Queen's Own Palace Guard (or whatever the UK equivalent of our Secret Service Presidential Detail is )?
This one's almost as good as last year's when Jarvis handed Sedgie his riot helmet & shield & took a snowball in the eye for him.
Sorry, I know some don't like these guys, but I reckon they're brilliant.
Otto, I like these two…. but I'm even more happy that the "vomit arc" is done!
I've missed these two.
I agree. It looks like Jarvis used the snowball as an excuse to extract some well-deserved revenge, as it flew way above the young master's head…
I enjoyed the picture of Sedgewick pumping his own gas two weeks ago. So humble.
Love the phrase, "Ginned up"!
Well spotted. I saw that too.
Jim Meddick, these two have a great dynamic together! Please do a entire spin off of them. Its hysterical to see Jarvis take a bullet for Master Segwick, never complain and Seqwick could care less if he croaks dead. I guess its sick I find it funny but what can I say.
I love, love, love the way the goofy bowler sits atop Jarvis's head. Rather rakish, I must say…
I like how Sedgwick has his own take on the world. Like a royal among peasants. While Jarvis is the everyman working for him and taking the slings and arrows for him too.
Time to go away for the rest of the week until this stuck-up punk and his butler are done with their story arc.
- Load the rest of the comments (3).
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Fried Swedish Meatballs
|3 Tablespoon
|Ground beef
|1 Pound
|Bread crumbs
|2 Tablespoon
|Evaporated milk
|1⁄2 Cup (8 tbs)
|Egg yolk
|1 1⁄2 Teaspoon
|1⁄2 Teaspoon
|Sour cream
|1⁄2 Cup (8 tbs)
Mix all ingredients except sour cream; let stand for 30 minutes.
Form in 1-inch balls; let dry.
Fry in shallow fat, a few at a time until brown; put in baking dish.
Make gravy with drippings and sour cream; pour over meatballs.
Rate It
Nutrition Rank
Nutrition Facts
Serving size: Complete recipe
Calories 2288 Calories from Fat 1815
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 202 g311.3%
Saturated Fat 78.2 g390.8%
Trans Fat 0 g
Cholesterol 640.3 mg213.4%
Sodium 3688 mg153.7%
Total Carbohydrates 33 g10.9%
Dietary Fiber 0.8 g3.2%
Sugars 18.3 g
Protein 92 g183.7%
Vitamin A 23.5% Vitamin C 5.8%
Calcium 52.7% Iron 33.3%
*Based on a 2000 Calorie diet


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text:
Denmark Organic Food Movement is Growing!
February 3rd, 2016 | by Andrea Bertoli
Denmark's organic movement is growing like gangbusters. Here's why that's important and why it's good for people's health and food security in Denmark
February 3rd, 2016 | by Andrea Bertoli
Denmark's organic movement is growing like gangbusters. Here's why that's important and why it's good for people's health and food security in Denmark
June 5th, 2015 | by Becky Striepe
Organic farming in Cuba is the norm by default. Now that U.S.-Cuban relations are improving, what will the future of Cuba's food production look like
December 20th, 2013 | by Becky Striepe
A big part of global food security is about increasing yields, and Kenyan farmers are doing just that with the help of a local tree
November 7th, 2013 | by Guest Contributor
Our taste for soybeans is devastating ecosystems and farmers are having a tough time meeting demand. What's going on here? The bulk of our soy consumption isn't in the form of tofu, tempeh, or edamame. People worldwide eat millions of pounds of "invisible soy" each year, because soy has become a staple in animal feed. If we're really interested in feeding the world, maybe we need to rethink the way that we are using our soybean crops
September 4th, 2012 | by Becky Striepe
We don't have much love for giant food corporation Nestlé around here. From promoting formula over breast milk in developing countries to infringing on water rights, Nestlé doesn't exactly scream sustainability. That's why it was pretty shocking to read that Hans Jöhr, corporate head of sustainable agriculture at Nestlé said that we don't need GMOs to feed the world
August 16th, 2012 | by Becky Striepe
As the world population explodes, the big question is: how are we going to feed the world when the population hits 7, 8, and 9 billion people? It's no easy feat, but one thing's for certain: we are going to have to grow more food in less space. Enter the Agri-Cube
July 8th, 2011 | by Guest Contributor
Kareny Hatch, creator of the film "Plant This Movie," talks about the importance of urban agriculture to our food future
June 28th, 2011 | by Danielle Nierenberg
Worldwatch Institute's Nourishing the Planet emphasizes reducing food waste as a means to meet the needs of a growing human population, alleviate hunger, and conserve resources
June 13th, 2011 | by Zachary Shahan
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) proclaimed today that we need to switch from the intensive farming practices of the past half-century to more sustainable agricultural practices if we want to feed the world in
June 4th, 2011 | by Danielle Nierenberg
New analysis highlights organic agriculture as an eco-friendly means of improving livelihoods and preserving natural resources


text:
Cut ironed scraps of fabric into rectangles just larger than the barrettes. Choose cute buttons.
Apply hot glue generously to the top of the barrette. Use pliers to hold the barrette open while gluing.
Position the fabric on top of the hot glue. Press evenly as the glue cools, with medium firmness. Allow to cool completely. Trim around the barrette, taking care to leave a slight edge (less than 5") to allow for any needed fabric expansion when you close the barrette.
Spray the entire fabric side of the barrette with no-fray spray. Allow it to dry completely.


text:
Moderne lejlighed i Hamburg (deich_4)
Størrelse55 m²
- Familie/børnevenlig
- Køkken
- Vaskemaskine / tørretumbler
- Internet/WIFI
- Håndklæder
|Deichstrasse, 20459 Hamburg, Tyskland
|Inden for få timer
|Kalenderen er opdateret
|I dag
Tæt ved er der et velassorteret supermarked, masser af gode restauranter, bistroer og cafeer, som er egnet til enhver smag og pengepung. Parkering er muligt på anmodning. "
Denne hyggelige lejlighed er meget lys og veludstyret. Med 50 m² denne 2-værelses lejlighed er stor nok til op til 4 personer. Det er nyrenoveret og komfortabelt indrettet med god kvalitet parketgulv. Det har et soveværelse med en stor dobbeltseng, et tv og et design sofa. Den rare Stuen er udstyret med en stor fladskærms-tv og et andet design sofa til 2 flere mennesker til at sove på. Køkkenet har et køleskab, kaffemaskine, vand kedel og et komfur. Det nye badeværelse øger komforten i denne dejlige lejlighed. Der er også trådløst internet til rådighed.
Et depositum på 500 € skal betales før ankomst. Beløbet kan lide at blive blokeret på det kreditkort. Lad os dine kreditkortoplysninger.
Din fulde adresse og mobil-telefonnummer er obligatorisk for booking!
Yderligere turist skat per person per nat afhængigt af husleje (der skal betales ved ankomst):
10 Euro___________________________________ 0 Euro,
25 Euro___________________________________ 0,50 Euro,
50 Euro___________________________________ 1 Euro,
100 Euro___________________________________ 2 Euro,
150 Euro___________________________________ 3 Euro,
200 Euro___________________________________ 4 Euro.
|Pris for > 4 gæster
|117 DKK pr. gæst/ekstra nat
|Check-in efter
|Check-in før
|Check ud før
Nice apartment, all clean coming with towels and sheet.
Neighbours were a bit loud & no internet though
The room was perfect and the service. Good kitchen and the three toilets was convenient for three ladies about 70 + !! But the stairs to come to the sixth floor was difficult without a lift. That you should have told us.
But we are happy for choosing this opportunity, we got some exercise physically
thank you.
Elvi Sederlin
It was a very nice welcoming place. The room was spacious, clean and Fritz is a very friendly person. Good experience
we enjoyed it a lot! A lot of space and a very comfy rainshower in the badroom! No noise. Although the neighbourhood does not have a very good name, we had no troubles and it is very close to the citycentre and hauptbahnhof!
Our stay was very pleasent and the room was perfect for us!
Everything went well, and our host was really flexible!
Everything in Hamburg is in walking distance from the apartment! I would really recommend this place!
Very good, everything worked perfect, large apartments,
simple but clean, close to subway, 10 min walk to central station
The stay in this room was okay. Carmen turned out to be a man called Fritz in reality, and Fritz doesn't like his guests to wear shoes inside, and asks a man to pee in a sitting position. If this doesn't bother you it is just fine.
Great place, very clean, close to the S-Bahn and U-Bahn. Overall would recommend to anyone!
The experience was awesome! We had a great time with great hosts, who were very friendly and cooperative! We seriously arrived around midnight, yet the landlord was very friendly and gave us the keys to settle ourselves in. The apartment's placed on a square where at night you might not just walk around by yourself and try to mingle with people. But there was no immediate threat or danger, so all sorts of groups can hire and stay the night(s).
I was pleased with the room, which was tidy and also very wide. We had access to shared bathrooms and a toilet. Never used the kitchen, but we could easily have cooked something or eat breakfast or lunch in it. When it comes to parking, the best one is to have it placed inside a parking garage (Difficulty to park outside + the fact that there will be enough diverse people on the street at night. We can highly recommend this place and are looking forward to be using your services again! Gordon & Tamara
Very Nice and clean apartment.
- Kvalitetssikrede boliger
- Alle værter verificeres via telefon
- Sikker betaling med SSL-kryptering


text:
Weekend Top 10
By Sarah Story, Citizen Events Editor 11/29/12
The Modlin Center for the Arts at the University of Richmond will present a holiday concert with Dailey & Vincent at 7:30 p.m. in Camp Concert Hall, Booker Hall of Music. This bluegrass duo, featuring Jamie Dailey and Darrin Vincent, joined forces in 2007. A post-show reception will follow in the Booth Lobby. Tickets are $36. For details, call 289-8980 or visit http://www.modlin.richmond.edu .
Gayton Baptist Church, 13501 N. Gayton Rd., will present Jazz Nativity, three evenings of classy jazz featuring David Esleck, at 7 p.m. Nov. 30 to Dec. 2 and at 4 p.m. Dec. 1-2. Proceeds from Jazz Nativity, now in its fourth year, will benefit Feed My Starving Children. Gourmet coffee and desserts will be available. Admission is $12 for adults and $8 for kids 11 and younger. For details and to reserve tickets, visit http://www.gaytonchurch.org .
The Henrico Theatre Company will present the opening night of "A Christmas Story" at 8 p.m. at The Cultural Arts Center at Glen Allen, 2880 Mountain Rd. All of the elements from the beloved motion picture are here in this joyous celebration of childhood. The production continues through Dec. 16. All performances are at 8 p.m. except for Sunday matinees, which begin at 2:30 p.m. An additional matinee will be held Dec. 15. Admission is $10 for adults and $8 for seniors and students. Reservations are required. For details, call 501-5859 or visit http://www.henricorecandparks.com .
The Shady Grove Coffeehouse will continue its 12th season with folk singer Mary McCaslin at 8 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Community Church, 11105 Cauthorne Rd. Her music ranges from ballads of the old west to her haunting renditions of pop standards and rock classics such as the Beatles' "Things We Said Today" and the Supremes' "My World is Empty." Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 at the door; teens are admitted at half-price and children under 12 are free. For details, call 323-4288 or visit http://www.shadygrovecoffeehouse.com .
The annual Mountain Road Corridor Holiday Celebration will begin at noon at the historic Courtney Road Service Station, 3401 Mountain Rd. Walkerton Tavern, 2892 Mountain Rd., will hold an open house from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. The 14th annual Tree Lighting at The Cultural Arts Center at Glen Allen, 2880 Mountain Rd., will take place from 4:30 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. There will be holiday music, a toasty bonfire, hot chocolate, cookies and Santa, who will make his arrival via fire truck to light the 60-foot cedar tree. The event will conclude with holiday lantern tours from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Meadow Farm, 3400 Mountain Rd. All events are free. For details, visit http://www.henricorecandparks.com.
My Manakin Market's Holiday Market will take place in an enclosed Marquee tent from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 68 Broad Street Rd. in Manakin Sabot, five minutes west of Short Pump. This family- and dog-friendly farmers market will feature handmade artisan crafts and gifts, seasonal vegetables, meats and cheeses, baked goods, local wine, wine tastings and more. There will also be live music, free kids' activities and Santa will visit from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. For details, visit http://www.mymanakinmarket.com .
Bring your furry friends to take a picture with Santa from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the JC Penney court at Virginia Center Commons, 10101 Brook Rd. All animals must be on a leash or in a cage. For details, call 266-9002 or visit http://www.virginiacentercommons.com.
"Deck the Halls," a benefit for Henrico-based Hilliard House, will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Pine Grove Farm, 12438 Elmont Rd. in Ashland. Make your very own wreaths and swags from fresh-cut greenery, enjoy fresh cocoa, home-made goodies and music by Susan Greenbaum. A shuttle will run from Henry Clay School and The Center to the farm. Entry donation is $30 for adults, $10 for children ages 5-12 and free for kids four and under. For details, call 798-9131 or visit http://www.hilliardhouse.org
Local choral group seeks volunteers
Citizen Staff Reports 07/18/2016
Good Vibrations choral group is looking for all voices with some musical experience to sing with the volunteer choir. The season runs from August to November. Genre includes patriotic and inspirational. > Read more.
County plans Fourth of July event
Henrico County Recreation and Parks will present "Red, White, and Lights" at Meadow Farm Museum/Crump Park July 4.
Henrico County has hosted a Fourth of July celebration annually since 1981, but this year's event will offer a later start time and expanded hours and be highlighted by new entertainment.
The free event will begin at 4:30 p.m. and will feature the Richmond Symphony, a laser-light show, patriotic performances, and family activities. > Read more.
Restaurant Watch
Find out how your favorite dining establishments fared during their most recent inspections by the Virginia Department of Health. > Read more.
Henrico CASA seeks volunteers for training as child advocates
'Evening with Henry Winkler' event to benefit Henrico Schools
Henrico Public Library offers new nature exploration backpacks
Henrico Extension to hold free lawn care workshop Aug. 13
Allen named COO of Parham Doctors' Hospital
- More News
Print Edition
Jul. 21, 2016Click here to read the print edition.
Restaurant Watch
Weekend Top 10
Good food and fun, bargain prices
Weekend Top 10
Polka taking over Henrico libraries July 19-21
- More Entertainment
Obituary – Angela Carole Shumate
Obituary – Samuel A. "Sammy" Kirby
Obituary – Virginia Whipple Seaton
- More Obituaries
Local choral group seeks volunteers
County plans Fourth of July event
Tuckahoe YMCA to host Refugee Community Resource Fair
- More Community
'Good old days' were good – for some
Of character and parenting
Opinion: Rename school for late Henrico officer
- More Opinions
Henrico teams win district, state championships
Varina HS to host Basketball Skill Development Academy June 20-23
Strawberry visits Tuckahoe Little League
- More Sports
Reader Survey | Advertising | Email updates
Place an Ad | More Classifieds
CalendarVirginia Repertory Theatre will present "The Golden Goose" July 8 through Aug. 7 at The Children's Theatre at Willow Lawn. This Brothers Grimm tale shows that nobility and kindness prevail… Full text


text:
|4 reviews in total
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
First, the episode does definitively answer the question - did Peter
come from the other side. He does.
The episode had an interesting premise. Someone on the other side could pull something from the other universe by merely by pushing something of the same mass as what they want to the other side. With typically gruesome results, the episode starts with someone doing so.
After some analysis, Walter wants to get the one person who can detect where this will happen next back up to speed. This is Olivia, who he experimented on as a child.
The child Walter experimented on was named Olive, not Olivia. Olivia says she has no memory of it. Was Olive a different girl who got switched (accidentally or deliberately) with Olivia in the other universe?
Is Walter fundamentally responsible for this entire rip between universes? If so, was this a byproduct of an attempt to save Peter by getting a new Peter from the other side or was Walter already working in this technology with Bell and used it to get the other universe's Peter when Peter died?
Is there a Walter in the other universe who is fighting to get his son back and is responsible for the bizarre events we have seen?
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
This is probably the first Fringe Episode to have an elongated scene
depicting The Other Side: A Man is carefully navigating a cup of
precious Coffee to his workstation: His project? He's designing part of
the new Pentagon. His conversation with his workmate reveals 1) Coffee
is Rare and Expensive and 2) There is something odd going on,
especially after an earthquake the man is shown to have suddenly
sprouted two new arms and legs and he's merged into a support beam. Not
a very comfortable place to be.
Fringe Division rapidly learns that this is the work of Thomas Jerome Newton, but they still don't know his full agenda. But one thing Walter does know: If a building from The Other Side was brought over to this side, then within 36 hours, a building from *this* side with the same mass will be brought over to the *other side*
Walter knows a way to find out which building will be brought over: It is related to the special vision of Rebecca Kibner (S2E1 and S2E4), who could see objects and people "from the other side." But Walter now knows: Olivia had that same ability, was the first one to develop it during the Cortexiphan Trials of the '80's.
But in order to jump-start Olivia's ability, they need to go back to Jacksonville, Florida, to the day care center where the trials were held.
Olivia is given Cortexiphan and Walter walks her through the initial phase: She has to "meet herself as a Child" in a vision of a dark forest. The Child in her vision is afraid, but the grown up Olivia is not. Ada Breker plays the very young Olivia, reprises the role in the S3E19 "novelty 19th" episode.
Olivia is very irritated with Walter about the trials, and this does not help matters. And the experiment ultimately fails, because the Grown Up Olivia does not have fear like the Child had. In order for Olivia to begin seeing things from the other side, she has to have an episode of Fear.
Back in NYC, it has begun. Dogs are barking and Micro-quakes shake the Massive Dynamic building where they are trying desperately to locate which building will be pulled over.
An interesting production twist in this episode was that they made Peter's skin start glowing yellow, in preview to Olivia seeing him as he is: A person from The Other Side.
Olivia becomes afraid, and so she sees the building. At that point, Peter is *very* yellow, but not glowing yet: Olivia must have suspected. We get to see a Hotel sucked over to the other side. Olivia and a Bell Hop almost get sucked over with the building. She tells the Bell Hop he could probably safely take the night off.
Olivia picks up Peter so they could go out for drinks: She sees Peter glowing, and Walter knows it: At his admonition, she refrains from Telling Peter: For now.
This episode delves deep into the characters of Olivia and Walter, and we have a hint of what Newton is trying to do. But in the end, Olivia is angry at Walter for the whole thing: The Drug Trials and Peter.
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
"Agent Dunham please don't tell him" is the last line of one of the
best episodes in the series The short arc (story) is engaging and
suspenseful, relying less on the rules of dramatic conflict and more on
the "connection" between the audience and the characters, which is well
established by Season 2.
As the episode winds down, Torv lets her hair down -- literally -- a treat for her fans who by this time have realized that she spends entire segments with her hair pulled back yet astonishingly remains one of the most photogenic actresses in TV history.
Just when you think this can't get any better -- this a special treat for viewers who caught the throwaway reference to "Peter dying again" from an earlier story -- a "trope" is used to let the viewer and Torv's character pick up new information on this arc at the same time.
Rating: wow
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
OK, the show was amazing as ever, but seriously? Did they have to ruin
that kiss? I mean, it was just perfect, why, oh why couldn't they just
let those two kiss? Anyhow, back to the point I am also wondering (in
addition to what mike said), if the code Walter used to open the lock
has any significance. it was 05 20 10. Is it a date? Could something be
happening in May 2010? Something like the rip between the universes?
Considering the fact that the show starts again in April, it is very
likely something important will happen. But then again, if they will
resolve the situation of, well,basically, saving the world, what will
there be left to follow (as a plot line)?
Got you curious?
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Meet Our Team - Stephanie
My name is Stephanie Wolden. As a native Californian, I grew up along the coastlines of Southern California and received my B.A. from Cal State Long Beach. After a decade of working in cubicles, I became restless and was feeling the pull of adventure. So, I sold my belongings and headed off to Florence, Italy where I taught English as a foreign language and sold Florentine leather in a boutique shop. It was here that I had my "ah-ha moment" with wine. A 1998 Brunello di Montalcino literally changed the course of my life. As my palette and passion for wine developed, I set my sights on Napa for the move back to California. An exciting new career began at Domaine Chandon in 2006 where I worked as an Ambassador of Wine for both Chandon and Newton Vineyard, while gaining a solid foundation in wine education, hospitality and management. Since then, I've had the privilege of spending my days at various premier wineries throughout the valley; all of which have led me here, to the tasting room of Cornerstone Cellars. My "spare" time is spent as a travel writer and photographer.
Meet Our Team - Lynne
My name is Lynne. I recently joined Cornerstone Cellars to manage the administrative operations on the Direct To Trade side of the business. We moved to Northern California in 1994 and since then the Napa Valley has enticed me. So, after raising my family, I gained administrative experience in various industries including sales, marketing and hospitality. Now I am able to capitalize on those experiences and work at a premiere boutique winery in the heart of the valley. In my spare time, I enjoy traveling, entertaining family and friends and watching baseball or football.
Meet Our Team - Nadia
My name is Nadia and I moved to Napa in 2004 to pursue a career in culinary arts following my graduation from the California Culinary Academy in San Francisco. After completing my externship at Julia's Kitchen in Napa I went on to manage the catering department for Dean & Deluca in Saint Helena. In 2006 I decided to follow my dream of traveling and working overseas and went to Australia and New Zealand for three months. It was during this time that my passion for wine, that had been awakened while working with wineries at Dean & Deluca, continued to grow exponentially. Upon return to the US, I followed this passion to Domaine Chandon, eventually working my way up through tasting room management and then onto marketing and communications positions for both Domaine Chandon and Newton Vineyard. After nearly seven years, I left Domaine Chandon and Newton Vineyard and took my career to the next step and joined Cornerstone Cellars in 2013 as the wine club and e-commerce director. I am now the director of consumer sales for Cornerstone Cellars, overseeing the wine club, e-commerce and the tasting room operations.
Meet Our Team - Megan
My name is Megan Myers. I am a Bay Area native from Novato, California. After High School I explored many career opportunities from Cosmetology to Veterinary Assisting. I finally settled down in Kenwood, California and found my passion in the wine industry. It all started in 2009 at a small boutique winery in Sonoma, California. From there I moved to San Francisco and became an Event Coordinator for JAQK Cellars. In early 2014 I decided that the city life was not for me. It was then I realized that I belong in the heart of wine country to continue my education attending Napa Valley Wine Academy. I am now a Wine Educator at Cornerstone Cellars and working toward my CWS Certification.
Do Over: A New Beginning
As a winemaker your mind is in the future building, always building, on past vintages. Vintages are experiences, part of a voyage, not just end results. Winemakers have no favorite vintages just treasured experiences and the pain and pleasure of continually second guessing yourself.
The vines are now being pruned in the vineyards and the cycle that is agriculture begins again. In many ways it is comforting to work in a world governed by such a precise metronome. You know how you got here and where you're going.
There are always frustrations though as winemaking is slow motion business - you only get one 'iteration" per year.
What are some of my current frustrations?
- Alcohol levels continue to challenge us. While we have reduced them by more than 1% over previous vintages, we're not quite there yet. I think the sweet-spot for Napa Valley Cabernet is between 14 and 14.5% and for Oregon Pinot 13 to 13.5%. this gives you the depth, complexity and mouthfeel we hope for while still letting terroir show through. It's a tightrope, but we'll get there - we are getting there.
- The cost of doing making wine in the Napa Valley continues to increase and will force wine prices even higher.
- Too many wine reviews are published without ever tasting the wine with food. This is like tasting only the sauce and then writing a review of the whole dish. You can never understand how it all works together.
- The fact that so many sommeliers do not have an open mind when it comes to California and, in particular, Napa Valley wines. They are not all the same.
What makes me happy?
- The limitless potential of Oregon makes it one of the most exciting wine regions in the world. This is a region where you can argue the best vineyards have not even been planted yet. It's a brave new world with no where to go but up.
- The growing appreciation of wines with a more balanced, restrained style is exciting. While for the most part this reawakening of taste has not enlightened old-school wine media yet, new wine media is all over it. The old guys better wake up or get left in the dust.
- The growing recognition and excitement around rebel, back-to-your-roots winemakers in the staid world of the Napa Valley.
- The exciting, exploding community of wine lovers on social media. Finally small wineries can actually have a marketing edge over corporate wineries. After all, real people are a lot more fun to have a conversation with.
- What I am happiest about is how far we've come with our wines. They are so, so much better. Uplifting wines that are refreshing and elegant.
While I know I will always think we can do better no matter how great the vintage, these are wines I am proud of sharing with anyone.
Do over? Not really, each vintage is a new beginning. How lucky are we?
Our Mission Statement
Vintage, Vineyard and Variety
"Excellence is never enough, we have to go beyond and establish an ever higher goal each vintage. Our goal is to craft wines that are not only exceptional, but memorable. Each of our wines expresses the essence of vineyard, variety and vintage, which combine each harvest to create something never to be exactly repeated."


text: I am uploading my header image in the specs listed on the header page: "Images should be at least 96 pixels tall. Suggested width is 392 pixels" using these settings though, the image get's stretched about 3/4 the width of the header. Is there something I am doing wrong? What size should the header/logo be? Thanks for any help.


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I just installed this mod on my new WordPress website, and it is working great for the most part.
When I make a post on WordPress, it gets posted into my SMF Forum.
1 problem though. A link is not being included on the bottom of the WordPress Post, to the forum topic, even though specified in the admin area "SMF Link Text: Comment on our forum"
This text does not appear on the post - any ideas?


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From the incomparable Anne Tyler, a wise, gently humorous, and deeply compassionate novel about a schoolteacher, who has been forced to retire at sixty-one, coming to terms with the final phase of his life.
Liam Pennywell, who set out to be a philosopher and ended up teaching fifth grade, never much liked the job at that run-down private school, so early retirement doesn t bother him. But he is troubled by his inability to remember anything about the first night that he moved into his new, spare, and efficient condominium on the outskirts of Baltimore. All he knows when he wakes up the next day in the hospital is that his head is sore and bandaged.
His effort to recover the moments of his life that have been stolen from him leads him on an unexpected detour. What he needs is someone who can do the remembering for him. What he gets is well, something quite different.
We all know a Liam. In fact, there may be a little of Liam in each of us. Which is why Anne Tyler's lovely novel resonates so deeply.
About the Author
Nee en 1941, Anne Tyler reside actuellement a Baltimore. Cette figure majeure de la litterature americaine contemporaine a su se concilier les graces du lectorat comme celles de la critique. C est qu elle n est - pas seulement merveilleuse, elles perversement merveilleuse -, selon le mot de John Updike. Ont deja paru aux editions Stock: "Toujours partir", "Le Voyageur malgre lui", "Le Dejeuner de la nostalgie" et "Une autre femme".
Arthur Morey has recorded over two hundred audiobooks in history, fiction, science, business, and religion, earning a number of AudioFile Earphones Awards and two Audie Award nominations. His plays and songs have been produced in New York, Chicago, and Milan, where he has also performed.
Praise For…
Praise for Anne Tyler's Noah's Compass
"Everyone loves Anne Tyler . . . and her 18th novel will doubtless supply another reason."
—San Francisco Chronicle
"Noah's Compass is immensely readable. It displays many of Tyler's finest qualities: her sharp observation of humanity, her wry comedy; the luminous accuracy of her descriptions . . . Hers is a fine-grained art, whose comedy could easily coarsen into the self-consciously quirky. If it does not, this is because her surprises are rooted in character: it is human nature that she evidently finds infinitely fascinating and surprising, with its constantly unforeseeable capacity for change . . . [A] novel by Anne Tyler is cause for celebration."
—Caroline Moore, The Sunday Telegraph
"Tyler reveals, with unobtrusive mastery, the disconcerting patchwork of comedy and pathos that marks all our lives."
—Michael Dirda, The Wall Street Journal
"Dazzling . . . A beautifully subtle book, an elegant contemplation of what it means to be happy."
—Elizabeth Day, The Observer, UK
"Fired from his job, Liam Pennywell moves into a small apartment and wakes up the next morning in the hospital with head injuries he can't explain. What turns out to have been an attack by a thief leads to unexpected grace, as Liam is forced to engage more deeply with his family and with a woman who finds him irresistible."
—More magazine
"Pure pleasure"
—Helen W. Mallon, Philadelphia Inquirer


text:
This boat model may or may not be in-stock. Please contact your local, authorized dealer for more information
Trophy bass, beware. The sleek and aggressive Stinger 17 HP features a performance-optimized mod-V pad hull for blistering hole shots and higher top-end speeds. When you're ready for action, the Stinger 17 HP serves up performance, handling, fishability and style, plus all the tournament-level features you demand in a mid-sized fishing machine. The 85" wide bow deck provides 24 square feet of fish-working space. Combine that with the massive 10 cubic feet of in-deck storage space, dual aerated livewells, an extra-large rod locker, rear tackle organizers, a step cooler, and your choice of Mercury® outboard power, and you've got a fishing machine of the highest caliber.


text:
Pu-Li-Ru-La (FM Towns)
Published by
Developed by
Also For
Critic Score
100 point score based on reviews from various critics.
User Score
5 point score based on user ratings.
DescriptionPu-Li-Ru-La is a psychedelic side-scrolling arcade beat 'em up set in the magical land of Radishland. As the story goes, some evil magical entity has stolen the keys of time for the towns in Radishland, freezing time and turning every animal and creature into evil magical contraptions. Only Zac and Mel, empowered with their "invented magic sticks" are able to escape the curse and must thread through Radishland turning all the monsters back into their original form and recovering the keys of time.
Gameplay-wise the game is a side-scrolling beat 'em up in which you control your character in a 2.5D isometric plane as he clears each stage by beating the many wacky enemies with his stick and a few magic spells that are randomly selected whenever you start the game. At the end of each stage there is a harder "boss" creature you must defeat and upon doing so you proceed to the next stage.
The game is notable for its surreal graphic design, featuring digitized graphics merged with hand-drawn sprites and featuring mostly colorful nonsensical graphics. Features single player or co-op two-player gameplay modes.
Alternate Titles
- "Pu-Li-Ru-La: Arcade Gears" -- Tag-lined title
- "PuLiRuLa" -- Common title
- "プリルラ アーケードギアース" -- Tag-lined title Japanese spelling
- "プリルラ " -- Japanese spelling
Part of the Following Groups
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There are no critic reviews for this game.
There are currently no topics for this game.
There is no trivia on file for this game.
There are no game credits on file for this release of the game. Everything in MobyGames is contributable by users.


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Channel the dynamic energy of autumn with purple
It may seem a little unconventional, but hear us out, here – if you really want to capture all the dynamic energy that autumn has to offer, forget the shimmery allure of copper and the cool radiance of silver. While these hues are great go-to standbys for a touch of seasonal style, the best shade of the fall is plum purple.
From Amanda Seyfried to Katy Perry and Leighton Meister, plenty of actresses are embracing this bold look, and the best part of all? These fair-skinned celebs aren't just blazing an innovative trail because they're showing off purple. Instead, they're trendsetters because this darker shade is usually considered a major faux pas for ladies with lighter complexions.
If you want to channel the energy of purple into your next ensemble, be sure to go with something like GloMinerals – gloDazzle Gloss in Purple Lotus. This rich hue can leave your lips shiny and moisturized throughout the day, making it a wonderful choice during crisp afternoons this fall.
To transition your look from day to evening and to lend a dazzling accent to your eyes, try Too Faced – Perfect Eyes Waterproof Eyeliner in Perfect Purple or Perfect Black Orchid. Either one of these stunning colors is sure to turn heads and make you the center of attention at your next gathering!


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Children's LiteratureYoung readers can learn all about how Dr. Kipp spends her day as she makes her rounds as a veterinarian. This book is part of the "First Facts, Community Helpers at Work Series." The day's activities are presented in question and answer format. For example, the question "Do Veterinarians ever operate on animals?" is followed by a photograph of Dr. Kipp and her staff in the operating room, and the text explains the picture. A clock appears with each picture, so the readers can track the time of the activities. Fun facts are also included such as how many people work as vets. The end material of the book includes a glossary, book references and an Internet address. The book overall shows the many roles a veterinarian has as well as the people and animals she works with. Readers can see for themselves all that a vet does via the pictures. Large type face is used, so children can work on reading by themselves. 2004, Capstone Press, Ages 5 to 8.
Patricia Silverberg


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Town of Tuxedo -- A crash on the racetrack for Robin Hood Rally, a reality TV show and racing contest, severely damaged two cars and sent one man to the hospital with minor injuries.
The driver of a red corvette lost control of his racecar when heading towards the finish line on Warwick Brook Road, which had been closed to normal traffic for the event.
The corvette slammed into a BMW racecar, which was waiting its turn on the track, and then flipped over and landed further down the road. The driver walked away uninjured but the driver waiting in the BMW suffered minor injures and was transported to a local hospital.
The corvette's left side was ripped apart and the BMW's front was demolished in the accident.
The 55 drivers participating in the Robin Hood Rally broke for lunch. Officials say they will decide shortly whether or not to continue the event today.
Location, ST | website.com


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About the Program
The University of Iowa's Department of Radiology offers excellent training in Nuclear Medicine. Our faculty, fellows and residents come from all over the U.S. and countries outside, making the Iowa experience a diverse and welcoming experience. Faculty in our department are routinely ranked highly, and graduates of our programs go on to serve distinguished careers in both academic and private settings. We offer:
- state-of-the-art equipment
- exposure to all aspects of nuclear medicine and PET imaging
- exposure to wide range of clinical cases
- graduated responsibility where residents receive increasing responsibility in protocoling and interpreting studies
- opportunities for research
- a team of faculty dedicated to your success


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LONDON, July 18 Table tennis may be "coming home", as London's excitable mayor Boris Johnson gushed when the Olympic torch was passed to him in Beijing four years ago, but it is likely that all four gold medals on offer will head straight back to China.
China dominates table tennis, its national sport, and has won 20 out of the 24 golds since the sport joined the Olympic programme in 1988, including a clean sweep in 2008.
That domination is expected to continue at the London Games with top ranked Zhang Jike favoured in the men's singles and world number one Ding Ning the one to beat for women's gold. China are even stronger favourites to retain the two team titles.
But there is danger lurking from Japan in particular and from Germany, Korea and Singapore, in one of the world's fastest and most skilled sports.
Eighty-six athletes will compete in both the men's and women's competition, showing off penhold and shakehand grips. A huge global audience in what claims to be the highest participation sport in the world will be left spellbound by the sight of an un-returnable smash or a top-spin lob that turns defence into attack.
Three players will compete at their seventh Olympics -- Sweden's Joergen Persson, Belgium's Jean Michel Saive and Croatia's Zoran Primorac -- joining an elite club with only 18 Olympians having reached such a milestone.
At the other extreme is 19-year-old Kasumi Ishikawi from Japan, fourth seed in the women's singles, and American Ariel Hsing, aged 16, who boasts legendary investor Warren Buffett as one of her biggest cheerleaders.
Five years ago ping-pong enthusiast Buffett asked Hsing to play at a meeting of his investment firm Berkshire Hathaway and she has returned each year to take on the challenge from all comers among his investors.
Buffett has said he could be in London to support her, where he would join Mayor Johnson, who reminded the world when he took the torch four years ago that table tennis - or "wiff-waff" - was invented in England in the 19th Century, as an after-dinner game on dining tables.
Now China is so strong in the sport that qualifying for the Olympics is half the battle for its players, as each country only gets two singles spots.
That means for non-Chinese players it is easier to win the Olympics than the world championships. In London, they will "only" have to beat two Chinese players at most to take glory on Aug. 1-2.
Japan's Jun Mizutani, the world number five behind four Chinese and Germany's Timo Boll, ranked seventh, are among the men hoping to benefit and are seeded third and fourth.
China are even hotter favourites to win team golds on Aug. 7-8 in the three-player competitions -- a knockout event with the first team to three wins from a doubles match and four singles games. World number one Ding Ning is unlikely to even make the doubles game - Li Xiaoxia and Guo Yue are unbeaten as a pair for almost four years. (Editing by Steve Keating)
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text: DANCER BILL THAT PROVIDES ADDITIONAL PROTECTIONS TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIMS CLEARS COMMITTEE Domestic violence victims on whose behalf a restraining order has been entered would receive additional protections under a bipartisan bill sponsored by Assemblyman Ron Dancer and approved today by the Assembly Judiciary Committee. "Fear, intimidation and threats are an abuser's most lethal weapons against a victim of domestic violence. Even when a perpetrator is arrested, convicted and jailed, the victim continues to live in fear that the person who harmed them will, upon their release, return to do further damage," said Dancer, R-Ocean, Burlington, Middlesex and Monmouth. "It's important for victims to be aware of their abuser's status for their own protection and peace of mind." The bill, A-3544, would expand the use of the VINE (Victim Information Notification Everyday) system to automatically notify a domestic violence victim when the status of the person who is the subject of a restraining order has changed, including when the person is released from custody, discharged or transferred from custody or when the defendant has been released on bail. It also requires that the victim's location remain confidential and not appear on any documents or records which the defendant has access. VINE, New Jersey's computer automated victim notification service, provides a 24-hour hotline and website for victims of crime, their families and others who are concerned about the custody status and expected releases dates of offenders in county jails, the New Jersey Department of Corrections and the Department of Corrections Parole Actions. The measure is also sponsored by Assemblyman Troy Singleton, D-Burlington, and Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle, D-Bergen.