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Jewels Of Central Europe - Cruise Only Eastbound
Book Early and Save up to 10%!
Book Early and Save!Book your 2018 vacation and pay in full 9 months or more prior to your departure and save 10% off the land-only portion of your tour. Offer does not apply to Monograms (Independent Tours) or Avalon Waterways (River Cruises). Offer is not combinable with other promotional offers except Journeys Club repeat traveler benefit. Offer applies to new bookings only. Additional restrictions may apply.
Save 5%! When Traveling in a Group of 5 or More!
Big Savings for Small Groups!Small groups of 5, 6 or 7 can save 5% per person off the land-only portion of Globus vacations. Larger groups of 8 to 15, receives one person traveling at half-price and in a group of 16 or more, one person travels FREE. All members in the group must be traveling together and offer applies to land-only portion of the vacation (does not include extra-night accommodations). Promotion does not apply to Monograms (Independent Vacations) or Avalon Waterways (River Cruises) and is not combinable with other promotional offers except Journeys Club members. Travelers already traveling at a discount, such as children, does not count towards the party total. Additional restrictions may apply.
10% Discount for Young Travelers!
Young Travelers Save Big!Young travelers ages 8-17 receive a 10% discount on the land only portion of their vacation. Discount does not apply to Avalon small ship or river cruises. Traveler must be 8 - 17 on date of travel. Additions restrictions may apply.
Book 2 Tours to Save!
Book a 2nd Tour in 2018 to Save 5%!Book two Globus vacations traveling in the same year and receive 5% off the land portion of your second tour. If you take three tours, you save 5% on each of your next two. Discount on the land-only portion of core tour, not including extra night accommodations, extensions, taxes/fees, tips and supplements. Does not apply to Cosmos, Monograms or Avalon Waterways. Multiple tours must travel within the same calendar year and must be booked at the same time. Booking must be made, under deposit and discount applied between August 10, 2017 and December 31, 2018. Discount is calculated off the least expensive tour. Not combinable with any other offer or discount. Offer reliant on space availability, and applies to new 2018 bookings only. Full cancellation penalties will apply. Additional restrictions may apply.
Day 1 - Arrive in Remich, Luxembourg (Embarkation). This afternoon board your river cruise vessel and before dinner, meet your crew at a welcome reception. The Moselle River is some 312 miles long, rising in the Vosges Mountains of northeastern France and entering Germany at Trier. (D)
Day 2 - Trier, Germany. At the head of the Moselle Valley is Trier, Germany's oldest city. Some say Trier is even older than Rome and was populated over a thousand years before the Romans arrived. Many Roman remains have survived, including a 20,000-seat amphitheater; the Porta Nigra, the only surviving fortified gate from the original Roman settlement, which still gives access to the town's center; imperial baths; and the Roman Bridge, Germany's oldest bridge, with stone pilings dating from 144-152 AD"all evidence of this once-grand Roman city. Choose from an included GUIDED CITY SIGHTSEEING or the more history-focused "ROMAN TRIER" guided tour. As you cruise the wide, peaceful curves of the Moselle River, it becomes obvious why the Moselle Valley is famous for its picturesque scenery, and that this is an important wine-growing region. (B,L,D)
Day 3 - Bernkastel. In the middle of the Moselle region is the charming wine village of Bernkastel with its fascinating narrow streets and half-timbered houses that have stood since the Middle Ages. Enjoy a GUIDED WALK that includes the beautiful marketplace with its renaissance-style Town Hall"built in 1608"and the "pointed house," built in 1416. Wine growers in this area look after Germany's largest expanse of vineyards, the most celebrated of the vintages being the Bernkasteler Doktor. During your free time this afternoon you might like to visit the Moselle Wine Museum. This evening enjoy a TASTING of some of these well-loved German wines. (B,L,D)
Day 4 - Rhine Gorge - Rudesheim. This morning, sail through the dramatic RHINE GORGE, the most beautiful stretch of the Rhine. Here, ancient castles stand sentry on lofty cliffs rising 400 feet above the waters. Cruise past the legendary rock of the Lorelei, where echoes of enchanted siren song lured unwitting sailors to their doom. In Rudesheim, the quintessential Rhine Valley wine town, visit SIEGFRIED'S MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT MUSEUM, where you'll see and hear a large collection of self-playing calliopes, mechanical violins, and music boxes from the 18th to the early 20th centuries. Enjoy a SPECIAL TREAT, then there's free time to pick up some souvenirs on the narrow, cobblestoned Drosselgasse, where colorful flowers, open-air wine gardens, and live music add to the festive atmosphere. (B,L,D)
Day 5 - Main River Village. On the banks of the Main River you find cultural gems of small towns, many of them tucked away behind defensive walls and towered gates. With half-timbered houses, narrow streets, and medieval town centers, these picturesque Bavarian villages are a photographer's delight. Join your Local Guide to experience one of these towns on a GUIDED WALK. (B,L,D)
Day 6 - Wurzburg. Relax on board this morning as you cruise the Main River. This afternoon, arrive in Wurzburg. Surrounded by verdant hillside vineyards, Wurzburg, the "Pearl of the Romantic Road," makes an immediate impression with imposing Fortress Marienberg perched above town and the 15th-century Alte Mainbrucke (Old Main Bridge). On your GUIDED SIGHTSEEING TOUR, visit the magnificent baroque BISHOP'S RESIDENZ, home to the largest ceiling fresco ever painted. Then, there's time to relax, do some shopping, or stop in a Konditorei for a mouth-watering pastry and a cup of coffee"a German afternoon tradition. (B,L,D)
Day 7 - Bamberg. Enjoy another pleasant morning of sailing before you arrive in medieval Bamberg in the early afternoon. The town is the former residence of one of Germany's most powerful imperial dynasties and today a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Your included GUIDED WALK takes in its historic center, with the great 13th-century Romanesque cathedral and the fascinating Altes Rathaus (Old Town Hall)"built on an island in the middle of the Regnitz River when the bishop refused to give the townspeople land for a town hall! (B,L,D)
Day 8 - Nuremberg. Excursion to Munich. Early this morning, arrive in Nuremberg and after breakfast, drive to Munich, the capital of Bavaria. With its historical museums, splendid English Garden, traditional cafes, and delightful shops, Munich has plenty to see and do. A GUIDED TOUR will show you the highlights of this fascinating city, including Nymphenburg Palace, summer residence of the Bavarian monarchs; MARIENPLATZ with its Old and New Town Halls; and the gothic Frauenkirche, a prominent landmark for Munich. Then, enjoy time on your own in this vibrant city. Watch the famous Glockenspiel, which recreates a royal wedding from the 16th century; linger at an outdoor cafe; visit St. Peter's, the oldest church in town; or maybe relax alongside the locals at one of the many Biergarten or breweries to sample one of the Bavarian beer specialties. Return to your ship in the afternoon. (B,D)
Day 9 - Nuremberg-Roth. This morning the choice is yours" join a Certified Local Guide for a NUREMBERG RALLY GROUNDS tour, or a GUIDED SIGHTSEEING of the nearby town of Roth. This delightful town, with its half-timbered houses and market square, is also an industrial center for textile manufacturing. Take pictures of Schloss Ratibor, an ancient hunting lodge, built in 1535, with a most picturesque inner courtyard. (B,L,D)
Day 10 - Regensburg. Arrive in Regensburg today. Dating back to the time of the Celts around 500 BC, Regensburg is one of Germany's best-preserved medieval cities. Established during the Holy Roman Empire and the only German city not bombed during WWII, Regensburg has at least 1,300 listed buildings of "historic interest." Architectural highlights of your GUIDED WALK include the Altes Rathaus (Old Town Hall), built in the 13th century, and Porta Pretoria, gates to an ancient Roman fort built in 179 AD. Wander through the city's lanes and alleys to discover the many mansions with high towers. Wealthy families built these towers to emphasize their status and wealth during the Middle Ages, and many still remain today. Walk across the 12th-century Steinerne Brucke (Stone Bridge), the oldest of its kind in Germany. Grab a beer and enjoy an included SNACK at the Historische Wurstkuche (Old Sausage Kitchen), one of Germany's oldest restaurants. Here"where the locals congregate"feel the vibrant atmosphere and take in the remarkable views along the river. Before dinner, we'll introduce you to some of Germany's FAMOUS BEERS! (B,L,D)
Day 11 - Passau. This morning, dock in Passau. Uniquely located where the Inn, Ilz, and Danube Rivers converge, Passau is a maze of narrow cobblestone streets lined with beautiful patrician houses. St. Stephen's Cathedral, a masterpiece of Italian baroque architecture, houses one of the world's largest church organs with 17,774 pipes. Take in the highlights on the included GUIDED WALK. Alternatively, choose from several full-day optional excursions while your ship continues to sail into Austria. Rejoin your vessel in the late afternoon. (B,L,D)
Day 12 - Melk, Austria - Vienna. This morning, enjoy a GUIDED VISIT of Melk's magnificent 11th-century BENEDICTINE ABBEY, one of Europe's largest monasteries. The abbey houses an ornate library with over 80,000 printed books and 2,000 manuscripts. Words cannot describe the splendor of the church with its frescoed ceilings, stunning high altar, marble statues, and 210-foot-high cupola. Then, cruise through the picturesque Wachau Valley. Pass the magnificent baroque Stiftskirche with its blue facade, the landmark of Durnstein, arriving in Vienna this evening. Known as the "City of Music," it inspired the creative genius of Mozart, Beethoven, and Strauss. An optional concert is available tonight. (B,L,D)
Day 13 - Vienna. Once the center of the mighty Habsburg Empire, Austria's magical capital on the blue Danube is a showcase of gilded architecture. This is home to the lavish Hofburg Imperial Palace complex with its Vienna Boys' Choir and dazzling Lipizzaner stallions; the neo-renaissance Vienna Opera House; and awe-inspiring St. Stephen's Cathedral"plus, countless other sights shown to you by your Local Guide during your included CITY TOUR. Shop in the delightful pedestrian Karntnerstrasse, and be sure to take a break and enjoy a piece of decadent Sachertorte or Apfelstrudel in one of the classic Viennese coffee houses, historic institutions that helped shape Viennese culture! In the late afternoon, leave Vienna for Budapest. (B,L,D)
Day 14 - Budapest, Hungary. Spanning the banks of the Danube, Budapest is one of Eastern Europe's liveliest cities. Whether you're seeing the sights, shopping for handcrafted embroidery or Herend porcelain, or basking in the coffee house culture over a rich cream cake in the renowned Gerbeaud Cafe, Budapest's unique energy is positively palatable. On your GUIDED SIGHTSEEING TOUR, see Heroes Square as well as the massive hilltop castle complex with its remarkable Fishermen's Bastion and 11th-century Matthias Church, the coronation spot of several Hungarian monarchs. Be sure to take note of the city's eight bridges"many famous sights in and of themselves"which connect ancient Buda on the right bank with Pest on the left. You may even want to walk across Chain Bridge, built in 1849 and a symbol of Budapest. Perhaps visit St. Stephen's Basilica; shop at the Great Market Hall and purchase paprika at one of its 180 vendor stalls; wander around the Royal Palace grounds; or stroll along Vaci utca, the main shopping street. (B,L,D)
Day 15 - Budapest (Disembarkation). Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B)
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Special Notes
- In order to protect your own property, please bring any valuable items with you at any time. Please do not leave any valuable items on the bus/hotel/attraction/restaurant etc. Tours4fun, local operators, drivers and tour guides will not take any responsibility for any theft loss at any location.
- Tours4Fun cooperates with top local area tour operators and ensures the best quality of services to all travelers. We provide tour coaches that all are insured with a liability insurance coverage from $5,000,000 to $10,000,000 to make sure that your trips are safer and more enjoyable.
Reservation Process and E-Ticket
1.Immediately after submitting your reservation you will receive a Receipt of Reservation via email.
2. Within one to two business days of submitting your reservation you will receive a confirmation email from us. If you need to book an airline ticket, we recommend that you do so after you receive a confirmation of your tour reservation from us.
3. An E-Ticket will be sent to you via email as soon as details of your reservation are confirmed or your supporting information is received by us. We will provide you with all detailed information about your tour on the E-Ticket. Contact information for local tour provider will be included on E-Ticket for your convenience or re-confirmation purpose if re-confirmation is required.
4. Simply print your E-Ticket and present it with your valid photo ID on the day of your activity to your tour guide. Please remember E-Ticket is your proof of purchase.
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- Your purchase does not guarantee confirmation. Your purchase will initiate a reservation process. We will confirm with you via email within one to two business days.
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- Local tour provider reserves the right to make modifications to tour arrangements including order of tour activities, hotel and its location if deemed necessary.
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Pricing (Per Person)
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Port charges:
Gratuities to Local Guides & Excursion Drivers are included.
Please call for single accommodation price. Triples not available.
Extra nights per person in Budapest:
in single room from $175 to $326, in twin room from $101 to $172
Prices shown include cruise in Category E in a deluxe outside stateroom on Indigo Deck.
To upgrade to a higher category, add per person:
Category / Decks / Price
D Indigo Deck $398
B Sapphire Deck $2,298
A Sapphire Deck $2,398
P Royal Deck $2,598
Royal Suite Royal Deck $3,798
- City Highlights
Cruise: deluxe 14-night cruise in an outside stateroom with Avalon's exclusive Comfort Collection BedsSM
Day 1 Remich (Embarkation): Welcome to Luxembourg! onboard welcome reception
Day 2 Trier: choice of guided city sightseeing or "Roman Trier" sightseeing, see the Porta Nigra
Day 3 Bernkastel: guided walk; wine tasting
Day 4 Rhine Gorge - Rudesheim: cruise through the Rhine Gorge; visit Siegfried's Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum in Rudesheim; enjoy a special treat
Day 5 Main River Village: guided walk
Day 6 Wurzburg: guided sightseeing, visit the Bishop's Residenz
Day 7 Bamberg: guided sightseeing, see the Old Town Hall
Day 8 Nuremberg. Excursion to Munich: guided sightseeing, see the Marienplatz
Day 9 Nuremberg-Roth: choice of Nuremberg Rally Grounds tour or guided sightseeing in Roth
Day 10 Regensburg: guided walk; enjoy a snack at the Historische Wurstkuche; beer tasting
Day 11 Passau: guided walk
Day 12 Melk - Vienna: guided visit of the Benedictine Abbey in Melk
Day 13 Vienna: guided sightseeing
Day 14 Budapest: guided sightseeing, see Fishermen's Bastion and Heroes' Square
Day 15 Budapest (Disembarkation): your vacation ends this morning
- Key Differences
- Launch Date
04/05/16 8:00pm
- Meals
- Captain's welcome & farewell receptions with sparkling wine and canapes
- Welcome dinner
- Daily Afternoon Tea
- Daily Night Fare
- Farewell dinner
- Complimentary sparkling wine with breakfast; wine, beer, or soft drinks with lunch and dinner are included daily on board your vessel
- Notes
- In the event of water level problems or any problems of a technical nature, it may be necessary to operate the itinerary by motorcoach or to alter the program.
- Please check visa requirements with your local consulate(s); responsibility for obtaining visas rests with the traveler.
- Scenic Highlights
Special onboard and onshore experiences presented by entertainers, artisans, and experts, designed to enrich your cruise.
Enjoy a tasting of the area's famed Moselle wines, and learn about the Main Danube canal at an onboard lecture.
- Title
Jewels of Central Europe - Cruise Only Eastbound


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BOSTON (CBS) – It's hard to believe it's been half of a decade, but 98.5 The Sports Hub is turning five years old this week.
To help ring in this special occasion, we're reliving all the classic moments from each show — handpicked by the on-air staff!
So without further ado, here's the Best Of Toucher & Rich:
Brian Scalabrine Calls In After 2010 NBA Finals Loss To Lakers:
Toucher and Rich have had many memorable moments with the White Mamba including, but not limited to The Scallenge, giving him a spray tan on air and all of his weekly interviews, but perhaps his most memorable appearance on the show came in heartbreaking fashion.
The Celtics just lost Game 7 of the NBA Finals to the Lakers in 2010. It was 6:30am Eastern Standard time and Scal, audibly upset and shaken from the loss, called in unannounced at 3:30am Pacific time. At one point during the call you can hear the bartender tell Scalabrine he'll stay open later just for him.
It was completely organic and original and helped Celtics fans cope the day after the game.
Listen below!
Fred Hangs Up On Rick Pitino:
From October 3, 2013:
Toucher & Rich have had some short interviews in the past — Terrell Owens, Theo Fleury and Stephen Pearcy come to mind — but Rick Pitino may have set a new record.
The current Louisville coach is in the midst of a long and successful college career, but here in Boston, his disastrous tenure as Celtics head coach will always be thought of before any of Pitino's success.
At Fred Toucher's urging, Jon Wallach was geared up and ready to go with some pointed questions for Pitino, who's doing publicity for his new book.
Yet Fred took care of it all in one short sentence.
Here's how the whole interview played out:
Fred: We are joined by Rick Pitino, former coach of the Celtics, current coach of the Louisville Cardinals who won the national championship. Rick Pitino, hello!
Pitino: Morning, guys.
Fred: You stink. You ruined the Celtics.
Fred then hung up and began "The Stack" segment, and the interview was over, listen below!
'Rad' Marchand's Greatest Hits From The 80s:
From July 20, 2011:
Rich was at the premier of the Bruins 2011 Stanley Cup Champions DVD and caught up with Brad Marchand.
Rich was able to get the fan-favorite to help out with a new game, where Marchand reads lyrics from hit songs of the 80's, transforming into 'Rad' Marchand in the process.
Your job is to guess the artist of the song that 'Rad' Marchand is "singing."
Listen below!
Messing With Giants Players At Super Bowl XLVI Media Day In Indianapolis:
From February 1, 2012:
Toucher & Rich had a little fun with the Giants players while they had the chance at Media Day.
They came up with some fake station liners for some players to read.
Rich walked up to players like Kevin Boothe, Travis Beckum and Linval Joseph and asked some real questions, but then asked them to read what he and Fred wrote out.
The players agreed without question and didn't even get suspicious when some it sounded a little off.
Sit back, listen and enjoy!
Cuts For A Cause:
What once started as an event with only a handful of Bruins players in the Sports Hub conference room, 'Cuts For A Cause' is now seven years strong and has helped raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for the Boston Bruins Foundation, the Shawn Thornton Foundation and Floating Hospital for Children at Tufts Medical Center.
Each year, fans have the chance to bid on players in an auction style, and the highest bidder gets to shave the head of their favorite Bruins player.
Jon Wallach Gets Tricked Into Reading Promo For Make-Believe Magic Store
From November 1, 2012, original air date October 20, 2009:
It is a very special day on the Toucher & Rich show because it's Jon Wallach's birthday.
How better to celebrate than playing one of the most classic Wallach clip?
The guys dug through the files and pulled out the great Shazowie bit; the moment the guys knew Wallach was officially part of the crew.
Toucher & Rich wrote a fake commercial for a magic shop and got people at the station to play along to convince Wallach it was a real endorsement he would be compensated for. Although he was very suspicious, Wallach indeed recorded the spot.
The guys also put together a great compilation of Wallach clips.
Naughty Massarotti:
Tony Massarotti occasionally helps out Toucher & Rich by becoming Naughty Massarotti, turning from a respected sports journalist into a desperate horndog in the blink of an eye. Naughty Mazz is a big fan of the ladies to say the least.
Classic Naughty Mazz clips:
– Naughty Massasrotti: World Cup Edition
– Naughty Massarotti or D.A. Tweet?
– Naughty Mazz Loves New York City
– Christmas Carols The Naughty Mazz Way
– Naughty Mazz New Orleans Style
– Naughty Massarotti Loves Feet
– Naughty Massarotti Or Aerosmith?
James Stewart's Rogue House Leather Dojo Commercial:
From April 5, 2011:
Toucher & Rich planned to do a brand new Naughty Massarotti last week and James Stewart, the new producer for Felger & Massarotti, helped record the bit.
Unfortunetly, the audio was bad and it looked as though all was lost.
Luckily Mazz showed up and did it live.
However, Toucher & Rich didn't want to let Stewart get off scot-free, so they tricked him into reading a fake commercial for the Rogue House Leather Dojo. He's a tough guy, what are you going to do about it?
Listen below!
What was your favorite moment, or interview on Toucher & Rich over the past five years? Leave it for us in the comments section, or on Twitter @Toucherandrich, @FredToucher or @KenGriffeyRules!
- Bob Beers: Bruins Playing Much Looser, More Confident Under Bruce Cassidy
- Danny Ainge: Adding Rebounder At Trade Deadline Wouldn't Have Improved Celtics 'Overall'
- Gorman: Celtics More Likely To Stand Pat, But Bogut And Butler The Most Realistic Trade Targets
- Ainge: Celtics Not Looking For Rent-A-Player Or Band-Aid Trade

subset: commoncrawl


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Critical Read
FCW reporters and editors read a lot of reports from government agencies, watchdog groups and trade associations to try to bubble up the most interesting, thoughtful, and timely material for our readership of federal IT professionals and the vendors they work with. Here's a look at 10 of the most interesting Critical Read pieces we published in 2013.
1. Better metrics needed for security clearance process: The Government Accountability Office takes a hard look at how the government manages security clearance reviews and renewals. The issue took on added urgency in 2013 with the Navy Yard attack by an IT contractor, and the leak of classified intelligence material by contractor Edward Snowden.
2. The price of NSA surveillance for cloud providers: In a prescient report, Dan Castro at the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation tries to assess the potential financial impact of U.S. network surveillance on cloud providers looking to compete in the global marketplace.
3. GAO's call to action in IT management: David A. Powner's testimony to the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee calls for more transparency and visibility into federal IT projects. Powner's prognosis of what's lacking in the oversight of large-scale IT projects is worth a second look in light of the buggy launch of HealthCare.gov.
4. A contracting how-to for agency leaders: The IBM Center for the Business of Government offers an indispensable primer on the procurement process for government workers, vendors and reporters who cover federal contracting.
5. Feds' job satisfaction continues to dive: The release of the annual Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey was delayed because of the partial government shutdown in October. The plunging morale among feds indicate that pay freezes and furloughs are taking their toll.
6. Performance management and budgeting: A report from the Partnership for Public Service on the implementation of the Government Performance and Results Modernization Act of 2010 found that government agencies aren't keeping pace with demands to use performance data to drive business decisions and budgeting.
7. Losing the tech talent sweepstakes: A Ford Foundation report identifies compensation and workplace culture as two reasons the public sector and non-profits are failing to attract and retain talented entry level IT workers.
8. Getting government into high gear: An IBM study looks at operational fixes and training improvements that could help government quicken the tempo of operations.
9. Is FISMA enough: A MeriTalk study finds that the security framework for government cloud providers under the Federal Information Security Management Act might not be sufficient to mitigate threats to federal networks.
10. CIO Council offers social media privacy advice: This set of best practices is a must read for anyone who wants to understand the best practices government employees are supposed to employ when using Twitter, Facebook and other social media.
About the Author
Adam Mazmanian is executive editor of FCW.
Before joining the editing team, Mazmanian was an FCW staff writer covering Congress, government-wide technology policy, health IT and the Department of Veterans Affairs. Prior to joining FCW, Mr. Mazmanian was technology correspondent for National Journal and served in a variety of editorial at B2B news service SmartBrief. Mazmanian started his career as an arts reporter and critic, and has contributed reviews and articles to the Washington Post, the Washington City Paper, Newsday, Architect magazine, and other publications. He was an editorial assistant and staff writer at the now-defunct New York Press and arts editor at the About.com online network in the 1990s, and was a weekly contributor of music and film reviews to the Washington Times from 2007 to 2014.
Click here for previous articles by Mazmanian. Connect with him on Twitter at @thisismaz.
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Save the date for 28th annual Federal 100 Awards Gala.
March 30, 2017
The new $7.5 billion SETI acquisition program aims to rapidly contract innovative technologies and solutions across the Defense Department.
The Department of Commerce is revising its confidentiality agreement for statistical data survey respondents to reflect the fact that the Department of Homeland Security could see some of that data if it is captured by the Einstein system.
In a Feb. 17 memo, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis told senior leadership to establish teams to look for duplication across the armed services in business operations, including in IT and cybersecurity.
State election officials had more questions than answers after a Department of Homeland Security presentation on the designation of election systems as critical U.S. infrastructure.
The government desperately needs younger talent to replace an aging workforce, and experts say that a freeze on hiring doesn't help.
The Department of Veterans Affairs will test an internally developed scheduling module at primary care sites nationwide to see if it's ready to service the entire agency.
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The Upstart
OLN, the cable sports channel known until last summer as Outdoor Life Network. For most of its 10 years, OLN has catered to participants in an esoteric variety of sports from motocross to hunting and fishing—a "base of hard-core outdoor enthusiasts who were very specifically into one particular type of pursuit," says president Gavin Harvey. That mix yielded a respectable 64 million subscribers, but a typical viewer rating of just 0.1. (At ESPN, a Sunday night football broadcast can draw a 6.5 rating.)
The Power Play
Last summer's round-the-clock coverage of the Tour de France (Allez, Lance, allez!) marked the first step in OLN's attempt to win fans who don't necessarily do sports. Hence, the focus on strategy and riders' stories instead of the benefits of carbon-fiber bike frames. But what really grabbed attention was OLN's acquisition of National Hockey League rights for $135 million. While Harvey calls the deal his "crowning achievement of 2005," he says it's only part of a revamped programming package.
The Challenge
OLN's prime-time offerings—Survivor reruns, shark fishing, professional bull riding, and a reality show in which ex-rocker Ted Nugent brings city slickers into the wild—can seem a bit scattershot. But they're popular: Even before the hockey season started, third-quarter ratings of .24 and an average of 205,655 viewers represented a more than 41% increase from the year before.
The X-factor
OLN's parent, Comcast Corp., has the deep pockets to build a property that can attract ads and subscriber fees. OLN hasn't tipped its hand, but outsiders expect it to look seriously at upcoming contracts to broadcast another big-time sport.
A version of this article appeared in the January/February 2006 issue of Fast Company magazine.


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Teddy Riley Net Worth: Teddy Riley is an American rapper, singer-songwriter, and record producer who has a net worth of $3 million. Teddy Riley's creation of New Jack Swing has helped put him on the map. Riley has change the face of modern R&B, Hip-Hop and Pop. He is from Harlem, New York, he produced Kool Moe Dee's 12″ single, "Go See the Doctor" Riley was only 17. Born in New York on October 8, 1967, Riley is best known for his work with Michael Jackson, Usher, Doug E. Fresh, Keith Sweat, Heavy D. and more. He was a member of Guy as well as Blackstreet and specializes in New Jack Swing, R&B, and hip hop. He has been active in the music industry since 1984 and has been affiliated with labels such as Interscope, Uptown, MCA, and Dreamworks. He is known for co-producing Michael Jackson's Dangerous. He formed Blackstreet in 1991 and released "No Diggity" in 1996 which featured Dr. Dre. He is a Grammy Award-winning artist and producer and worked on Michael Jackson's post-humous release, Michael.
Teddy Riley Net Worth
Edward Theodore Riley
Record producer
Date of Birth
Oct 8, 1967 (49 years old)
Record producer, Songwriter, Singer, Singer-songwriter, Musician, Rapper, Keyboard Player
United States of America
5 ft 6 in (1.7 m)
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Marketers are using music to engage millennials, the 25% of Americans whose combined spending power is an estimated $1.3 trillion. Successful music marketing campaigns from Samsung, Amnesty International and Live Nation have shown that millennials connect with music in an emotional way and like to share it socially.
Full Story:Mashable


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Season 2 of the Overtime podcast is here! Listen to the first episode with Meg Robichaud now.
I went home for he holidays and was helping my parents with a project in their back yard. During the process of tearing some stuff down, I found some cool things that I thought would make for great textures.
Included in the download are the raw camera files (.cr2) as well as an unprocessed .jpg image.
All of the textures were taking with a 5D Mark III and should be plenty large for all sorts of projects.
Hope you enjoy these!
Link to the textures -
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Show and tell for designers
What are you working on? Dribbble is a community of designers sharing screenshots of their work, process, and projects.
Copyright © 2009–2017 Dribbble LLC. All screenshots © their respective owners. Shipped from Salem, Mass. USA.


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Kolkata: Hot tea was allegedly poured on a class IV student as a punishment for being absent at a government-aided school in north Kolkata.
The parents of the nine-year-old boy have claimed that the hot beverage was poured on him by a sweeper at the instruction of a teacher to punish him for absenteeism.
According to the parents, the boy returned home from school on Monday with burn injuries on the right side of his face and other parts of his body.
Stating that the act was deliberate and not an accident, the parents alleged that their son, who was writhing in pain, was hurriedly taken to a state-run hospital by the school authorities without informing them.


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Magic Kingdom Resort Area
Disney's Wilderness Lodge
All Ages
Follow the bubbling Silver Creek to discover a dazzling heated pool surrounded by pine trees and boulders. At Silver Creek Springs Pool, zip down the exciting 67-foot waterslide built into the rocks, and relax in the hot and cold whirlpool spas. Children can even splash about in their own water play area.
Hours and lifeguard availability vary by pool and are subject to change.
Retreat to this leisure pool which, along with a whirlpool spa, is nestled amongst the Boulder Ridge Villas. Please note: Hidden Springs Pool will be closed for enhancements from November 2, 2015 through 2017. We apologize for any inconvenience.
Hours and lifeguard availability vary by pool and are subject to change.
Complimentary towels are provided at all pools.


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Just messing around with illustrating the bicycle that I am currently building. I needed to figure out some colors and I got a bit carried away with actually drawing the bike...oops :)
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Copyright © 2009–2017 Dribbble LLC. All screenshots © their respective owners. Shipped from Salem, Mass. USA.


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Glasair Aviation, in partnership with BRS Aerospace, now offers whole-plane parachute recovery systems for the company's Sportsman line of aircraft. [Read more…]
Students begin building Sportsman
High school students Derrick Cleaves, Logan Feltz, Austin Krause, and Natasha Stemwedel, teacher Mike Hansen, and chaperone Jerry Graf — the winners of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association/Build A Plane 2016 Aviation Design Challenge — will spend the next two weeks building a Glasair Sportsman airplane at Glasair Aviation in Arlington, Washington, as their prize.
The team from Weyauwega-Fremont High School in Weyauwega, Wisconsin, won the all-expenses-paid trip to assemble the Sportsman as part of the fourth annual Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) competition. [Read more…]
Students start building plane
Four students, a teacher, and two advisors from Sunrise Mountain High School in Las Vegas, Nevada —which won the second General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA)/Build A Plane Aviation Design Challenge — began building a Glasair Sportsman airplane June 16 at Glasair Aviation in Arlington, Washington.
The team, which was announced as the winner of the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) competition last month, will assemble the aircraft over the next two weeks.
Las Vegas high school wins Build A Plane competition
The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) and Build A Plane announced today that the Formula X team from Sunrise Mountain High School in Las Vegas, Nevada, is the winner of the second Aviation Design Challenge to promote Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) skills among U.S. high school students.
Four students, a teacher, and a chaperone from the high school will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to Glasair Aviation in Arlington, Washington, to build a real Glasair Sportsman airplane from June 16-28.
GAMA and Build A Plane launch second design challenge
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) and Build A Plane, a non-profit organization to encourage aviation and aerospace education, are partnering for a second year to promote Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education in high schools across the United States through an aviation design competition. The team from the winning high school will receive an all-expenses-paid, two-week trip for four students, one teacher and one chaperone to help build a Glasair Sportsman (pictured) through Glasair Aviation's Two Weeks to Taxi program at its facilities in Arlington, Wash., in June 2014.
Glasair unveils new website
The new GlasairAviation.com is now open to the public. The website was recently updated, made considerably more user-friendly, added social media links, changed copy and incorporated new photographs.
'While You Were Out' Star Evan Farmer completes Sportsman
Evan Farmer, star of MTV's "2GE+HER" as well as The Learning Channel's series "While Your Were Out," recently built his own Sportsman 2+2 as part of Glasair's Two Weeks to Taxi program.
Farmer documented the process on video and recently posted it on YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmPZbfYWNT0).


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Wego.com.sg recently found 2 hotels in Borgarotorinese, Italy. Book last minute hotel or find great hotel deals such as Quality Hotel Atlantic Turin Airport for S$133 per night. Save more on cheap hotels with rates from as low as S$133 per night.
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No sign of her so far. I wandered around, poked in bushes and called for
about an hour last night. She has not been outside in many years and we
have a couple strays that wander around so maybe one of them scared her
off and she just needs to find her way back. She is very shy, one of
those cats that will hide for days when dumped in a new environment. So
I have my fingers crossed too but I just don't feel optimistic.
It doesn't help that the poking around is forcing me to look at all the
work that needs to be done out front too, that's adding greatly to the
discouraging feeling. I knew it was there but it's been much more
enjoyable to go riding or work in the veggie garden. Well...if you don't
start you can't finish, and I've decided this has now moved to the top
of husband's priority list as well as mine.
-----Original Message-----
From: email@example.com [mailto:firstname.lastname@example.com] On
Behalf Of Kitty
Sent: Monday, September 22, 2008 7:27 PM
To: email@example.com
Subject: Re: [CHAT] Happy equinox!
I'm hoping Punkin will be home soon. The little darlin's always know
how to
keep us wondering. Probably just scoping out the territory. My cat
got out once when I moved; stayed away for 2 weeks and then just calmly
showed up at the door. We looked everywhere and once thought we had
him not far away. He had his own timetable. I'll keep my fingers
neIN, Zone 5
----- Original Message -----
From: "Johnson, Cyndi D Civ USAF AFMC 95 CG/SCSRT"
To: <firstname.lastname@example.com>
Sent: Monday, September 22, 2008 11:14 AM
Subject: [CHAT] Happy equinox!
> Happy autumnal equinox everyone. Time to start thinking about what
> going to in the garden this winter I guess.
> I did some cleanup this weekend out front. I noticed the pyracantha by
> office window had gotten too big so I went out with my loppers and
> saw.
> I have enjoyed watching the birds eat its berries every winter but
it's a
> plant in the wrong place, and too much work to keep pruning it back
> year. So I decided to take it down to about 2 ft high, if it comes
> fine,
> if it doesn't oh well. Those things are pretty thorny I got punctured
> couple times through my gloves. I got about > of it but the dumpster
> overflowing, so I'll have to get the rest later. Tried using my
> leaf-flower
> as a vacuum and I think it will work, although not incredibly
effective. I
> need a longer extension cord to get the worst areas. And I shoveled 12
> wheelbarrows full of, ummm, stuff out of the sheep pens, that was
> tiring.
> I could use some positive thoughts for our cat Punkin. She got out of
> house somehow on Saturday afternoon (we think), and we didn't notice
> missing until this morning. She is not much of a lap cat so it wasn't
> unusual
> for her not to be underfoot, I feel bad though. It isn't a good sign
> she
> isn't wailing at the front door to come in, a little early to give up
> but
> I am fretting.
> Cyndi
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
> To sign-off this list, send email to email@example.com with the
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Hotfrog SouthAfrica provides information regarding Cosmetics Outlet in Benoni Gauteng. Cosmetics Outlet is located at 44 Harrur St, Benoni Gauteng 1501 and provides retail services. Contact them on 011 422 6588.
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More Videos...
4 12" kicker cvx
changed the design and went from sealed to ported. huge difference in bass
12" Kicker Cvx
another vid of the sub in the finished box this time let me know what you think
2 Kicker cvx 15s
2 Kicker CVX 15s on Hifonics Brutus 2006. 6.025 cu. ft. ported box (building a new one soon that will be 9.8)
2 12" mtx woofers in my room what?!!!
just a project i wanted to do since i upgrated my cars system. I had to try and hook up my old car subs to my computer using a computer power supplly unit. if you wanna know how i did it please let me know ill either make a video of it or send u the instruction enjoy!!


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Sweet weekends
Double room with private terrace and sea view at € 40,00 per person per night
Standard double room costs € 30,00 per person per night
Prices are inclusive of breakfast and parking
For quotes please do not hesitate to contact us !
Special Offersavailablefor 3 nights !
If you choose to stay 5 nights in a superior double room with sea view or matrimonial the cost for one people is only € 120.


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For the best experience on our website please use a modern browser such as Google Chrome or Firefox.
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue without changing your settings, we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies on the Miller Homes website. However, if you would like to, you can change your cookie settings in your internet browser at any time.
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Located in Lanarkshire, the historic town of Hamilton is a great place to settle down and enjoy family life. Its proximity to the city of Glasgow makes it an ideal base from which to further explore the benefits of city living.
Miller Homes specialises in new build homes around the UK. Our range of properties is suitable for first time buyers or families looking to upsize or for a change of scene.
Take a look at the new homes we have available in Hamilton. If you decide to use the Help to Buy (Scotland) scheme then you could get your new home with as little as a five per cent deposit*. Contact a member of our friendly team now for more information.
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Festival di Roma line up
All the titles in the competition
The fifth edition of the Rome Film Festival (28th of October - November 5th ) promises to be, as usual, full of names and resonant titles: a lot of Hollywood, many previews for Italy, many Italian productions, few international previews.
The most awaited movie, we bet, will be The Social Network by David Fincher with Andrew Garfield, the movie about Facebook that in the States is topping the box office and is already getting Oscar buzz. Following The Rabbit Hole by John Cameron Mitchell with Nicole Kidman, that was very successful in Toronto, and In a Better World by Susanne Beir, Danish candidate for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Film.
In contest also four Italian titles: La scuola è finita by Valerio Jalongo, Una vita tranquilla by Claudio Cupellini, Io sono con te by Guido Chiesa, Gangor by Italo Spinelli (coproduced with India). Interesting movies not in the competition: Animal Kingdom by David Michôd, awarded at Sundace, The Kids are All right by Lisa Cholodenko with Julianne Moore (that will receive the Marc'Aurelio award) and the pilot of Boardwalk Empire signed by Martin Scorsese.
Among other good stuff: Porco rosso, a 1992 movie by the master of Japanese animation Hayao Miyazaki, until now unreleased in Italy, the first 20 minutes of Dylan Dog and Boris - Il film, from the tv series with the same name. Without forgetting Crime d'amour, last work by Alain Corneau, who died August 30th, starring Ludivine Sagnier, Kristin Scott Thomas, Patrick Mill. Last Night by Massy Tadjedin will open the festival, with Keira Knightley and Eva Mendes.
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Last On Vogue
Vittoria Mentasti - Dead Sea
Vittoria Mentasti's Dead Sea takes us to a place where the sky and the sea are one
Kristin Prim and The Provocateur's letters
A chat with Kristin Prim, the founder of The Provocateur, the site that publishes letters written expressely by leading women addressing the whole female world. Vogue.it presents you an exclusive preview of the letter written by Dresden Dolls' Amanda Palmer
Fashion shows are changing: Burberry and all that's new on the runways
Menswear and womenswear collections will walk together and will be on sale right after the show. These are the news from Burberry but the evolution is generalized: runway shows are changing


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Free Consultation
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Expert bee, hornet and wasp extermination services
Bees, hornets and wasps can cause considerable damage to properties. As the wasp nest gets larger, the queen's workers increase the nesting area by excavating the surrounding materials. This can lead to the wasps eating through insulation board, walls, ceilings and floors causing them to enter occupied rooms.
If you notice excessive wasps or bees on your property, call Magical Pest Control for a same-day wasp or bee hive inspection on your property. So if you see any bees and wasps in or around your home, call Magical Pest Control's Bees, Wasps and Hornets Division to discuss a free consultation.
How to kill bees, wasps and hornets on your property
Our full list of bee removal services include:
Which Pest Packs the Most Painful Sting?With summer in full flight, so too are all the pests and insects ruining your... Read More
Did you know?A bee uses its sting only defensively, where as a wasp uses its sting to subdue prey and as a defense. This is why the bee stinger detaches from its body, while the wasp's stinger does not. So each wasp can sting multiple times without risk to itself.
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More than 75% of Bostonians hospitalized because of swine flu were either black or Hispanic, a health official in Boston said. The finding could be attributed to crowding in dense urban communities that spreads the virus more quickly and to chronic conditions prevalent in black and Hispanic neighborhoods that make them more vulnerable to the H1N1 virus. "It's definitely a very important observation that we need to track," a state health official said.
Full Story:The Boston Globe (tiered subscription model)


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Juan Pablo Galavis and his girlfriend, Nikki Ferrell, from "The Bachelor," made their way to Atlantic City this weekend for a night out at The Pool After Dark at Harrah's Resort Atlantic City. Credit: Tom Briglia/PhotoGraphics
Atlantic City didn't have the kindest of receptions for "Bachelor" star Juan Pablo Galavis and his girlfriend, Nikki Ferrell, who came to the resort town for a special appearance at The Pool After Dark at Harrah's Resort Atlantic City on Saturday night.
Galavis and Ferrell appeared on the red carpet about midnight — and the locals were angry. Galavis was originally to sit at a VIP table next to the stage until someone (it is not known who this local hero was) threw an aluminum beer bottle at him. After that, the organizers moved him to a cabana area for his own safety.
According to reports (the publicist who sent me this), Ferrell joined Galavis in the VIP cabana area where they "kissed" and "held hands" until about 3 a.m, hopefully fullfiling all contractual engagements.
The two didn't stick around and once they collected their paycheck, flying to Miami the next day.


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Full Backcover Description
Are you looking to zap the fat, firm up all over, and create a tall, lean, graceful body? Well, you've come to the right workout! Barefoot Cardio is a 45-minute innovative fat-burning blend of standing Pilates and aerobic dance where you develop a better body from your toes up – and enjoy every minute of it.
'As go the feet, so goes the body' – That 's what a yoga teacher told me once a long time ago and when I put it into practice, it changed my body. Now I want to help you change yours! When you kick off your shoes for this workout, you'll stimulate and challenge your entire body from the feet, to the legs, hips, spine, core, abs, shoulders, arms and neck. And you'll feel – and be- healthier for it. Plus it will help you shape a tighter, more lifted derrière. See yourself – it's like magic, and it all starts here with Barefoot Cardio!
The Studio by Ellen Barrett workouts showcase fusion fitness, the combining of many disciplines at once, from Pilates and yoga to Ballet and sports conditioning. By doing this, we make more efficient and more enjoyable workouts that deliver a greater wellbeing. (Dare I say workout perfection? After 15+ years in the fitness trenches, I think so!)
Thanks for working out at The Studio – enjoy Barefoot Cardio.
Ellen Barrett's Barefoot Cardio
Buff Girl
Level: Intermediate
Beginner: Just starting out, very overweight or haven't exercised in over six months.
Intermediate: Active in sports, dance or any regular exercise (2 to 3 times per week).
Advanced: Very active in sports or consistently work out four or more times per week.
Aerobics Impact: Lower
Lower Impact: Both feet never leave the ground at the same time. This minimizes stress on your knees.
Higher Impact: Includes movements like jumps, hops and skips. Very high-impact is called plyometrics.
Mixed Impact: This alternates or combines the above styles.
Aerobics Choreography: Basic
Basic: The easiest to follow. It ranges from simple walking-style marches to sports and athletic movements.
Complex: More intricate combinations and patterns. They're ideal for people who like to dance.
Moderate: More interesting than Basic, less dancy than Complex.
Toning Emphasis: Lower Body
Upper body: Arms, chest and back.
Lower Body: Legs, thighs, hips and buttocks.
Abs: Abdominals (stomach), core and sometimes lower back.
Total body: Tones all three of the above muscle groups.
Instructor: Ellen Barrett (Instructor Profile)
Runtime: 47 min.
Region: 0
Street Date: 10/08/2009
Certified instructor description:
A uniquely smooth-flowing mix of dance, core and breath-oriented opening exercises. It's a well-cued program that "just feels good." You'll burn fat, shape your body ... and reduce stress. Because it's done without the usual shoe support, the moves require additional attention to strength and balance. You'll also just naturally be more deeply engaged and better connected to the movements (besides, it's really freeing and fun to work out barefoot!). The motions are always fluid and controlled, never jarring or flailing. They include dance-style pliés and relevés, core-focused toning plus lots of opening exercises (shoulders rolled back, chest and heart opened up). ©2009.


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Reliability of the Siemens Enzygnost and Novagnost Epstein–Barr Virus assays for routine laboratory diagnosis: agreement with clinical diagnosis and comparison with the Merifluor Epstein–Barr Virus immunofluorescence assay
- Christina Kreuzer1,
- Klaus Udo Nabeck2,
- H Roma Levy3Email author and
- Elisabeth Daghofer1
© Kreuzer et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. 2013
Received: 28 August 2012
Accepted: 22 April 2013
Published: 3 June 2013
Diagnosis of Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) infection is routinely conducted by clinical laboratories, especially to diagnose infectious mononucleosis. At an estimated general population incidence of 1:200, this represents a potentially significant testing burden. We evaluated the reliability of the Siemens Novagnost® and Enzygnost® EBV microtiter assays measuring VCA IgM and IgG, and EBNA-1 IgG for clinical diagnosis of EBV-related infectious mononucleosis.
Remnant sera from 537 patients tested for EBV infection were used to compare the Siemens assays to each other and to the Merifluor assay. The Siemens assays are qualitative/semiquantitative, automatable enzyme immunoassays. The Merifluor assays are manual, qualitative indirect immunofluorescent assays. Testing was conducted on the Siemens and Merifluor assays in parallel. All assays were conducted and interpreted according to each manufacturer's specifications. Agreement of serostatus between each of the three assays was assessed. Discrepant results were resolved using a third method (Mikrogen recomLine).
Final EBV serostatus indicated 2.9% of the population had an acute infection, 89.6% had a past infection, and 7.5% were EBV naive. All three assays demonstrated 100% agreement with acute infection. Agreement with past-infection serostatus was 99.1% for Enzygnost, between 86% and 98.8% for Novagnost, and 98.1% for Merifluor. Seronegative agreement was 100% for Enzygnost, 89.7% for Novagnost, and 92.3% for Merifluor.
The Siemens Enzygnost and Novagnost EBV microtiter assays are suitable for clinical rule-in of acute EBV infection and for identifying EBV-naive individuals. Both assays also adequately identify remote EBV infections. Because these assays can be automated, they can improve speed and efficiency of EBV testing, especially in high-volume laboratories.
KeywordsEBV Serodiagnosis EIA Microtiter Enzygnost Novagnost Merifluor
Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) is a ubiquitous pathogen endemic in most populations. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 95% of the adult population is infected, and in developed nations approximately 50% to 70% of exposures occur in adolescents or young adults. The majority of these infections are either asymptomatic or manifest with only minor upper respiratory symptoms, but approximately 30% of primary infections in adolescence or beyond present as infectious mononucleosis (IM). In the U.S., overall incidence of IM is estimated at 1:200, while incidence in 10- to 19-year-old adolescents is greater, at 6 to 8 cases per 1000 individuals per year [1–3].
Although EBV-related IM is typically a fairly benign disease, early and accurate diagnosis is valuable as it is highly communicable and can spread quickly in populations with a high density of young adults (such as among university students and military personnel). In rare instances however, sequelae of EBV-related IM can pose serious health risks, such as trauma-induced or spontaneous splenic rupture, fulminant helpatitis, or autoimmune hemolytic anemia. Furthermore, a great diversity of viral, bacterial, parasitic, and immunologic diseases can mimic IM symptoms, especially in early infection [4]. Thus, testing to confirm or rule out EBV infection has unquestioned diagnostic value and is standard clinical practice when classic symptoms (pharyngitis, fatique, fever, and adenopathy) have persisted for 2 or more weeks, especially in individuals between the ages of 10 and 30 years, and pregnant women [3]. Classically, the Paul–Bunnel heterophile agglutination test has been used for laboratory confirmation of acute EBV infection but several limitations exist. Sensitivity can be lower than desirable in early infection, and specificity when testing young children can be poor [3, 5]. Specificity can also be affected by cross-reactivity with other viral and nonviral pathogens and some immunological markers [6]. Additionally, natural loss of heterophile antibodies impacts assessment of susceptibility or determination of other serostatus later in infection. Because heterophile agglutination assays must be conducted manually, they are not conducive to large-volume testing in midsize and large laboratories, where high throughput is required. Thus, specific serology to detect antibodies to viral proteins is used as both an adjunct and alternative to the heterophile test, and is most commonly directed at the antibodies made againsts viral capsid proteins (VCA) and Epstein–Barr nuclear antigens (EBNA).
Indirect immunofluorescence assays (IFA) using EBV-infected lymphocytes as the binding substrate are highly sensitive and specific for detecting serum antibodies to viral antigens. These assays can be used to diagnose active infections and differentiate acute from resolved infections and are frequently considered a gold standard, however close to 9% of results are uninterpretable [7]. IFA is a manual method which is more labor intensive than automated or semiautomated microtiter systems. It also requires substantial training of personnel for interpretation and is not easily standardizable; thus it too is not well suited for high-volume testing [8].
In contrast, serology for EBV-specific IgM and IgG antibodies by ELISA-type methods provides both high sensitivity and high specificity for acute infection [9, 10], and may offer advantages for diagnostic confirmation earlier in the disease course—especially in those cases where symptoms are persistent but heterophile antibodies are not detectable. It can distinguish between acute and remote (past) infection, especially after heterophile antibodies have peaked or disappeared [6]. Furthermore, depending on the quality of the method, the serological profile can usually be determined reliably following a single blood draw. The ability to differentiate between susceptibility and acute vs. previous infection on the basis of a single blood draw is advantageous as it reduces the impact on both the patient and the laboratory. For the high-volume laboratory in particular, this advantage is further enhanced when semiautomated or automated assays are used to improve laboratory throughput.
Unfortunately, EBV serology is not always clear cut, as unusual serological patterns may be observed in up to 10% of patients [9, 11]. While the presence of VCA IgM with or without VCA IgG typically signals acute infection, and the persistence of VCA IgG along with the appearance of IgG to the late protein EBNA-1 indicates past or resolving infection, unusual serological patterns such as isolated EBNA-1 or isolated VCA IgG can confound interpretation. Thus, to determine their usefulness for regular diagnostic laboratory testing, we evaluated the serological profiles interpreted from the combined results of the Siemens Novagnost VCA IgM, VCA IgG, and EBNA-1 IgG assays, and the combined results of the Enzygnost Anti-EBV/IgG and Anti-EBV/IgM II microtiter assays to rule in, or rule out, acute EBV infection. Our goal was to show that serostatus assignment could be achieved on the basis of a single blood sample by comparing the agreement of the results generated by the Siemens assays with the final empirically derived EBV serostatus for each sample.
The serological assignments derived from combined analysis of the three Novagnost EBV enzyme immunoassays (VCA IgM, VCA IgG, and EBNA-1 IgG) were compared to the serological assignments derived from combined analysis of the two Enzygnost enzyme immunoassays (Anti-EBV IgG and Anti-EBV/IgM II). The Novagnost and Enzygnost assays are products of Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics GmbH (Marburg, Germany). Serological assignments were also made using the combined analysis of the two Merifluor EBV immunofluorescence assays (IgG and IgM: Meridian Bioscience Europe, Nivelles, Belgium). In total, five Siemens assays and two Merifluor assays were used in this study.
Samples were analyzed in parallel. A final serostatus (negative, acute, or past infection) was assigned to each sample on the basis of the combined results of all three assay sets, as defined by agreement between at least two of the three test types. For example, to be serostatus-negative, both IgM and IgG results had to be negative according to the assignments determined by at least two of the three methods. If results were indeterminate, a fourth assay (recomLine EBV IgG and IgM line immunoassays; Mikrogen Diagnostik, Neuried, Germany) was used as a referee method to designate serostatus. Following serostatus assignment for each sample, agreement between the assigned status and the individual results from the Enzygnost, Novagnost, and Merifluor methods were compared to determine their ability to correctly differentiate between EBV-naive status, acute infection, and past infection on the basis of a single blood draw.
Assay design
The Novagnost EBV VCA IgG, Novagnost EBV VCA IgM, and Novagnost EBV EBNA-1 IgG assays are qualitative/semiquantitative enzyme immunoassays (ELISAs) conducted in microtiter strip wells. In the VCA IgG and IgM assays, wells are coated with recombinant p18 antigen; in the EBNA assay, wells are coated with recombinant EBNA-1 antigen. In each assay, EBV antibodies in patient samples create antibody–antigen complexes, after which they are incubated with peroxidase-labeled anti–human IgG (VCA IgG and EBNA-1 IgG assays) or IgM (VCA IgM assay). Following subsequent washing steps, samples are incubated further with tetramethylbenzidine (TMB). After addition of a stop solution, color intensity is measured at 450 nm. Absorbance, which is proportional to the antibody level in the patient sample, may be calculated manually, although in this study, it was determined automatically using the Siemens BEP® III analyzer. The level of EBV antibodies in the sample is provided in Novagnost units (U) for all three assays. According to the manufacturer, results <8.5 U should be considered negative and those >11.5 U, positive; while those between 8.5 and 11.5 U fall within the gray zone. For the purposes of this study, however, results >11.5 U were considered positive, while all results ≤ 11.5 U were considered negative.
Both the Enzygnost Anti-EBV/IgG and Enzygnost Anti-EBV/IgM II assays are qualitative/semiquantitative enzyme immunoassays (ELISAs) conducted in microtiter strip wells coated with EBV antigens originally derived from EBV-infected lymphoblastoid cells undergoing active viral replication. For each assay, control wells contain antigen from EBV-infected lymphoblastoid cells in which viral synthesis has been blocked. Reactivity is defined by the difference in absorbance (∆A) measured at 450 nm between the sample and control antigen wells. If results are calculated manually, a value correction factor (CF) must be applied; in our study, however, values were determined using the BEP III analyzer, which automatically includes the CF in its results calculation. As with the Novagnost assays, the Enzygnost assays employ an indirect EIA format; color intensity increases with higher serum concentrations of EBV antibody. For the IgM assay, ∆A ≥0.120 is considered positive, while ∆A <0.120 is negative. For the IgG assay, ∆A of 0.200 marks the upper retest limit, while for negative samples, ∆A of <0.100 is the cutoff value. Results are equivocal if 0.100 ≤ ∆A ≤ 0.200.
The Merifluor EBV VCA IgM and EBV VCA IgG IFA methods are manual, qualitative indirect immunofluorescent assays. EBV-infected lymphocytes from Burkitt lymphoma tumors are incubated with patient serum and coated onto slides. After washing, cells complexed with bound anti-VCA antibodies are incubated with either anti–human IgM or anti–human IgG tagged with fluorescein. Infected cells glow light yellow to green using fluorescence microscopy if the patient sample is positive for the antibody being investigated. The sample is considered to be positive if approximately 10% to 20% of the cells in each field fluoresce upon visual inspection.
The Mikrogen assays use recombinant proteins developed from the antigenic components of early antigen (EA: p54, p138), immediate early antigen (IEA: BZLF-1, ZEBRA), VCA (p18, p23), and EBNA-1 (p72). Antigens are bound to nitrocellulose test strips. The IgM test strip is coated with p23, ZEBRA, p138, and p54 antigens, and the IgG test strip is coated with EBNA-1, p18, p23, BZLF-1, p138, and p54 antigens. Strips blotted with each antigen are cut into smaller strips, each of which is incubated with patient serum. After washing, incubation continues with anti–human IgG or anti–human IgM coupled with horseradish peroxidase. Upon addition of chromogen, a positive reaction is noted by a dark band appearing on the test paper. The Mikrogen assays are conducted and read manually.
Patient population and assignment of serostatus
Samples were derived from remnant sera drawn at our laboratory (Institute of Hygiene, University of Graz) from 537 patients who originally had been referred for testing after clinical evaluation and history suggested possible EBV infection or exposure. Blood samples were collected sequentially as patients were referred. Because this study was non-interventional and the sample sera were originally obtained in the course of regular clinical care and not for experimental purposes, this study required neither patient consent nor ethics board review per Austrian regulations as outlined in the document "Scientific Guidance for the Conduct of Non-interventional Studes (NIS) in Austria". This guidance document is issued by the Bundesamt für Sicherheit im Gesundheitswesen (Federal Office for Health Service Security), and can be accessed at http://www.basg.gv.at/uploads/tx_basginfobox/L_Z61_Guidance_NIS_AT.pdf.
Statistical analysis
Although immunofluorescent methods are highly sensitive, such tests, including the Merifluor test, are not considered to be definitive reference methods. All tests in this study were therefore evaluated in terms of statistical agreement according to the methods outlined in the FDA guidance document on appropriate statistical methods used for evaluating diagnostic tests [12]. Analysis was conducted by the investigators with the input of two biostatisticians.
Serological assay interpretation per the Enzygnost and Merifluor assays
anti-EBV IgM
anti-EBV IgG
Patient status
Primary infection
Primary infection
Past infection
Serological assay interpretation per the Novagnost assay
VCA IgM
VCA IgG
Patient status
Alternative interpretation
Probably not infecteda
Primary early phase infection
● Possible cross-reactivity with primary CMV infection IgM
Primary acute infection
Past infection
Uncertain result
● Primary infection without VCA IgM
● Past infection with EBNA loss
Uncertain result
Very rare profile of past infection:
● Possible loss of VCA IgG
● Possible EBNA false positive
Uncertain result
● Just past primary infection
● Viral reactivation
● Cross-reaction with CMV primary infection IgM
● Nonspecific polyclonal IgM stimulation from a previous cross-reacting
● infectious agent
Serological assay interpretation per the Mikrogen assay
IgG strip
IgM strip
Patient status
EAs (p54, p138)
EBV negative
+ or –
+ or –
+ or –
+ or –
+ or –
+ or –
Primary infection
+ or –
+ or –
+ or –
+ or –
+ or –
+ or –
weak + or -
Past infection
weak +
weak +
weak +
weak +
weak +
Secondary reactivationa
– or weak +
– or weak +
– or weak +
– or weak +
weak +
weak +
weak +
weak +
weak +
Nasopharyngeal cancer
EBV-associated lymphoma
IgG/IgM/IgA: one isolated band (with the exception of the markers IgG EBNA-1 and IgG VCA) in only one antibody class and if all other antibody classes are negative
No definitive test result (retest after 2–3 weeks)
Final EBV status for all 518 analyzable samples
Percent of population
Acute infection
Past infection
Results using the Enzygnost assays as compared to established EBV status
Enzygnost interpretation
Acute infection
Past infection
% agreement with EBV status
EBV status
Negative (N = 39)
Acute infection (N = 15)
Past infection (N = 464)
Results using the Novagnost assays, including indeterminates, as compared to established EBV status
Novagnost interpretation
Acute infection
Past infection
Isolated EBNA-1 (probable past infection)
Isolated VCA IgG (EBNA-1 lost, probable past infection)
All positive (probable past infection)
% agreement with EBV status
Negativea (N = 39)
Acute infection (N = 15)
Past infection (N = 464)
EBV status
Results using the Merifluor assays as compared to established EBV status
Merifluor interpretation
Acute infection
Past infection
% agreement with EBV status
EBV status
Negative (N = 39)
Acute infection (N = 15)
Past infection (N = 464)
Overall agreement of sample results for the Enzygnost, Novagnost, and Merifluor assays with the established EBV status, including 95% confidence intervals (95% CI)
% agreement with established EBV status
Negative (N = 39)
Acute infection (N = 15)
Past infection (N = 464)
[90.97% – 100%]
[78.2% – 100%]
[97.81% – 99.75%]
86a, 98.8b
[75.78% – 97.13%]
[78.2% – 100%]
[82.5% – 89.02%]a, [97.1% to 99.6%]b
Merifluor IFA
[79.13% – 98.38%]
[78.2% – 100%]
[96.35% – 99.11%]
Enzygnost assay performance
In general, the Enzygnost assay results demonstrated good total agreement with each of the three established EBV status types: 100% for EBV-naive patients (95% CI: 90.97% to 100%), 100% for acute infection (95% CI: 78.2% to 100%), and 99.1% for past infection (95% CI: 97.81% to 99.75%).
Novagnost assay performance
Overall, Novagnost agreement with the established EBV status for EBV-naive sera (89.7%, 95% CI = 75.78% to 97.13%) was somewhat lower than agreement using the Enzygnost assays, but it was equally as good at detecting acute infections (100%, 95% CI: 78.2% to 100%).
Interpreting remote (past) infection using the Novagnost assay can be more challenging. Unlike the Enzygnost and Merifluor assays which do not differentiate between antibody types generated against total EBV antigens, Novagnost specifically detects antibodies to either VCA or EBNA-1 (depending on the assay), and thus has the potential to report atypical/rare serotypes. Additionally, approximately 5% of the population never produces antibodies to EBNA-1 [7]. Thus, it could be expected that approximately 5% of the group diagnosed with acute infection were actually remotely infected, which could affect the agreement for EBV acute infection as well as past-infection status. This proved not to be the case, however, as all patients in our study population with the EBNA-1–lost serotype (isolated VCA IgG+) were VCA IgM–, and thus were determined to have experienced a past infection (although they are reported in Table 6 as indeterminates). We analyzed the results from the past-infection study population by both including and excluding atypical, i.e., indeterminate, serotypes. When all indeterminate serotypes were excluded, 98.8% of samples correctly reported a remote infection (95% CI: 97.1% to 99.6%). If all serotypes were included, agreement with the established EBV status was 86% (95% CI: 82.5% to 89.02%). If only the samples that were isolated–VCA IgG+ were presumed to reflect past infections in which EBNA-1 IgG had been lost, however (see discussion below), then agreement with the established EBV past-infection status rises to 97.6%; and if both isolated–EBNA-1+ and isolated–VCA IgG+ serotypes are considered to reflect past infection, agreement was as high as 99.6%.
Comparison to Merifluor assay performance
The Enzygnost and Novagnost assays were found to detect acute infection, past infection, and EBV-naive status at least as well as the Merifluor assays. The Merifluor assay agreement for seronegativity (92.3%, 95% CI: 79.13% to 98.28%) was somewhat lower than that of the Enzygnost assay (100%), but agreement for detecting acute infection was identical for the Merifluor and Enzygnost assays (100%, 95% CI: 78.2% to 100%). Merifluor agreement to past infections was 98.1% (95% CI: 96.35% to 99.11%), which was slightly lower than agreement displayed by the Enzygnost assay, but greater than agreement displayed by the Novagnost assay when all serotypes were considered in the analysis. However, Merifluor agreement to past infections was slightly lower than the Novagnost assay past infection–agreement if indeterminate serotypes were excluded from the Novagnost analysis.
We undertook this study to evaluate efficacy of the Siemens Novagnost and Enzygnost EBV assays in routine clinical use as an aid to determining EBV exposure and serostatus. The samples were drawn as part of normal clinical practice from patients presenting with symptoms suspicious for EBV infection, or who had been exposed to a person with a known EBV active infection. In our estimation this study group was reasonably representative of populations in industrialized nations at normal risk for EBV infection [3], as 89.6% of our patient results demonstrated previous exposure, 7.5% of the patients were determined to be EBV naive, and only 2.9% were ultimately diagnosed with an acute EBV infection.
For EBV serology to be a practical aid in the diagnosis of IM (its most common clinical usage), it should either rule in or rule out an acute infection with a high degree of accuracy following a single blood draw. Additionally, it should also accurately distinguish primary acute infection from past infection, as well as identify those individuals who are EBV naive, and who therefore remain at risk of contracting an EBV infection. Ideally, results should not be confounded by unusual serological profiles that require additional testing to achieve resolution (e.g., isolated VCA IgG, i.e., VCA IgM–/VCA IgG+/EBNA IgG–; isolated EBNA, i.e., VCA IgM–/VCA IgG–/EBNA IgG+; or all markers positive, i.e., VCA IgM+/VCA IgG+/EBNA IgG+). Assays such as Enzygnost and Merifluor, which report only qualitative results for total viral IgM and IgG, are less subject to such confusion. Results from these two assays demonstrated the greatest concordance with EBV-naive status, and thus would be expected to perform reliably for ruling out EBV infection. The Novagnost assay also demonstrated good agreement with EBV-negative status, although concordance was not as good as that achieved by either the Enzygnost or Merifluor assays. This reduced concordance is directly attributable to the larger number of samples that were either incorrectly assigned or indeterminate (4 for Novagnost, versus 0 for Enzygnost and 3 for Merifluor). It is possible that we would have been able to resolve the 4 indeterminate samples had we retested these individuals 2 to 4 weeks later, following the manufacturer's guidelines; this resolution might possibly have improved the concordance for the Novagnost assay. However, since one of the stated purposes of our study was to determine serostatus on the basis of a single blood draw, only, we elected to not conduct later testing. It is important to note, however, that the manufacturer clearly states that gray zones exist for the Novagnost assays (between 8.0 and 11.5 U) and the Enzygnost IgG assay (between 0.1 and 0.2 U), and recommends retesting patients with sera yielding gray zone values two to four weeks after the original blood draw. If samples continue to report in the gray zone, they should be considered negative. Clinical laboratories should keep this in mind and consider retesting patients accordingly if alternative methods are not available for resolving indeterminate samples.
All three of the assays demonstrated excellent and identical concordance (100%) with the final EBV status for sera from patients with an acute primary infection: all three correctly identified those sera that were either IgM+ only, or were IgM+ in the presence of either total IgG or specific VCA IgG. Although it is not possible to tell if the Enzygnost and Merifluor assays are detecting EBNA-1 IgG as part of the IgG population, the absence of EBNA-1 IgG detection by the Novagnost assay for all 15 acute sera confirms that none of the assays are detecting EBNA-1 in these samples. This suggests that both of the Siemens assays can be considered reliable for detecting a primary acute EBV infection on the basis of a single blood draw. Later retesting to establish a positive diagnosis of infectious mononucleosis is not likely to be necessary unless phlebotomy has occurred so early in the disease process that the patient has not yet developed a sufficient antibody response.
The greatest challenge in EBV testing can lie in differentiating between an acute infection and a past infection, with or without reactivation. The Enzygnost assay performed at least as well as the Merifluor assay in this respect. The Enzygnost assay has also been shown to perform well in other studies [13, 14], although Bruu et al. noted that because separate EBNA-1 detection is lacking, it is not possible to determine if IgM positivity is a true indication of primary acute infection, or if it might represent reactivation in those cases where EBNA-1 has been lost or was never generated [8, 15]. Since reactivation is typically thought of as a rare event, however, this is likely of little consequence for diagnosis in the general population.
Atypical serotypes may be observed when using assays such as Novagnost, as they detect EBNA-1 IgG specifically, in addition to IgG to VCA; thus, their interpretation can constitute a diagnostic challenge [9, 16]. Garcia et al. determined that the isolated EBNA-1 serotype occurred in up to 50% of their patients ultimately diagnosed with a latent EBV infection, and further noted that knowledge of latent infection is especially critical preoperatively in prospective solid organ transplant patients [17]. In a study by Nystad et al., the simultaneous detection of VCA IgM, VCA IgG and EBNA-1 was associated with primary infection in 42% of their patients, although in at least 23% of the study group it was associated with clinically inconsequential EBV reactivation [18]. In contrast, Klutts et al. found that 77.8% of patients who were VCA IgM+/VCA IgG+/EBNA-1+ proved to have had a past infection, were recovering from a primary infection, or were manifesting EBV reactivation [9]. Debyser et al. also associated the triple-positive serotype with reactivation, noting that reactivation can also be indicated by the VCA IgM+/VCA IgG–/EBNA-1+ serotype, but proposed that reactivation is only relevant in patients suffering from (or as in the case with Garcia et al., [17] subject to) immune suppression. Additionally, they suggested that isolated VCA IgG, especially when the IgG titer is high, was indicative of persistent or chronic EBV infection [19]; however, 69.6% of patients with the VCA IgG+ only serotype in the study by Klutts et al. [9] were diagnosed with a past infection.
In our opinion, the isolated VCA IgG+ results generated by the Novagnost assay are the most problematic when screening otherwise presumed healthy individuals. Although, as Klutts suggests, the majority of these likely represent remote infections, it is not possible to tell from the assay results alone if some of these sera might be indicative of a late active infection with early IgM decline and weak EBNA response, or a remote infection in which EBNA IgG has been lost or never generated. Since there is the possibility that individuals with isolated VCA IgG+ could have an acute infection, sera such as these should be tested for VCA IgG avidity or their status should be confirmed by some other method, such as Western blot or PCR [20–22]. Since the goal of our study was to evaluate only the performance of the microtiter assays as they compared to each other, we did not conduct any further evaluation of any of the indeterminate sera. While this might be considered a limitation of the study, we felt that further testing was not warranted as the original testing indicated 100% concordance between the three methods for detecting acute infection, and in all likelihood, the indeterminate sera truly represented remote infections.
Despite the difficulties that EBNA IgG detection can cause in interpreting rare serotypes, it is still considered to be a valuable component of EBV testing; absence of EBNA IgG in the presence of VCA IgM is considered definitive for ruling in acute infection, while the presence of EBNA IgG typically rules out acute infection, even if VCA IgM antibodies persist. Although, as shown by Nystad and Klutts in the above discussion, EBNA-1 can be indicative of a resolving infection. VCA IgG positivity, however, can be equally attributable to acute, resolving, or remote infections. Furthermore, VCA IgG levels may fall to undetectable levels in some individuals following acute infection, while EBNA IgG generally persists for life [23].
In our hands, the Novagnost assay performed about as well as both the Enzygnost and Merifluor assays for detecting active primary infection, but because the Novagnost assay reports the presence of antibodies to EBNA-1 in addition to the VCA antibodies, it was more difficult to appropriately classify all past infections. Of the total 464 sera determined to represent past infections, 65 expressed atypical serotypes and were subsequently classified as indeterminate. However, the 55 samples demonstrating isolated VCA IgG+ status constitute approximately 12% of the study population, which is consistent with the expected percentage of individuals who either never develop EBNA-1 antibodies or in whom antibody production is lost. Since VCA IgM rarely persists beyond acute infection, it is likely that these 55 samples do, indeed, represent patients with remote exposure to EBV, although it cannot be determined if these sera represent reactivation or chronic infection. Additionally, eight samples were positive only for EBNA-1 IgG, while two samples were positive for all markers; either of these profiles could be interpreted as past infection as shown in Table 2, and by the arguments presented by other researchers cited in the previous paragraphs.
Overall, we found that both the Siemens Enzygnost and Novagnost EBV assays demonstrated very good agreement with assigned serostatus. Additionally, the ease with which these two assays may be used makes them well suited for laboratory assessment of infectious mononucleosis caused by primary EBV infection. Both assays can be automated and generate the same quality of results as manual assays, but require minimal hands-on involvement; this is a clear advantage in a busy, high-volume laboratory. Furthermore, because the Enzygnost assay requires reagents for detection of only two antibodies, it offers a considerable cost savings. Despite the potential for indeterminate results using the Novagnost assay, we found the test of practical use, especially considering the time-saving convenience of its ready-to-use reagents and their long stability.
Epstein–Barr virus
Early antigen
Immediate early antigen
Viral capsid antigen
Epstein–Barr nuclear antigen.
Many thanks to Dr. Helmut Peters (Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Products GmbH, Marburg, Germany) for his assistance in data analysis and critical review of this manuscript, and to Wilson Shealy (Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics, NY, USA) and Michael Santulli (Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics, NY, USA) for their invaluable statistical support.
Authors' Affiliations
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Pre-publication history
This article is published under license to BioMed Central Ltd. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.


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Ubud, Bali
Ubud, Bali public market lady. The same women are here year after year in the exact same spots. Some kind of seniority thing I guess. I've been trying to get a photo of this handsome woman for 15 years but she sits in the shade under an overhang and is quite shy.
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text:
Tofu Parmesan Crescents
|1 Pound, blend to smooth paste
|3⁄4 Cup (12 tbs), blend to smooth paste
|Parmesan cheese
|1⁄4 Cup (4 tbs), blend to smooth paste
|1 Teaspoon, blend to smooth paste
|Baking powder
|2 Teaspoon, blend to smooth paste
|Whole wheat flour
|2 Cup (32 tbs)
Beat the dough for about 1 minute, until it becomes elastic and smooth.
Divide the dough into 4 equal parts.
Roll each part into a 10" round.
Sprinkle withGRATED PARMESAN CHEESE
Cut into 8 wedges.
Starting at the wider edge, roll up each wedge.
Place with the center point down, 2" apart on an oiled baking sheet.
Tuck the ends in slightly and curve down to form a crescent shape.
Bake at 375 F for 30 - 35 minutes.
Rate It
Nutrition Rank
Nutrition Facts
Serving size
Calories 76 Calories from Fat 44
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 5 g7.7%
Saturated Fat 2.9 g14.6%
Trans Fat 0 g
Cholesterol 11.9 mg4%
Sodium 99.4 mg4.1%
Total Carbohydrates 6 g2.1%
Dietary Fiber 1 g4%
Sugars 0.2 g
Protein 2 g4.2%
Vitamin A 2.7% Vitamin C
Calcium 4.1% Iron 2.6%
*Based on a 2000 Calorie diet