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ONE in five small business managers regularly suspect employees of 'pulling a sickie' after hearing every excuse in the book, according to Canstar Blue.
The consumer research company surveyed more than 800 managers with less than 20 employees to determine the most common reasons for absenteeism.
The majority of staff members say they feel sick at 59 per cent, followed by they have a sick child at 49 per cent, upset stomach at 42 per cent, while headache and food poisoning both sit on 35 per cent and car trouble at 25 per cent.
Managers say they have also heard excuses including a death in the family, injury, sick pet, stranded far from home, hospitalisation or having something delivered.
Canstar Blue spokesman Simon Downes says some employees may feel the need to exaggerate or lie to their boss to avoid work.
"Some managers may expect their staff to be able to work through a common cold, so employees may feel the need to stretch the truth in order to get that day off," Downes says.
"You can only imagine what goes through the mind of a manager when a member of staff says they can't come to work because their pet budgie is sick.
"But employers should ask themselves why their staff feel inclined to pull a sickie in the first place. If you're happy at work, you're probably less likely to try and get a day off for no good reason."
The suspicion is most prevalent in the financial services industry, with 27 per cent of bosses believing staff have lied to get out of work compared to just 7 per cent of managers in the arts industry.
The Small Business survey also identified the reasons employers become frustrated with staff members, with lateness topping the list at 38 per cent.
This was followed by wasting time by talking to each other at 34 per cent, wasting time away from the work area at 30 per cent, leaving early at 28 per cent and taking long lunch breaks or incompetence both at 27 per cent.
Downes says it's no surprise that the majority of employer complaints relate to wasting time, particularly in small business.
"The reality is that many small businesses fail, and even those that are successful will only become so after their fair share of blood, sweat and tears," he says.
"Anything that distracts people from doing their job efficiently, including the time spent on smoking or drinks breaks, is likely to cause a headache for many managers.
"Ultimately, getting the best out of your employees is an integral part of the job when you're in charge.
"Creating a positive working environment might not seem high on the list of priorities when you're facing the sort of challenges that comes with running a business, but a happy worker is a good worker and will probably be less likely to phone in sick."
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More details on Manafort's 'Hapsburg group'
Presented by Humane Society Legislative Fund
With Daniel Lippman and Garrett Ross
MORE DETAILS ON MANAFORT'S 'HAPSBURG GROUP': We reported earlier this month that a document released as part of special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation shed new light on the former European politicians Paul Manafort considered recruiting as part of the "Hapsburg group." Mueller has accused Manafort of violating foreign lobbying law by orchestrating the group's lobbying efforts in the U.S. without registering as a foreign agent. The document, a 2012 memo written by former journalist Alan Friedman and addressed to Manafort, identified eight politicians that Friedman and Alfred Gusenbauer, a former Austrian chancellor, proposed recruiting to lobby.
— Only one of those politicians responded to requests for comment from POLITICO at the time. But we heard from another one, Aleksander Kwaśniewski, a former Polish president, late last week. He said he'd never heard of the Hapsburg group. Kwaśniewski said he met Manafort for the first time on Oct. 23, 2012, "during the international conference in Berlin, so the attached documents from September 2012 are completely unclear to me," he wrote in an email, referring to the memo in which Friedman proposed recruiting him. Kwaśniewski said he traveled to the U.S. a few months later. On Feb. 1, 2013, he "had a series of meetings in Congress, Senate and State Department about Ukraine, but I cannot find my notes from these meetings and after so many years I do not recall who I was meeting with," he wrote.
— In a follow-up email, Kwaśniewski wrote that he didn't recall who had arranged those meetings, but that it wasn't Manafort. "I have never worked for Mr. Manafort," he wrote. "I was acting as a Former President of Poland, engaged in the Ukrainian matters since 1991. … The main subject of the meetings was the situation in Ukraine and the relations between Ukraine and the West."
Good afternoon, and welcome to PI. It's not easy keeping up with the intrigue on K Street. Help us out by sharing a tip or two: [email protected] and [email protected]. You can also follow us on Twitter: @theodoricmeyer and @marianne_levine.
POLITICO will be reporting from inside the World Gas Conference June 25-29. Sign up now for our pop-up conference newsletter to receive on-the-ground insights and information every afternoon from POLITICO Pro Energy Editor Matt Daily.
HAGIN'S FORMER BUSINESS PARTNER HAS A WHITE HOUSE IN: When Joe Hagin, one of President Donald Trump's top aides, planned the president's first foreign trip last year, Steve Atkiss went to Saudi Arabia, too. Atkiss, one of Hagin's former partners at the Command Group, a security and intelligence firm, served as the White House's volunteer logistics lead. "Hagin's partnership with Atkiss since joining the Trump White House has drawn attention in the tight-knit community of presidential trip planners," POLITICO's Josh Meyer and Andrew Restuccia report. "Last month, some complained when Hagin's former business partner was tapped for an even more high-profile and sensitive assignment than planning the Saudi trip — working as his on-site deputy in orchestrating the historic nuclear summit between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Singapore."
— "It's common for the White House to farm out the intensive planning known as 'advance' work to outsiders, who like Atkiss often work as volunteers. … But by tapping Atkiss, 41, for such sensitive and influential positions, Hagin may be helping him gain an edge in drumming up business for Command by affording him easy access to foreign governments and private individuals who could help the firm win future security and consulting contracts, current and former U.S. officials told POLITICO." Full story.
COMPANIES WINNING TARIFF WAIVERS DON'T HAVE LOBBYISTS: The Commerce Department announcedlast week that seven companies received exclusions from the Trump administration's steel and aluminum tariffs: Schick Manufacturing Inc., Nachi America Inc., Hankev International, Zapp Precision Wire, U.S. Leakless Inc., Woodings Industrial Corporation and PolyVision Corporation. None of the companies retain lobbyists, according to disclosure filings. That's not unusual. "This is an administrative or a regulatory process, so some companies will do it themselves, some companies would hire a lawyer to help them fill out the paperwork," said Paul Nathanson, a spokesman for the Coalition of American Metal Manufacturers and Users. But he predicted that "you'll likely see an uptick in lobbying activity if you see many exclusion requests rejected by the Commerce Department."
NATURAL GAS COALITION LAUNCHES: A new coalition to promote the natural gas industry launched today. The members of the so-called Global Natural Gas Coalition include the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America; American Petroleum Institute; the American Gas Association; the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Global Energy Institute; the American Chemistry Council; the National Association of Manufacturers; and the Laborers' International Union of North America. In an interview with PI, Don Santa, chief executive of INGAA, said the coalition's main objective is to be "a unified voice in term of the benefits of natural gas" both domestically and internationally. Today's launch coincides with the World Gas Conference this week.
THINK TANK OF THE 'RADICAL CENTER' SEARCHES FOR IDENTITY IN TRUMP'S WASHINGTON: Rachel Cohen has a detailed piece in Washingtonian examining the travails of the think tank New America. "Founded at the height of the Nasdaq boom, New America was meant to be an antidote to other Washington think tanks — a young, nimble provocateur that would dispense with convention and birth fresh ideas. Nearly two decades later, the organization, which now employs more than 250 people, is casting about for relevance in a hyper-partisan era, according to interviews with more than three dozen current and former staffers, many of whom wanted anonymity for fear of retribution in the tight-knit DC policymaking community. In a way, it's a symbol of an entire Washington industry — policymaking — that's under pressure to fund itself without making ideological or ethical sacrifices." Full story.
IF YOU MISSED IT THIS WEEKEND: "Scott Pruitt, the head of the Environmental Protection Agency, discussed hiring a friend of a lobbyist family that owned a condominium he was renting for $50 a night, newly released emails suggest," The New York Times' Lisa Friedman and Hiroko Tabuchi report. The potential hire "was discussed in emails between Mr. Pruitt's chief of staff, Ryan Jackson, and [J. Steven] Hart, who was chairman of the Washington lobbying firm Williams & Jensen and whose wife, Vicki Hart, rented the condo to Mr. Pruitt. Other subjects discussed during and after Mr. Pruitt rented Ms. Hart's condo included refrigerant chemicals, which was raised on behalf of Coca-Cola, and the Paris Agreement — the global climate pact to address climate change — discussed on behalf of the global bank HSBC."
— "The emails also show that Mr. Hart suggested other potential hires to the E.P.A., including one person who he emphasized was a Republican and an African-American, on behalf of an executive of the philanthropic arm of the pork giant Smithfield Foods." Full story.
WHERE YOU WANT TO WORK: The Washington Post is out with its latest ranking of the best workplaces in Washington. Among the law and lobbying firms on the list: WilmerHale, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld Kelley Drye & Warren and Alston & Bird. Among the trade groups: the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, the National Recreation and Park Association (which does sound like a nice place to work), the American Health Care Association and the American Gas Association. The AARP also made the list.
— Lisa Hanna has joined Delta Air Lines' Washington office as general manager for corporate communications, with a focus on government affairs. She previously ran her own consulting shop, engage360 Public Affairs.
NEW PACs:
Crimson Democratic Alliance (PAC)
HSBC North America Federal Political Action Committee (HSBC Federal PAC) (PAC)
Majority in Action (PAC)
Rural and Red Political Action Committee (PAC)

subset: commoncrawl


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- Research
- Open Access
- Published:
Caveats of chronic exogenous corticosterone treatments in adolescent rats and effects on anxiety-like and depressive behavior and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis function
Biology of Mood & Anxiety Disorders volume 1, Article number: 4 (2011)
15k Accesses
37 Citations
7 Altmetric
Administration of exogenous corticosterone is an effective preclinical model of depression, but its use has involved primarily adult rodents. Using two different procedures of administration drawn from the literature, we explored the possibility of exogenous corticosterone models in adolescence, a time of heightened risk for mood disorders in humans.
In experiment 1, rats were injected with 40 mg/kg corticosterone or vehicle from postnatal days 30 to 45 and compared with no injection controls on behavior in the elevated plus maze (EPM) and the forced swim test (FST). Experiment 2 consisted of three treatments administered to rats from postnatal days 30 to 45 or as adults (days 70 to 85): either corticosterone (400 μg/ml) administered in the drinking water along with 2.5% ethanol, 2.5% ethanol or water only. In addition to testing on EPM, blood samples after the FST were obtained to measure plasma corticosterone. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and alpha level of P < 0.05 were used to determine statistical significance.
In experiment 1, corticosterone treatment of adolescent rats increased anxiety in the EPM and decreased immobility in the FST compared to no injection control rats. However, vehicle injected rats were similar to corticosterone injected rats, suggesting that adolescent rats may be highly vulnerable to stress of injection. In experiment 2, the intake of treated water, and thus doses delivered, differed for adolescents and adults, but there were no effects of treatment on behavior in the EPM or FST. Rats that had ingested corticosterone had reduced corticosterone release after the FST. Ethanol vehicle also affected corticosterone release compared to those ingesting water only, but differently for adolescents than for adults.
The results indicate that several challenges must be overcome before the exogenous corticosterone model can be used effectively in adolescents.
The World Health Organization has found mood disorders such as anxiety and depression to be a major contributor to disability and loss of years of health in women and in men [1]. Stressful experiences are implicated in the pathogenesis of mood disorders, and dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is a key feature of depression in particular (reviewed in [2–6]). Clinical research indicates that adolescence is a time of increased risk for mood disorders (reviewed in [7, 8]). Changes in the reactivity of the stress systems during times of biological transitions, such as those occurring in the nervous system and gonadal systems during adolescence, are proposed to underlie the increased vulnerability [9].
The use of animal models, though not without limitations, is recognized as an important approach to understanding mood disorders [10, 11]. Animal models of depression based on environmental stress (repeated stress exposures administered by the experimenter) have high face and construct validity [12]. Until recently, however, the focus has been on stressors in perinatal life or in adulthood rather than in adolescence [13]. Limitations of many animal models of environmental stress include the lack of control over individual differences and variation in procedures from laboratory to laboratory, which lead to inconsistencies in the literature (reviewed in [14, 15]). These limitations may be especially relevant in investigations of adolescent rats, given the sensitivity of gonadal maturation to environmental factors, the ongoing development of the HPA axis, and the relatively short time frame in which adolescent development occurs [13]. One classification system for adolescence (a transitional period with no clear 'onset' or 'offset') involves three stages, a prepubescence/early adolescence period from postnatal days 21 (when rats are typically weaned in the laboratory) to 34, a mid-adolescence period from postnatal days 34 to 46 (time in which most rats first exhibit the physical markers of puberty, such as vaginal opening and balanopreputial separation), and a late adolescence period from postnatal days 46 to 59 [16–18].
The effects of chronic or repeated stress in humans and in animal models are mediated primarily by the prolonged elevations of glucocorticoids (cortisol in humans, corticosterone in rodents) that are the endpoint of activation of the HPA axis [19, 20]. Thus, repeated administration of exogenous corticosterone has been proposed as an effective means of circumventing some of the limitations of animal models of chronic stress exposures (reviewed in [14]). Although there is much evidence to indicate that repeated treatment with corticosterone produces reliable changes in a variety of depressive-like behaviors (reviewed in [14]), this approach has yet to be explored in adolescence. One exception is a study of a low dose of corticosterone (20 mg/ml) administered in the drinking water for 2 months (early adolescence into adulthood), which was found to decrease depression-like behavior in male mice [21]. Thus, more studies are required to assess the use of exogenous corticosterone as an animal model using higher doses and within a timeframe limited to adolescence.
Our laboratory has used a social instability stress model in rats to investigate the consequences of exposure to stressors in mid-adolescence (daily 1 h isolation and change of cage partner from postnatal days 30 to 45) (reviewed in [22]). Although social instability stress in adolescence produces lasting changes in neurogenesis and decrements in performance of hippocampal-dependent tasks (for example, [23, 24]), effects on anxiety-like and depressive behavior have been modest [25, 26], perhaps because of habituation of corticosterone release to the repeated stress procedures in male rats [27]. Thus, in the present experiments, we investigated the effects of repeated administration of exogenous corticosterone over the same timeframe as our adolescent social instability procedure on anxiety-like and depressive behavior. In experiment 1, we used a 40 mg/kg injection of corticosterone and in experiment 2 we used a 400 mg/ml dose administered in the drinking water; both doses and administration procedures have been used extensively with adult rats (for example, injection [28–30] and in water [31–33]). Vehicle and no treatment controls were included in both experiments, and an adult treatment comparison group was included in experiment 2. In both experiments, 24 h after the last treatment day, anxiety-like behavior was evaluated using the elevated plus maze and after another 24 h, depressive behavior was evaluated using the forced swim test, both well validated measures (reviewed in [34, 35]). In experiment 2, blood samples were obtained at timepoints after the end of the forced swim test to evaluate treatment effects on stress-induced corticosterone release. The aim of the experiments was to assess the potential of exogenous corticosterone as a model for adolescent mood disorders. The main hypothesis of both experiments was that chronic treatment with exogenous corticosterone in adolescence would increase anxiety-like and depressive behavior in rats.
Experiment 1
Male Long-Evans rats (n = 24) were obtained from Charles River (St Constant, Quebec, Canada) at 22 days of age. Rats were housed in pairs in polycarbonate cages and were provided with a plastic tube in each cage for enrichment throughout the experiment. Rats were identified by tail coloring with a felt tip marker. The rats were kept on a 12 h light, 12 h dark light cycle, and were given unlimited access to rat chow and water. All experimental procedures were consistent with National Institutes of Health Guide for Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (Publication No. 85-23, revised 1985), and Canadian Council on Animal Care guidelines and were approved by the Brock University Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee.
Starting on postnatal day 30, rats were randomly assigned to one of three treatment conditions. The CORT group (n = 8) was given a daily injection subcutaneously for 16 days of 40 mg/kg/ml corticosterone (Steraloids, Newport, RI, USA) (procedure as in [36, 37]) suspended in isotonic saline and 2% Tween 80 (Sigma-Aldrich, St Louis, MO, USA). The VEHIC group (n = 8) was injected daily with vehicle for 16 days. After injection, the rat was returned to the home cage, and each pair of rats that shared a cage was administered the same treatment. Previous research has found this dose of corticosterone injection to produce plasma corticosterone levels of approximately 2,100 ng/ml 1-4 h after the injection [37]. The rats were weighed once every 3 days, and the injection volume was adjusted accordingly. The NO-INJ (no injection, n = 8) control group was not disturbed except for cage maintenance and was weighed only on postnatal days 30 and 45 (first and last injection days). Rats were tested in the elevated plus maze on postnatal day 46 and in the forced swim test on postnatal day 47.
Elevated plus maze
The elevated plus maze (EPM), first described by Pellow and colleagues [38], is a well validated measure of anxiety in rodents [34]. The EPM relies on conflict between the propensity of rodents to explore novel territory and their fear of open and elevated areas. The EPM consisted of four arms 50 cm in length, and walls enclosing two arms (closed arms) 42 cm in height constructed out of grey painted plywood. The sides of the open arms had 1.3 cm high ledges. The maze was raised 79 cm off the ground and was kept in a separate room from the colony. During testing, the maze was illuminated with dim white light and white noise (approximately 60 dB) was played. Each rat was placed in the closed arm at the end farthest from the center and was allowed to explore the maze for 5 min. All sessions were videotaped, and tapes were later scored while blind to treatment condition. Tapes were scored for time spent in the open arm (with more time on the open arm, higher percent time on open arm, and higher percentage of open arm entries all indicative of less anxiety) and center hub as well as the total number of entries into closed arms (used as an index of locomotor activity), rears (when the rat stands on its hind legs) and head dips (when the rat reaches its head over the edge of the open arm). Rears and dips are considered measures of exploratory behavior that are exhibited more when less anxious.
Forced swim test
The forced swim test (FST) is a measure of behavioral despair (for example, [39]) and consisted of a clear cylinder 20.3 cm in diameter filled 24.1 cm high with water such that a rat was unable to touch the bottom or climb over the side. The water was warmed to 26°C, and it was changed for each rat. Rats were placed in the water and left in the tank for 15 min in experiment 1 and 20 min in experiment 2 (longer time in experiment 2 was used for maximal corticosterone release). All sessions were videotaped, and tapes were later scored while blind to treatment condition. Behavioral measures for analysis were derived from the literature (for example, [40, 41]) and included the following four behaviors: swimming (quick movements of forelimbs and/or hindlimbs, including swimming in circles and pedaling), climbing (in a vertical position, pawing at the side of the cylinder with front paws and leveraging the body slightly out of the water), diving (head under water, swimming to the bottom of cylinder, including circling at the bottom) and immobility (reduced movement including floating and slow circling or pedaling). Diving occurred with very low frequency, and was thus not included in statistical analyses. Climbing reflects the most vigorous attempt at escape whereas immobility is the measure considered to represent depressive-like behavior.
Classically the FST is administered in two sessions that are 24 h apart, with latency to immobility and time spent immobile measured in the second session and the first session considered the means to induce a depressive state (for example, [39]). However, stressors or chronic manipulations are found to produce depression-like states and thus differences among groups can be found in the first session (for example, [28, 36, 42]). Further, the effects of chronic corticosterone treatment for 21 days in adults were the same whether tested with a 1 day version of the test or a 2 day version [29]. Therefore, the experiments described here used a one-session test.
Experiment 2
Animals, treatment, and procedure
Male Long-Evans rats were obtained from Charles River at 22 days of age (n = 20) or at 64 days of age (n = 20) and were housed in age-matched pairs as in experiment 1. Starting on postnatal day 30 or 70, the drinking water was replaced for the CORT-ETOH rats (n = 8 per age group) with a solution of 400 μg/ml corticosterone (Steraloids) dissolved in 2.5% ethanol. To ensure that any effects observed were the result of corticosterone treatment and not ethanol exposure, a second group was given 2.5% ethanol to drink (ETOH rats, n = 6 per group). The WATER rats (n = 6 per group) continued to receive tap water. Each solution was colored with a different food coloring to be easily distinguished from one another. After 16 days, on postnatal day 46 or 86, treatment was removed and tap water was provided to all. During treatment, the mass of water consumed was measured every 2 days. Rats were weighed before and after the 16 days of treatment, but were not handled during the course of treatment, except for cage cleaning thrice weekly. Using weight at the start and end of treatment, the dose of ethanol and of corticosterone consumed by the pair of rats in a cage over a 2 day period was calculated. To calculate the doses of ethanol and corticosterone, the density of each solution was determined by weighing 1 ml of each solution, because consumption was measured in mass. Using the beginning and ending weights, the approximate weight on day 8 of treatment was extrapolated, and the ethanol and corticosterone doses for days 7 and 8 were calculated based on this weight. All rats in this experiment were tested on the EPM on either postnatal day 46 or 47 and on the FST on postnatal day 47 or 87 using the methods described for experiment 1.
Collection and measurement of plasma corticosterone
To determine the amount of corticosterone released after the FST, blood was collected by tail nick from each rat immediately, 45 min and 90 min after removal from the test. No baseline was obtained before the FST in order that behavior in the FST would not be affected by the blood sampling. Blood samples were centrifuged at 3,000 rpm and 4°C for 20 min. Plasma was collected and stored at -20°C until corticosterone was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits (Neogen, Lansing, MI, USA). Corticosterone was extracted from the samples using ethyl ether and the samples were reconstituted in a buffer provided in the kit. The assay was run entirely as specified in the instructions for the kit, except that the reconstituted samples were diluted twofold compared to the kit instructions in order for the stress levels of corticosterone to be readable within the standard curve. The minimum detection level for the assay is 1 μg per tube. The antiserum crossreacts with deoxycorticosterone (38%), and only slightly with cortisol (1.1%), testosterone (0.12%), and estradiol (<0.01%). The intra-assay and interassay reliabilities were both less than 10%.
Results and discussion
Experiment 1
There were no group differences in weight on postnatal day 30 (F1,21 = 0.02, P = 0.93), but by postnatal day 45, corticosterone injected (CORT) rats weighed less than vehicle injected (VEHIC) and no injection (NO-INJ) rats (F1,21 = 10.78, P = 0.001, see Figure 1). The finding of reduced weight gain of CORT rats is consistent with the evidence of reduced weight gain or weight loss after exogenous corticosterone treatment in adult rats (for example, [28, 36]) and after chronic stressors in adolescent and in adult rats (for example, [43–45]).
Although vehicle injection had no effect on weight gain, both VEHIC and CORT treated rats had increased anxiety-like behavior compared to NO-INJ rats. NO-INJ rats spent more time on the open arm (F1,21 = 7.96, P = 0.003, see Figure 2) than did VEHIC (P = 0.002) and CORT (P = 0.002) rats, which did not differ (P = 0.78). The same pattern of significant differences as time in the open arm were obtained for the percentage of time in the open arm using time in open and closed arms without time in the hub as a denominator (F1,21 = 7.96, P = 0.003, (mean, ± SEM) = VEHIC rats (6.4%, ± 2.6), CORT rats (7.6%, ± 1.6), and NO-INJ rats (23.7%, ± 5.0)). Differences were less marked using percentage of open arm entries relative to total arm entries as the index of anxiety (F1,21 = 3.65, P = 0.045, with only VEHIC rats having a lower percentage of open arm entries (20.8%, ± 6.8) than NO-INJ rats (37.7%, ± 2.75), and neither group different from CORT rats (29.8%, ± 1.9)). NO-INJ rats reared and head dipped more than did VEHIC and CORT rats, which did not differ (F1,21 = 32.45, P < 0.0001, F1,21 = 10.41, P < 0.0001, F1,21 = 4.76, P = 0.02, see Figure 2). The differences among the groups in time spent in the hub of the EPM and the number of closed arm entries were not significant (F1,21 = 2.72, P = 0.09 and F1,21 = 3.11, P = 0.07).
These results suggest that stress of injection is sufficient in adolescence to increase anxiety-like behavior. Although acute injections are known to be a mild stressor (for example, [46]), adult rodents readily habituate to repeated injections (for example, [47, 48]). Further, in studies of adults, even when a higher number of injections were used than the 16 used here, differences are observed between vehicle-treated and corticosterone-treated groups [28, 29, 36, 49]. Thus, adolescents may be more sensitive to injection stress than are adults.
There was no main effect or interaction of group and time on climbing or immobility (all P > 0.19) (see Figure 3). The interaction of group and time on swimming approached significance (F4,42 = 2.48, P = 0.06). The three groups did not differ in latency to immobility (P = 0.72, data not shown). To explore the possibility that group differences were masked by low power by inclusion of several timepoints in the analysis (shorter times than 15 min have been used for analysis by others, for example [29]), a multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) was computed for climbing, immobility, and swimming, using only the first 5 min in the FST. The multivariate test of group was significant (Pillai's trace F6,40 = 2.73, P = 0.025), with significant between subject effects for immobility (F2,21 = 4.32, P = 0.027) and for swimming (F2,21 = 6.78, P = 0.005). Post hoc analyses indicated that CORT rats spent less time immobile and more time swimming than did NO-INJ rats and more time swimming than VEHIC rats (all P < 0.05) (see Figure 3).
Thus, the effects of treatment were limited to the first 5 min of the test and were in the opposite direction than predicted. The measure of depressive behavior in the FST is immobility, and thus CORT rats showed less depressive behavior than did NO-INJ rats. The VEHIC rats' behavior fell between that of the CORT and NO-INJ rats. An alternative explanation is that the increased swimming and decreased immobility of CORT rats is a reflection of their increased anxiety evident in the EPM. Anxiety symptoms are as common as depressed mood is among people meeting the criteria for major depressive disorder [50], and there is evidence that anxiety may be a precursor for the development of depression [51]. Nevertheless, there is increasing evidence of both shared and distinct neural mechanisms underlying anxiety and depressive behaviors (for example, [52]).
Others also have reported the apparent contradiction of increased anxiety and decreased depressive behaviors in animal models. For example, knockout (KO) mice for the 5-hydroxytryptamine (5HT)1A receptor also exhibited increased anxiety in an open field test and increased swimming and decreased immobility in the FST [53]. The authors interpreted the behavior in the FST as further evidence of increased anxiety and emotional reactivity rather than to decreased depression, and they suggested the differences in KO mice might involve increased serotonergic turnover. More recently, KO mice of the 5HT1A autoreceptor had increased anxiety and did not differ from controls in the FST, whereas KO mice of the 5HT1A heteroreceptor had increased immobility in the FST and did not differ in anxiety from controls [52]. In adults, chronic injection of corticosterone decreases neural responsiveness to serotonin (for example, [54]) and increases depressive behavior in the FST (for example, [28, 29, 36]). One possibility for the difference in the results of the previous studies in adults whereby injection of corticosterone increased depressive behavior compared to our finding of reduced depressive behavior (or increased anxiety) for adolescents is that our study involved fewer injections than those in studies of adults (16 versus 21 injections). A stronger possibility is that the differences between the studies of adults and ours with adolescents are because of developmental differences in susceptibility to the effects of stress/corticosterone. Studies of adults have found more robust differences between vehicle injected and corticosterone injected groups, thus adults may be less susceptible to injection stress than are adolescents. The ongoing maturation of neural circuitry underlying emotional behavior, which is evident, for example, in the different responses of adolescent and adult rats to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (for example, [55]), may render the circuitry more vulnerable.
In experiment 2, we eliminated the possibility of stress of injection by administering corticosterone in the drinking water. The method, which involves dissolving corticosterone in ethanol, was based on established procedures that have effectively mimicked many of the effects of chronic stress in adult rats (for example, [31–33]). Because the comparable studies available were conducted only in adults, we were concerned that ethanol alone may have an effect in adolescents. Thus, two control groups were used, one group was given 2.5% ethanol to drink and the other was given water only. To better assess the specificity of effects to developmental stage, an additional three experimental groups received treatment in adulthood.
Experiment 2
There were no group differences in weight on postnatal day 30 (F1,17 = 0.54, P = 0.93), but by the 16th day of treatment on postnatal day 45, CORT-ETOH rats had gained less weight than ETOH and WATER rats, which did not differ (F1,17 = 4.37, P = 0.029, see Figure 4). There were no weight differences for the adult groups on the first day of treatment (F1,17 = 2.84, P = 0.09), but by the 16th day of treatment, CORT-ETOH rats had gained less weight than ETOH and WATER rats, which did not differ (F1,17 = 13.85, P < 0.0001, see Figure 4). Thus, the effects of corticosterone treatment in the drinking water were similar to the results in other studies (for example, [31, 56]) and to the effect of corticosterone injection in experiment 1, and the effects were comparable for adolescents and adults. No effect of 2.5% ethanol was observed on weight.
Treatment altered the intake of the three groups differently for adolescents than for adults. For adolescents, there was an interaction of treatment day and group (F2,14 = 3.25, P = 0.04): The intake of CORT-ETOH rats was less than that of ETOH rats (P = 0.01) and less than that of WATER rats on day 16 of treatment (P < 0.0001) (see Figure 5a). For adults, although the intake of CORT-ETOH rats was less than that of the other groups, only the effect of treatment day was significant (F2,14 = 6.42, P = 0.01), whereby intake increased over days (see Figure 5b). Thus for adults, there seemed to be an immediate aversion to corticosterone that reduced intake throughout, whereas in adolescents, corticosterone did not reduce drinking initially. The reduced drinking by day 16 of CORT-ETOH adolescent rats may be related to their reduced body weight or to an aversion that was slower to develop. For neither age group was the intake of rats drinking 2.5% ethanol different from those rats drinking water only.
The interaction of treatment day and age was significant for the dose of ethanol consumed (ml/kg) (F2,14 = 15.99, P < 0.0001): For adolescents, the dose of ethanol consumed (ml/kg) decreased over treatment days (F2,10 = 84.95, P < 0.0001) similarly for the CORT-ETOH and ETOH rats (see Figure 5c). For adults, there was no effect of, or interaction of, treatment day and group. The higher dose of ethanol ingested by adolescents than by adults was significant only at treatment day 2 and 8 (both P < 0.0001). The interaction of age × treatment day was significant for the dose of corticosterone (mg/kg) consumed by the CORT-ETOH groups (F2,14 = 6.42, P = 0.01): For adolescents, the dose of corticosterone (mg/kg) consumed by the CORT-ETOH rats declined over time (F2,6 = 309.3, P < 0.0001), and for adults (F2,6 = 91.5, P < 0.0001), the dose of corticosterone (mg/kg) consumed increased over time (see Figure 5d). The higher dose of corticosterone ingested by adolescents than by adults was significant only at treatment day 2 (P = 0.02). These results highlight the difficulty in administering comparable dosages in drinking water to rats of different stages of development.
EPM and FST
There were no differences among the groups for any of the EPM measures for either adolescents (all P > 0.32) or adults (all P > 0.13). Adolescents spent less time in the center hub than did adults, but no other age difference was significant (F1,34 = 4.26, P = 0.047) (see Figure 6). Although there was effect of time for the FST measures, with climbing and swimming decreasing and immobility increasing with time for both age groups (see Figure 7), the only effect of group was a group × time interaction (F6,51 = 2.63, P = 0.027) for time spent climbing by adults. No group comparison, however, was significant at any timepoint.
There are several possibilities for the lack of an effect of corticosterone treatment on anxiety-like and depressive behavior when administered in the drinking water compared to when injected. One possibility is that we would have uncovered behavioral differences among the groups using a broader range of tests of anxiety-like and depressive behavior. Another possibility is that, at least in adolescence, corticosterone is not as effective at altering emotional behavior in the absence of actual stressful experiences, such as injection. Of note, in experiment 1, the effect of injection of corticosterone on behavior was only marginally greater than that of injection of vehicle. Exogenous corticosterone and chronic stress do not always have the same effects when directly compared. Although both 21 days of 400 μg/ml corticosterone in drinking water and 21 days of chronic stress (restraint 6 h/day) caused retraction of hippocampal dendrites, only chronic stress impaired spatial memory [57], and the two manipulations differed in their effects on fear conditioning [33] and had the opposite effects on proteins involved in synaptic plasticity in the piriform cortex [58]. Whereas 21 days of injection of corticosterone decreased the number of cells expressing reelin in the hippocampus, 21 days of daily restraint did not [59]. Nevertheless, the differential effects of chronic stress versus exogenous administration of corticosterone do not explain the absence of an effect of corticosterone observed in experiment 2.
Another possibility is that 16 days is insufficient to have an effect with 400 μg/ml in the drinking water, especially when the pharmacokinetics of this method of delivery differs from a bolus injection, which is more similar to that produced by a bout of restraint. Consistent with the possibility that dose may be a factor is that injections of 10 mg/kg corticosterone in adult rats are sufficient to cause dendritic retraction in the hippocampus (for example, [60, 61]) but higher doses are required to increase depressive behavior in the FST [28]. Lastly, the evidence for an effect of corticosterone delivered in the drinking water on anxiety and depressive behavior is not as substantial as it is for corticosterone delivered by injection. The available studies used mice rather than rats and lower doses (<50 μg/ml) and found reduced depressive behavior when provided for 1 to 4 days [62], increased depressive behavior when provided for 14 days and tested 2 weeks later [63], but did not affect depressive behavior in the FST when provided for 4 weeks [64]. Thus, given the advantages of administering corticosterone in the drinking water (for example, no handling or injection of the animals is involved), it would be worthwhile to test the effects of the 400 μg/ml dose provided over a longer time frame on behavior.
Plasma corticosterone
Baseline samples were not collected before the FST to prevent interference with subsequent behavior. Plasma concentrations of corticosterone obtained at timepoints after the FST indicated that both corticosterone treatment and the 2.5% ethanol vehicle altered HPA function. For adolescents, the interaction of sampling time and group was significant (F4,34 = 5.73, P = 0.001) (see Figure 8). At removal from the FST and 45 min later, CORT-ETOH rats had lower corticosterone concentrations than had WATER rats (both P < 0.0001). ETOH rats had lower corticosterone concentrations than had WATER rats only immediately after removal from the FST (P = 0.001). Group differences were not significant 90 min after the FST.
For adults, the interaction of sampling time and group was significant (F4,34 = 16.55, P < 0.0001) (see Figure 8). On removal from the FST and 45 min later, CORT-ETOH rats had lower corticosterone concentrations than had ETOH (both P < 0.0001) and WATER rats (both P < 0.01), and ETOH rats had higher corticosterone concentrations than had WATER rats (both P < 0.05). The groups did not differ 90 min after the FST.
Reduced adrenal function after lengthy exogenous treatment with high doses of corticosterone is a typical finding, because of the reduction in size of the adrenal gland caused by exogenous corticosterone, which is in contrast to the increase in size of the adrenal produced by chronic stress (for example, [28, 31]). Thus, the lack of effect of treatment on behavior cannot be attributed to a lack of delivery of the treatment. The effect of 2.5% ethanol vehicle on corticosterone release was unexpected, as most studies of corticosterone in the drinking water have not included a 'no 2.5% ethanol' control group (for example, [33, 56, 58, 65]). In adolescents, the low dose of ethanol in the drinking water reduced corticosterone release after the FST, but not to the same extent that corticosterone and ethanol combined did. In adults, ethanol prolonged corticosterone release after the FST. Whether the effect of ethanol involved effects on the adrenal gland or at a higher level of control of the HPA axis in either adolescents or adults is unknown. After acute or chronic ethanol exposure to adult rodents, usually heightened HPA function is reported, with changes evident at all levels of the HPA axis (such as increased adrenal weight/corticosterone content, higher expression of pituitary pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) mRNA, of hypothalamic corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) mRNA) that are consistent with higher stress-induced corticosterone release (for example, [66–70] although for evidence of dampened HPA function after alcohol exposure, see [71]).
The differences in the effects of ethanol in the two age groups may reflect differences in their developmental stage (for example, [72]) or that the dose of ethanol consumed was higher for adolescents than for adults. In adults, although activation of the HPA axis was found to a first dose of alcohol, self-administration or experimenter administration of alcohol was found to dampen HPA responses to subsequent stressors up to 24 days after removal of the alcohol (reviewed in [71]). One study of adolescent exposure to ethanol (alcohol vapors) found evidence of reduced HPA function when tested in adults [73]. In contrast, binge drinking (3 g/kg/day) beginning at postnatal day 37 increased the expression of secretagogues of ACTH in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus in adolescence [74]. Such studies, however, involved much higher doses than used here (for example, a bolus injection of 4.5 mg/kg to a rat is far more than the 200 mg/kg highest dose consumed by a pair of rats over a 48 h period in the present study). Nevertheless, the present results suggest that a no vehicle control group should be used in future studies using ethanol as a vehicle for corticosterone.
Administration of exogenous corticosterone has proven to be an effective preclinical model of depression in adult rodents to study the relationships among stress, glucocorticoids, and depression (reviewed in [14]). The findings of the present experiments suggest there are challenges to overcome in the use of exogenous corticosterone to investigate the heightened vulnerability of adolescents to stressors. First, the stress of injection masks potential effects of exogenous corticosterone in adolescents, whereas robust differences between vehicle-injected and corticosterone-injected subjects are found routinely in adults [14]. Second, corticosterone delivered in the drinking water does not allow for sufficient control of dosing for comparable treatment in adolescents and adults. Administration procedures that do not involve ethanol, such as the use of corticosterone hemisuccinate rather than corticosterone, are recommended, because even the low dose of ethanol used here affected corticosterone release in both adolescents and adults. Further, although the dose of corticosterone used (400 μg/ml) represents the high end of doses administered in such a way, 16 days of treatment did not produce effects on behavior in the EPM and the FST, although many studies have found chronic stress in adolescence to affect behavior in the EPM and the FST within shorter timeframes (reviewed in [13]). Thus, although this route of administration overcomes the problem of stress of injection, the more sustained pattern of corticosterone exposure through such oral administration may not allow for marked effects on mood-related behavior to be observed in rats. In sum, the present results highlight challenges to overcome in the use of exogenous corticosterone treatments in animal models to study sensitivity to stress and mood disorders in adolescence.
Clinicians have long recognized there are unique features to mood disorders in adolescence compared to in adulthood, irrespective of whether or not a mood disorder is the same fundamental disease at each age (for example, [75]). In humans, anxiety is primarily a disorder of childhood and adolescence, with anxiety in adults stemming from adolescence, and stress is a risk factor for anxiety in adolescence [76, 77]. Immaturity of the relevant regulatory mechanisms in adolescence is thought to underlie the difference in performance on behavioral tests of anxiety of adolescent and adult rats [78, 79]. In experiment 1, injected and corticosterone-treated adolescents had increased anxiety-like behavior compared to control rats, with little difference observed in depressive behavior. Similar treatments in adult rats found greater increases in depressive behavior than in anxiety [14]. These results suggest there are age differences in the behavioral expression of exposure to corticosterone that may parallel the developmental stage-specific manifestations of mood disorders in humans. In humans, the age of onset for depression is later than for anxiety, which also suggests that the maturation of relevant neural circuitries may determine which mood disorder or symptom is evident at each age. These points underscore the relevance of animal models for understanding the pathogenesis of mood disorders and the importance of investigating the range of developmental stages in both preclinical and clinical studies.
Authors' information
Patti Waters, MA, Department of Psychology, Brock University, 500 Glenridge Avenue, St Catharines, Ontario, L2S 3A1, Canada. Cheryl M McCormick, PhD, Canada Research Chair in Behavioural Neuroscience, Professor, Centre for Neuroscience and Department of Psychology, Brock University 500 Glenridge Avenue, St Catharines, Ontario, L2S 3A1, Canada.
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Doremus TL, Varlinskaya EI, Spear LP: Age-related differences in elevated plus maze behavior between adolescent and adult rats. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2004, 1021: 427-430. 10.1196/annals.1308.057.
Genn RF, Tucci SA, Thomas A, Edwards JE, File SE: Age-associated sex differences in response to food deprivation in two animal tests of anxiety. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2003, 27: 155-161. 10.1016/S0149-7634(03)00017-4.
The research was completed in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Master of Arts degree (PW). The research was supported by grants from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, the Canadian Foundation for Innovation, and the Ontario Innovation Trust (CMM). We thank Feather Nixon for assistance in data collection.
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The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
Authors' contributions
PW and CMM contributed equally to the design, analysis, and writing of the manuscript. PW implemented the research and collected the data. Both authors read and approved the final manuscript.
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Waters, P., McCormick, C.M. Caveats of chronic exogenous corticosterone treatments in adolescent rats and effects on anxiety-like and depressive behavior and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis function. Biol Mood Anxiety Disord 1, 4 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1186/2045-5380-1-4
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/2045-5380-1-4
- Mood Disorder
- Force Swim Test
- Elevated Plus Maze
- Depressive Behavior
- Corticosterone Release


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- Tailored to the latest lightweight and uber-capable trail bikes, the all-new Deluxe Ultimate offers a fully-checked damper design featuring Low Speed Compression adjustment and optimal traction control tuning. - Featuring the new DebonAir+ air spring with new air can options, a wider range of rebound adjustment, more tuning capabilities than ever before, and increased bushing overlap for improved small bump performance and grip.
Featuring silky smooth travel in a new lightweight design, Monarch floats through bumps even better than before, turning rugged trails into tire-gripping velvet. The chassis is lean while maintaining the durability and adjustability needed to bite off huge chunks of burly trail action and epic cross country. - WEIGHT: 215g - DAMPING: External rebound, 3 position compression (Open/Pedal/Lock) - CONFIGURATIONS: 152x31mm, 165x38mm, 184x44mm, 190x51mm, 200x51mm, 200x57mm, 216x63mm - REBOUND DAMPING: Rapid Recovery - SPRING: Standard, High Volume, Standard with High Volume Eyelet, High Volume with High Volume Eyelet, DebonAir - SPRING ADJUST: Air pressure via single schrader valve - SHAFT MATERIAL: 7075 aluminum - SHAFT DIAMETER: 10mm - BODY MATERIAL: Hard anodized, forged aluminum with sag gradients - BODY FINISH: Fast Black - UPGRADE: over RL: 3 position floodgate lever - OPTIONS: Also available in 197x48mm and 197x51mm with AutoSag and Specialized mount, 184x48mm and 197x57mm DebonAir with Trek mount - OTHER: Weight based on 165x38mm, standard air can, no hardware
- Two machined aluminum spacers (some kits may include a sleeve) for mounting one end of Manitou rear shocks (air or coil) - Sold as a set of two spacers: two sets required per shock, one per each eyelet - Sized by bolt diameter: M6, M8, or M9.5 (3/8-inch) and frame mount ID width (in mm) - This hardware is for <2010 shocks with 12.5mm eyelets
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When Specialized teamed up with Öhlins, they created the benchmark in DH shock technology. The TTX sets the gold standard for mountain bike performance. It uses a motocross-inspired internal bladder damper for the ultimate in small bump compliance and big hit capability. It's infinitely tuneable thanks to high- and low-speed compression, as well as rebound damping controls. And, ultra-precise spring rates ensure proper setup for a huge range of rider weights (springs sold separately). • Custom length for Demo (2011-2014)
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JHFG Multifamily Opportunity Fund LLC – Securities Investigation
The White Law Group is investigating potential claims involving broker dealers who may have unsuitably recommended high risk private placement investments such as JHFG Multifamily Opportunity Fund LLC to investors.
JHFG Multifamily Opportunity Fund LLC is a limited liability company organized in 2010 in Newport Beach, CA, according to a Form-D filed with the SEC. The entity is sponsored by JH Financial Group.
Are Alternative Investments Suitable for you?
JHFG Multifamily Opportunity Fund LLC, and other limited liability companies, generally involve a much greater risk compared to traditional investments, such as stocks, bonds or mutual funds. Interests in limited liability companies (LLC) are often sold as unregistered securities and lack the same regulatory oversight as more traditional investment products.
Additionally, some brokers may have downplayed the risks associated with alternative investments and misled investors into thinking that they are "safe" investment products.
The high sales commission brokers earn for selling interests in limited liability companies may have provided some brokers with enough incentive to push the product to unsuspecting investors.
Broker dealers are required to perform adequate due diligence on all investment recommendations. They must ensure that each investment is suitable for the investor in light of the investor's age, risk tolerance, net worth, financial needs, and investment experience.
If your financial advisor makes an unsuitable investment recommendation or fails to adequately disclose the risks associated with an investment they may be liable for investment losses through FINRA arbitration.
FINRA operates the largest securities dispute resolution forum in the United States, and has extensive experience in providing a fair, efficient and effective venue to handle a securities-related dispute.
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Are you concerned about your investment in JHFG Multifamily Opportunity Fund LLC or another private placement investment? If so, the attorneys at The White Law Group may be able to help you.
For a free consultation with a securities attorney, please contact The White Law Group at 1-888-637-5510.
The White Law Group is a national securities fraud, securities arbitration, and investor protection law firm with offices in Chicago, Illinois and Vero Beach, Florida. For more information on the firm, visit www.WhiteSecuritiesLaw.com.


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Israel's Security/Separation Barrier
The Israeli government began building a barrier in and around the West Bank in 2002 in reaction to a wave of suicide bombings by Palestinian militants that began in 2000. The project has been controversial from its inception. There has even been a heated debate over what to call the barrier--Israeli officials describe it as a fence, while critics often insist that it is a wall. The barrier, which runs more than 420 miles, is composed of different sections. Some parts, located in populated areas, consist of concrete slabs 26 feet high, with watchtowers occupied by border guards. In more isolated areas, the barrier consists of multiple rows of fencing with ditches and surveillance cameras; guards patrol these sections in vehicles.
Construction of the barrier prompted outcries within Israel and the Palestinian territories, as well as abroad. One point of contention was that the wall incorporated territory that had been part of the West Bank when it was occupied by Jordan prior to the Six-Day War in 1967. During that war, Israel seized control of the West Bank, Gaza Strip and Golan Heights. In June 2004, the Israeli Supreme Court deemed the barrier itself permissible, but also ruled that sections of it should be rerouted to accommodate Palestinian populations. In July 2004, the International Court of Justice in the Hague issued an advisory opinion that the barrier violated international law because it was built partly on Palestinian land.
As of May 2013, approximately two thirds of the 700-kilometer (435-mile) barrier had been built.
» Associated Press. "No War Crimes Charges for West Bank Separation Barrier Firm."
» Bard, Mitchell. "Israel's Security Fence." Jewish Virtual Library, July 8, 2010.
» BBC News. "Guide to the West Bank Barrier."
» Cohen, Roger. "The World: Israel's Wall; Building for Calm by Giving Up on Peace." The New York Times, July 18, 2004.
» The Washington Post. "Country Guide: Israel."
» Wide Angle. "The World's Most Complex Borders: Israel/West Bank."


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I have received some complaints about click fraud associated with Enhance Interactive. If you are spending a good deal of money on PPC you probably want to be tracking that issue. I always recommend finding what words work best on Google AdWords and Overture and then more conservatively carrying over some of the better words to other search engines.
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Everything has a pricetag. And now so does every one.
CNS News reports:
Unborn babies who have reached at least 20 weeks of age in utero are aborted at a rate of about 30 per day in the United States, according to the Congressional Budget Office. The CBO has also concluded that aborting babies at 20 weeks or later in pregnancy saves money for the government-run federal-state Medicaid system.
The CBO made these determinations when doing its official "Cost Estimate" of a federal bill that would prohibit abortions at 20 weeks or later into pregnancy (except in cases of reported rape, incest against a minor or to save the life of the mother).
"Based on data compiled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), CBO estimates that, each year, about 11,000 abortions take place 20 weeks or more after fertilization," said the CBO's analysis of H.R. 1797, the Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act…
"H.R. 1790 would result in increased spending for Medicaid," says CBO. "Since a portion of Medicaid is paid for by state governments, CBO estimates that state spending on the program would increase by about $170 million over the 2014-2023 period."
Somehow, the CBO states that 30 late-term abortions a day is "relatively small."
Relative to what? That's a heckuva' lot higher than the murder rate in Detroit and believe me that ain't relatively small.
This reminds me of those who are cool with sterilizing women on welfare because it'll be a great cost-cutting measure. Or that's why we're now cool with starving the elderly. Because it makes smart fiscal sense. You're not going to get anything productive out of them anymore so they're just seen as a loss leader. You see, with big government the humanity gets lost.
It's just horrible.


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To Benjamin Franklin from ———, [December 1777]: résumé
From ———
AL: American Philosophical Society
<[Brussels, December, 1777,1] in French: You do not know me, and my name would not mean much to you. I am fond of great souls, and want to pay tribute to their virtues. Sincere congratulations on the defeat of M. de Burgoÿne, obtained by skill and bravery. M. de Washington has those qualities, and we may hope that Sir Howe, now in check, will be checkmated. I was perhaps the first person in the Low Countries to hear the news, from a friend in Paris who sent it to me as soon as your courier arrived; it made a sensation here in Brussels and throughout these provinces. All rejoice who know of the iron yoke that your mother country, or rather the servants of despotism, are trying to impose on you. The ministers who started this war should pay with their heads for the tragedy that they initiated, but could their blood pay for that of your brothers? O my Doctor, may heaven prosper your efforts and confound these madmen! May Washington present you with Howe and his army as a New Year's gift, along with the release of Mr. Lee. I must close this letter, but I hate to stop, to leave such a great soul, and only wish that I could tell you my feelings face to face.>
1. The news of Saratoga must have reached him by the middle of the month, and the New Year is approaching.


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Taipower Will Submit Nuclear Plant Proposal in June
ITaiwan Power Co (Taipower) chairman Hwang Jung-chiou yesterday said the company plans to submit its proposal for the last additional budget allocation for finishing the construction of the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant — the Lungmen Nuclear Power Plant in New Taipei City's Gongliao District — to the Legislative Yuan in June.nu
At Taipower's group offering event for the arrival of the Lunar New Year yesterday, Hwang responded to media questions about the controversial issue of seeking extra funds for the ongoing construction project in the next legislative session.
He said the power plant is in its final stage of construction and has begun pre-operational tests already, and the specific additional budget and construction schedule are expected to be finalized by June. Responding to a question about how much the estimated supplementary budget will be, Hwang said: "We have not made a final decision yet."
Taipower has greatly improved its management of nuclear power operations and controls in the past couple of years, and will make certain that the plant is safe, he said, adding that the Atomic Energy Council (AEC) safeguards the plants' nuclear safety, so Taipower will only move forward after gaining consent from specialists in Taiwan and overseas.
Hwang also responded to last week's media reports about an AEC official that said that Taipower has continuously postponed the submission date of a requested report on the possible safety threats to the two current operating nuclear plants in northern Taiwan in the event of a massive earthquake.
He said Taipower has already asked geologists to look into the issue and make evaluations of the possible effects, and that the company would deal with the issue very cautiously.
In addition, Taipower will continue to improve the company's results this year, he said, adding that it hopes the increase in electricity prices can help solve the problem of financial losses caused by the increased cost of fuel last year.


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Rating: 4.75 stars
Buy Link: Amazon | iBooks | Amazon UK
Length: Novel
The crew of The Wayward Prince is low on money, supplies, and morale. Captain Sebastian Garcia is bound and determined to get a paying job to take care of his ship and his crew. But he never expected to get kidnaped, least of all by the man who he stole The Wayward Prince from four years ago.
Ren needs a job done, and he's willing to pay for it. He also knows that Sebastian and his crew are the best for the job. He's not exactly thrilled to see his old lover again, but Sebastian is the only one who can get back the Heart of Arcadia. And without it, Ren's people and his planet will flounder.
Sebastian had no idea Ren was actually a prince, and he's surprised to see Ren again. But he takes the job willingly, not least of all because it's a good payout. It also gives him a chance to make amends of a sort. Ren joins the crew as they concoct an elaborate plan to steal back the Heart. In fact, Ren is an integral part in making sure the job succeeds.
But things don't turn out exactly like they expect, which is nothing new for Sebastian. The mystery gets deeper once they've recovered the Heart, and together the men and the crew have to find out exactly what's going on. Lives are at stake, and not just theirs. Not to mention the new relationship they've been building, now that the lies and secrets are out of the way. But nothing is simple, and Ren and Sebastian have to figure out how to make their relationship work or they'll lose each other forever.
When this second book in the Mind + Machine series came up for review, I was quick to snatch it up. I adored the first book and I couldn't wait to see what Dare had in store for us next. The author delivers again, and in spectacular fashion. The world building follows from the first book and continues to grow. I'm in awe of all the little nuances and additions the author has included to really immerse the reader in this world.
This book really can't be read as a standalone. Even though there's enough detail to know what happened in the first book (and without boring exposition, which is a complete plus) it's a continuation in a way. With different MCs at the center, and a whole new job/mystery to unravel, it almost works on it's own. But there are a bits and pieces that are much more appreciated having read Machine Metal Magic, especially the last quarter of this book. So do yourself a favor and read them both.
I loved the dichotomy between the MCs. Sebastian has always had bad luck, and he's done a lot of disreputable things. He's charming and engaging, and he's the king of fun, snarky banter. Part of that is a front to hide his insecurities and how he knows he's unworthy. I truly appreciated his layers, and the way the author fleshed his character out in a natural way.
Ren, too, is incredibly well portrayed. He's royalty, yes, but he doesn't want to be. There are several incredibly good reasons for that, and he has his own insecurities. What I particularly loved about him is that he could have come off as spoiled and entitled, a "poor little rich boy." But he doesn't at all. His every action and thought is perfectly grounded in his reality and I loved that he, above all, wanted to do what was right for his people. I think that's why Ren and Sebastian work so well together; at their core, all they want is to do what is right for the people they hold close. In the end, that includes each other, and their amazing chemistry and that need make them an exceptional couple.
So all in all, I really enjoyed this book. I sped through it, devouring the story, needing to see how it all turned out. I was thrilled to be back in this world and to see the crew and characters again. It appears there is more coming from the series as well, and I can't wait to read more. With amazing world building, outstanding characters, and a well done plot, this book should definitely be on your TBR.


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It is always a pleasure to talk with the Richard Bonugli at the Financial Repression Authority. Like Anthony Cruedele of Futures Radio, Richard is a very astute financial mind, which allows for deep discussions in a longer format. We cover several issues discussed in Notes From Underground so I'm sorry if it seems redundant, but I will say that we take a deeper dive on the issues. The segment taped on Wednesday, January 10 so from a trading perspective the information may be stale. But from an investors' perspective it will still be relevant as the markets begin to unravel the mysteries of a new year. We dive deeper into Europe as I am certain the continent will provide much of the tinder for market volatility in 2018. This weekend proved the case as several stories from Europe propelled the DOLLAR lower as U.S. markets were on holiday for Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday.
Posts Tagged 'CSU'
Notes From Underground: More Questions Then Answers … Tapering ForeshocksNovember 12, 2013
The fools are alive with the sound of tapering. There's a constant drone of the CNBC crowd that the fear of Fed tapering has sent emerging markets to nine straight days of losses. While the emerging markets have been responding negatively to tapering, the developed markets have been making new highs. So it seems that the FED removing liquidity will be far more detrimental to the emerging markets than to the developed world's equity markets. A quick snapshot of the tales of two markets reveals the divergence taking place in the global financial markets. The Mexican ETF EWW is down 12% on the year while the S&Ps are up 27%. Yet, the Mexican economy is heavy dependent on the U.S. market for a large percentage of its exports. If the U.S. consumer is healthy enough to help the U.S. equities to a solid gain on corporate profits, how can the Mexican financial markets be so negatively divergent? It is not only the issue of economic growth but also the health of the overall financial system.
Notes From Underground: 500 Days of Summers … NOTSeptember 15, 2013
As the markets were heading into the close on Friday afternoon, I noticed that silver and gold were rallying and the newswire failed to provide any headline for the a substantial price rise. (There was no Syria news or any other type of geo-political event.) The weekend news also failed to support the rally at least until a few hours ago when the Washington Post ran a headline announcing that Larry Summers had withdrawn his name for consideration for Chairman of the Fed. Many pundits have been maintaining that Summers would be quick to end the entire QE program and thus would have a negative impact on all asset prices. Nonsense in the first degree, but as a trader, the first rule is to respect prices. The removal of Summers has led to the U.S. dollar selling in early Asian trading as the anticipation is now the Fed will be under a Chairman more in step with the Bernanke method of central bank theory.


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The most recent statistics are startling: US crude production grew 14.6% in 2012, achieving the highest year-on-year increase since 1995. The start of 2013 has seen production break above seven million barrels per day to reach a 20-year high. Even more remarkable, exponential growth is being seen from just a few shale plays, with a number more yet to reveal their full potential.
The US has experienced an impressive turnaround in its energy fortunes in just a few years. In 2005, the US was importing 60% of its oil needs. US oil production had been in structural decline since the late 1980s, leaving the country not only highly reliant upon supplies from neighbors Canada and Mexico, but also from countries such as Venezuela, Nigeria, Russia, and Saudi Arabia. But in just seven years, the US has seen domestic production increase at such a pace that imports have subsequently dropped to below 40%.
The World's Largest Consumer and Producer
According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), the trend of increasing domestic output is set to continue. The agency predicts imports will drop over the next decade from the current average of 10 million barrels per day to approximately four million barrels per day. This drop will not only be due to increasing production in the US, but also due to higher fuel-efficiency standards for vehicles.
In fact, the IEA projects total US liquids production (includes crude and natural gas liquids) will surpass that of Saudi Arabia by 2020 to reach 11.1 million barrels per day. This means that the world's largest fuel consumer would become the world's largest producer.
Gasoline and Diesel Prices Linked to Crude Oil
Given this domestic backdrop, there is a presumption that growing domestic production will lead to lower fuel costs in the US, as has been observed with natural gas. This is unlikely to be the case. Natural gas is priced domestically because of limited trade with the global market, whereas gasoline and diesel prices are dictated by the price of crude oil and the product markets, which are driven largely by global fundamentals.
If the global crude markets reflected US dynamics, this presumption might hold true; demand in the US and other developed countries is declining and is set to flat-line over the coming years and decades due to increasing efficiencies and declining energy intensity. In contrast, global oil demand growth is set to rise at a rapid clip, driven on by emerging market demand. Therefore, while the US will see distinct benefits from rising domestic production in the form of greater energy independence, lower prices at the pump soley as a result of stronger production seem a much less likely scenario.
What Does It Mean to You?
Global oil markets will still dictate prices, even as production of oil from shale grows in the US. The challenge of understanding global crude markets and global product markets is immense. Throw in the influence of complicated geopolitics, and the challenge of keeping up with how crude and product prices will evolve becomes time and cost-prohibitive for companies whose core business is not forecasting energy markets. The common presumption that the US shale oil boom should reduce gasoline and diesel prices in the US is a great reminder of how counterintuitive these markets can be without in-depth research to drive conclusions and actions.
Lisa Zembrodt is manager of global research and analytics for Schneider Electric, Professional Services. If you would like to read four more global trends which are set to shape the future of energy, download Schneider Electric's whitepaper on the topic at www.SEcontact.com/trends.


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It's really a buy one and get many offer in the last few months for India........!!!
Just when we were thinking that India was trying to get it's foot on the ground somehow after getting shaken by the jolting policies of the Central Government, we got hit by the Global Economic Depression!!
We were again trying to re-group, when we got hit by the continued Terror Attacks all over the country. National Sentiments, Anxiety, Anger, Grief and Sorrow...... we all were shaken by the raw blood bath that took place. The rotten face of politics and politicians made our wounds worse.
Then the New Year came, we thought, the New Year would bring new hope!!! But alas!!! Raju decided that he has had enough and should now confess, but guess his soul kicked his ass a bit late because not only he doomed Satyam but many of us who invested in Satyam Shares in the Stock Market. We were just gulping the news when the final nail in the coffin was hit by the oil-strike!!!
I wish I could say............."Enough is Enough" by I know no matter how loud I say this..... we all will have to struggle for what has been offered to us in the pas few months. Time is the only cure we have, but this time would make its presence felt for a long long time.
Home > Thoughts > No Respite


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Here's a review of the product that GNC Live Well Philippines sent me last February. It's the Vitamin Plus GlutaBright glutathione and this is one of their best-selling products. Vitamin Plus GlutaBright is great for keeping your skin healthy and young plus you get more free radical fighting antioxidants than the usual glutathione combinations in the market. You get GNC quality all over. When I received the product, I was a bit shocked when I saw the price but after taking it religiously for a month I can say that you get what you pay for. GNC products are known for their quality that's why I regard this product a cost-effective one. To know more about the product click CONTINUE READING and see my honest to goodness review :)
|GNC Vitamin Plus GlutaBright
|GNC Vitamin Plus GlutaBright
Well-sealed upon purchase. Freshness guaranteed.
|GNC Vitamin Plus GlutaBright
|GNC Vitamin Plus GlutaBright
Nutrition Information:
L-Glutathione 250mg
Vitamin C 60mg
Alpha Lipoic Acid 50mg
Grape Seed Extract 50mg
Rosehips 25mg
Vitamin E 19 IU
Collagen 50mg
|GNC Vitamin Plus GlutaBright
|GNC VitaminPlus GlutaBright
Mustard color caplets- I used the term caplet because this is a tablet in capsule form. It's solid and there's a shiny coating outside for ease of swallowing.
- Sealed upon purchase.
- Comes in a handy bottle complete with product information.
- Can pass as odourless. This supplement doesn't have that foul rotten egg smell. In my opinion, it's because of the formulation. It's in caplet form.
- This glutathione contains Alpha Lipoic Acid, Vitamin C and Grape Seed Extract known as boosters to speed up the whitening process of the skin.
- It also has Vitamin E, Rosehips and Collagen known as anti-aging and cell renewal supplements.
- I didn't experienced any discomforts like vomiting, headache, nausea, breakouts or whatsoever.
- It made my skin glowing even if there are times that I need to stay late at night.
- It lessened cystic pimples popping around my chin which I experience every month.
- The color of my freckles lightened a bit while I'm taking this capsule.
- I noticed that it lightened the dark circle on my forearm that I got while frying. The oil ousted on my hand and it left a dark mark. See the photo above.
- Easily accessible.
- If you have a GNC Gold Card, the price will be 20% cheaper than the original amount.
- Batch, manufacturing and expiry date printed on the package.
- It's expensive for budget conscious individuals.
- Contains only 250mg of Glutathione compared to other brands in the market.
- It's a bit hard to swallow because the size of the tablet/caplet is almost the same as calcium which I believe most of my friends had a hard time swallowing too.
Have you tried taking glutathione as a daily supplement? Hope you can share your experience :)