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Who would have thought when we saw the New Year of 2020 in, what was going to happen across the globe effecting all of us – Covid-19.
Now as time slips us by and many of us are still locked inside our homes here's a few self help tips of things to do at home.
Continue Learning
To make something positive out of being at home, I decided to finally take some online courses that I never seemed to have the time or energy for. I decided to get a grip on some basics that could help my life moving forward. I looked into my old management books and (that old enemy to me) People Management. There was a plethora of courses ranging from beginner to advanced.
Another course I looked at was one teaching languages. Now I know that travel is severely restricted currently but it is time to get ahead for when we can escape to sunny shores. I have visualised the bistros of Paris while practising my French with my online tutor.
This has also lead me to an exploration of my culinary talents so:
Relearn Useful Skills
While practicing my pronunciations I dug into the back of my kitchen cupboard and unearthed the French cookbook which I had never got round to having a go at. Now all my neighbours were baking banana loaf but my little house was soon full of the delights of French soup, cookies and delicious crepes. If I couldn't go back to France anytime soon, I could certainly attempt to create the vibe in my kitchen. Could be time to find my old beret!
Be A Handyman
Turning my head away from the discovery of indulgent new hobbies I also realised that this was probably the perfect chance to embrace those niggling jobs that had been left on the 'to do list'. With my trusty screwdriver in hand I managed to re-place the broken sections of my kitchen before tackling the another job of re-sealing the bath tub. Who could have believed how sticky sealant can be! But what a sense of feeling when those jobs were complete. It mentally brings happiness into your life as that sense of achievement warms inside you.
On a role of happiness another job completed was the sorting. Sorting and de- cluttering feels like a job to always put off but the rewards are great. For me – I find that starting small is the key. If you look at a room that needs sorting it becomes overwhelming but if you start small you'll see results much quicker. I started with my sock drawer. Odd socks…holes in toes…heels…the pair you always put back in the drawer as they feel too tight? – in the bin with the lot. Even if you have to buy new they can be sorted neatly. Another golden rule is how to deal with potentially sentimental items. When I throw away things which may have been given to me by a loved one. I need to tell myself I'm not throwing away memories or love.
Clean-Up Your Digital Assets
Another satisfying job I found was cleaning but this time its the electronics! Finally my inbox was whittled down to a less wincing number of emails just sat there. The set up of additional folders on my laptop and a spring clean has meant I no longer search around endlessly looking for what I want. I tidied up my phone pictures by having my favourite ones downloaded and printed in a photo album. Easier and more fun to look at without the fear of deleting them inadvertently. While in a technical spring clean it was a good opportunity to look at social media posts and delete the old ones. How pleasing to rid my phone and laptop of old posts and sites. I must watch out to see I don't refill immediately on others!
Keep Yourself Physically Fit
With the mind being kept occupied and hopefully healthy, the body shouldn't be forgotten. This slightly comes in the bracket of online courses (there is a great range of online fitness classes!) and exercise can be embraced within the home without the paraphernalia of the gym. Two litre bottles of water, and tins of beans have become the new weights to use. The stairs become their own stair master – I just make sure I have some music on and a structure / timer to my work out and the body feels better for it.
Shake Your Groove Thing
Talking about music – always a great mood shaker. Get the right track on and your spirits can soar. Or if you're feeling quiet and mellow there's plenty out there. Sorting out playlists, and my Cd's (I don't have the heart to throw them away) there's been plenty of singing, dancing and joy around. And not forgetting that tears are also healthy, there's been the music to help the release of pent up feelings, anxiety and worry. I have re-discovered my old keyboard and music and remembered the love that playing an instrument brings (although possibly not to the neighbours!).
Covid-19 has brought difficult times and it's been important to find self help while we stay at home. For me, a mixture of the above in a rough timetable has given me structure and allowed me to feel in control of part of a situation not of my making. Here's to good days ahead…and not eating too much French food! Tres bon!


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Sweet N' Savory Pastry Puffs
For this week's culinary move, we were inspired by the plethora of odds and ends in our fridge. Four strawberries. A plum. A pear. A handful of grapes. And a quartet of not-quite-finished bits of brie, goat cheese, stilton and parmesan. What's a sweet-and-savory-loving cook to do? Grab a box of puff pastry, preheat the oven, and package up all these fruits and cheeses into a delightful little bundles.
For the ingredients, you should definitely feel free to improvise with what you have. Figs, apples, peaches and nectarines also pair beautifully with cheese.
Ingredients (yields 9-12 pastries):
– strawberries
– 1 plum
– 1 pear
– handful of grapes
– blue stilton
– parmesan
– goat cheese
– brie
– puff pastry (1 sheet)
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Let your puff pastry thaw until its soft enough to roll – usually about 30 minutes.
Then, prepare your fruit. We chopped up our plum, pear, and strawberries. Grapes can stay whole. Set aside.
Next, roll out your pastry dough on a large cutting board. Cut into 9 or 12 pieces, depending on what size you'd like your pastry puffs to be.
Now, onto the fillings! First, brie with pear.
Second, strawberry with parmesan.
Third, goat cheese with plum.
And last, stilton, grapes and a drizzle of honey.
Bake for 15-20 minutes – be sure to check on them after 10 minutes. Since we're dealing with fruit and cheese, there will definitely be some ooze on the pan but it ends up making the bottom of each pastry extra delicious.
Remove and let cool for 5 minutes.
Wrap up in a tea towel to keep warm, and serve!

subset: commoncrawl


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By Rob Hunter
There's a ghost in the machine, but it's no 'Ghost in the Machine.'
By Brad Gullickson
Insert the obligatory "I'd buy that for a dollar" reference.
By Sheryl Oh
'Greenland' marks a change of pace within familiar territory for the man behind Captain America and the director of 'District 9.'
By Matthew Monagle
We discuss the idea behind Blomkamp's new studio and why the filmmaker is always striving to create new worlds.
By Andrew Karpan
Attention spans, I heard, are getting shorter.
Neill Blomkamp's Oats Studio looks like an interesting foray into the world of high-end short film production.
By Kevin Carr


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The Bajaj Pulsar 220 has been updated with a new instrument cluster. The overall design of the instrumentation remains the same and it uses the same LCD tech. However, it now displays more information compared to the older console.
The Pulsar 220 has been around for a long time now. It first debuted way back in 2007 and it became an instant success in the Indian market. The youth of India loved the motorcycle and the performance it offered was brilliant at the time. It came with an orange-backlit analogue-digital instrument cluster.
The Tachometer was analogue while the speedometer, odometer, trip meters, etc were displayed on the LCD screen. It even came with tell-tale lights for the high beam, turn signal indicators, etc. It has been nearly 14 years since then and Bajaj still follows the very same formula for the Pulsar 220 until now.
The motorcycle still features the same design language and the instrument cluster too is just the same, except that it is now blue-backlit. Now, a video by MRD Vlogs on YouTube details the new changes that have been brought to the new updated Pulsar 220. The video reveals that the instrument cluster of the new 2021 Pulsar 220 comes with more information packed into the same console.
It now displays the real-time fuel efficiency, range, service reminder, and a battery-low indicator. The odometer and two trip meters have been moved to the right side of the screen. As aforementioned, the rest of the motorcycle remains the same.
The 2021 Bajaj Pulsar 220 is powered by the same oil-cooled, 220cc, single-cylinder engine with a maximum power output of 20bhp at 8,500rpm and a peak torque output of 18.55Nm at 7,000rpm. A 5-speed gearbox drives the rear wheel.
Suspension duties are handled by a telescopic fork up front and twin gas-charged shocks at the rear. The Bajaj Pulsar 220 was the first motorcycle from Bajaj to get disc brakes at the front and rear, and the same setup is in use even today. It now gets a single-channel ABS too.
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Renewable Funding is a finance company specializing in energy efficiency and renewable energy projects for residential and commercial properties. The firm is providing over $500 million in capital through the CaliforniaFIRST Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) program and the WHEEL unsecured energy loan program. It also is fund and program manager for the State of Hawaii's Green Infrastructure Authority.
Previously, as Chief of Staff to the Mayor of Berkeley, he envisioned and led the initial development of the first PACE program, which allows property owners to pay for solar installations and energy efficiency projects as a line item on their property tax bill. DeVries also served as an appointee in the administration of President Bill Clinton, serving as an aide to the U.S. Secretary of Transportation and the U.S. Secretary of Energy.


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Can I mail back library materials if I will not be back on campus for the rest of the semester?
The due date for all materials has been pushed back to May 9th. If you do not anticipate being back on campus, you may return library materials through the mail to:
Bloomsburg University / Andruss Library - Interlibrary Loan / 400 E. Second St / Bloomsburg PA 17815
The library can provide you with a prepaid UPS label to return materials, but you will need to print out the label and find your own packaging and then drop off at any UPS drop off location (or can be handed to a UPS driver). If you would like a prepaid UPS label, please contact email@example.com or email@example.com.


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Judge Blocks Citigroup Settlement With S.E.C. … Taking a broad swipe at the Securities and Exchange Commission's practice of allowing companies to settle cases without admitting that they had done anything wrong, a federal judge on Monday rejected a $285 million settlement between Citigroup and the agency. The judge, Jed S. Rakoff of United States District Court in Manhattan, said that he could not determine whether the agency's settlement with Citigroup was "fair, reasonable, adequate and in the public interest," as required by law, because the agency had claimed, but had not proved, that Citigroup committed fraud. – Bloomberg
Dominant Social Theme: In this case, we need more information to make sure Wall Street is an ethical place. If it's not, we'll pass enough laws to make it better.
Free-Market Analysis: This decision by Judge Rakoff is being heralded as a breakthrough in "cleaning up Wall Street." But in a larger sense Wall Street cannot be cleaned up. Regulations cannot clean up Wall Street. Laws cannot clean up Wall Street. Judges cannot clean up Wall Street.
The idea implicit in what Judge Rakoff has done is that the American judicial system can supersede the marketplace and extract justice. Rakoff has thrown down a metaphorical gauntlet. He has told America's premier securities regulator, the SEC, that it needs to do more. Here are some additional quotes from the article:
As it has in recent cases involving Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, UBS and others, the agency proposed to settle the case by levying a fine on Citigroup and allowing it to neither admit nor deny the agency's findings. Such settlements require approval by a federal judge.
While other judges are not obligated to follow Judge Rakoff's opinion, the 15-page ruling could severely undermine the agency's enforcement efforts if it eventually blocks the agency from settling cases in which the defendant does not admit the charges.
The agency contends that it must settle most of the cases it brings because it does not have the money or the staff to battle deep-pocketed Wall Street firms in court. Wall Street firms will rarely admit wrongdoing, the agency says, because that can be used against them in investor lawsuits.
The agency in particular, Judge Rakoff argued, "has a duty, inherent in its statutory mission, to see that the truth emerges." But it is difficult to tell what the agency is getting from this settlement "other than a quick headline." Even a $285 million settlement, he said, "is pocket change to any entity as large as Citigroup," and often viewed by Wall Street firms "as a cost of doing business."
According to the Securities and Exchange Commission, Citigroup stuffed a $1 billion mortgage fund that it sold to investors in 2007 with securities that it believed would fail so that it could bet against its customers and profit when values declined. The fraud, the agency said, was in Citigroup's falsely telling investors that an independent party was choosing the portfolio's investments. Citigroup made $160 million from the deal and investors lost $700 million.
Judge Rakoff said the agency settlement policy — "hallowed by history, but not by reason"— creates substantial potential for abuse because "it asks the court to employ its power and assert its authority when it does not know the facts." That undermines the constitutional separation of powers, he said, by asking the judiciary to rubber-stamp the executive branch's interpretation of the law.
This is certainly big news. It may well "freeze up" the investment industry as we know it. But in a sense EVERYTHING that is done on Wall Street can likely be seen as illegal under current law, in our view. Here are some examples:
• Prudent Man: The "prudent man" law says fiduciaries need to be "prudent" in their handling of funds and their dealings with clients. But Wall Street NEVER offers up language to its clients regarding the evident and obvious BUSINESS CYCLE that can decimate one's brokerage account for a decade or longer. Seems kinda "fraudulent" to us.
• Central Banking: And speaking of central banking, there are numerous anti-monopoly laws in place. But the Fed is basically a mercantilist entity, a private corporation operating under color of law. The securities industry and commercial banks as well never explain ANYTHING about the ruinous effects of this money monopoly to investors and savers. Again, seems "fraudulent" to us.
• Inflation: In fact, the securities industry (and regulators as well) continually misrepresents what "inflation" is – using the word inflation when they should be using the term "price inflation." By using the wrong term, these investment professionals are preventing their clients from finding out the truth about how the money system REALLY works. Also seems "fraudulent" to us.
• Syndicates: Wall Street firms routinely set up syndicates to promote new offerings and yet when one looks at these syndicates, they are basically always the same parties over and over again. How is it that these repetitive syndicates do not fall afoul of anti-monopoly laws? Seems "criminal" to us.
• IPOs (pump and dump): When Wall Street brokerages have an IPO to flog, they use their massive sales forces (thousands of brokers) to offer it to clients. As customers buy the IPO, the price is often forced up (especially in a hot market), thus enriching the firm that owns additional quantities of shares that can be sold at higher prices. Finally, the selling is done and the price of the shares deflates. Some customers will sell shares back to the brokerage. And perhaps the brokerage will buy back shares as well. But then when additional "news" is discovered, the shares will be labeled a "buy" by the firm and the process shall begin all over again. Ever hear of a "pump and dump"? Up go share prices. And then down they go. The big broker sells on the "up" and buys on the "down." Sell high and buy low. Seems like a "pump and dump" to us.
• Insider trading: Occasionally, people go to jail over insider trading, which is knowing something before others and acting on that knowledge. Of course, efficient markets are constructed on insider information, but the SEC, via insider trading regs, is apparently hell-bent on making markets LESS efficient under the misguided idea that more people will invest in markets if they are perceived as "fair." But we've brought up in the past the idea that firms that employ advanced technology are creating a kind of "insider" effect for themselves as well. Of course, we are not surprised that life in this case "imitates art." The SEC is now considering ways to limit the advantages that technology gives some firms over us. But what about smart people? Is it fair that some firms have the budgets to hire smarter people than others? Seems like "insider trading" to us.
• Regulatory Capture: We've just written about regulatory capture in another article in today's issue, "The Real Reason Bloomberg Sued to Open Up Fed Records?" We explained it as follows: "The large, strong businesses capture the regulatory departments by offering their top people lucrative contracts. Then the top regulators, when they are older, join the businesses they used to 'regulate.' These 'grayhairs' then counsel their juniors at the regulatory facilities in Washington as to what 'must be done.' The junior people in Washington, DC are willing to listen because they, too, want to get the big payoff by joining a big firm. They don't want to be too tough because it will affect their job prospects if they get all 'doctrinaire' about anything." Sounds like significant "conflict or interest" to us – maybe outright "bribery."
These are just practices that occur to us at the moment, but there are hundreds more examples, both large and small. And by the way, we've put all these crimes and frauds in quotes to show that, while we can make the argument for broad-based criminal activity on Wall Street, we don't believe that the way crimes are defined by the US Justice System today has much if any relevance to what is actually going on. We've written about this a lot, as a matter of fact.
The entire corporate power structure is driven by a pyramid of phony money-printing owned and operated covertly (so far as we can tell) by a few large families and their associates and enablers. You would think someone would subpoena these families or their representatives since they are well known. But no one shall ever do so because the world's entire central banking-driven economy is a kind of racket run by a bunch of seeming "smooth criminals."
The point of all this is to say that you can NEVER legislate morality or fairness and likely you shouldn't even try because all it does is give false hope to people who are then suckered because they believe "government" is looking out for them. Private justice (of the sort that existed for thousands of years), as we've argued numerous times, would be far preferable to what we've got now, which is selective "justice" supported either by incompetent lawmakers or those who wish to pass legislation to fulfill secret agendas.
Government is NOT looking out for you. Government is a collection of people who have seemingly gathered under one roof to pillage and intimidate without reaping the consequences. Some are more adept at it than others, and some even mean well. But at the end of the day, government is legalized force and its operators are there mostly out of self-interest, not public service.
Wall Street seen through this construct is also an avenue of self-interest. Wall Street and its denizens for the most part will advance their own self-interest at the expense of the clients. That's just the way that it is because Wall Street is a CORPORATE agglomeration. Wall Street firms are creatures of their ENVIRONMENT. And the environment has been created by central banks that print money-from-nothing. The big lie is that the money system is honest. But it is not. And because the money system is fraudulent, SO IS EVERYTHING ELSE.
So sorry, Judge. You are but scratching the surface. You can make big banks pay more; you can make their executives suffer more but it won't really change a thing. In fact, the usurpation of the private market by regulators and laws has only retarded what defenses there might have been.
Were there private watchdogs available with self-interest in doing a good job, Western securities industry participants might be held to a higher level of accountability. This will never happen, however, so long as government is involved, sucking up all the oxygen.
End the Fed.


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There is an available, wide range of devices of this type on the market, so you need to focus on the objectives to be met.
- providing adequate comfort of heating
- aesthetic appearance
The choice of a particular type of heater is also affected by the place where it is installed:
- location of the building on Polish territory;
- location of the building and wind conditions;
- temperature of heating water;
- type of floor, where the room is situated
- installing the heater and its possible built-up area
Outside air temperature during the heating period in Poland
Table of temperature of climate zones.
Climate zones I II III IV V
Temperature [°C] −16 −18 −20 −22 −24
When you are planning to warm up a bathroom, we need to know what is the demand for heat. If your house is under construction, it is best to check the size of the heater from the installation project. However, the heating system is modernized, it usually does not have access to this kind of calculation. Then the power of exchanged heaters is estimated.
It is assumed for a well-insulated home that the demand for heating is 100 W per square meter of space. Thus, there should be selected heater power of not less than 600 W for the bathroom area of 6 m2(keeping in mind that in order to ensure thermal comfort in it, we should keep the temperature in the range of 24 ° C).
Note that manufacturers show heater power for the parameters of 75/65/20°C (supply temperature/return temperature/temperature in room) of the installation in catalogues. If the system is working on other parameters or you want to have a different temperature in the room, you should take advantage of the corrective factors. For instance: the heater is powered by solid fuel boiler at 80/60/24 ° C parameters has the power of 610 W, and gas condensing boiler with the parameters of 55/45/24 ° C - 305 W. The power will be even less, if you choose chrome-coated heater instead of paint-coated item. The chrome-coated heater emits less heat, so when a model is selected, you need to take the power by 25-30% more. The power of the heater decreases when wet clothes and clothes are hung.
It is worth to note that all of these things should be taken off after drying from the radiator or simply buy a heater with a hanger.
Despite of the facts, it is not at all a simple matter to replace heater in the bathroom.
The radiator is usually replaced when it starts leaking. But the opportunity may also be room renovation or modernization of the heating system.
Although the range of modern radiators is large, we can not always buy the one that we like. The choice depends on whether you decide to change it only if you are planning a renovation.
How to connect the heater to the heating system which is determined not only by its efficiency, but also the comfort and aesthetics of the room .
How to connect the heater depends on how it is installed - in the furrows of the wall or hidden in the floor. The type of heater is also important, because some of them can be installed only sideways, others might be sideways and at the bottom.
Under the window as standard
Most heaters are placed on the external wall at the window, or in the coldest places in the room. Because of effective work, they ensure uniform circulation of hot air in the interior. If the heater is to be moved to the inner wall for some reason, you should choose the power that is 10% higher than in the project.
In addition, you should hang over it an extra protection, such as a shelf that will prevent the wall getting dirty by air blast over the heater (it causes dark, unsightly streaks).
Note: When the inner wall is made of drywall, there should be suspended an additional reinforcement frame at the heater that will support the weight of the radiator with water.
Distance from the floor and windowsill
In order not to cause loss of thermal radiators, the plumber should keep appropriate minimum distance from the floor and the bottom of the windowsill (given in the installation instructions of the heater). These values will vary slightly which depend on the material of a heater.
The heater is connected to the system.
Each radiator is connected to the central heating system with two pipes: supply pipe which is connected to the hot water from the heat source and return pipe, which drains chilled water to the system.
The bottom or side connection depends on the type and manner of the heater and tubes.
Bottom connection. In this option, both pipes are connected to nozzles located in the heater, at the bottom, by the left or right edge.
The lower connection is used with special sets, which are equipped with shut-off valves. Due to this, for example in the event of a heater's failure, you can turn off both valves (inlet and outlet preventing water) without having to empty the water from the heating system.
The pipes that come directly from the floor, a set of simple figure is used, but the pipe which comes out of the wall heater - a set of angle figures. First solution is easier, but it makes difficult position of the floor (in the place where you need to have properly cut panels, parquet or terracotta), then do the cleaning of it.
An interesting variation is to make the connection of the middle lower. Connections in this version are always in the middle of the heater, irrespective of its dimensions. The advantage is that, the plumber does not have to wonder where exactly put supply pipe and return pipe to hung symmetrically mounted radiator under the window.
Side connection. Supply pipe and return pipe are in the furrows of the wall and connected to the probe on the side of the heater - the right or left side.
In the side connection the supply pipe must be connected at the top of the heater but the return pipe to the bottom. Opposite connection causes that the heater power will decrease by at least 30%.
Practical information
Mistake in connection. If the supply pipe and return pipe are inversely connected, we can avoid rework system, using special cross connector . Inside of it, the reversal of the direction of the flowing heating water is made, so the heater operates properly. Connector is available in right angle version and angular version.
Connecting the towel heaters and decorative heaters. The traditional ladder is constructed of vertical pipes (collectors) and connected by horizontal pipes to the heating system, so thermostatic valve with head is mounted to that one of the manifold (power)and the second (return) - shut-off valve. Some models, especially those with unusual shapes or decorative, but vertical collectors are placed side by side (usually within 5 cm). Then you can use the combined power connections. The thermostatic valve and shut-off valve are hidden at the elegant mask, but from the outside you can only see the head.


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TJ takes a look at a few highlights from the past week. Riddick was on top of the box office dog pile, although that's not saying much given the lackluster offerings available right now. Vin Diesel would like to make more so we'll see how that goes. 'The Hunger Games: Catching Fire' tickets will be available for pre-sale on October 1st! There's more on the Cumberbatch and 'Star Wars' front plus we have a possible title for the upcoming 'Star Wars' film. Hugh Jackman says we're going to be blown away with 'X-Men: Days of Future Past'. Marvel has scheduled yet another film for 2015: 'Ant-Man'. Disney is encouraging irresponsible movie watching with second screen experience for 'The Little Mermaid'. We may have a possible director for the next 'Star Trek' film. And the big news this week comes on the 'Harry Potter' front. Tune in for that! And of course, TJ talks about your viewing options at the box office this weekend.
Show Links
- Riddick Sees His Way to The Box Office
- More 'Riddick' On The Way?
- 'The Hunger Games: Catching Fire' Tickets Available on October 1st
- On Cumberbatch and 'Star Wars VII'
- Possible Title for 'Star Wars VII'?
- Hugh Jackman Speaks About 'X-Men: Days of Future Past (Video)
- Marvel Schedules 'Ant Man' for Summer 2015 Release
- Disney to Ruin 'The Little Mermaid' With "Second Screen"
- WB Announces 'Harry Potter' Spin-Off Series
- JJ Doesn't Say Rupert Wyatt Won't Direct Next 'Star Trek'
- What to see: Weekend of September 13, 2013


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The portrayal of artistry and talent of the children in the film, as reflected in their works of photography, critics have said, have not only served as examples of remarkable observation and talent; but have also reflected something much larger: the role of art in all humanity as an immensely liberating and empowering force.
'Born into Brothels' happens to be the first documentary that I had seen together with my husband, a documentary movie buff. I remember how deeply moved and emotional I had been while watching filmmaker Zana Brisky's exceptional journey into the forsaken alleys of Kolkata's red light area, and her discovery of the children born into those brothels. Today, after I had watched the film again, those emotions rushed back to me, and I instantly reconnected with those mighty moments of exploration, depicted with so much of honesty and ingenuity. This essay is a personal journey of remembering and honoring the film, eight years after I had first seen it. The review was initially published at Associatedcontent.com.
"Born into Brothels": A Re-review
In a world of abject poverty, abuse and despair; the resilience of childhood and the restorative power of art go hand-in-hand to transport children born in filth to a new world, a world in which they are taught to discover with new eyes. Those who have seen the seething documentary written and directed by Zana Brisky and Ross Kauffman named "Born Into Brothels" based in the red light districts of Calcutta, will surely be able to identify this image as a central element of the much acclaimed film of 2004.
Looking back at this immensely inspiring and uplifting documentary that puts other narrative documentaries to shame even after 10 years of it's release, it is amazing to discover that even today, many of us still want to talk about the film, about the several unforgettable children born in the red light area portrayed so sensitively in the film, and also want to analyze the filmmakers' vision in making the film.
The principal reason behind this eagerness is not merely the fact that this widely acclaimed documentary had won the Sundance Film Festival Audience Award and the Academy Award back in 2005, but the intensity and honesty with which the filmmakers Zana Briski and Ross Kauffman chronicle the amazing transformation of the children they come to know in the red light district. Precisely, this was something which had not been commonly touched upon by filmmakers. Take a close look at the theme of the film and you will easily see that the filmmakers actually wanted to tear the façade of the apparently growing prosperity of India and unravel the dark underbelly of poverty, depravation and human exploitation that keeps growing in the other side of the nation.
The film will be also be remembered for many days for the daring attitude of the directors who went a long way to convince a special group of children of the prostitutes of the area to photograph the most reluctant subjects dwelling inside the entire institution of skin-trading. Briski, a professional photographer from New York, spends years of her life in with these kids, exploring the hopeless lives of the sons and daughters of prostitutes through photography and film. On one hand, while she relentlessly portrays the world of sex workers and their hopeless, depraved life, on the other hand, she exhibits sheer determination to use the art of photography to provide the children with the opportunity for higher education, hope and a better life. The children, enthused with their "Zana Aunty" and their newly found cameras, came up with photographs that in a word, ignited latent sparks of artistic genius residing within them. Their work being exhibited and acknowledged, one boy named Abhijit was even sent to a photography conference in Amsterdam. Briski also recorded her efforts to place the children in boarding schools.
Based in red light district of Calcutta, "Born Into Brothels" is an immensely inspiring and uplifting #documentary. http://t.co/nmCYWmObLY
— Learning&Creativity (@LearnNCreate) December 22, 2014
The portrayal of artistry and talent of the children in the film, as reflected in their works of photography, critics have said, have not only served as examples of remarkable observation and talent; but have also reflected something much larger: the role of art in all humanity as an immensely liberating and empowering force. Given the cameras, the children go on a clicking spree, creating fragments of moments of their life which become prisms into their souls, bearing true testimony of the power of their indelible creative spirit. Here, the filmmakers use a poetic, metaphorical narrative, using mostly pictures taken by the children and the expressions of the children. However, reality soon surfaces as they navigate through unbelievable levels of bureaucratic quicksand in an attempt to get the children out of the slums and into boarding schools. In cinematic terms, there is a debate as to why after an absolutely engrossing first reel, the directors follow a slightly frustrating route, with the focus shifting to a more conventional individual vs. the system story. But one has to understand that the film comes out of an impulse of the filmmakers not only to document the lives of poor, neglected and oppressed, but also to chronicle the world of resistance and chaotic bureaucracy that surrounds it. Seen from this perspective, it can be said that the film tempers its optimism with realism in a way that is both uplifting and heartbreaking. There is a surrealistic delight in the pluck and intelligence that blossom in middle childhood. At the same time, there is the cruelty of social arrangements that allow those qualities to be squandered, which justifies the second half of the film.
The debate which ensued as an aftermath of "Born Into Brothels", was on whether the documentary has truly improved the lives of the children featured in it. While the film-makers claim that the lives of children appearing in "Born into Brothels" have been transformed by money earned through the sale of photos and a book on them, some volunteers and organizations disputed the claim that the children's lives have been improved, arguing that Briski should be criticized for using hidden cameras, misrepresenting the children's parents and ignoring the prostitutes' substantial efforts to unite. As a filmmaker, Briski knew that the circumstances of these children were too complex to be revolutionized by educating one family member in photography, or even by sending them to boarding school. For the records, the film itself depicted scenes in the end where many of those put into boarding school ended up leaving the school and returning to their previous life of squalor before long. Coupled with it, there was the challenge to counter hundreds of years of narrow mindedness and the proverbial Indian bureaucracy.
'born into brothels' is the most touching documentary I've ever watched
— , (@ankhtomysoul) April 26, 2014
As a filmmaker, Brisky deals with all this not as a social worker, but as a sensitive human being with her own vulnerabilities. This is precisely what brings a sense of truth into the entire exercise of creating the film, for which the film deserves a special mention in the world of narrative documentary film-making.
To those interested to know more about filmmakers Zana Briski and Ross Kauffman and their groundbreaking work, this is an excellent resource:
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Do you want to eat trash? How about some toxic plastic particles with that Alaskan salmon? Keep voting for corporate Democrats and Republicans and you can count on more trash showing up in your food.
These corporate politicians are really good at funding the military industrial complex and then searching out "enemies" that have only hand-held weapons. But, they are not real good at cleaning up trash. Case in point: the Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP), which lies off the coast of California.
The GPGP is 600,000 square miles — that's the size of Alaska — and holds 1.8 trillion pieces of trash weighing 88,000 tons. Not one politician in Washington talks about it.
They don't talk about it because there is no money to make cleaning it up. What more do you need to see? They don't care about you and they don't care about the planet – why do you vote for them?
Both the Democrats and Republicans want to continue the time-honored approach of "divide and conquer." There is money to make in conquering the Middle East, but no money to be made in cleaning up the Pacific Ocean.
We are taught to fear our enemies — and this fear leads us to believe Washington and the media when they tell us certain people are our "enemy." But, the GPGP in the Pacific Ocean is the true enemy. Wake up and vote in a manner that forces world leaders to grow up.
Frank Erickson lives in Minneapolis.
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Help amplify Black voices by donating to the MSR. Your contribution enables critical coverage of issues affecting the community and empowers authentic storytelling.


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Whether you are a physical therapy practice owner, a physical therapy billing employee or an outsourced physical therapy billing provider, most would agree that getting a claim to pay is considered a victory. To achieve this victory as quickly as possible, it is very important for claims to be submitted "clean." The term "clean" in this context refers to the assurance that all required claim information is accurate and reliable based on the most up to date payer rules and regulations. There are a number of different factors that can lead to a claim getting denied, but a large majority of denials can simply be attributed to the submission of inaccurate patient demographic and/or insurance information. Examples include things such as an inaccurate policy number, DOB, or the indication of an incorrect dependent. Although these errors appear to be an easy fix, they ultimately lead to a delay in claims processing and payment for the physical therapy services provided.
When collecting patient demographic and insurance information, it is extremely important to ensure that all information is fully obtained with great detail and complete accuracy from the start. The slightest reversal of a number or letter will lead to denials, re-submission, and delay in payment. If you are collecting patient demographic information over the phone, it is best practice to present that information to the patient upon their first visit so that they can review and sign off on the accuracy of the information entered into your physical therapy software.
In addition to collecting accurate information to ensure a clean claims process, it is also very important when it comes to checking patient benefits. If you have ever called to check benefits, you know that many of the prompts that are required before talking to an actual human being are dependent on the provided information. If the patient's date of birth is off by one digit or the alpha prefix at the beginning of a policy ID is wrong, the insurance company will not only be unable to provide you benefits but additionally will deny your physical therapy claim. Even though these may seem like very minuscule errors, they can end up leading to both a very frustrating and inefficient workflow and a delay in payment. Using a physical therapy billing system that automatically verifies the benefits for each new patient will save a tremendous amount of staff time, prevent unnecessary denials, and improve your revenue cycle.
Lastly, in order for your physical therapy treatment to be covered, many insurance plans require that a referring physician order the therapy. The referring physician's information must be attached to the claim. To ensure that accurate information is provided to the insurance carrier, claims are required to be submitted with the physician's full name and NPI. Since there could be several Dr. Smith's in your town, it can be time consuming for your billing staff or billing service provider to determine which Dr. Smith referred your patient. Confirming this information upfront is vital in avoidance of unnecessary denials.
In summary, one of the easiest ways to submit clean claims the first time is to obtain and submit clean information. The more concise the information is provided the first time, the faster you will be able to obtain payment for your services. Using a physical therapy billing service that verifies the benefits for every new patient and checks the patient demographic, diagnosis codes, referring physician and insurance information for accuracy prior to claim submission will provide your practice with much more efficiency and much less headaches when it comes to your physical therapy billing operations.
Source: StrataPt


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A city of 480,000 people in China's northeast rushed a new water plant into operation as a toxic spill on a nearby river arrived Tuesday and the city was forced to shut down another water facility for fear of contamination, the local government said.
Meanwhile, a major city upstream that shut off running water to 3.8 million people because of the spill from a chemical plant explosion is borrowing 640 million yuan (US$79 million; Ђ68 million) to pay for recovery efforts, a news report said, giving the first indication of the disaster's economic impact.
The spill of cancer-causing benzene into the Songhua River has disrupted drinking water supplies to millions of people in China, and a Russian city downstream was bracing for the arrival of the chemical early next week.
Tests showed that the benzene reached the city of Jiamusi early Tuesday, said a man with the publicity department of the Heilongjiang Provincial Environmental Protection Office who would only give his surname, Wu.
The city opened a new water treatment facility Monday afternoon, several months early, to ensure water supplies while the stream of chemicals passes, the local communist party newspaper Jiamusi Daily said.
On Friday, Jiamusi city government shut down its No. 7 Water Plant, which is near the river, in order to avoid contamination, saying the plant draws on ground water wells but is located near the river.
The new Jiangbei Water Source, built at a cost of 230 million yuan (US$28 million; Ђ24 million), is capable of producing 100 million liters (26 million gallons) of water per day, the Jiamusi Daily said.
The city government has ordered several thousand villagers living near the Songhua to stop using shallow ground water wells, but says running water to the rest of the city should continue functioning normally and there were no plans to close schools, AP reports.
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text: InGenius Is Now A Cisco Preferred Solution Partner Apr 14, 2016 InGenius is now a Preferred Solution Partner within the Cisco Solution Partner Program."InGenius' decision to upgrade participation in the Cisco Solution Partner Program is yet another achievement in our company mission to deliver world class voice-based customer experiences. Ensuring seamless interoperability with Cisco, a market leader in telephony systems, offers another proof point of our commitment to deliver exceptional products to the marketplace," said Dale Gantous, CEO of InGenius, in a statement.InGenius Connector Enterprise for Cisco seamlessly integrates telephony operations directly into Salesforce.com or Microsoft Dynamics CRM environments. It supports Cisco Call Manager, UCCE and UCCX for Enterprise or Call Center applications, and interoperates with Finesse. The Cisco Solution Partner Program, part of the Cisco Partner Ecosystem, unites Cisco with third-party independent hardware and software vendors to deliver integrated solutions to joint customers. As a Preferred Solution Partner, InGenius has achieved Cisco compatibility certification on at least one solution, and can provide its customers with 24-hour, 7-days-a-week customer support.


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Dr. WANG He (王赫)
BS PKU, MA Syracuse, PhD Syracuse
Other Links
He, WANG joined the City University in August 2014 after she received her PhD in Geography from Syracuse University. She received her bachelor in urban and regional planning and double major in economics from Peking University. Her research interests are Chinese automotive industrial development, technology transfer and regional development.
Research Interests/Areas
- Political economy and varieties of capitalism
- State regulation and governance
- Regional development and technology transfer
- Doing research in China
- Political economy at China
- Economic geography and regional development


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Firewalls prevent unauthorized access to or from a private network. A firewall is essentially a "defender" host that must fight off minor to complex attacks. Multi-layered, meshed protection is needed in today's hazardous network environments. With MatrixIT, there is no need to feel uneasy.
Leave the security of your data in our hands. We understand the absolute importance of the confidentiality of your information, and we'll keep it that way.
Keep your network secure with Managed Firewalls from MatrixIT. Call 1-866-648-8324 option 1. Speak to a representative about our managed firewall solution and Managed VPN connectivity to interconnect your locations either Site to Site or Dial in VPN
- Filtering by source and destination IP, IP protocol, source and destination port for TCP and UDP traffic
- Able to limit simultaneous connections on a per-rule basis
- utilizes p0f, an advanced passive OS/network fingerprinting utility to allow you to filter by the Operating System initiating the connection. Want to allow FreeBSD and Linux machines to the Internet, but block Windows machines? we can do so (amongst many other possibilities) by passively detecting the Operating System in use.
- Option to log or not log traffic matching each rule.
- Highly flexible policy routing possible by selecting gateway on a per-rule basis (for load balancing, failover, multiple WAN, etc.)
- Aliases allow grouping and naming of IPs, networks and ports. This helps keep your firewall ruleset clean and easy to understand, especially in environments with multiple public IPs and numerous servers.
- Transparent layer 2 firewalling capable – can bridge interfaces and filter traffic between them, even allowing for an IP-less firewall (though you probably want an IP for management purposes).
- Packet normalization – "'Scrubbing' is the normalization of packets so there are no ambiguities in interpretation by the ultimate destination of the packet. The scrub directive also reassembles fragmented packets, protecting some operating systems from some forms of attack, and drops TCP packets that have invalid flag combinations."
- Enabled by default
The firewall's state table maintains information on your open network connections. , by default all rules are stateful.
Most firewalls lack the ability to finely control your state table. Allowing granular control of your state table is included.
- Adjustable state table size
- On a per-rule basis:
- Limit simultaneous client connections
- Limit states per host
- Limit new connections per second
- Define state timeout
- Define state type
- State types – multiple options for state handling.
- Keep state – Works with all protocols. Default for all rules.
- Modulate state – Works only with TCP. Will generate strong Initial Sequence Numbers (ISNs) on behalf of the host.
- Synproxy state – Proxies incoming TCP connections to help protect servers from spoofed TCP SYN floods. This option includes the functionality of keep state and modulate state combined.
- None – Do not keep any state entries for this traffic. This is very rarely desirable, but is available because it can be useful under some limited circumstances.
- State table optimization options – pf offers four options for state table optimization.
- Normal – the default algorithm
- High latency – Useful for high latency links, such as satellite connections. Expires idle connections later than normal.
- Aggressive – Expires idle connections more quickly. More efficient use of hardware resources, but can drop legitimate connections.
- Conservative – Tries to avoid dropping legitimate connections at the expense of increased memory usage and CPU utilization.
- Port forwards including ranges and the use of multiple public IPs
- 1:1 NAT for individual IPs or entire subnets.
- Outbound NAT
- Default settings NAT all outbound traffic to the WAN IP. In multiple WAN scenarios, the default settings NAT outbound traffic to the IP of the WAN interface being used.
- Advanced Outbound NAT allows this default behavior to be disabled, and enables the creation of very flexible NAT (or no NAT) rules.
- NAT Reflection – in some configurations, NAT reflection is possible so services can be accessed by public IP from internal networks.
CARP from OpenBSD allows for hardware failover. Two or more firewalls can be configured as a failover group. If one interface fails on the primary or the primary goes offline entirely, the secondary becomes active. Includes configuration synchronization capabilities, so you make your configuration changes on the primary and they automatically synchronize to the secondary firewall.
pfsync ensures the firewall's state table is replicated to all failover configured firewalls. This means your existing connections will be maintained in the case of failure, which is important to prevent network disruptions.
- Only works with static public IPs, does not work with DHCP, PPPoE, PPTP, or BigPond type WANs (will be resolved in a future release)
- Requires a minimum of three public IP addresses (will be resolved in a future release)
- Backup firewalls are idle (active-passive failover), no active-active clustering is possible at this time.
- Failover is not instantaneous, it takes about 5 seconds to switch a backup host to master. During this time no traffic will be passed, but existing states will maintain connectivity after failover is completed. This 5 second outage during a failure isn't even noticeable in most environments.
Outbound Load Balancing
Outbound load balancing is used with multiple WAN connections to provide load balancing and failover capabilities. Traffic is directed to the desired gateway or load balancing pool on a per-firewall rule basis.
Inbound Load Balancing
Inbound load balancing is used to distribute load between multiple servers. This is commonly used with web servers, mail servers, and others. Servers that fail to respond to ping requests or TCP port connections are removed from the pool.
Three options for VPN connectivity, IPsec, OpenVPN, and PPTP.
IPsec allows connectivity with any device supporting standard IPsec. This is most commonly used for site to site connectivity to other installations, other open source firewalls (m0n0wall, etc.), and most all commercial firewall solutions (Cisco, Juniper, etc.). It can also be used for mobile client connectivity.
OpenVPN is a flexible, powerful SSL VPN solution supporting a wide range of client operating systems. See theOpenVPN website for details on its abilities.
- Not all of the capabilities of OpenVPN are supported yet. Support for virtually all of OpenVPN's capabilities will be included in the next release.
- Filtering of OpenVPN traffic is not yet possible. Support for this is in 2.0.
PPTP Server
PPTP is a popular VPN option because nearly every OS has a built in PPTP client, including every Windows release since Windows 95 OSR2. See this Wikipedia article for more information on the PPTP protocol.
The PPTP Server can use a local user database, or a RADIUS server for authentication. RADIUS accounting is also supported. Firewall rules on the PPTP interface control traffic initiated by PPTP clients.
Offers a PPPoE server. For more information on the PPPoE protocol, A local user database can be used for authentication, and RADIUS authentication with optional accounting is also supported.
RRD Graphs
The RRD graphs maintain historical information on the following.
- CPU utilization
- Total throughput
- Firewall states
- Individual throughput for all interfaces
- Packets per second rates for all interfaces
- WAN interface gateway(s) ping response times
- Traffic shaper queues on systems with traffic shaping enable
Real Time Information
Historical information is important, but sometimes it's more important to see real time information.
SVG graphs are available that show real time throughput for each interface.
For traffic shaper users, the Status -> Queues screen provides a real time display of queue usage using AJAX updated gauges.
The front page includes AJAX gauges for display of real time CPU, memory, swap and disk usage, and state table size.
A Dynamic DNS client is included to allow you to register your public IP with a number of dynamic DNS service providers.
- DynDNS
- DyNS
- easyDNS
- No-IP
- ODS.org
- ZoneEdit
A client is also available for RFC 2136 dynamic DNS updates, for use with DNS servers like BIND which support this means of updating.
Captive Portal
Captive portal allows you to force authentication, or redirection to a click through page for network access. This is commonly used on hot spot networks, but is also widely used in corporate networks for an additional layer of security on wireless or Internet access. For more information on captive portal technology in general, see theWikipedia article on the topic. The following is a list of features in the Captive Portal.
- Maximum concurrent connections – Limit the number of connections to the portal itself per client IP. This feature prevents a denial of service from client PCs sending network traffic repeatedly without authenticating or clicking through the splash page.
- Idle timeout – Disconnect clients who are idle for more than the defined number of minutes.
- Hard timeout – Force a disconnect of all clients after the defined number of minutes.
- Logon pop up window – Option to pop up a window with a log off button.
- URL Redirection – after authenticating or clicking through the captive portal, users can be forcefully redirected to the defined URL.
- MAC filtering – by default, filters using MAC addresses. If you have a subnet behind a router on a captive portal enabled interface, every machine behind the router will be authorized after one user is authorized. MAC filtering can be disabled for these scenarios.
- Authentication options – There are three authentication options available.
- No authentication – This means the user just clicks through your portal page without entering credentials.
- Local user manager – A local user database can be configured and used for authentication.
- RADIUS authentication – This is the preferred authentication method for corporate environments and ISPs. It can be used to authenticate from Microsoft Active Directory and numerous other RADIUS servers.
- RADIUS capabilities
- Forced re-authentication
- Able to send Accounting updates
- RADIUS MAC authentication allows captive portal to authenticate to a RADIUS server using the client's MAC address as the user name and password.
- Allows configuration of redundant RADIUS servers.
- HTTP or HTTPS – The portal page can be configured to use either HTTP or HTTPS.
- Pass-through MAC and IP addresses – MAC and IP addresses can be white listed to bypass the portal. Any machines with NAT port forwards will need to be bypassed so the reply traffic does not hit the portal. You may wish to exclude some machines for other reasons.
- File Manager – This allows you to upload images for use in your portal pages.
Includes both DHCP Server and Relay functionality


text:
DX Document Exchange support
Have a question about our DX Exchange service?
Browse below for answers to questions about DX Exchange, our definitive service for overnight pre-9am delivery of documents between DX Exchange members in the legal, financial and public sectors. If you don't find the answer you're looking for, call 0333 241 5222 and speak to an Xpert directly.
- How can I find other DX Exchange Members' addresses?
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text:
Russian President Vladimir Putin should order his troops and the Kremlin-backed local fighters in Donbas to cease fire. This was stated by President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko during the opening ceremony of the building of Lugansk regional academic music and drama theatre after major overhaul in the city, UNIAN reports.
He noted that the Russian leader should publicly support the truce in the East of Ukraine.
"We will do everything possible to in the Donbass stopped shooting. The delay only due to the fact that the Russian President refuses from public support of the truce and, therefore, on the direct orders of the Russian military and the militants that are present in the occupied territory, stop the shooting", – said Poroshenko.
- Poroshenko: We will refund the Crimea and Donbass
According to him, it is important that the leaders of "Norman Quartet" and Putin himself has called for a cease-fire publicly.
We will remind, yesterday a telephone conversation between the leaders of the "Normandy Quartet". The negotiators supported the ceasefire in the Donbass in connection with the beginning of the school year.


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For any new readers, a quick recap - I picked up summer 2010 Martha Stewart's Weddings magazine last week and I saw the cutest party banner & food labels that they made out of vintage fabric for a wedding, and then showed how to do it out of paper.... See below!
{which inspired me to draw up this... not knowing what to make out of these fresh colors and simple graphics, I asked the readers for ideas... see below}
(Erika- we will contact you, when the entire collection is done to send you something special... please thank your little Charlotte for us!!! We hope we made her proud!!!)


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- Research article
- Open access
- Published:
Midterm follow up in patients with reduction ascending aortoplasty
Journal of Cardiothoracic Surgery volume 9, Article number: 120 (2014)
The reduction ascending aortoplasty in patients with an aortic ectasia/dilatation is a common procedure during concomitant cardiac operations. Aim of the follow up study was the evaluation of possible re-dilatation and complications.
From 1998 to 2010 124 patients (69% male; mean age 66.6 ± 12 ys) with ectasia of the ascending aortic who had no further indication for an aortic replacement, were included. The mean preoperative diameter of the ascending aorta was 4.2 ± 0.6 cm. The patients risk profile was moderate (mean EF 51% ± 11%, Euroscore 4.2 ± 2.1). To treat the dilatation of the ascending aorta, a longitudinal incision was performed and a strip of the aortic wall was resected. A reduction aortoplasty was carried out with a double-layered suture line using a 4/0 Prolene mattress suture with an additional 4/0 Prolene running suture. A follow up (rate 95%) was performed by echocardiography- and clinical examination.
All patients underwent reduction aortoplasty associated with a primary cardiac surgical procedure (AVR 63%, CABG 13%, other or combination 24%). The intrahospital mortality rate was 4%. Four aortic bleeding complications occurred. After a mean postoperative period of 57 ± 39 months, the ascending aortic diameter (3.6 ± 0.6 cm) was still significantly (P < 0.01) reduced. No postoperative aortic-related complications including aortic rupture, dissection and reoperation were observed. In 4 patients, the ascending aorta had re-dilated to the preoperative diameter.
Reduction ascending aortoplasty without external wrapping is a safe procedure with acceptable midterm results in patients with asymptomatic dilatations and concomitant cardiac surgical procedures.
A number of surgical techniques and materials are currently available for the treatment of aneurysms of the ascending aorta. Choosing the right technique requires careful review of the various factors, such as morphology of the aneurysm, dilatation of the aortic root, an additional aortic defect and the risks associated with surgery [1, 2].
If the dilatation affects only the ascending aorta, aortic replacement is the most common procedure and may potentially be combined with aortic valve replacement. This procedure provides good results [2] but is still associated with significant risks. Perioperative mortality and morbidities can vary up to 10% [1–4].
Reduction ascending aortoplasty (RAA) constitutes an alternative to replacing the ascending aorta in patients with ascending aneurysm without involvement of the aortic root [5]. This is a viable procedure which has demonstrated a number of advantages (less invasive as compared to replacement with a Dacron graft, shorter aortic clamping time, lower risk of bleeding) [6–8]. In addition, lower mortalities and morbidities were reported in patients with RAA [9]. The RAA remains, however, a controversial surgical option due to the potential risk of re-dilatation. This is why the procedure is generally limited to patients with a high perioperative risk. [2]. Reduction ascending aortoplasty is often used in older patients with non-dissecting aortic aneurysm, in particular as an added procedure with concomitant cardiosurgical intervention [8, 9].
Various techniques of aortoplasty are described in literature. Oftentimes synthetic wrapping is used in addition for external support. Our follow-up study, however, included only patients who underwent surgery with the Robicsek et al technique [7, 10] (without external support). This follow-up study was designed to assess medium long-term results of non-Dacron supported RAA procedures and determine the potential predictors for re-dilatation.
From January 1998 until 2010, 124 patients underwent reduction ascending aortoplasty associated with dilatation and ectasia of the ascending aorta. From 2011 to 2012 the patients were asked to return for a follow-up echocardiography at the Frankfurt am Main University Hospital. The study had been approved by our institutional ethics committee and the investigator obtained written consent from each patient (decree 184/12 Ethic committee Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany). The aortoplasty was performed when replacement of the ascending aorta was not indicated for patients (>5 cm) or existing pre-operative concomitant diseases would have considerably increased the risk associated with surgery.
The clinical variables are listed in Table 1. The mean age was 66.6 ± 12 years (min. 22 years/max. 89 years). N = 85 patients were male (69%) and 92.7% in the New York Heart Association functional class > II. In order to determine the pre-operative aortic diameter, we performed transthoracic echocardiography or radiological diagnostics (computer tomography). The mean pre-operative aortic diameter measured 4.2 ± 0.6 cm (range 2.8-5.7 cm). None of the patients presented with Marfan syndrome or other genetic disorders for which aortoplasty would be contraindicated. In all patients, the aortic dilatation was limited to the ascending aorta without involvement of the aortic root or aortic arch. The primary indication for surgery was aortic valve disease in n = 73 (63%) of patients. In n = 16 (13%) of patients, an aortocoronary bypass presented an indication for sternotomy. In addition to the dilatation of the ascending aorta, primary cardiac surgery was indicated in all patients. Reduction ascending aortoplasty was performed as concomitant secondary surgery (Table 2).
Surgical technique
After complete longitudinal sternotomy in 63% of all patients (27% underwent partial upper sternotomy), a cardiopulmonary bypass was established under moderate hypothermia (34°C). The reduction ascending aortoplasty consisted of the direct resection of an oval section of the anterior wall of the ascending aorta. The expected reduction was calculated with the Roman formula [11] (circumference = 2πr (r = radius, π = 3.14). The aortotomy was then adjusted in two layers with 4/0 Prolene™ (Ethicon Inc. USA) suture material. The aortoplasty was not additionally supported mechanically with prosthetic material. All associated indications for cardiac surgery were performed before the aortoplasty.
The patient follow-up data was initially collected by means of postal letters, telephone interviews and subsequent transthoracic echocardiography. If a CT of the chest had already been performed after hospitalization, echocardiography was not carried out and the data from the radiology test was used. The cumulative follow-up period consisted of 565 patient years and was concluded at 95% (N = 119/124) for the endpoint "survival". An echocardiography was performed in 65 patients. The median follow-up period was 55 months and the mean follow-up time was 57 ± 34 months.
Statistical analysis
Continuous variables were specified as mean value ± standard deviations. Nominal variables were described as numbers and percentages. Life tables were calculated with the Kaplan-Meier method. Significant predictors for a re-dilatation were first examined in a univariate analysis followed by a gradual logistic regression analysis. Only variables which were significant in the univariate analysis were entered into the regression model. A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Statistical analyses were carried out with the SPSS 21.0 software package (SPSS Inc., IBM, NY).
Postoperative and perioperative mortality and morbidity
Already during the primary hospitalization, 5 patients (4%) died within the first 30 days after the procedure. The cause of death was low cardiac output syndrome (n = 3) as well as multiple organ failure (n = 2). Acute antegrade dissection was not reported.
Long-term survival
20 cases of late death occurred within the entire follow-up period. The patients' mean age of death was 72 ± 11 years. The exact causes of death could not be established. No autopsies were performed (Figure 1).
4 of 124 patients experienced increased secondary haemorrhaging after surgery which could not be managed despite conservative medicinal therapy. Re-thoracotomy provided evidence of the source of the haemorrhage at the aortoplasty suture line. The bleeding was stopped in all cases with surgical intervention (Table 3).
Redilatation and repeat surgery
With the technique applied for the reduction ascending aortoplasty, the aortic diameter (3.6 ± 0.6 cm range 2.3-4.9 cm) in the area of the ascending aorta was significantly reduced by 0.6 cm (P = 0.001) (Figure 2). Progression of the aortic dilatation occurred in 4 patients (Figure 3). With a baseline diameter of 3.3 ± 0.5 cm, the cross-section increased by an average of 0.9 cm in these patients (4.2 ± 0.7cm). In the remaining patients (94%) the diameter was maintained with the reduction aortoplasty technique (n = 30) or decreased (n = 29). Repeat surgery with the indication of aortic revision were not reported during the follow-up period.
Predictors for redilatation: Only the preoperative diameter was identified as a significant predictor for redilatation. This applied only to patients with a smaller preoperative baseline diameter of <40 mm where redilatation was not observed. Other pre- and intra-operative variables (e.g. surgeon) could not be evaluated as a predisposing factor for redilatation.
The reduction ascending aortoplasty is a minimally invasive therapy option for dilatations of the ascending aorta and a viable alternative to radical aortic replacement. It is generally used for patients with borderline aortic dilatation or increased surgical risks [9]. Reduction aortoplasty can effectively decrease the aortic diameter or prevent further dilatation, shorten the aortic clamping time, and decrease the rate of mortality and morbidity [12, 13]. Postoperative complications were mainly caused by the primary indication for surgery (aortic valve replacement or CABG). The good results of the perioperative RAA are in contrast to those of replacement of the ascending aorta. Replacement of the ascending aorta has a higher perioperative mortality and morbidity [4, 5, 14–16], but is justified by the number of different indications for surgery and patient characteristics [13]. Aortoplasty is contraindicated in patients requiring aortic replacement (type A aortic dissection, Marfan syndrome, cystic medial necrosis). Reduction ascending aortoplasty is generally performed in older patients with a high perioperative risk and in combination with another concomitant heart surgery. The greatest concerns with regard to aortoplasty as surgical treatment pertain to the rate of re-dilatations and mortality. During our follow-up study, 20 patients died. The causes are not known, but in view of concomitant combined cardiac procedures, connections to the underlying cardiac disease can be derived. The results are comparable with those of other studies [2, 8, 9]. Bauer et al. [13] reports a survival rate of 94% after 5 years and regards the aortoplasty-related mortality as very low. He believes that the reduction ascending aortoplasty has no effect on medium-term or long-term survival.
Literature research on the occurrence of re-dilatation after RAA shows contradictory results with rates of 0% to 25% [12, 13, 17]. The lack of external support (wrapping) is made responsible for the differences, but a direct comparison between the studies is difficult due to the inhomogeneous groups. Arsan et al. [12] reports 35% of patients with a combined aortic valve replacement as compared to Bauer et al, where 89% of patients received aortic valve replacement with RAA. In our study, the most relevant valvular heart disease was aortic valve replacement associated with relevant stenosis (63%) while Bauer et al. [13] reported a percentage of 47%. Muller et al. [18] also reports that all re-dilatations occurred in patients with Marfan syndrome, while other authors classified Marfan syndrome as an absolute contraindication for RAA [19–21]. We determined an absence of re-dilatation of 94% over a period of 10 years. Four patients had re-dilatation of the ascending aorta which did not require surgery. This result is similar to that of Bauer [13], Kamada [22] and Polvani [17]. There is a general consensus that RAA should not be performed on patients with an aortic aneurysm of more than 60 mm [2]. This is why this patient population is not represented in our population. Univariate and multivariate analyses confirm that the pre-operative diameter is the most important factor for RAA. However, these results mainly applied to a diameter of more than 55 mm [2]. However, our analysis also shows that at the other end of the extreme values, reduction ascending aortoplasty may fail, namely in those patients for whom dilatation of the aorta constitutes a borderline indication for surgery or a normal physiological width.
The validity of this study is very limited. The following aspects should be critically noted: The study was only conducted in a selected subgroup of patients (maximum diameter of 57 mm). There are no control groups where either no surgery was performed on the aorta or aortic replacement was carried out. Histology results on the morphology of the aortic wall were not collected. A 95% follow-up rate with regard to the primary endpoint "death" is acceptable, but only 65% of patients could be motivated to undergo a follow-up echocardiography (re-dilatation as secondary endpoint).
For our patient population, reduction ascending aortoplasty is a safe and effective treatment option in patients with dilated ascending aorta (<50 mm) or significant contraindications for aortic replacement.
Ergin MA, Spielvogel D, Apaydin A, Lansman SL, McCullough JN, Galla JD, Griepp RB: Surgical treatment of the dilated ascending aorta: when and how?. Ann Thorac Surg. 1999, 67 (6): 1834-1839. discussion 1853-6
Gill M, Dunning J: Is reduction aortoplasty (with or without external wrap) an acceptable alternative to replacement of the dilated ascending aorta?. Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg. 2009, 9 (4): 693-697.
De Paulis R, Cetrano E, Moscarelli M, Andò G, Bertoldo F, Scaffa R, Tomai F, Chiariello L: Effects of ascending aorta replacement on aortic root dilatation. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 2005, 27 (1): 86-89.
Elefteriades JA: Natural history of thoracic aortic aneurysms: indications for surgery, and surgical versus nonsurgical risks. Ann Thorac Surg. 2002, 74 (Suppl): S1877-S1880.
Immer FF, Barmettler H, Berdat PA, Immer-Bansi AS, Englberger L, Krähenbühl ES, Carrel TP: Effects of deep hypothermic circulatory arrest on outcome after resection of ascending aortic aneurysm. Ann Thorac Surg. 2002, 74 (2): 422-425.
Jault F, Nataf P, Rama A, Fontanel M, Vaissier E, Pavie A, Bors V, Cabrol C, Gandjbakhch I: Chronic disease of the ascending aorta. Surgical treatment and long-term results. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 1994, 108 (4): 747-754.
Robicsek F, Cook JW, Reames MK, Skipper ER: Size reduction ascending aortoplasty: is it dead or alive?. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2004, 128: 562-570.
Belov IV, Stepanenko AB, Gens AP, Savichev DD, Charchyan ER: Reduction aortoplasty for ascending aortic aneurysm: a 14-year experience. Asian Cardiovasc Thorac Ann. 2009, 17 (2): 162-166.
Feindt P, Litmathe J, Börgens A, Boeken U, Kurt M, Gams E: Is size-reducing ascending aortoplasty with external reinforcement an option in modern aortic surgery?. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 2007, 31 (4): 614-617.
Robicsek F: A new method to treat fusiform aneurysm of the ascending aorta associated with aortic valve disease: an alternative to radical resection. Ann Thorac Surg. 1982, 34: 92-94.
Roman MJ, Devereux RB, Kramer-Fox R, O'Loughlin J: Two-dimensional echocardiographic aortic root dimensions in normal children and adults. Am J Cardiol. 1989, 64: 507-512.
Arsan S, Akgun S, Kurtoglu N, Yildirim T, Tekinsoy B: Reduction aortoplasty and external wrapping for moderately sized tubular ascending aortic aneurysm with concomitant operations. Ann Thorac Surg. 2004, 78: 858-861.
Yun KL, Miller DC, Fann JI, Mitchell RS, Robbins RC, Moore KA, Oyer PE, Stinson EB, Shumway NE, Reitz BA: Composite valve graft versus separate aortic valve and ascending aortic replacement: is there still a role for the separate procedure?. Circulation. 1997, 96 (9 Suppl): II-368-II-375.
Beddermann C, Norman JC, Cooley DA: Combined replacement of the ascending aorta and the aortic valve in 42 consecutive patients: a comparison of composite graft techniques and conventional techniques over one year. Cardiovasc Dis. 1980, 7: 214-229.
Malashenkov AI, Rusanov NI, Muratov RM, Movsesian RA, Fursov BA, Bykova VA, Tsoukerman GI: Eight years clinical experience with the replacement of the ascending aorta using composite xenopericardial conduit. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 2000, 18 (2): 168-173.
Bauer M, Pasic M, Schaffarzyk R, Siniawski H, Knollmann F, Meyer R, Hetzer R: Reduction aortoplasty for dilatation of the ascending aorta in patients with bicuspid aortic valve. Ann Thorac Surg. 2002, 73: 720-723.
Mueller XM, Tevaearai HT, Genton CY, Hurni M, Ruchat P, Fischer AP, Stumpe F, von Segesser LK: Drawback of aortoplasty for aneurysm of the ascending aorta associated with aortic valve disease. Ann Thorac Surg. 1997, 63: 762-766.
Baumgartner F, Omari B, Pak S, Ginzton L, Shapiro S, Milliken J: Reduction aortoplasty for moderately sized ascending aneurysms. J Card Surg. 1998, 13: 129-132.
Barnett MG, Fiore AC, Vaca KJ, Milligan TW, Barner HB: Tailoring aortoplasty for repair of fusiform ascending aortic aneurysms. Ann Thorac Surg. 1995, 59 (2): 497-51.
Carrel T, von Segesser L, Jenni R, Gallino A, Egloff L, Bauer E, Laske A, Turina M: Dealing with dilated ascending aorta during aortic valve replacement: advantages of conservative surgical approach. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 1991, 5: 137-143.
Kamada T, Imanaka K, Ohuchi H, Asano H, Tanabe H, Kato M, Ogiwara M, Yamabi H, Yokote Y, Kyo S: Mid-term results of aortoplasty for dilated ascending aorta associated with aortic valve disease. Ann Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2003, 9: 253-256.
Polvani G, Barili F, Dainese L, Topkara VK, Cheema FH, Penza E, Ferrarese S, Parolari A, Alamanni F, Biglioli P: Reduction ascending aortoplasty: midterm follow-up and predictors of redilatation. Ann Thorac Surg. 2006, 82 (2): 586-591.
We would like to thank the team of study coordinators for their support on data recruitment, analysis and patient feedback.
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AHK carried out the data recruitment, drafted the manuscript and performed the statistical analysis. EO carried out the follow up. AM performed the echo examinations. US, AZ and AM participated in the design of the study and. AM helped to draft the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
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Kiessling, A.H., Odwody, E., Miskovic, A. et al. Midterm follow up in patients with reduction ascending aortoplasty. J Cardiothorac Surg 9, 120 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1186/1749-8090-9-120
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1749-8090-9-120


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In its Q4, 2014 report for Sri Lanka market, IDC has awarded 9.1% market share and 3rd vendor rank to Nokia (Microsoft Mobile).
Nokia: Nokia stands third in smart phone market with close to 9% market share. Higher brand recall owing to their feature phone penetration continues to drive their business in the country. However, the brand might soon find itself competing closely with Indian vendors Micromax and Intex as they gear up to gain higher market share in the country.
Sri Lanka mobile phones market has seen a surge to touch 1million mark in Q4 2014 and 22% of the mobile phones contribution came from Smart Phones that are seeing rapid growth year-on-year at the expense of feature phones.
Sri Lanka mobile device market has observed a surge in sales in CY 2014. Noticeably, the smart phone business has been growing exponentially year-on-year and Q4 2014 was no exception.
According to International Data Corporation (IDC), the overall mobile phone market in Sri Lanka touched 1 million mark in Q4 2014. Smart phones contributed approximately 22% to the overall mobile phone market as the demand observed a continuous surge in the year. The data however, is exclusive of grey imports that are shipped to the country through illicit channels.
Talking about overall mobile phones market share, Nokia (Microsoft Mobile) is still the top dog with 19.4% market share.
Perhaps the challenge here for Microsoft is to convert as many Nokia feature phones users to its Lumia smartphones line as possible. We have seen it coming with exchange offers in India to achieve that.


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The Prince And The Dressmaker - Jen Wang review
What a lovely Graphic Novel! I've been looking to read this one for a while now, so I couldn't let it pass when I saw it was being translated to Dutch.
It is such a fun and cute story. It's such a nice read and I had it finished in no time. What I really liked about this book, was the meaning and the message it holds. 'Everyone is different and has different hobbies. Everyone should be who he/she wants to be whatever their hobbies or dreams may be." I think this is such a beautiful message and necessary to share. Everyone needs to hear this message. It's not always easy in this society to be who you want to be, because you're always being critisized by others. And I really hate that. I think it is important to be who you want to be, whitout the feir of being left out or being discriminated by others. So I really loved that this book is sending this very important message.
The drawings are really nice and beautifully drawn. They clearly indicate what the author wants to say and they are a nice addition to the speech bubbles.
I think it is a great story, and this is a message that I also like to convey to the children at work. I will certainly add this book to our book collection at work. So that this book can also convey the message to the younger children.
Book Specifics:
- Author: Jen Wang
- Genre: Graphic Novel
- Themes: Friendship, trust, secrets, gender neutrality
- Publisher: First Second
- Published: February 13th 2018
- Number of pages: 277 pages
- ISBN-Code: 9781626723634
- Price: $13.99
- Rating: * * * *


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For years now Sesame Street has been a helpful tool in teaching kids everything from their numbers to ABC's. And usually helping out for the day is a movie or television star that is familiar enough to resonate with audiences. Well thanks to a post by Laughing Squid we've found one of the best instances of a guest star possible. Sir Patrick Stewart! And in it he's helping the count get number one into position by "Making it so".
The clip itself comes from 1996 but it's still good to look back on. It's things like these that we really like to see and it tickles that certain nostalgia center in our brains. He's also been on the show showcasing the letter B. Which guess what! Is my favorite letter!
This video in particular is fun for fans of Patrick Stewart because it also shows off his Shakespearean Theater chops.
What do you think of Patrick Stewart on Sesame Street? Did you watch the episode live as a kid?


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Electronic Flora of South Australia Genus Fact Sheet
Phylum Phaeophyta – Order Chordariales – Family Chordariaceae
Thallus moderately to much branched, cylindrical, very mucoid, usually 10–30 cm long and 3–5 µm in diameter. Medulla multiaxial, of more or less parallel longitudinal filaments producing fairly abundant hyphae but not obscuring the longitudinal filaments, often becoming hollow. Subcortex extensive, often broader than the cortex, of branched, non-pigmented filaments arising at right angles from peripheral medullary filaments. Cortex of determinate assimilatory filaments arising in groups from the outer subcortical cells, filaments simple, often curved above, of short cells. Phaeophycean hairs present, arising from outer subcortical cells.
Thallus (Fig. 33C,D) grey-brown to dark brown, very mucoid, usually moderately branched with long laterals from near the base, to profusely branched with third or fourth order laterals and when young with short laterals near the apices, usually 10–30 cm long and (1–) 2–4 (–5) mm in diameter, cylindrical, becoming hollow, with a small discoid holdfast 1–3 mm across, epilithic. Basal system of juvenile plants consisting of a prostrate loose weft of irregularly globose, pigmented cells, from which erect medullary filaments develop. Medulla (Fig. 34F) of more or less parallel longitudinal filaments of cylindrical to slightly swollen cells 15–40 (–80) µm in diameter and L/B (1.5–) 2–8 (–12), from which numerous hyphae develop but without obscuring the longitudinal filaments; older parts often becoming hollow. Subcortex (Fig. 34E,F) extensive, often 200–700 µm broad and as wide or wider than the cortex, of branched, radiating filaments 10–18 µm in diameter near the medulla and 6–12 µm in diameter outwardly, cells L/B (2–) 4–10, developing from the peripheral medullary cells or hyphae, and with inner cells in turn producing hyphae. Cortical filaments (Fig. 34E,F) simple, determinate, borne in groups from upper subcortical cells or continuing as an inner branch of the subcortex, usually curved above, 100–200 (–250) µ and 12–20 cells long with upper cells ovoid (often swollen on upper side), 8–12 (–14) µm in diameter and L/B 1–2, with occasional intercalary divisions, lower cells cylindrical, 5–8 (–10) mm in diameter and L/B 2–3 (–5). Phaeoplasts (Fig. 34G) several per cell, discoid, each with a pyrenoid; cells with numerous small physodes. Phaeophycean hairs (Fig. 34F) frequent, arising from outer subcortical cells, 6–10 µm in diameter.
Reproduction: Reproduction by clavate to subspherical unilocular sporangia borne on outer subcortical cells at base of cortical filaments. Gametophytes filamentous, branched, dioecious, isogamous (in T. crassa — Peters & Müller 1986b) with the sporophyte also reproducing directly from plurilocular sporangia (Yotsui 1978) or from unilocular sporangia (Yotsui 1982).
Unilocular sporangia (Fig. 34F) clavate to ovoid to subspherical, sessile on outer subcortical cells and lying within the cortex, (40–) 50–90 µm long and (20–) 30–70 µm in diameter. Plurilocular sporangia unknown.
Life history diplohaplontic and heteromorphic (Yotsui 1978), or direct (Yotsui 1982).
Type: Type species: T. crassa (Suringar) Kylin.
Type from Georgetown, Tas., in Herb. Harvey, TCD.
Selected specimens: Sceale Bay, S. Aust., lower eulittoral (Bailey, 25.viii.1967; ADU, A31833). Victor Harbor, S. Aust., uppermost sublittoral just E. of causeway (Bailey, 6.xii.1980; ADU, A51934). Yilki, Victor Harbor, S. Aust., lower eulittoral pools near shore (Womersley, 7.ix.1985; ADU, A56720--Marine Algae of southern Australia" No. 256). Robe, S. Aust., low eulittoral (Womersley, 8.xii.1973; ADU, A44590). Apollo Bay, Vic., lower eulittoral pools (Bailey, 23.i.1967; ADU, A31754). Phillip I., Vic., lower eulittoral at Penguin Parade Beach (Sinkora A2237, 19.x.1975; ADU, A48506). Safety Cove, Port Arthur, Tas., lower eulittoral (Womersley, 31.x.1982; ADU, A55949).
Distribution: From Sceale Bay, S. Aust. to Port Phillip, Vic. and around Tasmania, usually on sand covered lower eulittoral rock during summer (August to late January).
Taxonomic notes: Tinocladia is distinguished by the extensive subcortex, radiating from the medulla of longitudinal filaments and bearing groups of cortical assimilatory filaments. The five species included by Kylin (1940) are not well separated morphologically and structurally, and may be only forms of T. australis (see also Mower & Widdowson 1969, pp. 74,75).
Tinocladia australis (Harvey) Kylin 1940: 34, pl. 6 fig. 14. Bailey & Womersley in Womersley 1967: 235.
Liebmannia australis Harvey I 859b: 291.
Eudesme harvevana Kylin: 31, pl. 5 fig. 13. Bailey & Womersley in Womersley 1967: 233.
Tinocladia australis is distinguished by the very wide subcortex, with some cortical filaments originating from mid cells of the subcortex. Eudesme harvevana is indistinguishable structurally from T. australis, and is interpreted as being younger plants with more abundant, short, upper laterals (Fig. 33D). This form intergrades into typical T. australis in the Victor Harbor region of South Australia.
KYLIN, H. (1940). Die Phaeophyceenordnung Chordariales. Acta Univ. lund. N.F. Avd. 2, 36(9), 1–67, Plates 1–8.
MOWER, A. & WIDDOWSON, T.B. (1969). New records of marine algae from southern California. Bull. South. Calif Acad. Sci. 68, 72–81.
PETERS, A.F. & MÜLLER, D.G. (1986b). Critical re-examination of sexual reproduction in Tinocladia crassa, Nemacystis decipiens and Sphaerotrichia divaricata (Phaeophyceae, Chordariales). Jap. J. Phycol. 34, 69–73.
WOMERSLEY, H.B.S. (1967). A critical survey of the marine algae of southern Australia. II. Phaeophyta. Aust. J. Bot. 15, 189–270.
YOTSUI, T. (1978). On the life cycle of an edible brown alga, Tinocladia crassa. Bull. Jap. Soc. Sci. Fish. 44, 861–867.
YOTSUI, T. (1982). The life cycle of Tinocladia crassa (Suringar) Kylin (Phaeophyta, Chordariales) without a haploid gametophyte from Kuchinotsu, Kyushu, Japan. Jap. J. Phycol. 30, 113–115.
The Marine Benthic Flora of Southern Australia Part II complete list of references.
Womersley, H.B.S. (14 December, 1987)
The Marine Benthic Flora of Southern Australia
Part II
©Board of the Botanic Gardens and State Herbarium, Government of South Australia
Illustrations in Womersley Part II, 1997: FIGS 33C,D, 34 E–G.
Figure 33 enlarge
Fig. 33. A. Suringariella harveyana (ADU, A31768). B. Mesogloiopsis tasmanica (ADU, A30075, holotype). C,D. Tinocladia australis ( C, ADU, A44590; D, A56720).
Figure 34 enlarge
Fig. 34. A–D. Mesogloiopsis tasmanica (ADU, A30075, holotype). A. Longitudinal (diagrammatic) section showing loose, filamentous medulla with outer filaments producing determinate cortical filaments and unilocular sporangia. B. Transverse section showing widely separated medullary filaments (with hyphae) producing determinate cortical filaments (diagrammatic) and unilocular sporangia. C. Detail of medullary filaments, determinate cortical filaments, phaeophycean hairs and unilocular sporangia. D. Cells of a determinate cortical filament with phaeoplasts (with pyrenoids) and physodes. E–G. Tinocladia australis (ADU, A31754). E. Diagram of transverse section showing medulla, extensive subcortex, and cortex with phaeophycean hairs and unilocular sporangia. F. Medulla of longitudinal filaments producing the extensive subcortex bearing determinate cortical filaments, phaeophycean hairs, and unilocular sporangia. G. Cells of a determinate cortical filament showing phaeoplasts and physodes.
Email Contact: State Herbarium of South Australia |


text: Here at Carolina, as I'm sure at every college & university, we have our standard end-of-semester course evaluation forms. There are the closed-ended questions that are students answer on a scantron bubble sheet, and open-ended questions answer freehand. Then, as if that wasn't enough, we have a standard set of 3 additional open-ended questions that we're all supposed to have the students answer. We all usually just write these on.. Read More


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Netrin-1, a multifunctional laminin-related protein is widely expressed in various tissues, including kidney. The pathophysiological roles of netrin-1 in toxic acute kidney injury are unknown. To determine the role of netrin-1 in cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity, we used netrin-1 transgenic mice that overexpress netrin-1 in the proximal tubular epithelium using the fatty acid binding protein promoter. Administration of cisplatin caused severe renal injury in WT mice but not in netrin-1 transgenic mice. Functional improvement was associated with better preservation of morphology, reduced cytokine expression and oxidative stress in the kidney, and reduced serum and urine cytokine and chemokine levels of transgenic mice as compared with WT mice. Cisplatin induced an increase in neutrophil infiltration into the kidney of WT mice, which was not significantly reduced in netrin-1 transgenic mice. Interestingly, ischemia reperfusion induced a large increase in apoptosis in WT mice but not in netrin-1 transgenic mice (215±40 vs 94±20 cells/5 HPF (× 400), P<0.0001), which was associated with reduced caspase-3 and p53 activation in the transgenic kidney. These results suggest that netrin-1 protects renal tubular epithelial cells against cisplatin-induced kidney injury by suppressing apoptosis and inflammation.
Original language | English (US) |
Pages (from-to) | 1717-1726 |
Number of pages | 10 |
Journal | Laboratory Investigation |
Volume | 91 |
Issue number | 12 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Dec 2011 |
Externally published | Yes |
- GF-b1
- calcineurin/NFAT
- iabetic nephropathy
- orcantharidin
- ubulointerstitial fibrosis
- xtracellular matrix
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pathology and Forensic Medicine
- Molecular Biology
- Cell Biology


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What information do I need to provide for secure payment ?
You will need to provide your credit card number, expiry date and visual cryptogram (3-digit code on the back of your card).
You will be directed to your bank's specific server who can ask you for additional information to make sure you have the credit card in order to protect yourself as much as possible from any spoofing of your card. This is the ultra-secure "3D secure" payment system.