text:
Wheat is the second most important direct source of food calories in the world. After considerable improvement during the Green Revolution, increase in genetic yield potential appears to have stalled. Improvement of photosynthetic efficiency now appears a major opportunity in addressing the sustainable yield increases needed to meet future food demand. Effort, however, has focused on increasing efficiency under steady-state conditions. In the field, the light environment at the level of individual leaves is constantly changing. The speed of adjustment of photosynthetic efficiency can have a profound effect on crop carbon gain and yield. Flag leaves of wheat are the major photosynthetic organs supplying the grain of wheat, and will be intermittently shaded throughout a typical day. Here, the speed of adjustment to a shade to sun transition in these leaves was analysed. On transfer to sun conditions, the leaf required about 15 min to regain maximum photosynthetic efficiency. In vivo analysis based on the responses of leaf CO2 assimilation (A) to intercellular CO2 concentration (ci) implied that the major limitation throughout this induction was activation of the primary carboxylase of C3 photosynthesis, ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco). This was followed in importance by stomata, which accounted for about 20% of the limitation. Except during the first few seconds, photosynthetic electron transport and regeneration of the CO2 acceptor molecule, ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate (RubP), did not affect the speed of induction. The measured kinetics of Rubisco activation in the sun and de-activation in the shade were predicted from the measurements. These were combined with a canopy ray tracing model that predicted intermittent shading of flag leaves over the course of a June day. This indicated that the slow adjustment in shade to sun transitions could cost 21% of potential assimilation.
This article is part of the themed issue 'Enhancing photosynthesis in crop plants: targets for improvement'.
1. Introduction
Leaves of crops in the field experience frequent fluctuations in light, moving from shade to full sunlight, and vice versa, as clouds obscure the sun or as leaves go into the shade of other leaves, stems and floral structures. Recently, it was shown that increasing the rate at which leaves could re-adjust photosynthetic efficiency on transfer to shade increased productivity of a tobacco crop in replicated field trials by 14–20% [1]. This was shown to result from a decrease in the time required for non-photochemical quenching to relax and the efficiency of leaf photosynthetic CO2 uptake (A), in limiting light, to recover. Equally, there is a lag in achieving maximum efficiency when leaves are transferred in the opposite direction from shade to sun. The increase in A that occurs following the transition has been termed photosynthetic induction [2]. Although many factors could govern the speed of induction, it has been shown to correlate with, and modelled to correspond to, Rubisco activation in, for example, soya bean and tobacco [3,4]. More recently, over-expression of Rca, the gene coding for Rubisco activase (Rca), in rice resulted in a slightly increased speed of induction at 25°C [5]. In vivo, the steady-state response of leaf CO2 uptake (A) to intercellular CO2 concentration (ci) has proved a highly valuable means to partition limitations, including apparent Rubisco activity (Vc,max). Recently, this concept has been extended by inducing photosynthesis on the same leaf in a range of CO2 concentrations. This allowed the production of dynamic A/ci responses to infer limitations at different stages of induction in soya bean. On transfer of leaves from a shade light level of 100 µmol m−2 s−1 to a full sun level of 2000 µmol m−2 s−1, 10–20 min were required for leaves to regain full efficiency. The dynamic A/ci analysis over this period inferred that the slowest responding determinant of photosynthetic rate was Rubisco activity, suggesting activation of this enzyme as the primary cause of this delay [3,4]. However, the impact this might have on production was not quantified.
Bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is second only to rice in importance to the world's population as a direct source of food calories [6]. After large improvements in global yields of wheat per hectare following the Green Revolution, improvement stagnated in the first decade of this century [6–9]. Improved partitioning of biomass to grain, i.e. harvest index, was roughly doubled, making it the key factor of genetic improvement of yield potential during the Green Revolution. Harvest index is now at about 60% of total shoot biomass in contemporary cultivars, and is close to its biological limits [10,11]. This may explain why increases in yield potential have been stagnating in recent years. New innovations are therefore needed if genetic yield potential of wheat is to be improved further [10,12]. Photosynthetic efficiency in wheat, as in all crops, falls well short of its theoretical potential and has been improved little with selection and breeding [13]. Indeed some have argued that leaf photosynthetic capacity has decreased with domestication [14].
The flag leaf of wheat, together with the ear, are considered to account for most of the carbohydrate that accumulates in the developing grain [15]. Furthermore, the proportion of photosynthate derived from the flag leaf relative to the ear has increased progressively with the increase in harvest index through the past 50 years [16], so increasing its importance as a source of carbohydrate for the developing grain. Using a current cultivar of wheat, this study: (i) determines the speed of adjustment of photosynthesis in the flag leaf on transfer from shade to sun; (ii) infers, by developing dynamic A/ci responses, the in vivo factors determining the speed of adjustment; and (iii) estimates the loss of potential production that may result from this slow adjustment.
2. Material and methods
(a) Plant material and growth conditions
A bread-making quality wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cv. Highbury was used (Nottingham University, UK). Seed was sown into 3 l containers of soil-less compost mix (Petersfield Products, Leicester, UK) incorporating a broad range fertilizer (PG Mix, Yara, Grimsby, UK), in a controlled environment greenhouse. Day/night temperatures were maintained at 24 ± 9.3°C/19 ± 1.4°C (mean ± s.d.) and relative humidity was 45 ± 12.6%. Growth CO2 concentration in the greenhouse air was measured hourly and averaged 449 ± 23 µmol mol−1 over the duration of the experiment. Daylight was supplemented with high pressure sodium lamps (SON-T 400 W, Philips Lighting, Eindhoven, The Netherlands) to ensure a minimum photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) of 500 µmol m−2 s−1 at the plant surface for 16 h d–1. After germination, seedlings were thinned to one per container. Containers were watered daily to field capacity.
(b) Gas exchange and analysis of photosynthetic CO2 responses
Photosynthetic gas exchange of fully emerged flag leaves was measured between heading and anthesis. The mid-section of the leaf was enclosed within a controlled environment cuvette integrated into a portable gas exchange system incorporating infrared CO2 and water vapour analysers (LI-6800F, LI-COR, Lincoln, NE). Light was provided through the light-emitting diodes incorporated into the cuvette head.
Response curves of net leaf CO2 uptake (A) to PPFD were determined to obtain preliminary values for day respiration (Rd) and identify the lowest PPFD that would be saturating for subsequent static and dynamic A/ci analysis. In all measurements, leaf temperature was maintained at 25°C and leaf vapour pressure deficit (VPDleaf) at ca 1.0 kPa. Transpiration was measured simultaneously to determine stomatal conductance to water (gs,w), to correct for impacts on measured CO2 fluxes, and to allow calculation of ci based on transpiration-corrected leaf conductance to CO2. Leaves were induced to steady state at a cuvette CO2 of 400 µmol mol−1 and a PPFD of 1500 µmol m−2 s−1, allowing at least 40 min for steady state to be achieved. PPFD was then stepped down through 1200, 1000, 800, 600, 500, 400, 300, 200, 150, 100, 50 and 0 µmol m−2 s−1; measurements were collected immediately cuvette conditions stabilized at each light level. The response of A to incident PPFD was then fit using nonlinear least squares (nls: R Language and Environment) to a non-rectangular hyperbola [17]: where ϕ is the realized quantum yield (mol mol−1); I, incident PPFD (μmol m−2 s−1); Asat, the maximum gross rate of leaf CO2 assimilation (μmol m−2 s−1); θ, a dimensionless curvature parameter; Rd, the daytime rate of respiration (μmol m−2 s−1). Fitted values were (mean ± s.e.): ϕ, 0.067 ± 0.0049; Asat, 38.1 ± 3.58; θ, 0.58 ± 0.044; Rd, 1.68 ± 075; Rd was used as an initial value in models of the photosynthetic response to CO2 concentration.
The 'static' response of A to ci (expressed as the mole fraction in air: μmol mol−1) was determined by obtaining steady-state A under the conditions described above, but by maintaining PPFD at 1200 µmol m−2 s−1 and varying CO2 in the air surrounding the leaf (ca). Measurements were made at 430, 300, 200, 150, 100, 50 and approximately 0 µmol mol−1 ca, which was then increased to 430, 500, 600, 800 and 1000 µmol mol−1; following procedures recommended previously [18]. Values for A and ci were calculated from the equations of Farquhar & von Caemmerer [19].
Parameters of the response of A to ci were characterized on the basis of limitation by Rubisco (AC) and electron transport (AJ) [19]. and
The maximum rate of carboxylation (Vc,max, μmol m−2 s−1), the rate of electron transport (J, μmol m−2 s−1), and Rd were fit using nonlinear least squares. To do this, values for: Γ*, the photorespiratory compensation point; KC, the Rubisco Michaelis constant for CO2; and KO, the Rubisco Michaelis constant for O2, were calculated at the mean leaf temperature, based on values for tobacco following Bernacchi et al. [20]. Using nonlinear least squares, Vc,max and Rd were estimated first, and the value of Rd was used when estimating J. Parameters were normalized to 25°C following previously described relationships to temperature [20]. Because calculation of the true Vc,max requires determination of cc, we note that the term determined here from ci and referred to as Vc,max is determined by both the in vivo activity of Rubisco and mesophyll conductance (gm).
To identify the transition point between Rubisco and ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate (RuBP) limitation, we used an approach derived from the recommendations of Gu et al. [21]. All possible combinations of AC and AJ were fit to each CO2 response curve, and the best fit was selected based on the minimal value of where are predicted, and A observed values for the respective segments of the A/ci curves. The best fitting AC, AJ combination was considered admissible if the transition point predicted fell between data assigned to AC and AJ. Stomatal limitation (l) was also calculated from the A/ci response [22], where is the value of A as determined from the A/ci response if ci = ca, i.e. assuming infinite boundary layer and stomatal conductances. is the actual A achieved at the given ca, i.e. accounting for the decrease in ci resulting from the actual stomatal conductance (gs).
To determine the limitations to A during low to high light transitions leaf gas exchange was measured at a range of ca and 'dynamic' A/ci responses constructed as described previously [24]. At the start of measurements each leaf was brought to steady state at a ca of 400 µmol mol−1, PPFD of 1200 µmol m−2 s−1, cuvette air temperature of 25°C, and VPD ca 1.0 kPa. Induction measurements followed decreases in PPFD to 50 µmol m−2 s−1 for 30 min (shade): gas exchange was recorded at 10 s intervals for 15 min following a step change back to 'sun' (1200 µmol m−2 s−1 PPFD), a PPFD sufficient for saturation of Vc,max and J. The cycle of 30 min shade + 10 min sun was repeated at ca of 50, 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 800 and 1000 µmol mol−1. Within a few seconds after the transition from 'shade' to 'sun', leaf temperatures rose by approximately 1°C to the range 24.5–25.1°C, with coefficients of variation (CV) during inductions less than 0.63%. The range of leaf VPD during inductions was 1.0–1.2 kPa, with CV < 2.8%; CV for ca were less than 3%. In the shade at ambient and higher cuvette ca, gs decreased, minimizing the range of ci that could be obtained and preventing characterization of AJ. To fully characterize photosynthetic limitations during induction dynamic A/ci measurements were repeated, but using a ca of 100 µmol mol−1 during shade to inhibit stomatal closure before switching to the desired ca and sun condition for induction.
CO2 response curves were fit to the data for each 10 s interval of induction. A small number of inadmissible fits were obtained when there was insufficient data to fit both AC and AJ; we re-fit these cases using either AC or AJ (alongside Rd), and chose the best fit based on a comparison of and . To determine whether A during photosynthetic induction was limited primarily by Vc,max or J, parameters from the dynamic A/ci responses were used in combination with steady-state gs,w to estimate a maximum probable operating ci: equated to . The resulting quadratic was solved for ci at each 10 s interval through induction.
(c) In vivo kinetics for Rubisco activation in wheat
The time constant for Rubisco activation was determined from the kinetics of A following transitions from low to high light, excluding transient changes occurring during the first minute as described previously [23]
where is a steady-state value for A*: the potential gross leaf CO2 assimilation in sun, corrected to constant ci. A* was calculated as, where ci,f is the steady-state ci approximated as 0.65ca, and Rd was assumed to be 1.6 µmol m−2 s−1 (the fitted value from our steady-state A/ci response). Ai is the gross assimilation extrapolated to t = 0, which provides an estimate of initial Rubisco activation [3,23]. Finally, τ is the time constant for recovery of photosynthesis. The model was fit using both nonlinear least squares (using data collected from 60 s until 600 s after the change in PPFD), and the linear regression technique described previously [23], where a plot of against time has slope and intercept . The same model was fit to A* and Vc,max, allowing a novel comparison between estimates of τ for Rubisco activation based on A* and Vc,max.
To obtain integrated CO2 assimilation () during increases in PPFD, if it is assumed that RuBP concentration is saturating, the model can be re-written as [24]
Setting τ = 0 estimates potential assimilation rate with a square response to PPFD (), and an estimate of foregone assimilation is . To determine the impacts of Rubisco kinetics on CO2 assimilation, the response of to PPFD was modelled at approximately 60 s time intervals during a diurnal period. A PPFD regime was used that predicted light available to the second layer of a crop canopy [25]. This is justified by the observation that the ears represent the first layer and cause intermittent shading of the flag leaves as the angle of the sun progresses through the day. In the data used, PPFD at a point on the leaf had been predicted using reverse ray tracing, with shade-generating structures in the canopy distributed at random within each layer. A clear sky day in June at latitude 44°N had been assumed for calculating sun angles over the course of the day [25]. To model gross photosynthesis throughout the diurnal period, initial photosynthesis for each approximately 60 s interval (Ai) was taken to be A* predicted for the preceding interval, except at first light where Ai was assumed to be zero. The potential maximum gross rate of photosynthesis during each timestep (A*f) was predicted as , using parameters from the PPFD response curves fit to steady-state data and setting t = duration of the timestep (s). When PPFD was increasing we set τ to 180 s, the mean value determined by substituting the time-series of Vc,max from our dynamic A/ci analysis into the induction model: . When PPFD was decreasing, we estimated as , and predicted Ai as above, but using τ = 300 s for the rate of decrease towards the lower A*f predicted from PPFD. The value of τ = 300 s for the decrease was predicted on the basis that 30 min 'shade' treatment resulted in a decrease in Vc,max from to .
3. Results
(a) Factors limiting photosynthesis in wheat, cv. Highbury: steady state
Responses to light and CO2 measured from steady-state photosynthesis indicated high maximum net leaf CO2 assimilation rates (Asat > 30 µmol m−2 s−1; figures 1 and 2), with saturation approached at a PPFD of about 1200 µmol m−2 s−1 (figure 1a). This was the subsequent level chosen as a proxy for 'sun' conditions in examining induction. On transfer from 'shade' (50 µmol m−2 s−1) to 'sun' at ca of 400 µmol mol−1 there was an initial rapid increase in A (figure 1b), followed by a slower increase lasting ca 15 min. When leaves were maintained at a ca of 100 µmol mol−1 in the shade to prevent stomatal closure, then exposed to 'sun' at ca 400 µmol mol−1, the initial transient increase in A saturated at a higher value, indicating a decrease in stomatal limitation; however, after 10 min A was similar in the two experiments (figure 1b).
Static A/ci responses showed that at steady state, limitation of Asat was consistent with AC (figure 2); ci,trans, the transition from limitation by AC, with Vc,max (113 ± 13 µmol m−2 s−1; mean ± s.e., N = 3), to limitation by AJ, with J (214 ± 18 µmol m−2 s−1), occurred at 407 ± 27 µmol mol−1. This transition was therefore well above the operating ci, i.e. that obtained at the current atmospheric level of 400 µmol mol−1 and above the ci that would be obtained under the slightly elevated ambient ca in the greenhouse of 449 µmol mol−1 (figure 2). Stomatal limitation to Asat at 400 µmol mol−1 ca (l) was 0.196 ± 0.010 (mean ± s.e.), i.e. if there was no diffusive barrier at the epidermis Asat would be about 20% higher.
(b) Factors limiting photosynthesis in wheat, cv. Highbury: during induction
A/ci responses constructed for each 10 s interval of induction following transition from 50 to 1200 µmol m−2 s−1 PPFD (electronic supplementary material, figure S1) showed several phases of photosynthetic limitation. Admissible, best fitting models during the first 40 s after the transition to sun, consisted in most cases solely of limitation by AC, with Vc,max at less than 40% of its steady-state value (compare figures 2 and 3a). However, sums of squares (SS) for residuals of models fit as a single limitation phase were relatively high (6.97–37.91); stronger fits were obtained when both AC and AJ could be identified (figure 3b–f; SS, 1.04–12.29).
Initially, both Vc,max and J increased, but J increased more rapidly than Vc,max, so ci,trans rose to a maximum approaching 600 µmol mol−1 at around 2.5 min (figure 3b,c). At 3 min, J saturated close to 250 µmol m−2 s−1 and ci,trans began to decrease as Vc,max slowly rose (figure 3d). For the remainder of the first 10 min following the transition, decreases in ci,trans continued, in concert with increasing Vc,max. The increase in Vc,max was most rapid in the first 4.5 min (figure 3e), and adjustment continued through to 10 min (figure 3f). After this time, A/ci responses were comparable with those measured at steady state (figures 2 and 3f).
Time series for Vc,max, J and ci,trans (figure 4) developed from data including those shown in figure 3, provided a τ for Vc,max of ca 3 min (mean ± s.e.m., 181 ± 12.8 s), more than three times that for J (50.1 ± 1.91 s); slow adjustment in Vc,max clearly had a strong effect on ci,trans between 2.5 and 10 min into the induction (figure 4). Calculation of a maximum probable operating ci (figure 4; based on A/ci responses and steady state gs,w) further demonstrated that ci,trans exceeded this value throughout the period of induction, confirming that in our analysis apparent Vc,max was the dominant biochemical variable limiting photosynthesis through the induction (figure 4c). Comparisons of τ for Vc,max with estimates of τ for Rubisco activation effects on photosynthesis based on A* suggested a range of values for τ between 3 and 4 min (electronic supplementary material, figure S2).
Shading, such as that simulated by our 50 µmol m−2 s−1 PPFD pre-treatment, affects stomatal opening. To characterize AJ using dynamic A/ci analysis, it was necessary to increase stomatal conductance following shade by decreasing ca during the low-light pre-treatment. Compared with plants pre-treated at 400 µmol mol−1 ca, during the first 4 min after illumination both A and gs,w of plants pre-treated at ca = 100 µmol mol−1 were higher by 30–65% (figure 1b) and 88–171% (figure 5a), respectively, resulting in an increase in cumulative net CO2 assimilation of 22%. Pre-treatment with a ca of 100 µmol mol−1 also resulted in progressive decreases in ci through the induction, suggesting increasing photosynthetic efficiency was a key control on ci (figure 5c). Pre-treatment at ca = 400 µmol mol−1 resulted in rapid declines of ci to a minimum that was maintained for around 5 min before ci started to increase (figure 5b). In both cases, after 10 min ci remained below values expected at steady state (figures 2 and 4c); slow relaxation of stomatal limitation affected ci over considerably longer periods than relaxation of limitation by Vc,max. Immediately after PPFD increased, l in leaves pre-treated at a ca = 400 µmol mol−1 CO2 was twice as high as in leaves treated at 100 µmol mol−1, reaching a maximum of 0.5. After 10 min l was similar between the two treatments (figure 5d), but remained 50% higher than for steady state A/ci responses in both cases (400 µmol mol−1, 0.32; 100 µmol mol−1, 0.3).
(c) Impact of induction characteristics on diurnal photosynthesis
Simulation of PPFD fluctuations that would occur at a single point on a flag leaf due to intermittent shading from ears and other flag leaves on a clear sky summer day, shows multiple transitions from shade to sun and back to shade (figure 6a). Based on the response of A to PPFD determined for these leaves (figure 1a), the cumulative assimilation of CO2 over the course of a clear sky day, accounting for the fluctuations in PPFD, is shown in the upper line of figure 6b. The total uptake of CO2 over the daylight hours is 640 mmol m−2. When account is taken of de-activation of Rubisco, depending on duration of the 'shade' period and then subsequent re-activation, cumulative CO2 assimilation would follow the lower line. This reaches a total of 506 mmol m−2 or a 21% reduction due to the slow recovery of photosynthetic efficiency, due to the re-activation of Rubisco, following shade to sun transitions. The dynamics of this loss may be seen more clearly from a narrower time window around solar noon. Here, for instantaneous assimilation rates the area above the dotted line and below the solid line represents lost assimilation (figure 6c).
4. Discussion
On shade to sun transitions, this study has shown that several minutes are required for the wheat flag leaf to re-attain maximum photosynthetic efficiency (figure 1b). At the level of leaf biochemical limitations, the apparent maximum activity of Rubisco (Vc,max) limits this rate of induction, implying activation of this enzyme as the key factor, rather than regeneration of the RuBP CO2 acceptor molecule (J). This was clearly indicated by the fact that ci,trans was well above the actual ci when ca was at the current atmospheric level of 400 µmol mol−1 and at the actual greenhouse growth ca of 449 µmol mol−1 (figures 3 and 4c). In contrast to previous studies [4], stomatal limitation plays a role in the speed of induction, declining from ca 0.5 in the first 3 min to about 0.3 at steady state, indicating that about 20% of the lag is due to stomatal movement (figure 5c). This is also indicated by the fact that when the leaf is at the ambient ca of 400 ppm throughout, ci declines to about 200 µmol mol−1 before recovering to ca 230 µmol mol−1 at steady state (figure 5b). Combining the ray tracing model of Zhu et al. [25] and the modelled kinetics of Rubisco de-activation and activation on sun-to-shade-to-sun transitions following Woodrow et al. [3,23,24], losses due to the slow induction were calculated. Parametrized on the data reported here for wheat flag leaves, the lag in activation of Rubisco following shade to sun transitions resulted in a 21% loss of potential flag leaf assimilation (figure 6).
The findings (figures 3 and 4c) indicate Vc,max, or the apparent maximum activity of Rubisco, as the major factor limiting the rate of induction, implying the speed of re-activation of Rubisco. This is consistent with previous studies of tobacco, rice and soya bean [3–5]. However, the apparent Vc,max calculated from the A/ci response is also affected by mesophyll conductance (gm). [CO2] at Rubisco (cc) will be less than ci due to mesophyll conductance. If gm increased during the course of induction, it would cause part of the apparent increase in Vc,max. As a physical conductance, gm would not vary. However, modelling suggests that in reality it will have some dependence on the positioning of organelles, and in particular the relative localization of chloroplasts and mitochondria, which may change in response to light levels within the leaf [26–28]. It is known that chloroplasts may alter their position with PPFD. Through its impact on gm, this movement could explain some, but certainly not all, of the change in apparent Vc,max [28]. Transporters and channels in membranes may change dynamically to affect gm. Therefore, the lag attributed to Rubisco activation could in reality be a combination this activation with an increase in gm.
Previous research has shown a strong correlation between the speed of induction and the activation of Rubisco, in particular, the enzyme Rubisco activase [3,5]. Also, as noted above, in contrast to a previous dynamic analysis of A/ci responses in induction in soya bean [4], stomata limit the speed of induction, accounting for about 20% of the change (figure 5). However, stomatal opening appears to depend strongly on photosynthesis in the mesophyll [29,30]. Thus, there may be some dependency of the speed of stomatal opening on the speed of Rubisco activation in the mesophyll. Assuming cc in the shade is sufficient to support rapid carbamylation of Rubisco, increasing the speed of activation might increase the speed of stomatal opening.
The dynamic A/ci method used to identify photosynthetic limitations in this study has been developed recently [4]. In this study, we found that it was necessary to decrease ca in the 'shade' in order to limit stomatal closure that otherwise prevented characterization of AJ in wheat. We anticipate that this technical solution will not have had a substantial effect on Rubisco activation independent of the 'shade' because at low light photosynthesis will be entirely limited by RuBP regeneration not Rubisco, and because ci remained high. Decreases in activation linked with de-carbamylation as a result of low CO2 availability [31] are unlikely in this scenario. Perhaps more importantly, dynamic A/ci analyses are intended to capture non-steady state dynamics, and do so by characterizing induction at a range of ca. The rate of Rubisco activation during induction is thought to respond to CO2 availability [32], consistent with greater availability of CO2 driving Rubisco carbamylation and minimizing alternative reactions (reviewed in [33]). The timed snapshots obtained using dynamic A/ci analysis, in strict terms, violate the usual assumption made when using the Farquhar et al. model [34] that Rubisco activity is at steady state. Calculating Vc,max in a dynamic analysis averages across measurements that may reflect different activation states. It is also possible that the eventual steady state of activation during each induction will depend on ca, but evidence suggests decreases in activation under light saturated conditions are usually observed only when ci is significantly below 100 µmol mol−1, and then only in certain species [31]. Nonetheless, specific parameter values for dynamic A/ci response curves should be interpreted with some caution. The usefulness of the dynamic A/ci analysis is primarily as a mean of assessing the sequence and approximate timing of transitions between different photosynthetic limitations during induction. We anticipate that experimentation and modelling to understand how ca affects Rubisco activation state during induction will improve our understanding of the induction process, and the potential feedbacks due to mesophyll and stomatal conductance responses.
Importantly, this research shows that the speed of non-steady-state adjustment of photosynthesis to light fluctuations in the field, regardless of underlying cause, will strongly affect flag leaf photosynthesis. In turn, this will decrease the supply of assimilate for the developing grain. Although, only the flag leaf was examined here, the same lags in induction will likely apply to all leaves of the plant. Thus, the growth and production that supports the development of the plant to flowering and seed fill will be affected. Increasing the rate of induction following shade to sun transitions under typical field conditions during grain filling would decrease the impact of a significant limitation, and therefore represents an excellent target through which increases in productivity would be obtained. The gains in productivity could be of similar magnitude to those observed by bioengineering a faster rate of adjustment to sun to shade transitions [1]. Acceleration might be achieved by over-expressing the amount of Rca [5], by targeted amino acid substitutions of Rca [35], altered ratios of alpha and beta forms [35], or by exploring the natural variation in speed of adjustment apparent in soya bean [4]. The results presented here suggest that these changes have the potential to open an important new route, through photosynthesis, to a much needed yield jump for wheat.
Data accessibility
The datasets supporting this article are available from Lancaster University: doi:10.17635/lancaster/researchdata/144.
Authors' contributions
S.H.T. and S.L. designed experiments and statistical analyses, and co-wrote the article; S.H.T. carried out measurements.
Competing interests
We have no competing interests.
Lancaster University provided the financial support necessary to undertake this work.
We thank Dr Elizabete Carmo-Silva for helpful discussions on Rubisco activation and for supplying us with the wheat plants used here, and we thank Prof. Xinguang Zhu for providing raw data on light within canopies from his simulation study [25].
One contribution of 16 to a discussion meeting issue 'Enhancing photosynthesis in crop plants: targets for improvement'.
Electronic supplementary material is available online at https://dx.doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.3820807.
- Accepted April 2, 2017.
- © 2017 The Authors.
Published by the Royal Society under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/, which permits unrestricted use, provided the original author and source are credited.


text:
HARRISON, N.Y. -- Here are some of the stories that topped the news in Harrison last week:
- Harrison resident Tony Mazzulli brought together commercial real estate and television, producing a reality TV series.
- Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino labeled Andrew Cuomo " the most corrupt governor in history ."
- Mildred Betancourt of Watertown , Conn., was arrested for DWAI, "driving while ability impaired," after being pulled over for speeding at 92 mph on Interstate 684.
- Westchester County Police Officer Scott McMahon is recovering after being struck by a motorist in Scarsdale.
- Police arrested a White Plains man on charge of DWI with his child in car.
Click here to sign up for Daily Voice's free daily emails and news alerts.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
New study reveals aggressive business mobility trends
According to Unisys' third annual consumerization of IT report, there is a growing divide between mobile workers and the IT teams at their companies. This schism isn't due to conflicts, but rather the workers' increasing preference for their personal technology and devices. With increasing BYOD solution adoption and less reliance on IT departments for support, these professionals are pushing change in their companies, presenting new challenges for IT.
While the benefits of BYOD and mobile working are becoming better documented, it is important for businesses to recognize the risks of not approaching the strategies properly. If not carefully implemented, providing remote access and support for consumer devices can open up the door to an access management nightmare, security breaches, misuse of company resources and other issues.
"Rather than fighting this trend, we believe CIOs and IT decision-makers should study the behavior of these mobile elite workers in order to understand which approaches provide real innovation and differentiation for their organizations, and then craft their mobile infrastructures to safely support these activities," said Fred Dillman, Unisys chief technology officer.
According to the study, 43 percent of remote workers use multiple devices for work, with 44 percent utilizing a smartphone and 15 percent a tablet. Additionally, over half of respondents reported that their personal technology is better than that supplied by their employers, a primary reason for utilizing it.
In order to support the initiative of this "elite workforce" rather than stifle it, businesses will need the right access infrastructure and solution to provide access without risk. Deploying desktop virtualization (VDI), along with aconnection brokerfor RDP-based remote access to Windows-based applications and desktops, is one type of access model that can provide this protection as well as a high level of management. It gives professionals a secure way of accessing company data and applications on their personal devices by keeping the business' digital property where it belongs – on company servers. This reduces the risk that data could be lost or stolen along with a device, without hindering access for the worker. By approving remote access in this secure manner, a business will gain all the benefits that supporting at-home employees and a mobile workforce provides while minimizing the potential for trouble.
Industry news brought to you by Ericom Software, leaders in Mobility and Remote Access solutions.


text:
Follow Us
Kayaking near Fisgard Lighthouse National Historic Site
Surfing on Long Beach in Pacific Rim National Park (JF Bergeron photo)
The Vancouver Island region is best experienced out of doors. So much of it is protected, unspoiled wilderness that any visit here would be incomplete without an excursion to at least one park or nature reserve.
Wildlife flourishes in abundance, making bird watching, whale watching and salmon fishing extremely popular pursuits for visitors and locals alike. Birders can check hundreds of species off their lists. Whale watchers regularly sight Orcas, humpbacks, greys and minkes. Anglers fish for all five species of Pacific salmon.
There is almost any kind of outdoor fun in the region – golfing, hiking, biking, kayaking, camping, surfing, swimming and picnicking – and plenty to do indoors as well. Visit museums and heritage sites, enjoy live theatre, browse art galleries, tour vineyards or be pampered in luxury spas.
Tweets by @HelloBC
View all locations
We value your privacy and never share your information, and you may withdraw your consent and unsubscribe at any time.
Privacy Policy


text:
Latest Batman v Superman Dawn of Justice movie clip adds context to infamous threat. Everybody likes a good 'shot heard around the World' headline, and where DoJ has been concerned, Batman's "do you bleed" line has been the grabber. Personally never understood it, as it seemed overly aggressive – even for Dark Knight Returns Batman – to just lay at another 'hero's' feet; and I've been waiting for context ever since. Thankfully, helmer-in-chief Zack Snyder, himself, provided just that, during a sit for Conan.
He bore a gift, in the form of a full clip, which pretty much filled in the gap between the moment Bats (Ben Affleck) & Supes (Henry Cavill) literally collided, and Batman's infamous first words (as impressed upon us, during last year's Con season). Turns out, neither did the Bat throw the first threat, nor was Superman all that passive in the Batmobile fender bender, after all. With the line "The Bat is Dead," we now have to get context to the Superman threat, of course (just so you see how that works).
I understand that manipulating public expectations is something of a necessity (if not warrior's art) in the social media age, and that the DC/ Warner people may have been doing an understatedly good job at keeping speculators coming & going (and coming back for more); but there is the risk of them creating an entirely false impression of this film that might exceed the finished product. If bait-and-switch is the order of the day, the item offered better be superior to the one advertised.
The good news is that this particular switch-up up-ends the longest held impression of the film's tone, while encouraging more recent reports/ theories regarding the adversarial nature of the meeting. Here, the risk becomes giving those on the right track too much to work with. I want to be surprised by this film; but I still have my doubts. Press junket hasn't even really started yet, though; so more reveals to be… well, revealed.
Watch the Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice "The Bat is Dead" clip, and leave your thoughts on it below, in the comments section. For more Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice photos, videos, and information, visit our Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice Page, subscribe to us by Email, "follow" us on Twitter, Tumblr, or "like" on Facebook for quick updates. Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice will be released in US theaters through Warner Bros. in May 6, 2016.


text:
Bogs offers the best shoes and boots for the Toughest conditions Mother Nature can throw at you. No matter if you're navigating the city streets or the muddiest trails, Bogs has the footwear for you. They are 100% waterproof and warm, which means that they are 100% comfortable. They are made with 7mm 100% waterproof sbr upper Full length contoured eva sockliner. Height: 9. 5 inches on a size 7. They have a Non-slip rubber outsole. Athletic shoe fit. They are Comfort rated to sub-zero temperatures. Color: Black. Size: Women's 10.
Bogs Ladies Classic Mid Waterproof Boots
October 3, 2018 By


text:
Whatever your tastes, you'll find the best kids' entertainment and live shows at Butlins Skegness all year round. Butlins famous Redcoats are never far away, hosting fantastic family shows that really involve the kids. Want to challenge your mates at football, basketball, crazy golf or go-karting - it's all just moments away. Many of the biggest high street names are on-site to provide all the essentials including cash machines, newsagents, loads of bars and restaurants, a supermarket, a launderette and clothes and accessories stores.
Visit Butlins HomePage for more details
Butlins Skegness
Chapel St Leonards
Butlins Skegness
Nothing found


text:
Warehousing & Storage - Intermediate Apprenticeship
Course overview
The logistics sector is vibrant and vital part of the business economy, responsible for the direct or indirect employment of approximately 1.9 million people in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. There are approximately 406, 400 workplaces In the UK whose primary function is in warehousing activities.
The Apprenticeship framework for warehousing and storage is specifically targeted at those involved in the movement and storage of goods within an operation. It requires a good level of occupational competence and is aimed at the practitioner level.
Apprenticeships are a tested way of training either a new or existing team member. An apprenticeship will provide on-the-job training which leads to an employee gaining a nationally recognised qualification which has been developed by the Sector Skills Council. The Apprenticeship framework will include the following elements;
• Warehousing & Storage – Level 2 Certificate (NVQ)
• Mathematics – Level 1
• English – Level 1
• Personal Learning & Thinking Skills
• Employment Rights and Responsibilities
Entry requirements
An employee/apprentice must be over 16 years of age with no prior level 4 qualifications or above working a minimum of 30 contracted hours per week in an appropriate occupational role
How will I be assessed?
You will be assessed againsts a set of nationally recognised standards which are set by the Awarding Body. The competence based element assessment will be via direct observation and work place supporting evidence. The knowledge based element may be assessed via a test, reflective review or assignment to confirm that you have achieved and understood the level of knowledge required. Whereas Functional Skills be be assessed via on-line tests.
What can I do next
Three months before completing this Apprenticeship framework a review will take place with yourself and your employer to discuss progression opportunties which may lead to a permanent employment contract, further study or indeed both.


text:
From Conservapedia
The opossum is a small marsupial from the family Opossumus maximus arborealis that is known for its ability to hang from trees by its tail. It is native to the deciduous forests of North America, where it feeds on slugs, red berries, thistle seed, and sticks. It ranges in length from 13-18 centimeters, has gray fur, large front teeth, and beady little eyes. It also has large ears, which help it hear better than other animal in the world. A common misconception about the opossum is that it is the same animal as the possum, which is actually a completely different animal from the family Possumus grandus ignoramus and is not at all able to hang from its tail.
The Opossum in Popular Culture
The opossum has appeared in various venues of popular culture including:
- Pogo Possum, the titular character from the comic strip of the same name created by Walt Kelly.
- Ozzie and Heather, the father and daughter team of opossums in the popular full-length animated feature "Over The Hedge." They were voiced by William Shatner and Avril Lavigne.
- Possible Possum, an animated character of the 1950s.
- On an episode of Bizzare Foods, host Andrew Zimmern ate some opossum cooked with sweet potatoes.
- 'Possum Kingdom' is a single from the album 'Rubberneck' by the band 'The Toadies'.


text:
I show off my tabbed diaper, and poop into it standing up. I let you peek in a few ways to see the big poop inside, then sit on the ground to pinch and squish it around. I take off the diaper after my fun to show you the inside and my messy butt.
Length: 3:19s Resolution: 1920x1080Download Format: mp4File Size: 152 MB


text:
Yroo is empowering shoppers to discover, research, and buy from the largest collection of products, stores, and promotions available anywhere.
As a company that serves shoppers all over the planet, it's important to us that we give back on a global scale. Which is why we couldn't be more excited to be a member of 1% for the Planet!
What exactly does that mean for you? Well, it means that choosing Yroo matters. Yroo donates 1% of its annual revenues directly to an approved list of environmental non-profit organizations, all around the globe. Through 1% for the Planet, we're able to allocate our donation right back into the communities it was generated from, ensuring that we are giving back to the communities that are actively using our shopping search engine.
And not only are we giving back, but we're giving back to communities in a sustainable, environmentally effective way. Whether you're in Brazil, Japan, Australia, Zimbabwe, Iceland or the United States, climate change and other environmental threats are affecting everyone. Therefore, it will take all our efforts to drive big, positive change – but we'll get there together! It's not just about remembering to turn the light switch off or ditching plastic water bottles, it's also about making smarter buying decisions. And right now, Yroo is the only place you can shop from the big box stores like Amazon, Walmart, and Best Buy while also making a difference in your community. So why not shop with us to help save our planet and your community?
Happy Shopping!


text:
Here is the ultimate guide for the collector, dealer and the just plain curious. This dictionary includes more than 5,300 entries of craftsmen, brand names, silversmiths, tools, manufacturers, terms makers, artists, words and everything else in the world of antiques and collectibles. There are even definitions of more than 300 different colors used by Sears & Roebuck in mail-order catalogs during the 1920s. Robert and Claudette Reed have been doing research and writing professionally on these subjects for some 20 years. Also included in this comprehensive resource are hundreds of photographs. The Reeds are the authors of more than a dozen books including Vintage Postcards for the Holidays, now in its second edition. No values.
The unique volume includes not only terms but craftsmen, brand names, silver-smiths, tools, manufacturers, makers, lost words and thousands of names for just about everything in antiquing. The Antique and Collectibles Dictionary by Robert and Claudette Reed will be an early summer title from Collector Books, one of the nation's leading publishers of books on antiques and collectibles.
For more information about this book, visit www.collectorbooks.com. 240 pages, 440 illustrations. Soft cover. Available July 2008.


text:
I knew when I started this blog that I didn't want to "put a sugarjacket" on any of my experiences as a dad. As I look back at the last year of posts, I see that while I've done my best to put it all out there, both good and bad, the fact is it's mostly been good! I love my son and being a dad is a lot of fun; it can be hard not to gush.
To prove it, I've contributed a guest post to the Prime Parents' Club website that is about as honest as it gets in detailing some of the bullshit that comes with owning and maintaining a 10-month old human.


text:
South Florida has it allMike Berardino
Sun Sentinel
I'm tempted to say New Orleans, which has hosted the Super Bowl nine times (second on the all-time list) and, even post-Katrina, still does big events like no other town. There is, after all, only one Bourbon Street. Just ask John Matuszak and the old-school Oakland Raiders.
Once-sleepy Arizona is coming on strong as a game site, thanks to that gorgeous new stadium in Glendale, and Tampa is deserving of a fifth crack at the big game. San Diego has the best weather, but the stadium is a dump.


text:
What is an Allogeneic Transplant?
For patients in need of a bone marrow or stem cell transplant, an allogeneic transplant in Orlando may be the best solution. During an allogenic transplant procedure, your doctor will use bone marrow or cells that are donated by a brother or sister or a matching donor located through a national registry. As you can imagine, a bone marrow transplant is a very complex procedure and each case is different. If you are need of an allogenic transplant, your cancer care team at the Florida Hospital Cancer Institute (FHCI) will develop a plan that is just for you. To learn more about an allogenic transplant in Orlando, please call (407) 303-1700 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday. Or use our online assistance form and one of our coordinators will get back to you within one business day.
Though a plan will be individualized, here are some of the things you can expect during an allogeneic transplant:Back to Top
Baseline Testing
Before you can participate in treatment protocols, you'll need to undergo a series of tests to make sure that you are a strong candidate for an allogenic transplant. Following are some of the tests that may be conducted:
MUGA Scan or Echocardiogram (ECHO): These tests will measure how well your heart can pump blood through the body. During a MUGA scan a special dye is administered through your veins so pictures of your heart can be taken. The test takes about an hour. In an ECHO text, diagnostic experts use an instrument to transmit high-frequency sound waves through your heart. These waves are converted to create a moving picture of your heart.
Electrocardiogram (EKG): This non-invasive test involves putting electrodes on your arms, legs and chest. While you lie still, your physician can analyze the electrical activity in your heart. The entire test takes about 10 minutes.
Skeletal Survey: Depending on your condition, your care team may elect to perform a skeletal survey. This test uses a series of comprehensive x-rays to assess the skeletal system. The test can take up to an hour and while there may be some discomfort due to the positions you must assume for imaging purposes, the test itself is painless.
CT Scan/Pet Scan: These tests can help your doctor confirm the presence, location and characteristics of any abnormalities. Because the images are digital, very small tumor masses can be detected and analyzed.
Pulmonary Function Test (PFT): This test checks the function of each breath you take, how much air is inhaled and exhaled as well as the speed. The goal of this test is to make sure there are no abnormalities in your lungs prior to your bone marrow or stem cell transplant.
Chest X-ray: X-rays are used to check for abnormalities in your lungs. It is a painless procedure and all you have to do is take a breath and hold it for a few seconds while the image is captured.
Blood tests and serological labs: Blood samples will be drawn to determine the level of function of your kidneys and liver, which are responsible for removing harmful materials from your body as they accumulate.
Bone marrow aspirate and biopsy: Prior to your transplant your care team will aspirate your bone marrow and perform a biopsy to evaluate the cells for signs of disease. This procedure involves numbing the hip area with lidocaine, then inserting a needle into your hip to retrieve a sample.
Creatinine clearance: Your kidney function is important to eliminating the medications you will be given during chemotherapy. This test involves collecting urine for a 24-hour period in a special container so it can be analzyed.
Dental exam: You will be asked to have your dentist examine your mouth for signs of infection or abscesses before your transplant and sign a release form.Back to Top
Harvesting Bone Marrow
Bone marrow will be drawn from the donor's hipbone using a special syringe and needle. This procedure is conducted in an operating room and the donor is usually under general anesthesia so no pain is felt. The puncture site may be tender for a day or two after the donation and the donor is released the next day. Less than 5% of the bone marrow is removed and the donor's body will replenish the supply over time.
If stem cells are harvested, the cells will be stimulated using a "growth factor" (such as Neupogen) which will cause the cells to multiply in number. Once the cells have been sufficiently primed, the care team will use an apheresis machine to remove cells from circulation. This procedure takes about six hours, the stem cells being filtered and collected from the blood. The rest of the blood components are returned to the donor.Back to Top
Before Your Transplant
Once your baseline testing is complete and it's determined that you are a good candidate for an allogenic transplant, you will have a central venous catheter placed in your chest. This catheter is used throughout your transplantation. The catheter is similar to a tube used for intravenous feeding. It is inserted through a small incision in the upper chest and threaded into a large vein that empties into the heart. Once it is in the vein, it is tunneled under the kin to the lower chest where it exits. You'll be asleep during the procedure but you may feel a bit of discomfort for a day or two after its insertion. Typically the catheter remains in place for several weeks, even months following your transplant. You and your caregiver will receive detailed instructions for keeping the catheter clean and preventing infections.
You will need to undergo a conditioning regimen before your transplant. The exact treatment plan varies according to your disease and condition. Conditioning involves the use of chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy. Chemotherapy is used to eliminate the cancer cells in your body and may require higher dosages than you may have had before in any cancer treatment. As such, you may experience some side effects of the therapy, including loss of hair, mouth or throat sores, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea and changes in the color of your skin.
Radiation therapy may also be used to prepare you for a transplant. Radiation therapy can include irradiation of the entire body, known as total body irradiation or TBIm or irradiation of the major lymph node chains, which is known as total lymphoid irradiation (TLI). The radiation prevents the cancer cells from growing and multiplying in the body.Back to Top
The Allogenic Transplant Process
Every transplant is different. The actual process is based on your unique situation and follows a plan that has been formulated just for you by your physician and the bone marrow transplant coordinator.
As noted, the first step is chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy, after which you'll have a couple days of rest. Chemotherapy is an important step in the process and will consist of one or more different types of medications. To eliminate the cancer cells in your marrow, we use the highest doses possible.
Transplant day is considered Day 0 (zero), with successive days being referred to as +1, +2, etc. The actual transplant is similar to a blood transfusion. The marrow or stem cells are delivered to your room and either your physician or nurse will administer them through a central catheter. The whole process takes one to four hours.
You may notice some side effects from DMSO, a preservative that protects the cells if they were frozen. Medication should minimize these effects, but you may experience a garlic-like taste in your mouth for two or three days and your urine may be red colored for 24 hours after the transplant. Other possible side effects include shortness of breath, wheezing and stomach pains, but these are rare and your nurse and physician will be monitoring your condition closely during and after the transplantation.
For care after your transplant and discharge, visit the Patient Information section of this site.Back to Top
Schedule an Appointment
Contact one of our Cancer Care Coordinators to schedule an appointment at FHCI. You can call a coordinator at (407) 303-1700 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday. Or fill out our online assistance form and one of our coordinators will get back to you within one business day.Back to Top


text:
International Government Information and Non-Governmental Organizations
Whether you need an overview of international agencies or a special report, you can click below to find helpful resources right on this page:
- International Agencies and Organizations
- International Governments
- International Documents Libraries
- Special Reports
International Agencies and Organizations
European Union, gateway to the European Union, including what the EU does by subject, its institutions, documents, and services.
The International Labour Organization is the global body responsible for drawing up and overseeing international labour standards. Working with its Member States, the ILO seeks to ensure that labour standards are respected in practice as well as principle.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM), established in 1951, is the leading inter-governmental organization in the field of migration and works closely with governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental partners.
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), an alliance of 26 countries from North America and Europe committed to fulfilling the goals of the North Atlantic Treaty by safeguarding security of its member countries by political and military means.
The Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) helps governments tackle the economic, social and governance challenges of a globalised economy. The Organisation provides a setting where governments compare policy experiences, seek answers to common problems, identify good practice and coordinate domestic and international policies.
Organization of American States promotes social and economic development in the Western hemisphere.
The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) coordinates the petroleum policies of Member Countries. Additionally, its mission is to ensure the stabilization of oil markets.
Understanding Children's Work (UCW) is an inter-agency research cooperation project on child labour. The International Labour Organisation (ILO), UNICEF and the World Bank initiated UCW in December 2000.
United Nations, promoting international cooperation, respect for human rights, protection of the environment, improved healthcare, and poverty reduction.
World Bank, two unique development institutions owned by 185 member countries-the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the International Development Association (IDA), committed to global poverty reduction and the improvement of living standards.
World Health Organization (WHO), the directing and coordinating authority for health within the United Nations system.
The World Trade Organization (WTO) is the only global international organization dealing with the rules of trade between nations. At its heart are the WTO agreements, negotiated and signed by the bulk of the world's trading nations and ratified in their parliaments. The goal is to help producers of goods and services, exporters, and importers conduct their business.
International Governments
Government of Canada, the official home page of the Canadian government.
Direct.Gov, the official Internet gateway to government information of the United Kingdom.
Member States of the European Union, includes quick facts and maps.
GOV.UK provides information about who runs the British government, how it is run, as well as history about the government.
Constitution Finder, the University of Richmond's database of constitutions, charters and amendments searchable by country.
Country Studies, Library of Congress, a description and analysis of the historical setting and the social, economic, political, and national security systems and institutions of countries throughout the world.
International Documents Libraries
Northwestern University's International Documents Library The collection contains the publications of approximately 25 intergovernmental organizations (IGOs), a few non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and supporting materials from private publishers. The collection spans the WWI era to the present. The Library has been a depository library of the United Nations since 1946, the European Union since 1970, and became a depository library of the World Tourism Organization in 2002.
Special Reports
- Human Development Reports by the United Nations.
- World Trade Reports by the World Trade Organization.
- The World Health Report by the World Health Organization.
- Gender, equity, and human rights by the World Health Organization.


text:
To add a link to this page, e-mail firstname.lastname@example.com
These web site links are listed as a convenience to our visitors. If you use these links, we take no responsibility and give no guarantees, warranties or representations, implied or otherwise, for the content or accuracy of these third-party sites.
Boat Cooler -Yeti Coolers are high-quality marine coolers.
California RV Rentals, Luxury Motor Home – Southern California RV rentals, including luxury motor home rentals in Los Angeles.
Consumer Affairs RV Manufacturers guide – features hundreds of verified consumer reviews and is available as a free resource for anyone.
El Monte RV Nationwide Motorhome Rentals – Offers Recreational Vehicles (RVs) campers, motorehomes for sale and rental.
Eurovan & VW Vanagon – At Pop Top Heaven, you can find quality Eurovan or Vanagon. Used camper vans that we sell are in good condition, thoroughly cleaned and repaired.
Florida RV Dealers – RV sales, rentals and service centers.
Metal RV Carports – Carport1 – Carport1's Metal RV Carports are steel and they are much more durable compared to fabric RV covers. You will find a variety of metal RV shelters from Carport1 that are used as motor home carports, motor coach carports, van carports, fifth-wheel carports, and more.
Motorhome Classifieds – Motorhomes for sale, free RV classifieds.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration – report safety defects in your RV.
Online RV Sales – Pedata, the nation's foremost RV wholesalers, has offered direct sales on motorhomes, travel trailers, and fifth wheels for over 10 years.
Online RV USA – RV and trailer classifieds in the USA
Rent My Camper – RV Rental, Delivery, Setup and Pickup to Long Island campgrounds and outer beaches.
RV Comparison – Compare, and decide on an RV in an apples to apples fashion by filtering your options and comparing your top choices
Rv Dealer We deal in RVs ranging from RV motorhomes and travel trailers to fifth wheel RVs and tent campers.
Rvs for Sale – RVs For Sale and online Used RV Guide to everything. Used RVs for sale, RVs classifieds, Used RV Dealers, RV Loans, RV Financing, RV Dealers, Recreational Vehicles for sale Rv tips & more. Join today and sale your RV at Bmxrv.com.
RV Sales – Buy and Sell RVs with Buy and Sell Network
RV Service Reviews – where RV owners can evaluate service centers and also see how others have rated service centers.
RV Tech Directory – A national directory of small independent RV businesses. Mobile repair, detailing, cleaning and transports service businesses are listed. (If you are a small independent rv business – be sure to sign up to be on this directory – the listing is free!)
Recreational Vehicle Dealers, Texas RVs For Sale and Motorhome Sales – RV dealer offering used RV sales including used recreational vehicles, motorhomes, and 5th wheels in areas including California, Texas, Florida, Arizona, Alabama and Pennsylvania.
Travel Trailers, Fifth Wheels, Toy Haulers – National RV Dealer of Sandpiper, Wildwood and Starcraft Travel Trailers and Fifth Wheels
Used Motorhomes – New Recreational Vehicles, Used Motorhomes and RVs For Sale at Web Auto Center.
Used Motorhomes For Sale – Used RVs, including used Motorhomes, Truck Campers, Toy Haulers, Fifth wheel, RV Dealers, Keystone RVs, Fleetwood RVs, Dutchmen RVs, Coachmen RVs at www.rvsjuction.com
Used RV Consignments and RV Parts Superstore – PPL Motor Homes: – Serving RVers since 1972 with over 18,800 units sold. Shop our RV parts and accessories online with fast nationwide delivery and reasonable prices.


text:
WAUWATOSA, Wis. — The junior pizza with tomatoes and olives that 20-year-old waitress Marleigh Fiedler served a Kentucky tourist wasn't big — but her tip was.
Fiedler, who works at Balistreri's Italian American Ristorante in the Milwaukee suburb of Wauwatosa, received $500 from a man fulfilling his brother's last wish.
Seth Collins said his brother, Aaron, died more than a year ago, leaving a will that asked his family to leave an unusually large tip for an unsuspecting server.
"I mean $500 for a … pizza," Aaron Collins wrote.
Seth Collins, 33, posted a video about the wish on YouTube, and people began donating money to fulfill it. Collins told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel he had received $60,000 and left tips for 57 servers so far. Most of the servers were in Kentucky, where Collins lives, and other parts of the South.
On June 17, however, he started a road trip that he hopes will allow him to leave a big tip for at least one server in each state.
"People donated from all across the country," Collins said. "So I wanted to share it all around the country."
Fiedler said her shift finished at 3:15 p.m. Tuesday, but she stayed late to take care of Collins' order. Before she left, he pulled her aside and handed her $500.
"I can't believe it, I'm shaking right now," she said.
The money will go toward her education at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, where she is studying political science, she said.
Collins said the tip that affected him most was No. 51 in Charleston, W.Va., the first stop on his 50-state road trip. The server had lost his mother two weeks earlier.
"To be able to connect with him through the loss of a loved one … it really meant a lot to me," Collins said.
His mother Tina Rae Collins, 61, joined him in leaving tips in Kentucky but said she didn't have the energy for the cross-country trip. Still, the mission gives her great joy.
"It thrills me to think about Aaron and his wishes and having them taken all across the country," she said in a phone interview. "I always told him he was going to do something special, and now it is happening."
Aaron Collins, 30, had worked in computer repair for his brother-in-law. His death was never officially ruled a suicide, but it was sudden, Seth Collins said. He found the will on Aaron Collins' computer.
"The main thing is keeping (Aaron's) spirit alive," Collins said. "But it is also about sharing his generosity, connecting with people and helping them understand that sometimes you can do one nice thing and tens of thousands of people will be happy about it or affected by it."


text:
HAMPDEN-SYDNEY, Va. -- The 19th-ranked Washington and Lee men's tennis team recorded a 9-0 victory at Hampden-Sydney on Friday afternoon.
The Generals dropped just six games in doubles play and only 11 games at the six singles positions in posting their fourth straight win over the Tigers.
The win improved W&L to 12-4 overall and a perfect 9-0 in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference. With the loss, Hampden-Sydney fell to 5-7 overall and 4-5 in league play.
Washington and Lee, which has secured the top seed for the ODAC Tournament, will return to action on Sunday with a quarterfinal match against eighth-seeded Virginia Wesleyan at 2:00 pm.
Washington and Lee Tennis
Washington and Lee vs Hampden-Sydney (Apr 20, 2012)
Washington and Lee 9, Hampden-Sydney 0
Apr 20, 2012 at Hampden-Sydney, VA (H-SC Tennis Courts)
|Singles competition
|1. Hayden White (W&L) def. Kevin Calhoun (HSC) 6-3, 6-0
|2. Taylor Shamshiri (W&L) def. Zack King (HSC) 6-2, 6-1
|3. Jeremy Becht (W&L) def. Ryan Davis (HSC) 6-1, 6-2
|4. Michael Freeman (W&L) def. Houghton Flanagan (HSC) 6-0, 6-2
|5. Christopher Hu (W&L) def. Barrett Polan (HSC) 6-0, 6-0
|6. Ben Fass (W&L) def. Watt Mountcastle (HSC) 6-0, 6-0
|Doubles competition
|1. Hayden White/Taylor Shamshiri (W&L) def. Kevin Calhoun/Watt Mountcastle (HSC) 8-2
|2. Jeremy Becht/Christopher Hu (W&L) def. Barrett Polan/Zack King (HSC) 8-2
|3. Brian Roberts/Michael Freeman (W&L) def. Ryan Davis/Franklin Bowers (HSC) 8-2
|Match Notes
|Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (,5,2,6,4,3,1)


text:
Today the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission voted unanimously to make tarpon and bonefish catch-and-release only in Florida. The new rules go into effect September 1, 2013.
Florida Tarpon, Bonefish to be Catch-and-Release Only
You'd be right to think that palolo worms appear mostly on low outgoing tides–though they also appear more often on low incoming tides in some locations. You'd also be excused for thinking that it only happens on the full moon, though they appear (in somewhat lesser numbers) on the new moon as well. You'd be mostly correct to assume that worm hatches happen in the late afternoon and early evening, and on calm days on the ocean side of the Keys; but worm hatches can happen in the middle of the day, and in the backcountry and on any hard coral bottom, even in a stiff wind. Most palolo worms have greenish "heads" and pinkish red "tails," but you'll occasionally see worms with almost white heads or dark red tails.
The most common misconception may be that worm hatches happen only on one or two nights in a given area. In fact, they can continue for five or six nights in one spot, changing their location as the tidal flow shifts around a set of flats. For example, in the area I've been fishing them this week, they first appeared in two-foot seas at the end of a channel, then moved outside the channel on the next night, then further up the channel on consecutive nights as the wind lay down. The only common ingredient was a bottom covered with loggerhead sponges, sea fans, and hard white limestone.
If you're lucky enough to see one big worm hatch in a lifetime, you won't forget it. Treating them as events that you can fish for up to a week at a time greatly extends the excitement. And don't get up before dawn, fish all day in the heat, and expect to have the energy to find worms at dusk. Finding this macro event with a full battery is a whole lot more fun and worth your full attention, even if the fish aren't constantly eating your flies. Being surrounded by the slurp-gurgle-slurp of tarpon completely abandoned to their task is worth almost any amount of effort.
Teaching is hard. And there is nothing to remind you of how far you have come like teaching someone who is young to do what you do. "You don't truly know your skill until you can teach someone else to do it," someone said a long time ago, and even a few minutes of teaching will make you a believer.
Even though I am fortunate to have a son and daughter who both want to learn everything about what I know, I still find it hard to teach them. There are more than a few challenges. First, I am used to teaching adults. Most of the people I have taught to fish in saltwater have already been fishers, hunters, outdoors people. They know stalking, they understand how conditions dictate strategy, and they are able to focus on the important things. They trust me. It's funny, and odd, to hear my kids get nervous when I am driving through a 3-foot-wide wheel ditch or taking them through big seas or telling them that a big shark might take their bait.
The other huge reminder of how long it takes to get competent at fishing the flats is helping a young person learn how to react to what is happening. Timing is difficult to teach to adults–most of whom have a library of real-life experience to draw from. Kids have, at best, some fishing or hunting experience or some hours spent on YouTube watching celebrities and their highlights. Throw them on a skiff and expect them to connect to what they are hearing and seeing is at best hopeful. The timing is completely foreign. The pace of a day is unlike anything in their experience.
On the other hand, kids have the advantage of time, and they know it. They are not bothered by observations like,"Keep doing that for the next few years and you will be really good." As a teacher, I don't write them off the way I might someone who's been fishing for 30 years and still can't see a fish. Suggestions have results.
I suppose the real pleasure may be in the small successes, the very things that are so very hard for adults to appreciate. Getting a fly line out 40 feet is an accomplishment for a 12-year-old, but it's far enough to move them on to understanding the ready position and what happens when a fish eats your fly. Most of the fish they catch in their lifetime will be hooked with 20 feet of that distance. Seeing a child comprehend the importance of fly placement in current or the importance of getting a good drift on a live bait is pretty incredible. Witnessing them absorb the subtlety of poling or knot tying is sublime. It reverberates.
I'd even say it supersedes the pleasure of learning something new myself, but that would be disingenuous. When the drive to learn and see more becomes secondary, we become poor teachers. We are there to give them the taste, describe the path, tell them what it is that make us want to get up in the morning or stay out late. What we are teaching them the ability to experience the same pleasure of discovery that we know.
Most kids want to learn to fish just like everyone else. But what we should show them is that there will be no fisherman just like them, ever, and the surprise will always be waiting. Just for them.


text:
Gorgeous, high quality custom valances to complete your horse show drapes ensemble. Each valance is 12" tall and comes in Straight, Double Straight, Crescent, or Double Crescent in 12' width.
Made from 1000 Denier water repellent Cordura nylon and will not sun bleach. Durable enough to withstand many years of use.
Available Styles of Valances:
The most popular choice is the Straight Valance, which is a trimmed rectangular piece of fabric and is very clean and classy.
The Double Straight has an extra straight flap across so it is a little dressier and elegant.
The Crescent is perfect for those who like a fancier, more elaborate look.
The Double Crescent has an exquisite scalloped pattern that provides a polished look to your show stall.
Available Valance Colors:
Available Trim Colors:
Available Piping Colors:
**** Both Single & Double Piping are available for an additional cost ****
Available Fonts:
Available Font Colors:
**** Two-Color Fonts are available for an additional cost ****
Available Embroidered Monograms: Please Note: Last Initial appears in Middle of Monogram
**** Monogramming is available for an additional cost ****
Available Monogram Colors:
Available Breed Emblems:
**** Breed Emblem is available for an additional cost ****
Available Breed Emblem Colors:
Size Help: 6' is standard to go above the partial stall wall next to a door (i.e., for a tack room front). 10' and 12' are the most popular and go all the way across full stall walls. Most temporary stalls are 10'. Most permanent stalls are 12'. If you attend many competitions, then the 12' size is the better choice due to variances in stall sizes.
Custom Made in the USA


text:
SCEA today officially announced SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs -- Combined Assault for the PlayStation 2 and SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Fireteam Bravo 2 for the PlayStation Portable. Both titles are due out this fall and will make an appearance at this year's E3.
Combined Assault brings an all-new 4-player cooperative mode to the series, allowing up to four gamers to play through the game's full campaign or Instant Action modes together online. New weapons and vehicles expand upon the series' vast artillery and travel options, and an enhanced AI system makes the enemy better and more tactical than ever before.
Fireteam Bravo 2 is the second SOCOM outing on the PSP and promises to improve on the original in every way. A new non-linear mission system lets players choose their order of progression, and the new Command Equity and Local Influence systems reward players for performing missions well with additional intel, new weapons and more.
As was the case with SOCOM 3 and the original Fireteam Bravo, the two games will feature Crosstalk functionality which allows gamers to share data between the two games and directly influence missions in each game and unlock new features.
Both games are due out this fall. Check back soon for full-blown write-ups on Fireteam Bravo 2 and Combined Assault.


text:
Selena Gomez: 'Getaway' Poster!
Selena Gomez heads out of a studio on Sunday afternoon (July 21) in Burbank, Calif.
The 20-year-old actress/singer wore some fierce caged sandals with some super short shorts.
PHOTOS: Check out the latest pics of Selena Gomez
"Wanted you guys to see it here first…. The official poster to @Getaway out August 30th!!!!!," Selena excitedly tweeted with the official poster for her upcoming flick with Ethan Hawke.
Selena also promised her fans a treat: "Surprise… tonight at 12:01."
Can't wait to see what it is!
FYI: Sel is wearing a Jewels by Dunn spiked bracelet.
Posted to: Selena Gomez


text:
No reviews for this business Add a review
- 0427 01# ###
435 King William StMap
Adelaide SA 5000Click to view map
About Us
Specialising in Seed Services, Hannaford, with head office in Adelaide, SA, have years of experience to assist you in sourcing any and all your Seed Services needs. Hannaford have current knowledge of all aspects of Seed Services, including core products and services, and also famers and sorgum plus many more products and service areas. Give Hannaford a call on 0427 01# ### during business hours, or any time.
View similar businesses near: Adelaide SA
There are no reviews for this business
There are no reviews for this business


text:
EDULEARN17 conference will be held in the Palau de Congressos de Catalunya (Barcelona).
Located on the Avenida Diagonal in Barcelona, the Palau de Congressos de Catalunya is a modern building with an excellent range of function rooms fully equipped with state of the art technology and supreme comfort. With over 25,000m² of 19th century gardens surrounding the complex, it is an incomparably suitable location for conferences and open-air cocktails and events.
Av. Diagonal, 661-671
08028 Barcelona (Spain)
Telephone: (+34) 933 644 400
Fax: (+34) 933 644 401
Email: email@example.com


text:
Iris West "The Flash" Character Description Surfaces Following "Arrow" Ratings Jump
If the ratings for last night's "Arrow" episode are any indication, the future for "The Flash" pilot looks bright — TV Line reports "The Scientist," which featured the first appearance of Grant Gustin as Barry Allen, delivered the series its largest audience since February (3.17 million) and second highest rating of the season in the 18-49 demographic (1.1). And now, right on the heels of its strong night, rumors have begun to surface regarding casting for "The Flash's" supporting characters, beginning with Barry Allen's longtime love interest Iris West.
"Arrow" Team Calls Grant Gustin "The Perfect Flash"
Bludhaven Banter has obtained unconfirmed character descriptions for Iris West and her father, Detective West, with a few changes from DC Comics canon. Iris is described as a 22-28 year old African-American psychology graduate student "as smart as she is beautiful" and Barry Allen's best friend.
IRIS – 22-28 – African-American – As smart as she is beautiful, Iris is in grad school studying psychology. She's also Barry's mile a minute, fast-talking, quick-witted best friend. Her father, Detective West, took in Barry when his mother was murdered, and his father was wrongly accused and imprisoned for her murder. In a tough childhood for Barry, she was the one "not tough" thing. She's unaware of Barry's strong feelings for her.
DETECTIVE WEST – Late 40s to Early 50s – African American -Detective West is an honest, blue-collar cop who's seen it all. A soulful, funny caring father to Iris, and a surrogate father to Barry, West came up through the foster system himself. He took in Barry after his mother's murder and his father's imprisonment. He believes in Barry and supports Barry's efforts to prove his father's innocence.
There are no details as to the extent of the roles in the upcoming series, but it looks like "The Flash" will continue the "Arrow" tradition of introducing new elements that bring a fresh take on classic DC characters.
"The Flash" pilot, written by DC Comics CCO Geoff Johns and "Arrow" producers Greg Berlanti and Andrew Kreisberg, currently has no scheduled air date. Gustin is set to return as Barry Allen in next week's "Arrow" midseason finale, "Three Ghosts."
- Ad Free Browsing
- Over 10,000 Videos!
- All in 1 Access
- Join For Free!


text:
Barbara Carson Ph.D.Page address: http://sbs.mnsu.edu/soccorr/faculty/carson.html
Barbara A. Carson, Ph.D
Department of Sociology and Corrections
Minnesota State University, Mankato
Mankato, Minnesota 56002
(507) 389-6265 (Voicemail)
(507) 389-1561
Email: email@example.com
Ph.D. Sociology, University of New Hampshire - 1986
M.A. Sociology, University of Iowa - 1980
B.A. Sociology/Anthropology, Western Illinois University - 1975
Minors: Spanish, Psychology
Areas of Expertise:
Violence, Societal Legitimation of Violence, Child Abuse
Criminal Justice, Corrections, Law Enforcement
Peace Research
Deviance and Social Control, Criminology, Drug Use
Sociology of the Family, Family Violence
Race and Ethnic Relations
Sociological Research Methods, Program Evaluation
Current Research Projects
- Operationally defining restorative justice
- European Sentencing practices that could reduce U.S. incarcenation rates.
Employment History:
1991 - present - Professor, Department of Sociology and Corrections, Minnesota State University, Mankato
2006-2007 - Program Evaluator for drug courts in Brown, Nicollet, Watonwan counties and collaborative court in Fairbault, Martin, and Jackson counties, Minnesota
2005-2007 - Program Evaluator, Blue Earth County Drug Court
2003-2005 - Interim Affirmative Action Officer, Minnesota State University
2001-2006 - Director, Kessel Peace Institute, Minnesota State University
Courses Routinely Teach:
Community Corrections
Seminar on Violence
Jolt (Joint Opportunities to Learn and Thrive)
Program Evaluation (Graduate Level)


text:
Gather the girls, kick out the men, provide some snacks and get ready for a night of pure fun!
As the hostess of a Artificialsextoys.in, all you will need to do, is invite your girlfriends and have a good time! TheArtificialsextoys.in does the rest. Offer something to drink, some snacks, sit back and have fun with the girls. After the party, you receive free Artificialsextoys.in's products based on your party's sales. Choose from sexy lingerie, fun artificial sex toys, sensual lotions, sex toys for women and sex toys for wife and more. You get to reward yourself just by throwing a party in your home!
Artificialsextoys.in are available for 24*7 to provide you the best online sex toys(sex toys for women, sex toys for wife) shopping solutions. We're not only building women's sexuality and sensuality, but also their self esteem. Fashionlovetoys.in believes as a woman of today you can truly have it all.
Some Searchable keywords:
sex toys in india, sex toys at kolkata, artificial sex toys at kolkata, artificial sex toys in india, vibrator in kolkata, vibrator in india, sextoys shop at kolkata, sextoys shop in india, sex toys for men, sex toys for women, sex toys for wife, sex toys for husband, sex toys at kolkata, sex toys in india, adult toys at kolkata, adult toys in india, free home delivery of sex toys, india's no1 adult sex toys store, online sextoys shop Kolkata, india's no1 adult sex toys store, artificial sex toys store, adult sex toys store, anal sex toys store, no1 online sex toys store and much more..


text:
Vladislav Vejnovic
Policy Researcher at Politheor: European Policy Network
Vladislav holds a double master degree in European Forestry at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU) in Vienna and at the University of Eastern Finland. His research interests cover a wide range of international environmental policy topics, particularly, EU forest governance, illegal logging and illegal trade matters, legality verification and the economics of natural resources. He is also experienced in project development and cooperation, as well as in the education matters in Africa. Furthermore, Vladislav has been very active on the international networking scene. He was working for several NGO's, such as the International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO), as well as the European Forestry Institute (EFI), where he actively participated in several notable symposiums (e.g. FAO World Forestry Congress 2015, United Nations Forum on Forests 11).
Latest posts by Vladislav Vejnovic (see all)
Even though the agreement hasn't got as much attention as TTIP for example – probably due to the fact that Europeans and Canadians are quite alike, the importance of the agreement shouldn't be called into question – it is simply enormous. The agreement is expected to increase trade in goods and services between both parties […]


text:
Earn money for each visitor to your shortened links with adf.ly! Use a URL shortener service that pays.
Ganxy provides a way to buy and sell products on the web, including eBooks, music, video, articles, software, and more.
AdF.ly is leading in Top 100K Sites, Top 1M Sites and The Entire Web.
In terms of market share, Ganxy is clearly lagging behind, losing to AdF.ly in all segments.
AdF.ly has better usage coverage in more websites categories. Including Arts & Entertainment, People & Society, Computer & Electronics, Software and 131 other categories.
Ganxy is leading in Magazines & E-Zines, Birds, Animal Products & Service and Gardening.
AdF.ly is leading in most countries, including Indonesia, Brazil, United States, India and 163 other countries.
Ganxy hasn't got a lead over AdF.ly in any country.


text:
Google Translate
Why GPs Sometimes Charge Fees
Brent Health and Social Care Plan (formerly called STP) May 2018 Update
Update from May 2018 Transforming Care Individuals in placements. We will be working with providers to review and improve the process for case managing individuals at risk of- or already in in-patient settings. Integrated LD team. We aim to have a joint health and social care team to support people...
Compliments, feedback and complaints about adult social care
As part of the Quality Matters initiative , Healthwatch England recently developed a toolkit for care services and councils to work with local Healthwatch to improve the way complaints are handled at a local level. This has resulted in the publication of a Single Complaints Statement . Developed...


text:
Technology funds were among the clear winners in the third quarter of 1999 - and for the first three-quarters of the year.
While the Dow Jones Industrial Average, which measures 30 large-cap, blue-chip stocks is up 15 percent for the year, and the 500-company Standard & Poor's index is up nearly 8 percent, high tech - as measured by the Nasdaq Composite Index - is up a whopping 30 percent.
And look at which industry's funds are topping the performance charts: The top-ranked fund for the past 12 months, the past five-years, and the past 10 years are all technology funds.
More of the same can be expected, market experts say.
But expect lots of volatility along with your profits.
The technology phase is twofold, says Stephen Dalton, senior vice president and portfolio manager for First Capital Group, Philadelphia. High-tech is the dominant industrial and historical trend of the late 20th century, he says. And in stock-market lingo, technology has market momentum.
"Investors are going to want to get aboard the technology train now that they've seen the third-quarter results," Mr. Dalton says.
Dalton distinguishes between what he calls "old technology," such as makers of personal computers, and "new technology," such as the Internet and bandwidth companies. The momentum, he says, is on the side of "new technology."
Charles Kadlec, market strategist for mutual-fund firm J. & W. Seligman in New York, believes investors should be overweighted in high technology.
Now, before you get nervous, says Mr. Kadlec, remember that there are numerous types of high-tech mutual funds, which means that you can choose your funds to fit your investment goals.
Internet funds are the most volatile. But they also produce the potentially highest returns. General-technology funds include companies on many outposts of science, from electronics firms to biotechnology. Several of these funds are considered "conservative" in investment style, such as the Franklin DynaTech Fund.
Telecommunication firms straddle the line between technology and utilities. But many technology funds are loaded with them. Finally, utility firms are often considered closet technology funds, stuffed with phone and telecommunication companies.
Many market analysts not affiliated with Wall Street firms agree that small investors should have at least a modest position in tech stocks, such as 5 percent to 10 percent of their overall portfolio.
The greater your tolerance for risk, "the greater your investment in technology stocks," says an analyst with Morningstar Inc., in Chicago.
Are high-technology stocks overvalued, as suggested recently by Steve Ballmer, president of Microsoft Corp.
Dalton, for his part, believes Mr. Ballmer's comments may have had more to do with an effort by Microsoft to take some of the zing out of its own red-hot earnings than from a dispassionate analytical overview of the industry as a whole.
Whatever the case, technology stocks will continue to drive the market, he says, because the sector has current history on its side.
Experts agree that the one factor that could knock the stops out from under high-tech's dominance would be significantly higher interest-rate hikes by the Federal Reserve. But for now, say high-tech analysts, the market is not factoring such a possibility into its earnings forecasts.
Top technology funds
The song remains the same when it comes to technology funds, and a growing number of investors are joining the chorus. While this sector produced a somewhat sedate 7.4 percent average gain in the third quarter, it was a smash hit compared with the losses posted by most other fund groupings. For the year, technology funds are up an average of 50 percent, according to Chicago-based fund-tracker Morningstar Inc. Fund name YTD 1-yr. Amerindo Technology D 139.9% 274.9% 888-832-4386
Van Wagoner Technology 112.8 231.0 800-228-2121
Firsthand Tech Innovators 107.5 334.2 888-883-3863
Monument Internet 103.4 N/A 888-420-9950
Firsthand Tech Value 93.7 227.3 888-883-3863
Internet Fund 90.0 270.3 888-386-3999
Janus Global Technology 82.4 N/A 800-525-8983
Firsthand Tech Leaders 69.5 192.6 888-883-3863
PBHG Tech & Comm 69.3 142.3 800-433-0051
Orbitex Info-Tech & Comm A 68.7 114.4 888-672-4839
Source: Morningstar Inc. as of 10/4 N/A - not available, newer fund.
(c) Copyright 1999. The Christian Science Publishing Society


text:
Atlas, Maps, Publications - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
If you have questions that are not answered in the FAQ's please contact our customer service by email at firstname.lastname@example.com
Or, Call SNB Online Support: Within the province: 1 888 832-2762 (No Charge Dial) Outside the province: 1 (506) 684-7901. Monday-Friday 8:00a.m.-7:30p.m., Saturday 9:00a.m.- 1:00p.m.
1. Is it safe to use my credit card?
1. Is it safe to use my credit card?
1. Is it safe to use my credit card?
2. Will my personal information be safe?
3. What if I have a problem with my order?
4. What are my payment options?
5. Will I receive a receipt for my transaction?
6. What are the shipping costs?
7. How much Sales Tax will I pay?
8. Does SNB Online offer International shipping?
9. How do I return a product?
10. Can I order a product and ask you to ship to someone else?
11. If I order today, when can I expect to receive my order?
|© 2018 Service New Brunswick


text:
The bare facts of the life of Jean-Jacques Rousseau are not reassuring. Born in Geneva in 1712, he lost his mother as an infant; his relationships with women, often platonic, sometimes masochistic, seemed doomed from the start. His father, a Calvinist watchmaker, provided little reason to stay at home, and by his mid-teens Rousseau had set out on a series of attempts to make a living, including petty thievery, all of which ended unhappily.
Eventually, he settled on copying music and practiced this lowly but demanding trade for the rest of his life. His relationship with his common-law wife produced five children, all sent to a foundling hospital. He converted to Catholicism and then back to Genevan Calvinism until his final exile from his native city cast him adrift.
And yet, he taught himself to write and the publication of his controversial writings, which made him a celebrity, did nothing to settle him down. Even Napoleon found his influence a threat to the peace of France. Samuel Johnson thought him, intentions aside, a "very bad man."
As Leo Damrosch, the Ernest Bernbaum professor of literature at Harvard University, so vividly demonstrates in his new biography, Jean-Jacques Rousseau: Restless Genius, Rousseau was full of contradictions.
This bad father wrote "Emile," a guide to child-rearing that discourages discipline and argues that "the best households are always the ones in which the woman has the most authority"; this irascible dependent (he strained the charity of even his most devoted supporters) wrote "The Social Contract," a hymn to equality and the sovereignty of the people; this tortured lover wrote "Julie," the best-selling novel of the century in which he celebrated chastity and renunciation; and this alleged freethinker echoed Augustine's title (and much else) in his "Confessions," while concluding late in life that the answer to the question, "what am I," had eluded him.
Damrosch starts where many would finish: Rousseau's intentions as a writer. This gesture of good faith pays hefty divi-dends. Rousseau's goal as a writer was to confront the contradictions "that seem inseparable from our experience." In Damrosch's portrait, we see Rousseau as he understood himself: a man of paradox.
At several points Damrosch compares Rousseau to that "other run-away apprentice who achieved fame" Benjamin Franklin. Franklin believed "that we can do anything we want, but only by creating an attractive social persona, imprinting it through habit until it becomes second nature, and using it to get other people to cooperate."
Rousseau, on the other hand, believed "there was only one nature," as Damrosch puts it, "the one that was betrayed when civilization was invented, and he held that by honoring it we can be true to our own authentic being. But the cost was isolation."
For Rousseau, isolation in wild nature - he was an indefatigable walker and late in life a passionate botanist - was a great consolation.
Rousseau said, "I would rather be a man of paradoxes than a man of prejudices." The idea that a human being, stripped of prejudice, revealed paradoxes is a powerful idea - and far from sentimental.
In practice, Rousseau did not disagree with those who pointed out his contradictions (timid/merry, caustic/humble, mistrustful/confiding).
Damrosch explains some contradictions as the result of Rousseau's experience. For example, he quotes him as admitting "I have a daring nature and a timid character," and explains that "social life had replaced his natural confidence with bashfulness and hypersensitivity."
Reading Damrosch's sympathetic portrayal of Rousseau's often self-imposed troubles, it sometimes seems that Rousseau chose the path of failure as a kind of hermeneutic - a way to see more reality than conventional success would have allowed.
At a time when class was still sacred (in the following quote, "état" means "status"), he wrote: "Without any état of my own, I've known and lived in them all from lowest to highest, excepting only the throne." And yet today most regimes honor, often in the breach, his idea of the sovereignty of the people.
Late in life Rousseau was given to reading his banned works aloud to friends, sometimes for many hours at a stretch. His last reading was of the "Confessions" in 1771. "Most listeners were too shocked or embarrassed to say anything at all," Damrosch writes.
Breaking the silence, Rousseau said: "I declare openly and without fear that whoever, even without reading my writings, will examine with his own eyes my natural disposition, my character, morals, inclinations, pleasures, and habits, and can still believe me to be a dishonorable man, is himself a man who ought to be choked."
Unforgivable - or heroic? Damrosch's Rousseau has the courage of his own absurdity. While accepting his contradictions, he prayed to be free of them.
(Rousseau's profound and persistent piety needs scholarly attention; Damrosch's account leaves no doubt about the depth of Rousseau's response to a sacred reality beyond all his troubles.)
For this reader at least, Damrosch's Rousseau, by embracing impossibility, refused the temptation which has done so much harm - the temptation of certainty. Damrosch's superb biography succeeds in shattering prejudices and illuminating paradoxes; it sets the table for many new conversations.
• Tom D'Evelyn is an editorial consultant in Providence, R.I.