text:
- Research article
- Open Access
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Encephalopathy associated with autoimmune thyroid disease in patients with Graves' disease: clinical manifestations, follow-up, and outcomes
© Tamagno et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. 2010
- Received: 26 September 2009
- Accepted: 28 April 2010
- Published: 28 April 2010
The encephalopathy associated with autoimmune thyroid disease (EAATD) is characterized by neurological/psychiatric symptoms, high levels of anti-thyroid antibodies, increased cerebrospinal fluid protein concentration, non-specific electroencephalogram abnormalities, and responsiveness to the corticosteroid treatment in patients with an autoimmune thyroid disease. Almost all EAATD patients are affected by Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT), although fourteen EAATD patients with Graves' disease (GD) have been also reported.
We have recorded and analyzed the clinical, biological, radiological, and electrophysiological findings and the data on the therapeutic management of all GD patients with EAATD reported so far as well as the clinical outcomes in those followed-up in the long term.
Twelve of the fourteen patients with EAATD and GD were women. The majority of GD patients with EAATD presented with mild hyperthyroidism at EAATD onset or shortly before it. Active anti-thyroid autoimmunity was detected in all cases. Most of the patients dramatically responded to corticosteroids. The long term clinical outcome was benign but EAATD can relapse, especially at the time of corticosteroid dose tapering or withdrawal. GD and HT patients with EAATD present with a similar clinical, biological, radiological, and electrophysiological picture and require an unaffected EAATD management.
GD and HT equally represent the possible background condition for the development of EAATD, which should be considered in the differential diagnosis of all patients with encephalopathy of unknown origin and an autoimmune thyroid disease, regardless of the nature of the underlying autoimmune thyroid disease.
- Single Photon Emission Compute Tomography
- Corticosteroid Treatment
- Autoimmune Thyroid Disease
- Abnormal Magnetic Resonance Imaging Finding
- Daily Corticosteroid Dose
Encephalopathy associated to autoimmune thyroid disease (EAATD), also called Hashimoto's encephalopathy, is a rare condition that may occur in patients with clinical or sub-clinical autoimmune thyroid disease. It is characterized by unspecific and protean neurological and/or psychiatric symptoms often associated with high serum and/or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of anti-thyroid antibodies (Abs), increased CSF protein concentration, non-specific diffuse electroencephalogram (EEG) abnormalities, and responsiveness to the treatment with corticosteroids [1–4]. The diagnosis of EAATD is still based mostly on exclusion criteria, which might affect the accurate estimation of its genuine prevalence.
Several mechanisms, like cerebral autoimmune vasculitis with focal or global brain hypoperfusion, cerebral tissue-specific autoimmunity with or without demyelination, and neuronal dysfunction secondary to brain edema have been thought to be involved in the pathogenesis [1, 2, 5–12]. Generally, EAATD occurs in patients with normal, or slightly abnormal, thyroid hormone levels and seems to be unrelated to the thyroid function [2, 4, 8]. Anti-thyroperoxidase (TPO) and anti-thyroglobulin (TG) Abs have been often detected in the CSF of EAATD patients but their possible role in the pathogenesis has been not defined [2]. Novel antigens, like α-enolase and a 36-kDa protein present in a soluble fraction from the cerebral cortex, have been recently identified in EAATD patients but their involvement in the pathogenesis has been not documented enough [9, 10]. Converging evidences support the hypothesis of EAATD as a cerebral autoimmune vasculitis with or without immune-complex deposition [3, 6].
The clinical manifestations range from stroke-like focal signs to generalized symptoms, either with dramatic or blunted presentation. Seizures, loss of consciousness, cognitive alterations, hallucinations and psychiatric disorders, behavioral changes, myoclonus, involuntary movements including tremors, ataxia, language impairment, sensory deficits, headache, and inflammatory signs of encephalitis and/or meningitis have been frequently reported [2, 4, 11, 12].
The onset of EAATD may be acute or sub-acute and the following trend progressive or relapsing. By definition, EAATD symptoms are steroid-responsive, but spontaneous remission or lack of responsiveness to corticosteroids rarely occurs. The prognosis appears depending on the responsiveness to the corticosteroid treatment but the evolution of the disease in the long-term is unpredictable.
Almost all patients with EAATD present with Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) as the background autoimmune thyroid disease. Only a small number of EAATD patients with a diagnosis of Graves' disease (GD) have been reported to date [3, 13–24]. We hereby review the full case series of EAATD patients with GD published so far and report the clinical manifestations, the evolution in the long-term, and the outcomes in these patients.
The cases of EAATD in patients with GD published in the international medical literature up to 2009, August 31st have been searched by the Internet scientific research engine PubMed. "Hashimoto's encephalopathy", "encephalopathy associated to/with autoimmune thyroid disease", "encephalopathy", "Graves' disease", and "hyperthyroidism" have been used as both isolated and crossed keywords. No limits have been imposed to the research. A total number of 83788 published papers (all article types) were found. Following review of the abstracts or the full texts, the majority of the papers were excluded (papers appearing repetitively at the PubMed searches, falling out of topic, reporting cases of EAATD in HT, reporting cases of GD without EAATD, or reporting research in animals or in vitro solely). Finally, 13 papers that describe and characterize cases of EAATD occurred in patients with a defined diagnosis of GD were identified, accounting for a total of fourteen patients [3, 13–24]. In the cases detected, the diagnosis of GD and EAATD were done according to the current criteria. Features compatible with EAATD without a defined diagnosis of the disease were disclosed in three GD patients [25, 26]. Language limitations (Japanese, Slovak) and availability of the abstract only did not allow the proper data collection for confirming GD diagnosis and reporting exhaustively the clinical and biological features of two patients [27, 28]. These five patients have been not listed in our case series.
The data on the main anthropometric features, thyroid function, serum and CSF levels of anti-TPO, anti-TG, and anti-TSH Abs, imaging and EEG findings, and EAATD symptoms have been collected and analyzed. The personal collaboration and the confidential data exchange among the authors allowed the data collection and analysis.
In the patient series, the concomitant presence of other pathological conditions potentially linked to thyroid or systemic autoimmunity has been checked. When possible, the patients were re-evaluated in the follow-up. In such cases, the length of the follow-up and the clinical and therapeutic outcomes were recorded, including data about EAATD reoccurrences. The numerical data was calculated as mean ± standard deviation and range (patient age, duration of the follow-up, duration of the corticosteroid treatment) or rates (EAATD symptoms, biological findings). A comparison of the most relevant immunological, CSF, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and EEG findings reported in GD patient series versus a homogeneous series of HT patients [12] with EAATD was performed and two-tailed Fisher exact test has been used for the statistical analysis.
Anthropometric and clinical features
Patients with Graves' disease and encephalopathy associated with autoimmune thyroid disease.
Clinical manifestations
EAATD relapses
(in the short term)
Thyroid hormones
Responsiveness to corticosteroid therapy
Patient 1 [3]
seizures, involuntary movements, altered consciousness
- hyperthyroidism
- clinical improvement
- decrease of the auto-Abs
Patient 2 [13]
seizures, cognitive impairment, altered consciousness
1 relapse
- hyperthyroidism
- euthyroidism at EAATD relapse
- clinical improvement
- decrease of the auto-Abs
Patient 3 [14]
involuntary movements, cognitive impairment, decreased verbal fluency, altered consciousness
1 relapse
- hyperthyroidism
- euthyroidism at EAATD relapse
- clinical improvement
- decrease of the auto-Abs
Patient 4 [15]
involuntary movements, mono-lateral weakness, dysarthria, altered consciousness, hallucinations, sphincters incontinence
- hyperthyroidism
- clinical improvement
- decrease of the auto-Abs
- plasmapheresis was required
Patient 5 [16]
headache, altered hearing, nausea and vomit, blunted papilla, nystagmus
- hyperthyroidism
- clinical improvement
- decrease of the auto-Abs
Patient 6 [17]
involuntary movements, altered consciousness
not reported
- clinical improvement
Patient 7 [17]
seizures, headache, involuntary movements, ataxia, aphasia, altered consciousness
persisting symptoms
not reported
- partial improvement
Patient 8 [18]
optic neuritis, dysmetria, dysdiadochokinesis
- hyperthyroidism
- clinical worsening
Patient 9 [19]
seizures, altered consciousness, anxiety, hallucinations
- euthyroidism
- clinical improvement
Patient 10 [20]
involuntary movements, ataxia, cognitive impairment, altered consciousness, depression
- post-RAI hypothyroidism
- clinical improvement
Patient 11 [21]
seizures, headache, hemiplegia, cognitive impairment, altered consciousness, hallucinations
- hyperthyroidism
- clinical improvement
- decrease of the auto-Abs
Patient 12 [22]
seizures, hemiplegia, dysathria, cognitive impairment, altered consciousness
- hyperthyroidism
- no corticosteroid treatment
- spontaneous improvement
Patient 13 [23]
seizures, involuntary movements, cognitive impairment, altered consciousness
not reported
- hyperthyroidism
- clinical improvement
Patient 14 [24]
involuntary movements, ataxia, altered consciousness, anxiety, hallucinations
1 relapse
- hyperthyroidism
- very mild hypothyroidism at EAATD relapse
- clinical improvement
- decrease of the auto-Abs
Only 4/14 cases of Graves' ophthalmopathy have been reported (Patient 3, 4, 10, and 12). No other GD-related clinical manifestations, including myopathy and dermopathy, were described. None of the patients presented with other autoimmune diseases, like gastritis and arthritis prior to EAATD occurrence. After the diagnosis of EAATD, Patient 10 developed acquired autoimmune hemophilia with anti-factor VIII Abs despite the concomitant corticosteroid treatment and thereafter was treated also with cyclophosphamide.
Biological findings
Evidence of mild/moderate or subclinical hyperthyroidism at EAATD onset, or a few weeks before it, was reported in all patients except Patient 12, euthyroid, and Patient 10, with post-radioactive iodine hypothyroidism not adequately replaced. All patients had evidence of active anti-thyroid autoimmunity in their serum samples but the complete panel of anti-thyroid Abs (anti-TG, anti-TPO, and anti-TSH receptor Abs) was assessed in seven patients only (Patient 1, 3, 5, 10, 11, 12, and 13). Serum anti-TPO Abs were positive in all cases (14/14). Serum anti-TG and anti-TSH receptor Abs were positive in 7/11 (Patient 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 13) and 9/10 (Patient 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 11, 12, 13, and 14) patients, respectively. In the CSF, anti-TPO and anti-TG Abs were positive in 5/5 (Patient 2, 6, 7, 10, and 14) and 2/2 (Patient 6 and 7) cases, respectively. Anti-TSH receptor Abs were assayed in the CSF of Patient 5 only with negative result. The CSF protein concentration was increased in 7/11 patients (Patient, 1, 2, 3, 4, 10, 11, and 14). In Patient 9, the CSF protein level ranged inside the reference limits but the IgG and albumin CSF/serum ratios were slightly elevated. In five patients, mild lymphocytic pleocytosis was disclosed (Patient 4, 5, 8, 9, and 10).
Imaging and EEG findings
Brain computed tomography (CT) was normal in 3/4 (Patient 5, 12, and 13) but showed an inflammatory pattern in Patient 9. MRI showed normal or not relevant findings in 9/13 patients (Patient 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 9, 11, 13, and 14). Patient 5 presented with non-specific signal changes of the white matter, cerebral edema, and parenchyma alterations compatible with inflammation. Isolated hyperintense white matter changes were seen in 3/12 patients and were reversible (Patient 8, 10, and 12). In Patient 4, the brain MRI was normal but a severe stenosis of the internal carotid arteries and arteries distal to the basilar artery was revealed by magnetic resonance angiography and improved after EAATD treatment. However, the angiogram was normal in Patient 12 who had abnormal MRI findings. A global reduction of brain perfusion was demonstrated by single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) in Patient 2 and Patient 13, both having unremarkable MRI findings. In Patient 3, positron emission tomography revealed a diffuse hypometabolic cerebral pattern that recovered after the EAATD symptoms disappeared. The EEG records were abnormal in 12/13 patients (Patient 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, and 14). A diffuse and not specific slowing of the background EEG activity was the most frequent record (Patient 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 11, 12, and 14).
Patient 2, Patient 3, and Patient 14 showed a relapse of EAATD in the short-term clinical course. These events occurred with a concomitant euthyroid state under anti-thyroid therapy in the first two patients and iatrogenic very mild hypothyroidsm in Patient 14. In Patient 2, EAATD relapsed one month after the first episode. In the other two cases, the recurrence of EAATD symptoms was concomitant with the early corticosteroid dose tapering (Patient 3) or withdrawal (Patient 14) and was promptly reversed by restoring an effective daily corticosteroid dose in the first case and thyroidectomy in the second one. Both patients experienced the relapse about two weeks after the first EAATD occurrence.
Long-term follow-up of eight patients with Graves' disease and encephalopathy associated with autoimmune thyroid disease.
Anti-thyroid Abs
GD relapses
EAATD relapses
Other autoimmune manifestations
Patient 1 [3]
- normal anti-TG, anti-TPO, and anti-TSH Receptor Abs
1 relapse
(month 18)
- prednisone
(from month 1 to month 23)
(month 20)
- levothyroxine
(from month 24)
Patient 3 [14]
lost at follow-up
Patient 4 [15]
- normal anti-TG Abs
- increased anti-TPO Abs
- prednisone
(from month 1 to month 13)
- propylthiouracil
(from month 1 to month 4 and from month 18 to 40)
- radioiodine therapy
(month 6)
- total thyroidectomy
(month 32)
Patient 5 [16]
- normal anti-TG, anti-TPO, and anti-TSH Receptor Abs
1 relapse
(month 20)
- prednisone
(from month 1 to month 6)
- propylthiouracil
(from month 1 to month 18 and from month 20 to 45)
- total thyroidectomy
(month 45)
- levothyroxine
(from month 45)
Patient 9 [19]
lost at follow-up
Patient 10 [20]
- normal anti-TG and anti-TSH Receptor Abs
- increased anti-TPO Abs
1 relapse (month 21)
autoimmune hemophilia (anti-factor VIII Abs +)
- levothyroxine
(starting before EAATD occurrence)
- prednisolone
(from month 1)
- cyclophosphamide
(from month 24)
Patient 12 [22]
- normal anti-TG Abs
- increased anti-TPO and anti-TSH Receptor Abs
- methimazole
(from month 1)
Patient 14 [24]
- normal anti-TG Abs
- increased anti-TPO and anti-TSH Receptor Abs
- methylprednisolone
(month 1)
- total thyroidectomy
(month 1)
- levothyroxine
(from month 1)
Altered consciousness, involuntary movements (including tremor and myoclonus), seizures, cognitive impairment, focal neurological signs, ataxia, sensorial alterations, language impairment, symptoms of encephalitis (i.e., headache and nausea), and psychiatric alterations are the clinical manifestations of EAATD reported in GD patients. The hugely variable EAATD presentation in GD mirrors that occurring in HT patients. In both conditions, EAATD clinical manifestations can be fluctuating and relapsing. A rigorous statistical comparison of EAATD manifestations between the two groups is not realistic at the present stage due to the remarkable numerical difference of the two groups, the discrepancies in reporting the clinical data, and the virtually unlimited spectrum of the neurological and psychiatric symptoms and signs by which EAATD can manifest. All GD patients with EAATD and available hormonal data (12/14) had increased thyroid hormones at EAATD onset or few weeks before it, except one case of post-radioactive iodine hypothyroidism and one case of euthyroidism. The three patients which experienced a relapse of EAATD in the short-term presented with biochemical euthyroidism (two patients) or very mild iatrogenic hypothyroidism (one patient) when the encephalopathy reoccurred. Six cases of possible but not clearly defined GD, HT thyrotoxicosis, and non-GD-related hyperthyroidism concomitant to the occurrence of EAATD symptoms has been described as well [29–32]. On the other hand, a large number of HT patients presents with clinical or sub-clinical hypothyroidism at EAATD onset. Altogether, these data suggest that the hormonal changes are irrelevant in regard to the occurrence of EAATD that can develop independently from high, normal, or low thyroid hormone levels.
Comparison between Hashimoto's thyroiditis and Graves' disease patients with encephalopathy associated with autoimmune thyroid disease.
HT patients (n = 20)
GD patients (n = 14)
+ serum anti-TPO Abs
+ serum anti-TG Abs
60% (n = 10)
58% (n = 12)
↑ CSF protein concentration
64% (n = 11)
↑ CSF leukocytes count
45% (n = 11)
normal MRI
74% (n = 19)
62% (n = 13)
abnormal EEG
92% (n = 13)
Four cases of Graves' ophthalmopathy among the fourteen patients with GD and EAATD have been reported. One of them had an EAATD relapse during the long-term follow-up and developed also autoimmune hemophilia. He required an aggressive immunosuppressive treatment. This case is an exception in the series of GD patients with EAATD in regard to the gender (one of the two males), extra-thyroid GD manifestations, and therapeutic issues.
After the analysis of the patient series hereby reported, we are induced to postulate that the central nervous system should be enlisted among the possible extra-thyroid targets of GD and, thus, encephalopathy should be considered as a rare extra-thyroid manifestation of GD.
The majority of the patients had an impressive clinical and immunological improvement after the corticosteroid treatment, including the cases in which EAATD relapsed. This event was usually concomitant with the tapering or precocious withdrawal of the corticosteroids. We think that a one-year-long corticosteroid treatment represents a reasonable and advisable baseline therapeutic plan. Administration of a daily high-dose of corticosteroids during the acute phase of EAATD followed by a slow and careful dose tapering to withdrawal appears to be an effective therapeutic approach. In one case of the above series of GD patients, thyroidectomy after EAATD relapse led to a progressive and rapid improvement of the symptoms without any concomitant corticosteroid administration. This interesting report could suggest that thyroid antigens may play a direct role in the pathogenesis of EAATD by triggering the immunological reaction leading to encephalopathy.
In conclusion, we show that GD can represent the background condition underlying EAATD. The clinical, immunological, radiological, electrophysiological, and therapeutic features of EAATD in GD do not differ from those of HT patients. The lack of differences in EAATD manifestations, findings, and outcomes between patients with GD and HT suggests that the diagnosis of EAATD should be considered in all patients with signs of encephalopathy of unknown origin and an autoimmune thyroid disease, independently by the functional status of the thyroid and the nature of the underlying autoimmune thyroid disease itself.
We are grateful to Ms Joan Doyle, Dublin, Ireland for her precious help in the revision of the manuscript.
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- The pre-publication history for this paper can be accessed here:http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2377/10/27/prepub
Pre-publication history
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text:
May 7, 2013 - Four in 5 Americans (78%) would want to have a test done to diagnose a disease, even if there is no treatment or cure available, according to a survey conducted online by Harris Interactive on behalf of Siemens Healthcare from April 9th to 11th, 2013 among 2,222 U.S. adults ages 18 and older.
The survey also found that 92% of Americans agree that "the value of knowing exactly what is wrong with their health is as important as having access to a doctor in the first place." The study found Americans are even willing to pay out-of-pocket for medical tests that aren't covered by their insurance in order to get a clear diagnosis.
"The survey findings show clearly that Americans want to know exactly where they stand when it comes to their health," said Dr. Gregory Sorensen, CEO of Siemens Healthcare, who is also a board certified neuroradiologist. "As a physician, I know first-hand there is great value in excluding a diagnosis. This is a critical step to ensure that patients avoid unnecessary, expensive medical interventions."
Medical testing and imaging, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT) scans, ultrasound, as well as clinical diagnostic tools to help diagnose cancer, Alzheimer's disease, coronary disease, and other serious illnesses, have come under increased scrutiny as the nation examines healthcare expenditures. However, the survey results show that cost of the tests, the majority of U.S. adults see real value in diagnostic imaging examinations.
The survey found:
• Roughly two-thirds (66%)
of Americans would even be willing to pay out of their own pocket for tests to diagnose serious illness if there
were such a test but it was not covered by their insurance.
• Over half (56%) have had and/or someone in their family has had an illness or injury that was at least in part diagnosed using a medical imaging scan.
• Almost nine in ten Americans (87%) agree that ruling out a diagnosis can save money in costly treatments that may not have been needed.
• Eight in 10 Americans (83%) agree that even if medical technologies and tests are expensive, they save money in the long run by helping doctors to get to the right diagnosis more quickly.
Other key findings of the 'Value of Knowing' survey include:
• Women over age 45 are more likely than men of the same age to agree that the value of knowing exactly what is wrong is as important as having access to a doctor in the first place." (99% of women age 45-54; 97% age 55+ compared to 92% and 91% of men, respectively).
• Eight in 10 Americans (80%) are concerned that the Government is making decisions about their medical care purely on the basis of cost; nearly nine in ten (89%) feel that way about insurance companies.
• Only 8% say that they and/or someone in their close family has been denied access to medical imaging device testing by a doctor or hospital; of those, more than half (59%) say it was due to cost, while the rest (41%) say it was for a medical reason.
"The results show that Americans, on the whole, are much more concerned about paying for medical care (72%) than about access to medical care (28%). At the same time, Americans have great faith in the benefits of medical testing and imaging as a means to a correct diagnosis," said Dr. Sorensen.
For more information: www.siemens.com/healthcare and www.appliedradiology.com
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78% of Americans want diagnostic tests, including CT, MR. Appl Radiol.

subset: commoncrawl


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We have a new gallery on our Leo Stone cladding used at Menai. Leo Stone Gallery Leo Stone Random Cladding page
Tag Archives: Mark Whitmore
Leo Stone Wall with Concealed Power Outlet
Landscaper Mark Whitmore has been busy installing our Leo Stone Walling on a job in Menai. He was asked my the client to find a way to hide the power points. This is what he came up with.
Read More


text: Long Run Group, Jun 13, 7:30am, Paradise Valley 13. June 2015 BobW (0) Congrats to all of the ESR runners who ran the Duvall Half/10K/5K! Good luck to everyone running the Light at the End of the Tunnel Marathon on Sunday. THIS WEEK Saturday, Jun 13, 7:30, Paradise ValleyCome early and run the 5 mi. loop ahead of the ESR run.http://www.eastsiderunners.com/post/2015/06/13/Paradise-Valley-WoodinvilleSaturday, June 13, 10:00, Magnuson Series June Solstice Run, 15K/10K/5Khttp://magnusonseries.org/calendarSaturday, June 13, 7:00, Seattle Rock & Roll Marathon/Half/8KOnline registration closed but you can register at the Expo. The 8K is full.http://runrocknroll.competitor.com/seattleSaturday, June 13, 8:45/8:00, Sound to Narrows 12K/5Khttp://www.soundtonarrows.org/Saturday, June 13, 9:00/9:30, Snoqualmie Valley Marathon/Half/10KCarnation. Save 15% by using code "SRC". Not sure the code is still valid.http://www.snoqualmievalleyrun.com/Saturday, June 13, 9:00, Cougar Mountain Trail Run Series #2, 14.5M/8.2M/5Khttp://nwtrailruns.com/events/cougar-mountain-trail-run-series-2/ NEXT WEEK Saturday, June 20, 7:30, Bear CreekDetails TBDSaturday, June 20, 9:15, Fall City Days 10K/5KLots of ESR runners will be here. Wear your red.http://www.fallcity.org/run.htmlSaturday, June 20, 8:00, Taylor Mtn 50K/Marathon/Half/5MIssaquahhttp://www.evergreentrailruns.com/6-20-taylor-mountain-trail-runSaturday, June 20, various times, Rattlesnake Ridge 50K/half marathon/5Mhttp://nwtrailruns.com/events/rattlesnake-ridge-run-2015/Sunday, June 21, 7:00/9:00, Vancouver USA Marathon/Halfhttp://www.vancouverusamarathon.com/?pg=homeSunday, Jun 21, 7:00, Lake Youngs 60K/Half Marathonhttp://lakeyoungsultra.com/Sunday, June 21, 7:30/9:00, Three Lakes Marathon/Half/10KFriday Harbor. Triathlon on Saturday.http://www.lakedale.com/three-lakes-triathlon-and-marathon.phpTuesday, June 23, 6:30pm, Sun Salutation 10M/5MRedmond Watershedhttp://nwtrailruns.com/events/sunshine-salutation/-- Paz y Amor (Peace and Love) Sue Maybee


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MACKY CARDIGANFudge Cotton
This is the ultimate cardigan for every little one. It's made of very soft and cosy warm material. The cardigan is easy to combine with soft and dark colours. The perfect start for every mini-wardrobe.
- 100% cotton
- Three buttons on front. Two pockets on the front.
- Handmade & fairtrade
Availability: Will be back soon


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Appropos of nothing, have you noticed that more and more wine bottles seem to be coming with screw tops instead of corks? Now, we are in no way wine aficionados – more like wine "apprecionatos" – but something just seems wrong when you twist open a bottle of red! I don't care if it is, in fact, a better preserving mechanism – I never keep a bottle around long enough for that to matter. Besides, a number of years ago we bought a $200 cork screw (though, at that price, they call it a "cork puller"), and I like to use it dammit!
Ok, I'm done ranting.


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ELYSIAN VALLEY - Los Angeles City Councilmember Mitch O'Farrell and local residents dedicated a landscaped median along Riverside Drive, an initiative of the Councilmember geared toward celebrating pride in the community.
During the event Thursday morning, the Councilmember and nearby residents gathered to finish the project area by spreading mulch. The scope of the project included the removal and replacement of asphalt with California-friendly plants and trees, as well as the installation of a new irrigation system on the median island. The Councilmember's office fully funded the improvements.
"When we can remove a layer of asphalt and do a greening project, we're not just beautifying the community and taking pride where we live, we're also reducing the heat island effect," said Councilmember Mitch O'Farrell. "The next phase of this project is to design and install a community marker to let motorists know they're in Elysian Valley. This isn't just a cut through to Dodger Stadium and downtown Los Angeles, this is a very special riverfront community that means a lot to this city."
The project was 10 years in the making, and involved many in the the Elysian Valley community. An earlier study on the project revealed that 10 million cars travel along Riverside Drive each year.
"The job is completed and we have a victory for the community," said Ceci Dominguez, a long-time resident of Elysian Valley. "It's great that we had so many people participating in this project. We take pride in what we've done, and we look forward to the next project!"
This project was a collaboration among community members in Elysian Valley and the Los Angeles Conservation Corps (LACC).
"We want to thank Councilmember O'Farrell for the opportunity to work on this very impressive and important median and greening project," said Wendy Butts, Chief Executive Officer of LACC. "The determination to see this project through means the community gets to enjoy more green space near their homes, and the Corps members get to leave their mark on another street in the city."
The next steps will include the design and installation of a placemaking community marker welcoming everyone to Elysian Valley.


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Cycling Classics arranges bicycle tours for groups, guided bicycle vacations, and self-guided tours for individuals through France. (As a joint U.S. and... Read More
You can't visit the town without admiring the flying buttresses of La Catedral de Huesca, a Gothic church built on the ruins of a mosque. Read More
The Romanesque towers and 11th-century monastery at Loarre Castle are just 22 miles from town. The fortress juts out from a rocky precipice, giving... Read More
The challenging 10-day Pyrenees Sea to Sea trip features daily rides that average more than 60 miles and 7,000-plus vertical feet through French Basque... Read More
At Spain's oldest dry-goods store, Ultramarinos La Confianza, freshly baked bread shares shelf space with regional delicacies such as Somontano wine, pa... Read More


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|1. Abstract submission for ACK2017
Abstract submission for the 8th Asia Conference of Kinesiology, 2017 has opened on May 1, 2017. Greeting the first anniversary of the foundation of Asian Society of Kinesiology (ASK), this conference will be held in Keimyung University, Daegu, Korea from November 30, 2017 to December 4, 2017 in conjunction with the 18th World Congress for Kinesiologists. Under the theme of "The Value of Human Movement", over 300 presentations are planned with more than a thousand kinesiology experts and students from 23 countries attending. Abstract Submission and Early Bird Registration will be continued to June 30, 2017. Main programs of this conference are Keynote Speeches, Highlighted Symposia, Workshops, Tutorial Lectures, Oral/Mini-oral/Poster presentations, Young Investigators Awards (YIA), and Credentialing Workshop for the Faculty of the Asian Society of kinesiology (FASK).


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You are currently browsing the monthly archive for December 2011.
A few days ago, I began writing ideas about goals. It is relatively easy for me to make goals. But I find that I am not nearly as good at execution (that is, working the goal, accomplishing; not murdering, although that probably could be used to describe what has happened with some goals that I have made).
So, this series of ideas of about using goals more effectively is based not on my successes but more from the mistakes I have made. I hope that these ideas will help my goal setting and achieving for 2012, and perhaps these ideas will be of some benefit to someone else.
Where I work, as with many other companies, this time of year is when we do our year-end physical inventory. Every item in our warehouse has to be counted and tagged. The physical counts are then compared with the inventory in the system. In most cases, the system inventory is correct. But there are always some discrepancies to resolve. We sometimes find things that we didn't know we had, or we realize that some things were missing that we thought were in inventory. In the end, everything is reconciled so that we have a true statement of the value of the company's inventory.
It isn't a perfect analogy, but as we approach the end of one year and the beginning of a new one, it is also a great time to take a personal inventory. I might ask myself questions like:
- What are my strengths? Am I utilizing them? How can I develop these strengths and gifts to build, uplift, and strengthen others?
- What are my weaknesses? What can I do to improve in these areas?
- In the eternal view, what are the things that matter most? How can I more consistently avoid distractions and choose the best things?
- What stewardships do I have, and how can I magnify them?
There are other similar questions, but I think a key part of making goals and resolutions is to first do an honest self assessment. I like this quote from Elder Wirthlin: "I urge you to examine your life. Determine where you are and what you need to do to be the kind of person you want to be. Create inspiring, noble, and righteous goals that fire your imagination and create excitement in your heart. And then keep your eye on them. Work consistently towards achieving them."
Stay tuned for more ideas…..


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Cut public spending in Scotland if it stays in UK, poll told
Almost half of voters in Wales think public spending in Scotland should be cut if Scots vote to remain in the UK, according to a new survey.
Forty eight per cent of Welsh and 56% of English voters said this should follow any rejection of independence.
Public spending per head in Scotland was £10,327 in 2012-13, compared to the UK average of £8,940.
Professor Roger Scully of Cardiff University said the English were more keen to play "hard-ball" with Scotland.
The study was carried out by researchers from Cardiff and Edinburgh universities and YouGov, ahead of the Scottish referendum on independence on 18 September.
In Wales, where more than 1,000 voters were surveyed, 48 per cent backed a cut in Scotland's share of UK public spending in the event of a No vote, while 12 per cent disagreed.
When the researchers asked more than 3,600 voters in England they found a higher proportion - 56% - in favour of a reduction, with only 9 percent against.
However, 42% of both English and Welsh voters said the Scottish Parliament should be given control of the majority of taxes raised in Scotland.
On voting in the House of Commons if independence is rejected, 62% of English voters wanted to block Scottish MPs from voting on laws applying only to England, while in Wales 53% backed the principle.
The survey found high levels of opposition to Scottish independence - from 61% of voters in Wales and 59% in England, with 19% per cent of each nation's voters in favour.
Prof Roger Scully of Cardiff University's Welsh Governance Centre said: "It's interesting that while there is almost no difference in the views of people in England and Wales about what they wish to see happen in the Scottish referendum, there are clear differences in how people wish to see the aftermath dealt with.
"Put bluntly, the English are more inclined to want to play hard-ball with Scotland.
"Those in Wales are notably more cautious about this, and more favourable to a more conciliatory approach."
Surveys were conducted by YouGov over the internet, of a representative sample of 3,695 adults in England and 1,027 in Wales between 11 to 22 April 2014.


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House Republicans unveiled a sweeping tax reform bill on Thursday, November 2 that proposed to lower the corporate tax rate and allow companies to immediately deduct the full cost of business assets in the year companies build or acquire them.
The bill also takes aim at some of the key tax subsidies that the wind industry uses. In particular, the bill proposes to cut about a third of the value of the production tax credits for wind projects that begin construction after the bill is enacted. The bill could also potentially overturn some important aspects of current Internal Revenue Service (IRS) rules that permit wind developers to claim tax credits on wind projects that had begun construction before 2017.
The proposal has less impact on the solar industry that relies on the investment tax credit.
If the bill is passed, the tax subsidy for solar projects will remain intact through the investment tax credit's current phase-down period. In addition, solar projects that begin construction before 2020 will remain eligible for a 30% investment tax credit. This tax credit will then gradually step down for projects beginning construction from 2020 through 2022 at the same rate that current law provides. However, the proposal calls for the investment tax credit to be entirely phased out for solar projects that begin construction after 2027, whereas under current law, those projects would have qualified for a permanent 10% credit.
The proposal also makes good on an earlier promise to extend the investment tax credit for some technologies that saw their tax subsidies eliminated at the end of 2016. These include small wind, combined heat and power and fuel cell projects. These projects would now qualify for the same investment tax credit as solar and disappear for projects that start construction after the end of 2021.
This Client Alert addresses certain aspects of the bill that will interest the wind and solar industries, as well as the legislative process the bill faces going ahead. Latham & Watkins will soon publish additional materials analyzing the bill more broadly and other specific provisions in it.
Potential Timing
House Republicans are determined to move the bill quickly. They are hoping to debate and pass some version of the bill through the Ways and Means Committee this week and then vote it through the House in the next few weeks. In the meantime, Senate Republicans are also working on their own tax bill, which they expect to release soon for the Senate Finance Committee's markup and vote before the bill goes to a vote in the Senate. Industry groups and lobbyists will focus intently on the differences between the two bills. Those differences will have to be reconciled between House and Senate lawmakers before both houses of Congress can vote on a final version.
Republican lawmakers hope that the president will be able to sign the bill before the end of the year. Almost everything will have to go right for that to happen. Lobbyists for industries that are losing important tax breaks will fight hard to change or delay the bill as it moves through Congress. In order to pass under Senate rules, the bill needs to eliminate enough tax breaks to pay for most of the massive cut to the corporate tax rate, as well as other tax cuts that are important to many Republicans.
Key Proposal 1: Lower Corporate Tax Rates
As widely expected, the bill proposes to lower the corporate tax rate from 35% to 20% starting in 2018, at an expected cost of nearly US$1.5 trillion. Whether or not enough tax cuts can be found to pay for a rate reduction of this size remains to be seen.
A lower corporate tax rate may reduce the number of tax equity investors interested in financing renewable energy projects. There are still too many variables in play to determine if large corporations will have higher or lower overall tax liabilities if the bill were to pass into law. Some aspects of the bill would clearly reduce capacity for tax credits, such as lower tax rates, immediate deductions for investment property and limitations on net operating loss carryforwards. Others may increase the appetite for tax credits, such as new limitations on interest expense, minimum taxes on foreign earnings and the elimination of competing tax credits, such as the new markets tax credit.
Regardless, a lower tax rate would reduce the value of tax deductions and correspondingly increase the cost of tax equity. Most tax equity transactions calculate the investor's return by referencing an after-tax internal rate of return that attributes less value to tax depreciation deductions. Consequently, the renewable energy industry could see a number of effects as the proposal evolves.
First, tax equity transactions that have already closed may contain contractual provisions requiring immediate adjustments to the economic terms of the arrangement to preserve the tax equity's expected return thresholds. Those arrangements that don't have immediate adjustments will likely still require larger shares of operating cash flow to be distributed to the tax equity if its return thresholds are unmet after a prescribed period of time, such as an "expected flip date". This may impact the amount of cash flow available to service debt on back-leveraged loans or to pay equity distributions on mezzanine or other "upper-tier" investments. A lower tax rate should have minimal impact (or in some cases even benefit) those transactions that are further along and have exhausted all or most of the tax deductions from the project.
Second, transactions that have not yet closed, including those with outstanding debt and/or tax equity commitments, may need to resize the cost and availability of tax equity. A reduction in the size of the tax equity commitment may impact the sizing of the debt commitment, a portion of which typically bridges the tax equity investment. As tax rates are not scheduled to drop under the bill until 2018 accelerating tax deductions into 2017 when the tax rate is still at 35% may become an important tool in maximizing the value of these deductions thereby mitigating shortfalls in the amount of tax equity. Many debt and tax equity financings signed up since the 2016 election have been sized on the assumption that tax rates would go down.
Key Proposal 2: 100% Bonus Depreciation
Almost all investment property is eligible for a 100% bonus depreciation under the new bill. This would mark a significant change from current law, which allows for: a 50% bonus depreciation deduction for investment property placed in service in 2017; a 40% bonus depreciation deduction for 2018 property; and a 30% bonus depreciation deduction for 2019 property. In a big change from current law, the bill's 100% bonus depreciation deduction would apply to both new and used property that a taxpayer acquires from September 27, 2017 until the end of 2022. Property that regulated utilities and certain real estate businesses own would not be eligible for the new bonus depreciation. The bill allows taxpayers to elect out of the bonus depreciation and instead apply the regular depreciation schedule. Alternatively, under the bill, taxpayers may elect to claim 50% bonus depreciation for property placed in service during the remainder of 2017.
Many renewable energy developers have been taking advantage of the 50% bonus depreciation under current law to increase the value of tax benefits transferred to tax equity investors. The larger 100% bonus depreciation may be too large of a deduction for tax equity investors to use under partnership tax rules. A tax equity investor is not permitted to claim deductions that exceed its capital investment, unless the investor agrees to future capital call obligations in the form of a deficit restoration obligation. Even then, tax deductions that exceed the tax equity investor's investment are deferred until later in the deal, making them less valuable than deductions that can be immediately claimed. Renewable energy developers and investors may therefore try to structure deals to qualify for the current bonus depreciation benefits, rather than the new, larger 100% bonus depreciation.
Companies may be able to best monetize these new, larger tax benefits by using sale-leaseback structures rather than partnerships, which currently are the most common form of tax equity structures. In a sale-leaseback structure, an investor who can better use the tax benefits purchases and then leases the asset back to the seller. The value of the tax benefits is used to subsidize the financing rate under the lease. This structure may widely benefit a broad range of assets in the power and renewables sector.
Key Proposal 3: Changes to Tax Credits
Production Tax Credits
The bill proposes two important changes to the production tax credits for wind projects. First, the bill reduces the production tax credit by more than one third for any wind farm that begins construction after the bill's enactment. The bill implements this change by eliminating the inflation adjustment that has been used to increase the original value of the production tax credits that were set at US$0.015 per kw/h back in 1992 to the current value of US$0.024 per kw/h. Second, the bill modifies the current definition of "begun construction" to only apply to those wind farms that have maintained a "continuous program of construction." This change applies retroactively to wind farms that qualified for 100% of the production tax credit value by beginning construction before the end of 2016.
The bill proposes to re-trade the agreement made with the wind industry in 2015 that phased out the value of production tax credits over time. Under current law, production tax credits are phased down for wind projects based on the date that construction first began on the project. Those wind projects that began construction before 2017 are eligible for 100% of the production tax credit. The production tax credit eligibility decreases for projects that begin in subsequent years: to 80% for those starting in 2017; 60% for those starting in 2018; and 40% for those starting in 2019. The reduction from US$0.024 to US$0.015 would apply in addition to the phase-out reduction. For example, a wind farm that begins construction in 2018 would qualify for 60% of the production credit value at a rate of US$0.015 per kw/h.
The meaning of "begun construction" has previously been left to the IRS, who defined it in a series of notices over the past few years. The IRS notices impose a continuity requirement on wind projects that begin construction, but only if they are not completed before the end of 2018, or in some cases, 4 years after construction first began. Projects that are completed in this timeline are safe harbored and presumed to satisfy any continuity requirement. The IRS required different continuity standards for projects completed outside the safe harbor, depending on the method used to qualify the project as being "under construction." For projects that began construction by commencing "physical work of a significant nature," the IRS required a continuous program of construction. For those that qualified by incurring at least 5% of the total cost of the project (e.g., by buying at least 5% of the wind farm components), the IRS imposed a more liberal standard of continuity, known as the continuous efforts test.
Wind farm developers have made significant investments relying on those IRS rules. Some bought large amounts of turbines and others undertook significant physical work at the site of future projects or at the factories of their suppliers. It is not yet clear whether the bill proposes to overrule the IRS's previous announcements on this topic. While it is possible that Congress meant nothing more than to codify the existing administrative continuity requirement and defer to existing IRS rules for interpretation, the language in the bill introduces significant uncertainty into a large number of wind projects that are now in their development or early construction stages. It is no longer clear whether the bill allows those projects to rely on current IRS safe harbor rules or the more liberal continuous efforts requirement. Clarification on these topics is essential in order for a number of wind projects to remain economically viable.
Under current law, wind projects may elect to receive an investment tax credit instead of the production tax credit. Production tax credits are based on the project's energy production whereas the investment tax credit is based on the project's cost. During the past few years, as the cost of wind projects has dropped and the energy capacity from wind turbines has increased, most developers have opted for the production tax credits. The bill's proposed reduction to the production tax credits may cause some developers to reevaluate this choice for future projects.
The Investment Tax Credit
The investment tax credit for solar remains largely unchanged by the bill. Solar projects would remain eligible for the full value of the investment tax credit through 2019, and would then be phased out at the same pace as under current law. The permanent investment tax credit available to solar projects that start construction from 2022 onward would only apply to projects that have begun construction by the end of 2027.
A number of renewable energy technologies will regain tax subsidies that they lost at the end of 2016. Projects that use small wind, combined heat and power, or fuel cells would be eligible once again for the full investment tax credit if construction begins before 2020. Reduced tax credits would be available for those projects that start construction in 2020 and 2021.
The bill applies the same standards for "begun construction" to solar projects that are proposed to apply to wind projects. Projects will be considered "under construction" only if they maintain a continuous program of construction from the applicable deadline. This last change will have little impact on the solar industry in the near term. Solar developers will have until the end of 2019 to gain further clarity on these new rules.
This post comes to us from Latham & Watkins LLP. It is based on the firm's memorandum, "Impact of the House Tax Reform Bill on the Renewable Energy Sector," dated November 7, 2017, and available here.


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Academic Success Program
Georgia State Law's Academic Success Program gives you the tools you need to remain in good standing and succeed in law school. During the program's Study Skills Series, professors present skills and tips every law student will use throughout his or her time in school. In addition, ASP student assistants offer interactive workshops that integrate those competencies with assistance in the first year, required substantive coursework, giving you the aptitude to do your best from day one. We are all invested in your success.
Log in with Campus ID to view this semester's Academic Success Program schedule.
Sample Lectures and Workshops
Lecture: Preparing for a Law School Class
Workshop: Preparing for a Law School Class Revisited
- Case Briefing focuses on briefing a case using the one discussed in class.
Lecture: Outlining
Workshops: Outlining
- Traditional Outline Structure will focus on how to approach outlining using a traditional outline form to put together and study class material.
- Additional Outline Strategies will focus on the use of charts, diagrams and other outline forms to put together and study class material.
Lecture: Exam Preparation
Workshops: Exam Preparation
- The "I" in IRAC: Focus on Issue Spotting will use short hypotheticals to help students practice issue spotting.
- The "A" in IRAC: Focus on Application/Analysis will use short hypotheticals to help students practice analysis. In particular, students will gain a better understanding of the essential elements of analysis by examining answers to the hypotheticals (both complete and incomplete).
Lecture: Exam Taking
Workshops: Exam Taking
- Putting it all Together, Reading the Exam Question & Developing an Organized Answer will use a longer hypothetical supplied to students in advance. Students are encouraged to answer the hypothetical on their own under exam conditions in advance of the workshop. This workshop will guide students in evaluating their ability to follow instructions, answer the call of the question, organize, issue spot, and analyze. In addition, it will focus on answers to the hypotheticals (both complete and incomplete, organized and disorganized) so that students can get a sense of where their analysis is incomplete.


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Happy Easter
The Convent of Our Lady of Seidnaya (located 27 km north of Damascus and dating back to 547) has an interesting story:
Justinian I, Emperor of Byzantium, came to this desert, where his army encamped and soon suffered thirst for lack of water. When they despaired, the emperor saw a beautiful gazelle off in the distance. He vigorously gave chase, hunting the animal until it tired and stopped on a rocky knoll and approached a spring of fresh water, but without giving the emperor the opportunity to shoot it. Suddenly, it transformed into an icon of Virgin Mary, which shone with a brilliant light. A white hand stretched forth from it and a voice said, "No, thou shalt not kill me, Justinian, but thou shalt build a church for me here on this hill." Upon his return, Justinian related what he had seen to his subordinates and ordered them immediately to draw up a plan for the contemplated church. After some time had passed and the architects were unable to resolve the problems of the plan, the Holy Virgin (the gazelle) reappeared to Justinian in a dream and confided a magnificent plan to him for a convent, of which she would be the Protectress. It is said that the basic structure of the convent follows this plan to this day. The convent soon gained such renown that it came to be ranked second only to Jerusalem as a place of pilgrimage, and nuns from every corner of Syria, Egypt, and other lands flocked to it. (Text from Saidnaya.com)
9 comments:
- sasa said...
Incredible! I learn so much from your posts Ayman, keep it up!
So Syria hosts the second most holy site in Christianity (Saidnaya) and the fourth most holy sit in Islam (the Umayyad Mosque).
- 8:21 pm
- Ayman said...
Thanks Sasa :)
I don't know if Seidnaya is considered the second "most holy" Christian site. However, for a long time, Seidnaya has been the second Christian place of pilgrimage in the East after Jerusalem (in the number of pilgrims). The town used to be the seat of the Patriarch of Antioch (but not any longer) and its Convent hosts the "Shaghoura Shrine" which contains one of four original icons of Virgin Mary drawn by St. Luke himself.
- 12:17 am
hallo Ayman ...
- 9:04 am
- MMM said...
I visited Seidnaya and it's convent last year. There was a big group of pilgrims there at the time.
It's really beautiful and the sight of Seidnaya from the convent is a breath-taking one. I took some really nice pics there.
Thanks for bringing back those memories :)
- 10:59 am
Hi, Ayman - I have a really cute story about Seidnaya.
Friends (Jordanian, with family in Syria) here in Chicago have a family owned liquor/wine store, where the father and two cute sons work.
The oldest son went to Syria for a few weeks. Long story short: He visited Seidnaya at the end of his trip and met a woman there - an orphan who'd lived there all her life, and was now older but still living there and working at the convent - in her 20's. Completely by chance meeting.
They fell in love at first sight.
Many immigration wranglings, a couple years later, she lives here in Chicago with the son (now her new husband) and their new baby. :-)
The entire story, with all the details is SO cute and romantic, N and I followed all the developments anxiously as they were unfolding. Needless to say, everyone involved was VERY happy!
- 6:07 pm
Hi Ayman,
What a nice photo. I've been to Sednaya-Maalola with school about ten years ago and we took similar photos from the balcony of Our Lady of Sednaya convent. We also visited a smaller church, located on a hilltop. It was very old with its walls almost falling down. I don't know if its in better shape today. Can you please help me in remembering the name of that ancient church.
- 12:00 am
- t'su said...
Happy late Easter, Ayman!
Another captivating photo. Quite majestic.
- 7:45 am
- Ayman said...
Thanks everybody for you comments :)
Amr, I have only been to the Convent of Our Lady of Seidnaya. I know there are a couple of new monestaries in the area, including the Monestary of St. Ephram and Deir Cherubim. I don't know of any other church in Seidnaya. I tried to look this up but didn't find anything. Maybe we should ask a native of Seidnaya.
T'su, thank you and Happy late Easter to you too :)
- 8:00 pm
- M!R@CHK@ said...
I really like 2 go 2 Seidnaya happy Easter 2 all :)
- 9:34 pm


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Benefits of Investing in Online Mutual Fund
Do you want to buy online mutual fund but don't know how to go by it? Before that, it's better for you to understand about its benefits of online investment. You may be little concerned about the online transaction. But the online transaction is not easy for everyone. There involve technicalities which you should be aware of beforehand. As you may be doing the online transaction by sitting in front of your laptop or mobile, the mutual fund online shouldn't let you shirk the benefits that online transaction carries.
Let's take a glimpse of benefits in detail :
Free from paperwork
The first major benefit that comes to you by investing in the online mutual fund is getting rid of physical strains of the paperwork wherein you are required to manually fill up forms, make a cheque, and comply with the KYC norms. While doing online investment, you just have to ensure your KYC is in place and thereafter you can make your investments suitably.
Investing in online mutual fund gives you full convenience. You don't have to think about the timings, transport, and availability. The moment you decide to invest, within the click you can select to invest. There are various mutual fund schemes which you will come across your terminal or mobile interface from which you would like to invest. In this way, you will save your time and money both by doing online.
Cost of Investing
The fair approach of investing in direct mutual funds is going online. Direct mutual funds charge less from you in terms of fund management fees which can, in turn, increase your returns. This difference will become important in the longer run.
Easy comparison across several mutual funds
By simply making your login ID and password with any portal of mutual fund gives you the facility of independent research. You can assess the performance of various mutual funds scheme at one place which can help you to take a fair decision of choosing the best mutual fund scheme to invest. At the same time, you can make the decision for switch or withdrawal subsequently.
Easy Tracking of Mutual Fund
As an investor, by going online helps you track of your fund performance very easily. Whichever day and time you want you can see the exact present value of your investment, only through some clicks which you make.
Redemption or Switching Becomes Easy
Online mode can allow you to apply instantly for the redemption or switch of the mutual funds. Hence, it safeguards your precious time when it becomes a concern. In this manner, you may get your money in the account within 2 days of the online request.
Mis-selling not allowed
Mutual Fund online breach the process of intermediary which may somehow invite chances of mis-selling. Since you may not have access to any agent who can persuade you for the wrong mutual fund scheme. It depends only on your discretion to do your research and decide independently.
Investing Online in Mutual Funds
There are 4 ways of investing online in Mutual Funds :
- Website of Any Mutual Fund House
Every fund house these days give you the provision of online investment. At any day or at any time you can visit the website of each fund house to ascertain your best pick for the online mutual fund.
- Direct plan of a mutual fund can be purchased. Direct plan levies low fund management fees, therefore, deliver better returns.
- No distributor is involved, hence no extra fees.
- After registering with the fund house further investment becomes simpler.
- Independent Mutual Fund Portals
There are other online portals which provide you a platform for investing in any mutual fund scheme of your choice. They also educate you for doing the basic research about the mutual fund schemes. The examples of such fund portals are Fundsindia.com, fundsupermart.co.in, and scripbox.com
- Investment and tracking of all mutual fund investment can be done at one place.
- Online portals did not charge extra fees for investing platform and online services.
- You get the research facility for choosing the best mutual fund scheme. However, other free sources of research you can access e.g. valueresearchonline. com and morningstar.co.in
- Online Brokers
The distributors working as share brokers are also involved in mutual fund online transactions. Some of the famous brokers which you may easily encounter online are ICICIdirect, KotakSecurities, ShareKhan, HDFC Securities, Indiainfoline etc.
- Buying of online mutual fund can be done from any fund house.
- There is no requirement to do KYC for every fund house. Since you have already done your KYC at the time of Demat account opening, you don't require a KYC at the time of online mutual fund purchase.
- You have the facility to track all the mutual fund investment and stock investment at one place.
- Bank's Website
You may also access the bank's website which also sells the mutual fund schemes, relatively from their group companies. SBI Mutual Fund, HDFC Bank Mutual Fund, Axis Bank Mutual Fund etc. are some examples of bank related mutual funds.
- You don't need to give KYC documents again.
- You can buy mutual fund online through the platform of online banking.
Article Source: http://wishfinblogs.kinja.com/benefits-of-investing-in-online-mutual-fund-1792706403


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"We hypothesize that the advanced civilizations may live safely inside the supermassive black holes in the galactic nuclei being invisible from the outside."
Vyacheslav Dokuchaev –Moscow's Institute for Nuclear Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences
Astronomers report that they have discovered the most gigantic black holes ever found in the universe, an abyss 10 times the size of our solar system, encompassing regions or "event horizons" about five times the distance from the sun to Pluto or about 2,500 times as massive as the black hole at the center of the Milky Way.
The biggest of of these monsters, which weighs as much as 21 billion Suns, is in an egg-shaped galaxy known as NGC 4889, the brightest galaxy in the Coma cluster of thousands of galaxies about 335 million light-years away. The image at bottom of page shows the central region of the Coma cluster, with giant elliptical galaxies NGC 4889 and NGC 4874.
The other newly discovered beast, the equivalent of 9.7 billion Suns, is in the center of NGC 3842, a galaxy that anchors another swirl of stars known as Abell 1367, 331 million light-years away in Leo.
"These two black holes are significantly more massive than predicted," the astronomers wrote.
They said their calculations suggest that different evolutionary processes influence the growth of the largest galaxies and their black holes than in smaller galaxies. Astronomers have long suspected that since the universe began it has harboured black holes with a mass the size of the two newly found giants.
Chung-Pei Ma, led a team of University of California, Berkeley astronomers who used the Gemini and Keck observatories in Hawaii and the McDonald Observatory in Texas and outer space to weigh the black holes in the centers of galaxies by clocking the speeds of stars orbiting around them; the faster the stars are going, the more gravity — and thus mass — is needed to keep the stars from flying away. They report their work in the journal Nature, which will be published online on Wednesday.
These cosmic gluttons grow in tandem with their galaxies, slurping up gases, planets and stars.
"There is a symbiotic relationship between black holes and their galaxies that has existed since the dawn of time," Kevin Schawinski, a Yale astronomer said in a June study.
Martin Rees, a cosmologist at Cambridge University, called the new work "an incremental step," noting that the study of these monsters has been a part of his life for a long time. "It's good to learn about even bigger ones," he said.
One question astronomers would like answered is how these black holes got so big, billions of times bigger than a typical dead star. Dr. Ma described it as a kind of nature-versus-nurture argument, explaining that black holes could grow by merging with other black holes as galaxies merge to get bigger — "nature" — or by swallowing gas around them — "nurture."
"Our discovery of extremely massive black holes in the largest present-day galaxies suggests that these galaxies could be the ancient remains of voracious ancestors," said McConnell. Astronomers think the supermassive black holes in galaxies could be the missing link between the quasars of early universe that were powered by giant black holes in gargantuan feeding frenzies, spewing massive amounts of energy into space.
The inner workings of these supermassive black holes may be less hostile than we realize, possibly with stable regions where life and even planets could exist, according to Russian cosmologist Vyacheslav Dokuchaev at Moscow's Institute for Nuclear Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Charged and rotating black holes have a complex internal structure that allow photons and particles of much greater magnitude to safely orbit the central singularity.
Gravitational tides within the central singularity are so powerful that even light gets sucked Dokuchaev has studied the dynamics of surrounding stable periodic planetary orbits, that neither neither terminate at the central singularity nor exit the black hole, creating space for life in the spinning black hearts of the active galactic nuclei.
Dokuchaev's research demonstrates that "living inside the eternal black holes is possible in principle, if these black holes are rotating or charged and massive enough for weakening the tidal forces and radiation of gravitational waves to acceptable level." Type III advanced civilizations on the Kardashev scale that have achieved mastery of the resources of their galaxy, could inhabit such black hole interiors.
"The naked central singularity illuminates the orbiting internal planets and provides the energy supply for life supporting," he adds. "Some additional highlighting during the night time comes from eternally circulating photons."
Upon arrival at the event horizon of a black hole a theoretical observer enters a region where the radial dimension is more time-like than space-like. Beyond this is the inner Cauchy horizon where the dimensions again reverse, shifting into a plane where stable orbits for massive planets exist. The Cauchy horizon is a light-like boundary where one side of the horizon contains closed space-like geodesics and the other side contains closed time-like geodesics.
"This internal black hole domain, hidden by the two horizons from the whole external universe, is indeed a suitable place for safe inhabitation," Dokuchaev writes. "The only thing needed is to put your vehicle or your planet to a stable periodic orbit inside the black hole." To exist in this realm, any such civilizations would have to have overcome extreme conditions, such as massive tidal forces.
"Yet, some difficulties (or advantages?) of a life inside black holes are worth mentioning, such as a possible causality violation and the growing energy density in the close vicinity of the Cauchy horizon."
The Daily Galaxy via nytimes.com, space.com, dailymail.co.uk and TheEpochTimes.com
Image credit: NASA/JPL