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via Instagram http://ift.tt/2pIzUCL
A personal blog/online journal of the things that I find worthy of talking about (mostly fitness, health and nutrition). It may be serious, it may be silly but it is my own opinion that I feel the need to share with the rest of the world.
Monday, April 17, 2017
Dreams are amazing. Without a dream, you cannot set goals or see where you want to be. At some point, you have to get up and do something about that dream. A dream without action is just a fantasy. What do you need to do to take your first or next step to making your dream come true? "The best way to make your dreams come true is to wake up." -Paul Valery Have a great day! #icandoallthingsthroughchristwhostrengthensme #dailyinspiration #herbalifenutrition
Posted by Ana V at 8:31 AM
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Now that you've done the hard work of creating an email list and giving your subscribers all sorts of options, it's time to focus on the emails themselves. Make sure your promotions are as creative and as catchy as can be so that people will be compelled to keep reading and sharing your great content! Here are my top ten tips for better email campaigns. (Click to Tweet and share!)
1. Start with the right template.
If you're creating an RSS-Driven Campaign in MailChimp, make sure you start by selecting RSS-Driven Campaign, and then choose one of the RSS template options. No matter what code you insert into a non-RSS template, MailChimp won't be able to find your blog posts when your campaign sends. And even if you do choose an RSS template, it won't display your blog posts if you haven't chosen the right kind of campaign to begin with. Hint: If it doesn't ask for your RSS feed address on the first step, you haven't chosen the RSS-Driven Campaign–go back to go.
If you're creating a newsletter, choose MailChimp's Drag & Drop Editor before you ever get to your template selection. Drag and drop gives you so many more options for content blocks and layout!
Mad Mimi Tip: Using Mad Mimi? No worries. There aren't template options to choose from there — it's all drag and drop! (Click here for more on Mad Mimi vs. MailChimp.)
2. Use columns carefully.
MailChimp still gives you the option to use 2, 3, and even 4 column templates. But I've started moving to the 1 column style because email programs and screen sizes vary so much! This isn't a PDF newsletter that needs to fit on an 8 1/2 x 11 sheet of paper when it is printed out. What you're creating is a fluid, re-sizable email that will be viewed in all kinds of browsers, email clients, and apps. If you go too wild with the columns, the email may appear imbalanced and off-center depending on where it's viewed.
Mad Mimi Tip: In Mad Mimi, your header image may appear off-center if the images in your blog posts are too wide. You can choose to "Automatically format RSS feed for clean display" but that only shows an excerpt of your post (an option I use for the weekly digest) rather than the full text (which I prefer for daily posts via email).
3. Customize your subject.
Your subject is what determines whether your readers open the email or not. Make it good and catchy (but not spammy!).
If you're sending out your posts via RSS to email, the blog post title should be the subject line of your emails. (Click to Tweet this tip.) They can already see who the email is from–no need to repeat that. And if they already caught up on their feed reader for the day or saw your post on Twitter, showing them the post title in the subject tells them whether they've read it or not. If you want to distinguish your posts via email from your newsletters, follow the post title with a parenthetical note of something like "New Blog Post".
Tip: In MailChimp, use *|RSSITEM:TITLE|* for your subject line. In Mad Mimi, use (post_title) for your subject line. (And if you're still using FeedBurner, you can customize your subject line, too.) Be sure to test your campaigns to make sure you have the right field in the right spot so you don't end up sending out an email with a broken piece of code in the subject line.
4. Pay close attention to the first text your readers see.
Many email programs (including Gmail) often display the first few words of an email before you even open it (check out email previews from all sorts of different email programs here). Hopefully the subject has already hooked them, but if not, this is your last chance to reel them in.
Whatever you put as the first few lines of text, make sure you don't leave MailChimp's sample text: "Use this area to offer a short teaser of your email's content." That is unprofessional! (Click to Tweet this Top Ten Tip.)
Examples from Emily Freeman's Newsletter & Blog Posts:
- "This is that newsletter you signed up for. It comes once a month for subscribers only and is different from a blog post. You won't find this content anywhere else."
- "Take a minute to let your soul breathe – here's a post from emily at Chatting at the Sky."
5. Create custom header graphics.
If you really want to give your emails some pizzazz, create custom header graphics for each newsletter campaign. One for your newsletter, one for your daily posts via email, and perhaps even another for your weekly digest. (Don't forget a header for your signup forms, too–employ consistent branding everywhere!) They're easy to put together in PicMonkey using your blog's header or button–or talk to your designer about creating some for you when you get your blog redesigned. Graphics make an email really pop!
Kayse Pratt's Newsletter Header:
Kindred Grace's weekly blog digest header:
6. Link to your social media profiles.
If people are opening and reading your emails, they are likely to want to engage with you via social media as well. Make sure they don't have to search for you on Facebook once they finish reading your newsletter: they may get distracted and never get there. Include your social media buttons somewhere in every email. Mad Mimi does this automatically if you've filled out the Social Links in the Social tab. If you choose MailChimp's Drag and Drop Editor, you can drag a Social Follow block into your email campaign. For an even more custom look, add a text block and insert the code for the social media buttons you use on your site. Be sure to link each image to the right social media platform!
I use my site's social media icons in my email campaigns rather than the generic ones from MailChimp:
7. Include a subscribe link for forwarded copies.
Nothing's worse than having a friend forward you an email newsletter that you really love and not being able to figure out how to subscribe to it. Unless someone uses the "forward to a friend" feature to share your email with their friends (and if we're honest, none of us have ever used that feature–we just hit our email program's forward button), there's no subscribe option in the email unless you put it there. Add a P.S. or a catchy button that links to your subscription page (you do have a page on your site with your signup form and details about your list options, right?).
You never know where you'll find the notice from Amy Lynn Andrews–she often changes it up so it catches the attention of regular subscribers:
- "Like this useletter? Why not forward it to a friend or subscribe (if you're the friend)?"
- "(Did someone share this with you? If so, consider subscribing here so you don't miss any future fun.)"
- "Did someone forward this to you and you want to get on the list? You can do so here."
Christian Mommy Blogger has a catchy graphic included in their weekly post digest:
8. Make the fine print fun.
Most of us skip right over fine print unless it's actually creative. But especially if you have multiple list options, you don't want your readers to miss the opportunity to update their subscription preferences–make the fine print fun to read and click on! You can't change the footer in the free version of Mad Mimi, but in MailChimp you can have some real fun with the footer. Make sure to leave all the field codes in there so the right items get displayed for legal purposes. But change up the text that's displayed there. Make it look different than all the other MailChimp generated emails they're getting. Be sure to highlight the "Update Subscription Preferences" option if you have more than one group or subscription option.
In the footer of my personal blog post email campaigns, I let people know they can switch to a weekly digest:
Inland NW Christian Writers began a blog, and wanted to make sure all their newsletter recipients know they have the option to get the blog posts now, too:
9. Don't neglect the plain-text version.
The majority of your readers may have a smart phone, but not all of them do. And some of them–like me–still get our emails on on a "feature" phone which has only the most basic email program. Don't neglect that final step of editing the plain-text in MailChimp. Not only is the plain-text version what people with older phones or computer software will see, but the preview that Gmail and other email programs offer is also pulling from the plain-text rather than the HTML version as well.
It's easy enough to just click "Copy Text From HTML Email" in MailChimp. But don't stop there–go through line by line and make sure nothing gets left out because images are missing, or that the social media links don't get duplicated. Maybe not every link needs to be in the plain-text version–your header might link to your site in the HTML version, but in the plain-text version it just looks like a random link to your site. Or maybe the content just needs rearranged–if you put your social media links at the beginning of your campaign in the HTML version, move them to the end for the plain-text version. No one wants to scroll through lines of links and code to get to the meat of the email. Keep the plain-text plain and simple–just make sure it's there. (Click to Tweet that.)
Otherwise? This is what your readers will see in their plain-text programs and previews:
Mad Mimi Tip: Mad Mimi doesn't let you edit the plain-text version of your promotions. But it will look just like it does as you're editing your email, complete with Mad Mimi's formatting marks, minus the graphics. (But if your graphics were linked to something, the link will still show. So consider your linked graphics carefully in light of the plain-text version.)
10. Preview your campaigns and send test emails.
Preview your email campaigns in both HTML and plain-text. (The plain-text preview option is not available in Mad Mimi.) It just takes the click of a button and a few moments of your time to check your email for errors before it goes out. In MailChimp, click the "Header Info" button in HTML preview, or check "Show header stuff" in plain-text, to see what the subject line will actually be.
And then, send yourself a test email. Just so you make sure you dotted all your i's and crossed all your t's. Especially before starting an RSS to email campaign. (And that "friend on Facebook" link MailChimp likes to add? It links to your personal account unless you edit the link and change the text to "like my Facebook page"!)
Tip: Your RSS-Driven Campaign won't start until you create a new post. So if you wrote a post on Monday, and then created and scheduled your campaign on Tuesday, it won't send out Wednesday with Monday's post. If you write a new post on Wednesday or on Thursday, then it will send out at the scheduled time with the new post. (RSS to email campaigns don't go out the instant the post is published–you schedule a set time for it to send out any new posts each day. If you write two posts one day, it will send them both out in the next email. Experiment with the scheduled time to see when your readers are more apt to open and click your emails. Just don't experiment when you have a post waiting to go out, or it won't go out at all and you'll have to copy it into a regular campaign and send it to your blog group!)
Do you use any of these techniques in your email campaigns? What is your top tip for better emails? Tell us in the comments!
Forward me your creative campaigns at gretchen at gretchenlouise.com — I'd love to see what you're doing!
I've used MailChimp campaigns and Mad Mimi promotions as examples in this post because both services are free to get started with. For more details, visit my post "How to Create & Build an Email List." If you haven't yet chosen a service, I'd love it if you'd sign up using one of my affiliate links: MailChimp or Mad Mimi. And if you're looking for creative signup form ideas, check out the examples in "How & Why to Simplify Your Email Lists."
(Photo Credit: Trina Holden)

subset: commoncrawl


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Miami Heat's DJ Irie expands brand with large corporate partnerships
The Miami Heat. Carnival Cruise Lines. Target. Premier Beverage Company (Grey Goose Vodka). Beck's Brewery. Cadillac. WEDR 99 JAMZ.
DJ Irie has so many brands attached to his name that it's difficult to think of him as only a DJ. He has transcended his first title, not only spinning tracks at night clubs and Heat games, but joining the select and small community of DJs who are recognized as celebrities in their own right.
It all comes to a head this weekend with DJ Irie's 10th annual fundraiser, Irie Weekend, when he will announce the latest developments in his ever-growing brand.
Despite not being on Forbes' list of the world's 12 highest-paid DJs, (Calvin Harris was No. 1 for 2013, bringing in $46 million) his brand development in the last few years has elevated him to a position as the music face of various top-tier companies.
Irie, whose real name is Ian Grocher, became the first sports team DJ when he partnered with the Miami Heat in 1999. Since then, he has grown an empire including sports, beverage companies, clothing stores and cruise lines.
It all began with a relationship with Premier Beverage Company, the distributor of Grey Goose Vodka, in 2006 that led to a partnership in 2010.
The company was one of the first to explore other options than just booking him for an event, he said. "It really hit me because the reason why it made so much sense was because it fit so organically into a lifestyle, into what we were projecting," he said.
Irie said that at his many nightclub events, a Grey Goose-and-Red Bull was one of his go-to drinks. It made sense to partner with a company that sold the products he already supported.
"We are already in the lifestyle, but now it's letting folks know what our preferences are," he said.
Since the partnership began, he is now often handed bottles of Grey Goose at club events because people consider him synonymous with the brand, he said.
That affiliation spawned a movement toward exploring other brand partnerships with businesses that are in line with his own brand. His efforts have been so successful that in March, he launched a consulting agency to help emerging performers connect with brands. His business success earned his honors as the Entrepreneur DJ of the Year at the 2013 Global Spin Awards, where he also was named National Club DJ of the Year.
Irie wouldn't reveal the worth of his endorsements and partnerships or his net worth, but IRIE Music Corporation Managing Director Shobie Callaghan said Irie's appearances can "command upwards of five figures." The company's gross revenues grew by 50 percent in 2013 over 2012, he said.
At Irie Weekend, he will reveal his latest partnership with Beck's "Live Beyond Labels" campaign, revealing his label design. Irie will join singers Aloe Blacc and Luis Fonsi as one of the faces of the brand. His face will be on 500,000 bottles distributed nationwide in July.
"I've never been more refreshing ever," Irie joked.
The weekend event will also feature the premiere of his trailer for the campaign, in which he explains the struggles of being labeled early in his career.
Irie started as a DJ in 1995, a time when, he said, many people wanted to label him only as a club DJ.
"I found that very frustrating because I know for myself that my love of music, my vocabulary of music, my love of different cultures, there was so much more I had to offer," he said.
In 2010, he snagged a deal with Carnival Cruise Lines, becoming the official music face of the ships along with Guy Fieri on the food side and George Lopez in entertainment. Carnival's chairman is Heat owner Micky Arison.
He set up the Spin'iversity program to train DJs for Carnival's fleet. Today, Carnival's DJs have all gone through the three-week training program with Irie. On Sunday, the 2,974-Carnival Freedom will be rolling out its Spin U presented by IRIE youth program to teach young guests how to spin tracks while on the ship and even earn their DJ names.
"What he brings to any partnership is this amazing energy and spirit and that is what was most attractive about bringing him to Carnival," said Mark Tamis, vice present of client operations at Carnival Cruise Lines. "Everything he touches is about making everything memorable in a fun way."
Among his other partnerships are deals with Cadillac, as a brand ambassador for its 2015 edition Escalade, and Target.
Irie Weekend, irieweekend.com, continues through Saturday night with a celebrity golf tournament, club parties, celebrity bowling and a BBQ beach bash. The fundraising event will benefit Irie's charity, the Irie Foundation, which supports South Florida's at-risk youth. Irie Weekend has raised more than $200,000 since 2011. This year, the goal is $150,000.
Among this weekend's major announcements will be a partnership with Motivational Edge, a Miami organization that focuses on giving children opportunities to study the arts. Motivational Edge's Allapattah Music and Literacy Center will be renamed to the Irie Foundation Allapattah Music and Literacy Center, expected to open this summer.


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We've spent the past three plus decades sharpening our craft in commercial real estate for sale Putnam County services. Experience, perseverance, and the will to learn and improve at every chance we get has afforded us the opportunity to assist businesses throughout the Fairfield, Westchester, and Putnam Counties in finding the best available office space. Dozens of companies just like yours have taken advantage of our expertise while searching, finding, buying, selling, renting, leasing, and negotiating costs for commercial property. It is thanks for our team of seasoned veterans in the commercial real estate field that these dozens of local small to mid-sized businesses have enjoyed the best possible deals in town.
Have we got your attention yet? Are you not quite convinced? Here's a closer look at just what it is that makes Rakow Group so special.
Access To An Expansive Network Of Properties And A Team Of Industry Experts
Whether you're interested in buying, selling, or renting, our network of properties stands to benefit you. If you're looking to sell, you'll have the opportunity to post your property to a network that we will make visible to the top candidates for potential buyers in the area. Our reputation over the decades precedes us, which is why using our network to expand your reach to buyers is sure to land you the results you're looking for.
If you're searching for the right office space to buy, then you'll have hundreds of properties to choose from. And with our team of experts assisting you, you'll be able to narrow down your search to a select few spaces that perfectly fit your criteria. One of the many key lessons we've learned over the years is that every client is different. That's why we never generalize, but rather, customize the search for each and every one of our clients.
A Deep Understanding Of The Commercial Real Estate Industry In Putnam County
There's something to be said for knowing the land. That's precisely what makes us so special. We not only understand all of the ins and outs of the Putnam County area, but we also see it through the lense of the always-evolving real estate industry. Commercial real estate is not volatile. On the contrary, it's a healthy investment, and we can help you ensure that if you're looking to sell, that you do so at the best possible time. However, even though it's not volatile, it's important to understand its dynamic. Real estate of any sort is not the kind of investment you want to go into without the proper guidance. That's why companies like Rakow exist. To make your life easier and more profitable than ever.
Training, Consulting, And Guidance In Negotiations To Ensure You Land The Best Possible Price For Your Property
By choosing Rakow, you ensure that you won't walk into any negotiation without all of the necessary resources to arrive at a number that benefits you to the fullest. We know the industry. We know the properties. And most importantly, we care about the clients. We haven't made it this far by dragging our feet. We got here through hard honest work.
To learn more about Rakow Group's Commercial Real Estate For Sale Putnam County services, give our office a call at (914) 422-0100.


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The infographic geniuses at iA have been hard at work again and created a Web Trend Map of the 140 most influential people on Twitter with the centre of gravity being Ev, Jack and Biz. It radiates out from there to include all the folks you'd expect (Loic, Scoble, TimO, swissmiss,…even BillG finds his way on to it (just), and Joi Ito is on there of course.
it's available at an A0 poster for $99 or free PDF.


text: Within the legal services market, a new model of outsourcing has emerged to supplement the more well-known models that include combinations of onsite, onshore, and offshore. Outsourcers in Israel and New Zealand have positioned themselves between the higher cost, onsite & onshore vendors and the lower cost, offshore vendors. The higher prices that onsite/onshore vendors have been able to command are not so much a function of their geographies, but of their relative skill with the substantive and procedural aspects of the U.S. and U.K. legal systems. This new model reorders these assumptions by providing knowledgeable and experienced western legal resources from individuals who have moved to, or returned to, medium cost locations like Israel and New Zealand. Read the rest of this entry »


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New Technique Shocks Proteins Into Action
(Dec 6, 2016) For a protein to carry out its job—whether it be replicating DNA, metabolizing fuel, transporting biomolecules, or sending cell signals—its amino acids have to move in certain ways. The patterns of these internal motions aren't always well understood because the tools available to study them are limited.
A new technique, electric field-stimulated X-ray crystallography (EF-X), combines electric pulses with time-resolved X-ray crystallography to provide more comprehensive views of the ways proteins work. Electrical charges and dipoles are present in all proteins, and external electric fields can exert forces on them, causing atoms to move.
Click here for full c&en article
Click here for APS Science Highlight


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- Research article
- Open Access
- Open Peer Review
Transcriptional effects of 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D3physiological and supra-physiological concentrations in breast cancer organotypic culture
- Cintia Milani1,
- Maria Lucia Hirata Katayama1,
- Eduardo Carneiro de Lyra1, 2,
- JoEllen Welsh3,
- Laura Tojeiro Campos1,
- M Mitzi Brentani1,
- Maria do Socorro Maciel4,
- Rosimeire Aparecida Roela1,
- Paulo Roberto del Valle1,
- João Carlos Guedes Sampaio Góes2,
- Suely Nonogaki5,
- Rodrigo Esaki Tamura6 and
- Maria Aparecida Azevedo Koike Folgueira1Email author
© Milani et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. 2013
- Received: 11 May 2012
- Accepted: 8 March 2013
- Published: 15 March 2013
Vitamin D transcriptional effects were linked to tumor growth control, however, the hormone targets were determined in cell cultures exposed to supra physiological concentrations of 1,25(OH)2D3 (50-100nM). Our aim was to evaluate the transcriptional effects of 1,25(OH)2D3 in a more physiological model of breast cancer, consisting of fresh tumor slices exposed to 1,25(OH)2D3 at concentrations that can be attained in vivo.
Tumor samples from post-menopausal breast cancer patients were sliced and cultured for 24 hours with or without 1,25(OH)2D3 0.5nM or 100nM. Gene expression was analyzed by microarray (SAM paired analysis, FDR≤0.1) or RT-qPCR (p≤0.05, Friedman/Wilcoxon test). Expression of candidate genes was then evaluated in mammary epithelial/breast cancer lineages and cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs), exposed or not to 1,25(OH)2D3 0.5nM, using RT-qPCR, western blot or immunocytochemistry.
1,25(OH)2D3 0.5nM or 100nM effects were evaluated in five tumor samples by microarray and seven and 136 genes, respectively, were up-regulated. There was an enrichment of genes containing transcription factor binding sites for the vitamin D receptor (VDR) in samples exposed to 1,25(OH)2D3 near physiological concentration. Genes up-modulated by both 1,25(OH)2D3 concentrations were CYP24A1, DPP4, CA2, EFTUD1, TKTL1, KCNK3. Expression of candidate genes was subsequently evaluated in another 16 samples by RT-qPCR and up-regulation of CYP24A1, DPP4 and CA2 by 1,25(OH)2D3 was confirmed. To evaluate whether the transcripitonal targets of 1,25(OH)2D3 0.5nM were restricted to the epithelial or stromal compartments, gene expression was examined in HB4A, C5.4, SKBR3, MDA-MB231, MCF-7 lineages and CAFs, using RT-qPCR. In epithelial cells, there was a clear induction of CYP24A1, CA2, CD14 and IL1RL1. In fibroblasts, in addition to CYP24A1 induction, there was a trend towards up-regulation of CA2, IL1RL1, and DPP4. A higher protein expression of CD14 in epithelial cells and CA2 and DPP4 in CAFs exposed to 1,25(OH)2D3 0.5nM was detected.
In breast cancer specimens a short period of 1,25(OH)2D3 exposure at near physiological concentration modestly activates the hormone transcriptional pathway. Induction of CYP24A1, CA2, DPP4, IL1RL1 expression appears to reflect 1,25(OH)2D3 effects in epithelial as well as stromal cells, however, induction of CD14 expression is likely restricted to the epithelial compartment.
- Breast cancer
- Calcitriol
- Gene expression
- Organotypic culture
Epidemiological data indicates higher incidence and mortality rates from breast cancer in low latitude regions. Among the mechanisms suggested for a relationship between sunlight and cancer is the genesis of vitamin D in the skin, resulting from the UV light action. In accordance with this hypothesis, there is evidence that lower 25(OH)D3[1–5] and 1,25(OH)2D3[6, 7] serum concentrations are encountered in patients with breast cancer, as compared with women without cancer, as well as in patients with advanced or metastatic disease in comparison with those with early-stage disease [8, 9]. In addition, 25(OH)D3 deficiency at diagnosis was related with poor prognosis, evaluated as metastasis-free and overall survival [10].
In human breast xenografts established in immunossupressed mice 1,25(OH)2D3 exerts growth inhibitory effects, and in mouse mammary organ culture exposed to chemical carcinogens, both 25(OH)D3 and 1,25(OH)2D3 mediate preventive effects [11–13]. However, the chemopreventive effect of vitamin D is still controversial, as supplementation trials on vitamin D3 and colon or breast cancer incidence have been inconsistent [14, 15]. One critical issue is that the appropriate supplementation dose for cancer prevention trials was not well established [16]. On the other hand, clinical studies point to a clinical benefit for 1,25(OH)2D3 (or analogues) alone or in combination with chemotherapy in the treatment of hormone refractory prostate cancer and breast cancer skin lesions [17, 18]. However, concerns about hypercalcemic side effects limit the dose of 1,25(OH)2D3 (or analogues) that can be safely administered in vivo.
Phase I clinical studies indicate that subcutaneous doses of calcitriol given every other day result in peak 1,25(OH)2D3 serum concentration of 0.25-0.75 nM [19] while weekly pulses of oral calcitriol allow higher dose administration and peak serum concentrations of 1–15 nM [20]. Although these vitamin D concentrations represent about 1.3-83 times the upper limit of physiologic serum levels, they are well below the concentrations (10-100nM) typically used to investigate hormone actions in cell culture studies. At these concentrations, 1,25(OH)2D3 exerts antiproliferative and pro apoptotic effects [21] and modulates angiogenesis [22, 23], invasion and metastasis [24, 25]. Among the downstream targets of the hormone are cyclin dependent kinase inhibitors as p21WAF1/CIP1 and p27KIP1; growth factors, receptors and associated proteins as TGFβ, TGFβ receptors and insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) [26–31]. In addition, gene expression profiling of breast cancer cell lines MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 have identified many potential 1,25(OH)2D3 target genes, [24] but again, these studies were conducted with supra physiological concentrations of calcitriol (50-100nM). Furthermore, experiments in cell lines do not reflect the complex array of interactions among malignant and stromal cells, secreted factors and extracellular matrix proteins taking place in the tumor microenvironment, which also modulate the hormone actions.
Although the majority of human breast cancers express vitamin D receptors (VDR) [7, 32, 33], there have been no demonstrations that 1,25(OH)2D3 modulates gene expression in human breast cancer samples. To address this research gap, a physiologically relevant in vitro model to study 1,25(OH)2D3 actions, represented by short term culture of fresh breast cancer tissue slices, which maintain the epithelial mesenchymal relationship and preserve tissue morphology and proliferation rate, was established [25, 34, 35]. With this organotypic culture system the transcriptional effects of 1,25(OH)2D3 at 0.5nM, a concentration that can be safely attained in vivo, and 100nM, the concentration typically used in cell culture studies, was compared. In addition, mammary cell lines and fibroblasts obtained from breast cancer samples were used to validate transcriptional targets of 1,25(OH)2D3 in epithelial and stromal cell types. Cancer associated fibroblasts (CAF) are interactive cells that infiltrate tumor specimens, influencing their behavior [36–38], which are also potential targets of the hormone. Although VDRs have been detected in fibroblasts obtained from prostate and breast tumors, few studies have compared 1,25(OH)2D3 mediated genomic effects in epithelial and stromal cells [39, 40]. The present study indicates that physiologically relevant concentrations of 1,25(OH)2D3 may influence gene expression in breast tumor slices cultured ex vivo, and that regulation of target genes likely occurs in both epithelial and stromal compartments of the tumor.
Characteristics of patients
Training group (n=5)
Validation group (n=16)
Median age
70 (56–76)
56.5 (49–72)
3 (60%)
5 (33%)
3 (60%)
9 (60%)
5 (100%)
10 (62%)
2 (40%)
11 (69%)
3 (60%)
9 (56%)
2 (40%)
5 (31%)
Tissue slice preparation and treatment
Tumor fragments were obtained immediately after tumor resection by the pathologist, who selected an involved area for this study. Fragments were placed into culture medium (RPMI 1640 with antibiotics and fungicide) and tissue slices were prepared using the Krumdieck tissue slicing system (Alabama Research and Development Corporation, Birmingham, AL, USA). Fragment thickness varied between 400–800 μm. Slices were cultured for 24 hours in 6-well plates (1 slice/well; 1–3 slices per treatment) containing 2 mL of culture media, RPMI supplemented with 10% v/v FBS, antibiotics and 0.001% ethanol (vehicle) or 1,25(OH)2D3 (Calbiochem, Darmstadt, Germany) 0.5nM or 100nM (from now on called physiological and supra-physiological concentrations, respectively). One slice of each sample was processed by FFPE and hematoxilin-eosin stained slides revealed that tumor samples contained > 50% malignant cells.
Fibroblasts primary culture
Primary fibroblast culture was established from tumor samples obtained from another five post-menopausal patients, diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma (histological grades II or III, three of them hormone receptor positive). Tumor samples were cut into small pieces and fibroblast primary culture was established through the explant methodology. After three cell passages, mesenchymal origin of the cells was confirmed by their spindle cell morphology and positive expression of vimentin [mouse anti human vimentin monoclonal antibody, clone Vim 3b4 (1:200); DAKO Corporation, Carpinteria, CA, USA] and alpha smooth muscle actin [(mouse monoclonal antibody anti human alpha smooth muscle actin, clone 1A4 (1:50); R&D Systems] and negative expression of cytokeratin [mouse monoclonal antibody anti human cytokeratin clone AE1/AE3 (1:100); DAKO] by immunocytochemistry (data not shown). Fibroblasts were then exposed to 1,25(OH)2D3 (Calbiochem, Darmstadt, Germany) 0.5nM or vehicle for 24 hours and after RNA extraction, RT-qPCR was performed to evaluate expression of candidate genes.
Culture of mammary epithelial cell lines
HB4A (normal mammary epithelial cell line) and C5.2a (HB4A transfected with HER2), both donated by Drs. Mike O'Hare and Alan Mackay, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, London, UK; SKBR3: breast cancer cell line overexpressing HER2; MDA MB-231: breast cancer cell line triple negative; and MCF-7: breast cancer cell line ER(+), acquired from American Type Culture Colection (Manassas, Virginia, USA), were cultured in RPMI-1640 supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum (FCS). After 24 hours, medium was replaced and 1,25(OH)2D3 0.5 nM (treated cells) or ethanol (control cells) was added. After 24 hs of treatment, total RNA was isolated using Trizol reagent and used in RT-qPCR.
RNA extraction and microarray hybridization
Tumor specimens were pulverized (Bio-Pulverizer™ BioSpec Products Inc., Oklahoma, USA) under liquid nitrogen and total RNA was isolated using RNeasy kit (Qiagen, Valencia, CA, USA), according to the manufacturer's protocol. RNA integrity was verified in a Bioanalyzer 2100 (Agilent Technologies, Santa Clara, CA, USA) and samples with RNA integrity number ≥ 6.6 were analyzed. Beginning with 100 ng total RNA, a two-round linear amplification was carried out, according to Affymetrix protocol (Two Cycle Target Labeling Kit, Affymetrix, Santa Clara, CA, USA). Afterwards, biotin-labeled cRNA was synthesized from double strand cDNA, using IVT labeling kit (Affymetrix) and 20 μg of biotinylated fragmented aRNA was hybridized onto Human Genome U133 Plus 2.0 GeneChip (Affymetrix
Hybridized arrays were scanned using Affymetrix GeneChip Scanner 3000 and after visual inspection, images were subjected to Affymetrix GeneChip Operating Software (GCOS) analysis to generate report files for quality control. Data normalization was performed using the Robust Multi-Array Average (RMA). Samples were categorized according to treatment in three groups: 1,25(OH)2D3 0.5nM, 1,25(OH)2D3 100nM and control. To establish a differential gene expression profile between vitamin D treated and untreated samples, SAM two class paired, provided on MEV (MultiExperiment Viewer – Boston, MA, USA) was used, after selecting 50% of the genes with the highest standard deviation. False discovery ratio (FDR) ≤0.10 was considered significant. In addition, results obtained with FDR≤0.01 are presented. Unsupervised hierarchical clustering based on Euclidean distance and average linkage was used to verify association patterns. The reliability of the clustering was assessed by the Bootstrap technique. Raw data complying with MIAME format was deposited at the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) data repository (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/geo/query/acc.cgi?acc=GSE27220) accession number GSE27220.
To explore functional enrichment associated with calcitriol treatment based on Ontologies (GO, Pathway), Regulome (TFBS, transcription factor binding site) Pharmacome (Drug-gene associations) among other features, differentially expressed genes were subject to subsequent analysis using ToppFun, available on ToppGene Suite (http://toppgene.cchmc.org/enrichment.jsp) and were considered significant if P < 0.05 [41].
Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) method was used to identify whether predefined gene sets might associate with gene expression differences between phenotypes. In this pairwise comparison, all genes are ranked based on signal-to-noise ratio and the alternative hypothesis that rank ordering of distinct pathway members is associated with a specific phenotype is tested [42]. This methodology makes it possible to detect situations where all genes in a predefined set change in a small but coordinated way. FDR<0.10 was considered significant.
Real time RT-PCR
Reverse transcription was performed with random primers and Superscript III (Invitrogen Corporation, Carlsbad, CA, USA). Quantitative PCR (qPCR) was carried out using specific primers (Additional file 1: Table S1) and SYBR-green I (Sigma, St. Louis, MO, USA) in a Rotor-gene system (Corbett Research, Mortlake, Australia). Relative expression of target genes was calculated as 2-ΔΔCT, using GAPDH or ACTB as internal control (as indicated) and the average value of the target gene in control samples, as reference level.
Western blot
Protein lysates from cell lines were made using RIPA buffer (1% NP-40, 0.1% SDS, 0.5% Sodium Deoxycholate in 1 × PBS) supplemented with complete mini protease inhibitor cocktail tablets (Roche; cat 04693124001). Afterwards, 50 μg of protein was subjected to SDS-PAGE and transferred to Hybond ECL membrane (GE Lifesciences), which was probed with the following primary antibodies overnight at 4°C: CD26 (DPP4, clone H-270, rabbit polyclonal antibody, 1:500; Santa Cruz Biotechonology Inc. Santa Cruz, CA, USA); CD14 (clone M305, sc9150, rabbit polyclonal antibody 1:500; Santa Cruz); β-actin (monoclonal Anti-β-Actin antibody produced in mouse, clone AC-15, ascites fluid, A5441, 1:2000, Sigma-Aldrich) and then with appropriate secondary antibodies (170–6515 Goat Anti-Rabbit Ig-G (H+L) HRP conjugate; 170–6516 Goat Anti-Mouse Ig-G (H+L) HRP conjugate; Bio-Rad.). Protein expression was detected with ECL Plus Western Blotting Detection Reagents (GE Lifesciences) in a ImageQuant LAS 4000 (GE Healthcare).
Fibroblasts were grown on coverslips in the absence or presence of 1,25(OH)2D3 0.5nM for 24 hours. Samples were fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde and permeabilized with 0.5% Triton X-100/PBS, in case of intracellular targets. Blocking of unspecific binding was performed with 2% BSA/PBS. Afterwards, cells were incubated with the primary antibody (CD26, clone H-270 rabbit polyclonal antibody, anti-DPP4, 1:200, Santa Cruz; CA II, clone G-2, sc-48351 mouse monoclonal antibody, 1:100, Santa Cruz) overnight in humid chamber at 4°C and then with the secondary antibody conjugated with Alexa Fluor 488 (1:700, species specific: goat anti-rabbit IgG, n° A11008; goat anti-mouse IgG n° A11001; Molecular Probes) for 1 h at room temperature in the dark. DAPI was added for nuclear staining. Images were acquired in a Olympus fluorescence microscope DX-5AI, using an Image Pro-PLUS 6,0 software.
Breast cancer slices from seven patients (six samples cultured in the absence (control) or presence of 1,25(OH)2D3 100nM and one sample cultured in the presence of 1,25(OH)2D3 0.5nM) were available for analysis (from the patients described in Table 1). Sections of 3 μm thickness were cut from paraffin blocks and antigen retrieval was carried out in 10 mM citrate buffer at pH 6.0 in humid heat under pressure cooker. Staining with the following specific antibody took place overnight at 4°C: CD14, clone M-305, (sc-9150Santa Cruz Biotechnology) rabbit polyclonal IgG, 1:800. Reaction was revealed with Novolink Polymer Detection Systems (Leica Biosystems, Newcastle, UK, cat: RE7280-k), followed by analysis in a Olympus fluorescence microscope DX-5AI (40x objective) and acquisition with an Image Pro-PLUS 6,0 software.
Detection of soluble CD14 (sCD14) in culture medium of tumor samples
Tumor slices from another four post-menopausal patients (median age 56 years) diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma clinical stages I-II, HER2 negative and hormone receptor positive (except for one tumor triple negative) were cultured with or without 1,25(OH)2D3 0.5nM or 100nM for 24 hours and 100 μL of the conditioned medium was used for soluble CD14 (sCD14) quantitative determination, through an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (Quantikine ELISA Human sCD14 Immunoassay, R&D Systems, Minneapolis, MN, USA). For every sample, two analyses on the same plate were carried out and the mean value was used.
Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was applied to check for normality of the data, followed by parametric or non-parametric tests, as appropriate. To detect an association between variables, Pearson chi-square or Fisher exact tests were used. A two-tailed p value ≤ 0.05 was considered significant. Analysis was undertaken using Instat (GraphPad Software, Inc., La Jolla, CA, USA) or SPSS (Chicago, IL, USA).
Patients characteristics
Twenty one post-menopausal patients with breast cancer clinical stages I-III were included in this study. Samples from five patients were analyzed in a training group, using microarray, and from another 16 patients were analyzed in a validation group, using RT-qPCR. There were no differences between groups concerning age, clinical stage, lymph node involvement; ductal histology; ER, PR and HER2 immunoexpression (Table 1).
Vitamin D transcriptional effects in breast cancer slices
Genes differentially modulated in breast tumor slices incubated with 0.5nM 1,25(OH) 2 D 3
Gene title
Gene symbol
cytochrome P450, family 24, subfamily A, polypeptide 1
dipeptidyl-peptidase 4 (CD26, adenosine deaminase complexing protein 2)
cytochrome P450, family 26, subfamily B, polypeptide 1
potassium channel, subfamily K, member 3
transketolase-like 1
spindlin family, member 3
elongation factor Tu GTP binding domain containing 1
Fc fragment of IgG, low affinity IIc, receptor for (CD32)
SAM domain, SH3 domain and nuclear localization signals 1
Using GSEA (motif, transcription factors), to compare samples treated with 0.5nM 1,25(OH)2D3 treated and untreated, only one gene set was enriched at FDR ≤ 0.1, namely DR3, comprising genes containing a motif for vitamin D receptor (VDR) around the transcription start site (Additional file 2: Table S2).
Functional categories of genes up-regulated in breast tumor slices incubated in 100 nM 1,25(OH) 2 D 3
Genes up-regulated in VD3 100nM treated samples
Biological process
Response to external stimulus
Response to wounding
Regulation of leukocyte mediated immunity
Pathway-restricted SMAD protein phosphorylation
Urogenital system development
Vitamin metabolic process
Positive regulation of alpha-beta T cell activation
KEGG pathway
TGF-beta signaling pathway
To determine overlapping genes up-regulated by both calcitriol concentrations (at FDR ≤ 0.1), a Venn diagram was assembled. This approach identified five commonly up-modulated genes: CYP24A1, DPP4, EFTUD1, TKTL1 and KCNK3.
A subset of seven genes was selected for further analysis in samples from another group of patients, using qPCR. Candidates were chosen from microarray analysis and included two genes modulated by both calcitriol concentrations: CYP24A1 and DPP4; and five genes regulated by 100nM calcitriol at a fold change > 2, compared to control samples: IL1RL1, SHE, CD14, CA2 and BMP6. Initially, significant correlations between gene expression values obtained from the microarray dataset and those obtained by subsequent qPCR analysis in the first group of five patients were evaluated, as a technical validation procedure. In these 15 samples (control; 0.5nM 1,25(OH)2D3 and 100nM 1,25(OH)2D3) significant direct correlations were demonstrated for all genes, except for BMP6 (Additional file 5: Table S4).
Vitamin D transcriptional effects in epithelial and stromal cells
The effects of 1,25(OH)2D3 0.5nM on the expression of CYP24A1, DPP4, IL1RL1, CD14, CA2 and BMP6, were further explored in breast tumor derived cells, representing the epithelial and stromal compartments, using RT-qPCR. For this analysis, normal and cancerous breast cell lines (HB4A, C5.4, SKBR3, MDA-MB231, MCF-7) and cancer associated fibroblasts (primary cultures obtained from fresh tumor samples) were used. In the breast-derived epithelial cell lines, robust expression of CYP24A1 was observed in all lineages, indicating functional VDR expression. Breast cell lines (HB4a, C5.4, SKBR3) that exhibited low baseline CYP24A1 expression showed larger fold-induction of this gene than cell lines (MCF-7, MD-MBA-231) presenting high baseline CYP24A1. Expression of CA2, CD14 and IL1RL1, was significantly induced by 1,25(OH)2D3 0.5nM, but considerable variability in the response of individual lineages was observed, and cells displaying the most robust up-regulation of CYP24A1 in response to 1,25(OH)2D3 did not necessarily exhibit the highest induction of the other target genes. Three of the breast cancer cell lines demonstrated up-regulation of BMP6 in response to 1,25(OH)2D3 0.5nM however, the group response was not statistically significant.
Vitamin D effects on protein expression
Vitamin D effects in protein expression were analyzed in tumor slices and culture medium, as well as in epithelial cell lines and fibroblasts.
The primary goal of this work was to evaluate the transcriptional responses of breast cancer samples to physiologically relevant concentrations of 1,25(OH)2D3, using a culture model that retains features of intact tumors, such as stromal-epithelial interactions. Microarray analysis identified nine genes that were significantly altered within 24 h of exposure to 1,25(OH)2D3 0.5nM, a concentration that is physiologically achievable in patients. Of these, the vitamin D target gene CYP24A1(which codes a cytochrome P450 enzyme, that hydroxylates 25(OH)D3 and 1,25(OH)2D3 to less active forms 24,25(OH)2D3 and 1,24,25(OH)3D3) was induced over 7-fold in microarray analysis and was validated in another set of tumor samples, clearly indicating activation of VDR signaling. Additional evidence for activation of the VDR pathway in this dataset was obtained by GSEA, which indicated a trend towards the enrichment of genes sharing DR3 binding sites, a consensus motif for VDR.
Comparison of microarray data from tumor slices cultured with 0.5nM vs. 100nM 1,25(OH)2D3 indicated a clear concentration effect, as the number of differentially expressed transcripts increased from nine at 0.5nM to 186 at 100nM (20 fold increment). Induction of CYP24A1 increased from 7-fold (at 0.5 nM) to 70-fold (at 100nM) - a 10 fold enhancement. In both datasets, the majority of genes (approximately 75%) were up-regulated rather than down-regulated by 1,25(OH)2D3, consistent with other array data from established cell lines cultured with high dose 1,25(OH)2D3 in vitro[43–45].
In addition to CYP24A1, five other genes were commonly up-regulated in tumor slices exposed to both low and high concentrations of 1,25(OH)2D3: DPP4, KCKN3, EFTUD1, TKTL1 and CA2. All, except TKTL1 (transketolase-like 1) have been previously identified as VDR target genes in various model systems. DPP4 (dipeptidyl-peptidase 4, also called CD26) was up-regulated in artery smooth muscle cells exposed to 1,25(OH)2D3[46] and its overexpression in distinct cell types (melanocytes, non-small cell lung, prostate and neuroblastoma cells) triggered anti-tumorigenic effects including cell growth arrest, inhibition of cell migration and increased apoptosis [47]. KCNK3 (potassium channel, subfamily K, member) was induced by 1,25(OH)2D3 in artery smooth muscle cells, and EFTUD1 (elongation factor Tu GTP binding domain containing 1) in oral squamous carcinoma, breast cancer associated fibroblasts, immortalized prostate cells and lymphoblastoid cell lines [40, 43–46]. CA2 (carbonic anhydrase II) mRNA appeared to be directly induced by 1,25(OH)2D3 in myelomonocytic cell lines but indirectly regulated in osteoclast progenitors, where the physical communication with stromal cells seems to be required [48, 49]. CYP26B1 (cytochrome P450, family 26, subfamily b, polypeptide 1) which was up-regulated in samples treated with 1,25(OH)2D3 0.5nM, was previously identified as a vitamin D induced gene in immortalized non-transformed prostate epithelial and oral squamous carcinoma cell lines, and in silico analysis has tentatively identified a VDR binding site at this genomic region [43, 44].
Other authors have analyzed physiological concentration effects of vitamin D using animal models. Vitamin D supplemented diet as well as calcitriol injections were shown to stimulate the VDR pathway, mildly increasing CYP24A1 expression (x2) in MCF-7 xenografts in immunocompromised mice [50]. Interestingly, vitamin D transcriptional effects may not overlap in tumor specimens and non-transformed mammary glands in the MMTV-neu transgenic mouse model of breast cancer, fed a high vitamin D diet [51]. Comparison between cancer and normal cells is an interesting issue, as vitamin D potential effects in cancer prevention have also been claimed. In accordance with the previous work [51], differences in transcriptional targets were also described for breast cancer associated fibroblasts (CAF) and normal adjacent fibroblasts (NAF) exposed to 1,25(OH)2D3 in a supra-physiological concentration. Among up-regulated genes 45.7% were commonly modulated in CAFs and NAFs, however, 36.4% were exclusively up-regulated in NAFs and 17.4% exclusively up-regulated in CAFs [40]. In addition, looking at overlapping genes in the Venn diagram of vitamin D up-regulated transcripts in six works [40, 43–46], only seven intersections were found in non-cancer cells: AKR1B1, CRIP1, FZD8, MREG (in immortalized prostate cells and NAF), BCAT1, GCLC (in coronary artery smooth muscle cells and NAFs) and PRR6 (in immortalized prostate cells and coronary artery smooth muscle cells). Furthermore, it was reported that vitamin D response is blunted in transformed HME normal mammary cells as compared with parental normal cells [52]. The last works evaluating vitamin D effects in normal cells however, were performed using supra-physiological concentrations of 1,25(OH)2D3 (10-100nM) or analogs and the role of physiological concentrations of the hormone in normal cells is not fully established.
At 100nM, 1,25(OH)2D3 exerted more extensive transcriptional effects, and at least 40 of the induced genes in breast cancer organotypic culture have already been reported as up regulated by the hormone, such as ALCAM, ARRDC4, BMP2, BMP6, CA2, CD14, CLIC6, CILP, CLMN, CYP19A1, DCLDB1, EFTUD1, EHBP1, FAM20C, FOXF1, FRAS1, GOS2, GRK5, HBGEF, HSMPP8, IL1RL1, KCNK3, KIAA0500, PKD2, RGNEF, SEMA6D, SERPINB1, SLC1A1, THBD, TIMP1, TRIM56[40, 43–46]. However, co-aggregation of paired samples (treated and untreated) upon cluster analysis suggests that an individual dominant transcriptional profile was maintained, regardless of treatment. These results were not unexpected, as a high degree of transcriptional similarity was also demonstrated for matched pre and post-neoadjuvant chemotherapy, even though the chemotherapy exerts a more pronounced acute cellular effect than hormonal treatments [53–55].
Some of the genes induced by 100nM 1,25(OH)2D3 concentration are involved in TGF beta signaling pathway, in accordance with other authors [56, 57]. Other genes are involved in regulation of leukocyte mediated immunity and positive regulation of alpha-beta T cell activation, including CD14, which encodes a receptor to bacterial lipopolysaccharide, as previously reported in a variety of cells as mononuclear phagocytes, normal human epidermal keratinocytes, oral squamous carcinoma, immortalized non-transformed prostate epithelial cell lines and malignant breast cells [43, 56, 58].
The present tumor slice model represents a heterogeneous combination of epithelial and stromal cells, in which the complex array of reciprocal interactions taking place in the tumor microenvironment, including cell-cell contacts and a variety of secreted factors, might modulate the overall response to 1,25(OH)2D3. Hence, after evaluating the hormone effects in tumor slices, the effects of 1,25(OH)2D3 0.5nM in defined populations of cancer associated fibroblasts and epithelial cells were compared. This data indicated that even though CYP24A1 was induced in both fibroblasts and epithelial cells, CD14, CA2, and IL1RL1 were primarily induced in epithelial cells. There was also a trend towards up-regulation of CA2, DPP4 and IL1RL1 in cancer associated fibroblasts.
One major strengthen of this work was the comparison of achievable versus supra-physiological concentrations of 1,25(OH)2D3 in breast cancer slices, a model that preserves the epithelial-mesenchimal interactionss, indicating that effects are much less intense in near physiological concentrations. However, a weakness of this work was the small number of samples used in microarray experiments. These effects however, were later confirmed in a larger number of tumor samples and cell lines, using RT-PCR, even though they were more difficult to detect at the protein level, in face of the discrete changes induced by 0.5nM 1,25(OH)2D3.
Our main conclusion is that a very modest transcriptional response may be observed after exposure to 1,25(OH)2D3, within the physiological concentration range. Gene targets in breast cancer samples, including CYP24A1, DPP4 and CA2, seem to be shared by both fibroblasts and epithelial cells. A higher number of genes may be induced by a supra-physiological concentration of the hormone. Further studies employing physiological and supra-physiological concentrations may help to elucidate the hormone's potential effects in breast cancer prevention and treatment, including calcitriol supplementation effects in post-menopausal women and calcitriol intra-tumoral effects in breast cancer xenografts.
The authors would like to acknowledge the assistance of Dr. Sridar Chittur for helpful discussions on microarray data analysis and Dr. Igor Moysés Longo Snitcovsky for critical review and important suggestions to the manuscript.
This work was supported by the Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP grants 07/04799-2; 09/10088-7; 08/51750-1) and Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de nível Superior (CAPES).
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Pre-publication history
This article is published under license to BioMed Central Ltd. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.


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This carefully decorated Frutta Miele Italian ceramic biscotti cookie jar would be a wonderful addition to your kitchen counte. Made in Deruta, Italy, famous for Italian Majolica Ceramics and Pottery. This 3 1/4 quart (102 oz.) handmade hand painted authentic Frutta Miele biscotti jar measures 7 3/4" in diameter and 7 1/2" in height.
With every ceramic shipment, you will receive information about the history, making and care & usage of this hand made handpainted authentic Italian ceramic.


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After nine months of preparation, the initiative "FairFairs" was founded by Messe Düsseldorf and the Hotel&Restaurant Association in March of 2004. The goal of the initiative is to guarantee fair hotel conditions for exhibitors at major trade fairs in North Rhine-Westphalia. To date, 80 hotels in Düsseldorf and the surrounding Rhineland area have accepted the obligation to meet these conditions.
Sufficient hotel capacities were available for short-term booking during for instance during events like drupa 2004 in Düsseldorf and the surrounding area. This was due to shorter-term booking supported by electronic media, new hotel capacities and optimized traffic routing to and from the Messe Düsseldorf trade fair grounds.
New hotels at different quality levels will be completed in the coming years in Düsseldorf and the Rhineland, which will enable exhibitors in particular to book the hotel rooms they need even for major events at much shorter notice than in the past. This means bookings can be made to suit individual needs by selecting from among a much improved, much larger range of competing hotels.
More information under:www.fairfairs.de/en


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From a surprise announcement at their recent one-man, ViV announced that they will be releasing their first mini album called LOVE SICKS. The album is set the be released on April 15.
It has not been decided how many tracks there will be in the release, but so far, the song "LOVE SICK" will be the work's leading track. However, according to guitarist Wataru, the album will have some new and some familiar songs they played in past lives. Also, the mini-album will have some sad lyrics in the tracks.
The release will come in 2 types: Limited and Regular Edition. The limited edition will come with a CD and DVD containing the PV of the lead track and the regular edition will come with just a CD.
Below are each edition's cover:
LOVE SICKS Limited Edition
LOVE SICKS Regular Edition
Source: Wataru's Blog


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I have been trying to get feedback from people's experience with these breaker box monitoring tools. Do any of them work and provide useful data. I frequently get called by people who want me to audit their homes to tell them exactly where all their power/energy is being used and why their bills are so high. In a one day audit, one can't really do that without knowing a detailed breakdown of the energy usage over time, though one can make some educated guesses based on HVAC quality, but that is not a complete picture. The typical question: "where is all my energy going?"
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I have been thinking about putting it on my own home as you suggest, and was wondering which, if any to try, though they all seem to have issues. With circuit level of my existing home, it was not built with such forethought such that I have no idea what if any logic there is to most of my circuits to know from what rooms they feed. I am not an electrician so it would take a ton of work (doable but I have some other priorities on my time) to go through my house and id everything just to know what the circuit monitors are recording.
In reviewing the few replies, it seems there really is nothing yet to answer those inquiries: "where is my (E) going and driving up my bill" with any of these devices.
@Dav, 240-volt circuits are dedicated to a single appliance so circuit monitoring with CT's provides per-appliance data. I don't think it makes sense to try to use circuit level monitoring for plug & lighting loads. TED, Brultech and other CT-based monitoring systems include a virtual 'everything else' channel that accounts for lighting and plug loads. Individual plug loads can easily be monitored with a $20 Kill-A-Watt or similar.
SiteSage, formerly eMonitor, is a great system for sleuthing. Plus you can download data to excel. Stable and relatively easy to install - once you understand the instructions. The main downside is a monthly fee, which acts something like a financial phantom load. It can monitor 14+ circuits at once, fewer if they're not all single phase.
Details here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B006Z5OKLE/ref=asc_df_B006Z5OKLE5323212/?...
To clarify, SiteSage can monitor any number of circuits. We have installations where over 200 circuits are being monitored in a single location.
I'm actively trying to help my clients with high electrical bills even with solar. Im in Calif. I anticipate this need will explode when consumers with or without solar wake up to find their utility is switching to Time Of Use billing. I anticipate the could be the year of selling onsite battery storage as a cost effective measure.
I've personally installed energy monitoring units from Raintree. Real time monitoring of your electrical load. Installation is a breeze, wirelessly talks to your smart meter (zigbee). Raintree needs 3rd party software for the residential market.
I'm also looking a apps or service providers to can download 12 months of data in hour or 15 minutes increments. Calif utilities can provide this feature. There are dozens of service providers that can integrate this into their energy models. The providers/developers in this space are mostly focused on the commercial market.
I plan to offer to install EMU from raintree and offer analysis their current electrical load by dumping it into excel. It would be great if there develops entering the residential marketplace.
Let me know if there other tools out there that should be considered. This is bringing energy assessments back to life.
I've tried out most of the available residential energy monitors over the years and am satisfied with none of them. The ones that monitor just a single circuit don't provide enough detail, the "learning" devices (such as Sense) aren't nearly smart enough nor learn fast enough...and the "whole panel" solutions (Site Sage/Power Wise, Curb, eGauge) are too expensive for everyday use.
I recently tried out the Neurio, which offers up to 4 input channels at a reasonable cost. The user interface (mobile and computer) is poor, but my detailed analysis is often done in a spreadsheet after downloading data. Unfortunately, Neurio is currently limiting download granularity to 5-, 15- and 60-minute "intervals" (I'd like to have 1-minute data). On top of that, the 5-minute data can only be downloaded in 1-day chunks at a time. And on top of that (!) the "interval" data is not averaged over the interval, but is in fact, just a single measurement at the end of the interval...rendering the data nearly useless.
I hate to say it, but this space (home energy monitors) now appears to be dominated by dot.com 'app' developers who lack a mature understanding of what's involved in data logging & graphing algorithms.
BTW, the Brultech monitor natively has user-defined data increments that can be modified via RS485 comm. This is separate from client and web-based graphing and logging software available from several 3rd party vendors.
I'm not an electrician. I'm a sales engineer for a security company, so my high voltage knowledge is limited. But technology of any kind interests me and I've always wondered "where is my electricity going?". So, I installed Smappee three weeks ago. After getting over the fear of separating my mains that were running next to each other the whole way through my breaker box, I installed the clips in 30 seconds. Immediately began getting a whole house current draw in Watts on my PC and the app. I know the formula to figure out the amp draw and found the first 30 minutes of use fascinating. I have an older 100 AMP box and my wife was always concerned we were going to burn the house down using electricity! The max I've seen so far has been about 3500W or just over 29 AMPS. I'm impatient. The manual says that after 3 weeks I'd see about 60% of my appliances. I wanted them now! Smappee does indeed have a "learn" feature. I went to work. I can honestly say that about 50% of the time I was successful in learning appliances. Not great, but better than 3 weeks! After about 5 days Smappee started listing "Find Me xxx" on the app/PC. It's a slightly frustrating process of trial and error trying to figure out what is what. After three weeks, where I am today, I still have many "Find Me xxx" appliances on the list. It's kind of fun trying to figure it out. Smappee has a "ping me" feature that will send you a notification the next five times the appliance turns on/off. That helps. After I get these appliances reliably discovered, I plan to use IFTTT and Stringify to do some alerting, lights on/off, and some other nerdy stuff. All in all, it's a quite amazing product. Finding that my sump pump draws 750W and that the average new one draws 500W has gotten me thinking of a new one. And that's where any of these devices can actually pay for themselves. Find the energy leach! I'll keep playing with it, but if you like to play with technology and have some patience, I highly recommend the Smappee. Would have gotten Sense, but it requires its own 240V breaker (What?).
This discussion is great. It is nice to hear all of the positives and negatives about electricity monitoring products out there. This helps me understand the market a bit better.
Not exactly for amature's or hobbyists. It may be more accurate because it's monitoring each circuit independently, but much more work and really should be installed by an electrician. This is probably a very good industrial solution.
It is a whole house monitor device. It is similar to the TED Energy Detective device. Thanks, for sharing knowledge on these breaker box monitoring tools. These devices are really useful for homeowners using HVAC systems.
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When I was very little my Dad had a Nancy Sinatra record... you all know who she is, right? Boots of the sauntering variety? Bouncy hair, enviable thighs? Famous Daddy? Yeah, her. Anyway – Dad had a Greatest Hits LP and one of my earliest memories is a strange fascination with the cover of the record. Here it is, for your viewing pleasure:
Even the zombies in the Thriller video aren't scary enough for these mofos.
As well as your usual 'These Boots Are Made for Walking' malarkey, there was also a track called 'Lightning's Girl' which used to scare the pants off me. Pay particular attention around about the 1min 30s mark – and switch the lights on just in case you're at the computer in the dark right now. Sorry for the shitty 'high school media project'-ishness of this video, but it was the best YouTube had to offer. Are you ready? And... go:
Now, I'll bet it's been at least 25 years since I heard that track, but I'll tell you – I was instantly back to our house in 1982. The 6 year old me is playing innocently playing Yahtzee on the mustard yellow carpet of the living room floor, and the minute that record comes on I'm seeing spooky shapes in the effing spider plants which hang from macramé plant holders in front of the bay window. Christ knows what is underneath the dining room table and I'm terrified.
I'm not kidding; abso-freakin'-lutely shiteypants terrified. Like... can't-turn-my-back-to-exit-the-room-I'll-go-out-backwards-instead terrified. Not-going-into-the-kitchen-by-myself-in-the-middle-of-the-day terrified. Don't-linger-at-the-foot-of-the-bed-it'll-grab-your-ankles-and-pull-you-under terrified. Not-even-admitting-to-my-Dad-until-28-years-later-on-my-blog-I'll-just-hide-under-the-covers-whimpering-instead terrified.
Terr. Riff. Eyed! Is it just me?!
What kind of unearthly creature wears boots like that, I ask you? One who TOTALLY EATS PEOPLE, for sure. Eats little blonde girls, its grotesque figure stomping up driveways knocking banana seat bikes off their kickstands JUST BECAUSE. Thumping closer and closer to MY FRONT DOOR to the exact beat of that song. No cautionary "FEE, FI, FO, FUM's" offered here, no siree... and don't even think about trying to hide; that chintzy sofa ain't gonna protect you now, kiddo, no matter how many 4-of-a-kinds you rolled that afternoon.
GAH! I'm a nervous wreck! And seriously considering sleeping in the cupboard under the stairs tonight.


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Cross posted from my Vitamin Gay blog-
as you my readers know, I have an etsy store front! :O I'm a tailor/costumer and all around artist and I sell my various wares there in my shop. What you may not know is that I also sell vintage stuff there…like typewriters, vintage vinyl, antique hats and so forth. Be sure to check back often for the regular stock updates, I add items at least twice a week :).
I also have a nice and expanding variety of drag queen accessories, garter belts, thong underwear (and soon bras), corsets (photos coming soon), shoes and more.
Help support a starving trans artist pay the bills and start his savings pile for that elusive top surgery (I'll start running a tally once I've got something in there…currently I've got $1, help me add to it 😀 & wish me luck!)
Much love! and enjoy the last of Pride Month 2012 (someone have a scotch old fashioned for me please? i no can has booze 😦 )
This was an interesting film to say the least but certainly isn't my favorite Gene Kelly flick. It had some great moments but was mostly two awkward bumbling straight guys being awkward & bumbling, though the animation sequence was FLAWLESSLY put together by Hanna/Barbera animations (though I will confess to actually preferring seeing Stewie from family guy dance with Gene Kelly more, i know BLASPHEMY right, but for one reason or another I do…probably the improved animation quality due to the improvement in technique & technology). You get to hear Frank Sinatra's golden singing voice which is just as beautiful as ever it was and you get to see an amazing pianist & a full chorus of other pianos play an amazing classical music piece (i was literally in awe, it was amazing and the man's hands are LIGHTNING on a keyboard, simply stunning) and of course Gene Kelly's incredible choreography. I give it 3 out of 5, good but not his best work. Singin in the Rain is still our favorite! 😉