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Coming Events...
Blood Drive
A blood drive will be held at
Claverack Rural Electric,
32750 Route 6, Wysox on Monday, Sept. 10, 1 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Walk-ins are welcome, but
appointments are suggested.
Please call 570-265-2167.
Enter our raffle to win a Dandy
Mini Mart gift card.
Monthly Breakfast at the Herrickville Fire Hall, Sunday,
Sept. 30, 2012, 7:30 to 10:30
a.m. All you can eat: pancakes,
ham, sausage, eggs, coffee,
orange juice and real maple
syrup. Adults, $7; children to 12
years, $3; preschool, free. Benefit: Herrick Twp. Vol. Fire Co. -
Dept. 4.
Bus Trip
The Skinners EddyMethodist Church would like to
sponsor a bus trip to Washington, D.C. to visit the war
memorials and the Smithsonian Institute. The tentative date
is Oct. 17. The bus would leave
Skinners Eddy Church at 6:30
a.m. and leave Washington at 5
p.m. The cost will be less than
$100, which will include the bus
trip and dinner. We must have
45 people in order to do this.
Please call Bonnie Jayne at 570-
869-1938 if you are at all interested. R33x3c
The Second Sunday Vesper
Service will be held on Sept. 9
at 5 p.m. at St. Paul's Episcopal
Church, corner of Church and
Chestnut Streets, Montrose. A
light meal follows in the Parish
House. All are welcome.
Hunters' Safety Course - at
Silvara Tri-County Sports Club,
Sept. 15 and Sept. 16, 9 a.m. to
4:30 p.m. both days. Must be 11
years old to take test. Light
lunch served both days. Register
online at www.pgc.state.pa.us or
call Carl Yurgatis, 570-869-
Tickets for Thompson
Square's concert at Mansfield
University's Decker Gymnasium on Friday, Sept. 14 at 8 p.m.
are still available. Doors will
open at 6:30 p.m. The husbandand wife duo of Keifer and
Shawna Thompson has made a
quick rise to the top of the country music world with the release
of their Grammy nominated
number one platinum plus hit
"Are You Going To Kiss Me Or
Not" took the country music
world by storm. Brothers
Osbourne will be the opening
act. Tickets are $25 and can be
purchased in person at the MU
Campus Bookstore in Alumni
Hall, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to
4 p.m. or on-line at tix.com. MU
student tickets are $10 and are
available in Alumni Hall, outside Room 324 Monday-Friday,
8 a.m. to 4 p.m. ID will be
required to purchase their ticket.
All tickets are general admission, with bleacher seating and
standing room only on the gym
Contestants Wanted for Miss
New Albany, Prince &
Princess and Beautiful Baby
Contests. Any girls interested in
going out for Miss New Albany
must be 13 through 19 years of
age and have a New Albany
phone number or address.
Little boys or girls interested in
going out for the Prince and
Princess Contest must be three
through six years of age and
have a New Albany phone number or address. Deadline for
applications is Sept. 7, 2012.
For applications and information contact Connie at 570-363-
2287 (before Sept. 8). Babies
entering in the Beautiful Baby
Contest must be one day to twoyears
of age and have a New
Albany phone number or
address. Photos must have written on the back or attached the
babies name, age, date of birth,
name of parents and a phone
number where the parents can
be contacted. Pictures can be
dropped off at the Dandy Mini-
Mart in New Albany. Deadline
for pictures, Sept. 7, 2012. Any
photos dropped off later than
deadline will not be eligible for
Craft Bazaars
26th Annual Country Arts &
Craft Show, Saturday, Sept. 1
and Sunday, Sept. 2;
10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Dushore Railroad Station, Railroad St.,
Dushore. Area artists and craftsmen will be set up on the
grounds of the historic railroad
station. Demonstrations and
food. A family friendly event.
Free admission and parking.
Held rain or shine. Sponsored
by Craftsmen of the Endless
Mountains. For more information call: 570-637-0897 or 607-
Round and Square Dance,
Wysox Fire Hall Sat. Sep. 15
from 7 til 11 p.m. Music by Ed
and The Bandits. Refreshments
available. Benefit Wysox Fire
Turkey and Biscuit Dinner,
Sept. 14, 6 p.m. until sold out.
Bake sale. At VFW 6824 on
Haigh's Pond Rd. in Potterville.
$8 adults; children 12 and under
$5. Benefit VFW Ladies Auxiliary. S35x3p/R35x3p
Silvara Ladies Aide will hold a
roast beef dinner on Sept. 6 at
noon. Take-outs will be available after 12:30 p.m. R35c/S36c
The Wysox Volunteer Fire
Company is holding a
Spaghetti Supper, Thurs., Sept.
13 from 4-7 p.m. at the Wysox
Fire Hall. Complete w/salad,
drink and homemade desserts.
Adults $8; Seniors $7 (62 &
older); $3.50 for children ages
4-8; under 4 years-old, dinner is
free. Take-outs available, $8.
Labor Day Bluegrass Festival
Aug. 31 to Sept. 2 at Wrench
Wranch, Rt. 206, Coventryville,
NY. For directions or information, call 607-748-6671 or 869-
2031, Website is www.
30th Irish Festival will be held
on Sunday, Sept. 9 at St. Francis
Xavier Church Grounds in
Friendsville, PA. Mass at 11
a.m. The festival will be held
from 12 to 7 p.m. on the
grounds. Music by the Irish
Lads and Pat Kane. Food,
Games, Dancers, Irish store,
Drinks. Admission $7, Held
Rain or Shine.
For Your Information
To report animal abuse in
Bradford County call (570) 888-
4763. You may also report
stray or running dogs to the
Bradford County Dog Warden
by calling (570) 265-8191.
Labyrinth Walk at the Self-
Discovery Wellness Arts Center,
Montrose PA on Aug. 31, 7 p.m.
RSVP requested. Phone 570-
278-9256 or email well
Women with cancer are invited
to an upcoming Look Good,
Feel Better program. Head into
spring by attending one of the
following sessions: Monday,
Sept. 10, 2:30 to 4:30 p.m., 5th
Floor Conference Room,
Guthrie Cancer Center, Sayre or
Tuesday, Sept. 11, 1 to 3 p.m.,
Conference Room A, Memorial
Hospital, Towanda. Pre-registration is required. Call 1-800-
227-2345 to register today. For
information about "Look Good .
. . Feel Better," visit www.lookgoodfeelbetter.
org or call 1-800-
The Towanda Area Christian
Outreach Food Pantry will be
closed Monday, Sept. 3 for
Labor Day holiday. The pantry
will reopen Wednesday, Sept. 5
at 10 a.m. Questions, call 570-
265-4422 during normal operating hours, Monday, Wednesday
and Friday, 10 a.m. until noon.
T.A.C.O. serves the Northeast
Bradford, Towanda and Wyalusing school districts.
The Montrose Community
Chorale will present their annual concert, on Sunday, Dec. 2,
2012, under the direction of
David Andre at the Montrose
Area High School at 3 p.m. If
you are interested in singing
with this group, please contact
David Andre 570-278-3469,
Mary Ann DeWitt 570-278-
2791, Duane Hinds 570-967-
2612, Louise Smith 570-278-
1748 or Tom Pascoe 570-278-
1054 by Oct. 1, 2012.
Rehearsals begin on Monday,
Oct. 22 at 7 p.m. at the Montrose United Methodist Church
and include Wednesday night
Meeting Notices
S.O.S. Al-Anon — Family
Group will meet on Fridays at 7
p.m. at St. John's Lutheran
Church, Hopkins Street, Sayre.
Recovery House Meetings —
AA Group of Towanda meets
Mon.-Fri., noon; Mon., Thurs.,
Fri., Sat., 8 p.m., Sun., 8 a.m.
and 8 p.m. NA meetings are held
Tuesdays at 7 p.m. Speaker
meeting every first Sunday, 8
p.m. All meetings at 205 Main
St., Towanda (please use rear,
lower entrance).
Compassionate Friends — of
the Endless Mountains will hold
their meetings on the second
Tuesday of every month at 7
p.m. in the Endless Health Community Center, Montrose. TCF
is open to all families who have
lost a child from any cause at
any age. There are no membership dues or fees of any kind.
For more information, call 965-
0901 (evenings) or 278-1658 or
e-mail: tcfendlmts@hotmail.
Caregivers' Support Group
sponsored by the Law Office of
Leslie Wizelman and the
B/S/S/T Area Agency on Aging
meets at noon the second and
fourth Tuesday of each month at
the Library at Memorial Hospital Personal Care Home in
Towanda. Caregivers and family
members of long term care
facility residents are welcome.
For information, call Bob
Bachisin at the Law Office of
Leslie Wizelman at (570) 746-
Twelve Steps on the Way, a
Christian recovery group, will
meet at the Wyalusing Presbyterian Church on Mondays at 7
p.m. Use door in the rear of the
Al-Anon meetings in Tunkhannock: Endless Serenity Al-Anon
Family Group on Monday, 7:30
p.m., Wednesday, 7 p.m., Saturday, noon. All meetings are held
at the Tunkhannock UM Church
Education Bldg., second floor.
Diabetes Support Group -
meeting the first Thursday of
every month at the Guthrie Clinic office in Towanda beginning
at 5:30 p.m. There is no charge
and all diabetics and family
members are welcome. For
more information, call Dawn at
Guthrie Clinic at 570-265-6165
during regular business hours.
TOPS PA #1134 — Laceyville,
meets each Tuesday evening at
the Braintrim Baptist Church in
Laceyville. Weigh-ins from 5:15
to 6 p.m., meeting from 6-7 p.m.
For more information, call 965-
2493 or 869-1834. Toll-free 1-
AA Meeting — Wednesdays at
8 p.m. in the basement of the
Wyalusing Presbyterian Church.
Open meeting, non-smoking.
MOPS — Mothers of
Preschoolers meet every first
and third Wed. of the month
from 9 to 11 a.m., September
through May. Meetings are held
at the First Presbyterian Church,
5 Court St., Towanda. All mothers of preschoolers are welcome. Child care is provided for
children, ages infant through
five years old. For more information, contact the church at
Towanda-Wysox Kiwanis
Club meets every second and
fourth Wednesday of each
month at the Weigh Station Café
at 7:30 a.m. in Towanda. They
find ways to help the children in
the community. Contact Eileen
Sheets at 570-265-2350 for
more information.
Addictions to Victory. Faithbased support for addictions.
Program will be held the first
and third Thursday of each
month at 7 p.m. at New Generation Church, Milan, 570-888-
Bradford County Cancer Support Group meets the 4th
Wednesday of every month at
Memorial Hospital in Conference Room A, beginning at 6:30
p.m. For more information, call
1-888-227-5445, Option 3.
The Wyalusing Masonic
Lodge No. 618 meets at 7:30
p.m. on the third Monday of
each month at the Lodge Hall,
158 Church St., Wyalusing. For
more information, call 570-721-
The regular meeting for the
Susquehanna Beekeeping
Assoc. will be held on Sept. 14
at 7 p.m. at the Claverack Building in Montrose. Further information, contact James at 570-
Towanda Area Senior Citizens
will meet Thursday Sept. 6th at
noon at Ferguson Hall Wysox
Presbyterian Church. Ed Fassett
will be the entertainment. Please
bring something for the TACO
food collection. Bring your own
table service and a dish to share.
All persons over 55 are invited
to attend.
The Regular monthly meeting
of the Stevensville Community
Club will meet on Wednesday,
Sept. 5th at 7 p.m. at the Hall.
Fall planning scheduled. All
interested parties invited to join.
Come join us ladies at Ernie's
Restaurant (formerly Frank &
Mary's Restaurant in Stevensville) on Tuesday, Sept. 4 at
noon for the monthly meeting of
The Birthday Club. The club is
open to all area women who like
to celebrate and have a good
T.A.C.O. Food Pantry will be
closed Monday, Sept. 3rd for the
Labor Day holiday. The pantry
will reopen Wednesday, Sept.
5th at 10 a.m. T.A.C.O. serves
the Wyalusing, Towanda and
Northeast Bradford school districts and is normally open
Monday, Wednesday and Friday
from 10 a.m. until Noon. Information, call 570-265-4422 during normal operating hours.
Empty shelves at the T.A.C.O.
Food Pantry. Due to very
heavy demand this summer,
combined with cutbacks in State
funding, T.A.C.O. Food Pantry
finds itself in need of donations.
The pantry is located at 1876
Golden Mile Rd., Wysox, PA
and is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10 a.m
.until Noon. Mailing address:
PO Box 463, Wysox PA 18854.
Phone 570-265-4422.
Fourth Annual Picnic with
your Pooch from 12 to 4 p.m.
on Sept. 15 at Grovedale Winery
in Wyalusing. Pack up your
pooch (leash required) and a
picnic and head over to
Grovedale. Bring a bag of cat or
dog food to donate to the Bradford County Humane Society.
Call Jennifer at 570-888-2114
for more information.
Public Invited
Susquehanna Singers:
Rehearsals will be held
Wednesday, Sept. 5th at 6:30
p.m. in the sanctuary of the First
Presbyterian Church, 5 Court
St., Towanda PA. New members are always welcome.
Questions and more information
call Jody Stroud 570)-247-2456.
The Tewksbury reunion will
be held at the new Elk Lake
School pavilion on Sept. 8,
2012, starting at noon, eating at
12:30 p.m. Bring a dish to pass,
dessert and drink, plus your own
The 30th reunion of the
WVHS Class of 1982 will take
place on Sept. 22, 2012 at the
Wyalusing American Legion
hall. Paid RSVP's are needed by
Sept. 1. Contact Diane Crawford at 570-363-2401, Dianna
Davis Goodwin at 570-746-
1465 or Tony Hepp at 570-746-
Endless Mountains Gymnastics is now accepting registrations for their fall semester.
EMG offers exciting gymnastics
classes for girls and boys. EMG
also offers fitness classes for
adults. Call today to schedule
your trial workout, 570-746-
7778.Wyalusing Elementary
Wrestling Club, Inc. will be
holding a reorganizational meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 4 in Rm.
42 at WVHS At 6 p.m.
Square Dance Class
Square Dance Class at Sullivan Terrace Apts. Sara
Romanik will be teaching the
class on Saturday, Sept. 8 from 2
p.m. - 4:00 p.m., and will return
on Sunday, Sept. 16 from 5 p.m.
to 7 p.m. for an actual square
dance. The charge at the door is
$5. Refreshments will be available for purchase. Sullivan Terrace Apartments are located at
135 N. German St., Dushore.
For over 20 years, she has been
calling square dancing. Grab
your partners and come out and
enjoy an evening of square
Vendors Wanted
Vendors Wanted for Camptown Races, Sat., Sept. 15. Free
set-up. Please call Wendy
Fissler, 570-746-3640 or e-mail
at firstname.lastname@example.com.
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A tiny historic Outback town it may be, with its resident population of seven, but it has a big heart. A former Cobb and Co Coach staging point, Corfield is the social centre for local graziers and their families. The Corfield Pub identifies this small community, which is dependent on the cattle and sheep industries along with some tourism.
Corfield has a rich history with links to the Great Shearers' Strike. But the latest claim to fame is probably its proximity to the dinosaur skeleton of a 20 to 30 tonne sauropod that once grazed the area.
Corfield is located 83 kilometres north-west of the frontier town of Winton. Travelling the fully sealed Winton to Hughenden road you are likely to be greeted by the tumbleweeds.
Play a game of tennis, get a cricket match going on the local cricket pitch or just relax in the hospitable atmosphere. Magical moments can be experienced viewing the incredible sunsets, sitting under the night sky, enjoying a brilliant view of the stars, moon, and the occasional passing unidentified flying object.
The Corfield Races are held each year at the beginning of August. There is plenty of room on site free of charge for caravan and tent dwellers or just roll out your swag. Stay overnight and enjoy a full evening of entertainment with music and the Quickshears Competition. A recovery session the next morning encourages overnighters to rally and join the locals as they celebrate the success of the previous day.
A less formal event but equally entertaining and welcoming, is when the Western Picnic Race Club conducts a two day event around April. At these races you will experience flag starts and a mix of amateur and professional jockeys.
Experience adventure, country life and outback hospitality in this remote rural community.
Note: Information on listed products and services are provided by the operator and were correct at the time of publishing. Rates are indicative based on the minimum and maximum available prices of products and services. Please visit the operator's website for further information. All prices quoted are in Australian dollars (AUD).

subset: commoncrawl


text:
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text:
Leanne Robinson (London Girl) Does A Cover For Usher's 'Climax' [Female R&B Un-Signed Hype]
"New RNB sensation from LONDON 'Leanne Robinson' does a explosive acoustic cover of USHER's New Single 'CLIMAX' (POWER HOUSE VOCALS) "
Please click the "Report" button below if the video on this page is not working properly.
Comments will only be displayed by verified emails. No Spamming or Racism.


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The Canon Color imageCLASS MF8050Cn sets new standards for business-quality results in any environment. Packed with sophisticated features, and cutting-edge technology, the MF8050Cn has advanced color technologies found in high-end commercial machines - in an affordable, compact solution. The MF8050Cn delivers fast and accurate printing. Documents are ready in a short time, at print speeds up to 8 pages-per-minute (ppm) in color and 12 ppm in black and white*. Designed for ease-of-use in your home or home office, the MF8050Cn is outfitted with a front-loading design that provides easy access to the control panel and paper sources. In-line cartridges can also be retrieved from the front of the machine for hassle-free replacement. A large LCD with graphic-display provides guided user animation within the display that simplifies once complex tasks via illustrated on-screen instructions. Carry your important information with you by saving scanned documents to a USB removable media. Connect the USB removable media to the USB port located conveniently in the front of the machine to scan your letter, statement, or legal-sized documents. The Superior Color Imaging Technology featured in the MF8050Cn captures fine details with remarkable tone-on-tone clarity, helping images stay true to the original. Canon Pure Black Technology ensures the richest blacks by utilizing only the black toner instead of traditional methods of combining toner colors. For added flexibility and user-convenience, the Color imageCLASS MF8050Cn is equipped with unique features, such as: ID Card Copy, Auto Fax Forwarding, and Searchable PDF. The MF8050Cn uses approximately 3 watts of energy during Energy Saving Mode and meets Energy Star guidelines, saving you money on energy costs. And like many imageCLASS products, the MF8050Cn is part of the Generation Green program, Canon's initiative to reduce environmental burdens in all stages of a product's life-cycle.
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text:
Serving Raceland, Gheens, Lockport, Valentine, Larose, Cut Off, Galliano, Golden Meadow, Leeville, & Grand Isle
Wednesday, April 17, 2019
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Gerald Green couldn't miss. Then again, neither did many of his teammates.
Eric Bledsoe had 25 points on 10-of-12 shooting, Green tied a career high with six 3-pointers and the Phoenix Suns rallied to beat the New Orleans Pelicans 104-98 on Tuesday night.
Trailing 60-50, the Suns scored 28 points in the last 6:23 of the third quarter to go ahead 78-69 and led the rest of the way. During that torrid stretch, they hit 12 of 13 shots and six 3-pointers in a row, including three from Green.
"The third quarter was a prime example of when we move the ball and play as a team, we can really heat things up," Green said. "When the Dallas Mavericks won the championship, they didn't win it off isolations. They won it off ball movement and knocking down 3s."
The Suns were expected to be much closer to the top pick in the 2014 draft lottery than a championship when the season began. Their 3-1 start already qualifies as a surprise after they finished with the worst record in the Western Conference (25-57) a year ago.
"We're starting to make a little noise, but it's only four games into the season," Green said. "We haven't done anything yet. We just have to keep continuing to play with the same pace and try to get better."
The Pelicans used an 11-0 run to go up 56-46 early in the third quarter but had no answer for the Suns' outburst a few minutes later.
Green started the streak with an open 3-pointer, the first of six for Phoenix during its big run. Bledsoe scored on a transition layup, then drilled an outside jumper. Green pulled up for another 3-pointer to tie the score at 60, and Markieff Morris sank a 3 to give the Suns a 63-62 lead.
Less than a minute later, Morris drained another one from long range. Green then made his sixth 3-pointer, tying a career high, as Phoenix went ahead 71-64.
The Suns weren't finished. After the Pelicans closed to 73-69 on Brian Roberts' 3-pointer, P.J. Tucker hit a 3 with 52.3 seconds left and Marcus Morris closed the quarter with a put-back layup to make the score 78-69.
"That's the game-breaker right there," Roberts said. "We came out and gave the first punch, and they punched back but we didn't respond."
Green scored 18, Markieff Morris had 17 points and twin brother Marcus Morris added 16 points for the Suns.
"Everybody just stayed aggressive," Marcus Morris said. "That's really all it was, a lot of energy. We just played hard."
Eric Gordon led New Orleans with 20 points but had only six in the second half. Anthony Davis had a quiet first half before finishing with 17 points and 11 rebounds.
Jrue Holiday had nine assists but only three points on 1 of 7 shooting.
New Orleans cut the deficit to 87-85 in the fourth, but Bledsoe finished them off with three driving layups.
The Pelicans had a chance to tie in the fourth, but the Suns' P.J. Tucker stole the ball from Gordon in traffic, leading to Bledsoe's breakout layup that made the score 89-85. Bledsoe then split two defenders on a drive for an easy basket to pad the lead to 95-88 and made an uncontested layup for a 97-90 advantage with 1:23 left.
"I just took what the defense gave me," Bledsoe said. "They gave me layups all night, so I was going to take every last one of them."
The Pelicans led 28-17 at the end of the first quarter despite playing without Holiday for all but the opening 2:09 after he picked up two quick fouls and getting only two points and two rebounds from Davis.
At that point, New Orleans appeared headed for an easy night. Instead, the Pelicans committed six turnovers in a sloppy second quarter, allowing the Suns to pull within 45-41 at the half.
"We had a good first quarter, but after that we went away from the things that are necessary for us to be good," Pelicans coach Monty Williams said. "The second half was just totally not the way we play in practice."
Phoenix played without guard Goran Dragic, who sprained his left ankle in the second quarter against Oklahoma City on Sunday and is listed as day-to-day.
Notes: The Pelicans, who entered as the NBA's best 3-point shooting team at 50 percent (18 of 36), raised that percentage by hitting 10 of 18 even though leading 3-point shooter Ryan Anderson has not played this season with a chipped bone on second right toe. ... The Suns won despite having only four second-chance points.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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XPAND 3D today announced that NEC Display Solutions is using the XPAND Infinity 3D glasses at CinemaCon 2012 in a cinema exhibit that is sure to give show attendees an immersive and thrilling 3D cinema experience.
NEC is a leading provider of digital cinema and multimedia projectors and integrated display solutions. The company is demonstrating a wide range of products with the XPAND Infinity 3D glasses at CinemaCon 2012 in NEC Booth No. 2717 and Milano 4, Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada (April 23 – 26, 2012).
"We are excited to be partnering with NEC for CinemaCon, the industry's biggest and most important trade show for movie theater owners worldwide," said Maria Costeira, CEO, XPAND 3D. "NEC's 3D display technology sets exceptional standards for 3D image quality and realism, and our Infinity glasses will give attendees the opportunity to enjoy the absolute best that NEC and XPAND 3D have to offer."
XPAND's Infinity glasses are high-end active 3D glasses that provide the brightest, most vivid and realistic 3D images available. XPAND Infinity glasses are also optimized to work with laser projectors, making them the optimal future-proof 3D viewing system.
All current XPAND 3D cinema systems and glasses fully support HFR (High-Frame-Rate) double and single flash at 96fps, 120fps, 144fps, 192fps, 240fps and even variable bit rate. The XPAND Infinity 3D glasses are designed to provide the brightest, most vivid and realistic 3D images available. They offer up to 38% transparency and a 3000:1 contrast ratio. The glasses' lightweight ergonomic designs ensure long-wearing comfort, and their wide 3D viewing angles provide optimal 3D images across the entire cinema.
"NEC manufactures ultimate-performance 3D cinema solutions including the world's brightest digital cinema projectors," said Rich McPherson, Senior Product Manager of Projectors for NEC Display Solutions. "In order to demonstrate these superb products at their best, we reviewed our options and chose XPAND's Infinity 3D Glasses, which are exceptional in every respect and the perfect complement to our 3D projectors and display devices."
At CinemaCon 2012, NEC will be exhibiting its latest digital cinema and digital signage technologies.
About NEC Display Solutions of America, Inc.
Headquartered in Itasca, Ill., NEC Display Solutions of America, Inc., is a leading designer and provider of innovative desktop LCD monitors, commercial- and professional-grade large-screen LCD displays, a diverse line of multimedia and digital cinema projectors, and integrated display solutions. NEC Display Solutions develops leading-edge visual technology and customer-focused solutions for a wide variety of markets, including enterprise, healthcare, education and digital signage. For additional information about NEC Display Solutions of America monitors, consumers can call (866) NEC-MORE, or visit the website at www.necdisplay.com. For digital images, please visit http://necdisplay.com/digital-media-library.
About XPAND 3D:
XPAND 3D is the global leader in 3D technologies for cinema, with systems used by over 5,000 3D cinemas in more than 50 countries. XPAND 3D is also the 3D solution of choice for home, business, post-production, education, military, medical and professional 3D applications. XPAND 3D designs, manufactures and OEMs a range of consumer electronics 3D solutions that are driving the 3D revolution. XPAND is committed to advancing the state-of-the art in technology to provide consumers, businesses, educators and medical professionals with the comprehensive advantages of stereoscopic 3D. XPAND provides glasses on a linear scale from the most advanced and feature-packed for sophisticated surgical, training and home theater to more ruggedized and affordable for cinema and mass market use. X6D Limited is a global company whose products and services are marketed under the XPAND brand name.


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Why a Romney Win Could Help the Mets
If anyone has reason to hope the Republicans can win the November presidential election, it may be the beleaguered New York Mets. Michael Rapoport explains the half-century trend on Lunch Break. Photo: Getty Images.
This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.
... I ... oh ... Republicans ... you're next ... Michael Wrapports trainee right here ... some research and you found them it's typically in you when you met Jack L Jackson fan I am a fan of the last option is to do so the with the seasons and yet that that that that that teams are focused on working together again last week ... um let's talk about this that you can research shows that the next typically do better when a Republican is in the White House ... that's right ... and and of the additional has no real reason for going to know what happens ... bought up with that some fifty year plus history ... and the twenty three years were off a Democrat is all the White House events of the buildings in season nineteen times ... in the twenty eight years ago when Republicans to the White House that had a wedding season nineteen tops ... and it did it did it it seems to fluctuate with the ... of the all been that it was election cycle which initiatives like the nineteen sixty eight ... the Mets will return to a nine ... to recorder wrong to expect when the snake and seventy six ... the best rate of zero to make use of the seven term loan three losing seasons I explain R a Dickey he he he may be the exception of this because he had used a knuckle ball to hear about the idea for this I on the work essentially I you know he he he may do better when there's a Democrat when ... he needed to buck the odds he he he is the first Mets pitcher to win twenty games this season when Democrat is in the White House the previous two times it's happened ... or publicans are Republicans ... when you talk to some people who are bloggers out there who just eat ... and sleep and breathe this stuff ... what are they saying about today's for Pitney Khan to any any any worse than this in this person wonder now that the elected to know which is north of well what what happens and hundreds of its two more scientific than the so called super more indicator ... were supposed to do the was can happen the stock market that you're buying up what you were a little NFL team to bowl ... of but it's it's it's the it's not scientific of that is no real reason for this new kit another there so ... was a correlation here very quickly at Michael What about Mets owner Fred Wilpon now what is in May twenty picking a song ... I this candidate and as it is hard to know won't want I mean ... it's part of the world will pump into it but but it's a matter of public record ... it with the federal campaign contributions to the Romney back job so that maybe it's worth saving he spends more on players when the Republicans are and how we know now I read that ... Michael thanks so much for being with this ... with a steak on bass on realistic on domestic Ralph roaring last night at Marlins park that was for the Marlins are the rivals the New York Mets two teams that to claim the last place slots in addition the crowd roared for Adam Greenberg who want to play for the first time in seven ... years to get a second chance to hit the big leagues a comeback story after he was struck in the head ... by the first pitch he saw with the Chicago Cubs in two thousand five ... and by a Marlins pitcher no less than ... the ninety two mph fastball estimate injuries that derailed his career but the Marlins with no shot at the Playhouse to grant him an app that last night was quick moment of glory as New York Mets knuckleballer ... R A Dickey stocking up in the green ... pitches but ... he walked off smiling this story there ...


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Journal of the South African Veterinary Association
On-line version ISSN 2224-9435
Print version ISSN 1019-9128
J. S. Afr. Vet. Assoc. vol.83 n.1 Pretoria Jan. 2012
An investigation into an outbreak of Rift Valley fever on a cattle farm in Bela-Bela, South Africa, in 2008
Lourenço P. MapacoI, II; Jacobus A.W. CoetzerI; Janusz T. PaweskaIII; Estelle H. VenterI
IDepartment of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, University of Pretoria, South Africa
IIDirectorate of Animal Science, Central Veterinary Laboratory, Mozambique
IIINational Institute for Communicable Diseases of the National Health Laboratory Service, Sandringham, South Africa
In 2008, a suspected outbreak of Rift Valley fever (RVF) was reported on a farm in the Bela-Bela area, Limpopo Province, South Africa. Seven calves died on the affected dairy farm, where no RVF vaccination programme was practised. No apparent clinical disease was reported in the other 300 cattle (33 calves included) or 200 sheep on the farm. During the outbreak, blood samples from 77.7% (233/300) of the cattle and 36.5% (73/200) of the sheep were collected on the affected farm and 55 blood samples were taken from cattle on a neighbouring farm. Eight weeks later, 78% of the cattle (234/300) and 42.5% of the sheep (85/200) were bled on the affected farm only. All sera were tested by an Immunoglobulin M (IgM)-capture Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and by an indirect Immunoglobulin G (IgG) ELISA. Selected IgM-positive (n = 14), IgG-positive (n = 23) and samples negative for both IgM and IgG-specific antibodies against RVF virus (n = 19) were tested using the serum neutralisation test (SNT). Sera from IgM-positive (n = 14) and negative (n = 20) animals were also tested by a TaqMan polymerase chain reaction (PCR). On the affected farm, 7% (16/233) of the cattle were IgM-positive and 13.7% (32/233) IgG-positive at the first bleed and 2% were IgM-positive at the second bleed, whilst the number of cattle positive for IgG-specific antibodies increased by 21.3% compared with the first bleed. Only 1.4% of sheep were positive for both IgM and IgG antibodies at the first collection; at the second bleed, IgM-positive cases decreased to 1.2%, whilst IgG-positive cases increased to 2.4%. Whilst no IgM-positive cattle were found on the neighbouring farm, 5.5% of cattle were IgG-positive. The SNT confirmed most of the ELISA results, whilst PCR results were all negative. Although serology results indicated virus circulation on both farms, the negative PCR results demonstrated that the animals were not viraemic at the time they were sampled. The movement of infected mosquito vectors by wind over long distances into a low-lying area that favoured their breeding on the Bela-Bela farm may have led to an outbreak of the disease there, but the reason for the low level of virus circulation amongst susceptible animals remains unclear.
Rift Valley fever (RVF) is an acute mosquito-borne viral disease affecting mainly ruminants and is characterised by high rates of abortion, neonatal mortality, necrotic hepatitis and a haemorrhagic diathesis. The disease is more severe in young animals than in adults, and sheep and goats are more susceptible than cattle (Coetzer 1977; Gerdes 2004; OIE 2008). Evidence of RVF infection has also been reported in African buffalo and other wildlife species (Evans et al. 2008; Gonzalez-Scarano, Endres & Nathanson 1991). Rift Valley fever is a zoonotic disease and although influenzalike symptoms are normally experienced, haemorrhagic fever, encephalitis and death have been reported in humans (Kallio-Kokko et al. 2005). It is a notifiable disease in terms of the South African Animal Disease Act, but not a controlled disease. Therefore, it remains the responsibility of the animal owners to vaccinate their animals to prevent losses.
The disease is caused by the RVF virus (RVFV), which is taxonomically classified in the genus Phlebovirus of the family Bunyaviridae (Bishop & Shope 1979; Bouloy 1991). Based on clinical manifestations and symptoms, RVFV is placed in the group of Ribonucleic acid (RNA) viral haemorrhagic fever (VHF) agents. The group of VHF agents also includes ebolaviruses, marburgviruses, the Lassa virus, Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus, yellow fever virus, Dengue virus and hantaviruses (Bouloy 1991; Pépin et al. 2010). Rift Valley fever is transmitted by mosquitoes, but biting flies feeding on viraemic animals could play a role in the mechanical dissemination of the virus during outbreaks (FAO 2003; Swanepoel & Coetzer 2004).
Animals infected with RVFV develop antibodies within 3-5 days of infection, thus the detection of antibodies is one approach to determining animal exposure or the antibody status of a herd against RVF (FAO 2003). Infections can also be demonstrated using virus isolation and the detection of viral nucleic acid in whole blood, serum or organs (Pestana et al. 2010; Viljoen, Nel & Crowther 2005).
Rift Valley fever outbreaks were first noticed and recorded in exotic sheep breeds in the Rift Valley of Kenya between 1910 and 1915, but the causative agent was only identified in 1930 (Findlay & Daubney 1931). The disease occurs when conditions favour the breeding of mosquito vectors (Andriamandimby et al. 2010; Sall et al. 1998). Large outbreaks with a significant health and socio-economic impact have historically been restricted to East and South Africa (SA). More recently, the disease has also been reported in livestock and humans in the Middle East (Clements et al. 2007; FAO 2003; OIE 2010; Sall et al. 1998). Apart from serious consequences for human and animal health, RVF epidemics also affect the international livestock trade (Clements et al. 2007).
In endemic areas, epidemics generally occur after heavy rain (Andriamandimby et al. 2010) with flooding, but outbreaks have also been reported after no rain has occurred (Coetzer 1977). Over the years, several large outbreaks have occurred in South Africa, the first recorded and confirmed being in 1950. In 1974 and 1975, South Africa experienced a second big epidemic of RVF in sheep and cattle, which was preceded by wet conditions that favoured the breeding and subsequent increase in the mosquito vector population (Coetzer 1977; Coetzer & Ishak 1982; Swanepoel & Coetzer 2004).
In 2008, the South African Veterinary Services, Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fishery (DAFF) reported 13 outbreaks of RVF that occurred from January to June (Figure 1) and affected cattle, goats, sheep and African buffaloes in four neighbouring provinces of SA, namely Mpumalanga (4), Limpopo Province (3), Gauteng (3) and North-West Province (3) (OIE Ref: 7083, Report Date: 27/05/2008). In 2009, outbreaks of RVF were reported in KwaZulu-Natal. In contrast to the widespread epidemics of 1950-1951 and 1974-1975, the 2008 and 2009 outbreaks were limited to certain parts of SA.
A third large epidemic occurred in 2010 (OIE 2010), affecting the eastern Free State province, areas of Northern Cape, Eastern Cape, Gauteng, and Mpumalanga provinces and the Western Cape. Domestic livestock (sheep, cattle and goats) as well as different wildlife species were affected (OIE 2010). In humans, there were 1588 suspected cases, of which 237 were laboratory confirmed and 26 were fatal (Paweska et al. 2010; Pépin et al. 2010).
In March 2008, the Section of Pathology, Department of Paraclinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Science (FVS), University of Pretoria (UP) received seven dead calves from a farmer in the Bela-Bela district, Limpopo Province (LP), SA. The post-mortem findings indicated infection with RVFV. The extent of the outbreak was investigated to determine the spread of the virus within the herd on the index farm as well as amongst cattle on a neighbouring farm.
Materials and methods
The outbreak
In March 2008, the Section of Pathology, FVS, UP received seven dead calves from a farmer in the Bela-Bela district of LP. Results of macro- and histopathology indicated infection with RVFV. Serum samples were then collected on the affected farm and a neighbouring one by the regional State Veterinarian and veterinary students of the FVS.
The affected dairy farm applied an intensive farming system, with 300 Holstein Friesland cattle (including 40 calves) as well as 200 Pedi sheep. The calves were kept in cages inside a barn. The cages were raised above the ground and were positioned in such a way that the afternoon sun shines into the cages through the only opening in the building. The lights in the building were kept on during the night. The sheep were kept outdoors in the same vicinity, in cages about 200 m away from the calves, and the cattle about 100 m away, forming a triangle. All the calves that died were born on the affected farm and there was no history of newly introduced animals. The farmer did not practise any RVF vaccination programme.
Seven of the calves were found dead one morning, after they had shown no signs of illness, having drunk their milk the previous evening. None of the other animals showed clinical disease, there was no visible drop in milk production and no abortions were reported.
The geographical coordinates of the farm in the Bela-Bela district where the outbreak occurred are: E 28°19'28" and N 24°51'10". Approximately 1 km from the area where the cattle and sheep are housed is a low-lying area with a stream that flows from Klein Kariba, a small holiday resort close to Bela-Bela. This swampy area has dense plant growth with a lot of reeds. The neighbouring farm is in the same vicinity and a tarred road separates the farms. There are no other farms or other cattle close to the affected farm. None of the farm workers who assisted in the transport of the dead animals showed any clinical signs of RVF. The farmer, however, became very sick, showing influenza-like symptoms.
The vegetation of Bela-Bela consists of grassland and trees, which is generally referred to as bushveld. Rainfall data in the area indicated that the rainfall for January 2008 was more than 100 mm above the average monthly rainfall, whilst rainfall in February was below the average and rainfall in March was normal for that time of the year (South African Weather Services).
Sample collection
Blood samples were collected on two farms in the Bela-Bela district in LP, from animals of both sexes and different ages. During the first collection, which took place on 19 and 20 March, blood samples were taken from 77.7% (233/300) of the cattle and 36.5% (73/200) of the sheep on the originally affected farm and 55 blood samples were taken from cattle on a neighbouring farm. To evaluate sero-conversion as well as active infections, samples were collected 8 weeks later from 78% of the cattle (234/300) and 42.5% of the sheep (85/200) from only the affected farm. The second collection took place between 13 May and 16 May. The serum was separated after the blood had clotted and serum samples were labelled or identified according to the animal number, species and the farm on which they were collected.
Laboratory tests
All the samples collected were tested using an Immunoglobulin M (IgM)-capture Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and an indirect Immunoglobulin G (IgG)-ELISA supplied by the Special Pathogen Unit of the National Institute for Communicable Diseases - National Health Laboratory Service. Based on ELISA results, 37 positive and 19 negative samples were selected and tested with the serum neutralisation test (SNT). In addition, selected ELISA IgM-positive sera (n = 14) and sera negative for both by IgM and IgG ELISA (n = 20) were tested by a TaqMan reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay.
Serological assays
The sera were first inactivated at 56 °C for 30 min in a water bath before performing the ELISAs. The IgM-capture ELISA was conducted following the procedures described by Paweska et al. (2003). For detection of IgG-specific antibodies against RVFV, a recombinant nucleocapsid IgG indirect ELISA was used, following the protocol established by Jansen van Vuren et al. (2007). The raw optical densities (ODs) were converted to positive predictive (PP) values using the formula as described by Paweska et al. (2003). Sheep sera that produced PP values > 8 PP and cattle sera that produced PP values > 14.3 were considered to be positive; PP values below these values were considered to be negative (Paweska et al. 2003).
The SNT was done according to the OIE Terrestrial Manual (2008) and slightly modified to the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) of the Virology Section of the Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases (DVTD). The test was performed in 96-well microtitre plates and a vaccine strain (Smithburn) of RVFV (obtained from Onderstepoort Biological Products, Ltd) was used as neutralising antigen. Briefly, 2-fold dilutions of the serum were prepared (1:2-1:64) in duplicate on the microtitre plate and 100 μL of each dilution was used. The RVF neutralising virus with a titre of 104.6 TCID50/100 μL was diluted in MEM containing 5% foetal calf serum to provide a virus concentration of 100 TCID50. A volume of 100 μL was added to each well of diluted test serum. To determine if the correct concentration of the virus had been used, a series of 10-fold dilutions of the virus (10-1-10-5) was prepared and tested in triplicate. The plates were incubated at 37 °C for 1 h in an incubator containing 5% CO2 A volume of 80 μL of Vero cells at a concentration of 480 000 cells/mL was added to each well of the microplate including the virus controls, followed by incubation at 37 °C in an atmosphere containing 5% CO2 to allow virus neutralisation. The monolayers were examined daily from day 3 until the control dilution of 10-2 showed 50% CPE. Evidence of CPE was determined by using an inverted microscope and the results were recorded as the last dilution where no inhibition of CPE of the virus could be seen.
Molecular assay
Viral RNA was extracted from 140 μL IgM-positive sera and those sera negative for both IgM- and IgG-specific antibodies. The QIAamp® Viral RNA Mini kit (QIAGEN, Germany) was used according to the manufacturers protocol. The extracted RNA was eluted in 60 uL of buffer AVE, obtained from the kit, and stored at -20 °C until use. One RVF positive sheep serum from a previous study was included in the extractions. This serum had been inactivated and stored at +4 °C for more than a year. The TaqMan Reverse Transcriptase Detection PCR (RTD-PCR) assay was carried out as described by Drosten et al. (2002) using the LightCycler® RNA Amplification kit HybProbe® (Roche Diagnostics, Germany) and the LightCycler® instrument (Roche). Amplification was carried out in a total volume of 20 μL reaction mixture containing 5 μL of the target virus RNA or the in vitro transcribed RNA standards, 1 μM each of the sense (RVS) and antisense (RVAs) primers, 1 μM of probe (RVP) and 5 mM MgCl2 (Drosten et al. 2002).
The primers that were used target a 94 base pair region of the G2 gene of the M segment of the RVFV. The sequence of the sense primer (RVS) is 5' AAAGGAACAATGGACTCTGGTCA 3' (349-371) and of the antisense primer (RVAs) is 5' CACTTCTTACTACCATG TCCTCCAAT 3' (443-417).
The sequence of the TaqMan probe (RVP) 5'- nuclease probe labelled with 6-carboxyfluorescein at the 5' end and with 6-carboxy-N,N,N',N'-tetramethylrhodamine at the 3' end is 5' AAAGCTTTGATATCTCTCAGT GCCCCAA (388-416).
The cycling profile was: reverse transcriptase at 45 °C for 30 min, initial denaturation at 95 °C for 5 min, and 45 cycles at 95 °C for 5 s and at 57 °C for 35 seconds (Drosten et al. 2002). Fluorescence was read at the combined annealing-extension step at 57 °C.
Statistical analysis
The difference in the proportions of animals positive for IgM or IgG between the two bleeds was compared using the Chi-square test (Epi Info 3.5, http://www.cdc.gov/epiinfo).
Ethical considerations
No physical or physiological harm was done to animals. Blood was taken from animals by a state veterinarian according to a standard SOP. The protocol for this research was approved by the Animal Use and Care Committee of the University of Pretoria.
Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay
Of the 233 cattle sera in the first collection on the affected farm, 7% (16/233) were positive for IgM-specific antibodies and 13.7% (32/233) for IgG-specific antibodies. Of the cattle that were IgM-positive on the first collection, 56.3% (9/16) were also IgG-positive. During the second collection on this farm IgM antibodies were found in 2.1% (5/234) of cattle sera whilst 80% (4/5) of cattle, initially IgM-positive, also tested positive for IgG antibodies. There was an increase of IgG-positive cattle from 13.7% to 35% (82/234) between the first and second collections.
Of the 73 sheep bled, only one tested positive for IgM antibodies and another sheep for IgG antibodies during the first bleed. On the second bleed, again only one (1/85) sheep (not the same animal) was positive for IgM antibodies whilst IgG antibodies were found in two other sheep (Table 1). Although no IgM-positive results were found in cattle sampled on the neighbouring farm, 5.5% (3/55) of them were IgG-positive (Table 1).
Serum-neutralisation test
Serum samples that tested positive for either IgM or IgG using the capture and indirect ELISAs were analysed by the SNT. Three samples that tested positive for IgM and one IgG-positive sample using ELISA (all had borderline PP values) tested negative by the SNT. Two samples that tested negative for both IgM and IgG-specific antibodies against RVFV using ELISA had serum neutralising antibodies of 1:10 and 1:20 (Table 2).
Polymerase chain reaction
All sera (n = 34) for sheep (n = 1) and cattle (n = 33) tested by the TaqMan RTD-PCR were negative except for the positive control sheep serum. To validate the assay, three standard controls were included: high positive, low positive and a negative control.
The relevant controls were used during the laboratory analysis of the blood samples. Validated SOPs were used in the laboratory. Results obtained are trustworthy.
Climate change and the presence of competent vectors in currently RVF-free areas suggest strongly that RVFV should be included amongst the most significant emerging viral threats to public and veterinary health (Martin et al. 2008). The outbreaks reported in 2000 in Egypt and in the Arabian Peninsula (Saudi Arabia and Yemen) (Shoemaker et al. 2002) have illustrated the potential of RVFV to spread to previously unaffected areas. An increase in the number of outbreaks as experienced in recent years in SA is also a major concern (OIE 2010).
Outbreaks of RVF (n = 13) reported in South Africa in 2008 occurred from January to June in four provinces (Mpumalanga, Limpopo, Gauteng and North-West Province). All these outbreaks, including the outbreak at Bela-Bela described in this study, were isolated outbreaks that occurred within a radius of approximately 200 km.
The outbreak in the Bela-Bela district affected one farm, with a herd of 300 cattle including 40 calves present on the farm. Seven of the calves died and macroscopic and histopathological findings obtained from five carcasses were in agreement with those previously described by Coetzer (1977) as characteristic for infection with RVFV. Deaths were only reported in those seven calves and no clinical disease, abortions or deaths were reported in adult cattle or sheep also present on the farm. A high mortality rate in calves was also described during the 1976 RVF outbreak in Sudan, where the mortality in calves was 40% (Eisa et al. 1980), whilst 10% -15% neonatal mortality was reported during the 1977 RVF outbreak in South Africa (Coetzer 1977). Factors determining the morbidity and mortality associated with an outbreak include the virulence of the virus, the presence of vectoring mosquitoes and the susceptibility of the vertebrates involved (Anderson & Peters 1988; Swanepoel & Coetzer 2004). The susceptibility of different hosts to RVF on the basis of experimental and field observations varies from extremely susceptible to inapparent infections (70% - 100% amongst lambs). Sheep and calves are highly susceptible to RFV virus (20% - 70%) (Anderson & Peters 1988; Swanepoel & Coetzer 2004).
Blood samples were again collected from livestock within 8 weeks following a positive RVF diagnosis on the two neighbouring farms in Bela-Bela. Sera were tested for RVF-specific antibodies and the presence of viral RNA by RT-PCR. Since the animals were not vaccinated, the presence of IgG-specific antibodies is indicative of natural infection. These serological results suggest that cattle from the affected farm were infected but showed no clinical signs, in agreement with previous findings that most infections with RVFV may be sub-clinical in adult cattle (Eisa et al. 1980; Findlay 1931; Swanepoel & Coetzer 2004). Evidence of RVF infection in animals with no clinical signs of disease was also reported in Zambia by Davies et al. (1992). In their study, they established sentinel herds and sero-monitored them during an inter-epidemic period. Although they did not use an ELISA for detection of IgM antibodies, virus activity was demonstrated by means of the indirect fluorescent antibody test and the SNT.
It would be difficult to speculate when the first infections took place at Bela-Bela. Diagnostic data that were sent to the OIE (OIE Ref.7083) suggests that the outbreak started on 1st March. The sera for this study were collected during the second week after the reported deaths (19 March), allowing sufficient time for sero-conversion to take place. In a study conducted by Morvan et al. (1992), IgM-specific antibodies to RVFV could be detected 6 months after natural infection, but only 27% (53/195) of these animals were IgM positive by the second month. Results obtained from experimentally infected sheep showed that the IgM-capture ELISA can detect IgM with 100% sensitivity 5-42 days post-infection, with the sensitivity decreasing to 12.5% 3 weeks later (Paweska et al. 2003), which clearly indicates the transitory presence of anti-RVFV IgM in infected ruminants.
During the second bleeding on the affected farm, IgM antibodies were detected in 2.1% (5/234) of cattle sera. The difference between the results obtained during the two collections is not statistically significant (P = 0.089). According to the data above explaining the presence of IgM and the decreased sensitivity of the IgM-capture ELISA, the presence of IgM-specific antibodies against RVFV during the second bleed could be due either to persisting IgM from the first infection or IgM from a more recent infection during the 8 weeks after the first bleed.
Results from sera collected during the second bleed showed that there was a statistically significant (P = 0.0057) increase in IgG-positive cattle cases from 13.7% (32/233) to 35% (82/234) on the affected farm. The increase in these antibodies can be explained in three ways. Firstly, all IgG-positive animals (13.7% [32/233]) from the first bleed should have remained positive; secondly, seven animals that were IgM-positive during the first bleed should have become IgG-positive and contributed 3% (7/234) to the increase of IgG-positive animals; and finally, the remaining increase of about 18.4% (43/234) of IgG-positive animals could have been from animals that tested negative for both IgM and IgG during the first bleed, but sero-converted in between blood collections. Blood collected the first time could therefore have been collected before detectable antibody levels. This possibility of antibody-negative results early in infection was also noted by Peters et al. (1989) as well as by Bird et al. (2009).
The low number of sheep (1st bleed: 1/73 and 2nd bleed 1/85 IgM-positive; 2/73 IgG positive) that tested positive with the ELISA and all samples that tested negative with the SNT, as well as the absence of clinical disease in sheep, suggest that sheep in this study were not infected. This contrasts with published data indicating the high susceptibility of sheep to RVFV (Findlay 1931; Gerdes 2004). A possible explanation is that mosquito vectors circulating in the area were more host-specific and had a preference for cattle (Fontenille et al. 1998).
No deaths or clinical disease were reported on the neighbouring farm. In addition, no IgM-specific antibodies against RVFV were found in sera collected on this farm, suggesting that no active infection had been present at the time. However, the presence of IgG in 5.5% of sera collected on the neighbouring farm in the absence of a vaccination programme indicates virus circulation during the period of this study.
Serological evidence of infection with no clinical disease was reported in sheep and goats born after the 1997-1998 but before the 2006 RVF outbreaks in Kenya (Rostal et al. 2010).
The SNT is considered by the OIE to be the gold standard for the diagnosis of RVF infections (OIE 2008). In this study, one cattle sample (1/23) that tested IgG-positive and three samples (3/14) that tested IgM-positive were negative using the SNT. These four samples were all weakly positive on ELISA. On the other hand, two sera (2/19) that tested negative on both ELISAs were weakly positive using the SNT. According to Paweska et al. (2003), results obtained by the SNT used for the diagnosis of RVF in field samples are not suitable for comparison with results from the IgM-capture ELISA. In experimentally infected and in vaccinated animals, the IgM-capture ELISA was more sensitive in the early stages of immunological responses than the SNT.
Another explanation for the lack of agreement found between results obtained from the ELISAs and the SNT could be the interpretation of borderline readings for the ELISA.
The specific animal population tested also influences the interpretation of the results obtained by the ELISAs and the manufacturer recommends that a re-adjustment of threshold values should be considered for each species (Paweska et al. 2003).
No viral nucleic acid was detected using PCR in any of the selected IgM and IgG-positive or negative serum samples. The appearance of IgM-specific antibodies against RVFV 3-5 days after the onset of infection coincides with the cessation of viraemia (Bird et al. 2009; FAO 2003; Swanepoel & Coetzer 2004). According to the information sent to the OIE by the Directorate, Veterinary Services, Department of Agriculture, SA (OIE Ref: 7083), infection of animals at Bela-Bela started on 01 March 2008. The first collection took place 20 days later and by this time IgM-positive cattle were already IgG-positive. These facts explain the failure to detect viral nucleic acid by PCR, because the viraemia in the animals had already disappeared by the time of sampling.
Although the PCR results were negative, the presence of IgM and RVF-positive histopathological and immunochemical findings (results not shown) in the dead calves indicated the recent circulation of virus. The outbreak occurred late in summer (March) when infected mosquitoes should still be present and could therefore be responsible for transmitting the virus between the two sample collections.
How the virus was introduced onto the farm is not clear, but the possibility of low-level virus circulation in animals as described for endemic areas is a possibility (Swanepoel & Coetzer 2004). This could also be partially supported by the presence of IgG-specific antibodies against RVFV detected on the two farms.
The 13 RVF outbreaks that were reported between January and June 2008 in South Africa occurred within a 200 km radius. The movement of mosquito vectors by wind over long distances might have introduced the virus to the farm (Sall et al. 1998; Sellers, Pedgley & Tucker 1982). This and the presence of a low-lying area on the farm with a stream nearby that favoured the breeding of mosquitoes may have led to ideal conditions for an outbreak to occur. The fact that mostly cattle sero-converted suggests a host preference of vectoring mosquitoes for cattle over sheep.
In this study an isolated outbreak of RVF on a farm in the Bela-Bela area, Limpopo, South Africa is described. Seven calves died and no clinical disease was observed in either sheep or adult cattle on the affected farm. Also on a neighbouring farm no clinical disease was observed in cattle. The time line of the outbreak is described and its origin speculated on. It is concluded that the low-lying area on the farm with a stream nearby that favoured the breeding of mosquitoes may have led to ideal conditions for an outbreak to occur. The fact that mostly cattle sero-converted also suggests a host preference of vectoring mosquitoes for cattle over sheep.
This work was funded by the DVTD, FVS, UP, Onderstepoort, Pretoria and contributions were also made by the FVS and the National Institute for Communicable Diseases, Sandringham, Johannesburg.
Competing interests
There are no competing interests that the authors are aware of.
Authors' contributions
The research was done as part of a Master's dissertation by L.P.M. (University of Pretoria). The practical work was done by him at the DVTD and NICD, under supervision of E.H.V. (University of Pretoria) and co-supervised by J.T.P. (National Institute for Communicable Diseases of the National Health Laboratory Service) and J.A.W.C. (University of Pretoria). E.H.V. (University of Pretoria) wrote and submitted the manuscript.
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Coetzer, J.A.W. & Ishak, K.G., 1982, 'Sequential development of the liver lesions in new-born lambs infected with Rift Valley fever virus. I. Macroscopic and microscopic pathology', Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Research 49, 103108. PMid:7177580 [ Links ]
Davies, F.G., Kilelu, E., Linthicum, K.J. & Pegram, R.G., 1992, 'Patterns of Rift Valley fever activity in Zambia', Epidemiology and Infection 108, 185-191. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0950268800049633 [ Links ]
Drosten, C., Gottig, S., Schilling, S., Asper, M., Panning, M., Schmitiz, H. et al., 2002, 'Rapid detection and quantification of RNA and Ebola and Marburg virus, Lassa virus, Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus, Rift Valley fever virus, Dengue virus and yellow fever virus by real-time reverse transcription PCR', Journal of Clinical Microbiology 40, 2323-2330. http://dx.doi.org/10.1128/JCM.40.7.2323-2330.2002, PMid:12089242 [ Links ]
Eisa, M., Kheir El Sid, E.D., Shomein, A.M. & Meegan, J.M., 1980, 'An outbreak of Rift Valley fever in Sudan 1976', Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 74, 417-419. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0035-9203(80)90122-4 [ Links ]
Evans, A., Gakuya, F., Paweska, J.T., Rostal, M., Akoolo, L., Jansen van Vuren, P.J. et al., 2008, 'Prevalence of antibodies against Rift Valley fever virus in Kenyan wildlife', Epidemiology and Infection 136, 1261-1269. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0950268807009806 [ Links ]
FAO, 2003, 'Preparation of Rift Valley fever contingency plans', in W.A. Geering & F.G. Davies (eds.), FAO Animal Health Manual 15, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome, viewed n.d., from http://www.fao.org//DOCREP/005/Y4140E/Y4140E00.HTM [ Links ]
Findlay, G.M., 1931, 'Rift Valley fever or endemic hepatitis', Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 25, 229-248 IN1, 249 - 262 IN3 - IN11. [ Links ]
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Fontenille, D., Traore-Lamizana, M., Diallo, M., Thonnon, J., Digoutte, J.P. & Zeller, H.G., 1998, 'New vector of Rift Valley fever in West Africa', Emerging Infectious Diseases 4, 289-293. http://dx.doi.org/10.3201/eid0402.980218, PMid:9621201 [ Links ]
Gerdes, G.H., 2004, 'Rift Valley fever', Revue scientifique et technique, Office International des Épizooties 23, 613-623. [ Links ]
Gonzalez-Scarano, F., Endres, M.J. & Nathanson, N., 1991, 'Bunyviridae: Patogénesis', Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology 169, 217-249. http://dx.doi. org/10.1007/978-3-642-76018-1_8 [ Links ]
Jansen van Vuren, P.J., Potgieter, A.C., Paweska, J.T. & Van Dijk, A.A., 2007, 'Preparation and evaluation of a recombinant Rift Valley fever virus N protein for the detection of IgG and IgM antibodies in humans and animals by indirect ELISA', Journal of Virological Methods 140, 106-114. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jviromet.2006.11.005, PMid:17174410 [ Links ]
Kallio-Kokko, H., Uzcategui, N., Olli Vapalahti, O. & Vaheri, A., 2005, 'Viral zoonoses in Europe', FEMS Microbiology Reviews 29, 1051-1077. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.femsre.2005.04.012, PMid:16024128 [ Links ]
Martin, V., Chevalier, V., Ceccato, P., Anyamba, A., De Simone, L., Lubroth, J. et al., 2008, 'The impact of climate change on the epidemiology and control of Rift Valley fever', Revue scientifique et technique, Office International Des Épizooties 27, 413-426. [ Links ]
Morvan, J.P.E., Rollin, P.E., Laventurel, S. & Roux, J., 1992, 'Duration of immunoglobulin M antibodies against Rift Valley fever virus in cattle after natural infection', Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 86, 675. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0035-9203(92)90187-H [ Links ]
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Paweska, J.T., Burt, F.J., Anthony, F., Smith, S.J., Grobbelaar, A.A., Croft, J.E. et al., 2003, 'IgG-sandwich and IgM capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the detection of antibodies to Rift Valley fever virus in domestic ruminants', Journal of Virological Methods 113, 103-112. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0166-0934(03)00228-3 [ Links ]
Paweska, J., Weyer, J., Jansen van Vuren, P.J., Kemp, A., Roux, C., Leman, P. et al., 2010, 'Update on the 2010 Rift Valley fever outbreak in South Africa', Arbo Zoonet News 05, 7-13. [ Links ]
Pépin, M., Bouloy, M., Bird, B.H., Kemp, A. & Paweska, J., 2010, 'Rift Valley fever virus (Bunyaviridae: Phlebovirus): An update on pathogenesis, molecular epidemiology, vectors, diagnostics and prevention', Veterinary Research 41, 61. http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/vetres/2010033, PMid:21188836 [ Links ]
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Peters, C.J., Ennis, W.H., Turell, M.J. & Niklasson, B., 1989, 'Rapid detection of Rift Valley fever antigen in the serum of infected lambs', Research in Virology 140, 43-46. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0923-2516(89)80083-4 [ Links ]
Rostal, M.K., Evans, A.L., Sang, R., Gikundi, S., Wakhule, L., Munyua, P. et al., 2010, 'Identification of potential vectors of and detection of antibodies against Rift Valley fever virus in livestock during inter-epidemic periods', American Journal of Veterinary Research 71, 522-526. http://dx.doi.org/10.2460/ajvr.7L5.522, PMid:20433377 [ Links ]
Sall, A.A., Zanotto, P.M. De A., Vialat, P., Sene, O.K. & Bouloy, M., 1998, 'Origin of 1997-1998 Rift Valley fever outbreak in East Africa', Lancet 352, 1596-1597. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(05)61043-4 [ Links ]
Sellers, R.F., Pedgley, D.E. & Tucker, M.R., 1982, 'Rift Valley fever, Egypt 1977: Disease spread by wind-born insect vectors?', Veterinary Record 110, 73-77. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/vr.110.4.73, PMid:7064329 [ Links ]
Shoemaker, T., Boulianne, C., Vincent, M.J., Pezzanite, L., Al-Qahtani, M.M., Al-Mazrou. Y. et al., 2002, 'Genetic analysis of viruses associated with emergence of Rift Valley fever in Saudi Arabia and Yemen, 2000-01', Emerging Infectious Diseases 8, 1415-1420. PMid:12498657 [ Links ]
Swanepoel, R. & Coetzer, J.A.W., 2004, 'Rift Valley fever', in J.A.W. Coetzer & R.C. Tustin (eds.), Infectious diseases of livestock with special reference to Southern Africa, pp. 1037-1070, Oxford University Press, Cape Town. [ Links ]
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Correspondence to:
Estelle Venter
Private Bag X04
Onderstepoort 0110
South Africa
Received: 22 Feb. 2012
Accepted: 11 May 2012
Published: 04 Oct. 2012


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Filed under: real estate | Tags: 3/28/2008, average price, bull mountain south, dom, for sale, homes, houses, news, oregon, real estate, realtor, tigard, Tigard Oregon MLS, washington county
The Bull Mountain South neighborhood of Tigard, Oregon goes west, starting at Pacific Hwy to Roy Rodgers Rd, Then south from Bull Mountain Rd to Beef Bend Rd. This part of Tigard, Oregon is in Tigard School district even though Bull Mountain itself hasn't been incorporated in to Tigard. Even though this is a more expensive area, there are presently no parks located in the Bull Mountain South area.
As of 3/28/2008 here are the stats for the Bull Mountain South Neighborhood
|Total number of homes for sale:
|Average List Price:
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|Total Pending home sales:
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|Total Expired Home Sales Last 30 days
|Average List Price:
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Click here to view the last few weekly reports and the averages since I started keeping stats
For a complete list of homes for sale in the Bull Mountain South Neighborhood, please call or Click Here, to request an update.
If you are interested in selling your home for top dollar in the quickest amount of time, please contact me anytime at 503-524-9494 or Click Here to send me an e-mail requesting further information.
Todd Clark – broker
Kastings & Associates
Phone: (503)524-9494
Fax: (503)622-8739
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Rationing is a completely irrational response to a shortage. Rationing is predicated on the assumption that it's fair for everyone to have the same allocation of a resource. Nations typically behave towards each other like toddlers. Within a nation, the politicians seem to treat citizens like children, where every child gets an equal sized piece of cake.
I'm not a child. Neither are you. None of us are (except our children, of course). Giving each of us identicaly sized pieces of cake ignores all sorts of issues. For example, we are carbon-based lifeforms. Some of us are bigger than others, are comprised of more carbon, and need more carbon to live. Or for example, some of us use our carbon to reduce our carbon emissions. I own 225 acres of land. It has a growing forest which is pulling carbon out of the air. I'm a hero -- shouldn't I get a higher carbon allowance? What if I can consume (emit) carbon dioxide (in the form of fossil fuels) to optimize my carbon consumption (in the form of woody growth)? How does the carbon ration account for this? Particularly in the UK where land ownership is far more class-based than in the US.
An equal share is not obviously fair; not at all.


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To get you running with the Informix Warehouse Accelerator at lightning speed as quickly as possible, we plan to entertain you in this blog on all sorts of technical aspects around Informix Server and the accelerator. We are a team of engineers in the IBM Informix Development Lab working on and supporting Informix Warehouse Accelerator as a product.
Topics in this blog (in reverse order of their appearance, newest first):
- New Informix Server on POWER8 LE Linux
- New Info for Query Tasks
- New in 12.10.FC5
- Trickle Feed and NONEXCLTRIG
- "Easy IWA" by Oninit Consulting Ltd
- Informix: Roadmaps and Availability
- Using Views in a Data Mart
- Using Synonyms in a Data Mart
- Concurrency in Data Mart Administration
- Accelerating TimeSeries Analytics
- New Redbook
- New Features in Release 12.10.FC2
- New developerWorks Article on OAT
- New Configuration Tips (2)
- New Configuration Tips (1)
- New Features in 12.10 Release
- Business Analytics in (a) Blink (Video)
- OVUM Market Research Report
- HA Integration in 11.70.FC5
- New Features in Release 11.70.FC5
- Proof of Technology
- Configuring CPU Utilization
- Linux systems with libstdc++ 4.6.x
- FYI: New Informix Warehouse Accelerator Video and e-book
- FYI: Webcast by Lester Knutsen
- Continuous Acceleration 2: Old Data Mart.
- Continuous Acceleration during Data Refresh
- Leftover AQTs (Revisited)
- Redirecting Messages (2)
- Redirecting Messages (1)
- Two new video presentations available on youtube
- Check out these two new demos!
- Using SmartMart (3)
- Clarification of some Requirement
- Using SmartMart (2)
- Using SmartMart (1)
- The Example Java CLI (3)
- New Features for the Informix Warehouse Accelerator
- The Example Java CLI (2)
- The Example Java CLI (1)
- IWADB Example Database
- Leftover AQTs
- Estimating the Size of a Data Mart
- Java Version for the Command Line Interface
- Data Mart Design and AQTs
- Tracing the Optimizer
- Optimizer Directive
- "use_dwa" Environment Setting
- Using the Eclipse-based administration interface
- Configuration Tips (5): Size of /dev/shm
- Configuration Tips (4): Understanding Linux's OOM Behaviour
- Configuration Tips (3): Linux Kernel
- Configuration Tips (2): Memory Resources
- Configuration Tips (1): CPU Resources
The accelerator provides extreme performance for BI applications while removing most tuning required for traditional data warehouses. It is designed to provide your business with the right data at the right time without increasing maintenance requirements or changing application infrastructure.
The first source of information on the accelerator always is the manual IBM Informix Warehouse Accelerator Administration Guide, and the related information found in the Informix information center:
In this blog we will talk about additional topics that do not appear in the manual: practical hints and tips, new findings as they get uncovered or more general background information for a deeper understanding of Informix Warehouse Accelerator and its functions.
For an overview of Informix Warehouse Accelerator please also look at this entry in the blog of Keshava Murthy. More in-depth information can be found in his technical white paper.
Another good souce of information, containing a lot of Q&As and a link to a webcast on the Informix Warehouse Accelerator, is this entry in the blog of Fred Ho.
Amended: 04/01/2011
A side note on the picture above: With Informix Warehouse Accelerator you are on the Fast Truck. This is no typo for "fast track", because with Informix Warehouse Accelerator you are not bound to fixed railway tracks layed out by someone else. Instead, with the Fast Truck you are determining where to go. In the depicted first version of the Fast Truck there are still some restrictions: it is advisable to stay on paved roads or highways. Offroad travel is not recommended so far. This is mainly due to technical details like the wheel base, clearance height, etc. We are working on them to gradually improve offroad mobility. In the meantime we'll try in this blog to give some useful insights, hints and tips that will help you to stay safely on the road, even at unprecedented high speeds.


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By Joanne Hashim, ChildFund Indonesia
Many parents and teachers use things they have handy to teach lessons to children. Maybe you've glued macaroni onto paper or made figurines out of bread dough. Perhaps you've pressed flowers in a book. In eastern Indonesia, the same kind of thing happens every day.
At an early childhood development (ECD) center in Sumba, Indonesia, which is supported by ChildFund, tutor Kristina made model fruit out of old newspapers and paint, resources she had nearby, so she could show her pupils, children ages 5 and under, what fruits look like.
"None of these things are difficult to make," she says. "They just take time, but you see around here, we have no choice. We cannot just talk all the time in class. Children need to be stimulated in their learning, and we need teaching aids that children are interested in and can relate to, so that they have a better understanding of the topic."
The ECD center in Sumba focuses plenty of attention on creating educational tools with locally available resources.
"A popular game is snakes and ladders made from cardboard and old books," says Gadriana, head of the center. "We also use big dice to teach numbers. This one is made from cardboard. The only cost is in the paint and plastic to protect them." Every day, children are allowed to choose the game they want to play and with whom they wish to play. As many as 10 children will line up to play "throw," which has game pieces made out of used newspaper and spare wood.
"Children love this game," says Gadriana. "It helps them judge distance and count. Children also love to play congkak, which is a traditional game of counting with the aim of filling the opponent's pots. The one that we use is made from egg cartons and seeds."
As children develop and get older, they need different educational resources.
"Each morning, before some of older children are allowed to play outside, they have to do two things," says Margaretha, a tutor. "The first is to place pictures of themselves on sticks on the class attendance poster to indicate their attendance at school. The second is to pick up a folded paper from inside a small rattan holder. On each sheet is written a number, or a simple calculation. Each child has to either work out the calculation or sound out the answer before they go and play outside. For this activity, different colored seeds and sticks are used. Children learn to count by touching the objects as they count.
"Having this activity before school enables the teacher to engage and develop a bond with each child while providing direct one-on-one support to the child," Margaretha notes. "It also provides the opportunity for children to work alone, with the teacher or in a group, as learning is seen as a communal activity. The other thing this activity does is provide structure and sense of routine to the day. With more than 30 children in each class, we have to manage children from the time they arrive."
Children also are surrounded by numbers and shapes in the form of pictures. "These learning resources are cheap and easy to make, so teachers and children feel more comfortable about using these resources," Kristina says, and they are kept where everyone has access to them. The children have to ask permission, but it is usually given. "With these resources, they get to play with a range of different educational toys, and we know that they are learning while enjoying being a child. I wish I had these when I was a child," she notes.
To keep everyone engaged in the learning process, we are always "developing new toys and learning resources. We sometimes have help from parents, but mostly it is the tutors who are working together," Gadriana says. "Currently, we are looking at developing math resources for older children that encourage them to work more by themselves over a period of time. We want them to extend their concentration more and develop their self-esteem. We want children to see that math can be fun."