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My name is Nfor Nwayuke Susungi. I was born on 31st August 1948 in the village of Tabenken in Nkambe Division (presently known as Donga & Mantung Division) of the former UN Trust Territory of British Southern Cameroons. Today December 5th 2010, I wish to solemnly declare that I am a candidate for the Presidential elections to be held in October 2011 in the Republic of Cameroon.
The question is where does a person of my obscure background come from to aspire to the Supreme Magistracy of the Republic of Cameroon? The simple answer is that the time has come for me to seek this office because I must heed a call that was made to me 50 years ago. I am ready and God's time is the best!
Our big brother was a first generation politician of the British Southern Cameroons who was elected to the Eastern House of Assembly in Enugu Nigeria in 1951 and was also elected to represent the British Southern Cameroons in the Federal Legislature in Lagos Nigeria in the same year. His name was John Takinang Ndze. After eight years of loyal services rendered to his people, he passed away in 1958 when I was only 10 years old. But what I did not know was that he had infected me with the political bug before dying.
When we sang the Cameroonian national anthem which begins with "O Cameroon thou cradle of our fathers" on 1st October 1961, I was a 13 year old primary school kid. But I knew and felt within me from that day that, one day, I would assume some important responsibility in this new country. We were told that at the moment of singing the Cameroonian national anthem on that day, we had become the citizens of a country known as "The Federal Republic of Cameroon". That day was called "Reunification Day". I believed it.
I did not know what that important responsibility would be, or when and how I would get to it. I have never been driven by personal political ambition in Cameroon; I merely felt a powerful pull towards something inevitable. As we enter the Golden Jubilee year of that landmark event of 1961, I feel that I am finally ready.
The presidential election is an important event in the Republic of Cameroon (as the country is called today), because the President of the Republic is a man who wields a lot of power. He has all the powers in his hands. Such powers can be used to do good; but history has shown that the accumulation of such powers, in the hands of one man, always leads to all kinds of abuses. When a single individual has exercised such power for 28 years continuously, that can compromise the future of a whole generation. Cameroon is not an exception to that rule. Indeed, disturbing signs are already visible everywhere.
It is because of the sensitivity of this event that constitutional changes were made to give the president a 7-year term of office, so that once elected, he can enjoy peace of mind for seven years. But in making this constitutional change, no one anticipated that a presidential election would one day have to be held in the month corresponding to the Golden Jubilee of Reunification. But divine providence intervened to make it so.
Consequently, as we celebrate the Golden Jubilee of Reunification in October 2011, the Cameroonian people must elect a new leader who will lead the Republic of Cameroon to a new future. I am running for the office of President because I am the Golden Jubilee candidate, by divine providence.
Knowing that one day I might take the fateful decision to run for the highest office in the land, I learned over the years to watch, observe and look askance at the political and economic and social situation in Cameroon. I have been able to make some interesting observations about the country.
· Do you know that the maximum security prison in Nkondengui is not the most dangerous prison in the Republic of Cameroon?
· Do you know that the most dangerous prison is the one whose walls are built around you by yourself?
· Do you know that the walls of these personal prisons consist of vague ideas which you easily accept without subjecting them to a serious stress test of validity?
· Do you know that most Cameroonians are going around inside their portable prison cells and have thrown away the keys?
· Do you know that, having thrown away their keys, it is now extremely difficult to free them from their prison cells?
· Do you know that these ideas out of which the prison walls are built generally originate from an environment of poverty and hardship where there is a constant scramble for scarce resources?
· Do you know that as your economic circumstances improve you will start attracting a different set of ideas which will begin to knock down these prison walls you built around yourself?
· Do you know that in 1960 Cameroon, Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana and Nigeria produced respectively 73,000 tons, 93,000 tons, 433,000 tons and 195,000 tons cocoa?
· Do you know that 50 years later, the cocoa production of Cote d'Ivoire is now at 1.33 million tons while that of Cameroon, Ghana and Nigeria are respectively at 200,000 tons, 590,000 tons and 185,000 tons of cocoa?
· Do you know that Cote d'Ivoire produces 365,000 tons of coffee while Cameroon only produces 70,000 tons;
· Do you know that Cote d'Ivoire produces 1,162,000 tons of rice while Cameroon only produces 62,000 tons?
· Do you know that Cameroon imports 500,000 tons of rice per year?
· Do you know that Cote d'Ivoire produces over 400,000 tones of raw palm oil while Cameroon does not produce up to 200,000 tons?
· Do you know that Cameroon imports 50,000 tons of palm oil per year?
· Do you know that Cote d'Ivoire produces 200,000 tons of rubber while Cameroon only produces 56,000 tons?
· Do you know that the land area of Cote d'Ivoire is 322.462 km² while that of Cameroon is 486,000 km²?
· Do you know that when Cameroon started producing oil in 1977 the government created an account known as "Compte hors Budget" into which oil revenues were kept and details were known only to the President of the Republic?
· Do you know that the National Assembly which passes the Finance Law each year did not know how much money there was in the Compte hors Budget?
· Do you know that Cameroon's oil reserves have been completely exhausted?
· Do you know that Nigeria's oil reserves are 43 billion barrels; Gabon's reserves are 2.5 billion barrels; Chad's reserves are 1.0 billion; Equatorial Guinea's reserves are 1.7 billion; Angola's reserves are 10 billion barrels; Congo Brazza's reserves are 1.6 billion barrels?
· Do you know that Cameroon is now the poor neighbor in the Central African region and in the Gulf of Guinea?
· Do you know that the reason why the member states of ECCAS don't want to allow the free movement of people within the community is because they fear being flooded by poor Cameroonians fleeing their country to look for greener pastures elsewhere?
· Do you know that the only countries in the world which allow visa free entry for Cameroonians is Nigeria and Mali, which are both in Ecowas?
· Do you know that since reunification only 7% of Cameroonian roads are paved?
· Do you know that the indigenes of Manyu Division, resident in Limbe and Douala have to travel through Bafoussam and Bamenda in order to get to Mamfe, as a result of the state of the Kumba Mamfe road?
· Do you know that in spite of their isolation, Manyu, Meme, Kupe Manenguba and Ndian Divisions always vote 100% in favor of the CPDM party in the hope that the Biya government will one day construct roads for them?
· Do you know that the Eastern province does not have even one single kilometer of tarred roads?
· Do you know that 31% of Nigerian roads, 65% of Tunisian roads, 56% of Moroccan roads, 18% of Ghanaian roads, 21% of South African roads and 78% of Malaysian roads are paved?
· Do you know that there are 13,514 people per doctor in Cameroon with more than 5,000 Cameroonian doctors working abroad and up to 600 in the United States alone?
· Do you know that because the doctors in Cameroon are clustered in towns and cities, rural areas are often left with one doctor for 40,000 inhabitants?
· Do you know that there are on the average 57 pupils per teacher in Cameroon, while there are only 22 for Tunisia, 36 for Gabon, 31 for Ghana and 19 for Malaysia?
· Do you know that in the city of Douala 80% of the 50,000 Bendskin motorcycle drivers have at least the BAC and 50% have university degrees?
· Do you know that according to an opinion survey conducted in the city of Yaoundé in 2007, 83% of young people aged 15-35 want to leave Cameroon?
· Do you know that most young Cameroonians who go to study abroad have no intention of coming back home?
· Do you know that Cameroon's GDP under President Paul Biya shrank from $12.5 billion in 1988 to $7.8 billion in 1994, meaning that the economy contracted by 38% in 6 years under President Paul Biya?
· Do you know that that is what economists call a depression?
· Do you know that in spite of that, President Paul Biya was massively "re-elected" to a 7-year term in October 1997 and massively "re-elected" to another 7-year term in 2004?
· Do you know that when President Paul Biya slashed public sector wages by 60% in 1993 the United States put US marines on standby alert because they were afraid that Cameroon was going to explode?
· Do you know that Cameroonians are under the grip of a mystique force which has completely hypnotized them to a deep sleep?
· Do you know that this mystique force is called alcohol?
· Do you know that in spite of the economic crisis and the poverty which is ravaging the country, Cameroon is still the highest importer and consumer of champagne in Africa?
· Do you know that the 320,000 bottles of champagne which the country imports every year are called "l'Eau de Bafoussam"?
· Do you know that the Cameroonian armed forces which will celebrate the silver jubilee of their creation in Bamenda, has over 21 generals in active service who are over 65 years of age and most of them are busy running their private businesses?
· Do you know that the corporate tax rate in Cameroon which stands at 38.5% is the highest on the African continent?
· Do you know that the Cameroonian National anthem says different things in English than it says in French?
· Do you know that the refrain in the English version talks about "Land of Promise, Land of Glory" why the French version talks about "Chère Patrie, Terre Chérie"?
· Do you know that when I sang "Land of Promise, Land of Glory" on 1st October 1961, I believed it?
· Do you know that I have a Cameroonian biometric passport while the widow of the late President of the Federal Republic of Cameroon whom I listened to when he delivered the reunification speech on 1st October 1961 has no Cameroonian passport?
· Do you know that all Cameroonians, without exception, are now deeply afraid for the future of the country?
So my brothers and sisters, I am a candidate for the Presidential elections of October 2011 because I realized that the country has not yet delivered the "glory" which was "promised" to me 50 years ago when I was 13 years old. Have I not been patient enough?
I decided to be a candidate because I do not believe that those who have been running the country are able to fulfill the promise made to us in 1961. I decided to go in search of this Promised Land myself because you should never make a promise to a 13 year-old child if you not intend to keep it.
In presenting myself as the Golden Jubilee candidate for the presidential elections in October 2011, I want to clarify that I did not wish to oppose Mr. Paul Biya who has been President of Cameroon since 1982, after being Prime Minister from 1972 to 1982. I simply want to succeed him as head of the country in order to channel the aspirations of a new generation of Cameroonians to other horizons.
President Biya has done his best for Cameroon and he cannot do more. President Paul Biya does not have the solutions to problems that will enable our children and grandchildren to celebrate together the centenary of independence and reunification in 2060/2061. I sincerely hope he does not make the mistake of running as a candidate to succeed himself. I sincerely hope he does not make the mistake of listening to the applause meter. Time for peaceful change has finally come. That's the real issue at stake in the presidential election of October 2011. This must be understood.
While many of our compatriots have chosen to flee the country for the reasons I have outlined above in order to seek greener pastures out of Cameroon by becoming British, American, Canadian, German or French citizens, I have decided that I must stay back and seek the promised glory in that land myself because I know that it is there somewhere waiting to be found.
I do not condemn my compatriots who are in Diaspora because I know how much they miss their families, how much they miss their country, how much they continue to support their families and how much they continue to militate for change in their home country.
For my part, I believe that the final battle for change requires physical presence on the ground in Cameroon. I concluded that the promised glory is there for anyone who wants to work hard to find it. This is a challenge which requires extraordinary political commitment. Together, we can transform Cameroon into a country which will no longer push its sons and daughters to flee for their lives.
I sat down and worked on a document called "The Newcam Prosperity Pact". The Newcam Prosperity Pact is a very ambitious set of economic, political and constitutional reforms which I intend to implement if the Cameroonian people decide to vote for me in the Presidential elections of 2011. I realized that I cannot come out of nowhere and expect people to vote for me without telling them what I shall do when I am elected.
I have also realized that corruption in government comes partly as a result of the fact that we tend to elect people to power without demanding to know from them what they intend to do when they get to power. We don't push politicians to do their homework before coming to ask for our votes. Consequently politicians get to power with absolutely no idea of what they will do when they get there.
They only make empty promises on the campaign trail: to build a dispensary here, a road there and to give a token appointment to one of your sons. Some politicians don't even bother to come out to campaign because they are already sure of being declared the winner. Once they get to power, they start scratching their heads for ideas. In the meantime, corruption takes control.
That is why Newcam Prosperity Pact is a very comprehensive programme which outlines what my government will be doing from day one. I want people to know that if I am elected, I shall take it that I have received the mandate of the people to do exactly what is contained in the Newcam Prosperity Pact. If I am elected, I shall introduce profound changes to the constitution within six months of my entry into office and the new constitution shall be adopted by referendum because the success of the economic programme of the Newcam Prosperity Pact is inextricably linked with the new constitution.
In coming to you with the Newcam Prosperity Pact, my intention is also to set a new standard in public accountability. From today, when a politician comes to ask for your votes, please demand that he should present you his economic programme. Stop being taken for a ride by frivolous politicians who cannot do anything for you.
In 1997 I was responsible for preparing and presenting to the Cameroonian people the economic platform of the SDF which was known as NESPROG. I gave the name NESPROG to this programme because I wanted a name which will always ring a bell in the minds of Cameroonians. It was the first time in Cameroonian history that a political party had ever attempted to present its economic platform to the nation.
NESPROG was an economic programme which had room for a lot of improvement; but it had the merit of opening the eyes of Cameroonian people to the disastrous economic management of the Biya government. It also generated a very healthy economic debate nation-wide. This has not happened again since then.
At that time Cameroon had just come out of the 6-year economic depression created by the spending spree of Biya government. Mr. President had just squandered everything which he found in the Compte Hors Budget. The country was heavily indebted and drowning.
Today Cameroon has benefited from the HIPCs programme of the IMF/World Bank which was concluded in May 2006. But oil reserves have run out. So the question is what is this country going to survive on in the years ahead? Where is Cameroon going to be in the next 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 years? Will Cameroon survive to celebrate the centenary of independence and reunification in 2060/61? No one can be sure about this.
Beyond the economic questions, there is also the also the issue of the foreign policy posture of Cameroon which has been characterized during the last 50 years by splendid isolation and diplomatic silence on the African and the international scene. Whenever the international community tried to take the diplomatic pulse of Cameroon, the country did not show signs of life. The country has always appeared to be diplomatically timid, mute and even indifferent towards its neighbors, including the closest. This posture has caused a deep prejudice to the interests of the Cameroonian nation. What do we intend to do in order to extricate Cameroon from this state of diplomatic autarchy?
The answers to these questions are provided in the Newcam Prosperity Pact. It shall be unveiled to the Cameroonian people, the media, the diplomatic corps, political parties and civil society organizations in Yaoundé on February 11, 2011. Cameroonians across the country understand why we have chosen this date to unveil our vision of the 3rd Republic of Cameroon.
Thereafter, the programme shall be successively presented to: (i) the students of the Buea University Center; (ii) the students of the Douala University Center; (iii) the students of the Dschang University Center; (iv) the students of the Ngaoundere University Center and (v) Municipal Councilors, Urban Councilors and traditional rulers from the Northwest and the Southwest in Bamenda. The issue in this presidential campaign shall be the future of our children and grandchildren. The presentations which I intend to make at the various university centers will enable the voices of our youth, which have been silenced and ignored for too long, to be heard.
I promise to make it a landmark event in Cameroonian history because the Newcam Prosperity Pact contains ideas which will not only shake up the whole country but will also impact on Cameroonians from Kousseri to Mouloundou and from Meiganga to Bakassi.
In unveiling the Newcam Prosperity Pact, our intention shall be to invite political parties to come together to form the Newcam Prosperity Group which will support the ideas embodied in the Newcam Prosperity Pact and also back the candidature of the Golden Jubilee Candidate. Membership of the Newcam Group shall be open to all political parties in Cameroon including the CPDM, SDF, UNDP, UPC, UDC, UFDC, LDA, AFP and indeed all political parties which are anxious to see a peaceful transition in Cameroon in 2011. However, those political parties which decide to propose their own candidates should better prepare their own economic programmes because the Cameroonian voters will demand to see their programmes before voting for anyone in 2011.
My brothers and sisters, fifty years after independence and 50 years after reunification, 20 million Cameroonians are all incarcerated in a prison worse than Nkondengui. The only difference is that each of us built the walls of the prison cell in which we are incarcerated and threw away the key. Independence did not bring us freedom and reunification did not bring us unity. This is very sad.
My brothers and sisters, the time has come for all of us to organize our collective escape from this prison. The roadmap to our freedom is contained in the Newcam Prosperity Pact. I am a candidate for the presidential election of October 2011 and for the succession of President Paul Biya because I believe that in terms of vision, my candidature will offer the voters the best choice at the polls in October 2011. Rendezvous on 11 February 2011 in Yaoundé.
© Copyright October 2010, Nfor N Susungi
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I'm super excited about 2018 and all that God has in store for the body of Christ!!
Recently I was releasing a spontaneous facebook live and the Lord gave me clarity on somethings that were going to happen in 2018. (If you want to hear that facebook live word go to my fan page "Keith Ferrante".) He said that those that have been persevering over the last 10 years concerning words God had spoken to them would see those words begin to come forth this year. He told me that this year would be the year of breakthrough and that there would be four levels to this breakthrough. The four levels were four three month cycles that would take us all the way to the end of the year.
1. The first three months would be the discovery of the new platform of influence for those that had contended for a greater breakthrough in their own lives and ministries over the last years.
2. The second three months would be the establishment of that platform.
3. The third three months would be where partners were found to help grow that new platform.
4. Finally, the last three months of the year would be the establishment of that new platform for the next ten years of growth and influence.
So God is promising an unfolding breakthrough in your life until that breakthrough to greater platform and influence becomes completely established.
That's exciting. I'm excited about that. I'm taking this word very personally. I'm pressing in to discover what this new platform is for me. Writing this blog is apart of my new platform. I'm stepping into getting my voice out there more so people's lives can be encouraged and impacted. What platform are you looking to step into? What have been the prophetic words of the last years that God has shown you? What are you going to do about those words? Are you going to just sit on them or are you going to lay hold of them until they become reality. The Lord promised that those who have persevered and stayed the course over the last years would be rewarded. The reward is the fulfillment of the prophetic words God spoke to you. He wants to reward you, but you have to keep pressing in.
One of the keys to pressing in is to keep your joy alive. Stay thankful! Rejoice in all that God is doing! He wants to reward you. Some of your platforms will be greater influence at your work. Others of you will start businesses that you've been pressing into for years. Others will find your voice and start strategically releasing what you have to say through media, books, cds, and every platform available to you.
God is looking for those whose hearts are fully devoted to him so he can strengthen them. Are you fully committed? He wants to strengthen you! This is your year! Don't give up now. I know some of you have fought so hard for so many years! Now is not the time to quit when you are so close. Who knows what you are going to see these next three months as you keep doing the same thing you were doing before. There comes a time when finally the resistance has to break. There is always reward! I'm so excited to see you find that reward. I'd love to hear about your new breakthroughs this year. I'm going to let you hear about mine too!
Much grace and favor on you as you press in to all the words God has spoken over you! He has a rich reward for you!!
(If this blog encouraged you I'd love you to comment below or share it with others!!)

subset: commoncrawl


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Snack Review
Taste test: When I spotted these potato chips in the supermarket, it brought to mind chips from Australia bearing the Red Rock Deli name with an identical logo, so I supposed that they were imported from Down Under. However, there was no reference to anything Australia on the bag, which seemed like something to emphasize if that were the case, or even if they weren't imported but were based on an Australian recipe.
It gets weirder. That Australian brand has long been owned by worldwide snack giant Frito-Lay/PepsiCo. But on the bag, there was no reference to Frito-Lay anywhere. The bag was found on a stand-up cardboard display bearing the Frito-Lay logo, but I've seen competing brands on the wrong display before, so that didn't seem definitive. On a whim, I Googled the street address shown for Red Rock Deli Company, and it came up as PepsiCo's corporate headquarters. And some more Googling revealed that the Red Rock Deli trademark is associated with Rare Fare Foods, another Frito-Lay company that they're using as cover for the Off the Eaten Path brand. So this is indeed a Frito-Lay snack — which they tried to obscure, with limited success — based on an Australian brand — which they chose not to emphasize, for unknown reasons.
As for the chips, they had wiggly shapes and a strong yellow color, plus a smattering of generally red seasoning on the surfaces. We crunched in to find that they were quite delicious, with a strong flavor that did indeed combine coconut and curry, to very positive effect. The combination of a tangy curry with a middling heat and cool coconut really worked well, and the crunchy potato chips served as a great platform for that flavor. Very tasty!
Shop: Buy potato chips on Amazon
Smell test: Intense smell, different from any other chips we've tried, but not particularly like coconut or curry.
From the package: "Red curry love is ... hot tempered cayenne pepper with laidback coconut flavor. It's a complex relationship but that's how to keep it spicy."
Online store: Buy potato chips on Amazon
Company: Red Rock Deli Company, LLC
Reviews of similar snacks:
This snack was discovered by Jeremy at Star Market (formerly Shaws, and Star Market again before that), Porter Square, Cambridge, Massachusetts. Review published .
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-Please visit the tryout registration page for more information.
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Photographer: Nick Urteaga (@Coastal_Flicks) – Canon 60D
Attire Details (make sure to click and check them out):
"Smart Style" Box: Ties.com
Sportcoat: J.Crew (Similar)
Dress Shirt: Cesar Renuan
Fish Hook Bracelet: Dowling Brothers
Time Piece: Timex Weekender
Footwear: Zara (Similar)
Happy #DapperMonday gents. This week I curated ties.com's "Smart Style" box with the patented WS paper flare. The Smart Style box consists of 4 items; a tie, tie bar, pocket square and socks to mix and match with your current wardrobe. Or, for the go big or go home types like myself, you can wear them all at once as I did in the pictures above. Once again, I played around with textures and patterns. First, note the grey wool sportcoat with the brown suede elbow patches designed to accentuate the complementary brown tie. Complementary brown tie or not, elbow patches are always a #holygrail type addition to any outfit. To top of the look, I went with the two toned striped socks with a contrast heel.
To mimic this look and get the best bang for your buck, check out ties.com and search "wallstreetpaper". Even if the Smart Style box is not for you (highly doubtful, I know), be sure to check out the rest of the dope menswear featured on ties.com. Let me know your favorite item of the "Smart Style" box and any of your #holygrail additions to an outfit in the comments section!
Thank you for reading and Let Your Voice Be Heard Below!!


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Life After StructuralBiology
Up in Arms About Structural Biology?
Computational biology is getting a significant part developing emerging technologies for the discipline of biology. It includes most of the aspects bioinformatics. Structural biology has quite a wide variety and is highly diversified. It is one of the developing fields. Molecular biology makes it possible for us to fully grasp the way the natural world works.
Biologists show great interest as they handle the determination of the purpose of macromolecules. Structural biologists generally apply these methods to ascertain the structures of identical molecules in a substantial quantity at one time. They use several key technologies to determine the three-dimensional structure of molecules and molecular assemblies information that offers insight into their role in cell behavior and the mechanisms that lead to disease. They are particularly interested in proteins because they do so much of the work in the body. Using various imaging strategies, scientists view molecules in three dimensions to observe how they're assembled, how they function, and the way they interact. They are now using powerful computer models to make molecular movies so they can see the full range of proteins in live action. So far, scientists have used these methods to unravel the structure of over 122,000 proteins.
There are various procedures of drug designing. It is commonly used in drug designing to determine new lead compounds. Drug designing is an inventive procedure of locating new medication depending on the target knowledge. It is most commonly a small molecule that inhibits or activates the function of a biomolecule, which in turn outcomes in a therapeutic benefit to the patient.
Structural Biology Secrets
The discipline of drug design and drug discovery was advanced. It is commonly used in medicinal field for a sort of genetic testing. Moreover, it is going to advance the area of preventive medicine and donate to the growth of customized therapies. The subject of view of digital images is smaller than film, so more have to be taken to find the same quantity of information. The main purpose of structural biology is to reach a comprehensive understanding about the cellular structure regarding the molecular mechanisms involved with the cellular processes. With the development of these databases, among the fantastic challenges remaining for molecular biologists is to correlate such sequences with the operation of the molecules they encode.
Structural Biology Secrets That No One Else Knows About
There are several different kinds of proteins. Each protein comprises an exceptional mixture of a couple of dozen to several thousands of amino acids. It's not an excellent method, since you waste a whole lot of protein, states Yifan Cheng at the University of California, San Francisco. Proteins are molecules which contribute to virtually every activity within the body. It's a comparatively dynamic protein, states Subramaniam.
Some proteins take part in biochemical reactions within the body that are termed as enzymes. It plays an important role in human body. Additionally, it contains proteins, that constitute the cytoskeleton. Proteins produced by the liver and sent into the bloodstream are an important part of the practice. It includes all the vital genes that are necessary for the controlling the cell. It's also utilised to study genomes and the proteins they encode. Next Generation sequencing ends in large quantities of long or short DNA reads requiring assembly process to create the entire genome sequence.
The Pain of Structural Biology
Impact, naturally, is tough to quantify. Inside this way you can obtain maximum benefit from this good prospect. Hybrid approaches make the most of data derived from a variety of rather different biochemical and biophysical strategies. His principal interest is the usage of computation to handle challenges in bio-NMR. It must be noted that these terms are frequently used loosely.
Listed here are some highlights. While in genomics, the practice focuses on the complete array of the way in which a genome is structured. It's very useful as it undertakes the a variety of processes like respiration and catabolic process that will assist in generating ATP. Knowing this dynamic system is crucial to unlocking how life works. It's a membrane-bound structure that includes the cells hereditary info. Determining structure of a protein has ever been tedious. It's an 800-kDa complex that could come together several various ways.
One of the most significant regions of interest is cancer research. Access to such beamlines is available through the overall user program. Information to aid you with this procedure can be found here. In addition, it provides information about their structural alterations and the way it affects their function. Do not be hesitant to get in touch with us if you don't locate the information that you're looking for on these pages. It is possible to also obtain additional information regarding animal rights. Hence, it's essential to research online and discover out correct information regarding the structure of animal cell.


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BioMed Research International
Volume 2018, Article ID 4810394, 10 pages
Monoamine Oxidase-A Inhibition and Associated Antioxidant Activity in Plant Extracts with Potential Antidepressant Actions
Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología de Alimentos y Nutrición (ICTAN), Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Juan de la Cierva 3, 28006 Madrid, Spain
Correspondence should be addressed to Tomás Herraiz; se.cisc.natci@ziarreht
Received 3 August 2017; Accepted 12 December 2017; Published 15 January 2018
Academic Editor: Pierluigi Di Ciccio
Copyright © 2018 Tomás Herraiz and Hugo Guillén. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Monoamine oxidase (MAO) catalyzes the oxidative deamination of amines and neurotransmitters and is involved in mood disorders, depression, oxidative stress, and adverse pharmacological reactions. This work studies the inhibition of human MAO-A by Hypericum perforatum, Peganum harmala, and Lepidium meyenii, which are reported to improve and affect mood and mental conditions. Subsequently, the antioxidant activity associated with the inhibition of MAO is determined in plant extracts for the first time. H. perforatum inhibited human MAO-A, and extracts from flowers gave the highest inhibition (IC50 of 63.6 μg/mL). Plant extracts were analyzed by HPLC-DAD-MS and contained pseudohypericin, hypericin, hyperforin, adhyperforin, hyperfirin, and flavonoids. Hyperforin did not inhibit human MAO-A and hypericin was a poor inhibitor of this isoenzyme. Quercetin and flavonoids significantly contributed to MAO-A inhibition. P. harmala seed extracts highly inhibited MAO-A (IC50 of 49.9 μg/L), being a thousand times more potent than H. perforatum extracts owing to its content of β-carboline alkaloids (harmaline and harmine). L. meyenii root (maca) extracts did not inhibit MAO-A. These plants may exert protective actions related to antioxidant effects. Results in this work show that P. harmala and H. perforatum extracts exhibit antioxidant activity associated with the inhibition of MAO (i.e., lower production of H2O2).
1. Introduction
The enzyme monoamine oxidase (MAO) metabolizes xenobiotic and endogenous amines and neurotransmitters including serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, tyramine, tryptamine, and the neurotoxin MPTP [1, 2]. It occurs as two isoenzymes, MAO-A and MAO-B, which play an important role in the central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral organs. MAO-B is involved in neurodegenerative diseases and MAO-A in psychiatric conditions and depression. Inhibitors of MAO-B are useful as neuroprotectants, whereas inhibitors of MAO-A are effective antidepressants although their use may trigger adverse reactions (e.g., hypertensive crisis with foods containing tyramine) [1]. On the other hand, the oxidation of biogenic amines and neurotransmitters by MAO enzymes generates hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), oxygen radicals, and aldehydes, which are risk factors for cell oxidative injury. Therefore, the inhibition of MAO may result in protection against oxidative stress and neurotoxins [1, 3, 4]. Recent investigations have pointed out that plant and food extracts may inhibit MAO enzymes resulting in the above-mentioned biological effects [3, 5–14]. On the other hand, as a result of MAO inhibition, those products might be involved in undesirable interactions with other herbal preparations, foods, or drugs [1].
Hypericum perforatum L. (family Hypericaceae) (St. John's wort) is widely used for health purposes and their products are commercially available as herbs, nutraceuticals, teas, tinctures, juices, oily macerates, phytopharmaceuticals, and food additives and supplements [15, 16]. H. perforatum is popular for treatment of mild and moderate depression [17–19]. It may trigger adverse pharmacological interactions with others herbs, drugs, or foods [20–22]. Its ability to alleviate and improve mood disorders and depression is attributed to active compounds that exhibit antidepressant properties [23, 24]. The most accepted mechanism of action is monoamine reuptake inhibition but additional mechanisms including monoamine oxidase inhibition and synergistic effects can be involved [17]. Peganum harmala (family Zygophyllaceae) and Lepidium meyenii (family Brassicaceae) (maca) are plants with CNS effects and potential antidepressant actions [14, 25, 26]. P. harmala, native from the Mediterranean region and Asia and extended to North America areas, is used as a multipurpose health remedy including CNS disorders. Preparations of this plant may trigger adverse pharmacological interactions [27]. L. meyenii is an edible plant from the central Andes whose roots are used as a food energizer and nutraceutical to improve physical and mental conditions and fertility [28]. The purpose of this work was to study the inhibition of human MAO-A by extracts of H. perforatum, P. harmala, and L. meyenii (maca) as well as by their active components that were identified and analyzed by HPLC-DAD-MS and subsequently evaluate the antioxidant activity which is specifically associated with the inhibition of MAO. This specific antioxidant activity is determined for the first time in plant extracts.
2. Materials and Methods
Hypericum perforatum L. plants collected in Ciudad Real (Spain) were dried and separated in parts: flowers; top aerial portions of the plant including branched stems and leaves but no flowers; and main stems (central and lower) and roots. They were ground and the powder used for sample preparation. Commercial herbs and herbal supplements (capsules and tablets) of H. perforatum were also purchased in local herbal shops. Peganum harmala L. plant and seeds were collected in Toledo (Spain). Lepidium meyenii (maca) both as powder and commercial tablets were obtained from Peru and local shops. Hypericin standard (>95% purity by HPLC) from HWI Analytik GMBH pharma solutions, hyperforin dicyclohexylammonium salt, quercetin, harmaline, harmine, catalase, clorgyline, 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB), and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) type II were purchased from Sigma-Aldrich.
2.1. Sample Preparation of Plant Extracts
Samples containing H. perforatum (i.e., plant parts, herbal preparation, capsules, or tablets) (500 mg) were homogenized in 10 mL of water/methanol (1 : 1) by using an Ultra Turrax homogenizer, centrifuged at 10000 rpm for 10 min, and the supernatant was collected. The process was repeated twice with the residue and the three supernatant fractions collected, mixed and analyzed by HPLC as mentioned below. After three consecutive extractions, the recoveries of hypericin and pseudohypericin were higher than 97%. Samples of L. meyenii (maca) (500 mg) and P. harmala seeds (500 mg) were homogenized, respectively, in 10 mL of water/methanol (1 : 1) or 10 mL of 0.6 M perchloric acid : methanol (1 : 1) by using an Ultra Turrax homogenizer, centrifuged at 10000 rpm for 10 min, and the supernatant was collected. This process was repeated twice with the residue and the collected supernatants were mixed and analyzed by HPLC as mentioned below.
2.2. RP-HPLC Analysis of Plant Extracts
The analysis of H. perforatum extracts was performed by RP-HPLC with UV diode array and fluorescence detection using a HPLC 1050 (Agilent) coupled with a 1100 diode array detector (DAD) (Agilent) and a 1046A-fluorescence detector. A 150 3.9 mm i.d., 4 μm, Nova-pak C18 column (Waters) was used for separation. Chromatographic conditions were 50 mM ammonium phosphate buffer (pH 3) (buffer A) and 20% of A in acetonitrile (buffer B). The gradient was programmed from 0% (100% A) to 32% B in 8 min and 100% B at 10 min. The flow rate was 1 mL/min, the column temperature was 40°C, and the injection volume was 20 μL. Detection of hypericins was carried out by absorbance at 590 nm and fluorescence at 236 nm for excitation and 592 nm for emission. The concentration of hypericin was determined from a calibration curve of response (absorbance at 590 nm) versus concentration with solutions made in the laboratory from hypericin standard. The same response factor was applied to pseudohypericin, protohypericin, and protopseudohypericin. Flavonoids and flavonoid glycosides were analyzed at 265 nm and 355 nm and the concentration of quercetin was determined at 355 nm from a calibration curve of response versus concentration. The HPLC fraction corresponding to flavonoids and flavonoid glycosides (7 to 11 min) was collected by successive injections of H. perforatum extract (herbs) and, after evaporation in vacuum, dissolved in 30% methanol and used for MAO-A inhibition. The phloroglucinols (hyperforin, adhyperforin, hyperfirin, and adhyperfirin) were analyzed at 280 nm by using the same column (Nova-pak C18) and conditions but under isocratic elution with 20% of 50 mM ammonium phosphate buffer, pH 3, and 80% of acetonitrile. The concentration of these compounds was determined from a calibration curve of hyperforin standard. The analysis of β-carboline alkaloids in P. harmala and L. meyenii was carried out as previously described [14, 29].
2.3. Identification by HPLC-ESI-Mass Spectrometry
Identification of compounds in H. perforatum extracts was done by HPLC-MS (electrospray-negative ion mode) by using a 1200 series HPLC-DAD coupled to a 6110 quadrupole-MS (Agilent). Chromatographic separation was performed on a 150 2.1 mm i.d. Zorbax SB-C18 (5 μm) column (Agilent Technologies). The chromatographic conditions were eluent A: formic acid (0.1%); B: formic acid (0.1%) in acetonitrile; gradient: 0% to 70% B in 8 min and 100% B at 10 min, flow rate: 0.3 mL/min; : 40°C; mass range: 50–700 u, and cone voltage: 150 V. For identification of phloroglucinols (e.g., hyperforin), separation was done using a Nova-pak C18 (4 μm) column with the same eluents and isocratic elution (eluent A, 20% and eluent B, 80%) at a flow rate of 0.7 mL/min and mass spectra recorded in negative and positive ionization. Identification of compounds was done on the basis of mass spectra, UV-vis spectra (DAD) of chromatographic peaks, and coelution with standards. β-Carbolines in P. harmala and L. meyenii were identified as previously described [14, 29].
2.4. Monoamine Oxidase (MAO-A) Inhibition Assays
MAO assays were performed as elsewhere [8, 11, 14]. Briefly, membrane protein fractions containing MAO-A (BD-Gentest) were diluted to the desired concentrations in 100 mM potassium phosphate buffer (pH 7.4). A 0.2 mL reaction mixture containing 0.01 mg/mL protein and 0.25 mM kynuramine in 100 mM potassium phosphate (pH 7.4) was incubated at 37°C for 40 min. After incubation, the reaction was stopped by the addition of 2 N NaOH (75 μL), followed by the addition of 70% HClO4 (25 μL), and the sample was centrifuged (10000) for 10 min. The supernatant (20 μL) was injected into the HPLC and the deamination product of kynuramine (i.e., 4-hydroxyquinoline) formed during enzymatic reaction determined by RP-HPLC-diode array detection at 320 nm. A response curve of area versus concentration was constructed to calculate the concentration of 4-hydroxyquinoline. In order to perform assays of MAO inhibition, aliquots of extracts from plants or commercial preparations or instead pure compounds were conveniently diluted and added to reaction mixtures containing kynuramine (0.25 mM) and MAO-A (0.01 mg/mL protein) in 100 mM potassium phosphate buffer (pH 7.4), with enzymatic reaction and analysis carried out as above, and compared with the corresponding controls containing solvent. The standard inhibitor clorgyline was used as a positive control for inhibition (>90% inhibition at 2.5 μM). Incubations were carried out at least in duplicate from different experiments and the IC50 values were calculated using GraphPad Prism 4.0.
2.5. Determination of Antioxidant Activity Associated with Monoamine Oxidase (MAO) Inhibition
Assays (0.2 mL) of reaction mixtures in 70 mM potassium phosphate buffer (pH 7.4), containing 0.025 mg/mL MAO-A protein and 0.25 mM kynuramine, were incubated at 37°C for 40 min in the absence (control assays) or in the presence of plant extracts. MAO assays were also performed in presence of clorgyline (25 μM), a classical inhibitor of MAO-A (positive control of inhibition), or catalase enzyme (100 μg/mL). After the incubation period, the reaction mixture was added with activated charcoal (3.5 mg), mixed, and filtered (0.45 μm). The solution was added with 20 μL of 10 mM tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) in 40% DMSO and 20 μL of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) type II (1 mg/mL), kept 5 min, and added with 0.3 mL of 0.5 M H2SO4 solution. The absorbance at 450 nm was measured to determine TMB diimine, a yellow product resulting from the oxidation of TMB by HRP and the H2O2 generated in the oxidative deamination catalyzed by MAO. The oxidation of TMB in the presence of inhibitors of MAO was compared with the corresponding controls without inhibitors and appropriate blanks showed absence of interferences.
3. Results and Discussion
Commercial preparations of H. perforatum inhibited human MAO-A with similar potency: IC50 values of 142.3 ± 30.6 μg/mL (herbal preparation), 193 ± 61 μg/mL (capsules), and 173 ± 29 μg/mL (tablets) (Figure 1(a)). Regarding plants, H. perforatum extracts from flowers afforded the highest inhibition (IC50 of 63.6 ± 9.4 μg/mL) followed by aerial stems and leaves (IC50 143.6 ± 16.5 μg/mL), and the lowest in root extracts (Figure 1(b)). Extracts from the aerial parts of H. perforatum were analyzed by HPLC-DAD-ESI (electrospray-negative ionization). They showed the presence of two major naphthodianthrones identified as pseudohypericin and hypericin (Figure 2(a) and Table 1). Flower extracts had two additional compounds identified as protopseudohypericin and protohypericin. Phenolics and flavonoids abounded in H. perforatum extracts (Figure 2(b)). Chlorogenic acid and the quercetin glycosides rutin, hyperoside, isoquercitrin, miquelianin, acetyl hyperoside, and quercitrin, as well as free quercetin and biapigenin, were identified by HPLC-DAD (ESI negative ionization) and DAD (Table 1). On the other hand, flower extracts contained four phloroglucinols (Figure 2(c)) that were identified by HPLC-DAD-MS (ESI negative and positive ionization) and DAD as hyperforin, adhyperforin, hyperfirin, and adhyperfirin (Table 1). The presence of these compounds (Figure 3) in the plant agrees with other results [15, 30, 31]. The content of the main components was determined by HPLC (Table 2). Concentration of pseudohypericin was higher than hypericin, whereas protopseudohypericin and protohypericin were minor compounds (0.4 μg/mg of protopseudohypericin and 0.17 µg/mg of protohypericin were detected in flowers). In the plant, the highest content of hypericins was found in flowers with significantly low levels detected in stems and absence in roots. Hyperforin was highly abundant in flowers (27.2 μg/mg), whereas the concentration in commercial preparations ranged from 0.36 to 2.4 μg/mg. In flowers, adhyperforin (1.4 ± 0.07 μg/mg), hyperfirin (4.2 ± 0.02 μg/mg), and adhyperfirin (0.46 ± 0.02 μg/mg) also appeared. Flavonoids abounded in H. perforatum and most of them were quercetin glycosides (Figure 2(b)) whose presence was significantly higher in flowers than in other parts of the plant. The content of free quercetin in flowers was 2.0 μg/mg, whereas a content of 6.7 μg/mg was determined in commercial preparations.
The inhibition of MAO-A by H. perforatum extracts indicates occurrence of inhibitors. Hypericins, hyperforin, and flavonoids are possible contributors to this inhibition and were evaluated as inhibitors (Figure 4). Hypericin inhibited MAO-A (IC50 of 35.5 ± 2.1 μM or 17.9 μg/mL) (Figure 4(a)). From the concentration in Table 2, hypericin is a weak contributor to MAO inhibition in H. perforatum extracts. Indeed, the calculated content of hypericin at IC50 value in assays of flower extract (i.e., 63.6 μg/mL) was 0.1 μg/mL which is low compared with IC50 of hypericin (17.9 μg/mL). Hyperforin did not inhibit MAO-A (Figure 4(b)). Quercetin inhibited human MAO-A (Figure 4(b)) with an IC50 value of 11.1 ± 0.8 μM (i.e., 3.36 μg/mL). Then, quercetin was a better inhibitor than hypericin although its potency was still low to explain entire inhibition of extracts. Thus, the calculated content of quercetin at IC50 in assays of flower extract was 0.13 μg/mL which is lower than the IC50 of quercetin (3.4 μg/mL). When the fraction corresponding to quercetin glycosides and flavonoids (7–11 min, Figure 2(b)) was collected by RP-HPLC, it inhibited MAO-A (90% inhibition at 700 μg/mL extract) indicating a contribution of these compounds to MAO inhibition in H. perforatum, probably by additive effects. Then, inhibition of MAO-A could arise from components such as quercetin and related flavonoids (i.e., quercetin glycosides) which are abundant in the plant. In addition, minor compounds not identified here could also contribute to MAO inhibition as major compounds in Table 2 do not explain whole inhibition.
Extracts from P. harmala seeds highly inhibited human MAO-A (Figure 5(a)) affording an IC50 value of 49.9 ± 5.6 μg/L. Chromatographic analysis indicated that inhibition was due to the presence of the β-carboline alkaloids, harmaline and harmine, that were identified by HPLC-DAD-MS (Figure 5(c)). The content of these alkaloids determined in seeds was 48.5 mg/g for harmaline and 40.0 mg/g for harmine (this means 2.4 ng/mL and 2.0 ng/mL, resp., into assays at the IC50). Therefore, the inhibition potency of MAO-A by P. harmala seeds was 1274 times more potent than that of H. perforatum flowers. As shown in Figure 5(b), Lepidium meyenii root extracts did not inhibit human MAO-A. L. meyenii (maca) is a popular plant from the Andes highlands whose roots are increasingly used for its nutritional and medicinal properties as energizing and to improve mood and sexual performance [28, 32]. Previous reports have indicated that they contain alkaloids including β-carbolines [25, 26] that might inhibit MAO. Analysis of extracts for β-carboline alkaloids gave 25 μg/g (maca powder) and 11.7 μg/g (capsules) of 1-methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-β-carboline-3-carboxylic acid as a major compound. This specific β-carboline is not an inhibitor of MAO-A [8, 11].
MAO generates hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) that is involved in oxidative cell damage and pathological conditions [1, 3, 4, 33–36]. Then, the inhibition of MAO may result in specific antioxidant actions [37]. In order to study the antioxidant activity associated with MAO inhibition, experiments were designed in this research which linked the activity of MAO-A with the oxidation of tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) by horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and the H2O2 produced during oxidative deamination catalyzed by MAO (Figure 6). H. perforatum and P. harmala extracts which inhibited MAO-A as shown above highly decreased oxidation of TMB. In contrast, L. meyenii root (maca) extracts that did not inhibit MAO had a low antioxidant activity in this assay. Clorgyline which is a potent inhibitor of MAO-A highly decreased the oxidation of TMB when used as a control. The same happened with the presence of catalase in the media that removes H2O2 generated by MAO-A. Therefore, these results indicate that H. perforatum and P. harmala extracts afforded specific antioxidant actions associated with a lower production of H2O2 by inhibition of MAO.
H. perforatum improves mood disorders and depression [17, 18, 38]. As shown here, it contains compounds such as hyperforin, hypericins, and flavonoids responsible for antidepressant effects (Figure 2 and Table 2). However, the specific mechanism for antidepressant action is not completely understood. The most accepted mechanism is inhibition of monoamine reuptake [23, 24, 39, 40]. However, some studies suggest a combination of mechanisms and synergistic effects [17, 41]. P. harmala exerts numerous biological and pharmacological actions. Their seeds are increasingly used for recreational purposes owing to their psychoactive and neuroactive effects [14]. The inhibition of human MAO-A is an established mechanism for antidepressant action [1]. Both irreversible and reversible inhibitors of MAO-A (e.g., phenelzine and moclobemide) are successfully used as antidepressants. In this study, H. perforatum extracts inhibited human MAO-A. However, this inhibition was moderate. It was more than one thousand times lower than that of P. harmala seed extracts. Sacher et al. have reported that the occupancy of MAO-A sites into the human brain determined by PET imaging with 11C-harmine binding (i.e., the same β-carboline responsible for MAO inhibition in P. harmala) was high for a reversible inhibitor of MAO such as moclobemide but low for H. perforatum extract (St. John's wort) [42]. This means that the inhibitors of MAO-A in H. perforatum do not bind efficiently to active sites of MAO-A in the brain in contrast to the β-carboline harmine. The inhibitors of MAO-A in H. perforatum are flavonoids such as quercetin and their glycosides and the levels of these compounds that reach the brain might not be enough to occupy the sites of MAO-A in the brain and inhibit the enzyme [43]. In contrast, the inhibitors of P. harmala are β-carboline alkaloids including harmine and harmaline which have a very good brain penetration, bind with high affinity to MAO sites, and exhibit antidepressant effects [44–46]. Therefore, P. harmala could afford antidepressant effects by MAO inhibition. In this regard, it could be of interest to investigate the antidepressant effects of H. perforatum and P. harmala alone and in combination as they have different mechanisms of action.
The inhibition of MAO-A by H. perforatum and P. harmala extracts may contribute to other biological effects of these plants such as antioxidant actions and adverse pharmacological reactions. Extracts of these plants exert neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory effects which have been related to antioxidant activity [6, 9, 47–50]. In this regard by using a new procedure, results in this work have evidenced that H. perforatum and P. harmala extracts show antioxidant activity associated with the inhibition of MAO (lower production of H2O2). On the other hand, one of the major limitations to the use of these plants is their potential for producing adverse interactions with other herbs, foods, and drugs [17, 20, 21, 27]. The inhibition of MAO-A may trigger adverse effects under certain circumstances [1, 14].
4. Conclusions
Extracts from H. perforatum inhibited human MAO-A, and extracts from flowers were the most potent inhibitors. They were studied by HPLC-DAD-MS and contained pseudohypericin, hypericin, hyperforin, adhyperforin, hyperfirin, and flavonoids. The highest content of these compounds appeared in flowers. Hypericin was a weak inhibitor of MAO-A; hyperforin did not inhibit the enzyme and quercetin was a moderate inhibitor. The fraction of quercetin glycosides and flavonoids contributed to MAO inhibition. P. harmala seed extracts highly inhibited MAO-A and its potency of inhibition was more than a thousand times higher than H. perforatum extracts owing to its content in harmaline and harmine alkaloids. L. meyenii root (maca) extracts did not inhibit MAO-A. The inhibition of MAO-A may not explain the entire CNS effects attributed to H. perforatum but it is expected to contribute to these actions in P. harmala. These plants exert antioxidant effects. By using a new method this work have evidenced that P. harmala and H. perforatum extracts exhibit antioxidant activity associated with the inhibition of MAO.
Conflicts of Interest
The authors declare no competing financial interest.
The authors are grateful to MINECO-FEDER (SAF2015-66690-R and SAF2015-68580-C2-R) and CSIC (Spain) (Project 200470E658) for supporting this work. The authors are grateful also to Marta Aguilar Preiss for technical assistance and to Dr. V. Arán for helping with plant identification and selection.
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Toast Overview:
We are a rapidly growing company that's revolutionizing the way the restaurant industry does business by pairing technology with an unrivaled commitment to customer success. We help restaurants streamline operations, increase revenue, and deliver amazing guest experiences through our platform that combines restaurant point of sale, guest-facing technology, and award-winning customer support. As a Toaster, you will be challenged to take on meaningful projects that will help shape the future of the company. Join us as we empower the restaurant community to delight guests, do what they love, and thrive.
Job Overview:
We're seeking a Director of Financial Services Operations to help support our rapid growth. The Director will be tasked with scaling Toast's equipment financing business, with general management responsibilities spanning customer journey design and optimization, risk management infrastructure development, strategic planning and analysis, and hiring and enablement. This is a unique opportunity to take on an operational leadership role at one of the fastest growing SaaS companies of all-time, with the ability to create significant enterprise value by building the infrastructure to support over $1 billion in equipment finance loan origination over the next several years.
What you will do:
- Act as the program owner and advocate, driving cross-functional execution
- Lead and scale operations team (currently a team of 8 and growing)
- Partner with Toast's leadership team to set the long-term equipment financing strategy, and project manage large-scale workstreams to execute against that strategy
- Partner with go-to-market and customer success organizations to design and implement a seamless customer journey that drives customer engagement
- Establish an underwriting and risk management infrastructure by leveraging best-in-class tools
- Define and analyze SLAs and KPIs to monitor performance and identify opportunities for growth and efficiency
Do you have the right ingredients?
- Bachelor's degree
- 8+ years of experience in operations or financial services
- Proven ability to build, manage and develop teams
- Exceptional strategic, analytical, communication and problem-solving skills, with the ability to operate at all organization levels
- An ability to drive projects cross-functionally, synthesize feedback, develop consensus and create structure in an unstructured environment
Bonus ingredients:
- Captive finance experience
- Product management experience


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The Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC) has sanctioned Toronto advisor Graeme Robert Kirkland with a fine of $90,000.
In an announcement issued Jan. 11, IIROC says Kirkland has admitted that he failed to consider and address a potential material conflict of interest between himself and his clients that resulted from his recommendations and purchases of securities in new issues that were offered for sale by his employer. He then did not escalate a client's written complaint to his employer.
In addition to the fine, Kirkland will have to pay $10,000 in costs. To learn more, the settlement agreement can be consulted on IIROC's website.


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- Position
- PhD candidate
- Institute
- Vrije Universiteit
I am a PhD candidate working in the lab of Prof. Dr. Serge Dumoulin at the Spinoza Centre of Neuroimaging and the Vrije Universiteit (VU) Amsterdam. Within my research, I aim to develop predictive models of human neuronal populations in visual cortex, by using an advanced technique known as population receptive field mapping (pRF). In addition, my focus lies on developing novel research paradigms, combined with statistical analyses. My research interests contain optical illusions, perceptual learning, the benefits of playing action video games, and body ownership within Virtual Reality. During my work and academic education, I have obtained a background in Experimental Psychology, Computer Science, Education, and Serious Game Research.


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The AMA/NATC Texas National MotoTrial was featured in a great write-up in Cycle News. Our 'local boys' are all featured quite prominently, and the duel between Webb and Smage makes for some good drama.Amazing photos, great article. You definitely ought to check it out. Thanks to Brad Hannon for the link. Does anything get by this guy??
Also, if you are an iPhone, iPod Touch, or iPad guy, you gotta get the Cycle News App!
MotoTrials coverage, right on your phone. Is this a great world or what?


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What's the first image that comes to mind when you think of Spain? Blue skies? Beaches? Flamenco? Bullfighting? Paella? If you Google 'Spain' in images, actually the photos are predominantly of fantastic architecture and little white houses cascading down mountainsides. These are the pueblos blancos (white villages) and their strategically-defensive hill-top positions, narrow cobbled streets and brilliantly-white casas reflecting back the bright Andalusian sunshine make for interesting and picturesque places to visit. Here are five of our favourites within a short drive from your base at La Cazalla, our secluded luxury villa rental in Ronda:
1. Setenil de las Bodegas
A 30 minute drive from Ronda is the curious white village of Setenil de las Bodegas - a small town with a population of around 3,000 inhabitants. Curious, because most pueblos blancos were built on protective bluffs and pinnacles, yet this town interestingly grew out of a network of caves in the cliffs above the River Trejo. The bright white houses shelter inside the cooling rock cliffs of the river, integrating the rock as walls and roofs, with the result resembling a Lord of the Rings-style town for mountain dwellers.
There has been a human settlement here since at least the Arabic Almohad period in the 12th century. Given the evidence of other nearby cave-dwelling societies, such as those at the Cueva de la Pileta, where habitation has been tracked back more than 25,000 years, it is possible that Setenil was occupied much much earlier. Although most evidence of this would have been erased during its continued habitation, it was certainly occupied during the Roman invasion of the region in the first century AD.
Setenil de las Bodegas was named during the 15th century for its extensive vineyards, but sadly these were wiped out by the phylloxera insect infestation of the 1860s, which effectively destroyed most European vine stocks. Almond trees and olive groves (some on the roofs of houses!) surround the village, which also has a reputation for its meat products, particularly chorizo sausage and cerdo (pork) from pigs bred in the surrounding hills. Setenil's productive outlying farms provide Ronda and other local towns with much of their fruit and vegetables, and their fine pasteles (pastries) are renowned. Factor in time to enjoy the bars and restaurants on the Calle Cuevas del Sol with the cliff looming overhead, as they are rumoured to be among the best in the region.
For an interesting and picturesque day of exploration, we recommend driving to Setenil via Arriate and La Cimada, exploring the narrow Calle de las Cuevas de la Sombra (the caves of the shade) with their charming nooks and corners, bar-hopping for tapas along the Calle de las Cuevas del Sol (the caves of the sun), and then returning to Ronda via the magnificent Roman ruins of first-century AD Acinipo.
2. Zahara de la Sierra
Zahara de la Sierra has to be one of the most picturesque villages in Andalusia. Just under an hour's drive from La Cazalla de Ronda, the approach to the town across the reservoir with the 13th century castle outlined in front of you against the blue sky will take your breath away.
Zahara was an important Moorish outpost and part of a complex network of watchtowers and fortresses that were visually linked to each other and ran the entire border of the Muslim Kingdom. Zahara was continually on the front line of the conquests and reconquests that took place between 1407 and 1483. Parts of the 13th century Nasrid Castle and lookout tower (the Torre del Homenaje) remain, and it is well worth the walk up there to enjoy the spectacular views of the surrounding countryside, even if there's not much left of the castle itself.
We recommend starting out early for your visit to the village to make the steep climb up to the castle before the day becomes too hot. You can then spend a couple of hours wandering the undulating streets of the town and admiring the 17th century Santa María de la Mesa Church, the 19th century San Juan de Letrán Chapel, the 16th century Torre del Reloj (Clock Tower) and the Roman Palominos Bridge, before stopping for lunch. The centre of the village was declared a Patrimony of Humanity by UNESCO in 1977 and an Historical-Artistic Centre (Conjunto-Histórico) in 1983.
After lunch, enjoy a refreshing dip in the cooling waters of the spring-fed miniature lake and spend the afternoon relaxing on the little beach (la playita) at the Arroyomolinos Recreational Area. It's also a great place to keep the kids entertained, as there are lifeguards, six hectares of lush gardens with barbecue pits and a cafe-bar/restaurant, and a treetop adventure park with ziplines, swinging bridges and a climbing wall. The recreational area is only open from mid-June until mid-September and costs between 3.00-4.50 €, depending on the day of the week (weekends are very popular). Check their website before you go, as sometimes the area is closed all day for cleaning.
3. Olvera
Home to around 8,585 people, magnificent Olvera is an hour's drive from La Cazalla de Ronda. Dramatically situated on top of a mountain, with a large, well-preserved Moorish castle, Olvera can easily be spotted from far away. The hills surrounding this white town are full of olive groves that are said to provide the best extraction of olive oils in Andalusia, and in recent years it has received the award of the "Denominación de Origen de la Sierra de Cádiz". A bandit refuge until the mid-19th century (there is even a famous Andaluz saying: "Kill your man and flee to Olvera!"), the town now supports more family-run farming cooperatives than anywhere else in Spain.
The main monument of this city is itself, exemplified by the phrase "Olvera is a street, a church and a castle, BUT what a street, what a church and what a castle!". Olvera was declared "A Protected Area of Artistic and Historical Importance" in 1983. As there is plenty of parking below the busy town centre, we recommend leaving your car and heading directly up to the church and castle, then meandering back through the winding streets with their pretty plazas, restaurants and bars later in the day.
The impressive Olvera Castle was built by the Moors during the late 12th/early 13th centuries to defend the border of the Nasrid Emirate of Granada against the Kingdom of Castile, and the medieval town of Olvera grew up around it. It was taken by the King of Castile in 1327 and completely rebuilt into the castle we see today. It has an irregular plan adapted to the shape of the cliff, resembling an elongated triangle, and the rectangular keep has two storeys covered by a barrel vaulted ceiling. The castle is also equipped with a gateway protected by a barbican, curtain walls with a parapet walkway and turrets, a subterranean enclosure and two cisterns.
The castle is closed on Mondays, but open from Tuesday to Sunday from 10:30-14:00 and 16:00-18:00(winter)/19:00(summer). Entry is just 2.00 €.
Separating the castle from the neoclassical church - La Parroquia de Nuestra Señora de la Encarnación (the Parish of Our Lady of the Incarnation) - is a pretty plaza with shaded areas and stunning views. There's also a modern art sculpture dedicated to those that fell during the Spanish Civil War with the inscription: "It is the homage to the Olvereños and Olvereñas who lost their lives by unreason and madness. Burying the resentment, Olvera recovers the names and the victims of the Civil War renewing the commitment with a peaceful and democratic coexistence. - 'Witness of Time'". Incidentally, La Cazalla's private entrance has a piece by the same artist as it's name plate.
The church was built by the order of the Duke of Osuña in 1822 on the foundations of a small gothic/mudéjar-stlye church, which in turn was built on the foundations of an Arabic mosque. The work was finished in 1843, culminating in one of the greatest churches of the province, with dimensions worthy of cathedral. In 1936 republican revolutionaries burnt some of the icons and images along with the interior during the Spanish Civil War. In the interior are several frescos, stained glass windows of great value and images of the different phases of the death of Christ, among them a Crucified Christ from the 16th century discovered in the cellars of the building.
4. Grazalema
Located in a high valley at over 800m altitude and dominated by the magnificent rocky outcrop known as Peñon Grande, the pretty mountain village of Grazalema is situated within the Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park - a stunning region of natural beauty popular with hikers. The park is a vast protected area of rugged limestone mountains, which are famous for being the rainiest place in Spain, accounting for the verdant vegetation in the surrounding countryside.
The limestone peaks of 1,500m around Grazalema are the first barriers that clouds from the Atlantic meet, causing this plentiful rainfall. A unique microclimate has developed where a wide range of flora flourishes, such as the rare Spanish fir (pinsapo) that grows in the Sierra de Pinar close to Grazalema.
Grazalema is a lively village whose population of 2,250 swells hugely with the influx of visitors to the park. Its steep, cobbled streets are immaculately kept and are lined by whitewashed houses with windows covered by wrought-iron rejas and plant pots spilling over with colourful flowers.
In the heart of the village is an attractive main square, the Plaza de España, lined with bars and restaurants. On this square is Grazalema's most popular attraction: the 18th-century church of La Aurora, together with the village hall (ayuntamiento) and the parish church (the Iglesia de la Encarnación). Up Calle Mateos Gago from the square is the 17th-century Iglesia de San José, a former Carmelite convent with paintings by a disciple of Murillo. Close to the church is a viewpoint that looks out over the village.
Berber settlers introduced sheep to the area for the purpose of wool production, and Grazalema has vestiges of this industry today. There is one workshop still in operation making woollen blankets (we have some at La Cazalla, and very snuggly they are too!), rugs, ponchos and scarves, which are exported all over the world. Visit the Artesanía-Textil de Grazalema (tel: 956 132 008), a workshop on the Ronda road where you can see looms and carding machines and buy blankets and other textiles in the shop. Other locally produced handicrafts include baskets and leatherwork, and don't forget to sample their delicious honey!
5. Arcos de la Frontera
One of Andalusia's most dramatically positioned pueblos blancos, Arcos de la Frontera balances atop a rocky limestone ridge, its whitewashed houses and stone castle walls stopping abruptly as a sheer cliff face plunges down to the fertile valley of the river Guadalete below.
Declared a national historic-artistic monument in 1962 in recognition of its exceptional architecture and impressive location, the old town is a tangled labyrinth of cobbled streets that lead up to a sandstone castle, the Castillo de los Arcos. As you'd expect from such a spectacular vantage point, there are exhilarating views over the town and the rolling plain below.
Arcos has a long history of human habitation, with evidence that Stone Age cave-dwellers used the rocks to form living chambers and the existence of Roman ruins in the area. The town became an independent Moorish taifa in 1011 during the protracted collapse of the Umayyad Caliphate of Córdoba. The region was overtaken by the Almoravid dynasty in 1091 and then from 1145 to 1147 was briefly a taifa under dependency of Granada, led by Abu'l-Qasim Ahyal. King Alfonso X 'the Wise' of Castile (1252–1284) finally expelled the Moors and constructed the Gothic cathedral that remains on its high ridge.
Right in the centre of town is the Plaza del Cabildo where some of the most notable buildings in the city are concentrated, such as the Town Hall and the Ducal Castle - a Muslim fortress rebuilt in the 15th century. Opposite those stands the Parador de Turismo in the old Casa del Corregidor. Whitewashed walls, grilles and tiles are some of the characteristic features of the building, whose typical Andalusian architecture is perfectly integrated into the houses of Arcos. Be sure to go to one of the many viewpoints in the area before leaving the square, as they offer an impressive panorama of the surrounding area.
The horticulture of Arcos provides excellent vegetables and pulses, which are the basis for some of the most typical dishes: "potaje" (stew with chard) and alboronía (dish made with pumpkin, chickpeas and tomato), as well as meat and fish stews. Cold meats include Iberian ham, always from the mountains of the interior. To round it off there is nothing better than one of the best-known Spanish wines - those produced in Cádiz under the Denomination of Origin Jerez-Sherry and Manzanilla de Sanlúcar de Barrameda.
Arcos de la Frontera is a little farther away than our other recommendations, taking around 1 hour 30 minutes to reach from La Cazalla, but both the dramatic vistas of the village and the stunning countryside you will drive through to reach it make the journey well worthwhile.
If you would like more information on staying at La Cazalla de Ronda, a secluded country retreat with six en-suite double bedrooms, or day trips you can make during your stay in Ronda, please don't hesitate to contact us - we're always happy to help.


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Fodder beet
|Fodder beet - Beta vulgaris - Vioederbiet - Futterrübe - Betterave fourragère
Fodder beet is one of the highest yielding forage options available to farmers. Fresh yields of up to 300 t/ha with a dry matter content of 11-12% are possible.
Fodder beet is a long growing-season crop which requires a high level of care in establishment. It is not a brassica so it is not susceptible to brassica diseases. Once established, it is highly palatable to animals. Fodder beet requires a weed free, firm fine seed bed that is well drained with no sub-soil compaction. Sowing is best in early spring season (soil temp 5° C, after the last frosts). Sowing rate is recommended at 80.000 plants per hectare through a precision drill. If seed is sown using conventional drill, a higher seeding rate is needed. Care is required when preparing a seed bed but after establishment the crop will tolerate moderate drought conditions better than forage plants currently do. To promote rapid establishment, seed should be sown to a depth of 2-3 cm, in drier seed beds it is best to sow slightly deeper so the seed can access as much moisture early on as possible. A successful fodder beet can be extremely profitable.
Seed Force, a new Zealand based company in which we participate, developed a new way of using fodder beets. Instead of using special harvesting equipment to lift the roots after which storage is required, plots will be strip-grazed by livestock. At maturity, animals are moved into a strip for grazing. Because the beets do not have to be lifted, animals can use the entire plant, including leaves, which give up to 5 t/ha extra dry matter. All together, the total yield of a Brigadier crop gives 20 to 40 tonnes dry matter in a period of 4-6 months. Strip grazing is recommended to avoid damage to the crop.
Essential for the grazing system is the absence of severe night frosts up to the final grazing.
Brigadier is most suitable for strip grazing due to:
- Bulbs sit high up out of the soil, which means low tare and easy accessible for animals
- Soft bite due to low dry matter content makes it suitable for all kinds of animals
- Abundant healthy leaves give good weed suppression and extra dry matter yield
- High sugar level makes is very palatable
- Suitable for milk- and beef cattle, sheep, deer and other animals
- Brigadier breaks the traditional weed and pest cycle of brassicas
- Relative low use of nitrogen
- Palatable forage stimulates extra high total intake by animals
An additional advantage of fodder beet in general is their ability to substitute sodium (Na) for potassium (K) in nutrient uptake. This makes fodder beet one of the few crops suitable for cultivation on saline soils, which contain high levels of sodium.
Fodder beet seed can be divided in two groups; monogerm seed and multigerm seed. Monogerm varieties can be precision drilled but multigerm varieties have to be singled. It depends on the shape of the beet if fodder beets can be harvested by machine. The storage life of fodder beets improves through a late harvest, the leaves removed down to the base of the leaf petioles and by avoiding damage.
This is a polyploid traditional mangel beet with orange flesh. Fresh yields up to 140 tons per hectare are not an exception. Harvesting can be done by hand or by machine and soil tare is low. The huge leaf production stays fresh and healthy until the moment of harvest. Brigadier has a dry matter content of around 12% and the beets are very suitable for storage. Its roots are more above the soil (65%) than average fodder beets enabling easy access to the crop when strip feeding. This is a better option for grazing and it is a softer bite, which is more suitable for feeding younger stock.
This is a polyploid variety with white beets. It produces high fresh yields. Harvesting can be done by hand or by machine. The dry matter content is 13 to 14% and the beets are very suitable for long storage.