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Melphalan, Arsenic Trioxide, and Ascorbic Acid in Treating Patients With Relapsed or Refractory Multiple Myeloma
- Full Text View
- Tabular View
- No Study Results Posted
- Disclaimer
- How to Read a Study Record
RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as melphalan, arsenic trioxide, and ascorbic acid, work in different ways to stop cancer cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. Arsenic trioxide and ascorbic acid may also help melphalan kill more cancer cells by making them more sensitive to the drugs.
PURPOSE: This phase II trial is studying how well giving melphalan together with arsenic trioxide and ascorbic acid works in treating patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma.
Condition | Intervention | Phase |
Stage II Multiple Myeloma Stage III Multiple Myeloma Refractory Plasma Cell Neoplasm |
Drug: arsenic trioxide Drug: ascorbic acid Drug: melphalan Procedure: chemosensitization/potentiation Procedure: chemotherapy |
Phase 2 |
Study Type: | Interventional |
Study Design: | Primary Purpose: Treatment |
Official Title: | Phase II Study of Melphalan, Arsenic Trioxide, and Ascorbic Acid in Patients With Relapsed or Refractory Multiple Myeloma |
Enrollment: | 0 |
- Determine the time to progression in patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma (MM) treated with melphalan, arsenic trioxide, and ascorbic acid.
- Determine the response rate (combined complete response, partial response, and minimal response) in patients treated with this regimen.
- Determine the safety and tolerability of this regimen in these patients.
- Determine the time to response and overall survival of patients treated with this regimen.
- Determine the effects of this regimen on renal failure associated with MM in these patients.
OUTLINE: This is an open-label, non-randomized, multicenter study.
Patients receive oral melphalan once daily on days 1-4 of week 1 and arsenic trioxide (ATO) IV over 1-2 hours and ascorbic acid IV over 15 minutes on days 1-4 of week 1 and then twice weekly during weeks 2-5. Treatment repeats every 6 weeks for up to 6 courses in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients with disease progression any time after course 1 also receive oral prednisone once daily on days 1-4 and 22-25 of each course. Patients achieving a complete response after 6 courses of therapy undergo bone marrow biopsy and receive no further therapy. Patients achieving stable disease or a partial response after 6 courses of therapy continue to receive ATO and ascorbic acid once weekly.
Patients are followed every 3 months.
PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 65 patients will be accrued for this study.
Ages Eligible for Study: | 18 Years and older (Adult, Senior) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | All |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | No |
- Diagnosis of multiple myeloma meeting at least 1 of the following criteria:
- Relapsed disease after a response to standard first-line chemotherapy (e.g., vincristine, doxorubicin, and dexamethasone [VAD] OR melphalan and prednisone) or first-line high-dose chemotherapy
- Refractory disease (failed to achieve at least stable disease) to most recent chemotherapy with or without systemic corticosteroids
- Measurable disease, defined as a monoclonal immunoglobulin spike on serum electrophoresis of ≥ 1 g/dL AND/OR urine monoclonal immunoglobulin spike of ≥ 200 mg/24 hours
- No non-secretory myeloma
- No plasma cell leukemia
- 18 and over
Performance status
- Karnofsky 60-100%
Life expectancy
- More than 3 months
- Platelet count ≥ 50,000/mm^3 (30,000/mm^3 if bone marrow is extensively infiltrated)
- Hemoglobin ≥ 8.0 g/dL
- Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,000/mm^3
- Pancytopenia secondary to multiple myeloma or hypersplenism allowed
- AST and ALT ≤ 3 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
- Bilirubin ≤ 2 times ULN (unless clearly related to disease)
- No known active hepatitis B or C infection
- Calcium < 14 mg/dL
- No evidence of acute ischemia or new conduction system abnormality by electrocardiogram
- No myocardial infarction within the past 6 months
- No New York Heart Association class III or IV heart failure
- No poorly controlled hypertension
- No prolonged corrected QT interval (> 460 ms) with potassium > 4 mmol/L and magnesium ≥ 1.8 mmol/L
- No active infection
- No POEMS syndrome (plasma cell dyscrasia with polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, monoclonal protein, and skin changes)
- No diabetes mellitus
- No other serious medical or psychiatric illness that would preclude study participation
- No known allergic reaction attributable to compounds of similar chemical or biological composition to study drugs
- No history of grand mal seizures
- HIV negative
- Not pregnant or nursing
- Negative pregnancy test
- Fertile patients must use effective contraception
Biologic therapy
- More than 4 weeks since prior immunotherapy or antibody therapy
- See Disease Characteristics
- More than 3 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas)
Endocrine therapy
- See Disease Characteristics
- No other concurrent corticosteroids
- More than 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy
- More than 4 weeks since prior major surgery
- No other concurrent investigational agents
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00085345
United States, Arizona | |
Palo Verde Hematology Oncology | |
Glendale, Arizona, United States, 85304 | |
United States, California | |
Comprehensive Blood and Cancer Center | |
Bakersfield, California, United States, 93309-0633 | |
Southbay Oncology / Hematology Medical Group | |
Campbell, California, United States, 95008 | |
Fountain Valley, California, United States, 92708 | |
Hematology-Oncology Medical Group of Fresno, Incorporated | |
Fresno, California, United States, 93720 | |
Hematology Oncology Medical Group of Orange County, Incorporated | |
Orange, California, United States, 92868 | |
Cancer Care Associates Medical Group - Redondo Beach | |
Redondo Beach, California, United States, 90277 | |
Redwood Regional Oncology Center - Sotoyome | |
Santa Rosa, California, United States, 95405 | |
Cancer Prevention and Treatment Center at Dominican and Watsonville Community Hospital | |
Soquel, California, United States, 95073 | |
San Diego Cancer Center - Vista | |
Vista, California, United States, 92083 | |
Oncotherapeutics | |
West Hollywood, California, United States, 90069 | |
United States, Florida | |
Mount Sinai Comprehensive Cancer Center at Mount Sinai Medical Center | |
Miami Beach, Florida, United States, 33140 | |
United States, Georgia | |
Atlanta Cancer Care - Roswell | |
Roswell, Georgia, United States, 30076 | |
United States, Louisiana | |
Tulane Cancer Center at Tulane University Hospital and Clinic | |
New Orleans, Louisiana, United States, 70112-2699 | |
United States, Maryland | |
Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders at Suburban Hospital | |
Bethesda, Maryland, United States, 20817 | |
United States, Michigan | |
William Beaumont Hospital - Royal Oak Campus | |
Royal Oak, Michigan, United States, 48073 | |
United States, New Jersey | |
Hackensack University Medical Center Cancer Center | |
Hackensack, New Jersey, United States, 07601 | |
United States, Pennsylvania | |
Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania | |
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, 19104-4283 | |
United States, Utah | |
Utah Cancer Specialists - Administrative Office | |
Salt Lake City, Utah, United States, 84106 |
Study Chair: | James R. Berenson, MD | Oncotherapeutics |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT00085345 History of Changes |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
ONCOTHER-MAC001 CDR0000368637 ( Registry Identifier: PDQ (Physician Data Query) ) |
Study First Received: | June 10, 2004 |
Last Updated: | July 9, 2013 |
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
Multiple Myeloma Neoplasms, Plasma Cell Plasmacytoma Neoplasms by Histologic Type Neoplasms Hemostatic Disorders Vascular Diseases Cardiovascular Diseases Paraproteinemias Blood Protein Disorders Hematologic Diseases Hemorrhagic Disorders Lymphoproliferative Disorders Immunoproliferative Disorders Immune System Diseases |
Melphalan Arsenic trioxide Ascorbic Acid Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating Alkylating Agents Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action Antineoplastic Agents Myeloablative Agonists Immunosuppressive Agents Immunologic Factors Physiological Effects of Drugs Antioxidants Protective Agents Vitamins Micronutrients |
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on March 23, 2017


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October 1, 2012
On a close play in which he stood on the opposite side of the umpire who, in Yogi Berra's opinion, made a bad call, the baseball great said "you can see a lot just by looking."
Simple wisdom, that President Obama is not likely to heed. In order to see you have to want to look at the truth that's actually out there.
With reality so different from how our president wishes to portray it, he has little interest in seeing things as they really are.
The president delivered a "Kumbaya" appeal this past week to the current session of the United Nations General Assembly. The pitch, about peaceful resolution of disputes, tolerance, and free speech, was clearly aimed at Muslim nations.
The following day, Egypt's newly elected Muslim Brotherhood President Morsi stood before the General Assembly and gave his reply. No thanks.
Sure, Egypt will respect free speech, as long as it does not offend "one specific religion or culture."
The message we got from candidate Obama in 2008 was that the rift between the Muslim world and the West was one of misunderstanding, of lack of empathy on our part toward them. Candidate Obama said he was the man, given his personal history, who could bridge that gap.
In 2009, the first year of the Obama presidency, the Pew Research Center reports that the favorability rating in Egypt toward the US was 27 percent. Now in 2012 it is 19 percent, down eight points.
More misunderstanding? I don't think so. Egyptians are quite clear about who they are and quite clear about their distaste for the moral relativism Barack Obama peddles as freedom. Conflicting attitudes and world views emerge from different beliefs, not misunderstanding.
In the same Pew survey of last June, 11 percent of Egyptians agreed with the statement "It is good that American ideas and customs are spreading here."
Has Mr. Obama just not had enough time, as with producing an economic recovery at home, to get Muslims to learn the words to Kumbaya?
The real problem, as I see it, is how do you peddle to others what you don't understand, or won't be honest about, yourself?
While our president refuses to honestly look at Muslim societies, they do look at us. They see American double standards and mixed messages very clearly.
In his UN speech, President Obama quoted South African leader Nelson Mandela saying "To be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others."
This from an American President who is now forcing American employers to buy condoms and abortion pills for their employees, even if it is against that employer's religious convictions.
Or from a nation where poor children are forced to attend public schools where teaching traditional, religious values that they desperately need are prohibited.
Or where the people of the State of California voted to define marriage as between a man and a woman, only to have this referendum overturned by a federal court.
Can President Obama stand with credibility before any Muslim nation and claim that he represents religious freedom?
How about economic freedom? Economic freedom – which measures a nation's respect for private property and limits arbitrary government power to interfere with economic transactions – is critical because it correlates perfectly with prosperity. Nations with more economic freedom are uniformly more prosperous.
The latest Economic Freedom of the World report, published annually by over 70 think tanks from around the world, shows that in 2010 the US dropped to number 18 in world ranking. This after years of the US being one of the most economically free nations in the world.
So why should Muslim nations take seriously an increasingly weak America that does not practice what it preaches?
They don't and won't.
If we want Muslims to respect us and respect freedom's cores values – protection of life and property – America should once again represent those values. In other words, if we won't freedom to grow in the Middle East, President Obama shouldn't be killing it at home.
We believe that the Constitution of the United States speaks for itself. There is no need to rewrite, change or reinterpret it to suit the fancies of special interest groups or protected classes.

subset: commoncrawl


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A price index of lumber and panels used in actual construction for July 20, 2012
*Western - regional species perimeter foundation; Southern - regional species slab construction.
Crow's Market Recap -- A condensed recap of the market conditions for the major North American softwood lumber and panel products as reported in Crow's Weekly Market Report.
Lumber: SPF lumber producers were satisfied with volumes sold in what most described as a "steady" market. Yards backfilled inventories, and wholesalers back-to-backed at a modest profit. Eastern producers were more aggressive with prices increases. Mill sales in the Southern Pine lumber market were strong enough to keep upward pressure on prices in the East and Central zones and provide a floor from which West zone prices could bounce. Distributors reported "good" sales and replenished accordingly. Coastal species lumber buyers willing to pay more to replenish inventories helped maintain upward pressure on most #2&Btr prices. Follow through from the week prior helped establish a steady pace. The Inland species lumber market was led by Hem-Fir/White Woods, with Fir-Larch running a close second. Buyers reported having difficulty sourcing specific lengths and adequate volumes to fill their needs. Offerings from mills often consisted of mixed loads of 14 ft., 16 ft. and 20 ft. with no short lengths available. Eastern White Pine producers reported steady sales and firm or slightly improved prices. Buyers sought highly mixed truckloads. Ponderosa Pine board producers sometimes found the market "frustrating" as buyers kept their PO books closed. Sales of #3 Common were a bright spot. The industrials market in Ponderosa Pine continued to show weakness in Shop grades and lackluster firmness in Mldg&Btr. The price of upper grades of Shop continued to decline. Both Radiata Pine Mldg&Btr and Shop were in short supply, with Shop nearly impossible to source unless you were on a program already. Buyers who were looking for Mldg&Btr had to pay the price to get coverage.
Panels: The OSB market this week is a case of have and have not; those that have inventory are saying the market is quiet but flat while those without inventory say the market is overpriced and should come down. Mill prices in most U.S. regions were close to previous levels, while Canadian mill prices were more vulnerable. Strong sales propelled prices higher in the Southern Pine plywood market. Volumes sold were enough to push mill order files as far out as the week of Aug. 20, with most availability earlier in that month. Distributors and retailers purchased significant volumes, replenishing very thin inventories. Western Fir plywood producers struggled to sell volumes early, forcing discounts. Buyers stepped in Thursday in greater numbers to replenish inventories, firming prices. Canadian plywood producers reported an increase in both phone activity and sales in the latter half of the week. The base price for 9.5mm delivered Toronto moved up two points. Particleboard and MDF markets were steady overall, although week-over-week particleboard sales per mill remain a little erratic. MDF sales activity continued to outpace particleboard.
For more on RISI, click here.


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Alternative Title:
Arpa Çayý
Learn about this topic in these articles:
hydrology of Aras River
The swift-flowing, unnavigable Aras provides most of the sediment forming the Kura-Aras delta. Principal tributaries of the Aras are the Arpa Çayı (
Akhuryan), which receives the waters of the Kars River and Lake Çıldır in Turkey, the Hrazdan, draining Lake Sevan in Armenia, and the Qareh Sū, flowing off the Sabalān Mountains in northeastern Iranian...
physiography of Armenia
The Aras' main left-bank tributaries, the
Akhuryan (130 miles), the Hrazdan (90 miles), the Arpa (80 miles), and the Vorotan (Bargyushad; 111 miles), serve to irrigate most of Armenia. The tributaries of the Kura—the Debed (109 miles), the Aghstev (80 miles), and others—pass through Armenia's northeastern regions. Lake Sevan, with a capacity in excess of 9 cubic miles (39 cubic...


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Trees Planted At Flight 93 Crash Site In Pa.
SHANKSVILLE, Pa. (AP) – The first trees donated by organizers of the Sept. 11 memorial in New York have been planted at the Flight 93 site in southwestern Pennsylvania.
The National Park Service calls the gift of 40 sweet gum trees a symbol of the ties between the memorials for victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
The (Somerset) Daily American says three of the trees were planted Saturday in a ceremony at the site near Shanksville, Pa. The rest will be planted over the next few weeks.
The trees were initially given by the state of Maryland in 2006 to the World Trade Center memorial, but were not planted due to a landscape design change.
Forty passengers and crew died after fighting with hijackers aboard the plane, which crashed in a field.


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Mark Vanderhoek (478) 301-4037
Mercer Distinguished Alumnus and former trustee Nathan Deal will be inaugurated as Georgia's 82nd governor during a 2 p.m. ceremony Monday at the State Capitol in Atlanta. He will become the 11th Mercer alumnus to hold that office. Seven Mercerians have led the State of Georgia, and four others have served as governors of the states of Alabama, Texas, New Hampshire and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Live streaming of the swearing-in ceremony is available at http://www.dealinaugural.com/tv.php. Mercer students and alumni were originally scheduled to play a role in Monday's day-long inaugural events, but a winter storm led to the cancellation of all public events, including a morning prayer service where the Mercer University Orchestra was scheduled to perform. Members of Mercer's Student Government Association, Mercer Ambassadors and other students were to serve as ushers at an outdoor swearing-in ceremony at the Georgia Capitol. And current and former members of Gov. Deal's fraternity, Alpha Tau Omega, were lined up to help out at the prayer service and at the Inaugural Celebration Ball Monday evening at Phillips Arena in downtown Atlanta. About 20 students from the Townsend School of Music's McDuffie Center for Strings did perform during a private reception at the Governor's Mansion on Sunday morning, before the winter storm moved into the area.Governor Deal earned his undergraduate degree from Mercer in 1964 and graduated from Mercer's Walter F. George School of Law in 1966. As an undergraduate, he served as student body president. He would later serve a term on the Mercer Board of Trustees and was named a Distinguished Alumnus by the University.Following law school, he served two years in the U.S. Army, where he rose to the rank of captain. Upon leaving the Army, Governor Deal moved to Gainesville, Ga., to begin an extensive career in the public legal system and private law practice.Governor Deal served Georgians as a U.S. Representative to Congress from 1992 until 2010, when he resigned to concentrate full-time on his gubernatorial campaign. His last vote as a U.S. Representative came just before midnight on March 21. The next morning he gave his first speech as a full-time candidate to an audience of students, faculty and staff on Mercer's Macon campus.Before being elected to Congress, Governor Deal served as a Georgia state senator, including president pro-tempore, the body's highest-ranking senator; as a Hall County Juvenile Court judge; and as assistant district attorney of the Northeastern Judicial Circuit of Georgia.The governor was raised in the Middle Georgia community of Sandersville, the son of two schoolteachers. In addition, Governor Deal's wife, Sandra, is a retired public school educator who remains involved in education issues today. They are parents of four children and six grandchildren, and are members of First Baptist Church, Gainesville, where he has served as a deacon and Sunday School teacher."Since its founding in 1833, generations of young men and women have left Mercer to become leaders of great deeds and influence, including 11 governors, three United States senators, and an attorney general of the United States. Governor Nathan Deal stands in this great tradition," said Mercer President William D. Underwood. "We are proud of his record of public service over the past several decades, and congratulate him on his inauguration as governor of the State of Georgia."--30--


text: Located in Budapest centre, 329 feet from the Dohany Street Synagogue and a 10-mnute walk from the Saint Stephen´s Basilica and State Opera House, Bingo Hostel offers simply-furnished accommodation units and a children´s playground. The Deak Ferenc Square Metro Station is 1,313 feet away. The rooms at the Bingo come with free bed linen. A common lounge area is also at all guests´ disposal. A solarium is also provided on site for an extra charge. Several restaurants, bars and shops can be found within a few minutes´ walking distance of the property. The Great Market Hall can be reached within 2,953 feet. Budapest Airport is situated 10.6 miles away.


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Fresh off his Razzie triumph, Adam Sandler continues to show the taste that makes him such a venerated cinematic hero.
The funnyman's production shingle continues to bulk up with new projects and following signing on to the "Candyland" movie earlier this year, THR reports that Happy Madison will now take on the long brewing remake of Carl Reiner's "Summer School." Will there be roles for Rob Schneider or Nick Swardson? Only time will tell. The original movie was directed by Carl Reiner back in the days when Mark Harmon and Kirstie Alley were seen as stars, and followed a slacker gym teacher who is assigned to teach English class to a bunch of uninterested and otherwise dumb students during summer school. Hijinx ensue!
The redo has been percolating for years, and back in 2010 super-producers Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci were involved, but everything is now starting over. Sandler is not attached to star (yet) and it's going out to writers, so it will be a while before this materializes. But here's an idea: turn the concept into a sequel for "Billy Madison" titled "Mr. Madison" where in an ironic twist of fate, he's now a teacher! Go ahead and use it Sandler, just be sure to send us the royalty cheques.


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Eight games into the 2009 season, 1 second from 2008 still haunts Texas.
It was last season's loss at Texas Tech that ruined the
Longhorns' chance to play for a national titl. The players say they
take that memory into the final month of the regular season knowing
they can reach the BCS title game if they stay undefeated.
Senior Chris Hall says Texas players have used the lesson of
that loss to inspire them all season.
After two road wins, the No. 2 Longhorns return home Saturday
against Central Florida.
Coach Mack Brown says it's a chance for Texas to make another
national statement with a win.
Horns still haunted by 2008
Updated: Mon 9:58 PM, Nov 02, 2009


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Welcome To Mazda of Lake Charles
Here at Mazda of Lake Charles we offer the latest new Mazda vehicles such as the Mazda6, Mazda CX-9, and Mazda MX-5 Miata for great prices! If you looking to get your car service, be sure to check out our Service Department for more information, and check out all the specials we have to offer, too!
We are proud to serve our local area of Lake Charles, and the many surrounding cities. Some of these areas include Lafayette, DeRidder, Leesville, Opelousas, Moss Bluff, Sulphur, Jennings, Crowley, Nederland, and even Beaumont, Texas. We are located at 1600 Siebarth Dr., Lake Charles, LA, 70615 and if you have any questions, feel free to contact us at (337)312-2901. As the only certified Mazda Dealer in Lake Charles, we hope to provide you with only the best customer service and the best Mazda vehicles!


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Full profile →'">
The author is a Forbes contributor. The opinions expressed are those of the writer.
Continued from page 2
AK So you think that actual paid content in various forms can work through mobile?
LW Works for every other medium we've got. People pay for the content they want. Why wouldn't they do it on a mobile? They already are doing it on a mobile device. I think it's a pretty proven model at this point. If you look at the kind of revenue coming through places like app stores. Also look at the publishing revenues coming out of places like newsstands. And this is pretty early stuff. But it's pretty clear that people are willing to pay for stuff that they want on these devices.
AK And do you think they are paying, in some cases, to avoid advertising?
LW I think people in general will pay for packaging and they will pay for experiences. So if you take content or whatever assets you have and you package it up nicely, you can usually charge a pretty good price for it. And you see this across everything, in music the whole CD packaging thing, box sets, you kind of bundle all this stuff together. So if there's a high quality experience, and they're packaged in these applications, yes, people will pay for that. Here's an example, my book, Mobile First, you can get a presentation online. I put up a pdf of a lot of the information online. i put up blog posts. It's all on the web for free if you want. But I packaged it up into a book and turned it into a nice experience and people still buy it, even though people can get all of that information for free if they want, elsewhere. Packaging and experiences are things that people will pay for. And I think you have to have a similar mindset with the things you're creating online. Content farms and spam archives, they don't have anything of quality to begin with. But if you have something of quality and you respect it and treat it that way, and you communicate that through how you present and design it for your customer, I think they will value it likewise.
AK Thats a hopeful thing for publishers. The whole content wanting to be free thing has made it very hard for content to be supported.
LW It's their own damn fault, to be perfectly blunt. The physical newspaper is a wonderful, curated, published, designed thing that people have paid for for years. So is the magazine. And when they went online, they sort of threw that out the window and started slapping horrendous banner ads and takeovers all over it. So they did it to themselves, sadly.
Without the content, what is this stuff? It's just a bunch of links without content. You've got to have something to go to actually read or view or consume or interact with and that's the content. There is no web without content, I think.
AK If you look at the whole collection of writers who have done the Book Apart books, it adds up to a fairly cohesive picture that is a response to what was going on some number of years ago where people thought that the most minimal application possible was what it was all about, there was a fetishizing of ruby on rails and things like that. And people got convinced that development per se was what it was about. And it seems that left out a huge chunk of what the web is really about which is the content. All of the books support the notion that ultimately it's all about the content.
LW Well, that's what they are, right? The books are content, so if they didn't believe there was value in the content, they would be doing something different.


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Jennifer's No-Fail Cakewalk Cake
Did you get volunteered for cake-bringing duty? Try my sister's go-to recipe.
Chocolate Frogs!
It's Project Time! Try this DIY version of Harry Potter's favorite treat. These little hoppers look like frogs, but they taste like chocolate-peanut butter cup perfection.
Owl Cupcakes! For a Happy Owl-O-Ween.
If you can open an Oreo, you can turn any batch of plain chocolate cupcake into these cute owls.
Chocolate Orange Baklava
Your favorite baklava ingredients – phyllo dough, nuts and honey – combined with bittersweet chocolate and infused with orange syrup.


text: Use Strategically Placed Paint to Camouflage Your TelevisionJason Fitzpatrick9/04/10 1:00pmFiled to: DecoratingDecorDesignHomeHouseholdApartmentsHDTVTelevision86EditPromoteShare to KinjaToggle Conversation toolsGo to permalinkHDTV sets might have gotten slimmer and even easier to snug up against the wall but they still stand out in most decor. This clever design trick incorporates the television into a band of paint to help it blend in.AdvertisementHome and design blog Apartment Therapy offers an interesting way to spice up the design of your living room while decreasing the "eye sore" factor of your HDTV.Because the living room is super small, the large TV sticks out like a sore thumb and it's the first thing you notice when you walk in the space. After much hemming and hawing over what to do, I finally went with an almost no cost solution. I was able to use the leftover chalkboard paint from a kitchen project and had just enough for the two coats.It'd definitely a design trick that requires commitment to a bold look, but the end result is an HDTV that blends into the surrounding design elements instead of standing out against a light colored wall like an after thought in the design process. Have your own tips or tricks for concealing electronics around the home? Let's hear about it in the comments.AdvertisementOne More Way to Camouflage the TV [Apartment Therapy]Reply86 repliesLeave a reply


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For a website to show up on the search engine, it needs to be equipped with SEO tools. Coventry has SEO services which provide tailored made solutions for websites. Constructing search engine friendly links, working on online and offline optimisation elements are essential for webpages to get ranked high and great results. Users require their most desired web link quickly and safely. SEO experts create programs ensuring that both the norms are met.
Convenience of travelling by Coventry taxi
Safe travel by premium taxis operating around is preferred by all. Taxis at Coventry offer a safe travel to the desired destination of customers .This makes travel simple and more convenient any given day. This is also helpful for women who must travel late. They can get a taxi and travel at ease and reach their destination safely.
Self Tapping Screws- Home Use
Self Tapping Screws find a variety of uses in a typical home. They are most commonly seen in DIY furniture assembly kind of items as these need assembling and disassembling frequently (or so is it assumed). They are also used in plastic household items like kitchen racks and wall shelves. Read about what self tapping screws are from tappex.co.uk.
A New Variety Of Hydraulic Valve Is Being Released Regularly
There are so many types of hydraulic systems around us. Each type of system needs a specific type of hydraulic valve too. With new systems cropping up, there is a new type of valve being invented too to go along with the system. However, the basic types of valves are:
- Flow control valves: These valves are further classified as throttle valves and control valves.
- Pressure control valves: They are further classified as variable throttle and fixed throttle valves. The variable throttle valve is used for controlling fluids, whereas the fixed throttle valves are used for switching fluids.
- Direction control valves: Check valves, directional poppet valve and directional spool valves are all types of direction control valves.
- Electrohydraulic valves: They are further classified as servo hydraulic valves and proportional hydraulic valves. Trident Hydraulics is the specialist in Electrohydraulic valves.
As the name suggests each valve performs specific functions, such as controlling the flow, pressure and direction of the fluid.


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(Vladimir Putin
Deviant Artist SharpWriter proposes a few cost-cutting measures for the defense budget.
Blogger and attorney < a href="https://twitter.com/#!/JillFilipovic">Jill Filipovic tweeted this photo and the words
Yes Ma'am. It's our new Homeland Security Plan. (Barack Obama)
The secret to success is knowing who to blame for your failures. (Janet Napolitano)


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plantations: 1/5 of 5
How green are vegetable and rapeseed oils?
Rebecca Campbell
16th May, 2012
When it comes to oils we are spoilt for choice, with more than 130 million tonnes of oil consumed every year, according to the WWF. But with demand set to increase, what sort of impact is our appetite for oil having on the planet? And which is the green choice? more...Top 10...alternatives to sugar
Mark Briggs
Want to give up sugar while still indulging your sweet tooth? Mark Briggs rounds up 10 natural alternatives more...Small scale Bolivian farmers take up community reforestation
Theodora Tsentas & Matilda Lee
2nd July, 2010
A unique community based forestry project in Bolivia aims to give farmers long-term financial incentives to keep trees standing more...Palm oil plantations could be classified as forests
8th February, 2010
European Commission guidance would allow biofuels to be labelled as sustainable even if forests have been destroyed to make way for the palm oil plantations more...Can we trust the FSC?
Matilda Lee
22nd September, 2009
It's the logo we all look for when buying furniture and wood products. But the Forest Stewardship Council has come in for some serious criticism. Matilda Lee looks at both sides of the argument more...
plantations: 1/5 of 5
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Simple party cocktails
at the Wine Rack
Last week's article on apéritifs stirred some discussion with friends from Grace Foods about cocktails. I challenged them to come up with a few quick cocktail recipes that I could suggest to readers to use this season.
Our Guest Mixologists
Sharice Fernander is a brand manager at Grace Foods. In these cocktail experiments she was ably supported by Assistant Brand Manager Zoe Alexander, who loves to experiment with all types of food and drink recipes in the Grace Products "testing labs".
Sorrel Malbec Sangria
Sangria has become popular recently, as it offers many benefits to the host at cocktail and dinner parties. It provides the opportunity to offer something different and interesting as the host can easily modify the traditional recipes, and get very creative, which is what Zoe and Sharice did with their Sorrel Malbec Sangria. In essence, the basic Sangria recipe calls for red wine with chopped fruit, a sweetener, and a small amount of added brandy. Zoe suggested that by using the Trivento Sweet Malbec, she removes the need to add a sweetner. Sharice and I tasted Zoe's special Sangria consisting of Grace Tropical Rhythms Sorrel Ginger and it will certainly be a drink of choice if you make it.
Sparkling wine cocktails
Sharice and Zoe suggested two very different but equally delicious Prosecco-based cocktails. One of the most famous Prosecco-based cocktails is called a Bellini, which is a mixture of Prosecco, sparkling wine and peach purée or nectar. Many variations of this drink exist under a number of names; for example, the Tiziano is a similar popular Italian cocktail that uses grape juice instead of peach. Since we are doing cocktails for the season, we used one of the Grace Sorrel Blends with very pleasant results — we called it the Sorrel Tiziano — simple to make and very refreshing.
Classic Italian Sgroppino
Our final party cocktail was a little bit more involved, but very unusual and very delicious. It is often used in meals as a digestive, and is the Classic Italian Sgroppino. It is a classic beverage from the Veneto region in northern Italy that uses lemon gelato, Prosecco and vodka. Italian lemon gelato is more like a sorbet and doesn't include any milk- based products. The consistency of this cocktail should be a little runnier than a slushie.
Lots of fun was had with Sharice and Zoe as we experimented with these cocktails. Please try them this season. All the ingredients are readily available.
Christopher Reckord — Businessman, Entrepreneur & Wine Enthusiast. Send your questions and comments to creckord@ gmail.com. Follow us on twitter: @Reckord
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Daniel Bertoni
Chairman Flores, Ranking Member Takano, and Members of the Subcommittee:
I am pleased to discuss our work on the Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) program. The VR&E program helps veterans with service-connected disabilities[1] obtain and maintain suitable employment, which VA defines as employment consistent with veterans' abilities and interests. Eligible veterans may receive services such as vocational assessment, education, training, and job placement.[2] In fiscal year 2012, about 121,000 veterans participated in the program at a cost of almost $1 billion. The program is administered by VA staff located in the agency's 57 regional offices or additional satellite locations. In 2009, we reported on a number of challenges VA faced managing this program. More recently, the VOW to Hire Heroes Act of 2011 (VOW Act) mandated that GAO review the VR&E program.[3] My remarks today are based on the report issued January 14, 2014, which examined: (1) the outcomes for veterans seeking employment through the VR&E program, and (2) the progress VA has made in addressing critical management issues.[4]
To inform our work, we reviewed relevant federal laws, regulations, guidance, and documentation related to recent management initiatives; analyzed VA administrative data on VR&E participants who applied to the program between fiscal years 2003 and 2012;[5] and interviewed central and regional office staff responsible for administering the VR&E program and providing services.[6] We also interviewed a nongeneralizable sample of 17 veterans who had participated in the VR&E program, and reviewed methods and results associated with VA's pilot satisfaction survey of VR&E participants. We conducted this work from October 2012 to January 2014 in accordance with generally accepted government auditing standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain sufficient, appropriate evidence to provide a reasonable basis for our findings and conclusions based on our audit objectives. We believe that the evidence obtained provides a reasonable basis for our findings and conclusions based on our audit objectives. A more detailed explanation of our methodology is available in our report.
With respect to program outcomes, we found that of almost 17,000 veterans who entered the VR&E program in fiscal year 2003—the earliest year for which reliable data are available—and received employment-related services, just under half had achieved rehabilitation (that is, suitable employment) by the end of fiscal year 2012. Another 30 percent had discontinued their participation in the program, although some of these were considered by VA to have obtained some benefits from program participation even though they did not achieve suitable employment.[7] Most of the rest were still receiving program services. (See fig. 1.)
Figure 1: Outcomes to Date for Fiscal Year 2003 Applicants Who Received Employment-Related Services
Note: The percentages in the four outcome categories do not add up to 100 percent due to rounding. It is possible that some veterans who discontinued in fiscal year 2010 or later are included as MRG cases in this figure even though they actually discontinued for a different reason. This is because of a change in fiscal year 2010 in the meaning assigned to certain discontinuation reason codes in VA data.
We also found that while the average time to achieve employment was about 4 ½ years, time frames varied significantly. About half the veterans achieved success within 3 to 6 years, but many took considerably longer (see fig. 2). One reason for lengthy time frames is that some ultimately successful participants discontinued or interrupted[8] their programs along the way. Of those who achieved employment, about one-quarter interrupted their programs at least once, and about the same proportion discontinued, then returned to the program (some more than once) before ultimately achieving success.
Figure 2: Time to Achieve Suitable Employment for Fiscal Year 2003 Applicants
Note: Percentages of veterans placed in each year do not add up to 100 due to rounding.
aIndicates the percentage of successfully rehabilitated fiscal year 2003 applicants placed in suitable employment in each year following application.
bIndicates the cumulative percentage of successfully rehabilitated fiscal year 2003 applicants placed in suitable employment by each year following application.
We identified several common challenges that VR&E participants face to successfully completing their programs and achieving rehabilitation. Specifically:
- Our analysis of VA data indicates that VR&E participants with mental health conditions were 12 percentage points less likely to achieve suitable employment within 8 years of program entry compared to participants without such conditions, the largest difference for any type of disability.[9]
- Our interviews with VA staff and veterans indicate that VR&E participants face challenges with developing employment plans that can realistically lead to success. For example, VA staff in one office said that veterans with mental health conditions may want to pursue an unrealistic career in law enforcement. Veterans we interviewed also cited challenges in reaching agreement with VR&E staff on an employment plan. Our analysis of VA data indicates that program participants often stop their program then return to receive additional evaluation services.
- Our analysis of VA data indicates that VR&E participants who work with more VR&E staff over time are less likely to achieve suitable employment. For example, veterans who worked with four staff were 27 percentage points less likely to achieve success within 8 years of program entry, compared to those who worked with only one staff member.[10]
- Our analysis of VA's satisfaction survey results indicates that many veterans who discontinued or interrupted their employment programs cited "family obligations" (27 percent) or "financial difficulties" (18 percent) as a reason.[11] VR&E managers and staff also noted such challenges; for example, managers in one office said veterans may quit training or take a job not suitable for their disability because they need to support their families.
- Managers, staff, and veterans we interviewed cited challenges with the transition from military to civilian employment. For example, managers or staff told us veterans may have difficulty translating military experience into terms that civilian employers can understand, or that they may need civilian credentials to get a job even with the expertise they gained in the military.
Once veterans achieve suitable employment, few return for additional services.[12] Specifically, we found that, of those who were rehabilitated, only 4 percent applied for and 2 percent ultimately returned to VR&E to receive additional employment-related services. Further, at the time of our review, only a small number of rehabilitated veterans returned to receive additional services under the expanded eligibility criteria authorized by the VOW Act.[13] VR&E managers or staff told us almost all the veterans who are eligible for additional services under the expanded criteria already qualify under the old criteria, which provide more months of additional services.
With regard to VA's progress in addressing critical VR&E management issues, we found that weaknesses remain in performance management, workload management, and staff training, although the agency has made efforts to improve each of these areas.
VA has an initiative underway to improve its primary measure of program performance, but the alternative measure under consideration falls short of good practices. VA's primary measure of performance is its rehabilitation rate, which is the number of successful rehabilitations divided by the total number of successful rehabilitations and unsuccessful case closures. VA central and regional office staff cited problems with the current VR&E rehabilitation rate measure, including that it encourages VR&E staff to delay or avoid closing their cases unsuccessfully because this counts against their rehabilitation rate performance measure. To address these and other issues, VA is revising its individual, regional, and program-wide performance measures and plans to move from a rehabilitation rate measure for assessing individual staff performance to a measure of the number of positive outcomes, including rehabilitations. While this approach may be appropriate for assessing individual performance, as a measure of program performance, it lacks transparency because it does not reflect the extent to which veterans are discontinued from the program without rehabilitation. Further, this measure does not distinguish between rehabilitations and other benefits attained from participation—such as when the veteran gains some vocational skills from participation but does not obtain and maintain suitable employment. To provide a fuller picture of program success, we recommended that VA include in any revised set of national and regional measures (1) a measure of the proportion of participants successfully rehabilitated to employment, and (2) a measure of the proportion of participants who attained other benefits from participation. VA concurred with this recommendation and noted that rate-based measures will be included in its revised set of national VR&E performance measures.
In addition, VA lacks and does not intend to develop performance measures related to veterans' long-term employment outcomes, even though it is planning to collect information that could serve as a basis for such measures. Part of VR&E's mission is to help veterans maintain employment, and to address this, VA counts a job placement as a successful rehabilitation if it is maintained for at least 60 days.[14] However, research and practices at other federal employment programs suggest that tracking employment for 60 days may not be sufficient to gauge whether a veteran will maintain a job for the long term. For example, Department of Labor employment and training programs measure job retention over 180 days.
VA is considering contacting rehabilitated and discontinued VR&E participants at 6 and 12 months after they finish the program to identify veterans who are having difficulties in maintaining employment, and possibly provide them additional supports. However, VA does not plan to use this information to develop a performance measure of longer-term employment outcomes, and thus may miss an opportunity to hold staff accountable for and make program adjustments to improve such outcomes. We recommended that VA develop new measures of long-term employment success that go beyond the current 60-day minimum, possibly drawing on its planned post-exit surveys. VA concurred with this recommendation in principle. However, it noted that because VA staff typically work with VR&E participants for years while in the program and potentially for up to 18 months following training completion, it sees no value in devoting limited resources to additional post-placement monitoring. We continue to believe that VA needs to hold itself accountable for the longer-term employment success of all participants, and that this could be done in a cost-effective way.
Lastly, with respect to performance management, although VA has generally followed recognized practices in designing its customer satisfaction survey, the reliability of pilot results is uncertain. Specifically, we found the agency has generally followed recognized survey practices including detailed survey planning, comprehensive questionnaire development and testing, and extensive data collection activities. However, VA did not perform a nonresponse bias analysis of the pilot survey results, even though response rates for the pilot surveys were below 30 percent. Guidance issued by the Office of Management and Budget calls for nonresponse analysis when a survey's unit response rate is below 80 percent.[15] Since VA plans to use survey results to inform program improvements and training developments, to ensure that this survey effort yields reliable data to drive program improvements, we recommended that—as warranted by response rates—VA conduct nonresponse analysis of its ongoing customer satisfaction survey results. VA concurred with this recommendation and noted that if funding permits, it will modify its survey administration contract to include such an analysis.
With regard to workload management, problems with VA's formula for allocating staff among regional offices may be contributing to some offices' ongoing workload challenges. VA has taken steps to address workload management issues, such as reducing paperwork requirements. However, some offices we contacted still have concerns about high workloads, and the ratio of VR&E cases to staff varies considerably among the regions. In March 2013, for example, seven offices averaged fewer than 100 cases per staff member, while eight averaged over 175. VA's formula for allocating staff among the offices—which has not been significantly revised since fiscal year 2003—is based on offices' workloads and their performance on several metrics. Regional managers in five of the eight offices we contacted raised concerns about the formula, indicating that it may not effectively assign staff where they are most needed. For example, one concern is that the formula does not take into account educational and vocational counseling cases, which according to VA data may be disproportionately concentrated in certain offices. Another concern is that by assigning more staff to higher-performing offices, the formula may make it difficult for lower-performing offices to improve. To the extent the formula does not align staffing resources where needed, it may reduce some offices' ability to effectively serve veterans. We recommended that in revisiting its allocation formula, VA should consider these two issues and make adjustments as needed. VA concurred with this recommendation and said it plans to revisit its formula.
VA also lacks information about regional offices' varied approaches to managing their caseloads. VA's administration of the VR&E program is decentralized, and according to VA central office officials each office's management has discretion about how to manage their caseloads and assign cases among staff. Some offices, for example, have veterans work with one staff member throughout their participation in the program, citing as an advantage the rapport that develops between veteran and staff member. Others have their staff specialize in particular phases of the rehabilitation process, such as evaluation or case management. Although veterans work with different staff members, some managers and staff said this approach leads to efficiencies. VA's central office, however, has not collected information on or assessed the effectiveness of the regional offices' varied approaches. Further examination of these approaches is especially important given our finding that veterans who work with more VR&E staff over time are less likely to achieve suitable employment. We recommended that VA collect information on the regional offices' approaches for managing their VR&E workloads, assess their advantages and disadvantages, and use the results of this assessment to provide guidance to the offices. VA concurred with this recommendation and noted steps it plans to take to address it.
In the area of staff training, some gaps remain in its curriculum for VR&E staff, although VA has taken steps to improve training. In recent years, VA added new courses for VR&E staff, which has reduced redundancy in training from year to year and closed a number of gaps identified in a 2010 skill gap analysis. However, based on our review of the VR&E training curriculum and comments from regional office managers and staff, we found that VA does not provide sufficient training on strategies for helping veterans with job placement and workplace accommodations, which are key to ensuring veterans with disabilities successfully obtain and maintain employment. In particular, such training is not part of the curriculum for VR&E staff whose main functions are assessment and case management but who may also assist participants with job placement. We recommended that VA provide additional training to staff on job placement and workplace accommodations. VA concurred with this recommendation and said it plans to develop new courses in these areas.
Chairman Flores, Ranking Member Takano, and Members of the Subcommittee, this concludes my prepared remarks. I would be happy to answer any questions that you or other members of the subcommittee may have.
For further information regarding this testimony, please contact Daniel Bertoni at (202) 512-7215, or at firstname.lastname@example.com. Contact points for our Offices of Congressional Relations and Public Affairs may be found on the last page of this statement. Individuals who made key contributions to this testimony include Michele Grgich (Assistant Director), Jessica Botsford, David Chrisinger, Kirsten B. Lauber, and Lorin Obler.
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[1] To qualify for VR&E services, veterans generally must have a service-connected disability rated at 20 percent or higher and an employment handicap resulting in substantial part from the service-connected disability, and typically must receive the services within either 12 years of either discharge from the military or receipt of a VA disability rating. Veterans with a 10 percent disability rating may also be eligible if they have a serious employment handicap. 38 U.S.C. §§ 3102 and 3103.
[2] Eligible veterans for whom a vocational goal is not currently considered reasonably feasible may receive assistance intended to help them achieve independent living. Independent living benefits can include counseling, assistive device, and other services or equipment.38 U.S.C. § 3109.
[3] Pub. L. No. 112-56, § 233(d), 125 Stat. 711, 720.
[4] See GAO, VA Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment: Further Performance and Workload Management Improvements Are Needed, GAO‑14‑61 (Washington, D.C.: January 14, 2014).
[5] We assessed the reliability of these data through electronic testing and interviews with VA staff, and found them sufficiently reliable for our reporting purposes.
[6] We interviewed VR&E managers and staff in 8 VA regional offices, selected to achieve diversity in VR&E caseload, performance in job placement and case processing timeliness, state unemployment rate, and geographic location.
[7] VA classifies some veterans who discontinue from the VR&E program as having achieved maximum rehabilitation gain (MRG), meaning they attained vocational skills or some other benefit from program participation even though they did not achieve suitable employment.
[8] According to VA, VR&E uses the interrupted status as a tool to allow veterans time to resolve unexpected issues without using up time-limited employment services.
[9] We chose a period of 8 years for this analysis because many veterans take that long to achieve a successful outcome. This period of analysis provided enough time to observe successful outcomes and included results for veterans who applied in both fiscal years 2003 and 2004. We also analyzed the associations between specific disabilities and the likelihood and rate of achieving program success at various points in time after application, while controlling for other factors that may affect outcomes. Even after controlling for these factors, we still found that having a mental health condition was associated with a smaller chance of success.
[10] We analyzed the association between multiple staff and the likelihood and rate of achieving program success at various points in time following application, while controlling for other factors that may affect outcomes. Among other things we controlled for the number of times veterans discontinued from and re-entered the VR&E program, which could be associated with the number of staff they worked with. Even after controlling for these factors, we still found that working with multiple staff was associated with a smaller chance of success.
[11] VA's Voice of the Veteran survey measures veterans' satisfaction with benefits and services received, including through the VR&E program. The results reported here are from the pilot survey fielded from October 2012 to January 2013. The results on reasons for withdrawing or interrupting from the program are based on the responses of almost 200 veterans who had withdrawn or interrupted after spending at least 60 days in the program. We assessed the methodology of the pilot survey and concluded that the results we are reporting are sufficiently reliable for our purposes. However, these results reflect the opinions of survey respondents and cannot be generalized to the broader population of VR&E participants.
[12] Under certain circumstances, veterans who have achieved suitable employment may return for additional VR&E services, such as if their disabilities have worsened to the extent they can no longer perform the occupation for which they were rehabilitated. The VOW Act expanded these eligibility criteria to include certain veterans who have exhausted their state unemployment compensation benefits. Pub. L. No. 112-56, § 233(a)(1), 125 Stat. 711, 719, (codified at 38 U.S.C. § 3102(b)).
[13] According to VA, between May 2012 and April 2013 10 veterans nationwide received additional services under the new VOW Act criteria.
[14] VR&E staff have discretion to track employment for a longer period if necessary, but we found that in the majority of successful rehabilitations since fiscal year 2003 (almost two-thirds), employment was tracked for less than 6 months before case closure.
[15] Nonresponse occurs when members of the sample do not participate in the survey at all (unit nonresponse), or do not answer particular questions (item nonresponse). Nonresponse may result in nonresponse bias—systematic errors that result in under- or overestimation of a true value in survey results—because nonrespondents may have provided substantially different answers than those who did respond. A nonresponse analysis is an established survey research practice used to determine whether nonresponse bias has occurred. It can be performed using a variety of methods.


text:
A fire that destroyed a home near Webberville has been ruled accidental.
Leroy Township Fire Chief Mike Flynn says the cause of that fire is still under investigation.
It happened Friday morning on Deitz Road in Leroy Township.
No one was home at the time, and no one was hurt while trying to extinguish the fire.
House Fire Ruled Accidental
By News 10 |
Posted: Wed 11:59 AM, Nov 07, 2012


text:
School of Social Work Student Organizations
The Eta Omega Chapter of Phi Alpha Honor Society
Students enrolled in the School of Social Work at UNCW can join the Eta Omega Chapter of Phi Alpha by meeting all of the following requirements:
- Complete a minimum of 9 semester hours of required social work courses
- Achieved an overall GPA at UNCW of 3.0 or better
- Achieved an overall GPA of 3.25 or better in all social work courses
2015-2016 Officers
- President - Sara Jenkins
- Vice President - Stephanie Straughn
- Secretary - Whitney Key
- Treasurer - Melissa Goins
The concept of a national social work honor society came from a group of undergraduate social work students at Michigan State University in 1960. Investigation revealed that local chapters existed at three schools. Those three schools, along with a few other schools, formed a National Honor Society Committee in November, 1960. For more than a year this committee worked on the constitution and other administrative matters. The name Phi Alpha and the symbols of keys were adopted from the local chapter which existed at Florida State University.
The constitution and formal organization was completed in 1962, and six chapters qualified to become "charter chapters." They were: Florida State University, Michigan State University, Ohio North University, Central State College, University of Dayton and the University of Tennessee. Over 243 chapters are now in existence, and the addition of new chapters is continuing.
The Student Social Work Organization
SSWO is open to all UNCW students who have an interest in participating and altruistic activities and learning more about the profession of social work. A small membership dues is required for membership.
The organization hosts activities that range from fund-raising for charities and participating in local service events.
2015-2016 Officers
- President - Lucretia Tillman
- Vice President - Audresha Nevels
- Events Coordinator - Michele Tidd
- Secretary - Sarah Hildreth
- Treasurer - Stephanie Straughn


text:
Chairman & Professor of Biochemistry
Department of Biochemistry8701 Watertown Plank RdMilwaukee, WI 53226
(414) 955-8768(414) 955-6510 (fax)firstname.lastname@example.com
Education BS, Chemistry, St. Norbert College, 1985 PhD, Biochemistry, Utah State University, 1990 Postdoctoral, Washington University School of Medicine, Department of Pathology, 1990-94
Research Area: Function and survival of pancreatic beta cells in type 1 and type 2 diabetes
Our laboratory is focused on determining the factors that influence the function and survival of pancreatic beta cells in the context of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus. We currently have three ongoing research programs. The broad goals of the first project are to elucidate the cellular mechanisms that are responsible for pancreatic beta cell death and to identify mechanisms by which beta cells protect themselves against cytokine- and free radical-mediated damage. Nitric oxide, the primary mediator of the inhibitory actions of interleukin-1 (IL-1) and interferon-g (IFN-g) on beta cell function, also activates a "recovery" pathway that protects beta cells from cytokine-mediated damage. It is the delicate balance between the toxic and protective actions of nitric oxide that ultimately determine the susceptibility of beta cells to cytokine-mediated damage. The broad goals of the second research program are to elucidate the biochemical mechanisms by which virus infection regulates macrophage activation and to determine the virus-activated pathways that contribute to the loss of beta cell function and viability. Using a virus known to induce diabetes in susceptible mice, we have recently identified three novel antiviral signaling pathways that regulate inflammatory gene expression in macrophages. The third major research program tests the hypotheses that increased levels of random mutations in beta cell mtDNA lead to the loss of beta cell function and the inability to maintain normal glycemic control, and increase the vulnerability of beta cells to a secondary stress such as insulin resistance induced by a high fat diet. To examine these hypotheses, transgenic (Tg) mice that accumulate mtDNA mutations in beta cells due to the expression of an error-prone mtDNA polymerase under control of the rat insulin promoter have been generated.
View Dr. Corbett's Faculty Collaboration Database profile page, which includes an up-to-date listing of his publications.
Medical College of Wisconsin 8701 Watertown Plank Road Milwaukee, WI 53226 (414) 955-8296 Directions & Maps © 2016


text: SE Missouri Redhawks Tweet Weird And NSFW Bathroom PictureTom Ley5/16/14 1:09pmFiled to: whatlife's rich pageantoopssoutheast missouri redhawks525EditPromoteShare to KinjaToggle Conversation toolsGo to permalinkSo, um, we're not really sure what happened here, but a few minutes ago the official Twitter account of Southeast Missouri athletics sent out the seemingly innocuous tweet above. Clicking on that link, however, did not bring one to the live results for today's track meet, but to a very weird picture of two semi-naked girls in a bathroom.AdvertisementHere is the picture (we've blurred out the girls' faces):Right. So that's odd. Also worth noting, this picture doesn't appear to exist anywhere else on the internet. This one's from a personal collection.Reply52 repliesLeave a reply


text:
Taste of Newport to host Joan Jett, BNL, more
August 10th, 2011, 11:00 am by BEN WENER, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTEREvery year the Taste of Newport culinary gathering returns to Fashion Island, with more than 35 nearby restaurants enticing thousands of patrons with some of their finest treats. As a complement, organizers round up different musical guests for outdoor concerts during the three-day event - and this year's 23rd staging, set for Sept. 16-18, is no exception.
In fact, one headliner might be among the loudest this feast fest has ever hosted.
Joan Jett and her band the Blackhearts, still cranked-up and raw after all these years, will help kick off the weekend with a Sept. 16 performance. Enduring Canadian pop/rock troupe Barenaked Ladies will appear on Sept. 17, while the final day will feature a double-bill of tribute group ABBA: The Concert and '80s/'90s dance-pop star Taylor Dayne.
Tickets are $25 per day at the gate or $22 when purchased online. VIP access, including seats in the first 20 rows, valet parking, private restrooms, two free cocktails and more, go for $125, though the quantity is limited. Visit Taste of Newport's official site to buy tickets, or call 949-729-4400 for more information.
Photo by Matt Sayles, The Associated Press.
Read the rest of this entry »


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Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Cary Williams spoke to Patriots head coach Bill Belichick following Friday night's game.
The words won't be what you might have been expecting:
(On his talk with Bill Belichick after the game)
"It was just mutual respect between two guys. Coach Belichick respected me and I respected him. I respect the organization and I told him I was sorry for the words that I said. That was just pure emotion and sometimes you say things that you don't really think about. That was a situation where, playing these guys in the playoffs, you kind of develop a hate for them and you try to use anything to get your mind going and get going. In that situation, I could have chosen my words a little bit wiser. But it is mutual respect and we were able to come together and tell him I was sorry. I have nothing but the utmost respect for the organization and him as a GM and head coach. He just said there were no hard feelings and he appreciated the comments I made this week. It was just two guys respecting each other and understanding there is some history there. It is not necessarily bad blood but the spirit of competition. I said some things that I wish I could take back."


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A database of modern and contemporary African American poetry, featuring almost 9,000 poems by 62 of the most important African American poets of the last century, including Langston Hughes, Jean Toomer, Imamu Amiri Baraka, Audre Lorde and Rita Dove.
Accessibility Send your suggestions, comments or queries to our Webmaster. Copyright © 1996 - 2017 ProQuest LLC. All rights reserved.


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The FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge Parkway Fisher Peak Chapter, in conjunction with the City of Galax and WBRF Radio 98.1 FM, is hosting a special presentation of the Blue Ridge Backroads radio show tonight, Friday.
The evening is dedicated to the celebration of the 75th anniversary of the Blue Ridge Parkway.
A special anniversary cake will be shared by all prior to the live radio show. The FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge Parkway will also share information about the parkway and how we can all join in to preserve this wonderful natural treasure.
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Click the question mark below to see where your account ID appears on your mailing label.
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Description: Red Heart Super Saver Yarn is a worsted weight, 4ply yarn that is 100% Acrylic fiber. This premium all-purpose yarn features traditional hand and excellent wash performance, and no-dye-lot solids make it ideal for afghans, sweaters, accessories and home decorating items, as well as apparel. 4 ply. Worsted Weight. 5 oz, 236 yards. #3972 Mulberry Mix - Variegated Purple
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It was my dear friend Valentina who introduced me to Dan Lepard's wonderful recipes years ago – I saw a beautiful cake on her blog and the recipe was Dan's. However – and I do not know why – it took me ages to start baking some of his great recipes, and now that I have started I have no intention to stop. His latest (and fantastic) cookbook is one of my top favorites and each and every recipe made from it so far has been a huge hit.
Being a passion fruit maniac I could not resist this recipe: it is delicious and the seeds peeking out from the cake squares make them look beautiful – my coworkers loved it.
Passion fruit cake with coconut streusel
adapted from Lepard's delicious column at the Guardian
Coconut crumble:
85g (¾ stick) unsalted butter, cold and cut in small cubes
¾ cup + 2 tablespoons (125g) all purpose flour
½ cup (100g) granulated sugar
½ cup (45g) unsweetened flaked coconut
pinch of salt
½ cup + 1 tablespoon (127g) unsalted butter, melted and cooled
3 tablespoons canola oil
1 ½ cups (300g) granulated sugar
1 cup (240ml) passion fruit pulp, with the seeds
4 tablespoons corn starch, packed
4 large eggs, separated
2/3 cup (160ml) heavy cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
pinch of salt
2 1/3 cups (325g) all purpose flour
3 ½ teaspoons baking powder
Make the crumble: in a medium bowl, rub the butter through the flour, sugar, coconut and salt with your fingertips until it turns crumbly. Refrigerate while you make the cake.
Cake: preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F; butter a 20x30cm (8x12in) cake pan.
Place the melted the butter in a large bowl, then beat in the oil, sugar, passion fruit, corn starch, egg yolks, cream and vanilla. In another bowl, beat the egg whites and salt with a spotlessly clean whisk until it holds soft peaks when the whisk is pulled out. Sift and fold the flour and baking powder into the passion fruit mix, then fold in the egg whites gently and spoon into the prepared pan, smoothing the top.
Sprinkle the crumble evenly over the top of the cake then press gently to adhere. Bake for 40-50 minutes or until risen and golden and a skewer inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean. Cool completely in the pan over a wire rack.
Serves 15-18
Thursday, August 9, 2012
Passion fruit cake with coconut streusel
3 comments:
- Laura (Tutti Dolci) said...
We both have streusel on the brain today :). Beautiful cake!
- August 09, 2012
- The Procrastobaker said...
This looks like such a stunning recipe! Ive never baked with passion fruit but im absolutely dying to, this is definitely a top contender for when I get round to it!
- August 09, 2012
- Becky Bissell said...
Passion fruit, wow it looks a really lovely recipe. Might have to try this one really soon. Lovely photo also.
- August 10, 2012
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"Sculptors, Playful Works, Unconventional Materials", CNN Style, (October 2016), illus. (http://www.cnn.com/2016/10/04/arts/surreal-sculpture/)
Viktoriya Burlaka, "Adam Niklewicz's Poltava Jump", Art Ukraine, (May 2016), illus. (http://artukraine.com.ua/a/poltavskiy-pryzhok-adama-niklevicha/#.V2Bb864WVjm)
"Adam Niklewicz – To Gogol With Love", The re:art, (June 2016), illus. (http://thereart.ro/adam-niklewicz-to-gogol-with-love/)
Art with Attitude – New England Talent to Watch in 2016, Take Magazine, (December 2015/January 2016), illus.
EK Interview: Adam Niklewicz, Empty Kingdom, (October 2015), illus. (http://www.emptykingdom.com/featured/ek-interview-adam-niklewicz)
Elysian McNiff and Elizabeth Keithline, "Public Art: Preparing for the New Chapter", Art New England, (March/April 2013), illus. (http://artnewengland.com/ed_picks/public-art-preparing-for-the-next-chapter)
Suzannah Hills, "Careful, Wet Paint! The Invisible Graffiti That Only Shows up When There's Water on It", The Daily Mail (UK), (February 13, 2013), illus.
Rain Activated Art, IGNANT (Germany), (November 1, 2012), illus. (http://www.ignant.de/2012/11/01/rain-activated-art)
Sara Bertuccioli, "Il graffito che compare con l'acqua", The Huffington Post (Italy), (October 17, 2012), illus. (http://www.huffingtonpost.it/2012/10/17/-adam-niklewicz-disegna-una-quercia-su-una-sinagoga-sconsacrata-_n_1973888.html)
Patrick James, "This Public Art Project Appears Only When It Rains", Scientific American, (October 31, 2012), illus. (http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=this-public-art-appears-only-when-i-2012-10)
Adam Niklewicz, IGNANT (Germany), (April 23, 2012), illus. (http://www.ignant.de/2012/04/23/adam-niklewicz)
Lukasz Kropiowski, "Powszechne urojenia", Obieg (Poland), (October 17, 2011), illus. (http://www.obieg.pl/teksty/22701)
Steve Barnes, "Post-Gogol" at Slag, ARTnews, (May 2010), p. 117, illus.
POZA: On Polishness of Polish Contemporary Art, edited by Marek Bartelik, Real Art Ways / D.A.P., Hartford / New York, ©2008, pp. 108-113, illus.
"Room Service", Modern Painters Magazine, (July-August 2007), p. 20, illus.
"International Sculpture Center's Awards Presentation", Sculpture Magazine, (October 2006), p. 55, illus.
Roberta Hershenson, "Flirting With Fame", The New York Times, (Sunday, December 25, 2005),
Arts & Entertainment, section 14, WE, p. 6, illus.
"Apiary Art", The New York Times, (Sunday, December 11, 2005), Arts, section 14, WE, illus.
Alisa Solomon, "Art Makes a Difference", The Nation. (November 8, 2004), pp. 28-32, illus.
"A Political Canvas", The New York Times, (Sunday, September 5, 2004), section 14, CT, p. 13, illus.
L.P. Streitfeld, "Play House" Invites Audiences", The Stamford Advocate, (Sunday, July 18, 2004), Arts, pD3, illus.
Judy Birke, "Oriented, and Reoriented, in "Territories" at Artspace's untitled (space) gallery", New Haven Register, (Sunday, March 9, 2003), Arts, illus.
Margaret Wozniacki, "Artist's Installations Can Be Startling", The Herald, (Monday, December 11, 2002), A3.
Patricia Rosof, "Forget About it?, At RAW, a New Show About Memory", The Hartford Advocate, (Thursday, December 19, 2002), Arts & Entertainment, p.21, illus.
Alistair Highet, "Home Alone, Polish-born Artist in Two New Shows", Preview Connecticut, (December, 2002), pp. 27-31, illus.
Owen McNally, "Tribute to Christo in New Britain", The Hartford Courant, (Thursday, November 14, 2002), section Cal, illus.
"NEW/NOW: Adam Niklewicz", Art & Insight, (Autumn 2002), p.6, illus.
William Zimmer, "A Show of the Gritty and the Spiritual", The New York Times, (Sunday, January 13, 2002),
section 14, CT, p. 10, illus.
D. Dominick Lombardi, "Crossing Borders, and Not Just In Art", The New York Times, (Sunday, July 22, 2001),
section 14, CT, p. 10, illus.
D. Dominick Lombardi, "Eight Artists Cross the Border", The New York Times, (Sunday, July 15, 2001), section 14,
WE, p. 8, illus.
L.P. Streitfeld, "Focus on Color at Silvermine Excavates Intellectual Treasure", The Advocate & Greenwich Time,
(Sunday, July 8, 2001), Arts, p. D3, illus.
"Artists and Homelands", The New York Times, (Sunday, March 25, 2001), Section 14, p. 16.
L.P. Streitfeld, "Silvermine Guild Arts Center Springs Into the Zeitgeist", The Advocate & Greenwich Time,
(Sunday, April 1, 2001), Arts, D3, p.3, illus.
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(Friday, April 13, 2001), p. A-11, illus.
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(Sunday, May 28, 2000), Section 14, p.CT15, illus.
Valerie Cruice, "A Bit of Revelry for Art's Sake", The New York Times, (Sunday, November 7, 1999). Section 14, p.CT4, illus.
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(March/April 1999) p.4, illus.
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Now the complete ESV Bible comes alive in audio format! The new ESV Hear the Word Audio Bible provides more than 75 hours of Bible reading, conveniently captured on 7 MP3 discs for listening at home, in your car, or for loading on an MP3 player. Each disc is fully searchable, helping you easily locate the exact Bible chapter you are looking for. Packaged in a sturdy zipper pack, the ESV Hear the Word Audio Bible is ideal for busy commuters, people on the go, and for the visually impaired-anyone who prefers to listen to as well as read the Bible. Free ESV Bible Resources software offer included/
All Bibles guarantees all products to be free from defects in material or workmanship for 30 days. Most manufacturers and publishers offer limited warranties on their products from one year to life. For more information, see our returns policy.


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Updated with link to entire Canadiens schedule
The Montreal Canadiens today unveiled their 2007-08 schedule. They kick off the regular season Oct. 3 on the road against the Carolina Hurricanes. The team's home opener is on Oct. 13, again against the Hurricanes.
The final game of the season will be at the Bell Centre on Saturday, April 5 against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Continue reading to see the official release from the Habs.
View the complete Canadiens schedule here.
MONTREAL (July 11, 2007) – The Montreal Canadiens today released their schedule for the 2007-08 season. The team will open the season on the road, facing the Carolina Hurricanes, on Wednesday, October 3. The Canadiens' home opener at the Bell Centre will be on Saturday, October 13, also against the Hurricanes. The Canadiens' regular season will end on Saturday, April 5 against Toronto, at the Bell Centre after an 82-game schedule covering 186 days.
All weeknight games at the Bell Centre will start at 7:30 p.m., with the exception of the December 4 game against the Detroit Red Wings (7:00 p.m.). The traditional Saturday night home games will begin at 7:00 p.m. with the exception of three afternoon games. Those games will take place on Saturday, January 5 against Washington (1:00 p.m.), on Saturday, February 2 against the New York Islanders (2:00 p.m.), and on Sunday February 3 against the New York Rangers (2:00 p.m.), the latter two games will take place on Super Bowl weekend.
The Canadiens will face their division rivals (Boston, Buffalo, Ottawa and Toronto) eight times apiece. Four games will be played against each of the other teams from the Eastern Conference. The Canadiens will play 10 games versus Western Conference teams. They will visit the Pacific Division teams (Dallas, San Jose, Phoenix, Los Angeles and Anaheim), and will host at the Bell Centre the five clubs from the Central Division (Nashville, Detroit, Chicago, Columbus and St. Louis).
The Canadiens will play eight preseason games between September 17-29, including five games at the Bell Centre where they will face the Pittsburgh Penguins (twice), NY Islanders, Ottawa and Boston. Preseason games will be also be played in Moncton (September 10 vs. NY Islanders), in Halifax (September 23 vs. Boston) and in Ottawa (September 29).
All Canadiens games will be broadcasted on RDS, CJAD and CKAC. RDS will once again feature a number of Canadiens games for their Tuesday night broadcasts, a total of 19, the first one coming on October 16 against the Florida Panthers. Canadiens home games will be played at least once on each day of the week, with the exception of Wednesdays and Fridays. Saturday remains the busiest day on the schedule with 24 games featured, including 17 home contests.


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We Nurture Families of All Kinds
Family—so simple and yet so complicated. In our rapidly changing world, families are under more pressure than ever. When it comes to living life with courage, compassion, and connectedness, all of us could use a little help.
We help families live more balanced, resiliant, and joyful lives. And it all begins with the affirmation your familiy will find in Unitarian Universalism.
To us, family is a big tent. Family means chosen family, family of origin, second family, blended family, adoptive family, extended family. Family means two married men with three cats, a grandmother raising her granddaughter, a single adult with far-flung siblings, and a man and a woman with four kids. We celebrate the full spectrum of sexual orientations and gender identities that families include. We nurture all kinds of families, helping families be resilient and loving.
Our programs for all ages are built on this vision:
All people are lovable beings of infinite worth, imbued with powers of the soul. We are obligated to use our gifts, talents, and potentials in the service of life.
Our sexuality education programs for children, youth, and adults are positive, inclusive, and increase parent-child communication about values.
Our family resources help parents talk with children about difficult things, and connect with the soul of parenting.
Our congregations as a whole embrace families, providing loving support through the joys and stresses of family life. We walk, and grow, with you. Connect with a congregation near you to begin the journey.


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SAN BERNARDINO, CA- The San Bernardino Black Culture Foundation is happy to announce the 2014 Senior King and Queen, Heck and Barbara Thomas. Barbara was born in Six, West Virginia and raised in Baltimore, Maryland and Sanford, North Carolina. Heck was born and raised in Meridian, Mississippi. They have been residents of Highland since 1985 and Heck retired from the United States Air Force in 1988. They are the proud parents of Yolanda, grandparents of Kristy and Kamari, and great-grandparents of Jaxson. The Thomas' have been very active in San Bernardino. They attend the Traditional Community Fellowship Chapel in Highland, a church started by the military men and women who were stationed at Norton Air Force Base. Barbara served as Women Auxiliary Chairperson, special events planner, and is in charge of social activities and raising funds to support the church ministry. She also volunteered as a mentor for some of the adult students at the San Bernardino Adult School who did not have positive female influences in their lives. She worked for ten years in the Army and Air Force Exchange Service at Norton and Malmstrom (Montana) until her medical retirement in 1989. She was a member of the Non-Commissioned Officers Wives club and a member of the Radiant Rubies of Highland, a chapter of the Red Hat Society.
Heck was employed by the San Bernardino County Department of Behavioral Health from 1988 to 1996 as a Mental Health Employment Specialist; a Teacher on Assignment for The San Bernardino City Unified School District and worked at the San Bernardino Adult School from 1996-2010. He has been active in the community, serving as church executive board president, past president and board member of the Kiwanis Club of Highland, past president and board member of the Frazee Community Center, past San Bernardino chapter president of the California Council of Adult Educators and has worked and volunteered with programs to assist the homeless for over 25 years. Heck has also served with the Highland Youth Accountability Board. He has received the Black Rose Award from the San Bernardino Black Culture Foundation, several Kiwanian of the Year Awards, Hixson Fellow, Dunlap Fellow, and several Kiwanis Distinguished Service Awards. He is also the recipient of the George McCune Collaborative Award.
They are both enjoying retirement, community service, and spending quality time with their great grandson, Jaxson.