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Clinical Study | Open Access
Nunzia Giordano, Valérie Tikhonoff, Paolo Palatini, Anna Bascelli, Giovanni Boschetti, Fabia De Lazzari, Carla Grasselli, Bortolo Martini, Sandro Caffi, Antonio Piccoli, Alberto Mazza, Patrizia Bisiacchi, Edoardo Casiglia, "Cognitive Functions and Cognitive Reserve in Relation to Blood Pressure Components in a Population-Based Cohort Aged 53 to 94 Years", International Journal of Hypertension, vol. 2012, Article ID 274851, 8 pages, 2012. https://doi.org/10.1155/2012/274851
Cognitive Functions and Cognitive Reserve in Relation to Blood Pressure Components in a Population-Based Cohort Aged 53 to 94 Years
In 288 men and women from general population in a cross-sectional survey, all neuropsychological tests were negatively associated with age; memory and executive function were also positively related with education. The hypertensives (HT) were less efficient than the normotensives (NT) in the test of memory with interference at 10 sec (MI-10) (−33%, ), clock drawing test (CLOX) (−28%, ), and mini-mental state examination (MMSE) (−6%, ). Lower MMSE, MI-10, and CLOX were predicted by higher systolic (odds ratio, OR, 0.97, ; OR 0.98, ; OR 0.95, ) and higher pulse blood pressure (BP) (OR 0.97, ; OR 0.97, ; and 0.95, ). The cognitive reserve index (CRI) was 6% lower in the HT () and was predicted by higher pulse BP (OR 0.82, ). The BP vectors of lower MMSE, MI-10, and CLOX were directed towards higher values of systolic and diastolic BP, that of low CRI towards higher systolic and lower diastolic. The label of hypertension and higher values of systolic or pulse BP are associated to worse memory and executive functions. Higher diastolic BP, although insufficient to impair cognition, strengthens this association. CRI is predicted by higher systolic BP associated to lower diastolic BP.
1. Introduction
Dementia represents a considerable public health issue in developed countries due to progressive increase of affected individuals occurring with rapid ageing of population [1–3]. Actually, high blood pressure (BP) is one of the most important factors negatively affecting the modalities of cerebral aging [2–4]. Cerebral damage is mediated by changes in cerebral vasculature affecting both large and small vessels: the macrovascular atherosclerotic disease causes brain infarcts (either clinically evident as stroke, or silent), the microvascular disease results in chronic ischaemic changes affecting the white matter to a large extent [5, 6]. The outcome of single or multiple events is a stepwise progression to multi-infarct dementia, and that of chronic microvascular damage is a continuous progression from mild cognitive alterations to overt vascular dementia [5, 6].
The right approach to this problem is to place emphasis on preventive strategies to identify and counterbalance the risk factors at a population level.
Although hypoperfusion and neurodegeneration have emerged as possible underlying mechanisms, the pathophysiology of the relationship between high BP and low cognition remains unclear. Not only this, but also the BP levels that should be targeted to achieve optimal perfusion while preventing cognitive decline are still being debated [3–6]. Furthermore, it is uncertain if, to preserve cognition, it is better to keep low systolic BP, diastolic BP, or both.
The aim of the present study is to investigate the relationships of the different components of BP with cognitive function and cognitive reserve in a representative sample of general population and to identify the domains most affected.
2. Methods
2.1. Study Population
All men and women aged ≥50 years living in two Italian towns were invited by letter for a screening; 1,377 (76%) agreed with the study protocol, gave informed consent, and were recruited and regularly followed up; 288 randomly selected subjects (164 men and 124 women) underwent the neuropsychological tests described below and were considered for the analysis of data in the present work. Their general characteristics did not differ significantly from those of the remaining part of the sample (data not shown). The protocol of the LEOGRA study was extensively described elsewhere [7–9]. The study subjects, whose general characteristics are shown in Table 1, were seen by a staff of specialists at an ad hoc hospital unit, received a Rose's questionnaire about clinical history, smoking habits, and lifestyle, and underwent BP measurements in triplicate by trained medical doctors by means of an automatic 705 IT device (Omron Europe, Hoofddorp, Netherlands); the average of the last two measurements was taken into account for the analysis of data, and every effort was made to avoid terminal digit preference. Pulse pressure (PP) was defined as the difference between systolic and diastolic BP values.
|Mean ± standard deviation is provided for continuous variables, percent values for categorical variables. HOMA-R: homeostasis model assessment index; TSH: thyrotropin.
2.2. Neuropsychological Assessment
Cognitive assessment was performed by means of mini-mental state examination (MMSE) [10] and a comprehensive neuropsychological battery of validated tests "paper and pencil" [11] relevant for exploring the areas of cognitive functions putatively related to cognitive decline.
Short-term memory was studied by means of digit span [12], long-term memory by means of immediate and delayed prose memory [11], and working memory with interference at 10 seconds [11]. The executive functions were explored using memory with interference at 30 seconds [11], the trail making test B [13], the phonemic verbal fluency test [14], and the Clock drawing test [15]. Attention was studied by means of the trail making test A [13] and of the overlapping figures [16].
The entire battery of tests was administered in a single session which took approximately two hours to complete. The digit span [12] consisted of memorization and repetition of a series of numbers. In immediate and delayed prose memory [11], a prose passage containing 30 words was presented to each participant on a one-to-one basis; immediate verbatim recalls were assessed, followed by a 10-minute delayed verbatim recall. In the tests of memory with interference at 10 and 30 seconds (MI 10 and MI 30, resp.), the participants were requested to recall a consonant trigram after an interval delays during which they had to count backward starting from a 3-digit random number presented by the examiner immediately after the trigram [11]. The overlapping figure was composed of 50 objects integrated into one perceptual unit [16]. Phonemic verbal fluency [14] required participants to generate appropriate names in a fixed period of time. In the trail making test A (TMT-A), subjects were required to connect with line progressive numbers, and in the TMT-B progressive numbers and letters [13]. In the clock drawing test (CLOX), the participant was instructed to draw a clock indicating 2 : 45 h, setting the hands and numbers on the face "so that a child could read them" [15]. The entire battery of tests was administered in a single session which took approximately 2 hours to complete.
The results of the neuropsychological battery were compared to the normative sample for Italian subjects aged ≥50 years [11]. This sample was also used to produce individual normal values for each test and to stratify subjects into those showing normal and impaired cognitive function.
Cognitive reserve index (CRI)—the ability to optimize and maximize performance through recruitment of brain networks and/or compensation by alternative cognitive strategies—was also measured through a validated questionnaire [17] to explore the difference between individuals in their capacity to cope with or compensate for pathology.
2.3. Definitions and Cut-off Values
The label of arterial hypertension [18] required systolic blood pressure ≥140 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure ≥90 mmHg or history of hypertension or appropriate antihypertensive treatment or hospital discharge with diagnosis-related group (DRG) 401–404 or 40200–40290 or 40300–40391. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated as the weight/squared height ratio, and obesity was defined as BMI ≥30 kg/m2. Truncal obesity was defined as suprailiac/triceps skinfold ≥2.24 in men or ≥1.32 in women [19].
Left ventricular hypertrophy required a left ventricular mass index ≥125 g/m2 in men or ≥110 g/m2 in women [20].
Subjects were labelled as diabetic when having fasting blood glucose repeatedly ≥126 mg/dL, blood glucose ≥140 mg/dL two hours after 75 g oral glucose, blood glucose ≥200 mg/dL at casual measurement, or current antidiabetic treatment confirmed by general practitioner [21]. As a measure of insulin resistance, the homeostasis model assessment index [22] was calculated from HOMA-R = (circulating insulin in μU/mL) × (fasting blood glucose in mmol/L)/22.5.
History was positive for coronary artery disease when the Minnesota code was 1.2, 1.2, or 1.3 if absent 6.4.1, or 4.1 or 4.4 if absent 6.4.1, 7.1.1, and 7.2.1, or 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, or 5.4 if absent 6.4.1, 7.7.1, 7.2.1, and 7.4, or akinesia or dyskinesia were present at echocardiogram, or in the presence of positive myocardial scintigraphy or stress test, or of positive history of myocardial infarction or angina pectoris confirmed by hospital files, or in chronic appropriate antianginal treatment, or in the presence of hospital discharge with diagnosis-related group 410–414.
History was positive for cerebrovascular disease when in the presence of neurological signs, on positive history of stroke or transient ischaemic attack, or positive TC or MR or on hospital discharge with DRG 430–438.
Education was defined as years of schooling. MMSE was defined as low when scoring <24, MI-10, and CLOX when below the first tertile.
2.4. Statistical Analysis
Continuous variables were expressed as mean and standard deviation and compared with analysis of variance and the post hoc Bonferroni's correction. Categorical variables were expressed as percent rates and compared with the Pearson's test. Multivariate regression analysis was used to identify the variables having a prognostic role on cognitive decline.
The label of "hypertension" was first used to stratify subjects, and the two categories (normotensive, hypertensive) were compared. The systolic and diastolic BP components were then used as independent variables in multivariate regression analyses having the test scores as dependent. Finally, as a unitary representation of the systolic and diastolic components [23], pulse pressure was used in the same multiple regressions.
Gender, age, BMI, historical cerebrovascular, and coronary events, education, arterial hypertension, diabetes, and antihypertensive treatment were used as covariables in multivariate analysis.
Finally, the joint distribution of mean systolic and diastolic BP was evaluated by BP vector analysis (mean vector with 95% confidence intervals) in subjects having normal or impaired test performance. This method has been described elsewhere [23–26] and is detailed in the Appendix.
2.5. Ethical Considerations
The investigation met the principles outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki and institutional guidelines and was approved by the Local Ethics Committee. Before the study and after consulting his/her own general practitioner, each subject accepted and signed an informed consent.
3. Results
3.1. Descriptive Analysis of the Cohort
The cohort characteristics are shown in Table 1. Men represented 43% of the cohort, and age at examination was years (range 53 to 94). Years of education were on average (range 2 to 18).
No significant difference was detected between men and women. Consequently, the subsequent analysis was irrespective of gender.
3.2. Neuropsychological Tests
The scores of neuropsychological tests were not different from those expected for a normal group of reference persons of the same age [11]. In multiple regression analysis, all tests were related negatively with age. Prose memory, memory with interference, and executive function were also positively related with education (Table 2).
|: partial regression coefficient; SE: standard error of the coefficient; NS: nonsignificant.
4After stratifying subjects according to the ESH/WHO label of hypertension [18] (Table 3), MMSE score was 6.2% lower in the hypertensives than in the normotensives. After adjustment for age and education, MI-10 and CLOX were performed less efficiently (−26% and −28%, resp.) in the former than in the latter. The other tests were carried out with comparable performance in the two groups.
|95% confidence intervals in brackets; NS: nonsignificant difference.
In multiple regression analysis adjusted for age and education, both systolic BP and PP resulted to be independent predictors of MMSE, with MI-10 and CLOX, while the diastolic component taken alone did not (Table 4).
|95% confidence intervals in brackets; : partial regression coefficients; NS: nonsignificant.
When systolic and diastolic BPs were analyzed together with bivariate vector analysis, the 95% confidence ellipses of the mean of the pair of variables "systolic BP; diastolic BP" obtained from subjects showing low MMSE, MI-10 and CLOX did not overlap ( nonsignificant) with those obtained from subjects showing normal performance; subjects with impairment were displaced towards higher systolic and higher diastolic BP values (arrow in Figure 1).
CRI was 6% lower in the hypertensives than in the normotensives (Table 3) and inversely predicted by PP in multiple regression model adjusted for age and education (Table 4). In bivariate vector analysis, the BP vector of impaired CRI was directed towards significantly higher values of systolic and lower values of diastolic BP (Figure 2), that is, higher values of PP.
4. Discussion
High BP is known to be a risk factor for cognitive decline, and many studies demonstrated a relationship between BP levels and cognitive impairment [27–30]. This association was confirmed in the present study, where high BP contributed to cognitive decline in a representative sample of general population of men and women. In our experience, this decline in subjects who were labeled as "hypertensive" according to current guidelines was not indiscriminate, but limited to working memory, executive functions, and global performance, while attention, language, visuospatial, and processing speed abilities were not affected. According to other authors [3], the systolic component of BP was associated to cognitive decline, while high diastolic BP per se was not and only acted as a factor able to increase the detrimental effect of high systolic values. In fact, diastolic BP was not an independent predictor in multivariate analysis, but (at least for the three tests shown in Figure 1) the BP vector of cognitive impairment was directed towards higher values of both systolic and diastolic.
The reasons of the association between arterial hypertension and impaired cognition are not completely understood, even though knowledge in this field is increasing. It is established that high BP causes directly or indirectly cerebral vascular damage (mainly via atherosclerosis in the larger vessels and oxidative stress in vascular wall [31]) and is also responsible for structural alterations in small-caliber vessels (particularly in the perforating arteries irrigating the cerebral white matter [32]). The macrovascular disease due to chronically high BP causes brain infarcts; the microvascular disease is associated to chronic ischaemic changes affecting the white matter and leading to multi-infarct dementia [33]. Not only this, but also it has been suggested that the vascular lesions accompanying high BP have a permissive effect on the clinical expression of Alzheimer's disease [34].
In our experience, the cognitive reserve was 6% lower in hypertensive than in normotensive subjects. The idea of a reserve against brain damage comes from the observation that the relationship between brain damage degree and clinical manifestation is not linear [35]. The cognitive reserve model suggests that the brain actively attempts coping with brain damage by using preexisting cognitive processing approaches or by enlisting compensatory approaches [36]. For this reason, a given brain damage can have different effects on different subjects, and individuals can sustain considerable brain damage before showing functional deficit [37]. Our impression is that high systolic and low diastolic BP have to coexist before the cognitive reserve becomes impaired. In fact, in our experience, CRI correlated inversely with PP, but not with systolic or diastolic BP taken separately. Furthermore, when systolic and diastolic were considered as a whole, the BP vector of lower values of CRI was directed towards higher systolic and lower diastolic, indicating that higher PP actually had a detrimental role on cognitive reserve greater than the systolic and diastolic components taken separately; +6 mmHg systolic and −1 mmHg diastolic were sufficient to stratify subjects into having lower or higher CRI.
In conclusion, our study contributes to the belief that a link exists between BP and cognition, higher values of systolic BP being associated to impaired cognitive function. Although high BP is not sufficient per se to reduce cognitive performance, higher values of diastolic BP are counterproductive in subjects with high systolic. This effect is not indiscriminate but limited to a set of functions and is probably mediated by impairment of vascular reserve and microvascular disease. Measures aimed at reducing or keeping low BP (particularly systolic BP) are mandatory in middle age to keep good cognitive abilities in late life. This underscores a need to consider pharmacological and nonpharmacological interventions to control arterial stiffening and maintain arterial compliance.
This study is novel in that it highlights the accessory role of diastolic in addition to systolic BP in modulating cognitive functions at a population level. Not only this, but also it clarifies that the cognitive decline accompanying high BP is not indiscriminate, but limited to memory and executive functions. Finally, it introduces in the estimation of cognitive decline an innovative concept, that of CRI, that seems to be particularly affected by pulse pressure.
For readers less familiar with multivariate analysis, we report the basic definitions of multivariate confidence intervals as well as formulae for their calculations in the particular case of the assumption of the bivariate normal distribution for blood pressure vector (BP = SBP on axis, DBP on axis). Confidence interval is the inferential statistical interval for a given parameter (such as a mean value) investigated. It is the region in the parameter space to which is assigned the probability ( is some fixed probability, typically 0.05) that the parameter vector lies within. The confidence interval of the mean of the univariate normal distribution is formed by two values (limits), while the interval of the mean vector of the multinormal distribution is an ellipsoid centered at the mean vector, which reduces to a hypersphere when the correlation coefficients between pairs of variables are zero. When the confidence ellipsoids of two mean vectors overlap, the null hypothesis of equality of the two mean vectors cannot be rejected with the significance level (i.e., nonsignificant Hotelling's test). The confidence interval becomes smaller with increasing sample size, and in a very large population, the confidence interval converges to the parameter vector (i.e., the mean vector point). The 95% confidence ellipses of several BP mean (bivariate) vectors are depicted in Figures 1 and 2.
Both approximate and exact methods are available for calculations of confidence ellipses of a bivariate normal distribution. Our modified version of the exact methods utilizes common statistics of the simple linear correlation analysis. Given pairs of observations and , with standard deviations and and correlation coefficient , and for a given probability level α (e.g., ), take the Snedecor's value with 2 and degrees of freedom. The semiaxes and and the slopes and of the axes of the confidence ellipses can be calculated using (A.1) and (A.2), respectively, where for confidence ellipses
Conflict of Interests
The authors declare no conflict of interests.
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Copyright © 2012 Nunzia Giordano et al. 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.


text: Guest snnib Posted November 17, 2008 Hi there, I have a couple of problems that I have put up with now for some time but now I wish to tap the knowledge that is out there.1 - Is to do with the graphics when using FS2004. I just do not seem to be able to get rid of the chunky graphics - the outline of the aircraft is never even - unless I am viewing side on. I have farted around with all sorts of settings (not that I really understand things very well) but always I end up with the same. How can I get those clean lines please? I have even messed around with RivaTuner 211 and nHancer32-2.4.2 but to be honest I don't really know what I am doing. Silly ole me.2 - Also to do with graphics - I have 2 monitors running @ 1920 X 1200 but when I go into windowed mode to put my overhead panel on the 2nd monitor and then go back to full screen mode the overheadpanel has dropped to a much lower resolution and looks terrible. It is OK if I stay in windowed mode but I much prefer full screen. What is happening there please?3 - The sound in aircraft engines always seems to pulse its not a level constant sound - so to speak. I do not have a soundcard except the one onboard the motherboard and that runs using Realtek drivers. Would a 3rd party card be better and if so what would you recommend please?My outfit is GA-965P-DS3 motherboard NX8800GTS Graphics card 2Gb DDR2 1066 ram Intel Core 2 duo E8400 3gig CPUHope that I will be able to resolve these issues with your kind help. Many thanks in advance.Richard Share this post Link to post Share on other sites

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Dear Sister, This is about a girl who just caught her bus. She is one of us. She wants to… Read more Dear Sister
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Like most people, I was glued to the Olympics. I love how so many people, who aren't normally into sport, got sucked in. I don't know if it was the same in other countries but here in the UK that happened to so many people! It also helped that Team GB had our most successful Olympics for 100 years and that we were hosting!
As I've posted before, I was fortunate enough to get tickets to 5 sessions. These were 2 men's handball quarter finals, both women's basketball semi finals and the bronze medal match.
We went to London last Tuesday evening and stayed until Sunday morning (thanks to my brother for the hospitality!)
On Wednesday, we had the handball events in the Olympic Park. We decided to go to West Ham station rather than Stratford, reasoning that though it was a longer walk, the queues would be shorter. As soon as I got off the train there were signs pointing the way and outside the station were several volunteers to direct people. All the volunteers throughout the week were excellent. They were unfailingly friendly, helpful and enthusiastic.
On arrival at the Olympic Park, we were straight through security without having to wait at all – very smooth! The Park was impressive but was swarming with people. We had a wander around before making our way over to the Basketball Arena (where, confusingly, the handball was being held).
Handball is enormous fun and we should really play it in this country. I'd love to play. It's energetic, frenetic, high-scoring and a little bit violent! We cheered for Spain against France in the first match, but in an very dramatic ending, France scored the winning goal in literally the last second of the game.
The atmosphere was fun – with both teams being from western Europe they had plenty of fans in the crowd so there were chants of "Allez les blues" and "Espana!" The organisers made good use of music, playing "I get knocked down, and I get up again" when a player is injured, and "Sit down next to me" when someone got a two minute suspension, as well as upbeat music to keep the energy up during breaks.
After that we had a good few hours to kill before the next game so we wandered around the Park some more, went to one of the shops, got some food and parked ourselves by the big screen to watch the action from other events. While we were there they brought some of the Team GB swimmers to be interviewed, including Liam Tancock who came 5th in thee 100m backstroke. They all signed autographs and took pictures with people which was nice to see and the crowd gave them a round of applause.
Then we headed to the next match; this time it was Tunisia vs Croatia. We supported Croatia and they won!
The Olympic Stadium was lit up beautifully at night, and even the Orbit Tower looked better.
The following day we headed to the O2 (renamed The North Greenwich Arena due to sponsorship restrictions) for the basketball. As it was a bigger venue we were much further away, but it was still a good time. The first match was Australia vs USA. Australia did very well to keep the scores close but as predicted, the USA won to advance to the gold medal match.
There was a little break before our next match so we stopped for a drink in Jamaica House terrace, which was supposed to be a bit of a home away from home for the Jamaican team and their supporters. Then we found our way to the inside section of the bar which had two big screens showing footage from the athletics. The Jamaican fans went crazy cheering on their women's 4×100 relay team in their semi final. The atmosphere was incredible! I dearly wish we could have stayed to watch the 200m final (which ended as a Jamaican 1 2 3) but it was at 8.55 and our next match was at 9. I can't even imagine how loud they would have been for that!
The next match was France vs Russia, which France won reasonably comfortably, helped by a short player named Celine Dumerc. She was probably about 5ft 6 but most of the players were six foot plus.
The next day we didn't have any tickets, so my brother and I decided to go to Hyde Park and try to catch some of the men's open water 10km marathon swim. We happened to be walking past the very end of the course right as they came past us and the crowds weren't as thick there, so we stayed there for a few minutes as the swimmers passed.
In the afternoon the friend I went with and I met up for a tour of the Houses of Parliament. I'd never heard of these but saw an advert at a station and thought it might be worth doing. The tour was £15 and we got to see the Queen's Robing Room, the main lobby, the House of Lords, House of Commons and other rooms. Not bad! Then we had a very enjoyable evening in the pub!
The following morning we went to Richmond Park for a quick look around before heading to our final event, the Bronze Medal basketball match. I continued cheering for Australia and they won, after both teams settled down from a nervy start.
That was the end of our Olympic experience and I was sad it was all over! We had a great time and it was wonderful seeing foreign tourists and even athletes (I saw Chinese, German and Polish athletes) all enjoying the city and the Games.
Roll on the Paralympics and roll on Rio 2016!


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DERO: DAG + Cryptonote + Bulletproofs + SSL + POW + Smart Contracts
Goal: The goal of the Dero project is a blockchain network that can serve businesses and individuals around the globe allowing for secure, fast and anonymous transactions and smart contract execution.
Key Stats:
Circ Supply: 5,470,051
Max Supply: 18,400,000
Exchanges: TradeOgre, STEX, Crex24, South Exchange, Bitalong, Cryptopia (TBC)
Wallets available: Windows, Linux, Mac, Web Wallet
Proof-of-work (PoW) algorithm: CryptoNight
Premine: 2 million (10% of supply)
1 million is locked for Dev's for release over 4 years 20% 20% 30% 30% and other
1 million is unlocked for funding, exchanges, marketing etc.
Tech Specs:
12 Second Block Time
2 Minute Confirmation Time
DAG Blockchain
No Orphan Blocks
No Soft Forks
SSL/TLS P2P Network
CryptoNote: Fully Encrypted Blockchain
Bulletproofs NZIK
Ring Signatures
Fully Auditable Supply
Written From Scratch In Golang
1.25MB Block Size
DERO is led by a team of three developers, headed up by 'The Captain', who has over 10 years experience in Cryptography and Blockchain Development.
The team are intent on developing revolutionary blockchain technology and have already achieved a world's first when they completely rewrote the CryptoNote protocol from scratch, in Golang earlier this year.
DERO is 50x faster than Bitcoin, immune to double spend attacks and will soon have smart contracts enabled as we move towards the end of Q4. This enforces their three pillars of speed, security and privacy.
As this review is more of an overview of all aspects of the project, I won't delve too much into the specifics of the technology and why it's so important, as that would be an entire review on it's own. However to summarise – the key feature of this technology is that it incorporates traditional PoW consensus methodology over a DAG Blockchain, soon to have Smart Contracts implemented and the ability to massively scale.
For a more informative and well thought explanation of the technical aspects of DERO refer to this article by Cryptonator1337.
The goal this year for DERO was first to release Atlantis (their testnet), focus on any bugs in the code and then release the full product. Now they have achieved these milestones they are beginning to turn their attention towards marketing and recruiting some high profile Twitter marketers along the way.
It is evident they are keen to provide a high quality image for the coin to coincide with the underlying technology. The website is smart, clean and professional and they are creating high quality, polished videos such as this YouTube introduction to DERO video.
DCAB – For smaller coins that aren't able to bring in millions of dollars during an ICO, community always plays a key role in word of mouth advertising, guerilla marketing strategies and bounties used for language translations for white papers etc.
For this reason DERO created the Dero Community Advisory Board. This team was created employing highly skilled members of the community in order to help grow the project in all required aspects. DCAB boasts the following experience:
128+ years experience working in a professional capacity
56+ years business leadership experience
23+ years experience with crypto
1 PhD, 2 Masters Degrees, 1 MBA
Specialists in the fields of Distributed Systems, Networking, Consensus Algorithms, Marketing and Early-Stage Growth (to name but a few).
More information on DCAB can be found here.
DERO Foundation – Although little is known about the DERO foundation it is believed that it could be related to ensuring that DERO is compliant with certain regulations that are required to work with businesses. It states on their site:
"The goal of the Dero project is a blockchain network that can serve businesses and individuals around the globe, allowing for secure, fast and anonymous transactions and smart contract execution."
And again in the September monthly update:
"Dero foundation is in progress and will be incorporated in the light of new regulations. We expect Dero foundation to be incorporated within 2018".
Finally, to further engage the growing community, the first official DERO meetup has been organised and will be held later this year in Germany – date and venue TBC.
In the September issue of the monthly DERO update The Captain stated that:
"As everyone knows it's not easy to get listed on exchanges. But as Dero blockchain has so many first and innovations exchanges are showing interests in Dero and some have even lowered their listing fees."
This is quite an achievement and speaks volumes that a number of exchanges are willing to reduce their fees as they acknowledge the technology behind the coin, and recognise the innovations that DERO are driving forward.
The Dero team have successfully completed every major milestone of their roadmap on time this year which is always a huge achievement and signifies a cohesive team and project. Still to come in Q4 are Smart Contracts and the Dero Foundation. A detailed roadmap can be seen below:
I was lucky enough to speak with The Captain, the lead developer and creator of DERO, who kindly took time out of his busy schedule to answer a few questions I had about the project.
Whilst his answers were brief, it's evident that his main focus is on constantly improving the core technology of the project and is open to any suggestions for improvements.
One of the things that also resonated with me is The Captain's openness and desire for anyone from the community who wants to contribute to the project to put their name forward. This is often the case with projects that haven't gone through an ICO but also reaffirms my earlier point around establishing a strong community to support the coin.
CS: What in your view makes DERO superior to its competitors?
Captain: That's for you guys to decide. We are trying to build one of the most practical and usable blockchains. Please let us know what more should be included.
CS: Can you provide an update on the progress of the DERO foundation?
Captain: The DERO foundation will be sure in the coming months. Lets focus and get the tech first: DVM. (Dero Virtual Machines)
CS: You recently partnered up with @Cryptonator1337, a well respected name in the Crypto community and you have recently been added on Crex24. Are we now seeing the start of a marketing push?
Captain: The Dero community is already doing a lot and there is more to come. At the moment the focus is core technology.
CS: The lock-up of the pre-mine to be released over a number of years shows a great dedication to the project. Are you planning to expand the team at any point?
Captain: Anyone committed and dedicated is welcome.
CS: The Captain promised something "revolutionary" is on the horizon. Can you shed any more light on this?
Captain: We recently released the Dero web wallet which runs completely inside a web browser and it just requires the Dero daemon to connect to the network.
CS: You've achieved all the goals set out on your roadmap this year and with Smart Contracts currently being developed for Q4. What does 2019 hold for DERO?
Captain: During this journey we solved lots of unexpected and unforeseen problems and also improved the existing ones. Dero core crypto is several times faster and more changes will be there in the future to further improve the performance and scalability. There are some awesome plans for Dero in 2019.
DERO is an incredibly ambitious project. They have security and privacy features baked into their code from testnet which some hugely established projects have only just started to implement e.g. Monero's recent addition of Bulletproofs.
Private Smart Contracts on Mainnet are due before the end of Q4 as well as something "revolutionary" which the lead dev Captain has promised.
Listing all of the above characteristics leads me to envision DERO as a hybrid of BTC, ETH and Monero allowing for Speed, Scalability, Smart Contracts and Privacy. As DERO is already 50x faster than BTC, has better privacy features than Monero and is soon to implement Smart Contracts – this impressive technology stack could soon be an industry leader.
For a project on such small exchanges DERO has achieved an incredible buzz across social media and is finally getting the recognition it deserves.They have just been listed on Crex24 and Cryptopia is expected in the coming weeks.
With all the features that are due to be implemented along with a huge marketing push, this coin has the potential to astound the Crypto community in 2019!
The Daily Chain – The Leading Site for Unique and Informative Daily Crypto Content


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It has been an incredible 2012 for us and we want to start by thanking all of you. Enjoy the discounts below so you can put a little something for yourself under the tree. Be sure to include a gift card on your holiday gift lists.
Bitchin Seats is getting ready to come out of our "slow" season, every January we always begin our year in full swing. It seems that all our valued clients gear up and begin prepping for riding season. It may seem like we may have just put our bikes away for the winter but riding season will be here before you know it. We recommend getting any of your orders in sooner than later because as we creep into January, our lead times will extend.


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McDonalds Swamp State Game Reserve will be the first demonstration project under Victoria's Sustainable Hunting Action Plan (SHAP).
A key objective of the Plan is to ensure sustainable hunting through cooperation with hunting organisations to improve habitat, management of pest species and improved data collection.
$200,000 has been allocated under SHAP for the demonstration project at McDonalds Swamp SGR which will be used to improve habitat. The collaborative project will see Field & Game Australia working with Parks Victoria, the North Central Catchment Management Authority and Sporting Shooters Association of Australia (Vic).
McDonalds Swamp SGR is the first of two demonstration sites to be chosen. The project follows the audit of all State Game Reserves which highlighted gaps in management regimes, access and signage.
The collaboration with hunting organisations will develop new new management principles which will be demonstrated on site.
Field & Game Australia development manager Daryl Snowdon said the chosen SGR has had ongoing issues with the ability to manage appropriate water levels which has resulted in an abundance of reeds and little open water.
"This is a great opportunity to address those issues so the wetland can benefit more effectively from the watering plan that has been in place for several years," he said.


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Yes, she is a suffragette, and yes, that is her scooter. English socialite and activist Florence Priscilla, Lady Norman, CBE was given this Autoped as a birthday present by her husband, Sir Henry Norman. She used it to travel to her office in central London.
Florence was following in her mother's footsteps in her active support for women's suffrage. Her CBE (Commander of the British Empire) came when she ran a hospital in France during World War I.
Kick scooters — a flat board on wheels with a long handle at the front, propelled by foot — have been made for at least 100 years as toys for children. Florence's Autoped was one of the first examples of motorised kick scooters. Like a child's scooter, it had no seat.
Manufactured in New York and Germany by Krupps, the U.S. postal service tested the Autoped as a means of fast transport for its special delivery service. The foldable scooter was also reportedly used as a quick getaway machine by New York gangs, racing down narrow alleys beyond the reach of police cars.
Other manufacturers followed: ABC Motorcycles produced the Skootamota, which had a top speed of 15 mph (24 km/h), and The Gloster Aircraft Company introduced the Reynolds Runabout in 1919, followed by the Unibus in 1920. The Unibus was promoted as the "car on two wheels."
Some of these early scooter designs were unstable, uncomfortable to ride and difficult to handle. The decades leading up to World War II saw the gradual introduction of a range of refinements, including efficient lights and brakes, gears, suspension, enclosed bodies and leg shields.
During the 1930s, scooters were introduced to a new market as the ideal mode of transport at large, sprawling military bases. Ironically, the era of the scooter truly began after the war — a direct result of fuel rationing.
c. 1915
Image: Underwood Archives/Getty Images
June 1919
Image: Topical Press Agency/Getty Images
Image: Boyer/Roger Viollet/Getty Images
c. 1920
Image: Alfred Gross/ullstein bild via Getty Images
c. 1921
Image: Topical Press Agency/Getty Images
c. 1925
Image: Roger Viollet/Getty Images
Image: Bettmann/CORBIS
Image: Keystone/Corbis
c. 1937
Image: Hulton Archive/Getty Images
Image: Bettmann/CORBIS
Image: Heinz Fremke/ullstein bild via Getty Images
c. 1938
Image: Archive Photos/Getty Images


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Experiencing a technical issue?
It might be your browser. Breakthrough Broker operates best in the latest and greatest version of Google Chrome. We also work well in Firefox and Safari. Unfortunately, we don't play well in the sandbox with Internet Explorer.
If you are using Internet Explorer or an outdated browser, this may be the source of the problem. Not to fear, it's an easy fix.
Our browser of choice is Chrome. Click here to download Google Chrome. If you're currently using Chrome, here's how you update your browser;
- On your computer, open Chrome.
- At the top right, click More More.
- Click Update Google Chrome. Important: If you don't see this button, you're on the latest version.
- Click Relaunch.
Here's how to update your browser if you're using FireFox;
- Select the menu button > Help > About Firefox.
- Firefox will then begin checking for updates and will download them automatically.
- When the download is complete, click Restart to update Firefox.
If you are using Safari, you can update your browser by installing the latest macOS updates. Learn more here!
Please note if you are using Internet Explorer, we highly recommend updating your browser to one of the above for an optimal experience on our, and many other sites.
For additional support email us at email@example.com.


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Before speaking to a receptive crowd about the dangers of climate change on Earth Day in Washington DC late last month, Director James Cameron spoke to The Epoch Times about the key to success in his movies, Titanic and Avatar, and how they relate to the themes of the day's rally. He said that the films were not about simply changing people's thoughts but affecting them on a subconscious level.
"Both Titanic and Avatar have certain things in common," Mr. Cameron said. For instance, "They both are good stories," both exemplify strong characters, and "both films are orchestrated in such a way that has an emotional effect on people."
Each of the films "taps into the angst of the zeitgeist of the future," Mr. Cameron explained. In this reading, Titanic becomes a metaphor of the destruction of the world and the class system; Avatar presents the earth as a dying planet, and "appeals to the people who are more connected to the nature and to each other."
"The success of the Avatar is very interesting," Mr. Cameron observes. "I think it says less about the movie's ability to change people's minds than about the movie's ability to key into what people are thinking at the subconscious level." At the intellectual level, we're in denial about the state of the planet, Mr. Cameron argues, "but at the subconscious level, we know the truth. And the truth is we need be much more respectful of the nature and the natural boundaries and deadlines. We need sort of collectively public to wake up to this."
The inclusion of a multiplicity of cultural influences also helped with the film's success, Mr. Cameron says. "I find every time you include something from the different cultures in the world, people feel a sense of connection to the movie," he added. "I think Hollywood should take some notes from this."
And the element of timing was part of the secret sauce. "People are interested in the natural world enough to go to see what's left out there and its beauty," he said, adding that such experiences can bring personal change and a reinvigorated sense of purpose. The urban environment as a sole habitat is limiting. "People need to get outside. People need to reconnect to nature. I think collectively as a society, we live in a nature deficit disorder. For people to have a sense of what's being lost, they have to have a sense of responsibility."
This is first to be realized on a personal level, such as in the raising of children with values. "Reconnect to the value system," was Mr. Cameron's exhortation.


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San-iT are an award-winning IT support company, specialising in Digital Transformation through Cloud Services. We provide IT consultancy, Backup & Recovery, VoIP Telephony and Cyber Security to businesses across Stockport, Manchester and beyond. Since 2007 it has been our goal to empower small … [Read more...]
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Amshire IT
Amshire is a family owned Company that delivers reliable IT solutions to businesses in the South Manchester area and beyond. The business was setup in 1995 by Trevor Taylor, our Chairman/Owner. WHAT WE DO - Our 5 core areas are as follows: - PROFESSIONAL IT SUPPORT DATA BACKUP SOLUTIONS … [Read more...]
Cloud 9 Hosts
Agile and efficient working by Cloud 9 Hosts. Looking to improve your office systems or offer remote working facilities ? We provide virtualised desktops and servers in our own secure data centre. Our private cloud computing system includes corporate grade disaster recovery and business … [Read more...]
Established 19 years ago, Midshire is recognised across all commercial and public sectors as one of the largest independent office technology resellers in the UK, with over 11,000 technology installations. Midshire focuses on market-leading service, forward-thinking product offerings and putting … [Read more...]


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Friday, July 24, 2009
Broken Singer= Knitting Progress
Finally got the sleeves on my orange baby raglan, now I just have to sew up the underarms and put on some buttons. Candy Cane Lane is coming along well too. I'm debating doing a little cap sleeve instead of full length sleeves. I've never left a sweater with short sleeves but I think it could be really cute. Only problem is a short sleeve sweater seems rather feminine and since I don't know who will be the recipient I'm a little nervous to limit it's gift-a-bility.
In other news, Inspired by all the beautiful and artistic shots on flickr, I need to learn how to properly use my camera. I've noticed that all of shots I've been posting are terribly dark. The outside shots are clear and bright, but anything shot in my apartment is SO dark. I have to admit I haven't read the instruction manual yet (despite the fact I've had the camera since February, sad I know), maybe that will help.
Off to find my manual
Labels: Camera, Candy Cane Lane, Raglan baby sweater
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Most video baby monitors look like oversized webcams. The Angelcare 1120 looks a bit like an angel. All very cute, I'm sure you'll agree. The left wing is the power switch, while pressing the right one turns the halo into a glowing night light.
There might be a practical advantage to the design, though. Older children may not appreciate having a camera trained on their every move, so this one looks less imposing. The downside is that there's limited scope to angle the camera, with just a small back foot that can be extended to tilt the camera down a little. It could be tricky to get a view of your baby over the side of the cot. There's a tripod thread on the bottom of the unit but this seems like a heavy-handed solution. The 1.8m power cable presents another challenge — most other baby monitors use longer cables that make it easier to place the camera where you need it.
The parent unit looks less celestial but it serves a purpose. The upright design works well and the charging dock and belt clip are convenient. Picture and sound quality are fine for the purpose, and the portrait-orientation screen could be useful depending on how the camera is mounted.
The range of any wireless device will depend on various factors including the structure of your home and the presence of other wireless devices. In my tests the Angelcare 1120 performed poorly compared to other baby video monitors tested in the same conditions. Audio frequently broke up when moving the parent unit around the house. Unlike the other units tested, it was unreliable in some parts of my three-storey house and didn't work at all when I took the parent unit outside.
The 2.75in screen is touch-sensitive and, despite a few cryptic icons here and there, the controls are easy to navigate. There's a strong collection of features including an infrared night mode, digital zoom and pan function, talkback microphone and temperature sensor. It sounds a warning if the temperature goes too high or too low, with variable thresholds covering 23 to 32 degrees and 5 to 19 degrees respectively. An alarm sounds when a threshold is passed, and pressing a button silences it for only two minutes. It takes longer than that to cool or warm a room, so most people will probably turn the feature off and then forget about it.
[Source:- expertreviews]


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Journal Article
Read and review the article to answer the following questions below. Write a summary of your answers and submit.
Provide an APA citation for the article and the permalink to the article in Excelsiors Library
Explain how this article relates to your area of interest or practice.
Explain the authors clinical and/or educational credentials for this study.
Provide a brief critique of the literature used (review the reference list).
Description of the problemIs the problem clearly stated? How does this article address a public health
problem for the target population?
Literature reviewis a balanced viewpoint evident? Is a coherent theme evident?
ObjectivesAre objectives clearly defined? Does it clearly state the purpose of the rest of the paper?
Who participated in the study? Were enough details provided about the participants?
Who is the target population, and do the participants appear to reflect the target population?
Can you identify the procedure for selecting the sample? Why were these participants selectedis there a bias in the selection in the participants?
In what settings were the data gathered?
Explain whether ethical edicts were followed in subject selection.
In brief: Your paper should contain these elements
a) Linked APA citation
b) 1-2 sentences explaining how the topic relates to you as a professional
c)One paragraph critiquing the authors credentials and literature review.
d) Two paragraphs about the research articles introduction section.
e) 2-3 paragraphs about the participant selection, and reasoning for the method of selection.
f) One paragraph explaining whether the author complied with ethical procedures, and how you determined this.
Your response should be 3-4 pages. Include the article that you have chosen. Your summary should include a title page, be size 12 font and double spaced. The title page will not be considered as part as the page count for this assignment. Be sure to use APA style citation if you are citing any sources to support your claims.


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Rourke and I just returned from one of our favorite destinations, Las Vegas. We thought we would give you some insights of how we do Vegas without breaking the bank!
If you are flying to Vegas, we highly recommend you download several episodes of your favorite Netflix show or a few movies. It makes the flight go by so much faster.
Also, wear comfortable clothes that are easy to remove for security.
Once getting into Las Vegas, stop at a CVS or other convenience store first to buy necessities like bottled water, drinks, snacks, etc.
As far as resorts to stay in, there are some beautiful properties on the strip, like The Wynne, Bellagio and Aria. But, we love everything about The Cosmopolitan. If you missed our post on The Cosmopolitan, you can view it here.
Not only is it centrally-located on The Strip, but it has the best all-around restaurants, clubs, and pools. The rooms are amazing, too.
If you choose to book at The Cosmopolitan, you should definitely become a Marriott Rewards member. The Cosmo is currently a Marriott property. Also, Marriott just merged with Starwood Resorts. If you are a Starwood member, your points should automatically combine with any accrued Marriott points.
If you are a Gold or Platinum Marriott member, you have access to the private Autograph lounge. You can check in and out quickly here, as well as get free bottled water and Starbucks coffee.
Also being a Gold/Platinum member gets you 1:00 checkout and free premium internet during your stay.
We also recommend you join The Cosmopolitan's Identity Rewards program. So, while you are staying at the resort, points are earned through dining, drinking, and gaming. There are different levels to work towards, each having exclusive privileges, like free buffets and free room nights. We actually enjoyed a nice dinner at Jaleo using our Identity points earned from our previous stay.
Here's the best part: if you charge everything to your room, you will be earning Marriott points AND Identity points. You can convert your Identity points to Marriott points or use them during your next stay.
Wherever you are staying, we do not recommend paying for a buffet. They are terribly pricey, plus you feel like you need to get your money's worth and eat as much as possible. You will end up feeling like a blown-up whale, miserable, and not wanting to don a swim suit at the pool afterwards.
We do, however, recommend you take advantage of a free buffet offer, especially if it's The Wicked Spoon in The Cosmopolitan.
As for shows, we recommend anything by Circus Soleil or the adults-only, Absinthe or Opium. The latter two are by the same producers, Spiegelworld. (Don't go to these last two if you are easily offended.) We usually buy our tickets at Vegas.com.
You must also take advantage of the free musical entertainment at Rose. Rabbit. Lie. each evening in The Cosmopolitan.
We do not recommend taking a cab or uber to Fremont Street. It is very touristy and dirty. Save your $ for lunch at one of the many new food court options in The Cosmopolitan instead. Or a couple of slices of pizza at The Secret Pizza hidden on the third floor of The Cosmo.
For pools, get to the pool of your choice early and put your towels down to save your spot, especially if you are looking for a place in the shade. I usually would go put our towels down, and then we would go get coffee and breakfast.
So, next time you are planning a trip to Vegas, we hope you can use these tips we shared.


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Smooth Like Butta
The Good:
Very lightweight
Very lightweight
Wears down slowly
The Bad:
No longer version
Overall Review:
The only thing I hated about these were they were short. I like a 4.5 length. Other than that they were amazing. I always ran a metal in the back for the haggard ledges I grinded. This thing ate them up like a champ. Took a year to wear down... ON ONE SIDE!


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Joseph Dorbon initiated his work as "vigneron" in 1996. He works three hectares of vineyards situated in his village of Vadans, six kilometers north of Arbois and across the Route Nationale from the fabled town of Montigny-les-Arsures. The vines are hillside plantings, southeast facing, at approximately 1,000 feet of altitude (322 meters). Dorbon works his vineyards following the best ecological practices and is now recognized as on the path to organic classification ("en conversion biologique"). The soil is worked, turned effectively twice a year, the second time in June with the aid of a horse. Vegetation is essentially left in between the vineyard rows with the weeding done only underneath and immediately around the individual vines.
The vineyards are planted to a mix of Trousseau, Ploussard and Pinot Noir for the reds (30%) and Chardonnay and Savagnin (70% for the whites). All grapes are hand harvested.
The reds are each vinified separately after being destemmed. The alcoholic fermentation and cuvaison usually lasts for 15 days or so. Both the Ploussard and Trousseau are aged for one year in stainless steel while the Pinot Noir rests in 225 liter barrels for an eighteen-month period.
The whites are all pressed as "grappes entieres". The juice destined for the Crémant goes into stainless until it is prepared for the second fermentation; the Chardonnay for the still wines is fermented in 225 liter barrels and is left in the barrel to age for twenty-four months before bottling. During the elevage, the white wine is never racked and the wines are raised "sous voile". The still white wines are the product of grapes harvested exclusively from old vines that are at least 40 years of age.
Arbois Rouge – Ploussard Vieilles Vignes: an earthy but vibrant red with the classic faded rose color of this intriguing grape; from old vines, it offers seductive red cherry fruit which overlays a hint of the "sous bois". Fermented with native yeast, aged in stainless steel for one year and bottled unfiltered.
Arbois Rouge "Les Bernardines – Vieilles Vignes": produced from a mix of Ploussard (60%) and Pinot Noir (40%) which are co-fermented. The wine is then aged in stainless steel for one year and one year in 225 liter barrels. A single vineyard wine, the Bernardines site is within the confines of the village of Vadans.
Arbois Blanc Chardonnay Vieilles Vignes: aged sous voile for 24 months in small barrels ; a powerful, intensely aromatic wine with depth and the classic nuttiness found in the whites of Arbois; again from old vines (40 years plus).
Arbois Blanc "Cuvée des Moyne": the "special" cuvée of the domaine, it is a blend of Chardonnay (80%) and Savagnin (20%) with both being co-fermented; the wine spends 30 months sous voile; another old vines bottling, in this case a blend of grapes of 40 to 70 years of age.
Arbois Blanc – Savagnin: a pure Savagnin prepared as if it were to be Vin Jaune; aged in 225 liter barrels "under the veil".
Macvin "Hors d'Age": made exclusively from old vines Chardonnay; Far and away the best Macvin we have ever tasted; aged 10 years in a single barrel; a sweet caramelized nose yet fresh and round on the palate. Great acidity.
A Note From Joseph Dorbon
A journalist asked us to send Joseph Dorbon a question about understanding the balance of a wine aged sous-voile, and he penned a rather insightful response, which is noted below in both French and English (Translation: Dillon Lerach): Responding to your question about oxidation, I will first assume that you are only speaking about whites. […]
Aging white wine in the fridge
Our people are cranking out some very fine wines! We drank again today three wines that have been sitting in our fridge OPEN since John Paine showed them to his New Orleans clients a couple of weeks ago.
New Releases from the Mountains: Joseph Dorbon, Domaine Overnoy Crinquand and Domaine Louis Magnin
Just in time to mark the beginning of July, we are all set to receive an impressive group of wines from the cool mountains of France. Specifically, we expect new arrivals from Joseph Dorbon and Mickael Crinquand in the Jura and Louis and Béatrice Magnin in the Savoie. It is no secret that we at […]


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• 100% natural origin with no synthetic chemicals
• Petrochemical-free, paraben-free, GMO-free, lanolin-free, cruelty-free
• Contains many certified organic ingredients
• Approved by vegan.org
Helianthus Annus* (GMO-free sunflower) Seed Oil, Euphorbia Cerifera (candelilla) Wax, Simmondsia Chinensis* (jojoba) Seed Oil, Copernicia Cerifera (carnauba) Wax, Cocos Nucifera* (coconut) oil, Mentha Piperita* (peppermint), Garcinia Indica+ (kokum) Butter, Squalane (olive oil derived), Rosa Moschata* (rosehip) Seed Oil, Melaleuca Alternifolia* (tea tree), Aloe Barbadenis* (aloe vera) Leaf, Mixed Tocopherols (plant derived GMO-free vitamin E), Lysine (soy derived amino acid).
* Organic + Wildcrafted
Additional information
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The thyroid gland produces hormones that play key roles in several areas of health. These hormones help provide energy during the day to make us physically capable and mentally alert. They also provide power to the digestive system to encourage proper digestion and absorption. Thyroid hormones stimulate many cells in the body to become metabolically active and thus burn more energy. These hormones also play a crucial role in temperature regulation and physiological adaptation to the environment.
When the thyroid gland is not able to produce enough thyroid hormones deficiency symptoms will arise. These symptoms will often include mental fatigue, brain fog, poor sleep, unwanted weight gain, hair loss, and feeling cold all the time. There are several other possible symptoms but these are considered the most likely. In fact, hypothyroid symptoms are extremely common in my patient population. Most often, these people have had their thyroid tested and the results came back negative. Please refer to an article I wrote a few weeks ago entitled, "The Thyroid Test???" to learn about the weaknesses of the screen testing done for the thyroid gland.
A love of coffee is not always a sign of a problem. In my opinion, coffee smells great and tastes great. Many studies show that one cup of coffee in the morning may have several benefits for the cardiovascular system and other aspects of health. However, when people feel like they "NEED COFFEE" it raises alarm bells in my brain. Caffeine and some of the other nutrients in coffee stimulate the adrenal glands to produce stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol. When these hormones are being produced in moderately high levels we tend to feel an overall rise. Part of this rise/good feeling comes from the physical, mental, and physiological stimulation from caffeine.
Caffeine does not do exactly what thyroid hormones do. It cannot completely replace the thyroid gland. However, caffeine can enhance many of the areas where thyroid hormones act. This is why I always thoroughly evaluate the thyroid gland in patients who "NEED COFFEE". Perhaps, part of their love of coffee is coming from the fact that caffeine is making up for some of the deficiencies created by a thyroid problem.
If you "LOVE COFFEE" or "NEED COFFEE" don't automatically assume you have a problem. However, I would recommend you have your thyroid gland thoroughly assessed to determine if there is an associated thyroid problem.
Anyone interested in more information or interested in scheduling a consultation with Dr. Barlow can contact him via email at [email protected] or call his office at 250-448-5610.


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Why Mercury Matters
Mercury is in the news. After Messenger, NASA's first Mercury mission in decades, achieved orbit a week or so ago, the images of the solar system's innermost world began streaming in.
Without a little background those images might be disappointing.
Mercury, as you can see for yourself, looks a lot like the Moon. It's a dark airless world. Its terrain has been shattered by impacts that pockmarked the surface with craters of all sizes. Compared with the rolling terrain of Mars and its pale red sky or the eternal clouds and acid rain of Venus, Mercury might seem a bit — well — "been there done that".
Don't let looks fool you.
With new estimates of our galaxy teeming with 50 billion planets, getting a handle on Mercury is vital to understanding all "terrestrial" planets (rocky orbs of the kind likely to have life).
Mercury may look like the Moon but it's really a giant iron cannon ball with a relatively thin layer of rocky mantle and crust above it. No other planet in the solar system has such a large iron core.
Why so much iron? The answer goes all the way back to the disk of gas and dust which formed around the Sun during its own birth. That disk was the womb for all the worlds in our solar system. Mercury's large iron core is a direct reflection of conditions in the disk so close to the Sun (only materials with high condensation temperatures could drop from the vapor state to form tiny grains).
Thus there are clues on that airless world we need to understand — to really understand — the birth of all worlds including the ones with life.


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Who should come
We welcome anyone who would like to meet Persian people and get familiar with our language, culture, etc. Also if you are Persian yourself and like to meet other Iranians and lean more about your roots.
You will love it because Iranians are warm friendly and fun people.
A very nice and friendly place!
Last time despite the cold weather we got together and had some great coffee.
Later a few of us went for dinner. I would like to give one more chance to those who missed last gathering to see this cool place.
Contact the organizer for latest event info. Kodoom.com is not responsible for any changes made in the above information. Report or Flag this event


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How to Win Friends and Influence People???
In February, I started taking photos of my outfits and posting them on Instagram. It started out as a self-love thing, to combat some pretty awful, gnarly feelings of inadequacy, self-doubt, and anxiety brought about by the big work change I went through in January (tldr: I worked at the same firm for 7 1/2… Continue reading How to Win Friends and Influence People???


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Mortgage Indemnity Insurance Financial GlossaryWhat is it? A payment to a mortgage lender so they can take out insurance if you are borrowing more than a certain percentage of the value of your home.
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Other Similar Finance Terms:Financial Term Capital Stock is The shares representing ownership interest in a business, including preferred and common stock.
Financial Term Day Low is This is the lowest price that a security has traded at during the day.
Financial Term WBUY is Weak buy
Financial Term European Economic Area is This now consists of Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway and has a special relationship with the EU.
Financial Term Flexible loan is A loan that allows you to borrow up to an agreed amount, so that you can increase or decrease the loan depending on how much money you need from time to time.


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August 14, 2017
Project helps connect east and west sides of Bothell Way
Bothell is meeting a major milestone in the city's downtown revitalization with the completion of a new multiway boulevard this summer.
A ribbon cutting celebration is planned for August 24 at 11 a.m.
The multiway boulevard is a new type of roadway for Bothell designed to make it easier and safer for drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists.
The boulevard design uses medians to separate through traffic on Bothell Way from local access traffic lanes.
People will be able to easily cross between the historic downtown on the east side of Bothell Way and the newly developing west side.
The boulevard will take some getting used to. The city has put together a video that shows drivers how to enter and exit the access lanes, when and where to yield, and other tips.
The project is part of a huge revitalization effort in downtown Bothell that started a little over a decade ago. The city is working to enhance the historic Main Street and bring new retail, offices and housing to the downtown district.
Another downtown project – the Main Street Enhancement – is now under construction. PSRC provided $1 million in federal transportation funding for that project.


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Marcia Clark
Department: Administration
Title: Sr. Executive Assistant & Financial Aid Coordinator
Marcia is an integral component of the Executive team at the Merage JCC. Among her many responsibilities includes oversight of the Board of Directors monthly meeting minutes, meeting scheduling, travel arrangements, conference reservations, and coordination of the JCC Scholarship Program. She holds an honorary doctorate in the field of organizational skills from the Dan Bernstein University, and can recite the alphabet backwards!


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The Latest on Worldwide Consumer Confidence and Spending Patterns and What This Means for Business15 October, 2019 | (01 hr)
Sign In to access this Webcast
At a time of persistent trade tensions, constantly evolving Brexit questions, and other domestic and international challenges, how do consumers feel and behave economically and what are their concerns—from economic to political to personal ones?
In this webcast, we will share insights from our latest Global Consumer Confidence Survey, conducted in collaboration with Nielsen, from the third quarter of 2019. It is based on responses by 32,000 customers in 64 markets throughout Asia, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, Africa, and North America.
Join our expert panel to:
- Learn how consumers across the world feel about their country's job market outlook, their personal finances, and about spending money;
- Understand on what categories they spend discretionary income, where they are cutting back, and what their primary concerns are;
- What may drive these developments—unresolved tariff questions, job market changes, product innovations or lack thereof—and what this all means for companies and policy makers as they plan for 2020.
Who Should Attend: Anyone with an interest in the global economy, including executives working in or with consumer-related businesses
Denise Dahlhoff, PhD
Denise Dahlhoff is the Senior Researcher for consumer research at The Conference Board, working in the Economy, Strategy & Finance and Marketing & Communications Centers. Previously, she was the Research Director of the Wharton School's Baker Retailing Center and also held positions...Full Bio
John Forsyth
John Forsyth is currently partner of Forsyth Insights LLC, a consumer insights boutique. He has worked in most industries, though he specializes in consumer goods/electronics, retail, and pharmaceuticals. Forsyth is a thought leader in the consumer insights arena, with a 30-year track record of i...Full Bio
Bill Hopkins
Bill Hopkins is Global Lead for Shopper and Customer Insights at Molson Coors. Prior to joining the beer industry, he served in a variety of consultative roles in the interactive entertainment, consumer packaged goods, and consumer neuroscience industries. Bill's passion is deve...Full Bio
Ilaria Maselli
Ilaria Maselli has been the senior economist for Europe at The Conference Board since March 2016. Maselli monitors the monthly business cycle of the European economy and contributes analysis to The Conference Board Global Economic Outlook. She also contributes to in-dept...Full Bio
Bart van Ark
Bart van Ark is the outgoing chief economist of The Conference Board, a global business research think tank headquartered in New York which includes 500 of the top-2000 global companies among its members. Appointed in 2008, he oversees the production of widely watched economic...Full Bio


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Silvia Wong highlights the names to watch out for from the Thai film sector
Ananda Everingham, actor
After debuting in Shutter, the Bangkok-based actor has become one of the most familiar faces in Thai cinema. His films this year include Ploy, Pleasure Factory, Bangkok Time and Queens Of Pattani.
Anocha Suwichakornpong, director
Anocha has secured backing from the Hubert Bals Fund for her debut feature script Sparrow, about the troubled relationship between a paralysed young man and his father.
Chukiat Sakweerakul, director
The Weinstein Company has optioned the remake rights to Chukiat's thriller 13. His next film is a coming-of-age gay drama produced by Ong Bak's Prachya Pinkaew.
Kongkait Komesiri, writer-director
Kongkait's solo directorial effort, the martial-arts drama Muay Thai Chaiya, is the closing film of the Bangkok International Film Festival (see left). He has previously written a slew of local box-office hits and co-directed Art Of The Devil 2.
Santi Taepanich, director
Santi's feature debut Bangkok Time makes its world premiere in the Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) competition section of the Bangkok film festival. He is also the director of Crying Tigers, the first local documentary to receive a wide release in the territory.
Songyos Sugmakanan, director
Songyos collaborated with five university friends on My Girl, which became the top Thai film in 2003. He then went solo with Dorm, which won a prize at Berlin and is now set to make a coming-of-age tale for GTH.
Uruphong Raksasad, director
Uruphong's documentary The Agrarian Utopia, following the cycle of rice farming in the villages of northern Thailand, is the first Thai documentary to receive backing from the Hubert Bals Fund's new digital grant.
Tom Waller, director
Thai-Irish film-maker Tom Waller directed Monk Dawson in the UK 10 years ago. Since returning to Thailand in 2003, Waller has produced three films, Butterfly Man, The Ghost Of Mae Nak and Elephant King, which premiered at Tribeca. He is set to direct his first Thai-language film, 15:15, a coming-of-age drama about two schoolgirls.


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Media Spotlight – A monthly review with the freshest culinary insight! All of our spotlights are inspired by Menu Innovator®. For more information on Menu Innovator®, email firstname.lastname@example.com.
Our Media Spotlight found this late summer's most talked about cuisines to be:
Our Most Talked About Topics:
Non-Alcoholic Beverages
New Alcoholic Beverages, Spritzes' and Infused Cocktails
"Nose to Tail"
Regional Small Town American Cuisine
Asian Cuisine
Asian continues to infiltrate all cuisines. Asian chefs continue to prove their cuisine is much more than sushi, teriyaki, soy, tempura and miso soup. With knowledge of healthy eating plus growing global awareness new forms of Asian cooking are showing up on menus. Modern Asian includes everything from izakaya dishes, (Japanese tapas) to tuna tacos served in crispy wontons. Emphasis is on the freshest ingredients simply prepared as not to cover up the flavor of the food itself. The dish should taste like its ingredients.
Ice Cream
Our last blog talked about the growth of charcuterie and the fusion of flavors and tradition. Another food continually growing in popularity and flavors is what we all scream for, ice cream! You may not think these two food products complement each other, but until you have Bourbon Praline Pecan ice cream topped with a chocolate and salted caramel sauce and lots of candied Applewood smoked bacon you haven't lived!
Nothing is passé about today's ice cream parlor. Peppered nuts sit next to colored sprinkles. Floats get a splash of house made soda and shakes are made of green tea ice cream. Building an ice cream sundae is like a chef layering flavors into his entrée. First, choose a flavor of ice cream. Miscellaneous in San Francisco, offers new indulgent flavors such as Brown Butter Sage and Bourbon Old Fashion. Second choose a sauce, perhaps a salted or sesame caramel. Third add a flavor pop with something tangy such as pickled mango or pineapple. Fourth and final crunchies! Choose a flavored popcorn, spiced nuts, chocolate flavored pretzels or Fruity Pebbles cereal. The sky is the limit!
Something different? Bluebird Microcreamery in Seattle is a creamery and brewery. Grab a seat at the 1920's counter and choose from a variety of beer floats. Food Halls are popping up in cities all over the country offering foods from different cuisines and specialty items. Of course artisanal ice cream is a must. Lines form for basil and nut ice cream or organic, locally made fruit pops.
Food Halls
Food Halls are being built all over the country. Mario Balali's Eatlaly in New York combines seven restaurants a brewery and multiple markets. He is expanding his concept to Chicago, Santa Barbara and San Antonio. At Eastern Market in Detroit there are 250 vendors selling locally grown and prepared foods. Here one can find raw milk cheese from Oliver Farms or juniper garlic bratwurst from Corridor Sausage Company. At Atlanta's Krog Street Market and Ponce City Market food is a taken seriously. Each market showcases its culinary talent with dining areas featuring famous as well as up and coming chefs. Food and Wine Best New Chef, Anne Quatro makes fish shack style sandwiches at Ponce City. Todd Ginsberg of Fred's Meat and Bread, makes sandwiches with layers of meats, cheese and unique sauces.
Multi-cultural Food Halls offer a convenient and stylish way to shop and eat. They combine restaurants of different cuisines with local artisanal items and foods. They offer common dining areas where friends can meet. Shop for cured meats, gourmet pastries, artisan breads, unique food ingredients and of course that artisanal ice cream. Enjoy a microbrew, shop with a glass of wine or sit at a coffee bar. This is the return to how we used to shop, by visiting specialty shops rather than one big store. So many people under one roof coming together and creating an event of culinary satisfaction, what could be better?!
Eat Well!
Posted on 09/29/2015 at 12:00 AM
Culinary Systems Inc
Windermare, Florida 34786
Email. email@example.com


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Media Kit
June 15, 2015
Last Week
spent much of the week debating the National Defense Authorization Act. Much of the action however took place in the
. Following a difficult passage in the Senate, the House finally took up legislation approving trade legislation. Because of the Senate's agreement, the legislation voted on in the House included not just provisions enabling President Obama to formally negotiate a trade deal with other nations, known as "Fast-Track Authority," but also funding and programs known as Trade Adjustment Assistance or TAA. TAA is widely popular among Democrats, but because it was tied to the fast-track authority, the House voted TAA down, (
but did manage to approve the fast-track authority
), with House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi leading the opposition against the president's top priority. To see how your representative voted, click
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This Week
wraps up its work on the National Defense Authorization Act. 60 votes will be required to end debate on amendments, which could come as early as tomorrow. The
may vote on legislation directing the President to remove military personnel from Iraq in the fight against ISIS, but will be assuredly vetoed by the Commander in Chief. The House is also scheduled to bring a number of healthcare related items to the floor, as the
Supreme Court
keeps all of Washington waiting on its looming decision on the law. The measures slated for the floor include repealing the medical device tax, eliminating the Independent Payment Advisory Board, and preventing the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services from terminating Medicare Advantage contracts that do not have minimum quality ratings. It is likely that they also revisit a vote on trade.
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Item of Interest
As mentioned, it would not be a June without millions of court watchers awaiting decisions impacting the lives of nearly each of us as the
Supreme Court
wraps up its term for 2014. One of the biggest that may have gotten your attention is a lawsuit the hinges on about five simple words. Known as King v. Burwell, specifically it could determine whether those who receive federal tax subsidies under the Affordable Care Act provided that the plan that they are "
enrolled in through an
Exchange established by the State
." It's well known that a number of states, particularly those led by a Republican governor or legislature have not established a state exchange. So it is questionable that those receiving the subsidy are legally permitted to do so. What is most important is neither the House or Senate, nor the White House have a back-up plans. If the subsidies are deemed null and void, millions of Americans could be faced with large health care bills in the near future. We'll be sure to bring you updates on the all the action expected to take place in July as a result of this decision. To see a number of predictions from industry experts, read what insurance brokers are saying
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Dan Hilton
Director of Government Affairs
American Supply Association
1875 Eye Street, NW
Washington, DC 20006
(703) 328-5234
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Congress Poised to Renew Battle Over Online Sales Tax Legislation
National Journal
The debate over Internet taxes has resumed in Congress, and it's as messy as ever. Rep. Jason Chaffetz, who chairs the House Oversight Committee, is preparing to introduce online sales tax legislation June 15 that would expand the power of states to collect taxes from purchases made from out-of-state Internet vendors such as eBay.
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House GOP has 'Options' on Trade
The Hill
House Republicans have made no decisions on how to move a trade package forward following a colossal defeat on the floor at the end of last week. House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., repeatedly dodged questions June 15 about the GOP's next steps, even as he said time is running out.
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President Gets Weekend to Swing Democrats on Trade Deal
Roll Call
The House will take a second crack at passing Trade Adjustment Assistance legislation early next week, after giving President Barack Obama and pro-trade Democrats the weekend to flip some of the party's 144 "no's." Republicans say this is Democrats' last chance to pass TAA, which provides resources for retraining programs for U.S. workers displaced by international trade agreements, and which Democrats have typically supported.
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Supreme Court Races the Clock on Gay Marriage, 'Obamacare' and More
USA Today
The future of same-sex marriage and President Barack Obama's health care law hang in the balance as the Supreme Court's 2014 term draws rapidly to a close. But those aren't the only big issues on the justices' plate. Free speech and fair elections. Religious liberty and racial discrimination. Clean air and capital punishment. All await rulings over the next three weeks as the court completes action on 20 cases remaining this term. The next decisions will come June 15.
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In April, in order to comply with Public Health Orders during the COVID-19 pandemic, the City ceased having on-site Council meetings, committee, and task group meetings and instead held them by electronic means in the absence of the public as permitted by Ministerial Order.
With the province of BC now in Stage 3 of its Restart Plan, local governments are being encouraged to use best efforts to resume on-site council meetings with the public in attendance while complying with physical distancing, maximum occupancy requirements and other COVID-19 safety measures.
Accordingly, as a pilot, the City of Langley will be holding its September 14th Regular Council meeting on-site in Council Chambers with the opportunity for members of the public to attend on-site to view the proceedings.
The following procedures will be in place to ensure the safety of the public, Council and staff.
- COVID-19 measures will be in place, including physical distancing, plexiglass barriers, and occupancy limits for the Council Chambers (maximum occupancy 19), the foyer outside of the Council Chambers (maximum occupancy 8), and the CKF Meeting Room (maximum occupancy 8). Please note that with Council members and staff, there is a limited amount of seating available to the public in the Council Chamber
- Public seating in the Council Chamber and CKF Room will be filled on a first come first served basis. If the maximum occupancy limit is reached in the Council Chamber, you will be invited to view the livestream of the Council meeting in the CKF Room. Once maximum occupancy limits have been reached for both rooms, we will be unable to accommodate any more people on site to view the meeting and a sign advising of this will be posted outside of City Hall
- The wearing of a face mask is encouraged
- Please arrive no earlier than 6:40 pm and no later than 6:55 pm before the meeting start time of 7:00pm
- The underground parkade continues to be closed; parking is available in the parking lot behind the Timms Community Centre
- Upon entering City Hall, you will be required to provide your full name and either a telephone number or email address for contact tracing purposes as required by the Public Health Order on Events and Gatherings
- The Regular Council Meeting will be livestreamed and may be viewed by visiting this page .
- The video recording of the meeting will also be posted on the above-referenced webpage the day after the meeting.


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Available - usually in stock
Ref: AA0225Brand: Countrywide / A E James
Countrywide Foreign Finch is a seed mix formulated for foreign finches such as zebra finches.
Available in a 2kg bag and a 20kg bag.
White Millet, Panicum Millet, Red Millet, Canary Seed, Black Rapeseed, Linseed, Nigerseed, Pin Head Oats, Oil Dressing.
Home > Bird Feed & Snacks > Foreign Finch


text: Come November, a delegation from local businesses who are members of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) will be heading to the oil city of Aberdeen, Scotland in the United Kingdom in a quest to develop business relations in the area of oil and gas.This was announced on Thursday by GCCI President Deodat Indar during a press conference held at the entity's Waterloo Street, Georgetown head office.The trade mission is expected to begin on November 25 and wind down on November 30. The GCCI intends to have this be the first of many visits to the UK with the same focus.According to Indar, this remarkable initiative will help businesses to spring into other avenues to bring about growth in a feasible manner."If one company in Guyana had to go up there (to Scotland and) sort out a partner (and) evaluate that partner, it would take a long and hard process and it will cost that company a lot of money and these missions are there to ease out all of that and make that, to some extent, not needed," he said.The Head of the Private Sector organisation also noted how expectant he was of agreements being signed during that visit to bridge the gap between the countries.GCCI Vice President Nicholas Boyer explained the importance of the trip, noting that the trade mission became a reality after the GCCI engaged the British High Commissioner and the Guyanese embassy in the UK.He went on to highlight that Aberdeen is an impacting city within the oil and gas sector in the UK. The Vice President alluded to the fact that Guyana needed to reach out to other countries who have experience in that sector if the country was to truly flourish from its earnings.It was explained by him that the GCCI intended to have its members connected to the foreigners who were well-schooled in the area and interested in setting up partnerships through the transfer of technology and skills to promote local growth and capacity.Boyer said, "While there, we are going to meet the oil and gas association from the UK, the Energy Industries Council, the Aberdeen Chamber of Commerce and some other organisations that will allow our members to get connected to their levels and once we build that bridge, it is expected that the UK-Guyana trade will grow."Meanwhile, British High Commissioner Greg Quinn pointed out that the city has a long history which Guyana can learn from although it, too, has made some mistakes.According to him, "The visit has got several aspects to it and one is to allow us to connect business to business links, not just in the oil industry, but in other areas as education and such like culture. It will allow the educational industry in Aberdeen to reach out to the educational institutions here and it will allow us to build a relationship I hope between the Aberdeen Council and the City Council back here."Quinn also flagged the importance of the trade mission as it was the first of its kind to the UK, laying the foundation for growth in several areas.ABIS Energy Guyana Limited Managing Director Francis Kiennan endorsed the words of the High Commissioner saying that the UK has over 60 years of experience in the area of oil and gas.The Director added that he hoped the trade mission allowed for the strengthening and renewal of diplomatic and business relations between the countries.So far, more than five companies have signed up for the trade mission, which has no other requirement but for interested businesses to be registered with the GCCI; the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA); the Private Sector Commission (PSC) or other sister agencies.