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Rezound! Handbell Ensemble
Music; Non-Profit
Rezound! is an auditioned community handbell ensemble located in the greater Kansas City area. Established in June 2001, the ensemble presents a lively sound blending the unique timbres of English handbells, Petit & Fritsen bells, handchimes, Whitechapel bells, and Maas-Rowe bells. In addition to a year-round concert schedule in the Kansas City region, Rezound! has enjoyed successful tours throughout the Midwest, with performances for national and international audiences, and has collaborated with area choral groups and other handbell choirs in a variety of concert settings.
Right Between the Ears
Right Between the Ears is an award-winning sketch comedy show developed by Darrell Brogdon, broadcast every week on Kansas Public Radio stations. RBTE has also been heard on Sirius-XM, National Public Radio, BBC 4 and Delta Radio. Four-time winner of the Gold Medal as Best Comedy Show at the New York Festivals, Right Between the Ears spoofs politics, TV and movies, sports figures, the rich and famous, the quirky and even the occasional turkey. Among the guest performers who've appeared on Right Between the Ears are Phil Proctor and David Ossman from the legendary Firesign Theatre; NPR's Susan Stamberg, Liane Hansen, Scott Simon and Carl Kasell; Barbara Rosenblat of Orange Is the New Black; and Gary Sandy of WKRP in Cincinnati. Our regular live shows have been presented at various venues in the Kansas City area, including Liberty Hall, the Lawrence Arts Center and the Kansas Public Radio performance studio in Lawrence, KS; and the Off Center Theatre and the Unicorn Theatre in KC.
Rightfully Sewn
Art; Non-Profit
Rightfully Sewn will lay a path to a contemporary version of Kansas City's 20th-Century Golden Era of garment design and manufacturing. Its mission is to provide seamstress training to at-risk women so they can thrive in a specialized workforce that will reestablish Kansas City as an epicenter of garment manufacturing, while at the same time, propel Kansas City fashion designers to market so they can supply the burgeoning demand for high-quality, American-produced garments. Below are Rightfully Sewn's key strategies: Empower at-risk women by teaching them a trade and assisting them with job placement, thereby elevating them out of a systemic situation Cultivate Kansas City fashion designers through competitive, two-year long residencies and access to fabric trade shows, professional development workshops, speaker series, documentary screenings, and other related events Offer small batch garment production services, including pattern making, sample sewing, sourcing assistance, production management, and more Foster a well-connected, efficient fashion design and manufacturing community by hosting an online Industry Directory and Jobs Board
Rising Tide Productions KC
Rising Tide Productions is a theatre company based out of Kansas City, MO. Formerly known as Different Choices, RTP is dedicated to finding fresh perspective and new ideas and interpretations and bringing them out through this wonderful medium of theatre. RTP is run by two passionate theatre artists, Casey Jane and Bob Linebarger. Adding another passionate theatre artist to the mix, Denver Liitle, this production company has produced four productions so far: "The Bottom of Everything", an original play written by Denver Little, in 2012, "Danny and the Deep Blue Sea" in 2014, usually presented as a heavy drama, but interpreted more as a romantic dark comedy under the direction of Bob Linebarger, "Matt and Ben" a play co-produced, directed and acted by Bob and Denver and "Silly Animals: A Comedy of the Human Drama" an original play written by Denver and directed by Bob that resembled an episode of Planet Earth and presented the question of what has happened as a result of humans separating ourselves from the rest of the animal kingdom. Our first production as RTP is a new play called "Elephant". We started this project with an urge to raise money for Lora McDonald, the executive director of MORE2, a local KC social justice non-profit organization that works to fight systemic racism through awareness but also at the ballot box. We met with Lora and an up-and-coming KC playwright Lewis Morrow and talked about how this play could be representing this wonderful non-profit. Out of this, Lewis came up with the concept and story of Elephant, based on a real-life incident in his life. Elephant is a story about a black man being approached by his white female boss with an offensive request – to wear a chicken suit as part of a presentation to impress the company's CEO. The play dives into a discussion about microaggression in the workplace and uplifts the perspective of black and hispanic individuals. We believe that the world needs to start truly listening to and sharing the perspective of the oppressed and move towards the empathetic and diverse people that we all can be. It is a long shot, but we believe it is projects like these (and especially non-profits like MORE2) that help push us forward.
Education; Non-Profit
Rockhurst University is one of 28 Catholic, Jesuit universities in the United States. It challenges students to become leaders while providing a supportive environment for intellectual and personal growth. U.S. News & World Report consistently names Rockhurst among the top Midwest Regional Universities. Rockhurst has held the community engagement classification from the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching since 2010. Learn more at www.rockhurst.edu.
Rude Revue and Burly Q
Dance; Theatre
The Rude Revue and Burly Q is a modern vaudeville show featuring burlesque and variety acts of all kinds. Every night is different from the last and can be tailored to a specific venue or audience. From classic to cosplay and fantastic to freaky, the Rude Revue is sure to wow your pants off (and ours will be off for sure). Beautiful ladies, clowns, flow artists, sideshow acts, comedians, jugglers, crooners, and more! This is not your Grandma's night out (unless your Grandma is awesome). The Rude Revue and Burly Q has been known to spontaneously combust children and make adults 18 and over very happy. These two symptoms are unrelated. We think. But just to be safe, please leave the kiddos at home. (Age restrictions set by venues. Some shows only admit 21 and over. Please see specific show information for details.)
Sharp Women, LLC
Art; Dance; Festival; Music; Studio; Theatre
S#arp Women Studios owned by Sharp Women, LLC We are a female-owned and operated business located on historic Southwest Boulevard! We offer studio rehearsal space for rent. At our location on 1144 Southwest Boulevard, we have two studio spaces and a scene shop for rent. We want to support the artistic endeavors of all artists in Kansas City by creating a safe space in which to create, rehearse, build and perform. Our venue is perfect for Fringe rehearsals, play/musical rehearsals, auditions, callbacks, readings, and scene builds.
Shawnee Indian Mission Festival
Education; Family; Non-Profit
The Shawnee Indian Mission Foundation is a local advocacy group, partnering with the City of Fairway (Mission daily operations) and the Kansas State Historical Society (property owner) for the funding, preservation, and operations of the Shawnee Indian Mission State Historic Site in Fairway, Kansas. The Shawnee Indian Mission provides unique educational and historical experiences for all its visitors. The Mission is one of the most historic sites in the are with history related to Native Americans, Westward Expansion and the Trails West, Manifest Destiny and the Civil War. In addition it is an asset to the surrounding community, with 12 acres of property and 3 of the oldest buildings in the State. The Foundation's Board of Directors are volunteers who work with the City to provide events, programs, operational funding and funding for capital improvements. There are many volunteer opportunities, large and small. Volunteers are an essential part of the Mission. Monetary contributions are always needed and welcome. Contact Mission Site Director, Jennifer Laughlin (913-262-0867) to volunteer or to make a financial contribution.
Sherry Leedy Contemporary Art
Art; Gallery
Sherry Leedy Contemporary Art opened in 1985 with the goal of presenting contemporary works of art of exceptional quality and merit. The gallery is now one of the oldest sustained contemporary art galleries in Kansas City and the Midwest representing emerging, mid-career and internationally established artists making exciting and technically proficient work in all fine art mediums. As a full service, client oriented gallery, Sherry Leedy Contemporary Art is an important resource for private collectors, public institutions, corporations and first time art buyers across the globe. One example of the way that the gallery works together with clients and experienced gallery artists is on commissioned works of art, managing and facilitating all aspects of special projects and acquisitions. The gallery has placed over 150 works of art in museum collections and gallery artists are represented in over 100 museums worldwide. Designed by Greenlee Schmidt Architects, the gallery has been instrumental in the revitalization and success of its neighborhood, the Crossroads Arts District of Kansas City, Missouri. Sherry Leedy Contemporary Art is open Tuesday through Saturday, from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. or by appointment. For additional information, please call the gallery (816) 221-2626.
Signature Psychiatric Hospital
Education; Family
Healing lives with our Signature touch. We use all forms of therapy to heal our patients, including art, music, drumming therapy as well as talk therapy and medication management.
Simmy and the Jets
Literary; Music; Theatre
Event host and artistic event creator. Notable events created and produced in Kansas City include "Soul Sessions", "Last Poet Standing" and "Framed". Created by nationally recognized poet and author Simeon Taylor, the flagship event Soul Sessions has gotten so popular that its stage has been blessed by local arists to Grammy Award Winning artists, as well as internationally recognized Jazz musicians.
Sociedad Hidalgo
Education; Festival; Film; Literary; Music; Theatre
Sociedad Hidalgo is a non-profit cultural organization of Kansas City. Founded in 1979, it is incorporated in Kansas and Missouri. The purpose of this organization is to preserve and share with the community of Metro Kansas City, the art, literature, culture, and traditions of Mexico and other Latin American countries. We support other cultural non-profits such as the Ethnic Enrichment Commission of Kansas City and the Sister City Association of Kansas City. Sociedad Hidalgo founded the Latin American Cinema Festival of Kansas City in 1992.
Spinning Tree Theatre
ArtsKC Supported; Non-Profit; Theatre
Spinning Tree Theatre aims to produce works which celebrate and reflect the diversity of Kansas City itself by exploring a variety of cultures and art forms through theatre, music, and dance. Our goal is to present new, contemporary and classic pieces that are relevant, thought-provoking and entertaining. We hope to educate, challenge, stimulate and inspire audience and artist alike.
Spire Chamber Ensemble
ArtsKC Supported; Music; Non-Profit
Spire Chamber Ensemble inspires, educates and enriches the Kansas City metropolitan community through the transformational power of great choral music performed at the highest artistic level. Spire Chamber Ensemble is a professional choral group of superb local, regional, and national artists from United States and Canada. Their commitment assures excellence: • To offer rarely heard Baroque masterworks in collaboration with the Spire Baroque Orchestra • To showcase unique repertoire for voices and organ • To provide students a fresh experience with choral music through education outreach programs • To honor the talents and contributions of American composers and be a catalyst for the creation of new compositions by this country's composers
Sprint Center
Music; Theatre
Sprint Center is Kansas City's home for live entertainment and sporting events. Anchor to more than $6 billion of reinvestment in a revitalized downtown Kansas City, the award-winning venue has welcomed more than 11 million guests and generated more than $1.01 billion in economic activity since opening in 2007. Having exceeded attendance and financial projections in each year of operation, Sprint Center annually hosts more than 100 ticketed events and is a unique public/private partnership between AEG and the City of Kansas City, Mo.
Stage Right Performing Arts
Education; Family; Music; Theatre
"Where Stars Learn to Shine" Stage Right is a musical theatre camp, show choir and arts education organization located in the Kansas City metro area. We bring students from all over the city into a world that encourages students to be their best through arts education. With a strong dedication to protecting voices, encouraging the whole performer and supporting one another, we believe that arts education can provide incredible life skills that promote confidence, self-esteem and develop character. The Stage Right Performing Arts Academy is a subset of Stage Right Performing Arts that focuses on acting classes, masterclasses, workshops and a Young Professionals Program. Learn to shine is more than just a motto for Stage Right Performing Arts – it's an approach to life. From show choirs to theater camps, performers learn more than just vocal, dancing and acting skills, they learn to become stars in their own lives. You can shine in a variety of ways and as an organization, we promote a well rounded performance education combined with the a focus on creating good people. Stage Right focuses on building students up through the magic of music and theater. We also firmly support the "person," not just the show – thus, Stage Right places a high priority on supporting our students in all their productions (not just on the Stage Right stage) and encourage fellow choir/cast members to do the same. This is the Stage Right Family and we take that very seriously. After decades of experience in multiple cities around the US we have found that the best, most approachable hearts make the most dedicated, professional and successful performers.
Starlight Quilters Guild
Starlight Quilters Guild is a group dedicated to creativity and learning about all forms of quilting in Johnson County KS. We have monthly meetings and bring in guest speakers who demonstrate and inspire. All are welcome to join us. We contribute quilts to Project Linus and Project Warm Embrace give one or two cash donations to other local charities from our proceeds at the end of each year. Meetings are held monthly at Overland Park Lutheran Church on the 4th Tuesday of every month except for December.
Starlight Theatre
Art; ArtsKC Supported; Education; Family; Music; Non-Profit; Theatre
Starlight Theatre is the premier entertainment treasure of the heartland, where performing arts share center stage with education.
StoneLion Puppet Theatre
Art; ArtsKC Supported; Family; Non-Profit; Theatre
StoneLion Puppet Theatre is a professional not-for-profit theater company dedicated to expanding the horizons of the young and young-at-heart through the art of puppetry in an interdisciplinary community of ethnic and cultural diversity. StoneLion has accomplished this through their full season of theater productions since 1993, their nationally touring company, and their artist-in residence and intern programs at levels from preschool-college. StoneLion uses multiple styles of puppetry including marionettes, masks, shadow, mouth and rod puppets to bring the magic of theater to life.
Story of the Century, LLC
Story of the Century David O. Hill Set in 1902, Story of the Century is an original musical about Burrell Cannon, the inventor of the Ezekiel Airship. From his small town in Pittsburg, Texas, Cannon invented and flew the Ezekiel Airship a year before the Wright brothers' historic flight. Combining historic events with fictional characters, Story of the Century captures the spirit of 1902 with rollicking melodies, social consciousness, and heart. With a mixture of historical and fictional characters, The Story of the Century captures the spirit of the turn of the 20th century as a tidal wave of cultural and technological change swept cross the country. By 1902, horseless carriages were appearing and the age of manned flight was dawning. Yet it was less than 40 years after the end of the Civil War, women couldn't vote, and the Women's Christian Temperance League was already working to prohibit the use of alcohol throughout the country. In the finale, the whole cast in 1902 ponders the "new world so sweet and strange" that will exist 100 years in the future. All of us who are living in that world today know about the monumental changes that have occurred in the 115 years since 1902. We also know that some things haven't changed. About the Ezekiel Airship Burrell (Burl) Cannon was a college educated engineer who operated a sawmill near Pittsburg Texas in 1902. He was also an ordained Baptist minister and an accomplished inventor. Burl had a vision in which God's plan for a flying machine was revealed. He and Paul Thorsell, owner of the Pittsburg Foundry, along with other investors organized the Ezekiel Airship Manufacturing Company, Inc. and sold stock at $25 to build the Ezekiel Airship. I was born and reared in Texas, but my family and I have lived in Prairie Village, Kansas for over thirty years. I first learned about the Ezekiel Airship about 25 years ago when our family visited Greenville, Texas, the home of my brother Ted Hill and his wife Maggie. Ted told me about the full scale model of the Ezekiel Airship then on display in the Warrick Restaurant in Pittsburg,Texas.* We drove there the next day and the story of the Ezekiel Airship has been a part of me ever since. After the idea of a play about the Airship had begun to form in my mind, I asked Ted, an Aeronautical Engineer, to build a small scale model of the Ezekiel Airship. Ted's model reflects his expert ability to build anything made of wood. However, Ted's model of the Airship is too precious to be used as a stage prop, so the onstage model was built by my daughter, Erin Hill Metcalf. I first put pen to paper for Story of the Century 20 years ago but didn't start working seriously 2012 when I started collaborating with musician Sarah Hill. The development of the musical accelerated once we learned it had been accepted for the 2016 Fringe Festival. Since then I have expanded my collaboration to include Director Dr. Chris McCoy; Production Manager Marybeth Sorrell; and Music Director Brant Challacombe. *The full scale replica of the Ezekiel Airship is now displayed at the Northeast Texas Rural Heritage Museum in Pittsburg, Texas.
Studio Joy
Art; Education; Studio
Studio Joy is a 2000 sq ft studio space in the heart of Kansas City MO that offers select professional art workshops. Artists from across the globe are invited to teach two to five-day workshops with a limited offering to the public each spring and fall. The guest instructors provide the highest professionalism as they teach from their unique and exceptional artistic voices. Past guest artists include Crystal Neubauer, Sue Stover, Catherine Nash, Lorraine Glessner, and Lisa Pressman. Studio Joy is private working studio when not holding workshops. Acquired in 2014, the studio is a work in progress. Currently, there is no signage, but a mural goes up Spring 2018.
StudioQ
StudioQ is the working studio of Kansas City artist Robert Quackenbush. StudioQ recently relocated to Kansas City in the Beacon Hill neighborhood. In addition to Robert's personal workspace and gallery, StudioQ offers painting and drawing sessions. StudioQ has curated the artwork exhibited at Michael Smith Restaurant since 2014.
Studios Inc
Art; Gallery; Non-Profit; Studio
Launched in 2003 to serve mid-career artists, Studios Inc is Kansas City's only nonprofit arts organization offering pivotal three-year residencies to mid-career artists who are poised to significantly expand their careers in accordance with the career goals articulated in their residency application. Its competitive application process, sharp focus on career advancement, and commitment to serve the under-served population of mid-career artists set Studios Inc apart from other artist-support organizations. Studios Inc offers a unique immersion experience for resident artists, who use their studio and exhibition space to produce and exhibit work, network and learn from one another, and attract and cultivate relationships with art patrons, collectors, and arts professionals. Operating within Studios Inc are six unique but inseparable programs. These are the Partnership Space Program which offers affordable work space for creative partners, the Residency Program discussed above, the Public Exhibition Series Program which exhibits resident artist works five times annually free to the public, the Internship Program which offers students a custom designed internship experience that is immersive, fun and resume-building, the Patron Program which matches patrons to artists providing the opportunity for greater connection between patron and artist, and studios.gallery which provides a sales gallery and art lending program to increase exposure for past and current resident artists.
Summerfest Concerts
Summerfest, a professional chamber music ensemble, enriches the cultural life of Kansas City through the performance of a variety of music in a setting that fosters interaction between musicians and audience. By combining familiar chamber music repertoire with rarely performed and lesser known pieces, Summerfest concerts provide opportunities for classical music audiences to experience high quality, rare fine arts performances in Kansas City.


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What Does It Mean to Be a People of Renewal? (Soul Matters Groups)
September 26, 2021 at 1:30 pm Rev. Samaya Oakley
Walk This Way: Jewish Wisdom for Challenging Times
September 19, 2021 at 1:30 pm Rabbi Dr. Laura Duhan-Kaplan
Healing Waters
It's A Blessing
June 13, 2021 at 12:00 am Rev. Samaya Oakley
June 6, 2021 at 1:30 pm Rev. Samaya Oakley
All My Relations
Breathing Love
May 23, 2021 at 1:30 pm Rev. Samaya Oakley
CUC National Intergenerational Service
Love Breaks Us Open
May 9, 2021 at 1:30 pm Rev. Samaya Oakley
The Diamond Anniversary
Restoring Our Earth
April 18, 2021 at 1:30 pm Rev. Samaya Oakley
Anti-Racism as Spiritual Practice
April 11, 2021 at 1:30 pm Donovan Hayden
The Wisdom of the Velveteen Rabbit
April 4, 2021 at 1:30 pm Rev. Samaya Oakley
How To Stand Up to Hate Without Bullying, Belittling, or Being a Bystander

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Gary Collins, R. I. P.
NY Daily News: Gary Collins, an actor, television show host and former master of ceremonies for the Miss America Pageant, has died. He was 74.
The Spider Tribe: Heath Lowrance: Amazon.com: Kindle Store: The Iktomi are an ancient evil that feed on the fear and hate of generations, and when the Black Hills run red with the blood of the Lakota, they return to sow death. The mysterious gunslinger called Hawthorne is fueled also by hatred -- hatred of evil. But is his hate strong enough to destroy the Iktomi?
Book Giveaway Contest
Cheryl Pierson Books: WOLF CREEK: BOOK 1 BLOODY TRAIL
THE CLEFTONES Heart and Soul [original] - YouTube:
Phantoms of the Bookshelves -- Jacques Bonnet
Do you read books? Collect books? Accumulate books? If you answered yes to any or all of those questions, you'll enjoy Phantoms of the Bookshelves. I found something on every page (and that includes the fine introduction by James Salter) that struck a chord with me and that I wanted to underline and/or memorize. Bonnet knows what kind of biblio-lunacy he's writing about (his own library includes 40,000 volumes), and it's a pleasure to read his ruminations on books and reading. The book's epigraph is from Charles Nodier: "After owning books, almost the next best thing is talking about them." How true. And after that comes reading about them in books like this one. Highly recommended.
Farmers Feed Hungry Cattle Chocolate in Lieu of Corn
Hat tip to Richard Moore.
Mixing literature and film at Frankfurt Book Fair
Mixing literature and film at Frankfurt Book Fair - The Local: Oscar-nominated director Stephen Daldry, most of whose films have been based on well-known books, said at the Frankfurt Book Fair that he believes novelists now more readily embrace the adaptation of their works onto the big screen.
Eyeball Update
Solved! Where did the Big Eye In The Sea come from?
But at least I still have a copy of this: Mighty Mouse: The first 3D comic, 1953
Elmer Kelton, The Big Brand, Bantam, 1986
5 Terrifying Things Found in the Last Place You'd Expect
Disneyland's backstage cafeteria, 1961
Or Maybe You Did
10 Facts About Werewolves You Didn't Know
Gator Update (Poultry Farmer Edition)
Plucky Former Poultry Farmer Goes Wild For Gators
I'm Sure He's Worth It
How Much Does James Bond Cost The Taxpayer?
31 Reasons Pinterest Is The New SkyMall
Literature's No1 music reference
Beatles' Hey Jude is literature's No1 music reference
Bizarre-Looking Libraries from All Over the World
The Net
1995 - The Net - Trailer - YouTube:
Deborah Chessler, R. I. P.
NY Daily News: Deborah Chessler, whose song "It's Too Soon To Know" became a touchstone and launching pad for the rhythm and blues explosion of the late 1940s and 1950s, died Wednesday in Florida. She was 89. Chessler, the pen name for Shirley Reingold, had been suffering from heart problems.
But Will Honey Boo-Boo Be There?
Hundreds expected at Redneck Games of Arkansas
Cleveland bus driver suspended for punching teenage passenger
Review and Interview with Edward Grainger
Buddies in the Saddle: Wayne D. Dundee, The Guns of Vedauwoo
American Science Fiction: Nine Classic Novels of the 1950s
The Barnes & Noble Review: American Science Fiction: Nine Classic Novels of the 1950s Edited by GARY K. WOLFE Reviewed by Paul Di Filippo
The Rolling Stones -- Doom And Gloom (Lyric Video) - YouTube:
What a Great Library!
Book Mountain: MVRDV Designs Glass Pyramid Library
NC woman lights vending machine on fire after losing money
Kris Rusch Talks about One of my Current Favorite Short Story Series and Bill Trojan
The Man Behind Spade/Paladin | Trace Evidence
5 Big News Stories That Left Out the Most Important Part
I Report, You Decide
Marilyn Monroe vs. Mamie Van Doren
And Keep off Their Lawns!
The 6 Most Baffling Crimes Pulled Off by Senior Citizens
Tom Early (Elmer Kelton), Sons of Texas, Berkley, 1989
And for My Next Birthday . . . .
Houston reptile birthday parties with Crocodile Encounter
Croc Update (Eagle Edition)
Croc gets snapped up
Hat tip to Jeff Segal.
How the Neighborhoods of Manhattan Got Their Names
10 Essential Books for Book Nerds
The Scariest Psycho Biddies in Cinema
Flavorwire's 50 Essential Horror Films
Flavorwire's 50 Essential Horror Films, Part 2
Forgotten Books: A Talent to Deceive: An Appreciation of Agatha Christie -- Robert Barnard
Instead of writing about a Christie novel today, I thought I'd mention one of the first books of criticism devoted to a crime writer that I ever read. I believe there's been a later, much revised, edition, but my copy is the first edition of 1980. It's probably misleading to call it criticism, as I just did, because it's really just what the title says it is: an appreciation.
Barnard meets some of the usual objections to Christie (her characters are wooden stereotypes, her writing is bland and uninteresting) and shows that while there's a bit of truth in them, the characters and writing serve her purposes well. Writing that does that shouldn't be undervalued even if the prose doesn't rise to the level of Joyce's.
I read quite a few of Christie's books at one time, and I still read one now and then, if only to marvel at her ability to fool me completely. Her plotting is second to none. There's also a bit more humor and wit in her books than most people seem to realize. If you're like me, then you're the audience for this book. Barnard assumes a certain amount of familiarity with the novels, and he works hard not to give away the solutions to Christie's puzzles, especially in his capsule summaries. If, on the other hand, you've never read much of Christie, I suspect you'd want to after seeing what Barnard has to say in this book. Check it out.
Trailer - Con Air (1997) - YouTube:
Odysseus Sought for Questioning
Giant eyeball found on Broward beach
Eda Mirsky Mann, R. I. P.
NYTimes.com: Eda Mirsky Mann, a painter and designer and the mother of "Fear of Flying" novelist Erica Jong, has died.
Jong's office announced that Mann died at her Manhattan home on Monday at age 100.
The Trailer!
Christmas with the Dead - YouTube:
CBS Dallas / Fort Worth: A Texas man is in hot water with the law after cooking and eating a dove that had flown against the side of his home, broke its neck and died.
Nelly Busted For Heroin, Pot, And Gun Possession: Cops in Texas found a huge amount of drugs and a loaded gun on the R&B singer's tour bus. He's off the hook now, but a member of his entourage is in deep trouble.
J. K. Rowling Interview
J. K. Rowling - By the Book - NYTimes.com: The author of Harry Potter and, now, "The Casual Vacancy," says her favorite literary character is Jo March: "It is hard to overstate what she meant to a small, plain girl called Jo.
Dacula, GA Patch: A Dacula man was charged with simple battery after a disagreement over the use of a designated parking space turned violent.
If you think Led Zepplin is the greatest rock band in the world, then you've probably already got this book. If you're uncommitted, here's the place to look for all kinds of interesting and entertaining related stuff that will lead you in some unexpected directions.
If You Like Led Zeppelin... Here Are Over 200 Bands,Films,Records,and Other Oddities That You Will Love: Dave Thompson: 9781617130854: Amazon.com: Books: (If You Like). It was, and it remains, the greatest rock band the world has ever seen, a giant from the moment of its inception until long after its demise. Even today, more than 30 years after its final flight, Led Zeppelin offers the final word in rock innovation the one band that so many try to emulate and so few come even close to catching. If You Like Led Zeppelin... is the unique story of how Led Zeppelin came together not as players, but as influences and ideas. It unearths the music that the musicians themselves were listening to, to open up an entire new world of experience and excitement for both casual and committed fans. It then travels beyond Led Zeppelin, to the bands and artists who in turn took their own lead from the Zep. Packed with exclusive comments from friends, contemporaries, and peers, If You Like Led Zeppelin... is a unique window into the world from which Led Zeppelin was born, and the one it created in its wake. From blues and beat bands to California, Morocco, Mali, and beyond, this is the ultimate guidebook for anyone who likes Led Zeppelin.
.. . And keep off her lawn!
Mother, 80, fires gun at son after coffee scuffle, Pasco deputies say
Beano Cook, R. I. P.
Beano Cook - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: Carroll Hoff "Beano" Cook (born September 1, 1931 - October 11, 2012) was an American television personality who worked for ESPN. He was a college football historian and commentator. He received his B.A. from the University of Pittsburgh in 1954.
Maxine Brown-All in My Mind - YouTube:
Mo Yan Wins Nobel Literature Prize
First It Was the Hot Sauce Tantrum . . . .
Norwin High takes disciplinary action over bra-throwing incident at dance
Pine Hill woman accused of repeatedly hitting boyfriend with car
PimPage
The Next Draft with Johnny Shaw | LitReactor: JOHNNY SHAW is the author of DOVE SEASON and BIG MARIA. He received his MFA in screenwriting from UCLA and has lectured at both Santa Barbara City College and UC Santa Barbara. He and his wife, the artist Roxanne Patruznick, now live in Portland, Oregon.
If You Want To Win Over Tom Hanks, Send Him A Typewriter
Odd facts about 10/11/12
Elmer Kelton, Donovan, Ballantine, 1969
The Quick 8: Clarifying 8 Horror Myths
Why It's Hard Being A Grammar Nazi
40 Years Ago, Nick Nolte And Sigourney Weaver Appeared In An Ad Together
15 Scathing Early Reviews of Classic Novels
10 Great Performances in Truly Terrible Movies
Top 10 Strangest Creatures on the Planet
Philip Hensher: Why handwriting matters
Hollywood Reporter: Universal Studios Home Entertainment is bringing back The Little Rascals, the adventures of misfit kids who first took the world by storm in the 1920s and '30s with black and white shorts produced by Hal Roach.
Gang Busters
1942 GANG BUSTERS SERIAL TRAILER - YouTube:
PimPage Update
I read this one tonight, and I can now recommend it wholeheartedly. A tough western novella that Harry Whittington himself might have been proud to have written. Check it out.
Savage Blood: James Reasoner: Amazon.com: Kindle Store: The Civil War took nearly everything from Brodie. A beautiful redhead named Eva took what was left. When she turned to him for help, he had every reason in the world to tell her to go to hell.
Instead he strapped on his gun and walked right into a blazing hell himself.
SAVAGE BLOOD is a brand-new hardboiled Western novella from James Reasoner, bestselling author of the Wind River series, the Judge Earl Stark series, and co-author of the Rancho Diablo series. It's 16,000 words of action and excitement from a master storyteller.
Mind Slices: A Collection of New and Previously Published Stories: Kevin Tipple: Amazon.com: Kindle Store: Mind Slices: A Collection of New and Previously Published Stories features 16 short stories in a variety of genres. Some tales lean towards the science fiction side, some lean towards mystery, and most lean towards suspense. Most stories also contain more than one genre.
Arkansas Leads the Way
Overheard conversation leads to drug arrest
Tolkien Update
'New' JRR Tolkien epic due out next year: Lord of the Rings author's previously unseen 200-page poem of Arthurian legend draws on tales of ancient Britain rather than Middle-earth
The Raw Story: Archaeologists said Wednesday they believe they have found the exact spot in Rome where Julius Caesar was stabbed to death on March 15, 44 BC.
Sven Hassel, R. I. P.
guardian.co.uk: Sven Hassel, who has died aged 95, wrote 14 massively popular novels about life in the wartime German army. His books – including Legion of the Damned, Monte Cassino and Liquidate Paris – have been translated into 25 languages and Hassel found his biggest success in the UK, where readers consumed 15m of his worldwide total of 53m books sold.
Turhan Bey, R. I. P.
1940s Hollywood Actor Dies In Austria At 90: Turhan Bey, an actor whose exotic good looks earned him the nickname of "Turkish Delight" in films with Errol Flynn and Katherine Hepburn before he left Hollywood for a quieter life in Vienna, has died. He was 90.
Alex Karras, R. I. P.
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Funny, flawed, durable, direct, bitter, brave and talented, Karras was all these things during 12 seasons as a defensive tackle for the Detroit Lions in 1958-70 -- and during a successful film and television career that followed.
Karras, 77, died about 3 a.m. today, surrounded by his family at his home in Los Angeles, after suffering from dementia and kidney failure. He was part of a large group of former players suing the NFL for head trauma.
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Neeson goes to Chicago, explains The Code of the Hills to the mob chief: Give up the killer (the mob chief's nephew), and all will be okay. It's an offer the MC can refuse. Swayze finds out that the MC's son (Ben Stiller; yes, that Ben Stiller) is an eyewitness to the murder, but Stiller is tortured and killed before he gives out any info. Then Neeson gets killed. Swayze quits the cops and goes after the killer on his own.
But not to worry. The clan back in the hills finds out what's going on and heads for Chicago. It's the mob versus the hillbillies, and I'll bet you can guess who wins.
Not a bad movie, but not as good as it could've been. The pacing's off, or so it seems to me, and the movie slows down at times. However, if you've ever wanted to see Ben Stiller get what's coming to him, you'll definitely want to see it.
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Cool video at the link.
Hat tip to Stan Burns.
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At issue in Kirtsaeng v. John Wiley & Sons is the first-sale doctrine in copyright law, which allows you to buy and then sell things like electronics, books, artwork and furniture as well as CDs and DVDs, without getting permission from the copyright holder of those products.
Under the doctrine, which the Supreme Court has recognized since 1908, you can resell your stuff without worry because the copyright holder only had control over the first sale.
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I just finished reading an article published in CNN Money about the alarming increase over the last 10 years, in the costs of raising a child.
The double whammy is that wages and income have not risen anywhere near enough to offset these upsetting statistics.
For you parents out there and those of you thinking about becoming parents, I suggest you read this excellent article describing just what has caused this very real, financial dilema.
← WHY DO MIGRAINE SUFFERERS NEED TO AVOID THE LIGHT?


As I sit here writing this…it is important to note that ..THE HOLIDAYS ARE RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER! So whether you are wanting to throw a huge gala or a company lunch to say thanks…Alexa's is here for you…we will help you find the place, decorate the place, feed the folks and even clean it up! So don't delay!
Thank you so much for all you and your crew did for us to make out big day so very, very special! We received so many compliments- the food was delicious, the service was friendly, the tables were beautiful-everything was flawless.


text:
Development of a heptaplex PCR assay for identification of Staphylococcus aureus and CoNS with simultaneous detection of virulence and antibiotic resistance genes
Charles Emeka Okolie1,2,
Karl G. Wooldridge1,
David P.J. Turner1,
Alan Cockayne1 &
Richard James1
BMC Microbiology volume 15, Article number: 157 (2015) Cite this article
Staphylococcal toxicity and antibiotic resistance (STAAR) have been menacing public health. Although vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (VRSA) is currently not as widespread as methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), genome evolution of MRSA into VRSA, including strains engineered within the same patient under anti-staphylococcal therapy, may build up to future public health concern. To further complicate diagnosis, infection control and anti-microbial chemotherapy, non-sterile sites such as the nares and the skin could contain both S. aureus and coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS), either of which could harbour mecA the gene driving staphylococcal methicillin-resistance and required for MRSA-VRSA evolution.
A new heptaplex PCR assay has been developed which simultaneously detects seven markers for: i) eubacteria (16S rRNA), ii) Staphylococcus genus (tuf), iii) Staphylococcus aureus (spa), iv) CoNS (cns), v) Panton-Valentine leukocidin (pvl), vi) methicillin resistance (mecA), and vii) vancomycin resistance (vanA). Following successful validation using 255 reference bacterial strains, applicability to analyse clinical samples was evaluated by direct amplification in spiked blood cultures (n = 89) which returned 100 % specificity, negative and positive predictive values. The new assay has LoD of 1.0x103 CFU/mL for the 16S rRNA marker and 1.0x104 CFU/mL for six other markers and completes cycling in less than one hour.
The speed, sensitivity (100 %), NPV (100 %) and PPV (100 %) suggest the new heptaplex PCR assay could be easily integrated into a routine diagnostic microbiology workflow. Detection of the cns marker allows for unique identification of CoNS in mono-microbial and in poly-microbial samples containing mixtures of CoNS and S. aureus without recourse to the conventional elimination approach which is ambiguous. In addition to the SA-CoNS differential diagnostic essence of the new assay, inclusion of vanA primers will allow microbiology laboratories to stay ahead of the emerging MRSA-VRSA evolution. To the best of our knowledge, the new heptaplex PCR assay is the most multiplexed among similar PCR-based assays for simultaneous detection of STAAR.
Accumulation of genes encoding staphylococcal toxigenicity and antibiotic-resistance (STAAR) in the genus Staphylococcus is well documented. The evolution of STAAR factors in Staphylococcus aureus has resulted to the emergence of strains associated with infections recently described as life-threatening and refractory to therapy [1, 2]. Some bacterial factors are not easily detected by conventional agar-based bacteriological cultures. PCR-based assays are capable of identifying the genetic capacity for STAAR without the influence of variability in gene expression [3] and are preferred for speed and sensitivity.
Genome evolution is responsible for the emergence of strains harbouring STAAR factors some of which pose diagnostic challenges. For detection of mecA-encoded staphylococcal methicillin resistance, several investigators have reported multiplex PCR assays which accurately detected mecA gene and correlated well with the oxacillin phenotype [4, 5]. Since S. aureus and coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) harbor the mecA gene in common, Huletsky and colleagues highlighted the need for a discriminatory assay capable of identifying the co-habitation of S. aureus and coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) especially in non-sterile sites such as the nares and the skin [6]. They discriminated S. aureus from CoNS by detecting DNA from the staphylococcal cassette chromosome (SCC) using oligonucleotides which hybridised to the S. aureus open reading frame encoding unknown function (orfX) [6]. However, commercial assays inspired by the orfX oligos attracted numerous reports of assay failure because some SCC types which lacked the mecA gene were misidentified as MRSA [7, 8].
Basically, there are PCR-based assays for species identification of CoNS [9–11]. However, as the taxa of clinically relevant member species of the genus Staphylococcus continues expanding [12, 13], no species-specific assay has been capable of detecting all the species in one PCR tube. Consequently, PCR-based assays for identification of CoNS have relied on elimination based on the absence or non-detection of S. aureus markers such as coa, nuc, spa or femA [14]. Although the elimination approach may yield good results for mono-microbial infections, lack of a unique marker for CoNS renders such assays unreliable for identification of CoNS in poly-microbial samples containing both S. aureus and CoNS.
Recently the genomes of some MRSA strains evolved further. As a result of the acquisition of the vanA gene from enterococci vancomycin-resistant S. aureus (VRSA) evolved among MRSA strains [15, 16]. The recent emergence of VRSA in Portugal [17] may lead to the spread of VRSA in Europe and beyond. Furthermore, the increase in the incidence of MRSA strains belonging to the CC5 clade associated with hospital MRSA-VRSA evolution in different parts of the globe [18], including the case of the Brazilian patient whose own bloodstream vancomycin-susceptible MRSA (VS-MRSA) acquired vanA during antibiotic therapy and became VRSA [19] and the 13.3 % incidence of VRSA in some hospitals [20], collectively point to the hazardous capacity of this lineage, suggesting that the genetic engineering and dissemination of community associated MRSA containing vanA could escalate to a serious public health concern. The recent report of 46.2 % VRSA among MRSA strains isolated in chickens [21] further suggests that VRSA constitutes an impending threat to public health.
In line with the identified need for multiplex PCR assays capable of detection of multiple microbes or multiple genetic markers within the same PCR tube [22], we aimed to develop a multiplex PCR assay. Our experiments resulted in a new heptaplex PCR assay which simultaneously detected seven DNA markers for: (i) 16S rRNA (ubiquitous bacteria), (ii) spa (S. aureus), (iii) tuf (the genus Staphylococcus spp.), (iv) cns (CoNS), (v) pvl (PVL virulence factor), (vi) mecA (methicillin resistance), and (vii) vanA (vancomycin resistance).
Bioethics and biosafety
The Research Committee, University of Nottingham, approved this study. Human-associated materials, including clinical bacterial isolates and blood cultures, were de-identified so they could not be tracked back to the patients. Many of the bacterial strains used in this study were obtained from the Network for Antibiotic Resistance in Staphylococcus aureus (NARSA) Strain Repository (www.narsa.net), some of which are putatively multi-resistant and/or highly virulent. An enhanced level 2 (BSL2+) suite was provided for storage and work on such potentially hazardous agents. Local strains were manipulated completely in the general (BSL2) laboratory space.
Bacterial strains and bacteriological media used for this study
All bacteriological media and consumables used for this study were purchased from Oxoid, Basingstoke, UK. Bacterial strains (n = 255) were sub-cultured from storage (−80 °C) into brain heart infusion (BHI) broth and plated out on BHI agar. From BHI plates, a 0.5 McFarland standardised inoculum was generated for each isolate and used for gene detection and phenotypic tests. Reference type cultures (n = 53) comprising staphylococcal strains were used to validate the 7 genetic markers targeted by the new heptaplex PCR assay. Identification of the sources of the type cultures along with the numbers of strains belonging to S. aureus and CoNS are indicated (Additional file 1). Local clinical staphylococcal strains (n = 124) were collected from the hospitals in the Nottingham area (August 2003 - December 2004). They were previously characterized by the Queen's Medical Centre (QMC) Nottingham NHS microbiology laboratory and de-identified by Dr. Richard Spence who used them for DNA microarrays [23]. CoNS strains (n = 31) donated by Nottingham University's Centre for Biomolecular Sciences (CBS) researchers who previously characterized them as S. auricularis (2), S capitis (2), S. caprae (2), S. chromogenes (2), S. cohnii (2), S. epidermidis (2), S. hemolyticus (1), S. hominis (2), S. hyicus (2), S. intermedius (2), S. lugdunensis (1), S. saprophyticus (3), S. sciuri (2), S. simulans (2), S. warneri (2) and S. xylosus (2) were included. Other (non-staphylococcal) bacteria (n = 47) previously characterized and de-identified by CBS researchers including strains of Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas spp., Klebsiella spp., Aeromonas spp., Salmonella spp., Citrobacter spp., Proteus spp., and Group A streptococci (GAS) were also used.
Preparation of bacterial DNA
Preparation of bacterial cell lysates from NARSA strains followed a heating and centrifugation method reported elsewhere [24]. Bacterial DNA was obtained from spiked blood culture by Triton X-100 cell lysis method [25]. Following bacterial cell lysis step, the DNA-rich supernatant was transferred into a fresh 0.5 mL Eppendorf tube for PCR in the general (BSL2) laboratory. The lysis step was waived for local strains: bacterial colonies were directly picked and used in PCR. Similarly, broths were applied directly into PCR as previously evaluated in our laboratory and found reliable [24].
Development and optimization of the heptaplex PCR
The spa, pvl and mecA primers were originally published by Nakagawa et al. [26]; they reliably detected spa, pvl and mecA in our laboratory [24]. The cns and 16S rRNA primers were copied from a recently published pentaplex real-time PCR assay [27]. Following other reports [28, 29], multiple alignments in clustalW (www.ebi.ac.uk/tools/clustalW) were used to design the primers targeting tuf and vanA. The greater discriminatory power of staphylococcal tuf over 16S rRNA for identification of CoNS has been reported [30] and was exploited in this assay. To supply all the seven key genetic loci targeted in the new PCR, a mixed infection model comprising 3 staphylococcal strains was made up. The strains used to generate the mixed infection model were: i) vancomycin-resistant S. aureus strain VRS1 (16S, tuf, spa, vanA and mecA), ii) PVL-positive MSSA strain NRS157 (16S, tuf, spa, and pvl), and iii) methicillin susceptible CoNS strain S. lugdunensis NCTC12217 (16S, tuf, and cns). Bacterial cell lysates (10 μL), broth cultures or direct bacterial colonies were used as template for PCR in a 40 μL volume. Beginning with the five primer sets recently reported in our laboratory [27] and in a stepwise manner, the number of markers detected was scaled up to seven by adding two new primer sets targeting tuf and vanA genes. Following recent reports [31, 32], Candida albicans (n = 4) were used as non-bacterial negative control template while the 16S rRNA marker for ubiquitous bacteria served as a positive control in every PCR reaction containing bacterial DNA. The PCR was performed using Eppendorf mastercycler (Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany). The cycling conditions were copied from a recent pentaplex real-time PCR assay [27]. Briefly, an initial single cycle for 5 minutes at 94 °C was followed by 40 cycles consisting of 15 seconds at 94 °C (denaturation) and 5 seconds at 60 °C (amplification) with one final run of 30 seconds at 72 °C (final polymerase extension). PCR optimization followed recent strategies [33, 34]: hot-start PCR was performed in which Taq DNA polymerase was withheld until the cycler showed the reaction temperature was above 85 °C. The PCR mixture contained 0.500 mM of dNTPs, 10U of Taq DNA polymerase (New England Biolabs, UK) and thermopol buffer (pH 8.8 at 25 °C, 5 μL) comprising: 20 mM Tris–HCl, 10 mM (NH4)2SO4, 10 mM KCl, 2 mM MgSO4, 0.1 % Triton X-100. Bacterial cell lysates (10 μL) from spiked blood cultures were used as template for PCR in a 40 μL volume. PCR amplicons were resolved by electrophoresis (200 V, 3 hours) in 4 % agarose gel containing Ethidium bromide (0.5 g/L) and visualised in UV trans-illuminator (UVP, UK). PCR products were purified from agarose gels using GenElute™ (Sigma, UK). Sequencing reactions were prepared by BigDye™ protocol (AppliedBiosystems, USA) and analysed using ABI Prism 310 Genetic analyser (AppliedBiosystems, USA). Identity of PCR amplicons was confirmed by BLAST search on NCBI databases (http://blast.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Blast.cgi). The limit of detection (LoD) was determined by ten-fold serial dilutions performed on a 0.5 McFarland inoculum. Following isolation on BHI plates, Gram staining was performed to differentiate Gram-positive from Gram-negative bacteria. Tube coagulase test (TCT) was used to differentiate S. aureus from CoNS. Oxacillin salt agar screen (OSAS) containing 4 % NaCl, reported elsewhere as most reliable especially for CoNS [35, 36] was performed according to the agar dilution methods recommended by the CLSI [37]. For identification of staphylococcal vancomycin phenotype, vancomycin agar screen (VAS) was performed and interpreted according to CLSI [38]. Following CLSI recommendations [38, 39], Mueller-Hinton agar was used in disk diffusion method to screen for: (i) oxacillin-resistance using 1.0 μg oxacillin disc; and (ii) vancomycin-resistance using 6.0 μg vancomycin disc. For assay reproducibility, positive and negative characters were inferred upon the agreement of results obtained from four or more repeated gene detection and phenotypic tests performed on different days: the same 0.5McFarland inoculum prepared for PCR was used for phenotypic tests including colony counts. Aside from gene amplification from the bacterial strains performed directly on the frozen material, directly from BHI broth and directly from discrete colonies grown on BHI agar, the capacity of the new assay to detect the seven genetic markers directly from clinical samples was studied using spiked blood cultures containing bacterial strains in mono-microbial and poly-microbial models. Spiking of blood cultures followed a recent report for direct identification of staphylococci from blood culture material [40] with modifications. Briefly, the de-identified clinical blood culture bottles which have been cultured for 1 week and remained negative, derived from routine diagnostic microbiology, were spiked and then tested by PCR. Detected sequences were analysed as negative predictive values (NPV) and positive predictive values (PPV) according to recent CLSI guidelines [41].
Multiple alignments in clustalW enabled the identification of loci within the nucleotide sequences of target genes for suitable primer hybridization. Although the detection of tuf gene as a marker for the identification of the genus Staphylococcus is well documented [42], the new heptaplex PCR is the first end-point PCR-based assay which demonstrated the discriminatory power of some polymorphic regions of the staphylococcal tuf for unique detection of CoNS. This allows the simultaneous detection of markers specific for S. aureus and CoNS within the same PCR tube without recourse to the conventional elimination approach thus allowing mixtures of S. aureus and CoNS to be identified without cumber and ambiguity.
Bioinformatic analysis initially identified AAGACTGCACGTTCAGGCTC, a 20-letter oligonucleotide sequence as the vanA forward primer. Though the former vanA forward primer generated a vanA positive amplicon with very high specificity in a 235 bp monoplex PCR [29], it interfered with other reactions. Replacement of the interfering primer with the current vanA forward primer listed in Table 1 generated a 111 bp amplicon without interference thus allowing the simultaneous amplification of all the seven markers targeted by the new heptaplex PCR (Fig. 1).
Development of the new heptaplex PCR showing the amplification of single and multiple DNA markers. Lane 1: 100 bp DNA Marker (New England Biolabs, NEB, UK) with upper band [200 bp] and lower band [100 bp], Lane 2: PCR negative control [Candida albicans], Lane 3: coagulase-negative staphylococcus marker [cns, 204 bp], Lane 4: bacterial 16S rRNA marker [16S, 174 bp], Lane 5: mecA marker [mecA, 155 bp], Lane 6: staphylococcus genus translation elongation factor marker [tuf, 143 bp], Lane 7: Panton-Valentine leukocidin marker [pvl, 118 bp], Lane 8: Vancomycin resistance marker [vanA, 111 bp], Lane 9: staphylococcal protein A marker [spa, 101 bp], Lane 10: Heptaplex PCR showing all seven markers (cns, 16S, mecA, tuf, pvl, vanA and spa) from top to bottom respectively
Table 1 Oligonucleotide primers used in the heptaplex PCR assay
The 111bp vanA marker was amplified from all (100%) VRSA reference strains listed in Additional file 1. Upon these findings, it was inferred that useful as in silico bioinformatics work-up is in PCR primer prediction, wet experimentation is still needed to confirm the reliability of PCRs developed from such predictions. This is particularly important as very powerful bioinformatics tools are entering the oligo-design research arena, including those capable of aligning nearly a million sequences of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene [31]. Also, the lack of amplification in the negative control PCRs containing C. albicans template (Fig. 1 lane 2 and Fig. 2 lanes 5 and 11) further attests to the specificity of the new assay which is illustrated using numerous reference strains and their combinations (Fig. 2).
Validation of the new heptaplex PCR assay. Lanes 1 and 8: 100 bp DNA ladder (NEB, UK); Lane 2: MRCoNS strain S. epidermidis NRS8 showing the markers cns, 16S, mecA, and tuf; Lane 3: Nottingham local MSCoNS showing the markers cns, 16S, and tuf; Lane 4: Group A Streptococcus showing only the 16S marker for bacterial 16SrRNA gene; Lanes 5 and 11: PCR negative control (Candida albicans); Lane 6: VRSA strain VRS1 showing the markers 16S, mecA, tuf, vanA, and spa; Lanes 7 and 14: mixed template comprising vancomycin-resistant S. aureus strain VRS1, methicillin susceptible CoNS strain S. lugdunensis NCTC12217 and PVL-positive MSSA strain NRS157 and showing all the seven markers (cns, 16S, mecA, tuf, pvl, vanA, and spa); Lane 9: PVL-negative MRSA strain Sanger252 showing the markers 16S, mecA, tuf, and spa; Lane 10: PVL-negative MSSA strain Sanger476 showing the markers 16S, tuf, and spa; Lane 12: PVL-positive MSSA strain NRS157 showing the markers 16S, tuf, pvl, and spa; Lane13: PVL-positive S. aureus strain USA400 (MW2) showing the markers 16S, mecA, tuf, pvl, and spa
The optimal concentration of the oligonucleotide primers which yielded clearly detectable amplification products in the new heptaplex PCR assay were found to be 0.50 μM for cns and 0.75 μM for the other six targets.
Gene detection in spiked blood cultures, including mono- and poly-microbial cultures, showed the new assay detected all the seven targets (Additional file 2). Additional file 2 also shows that all the expected genes were correctly detected with 100 % specificity, NPV, and PPV thus enabling assignment of MSSA, PPMSSA, MRSA, PPMRSA, MSCoNS, MRCoNS, and VRSA. No PCR product was generated from the eukaryotic template, C. albicans, used as PCR negative control, a finding which supports its use as negative control for bacterial PCRs [31, 32].
The 111 bp vanA marker was not detected in the local clinical isolates. Thus the new assay corroborates the QMC phenotypic data for the local clinical staphylococci in agreement with the fact that they were uniformly susceptible to vancomycin by the VAS used to support vanA PCR in this study. However, one of the local strains showed discrepancy between the QMC data and gene detection by the new assay. Previously identified as methicillin susceptible Staphylococcus epidermidis (MSSE), the strain in question yielded PCR products for 16S, tuf, mecA and cns which together characterize MRCoNS (typical of Fig. 2 lane 2). The oxacillin 1 μg disk diffusion method identified the strain as MSCoNS. Interestingly, there was growth on the 0.5 mg/L oxacillin plate while increasing concentrations inhibited the strain.
For taxonomical purposes, the relevance of species-specific PCR-based assays cannot be undermined though. However, owing to the continuing expansion in the taxa of clinically relevant member species of the genus Staphylococcus [12, 13], there is yet no species-specific PCR-based assay capable of identifying all clinically relevant CoNS in one PCR tube. This puts a limitation on species-specific PCR-based assays. To circumvent this, the new heptaplex PCR assay identifies all CoNS by detection of the cns marker. Similarly, the detection of the 16S rRNA in all (100 %) bacteria studied including staphylococcal and non-staphylococcal strains supports the use of this gene as a diagnostic marker for bacteria [43]. Though the use of higher oxacillin concentrations recommended by the CLSI [38, 39] have been reported elsewhere [44], the 0.5 mg/L oxacillin used in this study supports the recent report of low oxacillin-resistant staphylococci (MIC = 0.5 mg/L) in the UK [45]. In view of the variations in gene expression, it has been suggested that mecA-positive staphylococci showing low-level oxacillin-resistance should be regarded as constitutively oxacillin-resistant [3].
The new assay completes cycling within an hour which compares favourably with a recent PVL/MRSA real-time PCR assay [45]. The total turn-around-time was less than 4 hours which also compares favourably with recent end-point PCR assays [41], while the LoD was found to be 1.0x103 CFU/mL (for 16S rRNA marker) and 1.0x104 CFU/mL (for the other six markers). These parameters further support the usefulness of the new heptaplex PCR assay in routine clinical diagnosis and infection control.
Though the absence of vanA in Nottingham local clinical strains corroborates the vancomycin phenotype, the recent finding of VRSA in Portugal and the report of 46.2 % VRSA in chickens are pointers that the new heptaplex PCR assay will find relevance in routine diagnosis and infection control. Also, the detection of the cns sequence which is unique to CoNS and completely independent of S. aureus gene (spa) shows that the new assay will allow microbiology laboratories to easily identify the presence of both CoNS and S. aureus directly in poly-microbial specimens.
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We thank Dr. Fiona Hamilton for the blood cultures and Dr. Richard Spence for the NARSA and Nottingham clinical staphylococci. CEO thanks the University of Nottingham for funding the experimental work described in this paper and for the partial tuition fee scholarship granted him for his PhD. CEO also thanks the CBS microbiology researchers for the CoNS and other bacterial strains.
Centre for Healthcare Associated Infections, Centre for Biomolecular Sciences Building, The University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK
Charles Emeka Okolie
, Karl G. Wooldridge
, David P.J. Turner
, Alan Cockayne
& Richard James
Centre for Advanced Research and Development, Landmark University, Omu-Aran, Kwara State, Nigeria
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Correspondence to Charles Emeka Okolie.
CEO conception and design, all the experimentation, analysis and interpretation of data, drafting and revising the manuscript. KGW supervision, analysis and interpretation of data, and revising the manuscript. DPJT supervision, analysis and interpretation of data, and revising the manuscript. AC oversight of work in BSL2+ workspace, instrumentation, biological safety and control, supervision, analysis and interpretation of data, and revising the manuscript. RJ conception, acquisition of funding, analysis and interpretation of data, general supervision of the research group, and revising the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
Reference bacterial strains used for validation of the new heptaplex PCR assay. (DOCX 29 kb)
Evaluation of the new heptaplex PCR assay on spiked blood cultures. (DOCX 65 kb)
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly credited. The Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication waiver (http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/) applies to the data made available in this article, unless otherwise stated.
Okolie, C.E., Wooldridge, K.G., Turner, D.P. et al. Development of a heptaplex PCR assay for identification of Staphylococcus aureus and CoNS with simultaneous detection of virulence and antibiotic resistance genes. BMC Microbiol 15, 157 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12866-015-0490-9
tuf gene polymorphism
Mixed infection
Therapy-refractory
Clinical microbiology and vaccines


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EVS Rustavi: Siusiu- best dog in Rustavi!
So now, she get her "dog house" in the yard of the scout house in Rustavi, and she seems to be used to that place already... We are buying and bringing food for her, I hope that when we'll leave Georgia, someone else will take care of her, for example future EVS-volunteers in Rustavi, or those who will work or stay in scout house.
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text:
Mississippi State vs Kentucky Week 7 Recommended Bet
Mississippi State Bulldogs (5-1 SU, ATS 4-1-1) vs Kentucky Wildcats (4-2 SU, ATS
Location: Kroger Field, Lexington, KY
TV: SECN
Point Spread: Bulldogs -7/Wildcats +7 (Wagerweb – Allows you to make Kentucky a +27 underdog by inserting them into a massive 20 point teaser!)
Money Line: Bulldogs -276/Wildcats +214
This season, the Bulldogs hope to continue playing well against SEC teams, as are 2-1. Their
overall record is 5-1. This season, the Bulldogs have an ATS mark of 4-1-1 while being favored in
every game. Their over-under record sits at 4-2-0 on an average point total betting line of
In their last game, the Bulldogs are coming off a 40-17 win over Arkansas. In addition, they
added an ATS win as they were 9.0 favorites on the spread. The team finished the game throwing
for 3 touchdown passes. Overall, the Bulldogs had 395 passing yards on a completion percentage of
64.6%. The team ended the game with 3 rushing touchdowns, along with a total of 173 yards on the
Will Rogers heads into the game as the team's top quarterback, with a current passer rating of
114.13. So far, he has completed 202 passes for a total of 2110 yards. So far, the team's most
productive wide receiver is Rara Thomas, who has caught 21 passes for a total of 368 yards. The
Bulldogs have turned to running back Dillon Johnson a total of 67 times for a total of 402
rushing yards.
This year, the Wildcats have a 1-2 record in SEC. Their overall record currently sits at 4-2.
This season, the Wildcats have been favored in 4 game while posting an ATS mark of 4-2-0. Their
average over-under betting line is 51.58 leading to an over-under record of 1-5-0.
In their previous game, the Wildcats fell to South Carolina on the road by a score of 24-14.
Kentucky also picked up an ATS loss, as they were 4.0 point favorites entering the game. The team
finished the game throwing for 2 touchdown passes. Overall, the Wildcats had 178 passing yards on
a completion percentage of 55.6%. In the rushing game, the Wildcats did not find the endzone,
while finishing with a total of 121 yards on the ground.
The team's leading quarterback is Will Levis, who comes into the game with a passer rating of
117.48 on a completion percentage of 68.8%. But, leading up to the game, he is listed as
questionable on the injury report. Wide receiver Tayvion Robinson, has come up with the most
production for the team, with a total of 392 receiving yards. In the run game, Kavosiey Smoke has
accumulated 269 on 53 attempts to lead the team.
Mississippi State have gone 7-3-0 over their last 10 contests, including posting an ATS record
6-3-1. Their last 10 scoring differential sits at +12.2, as they averaged 35.7 points per game
while allowing 23.5. The over-under record in these games was 6-4-0.
Through their last 5 road contests, the Bulldogs' offense has averaged 26.6 points per game
while allowing an average of 29.4. Mississippi State posted an overall record of 2-3-0 while
going 3-2-0 ATS.
In their last 10 games, Kentucky has covered the spread at a rate of 80.0%, while putting
together a straight-up record of 8-2-0. The team's average scoring differential was 15.1, as they
averaged 32.0 points per game. Defensively, they allowed an average of 16.9. Their last 10
over-under record is 3-7-0.
Kentucky has played well in their previous 5 home games, going 4-1-0 straight up. In this
stretch, they averaged 26.6 points per game while allowing 15.4. The team also performed well vs
the spread at 2-2-1.
So far, the Bulldogs are averaging 38.5 points per game on offense, which is good for the 22nd
most in college football. This week's matchup should be a fun game to watch, as the Kentucky
defense that is allowing an average of just 16.33 points per contest.
So far, the Mississippi State offense is averaging just 106.67 yards per game on the ground.
This production has come on an average of 25.33 rush attempts per game (131st). This week, the
Bulldogs will be facing a Kentucky defense ranked 85th in rush yards allowed per game. This year,
they have averaged 117.0 yards per game when facing defenses ranked outside the top 50.
Heading into this week's matchup, the Wildcats will look to improve their offensive output, as
they are ranked just 87th in the NCAA in points scored and will be a matchup against a
Mississippi State defense that is allowing an average of 21.0 points per game.
Although the Wildcats have turned to the passing attack at a below-average rate this season,
they have an opportunity to find success through the air vs a Mississippi State defense allowing
teams to complete passes at a rate of 57.6%.
So far, the Kentucky offense is averaging just 92.5 yards per game on the ground. This
production has come on an average of 34.67 rush attempts per game (86th). This week, the Wildcats
will be facing a Mississippi State defense that is ranked 71st in rush yards allowed per game. So
far, they are averaging 95.5 yards per game when facing defenses ranked outside the top 50.
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text:
Home Cities Bengaluru
Whether it's figuring out your phone's passcode or revealing the name of your childhood crush, this mind-reader can guess them all
Published: 25th August 2021 06:45 AM | Last Updated: 25th August 2021 06:45 AM | A+A A-
By Sanath Prasad
Express News Service
BENGALURU: At a time when it is hard to understand what's going on in the minds of people, here is 30-year-old Narpath Raman who makes that sound easy-peasy. From figuring out your phone's passcode to revealing the name of the person you are thinking about, Raman is full of tricks and surprises. Raman, who stumped the cricketing legend MS Dhoni by revealing his first crush's name, is now embarking on a new journey to introduce the first mentalist series on OTT.
"It will be a blend of fiction and non-fiction factors. I have been talking to the top OTT platforms for the last six months and the series could be a chat show or a documentary that explores the world of mind reading. I will try to be the pioneer in this format," says Raman, who started mind reading after he quit his IT job in March 2013, much against his parent's wish.
Interestingly, Bengaluru has opened an avenue for him to hone his skills. Although he is a mechanical engineering graduate, he ventured into being a 'street mentalist' to 'educate', 'empower' and 'entertain'. "In 2013, I started performing magic with cards on the streets of Koramangala and Jayanagar. I used to wake up early in the morning and randomly approach people at shopping malls and read their minds and surprise them. I've been thrown out of malls several times, and from a cafe too, which equated my work to black magic," says Raman, who draws inspiration from an English mentalist Derren Brown.
He worked and learnt the tricks of mind reading from extensively watching the videos of different mind readers and mentalists across the globe. He spent two years performing in the streets of Bengaluru and later went on to pursue this as a serious business. "My first mind-reading show was at Rangasthala Auditorium at MG Road. To my surprise, there were 140 people who turned up for the show, although the seating capacity was just 130," says Raman who then went on to perform at cafes, corporate offices and celebrity shows. Some of the celebrities he stunned using his mind-reading skills are actors Sai Pallavi, Gouri Kishan and Ritu Varma.
Raman also started mind-reading tutorials when the lockdown set-in due to the pandemic. "Earlier, I shied away from teaching mind reading to people because these are tricks of the trade. But with social gatherings restricted during the lockdown, I felt that I had to think outside the box," says Raman, who also has a YouTube channel by the name 'The next door mind reader'.
While Raman has encountered several naysayers along the way, he feels that a mentalist is an actor who plays the role of a mentalist. "Beyond that, it's upto the people to decide if they want to believe in it or not," says Raman.
BENGALURU: At a time when it is hard to understand what's going on in the minds of people, here is 30-year-old Narpath Raman who makes that sound easy-peasy. From figuring out your phone's passcode to revealing the name of the person you are thinking about, Raman is full of tricks and surprises. Raman, who stumped the cricketing legend MS Dhoni by revealing his first crush's name, is now embarking on a new journey to introduce the first mentalist series on OTT. "It will be a blend of fiction and non-fiction factors. I have been talking to the top OTT platforms for the last six months and the series could be a chat show or a documentary that explores the world of mind reading. I will try to be the pioneer in this format," says Raman, who started mind reading after he quit his IT job in March 2013, much against his parent's wish. Interestingly, Bengaluru has opened an avenue for him to hone his skills. Although he is a mechanical engineering graduate, he ventured into being a 'street mentalist' to 'educate', 'empower' and 'entertain'. "In 2013, I started performing magic with cards on the streets of Koramangala and Jayanagar. I used to wake up early in the morning and randomly approach people at shopping malls and read their minds and surprise them. I've been thrown out of malls several times, and from a cafe too, which equated my work to black magic," says Raman, who draws inspiration from an English mentalist Derren Brown. He worked and learnt the tricks of mind reading from extensively watching the videos of different mind readers and mentalists across the globe. He spent two years performing in the streets of Bengaluru and later went on to pursue this as a serious business. "My first mind-reading show was at Rangasthala Auditorium at MG Road. To my surprise, there were 140 people who turned up for the show, although the seating capacity was just 130," says Raman who then went on to perform at cafes, corporate offices and celebrity shows. Some of the celebrities he stunned using his mind-reading skills are actors Sai Pallavi, Gouri Kishan and Ritu Varma. Raman also started mind-reading tutorials when the lockdown set-in due to the pandemic. "Earlier, I shied away from teaching mind reading to people because these are tricks of the trade. But with social gatherings restricted during the lockdown, I felt that I had to think outside the box," says Raman, who also has a YouTube channel by the name 'The next door mind reader'. While Raman has encountered several naysayers along the way, he feels that a mentalist is an actor who plays the role of a mentalist. "Beyond that, it's upto the people to decide if they want to believe in it or not," says Raman.