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Les batzelladines són un grup d'alcaloides guanidins policíclics aïllats d'esponges marines de l'ordre dels poecilosclèrids.

Aquestes molècules tenen un interès especial en el camp biomèdic gràcies a la seva activitat biològica, ja que s'ha descobert que, entre d'altres, podrien ser un inhibidor del VIH (Virus de la immunodeficiència humana) i del HSV (herpes simple). Per aquest motiu, s'ha estat investigant com sintetitzar artificialment aquestes molècules.

Història
Les primeres batzelladines van ser descobertes a mitjans dels anys 90 per un grup d'investigadors del SmithKline Beecham mentre realitzaven un estudi centrat en una família de guanidines presents a les esponges marines Batzella i Monanchora unguifera, que pertanyen a l'ordre dels Poecilosclèrids. Es va descobrir que aquest grup de molècules, gràcies a la seva activitat biològica, podrien tenir un paper molt important en els avanços biomèdics.

Al llarg dels anys es van anar descobrint més molècules pertanyents a la mateixa família de les Batzelladines. Actualment se'n coneixen 15, anomenades per ordre alfabètic de la A a la N, diferenciant dos tipus de C (batzelladina C i dehidrobatzelladina C).

Estructura
Les batzelladines són compostos formats principalment per carboni, hidrogen, nitrogen i oxigen. Es caracteritzen per tenir una estructura de guanidina bicíclica o tricíclica unida a un enllaç èster. Tenen un nombre de carbonis que varia en funció del tipus de batzelladina, que pot anar des dels 15 fins a més de 40.

Tot i que hi ha moltes rutes de síntesi de les batzelladines que són eficients i estereoselectives, encara no hi ha un mètode que permeti accedir a tots els nuclis d'aquesta família d'alcaloides. S'espera que amb un millor enteniment de la seva estructura i dels passos clau per arribar-hi serà possible desenvolupar rutes molt eficients i estereoselectives per a cada membre de la família de les batzelladines.

Propietats químiques
 Normalment aquests components, en condicions ambientals, són incolors i cristal·lins.
 Juntament amb àcids formen sals, les quals normalment són solubles en aigua i poc solubles en dissolvents orgànics.
 Tenen un gust amarg.
 Totes, excepte la batzelladina C, s'han aconseguit sintetitzar artificialment.
 Interrompen les interaccions entre proteïnes, motiu pel qual aquesta família de productes naturals posseeix una activitat biològica potencialment significativa.

Tipus
Alguns dels tipus principals de batzelladina són:

Batzelladina A
Es tracta d'un tipus de batzelladina bicíclica obtinguda per la condensació d'un àcid amb un alcohol (concretament l'àcid 2aS,3S,4R,7R,8aS-4-metil-7-nonil-2,2a,3,4,6,7,8,8a-octahidro-1H-5,6,8b-triazaacenaftilè-3-carboxilic amb l'alcohol 4-carbamimidamidobutil (3R)-3-(9-hidroxinonil)-1-imino-1,2,3,5,6,7-hexahidropirrolo[1,2-c]pirimidina-4-carboxilata).

La seva fórmula molecular és C42H73N9O4. El nom IUPAC de Batzelladina A és 9-{(3R)-4-[(4-carbamimidamidobutoxy)carbonyl]-1-imino-1,2,3,5,6,7-hexahydropyrrolo[1,2-c]pyrimidin-3-yl}nonyl (2aS,3S,4R,7,R,8aS)-4-methyl-7-nonyl-2,2a,3,4,6,7,8,8a-octahydro-1H-5,6,8b-triazaacenaphthylene-3-carboxylate.

Es creu que aquesta molècula pot ser un potencial inhibidor del virus VIH.

Batzelladina B
És un èster carboxílic obtingut per la condensació formal de l'àcid (2aR,7R,8aS)-7-heptil-4-metil-2,2a,6,7,8,8a-hexahidro-1H-5,6,8b-triazaacenaftilè-3-carboxilic amb el grup hidroxi 4-carbamimidamidobutil 3-(9-hidroxinonil)-1-imino-1,2,3,5,6,7-hexahidropirrolo[1,2-c]pirimidina-4-carboxilata. Aïllat a partir d'una esponja (o porífer) del Carib, anomenada Batzella, té activitat potencialment anti-VIH.

La seva fórmula molecular és C40H67N9O₄. El nom IUPAC de Batzelladina B és 9-{4-[(4-carbamimidamidobutoxy)carbonyl]-1-imino-1,2,3,5,6,7-hexahydropyrrolo[1,2-c]pyrimidin-3-yl}nonyl (2aS,7,R,8aS)-7-heptyl-4-methyl-2,2a,6,7,8,8a-hexahydro-1H-5,6,8b-triazaacenaphthylene-3-carboxylate.

Batzelladina D
La batzelladina D és una de les estructures relativament més simples del grup de les batzelladines: està formada per cinc centres de carboni asimètrics en el tricicle de guanadina.

La seva fórmula molecular és C25H46N₆O₂. El nom IUPAC de Batzelladina D és 4-[(diaminomethylene)amino]butyl (2aS,3S,4R,7S,8aR)-4-methyl-7-nonyl-2,2a,3,4,6,7,8,8a-octahydro-1H-5,6,8b-triazaacenaphthylene-3-carboxylate.

El 1996 el grup de Overman va exposar la síntesi total d'aquesta batzelladina mitjançant l'aplicació d'una reacció de Biginelli lligada. Així doncs, la reacció central en la síntesi de la batzelladina D és una condensació de Biginelli lligada d'un aldehid de guanidina i un èster acetoacètic per generar un 7-substitut-1-iminohexahidropirol[1,2-c]pirimidina intermediari que té la anti-estereoquímica dels hidrògens metina, els quals flanquegen els nitrògens pirrolidina.

La síntesi d'aquesta batzelladina representa la primera síntesi asimètrica d'un membre de la família d'alcaloides de les batzelladines.

Batzelladina F
La batzelladina F és un dels compostos amb una estructura més complexa dins la família de les batzelladines. Conté dos tricicles de guanidina i la seva fórmula molecular és C37H64N₆O₂. El nom IUPAC de Batzelladina F és 7-[(2aS,4R,7S,8aR)-7-methyl-2,2a,3,4,6,7,8,8a-octahydro-1H-5,6,8b-triazaacenaphthylen-4-yl]-2-heptanyl (2aS,3S,4R,7R,8aS)-4-methyl-7-nonyl-2,2a,3,4,6,7,8,8a-octahydro-1H-5,6,8b-triazaacenaphthylen-3-carboxylate.

La batzelladina F ha estat sintetitzada a partir de dos èsters β-hidroxil: metil (R)-3-hidroxidecanoat i metil (R)-3-hidroxibutirat.

Alguns estudis afirmen la seva possible utilització en el tractament de les malalties autoimmunitàries.

Batzelladina K
La fórmula de la batzelladina K és C15H27N₃. El nom IUPAC de Batzelladina K és 4-[(diaminomethylene)amino]butyl (2aR,4S,7R,8aS)-4-methyl-7-pentyl-2,2a,3,4,6,7,8,8a-octahydro-1H-5,6,8b-triazaacenaphthylene.

La seva síntesi total va ser aconseguida per aproximació biomimètica. Les reaccions clau inclouen dues reaccions de Wittig de fosfarans i aldehids que condueixen a una α,β-cetona insaturada, seguida d'una condensació amb guanidina. Aquesta síntesi fou aconseguida en quatre passos amb un rendiment global del 12%.

Tot i que aquesta batzelladina conté el nucli de tricicle de guanidina, no s'ha provat que tingui activitat potencial contra el virus VIH.

Aplicacions mèdiques
L'interès per les batzelladines ha augmentat a mesura que s'han anat descobrint les activitats biològiques en què poden participar.

Les batzelladines de tipus A-E varen ser descobertes mitjançant la tècnica bioquímica ELISA per la seva habilitat per bloquejar les interaccions entre l'embolcall glicoproteïc del VIH, anomenat gp120, i els dominis extracel·lulars del seu receptor principal, CD4. Més tard es va descobrir que l'estructura de les batzelldines F-I induein la dissociació entre la tirosina quinasa p56lck i el correceptor CD4. Aquesta propietat es podria utilitzar en el tractament de les malalties autoimmunitàries.

Estudis recents descriuen la capacitat citotòxica que tenen aquestes alcaloides envers les cèl·lules canceroses P388, L1210 i HCT-16, així com la seva activitat antifúngica envers la Candida albicans i antiviral envers el virus simple de l'herpes de tipus 1.

S'ha descobert també que la batzelladina K pot ser un possible inhibidor de la malària. Concretament desenvolupa activitat inhibidora contra el Plasmodium Falciparum, un dels protozous que causa la malaltia.

Actualment, l'interès principal de la batzelladina és la seva capacitat inhibidora del VIH.

Inhibició del VIH
Fins ara s'han aconseguit aïllar 15 tipus de batzelladina i en estudis recents s'ha descobert que diversos membres d'aquest alcaloide presenten una capacitat inhibidora del virus del VIH. Aquesta propietat es deu a la capacitat de les batzelladines d'inhibir la unió de la glicoproteïna gp120 del VIH (Virus de la immunodeficiència humana) als receptors cel·lulars CD4 humans, de tal manera que es prevé la inducció viral. La propietat antiviral de la batzelladina no es limita únicament al virus del VIH, sinó que també és capaç d'inhibir el virus del HSV (herpes simple).

En un estudi publicat el 2004 a la revista Nature, investigadors de la Universitat d'Irvine, California van estudiar la capacitat inhibidora d'anàlegs de la batzelladina envers el VIH-1. A l'estudi conduït per Overman, Collins, Cohen, Ray i Bewley es van investigar productes naturals capaços de bloquejar interaccions proteïna-proteïna, la qual cosa els va dur a descriure 28 nous anàlegs de la família de les batzelladina. Aquests anàlegs incloïen canvis en el número i configuració (bicíclica o tricíclica) dels anells de guanidina i canvis en el número i les posicions dels substituents. L'anàleg amb una estructura més similar a la batzelladina F va resultar ser el més efectiu (compost 8d de la figura).

La investigació del grup Overman va descobrir que l'anell tricíclic de la batzelladina és vital en la unió de l'alcaloide amb la glicoproteïna gp120, mitjançant la interacció del carboxil terminal de l'àcid aspàrtic de la gp120 amb la guanidina implicada.

Les demostracions dutes a terme van permetre afirmar que aquests anàlegs també poden ser capaços de bloquejar les interaccions CD4-gp120.

Referències

Alcaloides

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


After my circumnavigation of #EustonStation, I head to #Bloomsbury next. My dayout starts at a wonderful #bookshop, followed by roaming around #UCL's campus discovering its #freemuseums. And ends at its #iconicLondonlbuilding which features in #GeorgeOrwell's 1984.


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You are here: Home » Commentary » Living +ly: Persons Living with HIV among the Malay/Muslim Community
Living +ly: Persons Living with HIV among the Malay/Muslim Community
by Nabilah Mohammad
This commentary was also published in Karyawan, A Magazine by AMP, April 2020, Volume 15, Issue 2
The shadow of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) has hung over the world for years, but a lot has changed since the first version of antiretroviral therapy (ART) was introduced in the late 1980s. To a large extent, the disease has been tamed, turning what was once a virtual death sentence into a treatable condition, thanks to medical advancements.
HIV is an incurable virus that attacks the immune system. The HIV infection weakens the body's immune defences by destroying white blood cells known as the CD4 (T-cell) lymphocytes that function to protect the body against attacks by bacteria, viruses and other harmful pathogens[1]. Consequently, the body will no longer be able to effectively fight infections, which places the infected person at heightened risk of serious diseases.
According to Singapore's Ministry of Health (MOH), there were 313 new cases of HIV infections reported among Singapore residents in 2018 and 18 per cent of them were Malay[2]. The Ministry also reported that majority of the new cases were males, and more than half were between 20 and 49 years old. As of end 2018, the total number of HIV-infected Singapore residents is 8,295, of whom 2,034 had passed away.
Among these statistics are stories far more complex than the numbers. There are many myths about what it means to be living with HIV. The lack of information is one of the factors that may lead to serophobia – a term that describes the irrational fear HIV-negative individuals have towards a person living with HIV (PLHIV). Many misconceptions about the disease remain – from whom it affects, to how it is actually transmitted.
The Karyawan team met with three Malay PLHIVs to share their experiences as they revealed the untold story of PLHIVs among the community.
LIFE-ALTERING, NOT LIFE-LIMITING: BORN WITH HIV
Fida (not her real name) is only 24 but she has been living with HIV since she was born. Fida, who is diagnosed with perinatally acquired HIV, lost her mother to AIDS when she was about 13 years old.
Fida shared, "I was born with HIV but I only found out about it when I was 12 years old. I had followed my parents to one of their medical appointments and I heard the doctor mention my parents' HIV status. I then learned that, like my parents, I am also HIV-positive. My parents never told me about my condition. All I knew was that, growing up, I had to take medications daily, but I never knew what they were for. So I finally realised the pills and syrups that I'd been taking daily were my HIV medications."
For Fida, adherence can be more complicated for youths growing up with perinatal HIV, whose lifelong experiences with HIV, stigma, and medications may pose challenges to achieving viral suppression. This is different from those who acquire HIV later in life.
"After losing my mum, I was so affected that I couldn't attend school for half a year. I was angry initially with everything that had happened to me, so I neglected my treatments and medications. Consequently, I kept falling sick, got admitted into the ICU, and lost so much weight. The hospital was like my second home until I turned 21," she said.
Today, Fida is better at dealing with the situation and does not let her condition bother her too much. Fida refuses to let HIV define her or limit how she lives her life. She enjoys bowling during her free time, and is currently pursuing a diploma in electrical engineering at a local polytechnic. She is also a mentor to other HIV-positive children.
Fida, who is one of the few PLHIVs in Singapore to have shared their story publicly, wants more people to understand what it is like to live with HIV, and to educate them about the illness. She added that while there are efforts to raise awareness and educate the public about HIV and AIDS, the outreach is still not enough.
PREGNANT AND HIV-POSITIVE
We also talked to Nadia (not her real name), aged 39, a PLHIV and mother of two. She found out she was HIV-positive while she was pregnant. She started her story by tracing back to how she had fallen prey to a Nigerian man more than ten years ago.
"We met at a coffee shop in Bencoolen Street and exchanged contact numbers. It wasn't long before we went on a date and had a serious, intimate relationship. Subsequently, he made me sleep with other men and gave me an allowance for doing so. I did as I was told because of my genuine feelings for him at that time. He told me that if I want to marry him and have a better future, I had to do it for the money. I eventually got involved in sex work," she shared.
Nadia shared that sex work was not the only thing she became involved in then. Her partner also made her his drug mule, transporting drugs to other countries such as China and Australia. She was eventually caught in Australia and landed herself in prison there – that was when she learned about her HIV status.
"I was pregnant while I was serving my jail term in Australia in 2005. I found out I was infected with HIV when I had to do the mandatory blood test for pregnant women. I am not sure when I was first infected with HIV. It could have been through sex work or sexual contact with my partner who also had multiple sex partners at that time. But thankfully, my baby wasn't born with the virus," Nadia said.
Nadia later got married to another man and had an extremely difficult pregnancy. According to her, she almost lost her life because she had stopped her HIV medication for a period of time.
"I wasn't receiving treatment for HIV during my second pregnancy because I didn't know I was pregnant until I was in labour. I had stopped my medication before that because I was sick and tired of swallowing so many pills daily. It was a risky move because I had serious complications after giving birth to my second son. I was in a coma for almost two weeks. The doctor even told my family that I may not survive," she shared.
Nadia, who is now a befriender for HIV-positive females, shared that she wants women to be more educated about HIV because the virus may cause some problems unique to women, including their gynaecological health and fostering issues.
"I had to stay in a women's shelter after I was discharged from the hospital because of some issues, and my second son was sent to foster care. Since he was an infant with maternal HIV infection, requiring dedicated resources and commitment from health, education and social work agencies, it was difficult to find a foster family initially. There were only two Malay/Muslim families willing to foster him," Nadia said.
Nadia also emphasised the importance of getting early detection and seeking proper treatment. She explained that proper HIV treatment, for most, lowers the viral load in their body to a level that renders them effectively non-infectious. In fact, Nadia's viral load is now undetectable, and her husband and two sons are HIV-negative.
GETTING DIAGNOSED EARLY
We met Adi (not his real name), a 55-year-old pump attendant, living with HIV, who also shared the same thoughts on the importance of early diagnosis and adhering to medical regimes. Like Nadia, Adi also has an undetectable viral load.
"I am not sure how long I have been living with HIV but I was diagnosed about 15 years ago when my late wife fell very ill and was hospitalised. She had a recurrent and persistent fever that did not seem to abate with the prescribed medication by the doctors. A blood test was done and that was when we discovered she was HIV-positive. The doctor advised me to take the same blood test and as expected, I was HIV-positive too. Unfortunately, when we sent our daughter who was then four years old for the HIV test, the result came back positive too," Adi said.
Adi shared that he lost his wife to AIDS because she stopped her treatment. Her case is emblematic of the perils surrounding challenges that HIV-positive patients face – in particular, the dangers of not adhering strictly to the treatment regime.
"My late wife had a fear of taking medicine, so she often skipped them and eventually stopped treatment altogether. She was in constant pain, always very weak and often vomited. In addition, her skin condition became worse, which led her into depression and made her give up altogether. Furthermore, there was no financial assistance last time. We had to spend more than $1,000 each month just for medication, so she stopped because of that too. Her health deteriorated, and she eventually succumbed to AIDS about ten years ago," Adi shared.
Adi emphasised the importance of HIV screening and shared that a HIV-infected person looks and feels normal during the early stage of infection, so it is not possible to tell if a person is infected just by looking at them.
"I would like to advise anyone who is unsure to go and get tested for HIV. I didn't know I had HIV until the test was done. Apparently, many cases of HIV have no early symptoms. Get diagnosed early so you can treat it early too. It is also important to test for HIV so that you will not transmit the virus to others, especially your loved ones. In my case, our daughter had to bear the consequence and live with HIV for the rest of her life," Adi explained.
Indeed, 57 per cent of the newly reported HIV cases in Singapore were detected in the course of medical care provision and such cases are typically at the advanced stage of HIV infection. Another 22 per cent were detected during routine programmatic HIV screening and 14 per cent were detected through self-initiated HIV screening such as voluntary screening. Cases detected via voluntary screening are more likely to be at the early stage of infection[3].
COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS ON HIV/AIDS
According to Adi, what stops people from accepting PLHIVs is probably society's own presumptions, phobias and prejudices which consequently impede some PLHIVs' ability to talk about their status and seek the care and support they need. He shared that the stigma attached to HIV/AIDS most negatively impacts children – a demographic that has no control over their HIV status. It is because society stigmatises HIV with such ignorance that he dreaded telling his daughter about her infection initially.
"There are still great misconceptions surrounding HIV/AIDS. Every time you mention HIV, society will automatically link it to casual sex activity but that's not always true. My daughter, for instance, was born with it. It is not fair to judge anyone with HIV. The stigma linked to HIV has led many to avoid getting themselves checked. Those who need financial assistance also tend to avoid asking for help because they fear being perceived negatively," Adi said.
Indeed, there is evidence on how stigma and discrimination create barriers to HIV prevention, testing and treatment, which can reduce the impact of the AIDS response. For instance, according to a report by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), when people living with, or at risk of, HIV are discriminated against in healthcare settings, they go underground[4]. This seriously undermines the ability of healthcare officers to reach out to people through HIV testing, treatment and prevention services. Often, PLHIVs avoid going to clinics for fear of having their status disclosed or of suffering further stigma and discrimination. Stigma and discrimination are an affront to human rights, which puts the lives of PLHIVs and key populations in danger because when they wait until they are very ill before seeking help, they are less likely to respond well to antiretroviral therapy.
Related to the stigma faced by PLHIV is the extent of equating the contraction of the disease with the notion of being promiscuous.
"People usually associate HIV with something bad. For instance, when I recently declared my medical status to my school, they were judgmental. The officer-in-charge gave me that look, you know, like I'm someone who has casual sex. She also asked if my classmates will get infected if I share my food with them. My teacher even once told me that there are not many choices available for my career path given my condition. We still face stigma and discrimination in Singapore, and this must change," Fida shared.
Fida's experiences are not unique. Nadia shared other manifestations of discrimination including being isolated and forced to use separate kitchen utensils.
"Every time my extended family holds a gathering, they will tell me not to cook because they are scared to eat the food I cook. During Hari Raya, they serve me with plastic utensils and even cover the chairs that I sit on with plastic. They will also keep washing the toilet with bleach after I use them. There was once I accidentally fell asleep on my cousin's bed and my aunt immediately removed the bedding and pillows, placed them in a plastic bag and threw them away. What's sadder is that they don't allow my son to play with his cousins despite me reminding them that he is HIV-negative. I am hurt by how they treat us so now I don't attend family functions unless it's my immediate family," Nadia shared.
Such inaccurate beliefs about HIV transmission can lead to more fear and discrimination, which can further stigmatise people living with HIV. According to the MOH, HIV or AIDS is not transmitted through normal day-to-day contact with a HIV infected person[5]. One will not contract it through the respiratory route such as coughs and sneezes, the gastro-intestinal route, or casual person- to-person contact such as handshakes and hugs. HIV also cannot be transmitted via insects, food, water, or shared food.
HIV is most commonly transmitted through the act of unprotected sex with, sharing injection needles or piercing instruments with, receiving infected blood or blood products from a person with HIV, or during pregnancy, childbirth or breastfeeding. In Singapore, sexual intercourse remains the main mode of transmission for new cases in 2018 at 95 per cent with heterosexual transmission accounting for 43 per cent of the cases and homosexual transmission for 42 per cent of them.
Under the Infectious Diseases Act, it is also required for PLHIVs to inform their partners about their condition before having sexual relations. Those who fail to do so can be jailed for up to 10 years and fined up to $50,000[6].
1 Health Hub, Ministry of Health Singapore. What Is HIV and How Does It Affect a Person's Health? Accessed February 26, 2020. https://www.healthhub.sg/a-z/diseases-and-conditions/18/topics_hiv_aids.
2 Ministry of Health. Update on the HIV/AIDS Situation in Singapore 2018. Accessed February 26, 2020. https://www.moh.gov.sg/resources-statistics/infectious-disease-statistics/hiv-stats/update-on-the-hiv-aids-situation-in-singapore-2018-(june-2019).
4 UNAIDS. UNAIDS Warns That HIV-Related Stigma and Discrimination is Preventing People from Accessing HIV Services. Accessed February 28, 2020. https://www.unaids.org/en/resources/presscentre/pressreleaseandstatementarchive/2017/october/20171002_confronting-discrimination.
6 Part IV, Control of HIV Infection. Singapore Statutes Online, Accessed on 28 February, 2020. https://sso.agc.gov.sg/act/ida1976?provids=p1iv-.
Nabilah Mohammad is a Research Analyst at the Centre for Research on Islamic and Malay Affairs (RIMA). She holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a Specialist Diploma in Statistics and Data Mining.
Photo Source: The Karyawan
Between Numbers and a Good Place
Risk-Proofing the Family
Komentar: Ketidaksamarataan sentiasa wujud dalam masyarakat tetapi ia perlu dikawal dengan baik

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Medical marijuana dispensaries will soon need papers
Patricia Calhoun
| Calhoun: Wake-Up Call |
Patricia Calhoun | February 1, 2010 | 6:40am
The medical marijuana industry in Denver has already been compared to the wild, wild West -- but those land offices where miners and homesteaders competed to file claims may look mild compared to the Wellington E. Webb building next week, when the city starts accepting medical marijuana dispensary licenses on February 8.
Under the city ordinance approved last month, all dispensaries operating in the city must file such an application by March 1.
This is in addition to the standard city sales-tax license that dispensaries had to apply for by December 15 in order to be exempted from certain provisions in the ordinance, including a 1,000-foot buffer zone between dispensaries and schools, day-care centers and even other dispensaries.
At last count, more than 400 dispensaries had applied for their sales-tax license. Now, in order to stay in business, they'll need to apply for a dispensary-specific license, too -- and when they do, they'll need to present not just their sales tax license, but a lease or deed, a floor plan, a security plan, an area map, a zoning permit, a burglar-alarm permit and the fingerprints of the people who own 10 percent of the business for a background check -- which means those people will need to show up, too.
"To avoid processing delays and applicant disqualifications, it's extremely important that applicants for this license submit complete applications, including all required documents," says Penny May, director of Excise & Licenses, who could soon be the busiest woman in the city. That's because her office has a deadline just three weeks after that February 8 start to accepting applications.
In the meantime, the forms are available here.
Calhoun: Wake-Up Call
Patricia Calhoun co-founded Westword in 1977; she's been the editor ever since. She's a regular on the weekly CPT12 roundtable Colorado Inside Out, played a real journalist in John Sayles's Silver City, once interviewed President Bill Clinton while wearing flip-flops, and has been honored with numerous national awards for her columns and feature-writing.
Twitter: @calhounwestword


Prithwish De, MHSc, PhD, is Co-principal at Epidemiologic Management and Consulting. He is an epidemiologist and has over 15 years of experience working with federal, provincial and regional public health agencies as well as the non-profit sector. His focus has been in the areas of infectious diseases and cancer, and has included the study of social networks in disease transmission, bloodborne infection risk in vulnerable populations (e.g. injection drug users, prisoners), sexually transmitted infections outbreak and surveillance, cancer policy research, and cancer surveillance. Dr. De holds a PhD in Epidemiology from McGill University and a Master of Health Sciences in Public Health from the University of Toronto. He is an assistant professor with the University of Toronto's Dalla Lana School of Public Health.
Arsham Alamian, MSc, PhD is Co-principal at Epidemiologic Management and Consulting (EMC). He has over 13 years of experience in scientific research, epidemiological study design, analysis of complex survey data, obtaining research grants, reporting in scientific and medical journals, teaching epidemiology, and supervising graduate students. Dr. Alamian holds a PhD in Public Health with specialization in Epidemiology from the University of Montreal, as well as an MSc in Pharmacy with specialisation in Pharmacoepidemiology from Laval University. His research interests include the study of multiple behavioural risk factors for chronic diseases (including physical inactivity, cigarette smoking, alcohol drinking, and overweight/obesity), clustering of risk factors for chronic diseases, use of dietary supplements, cardiovascular disease epidemiology, cancer epidemiology, as well as theoretical-based modeling.
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The Omaha Lancers announced that Mike Chiasson has committed to Michigan for next season. Chiasson, the son of former Red Wings defenseman Steve Chiasson (who was killed in a car wreck back in 1999), is a 5'11" 195 defenseman.
Chiasson put up 4-11--15 in 50 games this season. He was fourth on the team with a +10 rating and had 41 PIMs. He was named the most-improved player on the team last season and won the a leadership award this year. He was unanimously voted team captain this past season and Lancers coach Bliss Littler wasn't surprised:
"The kid reeks with character on and off the ice," Littler said. "For a player to be selected that way (unanimously) really tells you a lot. That doesn't happen very often."
This also means that Brandon Burlon will not be back. Mike Spath mentioned that he spoke with the Michigan coaches, and it sounds like both sides decided it was time to move on.
Chiasson will be an older freshman (he's 20 right now) that brings 122 games of USHL experience. It's reasonable to expect that he'd be able to come in and play right away. In addition to Burlon, the Wolverines lost Langlais and kind-of Llewellyn. In addition to Chiasson, the Wolverines bring in the highly-regarded Brennan Serville and preferred-walk-on Michael Szuma, giving them 8 D. Once again, I fully expect some nice competition for the final spots on the blueline.
He another kid who is interested in education. The linked article is a nice story about how he got to this point. Here is a Q&A with him from two seasons ago.
He wears #3 just like his father. With Scooter Vaughan graduating, I'd imagine that Chiasson will have dibs on that number.
Posted by Packer487 at 6:55 PM
Labels: Having a Seat Over There, Michigan Hockey, recruiting


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Home » Actors » Actors -- O » You are reading »
mcb November 14, 2012 Actors, Actors -- O 4 Comments
Oliver Jackson-Cohen, born December 1986, in Westminster, London, England, UK, is an English actor and model.
Jackson-Cohen had a role in the television series "Hollyoaks" when he was 15, and he later appeared in the TV series "The Time of Your Life" in 2007.
Jackson-Cohen played Damon in the 2010 film "Going the Distance" starring Drew Barrymore and Justin Long. He also starred in the film "Faster" opposite Dwayne Johnson.
His other credits include in the miniseries "World Without End" as Ralph and the 2012 film, "Mr Selfridge".
Jake Herbert
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http://malecelebbio.com/2012/11/14/oliver-jackson-cohen/http://malecelebbio.com/gallery/2012/11/Oliver-Jackson-Cohen-02.jpghttp://malecelebbio.com/gallery/2012/11/Oliver-Jackson-Cohen-02-150x118.jpg 2012-12-05T03:56:29+00:00 mcbActorsActors -- O
Oliver Jackson-Cohen, born December 1986, in Westminster, London, England, UK, is an English actor and model. Jackson-Cohen had a role in the television series 'Hollyoaks' when he was 15, and he later appeared in the TV series 'The Time of Your Life' in 2007. Jackson-Cohen played Damon in the 2010 film...
4 thoughts on "Oliver Jackson-Cohen"
he looks like the Love child of Jake Gyllenhaal, Bradley Cooper and Robert Pattinson…… he could with the right role play any of their brothers in an American role-play !!
davebottom says:
i really missed the pic of his pits—i have no doubt that they would be delicious
Rhiagrande says:
OMG!! 🙂 I love him! There are more pictures of him on Facebook Fan page. https://www.facebook.com/olivermansourjacksoncohen
JadeSmith says:
OMG! His hot! He deserves to be Mr. Dec.2012! Thanks for sharing the link Rhiagrande! I LOVE IT! Oliver should always be the winner here!
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Lawyer Limelight
Lawdragon Press
Global Trends in White Collar Defense and Investigations: A Dechert LLP Roundtable
By John RyanFebruary 5, 2019August 6th, 2020Dechert Features, Lawyer Limelights
Image design by Stephanie Blackman.
To say that a company's or individual's choice for white-collar defense counsel is an immensely important decision – perhaps among the most important in the life of a business or person – is hardly an overstatement.
As Neil Gerrard, the global co-head of Dechert's white-collar practice, succinctly puts it: "Liberty and reputation are so important to people, and to protect these things you have to be steeped in white-collar practice and culture."
Unfortunately for those facing a civil enforcement action, criminal investigation, or both, the choice of counsel has become increasingly complex and high-stakes in the globalized economy. Many companies face scrutiny by multiple agencies within their home terrain and in the various jurisdictions in which they operate, creating a maze of regulatory and investigative burdens and potential pitfalls. Such scenarios, however, are exactly what the Dechert team is designed for – and where they thrive.
For this Roundtable, Lawdragon brings together London-based Gerrard and his fellow co-practice leader, David Kelley, who is based in New York; both were police officers earlier in their careers. Joining the discussion stateside is Hector Gonzalez from New York and Vincent Cohen from Washington, D.C.; like Kelley, both partners are former federal prosecutors, and Cohen is the former acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia. London partners participating in the discussion include Caroline Black, who has helped build the U.K. team since joining Gerrard in 2011; Matthew Cowie, who was a prosecutor in the Serious Fraud Office before heading to private practice; and Roger Burlingame, another former U.S. federal prosecutor who established his private practice in London.
Lawdragon: Let's start with what you are seeing with the state of the practice now – what appears to be its global and increasingly complex nature. Neil, as a practice co-chair, can you comment on this with a thought to how your work has changed since earlier in your career?
Neil Gerrard: Throughout my career I have handled investigations and prosecutions of every type, and there is a marked difference in the nature of my practice now from when I started out as a lawyer. It is partly a matter of scale, and also partly one of scope. These investigations now span continents, take years to resolve and involve dozens, if not hundreds, of parallel and competing strands. The internationalization of investigations and prosecutions has been a very important change. You simply cannot now separate a domestic prosecution or investigation from what is happening elsewhere in the world, which is why clients need counsel who are culturally nuanced and have a geographically broad reach.
Lawdragon: And David, as another co-leader, I assume you have a somewhat similar view from the U.S. side – and do you have thoughts as to the cause of these developments?
David Kelley: Many of the matters in which I am currently engaged are related to compliance, as were many of the cases I handled in my early days of private practice. But as the enforcement environment has evolved over the years and has become much more aggressive, I have seen a much greater sophistication and compliance IQ than in past years. Consequently, I think many of the investigations and problems are much more nuanced and complicated than they were even four-to-seven years ago.
As for the global question, I think many factors are involved, and which led the other is a chicken-and-the-egg question. In many ways, what we are seeing is both a natural outgrowth of a global economy, and the realization by many markets that a corrupt market is not a sustainably profitable market. The United States has led the charge in bringing integrity to the marketplace, but other countries and international organizations have followed suit based in some part on this realization. Multinational companies in turn have slowly come to the realization that not only is good compliance good business, but it also helps you better protect the company from the various enforcement authorities.
Vincent Cohen by Laura Barisonzi.
Vincent Cohen: I will add that white-collar investigations nowadays differ in a number of ways from when I started practicing 20-plus years ago. For one, the government has more resources and, as the government's resources have expanded, so have the scope and complexity of white-collar investigations. Related to this, the government's investigative techniques are also now more developed and complex. For instance, as I noted in May 2018, when I appeared on a panel during the Bloomberg Law Leadership Forum, the government's use of technology is increasingly sophisticated.
Furthermore, investigations and prosecutions are increasingly complex and accelerated as multiple agencies collaborate and share information. Domestically, it is not unusual for multiple agencies such as the Department of Justice, Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, for instance, to collaborate on one investigation and bring parallel civil, criminal, and administrative proceedings. Within agencies, the historic dichotomy between criminal and civil attorneys is blurring in favor of coordination. For instance, nowadays it is the norm for civil attorneys within the DOJ's Antitrust Division who notice something unusual to alert their criminal counterparts to investigate. There is also a lot more international coordination with enforcement agencies in different countries, such as the U.S. and U.K. collaborating and sharing information during investigations. This means there continues to be a tremendous need for the solutions white-collar attorneys offer, but it also means that we need to keep up with the ever-changing techniques and strategies and continue to develop creative strategies to better protect our clients.
Lawdragon: To stay domestic for a minute: It sounds like President Trump's more business-friendly rhetoric, or any sentiments less favorable to aggressive regulatory efforts, have not really had an impact?
Hector Gonzalez: Anecdotally, we have seen a decrease in the frequency and intensity of anti-corruption enforcement since the election. However, I do not see this as deliberate government policy. How would anti-corruption initiatives be inconsistent with a business-friendly environment? To my mind, it is more to do with the fact that the administration is struggling to fill some senior positions. The vacancies often prevent projects from moving forward, and I think this is why we have seen less activity from the major agencies.
Lawdragon: Turning back to the U.K.: Roger, you bring an interesting perspective having been a senior federal prosecutor in New York and then taking your talents in private practice to Dechert in London. Was your move overseas rooted in these trends?
Roger Burlingame: When I was looking to make the switch to private practice, I thought there was a need for someone with my background in London. All of the U.S. regulators in the white-collar space are taking an increasingly international approach, and as one of the world's three financial centers, London is a primary focus of that activity. As a result, for the last five and a half years, me and my London-based team of U.S. lawyers have been incredibly busy. We've worked on financial crimes – front running, antitrust, price fixing, money laundering and market manipulation (a lot of spoofing of late!) – as well as Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) violations, sanctions evasion, and tax evasion. Basically, all the areas where the U.S. comes after companies and people overseas. We've represented companies and individuals being investigated by or prosecuted in various jurisdictions throughout the U.S., and it's been incredibly useful for our clients to have the same experienced white-collar practitioners that they would hire if they were sitting in New York or D.C. facing the same problem, but with all the advantages of having me and my team down the street (or at least in a much closer time zone).
Well over 50% of my cases involve multiple regulators, and there are always challenges in making sure that what a lawyer from one jurisdiction insists must be done in their jurisdiction does not cause problems in a different one. It's critical to spot these issues early, and to understand how to motivate a diverse array of international lawyers, some of whom may not be versed in cross-border investigations with multiple regulators, to work in a way where everyone is truly committed to the best resolution for the client overall. It's a dynamic I face in case after case after case, and while it can be hard, it's incredibly gratifying to solve it and lead a truly international team of lawyers to work as just that – a real team.
Caroline Black by Chris Renton.
Lawdragon: Caroline and Matt, can you also weigh in on what is occupying time on the London side of the practice?
Caroline Black: There is a continued focus on bribery and corruption by the U.K. and U.S. authorities. What is notable is that authorities from countries in Europe and South America are also now involved, seeking to prosecute companies and individuals for this behavior. Corruption is a global issue, so it is not surprising that the response is becoming increasingly global.
There are also more prosecutions of individuals on a U.K. and international basis. In the U.K., we're seeing an additional focus on money laundering and asset seizure following the passing of the Criminal Finances Act of 2017. This act provided for the use of unexplained wealth orders, which makes it far easier for authorities to pursue individuals and organizations suspected of misappropriating funds through potential criminal conduct. The act also provided for a corporate offense of failure to prevent the facilitation of tax evasion, bringing vicarious liability to companies for the actions of their employees and agents in respect of tax crimes.
Matthew Cowie: I would add that in the U.K. we're seeing a resurgence of revenue recognition issues. That's not surprising; we're in a downturn in the economy, and we've had years of austerity with low growth. Fraud can be countercyclical. In the downturn, there can be pressure on finance departments and CFOs within companies to deliver good results. We've seen a number of such matters in the U.K. in recent years – with Tesco and Autonomy – these types of cases tend to occur when people are under pressure to produce good results for shareholders, and revenue recognition is an obvious area where there could be financial manipulation.
On the corruption side, we're seeing a number of the OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development) countries responding to overseas corruption. We are working with the French who have implemented their own deferred prosecution agreement system and are bringing cases. Nonetheless the U.K., U.S. and European deferred prosecutions are not the same; they have been implemented in different countries responding to their own particular legal cultures, which brings challenges to giving advice when you are working on a multijurisdictional case. As a general matter the trend we see is growing flexibility of legal systems to deal with corporate liability and an uptick in enforcement in European countries.
Lawdragon: Overall, where is the market at for white-collar work in the U.K. or Europe generally compared to the U.S.?
Gerrard: Compared to the United States the U.K. market is still developing. If a client goes to a law firm in the U.S. they can expect a good level of experience, but there is more of a risk in the U.K. There are still too many lawyers who are re-branded former litigators without a specialist white-collar background. Nothing is more important than having specialists: liberty and reputation are so important to people, and to protect these things you have to be steeped in white-collar practice and culture. I would say that the U.K. is currently five to seven years behind the U.S., and Europe is five to seven years behind the U.K.
Lawdragon: Hector, to follow on what Caroline said, what are you seeing on the Latin American side?
Hector Gonzalez by Laura Barisonzi.
Hector Gonzalez: There has certainly been an increased focus on anti-corruption compliance across Latin America in recent years. In Brazil, we have seen some very large-scale investigations, and that has created a sharper focus on anti-corruption for clients with interests there. Mexico enacted a new anti-bribery statute in 2017 and this has generated intense interest for our clients doing business in Mexico. There has been a focus on this issue in those two countries, but the effects of this trend are also being seen across the rest of Latin America.
Lawdragon: David mentioned an increased maturity on the compliance front. But what mistakes are you seeing with what companies still do? In commenting, can you also share some thoughts on what constitutes best practices for companies and individuals – and what might be viewed as best outcomes for clients?
Black: We still see attempts to downplay or deny the seriousness of criminal conduct; corporations attempting to minimize problems or not wanting to investigate issues properly. This is a high-risk strategy and not one which we would commonly advise for a corporate, as criminality is brought to the attention of the authorities in an increasing number of different ways. Companies which have not properly investigated, remediated and reported any issues run a much greater risk of prosecution when the authorities do find out, and are in a weak position when seeking to negotiate a non-prosecution resolution. For individuals, seeking to minimize or ignore a problem is never a great way of dealing with it. We often encourage clients to take a proactive approach as far as possible, as waiting and doing nothing can often mean losing any chance to influence the direction of the case.
Kelley: In terms of best practices, companies should ensure they have a robust investigative function and protocol for quickly and effectively getting to the bottom of any credible allegations of misconduct. Having information from such a process will help make informed decisions at the earliest stages of a government investigation so a company can decide whether to cooperate or to fight; once you start down one of those two paths it is difficult to switch courses.
Best outcomes come to those companies that can best control the narrative through their own credible and thorough investigations. This has been particularly true in the wake of the Thompson memo (a 2003 memorandum providing guidance on when to charge corporations, authored by Deputy U.S. Attorney General Larry Thompson) and its various subsequent iterations which have caused the government to rely more heavily than ever before on the company's own investigation rather than the government's independent investigation. Whether the government really does place a premium on cooperation that really benefits the cooperating company is open to debate generally and must be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Cowie: I would say that if you have a quiet outcome – that is, your client does not get charged, or there is low visibility of the outcome in terms of publicity, you've done a good job. Being quiet is the hallmark of success, because all of these matters damage the reputation of a company or a senior executive who may want to move on in their career after the matter is over. If you never see me again, then we've done a good job. Another sign of success is when our clients, whether they are general counsel or compliance officers of companies, move in the market and pick up the phone because they have a regulatory or enforcement problem in their new role and they want you to help them.
Neil Gerrard by Chris Renton.
Gerrard: I think it is essential that a business conducts thorough risk reviews in foreign markets where it is active, so it can properly understand local practices and customs. Businesses need to be on the front foot with compliance, obtaining pre-emptive legal advice as early as possible from lawyers who are real specialists. Then when you create systems and processes to ensure compliance, they also need to link back to your home jurisdiction, and to the U.S. if you are engaged in international business. You cannot operate two separate compliance systems. So your lawyers need to be specialists in the U.S. and your home country, plus have the international reach to assist you elsewhere in the world when necessary.
Cohen: I would advise corporate counsel engaging in global business to keep in mind the government's emphasis on corporate compliance. Government agencies expect compliance procedures to be well drafted and well developed, but also well implemented. It is not enough to have a thick corporate compliance manual, if the company's culture does not reflect these compliance norms. Outside counsel can assist not only with drafting compliance procedures, but also with trainings and implementation. Thus, retaining outside counsel early on is a must. The more familiarity we have with the company's culture and needs, the more quickly and effectively we can act when concerns arise.
Lawdragon: I want to go back to what David said about controlling the narrative, and what Matt said about "a quiet outcome." Can you discuss the crisis-management element of the practice from your experience dealing with corporate raids and other traumatic events for corporations? Is it advisable to use outside crisis counselors? And how do you toe the line of being forthcoming – if this is a situation for doing so – and preserving client rights?
Kelley: In no case are there purely legal issues that we have to deal with, but you also have to be very mindful of how investigative and compliance decisions impact business operations and potentially cause reputational harm. The magnitude needs to be evaluated in each case and you always need to be open to the notion of bringing in an outside media consultant. As with any outside consultant you need to be mindful of – and structure the dynamic and dialogue in a way that gives you the best opportunity to protect – the relationship with the attorney-client privilege.
Matt Cowie by Chris Renton.
Cohen: This comes back to my advice that businesses need to ensure they have good counsel as early as possible in any situation. Outside counsel has the advantage of being specialists with greater resources and also being more removed from the situation and, often, more able to create and implement a response without distraction. Outside counsel is also adept at balancing complex considerations such as whether the benefits of disclosure, such as cooperation credit and keeping a governmental investigation narrow, are outweighed by the merits of invoking the company's rights and avoiding waiver issues down the road.
Such decision-making requires a rapid, on-the-ground assessment which is often more efficiently and effectively done by outside counsel, providing the company the ability to continue to concentrate on providing services to their clients. Businesses need to make sure they are engaging the services of experienced outside counsel at the earliest opportunity.
Gerrard: Many corporates will plan to some extent for crisis situations, but it is surprising how few properly plan for regulatory intervention. This is an area often under-resourced by corporates. It is imperative that corporates have plans to cope with and manage regulatory interaction. I was part of one of the first teams in the U.K. to offer raid training and raid management programs, and we were one of the first groups to recognize the importance of crisis public relations, and how it differs materially from peace-time PR.
Black: I have managed numerous raids for various clients during my career. These have ranged from large, multi-premises raids to single office searches. It is always a high pressure, high emotion time for both the company and the authority. Mistakes can be made on both sides, so it is important for the company to have someone present who is familiar with the powers and limitations of search and seizure operations to ensure no lines are crossed. We frequently help our clients by providing raid training and putting together raid procedures to help plan for the initial stages of a corporate raid. Doing the wrong thing can be catastrophic – I have seen individuals find themselves in hot water for panicked actions. It's best to be prepared and have a plan in place.
However, I would also suggest that as part of a corporation's raid response plan they have experienced outside counsel on hand, who can ideally be on site within an hour to liaise with the authorities and oversee the operation on behalf of the company. It is important to ensure that warrants are correctly granted and executed – and emergency legal challenges can be considered as an option.
Lawdragon: Let's talk a little bit about what separates the Dechert team. We can touch more on the global talents and cooperation, but what about the type of lawyers you have – including those with significant trial experience and also time on the other side of the courtroom?
Roger Burlingame by Chris Renton.
Cowie: Dechert offers a full service to clients, but it is a litigation specialist. Although we do corporate work, it is a litigation-led firm, and I think that makes us somewhat different to other top firms. When somebody has a corruption problem, they also might have other civil litigation to deal with, arbitrations or asset-freezing issues. Dechert is best placed in the market to give that full service to clients who face fraud, corruption or other financial misconduct issues.
Gonzalez: Even if you are in cooperation mode and the matter is likely to be settled, the system is nevertheless still adversarial in nature. Therefore, it is essential that defense counsel has the ability to take a matter to trial if necessary. It not only ensures consistency in the unlikely event that the matter does end up in court, but also indicates to the regulators that you are not going to be pushovers. If your legal team doesn't have that trial experience it alters the dynamic and makes it less of a fair playing field.
In this area, we have a very deep bench. Our firm's chairman, Andy Levander, maintains an active white-collar practice and has helped attract and develop a robust team of litigators. Coming through the ranks we also have the likes of Jeff Brown, Jon Streeter, and Rebecca Waldman in New York, Vince in Washington, D.C., and other younger partners across the country, all of whom are considered to be rising stars in the white-collar field. We also have a strong group of associates across the U.S. and around the world.
Lawdragon: As the younger side of the practice, how has the London bench taken shape over the years?
Black: I joined Dechert in London in 2011, when the London white-collar practice was in its infancy. Neil, with whom I had worked for six years, was already at the firm and I followed him to help build the team in London. When shaping the team, I have consistently looked for professionals from diverse backgrounds within the criminal law. We recruit not only from fellow white-collar firms, but also from traditional "high street" defense backgrounds, the criminal bar, prosecutors and regulators – including from the Serious Fraud Office, Financial Conduct Authority, Bank of England and the Foreign Office – as well as from in-house. Of course, we also work hard to develop and promote our own Dechert "born and bred" attorneys. We pride ourselves on leveraging these different skills when working on our cases in order to achieve the best possible outcome for the client. As you know, the Dechert team outside of London is also made up of attorneys from different backgrounds, including from international prosecutors such as the DOJ and SEC. This ensures we can provide a full-service team of the same strength and depth as our team in London.
Lawdragon: With far-flung and dispersed white-collar issues in multiple jurisdictions, how do you bring it all together and coordinate?
Gerrard: When we open any engagement, the lead partner will start by selecting a team to support the client in the most effective way. Our group is structured as a single global team, so we can draw upon professionals in New York, Washington, D.C., London, Paris, Hong Kong and Singapore. Not many firms have that breadth. We can choose the right people, based on their levels and type of experience, language capabilities and qualifications. Then we might look at specific skillsets that will really add value for a client, which will include people who have served as U.S. attorneys and assistant U.S. attorneys, and as senior lawyers in other agencies and governmental bodies around the world, including the U.K.'s Serious Fraud Office and Financial Conduct Authority.
When clients have issues across multiple countries, this is where Dechert can really add value. We have lawyers on the ground in the U.S., Europe and Asia, and within all those offices the team is multicultural and multilingual. As a firm, we are structured along practice group lines, so lawyers in London, New York and Hong Kong all think of themselves as part of one team. One of our hallmarks is our ability to work with advisors in countries where we do not have an office, so we can manage the whole process for our client and deliver a single agreement. That experience in managing multi-office teams and the ability to operate in different jurisdictions is crucial. It can take years to build up the relationships with top firms and the best lawyers in dozens of places, but that is one of the benefits of being in this area for so many decades.
David Kelley by Laura Barisonzi.
Cohen: Dechert is a firm with a truly global footprint. Clients come to us specifically because we have the depth of experience and breadth of practice areas to solve problems and provide advice throughout the world. We have strong white-collar capability on both sides of the Atlantic, including U.S.-qualified lawyers on the ground in London. Our teams work together seamlessly to provide clients with a very high quality and consistent product.
To follow on what Neil said on staffing, the same flexibility and creativity I mentioned above apply. We assess the client's needs, the scope of the problem, any deadlines on the horizon, and whether, for instance, engaging attorneys outside the white-collar space is appropriate for a well-coordinated response, and then we staff accordingly in a cost-efficient way. Working with the general counsel, the partners will put together a staffing plan, ensuring the client receives the most appropriate level of experience for all elements of our mandate. We strive to keep our teams lean and deliver constant partner input; this ensures more effective and responsive advice, and lower bills for clients.
Gonzalez: Based on these strengths, we find that a lot of clients seek out Dechert specifically for complex, high-profile white-collar work where there is a lot at stake. We currently have a cross-office team working on one of the longest and most wide-ranging investigations in FCPA history, and we are lead counsel in the largest regulatory investigation currently active in Europe. A few years ago, we were lead counsel for airbag manufacturer Takata in the largest automotive recall ever.
Lawdragon: Can we conclude with any parting thoughts about the future – do you envision continued growth in the practice based on the trends that got us to this point?
Burlingame: The U.S. white-collar enforcement apparatus grew exponentially in the wake of the financial crisis, and the rest of the world has realized they want to play the same game. So you don't just have the U.S., but all the foreign regulators who have looked at the Department of Justice and said, we can do this too. It's been a sea change for companies operating in EMEA (Europe, the Middle East and Africa) and around the world, and neither of these trends is going to end any time soon. As white-collar law enforcement in other countries begin to find their feet, we'll see even more cases with prosecutors and regulators from multiple countries.
Most big multinational companies understand the dynamic, but even smaller companies that would have thought they were well below the radar of international law enforcement are seeing how aggressive the U.S. has been and the way other countries are following suit. There are very few places left where no one's looking at how you operate your company.
Many investigations start with law enforcement, but as more and more companies realize they need to police themselves, and there are fewer and fewer companies that don't understand about money laundering risks, bribery risks, sanction evasion risks, and so on, cases all around the world are also starting to come from self-reports. For financial markets, it's always going to center around New York, London and Hong Kong, but banks know only too well that big problems can start in small places very far from these major centers. In the bribery space, it's less about the jurisdiction than the businesses – healthcare, and industries like mining, oil and gas continue to draw a lot of attention.
Gonzalez: Yes, I do see potential for significant growth in this area. As I said, in my practice I have noticed large Latin American economies like Brazil and Mexico taking these issues much more seriously. The new Mexican government has a focus on corruption, and has enacted new anticorruption regulations, and I believe they will be eager to showcase early results. But even with these efforts, there is still plenty of room for maturation and a need to develop stricter compliance and enforcement programs across Latin America. Even if these initiatives are focused internally within a country, many companies in the region will still look to firms with substantial experience with the FCPA and the U.K. Bribery Act, since the benefit of that experience will help as companies navigate regulations like this for the first time.
Kelley: I think it will grow as business grows, but whether enforcement agencies continue to be as aggressive as in years past will depend on the appetite of a particular administration for enforcement and the rule of law. As always, I think the biggest challenges for multinational companies will remain in heavily regulated industries with multiple government touchpoints as well as emerging economies.
Cohen: The more the market develops in a globalized way, the better positioned Dechert is to provide the best advice possible to clients. Since arriving at Dechert, I have been very impressed with how there is a uniform work ethic and level of expertise in all of our global offices. Also, the fact that Dechert is structured by practice group, regardless of office location, helps to make sure we are integrated and work together effectively around the world. It is very important for me to know that when I reach out to colleagues in other countries, our client will get timely information and a consistent and high-quality service.
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False Calm - Sam Vernon
FALSE CALM by Sam Vernon combines xeroxed drawings of photographs, paintings, and sculptural components, along with spray painted elements in an exploration of personal narrative and identity. Vernon uses these techniques and applications in her current installation to honor the past while revising historical memory.
On the Fringe of Conformity: Clarence Morgan
This exhibition of drawings and paintings explore linear patterns that operate in a pictorial space. Utilizing random shapes and biomorphic forms within an intricate network of drawing, collage elements, and subtle color, Morgan's work ranges from highly patterned organic painting compositions to meticulously articulated and somewhat minimal collage-drawings. A native of Philadelphia, PA, Clarence Morgan has been a professor in the Department of Art at the University of Minnesota since 1992.
Fired Up! UT Collects Ceramics
UT Downtown Gallery is pleased to present, Fired Up! UT Collects Ceramics, a collection of work from the Ewing Gallery permanent collection as well as from private collections of professors, staff and community members.
Living On: Tennessee Survivors and Liberators
The UT Downtown Gallery is pleased to present Living On an exhibition of 24 portraits of holocaust survivors and liberators living in Tennessee by Robert Heller. Heller, a professor in the School of Journalism and Electronic Media at the University of Tennessee since 1986, received his B.S. and M.A. degrees in photojournalism from Syracuse University. He taught photography and graphics for five years at the University of Miami, and was publications designer and photographer at the State University of New York College at New Paltz, and Elmira College in New York. Heller also taught photography at The Center for Photography at Woodstock, New York. His photographs have been selected for numerous juried exhibitions and he continues to do freelance work in both graphic design and photography. Living On is a project of the Tennessee Holocaust Commission, which is funded by an annual appropriation from the Tennessee State Legislature and by private donations. Assistance in the development of this documentary project was provided, as well, by the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany, Inc. The traveling exhibition was curated by Susan W. Knowles.


The pot that never was!
Loughborough Boat Club Masters D VIII (Masters D crew has an average age between 50 and 55!) knew that they had a tough challenge from Nottingham Boat Club/Nottingham Union crew at Lincoln Head of the River Race – which was contested over 5500m of the River Witham at Lincoln last Sunday. Loughborough's Winter training had not gone well, with several injuries and key personnel taking holidays, and the actual crew had never been out together in that exact form until the day. But in the last training outing on Saturday, the crew (still without Captain Keith who was away supporting the LBC juniors at the Regional Trails at Nottingham) the crew had "clicked" and so optimism was high in the beautiful Spring weather which graced the event at Lincoln.
The Head Race format is against the clock and the Nottingham crew started some 20 seconds behind Loughborough, and were always in sight of the key tactician Keith in the stroke seat of the Loughborough Boat. He knew he had to drive his men especially hard at the start and Loughborough pulled away in the first 1000m; but then half way into the race Nottingham were pressed by a faster Doncaster Schools crew in a different event coming up behind them, and the competition to keep ahead allowed Nottingham to regain the deficit on Loughborough who were rowing well above their training rate. There was a fear that this speed could not be sustained over the entire gruelling 20 minutes or more of the race. After 10 minutes sinews were busting and lungs were bursting as the Nottingham crew, pressed by Doncaster Schools remained stubbornly in sight. But the Loughborough cox, O'Shean, managed the pace well and inspired the Loughborough men to further effort. Eventually the Doncaster crew overtook the Nottingham crew who then faded towards the end of the gruelling race, and the pressure came on the Loughborough "geriatrics" to stave off the Doncaster Schoolboys. The last 1000m of the race was in a red mist, according to several of the Loughborough men – from the the eldest, 61 year old Nick, to the youngest, 45 year old Andy. Eventually the cox called for the last 20 strokes and the Loughborough crew started to pull away again from the Doncaster boys, before collapsing – fully spent – at the finish line.
Loughborough had a total of 5 crews of various sizes and status entered. When the times were published LBC's Tom Scholefield had won the Senior Sculls, and the Loughborough Master's VIII had beaten the Nottingham crew by 9 seconds. But knowing that the Nottingham crew had a higher average age, a "handicap" would be applied to the relative times – giving the trophy to Nottingham. The Loughborough VIII were therefore very surprised when they were called out at the prize ceremony to receive their trophies – individual cut glass brandy glasses engraved with the Lincoln Imp to match similar trophies several members of the crew had won in 2011. In celebration the photos were taken and preparations made to depart, before the Race Officials agreed that "the pot that never was" had been wrongly awarded and the trophies had to be re-wrapped and given back, to be finally given to Nottingham. Knowing they were not entitled to them, Loughborough did this in good grace and without rancour.
For several of the Loughborough crew, this is the third dubious happening against a Nottingham crew. At the Ironbridge regatta in 2011, Loughborough beat Nottingham in the knock-out semi-final, but the regatta was called off before the final when excessive driftwood coming down from Shrewsbury made the river dangerous. Later the same year, at Stourport regatta, a Stourport VIII was forced to retire from the final when one of their crew suffered a heart attack, and a scratch crew from Bewdley and Loughborough was rapidly assembled to "give them a race" – but Nottingham won by 1 1/2 lengths.
With this history, the next time Loughborough and Nottingham local rivals meet on the river, the memory of these events, and the "pot that never was" will make the race very special!


O knihe: How the wind blew! How the thunder crashed! How the lightning flashed!Baby Bear, Little Bear and Young Bear are scared of the storm. So one by one they climb into bed with their dad. "What scaredy-bears you are!" he says. But when there's a rat-tat-tat at the door and the lights go out, Daddy Bear is not quite as brave as he seems . .. A gorgeous story of bears, bedtime and a daddy who is not quite as brave as he first appears, this picture book and CD set has amazing sound effects and wonderful, witty narration by Justin Fletcher (CBeebie's Mr Tumble) and Sophie Thompson. Little Tiger Press picture book and CD sets are a great aid to improving reading skills and are perfect for bedtime, for journeys or for listening together. Each classic Little Tiger Press paperback is accompanied by a CD featuring an unabridged rendition of the story, complete with music and sound effects.


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President Trump Threatens to Cut Off Foreign Aid to Three Central American Nations
October 22, 2018 November 13, 2019 - by Forecast International
U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to cut off foreign aid to three Central American countries over their inability to stop a migrant caravan from leaving their borders on its way to the U.S. via Mexico.
The issue has been building in intensity for weeks now, since a band if migrants jointed together to form a caravan in mid-October. Almost immediately, Trump seized on the issue, threatening to cut off aid to the countries in Central America and to deploy the U.S. military along its border with Mexico to stop the caravan.
At its height, the caravan numbered about 7,000 people, all attempting to escape violence and lack of opportunity in Central America, particularly Honduras. By October 19, the group reached the border with Mexico. After a brief conflict with Mexican border security personnel, the caravan continued on its way and is now passing through Mexico on its way to the U.S.
That latest development set off a new round of Tweets from President Trump, culminating in his declaration that the U.S. will begin cutting off, or substantially reducing, foreign aid to Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador.
It is not clear what Trump means by this statement. U.S. Fiscal Year 2019 spending has already passed through Congress. The State Department, which manages U.S. foreign aid, would have to go to Congress in order to get permission for a "reprogramming" of funds. Alternatively, Trump could start to cut funding in the FY20 request. It's not clear if the president has the power to issue an executive order to change foreign aid the middle of a fiscal year.
Central American countries have already experienced cutbacks in aid from the U.S. The trend is clear when looking specifically at security assistance, money used specifically to combat gang violence and drug trafficking in Central America. Part of the decline can be attributed to new accounting methods used by the U.S. state department. However, the cuts are undeniable. All the three countries targeted by Trump's latest tweet experienced declines in security assistance to $800,000 in FY18. El Salvador dropped from $2.8 million in FY17, Guatemala received $2.5 million, and Honduras received $5.3 million. No matter the time period Trump has in mind, the declines are likely to continue going forward.
Note: the graph above was produced by Forecast International using U.S. State Department data.
TaggedEl SalvadorGuatemalaHondurasSecurity AssistanceUnited States
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Flash flood risk persists in Texas as Imelda moves inland
by: Veronica Dolan, The Associated Press
HOUSTON (AP) — Imelda is threatening to dump up to 18 inches (46 centimeters) of rain in parts of Southeast Texas and southwestern Louisiana as the tropical depression moves inland over the next few days.
Jeff Lindner, a meteorologist and director of flood operations for the Harris County Flood Control District in Houston, said the main threat from Imelda remained the potential for heavy rainfall and flooding.
"We have a few things in our favor. The ground is dry. It's been dry for a while here as we've come through summer," Lindner said Tuesday. "The initial parts of this rainfall will go toward saturating the ground."
Ken Graham, director of the National Hurricane Center, said the Houston area and parts of the upper Texas coast and East Texas could get significant rainfall through Thursday as the storm moves north. Imelda's rain bands were also stretching into Louisiana.
Felipe Morales works on getting his truck out of a ditch filled with high water during a rain storm stemming from rain bands spawned by Tropical Storm Imelda on Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2019, in Houston. He was able to get help when a man with a truck helped pull him from the ditch. (Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle via AP)
The National Hurricane Center said early Wednesday that Imelda had weakened to a tropical depression and was located about 25 miles (40 kilometers) north-northwest of Houston.
Imelda is the first named storm to impact the Houston area since Hurricane Harvey , according to the National Weather Service. Harvey dumped nearly 50 inches (130 centimeters) of rain on parts of the flood-prone city in August 2017, flooding more than 150,000 homes in the Houston area and causing an estimated $125 billion in damage in Texas.
While there could be some isolated structure flooding in the Houston area, widespread house flooding from Imelda "doesn't look likely at this point," Lindner said.
However, he said residents who live in flood prone areas should still be mindful and take extra precautions.
Pedestrians hold on to their umbrellas while a gust of wind blows at them at Fanning and Polk Streets as Tropical Storm Imelda makes its way across the Houston area during rush hour on Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2019, in downtown Houston. (Yi-Chin Lee/Houston Chronicle via AP)
Officials in the Houston area were preparing high-water vehicles and staging rescue boats Tuesday.
The storm, which formed Tuesday, made landfall near Freeport, Texas, with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (64.37 kph). Some parts of Harris County and neighboring Galveston County had already received about 4 inches (10 centimeters) of rain through Tuesday afternoon.
Many schools in the Houston and Galveston area canceled classes Wednesday because of the storm.
In a tweet Tuesday, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner asked residents to be "alert and weather aware."
Gov. Greg Abbott on Monday placed numerous resources on standby across Texas. The Texas Division of Emergency Management will be rostering four boat squads in coastal areas. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department will be moving boats to support the Beaumont area and adjacent regions.
Jeremy Franklin, left, with Mitchell Historic Properties, unloads bags of sand at Texas Scuba Adventures, in Galveston, Texas as he and Chad Sterns prepare for possible flooding from Tropical Storm Imelda on Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2019. (Jennifer Reynolds/The Galveston County Daily News via AP)
Meanwhile Wednesday, the National Hurricane Center said Hurricane Humberto in the Atlantic Ocean is posing a stronger threat to Bermuda . The Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 115 mph (185 kph) was about 240 miles (455 kilometers) from Bermuda on Wednesday morning. Tropical Storm Jerry became the 10th named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, though it remained far from land Wednesday. Meteorologists also said newly formed Tropical Storm Lorena in the Pacific Ocean could produce heavy rains and flooding in Mexico by Thursday.
More Weather Headlines Stories
A complex winter storm will move in Saturday. The National Weather Service issued a Winter Weather Advisory starting at 5:00 a.m. and it goes until 7:00 p.m. The roads will become slick and sloppy throughout the day.
Southern Counties Totals: Those who live in the southern counties will see snow during the morning hours, but the snow will switch over to a mix by midday. Sleet and freezing rain will move in during the early afternoon hours. The sleet and freezing rain will keep the snow amounts down. The southern counties will pick up 1-3 inches of snow and a tenth of an inch of ice. Roads will be slick, so use caution.
Evening forecast Thursday, January 16, 2019
by Veronica Dolan / Jan 16, 2020
The day may have began with above average temperatures. However, cooler air filtered in and lowered temperatures from 50 to 30 degrees. Any showers from the night before transitioned to scattered snow showers today. Wind speeds also increased with a sustained wind around 20 MPH and gusts up to 50 MPH. Winds not only made it feel colder with wind chills in the 20s but created brief white out conditions with passing snow showers.
A few patchy clouds will be seen for the overnight hours and snow showers will diminish. It will be seasonably cool with lows in the 20s. It will also continue to be breezy which will create wind chills in the teens and single digits.
Sustained Winds Vs. Wind Gusts
On a windy day like today, it is can be helpful to know the difference between a wind gust and the sustained wind speed.
A Sustained Wind is found by averaging observed values of the wind over a two minute period.


Provide comfort for the family of Muriel Munro with a meaningful gesture of sympathy.
To send flowers in memory of Muriel Munro, please visit our Heartfelt Sympathies Store.
Provide comfort for the family of Muriel Munro by sending flowers.
My deepest sympathy in the loss of your mom. I only had the pleasure of knowing her through the dental office and always enjoyed when she was in and admired the love and support of her family. May she rest in peace.
Sad news. Aunt Peg was a fine woman with endless enthusiasm and abundant energies. She and Uncle Hu were good people and many people benefited from their friendship. Kindest regards.
So sad to hear of Peg passing but grateful she had a long life and to hear she had all her family with her at the end. Many fond memories you all visiting the Lakehead in our younger years. Hope you are all otherwise keeping well. Best wishes from your Thunder Bay relatives.


German banker; father of Maurice de Hirsch; born July 2, 1805, at Würzburg; died Dec. 9, 1885, at Munich. After completing his studies he entered his father's banking establishment, and in 1841, on the latter's death, succeeded to the management of the firm. Hirsch was the chief constructor of the Bavarian Ostbahn, was a member of the central committee for the promotion of forest-culture, and was connected with many other agricultural and industrial enterprises. He was an administrator of a number of charitable institutions, and during the cholera epidemic of 1854 he helped greatly to relieve the sufferings of its victims by establishing hospitals and supplying the funds necessary for their maintenance.
Der Israelit, Dec. 21, 1885.


If you want to have a well-manicured yard, a lawn mower can offer the perfect solution! Nonetheless, this does not mean that you can pick just any mower and expect it to deliver exceptional quality.
While there are many types that are available, one of the best would be corded electric lawn mowers. They are more powerful than those that are operated by a battery. To add, they do not let out fumes and emissions, unlike their gas counterparts.
Some people hate the idea of using corded electric lawn mowers because of the limitations in movement. Nonetheless, this can be easily resolved by choosing one with a long cord.
Wondering what to choose for the best corded electric lawn mower? Read on and we'll let you know some of the best products to consider.
Depending on your budget, the size of the lawn, and personal preferences, there are different brands and models available, including those that are briefly reviewed below.
If powerful mowing performance is what you are after at, this should be on the top of your list. It is known for its 12-amp motor that is capable of effortlessly tackling even a large area.
More than being powerful, it is also easy to use. Moving it around the lawn will not be a problem. Aside from being lightweight, it has 10-inch rear wheels and 7-inch rear wheels.
This model also excels in terms of versatility. For instance, it has 3-in-1 functionality – rear bag, side discharge, and mulching, making it easy to discard grass clippings.
The foldable handle is also a plus, which makes it space-efficient when kept in the storage room.
Lastly, like most of the models mentioned below, it has push-button start. This eliminates the need to pull cords or for complicated start-ups.
Like the lawn mower mentioned above, this is also manufactured by Greenworks. One of the main differences is that the cutting path is slightly larger at 21 inches compared to the 20-inch width of the model above.
Users will love the seven-position height adjustment, which can be easily configured depending on what a task requires. This means that you can use it for almost any grass type.
The power that is generated by this model is largely attributed to the 13-amp motor. Even for the toughest grass, it can deliver an almost effortless mowing performance.
If you are looking for a smaller alternative to the product that has been mentioned above, make sure to include this on your list. It has a cutting width of only 14 inches, making it one of the most compact corded lawn mowers.
At its size, you can expect that one of its best assets would be its maneuverability. It will be a breeze to move it around. Plus, it has well-designed wheels that can tackle different surfaces.
Lastly, it is equipped with a 9-amp motor. It might not be the most powerful, but it is pretty much decent for its size. It also helps to make the unit lightweight.
The 10-amp motor of this lawn mower is one of its best features, providing enough power for most small and medium tasks. Aside from the motor, the 16-inch cutting deck is also a plus to make the mowing task quicker.
For versatility, there are five cutting heights that are available. You can adjust it from a minimum of 5/8-inch to a maximum of 2-5/8-inch.
To make it easy to maneuver, on the other hand, it comes fitted with 7-inch wheels at the back and 6-inch wheels at the front. Regardless of the terrain, it will be a breeze to move it around.
The construction of this lawn mower is one of its best assets, which is made even more exceptional because of the affordable price.
It has a 12-amp electric motor that provides decent power. The 14-inch steel blade, on the other hand, makes it easy to deal with a larger area without exerting a lot of effort on your end. The blade is also not easily prone to wear and tear.
For the height, meanwhile, you can adjust it in three positions at a maximum of 2-2/5 inches for several cutting applications.
Lastly, there is a rear bag for grass clippings, which has a maximum capacity of 10.6 gallons.
This is slightly more expensive than the product from Sun Joe mentioned above, but there is a reason for that. One would be the fact that it has a larger cutting capacity, which is 17 inches instead of 14.
The 13-amp motor also gives it a slight advantage in terms of power compared to the lawn mower that has been mentioned above from the same manufacturer.
For your peace of mind, you will also love how the manufacturer offers a two-year warranty.
Value for money is one of the best things about this model as it offers 3-in-1 functionality. Aside from mowing, you can also use it for trimming and edging.
In terms of power, this corded electric lawn mower will not disappoint. It is equipped with a 6.5-amp motor, which is perfect for its size.
Aside from the powerful motor that is packed in a compact body, this model is also impressive because of the POWERDRIVE transmission, which allows it to handle even the toughest tasks without showing signs of difficulty.
It is also well-loved because of the cord retention system. This prevents the cord from tangling, which is also important for your safety.
Lastly, you will be in full control with the use of this compact lawn mower. The cutting height and handle can be adjusted as desired.
The brand name of this product should already provide you with enough reason to put it on the top of your list.
Looking at its features, one that will make it turn heads is the 20-inch cutting path, which is quite wider compared to the products that have been mentioned above. This can be a huge time-saver as it will allow you to cut more in a short period.
It has a grass collection bag with a generous size, which has a maximum capacity of 13 gallons. This will eliminate the need to have it frequently emptied.
Lastly, it has the Innovative EdgeMax Technology, which allows it to mow with exceptional precision.
Regardless of the mowing task that you wish to accomplish, this product can be the perfect companion. The cutting height can be adjusted in six different positions from 1-1/10-inch to 3-1/10-inch.
The low-profile design of this model is also a great thing, especially for accessing obstacles and under the shrubs.
The cord-wrap system also makes it impressive, allowing the cord to stay wrapped, and hence, making it easier for you to move and will prevent accidents.
Lastly, it comes with 15-inch wheels that are aligned to the blade of the unit, allowing it to cut more efficiently.
With the 2-in-1 functionality of this model, it can discard grass clippings in two ways – mulch or side discharge.
There are also several features that will ensure your highest level of comfort when this product is used. For instance, the comfort handle has thick padding, which will minimize the vibration that your hand will feel.
To make it even more comfortable to use, the controls are mounted on the handle, as well as the safety key, making them easy to access.
It is also commendable because of the 12-amp electric motor that powers the unit. This is even made better by the 18-inch steel deck, allowing it to mow a larger area within a short span of time.
Another entry from Earthwise, this can prove to be an excellent choice for small lawns. It is compact and lightweight, which will make it effortless to use, even for the novices in gardening.
The V-handle, an exclusive design by Earthwise, is another thing that sets it apart from many of its competitors. It has an ergonomic shape that will make it comfortable to hold, even for an extended period. You won't easily complain of fatigue.
Looking at the technical specs of the product, it comes with an 8-amp motor, 14-inch cutting width, and single lever adjustment to customize height from 1.5 to 4 inches.
To mow your lawn and keep it at its best appearance, a corded lawn mower will come handy! It is cheap, easy to use, quiet, and eco-friendly.
With the right lawn mower, including the brands and models that have been mentioned above, you will love to do gardening tasks since it can be accomplished in a breeze!


Now Beijing wants a bigger role in pricing the barrels it buys, using its growing muscle to pull power away from traders and exchanges in New York and London.
Later this year the Shanghai International Energy Exchange, known as the INE, aims to launch its first international crude oil contract, in a move it hopes will eventually establish a new Asian benchmark for oil deals.
If successful, China will not only win a slice of the trillion-dollar oil futures business, but could also increase its influence over a market it perceives as often favouring western oil companies and Opec nations.