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Endometriosis fertility index score maybe more accurate for predicting the outcomes of in vitrofertilisation than r-AFS classification in women with endometriosis
Wenjun Wang1,
Ruiqi Li1,
Tingfeng Fang1,
Lili Huang2,
Nengyong Ouyang1,
Liangan Wang3,
Qingxue Zhang1 &
Dongzi Yang1
Endometriosis is a common disease. The most widely used staging system of endometriosis is the revised American Fertility Society classification (r-AFS classification) which has limited predictive ability for pregnancy after surgery. The endometriosis fertility index (EFI) is used to predict fecundity after endometriosis surgery. This diagnostic accuracy study was designed to compare the predictive value of the EFI with that of the r-AFS classification for IVF outcomes in patients with endometriosis.
199 women with endometriosis receiving IVF treatment after surgery were analysis. The EFI score and r-AFS classification in their ability to predict these IVF outcomes were compared in the same population. ROC curves were used to analyse the predictive values of the EFI and r-AFS indices for clinical pregnancy, and their accuracies were evaluated by sensitivity, specificity, and the Youden's index.
The Area Under the Curve (AUC) of the EFI score (AUC = 0.641, Standard Error(SE) = 0.039, P = 0.001, 95% CI = 0.564-0.717, cut-off score = 6) was significantly larger than that of the r-AFS classification (AUC = 0.445, SE = 0.041, P = 0.184, and 95% CI = 0.364-0.526). The antral follicle count, oestradiol level on day of hCG, number of oocytes retrieved, number of oocytes fertilised, and number of cleaved embryos in the greater than or equal to 6 EFI score group was greater than that of the lower than or equal to 5 EFI score group, and the dose of gonadotropin of the greater than or equal to 6 EFI score group were less than that in the lower than or equal to 5 EFI score group. Implantation rate, clinical pregnancy rate, and cumulative pregnancy rate in the greater than or equal to 6 EFI score group were higher than in the lower than or equal to 5 EFI score group.
It suggests that the EFI has more predictive power for IVF outcomes in endometriosis patients than the r-AFS classification. The clinical pregnancy rate was higher in patients with EFI greater than or equal to 6 score than with EFI lower than or equal to 5 score.
Endometriosis is a common disease that occurs in 6 to 10% of reproductive-age women [1, 2]. Approximately 25 to 50% of infertile women have endometriosis, and 30 to 50% of women with endometriosis are infertile [3]. Today, the most widely used staging system of endometriosis is the revised American Fertility Society classification (r-AFS classification) [4, 5]. The r-AFS classification is used to predict the recurrence potential of endometriosis after surgery. However, it has limited predictive ability for pregnancy after surgery. Adamson and Pasta suggested that the r-AFS classification depends mainly on morphological descriptions [6], whereas Vercellini et al. observed no association between the endometriosis stage or lesion type and lesion site and the cumulative probability of pregnancy [7].
The endometriosis fertility index (EFI), proposed by Adamson and Pasta in 2010, is used to predict fecundity after endometriosis surgery [8]. In addition to providing a detailed score to the appendix (fallopian tubes, fimbriae of fallopian tubes, ovaries) by calculating the least-function scores, the EFI also combines conception-related factors such as age, duration of infertility, and gravidity history. The EFI contains all of the components of the r-AFS stage score, but the r-AFS score includes only 20% of the EFI score. However, the EFI does not consider whether the patient has received in vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment after endometriosis surgery [9]. Until now, there is no report on the evaluation of IVF outcomes and embryo quality by the EFI score after endometriosis surgery, and no report was on the comparison of the EFI score with the r-AFS classification in the prediction of IVF outcome. This study aimed to compare the predictive value of EFI score with that of r-AFS classification in the same population of women with endometriosis who had received IVF treatment. We performed a retrospective analysis of the case histories, operative records, and the available information on embryo quality, implantation rate, and pregnancy rate of infertile women who had received IVF treatment after endometriosis surgery.
Study population and design
The study was conducted after receiving Institutional Review Board approval. Patients were provided with counseling, and signed consents were obtained.
A total of 199 women of reproductive age who had endometriosis and received their first cycle of IVF treatment between January 2008 and July 2012 were enrolled in this study. All cases had a histological diagnosis of endometriosis and received laparoscopic surgery before IVF treatment. Patients who failed to get pregnant in at least the first 6 months after laparoscopic surgery, although they had intercourse at least twice a week, were eligible to receive IVF–embryo transfer (ET) treatment. The results of semen examination of patients' husbands were within the World Health Organization (WHO) reference range [10]. No couple used any contraception. In addition, the patients did not receive any ovulation stimulation treatment within 6 months before the IVF treatment. The exclusion criteria (determined by laparoscopy, ultrasound examination, and hormonal tests) were uterine myoma, adenomyoma, congenital structural abnormalities of the reproductive tract, pelvic tuberculosis, ovarian tumour, polycystic ovary syndrome, hyperprolactinaemia, adrenal disease, thyroid disease or other endocrine disease, and male infertility.
r-AFS classification method
According to the standards of r-AFS classification (1985 and 1996) [4, 5] the lesion score and total score were calculated based on a retrospective analysis of the surgery report in the hospital medical records. The endometriosis stage of each patient was classified as well. We obtained institutional review board approval for retrieving the laparoscopic surgery records and the IVF data.
EFI score
The EFI score was calculated according to the EFI developed by Adamson and Pasta [8]. It includes the following clinical and surgical factors (Figure 1): age, duration of infertility (years), pregnancy history, least-function (LF) score (including fallopian tubes, tubal fimbriae, and ovaries; LF score = the least score of the left side + the least score of the right side; if any ovary was absent, the LF score was obtained by doubling the LF score of the contralateral side), r-AFS score of the lesion, and total r-AFS score. Figure 1 shows Rating scale of the least-function score and the Endometriosis Fertility Index
Rating scale of the least-function score and the Endometriosis Fertility Index. Note: The Table is from Adamson GD, Pasta DJ. Endometriosis fertility index: the new, validated endometriosis staging system. Fertil Steril. 2010. 94(5): 1609–1615 [8]. Copyright 2010, with permission from Elsevier.
Ovarian stimulation, insemination, and IVF treatment
The prolonged gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist protocol was performed as follows. The patients underwent pituitary down-regulation through an intramuscular injection of 3.75 mg of triptorelin acetate (Diphereline; Ipsen Pharma Biotech. France) [11, 12]. Twenty-eight to 35 days later, the patients were given a second injection of 1.25 mg (one third of Diphereline®) of triptorelin acetate. Twenty-one to 28 days later, the patients were given a third injection of 0.93 mg (quarter of one Diphereline®) of triptorelin acetate. Then, 1 week later, recombinant follicle-stimulating hormone (rFSH) was used to stimulate follicle development. The initial dose of rFSH (Gonal-F,75 IU/per amp,Merck Serono, Geneva, Switzerland) was 150–300 IU/day, depending on the antral follicle count (AFC), patient age, and basal serum level of FSH. Follicle development was monitored under transvaginal ultrasound guidance. Recombinant human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) (Ovidrel, Serono) (250 mg) was administered subcutaneously when two or more follicles ≥18 mm in mean diameter were present. Oocytes were retrieved by puncture of the vaginal sac guided by transvaginal ultrasound 35 to 36 hours after hCG administration [13]. Insemination was performed with 150,000 motile sperms cells/mL, always between 14:00 and 15:00 on the day of oocyte retrieval. Fertilisation was assessed 16 to 18 hours after insemination by searching the oocytes for evidence of pronucleus formation and a second polar body. Each embryo was incubated in a separate droplet of G1 medium (VitroLife®, Sweden ) covered with paraffin oil (VitroLife®, Sweden ).
Embryo transfer was performed on the third day after retrieval, and the luteal phase was supplemented with injection of 40 mg of progesterone/day. Biochemical pregnancy was confirmed by measuring serum β-hCG on the 14th day after transfer. Clinical pregnancy was confirmed by the presence of a gestational sac and foetal heart beat on the 30th to 35th day after transfer.
Embryo evaluation
Fertilisation and pronuclear morphology were assessed 16–18 hours after insemination. Zygotes were checked for the number, size, and position of the pronuclei (PN) as well as the number and location of the nucleolar precursor bodies within the PN, as described previously by Scott et al [14].
The assessment on days 2 and 3 was performed as follows. Morphologic assessments were always performed at the same time (between 8:00 am and 9:30 am). The embryos were identified as grade I (good quality) if they had either 2–4 blastomeres of equal size and less than 20% fragmentation on day 2 or 7–8 blastomeres of equal size and less than 20% fragmentation on day 3. The embryo transfer was performed on the third day after oocyte collection [15]. Three embryos were transferred in the patients who were 35 years or older, and one or two embryos were transferred in the patients who were younger than 35 years. Clinical pregnancy was determined by the presence of a gestational sac and heart beat by a transvaginal ultrasound performed on the 30th to 35th days after the embryo transfer. The culture medium was G5 series(VitroLife®, Sweden).
Hormone assays
Blood samples were obtained from each patient with regular menstruation prior to the initiation of a stimulation cycle, at 9:00 am-10:00 am during days 2 to 4 of the menstrual cycle. A Beckman Coulter UniCel DxI 800 and the associated reagents (Beckman Coulter, Los Angeles, USA) were used to determine the serum sex hormone levels (basal FSH, basal luteinising hormone, basal oestradiol) by chemiluminescence.
Data analysis and statistical methods
Estimation of sample size: To compare the EFI score and r-AFS classification on the fecundity and IVF outcomes, we used a diagnostic test to estimate the sample size. Because the two indices would be used on the same population, we used the EFI score to calculate the sample size. The pregnancy state after IVF was the gold standard, and positive meant pregnancy and negative meant non-pregnancy.
A total of 161 cases were collected from January 2008 to December 2011, who were diagnosed with endometriosis and received IVF treatment after laparoscopy. After the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC ROC) for EFI score was calculated, the cut-off score was 6. Therefore, the 161 cases were divided into two groups, a ≤5 score group and a ≥6 score group. We next calculated the necessary sample size as the following formula Formula for sample size estimation).
To avoid excessive variability and minimise bias, we paid close attention to the following before calculating the sample size. Sample drawing: the non-pregnant women with endometriosis were enrolled 6 months after laparoscopic surgery if they had requested IVF treatment. The gold standard of the diagnostic test was 'pregnancy'. We chose an accuracy index α = 0.05, power = 90%, and a bilateral variability test. All the surgeries were performed by three highly experienced gynaecologic surgeons who worked in the same hospital and the assessments of the endometriosis classification staged were also performed by these three surgeons. They had concordant opinions and judgments of endometriosis traits. The scores from their operation records were comparable.
Formula for sample size estimation [16]:
Data collection: We performed a retrospective analysis of the operation records and the case records from the medical record archive file, medication doses during IVF treatment, number of oocytes retrieved, fertilisation rate, embryo development, and pregnancy rate.
Data calculation: The sample size (n = 196) was determined by the data in Table 1 and above formula for sample size estimation [16, 17]. Table 1 shows sample size estimation using the diagnostic test.
Table 1 Sample size estimation using the diagnostic test
After the sample size was determined, the cases were continuously collected until 31 July 2012. A total of 199 cases were enrolled. ROC curves were used to analyse the predictive values of the EFI and r-AFS indices for clinical pregnancy, and their accuracies were evaluated by sensitivity, specificity, and Youden's index. The ROC analysis was used to calculate the cut-off point of each index for successful prediction. The ROC of the EFI score and the ROC of r-AFS classification were first drawn in SPSS v20.0, and the cut-off point of each diagnosis was calculated. The AUC of the EFI score and the AUC of r-AFS were compared. The cases were divided into two groups according to the EFI score (≤5 and ≥6). The same populations were divided into two groups according to the r-AFS classification (stage I-II and stage III-IV). The goodness of fit of each diagnostic system was assessed by the AUC ROC, in which a higher AUC value indicated a better fit to predict implantation. Significance was defined as a two-tailed P value less than 0.05.
The statistical analyses were performed using SPSS v20.0 software. The normally distributed data of quantitative variation and continuous variables are reported as the mean ± standard deviation and were compared using the t-test. The non-normally distributed data are reported as the median (inter-quartile range) and were compared using the Mann–Whitney test. Comparison between the two EFI groups and between the two r-AFS groups was performed with the chi-squared test for categorical variables or the t-test and Mann–Whitney test for continuous and ordinal variables. All tests were two tailed, and P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Whenever appropriate, writing and analysis followed the STARD [18].
Baseline and cycle characteristics of the 199 patients who were enrolled in the study (Table 2):
Table 2 Baseline and cycle characteristics of the patients
The average age was 32.0 ± 4.2 years. The regular menstruation period was 27 to 33 days and lasted 5 to 7 days. The average body mass index (BMI) was 20.2 kg/m2. Fifty-two patients had received ovarian stimulation therapy once before laparoscopic surgery, and 135 had primary infertility and 64 secondary infertility. Five patients with secondary infertility had experienced an ectopic pregnancy, and three of these five cases had a history of elective abortion before ectopic pregnancy. Fifteen patients had once spontaneous miscarriage, and 44 had received an elective abortion. All 199 women had attempted to conceive by natural methods and were unsuccessful after 6 months and so requested IVF treatment. The outcome of IVF was that 85 women achieved pregnancy in the first, fresh cycle, and 107 women achieved pregnancy after a fresh cycle and a freeze-thaw cycle. The cumulative pregnancy rate was 53.8%.
ROCs for pregnancy diagnosis of the EFI and r-AFS indices
The 199 fresh IVF-ET cycles were analysed in this retrospective study. In fresh IVF-ET cycles, 85 cycles resulted in pregnancy and 114 cycles resulted in non-pregnancy. The EFI showed an AUC = 0.641, Standard Error (SE) = 0.039, P = 0.001, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) = 0.564-0.717, cut-off score = 6 score, sensitivity =71.8%, specificity = 52.6%, and Youden index = 0.244 (Youden index = sensitivity + specificity-1). The r-AFS classification showed an AUC = 0.445, SE = 0.041, P = 0.184, and 95% CI = 0.364-0.526.
As shown in "ROC of pregnancy in fresh IVF cycles for the EFI score and r-AFS classification" subsection, the AUC of the EFI score was larger than that of the r-AFS classification. This suggests that the EFI score had a greater ability to predict IVF pregnancy outcome than r-AFS.
Using the cut-off EFI score of 6, we compared each IVF item between the ≤5 EFI score group and the ≥ EFI 6 score group. We performed a similar comparison for each IVF item between the r-AFS stage I-II group and the stage III-IV group. Figure 2 shows ROC of pregnancy in fresh IVF cycles for the EFI score and r-AFS classification.
ROC of pregnancy in fresh IVF cycles for the EFI score and r-AFS classification.
Comparison between the two EFI score groups and between the two r-AFS stage groups (Tables 2 and 3).
Table 3 The embryos quality and outcome of IVF-ET
First, baseline and IVF cycle characteristics of the patients in the two EFI groups were compared by the t-test and Mann–Whitney test. Then, the medication doses during IVF treatment, embryo development, and IVF outcomes were analysed. Patient age and duration of infertility are included in the EFI score, and the patient age in the ≤5 score group was greater than that in the ≥6 score group. The duration of infertility in the ≤5 score group was longer than that in the ≥6 score group. Among the factors we used to evaluate the ovarian reserve in the EFI score, the AFC in the ≥6 score group was greater than that of the ≤5 score group, and the starting dose and total dose of Gn of the ≥6 score group were less than those of the ≤5 score group. The effectiveness of ovarian stimulation in the ≥6 score group was better than that in the ≤5 score group. The oestradiol level of the day of hCG and the number of oocytes retrieved were greater in the ≥6 score group. The number of two-pronucleus (2PN) fertilisations and the number of cleavages from 2PN were greater in the ≥6 score group. Implantation rate, clinical pregnancy rate, and cumulative pregnancy rate were also higher in the ≥6 score group.
We next compared the various factors between the r-AFS stage I-II and stage III-IV groups. There was no significant difference between groups in the factors that affect ovarian reserve, including basal FSH and AFC. The number of oocytes retrieved and the number of fertilisations were greater in the stage I-II group than in the stage III-IV group. However, the availability of embryos was lower in the stage I-II group. There were no significant differences in implantation rate, clinical pregnancy rate, or accumulation rate of pregnancy between the two groups.
Among the 199 cases, 386 embryos were transferred. There were 53 cycles with singletons, 29 cycles with twin pregnancies, and 3 cycles with triplet pregnancies.
The relationship between r-AFS classification and pregnancy rate in patients receiving IVF treatment after laparoscopic surgery
The r-AFS classification depends on the results of laparoscopic examination and laparotomy. The staging of endometriosis requires the detailed observation and recording of the site, number, size, and depth of the endometriosis lesions, as well as the degree of adhesions, to define the final score. The r-AFS score is mainly used to assess disease severity and develop a post-operative treatment plan. The diameter of a 'chocolate cyst' in the ovary plays a critical role in determining the r-AFS score. For patients with endometriosis who want to become pregnant, this staging method has limited ability to predict future fertility after surgery [8]. Opoien et al. [20]conducted a large retrospective study of r-AFS classification of endometriosis and the success rate of using IVF/intracytoplasmic sperm injection in treating female infertility due to fallopian tube disease. They found that there was no difference in pregnancy rate or childbirth rate between patients with different stages of endometriosis or fallopian tube diseases after patients with adenomyoma were excluded. Similarly, the present study excluded patients with adenomyoma and only evaluated the outcome of IVF in the treatment of infertility due to fallopian tube disease. Our results show that there was no statistical difference between the implantation rate and the pregnancy rate in patients with different stages of endometriosis, consistent with the above study. In addition, the AUC ROC of r-AFS was 0.445, which was not significant for diagnosis. Therefore, our data suggest that the r-AFS classification can predict neither future pregnancy in endometriosis patients nor the outcome of IVF. We speculate that the EFI score maybe more sensitive in predicting pregnancy because it not only considers the size and number of lesions and the degree of local adhesion but also consider other reproductive factors, such as age, infertility duration, or fallopian tube and ovarian function.
The relationship between EFI score and pregnancy rate in patients receiving IVF treatment after laparoscopic surgery
In 2002, Fujushita et al. modified the AFS classification of endometriosis by adding the TOP score, (fallopian tubes, ovaries, peritoneum, and other factors) [21]. However, they did not consider the patient's age or other factors affecting pregnancy. Adamson and Pasta (2010) further revised and updated the AFS classification system. They prospectively collected detailed clinical and surgical data of 579 patients with endometriosis and analysed 275 variables associated with pregnancy, thereby establishing the EFI. In addition, they confirmed that the EFI had a close correlation with pregnancy rate in 222 patients. In 2013, Tomassetti C et al. suggested that the EFI could be used clinically to counsel infertile endometriosis patients receiving reproductive surgery in specialized centers about their post-operative conception options [9]. However, their study did not include patients receiving IVF treatment after endometriosis surgery. We believed that in the course of ovarian stimulation for IVF treatment, it would be better to predict fertility after endometriosis surgery by comparing the dosage of medication, number of oocytes retrieved, embryo quality, implantation rate, and pregnancy rate in different groups of EFI scores. Unlike the r-AFS classification, the EFI objectively evaluates factors closely associated with female fertility, such as fallopian tube, tubal fimbria, and ovarian function. It incorporates the LF score which can evaluate the reproductive potential of pelvic organs and comprehensively includes several objective factors, such as patient's age, duration of infertility, and pregnancy history. According to our data, the AUC ROC for embryo transfer during a fresh IVF cycle was only 0.641 using the EFI score. Patients with a score of 6 accounted for the largest proportion in our study. Patients with a score ≥6 had a significantly higher pregnancy rate than patients with a score ≤5. This is slightly different from the study of Adamson et al. According to their study, patients with a score of 7 accounted for the largest proportion [8]. Patients with scores of 8–10 had higher cumulative pregnancy rates than patients with scores of 5–7. A plausible explanation for this difference is that the participants in the two studies used different methods to conceive. The participants in our study were patients receiving IVF treatment after surgery. Therefore, the fallopian tube factors had little impact on the outcome of their IVF treatment, which could have lowered the cut-off point in the EFI in comparison to the patients who planned pregnancy naturally after the surgery.
The EFI incorporates patient age and duration of infertility. As shown in Table 2, no significant differences were observed in the baseline BMI and basal sex hormone levels between patients with EFI scores ≤5 and ≥6. The antral follicle count and the starting dose of Gn were different between the two groups (total Gn dose was also slightly different). This suggests that physicians estimated the starting Gn dose based on BMI, basal sex hormone levels, and antral follicle count in patients with different EFI scores. Therefore, both starting and total Gn doses were affected by oocyte reserve. The number of oocytes retrieved was also relatively higher in the ≥6 score group. However, although the rates of available embryos and top-quality embryos showed no significant differences between groups, the implantation rate and pregnancy rate were higher in the ≥6 score group, suggesting that a score of 6 can be considered an appropriate cut-off point when assessing EFI in endometriosis patients. The pregnancy rate was also higher in patients with score ≥6.
In summary, the EFI incorporates age and duration of infertility; hence, it objectively evaluates the function of reproductive organs better than r-ASF. It has a relatively good predictive power for pregnancy outcomes for patients receiving IVF-ET treatment after laparoscopic surgery. The implantation rate and pregnancy rate were higher in patients with EFI score ≥6 than those with EFI score ≤5. These data provide an important reference to predict the post-operative pregnancy outcome for endometriosis patients, which is the most valuable conclusion of this study.
This study has several limitations. First, there were no significant differences in the rate of available embryos or the rate of top-quality embryos between EFI groups or between r-ASF groups. However, the implantation rate and pregnancy rate were significantly different between groups, suggesting that endometriosis can not only affect the ovaries and quality of oocytes but also the uterine endometrium for embryo implantation. A more convincing support of the implantation environment theory would be if we followed up the development of blastocysts by evaluating day 5 and day 6 blastocysts after implantation. Second, we used pregnancy/non-pregnancy as the relevant outcome to calculate the sample size without considering fertilisation or available embryos. Therefore, as shown in Table 3, the reason the r-AFS stage III-IV group had a low rate of polypronucleus zygotes and a high number of available embryos were that the r-AFS stage I-II group was relatively small. Third, this study failed to demonstrate whether starting an IVF cycle earlier after laparoscopic surgery can improve the specificity and sensitivity of the EFI. Fourth, severe uterine abnormalities, such as uterine fibroids, adversely affect pregnancy. However, the EFI does not incorporate such uterine conditions, a limitation of the scoring system. We acknowledge the impact of uterine conditions on pregnancy and the fact that EFI does not incorporate them. Therefore, to avoid any bias, we only included cases in this study that did not present with significant uterus fibroids as evaluated by laparoscopy and ultrasound. Finally, this was a retrospective study with the calculated cut-off EFI score of 6. Although the included sample size achieved the requirement for diagnostic tests, it will be necessary to conduct randomised, prospective studies with large numbers of patients to validate and evaluate the EFI and its cut-off point. It is better to analyse pregnancy probability in each stage of the EFI with a larger sample size.
It suggests that the EFI has more predictive power for IVF outcomes in endometriosis patients than the r-AFS classification. The clinical pregnancy rate was higher in patients with EFI ≥6 score than with EFI ≤5 score.
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This study was supported by the Science Research of Population and Family Planning Commission of Guangdong Province in China (Grant No. 2009231), the Science Technology Research of development Project of Guangdong Province (Grant No. 2010B031600043) and the Science Technology Research Project of Guangzhou city (2010Y1-C431). The authors wish to express their gratitude to G. David Adamson, MD for editing and giving them permission to use the updated version of the EFI, and to Meiqing Xie, MD, PhD, and Shunjia Hong, MD, PhD, for their laparoscopic surgery, and to Huang Baoyun for data collection, and to John P. , and Suja T. for English-language edit. The manuscript was also edited by AJE (American Journal Experts).
Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Reproductive medicine centre, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, No.107 Yanjiang Xi Road, 510120, Guangzhou, P. R. China
Wenjun Wang, Ruiqi Li, Tingfeng Fang, Nengyong Ouyang, Qingxue Zhang & Dongzi Yang
New Hope Fertility Center, Av.De Praia Grande No.409, China Law Building, 3 Andar BC, Macau,, P. R. China
Lili Huang
Endocrinology division, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, No.107 Yanjiang Xi Road, 510120, Guangzhou, P. R. China
Liangan Wang
Wenjun Wang
Ruiqi Li
Tingfeng Fang
Nengyong Ouyang
Qingxue Zhang
Dongzi Yang
Correspondence to Wenjun Wang.
WJW conceived the idea and design of the project, collected all cases, did the statistical analysis, drafted the manuscript, edited the final document and acquired funding. RQL collected cases. TFF provided access to the statistical analysis and patient data. LLH and NYO collected cases. LAW collected cases and performed laparoscopic surgery. QXZ provided access to the statistical analysis. DZY acquired funding. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
Wang, W., Li, R., Fang, T. et al. Endometriosis fertility index score maybe more accurate for predicting the outcomes of in vitrofertilisation than r-AFS classification in women with endometriosis. Reprod Biol Endocrinol 11, 112 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1186/1477-7827-11-112
Received: 31 August 2013
Endometriosis fertility index (EFI)
Revised American Fertility Society (r-AFS) classification
Clinical pregnancy rate


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One Love Revolution
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Select ratingGive Confessions 1/5Give Confessions 2/5Give Confessions 3/5Give Confessions 4/5Give Confessions 5/5
Select ratingGive For the Love of the Game 1/5Give For the Love of the Game 2/5Give For the Love of the Game 3/5Give For the Love of the Game 4/5Give For the Love of the Game 5/5
Select ratingGive The Reckoning 1/5Give The Reckoning 2/5Give The Reckoning 3/5Give The Reckoning 4/5Give The Reckoning 5/5
Nothing Comes For Free EP
Select ratingGive Nothing Comes For Free EP 1/5Give Nothing Comes For Free EP 2/5Give Nothing Comes For Free EP 3/5Give Nothing Comes For Free EP 4/5Give Nothing Comes For Free EP 5/5
Select ratingGive Where Do We Go from Here 1/5Give Where Do We Go from Here 2/5Give Where Do We Go from Here 3/5Give Where Do We Go from Here 4/5Give Where Do We Go from Here 5/5
Broken Down: The EP
Select ratingGive Broken Down: The EP 1/5Give Broken Down: The EP 2/5Give Broken Down: The EP 3/5Give Broken Down: The EP 4/5Give Broken Down: The EP 5/5
Select ratingGive Fireproof 1/5Give Fireproof 2/5Give Fireproof 3/5Give Fireproof 4/5Give Fireproof 5/5
Select ratingGive Above 1/5Give Above 2/5Give Above 3/5Give Above 4/5Give Above 5/5
Original Superman
Select ratingGive Original Superman 1/5Give Original Superman 2/5Give Original Superman 3/5Give Original Superman 4/5Give Original Superman 5/5
Select ratingGive Metamorphosis 1/5Give Metamorphosis 2/5Give Metamorphosis 3/5Give Metamorphosis 4/5Give Metamorphosis 5/5
Pillar is listed in the credits for the following albums:
2004 Artists United For Africa In The Name Of Love
Metal / Hard Music,
Modern / Alt. Rock
Pillar started in Hays, Kansas in 1998, when Fort Hays State University roommates Brad Noone and Rob Beckley got together with friends Travis Jenkins, Dustin Adams, and Michael Wittig, known as Kalel. In 1999, Pillar released their first album, Metamorphosis, on their own independent label, Shadrach Records. After some more touring in Kansas, they released their second independent album, Original Superman, in 2000. Around this time they relocated to Tulsa, Oklahoma, to try to find a larger fan base.
Soon after the release of Original Superman, Pillar became noticed by Flicker Records, who signed them in mid 2000. After the signing, Pillar re-cut many of the tracks from Original Superman as well as a few new tracks for release on Above,their first major label album. The song "Open Your Eyes" won a Dove Award in 2001 for Hard Music Song of the Year.
In the years following, Pillar has sold nearly one million albums, tallied 10 No. 1 radio singles, 13 additional top five hits, a GRAMMY nomination, four Dove Awards and headlined nine national tours.
Website: PillarMusic.com
Facebook: PillarMusic
Twitter: @PillarMusic
Pillar to return with One Love Revolution August 21
It's been a long time coming, but Pillar's reunion album, One Love Revolution, will street in less than one month, on Friday August 21st.
Created by: siremidor on 26-July-2010 - Last Edited by admin on 07-January-2016

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
knitting for the public good
Inspired by Get Crafty's scarf drive, I was wondering would any of my fellow knitters be interested in doing similar for the Simon Community, which is an excellent Irish charity for homeless people? We could do a knitting drive, maybe even get sponsorship, and knit lots of scarves which Simon could give to their service users. I know it would be easier to just buy scarves and donate them, and I hope this doesn't sound patronising, but I think it would be nice to show people using Simon's services that people will make stuff just for them.
I've been thinking recently that I would like to do more charity work; I used to volunteer in the Amnesty shop sometimes when I was in college, and I have a few standing orders making charitable donations every month, but I would like to do more.
Current Music:Radio 4, of course.
Nov. 6th, 2003 02:47 am (UTC)
What a cool idea! Depending on the schedule, count me in!
If you're looking for voluntary work, the National Adult Literacy Association is certainly always looking for volunteers (http://www.nala.ie). That said, I find the work very gruelling, and it is a huge commitment - two years at a minimum. At the same time, there's little I can think of that's a worthier cause in Ireland.
radegund : (no subject) [+0]


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At Pili Palas Nature World you will come face-to-face with iguanas, dragons, tegu and monitor lizards from around the world. We dare you to visit the tropical lair of tarantulas, scorpions and fire bellied toads. And don't forget pets corner where you can meet the rabbits and guinea pigs.
Take a walk through the farmyard where the pygmy goats Milly, Molly and Percy live happily with the pot-bellied pigs, silkie hens and peacocks. Then enter the native butterfly garden full of wild and colourful flowers. Follow the pathway down the nature trail where you'll find wild birds and other creatures hiding in the tall trees and lush green vegetation.
Toddlers can let off steam in the indoor play area, while older children can play on the giant bouncy castle or tackle the adventure playground. Kids can also have hours of fun in Lenny's Castle in the park.


State officials said Wednesday they were working to determine how much money had been withdrawn from casino ATMs by people using the welfare debit cards.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who learned of the issue when asked to comment for this story, promised to take immediate action.
"We have instructed our vendors to prohibit these cards from being accepted at ATMs located in casinos and card rooms," Schwarzenegger spokesman Aaron McLear said Wednesday. "It is reprehensible that anyone would use taxpayer money for anything other than its intended purpose."
Administration officials said the social services agency contracts with a private ATM network to handle the electronic transfer of benefits to people on welfare, and hadn't noticed that the taxpayer money was being withdrawn at gambling establishments.
McLear said the system of paying out welfare benefits via bank cards was created under Schwarzenegger's predecessor, Democrat Gray Davis.
Since the late 1990s most states have adopted this system, which is a viewed as a more efficient way of distributing and tracking government aid.
Schwarzenegger has been wrangling with lawmakers over other efforts to combat waste and fraud in the state's social services programs. He fought back a legislative effort to discontinue fingerprinting of food stamp recipients, a system designed to prevent double-dipping and other abuses.
Casino ATMs account for a handful of the thousands of machines in the contractor's network, and the amount withdrawn from them by welfare recipients almost certainly would comprise a tiny fraction of the state's multibillion-dollar welfare spending. But the issue is likely to come up as lawmakers fight over how best to close their historic budget deficit.
Schwarzenegger had already threatened to eliminate the state welfare program in his May budget proposal, and that was before he and his Republican allies in the Legislature knew that the cash could be accessed by people strolling from poker games to blackjack tables.
"In a time when we have a $19-billion deficit, and we're taking a serious look at the future of many safety-net programs, it's appalling to think that welfare beneficiaries can use their cards in a casino," said Seth Unger, spokesman for the Assembly Republican Caucus.
Democratic leaders, who have vowed to protect the state's fraying social safety net, also began calling for reform Wednesday.
"In these tough times, when so many children and vulnerable families depend on the safety net, we have to make sure food stamps and other services are being used the way the people of California intended them to be," said Shannon Murphy, spokeswoman for Assembly Speaker John A. Perez (D-Los Angeles). "Other states have closed this loophole, and the Assembly will work with the Schwarzenegger administration to make that happen."
The Times compared the addresses on that website with lists of tribal casinos and state-licensed poker rooms published on the California Gambling Control Commission's website.
It's not clear which casinos are most frequently patronized by welfare recipients because social services officials denied a January request from The Times for data showing transaction information from all of the ATMs in their network. Department lawyers argued that federal law prohibits the state from releasing financial information about merchants who accept cards issued to welfare recipients.
The Electronic Benefit Transfer cards look and work just like ordinary debit cards. They allow welfare recipients to access two accounts: the cash offered so needy parents can provide a home for their children while they train for better jobs, and an electronic version of food stamps that has restrictions on where and how the benefits can be spent.
The cash benefits, however, can be withdrawn and spent just about anywhere.
The Capitol Casino, a few blocks from the legislative chambers in Sacramento, appears on the social services website showing where clients can get money. Each of its small rooms has an ATM: one so close to a poker table that a player could lean back and withdraw cash without leaving his chair; the other is a few steps from the blackjack table.
At the Casino Royale on the outskirts of Sacramento, the first thing patrons pass as they walk to the gaming floor is the ATM with a sign next to it saying, "Exceed your ATM daily limit here!!"
Faye Stearns, a part-owner of Casino Royale, said she had no idea people on welfare could withdraw taxpayer dollars from the machine, and would not oppose a measure to prohibit it.
"We wouldn't want to be taking money from children," Stearns said. "The adults? Hey, that's their problem. But kids? No."
The cash portion of California's welfare benefits comes from Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. Each year, California's program gets $3.7 billion from the federal government and $2.9 billion from state and local governments.
The state of New Mexico and at least one company that supplies ATMs to the gaming industry have already taken steps to make sure their machines in casinos reject welfare cards.
"It makes social sense," said John Monforte, executive director of the New Mexico Gaming Control Board. "There are wonderful things [casinos] do for tribal governments, but the reality is there are also negative social impacts."
Global Cash Access, a Las Vegas firm that provides ATMs and other equipment for more than 1,000 casinos in the United States, started programming their machines to reject welfare cards more than a decade ago.
"Unless a state tells us to allow access to their EBT cards, we will continue to block these cards from being accepted at our devices," said Katie Lever, the firm's general counsel. "It's really easy to do."


text:
Healthcare, Technology, Communications.
Melissa Zipin
Anastasia Efstratios
Amanda Fountain
Nina Gill
Lindsay LeCain
Scott Love
Brandi Martina
Philip Moore
Siobhan Nguyen
Jaclyn Petros
Julie Sculley
Michelle Searer
Lauren Sheanon
Christine Simeone
Highlights Reels
Follow Melissa Zipin on Twitter
Find Melissa Zipin at LinkedIn
Melissa joined LPP in March 1998 and has more than 20 years of experience in medical device, health and consumer tech public relations and advertising. She currently serves as the lead of the agency's Healthcare Practice and was appointed Managing Director in July 2016, when Lois Paul, the company's founder, retired after 30 years of leading the business.
Melissa has extensive experience leading programs specifically designed for executive thought leadership, corporate messaging and repositioning, as well as patient recruitment, physician and consumer awareness. Her clients include Philips, Optum, Picis, AirStrip, Nuance Healthcare, Empi, Restore Medical, Enteromedics, Abiomed and Medidata Solutions.
She spearheaded Restore Medical's national and regional launch of the first implantable device for treating sleep apnea, which resulted in more than 800 million impressions – with coverage in The Wall Street Journal, News Day, Reader's Digest and Woman's Day and on The Tonight Show, Good Morning America, Discovery Health, CNN and more than 700 regional broadcast outlets in all 50 states.
Melissa has relationships with health and medical producers and editors at key media outlets including The Today Show, Good Morning America, NBC Nightly News, CNN, Reader's Digest, Discovery Health and Reuters Health, among others.
Melissa is a recipient of the prestigious John D. Graham Award (2014 East Region), the Silver Anvil Award from the Public Relations Society of America and Bell Ringer Awards from the Publicity Club of New England for her work launching the first outpatient, non-invasive alternative to hysterectomy for the treatment of menorhaggia for Gynecare, Inc., and for Restore Medical, Philips, AirStrip and SynapDx.
Prior to LPP, Melissa worked for Schwartz Communications where she was part of the healthcare team. Melissa holds a B.A. in fashion marketing from Simmons College in Boston.
LPP is a healthcare and technology PR firm with offices in Boston, MA. We service the healthcare and technology sectors by developing communications strategies that map to your business goals.
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text:
midday09-07-99
Daniel Ranieri
Sep 7, 1999 1:34 PM EDT
TheStreet.com's MIDDAY UPDATE
http://www.thestreet.com
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Get the news when the trading professionals get it! Qualified Traders Only!- Sign up for your FREE daily JAG Notes, First Call and Wall Street Source. OnsiteTrading, Inc Member NASD
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Market Data as of 9/7/99, 12:58 PM ET:
o Dow Jones Industrial Average: 11,084.47 up 6.02, 0.05%
o Nasdaq Composite Index: 2,857.50 up 14.39, 0.51%
o S&P 500: 1,357.97 up 0.73, 0.05%
o TSC Internet: 606.38 up 10.56, 1.77%
o Russell 2000: 437.03 up 1.06, 0.24%
o 30-Year Treasury: 100 27/32 down 19/32, yield 6.057%
In Today's Bulletin:
o Midday Musings: Market Eases Into Postholiday Period With Minor Gains
o Herb on TheStreet: Rx for Underpriced Medical Device Makers: Getting Acquired
Also on TheStreet.com:
Wrong! Dispatches from the Front: Cramer Can't Find the News in the Newspaper
The online endeavors of the dead-tree press cannibalize their customers. The problem is, the customers want that!
http://www.thestreet.com/comment/wrong/780717.html
Energy: Drillers' Merger Prospects Sink as Rising Oil Prices Buoy Shares
Higher oil prices and rising shares make merger deals seem less likely. But the industry is still in need of consolidation.
http://www.thestreet.com/stocks/energy/780267.html
Silicon Babylon: Daytraders Make Up Net2Phone's Fan Club, but Now Wall Street's Swooning Too
The stock's been in a trading frenzy, but there actually might be something to its popularity.
http://www.thestreet.com/comment/siliconbabylon/780149.html
Dear Dagen: Dear Dagen: Internet Fund Gains Don't Foreshadow Big Distributions
One doesn't necessarily lead to the other. In fact, three major Internet funds say their distributions will be minimal.
http://www.thestreet.com/funds/deardagen/780642.html
Midday Musings: Market Eases Into Postholiday Period With Minor Gains
Justin Lahart
9/7/99 1:09 PM ET
September and October have not been particularly kind to the stock market the last couple of years, and since midsummer investors have worried that this year would be no different.
It has not helped that stocks have followed a similar contour to 1997's and 1998's. The run-up in the winter, the spring consolidation, the jump to new highs in July, the drop down from there, the fake-out rally. Until Friday, it looked like the market was following the script perfectly. This year's demon would not be a crisis from overseas as in the past, but homegrown. The
would again tighten on Oct. 5, damaging the stock and bond markets -- perhaps accelerating capital flows away from the U.S. -- and driving major indices below the lows they hit in August.
But then came the weak
Friday, and everything looked different. While one report doth not an on-hold Fed make, even the more hawkish economists on the Street agree the new jobs data upped the odds that the central bank will stand pat. And while stocks are not making much headway today, it says something that, despite a bit of a pullback in the bonds, they are holding onto their gains they made on Friday's huge rally.
"Treasuries are a little heavy, and that's dampened the carryover enthusiasm from Friday," said Bill Schneider, head of U.S. equity block trading at
Warburg Dillon Read
But while the dangers of the markets getting upset this fall may have been diminished, it seems likely that volatility will continue to rule the roost, said Charles Crane, chief market strategist at
Key Asset Management
. "Watching the latest economic statistic crawl across the tape has become a great pastime," he said. "The market will remain very sensitive to indicators of business activity for the next several weeks. I suspect we continue this recent bout of volatility, and may even see it become more pronounced."
"The market is going to get too negative and too positive," Schneider agreed. "The pendulum for me is still swinging to the positive side of that equation. I think the market could do all right here."
was lately up 3 to 11,082 while the
was up half a point to 1358. Big-cap techs continued to outperform -- the
was up 14, or 0.5%, to 2858.
TheStreet.com Internet Sector
index was up 11, or 1.8%, to 607. The
was up 1 to 437.
Media stocks were the focus, on the heels of the news that
(VIA.B)
(CBS) - Get CBS Corporation Class B Report
would combine. Investors liked the deal, in part because there is little overlap between Viacom's and CBS' operations. Viacom rose 6.5% on the news, while CBS was up 3.2%.
While the deal signals that investment bankers are apparently back from vacation -- cheering the Street with the thought that deals will get rolling again -- plenty of traders were stretching their Labor Day. Volume was light to moderate on slightly negative breadth. In
action, decliners were beating advancers on 1,516 to 1,288 with 395 million shares changing hands. There were 59 new highs and 48 new lows. On the
Nasdaq Stock Market
, decliners were leading advancers 1,842 to 1,737 on 521 million shares. There were 118 new highs and 36 new lows.
The bond market was slumping, with the bellwether 30-year Treasury off 19/32 to 100 27/32, its yield rising to 6.06%. (For more on the fixed-income market, see today's early
Bond Focus.)
Tuesday's Midday Watchlist
By Eileen Kinsella
CBS and Viacom unveiled merger plans which call for Viacom to buy CBS, combining their media and entertainment divisions in a $37 billion stock swap. Viacom Chairman Sumner Redstone is expected to remain chairman and CEO of the merged company, while current CBS CEO Mel Karmazin will be tapped as its president and chief operating officer. CBS rose 1 9/16 to 50 1/2 while Viacom vaulted 2 15/16, or 6.5%, to 48.
Separately,
King World Productions
(KWP)
inched up 15/16 to 40 7/16 after saying it will delay until Sept. 14 its shareholder vote on a planned $2.5 billion merger with CBS. The decision followed news of the Viacom deal, though both CBS and King World reiterated their commitment to proceed with the merger.
Mergers, acquisitions and joint ventures
Bell Microproducts
(BELM)
was unchanged at 8 after saying it has inked a deal with
(AMD) - Get Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. Report
to use AMD's microprocessors.
(CLRS)
added 7/16 to 12 1/4 after saying it signed a deal with
(CPQ)
to sell Clarus business procurement software. Shares of Compaq slipped 1/8 to 23 1/8.
Fleet Financial Group
(FLT) - Get FLEETCOR Technologies, Inc. Report
lost 5/8 to 38 15/16 after it forged a $1.4 billion deal to sell 278 branches and other assets to
Sovereign Bancorp
(SVRN)
, lately up 25/32 to 10 3/4. The bank is attempting to meet regulatory requirements for its proposed acquisition of competitor
BankBoston
(BKB)
, lately down 5/8 to 45 5/16. Fleet announced plans in March to purchase BankBoston, establishing the eighth-largest bank in the U.S. Sovereign said it would receive $12 billion in deposits and an estimated $8 billion in loans, in what is being called the largest proposed bank divestiture.
Federal Realty Trust
(FRT) - Get Federal Realty Investment Trust Report
lost 15/16 to 23 after saying it will spin off its retail site unit to shareholders as a new public company. The REIT also said a third party may acquire most of its community shopping centers through a merger for a combination of cash and stock for about $18 a share.
(HLT) - Get Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc Report
slipped 3/4, or 5.8%, to 11 1/16 after it agreed to pay $4 billion in cash, stock and debt for
Promus Hotels
(PRH) - Get Prudential Financial, Inc. 5.7 % Subordinated Notes 2013-15.3.53 Jr Subord Report
. The deal calls for Hilton to pay $38.50 per share in cash for 55% of Promus shares. The remaining 45% of the Promus stock would be exchanged for Hilton common stock at a rate determined by market conditions. Promus CEO Norman Blake Jr. said he will not take a position with the merged company once the transaction is complete. Shares of Promus popped up 3 1/2, or 11.2%, to 34 7/8.
Dutch supermarkets group
Koninklijke Ahold
(AHO)
added 1 3/8 to 37 1/16 after acquiring Spanish supermarket chains
Mercasol
Las Postas
. Ahold said it will operate seven supermarket chains in southern Spain and Madrid when the deals are completed.
(NOK) - Get Nokia Oyj Report
lost 1/16 to 87 9/16 after setting an agreement with
Tele 1 Europe's
Finnish division to provide its DX 200 switching system to the Nordic telecom operator's customers by September.
Professional Bancorp
(MDB) - Get MongoDB, Inc. Class A Report
shed 4 3/8, or 21.7%, to 15 3/4 and
FirstFed Financial
added 7/16 to 16 5/8 after the companies said they had ended merger talks, scuttling a potential $50 million deal. Professional said its board had decided to kill the deal with FirstFed when it concluded it would not secure the $23.50 per share the banks had agreed on earlier this year.
Russian cell-phone operator
Vimpel Communications
(VIP)
rose 3/16 to 15 3/8 after it said it was in talks with strategic partner
of Norway for joint financing of up to $300 million in investments.
Earnings/revenue reports and previews
(CC) - Get Chemours Co. Report
lost 13/16 to 36 15/16 despite reporting same-store sales for August up 6%.
(ZLC)
sparkled 2 1/16, or 5.9%, to 37 1/4 after posting fourth-quarter earnings of 23 cents a share, beating both the 12-analyst estimate of 21 cents and the year-ago 16-cent gain. The retailer also said that board member and former president and COO Beryl Raff would become its acting CEO after Robert DiNicola resigned from the position. DiNicola will remain the company's chairman.
Offerings and stock actions
Westpoint Stevens
(WPSN)
gained 1 9/16, or 6.8%, to 24 5/8 after it added 4 million additional shares to its current share repurchasing program, raising the possible total of the buyback to 6.4 million shares. The company said the increase gives it authorization to repurchase about 12% of its 55 million outstanding shares.
Analyst actions
airline analysts Candace Browning and Mike Linenberg sliced their estimates on U.S. airlines, citing increasing fuel prices, air traffic control delays and capacity growth.
(U) - Get Unity Software, Inc. Report
lost 13/16 to 29 1/2 after third-quarter estimates were cut to 45 cents a share from 95 cents.
(LUV) - Get Southwest Airlines Co. Report
lost 5/8 to 16 7/16 after third-quarter estimates were lowered to 24 cents a share from 26 cents and
(NWAC)
lost 3/4 to 27 5/8 after third quarter numbers were chopped to $2.10 from $2.30.
(DAL) - Get Delta Air Lines, Inc. Report
fell 2 to 50 11/16 when its third-quarter estimates were trimmed to $2.10 from $2.15. Separately Delta said it tapped Edward West to replace Warren Jenson as its CFO. Jenson left Delta to become the CFO of
(AMZN) - Get Amazon.com, Inc. Report
(BBI) - Get Brickell Biotech, Inc. Report
added 1/8 to 14 11/16 after
PaineWebber
rolled out coverage of the stock with an initial buy rating.
(CI) - Get Cigna Corporation Report
lost 11/16 to 93 1/8 after
ING Barings
started coverage with a buy rating and a price target of 110.
Cytec
(CYT)
added 1 1/4, or 5.4%, to 24 9/16 after
Credit Suisse First Boston
rolled out coverage with a strong buy rating and a price target of 35.
Ixnet
(EXNT)
lost 1 11/6, or 8%, to 19 3/8 after Merrill Lynch initiated coverage of the stock with a long-term buy rating.
PaineWebber axed both
(DOW) - Get Dow, Inc. Report
to neutral from attractive. Dow lost 1 5/16 to 114 1/16 while Union Carbide slipped 15/16 to 57 7/16.
El Paso Energy
(EPG)
darkened 1 5/16 to 38 1/8 despite Merrill Lynch's upgrade of its intermediate-term rating to a buy from an accumulate.
(GE) - Get General Electric Company Report
climbed 2 17/32 to 118 15/16 after Salomon Smith Barney raised its rating on the shares to buy from outperform and set a new price target of 135.
Hotjobs.com
(HOTJ)
powered up 5 3/8, or 18%, to 35 after
SG Cowen
started coverage of the stock with a buy rating.
Kansas City Power
(KLT)
added 1/16 to 24 3/16 after
initiated coverage with a buy rating.
Oregon Steel
added 3/4, or 6.7%, to 11 7/8 after ABN Amro upped its rating to a buy from an outperform.
Provantage Health Services
(PHS)
lost 1/16 to 13 3/8 after
initiated coverage of the stock with a buy rating.
SBA Communications
(SBAC) - Get SBA Communications Corp. Class A Report
Wachovia Securities
started coverage of the stock with an initial long-term buy rating.
Merrill Lynch reiterated its buy rating on
(TXN) - Get Texas Instruments Incorporated Report
and set a price target of 110,
reported. Texas Instruments added 1/4 to 35 1/8 .
(PEP) - Get PepsiCo, Inc. Report
lost 3/8 to 34 1/4 after saying it chose former
head Gary Rodkin as its president and CEO. Tropicana is a unit of PepsiCo.
Herb on TheStreet: Rx for Underpriced Medical Device Makers: Getting Acquired
Senior Columnist
9/7/99 6:30 AM ET
Is there a doctor in the house?:
The small-cap medical device industry has been a yawner from a stock-price standpoint -- so much so that companies with promising technologies are starting to get acquired.
Just last week
CardioThoracic Systems
(CTSI)
, no stranger to this column, said it was selling itself to
Guidant
(GDT)
. Remember CardioThoracic's seesawing battle -- over valuation -- with
Heartport
(HPRT)
? Heartport, with its blue-chip
Kleiner Perkins
venture backing and blue-chip roster of investment bankers (led by
) was thought to be the hand's-down winner. CardioThoracic, backed by a group of venture capitalists including low-key
Vertical Group
of Summit, N.J. and a group of smaller bankers (
Piper Jaffray
among them) was considered a joke.
Look who's laughing now! It works that way on Wall Street sometimes. The size of the backers doesn't always determine a company's success. In this case, Kleiner Perkins is involved in many technologies; Vertical, which was joined in CardioThoracic by
New Enterprise Associates
Morgenthaler Ventures
, is focused exclusively on medical devices.
So, who's next in the pipeline to be bought? Hard to say, but for a clue take a look at the companies in which Vertical has large, published stakes. (Why focus on Vertical? By way of disclosure: The only reason I know Vertical is because 12 years ago, during what I now like to refer to as a year's sabbatical from journalism, I worked as an analyst at a risk arbitrage firm then run by two Vertical general partners. Nothing like knowing your sources from the inside out.)
These are long-term investors, steeped in research, who are willing to wait years for an investment to pay off. "Even if we're sitting on something for 10 years and it doesn't do something for eight, we're hoping that the last two years will make a rate of return for 10 years," says managing director Dick Emmitt, a Wall Street health-care industry analyst for 12 years before jumping to Vertical.
For example, Vertical has owned
Xomed Surgical Products
(XOMD)
, which makes products for ear, nose and throat surgery -- and a predecessor company -- since 1990; last week, three days before CardioThoracic agreed to be bought by Guidant, Xomed agreed to be sold to
(MDT) - Get Medtronic Plc Report
. Other former, large 5%-plus investments that were bought out include
SciMed Life Systems
. "Even though we're not looking for investments to get acquired, that is how we think about whether there is value," Emmitt says. "We ask ourselves whether a bigger company would be interested in adding this company's business or technology to its mix."
Other companies Vertical has made similar long-term bets on, according to
filings, include
Lifecore Biomedical
(LCBM)
(mentioned
previously in this column),
Merit Medical Systems
(MMSI) - Get Merit Medical Systems, Inc. Report
Innovasive Devices
(IDEA)
. Private companies that it thinks are worth watching include
A-Med
, which makes cardiac support systems, and
Alsius
Neuron Therapeutics
; both specialize in stroke therapies.
Vertical, which has an average annual return of 25%, also tries to leverage its info to its benefit. Classic example: A few years ago, after CardioThoracic took a tumble, Vertical stepped up and doubled its position in the company. (The purchase was noted by this column, then in
The San Francisco Chronicle
.) Vertical also used its info on the market to short Heartport. That was when Heartport was in the 20s; it then went as high as 44, but because they knew the industry, they didn't cover as it rose. It's now 2.
End of story (and hopefully lesson learned).
From the fair and equal treatment department:
An item
here Friday took
Dendrite International
(DRTE)
to task for a number of issues, including the way it capitalizes its software development costs. Officials hadn't been able to be reached by this column's deadline; the following is from CFO George Robson:
The large increase in capitalized software costs in the 2Q was primarily due to the acquisition of MMI. This acquisition was accounted for as a purchase, and $2 million of the purchase price was allocated to capitalized software costs. Similarly, a portion of the ABC acquisition during the 3Q of 1998 was also allocated to capitalized software costs. Therefore, nearly one half of the total capitalized software balance resulted from external acquisition costs, rather than internal spending. The percentage of gross R&D spending, which has been capitalized, has remained relatively consistent for the last two and a half years. The company expects the percentage of costs, which are capitalized, to decline in the future. In addressing the revenue model issues, Dendrite generally recognizes license revenue using the percentage of completion method. For older generations of software, this had the effect of spreading the license fee over a period of nine to 12 months, commencing with the execution of the license agreement and ending with completion of initial customization and implementation. Our newer products require much less customization (in some cases, none at all), which has reduced the implementation time period to approximately three to six months. In cases where customers choose not to customize the software, we recognize the revenue upon delivery, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principals. Regarding your point concerning concentration of our customers, there are two things you should keep in mind: The information you stated was taken from the common stock registration statement we filed with the SEC earlier this year. As stated in our most recent Form 10-Q, and after giving effect to our recent acquisitions, the concentration of revenue from our three largest customers as of Dec. 31, 1998, was approximately 49%. In addition, based on 1999 results, to date, we currently expect that percentage to decline further as we continue to expand our business. Although having a large portion of our revenue concentrated within three global blue-chip customers could be perceived as a risk, Dendrite's business practice has been to foster, as our competitive advantage, strategic partnerships and long-term relationships, which distinguish us from short-term technological suppliers.
A gem of a story:
here midsummer went through the relationship between
Cree Research
(CREE) - Get Cree, Inc. Report
(CTHR) - Get Charles & Colvard, Ltd. Report
. Both companies are run by brothers, and Cree has a guarantee that requires C3 to buy all of Cree's silicon carbide crystal production through next June. Those crystals are used by C3 to make "moissanite" fake diamonds. According to C3's own press release in mid-July, C3 had shipped more than 30,000 carats of moissanite in the first half of the year and expected subsequent shipments "to as much as double the shipments" made in the first half.
Which brings us to last Thursday: C3 issued a press release trumpeting the first shipment of three-inch moissanite crystals from Cree. Then (oh, by the way) buried deeper in the release under the category of "other corporate news," the company said that it is "developing a deeper understanding of the impact of seasonality on gemstone shipments. The summer months, both domestically and abroad, are traditionally the slowest time of the year for jewelry retailers and have resulted in a slower pace of sales than that of the second quarter for C3."
Put another way, the third quarter may not meet analyst estimates and Christmas had better be a barnburner or all bets are off.
C3 officials were vacationing Friday and couldn't be reached; if they respond, they'll get the same treatment as Dendrite above.
Herb Greenberg writes daily for TheStreet.com. In keeping with TSC's editorial policy, he doesn't own or short individual stocks, though he owns stock in TheStreet.com. He also doesn't invest in hedge funds or other private investment partnerships. He welcomes your feedback at
herb@thestreet.com. Greenberg also writes a monthly column for Fortune.
Mark Martinez assisted with the reporting of this column.
Do You Dare?
Investment Challenge Round 3 is on! Invest $500,00 without the risk and you could be on the trading floor with James Cramer at opening bell. Registration ends October 18th. Go to http://www.activefactory.com/thestreet and take the challenge
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StocksMarkets


text:
Gabriel Oprea (ur. 1 stycznia 1961 w Fundulei) – rumuński wojskowy, polityk oraz prawnik, parlamentarzysta obu izb rumuńskiego parlamentu, minister, przewodniczący Narodowego Związku na rzecz Rozwoju Rumunii (UNPR), w 2015 dwukrotnie pełniący obowiązki premiera Rumunii.

Życiorys
Ukończył w 1983 szkołę oficerską w Sybinie, a w 1990 studia prawnicze na Uniwersytecie w Bukareszcie. Służył w rumuńskich siłach zbrojnych, następnie w wojskowym wymiarze sprawiedliwości. W 2001 otrzymał nominację na pierwszy stopień generalski. Trzecią gwiazdkę generalską otrzymał już po przejściu w stan spoczynku.

Zajmował się również pracą dydaktyczną jako nauczyciel akademicki. Zajmował stanowiska sekretarza stanu w administracji publicznej (2001–2002) i prefekta (przedstawiciela administracji rządowej) w Bukareszcie (2002–2003). W 2003 wstąpił do Partii Socjaldemokratycznej, był m.in. wiceprzewodniczącym tego ugrupowania. W latach 2003–2004 w gabinecie Adriana Năstase pełnił funkcję ministra delegowanego ds. administracji publicznej. W 2004 i w 2008 z ramienia PSD uzyskiwał mandat posła do Izby Deputowanych. W rządach, którymi kierował Emil Boc, sprawował urzędy ministra administracji i spraw wewnętrznych (2008–2009) oraz ministra obrony narodowej (2009–2012). W resorcie tym pozostał w okresie, gdy przez kilka miesięcy w 2012 urząd premiera sprawował Mihai Răzvan Ungureanu.

W 2009 Gabriel Oprea opuścił PSD, w 2010 utworzył i stanął na czele Narodowego Związku na rzecz Rozwoju Rumunii. W 2012 z ramienia centrolewicowej koalicji został wybrany w skład Senatu. W tym samym roku premier Victor Ponta powierzył mu urząd wicepremiera, a w marcu 2014 również stanowisko ministra spraw wewnętrznych. Od 22 czerwca do 9 lipca 2015 czasowo kierował rumuńskim rządem, gdy Victor Ponta przebywał poza granicami kraju w związku z operacją kolana. Ponownie pełnił tę funkcję od 29 lipca do 10 sierpnia 2015. W listopadzie 2015, na kilka dni przed końcem funkcjonowania gabinetu, Gabriel Oprea odszedł z rządu.

W 2016 rumuńskie biuro antykorupcyjne DNA wszczęło dwa postępowania przeciwko politykowi związane z nadużyciami z okresu zajmowania stanowisk rządowych. W tym samym roku Gabriel Oprea zrezygnował z kierowania UNPR, zapowiadając wycofanie się z aktywności politycznej z końcem kadencji parlamentu.

W czerwcu 2018 Gabriel Oprea doprowadził do reaktywowania Narodowego Związku na rzecz Rozwoju Rumunii jako samodzielnego podmiotu, stając ponownie na czele tej formacji.

Przypisy

Politycy Narodowego Związku na rzecz Rozwoju Rumunii
Politycy Partii Socjaldemokratycznej (Rumunia)
Premierzy Rumunii
Absolwenci Uniwersytetu Bukareszteńskiego
Rumuńscy generałowie
Rumuńscy ministrowie obrony
Rumuńscy ministrowie spraw wewnętrznych
Rumuńscy posłowie do Izby Deputowanych
Rumuńscy prawnicy
Urodzeni w 1961

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Jacques Hart is co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Roar Media, an integrated marketing-communications and digital-communications consultancy. He specializes in helping traditional companies transform their legacy business operations and marketing programs into next-generation platforms that help increase market share, conversions and revenues.
As Chief Executive Officer of Roar Media, he integrates advanced Internet marketing strategies, including social marketing, search engine optimization and blogger relations, into clients' traditional marketing programs.
A graduate of the University of Washington's School of Business with a degree in marketing and advertising, Jacques served in the U.S. Peace Corps as a business-development volunteer helping establish local businesses. His hobbies include exercise, skiing, road-biking, cooking, travel, playing electric guitar, social networking and staying abreast of Internet developments. Jacques is a fellow of Florida International University, a board member of the MIT Enterprise Forum and The South Florida Technology Alliance, and is an honorary member of the Wharton Club of South Florida.
South Florida Business Journal: How can businesses capitalize on the Pokémon Go craze?


text:
Serie A: Would the league be left with single European representatives in March?
Biglietti Serie A TIM - bigliettionline.net
Fiorentina blew up a three-goal lead and Napoli rides on a two-goal deficit, would Roma and Juventus survive
February 28, 2017 at 2:25 PM February 28, 2017 at 2:25 PM
Serie A is in crisis after its number in the Uefa Europa League was cut to one after AC Fiorentina blew a three-goal lead at the Artemio Franchi to German outfit Borussia Monchengladbach.
Fiorentina had a great chance of qualifying and given Serie A more numbers heading into the round of 16. Coincidentally to what happened in the week, the team again gave away a two-goal lead at home to Torino FC and is now miles away from AC Milan in the quest for European football next season.
In the Uefa Champions League, SSC Napoli hosts Real Madrid in the second leg on March 8. Coach Sarri and his team failed to close in on leaders Juventus by losing out to Atalanta at home 2-0.
The taste of defeat and an indifferent performance week in and week out are not going to help the team's fortunes as their quest of finishing third and playing in the champions league has fallen in danger due to the resurgence of Inter Milan, Atalanta, Lazio and A.C. Milan.
With Fiorentina eighth on the log and dumped out of the UEFA Europa league with Roma advancing and Juventus taken a two-goal advantage to the J-stadium, would Napoli join Juventus and Roma in the latter stages of European competitions.
Napoli can give Serie A two slots in the quarter finals of Champions league
The UEFA Champions league after its rebranding in 1992 has not seen any team defend the title. This undoubtedly gives Napoli a great chance of eliminating defending champions Real Madrid at the San Paolo since a two-goal win would tie the aggregate score and see them advance to the quarters on an away goal rule.
During the first leg, Diego Armando Maradona gave the team a prep-talk before losing but scored a vital goal that makes the second leg more of a competitive fixture.
March would decide Serie A's European fate
In the middle of March, Serie A would know if it has been reduced to just one club in both European competitions or Napoli would make a gain on Real Madrid and increase the league's numbers in Europe.
Fans and pundits of Italian football would love to see a club from the league win another European trophy after Internazionale Milano in 2010.
For now, the league has high hopes in AS Roma after Nianngolan's fine display against Inter Milan at San Siro on Sunday. After the game he said "we have a great chance of winning three trophies this year' and that undoubtedly includes Serie A.
If Roma and Juventus are able to focus on their respective games then Serie A would be back and would replace Spanish La Liga by winning and holding the UEFA Champions league and Europa league in the same year.
Ronaldo makes history by seeing off Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions league Chinese Super League and the talents that got away FIFA: 48-Team World Cup not welcome if Europe maintains competitive advantage
Blasting News recommends Arrington: Brady is a 'different animal' in the playoffs, Bucs will be too much for Saints Brady boosts Buccaneers local TV ratings; Boston viewers still watch TB12's games Tom Brady has late 'parting gift' to Patriots to help recoup lost 2021 Draft pick Saints' Malcolm Jenkins: Tom Brady 'the greatest to ever do it' when kept in the pocket Kirk Cousins wants to play for San Francisco 49ers Oklahoma State vs. Iowa State 2017 men's basketball: TV time, game info, odds '90 Day Fiance: The Other Way': Kenneth says his relationship is not acted Video '90 Day Fiance: The Other Way:' Sumit is facing backlash for choosing Jenny Video


"Lacrosse or Die Tie by Alynn - Red Silk"
"Get on your helmet and pads and put those sticks up with Alynn Neckwear's Lacrosse or Die. If you live breathe and sleep lacrosse you can't go wrong with this 100% red silk tie featuring a pattern of white skulls with lacrosse sticks as crossbones. Get in game day spirit with this intimidating tie that no one will dare cross. Imported.".


Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge, a vital and prominent patron of twentieth-century American music, extended her reach to New Haven. The daughter of Yale graduate Albert Arnold Sprague (Class of 1859), she and her mother donated the funds for Yale's first building dedicated to music, Sprague Memorial Hall, which opened in 1917. A series of chamber music performances in Sprague Hall was also named in memory of Albert Arnold Sprague.
In November 1936, the Coolidge Quartet – named for its patron, Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge – performed on the Albert Arnold Sprague Chamber Concerts series in Sprague Memorial Hall. Note the credit on the program that the concert was "presented through the courtesy of the Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge Foundation in the Library of Congress. Active during the 1930s and '40s, the Coolidge Quartet boasted first-rate musicians even through several changes in roster.
Violinist William Kroll went on to form the Kroll Quartet in 1944. Violinist, composer, and conductor Nikolai Berezowsky played with organizations such as the Bolshoi and the New York Philharmonic; his compositions included several symphonies that Koussevitzky promoted and a popular opera, Babar the Elephant. Violist Nicholas Moldavan played with Benny Goodman and was a member of the Flonzaley and Stradivarius Quartets. Cellist Victor Gottlieb later became first cellist of the RKO Studio Orchestra in Hollywood.


The darn Good Vibrations event quest has a bit habit giving only exp as a prize, taking away the detector and not counting the quest as complete =| meaning no coin and you gotta forfeit the quest to do it over.
Had that happen with the Legendary Ore quest too, just now.
I think there might be a limit to the number of coins you can get (per day?), but the fact that you need to forfeit the quest (Good Vibrations) or drop the Gold Ore (Legendary Ore) to start another is definitely inelegant.
Sitting in my Love Chair(not amorian loveseat) and doing the Wink emote causes me a D/C with the "invalid pointer" reason.
Speaking of PQs, I've found that I can use movement abilities in some rooms where you are not supposed to be able to. For example, my Marksman can Double Jump in the teleporting-box stage of Ludi Pq.
That is supposed to be intended isn't it? To use movement skills like teleport (which can also be used) in such maps.
No. 95% of Jump quest maps have never allowed you to use movement (haste, or speed/jump increase skills) or teleportation skills on them. After the legend patch, quite a few of them do. And it actually makes them more frustrating. Much more.
Duno if it matters, Quest is already glitched.
But today you cannot complete the xmas tree pot quest even with more than 1 slot in use and even trying with etc/setup/eqp slots free still asks me to check my inventory.
You can use Leaf Tornado in the Kaede Castle jump quest, somewhat related to the above. Not sure what other skills work there, aside from Boomerang Step + Smokescreen.
1. The Heroic Star and Pentagon do not get consumed regardless of your job. My Dark Knight still has his.
2. When making a new Mercedes, everything goes smoothly till she gets incased in ice and goes to sleep. When she's supposed to wake up, you're greeted with a black screen. You can press "Attack" and hear the sound of it, but that's about it. I also hear newly created Cannoneers face this problem.
Last edited by Shinryuji; 2012-01-06 at 06:30 AM.
Day 9 reward for the Path of the Great Protector event (filling up that gauge) was supposed to be a "Pendant of the Spirit Coupon (3-day, coupon is tradable)" according to the update notes. Instead, I got the pendant itself. Untradeable, of course.
Also the Commander Emblem quest doesnt give you an Incredible Chaos scroll when you complete day 7...all you get is some exp and 1 coin.
Aand the Can You Resist quest that was supposed to start on the 29th of December still isnt activated.
I've completed the Commander Emblem quest on several characters and all got the Incredible Chaos scroll. Either you miscounted the days, or you forgot to do the "Tracking the Commanders: Day 7" quest that appears in your "L" remote-quest tab after you hand in the emblems and get the exp and coin.
As for Can You Resist, the V104 Legend Update Notes at http://maplestory.nexon.net/News/New...ontentNo=00DMA say it starts January 19th.
The cutscene bug makes it impossible to create an Aran, after the Black Mage cutscene the game stays black and none of the UI shows up at all, just the scrolling "Get NX today!" notice and the cursor.
Happened to me today with the Mushroom Castle cutscenes using one of my Mercedes.
My quest log says I completed Day7 but I didnt get the Incredible Chaos scroll. I'll see what happens when it resets in a few hours, if it resets.
Similar to as mentioned above, I am only aware of this as of after the Server Check, but there seems to be a glitch when creating a new Mercedes. When your character falls asleep, it becomes a black screen. When you re-log, the character wakes up to a black screen where you can see the text box but cannot really navigate since it's all black.
I have tested this on 2 Mercedes and tried switching computers in case it's a graphics card issue, but could not seem to fix it.
Same happens to Cannoneers, but relogging fixes it for them.
But another video glitch is when the Cannoneer gets launched. My flight in the air doesn't seem to end (but relogging fixes this too).
Maybe it's just me but since the server check it seems like using Corsair's battleship and moving around too much in it causes immense lag. Which is weird considering I'm in Yellonde where there shouldn't be server lag.


Did you still love him when he was 64—over a decade ago? Man, time flies. But some things never change, like happy-go-lucky Paul McCartney. Macca hits Dodger Stadium as part of his Freshen Up tour. The Beatle will be 77 and howling through the hits, including some cuts from his latest, Egypt Station.
Tickets go on sale Thursday, December 13 at 10am.


text:
Q: Add custom location in weather applet I am trying to add a custom location to the Weather Report applet (also known as libgweather) in Ubuntu 11.04. I am using libgweather 2.30.3-1ubuntu1.1, the latest available version for Ubuntu 11.04.
To add this location, I edited /usr/share/libgweather/Locations.xml and added the details from the weather station that I wanted as found on http://weather.noaa.gov/data/nsd_cccc.txt (a link that I found in some posting on another forum about an old version of libgweather).
The details entered do not provide weather data. The location does show up in the location list, however, the applet does not display any information.
Now my question is: where can I see where libgweather pulls the information from? I have read something about that Google is a source, but I would like to see which file on my system points to an information source so that I can maybe add a different source for that information.

A: Found it (partially).
On http://live.gnome.org/LibGWeather/ForecastsAndRadar is says that http://weather.noaa.gov/ is the primary source of data.
I visited that site to see what weather data was available for my country. The city that I wanted to add was 'De Bilt', where the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute is situated and which happens to be the closest weather station to me. That station is not listed on http://weather.noaa.gov/weather/NL_cc.html, where all the weather stations available on the NOAA website for the Netherlands are listed.
Now figuring out a way how to add De Bilt anyway. So if anyone still has an answer to that, I would be very glad with that!

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
L'église Saint-Félix de Saint-Félix-de-Tournegat est un édifice de style roman du  sur la commune de Saint-Félix-de-Tournegat, dans le département de l'Ariège, en région Occitanie.

Description
C'est une église à l'origine romane à simple nef élevée mais étroite. Le clocher-mur est surmonté de créneaux et percé de cinq baies pour les cloches (trois seulement y prennent place : deux datant de 1887 et une datant du  où l'on peut lire : , c'est-à-dire « Le Christ vainc, règne, commande, et nous défend de la peste, de la faim, de la guerre et de la tempête - saint Félix, priez pour nous - Curé Boyer »).

Localisation
Elle se trouve au cœur du village à  d'altitude sur une colline. Avec Saint-Martin-d'Oydes, il s'agit de l'autre circulade ou village rond du département de l'Ariège.

Historique
Selon Claudine Pailhès, l'église appartenait en 1224 à l'abbaye Saint-Volusien de Foix, puis à partir du  au diocèse de Mirepoix et rentrera dans le marquisat de Portes (lire paragraphe Histoire de la commune voisine de Manses) au .

L'église fait l'objet d'un classement en totalité au titre des monuments historiques par arrêté du . La muraille d'enceinte, les fossés et les lieux attenants sont inscrits à l'inventaire par arrêté du . En effet, les maisons qui enserrent l'édifice religieux constituaient en elles-mêmes une enceinte fortifiée. Entourées de fossés, elles forment une ellipse autour de l'église pouvant ainsi assurer une défense efficace.

Galerie

Valorisation du patrimoine

Références

Annexes

Bibliographie

Articles connexes
 Liste des monuments historiques de l'Ariège.
 Liste des clochers-murs de l'Ariège.
 Architecture romane dans les Pyrénées.

Liens externes

Félix Saint-Félix-de-Tournegat
Saint-Félix-de-Tournegat
Saint-Félix-de-Tournegat
Monument historique classé en 1996
Monument historique inscrit en 1993


text:
Mecklenburg County, NCLUESAGeospatial Information ServicesIntegrated Data Store
LUESA Home
Geospatial Information ServicesCurrently selected
GIS Data Center
Land Records Management
Custom Mapping & Data Requests
Impervious Mapping
GIS Apps Gallery
Geospatial Information Services
2145 Suttle Avenue
Hours: Mon-Fri 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
GIS Customer Service
Integrated Data Store
The Integrated Data Store (IDS) is a collection of databases from various administrative systems that are stored and accessed from one location. The IDS currently contains data from The Mecklenburg County Register of Deeds (ROD) and Property Assessment and Land Records Management (PALRM) of the Land Use and Environmental Services Agency (LUESA). Additional datasets from other departments will also be incorporated into the IDS.
Data contained in the IDS is updated on a daily/weekly/monthly basis and provides you with a "snapshot" of the activity recorded on the above specified host systems. You may access data in three ways:
Standard Web-based Reporting System. If you have a fairly standard set of requirements, the IDS system can provide you with groups of pre-defined reports that are accessed by an Internet browser.
Custom Web-based Reporting System. If you are interested in ad-hoc queries, web-based tools can provide you with the ability to access, sort, and import data. In addition, IDS allows the user to store the queries and retrieve them for future use.
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Data Downloads. GIS layers are available for download in their native format.
There are 2 ways to access the IDS, please select below:
PUBLIC Search for Issued Permits
Daily Building Permits Issued (with X and Y Coordinates)
Basic Report for Posse Permits - Building
Certificate of Occupancy Report
Department Employee Use Only
Internal Search for Issued Permits


text:
Represent Pools In Biggest Ride In Football
rivalries on the pitch and get on your bike to help stop a disease that kills
one man every 45 minutes.
On 5th to 7th June 2020, join over 400 football fans who will be taking part in Prostate Cancer UK's flagship Football to Amsterdam bike ride. The extremely popular event, now on its 8th year is set to be bigger and better than ever before.
Click here now to sign-up and get £25 off registration by using the code F2A25.
Putting rivalries aside, fans will unite as they ride 145 miles through 2 countries, reaching Amsterdam's Johan Crujff Arena from their choice of two start locations - either London at the Olympic Park or in Yorkshire at Sheffield Wednesday's Hillsborough Stadium.
Join Paul Parker as he takes on Football to Amsterdam for the second year!
"Prostate Cancer UK is a terrific cause and is making huge strides in football and beyond," Parker commented.
"Events like Football to Amsterdam are playing a massive part in driving change for men but there's still a lot of work to be done.
"That's why I'm calling on football fans across the country to join me on the starting line next summer. With your support, we can help stop prostate cancer being a killer."
This is your
opportunity to represent Pools, meet like-minded
people and most importantly raise money and awareness to beat our toughest
opponent of all.
Find out more – click here now.


1) The ends always justify the means.
2) More, data. MORE DATA, MORE MORE DATA.
2a) You will bow down and worship Big Data.
3) Trust me. I'm a General from the government and I'm here to help you.
"All your 1s & 0s, are belong to us"
It's starting to feel like they are setting up this guy and / or the NSA as one of them scapegoat to shut the public up for a while on this issue.
Multiple instances are discussed of him claiming connections where none actually existed.
It comes from statistics, and having too much data. You expect to find the bad guys, then think you have, only to be proven wrong. So you redouble your efforts, and start getting more false positives. Which you believe is a true conspiracy of bad guys. Rinse lather repeat ... and grab a straightjacket for the paranoid delusions that are just around the conspiracy corner.
Gen. Alexander: "COLLECT ALL THE DATA!"
When the head of a military organization has the mentality of the first half of a two-panel Internet comic, you're gonna have a bad time.
I suppose it's better than being in command of Catch-22.
If I were US citizen, I would be enraged on this kind of waste. Even if I don't care about legality of all this crap: it's still wasted money. There's no that many terrorists in US to justify this kind of spending.
It's not even that good for "dissident control" - if you want to harass them, you still have to arrest them, drag through courts etc. You don't have to _find_ those people: they will march for protest on main street.
But seriously though. Someone needs to tell the dear General to take that red bucket off his head.
He is not the law, nor is he Judge Dredd, no matter how much he thinks to the contrary.
He's not saying it's legal, he's trying to say that when HE does it it's not ILLEGAL!
...as much as the puppetmasters may hate other puppetmasters, they hate us puppets most of all ! ! !
ANYTHING which threatens their thin veil of so-called partisanship being rent, and seeing the real bone-deep corruption; gets a united front of ALL OF THEM screaming at the top of their lungs: MOTHERFUCKING EAGLES, bitchez ! ! !
"he once hired a Hollywood set designer to make his base of operations look just like the bridge of the starship Enterprise from Star Trek (complete with wooshing doors"
"because it suggests someone with little actual concern for the Constitution,"
He does have concern for the Constitution. It's just not the piece of paper signed by a group of men in the late 1700s. He's concerned with the Constitution-class Starship Enterprise, as your article clearly states.
While we're all wallowing in conspiracy theories, pointlessly I might add, consider this. If what this article is saying about Herr General is true, and I think it probably is, there's only one answer. He must be fired, along with Mr. Heath and anyone else closely associated with them, IMMEDIATELY. He's killing us, at least economically and politically. Actually I must ask why he's still there after several years of mismanagement. Has he somehow acquired or recreated J. Edgar's blackmail files?
Does his Op-center have the wooshing doors which open automatically, or does Alexander occasionally bump face-first into them because the doors haven't recognized their cue yet (like they did in the original Star Trek)?
The fact that his personal information isn't being grabbed, cataloged, and looked over might have something to do with his inability to understand the outrage too.
"how he once hired a Hollywood set designer to make his base of operations look just like the bridge of the starship Enterprise from Star Trek"
Overheard coming from under his desk.
"I'm Giv'n er all she's got Cap'n"
Has anybody noticed him stroking a white cat?
"What actions should the NSA be actively prevented from doing, and what would be the appropriate repercussions if its members are found to have done them?"
I'm wondering if the response will be like when President Bush the younger was asked what mistakes he had made and he couldn't think of any.
Perhaps General Alexander is secretly channeling Col. Nathan R. Jessep?
1) The Prince was not his only work.
2) It isn't always evil people that think that way.
3) Please don't insult Machiavellians by comparing them to someone so indiscreet!
I'm thinking more like the guy in the Cube movie series.
Any time a person in a power position admits doing wrong or making a mistake - however innocently or inadvertently, the land sharks immediately attack with multiple lawsuits and much negative press. I don't blame them for not admitting things. They CAN'T.
"The rule of law" is for the sheeple.
It turns out that all [that] those guys were connected to were pizza shops.
If you've ever been in Providence you know that pizza shops can be a prime center of RICO-like activity.


text:
Aglia ferenigra är en fjärilsart som beskrevs av Standfuss 1910. Aglia ferenigra ingår i släktet Aglia och familjen påfågelsspinnare. Inga underarter finns listade i Catalogue of Life.

Källor

Påfågelsspinnare
ferenigra


Cute baby and toddler extra large 100% organic cotton double gauze muslin, This fabric crinkles when washed, resulting in a breathable, textured fabric perfect for swaddling/feeding/comfort and so much more. Available in all prints to match outfits or see other listing for custom print and baby milestones.
Extra Large - 35" x 55" perfect for bundling up your newborn, laying down as a cot blanket, a favourite blanket for your toddler or even a beach/nursing cover up.
Half size - 35" x 27" this is half the size of the extra large and you will get two of them in a pack, I can mix and match the prints please email me first or two of the same print will be sent, this size is perfect for little comfort and burp cloth and you will have one when the other is in the wash.
Edges are professionally stitched for a finished look and to preserve the life of the muslin blanket through all its many uses. This fabric is delivered smooth and crinkles when washed. Prints are likely to be off-grain, meaning they are not perfectly rectangle.
Because they are handmade and made-to-order, the pattern placement may differ slightly from what is pictured. No two muslins are exactly the same making them unique.


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High Court to debate Disengagement Pardons Law
By JOANNA PARASZCZUK
A panel of nine High Court judges, led by Supreme Court president Dorit Beinisch, is to debate Sunday a petition submitted by left-wing activists asking the court to repeal the "Disengagement Pardons Law" on the grounds that it is discriminatory.
The Pardons Law was proposed to the previous Knesset by current Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin. It was passed a year and a half ago by a vote of 51 to 9.The law determined that those arrested and charged during disengagement protests would be pardoned for all but the most severe offenses, and applies to all those without prior criminal records.
Hezbollah nominates two ministers in new Lebanon government -sources