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Взры́вчатое вещество́ (разг. взрывчатка, сокращается как ВВ) — конденсированное химическое вещество или смесь таких веществ, способное при определённых условиях под влиянием внешних воздействий к быстрому самораспространяющемуся химическому превращению (взрыву) с выделением большого количества тепла и газообразных продуктов.

В зависимости от химического состава и внешних условий взрывчатые вещества могут превращаться в продукты реакции в режимах медленного (дефлаграционного) горения, быстрого (взрывного) горения или детонации. Поэтому традиционно к взрывчатым веществам также относят соединения и смеси, которые не детонируют, а горят с определённой скоростью (метательные пороха, пиротехнические составы). Взрывчатые вещества относятся к энергетическим конденсированным системам. Горючие газы, пары легковоспламеняющихся жидкостей, взвешенные горючие аэрозоли могут вызывать взрывы. Однако разрушительное действие таких взрывоопасных смесей является слабым по сравнению с взрывчатыми веществами из-за того, что одна из составных частей (воздух) до взрыва занимает большой объем и давление взрыва получается небольшим.

Физическая природа взрывного превращения
Взрывное превращение, как правило, носит кратковременный характер, протекает при температурах от 2500 до 4500 K и сопровождается выделением огромного количества высокотемпературных газов и тепла. Взрывная реакция не требует наличия в окружающем воздухе окислителя (в качестве которого обычно выступает кислород), поскольку он содержится в химически связанном виде в ингредиентах взрывчатки.

Суммарное количество энергии, которая высвобождается при взрыве, относительно невелико и обычно в пять или шесть раз меньше теплотворной способности нефтепродуктов аналогичной массы. Тем не менее, несмотря на скромную энергетическую отдачу, огромная скорость реакции, которая по закону Аррениуса является следствием большой температуры, обеспечивает достижение высоких значений мощности.

Высвобождение большого количества газообразных продуктов сгорания считается другим признаком химической реакции в виде взрыва. При этом, стремительная трансформация взрывчатого вещества в высокотемпературные газы сопровождается скачкообразным изменением давления (до 10—30 ГПа), которое носит название ударной волны. Распространение этой волны способствует передаче энергии от одного слоя взрывчатки к другому и сопровождается возбуждением в новых слоях аналогичной химической реакции. Этот процесс получил название детонации, а инициирующая его ударная волна стала называться детонационной волной.

Существует ряд веществ, способных к нехимическому взрыву (например, ядерные и термоядерные материалы, антивещество). Также существуют методы воздействия на различные вещества, приводящие к взрыву (например, лазером или электрической дугой). Обычно такие вещества не называют «взрывчатыми».

Историческая справка
Человек разрабатывал и изучал взрывчатые вещества вкупе с возможностями их применения на практике в течение довольно длительного периода времени. Исторически первым прообразом современных взрывчатых веществ можно считать т. н. «греческий огонь»; авторство данного изобретения приписывается греку по имени Каллиник, а в качестве даты создания состава называется 667 год н. э. Указанное вещество впоследствии использовалось различными древними народами Европы и Ближнего Востока, однако в ходе исторического процесса рецепт его изготовления был утрачен; предполагается, что «греческий огонь» состоял из серы, смолы, соли и негашеной извести. Особенностью данного взрывчатого вещества являлось повышение интенсивности возгорания при попытке тушения вызванного им пламени водой. Через некоторое время, в 682 году, в Китае были разработаны первые прототипы дымного пороха, в состав которых входили селитра, сера и древесный уголь; изначально смесь применялась в пиротехнике, а затем приобрела и военное значение.

Что касается стран Европы, то порох начал упоминаться в исторических документах с XIII века (приблизительно в 1250 году), хотя историки не располагают точными данными о том, кто именно выступил в роли первооткрывателя этого взрывчатого вещества. Среди возможных кандидатур в профильных исследованиях называются, в частности, имена Бертольда Шварца и Роджера Бэкона, а итальянские специалисты полагают, что первое применение пороха следует ассоциировать с городом Болоньей начала века (1216 год).

Имеются также сведения о том, что данное взрывчатое вещество в его китайской версии использовалось монгольскими завоевателями под предводительством Чингисхана, которые задействовали его для подрыва крепостных стен при осаде. Этот факт позволяет некоторым исследователям утверждать, что на основе пороха было создано в первую очередь взрывное, и лишь затем — огнестрельное оружие. Некоторое время спустя, в начале XIV века, рассматриваемое взрывчатое вещество нашло применение в артиллерии, обеспечивая метание снарядов из орудий; известно, что ближе к концу того же столетия, в 1382 году, пушки использовались против войск хана Тохтамыша, осаждавших Москву. Кроме того, XIV веком датируется также и появление первых образцов ручного огнестрельного оружия: пороховые ружья были впервые задействованы на Руси в 1389 году, также в ходе обороны Москвы. Хотя преимущественно порох использовался именно в военном деле, предпринимались попытки приспособить возможности данного взрывчатого вещества для мирных целей: так, в первой трети XVII века в Венгрии (по другим данным — в Словакии) оно было впервые опробовано при ведении горных работ, а впоследствии соответствующая технология распространилась также и на дорожно-туннельное строительство. Примерно в это же время начала осваиваться технология производства артиллерийских гранат, то есть — снаряжения артиллерийских ядер пороховым зарядом.

В течение нескольких веков традиционный дымный порох оставался не только единственной разновидностью пороха, но и вообще единственным взрывчатым веществом, известным человеку, хотя на протяжении этого периода времени предпринимались определённые попытки по его совершенствованию. В России, к примеру, соответствующие исследования проводил М. В. Ломоносов, в середине XVIII века подготовивший специализированный научный труд — «Диссертацию о рождении и природе селитры» (1749); в этой работе взрывчатое разложение пороха было впервые описано и истолковано с научной точки зрения. Параллельно аналогичные вопросы изучались во Франции химиками А. Л. Лавуазье и К. Л. Бертолле, которые к началу последней четверти того же столетия разработали формулу хлоратного пороха; в его составе вместо селитры использовалась хлорновато-калиевая («бертоллетова») соль. Тем не менее, дымный порох продолжал оставаться на вооружении военных вплоть до второй половины XIX века, где активно применялся в основном для снаряжения артиллерийских метательных зарядов, разрывных снарядов, в устройстве подземных мин и т. п.

Следующий этап в развитии взрывчатых веществ связан с концом XVIII века, когда было открыто «гремучее серебро», характеризовавшееся довольно высоким уровнем опасности для того времени. Тогда же, в 1788 году, была получена пикриновая кислота, нашедшая применение в изготовлении артиллерийских снарядов. Научный консенсус приписывает открытие «гремучей ртути» британскому исследователю Э. Говарду (1799), однако имеются сведения о её изобретении ещё в конце XVII века. Несмотря на то, что её способность к детонации не была подробно изучена, с точки зрения своих основных характеристик гремучая ртуть имела определённые преимущества по отношению к традиционному дымному пороху. Затем, в конце первой трети XIX века, путём смешивания древесины с азотной и серной кислотами был получен пироксилин, также пополнивший арсенал известных человеку взрывчатых веществ и послуживший для создания бездымного пороха. В 1847 году итальянский химик А. Собреро впервые синтезировал нитроглицерин, проблема неустойчивости и небезопасности которого была впоследствии отчасти решена А. Нобелем путём изобретения динамита. В 1884 году французский инженер П. Вьель предложил рецепт бездымного пороха. Во второй половине века был создан целый ряд новых взрывчатых веществ, в частности — тротил (1863), гексоген (1897) и некоторые другие, нашедшие активное применение при производстве вооружений, однако их практическое применение стало возможным только после изобретения русским инженером Д. И. Андриевским в 1865 году и шведским изобретателем А. Нобелем в 1867 году гремучертутного капсюля-детонатора. До появления этого устройства отечественная традиция применения нитроглицерина взамен чёрного пороха при подрывных работах полагалась на режим взрывного горения. С открытием явления детонации бризантные взрывчатые вещества начали повсеместно использоваться для военных и промышленных целей.

Среди промышленных взрывчатых веществ изначально широкое распространение по патентам А. Нобеля получили гурдинамиты, затем пластичные динамиты и порошкообразные нитроглицериновые смесевые взрывчатые составы. Стоит подчеркнуть, что первые патенты на некоторые рецепты аммиачно-селитренных взрывчатых веществ были получены ещё И. Норбином и И. Ольсеном (Швеция) в 1867 году, однако их практическое использование для снаряжения боеприпасов и для промышленных целей выпало на годы Первой мировой войны. Так как этот вид взрывчатки проявил себя гораздо более безопасным и экономичным, чем традиционный динамит, то начиная с 30-х годов XX века масштабы его использования в промышленных приложениях существенно выросли. После Великой Отечественной войны на территории Советского Союза аммиачно-селитренные подрывные составы (поначалу — в виде тонкодисперсных аммонитов) стали доминирующим видом промышленных взрывчатых веществ. За рубежом процесс массового переоснащения промышленности с динамитов на аммиачно-селитренные взрывчатые вещества начался примерно в 50-х годах XX века.

Начиная с 70-х годов XX века основной разновидностью промышленной взрывчатки становятся простейшие составы гранулированных и водосодержащих аммиачно-селитренных рецептур, не содержащие в себе нитросоединений или других индивидуальных взрывчатых веществ. Кроме них также используются смеси с нитросоединениями. Некоторое практическое значение сохранили тонкодисперсные аммиачно-селитренные взрывчатые составы, прежде всего — для снаряжения патронов-боевиков и для проведения некоторых специфических видов взрывных работ. Индивидуальные взрывчатые вещества, в основном — тротил, продолжают применяться для изготовления шашек. Помимо этого их используют для длительного заряжания обводнённых скважин в чистом виде (гранулотол) и составе разнообразных высоководоустойчивых смесей (гранулированных и суспензионных). Для выполнения прострелочных работ в глубоких нефтяных скважинах до сих пор продолжает применяться октоген и гексоген.

Терминология
Сложность и разнообразие химии и технологии взрывчатых веществ, политические и военные противоречия в мире, стремление к засекречиванию любой информации в этой области привели к неустойчивым и разнообразным формулировкам терминов.

Действующая редакция 2011 года принятой ООН Согласованной на глобальном уровне системы классификации и маркировки химических веществ (СГС) даёт следующие определения:

2.1.1.1 Взрывчатое вещество (или смесь) — твердое или жидкое вещество (или смесь веществ),
которое само по себе способно к химической реакции с выделением газов при такой температуре и таком
давлении и с такой скоростью, что это вызывает повреждение окружающих предметов. Пиротехнические
вещества включаются в эту категорию даже в том случае, если они не выделяют газов.

Пиротехническое вещество (или смесь) — вещество или смесь веществ, которые предназначены для производства эффекта в виде тепла, огня, звука или дыма или их комбинации в результате самоподдерживающихся экзотермических химических реакций, протекающих без детонации.

Под взрывчатыми веществами понимаются как индивидуальные взрывчатые вещества, так и взрывчатые составы, содержащие одно или несколько индивидуальных взрывчатых веществ, флегматизаторы, металлические добавки и другие компоненты.
Взрывчатое превращение взрывчатых веществ характеризуется следующими условиями:
 высокая скорость химического превращения;
 выделение тепла (экзотермичность процесса);
 образование газов или паров в продуктах взрыва;
 способность реакции к самораспространению.

В России в рамках стандартизации в области техногенных чрезвычайных ситуаций к взрывоопасным относят вещества, взрывающиеся при воздействии пламени или проявляющие чувствительность к сотрясениям или трениям большую, чем динитробензол.

Общая характеристика

Любое взрывчатое вещество обладает следующими характеристиками:
 способность к экзотермическим химическим превращениям
 способность к самораспространяющемуся химическому превращению

Важнейшими характеристиками взрывчатых веществ являются:
 скорость взрывчатого превращения (скорость детонации или скорость горения),
 давление детонации,
 теплота (удельная теплота) взрыва,
 состав и объём газовых продуктов взрывчатого превращения,
 максимальная температура продуктов взрыва (температура взрыва),
 чувствительность к внешним воздействиям,
 критический диаметр детонации,
 критическая плотность детонации.

При детонации разложение взрывчатых веществ происходит настолько быстро (за время от 10−6 до 10−2 с), что газообразные продукты разложения с температурой в несколько тысяч градусов оказываются сжатыми в объёме, близком к начальному объёму заряда. Резко расширяясь, они являются основным первичным фактором разрушительного действия взрыва.

Различают два основных вида действия взрывчатых веществ: бризантное (местного действия) и фугасное (общего действия).

Существенное значение при хранении взрывчатых веществ и обращении с ними имеет их стабильность.

В прикладных сферах широко используется не более двух-трёх десятков взрывчатых веществ и их смесей. Основные характеристики наиболее распространённых из них сведены в следующую таблицу (данные приведены при плотности заряда 1600 кг/м3):

Применение

Ежегодно в мире производится несколько миллионов тонн взрывчатых веществ. Ежегодный расход взрывчатых веществ в странах с развитым промышленным производством даже в мирное время составляет сотни тысяч тонн. В военное время расход взрывчатых веществ резко возрастает. Так, в период 1-й мировой войны в воюющих странах он составил около 5 миллионов тонн, а во 2-й мировой войне превысил 10 миллионов тонн. Ежегодное использование взрывчатых веществ в США в 1990-х годах составляло около 2 миллионов тонн.

Военное применение
В военном деле взрывчатые вещества используются в качестве метательных зарядов для различного рода оружия и предназначаются для придания снаряду (пуле) определённой начальной скорости.

Их также применяют для снаряжения боевых частей ракет различных классов, снарядов реактивной и ствольной артиллерии, артиллерийских и инженерных мин, авиационных бомб, торпед, глубинных бомб, ручных гранат и т. д.

Промышленное применение
Взрывчатые вещества широко используются в промышленности для производства различных взрывных работ.

Существуют произведения монументального искусства, изготовленные с помощью взрывчатых веществ (монумент Crazy Horse в штате Южная Дакота, США).

В Российской Федерации запрещена свободная реализация взрывчатых веществ, средств взрывания, порохов, всех видов ракетного топлива, а также специальных материалов и специального оборудования для их производства, нормативной документации на их производство и эксплуатацию.

Научное применение
В научно-исследовательской сфере взрывчатые вещества широко используются как простое средство достижения в экспериментах значительных температур, сверхвысоких давлений и больших скоростей.

Классификация взрывчатых веществ

По составу
По своему химическому составу всё многообразие взрывчатых веществ разделяется на взрывчатые химические соединения и взрывчатые смеси:
 Индивидуальные химические соединения, большинство которых представляет собой кислородосодержащие вещества, обладающие свойством полностью или частично окисляться внутри молекулы без доступа воздуха. Существуют соединения, не содержащие кислород, но обладающие свойством взрываться (разлагаться) (азиды, ацетилениды, диазосоединения и др.). Они, как правило, обладают неустойчивой молекулярной структурой, повышенной чувствительностью к внешним воздействиям (трению, удару, нагреву, огню, искре, переходу между фазовыми состояниями, другим химическим веществам) и относятся к веществам с повышенной взрывоопасностью.
 Взрывчатые смеси-композиты, которые состоят из двух и более химически не связанных между собой веществ и могут быть жидкими, твёрдыми и газообразными. В военном деле также широко применяются боеприпасы, снаряжаемые только горючим веществом, которое распыляется в воздухе, а реакция подрыва протекает за счёт атмосферного кислорода. Многие взрывчатые смеси состоят из индивидуальных веществ, не имеющих взрывчатых свойств (горючих, окислителей и регулирующих добавок). Регулирующие добавки применяют:
 для снижения чувствительности взрывчатых веществ к внешним воздействиям. Для этого добавляют различные вещества — флегматизаторы (парафин, церезин, воск, дифениламин и др)
 для увеличения теплоты взрыва. Добавляют металлические порошки, например, алюминий, магний, цирконий, бериллий и прочие восстановители
 для повышения стабильности при хранении и применении
 для обеспечения необходимого физического состояния. Например, для повышения вязкости суспензионных взрывчатых веществ применяют натриевую соль карбоксиметилцеллюлозы (Na-КМЦ)
 для обеспечения функций контроля над применением взрывчатых веществ. В состав взрывчатых веществ могут вводиться специальные вещества-маркеры, по наличию которых в продуктах взрыва устанавливается происхождение взрывчатых веществ

По физическому состоянию
 газообразные
 жидкие. При нормальных условиях таким взрывчатым веществом является, например, индивидуальные вещества нитроглицерин, этиленгликольдинитрат (нитрогликоль), этилнитрат и другие. Существует много разработок жидких смесевых взрывчатых веществ (наиболее известны взрывчатые вещества Шпренгеля, панкластит и др.)
 гелеобразные. При растворении нитроцеллюлозы в нитроглицерине образуется гелеобразная масса, получившая название «гремучий студень».
 суспензионные. Большая часть современных промышленных взрывчатых веществ представляют собой суспензии смесей аммиачной селитры с различными горючими и добавками в воде (акватол, ифзанит, карбатол). Существует огромное число суспензионных взрывчатых составов, в которых либо окислители, либо горючие представляют собой жидкую среду. Применяются для заливки шпуров, но большинство таких составов со временем утратили техническую и экономическую целесообразность применения.
 эмульсионные
 твердые. В военном деле применяются преимущественно твёрдые (конденсированные) взрывчатые вещества. Твердые взрывчатые вещества могут быть
 монолитными (тол)
 порошкообразными (гексоген)
 гранулированными (аммиачно-селитренные взрывчатые вещества)
 пластичные
 эластичные

По взрывчатым свойствам

По своему значению и взрывчатым свойствам ВВ подразделяются на инициирующие и бризантные; целый ряд авторитетных источников к этим двум добавляет также метательные взрывчатые вещества (пороха и пиросоставы).

Инициирующие взрывчатые вещества
Инициирующие (первичные) взрывчатые вещества предназначаются для возбуждения взрывчатых превращений в зарядах других, более стабильных, взрывчатых веществ. Уже при атмосферном давлении их горение протекает неустойчиво и любой начальный импульс воспламенения немедленно запускает детонацию. Помимо этого, инициирующие взрывчатые вещества отличаются повышенной чувствительностью и легко взрываются от многих других видов начального воздействия: удара, трения, накола жалом, электрической искры и прочих. Основой инициирующих взрывчатых веществ являются гремучая ртуть, азид свинца, тринитрорезорцинат свинца (ТНРС), тетразен, диазодинитрофенол (или их смеси) и прочие с высокой скоростью детонации (свыше 5000 м/с).

В военном деле и в промышленности инициирующие взрывчатые вещества применяются для снаряжения капсюлей-воспламенителей, капсюльных втулок, запальных трубок, различных электровоспламенителей, артиллерийских и подрывных капсюлей-детонаторов, электродетонаторов и др. Они используются также в различных средствах пироавтоматики: пирозарядах, пиропатронах, пирозамках, пиротолкателях, пиромембранах, пиростартёрах, катапультах, разрывных болтах и гайках, пирорезаках, самоликвидаторах и др.

Бризантные взрывчатые вещества
Бризантные (вторичные) — вещества с высокой бризантностью, которой соответствует большая скорость распространения взрывной волны в веществе. От инициирующих отличаются меньшей чувствительностью, а их горение при сравнительно невысокой величине давления (которое, тем не менее, должно быть выше атмосферного) вполне может привести к детонации.

Бризантные взрывчатые вещества менее чувствительны ко внешним воздействиям, и возбуждение взрывных превращений в них осуществляется главным образом с помощью инициирующих взрывчатых веществ. В качестве бризантных взрывчатых веществ применяются обычно различные нитросоединения (тротил, нитрометан, нитронафталины и др.), N-нитрамины (тетрил, гексоген, октоген, этилен-N,N'-динитрамин и др.), нитраты спиртов (пентаэритриттетранитрат, нитроглицерин, нитрогликоль), нитраты целлюлозы и др. Часто эти соединения применяют в виде смесей между собой и с другими веществами.

Бризантные взрывчатые смеси часто называют по виду окислителя:
 хлоратиты (окислитель — хлорат калия);
 перхлоратиты (окислитель — перхлорат калия, перхлорат аммония);
 аммониты (окислитель — нитрат аммония);
 оксиликвиты (окислитель — жидкий кислород) и др.

По методу производства зарядных элементов бризантные взрывчатые вещества нередко подразделяют на литьевые, прессовочные и шнековочные, а по обратимости деформации — пластичными и эластичными.

Бризантные взрывчатые вещества применяют для снаряжения боевых частей ракет различных классов, снарядов реактивной и ствольной артиллерии, артиллерийских и инженерных мин, авиационных бомб, торпед, глубинных бомб, ручных гранат и т. д.

В ядерных боеприпасах бризантные взрывчатые вещества используются в зарядах, предназначенных для перевода ядерного горючего в надкритическое состояние.

В различных вспомогательных системах ракетно-космической техники бризантные взрывчатые вещества применяют в качестве основных зарядов для разделения конструкционных элементов ракет и космических аппаратов, отсечки тяги, аварийного выключения и подрыва двигателей, выброса и отсечки парашютов, аварийного вскрытия люков и др.

В авиационных системах пироавтоматики бризантные взрывчатые вещества используются для аварийного отделения кабин, взрывного отброса винтов вертолётов и т. д.

Значительное количество бризантных взрывчатых веществ расходуется в горном деле (вскрышные работы, добыча полезных ископаемых), в строительстве (подготовка котлованов, разрушение скальных пород, разрушение ликвидируемых строительных конструкций), в промышленности (сварка взрывом, импульсная обработка металлов и др.).

Метательные и пиротехнические составы
По действующим в Российской Федерации нормативным документам пороховые и пиротехнические составы к взрывчатым веществам не относятся, ввиду того, что они перестали применяться в качестве подрывных и разрывных зарядов.

Метательные взрывчатые вещества (пороха и ракетные топлива) служат источниками энергии для придания необходимой кинетики разнообразным метательным снарядам (артиллерийским минам, пулям и т. п.) в ствольных и реактивных ракетно-артиллерийских системах. Их отличительная особенность — способность к взрывчатому превращению в форме быстрого устойчивого сгорания, которое не переходит в детонацию в диапазоне давлений вплоть до нескольких ГПа. Однако, они сохраняют свойство поддаться детонации от детонационного импульса.

Пороха делятся на дымные и бездымные. Представителями первой группы могут служить черные пороха, представляющие собой смесь селитры, серы и угля, например артиллерийский и ружейный пороха, состоящие из 75 % калиевой селитры, 10 % серы и 15 % угля. Температура вспышки дымных порохов равна 290—310 °С. Ко второй группе относятся пироксилиновые, нитроглицериновые, дигликолевые и другие пороха. Температура вспышки бездымных порохов равна 180—210 °С.

Пиротехнические составы (зажигательные, осветительные, сигнальные и трассирующие), применяемые для снаряжения специальных боеприпасов, представляют собой механические смеси из окислителей и горючих веществ. При обычных условиях применения они, сгорая, дают соответствующий пиротехнический эффект (зажигательный, осветительный и т. д.). Многие из этих составов обладают также и взрывчатыми свойствами и при определённых условиях могут детонировать.

Пиротехнические составы применяются для получения пиротехнических эффектов (светового, дымового, зажигательного, звукового и т. д.). Основной вид взрывчатых превращений пиротехнических составов — горение.

По методу приготовления зарядов
 прессованные
 литые (взрывчатые сплавы)
 патронированные

По направлениям применения
 военные
 промышленные

 для горного дела (добыча полезных ископаемых, производство стройматериалов, вскрышные работы). Промышленные взрывчатые вещества для горных работ по условиям безопасного применения подразделяют на непредохранительные и предохранительные
 для строительства (плотин, каналов, котлованов, дорожных выемок и насыпей)
 для сейсморазведки
 для разрушения строительных конструкций
 для обработки материалов (сварка взрывом, упрочнение взрывом, резание взрывом)
 специального назначения (например, средства расстыковки космических аппаратов)
 антисоциального применения (терроризм, хулиганство), при этом часто используются низкокачественные вещества и смеси кустарного изготовления.
 опытно-экспериментальные.

По степени опасности
Существуют различные системы классификации взрывчатых веществ по степени опасности. Наиболее известны:
 Согласованная на глобальном уровне система классификации опасности и маркировки химической продукции (СГС), принятая ООН в 2003 году (действует первая пересмотренная редакция 2005 года);
 Классификация по степени опасности в горных работах;

См. также
 Тротиловый эквивалент
 Взрывное дело

Примечания

Дополнительная литература

 Fedoroff, Basil T. et al Enciclopedia of Explosives and Related Items, vol.1—7. — Dover, New Jersey: Picatinny Arsenal, 1960—1975.

Ссылки

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Boston Community Dance Project was created in 2011 by Sarah-Katarina (SKooJ CorE-O) to bring artistry to the next level. BCDP concentrates in Contemporary and Fusion based movements, but is also inspired by Modern, Musical Theater, Hip Hop, Jazz Funk, and Cultural Dance. BCDP strives to showcase the true art of storytelling by drawing inspiration from movies, novels, and historical events. The company's mission is to reach out to the community with realistic concepts; connecting all viewers emotionally. We hope to give all the opportunity to experience the release that dance can provide.
For the past five years Boston Community Dance Project has guest performed at over 100 shows, hosted more than 20 workshops, and given out more than $1000 in scholarships for our CONTEMPORIZE! 2 Day Intensive. We are eager to strengthen the community, give back to ones in need, and celebrate those who should be acknowledged for their talents, acts of kindness, and love toward the performing arts!


One of the most prevalent myths about tourism is that where there is tourism, there is economic progress. Tourism, like any other global industry, affects each destination differently. There are the winners, such as Cyprus, an island destination that has reaped the economic benefits of tourism to the tune of $2.4 billion euros annually (Lemesios et al., 2016). Tourism has invigorated the Cypriot economy and provided an invaluable source of income to locals. Very few destinations fare as well as Cyprus, especially those in rural areas and developing countries. In New Zealand, tourism has become a vehicle for the commodification and objectification of indigenous Maori culture (Hall, Tucker, & Hall, 2004). In countless coastal areas across the Caribbean, the tourism industry has ignored and left behind local communities in favor of all-inclusive beach resorts.
Tourism in many postcolonial, developing areas has grown at a reckless pace. The tourism cycle generally begins with a few adventurous tourists who "discover" the destination. The local community begins to adapt, as best as it can, to the needs of its visitors, and before long, the trickle of tourists turns into a flood. Not long after, foreign investors enter the community to build tourism infrastructure and make the destination palatable for mainstream tourists. This is how foreign interests come to dominate the tourism industries of developing countries.
Indeed, studies done in multiple destinations across the world have shown that foreign ownership of tourism infrastructure is especially common in developing areas (Kibirige, 2004). This hegemony of foreign powers over postcolonial destinations inhibits tourism-related growth by causing economic leakage. For example, most foreign businesses import goods and supplies rather than patronizing local businesses. In some cases, such outsourcing is justified; local businesses may not have the production capacity or the specialized skills to serve tourism operators. Here we have another cycle: the import of tourism goods by foreign stakeholders quite nearly guarantees that local businesses will never grow large enough to compete with external suppliers. Exclusively foreign booking and advertising, the practice of hiring foreign employees, and the repatriation of revenue by foreign tourism operators also exacerbate the issue of economic leakage (Kibirige, 2004). In the picturesque mountain town of Ghandruk, Nepal, a recent survey showed less than 55% of tourism profits being retained in the local economy (Kibirige, 2004). The juxtaposition in such destinations between the stagnation of the local economy and the booming tourism industry is as striking as it is unjust.
Economic leakage is only one among the many perils that developing destinations face; tourism also poses an enormous threat to their cultural integrity. Many postcolonial tourism hotbeds have followed a similar pattern of cultural deterioration and commodification, referred to in the world of academia as the "life cycle of authenticity". This process involves local culture evolving toward foreign consumption and thereby losing its integrity. Western tourists going on a safari adventure to Kenya expect untouched natural beauty, majestic wildlife, and, perhaps most destructively, a tribalistic and primitive society that may never have even existed there. This is the image of Africa that many Westerners subscribe to, intentionally or not. In Kenya and in many other destinations, Western tourist dollars have spelled out the acquiescence of local culture to Western caricature and commodification (Hall et al., 2004).
In 1997, Wittenberg University professor Deborah Bhattacharya conducted an exhaustive and comprehensive analysis of tourist guidebooks to India. One of the foremost issues she identifies in the language of the guidebooks is the separation of "we", the tourist, from "them", the locals. Indians are to be spectacles, existing for the sole entertainment of the tourist. Problematic also is the image created by the guidebooks of India as a dangerous and thrilling place; the exoticization of tourism-heavy postcolonial areas such as India damages local identity and dilutes cultural authenticity (Bhattacharyya, 1997). Here we come to another myth: that of the unchanged, in which postcolonial destinations are represented as timeless strongholds of the wonders of ancient civilization. As part of this myth, the tourist relives and reenacts colonialism by "discovering" the mysterious and untamed India (Robinson & Jamal, 2012). Mass tourism reinforces these stereotypes and prevents authentic cross-cultural exchange.
And so the gauntlet has been thrown- the undertaking of the global neighborhood must be to help communities plan for tourism in a way that uplifts their economy and protects their cultural integrity. To treat locals with respect and to learn about their way of life with curiosity instead of condescension- that is the dream of sustainable tourism.
Robinson, M., & Jamal, T. (2012). The SAGE Handbook of Tourism Studies. London: Sage.


A modern guide to everything you need in your hiking daypack to make sure you're happy, healthy and prepared without being weighed down.
Paleo Valley was kind enough to provide the product for this post. As always all thoughts and opinions remain my own. Post contains affiliate links.
It's no secret that my husband J and I love the outdoors. He's an avid sportsman, I was practically raised in a barn and we both spent many family vacations camping or summer evenings pitching a tent in the backyard.
Over the past few years, we've discovered that hiking is something we really enjoy doing together. Whether we're blazing our own trail on state game lands, hiking to the mountain peak where we got engaged, or finding new paths in our travels we make sure we're prepared for what nature has to offer.
We rarely hike overnight (although hopefully we will more in the future), so I'm sharing our favorite gear and essentials for what we're packing in our hiking day packs. I thought it would be fun and helpful to share what we pack because I know so many of you share our love for the outdoors.
We always suggest chatting with a few knowledgeable people before you venture out in a new area, securing food sources, making sure you have enough water, figuring out the forecast, and checking what sort of wildlife are near in the area.
These are perfect for daytime trips. I will note – the pack that I'm linking here that I use feels a little small and uncomfortable for J and my brother. They're both pretty strapping dudes over 6'2", so keep that in mind. I, however, am 5'9", with a slight frame, and find the Talon 22 to be perfect for me.
Hydration packs – we both carry a 72 oz. hydration pack. This is pretty self-explanatory, but both of the backpack models I've linked above have special compartments to carry it. I wouldn't venture out with much less water than that for any hike because you just don't know.
Paleo Valley Grass Fed Beef and Free Range Turkey Sticks – when we're out there, we need a little meat to keep us moving. We love these meat sticks because they have amazing ingredients, they are CRAZY juicy, and they even have probiotics packed in there with the variety of delish flavors.
Oranges – I love to travel with oranges. They don't bruise as easily as apples and bananas so they can be thrown in the bottom of our packs. They also feel super hydrating.
Trail mix – a little sweet, a little salty, a little bit of healthy fat. Aldi has a really great survival mix we love.
Date & nut bars – like RX Bar and Lara Bar are great ones to bring, too.
A handheld GPS – We bring J's handheld Garmin 64 ST EVERYWHERE. This thing is worth the price tag. It's a really high-quality GPS that works when you don't have service or a clue where you are. We also always put a maker where we start out or park our vehicle, so we can find our way back if we decide to venture off the path. This is a must if you're going off trail or doing serious hiking in an unknown place.
Mace/bear spray – mace is a good idea for self-protection on the regular. You may want to check with the locals in the area on bear spray. We have black bears in PA that are usually harmless so we rarely bring it, but when we ventured into grizzly country out west, we brought a can everywhere.
Paracord – A really versatile rope comes in handy for SO many things.
Leatherman or multi-tool– J has the Leatherman Wave and it's always good to have a small knife, tweezers, pliers, scissors, screwdrivers, etc. You never know!
Flint and or magnesium – for fire starting. If you plan to make a fire, or if you want to be prepared for when you may need to, these can make your life a little easier. We also have waterproof matches.
Flashlight and/or headlamp – throw in some extra batteries for safety. J gave me a headlamp as one of my gifts our first Christmas together (LOL, I know) but it's actually amazing.
First aid kit – self-explanatory but necessary.
These are a sampling of the things we wouldn't venture out with. Of course, there are so many neat items out there designed to keep you safe and each person has their own preferences. We hope this is helpful for your and that you'll keep on exploring, too!
I'm so glad! Happy hiking!
Thanks for the great list, the bandana is the secret weapon. So practical!
Right? It really could come in handy!


text:
Banks reactions to the Fintech disruption in Brazil
That is a guest post from Guilherme Horn (Managing Director – Chief Innovation Officer LATAM, Accenture Brasil), a collaborator for this special section.
In the last years Brazilian Fintech market had a huge transformation. Five years ago there were no more than 50 startups in this space. The big banks were looking at that in a very skeptical way, seeming not to understand what the analysts in USA and Europe were describing like a threat. They looked at the maps that showed the unbundling of the banks in USA and used to say that that would not happen in Brazil. I have identified four phases on this relationship between banks and Fintechs and I call this moment the REJECTION phase. The main thought here is that Fintechs don't represent a threat, as they are «too small to succeed».
In 2013, Accenture announced they were thinking of bringing to Brazil the Fintech Innovation Lab program. The Lab was maybe the first acceleration initiative on Fintech in the world (and by curiosity it was the first to use the name Fintech). It started in 2010 in New York, after Michael Bloomberg realized that there were Fintech startups migrating to the Silicon Valley, while he thought the best place for them to be should be New York, where most of the world big banks have their offices. So New York city joined efforts with Accenture and launched this successful program which now runs on New York, London, Hong Kong and Dublin. The decision of starting the program in Brazil was postponed but one of the banks, Bradesco, became interested and decided to start his own acceleration program, called InovaBRA. It was the first initiative of a big bank in Brazil to approach this ecosystem and brought them the opportunity of experimenting new technologies. The first batch run on 2014 and it was a success, that's why the program continues until now, and keep improving each year.
This initiative made some banks move to the second phase, that I call AWARENESS. On this phase, the banks try to understand what the Fintechs are doing and why their users become so enchanted with their services. It's common to see some executives of the banks starting to use some Fintech apps as well as the brands of the startups are heard at the banks' board meetings.
The next phase is APPROACH. Here we see the big banks meeting with the startups, their executives attending to conferences and mentoring some startups. The banks start to perceive value on the mindset of the startups, on the methodologies they use to develop their products and on the business models they create. This phase motivated some other initiatives, like Cubo, a co-working space founded by Itaú and Redpoint e-Ventures in 2015. Cubo has just completed its first year and became the main hub for digital entrepreneurship in Brazil. In one year there were more than 300 events there, including conferences, talks with experts, hackatons, and many others.
This initiative led Itaú to the last phase, which is COLLABORATION. Other banks are already there, like Banco do Brasil, which jumped quickly from phase to phase and now has their lab in Silicon Valley, inside Plug and Play. Santander was positively influenced by their initiatives in Europe and by a new vision of the digital environment after the new CEO assumed. On the Collaboration phase, the banks are aware that they must collaborate with startups and start connecting them to their products and services. We can see here several PoCs (Proof of Concept) going on and pilots being developed together with the startups. The banks start to review their procurement requirements, to facilitate hiring startups' services. We see banks talking about opening their APIs and recognizing that they can't compete with some startups that can be very fast and cheap and offer a better customer experience for a very specific product and target public.
I'm quite confident that all the big banks will be collaborating with startups in a short term. Most of the new Fintech startups that were born recently intend to collaborate with banks and not to compete with them. And this trend is motivating the banks to move forward and set their own vehicles for investing in some startups, like Bradesco Ventures and Santander Innoventures, that was already very active in Europe and USA and last year arrived in Brazil, and some others that will probably show up in the following months. All this, together with the pre-disposition of the regulators in adapting regulation to the new world, makes me very optimistic about what consumers may expect for the future of Financial Services in Brazil.
About Guilherme Horn
Guilherme is Managing Director for Accenture, where he leads Innovation for Brazil and Latin America. Horn joined Accenture in December 2014. Before that he was an entrepreneur for more than 20 years. He founded 5 startups and among them two of the most successful cases in Fintech space in Brazil: Agora and Orama. Agora was founded in 2000 and sold in 2008 to Bradesco, for U$500 million. Orama was founded in 2010 and sold in 2014, after being awarded by Amazon with the Innovation Recognition in Las Vegas, at the Re-invent in 2013. It was the first financial institution totally on the cloud in Latin America. Horn is also an angel investor in 25+ companies, a board member on 10 of them, including Wayra Accelerator (Telefonica), and a voluntary mentor at Endeavor. He is the editor of Finnovation, the main blog about Fintech in Brazil and writes the column "Seu bolso na Era Digital" at Jornal Estado de Sao Paulo. Horn, as one of the pioneers of Fintech in Brazil is known as a guru in that area. In 2016 he was a speaker on more than 50 Conferences and Events in Brazil and abroad, talking about Fintechs, Digital Banking, and Innovation.
banks Brazil collaborator fintech startups
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Sophisticated technology and electronics facilitate the operation of modern dishwashers. Comfortable functions can be integrated into the control panel and the opening module.
EBE sensors + motion develops and produces locking systems and door opening modules for dishwashers. They are installed into the dishwasher door or onto the frame between worktop and appliance. The products are individually designed for each model and adapted to the installation space available. [Please send a request for your project. EBE helps to find the suitable solution] .
control via a touch display that might be installed anyway.
Saving energy ranks among the most important goals in the development of modern appliances. After all, they are supposed to meet the requirements of the energy label. EBE sensors + motion also pursues this goal. Dishwashers offer the opportunity to reduce energy consumption by means of dry-opening modules.
The dishwasher door is automatically opened by the appliance electronics after each wash cycle in order to release the remaining humidity resp. steam into the room. In this way, energy for an additional heating of the interior to evaporate resp. condensate and drain the water can be saved.
For this task EBE sensors + motion develops so-called [dry-opening Modules] . They can be directly controlled by the central electronics. The module releases the door which automatically opens a gap and stops at a defined position. In this way the remaining humidity can escape from the machine.
Depending on the locking system used a different concept requires that the door is pushed open. By means of a pusher the door is opened by a predefined gap and remains in this position for a certain period of time.
Depending on the variant a matching hinge system for the dishwasher door is required.
For partially or fully integrated dishwashers in handleless kitchen design it must also be possible to open the door conveniently. For this purpose EBE develops so-called comfort-opening modules.
or which represent a completely independent locking system.
The comfort functions of advanced dishwashers include level sensors. To give an example, the amount of rinse agent in the storage tank in the door or in a dosing unit and the filling level of the special salt shall be measured.
They are based on the sensor technologies induTEC® and capaTEC®.
In the case of touch through metal control panels the deformation of metal surfaces in relation to a PCB mounted below is measured. This is how the induTEC® sensor detects the key command. In the case of touch through glass control panels the capacitive change which a finger print to the glass surface effects is measured. A PCB under the glass surface contains all the functions, the electronics, the µ-controller and the electrodes of the capaTEC® sensor. The PCB can be designed according to the requirements of the customer.
Touch through control panels are ideally suited for elegant metal resp. glass environments in kitchen and canteen appliances as well as other industrial housings. With this solution reliable and robust switch applications which are resistant to water and dirt can be designed. The housing shape need not be subordinated to the operating function. Housing surfaces can remain completely closed. It is easily possible to finish them by printing, laser engraving or surface etching.


Ross asks the cabbie Weissberg (Robert Duvall, in the briefest of cameos) to pull over to a phone kiosk. He stops in front of the Stratford Hotel, 242 Powell at Union Square.
Then ... The kiosks are a few paces ahead of the Stratford, in front of the store next to it.
... and Now, the Stratford Hotel is still in business, but the phone kiosks, in front of the store now occupied by World Of Charms, have been removed.
Then ... As Ross approaches the phone kiosk, we see Union Square ahead to the right across Geary and the St. Francis Hotel on the left.
... and Now, still very familiar, including the cable car.


-bollywoodbubbleYou are well aware of our favorite celebrities' likes and dislikes. People not only follow their trends, but also are aware of where they party, all thanks to the paparazzi who keep our favorite celebrities under the radar. But not many know about their siblings who always live under the shadow of their celebrity brothers or sisters.-bollywoodbubbleDeepika Padukone younger sister Anisha.-bollywoodbubbleSonam Kapoor's sister Rhea Kapoor.-bollywoodbubblePriyanka Chopra's younger brother Siddharth Chopra.-bollywoodbubbleBipasha Basu has a younger sister Bidisha.-bollywoodbubbleBrother of Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Aditya Rai.-bollywoodbubbleKhiladi of Bollywood has a sister named Alka Bhatia.-bollywoodbubbleHrithik Roshan's elder sister Sunaina Roshan.-bollywoodbubbleRanbir Kapoor's sister Riddhima Kapoor.-bollywoodbubbleAnushka Sharma with her brother Karneesh Sharma.-bollywoodbubbleArjun Kapoor's sister Anshula Kapoor.-bollywoodbubbleKangana Ranaut's sister Rangoli.-bollywoodbubbleKatrina Kaif's sister Isabelle. She also have five other sisters and one brother.-bollywoodbubbleRanveer Singh has an elder sister named Ritika Bhavnani.-bollywoodbubbleThe 'Dabbangg' girl Sonakshi Sinha is blessed to have two adorable brothers, Kush Sinha and Luv Sinha.-bollywoodbubbleShah Rukh Khan has an elder sister named Shahnaz Lala Rukh.-bollywoodbubbleActress Disha Patani's sister Khushboo is an Army Lieutenant.-bollywoodbubbleYami Gautam has a beautiful sister named Surilie Gautam who has worked in a TV serial and a Punjabi film.


Each year, WELD honors a distinct group of women in the central Ohio community who exhibit leadership within their organizations, support the leadership development of other women, volunteer their time to the community, and invest in the growth of women-owned businesses.
A reception to celebrate the honorees will be held on November 14. To register for the event, visit www.weldoh.org.
Congratulations to Mehra for this astonishing recognition. View the full list of honorees.


Right in the heart of Newfoundland, the central region contains some of the best outdoor experiences to be found in the province. It's where you can visit Iceberg Alley – the stretch of coastline along which towers of ancient ice majestically float down from Greenland – and where whales gather in large numbers to feed, play and people-watch.
The central region also boasts 55 marked trails and, as you explore, you'll see clapboard houses sitting atop rocky coasts, and wharves and boats testifying to the continuing importance of the centuries-old fishing industry. Most of the people living here descended from West Country fishermen who settled the shores more than two centuries ago. The region also has a rich aboriginal history that dates back as far as 5,000 years and includes the Beothuks as well as the Dorset people who carved soapstone pots at Newfoundland's first quarry.
Central is a perfect place to take a boat trip, or to do both sea and river kayaking. It's also worth visiting Terra Nova National Park while you're here – 400 square kilometres of boreal forest and coastline, ideal for whale watching, hiking, golfing and camping.
No words can truly capture the experience of coming face-to-face with a giant of the ocean. Here, we're visited annually by 26 species of whales and 6 different types of icebergs. There's a certain sense of awe that accompanies these encounters, and you begin to appreciate why no trip to Newfoundland is complete without visiting this region known as Adventure Central – just minutes from Gander, and a short drive from St. John's and Deer Lake.


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23 Dec A Half-Hour of Hell
Posted at 11:00h in Strange and Unexplained by CreepypastaStories.com 0 Comments
"A Half-Hour of Hell"
Written by Ryan Harville
Edited by Craig Groshek
Cal's phone slipped from his hand, landing in his lap and startling him awake. He looked around the room, orienting himself. He was still in the recliner, its familiar comfort grounding him and bringing him back to the present.
He'd dozed off while staring at his phone, which had become his habit lately. Turn on the TV, watch until bored, stare at the phone until passing out. Cal pressed his legs down until the footrest on the recliner retracted, then stood and stretched, listening to the small pops from his spine.
From his spot on the couch, George raised his head. The golden retriever watched him as he stood, one eyebrow up as if he'd just been asked a question.
"Always vigilant," Cal said to the dog. "Aren't you supposed to be watching the place while I sleep?"
George's only response was to lower the one brow and raise the other.
Cal patted his thigh. "Come on," he said. "I guess we both need to eat something."
He led George into the kitchen. The dog sat patiently as Cal brought out the dry food and filled his bowl. George immediately went to work on it.
"I'm glad one of us has an appetite," Cal said. He was rarely hungry, and mostly fed himself out of self-preservation. He knew he needed food but didn't care much if he ate at all. One of the many gifts of that depression had generously bestowed upon him.
Cal sighed and went to the refrigerator, then peered inside at the meager groceries of a man not too far removed from his divorce.
"I'm thinking scrambled eggs," he said, looking back at George. The dog ignored him, preferring to continue crunching away. "Yeah, you're right. Probably should have some toast too."
Scrambled eggs and toast. Cheap, quick, and barely any clean up afterwards. Plus, cooking and cleaning made him feel like he'd accomplished something during the day. Sometimes it was the small victories that made the difference, or at least that's what his therapist had said.
He gently placed the egg container down on the countertop, then opened the bread. He put two slices into the toaster and pushed the handle down. The slots began to glow with a faint orange light as the heating filaments warmed up.
Cal reached into the cabinet and grabbed a bowl. George sat and stared at him, the dog's eyes dark and focused. His food was already gone.
"You're never satisfied," Cal said. "Well, you're gonna have to wait to see if there are leftovers because I'm not cooking just for you."
Cal cracked an egg on the rim of the bowl in one practiced motion, letting the golden yolk free without spilling a drop on the countertop.
"Okay, I might make an extra for you," he said, discarding the empty shell and grabbing another egg. "You've been pretty good today, even if you did fall asleep on the job–"
There was a metallic pop from the toaster and George jumped back. The sound coupled with George's reaction made Cal jump as well. He felt his breath catch painfully in his lungs, and the egg he was holding slipped from his fingers.
Everything slowed. Cal's perception tightened into a single point of focus. The egg was falling through the air, and he could see that its texture was much rougher than his sense of touch had led him to believe. Its ovoid shape spun end over end, its descent to the floor as inevitable as death. Its whirling shadow grew larger and larger on the tiled floor.
The egg hit the floor, and he watched as cracks grew from the point of impact, as the yolk was driven between the shards, as something useful became nothing more than a mess.
Cal's pulse hammered in the sides of his neck.
"You're okay," he told himself.
Small beads of sweat began to form on his forehead.
"Everything is fine. Just relax."
The fingers of his left hand began to tingle.
"Clean this up, and then just…go sit…down."
His knees became weak, the muscles around each joint failing to keep him upright.
"God…goddammit," he said and sat down hard.
George was there in an instant, his paws in Cal's lap and his head beneath Cal's chin. Cal raised a weak hand up to the dog's head and stroked the soft fur behind his ears. He let his weight rest on George, who supported him, keeping him from slumping over.
"Hey, George," he whispered. "Hey, buddy. I'm okay. I just need to make it to my chair. My medicine is right there on the table. Get the meds, calm down, go to sleep. Come on, let's go."
Cal placed his hands on the floor and began to crawl, not trusting himself to stand. George kept his pace, never moving more than a few inches from his side. After an eternity of pulling himself across the carpet, he reached his chair.
It was a brown suede mountain, its summit so far away that Cal wanted to weep. He readied himself, reaching an arm up that insurmountable cliffside and gripping it tightly.
"Gotta get up," he said.
But what if that's it? a voice answered. The last bit of exertion that pushes you over the edge.
Cal shook his head. "I'm fine. There is nothing physically wrong with me."
Are you willing to bet your life on it?
He took a shallow breath and lifted himself from the floor, then half-sat, half-fell into the recliner.
George whined.
"I'm fine, buddy," he said. "We made it. Just gotta relax."
Cal forced himself to take a deep breath through his nose, expanding his diaphragm instead of his chest. Belly breaths, his therapist called them. He held it, counted, then slowly released it from his mouth.
Without warning his heart rate increased, pounding in his chest as if he'd run to the chair instead of crawled.
Cal's breathing quickened. His chest rose and fell rapidly with each sharp breath.
See? This is it. It's over. Your heart is going to rupture. I always knew there was something wrong with it, some defect that none of the doctors could ever find.
"I… don't want…to die," he managed.
Well, then we'll need to call an ambulance.
"No. We're not doing that again."
Then you're going to die.
Cal wanted to argue, wanted to shake his head. But moving was hard. His arms were leaden. He looked down at his chest and watched the force of his heartbeat shake the muscles there.
"This will be over soon," he said. "Thirty minutes. Maybe an hour."
Or, the voice whispered. This could be one of the bad ones. You may be glued to that chair for hours.
George whined and placed his head on top of Cal's hand. Cal tried to reach up to pet him but only managed to make his fingers twitch.
What's poor George going to do when you're gone, huh? Who will take care of him? You have no friends to check on him. You saw to that. Pushed them away one at a time.
"Not my fault," Cal breathed. "I never meant for that to happen."
Yes, you did, the voice said. They only wanted to help, and you selfishly–
"They…were better off without me," Cal said.
You're probably right about that, the voice tittered.
Cal looked to the ceiling and stared at the yellowing paint. "Please God, stop this."
The voice fired back, enraged. There is no God! You know that, but you'll sit there and cry to him like it's going to help. God died on the dirt road like the rest of them!
The ceiling changed, glowing faintly like a projection screen. Cal closed his eyes tightly.
"No. Not tonight, please," he said.
He opened his eyes and the ceiling was back to normal. Cal breathed a heavy sigh of relief.
George nudged his hand, and Cal found the strength to pet him. It was a slow process, but better than nothing. He moved to stroke underneath the dog's chin and felt his phone there between George's head and the chair.
Good, now we can call an ambulance, the voice said.
Cal wrapped his fingers around the phone and shook his head. "I'm going to be fine. I don't need an ambulance."
His heart leapt painfully in his chest.
Call them, the voice pleaded. Before your heart locks up like a clenched fist.
"It's not my heart," Cal said with a wince. "It's the muscles in my chest tightening. My heart is fine, I had it tested last time."
A blood clot then. Formed in your legs after hours of sitting in this chair feeling sorry for yourself. It's finally made its way all the way up to your heart. You should be thankful, really. If it had hit your brain you may have survived. An invalid, a bigger burden than you already are.
Cal knew it was possible. He had been sedentary for too long. Hadn't he felt a pain in his calf yesterday? Or was he imagining it? No, it was pain. A warm, throbbing pain of warning. But there was no pain, he was sure of it. Wasn't he?
"There is no clot," he said.
But there is. It's traveling, searching for a place to lodge itself and end you.
He looked at his phone. Every part of him wanted to unlock it and press those three little numbers that would make everything okay. Within minutes he'd hear the sirens approaching and the medics would save him.
Call them before it's too late.
"No," Cal said. "Not again. I'm not going to go through that ever again. The doctors looked at me like I was crazy. The medics thought I was on drugs! And after all of that I still owe nine-hundred dollars for the ambulance ride."
Well, it's your funeral.
The left side of his chest seized, tightening and sending off little currents of sharp pains that traveled to his shoulder.
"No, no, no," he said breathlessly. He swiped his thumb over the phone's screen, unlocking it and bringing up the contact list.
Cal dialed the number and pressed the speakerphone icon.
Finally listening to reason, eh? Good…wait, you're not calling…God, you're pathetic.
The phone rang once, twice.
She's not going to answer! You know that!
But on the third ring, she did.
"Hey, Jen," Cal said.
"Cal? Hey, it's good to hear from you but now isn't a good time–"
Cal took a deep breath. "Yeah, I'm sorry, I just–"
"You're having a panic attack," she said. "I can hear it in your voice. Jesus, Cal."
"Yes," he said, trying not to cry from the relief of hearing her voice. "I can't catch my breath and I can barely move."
"Is George with you?"
"He's right here."
"Okay, good," she said. "Keep him close, try to relax, and I'm sure it'll all be over soon."
"I'm trying, Jen. But I've got chest pains, and maybe a blood clot or something. I stopped myself from calling 911 but I don't know if I should've just done it," his words came faster and faster, outrunning his breath. "Maybe this is it, you know? I know that it could just be my usual symptoms but what if it's not this time and I don't do anything about it and –"
"Stop it!" Jen hissed. "Just stop it, Cal! There is nothing physically wrong with you, there never is. All of the doctor visits and tests and emergencies and nothing was wrong."
"I-I know," Cal stuttered. "I just needed–"
"That's just it, Cal," she said. "You always needed something. That's why I left, because I can't be what you need. Nothing I said ever helped, nothing I did worked. I'm sorry, Cal, truly, but it's been two years since the divorce, and I can't be your crutch. Not anymore, and definitely not today."
Cal could feel his pulse in his ears, like the tide slamming into the shore. "Why not today?"
Jen sighed. "I'm at my engagement party. Chris asked me to marry him, and I said yes. I had to step out just to take this call."
Cal let out a shaky breath. "I… I didn't know. I'm sorry."
Why are you sorry?! the voice said. She fucked him in your house! In your bed! You saw the emails, the messages, the pictures. Have some self-respect.
"No, I'm sorry," she said. "I should've told you sooner. I just didn't want to hurt you."
"More," Cal said, surprised by the cold knife-edge in his tone.
"You didn't want to hurt me more."
Jen was silent.
"How long will it be, Jen?" Cal said, his heart absolutely thudding against his breastbone. "How long before you grow bored of him? Or you decide he's inconvenient and you find someone else to fuck?!"
"I am not doing this right now," she said, her voice cracking into a sob. "Thanks for ruining this day."
The line went dead, and she was gone.
Cal bit back a scream. George rushed in front of him, placing his paws on Cal's knees. His bark sounded like a question.
"It's fine, buddy," Cal said. "I'm okay–"
But he wasn't. That soft glow came again, not just from the ceiling this time but from everywhere. The world became ethereal.
He was back in the Hindu Kush mountains, headed toward Kabul, and hopefully a nap. He sat in the rear of the Humvee, holding his M4 to his chest. They were last in the convoy, a bookend to the lead vehicle, three up-armored SUVs between them. The SUVs were driven by soldiers but filled with civilians, contractors of all types. A few IT guys, a helo pilot, and at least one interpreter, all being transported to their new job sites.
Ahead, the convoy leader came to an abrupt stop as a man led a line of goats across the road, his Kandhari cap bright white in the winter morning sunlight. Children walked along the side of the road, some pulling along small carts with their younger siblings in tow. Cal remembers this moment: the snow from the night before hiding from the morning light in whatever shadows it could find, its gleaming white a stark contrast to the red-brown mud.
There was a thump, small for an instant, like hitting a speed bump. Then they were slapped by the Hand of God as an explosion rocked the convoy.
The Humvee flipped, and Cal's world spun with it. Then it was still, and he hung upside down in his seat, the belt saving him from being tumbled like laundry in a dryer.
Corporal Laramie's voice cut through Cal's dizziness.
"Fire!" Laramie screamed. "Egress! Egress!"
Cal pulled his seatbelt cutter from the front of his IOTV and hooked it over the belt, then severed it with a quick tug. He fell to the roof but managed to brace himself with his elbow. In the front seat, Staff Sergeant Greene's body hung from his seatbelt, unmoving. A shard of metal had nearly taken his head off. What was left of his neck released a thick stream of blood in time with his slowing heartbeat.
And there was nothing Cal could do.
There was screaming as he crawled from the Humvee. From the shadows of alleys came armed men, all crying glory to God. Cal pulled himself up to a kneeling position and leveled his M4, flipping the selector switch to Fire. The men began firing first. Small spurts of dust rose from the ground where bullets struck, and all around him was the ping and high whine of lead on steel, bullets against vehicles.
Cal opened fire. His first two shots went wide but the third was true, and the fourth. The man closest to him spun and fell in the dirt. He did not rise.
That left four, but Cal didn't even have time to take aim before the staccato rhythm of a machine gun filled the morning. He quickly glanced to his left, and there was PFC Dawson, sitting in the gunner's seat of the lead Humvee. He strafed the gun left to right, creating a cloud of sand and a hail of rocks.
Another snapshot in Cal's mind: the four men silhouetted in the dust with the sun at their backs as bullets chewed them. They never even cried out, just shook as if dancing, each jerk of their bodies punctuated by bursts of pink mist as the sunlight filtered through their blood.
And then it was so quiet.
Cal, Laramie, and Dawson stumbled from vehicle to vehicle looking for survivors but found none. The IED had detonated directly in the middle of the convoy, and the few people who had managed to crawl away from the wreckage had met their end in a hail of bullets.
"Enough," Cal said, and for a moment the mountain town faded. "I don't want to see anymore."
But we haven't gotten to the best part! The voice said, his voice said.
"No, please, no," Cal pleaded but he was turning his head, because this had already happened, the tracks had been laid years ago and he had no choice but to ride along.
He looked to the edge of the road, to the children, to what was left of them lying in the shadows and snow.
"I don't want this in my head anymore," Cal sobbed.
In the red snow–
"Please, stop."
–in the black shadows.
"Stop!" he screamed, and the town was gone.
He slumped back into his recliner, covered in sweat and hyperventilating.
If you want it out of your head, the voice said. You know how to do it. Simply make a hole and let it all fall out.
Cal stood, his legs shaky.
The TV powered on, and he was facing an image of himself on the screen.
"It's too much, isn't it?" the other him said. "How much more do you have to take? You've suffered enough. We have suffered enough."
Cal nodded his head, fresh tears falling to the carpet.
"Then end it," the other said. "No more heart-hammering panic, no more intrusive thoughts of Jen and Chris in your bed, and no more dead children, Cal. You won't ever have to see them again. Just take the few steps to the bedroom, get your pistol from the safe, and then…rest."
Cal stepped toward the bedroom.
"Yes, Cal," the other cooed. "It's time to rest."
Something brushed past his hand and he stopped. There was George, dropping the orange bottle of Cal's pills to the carpet. He nuzzled against Cal's hand and whined.
"Leave him, Cal," the other him said. "He's better off without you. He can have a home with someone better, someone whole."
Cal looked into George's brown eyes and smiled.
"No," Cal said. "As shitty as it is, he wants to stay here, with me."
He stroked the fur beneath George's chin, then knelt and grabbed the bottle.
"No!" the other cried. "Don't you dare!"
He opened the bottle and shook out two pills.
The other's voice rose into a cry. "You want to keep doing this?! Why?! You fucking coward. You useless cuckold. Oblivion is better than being broken and you know it. Don't–"
Cal tossed the pills into his mouth and chewed, staring his other self down as he swallowed the bitter medicine.
The TV snapped off.
This isn't over, the voice said from far away. One day it'll be the barrel in your mouth instead of the pills.
Cal's thoughts began to soften, and he laid down on the carpet.
"Maybe," he whispered as the meds started to work and he began to drift. "But not today, asshole."
Finally, he slept, his arm around George, the dog's body warm against his side.
Cal woke to sunlight piercing through the cracks between the blinds. George lifted his head and stared at him.
"Hey, boy," Cal said. "You ready to go outside?"
George wagged his tail and bolted towards the back door. Cal followed.
"Maybe when you come back in, we can have those eggs, huh?" he said, opening the door. George shot out like a bolt of golden light, making wide circles in the dewy grass.
Cal walked back to the kitchen. The broken egg was still there from last night.
He grabbed a handful of paper towels and began to pick up the pieces.
🔔 More stories from author: Ryan Harville
More Stories from Author Ryan Harville:
The Hole in the Sky
Sunken Tunnels of Light
No Song of Sacrifice
There Were Two Moons in the Sky Last Night
The House in the Rearview Mirror
Ol' No. 37
Shit Magnet


text:
Did the Buddha love his mother?
Dhr. Seven and Amber Larson, Wisdom Quarterly
Shakya Land (Scythia) at left
In her excellent Tricycle article, Wendy Garling sounds like she is about to go off the rails, not realizing that the sexism Buddhism developed was not there in the beginning. The Buddha lived one way, overcoming the biases of his day and cultures (born in modern-day Scythia or Afghanistan to the west of "India" and teaching in Magadha and other neighboring allied kingdoms which only became "India" as we think of it with the advent of the Buddhist Emperor Asoka). Buddhists lived another, and even enlightenment did not remove all of their residual biases, just attachment to them. The Buddha's enlightenment was a kind known as supreme-enlightenment (samma-sam-buddhahood), whereas disciples awakened with their personalities and quirks intact but right view regarding the most important things: the impersonal, impermanent, and unsatisfactory nature of all phenomena and a thorough penetration of the Four Noble Truths, "noble" because they are ennobling.
Queen Maya on her way to her parents gives birth in Lumbini standing, holding a sal tree
The illusory beauty Queen Maya (Maha Maya Devi) dreams of conception with royal symbols.
Of course young Prince Siddhartha Gotama loved his mother, Queen Maya Gotami. But that is not the question.
Queen Maya gives birth standing
She died a week after his birth. His father, King Suddhodana, chief of the Indo-Scythians/Shakya Clan/Sakas, had other wives. The palace included Queen Maya's sister and co-wife Pajapati Gotami (Sanskrit, Prajapati Gautami).
Pajapati is famous in the early Buddhist Pali language texts of the Theravada tradition not only because she loved and raised Prince Siddhartha but because she was the first woman in history to be allowed to become a Buddhist nun.
The question is, What happened to Queen Maya? And while Siddhartha loved his foster mother, did the supremely-enlightened Buddha (which is who Siddhartha became when he awakened) love Maya?
Afghanistan/Shakya Land upper left
The Shakyian/Scythian/Saka queen, having passed away seven days after the birth of the Prince Siddhartha, had been reborn in Sakka's celestial world, the "World of the Thirty-Three" (Tavatimsa).
Imagine that! The warrior Sakas' titular god was a deva was a celestial-ruler and King of Kings Sakka? [Sakka not only was the most eminent deva, the "Lord of Lords," among the 33 in the "World of the Thirty-Three" devas but was at the same time the "King of Kings" of the next lower space plane, the "Realm of the Four Great Space Kings" (Catu-maha-rajika deva loka) of the four cardinal directions in the sky.]
Burmese Theravada Buddhist depiction of the Four Great Sky Kings of the quarters (W)
From there she saw Siddhartha grow into a young man, marry at 16, become a father at 29, renounce the world and become a wandering ascetic on the same day, and awaken to buddhahood at 35.
Now completely detached, risen above bias and affection for friends and family, did the Buddha still love his biological mother?
The aunt who raised Prince Siddhartha
Yes, he was so grateful to her and loved her so much that he traveled to the World of the Thirty-Three expressly to teach her the Dharma -- that is, the "Path to Liberation" he had discovered that makes an end of all rebirth and suffering.
He repeatedly visited that "heavenly" world and proclaimed the "Higher Teaching" (Abhidharma) to the devas ("shining ones") living there, particularly the beautiful Maya now reborn as a deva (a devaputra, lit. a "son of god" more correctly "offspring of the devas").
Yes, the Buddha loved his mother, both of them.
The Saka Queen in Sakka's Heaven
Ven. Nyanaponika from The Life of Sariputta adapted by Wisdom Quarterly
One of the most important contributions made by the Venerable Sariputra to the Buddhist Teaching is that, according to tradition (e.g., in the Atthasalini), the Buddha preached the "Higher Doctrine" or "Ultimate Teaching" (Abhidharma) in Tavatimsa heaven to his biological mother, Queen Maya, who had been reborn as a deva in that world after passing away from this world.
The Buddha did this for three months. When returning to earth from that celestial plane daily for his meals, the Buddha gave Ven. Sariputra the "method" (naya) of the portion of Abhidharma he had taught.
The Atthasalini says: "Thus the giving of the method was to the chief disciple, who was endowed with analytical knowledge, as though the Buddha stood on the edge of the shore and pointed out the ocean with his open hand. To the elder the doctrine taught by the Blessed One in hundreds and thousands of methods became very clear." Thereafter, the elder passed on what he had learned to his five hundred disciples.
Further it is said: "The textual order of the Abhidhamma originated with Sariputra; the numerical series in the Great Book (Patthana) was also determined by him. In this way the elder, without spoiling the unique doctrine, laid down the numerical series in order to make it easy to learn, remember, study, and teach the Dharma."
The Atthasalini, the Commentary to the Dhammasangani, also ascribes to Ven. Sariputra the following contributions to the canonical Abhidharma:
(a) the 42 couplets (dyads, duka) of the Suttanta Matika, which follows the Abhidhamma Matika, both of which preface the seven Abhidhamma books. The 42 Suttanta couplets are explained in the Dhammasangani and this likewise has probably to be ascribed to the Elder. (b) the fourth and last part of the Dhammasangani, the Atthuddhara-kanda, or "synopsis."
(c) the arrangement for the recitation of the Abhidhamma (vacanamagga).
(d) the Numerical Section (gañanacara) of the Patthana.
In the Anupada Sutra (MN 111) the Buddha himself speaks of Ven. Sariputra's analysis of meditative consciousness into its chief mental concomitants, which the elder undertook from his own experience, after rising from each of the meditative attainments in succession.
This analysis may well be either a precursor or an abridgment of the detailed analysis of absorption (jhana) consciousness given in the Dhammasangani. More
Iconography: the Buddha's mother is a salabhanjika
Prince Siddhartha was born in Afghanistan, and he traveled from Scythia (Shakya Land) to "India" to find a teacher and become enlightened
Would it be better to give birth to a buddha and go to heaven or stay on earth and become an enlightened nun, paving the way for other women to enter the Buddha's Female Order?
Labels: abhidharma, buddhist nuns, Devi, goddess, love, mahaprajapati, Maya, Mother's Day, Nyanaponika Thera, sakka king of the gods devas, Sal, sariputra, scythian, Shakya, tree, Tricycle magazine, warrior
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Biostratigraphy is often run as a service in oil exploration & development for age and palaeoenvironmental interpretation. But the power that can be provided by critical insight of the data generated for detailed sequence analysis including unconformities and sequence breaks plus the identification of flooding and condensed surfaces and its use for facies identification (reservoir to non- reservoir) are often not optimally achieved. Subsequently neither are the desired high resolution stratigraphical correlations.
The integration of biostratigraphical data with seismic interpretations and sedimentological and petrographical data utilizes its power most efficiently. This GLOMACS Applied Biostratigraphy and Sequence Stratigraphy in Oil Exploration & Development training seminar sets out to illustrate this best use. The pitfalls with the use of biostratigraphical data will be discussed, which often relates to the geological context in which formations were deposited. By identifying them and often then utilizing them with regards to understanding the geology, this helps to unlock the tool and with it a realization of the possibilities that optimum use of this technique can bring.
This GLOMACS training seminar will introduce the applied use of biostratigraphy and sequence stratigraphy in both an exploration and development context with working examples from Africa, the Middle East, Southeast Asia and Europe, and will also cover both marine and non-marine sediments.
This GLOMACS Applied Biostratigraphy and Sequence Stratigraphy in Oil Exploration & Development training seminar will be based around PowerPoint presentations for each module followed by interactive and participative individual and team exercises. There will also be workshop sessions based around real exploration and development examples to get participants to actively become aware of the predictive capabilities of applied biostratigraphy and sequence stratigraphy. Training seminar participants are also encouraged to bring along biostratigraphic data, logs and seismic where appropriate from their own companies so that real working examples can be interpreted.
The non-specialist geoscientist is often at a loss with how to best use biostratigraphical data from company reports. This GLOMACS Applied Biostratigraphy and Sequence Stratigraphy in Oil Exploration & Development training seminar will provide the necessary technical know-how for the individual to feel comfortable with the utilization and the integration of this data into their everyday work flows. This will aid their efforts in both the exploration for new hydrocarbons and in the development of existing fields.
Hydrocarbon Play Definition – What is a play?


text:
Home / Game Gear
The Game Gear is an 8-bit fourth generation handheld game console released by Sega on October 6, 1990 in Japan, in April 1991 throughout North America and Europe, and during 1992 in Australia. The Game Gear primarily competed with Nintendo's Game Boy, the Atari Lynx, and NEC's TurboExpress. It shares much of its hardware with the Master System, and can play Master System games by the use of an adapter. Sega positioned the Game Gear, which had a full-color backlit screen with a landscape format, as a technologically superior handheld to the Game Boy.
Chuck Rock
G Loc
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James Pond 2 Codename: Robocod
Psycic World
Putt & Putter


The Akaishi Kakyo Bridge – the world's longest bridge!
Japanese women wearing kimonos make you want to wear them as well! Then you realise how difficult it is to fit and wear them.
Sleeping on a futon bed: this is a good reason to go back to Europe, as it's hard to adapt to that!
Owl bars: don't go! I didn't know that animals were attached (it's basically hell, for birds that are supposed to fly!) and I'm still very shocked by this experience. I hated it and I still can't believe that these kinds of things are tolerated.
"Mochi": made of rice cake and very… slimy! But you should try it anyway, because it's very traditional.
If I could, I would totally go again on a language stay in Kobe! Japan is an amazing country and spending some time there to learn the language and live with the locals is a unique experience. Go for it!


DO YOU LIKE YOUR COMEDY INFORMATIVE, RIGOROUS AND PEER REVIEWED?!?
Raz is a real scientist, and she is bringing all her favourite Sciences to the Sydney Comedy Festival for your Science pleasure! These Sciences include: The Mini Catapult! Ice Mountain! and The Fire Snake! (pending OH&S risk assessment).
Get ready for Raz to light your bunsen in fifty minutes of scientific thrills and spills that would make the Royal Society combust.
Science with Raz is good for all ages.
Like a musical but instead of music, there's Science.
This is a brand new *experiment* of a show from Debbie Zukerman.
There are a couple more Science with Raz videos here.


The refusal to repay Mrs Wheeler's deposit is being attributed damage to the wooden terrace of Flat 109 The Heart, by plant pots is unfair and incorrect.
Substandard design, poor workmanship and a lack of maintenance made it inevitable the wooden decking would rot.
The following Videos are submitted as supporting evidence.
The videos can also be seen at the bottom of the page.
The grassed area in the common parts of the garden on the ground floor is raised. The grassed area is higher than the ground floor terrace. The water table is raised beneath the common parts of the garden on the ground floor. This causes the water to drain down and accumulate on the terrace.
Inevitably, excess water will accumulate beneath the terraced decking and the terraces exterior wall (video 2 0 to 30 seconds and 53 to 219 seconds; video 1 2:20 seconds to 2:51) causing constant water seepage under and onto the decking.
The amount of water coming onto the terrace is causing rising damp (video 2 37 seconds). Which further evidence that the decking is saturated.
A further contribution to the state of the wooden terrace is the lack of maintenance. It is the managing agents' responsibility to perform high-pressure cleaning, repairing and painting regularly. None of these were done during Mrs Wheeler's tenancy. Long-standing residents of The Heart have informed us there has been only very limited maintenance of decking since installation 11 years ago.
The Rotten area beneath the decking is not limited to placement of plant pots (Video 2, 30 to 50 seconds).
The adjacent ground floor terraces to 109 and others are also suffering from r0tt (Video 1 6:32 & 6:32).
Mrs Wheeler and other tenants have seen the managing agent replacing rotten planks.
Wood should not be used in a location where there is no sunlight.
Mrs Wheeler's tenancy extended from the front door of 109 to the threshold of the rear door of the apartment. This is the same area covered by the owner/landlord's lease and therefore the area managed by the letting agent, James Neave.
Mrs Wheeler's tenancy gave her right of access to the adjoining terrace, which is the property of O & H Walton Residential Ltd (OHWR). It is OHWR's responsibility to maintain, repair or replace it the terrace. They did not carry out sufficient maintenance so any costs should be bourn by OHWR.
Furthermore, James Neave did not inform Mrs Wheeler there was a prohibition on plant pots on the terrace.
For these reasons, the deposit should be returned to Mrs Wheeler in full.


Front aspect of the right carpus of a horse. Labels: 1, cuneiform; 2, lunar; 3, scaphoid; 4, trapezium; 5, unciform; 6, magnum; 7, trapezoid; 8, small metacarpals, the large one lying between and before them. The uppermost bone is the distal end of the radius.


Download "cytokinetic proteins FtsQ and FtsW, and their network of interactions with ZipN *For correspondence. Tel. (33) ; Fax (33) ;"
2 ABSTRACT As very little is known about cell division in non-cylindrical bacteria and cyanobacteria, we have presently investigated ten putative cytokinetic proteins in the unicellular sphericalshaped cyanobacterium Synechocystis PCC0. Concerning the eight PBPs (penicillinbinding proteins), which define three classes, we found that Synechocystis can survive in absence of one but not two PBPs of either class A or class C, whereas the unique class B PBP (also termed FtsI) is indispensable. Furthermore, we showed that all three classes of PBPs are required for normal cell size. Similarly, the putative FtsQ and FtsW proteins appeared to be required for viability and normal cell size. We also used a suitable bacterial two-hybrid system to characterize the interaction web among the eight PBPs, FtsQ, FtsW, as well as ZipN the crucial FtsZ-partner occurring in cyanobacteria and plant chloroplast only. We showed that FtsI, FtsQ and ZipN are self-interacting proteins, and that both FtsI and FtsQ interact with class A PBPs, as well as with ZipN. Collectively, these findings indicate that ZipN, in interacting with FtsZ and both FtsI and FtQ, plays a similar role as the E. coli FtsA protein that is missing in cyanobacteria and chloroplast.
4 order: FtsZ, FtsA, ZipA, FtsK, FtsQ, FtsL/FtsB, FtsW, FtsI and FtsN (). The cytoplasmic protein FtsZ is the first recruited to the division site, where it polymerizes in a ring-like structure (1), which serves as a scaffold for the recruitment of the other Fts proteins and has been proposed to drive the division process (). Together the Fts proteins form a complex machine coordinating nucleoid segregation, membrane constriction, septal PG synthesis and possibly membrane fusion. Unlike the others PBPs, class C PBPs do not operate in PG synthesis but rather in maturation or recycling of PG during cell septation (). They are subdivided in four types. Class C PBP type removes the terminal D-alanine residue from pentapeptide side-chains (DD-carboxypeptidase activity). Type and are able to cleave the peptide cross-links (endopeptidase activity). Finally, type AmpH, which do not have a defined enzymatic activity, are believed to play a role in the normal course of PG synthesis, remodeling or recycling (for review see ()). By contrast to rod-shaped bacteria, less is known concerning PG synthesis, morphogenesis and cytokinesis, and their relationships, in spherical-celled bacteria, even though a wealth of them have a strong impact on the environment and/or human health. Furthermore, unlike rod-shaped bacteria spherical-celled bacteria possess an infinite number of potential division planes at the point of greater cell diameter, and they divide through alternative perpendicular planes () (,, ). The spherical cells of S. aureus seem to insert new PG strands only at the septum, and accordingly the unique Class A PBP localizes at the septum during cell division (). By contrast, the rugby-ball shaped cells of S. pneumoniae synthesize cell wall at both the septum and the neighboring region called equatorial rings (). Accordingly, Class A PBPa and PBP1a were found to operate in elongation and septation, respectively ().
9 Synechocystis chromosome, in place of the studied gene, and we assayed whether the segregation between wild-type (WT) and mutant chromosome copies was complete (the studied gene is dispensable to cell growth) or not (the studied gene is essential to cell viability). All three mutants, pbp1::km r, pb::km r and pbp::km r, retained no WT chromosome copies (data not shown) and grew as fit as the WT strain (Table and Fig. 1) showing that each of the three Class A PBPs is dispensable for Synechocystis viability. Synechocystis can survive in absence of one but not two class A PBPs. To test whether the three genes possess overlapping functions, we attempted to construct all three double-mutants lacking any pair combination of the three class A PBPs. Interestingly, all double mutants invariably died upon re-streaking onto selective medium containing both selective antibiotics, Km and Sm (or Sp), showing that Synechocystis requires at least two HMW PBP class A proteins to survive. Taken together, our results indicate that class A PBPs exhibit crucial and partially-overlapping functions. The absence of PBP, but not of the other two class A PBPs, PBP1 and PBP, leads to minicells. To investigate the impact of each class A PBPs on Synechocystis cell 1 morphogenesis, we observed the three single mutants pbp1::km r, pbp::km r and 1 pbp::km r through phase contrast microscopy. Both pbp1::km r and pbp::km r cells 1 retained normal morphology, whereas pbp::km r cells were found to be significantly smaller than WT cells (Fig. A). We then confirmed these results using flow cytometry (FACS; Fig. B), a quantitative evaluation of cell shape (), which measures the forward scatter (FSC) value that is proportional to cell size. In agreement with our microscopy observation, the mean FSC value of pbp::km r cells (.) appeared to be significantly smaller than those of WT, pbp1::km r and pbp::km r cells (mean FSC values:.;.;., respectively). These findings suggest that PBP operates in the synthesis of PG required for normal cell growth of Synechocystis.
Microbial Genetics, Mutation and Repair. 2. State the function of Rec A proteins in homologous genetic recombination.
Molecular Biology, Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology Operons ???
EST1 Homology Domain. 100 aa. hest1a / SMG6 PIN TPR TPR. Est1-like DBD? hest1b / SMG5. TPR-like TPR. a helical. hest1c / SMG7.
56:198:582 Biological Networks Lecture 10 Temporal Programs and the Global Structure The single-input module (SIM) network motif The network motifs we have studied so far all had a defined number of nodes.
3.B.1 Gene Regulation. Gene regulation results in differential gene expression, leading to cell specialization.
Bio Microbiology - Spring 2012 Learning Guide 04.
Big Idea 3: Living systems store, retrieve, transmit and respond to information essential to life processes. 3.a.2- Cell Cycle and Meiosis EU 3.A: Heritable information provides for continuity of life.
Name: 4667-1 - Page 1 UNIT: PHOTOSYNTHESIS AND RESPIRATION TOPIC: PHOTOSYNTHESIS 1) The diagram below illustrates the movement of materials involved in a process that is vital for the energy needs of organisms.
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NefariouslyNiftyNails: Sneakpeek.....Ciate Loop the Loop & Hoopla !
Coming up today! Ciate Loop the Loop & Hoopla.
These colors will be absolutely perfect for summer!
Review on the blog later today.
Kommer senere på bloggen idag, review af Ciate Loop the Loop og Hoopla! 2 farver der er absolut perfekt til sommer!


10 days of NOT having to wake up my happily sleeping kiddos sounds fantastic. My kids are always super cranky on mornings when I have to wake them up! I'm thinking that the very best part of Spring Break is 10 days without after school pick-up. These days Simon would love nothing better than to fall asleep 30 minutes before we have to go pick up Sawyer from school. Since he generally naps for around a couple of hours, I usually make him wait until we get back home to take his nap. That means that at pick-up time I'm usually sitting in the car with a baby who has either just fallen asleep (on rare days when we're lucky!) or who is hysterically crying and screaming his head off because he's overtired and cranky (let's just call that his "usual.") So, yay for ten days without that, right?
The boys have started a Spring Break to-do list on the fridge to ensure that we'll have lots of fun things to do and places to go this week. I can't wait! What's on your bucket list for Spring Break?