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Five Children's National Hospital faculty named to Society for Pediatric Research
The Society for Pediatric Research (SPR) announced five new members from Children's National Hospital: Drs. Rana Hamdy, Panagiotis Kratimenos, Brynn Marks, Shayna Coburn and Katie Donnelly.
The Society for Pediatric Research (SPR) announced five new members from Children's National Hospital. Established in 1929, SPR's mission is to create a multi-disciplinary network of diverse researchers to improve child health.
Membership in SPR is a recognized honor in academic pediatrics. It requires nomination by academic peers and leaders as well as recognition of one's role as an independent, productive child health researcher.
"I am so proud of our faculty and all that they have accomplished. I am thrilled that they have been recognized for their achievements," said Beth A. Tarini, M.D., M.S., SPR president and associate director for the Center for Translational Research at Children's National Hospital.
SPR 2021 active new members from Children's National are:
Katie Donnelly, M.D., M.P.H., attending physician in the Emergency Department at Children's National Hospital. She is the medical director for Safe Kids DC, an organization dedicated to preventing accidental injuries in children in Washington DC. Her personal research interest is in preventing firearm injuries in children and she is a member of Safer through Advocacy, Firearm Education and Research (SAFER), a multidisciplinary team dedicated to firearm injury prevention at Children's National. She is also the medical director of the newly founded hospital-based violence intervention program at Children's National and an associate professor of pediatrics and emergency medicine at The George Washington University."To be recognized by my peers as a researcher with a significant contribution to our field is very validating. It also opens a world of potential collaborations with excellent scientists, which is very exciting!" said Dr. Donnelly. "I am grateful for the immense support offered to me by the Division of Emergency Medicine to complete the research I am passionate about, especially my mentor Monika Goyal."
Panagiotis Kratimenos, M.D., Ph.D., newborn intensivist and neuroscientist at Children's National. He studies mechanisms of brain injury in the neonate, intending to prevent its sequelae later in life. Dr. Kratimenos' interest lies in identifying therapies to prevent or improve neurodevelopmental disabilities of sick newborns caused by prematurity and perinatal insults."Being a member of SPR is a deep honor for me. SPR has always been a 'mentorship home' for me since I was a trainee and a member of the SPR junior section," said Dr. Kratimenos. "A membership in the SPR allows us to access a very diverse, outstanding team of pediatric academicians and researchers who support the development of physician-scientists, honors excellence through prestigious grants and awards, and advocates for children at any level either locally, nationally, or internationally."
Rana Hamdy, M.D., M.P.H., M.S.C.E., pediatric infectious diseases physician at Children's National and Director of the Antimicrobial Stewardship Program. She is an assistant professor of pediatrics at George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences. Her area of expertise focuses on the prevention and treatment of antimicrobial resistant infections and the promotion of good antimicrobial stewardship in inpatient and outpatient settings."It's an honor to be joining the Society for Pediatric Research and becoming part of this distinguished multidisciplinary network of pediatric researchers," said Dr. Hamdy. "I look forward to the opportunity to meet and work with SPR members, make connections for future collaborations, as well as encourage trainees to pursue pediatric research through the opportunities that SPR offers."
Shayna Coburn, Ph.D., director of Psychosocial Services in the Celiac Disease Program at Children's National. She is a licensed psychologist specializing in coping and interpersonal relationships in chronic illness treatment, particularly for conditions involving specialized diets. She holds an appointment as assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences. Her work has focused on promoting effective doctor-patient communication, reducing healthcare disparities and supporting successful adherence across the developmental span of childhood and adolescence. She currently has a Career Development Award from National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases to refine and test a group intervention designed to improve self-management and quality of life in teens with celiac disease.
"I hope that my background as a psychologist researcher will help diversify SPR. As an SPR member, I hope to encourage more opportunities for training, awards, and other programs that would be inclusive of clinician researchers who may not hold a traditional medical degree," said Dr. Coburn.
Brynn Marks, M.D., M.S.-H.P.Ed., endocrinologist at Children's National. As a clinical and translational scientist her goal is to use unique personal experiences and training to optimize both patient and provider knowledge of and behaviors surrounding diabetes technologies thereby realizing the potential of diabetes technologies improve the lives and clinical outcomes of all people living with diabetes. Her experiences as a person living with Type 1 diabetes have undoubtedly shaped her clinical and research interests in diabetes management and medical education.
"It is an honor to be accepted for membership in the Society for Pediatric Research," said Dr. Marks. "Being nominated and recognized by peers in this interprofessional pediatric research community will allow me networking and growth opportunities as I continue to advance my research career."
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Diabetes technology use in the cystic fibrosis community
Although diabetes technologies are associated with improvements in glycemic control and health-related quality of life among people with type 1 diabetes (T1D), the use and perceptions of continuous glucose monitors (CGM) and insulin pumps within the cystic fibrosis (CF) community have not been well documented.
In a recent study published in Diabetes Technology & Therapeutics, Brynn Marks, M.D., MS-HPEd, and co-authors, found that compared to T1D, rates of sustained diabetes technology use in the cystic fibrosis-related diabetes (CFRD) community are low, despite perceived benefits. The authors conclude that better insurance coverage to mitigate cost, better patient education and confirmation that these technologies improve health and patient-reported outcomes may increase uptake.
Read the full article in Diabetes Technology & Therapeutics.
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Study shows increase in diabetes cases during COVID-19 pandemic
A retrospective study found pediatric Type 1 diabetes cases rose 15.2% and Type 2 diabetes cases increased by 182% during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic compared to the prior two years— affecting non-Hispanic Black youth the most.
While the effects of COVID-19 on diabetes-related outcomes are extensively studied in adults, data about the incidence and severity of presentation of pediatric new-onset Type 1 diabetes (T1D) and Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is limited. A new retrospective study of 737 youth diagnosed with diabetes at Children's National Hospital between March 11, 2018 and March 10, 2021 found pediatric T1D cases rose 15.2% and T2D cases increased by 182% during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic compared to the prior two years — affecting non-Hispanic Black youth the most.
The study, published in Hormone Research in Paediatrics, compared T1D and T2D cases during the first 12 months of the pandemic, between March 11, 2020 and March 10, 2021, to the same time in the previous two years. This increase in cases was accompanied by a nearly six-fold rise in diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and a 9.2% incidence of hyperosmolar DKA during the pandemic as compared to no cases in the two years prior.
"A better understanding of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is crucial for raising public awareness, shaping policy and guiding appropriate health screenings," said Brynn Marks, M.D., M.S.H.P.Ed., endocrinologist at Children's National and lead author of the study.
Children's National provides clinical care to approximately 1,800 youth with T1D and 600 youth with T2D annually. In the two years before the pandemic, cases of T2D accounted for 25.1% of all newly diagnosed diabetes at Children's National compared to 43.7% during the pandemic. Before the pandemic, females accounted for 59.6% of youth with new-onset T2D but 58.9% of new-onset T2D cases were among males during the pandemic.
The researchers noted that the rise in cases of T2D and severity of presentation of both T1D and T2D during the pandemic disproportionately impacted non-Hispanic Black youth (NHB). NHB youth accounted for 58% of cases of T2D pre-pandemic, which further increased to 77% during the pandemic. The findings also showed that cases of DKA among NHB youth newly diagnosed with T1D increased during the pandemic compared to the two years before (62.7% vs. 45.8%, p=0.02). Before the pandemic, there was no significant difference in A1c at T1D diagnosis between racial and ethnic groups. However, during the pandemic, hemoglobin A1c levels were higher among NHB youth.
"Future studies are needed to understand the root cause of the disproportionate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on non-Hispanic Black youth with newly diagnosed diabetes," said Dr. Marks. "These outcomes during the pandemic will likely worsen pre-existing health care disparities among youth with diabetes. In understanding the indirect effects of our response to the pandemic, we can better inform future emergency responses and develop strategies to improve outcomes for all youth living with diabetes."
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A look at the clinical utility of anti-Mullerian hormone
Anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH), also known as Mullerian inhibiting substance (MIS), is a hormone produced exclusively in the gonads. It was originally described in the context of sexual differentiation in the male fetus but has gained prominence now as a marker of ovarian reserve and fertility in females.
In a mini-review published in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, Roopa Kanakatti Shankar, M.D., pediatric endocrinologist at Children's National Hospital and an associate professor of pediatrics at the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, and co-authors offer an updated synopsis on AMH and its clinical utility in pediatric patients.
The authors performed a systematic search for studies related to the physiology of AMH, normative data and clinical role in pediatrics. After reviewing 70 clinical studies and systematic reviews, they conclude that, "AMH has widespread clinical diagnostic utility in pediatrics but interpretation is often challenging and should be undertaken in the context of not only age and sex but also developmental and pubertal stage of the child."
Other authors from Children's National Hospital include Andrew Dauber, M.D., MMSc, Tazim Dowlut-Mcelroy, M.D., and Veronica Gomez-Lobo, M.D.
Read the full review in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism.
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Patterns of continuous glucose monitoring use in young children after T1D diagnosis
The findings suggest that, when clinically appropriate, continuous glucose monitoring initiation near or at the time of diagnosis benefits glycemic outcomes in young children when followed by sustained use.
Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) is a blood glucose monitoring device worn on the body that is linked to positive glycemic outcomes in people with Type 1 diabetes (T1D). However, very little research has examined CGM use and glycemic outcomes in young children, particularly those newly diagnosed with T1D.
A new Diabetes Technology and Therapeutics study led by Randi Streisand, Ph.D., C.D.C.E.S., Chief of Psychology and Behavioral Health at Children's National Hospital, and others identified four meaningful trajectories of CGM use among young children across 18-months post-T1D diagnosis: those who "always" used CGM; those who got on CGM later but stayed on it ("late/stable"); those who used CGM inconsistently; and those who "never" used CGM. The investigators conducted a study of 157 parents of young children (1-6 years) newly diagnosed with T1D who enrolled in a behavioral intervention.
Importantly, the authors found that those with private insurance were more likely than those with only public insurance to be in the "always" and "late/stable" groups (as opposed to the "never" group). Those in the "always" and "late/stable" groups also had better glycemic outcomes than those in the "never group" at 18-months post-T1D diagnosis.
"This research highlights that insurance type can be a barrier to accessing CGM," Dr. Streisand noted. "Further, this is one of the first studies, among newly diagnosed young children, to show that CGM initiation at diagnosis or near diagnosis followed by sustained use is associated with better glycemic outcomes compared to never initiating CGM, supporting findings from other studies conducted with older youth."
The findings inform clinical care with patients as it suggests that, when clinically appropriate, CGM initiation near or at the time of diagnosis benefits glycemic outcomes in young children when followed by sustained use. This is the only study to examine patterns of CGM use among 1-6-year-old children newly diagnosed with T1D over the first 18-months post-diagnosis.
"It was exciting to find differences in glycemic outcomes based on CGM initiation and use in this unique population," Dr. Streisand said. However, the authors concluded that, given the health benefits of CGM, further exploration of barriers to CGM access and use among some families is needed.
In addition to Dr. Streisand, other Children's National co-authors include Brynn Marks, M.D., M.S. HPEd.; Carrie Tully, Ph.D.; Maureen Monaghan, Ph.D., C.D.E. , and Christine Wang, Ph.D.
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Study examines severity of COVID-19 on kids with Type 1 diabetes
A new study published in the Journal of Diabetes, found that although nearly 80% of youth with Type 1 diabetes and COVID-19 infection are managed at home, youth from racial and ethnic minority groups – those with higher hemoglobin A1c values – and those with public insurance are at increased risk for hospitalization.
In a new study published in the Journal of Diabetes, researchers found that although nearly 80% of youth with Type 1 diabetes (T1D) and COVID-19 infection are managed at home, youth from racial and ethnic minority groups – those with higher hemoglobin A1c values – and those with public insurance are at increased risk for hospitalization. Most hospitalizations among these youth were related to diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) (72%) and 86% of youth hospitalized had an A1c value over 9%. The increased risk for DKA among racial and ethnic minority groups and publicly insured youth in this study is indicative of disparities in T1D outcomes and aligns with other research findings both before and during the pandemic.
Adults with certain underlying medical conditions, like diabetes, are at an increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19. Though there are limited data on youth with T1D who have been infected with COVID-19, viral infections can make it harder to control blood glucose levels. If not properly managed, infections may lead to DKA, a serious life-threatening condition where the body converts fat instead of sugar into energy, causing ketones to build up in the blood and acid levels to rise.
"There is still more to learn about COVID-19 and how it affects children with diabetes and other underlying medical conditions," said Brynn Marks, M.D., MS-HPEd, pediatric endocrinologist at Children's National Hospital and one of the study's co-authors. "We are hopeful that this latest data will emphasize the importance of optimizing glycemic control and give physicians and families more information about the virus and T1D so that severe illness and hospitalizations can possibly be prevented."
In April 2020, the T1D Exchange Quality Improvement Collaborative, along with endocrinology clinics across the U.S., formed a COVID-19 clinical registry to better understand symptoms and outcomes of patients with T1D who also tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection. More than 46 centers nationwide, including Children's National Hospital, submitted data to this novel registry of 266 youth under the age of 19 with previously established T1D and laboratory confirmed COVID-19.
The study found that nearly 80% of youth with T1D and known COVID-19 infection were cared for at home without any adverse outcomes. It is also important to note that COVID-19 was incidentally discovered in 16% of hospitalized youth admitted for reasons unrelated to COVID-19 or T1D (e.g. urological procedures, psychiatric admissions). However, the data revealed a disproportionate rate of hospitalizations and DKA among racial and ethnic minority groups, children who were publicly insured and those with higher A1c. Out of the 266 patients, 72% of the 61 patients were hospitalized due to DKA. An overwhelming majority (82%) of hospitalized patients had an A1c value greater than 9%. More than 40% of non-Hispanic Black youth in the study were hospitalized as compared to 14% of non-Hispanic white youth. Researchers also noted that those patients with public insurance were less likely to use insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitors, emphasizing the continued need to improve more access to diabetes technologies.
"Diabetes technology has advanced rapidly in the last decade and access to insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitors is improving, however these technological advances are perpetuating pre-existing disparities in T1D care and outcomes," Dr. Marks said. "The data is clear and there is a pressing need to act to promote optimal care for all people with T1D."
Recently, Dr. Marks and the Children's National Diabetes team became official members of the Type 1 Diabetes Exchange Collaborative. The team looks forward to using the opportunity to improve diabetes care both here at Children's National and across the country.
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Raising awareness about Turner Syndrome
Gracie Popielarcheck was diagnosed at age one with Turner Syndrome.
By Roopa Kanakatti Shankar, M.D., M.S., Director of the Turner Syndrome Program at Children's National Hospital.
The Children's National Turner Syndrome Clinic is part of the Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes which is ranked by U.S. News & World Report as one of the top 10 programs in the nation. The clinic opened in January 2019 and is the first of its kind in the Washington, D.C., region. A multidisciplinary clinic is held once a month with a team experts in cardiology, endocrinology, psychology, gynecology and genetics to help care for the needs of patients with Turner Syndrome all in one day. The referral network of specialties includes neuropsychology, otolaryngology, audiology, orthopedics, urology and dentistry.
Turner syndrome (TS) is a rare disease affecting girls, with a prevalence of around 25-50 out of every 100,000 females. It is caused by partial or complete loss of the second sex chromosome. This affects multiple organs and can cause heart defects, skeletal abnormalities, hearing loss and learning difficulties. It also affects growth and puberty and can cause infertility. Although the condition was first described in 1938 by Henry Turner, an endocrinologist from Oklahoma, and is well characterized, there is a significant delay in diagnosis and recognition of the condition, especially in milder forms that can still significantly impact the well-being of the individual.
"Having a Turner Syndrome clinic near our city has made life so much easier," says Gracie's mom, Leslie Popielarcheck. "We can see all of Gracie's specialists all in one day and under one roof."
Families often ask why it took so long to recognize this condition. Many findings can be subtle, the presentation can vary greatly and often short stature may be overlooked in some girls. We now recognize that the classic form (monosomy X) impacts less than half of the girls and the rest have mosaicism (45,X/ 46XX) or other structural abnormalities in the X-chromosome. Recognizing features beyond the classic "short stature, neck webbing, lymphedema and cardiac defects" is indeed important to get timely care for these girls and women across the lifespan. Many have recurrent ear infections and hearing loss. Most have a normal intelligence, and even superior verbal skills but face challenges in visual spatial perception, executive function, working memory and social cognition that impact academic achievement.
13-year-old Gracie Popielarcheck was diagnosed with TS at the age of one after her parents noticed a delay in her speech and development. "We had never heard of Turner Syndrome when Gracie was diagnosed," says Leslie Popielarcheck, Gracie's mom. "Gracie didn't have the classic physical features that girls with Turner Syndrome are known to have."
With support, most of these girls and women can manage the medical and psychosocial challenges and rise to their full potential. Advances in the field and multidisciplinary care models have helped in the establishment of TS clinics across the country that strive to improve the standard care for these girls.
However, several challenges remain:
Improving awareness among primary care physicians in regard to the extended spectrum and variability of presentation at a wide variety of ages
Decreasing health disparities and making multidisciplinary clinics and comprehensive care available and accessible even to disadvantaged communities
Ensuring adequate medical and social support for transition of young adults and care of adults with Turner syndrome
Kyra Dorfman, Dr. Shankar and Gracie.
Our TS program, initiated 2 years ago, aims to overcome these challenges and provide care to families impacted by TS in our community. We strive to serve as a Regional Resource for the community as well as physicians in our community and have been recognized by the TSGA (Turner syndrome Global Alliance) as one of only nine clinics nationwide with a Level 4 designation.
"Having a Turner Syndrome clinic near our city has made life so much easier," Popielarcheck says. "We can see all of Gracie's specialists all in one day and under one roof."
As we highlight these resources for the Turner Syndrome Awareness Month this February 2021, and celebrate the strength and tenacity of our beautiful girls, we hope our efforts will improve recognition of the condition and delivery of comprehensive medical care and support to the community we serve.
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New grant to assess screening tools for cystic fibrosis-related diabetes
A grant from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation will help Children's National researchers assess the feasibility and accuracy of two new cystic fibrosis-related diabetes screening tools.
Cystic fibrosis-related diabetes (CFRD) is the most common non-pulmonary manifestation of cystic fibrosis (CF), affecting up to 30% of adolescents and 50% of adults living with CF, according to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF). CFRD is often asymptomatic and so the CFF recommends that people living with CF be screened for CFRD annually starting at 10 years of age using an oral glucose tolerance test.
Although early detection and treatment of CFRD can lead to significant clinical improvements and prolong life, rates of screening are poor, likely due to the burdensome nature of oral glucose tolerance testing (OGTT). Rates of OGTT screening in patients 10-17 years of age vary widely among CF care centers, ranging 5.9% to 100% with a median of 61.3% of patients at a given center completing screening. At Children's National, only 46.4% of pediatric CF patients without CFRD completed the OGTT in 2019. The most commonly cited reason for failure to complete recommended OGTT screening is the additional burden that this time-consuming fasting test, requiring three blood draws, places upon patients who already contend with multiple medical interventions.
"People living with CF face tremendous medical burdens.," says Brynn Marks, M.D., MSHPEd, pediatric endocrinologist at Children's National Hospital. "Novel, more convenient approaches to CFRD screening that can provide both diagnostic and therapeutic information are urgently needed."
Dr. Marks and Carol Chace, MSW, a social worker at Children's National, have collaborated to receive a $160,000 Pilot and Feasibility Award from the CFF that will allow researchers to assess the feasibility and accuracy of two new CFRD screening tools, the Dexcom G6 Pro, a continuous glucose monitoring (CGM), and the Digostics GTT@home, a home-based OGTT kit. The Dexcom G6 Pro is the first unblinded professional CGM that enables patients to see their glucose values and trends in real-time. The GTT@home uses a built-in timer and audio-visual cues to guide users to collect capillary blood samples through finger sticks.
"While the idea of home-based testing is exciting in general, it is particularly important in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, as many are limiting preventative health care visits," says Dr. Marks. "This research will hopefully inform future larger studies that could one day allow for this screening to be done at home."
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Children's National to test bionic pancreas
The iLet bionic pancreas helps patients manage their diabetes by both monitoring blood glucose levels and administering insulin and glucagon.
Children's National Hospital has been selected to participate in a multi-center clinical trial to test the efficacy of the iLet bionic pancreas — a device that automatically regulates blood sugar levels in patients with Type 1 diabetes.
Patients generally manage diabetes by constantly monitoring their blood sugar levels and administering insulin when necessary. Unfortunately, too much insulin can cause hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, which can result in hypoglycemic seizures, coma or rarely, death. Thus, it is extremely important for people with diabetes to regulate their insulin dosages and maintain their blood sugar levels within a range decided by the family and diabetes team.
"The burden of caring for diabetes on a daily basis is grueling," says Seema Meighan, FNP, a nurse practitioner involved in the upcoming clinical trial. "It is by far one of the most challenging chronic diseases to manage, and requires vigilant participation 100 percent of the time to stay well controlled."
The iLet bionic pancreas helps patients manage their diabetes by both monitoring blood glucose levels and administering insulin and glucagon — a pancreatic hormone that raises blood sugar levels.
"In a traditional infusion pump, patients only have access to insulin to control glucose levels," explains Meighan. "This can become problematic when it comes to hypoglycemia. The hope with a bi-hormonal system is that glucagon can be delivered during times that the glucose is low in order to stabilize levels without user interaction."
Developed at Boston University by Edward Damiano, Ph.D., and Firas El-Khatib, Ph.D., the iLet is a hand-held device about the size of an iPhone but twice as thick, and can easily fit into a pocket. The unit consists of a dual chamber infusion pump that can be configured to deliver only insulin, only glucagon or both hormones. The device uses a wireless glucose sensor on the patient's body to test blood sugar levels every five minutes. It then determines which hormone is needed and administers it via catheters connected to the patient.
In short-term studies, the iLet was able to maintain blood glucose levels close to normal in both adults and children in carefully controlled environments.
In 2016, the Children's National Hospital Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes, led by diabetologist Fran Cogen, M.D., C.D.C.E.S., was one of several pediatric sites that were selected to participate in pivotal clinical trials to further test the efficacy of the bionic pancreas. In June 2020, the team at Children's National began enrolling patients to test iLet devices that only deliver insulin. Once these initial studies are completed, the team will perform an additional trial to test iLet devices configured to deliver both insulin and glucagon.
"This trial is important as it represents the first dual chamber pump to manage glucose levels," says Meighan. "It could potentially change the way we treat diabetes entirely. It represents a hope to our patients and families that one day this disease will have far less of a daily burden than it currently does."
Currently, there are 18 patients enrolled in the clinical trial. An initial test run on two patients was successfully completed in November 2020. In early January 2021, the first patient was started on the bionic pancreas to begin the randomized controlled study and three additional patients, who completed the screening process, will join the study shortly. The screening and initiation of the study will continue in the remaining patients.
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Four Children's National Hospital leaders named to APS
Drs. Dewesh Agrawal, Andrew Dauber, Robert Freishtat and Vittorio Gallo were named as 2021 American Pediatric Society members.
The American Pediatric Society (APS) has announced 55 new members, four of which are experts from Children's National Hospital. Founded in 1888, the APS is the first and most prestigious academic pediatric organization in North America.
APS members are recognized child health leaders of extraordinary achievement who work together to shape the future of academic pediatrics. New members are nominated by current members through a process that recognizes individuals who have distinguished themselves as child health leaders, teachers, scholars, policymakers and/or clinicians.
"Our members represent the most distinguished and accomplished academic leaders in pediatrics whose outstanding work has advanced child health," said APS President Steven Abman, M.D. "I am honored to welcome this exceptional group of individuals to the APS. The APS is especially looking forward to the active engagement of our membership with many exciting programs within the organization that are directed towards improvements in academic pediatric medicine, including more vigorous approaches to express our values of anti-racism, equity, diversity and inclusion."
APS 2021 active new members from Children's National are:
Dewesh Agrawal, M.D., vice-chair for Medical Education at Children's National. Agrawal's career has been marked by academic honors and teaching awards at every stage of his training and faculty employment. He has relentlessly devoted his energy to improving the educational experience for students, residents and fellows at Children's National.
Andrew Dauber, M.D., M.M.Sc., chief of Endocrinology at Children's National. Dr. Dauber's leadership is reflected, nationally and internationally, in his ability to create research consortia, bringing together investigators to tackle complex questions. For example, he leads an NIH-funded consortium on the genetics of short statures, with multiple top children's hospitals as partners. He also leads a large clinical trial testing a novel therapeutic agent for genetic short stature.
Robert Freishtat, M.D., M.P.H., senior investigator in the Center for Genetic Medicine of the Children's National Research Institute (CNRI). Dr. Freishtat has authored or co-authored more than 100 articles and book chapters in the fields of pediatric lung injury, asthma, obesity, exosomes and emergency medicine. His research has been continuously funded by the NIH since 2003.
Vittorio Gallo, Ph.D., chief research officer at Children's National and scientific director of CNRI. Dr. Gallo's scientific success is attested to by over 130 peer-reviewed publications, many in very high-profile journals, as well as over 30 review articles and book chapters. He has received many national and international awards, including the NINDS Javits award in Neuroscience in 2018. Dr. Gallo has served on the editorial boards of many neuroscience journals, including Glia and the Annual Review in Neuroscience, and has been reviewing editor for the Journal of Neuroscience, all of which is a testament to the tremendous impact that his studies have had on the advancement of neurosciences.
"These new members represent multiple areas of Children's National and have all leveraged the intersection of science, medicine and clinical education to make advances in their field of study," said Stephen J. Teach, M.D., M.P.H., chair of the Department of Pediatrics at Children's National. "Their work has, and will continue to, advance pediatric health care, and I congratulate them on their APS membership."
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Study may change treatment of childhood growth disorders
A new Phase 2 study at Children's National will look at using the drug vosoritide to promote growth in children with growth disorders.
A child's growth is often measured by pediatricians during routine physicals to identify abnormalities of growth and stature. An abnormality in these measurements could mean a child has a growth disorder. There are many different causes of growth disorders. Some can be the result of defects in genes related to the growth plate, which is the tissue near the end of long bones that grows as the child grows. Children with a growth disorder can present many different symptoms including short stature, joint pain, heart problems, bone problems and developmental delays. Scientists still have a lot to learn about what exactly causes these genetic growth disorders and treatments are limited, especially in the pediatric population. Growth hormone is not uniformly helpful and has only been approved for a small number of conditions.
Vosoritide is an investigational drug that directly targets the growth plate to promote growth. It is an analog of the amino acid C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP). It binds its receptor on healthy cartilage cells called chondrocytes and is currently under investigation in clinical trials as a treatment for the bone growth disorder achondroplasia.
"Vosoritide for Selected Genetic Causes of Short Stature" is a Phase 2 study currently open at Children's National Hospital. This study will target five types of genetic short stature including SHOX deficiency, hypochondroplasia, Rasopathies (which includes Noonan syndrome), heterozygous NPR2 defects and CNP deficiency.
Thirty-five children with short stature will be enrolled and followed for a six-month observation period to obtain baseline growth velocity, safety profile and quality of life assessment. Study participants will then be treated with vosoritide for 12 months and will be assessed for safety and improvement in growth outcomes.
"Many patients who present with short stature likely have genetic defects in genes involved in growth plate physiology. Those patients with selected causes of short stature that interact with the CNP pathway may benefit from treatment with vosoritide, which directly targets the growth plate," said Andrew Dauber, M.D., MMSc., lead investigator of this clinical study and chief of Endocrinology at Children's National Hospital, a program ranked in the top 10 by U.S. News & World Report. "In this study, our goal is to understand if vosoritide may be a safe and effective treatment option for certain genetically defined short stature syndromes."
This clinical trial has been approved by the FDA and funded by BioMarin. Children's National is the only site in the world offering this therapy for patients with these conditions. The study is currently underway and subject recruitment is ongoing. There are 9 participants enrolled to date.
"This study could fundamentally change the way we treat certain growth disorders", says Dr. Dauber.
For more information on the clinical trial, click here.
https://innovationdistrict.childrensnational.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/little-girl-measuring-her-height.png 300 400 Innovation District https://innovationdistrict.childrensnational.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/idlogo1-tagline-Advances-in-Medicine.gif Innovation District2020-11-09 13:33:082020-11-17 11:41:56Study may change treatment of childhood growth disorders
Turner Syndrome Clinic designated as Level 4 Regional Resource Center
The Children's National Hospital Turner Syndrome Clinic is proud to be recognized by the Turner Syndrome Global Alliance (TSGA) as a Level 4 Regional Resource Center. Level 4 is the highest Level of Care designation and is based on the KidNECT Care Model which encourages family networking, education, comprehensive coordinated care and transition support as well as leadership in Turner Syndrome (TS) research.
TS is a rare genetic disorder that occurs in 1 to about 2,500 girls and is caused by a partial or complete missing X chromosome. Some of the characteristics of TS are short stature, delayed puberty, kidney, thyroid and heart problems. Although there is no cure for TS, many of the symptoms can be treated.
The Children's National TS Clinic is part of the Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes which is ranked by U.S. News & World Report as one of the top 10 programs in the nation. The TS Clinic opened in January 2019 and is the first one-of-its-kind in the Washington, D.C. region. A multidisciplinary clinic is held once a month with the team comprising of cardiology, endocrinology, psychology, gynecology and genetics to help care for the needs of patients with TS all in one day. The referral network of specialties includes neuropsychology, otolaryngology, audiology, orthopedics, urology and dentistry.
"I am so proud of our team for their hard work and the excellent clinical care they provide for girls with Turner Syndrome," says Roopa Kanakatti Shankar, M.D., endocrinologist at Children's National. "This recognition by the Turner Syndrome Global Alliance means that we not only provide comprehensive care but also serve as a regional leader and resource center for the families we serve. We will continue to raise awareness about Turner Syndrome through our research and partnerships."
https://innovationdistrict.childrensnational.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Clinic-Level-4-Regional-Resource-Center.png 300 400 Innovation District https://innovationdistrict.childrensnational.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/idlogo1-tagline-Advances-in-Medicine.gif Innovation District2020-10-26 16:23:012020-10-26 16:28:12Turner Syndrome Clinic designated as Level 4 Regional Resource Center
Randi Streisand, Ph.D., receives 2020 Richard R. Rubin Award
Randi Streisand, Ph.D., is the recipient of the 2020 Richard R. Rubin Award. This national award, sponsored by the American Diabetes Association, recognizes a scientist who has made outstanding, innovative contributions to the study and understanding of the behavioral aspects of diabetes.
Currently, Dr. Streisand is a tenured professor of psychology and pediatrics at The George Washington University School of Medicine and serves as chief of the Division of Psychology & Behavioral Health at Children's National Hospital. Additionally, she serves as vice-chair for the Institutional Review Board, and provides clinical services for families impacted by diabetes and other health conditions. She is also an active mentor and educator for trainees and early career faculty members regarding research and clinical service.
Throughout her career, Dr. Streisand has received multiple research and training grants, published approximately 100 papers in peer-reviewed journals, and presented at national and international meetings. She has also been recognized for her mentorship and received awards from Children's National as well as the Society of Pediatric Psychology. Dr. Streisand's research is funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and focuses on parent-child adjustment to diabetes, and behavioral interventions to promote adjustment, adherence and glycemic control. Her research has included young children through teenagers, and she is currently evaluating the use of a parent coach program to support parents of young children newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.
Dr. Streisand has served on several editorial boards for journals, serves as a grant reviewer for NIH, and has served in elected positions for professional organizations. She is also a Certified Diabetes Educator.
https://innovationdistrict.childrensnational.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Randi-Streisand.png 300 400 Innovation District https://innovationdistrict.childrensnational.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/idlogo1-tagline-Advances-in-Medicine.gif Innovation District2020-08-12 10:49:372021-04-23 11:45:38Randi Streisand, Ph.D., receives 2020 Richard R. Rubin Award
Genetics can't explain mixed impact of growth hormone therapy
Growth hormone therapy is one of the most common treatments for short stature in children. However, endocrinologists report mixed outcomes, even when children have the same underlying condition as the cause of their short stature. Despite research into a variety of potential causes for this unpredictable response, there is still very little scientific evidence to help physicians predict whether children with short stature who are treated with growth hormone will respond to the treatment or not.
A study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism took up this question with an eye to the genetic factors that might predict response by conducting the first ever genome-wide association study of response to growth hormone.
"Previous disease-specific models have been developed using multiple clinical variables such as parental height, age at treatment start, peak hormone levels and doses, and birth parameters, however, these clinical parameters only partially predict variation in response," wrote the study authors, including Andrew Dauber, M.D., first author and chief of the division of Endocrinology at Children's National Hospital. "Our goal was to perform a large-scale genome-wide study to provide a comprehensive assessment of how common genetic variation may play a role in growth hormone response."
To accomplish this, the study combined five cohorts from across the world to identify 614 individuals for further review. All patients had short stature caused by conditions including growth hormone deficiency, small for gestational age, or idiopathic short stature (no previously identified cause), who received growth hormone as treatment.
Interestingly, the researchers found no overwhelming genetic predictors of response to growth hormone. They did identify a few signals that may potentially play a role in the body's response to growth hormone but noted those signals will need further exploration. The study also ruled out the idea that genetic predictors of height in the general population might predict response to growth hormone.
"Identifying genetic predictors of how a child with short stature will respond to growth hormone would be an important step forward for clinicians and parents to make informed decisions about the right treatment approach," says Dr. Dauber. "Though we didn't find any specific indicators, this large-scale study has allowed us to rule out some previously held assumptions and offers several new avenues to explore."
The study was conducted in collaboration with Pfizer and Boston Children's Hospital.
https://innovationdistrict.childrensnational.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/DNA.jpg 300 400 Innovation District https://innovationdistrict.childrensnational.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/idlogo1-tagline-Advances-in-Medicine.gif Innovation District2020-07-20 10:39:282020-12-21 15:44:46Genetics can't explain mixed impact of growth hormone therapy
2020 at a glance: Endocrinology and Diabetes at Children's National
https://innovationdistrict.childrensnational.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/2020_US_News_Diabetes-InfoGraohicFinal-feature.png 300 400 Innovation District https://innovationdistrict.childrensnational.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/idlogo1-tagline-Advances-in-Medicine.gif Innovation District2020-07-02 12:15:582020-07-22 12:07:522020 at a glance: Endocrinology and Diabetes at Children's National


text:
Coalition urges Congress to rescind FCC Broadband Privacy Order
The Honorable Paul Ryan
The Honorable Mitch McConnell
The Honorable Nancy Pelosi Democratic Leader
The Honorable Chuck Schumer Democratic Leader
Dear Speaker Ryan, Majority Leader McConnell, Leader Pelosi and Leader Schumer:
We urge you to use the authority provided in the Congressional Review Act to rescind the Federal Communications Commission's Broadband Privacy Order.
Congress is fully justified in rescinding these rules both because the Order lacks proper legal grounding and because of the need to ensure real consumer privacy across contexts of user experience.
The FCC's approach is inconsistent with that of the Federal Trade Commission for nearly two decades, and will likely render harm unto consumers.
The FTC focuses on what data are held, the level of data sensitivity, and how consumers are affected if the data are misused. This outcomes-based approach takes consumers' preferences into account while preventing actions that harm consumers.
The FTC's approach rests on well-established standards of Unfairness (preventing substantial consumer injury) and Deception (enforcing material promises). Consumers generally agree on what constitutes financial and physical injury. Consumers deem data that could lead to these types of injuries more sensitive, and expect higher security for these data.
The sensitivity of other "private" information is, as the FTC rightly recognizes, often subjective, depending on its use. Some people might choose to post everything about themselves online — details that others might find invasive or embarrassing if made public — while others chose not to join social networks. Some might find value in an application using data about their geolocation in a particular way, while others decline participation because they consider the benefit of the service outweighed by its privacy cost. None of these approaches to privacy is incorrect. Each is a personal decision about tradeoffs. Taking varying consumer preferences into account, the FTC's standards functioned reasonably well, requiring opt-out in most instances and opt-in only for particularly sensitive kinds of data.
The FCC approach focuses on who holds the data, rather than what — and how sensitive — the data are. This hinders services that consumers want while failing to protect sensitive data across contexts.
The FCC's questionable ability to regulate privacy standards, and its narrow view on what constitutes privacy protection, make its rules counterproductive to actual consumer privacy protections. In contrast, the FTC's approach to privacy does a better job of balancing protection of consumers' privacy online with economic incentives to innovate in consumer products and services.
There are many reasons for Congress to negate these rules: The legality of the Open Internet Order, which these rules are based on, is questionable; the FCC's expanded interpretation of customer proprietary network information from section 222 is incorrect, as it applies specifically to voice services; and sections 201, 202, 303(b), 316 and 705 of the Communications Act also do not give the FCC the authority to enter rules of this nature.
Rescinding the Privacy Order would promote both innovation and effective, consistent privacy protections in over-the-top, application, wireless and wireline markets. It would also send a clear signal that the FCC has lost its way in interpreting the statute Congress gave it. Doing so would not create a gap in privacy protection because the FCC would retain the ability to police privacy practices of broadband companies on a case-by-case basis.
If Congress fails to use the CRA in such a clear-cut case of agency overreach, the statute will fail in its original goal: encouraging regulatory agencies to respect the bounds of Congressional authority.
Americans for Tax Reform
Digital Liberty
American Commitment
American Consumer Institute
Caesar Rodeny Institute
Center for Freedom & Prosperity
Frontiers of Freedom
International Center for Law & Economics
Institute for Policy Innovation
The Jeffersonian Project
John Locke Foundation
Less Government
The Main Heritage Policy Center
NetCompetition
Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council
Taxpayers Protection Alliance
TechFreedom
Photo Credit: Jim

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Tributes have been paid to four members of a British family killed in a car crash in Florida.The Stephensons - Adam, 30, Maryanne, 29, Bryan 66, and Sheralyn, 56, all from Bristol - died in the crash between their sedan and a pick-up truck near the city of Titusville on Monday. They were returning to their rental home after visiting the nearby Kennedy Space Centre.Bryan Stephenson's brother, John, said the family was "devastated".
He added: "We are devastated at the loss of the four family members Bryan, Sherry, Adam and Maryanne, in such tragic circumstances.
"Our thoughts are with our nephew Sean, wife Sarah and their family, and getting them home as soon as possible so we can love and support them through this very difficult time."
Bryan Stephenson's employers, Emery Brothers building contractors in Bath, said staff were "deeply shocked and saddened" by the news. "Bryan was a valued member of our team and a friend to many of us, he will be sorely missed," a statement added.Titusville Police Department said a preliminary investigation found Adam Stephenson drove the rented vehicle into the path of the truck on the SR 405 at the junction with Sisson Road.It found GPS in the vehicle was instructing a "U-turn" at an intersection "most likely because of an earlier crash with road blockage".Police said Adam Stephenson's brother was also on holiday with the family but had not travelled to the space centre.


All students participating in OnlineAngerCourse.com will receive a certificate of completion when the course has been successfully completed. Proof of enrollment and progress reports are also available.
We stand behind all of our products and programs. While many participants take our online anger management courses for personal or occupational reasons, others may take them for a court, probation or other legal requirement. If you are not completely satisfied with the quality and acceptance of our programs for a court or legal requirement, we will refund your money in full with written proof of decline.
Refund requests must be received within 30 days of purchase. Our classes meet requirements in many states for persons required to complete an anger management class. It is your responsibility to confirm with the judge, probation, or your attorney as to whether our distance learning anger management program will meet your specific requirements.
Our Certificate of Completion comes on an official form commonly used by anger management providers. It simply states "Anger Management Class Certificate of Completion". Also included on the certificate is your name, date of birth, case number (if for court), address, phone number, and number of sessions completed. We use the same certificate for all of our programs.
Our online anger management classes have been used and accepted in throughout U.S. Please verify with the judge or court whether a distance learning program will meet your specific requirements.
Disclaimer: This course should ONLY be taken for educational purposes only. It is NOT a substitute for psychological or medical advice or counseling. If you think you have a psychological or medical problem, please consult with your doctor or call 911 in an emergency.


text:
Hacking Ransomware Group REvil Threatens to Strike Again
Shine Li Jun 29, 2020 09:40 2 Min Read
Previously known to be the company that hacked entertainment media firm Grubman Shire Meiselas & Sacks, the cyberattack gang REvil does not appear to be giving up their devious activities any time soon.
Their new scheme once again entails ransomware but this time the demands are targeting big-shot celebrities, such as rap star Nicki Minaj, NBA superstar Lebron James, and Mariah Carey.
Grubman Shire Meiselas & Sacks
The reputed American law firm Grubman Shire Meiselas & Sacks caters mainly to Hollywood celebrities. Among other well-known entertainment performers, they are the official legal representatives of known celebrities such as Lady Gaga, Elton John, Mary J. Blige, and many more.
News of the cybercriminal activities pertaining to REvil group surfaced last month. The hacking group boasted that it had previously managed to hack and extract a massive amount of encrypted data from a reputed American IP law firm, and stolen data from the US navy. They then proceeded to auction off the data that was illegally stolen during their ransomware attacks.
In fact, their criminal gains amounted to a cumulative sum of 756 gigabytes worth of documents, most of which contained sensitive information on stolen music and private information on the entertainment biz.
REvil ransomware group has previously been known to target companies such as Travelex, which guarantees the lowest transactional prices for foreign exchanges in the United States of America.
Revealing the devious schemes behind REvil
REvil is notorious for demanding popular cryptocurrency payouts such as Bitcoins, in exchange for a release of the stolen data. However, the ransomware gang has decided to switch to heists targeting Monero (XMR) payouts. These are known to be more safe, secure, and highly untraceable.
What is Monero?
Monero is a cryptocurrency that was founded in 2014. It resulted from a fork of ByteCoin. With Monero, the advantage is that account privacy and fund transactions are completely in the power of the crypto user himself.
The ransomware group has revealed future plans that include hacking President Donald Trump. Judging by the POTUS' reaction to Bitcoin, ransomware hacking threats such as Revil's may lead to an angry Twitter comment or another huge reaction of the POTUS.
Trump has previously been known to be quite vocal about his reservations on cryptocurrency trends, such as Bitcoin. This was evidenced in a Tweet he made in July 2019, that talked about their high volatility and thin air concept.
REVIL


text:
Байдаковка () — село в Нигматуллинском сельсовете муниципального района Альшеевский район Республики Башкортостан России.

Географическое положение
Расстояние до:
 районного центра (Раевский): 42 км,
 ближайшей железнодорожной станции (Раевка): 42 км.

Население

Согласно переписи 2002 года, преобладающие национальности — русские (38 %), башкиры (27 %).

Примечания

Ссылки
 Совет муниципальных образований Республики Башкортостан

Населённые пункты Альшеевского района

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Q: How to bring the cursor on the front while reading a line so that AtEndOfStream check works I have a file which contains 10 records. I am trying to read it using below. Now what is happening is I need to loopkup some company name from first row and need to create a file using that name (this is what I am doing in if loop).
In Else I need to do some data mining on all rows, including the first one already read. Now since ReadLine reads a line and then leaves the cursor at the end of the line (in below case the cursor will be after testing), so in the following reads the order will get messed up by 1, and either the first or the last row will be missed (based on where you re-read the line).
This is just for testing (Please keep this. It's an example referred in the text)
Set tsIn = fso.OpenTextFile("F:kushal\1094c.csv", 1)
Do While Not tsIn.AtEndOfStream
    If firstRead Then
        l = tsIn.Skipline ' skip the header row
        l = tsIn.Readline
        dim tsOut : Set tsOut = fso.CreateTextFile("..\HCR Files\" & _
            ucase(formatFileDate(getSafeString(l))) & ".e", true, tristatefalse)
    Else
        l = tsIn.Readline
        l = left(l, (len(l) - 1))
        l = split(l, chr(34) & "," & chr(34))
        'All other stuff
    End if
Loop

A: Dim tsOut, firstRead

Set tsIn = fso.OpenTextFile("F:kushal\1094c.csv", 1)

If Not tsIn.AtEndOfStream Then tsIn.Skipline  'skip the header row

firstRead = True

Do While Not tsIn.AtEndOfStream

    l = tsIn.Readline

    'save the first line
    If firstRead Then
        Set tsOut = fso.CreateTextFile("..\HCR Files\" & _
                   ucase(formatFileDate(getSafeString(l))) & _
                    ".e", true, tristatefalse)
        firstRead = False
    End If

    l = left(l, (len(l) - 1))
    l = split(l, chr(34) & "," & chr(34))
    'etc etc

Loop

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Alibaba in Context
*Learn about the role Ipreo played in taking Alibaba to market.*
On Thursday, it will finally arrive. The most anticipated IPO of 2014 is almost here, and it looks like it may actually live up to the hype.
Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba is set to go public at the end of this week, after a ten-day roadshow that will have seen two teams of senior executives attend 100 meetings in the U.S., the Middle East, and Asia.
If Alibaba's IPO prices at the middle of its filed range, it will take home $23B in the largest IPO of all time, more than ten times larger than this year's previous biggest debut, Ally Financial, which delivered just north of $2B and currently stands as the 20th biggest debut since 2001.
Even should the IPO open at all-time levels, perhaps we should temper our expectations a bit, at least when it comes to post-issuance performance. After all, only two of the top 10 Chinese-Domiciled IPOs launched on the US Exchanges since 2001 have increased their value in the months/years after their debuts, and the eight others saw their value decrease significantly.
Regardless, anticipation for this IPO is at a fever pitch, and should the pricing estimates bear out, it will be larger than the debuts of Facebook, GM and Visa combined.
Alibaba's investors may be in for one heck of a magic carpet ride.
The Impact of the JOBS Act
Ipreo and Alibaba


The Devil Went Down To Georgia is available as an arrangement for piano duet, violin and voice.
The first performance was with Lauren, Mary, Caitlyn, and Lisa in 2010.
This entry was posted in piano duet, sheet music, violin and tagged piano, senior recital, vioice, violin. Bookmark the permalink.


Student - Undertaking a degree in Archaeology at University of Leicester. Work for the University Sports & Recreation department.
Played Football for Doncaster Juniors, Scunthorpe Reserves, and Crowley United in the Lincolnshire League.
Played American Football for Scunthorpe Steelers in the Budweiser National League.
Placed 2nd in the Harrogate & District Council indoor rowing competition.
Rowed for 6 hours on a Concept II rowing machine, achieving 78,437m, to raise money for Red Nose Day.
Day 1 = Chest/Back & Arm routine + 30-40 min CV work.
As a youth there was not a day that went by where I was not playing, or training for sport. My obsession and passion was the game of football, and I could not see myself doing anything other than playing the game as a profession, therefore I sought advice from several footballing coaches, regarding what I needed to do to make my ambitions a reality, and the basic response I received was that the harder I trained the better I would become.
With this newly found knowledge my enthusiasm was boundless and I took these wise men to their word, I trained harder than I had ever done in my life, sometimes training two to three times per day. But nobody had advised me on diet, a carefully prepared exercise routine, or preparation for exercise, i.e. Warm up, stretching, and warm down. It was all push, push and more push, the no pain no gain scenario, and I eventually found myself at the age of eighteen not only totally burnt out but carrying several nagging injuries that would continue to painfully and frustratingly plague me through the next twenty two years of my life.
Although since I have taken a number of sports coaching qualifications in which the benefits of stretching to prevent injury have been highlighted, and as a qualified fitness instructor I am constantly advising members to properly prepare themselves before attempting exercise, I must admit that in the past I have not personally practiced what I have learnt or preached. Therefore this culminated in November 2001 with all of my past injuries resurfacing, where the pain involved was such that I had to completely stop all forms of exercise.
Merely stopping though did not improve the situation as the pain persisted and over the next two months even walking and sleeping became painful. Luckily for me though the combination of observing a yoga class on television and the advice of a fellow college encouraged me to consider attempting this form of exercise, but before I did I wanted to know more about what it entailed, so borrowing a video tape of one of Anne Marie's yoga classes I decided to have a go.
In no way do I want this to sound like a cheesy advertisement, but after undertaking the first session the results were amazing, not only did I feel relief from the pain in my shoulder, lower back and hamstrings, but I also had a feeling of being re-energized which lasted for a couple of days, then I stared to feel the pain creep back again. Therefore I decided that for the next couple of month I would follow Anne Marie's advice on the tape and perform the exercises three times per week religiously, Sunday, Wednesday and Friday.
At first I found my flexibility limited my ability, but as advised I concentrated on my own capability and limits, not trying to achieve too much to soon. While performing the exercises I found that it created a lot of heat within my muscles, which made me sweat profusely, but although the exercises are demanding in now way are they strenuous or painful. At the end of each session, what with the combination of the breathing technique shown and the warmth of the body, it left me felling as if I had just been attending a meditation class not an exercise class, as not only my body was in a state of relaxation by also my mind as well.
c) Although I do not play sport anymore I have resumed the training programme mention in my profile.
I feel that I can get on with my life now without interferance from the conditions mentioned which were causing me to feel depressed and dejected. But it has occurred to me that if I had understood the benefits of Yoga at an earlier age then I would not have had to suffered for as long as I did, plus at present the Yoga exercises seem to be enhancing my workouts in the gym and I am noticing that I am making gains quicker than I have ever achieved before. This leads me to believe that if I had combined Yoga with my football at an earlier age then I would probably have played a lot longer than I did, having retired through injury, and it would have help enhanced my fitness levels to the extent where I could concentrate on improving my skills rather than worrying whether I would last the game or training session through injury.
For any young sportsperson I would recommend that you incorporate Yoga as part of your training programme. You may feel that you are invincible and recover well, but constant abuse, neglect and age will result in a similar situation to that which I have incurred.
For the older sportsperson with old sports injuries, there is no reason for you to continue to live in pain as I did, just have a go at one Yoga class and the benefits will speak for themselves.


willing to learn and apply new skills for this sales opportunity.
Each week our company mails thousands of letters to people who just bought or refinanced a home in your area. Our letter clearly states that the client may qualify for a non-medical, mortgage protection product. We will pay off the mortgage in the event of their death or even make the mortgage payments in case of a disability or critical illness. Clients interested in our product will personally fill out our questionnaire and then mail it back to us.
I am looking for the right individual who will take the returned letters, call the homeowner and set up an appointment to sit down with them at their home for about 45 minutes and help them pick out the best mortgage protection plan that fits their budget.
Typically, commission is about $550.00 per family you protect. The average full-time underwriter will sell between 4 to 7 mortgage protection plans a week. You will be contacting qualified buyers!
Additionally, our company offers Fixed Indexed Annuities and Indexed Universal Life Policies for clients wanting to protect and grow their retirement savings. Our training is comprehensive and you will be mentored every step of the way.
I'm looking for an entrepreneur, the goal based individual who wants to build their own agency. If you are willing to devote yourself to developing the leadership skills necessary as a manager, your income potential for this position is unlimited. Many of our managers have a passive income and will have it for life.
You are required to obtain and maintain a state life insurance license. This normally takes about two weeks.
If you meet the above requirements, please apply. Be prepared to tell me about yourself and what is it about this position that interests you most. I look forward to speaking with you.


Thinking outside the box has seen fashion photographer and Rokeby Studios director Marija Ivkovic land clients including Lee, Wrangler, Levi's and Myer however, it was thinking inside the box which led to her latest business venture known simply as photobooth. Described as "the world's first fully portable, high resolution, digital, architecturally designed, part inflatable photo booth," Marija's flash of inspiration has become the life of the party scene.
Rokeby Studios in Collingwood! I work A LOT!
Create, photograph… and some people say I'm an entrepreneur.
What is the most enjoyable part of your day?
Apart from my first coffee of the day, I love the fact that every day is different and I'm constantly meeting new and interesting people.
You have had many successes, but what do you consider your greatest achievement?
Being able to run my own business and go on to creating three businesses that stem from photography has been my greatest achievement. I'm very proud of what I've achieved but it hasn't come without a lot of hard work!
Who do you consider to be an influence on your work?
David Vasiljevic, Annie Leibovitz, Tim Walker & Stephane Sednaoui….to name a few.
Who is your fave Australian model to work with?
My favourite Australian Model would have to be Catherine McNeil before she hit the big time but Valeria Erokhina is also great! Both are two very successful individuals in their own rights and were easy to work with.
Nikon or Canon? Primes or Zooms? Mac or PC? iPhone or Blackberry?
Hasselblad first (they produce the finest camera equipment known to man), then Canon, Prime lenses for sure, and Apple all the way!
What advice would you give to people looking for a career similar to yours?
Passion first; money comes after. You've got to love what you do!
What about the average Joe, what are three vital tips to get the perfect instagram shot?
Interesting subject matter, interesting composition, and play with light. I prefer to shoot from the camera setting then take it into instagram. That way I can do landscape shots.
Your studio, Rokeby has some pretty great murals on the wall. Who's the artist behind them?
The amazing David – a.k.a GhostPatrol.
Rokeby do some great, large events. Who do you use to cater such large events?
Tommy Collins and Damm Fine Foods are both amazing! They always do such a great job and serve up some seriously tasty food!
YOU RUN THREE VERY SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSES. SO TELL US WHO'S YOUR ACCOUNTANT?
My Accountant, Kasem Dzaferovic rocks my world! I have been using him for eleven years now and I highly recommend him – He's great at explaining accounting/tax lingo in a simpler form and is the BEST business mentor!


Very productive day on the Home Improvements front: Banker Gurl's More Bang For Your Buck!
My Mom came and helped me clean out our garage today since we will be having a rummage sale next weekend. Normally we have then all summer long, but since we didn't this year due to the flooding we had a VERY dirty garage. We got it all cleaned up though and my parents are starting to bring the tables and stuff to sale down tonight.
I also got the aluminum cans ready to take in to recycling as well. We had another bad storm this week and it blew a piece of our aluminum trim off of our house and bent it all up, so I will take that with to the recycling too and we will have to go buy a new one.
We had a friend who is good with electrical come over and he fixed our doorbell, fireplace, 4 electrical outlets and the electric locks on DH's car! So happy to have all of those minor repairs done in one day. I tried to pay him, but all he wanted was a case of beer. We also gave him our old lawnmower cause he fixes up old lawnmowers and sells them, so we just gave it to him and he can have it for parts or to fix up and everybody wins.


text:
Opinion: Progressive Election Victories Nationwide Give More Reason for Hope
Unique "I voted" sticker in Ulster County, New York, was credited for an increase in voter turnout. Art by Hudson Rowan
Like much of the political chattering class, I was expecting a red wave. Expecting isn't even the right word. Dreading is more accurate. I was sure it was coming, and I was scared of what it meant.
I was also wrong. And, holy moly am I relieved to admit it. Thrilled even.
While most folks are pointing to Dems maintaining the United States Senate and a less-than-historically-average loss in the House of Representatives as big indications of Democratic/progressive victory — I think something even bigger happened that's more systemic and worthy of note…and dare I say optimism!?
Here are five patterns that have me looking back with a smile and moving into 2023 with hope:
State Governments Are Going Blue
Although they aren't the sexy federal races, or the super obvious everyday local races, state level races are the critical linchpin that holds our democracy together. And they flat out do not get the resources or attention they deserve from either the big national establishment or the scrappy grassroots.
Nevertheless, they persisted. The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee invested a historic $50 million this cycle, and it paid off. The 2022 results saw two new Democratic governors, and four new blue trifectas where one party controls both houses of the legislature and the governor's mansion. The Republicans gained zero ground.
While the current score for party control of states is Red Team 21 and Blue Team 17 with the remainder of the country split, it is phenomenal to see pushback against what was getting dangerously close to a Republican-led Constitutional Convention. We don't want to live in that world.
Another sign of democracy's strength: races for secretary of state. These critical offices control the mechanics of elections, and with election denialism and voter suppression at all-time highs there was a real threat of fascist takeover. Well, a few election deniers did win, but of the 14 candidates across the country that were running as part of a nationwide "America First" slate of election deniers, 13 lost. See? Hope!
Local Races Brought Progress Across the Country
Local races are often ignored by the media and voters, underfunded by donors, and under-resourced by the consultant class. But they are the single most influential and efficient path to increasing quality of life and solving problems for the human beings who make up our democracy. In the interest of transparency, I will say these are the primary focus of our firm and the bread and butter of our operation. So I may be a bit biased (and this section might be a bit long — but!
Living in California, I have no choice but to start with the historic election of Karen Bass as mayor of Los Angeles. Not only is she the first woman to hold the job, but with the recent scandal of public revelations of anti-Black racism plaguing the City Council and local Labor movement and calling the entire redistricting process into question, it also is notable and flat out exciting that a Black woman will be the city's top executive.
Also notable in California: San Diego, where I live and do a vast majority of my work, now has a 9–0 Democratic City Council for the first time in history. And the AAPI community defended its empowerment seat and kept their voice at the table. Orange County Board of Supervisors is blue for the first time ever, bringing down the "Orange Curtain," and across the state a nationally organized and well funded push to fill school boards with Qanon COVID deniers and religious extremists failed as voters decided educating their children is more important than indoctrinating them.
Across the country, there were also some exciting Democratic gains with the Dallas (yes, that Texas) County Commissioners Court becoming unanimously Democratic. There were also big Democratic gains on school boards in Michigan and North Carolina.
We also saw progressive gains in the criminal justice space with reform DAs being elected in Alameda County and the leader of the LA.Sheriff's gang Alex Villanueva being voted out. Reform-minded prosecutors also won in Minneapolis; Polk County, Iowa; Shelby County, Tennessee; and Hays County, Texas. Tom Hodgson, known as the "Arpaio of the East" for his consistent racism and work with ICE, was ousted as sheriff in Bristol County, Massachusetts.
When Voting on Issues, Voters Chose Progress
The initiative process, while flawed, is one of the best ways for voters to make direct policy changes themselves. And when the power of direct democracy was used this year it resulted in some sweeping progressive wins that will protect civil rights, provide healthcare and increase quality of life for millions.
We already know this was the election of choice, but it was pretty incredible to see three states (California, Michigan and Vermont) codify the right to abortion in their constitutions. And voters in Kentucky and Montana defeated anti-choice measures.
But progress was also made in other major areas.
South Dakota expanded Medicaid. Illinois enshrined collective bargaining rights into their state constitution. Arizona and Massachusetts expanded rights for noncitizen Americans. Maryland and Missouri legalized the sale of cannabis. Oregon banned high-capacity magazines. Michigan expanded voting rights.
For local measures: Hays County in central Texas legalized cannabis. Oakland went hard on election reform, voting for "Democracy Vouchers" to create publicly funded elections and to allow noncitizens who have children in public schools vote in school board races. San Francisco and Boulder, Colorado, moved city elections to even-numbered years so they coincide with federal and statewide elections and don't disenfranchise voters. Police reform won in Baltimore, Maryland. Ranked choice voting won in six different cities.
Diverse Candidates Won, Increasing Representation
People can tut-tut identity politics all they want, but when the government makes laws specifically targeting identities on a consistent basis, the truth is there is no democracy without representation from every community and corner of the country.
We made some real progress expanding the seats at the table in 2022.
To start, young people did incredibly well. The most notable win was Maxwell Frost, the first Gen Z member of Congress, who gave us some rare hope out of Florida (which was pretty much otherwise a political hell hole.) Kenneth Mejia, a 32-year-old CPA and community organizer, won an incredibly underfunded race for LA controller, and became the first AAPI candidate elected to citywide office.
My personal favorite victory belongs to Tyrin Truong, a 23-year-old Democrat who won the mayor's office in Bogalusa, Louisiana. I am from a neighboring parish (Louisiana's word for county), and I can attest this is a very rural area, heavily conservative with a strong dose of white supremacy. This win for Tyrin adds more wind to my sails and evidence to my strongly held belief that the South isn't red — it's oppressed. Good candidates and infrastructure can break through.
It's not lost on me that all the above young victories were by candidates of color. Continuing that trend, Wes Moore became the first Black governor in Maryland history, which also elected its first Indian-American and immigrant as lieutenant governor.
Pennsylvania has its first Black woman in Congress in Summer Lee. Delia Ramirez is serving as the first Latina in Congress in Illinois. California, long seen as a bastion of progressivism, still has barriers that need breaking and made some history with the first elected Black secretary of state in Dr. Shirley Weber, and first elected Black controller in Malia Cohen. Alex Padilla became the first Latino elected to represent California in the U.S. Senate.
The LGBTQ+ community had some notable wins as well, with Maura Healey becoming the first openly lesbian governor in the country and the first woman governor of Massachusetts. Trans candidates won state legislative seats in New Hampshire (James Roesener), Montana (Zooey Zephyr and SJ Howell) and Minnesota (Leigh Finke). And Congress gained its first openly LGBTQ+ immigrant in Robert Garcia.
Religious history was also made as Nabilah Islam and Ruwa Romman became the first Muslim women elected as state representatives in Georgia.
Turnout Patterns Suggest Sustained Increase in Voting
It is a foregone conclusion that midterm turnout will be lower than turnout in presidential elections. There are fewer people running, less money being spent, and the sexiest offices aren't on the ballot. That said, this year saw the second-highest turnout in midterm history (behind 2018) and there were eight states that exceeded their 2018 numbers.
This means we now have four elections in a row with (relative) high turnout, and large swaths of the population have well-established voting habits. The possibility of a new normal with a more engaged electorate can only be good!
In particular, turnout among young voters was the second-highest for a midterm in past 30 years. The increase of 7% from average decided many races, and was up to 31% in battleground states.
A great story here too: Ulster County, New York, held a public design contest that resulted in a crazypants "I voted" sticker featured at the top of this post. Early voting turnout was historically high. Seems like a simple, cost effective way to increase voter participation and elections offices across the country should follow suit.
If We Learn the Right Lessons, We Can Make Progress Fast
As you can see, not only was 2022 unexpectedly OK from a federal level, but it also was unquestionably a progressive boon at the state and local levels.
Ballot measures focused on reproductive rights, expanding healthcare access, enshrining the right to unionize, and keeping children fed and healthy all won. Young candidates, trans candidates, women candidates, religious minority candidates and candidates of color were successful in even traditionally conservative areas. Election deniers lost, and the working class won.
If I am reading the tea leaves, they say that the United States wants to right the ship. It wants to heal. It wants to strengthen an inclusive democracy that protects all of us.
When you look at the data and the strategies that were successful from Pennsylvania to Arizona, and Washington to, yes, even Florida — it's about taking politics back to the people. It is said all politics is local, but our national establishment has largely lost sight of that.
When Democrats and Progressives talk to voters locally and regionally about the issues that are right in front of their faces, using candidates and surrogates who are trusted regional and local messengers, we do well. When communities have the resources to lead movements and organize themselves, we do well. Democracy does well.
It's common in the consulting world to treat the voters like they are stupid. To talk at them instead of with them, and assume they'll care about what the commercials and mailers tell them to care about. This top down approach is a mistake.
The voters are not stupid, but they are diverse and a one-size-fits all approach will not work. It's the people on the ground in the communities who will save democracy.
Political consultant Eva Posner is president of San Diego-based Evinco Strategies. A version of this piece originally appeared on medium.com.
Three Injured, Including One Pinned Under Pickup, in East Village Vehicle vs. Pedestrian Crash
Kim And Khloé Kardashian Spread 'Love, Joy And Generosity' At A Women's Shelter With North, True And Dream


"The mismatch between our "liberal culture" fostered and protected by unaccountable "professionals" in alliance with parts of the media, and the real concern of the public to see practical, visible but "positive" sanctions and punishments has become enormous but is largely ignored. Cultural timidity has trumped legislative intent."
"This Saturday evening millions of Britons will be at home watching Strictly Come Dancing – a programme about a variety of personalities acquiring the practical skill of Ballroom Dancing through instruction and practice. Craftsmen like Jamie Oliver and Gordon Ramsey are national icons. From Betjeman on architecture to Fred Dibnah on engineering, the nation has long shared a fascination for skills and craft. It's about time the education system caught up with popular sentiment, by recognising the role practical skills play in peoples' lives and national life. We must elevate the practical."
Shadow education minister John Hayes MP continues his crusade to put skills at the heart of the Tory agenda. Click here to read the full text of his speech to Conservative National Education Society yesterday evening.
See The Sun's detailed report and leader.


Discussion in 'EthConGateway by Joshua 1 Systems' started by Denny, May 6, 2012.
I have a ECG-P12R, but cannot find any documentation regarding its use. The link on the website at http://www.j1sys.com/ethcongateway-documentation/ is blank. Can someone point me in the right direction to find the documentation for configuration and use?
i have a manual ive done for the ECG-P12R which i hopefully will release soon. It contains all the info you need to use and setup a ECG-P12R.
Can't wait for that to come out Eddy. My P12R is in the country.
So ready the documentation... let me get this straight. Each output of the 12 can handle one dmx universe. Right? If so, this is a better deal.
Damn! That's one heck of a value. I'll get one to play with. Fasteddy... thanks for the help.
Even the forthcoming ECG-P2 with only 2 ports will still output up to 8 universes of pixel control. The number of ports is not an indication of ability.
I didn't realize the 12 universe output until tonight.
Hmm, can the channels for a given string span across two universes?
Say one has 50 pixels on a string. But the starting address for that string (in linear channel space) is 510 and the ending address would be 660. Is that doable, or does the output to a string have to be fully contained on 512 byte (address) boundaries?
From a practical buffering viewpoint you would always want to start an output at the beginning of a universe if you planned to span multiple universes to a single output.
This is just a decoupling of the DMX universe from the output port. Exactly what a ECG-P2 will be doing with 4 universes out a single port.
All we need now is support of GECE and/or 2811 nodes.


"In Dice Masters, two players take the role of masterminds directing the actions of a team of powerful supers (represented by dice) to battle each other! Each turn, you'll roll your dice to see what resources you have available, buy dice, send your team members into the field, and then strike at the enemy mastermind. Reduce the opposing mastermind's life to zero, and save the day!"
I'm rather fond of the world I live in. There are dragons and Jedi, Hobbits and gaming nights, general tomfoolery and endless bouncing around in-between speech bubbles and spandex. There are virtual consoles, steampunk coffee dens, cyberpunk cities and life-altering quests that define your very purpose for being. There are comic-book fights, movie nights, table-top debates and superhero dates. There's always a guest for a jest and time for a rhyme. There are no frigging Kardashians. Or Ciley Mirus, Banting lettuce burgers, corrupt politicians or wars.
Well, okay, there are wars and they are fought by real (corruptible) people with real tears and occasionally real blood caused by paper cuts but at the end of it, they all just concede or share a victory toast (peanut butter crunchy), pack up and leave. Generally, there aren't many casualties and the clean up just involves dumping the pizza boxes and empty bottles of mountain dew.
Aaand, it's a fun world. Like see, I can stretch 'And' at the start of that sentence and not give a hoot about language constructs. Bugger it. I like my world. My world is not round. It's square...and six sided.
In my world I'm not tied to any movie studio rights. Wolverine is in my Avengers squad. As is Spiderman and he's in a frisky affiliation with the Black Widow. (Sorry MJ, but the Russian legs on that Tsarina...nuff said!). And, oh, Zac Snyder, phsshhh to you for making us wait till 2016 - I just put both Supes and Batman into my squad and guess what? They're buddies! Yeah, hows that for the bromance supercop good-hero/ bad-hero routine? And I threw in some dragons from the Dungeons and Dragons set because who doesn't want to see Aquaman get fried by a Dragon? A garlic loaf and a chopped salad and we're all set for a fish-braai.
So, what am I ranting about? Dicemasters - designed by Mike Elliot and Eric M. Lang, this collectible dice building PvP gem is based on a similar gaming mechanic to Quarriors with a blend of Magic: the Gathering. In Dicemasters players draft a team comprising eight superheroes, villains, monsters or characters from a pool of cards along with the associated dice that goes with these cards. Players then take turns, rolling and drawing dice and spending ' energy' to recruit more characters and resources and assemble their version of Earth's mightiest (or nastiest) team.
Dicemaster sets retail at around R250.00 to R300.00 for a two-player starter with sets sourced from the Marvel, DC, Dungeons and Dragons and even the Yugio universes. Booster packs feature two characters and two associated dice and retails at around R18.00 - R20.00. Not only are the sets affordable but you are guaranteed playable characters with each booster pack you buy which adds to the overall awesomeness of the game. There are various flavors of card types: common, uncommon, rare, super rare and even some promos which adds to the 'collectibility' aspect of the game.
In terms of complexity and play, this is not a difficult game to learn. A typical match lasts anything between 20 minutes to 40 minutes and you will want to play at least 3 rounds. As with other genres, there is a deck-drafting element to the game and, as all the sets are compatible, you can customize your team however you see fit. So mix up the Avengers with the Justice League or the X-Men with a few Batman characters - it's all fair and fun in Dicemasters.
Affordable - Honestly, apart from Star Realms (another great deck-builder by the way), I have yet to find a game that is as friendly on your pocket as it is fun. The starter sets retail at around R250.00 and is a fully playable, out-of-box, two-player game.
The variety. There are currently about 7 various Dicemaster starter pack options to choose from: In the Marvel range: Uncanny X-Men, Avengers VS X-Men, Avengers: Age of Ultron.
Easy to learn and easier to play. And fun for kids. I really recommend you check out the Watch it Played YouTube channel, the gaming duels between Rodney Smith and his son Luke is schweet!
You get to mix up teams from different universes because it's all one BIG multiverse. My current team is more Marvel heavy but I have a few DC characters and a few more from the Dungeons and Dragons set.
The gaming mechanic is fun, fast and flows like a well-oiled (war) machine. Rolling dice is always fun but here, having a re-roll option, adds an extra kick to the chance-element of the game.
The collectibility element. Sure, collecting cards is fun - but collecting cards AND dice is two more levels of fun.
For events, check with the retailers listed above for Gaming-meetups and friendly tournaments.


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The best way to prevent crime is to convince the people who commit it that they are going to be caught.
To remove crime from society, you really have to tackle it's causes.
There are many choices. You can travel north to see the midnight sun... You can take the night train to Copenhagen... You can take the ferry east to Finland or take the seven hour train journey across the country to Gothenburg.
As for the young woman, she may have a lot in common with the old man; Alternatively, she may be interested in his money.
Well, when they reach the age of fifteen, they reject the songs of their childhood. Instead, they are into pop or rock songs which will be forgotten within weeks.
You see, the alternative is to buy food on the world market. We all know that when demand rises, so does the price.


Art Deco inspired train length veil with exquisite beaded cap headpiece. Handmade using airily sheer tulle and edged with delicate scallops of lace. Each detail on this cap-style veil is sublime - from the majestic circular motif on the headpiece right down to the beaded motifs on the train. Wear with a vintage floor skimming gown.


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Toronto council votes to seize Captain John's ship
The fight between the city and John Letnik may well end up in court despite council's vote on Friday.
By Daniel DaleCity Hall
Fri., Oct. 11, 2013timer1 min. read
The odyssey of Captain John's restaurant drifted a bit further toward a conclusion on Friday.
City council voted to begin the process of seizing the ship owned by John Letnik and moored at the foot of Yonge St. But the fight between Letnik and his many opponents may well end up in court: under maritime law, a ship can only be seized for arrears and sold if there is a court order.
"It's maybe the beginning of the battle," Letnik said at city hall after the vote. He said he will "definitely" mount a legal challenge.
Letnik owes about $1 million in taxes and fees. His 55-year-old ship, the Jadran, once housed a popular restaurant, but it is now a relic: the city turned off the water and shut down the restaurant in 2012.
The city has taken a hard line with Letnik in recent years, but Councillors Doug Ford and Joe Mihevc praised him Friday as a contributor and immigrant success story. Council passed a motion to honour Captain John's with a plaque.
"I appreciate that they recognized me as a contributor in the early days on the waterfront," Letnik said.
Mihevc, who worked on the boat upon its arrival in 1975, as a university student making $4.50 per hour, voted against the proposed seizure "in solidarity" with Letnik. He said he knew the proposal would pass anyway.
"I'm filled with sadness about it," Mihevc said. "But at the end of the day the taxman gets his pound of flesh, and that's what we're seeing here today."
The complex negotiations with Letnik have involved the Toronto Port Authority and Waterfront Toronto. Letnik, who owns an apartment building in Scarborough, says he still sleeps on board many nights.
"We'll see what happens," he said Friday. "But I'm not leaving the ship yet."
With files from Susan Pigg


Bill leads and oversees all Rowe Sanctuary programs on the 2,400-acre Sanctuary and has worked extensively on conservation of the Platte River for Sandhill Cranes, Whooping Cranes, and other wildlife. Previous positions included Assistant Director and Director of Conservation. Bill has a B.S. in wildlife biology.
Andrew is responsible for the planning, development and implementation of Audubon's conservation programs in the state of Nebraska. He grew up on a farm and ranch near Arcadia, NE, received his B.S. in biological sciences, and has a strong background with at-risk wildlife through past employment with the U.S. Forest Service, Bird Conservancy of the Rockies, and Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.
As Office Manager, Soncey oversees day-to-day management of the Center and Sanctuary. She grew up in Colorado and has lived in Nebraska for several years moving here from Virginia to be closer to family. Soncey has earned a B. A. in Business Administration.
Wendy oversees the Rowe Sanctuary volunteer program and works to increase community-based stewardship of the Platte River Valley. Originally from Pennsylvania and a graduate of Penn State University, she has a diverse background that includes conservation education in Virginia, aquatic habitat restoration for ESA species in Idaho's Upper Salmon River Basin, wildlife management for Wyoming Game and Fish, and hunter education administration for the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.
As Education Manager, Beka oversees all educational programming at the sanctuary. Such programs include school programs, summer camps, adult programs and monthly family programs. Beka received her Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences with emphasis on biology and public outreach from Illinois State University. She has hands on experience in informal educational as an education intern at Sugar Grove Nature Center near Bloomington, IL. and working in a variety of education focused positions at the Saint Louis Zoo, including Early Childhood Instructor and most recently an Education Instructor.
Cody is responsible for maintaining the Habitat programs on the sanctuary. He grew up in rural central Nebraska near Chapman. Cody has earned a B.S. in Biology and Environmental Studies. He has previous experience from the Lower Elkhorn Natural Resource District, the US Fish and Wildlife Service refuge system, and the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.
Anne is the coordinator for Audubon's Nebraska Crane Festival. She grew up on a farm close to Shickley, in south central Nebraska. Anne earned a B.A. in bible, religion and philosophy with a minor in women's studies.
The Iain Nicolson Audubon Center at Rowe Sanctuary greatly appreciates those who support our conservation and education programs. Please visit our sponsors who help make this work possible.