text:
Amul celebrates Ayushmann Khurrana's 'Article 15' by giving it utterly butterly twist!
Amul is known for its creative and quirky cartoon posters on films and actors. The brand never disappoints and usually comes up with topical doodles on film releases, celebrity weddings, and other significant events.
Photo courtesy: Twitter
Ankita Bhandari
@https://twitter.com/ankita_katty
New Delhi: Ayushmann Khurrana's latest outing 'Article 15' has won a million hearts owing to its powerful storyline, direction and brilliant performances by the actors of the film. The movie struck the right chords with the audience by pointing out the caste discrimination that still exists in various parts of the country.
Ayushmann, who is known for portraying diverse roles with perfection, has garnered immense appreciation for 'Article 15' and now the actor has found a new fan in none other than Amul!
The film has received an honour by Amul in a pictorial, which features the iconic Amul girl, who is seen standing next to a cartoon version of Ayushmann's cop avatar from the film, in front of a police jeep.
The doodle shows the cartoon versions standing with some documents in one hand and holding a slice of bread and butter in the other. The poster twisted the tag line "Farq bahut karlia, ab farq laenge (We have created enough differences, now we will bring a difference)" to "Farq laayenge, Makhan khaayenge!", giving it their own 'utterly butterly' twist.
The ad also added, "The real article!"Amul shared the cartoon poster on its Twitter handle and wrote, "Amul Topical: Article15, hard-hitting Bollywood film!"
#Amul Topical: #Article15, hard hitting Bollywood film! pic.twitter.com/Zkbc2dZ6JR
— Amul.coop (@Amul_Coop) July 9, 2019
The actor was touched by the gesture of the dairy brand, which is known for celebrating defining moments across various walks of life down the decades through their witty posters.
Sharing the doodle on Instagram stories, Ayushmann wrote, "This is special." While, the director of the film, Anubhav Sinha shared that it was his dream to get an Amul caricature.
"A secret dream fulfilled. Thanks, AMUL," he wrote alongside the cartoon poster shared on his Instagram.
The film is loosely based on the heinous Badaun rape incident where two teenage girls were gang-raped and gruesomely murdered by hanging them while they were still alive.The movie also highlights the caste discrimination in the country through a mix of various incidents.
The film's title derives from Article 15 of the Indian constitution, which prohibits discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex, and place of birth.
Manoj Pahwa, Sayani Gupta, Kumud Mishra, M Naser, Ashish Verma, Sushil Pandey, Subrajyoti Bharat, and Mohammad Zeeshan Ayyub are also part of the stellar cast of the film. The film, produced by Benaras Media Works, released on June 28.
Apart from this, Ayushmann has 4 other projects in the pipeline including `Bala`, `Shubh Mangal Zyaada Savdhaan`, `Gulabo Sitabo` and `Dream Girl`.
Ayushmann Khurranaarticle 15BollywoodAmul Butter
Bhumi Pednekar begins filming for 'Pati Patni Aur Woh' in Lucknow


Vintage and practical shaving mirror with hooks and a shelf. The paint has a distressed finish to give it that retro charm. This makes the best men's shaving mirror for a guy who likes vintage charm.
This mirror is not just practical but aesthetically pleasing to the eye.


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Q: How do I move an element up/down one position in tree I cannot seem to find what should be a basic function of JavaScript. I want to move an element up one position or down one position by a button click. jQuery and other proprietary libraries are not an option.
function moveDown()
{
    if (document.getElementById('CMSeditingNode'))
    {
        var node = document.getElementById('CMSeditingNode'),
        parent = node.parentNode,
        nextNode = node.nextSibling,
        secondNode = nextNode.nextSibling,
        oldChild = parent.removeChild(node);
        parent.insertBefore(oldChild, secondNode);
    }
}

The answer worked perfectly and I have add to this post a supplement for insertAfter().

A: The methods/properties you're looking for are parentNode, previousSibling, nextSibling, removeChild, insertBefore, and insertAfter.  A snippet might look like:
var node = document.getElementById('somenode'),
    parent = node.parentNode,
    prev = node.previousSibling,
    oldChild = parent.removeChild(node);
parent.insertBefore( oldChild, prev );

Just for comparison, the (complete) jQuery for this would be:
var $node = $('#somenode'),
            $node.prev().before($node);

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


The UP Board announced the results of the high school or Class 10 and intermediate or Class 12 board examinations 2017 on Friday.
Candidates can check their Class 10 results by clicking here.
As the website is running slow due to heavy traffic, candidates may have to wait and try again to see their results.
The board deployed strict measures to check use of unfair means in the exams and also provided coded answer sheets in 31 districts of the state that were identified as sensitive.
Over 60,61,030 candidates - 34,04,715 for Class 10 and 26,56,319 for Class 12 - registered for the high school and intermediate exams this year.
However, due to strict vigilance, 5,94,503 candidates left the exams midway and 1,862 examinees were caught copying.
In some districts, mass copying was reported due to which 69 exams of various subjects were cancelled and 91 schools were debarred from holding the board exams for the next five years.
The evaluation of board's around 4.6 crore answer sheets began from April 27 at 253 evaluation centres in the state. The answer sheets were checked by 1.37 lakh teachers.


The West Suburban Fellowship club is celebrating 20 years of service June 8th 2019. We will be having a Gala, Including a Dinner/Dance/Guest Speaker (Earl H.)/Auction and Raffles.
Tickets will go on sale March 1st for $60 per ticket.


Carefully woven tales of life over instrumentation that flows and ebbs in all the right ways.
Back in 1994 Damian Howard and a collection of like-minded musicians first graced the stage at the Maldon Folk Festival in Central Victoria, North of Melbourne, Australia.
Although not Victoria's biggest Music Festival, the Maldon Folk Festival is one of the most iconic folk festivals in Victoria. Throughout this time Maldon have given many local acts a start, an opportunity and have always been supportive of original Australian music.
Mike Ruggles, the Artistic Director of the Maldon Festival, saw something special and unique on that night in 1994. As the brother of Shane and Marcia Howard, Mike took a punt on booking the youngest of the Howard siblings on the main stage. The crowd went mad and the musical journey for Damian Howard had begun.
Since 1994 whether it be as the lead singer/ songwriter of one of Australia's iconic Celtic festival bands,' The Ploughboys', or with a successful roots style solo career with 'The Gentle Souls' & 'The Still Water Sound', Damian has continued to strive and grow in all things musical.
Over the past 16 years, Damian has toured extensively throughout Australia, performing at many well-known venues and music festivals. Amongst the many performances highlights include a pre-match performance at the International Rules games between Australia and Ireland at the MCG in 2001 and Docklands Stadium in 2007 in front of 50 000 people and broadcast live on television throughout Australia and Europe to an estimated audience of over 5 million people.
Damian has just released solo album number two - "Out of My Hands" - his first studio album in some 6 years.
The title track "Out of My Hands", "All I Ever Wanted" and "One Step Forward" have all been featured on ABC TV's Rage and the Country Music Channel.
Damian's songs and song writing skills have been sought by a number of local and national artists and were recently recognised by Irish singer, Mary Black, on her new release Full Tide. St Kilda Again, a co-written song with his older brother Shane Howard. As the principal songwriter for The Ploughboys Damian's songs have been released on three independent CDs and have received airplay throughout Australia and have additionally been featured on a number of compilation CDs.
In 2008, with the assistance of a an Arts Victoria grant, Damian and the band toured extensively throughout Europe, Ireland and the UK during Australia's winter months and were invited back and self-funded a tour throughout Europe in July/ August 2009. The last two years Damian has been promoting his new album at national festivals throughout the country.
The two years in Europe have allowed him to experience some great crowds, venues and festivals through Denmark, Germany, France, England, Ireland and Scotland culminating in a performance at the 2009 Hebridean Festival on the Isle of Lewis, one of Scotland's most prestigious festivals. This performance was the first by any Australian Band and their performance on the main stage, and filmed by the BBC, was warmly received by the 10 000 strong crowd.
2009 was the first year that the festival had allowed the BBC to film a documentary of the iconic festival.
After performances in 2008 and 2009 Damian Howard made a successful return to Europe in 2012 to perform at the Skagen Music Festival. In September 2012 & 2013 Damian attended the Americana Music Festival and Conference in Nashville, Tennessee as part of the Sounds Australia delegation. His performances at the legendary Bluebird Cafe, The Second Fiddle & The Basement in 2012 and 2013 we very well received.


text:
Q: What does this notation for full set of sections mean? In Katz & Mazur's book "Arithmetic Moduli of Elliptic Curves", available here, the definition of a full set of sections is given on page 33. I would like to make sure I understand the notations well.
The context is the following:
Let $S$ be a scheme and $Z/S$ a finite locally free scheme over $S$ of rank $N\geq 1$. This means that for any affine $S$-scheme $\operatorname{Spec}(R)\rightarrow S$, the $R$-scheme $Z_R/R$ obtained from $Z/S$ by base change is of the form $Spec(B)$ ($Z_R \rightarrow Spec(R)$ is finite hence affine), where $B$ is an $R$-algebra which as an $R$-module is locally free of rank $N$.
Any element $f\in B$ acts by multiplication to define an $R$-linear endomorphism of $B$. Because $B$ is a locally free $R$-module of rank $N$, we can speak of the characteristic polynomial of this endomorphism $$\det(T-f)=T^N-\operatorname{Trace}(f)T^{N-1}+\ldots+(-1)^N\operatorname{Norm}(f)$$
which is a monic polynomial in $R[T]$ of degree $N$.
(A justification for this last fact can be found on this related issue, for which any clarification is also welcome.)
Now, here comes the definition.

We say that a set of $N$ not necessarily distinct points $P_1,\ldots, P_N$ in $Z(S)$ is a full set of sections of $Z/S$ if for every affine $S$-scheme $\operatorname{Spec}(R)$, and for every function $f$ on $Z_R$ (ie $f \in B=H^0(Z_R,\mathcal{O})$), we have the equality of polynomials in $R[T]$ $$\det (T-f)=\prod _{i=1}^N(T-f(P_i))$$

All right, now my question may sound basic (and I apologize if it is), but I am unsure about how to make sense of $f(P_i)$. What does it mean? How can we apply an element of $B$ to a morphism $S\rightarrow Z$?
My guess is that such a morphism becomes $\operatorname{Spec}(R)\rightarrow Z_R$ after base change (it is defined by the composite morphism $\operatorname{Spec}(R)\rightarrow S \rightarrow Z$, together with the identity $\operatorname{Spec}(R) \rightarrow \operatorname{Spec}(R)$). Then, it induces a map on global section $B\rightarrow R$, which may then be applied to $f$ to get an element of $R$.
Is this construction what is really intended here? Moreover, if this is the case, wouldn't it make more sense to write $P_i(f)$ instead?
I thank you very much for you help.


Joe Collette. Meditation On The Word Of God.
Pastor Greg Marquez. What Is Faith?
Pastor George K. Logan. The Law Of Confession.
Pastor George K. Logan. Putting The Kingdom Of God First.
The pressures of life is asking for attention, but God says: Seek My Kingdom First.
Pastor George K. Logan. The Importance Of Faith Pt.5.
Believe in your hearth and speak to the mountain, and it will move.
Pastor George K. Logan. Masterpiece.
We are God's masterpiece in Christ.
When we start to understand who we are, behavior will start to change accordingly. God is in the business of saving people. To lift them up from the trash, and tell them: You don't belong there, you are my masterpiece.
Charles L. Brown. The Gospel Of The Kingdom.
Jesus didn't only come to set us free. He destroyed the works of the enemy!
Pastor George K. Logan. The Importance Of Faith Pt.4.
When you have faith and trust in God and His love for you, He will lead you through the storms of life. The storm will not hurt you !
Pastor Geoge K. Logan. Do You Know God Pt.6. The Importance Of Faith Pt.3.
God is bigger than your circumstance. That means, you can speak to it in faith and the circumstance have to bow down for the word of God.
Welcome to the Podcast of New Day Christian Church located in Morganton NC where the founder and senior pastor is George K. Logan.


New babies are a handful, but finding the best baby bouncer doesn't have to be. Between living in state of sleep deprivation and being suddenly fully responsible for another human being, parenting a newborn is stressful. When you are at your wits end with a crying baby the last thing you need is complicated baby gear that you can't figure out how to turn on.
When it comes to newborns the best baby bouncer is one you don't have to fuss over. The kova™ baby bouncer from born free™ fits the bill perfectly. Newly launched, born free™ is a brand new company making parents lives just that much easier.
At born free™ they believe that being a parent doesn't mean you have to leave behind your style or sense of self. All of their products fit directly into that mindset. Each item in the new born free™ line is functional, fashionable and designed to fit seamlessly into your life as a parent.
For most babies, a bouncer is one of the first toys they interact with. In bouncer setting baby's kicks will set off a comforting up and down movement. This helps newborns develop leg muscles that will be used later when crawling.
With a removable toy bar, the kova™ baby bouncer offers an additional level of stimulation for your new addition. Black and white plush toys are eye catching and create a soft scrunching and rattle sound when in motion. This simple yet perfect addition is ideal for young children. When it's time for baby to come out of the bouncer the bar can be removed with just a click. This means nothing will keep you from picking up your child with ease.
Any mom knows that the best baby bouncer is the one that keeps her the happiest. With fully washable fabrics, the kova™ baby bouncer is truly a recipe for a happy family. High quality fabrics are comfortable against baby's soft skin while being equally easy to toss in the wash if spit up happens (and it will).
Dark grey styling and leather highlights elevate the kova™ from baby gear to a functional and stylish part of your home. Baby products don't have to be bright painful colors and distract from your home decor. The kova™ (as well as the entire new line of born free™ items) showcases that having a baby doesn't mean you have to give up on a love for design or simplicity.


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The Shaw Bijou Slashes Prices In Half
"Humility creeps up on you when least expected," says chef Kwame Onwuachi.
Written by Anna Spiegel
| Published on December 29, 2016
The Shaw Bijou slashes prices two months after opening. Photograph courtesy of the Shaw Bijou
Nearly two months after opening, the Shaw Bijou is cutting the price of its prix-fixe in half. Previously, a ticketed 13-course tasting went for $185 per person (no tax, tip, and alcohol). As of January 3, chef Kwame Onwuachi will offer a new seven-course lineup for $95, which includes a welcome cocktail.
"When people ask me 'why DC?' my immediate response is always 'DC chose me.' And it did," says Onwuachi in a release from the restaurant. "I came to this city because of the energy. The Shaw Bijou's vision was simply an extension of a 5-year dream of ours; and while achieving that goal, we fostered an environment and restaurant that was not reasonable for all…Humility creeps up on you when least expected, and the opening of this restaurant has taught us just that. This being our first restaurant, and for some a first business venture, we had a substantial amount of learning and adjusting to do. And we have, immensely."
The Shaw Bijou received social media backlash over its prices from the start, and lukewarm reviews from critics at Washingtonian and the Washington Post. In response, the row-house restaurant co-owned by Kelly Gorsuch of Immortal Beloved salon has made a number of changes to its operations. The second-floor bar opened a few seats to the public this month, before converting the entire 40-seat lounge area into a walk-in watering hole called Let's Be Enemies. Representatives from the restaurant say the ownership also canceled plans for its members-only club, expected to be a "social experiment" for industry leaders.
More: Kelly GorsuchKwame OnwuachiRestaurantsShawThe Shaw Bijou
Anna Spiegel
Anna Spiegel covers the dining and drinking scene in her native DC. Prior to joining Washingtonian in 2010, she attended the French Culinary Institute and Columbia University's MFA program in New York, and held various cooking and writing positions in NYC and in St. John, US Virgin Islands.
100 Very Best Restaurants: #8 – Causa
100 Very Best Restaurants: #18 – Kinship
100 Very Best Restaurants: #20 – Convivial

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Premiums under the Affordable Care Act will rise in nearly every state this year, increasing health insurance costs for nearly all Americans, according to a new Freedom Partners report. This information comes via The Daily Signal.
In most states, Americans using Obamacare's individual marketplace to purchase insurance saw premium costs rise by double digits.
Freedom Partners, a nonprofit organization advocating free markets and limited government, reported that four states—Minnesota, Alaska, Tennessee, and Hawaii—will be hit with average premium increases of 30 percent or more. Another 17 states will see spikes of at least 20 percent.
Barack Obama said "it's making a difference for millions of Americans every day. He's not kidding!
Now everyone is paying double to make it happen.
egomaniacle, delusional, narcissistic, anti America, anti gun, muslum Idiot.
yes, but he is also a liar.


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Gulf Drilling International Limited ("GDI"), a subsidiary of Gulf International Services ("GIS"), the largest oilfield service company in Qatar, announced that they have been awarded a new contract by Qatar Petroleum for a new hi-spec premium jack-up rig starting in the 2nd quarter in 2016. This brand new rig, recently named "Halul", will become the 4th jack-up rig in GDI's fleet to be under contract to QP, for an initial term of 5 years and having an estimated contract value of QR1.2 Billion. The other three jack-up rigs that are under contract to QP are "Al Doha", "Al Zubarah" and "Dukhan". GDI has identified a renowned international shipyard with a rig suitable to QP which will be delivered within the specified time frame and is in the process of finalizing its order.
GDI's Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Ibrahim J. Al Othman said: "GDI is pleased to have received this important award from QP which will be starting work mid 2016. This new business will support our growth plan in 2016, which will in turn support our long term revenue growth."
"GDI's favorable reputation has been earned over time through the strong partnerships that have been forged with all our clients, where flexibility to customize our services to meet the client's specific requirements has always been emphasized. I must also mention my appreciation and thanks to H.E. Dr. Mohamed Bin Saleh Al-Sada, Minister of Energy and Industry, QP Chairman and Managing Director, for his continuous support to GDI and the respective departments of QP. My thanks also go to GDI Board of Directors for their guidance and support" Mr. Al Othman added.
The key features of the new rig will be a 1.5 million pound derrick, 150 man accommodation, 75 foot cantilever outreach, 7,500 horse power mud pumps and other customizations required by QP.
Adding another state of the art rig to GDI's fleet will serve the dual purpose of raising the Company's technical capabilities while reducing the average age of its fleet. GDI's versatility will also be enhanced with four of its six cyber rigs capable of operating anywhere within the offshore areas of the State of Qatar.


We are very excited to present The Gondoliers this July 21-23! Its captivating storyline combined with fantastic melodies will make for a spectacular performance. We want the beautiful sounds from this production to last a lifetime and give everyone the opportunity to listen to our stellar cast.
Making a professional recording comes at a cost, and we're hoping to raise $5,000 towards our recording expenses this summer. For a donation of just $20, you'll get a digital copy of this summer's show before anyone else! Additional perks include mugs, signed cast items, a private musical performance, and our sincere thanks.
Your contributions will allow us to continue sharing the works of Gilbert & Sullivan with all audiences to enjoy. Thank you for your support!


A one-day long Competition featuring six selected contestants.
featuring the works of one composer from the Romantic Era (list).
the promotion of the first-prize winner through recordings (thanks to international distribution through Naxos), and through concert appearances.
The international panel of adjudicators features pianists, recording producers, music critics, and agents.


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Q: Convergence in $L^p(U)$ of smooth functions acted on by a $C^1$ function with $|U|<\infty$ Assume $U$ is bdd and $G:\mathbb{R}\rightarrow \mathbb{R}$ is $C^1$ with $G'$ bdd. If we have smooth $f_n \rightarrow f$ in $L^p(U)$, do we necessarily have that $Gf_n \rightarrow Gf$ in $L^p(U)$?
I feel if $U$ was connected I could just apply the MVT, but as this is not necessarily the case I'm at a loss.

A: HINT. Establish the following inequality:
$$\lvert G(y)-G(z)\rvert^p\le C\lvert y-z\rvert^p,$$
for a constant $C>0$ that is independent on $y$ and $z$.

A: Forget $C^1$ and smoothness. Just let $G$ be any bounded measurable function on $U$ and assume $f_n \to f$ in $L^p(U).$ Then $\|Gf_n-Gf\|_p \le \|G\|_\infty\|f_n - f\|_p \to 0.$


Embark on an introductory tour of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, three vibrant countries on the Baltic Sea. Marvel at the architectural styles, visit UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and uncover history dating back thousands of years. It's a journey that will capture your imagination and inspire you.
Arrive in Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, and transfer to your preferred hotel. Located in the southeast part of Lithuania, Vilnius is the second largest city of the Baltic States. Its Old Town was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994 for its beautiful architecture.
Meet your guide after breakfast and begin your driving and walking tour of the city. Once the capital of an empire that spread from the Baltic to the Black Sea, Vilnius's old town is filled with fine Baroque buildings and cobbled streets, with an important Jewish quarter known in its time as the "Jerusalem of Europe." During your tour you will visit the Church of St. Peter and Paul, St. Anna's Church, Vilnius Cathedral, the Gate of Dawn, and Vilnius University. Return to the hotel for relaxation and personal pursuits.
Proceed to Latvia with a stop at Rundale to visit Rundale Palace, dating from the 18th century. The palace is an outstanding example of the early work of Italian architect Francesco Bartolomeo Rastrelli, the architect of the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg.
After Rundale you will continue to Riga for overnight in your selected hotel.
Today join your guide for an enjoyable tour of Riga, the largest city in the Baltic States. The center of Latvia's capital has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its rich history and remarkable concentration of Art Nouveau-style (Jugendstil) buildings. The highlights of the city include a visit to St. Peter's Church and Riga Dome Cathedral, which is visible from most parts of the city. Spend the afternoon at leisure. Overnight in your preferred hotel.
This morning you will be transferred to the Gauja National Park in Sigulda to visit Sigulda Castle ruins and Turaida Castle. Enjoy the natural splendor of this popular park before continuing to Parnu, the summer capital of Estonia. Drive to Tallinn and check into your selected hotel for two nights.
After breakfast, tour the city sights including Kadriorg Palace and Park, which was built by Peter the Great as a summer residence, and Song Festival Ground, which has a great importance in the history of Estonia. Upon arrival in the Old Town, experience the city on two levels. The main sights catching your eye will be Tallinn's largest and grandest cupola at Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Tall Hermann Tower, and Toompea Castle. On the way to Lower town, notice the magnificent spire of St. Nicholas Church, which is now a concert hall and museum. Stroll through the Town Hall square in the heart of Lower Town.
Spend the afternoon exploring more of the city, or hunt for interesting souvenirs.
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your onward or homeward bound flight.


Yotpo can be best described as a social marketing tool which provides solutions for reviews and referrals, demonstrates loyalty and aids in visual marketing.
Happy customers are repeat customers. Repeat customers drive revenue. But how do you find out if a customer is satisfied with your product?
That's where Yotpo come in.
How do I use Yotpo?
Can every purchase be turned into a review? Can I showcase my products in a visually appealing way?
Yotpo can all of these things and more. Yotpo integrates with most e-commerce platforms including Magento. It's a service which is managed outside of your website, with ratings and reviews stored on Yotpo's servers.
Exporting and importing reviews is uncomplicated and fuss free.
To export you simply login to your account, access Account Settings tab, click on the Store tab, then Export Reviews.
To import, create a standard spreadsheet application (like Google sheets or Excel), download the product review template and fill it with the relevant data. Then download the site reviews template and do the same. You will also need to install the Reviews Widget to verify your data.
Customer feedback can give your business an understanding of what works and doesn't work. It also provides data which can be actioned to make future improvements. From the customer's perspective, it provides the 'push' to make a purchase.
Before this can even happen, you need to overcome one of the biggest obstacles as an ecommerce store owner- building trust between your brand and the client.
Trust is what encourages a customer to return. To make future purchases and spread the word about your brand. Without it, sales will be low and there won't be a consistent generated profit and turnover.
Once a customer feels trust from a brand, they are likely to leave positive feedback post- sale. This feedback will indicate to other potential buyers that your brand cares about its customers and you are willing to go the extra mile to ensure they have the best experience. It also provides an unbiased opinion from a third party about the product or service.
Contact us at Rival today to find out how we can help you integrate Yotpo with your Magento website!


I developed a love for oysters when I lived in New Orleans. Oysters from the Gulf of Mexico never leave the menu in New Orleans. These oysters are meaty, and mild because of the fresh water from the Mississippi. From the famed Oysters Rockefeller to free oyster Fridays at Le Bon Temps Roule, New Orleans is a good place to kick off an oyster obsession. But being back in Seattle has taught me a thing or two about how lucky oyster lovers are here in the Pacific Northwest.
Not sure where to start your own journey through the vast sea of oyster choices? Have no fear – you can still feel the love from National Oyster Day. Check out these Seattle favorites for Pacific Northwest oysters to get you started. And remember, you might just find a pearl. Happy shucking!
Aside from your typical oysters on a half shell, RockCreek does shooters. The typical oyster shooter gets cocktail sauce, lemon, and vodka, but naturally if you get one at RockCreek the shooter experience will be over the top. Oyster purists may shy away from the shooter, but for spirit lovers that can appreciate a great flavor combination – don't miss the shooters – they are a unique menu item that you will not find anywhere else. As far as which one to get? We're torn between the Aquavit with dill, cucumber, olive oil and roe and the Sake with ginger, ikura (salmon roe) and Japanese basil or shiso.
Baywater Sweets, Humboldt Golds, and Summerstone's from Port Townsend are just a few of the varietals offered at Renee Erikson's elegant, sea foam green splashed Capitol Hill spot. True to their name, the Baywater Sweets are as sweet as can be – they are also salty because of their location in upper Hood Canal closer to the sea. The Humboldt Golds are one of the most common to see cultivated outside of the Pacific Northwest. These California babies are slightly smaller and brinier with a grassy, herbal flare. Summerstone's are another briny delicacy, cultivated in cold water with proximity to the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
Each week, Elliott's goes through 7000 oysters – they don't pre-shuck so guests can expect these jewels of the sea to be 100% fresh out of the sea. Located right on the iconic pier 56 Elliott's a great place for locals to come re-discover the awe inspiring Seattle waterfront. Currently the featured oysters at Elliott's are Deer Creek, South Sound Kumamoto, Little Skookum, and Snow Creek Pacific. The Deer Creek and the Kumamoto's are more mild and creamy while the Little Skookum and Snow Creek have a more robust, briny, seaweed flavor.
The Brooklyn is an urban class act known for fine cuts of meat, quality seafood, and oysters. Featured Washington oysters include Wolf Beach Totten Inlet's, Shigoku's from Willipa Bay, and Puget Sound Sea Cows. Expect a fatty, mild meatiness with medium brine from the Totten Inlet, a light, fresh cucumber complexity on the Shigoku, sweet deep cups of plump meat on the Sea Cows.
But the best reason to get your oysters at the Brooklyn is the Beer & Oyster with four 3.5 oz select samples of today's draft paired with the ideal oyster companion for only $12. You can also step up your game and get the Vodka & Oysters with Caviar for four half ounce select samples of premium vodka and an oyster with caviar pairing for $17. Either way, you're guaranteed to find true love.


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Author | Reviewer | e-Submission
::: Volume ::: Vol. 14Vol. 13Vol. 12Vol. 11Vol. 10Vol. 9Vol. 8Vol. 7Vol. 6Vol. 5Vol. 4Vol. 3Vol. 2Vol. 1 ::: Issue ::: No. 4No. 3No. 2No. 1
https://doi.org/10.15283/ijsc18071
Olig2-expressing Mesenchymal Stem Cells Enhance Functional Recovery after Contusive Spinal Cord Injury
International Journal of Stem Cells 2018;11:177-186
Published online October 31, 2018;
© 2018 Korean Society for Stem Cell Research.
Hwan-Woo Park1,2,*, Soonyi Oh1,*, Kyung Hee Lee3, Bae Hwan Lee4, and Mi-Sook Chang1,5
1Laboratory of Stem Cell & Neurobiology, Department of Oral Anatomy, Dental Research Institute & School of Dentistry, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea, 2Department of Cell Biology, Myunggok Medical Research Institute, Konyang University College of Medicine, Daejeon, Korea, 3Department of Dental Hygiene, Dongseo University, Busan, Korea, 4Department of Physiology, Brain Korea 21 Project for Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea, 5Neuroscience Research Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea
Correspondence to: Mi-Sook Chang, Laboratory of Stem Cell & Neurobiology, Department of Oral Anatomy, Dental Research Institute & School of Dentistry, Seoul National University, 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul 03080, Korea, Tel: +82-2-740-8628, Fax: +82-2-745-1906, E-mail: mschang@snu.ac.kr
Received August 25, 2018; Revised October 3, 2018; Accepted October 3, 2018.
This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Other SectionsAbstractIntroductionMaterials and MethodsResultsDiscussionAcknowledgementsPotential Conflict of InterestFigureReference Abstract
Background and Objectives
Glial scarring and inflammation after spinal cord injury (SCI) interfere with neural regeneration and functional recovery due to the inhibitory microenvironment of the injured spinal cord. Stem cell transplantation can improve functional recovery in experimental models of SCI, but many obstacles to clinical application remain due to concerns regarding the effectiveness and safety of stem cell transplantation for SCI patients. In this study, we investigated the effects of transplantation of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) that were genetically modified to express Olig2 in a rat model of SCI.
Bone marrow-derived hMSCs were genetically modified to express Olig2 and transplanted one week after the induction of contusive SCI in a rat model. Spinal cords were harvested 7 weeks after transplantation.
Transplantation of Olig2-expressing hMSCs significantly improved functional recovery in a rat model of contusive SCI model compared to the control hMSC-transplanted group. Transplantation of Olig2-expressing hMSCs also attenuated glial scar formation in spinal cord lesions. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that transplanted Olig2-expressing hMSCs were partially differentiated into Olig1-positive oligodendrocyte-like cells in spinal cords. Furthermore, NF-M-positive axons were more abundant in the Olig2-expressing hMSC-transplanted group than in the control hMSC-transplanted group.
We suggest that Olig2-expressing hMSCs are a safe and optimal cell source for treating SCI.
Keywords : Olig2, Mesenchymal stem cells, Spinal cord injury, Transplantation
Other SectionsAbstractIntroductionMaterials and MethodsResultsDiscussionAcknowledgementsPotential Conflict of InterestFigureReference Introduction
Recovery from spinal cord injury (SCI) is more difficult than from peripheral nerve damage, often leaving patients with permanent disabilities. SCIs can be time-consuming, psychologically and economically damaging disasters. The major causes of disability due to SCI involve loss of motor, sensory and autonomic nerves below the site of upper spinal injury. The severity of damage is classified as either complete or partial loss of function (1, 2). The severity of SCIs is determined not only by the primary cause but also by secondary processes such as ischemia, anoxia, free radical formation, and excitotoxicity that occur in the next few hours or days following injury (3). Several animal models have been used to refine clinical approaches to treat SCI and are categorized into two major groups based on the method of injury, transection models and contusion models. The contusion model is considered more clinically relevant than the transection model because SCI in the majority of patients is usually contusive (4). However, complete functional recovery from SCI is still not possible with current therapeutic approaches.
Transplantation of stem cells in rodent models of SCI has been shown to induce axonal growth, replace neuronal populations lost by injury, and improve functional recovery (reviewed in 5, 6). Human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) derived from bone marrow are capable of self-renewing in vitro. These multipotent stem cells can differentiate into a variety of mesodermal cells (7, 8). Several research groups, including ours, have reported that hMSCs may also transdifferentiate into neuron-like cells that have neural cell markers and similar functional activity to that of neural cells (9–13). Manipulation of specific factors can accelerate transdifferentiation of hMSCs into neuron-like cells (14).
Oligodendrocyte lineage transcription factor 2 (Olig2) is, as a basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor, an essential regulatory factor for the differentiation of motor neurons and oligodendrocytes in the developing central nervous system (15, 16). Recent studies have demonstrated that Olig2 expression not only promotes neural stem cell differentiation into mature oligodendrocytes, but also improves locomotor recovery in rat spinal cord following contusive injury (17, 18). In this study, we genetically modified hMSCs to express Olig2 and investigated the effects of transplantation of Olig2-expressing hMSCs in a contusion model of rat spinal cord injury. Cells were transplanted in animals at 7 days after SCI, and behavioral outcomes and histological changes were evaluated 8 weeks after SCI.
Other SectionsAbstractIntroductionMaterials and MethodsResultsDiscussionAcknowledgementsPotential Conflict of InterestFigureReference Materials and Methods
Human mesenchymal stem cell culture
Cryopreserved adult hMSCs (Poietics® normal human mesenchymal stem cells) were purchased from Cambrex Bio Science Walkersville (Walkersville, MD, USA). We cultured hMSCs (passages 4–12) in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (DMEM)-low glucose (Hyclone) containing 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS; Gibco-BRL) at 37°C with 5% CO2.
Lentiviral vector construction and virus production
The lentiviral vector for expressing the mouse Olig2 gene was constructed by inserting the EcoR I – EcoR V gene fragment into the EcoR I – pme I site of the LentiM1.41 vector. The LentiM1.41 lentiviral vector was designed to produce interesting gene promotion from the murine cytomegalovirus (mCMV) promoter and to express eGFP from the PGK promoter. The nucleotide sequences of the constructs were verified by sequencing.
Macrogen, Inc. produced pseudotyped lentiviruses as described previously (19, 20). Briefly, three plasmids, a transfer vector, a VSV-G expression vector, and a gag-pol expression vector, were co-transfected into HEK-293T cells at a 1:1:1 molar ratio using Lipofectamine Plus (Invitrogen). The culture supernatant containing viral vector particles was harvested 48 hours later, clarified with a 0.45-μm membrane filter (Nalgene), concentrated using a Centricon Plus-20 (Millipore) and immediately stored at −70°C in a deep-freezer. Titers were determined by p24 ELISA and infection into HeLa cells. The eGFP expression of transduced cells was observed and photographed under a fluorescence microscope. The titer was approximately 106~107 transduction units (TU) per mL without further concentration.
Lentiviral transduction
All plasmid constructs were introduced into hMSCs by viral infection. The cells (2.4×104 cells/well) were plated in six-well plates 2 days before transduction. hMSCs were infected with lentiviral vectors in the presence of 8 μg/mL polybrene. After 6 hours, the media were replaced with fresh growth media. Two days after viral infection, cells were selected using 1 μg/mL puromycin for 7 days.
Cells were fixed on coverslips with 4% paraformaldehyde at room temperature for 30 minutes and permeabilized for 10 minutes with 0.2% Triton X-100 and 1% bovine serum albumin (BSA) in PBS. Blocking was performed by incubating cells for 1 hour with 5% normal goat serum in PBS. Cells were then incubated overnight at 4°C with rabbit polyclonal anti-Olig2, 1:5,000 (gift from Dr. C. Stiles, Harvard Medical School). After washing with PBS, cells were incubated with goat anti-rabbit conjugated with Alexa Fluor 546, 1:500 (Invitrogen). All cells were mounted with fluorescent mounting medium (Dako). Immunofluorescence was examined using a laser-scanning confocal microscope (Fluoview FV300, Olympus).
Spinal cord contusion injury
Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats (Daehan Biolink, Chungbuk, Korea) weighing 260~280 g at the time of surgery were housed in groups of four and allowed free access to food and water. All animal procedures were carried out under the approval of the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of Seoul National University. Acute SCI was induced with an NYU Impactor. The rats were anesthetized by intraperitoneal injections of Zoletil (35 mg/kg) and Rompun (2 mg/kg) and a laminectomy was performed at the level of T9. The exposed dorsal surface of the spinal cord in each rat was then subjected to a weight-drop impact. To obtain moderately contused SCI models, a 10-g weight–impact rod was dropped from a 25-mm height. The contusion impact velocity and compression rate were monitored to guarantee consistency of injury between experimental animals. During recovery, the rats' rectal temperatures were maintained at 37°C using a feedback- regulated heating pad. Postoperative nursing care included bladder expression twice per day. Gentamicin sulfate (1 mg/kg) was administered prophylactically to all animals for a week after SCI.
Behavioral assessment after spinal cord injury
Open-field testing procedures, also known as Basso–Beattie–Bresnahan (BBB) procedures (21), were used to measure the functional recovery of rat hindlimbs. The scale used to measure hindlimb function with these procedures ranges from a score of 0, indicating no spontaneous movement, to a maximum score of 21, with an increasing score indicating the use of individual joints, coordinated joint movement, coordinated limb movement, weight-bearing and other functions. Rats were first gently adapted to the open field used for the test. After each rat had walked continuously in the open field, two investigators conducted 5-minute testing sessions on each leg. The open-field test was performed at least once per week from day 1 after SCI to 9 weeks after laminectomy on all animals in the study.
After rats had been subjected to behavioral tests for 1 week, they were randomly allocated into groups that received cell-culture medium, GFP-expressing hMSC transplants, or Olig2-GFP-expressing hMSC transplants. At 7 days after SCI, the rats were anesthetized by intraperitoneal injections of Zoletil (35 mg/kg) and Rompun (2 mg/kg), and received either 5 μL of GFP-hMSCs (1×105/μL) or Olig2-GFP-hMSCs (1×105/μL) transplanted through a capillary glass tube into the epicenter of the injury, or received a 5-μL injection of culture medium into the epicenter of the injury (control). To induce immunosuppression, cyclosporine A (1 mg/100 g) was injected daily from 2 days before injury until the day of transplantation or injection of culture medium.
Histological processing and immunohistochemistry
At 8 weeks after the induction of SCI, all rats were sacrificed by perfusion with 4% paraformaldehyde in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) under anesthesia. The spinal cords were removed and fixed for 18 hours in 4% paraformaldehyde, followed by overnight immersion in 30% sucrose in PBS. Serial longitudinal 12-μm-thick sections of the spinal cord were obtained with a cryostat. The specimens were stored at −80°C before further processing. Staining with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) was performed for histopathological analysis.
For immunohistochemical analysis, the spinal cord sections were rinsed with PBS for 3 minutes and fixed for 30 minutes with 4% paraformaldehyde. The sections were then treated with blocking solution to prevent nonspecific staining and were incubated with anti-neurofilament-M (1:5,000; rabbit polyclonal; Chemicon), anti-glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) (1:1,000; mouse monoclonal; Chemicon), anti-Iba1 (1:1,000; rabbit polyclonal; Wako), anti-Olig1 (1:20,000; rabbit polyclonal; kindly provided by Dr. C. Stiles, Harvard Medical School). After washing with PBS, the spinal cord sections were incubated with the following secondary antibodies: Alexa Fluor 488 anti-mouse IgG (Invitrogen) and Alexa Fluor 546 anti-rabbit IgG (Invitrogen). The sections were mounted on glass slides with a fluorescent mounting medium (Vectashield; Vector Laboratories) and observed under a laser-scanning confocal microscope (Fluoview FV300, Olympus).
Histological analysis of tissue injury
Histological analysis was carried out on 12-μm-thick longitudinal sections of spinal cord obtained from culture medium (n=5), GFP-hMSCs (n=5), or Olig2-GFP-hMSCs (n=6) transplanted rats that were stained with H&E. Lesioned areas were outlined using Image Pro software and lesion sizes were calculated for statistical analysis. Serial sections were also immunohistochemically processed for each marker protein.
Data were analyzed by two-tailed Student's t-test or one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by post hoc comparisons with Fisher's protected least significant difference (PLSD) test. A probability value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. All values were expressed as the mean±standard error of the mean (SEM).
Other SectionsAbstractIntroductionMaterials and MethodsResultsDiscussionAcknowledgementsPotential Conflict of InterestFigureReference Results
Spinal cord injury and cell transplantation
In this study, we ectopically expressed Olig2 in hMSCs using Olig2-GFP-containing lentiviral vectors (Olig2-GFP-hMSCs). Control hMSCs were infected with GFP-containing lentiviral vectors (GFP-hMSCs). Both GFP-hMSCs and Olig2-GFP-hMSCs expressed green fluorescence under a fluorescence microscope (Fig. 1A). Immunostaining for Olig2 demonstrated that Olig2-GFP-hMSCs ectopically expressed Olig2, whereas GFP-hMSCs did not. No significant differences in morphology or viability were observed between these cells. We next sought to determine survival and distribution of GFP-hMSCs and Olig2-GFP-hMSCs in spinal cord lesions at 7 weeks after transplantation. Contusion injuries of the rat thoracic spinal cord was performed according to a standard protocol (21). At 7 days after SCI, animals received transplantation of GFP-hMSCs or Olig2-GFP-hMSCs (Fig. 1B). Transplanted GFP-hMSCs and Olig2-GFP-hMSCs were found by GFP immunohistochemistry in the spinal cord lesion at 7 weeks after cell transplantation (Fig. 1C), indicating survival of engrafted cells.
Behavioral analysis of locomotor function
After the induction of SCI, all experimental rats showed flaccid paralysis of hindlimbs during the first few days after surgery. To determine the effect of Olig2-GFP-hMSC transplantation on functional recovery in contusion SCI rats, BBB scores were evaluated one day after injury. As shown in Fig. 2, one week after SCI (the day before hMSC transplantation), all rats received a score of 5 or less. There were no significant differences among the three groups. At the second week post-treatment, animals transplanted with Olig2-GFP-hMSCs showed significantly faster functional recovery. From 3 to 7 weeks following treatment, rats transplanted with Olig2-GFP-hMSCs showed significant increases in BBB scores compared to rats transplanted with GFP-hMSCs or sham-injected with culture medium (vehicle). At 6 and 7 weeks following treatment, the BBB scores of rats transplanted with GFP-hMSCs were greater than those of sham-injected rats. These results indicate that rats receiving transplantation of Olig2-GFP-hMSCs exhibited significantly enhanced functional recovery compared to rats transplanted with GFP-hMSCs or sham-injected with vehicle.
Histological analysis
To elucidate the mechanisms of enhanced locomotor recovery in rats transplanted with Olig2-GFP-hMSCs, we performed morphological analysis of spinal cord lesions using H&E staining. H&E staining showed that various cavity morphologies were formed at the spinal cord lesions of all SCI animals, including those that received transplantations of GFP-hMSCs or Olig2-GFP-hMSCs as well as vehicle (Fig. 3A–C). The spinal cord cavity was largest in the vehicle transplant group. The spinal cord cavity of the GFP-hMSC transplant group and the Olig2-GFP-hMSC transplant group was smaller than that of the vehicle transplant group. H&E stained images were manually outlined and analyzed to quantify cavity area (Fig. 3A–C). Cavity size in the Olig2-GFP-hMSC transplant group (1.18±0.06 mm2) was significantly reduced compared to the GFP-hMSC transplant group (1.46±0.09 mm2) as well as the vehicle transplant group (2.57±0.37 mm2) (p<0.05, Fig. 3D). These results indicate that Olig2-GFP-hMSCs attenuate glial scar formation in spinal cord lesions. Correlation analysis showed a significant correlation (r=−0.967, p<0.01) between the BBB score at 7 weeks post-spinal cord injury and the size of the spinal cord injury site (Fig. 3E).
Immunohistochemical analysis
At 7 weeks after SCI, we performed immunohistochemical analysis in longitudinal sections of injured spinal cord for all three treatment groups: vehicle transplantation, GFP-hMSC transplantation, and Olig2-GFP-hMSC transplantation. Oligodendroglial lineage-associated marker Olig1 immunohistochemistry showed that expression of GFP and Olig1 was higher in the Olig2-GFP-hMSC transplant group compared to the GFP-hMSC transplant group (Fig. 4). This suggests that transplanted Olig2-GFP-hMSCs partially differentiated into Olig1-positive oligodendrocyte-like cells in spinal cords. Next, we investigated the expression of NF-M in transplanted GFP-hMSCs and host cells in the injured spinal cord. Transplanted Olig2-GFP-hMSCs, but not GFP-hMSCs, seemed to be directly associated with NF-M positive axons (Fig. 5). Furthermore, NF-M positive axons were more abundant in the Olig2-GFP-hMSC transplant group than in the GFP-hMSC transplant group. As expected, there were few NF-M positive axons in the epicenters of injured spinal cords in the vehicle transplant group. Microglial marker Iba1 immunohistochemistry revealed increased density of Iba1-positive microglial cells in the host tissue of the vehicle transplant group when compared to the Olig2-GFP-hMSC transplant or GFP-hMSC transplant groups (Fig. 6). Next, we investigated the expression of astrocyte marker GFAP in transplanted hMSCs and host cells at the injured spinal cord. Quite a few cells expressed both GFP and GFAP in the spinal cord in the Olig2-GFP-hMSC transplant group (Fig. 7). This suggests that transplanted Olig2-GFP-hMSCs partially differentiated into Olig2- lineage astrocytes (22).
Other SectionsAbstractIntroductionMaterials and MethodsResultsDiscussionAcknowledgementsPotential Conflict of InterestFigureReference Discussion
In the present study, we demonstrate that the transplantation of hMSCs that are genetically modified to express Olig2 enhances locomotor function in a rat model of contusive SCI model. Previous studies showed that transplants of bone marrow-derived MSCs have therapeutic effects in SCI (23–26). Indeed, in the present study, transplantation of control hMSCs reduces cavity area in the injured spinal cord and leads to functional improvements in SCI. Although various types of stem cells have been used for the treatment of SCI, MSC transplantation has several advantages (27, 28): MSCs are readily available from donors and can be expanded and transplanted autologously. MSCs are at very low risk for malignant transformation. In addition, autologous transplantation of MSCs is known to have immunosuppressive properties. The safety of MSCs has been demonstrated in several clinical studies (29, 30). However, it is necessary to optimize therapeutic applications to treat SCI using MSC transplantation in clinical practice. The present study indicated that transplantation of hMSCs genetically modified to express Olig2 enhances locomotor function more significantly than control hMSCs in a rat model of contusive SCI model.
Several in vivo models of SCI have been widely used to study chronic pathologies after damage to spinal nerves (31, 32). In spinal cord tissues adjacent to the injured area, direct injury and tissue disruption is alleviated as it moves away from the area of injury (33). SCI is associated with loss of neurons and glia as well as many changes in gene expression and protein levels, leading to demyelination (34). In this study, Olig2 expression enhanced the therapeutic effects of hMSCs to improve functional recovery after SCI, possibly by modulating the microenvironment. This effect may be due to the production of growth factors and neurotrophic factors that regulate neuronal development, cell survival, and neuritogenesis, but further studies are required to elucidate the precise mechanisms involved. Olig2 is highly expressed in the ventral spine during the early stages of human development and plays an important role in oligodendrocyte differentiation of the spine (35). We found that Olig1-positive cells were the most abundant in injured spinal cord after transplantation of Olig2-GFP-hMSCs. In addition, some transplanted Olig2-GFP-hMSCs expressed Olig1 in the injured spinal cord, whereas control GFP-hMSCs did not. Our results suggest that hMSCs that are genetically modified to express Olig2 can transdifferentiate into oligodendrocyte-like cells in the spinal cord, results that are supported by those of a previous study (36).
Collectively, our results suggest that the transplantation of Olig2-expressing hMSCs has the potential to improve functional recovery of injured spinal cord. BBB scores revealed that the transplantation of Olig2-expressing hMSCs resulted in greater functional improvement in SCI compared that observed in a control hMSC transplant group. Treatment using hMSCs that are genetically modified to express Olig2 is thus considered to be a safe and optimal therapy for SCI.
Other SectionsAbstractIntroductionMaterials and MethodsResultsDiscussionAcknowledgementsPotential Conflict of InterestFigureReference Acknowledgements
We would like to thank Hyun-Goo Kang and Su Jin Jeong for their critical reading of the manuscript. This research was supported by the Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea (M-SC, 2012R1A1A2007945, NRF-2015R1D1A1A 01056950, and H-WP, 2015R1A5A1009701) funded by the Ministry of Education, and by a grant of the Korean Health Technology R&D Project (M-SC, HI17C2160), Ministry of Health & Welfare, Republic of Korea.
Other SectionsAbstractIntroductionMaterials and MethodsResultsDiscussionAcknowledgementsPotential Conflict of InterestFigureReference Potential Conflict of Interest
The authors have no conflicting financial interest.
Other SectionsAbstractIntroductionMaterials and MethodsResultsDiscussionAcknowledgementsPotential Conflict of InterestFigureReference Figures
Fig. 1. Survival and distribution of Olig2-GFP-hMSCs in spinal cord lesion after contusive SCI. (A) Green fluorescent protein (GFP) and Olig2 expression in genetically modified hMSCs. The GFP-infected (GFP-hMSCs) and Olig2-GFP-infected (Olig2-GFP-hMSCs) hMSCs were immunostained with an anti-Olig2 (red) antibody. Colocalization of Oilg2 and GFP in the nucleus of Olig2-GFP-hMSCs is shown in the merged image (yellow). Scale bars: 100 μm. (B) Schematic diagram of the experimental design. (C) Immunohistochemistry of transplanted hMSCs in spinal cord lesion at 7 weeks after transplantation. Longitudinal spinal cord sections were immunostained for GFP at 7 weeks after transplantation of GFP-hMSCs and Olig2-GFP-hMSCs. Scale bars: 500 μm. The left side is rostral and the superior side is dorsal.
Fig. 2. Behavioral analysis of locomotor function. Effect of transplantation of Olig2-GFP-hMSCs on functional recovery after SCI. BBB locomotor scores of rats with SCI before and after transplantation of vehicle (n=5), GFP-hMSCs (n=5) and Olig2-GFP-hMSCs (n=6) were analyzed. Arrow indicates the time point when transplantation was performed. Data are shown as mean±SEM. *p<0.05 vs. vehicle transplant group, †p<0.05 vs. GFP-hMSC transplant group.
Fig. 3. Morphometry of spinal cord lesion after contusion SCI. Longitudinal spinal cord sections from the vehicle transplant group (A), GFP-hMSC transplant group (B), and Olig2-GFP-hMSC transplant group (C) were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) at 8 weeks after SCI. Histological analyses were conducted of longitudinal sections encompassing the lesion area. Dotted line outlines the lesion boundary. (D) The histograms represent measurements of the lesion area of vehicle transplant group, GFP-hMSC transplant group and Olig2-GFP-hMSC transplant group. (E) Correlations between BBB score 7 weeks post-injury and lesion size in the spinal cord tissue. Data are shown as mean±SEM. The results are representative of at least three rats in each group. *p<0.05 vs. vehicle transplant group, †p<0.05 vs. GFP-hMSC transplant group.
Fig. 4. Olig1 immunohistochemistry of the spinal cord lesion at 7 weeks after transplantation. Longitudinal spinal cord sections were immunostained for Olig1 and GFP 7 weeks after transplantation of vehicle (A), GFP-hMSCs (B) and Olig2-GFP-hMSCs (C). The right panel is magnified images of the boxed area. White arrows show colocalization of Olig1 to GFP-positive cells. Scale bars: 500 μm. In all images, the left side is rostral and the superior side is dorsal.
Fig. 5. NF-M immunohistochemistry of the spinal cord lesion at 7 weeks after transplantation. Longitudinal spinal cord sections were immunostained for NF-M and GFP 7 weeks after transplantation of vehicle (A), GFP-hMSCs (B), and Olig2-GFP-hMSCs (C). The right panel shows magnified images of the boxed area. White arrows show colocalization of NF-M to GFP-positive cells. Scale bars: 500 μm. In all images, the left side is rostral and the superior side is dorsal.
Fig. 6. Iba1 immunohistochemistry of the spinal cord lesion 7 weeks after transplantation. Longitudinal spinal cord sections were immunostained for Iba1 and GFP 7 weeks after transplantation of vehicle (A), GFP-hMSCs (B), and Olig2-GFP-hMSCs (C). The right panel shows magnified images of the boxed area. Scale bars: 500 μm. In all images, the left side is rostral and the superior side is dorsal.
Fig. 7. GFAP immunohistochemistry of the spinal cord lesion at 7 weeks after transplantation. Longitudinal spinal cord sections were immunostained for GFAP and GFP 7 weeks after transplantation of vehicle (A), GFP-hMSCs (B), and Olig2-GFP-hMSCs (C). The right panel shows magnified images of the boxed area. White arrows show colocalization of GFAP to GFP-positive cells. Scale bars: 500 μm. In all images, the left side is rostral and the superior side is dorsal.
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The Human Toll of America's Air Wars
3."Extraordinary Technique"
In recent decades, the United States has radically changed its approach to warfare, replacing American troops on the ground with an arsenal of aircraft guided by controllers sitting at computers, often thousands of miles away. That change reached full force in the final years of the Obama administration, amid the deeply unpopularity of the Forever Wars that claimed the lives of more than 6,000 American service members. Fewer American soldiers on the ground meant fewer American deaths, which meant fewer congressional hearings, or lack thereof, about the progress of the wars. It also meant fewer journalists paying attention to the effects of the war effort on the local civilian population. If America can target and kill the right people while being as careful as possible not to harm the wrong people, they will have no reason to worry on the domestic front.
From Iraq and Syria to Somalia and Afghanistan, air power allowed coalition forces to take territory from ISIS and the Taliban, and drone strikes provided a means to contain al Qaeda, al Shabaab and Boko Haram in areas where which were not declared official battlefields. Military officers touted the accuracy of these operations, which were based on meticulously gathered intelligence, technical sorcery, carefully crafted bureaucratic constraints, and exceptional restraint. As of April 2016, the Pentagon was reporting that 25,000 ISIS fighters had been killed in US airstrikes in Iraq and Syria, while only 21 civilians were killed. "With our extraordinary technology," President Barack Obama said that year, "we are conducting the most accurate aerial campaign in history."
At the time, I had just completed an investigation into the US government's claims about the schools it built in Afghanistan, and I knew that there was often a gap between what the authorities said and the reality on the ground. The civilian casualties inflicted by the coalition seemed hard to believe. So I decided to visit some of the air raid sites and see what I could find.
In August 2016, coalition forces struck Qairah, a suburb about 45 miles south of Mosul, with several attacks, freeing it from ISIS control, and in the immediate aftermath, the Pentagon acknowledged not a single civilian death. . I reached Kaira a month after the strike ended. The air around the city was still thick with black smoke – ISIS fighters had set fire to some oil wells before retreating north towards Mosul. At the center of Qaira, destruction was complete. Almost every major building or significant part of the city's infrastructure was affected – bridges, water sanitation plants, railway stations, furniture markets, bazaars. In the remains of the sloping football stadium in Kaira, I saw children using sheets of metal as sledges. The residential area was also destroyed: one or two structures on each block were reduced to rubble.
I stopped in front of a broken house to talk to some local people. They knew the family that lived there. It was the residence of Ali Khalaf al-Wardi and his family, he told me, as he described what had happened. As Iraqi forces headed for Kaira, fleeing ISIS fighters left piles of explosives around the city; Ali, believing that one of those caches was in the house next door, immediately began packing to leave for his family. But they did not move quickly. A Coalition airstrike hit a neighbor's house, knocking down the Verdi family home. Six civilians were killed, including Ali; her 5-year-old son, Kutada; his 14-year-old daughter Anas; and their 18-year-old daughter Ghofran.
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After that I went to nine other air raid sites in Kaira. All were in residential areas. Locals told me that it rained daily in the air raids, especially in the middle of the city. These attacks were so frequent that families often slept in shifts in the event of a bombing. At least five of the sites I visited had civilian casualties, with at least 29 people killed. In many cases, ISIS had already evacuated nearby homes that had been targeted.
It was clear from just one reporting visit that something was amiss in the Coalition's aerial combat. I worked closely with Anand Gopal, a journalist with a background in statistical research, and together we devised a plan to conduct a systematic ground investigation into the airstrikes in Kaira. Over the ensuing months, I returned again and again, verifying what I had learned. I expanded my research area to include the city of Shura and the Aden district of eastern Mosul. I identified impact sites, learned to distinguish airstrikes from other strikes, interviewed loved ones and survivors, collected names and photos of the dead, analyzed satellite imagery and scoured social media. Our survey covered 103 strike sites, and what we found was alarming: one in five bombings killed a civilian, 31 times more than the coalition claimed at the time. Furthermore, in about half of the attacks that killed civilians, we could not find any ISIS targets nearby. The attacks appear to have been based on poor or outdated intelligence. It is true that at that time we were limited in what we could know about the intended target of the strike. I had military sources, and in some cases I was able to interview local informers on the ground. But from what these sources would tell me, my ability to decipher pre-strike intelligence was hampered.
However, soon enough, I got a deeper understanding of the targeting process. On one of my visits, I met an Iraqi man named Basim Razzo, who survived an attack on his eastern Mosul home in 2015 that killed his wife, his daughter, his brother and his nephew. The US intelligence had identified Rajjo's house as a car-bomb factory. Rajjo wanted to know why his family was targeted so precisely, and wanted to clear his name. After learning of his case, I filed a request under the Freedom of Information Act for a civilian casualty assessment related to this strike. To expedite the process, which can sometimes take years, I argued in my request that Rajjo was at risk of imminent harm, as survivors of American bombings could be suspected of ties to enemy groups. Within months, I had a dozen partially modified pages.
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Home / PlayStation Games / PlayStation 4 / Ratchet & Clank (PlayStation 4) (Brand New)
Ratchet & Clank (PlayStation 4) (Brand New)
Insomniac Games, Inc.
Ratchet & Clank is a third person action shooter with puzzle elements. Released in conjunction with the movie with the same name, it follows an upgraded story line of the first Ratchet & Clank. The game is narrated by Captain Quark as he tells Ratchet's story to a fellow inmate in prison.
Ratchet is attempting to join the Galactic Rangers on his home planet of Veldin, only to be dismissed by Captain Quark once he finishes the qualification course. Following the escape of Clank (who crash lands on Veldin), the duo set off to save the galaxy from Chairman Drek following a trail of infobots.
As in previous games, both Ratchet and Clank are playable. Ratchet is aided by Clank in movement with the Helipack, which can later be upgraded to the Thrusterpack. Some planets you can make use of the Jetpack, which allows Ratchet to fly in the air. There are times when the player takes control of Clank, to escape from Victor von Ion, or traverse puzzles using Gadgebots.
Players can both level up for both Ratchet (to a maximum health of 200) and his weapons (maximum level of 5, Omega unlocks a maximum of 10). Once a weapon is fully leveled up, the Omega version can be bought in Challenge Mode (once the accompanying holocards have been found). On top of leveling up the weapons, they can also be upgraded using Raritanium. Upgrading is done through a grid in the weapon vendor, with special unlocks once certain tiles have been surrounded by basic upgrades.
Collectibles include Holocards (which collecting a set gives the player added in-game bonuses, or allows unlocking of Omega Weapons in Challenge Mode), and Gold Bolts (which are used to unlock image galleries, appearance settings and cheats). Previously mentioned Challenge Mode is unlocked once the player finishes the game, if selected, the player re-starts the game with harder enemies, unlocks the Insomniac Museum, and allows the purchase of Omega Weapons.
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Driveclub VR (PlayStation 4)


1 We first call out for members of the community to participate in a client's testing project.
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We would love to hear from you if digital testing is something that interest you.
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In some of our digital testing types, we run test cycles that involve gamification. This is a rewarding process for members who enjoy competing and being rewarded for their performance. We like to see you strive to be the best. Earn a higher member rate for finding a higher number of valid bugs and even some difficult ones to discover.
As a member of our community, we like reliable, responsive and enthusiastic testers. Be considered more often when your profile sticks out from the crowd.
As a member of our community, we will email when suitable crowdsourced testing projects become available. However, please be aware that we will select by hand the testers that are more relevant for each project.
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McC out as Head Coach in Green Bay. Not one bit surprised, and glad they didn't wait until the end of the season because everyone knew it after yesterday's disaster against the Cards. The last few seasons have been exciting, but underachieving. Slow starts out of the gate thanks to young, uneven rosters. Ted Thompson's refusal to sign free agents never helped - draft and develop only works if you have stellar drafts. When Ron Wolf, Ted Thompson's mentor, was GM in Green Bay he had several stellar drafts, worked hard to trade for Favre when no one else cared, and none of it would have mattered had he not signed Reggie White, Don Beebe, Keith Jackson, Sean Jones, etc. Being caught without a decent backup QB twice doesn't help a QB-centric coach plead his case.
Still, McCarthy oversaw some excellent years and had a great run, even if there were more disappointing NFC Championship games than great ones, they still got there, which is more than I can say for the rest of the NFC North. McCarthy was never as beloved in Green Bay as Holmgren was, but perhaps expectations were just higher than they were in 1992. He was never the "mastermind" like a Belichek or Bill Walsh, or a personality like Andy Reid or Gruden, but his success over the past 12+ years speaks for itself. I'm sure he'll find another home soon enough, a lot of teams out there would be lucky to have him.
Part of my children growing up was in Wisconsin. During my formative years as far as getting into sports I was a Pack,Brewers and Bucks fan. Still a fan of all.
I knew the Packers were struggling this year, and from what I read and heard Mike has made some questionable decisions. It sounds like it might have been for the best. When you have a QB like Rogers you hate to waste him if things aren't working out. I like McCarthy. No doubt be will land on myhis feet and I am sure will get another HC job if he wants. Maybe take a year off and jump back in.
I knew the Packers were struggling this year, and from what I read and heard Mike has made some questionable decisions. It sounds like it might have been for the best. When you have a QB like Rogers you hate to waste him if things aren't working out. I like McCarthy. No doubt be will land on his feet and I am sure will get another HC job if he wants. Maybe take a year off and jump back in.
It's definitely been a weird season. The Packers battled elite teams like the Rams and Pats, but can barely stop garbage teams like the 49ers and Cards. Even the shut out of the Bills felt like a loss because its was so sloppy. Everything has seemed off, and that falls on the coach eventually. I'm a big fan of continuity, and McCarthy has been a solid rock while the Bears, Vikings, and Lions have gone through exactly 127 coaches over the past 15 years. But it had run its course, definitely run out of gas.
Well she's certainly not doing Mitch Trubisky or Chase Daniel any favors lately.
Holy crap, that lateral in Miami was crazy.
Mahomes might be the most exciting QB in decades. Hopefully his star doesn't fizzle, dude is fun to watch this season.
How crazy would it be if the Chargers and the Rams made the Super Bowl and we had a battle for LA? Or the Chargers and the Saints and Brees faces his old team? This season is getting pretty interesting.
I have not seen Mahomes play yet. Luck and the Colts bad a real good game yesterday and to seal the deal by pulling Clowney offside was priceless!
Or the Chargers and the Saints and Brees faces his old team?
I will accept this; thanks to the Bears for last night's win!
Took the Chefs tonight. Hope they cook up a good game.
At any rate, should be a good one!
Been watching the games all day. Does the NFL want people to watch? Seems like every other play there is a flag. Whatever happened to football? Kind of getting tired of this. Doesn't really seem like much of the game it once was.
Nice win by the Colts. They are probably the hottest team going 7-1 since starting 1-5 and might not make the playoffs.
Good job in the fantasy league DanB. You had a really good team.
Pretty wild, fun season. A lot of teams rallied to make it in to the playoffs, it's all about when you peak and having patience. Colts, Texans, Ravens, Eagles, Seahawks, Cowboys were all looking very average mid-season yet all made the playoffs. Everyone figured the Rams and Pats would be in the mix, based on last season, but who saw the Saints, Chargers, and Chiefs being as good as they have been? Meanwhile, I was absolutely right about the Vikings taking a step backwards by switching QBs - you don't mess with chemistry.
Should be some exciting round 1 playoff games.
Colts started 1-5,finished 8-2. I might be biased, but I think they are the strongest of the wild card teams. After that,we shall see.
I agree about the Vikings.
They definitely turned it on and rallied. Houston started 0-3 and ended 11-5 - bizarre for 2 teams in the same division to rally like that (with Tennessee on their heals to boot). Can't say I've watched much AFC South football, but both Houston and Indy are 2-3 against teams that made the playoffs, including splitting the regular season series. Luck definitely gives Indy an edge, but it's a nice division matchup to kick things off on Saturday.
So who does everyone like in the playoffs?
The only game I really like is Philly and the points. Bears are good at home but Philly plays in the cold too so that shouldn't matter to them. Plus it's going to be unseasonably warm for January here in Chicago. As long is Foles is playing I will take the points.
CHARGERS - Ravens just beat the Chargers and are at home, but how far can the Lamar Jackson Train go?
Waiting on the last game, I see it's at Bears -6 1/2. If it hits 7 I'll definitely be on Philly. May not play this one at all.
Don't care about the Indy game but my wife is a huge fan so I guess I have to root for them.
I hope Dallas loses because well, they're the Cowboys.
I might tease Baltimore and the Eagles.
At that, I'd like the Colts.


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Alnwick Sexual Health
All your choices summarised below and in this table and this leaflet.
All these methods can be provided in Alnwick, except sterilisation.
You might notice than when you speak to your Nurse or Dr about contraception, they talk about:
"Long acting methods".
These are the coils and the implant. The reason that medical people love these methods so much is that they are REALLY effective, much more so than the pill and even the injection. They can also stay there for several years.
The % figures are the numbers who will typically get pregnant per year with each method.
Implants 0.05%
Injected into the inside of your upper arm, they last up to 3 years. Bleeding (vaginal) can be unpredictable but generally settles over a few months.
Vasectomy 0.15%
Sterilisation for men............ permanent.
This does have to be done elsewhere. It can be done in Morpeth at the One to One centre. Call 01670 515151.
Hormone coils 0.2%
The Mirena coil can last for 5 years and reduces periods. Half of women after 6 months will have no bleeding at all.
Low dose hormone coil 0.3% *NEW*
The Jaydess is a new coil which is smaller and lower in hormone compared to the Mirena. It is only licensed for 3 years though and doesn't reduce periods so much.
Female Sterilisation 0.5%
............permanent.
Copper coils 0.8%
No hormones, but tend to make your periods longer and heavier. They can last for up to 10 years.
Injections 6%
The "depo". Hormone injection required every 12 weeks. Bleeding is unpredictable, and there can be a delay in return of fertility.
Sayana Press *NEW*
Very similar to the depo but it can be injected yourself at home. The first injection would be given by a Doctor (Dr Helen Moor at Alnwick Medical Group) or a nurse (training Nov 17). The next appointment the Dr/ Nurse could watch you inject yourself and then you would be given a pack of 4 injections to give yourself every 13 weeks.
"The Pill" (and patch and ring) 9%
The pill is taken for 3 weeks with a 1 week break when you bleed. Good period control. There can be hormonal side effects and a small increase in risk of breast cancer and blood clots. Patches and vaginal rings are the same hormones.
MISSED PILLS ? Check here.
Mini Pills 9%
Daily hormone pill, safe but bleeding is unpredictable.
Condoms 18%
Good at preventing infection but not great contraception.
Diaphragms 50%
Can be inserted into the vagina before sex and removed a few hours after.
© 2023 by Pharmacy. Proudly created with Wix.com


Studio ceramic coffee pot from the 1960s, manufactured by Karl Scheid. Scheid is one of the outstanding German ceramists of the 20th century. He designed for Rosenthal, Hutschenreuther,and other German companies. However, the coffee pot on offer is a handmade piece from his own workshop.
The stands out for its unusual proportions and a beautiful glaze in black and grey with a very fine pink shade.


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veski innovation fellow
Professor Tiffany Walsh is returning to Victoria after an impressive career in the UK to work at Deakin University's Institute for Frontier Materials at Geelong's Waurn Ponds campus.
Professor Walsh took up her veski innovation fellowship in early 2012.
Research project title:
Aiding developments in advanced materials with molecular simulation Research
Nature is able to manufacture strong and durable materials such as teeth, shells and bone using non-toxic ingredients like chalk and water. Professor Tiffany Walsh will use molecular simulations to see how nature manufactures these materials at the molecular level. The aim of her research is to learn nature's approach to manufacturing, paving the way for manufacturers to make multi-functional and high-performance materials in a similar way.
Professor Walsh will establish a team at the Institute of Frontier Materials at Deakin University's Geelong Campus to undertake world-leading research. Using the advanced capabilities of the new Victorian Life Sciences Computational Initiative's (VLSCI) super computers, Tiffany will aim to identify nature's methods and relate them to future bio-inspired manufacturing approaches.
Her research will also open up new areas of biotechnology to deliver solutions and advances in areas such as personalised healthcare that are both commercially viable and socially useful.
Key facts:
Described as a 'modern chemist' by Professor Peter Hodgson
Won a Cambridge Commonwealth Trust Scholarship
Co-led a successful application for a £5.3million Programme Grant from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, and won industrial funding for a post-doctoral researcher from Unilever, UK.
Latest updates about Tiffany Walsh »
Related Links »
Deakin University's Institute for Frontier Materials
Tiffany Walsh's video
VLSCI
"Because a lot of my work is concerned with bio-molecules, it was a perfect fit with the priorities of the VLSCI. It was such a big draw card for me to come and be able to use this facility. I saw this as a chance to really invigorate my existing research program and begin to grow my research in a number of directions."


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"I'm happy with how I'm building my game back up" - Raducanu encouraged by positive showing in Seoul
by Zlatko Vodenicharov
This week, Emma Raducanu made it to the semifinals for the first time in Seoul, and she was pleased that recent hard work has been paying off.
This year, Raducanu has taken a lot of criticism because of her erratic performances and several physical problems. Fans questioned how hard the Briton is working because her body frequently disappoints and her tennis game suffers as a result. Raducanu is aware of the criticism, but she mostly doesn't seem to care as she concentrates on raising her game to a respectable level.
"I think it is pretty cool to be in my first semifinal and build my way on the tour in the right way. I think it is quite a nice reward for all the hard work I have done on the practice court and a lot of hours. It is a really nice feeling" remarked Emma after retiring down a double break to Ostapenko.
Bianca Andreescu confirms return at San Diego Open despite not being on entry list
She started off the match pretty well, winning the first set and breaking in the second. She was upset about some sort of glute problem and soon after, her game collapsed from the lack of effective movement. Raducanu made the decision to resume playing following a medical timeout, but he eventually decided to quit.
"I'm happy with the way that I'm building my game back up and progressing. And trying to set myself as best as possible up for next year and also just to improve my game. I think I'm taking on the challenges."
"I feel like if I want to come back, I definitely can" - Williams drops yet another comeback hint
ATP Emma Raducanu Korea Open


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Boeing vows change after reports of missing safety features
Though the company has avoided answering reporters' questions, two executives highlighted new efforts to update the system on new 737 Max models. PR pros weigh in on the response.
By Beki Winchel
@bekiweki
Boeing is facing additional scrutiny following reports that recent plane crashes were tied to missing safety equipment.
On Thursday, The New York Times reported that two safety features meant to alert pilots to potentially incorrect readings were not included on either aircraft, because Boeing charged extra for them.
Boeing has been in hot water over the development of the 737 Max, a replacement for its popular 737 airplane. The model represents the greater part of Boeing's new aircraft orders, but new autopilot software has led safety advocates to question whether the planes are safe. After two crashes in five months, governments around the world grounded the aircraft.
Boeing and U.S. government regulators were slow to respond to the crisis, and Boeing has defended the integrity of the aircraft in statements to the public. However, the latest reports threaten to undermine the aircraft manufacturer's message.
The New York Times reported:
Tags: Boeing


The cryptocurrency market finished yet another week on a low note Friday, with most major cryptocurrencies trading down more than 8 percent on the day. Here's a look at some of the headlines that were moving the cryptocurrency market today — and which currencies were on the move.
The big news that rocked the cryptocurrency markets on Friday was reports that Japan's financial regulator has begun cracking down on crypto exchanges for money laundering. Japan's largest crypto exchange, bitFlyer, even announced it was suspending the creation of new accounts while it improves its verification process. Regulators are cracking down around the world after one recent study by the University of Sidney found that 44 percent of all bitcoin transactions are associated with criminal activity.
Elsewhere in Asia, Chinese police have seized 200 cryptocurrency mining machines allegedly used to steal 150,000 kW hours of electricity use. The latest bust comes just weeks after the 600 bitcoin mining machines were seized in northeastern China for the same reason.
BKCM founder and CEO Brian Kelly said on CNBC the market is getting flooded with cryptocurrency ICOs. Kelly said the ICO market is "very frothy," and pointed out that there were roughly the same number of ICOs in the first half of 2018 than in all of 2017.
The Bitcoin Investment Trust (OTC: GBTC) traded at $10.18, down 4.9 percent.
Here's how several top crypto investments fared Friday. Prices are as of 3:30 p.m. ET and reflect the previous 24 hours.
EOS declined 13.8 percent to $8.95.
WeAreSatoshi: $1.5-million market cap, 49.3-percent gain.
Uniform Fiscal Object: $2.2-million market cap, 36.2-percent gain.
NuBits: $3.2-million market cap, 26.0-percent gain.
Hexx: $7.9-million market cap, 44.9-percent decline.
FantasyGold: $1.3-million market cap, 37.9-percent decline.
CHIPS: $2.5-million market cap, 34.2-percent decline.


As part of the former Soviet Union, Belarus had a relatively well-developed, though aging industrial base; it retained this industrial base – which is now outdated, energy inefficient, and dependent on subsidized Russian energy and preferential access to Russian markets – following the breakup of the USSR. The country also has a broad agricultural base which is largely inefficient and dependent on government subsidies. After an initial burst of capitalist reform from 1991-94, including privatization of smaller state enterprises and some service sector businesses, creation of institutions of private property, and development of entrepreneurship, Belarus' economic development greatly slowed. About 80% of all industry remains in state hands, and foreign investment has been hindered by a climate hostile to business. A few banks, which had been privatized after independence, were renationalized. State banks account for 75% of the banking sector. Economic output, which had declined for several years following the collapse of the Soviet Union, revived in the mid-2000s thanks to the boom in oil prices. Belarus has only small reserves of crude oil, though it imports most of its crude oil and natural gas from Russia at prices substantially below the world market. Belarus exported refined oil products at market prices produced from Russian crude oil purchased at a steep discount. In late 2006, Russia began a process of rolling back its subsidies on oil and gas to Belarus. Tensions over Russian energy reached a peak in 2010, when Russia stopped the export of all subsidized oil to Belarus save for domestic needs. In December 2010, Russia and Belarus reached a deal to restart the export of discounted oil to Belarus. In 2015, Belarus continued to import Russian crude oil at a discounted price. However, the plunge in global oil prices heavily reduced revenues. Little new foreign investment has occurred in recent years. In 2011, a financial crisis began, triggered by government directed salary hikes unsupported by commensurate productivity increases. The crisis was compounded by an increased cost in Russian energy inputs and an overvalued Belarusian ruble, and eventually led to a near three-fold devaluation of the Belarusian ruble in 2011. In November 2011, Belarus agreed to sell to Russia its remaining shares in Beltransgaz, the Belarusian natural gas pipeline operator, in exchange for reduced prices for Russian natural gas. Receiving more than half of a $3 billion loan from the Russian-dominated Eurasian Economic Community (EurAsEC) Bail-out Fund, a $1 billion loan from the Russian state-owned bank Sberbank, and the $2.5 billion sale of Beltranzgas to Russian state-owned Gazprom helped stabilize the situation in 2012; nevertheless, the Belarusian currency lost more than 60% of its value, as the rate of inflation reached new highs in 2011 and 2012, before calming in 2013. As of January 2014, the final tranche of the EurAsEC loan has been delayed. In December 2013, Russia announced a new loan for Belarus of up to $2 billion for 2014. Notwithstanding foreign assistance, the Belarusian economy continued to struggle under the weight of high external debt servicing payments and trade deficit. In mid-December 2014, structural economic shortcomings were aggravated by the devaluation of the Russian ruble and triggered a near 40% devaluation of the Belarusian ruble. Belarus entered 2015 with stagnant economic growth and reduced hard currency reserves, with under one month of import cover.
well-developed transport and communications infrastructure.
full exemption from import duty on raw materials.
As a first step, individuals and representatives of international companies in Belarus are required by law to provide notarized copies of their passports.
In some instances a notarized Russian translation is also required before the process of setting up a company can begin.
What are the legal requirements for foreign companies wishing to set up a legal entity in Belarus?
open a regular bank account.
Tax breaks are available for businesses established in the Free Economic Zones, the High Technologies Park and rural areas.
Why should you invest in Belarus?
Why should you start your business in Belarus?
Foreign investment and trade with Belarus have risen 8-fold since 2002, and there are now more than 4000 joint venture and foreign enterprises in Belarus.
Industrially developed economy. Currently around a third of the Belarus GDP comes from the industrial sector.
general business culture in Belarus.
A number of international law and accountancy firms have offices in Belarus. There are also several commercial organizations in Belarus that specialize in helping foreign companies to enter the market.