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RAC proves potholes ARE getting worse
July 30, 2016 /0 Comments/in Car News /by admin
If you think Britain's roads are littered with more potholes these days, RAC breakdown data suggests you may be right: vehicle breakdowns caused by bad roads have risen a whopping 125% between 2006-2016.
The sort of things that are damaged when you hit a pothole – components such as dampers, suspension springs and bent wheels – made up 0.4% of RAC callouts in 2006. By 2016, this had risen to almost 1% of callouts.
"Our analysis… unequivocably confirms what most road users already know, which is that the condition of our local roads has deteriorated drastically in the last decade," said RAC chief engineer David Bizley.
"This analysis suggests that the quality of the UK's roads suffered a steady decline from the start of 2007 through to the end of 2009, presumably due to lack of investment in maintenance and resurfacing during worsening economic times."
Since then, there has not been sufficient funding to fix the backlog.
"Although 0.9% (of call-outs) seems low, the growth in this type of call-out is indisputable. With few exceptions, it's the vehicle owner who picks up the bill, adding up to millions of pounds each year."
And motorists are fed up. The RAC Report on Motoring shows the state of Britain's local roads is their number one gripe and 50% feel the condition of roads in their area has declined over the past year.
One in three thus want the government to prioritise fixing Britain's roads above everything else and a further half rate extra investment here as a top-5 priority.
Not something that's going to happen soon though, says the RAC: "The effect of insufficient investment over much of the last decade care going to take some considerable time to rectify," warns Bizley.
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Porsche and Mercedes-Benz in historic joint venture
July 29, 2016 /0 Comments/in Car News /by Richard Aucock
Mercedes-Benz and Porsche are both based in Stuttgart, and both have huge, modern motoring museums hosting the cream of their car collections.
And the two brands have now joined forces in a classic new venture.
Free entry to Mercedes-Benz Museum for BMW employees
It's a discount deal: show a ticket for one upon entry to the other and you'll get 25% off the ticket price. It works both ways: Mercedes-Benz and Porsche are both offering discounts to visitors who've been to the other one first.
The deal, which runs until 30 December, means it costs €6 instead of €8 to enter, with the concessionary price cut to €3. And it's been launched just in time for the holiday season in the local Baden-Wurttemberg region.
To celebrate this historic joint venture, the Mercedes-Benz Museum and Porsche Museum have swapped two cars: outside the Porsche Museum in Zuffenhausen is a 1966 Mercedes-Benz W 111 230 S; outside the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Bad Cannstatt is a 1975 Porsche 911 Carrera 2.7.
"Stuttgart has not one but two great car museums," said head of Mercedes-Benz Classic Christian Boucke. "It's unique and a real stroke of luck.
"Many visitors tell us that the museums are the only reason they travel to Stuttgart. We are honouring this with a joint campaign."
"This collaboration also emphasises the good neighbourly relations between the Mercedes-Benz Museum and us, the Porsche Museum," said Achim Stejskal, head of the Porsche Museum.
Just make sure you don't visit on a Monday: both museums are closed. They are, however, both open between Tuesday-Sunday, from 9am to 6pm.
https://i1.wp.com/www.motoringresearch.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Mercedes-Benz_Porsche_Museum.jpg?fit=1800%2C1200&ssl=1 1200 1800 Richard Aucock https://www.motoringresearch.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/mr-top-motoring.svg Richard Aucock2016-07-29 15:38:232018-06-20 04:55:50Porsche and Mercedes-Benz in historic joint venture
BMW M4 Competition Pack: Two-Minute Road Test
July 29, 2016 /0 Comments/in Car Reviews /by
Harder, better, faster and, er, more expensive, the Competition Pack cranks the BMW M4 up to 11. For an extra £3,000, the M4 coupe – and its M3 saloon sibling – gain 19 hp, adaptive suspension, sports seats, stylish 20-inch alloy wheels and a fruitier exhaust. Are the upgrades worth it, or is BMW simply gilding the lily?
Prices and deals
At the time of writing, the M4 Competition Pack costs £60,065, or £62,560 with the DCT semi-automatic gearbox as tested. That's about £500 more than an equivalent M3, or £3,000 less than the M4 convertible. However, we found discounts of nearly £10,000 on M4 DCTs via 'reverse auction' website, AutoeBid – so expect similar savings on Competition Pack cars.
What are its rivals?
Until the new Audi RS5 arrives, the M4 has one major rival: the Mercedes-AMG C63 coupe. With 476 hp from its 4.0-litre V8 (or 510 hp in full-fat 'S' spec), the muscle-Merc trumps the M4 for outright power – and has a better soundtrack. However, the BMW is a more satisfying steer on a twisty road. You could also consider the Lexus RC F and Porsche 911 Carrera.
What engine does it use?
The BMW can't match the C63 for cubic inches, but its 3.0-litre twin-turbo straight six develops a stonking 150 hp per litre. For those who struggle with maths, that's a grand total of 450 hp – up 19hp on the standard M4. Maximum power arrives at a heady 7,000 rpm, meaning you need to rev this engine hard to get the best from it. Note the carbon fibre strut brace to stiffen the chassis.
How fast?
You want figures? How about 0-62 mph in 4.0 seconds for the DCT version? Choose a manual gearbox and you'll lag 0.1 seconds behind at the lights. Which serves you right for trying to save money, frankly. Either way, the M4 Competition Pack is 0.1 seconds quicker off the line than the standard car. Top speed is limited to 155mph.
Those 20-inch machine-polished alloy wheels look fantastic, but they don't do ride quality any favours (the regular M4 has 19s). Even in Comfort mode, you feel every ripple in the road surface. That said, the M4 doesn't thump and bang through potholes like some sports cars. And its race-style seats are supportive and well-padded. Full marks for the M-striped seatbelts, too.
Will I enjoy driving it?
Oh yes. The M4 has faced criticism for being too soft, but the Competition Pack sharpens up its edges. It's ferociously fast, and the chassis is a textbook example of rear-wheel-drive adjustability. Well-weighted steering and a flawless semi-automatic gearbox complete the package. Compared to the C63 AMG, you work a bit harder to experience the BMW's ample rewards. But that's hardly a chore, right?
Fuel economy and running costs
The most efficient non-hybrid BMW 3 Series – the 320d EfficientDynamics auto – returns fuel economy of 74.3mpg. The M4 manages less than half that, with official figures of 32.1mpg for the manual and 34.0mpg for the DCT. CO2 emissions of 194g/km mean you'll pay £500 car tax in the first year and £270 per year thereafter.
What's the interior like?
The interior of the 4 Series dates back to 2012. Compared with the latest Audi A4/A5 and Mercedes-Benz C-Class, the plastics seem a little cheap and the design a little dated. We can't fault the ergonomics, though. Traditional BMW white-on-black dials and a centre console angled towards the driver were supplemented by an £825 head-up display in our test car. There's also the excellent iDrive media system, which we'll come to in a minute…
Is it practical?
For anyone who's ever squeezed into the back of a Porsche 911, the M4's two proper, adult-sized rear seats will be a revelation. It's a little dark back there, and access is awkward behind the bulky sports seats. But if you regularly carry passengers, you could always buy the M3 saloon instead. The M4 also has a decent 445-litre boot – about the same as a Nissan Qashqai.
Tell me about the tech
We rate BMW's iDrive media system as the joint-best available, along with Audi's MMI. Its widescreen display is mounted high on the dashboard, and the 'clickwheel' controller is easy to operate without taking your eyes off the road. It's far superior to Mercedes' Comand, and we prefer it to the various touchscreen systems available, too. Standard kit includes Bluetooth phone connectivity, DAB radio and in-car wi-fi. We'd also be tempted to splash out £675 on the premium Harmon Kardon hi-fi.
What about safety?
The closely-related BMW 3 Series scored a full five stars in Euro NCAP crash tests, and there's no reason to think the M4 would be any different. All cars come with side and curtain airbags and advanced stability/traction control. Even so, with 450 horses on tap, the biggest threat to your safety (and driving licence) will be your right foot…
Which version should I go for?
The obvious question here is: should you go for the Competition Pack? We certainly would, and BMW expects 70% of buyers to follow suit. With improvements to performance, handling, noise and appearance, the Competition Pack simply makes for a better M4. And its £3,000 additional cost looks modest in the context of a £60,000 car. The only downside is the firmer ride, but we think that's a fair trade-off for improved agility.
What's the used alternative?
If you don't have £60,000 to spend on a new M4, the E46 M3 offers just as much fun – perhaps more – for a fraction of the cost. Built from 2000-2006, it's powered by a 343 hp naturally-aspirated six redlined at 8,000 rpm. Responsive and rear-wheel drive, the E46 remains one of our favourite BMW M cars. Prices start at just £7,000, although we'd budget at least five figures for a good one.
Should I buy one?
Cards on the table, we prefer the titanic torque and aural drama of the Mercedes-AMG C63 to the subtler charms of the M4 Competition Pack. The BMW would best for a track day, but the more exciting Mercedes has the edge on the road. There's also a BMW M2-shaped elephant in the room. Smaller, cheaper and more fun, the new M2 is our current favourite M car.
Pub fact
Even the Competition Pack enhancements don't make this the hottest M4. That honour goes to the M4 GTS: a lightweight, 500 hp rival for the Porsche 911 GT3. With two seats, a front splitter that doesn't do speed humps and a price tag of, ahem, £122,000, the GTS gives two fingers to everyday usability in favour of track-focused performance. One for the lottery-win garage, perhaps?
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Lotus Elise Race 250: road car for the racetrack
July 29, 2016 /1 Comment/in Car News /by
There are Elise Cup race series running all over the world and, since we now have a fancy new Cup 250 road-going version of the Elise, Lotus has taken the same performance upgrades and twisted them into the track-going Elise. Creating, says boss Jean-Marc Gales, "the most focused Elise we've ever produced".
Compared to the old Elise Cup 220 R, the Else Race 250 gets a cooler name, an extra 30hp (but no more torque) and a tiny weight reduction to "less than 900kg" (a road-going Cup 250 is 931kg). It also gets a full zero-lift aero package that generates 66kg of downforce at 100mph and 155kg at its 154mph vmax – 30kg more than before (and, um, exactly the same figures as the road Cup 250).
More car news on Motoring Research
Lotus says it's enough to deliver a Hethel lap time of 1 minute 33.5 seconds, half a second faster than the Cup 220 R, making it the fastest race-spec Elise ever.
This is another new Lotus that has bene into Gales' 'Lightweight Laboratory'. A lithium ion battery cuts 10kg, carbon fibre race seats chop 6kg and the forged alloy wheels are "ultra-lightweight" to give an additional unspecified weight saving. You can go further if you can afford to: the carbon aero pack replaces the regular front splitter, rear wing, rear diffuser and side floor extensions with carbon fibre ones, saving 10kg and perhaps making you race that bit more carefully through fear of shattering them.
What else does a race-spec Elise get? Nitron adjustable dampers, Eibach coaxial coil springs and an adjustable front anti-roll bar. There are AP Racing two-pot front calipers and Brembo single-pot rear calipers, Lotus-developed ABS and Yokohama AO48 tyres; 195/50 R16 on the front, 225/45 R17 at the rear.
The steering wheel is removable, the rear windscreen is polycarbonate and the carbon fibre race seat is FIA-approved and fitted with a six-point harness. You also get an A-frame harness bar, FIA-spec front rollcage, fire extinguisher, battery isolator, and composite blanking plates instead of headlights. If you run out of talent, Lotus has also fitted front and rear towing eyes.
The latest racing car from the company that won seven World Constructors' Championships and six World Drivers' Championships costs £53,500 including VAT: if you're racing in the USA, it's $76,200 sans local taxes. A road-going Cup 250 Is £45,600. Nobody has ever said racing is cheap.
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Man jailed for bringing a motorway to a standstill for 28 hours
July 29, 2016 /0 Comments/in Car News /by
A man has been jailed for two years for causing a public nuisance after bringing the M1 motorway in Leicestershire to a complete standstill for 28 hours.
45-year-old Nicholas Muton, of no fixed abode, climbed up a gantry over the southbound M1 on Sunday 12 June, and stayed there for 28 hours – resulting in police closing the motorway for that time.
Nearly 100,000 vehicles are believed to have been hit by the closure, costing the national economy an estimated £28 million. The traffic was particularly bad as festival-goers left Download, held that weekend at nearby Donington Park.
Traffic bad in NW Leicestershire as Download empties and M1 closed due to guy perched on overhead sign pic.twitter.com/9FqXid74Zu
— Jon in Ashby (@joninashby) June 13, 2016
A number of holidaymakers also complained about missing flights from East Midlands airport.
Sentencing, Judge Adrienne Lucking QC said diversions caused four and a half hour delays for motorists.
The court heard that Muton's actions were in protest against the police, following a number of complaints he'd made over recent years – including one which was still outstanding.
In 2007, he was arrested for threatening to jump off a bridge over the M1, after he which he claimed he was tasered in custody.
Judge Lucking said Muton's protest was "a childish response to your beef with the police."
She added: "Your actions affected not only the economy but the personal lives of other people.
"You knew it had the capacity to cause personal distress to other people who had nothing to do with any of your issues with the police."
He pleaded guilty at Leicester Crown Court this morning before being sentenced to two years in prison.
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Ford Racing Puma: Retro Road Test
July 29, 2016 /0 Comments/in MSN Reviews, Retro Road Test /by
The regular Ford Puma is an underrated driver's car. Combine a zingy 125 hp 1.7-litre petrol engine tuned by Yamaha with an excellent chassis, a light body and a thoroughly satisfying gearbox, and you get one of the most enjoyable front-drive cars ever sold.
Read another Retro Road Test on Motoring Research
But this isn't a regular Ford Puma. This is the Ford Racing Puma. It's doing it a disservice describing the FRP as a beefed-up Puma – it's much more than that. Only 500 were ever sold, and it was developed by Ford Racing Europe.
Although the Ford Racing Puma was only ever meant to be sold in limited numbers, Ford hoped it'd sell more than it did. A production run of 1,000 was mooted, but a lack of demand meant that was cut to 500 – and half of them were reportedly sold through Ford's management scheme as they just couldn't shift them.
The reason? The price. At £22,700 when new, the Puma was more expensive than rivals such as the Subaru Impreza and Honda Integra Type R.
The Ford Racing Puma uses a revised version of the standard model's 1.7-litre engine. It produces 155 hp at 7,000rpm (yes, it likes a few revs), meaning it'll hit 60mph in 7.9 seconds (just 0.7 seconds faster than the regular Puma), and a top speed of 126 mph.
What's it like to drive?
Frantic. With a hefty amount of power going through the front wheels, there's only so far 1990s traction control technology can go towards defeating torque steer. But that's part of the fun. At the time, Tiff Needell described it as perfect for the new generation of computer game racing driver: "constantly used to making lots of little tiny corrections to keep his imaginary car on the road."
That feeling is exaggerated by the firm suspension. Combined with the bespoke 17-inch alloys, it makes the average British B-road feel akin to a rally stage. But if you can master its fiery nature, it's an incredibly fun car to drive. Its tiny Alcantara-wrapped steering wheel gives masses of feedback, while the 215 mm-wide tyres just grip and grip. Even lifting off won't see sideways heroics like an old-school hot hatch, there's just a bit too much adhesion to truly steer with the throttle.
Reliability and running costs
While the Ford Racing Puma should make for a fairly reliable car, you've got to expect a few issues as even the newest examples are now 15 years old. As with the standard Puma, look out for rust – it'll fizz everywhere, including the sills, floorpans and arches.
The Racing Puma could prove a headache in the running stakes thanks to its unique parts. The upgraded braking system, for example, can prove to be temperamental, with genuine front brake discs costing more than £200 each before fitting. Interiors have never been Ford's specialism, and they're likely to be showing their age. Good luck trying to replace tired pieces of trim.
Could I drive it every day?
The interior is much like the regular Puma – which itself is much like the Fiesta of the same period – albeit with lots of bright blue Alcantara and, of course, the Sparco racing seats. The result is a slightly dated cabin, but with air-con, a CD player and a heated front windscreen (check it works properly!), it's an easy enough place to spend time in.
We'll give the usual Retro Road Test caveat, though – would you really want to drive a Ford Racing Puma every day? With so few ever sold, and prices rising, it seems a bit of a shame. Much better to pamper it and enjoy your time with it more than you would using it on the commute.
How much should I pay?
There was a time when £5,000 would get you a choice of Racing Pumas… the challenge now is finding one actually for sale. If you do, that £5,000 might buy a ropey example, but you'd be better spending as much as £10,000 on a cared-for car. If you're struggling to justify spending that kind of money on a Puma, just think: how much would it be worth if Ford had given it an RS badge?
What should I look out for?
As we've mentioned, rust is a killer. Crawl underneath with a screwdriver and a magnet and walk away if you find excessive bubbling along the sills. That aside, you want signs that it's been looked after. So full service history, four matching quality tyres and, ideally, not too many miles on the clock.
On paper, it's perhaps difficult to justify a Racing Puma when you can pick up a regular model, which isn't much slower, for less than a grand. But it really is a special car to drive – one of the best handling front-drivers ever sold. And a good example is only going to go up in price. Think of it as an investment.
If you want the ultimate in front-wheel-drive handling, seek out an FRP fitted with a limited-slip diff. It was available as a factory extra, but only 80 customers ticked that option box – largely because most were standard management cars. It is possible to retro-fit one, however.
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Video: Sebastian Vettel races a Ferrari in an ambulance
Ever wanted to swap jobs with F1 world champion Sebastian Vettel? An ambulance driver from the South East has done exactly that – giving him tips on how to drive a three-tonne ambulance, then getting behind the wheel of a Ferrari 488 GTB.
As part of the job-swap, organised by Shell, both drivers discussed performance driving techniques before going head-to-head around the track – with Vettel in the ambulance, and paramedic Alex Knapton in the Ferrari.
Despite the heavy ambulance boasting just 118hp and a modest top speed of 88mph, Vettel managed to lap the makeshift circuit in two minutes and 10 seconds – seven seconds quicker than Knapton in the 488.
Knapton, a paramedic with South Central Ambulance Service, said: "Getting the opportunity to swap the ambulance for the Ferrari 488 GTB was a dream come true. It was an unbelievable experience to get that close to one of the stars of Formula 1. Sebastian was on great form coaching on high performance driving tips and joking about the lack of a radio in the ambulance."
Vettel added: "Paramedics play an essential role in motorsport around the world and not just in Formula 1. They need to perform to such high standards every day because lives depend on them. Shell V-Power race fuel supplied to Scuderia Ferrari contains at least 99% of the same types of compounds used in Shell V-Power fuels for the road."
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Young drivers in UK most likely to be distracted by 'attractive pedestrians'
July 29, 2016 /1 Comment/in Car News, ZZ News /by
Drivers aged between 18 and 24 in the UK are more likely to be distracted by 'attractive pedestrians' than anywhere else in Europe.
That's according to research by Ford, which questioned 6,500 young drivers across Europe about the risks they take behind the wheel.
The survey found that two thirds of young drivers admit to being more relaxed about their driving in summer – which explains why motorists in this age group account for 21% of road deaths during the summer months. This drops to 15% at other times of the year.
Ford is offering free training for young drivers through its Driving Skills for Life (DSFL) programme. By the end of the year, 20,000 drivers across 13 European countries will have benefited from the scheme.
DSFL manager Jim Graham said: "Summer is a great time to enjoy the freedom of driving, which is as much a part of being young today as it was for previous generations. But too many young adults are dying in car crashes caused by a combination of inexperience and poor decision making."
The majority of young driver fatalities involve young men, and the Ford survey confirms they are more likely to engage in risky behaviour.
Young men are three times as likely as young women to be distracted by attractive pedestrians, while 25% have been stopped by the police compared to 16% of women.
They're also more likely to speed, use mobile phones while driving and drive after consuming alcohol.
Graham added: "It is crucial that we find the right way to reach young people with these very important messages and to ensure that as many drivers as possible have the opportunity to benefit from DSFL training."
Alarmingly, 57% of young drivers admit to driving more safely with parents or grandparents in the car, and 41% said they would take more risks with friends in the car.
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Young drivers in UK most likely to be distracted by 'attractive pedestrians'
July 29, 2016 /1 Comment/in Car News /by Andrew Brady
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Safety group unconvinced about 20mph Edinburgh safety scheme
Road safety charity IAM RoadSmart says Edinburgh's 20mph city-wide speed limit set to come into force on Sunday 31 July is a cheap, blanket approach that doesn't address specific safety issues.
The Scottish capital will be the first to impose a 20mph speed limit on more than 80% of city streets, an initiative intended to make roads 'safer and calmer'.
But the IAM says it's potentially confusing because drivers take their cues from the environment and, on some roads, it "looks and feels safer to go over 20".
The new Edinburgh speed limit will be policed in the same way as other speed limits: transgressors will be hit with a £100 fine and three penalty points.
Councillor Lesley Hinds leads Edinburgh's transport division and admitted to the Edinburgh News that it "would take a bit of time for it to become second nature.
"It's a change of attitude. People used to drink and drive and that attitude changed."
The IAM believes there's some way to go: "Covering whole areas in one 20mph limit and putting up some signs is a cheap way to do it," said policy and research director Neil Greig.
"If you look at the evidence, what seems to work is measures like speed bumps and narrower roads.
"We'd rather see investment made in dealing with the streets where there will be most benefit."
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Biden threatens Putin during video call on Ukraine
President Joe Biden delivers remarks at the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., Feb. 10, 2021. (DoD photo by Lisa Ferdinando)
December 07, 2021 Ryan Morgan
During a Tuesday video call with Russian President Vladimir, U.S. President Joe Biden threatened the U.S. would respond with "strong economic and other measures" if Russia takes military actions against Ukraine.
According to a White House press release of the call, Biden "voiced the deep concerns of the United States and our European Allies about Russia's escalation of forces surrounding Ukraine" and warned the U.S and its allies would work together to bring "strong economic and other measures" against Russia.
Biden also "reiterated his support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity and called for de-escalation and a return to diplomacy."
Biden issued his warning comments to Putin amid an ongoing, weeks-long Russian military build-up near its border with Ukraine. Last week, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the U.S. is seeing signs of Russian "plans for significant aggressive moves against Ukraine."
Reuters reported possible economic responses to Russian aggression against Ukraine may incude restricting investors' ability to buy Russian debt on the secondary market. The Biden administration could also target the Russian Direct Investment Fund.
CNN also reported an economic "nuclear option" could involve disconnecting Russia from the SWIFT international payment system, which is used by banks around the world to process international transactions. Disconnecting Russia from the system would likely require coordination between the U.S. and its allies. German Gref, the chief executive of Russia's top bank Sberbank, reportedly called the idea "nonsense" and "impossible to execute."
It is unclear what actions Biden may take beyond economic sanctions against Russia. Last week, Biden said his administration is preparing a "comprehensive and meaningful" plan to deter Russian aggression against Ukraine. Last week, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the U.S. would consult with its international allies and partners before responding to any acts of aggression Russia may carry out against Ukraine.
In a White House press briefing on Tuesday, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan would not say whether U.S. troops would deploy to Ukraine in the event of a Russian attack, but said additional troops could be sent to neighboring NATO countries, such as Poland and Romania.
Sullivan said Biden also told Putin the U.S. would also provide additional defensive material to Ukraine "beyond that which we are already providing" and the U.S. would "fortify our NATO allies on the eastern flank with additional capabilities in response to such escalation."
Sullivan said Biden was "direct and straightforward" with Biden providing a "crystal clear" view of the U.S. stance toward Russia and Ukraine.
"We're looking for good, predictable relations with the United States," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said ahead of Tuesday's call, Reuters reported. "Russia has never intended to attack anyone, but we have our concerns and we have our red lines."
Peskov called on everyone weighing in on the ongoing tensions between Russia and Ukraine to keep "a cool head."
Around 100,000 Russian troops have gathered near the Ukrainian border in recent weeks. Blinken recently said Russia may be trying to "rehash" its 2014 invasion of Ukrainian territory when it annexed Crimea from Ukrainian control.
"Our concern is that Russia may make a serious mistake of attempting to rehash what it undertook back in 2014, when it amassed forces along the border, crossed into sovereign Ukrainian territory and did so claiming falsely that it was provoked," Blinken said during a visit with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba last month.
More recently, Blinken has said Russia's actions have begun to match those it took in 2014 against Ukraine.
"We've seen this playbook before," Blinken said last week. "In 2014, when Russia last invaded Ukraine. Then, as now, they significantly increased combat forces near the border. Then, as now, they intensified disinformation to paint Ukraine as the aggressor to justify preplanned military action."
Beyond concerns about Ukraine, the White House reported Biden also discussed the U.S.-Russia dialogue on Strategic Stability, a separate dialogue on ransomware attacks and regional issues including Iran.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Tag: Protein
Global Health Weekly News Round-Up
April 23, 2012 by Vaani, posted in News
World Earth Day was celebrated on April 22nd.
World Primary Immunodeficiency week is celebrated from April 22- 29th, 2012.
Politics and Policies
The Ministry of Health (Angola) with World Bank and Total E&P Angola has launched a project for the Reinforcement of Municipal Health Services. It aims to contribute to the reduction of maternal and infant mortality rate in the country.
American Embassy in Abidjan, Cote d'lviore, has sponsored the project launched by the Ministry of Health – HIV/AIDS hotline- to enable the public- especially the youth-to get information about the disease.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued new guidelines for couples in which one partner is HIV positive and the other is not. The guidelines for so-called "discordant" couples are being praised by UNAID, Doctors without Borders and others.
Federal health officials endorsed a decision by their advisor to let publication of two controversial bird flu studies to prepare the world against a possible deadly pandemic.
Indonesian tobacco companies will be forced by the government to place photos of horrific health problems caused by smoking on ever pack and advisers will be banned from showing cigarettes under a planned governmental regulation.
Jeffrey Model Foundation joins 20 countries to Launch World Primary Immunodeficiency Week from April 22- 29. The campaign focuses on early diagnosis and access to appropriate treatment, through public awareness and physician education.
Eurostat Press Office has released Health in the EU27 in 2010. According to it, at the age of 65, both men and women in the member states are expected to live a further 9 years in a healthy condition.
Edo (state in Nigeria) receives N1.8 Billion cervical cancer vaccines from an international donor agency. The vaccines will be administered to the girl's ages between 9 and 13 years in the state.
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has warned that obesity and diet related illness could emerge as major challenges for Europe and Central Asia while hunger will only be a minor problem.
Latest findings in Breastfeeding Science presented at Medela's 7th international breastfeeding and lactation symposium in Vienna, Austria on April 20-21, 2012. Presentations include insights into the unique properties of human milk, breastfeeding and medication, and stem cells in human milk.
Scientists of University of Edinburgh have found a key protein which is common to many potentially fatal forms of malaria. It could help to develop vaccines or drugs against life-threatening cases of the infection.
A study by U.S. National Institute on Aging showed that more daily exercises, even doing housework can reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. This prospective, observational cohort study involved 716 participants without dementia who participated in the Rush Memory and Aging Project.
A survey has revealed the misuse of pesticides, some of them banned, in northern Ghana is affecting the health of the farmers, sometimes with fatal consequences, and contaminating the crops.
A research study shows Ayurvedic cure of HIV/ AIDS might be possible by the Neem tree.
A study suggests second-generation drug used for hypertension aids heart function independent of blood pressure effect.
A study done by the Japanese scientists raise hope for treatment of baldness.
Report shows a link between money, education and life expectancy.
University of Illinois researchers have shown how soy protein could significantly reduce fat accumulation and triglycerides in the livers of obese patients by partially restoring the function of a key signaling pathway in the organ.
An Irish medical study confirms swine flu jab caused increased narcolepsy among those with age groups between five to nineteen years. International experts suggest a number of factors might have contributed to this increased risk.
Discovery of a yeast prion which helps cells to survive.
A study published in the journal Biofabrication, describes a new method for making medical devices called nerve guidance conduits or NGC's which may help severely damaged nerves to regrow and restore function.
Neuroscientists have discovered key protein responsible for controlling nerve cell protection. It is responsible for controlling the chemical process which reduce or enhance protection mechanism for nerve cells in the brain.
The researchers at Columbia Medical Center have identified a molecular pathway that controls the retention and release of the brain's stem cells- 'Housekeeping' mechanism.
A team of scientists have shown that the vessels grown from donor cells are good and natural alternative to synthetic vessels. Animal trials have shown promising results.
Diseases and Disasters
Earthquake in Chile. Two people died of heart attack.
Mexico's Popo volcano throws glowing rocks. Residents of the semirural communities near the volcano have reported hearing hours of 'low-pitched roaring'.
About 14 students in Bangladesh have been reported suffering from H1N1.
In Sri Lanka, dengue fever killed 38, infects 10,000 in a few months.
A mystery skin disease killed 19 in Vietnam. Officials seeking international assistance on this issue.
Tagged Alzheimer's disease, Baldness, bird flu, Breastfeeding, cervical cancer, dementia, Dengue fever., Discordant couples, Donor cells, Earthquake, Eurostat Press Office, H1N1, HIV/AIDS, Human milk, Hypertension, Jeffrey Model Foundation, malaria, Maternal and infant mortality rate, Molecular pathway, narcolepsy, Nerve cells, Nerve guidance conduits, Obese, pandemic, Protein, Public awareness and physical education, Reinforcement of Municipal Health Services, Rush Memory and Aging Project, stem cells, swine flu, Synthetic vessels, The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), The World Health Organization (WHO), Triglycerides, U.S. National Institute on Aging, Vaccines, Volcano, World Health Day, World Primary Immunodeficiency weekLeave a comment
March 19, 2012 by Vaani, posted in News
The Obama administration has released rules for health exchanges. The regulations have outlined minimum standards that the states must meet to set up and run these health insurance marketplaces by a deadline of January 1st 2014 (Source: http://www.kaiserhealthnews.org/daily-reports/2012/march/13/health-exchange-rule.aspx , http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/12/obama-health-care-law-blu_n_1339286.html ).
China has launched US $125 billion program of health-care reform to ensure universal health coverage. Majority of funding will go to public health and primary health care. Low income people will be subsidized to enroll in social health insurance programs (Source: http://www.verticalnews.com/articles/6704766.html ).
The lower house of the legislature of Wisconsin has passed a bill that would force school staff on classroom sex education indicates a preference for abstinence for abstinence, not contraception (Source: http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/11721074-wisconsin-will-teach-sexual-abstinence-in-schools- ).
South Africa is on its way to launch mobile health (mhealth) services in May in Johannesburg (Source: http://www.pr.com/press-release/397775 ).
The government of Ghana has increased the number of health training schools in the Upper West Region to help address the healthcare needs of people (Source: http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/health/artikel.php?ID=233058 ).
Researchers in Australia have developed a new technique that identifies and tracks the location of diseased proteins inside cells which can help to treat diseases like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Huntington's (Source: http://www.news.com.au/technology/sci-tech/australian-researchers-develop-new-protein-tracking-technique-which-could-help-treat-brain-disease/story-fn5fsgyc-1226303483944 ).
The researchers at Georgetown university discovered the "Greedy" gene that makes you eat more even when you are full (Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2116792/Georgetown-University-Medical-Centre-Scientists-discover-greedy-gene-makes-eat-full.html ).
The study done by Israel's Institute of Technology shows that the antioxidants found in the tea called polyphenols destroy a number of compounds in the mouth that can lead to bad breath , tooth decay and even oral cancer (Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/science/Green-tea-can-beat-bad-breath-cancer/articleshow/12323727.cms ).
The researchers at the West Virginia University School of Medicine have discovered that those people who sleep for less than seven hours at night have a risk of developing heart disease and those sleeping less than five hours have a double risk for this disease (Source: http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Sleep/health-problems-linked-lack-sleep/story?id=15930879 ).
The researchers with the Hotchkiss Brain Institute and the Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases at the U of C's Faculty of Medicine have discovered the cause and cure of Crohn's disease and Ulcerative colitis. They found that the damage or death of neurons within a patients gut is aided by proteins known as "pannexins". They have also discovered the drugs which can be used to block them to prevent the cell death in gastrointestinal tract (Source: http://www.montrealgazette.com/health/University+Calgary+scientists+make+breakthrough+Inflammatory+Bowel/6321398/story.html ).
A study done by in 2008 by the World Health Organization reveals that the maximum number of deaths due to cancer among the women in India are due to cervical cancer (Source: http://www.deccanherald.com/content/235082/screening-cancer-not-womens-priority.html ).
According to a recent study, eating white rice might be linked to the development of type 2 diabetes (Source: http://vitals.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/03/16/10721069-white-rice-may-increase-your-risk-of-diabetes ).
A study done in Rice University in Houston indicate that the immigrants who are bilingual are healthier than those who speak just one language (Source: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/the-hot-button/two-languages-are-better-than-one-for-immigrants-health-study-finds/article2371383/?utm_medium=Feeds%3A%20RSS%2FAtom&utm_source=Life&utm_content=2371383 ).
The researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine have generated a mutant version of a protein whose modifies shape renders it more potent than the natural protein while reducing its toxicity. This protein, known as interleukin-2 or IL-2 is a master regulator of the immune system (Source: http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-03-scientists-boost-potency-side-effects.html ).
Scientists at UCLA Johnson's Center has uncovered a new mechanism for drug resistance (vemurafenib resistance) in melanoma patients (Source: http://www.esmo.org/no_cache/view-news.html?tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=1401&tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=585 ).
The scientists at the University of California, San Francisco (USCF) have suggest that mild dilation of blood vessels in retina may signal cognitive decline in women (Source: http://psychcentral.com/news/2012/03/19/eye-disease-may-signal-cognitive-decline/36191.html ).
The researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and Magee-Women's Research Institute have found that gene mutations contribute to fibroid development (Source: http://www.upmc.com/MediaRelations/NewsReleases/2012/Pages/Gene-Mutations-Fibroid-Development.aspx ).
Researchers at Yale University School of Public Health have created a map which pinpoints areas of eastern United States where people have highest risk of contracting Lyme disease (Source: http://newtownbee.com/News/2012-03-16__12-09-35/New+Map+Pinpoints+Lyme+Disease+Risk+Areas ).
Diseases & Disasters
Breast cancer on rise among the African women (Source: http://www.voanews.com/english/news/health/Breast-Cancer-on-the-Rise-among-African-women-Say-Experts–142962875.html ).
Nigeria is one of three polio-endemic countries in the world. The resistance to polio vaccine has been mostly responsible of this deadly disease out breaks in this country. President Goodluck Jonathan has created a new task force to eradicate this disease by 2015 (Source: http://www.voanews.com/english/news/africa/Polio-Still-a-Problem-in-Parts-of-Nigeria-142660566.html ).
Tagged Abstinence, Alzheimer's disease, Bad breath, Bilingual, breast cancer, cancer, Cell death, Classroom sex education, Cognitive, contraception, Crohn's disease, Drug resistance, Endemic, Fibroid, Gastrointestinal tract, Gene mutation, Health exchanges, Health insurance, Health training schools, heart disease, Huntington's disease, Immigrants, Interleukin-2(IL-2), Lyme disease, Melanoma, Mobile health (mhealth), Mutant, Oral cancer, Pannexins, Parkinson's disease, polio, Polyphenols, Primary healthcare law, Protein, Public health, Retina, Social health insurance programs, Tooth decay, Type2 diabetes, Ulcerative colitis, Universal health coverage, vaccine, Vemurafenib, World Health OrganizationLeave a comment


text:
Kito Lorenc (Schleife, Saxònia, 1938 - Bautzen, 2017) fou un escriptor i autor de teatre alemany en sòrab, nebot de Jakub Lorenc-Zalĕski.

Estudià a l'Institut de Cottbus i es llicencià en eslavística a Leipzig. Del 1961 al 1972 donà classes a Budyssin, però ho deixà per a estrenar drames com Nowe časy - nowe kwasy (Nou dia, nous casoris, 1962), Swĕtło, prawda, swobodnosć (Llum, justícia i llibertat, 1963) i diversos estudis com Terra budissinensis (1997). També ha fet estudis i representacions d'altres autors com Handrij Zejler o Mina Witkojc.

Escriptors en sòrab
Escriptors alemanys del segle XX
Escriptors alemanys del segle XXI
Morts a Saxònia
Alemanys de la RDA
Morts d'accident vascular cerebral
Escriptors saxons

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Q: How does chrome identifies where to send which data when multiple tabs are opened? I open two youtube tabs inside a single chrome window and in one tab i am listening to a song and on another an educational video.
How does chromes knows where to send the specific data (for song and video)as both tabs are having same ip address & port number?

A: Firstly, Welcome to stackoverflow!!
you're right about (IP+port) needed to reach a particular process on your host. But that process might delegate the task to either another worker process or a thread(depending on browser implementation), and keeps a mapping of the threadID and the HTTP connection
However this statement is wrong

both tabs are having same ip address & port number

each tab might have its own process and will have a pid.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Commonwealth Supply Chain Advisors, a leading consulting firm, is pleased to announce that it will have a significant presence at the Ecommerce Operations Summit 2018.
Commonwealth Supply Chain Advisors is pleased to announce that three of its consultants have received the prestigious "Pros to Know" award.
Commonwealth Supply Chain Advisors is pleased to announce its recent hire of Drew Eubank, who has joined the team as a Senior Consultant. In this role, Mr. Eubank will lead clients through transformative initiatives within their supply chains.
Commonwealth Supply Chain Advisors, a leading supply chain consulting firm, is pleased to announce that their expertise has placed them on the 2017 'Top 100' list by Supply Chain Brain publication, for the fifth year in a row. This prestigious annual list is based on client nominations of suppliers who demonstrate a commitment to excellence in a number of key areas.
Commonwealth Supply Chain Advisors is pleased to announce the addition of three industry-recognized experts to the company's already-impressive lineup of supply chain consultants. Colman Roche, Kevin Thuet and Don Savage bring Commonwealth extensive experience in automated material handling systems design for distribution centers.


How far is Olu Deniz from Kusadasi?
Kuşadası is a considerable distance away and local transport would take a full day out of your holiday. Driving direct would take around 5-6 hours.
Can I paraglide in Olu Deniz?
Thomas Cook do not recommend paragliding but there are many local operators in resort who offer this service. The cost is approximately £65 per person. Please ensure you check your holiday insurance before you book.
What boat trips can I do from Olu Deniz?
The gulet cruise is a taste of paradise. A wooden gulet will take you onto the crystal clear waters and allow you to relax with an all inclusive bar (local drinks and soft drinks) and a buffet lunch. Plenty of stops to dip in the ocean. A pure relaxed day and available through your Thomas Cook team.


text:
Albion still looking to bring in more new faces
Albion boss Chris Hughton pictured with Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola. Picture by Phil Westlake (PW Sporting Photography)
Steve Bailey
Brighton boss Chris Hughton says the club are still looking to bring in new players before the transfer deadline.
The Seagulls have brought in Mathew Ryan, Markus Suttner, Pascal Gross, Davy Propper, and Izzy Brown, on loan from Chelsea, since last season ended. Jose Izquierdo is also set to sign, subject to international clearance.
On looking to add more players to the squad before the end of August deadline, Hughton said: "Yes, we are. I don't think we'd be too different to anybody else.
"We keep talking about the responsibility that we have of working as hard as we can to stay in this division and that means having the best team and squad that we can. So yes, if we can, but as we continue to say, they have to be the right players for this club."
Offensive positions are where Albion are most likely to add, as Hughton admits he has good defensive cover: "Again, you never say never because something can happen that you don't expect.
"But if I'm looking at what I've got, certainly as regards numbers, I think I've got good numbers in there. Whether there will be any personnel change that is not something we're pushing for. But if it was right, then it was something perhaps we'd do."
Don't miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.
Here are four ways you can be sure you'll be amongst the first to know what's going on.
1 Make this website your homepage
2 Like our Facebook page at facebook.com/pages/Sport-Sussex
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4 Register with us by clicking on 'sign in' (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.
And do share with your family and friends - so they don't miss out!


Once upon a time I had a hankering for spaghetti squash.
I know, I sound crazy. Who on God's green earth craves spaghetti squash?! Real spaghetti, maybe. Squashy wannabe spaghetti, hellz nah. Well it all started with a can of fire roasted tomatoes. Blame in on the tomaters. The rest is heeeestory!
Remember that one time when everyone was in a low-carb-paleo-grain-free-gluten-hating phase? Oh ya, that's right now. Spaghetti squash is TRENDING. Let me begin by confessing that I never eat spaghetti squash. It's like olives and eggplant and okra. I'm totally into them, but I never really cook them at home.
Spaghetti squash is kind of stringy and weird and it may look like noodles, but it sure doesn't taste noodles. I smell some identity issues here. The good thing is that since it doesn't really taste like much of anything, it takes on whatever sassy sauce you feel like slathering it in.
This, my friends, is one of the simplest, tastiest, most humbelievable recipes I ever did post. This recipe is E-A-S-Y. Exquisitely, Adoringly, Satisfyingly, Yumtastical. I'm still kind of shocked about how incredibly creamy and flavorful it turned out, but I've learned from experience that cashews make dreams come true so I really shouldn't be so surprised.
You could easily use whole grain pasta if you're not feeling spaghetti squash. I think some sautéed spinach or kale or roasted tomatoes would be a delish addition as well. Alllll the green veggies for this exciting month of January!
Please faceplant into a bowl of this and call it dinner. Thanks.
Preheat oven to 375F. Slice spaghetti squash in half. Scoop out seeds and stringy flesh with a spoon. Rub a teaspoon of olive oil over each half (inside, not outside). Rub with garlic and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
Place face down on a baking sheet and bake for 35 minutes.
Meanwhile, place the sauce ingredients in a blender and blend until completely smooth and creamy. Set aside.
Use a fork to shred the spaghetti squash into strands. Heat a pan over medium heat. Place squash in a pan and cover with sauce (I used about 2/3 of the sauce and saved the rest). Toss to combine until warmed through.
Top with fresh basil and red pepper flakes prior to serving.
I am NOT a fan of spaghetti squash (also because they are like $20000 each here) but damn..your pictures are incredible, I'd eat it and ask for more, a la oliver twist.
Literally LOLed at that Oliver Twist reference.
I just made this tonight and it was soooooooooo good! So creamy without the calories of heavy cream or cheese with no nutty flavor at all.
YUM- this sauce looks like heaven especially as I'm trying to stay away from dairy for now, cheese is off limits. This looks like the perfect substitute. Going to try it with zucchini noodles :)!
Mmmm love the thought of it with zucchini noodles!
Gaaah! This looks incredible. Loving the small ingredient list and quick prep time!!
Thanks, Maryea! I'm trying to focus on simplicity, mainly because I've been so lazy!
Thanks, June! It's my new favorite.
Ok this is making me so jealous that I can't eat cashews! Truth be told I don't cook spaghetti squash for myself that much either. I haven't even bought it once yet this winter!
No cashews? Oh dearrrr :/ Maybe try cauli puree and some nooch?
I just want the whole lot of it in my facetrap rightnow! Cuh-reamy dairy-less 'mater sauce? I die! I die a hundred ways.
Facetrap is my new favorite word.
I love spaghetti squash! This looks YUM!
Haha I want to come over and eat your Italian mom's pasta!!!
Eeee perfect timing! I bought a spaghetti squash and I immediately regretted it only because I'm bored out of my mind of my usual recipes for it. Can't wait to make this!
Perfect! It can definitely get kind of boring, so here's the perfect excuse to change it up!
I think I'm in love…making this asap!
I looooove spaghetti squash! I don't make often enough either, though! You're so right about it being trending. My one recipe with spaghetti squash is always one of my most popular!
Isn't that funny how certain foods get so popular?!
You scoop out the seeds before you bake and throw them away. Then you rub oil on the inside. Hope that helps!
This looks SO good!! I'm always looking for ways to jazz up spaghetti squash – can't wait to try this. Would a food processor work for making the sauce? My blender is not super powerful.
Hmmm it should work, just make sure that the cashews are blended up super smooth.
I like spaghetti squash- mostly because I get to eat a giant bowl of "pasta". So does the sauce have a nutty taste at all?
Nope, no nutty taste at all! That's the great thing about raw cashews–they're so mild in flavor.
Yummtastical — stealing it <3 And can you believe that I've never died spaghetti squash? I came close once, but the thing ended up sitting in my kitchen for so long, that when I finally went to cut it open, it was all sprouty with little alien arms on the inside so I threw it away. Maaaaaybe this year will be my year.
Cashews really do make dreams come true. This looks absolutely scrumptious and I love how simple the sauce is.
Oh, and gorgeous photography too. Nice work, lady!
I totallllly think I have those tomatoes in my pantry. Or at least I'm hoping I do because I want to make this tomorrow for lunch this week!!
Those tomatoes are something I always keep in the pantry….thank God!
Ohh this looks delicious! They were out of spaghetti squash at the store the other day, but when they have it again I'm definitely going to make this!
Unfortunately the cashews are what gives it that creamy texture :/ Maybe pureed cauliflower and some nutritional yeast? It won't be very creamy, though.
Hi there. If you puree steamed cauliflower (add garlic in the water if you like) in a blender with some stock it gets very creamy (made some last night). Adding the nutritional yeast will give it a cheesey flavour too.
Maybe tofu for the creamy texture?
Made this tonight– soooo yummmmmy!! Thank you for another amazing meal, Alexis!
Yayy! I'm so glad you tried it and liked it, Sara!
So dreamy and creamyyyy! Um, I am loving every bite. I kinda want to just eat the sauce. But I'll add my squash…ya know, just to round out the meal.
Hahah I know right?! You won't be judged if you just eat all the sauce.
My wife and I absolutely LOVE the look of this recipe! Especially the fire roasted tomato cream sauce (yes, please!) I USUALLY am not a fan of most things tomato (I know, it's surprising why I haven't been thrown to the tomato firing squad) BUT I am most definitely tempted to give this recipe a try. Thanks for sharing!
FIVE STARS for you! Why? Cause this blog, this recipe, it's all gorgeous!
Totally Random Note: My wife and I actually met Arman (commenter above) in Melbourne a few months back. Just another example of food blogging transposed onto REALITY! Hey Arman!
This looks amazing! I follow a high carb low fat plant based diet so I'll definitely be having this with pasta instead of spaghetti squash! I'm trying this tonight! Yum.
Yesss–go for the real deal!
I basically doubled the recipe and it made plenty for 1lb cooked linguine. Baked a chicken breast for the meat eater while us two vegans had sauteed mushrooms and fava beans on top. It was delicious! Thanks for the great recipe!
Hi Michelle, sorry I don't calculate nutrition info. Feel free to use the recipe calculator on sparkrecipes.com!
You, madam, are an absolute genius. What a perfect dinner to whip up after work. If ya make the squahs ahead of time this would take like 5 seconds to prepare… amazing. Gonna try it this week for sure!
Also, new reader here! I LOVE your blog and have been stalking it for the past few evenings. Hah. Although the one bad thing is I can no longer digest beans (seriously suckish as a long-term vegan) and all your posts about hummus make me miss the good ole days of eating hummus with every. single. thing every day!
Made this last night on a whim and not only was it super easy, it's amazing (eating leftovers for lunch right now)!!! I did add spinach and mushrooms, too, which helped bulk up the veggie ratio. I love all of your stuff!
Hi! I know this recipe is a year old, but I found it on your blog and can't wait to make it :). Question: do I drain the cab or tomatoes first or just dump it all in my blender? Also, my husband is a meat and potatoes kind of guy (it's unfortunate) – do you think it would be good with some chicken throw in for him? Thanks!
Ahhhh, I made this for dinner tonight for the first time…SO GOOD! Thank you so much for this easy and healthy recipe. :) I have so much sauce and squash left so I can't wait to use this for my lunches for the next few days!
This recipe has been a big hit here. I'd say that the red pepper flakes are a must and shouldn't be optional!
Thanks for the recipe! I decided to turn this into a casserole.It was delicious and so healthy! I prepared 2 squash as directed then put them in a casserole dish. I mixed with the sauce (1 recipes of sauce worked fine for 2 squash), covered and popped in the oven to warm. Definitely use FRESH basil and don't skimp on the pepper flakes. On day 2, I mixed in some fresh pan roared broccoli and pine nuts. I liked it even better the second day. The pine nuts added flavor and crunch, and the broccoli tastes great with the Italian flavors. I'd serve to company!
That sounds incredible!!! You rock!!
Made this last night for dinner and it was excellent. As I cut open My spaghetti squash , I realized it was rotten on one side (grrrr), so I spun up some zucchini "noodles "to make up for the loss, and that was great tossed in those as well! Looking forward to leftovers for lunch. Thanks for the recipe!
You're so welcome! Loved that you used zoodles.
This looks delicious! I love spaghetti squash! The one though that you did that made me cringe is the way you cut the squash in half. I read a great blog post about how doing this cuts all the "noodles" in half, making them way shorter. The trick is to cut the squash in rounds, going with the "grain" of the tendrils. With this method, your noodles are twice as long and even more spaghetti like! After roasting, just use a fork to gently pull the tendrils away from the skin. Can't wait to give this recipe a shot!
Just embarked on a paleo diet. I have literally never tried spaghetti squash because… well i just ate regular spaghetti(<3 carbs).
Tomorrow i am making this for dinner, basically because this post was hilarious so I have no reason to doubt a hilarious person. It will be amazing.
Amazing! Cashews are so incredible. My latest Buffalo Cauliflower Dip has cashews too, give it a whirl!
The sauce is amazing, and so simple! I'm not a spaghetti squash fan, but I was intrigued by the sauce recipe so I made it and used it in 3 separate dishes (I'm a single vegan household). The first night I put it over some butternut squash that was pre-cut into rotelle pasta shapes, that I found at Trader Joe's. Delish! The second night I added it to sauteed onions, garlic, mushrooms and spinach and tossed it over pasta. So good! Today I had it for lunch. I sauteed onion, garlic, mushrooms, red bell pepper, spinach, and tiny tri-colored potatoes (which I'd boiled the previous day. When the saute was done, I added the sauce to the pan to heat. Really good! I will make this sauce again and again. Thanks so much!
What a delicious recipe! Thank you. I didn't have fresh basil on hand, so I used a combination of fresh parsley & baby spinach. Also added some additional spices to the sauce ….allspice, marjoram & a bit of dried oregano. I'll certainly make this again!!!
Love the swaps! Its so creamy and delicious it's one of my faves.
Hi! Would this keep as leftovers for the next day?
I got a spaghetti squash on a whim at the market and have been googling recipies….. I'm short of the cashews but thought I can make it without the cashews then sprinkle it with almond Parmesan instead (i usually mix ground almond with salt and maybe some nooch if i have it).
WOW it looks delicious, yummy.
Yay! Love the shallot addition!
This might be a silly question, but I am going to make this tonight and I am wondering if I use the diced tomatoes and juices or drain the juice and just use the tomatoes? Thanks!
What a delicious recipe! So creative!
I am making this now. First time making cashew cream with tomatoes instead of water- great idea! I was out of basil so I used 2 cloves of garlic instead. Thanks for sharing this recipe.
Hey Alexis ! This is a fave! Can you freeze the sauce ?
I made this today just as written. This is the first recipe I've made using raw cashews. I am amazed at how flavorful and creamy the sauce is! Thanks for the recipe!
Making this tomorrow. How long can leftovers stay in 'fridge?


text:
Q: timestep issue in sentiment analysis using Keras's GRU I will try to explain my problem as clearly as possible.
So, I am trying to learn product information of reviews using GRU. I have about a million reviews, all of them converted to 300 dimensional vectors. These review vectors are grouped by their individual product. Now, I have a training set of all those million reviews where reviews belonging to same product will be one after another.
Below is the my GRU model
    X_train = numpy.reshape(X_train, (X_train.shape[0], 1, X_train.shape[1]))
      Y_train = np_utils.to_categorical(encoded_Y_train,nb_classes=3)
      Y_train = numpy.reshape(Y_train, (Y_train.shape[0], 1, Y_train.shape[1]))

    model = Sequential()
    model.add(GRU(input_dim=doc_vec_dim,output_dim=product_embedding_dim,name='GRU',dropout_W=input_dropout,return_sequences=True))
    model.add(TimeDistributed(Dense(input_dim=product_embedding_dim,output_dim=3)))
    model.add(Activation('softmax'))
    model.compile(loss='categorical_crossentropy', optimizer='adagrad', class_mode="categorical",metrics=['accuracy'])
model.fit(X_train, Y_train, batch_size=batch_size, nb_epoch=15, validation_split=test_sample,shuffle=False,callbacks=[LoggingCallback(logger)])

This GRU is expected to capture product information such as particular product most likely gets positive reviews or viceversa. But after retrieving 128 dimensional output vector of all unique products using following code:
gru_layer_model = Model(input=gru_model.input,
                                         output=gru_model.get_layer('GRU').output)

layer_output = gru_layer_model.predict(X_predict)

where X_predict is 300 dimensional vector of a unique product, I am not getting any accuracy improvement when I concatenate this to its original vector and classify using SVM.
Here, the time-step is 1. Is that the problem? If so, how to approach this problem


text:
Iconic Sailing Classroom
The irresistable draw of the Hurricane Island pulling boat
By Jeffrey C. Lewis
All photos courtesy Hurricane Island Outward Bound School
A pulling boat leaves the mooring and heads out for an expedition of learning, teaching, and service. The maritime signal flag of a white square on a blue background—often called the "blue Peter"—signals in harbor that all should report aboard and prepare to head to sea. The vessel is "Outward Bound."
"What is that?" I asked with my hands as much as my words. They pointed in the direction of vessels that were emerging from the early morning fog, silent but for an intermittent tinny horn. One long drone followed by two short blasts—the "Hey, we are here" call of a sailing vessel under way in the fog.
We were anchored just off the eastern end of the Fox Island Thorofare, the channel of water that separates the islands of North Haven and Vinalhaven. In a hybrid swirl of fog and wind-driven rain, I was cold in my wool sweater and foulies. The dark green water merged with the gray wet air in a way that hid the horizon and made me cherish the comfort of being at anchor, knowing exactly where we were on the chart.
The subtle lines of two masts, then four, came into view, revealing two sailing vessels that were actually sailing in this weather. They were open-hulled like old-time lifeboats. Their sailing rigs were sprit-rigged ketches. Like mysterious nautical avatars, each boat held in its fold at least 10 hunched people, hooded with foul weather gear and wearing PFDs, a stoic lookout perched tightly before the mast, wedged in the V between breast hook and gunwales. At the other end, a fellow shipmate held a wet hand on the tiller.
Down the starboard side of our schooner they floated by, close enough for me to behold the wondrous scene in detail. It was early in the morning, and most of the guests on our boat were still warm in their cabins or in the cozy glow of the pre-breakfast galley. I looked at the other mate on deck with me, and gestured toward the boats.
"What. Is. That?"
"Those are pulling boats. They're from the Hurricane Island Outward Bound School," he said.
The course of my life changed in that moment. I knew I'd seen my next job. What I didn't know was how much that next job would change my life.
Before the next summer, I became an instructor at Outward Bound. It would be on a pulling boat that I would meet my future wife, get a serious start on learning the infinite intricacies of the downeast coast, learn about teaching, and learning and living together in close quarters. And it was in that role, in those boats, that I would decide to make a life in Maine.
Looking back on it now, from many years and miles away, there is a temptation to package these memories as the fruits of some kind of convenient plan. But there was nothing convenient about it. What is good and worth doing has nothing to do with convenience.
Pulling boats of the Hurricane Island Outward Bound School carry their crews for expeditions of service and learning. The weather isn't always as nice as this moment off Southern Island near Tenants Harbor.
The pulling boat and group effort
There is an idea that I call the "False Virtue of Convenience." The pulling boat in many ways is emblematic of this principle.
A Hurricane Island Pulling Boat looks much like a sailing lifeboat, and it kind of is, having much of the same genetic material as the old rescue vessels from the lifesaving stations of Monomoy on Cape Cod. It is 30' long with a 8' beam, double-ended with (almost) elegant sweeps of sheer at the bow and stern. The freeboard of a loaded pulling boat is low, to accommodate eight rowing stations, four on each side. It draws almost 3' with the centerboard down; with the board up, the boat can be taken safely into the tightest and shallowest corners of the coast.
When Peter Willauer, the founder of the Hurricane Island Outward Bound School, was looking for the right boat, one that could be safe in a sea, nimble in tight spots, truly sailable, and truly rowable, he commissioned Maine's own Cyrus Hamlin for the task. (Hamlin was known, among other accomplishments, for designing yawls for the U.S. Naval Academy as well as the iconic Hudson River sloop Clearwater.) Befitting of Maine's ethos, the pulling boats were built of wood, strip planked of cedar.
The pulling boat's stout rig affords a variety of sail combinations for teaching, learning, and adapting to the conditions. The four-sided mainsail and mizzen can be reefed or scandalized as needed in a blow. They can be set full for broad reaches and they can be set in useful opposition to demonstrate heaving to. The pulling boat is the biggest little boat I know of.
For a small vessel, it is marvel of intentional inconvenience. There are few tasks on a pulling boat that can be achieved single-handedly. As someone who has been blessed with a lifetime of messing about in boats, from dinghies as a boy to being a professional captain and crew for fine sailing yachts, I still cherish the experience of self-reliance that comes with single-handed sailing. It might therefore be a curious thing to honor and cherish the virtues of inconvenience that life on a pulling boat teaches.
Let me try to explain with an example: When setting the mainsail on a pulling boat, there is an inherent need to work together. This is by design. In the starting position, the sail is furled against the mast; the halyard is secured; the luff of the mainsail is taut from the throat cringle to the tack. Everything is taught by showing, by doing, and by doing together. So the main is unfurled carefully by unwinding the spare flag halyard. Someone grabs the lanyard of the peak and holds it in place while another set of hands guides the tapered end of the mainsail sprit into the bight of line spliced into the highest corner of the sail. Then two or three others shove the 14' sprit aloft with a careful heave, warning the rest of the crew with a cheerful "Sprit coming up!" Other students weave the main sheets aft to the cleats on each rail. Then they stand by, reminding others that they're ready. Then another lanyard with the endearing name of "the snotter" that lives on the lower end of the spar, is led through an eyebolt on the side of the mast, through the crotch end of a bowline, and then back up. Then with a careful but vigorous shove it is set into a working tension with a secure slip knot, backed up with a little safety hitch.
Six students are involved in setting the main. Could there be a more efficient system to get a mainsail up and set? Of course. But pulling boats are not built for convenience. They have a higher purpose. They teach people to live, work, and learn together in all sorts of conditions, from calm afternoon coves, to cold, wet mornings. The paradoxical truth about the pulling boat's pedagogy of inconvenience is that this open-boat classroom on the coast of Maine is a wonderful way for a group of strangers to become a crew, and a community.
When I look back on that foggy morning and all the experiences and lessons and adventures that followed, I am grateful for the unplanned inconveniences that make up a full life. Foolish risk is never to be revered—and it is a proud comfort that in 50 years of pulling boats going to sea their safety record is second to none. But a life without risk, without challenge and adventure, is short on wonder and wisdom. I am reminded of a picture of a schooner and a saying that hung in my room when I was a child, years before I ever washed ashore on the coast of Maine. You may know the line: "A ship in a harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for."
Jeffrey C. Lewis lives on the central coast of California, but midcoast Maine is home.
A Letter from the Publisher - Issue 99
Boatsapoolooza!
Early Spring on the Water
The Artist and the Ardent Admirer
Parsnips: Slow Roots, Sweet Anticipation
Letters to the Editor—Issue 154
Maine Boatbuilders Show 2010


text:
Ərəbqardaşbəyli or Arabkardashbeyli may refer to:
Ərəbqardaşbəyli, Neftchala, Azerbaijan
Ərəbqardaşbəyli, Salyan, Azerbaijan


HeadBlade Text Keychain: HeadBlade, Inc.
Give your keys some style. This die-cut, rubber HeadBlade keychain (3 1/4 in) goes perfect with that shaved head. Only problem is that people might want to steal your keys.


text:
Troglodillo är ett släkte av kräftdjur. Troglodillo ingår i familjen Armadillidae.

Kladogram enligt Catalogue of Life:

Källor

Gråsuggor och tånglöss
Troglodillo


text:
Agriculture (General)
Advances in Agronomy
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Advances in Agronomy, Volume 49
Serial Volume Editors: Donald Sparks
eBook ISBN: 9780080563626
Imprint: Academic Press
Published Date: 15th April 1993
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L.A.G. Aylmore, The Use of Computer Assisted Tomography in Studying Water Movement Around Plant Roots.
I.S. Alcordo and J.E. Rechcigl, Phosphogypsum in Agriculture: A Review.
R.J. Haynes and P.H. Williams, Nutrient Cycling and Soil Fertility in the Grazed Pasture Ecosystem.
J.D. Rhoades, Electrical Conductivity Methods for Measuring and Mapping Soil Salinity.
C.E. Townsend, Breeding, Physiology, Culture, and Utilization of Cicer Milkvetch (Astragalus cicer L.). Subject Index. Chapter References.
Continuing the international tradition, Volume 49 of Advances in Agronomy highlights current areas of interest to both researchers and students of agronomy. Areas covered include phosphogypsum in agriculture, nutrient cycling and soil fertility in the grazed pasture ecosystem. It also discusses the current use of computer assisted tomography (CAT) in studying water movement around plant roots as well as future applications of CAT in agronomy, and electrical conductivity methods for measuring and mapping soil salinity.
Researchers and students in agronomy, crop and soil science, environmental science, molecular biology and genetics, biotechnology, agricultural engineering, botany, entomology, horticulture, and forestry.
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© Academic Press 1993
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About the Serial Volume Editors
Donald Sparks Serial Volume Editor
Donald L. Sparks is the S. Hallock du Pont Chair in Soil and Environmental Chemistry, Francis Alison Professor and Director of the Delaware Environmental Institute at the University of Delaware. He is internationally recognized for his landmark research on the kinetics and mechanisms of metal/oxyanion/nutrient reactions at biogeochemical interfaces. His pioneering studies on kinetic processes in soils and minerals include the development of widely used and novel kinetic methods, elucidation of rate-limiting steps and mechanisms over a range of spatial and temporal scales, and coupling of real-time kinetic studies with in-situ molecular scale investigations. His discoveries on the speciation, formation rates and stability mechanisms of metal hydroxide surface precipitates, and their role in the retention and bioavailability of toxic metals in the terrestrial environment, have received worldwide attention. This research has led to more effective soil remediation strategies and predictive models.
He is the author or coauthor of 286 publications. These include: 11 edited books, 53 book chapters, and 219 refereed papers. He is the author of two widely adopted textbooks, Kinetics of Soil Chemical Processes and Environmental Soil Chemistry (two editions) published by Academic Press. Dr. Sparks is an ISI Highly Cited Researcher; his research has been cited more than 8380 times and his h-index is 53 (Web of Science). Dr. Sparks has served as editor of Advances in Agronomy since 1991, having edited 77 volumes. He has given over 200 invited presentations at scientific conferences throughout the world, and been a lecturer at 98 universities and institutes in North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia.
He has received numerous honors and awards including Fellow of five scientific societies, national and international research awards, distinguished fellowships and lectureships, and teaching and mentoring awards. He has advised 90 graduate students and postdoctoral researchers and been the recipient of more than $50 million in research funding. He served as President of both the Soil Science Society of America and the International Union of Soil Sciences.
Affiliations and Expertise
S. Hallock du Pont Chair in Soil and Environmental Chemistry and Director, Delaware Environmental Institute, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA


text:
#6: the sixth annual Twelve Days of Curlin Babies
nicolle December 26, 2019 Curlin, Gulfstream, twelve days of Curlin babies
Welcome back to the Twelve Days of Curlin Babies, where we celebrate the twelve most memorable races from Curlin's progeny through 2019. Among all the hundreds of races in which they ran this year, these are the ones to which my mind keeps wandering back.
#12: Curlina Curlina Finds the Wire
#11: A Pleasant Surprise, Volgograd
#10 Ajaaweed Emerges as a Juvenile to Watch
#9 Lady Apple Trains On
#8 Tenfold and Cordmaker Stretch Out
#7 Chaos Theory Defies His Inexperience
#6: Global Campaign, Standard Deviation, and Curlin Grey Hit the Trifecta
Early in the year, three-year-old allowance dirt routes at Gulfstream Park draw attention. After all, they often contain a mix of class two-year-olds trying to move forward at three, as well as up-and-coming horses who had only begun to draw attention over the last month or two in Florida. Sometimes they feature Derby contenders; other times, they reveal horses who might not be ready for the Derby but who remain horses to watch through the rest of the year.
One such race on February 9, a mile and a sixteenth N1X with a $75,000 optional tag, drew a field of seven: including three Curlin babies.
Standard Deviation (False Impression, by A. P. Indy) was the old, familiar face among the trio in the race. The Chad Brown trainee, owned by Klaravich Stables, was making his first start since running a disappointing 13th in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) the previous November. Though, Standard Deviation was ceding experience that day; it was only his third start. He had romped on debut in an off-turf maiden special weight at Saratoga in August, then come back to run third behind Knicks Go and Signalman in the Claiborne Breeders' Futurity (G1) at Keeneland.
Global Campaign (Globe Trot, by A. P. Indy) was the hot new face, the talk of the town. Unraced at two, he debuted on January 5 of this year, romping to win a seven-furlong maiden special weight at Gulfstream. Global Campaign was bred to be a good one. His dam, Globe Trot, had produced two other starters: Bolt d'Oro (Medaglia d'Oro), a multiple G1 winner, and Sonic Mule (Distorted Humor), a multiple stakes winner who is three times graded stakes placed. Globe Trot is also a half-sister to Need: the dam of Recruiting Ready (Algorithms), Global Campaign's G3-winning stablemate in the Stanley Hough shedrow. That's not the only link between the two. Sagamore Farm owns Recruiting Ready outright, and owns Global Campaign in partnership with WinStar Farm.
A bit lost in the shadow cast by these two rising stars was Curlin Grey (Surf Light, by Malibu Moon). Trained by Ken McPeek for Fern Circle Stables, he was the most experienced among the three sons of Curlin, with six starts before this February allowance. He had finally broken his maiden in the sixth of those starts. That had come January 9 at Gulfstream, though it had taken a drop into a $50,000 claiming race for him to get off the mark. He still had class to prove, but it was a light-on effort in which he settled well off the pace in a field of six, swept past and drew off by four and three quarters lengths.
Global Campaign, Standard Deviation, and Curlin Grey shine at Gulfstream on February 9.
Global Campaign soon led along the inside, with Standard Deviation attending closest; Curlin Grey, just as he did in his maiden victory, found no reason to hurry. Longshot Blue Steel pulled keen to the lead outside of Global Campaign past the seven-eighths; Global Campaign was briefly keen to follow suit, but Luis Saez kept him under a hold, wrangling him back to track the pace inside of Irad Ortiz and Standard Deviation.
Nearing the five eighths, Global Campaign encroached upon Blue Steel right in, with Standard Deviation advancing in tandem to his outside. Standard Deviation soon settled just behind them, though Global Campaign took the battle to Blue Steel and edged away from the three eighths. Standard Deviation, by then driven, gave chase. Curlin Grey, with just five sixteenths of a mile remaining, remained in last though he was taking closer order.
Global Campaign turned into the lane in the clear, daring Standard Deviation to catch him. Standard Deviation kept on, well behind the leader, but clear of the rest. Curlin Grey, urged by jockey Brian Hernandez to take advantage of the sharp pace that had unfolded before him, was rolling through horses.
Eased up late, Global Campaign crossed the wire two and a quarter lengths clear of the chasing Standard Deviation. Curlin Grey picked off everyone else, crossing the wire another length and a half back, to complete the Curlin trifecta.
Due to some foot issues, Global Campaign made three more starts through the course of the year. Fifth behind Code of Honor in the Fountain of Youth (G2), he then went north to New York, won the Peter Pan over eventual Belmont (G1) winner Sir Winston, then ran third behind stalwarts Tax and Tacitus in the Jim Dandy (G2). Plans are to race him in 2020, possibly even at Gulfstream.
Standard Deviation moved forward from that allowance race, going 2-for-7 on the year. Though, all his best form came on the grass, including victories in the Tale of the Cat Stakes and the Jersey Derby. In the Jersey Derby, he topped a Curlin exacta, winning by three quarters of a length over Current. He also added a pair of graded stakes placings to his resume as the year drew to a close, running third in both the Hill Prince Stakes (G1) and the Hollywood Derby (G1).
As for Curlin Grey, his year turned out a little tougher. After running off the board in both the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) at Turfway and an optional claimer at Keeneland, he sold for $75,000 to Centennial Farms Niagara at the Keeneland April sale. Moved to the barn of Ravendra Raghunath, Curlin Grey struggled in five starts at Woodbine for his new owner, then was claimed to the barn of Martin Drexler for new owner 1569389 Ontario Inc. However, he had his brightest moment since his maiden win for his first start in the Drexler barn: he visited Fort Erie, got back on dirt, and made a smart last-to-first rally to win a N2L allowance there. Though his season ended with an off-the-board finish at Woodbine, the Fort Erie race was encouraging, suggesting Curlin Grey just wanted to be back on the dirt.
Curlin, Gulfstream, twelve days of Curlin babies
Previous #7: the sixth annual Twelve Days of Curlin Babies
Next Chicago Race of the Day: Friday, December 27


"Uncovering the process by which neutralizing antibodies develop is critical to HIV vaccine design," said Elise Landais, Senior Research Scientist with IAVI and lead author of the study. "A small fraction of people living with HIV can naturally produce exceptionally powerful and broad antibodies that could prevent HIV from infecting their immune cells, but not until several years post-infection – long after that protection can help them. But it is of enormous interest to vaccine researchers."


"On Unity and Reconciliation" | drcelucienjoseph, "Thinking and Meditating"
When we Christians think about reconciliation and unity in terms of race relations and dynamics in American churches and society, what is it exactly do we want or desire to pursue?
"1.The restoration of friendly relations.
2. The action of making one view or belief compatible with another.
3. The action of making financial accounts consistent; harmonization.
Accordingly, reconciliation is a project that aims at restoring friendship, promoting a shared worldview or a common perspective on (certain) issues, and promoting balance, harmony or consistency in life and in human interactions and relationships.
How's the Oxford rendering of reconciliation differ, challenge, or harmonize the biblical call for Christian unity and (human) reconciliation in the body of Christ and in society?


Retrospective analysis of 17 patients with Kienböck's disease who had a superselective microangiography of the radial, ulnar and interosseous artery in different wrist positions under general anaesthesia. We analysed the data with Fisher's exact and Wilcoxon-test.
We found vessels that entered the bone, that ended at the bone edge, and that supplied a vascular plexus. The origins were the anterior interosseous artery in 10 of 17 cases, the radial artery in seven cases, and the ulnar artery in five cases. Movement of the wrist could reduce or stop the blood flow. Type of lunate configuration showed no significant influence on the blood supply in neutral position.
The radial, ulnar, and anterior interosseous artery contribute to the vascular supply of the lunate bone in different combinations. Wrist movement can reduce blood flow to the lunate bone.
The online version of this article ( https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-019-2492-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
For the development of Kienböck's disease, the avascular necrosis of the lunate, anatomical factors like ulnar variance, radial inclination, the number and location of nutrient vessels, and the venous drainage, or repetitive trauma may have an influence [1, 2, 3]. Using injection techniques and micro-CT it was possible to show the number, entry points, and anastomoses of nutrient vessels [3, 4, 5, 6]. Wrist extension was shown to impair the venous flow of the lunate bone . But these examinations were done ex vivo. Superselective angiography is a known method for the embolisation of tumours or vascular malformations or in case of bleeding [8, 9, 10, 11]. We performed superselective angiographies in patients with Kienböck's disease who were planned for surgical treatment to identify the blood vessels that contribute to the arterial perfusion of the lunate bone and present a qualitative assessment of the flow in different wrist positions.
We retrospectively examined the patient files of patients presenting with Kienböck's disease between 2009 and 2011 who were scheduled for operation. All patients had prior x-ray, CT, and MRI, confirming the diagnosis. We included 17 patients who received a superselective angiography of the lunate for preoperative planning. The angiography was used to determine the surgical approach that would the least compromise the vascular supply of the lunate.
Due to the radiation exposure during examination, angiography was performed only on the affected wrist for medical reasons, as there would be no consequence for the healthy side.
Clinical and radiological values were recorded during outpatient clinic visits. Clinical information included age, gender, affected side, and hand dominance. From X-ray of both wrists, the ulnar variance, type of lunate, Stahl's index, Carpal height according to Nattrass , and radial inclination were measured.
The stage of Kienböck's disease according to Lichtman was determined by CT and MRI (Table 1).
The contrast agent flow in the radial, ulnar and interosseous artery was recorded under general anaesthesia in neutral position of the wrist. Assessment only of passive motion was possible. Entry point for the catheter was the femoral artery (angiography). Using a vertebral catheter, the axillary artery was entered (selective angiography) and contrast agent flow around the lunate examined after visualisation of the forearm arteries.
If no contrast agent was seen around the lunate, the examination was aborted. If it was seen, the radial, ulnar and interosseous arteries were subsequently entered (superselective angiography) with a micro catheter. If a contrast flow to the lunate bone was seen in neutral position, the flow in maximum passive flexion, extension, radial abduction, and ulnar abduction was classified as unchanged, reduced, or abolished. Branching of the vessel into capillaries around the capsule or synovial tissue that appeared as a cloud of contrast medium in close relationship to the lunate bone was regarded as blushing.
Due to the small sample size, non-parametric tests were used. Fisher's exact test was used for categorical variables and Wilcoxon-test for quantitative variables. Significant differences were assumed for p < = 0.05.
We included six female and 11 male patients with a mean age of 35 years (median 31, range 19–64). Kienböck's disease was located in ten right and seven left hands. The dominant hand was affected in 47% of cases (Table 1).
Twelve patients had a negative ulna- variance with a maximum of four mm. Five patients had a neutral ulna variance. Comparisons between affected and control wrist are shown in Table 2.
Two lunate bones were supplied by the radial, ulnar, and interosseous artery. Seven lunate bones received blood from two of those arteries, and five by one nutritional artery. No contrast agent in the surrounding of the lunate bone was detectable in three patients (Patient 8, 11, and 16). The interosseous artery was in all cases identified as the anterior interosseous artery.
In neutral position of the wrist, the radial artery showed a vascular connection to the lunate in seven cases, the interosseous artery in eleven cases, and the ulnar artery in six cases of the remaining 14 patients (Table 3). Type of lunate configuration showed no significant influence on the blood supply in neutral position (Fisher's exact, p > 0.05). In different wrist positions, blood flow can be disrupted (Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4 and Additional files 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8, all from patient 7) but without discernible pattern (Fisher's exact, p > 0.05). Due to the heterogeneity of the data and small sample size, no further statistical test was performed.
Using superselective angiography, our findings show that there are different patterns of the blood supply of the lunate bone and that flow is influenced by the position of the wrist.
In previous studies, a vascular plexus located over the dorsal and palmar pole as well as direct branches from the ulnar, radial and anterior interosseous artery have been described that connect to the lunate [3, 13]. Dorsopalmar extraosseous anastomoses were observed [13, 14], that can be absent in 7.5% . We found vessels that supplied the bone directly, vessels that seemed to end at the surface of the lunate and vessels that branched into a capillary network that resembled synovitis from either dorsal, palmar, or both sides that can be associated with bone necrosis .
The exact number of vessels entering the bone could not be counted in our study. But it was shown that micro-CT examination of the lunate showed significantly more nutrient foramina on the palmar side than on the dorsal side . Numbers ranged from zero on the palmar side and one dorsally up to six on the palmar and nine on the dorsal aspect .
Our results showed a position-dependent blood flow of the nutritional vessels to the lunate in patients with Kienböck's disease using superselective angiography. Except for the neutral position, every position could reduce the blood flow in every vessel. Table 4 shows that in almost all cases where supplying vessels could be identified, even if blood flow is stopped in one position from one artery, it is unchanged or only reduced in another if at least two arteries contribute to the blood supply. Intraosseous anastomoses between dorsal and palmar vessels (a common Y, and rarer I and X pattern) could be shown [4, 17], therefore disruption of blood supply might not occur in healthy subjects. As fracture of the bone or increased intraosseous pressure and venous congestion might disrupt the anastomoses [18, 19, 20], holding certain wrist positions for a prolonged time could contribute to the progress of the disease. Rarefication of the intraosseous trabecular structure could be shown by in vivo high-resolution peripheral quantitative micro-CT of an affected wrist with a recovery of trabecular parameters after radial shortening osteotomy . If the structural changes are a result or cause of the disruption of intraosseous blood flow would need a combined diagnostic approach.
We decided to regard the synovial blushing as contributing to the blood supply, because of the high number of foramina that would be entered by vessels from the dorsal and palmar plexus and the intraosseous anastomoses. A summarised version of Table 3 is shown in Table 4, showing the least compromising effect of wrist positioning, and assuming that microanastomoses provide sufficient blood distribution.
In three patients, no flow to the lunate was visible, suggesting none or minimal capillary blood supply to necrotic tissue. As the lunate stage was IIIa, IIIb, and IIIb/IV, it can only be assumed that the stages IIIa and b were diagnosed before further, maybe rapid progression or the vessels were too fine to be seen.
It is inconclusive if Kienböck's disease is caused by hand-arm vibration that occurs during manual work with percussive tools . But tool manufacturers might consider these results and provide a design that avoids extensive wrist flexion or extension. Splinting in neutral position might be better for blood flow than dorsal extension in cases with Kienböck's disease.
In most cases, the interosseous artery was contributing to the blood flow of the lunate bone. Performing a selective wrist denervation of the interosseous nerve might influence the operative outcome due to reduced blood flow due to scarring or thermal damage when using electrosurgery. Recent articles recommend a radical denervation for the treatment of chronic wrist pain [23, 24, 25, 26]. Considering that this procedure is rather common, we found no report of an increase of cases with Kienböck's disease [27, 28].
Our radiographs showed a larger radial inclination of the control side compared to the affected side that is not significant. In previous studies, the degree of radial inclination was significantly larger in the unaffected wrist of patients with Kienböck's disease [1, 13]. Our findings are in the range of the previously reported values. As the difference is rather small, the number of cases could be too small to show a significant difference.
Stahl's index and carpal height was significantly lower on the affected side, corresponding to a carpal collapse. But also the unaffected wrist showed smaller values compared to the reference in the literature for Stahl's index (0.53 ± 0.03) and carpal height (1.52–1.62) . The incidence of lunate type I was higher in our sample with 76% compared to previously reported numbers .
Weaknesses of our study include the low number of examined patients and the lack of a healthy control group. In cases without contrasted vessels to the lunate, the vessels might have been too small to visualise or the moment of staining missed. In addition, reduced blood flow by stretching of capillaries during wrist movement might by a physiological phenomenon. Examination of healthy hands might be more conclusive but are not ethically acceptable due to high radiation exposure. The national Federal Office for Radiation Protection does not give a reference for arm angiography but our examinations were below the value for arteriographies of pelvis and leg that should not exceed 4800 cGy x cm2 . Finally, without 3 D reconstruction, we can only assume that the vessels are entering the bone.
The radial, ulnar, and anterior interosseous artery contribute to the vascular supply of the lunate bone in different combinations. Wrist movement can reduce blood flow to the lunate bone. Prolonged flexion or extension of the wrist due to splinting, pain or occupational reason might contribute to the development of Kienböck's disease.
SK Data management, Data analysis, Manuscript writing. FE Data collection, Manuscript editing. AA Data collection, Manuscript editing. SM Project development, Data analysis, Manuscript editing. AE Project development, Manuscript editing. PH Data management, Data collection, Manuscript editing. All authors have read and approved the manuscript.
The local institutional ethics committee of the University of Greifswald approved the study (BB 054/17) and stated that there are no ethical or legal concerns regarding this study. The decision was based on the Helsinki declaration. The need for consent for the retrospective use of patient data was waived by the institutional committee of the University of Greifswald. Written informed consent was obtained for the angiography.
Informed consent was obtained from the patient whose angiography images and videos are provided.