One band. Three nights. Three Thousand fans. From Fifty Two countries.
Marillion Weekends have become a tradition amongst the fan base, "the family". The main Dutch weekend (there are two others in the UK and Canada) sold out within hours of the tickets being released. It may have been the fifth time the band had put on such a spectacle in Port Zelande, but in a whole host of ways for the 2015 edition, the bar had well and truly been raised.
This time, our brief extended beyond 'just' the concert film coverage, to include the creation of content for the concert screens, as well as producing and filming a feature documentary about the band and this unique event.
Working in close partnership with the band's lead singer Steve Hogarth, and their graphic design genius, Simon Ward we orchestrated a green screen shoot, and a more traditional 'live action' shoot which became the backdrop for the Saturday night rendition of the band's well-loved 'Marbles' album.
We also created screen content for the Sunday night too – weaving together elements of archive stills and footage alongside animated album artwork.
We also 'upped the ante' when it came to the concert films themselves. All three nights were filmed for release – promising an amazing product with the concerts themselves, plus the opportunity to create some top quality bonus material to set the live gigs in context.
We handpicked and worked with an incredible and talented crew, which has made sure that concert footage we captured this year has surpassed all others.
The three-concert film box set 'Out of the Box' was released in December 2016, to following the band's album success with FEAR, earlier in 2016.
'Marbles in the Park', the standalone film of the Saturday night gig, is being released worldwide in Q1 2017 though Ear Music.
But three concerts filmed back-to-back wasn't enough!
Marillion also commissioned us to develop and film a feature documentary; A behind the scenes look at this amazing event from the bands' eye view. A unique insight into a band that have been doing their thing for 35 years, and who are still breaking new ground.
'Unconventional' was released in November 2015, with a marketing campaign consisting of two teaser trailers, a release trailer and 4 sizzle shorts released on social media the month following the release to really engage with Marillion's enthusiastic fan base.
The documentary has been brilliantly received by fans and critics alike, with a raft of positive reviews, and had its world premiere screening at Toronto's Reel Indie Film Festival in November 2016.
You could say that this project is multi-faceted … an exercise in project management on a pretty big scale, across a multitude of 'mini projects', all culminating in an unforgettable three nights of music with the most incredible bunch of devoted fans.
The magic still very much appeared to be there, both in the bands performance and the crowd's reactions to them. There were some very special moments, clearly treasured by those who attended. We look forward to being able to share them (and much else besides), and play our part in bringing Marillion and what they do closer to the wider audience that the band so richly deserves.
All material ©2019 Toward Infinity™. All rights reserved.


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HomeMusic NewsNew powerful Bruce Springsteen song 'Freedom Cadence'
New powerful Bruce Springsteen song 'Freedom Cadence'
November 2, 2017 JP Cartwright Music News 0
From Planet Rock.
Bruce Springsteen © PA Images
Bruce Springsteen's new song 'Freedom Cadence' from the soundtrack to upcoming movie Thank You for Your Service has appeared online.
Based on the "Freedom" marching cadence, the haunting song sees Bruce sing highly-affecting lines like "Some say is freedom is free/ But I tend to disagree/ I say freedom is won/ With the blood of someone's son" over a plaintive beat.
'Freedom Cadence' echoes the themes of Thank You for Your Service, which tells the story of soldiers suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) who are trying to adjust to normal life after returning from conflict in Iraq.
Based on the book of the same name by David Finkel, the film was directed by Jason Hall and stars Miles Teller, Haley Bennett, Beulah Koale, Amy Schumer and Scott Haze. The movie hits UK cinemas on Friday 17th November.
Bruce recorded 'Freedom Cadence' at his Stone Hill Studio in New Jersey and it features Adam Schumann – the real-life subject of Thank You for Your Service – and the movie's producer Jon Kilik on backing vocals.
Bruce opening his sprawling 'Springsteen on Broadway' residency at the 960 capacity Walter Kerr Theatre on 3rd October and it continues through to February 2018.
Looking for any Bruce Springsteen collectables? Check out our Collectors Store.
Explore 991.com & sister eil.com – the world's best online store for rare, collectable & out of print Vinyl Records, CDs & Music memorabilia since 1987
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July 16, 2009 991 sleevenotes Music News 0
In what is thought to be a world first, Pearl Jam gave their forthcoming single 'Fixer' its debut play at this year's All-Star baseball game [that's girly rounders to us Brits!] played between superstar teams from the American and Major leagues. You can find all the details of the single […read more…]
The Beatles Top 3 Rare Vinyl/CD Boxsets In Stock…..
December 27, 2016 Cathryn Draper Rare & Vintage Vinyl & CDs 0
……love 'em or loathe 'em, you just can't escape 'em – and with 2017 being the 50th Anniversary of Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band we think they just might be in the news again! We are always sourcing Beatles vinyl, CDs, memorabilia and rarities, here's our current Top 3 […read more…]
Top 10 Collectible Vinyl, CDs, Merchandise and Music Memorabilia added this week
March 19, 2016 Cathryn Draper 991.com news, Buying - Sell your Records, Collectables, Film & TV, Music Memorabilia, Music News, Rare & Vintage Vinyl & CDs, Record Collecting News 0
….big hitters at 991.com this week, include a MAJOR jazz rarities in the shape of John Coltrane's seminal 'Blue Train' LP on Blue Note and a wonderful Tubby Hayes/Jazz Couriers original, a mega-rare Japanese only Queen promo LP, rare Japanese Bruce Springsteen 7″, Beatles rarities galore, and more….Here's a few highlights, for full Top […read more…]

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


RIO DE JANEIRO – The situation inside the Alcaçuz prison, the largest in the Brazilian city of Natal, is "out of control" after the latest clash between rival groups of inmates, the governor of Rio Grande do Norte state, Robinson Faria, admitted on Thursday.
The governor said that he had asked the federal government to send the armed forces on Thursday to try and halt the "war" being waged inside Alcaçuz, which was "taken over" by inmates on Saturday.
"They're setting fire to buses in reprisal for the separation of the factions in the prisons. The two bands are taking reprisals against the government. The situation is much more serious than yesterday. We need immediate help," Faria said Thursday in remarks to local CBN radio.
The incidents at the prison began on Saturday, when 26 inmates, most of them members of the Rio Grande do Norte Crime Syndicate (SDC), were killed on the orders of the First Commando of the Capital (PCC), the two criminal organizations that are facing off.
Police on Wednesday night gained access to the prison and authorities ordered the transfer of 200 inmates in a move to end the violence, but the clashes continued on Thursday and officials admit that more victims have resulted, although no concrete figures have been provided.
According to aerial images taken by local television stations, the prisoners are separated by a barricade fashioned of mattresses and wood in the prison yard, but a group of inmates tore part of it down and a pitched battle between the factions broke out.
Police tried to contain the violence by firing rubber bullets and tear gas from watchtowers.
Several inmates were injured and had to be removed in carts by other prisoners.
The fighting between the criminal groups spilled over into the streets of several cities in Rio Grande do Norte on Thursday morning in a wave of attacks on buses and police stations.
Faria said this week that if police entered the prison there could be a repeat of the Carandiru episode, referring to the 1992 deaths of 111 prisoners at that prison, most of them killed by police gunfire.
Now, however, the governor has expressed confidence that the armed forces can guarantee security in the streets and the police can end the violence within Alcaçuz.


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Open A Game Afoot
A sleepless Otani's hunt for Totems
A Game Afoot
by Onaona on July 29th, 2020, 2:22 am
Onaona tread water, listening to Robert in silence as he spoke. His words rattled loosely around the cavern, bouncing across the stone walls and skating across the surface of the water, giving it a depth of sound he would be hard pressed to achieve in the open. It was a beautiful effect, and it was with effort that the Otani listened to the meaning rather than the sound of his words.
She tried to understand, she really did. But she could feel that she was missing some enormous, intrinsically human concept, and without it she could feel his explanation being thrown into this hole in her perception and disappearing. Her facial features slowly morphed, taking on his northern features, his narrowed eyes. Her brow pulled thoughtfully down over her new eyes, mirroring his, before her face would rearrange back to her old features. She noted the way the words seemed to catch on his lips, and how his tone turned revenant as he spoke of Lhavit. She tried to imagine what he described of his home in such in loving detail, and imagined she loved it too. She reached inside herself and tried to feel what he was feeling, how it must feel to leave behind everything you loved for some great unknown. A mingling of grief and love with a powerful stab of hope.
But nothing came to her. She played with the idea, twisting and moving it to try and fit it around her perception of the world, but it never quite fit. What was she missing? Robert, and by extension humanity, had never felt so far out of her reach.
"I don't understand", she admitted, her voice tight and anxious. "What does any of that mean? Why do you feel this way?" With a splash she pulled herself from the water and climbed up beside him, as if peering closer into his face would help her make sense of this baffling creature. "Why does it feel like you have one eye over your shoulder, always looking behind you? Why do these memories mean so much to you, when they've already been experienced? Don't love your mountain anymore, love the present! Love Syka, love the sea! You'll be able to see the ocean from every city, you'll never be homesick again!" she grappled desperately for a solution for his melancholy and homesickness, not having a clear idea of what it was, or even that he might not even want it to be cured. What should she do? How could she uproot a human so sentimental about the past?
"The sea is constant yet always changing. You can live in the past and the present at the same time. Isn't that better? You can have both! Please forget Lhavit. It doesn't deserve whatever part of you you left behind there."
He explained it like it was a physical thing, like he left something behind in Lhavit so he had enough room in his soul to take a piece of the city with him. Was that what it meant to have a home? This exchange of souls? To exist forever in this place and in return have it exist in you? She yearned to reach inside and pull it out. Maybe then she could pour seawater in the wound it left behind.
"I know", she brightened as a thought slipped in through the chaos Robert had riled in her mind. "Why don't you love me instead? Not everything has to pass. I'll never age, I'll never die, I will live forever by the grace of god. You won't have to feel that sorrow, because I will never fade. Do you see? Please. Make this your only home. Love me first, then you will learn to love the ocean."
Giving him no time to react, Onaona leaned forward and kissed him.
The desperate act was surprisingly underwhelming for both parties. He was warm and solid and tasted like cocktails and something so alarmingly human. Yet having witnessed the act before but never preformed it, the Otani didn't realize there was more to it than the feel and the taste. She put no wanting behind it, no love, just curiosity. It was chaste and perfunctory, a question rather than a statement. Her lips were still and cold, salted with seawater and distracted by the many wheeling thoughts the human had put in her head.
Onaona
Joined roleplay: October 12th, 2017, 3:09 am
Race: Human, Mixed
by Robert Glenfeidh on August 30th, 2020, 4:08 pm
Robert glanced again and again at Onaona, his eyes darting from the liquid light to her ever-shifting form as he tried to put into words that which escaped him, a nascent collection of wayward stars that even Zintila herself could not order.
As he caught his facial features in her face, he wondered if a being such as her could become him, if she were a mirror he could touch and exchange himself with her self. A duality; the man and the monster, an age-old entity that sought to understand that which she had witnessed time and time again.
"I can't!" He clenched his fists as Ona raised her voice, striking the tensed strings within with a hammer born of emotion. "To not love - is that not a beast? I love, I hurt, I live - all I am is my past, and to move past Lhavit - the hills - the mountains —" Anastasia, wakened by the row, purred anxiously and rubbed herself against Robert, trying to sooth his choler.
"Ona, all these are beautiful to me, and I will keep them in a corner of my heart. That I have experienced them - I am my past, and I will shape my future by my own hands. I will love the new, but shun the old? I can't!" He un-clenched his hands by sheer force of will, but they shook as he fought to rein in the emotions Onaona had encouraged. "Bitterness and sweetness - all men learn to savour both in equal measure."
"That they change - that they fade - I love them more for these things. I don't think of them at all when I stoke the fires, or test new drink, or carry and split lumber for hours on end. Why should I? Time is well spent only on the present, or building for the future - but in idle moments —" Robert pointed to the moonlight dappling the swirling waters, "with a glass in the moonlight, a lute playing in the distance, I drown myself in memories."
"The old philosophers in Lhavit might call me a seeker of pleasures, but Onaona," he half-pleaded, half-questioned, "have you never looked back on what you did or saw, have you not tried to reminisce, or feel again the joys or pleasures long gone?"
"I —"
And she kissed him.
He felt her; flowing, cooling, dizzying.
An instant, and he instinctively drew her closer towards him with his arms, feeling the strange water-not-water curl over his skin and retreat as he deepened the contact; the heat of the moment spurred him on as he tried to place all that he felt, all the frustration at not getting across to her, and the sheer emotion he held in the deep places of his heart.
The Lhavitian withdrew almost as swiftly, leaning back and placing his arms to arrest his fall, and stared into Onaona's eyes, watching the currents. He licked his lips sub-consciously, tasting her — sea salt and moonlit waters — in a daze.
"Love..."
He spent a lingering instant considering her words, before moving to a more upright position, closer to her.
"If there's any kind of magic that has to exist, it must be this." He tapped his chest, over the heart, before pointing at where her heart would have been, if she were a human.
"The attempt of understanding someone sharing something. Just... this little space in between." Robert let his arm drop to his side, curling his fingers in Anastasia's fur.
"Love is... an eternity of trying to do that, and succeeding and failing over and over again. Not that simple, to love you in a blink of an eye. Love needs a connection, and sustained effort in strengthening and repairing it whenever it frays. It's... selfish and selfless — you want her for you and you alone, you give her your all — a contradiction that evades all but the vaguest of explanations."
OOC note :
Real sorry for disappearing, life got in the way. And sorry if this post seems disorganized, 'cause it is - Onaona put me in mind of a few ideas that needed to make themselves known.
Robert Glenfeidh
Joined roleplay: May 18th, 2020, 1:20 am


text:
Nov 11, 2020 · Baroque art is a style of painting and sculpture believed to have originated in Italy in the mid-1500s. It is characterized as a more expressive, theatrical style of art than the Renaissance style that preceded it. Baroque artists, such as Caravaggio, Rembrandt, Bernini, and Vermeer are known for ...
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Oct 25, 2020 · baroque (comparative baroquer, superlative baroquest) Ornate, intricate, decorated, laden with detail. Complex and beautiful, despite an outward irregularity. Chiseled from stone, or shaped from wood, in a garish, crooked, twisted, or slanted sort of way, grotesque.
It encompasses a great range of styles , as most important and major painting during the period beginning around 1600 and continuing into the early 18th century is identified today as Baroque painting. In its most typical manifestations, Baroque art is characterized by great drama, rich, deep color, and intense light and dark shadows.
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Oct 28, 2020 · Spanish Baroque refers to a time period spanning from the late 1500s to the early 1700s. The Baroque style was applied to art, music, literature and architecture. Pieces produced specifically by Spanish artists and composers are referred to as Spanish Baroque. The main style of the Baroque period ...
In addition, baroque art reflected new views on the unity, boundlessness, diversity, dramatic complexity, and eternal changeability of the world, as well as an interest in the environment, man's surroundings, and the natural elements. Baroque art replaced both the artistic culture of the Renaissance and the refined subjective art of mannerism.
- [Voiceover] So, Baroque art is about time, it's about effects of light, whether that's dramatic or more subtle, it's about involving the viewer, of moving into our space, of breaking down the barrier between us and the work of art. It's about the use of the diagonal, of a sense of energy and drama, sometimes subtle drama, but still drama.
Baroque architects, artists, and urban planners so magnified and invigorated the classical and ecclesiastical traditions of the city that it became for centuries after the acknowledged capital of the European art world, not only a focus for tourists and artists but also a watershed of inspiration throughout the Western world.
http://www.theaudiopedia.com What is BAROQUE? What does BAROQUE mean? BAROQUE meaning - BAROQUE pronunciation - BAROQUE definition - BAROQUE expl...
37 synonyms of baroque from the Merriam-Webster Thesaurus, plus 33 related words, definitions, and antonyms. Find another word for baroque. Baroque: going beyond a normal or acceptable limit in degree or amount.
Baroque was the principal European style in the visual arts of the 17th century. The term covers various national styles that range from the complex and dramatic Italian art of the 17th century to the restrained genre scenes, still-lifes and portraits characteristic of the Dutch Baroque.
Baroque definition, of or relating to a style of architecture and art originating in Italy in the early 17th century and variously prevalent in Europe and the New World for a century and a half, characterized by free and sculptural use of the classical orders and ornament, by forms in elevation and plan suggesting movement, and by dramatic effect in which architecture, painting, sculpture, and ...
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Baroque painting is the painting associated with the Baroque cultural movement.The movement is often identified with Absolutism, the Counter Reformation and Catholic Revival, but the existence of important Baroque art and architecture in non-absolutist and Protestant states throughout Western Europe underscores its widespread popularity.
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In Baroque art there was generally action and movement. Angels flew, people fought, crowds cowered in fear, and saints rose to the heavens. Baroque sculptures were often made of rich materials such as colorful marble, bronze, or even gilded with gold. Examples of Baroque Art The Entry of St. Ignatius into Heaven (Andrea Pozzo)
Baroque architecture and art is an elaborate style of architecture and art that was popular in Europe in the seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries. The baroque church of San Leonardo is worth a quick look.
The Baroque Age Learn with flashcards, games, and more — for free.
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Another word for baroque. Find more ways to say baroque, along with related words, antonyms and example phrases at Thesaurus.com, the world's most trusted free thesaurus.
Baroque, The Era Of Baroque Art And The Baroque Period 706 Words | 3 Pages. Baroque is a style in art. It is an era of artistic style that used sensational motion and obvious, easily interpreted features to produce drama, tension, and magnificence in architecture, sculptures, paintings, literature, theatre, dance and music.
Baroque was the dominant style in art and architecture of the seventeenth century, characterized by self-confidence, dynamism and a realistic approach to depiction
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Baroque definition, of or relating to a style of architecture and art originating in Italy in the early 17th century and variously prevalent in Europe and the New World for a century and a half, characterized by free and sculptural use of the classical orders and ornament, by forms in elevation and plan suggesting movement, and by dramatic effect in which architecture, painting, sculpture, and ... Drupal force login2 days ago · Baroque definition: Baroque architecture and art is an elaborate style of architecture and art that was... | Meaning, pronunciation, translations and examples
Jul 17, 2011 · Key Difference – Baroque Art vs Renaissance Art Baroque art and Renaissance art are two forms of art between which a key difference can be discerned. Baroque art refers to a form of art that was originated in Rome. Baroque art became popular for its complex and contradictory nature as well as its ability to evoke emotion. Where to buy vessel sinksBaroque art manifested itself differently in various European countries owing to their unique political and cultural climates. Characteristics The Baroque style is characterized by exaggerated motion and clear detail used to produce drama, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, architecture, literature, dance, and music.
Another word for baroque. Find more ways to say baroque, along with related words, antonyms and example phrases at Thesaurus.com, the world's most trusted free thesaurus. Definition: What is Baroque Art? In fine art, the term Baroque (derived from the Portuguese 'barocco' meaning, 'irregular pearl or stone') describes a fairly complex idiom, originating in Rome, which flowered during the period c.1590-1720, and which embraced painting, and sculpture as well as architecture.
Define baroque. baroque synonyms, baroque pronunciation, baroque translation, English dictionary definition of baroque. adj. 1. also Baroque Of, relating to, or characteristic of a style in art and architecture developed in Europe from the early 17th to mid-18th century,... It encompasses a great range of styles , as most important and major painting during the period beginning around 1600 and continuing into the early 18th century is identified today as Baroque painting. In its most typical manifestations, Baroque art is characterized by great drama, rich, deep color, and intense light and dark shadows.
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Definition of Chiaroscuro. Painters of the Renaissance and Baroque periods wanted to engage their viewers. Like the cinematographers of classic Hollywood, they used the play of light and shadow to ...
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Baroque art manifested itself differently in various European countries owing to their unique political and cultural climates. Characteristics The Baroque style is characterized by exaggerated motion and clear detail used to produce drama, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, architecture, literature, dance, and music.
Define baroque. baroque synonyms, baroque pronunciation, baroque translation, English dictionary definition of baroque. adj. 1. also Baroque Of, relating to, or characteristic of a style in art and architecture developed in Europe from the early 17th to mid-18th century,...
Sep 28, 2009 · The greatness of the Spanish and French kingdom influenced the grandeur of the movement. As mentioned before there were many influences in the Baroque period and it was an awakening for many societies and many artists. Related Post; Baroque Architecture The Baroque period affected Architecture in the 17th century and began in Italy.
The term mannerism describes the style of the paintings and bronze sculpture on this tour. Derived from the Italian maniera, meaning simply "style," mannerism is sometimes defined as the "stylish style" for its emphasis on self-conscious artifice over realistic depiction.
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Barocco Style synonyms, Barocco Style pronunciation, Barocco Style translation, English dictionary definition of Barocco Style. adj. 1. also Baroque Of, relating to, or characteristic of a style in art and architecture developed in Europe from the early 17th to mid-18th century,... Lincoln ls reliabilitySee full list on worldatlas.com
Baroque, The Era Of Baroque Art And The Baroque Period 706 Words | 3 Pages. Baroque is a style in art. It is an era of artistic style that used sensational motion and obvious, easily interpreted features to produce drama, tension, and magnificence in architecture, sculptures, paintings, literature, theatre, dance and music. The royal albert hall high teaIn addition, baroque art reflected new views on the unity, boundlessness, diversity, dramatic complexity, and eternal changeability of the world, as well as an interest in the environment, man's surroundings, and the natural elements. Baroque art replaced both the artistic culture of the Renaissance and the refined subjective art of mannerism.
2 days ago · Baroque definition: Baroque architecture and art is an elaborate style of architecture and art that was... | Meaning, pronunciation, translations and examples Baroque architecture and art is an elaborate style of architecture and art that was popular in Europe in the seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries. The baroque church of San Leonardo is worth a quick look.
Baroque music, a style of music that prevailed during the period from about 1600 to about 1750, known for its grandiose, dramatic, and energetic spirit but also for its stylistic diversity. One of the most dramatic turning points in the history of music occurred at the beginning of the 17th
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Oct 30, 2020 · Baroque art and architecture, the visual arts and construction in Western art that roughly coincide with the 17th century. Though stylistically complex, even contradictory, the qualities frequently associated with the Baroque are grandeur, sensuous richness, drama, vitality, movement, tension, and emotional exuberance.
baroque meaning: 1. relating to the heavily decorated style in buildings, art, and music that was popular in Europe…. Learn more.


Thousands of protesters have marched in Australia calling for an end to violence against women, days after the murder of an Israeli student in Melbourne.
During Sunday's march, campaigners held banners with the words "I'm here for Aiia" and "stop violence against women".
"I'm marching for the women who can't," protester Samantha Nolan-Smith told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation at the rally in the nation's capital Canberra.
A 20-year-old man was charged with Maasarwe's murder on Saturday.


The National Centre for Popular Music in Sheffield is planning to appoint graphic designers by the beginning of June to create its identity. A number of designers have already submitted speculative work, which is under consideration.
Sharon McKoy, marketing director of the centre, says that her initial plan is to appoint at least two consultancies for different elements of graphics work, in a bid to capitalise on what she terms "a broader spectrum of knowledge".
One consultancy will look at branding opportunities and the main image of the centre, while the second will concentrate on its implementation, she says.
McKoy is still deciding whether to hold an open or invitation-only pitch for the work.
But the centre is still in the process of carrying out detailed research into its target audience, which will be completed before a final brief is created in around four months' time, says McKoy.


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By Amanda Carpenter - The Washington Times - Friday, July 3, 2009
Disney's 'hetero' bias
A pair of researchers at the University of Michigan say Disney films make opposite-sex romances seem too special and magical, giving children narrow and misleading ideas about love.
Many of Disney's most popular musical cartoons follow a compelling yet predictable storyline that features a beautiful young woman who pines for love from a handsome man and encounters struggles from outside forces that must be defeated before they can be together. Disney movies such as "Beauty and the Beast," "Cinderella," "Little Mermaid" and "Pocahontas" and others follow this model.
"Characters in love are surrounded by music, flowers, candles, magic, fire, balloons, fancy dresses, dim lights, dancing and elaborate dinners," Emily Kazyak and Karin Marti wrote in the latest issue of Gender & Society. "Fireflies, butterflies, sunsets, wind and the beauty and power of nature often provide the setting for - and a link to the naturalness of - hetero-romantic love."
The analysts also complain that the films use "overtly feminized women and masculine males" and market toys such as dolls and fairy costumes that do the same.
Ms. Kazyak and Ms. Marti examined G-rated Disney films that have grossed more than $100 million between 1990 and 2005 for the study.
A press release about the study contained a White House-themed political message as well.
"President Obama may have declared June to be Gay Pride Month, but entertainment for children therefore continues to perpetuate a less inclusive message, leaving those outside its confines with little to build their own dreams of happily ever after," it said.
HIV travel ban
A notice from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) shows the Obama administration is seeking to lift a rule that forbids those infected with HIV from entering the country.
If the HIV travel ban is lifted, the virus that causes AIDS will be removed from the list of "a communicable disease of public health significance" that disqualifies foreigners from passing customs.
In the late 1980s, Republican Sen. Jesse Helms of North Carolina was a proponent of the ban, leading the effort to get it codified into law. Since then, it's been of particular concern to the gay advocacy groups who recognize the policy disproportionately affects gays and lesbians. These groups have urged lawmakers to repeal the ban, gaining support from some such high-profile Democrats such as Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts.
Government agencies, however, can repeal the rule without any action from Congress, although it would be a lengthy process. Although OMB posted its notice last week, lifting the ban would take at least several months as the Department of Health and Human Services goes through a required public review and comment process.
'Gayby boom'
Add this phrase to the ever-expanding lexicon of made-up politically correct terminology: "gayby boom."
The phrase, which refers to the increasing number of same-sex couples who are adopting children, has turned up in mainstream press outlets like CNN, the Associated Press and USA Today, among other publications.
The number of children adopted by same-sex couples is not officially counted by the government, but a 2007 study by the Urban Institute estimated 65,500 adopted children are living with a lesbian or gay parent. More than 16,000 of them, according to the study, are living in California.
Sen. Roland W. Burris, Illinois Democrat, offered his candid thoughts on the purpose of marriage during Chicago's Gay Pride Parade on June 28.
"My concept of marriage is a male and a female for the perpetuation of the species, for children to be born and identify the bloodline and the heritage," he told WBBM, a Chicago radio station. "But I'm pretty sure, as things are moving along, that that will probably change."
Although Mr. Burris appeared at the Gay Pride Parade, he says he does not support gay marriage. He favors civil unions instead.
• Amanda Carpenter can be reached at [email protected]


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I'm quite aware that not everyone has my sweet potato obsession. 'Not sweet potatoes again" is a phrase often muttered by members of my family.
What's not to like about a healthy food that's naturally sweet? I just don't get it. Especially considering how much pumpkin love there is. I find that sweet potatoes can be used in any recipe pumpkins can be used in, plus a whole lot more. They are more accessible than pumpkin during the non-fall months and they are easier to prepare. OK maybe not easier than canned pumpkin. But still.
Sweet potatoes are so versatile. They can be eaten plain, or in a variety of sweet and savory recipes. My personal trainer, who is perhaps the healthiest eater I've ever met, eats a sweet potato just about everyday. Totally plain. Just pops it in the microwave until it's cooked, picks it up, in his hand, and starts chomping away at it. Not utensils needed, no salt or butter. Just the sweet potato. Wish I enjoyed eating food that plain.
My favorite sweet potato recipes are always savory. When I saw a recipe for Sweet Potato and Onion Tart in the October 2012 Southern Living Magazine, I was very intrigued. A tart (or quiche is a better term for this particular recipe) was one way I had never cooked sweet potato.
And let me just tell you, I think Roasted Sweet Potato Quiche might just be my favorite quiche ever. The sweet potatoes, along with some onions are roasted first to heighten their flavors. Some bacon is added which gives a salty contrast to the sweetness of the sweet potato and onion. Plenty of Gruyère cheese is used. Is there any better cheese for quiche? I don't think so. Fresh parsley and rosemary round out the flavors. Oh how I love rosemary with sweet potatoes.
The mixture of sweet potatoes, eggs, and cheese tasted so fabulous I'm thinking that sweet potatoes would be delicious in omelet form too!
For more sweet potato cooking inspiration check out my Sweet Potato Pinterest Board. Over 320 sweet potato recipes pinned. Told you I'm sweet potato crazy! Maybe I'll pin 40 more and make a different sweet potato recipe everyday next year. That may cure my sweet potato obsession!
Note: Gruyère cheese is a little on the expensive side- but it is so worth it. I really don't think there is a less expensive cheese that comes close to matching its flavor. I used a refrigerated pie crust, but you could definitely make a homemade piecrust.
Oh! And I almost forgot! This new, blue tart pan (see the second picture) that I got with a removable bottom worked really great. The quiche just popped out in one giant piece. It was only about $10 at Target and it came in a bunch of different colors. Definitely a good buy.
A delicious twist on a traditional quiche with roasted sweet potatoes, onions, and lots of gruyere cheese.
In a medium bowl, toss together sweet potatoes, onion, olive oil, seasoned pepper and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Spread in a single layer on a lightly greased jelly roll pan. Bake 15 minutes, or until sweet potatoes are just tender. Stir halfway through.They will get softer when the quiche is baking.
Remove pie crust from refrigerator and let sit on the counter for 5 minutes. Unroll the piecrust and fit into a pie plate or deep dish tart pan with removeable bottom. Trim excess pie crust from edges or fold excess and tuck it under. If tart pan has fluted edges, press the pie crust into the edges.
Line piecrust with a double layer of heavy duty aluminum foil. You can place pie weights or dried beans on top, but I found that a double thickness of heavy duty foil was enough by itself to keep the pie crust from puffing up while baking.
Place on a baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes. Remove foil and bake 5 more minutes. Let crust cool 5-10 minutes.
Whisk together half-and-half, eggs, parsley, rosemary, salt and pepper and pour into piecrust. Bake in lower part of oven for 35 to 40 minutes or until set. Cool for 15 minutes before slicing.
This entry was posted in General, Main Dishes and tagged bacon, eggs, quiche, sweet potato, sweet potatoes, tart pan. Bookmark the permalink.
This was such a delicious quiche!!! The only thing I did differently was replace bacon with goat cheese. Thank you for sharing your recipe .
Dont let them get you down on your sweet potato obsession. I made the mistake of going oh their purple flowers are so pretty. Well they are…they also took over half my yard. So now we have 9000 football sized sweet spuds. Appreciate your site it will help me immensely.
Can I prebake the pie crust the night before? Thanks!
I too used butternut squash but also used the sweet potato. It was amazing. I wasn't able to put all the egg mixture in but, it still turned out super.
Thank you for posting. Best quiche ever!
Can leftover quiches be frozen?
Sorry Kizzie, I do not have the nutritional facts.
Even though I could only fit half the mixture it was still delicious! I also used butternut squash, pancetta and sage instead of the sweet potato/bacon/herbs in your recipe and it came out great. Oh and i used 2% milk instead of half and half and it was still amazing. I love sweet potato but didn't have any on hand. I will try your suggestion and see how the pie crust does! Thanks for a great recipe!
SO happy it turned out well! Butternut squash, pancetta, and sage sounds wonderful! I love the smell of sage this time of year. Nice to know you cut down the calories and it was still delicious.
Oh no! That happens to me on occasion too. Next time try folding the excess crust back under so there is a double layer around the edges and press it so that it is really clinging to the top of the pan.
Oh girl, move in with me and you will NEVER hear the words "not sweet potatoes again"! I guarantee I am probably even more obsessed with them than you are, and this quiche? To die for!
We could eat sweet potatoes everyday! LOL!
Hehe. I definitely have food obsessions too 🙂 I would never have thought to add sweet potatoes to a quiche, but it sounds delicious!
Oh I absolutely share your sweet potato obsession! I actually like them totally plain like your trainer… funny! This look deliiiiiicious!
Christin, what a great Fall recipe! I am pinning this! I'd love to make it soon: I love tarts and quiches, I've got lots of tart pans, and I L-O-V-E sweet potatoes!
Thanks Julia! I need to get more tart pans! They are so much fun.
That sounds fantastic Tiffany! Love the way sweet potatoes taste with eggs and I like the yolk a little runny too!
That blue tart pan is just TOOOO CUTE!!!! I agree with you, I find it soooo difficult to eat food that tastes kind of…bland! there needs to be flavor somewhere so I can definitely not think of eating a sweet potato or any veggie without something to go with it! And then there's this lovely quiche! The perfect solution to my problem!!! It's soooo amazing! I love the browned top!!! Yum!
Thanks Samina! I actually picked the blue pan with this recipe in mind. Love blue and orange together!
I share your obsession for sweet potatoes — I can't get enough! I love them in pie, mashed, roasted, you name it. This quiche looks to die for! If this were in front of me, I would eat a giant slice!
I am a big fan of sweet potatoes too so this quiche looks fabulous! Perfect for a weekend brunch. Love the blue tart pan too! Have a great weekend Christin!
Another amazing recipe, Christin! I love sweet potatoe and quiche so this is the perfect combination for a weekend brunch.


Carney Shegerian, trial lawyer and founder of the Los Angeles-based employment discrimination firm Shegerian & Associates, released a statement regarding Matt Lauer's recent termination from NBC News. The network revealed last week during the Today show that Lauer was fired after an employee filed a complaint against him alleging inappropriate sexual behavior in the workplace.
"Lauer follows in the footsteps of other high-profile media figures, including Bikram Choudhury, Charlie Rose, Mark Halperin, and Bill O' Reilly, who were all fired after news of their sexual misconduct became public," Shegerian says.


Two club records also fell, as 11-year-old Lilly Tappern continued her impressive form so far this year. Lilly smashed a five-year-old Deepings record in the 200m butterfly, taking almost four seconds off the previous mark to win gold in 2.45.97. She also sneaked under the 200IM record time, collecting silver in 2.48.09. Both were also East Midlands Qualifying Times.
Deepings' girls were in dominant form in the individual medley across the age groups, with Lilly's sister Amy Tappern bagging a brace of IM golds in the 16yrs/over 200m and 400m races.
Also in the 200IM, Emma Wilde won silver (one of three over the weekend, together with the 200m and 400m freestyle) and Hannah Matthews took bronze in the 16yrs/O age group. Molly Briers picked up bronze in the 13yrs category and Holly Roffe won gold and Emma Dennis bronze in the 10/11yrs race.
Holly, competing in her first long course 50-metre competition, had an outstanding weekend, achieving huge personal bests in all nine of her events. In addition to the 200IM gold, she won the 50m butterfly and took silver in the 50m freestyle.
Also in the 10/11yrs age group, Emma Dennis won gold in the 50m breaststroke, silver in the 200m breaststroke and a brace of bronze medals (50m freestyle and 200IM), while long-course debutant Grace Edwards took bronze in the 200m backstroke.
The senior members of the girls' squad were in similarly fine form.
Deepings girls' club captain Holly Leggott won a hat-trick of gold medals in the 16yrs/over age group (50m freestyle, 100m and 200m backstroke), while Bethany Eagle-Brown cleared up in the butterfly events, topping the podium in the 50m, 100m and 200m butterfly, while also winning gold in the 100m freestyle.
Completing the girls' medal haul was Lorna McGill, with bronze in the 16yrs/O 200m breaststroke.
The boys took their fair share of the spoils over the weekend. Ten-year-old Jacob Briers medalled in six of his eight events, winning gold in the 50m butterfly and 200IM, silver in the 200m freestyle and 200m breaststroke, and bronze in the 50m breaststroke and 200m backstroke.
Alex Sadler won a pair of golds in the 12yrs age group, touching home first in the 200IM and 200m butterfly. He also claimed silver in the 200m and 400m freestyle, and bronze in the 200m backstroke.
Harry Cardell completed the gold-medal performances with a massive 11-second personal best in the 15yrs 400m freestyle, finishing in 4.40.03, thanks to an outstanding display of underwater skills on every turn. Harry also won silver in the 200m freestyle and bronze in the 200IM.
In the senior 16yrs/O age group, Louis Metselaar and Jake Jungmann shared seven medals. Louis won silver in the 50m and 100m breaststroke and 200IM, and bronze in the 50m backstroke and 50m freestyle, while Jake won silver in the 50m and 100m backstroke.
Owen Sadler won the boys final medal of the weekend, with bronze in the 15yrs 200m backstroke.
Lynn Chapman, Deepings Swimming Club head coach, was delighted with the team's performance.


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Hello Doctors.. As every one knows, IRDA has made mendatory to get NABH before June 2018 to continue Cashless services in the hospitals. We are supporting the hospitals to get NABH standard implementation in their hospitals ONLINE in very low cost. We will provide sthem guidance & formats as per the NABH guidelines.
According to Ayurved -"The diet which nourishes both the mental & physical built, is a balanced diet. That is "the food reflects on our body as well as mind.
Every life has its ups and downs, and sometimes we need to reach for a helping hand. Our counselors are trained to help you move up from your most troublesome "down" periods.
HEALTH ASSESMENT is done by calibrating 7, 000 parameters.
This is a computerized unit that calibrates 7, 000 parameters and can assess the dangers involved.
Years in advance, we come to know of diseases we would be suffering in the future.
All Diseases known to the medical science are taken into account.
3. SNEHA also takes up community health programmes.
- Our clinical expertise & research in homeopathy.
- Our formula proved modern medicine is not the last word to many diseases.
Special consultation for serious illness is provided. Consultation time 8 am to 10am. ( with prior appointment).
- Private and medical group practices.
We are engaged in providing NABET Accreditation Consultancy Services. These services are rendered by qualified professionals who hold expertise over their respective domain, in complete adherence with the defined parameters of the industry. They make sure a remarkable reduction in customer complaints, non-compliance to standards, wastage and reworks.
Pranayama will balance the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system. Due to this our breathing will be in control in cluding the mind.


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package com.navercorp.pinpoint.bootstrap.plugin.request.util;

import com.navercorp.pinpoint.bootstrap.context.SpanEventRecorder;

/**
 * @author Woonduk Kang(emeroad)
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public class DisableEntityRecorder<T> implements EntityRecorder<T> {
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


South Suburban Savings: Get Jurrasic World Blu-Ray + DVD Set for only $10!! WOW!!
Get Jurrasic World Blu-Ray + DVD Set for only $10!! WOW!!
Amazon has dropped the price on the Jurassic World (Blu-ray + DVD + Digital HD) down to $10! This is regularly priced at $35! Hurry though...I doubt this price will last long!


text:
Most popular articles (Since January 05, 2018)
Ivermectin as an adjunct treatment for hospitalized adult COVID-19 patients: A randomized multi-center clinical trial
Morteza Shakhsi Niaee, Peyman Namdar, Abbas Allami, Leila Zolghadr, Amir Javadi, Amin Karampour, Mehran Varnaseri, Behzad Bijani, Fatemeh Cheraghi, Yazdan Naderi, Fatemeh Amini, Masoumeh Karamyan, Mohammad Jafar YadYad, Ramin Jamshidian, Nematollah Gheibi
June 2021, 14(6):266-273
Objective: To evaluate different doses of ivermectin in adult patients with mild COVID-19 and to evaluate the effect of ivermectin on mortality and clinical consequences. Methods: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter clinical trial was performed at five hospitals. A total of 180 mild hospitalized patients with COVID-19 confirmed by PCR or chest image tests were enrolled and allocated to six arms including hydroxychloroquine 200 mg twice per day, placebo plus hydroxychloroquine 200 mg twice per day, single dose ivermectin (200 μg/kg), three low interval doses of ivermectin (200, 200, 200 μg/kg), single dose ivermectin (400 μg/kg), and three high interval doses of ivermectin (400, 200, 200 μg/kg). The primary endpoint of this trial was all-cause of mortality or clinical recovery. The radiographic findings, hospitalization and low O2 saturation duration, and hematological variables of blood samples were analyzed. Results: A total of 16.7% (5/30) and 20.0% (6/30) patients died in arms treated with hydroxychloroquine 200 mg twice per day and placebo plus hydroxychloroquine 200 mg twice per day, respectively, and a reduction in mortality rate in patients receiving ivermectin treatment to 0%, 10%, 0% and 3.3% for arms 1-4 were observed. Risk of mortality was also decreased about 15% in the ivermectin treated arms. Conclusions: Ivermectin as an adjunct reduces the rate of mortality, time of low O2 saturation, and duration of hospitalization in adult COVID-19 patients. The improvement of other clinical parameters shows that ivermectin, with a wide margin of safety, had a high therapeutic effect on COVID-19.
Knowledge and attitude toward COVID-19 among healthcare workers at District 2 Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City
Giao Huynh, Thi Ngoc Han Nguyen, Van Khanh Tran, Kim Ngan Vo, Van Tam Vo, Le An Pham
Objective: To assess the knowledge and attitude toward coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) among healthcare workers at District 2 Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC). Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed between January 2020 and February 2020 at District 2 Hospital. A systematic random sampling strategy was carried out and the data was collected through a self-administered questionnaire of the knowledge and attitude of healthcare workers regarding COVID-19. Descriptive analysis was reported to describe the demographic, mean knowledge and attitude score of healthcare workers. Inferential statistics including t-test, ANOVA and Spearman's correlation were used to evaluate the relationship between study variables. Results: A total of 327 eligible healthcare workers had a mean score of knowledge and attitude of 8.17±1.3 (range 4-10) and 1.86±0.43 (range 1-5), respectively. They showed good knowledge and a positive attitude. However, approximately two thirds of the participants knew the mode of transmission, the isolation period and treatment (67.0%, 65.8%, and 58.4%, respectively), and 82.3% and 79.8%, respectively, held positive attitude regarding the risk of personal and family members getting illness. There was a negative correlation between knowledge scores and attitude scores (r=-0.21, P<0.001). Additionally, healthcare workerspredominately used social media to inform themselves about COVID-19 (91.1%). Conclusions: The majority of healthcare workers had good knowledge and positive attitude toward COVID-19. However, the level of some knowledge and attitude lower than that expected for their position level towards the virus. Additional education interventions and campaigns are required for healthcare workers.
Therapeutic role of Ricinus communis L. and its bioactive compounds in disease prevention and treatment
Waseem Mohammed Abdul, Nahid H Hajrah, Jamal S.M. Sabir, Saleh M Al-Garni, Meshaal J Sabir, Saleh A Kabli, Kulvinder Singh Saini, Roop Singh Bora
March 2018, 11(3):177-185
Ricinus communis L. (R. communis), commonly known as castor oil plant, is used as a traditional natural remedy or folkloric herb for the control and treatment of a wide range of diseases around the globe. Various studies have revealed the presence of diverse phytochemicals such as alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenes, saponins, phenolic compounds such as kaempferol, gallic acid, ricin, rutin, lupeol, ricinoleic acid, pinene, thujone and gentisic acid. These phytochemicals have been responsible for pharmacological and therapeutic effects, including anticancer, antimicrobial, insecticidal, antioxidant, anti-diabetic, antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory, bone regenerative, analgesic, and anticonvulsant activity. R. communis harbours phytochemicals which have been shown to target peroxisome proliferator activated receptor (PPAR), nuclear factor NF- κ -B, cytochrome p450, P38 mitogen-activated protein kinases kinase (p38 MAPK), tumor protein P53, B-cell lymphoma-extra-large (Bcl-xL) and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR-2). Considering its wide variety of phytochemicals, its pharmacological activity and the subsequent clinical trials, R. communis could be a good candidate for discovering novel complementary drugs. Further experimental and advanced clinical studies are required to explore the pharmaceutical, beneficial therapeutic and safety prospects of R. communis with its phytochemicals as a herbal and complementary medicine for combating various diseases and disorders.
Effects of some common additives on the antimicrobial activities of alcohol-based hand sanitizers
Nzekwe Ifeanyi Thaddeus, Egbuna Chukwuemeka Francis, Okpara Ogonna Jane, Agubata Chukwuma Obumneme, Esimone Charles Okechukwu
Objective: To study the effects of some common additives on the antimicrobial activities of alcohol-based hand sanitizers. Methods: The antibacterial activities of varying aqueous concentrations of ethanol and isopropyl alcohol were tested by the agar well diffusion method. The influences of different concentrations of glycerin was similarly tested. Finally, isopropyl alcohol and benzalkonium chloride were combined in different ratios within the safe use concentrations of each, and the effects of these combinations were compared with values obtained for the two agents used alone. Statistical methods, such as student t test and one-way ANOVA were used when appropriate to evaluate the differences in activity. Results: The activities of the alcohols showed marked concentration dependence, and both showed peak activity at 85%–95% concentration range. Over the concentration range of 60%–100%, isopropyl alcohol inhibited more bacterial and fungal organisms than ethanol, though the inhibition zone diameters it produced were not statistically different from those of ethanol for organisms which were sensitive to both of them. Addition of glycerin reduced the antimicrobial activities of the isopropyl alcohol, as shown by reduction in the inhibition zone diameters produced in vitro, which may be due to reduced drug diffusion with increase in viscosity. Addition of benzalkonium to isopropyl alcohol systems improved the activity of the alcohol, but the overall activity of the combination was not superior to that seen in the use of benzalkonium alone. Conclusion: Alcohol-based hand sanitizers should not be used outside the concentration range of 85%–95% and isopropyl alcohol inhibits more bacterial and fungal organisms than ethanol for most concentrations. Inclusion of benzalkonium improves the antimicrobial spectrum and activity of isopropyl alcohol, and the combination may justifiably be used to achieve both immediate and long lasting effect. Glycerin may adversely affect the antimicrobial activities of isopropyl alcohol-based hand sanitizers and should be used with caution.
Psychological impacts of the COVID-19 epidemic on Chinese people: Exposure, post-traumatic stress symptom, and emotion regulation
Hong-juan Jiang, Jiang Nan, Zhi-yue Lv, Juan Yang
Objective: To examine the effects of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) exposure, expressive suppression/cognitive reappraisal, and demographic variables on post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTS) among Chinese. Methods: Participants were recruited by social media through WeChat and 6 049 Chinese (aged from 17 to 63 years; median=24) from 31 provinces were included in the study. PTS symptoms, expressive suppression, and cognitive reappraisal were assessed after the outbreak of COVID-19. A regression mixture analysis was conducted in Mplus 7. Results: A regression mixture model identified three latent classes that were primarily distinguished by differential effects of COVID- 19 exposures on PTS symptoms: (1) Class 1 (mildly PTS symptoms, 80.9%), (2) Class 2 (moderate PTS symptoms, 13.0%), and (3) Class 3 (high PTS symptoms, 6.1%). The results demonstrated that the young, women and people with responsibilities and concerns for others were more vulnerable to PTS symptoms; and they had more expression inhibition and less cognitive reappraisal in three latent classes. Conclusions: The findings suggest that more attention needs to be paid to vulnerable groups such as the young, women and people with responsibilities and concerns for others. Therapies to encourage emotional expression and increase cognitive reappraisal may also be helpful for trauma survivors.
Scenario of dengue infection & its control in Pakistan: An up—date and way forward
Muhammad Zubair Yousaf, Adeena Siddique, Usman Ali Ashfaq, Muhammad Ali
Dengue fever is one of the major health problems in tropical and subtropical areas throughout the world. The causative agent of dengue fever is the dengue virus which is an enveloped single stranded RNA virus belongs to the family Flaviviridae and has five distinct serotypes (DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3, DENV-4 and DENV-5). Dengue virus is transmitted to human via bite of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes. The clinical symptoms of dengue fever ranging from mild to severe fonn as dengue hemorrhagic fever and dengue shock syndrome. Pakistan is dengue endemic since 1994 but from 2006, Pakistan faced the worst condition regarding dengue in which thousands of people affected by the disease and hundreds of people lost their lives. DENV-2, DENV-3 and DENV-1 are the prevalent serotypes in Pakistan. Common diagnostic techniques are being used in Pakistan such as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, polymerase chain reaction and rapid diagnostic tests, while differential diagnosis, limitations of diagnostic methods and poor health care system are the real challenges in dengue diagnosis. Favorable climatic conditions, unplanned urbanization, travelling etc., are major factors responsible for dengue epidemics in Pakistan. This presentation provides update about dengue circumstances in Pakistan and also describes the way how to improve dengue situation in Pakistan.
Emerging and re-emerging human infectious diseases: A systematic review of the role of wild animals with a focus on public health impact
Marli C Cupertino, Michely B Resende, Nicholas AJ Mayer, Lorendane M Carvalho, Rodrigo Siqueira-Batista
March 2020, 13(3):99-106
Infectious diseases continue to impose unpredictable burdens on global health and economies, a subject that requires constant research and updates. In this sense, the objective of the present article was to review studies on the role of wild animals as reservoirs and/or dispersers of etiological agents of human infectious diseases in order to compile data on the main wild animals and etiological agents involved in zoonotic outbreaks. A systematic review was carried out using PRISMA guidelines, using the PubMed, Scopus and SciELO platforms as data banks. The descriptors used were "zoonosis", "human infectious diseases" and "wild animals". The results show that wild animals (mainly bats, birds and primates) play an important role in the dissemination of etiological agents (mainly viruses, as a new coronavirus called 2019 Novel Coronavirus) in extensive geographic regions. Moreover, these wild animal organisms can act as the site for essential biotic synergy among several pathogenic microorganisms, promoting a higher rate of adaptation, mutation and even genetic recombination, with consequent stimulation of new strains and subtypes, inducing new infectious agents with unknown virulent potential. In conclusion, the monitoring of these diseases and adequate preparation for possible epidemics and pandemics are fundamental conditions for the mitigation of their future impact. The zoonotic threat of these etiological agents and the impact on public health can be enormous as shown by the ongoing epidemic of 2019 novel coronavirus (2019- nCoV) infections.
Acute kidney injury in leptospirosis: Overview and perspectives
Geraldo Bezerra da Silva Junior, Nattachai Srisawat, Gabriela Studart Galdino, Ênio Simas Macedo, José Reginaldo Pinto, Geysa Maria Nogueira Farias, Renan Lima Alencar, Roberto da Justa Pires Neto, Elvino José Guardão Barros, Elizabeth De Francesco Daher
October 2018, 11(10):549-554
Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease disseminated through the centuries in the whole world which causes symptoms that go from self-limited diseases to hemorrhagic manifestations and organ failure, including acute kidney injury (AKI), composing the severe disease known as the Weil's syndrome. Mortality rates varies according to the clinical presentation and usually increases when kidney injury is present, and is even higher in the setting of pulmonary hemorrhage. There are recent advances in the search for novel biomarkers of renal involvement and early detection of AKI in leptospirosis, as well as in its pathophysiology. We review in this article the clinical aspects of leptospirosis-associated AKI and the perspectives for future research.
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic: A review and an update on cases in Africa
AbdulAzeez A Anjorin
May 2020, 13(5):199-203
The world has experienced several epidemics posing serious threat to global public health, including the 2002 severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) epidemic that caused 800 deaths out of about 8 000 cases, the 2009 H1N1 pandemic with 18 500 deaths, the 2012 Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) epidemic that caused 800 deaths out of 2 500 cases, the 2014 Ebola outbreak with 28 616 cases and 11 310 deaths, and the current coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic with more than 35 000 deaths out of over 730 000 confirmed cases till now. Emerging infectious diseases continue to infect and reduce human populations. The COVID-19 pandemic has spread to more than 114 countries before it was officially declared as a pandemic by the WHO on the 11th March 2020. Here, the first set of index cases in Africa, and the differences between SARS-CoV-2 and other coronaviruses in addition to the preventive strategies on the emergence of COVID-19 were reviewed.
Plants used in traditional medicine for treatment of malaria by Tetun ethnic people in West Timor Indonesia
Maximus M Taek, Bambang EW Prajogo, Mangestuti Agil
November 2018, 11(11):630-637
Objective: To document the medicinal plants used for the treatment of malaria by the Tetun ethnic people in West Timor–Indonesia. Methods: The ethnobotany and anthropology methods were used in the field surveys. Ninety four informants from 29 villages of 15 sub-districts in Belu and Malaka were interviewed since April to December 2017. Medicinal plants specimen were collected from the field and identified according to taxonomic methods. Results: Ninety six medicinal plants species belong to 41 families were found to be used by the Tetun ethnic people in their traditional medicine for the treatment of malaria. These plants have been used in various formulas for drinking, massage, bath, inhalation or cataplasm. Strychnos ligustrina, Calotropis gigantea, Cleome rutidosperma, Physalis angulata, Alstonia spectabilis, Carica papaya, Melia azedarach, Alstonia scholaris, Jatropha curcas, Garuga floribunda, and Tamarindus indica were the most cited plants. Conclusions: The documented plants are valuable sources for the future development of new drugs and strategies to support malaria eliminating programs that are culturally acceptable in these areas.
Using twitter and web news mining to predict COVID-19 outbreak
Kia Jahanbin, Vahid Rahmanian
August 2020, 13(8):378-380
Rinku Rozera, Surajpal Verma, Ravi Kumar, Anzarul Haque, Anshul Attri
April 2019, 12(4):147-152
Dengue fever is a disease that is caused by five dengue virus (DENV) serotypes. It is endemic in more than 128 countries. Millions of people are affected by this disease. But still, there is no specific treatment available till now to combat it. Some of the preventive measures using plant extracts showed certain promising ovicidal activity against Aedes aegypti. There are some vaccines as preventive measure and antiviral agents to cure the dengue fever, which are under clinical trials but their results have not been reported or approved yet. Dengvaxia is the only licensed vaccine to prevent dengue fever in some South American countries, but it is not approved by other regulatory authorities worldwide. Scientific research has been going on to find a permanent cure for dengue fever, but till now, no successful invention has been done. There are some general treatments for dengue patient by employing analgesics and fluid replacement; however, specific treatment is needed to overcome the lethal effect of dengue fever. Since this disease has affected millions of people and not much invention has been made in this field; therefore, advancement in dengue therapy is required for the safety and well-being of dengue patients. Herein we collectively describe the different chemotherapeutics agents, alternative methods like vaccines and antiviral agents to prevent and cure this lethal disease. Furthermore, the future perspective for the treatment of dengue is discussed in this review.
Brucellosis: Pathophysiology and new promising treatments with medicinal plants and natural antioxidants
Mohsen Alizadeh, Ali Safarzadeh, Mahmoud Bahmani, Fatemeh Beyranvand, Mehdi Mohammadi, Kimia Azarbaijani, Mahmoud Rafieian-Kopaei, Saber Abbaszadeh
Brucellosis is an old, infectious and common zoonosis whose causative agents are Gramnegative bacteria from the Brucella genus. Brucellosis is transmitted through direct contact with infected animals or using unpasteurized dairy products of goats, pigs, camels, sheep, buffalo and cows. Brucellosis is still the most common zoonosis in the world, with most of cases occurring in developing countries. Today, an approach to traditional medicine and medicinal plants, especially with regards to the repeated recommendations of the World Health Organization, is a necessity. One-third of chemical drugs are produced by using plants and there is a high potential to produce more drugs from plants. Medicinal plants are helpful in the management of various conditions, especially bacterial diseases. Although there is not enough scientific evidence regarding the clinical effectiveness of herbal drugs for the treatment of brucellosis, there is strong evidence on the antimicrobial effects of herbal drugs to prevent infection. Therefore, this article seeks to describe the antibacterial effects of some plant-derived essential oils or extracts, so that they can serve as promising choices to develop new anti-Brucella medications, as suitable alternatives to conventional antibiotics for brucellosis, as much as possible, taking into account the benefits of these herbal drugs.
Biological, chemical and pharmacological aspects of Madhuca longifolia
Dhruv Jha, Papiya Mitra Mazumder
January 2018, 11(1):9-14
Madhuca longifolia (M. longifolia) is also known as Mahua belonging to the family sapoteace family. M. longifolia is used in traditional and folklore system of medicine widely across India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka for its various pharmacological properties as in snake bites and in diabetes. Phytochemicals studies documented the different bioactive constituents, namely, glycosides, flavonoids, terpenes and saponins. The pharmacological studies proved that it possess wide range of biological activities such as antiulcer, antiinflammatory, antioxidant and antidiabetic activities. The toxicity studies reveal its non-toxic effect even at larger doses. Thus M. longifolia can be considered as a therapeutic agent for specific diseases. Scientific investigation on various isolated bioactive components and its efficacy on diseases proved the future usefulness of different species of Madhuca. This review summarizes the phytochemical, pharmacological, medicinal and non-medicinal uses of M. longifolia. Further exploration on M. longifolia for its therapeutic potential is however required for depth traditional knowledge.
Current trends in the epidemiology and management of enteric fever in Africa: A literature review
Oluwaseyitan A Adesegun, Oluwafunmilola O Adeyemi, Osaze Ehioghae, David F Rabor, Tolulope O Binuyo, Bisola A Alafin, Onyedikachi B Nnagha, Akolade O Idowu, Ayokunle Osonuga
Enteric fever remains a tropical disease of public health significance in Africa, due to its high endemicity and transmission rates, more in sub-Saharan Africa with 7.2 million cases of typhoid fever annually and incidence rate of 762 per 100 000 person-years when compared with Northern Africa with a reported incidence rate of 557 per 100 000 person-years and lower. Recent studies show that almost all regions of sub-Saharan Africa are tending towards high incidence rates, especially Central and Western Africa. Though clinically indistinguishable from paratyphoid fever, typhoid fever causes more morbidity and mortality than paratyphoid fever, with a greater threat to children. Risk factors include consumption of contaminated water, patronizing food vendors and a history of contact with a case or a chronic carrier, amongst others. Environmental factors such as the rainy season, open sewers, contaminated water bodies and areas of low elevation have been implicated. Diagnosis in Africa is challenging due to resource constraints, as many centres still depend on clinical diagnosis and serodiagnosis using Widal test, in an era where more sensitive and specific tests exist. The polymerase chain reaction is one of the most sensitive diagnostic methods, while culture (particularly bone marrow) is considered to be one of the most specific. Quinolones (ciprofloxacin) and third-generation cephalosporins, amongst others, remain potent in the management of enteric fever, with resistance to quinolones gradually on the rise. Poor diagnostics, poor antibiotic stewardship and lack of drug (antibiotic) regulation are contributors to the problem of antibiotic resistance in Africa. Prevention of typhoid fever through vaccination, especially in children is still under investigation, with steady progress being documented. Overall, long term prevention strategies for typhoid fever should be based on improved sources of drinking water, good sanitation and hygiene, food safety and poverty alleviation.
COVID-19 vaccination intention among healthcare workers in Vietnam
Giao Huynh, Thien Thuan Tran, Han Thi Ngoc Nguyen, Le An Pham
Objective: To assess the acceptance of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine among healthcare workers at two general hospitals in Vietnam when it is available. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using a convenience sampling from January to February 2021 among 410 healthcare workers at two general hospitals in Vietnam via a self-administered questionnaire. A multivariable regression analysis was performed to determine predictors of vaccine acceptance including the demographic factors, COVID-19 knowledge, and vaccine beliefs based on the domains of Health Belief Model. Results: Among 410 healthcare workers, 76.10% showed vaccination willingness. Predictors of acceptance were determined that the group reporting as "vaccine acceptance" was more likely to be positive towards the perceived susceptibility and severity of COVID-19 (OR 2.45; 95% CI 1.48-4.06, P<0.05), perceived benefits of vaccination, and cues to action (OR 4.36; 95% CI 2.35-8.09, and OR 5.49; 95% CI 2.84-10.61, respectively, all P<0.001), but less likely to have the perceived barriers to vaccination (OR 0.19; 95% CI 0.09-0.38; P<0.001) compared with the no acceptance group. Besides, people who had a good knowledge regarding the severity of illness were 3.37 times more likely to have identified as vaccine acceptance (OR 3.37; 95% CI 1.04-10.86, P<0.05). The demographic factors were also associated with willingness to receive the vaccine, with participants who were staff and received COVID-19 information from relatives were less likely to accept the vaccine over those who were doctors and not receiving information from relatives (OR 0.36; 95% CI 0.13-0.96, and OR 0.37; 95% CI 0.17-0.78, respectively, all P<0.05). Conclusions: A rate of willingness to get vaccinated against COVID-19 was relatively high with discrepancies between occupation, receiving information from relatives, knowledge toward the severity of illness, and the elements of Health Belief Model. The findings will provide information for the management authorities to develop relevant interventions to promote COVID-19 vaccination uptake.
A critical review on Nepal Dock (Rumex nepalensis): A tropical herb with immense medicinal importance
Samrin Shaikh, Varsha Shriram, Amrita Srivastav, Pranoti Barve, Vinay Kumar
July 2018, 11(7):405-414
Rumex nepalensis Spreng. (Polygonaceae) commonly known as Nepal Dock has wide-spectrum therapeutic potencies and is extensively used for centuries in traditional medicine systems. The leaves of this plant are edible and a rich source of natural antioxidants. They act as a possible food supplement and are largely used in pharmaceutical industry. Extracts and metabolites from this plant exhibits pharmacological activities including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, insecticidal, purgative, analgesic, antipyretic, anti-algal, central nervous system depressant, genotoxic, wound healing and skeletal muscle relaxant activity. Due to its remarkable biological activities, it has the potential to act as a rich source of drug against life threatening diseases. However, more studies are needed to scientifically validate the traditional uses of this plant, beside isolating and identifying their active principles and characterizing the mechanisms of action. We present herein a critical account of its botany, ecology, traditional uses, phytoconstituent profile and major pharmacological activities reported in recent years and therefore will provide a source of information on this plant for further studies.
Laboratory diagnosis of schistosomiasis mansoni: Current status and future trends
Amira Taman, Samar N El-Beshbishi
Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease that affects about 290 million patients worldwide. Children aged between 5 and 14 years represent 45.8% of the affected patients, in addition, schistosomiasis has been reported in Schistosoma-free areas, mostly because of tourism and immigration from endemic countries. Intestinal schistosomiasis caused by Schistosoma mansoni is mainly diagnosed via direct stool examination for egg detection. Immunological methods are favoured for disease monitoring and preliminary checking for communities in areas with low infection rates, and for patients with light and chronic infections where parasitological tests are negative. PCR-based diagnostic techniques are more sensitive, but expensive. Tegument proteins and miRNAs are promising markers for diagnosis of schistosomiasis. Here we review the diagnostic methods for schistosomiasis mansoni aiming to reach a standardized technique for diagnosis of early infection to help better control of the disease.
Prevalence and intensity of soil-transmitted helminth infections among school-age children in the Cagayan Valley, the Philippines
Ryan V Labana, Vimar A Romero, Analette M Guinto, Alvin N Caril, Kimberly D Untalan, Alejandro Jose C. Reboa, Khristine L Sandoval, Kristel Joy S. Cada, Gary Antonio C. Lirio, Iris Rowena A. Bernardo, Lanieleen Jerah Mae Arocha, Julieta Z Dungca
Objective: To identify the prevalence of soil-transmitted helminthiasis (STH) among school-age children in the Cagayan Valley, the Philippines, assess their level of awareness on the disease, and determine predisposing factors of the disease. Methods: A total of 478 Grades III-V school-age children in Pamplona and Sanchez-Mira School Districts in the Cagayan Valley answered the questionnaire assessing their knowledge, attitude, and practices on STH, subjected to anthropometric measurements, and provided faecal samples for parasitologic assessment (direct smear, Kato-Katz, and formol-ether concentration techniques). Results: The participants of the study, with 55.86% females, were 8 to 14 years old. Their nutritional status was assessed 'normal' (84.31%), 'severely wasted' (6.49%), 'wasted' (5.23%), 'overweight' (2.72%), and 'obese' (1.26%). The prevalence of infection with at least 1 STH species was 25.99% in Pamplona and 19.40% in Sanchez- Mira. Overall, the prevalence of heavy intensity was 7.11% for Ascaris lumbricoides and 1.67% for Trichuris trichiura. All hookworm infections had light intensities. The majority of the school-age children had a low score in the KAP test. In knowledge of STH, 'stunted growth as a symptom of infection' was associated with a lower risk of Ascaris lumbricoides infection (OR 0.448; 95% CI 0.212, 0.945; P=0.035) while 'playing with soil as a mode of transmission' was associated with an increased risk of Ascaris lumbricoides infection (OR 2.067; 95% CI 1.014, 4.212; P=0.046). In attitude towards STH, 'I think I have intestinal worm now' was associated with a higher risk of Ascaris lumbricoides infection (OR 1.681; 95% CI 1.061, 2.662; P=0.027). Conclusions: The prevalence rate of Ascaris lumbricoides among the school-age children in the Cagayan Valley shows the need to further intensify intervention in the area to meet the threshold set by the World Health Organization. The identified predictors of infection, which concerns the school-age children's knowledge and attitude toward STH, can be used in augmenting intervention programs in the future.
The 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic: A zoonotic prospective
Chiranjib Chakraborty, Ashish Ranjan Sharma, Manojit Bhattacharya, Garima Sharma, Sang-Soo Lee
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), a novel coronavirus (CoV), has recently emerged as a significant pathogen for humans and the cause for the recent outbreak of the 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) throughout the globe. For developing any preventive measure, an understanding of the zoonotic pattern for this virus is a necessity. We should have a clear knowledge of its reservoir host, its distribution pattern and spreading routes. Information about zoonotic reservoirs and its transmission among them can help to understand the COVID-19 outbreaks. In this article, we discuss about the bats as the zoonotic reservoir of several CoV strains, co-existence of bats and CoV/viruses, the sequence similarity of SARS-CoV-2 with bat SARS-like CoV, the probable source of the origin of SARS-CoV-2 strain and COVID-19 outbreak, intermediate host of CoVs and SARS-CoV-2, human to human transmission and the possibility to maintain the zoonotic barriers. Our knowledge about the zoonotic reservoir of SARS-CoV-2 and its transmission ability may help develop the preventive measures and control for the future outbreak of CoV.
Salacca zalacca: A short review of the palm botany, pharmacological uses and phytochemistry
Mohammed S. M. Saleh, Mohammad Jamshed Siddiqui, Ahmed Mediani, Nor Hadiani Ismail, Qamar Uddin Ahmed, Siti Zaiton Mat So'ad, Salima Saidi-Besbes
December 2018, 11(12):645-652
Salacca zalacca (Gaertn.) Voss (family Arecaceae) is the snake fruit commonly known in Malay language as salak in Malaysia. This exotic fruit has diverse and potential pharmacological properties due to its high antioxidant content. It is often consumed due to its sweet taste. The abundant natural sugar and fibre along with minerals and vitamin makes it a nutritious fruit. Phytochemical investigation on this fruit has revealed the presence of flavonoids, phenolics, glycosides as well as some volatile and aromatic compounds, including gallic acid, quercetin, chlorogenic acid, epicatechin, proanthocyanidins, lycopene and β-carotene. Pharmacological studies on the fruit flesh and peel have shown some tremendous antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer and antidiabetic potential. This review provides the botanical information of Salacca zalacca as well as its scientific investigations involving the distinct pharmacological and phytochemical benefits. This could help in highlighting the lacking data and research gaps on this plant.
Modeling and predicting dengue fever cases in key regions of the Philippines using remote sensing data
Maria Ruth B. Pineda-Cortel, Benjie M Clemente, Pham Thi Thanh Nga
February 2019, 12(2):60-66
Objective: To correlate climatic and environmental factors such as land surface temperature, rainfall, humidity and normalized difference vegetation index with the incidence of dengue to develop prediction models for the Philippines using remote-sensing data. Methods: Time-series analysis was performed using dengue cases in four regions of the Philippines and monthly climatic variables extracted from Global Satellite Mapping of Precipitation for rainfall, and MODIS for the land surface temperature and normalized difference vegetation index from 2008-2015. Consistent dataset during the period of study was utilized in Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average models to predict dengue incidence in the four regions being studied. Results: The best-fitting models were selected to characterize the relationship between dengue incidence and climate variables. The predicted cases of dengue for January to December 2015 period fitted well with the actual dengue cases of the same timeframe. It also showed significantly good linear regression with a square of correlation of 0.869 5 for the four regions combined. Conclusion: Climatic and environmental variables are positively associated with dengue incidence and suit best as predictor factors using Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average models. This finding could be a meaningful tool in developing an early warning model based on weather forecasts to deliver effective public health prevention and mitigation programs.
Phytochemical analysis and antioxidant profile of methanolic extract of seed, pulp and peel of Baccaurea ramiflora Lour.
Md Sahab Uddin, Md Sarwar Hossain, Abdullah Al Mamun, Devesh Tewari, Md Asaduzzaman, Md Siddiqul Islam, Mohamed M Abdel-Daim
Objective: To analyze the phytochemical constituents responsible for the plausible antioxidant effect of methanolic extract of the seed, pulp and peel of Baccaurea ramiflora Lour. Methods: Fresh seed, pulp, and peel of Baccaurea ramiflora fruits were extracted with methanol (MEBRse, MEBRpu, MEBRpe) and evaluated by phytochemical analysis for their content of innumerable metabolites (primary and secondary) viz. carbohydrates, alkaloids, glycosides, tannins, phenols, terpenoids, flavonoids, proteins, and fixed oils. The antioxidant efficacy was assessed through different assay methods viz. 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging activity, total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and reducing power capacity (RPC). Estimation of total phenolic content (TPC), and total flavonoid content (TFC) was also done to confirm the presence of these phytochemicals. Results: It was revealed from the phytochemical analysis of MEBRse that alkaloids, glycosides, carbohydrates, phenols, and flavonoids were present, while that of MEBRpu showed the existence of carbohydrates, proteins, alkaloids, glycosides, phenols, saponins, flavonoids, and fixed oils. Presence of carbohydrates, alkaloids, phenols, tannins, flavonoids, and terpenoids were found in the MEBRpe. A significant antioxidant activity was revealed by the MEBRpu [EC50: (27.612 ± 1.375) μg/mL], compared to MEBRpe, and MEBRse in DPPH assay. The ranking order for RPC was MEBRpu > MEBRpe > MEBRse respectively. The EC50 value of TAC of the MEBRpu, MEBRpe, and MEBRse were (25.107 ± 0.744) μg/mL, (241.127 ± 7.463) μg/mL and (372.364 ± 11.030) μg/mL, respectively. Quantity of TPC and TFC were the highest in the MEBRpu (124.360 ± 2.078 mg GAE/g and 107.527 ±1.900 mg QRE/g extract) rather than MEBRpe and MEBRse extracts. Conclusions: This study suggests that MEBRpu has a significantly higher antioxidant property than MEBRpe and MEBRse. These extracts might be advantageous in prevention or decelerating the progress of different diseases related to oxidative-stress/damage. Moreover, detailed analysis of these extracts is required to identify the presence of promising compound(s) responsible for their antioxidant activity.
Retinal displacement after closure of idiopathic macular hole
Zhong-Cui Sun, Min Wang, Jia-Wen Fan, Ge-Zhi Xu
February 2018, 11(2):155-161
Objective: To study the foveal displacement during the closure of idiopathic macular holes (MHs). Methods: Thirty-seven idiopathic MH patients treated by pars plana vitrectomy and internal limiting membrane peeling were studied prospectively. Locations of MH center and foveal pit were measured by optic coherence tomography. Retinal displacement was observed using confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopy. Results: A total of 40 eyes were included in this study and MHs were closed in 37 eyes (92.5%). The confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopy showed that all of the retinal capillaries in the superior, inferior, nasal and temporal sides of the MHs moved toward the optic nerve head (ONH). The optic coherence tomography results showed that the mean nasal displacements of foveal pits were (102.9±61.2), (109.6±53.1), and (137.0±52.0) μm at 3, 6 and 12 months, respectively. And the mean vertical displacements were (55.9±49.4), (61.4±57.8) and (67.8±54.3) μm, respectively. Post-operative foveal pits were located in the nasal side of the MH centers. The extension of retina and nasal to the MH were in opposite directions: the nasal hole margin moved toward the MH, but the retina located closer to the ONH moved toward the ONH. The fellow eyes of three patients developed into idiopathic MH during the follow-up period and operations were performed for all of the three patients. Conclusion: Our results showed that center of macula does not move when an idiopathic MH develops, but it moves toward ONH during closure of hole; thus, new fovea is in nasal side of original fovea.
Diagnostic performance of C-reactive protein level and its role as a potential biomarker of severe dengue in adults
Raghavendra Rao, Snehal Nayak, Akhilesh K Pandey, Shobha U Kamath
Objective: To determine the relationship between C-reactive protein (CRP) level and the severity of dengue and the potential use of CRP in predicting acute dengue infection. Methods: A prospective observational study was performed on dengue patients admitted to a tertiary care hospital in southern India. All patients of age above 18 years, diagnosed with dengue were included in the study. The detailed laboratory parameters pertaining to dengue were recorded. CRP levels were estimated and compared between groups i.e. severe and non-severe dengue. CRP cut-off value was detected using the receiver-operator curve. Results: Totally 98 patients with a mean age of 40 years were included. Among them, 11.2% of the patients suffered from severe dengue, 54.1% of the cases had non-severe dengue without warning signs, and 34.7% had non-severe dengue with warning signs. The median CRP was significantly higher in patients with severe dengue compared to patients with non-severe dengue (96.2 mg/dL vs. 5.3 mg/dL). Univariate logistic regression analysis showed that the odd's ratio (OR) of CRP was 1.053 (P≤0.001, 95% CI=1.029-1.078). CRP at a cutoff value of 21.6 mg/L (0.929 AUC) had excellent sensitivity (100%) and specificity (81.6%) in predicting severe dengue infection. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that CRP (OR=1.089, P=0.013) and ALT (OR=1.010, P=0.034) were statistically significant independent predictors of dengue severity. Conclusions: CRP level could be used as a potential biomarker to predict severity of dengue in adults.


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Transacting Bonds: Liquidity, Risk of Loss Target of New FINRA Investor Alert
July 13, 2015 Attorney Advertising Disclaimer
FINRA issued a new Investor Alert regarding bond liquidity, providing investors with a basic overview on how bonds are bought and sold, and factors that may influence bond liquidity and its impact on investment gains or losses.
For instance, bond liquidity is affected by market breadth, dealer inventory and selling pressure. The market includes corporations, municipals and Treasury-issued bonds, which each carrying their own characteristics and degrees of risk.
Many firms are not buying or holding as many bonds as in the past as they look to reduce their risk, which may in turn lead to fewer buyers and sellers in the marketplace. If there are fewer transactors, this could have an adverse effect when it comes time to sell a bond. If there are more investors selling the same bond at the same time, liquidity and profitability could be reduced, which may also result from not as many buyers looking to purchase a particular bond.
Most bond transactions involve a brokerage firm acting as principal in which the broker-dealer sells a bond the firm already owns. These sales may come with a firm-imposed mark up, which increases the purchase price the investor pays over the lower price the firm paid to first buy the bond. In a similar vein, the firm may impose a mark-down when an investor wishes to sell back the bond, which also decreases investor earnings. Firms may also elect to buy-and-hold bonds, which assumes the risk that a buyer will show up at a later time.
Another fee the firm may impose is a commission, which occurs when the firm acts as an agent on behalf of an investor in buying or selling the bond.
The alert from FINRA's Investor Education department suggests that investors consider five key questions before deciding to purchase or sell bonds with a firm:
1. How does the firm handle bond trades and sell orders? If the firm offers a full-service bond desk, it may be better posited to commit firm money to purchase bonds. If the brokerage subscribes to an electronic bond trading platform, it may be better able to find liquidity upon selling bonds.
2. How often has the specific bond traded recently? Bonds that trade more frequently often have more potential buyers and thus greater liquidity than bonds that trade less often.
3. What is the price range of this recent trade activity? Too much volatility or too much of a price swing in a large range may make it more difficult to trade the bond due to its unpredictability, or increase trading costs due to risks associated with such volatility.
4. Does the firm offer any fixed income analysis or other tools that could help model or predict the impact of interest rate fluctuations on bond values? These predictive measures could come in handy if interest rates change, as there is a good chance this will have an impact on bond values.
5. What would a bond portfolio that meets my personal liquidity needs look like? Short-term and long-term goals correspond to securities such as bonds that can be matched to meet those specific goals.
One of the best ways to understand the costs of the bonds business is to research the bonds' supplementary materials, such as the bond circular, information sheet, or other official statements produced by the bond or firm, including those that delineate a firm's procedures for mark-ups and downs and fees or commissions. A broker or advisor is obligated to review such materials prior to making a recommendation. If you have a broker or advisor, ask him or her whether they reviewed the materials and what they found. Disclosures or subsequent updates may be valuable in evaluating liquidity risk, which often changes over time in response to market conditions, supply, and similar variables. Again, asking your broker or advisor whether you should continue holding a bond is a good idea. Under the new FINRA suitability rule, a broker's advice to hold is considered a recommendation, one that requires the broker to inform him or herself of the new information before making any such recommendation to hold.
If you have invested with a broker, financial adviser, or firm whose failure to adequately disclose liquidity risk associated with bond transactions, or whose mark-ups, mark-downs, commissions or other fees were excessive and in contravention to written policy or memoranda, and such misconduct has proven harmful to your investments or interests, please call The Law Offices of Jonathan W. Evans & Associates at (800) 699-1881 for investigation and consultation.
Investor Alert: Bond Liquidity—Factors to Consider and Questions to Ask (FINRA)