text:
Movie Reviewed: Piranha (1978), part II - harsens-rob's
Movie Reviewed: Piranha (1978), part II
Scene 40: As they're racing away in a purloined Jeep, Grogan asks if Maggie has a dime.
This was so that he could stop at a payphone (ask your parents) and call the summer camp grounds to warn them not to let the children go in the water. Naturally, he babbles about killer fish, so is unbelieved by Mr. Dumont, who accuses Mr. Grogan of drunk dialing the camp... again.
With this a bust, Paul and Maggie race down toward town.
But they're then intercepted by a Sheriff's department patrol car. They can't outrace a patrol car in a Jeep.
They try to explain to the deputy about the piranha, but like Mr. Dumont, he is a) unconvinced that this isn't a hoax and b) recognizes Grogan as the always-drunk asshole who lives above the town. It seems that Grogan has had run-ins with the law before.
They're taken into custody, by the fast-to-draw-his-gun deputy.
Scene 41: Back at the ranger station, the Colonel is telling the Deputy over the phone that they're dealing with a sensitive matter and Grogan is trying to cause panic. He asks that Paul and Maggie be kept incomunicado overnight in a cell.
Our deputy is only too happy to cooperate.
Grogan shouts that his daughter and the other kids are in danger, but of course Deputy Cutie doesn't believe his pleas.
Scene 42: In the meantime, the campers are being told horror tales around the campfire.
Scene 43: Back at the ranger station, our ranger is watching television extra loud while the Colonel is on the phone with somebody. He reaches over the tv, and shuts it off on Ranger Television.
The person he's talking to is the owner of the Lost River Resort we've been hearing about [and is Dick Miller! Yay!!], and it becomes obvious that Colonel has sunk a lot of investment money into the resort, and is trying to keep things quiet with the piranha partially for financial reasons.
The resort modeling isn't even completed, despite opening being the next morning, so Buck Gardner has no -ucks to give about some investor Colonel worrying over whether anyone knows that he's an investor, as he has enough ulcers already. He placates Colonel and then calls him a schmuck after he's allowed to hang up on him.
Commentary: Why exactly the Colonel's investments have been kept so secretive before this is something I really don't understand. Sure, it would be a problem now, but it's spoken of as if the investment was always a secret, which makes zero sense.
Obvs, our main death and chaos filled setpiece is to be the Resort attack, so I see the point of making sure the Colonel has a reason to be there (please - did you not see that the Colonel was doomed, just by dint of being a prick?), but the coincidence is coming across as ham-handed scripting to me.
Scene 44: Later that night, after the kids have been to bed, Betsy is staring out at the water, looking unnerved by something. She's joined by Laura, who notices that something is bothering her.
Betsy can't explain it, but she feels like something is wrong. Laura convinces Betsy to swim across to the mid-river island. But before they can strip down, Mr. Dumont comes patrolling, his having heard whispering about some of the campers sneaking off to night swim, and he won't have it.
The girls have some fun with misdirecting him, but their night swim is put on hold.
Commentary: Okay. So. As I seem to run into with film after film, especially of the B-type variety, the movies is feeling a bit long. I really like both Melody Thomas and Belinda Balaski, but not all of their scenes seem necessary, even as character development.
The movie has a run time of 92 minutes. It feels like they could've gotten away with 80 just as well. I enjoy the movie as a fun watch, but... yeah... a bit long for no real reason.
Scene 45: The next morning, Paul hears Maggie banging on the sink pipes of her cell. She's kicking the trap loose.
Next, Maggie picks up the toilet lid and busts it on the floor, causing a racket. The dozing Sheriff comes in to find out what the hell is going on. In the meantime, Maggie has wrapped a chunk of the toilet lid in her shirt to act as a bludgeon.
Maggie reports the broken pipe, and plays innocent, telling the Sheriff that she's tried to force the pipes back together, but she's just not strong enough. He falls for it, and unlocks her cell to take a look.
She knocks him out cold. Paul tells her to get his keys (Duh, Paul. Thanks for that.), but she finds them chained to the Sheriff's pants. Paul tells her to take his pants off. She's not wild about the idea, but she's come a bit far now to let a bit of modesty stop them.
Scene 46: In the meantime, Deputy is getting coffee, when a patrol car with Paul and Maggie goes rushing by him. Maggie tosses the Sheriff's pants out the window at him.
Scene 47: On the river, the grand opening of the resort has started. Buck makes a little speech about giving more information about purchasing opportunities for land abutting the resort, timeshares, etc.
There is an awkward and not entirely successful ribbon cutting and there is polite applause, though the vast majority of people are already enjoying the rides and river and ignoring the spiel.
Scene 48: At the summer camp, Mr. Dumont summons the campers from what they're doing with free time in order to get ready for the water competition, which is an innertube race.
Suzie Grogan is looking very not ready.
Scene 49: In the meantime, Paul is racing in the purloined cruiser toward the camp. In the car, Paul has a sudden realization. He now remembers about the water in the pool being salty. Maggie wonders why that's important now, but Paul is thinking ahead. He surmises that Hoak created a strain that could adapt not only to temperatures they weren't originally designed by nature to handle, but also survive the transition between fresh and salt water (like salmon).
Paul realizes that the river ultimately lets out into the ocean, and if they reach that far, they'll have the food to breed completely out of control.
Scene 50: In the meantime, the kids are jumping in the river to climb aboard their tubes for the race.
Except for Suzie Grogan, who still has her fear of the river. She tries to beg off with her "knee injury" but Dumont isn't buying it. He orders her to get her innertube and get in the water. He then goes to the river bank to call the other swimmers to line up for the beginning of the race.
Suzie takes the opportunity to hide under a canoe.
Scene 51: In the meantime, Paul is trying to kill both he and Maggie with wreckless driving (and truly horrible sped-up film tricks).
Commentary: Oh, my. Oh, that was badly shot.
Scene 52: Back at the camp, the race starts.
In the middle of the river, Betsy and Laura share a tube so they'll be out there in case one of the kids run into trouble.
Suzie watches the others having fun, but can't make herself go in.
Commentary: The odd thing about this film, is that normally at this point I would be complaining about the pacing something fierce. We're having a LOT of scene switches, and because my reviews involve scene by scene descriptions, it generates a lot of work and long reviews. Usually at this point, the film would feel draggy - or even at a crawl, as I'm chomping at the bit to just get on with it.
But I don't feel that here. The scenes are not all strictly necessary, but the characters - even the prickly Mr. Dumont, aren't painful to visit with. I actually enjoyed knowing these people as more than fish food. And though we do need to ramp things up as we approach the obvious big finish at the resort, I'm not feeling impatient to get there.
I have to put that down to the engaging actors and the script that isn't meandering necessarily, and isn't just having scenes of people repeating the same point over and over and over.
The script, the directing & the actors are combining in a wonderful way to keep a basic killer-whatever flick entertaining, even as we can see what is coming oh-so-clearly.
Uh - except for the horribly obvious sped-up footage car racing. We REALLY could've lost those and been better for it.
Scene 53: Paul and Maggie are STILL racing toward the camp. [Which is apparently several states away from town. They're also doing so via more horribly faux-racing via sped up footage. And naturally - as in real life - tires squeal on dirt and grass.]
Scene 54: At the camp, the piranha have arrived via the route that Paul had tried to warn about.
Kids start screaming, as underwater, we see them being chewed on by the killer fish. It takes a moment, but Betsy realizes that something isn't right - that the screams aren't the fun race-related kind. And kids around them are panicking, now.
Around the kids, the water is agitated, and some are pulling out hands running with blood.
Commentary: Yes, it is AWESOME that the kids are not getting ignored so the adults can get it. They're actually attacking the children. And while it's not explicit, I'm pretty sure that a few of the kids aren't making it back to shore.
I love this set piece. Unfortunately, I could see that either Betsy or Laura were going to die, and I wasn't feeling good about it. I really liked the actresses and their characters were warm and funny and supportive and jokey.
Scene 55: Now Mr. Dumont also realizes that something is going wrong. He peers down into the river water, in which he's standing to his waist to help the returning racers get out of their innertubes safely.
One of the piranha launches from the surface to take a nibble on his face!
Now pandemonium is really hitting, as any exposed flesh at all is instantly attacked by the main body of the school. Betsy and Laura try to help, but they're as trapped on their innertubes as the children, many of whom, can't climb up on top of their tubes, and so are being stripped below their waists [again, not too expicitly, but there's a lot of blood and bits of meat around the kids, so you can easily imagine that they're not getting away].
[And since this came out in the wake of JAWS, you can tell that they're stepping through the doors that Spielberg opened with Alex Kintner.]
Commentary: And, also about this scene -- it goes on and on as the kids try desperately to either get up out of the water (and most likely dying) or swimming like mad for the dock where they'll probably live.
This scene is excitingly directed, and the mass children attack was definitely a shock.
Scene 56: In meantime, Suzy realizes that everyone is screaming in fear and pain and that her worst fears [which Paul is never going to be able to soothe, now] have arrived. She struggles with a canoe to go out after her camp mates.
And Mr. Dumont, who has come across as a tool thus far, STAYS IN THE WATER to help the kids get out. [I loved this! How often is the 'jerk' a hero when the time comes -- who is not the star and having 'character development' anyway.]
Suzy finds the canoe way more than a little girl can handle and instead takes out an inflatable raft, despite her terror and the clear danger, in order to go out and rescue who she can.
Scene 57: With everyone who is getting out, having gotten out, that leaves Betsy and Laura sharing their tiny innertube. The piranha are in a frenzy, and start chewing at the innertube! In the meantime, Suzy paddles as hard as a 10-ish year old can.
Laura tries to shout at Suzy to go back, but Betsy pushes Laura to get in the raft. In the commotion, the raft drifts out of reach of Betsy being able to climb aboard, and as Laura and Suzy try to get back to her, Betsy's time runs out.
She falls into the river, and is dragged/pushed down by the ravenous horde of fish attacking her midsection. With any luck, she drowned before they started on her insides.
Scene 58: Paul and Maggie arrive just too late to do anything but survey the damage. Paul is relieved, of course, to find Suzy not injured.
Maggie rushes to a payphone (ask your Wiki!) to warn the marina/resort.
Scene 59: Where the rush of people are enjoying the free entertainment.
Buck Gardner gets the call from Maggie on his briefcase phone. But of course, he takes her for a wackadoo or prank caller, because why the hell wouldn't he?
He gives her sarcastic thank yous for calling and hangs up on her.
Scene 60: Maggie returns to find Laura handling the emergency, also being relatively uninjured as emergency services are on their way. Paul tells her that he and Maggie have to race to the resort to try to get people out of the river.
He shares stares with Mr. Dumont, who is sitting over the body of one of the children, covered with a blanket, who didn't make it.
He leaves Suzy with Laura.
Commentary: I really liked this scene, too. I appreciated the nod to Mr. Dumont as being more than just the asshole-character (which he wasn't really, but he was a bit a wet blanket on things), and his having a very human, grief stricken and in shock moment over what had happened.
The moment was without dialog between he and Paul, which I especially liked, as I expected the usual "I told you so" spat from the hero's mouth, but this doesn't happen. Paul knows he was right, but Dumont is bleeding from his wounds and is obviously broken that someone's parents are going to get the news that their kid died. It was very decent of the movie not to pile onto the man.
Scene 61: Back at the resort - people on the beach, people in the water.
Fatass tries to sit on a lawn chair with a drink, which collapses and soaks him.
Buck meets with a Senator who is also there to gladhand.
Paul and Maggie continue to use sped-up (and repeated!) film stock to race toward the gala.
In the meantime, Colonel and Dr. Mengers arrive. The Colonel tells Buck that Paul and Maggie have broken jail, and Buck tells them about the call he's already gotten. Dr. Mengers suggests Buck reach out to the local papers and warn them about 'crank calls' from their troublemakers.
As Buck is sent off to do that task, the Doctor and the Colonel go aboard a motor raft, convinced that their killer subjects were poisoned upriver.
Scene 62: Elsewhere, a pair of ladies are in a boat pulling a water skiing man behind them. They pass another boat with a trio of divers going into the river.
Our divers swim, swim, swim to tense music. One of our divers falls behind his companions due to something in his fins that is chafing, so they don't witness his sudden demise by killer, mutant piranha. He's killed by laying on the bottom as POV hovers over his face.
Scene 63: Back with the boater pair, the girls complain about how water skiier guy always thinks he such hot shit, and decide to see just how good at staying on his skis he really is.
As the women swing around, though our skiier sees chewed up diver floating on the surface. He tries to get their attention that something is wrong behind them, but the girls take his flailing at them as urging them to go even faster. He's trying to tell them to take the boat in, right away.
One of our ladies starts seeing that something is wrong, and she has the other girl slow down, which is the opposite of what skiier wants because they're still in the middle of the river.
Just as the fish are catching up to him, our brunette sees him urging them to go faster and get him out of there. She has blonde excelerate again. He's still trying to use hand signals to tell them to get him to shore, but brunette can't hear him and doesn't understand what he wants.
So then, a series of things happens: There is another boat with a fisherman drifting. There's a speedboat racing toward our girls. The skiier is pulled to the outer side of the speeding boat, causing the driver to suddenly duck to avoid the ski rope. This causes him to go off course, straight for the man in the fishing boat, who is refilling his engine with a can of gasoline.
Skiier falls. Fisherman dives out of his boat as he sees racer heading on a collision course. Racer drives straight into fisherman's boat, causing him to do a mid-air fly, while fisherman's boat explodes impressively.
Commentary: Okay, again this scene could've been tightened up, but considering the B-Movie roots and the fact it's a Corman production, I have to give a kudo to the stunt work. I would not want to be the driver of the speed boat when that thing landed on the water after its jump. That looked like it would rattle the spine.
Scene 64: Back on the beach, sunbathing, wondering, swimming, etc.
The killer fish arrive. The first victim here is a woman on a float, who gives a few short screams before falling off the raft and into the river. Next is a man, who kids nearby notice flailing with a few yells as his innertube is sunk beneath the waters, and the man doesn't come to the surface, but a bunch of blood does.
And then it's a free for all on anyone in the water.
Colonel notices the commotion, and realizes that they didn't kill the fish off with a "Damn it!".
Meanwhile, Buck is telling a reporter that he's been tricked, and there is no truth to anything deadly in the river. His assistant comes up, angering him for interrupting while he's on the phone with a newspaper. But his assistant is there to inform him that the piranha are eating the guests.
Now, there is no hiding the fact... especially when dead guests are bobbing to the surface with their faces half chewed off.
The fish continue to attack everyone in the water, as some continue struggling toward the safety of the beach, and others do that thing where they don't get out of the water, but stand there screaming instead... and so die.
Many people further out try to get aboard the motorized raft. Colonel spends the last moments of his life pushing people back to the pool of killer fish, before losing his balance and ending up fish food himself.
Maggie and Paul arrive to the chaos ongoing.
Commentary: This is another very well shot set piece, as the camera work is kinetic so you can't see the fake fish effects fall apart in front of your eyes, but it's also not filmed so that you can't see ANYTHING. They again use bits of meat and fake blood to blind the camera, while also letting you see the attacks in progress, making the bloodbath exciting rather than frustrating.
The only effect that they kind of blew it a bit on, is the floating chewed up face (above), since it is held on a bit too long, so its fake-head nature starts to let itself be known. And then you've got the cliche of the Jerk Military Man In Charge being eaten. But the entire drawn out attack sequence has excellent camera work and effects. And again, the kids aren't allowed to avoid begin greviously injured, just 'cause.
Scene 65: While everyone who can get out of the water, is doing so, and the people on shore are tending to the injuries while they wait for help to arrive, Paul and Maggie jump aboard somebody's speedboat tied up to the docks.
Maggie asks Paul where they're going as they race ahead of the school down the river. Paul explains that the old smelting plant, his ex-employer, is sitting abandoned there. Hopefully, if things haven't been permanently capped off, there should be enough old smelting byproducts in the abandoned tanks to poison the fish as they crowd by and finish them off.
But when they reach the site, they find the building's control room has flooded over the months and is underwater now. Paul has to tie a rope around himself and give instruction to Maggie to hit the engines at a certain time to give him enough leeway to open the pipes with the smelting byproducts, while also being pulled to safety before the advancing school can take him out.
While this is happening, we see the piranha continue their journey in his direction, as there isn't anymore flailing people to draw their attention.
Scene 66: Paul goes over the side and into the old smelting works. He finds the pipe valve he needs but naturally it's stuck and hard to turn at first. As he's struggling to release the toxic sludge, the piranha catch up to him! And he's swarmed!!
Paul fights through to get the release valve opened, but can't get away from the attackers.
Upside though, Maggie has reached the predetermined countdown of 100 and guns the engine. Paul is yanked through the broken window of the smelting plant, and out of the piranha's reach... but he's been injured with dozens of bites from the toothy fish.
Behind him, the toxic cloud of leavings fills the area the fish had gathered in to attack him.
Maggie stops the boat and begins pulling the line in, but it seems awfully slack. She finds out that the rope was either chewed through, or just broke, and Paul isn't there!
But, it's okay, he bobs to the surface - injured, but alive.
Commentary: I really, really liked this part too. This movie is just a fun ol' time.
Scene 67: Back at the resort, reporters and ambulances and army corpmen are on the scene. Buck is surrounded by financial ruin in shock at the sheer number of injured and dead crowding his development.
Suzy meantime, has also been brought ostensibly to her father. She's carrying his canteen and crying heavily.
We see that Maggie got Paul back to the beach for help too, his face full of bite marks and he in a state of shock.
He's left waiting for transport, barely responding to anything around him.
Scene 68: In the meantime, Dr. Barbara Mengers has gotten herself to a reporter and is assuring everyone that she's going to be heading a full scale investigation into what has happened, and who is responsible for this travesty (bitch), and of course to see to it that nothing like this could ever happen again.
No doubt, the classified experiments will be carefully hidden. One wonders who she'll set up for the release of the piranha in the waterway -- Colonel Stripped-to-the-Bone, or Robert. And I wonder how she'll explain their ability to have survived the cold waters for as long as they did.
But anyway, her smug, faux-concerned, two-faced mug also assures everyone that the piranha couldn't have survived the slag that was released from the smelting plant, and they're dead. Dead. DEAD.
Scene 69: As people are strolling an ocean beach and listening to her on the radio, and a fisherman is casting off from shore into the ocean waves, Dr. Mengers reports that the piranha could never survive in the salt water, even if a few of them made their escape.
She oily smiles to the cameraman that there is nothing left to fear...
But as we fade out on the roar of the ocean waves, we hear the characteristic whirr of the fish....
The Good: The good starts with the actors, across the board. There are a lot of character actors in this, and they all do great. I'm giving special mentions to Bradford Dillman, Heather Menzies, Kevin McCarthy, Belinda Balaski, and Melody Thomas. Even the child actor, Shannon wasn't painful!
I liked the build up to the freeing of the killer, mutant fish (with a small caveat in Other).
I did like how the piranha, the attacks and the aftermath is handled for the most part. Being on a budget drove them to be creative, and it works. The directing, music and special effects crewman all deserve a kudo.
I really liked how the character of Mr. Dumont is set up to be the jerk victim, but he not only lives, but shows real heroism when the children under his care are endangered. It's sad that it was unexpected that he wouldn't try to save himself over the kids, and then end up dead, and it was welcomed.
Both of the multiple victim set pieces of the children's camp and the resort opening are fantastic and fun and grued, and exciting. Very, very good directing.
I always appreciate when the hero isn't Mr. Indestructable, and has to pay to stop the menace, as Paul does in the end.
The Bad: Well, that tiny hole in the plot to give Maggie suspicions that SOMETHING was in the pool where evidence suggests the kids met their end. A relatively intact canine skeleton couldn't have been found after the pool drained, unless larger human bones are also found -- and they're mysteriously not.
The Colonel's illicit investment in Buck's business venture didn't make much sense, either. Colonel's, I'm pretty sure, are allowed to invest their money the same as anyone else.
Oh no. That "exciting car speeding Paul to his daughter" and later the resort was horrible. It was painfully obvious that the car wasn't moving very fast, and then the film was sped up -- and they kept using the insert, despite how crappy the effect was.
Other Thoughts: For the most part, I was kept engaged throughout the film with our characters. But I do have to admit, there were a few long scenes that I was thinking, "this could've been tightened up". The exploring of Maggie and Paul at the secret research lab and the draining of the pool of danger was one such moment. The scene with the jail break was another. None of them went on overly long, but the entirety of the runtime seemed excessive to me. This is especially true of the lead up to the attack on the resort opening which did feel like it needed trimming.
I'm not sure there was even a point to the stop motion thrown in. It was very weird to introduce this little beasty walking around, and have no one notice it and Hoak never mention it, and for it to have no impact on any part of the story. It was nice seeing it, and all, but it just felt out of place when all is said and done.
I do have a bone to pick with Barbara Steele's usage: How they could have a genre legend in their film, and use her so sparingly doing not much, until her smarmy closing line is criminal.
Hm. Naturally we get flashes of boob. Just as naturally, they're not integral to any scene (although, I do like the woman at the marina, who flashes her bosum, and then the knockers get immediately swarmed by piranha -- it almost made it worth the taa-taas being there at all).
I liked that it was Barbara getting the last smarmy line, but she felt wasted as the runtime came to an end.
And you know what? I also appreciated that our leads never end up in bed. There is some small indication that maybe a relationship may happen after the horror is over, but the movie ends before they become obviously a couple, and I adore that a romance is never crammed into the narrative.
The Score: This movie is a wholelottafun, if you're into the B-Movie, killer animal whatsit type film. I loved the solid actors, the effects, and the two major set pieces. The film could've been trimmed for sure - rather than stretching the premise, but there is talent before and behind the camera that keeps you interested.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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GOP Tax-Reform Balloon Is Starting to Deflate
By Sarah Mimms, Billy House, and National Journal
Lofty aspirations for a landmark tax-code rewrite this year appeared to lose their altitude on Thursday, when a closed-door meeting between the top tax writer in the House and other GOP leaders failed to produce assurances it will happen.
Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp, R-Mich., had been guaranteeing that his panel would write, mark up, and pass comprehensive tax-reform legislation in 2013, saying as far back as last fall that this would occur "no matter what."
Just weeks after Camp made that pledge, Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, also described it as the House's top priority, reserving H.R. 1 as the bill number for tax reform.
But following Thursday's meeting, Camp emerged with less certainty, noting that "no final decisions" were made on when the bill will be allowed to move to the floor. Camp wouldn't comment on whether he still plans to release a draft — or even attempt to mark up legislation — before the end of the year.
A closed-door meeting between Camp; Boehner; House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif.; Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan, R-Wis.; and other top House GOP officials did not officially lead to a pronouncement that Camp's tax plan is dead for 2013.
"But read between the lines," said a Republican member of the Ways and Means Committee who asked not to be identified.
The lawmaker noted that aside from the lack of a statement promising action, the fact is that House members have just 13 scheduled days left in Washington this year.
"I'm going to continue to move ahead on the bill and continue to refine it," Camp said, adding that he is open to bringing up the bill in 2014, an election year, as well. "Timing is important. So, those discussions are going to be ongoing," he said.
Camp and other Republicans have noted distractions that have pushed his timetable back. For instance, Republicans have spent the last two months fighting other fiscal battles — including a stalemate over a continuing resolution that ultimately led to the government shutdown — taking key legislative days away from tax reform and other priorities. Now there is also a reluctance to press ahead as Republicans don't want to lose the traction they've gained in their critical messaging against the Affordable Care Act.
"You've got the CR that pushed us back, you've got the debt ceiling that pushed us back, the government closure that pushed us back, [and] the budget conference is happening — their deadline is December 13," Rep. Dave Reichert, R-Wash., a member of the Ways and Means Committee, said Thursday. "Do we want to mark that bill up before the 13th of December now? Do we want to wait until after? ... They could tell us they want us to be here through Christmas for all I know."
The apparent delay is a major setback for Camp, pushing back a project he has worked on since becoming the Ways and Means chairman in 2011. Over the past several months, he and Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont., have been busy traveling the country together to whip up support for comprehensive tax reform.
And if a reform plan is not introduced next year, there is a chance Camp would completely lose his hold on the process. Under House Republican rules, he is term-limited as chairman at the end of next year. Assuming he wins reelection, he would need a waiver to keep the gavel, which has been a rare practice.
Officially, the word from Camp and other House Republican leaders is that the question should not be so much whether tax reform will occur, but when.
Reichert said there are rumors that the House would push back its Christmas holiday by a week, ending its session the week of Dec. 16, when the Senate is also in session, rather than on Dec. 12, in order to give the body time to consider a potential budget deal and other legislative efforts. But with so little time left on the calendar, tax reform is likely to be pushed into 2014.
Even then, pushing a tax-reform fight into the midterm elections could be problematic. Republicans are hoping to use the current furor over issues with the Affordable Care Act to help maintain their majority in the House and potentially pick up seats in the Senate as well. Some worry that tax-reform efforts could overshadow that messaging and put vulnerable Republicans on defense over their party's new tax plan.
Redoing the individual tax code also means deals will have to be struck on tough reform issues, such as what to do with popular deductions for mortgage interest or charitable contributions. All of this will require more compromise than might be possible between two parties in the midst of ongoing budget negotiations — and in an election year, as well.
"Democrats have got major issues with Obamacare, and adding tax increases to middle-class folks would not help," said one lobbyist. Republicans "want to keep the focus on Obamacare and not do anything to shift focus. Backing a tax reform bill would shift focus."
Before heading into his meeting with Boehner and other leaders Thursday, Camp said that an election-year fight doesn't concern him, noting that the Tax Reform Act of 1986 was also passed in a midterm-election year. "So yeah, it's possible. Welfare reform was done in an even-numbered year. Lots of things have been done in election years," he said.
Rep. Sander Levin of Michigan, the top Democrat on the Ways and Means Committee, also did not rule out that tax reform could happen in 2014. "I think it makes it more difficult," he said, but added, "This place has turned out to be unpredictable."
In the Senate, Baucus had scheduled a closed-door meeting with Finance Committee members for Thursday to discuss and update tax-reform efforts in that chamber. But the meeting was postponed until Tuesday.
"Senator Baucus wants to take some additional time to talk to members and hear the concerns expressed by some before deciding on a path forward," said Baucus spokesman Sean Neary.


Welcome back Pellissippi Colleagues, and I hope you had a calm and restful winter break. There is much to look forward to as we welcome 2019, a year of new beginnings and opportunities to help you.
Last fall, the Pellissippi Academic Center for Excellence (PACE) introduced a number of initiatives that kept us all busier than expected, so this spring we would like to slow down and your P.A.C.E.—your Personal, Academic, and Community Enrichment. We invite you to reflect upon your personal and professional development; what is it that you need to help you gain perspective and grow personally and academically within our college community? Over the next four months, PACE will host the equivalent of coffee and conversation (or tea and talking if you prefer), attend meetings, and visit each campus to hear from you. We want to know what we can do to help you accomplish a healthy work/life balance.
PACE is thrilled to start the year off focusing on your academic enrichment with the Winter Teaching and Learning Conference January 11th. PACE, in collaboration with Mobile Fellows and in support of Technology Enhanced Learning Faculty Fellow Rachel Glazener, will host Alan November, an international leader in educational technology. November's keynote address, "Transforming the Culture of Teaching and Learning," explores how educators can use technology to harness the power of learning while empowering students to take control of their own learning experience. November has been a keynote presenter at venues as large as Google, and we are very excited to have this unique opportunity to learn from such a renowned expert at Pellissippi. Registration for this event was required and all spots for the keynote address and workshop are now filled; however, if you missed out on the opportunity to get registered, the keynote address will be filmed and shared with those who couldn't make it.
Spring opportunities are still being sprung, so stay tuned to the PACE website (sites.pstcc.edu/pace) and follow us on Twitter (@psccpace) for updates and more information on opportunities throughout the semester. And please, remember to slow down, take time for yourself, and focus on your own Personal, Academic, and Community Enrichment.
Instruction is performance art. Set the tone for engagement and excitement, you are a champion of the material. Even if they don't engage directly or immediately with the content, they'll remember your attitude toward the lesson.
Association of College & Research Libraries. Also, Reddit posts.
Rupert Giles from Buffy the Vampire Slayer- not because of the librarianship, but because of the vampire-hunting.
In 2013, Pellissippi State began a new effort: the exploration of mobile and emerging technology as a tool for teaching.
Let me be clear from the start: we are not advocates for these tools so much as explorers. We are asking questions and looking for answers. Mobile and emerging technology is simply a tool of teaching, just as chalkboards and overhead projectors are. They can be used effectively, or they can be used badly. We are a) finding out what works, and b) finding out what doesn't work.
Having said that, we see practical reasons for putting up with the learning curve. No one doubts that students come into our classrooms already using this technology, or that they will use it when they leave our classrooms. We can pretend they're not there, but that doesn't make them go away. Our jobs as college teachers, at least in part, involve helping students use available tools in a responsible way, and to use them in lifelong learning and to promote critical thinking. Just as the Web can either be distraction or tool, so can these mobile devices.
We're here to provide a resource for those who want to explore, and to share outcomes whatever they may be.
Add your email to our list. We promise we won't spam you. Rather, the email list will simply let you know when new content appears on this blog, including a short bit of the start of the new article so you can decide if you want to see the rest of it. That way, you don't have to keep coming here to see if there is something new, or worry about missing something if you don't.
Welcome to 2019! In the spring of 2019, there will be face-to-face techy events to help reach faculty where they are at when it comes to technology. The kick-off event is the "Teaching and Learning Conference" hosted by P.A.C.E. and the mobile fellows program on January 11th. The day will begin with the keynote speaker, Alan November an international leader in educational technology. Didn't have a chance to sign up or are you not available that day? Check out a few of the pre-reading materials available after registration to start to explore the types of topics Alan will cover, especially the "Crafting a New Vision for Empowered Learning." Alan will challenge the way we think about using technology for education, techy or not he has ideas that can be used in most of our courses.
If you were able to sign up for the full day of events remember to come prepared with an assignment picked out to work on in small groups during the hands-on session. Research projects, group projects, projects that connect the subject material to real life, and presentations all lend themselves to be useful for the hands-on workshops. If you would like some help choosing your assignment, making your assignment digital to work on the computers during the hands-on session, learning about some of the techy resources we have on campus that you might want to incorporate into your assignment, or making your assignment more accessible join us on January 10th at 10 am in the ERC open computer labs. Feel free to email Rachel Glazener, rlglazener@pstcc.edu, with any questions concerning the conference and hands-on sessions.
Want to learn more about what techy things we have to offer at Pellissippi while working at home? Check out the Grow Your Skills Tech Challenge. Several faculty participated in the fall with level 1 covering the basics of setting up a D2L course, setting up your mobile device, getting students set up, starting with Microsoft 365 and the bonus application section. Most the items covered in the challenge involve engaging students, getting connected, increasing productivity and give tips on best practices for teaching.
Level 2 will be coming out in January and expand on the basics. If you feel like you're already "techy" be sure to jump to the bonus application section. Want to officially join the challenge? Complete 5 tasks in each level and complete the short "I've Grown" survey at the end of the level. At the end of the spring semester you'll receive a certificate with what level you've completed.
Keep an eye out for monthly sessions hosted by P.A.C.E. in the spring to continue the discussion of ideas presented by Alan November. Some will be additional hands-on sessions to move the power of learning in the student's hands and maximizing the use of technology for educational purposes. Do you have a particular topic you'd like for us to cover in a session? Please let us know what you're interested in and think faculty would benefit by us hosting a group session on the topic by filling out this short form. Both P.A.C.E. and mobile fellows are here to support you in your teaching and professional development needs.
How can I use technology to improve student success rates in my courses?
This is a great question! There are many ways you can utilize technology to improve student success rates. For example, there are many apps and software that may benefit students, and there's a lot of support at Pellissippi State to help you with them. Rachel Glazener and Rebecca Glatt, our P.A.C.E. Mobile and Emerging Technology Faculty Fellows, the Mobile Fellows (profiled above), Instructional Technology Specialists, Royce Jacomen and Josh Dean and I can help you explore apps and software for teaching. As a starter, I would recommend Rachel Glazener's Grow Your Skills challenge. You could also attend the January 11 Teaching and Learning conference hosted by P.A.C.E. and the Mobile Fellows.
While there are many apps and software that you could use to improve student success rates in the classroom, I also want to suggest a tool we often overlook. The use of data. Examining student grades disaggregated by selected criteria can be very informative. The Office of Institutional Effectiveness can help you run a report of your previous courses student grades based on race, age, or gender. If you see serious differences in course success between the chosen criteria, you may want to employ something called "Inclusive Teaching", an approach that provides more structure for all students (including what students should be doing outside of class) and facilitate course discussions in a way that every student feels included. Check out this Chronicle of Higher Education article called, "Traditional Teaching May Deepen Inequality: Can a Different Approach Fix It?" for more information on the issue. I would be happy to look over the data with you and help you strategize on ways to employ inclusive teaching techniques in your spring semester classes. We can check the data after spring term to see if the techniques helped.
Data tools inside of Brightspace can also help you to determine how well students are meeting the course learning outcomes. Come see me to learn how to employ this Outcomes (or Competencies) tool.
Data can't tell the whole story, but it can be a powerful, technological tool to monitor student success. Take advantage of it.


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Synergistic effect of exogenous multi-enzyme and phytase on growth performance, nutrients digestibility, blood metabolites, intestinal microflora and morphology in broilers fed corn-wheat-soybean meal diets
Byung Jo Chae et al.
Objective: This study was conducted to investigate the synergistic effect of exogenous multienzyme and phytase on growth performance, nutrients digestibility, blood metabolites, intestinal microflora, and morphology in broilers fed corn-wheat-soybean meal diets.
Methods: A 2×2 factorial design was used in this study. Four dietary treatments consisted of i) basal diets (corn-wheat-soybean meal based diets without multi-enzyme and phytase), ii) basal diets with phytase (0.05%), iii) basal diets with exogenous multi-enzyme (0.05%), and iv) basal diets with exogenous multi-enzyme including phytase (0.05%). A total of 480 broiler chickens (Ross 308 - one day old) were weighed and allotted to thirty-two cages (15 birds per cage), and chicks were randomly allocated to four dietary treatments.
Results: The body weight gain and feed conversion rate were improved by supplementation of exogenous multi-enzyme containing phytase during the finisher period (p<0.05). The birds fed diets with exogenous multi-enzyme containing phytase had a significantly greater digestibility of dry matter, gross energy, crude protein, calcium, and phosphorus compared with birds fed non-supplemented diets (p<0.05). The chickens fed diets with exogenous multi-enzyme containing phytase showed a higher concentration of Ca and P in the serum (p<0.05). The population of Lactobacillus spp., Escherichia coli, and Clostridium were not affected in the ileum and cecum of chickens fed enzyme-supplemented diets. The dietary supplemental exogenous multi-enzyme containing phytase showed a significant improvement in villus height, crypt depth, and villus height and crypt depth ratio, compared to basal diets or dietary supplemental phytase (p<0.05).
Conclusion: The supplementation of the exogenous multi-enzyme containing phytase synergistically improved the growth performance, nutrients digestibility, and villus height of the small intestine of broiler chickens fed a corn-wheat-soybean meal based diets.
The poultry diets are mainly comprised of the grains such as corn, wheat, and soybean meal (SBM) that contain non-starch polysaccharides (NSP) (10% to 22.7%) as anti-nutritional factors, which have physiological impacts in chickens. NSP in corn, SBM, and wheat are mainly insoluble types, as arabinoxylan and β-galactomannan in corn and α-galactosides and β-galacto-mannan in SBM, and arabinoxylan in wheat [1-4]. Insoluble NSP encapsulating nutrients inside the cell wall make them unavailable for digestion, increasing the digesta viscosity and pH, and disturbing the action of endogenous enzymes in the gut [5-8]. Feedstuff such as corn, SBM, and wheat have phytate that retain carbohydrates, microminerals, amino acids, and some digestive enzymes, which in turn impedes the absorption of nutrients in broiler diets as endogenous phytase is not produced in the gut of chickens [9].
Supplemental exogenous enzymes in broiler diets have been used to release the chemical structure of NSP and to improve the growth performance and nutrient digestibility [10-12]. Amerah et al [13] reported that increased weight gain and feed conversion ratio (FCR) was shown in boilers when a corn-SBM based diet was supplemented with exogenous multi-enzymes compared to single enzyme supplementation by decreasing ileal flow of components of soluble and insoluble non-starch polysaccharides. Furthermore, supplementation of xylanase in wheat-SBM based diet decreased ileal digesta viscosity and improved growth performance and apparent ileal digestibility of nutrients in broilers [14,15]. However, Wu et al [16] observed that supplementation of exogenous enzymes such as xylanase and phytase individually in wheatbased diet improved the growth performance and reduced the small intestinal viscosity, while the combination of phytase and xylanase caused no further improvements on broiler performance.
It is speculated that if dietary exogenous multi-enzyme and phytase are supplemented in combination in the diets, a synergistic effect would be shown in broiler chickens. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of exogenous multi-enzyme including phytase on growth performance, nutrients digestibility, blood metabolites, gut microbiota, and small intestinal morphology in broilers fed corn-wheatSBM diets.
The experiment was conducted at the facility of Kangwon National University farm and all animal experimental procedures and protocol in this research were approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of Kangwon National University, Republic of Korea (Approval No: KW141111-1).
Animals, diets, and experimental design
A randomized complete block design consisting of a 2×2 factorial design was used in this study. The enzymes used in this experiment were supplied by Advanced Enzyme Technologies Ltd. (Thane, India). Exogenous multi-enzymes used in this study were two types, enzyme blend as amylase, protease, mannanase, and xylanase and enzyme blend including phytase. The treatments included: i) basal diets (corn-wheatSBM based diets without enzyme), ii) basal diets with phytase (DigePhos 5G, Advanced Enzyme Technologies, India) (0.05%), iii) basal diets with exogenous multi-enzyme (DigeGrain Delta, Advanced Enzyme Technologies, India) (0.05%), and iv) basal diets with exogenous multi-enzyme including phytase (0.05%). A total of 480 one-day old Ross 308 chicks (47.74±0.8 g, body weight [BW]) were randomly allotted to 8 replicates of 15 birds per treatment. This experiment was conducted for a total of 35 days (phase 1, d 0 to 21 and phase 2, d 22 to 35). The nutrient contents of experimental diets (Table 1) were formulated in order to meet or exceed nutrient requirements by Nutrient Requirements of Poultry [17]. The birds were raised in floor pens with rice husks used as beddings (about 5 cm in depth). Each pen was equipped with a hopper feeder and five water nipple drinkers connected to water tank, allowing the birds to take feed and water "ad libitum". The chicks were kept at a temperature of 34°C for d 1 to 3, and thereafter the temperature was gradually decreased to 23°C according to normal management practices. All birds were under a continuous lighting for 23 h/d.
Experimental procedure and sampling
The BW and feed intake (FI) of chickens per pen were measured at the start and end of each phase for calculation of the body weight gain (BWG) and FCR. To determine the apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD), chromic oxide (Cr, 0.25%) was added in each diet as a marker. Two birds from each pen were allocated in individual cages and fed experimental diets for 10 days, 5 d for adaptive period and 5 d for sampling period. The excreta samples from each pen were pooled into stainless trays to analyze ATTD of dry matter (DM), gross energy (GE), crude protein (CP), calcium (Ca), and phosphorus (P). The pooled excreta samples per treatment were dried in a forced-air oven at 60°C for 72 h. Thereafter, the dried samples were ground by an electric feed grinder (Thomas Model 4 Wiley Mill, Thomas Scientific, Swedesboro, NJ, USA) and sieved through a 1-mm screen for chemical analysis.
Two birds per pen were randomly chosen for blood collection. Blood samples were taken from the wing vein with disposable vacutainers containing heparin sodium at d 21 and d 35 and centrifuged at 3,000 rpm for 15 min at 4°C. Then, the supernatant of samples was moved to 1 mL tube by pipette and stored at –20°C before analysis of blood metabolites. Three birds per replicate were slaughtered at d 35 to collect samples for analysis of the apparent ileal digestibility (AID) of nutrients, gut microflora in ileum and cecum, and small intestinal morphology. The ileum and cecum contents were stored in sterilized plastic bottles at 7°C and transferred to laboratory immediately for bacterial analysis. The intestinal samples (approximately 3 cm in length) were acquired from the duodenum (middle portion of the duodenal loop), jejunum (midway between the distal portion of the duodenal loop and Meckel's diverticulum), and ileum (midway between Meckel's diverticulum and ileo-cecal junction). The intestinal contents were washed with phosphate-buffered saline and the samples were fixed by buffered formalin (10%) for analysis of the intestinal morphology.
Chemical and microbial analysis
Experimental diets and excreta samples were analyzed according to methods described by AOAC [18] in triplicate for DM (930.15), CP (990.03), and ash (942.05) Ca, and P (985.01). The GE was assessed by using a bomb calorimeter (Model 1261, Parr Instrument Co., Moline, IL, USA), and chromium (Cr) concentration was measured with an automated spectrophotometer (Jasco V-650, Jasco Corp., Tokyo, Japan) according to the procedure of Fenton and Fenton [19]. Analysis of serum metabolites was conducted by using an automated chemistry analyzer (Fuji Dri-chem 3500i; Fujifilm Corp., Tokyo, Japan).
The microbiological assay was carried out by the procedure suggested by Kim et al [20]. The excreta samples from ileum and cecum per replicate were pooled in a sterilized plastic bottles and mixed. The samples (1 g) were put together in anaerobic dilution solution (9 mL) by keeping it under CO2. The serial dilutions (10–5 to 10–8) were made by using the anaerobic dilution solution, and 1 mL diluted solution was plated onto agar plates in triplicate. The total anaerobic bacteria were determined on plate count agar (TAB, Difco Laboratories, Detroit, MI, USA) and incubated at 37°C for 24 h under anaerobic condition. The Lactobacillus spp. was determined on MRS agar (with 0.20 g/L NaN3+0.50 g/L Lcystine hydrochloride monohydrate) and incubated at 39°C for 48 h under aerobic conditions. The Clostridium spp. was determined on tryptose sulphite cycloserine agar (Oxoid, Hampshire, UK) and incubated at 37°C for 24 h under anaerobic conditions. The Escherichia coli (E. coli) was determined on MacConkey agar and incubated at 37°C for 24 h under aerobic conditions. The anaerobic condition was made in a gas-pack anaerobic system (BBL, No. 260678, Difco, USA).
Small intestinal morphology
The samples of duodenum, jejunum and ileum were processed with ethanol for one day and were embedded in standard paraffin. Intestinal samples were stained with azure A and eosin and then well-oriented crypt-villus groups (total 10 intact) were selected for intestinal cross-sections. The samples were measured in triplicates by using an optical microscope and image analysis system (Media Cyber genetics, Optimus software version 6.5, North Reading, MA, USA). Villus height (VH, μm) was determined from the top of the villus to crypts of Lieberkühn and crypt depth (CD, μm) was measured as the depth of the invagination between ad-jacent villi. All morphological characteristics were analyzed in 10-μm increments.
All data was analyzed by general linear model procedure of SAS (SAS Inst. Inc., Cary, NC, USA) as 2×2 factorial arrangement with dietary treatments of exogenous multi-enzyme and phytase as main effects. Significant differences among the treatment means were partitioned by Tukey's honestly significant difference test at p<0.05 statistical level, and 0.05< p<0.10 was considered a trend towards significance. Pens were considered the experimental unit for growth performance and broiler chickens were considered the experimental unit for measuring the nutrients digestibility, blood metabolites, gut microbiota, and intestinal morphology.
Growth performance
The results of growth performance are presented in Table 2. The broilers fed diet supplemented with multi-enzyme and phytase improved significantly in the BWG and FCR at starter and finisher phases (p<0.05). Furthermore, the supplementation of multi-enzyme and phytase in combination had an interaction effect in BWG during finisher phase (p<0.05). The broilers fed diet supplemented with multi-enzyme with phytase had significantly better FCR than broilers fed diet supplemented with multi-enzyme or phytase individually (p<0.05).
Digestibility of nutrients
The results of nutrients digestibility in feces and ileum are shown in Table 3. The exogenous multi-enzyme significantly improved the ATTD and AID of DM, GE, and CP (p<0.05) and phytase enhanced the digestibility of Ca and P in both ATTD and AID (p<0.05). No interaction between exogenous multi-enzyme and phytase was observed. The exogenous multi-enzyme containing phytase supplementation showed the significant increases of ATTD and AID in DM, GE, CP, Ca, and P compared to basal diets, supplemental phytase without multi-enzyme, or supplemental multi-enzyme without phytase treatment (p<0.05).
Blood metabolites
The results of blood metabolites are shown in Table 4. There was no interaction between exogenous multi-enzyme and phytase. The concentration of Ca and P in serum was significantly increased with phytase supplementation on d 21 and d 35 (p<0.05). The treatment supplemented with exogenous multi-enzyme containing phytase had the highest concentration of Ca and P in serum amongst the four treatment groups (p<0.05).
Ileum and cecum microflora
The results of intestinal microflora are shown in Table 5. No significant effects on multi-enzyme, phytase and their interaction were observed (p>0.05). There were no difference in population of Lactobacillus spp., E. coli, and Clostridium spp. in the ileum and cecum of chicken fed diet supplemented with exogenous multi-enzyme.
The results of intestinal morphology are presented in Table 6. The exogenous multi-enzyme with phytase significantly increased the VH and decreased the CD in all intestinal segments (p<0.05). However, no interaction in supplementation of exogenous multi-enzyme and phytase was observed. The exogenous multi-enzyme containing phytase showed the most significant increase of VH, decrease of CD, and improvement of villus height and crypt depth ratio (VH:CD) comparing to basal diets or dietary supplemental phytase treatment group (p<0.05).
In this study, dietary supplementation of phytase and multienzyme in combination improved the BWG and feed efficiency in broilers fed corn-wheat-SBM based diets. The supplementation of exogenous enzymes can improve nutrient utilization in the cereal grains by decreasing the intestinal viscosity in broilers [21]. The growth performance was in agreement with results reported by Singh et al [22], who observed that supplementation of the combined enzymes such as xylanase, amylase, protease, and phytase increased the BWG by about 10% to 15% and decreased FCR by 0.06 to 0.11 units in broilers fed corn-SBM diet or corn-wheatSBM based diet. However, Yaghobfar and Kalantar [23] reported that supplementation of glycanase and phytase in combination in corn-wheat based diet did not affect the weight gain and feed conversion rate of broilers. The different effects of carbohydrase and phytase on growth performance of broilers would be due to feed ingredients and enzyme type [24]. Wheat is rich source of arabinoxylans that consists of a backbone of β-(1,4)-linked xylose residues, which are substituted with arabinose residues on the C(O)-2 and/or C(O)-3 position [25]. The supplemental xylanase and phytase are required in poultry diets based on wheat. Xylanase degrades arabinoxylans in the cell wall, releasing encapsulated starch and other nutrients from inside the cell wall, at the same time as reducing digesta viscosity caused by the soluble fraction [26]. Furthermore, phytase hydrolyze phosphate from phytic acid in a sequential process, resulting a myo-inositol and phosphate with the liberated nutrients, which were linked to phytic acid [27,28]. The combination of glycosidase and phytase can increase the accessibility to phytate more than being used individually [21]. That phytate molecules in wheat encased proteins in the aleuron layer by complex carbohydrates [29]. In this study, exogenous multi-enzyme and phytase synergistically improved not only ATTD but also AID in DM, GE, CP, Ca, and P. The improvement in nutrients digestibility may be associated with dietary enzymes including amylase, protease, β-mannanase, and xylanase, and phytase to degrade dietary NSP. In agreement, Lu et al [24] obtained that the use of xylanase, β-glucanase, and phytase in combination improved the DM, GE, CP, and P in chickens fed the ME (Please write it in full form.), CP, Ca, and P deficient diet during the growth phase. Furthermore, the improved protein digestibility was obtained when xylanase and β-glucanase were supplied in wheat-based diets [30]. However, Cowieson and Adeola [31] showed no interactive effects of xylanase, amylase, protease and phytase on nutrients digestibility and ileal digestible energy. Dietary supplemental β-mannanase that hydrolyzes β-mannan to the 1,4-β-D mannan chain of glucomannans and galactomannans can ameliorate energy and nutrient utilization in SBM as containing β-mannan, β-glucomannan, and β-galactomannan [32,33]. Li et al [34] reported that supplementation of β-mannanase improved the apparent metabolizable energy and protein digestibility of broilers. In addition, it was reported that the multi-enzyme containing xylanase, amylase, protease, and phytase in ME and P deficient diets showed a synergistic increase on growth performance and ileal phosphorus digestibility [35]. The Ca and P concentration in serum were increased with supplementation of exogenous multi-enzyme and phytase in combination with an increase of digestibility on this study. A similar result was observed by Lu et al [24] who reported that the addition of xylanase, β-glucanase, and phytase in combination in deficient diets increased the P concentration in serum of broiler chickens.
The gastrointestinal microbiota is one of the most factors determining immunity and physiological systems of broiler chickens. Pathogenic bacteria such as coliforms enhance infections and decrease the growth performance of chickens [36,37]. In this study, the supplementation of multi-enzyme showed a tendency for increasing Lactobacillus population and decreasing the colonization of E. coli and Clostridiums spp. in the ileum and cecum. The effect of exogenous enzyme such as β-mannanase and xylanase on intestinal microorganism have been observed in previous studies [36-39]. Roofchaei et al [40] detected that the dietary supplemental xylanase, β-glucanase, and phytase in combination had an inhibitory effect on the E. coli population in the ileum. It is well described that the oligosaccharides caused from action of xylanase or β-mannanase may alter the microbial population in the intestinal tract of broilers [41,42]. Xylanase degrades arabinoxylan, a major NSP found in wheat, producing shorter chain xylo-oligomers that are involved in production of short chain fatty acid (SCFA) in hindgut of broilers [43]. The produced SCFA may instigate environmental conditions favorable for lactic acid bacteria such as Lactobacillus spp. [44], which impedes pathogenic microbial propagation [45]. Furthermore, Yaghobfar and Kalantar [23] reported that the decrease of E. coli population and increase of Lactobacillus population in the ileum were observed by supplementation of β-glucanase and phytase. Phytase can alter the digesta pH and the ileal microbial population by reducing the buffering capacity of a diet [46,47].
In the present study, the broilers fed a diet supplemented with the combination of multi-enzyme and phytase improved villus height and crypt depth in duodenum, jejunum, and ileum. Dietary β-mannan (derived from SBM) and arabinoxylans (derived from wheat) cause an increase of digesta viscosity, which provokes change in the intestinal mucosa by accessing the mucosal surface to the viscous ingredients [42,48]. The digesta viscosity leads to quick changes in the intestinal mucosa due to the proximity of the mucosal surface to the intestinal viscose materials [23]. Therefore, grains such as wheat and SBM may induce shorter VH or deeper CD by stimulating division and tissue renewal of intestinal cells [49]. The supplementation of xylanase and β-mannanase in corn-wheat-SBM based diets might have alleviated the increase of digesta viscosity of broilers in this study. In a study [50], dietary supplemental xylanase decreased the digesta viscosity of in the jejunum of broilers. Furthermore, the effect on the small intestinal morphology might be due to butyrate production in hindgut. The supplementation of xylanase and β-mannanase in diet containing wheat and SBM lead to release xylo-oligosaccharides and manno-oligosaccharides, respectively in gut of broilers [42,45,51], producing butyrate that plays a role as stimulator of glucagon-like peptide 2 (GLP-2) production. This hormone is secreted by entero-endocrine L cells localized in stomach, small intestine, colon and subepithelial myofibroblasts and acts as multiple downstream mediators [52]. Hu et al [53] reported that GLP-2 injection increased the small intestinal weight and the villus height of duodenum and jejunum of broiler chickens. The results in this study are in accordance with the observations of Roofchaei et al [40] who reported that dietary supplemental xylanase, β-glucanase, and phytase in combination increased villus length compared to control diet without supplemental enzyme.
In conclusion, the addition of phytase and multi-enzyme in broiler diet consisted of corn, wheat, and SBM showed synergistical improvement on growth performance and utilization of nutrients. Furthermore, the increased intestinal villus would be more likely from synergistical effect of supplementation with multi-enzyme containing xylanase and β-mannanase, and phytase. Our study suggests that supplemental xylanase, β-mannannase, and phytase in corn-wheatSBM based diets may derive advantages in broiler chickens.
For more of the article, please click here.
Article made possible through the contribution of Byung Jo Chae et al.


19th July 2018 was a great success for Biomedical Science Day with around 150 hospital laboratories across the UK taking part. However, feedback from members suggested that the date prevented many other hospital laboratories and staff getting involved. With this in mind we've chosen to move the date forward by a month to Thursday 20th June 2019.
We shall review the date and impact after next year's event, but current plans are for the date to remain on the 3rd Thursday of June.
Current plans are underway for Biomedical Science Day 2019 and we shall inform members once ready, but for now please plan ahead for Thursday 20th June.


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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Mix all ingredients & make a soft dough.
Leave it to rest for 15 - 20 mins & Make a equal balls.
Take a ball, flatten it with roller.
Heat Pan, add flatten thepla, cook bothsides evenly with little oil.
Serve hot with Dhals or chutneys .
Hai srikar the paratha looks yummy.is it taste good by adding besan?I will try this.
Love the coloue, healthy and delicous.
Healthy paratha with methi looks gorgeous!
And yes, I am back and am happy too!
"thepla"..this name sounds new to me..
I love methi parathas :)..though havnt tried yet..
yeah mavadu is the tamil name for tender mangoes..since the recipe is stuck to kerala one..I'd given the mallu names :)..
i love thepla.....i buy it from the store and make it. But i will try urs this time!!!!Looks yummy!!!
Thanks for visiting our blog and leaving your comment. You have such a wonderful collection of recipes, nice blog.
Thepla are looking good, great filling tiffin!


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5 / Amethyst - $360.00 USD 5 / Lemon Quartz - $360.00 USD 5 / Onyx - $360.00 USD 5.5 / Amethyst - $360.00 USD 5.5 / Lemon Quartz - $360.00 USD 5.5 / Onyx - $360.00 USD 6 / Amethyst - $360.00 USD 6 / Lemon Quartz - $360.00 USD 6 / Onyx - $360.00 USD 6.5 / Amethyst - $360.00 USD 6.5 / Lemon Quartz - $360.00 USD 6.5 / Onyx - $360.00 USD 7 / Amethyst - $360.00 USD 7 / Lemon Quartz - $360.00 USD 7 / Onyx - $360.00 USD 7.5 / Amethyst - $360.00 USD 7.5 / Lemon Quartz - $360.00 USD 7.5 / Onyx - $360.00 USD 8 / Amethyst - $360.00 USD 8 / Lemon Quartz - $360.00 USD 8 / Onyx - $360.00 USD 8.5 / Amethyst - $360.00 USD 8.5 / Lemon Quartz - $360.00 USD 8.5 / Onyx - $360.00 USD 9 / Amethyst - $360.00 USD 9 / Lemon Quartz - $360.00 USD 9 / Onyx - $360.00 USD 9.5 / Amethyst - $360.00 USD 9.5 / Lemon Quartz - $360.00 USD 9.5 / Onyx - $360.00 USD 10 / Amethyst - $360.00 USD 10 / Lemon Quartz - $360.00 USD 10 / Onyx - $360.00 USD Other - Please specify at checkout / Amethyst - $360.00 USD Other - Please specify at checkout / Lemon Quartz - $360.00 USD Other - Please specify at checkout / Onyx - $360.00 USD
Click here to download this guide in a PDF
As if dropped into a smooth, still pond, a dazzling emerald cut gemstone emerges from the center of this eccentric Ripple Ring, while the band gently flows outward in small, undulating waves. Precisely handcrafted one at a time, our Ripple Ring collection includes over 200 rings (and counting), all possessing slightly different style details, from band width to stone cut. What remains the same, however, is our signature feature: a textured band that rises and falls ever so slightly with a peaceful flow like rippling water.
Build the ring of your dreams by choosing your ideal ring size and stone color from our selection and don't forget to partner this eye-catching, attention-getting glistening piece of jewelry with a set of our sterling silver earrings, a charming bracelet or a stunning necklace!
This handcrafted sterling silver ring features a single 12x16mm emerald cut gemstone in your choice of available gemstone colors. We love how playful and organic these rings are and we are sure you will too!.
At Kristen Baird® Jewelry, we use partially to fully recycled sterling silver. The 18K gold used is certified 100% recycled and the gemstones we use are carefully selected in line with our commitment to social responsibility. Each piece is precisely handcrafted in our Savannah, GA studio, using a metalsmithing process called reticulation. As proof of authenticity, each piece is stamped with the .925 quality mark and whenever possible, is signed/marked with the Kristen Baird® maker's mark, prior to delivery.
Due to the natural characteristics of handcrafted designs, each piece may contain slight variances from the photos shown. These variances allow uniqueness in every creation, but never take away from the quality of work or the complexity of design.


Charlene is a certified counseling supervisor. She focuses on empowerment of individuals within their unique needs, skills and social systems to create change in many areas of life. Her areas of expertise include Bipolar Types, Depression, Anxiety, PTSD/Trauma, LGBTQIA Issues, Schizophrenia and Psychotic disorders, Children, Families, and Grief.


Yesterday we discussed two new features of Windows 8 – Refresh and Reset, and how they may come in handy whenever your Windows system goes haywire. While talking about the Refresh Windows option, I mentioned that it would bring back your Windows settings to factory default but will not affect any of your personal files and applications.
Now the thing is, one cannot create custom refresh points (like system restore points) to revert back the settings to that particular point and not the factory reset. Suppose you have a refresh point in your computer, for say last weekend, and you know that all the Windows settings were perfectly fine for that specific moment. Reverting back to that particular set of settings instead of factory default is always a better option than reverting back to day one.
Though for the time being (this article was written on Windows 8 Consumer Preview) there is no direct way to create a custom refresh point, there is an indirect way to do, so let's have a look.
Launch the command prompt on Windows 8 with administrative privileges.
In the command prompt enter the recimg command with following syntax.
This command will create a system image and set it as your default recovery image, which will be used when you reset your Windows.
To make sure, which is your current default recovery image use the command recimg /showcurrent in the command prompt.
Finally, if you ever wish to revert back to the default Windows recovery image type the following command in the windows command prompt.
Once you have selected your desired windows recovery image, you can use Windows refresh option to revert back to that particular time. If you have doubts about how to reset your Windows 8 computers, do read our detailed guide on how to Refresh and Reset Windows 8.
According to me, creating a refresh point is a very important feature, and thus I am looking forward to an easier approach in the final release. Furthermore, I recommend you make a refresh point every weekend or fortnight (you can delete the older ones to save hard disk space) because it's not everyday Windows crashes but when it does it could cause a lot of trouble if you don't have a refresh point to go back to comfortably.


text:
Q: Getting internal error with Response Status Code 0 on Amazon Marketplace API Requests I've downloaded Amazon's Marketplace SDK and I'm trying out one of the samples in the samples dir. However, I'm getting an exception with the following details whenever I try it:
Caught Exception: Internal Error
Response Status Code: 0
Error Code:
Error Type:
Request ID:
XML: RequestId: , ResponseContext: , Timestamp:
ResponseHeaderMetadata:

I have got CURL enabled with SSL as well. What am I doing wrong?

A: For future reference. In the new version of the SDK the options are referenced in the client.php as follows
private function getDefaultCurlOptions() {
    return array (
      CURLOPT_POST => true,
      CURLOPT_USERAGENT => $this->config['UserAgent'],
      CURLOPT_VERBOSE => true,
      CURLOPT_HEADERFUNCTION => array ($this, 'headerCallback'),
      CURLOPT_RETURNTRANSFER => true,
      CURLOPT_SSL_VERIFYPEER => true,
      CURLOPT_SSL_VERIFYHOST => 2
    );
  }

setting
CURLOPT_SSL_VERIFYPEER => false,

did the trick in my case. As I am not a security expert, however, no recommendation from this point of view. At least its working and you are probably not loosing 1 whole day as I did.

A: This answer is for future reference. For in-depth troubleshooting, see comments on the question.
The empty response indicates a failed connection to the Amazon server. In this case, HTTP worked fine, but HTTPS did not. As turning off CURLOPT_SSL_VERIFYPEER in the cURL settings solved the issue, it appears that the Amazon server was not using a valid SSL certificate.
Having CURLOPT_SSL_VERIFYPEER turned on checks if the requested host has a valid certificate and lets cURL return false if it doesn't. When CURLOPT_SSL_VERIFYPEER is off, invalid certificates (e.g., self-signed) are accepted and return the regular response.

A: I experienced a very similar connection issue with Amazon. It was the sample files bundled with the Amazon php api, which contain a following configuration array:
$config = array (
  'ServiceURL' => $serviceUrl,
  'ProxyHost' => null,
  'ProxyPort' => -1,
  'MaxErrorRetry' => 3,
);

and if this is copied over and not modified
'ProxyPort' => -1,

will result in an attempt to connect through a proxy port -1 which will of course fail (issue tracked by checking curl error). I hope this helps.

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One of the classic early hits by the Beatles; this catchy tune features an immediately recognizable melody and a driving swing/shuffle style. Included in this version for young players is the famous guitar break adapted for sax solo or soli.
Enjoy great flexibility with the Easy Jazz Ensemble series! Playable with 4 saxes; 3 trumpets; 3 trombones and rhythm; includes optional parts for flute; clarinet; F horn and tuba.


Put onions in pot with oil, Magic Swamp Dust, and Seafood Boil.
Saute' on a high fire, adding 1 1/2 cups water at a time as needed to wash gratin' from side of pot.
Stirring and scrapping sides as to turn onions a very dark brown without allowing them to stick and burn, (approx. 20 minutes, pending on fire).
When onions are ready, put in 1 #10 can of mushroom stems & pieces, Barbecue Sauce, and water.
Add in ground pork, sausage, and giblets and stir until broken up fine and bring to a rapid boil.
Stir in rice. Using a medium fire, bring water back to a boil, scrapping the side & bottom of the pot & turning rice, DON'T stir. (USE CAUTION - over stirring will make rice gummy).
After rice has swollen and most of water is gone, check by biting on one grain. If it has 1/4 crunch in the middle, turn fire very low.
Then add in celery, and bell peppers mixing them in by lifting the bottom of the rice to the top and don't stir.
Turn fire off, cover, and let stand until rice has finished cooking.
Pour in shallots and turn rice for the last time, cover and wait 15 minutes before serving.


A rod that a dentist has positioned and then cemented in the canal space in a tooth's root.
Impact of Video Based Learning on the Perfomance of Post Graduate Students in Biostatistics: A Retrospective Study.
Monoenergetic computed tomography reconstructions reduce beam hardening artifacts from dental restorations.
3D-FE analysis of functionally graded structured dental posts.
Clinical evaluation of novel buccoadhesive film containing ketorolac in dental and post-oral surgery pain management.


text:
package com.example.receiveweather;

import android.os.AsyncTask;
import android.util.Log;

import com.squareup.okhttp.OkHttpClient;
import com.squareup.okhttp.Request;
import com.squareup.okhttp.Response;

import org.xmlpull.v1.XmlPullParser;
import org.xmlpull.v1.XmlPullParserFactory;

import java.io.StringReader;
import java.net.URL;
import java.util.ArrayList;

/**
 * Created by P200 on 2017-06-07.
 */

public class ReceiveShortWeather extends AsyncTask<URL, Integer, Object> {

    protected Object doInBackground(URL... urls) {

        ArrayList<ShortWeather> shortWeathers = new ArrayList<ShortWeather>();

        String url = "http://www.kma.go.kr/wid/queryDFSRSS.jsp?zone=5011031000";

        OkHttpClient client = new OkHttpClient();

        Request request = new Request.Builder()
                .url(url)
                .build();

        Response response = null;

        try {
            response = client.newCall(request).execute();
            parseXML(response.body().string(),shortWeathers);
        } catch (Exception e) {
            e.printStackTrace();
        }

        return shortWeathers;
    }

    protected void onPostExecute(Object result) {
        iCallback.call(result);

        Log.i("ASDASD",((ArrayList<ShortWeather>)result).get(0).getTemp());
        Log.i("ASDASD",((ArrayList<ShortWeather>)result).get(0).getTmx());
        Log.i("ASDASD",((ArrayList<ShortWeather>)result).get(0).getTmn());

    }

    ICallback iCallback;

    public void setiCallback(ICallback iCallback) {
        this.iCallback = iCallback;
    }

    void parseXML(String xml, ArrayList<ShortWeather> shortWeathers) {
        try {
            String tagName = "";
            boolean onHour = false;
            boolean onDay = false;
            boolean onTem = false;
            boolean onWfKor = false;
            boolean onPop = false;
            boolean onEnd = false;
            boolean isItemTag1 = false;
            int i = 0;

            XmlPullParserFactory factory = XmlPullParserFactory.newInstance();
            XmlPullParser parser = factory.newPullParser();

            parser.setInput(new StringReader(xml));

            int eventType = parser.getEventType();

            while (eventType != XmlPullParser.END_DOCUMENT) {
                if (eventType == XmlPullParser.START_TAG) {
                    tagName = parser.getName();
                    if (tagName.equals("data")) {
                        shortWeathers.add(new ShortWeather());
                        onEnd = false;
                        isItemTag1 = true;
                    }
                } else if (eventType == XmlPullParser.TEXT && isItemTag1) {
                    if (tagName.equals("hour") && !onHour) {
                        shortWeathers.get(i).setHour(parser.getText());
                        onHour = true;
                    }
                    if (tagName.equals("day") && !onDay) {
                        shortWeathers.get(i).setDay(parser.getText());
                        onDay = true;
                    }
                    if (tagName.equals("temp") && !onTem) {
                        shortWeathers.get(i).setTemp(parser.getText());
                        onTem = true;
                    }
                    if (tagName.equals("wfKor") && !onWfKor) {
                        shortWeathers.get(i).setWfKor(parser.getText());
                        onWfKor = true;
                    }
                    if (tagName.equals("pop") && !onPop) {
                        shortWeathers.get(i).setPop(parser.getText());
                        onPop = true;
                    }
                } else if (eventType == XmlPullParser.END_TAG) {
                    if (tagName.equals("s06") && onEnd == false) {
                        i++;
                        onHour = false;
                        onDay = false;
                        onTem = false;
                        onWfKor = false;
                        onPop = false;
                        isItemTag1 = false;
                        onEnd = true;
                    }
                }

                eventType = parser.next();
            }
        } catch (Exception e) {
            e.printStackTrace();
        }
    }
}


text:
The Ernie Blevins Homepage
Historic Preservation CV
Sample Portfolio
Ernest Everett Blevins earned his Bachelors of Science in Anthropology and Bachelors of Art in Studio Art, College of Charleston and his Masters of Fine Arts in Historic Preservation from Savannah College of Art and Design. His continuing education consists of 18 graduate hours in archaeology/CRM and Ph.D. level history at Georgia State University and graduate history with a public history certificate from the University of West Georgia. During previous deployments with FEMA, Ernest earned 10 certificates, including IS 253: Coordinating Environmental & Historic Preservation Compliance, from the Independent Study courses,FEMA Emergency Management Institute.
Ernest's previous experience includes extensive work in historic preservation including full and part time consulting since 1997 and full time stints as an archaeologist field tech and crew chief and an architectural historian (approximately 15 years). His skills include historical research, architectural and archaeology survey, documentary photography, and public speaking. Examples of his projects include brochure development; monument and cemetery assessment; measured and as-built drawings and mapping; historic building reports; and preservation plans. Highlights of previous work include a photographic documentation of Simons & Lapham's architectural work in South Carolina and a city survey and consulting with Villa Rica, Georgia. He is familiar with Section 106 review and NRHP eligibility and previous FEMA training environmental review and clearance. His past employment includes East Tennessee Development District, Georgia Department of Transportation, Fluor, and URS. This employment includes work as a contractor to FEMA-1603-DR-LA in New Orleans (2007) and FEMA-1791-DR-TX in Galveston (2008-2009). He has taught history and historic preservation related classes at the College of Charleston, Georgia Highlands College and Middle Tennessee State University. His academic work includes over 50 articles published in local papers, national magazines and journals, and contributed to two books. Currently he is working on documentary videos on a variety of history related topics two of which were presented at Dixie Film Festival in 2009 and 2010.
Born in Spartanburg, South Carolina he lives with his wife and children in the Sandhill community of Villa Rica, Georgia.


text:
Koh Santepheap (,  ; ) is a Khmer language daily newspaper published in Cambodia with its headquarters in Phnom Penh. According to the Media Ownership Monitor, it is the most widely read paper in the country. It was founded in 1967 by Chou Thany. During the Khmer Rouge, publication was shut down and Thany killed in the Cambodian Genocide. It resumed operation in January 1993, owned by Thong Uy Pang and Yin Phanny, husband and wife who also served as editor-in-chief and manager, respectively. In 1998, Pang was shot while at a temple, blaming a police official." Their daughter, Thong Sovanraingsey, took over management, and in 2005 Pol Saroeun replaced Pang as editor-in-chief. At present, Koh Santepheap is the only medium in Cambodia, which has both online website/app and print version. Koh Santepheap Media now has several digital content project such as 60 Buzz, which provide 60-second news and the most famous online video news program, Facetaste which is the most popular food content provider, "Top Person" online video program which cover all lives of the leader around the world. Home-s-Art is another online video project which cover contents about home design and real estate development.
List of newspapers in Cambodia

References

Khmer-language newspapers
Newspapers published in Cambodia
Mass media in Phnom Penh
1967 establishments in Cambodia

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