Accounts Officer will be responsible for maintaining the books of accounts for the projects in liaison with project staff and head office accounts department, handling cash at the site and dealing with banks for submission or withdrawal of cash.
Qualification B. Com. / M. Com.


Needs Paragon of Fierce Defiance . I think you left it out because it gives other creatures haste and you found it redundant, but with him out your warriors are +3/+3. Flamerush Rider . Cyclops Gladiator is more or less a /6 that fights every turn in this deck.
Falkenrath Marauders is a good stand-in for Ruttley and Taunton's hot-guy characters.
greyninja on Staples for the Xenagod?
Atarka, World Render hits for 24 w xenagod. Craterhoof Behemoth ends games. Hydra Omnivore is solid.
Don't forget to add in a ton of ramp get to get it rippin' and roarin'! Have fun!
First strike is a combat ability that only applies in combat. When two creatures fight each other they deal the damage simultaneously, so the only things that can help are indestructible or damage prevention effects like protection. Deathtouch and Lifelink will also be applied, as they function for any type of damage, not just combat.
Also, creatures are only destroyed due to damage when state based actions are checked. For example Cyclops Gladiator deals its damage before the other creature (unlike fighting), but even if it deals lethal damage, the other creature will still get it's attack in. However, an advantage to this ability over fighting is that if it has wither or infect it will actually decrease the other creatures power before it hits back.
Pathbreaker Ibex seems cool. I'll put him in the maybeboard. Indrik Stomphowler and Conclave Naturalists cost too much for what they do. Selvala, Heart of the Wilds seems cool too, will put in maybeboard. There aren't enough targets for Woodland Bellower. Fierce Empath has some potential, so maybeboard. Ruric Thar, the Unbowed doesn't do enough to justify his CMC, same with Gruul Ragebeast and Whisperwood Elemental. Very limited counterspells in meta (shocking, right?) so no need for Spellbreaker Behemoth.
Cyclops Gladiator is nice removal, but 3 red in a primarily green deck is a stretch. Urabrask the Hidden is a great card (I just traded it away :/) and is MUST ADD. Thank you.Stonehoof Chieftain is something to consider, I will need to think about our stonehoofed friend. Fling is funny, but not the best fit IMO.Avatar of Slaughter is SO FUNNY! I am getting this for sure! The 2 worms are blehSteel Hellkite was definitely overlooked. I need to add it in for sure.
Zendikar Resurgent seems great, I will add it inSignal the Clans is a great card, but wouldn't it make more sense to get rid of rampant growth before nature's lore?Bower Passage seems interesting but is too limited.
I thought of that combo before and it seems hilarious as hell, but not worth running as each piece is weak on it's own. Blightsteel Colossus is great but I'm not a huge fan of infect. I don't mind if someone runs it, but I just don't like it. The Kiki combo is cool and I LOVE combos, but this is the 1 deck I'm trying to make without an inherent "insta win" because I would just tooth and nail those creatures each time. The only infinite combo I have in the deck cannot be tutored for so if it goes off, then it's more "fair" according to my LGS. Summoning Trap is limited but possibly a sideboard card.
Do you guys know what is a good CMC range for this kind of deck? I've always tried to make the CMC of my EDH decks anywhere between 2.8 and 3.4. I know the beaters in the deck skew the AVG CMC towards the higher end, but I am unsure as to what range i should try to fall into.
Sorry to comment again so soon, but there's a few cards I forgot to list above.
Cyclops Gladiator is another Tyrant's Familiar, in case you feel your removal is lacking.
Urabrask the Hidden is a creature that gives all your other creatures haste., fantastic if you need hast, and don't want to run Fires of Yavimaya.
Stonehoof Chieftain is a big beater that can't be beat by most removal, or any combat damage. Bit on the pricey side mana-wise, but he'll do you good when he finally reaches the battlefield.
Fling is fun if you just need to end out a game and you can't get past their blockers. Or if you need emergency removal.
Avatar of Slaughter needs no description. You know why you'd want him in this deck.
Elderscale Wurm is both a good utility creature, and a decent beater. Give it a go if you want something weird.
Finally, Steel Hellkite is fantastic at clearing out enemy tokens/high threat targets as long as you have the mana for it's ability.
Sorry for the long posts, but there are a lot of really strong creatures for a deck like this, and I'm hoping you seriously consider including some (if not most) of them.


Edge Hill University offers a semester long study abroad experience to students interested in a wide array of curriculum.
Tour of Liverpool, past excursions include Conway in Wales, Chester, the Lake District, Manchester.
Students will earn 12 credits on this program during the fall or spring semester.
Mandatory Courses: none during semester, British Culture & Heritage course during the summer (counts as HU).
Host University Courses: See Edge Hill's module catalogue for the most up-to-date course offerings.
A typical course load is 3 (20 credit) courses which equates to 12 credits at ISU.
Students will receive approval for their requested courses about a month before departure. However, timetables will not be provided until orientation week after arrival.
Summer Courses: Students may take either 1 or 2 courses during the summer.
The University: Founded in 1885, Edge Hill University hosts approximately 200 study abroad students each year among its student population of 12,000 students.
Campus Amenities: sports complex, gym membership, library, Student Union that coordinates 60 different student-led societies, see a virtual tour of the campus.
Amenities: Bed sheets, duvets, pillowcases and towels are provided, furnished room, laundry facilities are a close walk from the student's dorm room, 24-hour security, kitchen includes a fridge, freezer, cooker, microwave, toaster, kettle, iron and ironing board, as well as individual food lockers, shared bathrooms.
Official program dates are listed on each semester's Estimated Budget and on the Semester dates section of Edge Hill's website.
Did you know there are scholarship opportunities specifically for students studying abroad in England?
Visit the scholarship page to explore additional funding opportunities.


text:
Dmgi, The Daily Mail's VC Arm, Invests $5M In Indian Property Analytics Firm Liases Foras
Dmgi, the venture capital arm of the company behind the British tabloid newspaper — yes, even the Daily Mail does tech investing!! — has continued its spree in data-centric startups in India after putting $5 million into real estate research and analytics firm Liases Foras.
Dmgi invested in commercial real estate startup Propstack a month ago, and now it is making a big commitment to Mumbai-based Liases Foras, which is a non-brokerage residential real estate data and analytics company.
Confused by that description? Not just me then…
Put into layman's terms, it helps those in the industry stay smart and on top of trends. it does that by providing data on the commercial real estate industry in India to a range of players in the property space, including banks, real estate developers, government entities and more.
Liases Foras collects data from 25 cities in India. That spread, it claimed, covers more than 15,000 new real estate projects per quarter from over 8,000 property developers. It sells that data via a range of services, which include market forecasting, risk assessment, valuation reports and more.
"Residential real estate market in India is very opaque and Laises Foras offers transparency and unbiased data in the market," said Stephen Stout, CEO of dmg Information Asia Pacific. "Besides the financial support, Dmgi — with assets such as Landmark Information Group in the UK — will be able to offer market and product experience that will add considerable value to the Liases Foras' business."
Dmgi has been on the hunt for real estate businesses in India, and particularly those in the field of big data and analytics. In addition to Liases Foras and Propstack, it put money into Real Capital Analytics — which also invested in Propstack; that's called keeping it in the family.
Why does a newspaper group care so much about real estate and data? Speaking to TechCrunch last month, Dmgi India country manager Tej Kapoor explained that the firm sees data as a tangible commodity with real value. Real estate tech — which is booming in India right now — is just one branch that Dmgi has focused on in India. It's other investments have included SkyMetWeather (weather forecasting), Asia Risk Center (agriculture) and iProf (education).

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


I recently read a US News Article about how the stay at home parent must ask the breadwinner for permission before opening a charge account. What??? Yes even in the year 2012 this is true.
The article sheds light on the Federal Reserve's decision: No paycheck, no credit card. The bottom line, a homemaker not earning a "paycheck" is not able to open a credit card without their partner's consent.
The inequality of this decision is very apparent to me as I have been a stay at home parent in the past and the reality is, it's the hardest job I've ever had. While staying at home with the kids, taking care of the house, and doing countless loads of laundry does not pay well, it affords the other partner the ability to earn an income for the family, and thus should be worth something.
The US Money Reserve issued the new rule as a clarification to the CARD Act put in place to protect consumers. While the ruling protects consumers it also limits a stay at home parents ability to apply for credit or build a credit profile.
The law requires credit card issuers to carefully consider a consumer's repayment capability before opening a new account or increasing credit limits on an existing account. As a result a stay at home parent with no "income" is unable to participate in credit related decisions, only the breadwinner can.
Previously credit card companies could consider household income when assessing the creditworthiness of an individual who applies for his or her own card. Under this rule, only an individual's own salary, rather than combined household income, may be considered.
Despite this rule, as a stay at home parent you have a responsibility to your financial future. It is still important to have control of your own money and any assets you may have even if you are not working outside of the home.
Consider a joint loan with your partner. A joint loan enables you to show a good payment history that can reflect positively on your credit.
Secured credit cards build credit. Perhaps you don't have a credit profile and can't open a joint loan, a secured card can help you to build credit. Be aware most come with associated fees, and a required deposit, so use with caution.
Have your own savings account. Even if you have a joint bank account with your partner, have another account solely in your name. Build up your savings there as a personal rainy day fund.
Talk to your partner. Never be left in the dark about your family's financial situation. Have monthly budget meetings, pay bills together, and discuss major purchases.
Stay ahead of debt. Debt can wreak havoc on any relationship especially if one party has caused it and the other is held accountable. If you are struggling with debt be sure to seek debt help before it is too late.
Understand that having a credit card is not a necessity but losing your freedom to decide can be devastating.
How do you feel about the Federal Reserve's ruling on stay at home parent's with no reported income not being able to make credit decisions for the family? Has your household been affected?


text:
Home Floral Park News Chocolate World Expo Comes to Long Island
Chocolate World Expo Comes to Long Island
Within an hour of the doors opening at the Cradle of Aviation Museum in Garden City on Sunday, March 4 a three-hour line stretching down to the children's museum formed with chocolate lovers excitedly waiting to enter the Chocolate Expo's first Long Island event.
Inside the museum, more than 50 vendors displayed a wide variety of products, mostly chocolate, some offering items that pair with chocolate, and some things were just a fun addition to the "farmer's market" appeal of the expo.
The Chocolate Expo creator, Marvin Baum, of Baum Image Group, Inc. walked through the expo, greeting guests and accommodating vendors, ensuring a smooth experience for everyone in attendance.
"My first-ever chocolate show was in a museum and it's something that I look forward to and I want to offer an interesting background; for the same price people come to the chocolate show, they get this [the event] plus the museum exhibition," said Baum. "Needless to say, it's an incredible value. We've got a really great line-up of participating vendors here today."
This is the first time the Expo has been held on Long Island, but the show has been held regularly in New Jersey and in Westchester County.
People who had made it to the Expo and those still in line echoed similar sentiments such as, "What's better than a Chocolate Expo," and "Chocolate and wine samples, doesn't get any better than that!"
Atendees were offered a chance to donate non-perishable food for the Harry Chapin Food Bank of Long Island Cares, Inc.
One booth drew a crowd of attendees, curios to taste "chocolate covered bacon." Executive chef Lawrence Rosenberg of Bacon Bites made skeptics into believers of how delicious his chocolate covered bacon, and choco-covered turkey was. He explained how such a combination materialized. "I started out two years ago when my roommate and mascot "Smokey the Pig," Kane was helping me clean up after a catering job. He thought I was done and accidentally put the bacon into the chocolate to throw away. I tasted it just out of curiosity and thought it was not bad," Rosenberg said. He spent a year perfecting the process and thinks bacon and chocolate combos taste great.
Rosenberg said, "It's been a home run!" Bacon Bites went to market in November 2010 and is now available in 32 states, and in over 700 stores.
He applauded Expo creator Marvin Baum for the event, saying, "Marvin does it right; he knows what people want and gives it to them."
One customer approached his booth, squeezing his way through the crowd gathered for samples. He told Rosenberg, "You're my hero; bacon and chocolate are the two greatest things. Can I give you a hug?" Rosenberg thinks that sums it up.
There were photos printed on chocolate, gelatos, wineries serving chocolate flavored wine, many farmer's market vendors offering fruit compote. Lisa Sorbo, owner of Prima Dolce Company that sells Bella's Berries Compote said, "Chocolate World Expo was a fun event this weekend. It was great to meet the people from the community and share our Bella's Berries Compote. We look forward to participating in more events on Long Island."
Expo guests could also sample freshly grilled Belgian waffles dipped in chocolate, coffees, an assortment of baked goods, and special diet products like vegan and sugar free.
Laura Siner, owner of Sweet Muse (www.sweetmuse.com) 'inspirational indulgences' said, "Participating in Chocolate World Expo is a wonderful way for Sweet Muse to meet thousands of chocolate lovers and let them experience many of our dozen gourmet fudge brownie flavors; it's great to see all the smiles!"
Siner's fudgy, gourmet brownies, baked from scratch are wrapped individually with an inspirational message tucked inside. Expo visitors were lined up to nibble on samples of the varieties, like double fudge, toffee bar crunch, and coconut almond.
In addition, some vendors were selling chocolate scented candles, bath soap, lotion and many health products.
"The Chocolate World Expo is a wonderful opportunity for craft food producers to meet the public and expand their fan base," said founder and CEO of Canada Enterprises, LLC, Reuben Canada, who makes the Philadelphia-original Jin-Ja health drink. His product, Jin-Ja, is made from fresh ginger, lemon juice, green and mint teas, cayenne pepper, and cane sugar. Canada claims his product can reduce inflammation, and muscle soreness, lower appetite and reduce nausea, while increasing metabolism and giving the body a boost of antioxidants.
Canada, who was participating in the Chocolate Expo for a second year, reported that in the past year, the distribution of his product, Jin-Ja, also found at www.jinjadrink.com, has grown from being carried in six local gourmet markets to a wide-region distribution through Whole Foods stores.
In celebration of the Girl Scouts 100th year anniversary, some of the local Scouts were on-hand to sell their signature cookies, and take orders for cookies to be sent to troops overseas.
While visiting the Chocolate Expo, as Baum explained, guests could spend time viewing the Cradle of Aviation's exhibits, view a feature on the giant IMAX theater, ride the X-Ride flight simulator and stop by the firefighters' museum.
After the Expo, Baum told Anton Newspapers, "We had a great time on Long Island. Most people seemed to really like the show. The turnout was much bigger than expected, so next year we'll offer tickets online, extend the show hours, add more vendors, use the second and third floors of the Museum and, possibly, add a second day for the show in order to reduce lines and wait times."
Next articleTrustees Fitzgerald, Rhatigan Deliver Re-election Speeches


text:
Cheat Sheet: Supercomputing
by Gemma Simpson in CIO Insights , in Hardware on November 19, 2007, 7:00 PM PST
Faster than a speeding bullet…
Supercomputing? Is that just a PC wearing a cape and its underpants over its keyboard?
No, a supercomputer is a computer which is considered to be at the frontline in terms of processing capacity and speed.
So what makes a computer super?
Well, it's all about speed, with the fastest computers being labelled as supercomputers. But the term supercomputing is rather fluid, with the supercomputers of today often becoming the common-or-garden computers of tomorrow.
At any given time, there are usually a few well-publicised supercomputers that operate at incredible speeds. IBM once again dominated the semi-annual supercomputer rankings, with its Blue Gene/L topping the supercomputer pops.
More on Blue Gene later but IBM is also currently working on a computer nicknamed 'Roadrunner' that will be capable of performing more than a quadrillion operations - or a petaflop - when it's fully operational.
You what…?
Bust through tech jargon with silicon.com's Cheat Sheets.
What does a supercomputer look like?
Although the design and layout can vary from supercomputer to supercomputer, most use clusters of computers to up their processing power and speed.
As of November 2007, the fastest machine in the supercomputer Top500 ranking was Blue Gene/L - which is a cluster of 65,536 computers, each with two processors that can process two data streams concurrently.
So is Blue Gene/L the most powerful computer in the world?
Yes and no. Blue Gene/L is the most powerful supercomputer in existence but the criminals behind the Storm Worm have created a botnet containing millions of PCs with a combined computing power greater than that of Blue Gene/L's.
So aren't supercomputers just a version of a mainframe computer or a botnet?
No, the main difference between these different pieces of hardware is a supercomputer channels all its power into executing a few programs as fast as possible, whereas a mainframe executes many programs concurrently and a botnet uses its power to churn out high numbers of spam and viruses or commit denial of service attacks.
All that hardware doesn't make supercomputers sound very eco-friendly…
True but the boffins are working on that too. A green supercomputer called Maxwell which is 10 times more energy efficient and up to 300 times faster than its traditional equivalents was unveiled in Edinburgh earlier this year.
Who uses them and what for?
A supercomputer is typically used for scientific and engineering applications, which must handle a very large database or do a great amount of computation (or both). One such application is using supercomputing technology to carry out research that could radically speed up the development of drugs. But supercomputers are also increasingly moving out of the laboratories and being used by businesses too.
Which businesses?
Formula One teams have been embracing supercomputing tech, with the AT&T Williams F1 team and the BMW-Sauber team both using separate supercomputers to improve the development of their aerodynamic tech.
IBM is also coming up with another supercomputer, called Blue Gene/P, which it claims will be capable of processing more than three petaflops. The US Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory is set to deploy the first Blue Gene/P later this year.
Microsoft has even developed a supercomputer-in-a-box with a relatively tiny price tag of $50,000.
So they usually cost big bucks then?
Oh yes, supercomputers usually cost millions of pounds to build and install - with the subsequent electricity bills to keep the computer cool and running being pretty pricey too.
Comment and share: Cheat Sheet: Supercomputing
Hardware Innovation Mobility Networking Storage Data Centers Smart Persons Guides Hardware on ZDNet


September 19, 2014 September 19, 2014 - by Ilda - 25 Comments.
July 30, 2014 - by Gogs - 9 Comments.
What is left for President Aquino to report in his 5th SONA to be delivered July 28, 2014?
July 10, 2014 - by benign0 - 24 Comments.
June 24, 2014 - by benign0 - 5 Comments.
May 22, 2014 May 22, 2014 - by benign0 - 11 Comments.


The work of the Aram Bartholl relates Internet, the culture and the reality working non common relationships between new media and daily life. His research establish a direct relation between public space as it is traditionally understood and new ways to relate it to virtual plataforms. His projects move from performance, workshops and different audiovisual media, finding different ways to represent this relations. Aram's work has been showed in the Festival Trasmediale, Haus der Kultur der Welt, The Israel Museum, Netherlands Media Arts Institute, Kasseler Kunstverein y Cuban Contemporary Art Salon among others. He is a member of the Urban Media Salon Berlin and member of the artist group FAT (Free Art and Technology Lab) in New York. Aram is professor at the Stuttgart University.


Luc Messinezis performed live his concrete piece "Sonic Garbage" at Implode Festival which took place the 25th of May 2013 at the city of Khalkis, Greece.
The festival presented a variety of Greek Sound artists and performers, each performing a single piece of sound artwork and/or experimental music.
For more information and a video of the performance click HERE.


text:
(Credit: Mary McCartney)
Paul McCartney says he's holding back songs like 'Eleanor Rigby'
Jack Whatley
@jackwhatley89
Thu 15th Jul 2021 10.30 BST
One of the unique facets of The Beatles during their pomp in the 1960s was their ability to tell sweet and soulful stories in the guise of pop songs. Credited always to Lennon-McCartney, the real write of most of these "story songs" was, in fact, Paul McCartney.
Happier to employ a sense of whimsy than his bespectacled counterpart, Macca saw the value in leading the audience through a nuanced tale. One of the singer's most famous attempts at this style was 'Eleanor Rigby' which told the tale of a parking inspector looking for love.
Now, in an interview with Uncut for their September issue, McCartney has suggested he has countless more songs like 'Eleanor Rigby', which featured on The Beatles LP Revolver, but they will remain in his archives.
"I've still got a few that I haven't released," he said. "Because I don't think they're that good." While we'd imagine his standards are pretty high, one must still respect the authentic artistry McCartney uses.
"It's quite a fun thing to do," McCartney continued, "to just dream up a name of a character and try and write the story of that character and then make it fit with another character. 'Eleanor Rigby', I did it with just the few. Father McKenzie and Eleanor."
McCartney also had a theory as to why 'Eleanor Rigby' stands out as one of his best "story songs" sharing, "With my story songs, a lot of them, besides 'Eleanor Rigby', tend to be comedy. It's me doing the tongue-in-cheek thing, whereas 'Eleanor Rigby' was more serious. I think that's why it was more successful."
Listen below to The Beatles classic song 'Eleanor Rigby'.


Get the upper-hand on your competition by turning your passion into a business.
Turning passion into sound business strategy gives your business competitive strategy and competitive strength by helping you to avoid the ME Too - Me TOO Syndrome that is plaguing today's new business.
Passion Helps You To Avoid Falling Into The ME Too - Me TOO Trap.
The "ME Too - Me TOO" Syndrome Explained.
Countless numbers of businesses start up each year.
Many new business owners do their research, they do their planning.
They take a look at the competition, they may even survey the needs and wants of a targeted niche market.
They perform all the necessary steps to getting there new business launched and opened.
They launch a business that serves no specific purpose in the marketplace.
Their business simply becomes one of Just Another businesses lining the street of Main Street America.
The Tragic Mistakes Your Competitors Make.
Many of your competitors think that because everybody else has structured their business a certain way, then, of course, that's how they should structure theirs.
They open their business using the same type of competitive set-up, same type of promotional approach, a similar sound business name, and providing their customers with the same type of customer experience.
And then, at the end of all of they efforts, they face the plagued existence of being Just Another.
The "ME Too - Me TOO" Syndrome In Action.
If your customer looks at you as just another (Just Another cleaner's, Just Another spa, Just Another retreat business), then your bottom-line will reflect that you are "Just Another".
Just Another in a long line of choices and options.
Just Another business that they may or may NOT choose to patronize.
Don't let "The ME Too - Me TOO" Syndrome overtake your competitive business strategy approach.
Turning your passion into business helps you to overcome the temptation to start a business tagged as a "ME Too - Me TOO" victim.
Passion helps you to find the best start-up small business idea by focusing on fit.
Passion will also help you to define the full scope of what you stand for and what your business will go down in history fighting for.
Your business exists to fill a need.
If you get shaky on that need, then your business will experience a very shaky existence.
If you fill the core of your business with passion, then your passion will aid in helping you to establish a business that has a strong foundation and a strong sense of identity.
Your customers do NOT want to patronize Just Another.
They want to patronize a business that "gets" them and what it is that they really want and desire.
They crave a business that spends enough time on the front-end to find a special way to connect to them and their current frustrations.
They crave a business that differentiates itself well enough to make them notice.
Turning your passion into a business will give you a upper hand on the competition.
You must do what all successful businesses do - figure out a way to package your passion into a customer-focused business that will make your customer base go absolutely crazy.
"Hmmm...now THAT's a company that really took their time to get to know me...it's like they read my mind and put together a business that tickled my fancy and made my life a lot easier."
Passion coupled with strategy gives you permission to customized your business approach.
Truth be told: bringing your idea to start a small business to life won't land you on Carefree Drive.
Following your passion will help to lead you to a business that will fit your knowledge, your gifts and your passion j-u-s-t right.
And your j-u-s-t right approach will give your business a competitive strategy tailored to win the hearts of your targeted market niche.
A part of your business's competitive strategy requires that you design your tailor your business to give your customers a product, service, and experience mix that they truly crave.
Turning your passion into a business also means that you must do all that you can to convert your passion, or knowledge into a profitable undertaking.
It means that you find viable ways to turn your passion into several income streams.
For example, it could do wonders for your business to find a way to turn your passion into profit by finding a way to write your own ebooks for sell.
Turning your passion into a business also gives your freedom to tailor your competitive approach to meet the needs, wants, and desires of your targeted market niche.
Here's to successfully turning your passion into a business that your customers will crave!
Turning Passion Into Business - Browse Below To Find More Information.
Find A Business Or New Start-Up Idea That Fits J-U-S-T Right. Finding A New Start Up Idea That Fits.
Turn Your Passion Into Profit. Discover What You Can Do To Write Your Own Ebooks For Profit.
Bring Your Idea To Start A Small Business To Life. Sometimes It Ain't As Easy As You Expect.
The Power Of A Business Competitive Strategy Plan. Discover How This Plan Protects Your Business From A New Silent Business Killer That Has Started To Sweep Across The Nation.
The Secret To Finding The Best Start-Up Small Business Idea For You. Hint: It Comes Down To Fit.


text:
Q: Backspace button removing only one previous character in Android Studio Is it possible to modify the default functionality of the backspace button from the keybord for Android Studio? I would like the backspace key to always remove only one character (as it was in Eclipse). Currently clicking the backspace sometimes reverts me to the previous line, not removes the one previous character.

A: If I understood your question correctly here is what you have to do!
Open setting and search for "Smart keys" in the search bar, then replace backspace functionality like in the picture.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
The History Center Highlights Women's History Month
During the month of March, which is celebrated as Women's History Month, The History Center will be highlighting parts of our collection that document women's contributions to the history of East Texas. We will also highlight and link to other insitutions that are working to document women's history in our area. This week, we are highlighting the Museum of East Texas and its "Texas Women Win the Vote" exhibit and program.
On December 12, 2014, the Museum of East Texas presented a program entitled "Texas Women Win the Vote" in conjunction with their exhibits of the same name and its annual Family Day. The event featured a panel of three distinguished women who have spent many years ensuring that the history of Texas women will be preserved and celebrated. Lufkin's Ellen Temple spoke about her efforts to ensure women are included in the history of Texas and to publish historical research about Texas women, particularly the landmark book Citizens at Last: The Woman Suffrage Movement in Texas (1987) and A Texas Suffragist: Diaries and Writings of Jane Y. McCallum (1988). These books, which brought together important documents and archival sources on Texas Women's history, were the first books to address woman suffrage in Texas. Next, historian Kay Arnold discussed her ongoing research on woman suffrage in Texas and her discoveries in the papers of suffragist and former Texas Secretary of State Jane Y. McCallum. She also discussed the importance of East Texas women to the movement. And finally, Lufkin's Rev. Bettie Kennedy discussed the contributions of African American women to the suffrage and equal rights movements.
The History Center applauds the Museum of East Texas for its ongoing commitment to preservation and the arts in East Texas and for hosting this important event, along with its accompanying exhibits.
Below, please find a video recording of the event, courtesy of the Museum of East Texas.


text:
A Beacon in the Firmament
By Bob Keane | April 01, 2010 at 04:00 AM | The original version of this story was published on Investment Advisor
Advisors like to know that the money managers with whom they entrust their clients' assets have some significant part of their own money in the...
Advisors like to know that the money managers with whom they entrust their clients' assets have some significant part of their own money in the funds they manage. Having some skin in the game may be good, but no rational investor would put all their assets into a single strategy. So who looks after the money manager's money while the money manager is looking after someone else's money?
Among those taking on that task are Paul Tramontano and Sam Katzman, the chief executive officer and chief investment officer, respectively, of Constellation Wealth Advisors, a wealth management firm with offices in New York and Menlo Park, California.
"We have a lot of professional investors as clients," says Tramontano. "Out in our Menlo Park office, some of the most famous venture and private equity people are clients of our firm. One woman said to me, 'You guys are like the doctors' doctor,' but in essence that's what we've become.
"What I would tell you about professional investors," he continues, "whether they're hedge funds or venture, or private equity–they know what they know. And they don't know all the other things that are important to an overall financial plan. They tend not to do a lot of estate planning and generational planning for their families. Some get very wealthy and they don't even have wills. These are all the things that we do well. We're flattered that sophisticated people have chosen us, but the more important thing is that it's a great help to our business as well."
Although the makeup of their clients is not something the firm advertises, Tramontano says that having professional investors as clients gives them access to a tremendous amount of intellectual capital. If the principals at Constellation are considering an investment idea, they have reliable sources they can access to help them vet it. The same is true if they're looking for references on a new money manager that's under consideration.
The Firm's Genesis
Although they founded Constellation in April 2007, Tramontano and Katzman have been working as a team for more than 10 years. Prior to making the move to independence they were senior advisors with Smith Barney and then Citigroup's Citi Family Office.
Like many others who have left the wirehouse environment to go into business for themselves, the driver for Tramontano and Katzman was that they thought corporate decisions were being made that weren't necessarily in the best interests of their clients. "We were, and still are, advocates of an open, completely transparent investment firm and that's why Constellation was created," explains Tramontano. "The way I've explained it to clients is, 'There are manufacturers of financial products and there are people that consume financial products.' All the large firms have over the past 15 years turned essentially into manufacturers of financial products."
The partners say they weren't against the basic premise of manufacturing financial products, but that if they were going to serve the high end of the investment market, they wanted to have access to every possible idea and manager, not just those available on their employer's platform.
"Our whole goal when working with wealthy families is to make their lives easier and to take control of the financial side of their lives," adds Katzman. Working in a wirehouse environment, he says, was difficult to do because the advisor only reports on the assets held by the wirehouse and few very wealthy clients have all their money in one place. That makes it very difficult, Katzman says, for the advisor to come up with a truly comprehensive financial plan.
Like any advisor operating in the rarefied air of the family office segment, those at Constellation say they are ready to supply whatever the client needs to make their financial lives easier, including helping to negotiate the purchase of a new home or even an employment contract. "We tell people that we're all things to some people," quips Tramontano.
"We'll do almost anything," adds Katzman. "At the core of what we do is investing and helping people think about their finances and everything else in life. If we don't have the expertise, we'll find it, we'll get it, we'll vet it, and we'll get it done, but the core of the firm is as an investment/financial advisor."
Constellation focuses on clients with $10 million or more to invest, and while most clients at that asset level have worked with other advisors previously, that's not always the case.
"We wouldn't generally lead with the investments," explains Tramontano about how he would handle such a scenario. Instead he would spend time looking at the clients' current financial situation–their wills and estate documents, home ownership, insurance coverage, and the like–and developing an understanding of their risk tolerance.
"I've said for many years that clients know exactly what they want to invest in; they just don't know how to do that," he continues. "Our role is to make sure we ask the right questions to get to that; that's how we can add value."
"We're dealing with people who are already rich, so first and foremost we preserve and grow," adds Katzman. "We spend a lot of time with people on the front end and there's an art and science portion to asset allocation. The science part is pretty straightforward, it's the art part that is hard and is what I think differentiates us from some other people. But by spending all that time on the front end and getting that feel for the client we're able to, we think, get the most efficient portfolio to match what we've learned on the front end, with the right risk and everything else in the portfolio."
Building the Portfolio
As chief investment officer, Katzman heads up Constellation's 12-member investment committee. Since one of the ideas behind the birth of the firm was to offer clients every reasonable investment available, it's more appropriate to ask what he won't put into a portfolio rather than the other way around.
"We don't use anything that involves a tremendous amount of leverage," he notes. "If something needs leverage to make sense, then it's probably not something we're interested in. We generally anchor a portfolio with a fixed income allocation and then we have an alternative allocation as well; most of our clients will have, if it's appropriate, up to 15% or 20% in alternatives. We use equities through separately managed accounts or mutual funds if there are smaller accounts that have come with the household. Sometimes there are ETFs in those mutual fund accounts. We're just trying to find ways to make money."
"There are very few things that we wouldn't look at on behalf of a family if it was appropriate," agrees Tramontano.
Both Katzman and Tramontano use the word "appropriate" frequently when discussing their clients and the services they provide to them. They're also meticulous in their attention to what the managers they use are doing. "We look at every single trade they do on a weekly basis," reveals Katzman. "One of the ways you can hurt yourself is if you get managers beginning to drift from what they're supposed to be doing. You can get people moving toward the hot item of the day and you end up with your portfolio being out of balance. We're very diligent about what our managers are doing and if there's anything we see as a deviation from what their goal is, we're on it."
Constellation's advisors also pay strict attention to their clients' stated goals to keep them from deviating as well, partly through the use of investment policy statements (IPS).
"It's helpful when inevitably someone sees something that sounds attractive to them and they'll bring it to the table, but it doesn't really fit in with what their goals are that were stated in the IPS," says Katzman. "It helps keep people on track to accomplish their goals, not chase something that might seem like the right thing at the time."
Surviving the Crisis
The last couple of years have been tough for most independent advisory firms, and more important, on the their clients' asset levels, which in turn may have caused clients to look for something that could make them whole again in a hurry.
"I would say our careers have been spent talking people out of doing things against their own best interests," jokes Tramontano, but adds that really wasn't the case during the depths of the market turmoil. "We were positioned well going into the crisis. Our managers and some of our investments were down just like everybody else but overall as a firm we fared extraordinarily well in 2008 and 2009.Therefore we haven't had a lot of panicked people and we haven't had a lot of people making bad decisions or even thinking about making bad decisions."
According to the pair, the core of the firm's current business comes from long-time clients who followed their advisors when the new firm was launched. The same is true for the Menlo Park office. That part of the business is headed by a third partner, Jon Goldstein, who had also been a managing director and senior advisor with Citi Family Office in California.
"We were fortunate in that when we left our other firm we invited a select group of people to come with us and we feel very good that most everybody joined us," says Tramontano, of the firm's clients.
According to Tramontano, Constellation currently serves about 100 households in the New York office and another 80 in California, with the firm's approximately $4 billion in AUM pretty evenly split between the two coasts.
Going forward, Tramontano says that the firm could clearly handle up to $10 billion in client assets before it would be necessary to reassess the business model, and he's pretty confident that figure is attainable.
"I've been doing this for 26 years and I have never seen an environment that is so fertile with people who are interested in advice," he says. "I think that it's partly because of the market and partly because we had a lot of firms on the precipice of the end of the world just 18 months ago and that caused some people to think. There are a lot of people that are looking for new advisors and, frankly, I think they're looking for independence in the investment process. That's where we are positioned well."
E-mail Managing Editor Robert F. Keane at [email protected].
RBC Adds 2 UBS Teams With $900M
The firm welcomed a new group of advisors to its Lincoln, Nebraska branch.
Jud Mackrill Exits Carson Group to Start Fintech Firm
The executive steps down as Carson's chief marketing officer after two years to co-found Milemarker in South Carolina.


text:
import dtypeChar = require( './index' );

// TESTS //

// The function returns a table if not provided a data type string...
{
	dtypeChar(); // $ExpectType Table
}

// The function returns string or null if provided a data type string...
{
	dtypeChar( 'float64' ); // $ExpectType string | null
	dtypeChar( 'generic' ); // $ExpectType string | null
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


OFFICIAL APPLICATION REVIEW: READ THIS BEFORE APPLYING!
These are the application review rules. Below this writing is an application that you must copy and paste. Then fill it out honestly, and then create a new post and paste it into the post. The title of you post should be something like "Spect Application" so we know whose it is.
THE ONLY WRITING IN THIS FORUM IS FOR APPLICATIONS! NO SMALL TALK THATS WHAT THE FREE TALK FORUM IS FOR!
What do you think you will contribute to this clan?
Why did you want to join this clan?
What two current 5BK members have you beaten in order to join this clan?


Australian digital diagnostics firm Ellume has partnered with German-Dutch company QIAGEN to develop a new tuberculosis (TB) testing solution for developing nations with a high disease burden of TB.
The new testing solution, QuantiFERON®-TB Access (QFT Access), combines Ellume's ultrasensitive digital detection technology with QIAGEN's existing latent-TB testing product, QuantiFERON-TB, which first gained FDA approval in 2001.
As well as developing the new TB testing solution, QIAGEN is acquiring a US$15 million minority stake in Ellume and the use of its intellectual property for the detection of latent TB. This new platform has the potential to expand the product menu beyond latent TB to include other illnesses, particularly those co-incident with TB, such as HIV.
QIAGEN intends to work with the World Health Organization (WHO), various non-governmental organisations and governments to support their TB control efforts, and in particular, achieve goals set by the WHO's End TB Strategy.
'We're pleased to be partnering with a global leader such as QIAGEN to create a high-impact product such as QFT Access,' says Dr Sean Parsons, Founder and Managing Director, Ellume.
The QIAGEN alliance builds on the recent announcement of a global partnership with GlaxoSmithKline announced in December 2018.
'To have this second partnership with a company such as QIAGEN is a real validation of the technology we've created over the last five years,' says Dr Parsons.
Ellume is an Australian digital diagnostics company that develops, manufactures and commercialises accurate, connected products for health professionals and consumers. It focuses on the detection of common illnesses that affect the global population. Ellume has developed detection technology powered by a quantum dot nanoparticle, which integrates optics, electronics, biologics and software into an intuitive and high-performance digital platform.
QIAGEN was established in 1984 by a team of scientists at the Heinrich Heine University in Düsseldorf, Germany. Its holding company is now based in the Netherlands. QIAGEN specialises in isolating and processing DNA, RNA and protein from blood, tissue and other material samples for analysis. Its bioinformatics software and knowledge bases interpret data to report relevant, actionable insights, while its automation solutions tie these together in workflows. As at 30 September 2018, QIAGEN employed approximately 4,900 people in over 35 locations worldwide.


We prepare cold and warm delicacies for your celebrations - from the classic buffet to the comprehensive catering service.
Whether you want to celebrate with us, at home or wherever you like!
Cold or warm, rustic or exclusive - what can it be?
in all questions about your event.
We are happy to pick up your wishes and realize them skillfully.
We make sure that your celebration is a complete success - for you and your guests.
We create your personal offer with the food and drink of your choice.
We look forward to host your special day.


text:
C'EST BON! VODIA ANNOUNCES FRENCH VERSION OF ITS NEW WEBSITE
November 8, 2021 – Vodia Networks ("Vodia"), maker of cutting-edge software-based telephone systems, is pleased to announce the company's website, Vodia.com, is now available in French.
David Porter
Vodia recently announced the Spanish version of its website following the relaunch of its website to make it easier to navigate for partners and resellers and to give small businesses more information as to how its best-in-class cloud PBX makes it possible for SMBs and their teams to work from anywhere, particularly as hybrid work becomes the norm for so many enterprises worldwide, with staff alternating between working from home and working onsite.
Vodia maintains a global presence, with offices in Australia, France, Germany, Hong Kong and South Africa. The company also works with outstanding distributors in Europe and in North and South America and, to better serve its partners and their resellers, continues to increase the number of languages in which its website is available. Now that Vodia.com is available in English, French, German, Portuguese and Spanish, translations into Italian and Russian are being discussed, along with Mandarin.
"We're thrilled to be able to provide all of the information on our new website in French," said Kyle Asbury, Director, Sales and Marketing, Vodia, "as it gives us a chance to support our distributors and resellers in France and Quebec and in Francophone countries worldwide. We have outstanding partners in these countries, and we look forward to gaining greater market share in Africa, the Caribbean, Canada and France. We want to see our best-in-class cloud PBX take over the world!"
The Vodia PBX comprises the most complete suite of robust business telephony features for on-premise and cloud-based telephony, including auto attendant, SMS, paging, separation of personal and work calls, conference calls, call recording, CRM integration and Microsoft Teams integration. If you're looking for an integrated solution to provide telephony, Internet and Wi-Fi for your organization, Vodia makes it possible to work from anywhere.
For more information, please contact Vodia's VP of Communications, David Porter, dp@vodia.com.


text:
The Ever Given has been seized — and its owners aren't happy
The Ever Given has been seized — and its owners aren't happy. (Suez Canal)
Covid cases rise for ninth consecutive day. (Covid Watch)
Investor Protection Fund expands coverage to forced delistings. (Regulation Watch)
Sudan wants PM-level jaw-fest over GERD within 10 days. (Diplomacy)
Gov't introduces aluminum tariffs for three years. (Also on our Radar)
The Ramadan talkshow slowdown is in full swing — but there's still time for GERD. (Last Night's Talk Shows)
How to avoid Ever Given Season 2. (Hardhat)
Planet Finance— A food delivery startup out of Singapore is about to become the biggest SPAC acquisition ever.
WHAT WE'RE TRACKING TODAY
Good morning, everyone. We hope you had a phenomenal iftar last night — and that you're settling in for a productive workday. One more to go after this and we can all settle in to enjoy the weekend.
This morning's news? You could be forgiven for thinking we jumped back in time. The big news stories of the day include the Everwhatever, a third wave of covid-19 and GERD, GERD and still more GERD.
Also on the time warp front: We're still oddly happy that the Citadel's "Ramadan cannon" is back in service, booming to signal iftar for the first time in 30 years after being reconditioned.
***CATCH UP QUICK with the top stories from yesterday's edition of EnterprisePM:
M&A Watch: Cleopatra Hospitals has confirmed that it's in the race to acquire a majority stake in Alex Medical.
Tourism slump? What tourism slump? We currently have 54 new hotels in development across Egypt, which will add a combined 16k new rooms by 2023.
The emerging markets of the future: Future EM growth will be driven by tech adoption, not exports, in a de-globalizing world.
So, when do we eat? Iftar tonight is at 6:21pm CLT. You'll have until 3:58am CLT to eat your sohour, hydrate, and gulp down as much coffee as you can.
THE BIG STORY INTERNATIONALLY THIS MORNING- The US' 20-year war in Afghanistan will officially come to an end in September. All US troops in Afghanistan will be withdrawn from the country by 11 September, the Associated Press reports, citing several US officials. The decision will see the withdrawal come up to four months' later than the Taliban had agreed with the Trump administration last year, but it sets a firm deadline for the administration to finally wind down the war — one that one official said was absolute and won't be affected by changes in security conditions. Prompted by the 11 September terrorist attacks, the US invaded Afghanistan in October 2001, triggering a two-decade conflict with the Taliban that cost USD 1 tn, the lives of 2.2k US troops, and the deaths of unknown thousands of Afghan civilians. (Washington Post | NYT | CNN | FT)
MORNING MUST READ- FOMO may be what saves office life: Employees working from home after colleagues have returned to the office are likely to experience fear of missing out on insider intel, office gossip, and the chance to network, writes Bloomberg Businessweek contributor Peter Coy. Just 19% of employees said they wanted to continue working from home full-time, which may be caused by the drop in time spent collaborating with coworkers during hours on the clock, Coy writes.
CIRCLE YOUR CALENDAR-
iSheep, take note: Apple is running a virtual event on Tuesday, 20 April at which pundits think it will unveil AirTags and a new iPad Pro with an improved display and faster processor, among other goodies. The headline: Spring Loaded. The event will stream at 7pm CLT on Apple's website and on Youtube.
More information on the new construction licenses + building code will be made public by tomorrow to explain the details of the new system that will hand out construction licenses.
EBRD President Odile Renaud-Basso could visit Egypt later this month, Al Masry Al Youm reported this weekend following a meeting with Egypt's ambassador to the UK Tarek Adel. This would be her first official visit to Egypt since she was appointed to head the bank in November.
"Summer hours" will come into effect for retail stores and restaurants as of this Saturday, 17 April. This means retail shops can close at 11 pm (instead of 10 pm during the winter), while cafes and restaurants can stay open until 1 am (instead of midnight currently). We have more details on the winter vs. summer hours here.
The Central Bank of Egypt will meet to discuss interest rates on Thursday, 29 April.
Check out our full calendar on the web for a comprehensive listing of upcoming news events, national holidays and news triggers.
*** It's Hardhat day — your weekly briefing of all things infrastructure in Egypt: Enterprise's industry vertical focuses each Wednesday on infrastructure, covering everything from energy, water, transportation, urban development and as well as social infrastructure such as health and education.
In today's issue: In just six days, the Ever Given's mishap in the Suez Canal cost Egypt around USD 90 mn in foregone revenues — and has the country seeking some USD 900 mn in damages. This prompted experts to take a closer look at the canal's infrastructure — and prompted us to look into what they had to say. Suggestions include more dredging efforts, acquiring high-capacity equipment and establishing a parallel railroad track.
The Ever Given's owners aren't happy that their ship has been seized: The owners of the Ever Given have said they are "disappointed" at the Suez Canal Authority's (SCA) decision to seize the vessel, claiming they had offered the authority "carefully considered and generous" compensation for blocking the canal last month. In a statement released yesterday, the ship's protection and indemnity insurer UK Club said the SCA had requested it pay USD 916 mn in compensation for the incident, a claim it says was "largely unsupported."
What did the SCA ask for? According to UK P&I, the SCA's claim included a USD 300 mn "salvage bonus" and another USD 300 mn for "loss of reputation." It described the USD 916 mn demand as "extraordinarily large" and said that the authority had not provided justification for the figure. The claim also does not factor in the cost of salvaging the vessel, which "owners and their hull underwriters expect to receive separately," the statement said. This is slightly higher than the USD 900 mn reported by local media on Monday and lower than the USD 1 bn the authority had previously been expected to claim.
Neither UK P&I nor the ship's owner — Japan's Shoei Kisen — have disclosed how much was offered in compensation. A day after an offer was made on 12 April, the SCA submitted a seizure request to the Ismailia Economic Court, allowing it take control of the vessel until its compensation demands were met. A day before the insurer claimed its "generous" offer, Chairman Osama Rabie told state TV that "they don't want to pay anything" for the incident (watch, runtime: 9:46).
The ship is officially impounded: Rabie confirmed that the authority had taken control of the ship yesterday after the court approved its seizure request, Ahram Gate reported.
Negotiations are continuing: "The owners will continue to negotiate with the SCA," the insurer said. An SCA official confirmed the talks to Reuters. The authority has reportedly been in talks with Shoei Kisen for two weeks now to reach a financial settlement outside of court.
Another unfortunate byproduct of the Suez blockage: A surge in ship pollution that the BBC says was visible from space. Sulphur dioxide levels in the air rose to five times their normal levels in the Mediterranean last month, as hundreds of ships were left idled by the blockage. This was picked up by the EU's Sentinel-5P satellite, which carries devices capable of detecting pollutants in the atmosphere.
The story is everywhere in the foreign press this morning: Bloomberg | AFP | Washington Post | Wall Street Journal | CNN.
Covid cases rise for ninth consecutive day
Covid cases in Egypt rose for the ninth day running yesterday, providing more evidence that the country is experiencing a third wave of the virus as it enters Ramadan season. Egypt saw 823 new infections yesterday, up from 818 the day before, while 39 more people died from the virus, down slightly from 42 on Monday, according to Health Ministry figures released early this morning.
Cases have been slowly creeping up this month, rising from 699 on 31 March. This has prompted government ministers and talk show hosts to warn the public of an oncoming third wave, the timing of which is particularly problematic given Ramadan, Coptic Easter and Sham El Nessim are all taking place over the coming month. There have been suggestions that new restrictions could be introduced in the coming days should large crowds turn out in the streets to celebrate Ramadan; measures that could include closing public spaces, banning public prayer and reducing hours at government buildings.
Egypt has now disclosed a total of 212,130 confirmed cases of covid-19, while the country's total death toll now stands at 12,526.
COVID ABROAD-
The US, Europe and South Africa have suspended their rollouts of the Johnson & Johnson covid-19 vaccine while experts investigate cases of rare blood clots that may be linked to the jab, the BBC reports. US health agencies earlier in the day called on the US government to temporarily halt its use while it studies the cases, six of which were detected in more than 6.8 mn doses of the inoculation. This prompted the company to delay its rollout in the EU which started this week, and South Africa to suspend its use.
How big is the risk? There are six reports of women with clots from among the 7 mn doses given (in total, to men and women) in the United States. Those same women, if on birth control pills, have an even higher risk: The US Food and Drug Administration "estimates that the risk of birth control users developing a serious blood clot is three to nine women out of 10,000, every year." (The clots are admittedly different.)
Haven't we heard this story before? AstraZeneca's jab has faced similar charges, with a rate of 166 reported clots in 37 mn doses administered — meaning you have about a 3x greater chance of getting a clot after taking AstraZeneca than you do of being hit by lightning the next time you're allow to go to Europe for vacation.
All adults in the UK over the age of 50 have now been offered at least one covid-19 shot, the government announced yesterday, making its vaccine rollouts one of the fastest in the world. The government reached its vaccination target several days ahead of schedule, and has now administered over 40 mn vaccines. The next phase of the program will target those in their 40s, with the aim of giving all UK adults at least one vaccine dose by the end of July.
REGULATION WATCH
Investor Protection Fund expands coverage to forced delistings
The Investor Protection Fund (IPF) will expand its coverage to stock market losses if a listed company is ordered by regulators to delist shares, according to updated regulations (pdf) published by the Financial Regulatory Authority yesterday. An earlier version of the regs (pdf) issued in 2016 shows that the fund had only compensated investors if publicly traded companies went bankrupt or got into deep financial distress, or if it was proven that the investor's losses were due to mismanagement, negligence or fraud on the part of the company.
Sudan wants PM-level jaw-fest over GERD
Sudan has called on the prime ministers of Egypt and Ethiopia to attend a summit within 10 days in a bid to revive stalled talks over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), state news agency SUNA reported yesterday. The invitation for a meeting, which would be attended by Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly, Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok and Ethiopian PM Abiy Ahmed, comes amid rising tensions between the three countries, which again failed to agree on a path forward for new talks last week.
Finding an agreement is becoming increasingly pressing, Hamdok said yesterday in an apparent reference to Ethiopia's plans to continue filling the dam this summer, a move which President Abdel Fattah El Sisi has warned would be a red line for Egypt. Talks in Kinshasa last week ended without an agreement, with Ethiopia refusing to agree to Sudan's proposal to bring in new mediators, preferring to stick with the current African Union-led talks.
The US is backing the AU: Washington is pushing all three countries to return to the negotiating table under the AU-led process, a State Department spokesperson told Sky News Arabia yesterday. "The negotiating table is the only solution to the crisis," the spokesperson said. This came a day after Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov called for a swift resolution to the dispute during talks in Cairo with Sameh Shoukry and El Sisi.
Is Egypt trying to bring the UN into the fold? Shoukry yesterday spoke to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres about the current state of talks, according to a cabinet statement which provided little information on the substance of the conversation. The minister has also sent letters to Guterres, the UN Security Council and the UN General Assembly after the latest developments on the GERD, the statement said, without disclosing further information. The UN is one of the organizations Sudan and Egypt want to bring into the mediation process, and Shoukry last week suggested that Egypt could appeal to the Security Council for a resolution if current efforts falter.
National Bank of Egypt profits drop 40% in 2019-2020
State-owned National Bank of Egypt's net income declined 40% to EGP 13.1 bn in its 2019-2020 fiscal year, compared to EGP 20.2 bn a year earlier, the bank said in a statement (pdf) this week. The statement provides little insight into why the state-owned bank's profits declined and does not disclose its net interest income during the period. The country's largest lender saw its loan portfolio rose 33% to EGP 721 bn during the year, while the ratio of non-performing loans fell to 1.4%, compared to 1.6% in FY2018-2019.
NBE claims a 35.2% share of all loans in the banking sector, saying it grew its portfolio 33% Y-o-Y to EGP 720 bn as of June 2020 and to EGP 935 bn as of March 2021. The bank's non-performing loans fell as a percentage of total loans to 1.4% last year compared to 1.6% the year before. It also claimed a 35.5% market share of deposits as of March 2021 at about EGP 2 tn.
NBE emphasized in the statement that it paid EGP 17.5 bn in taxes to the public treasury and said it had 1.4 mn customers sign up for its internet banking service in the period. The bank had 553 physical branches, offices and other units in service at the end of March 2021.
(If you're clicking through to the press release, you'll want to read carefully: Financial figures are for FY2019-2020, while some figures including total loan book, deposit and market share are variously quoted that fiscal year and for 9M2020-2021.)
Managing director, non-executive chairman named for new central clearing and depository company
Yasser Zaazaa (bio) has been appointed managing director of the new central clearing and depository company for state debt issuances, while Central Bank of Egypt Deputy Governor Rami Aboul Naga (LinkedIn) was named non-executive chairman, Al Mal reports, citing unnamed sources. The new state-run company will handle all the clearing and registry of government debt issuances and its existence is one of the key conditions to local debt being cleared by the Belgium-based clearinghouse Euroclear.
ALSO ON OUR RADAR
All aluminum products will face additional import duties for a three-year period, Trade and Industry Minister Nevine Gamea said in a statement yesterday. A 16.5% tariff of the CIF (cost, ins. and freight) value of imported aluminum moulds, cylinders and wire with a minimum value of USD 333 per tonne will be applied for the first year. The duty will be reduced by 3% for each of the following two years, reaching a minimum value of USD 211 per tonne by the third year, Gamea said.
Other things we're keeping an eye on this morning:
Amazon Payment Services is waiving service fees for businesses in Egypt who ink an agreement before the end of June. The announcement does not make clear when the waiver would come to an end.
Vodafone is in talks to operate the new administrative capital's planned 5G network, and has submitted proposals to the National Telecom Regulatory Authority.
Wizz Air Abu Dhabi will begin operating four flights a week from the UAE to Luxor and Sohag next month. Flights from the UAE to Sohag will run Wednesdays and Saturdays starting 29 May and flights to Luxor will begin operating every Monday and Friday on 4 June, and Tuesdays and Saturdays from 15 June.
Real estate developer Inertia will borrow EGP 1.1 bn in Islamic financing from Banque Misr to finance construction works for the fourth phase of its flagship Jefaira North Coast project.
Banque Misr will provide electronic collection services to the Petroleum Commercial Services Company (Petrotrade), which processes more than 70% of the country's gas bill payments, Al Mal reports, citing a statement from the bank.
The Dostour Party's former spokesperson Khaled Dawoud has been released from pre-trial detention — where he has been held since 2019 on charges of reporting fake news — pending further investigation.
The Court of Cassation has upheld death sentences for four defendants and the imprisonment of 14 others who were found guilty of killing eight members of the police service in Helwan in 2016.
This publication is proudly sponsored by
ENTERPRISE+: LAST NIGHT'S TALK SHOWS
The Ramadan talk show slowdown began in earnest last night, with several channels transitioning to mosalsalat mode for the first day of Ramadan.
Ahmed Moussa provided the sole piece of political commentary last night — about GERD (what else?). Moussa had a thorough read of Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok's invitation for a three-way summit next week to renew negotiations over the dam (watch runtime 4:56). We have more on this in this morning's Diplomacy section, above.
A final attempt at diplomacy? Sudanese political analyst Essam Dakeen described Hamdok's move as a "final attempt" to avoid the situation from seriously deteriorating. He suggested that the initiative will likely fail, given what he said was Ethiopia's non-compliance with the 2015 Declaration of Principles (watch, runtime 4:40). Egypt and Sudan should stop the second filling as it would be a "real disaster" if it's done unilaterally, he stressed, suggesting that there may be a war to prevent it "if necessary." Ala Mas'ouleety also covered Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's visit to Cairo on Monday (watch, runtime 2:02) and Sameh Shoukry's call with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres yesterday (more on this above) (watch, runtime 1:52).
** SHARE ENTERPRISE WITH A FRIEND **
Enterprise is available without charge — just visit our English or Arabic subscription page, depending on which edition you would like to receive. We give you just about everything you need to know about Egypt, in your inbox Sunday through Thursday before 7am CLT (8am for Arabic), and all we ask for is your name, email address and where you hang your hat during business hours.
EGYPT IN THE NEWS
The escalation of the dispute over the Ever Given container ship is dominating the pages of the foreign press this morning after the Suez Canal Authority yesterday seized the vessel. We have all the latest on the situation above.
The few foreign journos that don't have their eyes trained on the Suez Canal are talking about Ramadan: Reuters and the New York Times are both out with pieces covering the first day of the holy month, noting that Ramadan 2021 is slightly more normal than Ramadan 2020.
Israeli tourists are (slowly) making their way back to Sinai, provided they show proof of a negative PCR test or that they've previously contracted and recovered from the virus that causes covid-19 at the border. (Times of Israel)
PLANET FINANCE
The biggest SPAC acquisition ever is coming out of Singapore as ride-hailing and food delivery platform Grab is going public on the Nasdaq through a record breaking USD 39.6 bn agreement that will see it merge with a US-based SPAC Altimer Growth, Reuters reports. Altimer Capital is leading the offering with USD 750 mn from funds it manages and has so far seen at least USD 4 bn in private investment in public equity (PIPEs) from a number of investors including BlackRock and Fidelity International.
SPACs had a breakthrough year in 2020 that saw the blank cheque companies raise some USD 83 bn. Appetite looks set to continue this year with SPACs already raising USD 99 bn so far, despite fears last month that a US bond market selloff would kill investor appetite for the highly speculative asset.
Need a refresher on your SPACs and PIPEs? You can find our explainers here and here.
Coinbase valued at USD 65 bn ahead of direct listing: Nasdaq has given crypto exchange Coinbase a reference price of USD 250 a share, valuing the company at USD 65.3 bn as it prepares to go ahead with a direct listing in the US today, CNBC reports. This will be the first listing of a crypto firm in the US and has been called a watershed moment for the industry indicative of digital currencies' increasing acceptance among mainstream investors.
Chinese regulators have given tech companies a month to clear up anti-competitive practices following the antitrust ruling against e-commerce giant Alibaba which saw it slapped with a record USD 2.8 bn fine, the Financial Times reports. A record 76 tech companies shelved plans to list on Shanghai's answer to the Nasdaq, Star Market, last month, after China pulled the brakes on Alibaba-affiliate and financial tech powerhouse Ant Group's USD 37 bn IPO amid increased scrutiny and tighter regulation.
EGX30
-1.4% (YTD: -5.0%)
USD (CBE)
USD at CIB
Interest rates CBE
8.25% deposit
9.25% lending
Tadawul
-0.7% (YTD: +13.2%)
-0.8% (YTD: +3.0%)
+0.3% (YTD: +10.3%)
-% (YTD: +6.7%)
Natural gas (Nymex)
+5.3% (as of midnight)
The EGX30 fell 1.4% yesterday on turnover of EGP 995 mn (27.3% above the 90-day average). Foreign investors were net sellers. The index is down 5.0% YTD.
In the green: AMOC (+15.1%), Fawry (+0.8%) and Credit Agricole (+0.3%).
In the red: ElSewedy Electric (-7.3%), Heliopolis Housing (-4.4%) and Ibnsina Pharma (-4.1%).
Japan's Nikkei is the only major Asian market in the red so far today, while futures suggest that European shares will open in the green later this morning, as will stocks in Toronto. Wall Street so far looks set to start the day in the red at the opening bell.
Iran is raising the stakes ahead of upcoming nuclear talks: One of Iran's nuclear negotiators has announced that the country will go ahead and enrich uranium to 60% for the first time ever, a few days after an apparent attack on one its nuclear facilities and hours before talks resume in Vienna to resurrect the 2015 pact with world powers, the Associated Press reports. The country's foreign minister warned yesterday that the attack, which Tehran labelled an act of "nuclear terrorism" committed by Israel, threatens to upend the current negotiations, which aim to get the US back into the accord and end its sanctions regime in return for Iran getting back into compliance with the terms of the agreement.
What infrastructure upgrades does the Suez Canal need to avoid an Ever Given Season 2? In just six days, the Ever Given's mishap in the Suez Canal cost Egypt around USD 90 mn in foregone revenues, Suez Canal Authority (SCA) boss Osama Rabie told Ala Masouleety's Ahmed Moussa. The SCA is currently considering an expansion at the southern section of the canal where the Ever Given got stuck, Rabie recently announced. This prompted us to ask logistics insiders what other infrastructure developments need to be implemented, in order to avoid another Ever Given mishap. More dredging, high-capacity equipment and a parallel railroad track were all recurring suggestions, our sources tell us.
Background: So what actually happened to the Ever Given? Initial reports indicated that the 400-meter-long vessel got caught up in a dust storm on 23 March, causing it to float sideways and hit the canal's embankment, finally settling diagonally across the canal. Dredgers were used to remove sand from underneath the ship and mud that was caked to its port side. With the help of a rising tide, the ship was finally freed after six days. Depending on the severity of the grounding, the salvage and re-floating of this type of ship is a complex operation, requiring specialist equipment and potentially a lot of time, the World Economic Forum stated. Around 420 ships were stuck on either end of the canal, unable to deliver their shipments, costing the world over USD 9 bn a day, the ripple effects of which will most likely be felt until the summer, the Wall Street Journal reported. A formal investigation is ongoing to determine what exactly happened on board the ship, and is expected to wrap up by the end of the week. Meanwhile, the SCA has demanded the owner of the ship to pay USD 900 mn in compensation, and has obtained a court order to seize the ship until it receives payment, Al Shorouk reported.
The canal's infrastructure has in fact been seeing upgrades in the past few years. This included the expansion of berths, ports, and the establishment of transit stations, head of the Alexandria Navigation Chamber Mohamed Moselhy tells us. These upgrades increased the volume of transit across Egypt, with the canal seeing the movement of 4.8 mn containers in 2020, up from 4.4 mn in 2019, according to a sector performance report issued by the Transportation Ministry. The SCA is looking to get the canal's regular daily capacity to 95 vessels by 2030, Rabie recently said.The establishment of container terminals and unloading berths will even further increase the circulation of goods in all Egyptian ports, not just the Suez Canal, Moselhy believes. But further steps need to be taken in order to avoid another Ever Given-like disruption, vice president of the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport (AAST) Mohamed Daoud says.
Expansion of the dredging works on the canal edges: A lot of work was dedicated to dredging in the past years during the establishment of the New Suez Canal, Daoud tells Enterprise. Although it is unlikely that a second grounding incident will happen, the dredging process needs to continue in order to widen the shipping route, he explains. Dredging means removing sediments and debris from the bottom and edges of the canal, such as silt and sand. This is a necessary routine because it increases the depth of the canal, allowing the safe passage of large ships and vessels. Today, the depth of the Suez Canal stands at 24 meters, which is sufficient for the crossing of giant ships. However, further dredging works need to be done on the edges of the waterway to avoid another Ever Given situation, Daoud explains.
Purchase of high-capacity tugboats and equipment: In the Ever Given saga, it took a few days until Italian and Dutch tugboats arrived to help handle the situation. Hence, some have suggested that the equipment of the SCA needs to be updated and expanded in order to be able to handle these situations in a faster manner and not rely on hired boats to arrive, member of the International Maritime Transport Division at the Egyptian Chamber of Commerce in Alexandria Ahmed Mostafa says. Additionally, there was no readily available equipment to offload some of the Ever Given's weight, United Nations International Maritime Organization advisor Michael Kingston told Reuters. El Sisi already pledged to purchase new equipment and boats for the Suez Canal, and called on ministers to immediately sign off on any needs by the SCA, and new tugboats, dredgers, and cranes are already on the shopping list.
Parallel railway track: To relieve the pressure on the Suez Canal, some are suggesting expanding the railway infrastructure running alongside the waterway. While a railway running from the ports of Sokhna and Suez to Alexandria already exists, it needs to be expanded, Mostafa says. It can then be leased to private companies who can provide the vehicles needed to transport goods. The operation of the railroad will therefore not require heavy government funding. Given the rise in oil prices since the Ever Given mishap, small shipping companies may find the transit fees of the canal too high. A functioning railway would allow them to move their goods to Alexandria via trains, which is much cheaper, Mostafa states. It would also reduce the pressure on the canal's infrastructure and provide the state with profitable returns.
Safety measures: While the past years have seen new safety measures implemented in the canal, additional measures are needed, owner of Saratoga Maritime Transport Agency Ahmed Al-Saeed tells Enterprise. Such measures could include urging the ships to shut down their machines upon entry and depending on the SCA's tugboats to pull ships through the canal.
Maybe some cybersecurity? The canal's IT and communications systems could be vulnerable to hacks and cyber attacks, former senior director for Middle East and North African affairs at the US National Security Council Robert Greenway recently wrote in a Bloomberg Opinion piece. Greenway points to recent cyber attacks on industrial control systems, saying that the canal is vulnerable to similar hostility because of its "antiquated" IT architecture.
Is global shipping growing at a faster rate than our infrastructure? Worldwide, about 11 bn tons of goods are transported by ship each year, which represents 1.5 tons per person, based on the current global population, according to the International Chamber of Shipping. To stay competitive, companies are increasing the sizes of their ships to be able to handle more cargo. "The [Ever Given] incident […] highlights that as ships get larger and more complicated, their reliance on narrow shipping routes constructed in an earlier age looks increasingly risky," the World Economic Forum writes. Adding to that, there remains the question of whether ports are equipped to handle that much cargo unloading. It remains to be seen whether Suez Canal infrastructure developments — if they happen — will be enough to handle these global concerns.
Your top infrastructure stories for the week:
Suez Canal: The Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZone) has signed a long-term syndicated loan worth EGP 10 bn to finance infrastructure projects.
Railway funding: AfDB has approved a EUR 145 mn loan to finance railway upgrades to enhance rail safety through the Egyptian National Railways Modernization Project.
Railway manufacturing: The Arab Organization for Industrialization's SEMAF railway factory will manufacture and supply 1k railway trucks within four years under an agreement signed with the Egyptian National Railways.
Natgas transition infrastructure: Egypt is doubling its natgas filling station target to 1k by the end of the year under a government-backed program to expand natgas refueling infrastructure nationwide.
April: The government's fuel pricing committee is scheduled to meet for its quarterly review of prices.
April: EBRD president Odile Renaud-Basso expected to visit Egypt.
25 April (Sunday): Sinai Liberation Day.
29 April (Thursday): National holiday in observance of Sinai Liberation Day (TBC — the holiday could be observed on a Sunday or a Thursday).
29 April (Thursday): The CBE's Monetary Policy Committee will meet to review interest rates.
1 May (Saturday): Labor Day (national holiday).
2 May (Sunday): Coptic Easter Sunday.
3 May (Monday): Sham El Nessim.
13-15 May (Thursday-Saturday): Eid El Fitr (TBC).
25-28 May (Tuesday-Friday): The World Economic Forum annual meeting, Singapore.
1 June (Tuesday): The IMF will conduct a second review of targets set under the USD 5.2 bn standby loan approved in June 2020 (proposed date).
7-9 June (Monday-Wednesday): Egypt Petroleum Show, Egypt International Exhibition Center, New Cairo, Egypt.
17 June (Thursday): The CBE's Monetary Policy Committee will meet to review interest rates.
17-20 June (Thursday-Sunday) : The International Exhibition of Materials and Technologies for Finishing and Construction (Turnkey Expo), Cairo International Conference Center.
24 June (Thursday): End of the 2020-2021 academic year (public schools).
26-29 June (Saturday-Tuesday): The Big 5 Construct Egypt, Cairo International Convention Center, Cairo, Egypt.
30 June (Wednesday): 30 June Revolution Day.
30 June- 15 July: National Book Fair.
1 July: (Thursday): National holiday in observance of 30 June Revolution.
1 July (Thursday): Large taxpayers that have not yet signed on on to the e-invoicing platform will suffer a host of penalties, including removal from large taxpayer classification, losing access to government services and business, and losing subsidies.
19 July (Monday): Arafat Day (national holiday).
20-23 July (Tuesday-Friday): Eid Al Adha (national holiday)
23 July (Friday): Revolution Day (national holiday).
5 August (Thursday): The CBE's Monetary Policy Committee will meet to review interest rates.
9 August (Monday): Islamic New Year.
12 August (Thursday): National holiday in observance of the Islamic New Year.
12-15 September (Sunday-Wednesday): Sahara Expo: the 33rd International Agricultural Exhibition for Africa and the Middle East.
16 September (Thursday): The CBE's Monetary Policy Committee will meet to review interest rates.
30 September-2 October (Thursday-Saturday): Egypt Projects 2021 expo, Egypt International Exhibition Center, Cairo, Egypt.
30 September-8 October (Thursday-Friday): The 54th session of the Cairo International Fair, Cairo International Conference Center, Cairo, Egypt.
1 October (Friday): Expo 2020 Dubai opens.
6 October (Wednesday): Armed Forces Day.
7 October (Thursday): National holiday in observance of Armed Forces Day.
12-14 October (Tuesday-Thursday) Mediterranean Offshore Conference, Alexandria, Egypt
18 October (Monday): Prophet's Birthday.
21 October (Thursday): National holiday in observance of the Prophet's Birthday.
28 October (Thursday): The CBE's Monetary Policy Committee will meet to review interest rates.
1-3 November (Monday-Wednesday): Egypt Energy exhibition on power and renewable energy, Egypt International Exhibition Center, Cairo, Egypt
1-12 November (Monday-Friday): 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26), Glasgow, United Kingdom.
29 November-2 December (Monday-Thursday): Egypt Defense Expo
13-17 December: United Nations Convention against Corruption, Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt.
16 December (Thursday): The CBE's Monetary Policy Committee will meet to review interest rates.
May 2022: Investment in Logistics Conference, Cairo, Egypt.
27 June-3 July 2022 (Monday-Sunday): World University Squash Championships, New Giza.
Note to readers: Some national holidays may appear twice above. Since 2020, Egypt has observed most mid-week holidays on Thursdays regardless of the day on which they fall and may also move those days to Sundays. We distinguish below between the actual holiday and its observance.


text:
Short-term and permanent exhibitions are temporarily closed from Sunday 27/12, including the exhibition Rembrandt: Portrait of a Man. Restrictions also apply to the Library and Archive. Purchased tickets remain valid.
Public programmes
Club of Friends NGP Shop
Skip to main content Home Club of Friends NGP Shop CZ
Michal Novotný
Director of the Collection of Modern and Contemporary Art
michal.novotny@ngprague.cz
Graduating in Art History, Philosophy, and Anthropology from Charles University in Prague, Michal Novotný was director of the Centre for Contemporary Art FUTURA in Prague from 2011 to 2018. From 2016–2018 he worked as concept dramaturg and external curator in the Plato City Gallery in Ostrava and has been an assistant professor at the Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design since 2016.
He participated in research and residency stays within the projects titled NeMoskva (NCCA Moscow, BOZAR, Brussels, 2018), Trauma and Revival (BOZAR, Brussels, Pushkin Museum Moscow, 2017), Delfina Art Foundation London (2016), Contemporary Art Center New Orleans (2014), Independent Curators International New York (2011).
Novotný's important independent exhibitions include the group exhibition series Orient (Kim?, Riga, BOZAR, Brussels, Bunkier Sztuki, Krakow, 2018), Orient2 (Kunsthalle Bratislava, 2019), Orient V (GHMP, Prague, 2019).
Collection of Modern and Contemporary Art
Join the NGP Club of Friends and support us.
Buildings and opening hours
Admission and event booking
Thank you to all our partners
National Gallery Prague 2020


Cough variant asthma (CVA) is known by airway Hyper responsiveness and nonproductive chronic cough without wheezing for a minimum duration of 8 weeks. It is less common form of asthma. This study was conducted aiming to diagnose the role of serum Immunoglobulin E (IgE) in diagnosis of cough variant form of the disease.
In this cross sectional study، 80 patients with an age range of 5-14 years were included with clinical criteria for CVA who referred to pulmonology clinic of Tabriz Children Hospital، Tabriz، Iran. Serum IgE level was measured and severity of CVA based on Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) classification was determined، finally the relationship between serum IgE level and severity of CVA was evaluated.
In patients with CVA without history of allergic disease، mean serum titer of IgE was 138.2 ± 17.5. Significant difference of serum IgE level in different severities of CVA was detected (P = 0.001).
Serum IgE level in patients with CVA is a reliable marker for diagnosis and evaluation of the severity of disease.
Peritonitis is one of the most common complications of peritoneal dialysis. On the other hand، reduced levels of immunoglobulins (Igs)، mainly IgG، can increase the risk of infection in various pathologic conditions. Here، we aimed to determine the association of severity and frequency of peritonitis with serum IgG levels in peritoneal dialysis patients.
100 patients with chronic renal failure referred to Imam Reza Hospital، Tabriz، Iran، for peritoneal dialysis were included in the study. Serum IgG levels were measured in all of these patients at the beginning of the study and after six months of follow-up. In case of peritonitis، serum IgG levels were also measured، and samples were sent to Imam Reza Hospital laboratory for analysis.
40 cases (40%) were women، and 60 cases (60%) were men with a mean age of 47 years. 24 cases (24.0%) had at least one episode of peritonitis during the study. Among those with peritonitis، 14 cases (60.9%) had at least one more peritonitis episode in the 6-month follow up. The mean serum IgG levels were 1079 mg/dl and 429 mg/dl at the beginning and after six months of follow up، respectively. The difference was shown to be statistically significant (P = 0.006). There was no correlation between serum IgG level reduction and peritonitis in these patients (P > 0.999).
This study found reduced levels of serum IgG in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis. However، it was not associated with increased risk of peritonitis in these patients.
In Islamic countries، the prenatal diagnostic procedures are planned considering legal and religious limitations. We aimed to evaluate the indications of presentation and problems related to religious and legal limitations for presentation of Muslim parents for prenatal screening of chromosomal abnormalities.
A cross-sectional study was performed on consecutive 920 pregnant women presenting for screening of congenital and chromosomal anomalies to Educational Medical Centers of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences، Tabriz، Iran، between 2011 and 2015. Previously prepared questionnaire forms were utilized for collection of information from patients and their medical records.
In total، 153 cases had an indication for amniocentesis، and this procedure revealed that 141 fetuses (92.2%) did not have any congenital abnormalities، but 12 cases (7.8%) had some sort of abnormality، requiring pregnancy termination. These cases included 8 fetuses (5.2%) with trisomy and four (2.6%) with single gene diseases. Of 12 patients، the justifications for pregnancy termination were issued for 7 women by the provincial Legal Medicine Organization. However، the remaining 5 patients could not obtain legal justifications for termination of their pregnancies، mostly because of late presentation، obligating them to choose illegal methods for pregnancy termination.
Regarding the legal and religious limitation of pregnancy termination after 18th week in Islamic countries، it is highly recommended that the first trimester screening programs be performed in Islamic countries in order to obtain early decision-making.
Dyslipidemia is one of the most common problems in hemodialysis patients and healthcare system. Some studies have suggested the use of carnitine in the treatment of dyslipidemia in hemodialysis patients. This study was carried out aiming to evaluate the effect of atorvastatin and carnitine combination versus atorvastatin alone on the lipid profile of hemodialyzed patients.
In this clinical trial، 50 hemodialysis patients referred to the educational centres of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences، Tabriz، Iran، for haemodialysis were enrolled. Patients were randomly assigned into two groups. In the first group، patients were treated with carnitine (1000 mg three times daily) and atorvastatin (10-80 mg/day based on the baseline lipid profile of the patients) and in the second group، the patients were treated with atorvastatin alone for six months. The levels of triglyceride (TG)، cholesterol، low-density lipoprotein (LDL)، high-density lipoprotein (HDL)، and haemoglobin before and after intervention were compared. The side effects of carnitine administration were also evaluated.
Results showed that TG، cholesterol، and LDL levels were significantly lower in the carnitine group compared to those in the other group at the end of study (P < 0.050). In addition، HDL and haemoglobin levels were significantly higher in the carnitine group in comparison to the other group (P < 0.050). No major side effects of carnitine were observed among the patients.
The use of carnitine plus atorvastatin combination is an effective and safe method in the treatment of dyslipidemia in patients undergoing hemodialysis without imposing significant side effects.
ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is a relatively common cause of mortality among patients. The effects of risk factors as predictors of mortality in patients has been shown in different studies. The present study was performed aiming to evaluate the association between a family history of premature coronary artery diseases (CADs) with clinical outcomes among patients treated with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for STEMI.
This descriptive-analytical study was conducted in Shahid Madani Hospital of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences، Tabriz، Iran، on 200 patients with STEMI with a PCI. 100 out of these 200 patients had a family history of premature CAD. Patients were followed up within 48 hours after PCI، as well as one year after admission، and the secondary outcomes including myocardial infarction (MI)، heart failure، ventricular arrhythmias (VAs)، pulmonary edema، and death were evaluated.
The mean age of the patients with positive and negative family history of premature CAD was 56.37 ± 8.20 and 61.72 ± 7.42 years، respectively. The mean age of the patients with a family history of a premature CAD was significantly lower than that of patients without a family history of a premature CAD (P = 0.001). There was no significant difference in the frequency of CAD risk factors، angiographic findings، and its complications، ST-segment resolution and frequency of secondary outcomes during 48 hours and one year after admission between the study groups (P > 0.050).
The present study showed that a family history of premature CAD does not predict the clinical outcomes in patients treated with PCI for STEMI which should be validated across future studies.
Gastric cancer is a rather common malignancy worldwide and a major healthcare system issue. Lately، the importance of biomarkers such as macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) has been demonstrated in the diagnosis of various gastrointestinal (GI) malignancies. The present study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic value of MIF، carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA)، and carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA 19-9) in gastric cancer.
In this descriptive-analytical study، 84 patients with gastric cancer referred to the gastroenterology clinic of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences، Tabriz، Iran، for diagnostic and therapeutic procedures، and 80 healthy individuals were enrolled. Serum levels of MIF، CEA، and CA 19-9 were measured in both groups. Further، the grade and stage of the cancer were determined in in the patient group.
Serum levels of all three MIF، CEA، and CA 19-9 biomarkers in patients with gastric cancer were significantly higher than those of the control group (P = 0.001). However، no statistically significant correlations were found between the studied biomarkers with the tumor grade and stage. The MIF cut-off point for the diagnosis of gastric cancer was found to be 7.05 pg/ml and its sensitivity and specificity were 85.7% and 73.8%، respectively.
MIF biomarker may involve in the pathogenesis and development of gastric cancer and it is a potential diagnostic and therapeutic marker in this malignancy.
Genital infection with papilloma virus is the most common sexually-transmitted disease (STD). It is recommended that individuals who have a sexual risk factor، should be screened for syphilis، human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)، and hepatitis B and C. However، this strategy is often not carried out in Iran. In the present study، patients with genital warts were screened for syphilis، HIV، and hepatitis B and C.
We evaluated 311 patients with anogenital warts visiting dermatology clinics from June 2016 to June 2017. In addition، demographic data were collected using a pre-designed questionnaire. Patients who presented to Sina Hospital، Tabriz، Iran، were examined for HIV، syphilis، hepatitis B and C، urethral and vaginal discharge، and history of painful genital lesions، while patients presenting to Bahar Behavioral Disease Counseling Center of Tabriz were examined only for HIV. Data were analyzed using chi-square and Fisher's exact tests via SPSS software.
Out of 263 cases with genital warts presenting to Sina Hospital، 1، 1، and 2 cases were positive for HIV، syphilis، and hepatitis B، respectively. At the same time، one of the patients presenting to Bahar Center showed HIV infection.
We found two HIV-positive، two hepatitis B virus (HBV)-positive، and one syphilis cases in 311 patients with genital warts، so it is recommended to assess these tests routinely in high-risk individuals with genital warts، including multi-partner and addicted patients.


I'm always amazed by the direction that the Transformers movies can go. For someone like me that are up watching the cartoons, I can honestly keep watching forever lol. For the latest installment in the franchise, TRANSFORMERS: THE LAST KNIGHT takes us on an ancient journey from the times of Camelot to modern day. The last movie left off with Optimus Prime spiraling through space on a mission to find his makers. It was interesting seeing Optimus in a different light but the real star of this film was Bumble Bee, there are rumors of a Bumble Bee spinoff in the making too. He was hilarious and definitely made you fall in love with him more. Another favorite of mine was seeing Anthony Hopkins, I feel like his voice makes everything epic lol.
As a fan of stories about Merlin and the Knights round table, I really enjoyed that twist in this movie. I also loved being able to see the connection made with Sam Witwicky and The Transformers it takes things a bit more full circle. The movie is on the longer side, so I would encourage you to be prepared to see it but I enjoyed every moment of it and have actually seen it twice… once via screening and then I went to watch it again. I do think there are some loose ends, but it's a movie series so that's expected. I can't wait for the next Transformers film. TRANSFORMERS: THE LAST KNIGHT makes for a great date night movie or something to see with friends. It's a good family film if you're not against the occasional cussing.