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Thirteen Goethe University researchers among most highly cited
Searching for the sources of particulate matter
Scientists discover how the Atlantic Ocean became part of the global circulation at a climatic tipping point
How does potassium enter cells?
What are the alternatives to animal testing?
Open Access: 20 Titles from the field Jewish Studies now openly accessible
Improving understanding of how the solar system is formed
Improving the understanding of death receptor functions in cells
Is foraging behaviour regulated the same way in humans and worms?
Politics in times of floating voters
Significant increase in number of successful scientists in Clarivate Analytics ranking
FRANKFURT. Every year, a list is published of the top one percent of researchers worldwide, based on the frequency with which their work is cited by other scientists according to data from the "Web of Science". The number of natural and medical scientists from Goethe University on the list increased from three to thirteen in the past year.
Goethe University also stands out in comparison with other German universities: only Heidelberg University has one more researcher listed. The German research institution with the greatest number of highly cited researchers is the Max Planck Institute, which had 76 researchers on the list. A total of 256 researchers form German institutions made it on the list, which includes 6078 researchers in 22 different scientific disciplines.
The most highly cited researchers at Goethe University are atmospheric researcher
Joachim Curtius, biochemist Ivan Dikic, biologist Stefanie Dimmeler, hydrologist Petra Döll, pharmacologist Jennifer Dressman, geographer Thomas Hickler, cardiologist Stefan Hohnloser, pharmacist Stefan Knapp, cancer researcher Sibylle Loibl, medical scientist Christoph Sarrazin, brain researcher Wolf Singer, physicist Ernst Stelzer, and medical scientist Stefan Zeisel.
"Web of science" is a platform for researching academic literature. It indexes all scientific and reviewed publications, and also determines how frequently each publication is cited. It is operated by the company Clarivate Analytics.
Further information: Prof. Dr. Joachim Curtius, Institute for Geosciences, Riedberg Campus, Tel.: -49 69 798-40258, curtius@iau.uni-frankfurt.de.
List of highly cited researchers: https://hcr.clarivate.com/
Award winner Alexander Vogel carries out research for better air quality
FRANKFURT. Particulate matter is a form of pollution whose sources are not all understood to this day. The very complex mixture is formed in the atmosphere from various gaseous precursor molecules. Identifying their sources and improving air quality is the goal of Alexander Vogel, Professor for Atmospheric Environmental Analytics at Goethe University. For his research projects, he received the Adolf Messer Foundation Award at a ceremony on 26th November. In honour of its 25th anniversary, the award amounts to € 50,000 this year.
University President Professor Birgitta Wolff: "Congratulations to Alexander Vogel! He is doing research on an issue of global importance that affects us all, especially in metropolitan areas: particulate matter. His research can contribute to a better understanding of this threatening phenomenon and make the cities of the world healthier. We thank the Foundation for its tireless work on behalf of early career researchers at Goethe University. And we welcome the fact that the Foundation has addressed its historical responsibility in its recently published clarification on the role of its namesake Adolf Messer."
Hessian Minister for Education, Culture and the Arts Boris Rhein: "My warmest congratulations to Professor Alexander Vogel. His research is highly relevant – particulate matter threatens our health and is something we must understand and learn to combat. Excellent research, such as that done by Professor Vogel and many of his colleagues, requires excellent conditions. Now the government of the state of Hesse and the universities in Hesse have both signed the Higher Education Pact for the years 2016 to 2020, creating financial planning certainty for Hesse's universities through 2020. The Higher Education Pact is a milestone for Hesse as a science location and guarantees Hesse's universities € 9 million in financial resources for the next five years. That is the largest sum ever made available to Hesse's universities."
Foundation Board Chair, Stefan Messer, stressed: "Every foundation should make it their job to support projects and ideas that are not adequately covered by basic government funding. This is the idea pursued by our non-profit foundation in its funding and recognition of scientists stand out due to their exceptional achievements. We are very happy that in 2018, innovation, scientific curiosity, and pioneering spirit have been recognized for the 25th time in this manner."
About the award winning project
According to estimates by the World Health Organisation, about 6.5 million people worldwide die prematurely due to air pollution, most of which can be attributed to particulate air pollution. Contrary to popular opinion, most particulate matter doesn't enter the atmosphere straight from tailpipes or power plants, but is formed in the atmosphere itself out of gaseous precursor molecules. This secondary particulate matter consists of the tiniest particles with an average diameter in the nanometre-range. These can penetrate deep into the lung and even enter the blood via the alveoles. An example for the formation of secondary particulate matter is the oxidation of nitrogen oxides from diesel engines: the resulting nitric acid molecules react with ammonia in the atmosphere to create ammonium nitrate.
The inorganic precursor molecules and their development to secondary particulate matter have been well investigated: nitrogen oxides from traffic and industry, sulphur dioxide from coal-burning power plants and ammonia from agriculture. But there are numerous organic molecules on top of this that also occur in nature, such as the terpenes emitted by spruce forests. Organic precursor molecules emitted by human activity in relation to the formation of secondary particulate matter is a highly topical research area. These precursor molecules and their interaction with inorganic trace gases have only been rudimentarily investigated to date. The clear identification of the products of these chemical reactions is made difficult by the fact that the molecules often have the same mass, although their structures are different.
While he was a postdoctoral fellow at the Paul Scherrer Institute in Switzerland, Alexander Vogel developed a method for creating a molecular fingerprint from atmospheric particular matter samples. By analysing them, he can determine the secondary formation mechanism. The molecular fingerprint of particulate matter samples from Los Angeles, for example, exhibits a high percentage of nitrogen-containing organic molecules. "This allows the assumption that a reduction in nitrogen oxide emissions would also lead to a reduction of organic particulate air pollution in urban areas," Vogel explains.
However, to elucidate the formation mechanisms of individual substances, further analyses of atmospheric samples and specific laboratory experiments in which the formation of particulate matter is simulated are necessary. By comparing field measurements with experiments, Alexander Vogel can already assign a portion of the signals in the real samples to certain processes and precursor molecules. Of the remaining unknowns, at least the molecular formula can be determined, so that potential sources and formation mechanisms can be investigated in further laboratory tests.
Alexander Vogel will now set up the experimental method he developed at the Paul Scherrer Institute at Goethe University. Among other things, he requires a machine for high performance liquid chromatography, which thanks to the Adolf Messer Foundation can now be acquired. His research approach has been met with great interest among environmental science master degree students. The measurements are due to begin at the start of 2019. Applications for master's and doctoral theses are already coming in.
The great relevance of this topic will also be emphasized in a symposium accompanying the award. With the title "Understanding particulate matter: A grand challenge of the 21st century?", particulate matter measurement at the Frankfurt International Airport, smog in Chinese cities, and the health effects of particulate matter will be discussed.
Alexander Vogel, born in 1984, studied chemistry at Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz. After receiving his Ph.D. (2014), research on the CLOUD experiment took him to the European Organization for Nuclear Research CERN by Geneva and the Paul Scherrer Institute in Villigen, Switzerland. He has been a tenure-track professor for atmospheric environmental analysis at Goethe University since January 2018.
Further information: Professor Alexander Vogel, Institute for Atmosphere and Environment, Faculty of Geosciences, Riedberg Campus, Tel.: +49 69 798-40225, vogel@iau.uni-frankfurt.de.
The exchange of water between the North and South Atlantic became significantly larger fifty-nine million years ago
A team of scientists, led by Dr Sietske Batenburg at the University of Oxford's Department of Earth Sciences, in close collaboration with Goethe University and other German and UK institutions, have discovered that the exchange of water between the North and South Atlantic became significantly larger fifty-nine million years ago.
The scientists made this discovery when they compared neodymium isotope signatures of deep sea sediment samples from both regions of the Atlantic. Their paper – 'Major intensification of Atlantic overturning circulation at the onset of Paleogene greenhouse warmth' – published today in Nature Communications, reveals that the more vigorous circulation together with an increase in atmospheric CO2 led to a climatic tipping point. With a resulting more even distribution of heat over the earth, a long-term cooling phase ended and the world headed into a new greenhouse period.
Neodymium (Nd) isotopes are used as a tracer of water masses and their mixing. Surface waters acquire a Nd-isotope signature from surrounding land masses through rivers and wind-blown dust. When surface waters sink to form a deep-water mass, they carry their specific Nd-isotope signature with them. As a deep-water mass flows through the ocean and mixes with other water masses, its Nd-isotope signature is incorporated into sediments. Deep sea sediments are valuable archives of ocean circulation and past climates.
The story revealed in this paper begins at the end of the Cretaceous period (ending 66 million years ago), when the world was between two greenhouse states. Climate had been cooling for tens of millions of years since the peak hothouse conditions of the mid-Cretaceous, around 90 million years ago. Despite long-term cooling, temperatures and sea level at the end of the Cretaceous period were higher than at present day.
Dr Sietske Batenburg says: 'Our study is the first to establish how and when a deep-water connection formed. At 59 million years ago, the Atlantic Ocean truly became part of the global thermohaline circulation, the flow that connects four of the five main oceans.'
The Atlantic Ocean was still young, and the North and South Atlantic basins were shallower and narrower than today. The equatorial gateway between South America and Africa only allowed a shallow, surface-water connection for much of the late Cretaceous period. Active volcanism formed underwater mountains and plateaus that blocked deep-water circulation. In the South Atlantic, the Walvis Ridge barrier formed above an active volcanic hotspot. This ridge was partially above sea level and formed a barrier for the flow of deep-water masses.
As the Atlantic Ocean continued to open, the oceanic crust cooled and subsided. Basins became deeper and wider, and submarine plateaus and ridges sank, along with the crust. At some point, deep water from the Southern Ocean was able to flow north across the Walvis Ridge and fill the deeper parts of the Atlantic basins.
From 59 million years ago onwards, Nd-isotope signatures from the North and South Atlantic were remarkably similar. This may indicate that one deep-water mass, likely originating from the south, made its way through the Atlantic Ocean and filled the basin from deep to intermediate depths. The enhanced deep water exchange, together with increasing atmospheric CO2, may have enabled a more efficient distribution of heat over the planet.
This study shows that to understand the role of ocean circulation in past greenhouse climates, it is important to understand the different roles of geography and climate.
The current rate of climate change by CO2 emissions from human activity by far surpasses the rate of warming during past greenhouse climates. Studying ocean circulation during the most recent greenhouse interval in the geologic past may provide clues as to how ocean circulation might develop in the future, and how heat will be distributed over the planet by ocean currents.
This research is the result of an international collaboration with the Goethe-University Frankfurt; the Ruprecht-Karls-University of Heidelberg; the GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel; the Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources in Hannover; the Royal Holloway University of London and the University of Oxford.
The sediments for this study were all taken from long ocean drill cores. The International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) coordinates scientific expeditions to drill the ocean floor to recover these sediments, and stores the sediment cores so that they are available to the whole scientific community.
Publication: S.J. Batenburg, S. Voigt, O. Friedrich, A.H. Osborne, A. Bornemann, T. Klein1, L. Pérez-Díaz und M. Frank: Major intensification of Atlantic overturning circulation at the onset of Paleogene greenhouse warmth, in: Nature Communications, DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-07457-7
Images may be downloaded at: www.uni-frankfurt.de/74972308; Credit: Sietske Batenburg
Further information: Professor Silke Voigt, Institute for Geosciences, Geology, Riedberg Campus, Tel.: +49 69 798-40190, s.voigt@em.uni-frankfurt.de.
Surprising discovery of a chimeric protein that combines both ion pump and ion channel
FRANKFURT. For decades it was assumed that protein channels and protein pumps fulfilled completely different functions and worked independently of each other. Researchers at Goethe University Frankfurt and University Groningen have now elucidated the transport path of a protein complex that combines both mechanisms: it first receives potassium from the channel and then transfers it to the pump, from where it is transported to the cell.
A balanced potassium household is critical for the survival of both people and bacteria. As bacteria are exposed to much greater fluctuations in environmental conditions, the controlled intake of potassium often poses a particular challenge. Since the cell membrane is impenetrable for potassium ions, it has to be translocated through specific membrane transport proteins.
On the one hand, potassium channels enable the rapid, but passive influx of potassium ions. This stops as soon as an electrochemical equilibrium between the cell and its environment has been reached. To attain intracellular concentrations beyond this, potassium is transported into the cell actively through potassium pumps, with energy being consumed in the form of ATP.
Since both protein families – channels and pumps – carry out very different functions, they have always been described as separate from each other. This, however, is contradicted by the observation that KdpFABC, a highly affine, active potassium uptake system of bacteria, does not represent a simple pump, but is constructed of a total of four different proteins. One of these is derived from a typical pump, while another one resembles a potassium channel.
Inga Hänelt, Assistant Professor for biochemistry at Goethe University, and her colleague Cristina Paulino from University of Groningen, the Netherlands, therefore decided to take a closer look at the membrane protein KdpFABC through the microscope – or, more specifically, the cryo-electron microscope. They were surprised by the result: "All earlier hypotheses were wrong," states Inga Hänelt. "Although we had all the data in front of us, it took us a while to understand the pathway potassium takes through the complex into the cell."
First, a channel-like protein binds the potassium and transports it through the first tunnel to the pump. Once it has arrived, the first, outward-facing tunnel closes, while a second, inward-facing tunnel opens. This tunnel also extends between both proteins and ultimately ends in the interior of the cell. "The complex essentially combines the best qualities of both protein families," explains Charlott Stock, doctoral candidate in Inge Hänelt's research group. "The channel-like protein binds potassium, at first very specifically and with high affinity, while the pump enables an active transport that can enrich potassium in the cell by 10,000-fold."
The data, recently published in Nature Communications, impressed the scientists with how diverse transport through membranes can be. "We have learned that when investigating various membrane transport proteins, we shouldn't rely on seemingly incontrovertible mechanisms, but have to be ready for surprises," summarises Inga Hänelt.
Publication:Charlott Stock, Lisa Hielkema, Igor Tascon, Dorith Wunnicke, Gert T. Oostergetel, Mikel Azkargorta, Cristina Paulino, Inga Hänelt, Cryo-EM structures of KdpFABC suggest a K+ transport mechanism via two inter-subunit half-channels, in: Nature Communications, 10.1038/s41467-018-07319-2
An image may be downloaded at: www.uni-frankfurt.de/75137139
Caption: Outward and inward opening structures of KdpFABC in the cell membrane. Credit: Inga Hänelt research group.
Further information: Dr. Inga Hänelt, Institute for Biochemistry, Faculty 14, Riedberg Campus, Telephone: +49 69 798-29262, haenelt@biochem.uni-frankfurt.de
Friedrich Merz Visiting Professor Donald Ingber cultivates miniature organs on microchips
FRANKFURT. How predictive are animal models for the human body? Which human organs can be recreated in vitro? How can personalized medicine benefit from patient-specific organ systems in the future? These questions are the focus of this year's Friedrich Merz Visiting Fellowship Endowment with Donald Ingber, who will visit Goethe University from Harvard University for one week at the beginning of December. Ingber develops miniature, living organ systems of human cells for investigating diseases and testing new therapies.
The bioengineering expert developed methods for engineering living human cells on microchips as miniature, three-dimensional organs. These models often deliver more precise results than animal tests, whose predictability for the human body is limited. In addition, they represent a trendsetting option for testing novel drug substances in the laboratory. In cancer therapy, patient-specific tumor cells are cultivated in vitro in order to find a personalized and effective treatment of the individual cancerous disease.
Professor Ingber and Professor Maike Windbergs, who investigates alternatives to animal testing at Goethe University, will present these fascinating new approaches in a clear and understandable way using film material and examples from research and clinical practice in a podium discussion for the general public.
Podium discussion: Human organs and diseases in vitro – fiction or realistic alternative to animal testing?
When: 6th December (Thursday) at 6:00 pm
Where: the Arkadensaal at Goethe House, Großer Hirschgraben 23-25, 60311 Frankfurt.
Additional podium guests include State Animal Welfare Officer for Hessen Dr. Madeleine Martin and Merz Chief Scientific Officer Dr. Stefan Albrecht. Merz is among the pioneers in the development of in vitro tests for Botolinum toxin.
In a symposium on Wednesday 5th December, international experts will discuss "Modelling health and diseases; form in vitro design to future therapies" (Location: Biozentrum, Riedberg Campus, Hörsaal B1, 9 am – 5 pm). The experts include Professor Andries von der Meer from the Twente University in Enschede, Netherlands. He designs artificial blood vessels on chips and uses them to replicate the process of thrombosis. Professor Ernst Reichmann from the Children's Clinic in Zurich will present clinical studies on the development of artificial skins for burn victims. The presentation by Professor Stefan Hippenstiel from the Charité in Berlin will discuss the use of human lung tissue to simulate infections in the lung.
Goethe University will be represented by the following experts: Professor Florian Greten, Speaker of the Frankfurt Cancer Institute, who will talk about the use of test systems with human cancer cells for preclinical substance tests and in personalized medicine. Dr. Manuel Kaulich from the Institute for Biochemistry II will report on how he uses the gene scissors CRISPR/Cas for the large-scale screening of substances in order to counter resistances in cancer treatment. Professor Ernst Stelzer from the Buchmann Institute for Molecular Life Sciences at Goethe University and his research group investigates spheroids based on pancreatic cells to test new therapies for type I diabetes. For the first time, three young postdoctoral students in pharmacy and medicine will introduce their work in brief presentations.
Donald Ingber will also give a lecture for students on 6th December at 10:00 am on the same topics (location: Otter-Stern-Centre, Riedberg Campus, HS 3). It will be followed by a one-hour discussion with questions prepared by pharmacy students in their 8th semester.
Professor Donald Ingber is founding director of the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University. Tissue engineering is just one of his many areas of research, which also encompass mechanobiology, tumor angiogenesis, systems biology and nanobiotechnology and translational medicine. He has received numerous awards for his creative ideas. In 2015, the journal "Foreign Policy" elected him as "Leading Global Thinker" and his "Organ-on-the-Chip" technology was awarded "Design of the Year" by the London Design Museum. Ingber holds 150 patents and has founded five companies.
Members of the press will have the opportunity to interview Donald Ingber and other experts on the day of the symposium (5th December). Please contact Professor Maike Windbergs for scheduling: +49 (0) 69 798-42715, windbergs@em.uni-frankfurt.de .
Further information: Professor Maike Windbergs, Institut für Pharmazeutische Technologie, Faculty 14, Riedberg Campus, Tel.: +49 (0) 69 798-42715, windbergs@em.uni-frankfurt.de.
http://www.uni-frankfurt.de/Friedrich-Merz-Stiftungsgastprofessur


Menu: Prix-fixe menu featuring vegetarian twists on classic holiday favorites.
Menu: Traditional roast turkey with brioche stuffing as well as green beans and mashed potatoes. We recommend you make reservations soon, as their seats fill up fast.
Menu: Serving select favorites, as well as a traditional Thanksgiving feast.
Menu: A buffet with a variety of traditional Thanksgiving options, inside the Seattle Grand Sheraton.
Menu: Complete four-course dinner. Children at a discounted rate. Make sure to call in advance.
Menu: A restaurant in Pacific Place shopping center. Choose from a traditional turkey dinner or mix it up by selecting your favorite Italian dish!
Menu: This popular Belltown restaurant specializes in locally sourced, sustainable cuisine and will serve a special Thanksgiving menu all day.
"Local 360 was amazing for Thanksgiving last year." — Kate S.
Menu: Serving a traditional Thanksgiving buffet. They book fast, so make sure to call early.
Menu: This Seattle seafood restaurant is offering a 3 course Thanksgiving meal at the Boathouse and a Thanksgiving buffet at Ray's Café. This place is popular, so book early.
Note: This event has already sold out. Be sure to put them on your radar for next year!
"I loved it — great food, nice view, no cleanup." —Kali S.
Menu: This popular steak house has updated its traditional three-course Thanksgiving menu to feature popular sides along with turkey and sausage and herb stuffing.
Menu: Right on Puget Sound at the south end of Alki Beach, Salty's offers an extravagant buffet selection. Call well in advance for reservations.
Menu: This popular restaurant off Highway 99 features a Diestel turkey dinner and other delicious menu options.
"Never disappoints on holidays." —LeighAnn W.
Menu: The menu at Stanford's features a variety of options, including a traditional turkey dinner and signature seafood dishes.


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Home News Council Issue over speed limit preventing safety measures at Portlaoise GAA grounds
Issue over speed limit preventing safety measures at Portlaoise GAA grounds
A pedestrian crossing, a path and a decreased speed limit should be put in place at the Portlaoise GAA grounds at Rathleague outside the town.
That was the argument put forward at the recent meeting of the Portlaoise Municipal District in Laois County Council.
Cllr Willie Aird said it was his fourth time to make the argument and hit out at the TII (Transport Infrastucture Ireland) for not listening to people in the locality.
Simon Walton, Director of Services in Laois County Council, explained that a local authority cannot change speed limit on a national road like the R425 where the Portlaoise GAA grounds are located.
Currently the speed limit on that stretch of road is 80km/h but a path and pedestrian crossing can only be in place if it is 50 km/h.
Mr Walton explained that is not as simple as changing the signs and that changing a speed limit has to go through a statutory procedure and if it isn't then the speed limits cannot be enforced by the law.
But Cllr Aird expressed his frustration that Laois County Council don't have the authority to make a decision based on "common sense".
"If the will is there, we have to find a way," he said. "The TII don't know the area like we do. It's our job as elected public representatives to ensure the safety of the people we represent.
"There's loads of people out walking and cycling. I've never seen anything like it.
"Here's a golden opportunity to allow people walk to the most used amenity in Portlaoise. Nobody should have the authority to tell us not to reduce the speed limit. Common sense has to prevail.
"There was a time that area was out in the country – now it's an urban area. We want to put a footpath there and we want the speed limit reduced. And nobody (among the councillors) have a problem with that. When you're in an urban area like that you have to slow down."
"If that was a school up there, there'd be no expense spared and rightly so," added Cllr Noel Tuohy. "And rightly so.
"This is just the townies looking out for ourselves. There's hundreds and hundreds of kids all over Laois and teams from Kildare playing games there every weekend."
Abbeyleix-based councillor John Joe Fennelly said that the whole area of speed limit reviews "were terribly confusing".
"Coming out of Abbeyleix past the Heritage House, the speed limit actually increases and there's a minimum of 50 or 60 houses. It goes from 50km/h to 80km/h."
Cllr Catherine Fitzgerald added that "we have to go by the TII but you can't beat local knowledge".
SEE ALSO – Check out more stories from the Portlaoise Municipal District here
John Joe Fennelly
Laois County Council
Noel Tuohy
Portlaoise GAA
Portlaoise Municipal District
Willie Aird
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Batgirl Footage Released
A lot of teleporting
By Grayshadow, Posted 09 May 2013
NetherRealm Studios has released the first footage of Injustice: Gods Among Us next DLC character, Batgirl. This variation of Batgirl will be Barbara Gordon instead of Cassandra Cain or Stephanie Brown.
After giving a short summary about the 1998 Batman graphic novel, The Killing Joke, NetherRealm Studios pitted Batgirl against The Joker. While she shares similar tactics to Batman and Nightwing she utilizes new tactics such as the grapple teleport and stun abilites.
Source: NetherRealms Youtube
Injustice Gods Among Us Free Until June 25
WB Games has announced that Injustice Gods Among Us is free of charge for a limited time. So far, only the North American region is confirmed for this promotion; those in Europe, A
Ed Boon creates an unofficial poll for Injustice: Gods Among Us
By Grayshadow, Posted May 11, 2013
The head of NetherRealm Studios, Ed Boon, is asking fans of Injustice: Gods Among Us to vote on what character they would like to see as a DLC character. This is a unofficial po
Batgirl confirmed for Injustice: Gods Among Us
Batgirl has been confirmed on the to be the second downloadable character for Injustice: Gods Among Us's official Twitter account. The first piece of gamepl
Platform(s): Xbox 360, PS3, WII
Publisher(s): Warner Bros. Interactive
Developer(s): NetherRealm Studios
Genres: Fighting
Themes: Fighting


Emergence of increased antimicrobial resistance of Shigella species is a global challenge, particularly in developing countries where increased misuse of antimicrobial agents occurs. There is no published data in the study area on the prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of Shigella among acute diarrheal patients. This study was therefore, under taken to fill this gap.
Using cross sectional study method, stool specimens were collected from 216 patients with acute diarrhea at Mekelle Hospital from August to November 2014. Standard bacteriological methods were used to isolate and determine the antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of the isolates, and data were analyzed using SPSS version 20.
Out of the total 216 participants, Shigella was isolated from 15 (6.9 %) of the participants. Ten (66.7 %) of the positive isolates were from children <15 years (p = 0.005). Latrine availability, source of drinking water and hand washing habits before meal were statistically significant with shigellosis (p < 0.05). Isolates of Shigella showed 100, 86.7 and 66.7 % resistance to amoxicillin, amoxicillin and cotrimoxazole respectively. Low levels of resistance were observed for norfloxacin and ciprofloxacin (6.7 % each). Overall, 80 % of the isolates showed multidrug resistance.
Shigella isolates were highly resistant to amoxicillin, amoxicillin and cotrimoxazole. However, ciprofloxacin and norfloxacin were effective. Antibiotic surveillance is needed to prevent further emergence of drug resistant Shigella strains. More has to be done in the availability of latrine, supply of safe drinking water to the community to reduce the disease burden.
Shigellosis is the main cause of public health problem throughout the world. The disease is more common in resource limited countries. Though Shigella affects all, children under five are the most susceptible age group [1–3] as a result of poor personal hygiene , low immunity and lack of previous exposures . More than 99 % of annual episodes of shigellosis with 1.1 million deaths have been reported from other developing countries . Although the prevalence is less compared to developing nations, shigellosis is still a health issue in Europe  and United States .
Studies in Ethiopia showed that Shigellosis is the main cause of morbidity and mortality in children [7–15], mainly due to inadequate personal and environmental hygiene, their low immunity and limited access to safe drinking water [16, 17].
Extensive and uncontrolled prescription of antibiotics has led to the emergence of multi drug resistant Shigella strains . This in turn has made it difficult in the selection of appropriate antibiotics  and effective treatment of shigellosis . Empirical prescription of antibiotics by treating physicians is common in Ethiopia due to the lack of microbiological laboratory facilities to test antimicrobial susceptibility. As a result multi drug resistant strains of Shigella have been reported from different regions of the country [9–11, 14, 15].
Studies on shigellosis in Ethiopia were mostly focused on children, and most of them were retrospective type. The burden of the disease in adults seems to be overlooked. In contrary, there is no published data from the study area (Mekelle town) and the whole Tigray Regional State on the prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of Shigella. Therefore, this study aimed to fill this gap by determining the prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of Shigella in all age groups with acute diarrhea in Mekelle Hospital. This would complement the existing reports from other regions of country to help policy makers to have complete data and information as an input for further intervention programmes.
A cross sectional study was conducted in Mekelle general hospital from August 2014 to November 2014. Mekelle Hospital is the largest regional hospital serving about 6 million people residing in Tigray, Northern Amhara and Western Afar regions. The hospital is located in Mekelle city (the capital of Tigray National Regional State). Mekelle town is located 784 km North of Addis Ababa, the capital city of Ethiopia.
Consenting to participate in the study were obtained from patients and/guardians before by physicians. Consented participants were screened by physicians working in the medical and pediatric outpatient departments. Two hundred and sixteen stool specimens were collected from eligible patients using clean, sterile, wide-mouthed containers, free from disinfectant or detergent residue and tight-fitting leak-proof lids. Participants on antibiotic treatment at the time of sample collection and those with persistence diarrheal were excluded. Socio-demographic data were collected using questionnaire based interviews. Risk factors for acute diarrhea, and clinical signs and symptoms of patients were collected by clinicians during examination. Stool specimens were transported using Cary Blair transport media in cold box to Medical Microbiology laboratory of Mekelle University for further processing.
MacConkey agar, Xylose Lysine Deosxycholate agar and Selenite F enrichment broth (Oxoid, England) were used for isolation of Shigella. Culture negative specimens on primary solid media were sub-cultured from the enrichment broth to primary solid media to improve recovery of the isolates. All inoculated media were incubated at 37 °C for 18–24 h. After overnight incubation, non-lactose fermenters were further identified by biochemical tests using appropriate media namely: Kligler Iron Agar for carbohydrate fermentation test, Urea agar for the urea utilization test, tryptophan broth for Indole test, Simmon Citrate agar for citrate utilization, Motility agar for motility test, Lysine agar for lysine utilization test (all Oxoid, England).
Disk diffusion assay was performed to assess the antibiotic resistance/susceptibility pattern of the Shigella isolates. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was carried out on Muller-Hinton agar (Oxoid, England) using the single disc diffusion technique against amoxicillin (10 μg), chloramphenicol (30 μg), co-trimoxazole (25 μg), ciprofloxacin (5 μg), norfloxacin (25 μg), amoxicillin (2 μg), amoxicillin clavulanic acid (30 μg) and gentamicin (10 μg) (Oxoid, England) based on the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) adapted from Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI). Susceptibility results were reported as sensitive, intermediate and resistant. To standardize the inoculum density for a susceptibility test, BaSO4 turbidity standard, equivalent to a 0.5 McFarland standard was used by strictly following the SOP for the preparation and standardization . An isolate was defined as multidrug resistant if it was resistant to three or more antimicrobial agents tested . An isolate was defined as being multidrug resistant if it is resistant to three or more of the antimicrobial agents tested .
A standard bacteriological procedure was followed to keep the quality of all laboratory tests. American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) strains (Shigella sonni ATCC 25331 and Escherichia coli ATCC 25922) were used as control strains for the culture and sensitivity testing. Data were entered and analyzed using SPSS version 20 for windows. Chi square test results were employed and p value less than 0.05 were considered significant.
Ethical clearance was obtained from the Ethical Review Committee of Mekelle University, College of Health Sciences. Written permission was obtained from Tigray Regional Health Bureau and Mekelle Hospital and written consent was obtained from each participant (parent or guardian for children).
One hundred fifty (69.4 %) of the study participants visited the hospital 1–5 days after the onset of diarrhea. Ninety-three (43.1 %) and 78 (36.1) of the participants had mucoid and watery diarrhea respectively. Private toilet and pipe water source were available in 169 (78.2 %) and 154 (71.3 %) respectively. Absence of latrine at home (p = 0.002), source of drinking water (p = 0.027), and hand washing habit before meal (p = 0.029) were statistically significant with shigellosis. Eleven (8.6 %) of the positive patients reported no vomiting while abdominal cramp was manifested by 11 (8.1 %) of the positive patients (Table 2).
Antimicrobial susceptibility pattern in this study showed that Shigella isolates were highly resistant to amoxicillin (100 %), amoxicillin (86.7 %) and cotrimoxazole (66.6 %). Low resistance was observed to ciprofloxacin and norfloxacin (6.7 % each), gentamicin (13.3 %) and amoxicillin clavulanic acid (33.3 %) (Fig. 1).
Antibiogram pattern in this study revealed that 12 (80 %) of the isolates were multidrug resistance (resistance for more than two antibiotics) while none of them was sensitive to all antimicrobial drugs tested. Four (26.7 %) of the Shigella isolates have developed resistance to three antimicrobials. Eight of the isolates were resistant to 4 antibiotics and one isolates was resistant to five, one for six antibiotics (Table 3).
There is a gradual decreasing of Shigella prevalence in the country over time; though it is not uniform in all parts of the study areas. However, drug resistant level of Shigella isolates is increasing especially for the orally administered antimicrobials treatments (Table 4).
The isolation rate of Shigella (6.9 %) in our study was comparable to previous studies in Ethiopia (Gondar,7.4 % , Harar 6.4 %  Hawassa 7 % , Addis Ababa 5 % ) and other countries, Nigeria, 7.7 %  Trinidad 8 % , Iran 8.8 %  and Western Nepal 6.88 % .
Our prevalence was however; lower when compared to studies conducted in other parts of Ethiopia (Jimma, 20.1 %  Gondar 16.8 %  and Bahir Dar,14.5 %  ), Nepal 13.61 %  and India 12.1 % . Our prevalence was slightly higher than studies conducted from Ethiopia: Jimma, 2.3 %  Gondar, 4.57 %  and Butajira, 4.5 % . Differences insanitation and personal hygiene, access to safe drinking water and methodology (sample size, study participants, study design) may be the possible reasons for the variation in the prevalence.
The variation in the prevalence of Shigella over time in the study area could not be detailed in this study due to the absence of previous studies from Mekelle town and Tigray regional state. However, the pattern of shigellosis in other parts of Ethiopia has shown a decreasing trend in prevalence overtime though the decrement is not uniform. That could be due to the improved awareness of the community about personal and environmental hygiene from the continuous interventions made by the health extension workers implemented by the Ethiopian government, and improved supply of safe drinking water.
Although majority of the study participants recruited were 16–45 years of age, only 2 (2.4 %) were positive for Shigella. Higher positivity for Shigella was recorded from children up to 15 years. This was similar to the report from Gondar . This may be due to their substandard personal hygiene, low immune resistance and more exposure to unavailability of safe water for drinking and washing hands in school compounds.
About two-third of the study participants came to the hospital 1–5 days after the onset of diarrhea yet, high rates of Shigella species were found among study participants diarrhea who reported 11–14 days after their onset of diarrhea. This long time before seeking health services may contribute for the spread of the pathogen in the community.
Antimicrobial resistance pattern and prevalence of Shigella in this study are compared with previous findings from other parts of the country are shown in Table 4. The resistance patterns of antimicrobial drugs to Shigella in the present study ranges from amoxicillin (100 %) to ciprofloxacin and norfloxacin (6.7 % each). The resistance pattern amoxicillin in this study was similar with studies carried out in other regions of Ethiopia (Jimma  and Harar ), India  and Iran . The rise in resistance may be due to ease of availability and repeated use for many years.
In this study (13.3 %) of the isolates were Gentamicin resistant; this was similar to the study done in Gonder (12.2 %)  and Butajira (17.6 %) . However, results obtained from Addis Ababa , and Harar  showed no resistance to Gentamicin. Unlike to our results, however; relatively high resistant isolates for gentamicin were recorded from Bahir Dar (25 %) , Hawassa (27.3 %)  and Gondar (41.7 %) . This indicates emerging of gentamicin drug resistance Shigella isolates over time. This was clearly seen in Gonder where gentamicin resistance is increasing from 7.9 % in 2006 9 to 41.7 % in 2014 .
Low level Shigella resistance to ciprofloxacin 6.7 % were observed in this study similar to studies from Ethiopia (Bahir Dar (0.0 %) , Hawassa (0.0 %)  and Gondar (0.0 %) , Brazil (0.0 %),  Iran (0.0 %),  Ghana (0.0 %) . However, results from other countries showed high resistance to ciprofloxacin: India (82 %),  Western Nepal 47.8 % , Nepal 28.3 %  and China 25.2 % ). High resistance (86.7 %) of Shigella was also seen to amoxicillin in this study which was similar to the report from Bahir Dar 88.2 % .However, higher resistance than this study were reported from Hawassa 100 % , Jimma 100 %  and Harar 100 %  which could be due to the variation in clinicians' prescription of the antibiotic for the treatment of patients.
High resistance was also observed to co-trimoxazole 66.7 %, which agrees with the reports from Gonder 73.4 % , North West Ethiopia 84.6 % , Butajira 76.5 % , Jimma 100 %  in contrast to low resistance report from Hawassa (56.0 %) .This increase of resistance from those reports indicated that aggravating problem of drug resistance by these microbes over the years. This may be due to misuse or inappropriate use of drugs.
Anti biogram patterns revealed that none of the Shigella isolates in the present study were sensitive to all tested antibiotics. However, 80 % of the isolates showed multidrug resistance (resistance for more than two antibiotics) (Table 3). This shows that even if antibiotics have revolutionized the treatment of common bacterial infections and played a crucial role in reducing mortality, there is rapid increase in antibiotic resistance among Shigella pathogens in developing countries which needs is critical attention.
The overuse and misuse of antibiotics in the treatment of diarrhea could lead to an increase of antibiotic resistance [14, 34]. Limited laboratory diagnosis in developing countries imposes clinicians to syndromaic diagnosis and empirical prescription of broad spectrum antibiotics that led drug resistant bacterial strains to emerge .
The strength of this study compared to previous studies on Shigella is in the design of the study. Our study was conducted prospectively in a manner of controlled data collection and laboratory tests, whereas the other studies were conducted retrospectively: Awassa , Gondar [9, 11] Jimma  and Addis Ababa . This study may not necessarily be representative of the community prevalence of the disease, because the sample size is small.
Shigellosis in this study was 6.9 %. Children under 15 years were highly infected. Source of drinking water, presence of latrine in their compound and hand washing habit before meal were found as risk factors. Shigella isolates were high resistant to amoxicillin 100 and 66 % cotrimoxazole. Ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin and gentamicin were found highly sensitive for Shigella isolates. More emphasis should be given towards supply of safe water and health education for the community. Accurate diagnosis during management of infection caused by Shigella should be employed than empirical treatment of patients. Periodic epidemiological surveillance is of great importance to control the diseases and MDR of Shigella spp.
AG Conceptualized and designed the study, conducted sample collection and performed the laboratory work, carried out the initial analyses and interpretation of the data, drafted the initial manuscript and approved the final manuscript as submitted. TA Designed the study, supervised the data collection and laboratory analysis, revised the manuscript, and approved the final manuscript submitted. GK Designed the study, supervised the data collection and laboratory analysis, and approved the final manuscript as submitted. AGW Designed the study methodology, prepared the manuscript for publication. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
We thank Mekelle University for providing the fund, Tigray regional Health Bureau and Mekelle Hospital for their co-operation to conduct the study. We would like to thank for Medical, pediatric and laboratory staff of Mekelle Hospital for their huge help.


text:
Zlatý volant je motoristická anketa, ve které je cílem na základě hlasování odborných novinářů zvolit nejúspěšnější české automobilové závodníky uplynulé sezony.

V prvním ročníku v roce 1976 se hodnotily pouze dvě kategorie, závody na okruzích a rallye. Ve druhém ročníku přibyla speciální cena o spolujezdce roku. Další změna přišla až v roce 1981, kdy se k již existujícím kategoriím přidal autokros a v roce 1983 ještě motokáry. Začátkem devadesátých let se rozšířil sortiment speciálních cen a ke spolujezdci roku přibyla v roce 1990 Cena Jiřího Sedláře pro jezdce do 23 let a o rok později Cena Elišky Junkové pro nejlepší ženu. Od roku 1996 se uděluje Zlatý volant i pro jezdce v závodech do vrchu a od roku 1997 Cena rychlosti (Speed Award). Zatím poslední změny proběhly v roce 1999, kdy se zavedlo udílení Ceny Zdeňka Vojtěcha za přínos motoristickému sportu a cena Kadet roku.

V roce 2005 vznikla anketa Zlaté oko o nejlepší motoristický snímek roku z motoristického sportu.

Na základě ankety Zlatý volant vznikla v roce 2006 anketa Zlatá řídítka, která získávají nejlepší motocykloví jezdci.

Přehled vítězů

Anketa Zlatá řídítka
 2006 – Lukáš Pešek
 2007 – Lukáš Pešek
 2008 – Lukáš Pešek
 2009 – Josef Macháček
 2010 – Karel Abraham
 2011 – Karel Abraham
 2012 – Martin Michek
 2013 – Karel Hanika
 2014 – Libor Podmol
 2015 – Jakub Kornfeil
 2016 – Jakub Kornfeil
 2017 – Václav Milík
 2018 – Jakub Kornfeil

Externí odkazy
 Oficíální stránky

Motoristické sporty v Česku
Motoristické sporty v Československu

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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text:
Census • Person • Henry VII
aka: Henry Tudor
Bio Links Gallery Timeline Contemporaries
1457, Jan 28 1485-1509 1509, Apr 21
King of England from seizing the crown on 22 August 1485 until his death on 21 April 1509, and the first monarch of the House of Tudor. He ruled the Principality of Wales until 29 November 1489 and was Lord of Ireland. Henry won the throne when his forces defeated King Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth Field, the culmination of the Wars of the Roses. Henry was the last king of England to win his throne on the field of battle. He cemented his claim by marrying Elizabeth of York, daughter of Edward IV and niece of Richard III. Henry was successful in restoring the power and stability of the English monarchy after the civil war, and after a reign of nearly 24 years, he was peacefully succeeded by his son, Henry VIII.
10/02/1492 - King Henry VII of England invades France
11/03/1492 - Peace of Etaples ( Henry VII and Charles VIII)
Wikipedia: Peace of Etaples
02/24/1496 - England's Henry VII ends commercial dispute with Flanders
03/05/1496 - English king Henry VII hires John Cabot to explore
-all-AustriaDenmarkFranceGreeceJapanJavaNetherlandsPortugalPowhatan ConfederacyScotlandSpainThailand
Henry VII 1457, Jan 28 1485
HRE Frederick III 1415, Sep 21 1457
Holy Roman Emperor from 1452 until his death, the first emperor of the House of Habsburg. He was...
HRE Maximilian I 1459, Mar 22 1490
King of the Romans (also known as King of the Germans) from 1486 and Holy Roman Emperor from 149...
Charles VIII 1470, Jun 30 1483
a monarch of the House of Valois who ruled as King of France from 1483 to his death in 1498. He ...
Emperor Go-Tsuchimikado 1442, Jul 3 1464
the 103rd emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. His reign spanned t...
John I 1455, Feb 2 1483
a Scandinavian monarch under the Kalmar Union. He was King of Denmark (1481–1513), Norway (1483...
King James IV 1473, Mar 17 1488
the King of Scots from 11 June 1488 to his death. He assumed the throne following the death of hi...
Afonso de Albuquerque 1453 ca 1471
a Portuguese general, a "great conqueror," a statesman, and an empire builder. He is generally co...
King Louis XII 1462, Jun 27 1498
a monarch of the House of Valois who ruled as King of France from 1498 to 1515 and King of Naples...
Patrick Paniter 1470 ca 1500
Scottish churchman and principal secretary to James V. Paniter was born around 1470 at the villag...
Aruj Barbarossa 1473/74 1495
Ottoman Bey (governor) of Algiers and Beylerbey (chief governor) of the West Mediterranean and th...
Diego Velasquez de Cuellar 1465 1490
a Spanish conquistador. He first visited the New World with the crew of Christopher Columbus' sec...
Gavin Douglas 1474 ca 1496
a Scottish bishop, makar and translator. Although he had an important political career, it is for...
Philip of Burgundy 1464 1498
Admiral of the Netherlands from 1498 to 1517 and bishop of Utrecht from 1517 to 1524. In the year...
Emperor Go-Kashiwabara 1464, Nov 19 1500
the 104th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. He reigned from Nov...
Ramathibodi II 1473 1491
the King of Sukhothai from 1485 and King of Ayutthaya from 1491 to 1529. His reign was marked by ...
HRE Charles V 1500, Feb 24 1506
ruler of both the Spanish Empire from 1516 and the Holy Roman Empire from 1519, as well as of the...
Turgut Reis 1485 1500
an Ottoman Greek Admiral and privateer who also served as Bey of Algiers; Beylerbey of the Medite...
Sunan Gunungjati 1448 1479
one of the Wali Songo, or nine saints of Islam revered in Indonesia. He founded the Sultanate of...
Opchanacanough 1554 ca 1500
a tribal chief of the Powhatan Confederacy of what is now Virginia in the United States, and its ...


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Marinade - a sauce, typically made of oil, vinegar, spices, and herbs, in which meat, fish, or other food is soaked before cooking in order to flavor it and soften it.
Redemption is the "soaking of the soul" in Christ's blood.
The longer it soaks in its holy marinade, the more seasoned and softened it becomes.
Being processed together in order to produce something of eternal and sacred value.
The process is seasoned with grace, truth, and holy sufferings.
And the process produces intimacy, communion, and life with the Savior.
With time, the seasoning of Christ's blood becomes integrated and absorbed into the soul, and begins to transmit and carry life to those around it.
And Christ's life wafts out of the redeemed souls and invites others in.
Plenty of blood to soak in.
We become something of inestimable value to our Redeemer when we have soaked long in the blood of our Redeemer.
Infused into the greater story called Eternity.
Spilled in the blood of the life-giving Christ who was sent by the Father.
Soak long in the blood.
It has the power to change, conform, and season the soul.


Have you read the license agreement for non-commercial, non-military use of the program and databases ? If not, click here.
If you don't agree with the terms of these licenses, stop here and contact : Mbrola Team.
If you do agree, go ahead.
mbrola-news@tcts... : subscribe to be informed of latest binary and language releases. Send an email to mbrola-news-request@tcts... with the word 'subscribe' in either the header or the main text. There is also a forum for MBROLA user's questions and issues, mbrola-interest%40tcts.fpms.ac.be (sharing .pho files or free applications running on top of Mbrola).Send an email to mbrola-interest-request@tcts... with the word 'subscribe' in either the header or the main text. To unsubscribe, just send another mail with 'unsubscribe'.
XLANG, a cross language adaptation filter that lets MBROLA speak with foreign accents, using pho files for a language and speaking them with another language database. It is provided by Anne Warlus as a Perl script with GNU GPM license. See also Mike Hamilton's cross-language synthesis experiments.
EmoFilt, a prosody filter that adds emotion to your .pho files, provided both with source codes and binary by Felix Burkhardt.
Last updated July, 13th, 2000.


Harrisburg, PA – Today, Governor Tom Wolf announced four new low-interest loan approval through the Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority (PIDA) program. The loans will enable the expansion of two small Lancaster County businesses and a campground business in Armstrong County to expand. They will also support the purchase of a leased industrial building in Bucks County.
So far in 2019, PIDA has approved $6,275,000 in low interest loans that have resulted in $14,639,685 in private investment and supported 89 created and retained full-time jobs. This month's meeting included the approval of four projects totaling just over $1 million in Armstrong, Bucks, Lancaster, and York counties.
Bear Ridge Campground & RV Resort LLC was approved for a $200,000, 15-year loan at a 3.75 percent fixed rate through the Southwestern Pennsylvania Corporation. The loan will enable the company to acquire a 68-acre campground property located in Boggs Township. The campground features a 3,000-square-foot lodge with a full kitchen, restrooms, game room, and a community center. The property also includes a 40-foot in-ground pool, a retail store, a three-acre lake for fishing and boating, three pavilions, two playgrounds, basketball and volleyball courts, and two rental cabins. The project is expected to retain one full-time employee.
GWJD Real Estate LP, a real estate holding entity, was approved for a $388,000, 15-year loan at a 3.75 percent fixed rate through Bucks County Economic Development Corporation. The loan will enable the company to purchase an 18,000-square-foot multi-occupancy industrial building in Lower Southampton Township. The facility is currently leased by eight tenants.
Passenger Coffee Roasting, LLC, a specialty coffee roaster in the city of Lancaster, was approved for a $220,000, 15-year loan at a 2.75 percent seven year reset rate through EDC Finance Corporation. The loan will enable the company to renovate a newly-purchased industrial location on Plum Street into a food-grade processing facility. The company will retain 11 full-time jobs as a result of this project.
Prince Street Café LLC was approved for a $200,000, 7-year loan at a 3.75 percent fixed rate through York County Economic Development Corporation. The loan will enable Prince Street Café, a successful cafe in downtown Lancaster, to open a second location on West Market St. in York City. The project includes leasehold improvements and furniture, fixtures, and equipment needed to establish the York café.


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text:
My memories of Mary Poppins are vague as I saw it only once. The reason I saw it only once is because I simply cannot stand Dick Van Dyke. His toothy grin and wide eyes just get on my nerves to the point I have to flee whenever I see him. Dick Van Dyke makes a cameo appearance in Mary Poppins Returns, a sequel to a film made before most of the main cast was even born.
My memories of Mary Poppins, vague as they are, are not so dim as to not notice that Mary Poppins Returns veers dangerously close to being less a sequel and more a remake, determined to mimic the original to where it makes its follow-up film shockingly unoriginal.
Twenty years after the original events of Mary Poppins, the Banks children are now grown yet Michael Banks (Ben Whishaw) still lives at 17 Cherry Lane. He's a recent widower with three children: Anabel (Pixie Davis), John (Nathaniel Saleh) and Georgie (Joel Dawson). George's sister Jane (Emily Mortimer) is a union labor activist and helps where she can.
Michael's big problem is that he is in danger of losing the family home as he is about to default on a loan despite working at the Fidelity Fiduciary Bank as a part-time clerk. Michael's reminded he owns shares in the bank thanks to his late father, shares that will pay off the debt. His plot is spent trying to find said shares.
Into this major situation flies in Mary Poppins (Emily Blunt). She's going to care for the Banks children during this crisis. With some help from lamplighter Jack (Lin-Manuel Miranda), Mary Poppins guides the children through many a magical adventure.
Among the journeys is a trip inside a china bowl where they meet an evil wolf and a visit to her cousin Topsy (Meryl Streep).
Eventually, the evil banker Wilkins (Colin Firth) is about to get his hands on the Banks home. A fortuitous turn of events has Michael find the shares and a race begins to get them before the stroke of midnight. After a couple of turns though all ends well, and with 'the door opened', Mary flies away.
It is my experience that sometimes films have what I called a 'forced frivolity'. This means that those involved are desperate to have you feel endless joy that it all but rams the false glee down your throat. Mary Poppins Returns is such a film.
It seems determined to be jolly and cheerful that it ends up looking very unnatural, like schoolchildren forced to put on silly costumes so that the adults can ooh and ah over them. Mary Poppins Returns wants to a 'jolly holiday' but to me it looked erratic, forced and worse, chaotic.
It is unfair to compare a sequel or an almost-remake to the original, but as has happened before, Mary Poppins Returns almost goads us into thinking of the 1964 film. The best case for how Mary Poppins Returns is almost a remake of Mary Poppins comes in its musical numbers.
It is not that the Marc Shaiman music and Shaiman/Scott Wittman lyrics come close to the Sherman Brothers' music. It's that in far too many occasions, Mary Poppins Returns has an equivalent musical number to Mary Poppins.
I figure a smart YouTube creator will make a video comparing a number from Returns that echos Mary Poppins, but here it mine:
1964: A Spoonful of Sugar/2018: Can You Imagine That?
1964: Jolly Holiday/2018: The Royal Daulton Music Hall
1964: I Love to Laugh/2018: Turning Turtle
1964: Step In Time/2018: Trip A Little Light Fantastic
1964: Let's Go Fly A Kite/2018: Nowhere to Go But Up
Even more distressing is that Mary Poppins Returns has no real musical number that stands out except for the wrong reasons. A Cover is Not the Book for example has surprisingly racy lines for a children's film. Blunt as Mary is already a bit off-kilter, channeling a sugar-coated version of Sally Bowles, but she and Miranda sing the following lines in this ditty:
Lady Highest of Macaw
Brought all her treasures to a reef
Where she only wore a smile
Plus two feathers and a leaf
I confess to being a bit startled to hear lyrics about a practically naked woman sung as 'children's entertainment'. Not that in Can You Imagine That?, I did wonder how the Banks children would understand the reference to 'bathtub gin'.
Odd that while watching A Cover is Not the Book, the only thing I could think was that Blunt and Miranda were doing a candy-colored Cabaret. When you watch a family film and imagine that Lin-Manuel Miranda would make a good Master of Ceremonies in Cabaret, I think you've got issues.
As a side note, given how Miranda had that little vibrato in his voice on many a final note, the comparison to Joel Grey is not too far off.
Willkomen, Bienvenue, Welcome,
Im Mary Poppins, Au Mary Poppins, To Mary Poppins!
I noted at least twice that particular musical numbers felt very Broadway. By that I mean they felt far too large and bombastic for film, as if I were watching footage for a future Disney stage musical like Frozen or The Lion King. From the film's overture/opening credits to splashy numbers like Trip A Little Light Fantastic, the musical numbers felts not just far too big for the film but relentlessly faux-cheery.
As for Trip A Little Light Fantastic, director/co-choreographer Rob Marshall decided it wasn't big enough. Hence, you needed a group of BMX stunt drivers. At a certain point I held up my hands and said, "STOP!".
Probably the worst numbers were A Conversation and Turning Turtle. The first because Whishaw is not a good singer and because it was trying to move me emotionally and failing as Michael has a 'conversation' with his late wife. The second because it was superfluous. The china bowl is made to be important but neither it or Streep and her character were necessary. Once the bowl is left to Topsy to fix, we never hear about it again.
I hope it isn't to set up a sequel.
About the only number that might be worth something is The Place Where Lost Things Go, a subtle way to help the children deal with the grief of their mother's death. Maybe because it was about the only slow song and one that didn't rely on big splashy dance routines.
There is one element plot-wise that I didn't follow. In the animated sequence the children see a wolf that they later identify as Wilkins. However, they hadn't met or seen Wilkins until after the number, not before. Therefore, how could they have made that connection? Also, why exactly did Wilkins want the house on Cherry Lane? He has no real motivation other than that the plot demanded both an antagonist and a 'threat'. That threat was resolved both too easily and too bizarrely (why would Michael use the shares in the way he did).
In the performances I think Blunt made Mary Poppins her own, at least far removed from what Julie Andrews did. Her Mary Poppins was much more posh but also more cheery than what I remember of Andrews. She did well vocally and was on the whole a delight.
Miranda certainly has stage presence as Jack. He is an ideal musical star and it is nice to see someone of his caliber on film. However, it's clear he too was Bert's apprentice given how bad Miranda's Cockney accent was. Dick Van Dyke's is still the worst, but Miranda sure gave him a run for his money.
Whishaw seems far too meek to be a harried father and I think miscast. Mortimer had nothing much to do save prattle about unions and occasionally make googly-eyes as Jack (something else I hope we don't see in a sequel). Firth's character was just evil to be evil but of no interest.
Mary Poppins Returns is a disappointment. It's pleasant enough and I didn't dislike it. However, the songs are not really memorable: I am hard-pressed to remember how any of them go (save for lyrics about bathtub gin and women wearing nothing but two feathers and a leaf). There is no Chim-Chim-Cheree here.
The plot is weak. The musical numbers seem almost too large for the screen and better suited for a stage show at Disney World.
I'm glad Mary Poppins returned. I just wish she'd return to something better.
Labels: 2018, Musicals, Review, Sequels
Had to reread coz I was shocked someone could loathe both of these films. My daughter and I absolutely adore them. I even like the similarities between the two. Burt always makes me smile and I think Michaels voice is beautiful. We currently have the soundtrack in our car and love singing along to it.
I really appreciate your point of view because I tend to forget that others aren't as easily pleased as I am. Apparently most people don't randomly burst into song like my family and friends do either.
Thank you for a very welcome reminder.
Rick July 14, 2019 at 10:21 AM
I reread it & I never said or intimated I loathed "Mary Poppins". I said I dislike Dick Van Dyke & find him annoying, but I don't see that as the same thing as disliking "Mary Poppins" itself.
My major issue w/"Mary Poppins Returns" is what I consider a total lack of originality, as if it were more a remake than sequel. I have the original, so why would I want a copy?


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Mountain biking in the Futaleufú region is based our around the road system and a number of well-developed trails that connect the roads and La Gringa Carioca Hostal is situated central to them.
In the summer it is common to see cyclists from all over the world in the village. Most are making a trip down Chile's famous Carretera Austral (Southern Highway) with Futaleufú serving as the northernmost "trailhead" of their expedition.
Futaleufú also hosts an annual mountain bike race called Ruta de los Valles that takes place on one of our most popular mountain bike circuits in the valley. It is a well-attended event, with cyclists coming from all over the world to participate.
There is very little single track in the area because of the rapid growth of the vegetation that quickly reclaims trails. Most of the trails that do exist are commonly used to move livestock throughout the valley. However the road system is still completely gravel and not well travelled making for spectacular cycling. Also, when it is raining in Chile, the Argentine side is usually dry providing an easy accessible alternate route for cyclists heading South.
Bike rental is available in the town of Futaleufú.
This out-and-back ride is a great ride for families along the flat recently paved road to the Argentine border. Great scenery and views in both directions await.
This ride follows the north bank of the Espolon River to a swinging bridge in the Valle Bonita sector. After crossing the bridge head back to town on the main road (Route 231). If you are willing to do a little hiking, have lunch on the viewing platform at the Devil's Throat, a spectacular 200ft high cataract where the waters of Espolon Lake enter the Espolon River.
This mountain biking follows the course of the annual race. It takes you down the Upper Futaleufú River Valley, crosses over an old swinging bridge in the Las Escalas Valley and then back to town from the other side of the river along Route 231. The beginning of the ride follows the famous class V Infierno Canyon section of the Futaleufú River.
This ride follows the north bank of the Espolon River to a swinging bridge in the Valle Bonita sector. After crossing the bridge head south along Lago Lonconao and take route W-905 at about the 18 km mark heading off to the west. The road will drop into the Azul Valley, cross a swinging bridge over the Azul River and follow the road south east back to Route 231. Return to Futaleufú on Route 231.


text:
Science, Technology & Health
Why is Weather so Incredibly Unpredictable?
Climate change, other factors cause inconsistent weather
Melody Lee
Allyson Jay, Staff Writer
The majority of people use weather apps and forecasts every day to follow the weather, but these forecasts almost always end up wrong. This causes everyone to question the accuracy and science of weather forecasting. Predicting the weather forecast is something that is very complicated and challenging to accomplish because the weather is constantly changing. Because it changes so rapidly, it makes predicting the weather close to impossible.
One small change in the chaotic system of the atmosphere in one certain location can affect and create consequences from that small change anywhere else, making it very difficult to predict the weather several days in advance. Scientists describe this as the "butterfly effect." Although the persistent shifts in the weather play a huge role in the inaccuracy of forecasts, global warming is a big factor as well.
Nana Vang '24 says, "I think with global warming in more recent years has had a large impact on the predictability of the weather. Because we experience extreme weather conditions that much more often, it is that much harder to predict even with powerful technology."
Meteorologists use weather models, which are computer programs, to make the forecasts. The programs use sophisticated and intricate mathematical models of the atmosphere in order to provide the necessary predictions. These computer programs are constantly providing new predictions that follow the real time data they are receiving, since weather forecasting has to present the most up to date information and forecast possible.
These continuous predictions from the computer programs need to be interpreted before they can be broadcasted, but by the time they are interpreted, they are most likely either out of date or a result of hurried human interpretation, making it one of the biggest sources of error in predicting weather forecasts.
Even though modern day forecasts aren't entirely exact, they are a much more accurate representation of meteorologists' predictions compared to a decade ago, and technologies for these predictions are still improving.
While supercomputers and other technologies increase forecast skill and accuracy, the progress meteorologists continue to make can only grow so much, since meteorologists will never be able to predict completely accurate forecasts.
Evie Doran '23 adds, "They haven't perfected meteorology yet, there is still a lot of room for error in terms of accuracy, so I don't think a perfect forecast will ever exist."
Allyson Jay
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blakespectrum
Check out the first episode of the Bears Den podca
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dHAiaF-nn4&feature=emb_logo
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text:
3 EDM Artists Worth A Listen
by Shannen Connor
DaBaby Calls Ali Ciwanro a True Brother
WonderWorks Branson Welcomes Homeschoolers for Annual Winter Homeschool Days
Meet 'Kallion' LA's Singer/Songwriter & Producer Using His Talent To Inspire
The sound of the bass echoes through the crowd of enlightened people. Artists from all over the world gather together to perform on numerous stages that are decorated with flowers and glitter. What can be described here is the experience of going to an EDM festival. EDM, which stands for Electronic Dance Music, is a genre of music that consists of intense bass, technological fantasies, and positive vibes. While there are many artists who can be classified as being the best, there are three artists in particular worth a mention: Griz, i_o, and Kaskade.
Properly known as Grant Richard Kwiecinski, Griz has been creating beats in the EDM world for many years now. Most recently, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Griz has selflessly decided to start his own virtual music camp, known as Camp Kulabunga, in hopes that he can promote self-care and build a thriving community amongst listeners of the genre. From being the mastermind of songs that will leave goosebumps on your skin, to being an active member of the community, Griz is a fine example of a successful artist who is using his power for good.
I_o
With the birth name of Garrett Falls Lockhart, i_o was a newer member of the EDM family, but unfortunately, lost his life to a disease known as Hashimoto's last November, thus ending his life at 30 years old. Even more tragic, i_o was seen at the well-known festival EDC Orlando in November of 2019, almost exactly a year prior to his death. However, i_o left behind a legacy in the world of EDM music. I_o was known for having the personality of an angel, and the kindness that one can only dream of possessing. Battling with the hardship of depression and anxiety, i_o never seemed to allow the darkness to overshadow the light. His impact on the EDM community will live on for a long time.
Kaskade, properly known as Ryan Gary Raddon, is arguably one of the greatest EDM artists in the genre. Having been in the industry for over ten years now, Kaskade has been known for mixing, producing, and recording intriguing EDM songs. What is more notable, however, is his establishment in the community. Having recently worked with another artist known as Ella Vos, Kaskade has managed to create a video titled "Miles To Go" that mentions the topics of love, fate, and patience, three characteristics that anyone can relate to. Also, it has been noted that artists and fans alike have described Kaskade as "friendly" and "caring". Kaskade is not only a good individual, but creates astonishing beats.
Whether you are in the blazing, crowded heat of EDC Orlando, or basking in the sun of EDC Las Vegas, the genre of EDM music is one that shares hope, passion, and equality, and these three artists are prime examples of just that.
Tags: edmmusic
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Shannen Connor
Hello, my name is Shannen Connor. I currently work for Otter PR as an Account Executive. I am 29 years old, and I currently hold a Bachelor's degree in English Literature from the University of Central Florida. I have experience working as a public school English teacher for 3 1/2 years. I enjoy reading, writing, and getting to know people!
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Just a month ago we sent Angie to the Rainbow Bridge. We still miss her daily and so it seems doubly hard that today I have the sad news that another of our corgis has gone to join her. Cymry's Little Minister (Deacon) was put to sleep yesterday. Two days ago he seemed to be his normal self, and then he suddenly stopped eating or showing interest in life. The vet found an enormous tumor in his abdomen and with no prospect of recovery we had to make the hardest decision of a dog's life, again.
Deacon was nine years old, our only Pembroke corgi, and had been with us for about four years. We'd dropped Angie at a boarding kennel and clearly appeared to be such a corgi-crazed couple that the breeder there suggested we might like to help her re-home Deacon, now retired from the show ring. We said we would talk it over during our vacation – but Erika decided we should call from the road about an hour later to say yes, we'd take him.
In the show ring Deacon excelled – he won multiple Best In Show titles, and he loved to show – or even just be in among the tents and trailers and ex-pens at a show. But although he loved that life, he adjusted to life in a family home (with a young child) very quickly and became a wonderful family dog.
Deacon had luxuriant golden hair, with a mass of colours – more golds, yellows and browns than you knew existed. In sunshine he was radiant. In the rain... well, he wouldn't go out in the rain. His was a coat you could bury your hands and face in – he loved hugs and especially loved it when the children would put their arms around his neck and snuggle into him. He did have a distinctive aroma of old couch, which could be very comforting when we were feeling down.
Always friendly, he would occasionally growl at younger dogs to let them know who was boss – but he never went to the trouble of actually getting up to do anything about it. While younger Cardis ran around him imitating whirlwinds, Deacon preferred to imitate a hearthrug and did so with dedication, skill and great dignity.
At one time we had a younger male Pembroke, Madoc, staying with us. Deacon tolerated him for a while, but then suddenly became incredibly protective of Erika and wouldn't let Madoc near her. This culminated in a great fight one night and we had to send Madoc back home. Two weeks later, ClearBlue confirmed what Deacon had obviously detected that night – that Erika was pregnant and our son was on his way.
Deacon was terrified of chickens, so we hope that there is a separate area reserved for fowl at the Bridge. He loved to roll in fresh grass clippings, and always looked forward to the first mowing of springtime. It will be hard to roll out the tractor without him there.
Faithful friend, old soul, glorious show victor, comforter, food vacuum and perennial fake-grumpy old man: we all love you always, and you leave a hole here that can never be filled. Be happy, stay dry and find a nice warm fire up there – and take care of Angie when she comes in from her stick fetching.


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As we edge closer to tonight's final, we think about how we cried with Georiga, only to scream at her through the TV screen days later.
We think about how Jack and Dani made us believe in true love.
We think about how Josh, Wes and new Jack became the trio we never knew we needed.
We've all had our favourite islanders. Who was yours?
Upvote your favourites and downvote the ones you weren't too keen on and we'll crown our number one islander of 2018.


text:
Repaying bailout funds
During the global financial crisis, many banks were on the verge of collapse. The collapse of one big bank could trigger the collapse of other banks, risking the stability of the entire global financial system. The US Government stepped in to provide billions of taxpayer funds under the TARP (troubled assets relief program) program to stabilize and restore confidence in the system.
The taxpayers were shocked that these bailed out banks continue to pay huge bonuses to their top executives. The Government decided to introduce caps on the salaries and bonuses that could be earned by these executives.
Many bailed-out banks have decided to return the TARP money, so that they can continue to be relieved from the caps on these huge bonuses. They are able to get money from their shareholders, as the global financial system has now been restored. They can go back to the "good old days".
How did the banks make huge profits during these "good old days"? They take big gambles. They bet billions of dollars on financial trading and on creating asset bubbles, through housing, mergers and acquisations, leveraging and financial engineering (also called "innovation").
If they get it right, they make billions of dollars of profit. If they get it wrong, the hold the global financial system to hostage.
The world has to put a stop to these huge gambles. The banks should be banned from these types of gambling. They key role is to do basic banking services, such as collecting money and giving loans to businesses and households. It may be boring, but it is a valuable service that builds real wealth.
As long as the governments condoned and even encouraged such gambling behavior, in the name of creating "financial hubs", the global financial system will continue to be at risk.
Dear Mr Tan
You are not alone in your call for banking reforms.
America's "Glass Steagall Act" was enacted in 1933 to curb banking excesses after the 1929 stockmarket crash.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glass%E2%80%93Steagall_Act
The Act was repealed in 1999, after 66 years. It's no coincidence we have seen a lot of bubbles since 1999.
In the aftermath of the global stockmarket crash of Oct 2008, there have been increasing calls to bring back the Glass Steagall Act.
Just do a google search:
"bring back the Glass Staegall Act"
But too bad for us in Singapore. We are benchmarking ourselves against "best practices" i.e. "blind following the blind".
So we'll just have to wait until USA brings back the Glass Steagall Act first.
Then we wait for the high faluting speeches and debates in parliament. And the deliberations of our Singapore journalists.
And then finally the words of wisdom from "Mount Olympus" to pronounce and bless the new financial directions and regulations in Singapore.
And then by magic, our small country has once again led the "free world" into a new of doing things ... the Singapore way. Giving fresh insights and perspectives into a very big and previously insoluble global problem.
http://hnn.us/articles/55548.html
Another good article
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rep-maurice-hinchey/bring-back-the-glass-stea_b_394988.html
Results of google search for bringing back the Glass Steagall Act
http://www.google.com.sg/search?hl=en&as_q=bring+back+the+"glass+steagall+act"&as_epq=&as_oq=&as
The main argument given by the Banks for paying their top executives huge bonuses is that these people help the banks making huge profit.
If the banks stick to their key role of "collecting money and giving loans to businesses and households" they will make good profit but not huge profit.
But banks making huge profit by
(1) overcharging their customers
(2) underpaying the depositers
(3) selling lucrative financial products (such as minibonds, high notes, pinnacle notes ….)
(4) involving in high return high risk activities (such as structuring/trading of CDOs….)
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Take care of customers


text:
Q: SQL Sproc Not Populating Field I'm currently having an issue with a sproc I've created. I'm not "new" to SQL and database logic, but I'm definitely no expert.
First, here's the sproc:
CREATE PROCEDURE `insert_league_data` (
IN partipant_id VARCHAR(45),
IN summoner_id INT,
IN queue VARCHAR(45),
IN points INT,
IN tier VARCHAR(10),
IN name VARCHAR(45),
IN division INT
)
BEGIN
INSERT INTO league (
    participant_id,
    summoner_id,
    queue,
    points,
    tier,
    name,
    division
    )
VALUES (
    participant_id,
    summoner_id,
    queue,
    points,
    tier,
    name,
    division
    )
ON DUPLICATE KEY UPDATE
    points=VALUES(points),
    tier=VALUES(tier),
    name=VALUES(name),
    division=VALUES(division);
END

The primary key, participant_id, is a VARCHAR(45). I know that using INT is a better paradigm here, but the value is a GUID with a few characters appended to the front. Completely unique.
The problem here is that when I call this sproc (I'm using Python/mysql) the table league is only storing one row, with an empty participant_id and the updated values are the values of the last call to the sproc, not actually related to the other information that was stored first.
So does it look like my SQL logic here is flawed? Or might there be another problem, maybe Python related, that I'm missing? I debug through the Python code and the value is being passed into the sproc as expected.
Just in case, here's the Python code:
data = (str(league_data.participantId), summoner_id, league_data.queue, 25, league_data.tier, league_data.name, 0)
self.cursor.callproc('insert_league_data', data)

EDIT: I've done some additional work with it this morning and I found that it is definitely SQL related, not Python; I called the sproc via a SQL query and got the same results.
EDIT2: Thanks to @Peter M the solution was in duplicating names for parameters and column names. Is there a good system to use so that the sproc parameters are obvious in what they refer to but don't directly mirror the table's column names?

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
"Two Partied Out?" MRR Radio T-shirt (size XS only)
Based on 1980 flyer artwork from Maximum Rocknroll Radio's KPFA broadcast. It's never too late to join our party: just visit radio.maximumrocknroll.com for the latest and greatest in punk.
For an extra $3.99 we'll also toss in the FINAL issue of Maximum Rocknroll—that's a dollar off the cover price!
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"Two Partied Out?" MRR Radio T-shirt (size XS only) quantity
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MRR T-shirt by Jess Scott (size XS & S only)
Jess Scott should be a familiar name to many Bay Area freaks and punks worldwide, if not for her art—peep the tellyboys shop—then perhaps for her output with such ensembles as Flesh World (featured in MRR #386), Brilliant Colors, and Index. You already love it, now you get to wear it!
MRR Issue #1 T-shirt
Yep, it's the cover of our very first issue, Maximumrocknroll #1 from July of 1982, slapped onto a t-shirt and stuck in the mail for you to wear around town and get yelled at by jocks and rednecks. For an extra $3.99 we'll also toss in the FINAL issue of Maximum Rocknroll—that's a dollar off the cover price!
MRR Issue #13 T-shirt "Does Punk Suck???" (size XS only)
DOES PUNK SUCK??? You may have found yourself asking this very question back at the last punk show you were able to make it out to—whether that was in 1979, 1983, 2005, or even last night. We've been wondering ourselves at least since our thirteenth issue (May '84), the cover of which is faithfully restored here in larger-than life size on a white cotton tee. For an extra $3.99 we'll also toss in the FINAL issue of Maximum Rocknroll—that's a dollar off the cover price!
MRR Logo T-shirt
It says MAXIMUMROCKNROLL real big across the chest. You'll look cool and people will be jealous. For an extra $3.99 we'll also toss in the FINAL issue of Maximum Rocknroll—that's a dollar off the cover price!
MRR Final Issue T-shirt
Designed by the inimitable Martin Sprouse, the cover image from the final print issue of MRR can be emblazoned across your chest for all to see...
Two-color poster of MRR #429 cover art
Paper: Heavy, Grey Size: 11" x 17" 50 hand-numbered risograph prints by Nirzar Pangarkar Shipped in protective cardboard tube
MRR T-shirt by Sarah Sequoia
(size S only)
This amazing design and print is by artist Sarah Sequoia and we fucking love it. Text on shirt says "When you just don't know who to trust anymore." Check out more of her art at sarahsequoia.com. For an extra $3.99 we'll also toss in the FINAL issue of Maximum Rocknroll—that's a dollar off the cover price!