Big crimes go to big ponies to solve. Small crimes? Those are mine.
Rainbow Dash awakens in a strange land and must discover why, and how to return home.
Twins do everything together: they share secret languages, they go everywhere together, and some work together. Some like Breach and Clear, two unicorn twins, hunt down and capture changelings for the government together.
Sometimes that work includes going to remote locations with not a lot of support and just each other to rely on. So this contract shouldn't be any different, right?
Well, this story was intense, for sure. I got drawn into the characters pretty quickly, even though neither are the sort of characters I usually like.
It's got a lot of tense stuff going on, and I really should have figured out something was wrong when the "captain" was telling them to be reckless, going directly against the cautious and friendly captain in the first place. Well, I mean, I sorta did, but I didn't suspect the voice to be something else, I expected that the captain was showing his "true colors". And am received its not like that.
It's a good ending, though, even though it is a tragic one. It's at least reasonably clear by the end that Chrysalis, for all her righteous "you killed my people!" Probably doesn't really have much of a leg to stand on for righteousness... but also isn't actually entirely wrong. The nuclear option is really all the twins have left, to stop Chrysalis who really does represent a threat to pony society. And I like it, even though it doesn't end well for our protagonists.
I do also like how they were both desiring a better outcome than killing the changelings, though. They were willing to at least try for a peaceful ending, even if there was no peaceful option to begin with.
I'm glad you enjoyed it. I strayed far from my comfort zone in both themes and overall composition when writing this and I was really hoping for a good payoff.
Wow, this story was really impressive! I admit it had a relatively slow start, but dang, that Banner-Hocks Syndrome is a pretty unique idea! I get the feeling it's probably a reference to something? At any rate, it's a pretty neat-o condition, and portrayed in an interesting light! And the two main characters interacted with/played off each other well. Makes me wish I could have seen them on a normal mission!
Although I do wonder why the changelings ignored Clear. Wouldn't the queen want revenge on both of them? Ah well.
And hooo boy, did it go out with a bang! ...pun unintended. I'm a sucker for dramatic endings, and that was a heart-wrenchingly good one. Awesome job, and thumbs up!
I'm so used to the protagonist(s) finding a way to escape or save the day that I wasn't ready for this outcome. Good work overall.


text:
Quantitative assessment of fibrosis and steatosis in liver biopsies from patients with chronic hepatitis C
A M Zaitoun1,
H Al Mardini2,
S Awad3,
S Ukabam4,
S Makadisi2,
C O Record2
1Department of Histopathology, University Hospital, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK
2Department of Medicine, The Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
3Department of Medicine, Al Jazeera Hospital, PO Box 2427, UAE
4Department of Medicine, University of Al AIN, PO Box 15258, UAE
Dr Zaitoun abd.zaitoun{at}mail.qmcuh-tr.trent.nhs.uk
Backgrounds—Hepatic fibrosis is one of the main consequences of liver disease. Both fibrosis and steatosis may be seen in some patients with chronic hepatitis C and alcoholic liver disease (ALD).
Aims—To quantitate fibrosis and steatosis by stereological and morphometric techniques in patients with chronic hepatitis C and compare the results with a control group of patients with ALD. In addition, to correlate the quantitative features of fibrosis with the Ishak modified histological score.
Materials and methods—Needle liver biopsies from 86 patients with chronic hepatitis C and from 32 patients with alcoholic liver disease (disease controls) were analysed by stereological and morphometric analyses using the Prodit 5.2 system. Haematoxylin and eosin and Picro-Mallory stained sections were used. The area fractions (AA) of fibrosis, steatosis, parenchyma, and other structures (bile duct and central vein areas) were assessed by stereological method. The mean diameters of fat globules were determined by morphometric analysis.
Results—Significant differences were found in the AA of fibrosis, including fibrosis within portal tract areas, between chronic hepatitis C patients and those with ALD (mean (SD): 19.14 (10.59) v 15.97 (12.51)). Portal and periportal (zone 1) fibrosis was significantly higher (p = 0.00004) in patients with chronic hepatitis C compared with the control group (mean (SD): 9.04 (6.37) v 3.59 (3.16)). Pericentral fibrosis (zone 3) occurred in both groups but was significantly more pronounced in patients with ALD. These results correlate well with the modified Ishak scoring system. However, in patients with cirrhosis (stage 6) with chronic hepatitis C the AA of fibrosis varied between 20% and 74%. The diameter of fat globules was significantly lower in patients with hepatitis C (p = 0.00002) than the ALD group (mean (SD): 14.44 (3.45) v 18.4 (3.32)). Microglobules were more frequent in patients with chronic hepatitis C than in patients with ALD. In patients with chronic hepatitis C, the fat globules had a zonal distribution in comparison with pan steatosis in ALD.
Conclusion—Quantitative, stereological techniques are simple and reliable for evaluating hepatic fibrosis and steatosis in chronic hepatitis C. They are most useful for assessing the origin, location, and the stage of fibrosis. Stereology and morphometry are recommended for the quantitation of fibrosis and steatosis, particularly for the evaluation of new treatment strategies in patients with chronic hepatitis C.
hepatic fibrosis
morphometry
steatosis
stereology
http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/jcp.54.6.461
Acute hepatitis C develops into chronic hepatitis in more than 50% of patients.1, 2 A proportion of patients with chronic hepatitis C progress to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.3 Hepatic fibrosis is one of the most important features of chronic hepatitis C. The accurate assessment of hepatic fibrosis is important to study the natural history and the prognosis of patients with chronic hepatitis C. Fibrosis is also seen in patients with alcoholic liver disease (ALD)4–6 and other forms of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).7–9 Steatosis is another morphological feature that can be seen in patients with chronic hepatitis C,10–13 ALD,5, 6 and NAFLD.7, 8, 14 There are several methods for assessing hepatic fibrosis and the progression of fibrogenesis in clinical practice. Chemical methods are used to measure the concentration of collagen in liver tissue.15–17 This is a good method but requires a large sample of liver tissue. Conventional routine histological examination is the most common method, although it is subjective and not quantitative. A histological semiquantitative scoring system for the evaluation of hepatic fibrosis has been described.18–20 Morphometric assessment of hepatic fibrosis has been considered the gold standard technique,21 and has been used to assess hepatic fibrosis in experimental animals22, 23 and in clinical practice.2, 18, 24 Fat in liver disease has been assessed by semiquantitative methods,14 by automated computerised procedures,25, 26 and biochemically in liver biopsy specimens.27
Therefore, the accurate assessment of the quantity of fibrosis and steatosis is important for the pathological, clinical, and prognostic evaluation of patients with chronic hepatitis C.
In our present study, we have chosen to focus our attention on patients with chronic hepatitis C versus ALD as a disease control group and have concentrated on the quantification of hepatic fibrosis and steatosis by stereological and morphometric techniques. We also compared the quantitative values of fibrosis with the Ishak modified scoring system.19
One hundred and eighteen liver biopsy specimens were evaluated from patients with chronic hepatitis C (64 UAE, 22 UK) and ALD (32 patients, UK) as disease controls. The mean age of the patients with chronic hepatitis C was 39.5 years (range, 18–65) and 60 were men. The mean age of patients with ALD was 49.8 years (range, 30–69) and 22 were men. In addition to clinical manifestations, all patients with hepatitis C had positive serological and immunological tests for hepatitis C (second generation tests). None of these patients had a history of alcohol intake. All patients with alcoholic liver disease had a long history of alcohol intake with clinical and biochemical evidence of chronic liver disease. None of the patients with chronic hepatitis C had received antiviral treatment before the biopsy procedure. Liver biopsy specimens were fixed in 4% buffered formal saline and embedded in paraffin wax. Sections were cut at 5 μm thickness and were stained with haematoxylin and eosin (H&E), reticulin, the Picro-Mallory stain, and other special stains. The H&E stain was used at two levels. All liver biopsies from patients with chronic hepatitis C were also assessed in relation to the Ishak modified score.19 The score of fibrosis was recorded as follows: 0, no fibrosis; 1, fibrous expansion of some portal tract areas; 2, fibrous expansion of most portal tract areas; 3, fibrous expansion of portal tract areas with occasional portal–portal bridging; 4, fibrosis with portal–portal and portal–central bridging; 5, pronounced bridging with occasional nodules; and 6, probable or definite cirrhosis.
Steatosis was assessed in H&E stained sections by morphometric analysis.
Stereology (area fraction; AA) is used to obtain quantitative information about the volume, area, length, and numerical density in three dimensional structures using a simple point counting technique or a computer program. In chronic hepatitis C and ALD, the changes are usually uniform throughout the liver; therefore, biopsy sampling can be considered unbiased for assessing the area fraction. The AA of steatosis, unchanged parenchyma, portal tract, central veins, and fibrosis in all zones were assessed by stereological analysis using an objective magnification of ×10 (Nikon microscope). Stereological assessment was carried out using a computerised image analysis system (Prodit 5.2; BMA, Amsterdam, the Netherlands). A monitor screen with parallel Weibel overlay grid with 72 points at a distance of 31.83 μm was used to count fat globules, unchanged parenchyma, portal tract areas, central veins, and fibrosis (Picro-Mallory stain). At least 1000 points covering the above features were counted in each liver biopsy specimen and the whole biopsy area was covered at one level of sectioning. At least 13 fields were selected for measurement to include all zones, portal tracts, and vein areas.
Morphometry is the measurement of forms and it is used in histopathology to describe measurements made from two dimensional sections. We used morphometry to assess the area and diameter of fat globules in biopsies with steatosis in H&E stained sections.
Steatosis was assessed in two areas: the pericentral area (zone III) and the periportal area (zone I). A special computer program was used to assess the area of parenchyma that contained steatosis. This computer program allowed the measurement to be done in two phases. At least 10 fields were chosen for morphometric analysis around portal tract areas, central vein areas, or nodules in cirrhotic livers. The mean diameter of fat globules was obtained (all measurements are in micrometers).
Fat globules were graded quantitatively as follows.
Microvesicular steatosis (microglobules): the mean diameter of fat globules plus one standard deviation is less than 15 μm (M + SD < 15 μm).
Macrovesicular steatosis (macroglobules): the mean diameter of fat globules minus one SD is equal to or larger than 15 μm (M − SD ≥ 15 μm).
Mixed macrovesicular and microvesicular steatosis: the mean diameter of fat globules plus or minus one SD is more or less than 15 μm (M + SD > 15 μm or M − SD < 15 μm).
Parenchyma is defined by the area occupied by hepatocytes, Kupffer cells, and sinusoids without fatty changes.
Pleomorphism of fat globules is the degree of variation in the size of fat globules. This was obtained from the SD of the mean values of fat globules.
The distribution of fat globules was defined as periportal or pericentral when globules are confined to zone 3 or zone 1, respectively. Pan steatosis was defined as steatosis involving all zones or all nodules. Other forms of distribution of steatosis were defined by the presence of steatosis in part of the cirrhotic nodules or both pericentral and periportal liver cell parenchyma.
Data were analysed using a software program EP1 INFO Version 6. The ANOVA test was used to derive the p value for normally distributed data. When Bartlett's test showed the variances in the samples to differ, the non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis H (equivalent to χ2) was used to obtain the p value. Significance was set at p < 0.05 (two tailed).
The intraobserver reproducibility for assessing fibrosis and steatosis by stereological and morphometric techniques was tested. The coefficient of variation (CV) of fibrosis was 1.6% and the CV of steatosis was 3.8%. Reproducibility is equal to 100 − CV. The stereological and morphometric analyses were undertaken by a single observer (AMZ).
MORPHOLOGICAL CHANGES
Figure 1 shows the patterns of distribution of fat globules in patients with chronic hepatitis C and ALD. Pan steatosis was higher in ALD than in chronic hepatitis C. Periportal and other forms of distribution of fat were seen more frequently in patients with chronic hepatitis C than in those with ALD.
The patterns of distribution of fat globules in patients with chronic hepatitis C (HPC) and alcoholic liver disease (ALD). CV, central vein.
STEREOLOGICAL CHANGES
Figure 2 shows the AA values of fibrosis, steatosis, parenchyma, and other structures (portal tract areas, central vein areas combined) in patients with chronic hepatitis C and ALD. There was a significant difference (p = 0.008) in the AA of fibrosis between the two groups. The AA of steatosis was significantly higher in patients with ALD than in those with hepatitis C (p = 0.0002). There was no significant difference in the AA of parenchyma between the two groups. Figure 3 shows the stereological findings of fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C in relation to the Ishak modified score of fibrosis. The area fraction of fibrosis increased exponentially from score 1 (portal fibrosis) to precirrhosis (score 5) to complete cirrhosis (score 6). In patients with cirrhosis the total percentage of fibrosis varied between 20% and 74% (approximately fourfold). Table 1 shows the percentage value of fibrosis in all topographical locations in chronic hepatitis C and ALD. In chronic hepatitis C, periportal fibrosis was significantly higher than in the ALD group (p = 0.00004). In ALD, pericentral fibrosis was significantly higher than in patients with chronic hepatitis C (p = 0.0045).
The area fraction of fibrosis in relation to topography in liver biopsies from patients with chronic hepatitis C (HPC) and chronic liver disease (ALD)
The area fraction values of fibrosis, steatosis, and other normal structures in patients with chronic hepatitis C (HPC) and alcoholic liver disease (ALD).
The area fraction of total fibrosis, including fibrosis in the portal tract area, in 86 patients with chronic hepatitis C in relation to the Ishak modified score.
MORPHOMETRIC CHANGES
Table 2 shows the mean diameter of fat globules in patients with chronic hepatitis C and ALD. The diameter of fat globules was significantly higher in patients with ALD than in those with chronic hepatitis C (p = 0.00002). Pleomorphism of fat globules was significantly higher in patients with ALD than in those with chronic hepatitis C (p = 0.009).
Morphometric features of fat globules in patients with hepatitis C (HPC) and alcoholic liver disease (ALD)
Figure 4 shows the grades of fat globules in chronic hepatitis C and ALD. The proportion of macroglobules was higher in patients with ALD than in those with chronic hepatitis C (p = 0.0003). The proportion of microglobules was higher in chronic hepatitis C than in ALD (p = 0. 0003).
The grades of fat globules in chronic hepatitis C (HPC) and alcoholic liver disease (ALD).
The primary aim of our study was to assess fibrosis and steatosis by quantitative methods in liver biopsy specimens from patients with chronic hepatitis C. Quantification of fibrosis by image analysis has been considered to be the gold standard of morphological measurement because its CV is very low,4, 18 and values have been shown to correlate well with chemical α2 macroglobulin determination.16 Some authors have used morphometric techniques to assess fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C.28, 29 We have shown in a previous study24 that stereology is superior to morphometry for quantifying fibrosis in ALD and NAFLD. In our current study, we have used stereology to assess fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C. Stereological analysis has shown a significant increase in the area fraction with the increase in severity of chronic liver disease.
The modified Ishak scoring system19 has been used by pathologists as a semiquantitative estimation of fibrosis. Other systems have also been introduced to assess fibrosis.18, 30 However, these systems remain subjective. In addition, it may be difficult to compare the results between different studies using different scoring systems. The potential interobserver and intraobserver variation of grading and staging of fibrosis is very high. Our stereological technique for assessing fibrosis has shown a linear increase in the mean value of fibrosis in comparison with the modified Ishak score. However, there was an approximately fourfold variation (20–74%) in the proportion of fibrosis within the same group of patients with established cirrhosis (score 6). A recent study has shown a similar fivefold difference within the same group of Knodell's score.30 This throws doubt on the validity of semiquantitative staging19 in the evaluation of new treatment strategies in hepatic fibrosis. Paradis et al have shown that necro inflammatory lesions and collagen content are important features for predicting the progression of liver disease in patients with chronic hepatitis C.31 Other authors have shown that serum collagen and fibrosis may lead to resistance to treatment with interferon in patients with chronic hepatitis C.32–34
The second goal of our work was to compare the degree of fibrosis at different locations in the patients with chronic hepatitis C and those with ALD. We found significant differences in the amount of fibrosis in relation to topography (in all locations) in patients with chronic hepatitis C and ALD. Periportal fibrosis was significantly higher in patients with chronic hepatitis C, whereas fibrosis was significantly higher in pericellular and pericentral vein areas in ALD. Several studies4, 14, 15 have shown that pericentral fibrosis lesions in ALD are the first apparent lesions in the sequence of events leading to alcoholic cirrhosis. The assessment of fibrosis in individual locations and the total areas yield a useful clue to the origin of fibrosis in both chronic hepatitis C and alcoholic disease. The significant difference in the location of fibrosis indicates that the origin of fibrosis differs between chronic hepatitis and ALD. It seems that the origin of fibrosis is predominantly pericentral and pericellular in ALD and predominantly periportal in chronic hepatitis C. Some authors have shown that pericentral fibrosis is a precursor lesion of cirrhosis.35, 36 The natural history of liver fibrosis progression in patients with chronic hepatitis C has been studied.37 It has been estimated that, without treatment, 33% of patients have an expected median time to cirrhosis of less than 20 years.37
Steatosis of the liver is not a disease entity but a histological feature that may have clinical associations. It is the most common morphological feature seen in patients with ALD and some patients with chronic hepatitis C. We described a quantitative method to assess steatosis in all histopathological stages of liver disease in both groups of patients. Semigrading of steatosis has been described by many authors.7, 14, 38 Semiquantitative and fully automated methods have also been described,38 but require special staining for fat. In semiautomated interactive methods, H&E stained sections prepared for routine diagnosis can be used. In a previous study26 we assessed steatosis by two quantitative methods. Other authors have also used quantitative techniques to assess steatosis in liver biopsies.39 In our present study, both stereology and morphometry were used for assessing steatosis. Stereology has shown significant variation in AA of steatosis between patients with chronic hepatitis C and those with ALD. The diameter of fat globules differed significantly between the two groups. The highest degree of variation in the diameter of fat globules was seen in patients with ALD. In humans, fat globules initially formed in zone 3 coalesce to form large droplets. This may explain the variation in the diameter of fat globules in patients with ALD. Our results confirm the morphological findings that steatosis is focally distributed and is seen more frequently in zone 1 in patients with chronic hepatitis C than in those with ALD.
In a previous study,26 we found a good correlation between the morphological grading of fat globules and morphometric grades. Our present study has shown another application of the quantitative grades in patients with chronic hepatitis C. This system can be used easily to study the changes in steatosis when evaluating a new treatment strategy and also for follow up of patients with chronic hepatitis C.
In conclusion, stereology and morphometry are simple and reliable quantitative techniques for the measurement of fibrosis and steatosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C. Stereology offers a means of assessing fibrosis and steatosis in the entire biopsy specimen, whereas morphometry is very useful in assessing steatosis in relation to the size and diameter of fat globules. In view of the high reproducibility in intrafield assessment and low intraobserver variability, we recommend this method as one of the most important tools in the evaluation of new treatment strategies in hepatic fibrosis and for follow up of patients with chronic hepatitis C and ALD.
Desmet VJ, Gerber M, Hoofnagle JH, et al. Classification of chronic hepatitis: diagnosis, grading and staging. Hepatology 1994;19:1513–20.
Kage M, Shimamatu K, Nakashima E, et al. Long-term evolution of fibrosis from chronic hepatitis to cirrhosis in patients with hepatitis C: morphometric analysis of repeated biopsies. Hepatology 1997;25:1028–31.
Yano M, Kumada H, Kage M, et al. The long-term pathological evolution of chronic hepatitis C. Hepatology 1996;23:1334–9.
Caulet S, Fabre M, Schoevaert D, et al. Quantitative study of centrolobular hepatic fibrosis in alcoholic disease before cirrhosis. Virchows Archiv A Pathol Anat Histopathol 1989;416:11–17.
Chedid A, Mendenhall CL, Gartside P, et al and the VA Co-operative Study Group. Prognostic factors in alcoholic liver disease. Am J Gastroenterol 1991;86:210–16.
Baptista A, Bianchi L, De Groote J, et al (international group). Alcoholic liver disease: morphological manifestations: review by an international group. Lancet 1981;1:707–11.
Adler M, Schaffner F. Fatty liver hepatitis and cirrhosis in obese patients. Am J Med 1979;67:811–16.
Diehl AM, Goodman Z, Ishak KG. Alcohol-like liver disease in nonalcoholics: a clinical and histological comparison with alcohol-induced liver injury. Gastroenterology 1988;95:1056–62.
Klain J, Fraser D, Goldstein J, et al. Liver histology abnormalities in the morbidly obese. Hepatology 1989;10:873–6.
Schmid M, Flury R, Buhler H, et al. Chronic viral hepatitis B and C: an argument against the conventional classification of chronic hepatitis. Virchows Archiv 1994;425:221–8.
Lefkowitch JH, Schiff ER, Davis GL, et al. Hepatitis interventional therapy group. Pathological diagnosis of chronic hepatitis C: a multicenter comparative study with chronic hepatitis C. Gastroenterology 1993;104:595–603.
Czaja AJ, Carpenter HA. Sensitivity, specificity and predictability of biopsy interpretations in chronic hepatitis. Gastroenterology 1993;105:1824–32.
Uchimura, Y, Sata M, Kage M, et al. A histopathological study of alcoholics with chronic HCV infection: comparison with chronic hepatitis C and alcoholic liver disease. Liver 1995;15:300–6.
Nagore N, Scheuer PJ. The pathology of diabetic hepatitis. J Pathol 1988;156:155–60.
Gressner AM. Liver fibrosis: perspectives in pathobiochemical research and clinical outlook. Eur J Clin Chem Clin Biochem 1997;29:293–311.
Naveau S, Poynard T, Benattar C, et al. Alpha-2-macroglobulin and hepatic fibrosis: diagnostic interest. Dig Dis Sci 1994;39:2426–32.
Yabu K, Kiyosawa K, Mori H, et al. Serum collagen type IV for the assessment of fibrosis and resistance to interferon therapy in chronic hepatitis C. Scand J Gastroenterol 1994;29:474–9.
Chevallier M, Guerret S, Chossegros P, et al. A histological semiquantitative scoring system for evaluation of hepatic fibrosis in needle liver biopsy specimen; comparison with morphometric studies. Hepatology 1994;20:349–55.
Ishak K, Baptista A, Bianchi L, et al. Histological grading and staging of chronic hepatitis. J Hepatol 1995;22:696–9.
Knodell RG, Ishak KG, Black WC, et al. Formulation and application of a numerical scoring system for assessing histological activity in asymptomatic chronic active hepatitis. Hepatology 1981;1:431–5.
Ryoo JW, Buschmann RJ. Morphometry of liver parenchyma in needle biopsy specimens from patients with alcoholic liver disease: preliminary variables for the diagnosis and prognosis of cirrhosis. Mod Pathol 1989;2:382–9.
Aronson DC, De Haan J, James J, et al. Quantitative aspects of the parenchyma–stroma relationship in experimentally induced cholestasis. Liver 1988;8:116–26.
James J, Bosch KS, Aronson DC, et al. Sirius red histophotometry and spectrophotometry of sections in the assessment of the collagen content of liver tissue and its application in growing rat liver. Liver 1990;10:1–5.
Zaitoun AM, Mardini H, Record CO. Quantitative assessment of fibrosis in liver biopsies from patients with alcoholic and non alcoholic liver disease. J Cell Pathol 1999;4:11–19.
Arnould L, Cosyn JP, Rondelez L, et al. Automated morphometric estimation of liver steatosis. Microsc Acta Suppl 1979;3:197–203.
Zaitoun AM, Mardini H, Record CO. Stereology and morphometry of steatosis In human alcoholic (ALD) and non alcoholic liver disease (NALD). Acta Stereologica 1998;17:49–58.
Eaton S, Zaitoun AM, Record CO, et al. β-Oxidation in human alcoholic and non alcoholic hepatic steatosis. Clin Sci 1996;90:307–13.
Camma C, Giunta M, Linea C, et al. The effect of interferon on the liver in chronic hepatitis C: a quantitative evaluation of histology by meta-analysis. J Hepatol 1997;26:1187–99.
Lin X-Z, Horng M-H, Sun Y-N, et al. Computer morphometry for quantitative measurement of liver fibrosis. Comparison with Knodell's score, colorimetry and conventional description report. J Gastroenterol Hepatol 1998;13:75–80.
Bedoss P, Poynard T. The Metavir co-operative study group: an algoritham for grading the activity in chronic hepatitis C. Hepatology 1996;24;289–93.
Paradis V, Mathurin P, Laurent A, et al. Histological features predictive of liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C infection. J Clin Pathol 1996;49:998–1004.
Kim SR, Hayashi Y, Yoon S, et al. Prediction of efficacy of interferon treatment of chronic hepatitis C by multivariate analysis and a new classification. Pathol Int 1998;48:215–20.
Hakozaki Y, Shirahama T, Katou M, et al. Long-term prognosis of chronic hepatitis C after treatment with interferon alpha 2b and characterisation of incomplete responders. Am J Gastroenterol 1996;91:2144–9.
Worner TM, Lieber CS. Perivenular fibrosis in alcoholic liver injury: ultrastructure and histologic progression. Gastroenterology 1982;83:777–85.
Worner TM, Lieber CS. Perivenular fibrosis as precursor lesion of cirrhosis. JAMA 1985;254:627–30.
Poynard T, Bedossa P, Opolon P, for the OBSVIRC, METAVIR, CLINIVIR, and DOSIVIRC groups. Natural history of liver fibrosis progression in patients with chronic hepatitis C. Lancet 1997;349:825–32.
Auger J, Schoevaert D, Martin ED. Comparative study of automated morphometric and semiquantative estimations of alcoholic steatosis. Anal Quant Cytol Histol 1986;8:56–62.
De Craemer D, Pauwells M, Van Den Branden C. Alterations of peroxisomes in steatosis of the human liver: a quantitative study. Hepatology 1997;22:744–52.
COPYRIGHT © 2001 Journal of Clinical Pathology

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Ex-Florida player charged with murder in wife's 2016 death
FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — A former University of Florida football player, Earl Antonio "Tony" Joiner, has been arrested and charged with killing his wife in a case dating to 2016, police said. A former…
Sale, Red Sox agree to deal adding $145 million from 2020-24
FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — After winning a World Series with the Red Sox, Chris Sale preferred to stay in Boston rather than find out what he would be worth as a free agent after…
Boston's Mookie Betts says he expects to become free agent
FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — Don't expect AL MVP Mookie Betts to agree to a long-term contract with the Boston Red Sox before he can become a free agent in late 2020. Despite Mike Trout's…
Red Sox pitcher Steven Wright suspended 80 games for HGH
FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — Boston Red Sox pitcher Steven Wright will sit out the first 80 games of the season after testing positive for Human Growth Hormone, a second suspension for the knuckleballer who…
Slowly, baseball rolls out pitch clock in spring training
FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — Baseball is on the clock. The traditionally timeless sport implemented a pitch clock all around major league spring training for the first time Saturday in an attempt to hurry up…
Spring training games underway in Florida, Arizona
FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — The sun came out in Arizona. Free agents played for their new teams. Ichiro Suzuki was back in uniform at age 45. Baseball is back. A day after the scheduled…
Boston Globe baseball writer Nick Cafardo dies at 62
FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — Boston Globe baseball writer Nick Cafardo, who covered the Red Sox and the rest of the sport for more than three decades, died Thursday after collapsing outside the team's spring…
Major League Baseball, National Football League
Twins' Sano cut foot in celebration, out for at least a week
FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — Minnesota Twins third baseman Miguel Sano will miss at least the first week of full-squad workouts after he cut his foot while celebrating his team winning the Dominican Winter League…
Minnesota car track owner dies in Florida swim accident
BRAINERD, Minn. (AP) — The owner of Brainerd International Raceway in Minnesota has died in a swimming accident off the Florida coast. Jed Copham was 46. Raceway officials say Copham had been swimming from his…
Hot-hitting Bogaerts homers, Red Sox hold off Rays 3-2
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Xander Bogaerts is off to a blistering start for the Boston Red Sox. The hot-hitting shortstop homered in his second three-hit game of the season, keying a 3-2 victory over…


text:
Q: Min Abs Sum task from codility There is already a topic about this task, but I'd like to ask about my specific approach.
The task is:

Let A be a non-empty array consisting of N integers.
The abs sum of two for a pair of indices (P, Q) is the absolute value
|A[P] + A[Q]|, for 0 ≤ P ≤ Q < N.
For example, the following array A:
A[0] =  1   A1 =  4   A[2] = -3 has pairs of indices (0, 0), (0,
1), (0, 2), (1, 1), (1, 2), (2, 2). The abs sum of two for the pair
(0, 0) is A[0] + A[0] = |1 + 1| = 2. The abs sum of two for the pair
(0, 1) is A[0] + A1 = |1 + 4| = 5. The abs sum of two for the pair
(0, 2) is A[0] + A[2] = |1 + (−3)| = 2. The abs sum of two for the
pair (1, 1) is A1 + A1 = |4 + 4| = 8. The abs sum of two for the
pair (1, 2) is A1 + A[2] = |4 + (−3)| = 1. The abs sum of two for
the pair (2, 2) is A[2] + A[2] = |(−3) + (−3)| = 6. Write a function:
def solution(A)
that, given a non-empty array A consisting of N integers, returns the
minimal abs sum of two for any pair of indices in this array.
For example, given the following array A:
A[0] =  1   A1 =  4   A[2] = -3 the function should return 1, as
explained above.
Given array A:
A[0] = -8   A1 =  4   A[2] =  5   A[3] =-10   A[4] =  3 the
function should return |(−8) + 5| = 3.
Write an efficient algorithm for the following assumptions:
N is an integer within the range [1..100,000]; each element of array A
is an integer within the range [−1,000,000,000..1,000,000,000].

The official solution is O(N*M^2), but I think it could be solved in O(N).
My approach is to first get rid of duplicates and sort the array. Then we check both ends and sompare the abs sum moving the ends by one towards each other. We try to move the left end, the right one or both. If this doesn't improve the result, our sum is the lowest. My code is:
def solution(A):
    A = list(set(A))
    n = len(A)
    A.sort()
    beg = 0
    end = n - 1
    min_sum = abs(A[beg] + A[end])
    while True:
        min_left = abs(A[beg+1] + A[end]) if beg+1 < n else float('inf')
        min_right = abs(A[beg] + A[end-1]) if end-1 >= 0 else float('inf')
        min_both = abs(A[beg+1] + A[end-1]) if beg+1 < n and end-1 >= 0 else float('inf')
        min_all = min([min_left, min_right, min_both])
        if min_sum <= min_all:
            return min_sum
        if min_left == min_all:
            beg += 1
            min_sum = min_left
        elif min_right == min_all:
            end -= 1
            min_sum = min_right
        else:
            beg += 1
            end -= 1
            min_sum = min_both

It passes almost all of the tests, but not all. Is there some bug in my code or the approach is wrong?
EDIT:
After the aka.nice answer I was able to fix the code. It scores 100% now.
def solution(A):
    A = list(set(A))
    n = len(A)
    A.sort()
    beg = 0
    end = n - 1
    min_sum = abs(A[beg] + A[end])
    while beg <= end:
        min_left = abs(A[beg+1] + A[end]) if beg+1 < n else float('inf')
        min_right = abs(A[beg] + A[end-1]) if end-1 >= 0 else float('inf')
        min_all = min(min_left, min_right)
        if min_all < min_sum:
            min_sum = min_all
        if min_left <= min_all:
            beg += 1
        else:
            end -= 1

    return min_sum

A: Just take this example for array A
-11 -5 -2 5 6 8 12

and execute your algorithm step by step, you get a premature return:
beg=0
end=6
min_sum=1
min_left=7
min_right=3
min_both=3
min_all=3
return min_sum

though there is a better solution abs(5-5)=0.
Hint: you should check the sign of A[beg] and A[end] to decide whether to continue or exit the loop. What to do if both >= 0, if both <= 0, else ?
Note that A.sort() has a non neglectable cost, likely O(N*log(N)), it will dominate the cost of the solution you exhibit.
By the way, what is M in the official cost O(N*M^2)?
And the link you provide is another problem (sum all the elements of A or their opposite).

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


LAKEWOOD RANCH, Fla., Dec. 19, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Care Bridge International announces its actuarial endorsement for accuracy in projecting the medical portion of workers' compensation claims. Following the completion of an actuarial review in November 2017, prepared by Deborah L Stone, FCAS, MAAA of Stone Business & Risk Consulting, LLC, the company is proud to announce that its processes, models and tools, designed to assist workers' compensation claims professionals in the forecasting of individual medical claims, have earned credibility and distinction.
"Medical reserving is part of a claims adjuster's job function. Typically, adjusters have limited or no tools at their disposal to forecast reasonable and probable medical treatment and costs for individual claims for the purpose of ensuring that insurance companies and employers establish and secure the necessary funds to pay for bodily injury/ accident claims," explains Deborah Watkins, CEO.
The aggregate of medical claims contributes to an insurance company's loss reserve, the estimate of an insurer's liability from future claims, allowing the insurer to cover claims made against policies that it underwrites, typically comprised of liquid assets.
"Adjusters often fail to understand and forecast the costs associated with expensive medical treatments such as surgeries, medical devices and medications or the frequency of care that is likely to occur based on an individual's diagnosis and comorbid conditions. Claims adjusters consistently miscalculate funds needed to pay for medical costs. There are just too many variables for a human to consider," added Deborah Watkins. "Using validated tools, adjusters can forecast medical reserves confidently, at zip code level precision, to better manage and settle their claims."
Care Bridge International hosts over 1 billion medical claim transactions and 2,800 Medicare set asides reviewed and approved by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid services. The Company offers the only InsureTech software solution using BIG data to forecast medical exposure for medical reserve setting/ medical cost projections and Medicare set asides for workers' compensation and Liability claims within minutes instead of days or weeks. The company also offers an integrated risk management platform with dashboard analytics.
Care Bridge International's leadership team has extensive insurance claims, clinical and data analytics experience and is passionate about delivering this big data solution to drive efficiency, transparency, risk management and lower costs for the claims value chain.
Deborah L. Stone of Stone Business & Risk Consulting, LLC holds an MBA from The Wharton School, she has over 30 years of actuarial and insurance experience, and is a Fellow of the Casualty Actuarial Society (FCAS). She is also a member of the American Academy of Actuaries (MAAA) and is Treasurer and a member of the national board of directors (American Mensa Committee) of American Mensa Ltd.
MSP Compliance Bridge -Compliance. Simplified.


text:
Saraki seeks greater commitment to eradicating corruption
in Cover, National
PRESIDENT of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, yesterday, said that Nigeria can only grow and achieve its true destiny if the present system of governance is rid of corruption.
Saraki, who stated this in his speech as chair of the 7th Zik Lecture of the Annual Zik Series, held at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, said it is time for all Nigerians to recommit to the efforts aimed at eradicating corruption from Nigeria as envisioned by the nation's founding fathers, one of whom was the Great Zik of Africa.
In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Sanni Onogu, the President of the Senate also stated that the late Zik believed and worked for transparency and accountability, virtues that would help to banish the "cankerworm of corruption" from the country, if they are imbibed and practised by all Nigerians.
Saraki said, "Without wishing to pre-empt the subject of today's lecture by His Excellency, Benjamin Mkapa, former President of Tanzania, which is entitled, Taming the Monster of Corruption in Africa, we should ask ourselves what Dr. Azikiwe would have made of the political landscape of today, particularly with regard to the problem of corruption.
READ ALSO: Family of five perish in Kebbi inferno
"Let us think upon the example he laid down, the ideals he stood for, and from which he never wavered.
"As we listen to this 7th Zik Lecture, let us meditate upon the legacy of Azikiwe, one of the greatest Africans of the 20th Century. As founder of the historic West African Pilot newspaper, Azikiwe was for freedom of the press. He was for accountability and transparency… He believed in, and fought for Nigeria's unity.
"When I think about his legacy, I am indeed humbled; and it is a thing of pride to be chairing this event today. As we listen to the 7th Zik Lecture delivered by the eminent keynote speaker, let us recommit ourselves to defeating the monster of corruption in our country; and by so doing, set a standard for the whole of Africa.
"It is by riding our system of governance of the cankerworm of corruption that this country can grow to achieve its true destiny as envisioned by the founding fathers, one of whom was the Great Zik of Africa," he stated.
READ ALSO: How not to apologise to your spouse
He noted that Zik was not only an astute politician and statesman, but also a man who thought deeply about his country in particular and the African continent in general.
"He thought deeply about the direction Nigeria was going, and he did his very best to steer her on the right path. We need more thinkers in our national life, and it is my expectation that today's lecture will go some way towards nudging those of us in this audience in that direction," he said.
Saraki described the Annual Zik lecture series, held at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, as a veritable platform to propagate Zik's ideals, formulate new ideas and devise solutions to current national challenges.
Tags: anambra stateawkaDr. Abubakar Bukola SarakiMonster of Corruptionnnamdi azikiwe universityPresident of the Senate
Segun Adio
Delta donates 5 armoured carriers to army, police
Gunmen kill APC youth leader, 1 other in Enugu
We've deployed technology to combact kidnapping, banditry -IGP
How we can become No. 1 in open defecation
I don't stand with Udom...
We're interested in credible polls – UN
Man behind Okgabre's alleged doping scandal granted bond
Why I acquired PhD at 70 –Asuelinmen, UNILAG's 2nd oldest graduate
From Olanrewaju Lawal, Birnin Kebbi Kebbi State Governor, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu has condoled the various communities...


7.Application:The products are widely used in fertilizer, petroleum, boiler, power station, centrastation,shiping military, chemical industry, environment protection, traffic, food industry, medical equipement and so on.
8.Standard:ASTMA106Gr.B,;ASTMA53GR.B,APISPEC5LGR.B,BS1387,ASTMA179,ASTMA192,CA335,ASTMA333,DIN1629,ASTM A500-98,ASTM A500-98,ASTM A501-9JIS G3444-19948,ASTN A519-98,JISG3441-1994,ASTMA53-98,ASTMA192,ASTMES192,JISG3452-. DIN, EN and some other international standard.


text:
The cars : Rover 400/45/MG ZS development story
23 July 2011 Keith Adams 25
Intended to be the cornerstone of Rover's late-1990s growth, the 400 hatchback and saloon were vitally important new cars – not least because they were to replace the best-selling 1989 200/400.
However with the final Rover co-developed with Honda, they got the pricing and dynamic mix wrong, and just as quickly as the original 200/400 built up a strong following, the 1995 debutante lost it…
End of the relationship
FOLLOWING the successful launch of the Honda-based Rover 200/400 and its derivatives, Rover was finally well on its way to defining a clear and focused product plan for the middle-market. After many years of overlapping model ranges, marque confusion and general buyer apathy, the Rover strategy was finally beginning to bear fruit: products of Longbridge were no longer the object of mirth in bar-room conversations, in fact the 200/400 was proving to possess that 'aspirational" quality that the company had been seeking for so long. All that really stood on the way of the company positioning themselves into a market niche some way above that of Ford and GM was the presence of the rapidly ageing Maestro/Montego models.
So why was Rover continuing with these (by then) prehistoric models, when the R8 models were proving such a hit in the middle-market – loved by private and fleet buyers, alike? The marketing department at Rover certainly could have done with dropping them like a hot potato – the cars did not fit easily in the newly liveried showrooms or up-market range catalogues – but the decision was made to continue building them. Of course, the presence of the Montego and Maestro meant that the Cowley production line continued to roll on. Without them, the Cowley East works would be lying dormant – and would remain so until the end of 1992, when the Rover 600 was due to go into production.
Mid-range plan
The Montego also proved to be the only real weapon that Rover possessed in order to fight in the very heart of the fleet market. The Rover 400 saloon may have been priced at a premium, and the engine range extended from 1.4-litres to 2.0-litres, but it was still essentially an Escort class car – and, therefore, did not offer the accommodation of the Sierra/Cavalier opposition. The Montego, on the other hand did, and for all its plain-Jane styling and questionable image, it still offered a roomy and effective package. However, both cars were living on borrowed time Rover knew these cars had to go if it wished to continue on its successful way upmarket.
In 1991, the brave decision was therefore taken to tidy up the middle of the range and the product plan devised was built around two platforms, which would form part of the 'Portfolio range". Nothing unusual in this, perhaps, but the intention was to launch these two unrelated cars within months of each other (along with the MGF), thereby taking a broom and sweeping out the entire middle market cupboard.
In the case of the car to replace the Rover R8 400 saloon, as well as the Montego, Rover management made it quite clear that the only way forward was to produce another Honda under licence, but with some styling changes – to reflect its status. After the success that Gordon Sked's design team made of the Rover 600 exterior – most notably Richard Woolley – it certainly made sense that Rover should perform another Honda redesign for their next medium sized car. Thankfully, the ambition of the engineers and marketing strategists to use the recently launched and highly acclaimed K-series power unit in the new car was reflected by the management as well.
As it was, the deal between Honda and Rover for the new mid-sized car was struck during 1991 and the project, called HHR, was soon underway. As expected, Honda provided the donor car upon which the HHR was to be based: the Civic 5-door, which at the time was already nearing production. As with the Rover 600, Richard Woolley headed up the external design team, and would soon be working on a 'theme" for the new car, again working on the information passed to Rover from Honda regarding the donor vehicle. 'I was still on a high from the 600 project, and had great hopes for this next one. 'Theta', the theme I produced was very much like a young brother to 600, with a proportion that suggested a four-door even though the car was to be a hatchback."
Anglo-Japanese shakes
As before with the Rover 600 programme, Woolley flew out to Japan in order to show Honda his Theta 'theme" – and begin adapting it to work with the Honda platform. However, the plan was rather foiled by the fact that Honda wanted to do things a little differently this time. Woolley takes up the story: 'I left for Japan again in November 1991, confidant that I could again get a strong product for Rover. What a disappointment though, when I walked in to the same Tochigi studio! To find that Honda had pretty much finalised their design, that it was based on the very lacklustre Domani, and that we were to be held to much higher levels of commonality than 600/Accord."
Because the HHR was to be based on this car, the feelings of Woolley, as well as the designers back at Canley towards the new car were somewhat downbeat, in marked contrast to their approach to the earlier collaborative projects (Accord/600, Concerto/R8 and Legend/800). In fact one senior designer put it in far more definitive terms – he could not believe that management were 'being so stupid" for starting the project from such an inappropriate base point and that he said that he 'almost cried" when he saw the Domani for the first time.
Honda Domani concept sketch to reality: somehow, the Japanese design lost its appeal when it made the transition from paper to clay. The very obviously Civic-based saloon underwhelmed Rover designers, faced with the uphill task of 'Roverising" the ungainly car.
In the weeks following Woolley's arrival in Japan, little joint work was completed – Rover wanted to create a smaller version of the 600, and Honda were not giving them the base product, or the flexibility, to do so. Certainly, the amiable if fraught relationship of before was replaced by something more unpleasant, 'Over the following weeks, no design work was progressed, in its place some quite acrimonious discussions, and it became clear that Honda would not budge from their position. For them, this project was to be their 'bread and butter' car for Europe; one that would not, in any circumstance, jeopardise the quality levels of their new plant in Swindon by not being based on a tried and trusted platform."
This was an admirable stance for Honda to take, from their perspective, but given that the HHR and HH-H models were supposed to be the product of a collaborative partnership, Honda were not really giving Rover enough leeway to replace their much-loved R8 effectively. Because of this clash of ideals, Rover and Honda had pretty much reached a impasse over the Rover product, as Woolley recalled, 'By December 1991, we were at stalemate, and had actually packed our bags to return home for Xmas with no intention of returning! Some last minute high-level negotiations took place that saw an agreement between Honda and Rover to recommence discussions in the New Year, and that Honda would do their best to address criticisms of their car."
When Woolley's team did return in January 1992, Honda's design for the HH-H had not changed in any great sense – and the only concessions that they would give Rover were in terms of a few millimetres here, and a few there. It was not nearly enough. But given that Geoff Upex had lobbied senior management to, perhaps, go it alone, it was alleged that he was curtly told that the choice was to go with Honda, or face closure. Woolley, however, did knuckle down and in February 1992, began work on the new design, even though he knew that the product was potentially going to compromise Rover. As Woolley recalled later, 'It was an altogether fraught time, with my counterpart from Honda remarking that this was the most difficult project he had ever worked on! We continued to debate changes with Honda that I felt were essential to at least get to a competitive design, and it's true that some were incorporated. However, Honda's approach did not fundamentally change, and the HH-H and HH-R went on to design completion 12 months later."
Be that as it may, Honda had produced a neat and contemporary five-door hatchback from the four-door Domani – and as Car magazine's Richard Bremner put it, the job Honda did on the Domani was somewhat akin to BMC's modifications on the 1800 to turn it into the Austin Maxi: the side doors were retained, but the car received a hatchback and shorter front and rear ends.
Rover did decide early on in the programme to distance the HHR from the Honda Civic five-door by offering the option of a four-door saloon, totally unrelated to the Domani – and therefore unique to Rover – and it was in this design that Rover managed to effect more influence on the car. Because Honda were quite uninterested in producing a Civic saloon (the conservative British tend to love the saloon far more than their European counterparts) Rover had a free hand – and it shows, because where the hatchback tended to look somewhat truncated, the saloon was a really well-integrated design effort. Work on the saloon was carried out at Canley and began in July 1993, again headed by Richard Woolley. This decision, and the pleasing design that resulted, probably lengthened the shelf life of the HHR – and in view of the length of the car's subsequent production run, this was no bad thing. Woolley felt better about the saloon HHR, as did the marketing people – and it is reflected by his view on the saloon, 'I guess we pinned our hopes on this derivative a little, even though it was itself constrained by its Domani heritage. Rover Marketing even went as far as to say at the time of the 5 door launch that the 'real' new Rover 400 would come when the saloon was launched."
The move upmarket
Launch artwork of the Rover HHR as depicted by Richard Woolley. It can be seen quite clearly in these pictures what Woolley was trying to achieve with the saloon version… one can only imagine how much more impact it would have made on the marketplace had it been launched in saloon form right from the beginning. (Picture kindly supplied by Richard Woolley)
During 1993, and to tie in with the work that was taking place on the R3, the HHR was gradually eased into a market position somewhat above the originally intended slot. As explained in more detail in the next section, Rover would move each of the Portfolio models then under development up a market sector, in order to maximise profits without needing to raise production volumes. In the case of the HHR, that would ease it away from the upper portion of the Escort/Astra class and into the heart of the Mondeo/Cavalier battleground. The rationale behind this was to leave the little 100/Metro in production and then trade on the more exclusive Rover name in the HHR and R3 classes – offering class instead of space.
In terms of chassis design, the HHR was pure Honda: wishbones front and rear, a sophisticated set-up and typical, classic Honda in every way. Rover's chassis engineers soon got down to work on the new car, and in line with its newfound upmarket aspirations, they decided to ensure that it was set-up in a rather different way to its predecessor and class rivals. Majoring on a cosseting ride and chassis sophistication, the spring and damper rates of the HHR were softened to an almost unheard-of amount – they knew that in a class full of 'driver's cars", they were taking a risk. But given the fact that the company was oozing confidence anyway, one more risk taken with the new car was worth the extra profits that would be coming in.
However some within the company didn't share the management's confidence. Ex-employee, Chris Chapman said: "I remember Portfolio being presented to us in the exhibition hall near Q gate and the general feeling of underwhelment, especially the cheap/claustrophobic interior and the loss of the facia storage shelf due to the airbag. Driving a very early production car, it seemed much more sophisticated than an R8 in the suspension department, but the showroom appeal compared to the competiton was nothing like an R8's – it was not the great step forward it should have been."
Towards the end of the HHR's development programme, momentous events were happening to the Rover car company. In February 1994, BMW had purchased the company from British Aerospace, leaving Rover's collaborative partner on the HHR firmly out in the cold. As the HHR was only a year away from launch by this time, BMW could do nothing to influence the conception of this car – the official line was 'business as usual". Bernd Pischetsrieder and Wolfgang Reitzle had both viewed the Portfolio models at Gaydon within days of the take-over, and although there was little they could do about the level of Honda input to the HHR, they agreed to its continued development. BMW and Rover top brass managed to reduce the royalty payments that Rover were to pay to the Japanese during the life of this car, and even persuaded Honda to honour this contract for the length of the HHR's lifespan. No-one at the time would have suspected that the HHR would remain in production for a lot longer than even BMW, Rover or Honda could ever have believed.
The 400 is launched – and underwhelms
One of the main criticisms levelled at the 400 at the time of its launch was of the anodyne front-end treatment. Also evident in this picture are the somewhat exaggerated body roll angles, which could even be experienced at quite modest speeds – hardly a recipe for incisive handling.
The Rover 400 was officially launched on the 29th March 1995, and was met with a sense of muted antipathy from the press. It was clear to even the most casual observer that this car was almost pure Honda in its design – in fact, to more seasoned observers, the changes that Rover had made were disappointing in their ineffectiveness. In a nutshell, the new mid-sized Rover appeared to be almost as much a Honda (as opposed to a British car) as the original joint-venture – the Triumph Acclaim – had been back in 1981. Many questions were soon asked of Rover: Why such a disappointing design? Had it not been for BMW, would this have been the shape of Rovers in the future?
Rear view was more appealing than the frontal aspect, but somehow the proportions seemed slightly wrong – the cause probably being attributable to the long nose and short, truncated tail. The saloon version, which appeared early in 1996, addressed this issue admirably – and proved to be one of a very rare breed of cars: a well-balanced notch-from-hatch conversion.
As it was, there was a lot to applaud the Rover 400 for, though: the car marked the first application for the new, enlarged version of the K-series engine – now cleverly expanded to 1589cc. Refinement and performance of this new version was certainly up to scratch, and like its smaller brother, it proved to be more than a match for its Honda counterpart. This change in engine policy meant that in terms of petrol powered units, the range was now powered entirely by British engines (1.6-litre automatic, aside), whilst the diesel versions were now L-series powered (as opposed to Peugeot XUD-powered).
The 400 range offered a wide variety of power options – 1.4-litres through to the 2.0-litre T-series engine – and even though the entry-level model was somewhat smaller than its rivals, Rover countered the lack of cubic capacity with a high specific output. Although the 136bhp version of the T-series engine found a natural home in the Rover 400, it was the 2.0-litre version of the KV6 engine (codename Merlin) that really excited the company. Producing a healthy 150bhp, the KV6 was under development and running in Rover 400 'mules" even before the car was launched – but it would not be until the arrival of the facelifted Rover 45 model in 1999 that a V6-powered Rover midliner entered the sales catalogue.
If there was a fly in the ointment, it was that rival manufacturers were rapidly catching up with the K-series engine – so while the idea of a 16-valve twin-cam, fuel-injected engine had seemed something of a novelty for a 'cooking" saloon back in 1989 (the time of the R8's launch), this certainly was not the case by 1995.
Be that as it may, the highlight of the K-series was somewhat overshadowed by the rest of the car. The people that mattered – the customers – found the Rover 400 somewhat disappointing and overpriced. If the premium pricing policy seemed like a winner with the classy and compact R8, its replacement certainly did not appear to have the looks to justify the continuation of this policy. Of course, Rover countered this allegation by telling everyone to wait for the saloon version, due in early 1996, but it did not ease the fact that the new 400 hatchback was not what the public wanted at the time, and was certainly not offered at a favourable price.
Autocar magazine was reasonably pleased with the 416i and reported so in their road test. The verdict was lukewarm – and they gave the car qualified approval: 'with looks that will be routinely mistaken for Honda's new five-door Civic, this latest 400 needed to be convincingly different beneath the badge. This it achieves by a whisker. With that sweet spinning, characterful K-series engine and an outstanding urban ride quality, Rover has created a car that feels genuinely unique, not just a cynical badge engineered Honda. Sure, Peugeot's 306 still has the dynamic measure of this car, but compared with the dull homogeneity of the competition from Ford and Vauxhall, the 416i offers up just enough 'typically Rover" character, just enough specialness to raise it above the common horde. But only just."
At least Autocar were realistic in their choice of rivals for this car, plucking them from the small/medium arena. In Rover's launch advertising for the 400, they pitched it against such luminaries as the Ford Mondeo, Renault Laguna and Citroën Xantia. Interestingly, it compared very well to all-comers in this class on the handpicked 'ride quality" index figure. All but the Citroën, that is.
Profile shot of the 400 saloon shows that classy-looking saloons can be sired from hatchbacks – maybe the public's perception of the Rover 400 range would be remarkably different had this version been launched first.
Sales of the Rover 400 in the UK were buoyant, and in direct comparison with the combined sales of the outgoing R8 400 and Montego, they appeared to be quite good. But the comparison is certainly muddied by the fact that the 400 was designed to fight in the 'D class" rather than the upper end of the 'C class", as marketeers liked to refer to the differing market sectors. So in the heart of the UK market, where Ford and Vauxhall continued to make hay, Rover continued to appear almost mortally weak.
In the first full year of sales, the 400, including the stylish saloon version, grabbed 3.15 per cent of the market – and although Rover continued to make noises about not chasing volume sales, the cold hard facts were that after allowing for Honda's royalty payments on each 400 sold, profit margins were not huge. Export sales continued to make reasonable headway, so even though sales in the home market were suffering, Rover's production volumes remained at a reasonable level – no doubt helped by the BMW connection. However, exports are affected by the fluctuations of the currency markets, and as we shall see, Rover and BMW would suffer terribly from these in later years.
In 1997 and 1998, the Rover 400 captured 2.85 and 2.55 per cent of the UK market respectively, maintaining a regular top ten presence. By the following year, however, this had collapsed disastrously to 1.51 per cent. What had caused this collapse? Well, the product had never captured the public's imagination in the way that the R8 had, but also, following the change in government (May 1997) and the strengthening of sterling against European currencies, the price of imported cars had become so much cheaper in relation to that of the domestically produced Rover. This allowed companies such as Renault (with the Megane) and Volkswagen (with the Golf) to make serious inroads into the Rover's market. What made the situation even worse for Rover was the flipside: the price of UK cars became more expensive in export markets, so in order to remain price competitive, Rover needed to drop their prices to such an extent that they began to make serious losses.
Rover 400 becomes 45
By 1999, BMW had begun to take emergency measures for Rover – and the first of those, the 45 facelift duly appeared in December 1999. Improved in many ways over the 400 model, the facelift served two purposes:
To strengthen links with the ultra-impressive Rover 75;
To maintain sales momentum of the range until the BMW/Rover-designed R30 model would be ready in 2002/2003.
The changes were small but many in number. Most obvious were the cosmetic changes to the nose of the car, including pretty quad-headlights and a more pronounced Rover grille. This also facilitated a higher bonnet line – necessary for the 2.0-litre KV6 finally to be squeezed in, replacing the rough-and-ready T16 power unit. The interior architecture and dashboard were unchanged, but the fitment of Rover 75 front seats (a trick the company had adopted in the past with the Rover Metro back in 1990), an uprating of equipment levels, and extra chrome fittings certainly boosted the showroom appeal of the car. But the main news was in the area of pricing and marketing: Rover no longer kidded themselves that the car was a viable Vectra/Mondeo rival, and as a result dropped the list prices to a more realistic level (healthy discounts were already widely available on the 400, anyway).
New frontal treatment was vastly better looking and more characterful. Improved road manners also helped to lift the car's game. Did it sell any better? No, but it formed the basis of the excellent MG ZS, following the creation of MG Rover in 2000.
The other big news was that KV6 engine: Rover had previously shown the 425 model back in 1998 – initially promised as a production model, but killed for political and other reasons. The concept never went away though, so in December 1999, the productionised version (using the 2.0-litre version) joined the price lists. Whereas the 1.4 and 1.6-litre versions were considered by the press to be somewhat unimpressive in relation to the newer Ford Focus, the smooth and rapid V6 version made up for any deficiencies on the packaging and chassis front. The potential was there, and the backroom boys at Gaydon were already working on replacing that 2.0-litre engine with the 2.5-litre version first shown almost two years previously.
Autocar magazine were somewhat unflattering about the Rover 45 1.6iL they road tested in March 2000, rating it a three-star car. They said: 'In isolation the Rover is a competent but mismatched car. Its lively engine, entertaining dynamics and decent specification are let down by staid lines, an out of date interior and a weak image." The image is a subjective issue of course, and the styling, although improved – and in the author's eyes, still elegant in saloon form – the appreciative customer base for this car was diminishing all the time.
An MG is born…
Shortly after Autocar's less than glowing road test, seismic events led to the creation of the MG Rover Group – and the rebirth of the 45. As with the later Rover 75 and 25 models, the new management decided that to keep the saloon car ranges alive, they needed to encourage younger buyers into the fold, and if any car in the Rover range needed this, it was the 45.
Rover went chasing the younger market with this car – the MG ZS. Some less-informed elements of the media tended to rubbish the car for its 'pedestrian" image, but the ZS redeemed itself by being a revelation to drive.
The resulting prototype was wheeled out to the press in August 2000. Codenamed X20, the revitalised Rover 45 had been re-engineered to become an MG saloon. Rob Oldaker rejigged the suspension settings and Peter Stevens restyled those body parts that he could change easily (such as the bumpers and sideskirts). Many changes were made to effect the transformation from Rover to MG and the results, it has to be said, have been truly successful. The final and definitive car was launched in January 2001, and unusually for a performance-focused car, the ZS was launched as a range of models that mirrored the Rover 45 itself, including – rather surprisingly – the L-series diesel version! The 2.5-litre KV6, however, was reserved solely for the MG version.
One thing the excellence of the MG ZS chassis did demonstrate was the fact that the suspension system developed by Honda was fundamentally right, but flawed in the early execution…
One final facelift…
April 2004 saw the launch of the revised 45… a new 75 style nose, revised dashboard and extra equipment allowed the 45 to compete for just a little longer…
As the MG Rover era continued, it became painfully obvious that the 45 (along with the 25 and 75) was going to need a facelift in order to keep buyers interested. With limited resources and a number of Honda related parts supply issues, it was clear that the most the car would receive would be new front and rear bumpers and an equipment re-jig. A new-style dashboard was also going to need to be developed in-house in order to replace the Honda original, which the Japanese company was no longer going to supply.
Before the facelifted 45's launch, many rumours circulated that this would be an extensive facelift (against what logic would suggest) and that the MG versions would gain some of the magic found in the MG XPower SV.
In the end, the rumour-mongers were proved wide of the mark, and the 'new' 45 and MG ZS were rolled-out in April 2004 to a flat reception from an underwhelmed press. The lack of any exciting developments on the body front were a disappointment, and they perhaps overshadowed what was actually a very effective front end restyle. As it was, sales of the 45 and MG ZS continue to slide with the rest of MG Rover's product range (post-November 2003, and the 'Phoenix Four' Pension fund scandal), and that led to further losses in buyer confidence.
The facelift marked the beginning of a sad end to the 400/45/ZS line – and when MG Rover hit the rocks in April 2005, it breathed its last.
As the administrators, PricewaterhouseCoopers did their work at Longbridge in the months following the production lines coming to a halt, it became clear that the 45 and ZS had probably died for good. The fate was sealed in July 2005, when it became clear that Honda had visited Longbridge and taken back parts of the car's production facility – meaning there would be no way that there would be a rebirth of the line in China (or Longbridge).
It was an ignominious death really…
During the late 1990s, BMW's intention for Rover had always been to develop a single car, the R30, to replace both the 25 and 45 model ranges, but this plan finally died in March 2000 when the Germans and British parted company. MG Rover now had to devise a new model strategy with which not only to replace the 25 and 45, but also to revitalise the image of the company. The process of introducing the MG version of the Rover 45 had certainly given the range a serious boost in buyer appeal, but in reality it gave little more than breathing space while it knuckled down and tried to find a partner's money with which to get the RDX60 into production.
The first thoughts would be to say that the Rover 400 was a failure – and in the cold light of sales figures it plainly was. The trouble with this theory is that by that logic, Rover should be held accountable, when in reality, they were very much tied to Honda's terms on what they could and could not do with the new car. So is it Honda's fault? Well no, because Honda were protecting their own interests, and as it has been recorded within these pages many times, if it were not for Honda, Rover would probably have ceased to exist by 1990. So, does blame for the failure of the Rover 400 lie with British Aerospace? In many ways, yes: had it not under-invested in the car division year after year, then Rover would have been in a much stronger position to design its own car. BAe took the easy way out – they saw that the Rover 600 had turned out well, so assumed the smaller car would follow the same course under Richard Woolley's steady hand.
The only problem with this was that the designers were not given enough room to express themselves fully – and the success of the later 200, MGF, Freelander and Rover 75 indicated that they could get the job done given this freedom. And so, through necessity, the car that emerged from the Canley design studio looked far too much like the Honda from which it was derived. By this time, car buyers had become too sophisticated, and their readiness to accept the Rover 400 as a badge engineered Honda meant that they were deprived the joys of the K-series engine… and that alone lifted the Rover 400 above the Honda Civic.
It is fair to say, therefore, that the Rover 400 started out as a product of company under-investment, then became a victim of wider economic circumstances, and finally succumbed to political events. It's now doubtful that history will prove to be kind to the Rover 400, 45 and MG ZS – and that's a shame because in ZS form at least, it ended up a rather effective driver's tool. Obviously many customers were unable to appreciate that…
Proofed by Declan Berridge
Buying Guide : Rover 600
The cars : Land Rover Freelander development story
Great article,find the information very interesting, I recently aquired a R400 GSi 5 door version in BRG,I was suprised that the sunroof was an option on my model bearing in mind the GSI is top of the range.However that was put right in the R45s, but even so the R45 top of the range 5 door hatchback didnt have leather seats as standard but again was an option,and as we all know that's standard on the connoisseur 4 door saloon. I aggree that the R400 was more in tune in competition to Ford Escort Vauxhall Astra etc at that time. Still I think its a nice looking car and very pleasing to drive. Regards Mark.
10 December 2011 at 10.15 pm
Saw a 2004 facelift 45 today when I parked and went for a look.
I was always surprised this facelift didn't boost sales more. The revised dash was/is very appealing, successful. The 45 benefited most from the Peter Steven's styling tweaks.
I remember hardly ever seeing this facelift version on the road whilst MGR was still trading. It was almost as difficult as spotting an MG6!!
Agree with David Dawsons comments. The final facelift of the 45/ZS was reasonable, given they had little budget, but I still preferred the earlier types that I had owned.
Having said that, they did introduce some nice new colours (eg Sonic blue) and those attractive 16″ 9 spoke Alloys
Don't think the continued production of Maestro, Montego did detract from the Rover image. To me, in the showroom, they were obviously a separate product line. A more budget offering but one that was now more appealing thanks to much improved quality and a touch of Rover style – especially so Monty.
Phil Simpson says:
31 July 2013 at 5.59 am
The main thing that caused the 400 to fail was pricing & a chassis set up that neglected handling. The Astra, at time of launch, resembled a nineties Maestro, complete with concave doors & the Escort, styling wise, was just a reskin of a 1990 model. However with the latter car at least, the dynamics were, maybe not Peugeot 306 standard, but were little short of exemplary.
Has Rover priced the 400 to compete against the Escort & Astra & got the handling & ride compromise correct, they would have had a winner on their hands. The Peugeot 306, after all, didn't set the market on fire visually.
The 45, as with the 25, was the right facelift at the right time. Still only four years old, the 400 was a car which, with the right treatment still had enough life left in it to warrant such a rework. Pricing & dynamics were sorted but there was no getting away from the fact that the competition had moved on a notch with the new Focus & Astra. Styling wise, a facelift was never going to bring the 45 upto the levels of modernity set by the Focus but if the 2004 interior had been designed earlier & implemented at this time, the whole car would have had a contemporary appearance, if a little conservative on the outside.
With this & a little more scrupulous activity on the pension fund front by the Phoenix Four, sales would not have slumped to the same extent. This would have made the 2004 facelift seem as big a last gasp attempt as it was which, in turn, would have meant that sales would have benefitted more from the work done.
The final 45 was therefore probably the best of the lot but for the above explanation, this was sadly not reflected in sales. The 200 & 400 were crucial cars for Rover which were let down by pricing in both cases & also by dynamics in the latter's. Had this been correctly addressed at the offset, perhaps BMW would not have jumped ship wit the car which would have probably kept Rover in existence to this day.
Tim Kyle says:
Can't help feeling that BMW had a hidden agenda. It was worth it to them to 'take out' MG/Rover. One less competitor to worry about. Why else would the
German boss try and rubbish the new Rover 75 at launch.Perhaps BMW didn't fancy it opposing their own models.
The 75 was a classic, well built car and deserved to succeed. The MG ZT even more so.
I own an MGZS 180. It's a wee cracker of a car.
While the 400/45/ZS may not have been as ground-breaking compared to the R8, with lower pricing, ZS-like handling, more differentiated styling (e.g. 45/ZS-like styling would have gone down well when launched in 1995) as well as more bodystyles (even a 3-door while the 200/25/ZR becomes a Fiesta rival) and performance models (e.g. KV6, T-Series Turbo / K-Series Turbo / etc) to fight in the C-Segment (Astra class) instead of pitching it in the D-segment (Vectra class), it would have run the R8 very close for it to be considered a worthy successor.
Considering how renowned the hot hatch MG ZS 180 is, it would have been interesting to see how a much earlier Rover 425KV6 Vitesse / MG ZS 180 or Rover 400 Turbo / MG ZS Turbo (with K/T-Series Turbo) would have fared against the mid/late-90s hot hatch opposition of the day like the Peugeot 306 GTi-6 / Rallye, Ford Escort RS2000 (MkV), Alfa Romeo 145 Cloverleaf, Fiat Bravo HGT or (mk4) Volkswagen Golf GTi.
@7 I had a KV6 ZS 180 and i can assert with 100% confidence that in handling terms it was a match for a Subaru WRX or STi,in fact i found the ZS much sweeter to drive as a whole.
@8 francis brett
If it was comparable to the Subaru WRX/STI and effectively superior to the Peugeot 306 GTi-6 in handling terms then that just demonstrates what a missed opportunity an earlier mid/late-90s MG ZS 180 was for the Rover Group / MG Rover.
@9,I found the GTi 6 speed a far better steer than either of them.
Yasushi Komatsu says:
I read up this article yesterday, not the first time but may be more than 20th time since first read in 2005 around, and every time read I am impressed by and appreciated as I could understand what happened and how those people who participated thought behind 400s development project. I still drive my longbridge-built 416 SLI Hatchback in Japan, which I bought in NW London, UK when I lived there and 'exported' here with my family when I left Britain. She is working pretty well but few minor problems, now she is 18 yrs old. My friend jokes me that this anglo-japanese car(according to article, it is more than 80% are Japanese minded) resembles my CV. Though the original company went off, I will keep this lovely car as long as she does run well.
Duncan Macrae says:
Is it right that the BMW 1 Series would have became a Rover badged replacement for the 45 , had BMW not dumped Rover??
Dave Dawson says:
Just seen an add in the local paper for a "1.8 ZS 4dr, 12 months MOT, 67k miles". The asking price? £995. Seems a low price to me. Thought it would have at least topped a grand.
Might take a peek at the weekend……
Back in 1995, the styling of the 400 was in many ways quite effective in continuing the increasingly Rover, British styling theme. It was quite like a small 600.
Especially after viewing Mike's, I would say the R8 has worn the years better, however.
Think the final facelift was very effective though, especially given the financial constraints. I'd still rather like one.
Quite a few cared for 45's still about including a 51 plate 4dr just down my road.
Craig MGR says:
Does anyone have the sales figures for the 400, 45 and ZS?
@ Craig MGR:
I believe the production records for the Rover 45 and MG ZS have recently been handed to custodians such as the British Motor Industry Heritage Trust at Gaydon and also the MG Car Club. However, my enquiries late last year with the former indicated that they had not had the time to go through the information they had been presented with from MG Motor UK Ltd, while the latter party – the MG Car Club – will only release information to actual paid up members.
As for the HHR generation Rover 400 Series, no-one appears to know where these records (and also for other Rover Group models) are. It is something I have been pursuing quietly since the events of April 2005 with the administrators, Heritage Motor Centre and even a few former MG Rover Group employees, although with no success in determining their actual whereabouts.
I have just purchased a post-facelift 2.0 TD 45 Club SE having driven 25s for a number of years. The first thing that struck me was the almost Germanic opening & closing of the doors.
The new dash design is effective & still looks reasonably modern over ten years after its introduction & the plastics are of a far higher quality than the 25.
Whilst the design was underwhelming upon introduction, being based on a car that had already been out three years at launch, it has dated better than the 25 so does not look, in essence, nearly 25 years old.
Driving wise, the handling, steering, ride & brakes are good. The engine isn't the most refined, although it's better in this respect than the old 1.9 VW unit, & it has turbo lag like no other diesel I've driven (pretty much nothing happens on first gear). Having said that, once the turbo is up to boost, it has a decent turn of speed given it is the 99hp version (a 110 was also available). The engine has a reputation for ruggedness, being somewhat simpler than other 2005 vintage diesels.
Didier Ziane says:
21 February 2015 at 11.52 pm
Hi all, could someone give me more info about the 45 Connoisseur V6 "Step-speed" g'box ?There's a nice one for sale at a reasonable price on ebay…
didierz65 says:
I was reading the story on AMC Hornet on wikipedia and it reminded me of the 400-45, amazing how a company will keep a model soldiering on because there's no money in the coffer!!! I'm a bit of a Pacer lover, as long as it's fitted with a "real"-efficient- engine/gearbox. Oh, one can dream…
Try that link at your own risk!
Roy Privett says:
3 September 2015 at 10.17 am
Have had a Rover 45 2 litre V6 since 2001 (second owner)not a moments trouble, a superb car. The Jatco sequential/auto transmission was so much better than the awful Rover Stepspeed horror. Also have a "facelift" MG ZS 2.5 V6, not as well assembled as the Rover, and some economies obvious due to lack of money, especially the Pectron engine immobiliser, but overall a brave attempt. The handling and performance makes up for any minor problems!
Merijn says:
Always the case with Rover in the nineties. Not clear were the car would slot in between competitors. HHR saloon is bigger than a bmw 3 series from that era and a 600 was nearly the size of a 5 series were the 800 mk2 got close to the 7 series size wise. But in reality the 400 competed against astra and golf/jetta (as was intended for the 200 R3 when launched to make matters extra confusing) and the 600 against 3 series and mondeo and the 800 against 5 series. The 75 than came and again… 5 series size and class but competing in D seg against 3 series and mondeo and A4
blimey the clay model looked rather nice! oh dear.
4 May 2019 at 6.14 pm
Referring to the 400 a failure is more than a little disingenuous. It may not have set the world on fire, but it still managed to move 469,885 cars over the course of 5 years, which is considerably more than the Montego managed in its first five years on the market, and within 1,000 units of the numbers achieved by the R3 200.
Peterjs says:
I bought a new Rover 400is on August 1st R plate. I traded a Volvo 440 tdi in for it. Having been a big volvo fan I was a liitle nervous; having bought the car on the back of getting a good deal. I need not of worried… it was a comfortable, economical and reliable car. The only problem was the dealers! They were no better than in the BL days, pure armatures in customer service; when I went back to trade it in I was told by the salesman ' no one is interested in 400's like yours now that the revised model has come out' …… the price he offered me was as good as telling me to get lost; so I did. Went back to Volvo and bought a new S40. I have always belived the garages that sold them were as responsible for the downfall of MG Rover as the bosses of the company.
Essay : The 1980s and '90s at Land Rover
by admin in Land Rover	17
Former engineer Nigel Garton recalls his time spent working at Land Rover – a time of great change, and development for the company. The years of 1982-1994 were turbulent years at Land Rover, and ultimately saw the company grow massively. Here's the view of a man in the engineering department… […]


text:
Keys To The Kingdom
(Redirected from Coffee)
"Keys To The Kingdom"
Song by Linkin Park from the album The Hunting Party
Time signature
Brad Delson, Mike Shinoda
The Hunting Party track listing
All For Nothing (feat. Page Hamilton)
Until It's Gone
Rebellion (feat. Daron Malakian)
Mark The Graves
Drawbar (feat. Tom Morello)
Final Masquerade
A Line In The Sand
2 Remix
3.1 Studio
3.2 Remix
5.1 Linkin Park is
"Keys To The Kingdom" starts off The Hunting Party with Chester's heavily effected screaming and weird electronics before giving way to Rob Bourdon's heavy drumming and Brad Delson's riffing. The drastic changes were an intentional decision, as revealed by Mike Shinoda in an interview with Rolling Stone, as he wanted the song to "just kind of fuck you up".[1] Shinoda later revealed on Twitter that the song's drastic sonic changes made it a prime candidate to open the album,[2] and that Chester Bennington's vocals in the chorus were "stream-of-consciousness", as in Bennington didn't write anything down. He simply sang what came to mind.[3]
Rob Bourdon said tracking went fairly quickly for "Keys To The Kingdom" and explained what they aim for as a band is to make something that sounds so unique that it's hard for someone with a trained ear to be able to tell exactly what the source is or if it's live or sampled. "There are a couple spots in that song where we did some sampling. We sampled my live drums and chopped them up in Pro Tools on the grid. There are some other sampled sounds added to the live snare so that it punches through even more. They're all created from the snare drum used in the song."[4]
Initially, the interlude at the end of the song featured a little kid screaming "The cold never bothered me anyway!" a line from "Let It Go", a song in Disney's incredibly popular animated film, Frozen. However, the reference was cut after they couldn't clear the line being used.[5]
On December 24, 2014, several members from the Linkin Park Association community teamed up to release a remix album of The Hunting Party titled Viscera. The album was later released to the LP Underground on June 18, 2015 after the band received the full rights to distribute the album. The remix of "Keys To The Kingdom" was done by Confetti Parade and MKH. The instrumental version of the remix was released February 28, 2015.
Keys To The Kingdom The Hunting Party 3:38 2013-2014 June 13, 2014
Keys To The Kingdom The Hunting Party (Clean) 3:38 2013-2014 June 13, 2014
Keys To The Kingdom (Instrumental) The Hunting Party: Acapellas + Instrumentals 3:28 2013-2014 August 12, 2014
Keys To The Kingdom (Acapella) The Hunting Party: Acapellas + Instrumentals 3:38 2013-2014 August 12, 2014
Official acapella version.
Keys To The Kingdom: Confetti Parade Viscera 3:28 2014 December 24, 2014
Remix by Confetti Parade and MKH.
Released on LPAssociation for free download on December 24, 2014 in AAC, MP3 and FLAC formats.
Released to LP Underground members for free download on June 18, 2015 in MP3 format.
The band obtained all the rights to the album.
Keys To The Kingdom: Confetti Parade (Instrumental) Viscera (Instrumentals) 3:28 2014 February 28, 2015
Instrumental version.
Released on LPAssociation for free download on February 28, 2015 in AAC, MP3 and FLAC formats.
Sometime before the European summer tour in 2014, "Keys To The Kingdom", along with the rest of The Hunting Party, was rehearsed. However, the band never ended up playing it. The song was also included in the list of songs submitted by the band to the Chinese government in preparation of their 2015 Chinese tour, meaning they were at least considering playing it. The song still ended up not being played, though.
Linkin Park is
Rob Bourdon
Joe Hahn
Produced by Mike Shinoda and Brad Delson
Lyrics & Vocals by Mike Shionda and Chester Bennington
Background Vocals by Brad Delson, Joe Hahn, Rob Bourdon, and Phoenix
Additional Lyrics by Brad Delson
Engineering by Ethan Mates and Mike Shinoda
Digital editing by Josh Newell
Assistant Engineer: Alejandro Baima
Additional Assistant Engineers: Brendan Dekora and Jennifer Langdon
Studio Electro Tech: Warren Willis
Studio Drum Tech: Jerry Johnson
Album Production Coordination: Ryan DeMarti
Recorded at Larrabee Sound Studios, North Hollywood, CA
Additional Recording at EastWest Studios and Glenwood Place Studios
Mixed by Andy Wallace
Pro Tools Engineered by Paul Suarez
Assisted by Del Bowers
Mastered by Emily Lazar at The Lodge
Assisted by Rich Morales
NO CONTROL / NO SURPRISE
TOSSED THE KEYS TO THE KINGDOM
DOWN THAT HOLE IN MY EYE
I'M MY OWN / CASUALTY
I FUCK UP EVERYTHING I SEE
FIGHTING IN FUTILITY
We start the final war
Tell me what's worth fighting for
We take the hand or fist
Just to sell ourselves for this
Uh, I give you what you came for / this is not the same though
Got a different method but I still can bring the pain so
Y'all locked in that same flow / I got that insane flow
High as y'all can get you're never really in my range though
Yes I'm half anglo / half fried panko
All prime-time rhymer / I'mma let the bass bang low
All you fucking lames go / aiming at my name, know
Careful what you shoot because you might hit what you aim for
Oh, woah, oh [x4]
NO CONTROL / NO SURPRISE (Oh, woah, oh)
TOSSED THE KEYS TO THE KINGDOM (Oh, woah, oh)
DOWN THAT HOLE IN MY EYE (Oh, woah, oh)
I'M MY OWN / CASUALTY (Oh, woah, oh [x2])
I'M MY OWN
Kid: I'm not allowed to say certain things! AUGHHHHH!
Mike: Try and do...try and do the other thing, real quick.
↑ Rolling Stone, April 2014
↑ Twitter, June 2014
↑ Linkin Park's Rob Bourdon - Modern Drummer Magazine, September 2014
↑ Chideo, August 2014
Retrieved from "http://linkinpedia.com/index.php?title=Keys_To_The_Kingdom&oldid=20290"
Linkin Park Discography
Linkin Park Songs


The Summer Credit Recovery Program (SCRP) is a free program designed to assist students who have failed a couple of classes during the school year to recover those credits over the summer. In order to qualify for the program you have to be a student in need of recovering a few core classes needed in order to graduate. The students are selected by the school counselors, who then send out the required enrollment forms with a predetermined course that can be made up in the SCRP.
SCRP is a three week program. Over that period of time students are required to attend each day to work on their course online. They are overseen by a staff of highly qualified certified teachers who are in attendance each day to assist and answer student questions regarding the material being presented in the course. Students are required to complete 100% of the course with a percentage of 70% or higher in order to receive credit for the course. At that time, the student will receive a PASS/FAIL grade. Student progress is monitored each day and teachers provide additional academic support for students, which is what makes this program so successful.


text:
Q: Display the output while looping in php Is it possible to display string on the browser while in infinite loop? This is what I want to happen:
while(1) {
     echo "should display these lines on browser while in infinite loop.
";
}

A: Notice the use of ob_flush(); to make sure php outputs, and usleep(100000) to have time to see things happening.
while(1) {
     echo "should display these lines on browser while in infinite loop.
";
     usleep(100000); // debuging purpose
     ob_flush();
     flush();
}

A: Add flush() after the echo statement, it will flush the output to the browser. Note that browsers generally don't start to render until their reach a certain amount of information (around .5kB).
while(1) {
     echo "should display these lines on browser while in infinite loop.
";
     flush(); //Flush the output buffer
}

A: Yes, it is possible. You need to flush the output to the browser if you want it to appear immediately:
while(1) {
     echo "should display these lines on browser while in infinite loop.
";
     flush();
}

Chances are that whatever you're trying to accomplish, this isn't how you should go about it.
PHP will eventually time-out, but not before it generates a massive HTML document that your browser will have trouble displaying.

A: If you don't want to put flush(); after each echo of your code:
Set this in your php.ini:

implicit_flush = Off

Or if you don't have access to php.ini:

@ini_set('implicit_flush',1);


Nice work getting to 15 majors, Tiger. Now … how about 18? When Tiger Woods won the Masters on Sunday, he didn't just put an exclamation point on one of the great comebacks in sports history. He reopened the chase for golf's ultimate achievement: Jack Nicklaus's 18 major victories. Over the last three majors, Woods has recorded a T6 finish at the Open Championship, including a brief stint in the lead; a solo second finish at the PGA Championship; and now a victory at the Masters. That's not a sign of a guy who had a couple lucky breaks in a single tournament.
The Magic Numbers are an English pop rock band comprising two pairs of brothers and sisters from Hanwell in west London. The group was formed in 2002, releasing their debut album titled The Magic Numbers on 13 June 2005.
Three is a magic number . Gustavo Alarcon. Загрузка Sing-A-Long Three is the Magic Number School House Rock - Продолжительность: 3:01 Greg McCall 77 275 просмотров.
READ: Tiger Woods' road to redemption ends with emotional Masters victory. It was the American' s first major victory since all the way back in 2008 at the US Open. In terms of majors played and what they've achieved, Tiger and Jack are almost walking stride for stride. Nicklaus barely suffered from injury his whole career, and was just 38 in reaching the three -quarters of a century mark .
Three Is A Magic Number . Исполнитель. Bob Dorough.
But that changed on Sunday when Woods closed with a 70 at Augusta National for a one-stroke victory. Major No. 15, Masters No. 5 and PGA Tour victory No. 81 was so much more than simply a mile marker on his road to sporting immortality. After so many years of doubt and disappointment this was a kickstart that's impossible to ignore.
" The Magic Number " is a 1990 single by De La Soul, originally recorded in 1988 and first released on their 1989 album, 3 Feet High and Rising, with the chorus based on a segment from the children' s show Schoolhouse Rock!, written by Bob Dorough.
But if time isn't exactly on Woods side in his historic quest there's something to be said for familiarity. On venues like Augusta National, where institutional knowledge is so important, he could theoretically expect to contend well into his late-40s and early-50s. Fred Couples finished sixth at the Masters as a 50-year-old in 2010 and Bernhard Langer tied for eighth in '14 at 56. Nicklaus was 58 when he tied for sixth in '98.
With Sunday's victory at the Masters, Tiger Woods gave fans that irreplaceable feeling of watching a legend dominate two decades after you first saw his magic on a golf course. There is nothing quite like the "Tiger Effect," and there's a short list of athletes all time capable of producing this moment. This was the fist pump we've all been waiting for.
The Magic Number is affected by one of two events: a Cubs win or that best opponent losing. This site represents the Magic Number for clinching the National League Central Division. If the Wild Card becomes relevant for getting into the postseason, this site may contain both.


Just as plastic trees become objects of wonder just as they're bedecked with fairy lights and ornaments, Christmas decorations, in general, become unmagical as soon as the Christmas season is over.
For some, this change happens around the 6th of January – Epiphany, the 12th Day of Christmas. For others – me included – it happens between 11:59 PM on New Year's Eve, and the first light of New Year's Day.
Like a tired party girl dragging herself home after a late night, make-up smeared, stockings in runs, shoes with impossibly high heels carried in one hand rather than being worn, decorations left up on New Year's Day seem somehow cheap and tawdry.
Oh, the silver and gold are just as shiny as ever, but once the season passes, the shine becomes tacky, rather than tasteful. The bright reds and greens seem overdone, somehow, and the scent of pine and gingerbread becomes cloying.
While I've been ready to move beyond Christmas for several days now – despite my love of the season – I've resisted, because I know all too well how little time we get to enjoy the Yuletide magic every year. I will miss red and green candles, but I'm looking forward to the freshness of cream and pale gold tones. In my head, I catch whiffs of pear and vanilla, two of the "clean" scents that mean the new year to me.
Tonight, I will put on party clothes and drink to health and prosperity; tomorrow, I will box away my Christmas treasures for another year, in clean white tissue. When I am done, the house will feel too big for a few days, but then things will settle, and I will enjoy brisk mornings with oatmeal and coffee, and chilly evenings with stews and rented DVDs – the pleasures of winter without the stress of the holidays are so restful.
To those of you who are going out tonight, please be careful. Have fun, just be judicious about it. To those of you staying in, enjoy the comfort of home. To everyone reading this: May you have a peaceful and prosperous New Year.
UnMagical by Melissa Bartell is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.


text:
Policeman on murder rap to undergo psychiatric test
Published:Saturday | April 17, 2010 | 12:00 AM
Barbara Gayle, Staff Reporter
THE POLICEMAN who allegedly shot and killed his 35-year-old girlfriend in November 2006 before attempting to kill himself is to undergo psychiatric treatment before he returns to court on July 5.
He is 54-year-old Detective Sergeant Alderman Doran, who has been in custody since he was released from hospital in December 2006.
It has been reported that on November 21, 2006, the cop accompanied his girlfriend, Rosemarie Gray, and her four-year-old son to a school in the Corporate Area. Shortly after the boy ran off to his class, it is alleged that Doran and Gray got involved in a heated argument. Explosions were heard and Gray was fatally shot, while Doran was found with a bullet wound to the neck.
Under investigation
Prior to the shooting incident, Doran was being investigated by the Centre For Investigation of Sexual Offences and Child Abuse in connection with an alleged case of carnal abuse involving a relative of the deceased.
When the murder case came up for trial this week in the Home Circuit Court, defence lawyers Gayle Nelson and Peter Champagnie told Senior Puisne Judge Gloria Smith that they were asking for time to have Doran examined by a psychiatrist.
- barbara.gayle@gleanerjm.com
22 rounds of ammunition seized in Luke Lane police operation