text:
BookSeriesInorder.com
John Lescroart Books In Order
Publication Order of Auguste Lupa Books
Son of Holmes (1986) Hardcover Paperback Kindle
Rasputin's Revenge (1987) Hardcover Paperback Kindle
Publication Order of Dismas Hardy Books
Dead Irish (1989) Hardcover Paperback Kindle
The Vig (1990) Hardcover Paperback Kindle
Hard Evidence (1993) Hardcover Paperback Kindle
The 13th Juror (1994) Hardcover Paperback Kindle
The Mercy Rule (1998) Hardcover Paperback Kindle
Nothing But The Truth (1999) Hardcover Paperback Kindle
The Hearing (1999) Hardcover Paperback Kindle
The Oath (2002) Hardcover Paperback Kindle
The First Law (2003) Hardcover Paperback Kindle
The Second Chair (2004) Hardcover Paperback Kindle
The Motive (2004) Hardcover Paperback Kindle
Betrayal (2007) Hardcover Paperback Kindle
A Plague of Secrets (2009) Hardcover Paperback Kindle
The Ophelia Cut (2013) Hardcover Paperback Kindle
The Keeper (2014) Hardcover Paperback Kindle
The Fall (2015) Hardcover Paperback Kindle
Poison (2018) Hardcover Paperback Kindle
The Rule of Law (2019) Hardcover Paperback Kindle
Publication Order of Abe Glitsky Books
A Certain Justice (1995) Hardcover Paperback Kindle
Guilt (1996) Hardcover Paperback Kindle
Damage (2011) Hardcover Paperback Kindle
Publication Order of Wyatt Hunt Books
The Hunt Club (2005) Hardcover Paperback Kindle
Treasure Hunt (2010) Hardcover Paperback Kindle
The Hunter (2012) Hardcover Paperback Kindle
Publication Order of Standalone Novels
Sunburn (1981) Hardcover Paperback Kindle
The Suspect (2007) Hardcover Paperback Kindle
Fatal (2017) Hardcover Paperback Kindle
John Lescroart Biography:
The life of a writer is filled with many highs and lows. As you grow up, you take lessons with you that shape not only the kind of person you become, but the kind of writer you will be someday. The road to being a successful writer is a tough one to walk, and sometimes those who venture down that road end up wanting to give up. But, those who stick to it usually end up being the best of the best, and that is especially true for New York Times best-selling author, John Lescroart. This is his life, his career, and his journey into becoming the best legal and crime novelist that he is known as today. This is John Lescroart's story.
The Early Life And Times For John
He was born as John Lescroart in Houston, Texas in January of 1948. He was raised in San Mateo, California, where he would graduate from Junipero Serra high school in 1966. Interested in earning some type of writing degree, he received his BA in English in 1970 after he graduated from Berkeley UC.
The Jack Of All Trades; Before His Writing Career
Lescroart was a self-described jack of all trades. He did not become a writer until 1994. Before settling down to become of the most notable authors of our time, he did a lot of little odds and ends jobs. Some of these jobs included being a word processor for a bunch of different law firms, an editor for several newspapers, and even an advertising director. He had other low-paying jobs, too, such as working as a bartender, a house painter, a moving man, and even a computer programmer and fundraising executive. Whatever job was available, he would take it on so he couple support himself and his family.
Becoming A Writer
Lescroart started his writing career in the early 1980s. Though he was still picking up odd jobs to do to support himself and his family, he found time to write his first novel, Sunburn, in 1981. It wasn't until 1994 that he decided to become a fulltime writer. During the 80s, he had some success with his work, winning an award for his first novel in 1982. By 1994, Lescroart had written a total of seven novels. Now, after a 33 year career, Lescroart has released more than twenty books. He is currently at work on a new novel.
Awards That Lescroart Has Won
Lescroart has won a handful of awards since his first book was released in 1981. Beating out Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice, he won the San Francisco Foundation's Joseph Henry Jackson award for best unpublished book by a California author. He has also won awards such as American Author's Associations Book of the Year award in 2007, the American Author medal in 2007, and more. He has also been nominated for a handful of awards, and was chosen for the Entertainment Weekly "must list" for his book, Damage, in 2011.
Recurring Characters In Lescroart's Books
John Lescroart has a few recurring characters in nearly all of the books he has written. The one that is best known and well liked would be Dismas Hardy, which is the main protagonist in over fourteen of his books. He also has another well-known recurring character, named Abe Glitzsky that appears in three of his books. His last recurring character is a main protagonist in two books, and goes by the name of Gina Roake. His best known character, Dismas Hardy, is a fan favorite and will appear in a couple future books Lescroart is working on.
The Best Books He Has Written
Despite writing twenty-four books, there is a number of those books that are fan favorites. These books are also the reason that Lescroart is such a well-known writer, and a favorite among crime novel readers all over the world. The fan favorite novels of John Lescroart include Sunburn, Damage, Dead Irish, The 13th Juror, The Ophelia Cut, Nothing But The Truth, and The Suspect. These are favorites that have been picked by his fans and landed on sites such as Good Reads and others. They are also his highest rated books currently.
The Personal Life Of John Lescroart
John leads a pretty private life. He loves to keep his private and work life separate. He has been married two times, and is now in a marriage with a woman ten years his junior. He does not have any children, currently. He enjoys food and wine, and when he has a day off, he likes to go on a little fishing trip, or enjoy a day at the local golf course. He also likes to keep healthy, and makes sure to hit the gym for an hour and a half several days a week.
Lescroart's Music Career
Lescroart had a small music career going in his twenties. His first big interest had been music before he became acquainted with the thought of becoming a fulltime writer. He performed in little clubs around San Francisco through his twenties. He was a singer and he also wrote songs for the band, too. He played in a band, named Johnny Capo and his Real Good Band. He performed under the name Johnny Capo. Besides singing and writing songs, Lescroart also played the guitar. He now has a record company out that is called Crow Art Records.
John Lescroart's Heritage
John Lescroart has an interesting background. He is mainly Irish. In fact, he says he is three quarters of Irish descent. However, his last name is French. It is pronounced less-kwah. His French background comes from his father's side, and his father's last name is Lescroart. John says that the first question he usually gets is how he pronounces his rather confusing and hard to pronounce last name, and what his heritage and background is. He usually has to stop people from asking the question since he has received it so many times from the start of his writing career.
John Lescroart is one of the few writers who has lived a full life. He continues to write thriller crime novels that leaves fans on the edge of their seat and wanting more. You can learn more about John by visiting his website. Pick up his latest book, The Ophelia Cut, today!
Book Series In Order » Authors » John Lescroart
I can't push the Peter Ash series enough here on BSIO. If you like Jack Reacher, you'll LOVE this series. I've honestly never had such positive feedback from a book or book series that I've recommended.
To all the Ash fans great news – a fifth one is on the way. Pre-order now. If you haven't read this series yet – what are you waiting for???
The links beside each book title will take you to Amazon, who I feel are the best online retailer for books where you can read more about the book, or purchase it. Please note that as an Amazon Associate, I earn money from qualifying purchases.
Every 2 weeks we send out an e-mail with 6-8 Book Recommendations. We'll base this on various factors for example "If you like Jack Reacher..." or "If you like short stories in the horror genre". Insert your e-mail below to start getting these recommendations.
(See All Past Recommendations)
MISSING A BOOK?
I do my best to make sure the book lists are complete and current, but due to human or machine error while attempting to keep 3000+ authors up to date, the occasional book can be missed or will be listed under an alternate title. If you see one missing just send me an e-mail below. Thanks!
Author / Series
Book(s)
Are you a fan of cozy mysteries? Then you need to read the Coffeehouse Mysteries. This series by Cleo Coyle has been going strong since 2003 and is still publishing highly rated books every year. An excellent series to get you through the cold months. More details.
You may have heard the name Blake Crouch before as he wrote the Wayward Pines series. However there is a lot more to Blake than just that series. He has written some of the best sci-fi books there is such as Dark Matter and Recursion. More Details.
Arthur Conan Doyle pursued a medical degree at the University of Edinburgh instead of going into the arts much to the surprise of his family. At med school, Doyle met his mentor, Professor Dr. Joseph Bell, whose keen powers of observation would later inspire Doyle to create his famed fictional detective character, Sherlock Holmes. At the University of Edinburgh, Doyle met classmates and future fellow authors James Barrie and Robert Louis Stevenson. Talented class!
POPULAR AUTHORS TODAY:
Any authors or characters we're missing that we should add? Let us know - we're continually adding new authors and characters daily.
Author/Series/Character To Add:
TODAYS POPULAR SERIES:
Court Gentry / Gray Man
Will Robie
Do you pre-order books?
Yes as soon as they are announced
Yes but close to release date
No I wait until they are published


(2) The Department of Agriculture may impose an administrative fine in the Class IV category pursuant to s. 570.971 not to exceed $100,000 for each violation against a person who operates as a citrus fruit dealer without a current citrus fruit dealer license issued by the Department of Agriculture pursuant to s. 601.60. In addition, the Department of Agriculture may order such person to cease and desist operating as a citrus fruit dealer without a license. An administrative order entered by the Department of Agriculture under this subsection may be enforced pursuant to s. 601.73.
(b) Knowingly, falsely labels or otherwise misrepresents that a processed citrus fruit product was prepared solely with citrus fruit grown in a specific production area specified in s. 601.091.
(4) A fine imposed pursuant to subsection (1), subsection (2), or subsection (3), when paid, shall be deposited by the Department of Agriculture into its General Inspection Trust Fund.
(5) Whenever an administrative order has been made and entered by the Department of Agriculture that imposes a fine pursuant to this section, such order shall specify a time limit for payment of the fine, not exceeding 15 days. The failure of the citrus fruit dealer to pay the fine within that time shall result in the immediate suspension of such citrus fruit dealer's current license, or any subsequently issued license, until the order has been fully satisfied. An order suspending a citrus fruit dealer's license shall include a provision that the suspension shall be for a specified period not to exceed 60 days, and such period of suspension may begin at any designated date within the current license period or subsequent license period. Whenever an order has been entered that suspends a citrus fruit dealer's license for a definite period and that license, by law, expires during the period of suspension, the suspension order shall continue automatically and shall be effective against any subsequent citrus fruit dealer license issued to such dealer until the entire period of suspension has elapsed. Whenever any such administrative order of the Department of Agriculture is sought to be reviewed by the offending dealer involved in a court of competent jurisdiction, if such court proceedings should finally terminate in such administrative order being upheld or not quashed, such order shall, upon the filing with the Department of Agriculture of a certified copy of the mandate or other order of the last court having to do with the matter in the judicial process, become immediately effective and shall then be carried out and enforced notwithstanding such time will be during a new and subsequent shipping season from that during which the administrative order was first originally entered by the Department of Agriculture.
History.—s. 67, ch. 25149, 1949; s. 1, ch. 61-90; s. 2, ch. 61-119; ss. 14, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 7, ch. 71-185; s. 22, ch. 71-186; s. 6, ch. 78-95; s. 1, ch. 79-126; s. 2, ch. 81-318; ss. 6, 7, ch. 82-29; ss. 1, 3, ch. 85-129; s. 1, ch. 89-83; s. 4, ch. 91-429; s. 982, ch. 97-103; s. 4, ch. 97-118; s. 13, ch. 97-220; s. 51, ch. 2012-182; s. 158, ch. 2014-150.


I have been slowly working on python for the last two months. Looking to step it up and having a buddy along would be quite helpful. I am learning this with the intention of learning how to make games.
Hello buddy! Im in. I am currently working through the coursera class on making games in python and Im loving it. Feel free to join me, I would love to share my experience with someone.
which course on coursera is teaching python right now?
Thats great. I too started out with the text games but I realized very quickly that they are way too simple for me, no offense. Once I started making graphics and actual games, thats when I really started appreciating it more.
no offense taken. I'm still a beginner and I am using this to get all the different things python can do, embedded into my memory and making sure I understand how it all works. Then I will move on to pygame.
hey, am also taking the course, how are you able to follow the course when you cant complete the Mini-project?
I just do them on my own. Its pretty clear whether or not you are doing the games right. I dont really care about marking. Plus it allows me to go at my own pace and I dont have to rush everything.
I've been learning python for about the same time, as a stepping stone to other languages. I would like to eventually make video games, but I'm not too focused on it right now.
Yeah it's been a while since I did any coding, once i go back to school python should become a part of my daily routine again.
i'm not trying to be a developer to make games. i really want to focus on functional part of technology.
Same as omm here, I'm halfway into making my own game in Pygame, and plan to expand from there. Hit me up so we can chat or something.
See above replies for what im currently doing. And id be glad to chat anytime. What is the game you are working on?
Top down rougelike RPG. It's really just something to try everything out, I really want to focus on AI, pathfinding and general npc behavior.
Like yourself I plan to move on to other languages, I think that is only natural, but I would like to, in time, get proficient with programming in Blender as it uses Python 3 as its scripting language.
I'm just starting a roguelike myself. The plan is for it to take elements from Brogue and T.O.M.E 2, but I have no idea if I'm going to make it through pathfinding.
Do you have a GitHub repository yet?
I recently restarted from scratch, so there are no NPCs in the game, but the old folder has a more developed version. Of course rhere is no art.
I haven't heard of Blender, I will have to look that up. I can't comprehend why they changed stuff in python 3. I understand trying to make a language better, but it seems like they changed things that didn't really need to be changed. Now if I want to use python 3, I have to go learn all the changes they made. Was it really necessary to change raw_input() to input()?
Not gonna pretend I understand, but the difference for us coders is minimal. Input changed as you say, print requires () and format is done a little differently, its a piece of cake really. Blender is an opensource 3d modeling and animation program, rivaling the industry standards set by 3dsmax and Maya. (Except it doesnt cost 10 thousand dollars a year to use, blender is free) blender also comes with the Blender game engine, which interests me a lot, though ive been told its still pretty new and nothing to erite home about. But since it scripts in Python i want to learn how to use it.
Is there somewhere that I could go that would highlight the differences in python 3, so I could learn that and try using blender?
Wow, that is much less complicated than I thought it would be. I thought a lot more of the syntax had been changed. Thanks!
Hey should we make a google Hangout? We can use it to communicate and have meet ups with google video. Its better then skype imho as it allows group communication with video (you need pro-skype for that) and you can display your desktop if anyone wanna show off some work.
That sounds like a great idea. what do we need to do?
A place for people to group up to learn and teach programming to each other.


Fergus Feehily, Sheila Hicks and Julia Rommel.
CCA is pleased to present Out There, Thataway, a group exhibition curated through dialogue between Francis Halsall, Declan Long, and CCA that includes work by Stephen Brandes, Nathan Coley, Aleana Egan, Fergus Feehily, Kevin Gaffney, Rana Hamadeh, and Merlin James. Out There, Thataway has two conceptual starting points: first, a concern with imagining or navigating territories that are 'beyond knowledge'; and second, an interest in ways that metaphors of geography shape thinking and behaviour. The exhibition takes its title from the last words spoken at the end of 'Star Trek: The Motion Picture': they are Kirk's vague but determined directions as the Enterprise begins to venture further out than ever before beyond known frontiers.
Out There, Thataway opens Saturday, August 8th at 7pm and runs until 26th September 2015. The exhibition will be accompanied by commissioned playlists and a public programme of events. More information will follow soon.
A number of works included in Tripper, summer 2015, a collection of twenty new short stories published by Asahi Shimbun Publications, Tokyo.
A small catalogue based on a solo show at Galerie Christian Lethert has recently been published by the gallery. Contact them directly for details and availability.
Co-curated by Colin Martin, painter, Lecturer and Principal at the RHA School; Cliodhna Shaffrey, Director of Temple Bar Galleries & Studios; and Aoife Ruane, Director, Highlanes Gallery.


More and more of us are looking to sports supplements to gain a competitive advantage and to aid recovery but do they really work? Media reports and manufacturer claims can be confusing and often downright wrong. What should you take? What shouldn't you take? What will actually benefit you? Fully updated to reflect the latest research, Sports Supplements is packed with clear, reliable and unbiased advice that will help you maximise your athletic potential. Renowned sports nutritionist Anita Bean takes you through each supplement and explains what they are, how to use them and if they really work as well as suggesting other alternatives. Covering the most popular supplements on the market from beetroot juice to creatine, caffeine to whey protein, this is the essential guide for anyone considering taking supplements.
This book focuses on efficacy, toxicity, drug interactions, and abnormal clinical laboratory tests resulting from the use of herbal remedies. Although a few herbal remedies are safe and have efficacy (for example saw palmetto), many herbal remedies are toxic. This book guides in the interpretation of abnormal test results in otherwise healthy subjects due to use of herbal remedies. Chapters focus on interactions between herbals and pharmaceuticals, sources of contamination in herbal supplements, and analytical techniques used in the investigation of herbal remedies.
A treasure trove of uncommon and reliable scientific and clinical information for the toxicity and usefulness of today's leading nonherbal dietary supplements. The supplements detailed were chosen for their popularity, toxicity, and the quantity and quality of information available. Each monograph discusses the history of the compound; its chemical structure; its current and promoted uses, sources, and chemical composition; and its toxicity, pharmacokinetics, and physiological role. Also presented are case reports of adverse effects and interactions, as well as information on reproductive effects, chemical and biofluid analysis, and regulatory status. Each chapter is based on original studies published in reputable peer-reviewed journals, as well as on meta-analyses, systematic reviews, or other high-quality assessments by recognized experts.
A comprehensive monograph-based guide to the most commonly used vitamins, minerals and dietary supplements.
Dietary supplements made from foods, herbs and their constituents are a rapidly growing market sector. Consumers often view food supplements as natural' and therefore safe; however, supplements are regulated as foods rather than as pharmaceuticals and so are not as closely monitored as may be necessary. With the commercial market in these products growing, this book provides essential research into their safety, efficacy and potential risk of interaction with pharmaceuticals. Following an introductory chapter, part one covers the chemical composition, manufacture and regulation of dietary supplements. Part two looks at the effectiveness of different types of dietary supplement and methods of evaluation. Finally, part three focuses on supplement safety. Reviews the design, production and regulation of dietary supplements. Analyses the potential for pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamics interactions between dietary supplements and pharmaceuticals. Offers reviews of important clinical studies on the efficacy of dietary supplements for range of conditions.
Quantum Supplements bridges together the seemingly disparate scientific and spiritual realms through popular modern-day concepts dietary supplements and nutrition and the ancient chakra system to help people explore the every growing field of energy medicine. This user-friendly, cutting edge guide explains the energy healing and vibrational properties of vitamins, minerals, and herb/botanicals, specifically their effects on activating and balancing the body's natural energy centers. Following a practical overview to the different types of dietary supplements and how they work, the author elaborates on the physiological and psychological activities of each energy center, or chakra, and the supplemental nutrients that assist their balance. The book includes many easy-to read tables and charts are provided as a quick reference guide to determining which supplements are most appropriate for any and everything from bolster the immune system to fight off frequent colds to improving circulation to fighting memory loss.
Are you looking for a healthy body? Quick weight loss with no dieting? Top athletic performance without breaking a sweat? Websites, infomercials, magazine ads, and celebrity tweets make an astonishing array of claims about the improvement to health and performance that will come from using dietary supplements. If you take supplements, you're not alone. The majority of Americans take at least one dietary supplement every day. Consumers have tens of thousands of supplements to choose from, spending an estimated $32 billion each year on such products. By law, the US Food and Drug Administration has limited regulatory powers over dietary supplements. Many supplements are manufactured overseas in nations with loose quality-control standards. Scientific evidence supporting the safety and effectiveness of supplements is minimal, and in some cases, supplements have led to serious illness and death. Registered nurse Connie Goldsmith takes an in-depth look at the wide world of dietary supplementsvitamins, minerals, herbal supplements, weight-loss products, performance-enhancing products, energy boosters, and more. What do doctors, dieticians, and other experts have to say? Is it ever safe to take a supplement? What are the red flags to watch for when considering these products? Goldsmith gives teens the tools to be smart consumers, urging all readers to consult with a qualified medical professional when considering any supplement.


text:
The Amazon River once blew up a 1-ton python? It's known as a "no-go area for humans", so why does no one dare to swim in it?
Radiant Science October 13, 2022
Humans are "conquering" the Amazon rainforest, but "conquer" the Amazon River? The Amazon River is known as a "human sanctuary", it is said that no one dares to swim in the Amazon River, is this true? It is said on the Internet that the Amazon River once blew up a 1-ton python, what about this?
Humans are "conquering" the Amazon rainforest
The Amazon rainforest is a huge "treasure"! Covering an area of 7 million square kilometers, the Amazon rainforest is the largest and most diverse tropical rainforest in the world, which is why it is called the "lungs of the earth". The existence of the Amazon rainforest plays a very important role in the Earth's climate and air quality, absorbing carbon dioxide and producing oxygen.
While the Amazon rainforest is a constant source of oxygen, it has been tragically destroyed by humans. According to data released by Brazil's National Institute for Space Research (INPE), the Amazon rainforest was deforested in September this year, setting a new record, with 1,455 square kilometers of rainforest disappearing, almost the same size as two New York City. Data released by the environmental organization Greenpeace also shows that the Amazon rainforest has been severely damaged this year, with as much as 8,590 square kilometers of Amazon rainforest deforested in the past nine months, and more than 17 percent of the Amazon rainforest has been cut down in the past half century.
Many scientists are deeply concerned about the future of the Amazon rainforest, and American ecologist Thomas Lovejoy and Carlos Nobre, a senior scientist at the National Institute of Amazon Research in Brazil, believe that if the Amazon rainforest is deforested by 20-25%, the "lungs of the earth" will not be able to continue to play the role of the ecosystem. The lungs of the earth will no longer be able to play a role in the ecosystem. In fact, for the time being, scientists have found that the Amazon rainforests in Brazil and Bolivia have shown signs of "grasslandization".
Why the Amazon cannot be "conquered
Like the Amazon rainforest, the Amazon River, which nourishes this rainforest, is also a biological "paradise", but is known as a "no-go area for humans". Humans are now "conquering" the Amazon rainforest, but why can not "conquer" the Amazon River? Even dare not swim in the Amazon River? How scary is the Amazon River?
Some of our friends may think that we are afraid to go swimming in the Amazon River, probably because it is very deep, the current is very fast, and the river volume is amazing. It is indeed true that the Amazon is outstanding in all these aspects and ranks high in the world, after all, it is the river with the largest flow, basin and tributaries in the world.
The Amazon, for example, reaches a length of about 6,400 kilometers, making it the second longest river in the world, after the Nile in Africa. Of course, what we humans fear is not the length of the Amazon, because in front of the Amazon there is the Nile River, longer than the Amazon River Nile are not so terrible.
For example, the Amazon River is the world's largest river flow, its river volume is as high as 219,000 cubic meters per second, which is already several times greater than the Nile, Yangtze, Mississippi River, the total volume of the three major rivers. This is still the normal river volume, if encountered when the flood, the Amazon River river volume is as high as 280,000 cubic meters per second, quite amazing.
For example, the Amazon River has 15,000 tributaries, and these tributaries are spread over a large area of South America, with the entire basin almost the size of Australia. It can be said that the Amazon River nourishes the vast majority of South America.
From these parameters, the Amazon River is actually very amazing, but these are not enough to stop humans to "conquer" the Amazon River, so that people really feel scared is actually those living in the Amazon River creatures, that is the most deadly threat, if rashly swim in the Amazon River, may not be able to go ashore.
Piranha is one of the most frightening animals, in some documentaries, we will see some animals fall into the Amazon River after being eaten by piranhas. Piranha bite force of the upper and lower palate is so large that it bites through the hard wooden board, and even a bite can break the steel fishing hook, in the water is almost no natural enemy.
Although the individual piranhas are small, but they are exceptionally fierce, their sense of hearing is highly developed, the smell of blood in the water is also very sensitive, the prey that appears near them will easily attract the attention of piranhas, once found by piranhas, it is basically very difficult to escape. Because piranhas are gregarious animals, they come out in groups to feed, that is, we encountered not just one, two piranhas, but a large group of piranhas, the smell of blood in the water will even inspire these piranhas to launch a furious attack on their prey.
These piranhas have very sharp teeth, and if they bite down on their prey, they will hold on tight and then keep twisting their bodies until they rip the flesh off their prey. So, if you encounter groups of piranhas, the animals that fall into the water will basically be gnawed on by them until only a pile of skeletons remain. Someone once saw a group of piranhas in a short period of time will be a cow torn into pieces, quite horrible! Although scientists found that humans actually evolved from fish, but we humans have left the water for hundreds of millions of years, rivers, lakes and seas have long been our human "world", we are no longer adapted to life in the water. In the water with these fierce piranha encounter, we have no chance to escape.
In addition to piranhas, there are many scary animals in the Amazon River, and the boa is one of them. We humans themselves are full of fear of snakes, that fear is like engraved in the genes. Encounter the general snake, we may be very afraid, if you encounter some of the several meters long, or even close to 10 meters of the giant snake, it is estimated that most people are directly scared to move.
The boa living in the Amazon River is the world's longest existing snake, the largest boa can grow to about 10 meters, it is said that in 2016, the Amazon rainforest region of the U.S. dam during construction once blew up a cave, found a huge anaconda, weighing up to about 1 ton, body length of up to 9.75 meters. It is rumored that in 1997, Brazil once caught a 61-foot-long (18.9 meters) boa, regardless of are not confirmed, so the authenticity is open to question.
In summary: many aspects of the Amazon River data are very impressive, such as the length of about 6,400 kilometers, tributaries up to 15,000 or so, the river volume reached about 219,000 cubic meters, but these are not the scary place for us humans, let people feel afraid of the place is those living in the Amazon River animals, including piranhas, boas, electric eels, parasitic catfish, etc.. In the water to these horrible animals, we humans are almost powerless to fight back, rashly swimming in the river will indeed have many risks, a little carelessness may not be able to return.
With 10 sex chromosomes and a mix of three types of biological traits, its existence was once dismissed by humans as a hoax
A 985 professorship right out of the postdoc! He is dedicated to finding the last piece of the puzzle of the human five-sense world
Pay Attention To Your Earwax
Do Brain Cells Regenerate?
What Should You Do If You're Bitten by a Venomous Snake?
New Photos From Asteroid Bennu Reveal Stunning Surprises
Up to 576 million pixels, taking up 65% of the brain's "memory"! How powerful is the human eye?
Quantum entanglement, the only person in the world who can reasonably explain it
Combustible ice is enough for all mankind for 1,000 years, China's reserves are the world's largest, so why not large-scale mining

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
class VariableDeclarationNode :
	public Node
{
private:
	std::string _name;
	std::string _type;

public:
	void SetName(const std::string name) { _name = name; }
	std::string GetName() const { return _name; }

	void SetType(const std::string type) { _type = type; }
	std::string GetType() const { return _type; }

	virtual std::string GetNodeSummary() const;
	virtual void Codegen(llvm::Module& module, llvm::IRBuilder<>& builder, llvm::Function *function);
};

#endif

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Gender and Identity in Developing Economies
Friday, Jan. 4, 2019 12:30 PM - 2:15 PM
Hilton Atlanta, 313
Hosted By: Association for the Study of Generosity in Economics & International Association for Feminist Economics
Chair: Lakshmi Iyer, University of Notre Dame
Religion and Abortion: The Role of Politician Identity
Sonia Bhalotra
Irma Clots-Figueras
University Carlos III of Madrid
Lakshmi Iyer
Leveraging close elections to generate quasi-random variation in the religious identity of state legislators in India, we find less male-biased sex ratios at birth in districts with Muslim legislators, and a corresponding increase in fertility. Our evidence suggests that the primary driver of this effect may be a stronger religious aversion to abortion among Muslims compared with Hindus, resulting in lower sex-selective abortion. We find no evidence of greater postnatal neglect of girls once more girls are born, and some suggestive evidence that Muslim legislators are more effective in enforcing the law against foetal sex determination.
Female Circumcision and the Incentive Compatibility of the Marriage Contract
Avraham Ebenstein
Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Avi Simhon
Oded Galor
This paper will provide new evidence on the role of female circumcision in developing economies, and particularly on its interaction with incentive compatibility in marriage contracts. Both circumcision and incentive compatibility in marriage contracts have received attention in prior work; our paper will shed new light on these topics.
The Costs of Reduced Reproductive Potential: Evidence from Female Sterilization in India
S Anukriti
Given the central role of reproduction within marriage, how does a permanent decline in a married woman's ability to have children affect her wellbeing? I seek to answer this question in the context of India where the family planning program relies heavily on a permanent contraceptive method for women, namely female sterilization, that is also the most prevalent method globally. I examine how a wife's sterilization affects spousal violence against her. Using data from India's Demographic Health Surveys and an instrumental variable estimation strategy, I find that sterilization increases the probability that a wife experiences spousal violence by 2 to 4 percentage points. This project sheds light on the hitherto overlooked, negative consequences of a large-scale family planning policy in the second most populous country in the world. It also makes a novel contribution to our understanding of the causes of spousal violence. More generally, it quantifies how important the ability to bear children is for women's welfare.
Selim Gulesci
Rebecca Thornton
Alicia Adsera
J1 - Demographic Economics


text:
Tagged with "Isis"
The Truth About Islam
by Ajla Glavasevic11/25/2015, 10:00 AM
One Bosnian woman's prayer for understanding in the wake of the Paris attacks.
by Mike Iverson12/12/2014, 10:00 AM
It's Friday and Fidel Castro was awarded the Confucius Peace Prize this week. So ask yourself, what else did I miss?
Take a break from another miserable Monday to read today's terrifying headlines from around the world: the U.S. continues nuclear talks with Iran, a fatal police shooting shocks Cleveland, and a young man from Philly is named a Rhodes Scholar. As always, we've got you covered.
No love for Putin at the G20 summit, but that hasn't stopped him from stepping on toes worldwide. In the meantime, ISIS continues to behead innocent American aid workers, and Google raises a hefty sum of donations to fight Ebola in West Africa. Happy Monday, everybody, the world keeps spinning.
It looks like President Obama is finally putting his executive powers to use in the matter of immigration laws, and while that's all well and good, it seems that our military officials are considering a ground force intervention in Iraq. Otherwise, global climate change continues to be a hot issue worldwide, and at home Tom Wolf is saying "no thank you" to gifts. The week's almost out, make sure you're still in the loop.
Angela Merkel ruminates over lessons learned from the fall of the Berlin Wall, while Kurdish fighters attempt to keep ISIS at bay in Syria. At home, a new contract for Philadelphia transit employees, and a visit to Erie Insurance from a few Japanese executives. It's Monday again, and we've got you covered.
Kerry Enters Softly into Conversation on ISIS Depravity
by Jim Wertz10/14/2014, 11:36 PM
The Islamic State is moving toward Baghdad, so it's time for the U.S. to join a conversation that's been going on without it for several month.
The Way I See It: The ISIS Dilemma
by Rebecca Styn9/3/2014, 6:30 AM
Should the U.S. increase its efforts in the fight against ISIS?
Street Corner Soapbox: America's New Two Minutes Hate
by Jay Stevens9/3/2014, 6:00 AM
The media's coverage of ISIS and what it means to our notion of "terror"
Dispatches From Iraq
by Jim Wertz8/20/2014, 8:00 AM
Erie Man Returns to Troubled Homeland to Document Crisis
Local professor offers her views of current Middle East crisis
by Erie Reader Author6/29/2014, 6:17 PM
Gannon University's Carolyn Baugh explains origins, aims of ISIS and how it factors into the upheaval in Iraq


text:
You are here: Home / Scholarships and Awards
Departmental scholarships and awards are introduced below. For application information and a link to the online application form, see the "Applications" section at the bottom half of this page.
The Department awards five scholarships annually through competitive application for history and American studies majors.
Priscilla Wilson Ashton '45 Scholarship
This endowed scholarship has been created at the University of Mary Washington through a
bequest from the estate of Priscilla Wilson Ashton '45. Priscilla Wilson graduated from Mary Washington College in 1945. She went on to take classes at Cornell, Columbia and the University of Maryland. She married Thomas Ashton and they raised two children, Charlotte and Tom. She was an active community volunteer involved with the Parent Teacher Association, the American Red Cross and Scouting. Pris, as she was affectionately called by friends and family, was firmly committed to the principle of an undergraduate liberal arts education and fondly remembered Mary Washington as a nurturing environment for inquiry, questioning, and learning. She established this scholarship to assist future generations of Mary Washington students to benefit from a similar educational experience. This scholarship shall be awarded to students who have a declared major within the UMW Department of History and is renewable provided that recipients remain in good academic standing. Special consideration shall be given to students from the greater Fredericksburg Virginia area, to include the City of Fredericksburg and the counties of Spotsylvania, Stafford,
Caroline and King George.
Hamlin A. Caldwell, Jr. Scholarship in History
Family members and friends established a scholarship to honor Hamlin A. ("Ham") Caldwell's long service as an adjunct member of the faculty of the Department of History and American Studies after his death in 2005. A graduate of the Naval Academy and holder of three patents related to anti-submarine warfare, Caldwell was deeply interested in a wide range of social justice and environmental issues and committed to the open and intelligent discussion of public policies that pertained to them.
William B. Crawley, Jr. Scholarship
This scholarship has been established through the generosity of Laurie Mansell Reich, who graduated from Mary Washington College in 1979 with a Bachelor of Arts in History and who was a member of the Phi Alpha Theta International History Honorary Fraternity, Pi Gamma Mu National Science Honor Society and Alpha Pi Sigma National Scholastic Honor Society. She believes that a liberal arts education, particularly the study of history, provides a unique and invaluable perspective on all of the arts and sciences and especially contributes to living an examined life. She established this scholarship in honor of William B. Crawley, Jr., whose consummate teaching and scholarship, as well as his encouragement of critical and independent thinking, have profoundly influenced her as well as several generations of students, not only while at Mary Washington, but throughout their lives.
Oscar H. Darter Scholarship in History by the Class of 1940
In honor of their 50th class reunion, members of the Class of 1940 established the Oscar H. Darter Scholarship in History to help deserving students interested in history and world civilization. Professor Darter received the Ed. D. degree from the George Washington University and was chair of the History Department from 1926 until 1960. His history of Fredericksburg's first century, Colonial Fredericksburg and Neighborhood in Perspective, was published in 1957.
James Farmer Scholarship
Established to honor faculty member and civil rights leader James Farmer, Farmer Scholarships are awarded to students who exemplify in daily life, intended career field, and commitment to service to others the ideals espoused by Dr. Farmer, and who, as is the case with both Darter and Vance Scholarships, have a record of superior academic achievement. Established in 1999 by the College's Board of Visitors, the Farmer Scholarships honor Dr. Farmer's role in the Civil Rights Movement. Significant in his lifetime as one of the world's leading advocates of human rights was his founding of the Congress for Racial Equality and leading the Freedom Rides into the Deep South in the 1960s.
Joseph C. Vance Memorial Scholarship in History
Dr. William Bryan Crawley, Jr. and Dr. Theresa Young Crawley established this scholarship in memory of Dr. Joseph C. Vance. A World War II veteran who served on submarines in the Pacific, Dr. Vance was a member of the Department of History from 1960 until his retirement in 1987 and was department chairperson for more than a decade during his tenure.
The Department recognizes students, particularly graduating seniors, who have achieved significant successes in the course of their academic work in history and American studies.
Phi Alpha Theta Award for Excellence in History.
The local chapter of Phi Alpha Theta, the history honorary society, recognizes the graduating senior with the highest GPA in history with its annual award.
Willie Lee Rose Award.
Named in honor of distinguished alumna, historian, award-winning author, and long-time faculty member at Johns Hopkins University, the Rose award is made annually at graduation to the graduating senior who has provided outstanding leadership in the college and community and service to the programs of the department of history and American studies
Joseph Carroll Vance Award for Excellence in Historical Research.
Dr. Vance taught in the Department for 27 years and was for 11 years its chairperson. The award which bears his name is awarded to the graduating senior whose thesis is judged to be the best for that year.
Almont Lindsey Award for Excellence in History.
Named in honor of a former faculty member whose service to the College spanned three decades, the Lindsey Award is bestowed annually on a graduating senior in recognition of academic achievement and service to the department.
Glen R. Thomas Award for Excellence in American Studies.
Named in honor of the founder of the American Studies program at the College, the Thomas Award is made annually to the graduating senior with the highest grade point average in American Studies.
Each scholarship application requires a 250-word essay about why one should be considered for that scholarship. See below for more information on the individual scholarships and the application essays. Applications for the 2014-2015 school year are accepted here through Wednesday, April 9, 2014.
ONLINE APPLICATION FORM (2014-2015)
The Oscar Darter Scholarship honors former faculty member and historian Oscar Darter and is awarded to a rising junior or senior interested in world history and who holds the high standard of achievement demonstrated by Dr. Darter.
The Joseph Carroll Vance Scholarship honors former department chairperson and historian Joe Vance and is awarded to a rising senior who is concentrating in American history. Preference is given to those with financial need.
The James Farmer Scholarship is awarded annually to a rising junior or senior major in the Department of History and American Studies. The criteria for the Farmer Scholarship, as stated by the Board of Visitors resolution establishing the award, are:
1. The recipient must maintain an overall GPA of 3.0 or better in his or her major.
2. The recipient will be "an individual who exemplifies in daily life, intended career field, and commitment of service to others the ideals espoused and practiced by Dr. James Farmer through his lifetime as one of the world's leading advocates of human rights."
The application for this scholarship requires you to explain why you think you would be a good candidate for the Farmer Scholarship.
The Hamlin A. "Ham" Caldwell, Jr. Scholarship is awarded annually to a rising junior or senior major in the Department of History and American Studies. The scholarship requires:
1. The recipient have and keep an overall GPA of 3.0 or better in his or her major.
2. The recipient be an individual whose academic work and career preparation reflect the concerns Professor Caldwell expressed for social justice and environmental issues and to the free, open and intelligent discussion of public policies and legislative actions related to them.
The application for this scholarship requires you to explain your career goals and how you think your academic coursework is preparing you to participate in the discussion of public policies that touch on social justice and environmental issues.
The scholarship shall be awarded to a student with a declared major in history. Terms of the selection process are:
1. The recipient have at least a 3.5 grade point average on a 4.0 system in his or her major.
2. Special consideration shall be given to female students.
3. In the event that no applicant completely meets the above criteria, the University shall be permitted to award the scholarship to the student most closely meeting the spirit of the criteria.


text:
Our Porfile
Custom Trip
Includes and Excludes
JAWA Motorcycle
Lambreta Scooter
Home / Lambreta Scooter
History of Lambretta Scooter
The Lambretta was a line of motor scooters manufactured in Milano (Milan), Italy by Innocenti. The name Lambretta comes from the name of a small river (Lambro) in Milan, near the factory. In 1922, Ferdinando Innocenti of Pescia built a steel tubing factory in Rome. In 1931, he took the business to Milano (Milan), Italy where he built a larger factory producing seamless steel tubing and employing about 6,000. During the Second World War the factory was heavily bombed and destroyed. It is said that surveying the ruins, Innocenti saw the future of cheap, private transport and decided to produce a motor scooter – competing on cost and weather protection against the ubiquitous motorcycle. Innocenti company started production of Lambretta scooters in 1947 and ceased production in 1971. However, Lambrettas were manufactured under licence in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, India and Spain, sometimes under other names but always to a recognizable design (e.g. Siambretta in South America and Serveta in Spain). As wealth increased in Western Europe in the late 60s, the demand for motorscooters fell as the small car became available to more people and Lambretta started to struggle financially.
The British Motor Corporation (BMC) took advantage of Innocenti's financial difficulties as well as their production and engineering expertise and contracted Innocenti to produce cars under license from BMC. The Innocenti Mini used the mechanical components of the original but was in many ways superior to it. Innocenti/Lambretta was eventually sold to BMC. With BMC's lack of foresight, they had cottoned on to a fashion trend that was ending rapidly. Long industrial strikes in BMC ensued; motor scooter sales took a nosedive and Innocenti shut up shop 1972. The Indian government bought the factory for essentially the same reasons that Ferdinando Innocenti had built it after the War. India was a country with poor infrastructure, economically not ready for small private cars yet with a demand for private transport. "Scooters India Ltd.," a state-run enterprise based in Lucknow, capital of the state of Uttar Pradesh, began production a couple of years later.
They stopped producing scooters in 1998. Scooters India Ltd. production now centers on a 3-wheeler pick-up truck powered by the Lambretta engine. Bajaj Auto is a major Indian automobile manufacturer that had also produced scooters similar to the Vespa. Although Scooters India have sold the rights to a business man who plans to start production again with BMW engines for the UK and European Market but Vespa engines for the American Market.
Project Lambretta
I bought a Lambretta scooter because my father use to have it when I was young; I still remember the rides on it. This 1970 model Lambretta was in a very bad shape when I bought this heavy machine, you can see in the photos. It would not have been possible to restore this old beauty without my mechanic Ramesh Ustad Ji and his son Balloo. It took 03 months for us to restore this heavy chain driven beauty. Thanks to both of them, Hope to come back soon with a new project.
C-129, DDA Flats, Bindapur Pocket 3, Dwarka, New Delhi 110059
ladakhmototours@gmail.com
Ladakh Office
10 Hemis Complex, Zangsti Road, Leh - Ladakh 194101
3102 Route DE Vaudagne. 74310 LES Houches - France
All Rights Reserved © Ladakh Moto Tours


Plant-produced biomass-degrading enzymes are promising tools for the processing of lignocellulose to fermentable sugars. A major limitation of in planta production is that high-level expression of such enzymes could potentially affect the structure and integrity of the plant cell wall and negatively influence plant growth and development.
Here, we evaluate the impact on tobacco plant development of constitutive versus alcohol-inducible expression of the endoglucanase TrCel5A from the mesophilic fungus Trichoderma reesei. Using this system, we are able to demonstrate that constitutive expression of the enzyme, controlled by the doubled Cauliflower Mosaic Virus promoter, leads to lower cellulose content of the plant combined with severe effects on plant growth. However, using an alcohol-inducible expression of the endoglucanase in the plant leaves, we achieved similar enzymatic expression levels with no changes in the crystalline cellulose content.
We were able to produce significant amounts of cellulase in the plant leaves without detrimental effects to plant development. These results demonstrate the potential feasibility of an inducible expression system for producing biomass degrading enzymes in plants.
Plant biomass is a promising alternative to conventional, non-renewable sources of energy. In first generation biofuels, easily fermentable carbon sources such as starch and sucrose have primarily been used. An alternative approach is to convert lignocellulosic biomass into fuels or platform chemicals. The process required for this is much more complex than the fermentation of simple carbohydrates and one of the bottlenecks is the short supply of biomass-degrading enzymes, such as cellulases. Plants can express specific recombinant proteins [1–3], so the heterologous production of lignocellulolytic enzymes in plants could help to process biomass more efficiently [4–6].
Cellulases and other glucanases break down the plant cell wall [7, 8] and also play a role in cell wall development and remodeling [9–11]. It is therefore necessary to consider the potential impact of heterologous cellulases on normal plant growth and development. This is particularly relevant when using strong promoters like the Cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) 35S promoter derived from dicotyledons , the tissue specific maize embryo-preferred globulin-1 promoter  or the artificial Mac promoter , based on the Escherichia coli maltose and lactose operons .
The high-level constitutive expression of glucanases has frequently been shown to affect the structure and composition of plant cell walls by altering the quality and/or quantity of cellulose. For example, the constitutive overexpression of an aspen endoglucanase (PttCel9A1) in Arabidopsis thaliana reduced cellulose crystallinity and the glucose content in the cell wall . Glucanase overexpression can also modify leaf shape and growth [16–18] and reduce environmental stress tolerance . Potential mitigation strategies include the localization of glucanases in subcellular compartments, such as the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and the storage vacuoles or plastids [12, 13, 17], and the expression of glucanases that are inactive at physiological temperatures but inducible using a post-harvest temperature shift [19–22].
In contrast to constitutive expression techniques, we investigated the regulation of cellulase expression in tobacco using an alcohol-inducible promoter. Many different inducible expression systems have been developed for plants [23–26] and the Aspergillus nidulans alc platform has been widely used [27–29]. This platform comprises two elements, the coding sequence for the transcription factor AlcR (controlled by the CaMV 35S promoter), and the alcA min 35S promoter, in which two AlcR binding sites are joined to the CaMV 35S minimal promoter . This promoter shows negligible basal expression and a strong induction ratio in most plants [27, 28, 30]. We used the alc platform to inducibly express a mesophilic endoglucanase (TrCel5A) from the filamentous fungus Trichoderma reesei, the second most abundant of eight endoglucanases secreted by this species [31, 32].
The cDNA encoding TrCel5A (without its native signal peptide sequence) was introduced into two different plant expression vectors, one under the control of the constitutive double CaMV 35SS promoter and the other under the control of the inducible alcA min35S promoter . Both constructs included a plant codon-optimized leader peptide, derived from the heavy chain of the murine monoclonal antibody mAb24 for secretion to the apoplast, and a C-terminal His6 tag for detection and purification (Figure 1). The functionality of the cloned constructs was verified by transient expression  followed by the detection of the active enzyme by Western blot and activity staining (Additional file 1).
Schematic presentation of the plant expression cassettes for constitutive (A) and inducible (B) expression of TrCel5A. The CaMV promoter (P35SS) and terminator signal (pA35S) are indicated in light grey. The chimeric promoter (alcAmin35S) comprising the CaMV 35S minimal promoter (±31 to +5) fused to the upstream promoter sequences of alc A (Caddick et al., 1998) is shown in black. 5′-UTR of chalcone synthase (CHS), plant codon-optimized leader peptide (LPH) derived from the heavy chain of the murine mAb24, the gene of interest (trcel5A) and the His6 coding sequence (His6) are indicated in dark grey.
Both constructs were introduced into tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum SR1) leaf by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation . Each generation of plants was screened for enzyme expression by Western blot and activity staining using azocarboxymethylcellulose (azoCMC) and 4-methylumbelliferyl-β-cellobiose (4-MUC). Positively tested T1 lines showing 3: 1 segregation, consistent with a single locus insertion, were then used to produce homozygous T2 lines. These T2 lines were characterized as follows.
Western blot analysis showed the recombinant protein had a molecular weight of approximately 35 kDa (Figure 2A), which is similar to the molecular weight of the native catalytic domain . The truncated enzyme retained its activity (Figure 2B). TrCel5A expression levels in transgenic tobacco plants were determined by measuring the activity of total soluble protein (TSP) against the substrates azoCMC and 4-MUC. Plants with constitutive TrCel5A expression achieved a specific enzyme activity of up to 1.5 U mg-1 TSP for azoCMC and 35 nmol 4MU min-1 mg-1.
Western blot of different transgenic lines constitutively expressing TrCel5A after SDS-PAGE (A) and zymography performed with SDS-PAGE containing 0.15% (w/v) CMC (B). Lanes contain 10 μg of plant total soluble protein. The recombinant enzyme was detected with a polyclonal α-cellulase antibody and an alkaline phosphatase conjugated goat-anti-rabbit secondary antibody. The zymogram control is performed with purified TrCel5A produced in Hansenula polymorpha.
The biochemical properties of purified TrCel5A were tested on azoCMC, within the pH range 3.0–7.0 and the temperature range 20–70°C (Figure 3). The optimal conditions were pH 5.4 and 55°C, at which 50% of the enzyme remained active for 90 min. There was no significant activity against highly crystalline substrates, such as avicel, however we detected significant activity against heterogeneous substrates including lichenan and barley-β-glucan (Table 1).
Enzymatic activity of TrCel5A at different pH and temperature values using the azoCMC assay. Activity of TrCel5A was determined for pH values between 3.0 and 7.0 (A) and temperature between 20–70°C (B). The maximum activity measured for each system (at pH 4.8 and 55°C, respectively) was set to 100%. For panel A, the buffer systems are as indicated in the figure and temperature was set at 55°C. For panel B 50 mM Na-Acetate, pH 4.8 buffer was used throughout.
The amount of released reducing sugars was determined using a PAHBAH assay. Activity against carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) was set as 100%. N.D indicates non detectable values.
We examined the effects of alcohol induction on plant growth and TrCel5A expression. In all assays T2 TrCel5A plants were compared to wild-type plants. Initial induction of TrCel5A activity using 2% ethanol led to a maximum expression level of 0.4 U mg-1 TSP on azoCMC and 5 nmol 4MU min--1 mg--1 after 24 h (Figure 4A). Further analysis showed that significant induction could be achieved with 0.1% ethanol (without basal expression) but that optimal expression levels required 2% ethanol (Figure 4B). There was no improvement in cellulase expression in transgenic plants when 5% ethanol was used, and concentrations greater than 5% were detrimental to both wild-type and transgenic plants, resulting in physiological stress symptoms such as leaf yellowing and curling (data not shown).
Effects of Ethanol induction on transgenic plants. Activity on 4MUC measured over time after ethanol induction in six-week-old soil-grown plants (A). Plants were induced at t0 by applying 2% ethanol in 100 ml irrigation water, and cellulase activity was monitored over a 96 h time course. Ethanol dose response in alcR::TrCel5A lines (B). Transgenic lines were monitored for cellulase activity 24 h after watering. Values represent the mean of three plants per independent transgenic line. Effect of sequential ethanol induction (C). Six-week-old soil-grown plants from the homozygous line F6.5 were induced using 2% ethanol at t0 and again after 48 h (asterisks). Cellulase activity was monitored over 144 h. Wild-type plants were monitored in parallel, and no cellulase activity was observed throughout the time course. Comparison of cellulose content and cellulase activity after repeated induction with ethanol (D). A relative value of 100% cellulase activity represents a conversion of 27 nmol 4MU min-1 mg-1, whereas a value of 100% for cellulose content represents 140 μg glucose per mg alcohol insoluble residue (AIR). For all panels, values represent the mean of three plants per independent transgenic line. Error bars the show standard deviation of the mean after subtraction of wild-type control data.
To determine the time course of induction, cellulase activity was monitored for 4 days following the induction with 2% ethanol (Figure 4A). Peak activity of 7 nmol 4MU min-1 mg-1 was observed 48 h after induction, followed by a significant decline. Continuous or sequential induction can increase transgene expression levels considerably , so expression was induced again 48 h after the first induction, increasing the activity significantly to 27 nmol 4MU min-1 mg-1 (Figure 4C). Although this activity level was lower than that achieved with constitutive expression, the two-step induction nevertheless achieves an expression level in the same order of magnitude as the constitutive promoter.
Constitutive TrCel5A expression significantly reduced the growth of tobacco plants and delayed their development compared to wild-type. The mature stems of the transgenic lines were 21–36% shorter than control plants and flowering was delayed (Figure 5). Cross-sections of stems, stained with calcofluor-white, showed no significant difference in cell structure between transgenic T2 lines constitutively expressing TrCel5A and SR1 wild-type plants, although a marginally greater number of small vessels were apparent (Figure 6). In contrast to constitutive expression, inducible TrCel5A expression had no impact on the growth or development of tobacco plants (Figure 5).
Phenotype of transgenic tobacco plants. Strains shown are wild-type N. tabacum SR1 (A). and transgenic tobacco strains with constitutive TrCel5A expression 35::TrCel5A (B). and inducible TrCel5A expression alcR::TrCel5A (C). Plants were grown under photoautotrophic conditions in soil. Images shown are representative of three plants per genetic line.
Cross sections of transgenic and wild-type tobacco stems (imaged at 10x) stained with calcofluor-white and visualized under UV light. Tissue sections of wild-type plants (A) were compared with 35SS::Trcel5A (B) and alcR::TrCel5A (C) transgenic plants. No significant difference was detected between the wild-type and transgenic plants, except a marginal increase in the number of small vessels (white arrow) in 35SS::Trcel5A plants. Scale bars are 50 μm.
The impact of TrCel5A expression on the structure of tobacco cell walls was determined, specifically the amount of cellulose and alcohol-insoluble residues (AIRs) were quantified as described previously . Additionally, the crystalline cellulose content was measured by Updegraff hydrolysis followed by and an anthrone cellulose assay . In all assays, wild-type plants were compared with three constitutive transgenic lines and two inducible transgenic lines expressing TrCel5A.
The constitutive transgenic lines contained significantly lower levels of crystalline cellulose than the wild type plants (Table 2). The transgenic line 35SS::TrCel5A-2 displayed the highest enzyme activity and also showed the greatest reduction in cellulose. In contrast, there was no difference in crystalline cellulose levels between inducible transgenic plants and wild-types, even after the induction of cellulase activity (Figure 3D).
Values are the mean ± standard error of the mean of 10 plants per tobacco line (transgenic or wild-type). Asterisks indicate a significant difference compared to the wild-type (P-value ≤ 0.01).
The exact role of glucanases in the development of plants and their cell wall is not yet fully understood. Both the absence and overabundance of glucanases has an impact on plant growth and cell wall development, which is a major challenge for the expression of recombinant glucanases in plants for biomass degradation [9, 10].
Plants have been widely used for the production of recombinant proteins [1, 2] including glucanases and other biomass-degrading enzymes [4, 6]. However, in many instances the constitutive expression of such enzymes has been shown to negatively affect plant health, including reducing plant growth, altering the morphology of leaves, reducing plants' stress tolerance or changing the structure of the cell wall [4, 16, 17, 21, 38]. Alternative strategies are therefore desired for the production of cellulases in plants without affecting growth or development. Some suggested strategies include sequestration into subcellular compartments  and the expression of enzymes that are inactive under physiological conditions . We have shown that inducible promoter systems can also be used to successfully produce cellulases without impacting on plant development.
Cellulases from the mesophilic fungus T. reesei efficiently degrade plant biomass. The endoglucanase TrCel5A (formerly EGII or EGIII) comprises a C-terminal catalytic domain from glycoside hydrolase family 5, a Ser/Pro-rich linker and a family 1 carbohydrate-binding module (CBM) . We used two different promoters to express TrCel5A, in each case combined with a signal peptide to achieve targeting to the apoplast. The double CaMV 35S promoter was use for constitutive expression, and its effects on plant growth and development were compared to those of the ethanol-inducible alcA min35S promoter. Transient expression revealed the proteolytic cleavage of TrCel5A within the linker region (Additional file 1), probably caused by papain-like proteases in the apoplast  that are known to degrade T. reesei cellulases . The truncated enzyme remains active against soluble substrates, such as azoCMC and other β-glucans with a β(1-4)-linked glucose backbone, whereas carbohydrates with different linkages remain unaffected . The optimal reaction conditions were demonstrated to be 55°C and pH 4.8, highlighting the mesophilic origin of the enzyme. However, the enzyme also showed remarkable residual activity under physiological conditions (20–30°C, pH 5.0), suggesting it could interfere with the synthesis of cell wall cellulose during normal plant growth and development.
TrCel5A activity in constitutive transgenic plants was determined by measuring the conversion of 4MUC into 4MU. The highest expression level observed was 35 nmol 4MU min-1 mg-1, which is similar to previously reported values for Acidothermus cellulolyticus E1 [14, 21]. The transgenic plants grew more slowly than their wild-type counterparts, and they contained lower levels of crystalline cellulose. It is unclear whether the reduced cellulose content reflected only slower, more prolonged growth of the plants (i.e. where the plants would eventually achieve the same biomass as the wild-type plants) or whether, as suggested by the shorter stems in transgenic plants, the reduced levels of crystalline cellulose are permanent. Glucanases have previously been shown to affect the cellulose content and hence the growth of transgenic plants, suggesting the same phenomenon was responsible for the phenotype we observed .
Inducible expression of cellulases has the potential to allow enzyme expression without detrimental effects on plant growth and development. We therefore chose an ethanol-inducible expression cassette that has previously been used for crop improvement . The one step induction procedure using 2% ethanol had no significant effect on the health of wild type tobacco plants. This induction, when used on alcR::TrCel5A plants resulted in a significant gain in cellulase activity, due to successful induction of TrCel5A. After 24 h this activity was measured to be 4–6 times lower than the TrCel5A activity seen in constitutive transgenic plants. We evaluated ways to increase the cellulase production in the alcR::TrCel5A plants by analyzing the effects of different ethanol concentrations and induction times, and found that for our system 2% was the optimal ethanol concentration for induction, in agreement with previous literature . TrCel5A activity peaked at 7 nmol 4MU min-1 mg-1 48 h after induction, which was still significantly lower than achieved in the transgenic plants with constitutive enzyme production, which showed a specific enzyme activity for azoCMC and 35 nmol 4MU min-1 mg-1. Previous work indicated that multiple inductions can increase transgene expression significantly , thus we introduced a second induction step 48 h after the first, which boosted enzyme activity to 27 nmol 4MU min-1 mg-1 five days after the first induction. Although still lower than the activity seen with constitutive expression, this level of enzyme expression was certainly within the same order of magnitude. Thus inducible TrCel5A can be expressed at levels comparable to that achieved by other researchers [14, 21].
The crystalline cellulose content of alcR::TrCel5A plants did not change significantly before and after induction. These data suggest that the endoglucanase only decreases the crystallinity of the cell wall while cellulose is synthesized, such as occurs during constitutive expression. This theory is also supported by the lower endoglucanase activity of TrCel5A against more crystalline substrates, such as Avicel and PASC (Table 1). The apparent loss of the CBM could also play a role in the lower affinity towards crystalline substrates . Alternatively, the efficient hydrolysis of crystalline cellulose may require more than one cellulolytic activity . These data suggest that the absence of the CBM might also be advantageous for systems using constitutive expression of TrCel5A. Potentially, the expression of CBMs alone can disrupt cell wall architecture and interfere with plant development  or act as a microbe-associated molecular pattern (MAMP) to trigger a defense reaction, such as the accumulation of sesquiterpene cyclase [46, 47].
In summary, we demonstrated that the constitutive expression of the mesophilic endoglucanase TrCel5A has an impact on plant growth and development. We showed that these detrimental effects can be avoided by using the ethanol-inducible promoter alcA min35S. Furthermore, sequential induction achieved recombinant cellulase levels similar to constitutive expression. We propose that inducible expression of biomass degrading enzymes e.g. cellulases in plants can be a promising alternative for their in planta production. This strategy offers the possibility of controlled application due to different expression conditions of these enzymes e.g. at a certain time point during the plant development or at a defined expression level. In addition, our system utilizes an economically priced inducer and a comparatively simple application able to be applied on a large scale, underline the potential of this approach for biomass degradation.
The TrCel5A gene (EGR51020.1, EMBL-CDS) was amplified by PCR from T. reesei strain QM9414 cDNA (kindly provided by Armin Merckelbach, Institute of Molecular Biotechnology, RWTH Aachen University, Germany) using primers cel5A-fw (5′-TCC ATG GCA CAG CAG ACT GTC TGG GGC-3′) and cel5A-rv (5′-TGC GGC CGC CTT TCT TGC GAG ACA CG-3′), resulting in a product lacking the first 21 codons representing the fungal signal peptide. For constitutive expression, the PCR product was first transferred to vector pCR2.1 (Invitrogen, Darmstadt, Germany) by TA-cloning to generate pCR2.1-TrCel5A. Digestion with NcoI and NotI released a cassette which was then transferred to vector pTRAkc-AH  and digested with the same enzymes. For ethanol inducible expression , the alc Amin35s sequence was amplified from pTRAkt-alcR-alcA-stppc (kindly provided by HJ Hirsch, Institute of Botany, RWTH Aachen University, Germany) using primers alcAmin35s-fw (5′-AAG GAT CCA CCC GGG TGG CTA GAA ATA TTT GCG ACT CTT CTG-3′) and alcA min35s-rv (5′-AGC GGC CGC GTT TAA ACC AAT TGG TCC TCT CCA AAT GAA ATG AAC TTC C-3′). The MfeI-PmeI fragment was transferred to pTRAkc-AH-Cel5A linearized with EcoRI and PmeI, and was then subcloned as a BstXI-PmeI fragment into pTRAkt-alcR (kindly provided by HJ Hirsch, Institute of Botany, RWTH Aachen University, Germany) linearized with FseI and PmeI.
The binary vectors described above were introduced into Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain GV3101::pMP90RK  by electroporation . Transgenic tobacco lines were then generated (N. tabacum L. cv. Petit Havana SR1) using the leaf disc transformation method . T0 plants were grown on Murashige-Skoog medium containing 100 mg/L kanamycin and 200 mg/L Claforan, and were subsequently transferred to soil in the greenhouse and selfed to produce the T1. T1 lines showing Mendelian segregation consistent with a single locus insertion were used to produce T2 generations which were used for all further assays.
Induction of the ethanol switch was achieved by providing ethanol with the spilling water. Therefore, tobacco plants were treated once with 100 ml of a 2% (v/v) ethanol solution, this procedure was varied in time or dosage as described in the figure legends and results section. Induced plants were kept separately from non induced plants to avoid induction via ethanol vapor. As a control, wild-type (N. tabacum SR1) plants were treated equally and analyzed together with the transgenic plants.
Transgenic leaves were ground in liquid nitrogen and homogenized in phosphate buffered saline (PBS; pH 7.0) supplemented with 1 mM phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride (PMSF). The extract was centrifuged at 15,000 × g for 20 min at 4°C followed by filtration to remove particles. The His6-tagged protein was purified from TSP by Ni–NTA agarose affinity chromatography (Qiagen, Hilden, Germany). Imidazole was removed using a Roti®Spin column (Roth, Karlsruhe, Germany) with a MWCO of 10 kDa. Total protein levels were determined using the Bradford method  with bovine serum albumin (Roth, Karlsruhe, Germany) as the standard.
Protein samples were separated by SDS-PAGE in a 12% polyacrylamide gel containing 0.15% (w/v) carboxymethylcellulose (CMC). The proteins were then renatured by washing twice at room temperature for 15 min with 50 mM potassium acetate buffer (pH 4.8) containing 20% (v/v) propan-2-ol followed by two 30-min washes in the same buffer without propan-2-ol. The samples were incubated in potassium acetate buffer at 50°C for 30 min and then in 50 mM Tris-HCl (pH 7.5) for 30 min at room temperature to stop the reaction. The gels were stained for 30 min in 0.1% (w/v) Congo Red (Sigma-Aldrich, Seelze, Germany) and destained in 1 M NaCl. The gel was incubated in 0.5% (v/v) acetic acid after destaining to increase the contrast.
For Western blot analysis, separated proteins were electro-transferred (60 min, 250 mA) to nitrocellulose membranes, blocked for 1 h at room temperature with 5% (w/v) skimmed milk in PBS, and then probed first with a polyclonal antibody recognizing Trichoderma viride cellulase (antibodies-online, Aachen, Germany) and second with a monoclonal alkaline phosphatase-conjugated goat anti-rabbit antibody (Dianova, Hamburg, Germany). The signal was visualized with nitroblue tetrazolium chloride/5-bromo-4-chloro-3′-indolyphosphate p-toluidine salt (NBT/BCIP) (Roth, Karlsruhe, Germany).
Endoglucanase activity in crude plant extract was determined by the conversion of 4-methylumbelliferyl β-D-cellobioside (4-MUC) into 4MU, as described previously . Samples were run in triplicate, with each sample (1–5 μl) assayed in 100 μl buffer (50 mM sodium acetate, pH 4.8, 0.5 mM 4-MUC) in a 96-well plate. Plates were covered with adhesive lids to prevent evaporation and incubated for 60 min at 50°C. The reaction was stopped by adding 100 μl 0.15 M glycine pH 10.0. The fluorescence was determined with Tecan Infinite M200 (excitation wavelength of 360 nm, emission wavelength 465 nm). Fluorescence data of TrCel5A activity, from induced and constitutively expressed plants, were corrected by subtraction of the average data from wild-type crude plant extract (n=3). Conversion rates were calculated from corrected data based on a series of 4MU standards (1–10 nM).
The soluble chromogenic substrate AZO-CM-Cellulose (Megazyme, Bray, Ireland) was used to determine the temperature and pH tolerance of the recombinant purified enzyme, as previously described , with five replicates taken at each measurement point. Temperature dependence was determined using 50 mM acetate buffer (pH 4.5) in the range 20–70°C. The pH tolerance was determined at 55°C using 50 mM citrate buffer (pH 2.0–3.5), 50 mM acetate buffer (pH 3.5–5.5) and 50 mM phosphate buffer (pH 5.5–7.0).
Cellulose was extracted from leaf tissue taken from 6–7 week-old plants. Ten samples were taken from each transgenic line and from wild-type tobacco plants. To determine the crystalline cellulose content, alcohol-insoluble residues (AIRs) were prepared as described by , by grinding 50 mg per sample to a fine powder under liquid nitrogen, and isolating the plant cell walls by washing with different organic solvents. Starch was removed by hydrolysis with amylase and pullulanase (Sigma-Aldrich). The remaining AIRs were extracted with acetone, dried and weighed. The crystalline cellulose content was determined according to established methods , after hydrolyzing the non-crystalline cellulose with acetic and nitric acids. The remaining crystalline cellulose residues were hydrolyzed with 72% sulfuric acid, allowing the remaining glucose to be measured using the anthrone assay . Significant differences from wild-type cellulose content were determined using a Student t-test (p value ≤ 0.01).
This work was supported by the BMBF Forschungsinitiative "BioEnergie 2021 – Forschung für die Nutzung von Biomasse" and the Excellence Cluster "Tailor-made Fuels from Biomass", which is funded through the Excellence Initiative by the German federal and state governments to promote science and research at German universities. The authors thank Dr. Flora Schuster for producing the transgenic plants.
HK designed and carried out the experiments, analyzed results and wrote the manuscript. MG carried out the analysis of tobacco cell walls. BU assisted in the experimental design and reviewed the manuscript. RF and UC coordinated the study and reviewed the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.


text:
Sat, Apr 22 2006 12:00:00 AM
MUMBAI, April 22: Pramod Mahajan's condition has been described as "quite critical" in a medical bulletin issued by the P D Hinduja Hospital shortly after he was operated.
Dr. Anupam Verma, Director-Administration, Hinduja hospital said that Mahajan was rushed to the hospital with three bullet injuries in the lower chest and abdomen.
The bullets had travelled right through lower part of the abdomen piercing the diaphragm, his liver and damaged head of the pancreas and the duodenum. The bullets also damaged the inferior vinacava (IVC) which is the main blood vein in the abdomen and injured the small intestine.
Also, the bullets have still not been retrieved as Mahajan's condition has yet to stabilize, following which the bullets will be extricated.
Dr Verma said that the victim has suffered a massive loss of blood and has been administered 25 bottles of blood, so far. By surgical operation, the injury to the IVC has been repaired as also the intestinal injuries where bleeding has been stopped.
However, since the liver injuries are extensive packs have been kept to control and stop bleeding. Major internal bleeding has been brought under check, barring the bleeding from the liver injuries.
Presently, Mahajan is kept in the intensive care unit on ventilator. He is treated by a team of doctors headed by Dr Gustad B Daver, Dr Vinod Chandiramani, Dr Sudeep Shah, and Dr Manoj Agni.
Meanwhile, five youth volunteers from the Kutchh Yuvak Sangh donated blood (Group B+) for Mahajan at the hospital.
Pravin Mahajan surrenders before police
MUMBAI, April 22: Pramod Mahajan's brother Pravin, who shot at the Bharatiya Janata Party leader at point-blank range, surrendered to the Worli police on Thursday morning.
He was taken into custody and the revolver he used in the crime was seized, police said. (Pravin owns a Brownie pistol which is licensed from Thane).
After shooting his brother Pravin went to the police station with the revolver, with which he had shot Mahajan and surrendered. He 'confessed' to having shot the BJP leader, according to the police.
Pravin's lawyer Nand Kumar Rajurkar told a TV channel that his client had a mental condition. Pravin has a 'well-knit' family consisting of his wife and two children, the lawyer said.
Meanwhile, police formally arrested Pravin Mahajan on the charge of attempt to murder. Police is recording the statement of Pravin and is likely to produce him before a magistrate on Sunday, senior police officials said.
Earlier, police said Pravin would be produced before a court on Saturday itself but later clarified that the accused was being interrogated and his statement was yet to be recorded.
After all preliminary formalities were completed, he would be produced before the court and in all probability Pravin would be taken to a magistrate for remand on Sunday.
Police have booked Pravin under provisions of IPC and charged him with attempt to murder, officials said.


text:
GERMANY: Volkswagen sales slip over H1
The Volkswagen Group has said that it had delivered 5% fewer vehicles in the first six months of 2009 over the same period last year. However, the German automaker noted that it outperformed the general marketplace and gained market share.
The Volkswagen Group has said that it had delivered 5% fewer vehicles in the first six months of 2009 over the same period last year. However, the German automaker noted that it outperformed the general market and gained share.
In a statement, group sales and marketing chief Detlef Wittig said business was "running to plan", but that a "major effort" was needed in the second half.
Volkswagen said that in the difficult economic environment, it had increased its share of the world passenger car market from January to June to 12%, up from 9.9% this time last year.
Some 3,100,300 cars, down 5% on last year's first half, were delivered. VW said the overall passenger car market contracted 17.%.
June deliveries rose 6.5% to 609,800 units, up from 572,700.
"The comparatively good trend in our sales figures shows that the group is headed in the right direction. Everything is running to plan. Nevertheless, a major effort is needed in the second half of the year if we are to remain on course. Economic uncertainty will continue as the year progresses," said Wittig.
VW cars in particular achieved a market share rise in the first half, growing 1.7% points to 8%. Deliveries rose 2.2% to 1,949,000 vehicles. The company said this was primarily due to rises in Germany, Brazil and especially China.
Positive momentum could also be expected from the new Polo over the coming months.
The Audi, ŠKoda and Seat also developed better than the overall market.
While the passenger car market in Europe contracted by 18.4% overall, the group reported a
smaller decline of 11.7% to 1,662,900 (1,883,700) units. Around 221,900 vehicles were delivered in North America, down 12.6%, in a market that contracted 33.2%.
South American passenger car market share rose to 22.1% from 19%.
In Brazil, the largest market there, deliveries rose 6.1% to 335,700 vehicles, beating the 3.7% rise in the passenger car market.
Asia/Pacific sales fell 0.6% but the group reported a rise in the number of deliveries to 723,800 units, up 18.6%.
BMW (Bayerische Motoren Werke) - Coronavirus (Covid 19) Company Impact
Volkswagen AG - SWOT Analysis
Audi - Coronavirus (Covid 19) Company Impact
UOP Asia Pacific Pte Ltd
VW Company Limited
Koda Ltd


text:
export.arXiv.org > cs > arXiv:1912.00320
cs.CV
Title: Discriminative Joint Probability Maximum Mean Discrepancy (DJP-MMD) for Domain Adaptation
Authors: Wen Zhang, Dongrui Wu
(Submitted on 1 Dec 2019 (v1), last revised 10 Apr 2020 (this version, v4))
Abstract: Maximum mean discrepancy (MMD) has been widely adopted in domain adaptation to measure the discrepancy between the source and target domain distributions. Many existing domain adaptation approaches are based on the joint MMD, which is computed as the (weighted) sum of the marginal distribution discrepancy and the conditional distribution discrepancy; however, a more natural metric may be their joint probability distribution discrepancy. Additionally, most metrics only aim to increase the transferability between domains, but ignores the discriminability between different classes, which may result in insufficient classification performance. To address these issues, discriminative joint probability MMD (DJP-MMD) is proposed in this paper to replace the frequently-used joint MMD in domain adaptation. It has two desirable properties: 1) it provides a new theoretical basis for computing the distribution discrepancy, which is simpler and more accurate; 2) it increases the transferability and discriminability simultaneously. We validate its performance by embedding it into a joint probability domain adaptation framework. Experiments on six image classification datasets demonstrated that the proposed DJP-MMD can outperform traditional MMDs.
Comments: Int'l Joint Conf. on Neural Networks (IJCNN), Glasgow, UK, July 2020
Subjects: Machine Learning (cs.LG); Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition (cs.CV); Machine Learning (stat.ML)
[v1] Sun, 1 Dec 2019 04:52:41 GMT (308kb)
[v2] Tue, 14 Jan 2020 19:47:44 GMT (348kb)
[v3] Thu, 26 Mar 2020 08:04:37 GMT (348kb)
[v4] Fri, 10 Apr 2020 15:13:57 GMT (348kb)


Soft contact lenses, Biomedics 1 Day Extra Toric from Coopervision are an excellent introduction and starting point for those new to soft contact lenses. These daily disposables are extremely comfortable and ideal for regular and occasional wearers alike.
Biomedics 1 Day Extra Toric contact lenses are specifically designed for supplying consistent vision to short-sighted and long-sighted sufferers of astigmatism. Taking out the hassle of cleaning and storage, these daily disposables have been created to provide extra comfort for all users of contacts both new and old.
The advanced design and production of the Biomedics 1 Day Extra Toric allows comfort and precision every day. Wearers can experience a frictionless vision with a precision of detail allowing perfectly smooth blinking and eye movement while wearing the lenses.
Every pack of the Biomedics 1 Day Extra Toric contains 30 contact lenses. Individually packed with a buffered saline solution, the one day disposable contact lenses are fully optimised to offer an easy to use answer to the problems of short and long-sightedness.
All types of prescriptions and users of contacts can benefit from these excellent quality lenses.