text:
You have to see this film. It's a documentary. It's it's hilarious, it's sad, it's poignant, it's moving. The film begins with a bunch of unappealing twentysomething guys making a documentary, and by the end they bring together a film full of compassion and heart. I couldn't glance away from this for a second, absolutely riveting -- at times funny, at times bizarre, at times deeply upsetting. Please see it!
triles 13 March 2011 at 12:51
It's in the Netflix queue, looking forward to it. Speaking of documentaries, have you seen Exit Through the Gift Shop? I thought that was a fascinating doc.
The Kid In The Front Row 13 March 2011 at 13:00
Tim - I haven't. But I know I should. Please sell it to me in one paragraph!
A. 13 March 2011 at 13:04
OK, it's on my To See list now.
Kid, oh man, here goes:
On the surface Exit Through the Gift Shop is a documentary about street art. The world's most famous street artist, Banksy, is initially the main subject of the film, until he decides the original filmmaker, Thierry Guetta, is mucking it up and takes over. That's when things become fascinating. Guetta becomes an instant smash in the street art scene, and Banksy captures it all. This artistic flip-flop has left me wondering about one fundamental question ever since: what does real, authentic art look like?
This strikes me as a fundamental theme of your blog Kid, and I have a feeling you'll enjoy the film.
Dan O. 13 March 2011 at 19:49
It almost plays out too well to be believable, but I must say that this film did bring me in to its story, and wouldn't let go.
Jayne 13 March 2011 at 20:39
Alright then - on my list!
Avery 15 March 2011 at 16:52
I agree with Dan O., although I would not give it a high ranking. Personally, it seemed way too well played out. And my judgement is that it is false, although thought provoking.
I too was drawn into the story, something I call a 'trapdoor film'; this is where a film, good and bad, hit a point where the audience falls into and must stay until the ending.
Kid In The Wrong Row
CINEWORLD UNLIMITED PASS - Is It Worth It?
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SUBMARINE With My Friend PETE
Your Big Break In The Industry
AARON SORKIN + GREG MOTTOLA = HEAVEN
AARON SORKIN On 30 ROCK Video
new york gone
Four Movies On A Saturday - Just Like Heaven!
Things I Hate
I'm giving you all a HALL PASS
Jack Lemmon - Spread A Little Sunshine
McNuggets
The Meaning Of Life (I figured it out)
the days got busy
Is my creativity the result of a bad habit?
Artistic Maturity
"MY DREAMS" Review
A Guide To Video Rendering
Two Comments Today That Made My Week Already
Tell Me What To Blog About
THE OTHER GUYS Are The Same Guys You See In Every ...
Following Your Own Path
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Product Details 1 This light is the same as the regular single socket light cord - item 56.99028 - except is black. This cord will work with all houses that use the traditional light cord.
This switched cord with 120 volt bulb will replace cords in many Village building that use a single light. Please refer to product packaging to purchase the correct replacement bulb. Color: Black.


text:
Home » Search Center » Results: David Murray
Results for "David Murray"
MUSICIAN Born: February 19, 1955
Few musicians in jazz history have proven more vigorously productive and resourceful than David Murray. During the past 35 years, from the moment he first visited New York as a 20 year-old student, playing in a walkup loft, in 1975, David has careened forward in a cool, collected, rocket-fueled streak. He has released over 150 albums under his own name. Yet more impressive than the numbers is the constancy of two abiding achievements: as a tenor saxophonist, he has perfected an instantly recognizable approach to improvisation that even in its freest flights acknowledges the gravity of a tradition he honors more than most; and he has altered the context for his improvisations as an infinite mosaic of musical challenges and explorations
ARTICLE: BOOK REVIEW December 20, 2020
Hear My Train A Comin': The Songs Of Jimi Hendrix
By IAN PATTERSON
Hear My Train A Comin':The Songs Of Jimi Hendrix Kevin Le Gendre 240 Pages ISBN: 97818000500143 Equinox 2020 Few artists have burned as briefly and brightly as Jimi Hendrix, the Afro-American guitarist and singer who set the late 1960s alight with his virtuosity and showmanship. Fifty years after he ...
Albert Ayler: Albert Ayler 1965: Spirits Rejoice & Bells Revisited
By MARK CORROTO
Being that 2020 is more than half a century since Albert Ayler (1936-70) recorded this music, the best way to approach might be through what the Zen Buddhists call Shoshin. Roughly translated as "beginner's mind," or the ability to experience things as if for the first time. Since we cannot transport ourselves back to 1965, taking ...
Conference Call: Prism
By JEROME WILSON
Most jazz groups that stay together for a long time, such as The Modern Jazz Quartet or The Art Ensemble of Chicago, achieve a certain prominence. It is a surprise then to realize that the lesser-known band, Conference Call, has been around since 1999 and is here releasing its eighth album. The group's core ...
ARTICLE: ALBUM REVIEW September 8, 2020
Vincent Chancey Trio: The Spell
By JOHN SHARPE
It's not everyone who gets to be name-checked in the title of an album by Sun Ra, but Chicago-native Vincent Chancey inhabits a select club thanks to Taking A Chance On Chances (Saturn, 1977), (mis-)named after an improvised duet between his French horn and Ra's piano. As well as the Arkestra, Chancey's French horn has also ...
John Coltrane: Giant Steps: Remastered & Super Deluxe Editions
A date for your diary... 18 September 2020. That is when Atlantic / Rhino releases two cracking new editions of John Coltrane's first landmark album, Giant Steps (Atlantic, 1960). The main event is enhanced audio quality, which has noticeably more presence than any previous reissue. The double CD and vinyl Remastered Edition and ...
ARTICLE: ALBUM REVIEW July 29, 2020
Harry Beckett: Joy Unlimited
The Barbados-born trumpeter Harry Beckett moved to Britain when he was 19. His first known recording session came in 1961 alongside Charles Mingus. This happened during the London sessions for the Tubby Hayes album All Night Long (Fontana, 1962), which was chronicled in the 2020 All About Jazz article Jazz & Film: An Alternative Top 20 ...
Tom Lawton: Not Less Than Everything
Not known, because not looked for But heard, half-heard, in the stillness Between two waves of the sea. Quick now, here, now, always-- A condition of complete simplicity (Costing not less than everything) --T.S. Eliot, Four Quartets; "Little Gidding" This poetic quotation ...
ARTICLE: RADIO June 2, 2020
David Murray & the World Saxophone Quartet (1979 - 1996)
Perhaps no jazz musician recorded a more varied output in more diverse settings in the 1980s than tenor saxophonist and bass clarinetist David Murray. Three of the best bands to emerge in the decade were his Octet, his Quartet and the collaborative World Saxophone Quartet. He may have been the most recorded jazz artist of the ...

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Orobothriurus ramirezi est une espèce de scorpions de la famille des Bothriuridae.

Distribution
Cette espèce est endémique de la région de Coquimbo au Chili. Elle se rencontreentre  et  d'altitude dans les monts Doña Ana.

Description
Le mâle holotype mesure  et la femelle paratype , les mâles mesurent de  à  et les femelles jusqu'à .

Étymologie
Cette espèce est nommée en l'honneur de Martín J. Ramírez.

Publication originale
 Ochoa, Ojanguren Affilastro, Mattoni & Prendini, 2011 : Systematic revision of the Andean scorpion genus Orobothriurus Maury, 1976 (Bothriuridae) : with discussion of the altitude record for scorpions. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History, ,  (texte intégral).

Liens externes
 The Scorpion Files : Jan Ove Rein, Trondheim, Norwegian University of Science and Technology

Notes et références

Bothriuridae
Espèce de scorpions (nom scientifique)
Faune endémique du Chili

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Q: React Container not Re-Rending after Redux State Change I am working on Redux and React and I have run into an issue. I am making a book list, and once you click the book list you will see details about the book.
When I select a book, the action is correctly being handled and the state is changed.
// reducer_active_book.js
export default function(state = null, action) {
    switch(action.type) {
        case "BOOK_SELECTED":
            console.log("Current State [Reducer]: ",state);
            console.log("New State [Reducer]: ",action.payload);
            return action.payload;
    }

    return state;
}

When I click a book, I get this in the console (so I know the above is functioning correctly)

Also I know from the above log that my container is aware, as mapStateToProps is being called.
import React, {Component} from "react";
import {connect} from "react-redux";

class BookDetail extends Component {
    render() {
        if(!this.props.book) {
            return
Select a Book.
;
        }

        return (

Details For:

{this.props.book.title}

        );
    }
}

function mapStateToProps(state) {
    console.log("mapStateToProps called (connect)");
    return {book: state.activeBook};
}

export default connect(mapStateToProps)(BookDetail);

Combine reducers:
import { combineReducers } from 'redux';
import BooksReducer from "./reducer_books";
import ActiveBook from  "./reducer_active_book";
const rootReducer = combineReducers({
  books: BooksReducer,
  ActiveBook: ActiveBook
});

export default rootReducer;

The item never re-renders after the initial "Select a Book". What could be causing this?

A: Your state has a ActiveBook not activeBook property:
function mapStateToProps(state) {
    console.log("mapStateToProps called (connect)");
    return {book: state.ActiveBook};
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


If you like cutting up, glueing and scribbling, this new kit Crazy Doodles is for you! With hundreds of hand drawn elements, you will be set for testing artjournaling and doodling to your heart's content !
Redefine scary with the mini digital kit "Nightly encounters" and create fantastic Halloween pages.
The fall is winning againt the green color and eventually an orange and brown fire is taking hold of the tree leaves. The wind will play with them, forcing them into a slow dance towards the earth. The digital kit « Autumn Polka » is a decided statement celebrating fall and the slavic soul.
For one day or forever, you feel like a woman down to your fingertips? With its sugary colors, its strass and feathers, the digital kit "The Key of Love" is totally Girly! Nurture your romantic heart and have fun!
Nature lover, hiker, countryside lover, outdoor sportsman and woman, this digital kit is for you! "Outdoors destination" will awaken all your senses. Take a deep breath and let yourself be charmed by a long walk in a natural setting.
Baby will grow up, play and thrive. You will spend together some unforgettable moments.
The tangy colors of the digital kit "B for Baby" will mix well with your creativity to create mementoes of the greatest adventure of your life!
You and me, an equation that makes one. Two heart that merge into one, a beautiful story been told like a fairytale. The digital kit "You and me " tells about tenderness, sweethearts, love and the happiness to be together. Use this kit to engrave your feelings for your true love, your family, and your loved ones on your photos.
"Watercolor hint" is digital kit designed to bring watercolor's distinctive effects to your pages. The lovely colors will add a brightness that will seduce the artist in you.


text:
Topic Analytics
SubTopic Big data analytics
Big data initiatives get huge boost from new technologies
Big data initiatives can help companies improve operational efficiency, create new revenue and gain a competitive advantage. But traditional data processing often can't deal with the mountains of structured, semi-structured and unstructured data that needs to be mined for value. That leaves big data initiatives hungry for new tools and technologies to ease and speed data processing and predictive analytics functions.
In this e-book, get insight on useful tools for big data projects. The first chapter provides real-world examples of organizations using SQL-on-Hadoop engines to simplify the process of querying and analyzing Hadoop data. The second defines Spark -- including its capabilities and limitations -- and offers advice on deploying, managing and using the big data processing engine. And the third chapter focuses on using the open source R analytical programming language and commercial tools such as SAS and IBM SPSS to run analytical applications against Hadoop data sets.
Craig Stedman - Editor at Large
Craig Stedman is an editor at large for TechTarget's information...Read More
CHAPTERS AVAILABLE FOR FREE ACCESS
SQL-on-Hadoop tools help satisfy big data's elephantine appetite
Despite all the attention it gets, Hadoop's use as a framework for supporting big data processing has been limited to programmers with specific skills. Enter SQL, the standard programming language for relational databases. The integration of SQL tools is speeding Hadoop's performance and opening the door to more developers and data analysts who are well-versed in SQL. Users can choose from more than a dozen SQL-on-Hadoop open source and commercial tools, but most of these technologies are immature and have kinks to work out. And since many are specialized, it's important to understand their optimal uses.
In this e-book chapter, Executive Editor Craig Stedman presents real-world examples of several organizations using SQL-on-Hadoop engines to simplify the process of querying and analyzing Hadoop data. He also delves into the IT challenges companies are facing and how they're resolving them. These businesses range from healthcare analytics providers to marketers to auto insurers to online dating services. Despite the diverse array of SQL-on-Hadoop users, one general theme prevails: Integrating SQL tools with Hadoop has definitely rejuvenated the elephant. One technical architect sums up SQL's influence this way: "Really all [the developers] understood was SQL. … So we were able to develop a lot more, a lot faster, because they were using the SQL syntax they were familiar with."
Spark processing engine gains energy, users
A fire is catching in the world of big data processing. Since it was first introduced by The Apache Software Foundation a few years ago, the Spark processing engine has been moving throughout the big data ecosystem, latching onto users ripe for change the way a wildfire takes to some vegetation better than others.
A major appeal of Spark -- which is often paired with the Hadoop framework -- is its speed, especially compared to MapReduce, another Hadoop partner. Of course, the processing engine's youth also means it has areas in need of improvement. Some users struggle to stay on top of Spark updates because the other tools they pair it with don't have the latest version. But the benefits of Spark outweigh the inefficiencies for many users. "It's a stable [technology], and I have no hesitation at all about deploying it," said Peter Crossley, director of product architecture and technology at Webtrends Inc., one of the many users profiled in this e-book chapter written by Executive Editor Craig Stedman.
Webtrends was an early adopter of Spark and recently expanded the processing engine's role in its big data operations. Other users, like cloud software vendor Xactly Corp., are newer to the technology but are already seeing its benefits. One thing is for sure: Spark has caught the attention of companies that want to process information fast.
Advanced analytics tools extract business value from big data
Big data environments based on technologies such as Hadoop and Spark are being deployed more widely -- and the same goes for advanced analytics tools that can help organizations make effective use of the data flooding into those systems. In fact, predictive analytics software was the top choice for planned business intelligence and analytics investments by respondents to a TechTarget survey.
And in many cases, deployments of advanced analytics software to support big data applications aren't a one-and-done thing. Macy's uses more than a half-dozen tools to meet different application needs as part of the retailer's big data analytics program. The technology roster includes statistical analysis, predictive modeling and machine learning tools that Macy's couldn't do without. "Because of the volume of data, there's just no humanly possible way to analyze it [manually]," said Seetha Chakrapany, the company's director of marketing analytics and customer relationship management systems.
Macy's is just one of six organizations featured in this e-book chapter by Executive Editor Craig Stedman. Progressive Casualty Insurance Co. is another. The insurer's data and analytics business leader, Pawan Divakarla, said the capabilities provided by advanced analytics tools are "huge" in enabling Progressive to manage a program for awarding discounts on auto insurance policies to safe drivers based on analysis of operational data collected from their vehicles.
But there are issues to contend with along the way, from the complexity of developing predictive models and machine learning algorithms to the challenge of sharing analytics results with business executives. Find out how Macy's, Progressive and others have overcome the hurdles and made advanced analytics against pools of big data work successfully.
Unlocking the business benefits in big data
Putting big data technology in its place
E-Chapter
The ins and outs of harnessing Hadoop technology
Cataloging the drawbacks to Hadoop data analysis


The Significance of Silence in a Hyper Noisy World.
There is no dearth of opportunity for creativity today.
What was earlier the exclusive domain of artists, business leaders (and maybe criminals), is now open to the world. This explosion of creativity has turned the mind into a powerful tool.
In the knowledge age, intellectual abilities have taken precedence. Knowing has become obsolete, Sugata Mitra said in his remarkable TED Talk. Questioning and thinking have turned into meta-skills.
Yet, despite a myriad of tools available to fuel our creativity and improvement, we've barely made any progress worth mention in the last decade. More people embark on the hunt for their passion today than ever, but few find something worthy of doing every day.
This paradox occurs because of one missing element — silence.
We've grown quieter as a species. Face-to-face conversations have made way for texting. Solitary suppers have replaced family dinners. The increase in vehicular noise has been offset by the drop in industrial noise.
On the face of it, our planet is quieter than one would expect a habitat for almost eight billion people to be.
But being quiet and being silent are not one and the same. Keeping quiet means you refrain from externally responding to a stimulus. Silence is when your intrinsic response to the stimulus is quiet.
Today, noise dominates every aspect of our being. We correlate a person's authority to the level of noise he creates. We don't just create noise to assert our presence, we also consume it limitlessly.
Noise restricts us from introspecting and examining outdated beliefs which we use like medicine for illness when in fact, these beliefs are the reason for the illness.
Cows, goats, and buffalo chew their food, swallow it, then regurgitate and rechew it multiple times. We may not be cows of buffalo, but we ruminate just the same on our thoughts — unfortunately, primarily negative thoughts.
Noise imposes its own narrative on us, one that belongs to someone else. When we succumb to that narrative, we pull ourselves away from the present moment.
Silence makes us listen deeper. For wildlife, this listening can mean the difference between detecting a danger before or after it's too late. While Homo Sapiens no longer live in such a dangerous environment, we still need silence to listen. Not only to others but to ourselves as well.
In his book In Pursuit of Silence, George Prochnik wrote, "Silence is for bumping into yourself." When we listen to our inner voices, we raise the quality of our life, conversations, and relations.
Silence also fuels creativity. Everything needs space to grow. Plants need light and food. Human beings need the right food (edible and psychological) and light — silence — to grow.
This island is necessary. It lets us catch our breath, scan the seascape, and adjust our direction.
We can discover moments of silence at various times during the day. If we yank ourselves out of the picture, the world rushes in to fill the void.
Call on mindfulness to cultivate silence. Use this silence to observe and consciously label your thoughts, not ruminate on them. Recognize negative thoughts and replace them with positive, compassionate ones.
This entry was posted in Life Lessons, Motivation, Productivity, Self Help and tagged Life Lessons, Motivation, Self Help.


When I pretended that I could vote, my feelings were conflicted. Yes, something should be done about traffic. But I wasn't sure if this – a light rail system — was it.
The majority of those who could and did vote believed it was not.
population. Only it would have come at a cost – both in higher taxes and disruption during construction that would have lasted, conservatively, for a number of years.
Again, the majority was not willing to pay that price. And I'm guessing they were not convinced it would, in fact, solve the problem.
former Mayor Megan Barry, who championed the proposal from the beginning and had made it one of her signature themes. New Mayor David Briley gave his endorsement, but with not near the enthusiasm of the former mayor.
indiscretions and having to launch a campaign for the special election that will be held later this month.
I'm guessing something had to give, and the transit election was not the priority it would have been for Megan Barry.
measures will have to be considered. I'm not sure what those might be.
tricks over the years to make things easier. For me, if I am on the Interstate by 7 a.m., the drive is fairly easy unless there is an accident. And if I'm aware of congestion on I-65, I'll take Franklin Road.
there is not a wreck that blocks one or more lanes. If that happens, the delays are significant, and that's where alternate routes, if you can get to them, are beneficial.
one morning about a year ago as he was making a trip to the airport and he suggested I devote an entire column to how they don't work because single-occupant drivers use them and are not pulled over and ticketed.
As a borderline pathological rule follower, I am careful to stay out of them when I am the sole occupant of my vehicle, but I know there are those who don't follow that rule, which is obviously difficult to enforce. With apologies to my friend, my non-scientific observation has been that, even with the violators, having that dedicated lane during peak hours helps traffic move a bit faster.
It's not just getting into downtown that sometimes presents a problem. There is also parking and getting around from place to place once you're there. The downtown area is sprawling now, and it can be a lengthy stroll if you're going from, say, the State Capitol area or the Farmers Market over to lower Broadway.
This is a matter being addressed in downtown areas across the country, which is why bike-sharing and electric bike-sharing stations have popped up. A bike ride can expedite your short journey and keep you from having to move a car and figure out (and pay for) another parking place. When it's hot and humid, the powered version keeps your sweat-breaking to a minimum, an important factor to consider if you're going from place to place for work meetings.
system, which is the latest and greatest in convenience transportation for urban downtown areas. The electric scooters, which resemble what your children might have had at one time (or still have), top out at 15 miles per hour.
In Nashville, they hardly made their debut before the company that owns them was hit with a cease and desist letter from the city, telling them "to keep scooters off sidewalks and other Metro rights-of- way until a regulatory framework is in place," according to a story in The Tennessean last Thursday. It seems users were leaving them on sidewalks when done, and there were also safety concerns voiced by pedestrians.
forgiveness rather than permission, and playing the odds that some localities will not bother to regulate them as Nashville proposes to do.
I suppose, since the invention of the wheel, we've been dealing with the various issues and controversies that come up surrounding its use. Getting from Point A to Point B in the fastest way possible, while also being safe, will be a matter we continue to grapple with.
Innovative types will continue to present to us ways that will hopefully lessen the frustration. Flying cars, anyone?


This was a wedding I'd been looking forward to capturing for a while now.
One of the first things I do when an enquiry lands in my inbox is check out the venue. I have a look at past weddings, their instagram or facebook pages and start to get a feel for the type of shots we will be able to capture on the day.
So when Lauren & Tom contacted me last year to book me as their photographer for their day at Rowton Castle, I was blown away with the 17th Century Castle setting and the beautiful surrounding. And on the day, luck was on our side, the sun shone all day and for an April wedding, this really was an added bonus!
The day began in the on site Orchard Suite where Lauren and her Bridesmaids were getting ready with a few glasses of champagne on hand to steady any last minute nerves. There was a really great relaxed feel to the morning, which flowed through to the rest of the day and made for some fantastic photo opportunities.
After the ceremony, the new Mr & Mrs Pinkstone and guests made the most of the weather with an outside drinks reception with Rowton's new outside Bar 97, featuring a vast array of botanical gins, craft beers and whiskies. It's at times like these I wish I was a guest and not at work!
The rest of the day went smoothly, allowing me to blend into the background and capture all those special moments naturally. I had a great time at Rowton Castle and can't wait to get back there, if not as a photographer at least as a guest as I'll be attending a Christmas Wedding there, later this year!


A perfect opportunity to own this brick rowhome on a quiet block in West Baltimore City. Home has open floor plan, nice room sizes, wood floors and ample rear yard. Use the unfinished basement as added storage or finish for more living space. A convenient location, just blocks from shopping & restaurant, and a short drive to Downtown Baltimore!
I am interested in 917 Appleton Street N, Baltimore, MD 21217.


text:
Home > Journals > Zoological Science > Volume 33 > Issue 4
VOL. 33 · NO. 4 | August 2016
ORIGINAL ARTICLES (15)
Use of Reproductive Microhabitat by Melanophryniscus montevidensis (Anura: Bufonidae) from Uruguay
Gisela Pereira, Raúl Maneyro
Zoological Science 33 (4), 337-344, (1 August 2016) https://doi.org/10.2108/zs150077
KEYWORDS: reproductive microhabitat, behavior, Bufonidae, Melanophryniscus montevidensis, Uruguay
This study describes the reproductive microhabitat of Melanophryniscus montevidensis and its use in two water bodies (WBs) in Barra de la Laguna de Rocha, Uruguay. Monthly field trips were performed between March 2012 and February 2013. Variables related to the WBs and vegetation, as well as parameters linked to the usage the amphibians make of the site (e.g: distance to the border of the pond, water depth and the vegetation use) were recorded. The behavior shown by the individuals during the breeding activity was recorded. This activity occurs in shallow temporary WBs with abundant hydrophilic vegetation. The individuals were found more frequently in areas near the edge of the pond, which has denser vegetation. The calling males were found closer to the border of the pond, and they showed better body condition than the non-calling males. In addition to calling activities, males used alternative tactics to find couples, such as active search of females, and aggressive behaviors, such as male displacing and physical combat. Such behaviors are common in anurans with explosive reproductive dynamics. The characterization of the reproductive microhabitats permits the proposal of strategies for the conservation of the species in Uruguay, given that the loss and fragmentation of habitats is one of the main causes considered for the decrease in their populations.
The Size of Winter-Flooded Paddy Fields No Longer Limits the Foraging Habitat Use of the Endangered Crested Ibis (Nipponia nippon) in Winter
Can-Shi Hu, Xiao Song, Chang-Qing Ding, Yuan-Xing Ye, Bao-Ping Qing, Chao Wang
KEYWORDS: foraging habitat use, winter-flooded paddy field, food accessibility, crested ibis Nipponia nippon, logistic regression analysis
Paddy fields have traditionally been viewed as the key foraging habitats for the endangered crested ibis (Nipponia nippon). With the population of this species now increasing, its distribution has expanded to both lowland areas and outside the nature reserve. However, little is known about the current foraging habitat preferences of these birds, especially during winter. In this research, a total of 54 used sites and 50 unused sites were investigated during winter from December 2011 to January 2012. The results of logistic regression analysis indicate that soil softness, human disturbance, and distance to the nearest road were important factors. For the site plots of winter-flooded paddy fields, the birds prefer the paddy fields with higher coverage of vegetation, except softer foraging sites and lower human-related disturbance. In lowland areas, the size of winter-flooded paddy fields was not a limiting factor, due to the availability of other wetlands capable of providing abundant food. The micro-habitat characteristics were important indicators of foraging habitat quality rather than the size of winter-flooded paddy fields, and the food accessibility may play an important role in the process of foraging habitat use. We suggest the improvement of the foraging micro-habitat and environmental characteristics would be effective in ensuring the availability of food in the dispersed lowland areas. The local people still needed to be encouraged and compensated by their single-cropping cultivation, ploughed the paddy fields after harvesting and irrigated them with shallow water flooded in the original core areas of the nature reserve.
Estimated Seed Shadow Generated by Japanese Martens (Martes melampus): Comparison with Forest-Dwelling Animals in Japan
Yamato Tsuji, Tadanobu Okumura, Masahiko Kitahara, Zhaowen Jiang
KEYWORDS: endozoochory, home range, Japan, mustelid, seed shadow
To evaluate the seed shadow generated by wild Japanese martens (Martes melampus), we combined data on their ranging behavior from the northern foot of Mt. Fuji, central Japan (seven males and three females) with data on gut passage time obtained from martens in Toyama Municipal Family Park Zoo (three males and one female). The movement distances varied, and mean distances for 0–1, 2–3, and 4–5 h intervals were 152.4, 734.7, and 1,162.4 m, respectively, with no significant sex difference. The mean gut passage time of ingested seeds was 7.4 h (range: 0.6–51.7 h), and two-thirds were defecated within 12 h. Seeds of fleshy fruits was frequently transported to 501–1,000 m, and 20% of ingested seeds were transported > 1,000 m from feeding sites. We found positive correlations between body size and home range of the animals in Japan and their seed dispersal distances. We conclude that Japanese martens are medium-range dispersers that can transport seeds from the source to open habitats conducive for germination and/or growth, partly due to scent marking behaviors.
Comparative Analysis of Genome and Epigenome in Closely Related Medaka Species Identifies Conserved Sequence Preferences for DNA Hypomethylated Domains
Ayako Uno, Ryohei Nakamura, Tatsuya Tsukahara, Wei Qu, Sumio Sugano, Yutaka Suzuki, Shinichi Morishita, Hiroyuki Takeda
KEYWORDS: DNA methylation, SNP, speciation, transcriptome, methylome, pluripotent cell
The genomes of vertebrates are globally methylated, but a small portion of genomic regions are known to be hypomethylated. Although hypomethylated domains (HMDs) have been implicated in transcriptional regulation in various ways, how a HMD is determined in a particular genomic region remains elusive. To search for DNA motifs essential for the formation of HMDs, we performed the genome-wide comparative analysis of genome and DNA methylation patterns of the two medaka inbred lines, Hd-rRII1 and HNI-II, which are derived from northern and southern subpopulations of Japan and exhibit high levels of genetic variations (SNP, ∼ 3%). We successfully mapped > 70% of HMDs in both genomes and found that the majority of those mapped HMDs are conserved between the two lines (common HMDs). Unexpectedly, the average genetic variations are similar in the common HMD and other genome regions. However, we identified short well-conserved motifs that are specifically enriched in HMDs, suggesting that they may play roles in the establishment of HMDs in the medaka genome.
De Novo Assembly of the Transcriptome of Turritopsis, a Jellyfish that Repeatedly Rejuvenates
Yoshinori Hasegawa, Takashi Watanabe, Masaki Takazawa, Osamu Ohara, Shin Kubota
KEYWORDS: Jellyfish, RNA-seq, Rejuvenation, de novo assembly, Turritopsis
In most animals, aging is an irreversible process; however the species Turritopsis sp. has been observed to undergo a rejuvenation process as many as 14 times. In the present study, we used multiplexed RNA libraries to obtain the transcriptome from four developmental stages (St) of Turritopsis sp., including (I) immature medusa, (II) dumpling, (III) dumpling with a short stolon, and (IV) polyp, which had recently rejuvenated. A total of 4.02 billion paired-end reads were assembled de novo, yielding 90,327 contigs. Our analyses revealed that significant blast hits were recovered for 74% of the assembled contigs, and 19% were successfully annotated with gene ontology (GO) terms. A BLAST search demonstrated that 32% of the contigs were most similar to Hydra vulgarissequences. Raw reads from each sample were mapped against the contigs to find St-specific genes. This represents the first comprehensive set of de novo transcriptome data for this species, which may provide clues toward a better understanding of cyclical rejuvenation in multicellular animals.
Ontogeny of the Appendicular Skeleton in Melanosuchus niger (Crocodylia: Alligatoridae)
Lucélia Gonçalves Vieira, André Luiz Quaqliatto Santos, Fabiano Campos Lima, Sônia Helena Santesso Teixeira de Mendonça, Lorena Tannus Menezes, Antônio Sebben
KEYWORDS: alizarin, Archosauria, development, embryo, black caiman
The objective of the present study was to analyze chondrogenesis and the ossification pattern of the limbs of Melanosuchus niger in order to contribute with possible discussions on homology and the fusion pattern of autopodial elements and phylogeny. In the Reserva Extrativista do Lago Cuniã, Rondônia, Brazil, six nests were marked and two eggs removed from each nest at 24-hour intervals until hatching. Embryos were cleared using KOH; bone tissue was stained with alizarin red S and cartilage with Alcian blue. Routine staining with HE was also performed. In the pectoral girdle, the scapula showed ossification centers before the coracoid process. In the pelvic girdle, the ilium and the ischium were condensed as a single cartilage, although ossification took place through two separate centers, forming distinct elements in the adult. The pubis developed from an independent cartilaginous center with free end, which reflects its function in breathing. In the initial stages, the stylopodium and the zeugopodium developed from the condensation of a Y-shaped cartilage in the limbs, and differentiation of the primary axis and digital arch were observed. The greatest changes were observed in the mesopodia. In their evolution, Crocodylia underwent a vast reduction in the number of autopodial elements as a consequence of fusions and ossification of some elements. This study shows that the chondrogenesis and ossification sequences are dissociated. Moreover, the differences between M. niger and other species show clear variation in the patterns for these events in Alligatoridae.
Comparative Morphological Analysis of the Immature Stages of the Grass Blue Butterflies Zizeeria and Zizina (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae)
Raj D. Gurung, Masaki Iwata, Atsuki Hiyama, Wataru Taira, Bernard Degnan, Sandie Degnan, Joji M. Otaki
KEYWORDS: environmental indicator species, grass blue butterfly, lycaenid butterfly, Polyommatini, Rearing method, immature stage, morphology, Zizeeria, Zizina
The pale grass blue butterfly has been used to assess the biological effects of the Fukushima nuclear accident. Zizeeria and Zizina are two closely related genera of grass blue butterflies that are widely distributed in tropical to temperate Asia, Australia, and Africa, making them suitable environmental indicators for these areas. However, the morphological features of the immature stages have been examined only in fragmentary fashion. Here, we reared Zizeeria maha argia, Zizeeria maha okinawana, Zizeeria karsandra karsandra, Zizina emelina emelina, Zizina otis labradus, and Zizina otis riukuensis using a standard rearing method that was developed for Zizeeria maha, and comparatively identified morphological traits to effectively classify the immature stages of species or subspecies. Morphological information on these and other subspecies including Zizeeria knysna knysna and Zizina otis antanossa from Africa was also collected from literature. The subspecies were all reared successfully. The subspecies all had dorsal nectary and tentacle organs with similar morphology. For the subspecies of Zizeeria maha, only minor morphological differences were noted. Similarly, the subspecies of Zizina otis shared many traits. Most importantly, Zizeeria and Zizina differed in the shape of the sensory hairs that accompany the dorsal nectary organ; Zizeeriahad pointed hairs, and Zizina had blunt or rounded hairs. However, Zizina emelina exhibited several intermediate features between these two genera. Overall, the morphological traits did not completely reflect the conventional systematic relationships. This comparative study describes the efficient rearing of the grass blue butterflies and provides a morphological basis for the use of these species as environmental indicators.
Phylogenetic Relationships of Japanese Auritibicen Species (Hemiptera: Cicadidae: Cryptotympanini) Inferred from Mitochondrial and Nuclear Gene Sequences
Teiji Sota, Takanori Kojima, Young June Lee, Chung-Ping Lin
KEYWORDS: Auritibicen, elongation factor 1 alpha gene, mitochondrial COI gene, molecular phylogeny, Japanese islands
We investigated the phylogenetic relationships and divergence times within the genus Auritibicen(Cicadidae: Cicadinae: Cryptotympanini), analyzing five Japanese species (A. japonicus, A. bihamatus,A. kyushyuensis, A. esakii and A. flammatus) and three species from East Asian mainland and Taiwan (A. atrofasciatus, A. intermedius and A. chujoi) using mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) and nuclear elongation factor 1-alpha (EF-1a) gene sequences. Although the EF-1a gene tree did not resolve the relationships among these Auritibicen species, the trees based on COI gene and the combined data set showed that Japanese taxa comprised three distinct lineages: the individual species A. flammatus and A. bihamatus, and the A. japonicus group, comprising A. japonicus, A. esakii and A. kyushyuensis from Japan and A. intermedius from Korea. In A. kyushyuensis, which comprises three populations in Kyushu, western Honshu and Shikoku, the specimens from western Honshu and Shikoku were closely related to each other, but not to the specimen from Kyushu; instead, they were sister to the Korean A. intermedius. The incongruence between the gene tree and species tree necessitates further population genetic and morphological studies to confirm the classification and species status of the western Honshu and Shikoku populations of A. kyushyuensis, which were originally described as two independent species. Divergence time estimation suggested that the most recent common ancestor of Auritibicen species studied dated back to the late Pliocene and that the species of the A. japonicus group diverged during the mid Pleistocene. Thus, the Pleistocene climatic fluctuation may have promoted the divergence of the Auritibicen species.
Seawater Polluted with Highly Concentrated Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Suppresses Osteoblastic Activity in the Scales of Goldfish, Carassius auratus
Nobuo Suzuki, Masayuki Sato, Hossam F. Nassar, Fagr Kh. Abdel-Gawad, Samah M. Bassem, Koji Yachiguchi, Yoshiaki Tabuchi, Masato Endo, Toshio Sekiguchi, Makoto Urata, Atsuhiko Hattori, Hiroyuki Mishima, Youhei Shimasaki, Yuji Oshima, Chun-Sang Hong, Fumiya Makino, Ning Tang, Akira Toriba, Kazuichi Hayakawa
KEYWORDS: polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, nitro-polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, osteoblasts, osteoclasts, fish scales, bone metabolism, goldfish, bioassay
We have developed an original in vitro bioassay using teleost scale, that has osteoclasts, osteoblasts, and bone matrix as each marker: alkaline phosphatase (ALP) for osteoblasts and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) for osteoclasts. Using this scale in vitro bioassay, we examined the effects of seawater polluted with highly concentrated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and nitro-polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (NPAHs) on osteoblastic and osteoclastic activities in the present study. Polluted seawater was collected from two sites (the Alexandria site on the Mediterranean Sea and the Suez Canal site on the Red Sea). Total levels of PAHs in the seawater from the Alexandria and Suez Canal sites were 1364.59 and 992.56 ng/l, respectively. We were able to detect NPAHs in both seawater samples. Total levels of NPAHs were detected in the seawater of the Alexandria site (12.749 ng/l) and the Suez Canal site (3.914 ng/l). Each sample of polluted seawater was added to culture medium at dilution rates of 50, 100, and 500, and incubated with the goldfish scales for 6 hrs. Thereafter, ALP and TRAP activities were measured. ALP activity was significantly suppressed by both polluted seawater samples diluted at least 500 times, but TRAP activity did not change. In addition, mRNA expressions of osteoblastic markers (ALP, osteocalcin, and the receptor activator of the NF-κB ligand) decreased significantly, as did the ALP enzyme activity. In fact, ALP activity decreased on treatment with PAHs and NPAHs. We conclude that seawater polluted with highly concentrated PAHs and NPAHs influences bone metabolism in teleosts.
A Stenohaline Medaka, Oryzias woworae, Increases Expression of Gill Na , K -ATPase and Na , K , 2Cl- Cotransporter 1 to Tolerate Osmotic Stress
Jiun-Jang Juo, Chao-Kai Kang, Wen-Kai Yang, Shu-Yuan Yang, Tsung-Han Lee
KEYWORDS: Oryzias woworae, gill, Na , K -ATPase, k, 2Cl- cotransporter 1, stenohaline, Osmotic stress
The present study aimed to evaluate the osmoregulatory mechanism of Daisy's medaka, O. woworae,as well as demonstrate the major factors affecting the hypo-osmoregulatory characteristics of euryhaline and stenohaline medaka. The medaka phylogenetic tree indicates that Daisy's medaka belongs to the celebensis species group. The salinity tolerance of Daisy's medaka was assessed. Our findings revealed that 20‰ (hypertonic) saltwater (SW) was lethal to Daisy's medaka. However, 62.5% of individuals survived 10‰ (isotonic) SW with pre-acclimation to 5‰ SW for one week. This transfer regime, "Experimental (Exp.) 10‰ SW", was used in the following experiments. After 10‰ SW-transfer, the plasma osmolality of Daisy's medaka significantly increased. The protein abundance and distribution of branchial Na , K -ATPase (NKA) and Na , K , 2Cl- cotransporter 1 (NKCC1) were also examined after transfer to 10‰ SW for one week. Gill NKA activity increased significantly after transfer to 10‰ SW. Meanwhile, elevation of gill NKA αα-subunit protein-abundance was found in the 10‰ SW-acclimated fish. In gill cross-sections, more and larger NKA-immunoreactive (NKA-IR) cells were observed in the Exp. 10‰ SW medaka. The relative abundance of branchial NKCC1 protein increased significantly after transfer to 10‰ SW. NKCC1 was distributed in the basolateral membrane of NKA-IR cells of the Exp. 10‰ SW group. Furthermore, a higher abundance of NKCC1 protein was found in the gill homogenates of the euryhaline medaka, O. dancena, than in that of the stenohaline medaka, O. woworae.
The Behavior of Chromosomes During Parthenogenetic Oogenesis in Marmorkrebs Procambarus fallax f. virginalis
Miku Kato, Chizue Hiruta, Shin Tochinai
KEYWORDS: Parthenogenesis, Apomixis, chromosome behavior, oogenesis, Marmorkrebs, gonomery
Parthenogenetic oogenesis varies among and even within species. Based on cytological mechanisms, it can largely be divided into apomixis (ameiotic parthenogenesis) producing genetically identical progeny, and automixis (meiotic parthenogenesis) producing genetically non-identical progeny. Polyploidy is common in parthenogenetic species, although the association between parthenogenesis and polyploidy throughout evolution is poorly understood. Marmorkrebs, or the marbled crayfish, was first identified as a parthenogenetic decapod and was tentatively named as Procambarus fallax f. virginalis. Previous studies revealed that Marmorkrebs is triploid and produces genetically identical offspring, suggesting that apomixis occurs during parthenogenetic oogenesis. However, the behavior of chromosomes during the process of oogenesis is still not well characterized. In this study, we observed parthenogenetic oogenesis around the time of ovulation in P. fallax f. virginalis by histology and immunohistochemistry. During oogenesis, the chromosomes were separated into two groups and behaved independently from each other, and one complete division corresponding to mitosis (the second meiosis-like division) was observed. This suggests that parthenogenetic oogenesis in Marmorkrebs exhibits gonomery, a phenomenon commonly found in apomictic parthenogenesis in polyploid animals.
Specimens with an Artifact Appearing as 'Three Spines' in Milnesium tardigradum var. trispinosa Rahm, 1931 (Tardigrada)
Atsushi C. Suzuki
KEYWORDS: eutardigrade, tardigrade, Milnesiidae, subspecies, fixation
Milnesium tardigradum trispinosa Rahm, 1931 is characterized by its three spines at the posterior end of the animal, but has never been reported since its original description. Among mounted specimens of Milnesium sp. from Japan and M. tardigradum s. s. from France, several cases with these 'three spines' were observed. In these samples, the character was formed by an artifact of the fixation process. Images of these specimens show such a striking similarity to Milnesium tardigradum trispinosa that this taxon must be considered as having been erroneously established as a result of misinterpretation of an artifact and no longer valid.
Symbiotic Association of the Bivalve Tellimya fujitaniana (Galeommatoidea) with the Heart Urchin Echinocardium cordatum (Spatangoida) in the Northwestern Pacific
Ryutaro Goto, Hiroshi Ishikawa, Yoichi Hamamura
KEYWORDS: Bivalvia, brooding, burrow, commensalism, Echinoidea, Heterodonta, reproduction, symbiosis, mud flat
The bivalve Tellimya fujitaniana (Yokoyama, 1927) (Galeommatoidea, Heterodonta) was described based on a fossil shell. Until now, the biology of living animals has not been reported. In this study, we found T. fujitaniana in a commensal relationship with the heart urchin Echinocardium cordatum (Pennant, 1777) (Spatangoida, Echinoidea) on the intertidal mud flats of the Seto Inland Sea, Japan. We investigated the morphology, host associations, and reproductive biology of this bivalve species. The elongate-ovate shell is covered by a reddish-brown ferruginous deposit. The mantle is exposed anteriorly to form a temporal siphon, while posteriorly one pair of short tentacles is exposed. Small individuals (shell length, SL, ≤ 2.1 mm) were attached to the host's body surface; middle-sized individuals (SL 3.0–3.2 mm) were attached to or stayed close to larger T. fujitanianathat were living freely in the host burrow. Nearly all the large individuals (SL ≥ 4.8 mm) lived freely in the host burrow, behind the urchin. This suggests that the host utilization pattern of T. fujitanianachanges with development. Specimens with SL ≥ 4.8 mm had mature gonads, mostly occupied by ova, and some individuals were brooding eggs or veliger larvae in the gills. This species was previously assigned to Fronsella. However, the morphology and ecology of this bivalve are very similar to those of Tellimya ferruginosa (the type species of the genus Tellimya) in the northeastern Atlantic Ocean. Thus, we have reassigned this species to genus Tellimya. We also confirmed that T. fujitaniana and T. ferruginosa can be genetically distinguished using the mitochondrial COI gene.
Morphology, Biology, and Phylogenetic Position of the Bivalve Platomysia rugata (Heterodonta: Galeommatoidea), a Commensal with the Sipunculan Worm Sipunculus nudus
KEYWORDS: Annelida, burrow, commensalism, Galeommatoidea, mud flat, Platomysia, Seto Inland Sea, Sipuncula, Sipunculus, symbiosis
The bivalve superfamily Galeommatoidea is characterized by its symbiotic associations with other marine invertebrates. However, for many galeommatoideans, the host species remains unknown. Platomysia (Galeommatoidea) is a monotypic genus including a single species P. rugata, which is distinguished from other galeommatoideans in having distinct and evenly spaced commarginal ribs on its shell surface. This species was described based on a single right valve shell collected in Nanao Bay, Japan Sea, by Habe in 1951 and has been known only from Japanese waters. However, the biology of living animals has never been reported. We found that this species lives in the burrows of the sipunculan worm Sipunculus nudus in mud flats in the Seto Inland Sea, Japan. We investigated its host association and described its shell morphology and anatomy. In addition, we performed a phylogenetic analysis using two nuclear (18S and 28S ribosomal RNA) genes to determine its phylogenetic position in Galeommatoidea. The result suggests that this species belongs to the clade of commensal bivalves together with Pseudopythina, Byssobornia, and Pergrinamor. Platomysia rugata and other two groups of sipunculan-associated galeommatoideans were not monophyletic, suggesting that association with sipunculans occurred at least three times in the galeommatoid evolution.
The 'Antenna Balloon Anemone' Found in the Seto Inland Sea: New Genus and Species of Sea Anemone, Antennapeachia setouchi (Cnidaria, Actinaria, Haloclavidae)
Takato Izumi, Kensuke Yanagi, Toshihiko Fujita
KEYWORDS: sea anemone, marine invertebrates, Japan, species description, Pacific, R/V Toyoshio-Maru, NSMT
In the present study, we report the identification of a sea anemone, Antennapeachia setouchi, collected in the Seto Inland Sea, which represents a new genus and new species. This new species has unusual tentacle and mesenterial arrangements that have not been observed in other species of Haloclavidae. There are 12 regular marginal tentacles and two 'antenna tentacles,' with the latter always rising upward and located on the oral disk near the mouth; the species is also characterized by its peculiar mesenterial pairs, consisting of a macrocneme and a microcneme. Furthermore, this species shows an interesting behavior: it can inflate its body like a balloon, lift above the seafloor, and drift with the sea current. The presence of a single, strong siphonoglyph, physa-like aboral end, and the lack of sphincter muscle classify this sea anemone within Haloclavidae. It resembles Peachia species, but cannot be classified in this genus as the new species has two pairs of mesenteries, consisting of a macrocneme and a microcneme, and irregular antenna tentacles. Therefore, we propose a new genus Antennapeachia to accommodate this species.


Over the years we have come to expect a very high level of service from Westerly; on this occasion, sadly, in one respect, namely, the complimentary wash and vac, the service fell far short of our expectation.
My car had an MOT, good competitive price and the car was also cleaned.
I asked for minor service to be done, told not needed, brakes confusion.
No complaints. Work was done efficiently and I was kept informed by the service manager.
Only an mot but the service was great.
Courteous and welcoming Service Reception staff.
The curtesy car I was given was filthy even after I was told how well I should treat it. When I arrived my car had not been washed or vacuumed as promised.
The sale person top guy, nothing to much trouble.
Arrived stressed because car threatened to stall 5 times on trip to garage but Service Reception were quick to ensure I was ok and give me a drink to help me recover!
Polite and friendly staff. Car collected and returned on time with useful video on line.
Good: work was performed swiftly and at short notice Not good: I was originally told that I would have to replace both air springs and potentially the compressor. BMW Warranty then approved only one spring, so why try to persuade me to do lots more?
Very impressed with the gentleman on the phone who booked all the work in for me. He gave very impressive customer service. Sorry that I cannot remember his name though.
There was a mix up as the parts had not been ordered but this was resolved well.
Very lovely staff, nothing was too much trouble.
It took 6 hours to do a basic service. My car was sent to another garage. I had to wait in the showroom for 1 hour as the car wasn't ready at the time I was told to return. The car had not been washed and vacuumed, I was told it would be.
Offered a car wash and vacuum but I'm afraid the wash was indifferent... to the extent they need not bother!
The car had an MOT and front disc brakes renewed. It was completed on time but as part of the service the car was to be cleaned. Unfortunately the boot was not cleaned at all.
When I booked several weeks ago, the service agent agreed that the service would start at 9.30am. I live several miles away and need to ration my time. When I phoned the day before the service I was told there was no record of a 9.30am start time.
A fantastic friendly group of people who have always provided me with a first class service.
Convenient location and efficient team. The car was returned clean inside and out and I was advised of what needs arranging for it in the not too distant.
Offered by service reception man to return and have vehicle washed and valeted after service as insufficient time on the day.
Efficient service from the service centre staff. Parking at the site is difficult.
Receptionist not helpful, she informed me I was a week late for repair but I did have the correct day. 2pm appointment but tyre contractor didn't arrive until 2.30pm. I showed contractor where car was & which wheel - Westerly staff not present!!!
Good staff and very confidence-inspiring service.
On last service, I complained of excessive tyre noise and for the wheels to be swapped front/back. Tyre pressures were not adjusted afterwards.
Very satisfied with the service given.
Staff very polite and helpful. Job complete on time as agreed and kept notified.
I was pleased with the way Shaun listened and acted upon the minor issues i raised.
I was happy that you offered to have the car back to be checked over to ensure there was nothing more serious wrong with it other than having no oil.
Speedy, thorough and very helpful.
Payment was required when previously advised it was covered in purchased service package. Bad attitude of service assistant.
The service work and MOT was completed without problem but I was offered a wash and vac of the vehicle which was not done.
Just again unsatisfied with the quality of cleaning on the car, if you offer a free clean and vacuum then you should make sure it is done to a high quality, even if it is "free".
All the staff very helpful.
Rude staff wouldn't let me get stuff from my car, car was given back dirty and not even washed and my car needed a new gearbox after 9000 miles. They also took ages to give me the type of hire car I needed as I'm disabled, very disappointed.
Staff were polite and helpful. It took a little longer than I was expecting though.
Contented with the way everything was done.
I didn't feel that all that was promised was delivered. The car was hoovered & front wiper blades checked but I don't know what else. No rear wiper blades changed despite them falling apart currently.
Rude lady on the service desk.
Fantastic from the second you walk in the door.
Car wasn't cleaned to the standard one would expect.
never a problem. Recent insurance claim revealed a hitch in communication between ins co. and yourselves resulting in a delayed decision over starting work. but that was at least partly due to my Ins Co.
Our issue was addressed and sorted under warranty. Due to the seriousness of the issue we were shunted up the booking system to get the car in as soon as possible. There was an issue when phoning and the vehicle handback process.
Throughout - all in line with expectations.
No car wash however, discount was given but rather have a car wash.
Could not do better for service, can not comment on comparison of cost.
I was kept up to date with information whilst I waited for the service to be carried out. I have yet to receive information by e/mail regarding BMW dash and rear facing cameras.
The fact that I have dealt with Westerley for some years now since moving to the area says it all.
Car was not ready on time . Car was in for an anniversary wash and clean. Wiper blades were changed and the outside of the was washed. However the inside of the car and boot were not cleaned .
Everyone I came into contact with at the dealership were focused on making sure everything went smoothly without drama, Very friendly bunch of people.
Again customer service very poor , no curtsy cars had to go through enterprise , very poor considering bmw are a leading car company ,ford miles above as I have three company vans with ford they can't do enough for you , bmw very poor and rude !!!
welcoming,, within time limit given.
Booking the appointment at a time to suit me, they collected the car, completed the work, cleaned it & returned it all as scheduled.
Problem identified and sorted quickly.
Because I had to wait over 30 minutes to get my car key back having been told it would be 2 minutes- the service person told me he got delayed dealing with 2 other customers who subsequently came in. It got me wondering what I was, if not a customer!
After an irritating start and some time in the workshop the car was declared ok and handed back to me by another member of staff with a totally different - better - idea of customer service .
Quick, efficient and thorough service.
very friendly service when picking up my car for service, and the car came back lovely and clean, thanks .
Impressed with Vehicle Health Check.
Austin was very knowledgable and extremely helpful and made us feel special customers.
James Dixon and Karl Mariner are a credit to BMW - they were brilliant throughout the whole process - everything was straightforward and well-organised.
Very pleasant experience from ordering the vehicle to delivery.
Because it was very good!!!!
Everything done in a timely, friendly and efficient manner.
As above it was a good process, just a little disappointed on delivery date and the return of my old vehicle was a little long winded.
Polite and friendly staff. I felt valued as a customer.
Visited showroom on a few occasions and James was always very helpful,professional and friendly at all times.
Brilliant from the second you get in the door.
Everything was on time, I was kept updated on the build, paperwork sorted in advance so a very smooth and painless handover experience on the day of collection.
The salesman was professional but friendly. He knew his subject and made the whole process easy.
I purchased the car from Westerly BMW / Richard Perrett and he worked very hard to get a deal that worked for me.
All was dealt with efficiently.


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The Mars Observer spacecraft in the clean room.
The Exploration of Mars
Mars Observer
The Mars Observer set out to observe the atmosphere , magnetic field, and surface of Mars. It carried with it 8 instruments. However, the Mars Observer (called MO for short) failed on August 21, 1993, just before entering Martian orbit. Over the long cruise from Earth to Mars, some of the fuel leaked into the engines. When the engines were ignited for orbit entry, the fuel tanks blew up!
Out of the failure of Mars Observer came the Mars Surveyor Program. Some of the same instruments developed for the Mars Observer were used for the Mars Global Surveyor mission, Mars '98 missions and Mars 2001 Odyssey mission which launched in April 2001.
Last modified May 10, 2001 by Jennifer Bergman.
The Mars Surveyor Program
Because of the failure of the Mars Observer (MO), NASA planned a new Mars Surveyor Program. The Surveyor Program was designed to explore all of the things the MO was suppose to, and a lot more. The Surveyor...more
The Mars Odyssey was launched April 7, 2001, from Florida. After a six-month, 285 million-mile journey, the Odyssey arrived at Mars on October 24, 2001. The Odyssey is in its aerobraking phase right now....more
NASA Loses Climate Orbiter
Last Thursday was supposed to be a great one for NASA, but turned out to be a disaster. The Mars Climate Orbiter was scheduled to begin its orbit around the Red Planet early that morning. However, during...more
It has been more than 30 years since America's first exploratory missions to Mars. Here are some of the instruments carried onboard Mars Global Surveyor (called MGS for short). Many of these instruments...more
The Viking Missions
The Viking I and Viking 2 missions were designed to both orbit Mars and land and make exploratory observations on the planet's surface. At this stage in the history of the exploration of Mars, scientists...more
The Mars Global Surveyor reached Mars in September of 1997. But it didn't make it into its final mapping orbit until February 1999. What took so long? Surveyor needed to reach a near-circular, low-altitude...more


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As the MSM continues to turn the fear factor up to eleven in order to convince the American public to believe in this man-made pandemic, FEMA and the U.N. are lurking behind the scenes ready to pull the plug on freedom and humanity as we know it. If the severity of this pandemic is as real as the talking heads claim, then it's only a matter of time before the number of cases shoot up exponentially into the millions. Once this happens, the already scarce items that you can't find your local grocery stores or online will compel people to start robbing and looting. There won't be enough badge-wearing criminals to keep the peace because they'll be too busy harassing and brutalizing law-abiding Black (Native) Americans or patrolling wealthy neighborhoods so they can protect their wealthy overlords. Once the police's inability to uphold law and order is confirmed, the state and local governments will get on the horn and call in the National Guard to lock everybody and everything down. Even though the elites will expect the sheeple to willing lay down and get slaughtered by military forces and mercs, their surrender will not be a layup by any stretch of the imagination. I fully expect for the people all over the U.S. to rebel and give the military and the foreign U.N. occupiers all the bloody hell they can handle. Eventually, the overwhelming numbers of Chinese and Russian troops will crush the American rebellion and implement martial law. The ironic thing about this diabolical agenda is that the U.S. government had literally drew up a blueprint for their own country's own destruction and subjugation when they created REX-84.
Readiness Exercise 1984 (REX-84) a.k.a. the King Alfred Plan was a written agenda that mandated that if the United States were to experience a national crisis. the U.S. government would suspend the Constitution and activate hundreds of clandestine military bases and concentration camps to detain whatever enemy combatant or subversive group that caused the nation emergency in the first place. The REX-84 plan also mandated that FEMA would be in control of the government, while the military would run the state and local legislatures. According to many conspiracy circles, the creators of the REX-84 also intended to run surveillance on prominent Black liberation groups or any organizations that would help Black folks to escape and conquer the system of racism. The authors of REX-84 obviously did this to prevent the rise of the Black Messiah which would throw a huge monkey-wrench in the elite's plan for world domination. Evidence of the REX-84 plan first emerged during the Iran Contra hearings in 1987 while Col. Oliver North was getting grilled about the scandal. One of the congressmen asked North about a program he was working on that was related to the "continuity of government". The inquisitive lawmaker was immediately shut down by one of his colleagues, claiming that his questions touched on programs of a highly sensitive nature and could not be asked because any discussion about it would be a risk to national security. Other media publications such as the Miami Herald and CounterSpy immediately jumped on the story and began to peel back the layers of REX-84 and exposing its inner workings to the public.
Conspiracy theorists within the Black community discovered a similar agenda in a novel called "A Man Who Cried I Am" that was written by John A. Williams in 1967. It was called the King Alfred Plan. It mirrored the structure of REX-84 in many ways. Many conspiracy theorists began to use the term "King Alfred Plan" and REX-84 interchangeably. I first heard about the King Alfred Plan while doing some research online about 10 years ago. It immediately made sense to me after hearing about all the rumors about martial law and FEMA camps in the weeks and months following the 9-11 movie production. There were many recent scenarios such as Hurricane Katrina and of the police brutality riots and when it seemed that the U.S. government was willing to execute REX-84. However, the PTBs needed a catastrophe that would not only cause social chaos, but one that would simultaneously fulfill their depopulation goals and collapse the global economy. The current CV pandemic is the perfect doomsday scenario for the elites because they'll be able to easily accomplish their diabolical goals while everyone is paralyzed by fear and death. If the Coronavirus pandemic continues to go unchecked and the "curve" keeps spiking, you can rest assured that the uprising will increase as the food and water become scarce. Once this occurs, the PTBs will certainly green light REX-84, which would also grease the skids for New World Order. Of course, it's going to be hard to establish it if there aren't enough people to enslave and oppress.
Photo used under Creative Commons from u07ch


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Vidya and Pravin's South-Indian marriage was filled with loads of tradition and love.
Vidya looked like a quintessential South-Indian bride in a red Kanjivaram silk saree that had gorgeous accents of gold all over. She kept her adornments minimal and elegant - letting her bright smile and beautiful face do all the talking. Pravin followed suit with the ethnicity factor in his off-white bandhgala sherwani and red crushed dupatta.
Their marriage rituals were held inside a brightly-lit banquet hall, where this beautiful bride and groom took their Saat Pheras in the presence of family, friends and loved ones. Their indoor Vedi Mandap was set up with stunningly embossed gold-hued pillars and fresh flowers.
Vidya and Pravin completed every traditional marriage ritual including the one we had never witnessed before! Both, the bride and groom took a handful of colourful confetti and blew it on to each other's faces, symbolic of the blessing that their future will always be full of colour, happiness and love.
Rohan Mishra shot Vidya and Pravin's union with great talent! The angles, timing and light settings used in every photograph were just plain brilliant.
Her abode of love and royalty!


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Your reward for a hard days workout?
Evenings filled with a fun as recount the day with your fellow fitness trekkers, and a healthy meal at a traditional teahouse.
This trek takes you over the famous Thorong-La pass, so bring your prayer flags!
Education Experience: You will learn to eat healthy, tone specific muscle groups, focus on breathing, meditation and yoga techniques… Oh, and did we mention, all this while joining in one of the world's most breathtakingly beautiful treks?! You will also learn about Nepal lifestyle through this cultural immersion experience. Find out why Nepali people are some of the world's strongest, most agile climbers and athletes. In these life-changing 16 days, you will learn a different sense of time, and how less ticking of time is healthier for your NEW FIT BODY!
Also Check Yoga Trek to Everest Base Camp for alternate dates. This trek is similar, but focuses on the famous hike to Mount Everest.


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Experts / Features / Latin America
The Venezuela Blackout Spells Doom for its Aluminium Industry
Mar. 20, 2019 by Jesús Manuel Rodriguez
Caracas Skyline - via Wikimedia
After Venezuela's energy supply failed on March 8th, the directors of the CVG together with the presidents of each company decided to shut down Venalum and Alcasa. With a joint installed capacity of 600 thousand tons of primary aluminium per year, both sites were already operating at less than 15% of their capacity, due to input shortages and technical failures.At the same time that the companies were shut down, both management and operational staff were sent home. CVG's Carbonorca is now the country's sole active player in the aluminium sector, as Bauxilum is at a standstill since 2017. Carbonorcahowever, is operating at a severely reduced rate.
The 59 aluminium reduction cells at Venalum, together with Alcasa's 14, were put out of service, after more than 12 hours without power supply. Additionally, the power outage affected the residential areas of most states across the country.
According to historical records, the blackout that plunged most parts of Venezuela into darkness has been the most extensive and longest in the nation's history. This power cut has exposed the national electricity system frailty and the disrepair across its core areas: generation, transmission, and distribution.
During an interview with the local press, Raul Agostini, a technician specialized in cell start-up with more than 17 years of experience at Venalum, said: "When voltage is gone for such a long time, (for more than 12 hours) the bath and the metal become completely solid, making it impossible for electrolysis to take place". Alcasa worker Danny Sucre, while sharing a tour along the State firms' production lines stated that "For quite a long time, we have been telling those things that were to be adjusted: the lack of maintenance, equipment, technological adaptation (…)".
CORPOELEC, Venezuela'sstate owned power corporation, suffered from the same issues as the rest of the country's industrial park: lack of investment and economic mismanagement. This fact was made clear since the end of 2009, when Hugo Chavez's government decided that aluminium companies would have to cut their production by more than 30% in order to ensure a steady electricity supply to Caracas. Venezuela's capital had been affected by recurrent power failures due to the hydroelectric power plants of Guyana. At that time, the sector counted on an auxiliary system that set a bypass, employing energy from different substations, to pass power from GuyanaB Substation onto GuyanaA substation. The system has now been inoperative for over four years.
With CORPOELEC refusing to comment on the situation, several explanations for the blackout have been suggested by industry sources. It seems that the failure in the transmission system may have been generated by a wildfire in the vicinity of the765 kW line that leads to the Malena substation, in Moitaco town (Bolivar state). As they pointed out, high temperatures made the system collapse, causing some units to fail at Simon Bolivar's hydropower plant in Guri.
Start-up Plans
After cells were shut down in 2009 and 2010, the government promised a plan for 'cell incorporation'- which has never been implemented. In January 2017, Venalum president Luis Augusto Jiménez expressed hopes that by the first quarter of 2017 they would surpass 420 operating cells and increase primary aluminium production to 16 thousand tons per month.But in September 2017, the company removed 140 cells in a week due to a power cut that lasted for 10 hours. A new plan that targeted the activation of reduction cells was announced, but despite promises to normalise the production, it was not fulfilled either: the enterprise was shut down that year with 142 cells operating. At the end of 2018, Venalum was left with 72 cells, and Alcasa had only 15 in operation. Sources from Venalum reported that line V has 18 cells ready to start.
The electric service has since been normalized in the main cities of the country, after more than 18 hours without power, followed by more than 24 hours with short but persistent voltage fluctuations in 20 states across Venezuela.
In 2010, the government handled larger budgets than now and failed to shore up the electric system, nor did the cells that had been taken out of service restart. If Caracas were to start the aluminium cells without normalizing the electric system, they would run the risk of losing supply again and take the cells offline – again. The chronology of events over the last 10 years shows that it will be difficult to restart production under government ownership and management. Indeed, the current situation is a direct result of the government's out of control demagoguery and its practice of over-hiring workers. There is no strategy and direction and unless a steady electricity supply is ensured, Venzuela's aluminium industry will never return to its former glory.
alcasa / cvg / venalum / venezuela aluminium / venezuela blackout


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Bill Mooney
A full-time racing journalist, Bill Mooney has written about horses his entire life. He spent several years serving as an associate editor for both the Thoroughbred Times and the now-defunct Thoroughbred Record. Distinguished for his magazine writing, he was also a staff writer for Blood-Horse magazine, and his articles have been featured in the New York Times. An expert on the sport, he authored a comprehensive encyclopedia about horse racing. He has received two Eclipse Awards and numerous honors for his writing.
Mooney received degrees from North Texas State University (now University of North Texas) and Michigan State University before returning home to thoroughbred racing country. He lives in Lexington, Kentucky.
Home » by author, illustrator » L - M » Bill Mooney
RACELENS
Vintage Thoroughbred Racing Images
As mud flies through the air behind their hooves, Carry Back and Crozier dramatically hurtle toward the finish line in the 1961 Florida Derby, captured in expert black and white photography. In an 1890 race at Coney Island Jockey Club, Salvator defeats Tenny by a matter of inches in what may be the first instance of a photo finish. As they battle down the stretch at the Churchill Downs, Head Play and Brokers Tip dash toward their iconic Fighting Finish at the 1933 Kentucky Derby and are caught in a classic image of racing legend. Every one of these amazing moments in history has been preserved in breathtaking detail by skilled photographers and included in this stunning collection of vintage images introduced by seasoned racing journalist Bill Mooney.


The Republic of Rwanda and Russian Federation have signed the Inter-Governmental Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Rwanda and the Government of the Russian Federation on cooperation in the field of the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.
Ambassador Claver Gatete, the Minister of infrastructure of the Republic of Rwanda signed the agreement for the Government of the Republic of Rwanda. For the Government of the Russian Federation, the Agreement was signed by the Director General of the State Atomic Energy Corporation "Rosatom" Mr. Alexey Likhachev.
The Agreement creates a solid basis for the establishment of Center for Nuclear Science and Technology in Rwanda for peaceful purposes as a basis for social economic transformation of the country through modernization of several vital sectors of the economy such as; agriculture, health, pharmaceuticals and industry, geology and mining, environment, and electricity generation among other applications.
The agreement also prescribes cooperation in such areas as fundamental and applied research in the field of peaceful atom.


You just never know what you're going to find when you're out recreating in Montana. Apparently, humans aren't the only beings that like our state's ski resorts–Big Sky Resort, to be specific. This mountain goat wasn't necessarily skiing, but it probably loves the view from up there.
A funny thing happened on the way to dropping into Coldspring, a double black 'headwaters' chute at Big Sky Resort, Montana. Reaching the chute requires a long traverse, or skiing laterally, on a narrow path of packed snow over rock bands; though you pass above one other chute, there is no way to cross the steep slope of loose rock to reach it further below. You can only go forward. But where the traverse bends around the corner and out of site, I spotted an elvish white thing, a shaggy-warm mountain goat standing in the sun. I paused, warm myself with awe. He was beautiful! How often does one get to see a goat, well, being a goat at 10,000 feet? I didn't want to scare him off, and kept still.I had just met a couple from Idaho who were hiking with skis on their backs, and like me, were trying to reach a further-out headwaters run, Firehole, which required boot-packing along a ridge. But patrol had just gated off access to the ridge for the day. We were in the same boat, we laughed. I had learned that they had skied with a fellow instructor that morning, and so invited them to hike just the 20 feet up with me to reach the high traverse into Coldspring, still open. How was the morning? I asked. They had ripped the Big and North Summit. Ooh did you see any goats I asked. They hadn't, and later admitted to wondering what the hell i was talking about. Though the gentleman was a ski instructor himself, clearly his home mountain didn't have goats. I now turned back 200 feet to where they had taken their skis from their packs and were putting them on, and waved my hand, pointing. 'Goat' in a loud whisper. I wanted them to see it too, and waited. After a minute, I decided I had to move forward, and after taking a few still pictures, decided to carefully hold the camera phone to get the video. A fellow ski instructor says a goat can become defensive and push a skier over cliffs, but Big Sky ski patrollers say that these goats are accustomed to seeing them work high above timberline. In any event, this one was beautiful, on a beautiful day. Moments like these make my lifestyle one worth living!


From right to left in striped singlets are ASICS GTC-ELITE's Zach Mains, Eddie Garcia, Joe Niemiec and Victor Pataky.
ASICS Greenville Track Club-ELITE's Eddie Garcia placed third in the 42nd TD Bank Reedy River Run 10K in downtown Greenville, SC. After running with eventual winner James Quattlebaum for much of the race, he finished with a time of 30:33 to earn $500 and an additional $100 for second South Carolina resident. Quattlebaum won with a time of 30:18 over the very challenging course. ON ZAP Endurance's Aaron Nelson was second with a time of 30:26.
Three of Garcia's ASICS GTC-ELITE teammates also placed among the top nine in the very competitive field. Joe Niemiec, running in only his second race since joining the program, placed seventh with a time of 31:14. He was followed by Zach Mains (8th) with a time of 31:50 and Victor Pataky (9th) at 32:17.
Pataky (2585) following Indiana's Murphy over the water barrier.
ASICS Greenville Track Club-ELITE's Victor Pataky ran to a second place finish in the 3,000-meter Steeplechase at the Tennessee Relays in Knoxville, TN. On a warm late Friday afternoon, with steady winds buffeting the track down the backstretch, the Centre College graduate ran 9:15.81 in his first attempt at the steeplechase since joining the post-collegiate program last August. Although well off his personal best of 9:03.87, he was competitive for much of the race. Indiana University's Joseph Murphy won in a time of 9:06.08.
Pataky's teammate, Avery Martin, placed 20th in the 1500 meters with a time of 3:51.69. It was Martin's second competition since joining the program in late February and a big improvement over his initial 1500 last month.
ASCIS Greenville Track Club-ELITE's Eddie Garcia ran 29:57 to place 10th overall in South Carolina's largest road race. On an overcast and humid morning the 2015 Southeastern Conference 10K champion covered the first half of the Cooper River Bridge Run 10K race in 15:18. He then ran the second half of the race, which includes the decline coming down the bridge, in 14:39. Garcia was the third American to finish as Colin Beenie (29:01) was 7th and Jordan Mann (29:54) ninth.The first six finishers were either Kenyan or Ethiopian as the winner, Kenya's Silas Kipruto, ran a speedy 27:58.
With the gun-time temperature at 66 degrees and the humidity hovering near 95 percent, the 6.2-mile race presented challenges, but a thick fog settled over the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge and very light winds made the course not has daunting as in years past. There were 29,230 finishers.
Eddie earned $250 for his overall finish and $1000 as third USA citizen for a total of $1250.
Top 10 Men at Cooper River Bridge Run 10K. Eddie Garcia on left.
ASICS GTC-ELITE Continues Partnership with Final Surge.
ASICS Greenville Track Club-ELITE, the Greenville, SC based post-collegiate, Olympic-development program, is proud to announce it is continuing their partnership with Final Surge. Final Surge is an application providing communication between coaches and athletes for planning and recording their training.
"We have been utilizing Final Surge for the past two years to communicate with our athletes in both a planning and real-time on-line environment," stated Director/Coach Mike Caldwell. "While we previously used other on-line systems, we believe Final Surge meets our needs the best. We can plan training on both an individual and team basis and quickly make the necessary changes that are needed to adapt to the results of the training cycle. The staff at FS have been very responsive to our needs as their system continues to evolve."
"While our coaches usually use FS on our computers so we can view work with a more holistic overview of the training cycle, we really like the capacity to access the program on our mobile devices when at the training venue. We also like that our athletes can quickly upload their completed training session from their GPS and smartwatches. With the almost real-time results and comments, we can ensure that we are flexible in our training plans and make appropriate changes when necessary."
Train with a Purpose™Final Surge is dedicated to bringing athletes and coaches of all types the very best online training product on the market. Founded and created by both athletes and coaches, we understand your needs in today's training environment.
ASICS Greenville Track Club ELITE's Eddie Garcia returned to completion following his 2:18:50 performance at the Chevron Houston Marathon in January and placed second in the 5,000 meters at the 49er Classic in Charlotte, NC. On a cooling Friday evening, with slight winds, Garcia circled the Charlotte University (UNCC) track 12.5 times before crossing the finish in second place with a time of 14:31.98. After starting near the back of the 29 runner field, Eddie worked his way up to the lead pack by 3000 meters. However Aaron Wier, the eventual winner, surged ahead after 3500 meters and opened a gap that he held for the win in 14:22:46.
Garcia's ASICS GTC-ELITE teammate, Victor Pataky, ran with the lead pack for much of the race before finishing 5th with a time of 14:49.68. It was Pataky's first race on the track since joining the program in August of 2018.
In her final competition before relocating to Greenville, SC and joining the ASICS Greenville Track Club-ELITE post-collegiate, Olympic-development program, Cristina McKnight won the Cincinnati Heart 15K race in the Ohio city. She ran 56:40 over the hilly route on a windy morning. It was a personal best for McKnight, who only began competitive running a couple of years ago.
ASICS Greenville Track Club-ELITE is excited to announce that Cristina McKnight will soon be joining the post-collegiate, Olympic-development program based in beautiful Greenville, SC.
"Cristina is an up-and-coming young runner, who did not compete in either high school or college," stated Director/Coach Mike Caldwell. "Coach Laura Caldwell and I were very impressed with her story of recently becoming a competitive runner and her progression over the past year. We established ASICS GTC-ELITE as a 'developmental' program and we believe Cristina has the potential to fit in well with our current group of athletes and our program philosophies."
McKnight was born in Madrid, Spain and holds dual citizenship for her birth country and the United States. She was raised in Michigan and graduated with a degree in Statistics from Michigan State University in 2018. She currently works in Cincinnati, OH.
Cristina recently ran 1:18:21 in the Houston Aramco Half Marathon in Texas and currently lists that distance as her favorite for competition. She will focus on distances from the 10K up to a future marathon.
ASICS Greenville Track Club-ELITE's Zach Mains ran a personal best of 1:08:24 to place sixth in the Prisma Health Half Marathon on Saturday. His time was 21 seconds faster than his previous PB, which was set last November in Richmond, VA's Markel Half Marathon.
The Prisma Health Half Marthon is a 13.1 mile race that starts in Travelers Rest and runs south along the Swamp Rabbit Trail to downtown Greenville, SC. The race was won by Kenya's Eliud Ngetich, who set a new course record of 1:05:33. Fortunately, the almost continual rainy weather abated for most of the race and the temperature was a conducive 44 degrees.


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Mother-of-five dies after having hysterectomy at Burton's Queen's Hospital, inquest is told
Her family of told of their devastation that she will not see her children grow
Ben WaldronTrainee Reporter
The family of a Uttoxeter mother-of-five who died after having a hysterectomy have told of their devastation that she will not be able to see her children grow.
Hayley Hollinshead, of Windsor Road, had suffered gynaecological problems, including endometriosis, for a number of years before having surgery on her 39th birthday, but she died three days later at Burton's Queen's Hospital on Saturday, January 27, an inquest has been told.
It comes as the doctor who carried out the surgery said she had been a gynaecologist for 24 years had never experienced a death due to a hysterectomy.
She told the hearing there was not a day goes by that she did not think about the mum.
Hayley had described her family as "complete", so decided to have the procedure to remove her womb, but there were complications after the procedure, the inquest heard.
The inquest was held at Burton Town Hall
A statement from her family read out at the hearing held at Burton Town Hall said: "Hayley was a very special woman with a passion for her family.
"We are devastated by her loss and so sad that she won't have the opportunity to see her children grow."
She had had gynaecological problems for around 10 years, previously receiving treatment in 2009, where a tube of her left-sided ovary was removed due to a cist.
South Staffordshire Coroner Andrew Haigh concluded that the cause of her death was acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and was a "complication of medical procedure".
ARDS can be a life-threatening condition where the lungs cannot provide the body's vital organs with enough oxygen. This typically comes as a complication of a serious health condition, according to the NHS.
This is why it's so important that we report on inquests
Dr Kalaivani Lingham, a gynaecologist from Queen's Hospital, who carried out the procedure gave evidence at the inquest.
The doctor had performed 1,172 hysterectomy's before Mrs Hollinshead procedure and had never experienced a death before, she said.
Dr Lingham said: "She had tried unsuccessfully to control the pain and bleeding. She came to see me, she told me her family was complete.
"She had another 10 or 15 years ahead of her because the average age of the menopause in a woman is between 50 and 51.
"She felt the pain and the bleeding was affecting the quality of life she had with her children."
Widow tragically dies in East Staffordshire house fire
Dr Lingham later added: "I would like to express my deepest, heart felt sympathy and condolences to the family. Not a day goes by without me thinking about her. I've been a gynaecologist for a long time, working with the NHS for more than 24 years.
"I've never had a death in a hysterectomy, and even on the next day, I do hysterectomies for patients for the same reasons, endometriosis.
"Patients wake up and the pain goes away, it's like a miracle. But I can't understand why Hayley reacted to the surgery so badly."
Inquest into the death of Hatton pensioner who went missing has opened
The mother-of-five suffered from endometriosis, a condition where the tissue which lines the womb is found outside of it, said the doctor.
Symptoms include pain in the lower tummy or back, which typically gets worse during the woman's period. The sufferer can suffer sickness, constipation or blood in their urine.
With Mrs Hollinshead, this caused pain and bleeding, according to Dr Lingham, and therefore the decision to undergo a hysterectomy was taken.
Mr Haigh said: "The surgery goes ahead on January 24. Immediately there is the difficulty of the bowel being stuck to the abdominal wall.
"That's not entirely unexpected in lieu of the previous surgery and the endometriosis. The result of that was that the procedure through a key hole became an open procedure.
"Again, this is not very unusual. During the procedure there is some bleeding and at the end of that day, Mrs Lingham feels that she should probably go to the main hospital as a precaution, not out of any concerns.
"The following day, Hayley is unwell. Her condition is monitored and it is felt there might be some further bleeding going on, so another procedure takes place.
"There's no major bleeding on that occasion. She continues to deteriorate, the next day she is unwell. Sadly on January 27, Hayley dies."
The cause of death was recorded as due to ARDS on January 27, 2018.
Mr Heigh said: "I'm afraid as a result of this hearing we cannot clearly say; bringing matters together, my conclusion in these circumstances, it is best on the balance of probability is to record my formal findings.
"My formal conclusion is one of complication of medical procedure."
Inquest hears that Stretton 85-year-old woman died after choking on food
What is a hysterectomy?
A hysterectomy is a specialist surgical procedure to remove the womb of a woman, meaning the patient will no longer be able to get pregnant.
Most common in woman between the ages of 40 and 50, around 30,500 women had a hysterectomy in England between 2012 and 2013, according to the NHS.
They are used as a treatment for a number of conditions that impact the female reproductive system, such as heavy periods, long-term pelvic pain, non-cancerous tumours and ovarian cancer.
It is a major operation that has a long recovery time, and is typically only considered after other treatments have been explored.
During a hysterectomy, the cervix or ovaries might also be removed which is normally based on the personal feelings of the patient and recommendations from a doctor.
The main four types of hysterectomies are as follows:
Total hysterectomy - This is when the womb and cervix are removed, which is the most common procedure.
Subtotal hysterectomy - The main body of the womb is removed, leading the cervix in place.
Total hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy - This is when the womb, cervix, fallopian tubes and the ovaries are removed.
Radical hysterectomy - The womb and surrounding tissues are removed, including the fallopian tubes, part of the vagina, ovaries, lymph glands and fatty tissue.
Complications from the procedure can include heavy bleeding, infection and damage to the bladder or bowel.
As it is a major operation, the patient can sometimes be in hospital for up to five days after surgery, taking between six and eight weeks to fully recover. This does vary depending on the type of hysterectomy.
Founder of the Hysterectomy Association offers her thoughts
The founder of dedicated group to dealing with hysterectomies has offered her condolences to Hayley's family.
The Hysterectomy Association offers information about the surgery, the menopause and general women's health in an attempt to put patients at ease.
Linda Parkingson-Hardman, the founder of the association said: "A hysterectomy is major surgery, and any major surgery can carry a small risk of death due to complications arising from a medical procedure.
"Fortunately, it's rare in the case of hysterectomy; and the majority of patients have the surgery, recover and then carry on with their lives without the distressing symptoms they had previously.
"Our thoughts are with Hayley's family at what must be a very difficult time."
Queen's Hospital
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