Associate Professor Anna King's research focuses on investigating the neurodegenerative diseases of aging, including frontotemporal dementia, Alzheimer's disease and motor neuron disease. She is particularly interested in determining the mechanisms by which the connections between nerve cells are lost in these diseases.
'The clinical symptoms of most of these neurodegenerative diseases are not due to cell loss or the pathology, but the loss of connections between nerve cells, so they can no longer 'talk' to each other,' said Associate Professor King.
'Nerve cells are very specialized and unique cells. They have a very distinct shape, which is important for the way they function. The shape of a nerve cell is dominated by the long nerve processes, which, like electrical wires, are responsible for connecting nerve cells with each other. What many people don't realize is that sometimes over 99% of the cell is in these nerve processes, yet we really don't know much about how they function,' Associate Professor King said.
Associate Professor King says a lot of her work is at a very cellular level.
Associate Professor King says that in order to understand disease, it is important to understand normal function.
Associate Professor King is also interested in why these neurodegenerative diseases are related to ageing.
'Some people have mutations that cause these diseases, but they don't develop the disease while they're young, instead the disease develops as they get older.
We need to answer the question of why there is a connection between neurodegenerative diseases and ageing and what's changing in healthy ageing, and what the difference is when we get disease,' said Associate Professor King.
Associate Professor King works for The Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre, which is a multi-disciplinary group that brings together all aspects of dementia research, care and education. It's part of the University of Tasmania College of Health and Medicine and receives its core funding from the JO & JR Wicking Trust.
'In the Wicking Centre, we're interested in educating people about dementia' Associate Professor King said. 'It's very important that those involved with working with people with dementia, understand these neurodegenerative diseases, what causes them, why people behave the way they do and the special needs they have. We're keen to combine our research with educating the public and people in care situations,' she said.
'These diseases are becoming more prevalent now because we have treatments for a lot of the other diseases that people used to die from. So people are living longer. These diseases are becoming more prominent in our community and we are really not prepared for this,' said Associate Professor King.
She says there is some evidence now that for diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, a proportion of cases could be prevented or delayed by modifying lifestyle factors throughout life. Risk prevention, in other words.
'At Wicking we're looking at whether cognitive stimulation can improve outcomes in terms of the symptoms of the disease. For example, using your brain in new ways to build up your resilience for when you get older and you're losing those connections,' Associate Professor King said.
The higher the education you have, the lower your risk.
However, ultimately there will still be some people who need treatment and care, Associate Professor King says.
The brain can withstand a lot of pathology before we see anything happening. We need to be catching things earlier.
We know now that although symptoms occur at a certain (advanced) age, there is a long period before the disease actually presents, during which we're developing the pathology. This can go on for fifteen years or so before we actually develop clinical symptoms. It's important to be looking in those early stages for strategies to help people,' Associate Professor King said.
Associate Professor Anna King is an NHMRC Boosting Dementia Research Leadership Fellow and Associate Director (Research) at the Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre in the College of Health and Medicine. She leads an active research team in the field of neurodegenerative disease and ageing, including Alzheimer's disease, frontotemporal dementia and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. She works alongside other University of Tasmania researchers to investigate basic pathological mechanisms of disease, preventative and therapeutic strategies as well as the development of biomarkers to determine brain health.
Associate Professor King's key research interest is in investigating how the connections between nerves cells are lost in neurodegenerative disease with a focus on protective strategies. Since starting her PhD in 2004 she has authored more than 50 peer-reviewed papers in well-regarded Neuroscience journals such as Acta Neuropathologica, Neurobiology of Ageing and Human Molecular Genetics. These papers have been cited over 1000 times. Her research has attracted over $4.5M in funding including NHMRC and ARC grants and fellowships.
Unit Design and Co-ordinator, The Art & Science of Clinical Trials (CAD303).
Anna's research closely aligns with the University's research theme of Better Health as well as the Dementia flagship in the College of Health and Medicine. Her interests lie in investigating the changes in the nervous system that accompany normal ageing as well as the development of age-related neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's disease, frontotemporal dementia and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. There is accumulating evidence that the clinical symptoms of these diseases are the result of the loss of connectivity between the nerves cells but there is little understanding of the mechanisms by which nerve cells loose connectivity in disease and the contribution that ageing plays to this. Additionally, harnessing the ability of the brain to renew connections (brain plasticity) in ageing and disease may help prevent this loss.
Axonal plasticity, pathology and the mechanisms by which axons degenerate in neurodegenerative disease and injury.
The role of the neuronal cytoskeleton, including neurofilaments and microtubules in axonal and synaptic function as well as neurodegeneration.
The role of glial cells, such as oligodendrocytes, microglia and astrocytes, in maintaining axon function.
Prof Julie Atkin (Macquarie University) on research projects in motor neuron disease and frontotemporal dementia. Their joint research has resulted in a number of publications including the highly cited first article to describe the potential role of the C9ORF72 protein in membrane trafficking (M A Farg, et al., 2014 Hum Mol Genet).
Dr Anthony Cook (University of Tasmania) and Professor Alex Hewitt (University of Tasmania), to develop the use of stem cell technology to investigate mechanisms of neurodegenerative disease.
Prof Michael Breadmore (Chemistry, University of Tasmania), Professor Rosanne Guijt (Deakin), Prof Tracey Dickson (Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania) on projects to develop microfluidic technology for dementia research including development of point of care biomarker devices.
Project title: Excitatory-Inhibitory relationships in cerebral cortex affected by the pathology of Alzheimer's disease'.
Older people in residential aged care are vulnerable to aspiration pneumonia, which is a primary reason for hospitalisation. Links have been drawn between this vulnerability and poor oral hygiene, prompting interventions in teeth cleaning. To determine the effectiveness of teeth-cleaning interventions objective measures are needed, such as microbiological testing. The goal of this study is to develop and validate a microbiological measure of effective oral hygiene to be used in a large-scale intervention targeting oral hygiene in residential aged care facilities.
The aim of this subproject is to develop and validate a qPCR protocol for analysing solutions derived from swabs of oral tissue to quantify numbers and distribution of pathogenic bacterial species within a complex microbiological ecology. This protocol will later be used to determine the change in type and load of oral microorganisms following a period of daily oral hygiene.
Neurons signal to each by sending electrical impulses along their axons to the connections between neurons, the synapses. Loss of this signalingin thought to be the underlying cause of the clinical symptoms of dementia, correlating closely with cognitive decline. This loss of connectivityis accompanied by various types of pathology in the brain such as accumulation of extracellular beta amyloid and intracellular tau, although theconnection between pathology and neurodegeneration is not yet clear. One of the biggest challenges we face in developing treatments fordementia is the need to monitor the changes that are going on inside the brain of living individuals. In order to do this, we need to developbiomarkers; measurable biological indicators of a disease process. While there has been significant progress in the development of biomarkers toindicate the presence of pathology in the brain, biomarkers of neurodegeneration, which may be a correlate of brain health, are lacking. I have adeveloping international reputation in investigating the mechanisms by which nerve cells lose their connections in dementia, with the goal ofidentifying targets for therapeutic intervention. Capitilizing on my current expertise I propose to bring together preclinical work in animalmodels of dementia with a human cohort study to fully characterize blood based biomarkers that reflect the neuritic and synaptic changesoccurring in the brains of people with dementia. Working with Professor Michael Breadmore (University of Tasmania, ACROSS), an international leader in the development of portable analytical devices, I will then develop a point of care analysis tool to monitor brain health inboth rodent models and people at risk of dementia. Working at the Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre, a multidisciplinary teamacross neuroscience and health services, I am well placed to bridge the gap between research and industry, and to lead a new directive indementia research.
Nerve cells communicate with each other and their targets, such as muscle, via long processes called axons. In motor neuron disease these nerve cell processes degenerate and are lost, resulting in a loss of movement. Several mechanisms or axon degeneration have been recently identified, but we dont know which of these mechanisms is involved in motor neuron disease. In this project, we will use two models to determine which mechanisms of axon degeneration are involved in nerve process loss in motor neuron disease. This will allow us to determine which molecules to target for therapeutic intervention.
This study will determine how glucocorticoid stress signaling influences Aβ processing (and vice versa) in primary neurons from APP/PS1 transgenic mice and wildtype controls.
This pilot grant will map gut microbiota in three populations:A) Individuals with a clinical diagnosis of dementia: Individuals identified by a clinician as living with dementia will be recruited (n=20). These individuals must be residing in the community as gut microbiota alterations are known to be dependent on the environment (13).B) Spousal caregivers for those living with dementia: Carers of individuals living with dementia are six times more likely to develop dementia (14). Stress is a leading theory for this occurrence, however shared gut microbiota is a potential unexplored link. This group potentially represents the pre-clinical population where alterations to gut microbiota are occurring before symptoms are established (n=20).C) Spousal caregivers providing informal care to someone who does not have dementia: A cohort of individuals providing care to a spouse living with a chronic illness will be recruited (n=20). This group will provide evidence as to whether the disease and/or gut microbiota influence AD development.By determining the gut microbiota diversity in these populations, we will begin to understand whether gut microbiota influences cognitive decline and dementia. Initially this will be a cross-sectional study but if data are promising then it will lead to a longitudinal study.
Inflammation has been implicated in premature ageing of the brain and the development of neurological disease (1). Microglia are the inflammatory cells of the brain, and currently it is unclear whether they are active (driving pathology) or passive (a bystander) in the ageing and neurodegenerative processes. In response to disturbances in the microenvironment microglia are capable of secreting both pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines to restore homeostasis. With subsequent disturbances, microglia mount an exaggerated response, due to priming. Increasing age impedes microglias ability to perform the most essential of homeostatic functions. At this time microglia are known as dystrophic; stuck in a pro-inflammatory phenotype. Understanding this switch to a pro-inflammatory state may aid in preventing the effects of ageing through modulation of microglial activity and offers a novel target for therapy to slow the progression of neurological disease. For this to be effective, we must first define the precise roles of microglia in ageing and neurodegeneration. By determining microglial phenotype throughout disease progression we can gain insight into their role in disease pathology.
This project seeks to improve and maintain the oral health of people who move into residential aged care by providing an objective way to document they are receiving effective oral care. The project is a staff initiative. It is the result of a suggestion by staff at the Fred French and Peace Haven Homes of Masonic Care Tasmania, Inc. during their participation in a current federally-funded initiative with researchers at the University of Tasmania. The specific aim of the funded project is to decrease cases of aspiration pneumonia through testing the effectiveness of a new model of oral health care. Staff have suggested the value of adding an objective way to obtain and regularly analyse oral bacteria and this is the focus of the project we are presenting to the TCF.Residents in aged care are particularly vulnerable to aspiration pneumonia. This type of pneumonia is directly related to poor oral health. Poor oral health alters the type of bacteria growing in the mouth and throat. If residents have a swallowing problem (dysphagia), they are more likely to aspirate material into their lungs. If residents with dysphagia have poor oral health, they aspirate pathogenic bacteria and this greatly increases the likelihood of aspiration pneumonia, resulting in unplanned hospitalisations and death. In Australia, the cost burden of this acquired pneumonia has been estimated at more than $500 million each year. The funded model being evaluated has three essential components: (i)Increase staff knowledge with the support of a Community of Practice including residents, healthcare professionals, community members, residential community leaders, legislators (to bridge the practice-policy divide), and on-site supervised dental/oral health therapy, nursing, and medical students,(ii)Provide daily evidence-based oral care a 3-month period of 2-minutes of teeth cleaning after meals using timed electric or regular toothbrushes, or daily denture care. For residents who cannot adjust to the electric toothbrushes, staff are developing 2-minute strategies for using regular toothbrushes, e.g., brushing to a series of enjoyed and resident selected 2-minute recorded songs,(iii)Monitor compliance from their ongoing experience, staff have suggested the potential advantages of the proposed objective and regular analysis of oral bacteria.Increasing and maintaining residents oral health will decrease the load of pathogenic oral bacteria and thus decrease residents risk for developing aspiration pneumonia. Understanding the type of pathogenic oral bacteria that are associated with aspiration pneumonia and ill health will further support staff to provide daily oral care. Bacteria will be gathered from non-invasive swabs of tissue from residents gum, hard palate, cheek, and tongue. Results of these regular analyses will reinforce how effective oral care can reduce the clinical indications of aspiration pneumonia and ill health and the personal and economic consequences of unplanned transfers or admissions to hospital. This cost-effective model can then be easily implemented in any residential aged care community.
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is characterized by degeneration and loss of nerve cell processes. The resulting loss of connectivity is likely to be the key contributor to the clinical symptoms of disease and is evident from the substantial axonal pathology present. In this project we will investigate mechanisms of axonopathy resulting from pathologic TDP-43, a key contributor to disease. We will utilize a novel of of axon degeneration in the cisual system which allows us to directly probe changes in the axon.
This study seeks to elucidate a potential causal mechanism for Alzheimers disease: that plasticity drives disease pathology, and that sleep compensates for these effects of plasticity in a manner which declines with age. The study will manipulate levels of cortical plasticity and the duration of sleep in a transgenic rodent model, the APP/PS1 mouse, and track the resulting development of pathology.
Neurons have been the main focus of research and the target of therapeutic development in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Previous studies have display evidence showing the potential involvement of other non-neuronal cells in the disease progression including astrocytes, microglia and oligodendrocytes. Although loss of myelin and oligodendrocyte degeneration has been identified, it has been mostly regarded as a secondary event occurring as a response to the degeneration of axons. Our recent studies have shown evidence supporting the potential active role ofTDP43 (TAR-DNA-binding protein 43) in oligodendrocytes development in vitro. These results suggested that alteration of TDP43 expression could induced oligodendrocytes pathology in ALS and is possible to have an active contribution to disease progress in ALS as well as the onset of the disease.
This project explores the emerging role of microglia in facilitating changes to neuronal connections, synaptic plasticity or the ability of the brain to remodel throughout the lifespan in response to a changing environment. Using state of the art imaging techniques, this project will explore microglia-synapse interactions in real time, to elucidate the role microglia play in synaptic plasticty in Alzheimer's disease and throughout ageing.
Funds will be used to procure services from BPA that will support proteomics and research projects on, respectively, molecular mechanisms of DFTD and the physiological response of diatoms to environmental stresses.
Establishinga mouse model of mild gestationaliodine deficiency to study its effects on brain structure and function.
It has been estimated that between 30 and 50% of dementia cases may be preventable by addressing modifiable risk factors such as vascular factors and complex mental stimulation. Increasing levels of education at a younger age have been associated with decreased risk of developing dementia in older ages, leading to the suggestion that building cognitive reserve may provide greater resilience to dementia. The Tasmanian Healthy Brain Project (THBP) is a large scale prospective trial that examines whether the real-world intervention of university-level study, as a form of complex mental stimulation, in older adults may provide benefits to cognitive resilience, so as to reduce ageing-related decline in cognitive performance, and reduce the risk of dementia. The initial phase of the THBP (2010-2015) involved identifying genetic interactions that may modify risk of ageing-related cognitive decline and mediate the benefits of engagement in complex mental stimulation. In addition, the THBP has developed constructs to measure prior and current levels of cognitive reserve and performance. The proposed project will realise the long term outcomes of the THBP to determine how a university course-based intervention may affect cognitive capacity through ageing and if it may effectively protect individuals from significant decline and dementia. Furthermore, we will determine how common variations in genes linked to brain plasticity, such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene, may modify how an individual gains potential benefit from the intervention. In this regard, a genetic profile comprised from BDNF and apolipoprotein E polymorphisms, may also predict those at greatest risk of dementia. Finally, we will investigate whether BDNF protein levels in blood may serve as a biomarker for the effects of the intervention and/or as a potential indicator of relative risk or protection from significant cognitive decline.
The overall aim of this project is to examine mechanisms of axon degeneration in Alzheimer's disease to trial axonal and synaptic protective strategies in vivo and in vitro.
Understanding the organisation, structure and mechanisms of the human brain and nervous system remains one of the biggest challenges of science. This project will develop a new cell culture platform to form defined molecular networks of brain cells and to monitor changes throughout the network in response to a small localised injury within the network. This innovative platform will be used to help understand changes within cells in response to physical damage to networks of brain cells. This is one of the major causes of death and disability in developed nations, and is identified as a risk factor for a range of neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and motor neuron disease.
There is considerable evidence from many areas of clinical and basic medical research that in MND motor neurons may be dying due to a toxicity that is triggered due to their over activity known as excitotoxicity. There is new evidence that this toxic cascade may initially be triggered by the death or dysfunction of another type of neuron in the brain the interneuron. Interneurons are critical regulators of motor neuron activity and modulators of the balance that is essential for normal brain function. Research has developed a method of specifically growing interneurons and/or motor neurons, derived from transgenic mice developed to model MND, in primary culture. This highly specific brain in a dish approach will allow us to determine if the presence of abnormal or pathogenic interneurons can lead to abnormal motor neuron function and pathology. Not only would these studies provide important insight into the mechanisms responsible for ALS, but they would also provide a high throughput model for later assessing potential therapeutic interventions.
Current research on frontotemporal-lobar dementia (FTLD) is focused on the detrimental effect of the pathological proteins in neurons. However, in FTLD, protein aggregates are also found in oligodendrocytes, which are responsible for myelinating and supporting axons. FTLD has a strong genetic and pathological links with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), the most common form of motor neuron disease. In ALS there is now substantial evidences suggesting that oligodendrocyte degeneration is involved in disease pathogenesis potentially as a primary pathologic mechanism. Both FTLD and ALS share the common pathologic protein, TDP-43, which is found to aggregate in oligodendrocytes, hence it is feasible to suggest a role for oligodendrocyte dysfunction in FTLD. Studies in ALS tissue and mouse models have suggested that defects in the differentiation and maturation of oligodendrocytes as well as their ability to myelinate axons may contribute to the disease. This proposed study aims to establish the role of oligodendrocyte dyfunction in FTLD with a focus on determining the potential role of TDP-43 in the differentiation and remyelination process of oligodendrocytes. This will allow us to have a better understanding in the pathogenesis of FTLD as well as identifying new therapeutic targets for treatments.
By achieving the following aims this project will investigate the role of TDP-43 and other ALS/FTLD proteins in the normal function of the axon and determine how this may contribute to the pathogenesis of disease. Aim 1: to determine the normal localization of TDP-43 and other ALS/FTLD proteins Aim 2: to determine the effect of protein overexpression or knockdown on the axonal proteome (proteomic analysis) and the expression of axonal mRNA. Aim 3: to determine the effect of directing ALS/FTLD proteins to the axon. Aim 4: to investigate the effect of TDP43 and mutants expression on axons in vivo in a retinal model Aim 5:Determine if mutant TDP-43 can be transferred from the axon to oligodendrocytes.
In the last seven years a number of proteins have been identified that are pathologically or genetically associated with Frontotemporal Lobe Degeneration including TDP-43, FUS, C9ORF72 and progranulin. As ubiquitously expressed proteins it has been difficult to assess the role these proteins play in disease, particularly associated with ageing. This project proposes that the disease-associated roles are likely to stem from functions that are specific to neurons and/or glial cells. Accumulating evidence suggests that many of these proteins are involved in neurite outgrowth and cytoskeletal maintenance. This project will use a threefold approach to investigate the role of FTLD proteins in disease. First, it will utilize novel primary cell culture techniques that allow compartmentalization of the neuron to probe axonal and somatodenditic mechanisms. Second, it will utilize an in-vivo intraocular injection model to rapidly examine the effect of mutant and non-mutant proteins on downstream connectivity. Finally, it will investigate neurite pathology in human tissue. This project will provide mechanistic insight into the role of FTLD proteins in disease.
Alzheimers disease (AD) affects approximately 11% of the population over 65 years and up to 50% of individuals over 85 years and is now the 3rd major cause of death in Australia. In the absence of effective therapeutic intervention it is imperative that we renew our research efforts along novel and innovative lines to prevent, palliate and/ or reduce this condition. One of the key features of AD is the degeneration of the long nerve processes or axons. These are susceptible to damage and this can result in nervous system disconnection and failure even in the absence of cell loss. My research focuses on understanding why axons degenerate in neurodegenerative disease with the aim of finding effective therapeutic agents to prevent this loss. Due to our lack of mechanistic insight into axon degeneration mechanisms, there are currently no therapeutic drugs that target axon degeneration, and this could be one reason to account for the failure of many therapeutic agents that provide only neuronal protection. Therefore axon protection strategies may offer promise in preventing or delaying the ongoing clinical symptoms of the disease. To address this important issue, I have developed a novel cell culture technique that uses microfluidic technology to separate neuronal axons from the soma. This allows us to probe the cellular mechanisms of axon degeneration in conditions related to AD. Using these novel in vitro techniques I have begun to unravel some of these mechanisms and identify some potential points of intervention. Specifically, I have examined axon degeneration mechanisms following excitotoxicity, which results from overstimulation of neurons. Excitotoxicity is one of the key causes of nerve cell degeneration in AD. My work has shown that excitotoxicity causes axons to degenerate and that destabilization of microtubule proteins is an early event in this degeneration. Importantly, stabilizing microtubules with drugs such as taxol and epothilone D prevents axon degeneration following excitotoxicity in our cell culture model. Taxol and epothilone D are both agents that are currently approved for use in the treatment of cancer. The next step is to test whether these agents can block axon degeneration in animal models. In order to do this I will use two models. Firstly I will use an in vivo model of axon degeneration induced by excitotoxicity. This will be used to directly confirm that microtubule stabilization with epothilone D can protect axons from degeneration following excitotoxicity in vivo. Secondly I will use a mouse model of AD which develops axon pathology and for which excitotoic mechanisms are implicated. This AD will be treated with Epothilone D and pathology examined as well as cognitive function. This project will provide preliminary data to pave the way to expanding the project by obtaining significant funding from national research funding schemes such as NHMRC.


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What is " The Triangle ? "
"L'Atelier d'architecture Le Triangle" is an architects' office located in the Swiss Alps, specialised in the construction of mountain houses (Chalets ) for more than thirty years.
Our expertise also covers : valuations, new buildings, extensions, alterations, restorations, maintenance, etc.


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More from Staff
How Severn Trent measures IR performance
Water firm focuses on the 'what' and the 'how' with its IR metrics
This article was produced by ELITE Connect and originally published on the ELITE Connect platform
Measuring IR performance, both on an individual and team basis, can often be a challenge given the level to which external factors and internal issues can affect the function's success. Ruban Chandran, head of IR at Severn Trent, gives us an insight into how he evaluates his team's effectiveness and shares some top tips for optimizing performance.
Elite Connect: How do you currently measure IR performance within your team? What factors do you think external stakeholders evaluate you on?
Ruban Chandran: We measure it by the accuracy and tone of messages communicated as part of our half and full-year results presentations, the quality of our investor engagement through roadshows and one on ones, and the ability of the team to act as a sounding board to management on the key topics on the minds of investors. I suspect others assess the quality of the Severn Trent IR team on our business knowledge, the ability to provide access to management and our responsiveness to requests and queries.
EC: What are the main performance objectives you use to evaluate individuals' performance?
RC: My team is typically assessed on two main categories: 'what' they do in terms of creativity, problem solving and judgment, and 'how' they do it in terms of demonstrating drive, empathy, resilience, intuition and tenacity.
EC: What about the objectives for the whole IR team's performance – how do you assess group success?
RC: The IR team is assessed on the quality of engagement with existing holders (care and maintenance), underweight holders (by understanding why they are underweight and what can be done to change their position), and identifying pools of underused capital and targeting non-holders that have a potential to invest. It's about creating a high-quality shareholder base. A tolerance for zero errors also counts when it comes to the content and cosmetics of external publications and presentations!
EC: How can IROs optimize their performance, both from an individual and a team perspective?
RC: By getting to know how the business works, staying abreast of investors' key questions and by watching and listening to the content and style of the CEO and CFO in investor meetings, and asking oneself, 'Could I do it that well in an IR one to one?' From a team perspective, it's vital to reward silent running and recognize not just the key IR communicators, but also team members who facilitate and organize logistics and activities that are less frontline in nature.
EC: What's to gain from being an effective IRO?
RC: IR is generally a very fun place to be. Those who are existing practitioners will recognize the cerebral stimulation that comes from interacting with investors, sell-side analysts and management alike. Those who are new to IR should see these as exciting opportunities!
IR Magazine & Q4 Breakfast Briefing – Top trends in 2020
https://events.irmagazine.com/trends/home/intro/
IR Magazine Awards – US
https://events.irmagazine.com/usawards/
IR Magazine Awards – Canada
https://events.irmagazine.com/canadaawards/
Tim Human
The week in investor relations: Investor pressure, reporting practices and cannabis ETFs
The week in investor relations: Geopolitical risk, trade wars and arrest warrants
Mike Schnitzel
Nearly half of US and UK companies expect recession this year
The week in IR: Trade deals, $1 tn valuations and AI
US and UK executives are feeling pessimistic about the economic prospects for 2020 after a year of economic turbulence and geopolitical turmoil,...Read more
- The US has signed an initial trade deal with China following two years of economic tussling that saw tariffs placed on goods worth hundreds of...Read more
– Major institutional investors have called on British executives to buy more shares in their own companies to better align the interests of senior...Read more
- Oil prices and safe haven assets have jumped in value after the US killed a senior Iranian military officer in Baghdad, reported the Financial...Read more

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


The semi-finals are taking place this week and next in the 2015 Tchaikovsky International Violin Competition, and if you'd like to catch up on them or watch some live performances, here is a link to both the live feed and the videos. Here is the schedule (in Moscow time). The competition has violin, cello, piano and vocal divisions; and prize winners will be announced July 1 for each, with gala concerts July 2 and 3. Top prize for each division is $30,000, with one grand prize of $100,000 going to the top winner among them all.
Jury members for violin are: Salvatore Accardo, Yuri Bashmet, Maxim Vengerov, Liana Isakadze, Leonidas Kavakos, Ilya Kaler, Boris Kushnir, Mihaela Martin, Vadim Repin, Roman Simovic, Viktor Tretyakov, Maxim Fedotov, Vera Tsu Wei Ling, James Ehnes, Michael Haefliger and Nikolaj Znaider.


great being reduced sugar to begin with and absolutely loving the flavour! We found the marmalade a lot easier to spread than other brands and was a little more watery but this is not a criticism as it is lovely!
Such a creamy, dreamy, delicious yoghurt with the exact amount of salted caramel needed to make it THE most perfect treat. I 100% recommend and will be buying again for certain. YUM!!
Had this to review and was really hoping to enjoy it, but was incredibly disappointed as the texture was slimy and really off putting to begin with. It had a strange artificial flavour that I am sorry to say we ended up throwing away the whole pack.
I really loved the perfectly sized pasta best. just ideal for me to add bolognese sauce on one evening and a carbonara sauce another. So easy to cook and good pasta.
Such a great option bring able to buy the pouches 'in bulk' and a great saving doing it this way. Plenty of variety for our cat Pickle and she seems to enjoy all chunks and flavours. She passes on her recommendation and hopes we buy it again!
Great taste but lacking in whitening.
I found the toothpaste to be quite thick and smooth in consistency, and it gave a good clean to my teeth leaving my mouth with a lovely fresh and clean feeling. So an initial thumbs up all round. After using it for several days (twice a day), I was hoping to see some kind of improvement or even just a slight whitening...but nothing to report yet. Maybe I am too early? Either way, I would buy again as I did like it but not necessarily hoping for any whitening. it wound also have to be on a special offer as it is fairly pricey.
A truly delicious pie, full of tender chunks of steak gorgeous short crust pastry and a really lovely 'home made' feel to it. My only gripe is that I was unable to distinguish any stilton flavour whatsoever, this really needs to be improved. I would 100% buy the pie again though as it was lovely, but with the knowledge I will not be able to taste the stilton.
A very expensive tea, which I would not normally have bought, that I was given to review. I really did not think much to the combination of ginger and chocolate and felt the flavour lacking and dis-pleasing. Each to their own, but it's a no from me.
Like the title says! Truly a little lump of gorgeousness, just perfect as a treat and super squishy. Yum!!
Glad I bought it on a flash sale as it really is expensive for what it is. fairly thin chunks of chocolate with a very faint trace of the flavouring. yes, enjoyable but in my eyes overpriced and not overly exceptional.


Here is the Mattel 1:55 scale diecast release of J. Curby Gremlin from Cars 2! He was available last year in the 2013 series (#1/7 of the "Lemons" sub-line).
In the film, J Curby is the head of the Gremlin family who works for Professor Z; he is seen during the big lemons meeting at the Porto Corsa casino and makes several appearances after that during some of the film's final scenes.
J. Curby isn't available in stores anymore, but he still can be easily found online (such as on eBay or Amazon). Good luck on the hunt if you're still trying to tack this one down!


For a while now, we knew that the Korean carmaker may launch its popular Verna sedan in a new avatar and now, the facelifted Verna has surfaced on the web. Th spy shots unveiled show the uncamouflaged Verna.
The upcoming sedan was spotted undergoing a road test in Pune, thereby, hinting on a possible launch anytime soon. The latest images revealed by Team BHP uncovered almost every exterior detail of the forthcoming model. From what we can get from the images is that the new avatar of Verna, which is already in Russian and Chinese markets, is likely to boast a redesigned front fascia with a new grille, headlamps and a new bumper.
The Verna facelift is also expected to get fog lamps with LED DRLs and redesigned rear end with updated bumper and integrated reflectors. The car is said to have a new alloy design on the menu. Inside, it looks like a simple cabin, which is somewhat similar to the existing model except for the seven-inch touchscreen navigation.
Based on the previous reports, the upcoming Verna sedan will be powered by the same 1.4-litre petrol engine, whereas the diesel variant may be powered by 1.6-litre engine. It is also expected that Hyundai may offer six-speed automatic gearbox instead of the current generation 4-speed automatic transmission.
The new Verna facelift is expected to come between the price frame of Rs. 7.30 lakh to Rs. 11.50 lakh. It will compete with Honda City, VW Vento, and Maruti Ciaz in India, once it is launched.


Zaaria Wedding Packers & Indian D'art ARE YOU A VENDOR?
Zaaria Wedding Packers & Indian D'art is a Delhi-based company, headed by Mona Sethi, who combines concepts, skills and ideas to create exceptional products and items that impress everyone. It offers an array of different gift items suitable for all types of occasions. From Roka ceremony to the actual wedding, Zaaria Wedding Packers & Indian D'art provides quality products to inspire and entice each occasion.
The forte of Zaaria Wedding Packers & Indian D'art is customisation. You can create any item based on your specific vision or taste, just consult with Zaaria Wedding Packers & Indian D'art and you will get the desired item for your special occasion.
It offers services like, wedding trousseau, antique gits, envelops, decorative boxes, potli, thali, rings, velvet boxes, lohri boxes, different types of invitations. It features items, from pure gold zari sarees, floral basket, designer platters, to theme based invitation. Everything is a vision in art, designed with sophistication and elegance.


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Top 5 Destinations in Europe for 2023
There are a few considerations to weigh while deciding which European nations would be the best to visit in 2023.
Budgeting is the most crucial factor to take into account. Although each of the beautiful nations in Europe has something to offer, some may be more affordable than others.
Your travel style should also be taken into account. Are you the kind of traveler who likes to see as much as possible in a single trip, or do you prefer to take your time and thoroughly explore each city?
And last, what interests you? Are you planning to go sightseeing, take in the local culture, or sample the local cuisine?
The following five European nations are among the top ones to visit in 2023:
#1. France
France is a nation well-known for its culture, food, and history. There is something to enjoy for everyone, whether you choose to travel to Paris, the French Riviera, Normandy, or Brittany.
#2. Spain
Spain is a nation renowned for its magnificent architecture, varied landscape, and delectable cuisine. Everyone can find something to enjoy somewhere, whether it's Andalusia or the Basque Country.
#3. Italy
Italy is a nation renowned for its stunning scenery, delectable cuisine, and intriguing history. There is something to enjoy for everyone, whether you are interested in Florence, Rome, Venice, or Milan.
#4. Switzerland
A nation with a reputation for stunning scenery, opulent lodgings, and delectable cuisine is Switzerland. Everyone can enjoy something, from the Alps to the Riviera.
#5. Norway
Norway is a mountainous nation with fantastic skiing, quaint villages, and a mountainous landscape. Whether you are interested in Bergen, Oslo, or Flm, there is something for everyone.
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International student scholarships fully financed in 2023: How and Where
The top European nations in 2023 for academic pursuits include
The Top European Countries to Visit in 2023


4063 GOLDIE COURT North Vancouver, House/Single Family | 2680 sq ft | Built: 1988 | Indian River | 2 Storey | 4 beds & 3 baths | List: $1,698,000.
4063 GOLDIE COURT North Vancouver was listed on April 10th, 2019, or 10 days ago, 31 years old & located at V7G 2N2 postal code. Lot size: 7055.00 sq ft, or 83.24 x 25.37 feet lot. Listed at $1,698,000, or $241 per lot square foot.
Deep Cove Parent Participation Preschool located at , call them at 778-834-3321, Deep Cove Parent Participation Preschool, licensed group and services -36 months.
Parkgate Child And Family Centre 12 minutes on , call 604-983-6375.
Soft trail but with couple of hills with roots and rocks to navigate through.
Little piece of maritime history, if you can find the plaque.
Maa Yoga Studio, located just 12 minutes on , call +1 604-983-6229.
Tantra Fitness Burnaby 64 minutes at , +1 604-738-7653.
Good food and reasonable price. Nice and friendly staff. Good service.


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Home » Browse » Academic journals » General Education Journals » Teacher Education Quarterly » Article details, "Leaving the Profession: The Context Behind One..."
Academic journal article Teacher Education Quarterly
Leaving the Profession: The Context Behind One Quality Teacher's Professional Burn Out
By Lloyd, Mary Elizabeth R.; Sullivan, Alexandra
In the spring of 2005, I began collecting data (1) for a three-year study investigating the effectiveness of preservice preparation as measured by the transfer of pedagogical practices from preservice settings into novice inservice settings. I was interested in whether or not what was being taught, modeled, and/or espoused in a given teacher-preparation program (TPP) was utilized in the practices of clinical interns and later in the practices of these same subjects during their first two years of teaching. Although some of my subjects claimed that what was taught in their TPP was too theoretical, preservice observations (conducted from the spring of 2005 to the spring of 2006) and inservice observations (conducted from the fall of 2006 to the fall of 2007) revealed 65% and 71 %, respectively, adherence to TPP practices.
While these results were favorable in terms of the effectiveness of preservice preparation, another less favorable result emerged. The subject, Sarah, who transferred the most TPP aligned pedagogical practices into her inservice action (84% of 1,370 observed pedagogical practices) decided to leave the teaching profession following her second inservice year. This is obviously problematic. This young professional was an exemplary novice mathematics teacher. She was well prepared to teach in an innovative manner, utilizing principles and practices aligned with and advocated by (1) her teacher-preparation program and (2) the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. She was, however, clearly unprepared to sustain this kind of teaching.
In the following article, I describe Sarah's novice inservice experiences in order to contribute to the existing teacher-turnover and satisfaction literature. Her story is intended to help teacher educators and school leaders better understand the multi-faceted struggles that novice teachers face and the tensions they must negotiate. These cannot be boiled down to single, disjointed struggles that have obvious solutions, but occur in an interconnected, complex, and contextual manner which can exacerbate problematic situations and make solutions and methods for negotiation elusive (Hancock & Scherff, 2010).
In telling one novice teacher's story, I am not claiming (1) that the novice inservice experience is the same for every teacher, (2) that all novice teachers who chose to leave the profession leave for the same reasons, or (3) that this story will help design a neat package for preparing all preservice teachers to teach in a manner that will lead them to persist in the profession. On the contrary, each novice faces unique challenges within his/her individual inservice setting. In addition, even when faced with similar challenges, perception of and subsequent responses to these challenges may differ. In essence, each teacher develops his/her teaching identity in a unique fashion, based on personal biographical, pretraining, preservice, and inservice experiences. In fact, during the study from which Sarah's story emerged, despite superficial similarities in my subjects' public-school, inservice settings, as they began to move further away from their common experiences within their teacher-preparation program, their (1) specific inservice settings, (2) experiences, (3) responses to these experiences, and (4) perceptions of teaching and learning gradually diverged.
I have chosen to share a single novice teacher's story because, while each professional's story is unique, Sarah's decision to leave the teaching profession in the spring of 2008 is not. According to 2004-2005 data collected by the National Center for Education Statistics, within the first three years of teaching, nearly a quarter of public-school teachers leave the profession (Boyd, Grossman, Lankford, Loeb, Wyckoff, & National Bureau of Economic Research, 2008; U.S. Department of Education, 2007). After five years, "between 40 and 50% of all teachers leave the profession" (Ingersoll, 2007, p. …
Publication: Teacher Education Quarterly
Lloyd, Mary Elizabeth R.
Sullivan, Alexandra
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics--Training
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics--Study and teaching
Teachers--Training
Teachers--Study and teaching
Teacher's Professional Development and the Elementary Mathematics Classroom: Bringing Understanding to Light By Sophia Cohen Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 2004
Preparing Mathematics and Science Teachers for Diverse Classrooms: Promising Strategies for Transformative Pedagogy By Alberto J. Rodriguez; Richard S. Kitchen Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 2005
Aspects of Teaching Secondary Mathematics: Perspectives on Practice By Linda Haggarty Routledge, 2002
Chapter 21: Preservice Elementary Teachers' Confidence Teaching about Money: Generating Interest from Mathematics By Lucey, Thomas A. Maxwell, Sheryl A. Curriculum and Teaching Dialogue, Vol. 11, No. 1-2, January-July 2009
Lessons Learned: The Teachers Academy for Mathematics and Science By Allen, Ethan E. Lederman, Leon Phi Delta Kappan, Vol. 80, No. 2, October 1998
Preservice to Inservice: Does Mathematics Anxiety Change with Teaching Experience? By Gresham, Gina Journal of Teacher Education, Vol. 69, No. 1, January-February 2018
A Global Perspective By Easton, Lois Brown Journal of Staff Development, Vol. 34, No. 3, June 2013
Comment on Ofsted: Evaluating Mathematics Provision for 14 - 19-Year-Olds By Jones, Margaret Mathematics Teaching, No. 197, July 2006
Training Shake-Up Will Lead to 'Loss of Expertise': News By Maddern, Kerra Times Educational Supplement, No. 5023, December 14, 2012
Best & Brightest By Daily Herald (Arlington Heights, IL), April 12, 2004
Administrator to Study Black Students' Success By Daily Herald (Arlington Heights, IL), December 4, 2000
Low Test Scores Should Sound an Alarm in U.S. Classrooms By Daily Herald (Arlington Heights, IL), March 18, 1998


ZURICH, April 9 (Reuters) - Fragrance and flavour maker Givaudan said it was aiming to outpace the market with 4-5 percent sales growth after recent acquisitions and solid demand boosted business in the first quarter of 2019.
Givaudan, which makes flavours for food and drinks and fragrances for perfumes and washing powder, is benefiting as its customers increase the pace of innovation, particularly for natural ingredients.
Sales were up 6.3 percent on a like-for-like basis, ahead of a forecast for 5.3 percent in a Reuters poll. On a reported basis, including acquisitions, they rose 16.6 percent.


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Q: PHP Password Encrypting Issues I am trying to create a login and registration system for my website, however I would like to use a more secure password encryption method than md5 but I am running into issues.
function register_user($register_data) {
array_walk($register_data, 'array_sanitize');
$register_data['password'] = password_hash($register_data['password'], PASSWORD_BCRYPT, ['cost' => 10]);

$fields = '`' . implode('`, `', array_keys($register_data)) . '`';
$data = '\'' . implode('\', \'', $register_data) . '\'';

mysql_query("INSERT INTO `users` ($fields) VALUES ($data)");
email($register_data['email'], 'Activate your account', "
Hello " . $register_data['first_name'] . ",\n\nYou need to activate your account, so use the link below:\n\nhttp://thepuzzler.net/activate.php?email=" . $register_data['email'] . "&email_code=" . $register_data['email_code'] . " \n\n -ThePuzzler");      }

This is my register function which I haven't had issues with because when a user registers, the BCRYPT password is stored in my database. The issue is verifying the user.
function login($username, $password) {

$user_id = user_id_from_username($username);
$username = sanitize($username);
$password = password_hash($password, PASSWORD_BCRYPT, ['cost' => 10]);

return (mysql_result(mysql_query("SELECT COUNT(`user_id`) FROM `users` WHERE `username` = '$username' AND `password` = '$password'"), 0) == 1) ? $user_id : false;     }

That is my login system and when I try to login, I fetch my own error of the username or password is incorrect. This sis because I think that the encrypted passwords are not matching up. So I think it has to do with the line where I create the $password variable and encrypt it.
Also, in my database the password column is a varchar(64). Thanks for your help

A: The password_hash() function generates an inidividual salt on each call. To verify the password, you will need the password_verify() function.
So you will need to get the password hash from the database and pass it alongside the entered password to password_verify().
Edit:
Like this:
function login($username, $password) {
    $usernameForDb = mysql_real_escape_string($username);
    $hashFromDb = mysql_result(mysql_query("SELECT password FROM users WHERE username = '$usernameForDb'"));
    $isValid = password_verify($password, $hashFromDb);
    if ($isValid) {
        // user is accepted, get userID
        return user_id_from_username($username);
    }
    return false;
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
SBU News > Awards and Honors > Violinist Jennifer Gersten Wins 2018 Rubin Prize in Music Criticism
Awards and HonorsNews HighlightsStony Brook MattersStudent Spotlight
Violinist Jennifer Gersten Wins 2018 Rubin Prize in Music Criticism
Jennifer Gersten
Jennifer Gersten, a DMA candidate in the Department of Music at Stony Brook University, has been chosen as winner of the 2018 Rubin Prize in Music Criticism for demonstrating outstanding promise in music criticism. The $10,000 award is given by the Stephen and Cynthia Rubin Institute for Music Criticism at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music (SFCM).
"The time and attention that we've received from the critics over the past week has been remarkable," commented Gersten. "I can't really encapsulate what it feels like to be in the room with the people whose writing you were raised on, and hear how you can improve your work. I'm so grateful for this prize and for the opportunity to learn in this environment."
In addition to the cash prize, Gersten will be offered an internship with the San Francisco Classical Voice (SFCV), a major Bay Area music publication. As part of SFCV's Emerging Writers Program, she will write one review a month under the mentorship of some of SFCV's most highly accomplished music critics.
"Jennifer's reviews were filled with trenchant observations, wit, and authority," remarked Anne Midgette, The Washington Post critic and author. "More to the point, they were so well written—whether describing a jazz singer's costume so vividly you felt you were in the room with her, or dryly dismissing a new work as 'John Williams without the melodies'—that they were always a pleasure to read."
About Jennifer Gersten
Jennifer Gersten, from Queens, New York, is a violinist pursuing her DMA at Stony Brook University as a student of Arnaud Sussmann, Jennifer Frautschi, Hagai Shaham and Phil Setzer. She has participated in chamber music intensives with Gil Kalish and Tina Dahl, and performed in solo and chamber master classes with Almita Vamos, Joseph Kalichstein and members of the Emerson String Quartet. Her summer experiences include Bowdoin, where she was a member of the full-scholarship fellowship program; Colorado College Summer Music Festival; Aspen, and Eastern Music Festival, where she was a winner of the annual concerto competition.
In 2016, Gersten received her bachelor's in English and creative writing from Yale University, where she won the senior Wrexham Prize for music and served as co-concertmaster of the Yale Symphony Orchestra and editor of the Yale Daily News Magazine. She is a senior editor for Guernica: A Magazine of Global Arts and Politics, and has held internships at NPR Music and the Toledo, Ohio-based paper The Blade. Her reporting, essays,and music reviews have been published or are forthcoming in The Kenyon Review Online, The Awl, NPR Music, Guernica, Harvard Magazine, WQXR, and Bachtrack.
Adventures in Orchestral Music Family Concert, March 6
Stony Brook's Margaret Schedel Weighs in on AI Music
Ken Dill Awarded Max Delbruck Prize
music criticism Rubin Prize
Awards and HonorsCollege of Arts & SciencesResearchStudent Spotlight
SBU Graduate Student a Finalist for Indianapolis Prize Inaugural Emerging Conservationist Award
Biologist Fanny Cornejo is one of ten students who could win $50,000 to advance her work.
AcademicsEventsMedicineNews HighlightsOn CampusSchool of MedicineSTEMUniversity
Wang Center to Host US-EU Conference on Endogenous DNA Damage and Repair
Register now for the seventh annual conference, which will be held at the Wang Center from November 6-9.
College of Arts & SciencesGlobalNews HighlightsResearchSoMAS
Research Predicts Massive Increase in Drought-Induced Migration
A recent study led by SBU researchers suggests that human migration due to droughts will increase by at least 200 percent as we move through the 21st century.
Physics and Astronomy Faculty Earn NSF Early CAREER Awards
SBU Basketball Red Out Is Coming January 12


Summer Abraham also played in 2016.
Jackson Coleman also played in 2016.
Matt Hurley also played in 2016.
Kenny Pontikes also played in 2016 and 2018.
Ana Pranger also played in 2015 and 2016.
Alex Reuter also played in 2015 and 2016.
Chetan Vadali also played in 2016 and 2018.
Tejas Vadali also played in 2018.


Whether at a home marina or transient slip, dock water can be unpalatable, full of spot-forming minerals and occasionally unsafe to drink. FCI Watermakers' three models of DTS (Dockside Treatment System) make up to 3,000 gallons of fresh, clear water every day - the average daily needs of ten typical American families.
Aside from refilling onboard water supplies, the innovative DTS line is ideal for everyday needs such as drinking, cooking, cleaning and bathing. It removes 100% of viruses, cysts and bacteria, making even the most questionable supply potable.
DTS also removes 99% of total dissolved solids, so after wash downs, a spot-free deck, hull and glass without extensive hand drying. This dramatically extends a boat's paint and wax life, and the vessel look showroom new.
The DTS+Solo is a compact, stand-alone model that is self-contained, complete with high-output pump, motor and membranes. It can also be installed at deck level.
If the boat has an FCI Aquamiser+ or Max-Q+ watermaker, the DTS+ or DTS+Auto are the perfect addition. They are plumbed in-line, so they do not require additional pumps or motors.
All DTS models are highly efficient and recover a minimum of 70% of dock water using minimal power. They are quiet, vibration-free and available in a compact framed or space-saving modular design.
The DTS line is built in the USA to the same high standards as FCI's renowned watermakers. They use easily obtainable, non-proprietary components and standard sized parts and disposables for peace-of-mind when far away from the vessel's homeport.
FCI Watermakers' DTS line starts at $2,300.
Owners looking to boost the performance of their outboard or stern drive-powered boats turn to Whale Tail XL from Davis Instruments. The aluminum stabilizer and ski boat fin accelerates time to plane, reduces unsafe porpoising and side-to-side motion, and levels out the ride in rough water.
The innovative device utilizes hydrodynamics. As a propeller spins, it creates a strong current of water behind it. Whale Tail XL's unique design harnesses this energy by directing it fully aft, transforming the lost upwards flow into powerful lift.
For most, this translates into increased top speed and better fuel efficiency. With the Whale Tail XL, it is easier and faster to bring skiers up out of the water and it flattens the wake for skid-free turns. It stabilizes and lowers bow-light boats, increasing visibility for enhanced safety.
Whale Tail XL is designed for boats of all kinds, including RIBs, pontoons and sailboats. Built to last, it is manufactured from a solid, rigid plate of anodized, marine grade aluminum, making it ideal for fresh or saltwater. It is easily installed on the anti-cavitation plate of all outboards and stern drives in 15 minutes using common household tools and the supplied stainless steel hardware.
Davis Instruments' Whale Tail XL costs $67.99.
Even the most seasoned mariner finds it difficult to stay below when noxious smells from a sanitation system waft through the cabin. With a mere four ounces added to a 25 gallon holding tank, K.O. (Kills Odors) from Raritan Engineering organically neutralizes the cause of odors at its source, and leaves everything smelling clean and fresh.
K.O. isn't a chemical. It is a premium bioactive formula that is better for the environment. Unlike some treatments that rely on harsh ingredients and require special precautions, K.O. is safe, non-toxic and non-caustic.
It is also more effective. Chemicals temporarily mask unpleasant smells and can often contribute to the root cause. K.O. utilizes live, odor-killing bacteria that break down and digest liquid and solid waste and paper. Because it emulsifies everything, there is no need to use tissue digesters; pump-outs are clog-free.
Due to its unique, environmentally friendly formula, K.O. should not be used in combination with chemical bowl cleaners. Raritan's C.P. (Cleans Potties!) is the perfect match, keeping the toilet sparkling-clean while eliminating odors from the raw water intake line.
Direct from Raritan, K.O. is $15.50 for 22 oz. and $52 a gallon.


Hollywood has long championed riveting, stereotype-defying, and nuanced roles for actresses set in – or connected to – outer space. It's hardly surprising, as women on earth continue to strive for full social, economic, and political equality, space-centric narratives can offer partial freedom from some of society's deeply entrenched gender barriers. Plus, there's just something about watching women interact with the cosmos onscreen, whether from the window of a spaceship or through the eye of a telescope lens, that reaffirms a sense of real possibility and endless mystery – a welcome relief in today's unsettling and frequently despairing political climate. To honour this, we've chosen five of our favourite films featuring outspoken, adventurous, and brave female characters who, whether leading rebel armies through the galaxy or doing the math required to make space exploration possible, pioneer the idea that women can – and should – aim for the stars.
Even after her untimely passing in December at age 60, Carrie Fisher – the beloved actress best known for her recurring turn as Star Wars's rebel princess – continues to burn brightly in her fans' minds. As The New York Times described her in its obituary, Fisher was "a damsel who could very much deal with her own distress," gold bikini, side buns and all. An outspoken and powerful presence onscreen and off, the iconic actress and feminist role model who brought Princess Leia to life also served as a vocal champion of dismantling stigma around mental health and addiction. As Fisher advised during a 2013 talk to anyone fearful of pursuing his or her dreams in the face of mental illness, "Stay afraid, but do it anyway. What's important is the action. You don't have to wait to be confident. Just do it and eventually the confidence will follow." There's no doubt that through her own bravery, both personally and professionally, Fisher left a lasting mark on this galaxy for decades to come.
Hidden Figures, the recently released film based on Margot Lee Shetterly's book by the same name, shines a light on three long-overlooked heroines who helped to make space exploration a reality. Directed by Theodore Melfi and co-produced by Pharrell Williams, it tells the true story of three African-American mathematicians stationed in NASA in the early 1960s: Dorothy Vaughan, NASA's first African-American supervisor, played by Oscar-winning actress Octavia Spencer; Katherine Johnson, a brilliant mathematician who calculated the trajectories for Glenn's Friendship 7 mission, played by Taraji P. Henson; and Mary Jackson, a trailblazing aeronautical engineer, played by singer and actress Janelle Monáe. The film also corrects a significant historical oversight: beyond the group of white men who contributed to John Glenn's successful blast off into space and orbit of Earth in 1962, these women's roles as human "computers" proved crucial to the success of the space program. At last, their mathematical and engineering prowess – which they honed despite working in the segregated South, with its rampant racial discrimination – is finally getting the credit it deserves. Particularly at a time when young women's leadership in STEM-related fields remains disappointingly low, unearthing these women's remarkable stories, both in print and onscreen, feels more urgent than ever.
Based on the novel of the same name by the late astrophysicist Carl Sagan (alongside his Cosmos co-writer Ann Druyan), Contact (1997) finds then-35-year-old actress and director Jodie Foster playing a scientist whose greatest challenge, beyond striving to prove the presence of alien life, lies in combatting the deeply ingrained sexism displayed in her male-dominated workplace. Foster plays Dr. Ellie Arroway, a leading member of the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) program who's tasked with decoding what a mystery alien message means for the future of humanity (all in a day's work, of course). Watching Foster's Dr. Arroway grapple with a range of both scientific and ethical questions underscores the importance of developing complex leading roles for women; especially in the often explosion-heavy yet emotionally lacking sci-fi genre. Through her demonstration of empathy and a genuine desire to connect with life beyond earth, Foster contributed a smart, thought-provoking performance to the big-budget sci-fi oeuvre. Contact still stands out as a film ahead of its time in its depiction of a strong, scientifically savvy woman.
While the sci-fi genre has come a long way since the Ridley Scott-directed, British-American film Alien premiered at London's Odeon Leicester Square in September 1979, Sigourney Weaver's knockout portrayal of Ellen Louise Ripley remains revolutionary for its time. The film earned Weaver, who was then just 29 years old, worldwide recognition. Yet her turn in the leading role of Ripley (originally conceived as a male character) proved just how impactful – not to mention financially lucrative – placing a spit-fiery woman at the centre of a horror-film-slash-alien-flick could be. As the film critic Roger Ebert wrote in his review, "Weaver, who is on screen almost all the time, comes through with a very strong, sympathetic performance: she's the thread that holds everything together". Indeed, neither a woman with a love interest at the heart of her story nor a helpless victim incapable of standing up for herself, Weaver's Ripley comes across as equal parts heroine and survivor in the face of a high-danger extraterrestrial out to kill the crew of a spaceship. While Weaver's role in Alien inevitably left room for improvement, given the decidedly male gaze that dictated some of her key onscreen moments, it nevertheless marked a bold new moment for women in film to assume more powerful, unpredictable, front-and-centre roles – in the outer reaches of space and beyond.


text:
Face & Places
St. Helena Star
The Weekly Calistogan
American Canyon Eagle
Napa Wine Taste
Napa, CA (94559)
Rain. High 54F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch..
Showers tapering off in the evening with foggy conditions overnight. Low 41F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 30%.
Chicago White Sox catcher James McCann before a game Thursday, Aug. 29, 2019, at Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune/TNS)
Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune/TNS
All-Star catcher James McCann agrees to a 1-year, $5.4 million deal with the White Sox
By Lamond Pope, Chicago Tribune
CHICAGO - James McCann had a career year in 2019 with the White Sox.
He'll have to adapt to a new role in 2020 because of the team's acquisition of fellow catcher Yasmani Grandal, but he's still part of the Sox's plans.
McCann and the club avoided arbitration, agreeing Monday to a one-year, $5.4 million deal for 2020. He'll be a free agent after the 2020 season.
The McCann signing comes less than two weeks after the Sox signed Grandal to a four-year, $73 million contract, the largest in team history, on Nov. 21.
"Having too many guys who are quality big leaguers is a good thing, not something we view as a problem," general manager Rick Hahn said of Grandal and McCann on Nov. 21.
On Monday the Sox also tendered contracts to arbitration-eligible outfielder/infielder Leury Garcia, starting pitcher Carlos Rodon and relievers Alex Colome and Evan Marshall.
The Sox non-tendered second baseman Yolmer Sanchez. Last week, they reportedly placed Sanchez on outright waivers. The Gold Glove winner was projected to earn $6.2 million in arbitration, according to mlbtraderumors.com.
The Sox also announced they declined to tender contracts to pitchers Ryan Burr and Caleb Frare and released pitcher Thyago Vieira so he can pursue an opportunity to play in Japan.
McCann, 29, had a career-high 476 plate appearances this year, but that number may shrink in 2020 with Grandal in the catching mix.
The Sox could also use McCann at designated hitter as part of a rotation with Grandal, Jose Abreu and Zack Collins.
"The addition of a catcher of (Grandal's) caliber along with Mac, who has certainly helped us move some of these guys along in a very, very positive way, bodes well for us," Sox manager Rick Renteria said last week.
McCann reached career highs in home runs (18) and RBIs (60) and made the All-Star team for the first time in his career in 2019. He became the Sox first All-Star catcher since A.J. Pierzynski in 2006.
McCann had a .273/.328/.460 slash line. He had a .316 batting average in the first half but hit only .226 after the All-Star break.
McCann also played an instrumental role in the development of the young pitching staff, including ace Lucas Giolito.
"The game planning, everything he brings to this team is amazing," Giolito said of McCann on June 30.
Colome, who finished tied for fourth in the American League with 30 saves, went 4-5 with a 2.80 ERA in 62 appearances. He had 55 strikeouts and 23 walks in 61 innings. Colome held opposing batters to a .191 average for the season, but it was .265 after the All-Star break.
The closer is projected by mlbtraderumors.com to earn $10.3 million in arbitration.
The projection for Garcia is $4 million. Garcia had a .279/.310/.378 slash line with 27 doubles, eight home runs and 40 RBIs in 140 games. He provides versatility with the ability to play almost everywhere. Garcia started at least one game at second base, third base, shortstop and all three outfield positions in 2019.
Garcia could be in line to take over for Sanchez at second base until prospect Nick Madrigal is ready.
Rodon went 3-2 with a 5.19 ERA in seven starts before undergoing season-ending Tommy John surgery in May. The 2014 first-round draft pick is projected to earn $4.5 million. The Sox are pursuing at least one starting pitcher this offseason, and with Michael Kopech also coming back from Tommy John surgery, it will be interesting to see Rodon's role once he is ready to return.
Marshall, who is projected to earn $1.3 million, joined Colome and Aaron Bummer in stabilizing the back end of the bullpen. The reliever went 4-2 with a 2.49 ERA and 19 holds in 55 appearances. He had 41 strikeouts and 24 walks in 50 2/3 innings.
With Monday's moves, the Sox's 40-man roster is at 36.
Visit the Chicago Tribune at www.chicagotribune.com
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text:
Hal Habib
Palm Beach Post
You almost had to twist Brian Flores' arm to admit it, and even in HD you could easily miss it, but the players didn't.
The Dolphins' 43-17 rout of the San Francisco 49ers was so decisive that even with four minutes remaining, Flores allowed himself to crack a smile. We'll get into the incident that led to Flores momentarily letting his guard down, but there are more pressing takeaways from a blowout nobody saw coming.
First, not even San Francisco's fog could obscure the idea that the difference between 2-3 (the Dolphins' record today) and 1-4 (the Dolphins' record everybody expected) feels bigger than one game.
Instead of eyeing January tee times, there's now an extreme likelihood of hitting the bye week .500. The only thing standing in their way is a suddenly rejiggered schedule that gifted the Dolphins a home game against the New York Jets on Sunday.
Bye one, get one free, you could say.
The Jets represent so much of what the Dolphins aren't. The Jets are winless, with a coach, Adam Gase, struggling to find answers.
Flores? He's picking spare answers out of his couch cushions, lining them up and creating that ever-elusive gem called complementary football.
Offense? Ryan Fitzpatrick, the guy everybody wanted to replace a week ago, has put up 300 yards in all but two of his past seven outings. His passer rating Sunday (154.4) and completion percentage (78.6) put him in rarified air in team history and in his locker room.
"He's the greatest teammate I've played with," tight end Mike Gesicki said Monday. " … The thing that makes him special is that he makes the guys around him better players.
"If I could play with him for the next 15 years, I would do it. He's the man."
Fifteen years on, Fitz would be a 52-year-old quarterback and Tua Tagovailoa might be done losing his lunch. But hey, the way the offense was clicking against an admittedly depleted 49ers defense, confidence should be up there.
This game had Dolphins researchers combing the record books for the last time points came this easily (2015), especially on the road (1986). Fitzpatrick's receivers performed at the high level expected all along — especially if your expectations were such that you see third-and-goal from the 22 and picture six points. DeVante Parker did. It was the first time since 2001 anybody in the league had pulled out a touchdown from so deep in the goal-to-go hat.
Photos: Miami Dolphins face San Francisco 49ers in NFL Week 5 action
On the flip side, a defense that gave up 217 rushing yards in one game and 411 passing in another finally fielded its ideal, healthy personnel. Five sacks, eight quarterback hits, seven passes defensed, two interceptions and a fumble recovery left 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan, an innovative offensive mind, out of ideas.
"It's the culmination of everything — the combination of everything together — that makes a special performance," cornerback Byron Jones said.
Later, Jones added, "Yeah, we celebrate this one, no question. But it's understanding just how good you have to be on a weekly basis in order to show up every single game or you will get embarrassed."
In Flo-speak, it does accentuate how good they have to be. For the rest of us, it's a validation of how good they can be.
Which brings us to those closing four minutes. Defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah fought off his man, stuck out an arm and swiped the ball from quarterback C.J. Beathard. Defensive tackle Christian Wilkins fell on it, then ran to the sideline and stuck the ball in Flores' chest. What's that? Normally players wait until a game is over to present their coach a game ball? Well, this one was.
"I don't know why Christian did that," Jones said. "Christian's a fool, so he's going to find a way to have fun with the game. It was funny to see."
Flores, as per COVID protocol, was wearing his mask, but Jones swore he could see right through it.
"Flo was definitely smiling," Jones said. "Don't let him fool you."
Guilty, Flores said.
"I don't know if they saw that, but if they think they did, it's probably a good assumption," he said.
That's only two-thirds of the story. We would say Danny Crossman's special teams have been nearly flawless, but that would be selling kicker Jason Sanders short. He has been flawless on 14 field-goal tries, five shy of the team record.
Put it together, what do you have?
"For me, that was the exciting part about signing here, was being part of a team that's up and coming, being a part of the foundation of a team that's going to be successful in the future," Jones said.
Sure, the Dolphins could waste this one. Could. Then again, you might want to make a mental bookmark of the October afternoon when the Dolphins blew the Super Bowl runners-up out of their own stadium.
More:Miami Dolphins' Ryan Fitzpatrick nearly perfect vs. 49ers: 'It didn't surprise us at all'
More:Miami Dolphins: Five takeaways from blowout win over San Francisco 49ers
More:Schad: Brian Flores' Miami Dolphins prepared for anything and did not flinch


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Kenyon Zimmer, Immigrants against the State: Yiddish and Italian Anarchism in America
Posted December 21, 2020 jfadmin
Their description: "The worlds that anarchists left behind, the worlds in which they lived, and the worlds they strove to create
From the 1880s through the 1940s, tens of thousands of first- and second-generation immigrants embraced the anarchist cause after arriving on American shores. Kenyon Zimmer explores why these migrants turned to anarchism and how their adoption of its ideology shaped their identities, experiences, and actions.
Zimmer focuses on Italians and Eastern European Jews in San Francisco, New York City, and Paterson, New Jersey. Tracing the movement's changing fortunes from the pre–World War I era through the Spanish Civil War, Zimmer argues that anarchists, opposed to both American and Old World nationalism, severed all attachments to their nations of origin but also resisted assimilation into their host society. Their radical cosmopolitan outlook and identity instead embraced diversity and extended solidarity across national, ethnic, and racial divides. Though in the end unable to withstand the onslaught of Americanism and other nationalisms, the movement nonetheless provided an important example of a transnational collective identity delinked from the nation-state and racial hierarchies."
⟵William Beezley, "Mexicans in Revolution, 1910-1946" (University of Nebraska Press, 2009)
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