Philip Baldi
Philip Baldi is an American linguist and classical scholar specializing in Indo-European studies. He is Professor Emeritus of Linguistics and Classics at Pennsylvania State University.
Scranton, Pennsylvania, US
University of Scranton (BA)
University of Rochester (MA, PhD)
Sub-discipline
Indo-European studies
BiographyEdit
Baldi was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania.[1] He received his B.A. from the University of Scranton in Classics in 1968, his M.A. and Ph.D. in Linguistics from the University of Rochester in 1971 and 1973, respectively.[1] He was appointed Professor of Linguistics and Classics at Pennsylvania State University in 1981. Baldi specializes in Indo-European studies, on which he is the author of numerous books and articles.
^ a b Cuzzolin, Pierluigi (2010). Page, Richard; Rubin, Aaron (eds.). "A Personal Portrait: Philippo Baldi, Magistro Atque Amico, Fraterno Dicatum Animo". Studies in Classical Linguistics in Honor of Philip Baldi. Amsterdam Studies in Classical Philology (17). doi:10.1163/ej.9789004188662.i-168. ISBN 9789004188662.
"Curriculum Vitae. Philip Baldi" (PDF). Pennsylvania State University. Retrieved August 30, 2019.
Philip Baldi at WorldCat
Philip Baldi at LinkedIn
Philip Baldi at the website of Pennsylvania State University
This biography of a United States linguist is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Philip_Baldi&oldid=993336866"


Some of these organs, such as the pineal gland (PG), subcommissur
Posted on January 31, 2019 by nart4070
Some of these organs, such as the pineal gland (PG), subcommissural organ (SCO), and organum vasculosum of the lamina terminalis, might be the sites of origin of
periventricular tumors, notably pineal parenchymal tumors, papillary tumor of the pineal region and chordoid glioma. In contrast to the situation in humans, CVOs are present in the adult rat and can be dissected by laser capture microdissection (LCM). In this study, we used LCM and microarrays to analyze the transcriptomes of three CVOs, the SCO, the subfornical organ (SFO), and the PG and the third ventricle ependyma this website in the adult rat, in order to better characterize these organs at the molecular level. Several genes were expressed only, or mainly, in one of these structures, for example, Erbb2 and Col11a1 in the ependyma, Epcam and Claudin-3 (CLDN3) in the SCO, Ren1 and Slc22a3 in the SFO and Tph, Aanat and Asmt in the PG. The expression of these genes in periventricular tumors should be examined as evidence for a possible origin from the CVOs. Furthermore, we performed an immunohistochemical study
of CLDN3, a membrane protein involved in forming selleck inhibitor cellular tight junctions and found that CLDN3 expression was restricted to the apical pole of ependymocytes in the SCO. This microarray study provides new evidence regarding the possible origin Dynein of some rare periventricular tumors. "
"Formation of cytoplasmic aggregates in neuronal and glial cells is one of the pathological hallmarks of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Mutations in two genes encoding transactivation response (TAR) DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43)
and fused in sarcoma (FUS), both of which are main constituents of cytoplasmic aggregates, have been identified in patients with familial and sporadic ALS. Impairment of protein degradation machineries has also been recognized to participate in motoneuron degeneration in ALS. In the present study, we produced recombinant adenovirus vectors encoding wild type and mutant TDP-43 and FUS, and those encoding short hairpin RNAs (shRNAs) for proteasome (PSMC1), autophagy (ATG5), and endosome (VPS24) systems to investigate whether the coupled gene transductions in motoneurons by these adenoviruses elicit ALS pathology. Cultured neurons, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes differentiated from adult rat neural stem cells and motoneurons derived from mouse embryonic stem cells were successfully infected with these adenoviruses showing cytoplasmic aggregate formation. When these adenoviruses were injected into the facial nerves of adult rats, exogenous TDP-43 and FUS proteins were strongly expressed in facial motoneurons by a retrograde axonal transport of the adenoviruses.
In turn, WT Tc17 cells presented cell-bound IL-17A to Th17 cells
In turn, WT Tc17 cells presented cell-bound IL-17A to Th17 cells to promote their pathogenicity. Th17 cells in turn accumulated in high numbers in the CNS and strongly produced IL-17A [24]. Therefore, the resistance Selleck Sirolimus of Irf4–/– mice to MOG37–50-induced EAE is caused by a combination of defects in the development of type 17 CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell responses. These findings highlight the crucial role of IRF4 in both T-cell types for establishing CNS autoimmunity. Recently published data try to explain the fundamental functions
of IRF4 during CD4+ T-cell subset specification in the context of Th17-cell differentiation [14-17]. Comparing early events during Th17-cell polarization with click here nonpolarized Th cells, the authors found a hierarchical interplay of transcription factors contributing to Th17 differentiation. In this system, IRF4 operated together with BATF as a "pioneering factor" that promoted chromatin
accessibility to other transcription factors, including STAT3, which together with IRF4–BATF initiated the Th17-specific transcriptional program that was further specified by the lineage-specific transcription factor ROR-γt [17]. As BATF and IRF4 are upregulated already in nonpolarized Th cells, it is conceivable that these factors prepare chromatin accessibility for transcription factors induced by different skewing cytokine conditions, thereby endowing the cells with
the fundamental property to differentiate into any of the specific subtypes. Probably, IRF4 fulfills different functions during this PDK4 course of T-cell differentiation, dependent on its concentration, cell activation stage, and available interacting partner. It is therefore tempting to speculate that the sequence of events executed by IRF4 is similar in all Th-cell subsets, as well as in Tc9 and Tc17 cells. Accordingly, depending on the strength of TCR signaling, IRF4–BATF complexes enable initial opening of chromatin to facilitate co-assembly of STAT or SMAD molecules that are activated by the respective skewing environment. Next, these complexes induce transcription of lineage-specifying transcription factors (e.g. GATA3 for Th2 cells, ROR-γt for Th17 cells, BCL-6 for Tfh cells, and FOXP3 for Treg cells; Fig. 1), which alone or in concert with IRF4 then induce lineage-specific sets of genes. As the transcription factors FOXP3, STAT3, and STAT6 upregulate IRF4, feed-forward loops are induced that reinforce IRF4 expression under Th2-, Th9-, Th17-, Tfh- Treg-, Tc9-, and Tc17-cell-inducing conditions. Interestingly, in B cells IRF4 acts as a homodimer at high concentrations, activating the transcription of distinct genes via binding to ISRE, whereas at low amounts it forms mainly IRF4–ETS heterodimers that operate via EICE binding [54]. It is probable that such mechanisms also apply for T cells.
Egr-2-expressing CD4+CD25−LAG3+ Treg cells are Foxp3-negative, IL
Egr-2-expressing CD4+CD25−LAG3+ Treg cells are Foxp3-negative, IL-10-producing T cells and are enriched in Peyer's patch [21]. Our observation that IL-27 induces CD4+Egr2+LAG3+ T cells may be associated with IL-27-mediated control of gut homeostasis; high throughput screening compounds however, a more detailed investigation is required to elucidate the role of IL-27 in keeping intestinal homeostasis. It has been well documented that stimulation of T cells through TCR in the absence of
co-stimulation can result in long-term hyporesponsiveness to subsequent stimulation, which is termed anergy. It has been also reported that Egr-2 is required for the full induction of T-cell anergy [20, 40]. Egr-2 expression is rapidly induced within 6 h after TCR stimulation [41] and our results indicated that although IL-27-mediated Egr-2 induction was dependent on TCR stimulation, the TCR signal was not sufficient to support sustained Egr-2 expression. In addition to IL-27, another STAT3 activating cytokine, IL-6, also induced expressions of Egr-2, Blimp-1, and IL-10.
This result was consistent with a previous report in which IL-6 induced STAT3-mediated production of IL-10 in CD4+ T cells [17] and suggested that not only STAT1-STAT3 heterodimers in response to IL-27 stimulation but also STAT3 homodimers in response to IL-6 stimulation NVP-BGJ398 in vitro could induce Egr-2 expression. However, IL-27 induces Blimp-1 and IL-10 more efficiently than IL-6 and the involvement of STAT1 should be addressed further. It is well known that IL-2 has paradoxical functions in T-cell homeostasis, acting as a T-cell growth factor and having a crucial function in the maintenance of self-tolerance. Sun et al. [26] reported that the effective induction of IL-10-producing CD8+ CTLs Vildagliptin by IL-27 requires the presence of IL-2, and that the IL-2-IL-27-mediated induction of IL-10 as well as the IL-27-mediated
induction of IL-10 was Blimp-1 dependent. However, we observed that the addition of IL-2 did not up-regulate IL-10 and Blimp-1 mRNA induction levels by IL-27 in CD4+ T cells. In addition, IL-2 showed no synergistic effect on IL-27-induced Egr-2 and LAG-3 expressions in our experiments. This result is consistent with the fact that increased Egr-2 level by Ag activation was not affected by the addition of IL-2 in peptide treatment-induced CD4+ Treg cells [42]. These observations suggest that Blimp-1 is important for IL-27-induced IL-10 production both in CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, but the pathway leading to the activation of Blimp-1 is differently regulated between these cells. Egr-2-expressing CD4+CD25−LAG3+ Treg cells are anergic and have regulatory activities at least in part via IL-10 production. Because our results showed that Egr-2 is indispensable for the full production of IL-10 in CD4+ T cells after IL-27 stimulation, Egr-2 could be one of the molecular links between anergy and IL-10 production in CD4+ T cells.
The KPIs require further evaluation and monitoring but adoption o
The KPIs require further evaluation and monitoring but adoption of a similar program by other jurisdictions could lead to improved national outcomes. "
"Aim: Metallic phosphate binders require acidity to dissociate to the free metallic ion and bind phosphorus. Altered gastric acidity may, therefore, influence phosphate-binding efficacy. We evaluated
the clinical effect of pantoprazole on the efficacy of calcium carbonate phosphate binders in haemodialysis patients. Methods: The study had two parts: a cross-sectional study (n = 67), and an interventional, crossover, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial in 26 patients given pantoprazole 40 mg daily or placebo for two consecutive 6-week periods. Results: The cross-sectional study showed no difference anti-CTLA-4 antibody inhibitor between those on and off acid suppressants in phosphate (1.43 ± 0.45 vs 1.46 ± 0.31 mmol/L, P = 0.782) or other parameters except age (72.2 ± 9.8 vs 63.8 ± 14.8 years, AZD1208 order P = 0.01). In the interventional study, phosphate was higher during pantoprazole than placebo (1.59 ± 0.3 vs 1.42 ± 0.3 mmol/L, P = 0.005). Serum calcium (2.37 ± 0.2 vs 2.46 ± 0.2 mmol/L, P = 0.012) and ionized calcium (1.17 ± 0.1 vs 1.22 ± 0.1 mmol/L, P = 0.013) were lower during pantoprazole
treatment. CaxPO4 (3.76 ± 0.7 vs 3.48 ± 0.7 mmol2/L2, P = 0.032) and intact parathyroid hormone (31.9 ± 21.4 vs 23.6 ± 17.7 pmol/L, P = 0.004) were higher on pantoprazole. Conclusion: These results demonstrate clinical evidence for
an adverse effect of gastric acid suppression on the effectiveness of calcium carbonate phosphate binders. Given their frequent co-prescription, this interaction ID-8 may be a minor but common reason why some patients fail to control hyperphosphataemia. Clinicians should regularly assess the need for acid suppressants. Further studies are needed to investigate interactions with other phosphate binders. "
"Although calcimimetics cinacalcet can reduce parathyroid hormone level and control secondary hyperparathyroidism in end-stage renal disease patients, risk of vascular calcification remains high. Whether cinacalcet can further reduce vascular damage or arterial stiffness is unknown. We studied the effect of cinacalcet in 33 peritoneal dialysis patients with inadequately controlled secondary hyperparathyroidism despite standard treatment. The primary outcome was the aortic pulse wave velocity at 26 and 52 months after cinacalcet treatment. The pulse wave velocity was compared with that of a matched control cohort of 37 peritoneal dialysis patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism. Thirty-three patients completed the cinacalcet treatment, after median dialysis duration of 1.0 year. Significant improvement of parathyroid hormone level was achieved after 52 weeks, from 87.5 ± 28.7 pmol/L to 34.5 ± 45.5 pmol/L (P < 0.0001).
Baboons (Papio anubis, from the CNRS Primatology Center, Rousset,
Baboons (Papio anubis, from the CNRS Primatology Center, Rousset, France) were negative for all quarantine tests, including a tuberculin skin test. Animals were housed at the large animal facility of our laboratory following the recommendations of the Institutional Ethical Guidelines of the Institut National de la Santé Et de la Recherche Médicale, France. All experiments were performed under general anaesthesia with Zoletil (Virbac, Carron, France). Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic
studies were performed during DTH experiments on five baboons receiving an i.v. bolus of either 1 mg/kg or 0·1 mg/kg of chimeric A9H12. Chimeric A9H12 was quantified in baboon sera using a specific sandwich ELISA. LAG-3-Ig (Immutep, Orsay, France) was immobilized on plastic at pH 9·5 overnight at a concentration of 5 µg/ml. After saturation with
5% gelatin at 37°C for 2 h, serum diluted PLX3397 in vivo in PBS-0·05% Tween 20 were incubated for 4 h at room temperature, washed and revealed with a mouse anti-human IgG kappa chain MAPK inhibitor antibody (EFS, Nantes, France) at a 1:2000 dilution, followed by peroxidase-labelled goat anti-mouse antibody (Jackson Immunoresearch, Westgrove, PA, USA) at a 1:5000 dilution. Optical density was recorded at 450 nm after a tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) revelation period of 10 min at room temperature in the dark and addition of 25 µl 1 N sulphuric acid/well. Baboons were immunized intradermally (i.d.) twice with a bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) vaccine (0·1 ml; 2–8 × 105 UFS; Sanofi Pasteur MSD, Lyon, France) in the upper region of the leg, 4 and 2 weeks before the DTH skin test. To investigate antigen-specific T cell immunity before
DTH skin testing, successful immunization was confirmed by interferon (IFN)-γ enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT) assay (non-human primate IFN-γ ELISPOT kit; R&D Systems, Minneapolis, MN, USA) on freshly isolated Olopatadine PBMC, according to the manufacturer's instructions. Intradermal reactions (IDR) were performed with duplicate intradermal injections of two doses (2000 UI or 40 UI) of tuberculin-purified protein derivative (PPD; Symbiotics Corporation, San Diego, CA, USA) in 0·1 ml in the skin on the right back of the animals. Saline (0·1 ml) was used as a negative control. Dermal responses at the injection sites were measured using a caliper square. The diameter of each indurated erythema was measured by two observers from days 3–8, and were considered positive when > 4 mm in diameter. The mean of the reading was recorded. Skin biopsies from the DTH or control (saline) site were performed at day 4 on one duplicate and placed in Tissue Tek optimal cutting temperature (OCT) compound (Sakura Finetek, Villeneuve d'Ascq, France) for immunohistochemical analysis. A second IDR was performed after a 3-week washout period and animals received one i.v. injection of either 1 mg/kg or 0·1 mg/kg of chimeric A9H12 1 day before this second challenge with PPD.
Of note is the fact that this natural anti-NeuGcGM3 antibody
response decreases with age and is absent in most of the NSCLC patients assessed. Healthy human sera were tested by ELISA for the recognition of NeuGcGM3 and NeuAcGM3 gangliosides. In 65 out of 100 donors tested, anti-NeuGcGM3 antibodies of IgM and/or IgG isotype were detected. Only four donors showed a low reactivity against NeuAcGM3 (Fig. 1A). There were no differences between male and female anti-NeuGcGM3 antibody levels (Supporting Information Fig. 1). Previous studies about antibodies against common neuronal gangliosides showed that their levels significantly decreased with age [19]. In order to determine if the natural antibody levels against NeuGcGM3 are affected by age, the antibody response in donors of different ages was compared by ELISA. As shown in Figure 1B, there was a negative correlation between the level inhibitor of the anti-NeuGcGM3 response and the increase of the donors' age. Not only was the level of the anti-NeuGcGM3 response lower, but also the percentage of healthy donors with positive anti-NeuGcGM3 response decreased with age (Fig. 1C). Next, see more we determined whether the lower content of anti-NeuGcM3 anti-bodies in elderly healthy donors was a consequence of a decrease in the concentration of IgM and IgG immunoglobulins. Total IgM
and IgG antibody levels did not decrease with the age of the healthy donors (Supporting
Information Fig. 2). Having evaluated the capacity of healthy human Methocarbamol antibodies to bind the ganglioside NeuGcGM3 by ELISA, we tested whether these antibodies are able to recognize the ganglioside in a natural context, exposed on the cytoplasmic membrane of tumor cells. To do this, the 100 human serum samples were incubated with the murine lymphocytic leukemia cell line L1210, which expresses NeuGcGM3 ganglioside [20]. NeuGcGM3 ganglioside expression on this cell line was confirmed by TLC-immunostaining (Supporting Information Fig. 3), and the antibody binding was measured by flow cytometry. Sera from 40 of the 65 healthy donors with a positive anti-NeuGcGM3 response by ELISA showed binding to L1210 cell line. Five of the sera that did not recognize NeuGcGM3 when tested by ELISA bound to this tumor cell line, presumably by binding to a different antigen. Figure 2A shows the results obtained with sera from three representative healthy donors with different levels of recognition of L1210 cells. To confirm that human serum antibodies recognize NeuGcGM3 ganglioside on the cell surface, we compared binding to L1210 with binding to cells that do not express this ganglioside. NeuGcGM3-negative cells were healthy human PBMCs and L1210 cmah-kd cells, which do not express the enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of N-acetyl to N-glycolyl sialic acid.
The apoptotic cells are rapidly engulfed and digested by phagocyt
The apoptotic cells are rapidly engulfed and digested by phagocytes such as macrophages and immature dendritic cells. The swift engulfment of cell corpses by phagocytes prevents the release of noxious or immunogenic debris from dying cells into the circulation. In the process of apoptosis, the dying cells expose phosphatidylserine on their external membrane in a caspase-dependent manner. This externalization of phosphatidylserine is one of the hallmarks of apoptosis and acts as an "eat me" signal for phagocytes XAV-939 purchase 3. Recently, several molecules
that recognize phosphatidylserine have been identified 4–7. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease caused by multiple genetic and environmental factors 8. Patients with SLE develop a broad spectrum of clinical manifestations affecting the skin, kidney, lungs, blood vessels, and/or nervous system. SLE is also characterized by the presence in sera of autoantibodies against nuclear components (anti-RNP
and anti-DNA antibodies). Unengulfed apoptotic cells can be found in the germinal centers of the lymph nodes of some SLE patients, and macrophages from these patients show a reduced ability to engulf apoptotic cells 9. Furthermore, circulating DNA or nucleosomes can also be found in the sera of SLE patients 10, 11. These results suggest that a deficiency in the clearance of apoptotic cells is one of the causes of SLE. Milk fat globule-EGF factor 8 (MFG-E8) is a glycoprotein. At the N-terminus, it has a EGF-like Y-27632 manufacturer repeat(s), and at the C-terminus, there are two discoidin domains that bind phosphatidylserine. It was originally identified as a component of milk fat globules that bud from the mammary epithelia during lactation. But it is now known to play
important roles in various systems such as involution of mammary glands, adhesion between sperm and egg, repair of intestinal mucosa, and angiogenesis 12. MFG-E8 is secreted by activated macrophages and immature dendritic cells 13, and it promotes the engulfment of apoptotic cells by working as a bridging molecule between apoptotic cells and phagocytes 7. In MFG-E8-knockout mice, many apoptotic TCL cells are left unengulfed in the germinal centers of the spleen 14. The MFG-E8−/− mice produce autoantibodies including anti-cardiolipin and anti-dsDNA antibodies and suffer from an SLE-type autoimmune disease. Human MFG-E8 is maintained at the optimal concentration to support the engulfment of apoptotic cells; in excess, MFG-E8 inhibits phagocytosis and causes autoimmune diseases 15, 16. In this report, we analyzed the human MFG-E8 gene of SLE patients, and found in two female patients an intronic mutation that caused aberrant splicing of intron 6, resulting in the inclusion of a cryptic exon in the transcript.
Swine MHC, also termed swine leukocyte antigen (SLA), was discove
Swine MHC, also termed swine leukocyte antigen (SLA), was discovered by Vaiman in 1970 (3). The SLA cluster of genes is divided Microtubule Associated inhibitor into three groups of linked genes: SLA class I (SLA-I), SLA class II (SLA-II) and SLA class III (SLA-III). SLA-I has three functional loci: SLA-1, SLA-2 and SLA-3 (4,5). Among these, the SLA-2 locus is easily distinguished
from SLA-1 and SLA-3 by the longer signal peptide than the others. A further dissimilarity to the SLA-1 and SLA-3 loci is in three amino acid residues at the start of the signal peptide (6). The SLA-2 locus might have a more crucial role as an SLA-I molecule (the roles of which include binding and presenting antigen molecules) because it is more polymorphic than the other two SLA-I loci (5,7,8). The Hebao pig is a unique breed reared in China. To study its genetic characteristics, a cloning scheme for Hebao pig SLA-2 was designed and its molecular evolution was analyzed. Hebao pigs were bred on a farm belonging to the Institute of Animal Husbandry of Liaoning Province in China. Fresh spleen tissues were removed from four
pigs for analysis. pMD18-T easy vector, Escherichia coli JM109, avian myeloblastosis virus (AMV) reverse transcriptase, isopropyl β-D-1-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG), 5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl β-D-galactopyranoside (X-gal), T4 DNA Ligase and EcoR I restriction endonuclease were purchased from Takara Biotechnology
(Dalian, China). The TRIzol Total RNA Extraction Kit was purchased from Saracatinib mw Invitrogen (Carlsbad, CA, USA). The GeneClean kit was purchased from BIO 101 (Vista, CA, USA). To amplify the SLA-2 gene from Hebao pig, a pair of primers was used as follows: S1, 5'-AGATGCGGGTCAGGGGCCCTCAAG-3' (located at sites 24–47 in AF464049); S2, 5' -CAGTCCCCACAAGGCAGCTGTCTC-3'. (complementary at sites 1119–1142 in AF464049), then, spleens were removed from four slaughtered Hebao pigs. One hundred milligrams of tissue was cut into Chloroambucil pieces and placed in 1.5-mL Eppendorf tubes to which was added 300 μL TRIzol reagent (Invitrogen). Total RNA was extracted from spleen tissues using TRIzol reagent per the manufacturer's recommendations and the isolated RNA samples were stored at –80° until use for RT-PCR. RT-PCR was carried out according to Gao et al. (9). The PCR products were stored at –20°C for gene cloning. The PCR products were separated on a 1% agarose gel by 1× Tris-acetate-EDTA running buffer electrophoresis. The separated DNA was purified using a DNA recovery kit, and then the purified DNA was ligated to pMD 18-T easy vector according to the manufacturer's recommendations. The mixture was incubated at 4°C overnight, and then transformed into competent E. coli JM109 coated on LB plates containing ampicillin (100 μg/mL), IPTG (40 μg/mL) and X-gal (200 μg/mL).
"The incidence of tinea incognito
(TI) appears to
(TI) appears to have increased over recent years, although no large series of cases has been reported in children. The aim of this study was to analyse the main epidemiological, clinical and microbiological characteristics of TI diagnosed in children in comparison with other tineas. We undertook a retrospective study of 818 tineas diagnosed in children in a referral hospital between 1977 and 2006, concentrating on TI. Of the 54 TI diagnosed, 85% were in the last 15 years. Most children were older than 9 years of age. The most usual clinical forms were tinea corporis (46.3%) and tinea faciei (38.9%). Topical steroids alone had been used to treat 68.5% of the cases. Direct examination was positive in 91.5% of the cases examined. Culture was positive in 85.2% of cases. The most frequently isolated dermatophyte was Trichophyton mentagrophytes (44.4%). This is the largest case series of childhood check details TI reported to
date. TI has increased over recent years and important differences were found between these TI and the other tineas in children over the same period. "
"Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been originally developed for cancer treatment, but recently, it has been successfully employed against microorganisms, including fungi. ATM/ATR inhibitor Chromoblastomycosis is a subcutaneous fungal infection that is recalcitrant to conventional antifungal drug therapy. The most frequent species involved are Foncecaea pedrosoi and Cladophialophora carrionii. The present study aimed to verify the efficacy in vitro of PDT employing methylene
blue (MB) as a photosensitiser and Light emmiting diode (LED) (InGaAl) as the light source. Methylene blue at the concentrations of 16, 32 and 64 μg/mL and LED (InGalP) were employed for 15 min against spores of two isolates of F. pedrosoi and two isolates of C. carrionii. The spores were plated on Sabouraud Dextrose agar Erythromycin and the number of colony forming units was counted after 7–10 days of incubation at 37 °C. The PDT with MB and LED was efficient in reducing the growth of all samples tested. Better results were obtained for the concentration of 32 μg/mL of MB. The treatment proved to be highly effective in killing the samples of F. pedrosoi and Cladophialophora pedrosoi tested in vitro. PDT arises as a promising alternative for the treatment of this subcutaneous infection. "
"Various researchers have concluded that lectins are useful reagents for the study of fungal cell wall surface glycoconjugates. In this study, we evaluated the expression of N-acetyl-d-glucosamine, l-fucose, d-galactose and glucose/mannose on the cell wall surface of Trichophyton tonsurans and other keratinophilic filamentous fungi, using a simple lectin-binding protocol. The fungal cultures used were isolated from soils obtained from public parks by the hair-bait technique.
10 transgenic T cells None of these antibodies, nor the HVEM-Fc
10 transgenic T cells. None of these antibodies, nor the HVEM-Fc molecule, had any significant effect on in vitro B cell proliferation. We elucidated further the requirements for inhibition of in vitro T cell proliferation using a beads-based system to demonstrate that the antibodies that inhibited T cell proliferation in vitro were required to be presented to the T cells in a cis, and
not trans, format relative to the anti-CD3ε stimulus. We also found that the antibodies that inhibited T cell proliferation in vitro had no significant effect on the antibody-captured SB203580 order interleukin (IL)-2 associated with the in vivo activation of DO11.10 T cells transferred to syngeneic recipient BALB/c mice. These data suggest that there may be specific structural requirements for the BTLA molecule to exert its effect on lymphocyte activation and proliferation. Antibodies specific for BTLA (and fluorescently labelled antibodies) were obtained from e-BioSciences (San Diego, CA, USA). Murine BTLA (extracellular domain), murine HVEM (CRD1-4) and mCTLA-4 were made as mouse or human IgG1 Fc fusion
proteins as indicated and expressed in a CHO adherent cell line. Single cell clones were isolated and conditioned medium was harvested over 7 days of production. The proteins were purified with a monoclonal antibody (mAb) select column in the Department of Protein Sciences at Amgen Thousand Oaks. mAb 20A9 was used as an irrelevant mouse IgG1 isotype control SDHB XL184 ic50 antibody specific for the CXCL10 chemokine [29]. Mouse CD4+ T cells were purified from C57BL/6 mouse splenocytes by AutoMACS-negative selection (Miltenyi Biotec, Auburn, CA, USA). In a U-bottomed
96-well plate, 100 000 T cells were activated in vitro by 0·1 µg per plate of hamster anti-mouse CD3ε clone 145-2C11 for 72 h and [3H]-labelled tritium was added to the cell culture medium for the last 18 h; the test reagent was co-immobilized with the activating stimulus at the indicated amounts. In the cross-linked plate, 1 µg per well of a polyclonal goat anti-mFc reagent (Sigma Biochemicals, St Louis, MO, USA) was added at the same time as the activating stimulus and the test reagents were added for the last 18 h at the indicated amounts. Cells were harvested onto a filter after 72 h of stimulation and radioactivity was assessed as a measure of cell proliferation. Analysis of secreted cytokines was by multi-analyte profiling using a kit from LincoPlex (St Charles, MO, USA), as per the manufacturer's instructions. For the bead-based assays, 100 000 T cells in a U-bottomed 96-well plate were activated in vitro by bead-absorbed anti-mouse CD3ε coated at 0·1 µg per 106 cells on tosyl-activated 4·5 µM beads (Dynal Biotech, ASA Corporation/Invitrogen, Oslo, Norway/Carlsbad, CA, USA: catalogue no.


Star Wars: The Black Series Cal Kestis Figure Now Available for Pre-Order
by Laughing Place Disney Newsdesk | Feb 7, 2021 12:22 PM Pacific Time
Tags: Hasbro, Star Wars, The Black Series, Toys
Cal Kestis from EA's Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order is the newest addition to the Star Wars: The Black Series lineup from Hasbro.
Hasbro has announced the newest addition to their popular Star Wars: The Black Series lineup with a Cal Kestis figure from the EA game, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order.
The package includes three figures and three accessories including Cal's droid BD-1.
The 6-inch-scale, poseable figure is exclusive to GameStop and is available for pre-order now for the retail price of $29.99.
It is slated to be released on June 1, 2021.
About "Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order"
Developed by Respawn Entertainment and published by Electronic Arts, the game takes place several years after the events of Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, with the protagonist Cal Kestis being one of the few remaining Jedi, though he was only a Padawan learner when Emperor Palpatine's Order 66 was set into motion.
After his identity and location are revealed to the Empire, Cal must evade the Sith Inquisitors as he visits both new and familiar worlds from Star Wars lore.
Other characters include extremist rebel combatant Saw Gerrera (voiced once again by actor Forest Whitaker) and his mentor Cere Junda (Debra Wilson).
New Star Wars: The Black Series Gaming Great 6-Inch…
Zaalbar Action Figure from "Star Wars: Knights of…
New IG-88 Funko Pop! Figure from the Star Wars…
"Star Wars" Fans Come Together for a Lightsaber…


Buzz Patrol Bollywood Hollywood South Indian Movies Box Office Photos Videos Movie Reviews
Soundarya Rajinikanth to reportedly marry actor-businessman Vishagan Vanangamudi on 11 February
Soundarya Rajinikanth was earlier married to Chennai-based businessman R Ashwin for seven years.
FP Staff January 23, 2019 16:09:09 IST
Filmmaker Soundarya Rajinikanth will reportedly marry actor and businessman Vishagan Vanangamudi in February. According to India Today, the date of the nuptials is 11 February, and the pre-wedding haldi and mehendi festivities will be held on 9 February. Before the wedding ceremony, a pooja will be conducted at Rajinikanth's residence in Poes Garden, Chennai.
Soundarya Rajinikanth and Vishagan Vanangamudi. Image from Twitter @tamil32news
Bangalore Mirror writes that while Soundarya's engagement in 2018 was a low-key, family affair, the wedding will be a grand event at a luxury hotel in MRC Nagar. Her elder sister Aishwarya R Dhanush has reportedly been tasked with inviting the guests.
Mirror and India Today also state that Soundarya is currently shopping for trousseau as she was spotted at a well-known sari store in Chennai.
This will be Soundarya and Vishagan's second marriage. She was earlier married to entrepreneur R Ashwin for seven years, with whom she has a three-year-old son Ved Krishna. Vishagan was married to a magazine editor, Kanikha Kumaran.
Soundarya began her career in film industry as a graphic designer in Sivaji, Chennai 600028 and Sandakozhi. She made her directorial debut with Rajinikanth-starrer Kochadaiiyaan in 2014, which also featured Deepika Padukone. She last directed her brother-in-law Dhanushk and Kajol in Velaiilla Pattadhari 2, also known as VIP 2.
Vishaghan owns a pharmaceutical company and recently starred in Manoj Bheeda's crime thriller Vanjagar Ulagam.
Aishwarya R Dhanush
Buzz Patrol
Buzzpatrol
Creative autonomy necessary, but with safeguards: Anurag Thakur
He said the ministry does receive complaints about content on over-the-top (OTT) platforms, but almost 95% grievances are settled at the level of producers
Veteran Telugu actress Jamuna passes away at 87
She had won the Filmfare award for Hindi Film 'Milan'. Some of her iconic films include 'Missamma', 'Gundamma Katha' and 'Sri Krishna Tulabharam'.
Allu Arjun gives a shoutout for lil Arha as she kick-starts dubbing for Shakuntalam
Allu Arjun's 4-year-old daughter Allu Arha is all set to make her acting debut in Samantha Ruth Prabhu starrer Shaakuntalam
India looking for solutions for many other countries, says UN General Assembly President Csaba Korosi
UN General Assembly President Csaba Korosi will arrive in India today on a three-day visit at the invitation of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar
Kaapa shows Prithiviraj Sukumaran's star power & histrionic muscles
Prithviraj delivers a more implosive performance in Kaapa than his other recent film Kaduva with the same director Shahji Kailas, where there was too much swagger in the performance.
SS Rajamouli is right, RRR is not a Bollywood film, although it aspires to be one
If push comes to shove, RRR is more 'Bollywood' than Bollywood itself. The bromance between Ram Charan and NTR Jr is a direct echo of Amitabh Bachchan and Dharmendra's Jai and Veru act in Ramesh Sippy's Sholay.
RRR: Decoding the energetic song Naatu Naatu that took the world by storm with its impeccable dance moves & upbeat music
RRR has been shortlisted for Oscar Best Original Song. The nominations will be announced on January 24.
Explained: How Thalapathy Vijay's Varisu scored over Thala Ajith's Thunivu at the global box office
Thalapathy Vijay starrer Varisu crossed the Rs 150 crore mark in its opening weekend at the global box office.
Jaya Jaya Jaya Jaya Hey: A bubbling satire on gender stereotypes that loses its fizz
Jaya Jaya Jaya Jaya Hey goes for the jocular even as the wife Jaya lunges for her husband's jugular. Domestic violence as an ongoing joke doesn't really work.


Home › Good News
Track & Field Legends John Carlos And Tommie Smith To Be Inducted Into Olympic Hall Of Fame
Carlos and Smith inspired Black athletes to use their platforms for activism.
Track & field legends John Carlos and Tommie Smith will forever be recognized as trailblazers who utilized their impact and influence in sports to spread awareness about injustice. Over fifty years after they made the bold decision to raise their black-gloved fists during an Olympic medal ceremony to protest against racial discrimination, the two men are receiving a long-overdue honor from the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee, People reported.
U.S. Olympic Committee to Induct Athletes Famous for Fist Protest into Hall of Fame https://t.co/ttWdwrI0Rk
— People (@people) September 24, 2019
The organization recently announced that Smith and Carlos would be inducted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame. While the two athletes were in their prime, the Civil Rights Movement was at its peak. Six months before the 1968 Mexico City Olympic Games, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated. Although the Olympics didn't want to have any involvement in social and political issues, Carlos and Smith believed that it was important to use the global stage they were on to spread awareness about racism in America.
While accepting their medals for the 200 meters competition, they raised their fists during the National Anthem; a moment in time that would forever be embedded in sports history and inspire Black athletes to use their platform as a means for activism for generations to come. Their act of protest did not come without sacrifice. They were suspended from the U.S. team, received death threats, and lost endorsement opportunities.
Five decades later, the organization wants to right their wrong by honoring the two men. Smith and Carlos are humbled by the recognition. "It sends the message that maybe we had to go back in time and make some conscious decisions about whether we were right or wrong," Carlos said in a statement, according to the news outlet. "They've come to the conclusion that, 'Hey man, we were wrong. We were off-base in terms of humanity relative to the human rights era.'"
The two athletes will be inducted alongside basketball legend Lisa Leslie, Paralympians Chris Waddell and Candace Cable, swimmer Dara Torres and others. The induction ceremony is slated to take place on November 1 in Colorado Springs.
Basketball Legend Lisa Leslie To Be Honored With Staples Center Statue
Statue Paying Homage To Tennis Legend Althea Gibson Unveiled At U.S. Open
Black Twitter Throws An Impeachment Party As Democrats Finally Threaten Trump's Presidency
Injustice	, John Carlos	, Olympics	, Racism	, Sports	, Tommie Smith	, Track and Field


New history books (March 2012 edition)
Posted in American, Books by Alex L. on April 21, 2012
Below is a survey of books that were published in the past month or so and look to me like interesting reads (note: I have not actually read these books yet, and these are previews not reviews).
Great books temporarily lend the reader a new set of senses to experience a different reality. Sometimes as readers we recognize the types of books that propel us into a world that we have learned to enjoy, and we crave this release. Often I want to read military memoirs and observe how courageous individuals dealt with extreme adversity in moments of intense pressure. Of course I am witnessing their stories from a comfortable distance (often from a comfortable couch too) but then again I wouldn't want to actually go through what those soldiers did firsthand. I just finished reading Tom Johnson's excellent memoir, To the Limit, about his service as a Huey helicopter pilot in the Vietnam War. It gave me — a fixed-wing aviation buff — a newfound appreciation for the skill and warrior spirit of military helicopter pilots.
In February, Vietnam veteran Philip Keith published a book about a unit of tank troops in Vietnam — part of the Blackhorse Regiment — that responded to a distress call from an encircled company of American infantry. This group of men who fought through the enemy-held jungle to rescue their countrymen was not publicly recognized for their courageous deeds until 2009 when President Obama awarded their outfit the Presidential Unit Citation. Accounts of tank combat are inexplicably rare and Keith's seems like an engrossing one.
But now I'm moving on to read a memoir by Sean Parnell that was also published this February and titled Outlaw Platoon: Heroes, Renegades, Infidels, and the Brotherhood of War in Afghanistan. Like the documentary Restrepo, Outlaw Platoon is an eyewitness look at the combat life of American soldiers who patrol the most contested frontiers in Afghanistan. The technology may change, but the psychological experiences of soldiers in current wars remain close to those of combatants who fought in history's prior conflicts.
Abuses of power
Traditional conservatives hold that human power is an ugly thing, and the more power a person wields the nastier it becomes. This is most true when society gives individuals power over life and death but is also apparent in more subtle cases. Last month, journalist Richard Zacks published a work called Island of Vice about Theodore Roosevelt's days as the police commissioner in New York City in the 1890s. Roosevelt tried to turn the city from its proclivities toward prostitution, gambling, and drink and encourage old-fashioned virtuous living. Roosevelt failed, but the story promises to be an interesting case study in the limits of political power in changing public habits.
A darker example of a misuse of power is the subject of Jonathan Sarna's new book, When General Grant Expelled the Jews. Prior to hearing about this work, I had no idea that Gen. Ulysses S. Grant during the Civil War ordered the forced relocation of Jewish Americans from the territory under his command in a misguided effort to curb the illegal trade of Southern cotton in the North. A tornado of controversy forced Abraham Lincoln to rescind Grant's order. Grant would later apologize for his decision, appoint Jews to high posts in his presidential administration, and even visit the Holy Land. Both of these books published last month can inspire thought about the two-headed character of using brute force in the service of the common good.
Enemies: A History of the FBI. Tim Weiner. Pulitzer-Prize winning author of a book about the CIA turns his attention in this new work to the FBI and challenges the recent Hollywood portrayal of J. Edgar Hoover (in J. Edgar starring Leonardo DiCaprio) as a puppeteer of presidents.
China's Wings: War, Intrigue, Romance, and Adventure in the Middle Kingdom During the Golden Age of Flight. Gregory Crouch. This is a master storyteller's account of the nascent Chinese airline industry in the 1930s and the American airmen and entrepreneurs who worked overseas even as Japan waged a war of aggression in East Asia.
Hitlerland: American Eyewitnesses to the Nazi Rise to Power. Andrew Nagorski. Stories of Americans living abroad in the 19th and 20th centuries are a popular topic for contemporary historians (cf. McCullough and Glass). So is the subject of Hitler's rise to power (cf. Wick and Snyder). Nagorski fuses the two themes in his new book.
Tagged with: americans living abroad, new history books, ulysses s. grant, vietnam war, war in afghanistan
« New history books (February 2012 edition)
First skydiver to land without a parachute »


St Clair
Quick links... Detroit Wayne Oakland Macomb Washtenaw Monroe St Clair Livingston
Powerball jackpot grows to $1.5 billion
Copyright Getty Images
William Thomas Cain
The jackpot for Wednesday's Powerball has reached a record $1.5 billion.
The prize was already the world's largest before lottery officials increased it to $1.3B and $1.4B on Monday.
And the jackpot could grow even more before Wednesday's drawing if ticket sales remain intense. Officials review the estimate daily.
No one matched all six Powerball numbers Saturday night, leading to the astronomical prize.
"Biggest jackpot in the history of the world. Absolutely confirmed," Texas Lottery executive director Gary Grief said when it reached $1.3 billion.
Data curated by FindTheData
The jackpot is so big that billboards around the country have to advertise the price as $999 million because they're not built to show billions. The lottery computers will handle the decimal point without a problem.
No one matched all six Powerball numbers Saturday night, leading to the astronomical prize. And that is all but certain to grow before the next drawing Wednesday, according to lottery officials.
"We've never been at these levels," said Grief, whose state lottery is part of the Multi-State Lottery Association that runs Powerball.
The odds to win are one in 292.2 million. Seventy-five percent of all the possible combinations were purchased before Saturday's drawing, Grief said, and he expects that enough tickets will be sold to cover about 80 percent by Wednesday. About 95 percent of Powerball tickets have computer-generated numbers.
"I've been in the industry over 20 years, and I've seen jackpots hit when we hardly have any of the potential numbers covered — like 5 percent of the possible combinations covered. And I've seen other jackpots when we've had 95 percent of the combinations covered and it rolls," Grief said.
The jackpot has ballooned since its Nov. 4 starting point of $40 million and spurred huge ticket sales.
In Omaha, Les Wheeler said he probably overdid it by buying $30 worth of tickets for Saturday's drawing with a few friends, but they plan to do the same for this next jackpot.
"I didn't expect to win, but I had big dreams," said Wheeler, 53. He said a new home in another state away from Omaha's 16-degree temperatures were at the top of his wish list.
Saturday's winning numbers — 16-19-32-34-57 and Powerball number of 13 — did gain some people a little wealth: 25 tickets won $1 million by matching five numbers, and three other tickets won $2 million because they paid extra to multiply smaller prizes.
Darryl Collins, of Phoenix, and his husband each won $24 from the 70 Powerball tickets they bought. They plan to use that money toward buying more tickets for the new, higher jackpot. Collins said it was a shock that nobody won.
"It was like only 500 people who missed it by one number," Collins said. "It shows you how hard it is to win."
The 55-year-old real estate agent said he and his husband would definitely share the wealth.
"I would give a lot of it to family and friends," Collins said. "Who needs that much money?"
Michael Montecelo, a security guard in San Francisco's financial district, said he spent $20 on Powerball tickets and hasn't yet checked if he won anything. He said he will buy another $20 worth of tickets even if thinking about winning more than a billion dollars scares him a bit.
"I think I would go into a state of anxiety, but it would be a good anxiety," he said, smiling.
Montecelo, 50, said he would retire and donate some of that money and work on administering the rest.
"I would have to open an office and get a team of experts. I think my job would be to keep tabs on that money," he said. "That would be a full-time job."
The record jackpot lured an unprecedented frenzy of purchases. Between Jan. 6 and Saturday's drawings, more than $900 million in Powerball tickets were sold.
Officials expect similar sales before the next drawing, but Grief said it's hard to predict how excitement about the record jackpot will boost sales.
"It's exponentially greater than any sales that any of the states involved have ever seen," he said.


You are here: Home News The Zogby Poll℠: Citizens of France, Germany and UK not happy with Macron, Merkel and May; A majority of adults in France and UK dislike Macron and May; Nearly half of adults in Germany dislike Merkel
The Zogby Poll℠: Citizens of France, Germany and UK not happy with Macron, Merkel and May; A majority of adults in France and UK dislike Macron and May; Nearly half of adults in Germany dislike Merkel
Zogby Analytics conducted online surveys of adults in the UK, France, and Germany 11/3/2017-11/7/2017. Based on a confidence interval of 95%, the margin of error for each sample is as follows:
Sample Number of completes Field Dates MOE
UK 611 11/3/2017 - 11/5/2017 +/- 4.0 Percentage Points
France 602 11/6/2017 - 11/7/2017 +/- 4.0 Percentage Points
Germany 633 11/6/2017 - 11/7/2017 +/- 3.9 Percentage Points
When Emmanuel Macron formed the La République En Marche party, he was then subsequently elected President of France. He was hailed as a centrist who could bridge the major parties, and be able to bring about reform at home and across Europe. The honey moon period is now over and his favorable/unfavorable ratings reflect this change of heart among French citizens. More than half (52%) of French respondents surveyed are unfavorable (very unfavorable and somewhat unfavorable combined) of the French president while 28% are favorable of him and 9% are not sure. Men (54%) are slightly more unfavorable of the French leader compared to fewer women (49%), while citizens living in the suburbs (62%) are much more critical of Macron than those living in large cities (47%) and small cities (50%). Age also plays a factor in how Macron is viewed by the French people; younger adults aged 18-29 are less critical (47% unfavorable), while adults aged 50+ are much more unfavorable (54%).
Since winning re-election for a fourth time in September, Chancellor Angela Merkel is looking to broker a governing coalition on the home front and take on the challenges associated with Brexit and European Union reform. As Europe's largest economy, Germany has been at odds lately with England over how much England will pay to "divorce" from the EU. Outside and inside of Germany, Merkel's favorability rating has also been taking a hit. At the moment, 40% of German adults view her as favorable (very and somewhat combined).Slightly less than half (49%) of German citizens are not favorable of Angela Merkel, and 8% are not sure. College educated (44%) citizens are more likely to be favorable compared with non-college educated Germans (35%). Also, Germans who earn between €71,000-100,000 annually (49%) are more likely to be favorable of Chancellor Merkel compared with those who earn €18,000-25,000 annually (34%).
Among the European leaders we surveyed, Prime Minister Theresa May has the lowest favorability/unfavorability rating at 28% favorable, 61% unfavorable. A plurality (35%) is also very unfavorable of the controversial prime minister. Her numbers are low among all demographics, but are much lower among younger adults aged 18-29 (16% favorable/71% unfavorable) compared with adults 50+ (36% favorable/53% unfavorable).
Men (32%) are more favorable than women (24%). Adults who earn £10,001-20,000 annually (19%) are much less favorable of May compared with those who earn £75,001-100,000 annually (34%). With Brexit on the horizon and the domestic debate about the UK's future financial role in the European Union, Theresa May might find it hard to improve her extremely low popularity among the English people.


2018 Home NewsroomParliament questions and replies2018Written Answer by Mr Lim Swee Say, Minister for Manpower, to Parliamentary Question on employment of older workers
Select zone All All Newsroom Work passes and permits Workplace safety and health Employment practices eServices Forms Employment agencies FAQ
Written Answer by Mr Lim Swee Say, Minister for Manpower, to Parliamentary Question on employment of older workers
8 January 2018 Employment practices
NOTICE PAPER NO. 979 OF 2017 FOR THE SITTING ON 8 JANUARY 2018
QUESTION NO. 704 FOR WRITTEN ANSWER
To ask the Minister for Manpower (a) whether the Ministry is aware that some companies are unwilling to extend the contracts of healthy elderly workers to 67 years old; (b) what is the Ministry doing to incentivise hiring of elderly workers; and (c) how many workers aged 60 years and above are actively looking for jobs.
Under the Retirement and Re-employment Act (RRA), employers are required to offer eligible employees re-employment till age 67. Since re-employment was introduced in 2012, over 98% of private-sector local employees who wished to continue working at age 62 were offered re-employment. The number of disputes related to re-employment has remained low for the past five years, at about 40 each year. Most cases were resolved through mediation, with less than four cases on average each year which proceeded to adjudication. These cases contain a mix of situations where the dispute arose due to a misunderstanding of the law by the employer, or by the employee.
MOM has in place a number of measures to increase the employability of older workers and encourage employers to hire older workers. The Special Employment Credit (SEC) scheme provides a wage offset of up to 8% of monthly wages to employers when they hire older workers. An additional wage offset of up to 3% of monthly wages is also provided to encourage continued employment of older workers aged 65 and above. Reduced employer CPF contribution rates for employees aged 55 and above further help to moderate the costs of hiring older workers for employers. Under the WorkPro scheme, employers can receive government funding support of up to $320,000 per company to implement age management practices and redesign workplaces and processes to create easier, safer and smarter jobs for older workers.
As mindset change is also needed to improve the employability of older workers, TAFEP runs campaigns to raise awareness of the value that older workers bring to the workforce and encourage employers to tap on their skills and experience.
In June 2017, unemployment rate of older residents aged 60 and over in the labour force remained low at 3.3%. MOM actively supports them through the Adapt and Grow Initiative. This includes Career Matching services, as well as programmes to help workers overcome wage and skill mismatches. In particular, the Career Support Programme encourages employers to hire experienced, mature PMETs, especially the long-term unemployed, by providing them with salary support. Mature PMETs can tap on the higher wage and training support under the Professional Conversion Programmes to reskill, so that they can move into new occupations and sectors with good prospects and progression. Mature rank-and-file workers can also tap on wage and training support under Work Trial and other Place-and-Train/Train-and-Place programmes offered by WSG and NTUC-e2i.
Our various programmes to improve the employability of older workers have been showing encouraging results. The employment rate of residents aged 55-64 has increased from 61.2% in 2011 to 67.3% in 2016. This compares favourably with developed economies, with Singapore ranked 9th against 35 OECD countries in 2016. We will continue to work with Tripartite partners to improve opportunities for older Singaporeans who are fit and ready to find employment.


Robin Holabird's Film Review
Robin's Movie Review: Old Guard
KUNR Public Radio | By Robin Holabird
Published July 31, 2020 at 1:44 PM PDT
The Old Guard challenges traditional action movie conceits by putting women front and center as director and stars. Sure, D.C.'s Wonder Woman already did that—but with colorful, form fitting costumes designed to please comic book fanboys. While The Old Guard's graphic novel source bears similarities to comics, the team dresses in practical army gear.
Granted, military attire fails to hide the great genes that bless Charlize Theron or Kiki Layne, but their outfits avoid typical sexualization associated with the genre. Whatever she wears, Theron's appeal shines through, and she treads familiar ground as an action hero. After all, in Fury Road, her one-armed character already single handedly—a literal description—stole the show from Mad Max. Layne, best known as a lovely young woman in If Beale Street Could Talk, proves equally adept at action antics, demonstrating impressive reflexes and muscular speed. Strong actors like Chiwetel Ejiofor and Mattias Schoenaerts round out the cast providing their usual strong performances.
Better yet, director Gina Prince-Bythwood blends action genre staples with a welcome addition, showcasing characters whose emotions go beyond the kneejerk responses that make so many action heroes seem like they came from a factory production line. The director gives her cast members the chance to bypass bulging chests and focus on deeper conflicts, including the personal impacts of their job. That job involves killing people—bad guys of course. Still, it proves a wearing process for a group of immortals whose work never ends.
The Old Guard team members face both turmoil and frustration as they question the value of their violence, especially since we mortals keep undermining all those good efforts. Screenwriter Greg Rucka provides a well-conceived script, though a couple of characters make amazingly stupid choices—a staple of the action genre that keeps the story rolling. Still, the overall project looks different, with immortals focusing on human qualities that put a new spin on an old form.
Like many projects, original plans put The Old Guard in theaters with hopes of starting a franchise. Instead, it headed straight for Netflix, where it now ranks as one of the service's most popular entries. For KUNR, I'm Robin Holabird.
Robin Holabird's Film Reviewrobin holabird
Robin Holabird
Robin Holabird reviews movies for KUNR, and her reviews have aired for more than 30 years. During that time, she has had a high profile in the Nevada film community.
See stories by Robin Holabird


A Noble Band of Heroes
By John Dixon and others
This very comprehensive book has been produced as a commemoration of those from Tewkesbury who lost their lives during the Great War. It consists of over 300 high-quality pages of text and maps together with many photographs, some black and white, some colour. The book is divided into five sections:
Introduction: The Great War. The first section gives the background to how this book came into being and an explanation of the use of the term 'The Great War'.
Tewkesbury's Memorials. This brief section shows how, to begin with, newspaper items listing those who were serving in the armed forces were produced, followed by Rolls of Honour, but these were later replaced by more permanent memorials, in schools, churches and organisations leading to the unveiling of the Tewkesbury War Memorial on 7th May 1922.
The War through the Eyes of the Combatants. Apart from the later collection of individual biographies, this section occupies the largest part of the book. Beginning with a short synopsis of events of the war as a whole, this section is divided into the events of each of the four years of the war and the later consequences. Each year starts with a list of dates and a map of the relevant area of conflict; the following text describes the events of that period, particularly from the point of view of the Tewkesburians involved; each section is well illustrated with images of postcards, posters and photographs. Throughout, footnotes are included giving the sources of various pieces of information. Although the First World War was mainly one fought by soldiers in the Army, information on naval and aerial warfare is also covered. Details of the various campaigns during the war are also described. A postscript demonstrates that war does not end for the participants exactly when the armistice is signed. Despite the 'miraculous change' written about by the Vicar of Tewkesbury in December 1918, life had not returned to normal. The wounded, their nurses (including the one female death) and the hospitals, the ensuing unemployment, the Spanish Influenza pandemic, those who were awarded gallantry medals and those who were omitted from the war memorials – all receive mention in the final part of this section.
Appendices. Often placed at the end of the book but here found towards the middle, this section contains the appendices and indices. Military terms, ranks and units are explained and medals described and illustrated. People not included in the biographies of those who died, from Kitchener to Kaiser William II, not forgetting lesser mortals such as Mrs Mary Letitia Didcote who unveiled the town's War Memorial, and Sergeant R G Williams who sent a poem home from the front, have their place here. Indices to the people, regiments and places mentioned in the first half of the book are given here, followed by a list of the biographies in the second part of the book.
Biographies of 'Our Noble Band of Heroes'. This section fills over half of the book. It is a collection of biographies of all who died in the Great War. Each soldier, whether volunteer or conscript, whatever their rank, is given his (or her) own page, organised by alphabetical order of surname. Across the top of each page is a banner containing the full name and rank of the soldier, their Army number and regiment, when and where they died, where they are buried and commemorated. Beneath the banner are two or three photographs for each soldier; these pictures include photographs of the cemetery or grave where the person was buried, the regimental badge, an image of one of the medals one and frequently, a picture of the soldier himself. The rest of each page consists of details of the life of each soldier, their family, childhood, school and religious life; this is followed by their enlistment and experiences before and during the First World War and how and where they died.
This prodigious work is the result of the efforts of several people to whom John Dixon gives thanks. Congratulations to all involved; it must have been a mammoth task. An amazing amount of research has been put into all sections of the book; the result is exceptional. So many different aspects have been covered. It will be of interest to all those who know and love Tewkesbury, but especially to the military historians. The book is available from www.ths.freeuk.com price £14 plus p&p or from Alison's Bookshop, High Street, Tewkesbury for £15. Published by Tewkesbury Historical Society, 2015; ISSN: 1742-6030.


This singing roadway is the worst idea ever and it's driving locals insane
Photo: Youtube
Few things in life are more annoying than the noise made by rumble strips on the side of the highway, particularly for those that live near a major thoroughfare. Except maybe if those rumble strips were to sing…and unfortunately for the Dutch village of Jelsum, that's their daily hell.
Residents of Jelsum have recently been subjected to a consistent cacophony of the same musical tones. The rumble strips on the local highway, which are meant to draw awareness to swerving drivers, instead play the anthem of the Friesland region when you drive exactly 40 miles per hour over them (faster or slower speeds make it sound muffled or distorted).
The original idea was that the roads would soothe drivers and reflect the strong local pride of the Netherlands' Friesland region with heartwarming renditions of the area's official anthem, as the region holds customs and a language distinct from the rest of the country. But instead, the experiment resulted in perhaps the most mind-numbing thing of all time. The sound travels to the local village, keeping residents awake at night.
Before you laugh too hard at the video above, it's important to note that this was not the first time such an idea has been implemented. Among other singing roadways, Route 66 in New Mexico plays an only slightly out-of-tune version of "America The Beautiful":
Residents issued a stream of complaints and thankfully, the local transit authority has decided to remove the themed rumble strips and allow residents to go back to hearing the less-intrusive sounds of normal traffic.
Looks like we should just stick to our car stereos for musical entertainment.
More like this: Mapped: the optimal road trip across Europe
This Australian company gives employees 12 weeks of 'life leave' every year
Bon Jovi is headlining a Bon Jovi-themed Norwegian cruise to the Bahamas
How to dive into Berlin's epic musical history
Fiona Davies
The best Las Vegas residencies you can still see this year
Nicole Rupersburg
7 Chicago venues to listen to music outdoors
Benjamin Schaye
Become a Korean pop star on your next vacation, and other Airbnb music experiences
The 9 best places for live music in Manchester
12 European music festivals you need to hit this summer
The 7 best music festivals you can still get tickets to this spring
This festival brings together 60 Indigenous tribes with EDM partiers — but should it?
Jessica Devnani
A music lover's guide to festivals in Colombia
The best places for live music in Belfast


LES MINIKEUMS: The Creepiest "Kid-Friendly" Pop Group Ever?
It's likely only French-speaking audiences remember growing up with the '90s TV show LES MINIKEUMS — an extremely popular kid-oriented sketch comedy series about the zany escapades of a teen pop band, who incorporate catchy little tunes into each of their short skits. On paper, the concept sounds like any dozen series on the Disney Channel during the same decade… but that's where the similarity ends.
If you haven't already noticed from the nightmare-inducing images here, the "hook" of LES MINIKEUMS is that the band members and all their friends are portrayed by disturbingly lifelike puppets.
When you think "puppet pop group," you probably have something cuddlier and more Muppet-like in mind than these oddities — most of whom are fashioned from foam latex, with realistic eyes, hair and teeth.
The original series ran on the TV channel France 3 from 1993 to 2002, and was reportedly too expensive to keep on the air amid flagging ratings. I'm stunned the cancellation wasn't the result of angry parents whose children were psychologically scarred from watching the rubbery, blank-eyed homunculi every day.
But oddly enough, the show was popular with adults as well — thanks to parodies of popular shows and movies (including STAR WARS and ALIEN) and jokes about real-life celebrities, much like the UK puppet show SPITTING IMAGE (though not quite as risque).
The show's songs were released on two albums, and a few "singles" reached the French pop charts — including "Ma Melissa," a parody of '90s boy-bands like N*SYNC and the Backstreet Boys.
After a 15-year hiatus, the show has now been revived on France 4 (new shows began airing last December), with most of the original band members returning — albeit updated to appeal to a new generation of viewers — and joined by several new pals.
Fabrication techniques and materials have clearly improved since the first series' run, and now the characters look a bit less disturbing… assuming you're not troubled by the "Uncanny Valley" element.
With that said, LES MINIKEUMS is actually kind of amazing, integrating multiple puppetry techniques to create a sense of too-close-for-comfort realism, and the band's musical "performances" are amazingly lifelike; since the puppeteers' actual hands (in flesh-colored gloves) are used, the characters are able to realistically mime playing instruments and directing their own music videos.
If you're as curious as I am about this weirdly fascinating show, dozens of their skits are available online, particularly from the new series (via their official YouTube channel), and fans of the earlier incarnation have posted several playlists that are easy to find… if you're ready for even more intense nightmares.
Previous Story Is "NORMAN" the First A.I. Psychopath? His Creators Say So
Next Story Scientists Discover Fossil of Largest "Sea Monster" Ever Recorded
This Year's Nightmarish "Clown Invasion" Seems to Be Spreading… or is it Something Else?
EXCLUSIVE: BASKIN Soundtrack Music & Cover Art Reveal!
This Man Was Gobbled Up by an Escalator… and Survived [VIDEO]


Capitol Police Internal Investigation Reaches Final Decision on Officer Who Killed Ashli Babbitt
By Jack Davis August 21, 2021 at 12:21pm
The U.S. Capitol Police have formally exonerated the officer who killed Ashli Babbitt during the Jan. 6 Capitol incursion.
According to a memo obtained by NBC, the internal investigation into whether excessive force was used has ended.
The memo from the commander of the Capitol Police's Office of Personal Responsibility said "no further action will be taken in this matter."
The Capitol Police did not issue any public comment on the investigation.
Someone please explain to me how a 200+ pound man hiding in the shadows like a coward, was justified to use deadly force, asserting his life was in immediate danger, from an unarmed 100 pound woman who didn't even know he was there. #AshliBabbitt
— Tim Swain (@SwainForSenate) August 20, 2021
The identity of the officer who shot and killed Babbitt has not been officially revealed.
The Justice Department said in April that no charges were forthcoming in the case.
At the time, the department supported the contention of the officer that he fired "in self-defense or in defense of the Members of Congress and others evacuating the House Chamber."
"Officials examined video footage posted on social media, statements from the officer involved and other officers and witnesses to the events, physical evidence from the scene of the shooting, and the results of an autopsy," the department said in a statement.
"Based on that investigation, officials determined that there is insufficient evidence to support a criminal prosecution."
Where is the Media Outrage? No public investigation, no identification of the Capitol Hill Police shooter. Pelosi and McConnell conduct is Stalinist: US Capitol cop who shot dead unarmed Ashli Babbitt is EXONERATED https://t.co/loryggZeVV via @MailOnline
— Lou Dobbs (@LouDobbs) August 21, 2021
Babbitt family attorney Terry Roberts, who is preparing a wrongful death lawsuit, has said that Babbitt was not warned by the officer that her life was in imminent danger.
"It's not debatable. … There was no warning," he told Real Clear Investigations.
Democratic Lawmakers and Liberal Activists Have Meltdown After Meta Announces Decision on Trump's Facebook
"I would call what he did an ambush. … I don't think he's a good officer. I think he's reckless," Roberts added.
BLM burned down a Minneapolis police station and set cops cars on fire. This is what you call an insurrection but the FBI didn't investigate this or arrest anyone. Ashli Babbitt was murdered for being at the Capitol and others went to jail for just being there. pic.twitter.com/IEhNt72Tan
— Terrence K. Williams (@w_terrence) August 21, 2021
Roberts said that although the officer claims to have issued a warning, video of the incident does not support that assertion.
"Those other officers were within earshot. If he's yelling, they certainly aren't showing any reaction to it," he said. "If he was giving any kind of warning, why didn't they react?"
Capitol incursion, conservatives, police, shooting, US news


Subscribe to Showcasing:
Topics range from fishing and hunting to history and outdoor recreation. This is a weekly feature story sent on Thursday.
Picturing the new year
With the turning of a new year, there's often a good deal of hope welled up for new and better things to come in the days ahead.
Despite pandemic, much to celebrate in outdoors, history
By any measure, it's a pretty big deal: one hundred years and counting. Though COVID-19 threw the DNR's planned centennial celebrations to the wayside, we found ways to help people safely connect - or, in some cases, reconnect - with Michigan's natural and heritage resources.
Exploring Michigan's outdoors in 52 hikes
Inspired by the popular 52 Hike Challenge, Rachel Coale, DNR Forest Resources Division, crunched down Michigan's trails, taking the first steps on a yearlong journey ...
Cultivating growth in Michigan's outdoor recreation business - the Michigan Office of Outdoor Recreation Industry
Michigan is among the top states in the nation in terms of how much outdoor activities contribute to the economy. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer created the Michigan Office of Outdoor Recreation Industry in 2019 to expand the outdoor recreation economy in the state by supporting and growing existing ...
Multiagency Buffalo Reef Task Force advances research goals, prepares for winter on Keweenaw Peninsula
The multiagency Buffalo Reef Task Force has made several advances in its efforts to learn more about the natural 2,200-acre Lake Superior reef and continues its collaborative work to protect this lake trout and lake whitefish spawning area.


Lutcher Kids Series events announced
Published 11:08 am Sunday, July 26, 2015
By BNI
The new Lutcher Incredible Kids Events season has been announced, and it features many great entertaining events, including the highly popular "Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat" with two performances on April 14, 2016. Visit www.lutcher.org for more information. (Photo by Bruce Douglas)
The 2015-2016 season has just been announced for the Lutcher Theater of the Performing Arts. Along with the great Broadway productions and concerts, the annual kids season is shaping up to be a great one also.
The announcement of the Lutcher Theater's regular season schedule is always met with great anticipation and excitement, but for the staff of the Lutcher Theater, annual children's series is equally important.
The Lutcher Incredible Kids Events series is one of the largest performing arts series of national and international touring companies for children in a four-state area, which includes Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Arkansas, according to information provided by Jim Clark, the director of the Lutcher Theater in Orange.
Along with being fun and entertaining, the performances also meet Texas and Louisiana-state learning criteria, which makes these events popular choices for school districts and field trips. The events are open to the public as well.
"This year our kids shows are mostly based on books," said Lynae Sanford of the Lutcher Theater. "They are 'page to stage' events, and those are really popular with all ages."
Jim Clark, the director of the Lutcher Theater, agreed, and said these productions are performed by renowned groups from around the world, including London, Nova Scotia and the Netherlands, as well as national groups from Phoenix, New Orleans and Dallas.
The season begins with "The BFG" (Big Friendly Giant) at 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m., Tuesday, Oct. 6. The play, which is produced by the Dallas Children's Theater and is suitable for children in second through fourth grade, is the story of a larger-than-life vegetarian and a young orphan girl, who learns heroes can come in all sizes.
"Caps For Sale: The Musical" is featured for two performances on Wednesday, Oct. 21 and celebrates the 75th anniversary of this beloved children's classic book which features a new broadway style musical. The program is produced by Adventure Theatre MTC.
On Monday, Nov. 9, "Spot," produced by Theater Terra, will have students and parents on an adventure to the farm of his father, Sam, where all animals are lost. The audience will have to help Spot and his friend, Helen, find the animals and bring them back.
Tall Stories of London brings its production of "Room on the Broom" to the Lutcher Theater on Thursday, Nov. 19. The musical is the tale of a witch and her cat, who are flying happily on their broomstick – until a stormy wind blows away the witch's hat, bow and wand. A helpful dog, bird and frog find the witch's lost things, and they all hop on the broom for a ride, but the brook breaks and the adventure really begins.
One of the most anticipated events each year features the Lightwire Theater, and the company returns this year for the Lutcher Theater's annual holiday event. The black light spectacular will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 16, and features their signature brand of dazzling visuals, poignant storytelling and music with the story of a young bird named Max and his family as they head south for the winter. When Max gets blown off course during a snowstorm and tries to make his way home, his adventure begins.
The Kennedy Center Theater for Young Audiences on Tour returns on Friday, Feb. 5, 2016, with "Elephant Piggie's 'We are in Play!'" This brand-new vaudevillian romp of a musical, features Elephant Gerald and Piggie sing and dance their way through plenty of pachydermal peril and swiney suspense–facing fundamental questions like, what do you wear to a fancy pool costume party? It's a guaranteed good time for all ages.
"Goodnight Moon and the Runaway Bunny," produced by Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia, will be featured on Wednesday, March 1, 2016. The production is adapted from the Margaret Wise Brown 60-year-old classic story and features animal puppets, stunning scenic effects and amazing music
A sure-to-be-popular selection this season is "Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat," which is scheduled for Wednesday, April 14, 2016. When Sally and her brother answer the door, they know the Cat in the Hat is full of mischief and mayhem. The challenge is getting the house straight before their mom comes home.
"Moon Mouse A Space Odyssey" will bring the children's season to a close on Wednesday, April 27, 2016. Marvin the mouse wants to be popular, but the "cool" rats constantly pick on him and bully him, so he escapes into his world of science books and fantasy and has the space adventure of his life.
All Lutcher Incredible Kids Events productions are available for two showings – 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. – on the day of the event. Individual adult tickets are $10, students tickets are $5, but tickets for groups of 10 people or more are just $5 each. Tickets for all children's series events can only be purchased by calling the box office at 409-886-5535.
Matthew West's The Brand New Tour 2022 comes to Beaumont
VIDEO: CeCe Winans to perform at Lutcher Theater
Comedian Nephew Tommy to perform at the Julie Rogers Theatre
Southeast Texas Model Railroad Club announces Open House of Model Railroad Displays
Citizen suggests renaming Riverfront Pavilion


Dragon Con INTERVIEW: Sean Chiplock (Part Two)
REVIEW: Justice Chronicles
Nintendo Download For 12/16/2021
Beasts of Monster Hunter 4: Aruserutasu
By Operation Rainfall Contributor / October 15th, 2013
During one of her many trips to Japan a few years ago, my best friend and now translator here at oprainfall picked up a Japanese 3DS. Specifically, she grabbed the limited edition Brachydios model released with Monster Hunter 3G. As the both of us have been rabid Monster Hunter fans since Tri, we naturally downloaded Monster Hunter 4 from the Japanese eShop as soon as we could. Yes, we were one of the 1.75 million gamers who bought the game in its opening week.
We plan to use our copy of Monster Hunter 4 to write three things: a preview of the game discussing new features and the two new weapons, a review of the game, and a series of articles discussing the brand-new monsters to be found.
This article is the first of that last objective. We won't be writing about monsters like the Velociprey, which is found in 4 and in previous generations (excluding 3 Ultimate); we'll only be writing about the all-new monsters, subspecies included. Updates will be irregular; entries will be written as I get to each monster and feel comfortable enough with it to write about it. Think of this series as a place for new monster information, both in and outside of battle.
Today, we will be discussing the Aruserutasu, the first new monster you'll face in Monster Hunter 4. Before jumping into it, here's our translation of the Hunter's Notes on this beastie:
Known as "The Breaker Beetle", the Aruserutasu is a medium-sized flying rhinoceros beetle.
It primarily attacks using aerial combat, and when on the ground uses quick movements. It is necessary to take caution, particularly when it raises its horn, as it will quickly follow with a fast charge attack. If it charges into a wall, its horn will become stuck inside it.
The Aruserutasu is a male Neopteron. I haven't gotten to the female yet in-game, but man, she looks nasty. The Aruserutasu is fought even before the Great Jaggi; whether or not it's easier than the Great Jaggi is debatable, but it's really not all that difficult.
Before going into battle, bear in mind that the Aruserutasu is weakest to lightning. Only one part of its body its breakable, and that's the giant orange-and-green spike protruding from its head.
At the start of the battle, the Aruserutasu will be in the air, where it likes to charge at you from a distance. If it's hovering out of reach, move away from the ledge to draw it in. I generally have to do this quite a bit, as it likes to stay where I can't reach. It also has a tendency to shoot out three green blobs that afflict defence down, much like the Qurupeco from Tri. If you can get it to charge into a wall, it'll get stuck there, leaving it open to attack.
If you hit it enough or drive it to the point of exhaustion, the Aruserutasu will drop out of the air for ground combat. It's pretty easy to hit here, and it'll use its claws and pincers a lot more than it did in the air.
Keep an eye on the Aruserutasu's abdomen—it'll shrink when it's out of stamina. At this point, it'll scuttle off to find a dead Kelbi to munch on. When it's low on stamina, it's unable to fly, or shoot green blobs, for that matter. It has a rather irritating habit of going to sleep on a wall out of reach, but that's easily solved in Monster Hunter 4, as a good whack with your carving knife will knock it down to the ground. Yes, you can attack monsters while climbing in this game.
That's it for the Aruserutasu. Next time, we'll be covering the Kechawacha, a new form of Pelagus. Until then, happy hunting!
Thanks to Jodie Langford for her translation skills.
Images were taken from the Aruserutasu page on the Monster Hunter Wiki.
ArusertasuCapcomMonster HunterMonster Hunter 4
Previous Post:Kickstarter Launches in Australia and New Zealand
Next Post:PRESS RELEASE: Watch Dogs Delayed


Home News Hoover council votes 6-1 to rezone 273 acres off I-459 to block apartments
Hoover council votes 6-1 to rezone 273 acres off I-459 to block apartments
by JON ANDERSON
Photo by Jon Anderson
I-459 apartment rezoning
Hoover planning consultant Bob House talks to the Hoover City Council about rezoning 273 acres along Interstate 459 from apartment use to mostly commercial use on Monday, April 4, 2016.
The Hoover City Council tonight voted 6-1 to rezone 273 acres off Interstate 459 from apartment use to mostly commercial use — against the property owners' wishes.
City officials faced impassioned opposition from U.S. Steel, which owns more than half the 273 acres, and other property owners who say they have pending contracts to sell their land for apartment development.
Meade Whitaker, one of those other property owners, said the city choosing to rezone land against property owners' wishes is unprecedented, highly irregular, unconscionable, a gross violation of property owners' rights and an egregious abuse of power.
The land lies just south of I-459 on a roughly 2-mile stretch of property between Preserve Parkway and the Patton Creek shopping center.
Hoover planning consultant Bob House said the land has been zoned for apartments since 1984 but has remained undeveloped. Land use patterns in that area have changed over the years, and the land is no longer best suited for apartments, House said.
The council tonight rezoned 253 acres for commercial use and the 20 acres closest to the Paradise Acres community for single-family residential use.
House said the Alabama 150 corridor has been saturated with commercial development and there is a need for more commercial development in the city. A comprehensive land use study done for the city in 2003 indicated the property in question was best suited for a mix of commercial uses.
The property closest to the Patton Creek shopping center and the property closest to Preserve Parkway was believed best for "straight commercial development," while property in between was deemed best suited for either a mix of commercial and office space or a live/work arrangement with businesses on the ground floor and residences above, House said. However, live/work arrangements have not proven successful in Hoover, House said.
Whitaker said it's disingenuous for the city to claim that the property is best suited for commercial use because in 2006, the developer of the Patton Creek shopping center wanted to expand westward onto the Whitaker family's land and the city blocked that effort.
The whole reason the property has not developed is because of the city, Whitaker said. The city's action tonight is intentional interference in a pending real estate contract, he said.
Another representative for the Whitaker family said the Alabama 150 corridor is not saturated with commercial development. There's still room for more commercial development in The Grove shopping center and 15 acres across the interstate that formerly was home to the Winn-Dixie grocery store, the representative said.
I-459 apartment land rezoning U.S. Steel
Jammie Cowden, director of real estate for USS Real Estate, expresses opposition to the Hoover City Council's plan to rezone 273 acres off Interstate 459 from apartment use to mostly commercial use, during a Hoover City Council meeting on Monday, April 4, 2016.
Jammie Cowden, director of real estate for USS Real Estate, a division of U.S. Steel Corp., said requests for property to be rezoned normally come from the property owners. "This case is the exact opposite," he said.
He asked council members to put themselves in the landowners' shoes and asked how they would feel if the city rezoned their property once they had someone interested in buying it.
"I believe no one in this room would want the city rezoning your property without your consent," Cowden said.
He expressed extreme dissatisfaction that the city notified U.S. Steel about its intent to rezone the land with a postcard instead of reaching out to discuss any problems or issues with the company. U.S. Steel has been a solid corporate citizen in Hoover for many years and worked well with city officials up until this point, he said.
He asked the council to table the rezoning to allow time for discussion between the parties so they could try to reach an amicable solution. Councilman Jack Natter tried to table the rezoning but could not get a second from any of the six other council members.
Councilman Gene Smith made the motion to rezone the property, and the vote ended up 6-1 to rezone, with Natter casting the dissenting vote.
"Times changes, and when times change, sometimes the nature of the corridor changes," Smith said. When that happens, it's up to the people in office to recognize such changes and act appropriately, he said.
Smith noted that only three of the current council members, including himself, were on the council in 2006 when the extension of the Patton Creek shopping center was rejected.
Councilman John Lyda said the apartment zoning for that land just doesn't fit what Hoover is today. Commercial and residential zoning is more appropriate, he said.
Norman Orr
Norman Orr, an attorney for the Birmingham Association of Realtors, expresses opposition to the Hoover City Council rezoning land against the property owners' wishes during a Hoover City Council meeting on Monday, April 4, 2016.
Norman Orr, an attorney for the Birmingham Association of Realtors, told the council that their action tonight was in direct conflict with the constitutional rights of private property owners.
When property owners have no assurance that the zoning for their land will stay the same, that breeds instability and hurts future development projects in Hoover and the Birmingham area as a whole, Orr said.
Whitaker said once a city takes this kind of unprecedented action, it's easier to do it again. "It's only a matter of degree once that first step is taken," he said.
Bluff Park resident Curt Posey thanked the council for taking a stand to stop more apartment development in Hoover. U.S. Steel, a major landowner in Hoover, has been a good corporate citizen, but the city can't take the number of apartments that were slated for U.S. Steel's land, Posey said.
"We've got to draw a line," Posey said. "We can't continue to build and build and build.
The residents of Hoover want to grow responsibly and in a measured manner, Posey said.
Dan Fulton, another Bluff Park resident, had asked the council to table the matter and consider the issue more thoroughly. Hoover, the sixth largest city in Alabama, needs a reasonable amount of apartments because they provide affordable housing for people, particularly for the many people needed to fill all the retail jobs in the city, Fulton said. Apartments are good options for senior citizens as well, he said.
Plus, Fulton noted that U.S. Steel has offered to sell its land to the Hoover school board for use as a school site.
But the council went ahead and acted tonight. Cowden declined to comment further after the vote.
This article was updated at 7:34 a.m. on April 5 to indicate that Councilman Jack Natter cast the dissenting vote in the rezoning case.
apartment rezoning rezoning Meade Whitaker U.S. Steel Hoover City Council apartments


Characterization of the Carancas-Puno meteorite by energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence, X-ray diffractometry and transmission Mössbauer spectroscopy
María L. Cerón Loayza, Jorge A. Bravo Cabrejos
Ciencias Físicas
Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos
Ciencia del suelo, arqueometría y nuevos materiales
We report the results of the study of a meteorite that impacted an inhabited zone on 15 September 2007 in the neighborhood of the town of Carancas, Puno Region, about 1,300 km south of Lima. The analysis carried out by energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence, X-ray diffractometry and transmission Mössbauer spectroscopy (at room temperature and at 4.2 K), reveal the presence in the meteorite sample of magnetic sites assigned to taenite (Fe,Ni) and troilite (Fe,S) phases, and of two paramagnetic doublets assigned to Fe2+, one associated with olivine and the other to pyroxene. In accord with these results, this meteorite is classified as a type IV chondrite meteorite. © 2011 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.
Hyperfine Interactions
Fingerprint Dive into the research topics of 'Characterization of the Carancas-Puno meteorite by energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence, X-ray diffractometry and transmission Mössbauer spectroscopy'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.
Meteoroids Medicine & Life Sciences
Meteorites Chemical Compounds
meteorites Physics & Astronomy
X ray diffraction analysis Chemical Compounds
Spectroscopy Chemical Compounds
Spectrum Analysis Medicine & Life Sciences
X rays Chemical Compounds
Cerón Loayza, M. L., & Bravo Cabrejos, J. A. (2011). Characterization of the Carancas-Puno meteorite by energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence, X-ray diffractometry and transmission Mössbauer spectroscopy. Hyperfine Interactions, 17-23. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10751-011-0365-x
Cerón Loayza, María L. ; Bravo Cabrejos, Jorge A. / Characterization of the Carancas-Puno meteorite by energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence, X-ray diffractometry and transmission Mössbauer spectroscopy. In: Hyperfine Interactions. 2011 ; pp. 17-23.
@article{cd68c32ab7734b5eacf60980bd234439,
title = "Characterization of the Carancas-Puno meteorite by energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence, X-ray diffractometry and transmission M{\"o}ssbauer spectroscopy",
abstract = "We report the results of the study of a meteorite that impacted an inhabited zone on 15 September 2007 in the neighborhood of the town of Carancas, Puno Region, about 1,300 km south of Lima. The analysis carried out by energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence, X-ray diffractometry and transmission M{\"o}ssbauer spectroscopy (at room temperature and at 4.2 K), reveal the presence in the meteorite sample of magnetic sites assigned to taenite (Fe,Ni) and troilite (Fe,S) phases, and of two paramagnetic doublets assigned to Fe2+, one associated with olivine and the other to pyroxene. In accord with these results, this meteorite is classified as a type IV chondrite meteorite. {\textcopyright} 2011 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.",
author = "{Cer{\'o}n Loayza}, {Mar{\'i}a L.} and {Bravo Cabrejos}, {Jorge A.}",
journal = "Hyperfine Interactions",
Cerón Loayza, ML & Bravo Cabrejos, JA 2011, 'Characterization of the Carancas-Puno meteorite by energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence, X-ray diffractometry and transmission Mössbauer spectroscopy', Hyperfine Interactions, pp. 17-23. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10751-011-0365-x
Characterization of the Carancas-Puno meteorite by energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence, X-ray diffractometry and transmission Mössbauer spectroscopy. / Cerón Loayza, María L.; Bravo Cabrejos, Jorge A.
In: Hyperfine Interactions, 01.11.2011, p. 17-23.
T1 - Characterization of the Carancas-Puno meteorite by energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence, X-ray diffractometry and transmission Mössbauer spectroscopy
AU - Cerón Loayza, María L.
AU - Bravo Cabrejos, Jorge A.
N2 - We report the results of the study of a meteorite that impacted an inhabited zone on 15 September 2007 in the neighborhood of the town of Carancas, Puno Region, about 1,300 km south of Lima. The analysis carried out by energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence, X-ray diffractometry and transmission Mössbauer spectroscopy (at room temperature and at 4.2 K), reveal the presence in the meteorite sample of magnetic sites assigned to taenite (Fe,Ni) and troilite (Fe,S) phases, and of two paramagnetic doublets assigned to Fe2+, one associated with olivine and the other to pyroxene. In accord with these results, this meteorite is classified as a type IV chondrite meteorite. © 2011 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.
AB - We report the results of the study of a meteorite that impacted an inhabited zone on 15 September 2007 in the neighborhood of the town of Carancas, Puno Region, about 1,300 km south of Lima. The analysis carried out by energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence, X-ray diffractometry and transmission Mössbauer spectroscopy (at room temperature and at 4.2 K), reveal the presence in the meteorite sample of magnetic sites assigned to taenite (Fe,Ni) and troilite (Fe,S) phases, and of two paramagnetic doublets assigned to Fe2+, one associated with olivine and the other to pyroxene. In accord with these results, this meteorite is classified as a type IV chondrite meteorite. © 2011 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.
JO - Hyperfine Interactions
JF - Hyperfine Interactions
Cerón Loayza ML, Bravo Cabrejos JA. Characterization of the Carancas-Puno meteorite by energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence, X-ray diffractometry and transmission Mössbauer spectroscopy. Hyperfine Interactions. 2011 Nov 1;17-23. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10751-011-0365-x