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A power failure at Suncor's Commerce City, CO, Refinery Saturday led to an "operational upset" and flames shooting from the facility, officials said.
Suncor said the power failed at about 10 p.m., and there were no injuries.
Concerns Over Refinery Flaring Case
Blaze Out at OH Gasoline Plant
Gas Plant Blast in KS
IN Chemical Plant Blaze Injures Worker
Chemical Explosion Hurts 3 in PA Lab
"Suncor's Commerce City Refinery experienced a total power failure from Xcel Energy which resulted in an operational upset," Suncor officials said. "Due to this upset, visible flaring was seen at the facility. Suncor's emergency response team responded and there were no injuries. Suncor is working closely with external response agencies from South Adams County Fire Department and Commerce City Police Department."
"The regulators have been notified and we have initiated air monitoring in and around the refinery and neighboring community with no abnormal readings to date."
In October, a power outage at the refinery sent a colored plume of a clay-like dust coated with hydrocarbon oil.
Company officials later said more than 75,000 pounds of sulfur dioxide released, exceeding a daily limit of 500 pounds. The company and state officials said the release did not pose any health risk.


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A while ago I was looking for an easy way to explain developers how to find and fix memory leaks. During my research I've found this really interesting blog by a Microsoft Engineer, Tess Ferrandez.
She is constantly posting new tips and guides on .NET development and troubleshooting. I really like the ".NET Debugging Labs", step by step guides on how to fix common issues, such as Memory Leaks, CPU Hangs, Crashes and so on.
If broken it is, fix it you should:

subset: commoncrawl


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Treverton College December News
Treverton College December News
Treverton College Prefects 2017
Treverton College announced their 2017 Head Prefects at a final assembly held in the Alan Staples Centre on Saturday 3 November. They are Jacques Wessels and Lutho Dabula. Photo:
Treverton donates School Shoes
After her final Matric exam, Treverton College Grade 12 pupil, Emma George collected school shoes from her fellow school leavers. The shoes will be distributed to children in need as part of Treverton's community engagement initiative. Well done Emma!


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Use the Medicare Plan Finder to See Your Options
Copyright © 2014 AARP. All rights reserved.
The Medicare online plan finder is loaded with information and offers several different kinds of searches. Here's how to navigate the program as quickly as possible to get you to the point when you can begin to compare stand-alone Part D drug plans.
The plan finder is now vastly more user-friendly than when it first went live in October 2005, and many improvements have been made. But its architects do change things from time to time — how can computer techies ever resist tinkering? — and navigating the program may not follow exactly the same steps as indicated.
Still, you should be able to follow along. Medicare also offers an online tutorial video on how to move through the program; you can find it on the landing page that launches the plan finder. But keeping the instructions that follow next to your keyboard is easier.
The "plan results" page is actually the beginning, not the end, of your search, because it shows only the broadest information for each Part D plan. But it does have some nifty features that may be immediately useful to you.
Comparing three plans at the same time: Click on up to three of the square boxes that precede the name of each plan to check off those you want to compare and then click on "Compare Plans" at the top of the list. Details of these plans then appear side by side. This device is useful, but it doesn't give quite the same level of detail as reviewing each plan's information separately.
Changing the order of the plans you see: By default, the plans you see on this page are listed in the order of "lowest estimated annual retail drug cost." But you can change the order by using the drop-down menu at the head of the list, selecting a different arrangement, and clicking on "Sort." For example, if you don't take any drugs and want a low-cost plan just to maintain coverage, select "Lowest Monthly Premium."
Seeing whether any plans have earned the top quality rating: Medicare rates each plan on a scale of one to five stars, which you can see in the column on the right of this page. If a plan in your area earns one of the relatively rare top five-star quality ratings, you see a gold star icon next to its name. You can switch to a gold-star plan at any time during the year instead of waiting until open enrollment.
Determining which plans to avoid: Medicare alerts you to any plan with consistently poor quality ratings — one that has earned low ratings for three years in a row — by posting a red warning icon next to its name.
Indicating which plans are available nationwide: Any plan that allows you to fill prescriptions at in-network retail pharmacies throughout the United States is identified with a green N icon at the end of the drug coverage column on this page.


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Subscribe To Weekend Box Office: Captain America: Winter Soldier Captures Record Breaking Number One Updates
I've already subscribed
When one of the Avengers has a movie release, it's a smart idea not to try and put out anything else that same weekend. Hollywood heeded that advice and Captain America: The Winter Soldier had the limelight all to itself, breaking a monthly record and scoring an easy number one.
Well up from the debut of its predecessor, Captain America: The First Avenger, which opened at $65 million in 2011, Winter Soldier bowed in with $96 million. That's not the best ever opening for an Avenger flick (all three Iron Man movies have been higher), but it is the highest ever April opening, topping the $86 million Fast Five banked back in 2011.
The question now is how well Winter Soldier will hold up over the long haul. It's on track to pass the $176 million domestic total for the first Captain America flick, but it has a long way to go to catch up the $250 million total for 2014's current year-to-date top earner, The Lego Movie.
For the full weekend top ten, check out the chart below:


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Want to be a part of one of the most talked-about evenings in Ottawa's political scene?
Now in its 5th year, the Travers Debates is a must-attend evening for influential insiders from politics, media, communications and government affairs. It's an entertaining and informative evening, with lots of opportunities for networking. Sponsorship opportunities are available. Contact: firstname.lastname@example.com for details.


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Franchise Opportunities in :
MASERU – Lesotho
COUNTRY MALL – Boksburg, Gauteng
Affording vehicle owners the opportunity to have their vehicles washed and to have minor interior and exterior repairs done, all under one roof and while they shop. A web café is also on offer to waiting customers.
1000 – 1200m² site of which standard footprint for Sparkling Auto Care Centre approximately 360m² for drive-thru car wash | steam bay auto body repair workshop with spray booth | staff locker rooms | public toilets | offices | store room | web café and approximately 600 – 700m² open space for finishing bays | entrances & exits line-up space (depending on existing site layout)
Standard foot print for Sparkling Auto Express Centre (car wash & valet only) approximately 200m².
1000 – 1200m²
Approximately 200m²


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Breast Augmentation Before & After Pictures of Patient 165
Keep in mind that each patient is unique and your results may vary.
This is a 35 year old female who wanted to improve the shape and fullness of her breasts. After multiple pregnancies, she realized that she lost the fullness that was present. With pregnancies, there is a loss of volume and an excess of skin. In many cases, the skin and fullness do not return to the "pre pregnant" state. She came to the office to discuss her options.
After a detailed discussion, we decided that a breast augmentation would be the best procedure to improve the fullness and projection of her breasts - approaching the shape and projection of her pre pregnancy state. Because of the excess skin, a larger implant was neede to fill out the breast. 575cc round moderate profile smooth silicone implants were placed in a submuscular pocket via an inframammary incision.
She recovered quickly and was back to her usual activities in a week. She is seen in these post op pictures 6 weeks after the procedure.
She loves the results!!Surgeon: Dr. Louis Cutolo Jr.
Patient Age: 35
Patient Gender: Female
Implant Wall: Smooth Wall
Implant Placement: Submuscular
Implant Contents: Semi-Solid Silicone Gel
Implant Shape: Round
Breast Incision Type: Inframammary
If you like the results you see here, request a consultation to learn more about how this procedure can help you achieve your ideal appearance. We encourage you to print your favorite photos and bring them with you during your consultation to help communicate your goals and expectations.
Keep in mind that each patient is unique and results may not occur for all patients. These photos are of an actual patient of our practice who has provided consent to display their pictures online.
Keep in mind that each patient is unique and your results may vary.


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Eazylink Consulting
No 20 Ihia Ada Close, Mgbuoba Portharcourt
Event Managers
Real Estate Management and training, We provide a diverse range of training and career development programs primarily for current and prospective real estate professionals. Our training programs move beyond the traditional focus and overview of real estate, we offer courses that combine practical and technical modules. Our objective is to provide participants with knowledgeable skills required to guide and assist them in making profitable real estate transactions.


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With her marriage breaking up, Beverly Hills housewife Phyllis Nefler (Shelley Long) boosts her self-esteem by leading a local troop of Wilderness Girls. Although Phyllis' version of roughing it is spending the night at the Beverly Hills Hotel, that suits her privileged troop members just fine. Unfortunately, when Phyllis falls afoul of a rival leader, the girls are threatened with having their group dissolved -- unless they can prove their wilderness skills at the annual jamboree.
OK for kids 12+
Read reviews
All Troop Beverly Hills cast + crew photos
Movies.com, the ultimate source for everything movies, is your destination for new movie trailers, reviews, photos, times, tickets + more! Stay in the know with the latest movie news and cast interviews at Movies.com.
Copyright © 2019 FANDANGO MOVIES.


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Bridal Hoodie Embroidered with Your Wording
Be comfortable and cute while planning your big day with our "Lucky Me the Bride To Be" Hoodie! Our 100% cotton California fleece hoodie with a zip front and optional pants to match, includes an elegant embroidery on the back of the jacket letting everyone know of the special day that awaits this lovely bride. You can choose the font and thread color for the embroidery on the back of the jacket to best personalize her favorite color combination and make this into a great personalized gift for her engagement party or bridal shower. Let this sweater become a lasting addition to the bride's wardrobe that she can treasure for years to come.
Being custom made to order, please allow 2-3 weeks for processing and delivery. Custom made to order items are nonrefundable nor exchangeable so please choose your sizes and colors carefully.
Questions & Answers about Lucky Me the Bride to Be Hoodie with Optional Pants
Shop more gifts and apparel
at our sister store Zynotti
- For the Bride
- Bridal Brooches & Pins
- Bridal Garters
- Gloves
- Bride & Bachelorette Sashes
- Hair Accessories
- Handkerchiefs
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- Veils
- Slips and Body Shapers
- Wedding Socks
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- Bridal Lingerie
- CLEARANCE Ed Hardy
- Body Shapers
- I Do Shoe Stickers
- Jewelry
- Purses & Money Bags
- Bouquet Jewelry
- Something Blue
- Personalized Shoe Bags
- Emergency Kits
- Shawls, Furs & Pashminas
- Ceremony Accessories
- Will You Be My Cards
- DIY Invitations
- Flower Girl Baskets
- Ring Pillows
- Unity Sand Sets
- Unity Candles & Stands
- Wedding Signs
- Wedding Accessory Collections
- DIY T-Shirt Transfers
- Fun Wedding Stuff
- Cake Toppers
- Monogram Cake Toppers
- Bride and Groom Figurine Toppers
- Personalized Cake Tops
- Traditional Cake Toppers
- Anniversary Cake Toppers
- Cake Top Initials
- Birthday Cake Toppers
- Reception Accessories
- Wedding Favors & Supplies
- Card and Money Boxes
- Guest Signature Mats
- Guest Books & Pens
- Toasting Flutes
- Cake Tops & Monograms
- Cake Servers
- Renaissance Pewter Accessories
- Placecards & Table Numbers
- Napkins & Matches
- Dance Floor Decals
- Groomsman Accessories
- Money Dance Bags
- Bow Ties for the Guys
- Bridal Shower


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Why 'The Angry Hedgehog'??
Where did The Angry Hedgehog come from?
Partly, this is a throwback to my youth when I played a bit too much Sonic the Hedgehog on my Sega Megadrive. When coming to choose the name The Angry Hedgehog I was drawn to going back over my life and times when I was happy in imagining a world of pixels and storylines. This is how I see Garden Design; a storyline I get to create, bringing others imagination alive.
But why is he an 'Angry Hedgehog'?
Not necessarily angry per se.(Just look at him! He is cute!) However, it is a word to put before a wonderful creature whose world is always under threat.
Hedgehogs are a Gardener's friend. Unfortunately we don't always see them as such. Nor do we plant sufficiently to encourage more nature in our Gardens. This is what I strive to do in my designs. By having The Angry Hedgehog, I am constantly reminded not to forget the natural world around us when I am planning out your dream Garden.
Want to find out more about me? Click here:


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Here are some paint techniques to turn your craft projects from ordinary to extraordinary. Use water based acrylic craft paint for all of these.
This is one of my favorite. It can transform a craft project into a great piece of art. Use a blackwash, after you have painted all the other colors on your craft project. When your main coat is dry, use paint that has been watered down. The ratio should be about four parts water to one part black paint. Paint this on your project and leave it for about a minute. With a damp cloth wipe it off. This works especially well on objects that have a lot of texture. The black fills in the indentations and adds depth. Try it, you will be amazed at what a difference it can make.
Dry brushing:
Dry brushing is used to add highlights. Put your paint brush in light colored paint and then wipe the excess off on to a piece of paper towel. Now gently brush on to your project.
Use a floating medium for this paint technique. It is a clear product that acts as an extender. Mixing four parts floating medium to one part paint makes craft paint more like a stain.
This also uses floating medium. Mix it with brown paint. Put it on a painted project, let it sit for a minute or two and then wipe with a damp cloth.
Mix equal parts paint, water and latex glaze. Dab a sea sponge into the paint mixture and apply to the project. With a another, damp sea sponge, soften the paint lines. Now brush lightly over with a dry paint brush to soften more. With a liner brush or feather, draw veining with a lighter color and then soften this with a dry brush.
Paint the base color on your project. For a dark base, sponge on a light color. If it is a light base color, then sponge on a dark color. Dip a sea sponge into paint, then on to paper towel to remove excess. Now apply to project, dabbing lightly. Using paint mixed with glaze will give a softer effect and extend drying time.
Start with a light colored base coat. When base coat is dry, mix water, paint (darker than base coat) and latex glaze in equal parts. Roll on to craft project. With damp cheese cloth, start dabbing the paint off. When cheese cloth is covered in paint, rinse and continue. For a different effect use plastic grocery bags that are crumpled up instead of cheescloth.
For this paint technique, use watered down paint on an old toothbrush. Put paint on the brush and pull the bristles back with your thumb. The paint will splatter on your project.
Use a scruffy brush and load with two colors. Pounce up and down. This is used to paint grass, flowers or trees.
Return to top of page Paint Techniques
Featured Craft of the Month
Looking for Halloween Craft Ideas? These ones will keep you busy!


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Lisburn had a close call in the quarter-final of the Sam Rutherford competition with a one hole victory over Rossmore.
Lisburn held a seven holes advantage after their home leg.
In the top match at Rossmore Gary Campbell and Rodney Osbourne lost by two holes.
Michael Robinson and Colin Hill were three down when their match finished.
Mark Jamieson and Ben Kirkwood lost by one hole.
The outcome of the tie depended on the final match where Chris Budd and Andy Parr snatched a half to give Lisburn the narrowest victory.
Fred Daly
Lisburn defeated Fortwilliam in the quarter-final following a whitewash home victory.
David McAleenan won the top match on the final green. Aaron Marshall, Kyle Patton and Josh Robinson had easy victories.
The fifth Fortwilliam player was unavailable giving Christian Kennedy a 10 & 8 'victory'. Fortwilliam conceded the tie and Lisburn march on to the semi-final.
The semi-final and final matches take place at Lurgan this Sunday.
Lisburn teams went out of the Rossmore and Junior Cowdy cup competitions.
Law Trophy
Nearly 140 competitors took part in the Law Trophy at Lisburn last Saturday.
Chris Orr (19) led the field after 18 holes with a net score of 66.
He was closely followed by Paul Thompson (17), Michael Cairns (22) and Mark Stewart (9) on 67.
The 'Flag' competition is the competitor who 'carries' the flag farthest round the course with his quota of strokes.
Paul and Michael had pars at the first hole while Mark had a birdie four.
He hit his remaining stroke into the trees at the 2nd hole but it was sufficient to win the trophy.
Unfortunately Chris did not fare well at the extra holes.
Mark turned 15 in March and his successes this year has brought his handicap down from 10.3 to 7.6.
Alternative Stableford (Yellows) (23/07/2016 CSS: 70 Par: 72)
1st Alan Taylor 41pts
2nd David Payne 40pts
3rd Adam Clarke 38pts
Alan Taylor won the Stableford competition played off the yellow tees with 41 points. David Payne was one point behind in second place with Adam Clarke third on 38.


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There's no shortage of opportunity or challenges in the food and beverage industry—and the challenges aren't unsubstantial. Along with regular legislative changes, distribution complexity, food safety issues, and international competition, companies in the food and beverage industry regularly face a range of issues concerning:
Through personal, customized service backed by the resources of one of the largest accounting and consulting firms in the nation, our team of highly skilled professionals can help your business navigate these challenges and embrace emerging opportunities.
Leveraging knowledge of the entire supply chain—from plant to consumer and all points in between—your experienced engagement team will deliver industry-specific solutions to help you achieve your business objectives faster. This level of specialization and concentration is a major reason so many food and beverage companies choose Moss Adams.
Assurance Services
Solve complex business challenges with insight made possible by quality financial and nonfinancial data. Validating the accuracy of the information you use to make your most critical financial decisions empowers you to be more confident in the direction you take your company in the future.
Tax Services
Individual and business decisions can significantly affect your tax liability. Keep more of the money you earn by understanding and implementing tax strategies at the local, state, federal, and international levels that can positively impact your returns and future plans. We'll work with you to develop a strong federal and state tax strategy that will maximize your deductions and reduce your risk.
Consulting Services
Recognize growth opportunities that you can leverage domestically and internationally with a full range of services beyond assurance and tax. Whether it's compliance or streamlining to improve IT, strategy and operations, or transactions, you can mitigate risk and solve your most pressing operational challenges.
Industry Involvement
Our professionals are members of many local and national associations, such as:
Thank you. Your contact request has been received. We will be in touch soon.


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Planned Giving at our Church
The church relies on the generosity of its members to enable to continue its work within the community and maintain its historical buildings; these contributions make a vital and lasting difference to the work of the church. Please read on to find out how you can help make that difference. For more information on stewardship please visit the Diocese of St. Albans website.
The Parish Giving Scheme
This scheme has been set up to help us best manage regular donations. It is run in partnership between dioceses on a cost sharing basis. Read more by clicking this link
Giving Envelopes
St Paul wrote to the Corinthian Christians, saying: "On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come, no collections will have to be made." (1 Cor 16 v2).
This principle of regular, proportionate giving to the work of the Lord is encouraged in our church. Some find a standing order convenient, but we also have regular giving envelopes available, enabling contributions to be gift aided. Some use weekly or monthly envelopes in addition to a standing order, partly because of the additional envelopes for Lent, Advent, charities, etc, and partly to give something extra when we have treated ourselves to something extra like theatre, concert, holiday, etc.
Our church is entirely reliant on your generosity to function and pay the Parish Share (i.e. the Rector's stipend!). We receive no government or outside funding. If you would like to know more, please speak to either Gloria Clarke, our Planned Giving officer, or to Hannah Potter, PCC treasurer.
Gift Aid
Is a government scheme which aims to support charitable donations, for more information please read our Gift Aid leaflet : Gift Aid Leaflet
Foreword by the Bishop of St Albans
(Courtesy of the Diocese)
Nationally, more than five thousand people each year make a bequest to support the work of the Church. Here in the Diocese of St Albans such gifts make a significant contribution to our ministry. They enable is to maintain our historic buildings and churchyards; they finance new projects as part of Living God's Love; they help us to maintain our bells and organs; and in some places they pay for pastoral and youth workers. Leaving a legacy to the church goes hand in hand with our regular giving and is an important part of our Christian discipleship. Making a will and including a gift to your church is simple to do and can have a tremendous impact on the future of your church. Please think seriously about acting on it.
To request a free guide to making a Will or for more information on different ways to leave gifts to the Church through your Will, phone the Church's Legacy and Wills Information Line on 08455 870875 or visit www.churchlegacy.org.uk
St Peter's Charity Work
As part of our mission in Bedford we strive to support as many local charities and good causes as possible. To see where the money we have asked you to help us raise goes to please see below; this is updated at the end of each financial year. (pdf)
The Friends of St Peters
The first move towards the formation of The Friends occurred, more or less, in April 2002 at a meeting chaired by the then Rector, Guy Buckler. Margaret Staddon agreed to act as Chairman while others volunteered to be fund-raisers, the main purpose of the scheme being to help the church raise funds specifically for meeting the costs of the care and restoration of this Bedford landmark. Companies within the parish and people with links to St. Peter's were approached inviting them to become Friends, as individuals, families or corporately, either for life or on an annually renewable basis.
Since 2004 members have, once a year, been sent a newsletter listing forthcoming events and enclosing an article either on one of the features of this ancient church, or outlining its historical background.
St. Peter's has the advantage of great age on its side in one respect – that it is this which has attracted both single visitors and groups from such organisations as the Retirement Education Centre, the Beds. and Herts. Historic Churches Trust and the Bedford Archaeological and Local History society. Informative contact with representatives of Albion Archaeology at St. Mary's Church and Bedford Museum has stimulated interest here, resulting in marvellous photographs of St. Peter's taking their place amongst the display at the Saxon Gold, Gods and Kings Exhibition held locally in partnership with the British Museum in 2007.
Articles on St. Peter's have appeared in the newsletters of the Bedfordshire Local History Association and the Friends of St. Thomas a Becket Church in Clapham. Pleased with our contributions to Art'icle, the editor of the Bedford Arts Forum magazine selected St. Peter's to be the host church for the 2009 Bedford/Jersey Arts Festival. Singers and speakers flew from the island to entertain audiences with music and its story.
By stepping over the threshold and becoming a friend, making a donation or leaving a legacy ensuring that, during these hard times, the fabric of St. Peter's gets the attention it deserves. Since 2013 the service of Nones has been held annually in may at St. Peter's to commemorate the work of the Augustinian Canons.
Work costing more than £30,000 was completed in 2010, but the need for interior renovation and decoration is always there.


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bringing 2 U events & happenings in and around Ipoh … & beyond…
Let's keep healthy with Emily2U Giveaway #19! Let your friends know about Giveaways on Emily2U and I will be able to bring you a better variety of prizes!
Prize: ONE resistive exercise band (1.5 metres in length)
Value: RM15
Number of winners: One (1)
What you need to do:
Submit your entry using the widget below:
Eligibility: Open to everyone worldwide. Each person can only submit one entry – suspicious Facebook accounts are not eligible. Winner is entitled to one prize only.
Closing date: 11.59pm, 13th April, 2013 (UTC+8)
Selection: ONE winner will be selected using Random.org. Winner's list is final – no dispute will be entertained. Prize will be sent to the winner by Registered Mail (or Registered Airmail).
This week's prize is sponsored by:
Sanctuary Health Sdn. Bhd.
Note: View larger image by clicking on it once this page has completely loaded.
Tags: blog freebies, blog giveaways, emily2u freebie giveaway, freebies, giveaways, Ipoh, Malaysia, Perak, resistive exercise band, Sanctband, Sanctuary Health
Don't miss these too!
Another great giveaway!
Great giveaways so that it will encourage me to do my exercise 🙂
Hope can win to let and encourage me do exercise^^
Hope I m the winner this time 😛
Done all the steps~~~ Hope I can win!
The following are successful entrants in this giveaway.
94. Ng Sau Yee
96. Cheong Pie Ling
97. Chee Phek San
99. Jessie Chee
100. Siew Shuang
101. Siew You
102. Siew Kee
103. irwin tee
104. Amanda
105. Pamela
106. Soo Chee Hong
107. Ng Pei Fung


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Time: 9:30am-11:30am
Location: NRHBC LIVE Room/Cafe
Our purpose is to meet the needs of all moms of preschoolers: stay at home or the working mom - all striving to be the best mommies they can be. Mom to Mom is a network that encourages, teaches and lets you share the experiences of Motherhood. Mom to Mom has group discussions, fun activities, and informative speakers. We also have small groups that allow moms to share and gain encouragement on a more personal level.
We also have a program for our preschoolers while moms are in their meeting. While you are in your meeting your children are having fun learning a Bible story, making a craft, and just having fun making new friends and learning new things.
Mom to Mom meets two Mondays a month from 9:30-11:30am during the school year based on the BISD calendar.
Registration Fees: A $40 fee is due at time of registration. Registration Includes: Study Book, t-shirt and childcare. Please contact us for more information about start up and enrollment.
If you would like to join us please drop by the church office or contact them at 817-284-9206 to register.


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I am excited to announce that I have partnered with .M Contemporary to exhibit the long-awaited Self Portrait Artist's Brain series.
We are proudly supporting Neuroscience Research Australia and 10% of all proceeds will be donated to NeuRA. Click here to see the studio visit with Prof. George Paxinos from NeuRA where we discussed the interplay of science and art. Such fun!
Running concurrently in the gallery will be the exhibition The Artists' Gaze featuring works by Sergio Hernandez, Lyndi Sales and Pamela Stretton.
Opening Saturday 7th April, 2 - 4 pm
Exhibition 7th - 29th April
For enquiries please contact:
.M Contemporary
37 Ocean Street,
Woollahra, 2025
Sydney, Australia
Web: http://mcontemp.com/events/lada-dedic-the-artists-brain
email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Ph + 61 2 9328 0922


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The Perks of Being a Wallflower Prose Speech
great selection! I happen to love that book. And I love the quote you started with!!! Your time length was nice, not going over 10 minutes. Good interpretation of the character in your voice. Your tone represents the hesitation Charlie spoke with which is great. And good use of the fact in the start.


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It is a compelling challenge to look back at everything you've photographed for one trip around the sun and, like an anthropologist (my dream career, by the way), try to see the patterns, connect the dots and learn something from it. I have 14,272 photographs from 2016. And since I delete even more prolifically than I shoot, I probably took at least twice that many, maybe three times. That's a lot of time behind the camera. That's a lot of time pointing this device in a direction of my choosing. It's a lot of choosing, period. What moment, which person, how close, from what angle, which detail in focus? In other words, what story is in front of me and how am I going to tell it?
When you look at it from that angle, it underscores how deeply personal photography is. Everything about who I am as a person coalesces in my choices about when and where to point the camera. I'm struck every time I photograph an event just how biased I am. I can only see what I see. Surely there was more there. A completely different story perhaps. But I didn't see it. Maybe someone else did. Maybe I will next time.
So out of more than 14k attempts at seeing, here are 35 that feel like I succeeded. I don't mean succeeded by producing an amazing photograph. Or even a technically proficient one. These are definitely not the prettiest photos I've taken this year. I just mean that these feel like I saw what I was meant to see. I saw the person. I saw the moment, the contradiction, the feeling that was waiting to be seen. And what else can you really ask for as a photographer but to learn to recognize what only you can.


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Why choose Macleay College Event Management Courses?
Why study Business Management specialising in Event Management?
The Bachelor of Business Management specialising in Event Management teaches you everything you need to know about event planning and production, budgeting, sponsorship, venue and supplier management and marketing.
In Year 1 you'll learn how to coordinate an event, assess risk and profitability, and develop an event concept from start to finish. You will gain a broad overview of how to work successfully in business or even set up a business of your own, through the skills gained from entrepreneurship projects.
In Year 2 you will cover commercial & stakeholder management from event briefing to gathering feedback post event. You will develop advanced business skills such as leadership, strategic management, project management and business finance. You will know how to make solid business decisions based on a thorough understanding of economic and marketing data. Two elective subjects also provide you with the flexibility to follow a specific interest.
Each year you'll take part in our internship placement program. It is an excellent opportunity to build your professional network and whilst applying all of the practical knowledge you've gained throughout the course.
There is a focus on action and experiential learning including interactive presentations, industry specific case studies, team work, individual assignments and real world projects which stimulate innovative thinking.
The course will encourage you to step out of your comfort zone and explore new ideas thereby helping you to develop resilience, adaptability and self-confidence.
This qualification is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework and is accredited to 30/08/2020 CRICOS Code 080556A
In recent years the high-profile success of young Australian entrepreneurs in building profitable business has been inspiring. Creating a new venture is a challenging task, one that requires specific knowledge as well as general business and entrepreneurial skills. The process of transforming creative ideas into commercially viable businesses continues to be a major challenge. Successful entrepreneurship requires more than merely luck and money. It is a cohesive process of creativity, risk taking and planning.
Enterprise Innovation 2 exposes you to the process of entrepreneurship and creativity. This module is about learning by doing - applying entrepreneurial thinking to the development of viable business concepts. On completion, you'll know how to develop and evaluate innovative, sustainable, investment - ready business ventures. It's possible that some of the student-led projects may evolve into the real-life ventures.


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Globalisation forces vehicle manufacturers to continuously shorten their production times, reduce manufacturing costs and optimise their processes. This means that the suppliers also have to rethink their logistics processes. The global technology company Continental employs the "just-in-sequence" principle in Regensburg to ensure that the necessary materials are delivered to the production line in perfect sequence.
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Cardiomyocytes from hearts with left ventricular dysfunction after ischemia-reperfusion do not manifest contractile abnormalities
Author + information
- Received October 28, 1998
- Revision received February 28, 1999
- Accepted April 26, 1999
- Published online August 1, 1999.
Author Information
- Y Chandrashekhar, MDa,
- Arun J Prahash, MB, BSa,
- Soma Sen, MDa,
- Sudhir Gupta, PhDa and
- Inder S Anand, DPhil, FRCP, (Oxon), FACCa,* (anand001{at}maroon.tc.umn.edu)
- ↵*Reprint requests and correspondence: Dr. Inder S. Anand, Professor of Medicine, University of Minnesota Medical School, Veterans Affairs Medical Center IIIC, 1 Veterans Drive, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55417
This study evaluated contractile function in cardiomyocytes isolated from hearts with global left ventricular dysfunction following ischemia-reperfusion.
Ischemia followed by reperfusion is associated with transient contractile dysfunction, termed "stunning." It is not clear whether this phenomenon is primarily due to intrinsic cardiomyocyte contractile dysfunction.
Global contractile dysfunction was induced in isolated perfused rat hearts (n = 8) using a model of transient global ischemia (20 min) followed by reperfusion (20 min). Hearts perfused uninterrupted for 40 min were used as controls (n = 8). Cardiomyocytes were isolated using enzymatic digestion and were studied under varying degrees of inotropy (using increasing extracellular calcium [Ca2+]o) and loading conditions (varying extracellular perfusate viscosity). Mechanical function was studied with video edge detection and intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i) kinetics using fura-2 AM.
Global ischemia-reperfusion increased left ventricle (LV) end diastolic pressure (450% vs. 33%, p < 0.01) and reduced LV developed pressure (9% vs. 33%, p < 0.01), LV positive (3% vs. 26%, p < 0.01) and negative (5% vs. 33%, p < 0.01) dP/dt. However, cells isolated from these hearts did not manifest contractile dysfunction. In fact, cell shortening (p < 0.0001) and peak rate of cell shortening (p < 0.05) and increase in [Ca2+]i with each contraction (p < 0.024) were higher in these cells during stimulation with [Ca2+]o of 1 to 10 mmol/liter. The EC50values for calcium dose response and the slope of the relation between change in [Ca2+]i and change in cell length were no different between the groups. Cell loading (with increasing superfusate viscosity from 1 cp to 300 cp) also did not reveal any abnormalities in cells from the hearts subjected to ischemia-reperfusion.
Cardiomyocytes isolated from hearts with ischemia-reperfusion-induced LV dysfunction or "stunning" have normal contractile function and normal [Ca2+]i transients, when studied both in the unloaded and loaded state. Our data suggest that nonmyocyte factors such as abnormalities in extracellular matrix or abnormal myocyte-interstitial tissue coupling may be important for the genesis of cardiac contractile failure in the stunned heart.
Ischemia followed by reperfusion is often associated with prolonged, reversible, myocardial dysfunction (1,2). The mechanisms for this phenomenon, termed "myocardial stunning," are unclear (2,3). An important topic that remains unanswered is the role of cellular versus extracellular abnormalities in the causation of contractile failure in the stunned heart: Is myocardial stunning the result of a primary dysfunction of the cardiac muscle or of the myocardial interstitium? Stunning has been demonstrated in the whole heart and in isolated cardiac muscle preparations (3–15). Stunning in multicellular preparations is accompanied by a number of intracellular biochemical abnormalities (4,5,16,17), some of which result in impaired myofilament calcium sensitivity (4,5). This is thought to account for the
contractile failure in the stunned heart. Although these findings suggest that stunning may be due to intrinsic cardiomyocyte dysfunction, other data indicate that changes in the interstitium may contribute to ventricular dysfunction following single (18,19)or repeated episodes of ischemia and reperfusion (20).
Studies in myocytes isolated from the stunned heart may help to resolve whether the primary defect in stunning lies in the muscle itself. However, there are no reports that have systematically investigated the contractile behavior of cells isolated from the stunned heart. Cardiomyocytes, isolated from a number of models of heart failure, show contractile abnormalities (21,22). These abnormalities are thought to contribute to global ventricular dysfunction. However, we and other investigators have shown that severe global contractile dysfunction can coexist with apparently normal isolated cardiomyocyte function (23–25). We therefore evaluated the mechanical function (contraction and relaxation) and intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i) transients in cardiomyocytes isolated from rat hearts subjected to ischemia and reperfusion to determine whether contractile dysfunction occurs at the cellular level.
Studies were done in normal adult male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 250 to 300 g. The protocol was approved by the institutional animal research review committee and conformed to the NIH guidelines for care and use of laboratory animals.
Isolated perfused heart studies
Animals were anesthetized with 50 mg/kg pentobarbital IP and were given 1,000 IU/kg of heparin. The hearts were rapidly excised, arrested in ice-cold modified Krebs-Henseleit (KH) buffer, and suspended as a Langendorff preparation. Retrograde perfusion was started with KH buffer [containing (in mmol/liter) NaCl 117; KCl 5.6; CaCl2·2H2O 1.8; NaHCO320; KH2PO41.2; MgCl2·6H2O 1.2; glucose 12.1 gassed with 95% O2and 5% CO2, pH 7.4 at 37°C] at 10 ml/g/min. A highly compliant fluid-filled latex balloon connected to a pressure transducer (Statham P23Db, Spectramed Oxnard, California) was inserted into the left ventricle (LV) for measuring ventricular pressures. Aortic perfusion pressure was measured using a pressure transducer connected to a side arm just above the aortic cannula. Temperature of the heart was measured using a fine temperature probe inserted into the left ventricular muscle. The heart temperature was maintained at 37°C throughout the experiment. All data were acquired on a data acquisition system (MacLab, AD Instruments, New South Wales, Australia) and were also continuously recorded on a paper chart recorder.
Protocol for global ischemia-reperfusion
The protocol for ischemia reperfusion was similar to that reported previously (5,7). After excising the atria, the atrioventricular (AV) node was crushed and the heart was paced at 4 Hz using a Grass Stimulator (Grass Instruments, Quincy, Massachusetts). The left ventricular balloon was inflated and the volume adjusted to maintain the left ventricular end diastolic pressure (LVEDP) at 10 mm Hg. Hearts were paced for 10 min before obtaining baseline measurements. These included left ventricular systolic pressure (LVSP), left ventricular developed pressure (LVDP = LVSP − LVEDP), positive and negative peak rate of change in LV pressures (+ve and −ve dP/dt) and the aortic perfusion pressure. Hearts were then randomly assigned either to the ischemia reperfusion protocol (called the "stunning" protocol hereafter; n = 8, 20 min ischemia followed by 20 min reperfusion) or to the control group (n = 8, 40 min of uninterrupted perfusion). A third group, called the "normal, nonperfused" group (n = 8, no ischemia, no prolonged buffer perfusion), was used to see if prolonged perfusion (as in the control group) itself affected isolated cardiomyocyte function. Hearts in this normal group were directly subjected to enzymatic digestion for isolating cardiomyocytes, without any prolonged buffer perfusion. Ischemia was induced by complete cessation of flow. Pacing was stopped at onset of ischemia and reinstituted 3 min after onset of reperfusion. Hearts were kept moist and maintained at a constant temperature of 37°C using a chamber filled with iso-osmotic buffer. All pressures were continuously monitored during the course of the experiment.
Isolated cardiomyocyte studies
Isolation of rat cardiac myocytes
Cardiomyocytes were isolated using our previously described protocol (23). Briefly, the coronary arteries were perfused for 5 min with the prewarmed (37°C) HEPES buffer ([in mmol/liter]: NaCl 120; KCl 5.4; MgSO45; pyruvate 5; glucose 20; taurine 20; and HEPES 10; 1 mmol/liter calcium, pH 7.4), rapidly switched to nominally calcium free (10 to 12 mmol/liter calcium) HEPES solution for 7 min and then changed to the enzyme solution (1 mg/ml type II collagenase [Worthington Biochemicals, Freehold, New Jersey], 0.8 mg/ml hyaluronidase [Sigma Chemical, St. Louis, Missouri], and 30 μmol/liter of calcium in the HEPES buffer) for 20 min (26). The heart was removed and dissected in fresh enzyme solution to remove residual atrial and right ventricular tissue. The LV tissue was cut into 1-mm3pieces, and agitated in a temperature-controlled water bath for 10 min. Cells were collected by filtering the solution through a nylon mesh and suspended in 200 μmol/liter calcium HEPES buffer. Cardiac myocytes were loaded with fura by incubating 1 ml of myocyte suspension with fura-2 AM (0.5 μmol/liter) for 20 min at 37°C. This protocol has been shown to minimize compartmentalization of fura or generate calcium-insensitive/incompletely de-esterified forms of fura-2 (27,28). We have found excellent and uniform loading with these concentrations without affecting myocyte viability.
Isolated myocyte function studies
Simultaneous mechanical function and intracellular calcium data were continuously obtained during contraction and relaxation for each cell using our previously described method (23). This allowed us to relate mechanical events to simultaneous changes in intracellular calcium kinetics in our study.
Myocyte mechanical function studies
Myocytes were studied in a custom-designed perspex chamber. The equipment consisted of an inverted-phase contrast microscope (Olympus IMT-2, Leeds Precision Instruments, Minneapolis, Minnesota) coupled with a noninterlacing high-speed CCTV video camera (Javelin, Los Angeles, California). Video images of the myocyte were passed through a video edge detector (VED 103, Crescent Electronics, Sandy, Utah) and displayed on a video monitor. Myocyte edges were continuously tracked during contraction and relaxation, displayed as a voltage signal proportional to the changes in myocyte length, and sent to a dedicated on-line analysis package (IonOptix, Milton, Massachusetts) on a Pentium PC for analyses of various contraction and relaxation parameters.
Intracellular calcium studies
Intracellular calcium transients were measured using the fluorescent indicator fura-2 AM. Measurement of intracellular calcium was done using the Interpolated Numerator Strategy as previously described (23,27,28).
Study protocol
Myocyte function was assessed using two separate protocols. In the first protocol, cells were studied in the unloaded state. The second protocol evaluated myocyte mechanical function in the presence of external loading.
Criteria for selecting cells for the study
Cells were selected for study using previously defined criteria (26). Cells were studied if they had sharp outlines, clearly visible striations and were without blebs. They did not show spontaneous contractile activity while suspended in HEPES buffer containing 1 mmol/liter extracellular calcium. Selection bias was further limited by consecutively studying all eligible cells in the randomly chosen field, irrespective of size or shape.
Protocol for studying unloaded cells
Fura-2 AM loaded myocytes were allowed to adhere to the base of a perspex perfusion chamber. Study drugs were made in the HEPES buffer with 1 mmol/liter calcium, which was prewarmed, oxygenated, and perfused into the chamber at 1 ml/min. The cells were superfused with 1 mmol/liter calcium HEPES buffer at 32°C and paced at 0.5 Hz for 10 min before basal recordings were made. The HEPES buffer with increasing extracellular calcium ([Ca2+]o) was (up to 10 mmol/liter in steps of 2 mmol/liter) superfused for 3 min at each dose to obtain a calcium dose response curve. All myocyte studies were completed within 3 to 4 h of isolation.
Protocol for studying loaded cells
Because load is an important determinant of cellular function, we used a protocol of cellular loading using increasing concentrations of methylcellulose in the cell suspension media as described by Kent et al. (29). Media viscosity was measured using a falling-ball viscometer. Cells were suspended in media of increasing viscosity (1 cp to 300 cp) and the contraction and relaxation parameters were studied under resting conditions and during peak inotropic stimulation using increasing extracellular calcium. Because the behavior of fura-2 in this setup is unclear, only mechanical function measurements were made in these cells.
Parameters measured for inotropic and lusitropic function
Contractile function in the cells was measured using the following parameters: peak % cell shortening (normalized to resting cell length), peak (+ve dL/dt) and mean rate of cell shortening, and time to peak shortening. Cellular relaxation indexes included peak (−ve dL/dt) and mean rate of cell relengthening, and time to 70% relengthening. Similar indexes were used to analyze the intracellular calcium transients.
Single between-group comparisons of continuous, normally distributed data were done using an unpaired ttest. Comparisons of dose-response curves between the two groups were done with a two-way ANOVA for repeated measures using the multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) module of a commercially available package (Statistica, Statsoft, Tulsa, Oklahoma). Comparison of slopes of the relation between calcium and cell shortening in the two groups was done using linear regression. All data are expressed as mean ± SE. A p < 0.05 was considered significant.
Isolated heart function data
The changes in LV function during global ischemia and reperfusion are shown in Table 1. At the end of the global ischemia and reperfusion protocol, the hearts had a significant increase in left ventricular end diastolic pressure (p < 0.01), reduced LVDP (p < 0.01) and reduced positive (p < 0.01) and negative (p < 0.01) dP/dt as compared to the control hearts.
Myocyte mechanical function
Isolated myocyte contractile function was obtained in 71 myocytes from the hearts subjected to ischemia-reperfusion and in 67 cells from the control hearts (Fig. 1, Table 2). Another 137 cells from hearts subjected to ischemia-reperfusion and 113 cells from control hearts were studied under the loading protocol. The yield of viable cardiomyocytes measured using a dye exclusion technique was (mean ± SD) 72 ± 5% and 74 ± 6% in stunned and control groups (p = NS). Myocyte function data from "normal, nonperfused" hearts were available in 71 cells for comparison. The latter group was included to test whether isolated cardiomyocyte function is affected by prolonged buffer perfusion in the control hearts. Perfusing the normal heart (the control group) did not significantly affect isolated cardiomyocyte shortening or relengthening when compared with cells obtained from "normal, nonperfused" hearts (Fig. 1).
Furthermore, comparisons were therefore limited to those between cells from hearts subjected to ischemia-reperfusion and controls. Baseline cell shortening (1 mmol/liter calcium in perfusion media) was similar in cells isolated from hearts subjected to ischemia-reperfusion and control hearts. Increasing extracellular calcium, a known inotropic stimulus, caused a dose-dependent increase in cell shortening in myocytes from all the groups. The peak cell shortening at the highest dose of extracellular calcium was slightly higher in the cells from hearts subjected to ischemia-reperfusion compared to controls (10.9 ± 0.8 vs. 9.4 ± 0.6%, p = 0.0003). The calcium dose-response curve was shifted slightly to the left in cells from the hearts subjected to ischemia-reperfusion, suggesting greater cell shortening over 2 to 10 mmol/liter [Ca2+]o (p < 0.0001 for the interaction term).
Similarly, when the cell shortening was added over all doses, cells from the hearts subjected to ischemia-reperfusion had greater shortening compared with controls (ANOVA group effect, p < 0.0001). The cardiomyocyte dose-response curve revealed a plateau in cell shortening after 6 mmol/liter [Ca2+]o in both groups. There was no difference in the EC50for calcium dose response between myocytes from the control and hearts subjected to ischemia-reperfusion (LogEC501.6 ± 0.14 in stunned hearts, 95% CI 1.13 to 2.01 vs. 2.3 ± 0.27 in controls, 95% CI 1.5 to 3.2).
Other mechanical indexes
The basal (1 mmol/liter [Ca2+]o) peak positive and peak negative dL/dt were similar in both groups of cells (Table 2). However, cells from the hearts subjected to ischemia-reperfusion had a higher positive dL/dt (with max [Ca2+]o: 284 ± 18 μm/s vs. 187 ± 13 μm/s, p = 0.001), negative dL/dt [with max [Ca2+]o: 222 ± 21 μm/s vs. 130 ± 11 μm/s, p = 0.002] and mean velocity of shortening (with max [Ca2+]o: 104 ± 5.7 μm/s vs. 76 ± 4.6 μm/s, p = 0.005). The time to peak shortening and time for 70% relaxation were not significantly different between the two groups.
Myocyte intracellular calcium
These data are presented in Figure 2and Table 2. Resting diastolic [Ca2+]i was similar in both groups of cells (81 ± 4 nmol/liter vs. 85 ± 2 nmol/liter at 1 mmol/liter [Ca2+]o) and increased with increasing [Ca2+]o, to a similar extent in both groups (133 ± 8 nmol/liter vs. 134 ± 25 nmol/liter at the highest dose of [Ca2+]o, p = 0.15). Increasing [Ca2+]o caused a dose-dependent increase in the amplitude of the [Ca2+]i transient seen with each contraction; however, the increase was higher in cells from hearts subjected to ischemia-reperfusion (Fig. 2)when analyzed over the dose-response curve (the interaction factor p = 0.024) or when averaged over all the calcium doses (Group factor, p = 0.002). Likewise, the peak rate of rise of calcium (peak positive dCa2+/dt, p = 0.005) and peak rate of decline of Ca2+transients (peak negative dCa2+/dt, p = 0.006) were higher in the cells from hearts subjected to ischemia-reperfusion, whereas time to peak (p = 0.67) and time to 70% decline (p = 0.99) of calcium transients were not significantly different when analyzed over the whole range of [Ca2+]o.
Relation of [Ca2+]i vs. cell shortening
The relation between change in intracellular calcium and change in cell length was similar in cells from hearts subjected to ischemia-reperfusion and normal hearts across all the doses of extracellular calcium (Fig. 3). The slope of the lines defining this relation was 0.015 ± 0.002 (95% CI 0.011 to 0.0186) in the cells from hearts subjected to ischemia-reperfusion versus 0.016 ± 0.002 (95% CI 0.011 to 0.0196) in control heart cells (p = 0.84). This and the fact that cell shortening at maximal doses of extracellular calcium and the EC50were not reduced in cells from ischemia-reperfusion group would suggest that there is no evidence for a reduced calcium sensitivity at the myocyte level.
Effect of cell loading
A total of 137 cells from the hearts subjected to ischemia-reperfusion and 113 cells from the control hearts were studied under the loading protocol. A viscosity-dependent reduction in cell shortening was seen in cells from both control (8.83 ± 0.33% to 3.13 ± 0.3%) and ischemia-reperfusion (8.92 ± 0.43% to 3.99 ± 0.29%) hearts (Fig. 4). However, the viscosity-dependent effect on contraction was less in cells from the ischemia-reperfusion group compared to control cells (p = 0.005 by interaction term). Most of the difference was seen at intermediate levels of viscosity.
This study shows that unloaded cardiomyocytes isolated from hearts subjected to "stunning" using a well-described protocol of global ischemia and reperfusion (5,7)do not manifest contractile dysfunction. Indeed, a mild increase in contractility was seen in these cells at submaximal levels of [Ca2+]o and intermediate levels of cell loading. Furthermore, a graded increase in afterload did not unmask any mechanical abnormalities in cells isolated from these hearts. We also found that EC50for cell shortening with increasing extracellular calcium and the change in cell shortening per unit change in intracellular calcium (calcium sensitivity) were no different in the two groups. These findings were seen in myocytes isolated from hearts with severe global LV systolic and diastolic dysfunction, changes that are consistent with the classic findings for global ventricular dysfunction seen following global ischemia-reperfusion. Although there is some controversy whether subjecting isolated rat hearts to ischemia-reperfusion constitutes true stunning (30), a number of reports have considered this to be a model representing the "stunned" heart (5,7). We believe, therefore, that our findings may have important pathogenetic implications.
Studies in isolated cardiomyocytes have several advantages; the confounding effects of perfusion limitation, substrate deficiency, autonomic influences and the restraining effects of the interstitium are avoided. Thus, any difference in cell shortening in unloaded cardiomyocytes would represent differences in "intrinsic cellular" contractile properties. Our studies suggest that global contractile dysfunction seen in the "stunned" heart cannot be entirely explained on the basis of "intrinsic" contractile dysfunction in cardiomyocytes.
There is little published data on the mechanical behavior of cells isolated from the stunned heart. One study, partly addressing this issue, was conducted by Lew et al. (12), who found reduced cell shortening in cells from rabbits with regional ischemia. However, they did not find any abnormalities in peak rates of shortening or relengthening in cells from the stunned hearts. These data suggest that cellular abnormalities do not fully explain myocardial stunning. The Lew et al. (12)study was also limited by the fact that they investigated only a few cells, evaluated one single dose of extracellular calcium, and did not obtain a dose-response curve or maximal cellular effects of extracellular calcium. Moreover, they induced stunning in vivo, in a rabbit subjected to general anesthesia, and their cell-isolation procedure lasted four times longer than did ours. These factors may explain some of the differences between their findings and ours.
Another preliminary study found that 30 min of ischemia followed by 30 min of reperfusion in a canine model was associated with a paradoxical increase in isolated cell shortening at a time when both global and regional functions were depressed (31). Although that report did not clarify the number of cells studied, the findings are consistent with the results in our study.
Is stunning a cellular or extracellular phenomenon?
The mechanisms responsible for stunning are unclear. Increased oxygen free radicals have been implicated as an important factor in the genesis of stunning (30). However, the exact site (cellular or extracellular) at which these and other mediators of stunning act to produce myocardial contractile failure is controversial. Evidence from isolated muscle preparations seems to suggest that a calcium overload causes activation of intracellular proteolytic enzymes, which in turn affect the myofilament regulatory proteins (4,5,32). Moreover, a number of intracellular abnormalities in the excitation contraction coupling pathway have been described (1–3,30), suggesting that stunning occurs at the cardiomyocyte level.
However, other data seem to suggest that changes in myocardial interstitium may also contribute to contractile dysfunction in stunning (18,19,33). Zhao et al. (19)showed that ischemia-reperfusion can result in degradation of interstitial collagen, which could contribute to ventricular dysfunction in stunning. Charney et al. (18)found that ischemia-reperfusion is followed by a significant reduction in collagen content and activation of endogenous collagenase in the stunned myocardium. Others, however, found that repeated episodes of ischemia and reperfusion are needed for these changes to develop (20). Studies by Yoshida et al. (16)showed that stunning is associated with a rapid degradation of cardiac structural proteins; such an effect could impair cell-to-cell coupling and probably reduce force transmission. Thus, the relative contributions of myocellular versus extracellular dysfunction in stunning is far from resolved. Our data do not support a primary role for intrinsic cardiomyocyte dysfunction in stunning.
Myofilament calcium responsiveness and stunning
Two major abnormalities in calcium and myofilament interaction have been postulated to account for stunning (2), namely (a) reduced maximal calcium activated force development and (b) reduced calcium sensitivity (shortening response per unit change in intracellular calcium). Much of this data is controversial. Reduced maximal calcium activated force generation has been demonstrated in both isolated (5,7,8)and in situ preparations (6). However, others could not confirm this in whole heart canine (15,34)and porcine preparations (35), in skinned trabeculae (9,11)or in loaded myocyte-sized preparations from the stunned heart (9,10). Methods for measuring force generation at the single-cell level are imperfect as yet (36), and there is therefore no such data in isolated single cardiomyocytes. However, we found that maximal cell shortening, an approximate surrogate of maximal force generation (37), was unimpaired in cells from the stunned heart.
Abnormal myofilament calcium sensitivity has been demonstrated in the whole heart (7), in isolated muscle preparations (5)and in isolated skinned fibers (9); also, improving calcium sensitivity is known to benefit the stunned heart (38). However, other investigators have not been able to confirm this in a number of different experimental preparations (6,8,10,11,35). In our studies, when peak change in intracellular calcium was plotted against peak cell shortening, the slopes of the lines were similar in the stunned and normal hearts (Fig. 3). These data argue against altered "intrinsic" myofilament calcium sensitivity in the development of ventricular stunning.
Mechanical transient kinetics in the stunned heart
Maximum velocity of shortening of unloaded muscles is thought to reflect cross-bridge cycling rate (5,10)and has been used as an index of contractility. Maximum velocity of shortening was reduced in unloaded myocyte-sized preparations from the stunned heart in one study (10)and was postulated to contribute to contractile dysfunction. However, other studies did not find reduced time to peak shortening in muscle preparations (5). Some have found even an increase in peak rate of cell shortening in cardiomyocytes isolated from the stunned heart (12), which is similar to our findings.
Diastolic function is thought to be altered in the stunned heart (39,40). However, relaxation is paradoxically enhanced in trabeculae (5)and cells (12)from the stunned heart. We, too, found that the peak rate of cell relengthening and peak rate of change in intracellular calcium during cell relaxation were higher in the stunned cells. Thus, cells isolated from the stunned heart and manifesting severe diastolic dysfunction do not exhibit major relaxation abnormalities when studied in the unloaded state. Moreover, the lack of abnormalities in cell relaxation seen in our studies is consistent with unimpaired rate of calcium uptake by the sarcoplasmic reticulum (5,41,42).
Intracellular calcium kinetics
Although intracellular calcium is known to increase during ischemia and early reperfusion, most studies show a rapid return to normal (42). Peak [Ca2+]i is not reduced in the stunned heart (41,43)and was even found to be increased in one study (7). This is consistent with the absence of major changes in [Ca2+]i in stunned cells in our studies. Studies by Gao et al. (5)suggest that trabeculae from the stunned heart are unable to handle calcium homeostasis in the presence of increased [Ca2+]o. When exposed to increasing [Ca2+]o, the diastolic calcium rose only in the muscle trabeculae isolated from the stunned hearts. We found that even at a higher extracellular calcium (than that in previous reports), the increase in resting diastolic intracellular calcium was similar to that seen in cells from the normal heart. The reason for this difference is unclear.
Can normal cardiomyocyte function coexist with abnormal whole heart function?
It might appear counterintuitive that cells isolated from the stunned heart contract normally. There is, however, evidence that dysfunction in the whole heart can coexist with normal isolated cardiomyocyte function in some models of congestive heart failure (CHF). We have recently shown that cardiomyocytes isolated from rats with severe LV remodeling and global LV dysfunction had normal contractile function in the unloaded state (23). We hypothesized that changes in the interstitium or in the structural proteins could impair force transmission and explain global LV dysfunction, despite normal cardiomyocyte contractility. A similar situation may exist in the stunned heart. Todaka et al. (33)showed that degrading cardiac interstitial collagen with 5,5-dithio-z-nitrobenzoic acid (DTNB) caused significant systolic and diastolic abnormalities, similar to that seen in the stunned heart. However, cardiomyocytes treated with DTNB contracted normally. A number of other changes occur during stunning and could contribute to contractile dysfunction in the heart independent of any changes in "intrinsic" cardiomyocyte function. Yoshida et al. (16)showed a significant degradation of calspectrin, a structural protein, located predominantly at the intercalated disks. This could impair cell-to-cell electromechanical coupling and might manifest as whole-heart dysfunction even in the presence of normal cardiomyocyte function.
Study limitations
It has been argued that this model of global ischemia-reperfusion in the rat heart (in vitro) may not represent true stunning (30). Some believe that this might be better termed "postischemic ventricular dysfunction." Although this is an area of ongoing debate, a number of studies have used this model as representing a stunned heart (4,5,7,8,11). Studies in isolated cardiomyocytes have several advantages, but they should be interpreted in light of several methodological limitations. In general, isolated preparations are unphysiologic and lack the compensatory mechanisms associated with adequate blood flow and circulating catecholamines. Therefore, it is not clear to what extent these results directly reflect the in vivo situation. Methods of loading the cell are presently imperfect (36); we used graded viscous loading (23,29), but it is unclear how this relates to the load seen by cardiomyocytes in vivo.
Although cells were studied within 3 to 4 h of isolation, it is possible that intracellular changes associated with stunning might have recovered in this period. This, however, seems unlikely because contractile dysfunction persists for a much longer period in stunned hearts (12)and in isolated muscle preparations (5). The isolation process itself may kill the more severely affected cells and bias the results toward normally functioning cells. We believe that this is less likely given the similar yield of viable myocytes (72 ± 5% and 74 ± 6% in stunned and control groups, respectively, p = NS) in both the groups in our study.
Finally, there could be a selection bias while choosing cells for study. We used previously defined and validated criteria for selecting cells for study (23,26,44), which would limit selection bias. Second, the mean length (112 ± 1.6 vs. 114 ± 2 μm) and width (22 ± 0.4 vs. 22 ± 0.6 μm) of cells studied were similar, suggesting that similar distributions of cells were studied in both groups. Third, a large number of cells were examined (203 cells from the stunned heart and 180 from control hearts), much more than most of the published reports that have evaluated isolated cardiomyocyte function (12,23,44–49), making the results more representative.
Conclusion and significance
We conclude that cardiomyocytes isolated from hearts with ischemia-reperfusion-induced LV dysfunction or "stunning" have normal contractile function and normal intracellular calcium transients in the unloaded state. Moreover, imposing an external load on these myocytes did not unmask any mechanical abnormalities. Impaired calcium sensitivity was not evident at the myocyte level in this model. Our data would suggest that nonmyocyte factors such as abnormalities in the interstitium or abnormal myocyte-interstitial tissue coupling may also be important for the genesis of contractile failure in the stunned heart.
- Abbreviations
- [Ca2+]i
- intracellular calcium
- [Ca2+]o
- extracellular calcium
- 5,5-dithio-z-nitrobenzoic acid
- left ventricle
- left ventricular end diastolic pressure
- left ventricular systolic pressure
- left ventricular developed pressure
- Received October 28, 1998.
- Revision received February 28, 1999.
- Accepted April 26, 1999.
- American College of Cardiology
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- Cheung JY, Tillotson DL, Yelamarty RV, Scadutto RC. Cytosolic-free calcium in individual cardiac myocytes in primary culture. Am J Physiol 1989;256:C1120–1130.
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- Kent R.L,
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- et al.
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- Castillo L.C,
- Hensley J,
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- Billman G.E
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- Kobayashi M,
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- Yue D.T,
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- et al.
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- Mukherjee R,
- et al.
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- et al.
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- et al.


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Crime - Sacto 911
Highway 99 interchange honors Caltrans worker who died at scene
A new interchange north of Sacramento in the same spot where a Caltrans worker was killed during a motorcycle ride to a memorial for co-workers will be dedicated Tuesday in his honor.
State officials and the family of the late Dean Patton, a veteran Caltrans worker, are scheduled to attend the ceremonies marking the completion of the new $31 million Highway 99 at the Riego Road Interchange.
The ceremony will also dedicate the interchange in the memory of Patton who died at the age of 51. The state Department of Transportation employee was killed in May, 2013 on Highway 99 while on his way to a Caltrans workers memorial ceremony at the state Capitol.
Patton, of Grass Valley, was off-duty and traveling with three other employees on motorcycles when he was struck by a driver at the intersection with Riego Road, just north of the Sacramento County line in Sutter County.
According to the California Highway Patrol, a Sacramento woman driving a Toyota was northbound approaching Riego Road and was slowing to make a left turn onto westbound Riego Road about 8:18 a.m. that Thursday.
Patton was in the No. 2 lane on southbound Highway 99, north of Riego Road. As one motorcycle and another vehicle cleared the intersection, Patton entered the intersection as the Toyota turned left onto Riego Road directly in front of him.
Patton had no time to brake or take evasive action, according to the CHP.
He was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the Toyota was not injured. CHP officials said neither alcohol nor drugs appear to have been factors in the collision.
Patton spent most of his career with Caltrans, since 2006, working with the storm water crew in Marysville. Not long before his death, he transferred to Nevada City.
Call The Bee's Bill Lindelof, (916) 321-1079.


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Welcome to GPLDL - we are still beta - please report any bugs via the contact form.
This topic contains 1 reply, has 2 voices, and was last updated by 7h3h 4 years, 1 month ago.
What would happen if the total donation is reached 100%? whether this site will closed or you will start a new donations cycle?.. I'm curious about this because I don't want this site to be closed in no time..
The Donation Indicator shows if the expenses have been covered (purely the costs for subscriptions). When 100% is reached, we will consider adding more themes and plugins from the wishlist.
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FlippoHip,You wrote, I still have the same cat (Sophie). She is like Dick Clark. She is >14 years old and still has a little kitten face. She got really grouchy though. House cats routinely live 20+ years. I had to put my last cat down when he was 17. (I got him when he was only a year old.) He probably would have lived longer; but he was an indoor / outdoor cat that didn't do well once he was no longer healthy enough to beat up the other neighborhood cats.My current cats are indoors; but they were rescue cats and came with health issues. Hopefully they'll both live another decade or more. And hopefully they won't cost us too much in vet care.- Joel
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Human swine flu - Aberdeen update
Swine flu
Swine flu is a respiratory illness caused by the type A flu (H1N1) virus. The current influenza pandemic (commonly known as swine flu) in countries around the world has been caused by a new version (strain) of the virus named as Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 by World Health Organization (WHO).
Transmission of this new virus is thought to occur in the same way as seasonal flu. The infection can be effectively treated with antiviral medication. Most reported cases in the UK have been mild and people have recovered fully after treatment.
Travel advice
Check for the latest information before you travel. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) regularly updates its travel advice to all countries. Visit the FCO website or call 0845 850 2829 for the latest alerts. Although the UK has cases of swine flu, travel to the UK is not restricted.
Health protection advice
General hygiene can help to reduce transmission of all viruses, including the swine flu virus. This includes:
- Covering your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing, using a tissue when possible
- Disposing of dirty tissues promptly and carefully.
- Maintaining good basic hygiene, for example washing hands frequently with soap and water to reduce the spread of the virus from your hands to your face or to other people.
If you are feeling unwell...
If you have flu-like symptoms and are concerned that you may have swine flu:
- Contact NHS24 on 0845 424 2424 or your GP


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Messages to others
The people we talked to passed on messages of advice to others, based on their own experience. Everyone is different and what works for one person might not work for someone else. Here are their comments:
Messages about ICU
- Trust the ICU staff - your loved one will receive the best care and treatment available. If you are going in for planned surgery, be positive and assured that you will receive the best care the staff can give you.
- Age at interview:
- 50
- Sex:
- Male
- Background:
- Occupation: teacher. Marital status: married. Number of children: no children.
So I suppose on that score my advice is don't be afraid. It's [ICU] about the best place you could possibly be because you've got, as I've said before it's what it says on the tin, it's intensive care. There's someone there all the time. And if you are really ill that's literally true. There's someone sitting at the end of your bed all the time. So if anything changes, anything goes wrong, they're there. So you couldn't be in a better place.
I mean, I think some, perhaps older people get scared by all the equipment, but it does a lot of good, medicines, absolute banks of equipment everywhere. And because everything in there's so high tech... there's, you know, wheeling these big machines and the x-ray machine comes in and you're not sure what it is and you think, "What are they going to do with this thing?" When all it is an x-ray machine. Things like that.
When you're ill, I think, and you're not used to them, could be off-putting. But it's, also try and relax, I think. I think I've always, I've been always, well every, after the first experience I've always been very grateful that I've been taken to Intensive Care actually because I know I'm going to get better.
- It might be a shock to see your loved one attached to so much equipment. Don't be afraid of the ICU equipment - it is all there to help.
- Keep a diary for your loved one. When they are well enough to go home, they will want to know more about what happened.
- Age at interview:
- 47
- Sex:
- Male
- Background:
- Occupation: none at time of interview. Marital status: married. Number of children: 2. White British.
The only thing I'd say to other people is, is that if you get into a situation where you are in an Intensive Care unit, if you've got that Intensive Care unit, then please just take a diary or just make notes of what's going on, for whoever is actually in that unit. Because they will want questions answered. And that's the key I think really.
Messages about recovery
- Don't bottle up your emotions - talk about what happened and ask all the questions you need to.
- Age at interview:
- 40
- Sex:
- Female
- Background:
- Occupation: housing officer. Marital status: married. Number of children: 2. Ethnic background: White British.
I would just say, just talk about it as much as you can because the more you talk about it, the more you straighten things out in your own mind. Don't bottle up and dwell on things. I've been over certain points of things and what I think people said to me which my sister's said, "I'd kill them if they'd have said that, no way." But I've been over and over hundreds of times some points of when I was ill, with her. So I think people should really talk it over, every, even to the point where we've just exhausted it now. Absolutely talked it to death. So I think you need to get it out, just don't try and bottle it up because it's, you think things, they play on your mind, and they alter as well in your mind, the knowledge, they don't remember them exactly how they were, you'd have like your own slant on them.
That's really, really helpful, is there anything you would want to say to family members?
Really it's just like talking through things, go and tell the people how things really were. I mean just, exactly as they were.
Just really listen and tell them things, tell them what was going on while they were intensive care because really you don't have a very good perspective of it. When you're the patient you don't really, you don't comprehend things exactly as they are. Everything's very strange so you need your head putting straight on things and I felt as well like I was moved around in intensive care, that I was all here, there and everywhere. I said that to my sister and she said, "You weren't, you were in the same place." I always felt like I was, that they were pushing you round in the bed. She said, "You were never moved, you were always in bed four." So I think families should tell the people really the truth of what's happened and just, the more information, the easier things are to deal with.
- Nightmares are normal after ICU and will pass.
- Be positive and look forwards. There will be setbacks and a positive attitude will help you get through them.
- Recovery will take longer than you expect - keep yourself as active as you can, doing a little bit more every day.
- Although recovery can take a long time, it's easier if you set yourself goals every day and work towards them.
- Be kind to yourself - be active but don't push yourself too hard.
- Accept support.
- Age at interview:
- 68
- Sex:
- Male
- Background:
- Occupation: retired management consultant. Marital status: married. Number of children: 3. Ethnic background: White British.
If you are listening to what I have to say, clearly you've come out of the Intensive Care Unit and you're on the road to recovery. And that's good. The thing I have learnt is that it's a long road. There's no quick, easy fix. You've got to discipline yourself. You've got to tell yourself off. You've got to be prepared to be chastised by those nearest and dearest to you, who do it in a loving way, but for your benefit, for my benefit. To say, you know, "Unless you do this you will not have the following benefits." To set yourself realistic goals and challenges in a timescale which is meaningful. To remember that the world doesn't revolve around you, but you are part of, you're part of a family, of a community, of a culture, of a multi-culture. And you have a role to fulfil and if you look inwardly you're never going to fulfil that role. You belong to, if you want to be part of the world you've got to be prepared to contribute to the world. And much that your family can do for you, and all your friends, they can only do so much. You've got to own responsibility for your own well-being. I think that's the message I would wish to leave.
Messages to relatives
- Give support but allow your loved one to continue making his or her own decisions.
- Don't be too over-protective.
- Look after yourself because this can be a difficult time for relatives as well.
- Accept support when you need it.
- Help your loved one to keep positive, giving them love, support and encouragement.
- Age at interview:
- 30
- Sex:
- Male
- Background:
- Occupation: student. Marital status: single. Number of children: no children. Ethnic background: British-African.
Yeah obviously now, the works that you're doing now keep, keep it going, keep them strong, keep them focused, keep them positive. It can be a very daunting experience. It can be very daunting. You come out of there asking a million and one questions. You're unsure why it's happened, so it's just basically keep on speaking words of encouragement. Support, lots of love, really get the message out - that you are still alive, and don't let the severity of the situation that they've been through, but it's the case where they've come out of it, so the worst is over. So from now on things are going to be getting progressively better, so it's just encouraging them that the worst is now over. Yeah, and they can make a rapid recovery. If it's the case where it's an ongoing illness, like the situation that I'm in with my sickle cell, then it's really a case of ongoing support, and ongoing love you know, and just keeping them, keeping their mind focused on positive things, and they'll be alright.
Last reviewed August 2018.


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Back to Result List
Regression analyses as a tool for studying reading processes : comment on Just and Carpenter's eye fixation theory
- Just and Carpenter (1980) presented a theory of reading based on eye fixations wherein their "psycholinguistic" variables accounted for 72% of the variance in word gaze durations. This comment raises some statistical and theoretical problems with their use of simultaneous regression analysis of gaze duration measures and with the resulting theory of reading. A major problem was the confounding of perceptual with psycholinguistic factors. New eye fixation data are presented to support these criticisms. Analysis of fixations within words revealed that most gaze duration variance was contributed by number of fixations rather than by fixation duration.
|Reinhold KlieglORCiDGND, Richard K. Olsen, Brian J. Davidson
|Series (Serial Number):
|Postprints der Universität Potsdam : Humanwissenschaftliche Reihe (paper 042)
|Document Type:
|Year of Completion:
|Publishing Institution:
|Universität Potsdam
|Release Date:
|Memory & Cognition. - 10 (1982), 3, p. 287 - 296. - ISSN 0090-502x
|Organizational units:
|Humanwissenschaftliche Fakultät / Institut für Psychologie
|Extern / Extern
|Dewey Decimal Classification:
|1 Philosophie und Psychologie / 15 Psychologie / 150 Psychologie
|Licence (German):
|Keine Nutzungslizenz vergeben - es gilt das deutsche Urheberrecht
|Notes extern:
first published in:
Memory & Cognition - 10 (1982), 3, p. 287 - 296.
ISSN: 0090-502x


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Our sole aim is to exceed clients' expectations through creating value-added events born of experience, creativity and integrity.
Events With Goals And Results!
Common to each event is an understanding of your goals, creative solutions presented and finally the successful delivery of the event. Working in partnership with our clients allows us to constantly review content and processes resulting in more effective and meaningful outcomes.
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Think of us as an Ideas Workshop. If you have or need ideas for your next event or team building experience then you should give Ledwyn a call on 01243 576 015. A call costs little and will help you tap into a huge amount of experience.
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Gaza - Yamit: Been There, Done That
Yamit today
"Since we cannot defeat Israel in war; we do this in stages. We take any and every territory that we can of Palestine, and establish sovereignty there, and we use it as a springboard to take more. When the time comes, we can get the Arab nations to join us for the final blow against Israel." Yasser Arafat
"I can certainly put myself in Israel's shoes. They are humans just like we are. They want peace and security inside their borders." Mahmoud Abbas
Jewish settlements in Gaza are being evacuated, bringing back memories for many--including me--of another evacuation in another time: Yamit, in 1982.
In theory, there's a big difference between the two.
The Yamit withdrawal was part of the Camp David accords between Israel and Egypt -- an agreement for Israel to withdraw entirely from the Sinai. There was protest, but there was also hope for peace. There was solid compensation. And many were offered resettlement as a community -- ironically, in Gaza.
Now, 23 years later, the withdrawal from Gaza arises out of Israel's current effort to broker peace in the region. The settlers, many there for more than 25 years, don't want to go. And the Palestinian militant group Hamas claims they will continue their terrorist attacks even after Gaza's 8,500 settlers leave.
No matter the reason or the reality, being forced out of your home is a terrible blow. I can't speak for those leaving Gaza, but I can sympathize. And wonder what good it will do in the end.
The town of Yamit was a thriving, beautiful oasis in the Sinai Peninsula, which had become south central Israel after the Six Day War. To the East was Jordan, to the West Egypt.
At the time, Israel encouraged and supported Sinai settlements, in part to bring substantial agrarian culture to the region.
Yamit is a ghost town now, razed by Israel as a political ploy and a clear bit of nose-thumbing. Chaim Erez, an Israeli commander in charge of the Yamit evacuation, explains, "The Egyptians wanted to get the area back the same way it was before the Israelis took it over."
Israel will do the same to the Gaza settlements, at the request of the Palestinian Authority. Frankly, if Israel didn't destroy those towns, Hamas would do it anyway. What a waste.
Yamit settlers were primarily Americans and Israelis, many of them young and idealistic. Their objective was to create a livable, suburban garden out of the desert in which to make their homes and raise their children. They succeeded.
There were over 600 houses and apartments in Yamit, and a synagogue, a community center, two schools, playgrounds, markets, restaurants, utility, power and water plants, a huge community vegetable garden and even a town swimming pool, because Yamit was situated at the tip of the Dead Sea, which offered a great beach but not such pleasant swimming.
My childhood friend Jennifer was fluent in Hebrew and taught English to Israeli children in the high school. Her husband Zvi was a reporter for the Jerusalem Post. There was Avi (I've forgotten his American name), an avid bicyclist and farmer with a degree in Philosophy from Penn. And grouchy old Zev, a plumber who liked to quote Shakespeare. So many more, men, women and children, welcomed me each time I visited Yamit from my home base in Tel Aviv.
The settlers of Yamit, many special to me, were a group of ordinary, everyday people with hopes, dreams, aspirations and ideals. Had they left their homes in America or the larger cities of Israel to make a new life in the middle of the Sinai desert? Yes. Did they do so to make a radical political statement? Not really.
They were, as all settlers are, pioneers looking for a new, better life for themselves and their families. The same as most who come to Israel from around the world.
Sadly, many will never realize those dreams. Because their tiny little piece of the Promised Land is surrounded, hounded and pounded by those who harbor only hate ... not hope, not peace.
Labels: Me Myself and I, Middle East Mayhem, Taking on Terrorism, Warring with War


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Will custom, conservation-level framing really make a difference with my artwork? What about the those low-cost, pre-made frames that come with their own mats and glass - won't they get the job done?
Framing is more than just a means to hang your artwork. Proper framing should both enhance the viewer's experience of the artwork, and protect the work from risk factors that can do permanent damage. Of course, readily available low-cost solutions can be a good means to an end for getting items on display quickly - but for anything important, valuable or irreplaceable, it is critical to understand the benefits of choosing quality custom framing.
When framing works on paper, such as prints, photographs, or even family keepsakes like letters or land deeds, low-quality framing can leave your item exposed to a number of risk factors. Without specially treated glazing or glass, harmful UV rays will cause irreversible fading over time; this can result in inks disappearing completely. If the mat and mount are non-archival, acid transfer can cause both discoloration and accelerated brittleness of the paper which can cause the paper to crack and crumble. For example cardboard, a typical item found with pre-made low-cost frames, is highly acidic and a common source of degradation.
As for paintings, a well-selected frame can create a protective perimeter that discourages viewers from getting too close and touching or accidentally coming into contact with the surface. Framing with glass is also a option that should be considered in spaces where food and drink are served, and if the painted surface is particularly delicate, glass will also help from excessive dirt or grime gathering on the surface. Once professional fit into a frame, paintings also benefit from the additional stability and rigidity the frame provides.
Framing certainly isn't limited to just paintings or works of art on paper; flags, needlepoints, quilts, dresses, relief sculptures - the list is ongoing. No matter what the medium is, quality framing adds a level of protection that is critical to consider with those items that are the hardest - or impossible - to replace. Think of framing as preventative care, and carefully consider how you house and display those items that are most precious.
Interested in learning more? Check out this sampling from The Center's library of newsletter articles, discussing the importance of proper framing.
Protecting Paper: An Illustrated Guide to Sink Mats
Protecting Your Art Assets: A Collaboration Between Conservation and Custom Framing
The Importance of Conservation Framing: The Basics and The Benefits of Archival Housing


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