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Stay on Top of Enterprise Technology Trends
Get updates impacting your industry from our GigaOm Research Community
Cablevision, which recently claimed a legal victory when a court ruled that its network DVR does not infringe on copyright, says it will be taking the service to market "early next year," reports Light Reading. Speaking at a Merrill Lynch Conference in Marina Del Ray, Calif., Cablevision COO Tom Rutledge said the company would roll out network (or "remote storage") DVRs:
"…on our campus next week…We have advised all the copyright holders that we are going to do it. We'll be doing a real consumer trial in the relatively near future."
Pricing and packaging have yet to be laid out, but Rutledge says the network DVR would cost the cable company $100 less per customer than supplying each one with their own box.
Some people aren't fans of the network DVR and the idea of giving up control, but we don't think it's such a dumb idea. Storage wouldn't be limited to what could fit an individual box (sorry, TiVo and your huge new XL), you could access content from any room in the house, and my wife would throw up her arms and cheer as we tossed the hulking silver monstrosity currently sitting under our TV.
Of course, the previous court decision could be appealed and taken to the Supreme Court, but until then, kudos to Cablevision for forging ahead.


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Holiday Gift Guide: Jamstik, DSP Enabled Headphones, Tile, Hydroflex Skateboard & Moment Lens
Rewards crowdfunding is a regularly a process where you back a product and then wait for delivery. Many products deliver rather behind schedule and some unfortunately fail to deliver at all. Below are several crowdfunded projects that raised funding and are available (or are almost… Read More
Read more in: Offerings | Tagged dsp enabled headphones, goldieblox, hydroflex skateboards, jamstik, moment lens, tile

subset: commoncrawl


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Let's start with Backlinks?
- Backlinks are when one website links to another – they are also known as "inbound links" or "incoming links".
- The more the merrier and the higher you will rank is a myth. You need quality websites to be linked to – example – are you a Better Business Bureau member? If so, that is a very high ranking website – just you being on that site can help. What about your Chamber of Commerce? I am not saying that you should not ever be on other types of sites – I am saying mix it up.
Example: Website A has an External Link to Site B – Site B has a backlink from Site A ~ so why are "backlinks" so important? Why are they valuable for SEO? Click here to view the Skyscraper Technique.
- Backlinks represent a "vote of confidence" from one site to anther.
- How does this work? These backlinks are a signal to search engines that others vouch for your content. Here is an example for the Folsom Chamber of Commerce.
TF – Trust Flow – how trustworthy a site is based on ~ how trustworthy sites tend to link to trustworthy neighbors.
CF – Citation Flow – a number predicting how influential a URL might be based on how many sites link to it.
TR – Trust Ratio – TF / CF = TR – if your Citation Flow score is high & your Trust Flow is low – this means that the website has a lot of link equity (or juice) but barely any trust from those links. It usually means that the website has gained links from spammy areas of the web. Here are (2) examples of scores to help you:
- If your TR is .8 or .9 – the domain has good link juice but the sources of inbound links questionable. Site links you come from has lots of inbound links but those inbound links aren't very trustworthy.
- If your TR is 1 or higher – in the example above it is 1.25 – this is considered to have very safe links.
In WordPress, under Settings, Writing, Update Services section there is an area if filled in ~ that will automatically notify internet site update services. Every new post that you do, if you have these pingbacks in that section each pingback is being notified that you have just published a new post!
There is a list of pingbacks on this page that you can copy and paste in the Settings, Writing, Update Services section. Click here to review the Update Services information in the WordPress Codex.
There are a couple of additional scores I look at for Outreach – Page Authority and Domain Authority –
- Page Authority ~ your ranking score on search engines – I look for 30 and above (though if a Page Authority score is in the 20's I still may consider that website (if the other scores are high)
- Domain Authority ~ your ranking score on search engines – the number given is the strength of the website over time – this score is calculated by combining other link metrics which links root domains and # of total links (from MozRank) into a single score.
There is so much to know – but I wanted to start somewhere – I know that people advertise how easy it is to create a website – and yes, the design phase can be pretty easy – but they don't tell you that there are a lot of behind the scenes work that you need to learn ~ you know with 1.8 Billion websites in the world you really need to do something to beef up your internet presence, remember, Backlinks, Trust Ratio and Pingbacks are just the beginning of the information that you need!


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Unraveling the Coil: E-Cig Product Defect Liability for Manufacturers and Dealers
Liability for Defective Electronic Cigarettes
The Emerging Area of E-Cig Product Defect Personal Injury Cases
While food, alcoholic beverages, and pharmaceuticals are all closely monitored for their contents and safety by federal agencies, consumer products are not screened for safety before being made available to the general public. It is up to consumers who are injured by any products found to be defective to seek compensation from the manufacturers and dealers the consumer relied on for a product that was safe to use.
One of the newest products, really an industry, to hit mainstream consumption is that of the electronic cigarette, also known as e-cigs or vaporizers. By some accounts, the use of e-cigs in the United States has surpassed conventional smoking.
Most of the media attention as to the safety of e-cigs has been focused on the nicotine content and chemical content of the flavored liquids that are vaporized and inhaled from the e-cig. However, not as much attention has been paid to the damage that can be done by e-cigs that are defective. The LA Times has reported on a few injuries e-cig defect injuries, which you can find here, but please be warned some images are graphic.
How Can an E-Cig be Defective?
There are many parts to the electronic cigarette: the atomizer coil, the control circuit, buttons, connectors, wires and leads, the lithium ion battery, the charger or the e-juice/e-liquid. When I write generally on e-cig defects, please keep in mind the defect could be in one or more of these parts.
To get a good idea of how an e-cig can be defective for product liability purposes, lets first look at the standard life cycle of a product. First, a product must be designed. Once designed, it must be manufactured. Once manufactured, it must be packaged and made ready for sale to the consumer by the Dealer. It is at any point in this process that a product liability claim can arise. Let's take a closer look.
Design Defect
A product is defective by design when it is flawed from its very conception. Perhaps a higher flow control board should have been used, or a different style battery that can handle higher resistance before shorting out. Even if the e-cig is built to specifications out of the highest quality materials, if it is defective in design it will never be safe.
Manufacturing Defect
Even when the product is properly designed, it must still be properly built. Using cheap parts made of plastic and having parts manufactured with little or no quality control can easily lead to defects in manufacturing which could be unsafe to the consumer. E-cigs rely on a large supply of electrical power to operate. Defects in the battery, internal wires, the coil or the charger can and have caused power supply failure.
Packaging Defect
Packaging defect refers to warnings and instructions that are mandatory for the safe use of that specific product. Failure to provide warnings or instructions that, had they been provided, would have avoided injury, is considered a product defect. Perhaps the manual doesn't tell you that the control circuit is "non-pass-through" for charging purposes. If you attempt to use the e-cig while charging, you may have a power supply failure. Meanwhile, a simple instruction not to use the e-cig while charging it would have saved you the injury.
Liability for Dealers
Dealers are not free from liability for defective products they sell to consumers. Most liability for dealers stems from something called "implied warranties". Implied warranties are those that are underlying to any transaction for the sale of goods, based on legal principles that are hundreds of year old. When a consumer goes to a dealer of electronic cigarettes, they are relying on that dealer to provide them with a product that is suitable for a particular purpose, in this case vaporizing nicotine juice. Is it not reasonable to also rely on them to provide a SAFE product?
Some dealers also assemble or build custom components, and they would be liable for injuries that result from mistakes or defects made during assembly.
Contributor Negligence as an Affirmative Defense
One defense that may be available to manufacturers and dealers of defective e-cigs is that of contributory negligence. If the consumer is responsible for creating or adding to the defect or increasing the injury caused by the defect, they may be partially or completely barred from seeking compensation for their injuries. Tampering with or modifying e-cigs would probably be considered contributory negligence.
An Emerging Area of Law
There is not much case law specific to defective e-cigs. However, the risk of injury is apparent and injuries have already begun to occur. The more popular e-cigs become, the more manufacturers there will be racing to the bottom for cost and cutting corners along the way. For now, all we can do is examine the risk from the perspective of the general doctrines of product liability law. As we have already seen, the Connecticut legislature has begun to write laws specific to the e-cig industry. We plan on reviewing such laws and remaining on the cutting edge of e-cig litigation.


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TCF is transforming the lives of young underpriviliged children across Pakistan. Walk through our journey of picking children off the streets and putting them into school.
Jahanzeb – A Lesson in Survival
"TCF stood with me like a mother. When I gave up, when I wavered, when I lost hope, TCF stood by me like a mother would for her child".
Anum Fatima – TCF Alumna 2006
Meet Anum Fatima, a TCF Alumni whose journey began from a TCF classroom in her community to Harvard Summer School! Like many other students, Anum has faced great odds to pursue her dream of education.
Road to Enlightenment – Fatima ki Kahani
Fatima's father didn't believe in the need to educate girls. But after being persuaded to send his own daughter Fatima to school, he believes it is one of the best decisions he has made for his family.
APPNA Michigan Campus Video
The TCF-USA chapter launched the APPNA Michigan Campus and along with it, the prospect of a better and brighter future for girls in Julkey Punjab.
TCF Chakwal
Education is changing the lives of girls like Nadia, allowing them an opportunity to build their lives and break free from the bounds of poverty and despair engraved within their families and communities.
TCF Malou Arpels Campus Video
Watch a day in the lives of the students enrolled in the TCF Malou Arpels Campus. TCF is working to break down socio-economic barriers to help these students realize their potential and fulfill their dreams.
TCF New Jersey Campus Video
The New Jersey Community has built not one, not two but three TCF campuses in Pakistan! Watch how these campuses are touching the lives of 442 children across Pakistan.
TCF DFW Campus Video
Meet Qurtualain, a dedicated Principal of the Dallas Ft.Worth Campus, in Matiari, Sindh. This school operates a morning and an afternoon shift, educating nearly 300 children. This video offers a sneak peak into the lives of these students, as improved by their access to education.
TCF – Bahawalpur
From the streets into school, TCF is transforming the lives of countless children residing in the economically challenged district of Punjab-Bahawalpur, by providing them access to a quality education and an opportunity to build their lives.
Yasmeen ki Kahani- Aagahi ka Safar
This is the Story of Yasmeen, a TCF Alumni and a mentor for the Aagahi Adult Literacy Program which provides illiterate women from rural areas and urban slums around TCF schools an opportunity to learn how to read and write Urdu and basic mathematics.


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U.N.-Arab League envoy Lakhdar Brahimi called for all countries with a stake in war-wracked Syria to participate in planned peace talks in Geneva, during a visit to Iraq on Monday.
"All those with interests and influence in the Syrian affair must participate in the meeting," Brahimi said, when asked at a Baghdad news conference whether countries backing the opposition were welcome at the talks.
Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari told the news conference that "everyone is now convinced that (a) political and peaceful solution to the Syrian crisis is the available option" for "the interest of the Syrian people."
The news conference followed talks between Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and Brahimi, who is on a regional tour to build support for the planned peace conference tentatively scheduled for next month.
"The arrival of military options at a dead end and the growing conviction of the need to reach a political solution to the crisis" have increased the odds of a successful push for peace, the Iraqi premier said in a statement.
Maliki added that Iraq is ready to support Brahimi's efforts to broker a political solution "for all Syrians and the region."
Brahimi met with Arab League chief Nabil al-Arabi in Cairo on Sunday, and is also planning to visit Iran, Qatar and Turkey as well as Syria during his regional tour.
The renewed push for peace talks comes after a rare U.S.-Russian accord compelled Syria to agree to destroy its chemical arsenal.
But the opposition has been fiercely critical of the agreement -- which averted US strikes on the regime following a sarin gas attack in August that killed hundreds of people -- and at least one major faction, the Syrian National Council (SNC), has already refused to go to Geneva.
Iraq has sought to publicly avoid taking sides in the civil war between Assad's regime and rebels seeking to topple it, but the conflict has spilled over the border on several occasions.
The United States has repeatedly called on Iraq to stop flights it alleges are carrying arms from Iran to the Syrian regime through its airspace.
Iraq says Iran has reduced the number of flights transporting arms to Syria but has said Baghdad cannot stop them completely.
U.N. envoy in Iraq: all states with Syria stake must join talks
U.N.-Arab League envoy Lakhdar Brahimi called for all countries with a stake in war-wracked Syria to participate in planned peace talks in Geneva, during a visit to Iraq on Monday.
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I remember first arriving in the UK and fighting my brother to sit on my fathers lap. That was when my father represented strength to me, when I knew him as little more than a powerful, tall (compared to me) man who I should address by the name dad. That is of course not his name, he is Whitfield Whittington Houston, a very posh sounding name, but everyone calls him Tex which is much more fitting to his character.
What I most like about my dad is his tendency to talk at length on any topic know to man. I like that he keeps fit, even in his old age. I like that he was in the army and sometimes tells stories of his travels and experiences. I like that he would take my siblings and I to watch him play cricket or drive us to the beach on sunny days. I like that he taught me the importance of sticking up for myself. I like that though he didn't play a huge role in our upbringing he was always present and I like that I have someone I can call dad.
He will probably never see this post. I will wish him happy birthday soon as my sister has planned a birthday dinner, for which I am requested to provide mac n cheese and some cupcakes, which I suppose are my specialty.
70 is a big number, happy 70th Dad.
|Dad with 4 out of his 6 children. We are wearing father daughter shirts lol
|Dad with Little Man
|Dad last month at Little Man's Birthday Party


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The Associated Press has hired Sara Moulton, a longtime Food Network host, to write a weekly healthy eating column.
She will be doling out advice for using seasonal ingredients and her recipes, according to the AP, "will take a holistic approach to healthy eating, with an emphasis on whole grains, healthy fats and low sugar."
Moulton's column begins next Monday, August 6.
"The one thing I've really missed about doing a live TV show for the Food Network is the chance to be in touch with home cooks across the country," Moulton told the AP. "Now that I'm working for such a large news operation, I'll be able to reconnect. I'm delighted."
This article from the Village Voice Archive was posted on August 1, 2012


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Lab reports: Hempura provides lab certificates for every batch manufactured and sold. You can search the batch number found on the rear of your product on our database here: https://hempura.co.uk/lab-reports/
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Really surprised it worked. I didnt believe it would do anything tbh but i felt it straight away
Can I ask, what strength you used and did you mix with other gaping liquid? Do you use this in addition to taking oil? Thank you
Since taking the CBD oil for only a week I've been waking up feeling much better, so thanks Hempura. Great produce and great price compared to everything else that's out there. And also really good info on the product.
I used to be very sceptic about CBD, but Hempura Vape Liquid changed my mind! Definitely worth it! Tastes great as well!
Do you fill the vape tube or just a certain amount .?
If you know approximately how much liquid you vape per day with your device, you may mix drops into the solution of your own vape juice and vape all day. If vaping on it's own, fill the tank and dose using inhalations, rather than drops. This is because it is impossible to know the dosage in each inhale because of variations in device, person, draw, length of hold etc. So start with a few inhalations and slowly increase as necessary. I hope that helps. Abby ~ Hempura


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Small items and smaller furniture can be delivered either by UPS or DHL. If you can not collect the package at the time of delivery, the courier leaves a card and you can pick up the package in a branch. We would not recommend to adress the delivery to a packing station because of different package sizes. Please make sure that someone will be present at the delivery address, in order to be able to receive it.
Upon delivering of large furniture our shipping partner will contact you a few days before delivery. You will be suggested a delivery date and a time slot that you can either accept or suggest another time.
Your product will be delivered to you , into a room of your choice, and the packaging will be disposed of on request. By delivery from the 4th floor (36 steps) an existence of lift in house is necessary. If no lift is available, our shipping partner delivers packages only with a weight of up to 75 kg to the 3rd floor.
The delivery costs depend on the value of the goods and the delivery address in your shopping cart.
We calculate the delivery costs as below:
Within Germany and EU
Non-EU countries
As soon as you have sent us your order and log in to your account, you will find a list of all your ordered items under "Order History and Details". Just click on the item you would like to track and below will appear the tracking link to track the delivery of your order.
It depends entirely on whether the products are ordered and manufactured on the same factory and from the same manufacturer. We have different products made by different manufacturers. Therefore, they may also be sent at different times. However, you can always check the approximate delivery period in your customer area under "Order History and Details".
First of all, we apologize to you. We're very sorry for that. Together with our manufacturers and partners, we work hard to keep delivery times as short as possible and avoid delays. Should a delay nevertheless occur, we will contact you immediately by an E-Mail. If you wait for your delivery longer than announced on a product page and have not heard from us, you can log in under "My account". In your orders, you can see exactly where the delivery is currently located.
For large deliveries, such as sofas or beds, the carrier company will contact you in advance, in order to arrange a delivery date with you. Of course, you can change this, if necessary. If the delivery of a medium sized parcel is made and you were not at home, the carrier will leave a notification informing you where to pick up the delivery (DHL or UPS Packstation). Smaller packages can also be deposited by the neighbor.


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2017 GMC Acadia Features Rear Seat Reminder
Claims Industry-First Deployment of Safety Reminder
Tragically, we often hear about the hospitalization and death of children and pets left in cars on hot days all too often. While it's tempting to blame negligent parents or pet owners, we've all had days where our brains are overloaded with information and a "to do" list a mile long. To help give a friendly reminder to check the backseat, the 2017 GMC Acadia is equipped with what's claimed to be the first rear-seat reminder in the industry.
The system is activated when the rear door is opened or closed within 10 minutes of the vehicle being started or if they are opened or closed while the vehicle is running. When the vehicle is then parked or shut off, the driver is given a visual and audible reminder with a five-tone door chime and a visual display of "Check Rear Seat" in the Driver Information Center in the center of the gauge cluster.
However, GMC warns the system is not a total panacea for vigilance and common sense. The system does not detect weight in the rear seat, and unlike some of the more sophisticated occupancy systems on the market from Volvo and others, it cannot detect a heartbeat or the presence of a living being.
Source: GMC


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Thursday, July 26, 2012
Stormy Weather in the Eastern US Right Now (So Scary)
You can't tell from these pictures (that are a little grainy because they were taken on my iPod), but there is stormy weather out here right now and it is scary. Please keep the Eastern United States in your prayers tonight. There are going to be a lot of people without power. A lot of trees falling. Tornadoes. (Though they're not supposed to come our way, thank goodness. I hope.) There have already been reports of ping pong ball sized hail (update: golf ball sized) and huge trees falling down and thousands without power. These storms are so scary.
Bryan just came down while I was writing this and told me that the rain is almost gone here already. Thank heavens. But I know this storm is much, much worse elsewhere. There will surely be terrible stories to come. So please pray for those in the path of this storm. It's much less scary in the comfort of our own home (especially since we have a basement and we still have power right now), but I'm sure there are thousands of people out driving in it and it is hellishly scary. I know.
Mom, please stop praying that we'll move back west. These storms just might be convincing enough.
Sigh. Anyway. Weather can be so scary and so fickle. Think happy, hopeful thoughts for the thousands who are living that reality right now.
And, on a happier note...
It's Bryan's birthday today. 26 on the 26th! A golden birthday to remember.
8 comments:
- Danielle Bartran said...
I live in northern WV (near PA) and they have been saying it's going to be horrible all day...BUT it's sunny, with a slight breeze...and hot as can be. I think everyone might be a little gun shy after the last storm that tore through unexpectedly...and hopefully this wont be a huge disaster!
Also, I just wanted to Thank YOU for sharing your preschool routine, you inspired me to start with my son...and although sometimes I ask him if he wants to do school, he says no, but sometimes he says yes...and you are so right, it only takes 20-30 minutes. It's been really great to have some 1 on 1 time together that is educational. {And to tie it in to THIS post, I also added weather to the routine...}
- July 26, 2012 at 4:51 PM
- Sarah said...
Yep, we have those storms too. For the first time in my life I have a strong motivation to keep our 72 hour kit updated and to have food storage in the basement (and to actually have both of those things).
PS Happy birthday Bryan!
- July 26, 2012 at 4:57 PM
- Sarah said...
But you should still move to Wisconsin. That way we can hide from the storms together and play Ticket to Ride while the kids run around. :)
- July 26, 2012 at 4:59 PM
- Emily said...
Happy birthday Bryan!! Love, Richard, Emily, and Carly doggie :) we miss all of you!
- July 26, 2012 at 5:22 PM
- Lisa Lou said...
We desperately need some of that rain here... but with power.
- July 26, 2012 at 6:30 PM
- alee said...
Haha...yeah Texas has some major storms up from the gulf that make you want a basement *isn't it ironic how we can't have them here where we desperately need them?*
Happy Birthday Bry Bry! I wish you lived closer because I got that game for Christmas and we've still never played it...Hope your gets a trip out of the box soon! :)
- July 26, 2012 at 8:45 PM
- Kristie said...
Your storm post just made me want to update my 72 hour kits soon! I went through them yesterday, and most stuff expired in 2009. So I need to start all over. This is my motivation! Thanks!
- July 27, 2012 at 9:25 AM
- Kathy Haynie said...
So sorry for the bad storms. I was out in the woods and didn't know. Bryan's bday cake looks beautiful! Happy Birthday, Bryan - I was thinking of you!!
- July 28, 2012 at 12:17 AM


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By Emmanuel Afonne
A Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Gender Mobile Initiative (GMI) has commended Busola Dakolo, wife of Nigeria's popular inspirational singer, Timi Dakolo, for her courage to seek redress in court over her rape case.
Executive Director of GMI, Ms Omowumi Ogunrotimi (Esq), gave the commendation on Tuesday in a statement made available to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.
Mrs Dakolo had accused the founder and Senior Pastor of Commonwealth of Zion Assembly (COZA), Biodun Fatoyinbo, of raping her on Sept 23 and Sept 26, 2002 and that she had suffered continuous emotional distress ever since.
Her allegation against the pastor had set social media and other online platforms on fire, evoking shock, backlash and criticisms from Nigerians, especially the Christian community.
Fatoyinbo had been interrogated by the police over the rape allegation and was later released on bail.
"We at Gender Mobile commend the courage of Mrs Busola Dakolo for taking this allegation beyond the purview of the court of public opinion to the Court of Law where justice would be duly served.
"It is a common knowledge that rape victims especially in high profile cases who speak out about their experiences years after the attack often slandered by the public as opportunists making up stories for attention or money.
"We are therefore glad that her actions so far will serve as encouragement for others who have been silent," Ogunrotimi said.
According to her, Busola Dakolo has taken a bold and unprecedented step by her action.
"She defied the societal "stigma" and "shame" usually accorded to victims of rape by coming out boldly and also dragging the alleged suspect to the court of law.
"This feat would not only serve as deterrent to other unscrupulous elements who are notorious in the act of rape but also encourage other victims of rape to speak out and seek redress in the court," Ogunrotimi said.
She urged Fatoyinbo to take the opportunity of the court process to prove his innocence.
The activist noted that his boycott of the panel set-up by Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) over the matter was disappointing going by the "partiality" issue he raised.
Ogunrotimi said the Law court had been a neutral place to get justice and as such there was no reason the pastor should not go and defend himself.
"Finally, we appeal to law enforcement agencies, NGO's and other relevant authorities to ensure this matter is not swept under the carpet.
"We cannot change the past, we cannot restore the loss that has been done but we have it within our power to make the world a better and also create safe spaces for victims.


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The Hula Hula Nights WMS Slots world is diverse, people are diverse and so too are their preferences. However, despite all the diversity that is in the world, there is one thing that is loved by everyone, i.e. going on holiday.
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Placing three or more scatters on the wheels begins this feature. Three scatters give the player 10 extra spins, four scatters earn the player 15 free spins while five scatters give the player 25 bonus spins.
The scatter symbol will not pop up during the free spins. In this feature, when the Mystery Symbol Feature initiates, all green reel positions will display cash values.
The player, however, can only collect the displayed cash values if the bonus COLLECT symbol appears on the reels.
Catching three or more bonus COLLECT tokens will start the extra spins with 3, 4 and 5 bonus symbols awarded an additional 10, 15 and 25 free spins respectively.
Big Bet Game
The player may trigger the Big Bet Game manually by clicking on the Big Bet button. Once done, the player will have to wager with a slightly higher bet amount, i.e. either 20.00 coins, 30.00 coins or 50.00 coins per line.
The benefit of triggering this feature is that there are more paylines (20). In the 20.00 coins Big Bet Game, the scatter symbol doubles in size thereby occupying two reel positions at once when it lands on the reels.
In the 30.00 coins Big Bet Game, the wild symbol will substitute for the double height scatter. In the 50.00 coins Big Bet Game, the wild icon will replace for the double height scatter as well as the bonus COLLECT icon.
- High-value icons are represented by two beautiful ladies symbols, the yellow flower, the red flower and the purple flower.
- Low-value icons are represented by the traditional poker symbols.
Hula Hula Nights slot is a great title to play for WMS fans who love playing Hawaiian or tropical themed slot machines. The Return to Player percentage of this slot stands at 98 per cent.


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|Truly wonderful, the mind of a child is. - Star Wars
My son has a wild imagination. I've noticed that science fiction and fantasy stories really seem to inspire him. Some of that I'm sure is due to my love and his Dad's love of those kind of things, but a lot of it is his own interest. He runs around pretending he's The Doctor - sonic-ing the doors, building a TARDIS out of LEGOs, and talking incessantly about the different incarnations. {And I do mean incessantly...} He's been a Star Wars aficionado since age four. I took him to a midnight premiere of "The Hobbit" movie. And the present he wanted the most this past Christmas was a Star Trek communicator.
While watching him and several other children play superheroes the other day, an acquaintance asked me if I thought "that stuff" was really good for him to watch or read. "I mean, what's it really teaching him?" they asked skeptically. Implying, I assume, that science fiction and fantasy are weird or strange, or perhaps just not appropriate for children.
Well...I'm glad they asked.
First off, let me just say that this is probably subjective according to each person's own personal beliefs...but this is how I feel. Yes, some science fiction and fantasy related things have scary themes and delve into some dark territory. Spell casting, mystical forces, and evil creatures may start some more complex discussions. But that doesn't mean they're ALL bad and we shouldn't ever watch/read them. I am a huge proponent of letting kids be kids, and not exposing them to things they shouldn't see. There are some things they're just not ready for yet so I try to follow a certain set of guidelines on things they can and cannot watch or read.
With that being said, I don't feel like the things we love to watch and read are inappropriate for Zeke. (We have long discussions over most of them and he is at an age where he understands what is real/unreal, etc.) These science fiction and fantasy stories & movies that we like are full of so many wonderful things - heroes and heroines, magical adventures, imaginative story lines, exotic and wild locations, strange creatures...and of course, a multitude of wonderful lessons. Here are just a few of the great ones Zeke has been able to glean from some of our favorites:
- The way I see it, every life is a pile of good things and bad things. The good things don't always soften the bad things, but vice versa, the bad things don't necessarily spoil the good things and make them unimportant. (Doctor Who)
- If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world. (The Hobbit)
- Size matters not. Look at me. Judge me by my size, do you? (Star Wars)
- Many that live deserve death. And some that died deserve life. Can you give it to them, Frodo? Do not be too eager to deal out death in judgment. Even the very wise cannot see all ends. (The Lord of the Rings)
- Do not pity the dead, Harry. Pity the living, and, above all those who live without love. (Harry Potter)
- All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us. (The Lord of the Rings)
- Think you've seen it all? Think again. Outside those doors, we might see anything. We could find new worlds, terrifying monsters, impossible things. And if you come with me... nothing will ever be the same again! (Doctor Who)


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About Sydney's Fundraiser
I target to raise HK$50,000 for The Hong Kong Anti-Cancer Society.
I am running for the 7th consecutive year raising funds for the Hong Kong Anti-Cancer Society!
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Warmbac wetsocks, short
Above ankle height, well made quality five piece neoprene socks ideal for wet caves. For an excellent fit in your boots, and to avoid blisters if you're planning on doing *lots* of prussiking, add trainer insoles! Available in sizes 4 - 12, other sizes made to order (we have supplied size 15!)
Warmbac wetsocks, long
For those who get cold feet, or have sensitive shins, or wear ankle boots - or just like a bit of luxury! Identical to the warmbac short wetsock, but with extended panels that extend the cover to just below knee length. Nicely cut, so that even those well - blessed in the calf department shouldn't find them too restrictive. Sizes 4 - 12
Marigold Industrial Gloves
Black rubber, medium length gloves which combine some toughness with sensitivity and flexibility. Obviously, completely waterproof (when new!); quick to dry, too, as they are unlined. Not so tough as the Astroflex, but very dextrous, which makes it very easy to handle SRT kit, tie knots, and place bolts with them on. Most cavers will be able to wear these throughout a trip - no need to be removing gloves for delicate manoeuvres. Take a couple of pairs for long trips away. Sizes: 6.5 (small) to 10.5 (XXlarge) so there are suitable sizes for children or small handed female cavers, but also yetis. They can be worn over neoprene diving gloves to protect your investment, if underwater digging!Also, of interest to divers, these are the gloves traditionally provided for use with the Kubi Glove System; therefore they are the appropriate replacement.
Marigold Astroflex glove
Blue latex rubber, lined caving glove. Very waterproof and flexible, for those who do not need heavy weight protection or who want increased dexterity. As these gloves are close fitting and with only a thin lining they are surprisingly warm, especially in wet or draughty caves; they reduce water ingress and, compared to knit-lined gloves, hold less water next to the skin. 30cm cuff, and crinkle finished for improved grip in the wet. Available in sizes 7 (small) to 10 (XL).
Digger Gauntlets
Aventure Vertical Gauntlets Long cuffed (40cm), heavy duty PVC gauntlets for digging or prolonged SRT. Slightly short in the fingers, but great if they fit! Sizes S - XL, colour: yellow
Etche Wellies
Rubber caving boots, unlined. They dry quickly (useful if you don't always wear wetsocks), have a new sole unit with excellent deep tread, and are very comfortable. There is no footplate or steel toecap, but protection is good especially across the toe box. They are a broad fit, and they can accommodate insoles (top tip!) so they're good for long trips and expedition work; anywhere that lots of walking or prussiking is anticipated. You shouldn't lose any toenails in these, even if you're in them for days on end. These are the French make that get mentioned in 'Alpine Caving Techniques' - not the cheapest, but among the best. Available in sizes 37 to 45 continental, so both small women and yetis should find a suitable size...If in doubt, it is worth trying them on; they are generally a large fit. WE CURRENTLY HAVE A FULL RANGE OF SIZES, BUT IT IS GENERALLY A GOOD IDEA TO TRY THESE BOOTS BEFORE BUYING.
Etche Canyon Boot
Originally for canyoning but also entirely suitable for caving, these are a rugged set of footwear built to the same specification as the boots, but with four lace holes, and a slit and reinforced achilles, with an overall height of just under eight inches. As with the boots, they have a very grippy tread. There is no footplate or steel toecap, but protection is good especially across the toe box. Walking boot insoles are a great aid to comfort in these, as in all caving boots (how many shoes do you have, now, without insoles?). The lace up ankle makes for greater support, and prevents grit entering easily (especially compared to cut-down wellies). They drain immediately and feel a lot lighter than full-size boots - an advantage in long aqueous trips, and also where there is a lot of SRT to do. (See the relevant section in 'Alpine Caving Techniques' for a fuller discussion of footwear for expedition use) As canyoning boots, these have received good feedback, and their relatively small...
Bestard Canyon Guide
We have been testing these over a few months, and have talked to instructors who have used them for work, and we've taken the plunge! A very technical boot made for wet and rocky places, but it seems to have a similar performance to a B1 alpine boot. There is a lot of technical information available on the Bestard website, which we summarise here: Made in Spain Eight lace attachments (ladder climbers NB, the top attachments are hooks) Upper is rubber and treated H2O Microtech Cordura Sole is Vibram Best Idrogrip Drain holes and built-in gaiter Lightweight but reasonably protective (around 1.2kg for size 8) Rubber rand protects toe, but not a hard toe box. Comes with insoles, of course. Our opinion is that these are remarkably comfortable and definitely good for climbing. Their obvious place in the kit store of a *wealthy!* caver is for expeditions where foot comfort is vital - lots of walking, hot environments; also trips where good foot placements are most helpful - very narrow, or...


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ST-A13-9-62. President John F. Kennedy Presents the NASA Distinguished Service Medal to Astronaut John Glenn
White House Photographs
President John F. Kennedy (at lectern) presents the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Distinguished Service Medal to astronaut Lieutenant Colonel John H. Glenn, Jr. (right of lectern, in profile) at Hangar 'S,' Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Brevard County, Florida. Standing on the platform, first row (L-R): astronaut Captain Virgil "Gus" Grissom, astronaut Commander Alan B. Shepard, Jr., Congressman George P. Miller of California (leaning over), Director of the Manned Spacecraft Center Dr. Robert Gilruth (partially hidden behind President Kennedy), Administrator of NASA James E. Webb (hidden behind Lieutenant Colonel Glenn), Glenn's wife Annie Glenn, Commander of the Air Force Missile Test Center Major General Leighton I. Davis, Governor Farris Bryant of Florida, and Air Force Aide to the President Brigadier General Godfrey T. McHugh. Second row, beginning at right of lectern (L-R): Congressman Albert Thomas of Texas (mostly hidden behind Dr. Gilruth), Senator George Smathers of Florida (mostly hidden), astronaut Lieutenant Commander Walter M. Schirra, Jr., Glenn's daughter Lyn Glenn, his son David Glenn, astronaut Lieutenant Commander M. Scott Carpenter (mostly hidden behind Mrs. Glenn), and astronaut Major Donald K. "Deke" Slayton (mostly hidden behind Major General Davis).


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Mealmarket Exchange, Pittodrie Street.
This article looks at five ideal ways to decorate for Halloween on a student budget.
With the covid-19 lockdown restrictions, we have a lot more time on our hands. This makes for the perfect excuse to dabble in the arts and crafts and hand-make affordable, yet still spook-tecular, Halloween decorations.
This month the Union has been putting on a range of events to celebrate Black History Month. Although the events have had to be online, to comply with the covid-19 restrictions, there has still been a wide range of activities to appeal to everyone. These include NetflixParties, 'Safe Space Discussions' and fundraising quizzes.
Queen and Adam Lambert have achieved their first number one album in 25 years.
Despite the loss of the group's iconic frontman Freddie Mercury in 1991, Queen have once again topped the official album sales charts after 25 years.
From the writer of Sex & the City comes a much-hyped tale of another city.
Specifically, a tale of a young ambitious marketing executive named Emily Cooper (Lily Collins), who leaves her unsupportive boyfriend behind in Chicago and moves to Paris to join a prestigious marketing firm and help market luxurious brands with '"an American point of view", as she puts it.


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Tal Sankari
Makar Sankranti or Uttarayan
Makar Sankranti or Uttarayan as its called in Gujarat is the only festival which follows the solar calendar and falls every year on 14th January. This festival is celebrated by many states of India for different reasons. Its the beginning of the harvest season, its the end of the inauspicious phase which begins during mid December, its the end of the southeast monsoons. Mainly everyone celebrates this day because it marks the beginning of the transition of the Sun God from the southern to the northern hemisphere. Many states fly thousands of colourful kites on this day as an oblation to the Sun. During Uttarayan different states make different sweets. In Gujarat the most popular is tal sankari or tal laddus. Made from jaggery and sesame seeds, it is eaten so that one does not suffer from coughs and painful joints during spring. The other significance of making tal laddu is eat it and speak sweetly throughout the year! Tal sankari is very easy to make. Its Namrata's favourite indian sweet. The colour of the tal sankari will depend on the colour of the jaggery or gur used.
yields about 12 pieces
1 cup tal or sesame seeds roasted in a pan or in the microwave
1/2 cup coarse peanut powder, roasted
3/4 cup grated jaggery or gur
1 tsp cardamom powder
1tsp milk
1tbsp ghee or clarified butter
- If you are making pieces, then grease a tray 8 inches by 8 inches and keep it ready. Also grease the bottom of a small steel bowl or a glass and keep it ready.
- Mix sesame seeds, peanut powder and cardamom powder in a bowl.
- In a heavy based pan, put the ghee and let it melt over low heat.
- Add the jaggery and keep on stirring till it melts. Let it cook over gentle heat till you see tiny bubbles appearing at the edges. Don't let it caramelise otherwise the sankari will be hard.
- Add the milk to it. Mix well.
- Immediately add the sesame mixture and mix well. Take the pan off the heat.
- Immediately put the mixture into the prepared tray. Pat it down evenly with the help of the greased bowl or glass.
- Cut the mixture into squares or diamonds, using a sharp knife or a steel spatula.
- Leave it to cool for half an hour. Remove the pieces from the tray and store the tal sankari in an air tight container.
- If you want to make round balls, then let the mixture cool a little, but should be still quite warm, and make balls by rolling the mixture between your greased palms.
Tips :
- If you do not want to use peanuts then substitute it with sesame seeds.
- If you don't have a square tray, just use a small round steel plate of any tray.
- Roast the sesame seeds and peanuts over low heat or in the microwave oven for 1 minute or less.
- Coarsely powder the roasted peanuts.
- Thickness of the tal sankari depends on your preference.


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11:50pm PT by THR staff
Jon Stewart Mocks Donald Trump-Rahm Emanuel Skyscraper Feud (Video)
Jon Stewart is inserting himself into the skyscraper-sized fight underway between Rahm Emanuel and Donald Trump.
PHOTOS Summer TV Preview
The Chicago mayor has been bemoaning an "architecturally tasteless" sign spelling out "T-R-U-M-P" on the side of the billionaire's skyscraper in the city. Trump of has been firing back — which led Stewart to ask "why?" on Tuesday's The Daily Show.
"Do you have to answer everybody? How much time is there in a day?" Stewart asked. " Is there no slight small enough for you to just f—ing let it go?"
PHOTOS 2014's New Broadcast and Cable TV Shows
Trump has also had words with Pulitzer Prize-winner Blair Kamin, a Chicago Tribune architecture critic who has disparaged the tower. Despite his accomplishments, Trump has referred to the architect as third-rate and suggested he had been fired from his job. (Kamin is actually taking time off to work as a Nieman Fellow at Harvard.)
Stewart had an explanation for why the Pulitzer and Harvard do not impress Trump: "The only name that impresses Donald Trump ... is his own name!"
The Daily Show airs at 11 p.m. on Comedy Central.
THR email@example.com @thr


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EMILE Heskey thought he had killed off the theory that he was a striker who did not strike.
Last summer, nursing three winner's medals, he knew he had contributed 22 goals in 56 games for Liverpool - and that the ' goalshy' tag that had followed him from Leicester was dead and buried.
Then it all came back to haunt him this term with a barren run of 20 matches for club and country, dating back to his goal in England's 5-1 win in Germany on September 1.
But all that was put behind him with the power header which sent Liverpool two points clear at the top of the FA Barclaycard Premiership thanks to their 1-0 win over Sunderland on Sunday - 50 minutes of which was a backs-to-the-wall battle with just 10 men.
A relieved Heskey said: "I'm just happy to get the goal. It's been a while coming, but the lads have faith in my all-round ability to perform."
Although the goals have been missing, the muscular front-man has never once been doubted by club or colleagues - such is his selfless running for others which left caretaker manager Phil Thompson crediting him with much of the work behind Michael Owen's golden streak.
"Emile's performances have been high-quality - all he needed was a goal. He was magnificent against Sunderland," said Thompson.
England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson knows that too. Heskey has always been his number one target man and he will without question be asked to lead the line in the heat of next summer's World Cup finals.
Thompson added: "Emile was superb. Total concentration for 90 minutes.
"He showed ability to hold the ball up as a lone front man.
"Nobody was happier than the players that it was Emile who scored.
"The players were clapping and cheering when he came back into the dressing room - that's how they feel and that's what is special about this club.
"It is what the boss has put into this club, the togetherness and the bonding, and you can't take that away from them."
The difference between last season and this for Heskey is that when he did not always figure on the goal charts it was his price tag that was called into question, along with Gerard Houllier's wisdom in splashing out so much.
Now Liverpool and England know the value of Heskey's power, pace and sheer brute strength against the best defenders around.
Heskey said: "The goalscoring record of late was in the back of my mind, but I was never down about it.
"The people at Liverpool are always talking to me and always telling me I am doing a good job even when the goals aren't going in.
"It was a weight off my shoulders, though, to see the ball hit the net. It was a good free-kick from Danny Murphy and a straightforward header. We had to dig deep to get the result, but I think we deserved the three points."
Even Sunderland boss Peter Reid conceded that point, after his side had failed to break down the Liverpool defence.
Thompson is dismissive of claims that Liverpool are only a counter-attacking team - even if that is how they were forced, unashamedly, to play against
Sunderland after Dietmar Hamann's dismissal.
The German will now miss three games against Fulham, Arsenal and Chelsea.
Thompson insisted: "They didn't let me or anyone else down. It showed the team unity of what Gerard has built up at this club.
"The willingness to work for others. Gerard has always said that if this team wants something badly enough, because of their
spirit, they can get it. They can win things, and nobody can beat them.
"Of all the games since Gerard was taken ill, Sunderland was the one that underlined the character. Down to 10 men for so long, we showed character and spirit - and that is what Gerard has put into this club.
"Our European experiences helped. We have shown we can be resolute - that's how the players react."
Liverpool believe they will have Michael Owen back for Saturday's trip to Derby. He was rested after complaining of tightness in the back of his leg, having suffered what was claimed to be cramp in the final seconds of the Barcelona defeat.
Thompson said: "Michael is fine. He trained on Thursday and Friday but on Saturday he came in and said the back of his leg was stiff. The doctor examined him and said his thigh had gone into spasm.
"We decided that if he was not going to play then it's no good just putting him on the substitutes' bench for the last 20 minutes, so we decided to rest him to be ready for next Saturday."
* OWEN, meanwhile, has signed a sponsorship deal with sports drinks company Lucozade, a partnership that may serve his country well in next summer's World Cup finals.
Owen will work alongside the company's experts on humidity to get the best possible preparation for the anticipated conditions in Japan and South Korea.


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Kim Gura: "SISTAR's Soyu Has Completely Changed after Gaining Popularity"
Known for his honest and witty comments, TV personality Kim Gu Ra has expressed his thoughts on SISTAR member Soyu's image on variety shows.
During the filming of JTBC's talk show "War of Words," the panel members discussed the phenomenon of idol group members gaining more popularity through individual activities. According to the panel, the representative cases are SISTAR, CNBLUE, and 2AM, who all started off with one or two members attracting interest, which finally led to the success of the groups as a whole.
In regards to SISTAR, Kim Gu Ra said, "Soyu, whose popularity was not high compared to the other members, is actively promoting on variety shows after earning recognition with additional music projects like 'Some' and 'The Space Between,'" and revealed his opinion on Soyu's image, "Totally different from her appearance on 'Hwasin' a year ago, I recently saw her appear on 'Quiz Around the World," and she was talking with confidence like a completely different person."
This episode of "War of Words" will air on October 2 at 11 p.m.


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Bubbling beneath the surface, direct mail has been making noise. Despite the dramatic shift in digital marketing, direct mail has not only maintained its volume, but it's actually slightly grown. In fact, just in this last month alone, Salesforce announced a new partnership for a direct mailing initiative. They wrote about it in their blog post titled, "Direct Mail Is Having a Renaissance in Marketing. Here's How to Capitalize On It". In that same time-frame, The Marketing Cloudcast released their latest podcast titled: "How to Capitalize on the Print and Direct Mail Renaissance". So why all the buzz, and why should you be paying attention?
Direct Mail Has Science Backing It
One of the first things to be said is the fact that direct mail is one of the most time tested marketing channels out there. In fact, one could argue that with the advent of the printing press, direct mail was the first marketing channel to ever emerge on the scene! But since then there has been a lot of documentation and science to back it up. Outside of ROI and Response Rate Data one of the most compelling scientifically backed finding's was the impact print had over digital.
In a study that has since been replicated by the USPS, it was found that direct mail had a deeper neurological impact on the human brain. When participants of the study looked at a physical piece versus a digital piece of the same exact kind under an MRI, it was found that the physical piece activated deeper emotional channels in the brain. These same areas of the brain are responsible for higher recall and emotional response.
Direct Mail Is Standing Out In The Digital Age
The constant bombardment of online content and online advertisement is diluting the value of almost all online marketing channels, and it's only getting worse. When considering direct mail versus something like e-mail for instance, it's been reported that the average American is now receiving over 130 emails a day. Compare that to just 2-3 pieces of a mail a day and you start to see the power direct mail can have in the digital age.
Successful Companies Are Utilizing Direct Mail for Onboarding
With the advent of search engine marketing, and the complete breakthrough with game changing apps like Uber, you would assume that these digital companies would be all in on digital marketing right? Well in fact both of these companies have been utilizing direct mail aggressively. In the case of Uber, they send out direct mailers all over the country with codes to onboard new customers daily. But Google? Really? Yes, in-fact Google went all in on direct mail marketing as well to get businesses to use their advertising network. They do this by sending businesses coupon codes (similar to Uber) giving them ad credit as an incentive to start marketing on their search engine.
(Uber – Image Source: http://www.targetmarketingmag.com/article/uber-gets/ Google – Image Source: https://themalcolmauldblog.com/tag/google/ )
These are just a few of the examples of completely digital companies utilizing the great channel of direct mail for success, but here is an another amazing example of a lending company that has successful utilized direct mail in 2015 to become one of the largest lenders in the United States.
The company's name is Prosper, at one point Prosper was spending around 90% of their marketing budget on online marketing SEO and SEM. The company has since defied all growth expectations by turning around and using direct mail to become a 8 billion dollar lending giant! In fact The Wall Street Journal did a cover on the incredible growth of Prosper using direct mail.
Why Direct Mail Will Continue To Make a Bigger Impact
Marketing isn't about chasing fads, it's about getting results. As more and more marketers enter into the online marketing domain, fewer marketers are focusing on powerful old-school channels like direct mail. This is leaving open big opportunities for companies to take advantage of by focusing their marketing efforts in it.


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Your nervous system looks roughly like a road map. Nerves carry information from the body to the brain and vice versa. The brain is composed of roughly 86 Billion neurons. Chemical messengers called neurotransmitters carry messages between neurons to help the brain receive the information, decide what it means and execute a reaction. Neurotransmitters are responsible for emotional regulation, pain perception, motivation, concentration, memory energy, libido and sleep.
For the purposes of this book, we will focus on the Big 6 Neurotransmitters:
- Excitatory: Dopamine, Norepinepherine, Glutamate
- Inhibitory: GABA, Serotonin
- Neuromodulator: Acetylcholine
Dopamine is your main pleasure chemical. When you do something that is beneficial to your existence, your body releases dopamine as a reward. It is kinda like when your parents gave you a chocolate chip cookie if you did something good. Dopamine is responsible for:
- Movement
- Memory
- Pleasure/reward
- Learning
- Behavior and cognition
- Attention
Problems associated with dopamine imbalance include:
- Cognitive control (racing thoughts)
- Attentional control
- Impulse control
- Working memory
Symptoms of excess
- Unnecessary movements, repetitive tics
- Psychosis
- Hypersexuality
- Nausea
Most antipsychotic drugs are dopamine antagonists, that is, they will reduce dopamine levels. Antipsychotic drugs are used for many things other than schizophrenia including mood stabilization, insomnia and nausea.
- Symptoms of insufficiency (no pleasure/reward)
- Reduction in emotional responses (Flat, apathetic, "blah")
- Lack of motivation
- Diminished expressiveness (speech/socialization)
- Difficulty concentrating or poor memory
- Pain
- Restless legs syndrome
Norepinepherine is an excitatory neurotransmitter that is implicated in preparing the body for the fight or flight reaction and increasing motivation and attention to the task at hand. Unfortunately, if the system stays stressed for too long, it self-adjusts to protect the body. It is like keeping your foot floored on the gas pedal while the car is in park. In the case of the care, eventually it would overhead and the engine block would crack (it would die.). Thankfully, your body senses ongoing excess stress and "turns down" the amount of energy being sent to fight or flee so you don't end up like that poor car. The technical term for this is "underactivity of the stress response system," which means things that used to get you excited or bothered don't phase you anymore. This results in low energy, daytime fatigue, concentration/focus issues, and general apathy (kinda like Eeyore from Winnie the Pooh).
Symptoms of Excess
- ADHD or problems with concentration
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Poor Sleep
Symptoms of insufficiency
- Loss of alertness
- Fatigue
- Depression
- Poor Memory]
GABA and Glutamate
Glutamate acts as an excitatory (get up and go) neurotransmitter.
GABA mainly serves as an anti-anxiety, calming agent and is made from the breakdown of glutamate.
There is always a balance of these two neurotransmitters… like making a warm bath, constantly adjusting the hot and cold
Symptoms of excess GABA
- Excess sleepiness
- Shallow breathing
- *Increased blood pressure
Symptoms of GABA insufficiency
- Anxiety, feeling dread for no particular reason
- Depression
- Difficulty concentrating
- Insomnia
- Seizure disorders
- racing thoughts
- Cold hands
- Heart palpitations and shortness of breath
Symptoms of excess glutamate
- Anxiety
- Excess adrenal function
- Impulsivity
- Depression
Symptoms of glutamate insufficiency
- Agitation
- Memory loss
- Sleeplessness
- Low energy level
- Insufficient adrenal function
- Depression
Serotonin is most often thought of as the neurotransmitter "responsible" for depression. This could not be further from the truth. Serotonin does help regulate
- Mood
- Sleep patterns
- Appetite
- Pain perception
Symptoms of excess
- Depression
- Apathy, Emotional flatness or dullness
- Passivity
- Insomnia and other sleep problems
- Difficulty concentrating and learning
- Poor memory; amnesia
- Difficulty making decisions and acting on them
- Sexual dysfunction
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Pain sensitivity
- Insomnia (Serotonin is broken down into melatonin which cues the body to sleep.)
- Women are much more likely to experience mood disorders and carb cravings
- Men are more likely to be impulsive, have ADHD, and drink alcohol in excess.
Serotonin and other hormones
- Estrogen is needed to produce serotonin and serotonin is broken down into melatonin. (BMC Women's Health)
- Low serotonin and high testosterone levels lead to aggressive behavior. (Isr Med Assoc J. 2003 Sep;5(9):653-8.)
- Testosterone modulates serotonergic receptor activity in a way that directly affects aggression, fear and anxiety.
In lower amounts, ACh can act like a stimulant by releasing norepinephrine (NE) and dopamine (DA).
- Memory
- Motivation
- Higher-order thought processes
- Sexual desire and activity
- Sleep
Symptoms of excess
- Depression (all symptoms)
- Nightmares
- Mental Fatigue
- Anxiety
- Insufficiency
- Alzheimers/dementia
- Parkinsons
- Impaired cognition, attention, and arousal
Symptoms of Insufficiency
- Apathy
- Lack of motivation
- Poor attention
- Fatigue/exhaustion
As you can see all of these neurotransmitters are somehow involved with mood, motivation, libido, hunger, sleep, pain and attention/concentration. You can also see that depressive symptoms can be caused by a variety of things, not just low serotonin! Unfortunately, since neurotransmitters are found throughout the body, there is no way to effectively test the levels of the different neurotransmitters in your brain (which would make diagnosis and treatment SO much easier). On the next page there is a summary chart of the main neurotransmitters. Highlight any symptoms you are having and, as you go through the book, see if you can identify what the cause(s) are for you.
Aside from not being able to tell which neurochemicals are too low or too high another challenge is that all of these neurotransmitters like to stay in a particular balance. It is like making a good marinara sauce. You have to find the right proportions of garlic, onion, oregano, thyme, marjoram, fennel, basil and pepper. The same is true for neurotransmitters. For example, there is an inverse relationship between serotonin and acetylcholine, that is, as one goes up, the other goes down. You may have an imbalance of more than one neurotransmitter. And, just as there is more to a marinara sauce than spices, there is more to happiness and your nervous system than just the 6 neurotransmitters you learned about.
Stress hormones like cortisol and sex hormones like estrogen, progesterone and testosterone all impact the availability of serotonin. Likewise, your skin actually serves as a giant receptor telling your body about when it is time to be awake, to sleep, and via pain or pleasure whether to fight, flee or relax.
It is complicated, but the first step to true recovery is to get your body healthy so everything is as "balanced" as it can be. Only then can you get a good idea of whether there may be true neurotransmitter imbalance which requires medication, or whether the symptoms were caused by other factors which threw things out of whack. It is estimated that more than 80% of Americans have neurochemical imbalances due to lifestyle choices, poor nutrition and "stress." The rest of this book will help you figure out how to best support your body and brain in being happy and healthy.
Cautionary Note: If you are suicidal or homicidal or severely depressed, do NOT use this book right now. Seek professional help. Once you are stable and feeling a bit better, you can start talking with your provider about how to incorporate some of this into your recovery routine.


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P.O. Box 12068, State Capitol
Austin, Texas 78711
Tel. (512) 463-0112
January 9, 2006
GRAPEVINE -- Texas State Senator Jane Nelson, R-Lewisville, has been appointed to the Texas Legislative Council, which oversees the legal, research, administration and support arm of the Texas Legislature.
"I appreciate this opportunity to help ensure efficiency and openness in state government," Senator Nelson said. "The Texas Legislative Council serves as the glue that holds our legislative process together. It has made enormous strides to ensure that citizens can easily access information about actions taken by the Legislature. I look forward to building on those efforts and ensuring that we make the best possible use of our resources."
The Texas Legislative Council, under the guidance of a 14-member council, provides drafting, computing, research, and publishing services to the Texas Legislature and legislative agencies. The council also serves as an information resource for state agencies and the citizens of Texas.
The Council includes the Speaker of the House and Lieutenant Governor, who preside over the council and appoint six members each from the House of Representatives and Texas Senate, respectively. The newly appointed board will serve through the end of the 2007 legislative session.


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There's something odd about these droplets of silicon oil – and it's not only the way they're bobbing over the petri dish. They really recreate a great deal of the irregular marvels of quantum mechanics, however on a scale we can really observe. Also, this scene of Veritasium clarifies how that can help us wrap our psyches around a portion of the more interesting speculations encompassing quantum particles.
Yet, to begin with – why are these oil beads ricocheting in any case? In the trial above, Derek from Veritasium has set up a petri dish loaded with silicon oil on top of a speaker that he's utilizing to vibrate the dish.
By making beads with a toothpick, he can make them float along the surface, skipping over a little layer of air between the oil and the bead that never gets sufficiently little for the oil to recombine.
Each time that bead skips, it makes a standing wave in the dish that wavers all over.
Not just does the bead make the standing wave, it additionally communicates with it on its next ricochet. Also, on the off chance that it continues arriving on a similar side of the wave, the bead gets pushed forward, which researchers call a 'walker'.
Be that as it may, what's truly intriguing is the manner by which these beads carry on. They're much too huge to be quantum – they're around 1 millimeter crosswise over – however, researchers have as of late found that they can utilize these little beads to imitate a large number of the abnormal wonders of quantum mechanics.
Take, for instance, the classic double-slit experiment. In customary quantum mechanics, the twofold opening trial includes terminating a light emission, for example, electrons, at two tight openings.
On the opposite side, as opposed to the electrons winding up in two particular bunches behind the openings, as you'd expect, they deliver an obstruction design – an entirely notwithstanding splashing of electrons crosswise over range behind the openings.
That even happens when you send the electrons through each one in turn, and it's only one of the numerous bewildering wonders in quantum mechanics.
With these bobbing oil beads, you can reproduce the twofold opening investigation, and look as the standing wave (or pilot wave) goes through both openings, while the drop it just goes through one.
Be that as it may, the beads don't generally move in a straight line, since they're bumped around and guided by these standing waves. So you wind up with the drops scattered on the opposite side in a fundamentally the same as an example to a quantum obstruction design.
Source: Sciencealert


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Friday 9th October 12:00am - Monday 26th October 4:00pm
Photo Voice Project - Call For Entries
Monday 19th October 8:00am - Sunday 25th October 6:00pm
Aussie Backyard Bird Count
Under the Smoke-free Environment Act 2000, smoking is not permitted in a commercial outdoor dining area which is:
The NSW Health Factsheet has a summary of information for smoke-free outdoor dining.
The NSW Health Guide has further information for licensed venues, restaurants and cafes.
Licensed venues, restaurants, cafés and shops can order free signage and other resources from NSW Health.
For those businesses using Council-managed land for outdoor dining purposes, the licensee of the business is required to ensure the area is smoke free and comply with all NSW Health requirements. In addition they must also comply with any other smoke free clauses as contained in their outdoor dining licence agreement. If there is a breach of licence agreement conditions, Council may issue a written warning or terminate a licence.
Any designated outdoor smoking areas in licensed premises and restaurants must meet the requirements of the Smoke-free Environment Act 2000.
The community has shown strong support for smoke-free outdoor dining. In 2013, Council sought community feedback on smoke free outdoor dining for Council managed lands only. Ninety one percent of the community feedback indicated support for smoke free outdoor dining. In addition, over half the feedback received from businesses also supported smoke free outdoor dining.
If you think an outdoor smoking ban has been broken, report it to:
NSW Health
Telephone: 1800 357 412


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with video production and video marketing.
LumaVox provides video production, video marketing services, and video live streaming services
for small business, advertising, corporate, and editorial markets in the Eastern Pennsylvania and Philadelphia Metro area.
We're located in Audubon, PA.
We're Here To Help Your Business Take Off!
Through Creative Video Production, Innovative Video Marketing, and Good Old Hard Work


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You may not have know this, but Carl Strock, the terrific columnist with The Daily Gazette, and certainly one my favorite writers around, is also a huge boxing fan.
He and I have been covering fights together for a few years now. We have some funny stories I should tell you some time about what it's like to take notes and pictures at the ring apron.
Anyway, Carl came to the USA Boxing show at Schenectady's Carver Community Center last Saturday night, and sent me a link to his blog, along with some photos.
Take a look….


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Something I been working on...
By Crono 32 Comments
Well aside from only needing 1 more blog post to finish that quest dealing with blogging, this also works as a good excuse to show off a little project I have been working on relating to TF2.
It's finally done and for the most part I am satisfied with how they all turned out. Anyway, I hope you like. I am considering going back and redoing Scout and Sniper and perhaps adjusting the medic just a tad.
If you would like to see any of them at a higher resolution you can check them out at my GB profile.


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The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is an important public health concern, affecting over 130 million individuals worldwide (Alter 2007). It is transmitted mainly through the parenteral route and sexual and vertical transmissions are considered to be rare. However, epidemiological studies suggest that the transmission routes of a large number of HCV infections are unknown (Heintges & Wands 1997, Murphy et al. 2000).
Tests for the diagnosis and management of HCV infection include enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (EIA) for the detection of anti-HCV antibodies, qualitative and quantitative tests to detect the HCV RNA and methods to determine the HCV genotypes (NHI 2002). A patient's response to antiviral therapy can be predicted by examining his or her HCV genotype (NHI 2002, Bacon & McHutchison 2007). While the detection of anti-HCV antibodies and HCV RNA in blood is the traditional method of viral surveillance, venipuncture is invasive, often painful and expensive. The use of saliva samples to diagnose HCV offers several potential advantages, such as minimal training requirements for sample collection and the use of a non-invasive collection technique. Such specimens are especially suitable for seroprevalence studies when blood samples are difficult to obtain (e.g., in intravenous drug users, children and haemophiliacs). Furthermore, the analysis of saliva can provide a cost-effective approach for the screening of large populations.
Many studies have documented the suitability of saliva samples for the diagnosis of HCV infections using EIA and real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) (McIntyre et al. 1996, Bello et al. 1998, Elsana et al. 1998, van Doornum et al. 2001, De Cock et al. 2004, Pastore et al. 2006, Wang et al. 2006, Gonzalez et al. 2008, Moorthy et al. 2008). Two studies in particular have demonstrated that the HCV viral load is higher in serum than in saliva in patients that are infected with HCV (Rey et al. 2001, Suzuki et al. 2005).
Abe and Inchauspe (1991) demonstrated that chimpanzees that were inoculated with HCV-containing saliva developed an infection and two reports have suggested that HCV is transmissible to humans via bite injuries (Dusheiko et al. 1990, Abe & Inchauspe 1991, Figueiredo et al. 1994). The present study was designed to compare the HCV viral loads in the serum and saliva of HCV-infected patients.
This cross-sectional study was performed from March-August of 2006. A total of 29 patients with chronic hepatitis C were selected among individuals who visited the Central Public Health Laboratory of Bahia, which is the only public laboratory that conducts the HCV-RNA detection test. Individuals with detectable HCV RNA in both their serum and saliva were included in the study and patients who had undergone antiviral therapy or had co-infections were excluded. None of the patients reported xerostomia or oral lesions.
Saliva and serum samples from 20 healthy donors were used as controls. The research protocol was approved by the Institutional Ethical Committee of Oswaldo Cruz Foundation-Bahia. Informed consent was obtained from all subjects who agreed to participate in this study.
The saliva and serum samples were collected from the patients after an eight-hour fasting period. Blood samples were collected in 10 mL Vacutainer tubes lacking anticoagulant (Becton Dickinson, San Jose, CA, USA) and centrifuged for 15 min at 3,000 rpm to separate the sera. Non-stimulated whole saliva was collected through spitting without expectoration. The saliva and serum samples (approximately 3 mL each) were stored at -70ºC until use. We employed the Wright method, which uses a combination of eosin and methylene blue, to examine the saliva samples for the presence of blood and to rule out possible blood contamination (Dacie & Lewis 2006).
HCV RNA was extracted from 200 µL aliquots of each saliva and serum sample using the TRIzol LS reagent (Invitrogen, Life Technologies, Carlsbad, CA, USA) according to the manufacturer's instructions after digestion with 20 mg/mL proteinase K (Qiagen SA, Courtabouf, France) for 1 h at 56ºC. The HCV RNA was immediately transcribed into cDNA using random hexamers and reverse transcriptase (Invitrogen, Life Technologies, Carlsbad, CA, USA). The HCV RNA was detected using a nested RT-PCR technique that amplified a 251-bp fragment from the 5'-NC region of the HCV genome (Chan et al. 1992). The HCV genotype was determined through a restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis as previously described (Davidson et al. 1995).
The HCV viral load was determined through reverse transcription followed by a quantitative RT-PCR. The primers and probes that were labelled with the 5'-reporter dye 6-carboxyfluorescein (FAM) and the 3'-quencher dye 6-carboxy-N, N, N', N'-tetramethyl-rhodamine (TAMRA) were purchased from Applied Biosystems (Foster City, CA, USA). A reaction mixture containing 10 µM of each primer (forward: 5'-CGGGAGAGC CATAGTGGT, reverse: 5'-CGCGACCCAACACTACTC) and 5 µM of the fluorogenic probe (FAM-TGCGGAACCGGTGAGTACACC-TAMRA) was subjected to RT-PCR using the TaqMan system (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, CA, USA). A standard curve was generated using known concentrations of purified recombinant plasmid containing the HCV UTR region. Serial dilutions of this control plasmid ranging from 2.5 copies/mL to 250,000 copies/ml were prepared. RT-PCR was performed using the ABI Prism 7500 Sequence Detection System (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, CA, USA). The HCV viral load levels for all of the unknown samples were calculated through the extrapolation of the standard curve. The Amplicor® HCV Monitor Test (Amplicor® HCV Monitor, Roche, NJ, USA) was conducted according to the manufacturer's guidelines. The saliva samples were treated with proteinase K (20 mg/mL for 1 h at 56ºC) before the HCV RNA was quantified. This test was used to confirm the HCV-RNA loads in the saliva and serum samples of all of the patients that were studied.
Statistical analyses were performed using Epi Info 2000 (CDC, Atlanta, GA, USA) and GraphPad Prism version 5.1 (GraphPad Software Incorporated, San Diego CA, 120 USA). Standard parametric and non-parametric statistical testing were applied as warranted. All of the tests were two-tailed and p-values < 0.05 were considered to be significant.
The demographic and virologic characteristics of the 29 subjects are shown in Table. The study group was composed of 17 males (58.6%) and 12 females (41.3%) with a median age of 50 (interquartile range: 40-57 years). In the saliva and serum samples from the healthy donors, HCV-RNA was undetectable.
Among the 29 HCV-infected patients, 22 (75.8%) were infected with genotype 1, three (10.3%) with genotype 2 and four (13.7%) with genotype 3. The saliva and serum samples from each patient were from the same genotypes. The data analysis did not demonstrate any significant differences between the HCV viral loads in the saliva and serum for the different HCV genotypes (Table).
A microscopic examination revealed no evidence of blood contamination in the saliva samples from the HCV-infected patients. Although HCV can enter the saliva via the gingival sulcus (Maticic et al. 2001), this cannot be the sole route because HCV RNA has been found in the saliva of edentate patients (Roy et al. 1998). An alternative mechanism for viral entry into saliva is active HCV replication in the salivary glands (Arrieta et al. 2001). This mechanism would explain the detection of different viral genotypes in the serum and saliva of individual patients (Roy et al. 1998) and the existence of patients with HCV RNA-negative serum and HCV RNA-positive saliva (Harle et al. 1993).
The presence of HCV RNA in human saliva may indicate that the saliva has been contaminated with blood particles, allowing for the transfer of HCV particles from the circulatory system. However, HCV RNA has been measured in the saliva of infected individuals independent of mucosal lesions and periodontal disease (Liou et al. 1992, Fabris et al. 1999, Hermida et al. 2002, Lins et al. 2005). Additionally, HCV could enter the saliva via peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) (Roy et al. 1998, Fabris et al. 1999, Maticic et al. 2001); however, the presence of HCV RNA in PBMCs and saliva have not been closely correlated (Young et al. 1993). The detection of HCV RNA in saliva and the existence of a correlation between the viral load in saliva and other compartments have been demonstrated in previous studies (Mariette et al. 1995, Hermida et al. 2002, Eirea et al. 2005, Lins et al. 2005, Wang et al. 2006, Farias et al. 2010).
In this work, a quantitative PCR assay was used to determine HCV viral load levels in the saliva and serum of patients. The median viral RNA levels were 3.32 log10 copies (2.1 x 103 copies/mL) in the saliva and 5.78 log10 copies (1.21 x 106 copies/mL) in the serum (p < 0.0001) (A in Figure). We did not use internal controls in the RT-PCR, which would have detected the possible presence of PCR inhibitors. However, to reduce the probability of inhibition occurring during the RNA extractions, proteinase K (20 mg/mL for 1 h at 56ºC) was used. Additionally, we used the same volumes of saliva and serum samples in all of the reactions to effectively demonstrate their contrasting viral loads.
No significant correlation was found between the HCV viral loads in the saliva and serum, most likely due to sample size (Pearson's r = -0.081, p = 0.67) (B in Figure). All of the saliva and serum samples were tested using RT-PCR (Amplicor® HCV Monitor, Roche, NJ, USA) and the results were similar to the results obtained (Pearson's r = 0.018, p = 0.934). These results are likely due to the small number of available samples.
Our study indicates that the viral loads in saliva are 100 times lower than those in serum. Katayama et al. (2004) investigated the minimal number of HCV RNA copies that is able to transmit HCV infection in chimpanzees using pre-acute-phase serum. They observed that serum containing 20 HCV RNA copies was able to produce infection, suggesting that HCV can be transmitted by low virus levels. Abe and Inchauspe (1991) demonstrated the transmission of HCV through human saliva, but the number of viral copies was not determined. Epidemiological studies suggest that the infective capacity of HCV RNA virions in saliva is low (De Cock et al. 2004, Eirea et al. 2005). Further studies are required to investigate the infective potential of HCV-positive saliva.
It is possible that a defence mechanism in the saliva may attenuate or abolish the infective potential of HCV RNA virions. Belec et al. (2003) observed that the saliva of HCV-infected individuals contains specific IgG and IgA-neutralising antibodies that are directed against the E1 and E2 surface glycoproteins and may block viral adhesion to the host cell.
Although this study has some limitations due to the small number of available samples, we were able to provide information regarding the relationship between HCV viral loads in serum and saliva samples. However, further studies using larger sample sizes should be performed to confirm these results.
Other studies are also required to investigate the biological factors that are associated with HCV transmission. The elucidation of the mechanisms that are used by hosts to block HCV entry into the cell may contribute to the understanding of the role of saliva in HCV transmission.
To Vanja Ferreira and Lana Abreu, for technical support in collecting saliva and serum, Alan McBride and Jose Hagan, for his critical review of the manuscript, and Luciano Kalabric, for statistical support.
Abe K, Inchauspe G 1991. Transmission of hepatitis C by saliva. Lancet 337: 248.
Alter MJ 2007. Epidemiology of hepatitis C virus infection. World J Gastroenterol 13: 2436-2441.
Arrieta JJ, Rodriguez-Inigo E, Ortiz-Movilla N, Bartolome J, Pardo M, Manzarbeitia F, Oliva H, Macias DM, Carreno V 2001. In situ detection of hepatitis C virus RNA in salivary glands. Am J Pathol 158: 259-264.
Bacon BR, McHutchison JG 2007. Into the light: strategies for battling hepatitis C. Am J Manag Care 13 (Suppl. 12) S319-S326.
Belec L, Legoff J, Si-Mohamed A, Bloch F, Mbopi Keou FX, Becquart P, Matta M, Prazuck T, Petite JP, Gutmann L, Payan C 2003. Mucosal humoral immune response to hepatitis C virus E1/E2 surface glycoproteins and HCV shedding in saliva and cervicovaginal fluids from chronically HCV-infected patients. J Hepatol 38: 833-842.
Bello PY, Pasquier C, Gourney P, Puel J, Izopet J 1998. Assessment of a hepatitis C virus antibody assay in saliva for epidemiological studies. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 17: 570-572.
Chan SW, McOmish F, Holmes EC, Dow B, Peutherer JF, Follett E, Yap PL, Simmonds P 1992. Analysis of a new hepatitis C virus type and its phylogenetic relationship to existing variants. J Gen Virol 73: 1131-1141.
Dacie JV, Lewis SM 2006. Preparation and staining methods for blood and bone marrow films. In R Ross, Practical haematology, 10th ed., Churchill Livingstone, Edinburgh, p. 77-81.
Davidson F, Simmonds P, Ferguson JC, Jarvis LM, Dow BC, Follett EA, Seed CR, Krusius T, Lin C, Medgyesi GA 1995. Survey of major genotypes and subtypes of hepatitis C virus using RFLP of sequences amplified from the 5'non-coding region. J Gen Virol 76: 1197-1204.
De Cock L, Hutse V, Verhaegen E, Quoilin S, Vandenberghe H, Vranckx R 2004. Detection of HCV antibodies in oral fluid. J Virol Methods 122: 179-183.
Dusheiko GM, Smith M, Scheuer PJ 1990. Hepatitis C virus transmitted by human bite. Lancet 336: 503-504.
Eirea M, Dios PD, Hermida M, Rodriguez I, Castro A, Ocampo A 2005. Detection of HCV-RNA in saliva of HIV-HCV coinfected patients. AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses 21: 1011-1015.
Elsana S, Sikuler E, Yaari A, Shemer-Avni Y, Abu-Shakra M, Buskila D, Katzman P, Naggan L, Margalith M 1998. HCV antibodies in saliva and urine. J Med Virol 55: 24-27.
Fabris P, Infantolino D, Biasin MR, Marchelle G, Venza E, Terribile WMV, Benedetti P, Tositti G, Manfrin V, de Lalla F 1999. High prevalence of HCV-RNA in the saliva cell fraction of patients with chronic hepatitis C, but no evidence of HCV transmission among sexual partners. Infection 27: 86-91.
Farias A, Re V, Mengarelli S, Kremer L, Pisano MB, Allende L, Nicolas J, Elbarcha O, Contigiani M 2010. Detection of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in body fluids from HCV monoinfected and HCV/HIV coinfected patients. Hepatogastroenterology 57: 300-304.
Figueiredo JF, Borges AS, Martinez R, Martinelli Ade L, Villanova MG, Covas DT, Passas AD 1994. Transmission of hepatitis C virus but not human immunodeficiency virus type 1 by a human bite. Clin Infect Dis 19: 546-547.
Gonzalez V, Martro E, Folch C, Esteve A, Matas L, Montoliu A, Grifols JR, Bolao F, Tural C, Muga R, Parry JV, Ausina V, Casabona J 2008. Detection of hepatitis C virus antibodies in oral fluid specimens for prevalence studies. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 27: 121-126.
Harle JR, Swiader L, Disdier P, Gerolami V, Cartouzou G, Weiller J 1993. Identifying hepatitis C virus by the gene amplification technique in the saliva of patients for whom the search is simultaneously negative in their serum: 9 cases. Rev Med Interne 14: 1005.
Heintges T, Wands JR 1997. Hepatitis C virus: epidemiology and transmission. Hepatology 26: 521-526.
Hermida M, Ferreiro MC, Barral S, Laredo R, Castro A, Diz Dios P 2002. Detection of HCV RNA in saliva of patients with hepatitis C virus infection by using a highly sensitive test. J Virol Methods 101: 29-35.
Katayama K, Kumagai J, Komiya Y, Mizui M, Yugi H, Kishimoto S, Yamanaka R, Tamatsukuri S, Tomoguri T, Miyakawa Y, Tanaka J, Yoshizawa H 2004. Titration of hepatitis C virus in chimpanzees for determining the copy number required for transmission. Intervirology 47: 57-64.
Lins L, Almeida H, Vitvisk L, Carmo T, Parana R, Reis MG 2005. Detection of hepatitis C virus RNA in saliva is not related to oral health status or viral load. J Med Virol 77: 216-220.
Liou TC, Chang TT, Young KC, Lin XZ, Lin CY, Wu HL 1992. Detection of HCV RNA in saliva, urine, seminal fluid and ascites. J Med Virol 37: 197-202.
Mariette X, Loiseau P, Morinet F 1995. Hepatitis C virus in saliva. Ann Intern Med 122: 556.
Maticic M, Poljak M, Kramar B, Seme K, Brinovec V, Meglic-Volkar J, Zakotnik B, Skaleric U 2001. Detection of hepatitis C virus RNA from gingival crevicular fluid and its relation to virus presence in saliva. J Periodontol 72: 11-16.
McIntyre PG, Laszlo J, Appleyard K, Ogden GR 1996. Modified enzyme immunoassay to detect hepatitis C virus antibodies in oral fluid. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 15: 882-884.
Moorthy M, Daniel HD, Kurian G, Abraham P 2008. An evaluation of saliva as an alternative to plasma for the detection of hepatitis C virus antibodies. Indian J Med Microbiol 26: 327-332.
Murphy EL, Bryzman SM, Glynn SA, Ameti DI, Thomson RA, Williams AE, Nass CC, Ownby HE, Schreiber GB, Kong F, Neal KR, Nemo GJ 2000. Risk factors for hepatitis C virus infection in United States blood donors. NHLBI Retrovirus Epidemiology Donor Study (REDS). Hepatology 31: 756-762.
NHI - National Institutes of Health 2002. NIH Consensus Statement on Management of Hepatitis C: 2002. Available from: doh.state.fl.us/disease_ctrl/aids/hep/hepatitis_c_consensus.pdf.
Pastore L, Fiore JR, Tateo M, De Benedittis M, Petruzzi M, Casalino C, Genchi C, Lo Muzio L, Angarano G, Serpico R 2006. Detection of hepatitis C virus-RNA in saliva from chronically HCV-infected patients. Int J Immunopathol Pharmacol 19: 217-224.
Rey D, Fritsch S, Schmitt C, Meyer P, Lang JM, Stoll-Keller F 2001. Quantitation of hepatitis C virus RNA in saliva and serum of patients coinfected with HCV and human immunodeficiency virus. J Med Virol 63: 117-119.
Roy KM, Bagg J, McCarron B, Good T, Cameron S, Pithie A 1998. Predominance of HCV type 2A in saliva from intravenous drug users. J Med Virol 54: 271-275.
Suzuki T, Omata K, Satoh T, Miyasaka T, Arai C, Maeda M, Matsuno T, Miyamura T 2005. Quantitative detection of hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA in saliva and gingival crevicular fluid of HCV-infected patients. J Clin Microbiol 43: 4413-4417.
van Doornum GJ, Lodder A, Buimer M, van Ameijden EJ, Bruisten S 2001. Evaluation of hepatitis C antibody testing in saliva specimens collected by two different systems in comparison with HCV antibody and HCV RNA in serum. J Med Virol 64: 13-20.
Wang CC, Morishima C, Chung M, Engelberg R, Krantz E, Krows M, Sullivan DG, Gretch DR, Corey L 2006. High serum hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA load predicts the presence of HCV RNA in saliva from individuals with chronic and acute HCV infection. J Infect Dis 193: 672-676.
Young KC, Chang TT, Liou TC, Wu HL 1993. Detection of hepatitis C virus RNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and in saliva. J Med Virol 41: 55-60.


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synthetic put
A transaction involving the purchase of a call option on a stock that has already been shorted. This enables the holder to protect against an increase in the price of the underlying stock. If the stock price decreases, the call is not exercised and the investor profits minus the premium. If the stock price increases, the call is exercised and the investor breaks even minus the premium and short interest.