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If you're wearing yourself out trying to get your content produced then you're not doing it right. Content planning and production should be a seamless extension of what you already do because after all, you are an expert in your field so it should come naturally. If it's not, you're either over-thinking or over-complicating the process, or you're focusing on the wrong area.
Working smarter not harder is a bit of a cliché, but when it comes to achieving success with your content marketing, it's a must if you want your strategy to be sustainable. Plus, according to research, content marketing leaders experience 7.8 times more site traffic than non-leaders, so it's important to improve your offering. Here are four ways to be smarter with your content marketing.
1. Audit your content library and identify content gaps
A content audit analysis looks at the current performance of your content and identifies areas where you're currently missing out on attracting traffic and potential leads. There is no hard or fast way of carrying this out, but some simple methods include:
Step 1: Identifying key metrics and objectives for conducting a gap analysis, for example, what type of metrics would you like to see achieve the biggest improvement? These metrics might include:
- Leads generated from content
- Cost per visit
- Social share count
- Content turnaround time – are you spending too long on your content for little return?
- Content diversity – do you have content that engages readers across all stages of the sales cycle – think of the sales funnel here
Step 2: Measure your current content against the above metrics. This will give you a quantifiable overview of your current published content.
Step 3: Carry out a competition analysis using tools like SEMRush to identify the SEO performance and keywords that your competitors' content ranks for. For instance, you might find that you're not ranking for an obvious relevant keyword that your competitors currently do rank for.
Step 4: Here's where you identify the gaps; now you have mapped content against your objectives and can see where your competitors are doing well, you will see which areas can be improved upon within your own offering.
Step 5: Create an action plan: once you've started to create your content based upon your analysis, don't forget to re-measure the changes you implemented! In fact, this whole process should be undertaken fairly regularly.
2. Set up an editorial calendar to improve collaboration and project management
If your current content marketing strategy is more a question of 'who has the time to write something', rather than developed ideas, then it's likely that your content marketing is lacking direction and focus. No focus equals no end goal, so how will you be able to measure your success?
This is where a content editorial planner will save your strategy and save you time. Create an editorial schedule with either Excel or Google spreadsheets: here's a snippet of what our editorial calendar looks like:
You will see that we have several columns to structure our content commissioning and scheduling process:
- Content title – here we either name the article or content title (pretty self-explanatory)
- Author – who is writing or creating the content
- Copy date (pretty important) we tend to request content three weeks in advance of the publishing date so this leaves time to edit and react to problems
- Publication date – when the content is projected to go live
- Author's email address – so you can hound them until they relinquish the content you asked for!
- Whether the content is internal (our site) or external (to go on one of the sites our employees currently contribute to)
- We also have columns to mark whether the piece will be a PDF, and/or needs imagery and whether the content is in our Google Drive ready to be uploaded.
This document has streamlined our content commissioning and planning process and will save your strategy too, so never underestimate the power of a spreadsheet!
3. Use content add ons to capture leads
If you think about your content marketing in terms of the sales purchasing funnel, your content should have some clear objectives depending on when it is targeting the user during their buying cycle. Below I have mapped how content influences consumers at the various stages of the marketing funnel:
Driving awareness phase
Content at this point is driving people to your site either from search, social or paid advertising.
Consideration phase
At this stage, content like case studies, free trials, product demos, webcasts video and user reviews will be helping prospects to make up their mind on whether they want to commit to buying from you.
Conversion phase – the money phase!
In this phase content like peer reviews, sales collateral and presentations will be helping your prospects to make that final decision, the purchase, with you.
In an ideal world, we would want all of our content to be driving prospects directly to that 'buy now' button. But unfortunately, the majority of content is pulling people in at the top of the funnel, however there are some tricks you can employ to drive prospects closer to that ultimate conversion, such as content add ons.
An 'add on' could be something like a relevant, limited time only, bonus offer. For example, say you're a mortgage broker and you've written a PDF Guide to buying your first home. You could then offer a bonus checklist to securing a mortgage – this would usually be a paid for full assessment of your prospects' borrowing potential that your business would carry out when a prospect comes in to get finance from you – but you'll be offering this free to people who download the guide and submit an email address.
Your prospects will be inclined to hand over their email address for two reasons, firstly to get the relevant information, but also because it's free and this in turn builds your subscriber list. Furthermore, by offering a checklist, a piece of content that's usually considered to be further down the funnel phase, you'll be easing the prospect closer to that point of sale.
4. Repurpose your content
Guides, videos, checklists and infographics take a lot of time and effort to create. But once they're finished, it's their turn to work for you. A guide is a perfect piece of lead generation content, but what about taking some of the content and creating a series of articles to place externally? This means that you can direct links back to the guide's landing page to generate even more downloads.
How about using sections of an infographic as social media image content to drive clicks back to your site?
Why not use your videos as demos to offer as additional content which someone can unlock once they hand over their email address?
One brand who is doing this well is Shopify. They recently created a guide to growing your ecommerce business through email marketing.
It contains 11 chapters, some of which they have repurposed into blogs on their own site:
There's so much more you can do with the content that you already have – don't forget about it when you're planning your content strategy.


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Inuyasha Episode 80 English Subbed
You are watching Inuyasha Episode 80 English Subbed from the Inuyasha Anime Show. Watch or Download Inuyasha Episode 80 MP4 English Sub and other episodes of Inuyasha Streamed for Free.
"Sesshomaru and the Abducted Rin"
Stream Inuyasha Episode 80
Episode Summary: Sesshomaru receives an ultimatum from Naraku, who threatens the safety of Rin for the death of InuYasha, to which he calmly enters in his castle. Sesshomaru faces off against Naraku, but is unaware that Naraku plans to absorb him. Kagome pursue a shard of the Shikon Jewel, which is likely embedded in Kohaku, who is ordered to guard Rin. InuYasha is blocked off by Kagura, who halfheartedly tried to fight him, since she desires InuYasha to kill Naraku and free her from his grasp.

subset: commoncrawl


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The VSC Food Truck
Have The Vine Street Cafe Food Truck Roll Over To Your Place-
How It Works:
(up to 100 guests)
The VSC Food Truck is available for private events evenings only, for a two hour meal. We arrive at your event with a custom printed menu on the side of the truck. Our Base Menu includes our famous BBQ Pulled Pork Roll, Tennessee Baby Back Ribs, the Base Burger and the Base Dog. In addition, we ask you to select in advance: your choice of one additional Burger and one additional Dog/Roll. All guest start with our Market Salad and a beverage. A condiment station and Brownies are also included. All guest have a choice of one side: Fries, or Pickles. The Base Menu cost $55.00 per person, inclusive of travel and service fee with a minimum charge of $2600.00 per party. Lobster Rolls, Tuna Burger, Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail, Seasonal Shortcake and other menu items may be added for a supplemental charge.


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The spotlight shines on General Motors Corp.'s Performance Div. at the annual Specialty Equipment Market Assoc. trade show in Las Vegas, where the auto maker is displaying nearly 40 production and concept vehicles. The highlights include a Chevrolet Cobalt SS Supercharged sedan small car concept and the production-intent Cadillac SRX Sport cross/utility vehicle. Car nut and talk show host Jay Leno chats with GM executives Bob Lutz and Gary Cowger at the SEMA show. "Our goal is to ...
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Master Yi Build Guide by
Not Updated For Current Season
This guide has not yet been updated for the current season. Please keep this in mind while reading. You can see the most recently updated guides on the browse guides page.
Thank You!
Your votes and comments encourage our guide authors to continue
creating helpful guides for the League of Legends community.
Master Yi Build
Ability Sequence
Not Updated For Current Season
The masteries shown here are not yet updated for the current season, the guide author needs to set up the new masteries. As such, they will be different than the masteries you see in-game.
Early Game
Now it is vital that you know what it is to slingshot...
If you don't, here is an explanation:
You use the minions to harass the enemy heroes with your "Q"; it jumps 4 times, allowing you to hit enemies that are not in range to hit you.
Doing this will also give you the opportunity to get a decent minion farm.
Mid Game
Now you should have built up enough farm, kills and ability power to be what I like to call "SUPER-AWESOME-NINJA-RAPIST", and what the "SUPER-AWESOME-NINJA-RAPIST" does, is that he uses guerilla tactics to run around getting kills, focusing the squishy champions, while scaring off those who have medium squishiness.
This means in the common tongue that you go for the ones out solo, or wait until a team fight breaks out, and then you pop your "R" use "Q" to get inn, focus down the squishy one, and when he goes, you will have your "Q" back up again, allowing you to switch focus to the second most squishy, instantly using the "R" again after coming out of the jump.
Whenever you are feeling too focused, you can always use "W" to become close to immortal for 5 seconds.
Late Game
By now you should have already have won, but if that is not the case, here are some clues:
You are now also a very good champ for backdoor; meaning that you sneak up to a turret, BASH IT with your "R" ability. If you have a teammate with you, you can tank it with your "W" while he rages it down!
Also you are a fast one, so you can get dragon if the rest of the team is ******s. Also use the Active ability on Deatfire Grasp as often as you can on their tanks to keep then lower than full!
Good luck now!


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Why do certain ideas gain currency in economics while others fall by the wayside? Paul Krugman argues that the unwillingness of mainstream economists to think about what they could not formalize led them to ignore ideas that turn out, in retrospect, to have been very good ones.
Krugman examines the course of economic geography and development theory to shed light on the nature of economic inquiry. He traces how development theory lost its initial influence after it became clear that many of the theory's main insights could not be clearly modeled, and concludes with a commentary on areas where further inquiry looks most promising.
The Ohlin Lectures
Consists of heavily revised versions of three lectures the author (economics, Stanford U.) delivered at the Stockholm School of Economics in 1992, concerning the fall and rise of development economics, the problems of economic geography, and models and metaphors. 5.5x8". Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)


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OSI-Approved Open Source (7)
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- GNU Library or Lesser General Public License version 2.0 (1)
- GNU Library or Lesser General Public License version 3.0 (1)
- Intel Open Source License (1)
- Microsoft Public License (1)
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Top Apps
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Open System Testing Architecture - a distributed software testing architecture designed around CORBA. The current toolset has the capability of performing scripted Web (HTTP and HTTPS) heavy load tests with performance measurements from Win32 platforms.60 weekly downloads
Automatic Drawing Generation
A canvas library for generating technical drawings18 weekly downloads
Smart Search Filter
Narrows search result produced by popular Internet search engines, allowing to put extra filtering conditions, as certain words presented, certain words excluded, and so on.2 weekly downloads
Cloudbased voice solutions are common in enterprise networks and frustrating for operations teams to manage. Simplify VoIP monitoring by having a proactive analysis of on-prem, hybrid and UCaaS voice services. Try the ThousandEyes VoIP monitoring solution today, free.Advertisement
Fiona is a tool to automatically analyze the interactional behavior of a given oWFN. It provides two techniques: it checks for the controllability of the given net by computing the interactiong graph and it calculates the operating guideline for the net.
RGE Game will be one of the great game engine having all modern technological capabilities. It is compatible with Windows,Sony Playstation, Microsoft XBox, and also Mac platform.
T(a)S(hi)K(ai) Instant Messenger
tskIM is an Instant Messenger service which will supply fully encrypted communications either over a server or via direct peer-to-peer connections.
du for windows and dos
du gives disk usage information for a collection of directories, either in SI or IEC (computer units) human readable format. you can treat the directories as all one directory tree if you wish. NOT an exact clone of UNIX namesake. project is on hold until further notice.


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Duffy in the wind
You've got to hand it to the Canadian Taxpayers Federation: If you want to push for a referendum on the Senate, there's no better poster boy (doll?) than a giant, inflatable Mike Duffy flapping in the wind (Giant Mike Duffy Balloon Lurks In the Shadow Of Parliament – online, July 19).
I don't agree with the federation's stand on the Senate – it seems to me they have a bad case of throwing-out-the-baby-with-the-bathwater syndrome – but I do admire their marketing tactics.
Karen Saunders, Winnipeg
I couldn't help but stare at that giant inflatable of Mike Duffy perched not far from the Parliament Buildings in Ottawa. That just about sums things up nicely.
Just one question: Is there any chance that Islanders could get their hands on that balloon figure for the mid-August Gold Cup and Saucer Parade?
Peter McKenna, Charlottetown
Motor City math
Re Motor City Sputters Into Bankruptcy (July 19): I believe filing for bankruptcy will be the model adopted by more municipalities that have mismanaged taxpayers' money.
Detroit has a population of 700,000 people. Its debt has been estimated at between $17-billion and $20-billion. Peg the debt at $18.5 billion, and the per-capita debt load works out to about $26,400. That's all it took to file for bankruptcy.
Ontario has a population of about 13.5 million and a debt load of about $280-billion, which rises, on average, about 5.5 per cent a year. At this rate, do the math and buckle your seat belts.
Adam Ridolfi, Toronto
Build bigger rinks
It should come as no surprise that the National Hockey League's recent rule changes have not decreased concussions (NHL's Program To Reduce Concussions Isn't Working, Study Finds – Sports, July 18). Short of making professional hockey a non-contact sport (and banning fighting), no conceivable rule changes are going to have much effect on concussions in the NHL.
However, studies have conclusively shown that collisions and head impacts are significantly reduced when elite hockey is played on the larger Olympic-size ice surface. More room on the ice means fewer collisions. Same rules, fewer injuries.
The NHL's stewards would be well-advised to stop rearranging the deck chairs and get on with the task of expanding the deck. No more rinks should be built to the NHL's current ice-size specifications, which have not changed since the 19th century.
Introducing Olympic-size rinks into the NHL is one change that actually would work to reduce concussions.
Richard Wennberg, neurologist, University of Toronto
Further into debt
Re Europe's 'Austerians' Need A Lesson In Macroeconomics (Report on Business, July 17): A similar argument, made in an episode of the BBC's Yes Minister, claimed that the government should maintain employment at a hospital, despite the fact that the hospital was closed to patients, because the employment itself was helping society.
The problem being attacked by austerity is systematic: Our governments are bloated, inefficient and unsustainable. To point out that cutting employees from an unsustainable bureaucracy leads to short-term losses, due to temporary unemployment, misses the bigger point that the original level of government employment was unsustainable.
Matt Taylor, Kingston
Power, provided …
Margaret Wente's column Staying Cool? Thank Nuclear (July 18) was like a cool breeze of common sense to many in Canada's nuclear industry. It was indeed refreshing to see the real and long-term global benefits of nuclear-generated electricity so clearly stated and the myths around nuclear power debunked.
The timing of her article was fortuitous as Ontario embarks on a critical review of its Long Term Energy Plan. Along with the Power Workers' Union, the Organization of Canadian Nuclear Industries commissioned a study by a team of respected analysts to probe the implications of alternative electricity supply decisions facing the province.
The study showed that by investing in existing nuclear plants and constructing new nuclear units, in comparison to a more wind-turbine based future, Ontario stands to realize a net economic benefit of $60-billion, 100,000 person years of employment, and a reduction of almost 110 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions.
Ron Oberth, president, Organization of Canadian Nuclear Industries
Last year, Europe added almost all of Ontario's current generating capacity in one year and most of it was solar.
Solar is now cost effective in many regions, with little or no government incentives. It would be completely cost effective if governments worldwide eliminated the – according to the IMF – $1.9-trillion a year in subsidies to the fossil fuel and nuclear industry. The International Energy Agency estimates that all renewable energy (solar, wind etc.) has a subsidy of $88-billion per year.
The world is in the middle of a fundamental transition in our energy-based economy. It started about 20 years ago and it will take about another 20 years to complete. This transition is happening much faster than even most solar experts had predicted, let alone what the average person understood.
Ian MacLellan, chair, committee on solar electricity innovation, Canadian Solar Industries Association
Moral imperative
Re America Needs More From Obama On Race (July 18): Konrad Yakabuski describes the misery of the American black underclass: "poverty, violence, rotten schools and absent fathers."
In the U.S., there were colossal, focused goals, such as the Manhattan Project to build an atomic bomb before the Nazis, and the proposal to land a man on the moon. Instead of technological goals, a major moral imperative is needed to prevent the growth of dysfunctional families among blacks. Sadly, it has not happened, and will not happen.
Jacob Mendlovic, Toronto
One man's kindness
Re Honest Ed's Is Going, Going . . . (July 17): As an immigrant to Canada from Hungary in 1956, I would like to add my heartfelt appreciation for Ed Mirvish's generosity of spirit.
Quite a few Hungarians were the grateful recipients of his kindness. Many a Hungarian lawyer, doctor, engineer and accountant today – to mention just a few – could thank Mr. Mirvish for hiring their parents and grandparents when they first arrived in this country, even though they spoke no English and had no experience. The start he gave them help ensure the families' futures.
We'll never see the likes of Mr. Mirvish and Honest Ed's again.
More's the pity.
Susan Stern, TorontoReport Typo/Error
Follow us on Twitter: @GlobeDebate


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Andrew Johnson, has a background in clinical hypnotherapy, stress management techniques and meditation. He's worked with thousands of people to teach them relaxation and coping techniques. Now he's released a children's series that has us really excited. My son absolutely loves it. It was such an amazing experience to go through the series with him (I needed it too!) But the most exciting part was when he got up the next morning, he ASKED to do the breathing exercise on his iPod on the way to school! We were thrilled to interview Andrew about his work:
Please tell us about your background and why you decided to create this relaxation series for kids.
My background in in Clinical Hypnotherapy; I have also trained in stress management techniques, meditation skills etc.
I have been working with individual clients and groups since 1996 and have taught thousands of people relaxation and coping skills. The recordings have been hugely successful (4 million downloads to date) but have always been for ages 16+
I have been asked many times to include a children's relaxation.
Relaxation for Children was released on an MP3 and CD last year.
Please describe the 4 part series in detail.
There are four 10-12 minute relaxation tracks, each teaching a different form of relaxation. Muscle Relaxation is a gentle progressive relaxation technique. Breathing Relaxation uses deeper and slower breathing to relax the body and mind. Staircase Relaxation is a simple visualisation to guide the child into relaxation. Body Scan is the most mindful of the series. The child quickly finds a favourite (or favourites). The words are important, but not nearly as important as the intention behind the words.
Why do you think it's so important to empower kids with this kind of mind/body awareness?
As soon as a child feels the relaxation beginning, he/she gets the idea very quickly. With daily listening (once a day for three weeks), the techniques can become habitual, leading to life-long abilities to relax whenever and wherever it is needed. These skills can be life changing.
What opportunities are we missing out on as parents if we don't help our kids understand how to do this for themselves?
Stress and anxiety (if left unchecked) can lead to huge problems emotionally, physically and energetically. Although the techniques taught are preventive in nature, there is no doubt that being able to relax at will is a skill that less than 5% of the population are capable of.
What has the response been from parents and kids?
Wonderful and great feedback! Your experience with your son is very common. Once the child gets a "convincer" i.e. he/she feels the benefits of listening, they take over control of listening and they start to really absorb the techniques and the long term benefits.
More info about Relaxation for Children:
MP3 £2.00 (approx. $3.00)
CD £10.00 (approx. $15.00) FREE worldwide shipping
Only available from www.withAndrewJohnson.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/relax.with.andrew.johnson
Twitter: www.twitter.com/andrewjohnson
Andrew's newest version can be found on itunes here


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Thanks for the info sooty, I feel very sorry for your friends. Didn't P.W. pay Jack Nicklaus to be their face of marketing?
So even at 33,000 euros those so called bargains recently advertised could be more or less worthless with no golf and facilities for leisure 😯
It begs the question though, with so many golf course developments in Spain, how many of the Golf Clubs are making profit/breaking even or losing money, and if they go bust, presumably the premium for buying on a course goes out of the window? Unless another group buys them out 🙄
Spain may have overdone such developments, even some courses I know on the CDS, building stopped completely leaving skeletal blocks, roads unfinished, promised security gates to resort unmanned, landscaping stopped etc 🙄 A lot of owners paid rather large debentures 10's of 1000's of euros too 🙄


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Wealth gap in Hong Kong. Prof. Stephen Cheung Dean, School of Business Hong Kong Baptist University. Content. Background Socio economics challenges Hatred toward the Rich / Business Government policy Tri-partite relationship. Socio-economic Challenges.
Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author.While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server.
Prof. Stephen Cheung
Dean, School of Business
Hong Kong Baptist University
Income Gap
"Renowned for its high concentration of Rolls-Royces, expensive real estate, and posh shops, the Chinese special administrative region has plenty of rich who enjoy showing off their wealth. However, Hong Kong also has one of the largest publichousing sectors in the world, with about half the population living in government-supported or -subsidized housing estates. The city has no minimum wage - except for domestic helpers from the Philippines, Indonesia, and other countries. "
Business Week, October 16, 2009
Yes, rising public skepticism, grievances and even confrontation against a few tycoons, business groups and sectors, particularly developers
'Hate Rich' is NOT in HK's culture and mindset; decades of pro-business and 'get-rich' ethics developed
Global Giants (e.g. Bill Gates and Warren Buffet) are respected not only for wealth and power, but more for their corporate social responsibilities and personal philanthropy


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Tag Archives: nyc
New Party FRIENDLY FRIDAY at The Delancey by Fourd Nkay
Fourd Nkay has started new party at The Delancey where located in Lower East Side of Manhattan New York City. On 25th September, Fourd Nkay and DJ Junior Key will be on the one and two from 11pm till 4am.. Don't forget to join it!
Date : 25th September Friday Night
Time : 11pm to 4am
Location : The Delancey http://thedelancey.com/
Address : 168 Delancey (Street in the Lower East Side of Manhattan, just a few blocks from the F / M / J / Z trains.)
Phone:(212) 254-9920
DJ : DJ Fourd Nkay, DJ Junior Key
Host : Westside Flip
Entrance Fee : FREE All Night
Music : Top40,Hiphop,Reggae,R&B,Soca
Drink Special : FREE shot with any beer purchase from 11 pm to 12 am
Facebook page


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There has been a lot of conversations taking place around social media. Videos, Blog Post, and tokbox conversations have centered around this idea of finding community inside the world wide web. Putting aside this idea of web 2.0 and the affects (or is it effects) that it brings to face-to-face conversation, there is something that cannot be replaced, physical touch.
It is amazing that I can sit in front of my computer and have over a 100 conversations a day through twitter, facebook, church online, and the out of date cell phone. You would think that anyone who is involved in that much community and conversation would be okay with never leaving the basement. They have everything they need right? Wrong. It is obvious that people need conversation and community, you cannot just stay at home and only talk to your dog all day, you have to have some kind of conversation with humans. That is an obvious statement. What is not so obvious the need for physically being around other people.
The interwebs provide everything you would need, except for physical touch. I am not talking about the awkward person that always seems to touch your arm or back during conversation, but the physical interaction that goes on daily. We can try to create as much community as possible through church online, twitter, facebook groups, live chats, etc…but you cannot replace physical community.
What do you think, am I off on this one?
What have you notice?


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We recommend upgrading to the latest Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, or Firefox.
If you are using IE 9 or later, make sure you turn off "Compatibility View".
Handpicked brands for you
Consider yourself a lone wolf but have a smaller head? Try The Pack cap, new for our #Summer16 collection.


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Separate names with a comma.
Discussion in 'Original Pictures Forum' started by KCfireman, Jun 30, 2008.
Heres some equipment of mine and a yard that i cut today. Enjoy!
here some more.....
the john deere is an 06' and the encore is a 02'
do u have to double cut to make it look good?
yes. I mow a couple of lawns where i only single cut it. Maybe 2 or 3 lawns at the most. the rest are all double cut.
Nice Work!!!
Stripes look real good KC.
thanks. They are not the best that i can do but i mowed that lawn today and those looked the best out off all the yards today.
Nics stripes! What model Stihls?
how do you like the deere???


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Some random facts about Greece
The article below is a translation of an old article about Greece that I have deep down inside my memoriesRead more
The article below is a translation of an old article about Greece that I have deep down inside my memoriesRead more
This year was amazing, and at last I checked out of my bucket list one of my travel dreams, this tripRead more
Brisbane is the capital city of Queensland state, and not surprisingly, also the city with more population in the state. ItRead more
Gold Coast Gold Coast is one of Australia's cities with more population, and the second one in Queensland. It was alsoRead more
A trip becomes immensely more exciting when plans change…, well, I bet not all of you would agree with thisRead more
Why do we take photos when we travel? Obviously that depends on each one of us, for some photography isRead more
An adventure doesn't have to be epic to be enjoyed, it doesn't have to last for several months to haveRead more
For a while that I've been doing reviews of how I pack my luggage when I travel, and recently IRead more
Well, Fools' Day has passed, a while ago actually, but this article was written to be published by 1st ofRead more
Now that I am back, it's time to review how well I packed for Australia. Did I overpacked? Or didRead more
Once upon a time I used to surf couches, but now it seems like just another fairy tale… I stillRead more
Blogging is a passion I have, and I really love feedback. The best feedback one can get is direct messages,Read more
And here we are again, for the 10th edition of the Back to the Past series! The theme for this editionRead more
This is a new series I decided to create, where I'll present a few photos I took a while ago. SomeRead more
First of all, what's Wanderlust? According to the Oxford Dictionaries, A strong desire to travel:a man consumed by wanderlust According to me? It's aRead more


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Letterkenny, Ireland (PressExposure) November 04, 2009 -- The team at MacMachinery attended the show and found the event very beneficial in terms of keeping up to date on new technology advances available in Waste Management solutions. A selection of the exhibitors included Doppstadt, Neuenhauser, Portafill, Sennebogen, Stadler, Titech, Presona, AEV Biogas, AMIS recycling technology, ATM recycling systems, Compost Systems, CleanTech Finland and EnvinMV.
The event was an ideal platform for anyone providing or looking for technological solutions and expertise to create a sustainable future. The event represented the breadth and depth of the innovations and developments in all areas of the waste disposal and environmental protection market. MacMachinery marketing manager, Annemarie Doohan, confirmed that she will indeed be returning to this international event next year again. âThis year a lot of talk was about the difficulties in business however attending the Entsorga show was a chance to move away from this negativity with the ability to share technology and information with other professionals in the industry.
To find out more about Mac Machinery simply logon to http://www.macmachinery.com, or call 00353 7491 56708
Mac Machinery âThe Right Machine in the Right Applicationâ


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New 2017 Toyota Tundra Review for Omaha, NE
The new Toyota Tundra pickup allows La Vista drivers to tow some of the heaviest hauls, with superior breaking and handling. With twenty-two different configurations on six trim levels, the Toyota Tundra can tow 10,000 lbs. or more!
It doesn't matter if you're hauling your boat to Walnut Creek Recreation Area or a full load of lumber for your latest La Vista house project, when you come to a stop, you want your trailer to do the same. Test drive the new 2017 Toyota Tundra today at Baxter Toyota La Vista and learn more about the Integrated Trailer Break Controller that now is standard on all Toyota Tundra pickups, along with a 5.7L V8 engine.
Ultimate power and control.
- A-TRAC is a 4WD traction control system that uses the 4-channel ABS system to control power flow
- Massive ring gear & automatic limited-llip differential
- Available i-FORCE 5.7L V8 with 381 hp and 401 lb.-ft. of torque
Connect to your world.
- Available Entune™ Premium Audio system with Integrated Navigation and App Suite
- Standard backup camera and display audio
- Multi-information display
Room to take it all with you.
- Three available bed lengths-a 5.5-ft. short bed (CrewMax), a 6.5-ft. standard bed (Double Cab) and an 8.1-ft. long bed (Regular Cab, Double Cab)
- Center console & fold-up rear seats
- Versatile tailgate & deck rail system
From Edmunds.com:
The 2017 Toyota Tundra is a full-size pickup. There are three cab styles: regular cab, extended double cab and the CrewMax crew cab. There are two wheelbases and three bed lengths - a 5.5-foot short bed, a 6.5-foot standard bed and an 8.1-foot long bed. The regular cab seats three, and the extended- and crew-cab models seat five or six, depending on whether you opt for front buckets or a bench seat.
Depending on which body style you choose, there are up to six trim levels for the Tundra: SR, SR5, TRD Pro, Limited, Platinum and a 1794 Edition. The availability of some options or packages can vary based on the region in which you live.
The base SR (regular and extended-cab body styles only) comes standard with 18-inch steel wheels, daytime running lights, heated power mirrors, a windshield wiper de-icer, a damped tailgate, keyless entry, air-conditioning, cloth upholstery, a 40/20/40-split bench seat, cruise control, full power accessories, a rearview camera, an integrated trailer brake controller, a tilt-only steering wheel, Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity, and a six-speaker sound system with a 6.1-inch touchscreen interface, a CD player, an auxiliary audio input jack and a USB port. The SR Work Truck package replaces the cloth upholstery and carpet with vinyl surfaces and removes the power locks and windows.
Going with the SR5 (extended- and crew-cab body styles only) gets you foglights, variable intermittent windshield wipers, exterior chrome trim, 60/40-split folding rear seats and an upgraded tech interface that includes a 7-inch touchscreen, HD and satellite radio, traffic information and a navigation app. The crew cab adds a power-opening rear window and an overhead console. The SR5 Upgrade package adds front bucket seats that include a driver seat with power height and lumbar adjustments, a center console (with storage and "floor" shifter), a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, and a larger gas tank when equipped with the 5.7-liter V8. To that package, the Safety & Convenience package adds front and rear parking sensors, a blind-spot monitoring system and rear cross-traffic alert. Eighteen-inch alloy wheels can be added as a stand-alone option.
The TRD Pro includes the SR5 Upgrade package items plus black 18-inch alloy wheels, off-road tires, an off-road suspension that includes Bilstein shock absorbers, four movable bed tie-down cleats and unique styling elements, plus leather upholstery with the TRD logo and red stitching, an eight-way power driver seat, a four-way power front passenger seat, an upgraded 7-inch touchscreen (optional on the SR5), a navigation system and additional speakers (seven on extended cab, nine on crew cab).
The Limited (extended and crew cabs only) builds on the base and Upgrade SR5 option package equipment with 20-inch alloy wheels, automatic headlights, the movable tie-down cleats, automatic dual-zone climate control, leather upholstery, an eight-way power driver seat, a four-way power passenger seat, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a power horizontal-sliding rear window (extended cab), a navigation system and additional speakers (seven in the extended cab, nine in the crew cab). The Limited Premium package adds the Safety & Convenience package items plus extra interior lighting and anti-theft alarm features. A sunroof is optional on crew-cab models.
At the top of the heap, the Platinum trim level (crew cab only) comes standard with the Safety & Convenience package items and adds to the Limited's equipment with unique 20-inch wheels and distinctive styling elements, LED daytime running lights, power-folding and auto-dimming mirrors, a sunroof, heated and ventilated power front seats (10-way driver, four-way passenger), driver-seat memory functions and a 12-speaker JBL sound system (optional on the Limited crew cab). The 1794 Edition really only differs from the Platinum in terms of its exclusive exterior and interior styling elements.
The TRD Off-Road package can be added to the SR5, Limited and 1794 Edition. It includes 18-inch TRD wheels, off-road tires, trail-tuned shock absorbers, skid plates and tow hooks.
Stand-alone options on most trim levels include heated tow mirrors and running boards.
*Copyright Edmunds.com, Inc. All rights reserved. First published on www.edmunds.com and reprinted with permission. Edmunds and the Edmunds.com car logo are registered trademarks of Edmunds.com, Inc.
Current Tundra Deals at Baxter Toyota La Vista
Our Dealership
Baxter Toyota La Vista is conveniently located off of the I-80 Giles/Harrison Exit, near Cabela's Retail Store and the Embassy Suites Conference Center in La Vista, NE. Baxter Toyota La Vista is part of the acclaimed automotive group, Baxter Auto.
Year-after-year, the Toyota Tundra delivers high quality and towing features that help Iowa and Nebraska drivers be unstoppable. When it comes to buying a new or used Toyota Tundra, there are numerous reasons why Nebraska and Iowa drivers choose to shop at Baxter Toyota La Vista. You can trust that our team of sales advisors and financing experts will help guide you through every detail, so you can drive away feeling confident, knowing you've purchased or leased the best Toyota vehicle at the best price for your lifestyle and budget.
At Toyota La Vista, we'll explain to you all of 2017 Toyota Tundra pickup features, and the available technology and vehicle options that come standard with the popular SR, SR5, Limited, Platinum and TRD Pro models. In the market to purchase a used or Certified Used Toyota Tundra? Our sales team is eager to show you all of the reliable options available in our used and Certified Used Toyota inventory. Once you have found the new or used Toyota Tundra perfect for your lifestyle and budget, our finance team will be ready with affordable financing options to get you on the road.
You can trust that at Baxter Toyota La Vista, our guarantee of excellence does not end at the sale. In order to ensure a great Toyota ownership experience, we have an on-site auto service and repair department. And for those of you who prefer to perform your own work on your Toyota vehicle, we also maintain a great selection of Toyota parts and Toyota accessories for sale at our La Vista, NE dealership.
The only question left now is how we can best serve you. To take advantage of any one of our services, please contact us at (402) 731-2000 or stop by and see us in person today at 7204 S 124th Cir, La Vista, NE 68128 to learn about current 2017 Toyota Tundra lease, 0% APR, or cash back offers and deals.
So, whether you're buying your new Toyota Tundra pickup to tow family floats during the La Vista Salute to Summer Festival, to make friends and family homebuilding projects in La Vista a little easier, or to conveniently load up the rafts for fun, summer adventures at Papio Bay Aquatic Park, we know you'll be unstoppable.
Submit your information below to inquire our best price on a new 2017 Toyota Tundra or simply browse our inventory online to find the specific color and style that catches your eye. Then, enjoy the simple, affordable side of Toyota car buying when you shop at Baxter Toyota La Vista in La Vista, NE.


text:
Double the fun
Fraternal twins Bonnie and Ronnie take readers on a whirlwind tour of twinship, interspersing informative segments on everything from "Where Do Twins Come From?" to "What Are the Odds?" with amusing sections of twin riddles, advice to twins, twin interviews, and snappy answers to dumb twin questions ("Wow, am I seeing double?" "Yes, maybe you should get your eyes checked"). Also included: a retelling of the story of two of the most famous twins of all time, Jacob and Esau, and dozens of fascinating snippets about amazing twins from history and the present day, among them Castor and Pollus, Abby and Ann, and Mary-Kate and Ashley.
Drawing on her own experience and thorough research, Nicole Rubel has created a book that is brimming with details, eye-popping artwork, and extensive notes on interesting Web sites and reading material.
After growing up hearing the same question over and over again, "What is it like to be a twin?" the author has created a colorful, informative picture book about the intriguing world of twins. She uses two fictional characters, Bonnie and Ronnie, a pair of fraternal twins, to introduce readers to various "twin" topics including: the pros and cons of being a twin, the differences between identical and fraternal twins, interesting twins from around the world, animal twins, and famous twins including Abigail Van Buren and Ann Landers, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, and Robin and Maurice Gibb. This wonderful resource also contains a detailed retelling of the biblical story of Jacob and Esau, a collection of twin riddles, excerpts from interviews with actual twins (ages six to eight), survival secrets for twins, and advice for parents and friends of twins. Packed with zany illustrations and black-and-white and full-color photos, this fascinating book offers a great introduction to the topic of twins. The author also includes a detailed list of related resources including books and websites. 2004, Farrar Straus and Giroux, Ages 5 to 9.


text:
A person's ability to transfer the acquired improvements in the control of center of mass (COM) state stability to slips induced in everyday conditions can have profound theoretical and practical implications for fall prevention. This study investigated the extent to which such generalization could take place. A training group (n = 8) initially experienced 24 right-side slips in blocked-and-random order (from the 1st unannounced, novel slip, S-1 to the last, S-24) resulting from release of a low-friction moveable platform in walking. They then experienced a single unannounced slip while walking on an oil-lubricated vinyl floor surface (V-T). A control group (n = 8) received only one unannounced slip on the same slippery floor (V-C). Results demonstrated that the incidence of balance loss and fall on V-T was comparable to that on S-24. In both trials, fall and balance-loss incidence was significantly reduced in comparison with that on S-1 or on V-C, resulting from significant improvements in the COM state stability. The observed generalization indicates that the control of COM stability can be optimally acquired to accommodate alterations in environmental constraints, and it may be broadly coded and easily modifiable within the CNS. Because of such mechanisms, it is possible that the locomotor-balance skills acquired with the aid of low-friction moveable platforms can translate into resisting falls encountered in daily living.
The ability of humans to generalize adaptive control of their whole-body motion state (that is, the displacement and velocity of its center of mass) in the presence of changing environmental and task constraints is fundamental to maintaining mobility and stability. There is considerable evidence pertaining to generalization of motor skills measured in terms of the CNS's ability to take information acquired from one situation and apply it appropriately to other, similar situations in different "contexts," whereby such context can mean different task objectives, different environment constraints or different effectors/limbs. Studies of upper limb tasks have demonstrated generalization of the sensorimotor adaptation between the two arms (interlimb generalization) (Bagesteiro and Sainburg 2005; Cunningham and Welch 1994; Dizio and Lackner 1995; Gordon et al. 1994), between different task objectives while using the same arm (intralimb generalization) (Abeele and Bock 2003; Conditt et al. 1997; Morton et al. 2001; Shadmehr and Moussavi 2000), or between different environmental constraints (Imamizu et al. 2007; Welch et al. 1993). Yet, it is unclear whether such generalization also exists in the cyclic (or rhythmic) movements involving the locomotor-posture control system.
Recent empirical evidence has shown generalization of the aftereffects of modified-stance adaptation (i.e., stepping in place on a rotating disk) to other postural tasks such as gait (Earhart et al. 2001) and hopping (Earhart et al. 2002b). Following such adaptation, subjects, when asked to walk forward or backward on a straight line, exhibited a curved (counter clockwise) trajectory in both directions of walking that was heavily influenced by the training on the rotating disc. The adaptation also generalized to the opposite limb (Earhart et al. 2002a). Similarly, interlimb transfer has been demonstrated for an obstacle avoidance task, where subjects demonstrated no difference in optimal foot clearance between the last training trial and the first transfer trial. In addition, subjects also adopted similar lower-limb joint angle trajectories on both the training and transfer limbs on these trials (van Hedel et al. 2002). In contrast, little interlimb transfer has been observed for the adaptation of walking acquired with a split-belt treadmill training (Choi and Bastian 2007). Along the same lines, the "observed aftereffect" of stepping onto a moving sled with the training limb has persisted in only a few subjects when they stepped on the sled with the untrained limb (Reynolds and Bronstein 2003a).
It is unclear whether the aforementioned findings could apply to fall prevention, such that the fall-resisting skills acquired under one condition could be transferred to another (untrained) situation. There is evidence of transfer in the control of one's center of mass (COM) state stability (Yang et al. 2007, 2008) acquired adaptively in response to repeated-slip training on the right side when a slip was unexpectedly induced on the left side (Bhatt and Pai 2008). The transfer, which was evident in improved feedforward control of the stability (Bhatt et al. 2006a; Pai et al. 2003), was by itself probably insufficient to improve the reactive control of stability and to significantly reduced incidence of backward balance loss. Feedforward adjustments can nevertheless influence landing characteristics of the gait pattern (e.g., flat footed with flexed knee), that would then affect reactive control of the slipping velocity and hence postslip stability (Bhatt et al. 2006a). Together, these adaptive changes were sufficient to enable subjects to successfully avert actual fall, indicated by a reduced incidence of fall on the first left slip as compared with the first right slip (Bhatt and Pai 2008). When the participants were told the precise timing of slip on the untrained left side in a similar paradigm, however, the transfer of stability control was sufficiently improved to reduce incidence of balance loss (Bhatt and Pai 2008). Although knowledge of impending slip by itself did not assist a novice person to resist falling backward (Bhatt and Pai 2008), it clearly improved the interlimb generalization of the acquired motor skills (Bhatt and Pai 2008). Further, the effect of transfer is also evident in accelerating the acquisition rate of the same motor skill with the previously untrained limb (Bhatt and Pai 2008).
This emerging evidence on generalization could be accounted for if one assumes that the CNS updates its internal representation of these COM state stability limits from the perturbation-originated sensorimotor feedback to improve the control of the BOS kinematics under uncertain environmental conditions (e.g., slip vs. nonslip, or right vs. left slip) (Bhatt et al. 2006a; Pai et al. 2003). Internal representation is presumably a necessary component in the CNS's predictive (or feedforward) control of this individual's actions/behavior, and it is an internal reflection about external constraints experienced in the past. Based on computational neuroscience theories, the CNS has the capacity to internally emulate the dynamic behavior of its motor system in the planning, execution, and learning processes. Accordingly, predictive control would be optimized such that the control scheme and its motor commands (motor program) can produce action that reduces error (Wolpert and Ghahramani 2000) even when external constraints have been altered (Pai et al. 2003). Understandably, during early phases in the learning process to resist fall, such motor program is either premature or nonexisting. The sensory information on movement error resulting from the perturbation is likely transmitted to processing areas of the brain for updating the internal representation and applied subsequently for action modification and error reduction. It is only later in this process, the CNS may shift from relying on sensory integration for error correction to preprogramming a global COM-state trajectory, which would be optimally stable under altered or uncertain environmental contexts (Pai and Iqbal 1999; Pai et al. 2003).
It is similarly logical to further assume that the CNS would be inclined to seek the generalization of the acquired internal representation to resist fall induced under different yet similar conditions. One plausible way would be to develop a global control scheme (generalized motor program) that is robust in its original form whereby it can also be rapidly and easily refined according to the changes in environmental constraints. However, little understanding exists on how close such resemblance has to be for resisting slip-related fall. Previous findings on such issues are inconsistent. For example, Reynolds and Bronstein (2003a) have demonstrated persistence of the postural "aftereffect" of the acquired adaptation (increased trunk anterior lean) only under the "context of adaptation," i.e., the "sled condition." Transfer of obstacle avoidance skills acquired while walking on a level surface has been observed when the surface inclination was changed to downhill walking (Lam and Dietz 2004). The positive transfer that was demonstrated in the obstacle avoidance task could result from the similarities in properties between the altered downhill and the original level walking surfaces and the tasks being identical in nature (Wood and Ging 1991). The limited transfer of the aftereffect alternatively was attributed a low to no "expectancy" of the perturbed context while walking over-ground resulting probably from an evidently "perceived difference" in the contexts. Because of such lack of consensus, it is unclear whether the fall-resisting skills acquired via repeated-slip training conducted with the aid of laboratory instrumentation would transfer to a similar, yet untrained, everyday living situation of slips on icy or oily walking surfaces—an issue that can have broad and significant practical implications.
The purpose of this study was therefore to determine whether such transfer indeed existed. Subjects were trained using a combination of blocked and random practice, consisting of 24 slips induced via computer-controlled release of a moveable platform (Bhatt et al. 2006b) before an unannounced slip was introduced by the contamination of a vinyl floor with an oil-based lubricant. A control group experienced only a single unannounced slip on the vinyl floor. The moveable platform slips constrain the lateral movement of the foot in comparison with the oil-contaminated vinyl surface allowing the unconstrained foot to move freely in all planar directions and along its anatomical axes. Although the initial recovery responses may be affected by these differences in the environmental constraints (Troy and Grabiner 2006), it is highly likely that the adaptive control mechanisms acquired to accommodate forward displacement on the moveable platform could still be generalized to slips on an oily surface, due to the similar characteristics of forward slips. We therefore hypothesized the training group to have significantly greater COM state stability (pre- and postslip) resulting from better control of slip disturbance (i.e., less displacement and lower velocity) that would lead to a lower incidence of balance loss on the last slip trial (S-24) in comparison to the first, unannounced, novel slip trial (S-1) on the moveable platform. We expected such a training effect to be transferred on the vinyl floor, such that these performance variables on the first, unannounced vinyl slip (V-T) would be comparable to those of S-24 and would be significantly better than those of the control group (V-C).
Sixteen healthy young subjects (26.5 ± 5.4 yr, 7 males) participated in the study after being screened for neurological, musculoskeletal, cardiopulmonary, and other systemic disorders and selected drug usage. The subjects were randomly divided into two groups: the training-transfer group (n = 8, 4 males), who underwent repeated-slip training on the moveable platform and then slipped once an on oil-contaminated vinyl floor; and the control group (n = 8, 3 males), who experienced only a single slip on an oil-contaminated vinyl floor. The test of leg dominance, conducted using a set of four simple tasks (Beling et al. 1998), revealed all subjects to be right dominant. Prior to their participation, all subjects gave informed consent as approved by the Institutional Review Board.
Moveable platform setup
The experimental setup consisted of a pair of devices, each consisting of a moveable platform attached to a stationary metal beam track (2.50 × 0.30 × 0.21 m) via linear bearings and anchored to the top of two rectangular force plates (OR6-5-1000, AMTI, Newton, MA) bolted to the ground. These devices were embedded in a 7-m walkway side-by-side and hidden by the stationary decoy platforms surrounding them. The moveable plate could either be locked for regular walking trials or released to simulate a unilateral or bilateral slip (Bhatt and Pai 2008; Yang and Pai 2007). The release mechanism was controlled by the computer, which unlocked the moveable platforms at the beginning of each slip trial without the knowledge of the subject. Once released, the moveable platforms are free to slide along the linear bearings (μ < 0.05) and can be locked into the end position if the maximum distance (1.5 m on the right, and 0.90 m on the left) is reached. The left top plate was locked and served as a decoy plate to camouflage the sliding plate. The ground reaction forces on this instrumented section of the walkway were recorded in all experimental conditions. The subjects wore their own athletic shoes and a full-body safety harness attached to a manually driven trolley on a ceiling-mounted I-beam by a pair of shock-absorbing dynamic ropes through a load cell that registered any applied force.
Slippery floor setup
A custom-designed floor was constructed by laying down multiple vinyl sheets over the same 7-m laboratory walkway covering an area of 6 × 1.5 m. These sheets were cut to individually fit over the moveable platforms (which were kept locked in position), the surrounding decoy platforms, and the rest of the walkway, and they could be quickly assembled or disassembled. A section of this floor was oil-contaminated to induce the slips. To deliberately induce the vinyl floor slips at a different location than the platform slips, the evenly contaminated section started at the distal end of the right moveable platform and continued for 0.75 m in length along the right track, to approximate the average displacement of the moveable platform slips. Before inducing the slips the shoes were covered with a low-friction smooth plastic sheet (for details, see following text). This attempt would yield a similar shoe-surface interface for all subjects in the vinyl-slip group and hence a similar coefficient of friction (μ < 0.1).
Training protocol
The subjects were told that they would be walking for a block of trials at their preferred regular speed and manner and that they may or may not experience a slip. They were also told that in case of a slip, they should try to recover their balance and continue walking. At the beginning of the experiment, the subjects performed 10 regular walking trials at their self-selected speed. Without revealing the purpose, the experimenter would adjust each subject's starting position so that his future slipping (right) foot would land entirely on the right moveable plate at touchdown. All subjects were able to take at least three steps from their initial standing position before stepping on the moveable platform. On the 11th trial, a slip was induced without prior warning or practice on the right side. The subjects were not aware of which trial or where on the walkway the slip would occur. After exposure to the first unannounced slip, the subjects were told to continue walking in "the same manner" as on the previous trial and that they might be exposed to slipping again. The training paradigm had 37 trials, consisting of a block of eight repeated slips, a block of 3 nonslip trials, another block of eight slips, followed by the second block of 3 nonslip trials, and a final block of 8 slip trials that were randomly mixed with 7 nonslip trials. All the repeated slips were induced on the training (right) side. This paradigm was chosen based on the previous studies demonstrating significant motor learning using this protocol (Bhatt et al. 2006b). Previous studies have established that five to eight repeated slips are sufficient for adaptive improvements in balance loss (Bhatt and Pai 2005; Bhatt et al. 2006a; Pavol et al. 2002b). The "overlearning" with the extra trials, consisting of a combination of blocked and random practice was designed to further enhance generalization (Schmidt and Lee 1999), as it had already proved effective in aiding retention (Bhatt et al. 2006b).
Transfer protocol
Every subject took a "rest break" for ∼5 min after the slip training on the moveable platform. The experimenter used this break to quickly assemble the new floor, while the subjects faced away from the walkway and were engaged in conversation with another experimenter. The sole of their shoe was covered with a smooth plastic sheet to ensure that every subject experienced the same shoe-floor friction interface. First, the subjects were asked to place their shoe on the flat plastic sheet (11 × 8 in) on the ground. Once ensured that the entire sole was in contact with the sheet, the ends of the sheet were wrapped around the top of the shoe and secured with duct tape. The plastic sheet is thin and therefore does little to alter the general contour of the shoe. Once the vinyl floor was assembled, subjects were asked to walk on the floor at their regular walking speed for three baseline trials on which they were informed a slip would not occur. Thereafter subjects were again informed that there was a possibility of a slip on any of the future trials. After each walking trial, the subject returned to the initial position, facing away from the walkway while an experimenter would mimic the sound of applying the lubricant. These steps and dim lighting were taken to reduce the cue when the contamination was actually applied. After walking for five trials, the subjects experienced only one slip on the right side, on the sixth postbaseline trial. Thus subjects walked for a total of nine trials on the vinyl floor.
Control protocol
The subjects in the control group experienced only a single slip on the contaminated vinyl floor. The experimental setup, the instructions, and the protocol were otherwise identical to that experienced by the training group when its subjects were tested on the vinyl floor.
Data collection and reduction
A set of 24 full-body light reflective markers was attached to the bilateral upper and lower extremities and the torso, while one marker was attached to each moveable platform. Marker coordinates were recorded at 120 Hz using a six-camera motion-capture system (Motion Analysis, Santa Rosa, CA). Marker displacement data were low-pass filtered at marker-specific optimal cut-off frequencies (range: 4.5–9 Hz) using a recursive second-order Butterworth Filter (Winter 2005). Force plate and harness load cell data were collected at 600 Hz using a 64-channel, 16-bit A/D converter. The ground reaction force and motion data were time synchronized at the time of data collection.
Neuromechanical control of COM state stability
The COM position and its velocity were computed from the kinematic data using known gender-dependent segmental parameter information in a 13-segment representation of the body (de Leva 1996; Pavol et al. 2002a). The position of the COM in the anteroposterior direction was expressed relative to the rear of the base of support (BOS) of the most recent foot to touchdown and normalized to foot length. In the present study, we used the heel marker of the slipping foot to approximate its BOS, hence the displacement and velocity of the two were used interchangeably. The COM velocity in the anteroposterior direction was expressed relative to the velocity of the BOS and normalized as a dimensionless fraction of (McMahon 1984), where g is the acceleration due to gravity and h is height of the subject. Stability was assessed through comparison of the COM state (i.e., its position and velocity) with the previously published threshold values for backward balance loss under slip conditions (Pai and Iqbal 1999). Stability was defined as the shortest distance from this predicted boundary for backward balance loss to the instantaneous COM state (Bhatt et al. 2005; Pai et al. 2003). The model simulation predicts that backward loss of balance must occur for COM states below the threshold (i.e., stability < 0). Thus a COM state further below the threshold represents an increased likelihood of backward loss of balance under slipping conditions (Bhatt et al. 2005; Pai et al. 2003). Conversely, more positive values indicate greater stability against backward balance loss.
Although the mediolateral aspect of slip kinematics was inspected, the analyses were primarily centered on the anteroposterior direction. The instants of step liftoff and touchdown were identified from the vertical ground reaction forces. Preslip stability was measured and noted at touchdown of the leading/slipping limb. Postslip stability was recorded at liftoff of the contralateral limb. The time between touchdown of the slipping limb to liftoff of the contralateral limb was on average 180 ms. Previous results have indicated that postslip stability obtained at contralateral liftoff is the major determinant of recovery outcome (loss of balance vs. no loss of balance) (Bhatt and Pai 2005; Bhatt et al. 2006b; Yang et al. 2008); hence this time instant was chosen.
Slip characteristics
To further understand the contributing factors for adaptive changes in the COM state stability, we analyzed the changes in the horizontal BOS displacement and velocity between the moveable platform and vinyl floor conditions (Bhatt and Pai 2005; Bhatt et al. 2006a). These values were obtained from the heel marker of the slipping limb at the postslip instance of liftoff of the contralateral limb.
To characterize the similarities and differences between the moveable platform and the vinyl floor slips, the peak (maximum) horizontal and lateral heel displacement and velocity were also obtained, and these peaks occurred after liftoff for all trials (Bhatt et al. 2005). Similarly the peaks for the measured anteroposterior (AP), mediolateral (ML), and vertical ground reaction forces from the force plates were obtained. Subsequently, we obtained the peak coefficient of friction from touchdown of the slipping limb to contralateral limb touchdown, calculated as the ratio of the AP (or ML) force to the vertical force.
Slip outcome
The outcome of slip was classified as a fall if the average force on the safety harness exceeded 4.5% body weight over any 1-s period after the slip onset or the hip midpoint descended <15% body height of its minimum height during normal walking trials (Pavol and Pai 2007). Otherwise, the trial was classified as a recovery. Each fall was verified with video recordings of performance. When the contralateral limb landed posterior to the slipping heel with negative values in postslip step length during the slip, the recovery trials were classified as loss of balance trials with protective stepping. Conversely trials with the contralateral limb landing anterior to the sliding heel and positive postslip step length were classified as "no loss of balance" trials in which protective stepping was not needed, and forward progression was not disrupted (Bhatt et al. 2005).
To test for differences in slip characteristics between the moveable platform and the vinyl floor slips, the peak horizontal and lateral displacement and velocity, the peak horizontal, lateral, and vertical ground reaction forces, and the horizontal and lateral coefficient of friction were compared between the first moveable platform slip of the training group (S-1) and the first and only vinyl floor slip of the control group. Further, a cross-correlation between groups was performed on the averaged (across subjects of each group) time history profile of each of these variables from touchdown of the slipping foot to contralateral foot touchdown. To examine and monitor changes in the "regular," unperturbed gait following repeated slips, paired t-test were performed on stability at touchdown of the right foot and contralateral liftoff on the following trials: the unperturbed trial before the first platform slip (pretraining), the last posttraining unperturbed trial (the trial before S-24), the third baseline unperturbed trial on the vinyl floor, and the unperturbed trial before the vinyl slip.
To test for adaptation and transfer across trials within the training group, the Kruksal Wallis test and a repeated-measures ANCOVA were performed, respectively, on the nonparametric (incidence of fall and backward loss of balance) and parametric (pre- and postslip stability, heel displacement and velocity at liftoff) variables. The trials included were: the first (S-1) and last (S-8) slips of the first slip block, the first trial of the second slip block (S-9 or 1st reslip) and its last trial (S-16), the first trial of the mixed block (S-17 or 2nd reslip) and its last trial (S-24), and the transfer slip trial on the vinyl floor (V-T). Significant main effects were followed up with planned comparisons between consecutive trials using the Wilcoxon signed-rank tests for nonparametric and paired t-test for parametric variables. To specifically test for transfer effects, S-1 was compared with S-24 and V-T. Gait velocity was added as the covariate to control for any confounding effect. The Mann Whitney U test and independent t-test were performed to test differences, respectively, in the preceding mentioned nonparametric and parametric variables between vinyl slips experienced by the training (V-T) and control groups (V-C). There was an added level of control in the design of the study when we compared the response to the initial novel slip under different environmental constraints (i.e., between the initial platform slip of the training group, S-1, and the vinyl slip of the control group, V-C). If there is no difference between S-1 and V-C in the aforementioned nonparametric and parametric comparisons, the results will further strengthen the case for generalization because of the equivalency between groups at this first slip trial. A significance level of 0.05 was used for all the other analyses after adjusting for multiple comparisons. Analyses were performed using SPSS (Chicago, IL).
The results indicated that although overall the slip characteristics were comparable along the anteroposterior direction on the first novel slip on both the surface types, i.e., the platform and the vinyl floor (Fig. 1, left), they were very different in the mediolateral direction (Fig. 1, right). The coefficient of the vinyl slips was significantly higher than platform slips in the AP plane (P < 0.01; Table 1). There was no difference in horizontal peak velocity, peak anteriorposterior and vertical ground reaction forces between the two surfaces. However, there was a significant difference in the lateral peak displacement and velocity, and peak mediolateral ground reaction force (Table 1).
As expected, the motor training on the moveable platform led to a reduction in the backward loss of balance (BLOB) incidence from 100% on the first unannounced slip (S-1) to 10% by the eight slip (S-8) of the first block (P < 0.01). However, the incidence of balance increased to 35% on the first reslip trial (9th slip, S-9, P < 0.05 between S-8 and S-9). This incidence reduced rapidly, and by the last trial of this second slip block, S-16, it was only 5% (P < 0.05). There was no significant change in incidence of balance loss between S-16 and the second reslip trial, S-17 (P > 0.05) and thereafter (P < 0.01 between S-17 and S-24). Fall incidence reduced from 38% (3/8) to 0% from the first to the last slips (P < 0.05 between S-1 and S-24).
These improvements in slip outcome resulted from the improvements made in both pre- and postslip stabilities, from the S-1 to S-24 [F(6, 42) = 7.34 and 18.76, respectively, P < 0.01 for both]. There was a significant increase in pre- and postslip stabilities between S-1 and S-8 (P < 0.05) with a slight decrease from S-8 to S-9 (P < 0.05). With more repeated slips, there was a subsequent increase by S-16 (P < 0.05) with no change thereafter (between S-16 and S-17 and S-17 and S-24, for both variables). There was a similar trend in improving the control of the BOS kinematics, where reducing the slip displacement and velocity was associated with the improved COM state stability. Both heel displacement and velocity at contralateral limb liftoff reduced significantly from S-1 to S-8 (P < 0.05) with a slight increase in S-9 (P < 0.05), which decreased again by S-16 (P < 0.05) and remained there till the last slip (P > 0.05 between S-16 and S-17 and S-17 and S-24, for both variables at liftoff). Gait velocity did not affect pre- or postslip stabilities (P > 0.05).
The subjects were able to transfer the motor training effects when they were first exposed, without any warning, to the slippery vinyl surface (V-T). None of the subjects experienced a fall on V-T (P < 0.05 between V-T and S-1; Fig. 2A). All but one subject were successful in preventing a loss of balance on the slip (12.5%, P < 0.05 between V-T and S1 and P > 0.05 between V-T and S-24; Fig. 2B). Such improved recovery outcomes clearly differed from those of the control group, V-C, the outcomes of which were comparable to the first unannounced moveable platform slip, S-1, in the training group. Specifically, all subjects in the both groups experienced balance loss on S-1 and V-C, and their fall incidence (3/8, 38% for V-C) was also identical (P > 0.05 between V-C and S-1; Fig. 2).
The transfer of acquired stability control could be attributed to the improved recovery outcomes. The pre- and postslip stabilities on V-T were significantly greater in comparison to S-1 (P < 0.05) with no significant difference in both the stabilities between V-T and S-24 (P > 0.05; Fig. 3, A and B). There was no difference in pre- and postslip stabilities between the vinyl slip experienced by the control group (V-C) and the first moveable platform slip by the training group, S-1 (P > 0.05 for both). The control group's pre- and postslip stabilities were both significantly lower than those of the training group (P < 0.05 for both variables). There was no significant difference in stability between the third baseline walking trial on the vinyl floor and the first vinyl slip at right touchdown (P > 0.05). There was a significant difference in stability at touchdown and contralateral liftoff between this pretraining unperturbed walking trial and all the later unperturbed trials included in this analysis (P < 0.05), whereby no difference could be detected between these later trials (P > 0.05; Fig. 4).
The transfer of improved stability control resulted from the transfer of improved BOS control on V-T. The heel displacement and velocity were significantly lower at contralateral liftoff on V-T compared with S-1 (P < 0.05, respectively) with no difference between V-T and S-24 (P > 0.05 for both displacement and velocity; Fig. 5, A and B). There was no difference in heel displacement and velocity at contralateral liftoff between the vinyl slip experienced by the control group and the first moveable platform slip by the training group (P > 0.05 for all variables). However, these variables were significantly greater for the control group than on the transfer vinyl slip for the training group (P < 0.05 between V-C and V-T for all variables; Fig. 5).
Our results indicated that the fall-resisting skills acquired with repeated-slip training could indeed carry over from slips induced with moveable platform to slips induced on a slippery floor surface. As hypothesized, when subjects were exposed to the slippery floor for the first time after training, their incidence of balance loss and fall was significantly lower in comparison with those of the controls or their own first novel encounter with a slip. This resulted from a training-induced improvement in the control of the COM state relative to the BOS. Our findings thus lend support to the notion that the CNS is capable of generalizing the motor program acquired in one context to another altered, untrained environmental context, in responding to the same forward-slip induced to the same limb.
Adaptation to repeated slips
It is known that with proper training, humans are adaptable to sudden or unexpected changes in environmental constraints during a range of activities from standing to locomotion. In this adaptive process, the feedforward control underlying successful proactive adjustments, occurring before or in anticipation of perturbation onset and typically relying on previously acquired knowledge, can affect the movement outcomes in two different ways. First, feedforward control can alter posture and limb control prior to an encounter with an environmental hazard (Andres et al. 1991; Bhatt et al. 2006a; Cham and Redfern 2002; Marigold and Patla 2002; McIlroy and Maki 1993; Patla et al. 1991). For example, improved movement stability prior to the onset of perturbation can reduce or eliminate the need for a reactive response following onset of the perturbation (Pai et al. 2003). Second, feedforward control can modulate the feedback-control-related reactive response to the perturbation to increase the likelihood of success of this reactive response (Bhatt et al. 2006a; Marigold and Patla 2002; Pavol and Pai 2002b; Pavol et al. 2002b). Our results revealed that both mechanisms have been applied by the training group. The significant reduction in balance loss and fall incidence across these trials were attributed to the acquired feedforward and reactive control of stability, resulting from adaptive changes in gait pattern that could have led to reductions in heel displacement and velocity under low-friction conditions (Bhatt et al. 2006a). Such adaptive changes include a reduced step length and a flat-foot and flexed knee at heel strike during gait. These changes have been well established to occur with the same type of training and contributed to changes in stability and BOS control (Bhatt et al. 2006a,b; Heiden et al. 2006).
Similar to previous results employing the paradigm of "slip-nonslip-reslip," the adaptation effects acquired in the first block of slips showed an immediate waning effect when the perturbation stops, i.e., on the first reslip after a nonslip block (Bhatt et al. 2006b; Pai et al. 2003; Pavol and Pai 2002b). Such a waning effect strongly suggests dependency of responses on context prediction, which the CNS is anticipating to experience (Vetter and Wolpert 2000). Such a waning process would be crucial for the CNS in search of an optimal motor program that can be sufficiently robust in controlling stability under uncertain environmental conditions. On re-exposure to the perturbation in the same session, this practice reaches a plateau or steady state (i.e., no trial-to-trial changes after the 2nd reslip or the 10th slip trial) (Bhatt et al. 2006b), for both pre- and postslip stabilities, leading to a rapid decrease in incidence of balance loss. Such a steady state is postulated to be achieved with appropriate perturbation-related sensorimotor experience that the individual encountered through exposure to repeated trials.
During this process, the CNS may shift from relying on context prediction for an upcoming situation (which is based on sensory feedback and error correction in the initial trials), to an emerging adaptive feedforward control during the later trials. Such control results in optimal preprogrammed strategies for prevention of balance loss and fall and a desirable COM-state trajectory that can be stable across different conditions ranging from nonslip to slip (Bhatt et al. 2006a) and perhaps to untrained slips on vinyl floor. This piece of empirical evidence supports the notion that such limits are mapped within the CNS for recovery from slips along with their correspondingly altered environmental constraints. At a global level, the body COM state must simultaneously satisfy a range of different constraints (Pai and Iqbal 1999), likely arising from unforeseeable abrupt changes in the friction coefficient of a walking surface, to increase the robustness of the subsequent response against a sudden and perhaps challenging onset of change in conditions. This strategy of predictive control, which also incorporates refined control of an individual's own BOS to neutralize the effect of the perturbation, would enable this person to maintain stability regardless of whether, where, and how a slip occurs; hence reducing reliance on the reactive recovery response. The significantly greater stability obtained at contralateral liftoff on the posttraining, unperturbed trial than the pretraining, unperturbed trial suggests an emerging predictive control for optimal motor programming. The lack of difference in the stability among the posttraining unperturbed trials further reinforces this notion.
Other cumulating evidence in literature also supports the argument that the CNS builds or updates internal representation of external constraints from immediate or past sensorimotor experience. For example, when the perturbation type (toes-up rotation to backward translation) changes, subjects still show some postural strategies appropriate to the previous perturbation (Horak and Nashner 1986), suggesting that the immediate experience from the perturbation must have lead to the CNS building a forward model of the appropriate movement strategy for the response (Horak and Nashner 1986; Nashner 1982). Similarly, when subjects expect a smaller perturbation but in fact experience a larger one, their responses still exhibit smaller magnitude (Horak et al. 1989; Timmann and Horak 1997) that may have been preselected from a repertoire before the perturbation onset. The presence of an anticipatory postural adjustment preceding compensatory stepping movements with repeated platform perturbations also indicates preprogramming within the CNS (McIlroy and Maki 1993). Last, subjects modifying their COM state even before experiencing the perturbation trial under uncertain slip or nonslip conditions indicates that individuals were developing optimal control schemes to match the internal representation of the different constraints to prevent a loss of balance (Pavol and Pai 2002a,b). This process could have laid down the foundation necessary for generalization of the required motor program.
Generalization from low-friction moveable platform to slippery floor
As demonstrated in our results, subjects were able to transfer the acquired strategy to an untrained environmental condition with different constraints, such as the vinyl floor slips induced on a different location. The vinyl floor had a different coefficient of friction (0.08) twice of that in platform slips (0.04) and allowed the foot to travel in a planar fashion with foot motion greater than one degree of freedom. In spite of these differences and indications of several other differences between platform slips and unconstrained surface slips (Troy and Grabiner 2006), our results indicated that subjects in training and control groups reacted in similar ways (as evident by no significant difference between S-24 and V-C) with the training group demonstrating an ability to transfer acquired skills to the untrained situation (no difference between S-1 and V-T). These results do support a more global scheme (or generalized motor program) for stability control that could be refined readily and optimally for different environmental constraints.
The evidence of transfer observed in the present study is similar to that demonstrated by Lam et al. (2004), in which study the subjects were able to transfer the motor skills acquired from obstacle-clearance training for level walking to that during inclined, "downhill" walking. The adaptive skills were preserved when the gravity-related external constraints were altered in "downhill" walking, similar to that after the mediolateral constraint inherent to the moveable platform was eliminated on slippery vinyl floor (Fig. 1, right). The transfer demonstrated in both cases could be explained based on the endpoint control theory proposed for skilled voluntary upper limb movements (Bosco et al. 2000; Shadmehr and Moussavi 2000). Following obstacle-clearance training, it might have been applied in the transfer of the control of heel vertical clearance relative to the obstacle. Following repeated-slip training, it might have been applied in the generalization of the control of the heel horizontal displacement and its velocity for recovery from a significant slip in the forward direction. This scheme may be able to simplify the control of complex locomotor-posture tasks just as it does in tasks involving upper limb movements (Bosco et al. 2000; Shadmehr and Moussavi 2000).
The extent of transfer between contexts could also be heavily influenced by the CNS' predictive ability and the implicit or explicit availability of contextual knowledge (Imamizu et al. 2007). Reynolds et al. (2003a) observed an "aftereffect" of the COM control acquired from forward platform perturbations when the platform ("sledge") was stationary. Yet such aftereffect failed to appear when the subjects were made to walk on level surface (mimicking a stationary platform trial) after training on the sledge. This lack of generalization could be explained by the accurate contextual prediction by the CNS relating to a low or no "expectancy" of a perturbed context on a level surface allowing the CNS to switch the motor program back to one influencing natural gait (Imamizu et al. 2007).
On similar lines, the CNS' estimate of a high probability of encountering a slip trial and its adoption of a motor program optimal for different constraints, both could explain the observed posttraining changes in unperturbed walking behavior (Reg vs. Reg-V, P < 0.05, Fig. 4. The COM state stability on the baseline trials on the vinyl surface (where subjects were informed of the "nonslip" condition) was significantly greater than that on the pretraining, unperturbed walking trials and not different from the posttraining, unperturbed walking trial. Surprisingly, there was no effect of explicit instruction of context condition on stability as demonstrated by no significant difference in stability between the baseline trial (on which they were explicitly told to have no slip) and the unperturbed walking trial just before the vinyl slip (on which subjects had knowledge of possibility of slip). As previously demonstrated, the CNS's reliance on context prediction from the most recent experience for programming future actions supersedes explicit contextual knowledge (Heiden et al. 2006; Reynolds and Bronstein 2003b; Witney et al. 2001). These results, however, may also suggest that exposure to threatening perturbations can rapidly induce the posture and gait adaptations (Adkin et al. 2002; Heiden et al. 2006) that tend to persist from several hours to several days (Bhatt et al. 2006b), and often times even after clear instruction indicates no danger for a slip (e.g., as seen in Fig. 4 for Reg-VB).
Such persistence could have occurred probably by overtraining the slipping limb with the large number of slips induced on the same limb, leading to a dominant shift of weighing sensory input from the training side for developing predictive control commands. Such overtraining may favor intralimb transfer that involves changes in different context situations, such as from a more challenging, low coefficient of friction condition to a less challenging condition with a higher coefficient of friction. On the other hand, the same overtraining appeared to limit an interlimb transfer, perhaps due to the same over weighing of sensory input from the training side (Bhatt and Pai 2008). Advance knowledge of the forthcoming slip on the untrained side apparently can easily alter such over weighing leading to a transfer-related improved performance on the first slip exposure to that side. The same advanced knowledge given before such motor training could not achieve the same effect to alter novice response on the first slip exposure (Bhatt and Pai, 2008). Such evidence of differential influence on predictive control, originating from similar cognitive information, lends support to the previously postulated notion of downloading existing motor programs during transfer that is different from establishing them during acquisition (Bhatt and Pai 2008; Wang and Sainburg 2003).
In this paradigm, the intensity of perturbation was adaptively controlled by the participant rather than controlled by instrumentation. Thus sensory input from the perturbation would vary from trial to trial because of the changes in slip intensity that may make it difficult to interpret the adaptive role of sensory integration in absence of a clear stimulus-response relationship. Alternatively, the precisely instrumented control of perturbation intensity required for establishing such relationship could alter or even mask spontaneous adaptation in both feedforward and reactive control of slip kinematic characteristics. The present study was not designed to investigate such stimulus-response relationship in motor skill acquisition. Rather, the current paradigm was designed to investigate and to allow subjects to spontaneously augment their ability to control slip intensity with the implicit assumption that it may promote the transfer of their self defense skills appropriate in everyday living situations where slip characteristics are rarely controlled by an instrument with predetermined kinematic profile.
In summary, our findings have indicated that the CNS is capable of generalizing the neuromechanical responses acquired through motor training to different environmental contexts for resisting slip-induced falling, indicating the possible existence of a nonspatial, more global representation of stability limits. These findings provide evidence that the benefits of motor training using the slip-inducing platform could indeed carry over to resist fall on a slippery floor, resembling one that people encounter in everyday living.
This work was supported by National Institute on Aging Grant 2R01 AG-16727 to Y. C, Pai.
The authors thank T.-Y. Wang for assistance with data collection and Dr. Feng Yang for assistance with generating a figure.
The costs of publication of this article were defrayed in part by the payment of page charges. The article must therefore be hereby marked "advertisement" in accordance with 18 U.S.C. Section 1734 solely to indicate this fact.
- Copyright © 2009 the American Physiological Society
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CTX Technologies has introduced the MIseeTX mini computer at the International CES 2012. The MIseeTX is claimed to be the world's first fully integrated mini computer. Powered by the Microsoft Windows 7 platform, the computer features a 4.3-inch LCD touchscreen display, a virtual laser keyboard, a pico projector, a Lithium-ion battery, a speaker, a microphone, a webcam and a choice of a 16GB or a 32GB of SSD. The CTX MIseeTX mini computer provides several connectivity options such as an HDMI input, a microSD/MMC slot, Bluetooth, WiFi, Ethernet and a 3.5mm audio jack. Watch the video after the jump.
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Himachal Pradesh University (HPU), Shimla has announced the exam dates for the Medical Entrance Exam which will be held in the month of July 2012. The Medical Entrance Exam will be held on Sunday, July 08, 2012.
The Medical Entrance Exam is held for taking admission to Doctor of Medicine (DM) (Cardiology) and Master of Chirurgical (M.Ch) (CTVS) courses in Indira Gandhi Govt. Medical College & Hospital, Shimla for the commencing session 2012-13.
Eligibility Criteria for Medical Entrance Exam:
- The candidate must be an Indian citizen.
- For the DM (Cardiology) program: The candidate should have passed/appeared in MD examination in Medicine or Pediatrics.
- For the M. Ch (CTVS) program: The candidate must have passed/appeared in MS examination in general surgery.
For further details on the eligibility criteria, please visit their official website.
Application Procedure for Medical Entrance Exam:
- The application form along with the prospectus can be obtained from the university office at the cost of Rs. 3000/-.
- The application form along with the prospectus can also be obtained by post by sending a requisition letter along with a bank draft of Rs. 3200/- drawn in favor of 'Finance Officer, H.P. University, Shimla-171005' to 'Assistant Registrar(Entrance Tests) H.P. University, Shimla-171005' by June 15, 2012.
- The application form can also be downloaded from their official website - www.hpuniv.nic.in.
- The duly filled in application form along with the requisite documents should be sent to the office of 'Assistant Registrar (Entrance Tests), Room No.10, Ground Floor, Administrative Block, H.P. University, Shimla-171005' latest by July 02, 2012.
For further details on the application procedure, please visit their official website.
Paper Pattern of the Medical Entrance Exam:
- The examination will have 80 multiple choice questions of one mark each.
- For DM (Cardiology) there are three parts: – Part A – 40 questions on Cardiology; Part B – 40 questions on general medicine; and Part C – 40 questions on pediatrics.
- Part A is compulsory for all candidates and the candidate can choose to answer either Part B or Part C.
- For M. Ch. (CTVS) there are two parts: - Part A - 40 questions on cardiothoracic vascular; Part B – 40 questions on general surgery.
For further details on the paper pattern, please visit their official website.
Important Dates:
- Last date for submitting duly filled in application forms: Monday, July 02, 2012.
- Date of entrance examination: Sunday, July 08, 2012.
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