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Jon covers CONCACAF for Goal.com with a focus on Mexican soccer. He is also the CONCACAF expert on the BBC's brilliant World Football Phone-In.
John Arnold has been a guest on 1 episode.
Jon Arnold in the Building!
November 5th, 2017 | 52 mins 13 secs
Jon Arnold of Goal.com and the World Football Phone-In joins the pod to talk USMNT, US Soccer culture, stadium food, and more. It's We The People!!


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Abstract Painting
As a group we took risk as using texture tools to create small circles and stamp. Using a lighter color for the background making the painting pop out also using the toothbrush to create the specs at the bottom. To solve our problems we to draw the lines and geometrical shapes from all of our developing skills project. We pick which colors to use for each different area of our abstract painting. Using the light colors made the darker come out.
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Jadin Dasher
I'm a Highschool student at Vernon Malone. I'm learning different techniques of art design.
November 2017

subset: commoncrawl


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4 Seasons Heating & Cooling
Proudly serving Reno, Sparks, Spanish Springs and its surrounding areas, 4 Seasons Heating & Cooling is a family owned and operated Reno air conditioning business dedicated to providing the highest level of quality in all heating, air conditioning and indoor air quality services. We're not happy until you're happy – simple as that. Our Reno […]Sparks, Nevada, 89436
Services: Heating, Ventilation and Cooling


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St. Paul Lutheran School
St. Paul Lutheran School is a coeducational private Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod traditional school for students in grades Kindergarten through 8.
St. Paul Lutheran School is a coeducational private Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod traditional school for students in grades Kindergarten through 8.
St. Paul Lutheran School is proud to offer a Christ-centered, high-quality academic environment for our students. Traditional subjects, as well as religion classes, are taught daily. In an era where educational standards are being bolstered, re-tooled and re-aligned on every side, St. Paul Lutheran is proud to say that we continue to provide the same high-quality education that our parents have expected for over 125 years. Our teachers are certified by the Indiana State Board of Education and the majority of our staff have achieved Masters level degrees. Our curriculum and daily practices are guided by Indiana State Standards. Our school is a member of the Non-Public Education Association of Indiana and the Evangelical Lutheran Education Association. Students are tested 2-3 times per school year to monitor academic growth through the Northwest Evaluation Association.
Private schools, including parochial and boarding, are funded through tuition and fees. The cost varies from school to school, but most families pay tuition to attend them. Many private schools offer financial aid or discounts, so it's worthwhile to ask about these options.
|Total Enrollment
|Enrollment By Grade
St. Paul Lutheran School's relatively even enrollment profile may offer insights into student retention rates, local population changes, real estate costs, and the accessibility of alternative educational options. to find out more about the specific factors influencing St. Paul Lutheran School's enrollment numbers.
|Student Teacher Ratio
|14 : 1
|48% Male / 52% Female
|Student Diversity
Other school associations
Want more info about St. Paul Lutheran School? Get free advice from education experts and Noodle community members.
Private School Universe Survey provides data on the composition and characteristics of private schools' students and staff.
Private School Review provides free, detailed profiles of USA private day schools and their surrounding communities.


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The Ebb & Flow of Passion
Passion! Not the hot steamy sexy kind, but the other kind, passion for your business.
You have heard it said that to be successful at what you do, you must be passionate about it. These days we are encouraged to find our passion, follow our passion, and turn our passion into a business.
But what is passion and how does having passion for what you do make you more effective?
When you start a business you're super stoked and excited about it. Your passion inspires and motivates others. Your passion propels you forward and gives you courage to keep going. Other people can literally feel your excitement and belief in what you are doing. Very contagious and attractive!
But will we or should we FEEL this passionate about our businesses all the time? Is it practical for us to think that we must be "on fire" all the time to be effective?
Over the last 8 years my experience has included times of enthusiasm and excitement; especially during the beginning stages of my business, or now when I have a new idea or when I have work with a client who is feeling clear and excited about their next steps. And then there are days when I feel less then keen.
I am learning those less then keen days are needed too. Days when doing my paperwork, or editing my website, or even days leading up to a workshop or event where I just feel blah. Like I could take it or leave it. At first that kind of freaked me out. I was beating myself up about it... "I shouldn't feel this way, something must be wrong."
There is nothing wrong, passion ebbs and flows, it follows the path of creative process.
Creative process isn't reserved for artists only. If you are an entrepreneur, a self-employed person, you are creative.
Creative process brings with it those "meh" days. Our part is to follow its lead and take some down time. Go outside, read a book, rest, play…anything that is not business related. For in that time away from business, your mind and heart are refreshed, and little by little inspiration and motivation are rekindled, and you will begin to feel excited again.
Passion is not constant. Passion changes in form and with time. Not getting caught in a belief that you should be or feel a certain way will keep you free and inspired. Learning to read the ebb and flow of your business and creative process frees you up to just allow and trust that the seed of passion that is your business will not die or go away.
Next time you are feeling disconnected and less then excited about your business, take a break. Give yourself permission to step back and trust that your motivation will return and probably bring with it some inspired new ideas!
How do you deal with your creative process? What have you learned to do when you are feeling uninspired by your business? Leave a comment!
I appreciate your support; thanks for reading and commenting!
1/25/2018 11:54:39 am
I think this is one of the most important skills to learn, in business and in life. The down times are just as important as the ups. I believe is was your class on natural business cycles that really tuned me into this Tucker. Thank you for sharing your journey and your wisdom.
1/25/2018 12:21:42 pm
thank you Leah! And I agree...important to go with the ups and downs in business and in our personal lives. Blessings xo
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Kunstverein Neukölln e.V.
Kunstverein Neukölln e.V. promotes and presents art in Neukölln.
The organisation started out in 2005 and has, since then, hosted monthly thematic exhibitions of contemporary art along with readings, concerts, performances, lectures and regular artists' talks.
Kunstverein Neukölln e. V.
Mainzer Str. 42
12053 Berlin
Open Wednesday - Sunday 2 – 8 pm
Foto: René Moritz


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CBP Officers seize 69.65 pound of Marijuana and a handgunPosted on April 15, 2009
U.S. Customs and Border Protection Border Patrol agents from the Yuma, Ariz. station conducting inspections at a checkpoint on Highway 95 seized 69.65 pounds of marijuana and a concealed handgun, leading to the arrest of the driver and seizure of the vehicle.
A white 2003 Dodge Ram 1500 Quad Cab drove up to the primary inspection lane when a Border Patrol canine alerted to the possible presence of contraband in the vehicle.
During the ensuing search agents found 26 packages of marijuana in one of the vehicle's spare tires, 40 more packages of marijuana concealed inside the doors of the vehicle and an unloaded Colt 32 caliber handgun under the carpet beneath the vehicle backseats. A total of 66 packages of marijuana were seized weighing 69.65 pounds. The driver, passenger, marijuana and firearm were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Source: US Customs and Border Protection


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The Groundbreaking Ceremony for the new Jay Willard Gymnasium at Eureka High School is February 7, 2020, at 12:00 p.m. Staff, students, community members, alumni, and the media, are invited to attend and celebrate this event. Wearing red/green or Logger gear is encouraged! The students of Eureka City Schools thank Eureka residents for supporting Measure S, which has made this project possible!
Corner of Humboldt Steet & J Street - Eureka, CA.
Please park behind the District Office* - Back Parking Lot
(*Previously Marshall School)
Join us rain or shine!


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P Zsoro
Recipes. English Language and Grammar. Food Hacks / To Use in Kitchen. Recipe Collections. Best Chili Recipe. Recipes. Breakfast / brunch. Easy Breakfasts. Recipes. Breakfast recipes. Cheesecakes. Chicken. Cookies. Multiple reciepes. Chicken. Breads, flatbreads. Mushrooms. Salads. Cupcakes. Paper. Cookies. Fave Foodie Sites. Cooking. Recipies. Holstein szelet - az eredeti! - Nemzeti ételek, receptek. Mediterrán csirke pikáns dresszinggel - Életforma - Az egyensúly teremtő. A házi tortilla és fajitas készítés összes titka - Street Kitchen. Vörösboros muffin. Az eredeti táfelspicc receptje.
Jelszó*:A jelszónak legalább 5 karakterből kell állnia, valamint tartalmazzon kisbetűt, nagybetűt és számot vagy speciális karaktert is Születési idő: Módosítva: 2015. január 21.
10 Natural Remedies For Mosquito Bites Food Network - Easy Recipes, Healthy Eating Ideas and Chef Recipe Videos. Food. Food - Recipes : Southern fried chicken. Onion burger. Salted Caramel Guinness Brownies. Salted Caramel Guinness Brownies These rich fudgy salted caramel Guinness brownies are topped with Jameson whipped cream and a sweet Jameson caramel.
Last night I spent my night virtually watching the Oscars with Gina via Facebook. Back and forth we shared witty comments about dresses, baby bumps, speeches and super hot men with eyes as blue as the ocean. Obviously it was a highly productive night. Lets talk about the Oscar dresses for a second. Luckily for you I didn't spend the whole night watching TV. I made these brownies a few weeks ago and have been dreaming about them ever since. . These brownies are super fudgy and have a very intense chocolate flavor. I should tell you that I'm going to be slightly mean and not give you the Irish whiskey caramel sauce recipe until Friday.
60 Second Chocolate Chip Cookie A la Mode. I had so much fun developing this recipe. Talk about kinda dangerous though. This baby is baked in 60 seconds, no lie!! The cookie dough recipe is prepared right in your ramekin, so we are also talking about minimal dishes.
Mahanandi » Recipe Index. Mahanandi is easy to navigate, and recipes are archived in four ways.
Browse by Ingredients: Ingredients are listed in alphabetical order in category section on the sidebar of Mahanandi. Browse by Date or Month: Recipe name appears by hovering the mouse on the calendar. Clicking on the dates in the calendar will take you to the recipe that is blogged on that day. Or click on the month in archives section and then on the date in calendar. Bob Dylan : Folksinger's Choice (complete) Bob Dylan - Like a Rolling Stone (USA) Positively 4th Street (Post Production) Bob Dylan - Tangled Up In Blue. Bob Dylan - Masters Of War- The RoJ LiGht. Mr. Tambourine Man (Live at the Newport Folk Festival. 1964)
The Times they are a Changin' - Bob Dylan. Food - Recipes. Recipes - Waitrose.com. Cheese soufflé in 4 easy steps. How to Make Hummus: Recipes for Hummus Variations-Shape Magazine. Canada Blog: Mushrooms Masters: A Tournament of Taste - App Attack. This tourmnament is starting to get intense!
Another win for Australia as Jennifer from Le Delicieux sweeps the GOLD with her Mushroom Wellington. Congrats Jennifer! Well folks, I guess we need to take it up a notch here, so that we can win at least one round this year! Enter Team Canada Member #4 for our last round... Appetizer Attack! Representing Canada this week is Angela from Oh She Glows with her awesome Mushroom Walnut Pesto Tart.
Angela Liddon is the writer and vegan recipe developer for her healthy living website, Oh She Glows. Mushroom Walnut Pesto Tart Serves 8-12 Required utensils: Food processor, skillet, baking sheet Ingredients For pesto: 2 garlic cloves 20 oz (~1.25 lb) sliced crimini mushrooms, divided 2/3 cup toasted chopped walnuts, divided 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil 2 tbsp water 1 cup loosely packed fresh parsley 1 tbsp nutritional yeast (optional) 1/2-3/4 tsp kosher salt, to taste Freshly ground black pepper, to taste Directions 1. 2. 3. 4.
How to Steam Vegetables: 7 steps (with pictures) Edit Article Vegetables & EquipmentSteaming VegetablesUsing a Covered PanIn the Microwave Edited by Flickety, Sondra C, Eric, Travis Derouin and 15 others Steamed vegetables are a nutritious and quick choice for any dinner table.
There are several methods to choose from, and you don't need any fancy kitchen equipment to get the job done. To get going on tonight's delicious, nutritious, colorful dinner, you'll need a steamer, covered pan, or microwaveable bowl. Recipes for 101 Simple Salads for the Season. How to Store Vegetables & Fruit Without Plastic. Spicy Buffalo Cauliflower 'Wings'. Looking for a healthier (and kinder) alternative to chicken wings?
Try these juicy, tangy, and spicy buffalo cauliflower "wings"! Deliciously versatile and with just enough "kick," these bite-sized pieces of cauliflower offer an eerily similar experience to eating chicken wings. With all the flavor and none of the guilt, this is a secret-weapon recipe that every vegan cook should have in his or her kitchen. Enjoy! Roasted Cumin-Lime Carrots.
Carrots could easily be the bastard child of the vegetable world. I think that needs to change. Carrots are such a tried-and-true, familiar sight in just about any kitchen; so dependable and ordinary that we don't even notice them growing whiskers and getting limp in the refrigerator vegetable bin, probably right there next to a sad, yellowing bunch of celery. Detox Salad. One of my favourite things to do after visiting Whole Foods is to re-create salad bar foods or specialty products at home for much less money.
Or at least, that's my good intention until I get home and I can't remember the ingredient list! Not last night. :) Thanks Eric! Steppenwolf - Born to be wild 1969. Marilyn Monroe. Jane Birkin et Serge Gainsbourg - Je T'aime,...Moi Non Plus. Music search.


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Studio C
Listed studio price is based on our full-day stills rate. Pricing subject to change based on type of booking! STUDIO FEATURES: -Full kitchen -East facing windows -Hair & Make-up station -Client table -Wifi -Stereo sound system & iPod hook up -Ironing board & iron -Clothing rack -Garment steamer -Cutlery, cups, glasses, plates, bowls *Please note: access to Studio C is by stairs only, washroom on basement level
Rating: 0.0
Space Type: Other
Location Type: n/a
Other Features: n/a
Access: Restricted
Size: n/a
Rules of the Space


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An excellent article by Steve Strauss but he includes a very interesting video to accompany it. In his interview with Royalyn Reid, they discuss "tips to navigate an uncertain economy, innovative ways to market and creative methods to reward staff. And then Steve goes on to add a few more tips.
Even if your business is going well at the moment, you should be interested in what Steve has to share. This is one article you will not want to pass over. Thanks, once again to Steve for a valuable read! 4 Secrets to Small Business Success
Great article. Thank you for sharing. It was succinct, relevant, and useful. I definitely think he sums it all up with "Taking care of your people doesn't cost, it pays."
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The Project
Digital Publishing Platform
Building a digital publishing platform on Drupal 8
Migrating 15+ brands from various CMSs/ frameworks onto the new platform
Content dating back to 1995. Already migrated close to 1 million stories
Start with building core, and then roll out brands on a staggered schedule
Empower Brands
Allow brands to do more, take control of their websites and rely less on developers
Create new landing pages, manage their home page layout, manage menus, access control etc
Last year alone, the support system received ~58 tickets related to updating the footer
Let developers focus on innovation
Develop Once, Use Anywhere
All brands should reap the benefits of best-in-class features
Reduce maintenance costs over time
Maintain code standards and best practices (SEO, accessibility, analytics etc) across brands
The Challenge
Each brand in the client's family was operating on its own web platform. Rolling out a new digital initiative across all brands would require a lot of coordination and time. These disparate technologies systems also introduced operational inefficiencies. As there were no central governance place since all websites were working independent of each other, storage costs were rising, and sites were not managed efficiently.
The Solution
The approach was to leverage the Acquia Lightning, a distribution of Drupal 8, to enable component based development as well as deploy a Lightning sub profile on a multi-site architecture for all the brand sites.
Srijan proposed to standardize the components as the development progressed. The idea was also to bring better governance to have a tighter grip to the architecture and ensure a documented process approach towards components.
This is how the development was planned:
- Build out the core profile which encompasses most of the functionality, so the core could have 60%-80% of all brand features available out of the box.
- Each site to be then built uniquely with its own theme and UI components.
- Each component to have a set of configurations and view/display modes, allowing each brand to customize the site to their needs.
The idea was to empower the brand teams so that the majority of the site pages and features could be set up by them, without needing any development support.
Srijan used Pattern Lab to codify the design guidelines for the components, which has now become the central style guide for the client's website design components.
The Key Results
The core profile took nearly seven months to build. But once in place:
- The first four sites went live in August-September of 2018, within 6 weeks of each other. Investing seven months on building the core platform paid out with the first four launches itself. Earlier, the estimate to redesign and migrate each web site (if done independently) was three to five months.
- The return on investment increased as more brands are on boarded onto the platform.
The Development
Lightning comes with powerful out-of-the-box features such as the Layout, Media and Workflow capabilities. Srijan built a Crain core profile that packed the full set of features and functionalities already defined by the client's team for the brand websites. When a new website for a brand has to be built, the custom core delivers a functional website with most features already in place.
While the custom core was being developed, the client's design team worked on the new look and feel for the various brands as per the requirements and brand guidelines. These design templates were then given to the Srijan team. Using Pattern Lab, Srijan's front-end team built out the components used within the designs. A global style guide was created and is now maintained on Pattern Lab, which is now the central place to see all components within the platform as well as the specific ones used by the brands.
The client's product team and Srijan's development team worked with a list of components that would be common across all the websites. These were then brought into Drupal 8.
Key Benefit: This meant that the front-end team didn't have to wait for the backend team to get started on their work. They could independently start coding out the components without having to worry about the backend capabilities.
Drupal 8 lends itself very well to the component based approach, adding far more site building power than the previous versions of Drupal. Here are the modules we used:
- Panels and Panelizer
- Layout Discovery
- Blocks as Entities
- Views
- Paragraphs and Quick Edit
- Media Entity
Srijan worked on a component approach at two levels:
- The Block entity defines how independent, non structured content works. For example, a component that shows a listing of articles, or a Twitter feed.
- The Content entity defines how structured content like an article or a story works. So instead of building an article entity as a single monolithic entity, we divided the content entities into components using the Paragraph or Media Entity modules. Dividing the content entities into sub entities not only gives a better editorial experience but also increases re-usability of the sub-components. For example, if we show a video/image slider within an article the slider can be a component built with the Paragraph or Media Entity module.
Once the core profile was readied, the brand websites could now be built up fairly quickly. An instance of a brand website was built up from that core with its own theming. Then it was time for migration of the website's old content to the new one. Brands validated the migrated content, set up landing pages and now do other site building activity without the intervention of developers.
We leveraged Acquia's enterprise cloud solutions to support a large multi site setup. The combined unique site visitor traffic to the client's websites is pretty significant and the shared multisite setup means that we needed the ability to scale up on demand, and as new brands go live.
We also used Acquia BLT, the build and launch tool, that provides an automation layer for testing, building, and launching D8 applications. With 30+ developersworking across timezones, multiple tracks running in parallel (live sites + under development sites on the same shared core codebase), continuous integration and continuous development was key. We used BLT extensively to set up our development and deployment pipelines.
This is how the new component based development is helping editors at the client's websites to have full control on how they can work with content and layouts.
Choosing new layouts for a new page
Editors can choose a layout for a new page they want to create. And choose the components from the library that is available. These components could be an article with a thumbnail, or a list of articles with a featured article and image, or a promo box, or a panel of social media icons to enable sharing. All these have been built using the Blocks as Entities module, which pulls the template information from the Pattern Library Srijan created. Blocks are entities with fields in Drupal 8, and they serve as the backbone for the component backend.
Each component that an editor chooses for the page is editable from within the layout view itself. So there is no complex backend system where the layout is being created for which a view action is then required. The editor gets the editable page as it will render on the website, and gets into the edit mode right from that layout. So editors get a consistent editorial experience.
Each component can be set up with different view modes, so you can have the same component being rendered in different modes, for example, as part of a list, or as a full element, and so on.
What does all this mean? The layouts for pages are already defined. So are the components and the various view modes for them. For example, a component that shows the top 10 articles can be rendered as a listing or as a grid view. So a block entity serves as a re-usable backend entity for both the view modes on which we can define two different views modes. Editors can select the mode while adding/updating the components on a page.
For each site, the components and layouts are defined in their brand colors and guidelines. So while the base components developed are the same across all the sites, how they appear on a particular website is based on the theme of the website. The editors get a predefined canvas to play around, but also know what can or cannot happen on the pages.
Editable content, tags and categories, as well as archived stuff
What about content and tags and categories? And archived stuff? All that's easily editable as well. The Blocks as Entities module essentially gives developers to build components to which various fields can be added. So each component can have different fields and capabilities, which delivers another level of freedom to the content editors. They can add articles, move them around, move them up and down, and so on. Components also can be built to automatically pull in articles or content pieces that belong to a specific category or have specific tags., using Taxonomy terms. Other ideas for components include where different types of content types can be pulled in, not just articles, but videos and photo galleries as well.
This essentially means a content editor now has the full flexibility to choose not just how the content should be presented, but also have a format to pull in relevant content automatically. Which means while they use a highly usable field format to choose their options, the D8 backend is running a smart query to bring them the information they want to render on the site. It may not sound much to a small website with limited content. But for a media company that went digital in the nineties, that's gigabytes of content that needs to be around and used when needed.
With the vastly improved Paragraph module in Drupal 8, content editors can add a host of content types inline very easily, and edit each element right there. Adding related content inline can be a messy task, as most content authors know, and they often have to rely on the development team to get the layout fixed.
Migration of data was a big challenge, as the client's websites have data going back to the mid-90s. The migration was planned in such a way that training of editors on the new Drupal 8 platform happened at the same time, without impacting the experience of the editors in any way.
Srijan exported the data from the proprietary platforms using XML and CSV formats. For migration from Drupal 7 to D8, a custom module was written.
Image Optimization: We found that high resolution image use was widespread on the websites, as the existing CMSs were not set up to auto optimize the images. So in the migration process, we used the GD2 image manipulation toolkit to optimize image size without degrading the image quality while also considering retina displays.
De-Duplications: There was no set process for using images and multimedia files. This led to the same images being uploaded multiple times to the CMS, often with different names, so it was challenging to even identify them. Storage needs as well as costs were increasing.
Srijan did a deduplication effort for this. Instead of identifying an image with its name, it is now identified in the binary form. Only unique images and files were retained in the system. Now if an editor attempts a re-upload of an image, the system will alert her about it and she can use the existing one for her story.
Since reducing costs was a major goal for the client's team, we also moved their storage setup to Amazon S3 from their existing setup.
Content categorization: Over time the websites saw a huge number of categories being created, even though they already existed in the CMS. This impacts the quality of search results as well as creates confusion for editors. Srijan reviewed the categories along with the client's business team and decided upon the unique set of categories to retain, and migrated the legacy articles with the new categorization rules.
Migration and training, simultaneously: Since the project had strict deadlines, the migration process had to happen in hand with the training of editors on the new platform. This essentially meant that any migration work that happened was not to have any sort of impact on the user experience of the editors who were learning to use the new website before the go-live. With every phase of migration, we had to ensure that the unique content IDs for the content being pulled into the components remained the same. This was done using the Migrate module.
Reusable migration code across brands: Srijan's migration team followed the migration strategy recommended for D8, and the code was developed as re-usable plugins to process the data. These re-usable plugins were developed as part of the core profile of the client, which was extended/overridden at the brand level to satisfy brand specific use-cases. This approach helped the migration team in running the migration of multiple brands in parallel with less and reusable code, and better efficiency.
Srijan is working with leading global enterprises, leveraging Drupal, data science and analytics, AI, machine learning, and chatbots to create tailor-made business solutions. Our teams work closely with digital experience leaders and other enterprise stakeholders; helping implement the right technologies, enhance omni-channel customer experience, and drive higher sales and conversion.
Wish to create a scalable, unified platform for rapid rollout of brand websites? Let's start the conversation and explore how Srijan can help.


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UP Renews 'Bulloch Family Ranch'
UP cable network has greenlit a second season of its unscripted series Bulloch Family Ranch, network officials announced Tuesday.
The series, which chronicles the lives of a working class couple that has raised more than 25 kids -- most of whom were troubled teens the couple took in, will return for a seven-episode, sophomore season in 2014, said network officials
"In its successful first season, Bulloch Family Ranch spectacularly delivered on UP's promise to bring our viewers emotionally compelling real-life stories as part of our uplifting unscripted series slate," said Leslie Glenn Chesloff, executive vice president of programming in a statement. "It was the highest-rated series premiere in UP's nine-year history, and as such, we are thrilled to bring the show back for a second season in 2014."
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The wait is over – the PlayStation 4 is finally here. After having spent some time with it, we're pleased to report that thus far, it is better in almost every way than its predecessor. It is cheaper relative to the competition than the PS3 was at launch; it's easier to make games for thanks to its brand-new PC architecture that replaces the PS3's proprietary hardware, and its controller is easily the most comfortable and nice-to-hold one Sony has come up with yet.
First impressions are extremely good: the console's sleek looks, solid controller and clear commitment to gaming show a maturing Sony that is putting gamers and developers first, which should have a positive effect on how developers view the console and the games gamers will get to play on it down the line.
But as good as the console's fundamentals are, the PS4 isn't quite perfect. Sony has left out features that would make it a contender for space in every living room and not just those inhabited by gamers. Perhaps these will be added in future updates, or maybe Sony has other plans for that space that will only be clear as the years pass; right now, the PS4 is just a games console, and while it's a good one, it's not yet clear if that's going to be enough to carry it through the next ten years. Just as worrying is a fairly weak launch game line-up, with none that offers an experience that can't be had elsewhere.
For the moment, though, being a games console should be enough for anyone looking to dip their feet into the future of gaming, as the PS4 has a lot to offer despite these negatives. Let's take a closer look at it.
The PS4 looks pretty sleek, with its angled lines and minimalistic fascia. As per our first impressions, the entire console is small and almost square-shaped, making it only slightly bigger than the latest PS3. It's also quite low, and should fit underneath most modern HDTVs that have stands.
The Power and Eject buttons are tiny slivers that respond to the merest touch, and immediately above these is a light bar that shows you when the console is powered on, when there is a problem that needs addressing and when the console is in standby mode.
On the back are all-digital ports: an HDMI input, an optical output, an Ethernet jack and a power port. There is also an auxiliary port for the PlayStation Camera accessory (sold separately).
On the front of the console are two USB ports that can be used to charge the PS4's controllers, even when the console is in standby mode. While the PS4 doesn't support external storage at the moment, Sony is rumoured to be adding support for it via these USB ports in a future update.
The PlayStation 4 uses a custom-built eight-core processor that was built together with AMD, and a Radeon graphics chip based on AMD's advanced Graphics Core Next architecture. As this is essentially a PC part, games can be developed for the PS4 without developers needing custom hardware, as was the case with the PS3.
Vital to the PS4's survival through the next ten years or so is its memory stores. Sony has given it 8GB of GDDR5 memory that can be shared between the processor and graphics chip, which is sixteen times more than the PS3 had and the key to allowing developers to do things with their games that simply wasn't possible with the PS3.
On the storage side, the PS4 comes with a user-replaceable 500GB hard drive. This might prove insufficient down the line, however, with every PS4 game requiring an installation, but as it can be upgraded with bigger drives with little hassle, that shouldn't be a major issue.
The optical drive is a Blu-ray drive. That means the PS4 can play back Blu-ray movies, and accommodate games that take advantage of the medium's large (50GB+) storage capabilities.
The PS4's Dualshock 4 controller is nothing short of a piece of art. It's form meets function in the best possible way, marrying just the right amount of weight with a comfortable design that sits almost perfectly in the hand.
Sony has retained many of the elements of its trademark controller design, but has redesigned the grips to be much more comfortable to hold for hours on end and removed entirely all of the Dualshock 3's awkward sharp edges. The triggers now have concave indentations, and the shoulder buttons are easier than ever to reach and press.
For the first time ever, Sony has nixed the Start and Select buttons, replacing them with Share and Options buttons. Both buttons are rather awkwardly-placed on the controller, though, although that also means they won't be accidentally bumped either.
Sharing is caring
The Share button lets you take screenshots and videos of whatever you're playing or doing on the PS4, and upload it to the internet using Twitch and Ustream for video and Facebook and Twitter for images. Movie-streaming requires quite a beefy internet connection with a decent upload speed, though – we tried it with a 2mb ADSL line (512kbps upload) and it just wasn't smooth for anyone watching. Quality settings had to be set to low before performance improved.
Streaming isn't the only way you can share your PlayStation 4 experience with others. The PS4 records the last few minutes of gameplay to a buffer, and at any point you can press the Share button to access that video. You can then do some basic editing and upload the results online. You can also manually start the video-capture process by double-pressing the Share button, and add your own commentary by enabling audio capture via the included microphone.
Being able to share – and the fact that sharing is available to all PS4 owners, not just those with PlayStation Plus subscriptions – may well be the key to the PS4's long-term success as it makes capturing amazing gaming moments just that much easier. The only complaint we have about it is that it's slow: the PS4 does a lot of thinking while it loads the sharing interface, resulting in shares taking anything from 30 seconds to a minute to complete.
Three Radical Changes
One of three radical changes to the new controller is the large blue LED light affixed to its front. This is tracked by the PlayStation Camera and used to do all kinds of cool augmented-reality tricks, apparently, like interface with the Playroom demo that ships with the console and set multiple players apart when gaming with friends; we couldn't test it ourselves as our test PS4 didn't come with a camera, unfortunately.
Because of this LED, the Dualshock 4 controller doesn't last as long as the Dualshock 3 before needing a recharge, although to be fair we still managed just over eight hours before it died for the first time. Being able to recharge the controller while the PS4 is in standby mode was a real bonus, as we didn't need any third-party recharge station or to leave the PS4 on overnight as we've been doing with our PS3s all these years.
The second change is the addition of a touchpad that adds mouse-like features to some games, although ironically it doesn't let you control the cursor in the PS4's browser. It does let you move around Assassin's Creed IV's map, for example, although this didn't feel nearly as smooth or as easy to control as just using the analogue sticks.
The third major addition is a tiny speaker that occasionally puts out sound to immerse you in games just that little bit more. We didn't find it to be particularly noticeable, but it's there, at least.
Overall, the Dualshock 4 is by far the best controller we've ever handled from Sony or anyone else, an opinion that only solidified the more we used it.
The PS4's interface is clearly rooted in Sony's UI design philosophy, so it doesn't stray too far from that of the PS3. Like the PS3's interface, it also manages to feel a little cluttered and busy, with no real way to arrange what you're looking at in a way that makes more sense to you.
The main line of options starts with What's New that shows what you and your friends have been up to on your PS4s recently. It tells you what trophies have been unlocked and what friends have been playing, and it can get incredibly crowded if you have a lot of friends that play a lot of games.
Then there's Live from PlayStation. This option is one of the most interesting, as it's here you can tune in to other people's live broadcasts of what they're doing on their PlayStation 4s. You can simply watch them play, or comment on their activity. It's a neat addition that really makes you feel like you're part of a community. Video quality is determined by the speed of your internet connection.
The PS4 also has a browser, but it's fairly basic and doesn't come with Flash installed by default. You'll also see an icon for The Playroom as it comes with every PS4; it's only useful if you have the PlayStation Camera accessory, otherwise all you can do is watch a video Sony has put together that shows what The Playroom is all about.
TV & Video is the next option, although it didn't make a lot of sense: all we could do was download and install IGN's PlayStation 4 app that linked to a bunch of its video content. There is no option here to play music or videos stored on PCs on your home network as Sony has not given the PS4 DLNA support, so you won't be able to use it as a media player like you could the PS3 which is a rather big disappointment, and a severe blow to anyone hoping to set the PS4 up as their all-in-one living-room entertainment system.
The last icon is for your Library, which is just a record of everything you've downloaded and installed that isn't a game.
Interspersed among these options are icons representing the games you've played recently, as well as one for the game currently in the PS4's drive. It's not too bad now, with only a handful of games out for the PS4, but when your library inevitably grows, the amount of icons that will clutter this view is going to get a little crazy unless Sony cleans the interface up a little.
Above this line of options you'll find the more utilitarian ones, like system settings, notifications and the PlayStation Store. Trophies are here as well, and they have been arranged in a pleasing manner, with all of your bronze, silver, gold and platinum trophies on display. You can also compare trophies with friends here.
In all, the interface works reasonably well, but it's not the most polished UI we've ever seen. We hope Sony works to improve it in the coming months.
Neat tricks
Part of addressing criticisms levelled at the PS3 required Sony to kick things up a notch and do things differently with the PS4, like so:
The console can download system and game updates in the background now, even when it's in standby mode, and all you have to do is enable it in the options. Go to Power Saving Settings, Set Functions Available in Standby Mode and choose Connect to the internet, and the PS4 will ensure it's always up to date without you having to keep it powered on all the time.
These new power management features also let you charge your Dualshock 4 controllers while the PS4 is in standby mode. To enable it, you must select Supply Power From USB Ports in the same Set Functions Available in Standby Mode menu.
While all games now require some sort of installation, the PS4 only needs to install a small amount of data before the game can be launched; the full installation continues in the background while you play. This is the promised "streaming" feature Sony talked about in its press briefings earlier this year.
The most pressing questions on most gamers' minds are probably all about the games, and we're pleased to report that the games we've been able to test – Call of Duty: Ghosts, Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag, Knack, LEGO Marvel Super Heroes, Resogun and Killzone: Shadow Fall all look amazing on the PS4. That is to say they look like they're running on a PC in terms of detail and smoothness. Since we've played a lot of Assassin's Creed IV on the Xbox 360, we're particularly impressed at the fact that there's hardly a jagged edge to be seen on the PS4 version, textures are crisp and clear and the visuals are smooth no matter what's happening on-screen.
That being said, the visuals on offer are not quite the next-generation leap we were hoping for, it's more like they've finally caught up to where PCs have been for a while now. PC games still look and perform better because high-end PC hardware is more powerful than what the PS4 has to offer, and that gap is only going to widen as time goes by.
As good as the games we've seen look, ultimately the line-up isn't all that impressive. The multi-platform games look better here than on either the Xbox 360 or PS3, of course, but other than their visuals, they don't exactly bring much new to the table for being on the PS4. Sadly none of Sony's exclusives we've seen, Resogun, Killzone: Shadow Fall or Knack are so amazing that they have us recommending you get a PS4 just to play them.
Killzone is a good-looking game to be sure, but it's not a mind-blowing leap into next-gen in any other way, and Knack, although it tries hard, falls flat as a platformer with its repetitive gameplay, annoyingly-spaced checkpoints and often-unfair difficulty. Resogun, a downloadable game is the PS4's shining jewel thanks to its gorgeous graphics and explosions, but even that requires that you love side-scrolling shooters in order to recommend owning a PS4 just to play it.
Overall, the PS4's game line-up is solid, but there are no titles in there yet that we'd call a "system seller", which is a bit of a disappointment. Still, it's nice to see consoles have finally caught up with PCs, at least in terms of presentation, and we're looking forward to seeing what developers are going to do with Sony's new hardware in the coming years. For a closer look at the games' graphics, as captured using the PS4's Share feature, check out the slide show below.
While we haven't been able to test the full range of what the PS4 offers due to the absence of the PlayStation Camera, we're confident that what we have seen of the PS4 makes it an excellent addition to the PlayStation family nonetheless. It also has the potential to be even better in the coming years as developers get to grips with its capabilities, and the PS4 equivalent of The Last of Us – a game so good it's worth the price of the PS3 on its own – arrives.
It's just a pity that the game line-up is, at this point, a bit on the underwhelming side. The absence of any media-streaming options is likewise a bit of a worry, especially as the battle for the living room is only going to heat up in the years to come. Fortunately that can be patched in at a later stage, but for now, we remain a little disappointed with the PS4's lack of multimedia playback options.
At this early stage of the PS4's lifespan, our recommendations are thus: if you absolutely can't live without trying the latest Killzone or you pride yourself on being an early adopter, then you should definitely pick up a PS4. If that's not the case, you might be better-served holding off on your purchase until the PS4's game line-up and media-streaming options improve.
Sony's best controller yet
Compact, attractive design
Sharing screenshots and videos is cool
Gorgeous visuals
Disappointing game line-up
No media streaming options
Smooth streaming needs a fast internet connection
Sharing isn't quick
Graphics: 9/10
Controller: 9.5/10
User Interface: 6/10
Game Line-up: 4/10
Overall: 7/10
And if you really want more, here's Christo's hands on video from a few weeks back.


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Style Squared Tote Bag
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- Exterior: 100% Polyurethane. Interior: 100% Polyester.
- Measures 15.5 x 11.5 x 5 inches. Removable shoulder strap is adjustable.
- Magnetic snap closure. Two interior open pockets. One interior pocket with zipper closure.
- Imported


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Omega-3 poly-unsaturated fatty acids from microalgae
- Identification
- How does it work?
- What can it be used for?
- What can it not be used for?
- Implementation
- Related Facilities
- Further Information
|Key words
|omega-3 poly-unsaturated fatty acid, microalgae, health benefit, supplementation, fish oil, extraction
|Latest version
|Completed by
|KU Leuven LFT
How does it work?
|Primary objective
|Production of long-chain poly-unsaturated omega-3 fatty acids (eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acid) through autotrophic cultivation and harvesting of microalgae, followed by lipid extraction and processing with the aim of supplement preparation.
|Working principle
| Microalgal biomass is a rich source of omega-3 poly-unsaturated fatty acids (omega-3-PUFA), of major interest to the food industry, as well as for the nutraceutical and pharmaceutical sector, because of their health benefits (1,2). After all, in many Western countries, the current average intake of omega-3-PUFA is below the recommended level, which raises interest in food enrichment or dietary supplementation with omega-3-PUFA.
Currently, the main commercial source of omega-3-PUFA is fish oil. However, several problems are associated with these oils: unpleasant odor, contamination with heavy metals, as well as increasingly stringent regulation of fisheries. The use of selected microalgae as a source of omega-3-PUFA can help to overcome these limitations.
Autotrophic omega-3-PUFA-rich microalgae (e.g. Phaeodactylum sp., Nannochloropsis sp., Isochrysis sp., Porphyridium sp., ...) can be grown in open ponds, but are usually cultured in closed photobioreactors. Species are selected based on their omega-3-PUFA synthesis potential and the ease and reproducibility with which they can be cultured at a high productivity.
Culturing conditions, including air and light, can be fine-tuned in order to optimize the omega-3-PUFA formation during photosynthesis (depending on the type of omega-3-PUFA aimed at and the organism worked with). Microalgae are typically harvested through centrifugation, although other techniques can be used as well (e.g. membrane filtration, flocculation, ...). Today, the oil is mostly extracted with hexane or other solvents in combination with mechanical cell disruption, such as bead milling. Alternatively, pulsed electric field processing, ultrasonic energy, microwaves, enzymes or supercritical fluid extraction can be applied, although not yet at an industrial scale (6). Omega-3-PUFA are further concentrated (e.g. using urea fractionation) and purified (e.g. HPLC) from this extract (3).
|Additional effects
|In addition to use of single-cell oil, whole biomass can be used as a source of omega-3-PUFA in food or feed.
|Important process parameters
|culture conditions (light/dark, temperature, oxygen concentration, nutrients present, batch/continuous, renewal of organisms, ...) and extraction technique. Low temperatures and high CO2 concentration tend to augment the Omega-3-PUFA production.
|Important product parameters
What can it be used for?
| Functional foods, infant nutrition, neutraceuticals, ...
Application of microalgae has been demonstated in functional biscuits (4)
|Centrifugation, flocculation, filtration, extraction, purification, , ….
|Solutions for short comings
|This technology replaces traditional oils rich in omega-3-PUFA, such as fish oil, that is characterized by unpleasant odor, contamination with heavy metals, as well as increasingly stringent regulation of fisheries.
What can it NOT be used for?
|Products that need to be stored in aerobic conditions.
|Heating, oxidation
|Other limitations
| Currently, two main drawbacks can be identified:
|Risks or hazards
|Although some microalgae are known to produce toxins, careful selection of species will certainly overcome this hazard.
|Currently, singe-cell oils from heterotrophically cultivated microalgae are on the market. For photoautotrophic microalgae, scale-up of cultivation is possible, however currently rather expensive.
|Modularity /Implementation
|This is a completely different production process as compared to production of fish oil. Cultivation and harvesting processes need to be implemented. Extraction and further downstream processing conditions need to be optimized.
|Consumer aspects
|Consumer acceptance is not expected to be a hurdle.
|Legal aspects
|Few microalgae species are currently approved by EFSA.
|Environmental aspects
|Use of microalgae as a source of omega-3-PUFA can be beneficial to the environment, as this can help to overcome problems of overfishing.
Facilities that might be interesting for you
Further Information
|KU Leuven KULAK Aquatic biology, Institut für Getreideverarbeitung, UAL chemical engineering
|Ingrepro, SBAE-industries
| 1. Cardozo, Guaratini, Barros, Falcao, Tonon, Lopes, CamposTorres, Souza, Colepicolo, Pinto (2007). Metabolites from algae with economical impact. Comparative biochemistry and physiology Part C 146, 60-78.
2. Chacon-Lee,Gonzalez-Marino (2010). Microalgae for Healthy Foods: Possibilities and Challenges. Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety 9, 655-675.
3. Robles Medina, Molina Grima, Giménez Giménez, Ibanez Gonzalez (1998). Downstream processing of algal polyunsaturated fatty acids. Biotechnology advances 16(3), 517-80.
4. Gouveia L, Coutinho C, Mendonca E et al. (2008) Functional biscuits with PUFA-omega 3 from Isochrysis galbana. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture 88, 891-896.
5. Mercer, P. and Armenta, R.E. (2011) Developments in oil extraction form microalgae. Eur.J. Lipid Sci. Technol. 113, 539-547.
culture conditions (light/dark, temperature, oxygen concentration, nutrients present, batch/continuous, renewal of organisms, ...) and extraction technique. Low temperatures and high CO2 concentration tend to augment the Omega-3-PUFA production.
not applicable 2.1.2 chemical, biological conversion, other biotechnology Web of science, microalgae, omega-3 poly-unsaturated fatty acids WikiSysop :Template:Review document :Template:Review status


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A CAPA Study Abroad Alumna Interview with Erica Bergmann
Meet Erica Bergmann, a second time study abroader from the University of Massachusetts Amherst who spent spring semester of 2016 on the CAPA Sydney program. Below, she talks about her exciting plans after she graduates next month, shares her favorite foodie experiences from the Land Down Under and talks about travel - where she's been, a few tips and the benefits and downsides of traveling solo versus with friends.
CAPA WORLD: Tell us a bit about yourself
ERICA BERGMANN: I'm a senior graduating this upcoming May from the University of Massachusetts Amherst pursuing a specialized Bachelor's Degree of Individualized Concentration in International Relations with a Focus on Germany. Additionally, I will have completed minors in both German Studies and Political Science. I'm an overachiever, I know. I studied abroad with CAPA in Sydney, Australia in the Spring of 2016 and partook in an internship with DEC PR & Communications.
CW: Why did you choose the CAPA program and why Sydney specifically? What was interesting about your program?
EB: I chose the CAPA program because I jumped at the opportunity to gain valuable international work experience tailored to my studies and professional interests. Most jobs and requirements for even applying to work these days relies heavily on past experience and knowledge. I've also always dreamed of the opportunity to visit the Land Down Under and meet up with some Australians I had previously life-guarded with through the Camp America program. Plus, Sydney is a pretty cool and globalized city to explore, work, and live as a 20-year-old!
CW: This was actually your second study abroad trip. Where did you go the first time? How did your experiences compare?
EB: I also studied abroad at the Universität Mannheim in Fall 2015 but ended up living in Frankfurt, Germany with my native boyfriend at the time and his family, which was pretty sweet. I only had classes two days a week (Monday and Tuesday) so I would enjoy traveling pretty much for the remainder of the week or hang out and wander around in Frankfurt. I would say my time in Australia was probably more significant towards my professional experience I gained through working as an intern in a prominent global city.
CW: Where else have you traveled beyond Germany and Australia? Any tips for fellow wanderlusters?
EB: My first semester spent in Germany I went to the following countries and cities…
- (Germany): Mannheim, Deidesheim, Heidelberg, Frankfurt, Mainz, Berlin, Darmstadt, Stuttgart, Hannover, Cologne, Munich, Nuremberg
- (Netherlands): Amsterdam, Maastricht
- (Austria): Vienna, Salzburg
- (Czech Republic): Prague
- (Spain): Mallorca
- (France): Paris
My second semester abroad in Australia I went to the following countries and cities…
- (Bali, Indonesia): Kuta, Legian, Seminyak, Ubud, Uluwatu, Denpasar
- (Thailand): Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket, Phi Phi
- (Australia): Sydney, Byron Bay, Nimbin, Ballina, Bondi, Manly, Como, Sutherland, Coogee, Cronulla, Port Stephens, Hamilton Jervis Bay, Airlie, Whitsunday Islands
One tip I do have for travelers and students going abroad is to check out and use Skyscanner.com to compare flights, hotels, and car rentals from a collective variety of other travel websites to choose the best or most affordable offers you can find. Bali and Thailand were extremely cheap places to travel to from Australia and get the best bang for your buck!
CW: What are some of the benefits and downsides of traveling solo v. traveling with friends? Any tips for either type of adventure?
EB: Some of the benefits of traveling solo include: you get to plan your own trip and choose where you want to go and what you want to see, you can spend as much time as you want to do select activities, don't have to depend on other people wasting time or causing delays.
Some of the downsides of traveling solo include: not wanting to go out late at night alone amongst strangers in a foreign country, periods of loneliness and having to have meals by yourself, not having a travel companion or group to share the experience with.
Some of the benefits of traveling with friends include: having travel companions to share and enjoy the experience with, having a trustworthy friend to go out and stay with, and it can be less expensive to share travel costs.
Some of the downsides of traveling with friends include: depending on other people to be on time and maintain a positive attitude, disagreements on where to go and what to see while traveling, and being responsible for other people.
CW: Let's talk about everyone's favorite topic: Food! Where were your favorite places to eat while in Sydney? Did you try any foods you never had before? Anything you miss now that you're back in the US?
EB: I LOVE FOOD!!! My all-time favorite place to go with my friends after a long day at Bondi Beach was Thaiinabox. The Thai massaman, green, red, and panang curries there are to die for. Another spot I really liked to go to for a really fresh brekkie was at Scari Berri along Bondi Beach where I've gotten awesome acai bowls and avo toasties. Other than along the beach in Bondi, the CBD and Newtown also had some pretty cool and interesting restaurants and cafes to check out. The CAPA food crawl we went on in Newtown was pretty sweet too so I definitely would not miss out on that!
CW: One of the main draws students tend to have toward Sydney is the incredible beaches! Any favorites? Any to stay away from? What's important to remember when you're enjoying the beaches?
EB: The beaches in Sydney are absolutely breathtaking. I do have to admit that Bondi Beach, probably the most famous and touristic beach in Australia, was my personal favorite. It was the closest beach to get to from work and where we lived in Ultimo, plus the beautiful coastal walk from Bondi to Coogee was there too! The Coogee Pavillion overlooking Coogee Beach was one of my favorite places to go out and meet other Australians at night.
Other beach tips: I would say use lots of sunscreen, and be aware of the rip tides at beaches which can pull you in and drag you out to sea if you are not careful!
CW: What do you see yourself doing when you graduate? Did your experience abroad in any way shape your career goals and aspirations? If so, how so?
EB: After I graduate this upcoming May, I plan on traveling with three other students that did the CAPA Sydney program with me last Spring from the University of Pittsburgh and the University of Delaware. Collectively as a group, we really want to explore Italy, Croatia, and Greece, especially since we never had the chance to visit these countries before. But before I satisfy my wanderlust cravings, I would like to have a job lined up having to do with international business or global growth and development in New York, Boston, or California.
CW: Where were the places you carved out as "Your Sydney" - the places you found outside of the tourist sites, the places that were most meaningful for you? What was special about them?
EB: Obviously, I would have to admit that all of the touristic places like the Sydney Opera House, the Harbour Bridge, the Bondi-Coogee Coastal Walk, and all of the beaches I went to were meaningful to me. The CAPA sleepover at the Taronga Zoo was also a unique experience that I will never forget. After all, how often do you get to tell people that you woke up in zoo?! Sydney will always be one of my favorite cities in the world and I cannot wait to have the opportunity to go back and visit Australia again someday
CW: What changes have you seen in yourself since you began your study abroad program? What has your experience taught you about yourself, the world around you and some of the larger global issues we face today?
EB: I have learned a lot through reflecting on my experience from studying abroad not just once, but twice, within two very distinct continents while traveling among a variety of countries and different cultures. I am much more independent, proactive, and now have a bad case of the travel bug after living abroad for over 10 months. It made me realize more of what interests me on the international scale, as well as how I am now able to utilize my knowledge of intercultural communication and understanding with others.
Thanks Erica!
Want to connect with Erica and ask what it's like to study abroad?


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Find flight deals with WestJet that will take you to one of the most congenial and musically-inclined places in Tennessee. We know Ryman Auditorium, The Johnny Cash Museum and Fontanel Mansion are amongst the things you can't wait to see, which is why at WestJet, we're dedicated to getting you from Abbotsford to Nashville.


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Monthly Business Meeting for the Shire of Caer Adamant. All are welcomed to attend. Modern clothing worn.
Contact the Seneschal, Baron Adolphus Benner, at:
firstname.lastname@example.com or (302) 272-0413 with any questions.
The meeting takes place at 12:00 pm prior to Fighter Practice at Glasgow Park, Newark, DE 19702.
If the weather is inclement, check with the Seneschal directly to see if the meeting is still there or moving to the Bear Library beginning at 1:00 p.m.


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Home > Shop > Button Hook With Zipper Pull
Button Hook With Zipper Pull
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A handy device for securing buttons and fastening zips, the Plastic Handle Button Hook and Zipper has a loop hook at one end for buttons and a C hook at the other for zips. It is ideal for people who have limited mobility or the use of only one hand.
- 200 mm in length.
- Weighs less than 50 g.
- Dressing aid that helps users with arthritis or a weakened grip to fasten buttons and zippers.
- Can be used with the majority of buttons and zips.
- Lightweight and attractive design is ideal for travel.
- Easy to use.
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Posted on :
23 Sep, 2015
23 Sep, 2015
Petra Diamonds is committed to develop and expand South Africa's skills base by offering this bursary programme.
To this end Petra provides an opportunity for South Africans to acquire qualifications and skills to develop a career in the mining industry and make a positive contribution to South Africa.
Petra Diamonds offers bursaries and vocational work experience (internships) in the following fields:
Engineering: Electrical, Mechanical, Mining
Earth Sciences: Geology
The applicant must meet the minimum requirements as set out by Petra Diamonds below.
An application form may be downloaded from Career Wise.
Careerwise will receive, scan and shortlist all applications.
The final selection is made by Petra Diamonds.
The application process for 2016 bursaries closes on 30 September 2015.
Click Here to Petra Diamonds Career Page.


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Left ventricular assist device exchange for the treatment of HeartMate II pump thrombosis
Despite medical successes, left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) continue to have several deficiencies such as infection, bleeding complications, and permanent lifestyle changes for the patient, which need to be considered before implantation (1-7).
With respect to complications in LVAD therapy, pump thrombosis demonstrates the most severe and acute one. Thrombosis most likely occurs due to compliance irregularities with anticoagulation medications, infections which lead to unsteady Coumadin levels, as well as acquired hemostatic disorders (4,8-10). In addition, thrombi might also form as a result of technical difficulties such as surface unevenness of the implanted device.
Because standardized treatment guidelines are missing, pump thrombosis treatment largely varies across centers (11-13). While lysis therapy is widely considered as a first choice, it possesses a high risk of cerebral bleeding as well as embolic stroke. Likewise, a large number of centers are performing LVAD exchange which is expected to treat pump thrombosis. However, this procedure comes at a high risk of thrombus release which may be followed by stroke or bleeding complications.
Within this study, we examine the effects of LVAD exchange for the HeartMate II on the rate of re-thrombosis, complications and outcome of patients.
Patient selection
Between February 2004 and December 2015 more than 600 LVADs were implanted at our institution. Out of those, we retrospectively studied a patient cohort of 65 patients who underwent LVAD exchange (Figure 1). Forty-one patients underwent LVAD exchange due to pump thrombosis. Out of those 16 HeartMate II patients underwent LVAD exchange for pump thrombosis. Twenty-four patients underwent LVAD exchange due to other reasons such as LVAD infection or device malfunction and were excluded from the study. For the performance of this retrospective study the database of a single center was used. All causes of death and adverse events were determined through retrospective examination of medical records.
The LVADs used in this study was the HeartMate II (St. Jude Medical, USA). Other implanted LVADs (e.g., HeartMate 3, Thoratec; MVAD, HVAD HeartWare; HA5, ReliantHeart; other types) and biventricular assist devices and were excluded from the study.
Study design
Data was collected by retrospective electronic medical record review. Endpoints of the study were death, device explantation or heart transplantation. Baseline characteristics were obtained for all patients before LVAD implantation. After LVAD implantation survival results and adverse events were recorded. All causes of death and adverse events were determined through examination of medical records. Because this was a retrospective study, the hospital ethical review board waived the need for patient consent to the study.
Statistical methods
Data collection and analysis were performed retrospectively using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows Version 23.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA). Categorical and continuous variables were summarized as frequencies, percentages and mean/median with interquartile range, respectively. Paired Student's t-test and non-parametric Wilcoxon signed-rank test were used for comparisons across groups of continuous variables, respectively. Survival estimates were calculated by the product-limit method of Kaplan-Meier. Differences across groups were quantified using the log-rank test. Two-tailed P≤0.05 were considered significant.
Operative technique
All patients gave informed consent to the procedure. After echocardiographic assessment of the pump position, a lateral thoracotomy was performed to gain access to the pump corpus. Partial rib resection became necessary in half of the cases. After surgical exploration of the old pump position, the venous and the arterial cannulas of the extracorporeal circulation (ECC) were placed in the femoral artery and vein. The outflow cannula of the LVAD was clamped after the onset of the ECC and the device was turned off, the driveline cut and the pump removed from the thorax. After complete removal of the pump housing from the old ring the left ventricular cavity was carefully inspected and thrombi as well as remaining endothelial tissue were carefully removed to prevent suction events.
Preparation and set up of the new pump was executed according to standard instructions for use (IFU) of the company's protocols.
For HMII, the new pump corpus was connected to the established outflow and inflow cannula. All of the parts of the pump were flushed and de-aired multiple times. Next, the driveline was tunneled through the abdominal wall via standard technique.
After control of surgical hemostasis and inspection of the outflow graft position, a chest tube was placed and the wound was closed. For improved hemostasis during LVAD exchange, all procedures were performed with the use of red blood cells, thrombocytes, fresh frozen plasma and coagulation factors. Intravenous Heparin was started 6 hours postoperatively and administered as a bridge until anticoagulation with phenprocoumon was in the therapeutic range, with a target INR of 2.0–3.0, plus aspirin at 100 mg/day.
Between February 2004 and December 2016, 87 exchanges of LVADs were performed at a single center. Out of those, 41 LVAD exchange were performed due to pump thrombosis (study group). In 24 cases other diagnoses led to LVAD exchange (LVAD infections, technical malfunctions).
In the study group 25 patients (61%) were supported by HeartWare and 16 patients (39%) were supported by HeartMate II.
A total of 9 patient years (3,272 days) were analyzed. Mean days on device until the occurrence of pump thrombosis was 261 days with a minimum of 1 and a maximum of 1,475 days on device (Figure 2).
Detailed baseline characteristics of the study group can be found in Table 1. Preoperative laboratory values are listed in Table 2.
Full table
Full table
In nine patients of the study group (56%) dilative cardiomyopathy was the primary heart disease prior to LVAD implantation. The majority of patients were INTERMACS level III. 0 patients of the study group (0%) were initially classified as NYHA IV prior to LVAD implantation.
All patients showed flow irregularities and increase of power. 26 patients presented with hematuria (63%) out of which 1 patient (6.3%) needed preoperative dialysis.
Average ICU stay was 4.2±6.2 days and average in-hospital stay 35.7±50.8 days after LVAD exchange.
Outcomes after LVAD exchange due to pump thrombosis
The Kaplan-Meier curve in Figure 3 illustrates the patient survival. After thirty days the survival rate was 75.0%, 75.0% after six months and 62.5% one year after LVAD exchange.
Out of the study cohort, two patients have successfully undergone heart transplantation on postoperative day (POD) 102 and 140. One patient underwent successful LVAD explantation due to myocardial recovery on POD 248.
A total of six patients died during the complete one year follow up of this study (29%). Two patients died in the second year after LVAD exchange. The remaining five patients are still ongoing on the device. The longest ongoing patient out after LVAD exchange because of pump thrombosis is on device for more than 7 years as of April 1st, 2017.
Out of the study group a total of 4 patients (25%) underwent a second LVAD exchange.
Two patients underwent a second LVAD exchange because of recurrent pump thrombosis on POD 0 and 133 respectively. Two patients underwent a second LVAD exchange because of device infection on POD 409 and 566.
Causes of death
One year after LVAD exchange, out of 16 patients, 6 patients had died (38%). Main cause of death was multi-organ failure with 5 deaths on POD 1, 15, 18, 204 and 321 respectively. One patient died because of sepsis on POD 4.
Complications and adverse events are listed in Table 3. In the first month after LVAD exchange, five strokes occurred in the study group (31.3%) and one patient presented re-pump thrombosis (6.3%). Five patients required (31.3%) re-operation because of bleeding events. Two patients presented right heart failure (12.5%) and four patients presented with infections, out of which four were non LVAD-related. Dialysis was needed in 4 patients postoperatively (25.0%).
Full table
Six months after LVAD exchange one presented with GI bleedings (9.1%). Two patients suffered from recurrent pump thrombosis.
One year after LVAD exchange, 14 patients underwent re-exchange due to pump thrombosis (34%). Eight patients suffered from a LVAD related infection out of which two patients were treated by pump exchange. Twelve patients suffered a stroke postoperatively (29%). No technical complications of the VAD were recorded in the study group.
Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and free hemoglobin (fHb)
The LDH (U/L) as well as fHb (mg/L) laboratory values in the course of LVAD pump thrombosis are displayed in Figure 4. The fHb as well as the LDH curves show a steep decline. After the sixth month, the curve is decreasing to normal values. LDH levels showed a decrease during the whole study period. With an average LDH value of 395.4 U/L and an average fHb of 93.5 mg/L six months after LVAD exchange. After 1-year average LDH level was 400.2 U/L and average fHb level was 106.3 mg/L respectively.
Pump thrombosis is the most severe and acute complication of LVAD therapy with an emergent need for therapy which has been extensively discussed in the past years. For HeartMate II, Starling et al. reported that pump exchange or death due to pump thrombosis increased during 2011 and 2012, but the level of increase remained small (14-18). A risk factor analysis suggested that a number of patient-related factors contribute to the risk of thrombosis (15). While other centers reported increases thrombosis rates, others reported a steady rate of 2.2% (16). Smedira et al. analyzed a total of 995 thrombosed pumps and also reported an increase in pump thrombosis in 2010, which reached a maximum in 2012, and then plateaued at a level that was reportedly 3 times higher than pre-2010 (17).
Due to the limited therapeutic options, prevention of the development of pump thrombosis is of highest importance. The angle of the inflow cannula plays an important role in thrombus formation by creating un-physiological blood flow patterns (18). High pump speeds ≥9,000 RPMs for the HMII are associated with a lower risk for pump thrombosis according to Maltais et al. (19). Diligent patient education about the use of anticoagulation and strict monitoring (e.g., via CoaguCheck®) improve therapy safety. A recent study suggests a higher pump thrombosis risk for patients BMI >30 kg/m2. Therefore, weight reduction for obese patients should be essential (20). Furthermore, high blood pressure is associated with an increased risk of pump thrombosis (10).
Since atrial fibrillation is a risk factor for thrombus formation and is often associated with a high risk of stroke, a number of studies examined the effects of cardiac arrhythmias on LVAD therapy. Xuereb et al. report no significant effect of preoperative atrial fibrillation on postoperative rates of pump thrombosis or stroke (21). Stulak et al. even showed that Patients with preoperative AF have a lower freedom from thromboembolic events after LVAD implantation (22). Enriquez et al. examined 106 HMII patients and differentiated between paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) and persistent atrial fibrillation (PeAF). They concluded that although PAF is not associated with worse outcome, PeAF may be associated with increased mortality and re-hospitalizations (23). Concomitant cryoablation for tachycardias combined with LVAD implantation has been described before (24) and might be a solution to reduce the risk of pump thrombosis in patients with AF.
Anticoagulation is a major factor in preventing pump thrombosis. Yet, too strict regiments increase the risk of bleeding complications such as GI bleeding or stroke (25). The TRACE study questioned the need of double anti-coagulation in HMII patients to reduce the risk of pump thrombosis. The 1-year results revealed that reducing anti-thrombotic therapies in response to bleeding among HMII patients was achievable but may be associated with a higher risk for device thrombosis (8,9). The recently published 2 years results of this study showed that managing HMII patients with a vitamin K antagonist with a target international normalized ratio of 2.3 without antiplatelet therapy may help to reduce the incidence of major bleeding without increasing the risk of thromboembolic events, including ischemic stroke and pump thrombosis (9).
Koene et al. showed that following HeartMate II implantation HAS-BLED and CHA2DS2-VASc scores of ≥3 conferred significantly higher risks of bleeding and thromboembolic events, respectively (25). Also, a newly developed left ventricular dimension decrement index at optimized speed setting on pre-discharge echocardiography is associated with LVAD thrombosis (26). Therefore, these scores might be useful to detect patients with a high risk of pump thrombosis.
Even though the need for LVAD exchange is a hazardous complication in VAD therapy, it can be used to upgrade a patient to a new generation assist device e.g., HeartMate 3 (27-30). The exchange procedure offers an opportunity to upgrade patients to a new generation pump which offers e.g., advanced reduction of adverse events or longer battery capacities (27). New generation pumps such as the HeartMate 3 trials reported no pump thrombosis in the CE mark study as well as in the U.S. based MOMENTUM study. Debilitating strokes were reported in 8% of the patients in the CE mark study and in 7.9% of the patients in the MOMENTUM trial (31,32). Consequently, exchange to a new generation device should be considered when exchanging an LVAD for pump thrombosis.
Generally, LVAD exchanges are associated with high risk of stroke or air embolism as seen in a perioperative stroke rate of 29% in this study. Therefore, we highly recommend using on-pump techniques in the majority of these cases (33,34). Using the on-pump techniques offers the opportunity to inspect and remove endothelial tissue as well as thrombotic material from the left ventricle (35).
To conclude, the treatment and the prevention of pump thrombosis remain challenging. In general, the question of risk factors for thrombus formation as well as treatment options need to be further assessed with controlled studies and increased patient populations.
Limitations of the study
This study has some limitations. The data is retrospectively collected and analyzed and therefore it is subject to the limitations associated with retrospective studies. All exchange procedures were performed at one institution and therefore generalizability may be limited and affected by institutional experience. The results of surgical studies are prone to learning curves and single center's specific characteristics. Moreover, the study period began several years ago. Therapeutic strategies and increased clinical experience might have improved today's results. Additionally, the number of patients with pump thrombosis was small, which reduces the statistical power and ability to infer positive findings. As such, larger studies need to be done to further study the outcomes after LVAD exchange due to pump thrombosis.
It is generally feasible to treat pump thrombosis of the HeartMate II via LVAD exchange. Yet, the exchange procedure is not without risk and the risk of re-thrombosis, stroke, postoperative dialysis and perioperative complications remains high.
Conflicts of Interest: JD Schmitto receives consultation fees from Thoratec Cooperation. JD Schmitto and G Dogan are consultants for HeartWare Cooperation. The other authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.
Ethical Statement: The study was approved by the hospital ethical review board and the hospital ethical review board waived the need for patient consent to the study.
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