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Children with autism have often been reported to have gastrointestinal problems that are more frequent and more severe than in children from the general population.
Gastrointestinal flora and gastrointestinal status were assessed from stool samples of 58 children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and 39 healthy typical children of similar ages. Stool testing included bacterial and yeast culture tests, lysozyme, lactoferrin, secretory IgA, elastase, digestion markers, short chain fatty acids (SCFA's), pH, and blood presence. Gastrointestinal symptoms were assessed with a modified six-item GI Severity Index (6-GSI) questionnaire, and autistic symptoms were assessed with the Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist (ATEC).
Gastrointestinal symptoms (assessed by the 6-GSI) were strongly correlated with the severity of autism (assessed by the ATEC), (r = 0.59, p < 0.001). Children with 6-GSI scores above 3 had much higher ATEC Total scores than those with 6-GSI-scores of 3 or lower (81.5 +/- 28 vs. 49.0 +/- 21, p = 0.00002).
Children with autism had much lower levels of total short chain fatty acids (-27%, p = 0.00002), including lower levels of acetate, proprionate, and valerate; this difference was greater in the children with autism taking probiotics, but also significant in those not taking probiotics. Children with autism had lower levels of species of Bifidobacter (-43%, p = 0.002) and higher levels of species of Lactobacillus (+100%, p = 0.00002), but similar levels of other bacteria and yeast using standard culture growth-based techniques. Lysozyme was somewhat lower in children with autism (-27%, p = 0.04), possibly associated with probiotic usage. Other markers of digestive function were similar in both groups.
The strong correlation of gastrointestinal symptoms with autism severity indicates that children with more severe autism are likely to have more severe gastrointestinal symptoms and vice versa. It is possible that autism symptoms are exacerbated or even partially due to the underlying gastrointestinal problems. The low level of SCFA's was partly associated with increased probiotic use, and probably partly due to either lower production (less sacchrolytic fermentation by beneficial bacteria and/or lower intake of soluble fiber) and/or greater absorption into the body (due to longer transit time and/or increased gut permeability).
Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) often suffer from gastrointestinal problems [1]. The exact percentage suffering from gastrointestinal (GI) problems varies from study to study and depends on the age of the study population, but there is a general consensus that GI problems are common in autism. Population-based studies which do not directly select or bias their samples are the best way to determine the incidence. In a study of 137 children with ASD, 24% had a history of at least one gastrointestinal symptom, with diarrhea being the most prevalent one -- occurring in 17% of individuals [2]. Similarly, a study of 172 children with autism spectrum disorder found 22.7% were positive for GI distress, primarily with diarrhea and constipation [3]. A characterization study of 160 children with ASD found 59% had GI dysfunction with diarrhea or unformed stools, constipation, bloating, and/or gastroesophageal reflux (GERD)[4]. A study of 150 children (50 ASD, 50 controls, and 50 children with other developmental disabilities (DD)) found that 70% of children with ASD presented gastrointestinal symptoms, compared to 28% of typically developing children and 42% of DD children [5]. Additionally, a study by our group of 51 children with ASD compared to 40 typical controls ages 3-15 found that 63% of children with autism were reported to have moderate or severe chronic diarrhea and/or constipation, vs. 2% of the control children [6]. In summary, these studies demonstrate that GI symptoms are common in autism.
GI problems in children with autism may contribute to the severity of the disorder. Abdominal pain, constipation, and/or diarrhea are unpleasant and likely to produce frustration, decreased ability to concentrate on tasks, behavior problems, and possibly aggression and self-abuse, especially in children unable to communicate their discomfort. These problems also result in a decreased ability to learn toilet training, leading to increased frustration for the child and their parents/caregivers.
The cause of these GI problems is unclear, but it appears to partly relate to abnormal gut flora and possibly to the excessive use of oral antibiotics which can alter gut flora. Several studies by our group and others have reported significantly higher oral antibiotic use in children with autism vs. typical children [6-10]. Oral antibiotics were primarily used for treating otitis media (ear infections), which may suggest an impaired immune system. Commonly used oral antibiotics eliminate almost all of the normal gut microbiota, which play an important role in the breakdown of plant polysaccharides, promoting gastrointestinal motility, maintaining water balance, producing some vitamins, and competing against pathogenic bacteria. Loss of normal gut flora can result in the overgrowth of pathogenic flora, which can in turn cause constipation and other problems.
Finegold et al. 2002 [11] studied fecal samples from 13 children with late-onset autism and 8 controls. They used basic anaerobic culturing techniques to count and isolate microorganisms, followed by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) targeting the 16 S rDNA to identify the isolates cultivated. The number and type of Clostridium and Ruminococcus species in children with autism differed from the control children. Song et al. 2004 [12] followed up this study using quantitative real time PCR targeting Clostridia strains in stool samples of children with autism and found that Clostridium cluster groups I and XI and Clostridium boltae had mean cell counts significantly higher than those of control children. Parracho et al. 2005 [13] used another culture-independent technique, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) targeting Clostridium groups, and reported differences in the gut microflora of children with ASD compared to healthy children. In their study, levels of the Clostridium histolyticum group of bacteria were higher in the ASD children compared to typical children. C. histolyticum bacteria are recognized toxin producers and may contribute to gut dysfunction. Finegold et al. 2010 [14] used a high throughput sequencing technique, i.e., pyrosequencing to investigate gut bacteria in children with autism vs. controls, and found several differences at the phylum level, including higher levels of Bacteroidetes in the severely autistic group, and higher levels of Firmicutes in the control group. Additionally Desulfovibrio species and Bacteroides vulgatus were present in higher numbers in autistic than controls
Treatment studies using a minimally absorbed oral antibiotic (vancomycin) to treat abnormal gut flora showed significant temporary improvements in behavior for children with late-onset autism [15], but the benefits were lost after treatment stopped. This study demonstrated the importance of gastrointestinal flora and the difficulty in permanently normalizing them.
Much focus has been given to the presence and abundance of Clostridium groups in the intestines of autistic children. Finegold 2008 [16] hypothesized that 1) the relapse of some autistic kids after antibiotic treatment is caused by the presence of Clostridium spores, 2) the incidence of autism is related to the widespread exposure to Clostridium spores, and 3) the increase of multiple autism cases within a single family is also related to contact with spores. Finegold also discussed the fact that propionate has been shown to have severe neurological effects in rats [17,18] and Clostridia species are propionate producers [19]. No human studies have been conducted to test whether the relative proportion of propionate and/or its absolute concentration correlates to autistic symptoms. However, studies by MacFabe et al [17] have demonstrated that injecting propionate directly into specific regions of rat brains in vivo can cause significant behavior problems [17,18,20].
There have also been reports of decreased activity of digestive enzymes in children with autism. One study by Horvath and Perman 2002 [21] reported that 44 of 90 (49%) children with autism who underwent endoscopy (because they had significant gastrointestinal problems) had deficiencies in one or more disaccharidase enzymes, especially lactase and maltase. They reported that all of the children with low enzyme activity had loose stools and/or gaseousness.
A recent study of children with autism and their first-degree relatives found that 37% and 21%, respectively, had increased intestinal permeability based on a lactulose/mannitol test, compared to 5% of normal subjects. They also found that autistic patients on a gluten-free, casein-free diet had significantly lower intestinal permeability [22].
In summary, gastrointestinal problems are common in children with ASD and may contribute to ASD behavioral symptoms. However, more research is needed. In this study we investigate some gut flora and biomarkers of GI function in children with ASD compared to typical children. The gut flora investigated include both beneficial and pathogenic bacteria that are easily cultured, but the culture methods used were able to detect only some of the bacteria present, and some anaerobic bacteria such as clostridia were not able to be detected.
This paper reports on the study of children with autism compared to typical children. This study was conducted with the approval of the Human Subjects Institutional Review Board of Arizona State University.
- Participants:
Enrollment criteria
1) Age 2 1/2 to 18 years
2) No usage of any type of antibiotic or antifungal medications within the last month.
3) Autism Group: diagnosis of autism, PDD/NOS, or Asperger's by a psychiatrist or similar professional (no additional assessment was done in this study)
4) Control Group: In good mental and physical health: no stomach/gut problems such as chronic diarrhea, constipation, gas, heartburn, bloating, etc. No Attention Deficit Disorders (ADD/ADHD). Unrelated to an individual with autism (not a brother, sister, parent, aunt, or uncle). Based on parent report (no additional assessment was done in this study).
The characteristics of the study participants are listed in Table 1. They were similar in age, but the control group had a higher percentage of females, and a lower severity of gastrointestinal problems.
Table 1. Characterization of participants.
Study Protocol
1) The study was explained to participants and informed parent consent/child assent was received.
2) Parents filled out a questionnaire on their child's gastrointestinal status. Parents of children with autism also filled out the Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist (ATEC) (Rimland and Edelson 2000) [23].
3) Stool samples were collected and sent by 2-day express shipping to Doctor's Data in a blinded fashion.
Severity Scales
Autism severity was assessed with the Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist (ATEC), an instrument which was designed to provide a quantitative assessment of autism severity. It is composed of four subscales: 1) speech/language/communication, 2) sociability, 3) sensory/cognitive awareness, and 4) health/physical behavior. The sum of the scores for each subscale gives the total ATEC score. The internal reliability of the ATEC is very high (0.94 for the Total score), based on a split-half reliability test on over 1,300 completed ATECs.
Gastrointestinal symptoms were assessed using a modified version of the GI Severity Index [24]. Specifically, we included only the first six items (constipation, diarrhea, stool consistency, stool smell, flatulence, and abdominal pain), but did not include "unexplained daytime irritability", "nighttime awakening," or "abdominal tenderness." We call this shortened version the 6-GI Severity Index (6-GSI).
Lab Methodology
All laboratory measurements were conducted by Doctor's Data (St. Charles, IL, USA - http://www.doctorsdata.com webcite). Doctor's Data is certified by CLIA, the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments program operated by the US Department of Health and Human Services which oversees approximately 200,000 laboratories in the US.
Collection, Preservation & Transport
A single stool sample was collected, and then material was added to 3 collection tubes:
1. Remel Cary Blair Transport Media Tube was used for the transportation, preservation and examination of stool specimens for enteric bacteria. This tube provides a low nutrient, low oxidation-reduction potential and high pH environment which allows for successful recovery of stool pathogens and other organisms of interest. Internal stability studies by Doctor's Data have shown consistent identification and recovery of organisms measured every 2 days for 14 days after collection.
2. Remel SAF Fixative Tube was used to preserve stool and maintain the morphology of the parasites and cellular material.
3. An empty sterile tube was used for Chemistry testing. Stool was frozen immediately after collection, and sent frozen to the laboratory in an insulated container with a frozen cold pack. All samples were verified as frozen on arrival at Doctor's Data.
Bacterial/Yeast Culture, ID & Susceptibility
The process of bacterial cultivation involves the use of optimal artificial media and incubation conditions to isolate and identify the bacterial etiologies of an infection as rapidly and as accurately as possible. For this study we used many growth media including 5% Sheep Blood Agar (BAP), MacConkey Agar (MAC), Columbia Agar (CNA), Hektoen Enteric Agar (HEK), GN Broth, Sab/Dex Gent (yeast media), and Modified Columbia Agar.
The quantification of culture-based methods was done on a scale of 1-4, defined as: 1+ = Rare, 2+ = Few, 3+ = Moderate, and 4+ = Many or Heavy growth of microorganisms. The estimates of recovery are:
0 = no growth, less than 103 colony forming units/gram of feces = 1+ growth
103 - 104 colony forming units/gram of feces = 2+ growth
105 - 106 colony forming units/gram of feces = 3+ growth
> 107 colony forming units/gram of feces = 4+ growth
Colony-forming unit (CFU or cfu) is a measure of viable bacterial or fungal numbers. Unlike direct microscopic counts where all cells, dead and living, are counted, CFU measures viable cells.
The Vitek®2 Gram Negative (GN) identification card was used in conjunction with the Vitek®2 system for the automated identification of microorganisms of the family Enterobacteriacaea. In addition, a select group of glucose non-fermenting gram-negative bacteria, Pasteurella multocida, and members of the family Vibrionaceae can be identified.
The Vitek®2 Gram Positive (GP) identification card was used in conjunction with the Vitek®2 system for the automated identification of microorganisms of clinically significant streptococci, staphylococci, and a selected group of gram-positive bacilli.
The Vitek®2 Gram Negative Antimicrobial Susceptibility Test (GN-AST) card was used in conjunction with the Vitek®2 system for the automated quantitative or qualitative susceptibility testing of isolated colonies for most clinically significant aerobic gram-negative bacilli. The system evaluates each organism's growth pattern in the presence and absence of antibiotics. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) is determined based on growth characteristics.
The Vitek®2 Yeast (YST) identification card was used in conjunction with the Vitek®2 system for the automated identification of most significant yeasts and yeast-like organisms.
Both a concentration method and a trichrome stain were used to identify parasites. The purpose of the concentration method is to separate parasites from fecal debris and to concentrate any parasites present through sedimentation. The parasitology processing and identification procedure is a two-step process. The concentration process is the first step, which uses centrifugation. Ethyl acetate is used as an extractor of debris and fat from the feces and leaves the parasites at the bottom of the suspension. Wet mounts are examined for parasites from the concentrated sediment using iodine as a stain to enhance morphology.
Stained fecal films are the single most productive means of stool examination for intestinal protozoa. The permanent stained smear facilitates detection and identification of cysts and trophozoites and affords a permanent record of the protozoa encountered. The trichrome technique of Wheatley for fecal specimens is a modification of Gomori's original staining procedure for tissue. It is a rapid, simple procedure that produces uniformly well-stained smears of intestinal protozoa, human cells, yeast cells and artifacts.
The parasitology test was used on the first 20 autism samples only, which were all negative. It was then decided to do no additional testing on other samples.
Stool Chemistry Testing
Lysozyme (muramidase) is a protein that belongs to the group of alkaline glycosidases. The main source for fecal lysozyme is the intestinal granulocytes. To some extent, mononuclear cells in the bowel lumen also secrete lysozyme actively. Lysozyme is an enzyme with bacteriocidal properties. It is secreted by recruited macrophages and monocytes at the site of inflammation. Lysozyme is useful in the diagnosis and monitoring of Crohn's Disease and also in bacterial, viral, allergenic, and autoimmune caused bowel inflammations [25,26]. An Enzyme-Linked-Immuno-Sorbent-Assay (ELISA) was used for the quantitative determination of lysozyme in stool, using the Lysozyme ELISA Kit (ALPCO Diagnostics Cat. No. 30-6900) [27].
Lactoferrin: In inflammatory diarrhea, fecal leukocytes are found in the stool in large numbers [28]. Lactoferrin serves as a marker for leukocytes in acute diarrhea. It is very stable and is not degraded during infections by the toxins of pathogens. The purpose of this test is to differentiate between inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and non-inflammatory bowel syndrome (NIBS) [29-31]. The measurement was performed with IBD-Scan® Kit (TechLab®Blackburg, VA) [32].
Secretory IgA (sIgA) is the major immunoglobulin in saliva, tears, colostrum, nasal mucous, mother's milk, tracheobronchial and gastrointestinal secretions [33,34]. It plays a major role in preventing adherence of microorganisms to mucosal sites, in activating the alternative complement pathway, and in activating inflammatory reactions [35]. Fecal sIgA is elevated in a response of the mucosa immune system, an imbalanced immunological barrier on the intestinal mucosa, and in an autoimmune disease [36]. It is decreased in children with sIgA deficiencies. The test was performed with the Secretory IgA ELISA Kit (ALPCO Diagnostics Cat. No. 30-8870).
Elastase: The Elastase enzyme level can be used for the diagnosis or the exclusion of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, which may be associated with chronic pancreatitis, cystic fibrosis, carcinoma of the pancreas, Diabetes mellitus Type 1, Shwachman-Diamond syndrome and other etiologies of pancreatic insufficiency. The test was performed with the Elastase ELISA BIOSERV Kit (Joli Medical Products Inc.).
Short chain fatty acids (SCFA) are the end products of anaerobic microbial fermentation of dietary fiber [37]. Levels thus reflect the concentration of intestinal flora as well as soluble fiber in the diet [38,39]. The SCFA distribution reflects the relative proportions of the beneficial SCFA (n-butyrate, propionate and acetate), thus providing an indirect measure of balance among the anaerobic organisms in the colon. These beneficial SCFA are crucial to the health of the intestine, serving as sources of fuel for the cells and the rest of the body. Decreased levels may reflect insufficient normal colonic flora, a diet low in soluble fiber, or prolonged intestinal transit time [39]. Abnormal level of short chain fatty acids in stool can indicate malabsorption and are used as metabolic markers. Levels of butyrate and Total SCFA's in mg/mL are important for assessing overall SCFA production, and are reflective of beneficial flora levels and/or fiber intake [40].
The "volatile" fatty acids in fecal samples were extracted into an HCl solution and quantified using a flame ionization detector (FID) following separation by gas chromatography(GC) [41,42]. The SCFAs that were measured include acetate, proprionate, butyrate, and valerate. Results were verified to be accurate and precise using quality control.
Statistical Analysis
Several types of statistical analyses were carried out, depending on the research question being addressed. In comparing levels between groups (such as children with autism vs. typical children), 2-sided
- unpaired
In some cases the data was not normally distributed. Those cases included lysozyme, lactoferrin, E. coli, and Enterococcus. For those cases, a non-parametric Wilcox analysis was used to compare the autism group and the typical group.
In addressing questions about the relationships between autism severity and GI severity, correlation analyses were performed.
Beneficial Bacteria
Four types of beneficial bacteria were investigated, including bifidobacteria, Lactobacillus spp. (all strains, since all are beneficial), E. Coli, and Enteroccus - see Table 2. The children with autism had much lower levels of Bifidobacterium (-45%, p = 0.002), slightly lower levels of Enterococcus (-16%, p = 0.05 per Wilcox), and much higher levels of Lactobacillus (+100%, p = 0.00003).
Table 2. Beneficial bacteria from stool analysis.
Dysbiotic Bacteria
Table 3 lists the dysbiotic bacteria, which were observed during aerobic culture growth. Since these bacteria were only observed rarely, the table lists how many individuals had measurable levels of these bacteria, and the average levels of the bacteria. There were no significant differences between the children with autism and the typical children.
Table 3. Dysbiotic bacteria found in stool analysis.
Commensal Bacteria
Some bacteria are not believed to be especially beneficial or detrimental, and we term those commensal bacteria, and list the results for them in Table 4. Since these bacteria were only observed rarely, the table lists how many individuals had measurable levels of these bacteria, as well as the average level. The only possibly significant differences were that the autism group was more likely to have Bacillus spp (21% vs. 2.6%, p = 0.05) and less likely to have Klebsiella oxytoca (1.7% vs. 12.8%, p = 0.04).
Table 4. Commensal bacteria found in stool analysis.
The presence of yeast was determined by both culture and by microscopic observation. Yeast was only rarely observed by culture in the autism or typical groups, and the difference between the two groups was not significant, as shown in Table 5. Yeast was more commonly observed microscopically, but again the difference between the two groups was not significant.
Table 5. Cultured and microscopic yeast.
Elastase, a digestive enzyme, was measured and found to be similar in both the autism and typical groups, shown in Table 6. The presence of fat, muscle fibers, vegetable fibers, and monosaccharides were measured in both groups, and again no significant differences were found.
Table 6. Digestion/Absorption Markers.
Possible markers of inflammation, including lysozyme, lactoferrin, white blood cells, and mucus, were investigated and shown in Table 7. The autism group had a lower level of lysozyme (-27%, p = 0.03 by Wilcox analysis), but no other significant differences.
Table 7. Summary of inflammatory markers found in the stool analysis.
Secretory IgA
Levels of secretory IgA were measured, and no significant difference between the two groups was observed as shown on Table 8. Secretory IgA was highly correlated with lysozyme for the autism group (R = 0.69, p < 0.001), and moderately correlated for the controls (R = 0.35, p < 0.01).
Table 8. Secretory IgA (sIgA) in stool (mg/dL)
Short Chain Fatty Acids
The presence of several short chain fatty acids (SCFA), including acetate, proprionate, butyrate, and valerate were measured. The total amount of SCFA was significantly lower in children with autism (-27%, p = 0.00003). Similarly, the levels of acetate, proprionate, and valerate were also lower in the autism group, as shown in Table 9. The lower level of SCFA's appears to be partly due to probiotic usage (see Effect of Probiotics section below). The low level of SCFA's is also partly due to lower sacchrolytic fermentation by beneficial bacteria, lower intake of soluble fiber, prolonged transit time due to constipation, and/or possibly increased absorption by the gut due to increased permeability. However, from this study we cannot determine among those possibilities.
Table 9. Summary of short chain fatty acids (SCFA's) in stool.
Intestinal Health
The presence of RBC or occult blood was very rare in both groups, and not significantly different between the two groups. The fecal pH, a reflection of colonic pH, was very similar in both groups, although the autism group had a somewhat larger standard deviation, as listed in Table 10. (F-test for equal value p-value = 0.0004).
Table 10. Intestinal Health Markers.
Gender Differences
Gender differences were investigated in the typical group for all of the measurements, and there were no statistically significant differences between males and females, expect for a possibly significant higher level of yeast in the females (p = 0.04). For the autism group, there were too few females to justify comparing the males vs. females.
Effect of Probiotics
The autism group was split into two groups, A-Probiotic (those that used any type of probiotic daily) and those that did not use any probiotics, A-No-Probiotic. The only significant differences (p < 0.01) were that, compared to the A-No Probiotic group, the A-Probiotic group had a lower level of total SCFA's and each individual SCFA - see Table 9 and Figure 1. Probiotics did not have a significant effect on most of the beneficial bacteria, except for a marginally higher level of the level of lactobacillus in the A-Probiotic group compared to the A-No-Probiotic group (+30%, p = 0.08).
Figure 1. Comparison of SCFA's for the Autism-Probiotic group, the Autism-No-Probiotic group, and the controls. Note that the Valerate data is magnified 10x so that it is visible on the chart. The stars indicate the degree of significance of the result of a t-test comparison of the level of SCFA's in the autism subgroup (Probiotic or No-Probiotic) vs. the controls - * p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01, *** p < 0.001.
The A-Probiotic group had a lower level of lysozyme than did the A-No-Probiotic group, but the difference was not significant (277 +/- 231 vs. 371 +/- 302, n.s.). (see Lysozyme section). A t-test comparison of lysozyme in the autism groups with the Control group found a significantly lower level in the A-Probiotic group (31% lower, p = 0.03), but no significant difference for the A-No-Probiotic group (-11%, n.s.).
For the control group, only 5% used a probiotic, so they were not analyzed separately.
Effect of Seafood and Fish Oil Consumption
The autism group was split into three groups based on consumption of seafood and fish oil (see Table 11):
Table 11. Consumption of Fish and Fish Oil.
A- Fish - Consumption of seafood more than 2x/month - (57% also consumed fish oil daily)
A- Fish Oil - No consumption of seafood; consumes fish oil supplement daily
A-No Fish - No consumption of seafood or fish oil
The typical group was divided similarly, but none of the typicals were consuming fish oil regularly.
A t-test comparison of those groups found only two biomarkers which differed between the groups with p < 0.01, namely lactobacillus and pH. Regarding Lactobacillus, the A-Fish Oil and the A-No Fish had similar levels, but the A-Fish had dramatically lower levels than the other two groups. Regarding pH, the A-Fish Oil group had slightly higher pH values than the other two groups.
The control group was split into only two groups, C-Fish and C-No Fish, because none of the controls consumed fish oil (see Table 11). There were no significant differences between the two groups.
Kruskall-Wallis Analysis on Lactobacillus
Since exploratory data analysis with t-tests found that levels of lactobacillus were associated with both fish consumption and probiotic usage, a Kruskall-Wallis rank sum test (which treat the data as the ranked values that they are) was conducted. For the autistic group, Lactobacillus levels were very significantly related to levels of fish consumption (p = 0.0008) and adding other variables (ie, fish oil consumption or probiotics) did not add to the significance of the relationship. No relationships were found for the control group.
Effect of Gut Symptoms in Autism Group
The autism group had significantly greater gut symptoms than the control group in part because the control group was chosen to be "in good health: no stomach/gut problems." To investigate the effect of gastrointestinal problems on the results, the autism group was split into two groups: Low-GI-Problems (defined as 6-GSI of 3 or less) and High-GI-Problems (defined as 6-GSI score above 3). The two groups were compared for all the biomarkers reported above, and there were no significant differences (p < 0.01) in any biomarkers.
However, the ATEC scores of the two groups were very different, and this is reported in Table 12 and displayed in Figure 2. The total ATEC score was 66% higher in the High-GI-Problem group (p = 0.00002), and the four subscales were also higher (+40% to +103%, p < 0.01).
Table 12. ATEC scores for the Autism-Low-GI-Problem group (6-GSI score of 3 or lower) and for the Autism-High-GI-Problem group (GSI-6 score above 3).
Figure 2. Comparison of ATEC subscores for the Autism-Low 6-GSI group (few GI problems) and the Autism High 6-GSI group (many GI problems); the stars indicate the significance (*** p < 0.001, ** p < 0.01).
Correlations with Gut Symptoms and Autism Severity
For the autism group, the 6-GSI was found to strongly and very significantly correlate with the total ATEC (r = 0.60, p < 0.001); see Figure 3. Due to this strong correlation, correlations with the ATEC subscales were also determined and are listed in Table 13.
Figure 3. 6-Item Gastrointestinal Severity Index (6-GSI) vs. total ATEC score.
Table 13. Correlations between total ATEC and subset divisions and total GI Severity.
Correlations of each biomarker of gut status with the 6-GSI and the total ATEC scores were investigated. (However, comparisons with individual bacteria and yeast were not done, since in most samples they were not detected, and the large number of the comparisons made the required per-comparison p-value very low). For the 6-GSI there was a small correlation with carbohydrates (R = 0.27, p = 0.04). For the total ATEC, there was a small correlation with lysozyme (R = 0.29, p = 0.03). However, since multiple correlation analyses were conducted, the cut-off for significance (p = 0.05) should be divided by the number of tests. So, these correlations are at most only possibly significant, and a larger study would be needed to assess this possible weak correlation.
The very strong correlation of the 6-GSI with the ATEC and its subscales indicates that there is a very strong association of gastrointestinal symptoms and autistic symptoms. Of course, association does not mean causation, but the effectiveness of oral, non-absorbable antibiotics in temporarily reducing autistic symptoms [15] does suggest that the relationship may be causal; ie, we hypothesize that gastrointestinal problems may significantly contribute to autistic symptoms in some children.
The lower levels of SCFA's were extremely significant. The A-Probiotic group had much lower levels than the controls (-44%, p = 0.0000002), but the A-No-Probiotic group also had lower levels that the controls (-19%, p = 0.006). This suggests that there are either lower amounts of beneficial bacteria which produce SCFA's, a lower intake of soluble fiber, a longer transit time, and/or increased absorption due to increased gut permeability. The latter possible explanation is very intriguing because of work by MacFabe et al. 2007 [17], which demonstrates that SCFA's can induce autistic-like symptoms when injected into rats. In other words, if lower levels of SCFA's in the stool are due to increased absorption, then this presumably would lead to higher level of SCFA's entering the bloodstream, and hence would exacerbate autistic symptoms. If however, lower levels of SCFA's in the stool are due to lower amounts of SCFA-producing bacteria or low fiber intake, there may not be higher SCFA levels in the bloodstream. So, our results suggest that measurements of SCFA's in blood and/or urine samples are warranted.
Lysozyme is an important part of the immune system, and protects the gut from pathogenic bacteria by enzymatic attack of their cell walls. It is secreted by recruited macrophages, monocytes, and granulocytes at the site of inflammation. Infants fed formula without lysozyme have three times the rate of diarrheal disease [43]. In this study, lysozyme levels were lower in children with autism (-28%, p = 0.04); this difference was significant for the A-Probiotic group, but not for the A-No-Probiotic group. We hypothesize that probiotics provide some limited defense against pathogenic bacteria, and thus decrease the need for the immune system to excrete lysozyme.
The unusually broad distribution of pH in the autistic group suggests that there is a general disregulation of pH, which could affect digestion and bacteria. pH was negatively correlated with lysozyme (R = -0.34, p = 0.01), suggesting that higher pH is associated with lower levels of lysozyme and vice versa. Also, pH was even more strongly negatively correlated with total SCFA (R = - 0.44, p < 0.001), presumably because SCFA's contribute to colonic pH.
The lower amounts of bifidobacteria (-44%, p = 0.002) in children with autism is consistent with a pyrosequencing study [14] that also found lower levels of bifidobacteria (-37%, p = 0.05) in children with autism, and suggests that supplementation with bifidobacteria is worth investigating. The high levels of lactobacillus in the autism group was partly associated with decreased rate of seafood consumption.
It was interesting that dysbiotic bacteria were present at similar (low) levels in both groups. However, it should be noted that many bacteria such as clostridia would not be detected by the culture-based methods used in the present study, except for Clostridium difficile if present at high levels. Feingold's pyrosequencing study [14] estimated that typical children normally have about 500-600 species of bacteria in their gut and estimated that children with autism have about twice that, so it is important to remember that we are only able to culture a small fraction of the species present.
The finding that yeast levels were similar in both the autistic and control group is interesting, as there has been a great deal of speculation that yeast infections are a major problem in autism. Our data indicates that yeast is present at normal levels in the stool of this group of children with autism. A study by Horvath and Perman [21] reported that 43% of children with autism undergoing endoscopies had a positive fungal culture for yeast in their duodenal juice, vs. 23% of age-matched controls with other gastrointestinal problems requiring endoscopies. Since their study involved children with severe enough symptoms to warrant endoscopies, the greater symptom severity may explain some of the difference with our study. Since the survey by the Autism Research Institute of over 25,000 parents' reports that parents find antifungals to be one of the most effective medications for improving behavior [44], our findings are puzzling. It is possible that children with autism are more sensitive to even a normal level of yeast. Also, it is possible that antifungals have other effects, such as reducing inflammation.
Study Limitations
1) The diagnosis of an autism spectrum disorder was made by a qualified medical professional prior to enrollment in the study, but there was no additional verification. Similarly, for the neurotypical children, no additional verification was made beyond the parental report.
2) One limitation of this study is that the children with autism had more gastrointestinal problems, lower fish consumption, more fish oil consumption, and more probiotic usage. This greatly complicated the study analysis, but provided interesting insights into these effects. The results for these subgroups should be interpreted cautiously, if at all, due to the smaller size of the subgroups and potential confounding of fish and fish oil consumption results. Larger, more carefully designed studies are needed to investigate these issues properly.
The strong correlation of the 6-GSI and the ATEC (r = 0.59) strongly suggests that gastrointestinal problems are associated with autism severity. The autism group with low GI problems had much lower scores on the ATEC and each of its four subscales compared to the the autism group with high GI problems.
The autism group had a low level of SCFA's, partly associated with probiotic usage, and probably partly due to either lower sacchrolytic fermentation by beneficial bacteria, due to their relative absence, lower intake of soluble fiber, longer transit time, and/or increased gut permeability.
The lower levels of Bifidobacterium and higher levels of Lactobacillus suggests an imbalance in beneficial bacteria. Increased levels of Lactobacillus were strongly associated with decreased seafood consumption is the autism group (p = 0.0008).
Lysozyme were lower in the autism group compared to controls, and the lower levels of lyszoymes were associated with probiotic usage; it is possible that probiotics decrease the need for lysozyme to be excreted to defend against pathogenic bacteria.
Competing interests
The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
Authors' contributions
JBA was the principal investigator, oversaw the study design, conducted most of the data analysis, and wrote most of the paper. LJJ assisted with participant recruitment, data analysis, and paper preparation. LDP assisted with participant recruitment and data analysis. DQ oversaw the testing at Doctors Data, led the writing of the laboratory methodology sections, and helped with interpreting the results. RAR assisted with statistical analysis and editing the paper. All authors read and approved the final version of the paper.
First and foremost, we thank the many autism families and their friends who volunteered as participants in this research study. We thank the Autism Research Institute for financial support of this study. We thank the Autism Society of Greater Phoenix for assistance with advertising this study. We thank Doctor's Data for providing testing for this study. We thank James Alling for help with study logistics. We thank Jon Pangborn and Sharon McDonough Means for very helpful comments on the manuscript.
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J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr, in press.
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Pre-publication history
The pre-publication history for this paper can be accessed here:


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Article ID: 929427 - View products that this article applies to. NoticeThe update that is described in this article was replaced by a more recent update. To apply the latest update, please click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:935280
July 2007 Windows Vista Application Compatibility Update
On This PageIntroductionWindows Vista Application Compatibility Updates are software updates that address common application compatibility issues in Windows Vista. Microsoft releases Windows Vista Application Compatibility Updates regularly. If you want to immediately install this update, follow these steps:
You may find it easier to follow the steps if you print this article first. MORE INFORMATIONKinds of problems that are resolved by application compatibility updatesWhen you try to install and run certain legacy games or applications in Windows Vista, you may experience one or more of the following symptoms:
Applications that will experience improved support after you install this updateThis update improves support in Windows Vista for the following applications:
How to troubleshoot application compatibility issues that are not resolved by the latest application compatibility updatePerform the following troubleshooting steps if you install the latest version of the application compatibility update, and you still experience application compatibility issues in Windows Vista:
Update informationHow to obtain the Windows Vista Application Compatibility UpdateSelect one of the following methods to obtain the Windows Vista Application Compatibility Update.Method A: (Recommended) Turn on Windows UpdateTurn on the Windows Update feature in Windows Vista. This is the recommended method to receive the latest updates. This method helps make sure that you always receive the latest updates.To do this, follow these steps:
Method B: Check for updates on Windows UpdateIf you do not want to turn on the Windows Update feature, run Windows Update manually. This method will install the latest version of the Windows Vista Application Compatibility Update.To do this, follow these steps:
Method C: Download the Windows Vista Application Compatibility Update from the Microsoft Download CenterThe following files are available for download from the Microsoft Download Center:Collapse this image
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Release Date: May 2008 For more information about how to download Microsoft support files, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: 119591
Microsoft scanned this file for viruses. Microsoft used the most current virus-detection software that was available on the date that the file was posted. The file is stored on security-enhanced servers that help prevent any unauthorized changes to the file.
How to obtain Microsoft support files from online services
If you have any problems when you try to obtain the Windows Vista Application Compatibility Update, you might want to ask someone for help or contact support. For information about how to contact support, please visit the following Microsoft Web site: http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/
How to tell if you have the latest update installedWindows Vista Application Compatibility Updates are delivered by the Automatic Update feature in Windows Vista. You may already have this update installed. To determine whether this update is already installed, visit the following Windows update site, and then click View Update History:http://update.microsoft.com
For more information about the latest application compatibility updates, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
How to obtain the latest Windows Vista Application Compatibility Update and the applications that are included in Windows Vista Application Compatibility Update
Restart requirementYou must restart the computer after you apply this update.Known issues after you install the updateAfter you install this update, a CD device or a DVD device may not work correctly. When you select the device in Device Manager and then view the properties for the device, you may receive the following error message:The software for this device has been blocked from starting because it is known to have problems with Windows. Contact the hardware vendor for a new driver. (Code 48) STATUS Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section. This problem was first corrected in Windows Vista Service Pack 1. The third-party products that this article discusses are manufactured by companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no warranty, implied or otherwise, about the performance or reliability of these products. PropertiesArticle ID: 929427 - Last Review: October 8, 2011 - Revision: 10.0 APPLIES TO
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The Prevention of Torture Bill, 2010: A Briefing DocumentArghya SenguptaUniversity of Oxford Sanhita AmbastFletcher School of Law and Diplomacy Prasan DharHarvard Law School Mihir Naniwadekaraffiliation not provided to SSRN V. NiranjanSeptember 22, 2010 Abstract: The Prevention of Torture Bill, 2010 is a legislation which primarily aims to provide for punishment for acts of torture committed or abetted or consented to, by public servants. As stated both in the Preamble, as well as in the Statement of Objects and Reasons, the ostensible rationale for its formulation is the fulfilment of the requirement of an enabling legislation, necessary if India is to ratify the United Nations Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, 1975 [hereinafter "the CAT"]. Accordingly, the Bill defines torture, prescribes necessary punishment and provides certain procedural safeguards relating to the process of investigation. The precise enumerations of these aspects in the Bill however have attracted considerable popular criticism. In this report, we undertake a detailed legal analysis of the provisions of the Bill, an approach we believe will further inform the already vibrant public debate, and thereby be of significant use to the Hon'ble Committee in suggesting reforms. To this end, we take up each clause in the Bill individually and undertake two specific assessments: First, whether the clause is compliant with CAT, which is the stated purpose of the Bill; secondly, an independent legal analysis of the words and phrases in the Bill, in light of concurrent provisions in criminal law and Supreme Court precedent in this regard. Our analysis indicates that the Bill falls short of meeting India's international law obligations, while at the same time it contains several clauses which are theoretically unsound and may create several undesirable ramifications in practice. On the basis of this analysis, we suggest appropriate amendments to the clauses, which will secure necessary compliance with international law obligations under CAT as well as ensure that interpretive difficulties under domestic law are smoothened to make the provisions in the Bill defensible in theory and efficacious in practice. Number of Pages in PDF File: 43 Keywords: Torture Bill, India, Anti-Torture, Convention against Torture Date posted: October 18, 2010Suggested CitationContact Information
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Oh I know, and we knew that going in. Our main concern before buying the house was the 20 yo unit. Our first offer was for them to replace it. Of course they weren't willing to do that, so we got the warranty knowing we could at least not go with out and not have to drop 5k right off the bat. If the Payne will outlast the Mortgage insurance and get the cars paid off I'll be happy.
The guy convinced me to go with the lower btu by using the car analogy (55 or 75, get there sooner or save gas)
I hope I'm making the right decision. Thanks for all your advice. Great forum!


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Home / Liturgics / Feasts & Saints /
St. John Kochurov
Missionary to America and First Hieromartyr
under the Bolshevik Yoke
Included in this section are the historical accounts of those Saints who labored for the Church here in North America. Icons with scenes from their lives are also available.
Died: October 31, 1917 (Tsarskoye Selo)
Glorification Date: December 3-4, 1994
Commemoration Date: October 31 (repose)


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speak softly and carry a capital letter
Thursday, February 28, 2013
IF ...whisper
speak softly and carry a capital letter
8 comments:
I like the softness in this painting. Your background wash and less pronounced line work (compared to previous paintings) plays well with feminine attributes and the qualities inherent in the IF word. Her lacy bonnet is fantastic! The contrast against her dark, straight hair is very satisfying. It's a lovely piece, Richard.
ReplyDeletei really do not know this person but i like her expression and how she look at us....
wonderful portraitRepliesThanks for the compliment!
...Hester Prynne is the protagonist in Nathaniel Hawthorne's most famous novel 'The Scarlet Letter'. A major novel of the mid 19th century; Hester can be considered the first appearance of what is the 'modern woman' in American literature. Independent and trapped.
An important read for those interested.


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Oakmere, nr. Tarporley
Just 10 miles from Chester, this smartly furnished detached barn conversion with its own hot tub sits peacefully at the edge of extensive private woodland with footpaths and a cycle trail. Delamere Forest offers cycle hire and Go Ape (2 miles), whilst a zoo, Roman Tours, designer outlet and riverboat hire are found in the city of Chester – a short train ride from local Delamere station, as is Manchester. Tatton Park, Blue Planet Aquarium and Stapely Water Gardens are in easy reach and Liverpool's Albert Dock is an hour's drive. Golf, fishing and riding locally. Shop 0.75 miles, dining pubs and cafe within 0.5 miles.


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2nd December 2012, 08:31 AM | #1 |
diyAudio Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Why non magnetic resistors?
I would appreciate feedback on this. Do magnetic resistors really affect the sound even if not located close to a transformer?
2nd December 2012, 08:35 AM | #2 |
diyAudio Moderator R.I.P.
Join Date: Nov 2005
needs iron to be magnetic
there is another thread on this subject but I dont remember where it is |
2nd December 2012, 09:47 AM | #3 |
diyAudio Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Blackburn, Lancs
If they have AC signals going through them they wont be magnetised for long, but as stated there is a long thread on residual magnetism in some passive commponents.
Any components located near a transformer are going to be affercted by the magnetic fields as will any leads PCB's etc so its best to keep stuff away from transformers full stop. As to magnetic components in otherparts of the system, music is AC, and AC demagnetises, you could magnetise things if you played DC though Most things are magnetic to some degree or other, iron based magnetism is ferromagnetism, if I remember correctly this early in a morning. |
2nd December 2012, 03:44 PM | #4 |
diyAudio Member
Join Date: May 2007
Some components have plated steel leads, presumably because it is cheaper than copper. Some people say this affects the sound. My guess is that it does not, except perhaps in some critical positions. It is not something I worry about.
2nd December 2012, 04:06 PM | #5 |
diyAudio Member
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: ..
steel core copper clad wire is simply stronger - makes it easier to handle the lead wire in the part's production where the forces would deform pure copper
likewise many resistors are ceramic rods which have to have endcaps press fit - some use brass/bronze formulations but steel is again cheaper, can have better elastic properties to give more secure press fit as a designer of sensor signal conditioning, industrial instrumentation with decades experience - some at large companies with dozens of other similarly experienced engineers I never heard that this use of steel core wire/endcaps had bad consequences - no one checked for them in design reviews - depending on transducer our measurements were sometimes thermal noise limited they do have to be avoided in MRI or other sensitive mag field measurements |
2nd December 2012, 04:41 PM | #6 |
diyAudio Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: The City, SanFrancisco
We were careful to screen against any magnetic materials in mass spectrometers electronics where trajectories could be effected. Though I personally never saw any performance difference between these units and initial development units built with standard commercial parts where some nickel and other materials were used.
Thanks -Antonio |
3rd December 2012, 11:27 AM | #7 |
diyAudio Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Blackburn, Lancs
Most commercial stuff and medical is SMD these days so the problem of lead material isn't as relevant as it was. These days PTH components are only going to be found in lower end commercial stuff, and where they can afford the labour intensive costs of PTH.
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She was.
That, briefly, is the lawsuit of Dora Saucedo-Falls, once an assistant chief of police for the Dallas Police Department, now a lieutenant after her demotion last November. She's asking for $50,000 in damages and saying police Chief David Kunkle--a defendant in the suit--denied her the chance to clear her name because she's a woman.
Sexual discrimination charge notwithstanding, most of Saucedo-Falls' wrath in the suit is reserved for former police Chief Terrell Bolton and the men who served him. Saucedo-Falls says Bolton knew about the corruption in narcotics as early as 1999, the year he appointed her assistant chief over the division. But Bolton did nothing about it; he placed into power only officers who cloaked the increasingly alarming facts, the suit claims.
Officers such as John Ferguson. Bolton named Ferguson the deputy chief over narcotics shortly after Bolton's tenure began. For Saucedo-Falls, it was a strange choice. "Ferguson had been a Captain-Supervisor in the Narcotics Division in 1998 when a report critical of the Narcotics Division was presented to Internal Affairs," the lawsuit says. "Subsequent to this report, Ferguson was transferred by former Police Chief [Bennie] Click to head the Internal Affairs Division, whereupon Ferguson was permitted to 'investigate' and then ignore the 1998 report of Narcotics Division misconduct," the lawsuit says. (The Dallas Observer could not reach Ferguson, now retired, for comment. Nor could it reach Bolton.)
Saucedo-Falls says that's the way Ferguson worked under her, which is to say he didn't work under her, according to the lawsuit. Reading it, and an affidavit Saucedo-Falls filed in another suit for which she is not seeking damages--this one claiming DPD uses lousy confidential informants--a theme emerges: Dora Saucedo-Falls, victim of her environment.
The reason she couldn't properly oversee narcotics is because nobody--not Ferguson, not former narcotics division head John Martinez or former narcotics supervisors Bill Turnage or Jack Gouge--ever relayed findings of wrongdoing to her. "I was totally dependent on those under my supervision to report problems to me," Saucedo-Falls says in the affidavit. "From November of 1999 until November 30, 2001, I received no such report."
The reason she couldn't move anyone out of narcotics--and she wanted to move out Gouge--was because Chief Bolton wouldn't allow it. "Bolton refused to accept my recommendations regarding the assignment and/or transfer of personnel to and from the Narcotics Division," the affidavit says. The lawsuit claims that on December 5, 2001, Saucedo-Falls tried to remove five officers from narcotics tied to the fake-drug scandal, in which police informants framed dozens of innocents by sticking them with phony "cocaine." "Bolton adamantly and repeatedly refused to remove any suspected officer from the Narcotics Division," the suit says. (E. Leon Carter, the attorney defending Chief Kunkle and the city of Dallas, says in the suit that he's without information to confirm or deny the December 5 allegation.)
Finally, the reason Saucedo-Falls struggled with the culture of narcotics was because she had never before worked there, and Bolton "refused to authorize training for me in the management of narcotics," she says, even after she went to Bolton with "opportunities for me to attend training schools...without cost to the city." In perhaps the ultimate slight, Saucedo-Falls once asked Bolton if she could receive training at a narcotics conference; he denied her but allowed Bill Turnage, a lieutenant, to go. He then told her to process the paperwork for Turnage's training, according to the affidavit.
What's believable here is, of course, debatable. And there isn't a whole lot of debating right now. Carter declined to comment. So did Kunkle. The supervisors who were to report to Saucedo-Falls are retired; DPD's media relations team says it doesn't keep information for retired officers; and efforts by the Observer to reach Martinez, Gouge and Turnage were unsuccessful. This leaves Saucedo-Falls' attorney, Doug Larson, who says everyone but his client is "as guilty as shit," and Saucedo-Falls herself. In the affidavit, she says the lieutenants and sergeants below her were so evasive with information, she didn't know of the 1998 in-house report critical of narcotics until the famed "Fake Drug Report" mentioned it in October 2004, one month before Saucedo-Falls' demotion.
The Fake Drug Report did her in. It cited a deposition she gave in which she admitted to never briefing Chief Bolton of the corruption in narcotics. Saucedo-Falls says, in her affidavit, that she didn't need to brief him; he knew of the corruption; he worked to cover it up. But in the deposition before lawyers, she couldn't give her full answer. "I was instructed by Assistant City Attorney Jason Schuette to answer only the questions that I was asked and to not elaborate or explain my answers," she says in the affidavit. "I am now aware that the city attorney was not representing my individual best interests, but he was only looking out for the best interests of his client, the city of Dallas." Schuette (of course) declined to comment.
The case is set for trial June 12, 2006. More than anything, Larson wants it known that his client got the rap while other supervisors got to retire, at full rank, oftentimes with pension and always without investigation.
A similar fate, however, apparently could have awaited Saucedo-Falls. Kunkle says, "If Dora had wanted to, she could have retired." --Paul Kix
Thanks, But No Thanks
Born in Kenya, June Arunga looks like a supermodel and sounds like a voice on the BBC: erudite, well-educated and thoughtful. Brought to Dallas last week by the World Affairs Council to premiere a documentary called The Devil's Footpath, Arunga is also a bit of a radical.
The film retraces Arunga's 5,000-mile journey from Cairo to Capetown through six African countries--Egypt, Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Angola, Namibia and South Africa. And while rock stars like Bono and Bob Geldorf promote doubling aid to Africa, Arunga, now studying law in England, says, "No thanks, you've done enough."
The event was the first collaboration between the Dallas Museum of Art and the World Affairs Council, scheduled to coincide with World Refugee Day on June 20. Making the film was an odyssey for Arunga, who wanted to know why, despite the continent's riches, the best and brightest people in Africa were leaving--and to decide whether she would stay.
With a camera crew, the sunny Arunga interviews students longing for freedom from a repressive Egyptian government and villagers in war-torn Sudan, where simply surviving each day without being killed by government troops or rebels is the main concern. After visiting a squalid refugee camp in the DRC, Arunga dons a bulletproof vest for a visit with UN troops to a gold mine and finds a small child whose head is deeply scarred by attackers who hacked his parents to death. She's obviously deeply moved.
"It really is the devil's footpath," Arunga told her Dallas audience. Arunga described how she clashed with the Dutch director, an Irish cameraman and a British producer who had pitched the project to the BBC. Their approach was to ascribe most of Africa's ills to plunder by multinational corporations.
"It's a very popular view," Arunga says, "blaming Africa's problems on others."
At an audience question about sweatshops, Arunga smiled and said, "I only hear this term sweatshop in America and Europe." She described her grandmother sweating with a hoe every day for 60 years. "What I see [in Kenya] is people making long queues to get a job at the factories that open," Arunga says. "The only way those wages will rise is for more factories to open."
She described "the rock stars" pushing the doubling aid to Africa and debt-relief as misguided. Arunga disagrees with both proposals. "It undermines the efforts of people to hold their leaders accountable," Arunga says. "I think it's dehumanizing for us to sit in a corner and wait for other people who work to give us a slice of their cake."
The journey helped Arunga answer her own question. After she graduates from law school she plans to live in the West, at least for a while. "I hope to make lots of money before I go home." --Glenna Whitley


text:
Killstarz Portfolio of Averageness
Sigs Logos and misc Illustration I'll add some more later :) |
Venom sig is a piece of art.
thanks man!
There's quite a few good ones in there Kill. I especially like the Overeem ones but the Sadollah one you're rocking is my fave:)
I love that photo manipulation you have at the bottom. :thumbsup:
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Brief Summary
Read full entryBiology
Type of larval development: planktotrophic, inferred from multispiral protoconch.Trusted
Nassarius incrassatus Trusted
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Nassarius incrassatus Trusted
Hinia incrassata Trusted
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EAP for Employers and Managers
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text: Building off its successful Thor VM1, Honeywell's Thor VM2, its tenth generation vehicle-mount computer (VMC), is designed to create immediate time savings and protection against unplanned disruptions in the supply chain. The VMC debuted at the recent ProMat trade show in Chicago and began shipping in February. Equipped with a field-replaceable front panel, the Thor VM2 integrates the two most damage-prone device components - the keyboard and touchscreen - into a user-replaceable part. As a result, users can repair the most common forms of vehicle-mount computer malfunctions on the go, reducing maintenance cost and spare parts capital cost. The Quick Mount Smart Dock allows users to swap out the VM2 in less than 10 seconds to accommodate vehicle failures without dropping an active work session or to reallocate computers as work load shifts. For example, supply chain workers can undock the VM2 from one forklift and dock it on a second vehicle without missing a single transaction. Both the Thor VM2 and VM1 are compatible with the Quick Mount Smart Dock. With the Thor VM2's Ignition Control, units can be configured to automatically hibernate or standby at a user set time after the ignition switch is turned off, eliminating the maintenance expenses and lost productivity caused by a dead vehicle battery. Alternatively, the "Auto On" function triggers a direct current (DC) power connection, removing the need for an on/off switch. "Our commitment to supply chain innovation is constantly evolving to address challenges our customers face working in unpredictable environments," Taylor Smith, director of product management, Honeywell Scanning and Mobility. Featuring a larger 9.7 inch XGA display screen and 1.6GHz Atom Z530 processor, the Thor VM2 is compatible with Honeywell's Remote MasterMind 3.0 device management software. Both 802.11 WLAN radio and Bluetooth wireless connectivity are standard features. The optional WWAN radio provides connectivity for ports, yards and other outdoor applications. The Thor VM2 runs on the Microsoft Windows CE 6.0, optimal for task-specific warehouse activities and management, or Windows Embedded Standard operating system for extension and portability of the desktop/laptop environment.


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Sound Board: Food for Thought, Aesthetics in Orchestra Recording - April 2015
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Correlation of Audio Distortion Specifications
The sensitivity of five audio distortion measurement methods has been investigated with experimental measurements of circuits simulating basic archetypal distortion mechanisms. The results show that the ordinary measurement methods, THD, and SMPTE-IM, do not reveal dynamic distortions, and that every method has unacceptably low sensitivity for at least one distortion mechanism. The combined use of the DIM method and the CCIF-IM method for a complete specification of amplifier distortion is recommended, because their "blind" spots do not overlap. Distortion measurements of eleven commercial power amplifiers and eleven operational amplifiers show a mixture of the archetypal distortion mechanism, mostly dynamic distortions for the operational amplifiers, and mixed static and dynamic distortions for the power amplifiers. The results obtained with the different methods have been found to correlate qualitatively but not quantitatively for each type of nonlinearity separately. In a mixed case and for commercial amplifiers the qualitative correlation disappears, and there seems to be no reliable way of predicting the measurement result of one method from that of another method in the case of an unknown amplifier.
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text:
I'm feeling a little out of sorts today, and I'm going to have to blame it on altitude changes, after having been to the top of the mountain on Friday, and down to the end of Scarborough on Sunday. But really, there's absolutely no excuse for having the blues today. I mean, just look at where I live!
5 comments:
Ooooohhh Scarborough… my favourite place in the entire world!
it's okay to have the blues. i get them once in a while, too, especially after being on holiday.
Gorgeous! Hoping tomorrow will be better!
It's ok to have the blues now and then. Then you really get to appreciate the good times! Sometimes a little sniffle and a cup of tea (and ok, a huge cupcake) are just what you need
Thanks for all the kind words, guys! Love the cupcake and sniffle idea, Colleen


text:
Cowlitz County, Wash., funds by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Listing $4,041,384.70 in stimulus funds from U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for Cowlitz
Note: For some programs where states do not report where money will be distributed across the state, we do not have the allocation for individual counties. Those programs include: Medicaid, unemployment benefits and food stamps. Those amounts are included in the totals for where the state agency receiving that money is located.
Amount refers to both the amount of stimulus funding going toward the project and the face value of the loan.
Recipient | Amount | Description | Federal Dept./Agency | Date |
LKE CORP. | $3,706,385 | Mount Saint Helens Grade Building Structures Pilot Project | U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - civil program financing only | 6/10/2010 |
THOMAS/WRIGHT INC | $335,000 | Provide Quality Assurance services on the Lower Columbia Resident Office dredging projects. | U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - civil program financing only | 6/30/2009 |


text:
I'm looking forward to chatting with you tonight at 8 pm about the World Series and, of course, anything about the Mets.
See you on-line.
I'm looking forward to chatting with you tonight at 8 pm about the World Series and, of course, anything about the Mets.
See you on-line.
Said Gillick: "If you want to know the best thing we had going for us this year, it was the fact that all the other teams in our division hated the Mets' guts. It started with Atlanta and all the hostility they had with the Mets through the years. Then Fredi Gonzalez left Bobby Cox to manage the Marlins and he didn't forget everything that went on between the Braves and Mets. Look what Florida did for us the past two years (beating the Mets two out of the three in each of the last series of the season to prevent them from making the postseason). Washington doesn't like them very much either, and all those teams seemed to really get up for the Mets."
Both Jose Reyes and Carlos Delgado took the celebrations outside the dugout, but each said they weren't hurting anybody. In the end, they may have just been hurting themselves.
Hey, it's not a shot at Reyes, but when an executive of your bitterest rival says the perception of your team is poor, you'd better listen. If the Mets are listening, they should realize Gillick is doing them a favor.
This one has that capability as it pits two gritty teams, clubs with resiliency to match their talent. Tampa Bay has that karma thing going for it, but let's not overlook the Phillies, no matter how much you hate them.
They also can make a destiny argument.
Both teams can mash, but the Phillies have Ryan Howard, capable of controlling a Series. The Rays have a young, talented staff, but Philadelphia probably has the best pitcher in Cole Hamels and the dominant closer in Brad Lidge.
I believe the Rays shook the jitters when they blew Game 5 at Boston and hung on to win. They won't be rattled. I think they'll prevail in seven.
And if they don't? Well, I'm happy if it goes seven.


text:
The Perfect Storm (book)
First edition cover
Author | Sebastian Junger |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Subject | Andrea Gail, 1991 Perfect Storm, shipwrecks |
Genre | Creative nonfiction |
Publisher | W. W. Norton & Company |
Publication date
May 17, 1997 |
Pages | xii, 227 |
974.4/5 | |
LC Class | QC945 .J66 1997 |
The Perfect Storm is a creative nonfiction book written by Sebastian Junger and published by W. W. Norton & Company in 1997. The paperback edition (ISBN 0-06-097747-7) followed in 1999 from HarperCollins' Perennial imprint. The book is about the 1991 Perfect Storm that hit North America between October 28 and November 4, 1991, and features the crew of the fishing boat Andrea Gail, from Gloucester, Massachusetts, who were lost at sea during severe conditions while longline fishing for swordfish 575 miles (925 km) out. Also in the book is the story about the rescue of the three-person crew of the sailboat Satori in the Atlantic Ocean during the storm by the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Tamaroa (WMEC-166).
The book was adapted for the film of the same title, directed by Wolfgang Petersen and released in 2000. The Satori is renamed Mistral in the movie, and the since-retired USCGC Tamaroa is portrayed by a newer, 210-foot medium-endurance cutter.
The book follows the lives of the swordfishing crew of the Andrea Gail and their family members before and during the 1991 Perfect Storm. Among the men boarding the Andrea Gail were Billy Tyne, Alfred Pierre, David "Sully" Sullivan, Michael "Bugsy" Moran, Dale "Murph" Murphy, and Bobby Shatford, each bringing their own intelligence, physical strength, and hope aboard with them. The men were raised with the expectation that they would become fishermen. As "Sully" said, even before they had left for their long journey, "It's the money ... If I didn't need the money I wouldn't go near this thing."[1]
Much of the early part of the book gives detailed descriptions of the daily lives of the fishermen and their jobs, and is centered around activities at the Crow's Nest,[2] a tavern in Gloucester popular with the fishermen.
The latter part of the book attempts to reconstruct events at sea during the storm, aboard the Andrea Gail as well as rescue efforts directed at several other ships caught in the storm, including the attempted rescue of pararescuemen who were themselves caught in the storm. Lost from the New York Air National Guard HH-60 helicopter was TSgt. Alden "Rick" Smith.[3] A week-long search off the South Shore of Long Island failed to find his remains. Surviving the helicopter crash were Maj. David Ruvola, Capt. Graham Buschor, SSgt. Jimmy Mioli and TSgt. John Spillane, the second pararescueman aboard.
All six crew members of the Andrea Gail were missing, presumed dead. The ship and crew were never found. A few fuel drums, a fuel tank, the EPIRB, an empty life raft, and some other flotsam were the only wreckage ever found.
Crew members on the Andrea Gail[edit]
- Frank W. "Billy" Tyne, Jr. – Captain of the Andrea Gail. A good fisherman with a reputation of being a prosperous fishing captain. Billy was once married to Jodi Tyne who at the time of the story is Billy's ex-wife.
- Reed "Bobby" Shatford – Born March 22, 1961, Bobby was a native of Gloucester, Massachusetts. In his high school years, Bobby played lacrosse. Before boarding the Andrea Gail, he lived above his favorite hang-out, The Crow's Nest, where his mother, Ethel, would tend the bar. Bobby was dating Christina "Chris" Cotter, whom he met through his sister, Mary Anne. Chris soon became his fiance. Bobby had two children from a previous marriage. He accepted the spot on the Andrea Gail because he needed money to pay the child support that he owed his ex-wife. Bobby planned this fishing trip to be the last one before settling down and marrying Chris. It was said that Bobby was not only the youngest fisherman on the boat, but the most inexperienced as well.
- Dale "Murph" Murphy – In the story Murph is 33 years old. He is from Bradenton Beach, Florida. He is physically described to have shaggy black hair, a thin beard, and Mongolian eyes. Murph has a 3 year old child and an ex-wife named Debra. Murph is the cook for the Andrea Gail.
- David "Sully" Sullivan – A hired fisherman who served to replace a worker on the Andrea Gail who dropped out of the job. Sully is well known in Gloucester for saving his entire crew on one fishing voyage.
- Michael "Bugsy" Moran – A crew member on the Andrea Gail. Described as an amiable person with a crazy reputation.
- Alfred Pierre – Described by Junger as, "An immense, kind Jamaican from New York City." Before departure Pierre is described as going back and forth in deciding whether he is going on the fishing trip or not. He does eventually go on the trip. Pierre is also described to be shy yet well-liked.
Other important people[edit]
- Bob Brown – The owner of the Andrea Gail. Captain Billy Tyne is known for 'hate talking' to Brown and often sends messages to him through Captain Greenlaw. Junger describes Brown's reputation in Gloucester as complex. He is known for being a successful owner but criticized for being a risk taker. To some he is known as "Suicide Brown."
- Linda Greenlaw – Greenlaw is captain of the Hannah Boden (sister ship to the Andrea Gail) and a friend of Billy Tyne. The two captains were in radio contact with one another before the Andrea Gail went down.
- Albert Johnston – Johnston was captain of the F/V Mary T and part of the Atlantic swordfishing fleet that sailed from Gloucester and the last person known to have spoken with Captain Billy Tyne before the Andrea Gail was lost at sea. Aboard the F/V Mary T were Captain Johnston's brothers Captain Paul Johnston and Captain Timothy 'Timmy' Johnston. The Johnston family operated a successful swordfish and fishing tackle business. The Johnston family operated many different fishing vessels, most recently the F/V Canyon Explorer.
- Charlie Reed – Former captain of the boat. Reed gives commentary throughout the book on the boats' history.
- Ethel Shatford – Bobby's mother, and the owner of the Crow's Nest.
- Christina Cotter – Bobby's fiancee
Book controversy[edit]
While there have been disputes over the context and research of the book, there have been controversies that surround the movie The Perfect Storm. Families of two crew members sued the film makers for the fictionalization of events which happened prior to the loss of the Andrea Gail.[4] In 2005, the Florida Supreme Court ruled against the family of Captain Tyne by a 6-2 vote.
- ^ Junger, Sebastian (2000). The Perfect Storm. New York: W. W. Norton & Company. p. 38.
- ^ "Ethel Shatford Preston". Crow's Nest. Retrieved 2010-02-17.
- ^ Junger, Sebastian (2000). The Perfect Storm. New York: W.W. Norton & Company. p. 209.
- ^ "Court Revives 'Perfect Storm' Lawsuit". St. Petersburg Times Online. Retrieved 2010-02-17.
External links[edit]
- Perfect Storm Foundation
- The story of the Andrea Gail, GloucesterTimes


text:
Walter Lampl Retro Bow Pin with Faux Blue Topaz
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Measures 1-1/2 x 2-3/8". This pretty Retro style bow has yellow and rose gold plating. The collet-set glass stone simulates a blue topaz. Marked 1/20 12K and with the script WL on a shield mark for Walter Lampl. Safety clasp holds well. No wear to plating. $80.00 (Includes insured shipping to a U.S.A. address)
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text:
Google has unveiled an interesting little feature for Google Search on Android, however it's only available for US-based users at the moment.
Whenever you search for artists and bands on Google, not only will you see the usual related background information and photos pop up in the results, you can now open their music directly from one of your installed apps, which at the time of writing includes Rdio, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Google Play Music, TuneIn and YouTube.
As noted already, it's only available on Android in the US for now, but Google says its "working to expand this feature to users worldwide," and will include additional integrations with the likes of Deezer.
➤ Find music on Google and play it directly in your favorite app | Inside Search


text:
Simple constraint for phase retrieval with high efficiency
JOSA A, Vol. 23, Issue 3, pp. 550-556 (2006)
Enhanced HTML Acrobat PDF (136 KB)
I propose the use of a simple real space constraint for iterative phase retrieval intended for diffractive imaging. The proposed constraint is a single parameter equal to the number of nonzero pixels in the image. This greatly simplifies the procedure to determine the constraint. A series of algorithms using this constraint can be easily deduced from existing algorithms, such as hybrid-input–output and difference map algorithms. The high efficiency of these algorithms is largely preserved, as confirmed by numerical studies. A concept widely used in control system theory, proportional-integral–derivative control, is shown to increase the execution speed of the proposed constraint significantly.
© 2006 Optical Society of America
OCIS Codes
(100.3010) Image processing : Image reconstruction techniques
(100.3190) Image processing : Inverse problems
(100.5070) Image processing : Phase retrieval
ToC Category:
Image Processing
Original Manuscript: May 6, 2005
Revised Manuscript: July 12, 2005
Manuscript Accepted: July 13, 2005
Haifeng He, "Simple constraint for phase retrieval with high efficiency," J. Opt. Soc. Am. A 23, 550-556 (2006)
Sort: Year | Journal | Reset
- J. C. H. Spence, M. Howells, L. D. Marks, and J. Miao, 'Lensless imaging: a workshop on 'new approaches to the phase problem for non-periodic objects',' Ultramicroscopy 90, 1-6 (2001). [CrossRef]
- J. W. Miao, P. Charalambous, J. Kirz, and D. Sayre, 'Extending the methodology of X-ray crystallography to allow imaging of micrometre-sized non-crystalline specimens,' Nature (London) 400, 342-344 (1999). [CrossRef]
- H. He, S. Marchesini, M. Howells, U. Weierstall, H. Chapman, S. Hau-Riege, A. Noy, and J. C. H. Spence, 'Inversion of x-ray diffuse scattering to images using prepared objects,' Phys. Rev. B 67, 174114 (2003). [CrossRef]
- S. Eisebitt, M. Lorgen, W. Eberhardt, J. Luning, S. Andrews, and J. Stohr, 'Scalable approach for lensless imaging at x-ray wavelengths,' Appl. Phys. Lett. 84, 3373-3375 (2004). [CrossRef]
- J. M. Zuo, I. Vartanyants, M. Gao, R. Zhang, and L. A. Nagahara, 'Atomic resolution imaging of a carbon nanotube from diffraction intensities,' Science 300, 1419-1421 (2003). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- I. K. Robinson, I. A. Vartanyants, G. J. Williams, M. A. Pfeifer, and J. A. Pitney, 'Reconstruction of the shapes of gold nanocrystals using coherent X-ray diffraction,' Phys. Rev. Lett. 87, 195505 (2001). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- J. R. Fienup, 'Reconstruction of a complex-valued object from the modulus of its Fourier-transform using a support constraint,' J. Opt. Soc. Am. A 4, 118-123 (1987). [CrossRef]
- R. W. Gerchberg and W. O. Saxton, 'Practical algorithm for determination of phase from image and diffraction plane pictures,' Optik (Stuttgart) 35, 237-246 (1972).
- S. Marchesini, H. He, H. N. Chapman, S. P. Hau-Riege, A. Noy, M. R. Howells, U. Weierstall, and J. C. H. Spence, 'X-ray image reconstruction from a diffraction pattern alone,' Phys. Rev. B 68, 140101(R) (2003). [CrossRef]
- V. Elser, 'Phase retrieval by iterated projections,' J. Opt. Soc. Am. A 20, 40-55 (2003). [CrossRef]
- G. Oszlanyi and A. Suto, 'Ab initio structure solution by charge flipping,' Acta Crystallogr., Sect. A: Found. Crystallogr. 60, 134-141 (2004). [CrossRef]
- W. McBride, N. L. O'Leary, and L. J. Allen, 'Retrieval of a complex-valued object from its diffraction pattern,' Phys. Rev. Lett. 93, 233902 (2004). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- H. M. L. Faulkner and J. M. Rodenburg, 'Movable aperture lensless transmission microscopy: A novel phase retrieval algorithm,' Phys. Rev. Lett. 93, 023903 (2004). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- J. S. Wu, U. Weierstall, J. C. H. Spence, and C. T. Koch, 'Iterative phase retrieval without support,' Opt. Lett. 29, 2737-2739 (2004). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- In reality, the histogram relies on a comparison operation. Ambiguity arises for comparison between complex values. This is the fundamental reason why histogram constraint or any constraint that relies on comparison is best suited for real-valued problems. For more information, see Section and Appendix .
- The histogram in this paper is more often called a cumulative histogram in the digital image processing community. A cumulative histogram is intertransformable to the normal sense histogram through derivative/integral operations and both are equivalent representations of the image's histogram.
- J. R. Fienup, 'Phase retrieval algorithms--a comparison,' Appl. Opt. 21, 2758-2769 (1982). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- J. Miao, J. Kirz, and D. Sayre, 'The oversampling phasing method,' Acta Crystallogr., Sect. D: Biol. Crystallogr. 56, 1312-1315 (2000). [CrossRef]
- J. R. Fienup and C. C. Wackerman, 'Phase-retrieval stagnation problems and solutions,' J. Opt. Soc. Am. A 3, 1897-1907 (1986). [CrossRef]
- H. He, U. Weierstall, J. C. H. Spence, M. Howells, H. A. Padmore, S. Marchesini, and H. N. Chapman, 'Use of extended and prepared reference objects in experimental Fourier transform x-ray holography,' Appl. Phys. Lett. 85, 2454-2456 (2004). [CrossRef]
- S. Eisebitt, J. Luning, W. F. Schlotter, M. Lorgen, O. Hellwig, W. Eberhardt, and J. Stohr, 'Lensless imaging of magnetic nanostructures by X-ray spectro-holography,' Nature (London) 432, 885-888 (2004). [CrossRef]
- K. R. Castleman, Digital Image Processing (Prentice Hall, 1979).
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Make PoliceOne your homepage
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The Office of Justice Programs (OJP) has launched a new, searchable online document of current funding opportunities and new initiatives, the OJP Program Plan. It features the latest and most complete information regarding both competitive and noncompetitive grants, training and technical assistance, research, and other resources available to the justice community. The Program Plan is divided into 9 thematically organized sections:
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