text:
The stent has at least two different patterns along its longitudinal length such as a closed cell and an open cell design. The stent is made from nickel/titanium, titanium, stainless steel or a noble metal. The different patterns are joined by varying articulations including a W-pattern and S-patten. The stent has at least two coatings over the base structure, the coating depth not exceeding ten microns.
1. A tubular stent for supporting aterial and venous conduits in the human body, the tubular stent comprising:
a longitudinal cylindrical metal base structure having at least two different patterns along its longitudinal length, the patterns joined by struts having a predetermined articulation, the base structure coated by at least two layers having a depth not exceeding ten microns.
2. The stent according to
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8. A tubular stent for supporting aterial and venous conduits in the human body, the tubular stent comprising:
a longitudinal metal base structure having a multiplicity of different circumferential members interconnected by articulations of varying configuration, the base structure coated by at least two layers having a depth not exceeding ten microns.
9. The stent according to
10. The stent according to
11. The stent according to
12. The stent according to
13. The stent according to
14. The stent according to
15. The stent according to
16. A tubular stent for supporting aterial and venous conduits in the human body, the tubular stent comprising:
a longitudinal cylindrical metal base structure having a single pattern at each end along the longitudinal cylindrical metal base structure and a different pattern at a mid-portion of the base structure, each pattern joined by an articulation of varying configuration, the patterns coated with at least two layers of a biological substance.
17. The stent according to
18. The stent according to
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[0001] This invention relates to stents used to support aterial and venous conduits in the human body. More particularly, it refers to a tubular stent having a non-uniform structure along its longitudinal length to provide good flexibility and radial strength.
[0002] There are four major classes of stents employed in the prior art. These four major classes of stents are described as follows:
[0003] 1. Coil Stents are made from a single wire. The wire is bent in various ways and formed into a stent. Examples of this type of stent are those shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,969,458; 4,681,110 and 5,824,056.
[0004] 2. Slotted Tube Stents are laser cut using a tube of either stainless steel, nickel/titanium alloy (NITINOL�), titanium or any other suitable materials. These designs are preprogrammed into a machine language and a laser is used to cut the programs. These stents have a uniform design and a uniform thickness from the beginning to the end of the stent. In other words, the same segment is repeated from one end of the stent to the other. Examples of this type of stent are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,733,665; 4,739,762; 4,776,337 and 4,793,348.
[0005] 3. Self Expanding Stents are usually braided or knitted with multiple wire filaments such that they have a lower profile when stretched and they expand from a lower profile to a higher profile when unconstrained in the body. These stents are called self-expanding stents and are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,655,771.
[0006] 4. Hybrid Stents are similar to slotted tube stents except that they do not have a closed cell structure but have an open cellular structure with flexible interconnections between each segment of the design. These interconnections provide the flexibility while the segments provide the radial strength and other important properties of the stent. Examples of this stent are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,514,154; 5,562,728; 5,649,952 and 5,725,572.
[0007] In use, each of the four classes of stents described above are coated as described in various patents as follows:
[0008] 1. U.S. Pat. No. 5,759,174, describes a balloon that has a radiopaque segment attached to one of the longitudinal ends of the balloon. When the balloon is inflated, the stent is pressed against the ends of the artery and this indicates the center portion of the dilated stenosis. The external radiopaque marker band is typically made from a dense radiopaque metal such as tantalum, gold, platinum or an alloy of those dense metals.
[0009] 2. U.S. Pat. No. 5,725,572, describes gold plating on the ends of a stent such that the gold plating marks two bands at the ends of a stent. The patentee mentions that the limitation of gold coating is the stiffening of the stent surface. Hence, the gold plating is done only at the ends where the stiffening does not significantly alter the properties of the stent. Also described is another embodiment where only the exterior of the stent is coated with a radiopaque material.
[0010] 3. U.S. Pat. No. 5,919,126, describes a patent where the body of the stent is formed from a non-radioactive structural material, a radiopaque material coats the body and a beta emitting radioisotope ion is implanted into the radiopaque material.
[0011] 4. U.S. Pat. No. 5,824,056 describes an implantable medical device formed from a drawn refractory metal having an improved biocompatible surface. The method by which the device is made includes coating a refractory metal article with platinum by a physical vapor deposition process and subjecting the coated article to drawing in a diamond die. The drawn article can be incorporated into an implanted medical device without removing the deposited material.
[0012] 5. U.S. Pat. No. 5,824,077 describes a stent which is formed of multiple filaments arranged in two sets of oppositely directed helical windings interwoven with each other in a braided configuration. Each of the filaments is a composite including a central core and a case surrounding the core. The core is formed of a radiopaque material while the outer casing is made of a relatively resilient material, e.g., a cobalt, chromium based alloy. Alternative composite filaments described in the patent employ an intermediate barrier layer between the case and the core, a biocompatible cover layer surrounding the case, and a radiopaque case surrounding the central core.
[0013] 6. U.S. Pat. No. 5,871,437 describes a non-radioactive metallic stent which is coated with a biodegradable or non-biodegradable thin coating of less than about 100 microns in thickness which is selected to avoid provoking any foreign body reaction. This coating contains a radioactive source emitting Beta particles with an activity level of approximately one micro curie and on top of this layer is an anticoagulant substance to inhibit early thrombus formation.
[0014] 7. U.S. Pat. No. 6,099,561 describes a stent having a biocompatible metal hollow tube constituting a base layer having a multiplicity of openings through an open ended tubular wall thereof, the tube constituting a single member from which the entire stent is fabricated. A thin tightly adherent intermediate layer of noble metal overlies the entire exposed surface area of the tube including edges of the openings as well as exterior and interior surfaces and ends of the wall. A third outermost ceramic like layer composed of an oxide, hydroxide or nitrate of a noble metal is formed atop and in adherent relation to an intermediate layer.
[0015] 8. U.S. Pat. No. 5,722,984 describes a stent which has an antithrombogenic property and contains an embedded radioisotope that makes the coating material radioactive.
[0016] 9. Other relevant patents that describe the coating technology or coating properties include U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,818,893; 5,980,974; 5,700,286; 5,858,468; 5,650,202 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,696,714.
[0017] Although some of the above mentioned stents have good flexibility and others have good radial strength, there is no optimum stent in the prior art that has both good flexibility and radial strength together with the ability to retain a useful coating.
[0018] The present invention describes a fifth class of stents having multiple designs of structurally variable configuration along the longitudinal length of the stent. The stent has one pattern at both ends of the stent to provide optimal flexibility and a different pattern at the mid-portion of the stent to provide optimal radial strength. Alternatively, the stent has one pattern at each end, a different pattern at its mid-portion and a third pattern in-between the mid-portion and each end. The stent has both closed cell and open cell configuration along its longitudinal length and the closed cells and open cells are interlinked with either straight or wavy configurations in a single stent.
[0019] A preferred pattern contains at least three different configurations selected from an open cell design, a closed cell design, a straight interlink or articulation and one wavy interlink or articulation along a variable thickness of connecting stents. Because of the variable thickness of the stents, the amount of drug loaded on the stent is varied along with the release characteristics.
[0020] The structurally variable stents of this invention usually have a stainless steel or nickel/titanium alloy (NITINOL�) base material with two layers of coating together not exceeding ten microns in depth. One layer is an undercoat in direct contact with the base metal both on the inside and outside surface of the base metal. The topmost layer is in contact with the blood. Both the undercoat and top coat are of the same material such as metallic, biological, synthetic material, or polymeric material.
[0021] The invention can be best understood by those having ordinary skill in the art by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
[0022]FIG. 1 shows a closed cell design of a stent.
[0023]FIG. 2 shows a closed cell design of a stent interconnected by a straight bridge.
[0024]FIG. 3 shows an exterior design of a closed cell stent.
[0025]FIG. 4 shows a design of an open cell stent with a radiopaque coating on one section of the stent.
[0026]FIG. 5 shows a design of a coil stent.
[0027]FIG. 6 shows a design of a structurally variable stent having an open cell design on the ends and a closed cell design at the center of the stent.
[0028]FIG. 7 shows a design of a structurally variable stent with variable thickness of the open and closed cell design.
[0029]FIG. 8 shows a design of a structurally variable stent with open cell at the ends and closed cell at the mid-portion and alternating articulations between both the open and closed cell.
[0030]FIG. 9 shows a design of a structurally variable stent with both open and closed cell design and the articulations at the end of the closed cell design is an S-shape rather than a W-shape.
[0031]FIG. 10 shows a design of a structurally variable stent with both open and closed cell design and alternating articulations at various sections of the stent.
[0032]FIG. 11 shows a design of a structurally variable stent with an open cell design at the ends with multiple S-shapes and a straight articulating member and closed cell design and the mid-portion with a complex plus sign articulation.
[0033]FIG. 12 shows a design of a structurally variable stent with a circle at a mid-portion of the open cell design.
[0034]FIG. 13 shows a design of a structurally variable stent with different wall thickness along the length of the stent.
[0035] Throughout the following detailed description the same reference numerals refer to the same elements in all figures.
[0036] Referring to FIG. 1, the closed cell tubular stent design 10 has a longitudinal series of cells 12. As seen in FIG. 2, the cells 12 are interconnected by a bridge 14. The exterior look of such a stent 10 is seen in FIG. 3. In contrast, FIG. 4 shows the design of an open cell stent 16 having multiple open cells 18. One section 20 of the open cell stent 16 has a radiopaque coating 22.
[0037] A coil stent 24 design is shown in FIG. 5.
[0038] Referring to FIG. 6, the stent 26 of this invention is shown. The stent 26 has an open cell 16 configuration at each end and a closed cell design 10 at the center portion of the stent 26. Connecting struts 28 join the components.
[0039] The stent 26A shown in FIG. 7 has the same configuration as stent 26 shown in FIG. 6, except that the thickness of the structure varies. The articulations 30 in a W-pattern are all the same. In FIG. 8, in contrast, articulations 32 are in the shape of an S-pattern while other articulations 30 remain in the W-pattern.
[0040] In FIG. 9, the stent 26B has a closed cell design 10 at its mid-portion and an open cell design 16 at each end. The articulations 32 are all in the shape of an S-pattern. In FIG. 10, the stent 26C has a closed cell design 10 at its mid-portion and an open cell design 16 at each end, but with alternating S-pattern 32 and W-pattern 30 articulations.
[0041] In FIG. 11, the stent 26D has an open cell design 16 at its ends in an S-pattern, a straight articulating member 34, a closed cell 10 mid-portion with a complex plus sign pattern articulation 36.
[0042] In FIG. 12, the stent 26E has an open cell design 16 at its ends with a circle 38 in the open cell design. The center portion is a closed cell design 10.
[0043] In FIG. 13, the stent 26F has thick 40 and thin 42 wall thickness.
[0044] The combination of an open cell 16 and closed cell 10 stent design creates a stent having both flexibility and radial strength along the length of the stent. The variable stent thickness 40 and 42 provides greater functional properties for coating the stent. If the coating is to enhance the radio opacity, then the ends can be made more radiopaque than the mid-portion. If the objective of a coating is to load more drugs then the ends of the stent can be thicker to allow for such coating. Since restinosis occurs in a stent invariably at its ends, a higher drug concentration at the ends can more thoroughly inhibit such restinosis.
[0045] The thickness of the open cell design 16 versus the closed cell design 10 may vary as seen in the drawings. The open cell design 16 is generally twenty-five percent thicker than the mid-portion or closed cell design 10.
[0046] It is preferred to have two layers of coatings on the entire length of the stent 26. A base coat of metal and a top coat of metal enhances radio opacity of the stent 26. A base coat of a polymeric coating has a top coat of a drug which slowly diffuses out of the stent 26 over a period of time. The variable design stents 26-26F of this invention allows the loading of drugs at the ends to facilitate a graded release profile.
[0047] The stents 26-26F of this invention are longitudinal, cylindrical, metal structures having at least an open cell and closed cell design joined together by struts. The metal can be nickel-titanium alloy (NITINOL�) titanium, stainless steel or a noble base metal. A coating of at least two layers over the base metal has a depth not to exceed ten microns.
[0048] Typical coatings are set forth in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,759,174; 5,725,572; 5,824,056; and 5,871,437 and are herein incorporated by reference.
[0049] The above description has described specific structural details embodying the variable stents of this invention. However, it will be within the skill of one having ordinary skill in the art to make modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the underlying inventive concept of these structurally variable stents.
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MENIFEE: Commission recommends limit on homes in mixed-use areas
In an exercise that Community Development Director Carmen Cave jokingly refers to as "carving up the elephant," the Menifee Planning Commission is inching closer to sending a draft land-use map to the City Council early next year.
The commission already decided on recommendations for isolated zoning issues such as low-income housing in Romoland and land-use conflicts on a 150-acre, vacant parcel south of Bell Mountain.
A third important item has been the establishment of an economic development corridor through the heart of the city.
The city's planning staff has asked that all property west of, and adjacent to, Interstate 215 be designated an economic development corridor. The same applies to land surrounding the I-215 interchanges at McCall Boulevard and Highway 74, plus a huge portion of land west of the freeway between Ethanac and McLaughlin roads.
It means that in 20 years residents may find a variety of uses in those areas, including commercial shopping centers, theaters, recreational businesses and even educational centers.
What they won't find, under the new land-use and zoning maps, are houses or apartment buildings backed up next to the highway. Some planning commissioners are adamantly opposed to that idea.
"Let's just concentrate on businesses and jobs because that's what the people in Menifee are looking for," said Planning Commissioner Marc Miller, speaking of the economic development corridors. "I'd much rather see hotels (in those areas) than houses and apartments."
That seemed like an easy call for the planning commissioners last week, but as they considered economic development west of Haun Road, the decisions became a little more difficult. That's because in the city's proposed economic development corridor definition, housing is also permitted.
The city will have to redefine what types of development are allowed on land that abuts the highway, but west of Haun Road, the question now becomes how much housing should be permitted.
After a lengthy discussion last week, the commission decided to put a 15 percent housing cap on all mixed-use development. For instance, if a developer has a 100-acre parcel in which he wants to put retail shops and apartments, he would be limited to 300 to 360 total housing units, depending on the final limits the city places on housing densities.
Commissioner Chris Thomas, who suggested the 15 percent cap, said he would prefer to see all housing eliminated, but added that it may be necessary to entice developers into building better projects. For instance, if the city suggested land be set aside for a park in a development, Thomas said, the city may have to offer to allow the developer to build housing in return.
But not all commissioners agree. Mark Matelko warned that developers may find ways to skirt the 15 percent cap. And Miller wants no mixed-use development. He said more housing just invites more people.
"We're looking for a job base and it's hard to get jobs if you have more people moving in," Miller said. "Our goal should be to live here, play here, work here and stay here."

subset: commoncrawl


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Mon-Fri: 7am-1am EST / Sat-Sun: 7am-11pm EST
ApplianceKitchenAid Dishwasher
Level of DifficultyEasy
Time to do repairLess than 15 mins
Age of Appliance1 - 4 years
3 out of 4 people found this instruction helpful
I opened the dishwasher door, removed the old tired seal in a manner of seconds. I measured the old seal against the new, same length, so no cutting. I started on one side pushing the seal in to the groove, made sure the seal was centered in the door. (not too long on one side or the other) It took less than 5 minutes to place the seal and check that it was all the way in, all around the door. I wiped the door down with some cleaner, where it contacts the seal. The door was harder to close, but I expected that until it breaks in. I ran a short load in the dishwasher with no leaks. :)
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Part Number: PS5136129
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Kukla's Korner Hockey
Afternoon Line
by Paul on 09/12/09 at 03:22 PM ET
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"It is something that I am going to deal with the best I can. Being around the guys here helps with getting my mind off of things, but it is definitely going to be the biggest challenge for me. I've been through some hard stuff, but nothing compared to this. I'm going to tell you as the season goes along, but for now I am just doing the best I can."
-Jose Theodore of the Washington Capitals speaking about the recent death of his infant child. More on Theodore from Corey Masisak of the Washington Times.
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Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is reported to have failed with a £9.5million bid for highly-rated Udinese defender Cristian Zapata.
The Colombian starlet is one of the most highly-rated young defenders in Europe and he is being tipped to move on this summer.
The 21-year-old joined the Bianconeri in 2005 from Deportivo Cali and he has been a regular for them over the past three seasons.
AC Milan, Juventus, Inter Milan and Fiorentina are all keen - but Gunners boss Wenger is also very much in the market to land the young central defender.
Zapata has four years left on his contract at the Friuli and it is believed the club would only consider a deal starting at £15.8million.
It now remains to be seen whether Arsenal will make a renewed attempt to land the South American - although it is understood that two further Premier League sides are considering making bids.


text:
By Lisa Keen
Originally printed 1/12/2012 (Issue 2002 - Between The Lines News)
The Republican presidential field's most anti-gay candidate scored big Jan. 3 when he landed in a virtual tie for first place in the Iowa caucuses with the candidate who has been seen by the media as the party's most viable candidate against President Obama.
Former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania, who took numerous opportunities in his campaign to espouse his opposition to equal rights for LGBT people, secured just eight votes fewer than former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, out of about 60,000 cast for the two men. Each won 25 percent of the 122,000 votes cast for seven candidates, in what may be the closest Republican caucus race in history. The final result was not announced by the state Republican Party until after 1 a.m. Iowa time.
"[N]o other candidate has made opposing basic rights for LGBT Americans such a guiding principle of his or her public life," said Joe Solmonese, president of the Human Rights Campaign.
U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas came in third, with 21 percent of the caucus votes. U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich of Georgia followed in fourth place, garnering 13 percent. Texas Governor Rick Perry took 10 percent of the vote in fifth place, followed by U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota in sixth place with five percent of the vote.
Openly gay candidate Fred Karger did not compete in the Iowa caucuses. The field's only candidate supportive of legal recognition of same-sex relationships (albeit through civil unions only), former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman, claimed less than one percent of the vote.
Although an Iowa victory is an important symbolic victory, especially in the eyes of the media, it does not secure any of the state's eventual 25 delegates to the Republican national convention.
Also, polls nationally and in other key states suggest Santorum still has an uphill battle for the nomination. The latest national poll, by Gallup, showed Santorum in fifth place with only six percent of support from 1,000 Republican voters surveyed. Romney led the field with 24 percent. The poll was conducted from December 26 to January 2.
A CNN poll of New Hampshire voters on Tuesday night after Santorum's success was apparent, showed an increase in support for Santorum - to 10 percent, twice what it was in late December. But Romney held fast to his 47 percent of the New Hampshire support, Paul held onto 17 percent, and Huntsman held onto 13 percent.
Santorum's success in Iowa will probably bring increased attention and support for his passionately proclaimed anti-gay views. Those views and his toughly stated opposition to abortion appeared to fuel his strong showing in the caucuses. A CNN entrance poll indicated that 84 percent of those participating described themselves as either "very conservative" (47 percent) or "somewhat conservative" (37 percent). The majority of those participants (54 percent) voted for Santorum. Fifty-seven percent of participants also described themselves as "white evangelical/born-again Christians." And 32 percent of those supported Santorum.
The most important issue for Santorum supporters in Iowa, was abortion, according to CNN. CNN apparently did not ask about same-sex marriage on the entrance poll. For Romney supporters, it was the economy.
One CNN commentator, Gloria Borger, suggested Santorum's ascension might draw Romney into more discussions about social issues, including same-sex marriage.
Perry, Bachman
At least two of the Republican field's anti-gay candidates - Perry and Bachman - are likely to withdraw from the campaign soon, taking the anti-gay rhetoric down a notch with them. In fact, Santorum himself took his rhetoric down a notch during his remarks Tuesday night.
Santorum, onstage with a large crowd of supporters, thanked his wife Karen, God, and Iowa. He said "rights come to us from God," he talked about the need for "a plan that includes everyone," and he talked about the "dignity of every human life." He said that "when the family breaks down, the economy struggles." But, despite repeatedly emphasizing his opposition to same-sex marriage throughout his campaign, Santorum did not mention his definition of marriage as being "one man and one woman."
Romney, onstage with his wife and four of his sons, congratulated Santorum for his success and noted, at 12:40 a.m. Wednesday, that he did not yet know what the final result would be. (Two percent of the vote was yet to be counted, and Romney was leading by only 41 votes. Before he finished his speech, Santorum was leading by five votes.) Romney said nothing about same-sex marriage either, and said "freedom is a gift from God."
Santorum, who polled near the bottom of the field with only single-digit support for months on end, jumped ahead in the polls in the last few days before the caucus. Bob Vander Platts, one of the leaders against same-sex marriage in Iowa, reportedly took some credit for Santorum's surge, which started about a week after Vander Platts' group, The Family Leader, endorsed Santorum.
Both national and local media gave much credit to Santorum's decision to campaign in every one of Iowa's 99 counties for his victory. And the Des Moines Register pre-caucus poll indicated that Santorum's supporters showed a greater likelihood of showing up at the caucuses (76 percent) than those of other candidates.
More than 40 percent of Iowa Republicans were undecided going into the caucuses.
In remarks after most media declared him the third place candidate in Iowa, U.S. Rep. Ron Paul emphasized the importance of staying faithful to the constitution and limiting government interference in private lives.
Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who went onstage with just his wife and three kids, mostly read from a letter from a supporter. Perry said he plans to go back to Texas to reassess his campaign, and he left the stage quickly.
An unusually low-key Rep. Michele Bachmann vowed to continue her campaign, but she, too, read her remarks to the crowd, including a reiteration of her promise of "protecting marriage between one man and one woman." On Wednesday morning, Bachmann announced the end of her campaign.
Openly gay candidate Fred Karger did not compete in the Iowa caucuses, saying he knew the turnout would be "mostly social conservatives" and that his strongholds of support there, the colleges, were not in session.
Karger was in New Hampshire Tuesday night, where he has been campaigning for months. He said that, regardless of how he does in New Hampshire's primary, Jan. 10, "I'll absolutely stay in all primaries and caucuses."
Democrats happy with Santorum, GOProud ignores him
CNN commentator Al Sharpton said Santorum's success in the race is good for Democrats.
"As long as a Santorum is in the race, Romney's going to have to keep playing to the right," said Sharpton, "and the longer he has to debate and stay to the right, he loses the middle."
Log Cabin Republicans Executive Director R. Clarke Cooper issued a statement early Wednesday morning saying that Romney was "one of the best" of the Republican candidates in Iowa on issues affecting LGBT Americans.
"By contrast," said Cooper, "Senator Santorum rose by appealing to a uniquely socially conservative electorate. The divisive social issue politics which helped Santorum's campaign in Iowa will only hurt him in New Hampshire and beyond as voters learn more about his record. Winning the White House will require the politics of addition, not division."
"If using gay and lesbian Americans as a wedge can't score enough political points to win more than 25 percent in Iowa," said Cooper, "it certainly won't help the Republican nominee in November."
Jimmy LaSalvia, head of GOProud, a national gay conservative group, issued a statement that ignored Santorum's success in Iowa. Instead, LaSalvia praised Romney and Paul on taking "two of the three top spots in Iowa" and said, "It is clear that the message of economic renewal and limited government is resonating with Republican voters."
"While there are certainly big differences between Governor Romney and Congressman Paul, especially when it comes to foreign policy," said LaSalvia, "both chose to emphasize issues like the economy and the size of government over demonizing gay people. We are pleased to see that so many Republicans in Iowa are focused on the issues that unite us as conservatives, instead of the side show issues."
There are two debates this weekend. The first is in New Hampshire, Saturday at 9 p.m. on ABC. The latter is on NBC's Meet the Press program on Sunday at 9 a.m.
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Study Finds Significant Racial Disparities For HIV Infection Among Black And White MSM
A study published in the journal The Lancet HIV reports that there is a significant disparity in HIV prevalence between black and white men who have sex with men. The study was published on Nov. 18 and found a startling 32 percent prevalence rate for black men who have sex with men, compared with only eight percent for white men who have sex with men.View More World AIDS Day
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gangerh commented on the word haberdudgeon
Mmmm. I'm sure you mean more than immediately meets the eye here, bilby. I guess I need to be reading between the layers.
May 13, 2008
bilby commented on the word haberdudgeon
A light cloak of chain mail worn under the layers of scary impressions implanted by gangerh.


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974 Results for "Basel"
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Lincoln impersonators rub gangly elbows in Ohio
Organizers said the crack of a snare drum would mark the exact moment in the show when the shot was fired, and a student portraying Lincoln's wife would add a scream for dramatic effect.
One of the Abe impersonators in town for the convention, Robert Broski, 60, who lives near Los Angeles, looked so much like Lincoln even without the whiskers that he was persuaded to portray him in an independent film about five years ago.
"I grew the beard, and I looked in the mirror and I said, `Oh, my gosh, this is my destiny. This is who I am!'" says Broski, who works at a Home Depot. He has parlayed that into a couple of Lincoln gigs a month, including appearances in a few gags on Ellen DeGeneres' talk show.
The Lincolns all seem to agree that one doesn't really have to be blessed - or cursed, some might say - with a great physical resemblance to the president.
The Abes in Columbus range from well under 6 feet tall to Lincoln's actual height of 6-foot-4. Some are barrel-chested, some slight. There are gray beards and black beards, and one beardless Lincoln. The costumes vary greatly in extravagance.
"We're presenters. We're not impersonators, necessarily," Broski says. "You don't have to look like Mr. Lincoln. But if you take a beard, a top hat and a frock coat and put it on, people instantly know who you are. What's important is getting across his character, his honesty, his integrity."
Follow Mitch Stacy on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/mitchstacy .
The Associated Press


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Author(s): Herbert T. Shillingburg, Jr; David A. Sather; Edwin L. Wilson, Jr
ISBN 10: 0867154756. See all ISBN's
Edition: 4
Publisher: International Quintessence Publishing Group
Copyright Year: 1905
Publication Date: Apr 1st 2012
This is an eTextbook Learn More
The fourth edition of this popular undergraduate text has been updated and expanded to reflect new research, materials, and techniques in fixed prostho-dontics, with the addition of more than 350 new illustrations and three new chapters on the restoration of implants. It is designed to serve as an introduction to restorative dentistry techniques using fixed partial dentures and cast metal, metal-ceramic, and all-ceramic restorations, providing the background knowledge needed by the novice and serving as a refresher for the practitioner or graduate student. Specific techniques and instruments are discussed, and updated information has been added to cover new cements, new impression materials and equipment, and changes in soft tissue management methods used during impression procedures. New articulators, facebows, and concepts of occlusion have been added, along with precise ways of making removable dies. Different ways of handling edentulous ridges with defects that provide better control over the functional and cosmetic outcome are also presented. Finally, the topics of esthetic and implant restorations, which have become increasingly emphasized in dental practice, are given greater attention.
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ISBN 10: 0867154756, ISBN 13: 9780867154757, eISBN 10: 0867155175, eISBN 13: 9780867155174
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Email: email@example.com | Twitter: @wwltvsports
NEW ORLEANS Hornets rookie forward/center Anthony Davis left New Orleans' 88-86 win over Utah early after suffering a mild concussion, team officials said.
Davis was hit in the head by an errant elbow and coach Monty Williams realized something was wrong in spite of not seeing it happen.
'I just saw he was looking around like he got hit and I just thought it's best to get him out of the game,' Williams said. 'He's a pretty tough kid so if he's hurting like that and he couldn't play, I'm sure the doctors saw something that they wanted to keep him safe.'
Team officials said Davis will not travel to Chicago for New Orleans' Saturday night game against the Bulls and instead will remain in town to undergo further evaluation. He's listed as day-to-day.
'I didn't see him at halftime,' Hornets guard Greivis Vasquez said. 'All of a sudden someone said he got elbowed. I hope he's fine because obviously he's a big piece for us.'
Prior to leaving the game, the No. 1 overall pick in June's NBA draft had eight points and six rebounds to with two blocked shots.


text:
You can donate to Frontiers Foundation through CanadaHelps.org. You will receive a charitable tax receipt for every donation.
We are looking for enthusiastic people to volunteer with Operation Beaver in Northern Canadian aboriginal communities.
As part of our fund-raising efforts, we are offering beautiful Christmas cards. These cards come in two varieties, either with traditional Christmas greetings included or blank so that you can write your own message for the season. These cards are perfect to send to your loved ones and you can use them as an opportunity to upkeep your writing skills. The two available prints are as follows: 1. 'Building a home for the spirit' by Ojibwa artist Doug Fox.
2. 'Aymara girl carrying peace swallows on earth' by Bolivian artist Sylvia Peñaloza
You can order packages of 10 cards (25 x 16 cm) with envelopes for $20 plus $5 for shipping across Canada. Download and fill out the order form from our web site by clicking on the 'Donate' and then the 'Buy Merchandise' tabs or by following this link http://www.frontiersfoundation.ca/node/14 Then send it: -by mail to the address of our main office Attn:Frontiers Foundation -by e-mail to email@example.com. -Or you can place your order
In solidarity with Amnesty International's campaign, Frontiers Foundation is supporting the human rights of the Lubicon Cree in Alberta. A letter has been sent to the Premier of Alberta, Ed Stelmach, pointing out that the destruction of an indigenous culture and way of life is an unacceptable price to pay for oil and gas development. Over and over again, United Nations human rights bodies have called on Canadian officials to respect and uphold the rights of the Lubicon Cree.
Until a just resolution of the land dispute is reached, FF/OB urges the Government of Alberta to ensure that no new oil and gas development is permitted on Lubicon land except with the agreement of the Lubicon Cree.
In the '70s and '80s Operation Beaver volunteers worked on housing construction and renovation projects in various communities in Alberta such as: Cadotte Lake, Conklin, Wanyandie, Peerless Lake, Loon Lake, Grand Praire, Owl River, Wabasca, Hines Creek, Aspengrove, Boyer River and particularly in
The CIVICUS world assembly is a global gathering for civil society, donors, governments and businesses to find common solutions to the challenges facing humanity.
Under the logo "Acting Together for a Just World". the global conference will take place at 'Convention Centre' (Palais des Congres) in downtown Montreal on September 10-12, 2011.
Genara Conde Tumiri, Women's Affairs Secretary of Voluntarios en Acción (VEA) from Bolivia; and Marco A. Guzman, Frontiers Foundation Executive Director; will make a presentation of the productive partnership between two aboriginal organizations and will play a video documentary "Keep the Circle Strong" produced by Montreal based Adobe Foundations, as well as "Standing Tree to Standing Home DVD on the work of Frontiers Foundation in Northern Canada with emphasis on certifiable skill training.
The Operation Beaver program of Frontiers Foundation plays an important role in the development of interested communities both in Canada's north and
Frontiers Foundation works with aboriginal communities to provide affordable housing and improvements in education.


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This invention addresses the problem of how to separately regulate the food intake of multiple animals using the same feeder with the goal of maintaining healthy weight for all. The invention provides a means to prevent access to the feeder by animals that have exceeded their allowance (as dictated by programmable profiles) as well as preventing unauthorized animals (such as excluded pets, wild animals or animals on a special diet). The methods can be applied to a broad range of feeders: for domestic pets, livestock, zoo animals and other managed animals. The invention is particularly well suited to dry food gravity feeders. The invention details electronic and electro-mechanical embodiments of devices intended for the described purpose.
1. An improved automatic feeding system, comprising:
an electronic identification (ID) reader circuit capable of communicating with ID transponders without a wired connection; a plurality of ID transponders to be worn by animals using the feeder; a computing device and circuit using an algorithm to determine the amount fed, by comparing the feeding time of an animal during an arbitrary interval relative to its feeding time during a calibration interval, and an algorithm using this information to calculate individual feeding parameters by comparing with defined or calculated limits in order to intelligently control access to a food source.
2. An improved automatic feeding system as described in
3. An improved automatic feeding system as described in
4. An improved automatic feeding system as described in
5. An improved automatic feeding system as described in
6. An improved automatic feeding system as described in
7. An improved automatic feeding system as described in
The present invention relates to an animal feeding device and more specifically to an automatic feeding system capable of measuring and controlling the food intake of multiple animals.
Conventional animal feeders include traditional troughs, feed bowls, etc. Such feeders are generally designed to provide a single meal for one or more animals, and typically restocked manually prior to the next meal. Some automation has been added to such feeders in prior art. One of the simplest being gravity feed: where food is replenished from a storage container by the action of gravity; moving food from the container into spaces left in the food bowl.
Gravity feeders typically use dry food, since moist food tends to spoil after a relatively short time. The problem of spoiling has been partially solved in prior art with feeders having a rotating lid. A portion of the lid is cut away so that a fresh meal is exposed each time the lid rotates. Some variants include refrigerated or ice cooled chambers to keep moist food fresh. The main disadvantage of such systems is that the number of meals is limited, since relatively few food chambers can be accommodated in a reasonable overall size. The construction of these feeders also makes replenishing and cleaning a relatively time consuming task compared to gravity feeders. Similarly, prior art includes refrigerated containers that extrude moist food into a bowl periodically using a drive piston, activated by a timer.
Gravity feeders have also incorporated some automation in prior art, such as employing feed valves to deliver food according to a timer or by physical actuation (learned by the animal). Some other variants supply a measured amount of food each serving. All such methods are quite effective in controlling food intake for solitary animals, but if more than one animal uses the feeder, it is not possible to determine how much each animal intakes. Furthermore, any excess intake by one animal will be at the expense the other animals sharing the feeder.
In a different class of automatic feeder, prior art exists that uses electronic tags to identify each individual animal; in one example electronic tags are fitted to cows to uniquely identify them. The tag is detected at the feeding station and food is dispensed on an individual basis into a trough. However this approach can not guarantee that other cows will not steal the food once it has been dispensed.
Similarly, implanting tags in the body of animals has been proposed in prior art as a means of identification for feeding purposes. In one example, the tag and feeder communicate by an electromagnetic wave traveling between them and the passive tag is powered by the incident electromagnetic wave. In this example, the tag stores feeding information relating to the animal and the feeder dispenses food, based on the presence of the tag and the animal's historical feeding schedule. The system is intended to address the problem of feeding an animal in the owner's absence, and attempts to prevent spoiling/wasting food by dispensing when the animal is absent. However this approach does not address this issue of access prevention for unauthorized animals or regulating the food intake of multiple animals using the same feeder, on an individual basis. In addition using an implanted tag would require an impractically high level of transmitted RF power to power the passive tags in practice and which may also desensitize the receiver.
Gravity feeders are very convenient because they can supply several weeks of food before replenishment is necessary. The main problem with conventional gravity feeders, is that the intake an animal is completely unrestricted, which can result in overweight. Gravity feeders with a dispensing mechanism can limit what is dispensed, but have no control over which animal eats the food in a multi-animal environment.
This invention comprises an electronic circuit to identify authorized animals and permit regulated access to food, while at the same time restricting access by non-desired users (whether unauthorized users or animals exceeding their programmed feed limit). This invention allows the feed time of each animal to be adjusted on an individual basis, so that the weight (and health) of multiple animals can be managed independently. Since eating behavior in animals varies considerably depending on size, age, individual appetite, anxiety and any number of other factors, this present invention includes an electronic circuit to automatically calibrate the maximum daily feeding time for each individual animal, despite such widely varying factors.
The present invention is illustrated by way of example and not by limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings and in which:
Without limitation to other embodiments that are incremental derivatives from the designs, methods and concepts stated or implied herein. Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
A preferred embodiment of the improved automatic animal feeding system is shown in
By means of example, the following describes the operation of the preferred embodiment exemplified in
During the training period an algorithm is used for determining typical feeding allowance of an animal; regardless of physical, behavioral or other differences. This algorithm is derived as follows: Q=Σ(k1t1+k2t2+k3t3+ . . . kntn) where Q is the cumulative amount consumed during a measurement period, ki is the speed of consumption and ti is the elapsed feeding time during a feeding session. The value ki will vary widely from animal to animal depending on their size and feeding habits and also depends on the calorie content of the type of food used. However the inventor has observed from experiments that for a particular individual, k is approximately constant for any given food type. Meaning: animals typically eat at a constant speed. (The units of speed are immaterial and can be calories/minute, cc/hour, g/second or any other units). Therefore the expression for cumulative amount consumed reduces to Q=k�Σ(t1+t2+t3+ . . . tn).
Drawing attention to the terms in brackets, the series represent the cumulative feeding time during the measurement period. Therefore measuring cumulative feeding time over the training period, allows an accurate prediction of the normal food intake of an animal during any arbitrary interval. The only requirement is that the training period be long enough to encompass the typical feeding behavior of an animal. Using this principle at the end of the training period, the system automatically calculates the typical daily feed time and sets this as the baseline. This serves to calibrate the feeder for each new animal and does so independent of the size, age, appetite or other characteristics of the animal. Despite such variability, the calibration works because it is an accurate measure of the typical time an animal spends feeding, independent of any other factors. (For example it would not matter if one animal is at the feeder twice as long as another, and eats three times as fast; since this would be normal for both animals and an appropriate baseline).
After the training period, each day the system will allow an animal to feed up to its demonstrated average daily feeding time. If the animal attempts to exceed this amount, the system will automatically close the barrier doors 3, preventing further feeding. If the owner wishes to reduce the weight of any particular animal, this can be done by programming the feeder to decrease the animal's maximum daily feed time to a lower level. Since is done on an individual basis, the feed time of each animal can be adjusted according to its individual nutritional and health needs. In this way the improved automatic feeding system solves the difficult problem of how to control the weight of different animals sharing the same feeder. The fundamental operation of the new feeder works on the principle of measuring the cumulative feeding time relative to a baseline set during a training period and is distinct from prior art feeders which use portion control or meal time scheduling as their method of diet control.
The improved automatic feeding system also includes a class of algorithms to prevent gorging by animals. One of the problems with allowing an animal access to its entire daily allowance is that it may tend to try and eat it all in one session. To avoid this problem the daily allowance established during the training period (or manually set by the owner) can be divided into smaller portions. To do this the day is broken into sub-intervals of such as: 1 hour, 6 hours, 24 hours (no sub-intervals), nighttime and daytime or any other meaningful interval. The available allowance of an animal is incremented after every sub-interval by an amount A/N; where A is the typical daily allowance and N is the number of sub-intervals. Using sub-intervals or "feeding profiles" has a similar effect to reducing portion size of a meal.
Not allowing night feeding is useful for dogs, since they generally want to relieve themselves soon after feeding.
Independent of which feeding profile is selected; if an animal exceeds its available allowance at any instant, the motorized barrier doors 3 close to prevents feeding. If the feeder is visited by another animal that has not exceeded its allowance, the feeder will open. Another unique aspect of this improved feeder is that no food is wasted or available to an unintended recipient, since the doors seal off access once an animal has fed.
In another operating mode: the improved feeder can prevent unauthorized animals from feeding. For example if the feeder is used for cat food and there is a dog in the house, the feeder will exclude the dog if it does not have a valid ID transponder 6 (or if it has an ID that has been designated zero allowance at a particular feeder by the owner).
In another operating mode: if one animal in a household has a special diet (say for diabetes) and other animals in the house eat regular food. By using two separate feeders containing the different food types, the user can easily set up the feeders to accommodate the desired access for the different animals. Similarly cats and dogs can be assigned separate feeders.
In another mode of operation: if certain animals cannot be trained to approach a closed feeder (in order to activate the motorized barrier doors 3). The feeder can be programmed to work in a normally open mode. In which case the animals can see the food and will naturally approach when hungry. In this case, the feeder accumulates the feeding time for each animal and if an animal exceeds its allowance, the feeder closes for a timeout period. In this mode, after the timeout, the feeder will reopen. Obviously the timeout needs to be sufficiently long to deter the animal with no remaining allowance. Even if this animal does re-approach the feeder when it reopens, the feeder will again close.
The motorized barrier 3 in the preferred embodiment comprises two parts that move in opposing rotation powered by a motorized transmission 4. The doors are shown in both open and closed position in
There are many different wireless circuits that can be used to implement the ID reader 5 and ID transponders 6 such as: magnetically coupled near field technology, infra-red, optical, acoustic, electro-acoustic or RF. In all cases the reader 5 is monitored by a computing device 7, which also handles user inputs from a human interface device 9 and displays on a electronic display 10.
The preferred embodiment of the ID reader circuit comprises: a microcontroller 13, a MOSFET current amplifier 14, a resonant coil 15, a half wave rectifier 16 and an integrating amplifier/filter and limiter 17. The microcontroller 13 produces a continuous 125 kHz square wave which is amplifier by a MOSFET current amplifier 14, the amplified signal is routed to a resonant coil 15. The coil can be constructed of wire, wound into a loop with an aperture of a few inches wide. When energized the coil produces an electromagnetic field. If an ID transponder enters the field it modulates the field and encodes it with its unique ID number. This modulation is imparted onto the resonant coil 15 in the ID reader circuit. The signal is then routed to a half wave rectifier 16 used to demodulate the signal, and then cleaned up and enhanced using an integrating amplifier/low pass filter and limiter circuit 17. Finally the signal is synchronously decoded in the microcontroller using a frame structure of 64 bits. The decoded ID number is compared with the IDs stored registered in the system memory 8. If the ID is new, it is registered, if it has already been registered the microcontroller monitors the time elapsed during the feeding session.
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WelcomeNalisio Taveras is one of Tampa Bay's most in demand artists. He holds a bachelor's degree in Jazz Performance and a master's degree in Composition/Arranging. He can sing, compose his own music, arrange music for others, and play an arsenal of instruments (including sax, flute and clarinet). In addition to performing as a jazz solo artist, Nalisio also directs two bands: "Nalisio & The Fellas" (a smokin' 5pc. Band that plays Rock/Pop/R&B/Motown/Funk/Reggae/Jazz/Originals and more) AND "Son Salvaje" (an 11pc. Latin band that specializes in Salsa/Merengue/Bachata/Cha Cha/Latin Jazz and promises to rock your socks off).
If you're looking for a large, powerful band...no problem. If you're looking for a small, intimate ensemble...no problem. Whatever the occasion might be (a wedding, a corporate event, a club gig, a festival, a birthday party), you can rest assured that Nalisio can successfully cater to your needs.
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Homeland Security office OKs efforts to monitor social media
A little-known privacy office in the Department of Homeland Security has given its stamp of approval to an ongoing initiative aimed at monitoring social media sites for emerging threats.
Congress created the department's privacy office in 2003 to review major initiatives and databases and make certain those initiatives respected the rights of Americans, while also enabling homeland security officials to better collect and share information about possible terrorism and criminal suspects.
The department first began experimenting with the possibility of social media monitoring in 2010 with pilot programs that targeted public reactions to the earthquake in Haiti, the Winter Olympics in Vancouver and the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The privacy office has since conducted compliance reviews every six months, with the most recent assessment [PDF] published last week.
Although the pilot programs were narrow in focus, privacy and civil liberties groups have long worried that the department's monitoring would expand to all online speech with no reasonable suspicion that a crime had occurred.
As Americans turn to social media sites like Twitter and Facebook to communicate with one another, intelligence officials are looking for ways to harness that ocean of data and convert it into actionable information.
The Homeland Security Department's National Operations Center signed up for a Twitter profile with the handle @DHSNOCMMC1 as part of its initiative. The account is locked, and it's not possible to know who or what the department is following.
According to the privacy office, however, the Twitter profile "does not engage with other users by posting 'tweets,' nor does it have 'followers,' " according to the report issued last week. "The DHS profile does not 'follow' other Twitter users who are individuals."
Program employees instead hunt for dozens of keywords in the social media landscape using relatively simple and widely available tools like TweetDeck. For that reason, it's unclear how words like "burn," "cocaine" or "collapse" can be analyzed effectively enough to reveal truly useful information among the hundreds of millions of tweets that course across the Web every day.
In a six-month period alone this year, the operations center generated more than 9,300 "item-of-interest" reports from its social media monitoring program. Samples included in the privacy compliance review describe news stories about tornado damage in Louisiana, a suspicious package at an airport, Border Patrol apprehensions in Texas and power outages. Among the Twitter sources were CBS Philadelphia, The Current, the Michigan Department of Transportation and Pacific Gas & Electric.
While those simple searches turned up innocuous information, there are no assurances that down the road, homeland security officials won't seek much more sophisticated tools that can automatically mine the Web for what they determine to be a threat or use secret tactics that alarm privacy rights advocates.
The Electronic Frontier Foundation in 2010 obtained documents showing that federal investigators from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services were taught to deceptively "friend" people who were applying to become citizens and snoop for marriage details.
Foundation attorney Mark Rumold said the recent sex scandal involving now-resigned CIA chief David Petraeus and the emails that unraveled it show how even the nation's most senior intelligence officials are vulnerable to 21st-century digital transmissions. It's not just the tweet itself, but metadata behind it, such as a computer's unique identifying number, that reveals much about who's communicating, from where and when, he said.


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Civil War History Comes to Life in Northern Virginia July 23-24, 2011
MANASSAS, Va., June 24, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Visitors to the metropolitan Washington D.C. area will travel back in time to the summer of 1861 during a reenactment of the first major battle of the Civil War, the Battle of First Manassas/Bull Run, on July 23 and 24, 2011. Attendees will be an eyewitness to "The Moment that Changed America" as more than 8,300 Union and Confederate reenactors march into history at Prince William County's first staging of the battle in 50 years.
The ground will tremble as more than 350 horses of Calvary units gallop across the fertile farms and fields. The thunder, flash and smoke of more than 50 cannon will mix with the dust from the feet of marching soldiers, artillery fire and black powder to create the fog of war. Reenactors portraying historic generals will follow the actual battle scenario that occurred 150 years ago.
Tickets to the reenactment are available by presale only online at www.manassasbullrun.com. The battle reenactment begins at 9:30 a.m. and continues for more than 2 1/2 hours. Families can roam the soldiers' camps to see the conditions experienced by the Civil War soldier. In the living history area, reenactors and historians will interpret life in 1861 for the soldiers, civilians, slaves, men, women and children. The U.S. Colored Troops will depict the struggle of escaped slaves. Other groups will depict camp life for the soldiers including cooking, drilling, music, cards and games, field hospitals, medicine, music and much more.
Living history presentations will include a portrayal of Frederick Douglass, a program on the life of the slave in 1861 by Dr. Anita Henderson, medical advances during the War, photography and concerns for the soul of the soldier. Another topic will be "Patriots in Disguise" about female Loreta Velazquez who arrived from Louisiana to fight as Lieutenant Harry Buford.
Civil War era merchants known as sutlers, traveled with the troops and provided provisions to these ill equipped soldiers from canteens to caps. More than 30 sutlers as well as 40 modern day food vendors and merchants will sell their wares to civilians and soldiers alike. Among these are B & B Tart, which sells wool and other period fabrics dyed with natural colorings. Others participating include Gardener's Dulcimer, The Lanternman, and North State Haberdashery. Horses will be shod by The Blacksmith with tack repaired and replaced by Duvall Leatherwork.
Ticket prices start at $24.00 for adults and $15.00 for youth aged 6 to 12 (children under 6 are free). All tickets include complimentary parking at Jiffy Lube Live in Bristow, Virginia with shuttle service to and from the reenactment location adjacent to Manassas National Battlefield Park. Use of the private farm was donated to the event by the Snyder Family in honor of their late mother, a local historic preservationist, Annie Snyder.
Discover Prince William & Manassas, the area's tourism marketing agency, is the lead planner and marketer of the reenactment. The agency is also charged with promoting the more than 80 civil-war themed events planned this year and over the four year commemoration. "The events tie in well with one of our strategic goals, which is to establish Prince William & Manassas as the leading destination for Civil War history, education and heritage in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area," said Ann Marie Maher, Executive Director. "The events are expected to attract as many as 25,000 visitors generating $24.8 million in direct visitor economic impact to the destination." For tickets, travel planning assistance and additional information, visit www.manassasbullrun.com or call 888-721-1861.
MEDIA PASSES, IMAGES, VIDEO: www.manassasbullrun.com
For Additional Information, contact: Discover Prince William & Manassas Ann Marie Maher, Executive Director 703-396-7130 firstname.lastname@example.com
SOURCE Discover Prince William & Manassas