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The present invention is a medical device such as a stent in the form of an expandable mesh with an expandable polymer layer thereon. The mesh is metal or plastic. The polymer may be any of a variety of expandable polymers, which either expand upon hydration, or expand without significant resistance. The invention may be used, for example, as an expandable biliary, vascular, endotracheal, esophageal, or prostatic device.
1. A stent for insertion into the interior of a body comprising:
an expandable mesh said expandable mesh having a first configuration having a first diameter and a second configuration having a second diameter wherein said first diameter is smaller than said second diameter; and
an expandable polymer coupled with said mesh said expandable polymer having a third configuration having a third diameter and a fourth configuration having a fourth diameter said fourth diameter greater than said third diameter wherein said expandable polymer is moveable between said third configuration and said fourth configuration without significant resistance and is moveable between said fourth configuration and said third configuration without folding of bunching,
wherein in said third configuration, said expandable polymer is adapted to maintain said expandable mesh in said first configuration.
2. The expandable mesh as described in claim 1 wherein said expandable polymer comprises expanded PTFE.
3. The stent of claim 1 wherein said expandable mesh is self-expanding.
4. The stent of claim 1 wherein said expandable mesh comprises a material selected from the group consisting of stainless steel, tantalum, gold, titanium, nitinol, and plastic.
5. The stent of claim 1 wherein said expandable mesh has a configuration selected from the group consisting of coiled spring, braided filament, perforated tube, slit tube, and zig-zag.
6. The stent of claim 1 wherein polymer is disposed on one of the inside of said mesh, the outside of said mesh, the interstices of said mesh, and any combination thereof.
7. The stent of claim 1 wherein said expandable mesh has a first expansion ratio and said polymer has a second expansion ratio, wherein said first and said second expansion ratio are approximately equal.
8. The stent of claim 1 wherein said expandable polymer inhibits tissue in-growth through walls of said stent.
9. The stent of claim 1 wherein said expandable polymer inhibits liquid flow through walls of said stent.
This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/680,717, filed Jul. 15, 1996, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,674,241 which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/392,143, filed Feb. 22, 1995, now abandoned.
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to the field of stents for use primarily in ducts and vessels of the body, and more particularly, to the area of expandable stents which expand and/or reconform after implantation in the body.
2. Art Background
A number of biomedical devices have been used for the stenting of body passages that have become blocked or are otherwise damaged, or weakened. Expanding stents seem the most promising for this purpose because of the advantages provided by insertion of a small diameter tube-like device and the ultimate enlargement of the diameter to accommodate the flow of body fluids or food and the increase in time prior to occlusion of the stent.
There are a number of different types of devices for stenting of body passages that may be classified into two general categories: namely, expandable meshes which includes self-expanding types and non-self-expanding types, and non-expandable stents which are typically made of plastic or polymeric material. The self-expanding meshes can be made of a material, such as Nitinol, which changes configuration upon heating to body temperature. Other self-expanding meshes are made of resilient mesh material which can be flexed down into a small diameter tube and held in place in such a configuration until it is released, at which time it expands to a larger diameter configuration. The non-self-expanding meshes are expanded by use of an inflatable balloon which is placed inside the mesh in a small diameter configuration, and then inflated, thereby expanding the mesh to a larger diameter configuration. The balloon is then deflated for removal, leaving the mesh in its expanded configuration.
The expandable metal mesh stents are particularly advantageous in that they can increase in size up to 36 Fr. However, the metal meshes are difficult to remove since tissue in-growth occurs over time. A number of other problems, for example, mucosal hyperplasia, fungal proliferation, or neoplasm also are common with expandable metal mesh stents.
The expandable mesh stents can be made in a variety of materials such as, for example, stainless steel. The expandable mesh stents can be made in a variety of configurations such as a coiled spring, a variety of zig-zag patterns including various stents knows as "Z" stents, braided filament, and other collapsible configurations. One type of expandable stent comprises a cylindrical member having a slit cut along its length, so that the edges along the length can overlap to allow for compression to a reduced size. A further configuration which may be described as a perforated tube comprises a generally rigid tube with openings cut therein to allow for radial expansion under force of an expansion balloon or by expansion due to heating. The expandable mesh stents can be braided, woven, knitted, formed, molded, machined or made by other methods known in the art. Various mesh designs are disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,512,338, 4,503,569, 4,922,905, 4,733,665, 4,950,227, 5,089,006 and 5,061,275. Other materials, configurations and methods of manufacture in addition to those described above are known.
As used herein, the term "expandable mesh" is meant to include, without limitation, self-expanding and non-self-expanding configurations made of any generally rigid or springy material which when expanded have an open network or arrangement which would otherwise allow tissue in-growth, and would not otherwise prevent fluid flow through its walls. Several of these prior art mesh stents have been utilized with a polymeric sheath or cover; however, since these sheaths must be stretched to increase in size, they exert a force that resists expansion, which tends to limit the final expanded size of the mesh. Additionally, this resistance may make expansion more problematic. Alternatively, the sheath may be folded or bundled over the mesh when it is compressed, so that no force is exerted upon expansion. However, this method increases the size of the compressed stent, so that a larger size catheter is required for a given size stent.
The plastic or polymeric stents exist only in smaller sizes because of the difficulty of inserting a larger catheter through the channel of existing scopes or in narrow body passages, such as veins or arteries, bile ducts, the esophagus, prostate, and the like. A disadvantage of the plastic stents is that as a result of the smaller size of the lumen, the plastic stents occlude faster than the expandable stents. One advantage of plastic or polymeric stents is that their closed structure prevents tissue in-growth which therefore makes it easier to remove, and less likely to be occluded by tissue in-growth from the outside. Some plastic or polymeric stents, as mentioned above, are simply small tubes.
With the current self-expandable mesh stents, the tubular body may comprise a flexible material where the diameter can be changed between a small diameter for insertion, and a final, expanded diameter after placement allowing for fluid flow therethrough. In some cases the self-expanding device assumes its final, expanded configuration when in an unrestricted condition, free of external forces in the radial direction. These type of devices must be compressed and loaded into a sheath that restrains the device radially for insertion into the body via a catheter. After insertion, the sheath or loading system may be removed to allow for expansion. After removal of the sheath, the device expands to its final diameter under spring-like forces resulting from the compression. In the case of heat sensitive materials, the stent takes on its expanded shape after it is heated above its transition temperature. With non-self-expanding mesh stents, upon expansion by the use of, for example, an expansion balloon, the final expanded configuration is achieved. Additionally, other methods of expansion and contraction are known.
What is needed is an expandable stent that allows for easy insertion and that increases in size to increase the time for occlusion to occur. The expandable stent should eliminate or minimize tissue in-growth without requiring a covering which either resists expansion or which must be folded or bundled when the stent is in the small radius, non-expanded condition. Further, it is desirable in some situations that the expandable stent does not require a loading sheath, so that a smaller sized catheter can be used to insert the stent into the body.
The present invention comprises an expandable mesh with an expandable polymer layer which can be on the inside of the expandable mesh stent, on the outside of the expandable mesh stent, within the interstices of the expandable mesh stent, or any combination of inside, outside and within the interstices of the mesh stent. The expandable polymer does not require either stretching or folding, nor does it exert a significant resistance to expansion.
The present invention may be used in a number of different fields of medicine: products may include expandable biliary, vascular, endotracheal, esophageal, and prostatic devices. The size and design may be different for each medical application.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the polymer is expandable by hydration. For example, the polymer may be a member of the family of polymers sold under the trademarked name AQUAVENE�, examples of which are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,883,699 and 4,911,691. Other expandable polymers which expand by hydration known in the art include HYPAN� (Hydrolyzed polyacrylonitrile) (U.S. Pat. No. 4,480,642), hydrophilic polyether polyurethane (U.S. Pat. No. 4,798,876), polyurethane diacrylate (U.S. Pat. No. 4,424,305), and various hydrogels, including cross-linked PVP (polyvinyl pyrrolidone), PVA (polyvinyl alcohol), PEO (polyethylene oxide) and pHEMA (poly (hydroxyethyl methacrylate)).
The hydrophilic polymer AQUAVENE� comprises a combination of a non-hydrophilic component (e.g., an elastomer such as urethane, silicone, PVC or the like) and a hydrophilic component (a hydrogel) which allows the material to swell and increase in size and maintain strength as outlined, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,883,699. In a preferred embodiment the amount of expansion of the polymer is approximately equivalent to the amount of expansion of the mesh in the expanded condition. The amount of expansion of a material or device may be described by the expansion ratio. For the mesh, this may be the ratio of, for example, the diameter in the compressed condition to the diameter in the unrestricted, expanded condition. For the polymer layer, the expansion ratio may be the ratio of the diameter in the non-hydrated state to the diameter in the fully hydrated state. In the case of AQUAVENE�, the ratio of hydrophilic to non-hydrophilic component controls the amount of expansion of the material upon hydration, so that the amount of polymer expansion can be matched with the amount of expansion of the mesh. Under a currently preferred embodiment of the present invention, the elastomer content should generally be in the range of approximately 15-75%, and preferably 20-65%, and more preferably 25-30% by volume in the dry (non-hydrated) state.
In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the polymer comprises a material which, by virtue of its method of manufacture, or, e.g., arrangement of the knit, may expand between a first, smaller configuration and a second, larger configuration without requiring stretching of the material to the larger configuration, so that the polymer can be expanded without offering significant resistance. Further, the material does not require folding or bunching to be placed in the smaller configuration, so that the presence of the material does not significantly increase the size of the compressed stent or reduce the size of the lumen.
One advantage of the present invention is the elimination of the open mesh of the prior art. The closed smooth surface of the polymer prevents tissue and tumor in-growth and allows for easier removal of the prosthesis. It is recognized that there has been some use in the field of expandable meshes combined with polymeric materials which must stretch to expand as described earlier. However, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the polymeric materials also self-expand, and can be devised to expand approximately the same degree as the open mesh. In accordance with a further embodiment, the polymer can change from a small configuration to a larger configuration without significant resistance. Thus, unlike prior art devices which either do not have any polymer layer, or which have a polymer layer which stretches with some resistance, the present invention allows for expansion of the mesh with no substantial resistance. It will be recognized however, that even if there is a small amount of resistance by the polymer, it may be within the spirit and scope of the present invention.
An advantage of the present invention relative to the use of the above described self-expandable polymers alone is that the expandable mesh provides a resistance to crushing which is much greater than the resistance to crushing of the polymer alone if the polymer formulation were such that it would expand as much as the mesh. The structure of polymeric stents of self-expandable polymer which resist crushing may require excessively thick walls, which would either defeat the purpose of attempting to make the outside diameter as small as possible for easy insertion, or alternatively, make the internal diameter very small thereby defeating the purpose of using the stent to allow a larger volume of fluid to pass through the duct. The expandable mesh of the present invention provides the mechanical strength necessary to prevent occlusion due to lateral forces such as from tumor growth.
Another advantage of the present invention is the ability to load additives into the hydrophilic polymer which may be released at a controlled rate. The additives may include, for example, antibacterial, anti-microbial, anti-calcification, growth hormones, anti-cancer-related drugs, anti-thrombogenic agents, and anti-restenosis agents which are beneficial in conjunction with, or in addition to the implantation of the stent.
In addition, the present invention still has the advantage of the expandable meshes which allow for the implantation of smaller prosthesis which thereafter increase in lumen size after insertion for greater flow rate, and longer implantation time prior to occlusion.
The design of the expandable mesh may consist of any type of self-expanding meshes such as those described in the above-mentioned patents. The mesh may be a self-expandable mesh capable of collapsing to a smaller diameter and expanding if it is not held radially by a sheath, or in the case of heat-sensitive materials, until the temperature rises above the transition temperature of the material. In some embodiments, the expandable mesh may also be of the non-self expanding type which requires a separate force, typically an expansion balloon, to cause the expansion.
In an embodiment of the invention, the expandable hydrophilic polymer holds the expanding mesh until the hydrophilic component of the polymer hydrates inside the body. The polymer after hydration softens, swells, and expands to allow the contracted mesh to expand. In alternative embodiments, some expandable configurations of non-hydrophilic polymers have a structure such that they can change between a small to a large configuration without significant resistance and without folding or bunching in the small configuration. Under such circumstances, these polymers can be expanded along with the expandable mesh, either under the force of expansion from the mesh and/or under pressure from an expansion balloon.
FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an embodiment of the present invention in collapsed condition.
FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the embodiment of the present invention of FIG. 1 in an expanded condition.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the embodiment of the present invention of FIG. 1 and 2.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a view of a sectional view of a further embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a view of a portion of the embodiment of FIG. 6.
The present invention comprises a stent or other medical generally tube-like device for implantation in the body on a temporary, semi-permanent or permanent basis, the invention comprising an expandable mesh with an expandable polymer layer on the inside of the mesh stent, on the outside of the mesh stent, within the interstices of the mesh stent or any combination thereof.
As shown in FIG. 1, an embodiment of the present invention comprises a tubular shaped stent 10 comprising a mesh 12 and an outer layer 14. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the outer layer 14 covers all or most of the outer surface of mesh 12. However, the layer 14 is shown only at the top and bottom edges of the Figure for purposes of illustration to allow viewing of mesh 12. In general, outer layer 14 is a sheath-like structure which may be attached to the mesh 12 in a variety of ways as discussed later. A retention flange 16, or other mechanism, such as exposed wires, may be provided, to assist in maintaining the positioning of the structure after placement in the body, as is known in the prior art. FIG. 1 shows the stent in a collapsed position which is useful for initial insertion of the stent into the body.
Referring to FIG. 2, the present invention 10 is now shown in its expanded condition. It still comprises mesh 12 and an outer layer 14, again shown only at the top and bottom edges of FIG. 2 for purposes of illustration. In the condition shown in FIG. 2, the stent 10 may have been inserted into a duct in the body from which outer layer 14 has absorbed water and expanded. The outer layer 14 upon expansion, no longer holds mesh 12 in the collapsed position, so that it too expands to the configuration shown in FIG. 2.
FIG. 3 shows expanded stent 10 in perspective view. As can be seen, the mesh 12 is substantially completely covered by outer layer 14.
FIG. 4 shows an alternative embodiment of the present invention. As shown, stent 40 comprises mesh 42 and inner layer 44. Inner layer 44 is similar to layer 14 of FIGS. 1-3, with the exception that it is disposed within the mesh 42. Again, the stent 40 may have retention flange 46, or similar mechanism.
FIG. 5 shows a further alternative embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 5, stent 50 comprises mesh 52, outer layer 54a and inner layer 54b. A portion of outer layer 54a is cut-away for purposes of illustration for viewing of mesh 52, and inner layer 54b within mesh 52. The outer and inner layers 54a and 54b are similar to layer 44 of FIG. 4, and layer 14 of FIGS. 1-3.
FIG. 6 shows a sectional view of stent 60. In this embodiment, stent 60 comprises a mesh 62 with polymer 64 disposed within the interstices of mesh 62. Although not shown, stent 60 may have a retention flange or other means to hold the stent in place within the body. The polymer 64 is similar to the layers 54, 44 and 14 of the previous embodiments, with the exception, instead of being sheath-like as in layers 14 and 54a, or liner-like as in layers 44 and 54b, the layer 64 is now disposed within the interstices of mesh 62. Typically, an interstitial layer is formed in conjunction with an inner layer, an outer layer, or both. FIG. 7 shows a portion of the stent 60 of FIG. 6.
A number of materials may be used for the expandable mesh, such as stainless steel, tantalum, gold, titanium, nitinol heat sensitive material, or any suitable plastic material that may be formed so it may be collapsed, and when released, expand radially. The expandable mesh may be self-expanding. Alternatively, the mesh may not be self-expanding, which would require external, or more typically, internal assistance, usually in the form of an expansion balloon. The mesh may be any configuration and may be made in any manner, such as is disclosed in the earlier cited patents.
The polymer layers, such as layers 14, 44, 54a, 54b and 64 of the present invention may be one of the earlier described hydrophilic polymers, which expand upon hydration. Alternatively, these layers may be made of a material which expands from a first, smaller configuration to a second, larger configuration, without requiring stretching and without exerting significant force against expansion. Further, the material does not require folding or bunching to contract from the expanded, larger configuration to the smaller configuration. One material which has this property is expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). Typically, expanded PTFE is fabricated by pulling or expanding the PTFE after extrusion so that the PTFE is expanded in a longitudinal direction. The expanded PTFE has the above-described property of being capable of being "pushed" and "pulled" between a shorter and longer length, without requiring stretching, or exerting significant resistance against expansion when going from the shorter to the longer length, and without requiring folding or bunching of the PTFE when being pushed into the shorter length from the longer length.
In the present invention, since it is desirable for the polymer layer to expand radially after insertion into the body, the PTFE may be radially expanded after extrusion. The radially expanded PTFE may be used, for example, as the layer 14 of FIGS. 1 and 2. The PTFE layer 14 may be placed on the mesh 12 in the configuration shown in FIG. 1, without requiring folding or bunching of the material 14, and then expand to the configuration shown in FIG. 2, without offering significant resistance, and without limiting the final expanded diameter. As an alternative to radially expanded PTFE, longitudinally expanded PTFE may be used provided it is disposed on the mesh 12 such that its direction of expansion is radial. For example, a length of longitudinally expanded PTFE may be cut and wrapped around an expandable mesh 12 with the longitudinal direction perpendicular to the length of the mesh. The expanded PTFE may be desirable in comparison to a hydrophilic polymer layer when mesh 12 is non-self-expanding, since the mesh 12 can be expanded by an expansion balloon, without any significant resistance from the polymer layer during expansion. In contrast, in using a non-self-expanding mesh in combination with a hydrophilic polymer layer, it would be necessary to wait until hydration of the hydrophilic polymer prior to expansion.
In addition to expanded PTFE described above, other polymers, such as, for example, dacron may be used in the present invention. If the polymer is not expanded as with PTFE, the structure of the material should be such that the material has the above-described ability to assume a small, compressed configuration and a larger expanded configuration, without requiring stretching to the larger configuration, and without requiring folding to the smaller configuration. The material may have this property by virtue of a weave or structure in which the fibers or filaments of the material are not aligned substantially longitudinally in the direction of expansion. In this way the material has some range of movement where the fibers or filaments of the material move in an accordion or bellows-like fashion. While, on a small scale the fibers or filaments of the material may fold in on themselves upon compression, it should be noted that no large scale folding or bunching of the material occurs, so that the compression to the small size does not significantly increase the required size of the catheter. With regard to this embodiment of the invention, the expansion ratio of the material may be described as, for example, the ratio of the expanded diameter to the compressed diameter, where the compressed diameter is the diameter at which the material is compressed to its smallest size without requiring folding or bunching on a large scale, and the expanded diameter is the diameter when the material has been expanded as far as possible without stretching. It will be appreciated that a material such as expanded PTFE, or other materials as described herein, may expand beyond this, but stretching would be required.
A preferred material to use for holding the mesh in a collapsed position, until insertion in the body where it allows the mesh to expand, is a hydrophilic polymer such as that sold under the tradename AQUAVENE�. An AQUAVENE� polymer is a co-continuous blend of a non-hydrophilic polymer (elastomer) and a hydrophilic polymer (hydrogel). In a preferred embodiment, the hydrophilic component is generally in the range of approximately 15-75%, preferably 20-65% and more preferably 25-30%, by volume in the dry (non-hydrated) state. Some amount of the non-hydrophilic component is desirable to provide some physical integrity of the polymer sufficient for the purposes of the present invention. However, a cross-linked hydrogel alone can be used. It should be noted that although, as described earlier, the mesh provides a greater crush resistance than a hydrophilic polymer of the same expansion ratio, the hydrophilic polymer provides some crush resistance, so that the present invention provides enhanced crush resistance as compared with either the mesh alone or the polymer alone.
The stent of the present invention may be formed by a number of different techniques in a number of different configurations. For example, a hydrophilic polymer layer, in the form of a sheath, may be bonded to the expandable mesh in its collapsed position so that the "dry" polymer holds the expandable mesh in a collapsed state. Alternatively, the polymer may be laminated, imbedded, coated, extruded, incorporated, or molded around the expandable mesh in its collapsed condition. Upon hydration inside the body, the polymer expands and looses its ability to restrain the expandable mesh, allowing the mesh to expand radially. In some cases, it may be necessary to allow the polymer to move relative to the expandable mesh. For example, it may be desirable to use a polymer in the form of a sheath placed external and/or internal to the expandable mesh which is not bonded to or embedded within the mesh, so that the polymer does not bind the filaments of the mesh, thereby preventing it from fully expanding. In many cases, however, the polymer may be so bonded or embedded, as the polymer in the hydrated state allows for sufficient movement of the filaments of the mesh to allow it to self expand. The polymer layer of an embodiment using expanded PTFE or similar material may be coupled to the mesh using the above techniques. However, this type of polymer by itself will not hold the mesh in the collapsed configuration.
In the present invention, the expandable polymer layer or layers are designed such that they have an approximately equal expansion ratio as the expandable mesh. In this way, the expandable polymer does not in any way resist the expansion of the expandable mesh, allowing for full expansion of the mesh. It will be appreciated that there may be a slight mismatch in expansion ratios without significantly affecting the performance of the device. Further, if desired, the expansion ratio of the hydrophilic polymer may be provided such that it assists in the expansion of the mesh. For example, the hydrophilic polymer may have a slightly greater expansion ratio, which may enable some meshes to expand to a slightly larger size than the mesh would expand without the presence of the hydrophilic polymer.
As described above, the polymer layer may be placed externally, internally within the interstices of the mesh, or any combination thereof. Typically, the placement of polymers interstitially may be achieved in conjunction with an external or internal layer. One preferred embodiment is to form the polymer both internal and external to the mesh in its collapsed position, so that the stent has a smooth inner lumen and a smooth outer surface. The smooth outer surface allows for easier removal of the stent, while a smooth inner surface may be helpful in increasing the time until occlusion occurs. In embodiments using a hydrophilic polymer, the polymer may expand through the mesh to some extent, so that a single polymer layer either internal or external, may provide a smooth surface both internal and external of the mesh. Further, an advantage of embodiments using a hydrophilic polymer which forms a hydrogel is that the hydrogel is typically highly biocompatible.
The existing self-expanding meshes must be pre-loaded in a sheath delivery system, which holds the mesh in a tight configuration. The present invention may eliminate the need for a sheath in some cases, since the hydrophilic polymer of the present invention restricts the mesh in a collapsed position until after insertion and until the polymer is sufficiently hydrated. This arrangement can allow for a smaller external diameter delivery system than if a sheath is necessary, because the additional diameter of the sheath becomes unnecessary since its function is undertaken by the polymer. In some cases, if the polymer hydrates too quickly a sheath may be necessary to allow placement of the stent prior to hydration. Alternatively, if desired, a coating could be applied to the polymer layer to slow down the hydration. The coating may be similar to a material used to make time release drugs, or absorbable sutures. The coating may be designed to take any desired predetermined amount of time to dissolve, to allow for any desired amount of time in which to place and maneuver the stent in the body. For examples of the suitable materials, see, for example, Barrows, Thomas H., "Synthetic Bioabsorbable Polymers," in High Performance Biomaterials. M. Szycher, ed. 1991, pp. 243-257.
As described above, the polymer layer may be a hydrophilic polymer, or may be an expandable polymer that expands without stretching, such as expanded PTFE. Additionally, the layer may be internal, and/or external, and/or interstitial. It will be appreciated that in an embodiment having more than a single layer, one or more of the layers may be a hydrophilic polymer and one or more of the layers may be a material such as expanded PTFE, if desired. Such an embodiment may be useful for delaying hydration for some period, so that the stent may be placed. For example, one or more hydrophilic layers may be disposed internal, and/or external, and/or interstitial of the mesh stent. An expanded PTFE layer, for example, may then be placed internal and/or external to any hydrophilic polymer layers to delay hydration.
The above present invention may be used in a number of different fields of medicine: products may include expandable biliary, vascular, endotracheal, esophageal, and prostatic devices. The size and design may be different for each medical application.
It will be obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art that numerous modifications and changes can be made to the above apparatus in order to accomplish the same function without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
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Find Your Pet
In the Central Valley, we have an over abundance of homeless and unwanted pets. There are simply too many companion animals and not enough homes! But you can help. One way to start putting an end to pet overpopulation is to adopt your next pet from the Central California SPCA. In doing so, you immediately give a home to an animal that didn't have one, and you reduce the overall number of homeless pets in our community.
You are saving a life and enhancing your own. You are also helping to support the nearly 40,000 animals that come through our doors each year.
Please note that these are sheltered, homeless animals that are not always perfect in every way. They may need extra time to adjust or have unforeseen behavioral or medical problems. While we strive for successful placement by providing as healthy, well socialized animals as possible, we can only provide any history we have received, collected, or observed from staff or volunteers during their stay.

subset: commoncrawl


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A new destination
FOREST CITY— Flowers, crafted wares, banana bread and rainbow trout were just some of the items sold during the opening of the Rutherford County Farmers Market on Saturday.
The market opened at its new location on Depot Street in Forest City at 8 a.m. with a variety of vendors. The market will now be open every Tuesday and Saturday and new Market Manager Brenda Watson hopes it continues to grow.
"We want it to be a place where people come and meet friends," Watson said. "We want it to be a destination for Saturday mornings."
The market was moved to Depot Street three weeks ago after Rutherford County and the Town of Forest City entered an interlocal agreement to move the facility to the Florence Mill project area. Vendors for the market can bring their own tables or rent a table. Fees are the same as last year, $5 per day or $50 for the season.
"We want to add some music and have local bands come out," Watson said. "We also hope to add some kid's activities where we can teach them to eat healthy and get into gardening."
Pie contests will be held beginning Saturday, May 3 and others will be June 7, July 5, Aug. 2, Sept. 6 and Oct. 4. A pasta festival will be July 19, a tractor show on Aug. 16 and a harvest celebration on Oct. 18.
An official grand opening of the market will be June 21.
For more information and to rent vendor space, call the Rutherford County Cooperative Extension at 828-287-6010.


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by Kevin Johnson, USA TODAY
BELLEFONTE, Pa. Former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky, whose sexual abuse of children triggered a cascading crisis that still shadows the state's largest university, was sentenced to 30 to 60 years in prison Tuesday.
The sentence issued by Judge John Cleland means that the 68-year-old former coach, convicted of abusing 10 children over 15 years, will spend the rest of his life in prison barring a successful appeal.
Sandusky, appearing in court in a bright red jail jumpsuit, delivered a sometimes rambling four-minute statement in which he denied his crimes, saying that he would "fight" to overturn the verdicts against him.
"They can make me out as a monster, but in my heart I know I didn't do these alleged, disgusting things," Sandusky said before the judge.
Sandusky was preceded by three of his victims, two of whom spoke through tears, about how he had "betrayed" their trust. One of them, designated by the state grand jury as "Victim 4," looked directly at Sandusky and told him: "You should be ashamed of yourself. I want you to know I will not forgive you. I don't know if I could ever forgive you."
The short hearing ended with Judge John Cleland describing Sandusky's statement as "unbelievable."
Cleland said the "ultimate tragedy of this case is that the very victims you abused had your trust, they trusted you. This crime is not only about crimes of the body, it is also about the assaults on their psyches and their souls."
Penn State President Rodney Erickson released a statement moments after Sandusky's sentencing: "Our thoughts today, as they have been for the last year, go out to the victims of Jerry Sandusky's abuse. While today's sentence cannot erase what has happened, hopefully it will provide comfort to those effected by these horrible events and help them continue down the road to recovery."
Karl Rominger, one of Sandusky's attorneys, said the defense team was "pleased" with the sentence because the judge didn't impose a "gratuitous" number of years beyond the lifetime of a 68-year-old man.
Sandusky's sentence comes just more than three months after a jury rendered its guilty verdicts and nearly a year after a Pennsylvania grand jury first published a gruesome catalog of crimes directly implicating the once-revered former coach.
Within days, the fast-moving scandal prompted the ouster of longtime university President Graham Spanier and Joe Paterno, the iconic head football coach who had become university's public face.
Two other university officials, Athletic Director Tim Curley and retired Vice President Gary Schultz, also have been charged with failing to report Sandusky's abuse to police and lying to the grand jury about what they were told about the coach's activities involving a 2001 assault of a young boy in a locker-room shower.
Both men have denied any wrongdoing and are awaiting trial in January.
Sandusky's court appearance marks his first trip outside protective custody at
the nearby Centre County Correctional Facility where he has been held since shortly after the jury delivered its verdict June 22.
He is expected to be transferred to the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections admissions center near Harrisburg where he is slated
to undergo psychological and physical evaluation before a more permanent
assignment within a state system that holds 51,638 inmates, including 6,777 prisoners classified as sex offenders.
Joe Amendola, Sandusky's lead defense lawyer, said his client still maintains his innocence and will launch an appeal. But the attorney suggested that the effort will be difficult.
"The only way (Sandusky) walks out of jail is if he gets a new trial,'' the attorney said.
Among the issues Amendola said he will press is a claim that Cleland pushed the case to trial too quickly by declining repeated defense requests for delays, leaving little time to review the mass of evidence assembled against his client.
"With the number of victims in this case, we had the equivalent of 10 separate cases to prepare for all rolled into the same trial,'' Amendola said. "We had virtually no time to prepare a case. We were forced to piece together a defense by the seat of our pants. That's going to be the issue.''
Sandusky's appeal, the pending criminal cases against Curley and Schultz and victims' civil lawsuits lodged against the university ensure that the coach's crimes will continue to shadow the university for months, and perhaps, years to come.
In July, a blistering internal review of the university's initial response to the first allegations of abuse involving Sandusky triggered NCAA sanctions resulting in $60 million in penalties, scholarship losses and a four-year bowl ban for the school's beloved football program.
Last week, former Penn State assistant football coach Michael McQueary filed a lawsuit against the university seeking $4 million in lost future wages when his employment was terminated this summer.
The former coach alleges that the university defamed him and fired him because of his cooperation with law enforcement officials in the Sandusky investigation.
McQueary, a key witness in the prosecution of Sandusky, testified at trial that he told Paterno, Curley and Schultz about the 2001 shower incident involving Sandusky and a young boy. Paterno, who died in January, was not charged because he reported McQueary's concerns to Curley and Schultz.
The 2001 incident was never reported to police, resulting only in the admonishment of Sandusky who was directed not to bring children on campus in the future.
Previous story
by Kevin Johnson, USA TODAY
Bellefonte, Pa. -- On the eve of his sentencing, former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky said his conviction on 45 counts of child sexual abuse was part of a "well-orchestrated" conspiracy.
The alleged conspiracy was concocted by the "dramatic" assertions of a young accuser who was joined by the media and the criminal justice system, he maintains in a statement he issued to the Penn State student-run radio station, ComRadio.
Sandusky, who faces a lengthy prison sentence when he appears in court here Tuesday, denied any involvement in crimes that resulted in the "worst loss of my life."
"They can take away my life; they can make me out as a monster; they can treat me as a monster, but they can't take away my heart," the 68-year-old man said from a local jail where he has been awaiting sentencing since his conviction June 22.
Sandusky blamed his legal troubles on a young man designated by the state grand jury as "Victim 1," a former participant in Sandusky's charity for troubled youth, The Second Mile.
"A young man who is dramatic and a veteran accuser and always sought attention started everything," the former coach said. "He was joined by a well-orchestrated effort of the media, investigators, the (criminal justice) system, Penn State, psychologists, civil attorneys and other accusers.
"They've won," he said. "I've wondered what they've really won. Attention, financial gain, prestige will all be temporary."
When he first spoke to authorities in 2008, Victim 1 - one of 10 boys victimized by the coach - said Sandusky abused him over a period of four years. Many of the assaults took place in Sandusky's State College, Pa., home.
Sandusky's lawyer, Joe Amendola, confirmed his client's statement.
Slade McLaughlin, the attorney for Victim 1, said Sandusky's opportunity to speak came and went at his criminal trial. "He now has the audacity to take pot shots at his victims, who did have the courage to come forth to speak the truth."
Thomas Kline, the lawyer for "Victim 5," said Sandusky's statement "is not unexpected, but unfortunate. ... I have no doubt that Mr. Sandusky will spend the rest of his life in jail."
At trial, eight of the victims testified against Sandusky, detailing abuse over a period of at least 15 years. Witnesses to abuse involving two other victims, including the 2001 assault of a boy in a university locker room, also testified at trial.
One of those witnesses, former Penn State football coach Michael McQueary, said he witnessed the 2001 incident and later reported it to head football coach Joe Paterno, Athletic Director Tim Curley and university Vice President Gary Schultz.
Curley and Schultz are awaiting trial in January on related perjury charges, in which they are accused of lying to a state grand jury about what McQueary told them of the attack.
In his statement, Sandusky issued a wholesale denial of the crimes.
"In my heart, I know I did not do these alleged, disgusting acts," he said. "My wife has been my only sex partner and that was after marriage. Our love continues."


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Hold down Control (PC) or Command (Mac) key + mouseclick to select more than one option
|Avg. Dinner Entrée
|Greater than $25
|$18.01 - $25
|$12.01 - $18
|$7.01 - $12
|Less than $7
Posted by Tom on 02/17/2009
I work in SOMA, so this place has become a favorite. The dining atmosphere leaves much to be desired, but the food is outstanding. The place is clean, it's just very small, and the tables are very close, so private conversations are not an option. Their curries are always fantastic, and their stuffed angel wings appetizer rules! If you want some fairly priced Thai food from some friendly folks, give this joint a try.
Posted by David on 03/26/2008
Joyce and I have visited here a number of times, for lunch and dinner... we live in the sunset, where there are many many Thai restaurants to sample. However, CLG remains our favorite. Nothing polished, it's pretty but simple, and I love that the place is family-run, the staff is friendly, and everyone is anxious to please. They are also happy to point out the more native Thai dishes (check out the fish in banana leaves!) that they continue to keep on the menu along with the curries that Americans associate with Thai food. The portions are good (I'm so tired of leaving food on the table), you can always get brown rice instead of white, and everything seems reasonably priced. And the white wine is a bargain, perfect to go with aromatic spices. Ask for some fresh chilis if you're adventurous. The back patio is very groovy on a warm day, otherwise ask for the little secluded table inside. And always ask about the music playing, there will always be a good story behind it... Don't miss this!
Posted by Anonymous on 10/16/2007
the food is actually quite good, as is the service, but the portions are small and over-priced, especially for the mission. delivery is a big plus though, if you can afford it, or eat like a bird
Posted by Martine on 02/14/2007
The back has a little patio...enjoy it in the summer, the mission is alsways sunny


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Ron EllisNHL Alumni Association
"I think it's a great program. As hockey players, we are fortunate to be out there playing this game. You just never know what is going to happen - things could change any day. Everyone stands to benefit from finding a cure for spinal cord injuries."
Jarome IginlaCalgary FlamesShoot For A Cure, Spokesperson
"Shoot for a Cure is committed to finding a cure for spinal cord injuries and through their relationships in hockey they have put a positive footprint on funding and research that I am proud to be associated with."
Keith PrimeauFormer Philadelphia Flyers CaptainShoot For A Cure, Chairman
"Hockey is such a fast game that I think we sometimes forget how easily a spinal cord injury could occur in our game. That's why it's so easy for all of us to get involved with Shoot For A Cure."Brad MayAnaheim DucksShoot For A Cure, Chairman
"As hockey players and fans, we have such passion for the game that we also easily overlook how easily injuries can occur. Shoot For A Cure is a great organization that is proactive in creating greater awareness of spinal cord injuries in hockey, and also providing support to those who have suffered from such injury."
Kevin WeekesNew Jersey Devils
"As an athlete with a disability I have experienced the benefits funded medical research can offer. As a result of the treatment and care I have received, in 2006 I was able to achieve my goal of winning a Gold Medal for Canada playing hockey. Shoot for a Cure is an incredible organization that offers hope and resources for those suffering from spinal cord injuries. By supporting this organization you are helping to create a future without spinal cord injuries in hockey allowing many more players to achieve their own goals. Winning the Gold Medal was one of the highlights of my life. Being involved with Shoot for a Cure is an honor." Paul RosenParalympic Gold Medalist
"The 'Shoot For A Cure' campaign of the Canadian and American Spinal Research Organizations, has been very successful in focusing people's attention on spinal cord injury awareness, prevention, research and cure. While spinal cord injuries are not specifically just a hockey problem, too many hockey players have unfortunately suffered devastating injuries. A serious spinal cord injury can affect and change one's life forever, and anything that can be done to help prevent or cure such injuries is very important. As a result, because some of the hockey community has been affected by spinal cord injuries, the NHL Alumni Association actively supports the efforts, activities and programs of the 'Shoot For a Cure' campaign."
Brian ConacherNHL Alumni Association, Former President
"At Fury Hockey Inc. we are extremely proud to be associated with the Shoot For A Cure campaign of the Canadian Spinal Research Organization (CSRO) through our Fury Charity Golf Classic and our charity hockey games. As all of our board members have or are playing professional sports at a higher level, we have been exposed to the risks of this serious injury. We applaud the CSRO's partnership in promoting spinal cord injury awareness and the advance research for its cure. Our relationship with the CSRO continues to grow since our inception in 2003 with the exposure that both groups contribute to cause."
Scott McCrory Executive Vice-President, Fury Hockey
"Spinal cord injuries and paralysis are no strangers to hockey, therefore we here at Mission-ITECH Hockey are pleased to consider 'Shoot for a Cure' an important partner in the fight against these debilitating affairs. With 'Shoot for a Cure' at the helm in Fall of 2004, we helped raise over $30,000 during our inaugural celebrity mask-painting campaign. We look forward to renewing this promotion this year and hopefully many more years to come. I am grateful to the 'Shoot for a Cure' organization for all the great work they do."
Randy BurnsVice-President, Marketing, Mission-ITECH Hockey
"In the NHL on a day to day basis you have fears, you have fears of fighting, fears of losing hockey games, and there are all kinds of things that bother you going into a game, but for first time in my life I can honestly say I was afraid, there is always a fear of failure, but the day that I was paralyzed from the neck down I was afraid, it is something that is logged into the back of my mind and it will never go away, and from that day forward I have been very passionate about trying to prevent that for the future."
Steve SmithNHL Alumni Association


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January 9, 2008
Berlinale. Competition, round 2."Almost two-thirds of the programme for the Competition of the 58th Berlin International Film Festival have now been confirmed," reads the announcement which adds nine more titles to the previous eight. This round is all either world or international premieres:
Posted by dwhudson at January 9, 2008 7:56 AM
DYING to see the Zonca. One of my favorite artists is FINALLY back... Thanks for this, David. You made my day!Posted by: Tom at January 9, 2008 12:44 PM


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We offer a wide range of pipes and tubes that are extensively used in diverse industry. The entire range of products is made of premium quality raw material. These fittings are highly acknowledged for their dimensional accuracy and sturdy construction.
The SS seamless/ ERW pipes that we offer meet the demands of our esteemed clients. The products are manufactured using superior quality base material and low carbon steel procured form reliable vendors. These pipes are widely used in engineering purposes, fencing, scaffoldings, line piping and many more. The pipes are used for conveying fluids under extreme temperature in heat transfer process equipment such as boilers, heaters, heat exchangers, condensers and others.
We offer CS seamless pipe / ERW which are made of high grade material, which further conforms to IS 1239: 1979 standards. These pipes are widely accepted for their sturdy construction and durability. The products are also customized as per the specification set by the client.


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Below are the first 10 and last 10 pages of uncorrected machine-read text (when available) of this chapter, followed by the top 30 algorithmically extracted key phrases from the chapter as a whole.
Intended to provide our own search engines and external engines with highly rich, chapter-representative searchable text on the opening pages of each chapter. Because it is UNCORRECTED material, please consider the following text as a useful but insufficient proxy for the authoritative book pages.
Do not use for reproduction, copying, pasting, or reading; exclusively for search engines.
OCR for page 27
27 calendars, websites, web casts, Internet discussion rooms to access frequently asked questions and answers for issues that help link communities of practice, and listserv for the elec- arise as part of getting work done. In some of the most sophis- tronic tools. The more traditional tools used by state DOTs ticated learning environments, the learner can select the type include newsletters, magazines, meetings, conferences, sem- of training based on his or her personal style of learning; for inars, and other group gatherings. example, visually, and auditory. Although there is not yet a significant longitudinal body of data about these new At the 2005 National Transportation Training Directors approaches to learning, the early results suggest that "just in Conference, Dr. Allison Rossett provided an extensive pre- time learning" and these more tailored learning approaches sentation on the impact of technology on the development and provide for significantly greater information retention than delivery of training and development programs. She outlined more traditional teaching methods. Additional information the evolution of technology's impact on training delivery. about this topic can be found on Rossett's website: http:// Currently, training delivery is still primarily instructor edweb. sdsu.edu/people/ARossett/Arossett.html. focused, with technology providing tools to assist in the learn- ing process. However, the more advanced public and private organizations are moving to "learner centered" training deliv- SUMMARY ery, including on-demand training with access through the web, in person and electronic discussion groups, and similar The survey responses have provided a useful overview of techniques to ensure a well-trained staff. The most advanced both the training program infrastructure of individual DOTs organizations have gone one step further and are integrating and the patterns of similarity and difference between and performance and learning. For example, if a manager has a among state DOTs. Supplemented by the information gath- performance management problem, he or she can go online to ered through detailed discussions with training directors and a resource center and have immediately at hand not only the their staff members, and through participation at the 2005 organization's policies and procedures, with successful prac- Training Directors Conference, a real sense of the practices, tices for handling a variety of performance issues, but the issues, and challenges facing state DOTs as they work to pro- names and contact information of experts who are available vide an appropriate administrative infrastructure to support electronically or in person to discuss the issues and the poten- training and development activities in their organizations can tial solutions to the problem. An individual employee can be provided.


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EVG® PHABLE™ Innovative Patterning Principle
EVG® PHABLE™ exposure system is designed specifically for the manufacturing of photonic components. Leveraging EVG's expertise in photolithography, the EVG PHABLE system incorporates a unique, contactless, mask-based lithography approach that enables full-field, high-resolution and cost-efficient micro- and nanopatterning. The unique property of PHABLE is the down to 150 nm printing resolution of regular patterns in a single exposure step. Nonetheless, a mask-substrate separation gap of several tens of micrometers is kept while the image depth can be extended to cover the multiple micrometer thick resist without resolution deterioration. This very high aerial image aspect ratio allows printing of the same high-resolution patterns onto large and highly warped surfaces.
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July 12, 2010: Many Filipinos were shocked to learn that the average age of their army troops was 38. This is considered too old for an army engaged in lots of combat against Moslem separatists and communist rebels. It's seven years older than the average age of American soldiers.
American troops in combat zones are a little younger still. In World War II, it was 26 years old, in Vietnam it was 23 and in Iraq and Afghanistan, it's 27 years old. The age in Vietnam was younger because most of the combat troops were volunteers, and younger. Most of the troops during World War II were draftees, but a much larger proportion of the population was drafted, bringing in a lot of men in their 30s. Since the 1970s, the U.S. Army has been all volunteer, and there has been a deliberate effort to retain competent NCOs as long as possible, as these men are, especially in combat units, the key to battlefield success. Thus the average age is older.
The situation in the Philippines is typical of most nations, with the military seen more as a civil service job, with great security, than a combat profession. Even in Western Europe, this was how it works in most countries. Older troops, often in poor physical condition, were kept in uniform, even in combat units. Many of the infantry were young recruits, but the infantry comprises only about ten percent of troops in modern armies. In poor countries, the military is often all-volunteer, because it's a job in an area with high unemployment. You often have to pay a bribe to be allowed in.
In the most effective forces, like those of the United States, weight and physical condition standards are enforced for troops of all ages, and retirement after twenty years service is offered, and sometimes imposed even if the soldier wants to stay. This keeps the average age down, even though there are a large number of older, and experienced, NCOs.
The Filipino government has promised to recruit more young troops, to lower the average age of their soldiers. But in a country with a high unemployment rate, and not much job security even if you find work, a career in the military is pretty attractive to anyone allowed to join. In the U.S., there are a lot more economic opportunities, and most new recruits leave after their four year enlistment (or officer contract) is up. Veterans benefits in the United States encourage this, with college tuition money and other incentives available. In the Philippines, if you leave the army, all you get is unemployment.
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continued "When someone is that condescending to the community, it doesn't speak well about village government," she said.
Contacted Tuesday, Sullivan said he and other Steering Committee members are merely focused on the issues of considering zoning changes in light of the recent proposal to build a hotel downtown five stories or higher — a concept that sparked public outcry.
"It was a great idea from Mayor Blais to bring us together to weigh whether the current restrictions make sense," he said. "My point was that we are merely making a recommendation on these issues," he said.
Blais told Gavin he'd attend the next meeting of the Steering Committee to observe how they interact with the public. Blais told Gavin that the panel was not empowered to make decisions on zoning issues — which was duty of the village board.
He said the village board would be holding as many public hearings necessary to allow all local citizens express their opinions.
The next Zoning Steering Committee meeting is set for 6 p.m. Tuesday Nov. 27.
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Help me out with my Java application?
Help me out with my Java application?May 20, 2009 - 04:47
Am taking part in 2009 Nokia's Calling All Innovators contest (www.callingallinnovators.com) in the Internet Innovation category. I am working on an application through which people can access a diet chart in their S60 or S40 phones. I might need some help from your guys in getting my idea to work. Well so much to do and so little time…Phew!


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Weitere biologische Literatur (eingeschränkter Zugriff)
Year of publication
- 1926 (11) (remove)
- An experimental study of the development of the limbs of the chick (1926)
- The objects of this work were to reinvestigate and extend the results announced in a brief note published in 1925 (Murray and Huxley, 1925a). In this paper it was concluded that isolated fragments of the limb buds of the fourday chick are able to self-differentiate when Iiving as grafts on the chorio-allantoic membrane of older chicks; that the bud of the four-day chick is a mosaic; it was hinted that each of the morphological regions of the limb (femur, tibia-fibula, etc.) is represented by a Single piece of the mosaic; that no regeneration or regulation occurs in fragments of the bud, except that it was concluded that if a grafted fragment contains only part of a piece of the mosaic, that part could so regulate its future development as to form the complete morphological region of which it was originally a part, so that a fragment of the bud which contains part only of the region Which would normally form femur will, when growing as a graft, form a complete femur. It will be seen that the results of the present work uphold and confirm the tentative conclusions previously advanced, except in regard to the last point (regulation). A considerable amonnt of further information has also been obtained bearing on tile factors concerned in the development of the form of bones and joints.
- A disease of rabbits characterized by a large mononuclear leucocytosis, caused by a hitherto undescribed bacillus Bacterium monocytogenes (n. sp.) (1926)
- 1. In investigating a spontaneous epidemic disease of rabbits, a micro-organism was isolated in pure cultures which reproduced the characteristic lesions of the natural disease. 2. The bacteriological characters of this bacillus are described and the impossibility of identifying it with previously recorded organisms justifies its being considered a new species. The name Bacterium monocytogenes is proposed. 3. Animal passage raised "virulence" when the doses were well chosen, and increased virulence accentuated the production of necrotic lesions. Overwhelming doses of culture resulted in lowering of "virulence" by animal passage. 4. Bacterium monocytogenes, in doses less than the M.L.D., produced in the circulating blood of rabbits an extreme monocytosis. The responses of the other white cells. were either transient or inconstant. 5. Repeated doses of the organism became progressively less effective as stimuli to large mononuclear production. 6. The cell content of the thoracic duct did not reflect the high degree of monocytosis in the circulating blood. 7. On intrapleural injection of peptone broth and B. coli, the cells of the resultant exudate were primarily polymorphonuclears, even though the circulating blood showed a high monocytosis. With intrapleural injection of B. monocytogenes, when the blood stream was rich in large mononuclears, a pleural exudate containing 30 per cent of these cells was obtained. 8. Phagocytosis experiments in vitro showed that the large mononuclears, while they phagocyted B. coli indifferently, took up B. monocytogenes with an avidity in all respects equal to that of the polymorphonuclear neutrophiles.
- The mouthparts, alimentary tract, and salivary apparatus of the female in Phlebotomus papatasi (1926)


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Chuck Landon: Longtime coach has parallel to MU history
TULSA, Okla. -- A discreet glance at the name on the credential dangling from his neck wasn't necessary.
It was unmistakably Eddie Sutton.
The one and only.
The well known retired coach was watching the Conference USA Tournament here in the BOK Center from a vantage point on press row when I settled into my designated seat right beside him.
It didn't take long for Sutton to initiate a conversation.
"Oh, that's really pretty country," said Sutton, after asking where I work. "I've been down through eastern Kentucky many times."
The reference clearly was toward his four years as the University of Kentucky's head basketball coach in 1985-89.
What Wildcats' fan can forget that?
After succeeding Joe B. Hall, Sutton eventually was involved in a recruiting scandal that was punctuated by UK assistant Dwane Casey sending an envelope with $1,000 cash enclosed to recruit Chris Mills' father. As a result, the NCAA placed Kentucky on three years probation, while also banning the 'Cats from post-season for two years and live television for one season.
Sutton and athletic director Cliff Hagan were forced to resign.
But that was then and this is now.
And, now, Sutton is an aging former coach who just celebrated his 77th birthday last Tuesday and still enjoys watching the collegiate game he loves.
"What year was that tragic plane crash?" asked Sutton, referring to the horrific Marshall airplane disaster in 1970. "Those are such awful things to deal with. I was involved in that when we had a plane crash in Colorado."
Sutton was referring to one of three planes carrying Oklahoma State's basketball traveling party crashing during a snowstorm on Jan. 27, 2001, near Byers, Colo. All 10 passengers were killed including two players, two coaches and the Cowboys' play-by-play radio broadcaster.
"It is so tough to tell parents that their son is dead," said Sutton, who was Oklahoma State's head coach. "That was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do."
Obviously, Sutton could identify and empathize with Huntington's pain.
But he also has some fond memories of Marshall people he has encountered.
A prime example is Sonny Allen.
"I haven't seen Sonny in years," said Sutton. "Where is he now?"
After learning Allen was doing well in Reno, Nev., the reminiscing began.
"I remember coaching against Sonny when he was at SMU and I was at Arkansas," said Sutton, who became increasingly animated. "It didn't matter if Sonny won or lost, five minutes after the game was over he always had that smile on his face. I've looked over at his bench before and seen him clapping when one of my players made a good play.
"That's just the kind of good guy Sonny always was."
As the conversation revolved around basketball and people we had in common, former Marshall star and current Los Angeles Lakers' coach Mike D'Antoni's name was mentioned. After a moment or two, I thoroughly entertained Sutton with a anecdote involving the D'Antoni family.
Explaining that the West Virginia High School boys basketball tournament was going on, I informed Sutton that D'Antoni's father, 99-year-old Lewis, tossed up the ceremonial opening jumpball.
"Oh my gosh!" exclaimed Sutton.
Yes, it was a trip down memory lane.
And this time, no one called Eddie Sutton for a violation.
Chuck Landon is a sports columnist for The Herald-Dispatch. Contact him at 304-526-2827, or email@example.com.
The Herald-Dispatch welcomes your comments on this article, but please be civil. Avoid profanity, obscenity, personal attacks, accusations of criminal activity, name-calling or insults to the other posters. Herald-dispatch.com does not control or monitor comments as they are posted, but if you find a comment offensive or uncivil, hover your mouse over the comment and click the X that appears in the upper right of the comment. If you do not want your comment to post to your personal Facebook page, uncheck the box below the comment.


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upset ? no, shouldn't be.
remind me: u got a wii, 4.0E, intended to play NTSC-Jap/Usa ISOs ?
questions to u:
-- did u updated to 4.oE via wifi ?
-- hv homebrew channel been installed on ur wii ?
-- hv u GeckoOS_1.9 in SD card ? or channel ?
-- which NTSC-J/U game(s) in mind, dvd-r ready to play ?
b4 next move, spend a few minutes to look into something like "install hbc at 4.0 with MarioKart ISO"....... wouldn't u?


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Child's playhouse burns down as car fire spreads to Plymouth garden
Posted: April 12, 2014|
A CHILD'S playhouse was destroyed when an early-morning car fire spread into a family's garden.
The blaze broke out in Stuart Road, Stoke, shortly after 5am this morning.
A fire crew from Greenbank was sent to reports that a car was on fire.
The flames had spread into the garden of a property in the street, Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service said.
A child's playhouse, which was being used for storage, was totally destroyed by the blaze.
The car was also damaged in the fire, which the crew put out using a hose reel jet.
Firefighters had to use battery-powered lighting to tackle the blaze.


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Various Authors 9:01 p.m., July 27
Posted May 23, 2013
Definitive high-meets-low Belgian culture.
I got off the train to Antwerp, Belgium, at Central Station, named by Newsweek as the fourth most beautiful train station in the world, just around the crack of dawn. The town square was lifeless, ...


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- Willamette
- News
- News Archive
- 2005
- September
- Willamette Announces Alumni Award Winners
Current News
Willamette Announces Alumni Award Winners
Paul DeMuniz JD'75
Distinguished Alumni Citation: Law
As a justice of the Oregon Supreme Court, Paul DeMuniz makes decisions that affect the lives of every Oregonian. His election to the Supreme Court in 2000 marked another step in a distinguished legal career that included 10 years as presiding judge on the Oregon Court of Appeals and 15 years as both a public and private attorney. In private law practice, DeMuniz focused on complex civil and criminal cases at both the state and federal level. In 1998 he was appointed to the Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services by then Secretary of Defense William Cohen. DeMuniz was part of a task force that visited military installations William Cohen. DeMuniz was part of a task force that visited military installations around the world to report to the Defense Department on issues affecting women in the military. He also dedicates many hours to his community and the legal profession. In 1997 he was named Mentor of the Year at WU College of Law. DeMuniz has authored a number of articles on judicial elections, and his work in that regard has been cited by the U.S. Supreme Court. He has been active in promoting the rule-of-law in Russia. In May 2005 he taught American and Russian criminal procedure as a visiting professor at Khabarovsk State University, Khabarovsk, Russia. He also teaches criminal procedure at the College of Law and recently authored a book on Oregon criminal procedure. He continues to serve Oregon in ways that bring honor and distinction to his high office.


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There aren't any plans at the moment for a film adaptation.
Printable View
There aren't any plans at the moment for a film adaptation.
If someone like Peter Jackson were to do it, it would be a dream come true considering how good he did with the Lord of the Rings books. I think Daniel Day Lewis would play the perfect gunslinger.
You guys are going to think I'm nuts but Brett Favre seems like a good fit for Roland to me. Whether he can act...who knows.
Stand and be true.
OK, hopefully the pictures will load...
Roland Deschain (Brett Favre...but Christian Bale would also work):

Eddie Dean (Orlando Bloom)

Susanna Dean (Gabriel Union)

Jake Chambers (Jamie Bell)

I just don't see how this could be done. Not in a movie or even 12. It's just too much. Look at "Stand By Me". A great adaptation of one of Steve's stories, but still had to have certain things cut from the movie for whatever reason. The point is that is a fairly short story and it made a full blown movie that still had to be truncated. Translating the DT over would be a mind-numbingly complex undertaking that would frankly probably piss most real fans off anyway. I would love it if it was done accurately and stayed true to the story, but don't see anyway to do it except a very long animated/CGI series. Maybe an HBO recurring series. Even in that format, it would take YEARS to tell it properly. If I was Steve, I would simply be too protective of that particular story to let it be done with nothing more than "best effort".
I dont understand all the moaning about a translation to film. If a passionate extreamly talented crew get it together it could be better than LOTR. Maybe 2 versions could exist, tv series an film. I read the Lost guys are not doin it, but they could still help out. This film NEEDS to be made before we lose the fire. lol (sorry about the lol) Stand an be true!


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Posts Tagged «flash memory»
Resistive RAM nears launch: Still the most likely candidate to replace NAND flash December 22, 2014 at 2:58 pm
Crossbar has announced that its next-generation resistive RAM (ReRAM or RRAM) memory is ready for commercialization with products expected in 2015. This could be the successor to NAND flash in the long-term with substantially better overall performance and power consumption.
The best storage mediums of all time June 6, 2014 at 12:02 pm
A few weeks back, we reflected on some of the worst storage mediums of all time. From reel-to-reel to HD-DVD, those deplorable storage devices induced groans and eye-rolls across the board. As something of a palette cleanser, let's take a moment to commemorate the best storage mediums we've ever seen.
IBM demonstrates next-gen phase-change memory that's up to 275 times faster than your SSD May 8, 2014 at 9:15 am
IBM's new Project Theseus shows promise and may be capable of replacing NAND altogether in the long term. Vastly higher performance and better write endurance could make this technology the next big thing in storage — provided someone agrees to manufacture it.
SanDisk announces ULLtra DIMMS: Terabytes of low-latency flash storage directly off the RAM channel January 23, 2014 at 1:35 pm
SanDisk has partnered with Diablo Technologies to bring high-density NAND flash to the DIMM market. Drop-in replacements for DDR3 DIMMs will roll out on IBM servers, offering up to 12.8TB of storage.
Curiosity swaps out its primary computer, to hopefully restore full functionality March 1, 2013 at 7:08 am
200 million miles away, on the surface of the Red Planet, humankind's most advanced interplanetary endeavor — Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity — is attempting one of the most complex and dangerous maneuvers possible: Switching out its primary on-board computer for the identical, redundant fail-safe computer. It is hoped that the swap will restore Curiosity to full operational capability.
Self-healing, self-heating flash memory survives more than 100 million cycles December 3, 2012 at 9:14 am
Macronix, one of the world's largest producers of flash memory, has produced a new kind of flash memory that can survive more than 100 million program/erase (PE) cycles — most likely long enough to persist until the end of human civilization. By comparison, the NAND cells found in conventional flash memory — as in commercial SSDs — generally has a lifespan of just a few thousand PE cycles.
New manufacturing technology enables vertical 3D NAND transistors, higher capacity SSDs June 27, 2012 at 11:38 am
With planar silicon approaching its limits, a shift to 3D NAND is timely — but cost considerations are daunting.
Japanese team boosts NAND flash durability and performance with ReRAM buffer June 18, 2012 at 10:47 am
Researchers in Japan have demonstrated a new, hybrid SSD that would use a ReRAM buffer to improve SSD write endurance. The project is in early stages, but looks quite promising.
Current solid-state drive technology is doomed, says Microsoft Research February 20, 2012 at 5:28 am
Limitations in current flash memory technology will make it inviable as a storage medium by 2024. However, there may be technologies in the works to take its place


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PITTSBURGH—A season ticket holder of the Pittsburgh Ballet discovered a new experience when he saw Shen Yun Performing Arts at the Benedum Center for the Performing Arts on Sunday.
"I really learned a lot from seeing another culture like that," said Chris Courtley, who writers song lyrics. "You get exposed to a whole other culture and it enlightens you."
New York-based Shen Yun was formed with one mission—to revive the ancient Chinese culture, one which is 5,000 years old and was nearly decimated by the ruling communist regime.
The culture is steeped with a range of virtues, as well as different legends and stories. The core of the performance is classical Chinese dance, an art form that is both one of the most expressive and difficult to master in the entire world.
"A Shen Yun performance features the world's foremost classically trained dancers, a unique orchestra blending the sounds of both East and West, breathtaking backdrops, splendid costumes, singers—together creating an experience that's leaving millions in awe," according to the company's website.
Mr. Courtley said he wanted to sit as close as possible to the orchestra to better enjoy the sounds; he enjoyed the unique fusion of classical Western and traditional Chinese instruments.
He said he was saddened by the fact that Shen Yun cannot currently perform in China—because the ruling regime is in stark contrast to the traditional values Shen Yun is reviving.
At the same time, he said the performance was uplifting and "got your spirits up.
"I'm glad I saw it," he said, adding he drew some inspiration for his lyric writing.
Further, it was different from anything he has ever seen.
"That's why I say you learn something from it and I appreciate that," he said. "It's good for your mind to see new things, different things."
Reporting by Lijie Sun and Zachary Stieber.
Shen Yun Performing Arts International Company will perform next in Indianapolis at the Clowes Memorial Hall of Butler University, February 5 -- 6. Shen Yun Performing Arts, based in New York, tours the world on a mission to revive traditional Chinese culture. For more information, visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org
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Updated: 11/02/2012 7:55 AM KSTP.com By: Jay Kolls
Minneapolis Police have an aging force and many are approaching retirement. There are more than 800 police officers on the streets of Minneapolis. But, Assistant Chief Janee Harteau told a City Council Committee that the next few years will be a big challenge. That's because 74 officers are eligible for retirement in 2013 and by 2020, that number could be as large as 320 officers heading off into the sunset.
Chief Harteau told the committee many things keep her up at night, but this issue weighs heavily on her mind. The challenge is not finding bodies willing to be police officers, but getting them on the streets in a timely manner to avoid low staffing levels on the streets. Matthew Petz, Senior Dean of Justice Studies at Rasmussen College, says there are many people with the education and the license to become officers, but they need to be trained by their respective departments and that takes time. Petz says planning for retirement and then timing the arrival of new recruits for the street is a delicate balancing act.
But, Petz says, Minneapolis Police are doing the right thing by getting out in front of this problem early.


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Pink & Green Holiday Gift
Pink ribbon is a less-expected pairing with green than red.
Digital business director Seema Persaud was drawn to this handmade "Lotka" paper from Nepal. For an unexpected alternative to the typical red and green scheme, she paired it with some pink satin ribbon she had at home in a unique basketweave pattern.
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He's from conservative West Texas, and served five years as an Air Force pilot -- a pro-military background that differentiates Texas Gov. Rick Perry from some of his competitors who are advocating for a more limited and isolationist foreign policy and national security. He has criticized President Obama's withdrawal of virtually all U.S. troops from Iraq, and even hinted at being supportive of Israeli military action against Iran's nuclear program.
Still, Perry's foreign-policy philosophy overall appears contradictory: He says he doesn't believe America "should fall subject to a foreign policy of military adventurism" in the same breath that he insists "we must renew our commitment to taking the fight to the enemy wherever they are, before they strike at home."
MUDDLED STANCE ON AFGHANISTAN. Perry told Time magazine he doesn't think keeping a "large force of United States uniform military in Afghanistan for a long period of time is particularly in the interest of the U.S., or for that matter, in Afghani interest," and seemed to break away from GOP military hawks by saying during a debate that he would support bringing the troops home as soon as possible.
Despite this, Perry has criticized Obama's phased-withdrawal plan, which would pull out 33,000 surge troops from Afghanistan by the end of next summer, saying it's "irresponsible from a foreign-policy standpoint" to "give the enemy a timetable of what you're going to pull out." Even with his aversion to giving details on troop levels, Perry's foreign-policy adviser told The Cable that the candidate "is not confident" in the 100,000 troop level in Afghanistan, and would "like to know if [the mission] is possible at 40,000."
REDUCE THE FOOTPRINT. "We have the ability to impact the war on terror in a substantially smaller footprint than what we are engaged in today," Perry said in an interview with the The Union Leader of Manchester, N.H. "When we reduce that footprint and how we reduce that footprint needs to be coordinated with those commanders on the ground. I would substantially increase the amount of funding for our technological, our research and development, side of the military."
"POLITICAL EXPEDIENCY" TO WITHDRAW FROM IRAQ. Perry slammed President Obama's decision to withdraw virtually all 43,000 U.S. troops from Iraq by the end of the year, in accordance with a 2008 security agreement signed under the Bush administration. "I'm deeply concerned that President Obama is putting political expediency ahead of sound military and security judgment by announcing an end to troop-level negotiations and a withdrawal from Iraq by year's end," Perry said in a press release. "The president was slow to engage the Iraqis and there's little evidence today's decision is based on advice from military commanders. America's commitment to the future of Iraq is important to U.S. national security interests and should not be influenced by politics."
CLEAR CHRISTIAN DIRECTIVE TO SUPPORT ISRAEL. Perry seized the opportunity to blame the Obama administration for failing to prevent the Palestinians from going to the United Nations with a bid for membership as an independent state in September. "Simply put, we would not be here today at this very precipice of such a dangerous move if the Obama policy in the Middle East wasn't naïve and arrogant, misguided and dangerous," said Perry, who was flanked by Jewish leaders just blocks from the meeting of the United Nations General Assembly. When asked whether his views on Israel and support for continued Israeli settlement activity in the West Bank were a "theological" matter, Perry referenced the strong U.S.-Israel alliance, adding that "I also, as a Christian, have a clear directive to support Israel."
PALESTINIANS COULD FACE CONSEQUENCES. In New York, Perry also warned that Palestinians must know "their gambit" by presenting a statehood bid at the United Nations "comes with consequences, in particular, that America will have to reconsider the $4 billion in assistance we have provided to the Palestinians over the last 17 years." Perry also said the U.S. should close the office of the Palestinian Liberation Organization's envoy to Washington if the UN grants standing to a Palestinian state.
SO COULD THE UNITED NATIONS. Perry and Obama both agree that the Palestinian UN bid is unproductive to the peace efforts—but the GOP contender takes it even further by calling for Washington to have "a very serious discussion" about defunding the international body. "I think it's time not only to have that entire debate about all of our foreign aid," he said at a Las Vegas CNN debate, "but in particular the U.N. Why are we funding that organization?"
HAWKISH ON IRAN. With the latest International Atomic Energy Agency report detailing Iran's progress toward building a nuclear weapon, Perry said the U.S. must "revisit the options President Obama has taken off the table." These options include tough sanctions on the Iranian Central Bank, and preparing for a "worst-case scenario to use military force" to destroy key Iranian nuclear sites. Perry seemed more certain of military action in a past interview with CNN, saying the U.S. has two "really bad" positions, either allowing "madman" President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad to have control of a nuclear device, or a military strike to keep that from occurring – launched by the Israelis themselves or with its allies. He didn't rule out a unilateral presumptive U.S. strike.
DIPLOMACY NOT ALWAYS SO USEFUL. Perry told Fox News host Bill O'Reilly he doesn't think some State Department employees are working in the best interest of the country -- comments that set off a wave of criticism by foreign-service officers who said Perry has a serious misunderstanding of their role in promoting U.S. interests overseas. Perry told Fox the career diplomats and secretary of State are "all too often" giving advice to the administration that's not in the United States' best interest.
NO NATIONAL SECURITY WITHOUT BORDER SECURITY. To secure the border, Perry says "the first thing you need to do is have boots on the ground." The federal government needs to commit to putting U.S. troops on the border and aviation assets in the air -- and possibly even Predator drones to provide real-time information to local, state, and federal law enforcement. "For the president of the United States to go to El Paso, Texas, and say that the border is safer than it's ever been, either he has some of the poorest intel of a president in the history of this country, or he was an abject liar to the American people," Perry said in a Sept. 7 debate. "It is not safe on that border."
NO OPTIONS OFF THE TABLE WITH MEXICO. Perry said he was open to sending U.S. troops to Mexico to help them battle drug cartels. At a house party in Manchester, N.H., Perry likened the situation there to Colombia and said that ending the drug war in Mexico "may require our military in Mexico working in concert with them to kill these drug cartels and to keep them off of our border and to destroy their networks." Perry has been hawkish on the southern border throughout his campaign, telling an audience at the conservative Values Voters Summit in Washington: "Make no mistake about it: what we are seeing south of our border is nothing short of a war being waged by those narcoterrorists. They represent a clear and present danger to our country.... We shouldn't take any options off the table."
PREDATOR DRONES TO TRACK IMMIGRANTS ... AND IRANIANS. "You use Predator drones that are being trained right up here at Creech Air Force Base in Nevada to use that real-time information to give those boots on the ground that information, and they can instantly move to those areas," Perry said at a CNN debate in Las Vegas. "And that is the way to shut that border down, to secure that border, and really make America safe from individuals, like those Iranians that are using the drug cartels to penetrate this country." Perry was referring to the alleged Iran-backed plot to assassinate Saudi Arabia's ambassador and bomb embassies in Washington, which was thwarted with help from a Drug Enforcement Administration informant posing as a member of a Mexican drug cartel. One of the Iranians charged was a U.S. citizen who lived in Texas for three decades, and the other is thought to be in Iran.
NO 'HORSE TRADE' WITH DOD BUDGET. Perry is unlikely to advocate for further defense cuts, judging by his assertions in his book Fed Up! that the U.S. defense budget has already been dangerously eroded as a result of "explosion of entitlement spending." Perry's "Cut, Balance, and Grow" economic plan also does not call for any reductions in defense spending. In a speech to the Indiana GOP, Perry said the defense budget should "never" be put on the chopping block "for arbitrary budget cuts as part of some political horse trade." He cautions in a Union Leader interview that while research and development shouldn't be trimmed, he doesn't mean to say "there aren't places we need to have good, solid discussions about reductions in places that may not be appropriate expenditures on the military budget."
OBAMA'S BAD MESSAGE ON TAIWAN. Perry said during a meet and greet in New Hampshire: "When Taiwan asks for the next generation of F-16s and our president refuses that to allow one of our strongest allies in that South China Sea reason to have the technology to defend against an ever more aggressive China, that sends a very bad message across the board to all of our allies." The Obama administration recently decided to upgrade Taiwan's existing fleet of F-16 jets, rather than sell it the new package of late-model F-16 aircraft Taipei had requested. Arms sales to Taiwan caused China to cut off virtually all its defense ties with the U.S. last year, but still the administration insists that the decision not to sell the new jets was not made in deference to China, or that the new package is off the table for good.
PERRY SKIRTS CHINA SPECIFICS. When asked by radio host Laura Ingraham about whether or not a "rising China" is good for the U.S., Perry said, vaguely: "We're going to have to deal with China. We're going to have to trade with them. China disregarded the world for millennium. They lived in their own little world. We can't afford to do that." Ingraham asked him to get more specific. "One of the ways we do it is by getting the economy going," Perry said. "Because the fact of the matter is if you don't have a strong economy your foreign policy means nothing."
AT 3 A.M., YOU'D DO ... WHAT? During the Fox News/Google debate in Orlando, Fla., Perry famously flubbed a question about what he would do if he got a 3 a.m. call saying Pakistani weapons had fallen into the hands of the Taliban. Try to follow this response:
"Well, obviously, before you ever get to that point, you have to build a relationship in that region. And that's one of the things that this administration has not done. Just yesterday we found out through Adm. Mullen that Haqqani has been involved with -- and that's the terrorist group directly associated with the Pakistani country -- so to have a relationship with India, to make sure that India knows that they are an ally of the United States. For instance, when we had the opportunity to sell India the upgraded F-16s, we chose not to do that. We did the same thing with Taiwan. The point is our allies need to understand clearly that we are their friends; we will be standing by there with them. Today we don't have those allies in that region that can assist us if that situation that you talked about were to become a reality."
CONGRATULATIONS OBAMA, FOR KILLING AWLAKI. "I want to congratulate the United States military and intelligence communities – and President Obama for sticking with the government's longstanding and aggressive anti-terror policies – for getting another key international terrorist," Perry said in a statement after a U.S. airstrike killed the al-Qaida leader in Yemen. "The death of American-raised al Qaida leader Anwar al-Awlaki is an important victory in the war on terror.... We must remain vigilant, and make sure we bring every resource and tool to bear in the fight to keep Americans safe."
BIN LADEN, NOT SO MUCH. While Perry "tip[ped] his hat" to Obama during a September debate for his role in killing al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden in his Pakistan compound, he gave him far less credit two months later in a radio interview with Fox's Bill O'Reilly. "I promise you, those Navy SEALs that took out bin Laden, they knew what they were doing a long time before the president of the United States took office," Perry said. " … We know how those things were done. It was because of the dedication and the focus and the professional of the military men and women of this country [the U.S. killed bin Laden], not because he ended up being the president."
-- Rebecca Kaplan contributed contributed to this article.


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The Dean Charles H. King Scholars Program recognizes a select group of highly talented students whose application credentials suggest that they will become the academic leaders at Michigan State Law. King Scholars enjoy multiple benefits, including a full-tuition scholarship that is renewable for up to 88 credits, specialized professional development opportunities, and designation as a King Scholar at graduation and on the MSU Law transcript. With no more than 20 in each class, King Scholars are able to form cohesive and lasting personal and professional relationships with one another and with faculty members.
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In order to remain in the program, students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher and complete all required academic courses and activities from the time they enter the program until graduation. (Note: A King Scholar whose GPA falls below 3.5 but not below 3.0 may retain the full-tuition scholarship, but will not be able to continue in the program.)
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Rocky Mountain Research Station Publications
RMRS Online Publication - Journal
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Prescribed fire: A proposed management tool to facilitate black-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) colony expansion
Archuleta, Felicia D.; Ford, Paulette L. 2013. Prescribed fire: A proposed management tool to facilitate black-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) colony expansion. In: Michalk, David L., chief ed. Proceedings of the 22nd International Grassland Congress: Revitalising Grasslands to Sustain Our Communities; 15-19 September, 2013; Sydney, Australia. International Grassland Congress 2013. p. 1613-1615.
Black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus) are considered a keystone species in grassland ecosystems. Through their burrowing activities, they conspicuously alter grassland landscapes and provide foraging, shelter and nesting habitat for a diverse array of grassland species, in addition to serving as prey for the endangered black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes). Due to a combination of factors, the lands currently occupied by prairie dog colonies are thought to represent less than 10% of their historical range. Black-tailed prairie dogs have difficulty colonizing areas with tall and/or dense plant cover. We examine how manipulations of grassland vegetative structure through fire may be used as a potential management tool for prairie dog colony expansion in shortgrass steppe. The occurrence of fire in grassland ecosystems plays a vital role in maintaining the integrity of grasslands by influencing the rate of nutrient turnover, regulating plant communities, reducing woody species, suppressing the growth of fire-intolerant plants and discouraging invasion of non-native species. Knowledge of how the use of prescribed fire frequency and seasonality affect prairie dog colonization is vital for developing and implementing science-based land management strategies in shortgrass steppe.
Keywords: keystone species, black-footed ferret, Mustela nigripes, shortgrass steppe, Great Plains, fire
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