text:
Accio - Age Line - Aguamenti - Alohomora - Anapneo - Animagus Transfiguration - Anti-Apparition - Anti-Cheating spell - Anti-Disapparition Jinx - anti-gravity mist - anti-jinx - antler jinx - Aparecium - Apparition - Apparition, Side-Along - armour-bewitching charm - arrows, wand - Atmospheric Charm - Avada Kedavra - Avis
See "Summoning Charm"
incantation unknown
A thin golden line drawn on a floor, which affects anyone who crosses it if they are too young. (Presumably, an Age Line could also be set up to prevent someone to cross who was older than a given age.)
Albus Dumbledore drew an Age Line around the Goblet of Fire to keep away anyone who was not yet seventeen years old. When the Weasley twins, who had taken an Ageing Potion to try to fool it, crossed over the Age Line, they were thrown back and sprouted long white beards (GF12).
Aguamenti (AH-gwa-MEN-tee)
See Unlocking Charm
Anapneo (ah-NAHP-nay-oh)
"anapneo" Gr. "breathe" (many thanks to those who wrote in and suggested we look at Greek for the source of this)
Spell that clears the target's airway, if blocked.
Slughorn cast this on Marcus Belby when the latter began to choke after swallowing too fast while attempting to respond to a question (HBP7).
Animagus Transfiguration
"animal" L. animal + "magus" Pers. magic user
The Transfiguration by which an Animagus takes his or her animal form, or reverts to human form from animal form. The animal form is sometimes referred to as the witch or wizard's Animagus form. See Animagi entry for further details about wizarding folk who can perform this highly complex and dangerous magic.
McGonagall transforms into a cat (PS1, PA6).
Sirius Black, James Potter, and Peter Pettigrew became Animagi while students at Hogwarts (PA17, PA18, PA19).
Animagi are supposed to be registered with the Ministry of Magic (PA18) but there are unregistered ones around, for example Rita Skeeter (GF37).
For an excellent discussion of the legend and mythology of animal transformations, see pages 9-15.
no names or words given
Prevents someone from Apparating. See ANTI-DISAPPARITION JINX.
no names or words given
Cast on quills before exams.
no names or words given
Prevents someone from Apparating.
Albus Dumbledore captured the Death Eaters who had been fighting in the Department of Mysteries and held them with an Anti-Disapparition Jinx (OP36).
It seems a reasonable deduction that the Prime Minister's office is protected against Apparition as an elementary security measure, since Fudge's visits to the Prime Minister there have always involved the Floo Network rather than Apparition, and since protection against Apparition isn't mentioned as part of the Prime Minister's new security arrangements (HBP1).
Most wizarding dwellings are magically protected against unwanted Apparators, according to Albus Dumbledore, who confirmed that "you can't Apparate anywhere inside the buildings or grounds" of Hogwarts (HBP4). However, the Headmaster or Headmistress can temporarily lift the restriction from a specific area of the school for short periods, so that someone already within that area can Apparate to another place within the same area, although they cannot leave the area by Apparition (HBP18).
incantation unknown
Charm which creates an innocent-looking mist which hovers above the ground. A person stepping into this mist immediately finds that up and down have reversed and they are hanging from the ground over the endless sky.
Harry encountered this mist in the maze of the third task (GF31).
See JINXES.
incantation unknown
Causes the victim to sprout antlers.
Pansy Parkinson was hit with this spell and had to miss some classes (OP30).
"Revealing Charm"
"appareo" L. to appear
Source: The Book of Spells, Chapter 2
Makes invisible ink become visible.
Hermione tried this on Riddle's diary, but it had no apparent effect (CS13).
Apparate, Disapparate
nonverbal spell
from "appareo" L. to appear
Advanced spell used by fully trained witches and wizards to disappear from one place and appear almost instantly somewhere else. A person who uses this spell is referred to as an Apparator.
- See PS2 for a possible example of Apparition as wandless magic. However, given Harry's remarks in (HBP4) that his experience at that time was the first time he had ever Apparated, it would appear that the incident referred to in PS2 was probably not Apparition but something else, such as Levitation.
- Very difficult spell. Performed incorrectly, Apparition can result in the caster being "splinched", which refers to part of the caster's body being left behind (GF5, DH14). According to Harry's Apparition instructor, this happens when the caster is insufficiently determined (HBP18).
- According to Harry's Apparition instructor, there are three D's in performing Apparition: destination, determination, and deliberation. (HBP18).
- Wizards must pass a test in order to be obtain a license to be allowed to perform it. To take the test, the applicant must be of age in the wizarding world (at least seventeen) (HBP4).
- Apparition becomes more difficult as distance increases. Only highly trained wizards would try intercontinental Apparition (QA9).
- Fudge appeared out of thin air in the cabinet room to inform the Prime Minister of the goings-on at the Quidditch World Cup (HBP1).
- Apparating directly into a wizarding house is just as rude as kicking down the front door, even if most wizarding dwellings were not magically protected from unwanted Apparators (HBP4).
- See also APPARITION, SIDE-ALONG and OP - Edits and Changes to the Text.
- Pius Thicknesse made it an imprisonable offence to connect number four, Privet Drive to the Floo Network, place a Portkey there, or Apparate in or out, supposedly to protect Harry (DH4).
- According to Remus Lupin, it's impossible to track anyone who Apparates, unless you grab hold of them as they disappear (DH11).
- Harry, Ron, and Hermione Apparated together throughout what would have been their seventh year many, many times, beginning with their escape from the wedding (DH9).
- Harry and Hermione practiced Apparating and Disapparating together under the Invisibility Cloak (DH16).
see Apparition
A form of Apparition in which the Apparator touches someone else, such as a child too young to Apparate, and Apparates with that person as a "passenger".
- Mentioned in Ministry leaflet (HBP3).
- Albus Dumbledore used Side-Along Apparition to take Harry from Privet Drive to Budleigh Babberton (HBP4), and later to take him from Hogsmeade to the cave (HBP25).
- Harry used Side-Along Apparition to take Albus Dumbledore from the cave back to Hogsmeade (HBP27).
- Harry had thought Mad-Eye would come to number four, Privet Drive and take him away using Side-Along Apparition (DH3).
incantation unknown
Bewitches a suit of armour to sing Christmas carols.
- This charm was used as part of the Christmas decorations in 1994. Unfortunately, a suit of armour so enchanted is still not a particularly clever thing, so many of them didn't know all the words to the songs. Peeves took to hiding inside the armour and filling in the gaps with lyrics of his own invention, usually very rude ones (GF22).
See ARMOUR.
incantation unknown
Shoots arrows out of a wand.
- The supporters of the Appleby Arrows were fond of firing arrows out of their wands to celebrate goals. The practice was outlawed in 1894 (QA7).
See also WAND EFFECTS
no names or words given
Something to do with weather effects such as are seen at Ministry of Magic headquarters in London.
Hermione says that if something has gone wrong with one, it will be more difficult to fix than simply by casting Finite Incantatem (DH12).
Avada Kedavra (uh-VAH-duh kuh-DAH-vruh)
"Killing Curse"
Aramaic: "adhadda kedhabhra" -
"let the thing be destroyed".
NOTE: Abracadabra is a cabbalistic charm in Judaic mythology that is supposed to bring healing powers. One of its sources is believed to be from Aramaic avada kedavra, another is the Phoenician alphabet (a-bra-ca-dabra).
Causes instant death in a flash of green light, usually leaving no sign of physical damage or of the cause of death that would be detectable to a Muggle autopsy.
- Notes and References
- One of the Unforgivable Curses (GF14), said to be unblockable and with no counter-curse, although Albus Dumbledore managed to protect Harry by putting some statues in its way during his duel with Voldemort in the Atrium (OP36).
- This spell produces a jet (OP36) or flash (GF14) of green light, and a sound as though some huge invisible thing is rushing at the target (GF1, GF14)
- Harry is the only known person to survive the Killing Curse (esp. PS1, GF14, also GF34; DH34, also DH36 ).
- This was the curse used by Tom Marvolo Riddle to kill his father and paternal grandparents, who were found unmarked except for an expression of absolute terror on their faces. A Muggle autopsy could not determine a cause of death (GF1). As far as Albus Dumbledore was aware during Harry's sixth year, the Muggle authorities never learned how the Riddles died because the Killing Curse usually leaves no sign of damage, Harry's scar being the only known exception. The Ministry of Magic, however, knew at once that the Riddles had been murdered by a wizard. Riddle had taken care to use someone else's wand - that of his maternal uncle, Morfin Gaunt - to commit the murder, so that the magical equivalent of forensics would point to a suspect other than himself, and had further covered himself by tampering with Morfin's memory so that Morfin himself believed he had committed the crimes (HBP17). It's a disgrace to the name of wizarding law enforcement that no effort appears to have been made to clear Frank Bryce of the crime, the only suspect the Muggle authorities were aware of, when Morfin was sent to Azkaban for the crime (HBP17).
- Voldemort has also personally used the Killing Curse to murder Harry's parents (GF34, DH17), Bertha Jorkins (GF33), Frank Bryce (GF1), and Charity Burbage (DH1).
- Wormtail, on orders from Voldemort, used Voldemort's wand to murder Cedric Diggory with the Killing Curse (GF32).
- A Death Eater tried to cast this on Hermione in the Battle of the Department of Mysteries, but was tackled by Harry halfway through the incantation (OP35).
- Voldemort tried to cast the Killing Curse on Harry (doesn't he ever learn?) and on Albus Dumbledore after the Battle of the Department of Mysteries. Fawkes swallowed a bolt of it at one point (OP36).
- Judging from the effect, Bellatrix Lestrange killed a fox with a nonverbal Killing Curse just before she and her sister Narcissa paid a call on Snape to discuss Draco (HBP2).
- Mentioned as the Killing Curse in a Daily Prophet article (HBP3).
"That phrase ... was used by ancient wizards to make illnesses disappear. However, there's no proof it was ever used to kill anyone." (pp.17-19)
Avis (AH-vis)
"Bird-Conjuring Charm"
"avis" L. bird
Source: The Book of Spells, Chapter 2
Conjures a flock of small, twittering birds.
- Notes and references:
- Mr. Ollivander used this spell to test Viktor Krum's wand during the Weighing of the Wands, sending the birds out the window (GF18).
- Probably the same as the spell Hermione uses to create a flock of birds that attacked Ron (HBP14).
See CONJURING SPELLS.


text:
good morning! today i have a special treat for you – a guest post by the lovely and talented artist/designer kris chau! she has a really cool blog with illustrator hawk krall called "drawing for food" on which they review restaurants, food, and lots of hot dogs! and of course art makes its way in (…) Read more
Tagged: kris chau
guest post – kris chauJul 09, 2010
i'll take one of each.Jun 09, 2010
some pics from kris chau's art opening last night in 543…it was awesome – if i had the money i'd buy every single thing on display! (…) Read more
kris chau's work at work!Jun 08, 2010
our very own kris chau has an art show opening over in gallery 543 at the navy yard today! the show, titled "work to work" will be up until july 9th and you definitely don't want to miss it, her work is awesome. here's a little peek :) chau, i think YOU'RE pretty far out (…) Read more
chau bellaFeb 06, 2010
because we love her so much, here is more artwork by the lovely kris chau :) she rocks. (…) Read more
an artist we love…Feb 05, 2010
kris chau is one of our fp girls, and she's also a really talented artist. she has a show opening tonight at topstitch boutique in philly (54 n. 3rd) called "puppy face" featuring some of her new works, so i thought i'd ask her a few questions! where do you draw inspiration for your work? (…) Read more
final holiday download!Dec 09, 2009
another download for you today! to match the card and desktop wallpaper, here is a lovely image for your iphone, by kris chau. click on the image to go to our flickr page and download! (…) Read more

subset: commoncrawl


text:
This week I made an appointment to test drive a Tesla Model S. It's one of only two models that the Fremont, CA company produces. I must admit it, I was extremely enthusiastic and couldn't wait to go. I made an appointment at the closest showroom which is at the Scottsdale Fashion Square Mall in Scottsdale, AZ. Let me clarify, it's not really a showroom, it's a storefront in the mall. There's only room for two cars in the store, but they also have three cars available in the adjacent garage where they perform the test drives. When Gavin, the Tesla employee, asked me which car I wanted to drive, I immediately told him the high performance car. But that little voice in my head (my wife who was standing next to me) told me otherwise. She told me that we wouldn't be able to afford the high performance model so why bother. Unfortunately I had to abide by her rationale. Though I whispered into Gavin's ear and told him I'd be back to test drive the other model at a later date.
The difference in the two is power. The base Model S goes from 0 to 60 in 5.9 sec. and the P85 model goes from 0 to speed ticket in 4.2 seconds. The car is sleek on the outside; very sexy. The designers really took every bit of the design into consideration. When's the last time you looked at a car and told the driver that their car had sexy door handles? Well not only will you hear that OFTEN, but you will be able to tell your curious friend that the door handles retract back into the car when the door is locked to increase aerodynamics and reduce drag. When you approach the car within 5 feet, all four doors unlock at the same time. I asked Gavin if you could make only the driver side door open and he said no. Something tells me that it probably can be done with a software tweak. One of my wife's concerns with the car was whether or not I would be able to fit into the driver seat. At 6'5" I'm all legs, but I actually fit in quite nicely. Not only that, but when my wife drove the car, I sat behind her and had plenty of leg room. Not too many luxury cars can claim that! When you sit there, the most noticeable part of the car is the huge display that sits on the dashboard. It's a 17" screen and gives you a lot of good information such as where the closest super charger is, full internet access, music, navigation controls, and Google maps. It also has a Garmin GPS that pops up when you want turn by turn directions.
I've driven a lot of great cars in my time, the Tesla is right up there as one of the most fun. No ignition switch. No push button starter. Just push the lever down to Drive and touch the accelerator. The car is quiet and can only be heard when you substantially accelerate. One of the weird things that took a little getting used to was the braking of the car when I took my foot off the accelerator, it automatically reduced speed and ironically I never once used the brake. I never needed to! The real fun in this car is the acceleration - it was pure exhilaration! The torque is amazing. You feel like you're taking off in a rocket or you're on an amusement park ride. It was awe-inspiring. I loved driving the Tesla Model S!
The base price is around $69,000 but don't expect to walk away with that price; especially if you purchase the P85 model. The latter has a range of 300 miles whereas the base model has only a 230 mile range. However that's more than twice any of the other electric competitors out there. Go test drive this car and you'll understand why this is the future!


text:
If you are among the millions of Americans with bad credit, odds are that you have a tough time getting a credit card, if you can even get one at all.
There are several options here. You can choose to wait it out until the bad information to fall off your credit report, which can take up to seven years. You could choose a credit card specifically designed for people with bad credit, which can end up costing more than its worth. Or, you could choose to get a secured credit card, which can benefit your credit and personal finances in several ways.
How secured cards work
A secured credit card work just like any other major credit card. You can use it at any retailer who accepts that particular type of card (Visa, MasterCard, etc.), and you can also use it to pay for goods and services that require a credit card hold, such as renting a car or staying at a hotel.
The only real difference is the "secured" part. In order to receive your new credit card, you are required to deposit money into an account with the issuing bank, generally in an amount equal to your desired credit line. So, if you deposit $500, you can get a $500 credit limit. Sure, it requires a substantial amount of cash, but unlike traditional "bad credit" cards, the money you put up remains yours, and will be returned to you when you close the account.
A secured credit card reports to the three major credit bureaus, and lenders will have no idea that it's a secured card. It will look just like any other credit card listing, with a payment history, credit limit, and balance information. This can be the best feature of a secured card, and I'll get into the specifics on how it can impact your credit score a little later.
So, how do you choose a secured card?
The best options
There are several options to choose from here. Basically, you want a card with a low annual fee and the lowest interest rate you can find. Ideally, you'll also find a card that will add to your credit limit as you establish a solid payment history.
For example, the Wells Fargo Secured Card charges a $25 annual fee and currently has an interest rate of 18.99% which will change with the market. This is pretty close to the terms you can expect from a standard "good credit" card. You can deposit any amount from $300 to $10,000, and your initial credit line will be the same as the deposit amount. The bank reviews accounts periodically and cardholders with a solid payment history may become eligible for an unsecured card. The card has some other useful benefits, such as using it for overdraft protection on a Wells Fargo checking account and free access to online credit education.
Other products from Capital One and U.S. Bank have similar terms and benefits, so choose the card with the best benefits for your situation. In addition, U.S. Bank has several secured credit card products that offer rewards through partners like Harley Davidson and AeroMexico. These have slightly higher interest rates than the bank's basic secured card, but depending on how much you'll use the rewards, it may be worthwhile.
There are plenty of other secured credit cards to choose from, so do your research. Your own bank is a good place to start the search, as many offer the ability to link bank and credit accounts together.
How much of a difference can it make?
As long as you use the card responsibly, having a secured credit card can make a huge difference in your credit score, and the effects might be seen quickly. For example, 30% of your FICO score (the score lenders look at) comes from the amounts you owe on credit cards relative to your balance. Well, if you currently don't have any credit cards, this is an untapped portion of your score. As long as you keep your balance low (say, less than 20% of your limit), a secured card can really help this category.
Another 10% of your score comes from the types of credit you use. Essentially, lenders want to see a diverse mix of loans, credit cards, and other accounts. If you don't have a credit card right now, this category is not helping your score as much as it could.
And over time, other categories such as payment history (35% of your score) and length of credit history (15%) will benefit.
The bottom line here is that having a credit card in good standing is essential to establishing and maintaining better credit, and a secured credit card is a cost-effective and very beneficial way to get one.
Will all credit cards soon be completely worthless?
The plastic in your wallet is about to go the way of the typewriter, the VCR, and the 8-track tape player. When it does, a handful of investors could stand to get very rich. You can join them -- but you must act now. An eye-opening new presentation reveals the full story on why your credit card is about to be worthless -- and highlights one little-known company sitting at the epicenter of an earth-shaking movement that could hand early investors the kind of profits we haven't seen since the dot-com days. Click here to watch this stunning video.
Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.


text:
Organization Website : www.nvspatna.bih.nic.in
Organization Name : NVS Patna
Job Category : Government
Number Of Posts : 38
Name Of The Posts :
|Name of The Posts
|Number Of Vacancies
|Staff Nurse
|Catering Assistant
|Lab attendant
Qualification : Candidates with 10th, 12th, Diploma Passed.
Job location : Patna
Last Date : 30 Days from this Notification is issued.
Welcome to Jobsrelease.com. NVS Patna recruitment 2014 for 38 Vacancies. The Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti of Patna location announced recruitment for non technical openings. Lab attendant contains twenty five openings for NVS Patna notification 2014. Applicants need to desire to know about this local language. Fee of 500 need to be pay by the job aspirant for NVS patna recruitment 2014 for fresher's. Age shall be made into consideration as on of First January 2014 for this NVS Patna recruitment 2014. Any kind of fee need not to be paid by SC, ST job applicants. Complete information is given in NVS Patna recruitment 2014. This Samiti works under of HRD Ministry of India Government.
Check all the information in NVS Patna notification 2014 and then apply. Openings may differ from actual vacancies. It is Registered as per the act. It is very old society which is formed on the Twenty eight of February 1986. It monitors the scheme of navodaya concept which is given by the government. It has its head office in New Delhi. It introduced regional offices to monitor the group of schools. This Samiti is spread all over the nation. It Wants to offer better quality of education to rural areas by giving good infrastructure. Students of Fifth class passed gets admission into the sixth class in this Vidyalayas and they shall be teach upto 12th Class. This samiti contains many committees for its functioning.
Age limit : 35 Years, For Last post 30 years
How To Apply :
Important Dates:
Last Date to receive applications : 30 days form the date this notification is issued
Important Links:
Click Here for official website
Click Here To SubScribe For JOBSRELEASE.COM Updates Directly To Your Mail


text:
Many people mistakenly believe that hospice care is only available when a patient is totally bed-bound and there is a medical emergency. This is not the case and informed patients often take advantage of hospice services well before there is a medical crisis.
About Transitions Hospice Care!
Transitions Hospice Care was formed in late 2005. The founders are two army veterans and a social worker. Ed Hirsch graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1970. He later received a Masters in Computer Science and Business Administration. - Read More
We realize that making the transition to end-of-life care can be difficult for both the patient and their loved ones.
You don't need to have all of the answers — just call one of our offices — and our expert staff will discuss your options and make all necessary arrangements.


text:
Students in the Hamilton School District's 4-year-old kindergarten program will celebrate the season of fall Oct. 19 at Harvest Fest.
School staff members and families are working together to plan this event that will culminate the students' study of the changing seasons. The event is sponsored by Willow Springs Learning Center and the Willow Springs 4K Parent Group. Many local businesses and families provided generous donations to make the event successful.
The students will experience fall at stations including:
The activities will begin at 9 a.m. for the morning kindergarten session and at 1 p.m. for the afternoon session.
The 4-year-old kindergarten program is housed at Willow Springs Learning Center, W220 N6660 Town Line Road, Menomonee Falls.
Copyright 2016, Hamilton School District. All Rights Reserved. | W220 N6151 Town Line Road, Sussex, WI 53089
Site Map


text:
Rated 3.8 out of 5 by 548 reviewers.
Rated 5 out of 5 by CB2001 More beautiful than Chuck Norris' beard Words can't come together when it comes to staying at the W besides "it is THE best hotel in the DC Metro." If hotels would be a singer, they would be the song bird of our generation. The beds are like jet puffed marshmallows (do not eat, doesn't taste that good). Must stay. March 20, 2016
Rated 5 out of 5 by Jenn798 Nicest Hotel Staff ever! I travel quite often, and usually note that hotel staff overall are not very friendly. The entire staff at this hotel was warm and welcoming. They are like the nicest group I've ever seen. I would recommend a W to anyone as this is not my first positive experience at a W!. March 17, 2016
Rated 1 out of 5 by ZWebster I was overcharged for my stay and after 4 messages left for accounting over the last 2 weeks no response or credit Hotel stay was OK. I don't like to leave bad reviews but I feel I have no other recourse. The day after I checked out, the charges for my stay posted to my credit card. The next day, I was charged an additional $228 dollars! I assumed it was a mistake, which would be easily corrected. Wrong, I have left 4 messages with various members of accounting over the last 2 weeks with no response. This place is a ripoff station! If you choose to stay here watch your credit card and good luck. March 9, 2016
Rated 5 out of 5 by Michael81 Everything and more The W in Washington was, simply put, elegant. You will not be disappointed. Located within a short walk of some of the finest eateries in town, and just a stone's throw from the White House. The W is our choice for future travel plans wherever we go. March 8, 2016
Rated 2 out of 5 by Theyrenumbtoourcomments The staff is killing this brand I will keep it short and sweet. Love the facilities, but I could do without the staff. From Valet to housekeeping. The service here is subpar at best. I think the employees are more wrapped up in the fact they work for the W as opposed to delivering the W experience to paying customers that make it possible for them to be employed by the Brand. By no means am I expecting to be served, but my gosh acknowledgement of membership, honoring the benefits, and providing a pleasant environment shouldn't be too much to ask. I may have to consider other options in the area if this continues. February 26, 2016
Rated 1 out of 5 by Nishant BAD HOTEL AND BAD STAFF i had booked with W with a lot of expectation but it started failing at check in itself.. We were given a room which was absolutely hopeless to stay, then we figured out from the valet records we were actually allocated a different room and this room was forced on us saying this is 3 times bigger than the normal room.. NO amenities in the room were provided.. i am sure i will never ever even recommend W...... ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE.. ONLY VALET STAFF WAS VERY GOOD AND COOPERATIVE February 24, 2016
Rated 1 out of 5 by Jane16 Would Not Stay at this Particular Hotel Again For paying over $350+ per night, you would expect the W hotel chain to send their valet employees to school to learn some manners. While using the valet service, we tipped the men before retrieving our vehicle and they told us that we could wait within the doors and they would let us know when the vehicle was ready. We waited, and waited and waited. 3 individuals came and asked if we had been helped and what car we were waiting on. After 15 minutes, we went outside and asked if there was an issue getting our car. One man laughed and said our car had been ready for 10 minutes. I told the individual, the original valet I gave my ticket to, told us to wait here and they would let us know when the car was ready. The valet continued to laugh and shake his head, in front of the rest of his crew. It definitely felt like a walk of shame as I hulled my luggage and suitcases to the car. This was one of many humiliating experiences I had with the valet service during my 1 night stay and I feel sorry for anyone that has to experience this, especially if they are out for a special occasion and are spending a lot of money. I would never stay at the W hotel or ever refer this hotel to any of my friends or colleagues, maybe to someone I was not very fond of. Of all the great things the W had to offer, they valet services overshadowed the experience from the second we arrived to the second we left. I sincerely feel we were cheated and that will be how I remember the W hotel. February 18, 2016
Rated 4 out of 5 by TCKDTC Great location This hotel is located at a great location and you can see the white house there. However the room is quite small and space is limited. February 15, 2016
Rated 5 out of 5 by Miguel75 Straight up blast! Location was great. The views from POV are amazing. Staff and all around service outstanding. I can wait to return this summer. The wife was happy with everything so that means I'm happy as well. February 15, 2016
Rated 1 out of 5 by grayscale Disappointed I signed up to use my phone as key for the room for convenience reasons. I never received the bill after checking out, and I need that for my company's accounting. I can't find bills of previous stays online. February 8, 2016
Rated 5 out of 5 by HawaiiSamurai Taking Security Seriously I was a bit apprehensive about stying in dowtown DC given the current security threats. So, it was greatto see the W taking security so seriously. For example, the side entrance to the hotel was locked so that they could better control entry/exit. This was very reassuring. January 1, 2016
Rated 5 out of 5 by Mike820 Great stay at the W perfect location for site seeing in D.C. It was my first time but certainly not my last. Thanks! December 21, 2015
Rated 3 out of 5 by Bob18 Good location, small rooms Great location in the city. Rooms are tiny. Nice location for a W hotel. December 16, 2015
Rated 5 out of 5 by Yohannes Thank you Megan. thank you Megan for taking care of us. December 12, 2015
Rated 4 out of 5 by YFEIF This hotel has great service Good experience. Good service. December 3, 2015
Rated 5 out of 5 by Daynamite Representing the W brand W D.C. is one of my favorite SPG properties that keeps bringing me back again and again. Everything about it truly represents the W brand from the moment you walk in up until checking out. They have really nailed the whatever/whenever service concept and are yet to fail fulfilling any of my requests from slippers to a first aid kit 24/7... Arch was particularly attentive and went above and beyond taking care of us and ensuring we have a very pleasant stay. Till next time, my favorite W! Cheers, Dayna November 16, 2015
Rated 5 out of 5 by 09ias Great Hotel and Staff I brought my fiancee to the hotel for her birthday. The staff was very helpful in making the experience a truly great one. The room was very nice and the bed was very comfortable. The rooftop bar has phenomenal views and a great vibe. The spa was terrific, my fiancee loved her treatment. Definitely staying here again. November 15, 2015
Rated 4 out of 5 by Hlh85 DC Trip I used a free night to stay at the W DC. this hotel is really nice, but the rooms are tiny and the rooftop bar is always overcrowded. the staff is friendly. I would only stay here again if the price was right. November 13, 2015
Rated 5 out of 5 by IloveDC Amazing Experience at The W in DC My trip to DC, with one of my best girlfriends, was outstanding. It began with our check in experience at the W. We were greeted almost instantly by Archie who, along side Alyssa (Alicia sp?) checked us in Friday night. They were friendly and helpful. We asked for an upgrade and Alyssa explained - very politely that none were available. She didn't stop there though, she went on to offer other rooms available and allowed us to switch rooms to a better view. Archie explained to us that the roof top bar was a place we had to check out. He was right, we spent both nights there. We had an amazing time. It appears Archie lives at the hotel, which was fine by us. He greeted us every time we came through the lobby and was very welcoming. He asked how we were doing and made sure we had everything we needed. The room - as expected - was spectacular as well. I will most definitely be coming back to this hotel next time I visit DC. November 9, 2015
Rated 4 out of 5 by WhyDoINeedAUniqueNickname W hotels are nice but odd W hotel rooms seem to be designed by people who have never stayed in a hotel. Things are mostly very nice and then there are some really odd things, such as: 1) It was not a problem since I was staying alone and I realize the shower glass is frosted so *probably* no one can see in but why would I even want to have to worry about that? Wall technology is pretty mature. Please use it. 2) You try to have all sorts of hip things but neglect the basics like electrical outlets. At the desk, there were not enough outlets to leave all lights plugged in *and* even one additional device, such as a laptop. 3) The thermostat was positioned behind a high-backed chair. I am fairly tall and could reach over but shorter people must have to go to some added effort to adjust the temperature. 4) Unless one puts one's suitcase in the bathroom, there is no way to unpack it into the provided closet without having to open and close a closet door on every pass between the suitcase and the closet. As I say, things are generally nice but there seems to be very little attention to how people use the rooms. November 1, 2015
Rated 5 out of 5 by Victor1940 Great Hotel Love the location and the views are of the Washington Monument and US Treasury. You can see the top of the White House from POV. This hotel has really great suites. Wish I could have had more time in the room! October 30, 2015
Rated 5 out of 5 by Taylor91011 Another Great Stay This hotel has many exceptional amenities to offer. From the exquisite decor to the friendly staff this property has it all. There are many members of the team I'd like to recognize, as they made our stay even better than we imagined. They continue to do so with each returning trip. Ermias Megan Valana Suleman Meade Great place, great people, great experiences time and time again! October 24, 2015
Rated 4 out of 5 by Shaun15 The restaurant experience was horrible After waiting 35 minutes at Pinea and watching 3 other tables that sat before us get their food, we walked out. Our waitress never came to us to explain the delay. I kept hearing 2 more minutes when I would ask other servers, it was a horrible experience. However, your front desk Manager, Rachel, was awesome. Calmed the situation and took care of me the customer. I wish I could say the same about your restaurant staff As for the bed, it was not even close to a Heavenly Bed found in other SPG properties. Westin DC City Center much more comfortable. However, it was a very quite hotel room. No outside noise at all!! October 19, 2015
Rated 5 out of 5 by VeryGoodPointsStacey Trendy W With Great Views The W is what you expect from a W. The views from the hotel are spectacular. Location, location, location. Having lunch on the rooftop is a must if the weather is nice because you can see the white house and other monuments. The rooms are clean and comfortable. The only thing missing is a coffee maker. The hotel does have complimentary coffee in the lobby which is nice, but it would be better to have one in room. Given the hotel location I expected it to be noisy, but it wasn't bad at all. I did hear a lot of sirens and sounds from the street so it might be worth forgoing a city view for an inside room if you want more sound sleep. Beds are very comfortable and I felt like I was at home. I loved the Bliss spa in the hotel and the Bliss bath products in the room. The food at the hotel was good, but very overpriced. Lunch prices were a little more decent, but at dinner I had a duck confit salad that was $23++ and it had almost no duck and was quite small. It was probably worth about $15 max. The burger is great and not a bad deal. The staff is wonderful and very helpful. The W insider was great and kept in touch with me throughout my stay. I really appreciated that. I will stay at this hotel again. it's a great W! October 9, 2015
Rated 5 out of 5 by Susan16WA Short but Sweet Our one night stay at the DC W was great. Foundations and linens were top-notch and our room was very quiet--no street noise. Great location next to all the museums, mall and White House. Ate dinner at the roof-top bar. Lamb with fig sauce was yummy and breakfast the next day in the dining room was good, too. Fresh squeezed orange juice. Only problem was that we got locked out of our room after breakfast. Somehow, a setting in the computer made it so neither of our card-keys worked. Annoying. October 5, 2015
Rated 2 out of 5 by boiQ The First and the Last... A huge disappointment during my brief stay last friday evening. Arrived in a fantastic suite, found a used plaster on the TV stand and hair in the sink. Noise from the bar below and the bar above until the early hours. Informed by guest relations (Whenever/Whatever) that breakfast will finish at 11:30 on Saturdays, turned up next day at 11:00, breakfast already finished. Tried to speak with duty manager, no ones was available apparently. Offered $25 credit for lunch and 4000 points by front desk. Upon check-out, no credit was added to the account and 4000 points never reached the SPG account. The gym was filthy and stuffy, cardio equipments were covered in human sweat... Despite the location of the property, Never again! Stay away... September 24, 2015
Rated 5 out of 5 by Klaus101 Best Location and Wonderful Service We just spent a wonderful short weekend trip celebrating our anniversary in DC. The team at this W is really exceeding. Rachel, Meghan and Caroline took care of the room upgrade, the special table dinner reservations, and the late night crazy cap at the POV. Excellent logistical coordination plus made us feel really special with the communications. Arsene at the Pinea was just awesome, thank you for making this such a memorable evening for us. You cannot beat the location: The POV roof top night club overlooks the Monument and you can see the White House. The Mall is a 5 min. walk. We are coming back, thank you W for this wonderful experience. September 13, 2015
Rated 4 out of 5 by MsMel21 Melody Scales I had a fabulous stay. I found the staff at Pinea exceptional wonderful especially Mr. Omar Njie. August 31, 2015
Rated 5 out of 5 by TTB16 AMAZING!! The staff at this hotel met my every expectation.. The hospitality was impeccable, the room delightful, the ammenities appropriate. August 23, 2015
Rated 5 out of 5 by CC21121 Decoration ambience (music/terrace) and location wonderful Modern and classic are smartly harmonized so close to Monument W, with a ni crédible terrace. August 12, 2015


text:
Villas of Stone Glen
Community Overview
View Community Photos and Videos
Welcome to the Villas of Stone Glen, a maintenance-free active adult community where you can relax and enjoy the time you have earned and deserve.
Imagine a life where not having the time to do things is no longer a decision. Imagine a life where all the outside chores of traditional home ownership are handled for you. Well imagine no more, this community was created with you in mind. The Villas of Stone Glen is a development of 95 individual homes including a 3000 SQ ft. community center located on over 16 beautifully landscaped acres in the heart of Keller, Texas. Keller was recently voted 7th, in the "Top 100 Places to Live".
So come in to the Villas of Stone Glen and see for yourself the care-free lifestyle that you have been waiting for.
Community Features
- Clubhouse
- Fitness Facility
- Pool
- Walking Trails
Area Attractions
View More in the Area
Featured Home Models in this Community
Mortgage Calculator
It's easy to calculate the approximate payment for your new home using our mortgage calculator. Calculate My Payment


text:
Connect with Facebook
* Your PW may only contain letters (A-Z), numbers
(0-9)and punctuation (!@#$).
* 9~16 letters and numbers, case-sensitive.
Your Facebook account has been successfully linked to your cabal.com account. Sign in and find more about CABAL!
Copyright © ESTsoft Corp. All rights reserved. 2010 Licensed and Published for the North American Market by ESTsoft Inc.
CABAL Online® is a registered trademark of ESTsoft Corp.


text:
iPhone 5C might be what Apple's upcoming affordable model will be called
After many months of rumors and leaks on the matter, some more believable than others, it does seem pretty clear that Apple is going to release two new iPhones in the near future: the 5S that will be the successor to the currently selling iPhone 5, and another, more affordable model that will have a plastic / polycarbonate casing. We've been hearing about this cheaper iPhone for a long time, yet not once has a name been mentioned. Until today, that is.
Apparently, it's going to be called iPhone 5C. So for the latter part of this year, Apple will have two phones on offer: the iPhone 5S and the iPhone 5C. This, of course, is based on the assumption that the leaked image you can see below is indeed showcasing the box in which the affordable iPhones will be packaged.
According to the person who posted this photograph over at WeiPhone, the box is around 7-8 cm thick. And as you can see, it looks similar to the iPod touch packaging.
The big question though is what the 'C' stands for, isn't it? Some speculate that it can stand for 'color', since the iPhone 5C is supposedly going to be offered in a myriad of color versions, more so than any other iPhone before it. Of course, the 'C' in there could just stand for 'cheap'. But don't assume that you'll be able to buy this for $199 unlocked or anything like that. 'Cheap', in this case simply means 'cheaper than the other iPhone' – that is, the iPhone 5S.


text:
Dec 30, 2009 2:40 PM
Fair warning: it takes a certain someone to pull these off. The face says it all on Dolce & Gabbana's Suede Wedge Shoes ($970). 'Nuff said.
OMG I dream of being able to afford these shoes!!! "Gods of shoes and all things beautiful grant me this wish"
If you've got a product or service that you'd like to promote on Outblush, click here to find out about our advertising opportunities.
Outblush is a blog for girls who love to shop. Our staff digs up the best clothes, home stuff, beauty items, and more. New items are posted every day — bookmark us and check out:


text:
- Home /
- Trulicious Powder
Trulicious PowderAvailability: In Stock
$8.99 with coupon: HCGPower
Regular Price: $12.99
All prices USD
Add our New Trulicious HCG-approved Powder to your Diet!
We are so excited to introduce Trulicious powder sweetener from Blue Earth Nutrition LLC. Use it to naturally give your food, drinks and approved Hcg diet snacks a touch of sweetness to keep your sweet tooth under control.
Why use Trulicious Powder Sweetener?
Well, that's easy! Trulicious is truly delicious. Taste DOES matter, and Blue Earth Nutritionals wanted to make a sweetener that was not only all natural but also the best tasting sugar alternative available. The proprietary blend of 99% pure Stevia, Erythritol, Vitafiber and Monk Fruit is simple, clean and affordable at a 3:1 sweetness ratio to sugar. The benefits of Stevia for health conscious individuals, diabetics and others seeking improved weight management has been long known around the world.
What are the Benefits of Trulicious Sweeteners?
- HCG diet approved
- 99% Pure Stevia extract assures the finest taste and no aftertaste which is often associated with cheaper Stevia extracts found in other blends
- It is the perfect blend of Stevia, Erythritol, and Monk Fruit to create a unique taste along with increased health benefits. Stevia & Erythritol support good dental health & a healthy glyemic index, & Monk fruit (also known as Luo Han) supports healthy digestion & weight management
- Three times sweeter than sugar—Just follow the serving size directions or flavor to taste
- 100 Servings per bottle
- Low calorie--add sweetness & flavor without the guilt. Satisfy your craving for sweets so you're not tempted to cheat on your diet
- Perfectly safe for diabetics to enjoy
- It will add sweet flavor to any snack, drink or food with only a small amount of Trulicious sweetener
- It will let you enjoy sweet taste without sacrificing your health
- Made with Vegan-friendly ingredients
- All-natural and free from additives
How to Get Started with Trulicious sweeteners
- 1Order your Trulicious products online
- 2Following the instructions listed on the label. Add Trulicious to any Hcg diet approved snack, drink or food
- 3Keep following the HCG protocol and using Trulicious sweeteners. Before you know it you'll achieve your weight loss goals
Control your sweet tooth and stay on your diet! Eating healthy has never been so delicious. Order Trulicious Stevia today!
Frequently Asked Questions
- Q: How much Trulicious powder should I used on my food?
- A: You can put as much Trulicious on your food as you like but remember the powder is blended at a 3:1 ratio to sugar.
- Q: Can I use Trulicious powder in drinks, too?
- A: Yes. In fact, there are lots of great recipes where you might use Trulicious powder to make lemonade and other drinks that are all HCG diet approved. Contact one of our HCG diet coaches to learn more!
- Q: Who is Blue Earth Nutrition and why do you use them?
- A: Blue Earth Nutrition is a company that creates and distributes high end nutritional and diet support products. Hcgdiet.com was impressed with the high quality of Blue Earth Nutrition and the Trulicious products. Realizing that Trulicious meets the Hcg diet protocol as well as being of the finest quality, we felt our customers deserved to have diet help using this great product.
Additional Information
|Free Shipping
|BOGO Info
|BOGO Info Amt
Order Today to Save 20%


text:
While Ohio's wildlife officials don't seem terribly concerned with the dropoff of a whisker over 12 percent in the number of whitetail deer killed from 2012-13 to the season completed at the beginning of this month, they have proposed some significant changes for next season.
The proposals are:
-- A new county-by-county system of bag limits, based on how close a county is to reaching its deer population goal. (The map can be found at wildohio.com.)
-- A significant change in the type of guns allowed during the youth and gun seasons. For the first time, rifles will be allowed, but no high-powered rifles. All will be "pistol cartridge" rifles. There is a list of acceptable models and calibers on the Ohio Division of Wildlife website. The proposed rifles are the same caliber and use the same straight-walled cartridges that are currently legal for use with handguns.
The use of rifles would allow hunters to be more accurate than with a pistol or a shotgun. Like a shotgun, only three cartridges will be allowed in a rifle at a time.
-- The only change in season dates would be during the statewide muzzleloader season. It would start on a Friday (Jan. 2) instead of a Saturday. All other seasons remain the same as 2013-14, including the controversial two-day antlerless-only muzzleloader season (Oct. 11-12).
The lower number of deer killed by hunters in Ohio (191, 459 in 2013-14 compared to 218,910 in 2012-13) was expected, according to wildlife chief Scott Zody.
"This year's deer harvest indicates we have been reaching our goals in many Ohio counties to maintain a quality deer herd," Zody said.
He said the lower deer kill more reflects the number of deer available, rather than the number of hunters. He said the estimated number of deer hunters was 400,000, about the same as in previous years. The success rate was 35-37 percent taking at least one deer.
If you look at the map of deer bag limit proposals, southwest Ohio has counties with four different sets of bag limits. In Montgomery, Cleremont, Warren, Hamilton and Brown counties four deer can be taken; in Clark, Champaign, Logan, Shelby, Butler, Preble, Clinton, Highland and Adams counties three deer can be taken (including one with an antlerless permit); in Miami, Greene and Mercer counties three can be taken (but none with antlerless permits); and in Darke and Auglaize counties only two can be taken.
"What we are saying, to simplify it a bit, is that we are at or below our target level in Darke County and close, but not quite, to our goal in Miami (which is next door)," said Dave Kohler, wildlife administrator for the Division of Wildlife.
The division will answer all questions concerning the new whitetail regs at seven planned open houses across the state on March 1. In southwest Ohio, the open house will be held at the Greene County Fish & Game Club from noon-3 p.m. Following that, there will be a statewide hearing in Columbus on March 6, followed by the Wildlife Council meeting on April 9 where the proposals will be approved or rejected.
Those who cannot attend an open house can comment at wildohio.com through March 2.
Southwest Ohio results
Following are the 2013-14 deer harvest totals in southwest Ohio (with 2012-13 numbers in parenthesis):
Adams 3,849 (4,111), Allen 1,057 (1,110), Auglaize 789 (986), Brown 2,526 (2,933), Butler 1,503 (1,498), Champaign 1,243 (1,453), Clark 779 (862), Clermont 2,830 (3,141), Clinton 883 (1,007), Darke 589 (1,004), Greene 956 (1,105), Hamilton 2,069 (2,175), Highland 2,714 (3,250), Logan 1,917 (2,094), Mercer 625 (804), Miami 881 (961), Montgomery 687 (804), Preble 1,070 (1,205), Shelby 1,103 (1,294), Warren 1,344 (1,605).


text:
Enter your Email address:
Wolters Kluwer Health may email you for journal alerts and information, but is committed
to maintaining your privacy and will not share your personal information without
your express consent. For more information, please refer to our Privacy Policy.
Caudle, Susan E.*; Katzenstein, Jennifer M.†; Karpen, Saul‡; McLin, Valérie§
*Section of Psychology, Psychology Service, Texas Children's Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
†Department of Neurology, Section of Neuropsychology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indiana University Health, Indianapolis, IN
‡Emory School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA
§Unité de Gastroentérologie Pédiatrique, Hôpital des Enfants, Geneva, Switzerland.
Address correspondence and reprint requests to Susan E. Caudle, PhD, Psychology Service, Texas Children's Hospital, 6701 Fannin St, CC 1630.30, Houston, TX 77030 (e-mail: email@example.com).
Received 14 December, 2011
Accepted 11 April, 2012
The authors report no conflicts of interest.
Objective: The aim of the present study was to investigate whether male and female infants with biliary atresia (BA) differ cognitively and to confirm previously documented developmental lags in infants with BA before liver transplantation.
Methods: With the Mullen Scales of Early Learning, we examined 21 female and 12 male infants (ages 3–20 months) with BA, comparing scores across indices by sex and correlating Mullen Scales of Early Learning scores with standard clinical and biochemical parameters.
Results: Overall, both boys and girls were found to be vulnerable to developmental lags in the areas of expressive language (EL) and gross motor skills. In comparison with their male peers, girls were found to be weaker in the area of visual reception skills (P = 0.05) with a trend found for EL (P = 0.08). Girls were also found to have higher C-bilirubin levels and to be of shorter length. Growth parameters were found to be correlated with EL scores. International normalized ratio was found to be correlated with gross motor performance and with a trend also noted for fine motor skills. Age at Kasai predicted receptive language skills.
Conclusions: As has been shown, infants with BA appear to be vulnerable to developmental lags before transplantation. In particular, female infants appear to be vulnerable to cognitive and skill delays in comparison with their male peers. C-bilirubin levels may play a role in this increased vulnerability for females.
Biliary atresia (BA) is the most common form of chronic liver disease leading to liver transplantation (LT) in young children (1–3). Although life threatening, BA's survival rates have increased significantly in the last 25 years, largely owing to the advent of whole and partial LT (1,4–6). With increased survival, attention has turned to long-term outcomes, including cognitive functioning and quality of life. It has been demonstrated that even before liver transplant, children with BA experience neurocognitive weaknesses in comparison with their healthy peers. Cognitive measures have revealed reduced global cognitive functioning in children with liver disease following liver transplant (7–9), as well as specific weaknesses in areas such as motor skills and receptive language (RL) abilities (10–12); however, most studies have examined cognitive functioning with measures that offer only gross estimates of global functioning, include participants of widely varying disease/transplant status, and include participants varying widely in age. Recently, our group used the Mullen Scales of Early Learning (MSEL) (13) in infants with BA at the time of assessment for LT and showed noticeable deficits before transplantation affecting expressive language (EL) and gross motor (GM) skills (14). We found that all of the indices fell significantly below normative expectation; however, the study population was mostly girls, limiting the generalizability of our findings.
Although several growth- and disease-related factors have been found to be associated with later cognitive outcomes, the precise relation between these factors and neurocognitive development is unclear. Poorer nutritional status early in life and reduced head circumference have shown particularly strong relations with cognitive functioning, both before and after transplantation (10,15–19). Other variables that have been correlated with negative cognitive outcomes in children with liver disease include growth parameters, hypoalbuminemia (19), and low serum vitamin E levels (18). Other factors potentially contributing to poor neurocognitive outcomes include repetitive hospitalizations (12,19), increased abdominal fatigue (20), and feeding difficulties and the emphasis placed on supplemental nutrition. Indeed, to meet their metabolic and growth requirements, these infants typically require supplemental nutrition, possibly limiting their movement or field of vision secondary to medical equipment. Additionally, Krull et al suggested that serum bilirubin at the time of transplant was correlated with adverse neurocognitive outcomes following liver transplant (12), although this was not statistically significant in a small cohort of patients with BA (19). Thus, there are several possible contributors to reduced neurocognitive functioning that are likely already in process pretransplantation. In fact, studies have shown that cognitive deficits may be present and measureable before transplantation (21–23). Even extremely early in life, aspects of cognitive development have been found to be affected, with poorer scores reliably correlated with international normalized ratio (INR), growth parameters, and age at Kasai (14).
To our knowledge, however, there has been no investigation to date examining the effects of sex in young children with BA or any liver disease. Girls are diagnosed as having BA slightly more often than boys, with a male:female ratio estimated to fall in the range of 1:0.89 to 1:0.59 (24,25). There is ample evidence of sex differences in brain development and some aspects of cognitive functioning in healthy individuals (26,27), as well as data supporting differential response to diseases and even treatments according to sex (28).
Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to assess sex effects on the cognitive development in a group of children younger than 2 years who were being considered for LT for end-stage liver disease secondary to BA. The secondary aim was to clarify the relation between growth parameters and disease-related variables and cognitive performance across specific domains within each group. We hypothesized that we would continue to see the areas of deficit that we initially identified (14), but that consistent with research being conducted in the area of pediatric cancer (28), girls with BA will demonstrate weaker cognitive development across domains in comparison to boys, placing them at greater risk for long-term cognitive dysfunction.
The study was approved by the institutional review board of the Baylor College of Medicine. Patients were recruited among all-comers being evaluated for LT. The indications for LT were either a failed Kasai (worsening jaundice following portoenterostomy) or a functional Kasai in children with severe portal hypertension (gastrointestinal bleed, ascites, failure to thrive). The recommendation for cognitive testing as part of their transplant evaluation was made by the attending physician. As such, the referral depended on several clinical severity parameters that would affect testing results artifactually. Two patients were excluded from analyses due to known chromosomal anomalies likely to result in delayed development. During the time of the study, a total of 46 patients were evaluated for transplantation secondary to BA from August 2006 to November 2011. Of these, 33 underwent MSEL evaluation and thus were included in this retrospective study.
Because the association of nutritional status and growth parameters with delayed cognitive functioning in otherwise typically developing infants is well established (15–17), mode of energy intake was determined at the time of evaluation for each participant. Accordingly, weight and height at the time of liver transplant evaluation were recorded, and z scores were calculated using the Emmes online calculator (http://spitfire.emmes.com/study/ped/resources/htwtcalc.htm) based on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention growth charts. These data are summarized in Table 1. Reliable data were not available regarding the total and supplemental amount of energy received.
The following biochemical and clinical variables were collected at the time of liver transplant evaluation or as close as possible to the MSEL administration: serum conjugated bilirubin (normal <0.0 mg/dL) (C-bilirubin), prealbumin levels (normal range 18–44 mg/dL), INR (normal range 1.0–1.2), and age at Kasai procedure. An accurate count for patients referred from outside institutions was difficult to obtain; therefore, a best estimate was made upon detailed review of the medical record.
The MSEL is a measure designed for young children to estimate functioning across areas thought to predict later intellectual development. The age range for the MSEL is birth to 5 years, 8 months. Items administered for this test load onto 4 or 5 scales (depending on the child's age), including GM (large motor movements such as sitting and walking), fine motor (FM; distal control such as pincer grasp), visual reception (VR; nonverbal problem-solving skills), EL (using sounds/words to express thoughts to another), and RL (comprehension of the words of others). All of the children who participated in the present study were of an age that all scales were computed, including the GM scale. Each scale comprised items that are developmentally appropriate and use engaging materials. Because cognitive domains are assessed separately, this measure is particularly useful in the assessment of young children to determine specific areas of weakness. Normative scores for each scale are provided in T-score format (mean 50, standard deviation [SD] 10). An overall Early Learning Composite is calculated for each patient, including all subdomains except for GM skills, and is presented in a Standard Score format (mean 100, SD 15). Data were analyzed using SPSS software version 18.0 (SPSS Inc, Chicago, IL).
The participant group consisted of 33 pediatric patients with BA (21 girls, 12 boys) who were undergoing comprehensive evaluation for liver transplant between March 2006 and May 2011. Participants ranged in age from 3 months to 20 months. Girls were slightly younger at the time of evaluation (mean 7.78 months, SD 4.06; boys mean 9.33 months, SD 5.06), but the difference was not statistically significant (t[32] = −0.97; P = 0.34). Of the participants, 21 were non-Hispanic and 12 were Hispanic. English was the primary language spoken in the home for 24 of the children, and Spanish was the dominant language for the remaining 9 children. In these cases, a Spanish-language interpreter was present. English- and Spanish-speaking children did not differ significantly for expressive (t[31] = −0.14, P = 0.76) or receptive (t[31] = −0.31, P = 0.89) language skills, nor was there a difference between groups for number of children exposed to a language other than English (P = 0.72). Parental educational levels were available for all of the biological parents. Maternal education levels ranged from 3 to 18 years of education (mean 13.07, SD 3.29), and paternal educations ranged from 6 to 19 years of education (mean 12.55, SD 3.15), with 12 years of education being equivalent to a high school diploma. There were no differences between the groups in terms of maternal and paternal education levels.
Of the 33 children tested, 20 had undergone Kasai procedure (Table 1) and there was no difference in age between the girls who underwent Kasai procedure and the boys (t[18] = 0.58; P = 0.57). Of those children, 13 are enrolled in the National Institutes of Health–sponsored Childhood Liver Disease Research and Education Network study. Twenty-two of the children underwent LT following developmental evaluation (see Table 1 for additional demographic information). Data on 16 of the 33 children were presented previously (14).
A total of 2 patients (both boys) were missing INR values and were not included in analyses in which INR was included. There were no other missing data. All of the assumptions of statistical analyses were met, and all of the medical variables of interest met requirements for skewness and kurtosis. It is notable that our ages were somewhat skewed, with 50% of the sample falling below 6.5 months of age (19 children), whereas only 16% were above 12 months of age (5 children). Pearson correlations between the MSEL subscales and medical variables of interest for the entire sample were initially completed, and data results indicated a replication of our previous findings (14). Specifically, INR was significantly correlated with GM skills (P < 0.05) and a trend was noted for the correlation between INR and FM skills (P < 0.10). Weight z score was correlated with EL skills (P < 0.01), as was height z score (P < 0.05). Age at Kasai again significantly predicted RL skills (P < 0.01) in this sample (Table 2).
When comparing medical variables of interest between the 2 groups, divided by sex, girls had higher C-bilirubin levels than did boys at the time of evaluation (t[31] = 2.03, P = 0.05), and were of shorter length at time of evaluation than boys (P = 0.009; Table 1). No other differences were seen between the 2 groups, including hospitalization or intensive care unit (ICU) admission before transplant, although gross numbers did suggest that more girls were either inpatient or in ICU. Demographic data for each group are presented in Table 1.
Both boys and girls were compared with the norms for the MSEL and with the full sample to determine whether the findings from our previous study were replicated. Findings indicate that girls performed more poorly on the GM, VR, RL, and EL subdomains when compared with norms, whereas boys only performed significantly more poorly when compared with norms on the GM and EL subdomains (Table 3). When the entire sample was compared with the test norms, the full sample performed more poorly on the GM, RL, and EL subdomains, with the RL findings likely driven by the girls' performance.
Independent samples t tests were then used to compare the male and female groups on all of the MSEL subdomains and medical variables of interest. Girls scored significantly worse on the VR subscale (P = 0.05) and on the composite measure of development when compared with boys (P = 0.05). Additionally, a trend was observed for girls to earn lower scores on the EL subscale (P = 0.08) than boys. No differences were found between girls and boys in the areas of GM skills, FM skills, or RL skills (Fig. 1). Given that C-bilirubin levels were different between the boys and girls groups, between-subjects analysis of covariane analyses were completed to compare boys and girls on all of the cognitive subdomain scores. The 2 groups did not differ on any of the cognitive subdomain scores when C-bilirubin levels were controlled for, although trends remained for the VR and EL domains (GM, P = 0.15; FM, P = 0.36; VR, P = 0.06; RL, P = 0.80; and EL, P = 0.06). In addition, the groups were compared on developmental outcomes based upon whether they had received a Kasai procedure. A 2 (sex) × 2 (Kasai) analysis of variance revealed no significant differences between the groups on any of the developmental outcomes.
The purpose of the present study was to determine whether sex differences in cognitive development are apparent in extremely young children diagnosed as having BA who have not yet undergone LT. Indeed, in our relatively small sample, significant sex effects were apparent, consistent with our hypotheses that girls would perform more poorly than boys. Among the disease-related factors investigated in the present study, only C-bilirubin at the time of the evaluation was found to differ significantly between boys and girls. In contrast, INR, age at Kasai, time on the transplant list, prealbumin levels, pediatric end-stage liver disease (PELD) score at listing, and PELD score at transplant were roughly equal between groups; however, height z scores, a variable that can be postulated to represent long-term nutritional status, were found to differentiate our groups, with girls showing reduced linear growth compared with boys. The significance of this finding is unclear, but it may suggest more severely compromised nutrition. Alternatively, it is intriguing to consider whether there may be an association with the higher C-bilirubin in the female group. The extrahepatic effects of bile acids are an area of increasing interest and investigation, and conjugated bilirubin has been shown to affect osteoblast function. It is therefore tempting to consider an effect on bone growth in cholestatic infants (32–34). Importantly, we found EL to be highly correlated with both weight and height z scores, suggesting that growth retardation (and possibly underlying nutritional status) renders young children particularly vulnerable to language delays in this population.
Serum C-bilirubin levels may explain group differences in cognitive development because sex effects were reduced to nonsignificant levels when this variable was covaried; however, both VR and EL scores trended toward significance, with girls earning lower scores in both domains when C-bilirubin was covaried. In fact, P values for between-sex group comparisons changed from <0.05 to <0.06 in both cases. It appears likely that this finding is related to reduced power and findings would perhaps remain significant in a larger sample. Regardless, it is unclear why girls may have higher C-bilirubin levels to begin with, or whether this finding is spurious in our sample. There is no evidence that human girls experience higher C-bilirubin levels than boys at birth (29) or in the midst of liver disease, although 2 points distinguish girls from boys when it comes to cholestasis: girls are subject to hormonally induced cholestasis (intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy) and are more subject to certain cholestastic diseases (BA and primary biliary cirrhosis). Of note, studies in rats have demonstrated sex differences in bilirubin levels (30,31), rendering this area open to further study. Furthermore, the difference in C-bilirubin between boys and girls may be ascribable to differences in serum estrogen levels between the sexes, something that has been shown in young infants (35–38). It is well accepted that estrogen promotes cholestasis. High estrogen states have been shown to be associated with cholestasis in a number of clinical and laboratory conditions. First, girls with cholestatic diseases experience a worsening of their clinical condition during pregnancy (39). Second, the use of oral contraceptives has been shown to induce or exacerbate cholestasis (40,41). Therefore, C-bilirubin may be a surrogate for higher serum estrogen levels in girls.
The next question is why this increased C-bilirubin may be associated with differences in neurocognitive performance before transplantation. This is an area where less is known. Most research to date has focused on the effects of unconjugated bilirubin on the developing brain or its components. The conjecture may be that there are some overlapping mechanisms of neurotoxicity between conjugated and unconjugated bilirubin. Alternatively, the mechanisms are different, and the field is open for exploration.
Finally, could elevation of C-bilirubin be a surrogate for severity of disease? Similar PELD scores between boys and girls at the time of listing speak against this possibility; however, at the time of transplant, there was a trend for higher PELD scores among the female group, and more girls were inpatients or admitted to the ICU than were boys, although the numbers did not reach statistical significance. Alternatively, C-bilirubin elevation is often associated with Gram-negative bacteremia and sepsis, but we did not have the ability to show that girls before LT had a higher incidence of infection.
It is encouraging that despite the fact that both boys and girls in our sample exhibited cognitive weaknesses in comparison with the normative group, most of the children remained broadly within the average range (defined here as falling within 1 standard deviation of the mean; T score 40–59) across domains of functioning. The exception was the domain of GM, where 13 of 21 girls (62%) and 7 of 12 boys (58%) exhibited performance >1 SD below the mean. Furthermore, whereas more boys remained at age expectation for the domain of EL (8 of 12, or 67% fell within 1 SD of the mean), the girls in our group fared less well. Only 9 of 21 (or 43%) girls in our sample earned EL scores that fell in the average range. Less encouraging is the trend for girls to exhibit lower scores in the domain of VR in comparison to the boys. This area has been conceived of as the domain of the MSEL most related to nonverbal intellectual functioning later in life (42), and our data suggest that girls may experience increased vulnerability in area that is much less amenable to rehabilitative efforts. Although both physical/occupational therapy and speech-language therapy are available to address developmental lags in these skill areas, there is little that has been shown to be effective in the building of nonverbal problem-solving skills beyond exposure of the young child to a stimulating and thought-provoking environment. This finding is consistent with studies of other illness populations, suggesting that girls are more at risk for hormonally induced cognitive deficits than boys (43–45). It follows that the data from this cohort suggest that female sex may be a risk factor in patients with BA for later cognitive deficits.
Although our sample size has increased significantly from our first study (14), we continue to be likely underpowered when comparing boys and girls, and the strength of the differences between groups may increase with greater sample size. Furthermore, we are limited by the slight skewness of our sample, with more children being younger (younger than 6 months) compared with older children (older than 12 months). Additional limitations include that not all of the patients with BA at our hospital were referred for neuropsychological evaluation, and the referred group from our previous study tended to be healthier than the nonreferred group.
Longitudinal evaluation of this group of children will assist in determining how these findings predict long-term cognitive outcomes and whether sex differences remain over time and, in particular, following transplant. In addition, prospective examination of ongoing changes in biomedical factors, including nutritional status, in relation to cognitive outcomes will be important, especially in determination of needs for rehabilitation/habilitation and compensatory strategies. Transplant is lifesaving in these children, but efforts need to focus on neurodevelopmental and nutritional care before transplant if our patients are to fully benefit from their transplant in the long term.
The authors thank the following members of the Liver Center and transplant team for assistance with recruitment: Beth A. Carter, MD; Paula M. Hertel, MD; Douglas S. Fishman, MD; Ryan Himes, MD; Daniel Leung, MD; Julie Economides, RN; Diesa Stephens, RN; Alison Skelton, RN; and Carie Reid, RN. We are also indebted to Jessica Sigers and Vanessa Suarez for logistical help and to Myra Grant, Kristin Adkins, Monica Thomas, and Laura Yaffee for their assistance with evaluation.
This article has been cited 3 time(s).
biliary atresia; cognitive outcome; language; motor; sex
Copyright 2012 by ESPGHAN and NASPGHAN
Colleague's E-mail is Invalid
Your Name: (optional)
Your Email:
Colleague's Email:
Separate multiple e-mails with a (;).
Thought you might appreciate this item(s) I saw at Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition.
Send a copy to your email
Your message has been successfully sent to your colleague.
Some error has occurred while processing your request. Please try after some time.
An Existing Folder
A New Folder
Folder Name:
The item(s) has been successfully added to "".
Login with your LWW Journals username and password.
Username or Email:
Forgot Password?
Enter and submit the email address you registered with. An email with instructions to reset your password will be sent to that address.
Link to reset your password has been sent to specified email address.
What does "Remember me" mean?
By checking this box, you'll stay logged in until you logout. You'll get easier access to your articles, collections,
media, and all your other content, even if you close your browser or shut down your
To protect your most sensitive data and activities (like changing your password),
we'll ask you to re-enter your password when you access these services.
What if I'm on a computer that I share with others?
If you're using a public computer or you share this computer with others, we recommend
that you uncheck the "Remember me" box.
Save my selection
Article Level Metrics
Keyword Highlighting
Highlight selected keywords in the article text.
Search for Similar Articles
You may search for similar articles that contain these same keywords or you may
modify the keyword list to augment your search.


text:
College Hockey:Wisconsin Wins Battle Over North Dakota
Badgers Sweep Sioux
MADISON, Wis. — After the high-scoring offensive show of the last several years all but disappeared in the matchup between Wisconsin and North Dakota, the Kohl Center lit up in the last ten minutes of the game, with both teams combining to score five goals. The Sioux survived being shutout in a series for the first time in the team's history, but were unable to overcome the Badgers, losing 5-2.
With UND behind 3-2 with less than two minutes to go in the third period, UND freshman goalie Philippe Lamoureux was pulled in favor of an extra man for an already depleted line due to a power play. UW sophomore forward Jake Dowell broke through for the score in the open net, putting the Badgers up by two with 1:06 to play.
After debating whether to keep Lamoureux off the ice, UND chose to add some offensive power which UW took advantage of, adding the fifth goal of the game to close out the series and give the Badgers the sweep.
"We played well with leads late in the game and again we were able to pull one out there," senior Bernd Bruckler said.
Sioux head coach Dave Hakstol voiced displeasure Friday night by the lack of intensity shown on power plays. While UND had the penalty advantage in the second period, the Wisconsin defense collapsed around Bruckler, and despite a 29-to-12 shot advantage, the Sioux failed to convert.
"I thought our power play was a lot better tonight," associate head coach Brad Berry said. "We got shots on the net, we're entering the zone and I thought we had some success that way. It didn't show on the scoreboard but it was positive in the fact that we sustained in the net."
The Badgers struck first and headed into the third period with a comfortable 2-0 lead after Bruckler shut down the Sioux offense in the first two periods. Both freshman forward Joe Pavelski and sophomore forward Robbie Earl scored on in the first two stanzas on Lamoureux's left side.
However, Wisconsin head coach Mike Eaves was most pleased with the Badger's third goal after North Dakota's sophomore forward Chris Porter brought the game to within one at 13:12. UW responded quickly with quick 1-2-3 passing from junior forward Nick Licari to sophomore forward Jake Dowell to sophomore forward Ross Carlson who flipped the puck in from the side of the net.
"It was a real good sign of growth that Jake Dowell's line got scored on and we took him off the ice and sat him on the bench and said 'Catch your breath, you're going right back out there' and what they did was they went right back out and had a great response with that third goal;just a gorgeous tic-tac-toe play," Eaves said, "and that was a big goal for us."
The intensity on the ice spilled over into the first period from last night with 15 penalties being issued to both teams. After that, both teams seemed to settle down, and while bodies banged against the boards, skirmishes came few and far between. After the Badgers held the advantage Friday night on penalties, North Dakota doubled the amount power-play opportunities Wisconsin had Saturday.
"At times it's tough because we were back on our heels a bit and we had to go a little bit off of our rotation and had to put the same guys back out there because it was penalty kill after penalty kill," Bruckler said. "But I think, again, overall we did a great job in clearing out all the rebounds and really staying tight and not letting anything happen there."
The sweep of the Sioux marks the second year in a row in which the Badgers have done so. Last year's sweep vaulted Wisconsin, helping turn a mediocre start into a surprisingly solid finish for the team.
"The whole weekend was opportunity and growth for us as a team and we took that opportunity by winning two game at home against a quality team," Eaves said. "We talked about before the game this was an opportunity for us to grow and forge ourselves into the type of team we want to have at the end of the year when we can do some things."
The following is a self-policing forum for discussing views on this story. Comments that are derogatory, make personal attacks, are abusive, or contain profanity or racism will be removed at our discretion. USCHO.com is not responsible for comments posted by users. Please report any inappropriate or offensive comments by clicking the "Flag" link next to that comment in order to alert the moderator.
Please also keep "woofing," taunting, and otherwise unsportsmanlike behavior to a minimum. Your posts will more than likely be deleted, and worse yet, you reflect badly on yourself, your favorite team and your conference.


text:
Women's Track And Field Places Eighth At Wheaton Invitational
March 29, 2003
Wheaton, Ill. - Freshman Gloria Jackson posted a second-place finish of 16'3?" in the long jump to help propel the University of Illinois at Chicago track and field squad to an eighth-place finish at the Wheaton Invitational on Saturday afternoon amid very chilly weather.
Sophomore Crystal Sanders also placed in the long jump with a fourth-place mark of 16'?" and added a fifth-place finish in the 400-meter hurdles (1:09.5).
Carthage College captured the women's title with 116 points, followed by Wheaton (96.5), College of DuPage (59.5), Carroll College (54), North Park (49), UW-Parkside (48), Chicago State (45.5), UIC (41.5), UW-Whitewater (41), University of Chicago (33), North Central (32), Olivet Nazarene (31), Concordia (16), Milwaukee Tech (8), Harper (3), Trinity Christian (2) and Benedictine (2).
Tamika Johnson placed fifth overall in the 400-meter dash, crossing the finish line in 1:02.81.
The Flames also received a third-place finish from their 400-meter relay team (50.3).
UIC will be back in action on April 5th, as they will travel to Naperville, Ill., to participate in the Chicagoland Championships, hosted by North Central College.
"We're looking forward to the Chicagoland Championships and to see how the athletes continue to respond to the competition," UIC head coach Jim Knoedel said.


text:
Ballet Hispanico Brings Cuban-Inspired Dance to Wolf Trap
* Additional fees apply. No coupon or promo codes necessary to enjoy the displayed discount price.
The last date listed for Ballet Hispanico was Tuesday June 26, 2012 / 8:30pm.
Currently at Filene Center at Wolf Trap National Park for Performing Arts
American Ballet Theatre Brings Romeo and Juliet to Wolf Trap
- Full Price:
- $50.00 - $70.00
- Our Price:
- $20.00 - $40.00
Sir Kenneth MacMillan's masterful interpretation of Shakespeare's romantic tragedy Romeo and Juliet… More
Venue Details
Reviews & Ratings
Featured review from Catherine Siddique
view more less of this review
Exceptionally talented dancers, wonderful music, even though it wasn't live. We were a bit surprised however that the first intermission came after only 20 minutes of the performance.
star this review starred report as inappropriate
This was an exceptional performance. The opening piece was most unusual, and exposed the audience to the amazing high energy, muscular coordination that marks this troupe. To be able to move as quickly as they do, while shifting directions with...continued
star this review starred report as inappropriate
Ballet Hispanico was an entertaining blend of classical ballet with modern and Cuban dance. They featured excellent music and lighting, and the choreography was stimulating, especially on the outdoor Wolf Trap stage. I brought along a veteran...continued
star this review starred report as inappropriate
Great Music. Strong Dancers. Fun Costumes. Absolutely Worth It!
Quotes & Highlights
"The Latin-flavored, New York-based contemporary ballet troupe Ballet Hispanico is dancing better than ever … This is to the credit of artistic director Eduardo Vilaro." —_Backstage _
"[In Asuka_,] soloist Jessica Alejandra Wyatt moved seamlessly with a bright and open presence that constantly draws the eye … Lighting, choreography, and bright, corky costuming all seem to drive the dancers upwards in performance." —_Dance Pulp
"Club Havana is a silky, sexy joy." —_The New York Times _
Check out Ballet Hispanico's 2011-2012 season trailer on YouTube.
About the Ticket Supplier: Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts
Wolf Trap plays a valuable leadership role in both the local and national performing arts communities. Through a wide range of artistic and education programs, Wolf Trap enhances our nation's cultural life and ensures that the arts remain accessible and affordable to the broadest possible audience.


text:
Aug 18, 2011 9:55 AM
40 is the new 30 and Maybelline Great Lash Mascara is inviting you to the party. Their Designer Limited Edition Mascara Collection ($6) features three new tube designs from artists Max Azaria, Vivienne Tam and Tracy Reese. We think it was awfully kind of Maybelline to keep this mascara at $6 a pop even for this birthday smash so as a gift to them we are buying all three. That seems like the polite thing to do, right? Considering how good this mascara is, maybe we'll be the ones sending our thank you cards.
If you've got a product or service that you'd like to promote on Outblush, click here to find out about our advertising opportunities.
Outblush is a blog for girls who love to shop. Our staff digs up the best clothes, home stuff, beauty items, and more. New items are posted every day — bookmark us and check out:


text:
The Jerusalem artichoke, (also known as Sunchokes), is a species of sunflower native to the eastern and southern United States. These plants are cultivated across temperate zones, including Ontario, for its tuber (similar to a bulb) which is eaten as a root vegetable.
Despite it's name, these "chokes" have no relation to Jerusalem, or to artichokes (they are more like cousins, as they both are related to the Daisy family)!! Therefore, to avoid confusion, some people have started to call them "Sunchokes."
How to Enjoy:
Jerusalem artichokes are similar to potatoes. Raw, they have the same crisp texture, and can be thinly sliced and eaten raw as part of a salad. They can also be boiled, steamed or sauteed, which brings out their subtle nutty flavour. They are often used to make delicious soup.
Storage: Jerusalem Artichokes should be stored in a cool, dry area away from light. They can also be stored in the vegetable drawer in the fridge, wrapped in paper towel or a tea towel, and sealed in a plastic bag for up to 3 weeks
J-choke Recipes!
Celery Root and Potato Puree with Roasted Jerusalem Artichoke "croutons">>>
Celebrating root veggies, this recipe is the best of both worlds…a creamy puree with crispy roasted J-chokes.
Roast Chicken with Parsnips, Golden Beets and Jerusalem Artichokes with Beer Pan Juices>>>
Jerusalem Artichoke and Arugula Salad with Parmesan>>>


text:
Skydiving.com now has a network skydiving location serving Wylliesburg and Charlotte County in Virginia. Call Skydiving.com at 1-800-617-7948 for details, free information and specials on skydiving in Wylliesburg, VA today!
Popular Tags for Skydiving Wylliesburg:
Skydiving Wylliesburg, Skydiving in Wylliesburg, Sky Diving Wylliesburg, Skydive Wylliesburg VA, Skydiving 23976, Wylliesburg Skydiving, Skydiving Wylliesburg Virginia, Skydiving near Wylliesburg, Skydiving in Wylliesburg Virginia, Wylliesburg Sky Diving, Skydive 23976, Skydiving Wylliesburg VA, Skydive Wylliesburg, Skydiving Charlotte County, Skydive in 23976, Skydiving VA, Sky Diving Wylliesburg VA, Wylliesburg, Virginia
Sign up for our newsletter and receive updatesand specials on skydiving across America!