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Capitalizing on IT and Manufacturing Convergence
Cant we all just get along? If youre talking about plant floor engineers and corporate IT personnel, the answer often is a resounding no.
However, the usual economic forces have been flowing over this resistant organizational rock, and theres evidence that it too is beginning to wear down. However, this doesnt mean its a pain-free process.
To help control engineers, automation professionals and end-user manufacturers cooperate more effectively with their IT colleagues, Rockwell Automation and a panel of invited experts presented Capitalizing on the Convergence Between IT and Manufacturing during its Manufacturing Perspectives media day on Nov. 13 before the opening of this weeks Automation Fair 2007 in Chicago.
The panel was moderated by Mike Jackson, Rockwell Automations vice president and CIO, and the panelists included Bruce Anderson, vice president for global business services and supply chain management at IBM; Chris Colyer, worldwide industry director of manufacturing operation strategy at Microsoft; Steve Miraglia, vice president of biotechnology technology and engineering at Wyeth; and Chet Namboodri, global director of manufacturing industry solutions at Cisco.
As you look to improve operational performance, you can break the resulting pain into four basic areas: people, assets, processes, and information and events. Microsoft's Chris Colyer participated in a panel discussion on the potential benefits of IT and manufacturing convergence.
First at bat, Anderson presented The Evolving Green Challenge for Manufacturing, and reported that much of IBMs $91 billion size in 2006 comes from manufacturing, such as its East Fishkill campus, which automates chip manufacturing with a network of sensors connected by 600 miles of network cable. To better manage its compliance and regulation, legacy system scalability, warranty risk, faster design cycles, volatile demand signals, ERP maturity, and reduced computing costs, Anderson said IBM last year began exploring ways to improve its manufacturing automation to reduce time to market and total cost of ownership, and improve asset performance and lessen business risk.
Chief among the methods that IBM is seeking to incorporate in its manufacturing automation practices is green or sustainable manufacturing, which it defines as the creation of manufactured products that use processes that are nonpolluting, conserve energy and natural resources, are economically sound, and safe for employees, communities and consumers.
Anderson explained that green manufacturing is driven by compliance and regulation, increasing energy/raw material/waste disposal costs, a strategic view of environmental costs, environmentally aware customers, product strategy and consumers making more moral purchases.
IBMs outlook on environmental leadership encompasses all business units within the company, including research, product design, manufacturing, procurement, logistics, distribution, health, medical, marketing and branding, said Anderson. The impact of green manufacturing requires us to rethink manufacturing fundamentals from simply adhering to government rules, heavily manual EH&S data collection for compliance, Six Sigma, and supply chain management to reducing carbon emissions and water consumption, automated environmental data collection and reporting for optimization, Green Sigma, and a sustainable value chain.
Anderson added that IBM believes green manufacturing can be a self-funding proposition. Other drivers include rising utility costs, environmental regulations, overproduction, annual incremental cost reduction and process improvement, traceability and genealogy, quality issues, and company image. The benefits of green manufacturing include lower operational costs while reducing carbon footprint, reducing waste in unnecessary production costs, improved margins, avoiding carbon footprint penalties, and demonstrating that an organization is environmentally responsible.
IBM estimates that, over the past eight years, annual savings from its focus on pollution prevention and design for the environment have exceeded environmental expenses by an average of two to one, said Anderson. Consequently, carbon management is a corporate-wide responsibility, and there are large opportunities in manufacturing, and production processes play a significant role in optimizing the carbon footprint.
As a result, production at IBM is being managed to optimize its carbon footprint, staff is jointly engaging in real-time carbon usage production reporting, and truck balancing/loading effort are being supported. Green initiatives should be considered in all functional areas of the plant.
Manufacturing Operations
Second up, Colyer delivered Manufacturing Operations Convergence of IT and Operations, and described what Microsoft sees as a series of emerging information architectures for global manufacturing. These begin with equipment control systems and machine, material and execution procedures, and move up through data collection, operator and batch control systems, and onward to manufacturing operations and control systems, and finally to business planning and logistics systems.
As you look to improve operational performance, you can break the resulting pains into four basic areas: people, assets, processes, and information and events, said Colyer. So, what are the pains on the people side? Basically, there are too many systems, too many different software packages, pieces of data, and ways of looking at that data. And, theres data overload, and no clear way to see whats meaningful. There is no good role-based information. Theres just a big flow of information that each person has to decipher in his or her own way. If I can solve those issues, I can improve my productivity and reaction time.
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Get an overview of this hotelLuxury Beijing hotel with pool, near Forbidden City
Collecting Nectar Points
Special Offer: Book by 2 August 2017 and collect double Nectar points!
Simply enter your Nectar card number when you check out. Your points will be credited 35 days after you return from your trip.
*Terms and conditions apply.
Popular property highlights
Near Forbidden City
Regent Beijing is designed in a classic yet contemporary style. The 500 luxurious guestrooms and suites are spacious and boast modern features and stylish amenities.
Pool and fitness
A fully-equipped fitness center including indoor swimming pools and a Jacuzzi is ideal for keeping in shape, cooling off and relaxing.
High-speed Internet
Guestrooms at Regent Beijing include city and garden views, flat-panel televisions, private spa tubs, bathroom televisions, phones, bathrobes, and coffee/tea makers. High-speed Internet access and daily newspapers are complimentary. Connecting / adjoining rooms available.Information missing or incorrect? Tell us!Opens in a new window
Regent Beijing
Hotel Amenities
Hotel Amenities
Regent Beijing offers an indoor pool, a separate children's pool, spa tubs, steam rooms, and saunas. In addition to a variety of cardiovascular and strength-training equipment, the fitness center offers aerobic, dance, yoga classes, and consultations with trained fitness professionals.
Located in the three-story lobby, Crescent Lounge offers a spot for morning coffee, afternoon tea, or evening cocktails. Additional dining options include a restaurant serving a-la-carte and buffet-style meals, a steakhouse, and a Cantonese restaurant. 24-hour room service is also available.
Meeting and event facilities at Regent Beijing include a business center, ballroom, business services, computer station, event catering, and conference rooms totaling over 11,000 square feet of space. Regent Beijing also features a garden, grocery store, nightclub, and free wireless and wired high-speed Internet access. Valet parking is available for a surcharge and rain umbrellas are available on request.
- Garden
- Nightclub
- Conference center
- Grocery/convenience store
- Computer station
- 24-hour front desk
- Babysitting or childcare (surcharge)
- Total number of rooms - 500
- Number of floors - 19
- Bar/lounge
- Breakfast available (surcharge)
- Business center
- Coffee shop or café
- Free newspapers in lobby
- Concierge services
- Conference space
- Dry cleaning/laundry service
- Elevator/lift
- Express check-in
- Express check-out
- Fitness facilities
- Gift shops or newsstand
- Hair salon
- Health club
- Tours/ticket assistance
- Free WiFi
- Free wired Internet
- Laundry facilities
- Limo or Town Car service available
- Meeting rooms 16
- Multilingual staff
- Valet parking (surcharge)
- Porter/bellhop
- Luggage storage
- Restaurant
- Safe-deposit box at front desk
- Conference space size (meters) - 0
- Year Built 2006
- Area shuttle (surcharge)
- Conference space size (feet) - 0
- Self parking (surcharge)
- Sauna
- Shopping on site
- Smoke-free property
- Spa services on site
- Spa tub
- Children's pool
- Indoor pool
- Television in common areas
- Wedding services
Available in all rooms: Free WiFi , Free wired Internet
Available in some public areas: Free WiFi , Free wired Internet
Self parking (surcharge), Valet parking (surcharge)
Room Amenities
- Phone
- Connecting/adjoining rooms available
- Premium TV channels
- DVD player
- Premium bedding
- Hypo-allergenic bedding available
- Air conditioning
- Free newspaper
- In-room climate control (air conditioning)
- Blackout drapes/curtains
- Free bottled water
- Coffee/tea maker
- Minibar (stocked, free items)
- Daily housekeeping
- Turndown service
- Private bathroom
- Bathrobes
- Free toiletries
- Hair dryer
- Slippers
- Separate bathtub and shower
- In-room childcare (surcharge)
- Satellite TV service
- Iron/ironing board
- In-room safe
- Desk
- Free WiFi
- Room service (24 hours)
- Free cribs/infant beds
- Rollaway/extra beds (surcharge)
- Free wired Internet
Where to Eat
Jinbao99 - A la carte and buffet-style dining featuring Western and Asian favorites.
Daccapo - Contemporary Italian cuisine. Open daily for lunch and dinner.
Crescent Lounge - Located in the lobby. Open for morning coffee, afternoon tea, and evening cocktails. Light snacks. Live music nightly. Open daily from early morning until late night.
Room Service - Available 24 hours a day.
Nearby Things to Do
The recreational activities listed below are available either on site or nearby; fees may apply.
- Free bicycles on site
- Fitness classes on site
- Yoga classes/instruction on site
If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please note them at check-out when you book your room.
- Accessible bathroom
- In-room accessibility
- Roll-in shower
Hotel Policies
Check-out time is noon
Payment types
Children and extra beds
- Children are welcome.
- Rollaway/extra beds are available for CNY 460.0 per night.
- Free cribs (infant beds)!
- Pets not allowed
You need to know
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy.
Optional extras
- Fee for buffet breakfast: CNY 238 per person (approximately)
- Self parking fee: CNY 240 per day
- Valet parking fee: CNY 240 per day
- Rollaway bed fee: CNY 460.0 per night
Hotel Name
- Beijing Regent
- Regent Beijing
- Regent Hotel Beijing
- The Regent Beijing Hotel Beijing
We should mention
The property has connecting/adjoining rooms, which are subject to availability and can be requested by contacting the property using the number on the booking confirmation.
National Rating
For the benefit of our customers, we have provided a rating based on our rating system.

subset: commoncrawl


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Duke Street Private Equity has been investing in mature, mid-market West European businesses for over twenty years, concentrating our investment strategy on four sectors: Consumer, Healthcare, Industrials & Engineering and Services. Typically we invest in companies with an enterprise value of between £50m - £250m. Our strategy is based on our ability to identify unique opportunities and add value to each business we acquire. We aim to transform the prospects of the companies that we invest in.
We focus our efforts on transactions developed on an exclusive basis. We actively seek complex deals which other investors may avoid if we think they have underlying growth potential.
Our mission is to accelerate the growth of the companies that we buy. We help our companies grow both organically and through acquisition.
We have developed a robust approach to building relationships between ourselves, the CEOs of our portfolio businesses and our Operating Partners.
We believe sector knowledge is critical, which is why we have dedicated teams focusing on our four core sectors. This, alongside the deep industry experience of our Operating Partners, has allowed us to create a proven track record of successfully building companies.
"At Duke Street we have always adopted a flexible and innovative approach whether raising money or investing and then transforming our companies"PETER TAYLOR
We have extensive experience in the consumer sector: in restaurants with wagamama, in the gaming sector through our investment in companies such as Gala Bingo, Sporting Index and Leisure Link. In leisure, we have invested successfully in both niche hotel operators and fitness and leisure businesses. Two of our investments in particular – SandpiperCI and The Original Factory Shop – display our willingness to back retail management teams with ambitious growth plans, even at a time when the sector as a whole was experiencing tough trading.
We also have a wealth of experience of working with management teams in consumer branded products. At Simple, we backed an ambitious growth plan for the business to become the UK's leading skin care provider by volume, overtaking companies such as Nivea and L'Oreal in the process.
See our Portfolio for a more in-depth analysis of these and further Consumer investments.
"By funding each investment on a bespoke basis from our club of investors, it ensures the maximum alignment of all parties"James Almond
Since then we have deployed c. €700m in the sector, backing great management teams to deliver transformational business plans.
We believe the sector to be structurally attractive: it is defensive and benefits from significant barriers to entry due to the complexity of the products and services involved.
We also believe that it lends itself well to our investment strategy. Europe is home to a large number of strong management teams, and high value-added businesses which deliver outstanding patient outcomes. Such businesses typically offer multiple routes to value creation. Even the most mature sub-sectors remain fragmented and so there is significant potential for buy and build.
Please see our Portfolio for a more in-depth analysis of our past and present Healthcare investments.
"We actively seek out businesses in need of operational change. We are passionate about improving the companies we invest in"Stuart McMinnies
We look to invest in companies with differentiated product or process IP, operating in attractive end-markets, with scope to affect operational transformation through inter alia, a build-up in specific niches, technological changes, or product / geographic diversification.
We back management teams with a clear strategic vision as well as a strong operational focus; and our in-depth understanding of the sector means we are well-placed to work in partnership with such teams.
Our investments in this sector include Deloro Stellite, the specialist engineering group, and filtration solutions provider Madison Filter. See our Portfolio for a more in-depth analysis of these and further investments.
"Our carefully targeted origination effort generally leads to transactions closed outside of competitive processes, allowing informed interaction with our companies to drive constructive change programmes"Charlie Troup
The services sector encompasses a wide range of sub-sectors, each subject to its own dynamics but often with outsourcing as a key driver. We identify macro trends that will drive above average market growth, and then back businesses providing value added skills and products to their customers in those markets. We are particularly attracted where there is the potential for operational improvement as well as organic growth. We partner with best-in-class management teams providing support, capital and expertise where this is required and materially adds value.
We have considerable experience in the sector, complemented by a large network of industry contacts. Investments we have made in this sector include Ardent Hire Solutions, a heavy equipment hire business, Payzone, a consumer payments business, and the specialist pensions group Xafinity. See our Portfolio for a more in-depth analysis of these and further Services investments.
Duke Street has invested £2.4bn and realized £3.7bn since 1994, and currently manages over £500m AUM. Our model ensures maximum alignment between investors and management teams and provides flexibility as well as certainty of funding. Fundraising is aligned with our own internal investment committee process, ensuring timely execution.
23 Feb 2017
Pan-Asian restaurant group wagamama, a Duke Street investment since 2011, is celebrating a double whammy at the Casual Dining Restaurant & Pub Awards 2017.
Pan-Asian restaurant group wagamama, a Duke Street investment since 2011, is celebrating a double whammy at the Casual Dining Restaurant & Pub Awards 2017.
Against a tough field of respected operators in the UK restaurant market, wagamama scooped Multiple Casual Dining Restaurant of the Year, while CEO David Campbell was named Trailblazer of the Year.
More than 400 industry professionals – including senior representatives from Casual Dining Group, Living Ventures, Las Iguanas, Nando's, Bill's Restaurants, Marston's, The New World Trading Co, Revolution Bars Group, Mitchells & Butlers, PizzaExpress, Carluccio's, Prezzo, MEATliquor, Giggling Squid, Cabana, and The Breakfast Club – were in attendance to recognise and celebrate the standout brands of the year across the multi-billion pound casual dining sector.
31 Jan 2017
Duke Street, the mid-market private equity firm, has restructured its sixth fund following a review run by Lazard. Goldman Sachs and Spain's Arcano have come in to finance the restructure.
Duke Street, the mid-market private equity firm, has restructured its sixth fund following a review run by Lazard. Goldman Sachs and Spain's Arcano have come in to finance the restructure.
The proposal was supported by 89 per cent of Fund VI investors, with 50 per cent of LPs liquidating their commitments. The remaining LP commitments in Fund VI will be transferred to a new vehicle containing a portfolio of the fund's six remaining assets, including Wagamama and The Original Factory Shop. Duke Street said the long term realised track record of Fund VI since 2008 has been 2.3x with a 29 per cent IRR.
Duke Street wanted to offer liquidity to LPs in the 2006 vehicle, stating that some of these investors had been considering the age of their own underlying funds while others no longer deemed private equity to be a core part of their investment strategy following the 2008 global financial crisis.
Duke Street adopted a deal-by-deal funding model in 2012, drawing on a "club" of approximately 20 LPs to co-invest in five transactions with a combined enterprise value of more than £700m. Two realisations so far from this model have delivered a combined return of more than 3x.
The Fund VI restructuring progresses this deal-by-deal approach to a hybrid funding model. This will comprise formal capital from a Cornerstone Fund, backed by Goldman and Arcano, which will commit up to 50 per cent of equity investment in new deals. This traditional blind pool will be supplemented by Duke Street's club of co-investors, several of which have already supported more than one deal, plus the firm's own general partner contribution.
James Almond, Duke Street partner and head of fundraising at the firm (pictured), said the deal would strengthen Duke Street's hybrid funding model, offering additional firepower, certainty of funding and flexibility.
Source: Real Deals
31 Jan 2017
Duke Street has restructured its sixth fund, with half of LPs cashing out via the process. As part of the unquote" In Profile series, Denise Ko Genovese takes a look at the GP's new hybrid strategy.
Duke Street has restructured its sixth fund, with half of LPs cashing out via the process. As part of the unquote" In Profile series, Denise Ko Genovese takes a look at the GP's new hybrid strategy.
Mid-market private equity house Duke Street has restructured its 2006 fund, Duke Street VI, in a deal that sees Goldman Sachs and Arcano taking the position of almost half the original LPs. A total of 50% of investors decided to cash out, with the remainder rolling over into a newly created special purpose vehicle (SPV) where the six remaining assets from Fund VI, including Wagamama and The Original Factory Shop, were transferred.
"We started to think about options for Duke Street VI last year as it was approaching the 10-year point since first close," says investor relations partner James Almond. "We wanted to offer our LPs choice, knowing some would appreciate liquidity given the age of their own underlying funds or the fact private equity was no longer a core strategy of theirs. So we decided to restructure the fund and we received overwhelming support with 89% approval from the 50-strong LP group."
Lazard was hired to run a process before the summer of 2016 and by September there were a handful of potential buyers willing to provide cash. Goldman Sachs offered the highest price as well as tabling new money to fund future deals as a cornerstone investor – up to 50% of the GP's equity ticket, says Almond. Spanish investment group Arcano also took part in the process and agreed to work alongside the lead bidder at the syndication phase.
"For those rolling over, we wanted to keep the terms the same, so no different to [what they would have been] if we had extended the life of the fund," says Almond. "And for those cashing out, we wanted to maximise the price – it was at a price that was a premium to the NAV of the fund."
Duke Street says it is adopting a hybrid model for the next phase of its investment journey, moving away from its deal-by-deal approach, since they now also have cornerstone funds at their disposal. For a new deal, the GP contribution will be 3-5%, the cornerstone fund contributing 50%, with additional co-investment. French investment bank Tikehau acquired a 30% chunk of the Duke Street business in 2013, so the underwriting capability is still on the table in the unlikely event it is required, says Almond.
Challenge or opportunity
A few years ago, the GP moved away from fund-based investing to a deal-by-deal approach. "It wasn't all smooth sailing, especially since the model wasn't as common here in Europe as it is in the US, but we have proved ourselves now with five deals under our belt, which have a combined EV of £700m," says Almond.
"The market has been evolving and some LPs who said they couldn't invest with a fundless sponsor only 18 months ago are willing and wanting to co-invest now. We have a club of circa 20 LPs who co-invest in our deals, several of them have been repeat investors. Our most recent deals have been heavily oversubscribed. Now GS and Arcano have given us further support with the new cornerstone fund, we have plenty of fire power."
Indeed, the co-investment market in general is more established now, and most GPs admit there is increasing appetite for it. Not only is there money to deploy since returns have been so good, LPs are getting savvier about reducing fees. When asked whether Duke Street will ever fundraise again, Almond concedes it would never say never. However, it is keen to give the hybrid model a chance to succeed, especially given the apparent advantages of flexibility and deal-by-deal carried interest.
"The 10-year fund model isn't going anywhere – but I think we'll start seeing some different and more flexible models on the periphery," says Almond. Duke Street typically calls on three to five co-investors for each deal and the LPs range from family offices such as Souter Investments to blue chip institutions like Deutsche Bank, Alberta Teachers and Allstate Insurance.
Same but different
The GP's focus on four sectors – services, healthcare, consumer and industrials – remains unchanged. It continues to look at companies with an EV of £50-250m, though this can on occasion be higher: Voyage Care was a chunky £375m. Duke Street will typically contribute a £60-70m equity ticket.
"We don't often go into auctions as the companies we like to invest in can sometimes need quite a bit of operational or strategic change and may not appeal to everyone or suit a process," Almond says, citing the acquisitions of Ardent and Mediglobe where there were messy shareholder structures to buy out. With this in mind, the hope is for an investment rate of up to three deals a year.
And in terms of tapping the debt markets for financing, Duke Street is fairly open to the range of options. It used mezzanine for Laurel Funerals; ABL for Ardent; bonds for Voyage and Wagamama; and a group of local German banks for Mediglobal.
Deal-by-deal track record
Since adopting the deal-by-deal approach four years ago, Duke Street has acquired five companies and exited two.
Laurel Funerals was acquired in 2012 and sold to Dignity and August Equitybacked FSP in 2015; Baywater Healthcare was acquired in 2013 as a carve-out from a larger corporate, with the group's Irish division then sold to Air Liquide in 2015. The GP also acquired Voyage Care in 2014, created Ardent out of the acquisitions of Fork Rent and One Call in 2015, and most recently bought German medical equipment maker MediGlobe in 2016.
Longer-term returns are understood to be more than 2x with an IRR approaching 30% since the 2008 crisis, with a further pick-up in performance since adopting the deal-by-deal approach with returns of over 3x.
Key People
• Peter Taylor, managing partner, joined Duke Street in 1996 after qualifying as a chartered accountant and working at Bridgepoint. He is a specialist in the consumer sector.
• Charlie Troup, managing partner, joined Duke Street in 2006 after working at Permira and HSBC Private Equity (now Montagu) on secondment from Deloitte and Touche.
• Stuart McMinnies, managing partner, joined Duke Street in 2015 after a 19-year stint at 3i. His main sector expertise is in business services.
• James Almond, partner, joined Duke Street in 2015 from Octopus Investments and is responsible for fundraising, running the co-investment programme and investor relations.
Source: Unquote
30 Jan 2017
tofs, the UK's leading discount department store, is pleased to announce a trading update for the Christmas period, in the six weeks to Sunday 8th January 2017.
tofs, the UK's leading discount department store, is pleased to announce a trading update for the Christmas period, in the six weeks to Sunday 8th January 2017.
Key financial highlights:
tofs achieved solid sales for the period, across all departments, with its leading off-price deals strategy. Seasonal categories (+14%) including toys, gifts and Christmas decorations; general merchandise (+6.6%); and clothing (+3.2%) performed particularly strongly. Stock was well-controlled through the period with good sell-through of the key festive inspired products as well as everyday necessities.
Key operational highlights:
Aligned with its continued focus on serving the local community, tofs vested stores with greater autonomy to trade as they saw fit for their community, using efficiency improvements in back-office activities to allow greater engagement with customers on the store-floor.
Across the UK, tofs was proud to offer a better than ever range of branded goods, all at significant discounts to RRP, with prestigious brands such as Adidas, Calvin Klein, Jimmy Choo and Pokemon proving particularly popular additions to its portfolio.
Tony Page, CEO of tofs said:
"At tofs, we pride ourselves on the discounts that we offer on many of the UK's leading high street brands. Coupled with industry-leading service in stores that are typically located ten minutes away from our customers' houses, we were delighted to welcome so many customers to enjoy their Christmas shopping 'dopamine fix' with us.
"We've worked hard, through a number of initiatives, to empower our store teams to engage with their local community and trade stores as if the stores were their own. I'm pleased to say that gave us good momentum [within the context of what continues to be a challenging market for retail].
"It has been an interesting year for retail and while further challenges lie ahead for the sector, we feel well-positioned as a proposition to continue to appeal to our customers in a unique and local environment".
5 Dec 2016
Voyage has won the Specialist Care – Residential award at the Laing Buisson awards, held in London this week. The Laing Buisson Awards celebrate excellence in healthcare, recognising industry excellence and innovation in the public, private and third sectors.
Voyage has won the Specialist Care – Residential award at the Laing Buisson awards, held in London this week.
The Laing Buisson Awards celebrate excellence in healthcare, recognising industry excellence and innovation in the public, private and third sectors.
The winners were revealed at a ceremony held at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge on Tuesday (29).
CEO Andrew Cannon said he was delighted with the award.
He said: "We are so excited that the work our teams do has been recognised with this prestigious award. Whilst this is a time of significant pressure on the sector, we continue to provide an unrivalled breadth of services and to innovate to deliver the best possible outcomes for the people we support.
"I would like to thank everyone involved in delivering the outstanding work we do, day in and day out."
Voyage has continued to strive for excellence in all areas of care and support. Overall CQC compliance rating is that 93% of services are good or outstanding, exceeding the sector average by 20%.
In addition three services are rated Outstanding by CQC in a sector where only 17 services have achieved this rating under the new inspection regime.
12 Sep 2016
The Original Factory Shop ("tofs"), the UK's national off-price department store, is pleased to announce its results for the year ended 31st March 2016. The Company achieved a 5.9% increase in net turnover to £184.5m (2015: £174.3m) and a 6.3% rise in pre-exceptional EBITDA to £15.1m (2015: £14.2m), amidst a significant ongoing capital investment programme and despite challenging market conditions.
The Original Factory Shop ("tofs"), the UK's national off-price department store, is pleased to announce its results for the year ended 31st March 2016.
The Company achieved a 5.9% increase in net turnover to £184.5m (2015: £174.3m) and a 6.3% rise in pre-exceptional EBITDA to £15.1m (2015: £14.2m), amidst a significant ongoing capital investment programme and despite challenging market conditions.
tofs performed well in all main categories, with sales driven by the combination of off-price and own-brand ranges across both General Merchandise and Fashion/Footwear. Particular areas of strength were in men's branded footwear (+17.7%), living (+9%), and beauty (+7.3%) departments.
Commenting on the results, Tony Page, CEO of tofs said:
"We're pleased to be reporting on the continued growth of the business, alongside significant investment into tofs, within what continues to be a challenging market. We believe that our success lays testament to the powerful customer proposition which we're delivering; bringing well-loved brands at discount prices to Britain's communities.
"It's a very exciting time at the business as we progress with our growth strategy, having implemented our largest ever store IT systems upgrade, made excellent headway with upgrading our store portfolio, and brought on board a whole host of great new brands.
"tofs' unique off-price shopping experience and friendly customer service are aspects that we are particularly proud of as a Company, which is why we are investing in our colleagues to help them offer the best possible customer experience, and why we have updated our visual identity to reflect these attributes. We believe that with these qualities, along with our strategic growth plans, we are well-positioned in the face of sector uncertainties."
Commenting on the Chairman transition, Tony Page said:
"In addition, we would like to share our sincere thanks to David Williams for his support and advice as Chairman over what has been a transformational period for the Company.
"With David's move to NED, we are also delighted to welcome Alistair McGeorge as our new Chairman. Alistair brings a wealth of value retail experience from leading UK businesses including New Look and Matalan, and we look forward to working with him as we continue to build on our proposition and bring tofs to more towns across the UK in the coming year."
Commenting on his appointment, Alistair McGeorge said:
"I have been following tofs' progress with interest over the past few years, and am delighted to be joining the Company at this exciting time. tofs has a unique proposition in the UK retail market and I look forward to putting my experience in the sector to use as we work together to continue the Company's growth."
About The Original Factory Shop:
Established in 1969, The Original Factory Shop is the UK's leading local off-price department retailer, with more than 210 stores operating in local markets and over 2,800 employees. It is one of the fastest growing retailers in the UK.
Majority owned by Duke Street since 2008, The Original Factory Shop is a unique UK retailer that provides its customers, often in smaller towns, access to well-known brands at heavily discounted prices. It has identified a further 400 UK locations in which it can expand.
About Alistair McGeorge, Chairman, The Original Factory Shop:
Alistair McGeorge has more than 20 years' experience of value retail experience, gained in senior and leadership roles in some of the sector's largest businesses.
Alistair held financial, commercial and Chief Executive roles at Littlewoods from 1994 to 2005. As Chief Executive of fashion and homeware group Matalan from 2006 to 2010, he led the successful take-private of the business and its eventual refinancing. Alistair was both Executive and Non Executive Chairman of international fashion retailer New Look from 2011 to 2014. Immediately prior to joining tofs, he was Managing Director of Big W, a division of Woolworths in Australia.
Earlier in his career, Alistair, a qualified Chartered Accountant, spent 14 years in the profession with Deloitte, Haskins & Sells and Coopers & Lybrand.
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Hi all:
I hope I have this posted in the right place.
Here is my question:
Everything I have read about the practice of meditation has led me to believe that you are only to focus on your breathing and other thoughts that come in can be recognized and passed by....then go back to your breathing. Ok, suppose I have a concern and I want meditation to help me to solve the problem. Can I think or concentrate on this exact thought during meditation to possibly find a solution. Or is the meditation only there to create a clear mind and calm so I can later (not during meditation) find a solution?
Hope this makes sense.
Thanks in advance.
Cheers, Dave


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ZACHARY — The Zachary Community School District may spend about $192,000 during the school year in making the transition to new, national standards for what students are expected to learn and know.
All Louisiana schools are shifting to so-called Common Core standards adopted by Louisiana and 44 other states, as well as new standardized tests that rely on those new standards.
Common Core standards was one of numerous topics the School Board covered Thursday during its first lengthy planning session with the district's new superintendent, Scott Devillier. The meeting lasted more than three hours.
The district budgeted $200,000 for the Common Core transition this school year but may not need quite that much, Human Resources Director Yolanda Williams told the board.
The district spent $61,500 in the last school year for teachers involved in writing transitional curriculum.
Common Core curriculum is being used in kindergarten and first grade this year and will be fully implemented in the 2014-15 school year.
Federal grants totaling $34,000 are being used to train teachers this year, and $128,000 in local funds will be used for additional transitional curriculum writing.
Michelle Clayton and Williams said another $30,000 will be paid to teachers who will grade "pre-tests" to be given to be sure that the curriculum adheres to Common Core standards.
Clayton rejoined the board this week in the new position of executive director of academics and special programs. She was the fourth person hired in the district before it began holding classes in 2003 and was the director of accountability for much of her tenure.
She briefly held the position of director of accountability for the Baton Rouge Recovery School District earlier this year, but left after several months.
After Finance Director Gordon Robertson presented figures showing that the district's revenues are expected to be more than anticipated this school year, board member Kenneth Mackie asked how he could persuade a skeptical constituent to support the renewal of a 38.2-mill property tax on the Dec. 8 election ballot.
Several board members suggested Mackie show his constituent the Common Core training expenditures.
"It's an unfunded mandate," board member Sharon Samuel said.
The tax is a continuation of the property tax millage levied by the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board before Zachary formed its own district.
Devillier said the district would lose $6 million to $7 million in funding a year if the tax is not renewed and would be bankrupt within a few years.
The state's Minimum Foundation Program allocation to Zachary will be about $278,000 more than the board budgeted this year because the district's Oct. 1 enrollment grew by 72 students between 2011 and this year, Robertson reported.
Zachary's enrollment has climbed every year but one since the district was formed in 2003, going from 3,246 to this year's count of 5,138. In 2004, enrollment dipped by 45 students when Baker students, who had been attending Zachary schools under a desegregation consent decree, returned to Baker.
The MFP enrollment does not include pre-kindergarten students. Zachary has 231 4-year-olds enrolled in pre-kindergarten and 34 younger children who are eligible for special education services.
The board discussed several possible ways to minimize the number of students who are attending Zachary schools illegally, saying they want Zachary taxpayers to have assurances that their money is not supporting students who live outside the district.
Devillier said School and Home Relations Supervisor Tim Jordan is aggressive in following up on tips that students may live outside the district, but he said requiring students to register every year possibly could be an extra step in monitoring student attendance.


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Carpenter throws extended bullpen session
ST. LOUIS -- Earlier this week, Chris Carpenter jokingly noted that he wasn't sure where he would be needed if he is able to return and pitch for the Cardinals this season. Now, with Jaime Garcia sidelined indefinitely with a shoulder injury, Carpenter's comeback attempt takes on some added significance.
Carpenter took another small step toward returning on Saturday, when he threw an extended bullpen session shortly before the Cardinals took the field for batting practice. He threw more pitches than he did on Wednesday and took breaks in between sets to simulate getting up and down during a game.
"He's in phenomenal shape, we all know that," said manager Mike Matheny, who watched part of the session. "He's a tireless worker and you could see that he was right at the point he wanted to be which was tired and see how he could still execute his pitches."
Carpenter is expected to throw another short side session on Monday followed by a longer one on Thursday. General manager John Mozeliak said that the club has already mapped out a plan beyond that, but he did not divulge any details.
"He's progressing, which is encouraging, especially since we've lost another starter," Mozeliak said. "When we were asking these questions [about where he would fit on club] two weeks ago, it was, 'Whose spot is he going to take?' Well now it's like, 'Get healthy faster.'"
Jenifer Langosch is a reporter for MLB.com. Read her blog, By Gosh, It's Langosch, and follow her on Twitter @LangoschMLB. Chad Thornburg is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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rory wrote:Listen to me: women share -they care about feelings and emotions. So when you describe yourself: say what you want in a relationship, do you want to be friends with things in common? What kind of activities do you enjoy doing, books reading, relationships, pets...SHARE YOUR FEELINGS. That's the 2nd most important thing you can ever learn about women.
This is terrible advice. One thing straight women absolutely despise are whiny sensitive men. I know this for a fact.


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Brooks Elementary School literacy committee is conducting a summer reading program for Brooks' students.
However, according to district Technology Integration Specialist Susan Jenkins, "It is not any ordinary summer reading program. It is all taking place through the wonderful world of technology."
With Jenkins's assistance, a "Wiki" account was created where students post responses about their books and have discussions with other students about their books.
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Growing Cautious on UPS
The powerful run that United Parcel Service (UPS) has had since its New Year's Eve lows has pushed the stock into overbought territory.
Including today's 1.75% jump, shares are up over 10% from the Dec. 31 lows. The rally began with a huge gap-higher open on Jan. 2 that propelled shares to a 3.5% gain. On the bell, UPS had taken out the December highs and was back above a very heavy 200-day moving average. The continuing rally has been impressive, but I expect a pullback soon....179 more words left in this article. To read them, just click below and try Real Money FREE for 14 days.
There's no substitute for a trading floor to get great ideas, so Jim Cramer created a better one at Real Money and blogs there exclusively. We then added legendary hedge fund manager, Doug Kass, with his exclusive Daily Diary and best investing ideas. Staffed with more than 4 dozen investing pros, money managers, journalists and analysts, Real Money Pro gives you a flood of opinions, analysis and actionable trading advice found nowhere else, and allows you to interact directly with each expert.
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Socceroos surprise: Wilkshire out of World Cup squad
It was inevitable that injured Tom Rogic and Josh Kennedy were cut from the final 23 but the surprise came with the removal of veteran Socceroos player Luke Wilkshire, says Michael Lynch from Vitoria, Brazil.PT2M26S http://www.smh.com.au/action/externalEmbeddedPlayer?id=d-39i1c 620 349 June 4, 2014
Socceroo veteran Josh Kennedy and promising young midfielder Tom Rogic have lost their battle with ongoing injury problems and been axed from the squad for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil as coach Ange Postecoglou listened to the dictates of prudence and pragmatism rather than imagination and sentiment.
Young goalkeeper Mark Birighitti and another Socceroo veteran (like Kennedy) of the 2006 and 2010 World Cup campaigns, Luke Wilkshire, are the other two players left out.
His last bow: Tom Rogic in action during a practice match on Monday. A day later he was cut from the squad. Photo: Getty Images
Postecoglou has had to make the toughest call of his short international coaching career in deciding who to leave out of the final 23-man party. He has opted for to look to the future rather than concern himself with idealism and sentiment, especially in the case of Rogic, who many believe to be the most promising player of his generation.
The fact that Rogic has been suffering from long running problems for months - he is often reported to be battling osteitis pubis, but this has never been officially confirmed as the cause of his difficulties - makes Rogic's withdrawal a matter of regret rather than surprise.
The 21-year-old started in the practice match against Clube Parana on Monday but put in a lacklustre performance, suffered another knock and was withdrawn at half-time. The writing looked to be on the wall for him then.
Omitted: Josh Kennedy. Photo: Getty Images
Kennedy's departure is more of a shock. The gangling striker was hoping to play in his third World Cup, and had been responsible for Australia's qualification when he headed the decisive goal in that 1-0 triumph over Iraq in Sydney last June.
But for several years he has had to battle against ongoing back problems which have restricted his ability to travel to games and play. He took part in a training game on Sunday, and was expected to play against Clube Parana on Monday, but when the line-ups were released he was not even on the bench.
Young striker Adam Taggart came in in his stead and took his chance, scoring the second goal in a 2-0 win.
Taggart is the main beneficiary of Kennedy's misfortune, while youngster Massimo Luongo will reap an opportunity he might not have expected as the result of Rogic's departure. Luongo, who spent several seasons at Tottenham in his youth but now plays for Swindon Town in England's third tier, looked comfortable in the heart of midfield in Australia's second string eleven which took on the Brazilian club side on Monday.
Assistant coach Tony Vidmar tried to dampen all the speculation on Monday after that match, suggesting that Rogic was a crucial player for the team and that Kennedy could get over his issues on a managed program, but he was at pains to point out that no final decisions would be made until the medical staff had given their verdict at a meeting on Monday night.
There can be little doubt that Postecoglou has made the right call in the case of Kennedy and Rogic.
The World Cup is the ultimate test and no-one whose fitness is in any serious doubt can realistically expect to make much of an impact. Postecoglou is building for the future, so it is better that the likes of Taggart and Luongo, two players who are likely to play significant roles in the years to come, are given the opportunity to benefit from this experience.
Similarly, Birighitti is a bright prospect for later tournaments, but at this point in his development his inclusion in the 27-man party was always more about gaining experience than playing.
For Rogic, it brings to an end an unsatisfactory year. Since his move to Glasgow Celtic his progress has stalled due to a lack of game-time and injury enforced absences. He has hardly set the A-League alight in his appearances for Melbourne Victory, and while he is not responsible for the hype around him, it is to be hoped that he can try and rebuild his career amid lower expectations.
For Wilkshire, the axing will be a disappointment but perhaps not a total surprise. Although vastly experienced, the Russia-based utility has not figured much in Postecoglou's plans since the new coach replaced Holger Osieck last November. At his age (32) his international future is largely behind him, so once more the coach has made a choice with the future very much in mind.
Oliver BOZANIC, Mark BRESCIANO, Tim CAHILL, Jason DAVIDSON, Ivan FRANJIC, Eugene GALEKOVIC, Ben HALLORAN, James HOLLAND, Mile JEDINAK, Mitch LANGERAK, Mathew LECKIE, Massimo LUONGO, Ryan McGOWAN, Matt McKAY, Mark MILLIGAN, Tommy OAR, Matt RYAN, Matthew SPIRANOVIC, Adam TAGGART, James TROISI, Dario VIDOSIC, Alex WILKINSON, Bailey WRIGHT


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UK Sales: 0191 4181122 International: +44 191 4181133
For powering Miranda Picolink converter modules, this range encompasses a single inline AC adapter, a rack mounting tray for multiple modules, with dual, redundant AC power supply and a 12V DC adapter for use on location.
Designed for broadcast applications, the Picolink range includes over 25 different video and audio interfaces; these cover typical monitoring conversion requirements, including D to A, A to D converters, audio embedders, de-embedders, aspect ratio converters and a test pattern generator. Each Picolink is built in a compact aluminium body. All require an external 5 volt DC power supply.
This power supply has an IEC inlet connector and a captive cable with miniature 3-pole female miniature XLR connector ('Tiny-XLR' or 'Tini-QG') for the output.
Optional accessories: An AC power cable with IEC connector is required, see AC power cable assemblies and leads.
With space for ten Picolink modules and with a 40W dual-redundant power supply the PL-tray operates from two 110/220V AC inputs. Ten DC power outputs are provided by three-pole female miniature XLR connectors ('Tiny-XLR' or 'Tini-QG'), which face towards the front of the unit to allow the picoLinks to be installed into the picoLink frame. Two bi-colour LEDS indicate the status of the two power supplies. Two IEC inlets provide the power connections on the rear. The tray may be used freestanding, mounted in a standard rack, or using 0.25-inch thick rack slides. Power source: 100-264V, 50/60Hz, 60W. Dimensions: 1U rack mounting, 368mm deep. Weight: 3kg.
Included accessories: Manual, 2x AC mains power leads, 20 hook-and-loop fastener disks, rack-mounting brackets.
For use on location, this adapter cable has a 4-pole male XLR for connection to a camera power supply or a battery belt and a miniature 3-pole female miniature XLR connector ('Tiny-XLR' or 'Tini-QG') for the output.
Canford Audio PLC is registered in England and WalesCompany registration no: 1385727 VAT no: GB 660116371


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Too much pressure build-up while you sleep can cause disruptive tossing and turning. Serta's Cool Action™ Dual Effects® material is uniquely designed to help reduce average body pressure while you sleep, which can help reduce tossing and turning for a deeper and more restful sleep.
Serta's Cool Action™ Dual Effects® material works to uniquely support your body where it needs it most. Millions of MicroSupport® gel beads gather under the areas of your body that need extra support. With the right support, your muscles can relax and rejuvenate so you can wake up feeling refreshed. In fact, 9 out of 10 iComfort owners agree that their iComfort mattress provides them with the right level of support. (Source: GfK Buyer Satisfaction Study, 2012)
Heat build-up during the night can cause uncomfortable and restless sleep. Serta's Cool Action™ Dual Effects® material combines an open cell structure with our exclusive MicroCool+ gel to significantly increase airflow and the ability to dissipate heat. Together these properties help whisk heat away from the body. In fact, 98% of iComfort owners who are sensitive to temperature while sleeping rate their sleep quality positively. (Source: GfK Buyer Satisfaction Study, 2012)
Serta's Cool Action™ Dual Effects® material has been engineered and extensively tested to deliver exceptional comfort for years. Plus, it's designed to maintain its pressure-relieving comfort through a wide range of home temperatures.
The iComfort Directions Acumen is a high-tech memory foam mattress introducing 4 all new technologies. Starting at the surface of the mattress, a Thermo Cool yarn fabric cover with TENCEL fibers delivers supreme softness and improved airflow. A layer of new GFx Memory Foam incorporates heat-conducting graphene material for supple, body-conforming comfort and and an extra ability to whisk heat away from the body. Underneath that, breakthrough Cool Action Dual Effects foam provides sturdy, conforming body support and transports heat away from the mattress layers above it. Finally, the Pods gel-activated support layer features strategically placed macro-gel discs that work with the foam core to provide extra push-back support from the deepest parts of the mattress.
The iComfort Directions Acumen Twin Extra Long Plush Memory Foam Mattress and Box Spring by Serta at Darvin Furniture in the Orland Park, Chicago, IL area. Product availability may vary. Contact us for the most current availability on this product.
Serta changed the memory foam category forever with the iComfort Sleep System, which features the world's first memory foam infused with the support and cooling touch of Serta's MicroSupport gel. Now Serta introduces iComfort Directions, a premium memory foam mattress line featuring Serta's exclusiveour first dual-action gel memory foam in a sleep system designed from the surface to the core for enhanced cooling comfort and individualized body support. Serta's new Cool Action Dual Effects material is the world's first memory foam to combine both Serta's original MicroSupport gel and breakthrough MicroCool gel in a material with 25% more total gel than the original Cool Action gel memory foam.
The iComfort Directions Acumen collection is a great option if you are looking for Mattresses in the Orland Park, Chicago, IL area.
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text: Tater Tots are hot By Chicago Tribune October 27, 2012 Story Share McClatchy Newspapers When making Tater Tots, fry them in batches rather than all at once. McClatchy Newspapers Homemade Tater Tots with dipping sauce. The Brothers Grigg had just started a frozen-food company to make, among other things, french fries. But what to do with the spud scraps left behind? These potato pieces were too small for proper fries, but there were too many of them to be discarded.One day in 1953, F. Nephi Grigg came up with a delicious solution: He chopped up the potato scraps, shaped them into bite-size cylinders, then fried them golden and crunchy.Thus were born Ore-Ida Tater Tots.As the past almost 60 years have proved, Grigg's little brainstorm -- a plug of shredded potato 1 1/2 inches long, 7/8 inch in diameter -- has been an enormous success. An estimated 3.5 billion Tater Tots are eaten by Americans every year, according to Max Wetzel, associate marketing director for Ore-Ida.Tater Tots are so golden they have morphed from brand to cultural phenomenon."It's just a wonderful comfort food," says Ann L. Burckhardt, author of "Hot Dish Heaven: Classic Casseroles from Midwest Kitchens.""It's a tremendously handy potato item that people can use to put together a meal," she said. "I keep a package in the freezer at all times because I never know when I'm going to want to do something with them."Tater Tots and its imitators long ago jumped from supermarket freezer cases to restaurant menus across North America. Many chefs make their own; home cooks can as well, thanks to recipes like Lara Ferroni's "Real Snacks: Make Your Favorite Childhood Treats without All the Junk" (Sasquatch, $19.95).Ferroni, an Oregon-based food writer, doesn't remember much junk food in the house as she was growing up in southern Georgia, but "there was always a bag of frozen Tater Tots in the freezer." While Tater Tots bring back childhood memories for her, they also have a very adult connotation as well."I live in Portland now, and you'd be amazed at how many bars have Tater Tots," she said.Tots lend themselves to more refined dining applications too.At HauteDish, in Minneapolis, chef Landon Schoenefeld has a "Tater Tot HauteDish" on the menu. It's a play not just on the wording but the innards of the dish itself."Tater Tot hot dish is an iconic Minnesota dish," he said. "Typically it's made with ground beef and green beans and canned cream-of-mushroom soup with Tater Tots on top." Schoenefeld's version is both more refined and deconstructed, resulting in a dish rooted in the familiar but presented in a new way. Braised short rib subbing for the ground beef, a porcini béchamel sauce in lieu of the canned mushroom soup, French haricots verts replacing green beans.The kicker, he said, are the three tots crowning the plate. Each tot is "essentially a croquette," Schoenefeld said, a cheesy mashed-potato bite that is shaped by hand, fried to set the outer crust and then baked to melt the insides."Easily it is our most popular dish," said the chef, who estimates he's sold 20,000 plates in the two years HauteDish has been open. Today's price? $24. "People don't blink an eye," Schoenefeld said. "It reminds them of a dish they grew up on."Potato TotsMakes about 54 tots. Prep: 45 minutes. Cook: 10 minutes. Lara Ferroni, author of "Real Snacks: Make Your Favorite Childhood Treats without All the Junk," likes to grate a little sweet potato or yam into her tots. She also keeps the potato skin on to preserve more nutrients. Her recipe, adapted from Cooks Country magazine, calls for corn flour and ground millet flour; substitute whole-wheat flour if you prefer. 2 pounds russet potatoes (5 or 6 medium potatoes), cut into chunks 1 medium sweet potato or yam (1/4 pound), cut into chunks 2 cups cold water 2 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt 2 teaspoons each: corn flour, ground millet flour (or substitute whole-wheat flour) Pinch cayenne pepper Freshly ground black pepperSafflower or peanut oil, for fryingPLACE the potatoes in a food processor. Pulse 5 or 6 times until coarsely ground.COMBINE the cold water and 2 teaspoons salt in a large bowl. Add potatoes; stir to coat. Drain well through a fine sieve, pushing out as much water as you can.TRANSFER the potatoes to a microwave-safe bowl; microwave, 4 minutes. Stir; microwave, 4 minutes. Stir in the corn flour, millet flour, cayenne and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt.LINE a 9-inch square pan with parchment; pour in the potato mixture. Spread it evenly; cool to room temperature. Chill in the freezer until frozen, at least 20 minutes. Cut into 1- by 1 1/2-inch tots.HEAT at least 2 inches of oil in a deep saucepan or skillet to 370°. Fry the tots in batches, being sure not to crowd the pan, until tots are golden brown, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove the tots with a slotted spoon; place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Season to taste with salt and black pepper. Repeat with the remaining tots. Serve immediately.Tots love to take a dipWhether you make from-scratch potato tots, or rely on tried-and-true original Tater Tots, ketchup is often the condiment of choice. Want something more? How about a cheesy dip? Or a spicy chipotle mayonnaise? Or a quick soy-based sauce?Before you dismiss Tater Tots and its ilk as another example of mid-20th-century American food tinkering, consider where tots may actually come from. Asked in an email if there was a classic culinary antecedent for tots, the French-born and -trained Jacques Pepin replied quickly in the affirmative."Certainly potato croquettes (riced cooked potato and egg yolk shaped like corks, balls or disks, breaded and fried) or potato duchesse (the same but no breading and baked) are the ancestors," wrote Pepin. He pointed curious cooks to "The Fannie Farmer Cookbook" and other classics for recipes.Ore-Ida's iconic Tater Tots are sold across North America, of course, but where are those little treats most popular? The west-north-central parts of the United States, according to Max Wetzel, associate marketing director for Ore-Ida. That means Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota. Wetzel theorizes this is due to the popularity of comfort foods in the region, including Tater Tot hot dish.Chile Con QuesoMakes 2 cups. Prep: 5 minutes. Cook: 15 minutes.In "The Texas Cowboy Cookbook," Rob Walsh recommends serving this dip with tortilla chips or as a topping for tacos, chalupas or Frito pie. Why not a dunkable for potato tots too? Walsh said the dish can be made in a double boiler or microwave but he also recommends a slow cooker. "You can leave it there for hours, ladling small amounts into serving bowls while the rest stays warm," he writes.Walsh's recipe calls for Velveeta cheese and a can of Rotel tomatoes, a brand of canned tomatoes with green chilies. 1 pound processed cheese 1 10-ounce can tomatoes with green chiliesCUT the cheese into 1-inch cubes.MELT the cheese in a slow cooker or double boiler.STIR in the can of tomatoes with green chilies.SERVE warm.Nutrition information: Per tablespoon: 56 calories, 5 grams fat, 3 grams saturated fat, 13 milligrams cholesterol, 1 gram carbohydrates, 3 grams protein, 186 milligrams sodium, 0 grams fiber.Chipotle AioliMakes about 2 cups. Prep: 10 minutes. 1 egg 2 egg yolks 2 crushed cloves garlic 1 tablespoon mustard 1/4 cup lemon juice 1/2 cup each: extra-virgin olive oil, canola oil 1/2 bunch cilantro, finely chopped 2 chipotle chilies, or more to taste 1 red onion, finely choppedCOMBINE the egg, egg yolks, garlic, mustard and lemon juice in a food processor or blender.PROCESS until smooth. With the machine still running, add the olive oil and canola oil in a slow stream; blend until the mixture emulsifies to the consistency of mayonnaise.ADD the cilantro and chilies; blend until smooth. Stir in the red onion; serve.Nutrition information: Per tablespoon: 70 calories, 7 grams fat, 1 gram saturated fat, 17 milligrams cholesterol, 1 gram carbohydrates, 1 gram protein, 17 milligrams sodium, 0 grams fiber.Tangy Soy Dipping SauceMakes about 2/3 cup. Prep: 5 minutes. From "Asian Dumplings," by Andrea Nguyen. 1/3 cup light (regular) soy sauce 2 1/2 tablespoons unseasoned rice vinegar 1/8 teaspoon sugar, optional 1 to 3 tablespoons chili oil (optional) 1 piece (1 inch long) fresh ginger, peeled, finely shredded, or 2 cloves garlic, mincedCOMBINE the soy sauce, vinegar and sugar in a bowl. Stir to dissolve the sugar. Taste and adjust the flavors for a tart-savory balance.ADD chili oil as you like for heat. Right before serving, add the ginger or garlic.Nutrition information: Per teaspoon: 2 calories, 0 grams fat, 0 grams saturated fat, 0 milligrams cholesterol, 0 grams carbohydrates, 0 grams protein, 217 milligrams sodium, 0 grams fiber. Story Share Story Share Trending Now 1 Deer in 8 WV counties found dead from EHD 2 New company planning $73M synthetic fuel plant in Greenbrier County 3 WVU law professor announces run for Congress 4 YWCA Charleston's Women of Achievement to be honored in March 5 St. Albans rallies to beat Riverside, 21-17 On the Town: Oct. 28, 2012 Previous Story What's for dinner? Frozen dough yields warm, comforting meals Next Story


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- Description
- Tasting Notes
- What's Inside
- Delivery
- Occasions
As true as the love symbolized by a red rose, this classic rose bouquet expresses heartfelt memories and deep feelings during a time of sympathy.
Two dozen 60 cm red roses are accented by salal and presented in an urn-style vase. Breathtakingly beautiful, the red roses send your passion and warm feelings to the bereaved.
Gift Includes:
- Two Dozen Red Roses (60 cm).
- Salal Stems.
- Assorted Lush Greenery, and more.
- A free gift card with personal message.
- Arrives in a classic urn-style vase.
- Hand delivered to your desired location by experienced florists.
- A funeral banner may be added to this gift based on availability. Please contact customer service for more information.
Measures approximately 27" x 26".
During checkout, please be sure to indicate your preferred occasion when you choose a gift card. Exact flowers and vase may vary depending upon location and availability.
Same day delivery is available if you place your order by 2pm in your recipient's time zone, M-F and by 1pm on Saturday. To see if Sunday delivery is available in your area please contact customer service.Gift #13197
Rose Tribute Bouquet is a hand delivered gift. These gifts are delivered by one of our local design centers located throughout the United States and Canada.
Typically, standard deliveries are made between 9:00 AM and 6:00 PM, with business deliveries before 5:00 PM. Hours may be extended during holidays. Please note in some locations we may need an additional 24 hours for the delivery of exotic flowers, wine and fruit baskets.
Same day delivery is available for most gifts when ordered before the cutoff time. The cutoff time for Rose Tribute Bouquet is in the recipient's time zone.
Rose Tribute Bouquet has been purchased most frequently by our customers for the following occasions:


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Get an overview of this hotelHistoric Pittsburgh hotel, with a Jazz Age vibe
Popular property highlights
Pop art in Pittsburgh
The historic Omni William Penn Hotel is opposite Steel Plaza T Station in downtown Pittsburgh. Guests can walk 4 blocks to Heinz Hall for the Performing Arts, or drive 10 minutes to the Andy Warhol Museum, the largest museum in the United States devoted to the works of a single artist.
Cocktails from the 1920s
Travelers can work out in the 24-hour fitness center, and latte lovers enjoy having a Starbucks® café on site. The lavishly decorated, 1920s-style Speakeasy lounge serves Prohibition era cocktails - the perfect prelude to a Mediterranean supper in the Terrace Room and live jazz in Palm Court.
Cherry-wood furnishings
The hotel includes 3 fitness centers and 3 pools, 1 of which boasts a huge pirate ship for kids. Guests can play some tennis and basketball, relax with a drink at Pirate's Cove Pool Bar, and grab a burger at Flagler Station.Information missing or incorrect? Tell us!Opens in a new window
Omni William Penn Hotel
Hotel Amenities
Hotel Amenities
Dining is available at one of the hotel's 2 restaurants and guests can grab coffee at one of the 2 coffee shops/cafés. Guests can unwind with a drink at one of hotel's 3 bars/lounges. This 4-star property offers access to a 24-hour business center, limo/town car service, and meeting rooms.
A computer station is located on site and wireless Internet access is available for a surcharge.
Event facilities measuring 52000 square feet (4831 square meters) include conference space. This business-friendly hotel also offers a 24-hour fitness center, tour/ticket assistance, and multilingual staff. Parking is available onsite for a surcharge.
Omni William Penn Hotel is a smoke-free property.
- Hair salon
- Computer station
- 24-hour front desk
- Total number of rooms - 597
- ATM/banking
- Number of floors - 17
- Valet parking (surcharge)
- Year Built 1916
- Number of bars/lounges - 3
- Breakfast available (surcharge)
- Number of coffee shops/cafes - 2
- Concierge services
- Conference space
- Dry cleaning/laundry service
- Elevator/lift
- 24-hour fitness facilities
- Gift shops or newsstand
- WiFi (surcharge)
- Limo or Town Car service available
- Meeting rooms 20
- Multilingual staff
- Porter/bellhop
- Luggage storage
- Safe-deposit box at front desk
- Conference space size (meters) - 4831
- Number of meeting rooms - 20
- Number of restaurants - 2
- 24-hour business center
- Conference space size (feet) - 52000
- Self parking (surcharge)
- Shopping on site
- Smoke-free property
- Number of buildings/towers - 1
- Use of nearby fitness center (discount)
- Wedding services
- Tours/ticket assistance
Available in all rooms: Wireless internet access ( USD 9.95 per day )
Available in some public areas: Wireless internet access ( USD 9.95 per night )
Self parking (surcharge), Valet parking (surcharge)
Room Amenities
- Private bathroom
- Refrigerator
- Down comforter
- Premium TV channels
- Pay movies
- Premium bedding
- Hypo-allergenic bedding available
- Air conditioning
- In-room climate control (air conditioning)
- Blackout drapes/curtains
- Phone
- Coffee/tea maker
- Bathrobes
- Free toiletries
- Hair dryer
- In-room massage available
- Shower/tub combination
- Rainfall showerhead
- Iron/ironing board
- Desk
- Daily housekeeping
- Digital TV service
- Flat-panel TV
- In-room safe (laptop compatible)
- MP3 docking station
- Room service (24 hours)
- Free cribs/infant beds
- Rollaway/extra beds (surcharge)
- Connecting/adjoining rooms available
- WiFi (surcharge)
Where to Eat
Breakfast is available for a surcharge each morning.
Terrace Room - This restaurant specializes in Mediterranean cuisine and serves breakfast, lunch, dinner, and brunch. Guests can enjoy drinks at the bar.
Tap Room - This restaurant specializes in fish and chips and serves lunch, dinner, and light fare. Guests can enjoy drinks at the bar. Happy hour is offered.
Palm Court - This lobby lounge serves light fare only. Happy hour is offered. Open select days.
Speakeasy - Onsite cocktail bar . Open select days.
Brueggers Bagels - This delicatessen specializes in American cuisine and serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Nearby Things to Do
The recreational activities listed below are available either on site or nearby; fees may apply.
- Game viewing nearby
If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please note them at check-out when you book your room.
- Roll-in shower
- Accessible bathroom
- In-room accessibility
Hotel Policies
Check-in time ends at 2 AM
Minimum check-in age is 21
Check-in time starts at 3 PM
Check-out time is noon
Payment types
Children and extra beds
- Children are welcome.
- Kids stay free! Children 18 years old and younger stay free when using existing bedding.
- Rollaway/extra beds are available for USD 15 per night.
- Free cribs (infant beds)!
- Pets allowed for an extra charge of USD 50 per accommodation, per stay, plus a deposit of USD 50.00 per stay
- 1 per room (up to 25 lb)
You need to know
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy.
Optional extras
- Fee for buffet breakfast: USD 23 per person (approximately)
- Fee for in-room wireless Internet: USD 9.95 per day (rates may vary)
- Fee for wireless Internet in public areas: USD 9.95 per night (rates may vary)
- Self parking fee: USD 19.00 per night (in/out privileges)
- Valet parking fee: USD 34.00 per night (in/out privileges)
- Pet deposit: USD 50.00 per stay
- Pet fee: USD 50 per accommodation, per stay
- Rollaway bed fee: USD 15 per night
Hotel Name
- Hotel William Penn
- Omni William
- Omni William Penn
- Omni William Penn Hotel
- Omni William Penn Hotel Pittsburgh
- Omni William Penn Pittsburgh
- William Omni Penn
- William Omni Penn Hotel
- William Penn Hotel
- William Penn Omni
- Omni Hotel Pittsburgh
- Omni Pittsburgh
- Pittsburgh Omni
We should mention
Children 18 years old and younger stay free when occupying the parent or guardian's room, using existing bedding. The property has connecting/adjoining rooms, which are subject to availability and can be requested by contacting the property using the number on the booking confirmation.
Awards & Affiliations
- The property is a member of Historic Hotels of America.


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Why Monday Night RAW needs to go back to two hours
by, 11-11-2012 at 03:23 PM (8858 Views)
Ever since Monday Night RAW went to three hours beginning with the historic 1000th episode on Monday, July 23, 2012, I was very excited. It meant more matches with more Superstars, or so I thought.
Fast forward to November: a typical episode of Monday Night RAW features more focus on social media (Twitter, Tout, and Facebook), in-ring promos, and of course, recaps on the top storylines and less focus on wrestling and entrances.
It seems that WWE Creative is trying to cram everything in a three-hour episode compared to the days when Monday Night RAW was a two-hour show just like its counterpart Friday Night SmackDown.
Like RAW, SmackDown also features more social media, but seldom features recaps and instead focuses more on in-ring action.
My suggestion: revert RAW back to its two-hour format. That way, RAW can feature more big names such as CM Punk, John Cena, Randy Orton, Big Show, and Sheamus while the likes of Cody Rhodes, JTG, Damien Sandow, Michael McGillicutty, and the Divas can be featured on WWE Superstars, a show that doesn't feature in-ring segments and social media: just one hour of pure wrestling.


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Winter Warmth
Related Articles
How to Reduce Heating Bills
How to Stop Heat Loss
How to Keep Your Home Warm This Winter
Just Feels Warmer
To make your home 'feel" warmer when the thermostat is turned down, keep some steam going. Whether it be a humidifier or just a big pot of water turned on med/low on the stove. The humidity in the air makes it feel much more comfortable.
Electric Blanket Use
Warm in winter: if you like to go to bed feeling warm and like an electric blanket, try turning it on five minutes before you go to bed. Once you get in the bed will feel cozy. Turn the blanket off, throw an extra comforter or two over the top and you'll be cozy for the night.
Microwave Hot Pads
A microwavable hot pad is actually just a sack full of ordinary rice. I'm sure someone is making a tidy profit on this but an old tube sock or pillow case with rice thrown in and sewn shut does the job just as well.
Emily L.
Under the Sheets
Put an extra layer or two of bedding under you (between the lower sheet and the mattress) as well as over you. Innerspring mattresses let in a lot of cold air around the sides and are not designed for sleeping in cold rooms.
Also, you lose most of your body heat through your head and neck, so dress to keep those parts of your body covered--turtle necks, scarves, kerchiefs, night caps, for instance.
Flannel Sheets Plus
We have an old farm house with no heat upstairs in our bedroom. When it gets really cold we put flannel sheets on our bed to help with warmth. As nice and comforting as these are, my feet stay cold. My husband brings up 1 liter soda bottles filled with hot water and capped tightly and tucks them in the bottom of our bed. When I go to bed it is very toasty for my feet. It is such a treat and a truly loving gesture!
editor's note: please be sure that you reseal the bottle tightly and that you use the bottle safely. Burns aren't a good substitute for cold feet!
Self-Generated Heat
The best way I warm up with the thermostat set low is drop and do 20 pushups. As my upper body strength is terrible this really warms me up since its such hard work!
Lisa H.
Well Vested
Although I live in Houston, in the winter for some reason it's cooler in the house than outside, and it's a damp cold. Wearing one of those zip-front fleece vests indoors has made a tremendous difference in my comfort level. I mentioned this to my elderly parents who live in Oklahoma City, and the next time I saw them they were sporting fleece vests, too!
Nancy in Houston
All Wrapped Up
For keeping warm in bed I found a giant sheet of bubble wrap at the furniture store, it was like new and clean had been wrapped around a sofa, take the tape and what ever off it and put it on the bed under your bedspread, traps the heat in better than anything.
Blankets at the Ready
I have a couple of cozy blankets in the family room where we can keep covered when we read or watch TV. I encourage the kids to go outside and play in the snow. When they come in they get hot cocoa and the house doesn't feel so cool anymore.
JK in ND
Take the Next Step
- Preparing Your Home for Winter, check out more articles here
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- How much can additional payments save me on my mortgage?


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Tuberous Sclerosis Complex Natural History Study: Renal Manifestations
- Full Text View
- Tabular View
- No Study Results Posted
- Disclaimer
- How to Read a Study Record
|Tuberous Sclerosis Complex
|Study Type:
|Study Design:
|Observational Model: Cohort
Time Perspective: Prospective
|Official Title:
|Tuberous Sclerosis Complex Natural History Study: Renal Manifestations
|Estimated Enrollment:
|Study Start Date:
|February 2008
|Study Completion Date:
|September 2013
|Primary Completion Date:
|September 2013 (Final data collection date for primary outcome measure)
Our objective is to test the hypothesis that serial MR and CT imaging will allow objective, reproducible quantification of angiomyolipoma growth by volumetric analysis, and analysis of lesions characteristics will identify angiomyolipomata with rapid growth potential that would require intervention.
The specific aim of this proposal is to collect clinically obtained serial abdominal imaging from the Tuberous Sclerosis Natural History Consortium Centers and analyze the volume and adiposity of the individual angiomyolipomata. The growth rate is hypothesized to have an inverse relationship to adiposity. The prognostic value of identifying lesions with aggressive growth characteristics is very large, and intervention can be instituted early in order to reduce the renal damage.
Study Population.
- The target population for this study will be patients with tuberous sclerosis who attend a tuberous sclerosis clinic that is part of the consortium. The data collected will include routine imaging data, age, gender, and if know, the genotype. Approximately 855 patients throughout the United States will be asked to participate in this natural history study and 450 of those are anticipated to consent and have complete data on 3 years of CT and MR Imaging Scans to measure angiomyolipoma growth and adiposity.
- Patients attending the tuberous sclerosis clinics that are members of the consortium will be asked if they would be involved in the study.
- Imaging will be obtained as part of the standard of care at the Consortium Centers. Imaging done on pregnant patients will not be excluded. MRI has been used now extensively for pregnant patients.
Protocol Design.
This is a natural history study involving the imaging characteristics of angiomyolipomata found in patients with tuberous sclerosis complex. This study offers the potential benefit that the lesion characteristics and growth rate will be monitored. Patel et al. posit that growth rates of greater than 0.5 cm/year for solid tumors are worrisome for malignancy. Patients harboring lesions that exhibit faster growth rates will be identified so that they can be more carefully monitored. During the course of the study, should we detect concerning features, the Consortium Center TS Clinic Director will be alerted. Imaging modalities that may be used include CT scans. The patient data being collected will be done so for clinical reasons, and every effort will be made to use the least possible radiation exposure. There are several ways to reduce the exposure, and these limiting techniques will be employed for each scan. The scans will be performed both pre and post contrast using an agent such as Optiray® so that vascularity can be assessed. Patients may also be imaged with a 1.5 Tesla magnet in a supine position using a phased array torso coil or body coil, depending on patient size. When compatible, respiratory compensation will be used to diminish respiratory artifact. Overall imaging time for the following sequences will be approximately 45 minutes.
a. Recruitment process: Patients will be recruited from patients seen at the Tuberous Sclerosis Natural History Consortium Centers, including Cincinnati Children's Hospital, Loma Linda University, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Connecticut Children's Medical Center, Vanderbilt University, Columbus Children's, Texas Scottish Rite Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, Miami Children's Hospital, Minnesota Epilepsy Group, Dartmouth University, Washington Children's Hospital, New York University School of Medicine, University of Texas, Houston, Children's Hospital, Boston, and Children's Hospital, Pittsburgh.
|Ages Eligible for Study:
|7 Years to 65 Years (Child, Adult)
|Sexes Eligible for Study:
|Accepts Healthy Volunteers:
|Sampling Method:
|Probability Sample
Inclusion Criteria:
- Patients who receive yearly follow-up at their respective tuberous sclerosis clinic. Such clinics have a director who is knows their patients well.
- Patients known to have an angiomyolipoma between the ages of 7-
- 65 years
- Pregnant women to be included if tested with MR
Exclusion Criteria:
- Patients who are not seen annually and therefore do not have yearly imaging.
- Patients who do not have an angiomyolipoma.
- Patients who are not likely to follow-up as recommended.
- Use of an investigational drug, including rapamycin, within the last 30 days.
- Pregnant women to be excluded if they cannot be tested with MR
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00598455
|United States, Ohio
|Cincinnati Children's
|Cincinnati, Ohio, United States, 45229
|Principal Investigator:
|John J Bissler, M.D.
|Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati
|Responsible Party:
|Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati
|ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
|NCT00598455 History of Changes
|Other Study ID Numbers:
|Study First Received:
|December 27, 2007
|Last Updated:
|May 2, 2017
Keywords provided by Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati:
tuberous sclerosis complex
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
Tuberous Sclerosis
Pathologic Processes
Neoplasms, Multiple Primary
Neoplastic Syndromes, Hereditary
Malformations of Cortical Development, Group I
Malformations of Cortical Development
Nervous System Malformations
Nervous System Diseases
Neurocutaneous Syndromes
Heredodegenerative Disorders, Nervous System
Neurodegenerative Diseases
Congenital Abnormalities
Genetic Diseases, Inborn
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on September 20, 2017


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SAN BERNARDINO — Residents craving a plate of sauteed noodles, vegetables and meat at the city's long-standing eatery, Mongolian Bar-B-Q, instead found the entrance of the restaurant locked and a notice of closure on the front door Thursday.
For a time, it seemed that if the restaurant couldn't turn around violations found by county health inspectors, it would have remain shuttered. But it appeared to be open on Monday afternoon, as customers walked in and out of the restaurant.
"Mongolian was closed due to rodent infestation," said Ray Britain, public health manager for the county's Department of Public Health. "As soon as they establish a contract with a licensed pest control company and mitigate the infestation, then they'll be allowed to reopen. "
Mongolian, a restaurant at 1488 E. Highland Ave. that has been in San Bernardino for decades, is one of three businesses closed by the health department this year due to health violations.
According to the department's website, Taco El Guacamole at 825 Highland Ave. and Alberto's Mexican Food at 2342 Del Rosa Ave. were both closed in February and haven't reopened.
An employee at Mongolian, who declined to give her full name, said on Monday the restaurant was trying to correct the violations.
"Right now we are doing the best that we can to clean and try to reopen," she said, before it apparently reopened.
Owners of the restaurant could not immediately be reached for comment.
The health department conducted a routine inspection in February, discovering mice droppings on top of canned foods, onions stored on the floor and holes in the wall behind the soda machine.
The restaurant has a 'B' rating from the health department due to violations. It is one of 64 businesses in the city with that grade.
There are two locations in the city with a 'C' grade – Circle K at 295 N. Waterman Ave. and La Costenita at 265 W. Highland Ave.
But another inspection conducted Thursday – stemming from two anonymous complaints – forced the closure of the restaurant.
"A complaint was reported to DEHS (Division of Environmental Health Services) stating that the facility's roof was falling in, rice was being reused, mice were active in the facility, the restrooms were backing up and that the facility smelled like sewage," according to the inspection report.
Britain said the department works with and trains management on how to correct health violations. Inspectors discard contaminated food and show workers how to protect food from contamination in the future.
An inspector will return to the restaurant for another inspection before the business can reopen.


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MOTORISTS coming into the county face an evening of misery after a four vehicle smash closed the Dartford Tunnel.
The collision happened shortly after 4.30pm in the eastern tunnel, which has been closed. The western bore remains open.
Long delays are expected on the approach to the crossing.
Delays are also being reported clockwise on approach to the QEII Bridge due to traffic congestion.


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Greetings everyone,
I just tonight got my shrine up and, mostly finished. I still need to get a little stand to place the Buddha rupa on and maybe a new candle holder. But, other than those two things, it's done! The quality may not be so great, considering it was taken on a cell phone and the lighting was bad, even with the flash turned on. But you can get the basic idea.


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The Government has launched a scheme to vaccinate badgers in Cheshire against bovine tuberculosis as part of efforts to tackle the disease in livestock.
The scheme will vaccinate badgers in areas next to regions that are at high risk of bovine TB, in a bid to create a "buffer zone" to prevent the spread of the disease in new areas of the country where incidence is currently low.
Under the scheme, which will target counties in a strip down the middle of England such as Cheshire, Oxfordshire and Hampshire, a package of support will be available, including funding of up to 50% of the long-term costs for vaccinating.
Vaccination projects could also receive advice from experts, free loans of equipment such as traps and free supplies of vaccines, Environment Secretary Elizabeth Truss said.
In a written ministerial statement she said: "I hope that wildlife and farming groups, many of whom have been closely involved in the development of this initiative, will seize this opportunity.
"I want to use annual badger vaccination, over wider areas than is currently carried out, to show that vaccination has a role to play in combating this disease."
But she added: "This vaccination scheme is just one element of our strategy to eradicate bovine TB. This includes strict cattle movement controls and also culling in the high risk area, which overseas experience shows is vital to beating the disease."
The Government and farmers insist that culling is necessary to tackle TB in livestock, which saw more than 26,000 cattle slaughtered in England last year and multimillion-pound losses.
But opponents say culling is inhumane and ineffective and alternatives such as vaccination should be pursued.
Mark Jones, veterinarian and executive director of Humane Society International UK, said: "We're pleased that Defra (Environment Department) has finally admitted that badger vaccination is a useful tool, but it will be too little too late unless ministers pull out all the stops to promote it to the very farmers they and the National Farmers Union have spent years trying to convince that badger vaccination is a waste of time.
"Ministers have downplayed the value of badger vaccination in recent years, in an attempt to boost support for a cull, and that negative messaging risks undermining the scheme even before it has begun.
"If Defra now wants to get buy-in from those same farmers for vaccination of badgers on their land, it needs to seriously change its rhetoric."
Shadow environment secretary Maria Eagle said: "Labour has consistently said that to get bovine TB under control we need to bring in stricter cattle measures and prioritise badger and cattle vaccinations.
"The Tories have failed to explain why they're pressing ahead with culls which have been shown to be ineffective, inhumane and risk making the problem worse.
"The badger culls have already been described as an 'epic failure' by the chief scientific adviser to Natural England. To add insult to injury these culls are proceeding without any independent scientific oversight."


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Spermotrend in the Treatment of Male Infertility
This study has been completed.
Catalysis SL
Information provided by:
Catalysis SL
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
First received: September 10, 2009
Last updated: March 6, 2011
Last verified: March 2011
- Full Text View
- Tabular View
- No Study Results Posted
- Disclaimer
- How to Read a Study Record
The purpose of this study is to determine whether the administration of the dietary supplement Spermotrend improves spermatogenesis parameters in subjects with male infertility unrelated to major testicular conditions. The duration of this double-blind placebo controlled phase 3 clinical trial will be 24 weeks. The estimated number of males with infertility to be recruited and randomized for the study is 86.
|Male Infertility
|Dietary Supplement: Placebo Dietary Supplement: Spermotrend
|Phase 3
|Study Type:
|Study Design:
|Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Triple (Participant, Care Provider, Investigator)
Primary Purpose: Treatment
|Official Title:
|Assessment of the Efficacy of Dietary Supplement Spermotrend in the Treatment of Male Infertility
Resource links provided by NLM:
Genetics Home Reference related topics: CATSPER1-related nonsyndromic male infertility Y chromosome infertility sensorineural deafness and male infertility
MedlinePlus related topics: Dietary Supplements Infertility Male InfertilityU.S. FDA Resources
Further study details as provided by Catalysis SL:
Primary Outcome Measures:
- Parameters of seminal analysis at weeks 24 [ Time Frame: 24 weeks ]
Secondary Outcome Measures:
- Fertilization achievement [ Time Frame: 24 weeks ]
- Presence of mild or severe adverse effects [ Time Frame: 24 weeks ]
|Estimated Enrollment:
|Study Start Date:
|September 2009
|Study Completion Date:
|March 2011
|Primary Completion Date:
|March 2011 (Final data collection date for primary outcome measure)
|Assigned Interventions
|Placebo Comparator: Placebo
Dietary Supplement: Placebo
One Placebo tablet (Orally administered) twice a day, for 12 weeks.
|Experimental: Spermotrend
Dietary Supplement: Spermotrend
One Spermotrend tablet (Orally administered) twice a day, for 12 weeks
|Ages Eligible for Study:
|19 Years to 60 Years (Adult)
|Sexes Eligible for Study:
|Accepts Healthy Volunteers:
Inclusion Criteria:
- Male infertility unrelated to major testicular conditions
- Must have at least one altered seminal parameter.
- Signed informed consent
Exclusion Criteria:
- Hydrocele, varicocele, orchitis, epididymitis, irradiation or Chemotherapy.
- Previously treated and cured testicular condition.
- Non-transmissible chronic diseases
- Use of antioxidant agents within 6 months.
- Use of vitamins within 6 months.
- Use of anti-inflammatory drugs within 6 months.
- Use of hormones prescribed by an andrologist within 6 months
- Positive serology/HIV
- Leukocytospermia
Contacts and Locations
Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study. To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the Contacts provided below. For general information, see Learn About Clinical Studies.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00975117
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00975117
|"Ramón González Coro" Gynecologic and Obstetric Hospital
|Havana, Cuba, 10400
Sponsors and Collaborators
Catalysis SL
|Principal Investigator:
|Miguel Aguilar Charara, MD
|"Ramón González Coro" Gynecologic and Obstetric Hospital
More Information
Keywords provided by Catalysis SL:
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on September 21, 2017
|Responsible Party:
|Miguel Aguilar Charara, "Ramón González Coro" Gynecologic and Obstetric Hospital
|ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
|NCT00975117 History of Changes
|Other Study ID Numbers:
|Study First Received:
|September 10, 2009
|Last Updated:
|March 6, 2011
Keywords provided by Catalysis SL:
Dietary supplement
male infertility
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
Infertility, Male
Genital Diseases, Male
Genital Diseases, Female
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on September 21, 2017


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Time Schedule:
Arista Maria Cirtautas
Seattle Campus
Class description
Surveys the EU' s evolution as a global actor and emergence as a potential superpower with increasingly unified foreign and defense polices. Examines institutions and interests that have driven this process; specific examples of EU global engagement; and the potential implication for US foreign policy. Offered: jointly with POL S 348. Class description Without a doubt, the European Union is an increasingly important global actor. Already "the world's leading trade power and the largest provider of development assistance" (Cameron, 2007), the EU is now taking on a growing number of crisis management, security, stabilization and democracy-promoting tasks around the world under its own flag. In light of the EU's growing global presence along these multiple dimensions, the EU's overall foreign policy profile has become the subject of much debate among analysts and observers: what type of foreign policy actor is the EU given that the Union is not a traditional nation-state?; what kind of power does the EU project on the global stage?; is the EU, in fact, a superpower as some analysts have claimed?; or does the EU represent a completely new type of global power?; what accounts for the EU's recent development of foreign policy capacities after decades of slow or no progress in this realm? During the first section of the course we will address these key questions and debates. Then, we will turn to a close examination of the scope of the EU's external relations both in terms of the major policy domains and issue areas of concern to the EU and through specific case studies. Finally, in the last section, we will evaluate the implications of the EU's growing global presence for more traditional great powers such as Russia and China and, most importantly, for transatlantic relations.
Student learning goals
Students will learn about the evolution of the EU's capacities as a global actor. From a primarily economic power to a regional power with political and security aims and capacities to a potential superpower, the EU has been developing a unified foreign, security and military policy.
Accordingly, students will learn about the institutions, interests and policy objectives that have driven this process forward, as well as the challenges and problems that have arisen along the way. How the EU actually determines and carries out its external relations and in what major domains will also be clearly elaborated. Case studies drawn from contemporary events will serve to illuminate the 'on-the-ground' dynamics of the EU's foreign policy engagements.
With this background, students will be in a position to make their own assessments of the implications of the rise of the EU as a global actor for international relations writ large and, more particularly, for the United States.
General method of instruction
Lecture and discussion
Recommended preparation
Class assignments and grading
A take-home midterm will comprise 25% of the grade; an in-class final (emphasizing material from the second part of the quarter) will also comprise 25% of the grade; a short paper (5-7pages) will count for 30% ; in-class quizzes (short identifications of terms taken from the readings) will account for the remaining 20%.


text:
Note: This item is more than six years old. Please take the publication date into consideration for any date references.
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March 15, 2011
Free Rainbow Trout Harvest at Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center
ATHENS—Visitors to the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center (TFFC) are invited to harvest rainbow trout at no charge from now through the end of the season in late April.
Regular admission charges will still apply, but no additional fee will be charged for harvesting rainbow trout. Up to five rainbow trout per person may be harvested.
Harvesting channel catfish will still require payment of a $10 fee for the opportunity to harvest up to five fish.
All fishing tackle and bait are provided, and no fishing license is required. Anglers who bring their own equipment must mash down the barb on all hooks, and only single hooks are allowed. No treble hooks may be used.
Anyone intending to harvest fish should bring a small cooler and ice. No ice is available on site.
TFFC is located at 5550 F.M. 2495, Athens, Texas. Athens is 75 miles southeast of Dallas. For more information or directions, call (903) 676-2277 or visit tpwd.texas.gov/tffc.
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