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Adams' pinch-hit homer awakens Cardinals
Rosenthal, Boggs bounce back to close out comeback victory
ST. LOUIS -- Within the span of five sixth-inning pitches, the Cardinals foiled Bronson Arroyo's perfect game and positioned their bullpen for an immediate chance at redemption. And in the big picture of the season -- one that looks increasingly likely to be played without Jason Motte -- the latter was of particular importance.
In securing a win for Lance Lynn, the Cardinals' late-inning relievers put away Monday's ugly affair and rewarded manager Mike Matheny's decision to go right back to them. Taking a lead provided by Matt Adams' 403-foot, pinch-hit home run, Trevor Rosenthal and Mitchell Boggs closed out a 5-1 win over the Reds in front of 37,731 at Busch Stadium.
"I know it wasn't a save situation tonight, but it didn't matter to me," said Boggs, who pitched a perfect ninth. "That was as big a game for me as any I've ever pitched."
The comments came from a right-hander who, a day earlier, stood in front of his locker disgusted with how he let a tie game turn into a runaway Cincinnati win. If he had questions about whether he'd lost the handle on the team's closer's duties, those were quelled during batting practice.
Making his usual rounds, Matheny found Boggs with a simple message: the ninth would be his again that night.
"It's a pleasure to show up here every single day and know the guy sitting in that office cares about you and believes in you," Boggs said. "It would have been easy for him to say, 'Let's give him a few days. Let's throw him in there in a spot where it doesn't matter.' That would have been an easy thing for him to do. But I appreciate him sticking with me."
Matheny met with Rosenthal before the game as well, letting him know he, too, wasn't going to be moved. And indeed, with a three-run lead, it was Rosenthal who was summoned to hold it in the eighth.
"To have the opportunity to go back out there and see that they have the confidence in me to get in that situation again was big," Rosenthal said. "And to have the results is always better. To know that a manager really cares and has your best interest in mind is huge."
A night after losing his grip on a lead, Rosenthal erased a Shin-Soo Choo single with an inning-ending double play to secure his first hold in three chances. He pitched an inning after Edward Mujica retired the Reds in order.
"It was rewarding," Matheny said, "to be able to get those guys back out there in a situation where they could feel good about themselves heading into the game tomorrow."
While the bullpen bounceback could have long-term benefit, the Cardinals' ability to even the series hinged on finding a way to break through against Arroyo.
The crafty Reds starter entered the sixth with a 1-0 lead and having retired all 15 batters he had faced. Daniel Descalso changed the latter with a leadoff double and two batters later, Adams, pinch-hitting for Lynn, dumped a hanging curveball into the Cardinals' bullpen.
The homer was the third of Adams' brief Major League career and it came on a pitch that has given him fits in the past, which is why he spent the winter hitting off a curveball machine.
"With the tying run at third base, I had a pretty good idea that I was going to get an offspeed pitch sometime during that at-bat," Adams said. "He left it up in the zone and I was able to get the barrel on it."
The two-run shot, which came in Adams' first pinch-hit opportunity of the season, was the first pinch-hit blast by a Cardinal since Lance Berkman connected in May 2012.
"He's been paying real close attention," Matheny said of Adams. "You see him on the top step. He's not just sitting around like he's on vacation. The guy is working hard. We have been very clear that that bench position is probably a position where you're going to have to work twice as hard as anybody else that is playing every day."
The Cardinals then piled on a pair of insurance runs to give the 'pen a cushion. After singles by Jon Jay and Matt Carpenter, Allen Craig pushed a run home with a groundout. Carlos Beltran drove home the other with a single to center. Carpenter singled and scored an inning later to erase a save opportunity for Boggs.
The sixth-inning scoring came just in time to support Lynn, who struck out two batters in five of the six innings he pitched. The 10 strikeouts tied a season best for a Cardinals pitcher, matching what Jaime Garcia did against the Reds on Monday.
"He's good. He comes right after you," said Reds infielder Zack Cozart, who played college ball with Lynn. "He's not scared to throw his fastball. That's what he did tonight. He got ahead and threw a lot of fastballs. He's a competitor. He obviously outdid us tonight. He pitched well."
The Reds scraped their only run off Lynn in the fourth, despite only hitting one ball with much authority. Cozart's one-out chopper skipped past shortstop Pete Kozma. Joey Votto then reached when his grounder snuck through the right side of the infield as Descalso raced to cover second.
Cozart scored on Brandon Phillips' sacrifice fly, which would have been an extra-base hit if not for Matt Holliday's sliding catch.
"That's probably as much ground as I've seen him cover," Matheny said. "He was aggressive going after that. That certainly could have been ugly for us."
Lynn (1-0) then stranded two in his final inning of work. He fell just two strikeouts shy of equaling his career high of 12, which he set on June 13, 2012, against the White Sox.
Jenifer Langosch is a reporter for MLB.com. Read her blog, By Gosh, It's Langosch, and follow her on Twitter @LangoschMLB. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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NEW YORK, May 21, 2013 — New Yorker magazine staff writer Peter Hessler discusses his new book Strange Stones: Dispatches from East and West, a collection of essays on China and the United States, with author Michael Meyer and ChinaFile Editor Susan Jakes. (1 hr., 19 min.)
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subset: commoncrawl


text:
Our Footprint
Atmos Energy has grown from 279,000 customers in 1983 mainly by acquiring utility assets. The company has regulated utility operations in Colorado, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia. We are the largest natural gas distributor in the states of Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi.
The Colorado-Kansas Division of Atmos Energy Corporation serves a diverse geographic region from the Western Slope of Colorado, across the Front Range, over the plains of western and central Kansas to the rolling hills on the state's eastern edge.
The division, which includes Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia, represents a combination of utilities that were venerable pioneers of the natural gas industry.
The Louisiana Division was Atmos Energy's first acquisition. It was formed by the purchases in 1986 of Trans Louisiana Gas Company and in 2001 of Louisiana Gas Service Company and its LGS Natural Gas Company.
In 2004, Atmos Energy acquired the regulated distribution and pipeline operations of TXU Gas Company to form the Mid-Tex Division and Atmos Pipeline–Texas Division. These operations have deep roots going back to the 1870s and the founding in 1909 of Lone Star Gas Company.
Atmos Energy acquired the highly respected Mississippi Valley Gas Company in 2002. MVG had a long history of service to communities throughout Mississippi, starting with its formation as an independent natural gas utility in 1951.
The company's original distribution area is served today by the West Texas Division. The West Texas Division now serves 80 communities, the largest being Amarillo, Lubbock, Midland, and Odessa.
Gas Rates and Tariffs
To view the natural gas rates and tariffs for your area, choose your state below.


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Aveeno Overnight Itch Relief Cream Reviews
Review subjectI use this every night on both my girls, because they have sensative skin. — 6 years, 2 months agoMissPurple | 611 reviews
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aveenothis stuff really works! I woke up with no itching or flaking — 3 years, 6 months agomelaniemiller79 | 23 reviews
This review is: Helpful | Not helpful | Inappropriate | 1 of 2 people said helpful
Finnish saunafinnish sauna made my legs bit dry on my calves but each application made my legs better & better — 4 years, 1 month agorana_jetter | 2 reviews
This review is: Helpful | Not helpful | Inappropriate | 1 of 2 people said helpful
GreatI love this lotion. It stops the itch and leaves my skin really soft. — 5 years, 5 months agoreb4222 | 5 reviews
Soo moisturizingThis moisturizer is great for overnight because it's not too heavy, but not so light that it feels like you have no moisturizer on all. — 5 years, 11 months agodd365 | 19 reviews
Stops my crazy itchingI love how supple this makes my skin feel. I can put it on in the morning and still feel it on my skin when I go to bed. It's just what I needed to help relieve my crazy dry itching skin. — 6 years agoprettyvisage | 26 reviews
Works Really GoodThis stuff works really good and is very affordable. My son has ecezema and he is 3 and the doctors where prescribing all kind of steriod creams to him and know of them would clear his skin up and make him stop itching at his feet espically because his feet are really bad. So I seen this stuff in the store and I decided to give it a try and it worked excellent he didnt scratch at his feet all thro...read moreughout the night and after applying it for about a week his skin started to clear up. And I didnt have to pay the price of a prescription to clear his skin up. I LOVE IT!!!! — 8 years agodeestamey | 6 reviews
This review is: Helpful | Not helpful | Inappropriate | 4 of 5 people said helpful
Awesome ProductIt does what it says... relieves itch overnight. I had a rash on my arm and couldn't get to sleep, but after I used this lotion I was able to stop scratching and finally fall asleep. — 8 years, 5 months agoLexiJen | 1 reviews
Sun allergy rashes - very helpfulI am allergic to UV rays and have been getting really bad rashes lately,,,,,,,,,,,,the itch is terrible and I read somewhere on internet that Aveeno Overnight Itch Relief Cream may be very helpful for relief.......I decided to give it a try and have been very happy with the results. It was a big relief and the pirce wasn't bad at all either...... — 8 years, 11 months agoswativerma | 8 reviews
Winter ItchMy sons both have winter itch that seems to heighten at night while they're asleep. They itch so badly that they scratch until they bleed. I had to do something! I saw this product and decided to give it a try. And to my surprise,it worked! It's even better when you combine their products. I give my son a bath and let him soak in the Aveeno Oatmeal soak that I combined with the shower and bath oil. Then I follow that up with the overnight cream and SHAZZAM! Great product. Thanks Aveeno. — 9 years, 3 months agoCaranetta | 5 reviews
This review is: Helpful | Not helpful | Inappropriate | 1 of 1 people said helpful
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My Reasons for Reporting This


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SAN FRANCISCO -- Sunday's loss could be a good thing for the 49ers. I'm just trying to figure out how.
In fact, I am still trying to figure out exactly how the 10-9 defeat to Carolina even happened.
The Carolina Panthers are a good team, specifically on defense. The Panthers shut out the New York Giants earlier this season and allowed just 12 points to Seattle. But the Panthers also gave up 22 points to Arizona and 24 to Buffalo. The Panthers should be beatable if you hold them to 10 points.
"They're a good defense," agreed Colin Kaepernick. "But today was more our lack of execution than what they were doing."
The quarterback was speaking truth. The 49ers, with their offensive personnel, should never go through a game and fail to score a touchdown. That holds true even with tight end Vernon Davis injured and unavailable, as he was Sunday after leaving the game in the second quarter with a concussion.
The 49ers did not score a touchdown Sunday. They kicked three field goals. The offense was unable to sustain drives, or out of rhythm, or in a funk, or however you want to put it.
"It's unacceptable," said wide receiver Anquan Boldin, succinctly.
The salient question is, was this funk the product of the bye week break and subsequent rust? Or was it the product of being unable to cope with the injuries? Or was it something deeper and more fundamental?
Jonathan Goodwin, the 49ers center, cautioned against reading too much into too much.
"You can sit here and talk about a lot of things that we did, our rhythm being off or whatever," Goodwin said. "But at the end of the day, they executed better than us."
We heard that phrase a lot in the locker room. Execution was the issue. But what is execution? It is not doing the job properly at the line of scrimmage.
And that, more than anything, should be the 49ers' concern if they step back and examine the big picture. In general, the 49ers struggle against teams that possess winning records, teams that feel they can match up physically with the 49ers, down for down, hit for hit, at the scrimmage line. The 49ers are 0-3 against the Seahawks, Colts and Panthers, three teams that generally fit that description. So do the Saints, next up on the schedule.
"It ain't nothing we can't fix," said wide receiver Mario Manningham, who returned from knee surgery Sunday and made a few good catches. "We just have to ... finish plays."
Why was that so difficult Sunday? If the problem was indeed bye-week rust, you'd figure the 49ers defense would be affected as well as the offense. But the 49ers defense was fine. Better than fine, really. Holding any NFL team to a touchdown and a field goal is good work.
The offense was not fine. So is offense more susceptible to bye-week rust?
"Had nothing to do with it," said Boldin, adding that the bye week should have instead been an advantage for the 49ers because it gave them extra time to prepare for Carolina.
Which brings us to the quarterback. Kaepernick, a renowned hard worker, certainly wasn't goofing off during the bye week. You know he was watching video, preparing for the Panthers mentally. But the end result was one of Kaepernick's worst NFL afternoons.
The 49ers offense went 2 for 13 on third-down conversions. Kaepernick completed only 11 of 22 passes for 91 yards and was sacked six times. Five of those failed third-down conversions happened on Kaepernick passes that were either incomplete or short of a first down. Two other third-down fails occurred on a Kaepernick sack and a stifled Kaepernick scramble.
In any event, Kaepernick was out of sync all afternoon, including on the 49ers' final offensive play, with 37 seconds remaining, when two receivers ran to the same spot downfield and created an easy interception for Carolina cornerback Drayton Florence.
Jim Harbaugh, for his part, did what head coaches do. He wouldn't point his finger at any single player, including Kaepernick.
"Moving the ball wasn't coming easy for us today," Harbaugh said. "And we all put our fingerprints on that. It's not a good feeling when you don't prevail, especially when you had multiple chances to get it done."
You could argue that Harbaugh should have tried for a touchdown on a fourth-down play at the 2-yard line in the second quarter. But he settled for the field goal instead, for reasons having to do with the injury to Davis and one of his backups, Garrett Celek.
You also could argue that Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Greg Roman should not have given up on handing the ball to Frank Gore, who touched the ball only twice in the fourth quarter after averaging 5.6 yards per carry in the first three periods. But a number of those failed third-down conversions also occurred on Gore rushes.
Harbaugh promised the 49ers would "regroup, refit and reorganize."
Maybe that is the good thing that will come out of Sunday's loss. It will erase any complacency the 49ers might have developed during their five-game winning streak. It's difficult to believe that two 49ers receivers will run to the same spot again. That, too, would be unacceptable.


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WACO, Texas — Baylor University head football coach Art Briles is staying in Waco.
WACO, Texas — Baylor University head football coach Art Briles is staying in Waco.
Briles released a statement Friday morning, saying he is not interested in other college or professional coaching opportunities.
"I have no desire to pursue other coaching positions," said Briles. "As I've said many times, I am both humbled and honored to be the head coach at Baylor University, and believe we have something special going here. I look forward to leading the Bears onto the field next fall at McLane Stadium and defending our Big 12 championship that our players and coaches worked so hard to win this season.
"There is tremendous excitement for our program's future, and I look forward to many more great seasons at Baylor," he added. "There is tremendous commitment from our university leadership, athletic administration, coaches and student-athletes — it truly is a great time to be a Baylor Bear."
Baylor finished this season 11-2, won the Big 12 title and earned the school's first BCS Bowl appearance, losing the Fiesta Bowl to Central Florida. There was speculation he would interview for the University of Texas head coaching position or with the Washington Redskins, where former Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III is the starting signal-caller.
Baylor's offense shattered the NCAA record for points scored with 681 (29 more than previous record).
Briles is 44-32 in six seasons and ranks as the third-winningest coach in Baylor history. He owns an 11-year collegiate record of 78-60.


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The Greenfield City Council is heading for another makeover only five months after the previous one.
Agapito Vasquez and Yvette Gonzalez, elected in June in a recall election, were trailing far behind bakery manager Raul Rodriguez and salesman Lance Walker in the latest vote tally on Wednesday.
Rodriguez is leading with 641 votes, or 30 percent of the vote, followed by Walker with 534 votes, or 24 percent; Vasquez with 414 votes, or 19 percent; and Gonzalez with 326, or 15 percent. In last place was Jose Santibañez, with 283 votes, or 13 percent.
"I think Greenfield was ready for a change," Rodriguez said. "One of the reasons I won is because I was an alternative to the past. As a candidate, I offered a new vision, a new face and a new direction."
Rodriguez is far enough ahead in the count that he is likely assured a spot, but Gonzalez is holding out hope for the ballots yet to be counted.
"This is my fourth election," Gonzalez said. "I've seen too many times when somebody has been behind, the first one or two candidates claim victory and then they find out the numbers change. I'm hopeful and see what happens Friday."
Monterey County elections officials say there are still about 20,000 to 30,000 ballots to be counted countywide. That could mean another 500 to 1,000 votes for Greenfield, which has about 4,200 registered voters but only about 2,100 votes counted so far.
Walker said he wanted to wait until all results were in before talking to The Herald.
"It's still not a done deal yet," he said through an email. "There are still ballots that need to be counted. ... I want to make sure I'm in first."
Greenfield has undergone political turbulence in the past couple of years, partially brought on by a tough economy that tested residents' level of tolerance toward the large Mexican indigenous community. When crime levels began to increase, residents began demanding more from former Police Chief Joe Grebmeier. When the majority council tried to sideline him, residents pushed back and began a recall petition against two council members.
Given the circumstances of the recall, Rodriguez believes it would be understandable if the two council members who were voted in were now voted out.
"The recall was unusual and it was difficult for the residents of Greenfield to understand exactly what they were voting in. The recall was confusing. I think people did not take the recall as seriously as this election," Rodriguez said.
There was about a 37 percent turnout rate in the presidential primary in Greenfield, consistent with participation at the county level.
Gonzalez remains optimistic that she or Vasquez will retain a seat on the council.
"I understand one of the candidates is claiming victory at this point, but I know the numbers can change," she said. "Maybe they won't, but I won't claim either way until we see what happens on Friday."
Claudia Meléndez Salinas can be reached at 753-6755 or email@example.com.


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Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Batavus Old Dutch
Let's face it: the most utilitarian yet elegant bikes are the ones that are being pedaled everyday as basic transportation in Old World Europe. Just take a look at the blogs Amsterdamize and Copenhagenize. Europeans ride a whole lot more than Americans and they look good while doing it.
As some of us Americans have clamored for more "bikes for the rest of us," companies such as Batavus have tried to market their bikes here. The women's Old Dutch, pictured above, retailed for $829.99 at City Bikes, but it's currently not in stock.
Old Dutch is a 3-speed with an SRAM hub, making it ideal for cruising around a city. It comes with a "theft prevention chip" and a lock, but I would strongly suggest double locking it in underground parking garage. This is a bike that attracts attention.
Frame: High Tensile Steel (sizes 50-56)
Luggage rack: Steel
Taillight: Manual with battery
Tires: CST Traveller with anti-leakage layer
Bell: Chrome
Crank: Steel, chromium plated
Grips: Batavus comfort
Headlight: Traditional battery-powered
Pedals: Plastic anti-slip
Brakes: Coaster
Lock: Trelock RS420
Carrier Straps
Spokes: Stainless steel
Mudguards: Steel
Stand: Batavus Safety adjustable
Handlebars: Steel, chromium plated
Rims: Stainless steel
Saddle: Selle Royal 8274
Yes, that's a lot of steel. The Old Dutch weighs in at 19.7 kg, or about 44 pounds.
This is, in so many ways, the antithesis of most bikes being marketed to Americans today. Maybe, some day, our bike shops will look like this one visited by Dave Hembrow in the Netherlands. Until then, many of the best "bikes for the rest of us" will come from Europe.
9 comments:
- Pepik said...
- This comment has been removed by the author.
- January 7, 2009 at 10:07 AM
- 2whls3spds said...
They are slowly but surely making an inroad in to the American cycling economy. Redline, KHS, Schwinn, Raleigh and Breezer (among several others) all offer off the shelf ready to ride bikes that fill the need. Getting the local bike shops to stock them is a different issue. Demand them! The more people that walk into a store, ask for a "city bike" and walk out without purchasing anything will get their attention. There are several dedicated stores around that get it. Clever Cycles being one of the ones that I am aware of. I have a Redline R530 that is being brought up to the Dutch standard. People in the US have got to get over the $69.95 price tag at Walmart and realize that quality costs. But even at $500+ a good quality bike is cheaper than the average one month car payment. Then we need to improve cycling infrastructure so people aren't afraid to get out and ride!
- January 7, 2009 at 1:12 PM
- Fiasco said...
I do think it seems excessive to pay $900 for a bike that weighs 44lbs, when you could pay $300 for a bike that weighs half that and add fenders, a big comfy seat, etc. yourself, and which will be much easier to ride around town, carry up the stairs, etc.
- January 7, 2009 at 1:50 PM
- Joel said...
I love my '72 Schwinn Speedster - very similar to these bikes but cheaper ($75 from Craigslist). Yeah, it weighs a lot (and I lived 18 months carrying it up 4 floors) but it's stable and comfortable in a way that can't be recreated just by slapping similar parts on a different style frame.
- January 7, 2009 at 5:46 PM
For a premium quality Dutch style bicycle see www.velorbis.com - available through www.dutchbikes.us.
The velorbis bikes will soon feature in Desperate Housewifes.
- January 8, 2009 at 12:57 AM
- David Hembrow said...
There is a lot more that is of importance on a bicycle than weight. For an everyday bike, this very much includes reliability. Real Dutch bike are very resistant to corrosion (see the brine bath used to test components in this video).
Besides, Dutch building codes have required ground floor cycle parking in one form or another for decades...
- January 10, 2009 at 4:51 AM
Here in Holland people rarely bring their bicycles indoors so they have to live outside (the bicycles not the people). The Dutch ride their bicycles a lot and expect that they will be reliable (as David says above) even when carrying kids, adult passengers, groceries and so on every day of the year, rain or shine.
It's not true that you can just take a $300 bike and add a few accessories to build a utility bike that will survive under these conditions. Some people do try here but they end up with a very compromised bike that quickly rusts away anyway. Ironically, once they've added all the necessary parts: puncture resistant tires, fenders, lights, parking stand, racks, chain cover, wheel lock... they weigh more than a bike originally equipped with them.
Oh, and the "dutch style" Velorbis bikes that anonymous plugs above are just overpriced and lower quality copies of English Pashleys.
- February 8, 2009 at 2:02 PM
- cathy said...
I have one of these I brought back from A'dam (bought it used). In those "good old days" you could wheel your bike to the KLM counter, buy a box for about $30, load the bike in and roll it out the door upon arrival home. It weighs a ton but rides as smooth as a Cadillac. It is a bear to replace the tires, though.
- March 5, 2010 at 11:10 AM
- Steel Detailing said...
Really I am impressed from this post….the person who create this post he is a great human...thanks for shared this with us. I found this informative
and interesting blog so i think it's very useful and knowledge able.
- January 5, 2011 at 7:50 AM


text:
A Trial to Assess the Efficacy and Safety of SPM 927 in Subjects With Painful Distal Diabetic Neuropathy
- Full Text View
- Tabular View
- No Study Results Posted
- Disclaimer
- How to Read a Study Record
This phase 2b trial is being conducted at approximately 60 sites in the US to investigate whether lacosamide (SPM 927) at different doses reduces pain in subjects with diabetic neuropathy. Approximately 360 subjects will be randomized to placebo or one of three doses of lacosamide. To qualify for this trial, subjects with symptoms of painful distal diabetic neuropathy ranging in duration from 6 months to 5 years must have an average pain intensity of ≥4 on an 11-point Likert scale (0-10 scale) during the 7 day period prior to start of treatment.
To determine what effect lacosamide has on diabetic neuropathic pain, subjects will use a diary to record their daily pain intensity (morning and evening), pain interference with sleep (morning) and activity (evening). Use of rescue medication (acetaminophen) and subjects' quality of life will be investigated. In addition, safety and tolerability of the different doses of lacosamide will be investigated.
|Diabetic Neuropathy
|Drug: SPM 927
|Phase 2 Phase 3
|Study Type:
|Study Design:
|Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Double
Primary Purpose: Treatment
|Official Title:
|A Multi-center, Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled, Parallel-group Trial to Assess the Efficacy and Safety OF 200, 400, AND 600 mg/Day SPM 927 in Subjects With Painful Distal Diabetic Neuropathy
- To investigate the efficacy of 200, 400, and 600 mg/day of lacosamide compared with placebo in reducing pain in subjects with painful distal diabetic neuropathy.
- To investigate the effect of lacosamide on subjects' perception of pain, sleep, activity, quality of life, as well as to investigate the pharmacokinetics and safety of lacosamide.
|Study Start Date:
|April 2004
|Study Completion Date:
|June 2005
|Primary Completion Date:
|June 2005 (Final data collection date for primary outcome measure)
|Ages Eligible for Study:
|18 Years and older (Adult, Senior)
|Sexes Eligible for Study:
Inclusion Criteria:
- Painful distal diabetic neuropathy
Exclusion Criteria:
- Must have an average pain intensity of ≥ 4 on an 11-point Likert scale
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00235469
|United States, North Carolina
|RTP, North Carolina, United States
|Study Director:
|UCB Clinical Trial Call Center
|UCB Pharma
Additional Information:
|ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
|NCT00235469 History of Changes
|Other Study ID Numbers:
|Study First Received:
|October 6, 2005
|Last Updated:
|September 19, 2014
Keywords provided by UCB Pharma:
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
Peripheral Nervous System Diseases
Diabetic Neuropathies
Neuromuscular Diseases
Nervous System Diseases
Diabetes Complications
Diabetes Mellitus
Endocrine System Diseases
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on September 21, 2017


text:
Ubaldo turns in successful first rehab outing
BALTIMORE -- Ubaldo Jimenez made his first rehab start for Class A short-season Aberdeen on Tuesday, going 4 2/3 innings. The Orioles' right-hander could make another start for a higher affiliate next week as he continues to work his way back from a right ankle injury.
Jimenez allowed one unearned run on five hits and three walks, along with a wild pitch. He also struck out three.
Manager Buck Showalter wouldn't commit before Tuesday's game whether Jimenez would need a second outing, but given how well the rotation has pitched it's very likely. Jimenez also hasn't appeared in a game for the Orioles since July 5. He went 3-8 with a 4.52 ERA in 18 games in the first half and will pose a roster crunch for the O's, who have five starters that have pitched well as of late.
Brittany Ghiroli is a reporter for MLB.com. Read her blog, Britt's Bird Watch, and follow her on Facebook and Twitter @britt_ghiroli. David Wilson is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


text: Tony Parker scored 31 points in his return from a one-game absence to lead the San Antonio Spurs to a 112-97 victory over the Washington Wizards on Monday. Parker, who missed Friday's loss to the Los Angeles Clippers with a strained right quadriceps, hit 13 of 18 shots and had seven assists. Tiago Splitter scored 17 points, Tim Duncan added 14, and DeJuan Blair had 11 points and 12 rebounds.


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PEOPLE can learn how to build a clay oven on a new course near Ledbury.
On July 5 and July 6 members of community interest company, The Cart Shed, will teach the course at Salter's Hill, based at Falcon Lane near Ledbury.
Salter's Hill supports people with learning disabilities, and the course is suitable for all ages and abilities and is free for children who are accompanied by a paying adult.
For more information on prices, call 07796 421 373 or email firstname.lastname@example.com.


text:
A gym in Newark, Del., is a brightly-colored study in motion as pre-school aged kids chase each other across gymnastics mats, bounce giant rubber balls, and crumble playfully to the floor in heaps.
The scene at the University of Delaware's Early Learning Center isn't simply chaos. It's brain food.
"We know that movement and mobility drives developmental change in the first three years," said Cole Galloway, a physical therapy professor and infant behavior expert at the University of Delaware. "You learn your cognition, your language, your social skills, through embodiment, through movement."
For children unable to run around with their peers, or even crawl easily, Galloway said, that exploration is hindered, as are opportunities for socialization.
"When you're immobile, an adult often has to remind a typically developing kid to come play with you," Galloway said. "And likely I won't have the same type of friendships that a mobile kid will have."
Galloway's mission is to get kids with disabilities that impinge mobiliy on the move.
He started several years ago with a robotic electric wheelchair that six-month olds controlled with a joystick.
Parents clamored for the machines, but they cost about $20,000 each and Galloway's team only had two.
Inspiration from an unlikely place
Searching for a more accessible option a few years ago, Galloway left the high-tech robotics lab and took a field trip to Toys 'R' Us.
"We had gotten down all the toy cars and had the manager come out and say 'excuse me, can I help you?'" Galloway said. "And we told him basically, um, 'we're good, we're having a lab meeting.' That started us toward this very different way of looking at things."
Instead of building a whole new machine to give young children mobility, Galloway's team started retrofitting off-the-shelf ride-on toy cars.
A more affordable alternative
Back at the Early Learning Center gym, three young children with cognitive or physical disabilities played on the cars, zooming around in a hodgepodge of models — a mini coupe with a cartoon face, a larger black luxury SUV, and a rugged looking stand-up ATV.
The cars sported a similar hodgepodge of modifications: big red "on" and "off" switches instead of pedal accelerators, homemade roll bars made from PVC pipes, and on the SUV, a tall, supportive back rest.
Other children watched jealously for a moment, then played around the perimeter of the gym.
The toy cars and the materials for modifications cost well under $200, according to Galloway, and he thinks the cheap fix is working.
"Instead of sitting by yourself in a sandbox and having kids rotate around you like a planet," Galloway said, "I'm able to steal your (toy) and run away — and you have to chase me."
Electric wheelchairs are usually reserved for children who have tried walking and can't, and aren't typically used until age three. These smaller, cheaper, lighter cars can get kids moving independently in the critical early years of development, and can be used by children who will eventually walk.
Local families first test subjects
"The first thing I thought was 'holy cow, this is the coolest thing I ever read,'" said Ashley Moore, a Pennsylvania mom who saw the toy cars in a University of Delaware alumni magazine.
She quickly asked the team to build one for her son, Joey, a cherubic-looking 13-month-old with spina bifida who is paralyzed from the waist down. She said Joey has been vocal and motivated since he got the car months ago.
"Just today, he was playing on the floor, and I had gotten up to go do something, and I came back, and he was not where I'd left him," Moore said. "He never did that before we got the car."
Taking the effort global
Last summer, the University of Delaware team posted how-to videos on YouTube, so parents can learn how to add on-of switches and PVC supports to toy cars themselves.
Galloway said the cars have popped up from Toronto to Los Angeles County, and he's given presentations on how to build them in Chicago and Utah. The "Go Baby Go" Facebook page has likes from as far away as Japan.
"You start to believe that from our home base in Newark, Del., you can impact kids all over the planet," Galloway said.
It is too soon to tell if the cars can live up to Galloway's lofty goal of helping brain development and socialization in young children. Studies following more children will be necessary to determine the toys' longer-term impact.
"We know that there's a link between restricted movement and learning," said Christiana Hospital's Dr. David Paul. "What we don't know is if on a large scale, if by providing this intervention, it's going to make a big difference in the long term."
Right now, Galloway is building the next generation of cars that will only go when kids are standing up, or practicing walking — so they can serve as a stepping stone to independent mobility later on.


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Natasha Poly, Lily Cole, Carine Roitfeld and More Fashion Figures Surface at 2009 Cannes Film Festival
>> The Cannes Film Festival is well underway and with the red carpet fashion such a focus, it's no surprise that some of the industry's finest are out in full form. Roberto Cavalli, who like last year continues to offer his yacht up to guests and score a number of red carpet moments — including dressing Natasha Poly for today's Inglourious Basterds premiere — was spotted riding around atop a Segway. Georgina Chapman is also in town, cinching Marchesa dress appearances on the likes of Penelope Cruz yesterday and Diane Kruger today.
Lily Cole, in Cannes for her own upcoming movie premiere, stepped out with boyfriend Enrique Murciano on Monday. "I've been studying the history of art in college," she told FWD. "But the gorgeous beach and sun is what everyone needs with two weeks left in the semester!" Carine Roitfeld, who will have her big red carpet moment tomorrow at the amfAR benefit, appeared in lacy Balmain at a premiere today with Patrick Demarchelier.
Balenciaga muse Charlotte Gainsbourg debuted a Fall 2009 dress from the label at her Antichrist premiere, Eva Herzigova showed up in a sheer dress for the second year in a row, and Doutzen Kroes also popped up wearing Alaia, of which she tweeted, "So excited he lets me wear his dress!!"


text: Port Washington, N.Y., According to a new report from The NPD Group, consumer satisfaction with the wireless retail shopping experience is low across the board, with only 24% of recent mobile-phone purchasers stating that they had an excellent or good experience. While NPD's survey confirms that the vast majority of mobile phone and service purchases are made at carrier-owned stores, consumers who purchased from other types of stores, including mass merchants and electronics retailers, reported higher levels of satisfaction. RadioShack and Wal-Mart were the top two retailers in terms of overall shopping experience, and also ranked high in other metrics including helpful sales staff, variety and selection of wireless products, and store layout.


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Frizz is an unfortunate part of many ladies' lives, thanks to years of heat damage, naturally drier hair, or coloring to hide the grays. Despite the fact that you may not be able to rid your locks of this unsightly issue altogether, there are certain steps you can take to make it less noticeable.
If you're in need of a frizz-reducing procedure, than starting with hair products like a deep conditioner is a must. Using Steiner Thirst Quencher Moisturizing Conditioner 1000ml could work since this cream is designed to repair damaged or chemically treated hair. Keep the conditioner in your hair for about five minutes and then rinse it out with cool water to feel the smoothing effects.
After you've conditioned, use a wide-toothed comb to brush out your locks instead of a brush. Livestrong reports brushes can actually hurt your locks leading to frizz. After this procedure, lock in even more moisture by applying a light smoothing serum like Steiner Shine Drops Hair Serum 50ml, which fights frizz and humidity.
Lastly, it's important to keep up with split ends, even if you don't head to the salon as frequently as you should. Trimming your hair every six weeks or so can limit how much frizz you have, and will boost your hair's overall health as well.
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No arrests have been made in the suspected arson that destroyed the former Sulphur High School earlier this month, Danny Stivers, an investigator with the Kentucky State Police said Monday.
But a few people have been identified who might provide leads on how the fire started, Stivers said, without divulging those names.
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One Weird Soccer GameLogic puzzles require you to think. You will have to be logical in your reasoning.
One day, two soccer teams played a soccer game. Each team scored on two kicks during the course of the game. However, all kicks were shot into the same goal. How is this possible?
HintSoccer teams play 2 halves of 45 minutes.
AnswerThe teams scored their points in different halves. They switch sides during halftime. So they were all shot into one of the goals.
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text: At the NACS Sumitt in Chicago this week, a panel of experts spoke to the c-store industry on today's lending environment. "It is clear to me this would be a hot topic for many people in this room," said Joseph Sheetz, executive vice president of finance for Sheetz Inc., who moderated the session. Panel participants


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Hi Good day,i am Edward Crosby a private loan lender, Has it been challenging acquiring working capital to expand your business?-Or do you require personal capital?-Has your bank recently declined you a business or personal loan?-With no collateral we arrange both small and large loan amount.We are a private loan lending firm with a reputable name with 90% approval rate.
contact us Show email .
Posted 12/09/15


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Mark Sanchez's future as a New York Jet may have been sealed Friday night.
The Jets drafted Sanchez's presumed successor at quarterback, West Virignia's Geno Smith, in the second round. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Jets will now explore the possibility of releasing Sanchez.
Jets owner Woody Johnson could be prepared to cut his losses with Sanchez now that Smith is on board. The one-time franchise quarterback counts $12.85 million against New York's salary cap this year. If the Jets do decide to cut him as a June 1 designation — and that could be done at any point between now and then — they would take a salary cap hit of $12.35 million this year and $4.8 million next year.
First-year general manager John Idzik would not say with certainty that Sanchez will be in training camp with the Jets to even compete with Smith.
"We're not going to try to forecast anything or predetermine anything," Idzik told reporters. "Just put it out on the field and let it play out."
Idzik said he hadn't spoken to Sanchez just before or after the Jets drafted Smith, which contradicted what Sanchez's brother and agent, Nick Sanchez Jr., told ESPN's Sal Paoloantonio.
Nick Sanchez Jr., also told Paoloantonio that the Jets have not asked Mark to take pay cut or discussed a possible trade with him.
When asked by Paoloantonio whether Sanchez wants to remain with the Jets, Nick responded: "I haven't asked him that question yet. He will comment at a later time."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.


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Bdring of buildlog.net built this 40W laser engraver cutter from scratch. The goal is to make a laser cutter for under $1000. Excellent work!
The recent Epilog Laser Challenge at Instructables.com got me thinking about building a low cost CNC laser. The engraver they had as the prize had a list price of about $8,000. The income tax on that would be quite a lot. I thought a larger more powerful machine could easily be built for less than the amount you would have to pay for the tax. The Epilog Zing 16 is 30W with an area of 16″ x 20″. Try to beat that for less than $1,000. I understand that a huge part of what you get from Epilog is software, safety, support and a guarantee, so it is not a really fair challenge.
[via Hacked Gadgets]


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Cultural Adaptation
Culture Shock
"Culture Shock" occurs when anxiety levels rise to a critical level due to the differences we encounter when we move from one cultural setting to another. These differences include smells, sounds, flavors, and other sensory stimuli as well as how local people deal with time, communication, status and hierarchy, the rule of law, family and relationships, etc. We both literally and emotionally become disoriented. We lose our sense of direction, our "bearings". After an initial period of enchantment and excitment in the new cultural, we eventually get tired of the effort involved in dealing with all the differences and long for home and the familiar. This, too, at least in its most severe form, eventually passes, but not before we experience that sense of shock or panic. The whole process is normal, and most people get through it without it becoming incapacitating.
A certain amount of "culture shock" is normal when moving from one culture to another, whether across the world, across the country, or just across town. You should expect it, recognize it, and be prepared to deal with it. If you need help, please do not hesitate to contact the Office of International Student Services or the Counseling Center.
Common Symptoms of Culture Shock
- Extreme homesickness
- Desire to avoid social settings that seem threatening or unpleasant
- Physical complaints and sleep disturbances
- Depression and feelings of helplessness
- Difficulty with course work and concentration
- Loss of your sense of humor
- Boredom or fatigue
- Hostility toward the host culture
Dealing with culture shock – step back, assess, search for an appropriate explanation and response
- Observe how others are acting in the same situation
- Describe the situation, what it means to your, and your response to it
- Ask local residents how they would have handled the situation and what it means in the host culture
- Plan how you might act in this or similar situations in the future
- Test the new behavior and evaluate how well it works
- Decide how you can apply what you have learned the next time you find yourself in a similar situation
Throughout the process, take care of yourself
- Read a book or watch a video in your home language
- Take a trip
- Exercise and get plenty of rest
- Write or phone home
- Eat good food
- Do things you enjoy with your friends
Keep in mind that the reactions and perceptions of others toward you, and you toward them, are not personal evaluations but are based on a clash of cultural values. The more skilled you become in recognizing how and when cultural values and behaviors are likely to come in conflict, the easier it becomes to make adjustments that can help you avoid serious difficulties.


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From OpenWetWare
Design of the DNA Sequence
In this section, we will explain the design of our DNA Shell in detail. The DNA Shell is constructed of DNA Origami. In this section, we explain about DNA Origami, and then describe about our design of the typical structure and added functions of DNA Shell. Also, we will describe the simulation techniques to calculate the melting temperature and the Gibbs free energy in hybridization.
DNA origami
DNA Origami is a complex 2D or 3D structure which is fabricated using helical structures of DNA. Generally, DNA Origami is composed of one scaffold DNA, which is a long single-stranded DNA, and many staple DNAs, which are short single-stranded DNAs. Staple DNAs are designed so that they connect the parts of the scaffold DNA to make the desired structure. In designing DNA Origami, the phase of hydrogen bonding of DNA helical structure should also be concerned. We designed the DNA sequence of the DNA Shell using CADNano®, the software for designing DNA Origami.
Main Structure of DNA shell
For our DNA shell, we used a typical DNA material called M13 as scaffold DNA. It has approximately 7250 base pairs and it is an ideal number for our shell. Some parts of this DNA hybridizes by itself, so we had to cut those parts off. In designing the staple DNAs, we standardized the number of base pairs to 32 bp. This is important because the conditions of hybridization is greatly affected by the number of base pairs.
Fig. 1.1 is the picture of DNA Shell on CADNano®. The blue line is the scaffold M13 and the others are the staples. The shell has three large domains which are about 40nm × 30nm. The domains in the center and the right are the body of the shell. Various functional DNAs like the ones used for bonding to streptavidin could be attached. The left domain is used for attaching the DNA Shell on to a solid surface. In order to make the links between the domains loose enough so that the structure can fold, the staples to reinforce these areas were not added.
Adding Functionality
In order to add functionality to the body, we extended some of the staples so they could bond with single-stranded DNAs that are modified with some molecules (Fig. 1.2). Therefore, for the functional DNAs, we added 13 more base pairs to the staples which originally had 32 base pairs. We designed all these staples to extend from the same side of shell surface taking care of the phase of the hydrogen bond.
We needed to attach 12 single-stranded DNAs with fluorescent molecules (named as fluorescent DNAs) and two functional single-stranded DNAs to one side, and 12 single-stranded DNAs with quenching molecules (named as quenching DNAs) and two functional single-stranded DNAs to the other side. We had to think up of 4 different sequences that would bind to either:
- Fluorescent DNAs
- Quenching DNAs
- Functional DNAs to the fluorescent side
- Functional DNAs to the quenching side
We designed the structure so that the functional part is surrounded by fluorescent/quenching molecules (Fig. 1.3). To quench the light emitted by the fluorescent molecules when the shell is closed, the two molecules must be close to each other. Therefore, we designed the fluorescent molecules and the quenching molecules to face each other when the shell is closed.
Simulation Techniques
Simulation techniques were applied to make sure that the staples are hybridized only at the points where we want hybridization to occur. That is, we have to keep the energy for hybridization high in inappropriate areas and keep it low in the correct areas. In order to achieve this requirement, we focused on these three points.
- Make sure that the complementary arrangements of the designed staples does not appear in inappropriate area.
- Keep the melting temperature of correct hybridization low, and keep the melting temperature of incorrect hybridization high.
- Avoid steric hindrance.
The Watson-Crick base pair is stable. Therefore if there are no other possibilities of hybridization of the staples and the scaffold in the inappropriate areas, the Gibbs energy of the structure would become the lowest when hybridization occurs in the appropriate areas. This way, our first focus, hybridization at correct areas, will be achieved. Also, we accomplished the second requirement through simulation which is described below. If we hybridized the sequence extended from the staples and the functionalized DNAs at the same time, there would be some steric hindrance. To weaken this effect, we set a realm where the staples will not be hybridized. What we actually did was to embed two T (thymine) bases in the staples.
To simulate the energy of hybridization and melting temperature, we used the software named DINAMelt and NUPACK supported online. Since there is no absolute solutions for design, we needed to get over these difficulties by trial and error; It was serious and troublesome work. In designing the arrangement extended from staples, we need to attach the same arrangement to the staples attached with functional parts. This work of discovering moderate arrangement cost us immense labor, because it is required to make these staples added only ONE pattern of arrangement hybridized stably.
Fig. 1.4 is one example of simulation using DINAMelt (http://mfold.rna.albany.edu). This is a simulation to estimate the melting temperature and the possibility of correct hybridization. This is simulation was done under the situation of
- From 0°C by 1°C to 100°C as DNA
- [A0] = 1.6e-07 M, [B0] = 1.6e-07 M ;[A0] is concentration of extended staple and [B0] is concentration of modified functional staples
- [Na+] = 0.2 M, [Mg++] = 0.0125 M
The results of the simulation shows that the hybridization of A and B (which means the appropriate hybridization) is dominant at low temperature(from 0°C to 30°C). The data gained (melting temperature) was used for annealing process in experiment.
Experimental Results
In this section, we will write about the results to our experiment. Our experiment consists of four themes;
- Assembly of the DNA Shell
- Capturing Ability
- Immobilizing on Microfluidic Device
- Supporting Enzyme
Experiments to show the detection ability of the DNA Shell is included in the "Capturing Ability". The results are listed in order below.
Assembly of the DNA Shell
First, we mixed M13 and staples, and ascertained whether DNA Shell was hybridized as we had designed by agarose gel electrophoresis and atomic force microscope (AFM).
The staple DNA was mixed with M13 (160 or 16 nM of each staple DNA, 1.6 or 4 nM of M13, a 100 or 4 –fold excess of staple DNA) in 1x TAE/Mg buffer. When we added functional staples which are DNA with molecules such as the fluorescence, the quencher and the biotin instead of normal staples, we made the density of functional staples all the same as normal staples. Samples were annealed two hours from 95℃ to 20℃ in a thermal cycler at a rate of 6.25℃/10minutes 12 steps.
Agarose Gel Electrophoresis
We confirmed that we had the structure which had the bigger molecular weight than original M13(scaffold) by electrophoresis. Samples were electrophoresed in a 0.6 % agarose gel containing 1X TAE/Mg buffer. The agarose gel was run at 4℃ for 70 minutes (Fig.1 & 2).
The band of M13+staple ran longer than the band of M13. It showed that the structure which had big molecular weight was created. The lower fuzzy band was the band of excess staple DNA. When we put staples both 100 and 4 times of M13mp18, the annealing went well.
These DNA origami (M13 + all staples) were observed by using AFM to confirm that these DNA Shell were formed correctly. 1xTAE/Mg solution was utilized as buffer.
This AFM picture clearly shows that the origami with all staples was formed as designed. There was the point where it seemed that origami connected with each other aside. This is probably because each DNA Shell was attracted each other by π-π stacking interaction. We designed DNA Shell as base pair lined lengthways, so it was appropriate for DNA Shell to connect sideways by π-π stacking interaction.
Capturing Ability
Next, we ascertained whether DNA Shell captured target molecules (target DNA, streptavidin) by using agarose gel electrophoresis, fluorometry, and AFM.
Agarose Gel Electrophoresis
We ascertained whether the migration distance changed after target DNA was added in the solution with DNA Shell. After having annealed the sample which added target DNA (control1 and control2) to M13 and staple, we electrophoresed and confirmed a change of the phoresis distance. Samples were electrophoresed in a 0.6 % agarose gel containing 1X TAE/Mg buffer at 4℃ for 70 minutes.
All the samples which were added target DNA to come to have a shorter phoresis distance than the sample which wasn't add. It is thought that it became hard to go through the mesh of the gel by Shell having been closed.
After having annealed the sample which contained the scaffold (M13), staple DNA, DNA with a fluorescence molecule and DNA with quencher molecule, we took 100μl of the sample and added 400μl of 1xTAE/Mg buffer and measured the fluorescence intensity. We recorded the fluorescence change before and after we put the target DNA and streptavidin (SA). The target DNA is a DNA fragment that is made to close the DNA Shell instead of streptavidin.
Fluorescence Change (1 equiv. of target DNA)
Step 1
After having added target DNA, intensity of fluorescence decreased. It is thought that the fluorescence decreased because Shell closed by having put target DNA and fluorescence molecules approached quencher molecules.
Step 2
The next graph is the change of the peak numerical value when we adjusted the density of target DNA. We calculated numerical value after having added target DNA for 100 at the intensity of fluorescence of the peak before adding target DNA.
Step 3
We changed the number of fluorescence molecules and the quencher molecules which spread from the Shell surface (12, 4 or 1) and, in the case of each, checked how became a fluorescence change. In the lower graph, peak numerical value before adding target DNA is 100.
Step 4
In the case of four and twelve pairs of fluorescent and quencher molecules there is not big difference, but there is a significant difference if we compare with the case of just one pair of fluorescent and quencher molecule. It can be said that the detection ability would increase when multiple pairs of fluorescence and quencher molecules are attached.
Following target DNA, we checked whether we could capture streptavidin with DNA Shell.
After having annealed the sample which contained M13, staple DNA, DNA with a fluorescence molecule, DNA with quencher molecule and DNA with biotin, we took 100μl of the sample and added 400μl of 1xTAE/Mg buffer and measured the fluorescence intensity. We recorded the change in fluorescence before and after we put SA.
Fluorescence Change (1 equiv. SA)
Adding SA
After having added SA, intensity of fluorescence decreased. It is thought that the fluorescence decreased because the Shell closed and the distance between fluorescence and quencher molecules became small causing quenching of the light.
Changing the Concentration of SA
The next graph shows the change in the peak fluorescence when we changed the concentration of SA. We calculated using the peak value after normalizing the fluorescence before adding SA as 100.
The biggest change in fluorescence was observed when 1/8 equiv. of SA was added. It was thought that the change in fluorescence become small when SA concentration was high, because two molecules of SA would connect to one DNA Shell and prevent the DNA Shell from closing.
We performed fluorometry in three kinds of Shell ([1] Shell where biotin grew on both sides (Normal Shell) [2] Shell where biotin grew only in the fluorescence side [3] Shell where biotin grew only in the quencher side).
There was no big difference between [3] and [1]. However, only [2] came to have a particularly big fluorescence change.
Two molecules of biotin is growing from one domain of the Shell in [2] and [3]. Because four molecules of biotin can bind with one molecule of SA, it is thought that two Shell catched one SA, and a dimer was formed. In this case a large number of fluorescence molecules would approach at a time in [2], and it is thought that quenching occured and the fluorescence decreased.
Fig. 188.8.131.52.3 Dimer
First, we observed the DNA Shell that captured the target DNA. This AFM picture shows that the target DNA was captured. In the picture, some square shapes could be seen. They are the DNA Shell.
We found that the thickness of the white point in the Shell (Fig.188.8.131.52) was about 4.9nm(Fig. 22.214.171.124). In this picture, the left upper graph shows the sectional pitch that cut Shell perpendicularly. Target DNA is 26 bp or about 5.8 nm, so we estimated that the target DNA hybridized with staple DNA with a little bending.
Following target DNA, we checked whether we could see the DNA Shell that had captured streptavidin. At the upper left of the above picture, we could see a square structure which has two white points in the center. This structure is the Shell. The following pictures show the sectional pitch.
By analyzing the AFM pictures we could see that:
- Shell is 91.797 nm (almost 90 nm) wide
- Shell is 2.075 nm (almost 2nm) thick
- The white points of Shell are 3.882 nm and 4.096 nm(almost 4 nm) thick
- There is a part with almost 0 nm thick at around 21 nm from the side of Shell
Shell is constructed from bundles of double helix, so it is reasonable enough to think that the value 2 nm is Shell's thickness. (The diameter of the double helix is 2 nm). The thickness at the white points in the Shell are equivalent to the thickness for approximately two folds of double helix. In addition, width of Shell at the design stage is approximately 120 nm and the structure seen this time, width is almost 2/3 of it. It is reasonable to suppose that this is because one origami domain is on top of another domain. From this geometrical information, we could conclude that the Shell had successfully captured streptavidin. The white points of the Shell are smaller compared with the Shell itself because streptavidin is small (almost 60 Å)
Immobilizing on Microfluidic Device
We confirmed DNA origami is immobilized on the surface of microfluidic device. For the adsorption of DNA origami to clean or hydrophilic silicon dioxide surfaces, glass was cleaned with acetone and 2-propanol, then rinsed in DI water, assisted by ultrasonic agitation. Next, the surface was treated with oxygen plasma to yield a hydrophilic surface, using standard cleaning parameters (50% power and 0.5 mbar chamber pressure for 30 sec). A drop of 2 μl 5× TAE buffer was dispensed onto the cleaned surface. The TAE buffer spreaded completely over the cleaned surface. A 2 μl drop of DNA origami solution was dispensed on the top. The incubation time was 30 minutes in a closed petri dish. After incubation the sample was dipped for 5 seconds into a solution of water and ethanol (50:50 v/v), followed by immersion for one hour in a solution of water in ethanol (10:90 v/v). All steps were done at room temperature.
Target DNA was introduced into Microfluidic Device
- A solution containing of fluorescent labeled-DNA origami(M13 + staples) was introduced into a microchannel on the microfluidic device. After rinsing to remove DNA origami that was not attached on the microchannel, observation of fluorescence from immobilized DNA origami was performed (a). The scale bar is 100 μm.
- The fluorescence was almost kept even if water is introduced into the microchannel (b).
- The fluorescence strength would be weak when the control solution is introduced into the microchannel (c).
And we showed the fluorescence intensity of each image to the graph.
After water was introduced, decrease in the fluorescence intensity was observed due to destruction of immobilized DNA origami. Changes in salt concentration by introducing water may have caused this to happen. Also after target DNA was introduced, fluorescence intensity decreased greatly. This shows that the target DNAs closed the DNA Shell and decreased the fluorescence.
Therefore, we confirm that DNA origami was immobilized onto the surface of the microchannel.
Introduction of Streptavidin into Microfluidic Device
- A solution containing fluorescent labeled-DNA origami (Biotin attached) was introduced into the microchannel of the microfluidic device. After rinsing to remove DNA origami that was not immobilized on the microchannel, observation of remaining fluorescence from immobilized DNA origami was performed (d). The scale bar is 100 μm.
- The fluorescence was kept when water is introduced into the microchannel (e).
- The fluorescence strength would be weak when the streptavidin is introduced into the microchannel (f).
And we showed the fluorescence intensity of each image to the graph.
Since number of times of rinsing was few, DNA origami which was not immobilized was not removed. So after water was introduced, fluorescence intensity greatly fell. Also fluorescence intensity became weak after the streptavidin was introduced. Fluorescence weakened because the streptavidin was attached to the DNA origami immobilized on the microchannel.
Supporting Enzyme
Based on the results mentioned above, we did further advanced experiments. We confirmed whether DNA Shell supported enzymes.
We used 3,5,3',5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB), streptavidin with horseradish peroxidase (HRP) labeling and trypsin. TMB can be oxidized for the reduction of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) to water by such as HRP.
We make use of two biochemical reactions;
(1) TMB is oxidized by H2O2/HRP. This reaction happens with a change of color. When TMB (λmax=285nm) is oxidized, the solution takes on a blue color (λ=370 and 652nm) at first and gradually turns to yellow (λmax=450nm). ( Josephy, P. D., Eling, T., and Mason, R. P.(1982) J.Biol.Chem, 257, 3669-3675)
(2) Trypsin, a protease that cleaves peptide chains mainly, decomposes HRP. (Welinder, K. G. (1979) Eur. J. Biochem, 96, 483-502)
If trypsin decomposes HRP, before the reaction happens between TMB and HRP, HRP does not oxidize TMB. Furthermore, we used streptavidin-labeld HRP and DNA Shell with biotin. DNA Shell protects HRP because of the combination between streptavidin and biotin. As HRP protected by Shell, trypsin does not decompose HRP and the oxidization of TMB goes on.
Experiment Condition
We made four kinds of solution like below (Table 2.4.2) and measured the absorption spectra of each solution.
|DNA Shell
|Expected Peak Wavelength[nm]
Table 2.5.2 Four kinds of solution for the experiments.
- (No.1) We only used 2μM TMB in acetate buffer.
- (No.2) We added 20nM streptavidin-labeled HRP in tris HCl to the solution of 2μM TMB in acetate buffer.
- (No.3) We added the solution in which we reacted trypsin and HRP for 1 hour in 37C constant temperature bath and HRP to TMB. As a whole solution, 0.2µM TMB, 2µMHRP, excess trypsin and 50mM acetate (TMB buffer), 50mM trisHCl (HRP buffer) are contained.
- (No.4) We added the solution in which we reacted trypsin, HRP and Shell for 1 hour in 37C constant temperature bath and HRP to TMB. 0.2µM TMB, 2µMHRP, 2nM DNA Shell, excess trypsin and 50mM acetate (TMB buffer), 50mM trisHCl (HRP buffer) are contained.
Results and Measurements
Lab Book
Please refer to below link.


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" Brand: Chicago Town / Type: Other Ready Meals "
I was looking for a couple of pizzas to keep in the freezer for quick dinner emergencies! I came across these Chicago Town range in my local Tesco on special offer.
They normally sell at £4.29 each but at the moment they are 2 for £6 so just £3 each which I thought was really very reasonable.
Cooking is easily enough, remove the pizza from its cardboard box and cellophane wrapper and throw it in a pre heated. I put mine straight onto the shelf, not on a tray, at 180 for about 15 minutes.
The first thing I notice about this pizza is the amount of toppings on it - they certainly aren't stingy with the pieces of pepperoni or the cheese - Crikey! The second is the size of the pizza, it is quite big. Of course it is not as big as a "large" from a pizza parlour, the kind that are the size of a dust bin lid, but for a home pizza it is big.
I cut this pizza into 5 pieces just using a regular kitchen knife, not a pizza wheel or anything fancy. My technique is to kind of chop and then tear. I have 2 pieces of this with a few oven chips for my dinner and the other half has 3 and we were both full up after eating.
The thing that makes this pizza different is the crust. The crust is filled with a rich tomatoey sauce which is different.
The pizza itself is delicious. The base is unusual, but lovely. To me it has a kind of pastry like texture almost. The crust as I have already mentioned has a ring of sauce through it which is very very tomatoey. To me it was a little bit too much and my boyfriend ends up getting my pizza crusts as a result. He didn't complain though as he loved them!!
All in all this is a lovely pizza and I would say this is a suitable alternative on a Friday night to getting a proper take away pizza. And at £3 at the moment you'd save yourself well over £10 doing just that!
I love the snuggled up evenings in with my boyfriend, munching pizza and watching a film from my awful collection. I'm not a big fan of sauces, but Takeaway do some tasty varieties that are very filling and that little bit more special so it's something I'd recommend if you're a fan of pizza.
Chicago Town are one of the bigger names when it comes to pizza and they now have quite a wide range of American influenced pizzas to suit various appetites and taste preferences. The Takeaway Stuffed Crust comes in a few different varieties, including Limited Edition ones (such as for the X-Factor), Four Cheese and pepperoni. It stands out from the crowd in part because it's quite big, but mostly because of the stuffed crust. I know that other producers have since jumped on the bandwagon, probably most recently the 'hot dog stuffed pizza'
This review is predominantly for the pepperoni version. This is topped with mozzarella and pepperoni circle slices and comes with a tomato sauce stuffed crust. Looking at it when taking it from the box, it does look quite large and you can see just the right amount of pepperoni slices. What I often find with cheaper pizzas is that the one thing they claim makes the pizza, such as BBQ chicken, is lacking, with only a few bits of chicken to be seen sparsely over the pizza.
To cook, simply remove all packaging, pop on a tray and then in to the oven. It depends whether you have a fan or conventional oven, but it takes roughly 25 minutes at 190°C (375°F or gas mark 5). I tend to put this on a baking tray lined with tin foil as I find pizzas can get quite messy and this saves scrubbing away at baked on gunk afterwards. I also turn the pizza quite often to make sure all the sides are done, and often take it out just before it's ready and cut it, then pop it back in. This is just to make sure it's hot all the way through the centre, but that's just what I often do now with pizzas. The 'proper' way of doing it just to wait until it's done, take it out and let it stand for 2 minutes, then cut. Takeaway pizzas can often look well done on the outside, on the stuffed crust, without the rest of it being done, so it's a good idea to keep an eye on it throughout cooking.
This should come out of the oven with the cheese looking melted and the outer crust a golden brown. It smells lovely and although it's a bit messy it's fairly straightforward to cook and serve, as are most pizzas which is the beauty of them! The base of Chicago Town Takeaway pizzas isn't pre-coked so when you put it in the oven it rises freshly. That's one thing I'd say about this pizza is that it does taste like it's made from fresh, good quality ingredients. It's quite soft rather than crunchy, and the slices aren't deep pan but they're not too thin either thanks to a generous layer of cheese. The stuffed crust is well stuffed with tomato sauce, which is a good amount to mix up the texture appeal when eating. Thanks to the sauce and cheese, it's not too dry to eat either, and the blend of textures and flavours all go together very well.
A serving is considered to be ¼ of a pizza, which contains 446 calories and 19g of fat. So, taking on board that my boyfriend scoffs a whole one each time, that's quite a lot of fat/cals per meal! I think half a pizza would suffice most people, like myself, as this is very filling. It should be noted for those with allergies that the pizza does contain barley, wheat, gluten and milk.
Overall, I would recommend the stuffed crust takeaway pizzas. They're tasty, fresh and a lovely treat, which is just as well considering they're quite pricey at £3.99. My boyfriend actually says that one of these is often better than a real takeaway pizza, but that could be partly because he wants to make me feel good about my oven cooking abilities!
Sells for around £3.99
Chicago Town's Takeaway Sauce Stuffed Crust pizza claims on its box to be better than Dominos and Pizza Hut. Both those brands produce pretty great pizzas, so that's quite a claim for the product to live up to. I was dubious at first, but got my hands on one of these for only £1.50 when they first went on sale in my local Asda. At that price, I was happy to give it a go and see how good it was. I like the other pizzas from the Chigaco Town range, so I doubted I'd dislike it, even if I didn't think it was better than other leading brands.
Surprisingly, I did easily agree that this is better than both Dominos and Pizza Hut pizzas are! For a full retail price of only £3.44 per pizza (current Tesco price), I really wasn't expecting to like this as much as I did. I've had this pizza several times now, and every time I have been equally pleased. The stuffed crust is absolutely gorgeous, and the pizza sauce it's stuffed with is rich, thick and extremely moreish. It really makes eating every last bite a treat. The cheese is rich, creamy and multi-textured - not just a bog standard dollop of cheddar. The toppings are all high quality, and make the price tag on this (which is about £1 - £2 more than seemingly similar products) well worth paying.
What's more, this pizza is super convenient. It makes sense that they draw a parrellel between this and the takeaway pizzas, having made the effort to make this as easy and quick as possible to prepare. Inside the outer box, there's a baking tray included underneath the pizza. Just take off the shrinkwrap, and put the pizza straight into a cold oven on the included baking tray. There's no neat to wait for the oven to heat up, and no washing up to do afterwards either. Once cooked, you can serve the pizza up and chuck the baking tray into the dustbin.
I have to give this a full five stars. It's not worth getting a pizza delivered since they bought these out, we just keep one of these in the freezer. With a choice of four cheese, pepperoni and chicken, there's something to suit most tastes. These pizzas are reasonably priced, excellent quality, super tasty and really convenient. They take less effort to cook than phoning for take out would - and cost a lot less too. Highly recommended by me, I think these really are something new and different in the frozen home pizza department.
Having totted up how much my family spends on takeaways over the course of a year I felt I needed to find a cheaper alternative to our weekend treat.
It's easy to cook, just take it out of the wrapper and put it in the oven on the 'bake and serve' tray that comes with it. It only takes about 20 minutes and its ready.
I saw these on offer in the freezer section of my local asda for £3 and bought the Four Cheese and Pepperoni versions to feed my family of four. The 2 pizzas were plenty for us. There is plenty of toppings on both varieties and lots of yummy, crisp cheese. The crust is really crisp and stuffed with a tangy tomato paste.
The box says its better than Dominoes - I was a bit sceptical but since I found these we haven't been back to Dominoes. These Chicago Town pizzas are so tasty that they are much better than Dominos and they are loads cheaper.
I'm not sure they're too good for the waistline though - I haven't dared look at the calorie content!
I have been buying the Chicago town pizzas since they were launched, my partner is a big pizza fan but I find take away pizza's far too expensive to be ordering on a regular basis. This pizza tastes fantastic and is a great alternative to take away pizza's from the leading companies for a fraction of the cost.
The takeaway style pizza's come in recyclable cardboard box with a black, yellow and red colour theme. On the back of the box you can find cooking instructions, ingredients listings and detailed nutritional information. Inside the box you will find the pizza on a black thick card oven ready pan, enabling you to cook the pizza on the pan without using a baking tray and this is also recyclable. The pan and pizza is wrapped in a thin plastic film to hold the pizza together.
The large style takeaway pizzas can be found in the frozen section of most supermarkets for around £3.45 each but are often on offer. I picked up our last takeaway pizza from Asda for £2.00 a week ago. The pizzas weigh around 630g-660g depending upon the flavour, they currently come with the following toppings:
-Four Cheese
-X Factor limited addition
The pizza's also come in a personnel size, which are perfect if you are eating alone or you prefer a different topping to others.
~~~~~How to Cook~~~~~
The pizzas are frozen and therefore are advised to be cooked from frozen. The pizzas are also cooked on the specially designed cooking pan that they are packaged on so no need for an extra baking tray, this also stops the cheese dropping onto the oven shelve or bottom.
It is suggested to start cooking the pizza in a cold oven and not to preheat first as this helps the pizza to rise. The pizza does take around 25-30 minutes to cook at 190C/375F/Gas Mark 5. The pizza can also be cut and served on the baking pan. I find this is a perfect cooking time for how I like my pizza as it gives a nice golden colour to the cheese and crust and ensures the pizza is thoroughly hot.
~~~~~Nutritional Information~~~~~
As with any pizza it is more of a treat than an everyday meal due to the high proportions of fat and calories involved. The nutritional information for one quarter of a large four cheese pizza is as follows:
Calories (kcal) - 398 (19.9% daily guideline amount)
Protein - 18.9g (42% daily guideline amount)
Fat - 15.1g (21.6% daily guideline amount)
Salt - 2.0g (33.3% daily guideline amount)
~~~~~My Opinion~~~~~
I do love these pizzas they are great value as they can easily serve three people as they are quite large and very filling. They are also very tasty, my favourite is the four cheese, which has a tangy tomato base with a good helping of cheese on top. The crusts are filled with more of the tomato sauce making them much tastier than plain ones. The pizza's claim to have been voted better than Domino's and Pizza Hut, I think that they are not quite as nice but for the price I think they are an excellent alternative especially for anyone like myself trying to economise. All in all a very tasty pizza that makes a great treat without the price tag of a takeaway.
Chicago Town Takeaway Sauce Stuffed Crust
This pizza is a frozen pizza created by Chicago Town and is available in most super markets, I have seen two different variety's in flavour that have the sauce stuffed crust, one being cheese and the other being pepperoni.
Both Pizzas are quite big and would easily feed two people. They tend to retail for around £3.50 but some times you can find them on offer for around about £3.00. Its still quite dear for a frozen pizza however it is the biggest and the tastiest frozen pizza i have ever eaten.
The pizzas are not shy on toppings either, there is always loads of cheese , and if you buy the pepperoni one there's loads of that too. Plus there's a lot of sauce in the stuffed crust which is tomato based and mega tasty.
The box that the pizza comes in is mainly black and displays all of the Chicago town logos as well as telling you its a take away pizza!
My personal opinion is that this pizza is both bigger, tastier and cheaper than the majority of take away pizzas out there so ditch the restaurant and spend the extra cash you've saved on a film and some wine.
My husband loves this Pizza, but I think it is only alright. It is nice enough, but not that special and I don't think it is worth the price tag.
Found in the freezer section of shops, this Pizza will set you back about £3.50. I've seen the odd offer on this, but often it is just down to £3, which is still a bit expensive for a frozen Pizza in my view.
The packaging for this is alright. The pizza is on a thin black tray and wrapped in cellophane. The box is quite large, and they could have reduced the cardboard slightly. The main colouring on the box is black and it has the Chicago Town branding on the front and a nice picture of a Slice of Pizza there as well. It states that this is better than a Takeaway Pizza due to various consumer tests, and I'm not sure if they are still doing the promotion that if you don't find this Pizza better than Domino's and Pizza Hut, then you can claim your money back.
I've only seen this in 2 different kinds, Pepperoni and Chicken Supreme. The Pepperoni one has large discs of Pepperoni on it. Not too many of them, but enough for the Pizza. The Chicken Supreme is just chunks of Chicken, albeit not that many, and a healthy scattering of mixed Peppers.
You cook this in on the black tray that comes with this. This is meant to crisp the base up. I've never cooked this without the tray, so cannot say if it does that or not.
You have to put this in a cold oven and then cook it from there. It says that this makes the Pizza rise, but again I've never cooked this in a hot oven.
The stuffed crust part is alright, it is just a folded over bit at the end with has a generous enough scraping of Tomato Sauce in it.
The whole Pizza is nice enough tasting. The Sauce is rich and tangy, the Cheese is Creamy and has a slight tang to it, and the Pepperoni has a little bit spice to it, but I just don't think it is quite worth the price of this.
Don't have the box to hand, but it is not the best for calories or fat. The Pizza weight is 450g, and I can eat about 3/4th of the Pizza without any trouble, so not great for you.
Perhaps worth a try, but one 1 only buy now and again.
Chicago Town Takeaway Sauce Stuffed Crust
Description: Manufacturer: Chicago Town / Type: Pizza / Crust stuffed with a thick layer of tomato sauce.
A 645g pizza costs around £3.60 which is quite expensive, however, I got one of these on offer so only paid half price for it - result! Having said that, it is still obviously a lot cheaper than a take away pizza, so on that basis, is probably worth the money.
It comes in a big, black box with a picture of the pizza on the front and is available from the freezer section of most shops. We had the pepperoni flavour, but there are a few different ones available.
All you have to do is preheat the oven, (the heat varies according to the oven so see the box for full instructions) and then put the pizza in and bake for around 25 minutes.
The pizza base is great, soft and fluffy on the inside and slightly crisped on the outside, just like a decent base should be. There is loads of topping too, heaps of mozzarella cheese and plenty of pepperoni. One of my biggest gripes with pepperoni pizza is that it often doesn't have enough pepperoni, but that is not the case with this one, it is spread liberally over the whole thing.
The following info is based on a quarter of a pizza (and let's face it, who manages to limit themselves to a quarter!)
428 calories
3.1g sugars
18.4g fat (8.9g saturates)
2.5g salt.
So, this isn't very good for you, but then again, what do you expect with pepperoni pizza! It does taste absolutely delicious though, the sauce stuffed crust is great and adds a real tomato tang to what is normally plain dough. There is heaps of topping, with generous portions of tasty mozzarella and delicious cheese, all heaped on top of a mouth wateringly good tomato sauce. In fact, just thinking about this pizza makes me hungry!
This has to be the best frozen pizza that I have tried and I would even pay full price for it - high praise indeed! 5 stars from me, and I definitely recommend that you give this one a try. If it was only healthy, I would be in heaven - ah well, everything in moderation :-)
In the week I often have a Dominos takeaway session. In a bid to save money we decided to head to Tesco instead to pick up a pizza and some chips to see if we enjoyed it just as much and felt a bit richer for it too!
We browsed the pizza aisle to see what took our fancy and most resembled a takeawya pizza and this caught my eye for two reasons. One because it was in a black box which appeared to be like a takeaway box. The second reason is because on it it had a garuntee that you will like this pizza more than pizza hut or dominos and if not you get your money back! We quickly snapped it up and were pleased to see that the total of pizza and chips came out as less than five pounds, much cheaper than a takeaway.
The pizza comes in a cardboard box, which as a bonus is recyclable. In the box is the pizza wrapped in clear plastic to keep it fresh and it is also on a tray, which you can use instead of a baking tray. Another bonus that makes it equal to takeaway-you save on washing up!
On first appearances the pizza looks doughy and almost hand made, so very delicious. It is quite big and cooks quite quickly in the oven. It is covered in lovely cheese which browns in the oven. The smell whilst it is cooking fills the house and is delicious.
The real test is the taste test and it passes hands down. It is much nicer than Dominos. It has more cheese, and just tastes nicer. I am not keen on the crust, I dont like the tomato sauce in it, but that is not a problem as the rest of it is so yummy, it doesnt matter!
I had one of these Takeaway pizzas from Chicago Town and thought it was one of the best pizzas I've had out of the freezer. I got mine in Cooltrader and it was £2.00 but if you buy it from Sainsburys then it's nearly £3.50 and that's a bit of a rip off for a frozen pizza.
I got it because it said it was stuffed crust and I expected it to be cheese in the crust but it's not it's tomato sauce and tastes like the same one used on the top of the pizza. It's a wicked sauce and is a bit tangy because there are herbs in it and the tomato sauce is smooth and proper rich and it makes the boring crust more interesting than when it's plain because I didn't even need to get up and get the mayo out of the fridge to dip the dry crust in.
I had the 4 cheese pizza and the cheeses are mozzerella, emmental, cheddar and monteray jack. They all go proper good together and makes the cheese taste like one you've brought from Pizza Hut because the diffrent cheeses have melted together to be stringy and dead rich. The crust is thick but the bottom of the pizza is proper thin so that the taste of the cheese is strong but you can still taste the yummy dough and wicked tomato sauce through it.
You have to watch because the sauce inside the crust gets proper hot and I burned my mouth on the first bite because I hadn't thought about how hot it would get when it was cooking. I love the sauce that's used on the top of the pizza because the herbs in it make it taste proper Italian and I reckon it's got to be basil, garlic and somthing else even though them aren't specifically listed in the ingrediants.
We shared this between 3 of us and all got 2 slices each and the slices were big enough and not thin little bits either. There's 400 calouries in a quarter of the pizza and thats a mega amount but that's because of all the cheese because this isn't a pizza that's madly greasy like the pepperoni one in the Chicago Town range and that one is dead sickly.
I think these do taste a bit like a take away pizza but you can still tell it's a frozen one like you can with any of them because there's something about take away pizza that can't be put into one brought in the shop and cooked at home.
*This is a review of the pepperoni version of this pizza*
As I'm sure you all probably know I'm a massive fan of pizza and recently I've just been eating more and more of it! So when in Tescos the other day my partner grabbed this, currently on offer at £2.50 from £3.45 (only until 27th September!) I remember having one of these before in the cheese variety and thinking how lovely it was so I wasn't going to say no! The pizza is quite large and weighs 645g. On the box it says it was voted tastier than both Dominos and Pizza Hut (and a lot cheaper too!).
As I said, the box is huge and I had trouble fitting it into a carrier bag. It is mainly black in colour and is designed to look like a takeaway box. Half of the box is taken up by a Chicago Town Takeaway logo. The other half has a picture of the pizza. The pizza is frozen and although I usually opt for chilled pizzas I was very keen to buy this. Being frozen, it takes a little longer to cook than chilled pizzas. You need to bake it at 190 degrees for about 25 minutes. Sure enough, after 25 minutes the cheese was bubbling and it looked ready to devour!
The pizza is absolutely covered in pepperoni, of both a small and larger size. I found the smaller ones to be more spicy and each one was cooked to perfection, there were no burned edges and no pink bits (which puts me off a lot!) The pepperoni had 'leaked' a bit and there was a bit of liquid on the pizza. I usually find this tastes awful and affects the pizza but this was not a problem and could not be noticed. The cheese used on the pizza is mozerella and there is plenty of it on there. It has a strong flavour and complements the pepperoni really well. The base was one of the things that makes this pizza different from other frozen options. In my opinion, it tasted very similar to Dominos base, where it is made from fresh dough and it is very soft and tastes lovely! Inside the dough it is very soft and smooth however on the outside it is a bit bumpy and more crisp, giving it a real authentic taste. The crust is stuffed with tomato sauce. Usually, I prefer cheese in the crust but this tasted really nice. Although there was a lot of the sauce and it did have a good flavour, it was not overbearing and instead made the crust much more interesting. I usually leave the crust but I was keen to devour this!
This is not a pizza for your waistline! A quarter of the pizza contains 428 calories, 3.1g sugars, 18.4g fat (8.9g saturates) and 2.5g salt. The salt I found to be very high as it is almost half of an adults recommended amount, therefore if you eat half the pizza thats almost all of your RDA of salt. However, the taste makes it all worthwhile!
I would recommend this pizza to absolutely everyone. Especially those who spend an awful lot on takeaways and are looking to save a bit of money. I appreciate £3.45 is expensive for a frozen pizza but compare it to £13.99 for a large Dominos and your saving a substantial amount. One thing I will say about this pizza is that it is very messy and toppings often fall off onto the plate, therefore if feeding to young children, make sure they are wearing a bib! This is a fab pizza, but of course should only be enjoyed in moderation due to it being quite unhealthy.
The Chicago Town Takeaway range are pizza's with various different toppings with the added bonus of having extra pizza sauce hidden inside the crusts. They are roughly 12" in size and cost around £3.50 from any supermarket.
I find that these pizzas actually taste better than those that I have had from local takeaway places the tomato flavour is especially better. My favourite one from the takeaway range is the cheese and tomato one. It is true that sometimes there isn't all that much cheese on the top but that is something that can easily be solved at home providing you have some sort of cheese in your fridge. In terms of value for money I think the Chicago Town Takeaway range is far superior than what you would get from your actual local takeaway when you consider what you are getting for your money, I don't think it would be possible to get a 12" pizza from my local takeaway for £3.50! Another thing I like about this range is that you do not need to wait around for 5 minutes or so to pre-heat the oven, meaning that within 20 minutes or so a piping hot pizza is ready to be eaten!
Overall I would say these are very good pizzas but can be quite expensive when you compare them to supermarkets own brand pizzas which for the fraction of the price are quite satisfactory, but when you compare them to your own takeaway in my opinion there is only one winner.
Usually I stay away from the large frozen pizzas as they just aren't any good compared with the fresh ones and takeway ones. However, I am a fan of the little Chicago Town Deep Dish Pizzas so I thought I would give this a shot. Well, I was pleasantly surprised when I tucked into this baby.
I have only had the pepperoni so far, but this pizza carries over my favourite ingredient from it's little cousins, namely the tangy tomato sauce that only Chicago Town seem to make. But this pizza goes one step further and includes the sauce in the crust! Mmmmmmmm......I'm in heaven!
Don't get me wrong, this has to be an occasional indulgence. At 2,000 calories per pizza this isn't something you eat every day! However, it is nonetheless very enjoyable and definately recommended, just just because of the great sauce, but also this, frankly, cooks a lot better than most frozen pizzas.
Don't get me wrong, this isn't a substitute for fresh or takeaway pizzas (well most takeaway pizzas anyhow) but is nonetheless a great substitute when you consider the £2.99 asking price.
I'm a 20 something year old male who lives in a flat share, and I'm not much of a chef. Therefore anything that comes in a box and I can throw in the oven regularly appears in my shopping basket.
By chance I happened to stumble accross the Chicago Town takeaway pizza which claims to be so good that its better than any takeaway you've ever had.
First things first is the price. As with most of the "branded" pizzas, its a little more expensive than the local supermarket version, however I must size its a bit bigger than your average sized supermarket pizza, so you get a bit more for your money. I bought it for £3.50, however this was from an express supermarket in a city, so maybe its a bit cheaper elsewhere.
Another advantage of this pizza it that it comes with its own little tray to cook the pizza in, so a bit less washing up, which is always good, and a tick in the plus column.
This pizza has a stuffed crust as well, which keeps it interesting even when you get to the crust which as everyone knows is the worst bit of the pizza. As opposed to the cheese option, which I find tastes good for the first 5 minutes and then goes all wrong, they've gone for a the tomato pizza sauce which I quite enjoy. Be warned, its gets pretty darn hot stuffed away in that dough, you are probably going to burn yourself unless you're very careful. I was not careful.
So now to the main point, how does it taste and is it better than a takeaway? Well in short, no its not. You still get a better takeaway from the pizza (a good takeaway that is), and a frozen pizza is always going to struggle to match that. However it terms of value for money this pizza is better than a takeaway, at 1/3 of the cost, and definitely worth a go
I had been thinking for a couple of weeks about these Chicago town take away pizzas, I have seen the advert and got a little bit roped in and was eager to test out the theory that these were indeed tastier than a take away pizza.
I had a look at them and relised they were £3 a pizza. I was thinking this is pretty steep in price compared to the other pizza but cheaper than a take away pizza so if the pizza is actually as good then the price shouldn't be an issue.
My luck was in though. I saw a four cheese Chicago town take away pizza in a slightly damaged box reduced to £1.50. I snapped it up and had been so excited all afternoon to try it for dinner.
The pizza comes in a big black box. With a picture of the pizza on and in big written saying 'voted tastier than dominos and pizza hut'. The packaging is very entising
The pizza takes about 25 minutes to cook in the oven. The cheese melts well and the crust browns up and crisps nicely with a tomato puree type stuffed crust.
The taste of the pizza is very nice but better than a take away? Not even close! I wouldn't even say it was the best frozen pizza I have had! The pizza was cheesy which is a plus for a four cheese pizza but it was still a bit bland. I had to get put ketchup on it as after one slice it started to get boring. The tomatoe stuffed crust was very nice though.
If I had paid £3 for this I would find that money not very well spent. Its cheaper than a take away but more expensive than other brands of pizza which some are nicer.
After spending most of the day excited about my dinner, now I have eaten I feel a bit disappointed
Crust stuffed with tomato sauce