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Donovan McNabb has become more of a pocket passer which has led to fewer mistakes.
* Tom Brady hates it, but deserves to be mentioned with Joe Montana as a big-game QB.
Brian Westbrook is much as threat as a receiver as he is as a running back.
* Corey Dillion has big-play capability with move-the-chains reliability.
* Terrell Owens is the showstopper. If he is healthy Philly's chances improve big time.
Troy Brown is just one of the many weapons Brady utilizes in passing attack.
Jevon Kearse could put some heat on Brady, which is one thing Pats have avoided.
* Tedy Bruschi is part of a linebacking corps that uses many varied looks.
David Akers has had one of his best years and can deliver in the red zone.
* Adam Vinatieri has kicked two Bowl-winners and is the most reliable in the league.
Andy Reid has sometimes lacked in game management but isn't far behind Belichick.
* Bill Belichick has a plan for every situation and will figure out how to slow Philly.
Brian Westbrook vs. Patriots LBs.
The New England defence is notorious for focussing on one aspect of the opponent's defence and shutting it down. In Westbrook, the Eagles have a running back who is a duel threat as a receiver and has dictated the flow of the offence. If they contain him, the Patriots are confident that receivers Terrell Owens -- in his first game back from injury -- plus Freddie Mitchell and Todd Pinkston, can be kept in check.
Keys to victory for Philadelphia
Terrell Owens plays and has an impact. The Eagles need big plays because the Patriots are likely to clog up the middle to limit halfback Brian Westbrook and quarterback Donovan McNabb. On defence, Philly will need to stop Corey Dillon so they can bring some heat on quarterback Tom Brady. Otherwise, it could be a long evening.
Keys to victory for New England
They do what they have been doing for most of the past three seasons. QB Brady has never lost a post-season game at the pro or college level and needs to continue to utilize several receivers to keep the Eagles guessing. On defence, the Pats can afford to bend, as they are capable of, but not break by yielding a monster play. They also must do a better job containing McNabb than the Falcons did two weeks ago.
Corey Dillon vs. Jeremiah Trotter.
As if they needed the help, the Patriots are a much more potent threat this year with the addition of RB Dillon. A big-play buster as well as a clock-eating, grind-it-out style back, Dillon can take control of a game. Remember Dillon rumbled for 144 yards in a playoff win over the Colts and his 1,635 regular-season yards were more than double that of the Eagles' Brian Westbrook. But if Trotter and the other Eagles LBs can at least plug up the middle, they can focus on what they have done so well in their two playoff wins -- rush the quarterback.
Rob Longley predicts the outcome
As the experts in Vegas so often do, the spread seems to be right where it should be with the Patriots favoured by seven. Unfortunately, that opens the door for a late-score cover should the Eagles be able to keep it close. More likely though, the Patriots are too deep in too many places and will use that to their advantage. It may not be a blowout, because the Patriots rarely do that to their opponents, but it should be a comfortable margin just the same.
Patriots 27, Eagles 13
Patriots safety Rodney Harrison.
The oft-fined heavy-hitter is often accused of being borderline dirty. He is as intense as the Ravens' Ray Lewis. Don't be surprised if he lights up trash-talking Eagles wide receiver Freddie Mitchell and is the first to test the health of Terrell Owens. Veteran makes up for some of the inexperience the Patriots have back here.
Eagles free safety Brian Dawkins.
Dawkins hits to hurt and will be a key in disrupting the Patriots successful passing attack. His thunderous hits in the NFC Championship game had the Falcons on their heels and set the tone for the victory. His coverage is often by instinct and he has a great ability to sniff out where the ball is coming from.
Donovan McNabb vs. Pats secondary.
So much has been said and written about Terrell Owens, but McNabb is the key. In the past, he has had accuracy problems, which is the type of performance these Patriots defenders devour. The secondary is still banged-up however. As incredulous as it seemed, the Colts didn't even try to test them deep in their divisional loss three weeks ago. McNabb has to at least try and then be on the money as well.
Some betting Numbers for the game
Patriots opened as 61/2 point favourites and were quickly bet up to a touchdown where it has for the most part stayed. Some books moved the Patriots to 71/2 points yesterday, however ... Patriots were 14-point dogs when they won the Bowl three seasons ago -- the second longest shot wo win outright ... The AFC is 5-12 in the past eight Super Bowls ... The Eagles are 0-4 vs. the spread vs. AFC teams this year while New England is 4-0 ATS vs. the NFC ... Only six times the favourite has won and failed to cover (last year was one, when Carolina beat the spread against the Pats.)


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It is, as they say, "go time." The Redskins are on a six-game winning streak and if they beat the Cowboys in Week 17, they'll win the division, make the playoffs for the first time since 2007 and have a home playoff game next week.
It's unfamiliar territory for an organization that managed just 11 wins in Mike Shanahan's first two seasons in D.C., but it just reinforces the biggest difference between this year and the ones that have preceded it recently: The 'Skins have their franchise quarterback.
In a league that's dependent on quarterbacks and pass rushers, Washington has both. But they lost linebacker Brian Orakpo earlier this season, the team limped to a 3-6 record at the midway point, and then something happened. Robert Griffin III returned from the team's bye week with renewed focus and the defense, which had struggled for the first two months, did the same. And now, with just the Cowboys standing between Washington and the NFC East title, RGIII is back to his RGIII-tastic form after a knee injury slowed him in recent weeks.
"He's fine. No problem with his knee," Shanahan said Monday via the Washington Times. "There's no limited performance out of him. The doctors OK'd him, he's cleared and full speed, ready to go."
And while Griffin had just two carries in last week's win over the Eagles, that wasn't indicative of anything other than the game plan going into last Sunday.
"Sometimes there's more run action than you saw or play-action passes or sometimes we'll run more," Shanahan explained. "In that game, we decided not to go in that direction. Not as much; we did a few times. We did a little bit more quarterback keeps than we did running the football, but that was by design."
Worth pointing out: The last time RGIII met the Cowboys he ran just six times for 29 yards, but he also completed 20 of 28 for 311 yards, including four touchdowns.
Even if Washington loses to Dallas, there's still a chance for the postseason: a wild-card berth would be theirs if the Vikings lose to the Packers and the Bears lose to the Lions.
Ideally, it won't come to that. And for now, Shanahan thinks the must-win atmosphere the last month and a half will be good for the 'Skins not only against Cowboys, but for down the road too.
"I think it's good," he said via the Washington Post. "I think it's really good. They get used to the pressure over the last six weeks, knowing every game is do or die. They're used to that scenario right now. They know we have to play our best football, and everything we're working for comes back to this weekend: taking advantage of what we've done the last six weeks. It really doesn't mean anything unless we take advantage of our game against Dallas."

subset: commoncrawl


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There's a fine line between magic and music. In fact, some might argue that there is no line at all. One thing's for certain: The Utah Symphony's "The Magic of Harry Potter" lived up to its name. It was nothing short of magical.
The symphony had to add a second show due to popular demand, with performances on Feb. 18 and 19. The audience was considerably younger than at most symphony performances as this was part of the symphony's family concert series. One only had to observe the children in the audience to see the positive effect the performance had.
The concert opened with an energetic rendition of John Williams' "Harry's Wonderous World," one of the more popular Potter themes. Utah Symphony Associate Conductor Vladimir Kulenovic then welcomed the audience, wizards and muggles alike.
"My name is Vladimir," he said, tongue-in-cheek. "Not Voldemort."
It quickly became clear that the magical evening would include plenty of classical music along with Williams' famous wizarding scores. The orchestra launched into Paul Dukas' "The Sorcerer's Apprentice," which would cause many to picture not Harry Potter but rather Mickey Mouse, as the song was made famous by Disney's "Fantasia."
A highlight of the piece was an impeccable solo by principal bassoonist Lori Wike. In fact, the strongest points of the evening's performance came in the solos, with another notable one performed by principal flutist Mercedes Smith in Williams' "Witches, Wands and Wizards."
The entire woodwind section shone, especially as it navigated Williams' pieces. Williams has often demanded much of his brass and woodwinds, and the symphony rose to the occasion.
Kulenovic took breaks between each piece for some witty and light-hearted explanation, describing the symphony as if he were teaching a class at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. If you mix just the right instruments, he explained, you can create a potion of wonder.
The song selection for the evening was seamless and captivating. Even darker pieces, such as Modest Mussorgsky's "Hut on Fowl's Legs," were vibrant and contained such a variety of sounds that they were perfect for showcasing the magic an orchestra can create.
A little boy in the front row waved his Harry Potter wand vigorously to Igor Stravinsky's explosive "Infernal Dance of King Kastchei." He wasn't the only one with impressive wand skills; Kulenovic wields an orchestra like one would wield a single instrument. The orchestra was enchanting.Comment on this story
The evening rounded off with the beloved "Hedwig's Theme." The piece's iconic use of the celesta rivals Pyotr Tchaikovsky's "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy" in how recognizable it is to the masses. And this time, the audience got to see a celesta.
Music has the power to tell stories and create feelings, Kulenovic explained throughout. That's the magic of it. (Imagine what "Harry Potter," "Star Wars" or "Superman" might've been like without Williams' music magic!)
"Your adventures can always be enhanced with a little bit of music," Kulenovic said.
Concerts such as this are also an opportunity for anyone who may not be too symphony-savvy. "The Magic of Harry Potter" proved that the symphony is for everyone.
Email: email@example.com


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Game News
Be it board games or their electronic spin-offs – here's the place where you can read the latest news about all of our new games!
August 4, 2010
Prof Easy's Quick Guide - Settlers of America - Trails to Rails
Our good old friend Professor Easy is doing the honors once more: He explains to you the nuts and bolts of Klaus Teuber's latest game "The Settlers of America – Trails to Rails". [Click here to be taken to the Quick Guide for "Settlers of America"] [Click here to read more about about "Settlers of America"] [Click here to buy "Settlers of America"]> …
July 30, 2010
Settlers of America "Trails to Rails" - now available!
The 19th Century has arrived and America is heading west. Wagon trains of settlers seeking fresh lives and opportunities strike out to tame the wild land of the west. From the vast prairies they wrest fertile land for crops and grazing lands for their voracious cattle herds. Experience the pioneer days of the Wild West! …
June 23, 2010
In the Name of the Heroes – The Winners of the Prize Drawing for the Card Game
The prize drawing for the revised version of the Catan Card Game "The Princes of Catan" has concluded. We received over 185 entries, 145 of which were correct and valid. > …
June 4, 2010
Catan for iPad: Now accepting Beta applications
Development of the highly anticipated iPad game "Catan" has entered the final stage: Exozet Games and USM Publishing invite you to apply for the Beta. You can soon play the new conversion of the board game classic "The Settlers of Catan" on your iPad! But you don't have to wait until the official release: …
May 31, 2010
In the Name of the Heroes - Prize Drawing for the Card Game
In fall of 2010, a completely revised version of the Catan Card Game for 2 players will be published. In this context, we are holding a prize drawing where participants can win a 3D-Catan, 4x "The Settlers of America," and 5x the Catan Dice Game Deluxe Edition. …
May 26, 2010
Catan for Sony PlayStation®3 [Update]
As of now, "Catan" for Sony PS3 is available for 4.99 EUR on PlayStation®Network throughout Europe. [Update:] The release date for the USA has been confirmed to be June 15. It will be available for US$ 6.49. [Click here to read more]> …
May 4, 2010
Prof. Easy explains "The Settlers of Catan" in Bulgarian
Prof. Easy, Marlene, Vicky, and Siegfried went back to school - and now they present you "The Settlers of Catan - The Board Game" in fluent Bulgarian. [Please click here to watch the Bulgarian game tutorial]> …
April 15, 2010
Catan Online World: 2nd Game Period Starts
After a period of 6 months, today the 2nd game period of the Metagame started. Once again, the cities of the Catan Online World get ready to compete for the title "Capital of Catan." This is, therefore, the perfect moment to join the world of Catan. The city whose citizens can complete the most city expansion projects becomes the new capital of the Catan Online World. …
March 30, 2010
Settlers of America: Trails to Rails
Announcing the latest addition to the Catan Histories line, Settlers of America: Trails to Rails! This new game combines the two strongest categories of the Mayfair Games product line, train games and Catan games, to create the first ever Catan train gaming experience! Look for this exciting new Catan and Mayfair Games title to hit stores this summer in June 2010! The 19th Century has arrived and Americans are heading west to make their fortune. …
January 23, 2010
Catan Card Game - Revision
In 1996, a little over a year after the sensational success of the board game "The Settlers of Catan," the "Catan Card Game" (for 2 players) was published. Originally, the game was designed as an answer to the request of many players who also wanted to be able to enjoy the Settlers of Catan as a 2-player game. …


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The effect of bed rest and an exercise countermeasure on leg venous function
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This study was performed to assess the effect of resistive vibration exercise during bed rest deconditioning on venous vascular dimension and function, as measured with ultrasound in the popliteal vein. Sixteen men were assigned to bed rest (BR-Ctrl) or bed rest with resistive vibration exercise (BR-RVE). Before and at 25 and 52 days of bed rest, popliteal vein diameter was measured at increasing cuff pressures. Venous capacitance and compliance were calculated from the pressure–volume curve. After 52 days of bed rest, BR-Ctrl showed no change in baseline popliteal vein diameter or compliance, while venous capacitance decreased. Resistive vibration exercise had no effect on the response in venous diameter, capacitance or compliance to 52 days of bed rest. The decline in venous capacitance due to long-term bed rest is not effectively counteracted by resistive vibration exercise, indicating that an alternative factor during bed rest deconditioning is responsible for venous changes.
KeywordsBed rest deconditioning Ultrasound Venous capacitance Venous compliance
Venous hemodynamics play an essential role in cardiovascular homeostasis and are critical in determining venous return and thus cardiac filling and stroke volume (Rothe 1986). Physical activity and deconditioning substantially affect cardiovascular homeostasis, influencing parameters such as venous capacitance and compliance. Venous capacitance reflects the blood volume that is stored in the venous vascular system. This stored venous volume can be used to increase venous return to the heart when necessary, but excessive venous pooling during standing may also cause orthostatic intolerance. Venous compliance represents the change in volume of the veins in response to a change in pressure. Both venous capacitance and compliance are major determinants in the vital functions of the venous system, and a numerous amount of studies have been performed to specify their role in orthostatic intolerance after bed rest and space flight in humans. To study the effect of physical deconditioning on the venous vascular system, several human deconditioning models have been used, such as leg immobilisation (Bleeker et al. 2005a), space flight (Arbeille et al. 2001; Fomina and Kotovskaia 2005; Watenpaugh et al. 2001), bed rest (Arbeille et al. 1999, 2001; Belin de Chantemele et al. 2004; Bleeker et al. 2005b; Bonde-Petersen et al. 1994; Buckey et al. 1992; Christ et al. 2001; Convertino et al. 1989; Louisy et al. 1997; Melchior and Fortney 1993; Xiao et al. 2005) and spinal-cord injury (Frieden et al. 1987; Hopman et al. 1994; Wecht et al. 2000). Sparse data on venous diameter show a reduction in cross-sectional area of femoral venous diameter after bed rest (Arbeille et al. 1999, 2001), but no change in tibial and gastrocnemial venous diameter (Belin de Chantemele et al. 2004). Although inconsistent results are reported, the leading thought is that deconditioning causes an increase in venous compliance, which is mainly attributed to atrophy of the surrounding muscles.
When using venous occlusion plethysmography, whole calf or limb compliance is assessed (Brakkee and Kuiper 1982; Pointel et al. 1981; Wilkinson and Webb 2001), implicating a possible overestimation of venous compliance. To avoid the influence of muscle tissue on the measurement, our lab demonstrated that ultrasound as a suitable and reproducible method to examine compliance of a major conduit vein, i.e. the popliteal vein (De Groot et al. 2005). Transverse echographic views were used before for measuring cross-sectional areas of the deep and muscular vein in the calf (Belin de Chantemele et al. 2004). Ultrasound and plethysmography measurements of venous compliance correlated significantly (De Groot et al. 2005) and supported the observation by Buckey et al. (1988), who reported that most volume changes at different venous occlusion pressures are attributable to deep venous filling which is represented by the popliteal vein.
A major preventative measure to offset deconditioning effects of microgravity on maximal aerobic capacity, musculoskeletal structure and orthostatic function is physical exercise (Convertino 1996). Applied during bed rest, training in the modality of resistive vibration exercise has been shown to attenuate the reduction in arterial vascular dimension and function (Bleeker et al. 2005b). However, an efficient countermeasure effect of this physical exercise during deconditioning on the venous vascular system is not demonstrated yet. Resistive exercise failed to affect the response of tibial and gastrocnemial vein diameter to bed rest (Belin de Chantemele et al. 2004). If vein diameter accounts for venous capacitance and compliance, and resistive vibration exercise is no effective countermeasure on a relatively spacious vein (not directly surrounded by muscle mass), it is unlikely that exercise has a protective effect on venous function. The purpose of the present study was to assess the effect of horizontal bed rest deconditioning and the countermeasure resistive vibration exercise on venous vascular dimension and function of the popliteal vein as measured with ultrasound. We hypothesized that venous vascular dimension and function will be reduced by bed rest deconditioning and that these changes will not be counteracted by resistive vibration exercise.
Subject characteristics
Age (years)
35 ± 7
33 ± 6
Body mass (kg)
76 ± 5
80 ± 11
Height (cm)
182 ± 6
184 ± 9
Systolic blood pressure (mmHg)
118 ± 6
119 ± 13
Diastolic blood pressure (mmHg)
73 ± 8
75 ± 8
Heart rate in rest (beats/min)
67 ± 6
68 ± 8
Exercise (h/week)
2.9 ± 3.9
3.1 ± 2.3
The vascular characteristics of all subjects were measured before, and at 25 and 52 days of bed rest deconditioning (pre-, day 25 and day 52, respectively).
Bed rest protocol
After the initial series of experiments, subjects were placed at complete horizontal bed rest. All personal hygiene activities were performed in the supine position. Subjects were housed in a dedicated clinical ward of the University Hospital Benjamin Franklin and were continuously monitored with video cameras to guarantee compliance with the bed rest protocol. In addition, the monitoring with force transducers of the vertical forces generated by the subjects controlled strict bed rest and avoidance of powerful movements. The diet of the subjects was controlled carefully.
Resistive vibration exercise
Subjects in the BR-RVE group were exposed to two daily sessions of resistive vibration exercise; one in the morning and one in the afternoon (8 min pure exercise time per session), with the exception of Sundays and Wednesday afternoons. Exercise was performed on a specific vibration system that was developed for application under microgravity and bed rest conditions (Galileo Space, Novotec, Pforzheim, Germany). The used equipment and the countermeasure exercise are previously described in detail (Bleeker et al. 2005b). In short, the training device consisted of a vibration platform, which was vertically suspended on a trolley. Subjects remained in a supine position with their feet resting on the vibration platform and with supporting belts attached to shoulders, hips and hands. In each training session, four exercises were performed in the following order: squatting, heel and toe raises and explosive squatting. During morning sessions, all exercises were performed for at least 60 s. If subjects were able to exceed 100 s, the vibration frequency was increased from 19 Hz onwards. During afternoon sessions, subjects exercised at 60–80% of the static force achieved in the morning, but performed the first three exercises for as many times as possible within 60 s each. Trained staff members supervised all training sessions.
Experimental protocol
Measurements were performed at the same time of day in each individual subject, and meals were identical before each measurement and for each subject on the days of the measurements. All subjects refrained from caffeine, chocolate and alcohol from midnight on. On the testing days, subjects did not perform exercise before testing. During the measurements, subjects were in the supine position, while their heels and feet rested on a foot support 23 cm above the examination table (De Groot et al. 2005). After instrumentation of the subjects and an acclimatisation period of at least 20 min, two baseline images of the popliteal vein in the popliteal space were obtained with ultrasound and stored for off-line analysis. Test procedures were started with a venous occlusion of 20 mmHg, followed by subsequent cuff pressures of 40, 60 and 80 mmHg (De Groot et al. 2005). The occlusions of 20, 40, 60 and 80 mmHg were sustained for predefined durations of 2, 3, 4 and 5 min, respectively, and 1-min breaks between the occlusions allowed new baseline formation (De Groot et al. 2005). During the last minute of each stage, two images of the diameter of the popliteal vein were obtained with ultrasound and stored for off-line analysis.
All diameters (cm) of the popliteal vein were measured with an ultrasound device (Megas, Esaote, Firenze, Italy) by using a 5- to 7-MHz linear transducer. Two consecutive longitudinal images of the baseline diameter and the diameters at cuff pressures of 20, 40, 60, and 80 mmHg were frozen in the end-diastolic phase of the cardiac cycle. All measurements were performed at the same anatomic location of the vein in the popliteal fossa. Three measurements were performed per diameter image, and vessel margins were defined from leading edge to leading edge (De Groot et al. 2005). Venous cross-sectional area can be calculated accurately with the diameters obtained from longitudinal images (Jeanneret et al. 2000). Because even at low venous pressure levels the shape of the vein resembles a circle (De Groot et al. 2005), the cross-sectional area of the vein at the different cuff pressures can be calculated as π radius2. Capacitance was calculated as the area under the venous pressure–volume (i.e. cross-sectional area) curve. Compliance was calculated according to the curvilinear model as introduced by Van Langen (2003). This model uses three parameters, i.e., venous pressure (P0), resting compliance (C0), and the stiffness constant (k), and describes the curvilinear venous-pressure relationship: \( C\left( P \right) = C_{0} /\left( { 1 + kC_{0} \left( {P_{ 1} - P_{0} } \right)} \right), \) where C is compliance and P is pressure (Van Langen 2003). Ultrasound has shown to provide reproducible measurements on the popliteal vein, with short- and long-term coefficients of variation ranging from 2 to 9% for absolute diameters and from 10 to 15% for venous compliance at the different venous pressure steps (De Groot et al. 2005).
Statistical analysis
An unpaired Student's t test was applied to assess baseline differences between the BR-Ctrl and BR-RVE group for subject characteristics and baseline values. The effect of bed rest in the BR-Ctrl and BR-RVE group was examined using one-way ANOVA. Differences in the response to bed rest between BR-Ctrl and BR-RVE were tested with two-way repeated-measures ANOVA with time as within-subject factor and group as between subject factor (Statistical Package for Social Sciences 12.0, SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). The level of statistical significance was defined at α = 0.05. Data are presented as means ± SEM, unless stated otherwise.
Subject's characteristics were not different between the BR-Ctrl and BR-RVE group (Table 1). During the 52 days of bed rest, the subjects in the BR-RVE group performed a total of 89 exercise sessions, with a starting vibration frequency of 19 Hz and a progression to 25.9 (SD 1.9) Hz at the end of the study (Rittweger et al. 2006). All subjects completed the study. Due to technical problems, data of one subject in the BR-RVE group could not be included in the data analysis.
Venous dimension
Venous diameter, capacitance and compliance before and after 25 and 52 days of bed rest
Day 25
Day 52
Diameter (cm)
0.77 ± 0.16
0.72 ± 0.13
0.69 ± 0.13
0.86 ± 0.11
0.81 ± 0.11
0.75 ± 0.10
Capacitance (cm2)
15.12 ± 2.16
12.89 ± 2.29*
11.93 ± 0.98*
13.85 ± 2.39
14.18 ± 1.78
12.66 ± 2.32
Compliance (mm2/mmHg)
0.50 ± 0.35
0.63 ± 0.35
0.71 ± 0.30
0.66 ± 0.44
0.89 ± 0.41
0.83 ± 0.33
Venous function
This study examined the effect of resistive vibration exercise during bed rest deconditioning on the dimension and function of a single leg vein. After 52 days of bed rest, venous capacitance was significantly decreased, whereas venous compliance remained unaltered. Resistive vibration exercise during bed rest deconditioning showed no countermeasure effect on the reduction in venous capacitance.
Bed rest and venous dimension
Despite the decreasing trend in mean values, baseline popliteal vein diameter was not significantly reduced after 52 days of bed rest. This reinforces the single finding of Belin de Chantemele et al. (2004), who reported an unaltered tibial and gastrocnemial vein diameter after 90 days of bed rest. These findings do not correspond with the previous results of a decrease in cross-sectional area of the popliteal and femoral vein (Arbeille et al. 1999, 2001) and the common result of a decreased venous volume variation after bed rest (Bleeker et al. 2004, 2005a; Christ et al. 2001; Louisy et al. 1997). The arterial vascular system also presented diameter reductions after deconditioning (Bleeker et al. 2005a, b; De Groot et al. 2006), but these changes over time were remarkably larger than previously shown in the venous vascular system. This difference in diameter response suggests that the venous and arterial vascular systems are susceptible to different stimuli, when exposed to deconditioning. As arterial adaptations were ascribed to mainly regional factors due to (the lack of) physical exercise, such as changes in blood flow and (peak) shear stress to the vessel wall (Bleeker et al. 2005b; Miyachi et al. 2001), veins might be primarily responsive to changes in pressure or blood volume (Arbeille et al. 2001).
Bed rest and venous function
Popliteal vein capacitance was significantly decreased after bed rest deconditioning, which is in agreement with several previous bed rest studies (Bleeker et al. 2004; Louisy et al. 1997). Furthermore, reductions in capacitance were reported in spinal cord-injury individuals compared to control subjects (Frieden et al. 1987; Hopman et al. 1994), which is mainly attributed to the muscle atrophy and the possible concomitant vascular atrophy in the paralyzed legs.
After bed rest, compliance of the popliteal vein remained unaltered, which is in line with previous deconditioning studies, using unilateral limb suspension (Bleeker et al. 2005a) or bed rest (Bonde-Petersen et al. 1994; Melchior and Fortney 1993). A possible reason that compliance is maintained during bed rest in the present study is the isolated location of the popliteal vein. The choice of using ultrasound to determine venous compliance was primarily based on the fact that the value of compliance is less sensitive to the influence of other than vascular factors that are changed due to bed rest (e.g. muscle mass and interstitial fluid) than when measuring whole leg compliance with plethysmography (De Groot et al. 2005). Introduced by Convertino et al. (1988), the cross-sectional area of the calf muscle would be the most dominant contributing factor to the determination of leg compliance by providing structural support to the veins to limit the expansion with increasing pressures. A decrease in muscle mass would therefore lead to an increase in venous compliance. This was confirmed by Louisy et al. (1997), who demonstrated a significant correlation between the increase in compliance and the reduction in leg volume during the first month of bed rest. In the present study, the cross-sectional area of the quadriceps muscle of the leg in which the vascular measurements were performed was decreased by 12.9 ± 4.7% (P < 0.001) and 4.8 ± 5.3% (P < 0.05) in the BR-Ctrl and BR-RVE group, respectively (Mulder et al. 2006). Because the popliteal vein is located isolated in the popliteal space and not directly surrounded by muscles, venous compliance was not severely influenced by the decrease in muscle mass. A similar finding was reported by Belin de Chantemele et al. (2004), who found no relationship between calf muscle atrophy and calf vein deconditioning. Alternative factors that may contribute to the changes in venous compliance are alterations in the venous vessel wall (Bleeker et al. 2004; Louisy et al. 1997; Monahan et al. 2001) or gravitational gradients within the circulation (Bleeker et al. 2004). The common finding of previous investigators that compliance of total tissue (total integrated muscle and vessel tissue) increases after bed rest, may reflect that the fluid accumulation of the total tissue mass is more clinically significant than the isolated veins with regard to blood pooling during orthostatic challenges.
In this study, venous capacitance decreased after bed rest, which confirms the common idea of a reduced venous reservoir function after deconditioning. Venous compliance was maintained, indicating a sufficient vascular mechanism to transport enough blood to the heart, one of the contributing factors to prevent orthostatic intolerance after bed rest.
Resistive vibration exercise as a venous countermeasure?
Resistive vibration exercise was of no significant influence on the response in popliteal vein diameter, capacitance or compliance to 52 days of bed rest. Although the short-term response (pre-day 25) of capacitance in the exercise group was different from the control group (two-way ANOVA, P = 0.01), resistive vibration exercise had no significant effect on the long-term response (pre-day 52, 2-way ANOVA, P = 0.09). This might indicate a difference in time-course of capacitance response to bed rest between the control and exercise group. We hypothesize that resistive vibration exercise might prevent the rapid decline in capacitance in response to bed rest, as observed in the control group. However, in the long-term, this exercise is not sufficient to effectively counteract the decline in capacitance. As only one additional test was performed between the pre- and post-bed rest measurement, we can only speculate about a possible difference in time-course in adaptations of venous capacitance regarding the use of exercise. Considering the total period of bed rest, our data do not support a protective function of resistive vibration exercise in the long term. A recent study focusing on several other venous parameters is also lacking proof for the long-term countermeasure effect of resistive exercise during 90 days of bed rest inactivity (Belin de Chantemele et al. 2004). In both studies, the absence of exercise effect on vein response to bed rest might be ascribed to the lack of muscle mass directly surrounding the vein. On the contrary, resistive vibration exercise was previously shown to be an effective countermeasure against deterioration of the arterial dimension (Bleeker et al. 2005b), muscle mass and muscle function (Akima et al. 2003; Mulder et al. 2006), and tendon function (Kubo et al. 2004). Resistive vibration exercise is also known to increase heart rate and oxygen uptake (Rittweger et al. 2000) and blood flow (Kerschan-Schindl et al. 2001). When applying the exact same stimulus to the arterial and venous system, i.e. resistive vibration exercise, only the arterial system responds in a counteractive and protective manner. This finding corresponds with our previous suggestion that the arterial and venous vascular system require different physical triggers for adaptations to changing conditions [i.e. blood flow or (peak) shear stress versus pressure or blood volume, respectively]. However, the range of vibration frequency of the exercise has to be taken into account. A recent study reported that plantar-based vibration in the regime of 30–60 Hz significantly inhibited the effects of the orthostatic stress of quiet sitting on the cardiovascular system of adult women (Madhavan et al. 2006). Thus, applying resistive vibration exercise with a higher frequency may have led to alternative results.
Due to the relatively small group sample size in this study, statements must be made carefully. Combining the present results of a decreased capacitance and the absence of a resistive vibration exercise effect after 52 days of bed rest, we propose that the bed rest inactivity itself is not the main stimulus for adaptations of the venous vascular system. There ought to be an alternative or additional specific factor during bed rest deconditioning which is responsible for venous changes, e.g. microgravity.
In conclusion, this study demonstrates that 52 days of bed rest deconditioning results in a significantly decreased popliteal vein capacitance, while popliteal vein diameter and compliance did not change. Furthermore, the use of resistive vibration exercise (19–25 Hz) during bed rest deconditioning has no influence, and therefore no protective effect on long-term bed rest responses in venous vascular dimension and function. During bed rest deconditioning, adaptations in the venous vascular system are triggered by different stimuli than in the arterial vascular system.
We wish to thank the study participants, and Bregina Kersten for ultrasound analysis. The Berlin Bed Rest study was supported by grant 14431/02/NL/SH2 from the European Space Agency. Furthermore, it was supported by Charité—University Medicine Berlin (Campus Benjamin Franklin), DLR (German Aerospace), the Institute for Fundamental and Clinical Movement Sciences, MSD Sharp & Dohme, Lilly Germany, Servier Germany, Hoffmann-LaRoche, Siemens, Novartis, and Seca. The study was investigator-initiated and all data were collected, stored and interpreted by the investigators without external interference. N.T.L.v.D. is financially supported by The Netherlands Heart Foundation (NHS No 2005B113); D.H.J.T. is financially supported by The Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO-grant 82507010).
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text: Heart HealthMen's Heart Health Our expansive network of cardiac services and facilities offers all the advantages of a single, multi-center program, with convenient access to consultation, testing, follow-up care, and rehabilitation. Our award-winning Heart Centers are nationally recognized. Learn more about our Heart Health services. Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) Coronary artery disease (CAD) occurs when the coronary arteries, or the arteries that bring blood to the heart muscle, become hardened and narrowed. The arteries harden and narrow because of a buildup of plaque on their inner walls. This is called atherosclerosis. Significant narrowing of the coronary arteries can reduce blood flow to the heart. This limits the amount of oxygen the heart receives and can lead to angina, heart failure, irregular heart rhythm, and heart attack. Coronary Artery Disease Assessment Beyond Cholesterol High cholesterol is a major risk factor for coronary artery disease, the nation's top killer. But a growing body of research shows that this fat-like substance in your blood is just the tip of the iceberg. Scientists have learned that other substances may help your doctor predict your risk for heart disease. Information on potential new predictors.


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Written on: 20/03/2013 by Ethelpudding4 (1 review written)
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Written on: 21/03/2013
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text:
Zimmerman works out, no timetable on return
Zimmerman works out, no timetable on return
Manager Jim Riggleman said that Zimmerman, placed on the disabled list on April 12 with a left abdominal strain, played some catch at a distance of about 60 feet Tuesday. He also did some tossing and running, all at approximately 50 percent effort.
Riggleman said that Zimmerman might try to do a little more of the same activities in the few days, basically putting in some more work as time goes on.
The skipper also said that he thinks the third baseman is going to do some kind of rehab assignment before coming back to the Nationals' lineup, but he can't pinpoint a time for that just yet.
"I would think he would [do rehab] eventually, but I have no idea when we might do that," Riggleman said.
Riggleman also said they want Zimmerman to be careful so he doesn't re-aggravate this injury, one that seems to have bothered several players in the Major Leagues already this year.
But he also said he's not worried about Zimmerman finding his stroke at the plate, since the third baseman seems to do that rather quickly.
"The one thing about Ryan is once he can do the other stuff, once he can take the ground balls and throw and run at full speed ... that he doesn't take long to find his swing," Riggleman said.


text:
On the (in)security of Some Smart-Card-Based Password Authentication Schemes for WSN
In this paper, the authors investigate a temporal-credential-based password authentication scheme introduced by Xue et al. in 2012. This protocol only involves hash and XOR operations and thus is suitable for the resource-constrained WSN environments where an external user wants to obtain real-time data from the sensor nodes inside WSN. However, notwithstanding their security arguments, they point out that Xue et al.'s protocol is still vulnerable to smart card security breach attack and privileged insider attack, and fails to provide identity protection. The proposed cryptanalysis discourages any practical use of the scheme under investigation and reveals some subtleties and challenges in designing this type of schemes.


text:
We, Atiskan Cons.&Ind. Gypsum Prod. Co., Inc. produce and supply many kind of construction materials to Turkish and foreign markets; Our product range like at the following down; - Gypsum based plasters - Plasterboards - Ceiling Tiles - Cement based adhesives and mortars - Bitumen based waterproofing membranes and accessories for these materials..
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text:
Hello everyone,
In the following statements,
1. I think pmf is a type of function pointer, the return type of the function is R and the function is a member function of type (class) T. Is my understanding correct?Code:template <class R, class T> class mem_fun_t : public unary_function <T*, R> { R (T::*pmf)() ... }
2. If yes, what is the parameter list of the function? Empty parameter list?
3. I doubt whether it is useful to define a function pointer with empty parameter list -- too restricted.
thanks in advance,


text: I was blessed with the chance to stay at Blue on Blue on my first adventure to Cape Town. This gorgeous B&B is tucked away in a hillside outside of Cape Town in an area called St. James Beach. St James is an adorable beach town with restaurants and a boardwalk running along the beach, connecting it to other beautiful... More


text:
Thursday, July 29, 1999 Published at 08:28 GMT 09:28 UK
Business: The Company File
BT speeds up Internet
Existing phone lines will be upgraded
High-speed digital lines which could transform Internet use are to be connected to millions of homes and businesses across the UK.
Telecoms firm BT has announced it is to roll out its Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Lines (ADSL) service over the next few months.
Using ADSL technology, existing telephone lines will be able to carry information at between 10 and 40 times the speed of conventional modems.
ADSL will allow Internet users much higher download speeds and that ability to watch high quality television and video through their computer.
Profits up
It said 400 exchanges, covering around six million homes and businesses, will be upgraded by March next year.
Areas due to be converted in the initial phase include London, Glasgow, Belfast, Cardiff, Birmingham, Coventry, Leeds and Edinburgh.
The launch of ADSL was announced as BT revealed a rise in pre-tax profits for the first quarter of 1999 - to Ł772m from Ł723m for the same period last year.
BT's mobile phone business grew by 64%, with Cellnet adding another 500,000 subscribers in the three months.
Calls also increased, driven by the growth of the Internet.
BT chief executive Sir Peter Bonfield said ADSL was a "major step" towards making the UK a world leader in the information revolution.
"It will drive new information industries and services to the benefit of all."
BT is believed to have been forced to bring in ADSL earlier than it had hoped to due to potential competiton from cable operators, who plan to market high-speed cable modems which use fibre-optic technology to by-pass BT's network.
Cable competition
Cable and Wireless is due to launch its digital service shortly, with other cable companies joining the high-speed access battle.
Earlier this month telecoms watchdog Oftel said it wanted BT to open its network to rivals to upgrade the network where they thought it necessary, without having to rely on BT's own rollout plans.
Earlier this year, Hull-based Kingston Communications began implementing ADSL in its exchanges.
BT has been accused of dragging its feet over the introduction of ADSL because it would take business away from its already highly-profitable Home Highway ISDN lines.
ADSL is added to existing telephone lines by attaching high-tech electronics at local exchanges and in individual homes and businesses.
BT also announced an increase in turnover from Ł4.23bn to Ł4.98bn for the quarter.
Internet use accounts for around 15% of all calls on the BT network at presents, but that figure is expected to rise to 25% next year.
The Company File Contents


text:
An eye-opening account of the great black personalities of world history.
In this first volume: outstanding blacks of Asia and Africa, and historical figures before Christ -- including Akhenaton, Aesop, Hannibal, Cleopatra, Zenobia, Askia the Great, the Mahdi, Samuel Adjai Crowther, and many more.
World's Great Men of Color is a comprehensive account of the great Black personalities in world history. J. A. Rogers was one of the first Black scholars to devote most… (more)
Publisher: Touchstone (July 06, 2010)
Collection: Touchstone
Format: EPUB
Page count: 592 pages
File size: 3.2 MB
Protection: DRM
Language: English


text:
A rare interview with Woody Allen
I don't know how she did it, but the Wall Street Journal's Rachel Dodes got a one-on-one with Woody Allen. The young reporter met with the press-shy filmmaker last week at his New York office to discuss his upcoming release "To Rome With Love", which premiered last month at the Cannes Film Festival. What she came away with is a rare, in-depth, albeit predictable dialogue with the prolific virtuoso whose latest film will serve as the opening night selection for the Jerusalem International Film Festival. It's an ironic choice, of course, for Jerusalem, which attracts nearly 8,000 Israelis to their outdoor cinemafest under the stars (the film screens in a valley just outside the Old City), since Rome and Jerusalem have a rather sordid past (let's just say the relationship suffered a serious setback when the Romans sacked and destroyed the Jews' beloved Second Temple).
Among Allen's usual pontificating about meaning and nothingness, his own perceived smallness and disinterest in modern mechanisms such as technology and movie reviews, there are some gems. On why he no longer casts himself as romantic lead: "I'm too old now, is the problem. I like to get the girl"; or why he'll never retire: "If all the funding [for my films] dried up, I could always sit home on my bed and write"; or why he doesn't appear on panels, at awards shows, or watch any of his movies after final cut: "It's not healthy to either regret or luxuriate in stuff that's in the past."
Dodes: Some say your view is that life is pointless, and others say you're a romantic realist who believes in being true to yourself. Which is it?
Allen: I think that's the best you can do, but the true situation is a hopeless one because nothing does last. If we reduce it absurdly for a moment, you know the sun will burn out. You know the universe is falling apart at a fantastically accelerating rate and that at some point there won't be anything at all. So whether you are Shakespeare or Beethoven or Michelangelo, your stuff's not going to last. So, given that, even if you were immortal, that time is going to come. Of course, you have to deal with a much more critical problem, which is that you're not going to last microscopically close to that. So, nothing does last. You do your things. One day some guy wakes up and gets the Times and says, "Hey, Woody Allen died. He keeled over in the shower singing. So, where do you want to have lunch today?"
Read the full interview at the Wall Street Journal


text:
It's a trial all right.
Now on stage at the New Theatre, Shirley Lauro's Clarence Darrow's Last Trial takes a long time to bring to life the minor last chapter of a major life in law. The play actually had a snazzy buzz before its world premiere in Coral Gables last week, having been a finalist for the New American History Play Prize in 2001 and also having been the subject of prestigious readings and workshops at the Actors Studio. The mind reels at the casts that have tried the script for size, including Rip Torn, Tovah Feldshuh, and Lois Nettleton. Maybe it was better in workshop, or maybe it's been workshopped to death. Who knows? There is certainly nothing terribly wrong with Rafael de Acha's stage direction or with his cast, which boasts entertaining performances by John Felix, John Bixler, Ricky J. Martinez, Susan Dempsey, and others. But the piece is at best mildly amusing, overlong middlebrow fare, peppered with fine acting but nowhere nearly as satisfying as your basic Law & Order rerun. Or even JAG.
The real-life Darrow was perhaps the greatest trial lawyer in this nation's history. He provided the basis for Inherit the Wind, the Broadway warhorse about the celebrated evolution v. creationism "Monkey Trial" in which Darrow battled the formidable prowess of William Jennings Bryan. Darrow's defense of the infamous killers Leopold and Loeb also has inspired its share of plays and movies. The public's thirst for courtroom dramas seems unquenchable -- witness the unlikely success of Twelve Angry Men currently on Broadway. So perhaps Lauro had good reason to choose the end of Darrow's career as the starting point of a new play.
Clarence Darrow's Last Trial
New Theatre, 4120 Laguna St, Coral Gables
Written by Shirley Lauro. Directed by Rafael de Acha. With John Felix, John Bixler, Susan Dempsey, Jenny Levine, Ricky J. Martinez, Angie Radosh, Bill Schwartz, and Tara Vodihn. Through February 20. 305-443-5909.
The setup is promising. In 1932 the legendary lawyer is 76 years old, strapped for cash, and unable to pay his doctor's bill of $800. Unexpectedly he is offered $30,000 up front to take a murder case in Hawaii. A champion of the underdog for most of his life, Darrow here assumes the defense of a white man accused of murdering a Hawaiian in a racially charged atmosphere of bigotry and injustice. Darrow and his wife Ruby pack up and leave Chicago for Honolulu to meet the young Pearl Harbor U.S. Navy officer who, along with his socialite mother-in-law, killed a native thug who may have raped his wife. The pulse quickens, adrenaline flows, there are surprises in store, and the old dog may yet have a few tricks up his sleeve.
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Not so fast, actually. There is real historical interest in the case, which may have been the beginning of what is now accepted as a defense of temporary insanity. But the exposition in Lauro's script is creaky to the point of incompetence. Not just the stilted conversations between husband and wife, but also the endless, repetitious meetings between Darrow and the fictitious prosecutor Naniloa Whitfield Chan are enough to try the patience of any jury. Then there is the detail that, in point of fact, there is no jury on stage. The conceit of having the lawyers address the audience as if they were the jury is fine, but in this instance it simply comes off as artificial and distancing. Of course more profound words might help pull this off, but Lauro's inelegant script seldom approaches the historical Darrow's own eloquence.
Rich Simone's set is effective, initially two big bookshelves and a set of windows upstage, later a more open space representing the Honolulu courtroom. It works, save when Darrow reflects and sits at a small table upstage left and his face is blocked by the podium downstage center, so that the audience in effect misses his performance. Estela Vrancovich's period costumes are appropriate without being flashy, and Michael Foster's stark lighting is everything one could want in the circumstances.
John Felix is fine as Darrow, especially once the initial exposition is out of the way. His is a vocally nuanced, almost touching performance that might be improved only by patience: This actor's face often is vastly more eloquent than the words he must speak. He should be allowed more moments of stillness and silence. As the accused killer, John Bixler is at once dangerously attractive and intense, though a touch of evil near the end would be welcome. That he and Jennie Levine, who plays the accused lieutenant's wife, never feel right as a couple is probably justified given the future of their relationship in the script; but in both cases there is room for character growth in Act Two that the pair and their director have not explored. As the standard-issue, wealthy mother-in-law, Angie Radosh might have gone beyond the single note she sounds. But she can't really be faulted for not finding it.
Best of all is Ricky J. Martinez in the potentially offensive part of the native reporter Tommy Lou. Over-the-top yet somehow improbably moving, here is an actor sinking his teeth into a role and nearly convincing you it's well written. Tara Vodihn has a tougher time portraying the mixed-race prosecuting attorney, largely because it is nearly impossible to make something out of the ridiculously didactic trial scene that takes up most of Act Two. In the thankless role of Darrow's wife Ruby, Susan Dempsey bravely brings to life some of Lauro's deadliest dialogue and almost raises the tone of the script. As the psychiatrist Dr. David Stein, on the other hand, William Schwartz sinks to the right level and creates little more than a caricature from one of those "very special episodes" when sitcoms try to get serious. The cheap, facile humor, it must be said, was a relief on opening night.


text:
The Brookings-Harbor High School wrestling team lost its second dual meet in a row on its first road trip of the season to Eureka, Calif.
The Bruins, hobbled by sickness and injuries, ended up forfeiting seven matches, lopsiding the score 63-18 in the Loggers' favor.
But the meet showed the Bruins have more promise than their first dual of the season against Illinois Valley hinted. Three Bruin wrestlers - Matt Sanders, Tyson Manion,Tyler Marrington - pinned their opponents. Brookings-Harbor won only two matches at its last dual.
Head Coach Jef Hatch said the team did really well at the meet and the team is starting to fall into its weight classes.
"It was a 100 percent improvement over the first meet," Hatch said. "The weights are evening out and we aren't giving up as much weight as we did against Illinois Valley."
Hatch said the pummeling BHHS received against Illinois Valley was due to nerves from it being the first match of the year and, with a team loaded with freshmen and many new to wrestling, the meet was a new experience.
Hatch is in his first year as head coach and is looking forward to the Coast Classic Invitational in North Bend this weekend, the first tournament of the year for the team.
"It's a big event and a first for many of the wrestlers," Hatch said. "It should be a really good chance for the team to see some great wrestlers."


text:
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