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Manuela Jankovic's War Trailer (2014)
01 October 2014 120 mins
Manuela (40) is the cook in a restaurant when the Balkan conflict breaks out on the other side of the world. The madness of war permeates her surroundings, invades her intimacy and unleashes its own warlike escalade.
Watch the official Manuela Jankovic's War 2014 trailer in HD below or find more Manuela Jankovic's War videos on Vidimovie.


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Henry James
Ruth Bernard Yeazell
Editura: Longman
For all Literature and/or Literary Criticism courses.A generation ago Prentice Hall's Twentieth Century Views series set the standard for truly useful collections of literary criticism on widely studied authors. These collections of essays, selected and introduced by distinguished scholars, made the most informative and provocative critical work on each writer easily available to students, scholars, and the general public. Now the New Century Views series, co-edited by Richard Brodhead and Maynard Mack, offers volumes of the same excellence for the contemporary moment. Each volume captures and makes accessible the most stimulating critical writing of our time on crucial literary figures of the past and present. Also included in each is an introduction to the author's life and work, a chronology of important dates, and a selected bibliography.
- Limba : Engleza
- Cuprins :
Introduction, Ruth Bernard Yeazell.
The Melodrama of Consciousness, Peter Brooks.
Gender and Value in THE AMERICAN, Carolyn Porter.
Aestheticism and THE PORTRAIT OF A LADY, Jonathan Freedman.
THE PRINCESS CASAMASSIMA, Lionel Trilling.
Surveillance in THE PRINCESS CASAMASSIMA, Mark Seltzer.
The First Paragraph of THE AMBASSADORS, Ian Watt.
The Logic of Delegation in THE AMBASSADORS, Julie Rivkin.
The Beast in the Closet, Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick.
The Imagination of Metaphor, Ruth Bernard Yeazell.
The Consuming Vision, Jean-Christophe Agnew.
Chronology of Important Dates.
Notes on Contributors.
- Data Publicarii : 1994
- Editie : 1
- Format : Paperback
- Numar pagini : 213
Adauga in:

subset: commoncrawl


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Today's Digital Daily
Withstanding the heat at the Calvin Klein after party and other fashion week blasts.
Reese Witherspoon on being a dork.
Wearing a designer's looks to his or her show as a sign of support is common practice these days.
Despite a somewhat stagnant economy, there appears to be no sticker shock for luxury lingerie, according to retailers nationwide.
Madame V, the high-end British lingerie company, is coming to the Continent to open its first freestanding store here in October.
The founder and owner of Spanx swooped into town at the end of last month to launch her Hide & Sleek line of smoothing slips and underwear.
Visitors to fashion week here might have had to squint to pick out the accessories on the runways for spring 2006.
Fashion week might be chockablock with shows featuring clothes, but there are plenty of accessories to go around, too.
The basic premise of factoring, lending money against a company's receivables, has been around for centuries.
Ongoing consolidation in the industry is changing the retail landscape.
With the mergers and acquisitions market brimming with more than $100 billion in private equity funds, this is one of the rare moments in business when perhaps having too much money can be a bad thing.
Consumer spending during the holidays stands to be adversely affected by high energy prices and, to a certain degree, by Hurricane Katrina.
Retailers are working to adapt to an industry-wide data security standard devised by major credit card companies such as Visa and Mastercard.
The Tod's U.S. flagship on Madison Avenue here has tripled in size in a New York minute.
With the Giorgio Armani label in all its forms firmly planted in the psyche of the shopping elite, the luxury clothier is seeking to expand its empire to include new stores, accessories and furniture.
The risk of pretending to know everything that goes on in celebrities' lives is the risk of looking foolish when it becomes clear that you don't.
Groupe Clarins reported that its net profits for the first half of this year rose 13.3 percent to 34.8 million euros, or $42.5 million at current exchange rates, over 2004.
To extend its global recruiting reach, Kerson Partners Ltd. executive search has hired Elaine L. Arozarena as vice president.
Jil Sander Group narrowed its net loss in the first half of its fiscal year and increased its sales by slightly more than 3 percent.
Rosalind "Roz" Ames Warren, a fit model for designers in the Fifties and Sixties, died of cancer Friday at her Manhattan home.
A brutal show schedule with many off-site venues; hot, humid weather, and snarled traffic as a result of the United Nations summit left retailers feeling…
Saks Inc. has rejected a bid by The Bon-Ton Stores for its northern department store group, and will now try to sell the nameplates individually, financial and retail sources familiar with the negotiations said.
A look at the coming week's events.
A brief look at some of the day's stories.
The Iconix Brand Fashion Group is going on a rampage in more ways than one.
This confirms a report in WWD on July 25 that Neiman's might look to sell the firm.
Jeffrey Tweedy has moved into Beyonce and Tina Knowles' House of Dereon.
The runways were a study in contrasts for spring, from beachy chic to "Deadwood" rustic to MoMA refinement.
Less is more. As old as the adage may be, it still rings true. Designers practiced restraint this season, sending out clothes that — while subtle and subdued — couldn't be more chic.
Like his mentor, Holilokk was inspired by couture fabrics, and this season's "moody" colors such as black, along with beige and camel.
Even when the movie screen backdrop showed static instead of "Star Wars" clips, Lucas was unfazed.
All you girly girls, get ready. The spring runways were full of ultrafeminine looks — many were proper, while others were pouffed up and punked out.
Tinsley Mortimer, who is usually seen at black-tie events in frothy designer frocks and artfully coiffed platinum tresses, took an unconventional turn on Friday when she walked down Heatherette's runway.
In a matter of days, Naomi Campbell rounded up an all-star lineup for Friday's "Fashion for Relief," a benefit runway show for Hurricane Katrina victims.
Those interested in Ralph Lauren's creative process can have an inside view in "Diary of a Collection."


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Exposure to Polyfluoroalkyl Chemicals and Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in U.S. Children 12–15 Years of Age
[do action="authors"]Kate Hoffman1, Thomas F. Webster1, Marc G. Weisskopf2, Janice Weinberg3, Verónica M. Vieira1[/do][do action="affiliations"]1Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; 2Department of Environmental Health, Environmental and Occupational Medicine and Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; 3Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA[/do][do action="citation-string"]Environ Health Perspect 118:1762-1767 (2010). http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1001898 [online 15 June 2010] [/do]
[do action="abstract"]
Background: Polyfluoroalkyl chemicals (PFCs) have been widely used in consumer products. Exposures in the United States and in world populations are widespread. PFC exposures have been linked to various health impacts, and data in animals suggest that PFCs may be potential developmental neurotoxicants.
Objectives: We evaluated the associations between exposures to four PFCs and parental report of diagnosis of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Methods: Data were obtained from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999–2000 and 2003–2004 for children 12–15 years of age. Parental report of a previous diagnosis by a doctor or health care professional of ADHD in the child was the primary outcome measure. Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), and perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS) levels were measured in serum samples from each child.
Results: Parents reported that 48 of 571 children included in the analysis had been diagnosed with ADHD. The adjusted odds ratio (OR) for parentally reported ADHD in association with a 1-μg/L increase in serum PFOS (modeled as a continuous predictor) was 1.03 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.01–1.05]. Adjusted ORs for 1-μg/L increases in PFOA and PFHxS were also statistically significant (PFOA: OR = 1.12; 95% CI, 1.01–1.23; PFHxS: OR = 1.06; 95% CI, 1.02–1.11), and we observed a nonsignificant positive association with PFNA (OR = 1.32; 95% CI, 0.86–2.02).
Conclusions: Our results, using cross-sectional data, are consistent with increased odds of ADHD in children with higher serum PFC levels. Given the extremely prevalent exposure to PFCs, follow-up of these data with cohort studies is needed.
[/do][do action="abstract"]Key words: attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), polyfluoroalkyl chemicals (PFCs)[/do]
[do action="notes-rule-above"]Address correspondence to K. Hoffman, 715 Albany St., Talbot 4W, Boston, MA 02118 USA. Telephone: (617) 638-4620. Fax: (617) 638-4857. E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com[/do]
[do action="notes"]
We acknowledge the National Center for Health Statistics and the National Center for Environmental Health of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for their invaluable work conducting the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Additionally, we gratefully acknowledge the contribution of R. White.
[do action="notes"]This work was supported in part by the Boston University Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Environmental Exposures and Health and by grant P42ES007381 from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), National Institutes of Health (NIH).[/do][do action="notes"] The contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of NIEHS, NIH. [/do][do action="notes"]The authors declare they have no actual or potential competing financial interests.[/do][do action="notes"] Received 04 January 2010; accepted 15 June 2010; online 15 June 2010.[/do]
Polyfluoroalkyl chemicals (PFCs) are a class of highly stable man-made compounds. Composed of a variable-length fluorinated carbon backbone and a carboxylate or sulfonate functional group, PFCs have both hydrophobic and oleophobic portions that enable products to repel both oil and water and resist staining. PFCs are widely used in industrial applications as surfactants and emulsifiers and in consumer products such as food packaging, nonstick pan coatings, fire-fighting foams, paper and textile coatings, and personal care products (Calafat et al. 2007b; Renner 2001).
PFCs are extremely resistant to environmental and metabolic degradation and have been detected globally in the environment and wildlife (Lau et al. 2007). PFCs have been measured in the blood of occupationally exposed cohorts and in the general population. The source of PFCs in the general population is likely to be environmental exposure to individual PFCs or their precursor molecules; however, the specific source contributions are not well characterized. PFCs released during manufacturing processes or in wastes from the perfluoroalkyl industry are potential sources of exposure for the individuals employed in these industries as well as for the general population (3M Company 2003). Other potential sources of exposure include consumer products containing PFCs, contaminated drinking and surface waters, airborne PFCs, indoor air, and house dust (3M Company 2003; Boulanger et al. 2004; Emmett et al. 2006; Holzer et al. 2008; Martin et al. 2002; Saito et al. 2004; Shoeib et al. 2005; So et al. 2004; Steenland et al. 2009; Stock et al. 2004).
PFCs are absorbed through ingestion and to a lesser extent through inhalation. Once absorbed, PFCs are eliminated from the human body very slowly. Serum half-life estimates in an occupationally exposed cohort ranged from 5.4 years for perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) to 8.5 years for perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS) (Olsen et al. 2007). In a cohort exposed to drinking water contaminated by perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), the serum half-life for PFOA was estimated to be 2.3 years (Bartell et al. 2010). Although the primary producer of PFOS, the 3M Company, discontinued its use in 2002; and U.S. companies have implemented a voluntary emission reduction program for PFOA, > 98% of a 2003–2004 U.S. population sample had detectable serum levels of two perfluorinated carboxylates, PFOA and perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), and two perfluorinated sulfonates, PFOS and PFHxS (Calafat et al. 2007b).
The ubiquitous presence and persistence of PFCs in the environment and the human body have led to efforts to understand the toxicologic hazards that may be associated with exposure. Early animal studies focused almost exclusively on exposure to PFOS and PFOA and found several potential effects, primarily related to hepatotoxicity, immunotoxicity, and reproductive and developmental toxicity (Lau et al. 2004, 2007). Although assessments are now including other PFCs and examining human populations, data are still limited.
Preliminary data suggest that PFCs may be potential developmental neurotoxicants. Using in vitro models, PFCs were shown to affect neuronal cell development in a variety of ways, including changes in cell differentiation (Slotkin et al. 2008). In rat models, in utero exposure to PFOS was linked to reduction in thyroid hormone (circulating thyroxin and triiodothyronine), which is known to regulate brain development (Lau et al. 2003; Luebker et al. 2005). However, in pups exposed to PFOS prenatally, reductions in thyroid hormone did not appear to disrupt learning and memory behavior in postnatal evaluations (Lau et al. 2003). Other developmental neurotoxic effects, manifested in changes in motor function and delayed learning, were observed in several animal studies (Fuentes et al. 2007a, 2007b; Johansson et al. 2008). Even at relatively low doses, Johansson et al. (2008) found developmental neurotoxic effects, including changes in spontaneous behavior and habituation ability, associated with PFOA and PFOS exposure in mice, which persisted into adulthood. Neonatal exposure to PFOS and PFOA has also been associated with changes in proteins (tau and synaptophysin) important in normal brain development (Johansson et al. 2009). To our knowledge, a single reported study assessed the human developmental neurotoxic effects of exposure to PFOA and PFOS. Using data for 1,400 pairs of pregnant women and their children randomly selected from the Danish National Birth Cohort, Fei et al. (2008) observed an association between maternal PFOS levels and delayed gross motor development in infancy (maternal report of the age at which a child could sit without support); however, maternal PFOS and PFOA levels were not significantly associated with delays in other developmental milestones, including those related to attention.
Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders in children, with an estimated prevalence between 7% and 16% in the United States (Faraone et al. 2003; Froehlich et al. 2007). Data suggest that the underlying prevalence of ADHD is increasing. Children diagnosed with ADHD are a heterogeneous population sharing common symptoms, including inattention, impulsivity, and, in some cases, hyperactivity, or a combination of symptoms. Although the mechanisms that lead to the development of ADHD remain unclear, genetic and environmental factors have been linked to ADHD. Environmental contaminants such as methylmercury and lead have been positively associated with ADHD in children (Braun et al. 2006; Cheuk and Wong 2006).
In the present analyses, we explored the association between ADHD and PFOS, PFOA, PFHxS, and PFNA using cross-sectional data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999–2000 and 2003–2004 cycles. To our knowledge, this is the first study examining the association between PFCs and ADHD.
Data source. NHANES is a nationally representative, cross-sectional sample of the noninstitutionalized U.S. civilian population. The survey combines in-home interviews and physical examinations in a mobile exam unit to collect data on demographics, socioeconomic status (SES), health conditions, and behavioral and environmental risk factors [Centers for Disease Controls and Prevention (CDC) 2008]. Details regarding interviews, examination procedures, and sample collection have been described previously (CDC 2009a, 2009b).
ADHD and PFC exposure assessment. We used parental report of previous ADHD diagnosis as the primary dependent variable. Questionnaires were administered by trained personnel (CDC 2009a, 2009b). The children's parents or guardians were asked if a doctor or health professional had ever told them that their child had attention deficit disorder. In NHANES, data on ADHD were collected in a target population of children 4–19 years of age.
To improve specificity, we also considered a second definition of ADHD used previously in an assessment of the effects of other environmental exposures on ADHD risk in the NHANES population (Braun et al. 2006). The second case definition included children with a parental report of a previous ADHD diagnosis and a parental report of their child taking medications approved for the treatment of ADHD within the preceding month (e.g., amphetamine aspartate, amphetamine sulfate, dextroamphetamine saccharate, dextroamphetamine sulfate, methylphenidate hydrochloride, or atomoxetine hydrochloride).
The National Center for Environmental Health analyzed serum PFC levels in a one-third sample of all individuals ≥ 12 years of age. Data were available during two nonconsecutive survey cycles, 1999–2000 and 2003–2004. Detailed analytic methods were described previously (Calafat et al. 2007a, 2007b). Briefly, serum samples were analyzed using automated solid-phase extraction coupled to reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry. Any subject with a serum PFC concentration below the limit of detection (LOD) was assigned an exposure value of the LOD divided by the square root of 2 (Calafat et al. 2007b).
Covariates. We investigated a number of covariates and potential confounders in the association between PFCs and ADHD. The demographic variables age, sex, and race/ ethnicity were included as covariates based on their role in the NHANES selection procedure and previous research on their association with ADHD (Costello et al. 2003; Stevens et al. 2005). Additionally, we included NHANES sample cycle (1999–2000 or 2003–2004) as a covariate. SES was also considered a potential confounder. We used the poverty–income ratio (PIR), which relates the family income to the poverty threshold for each study year as a measure of SES. PIR values < 1.00 are considered living below the poverty level. Having a routine health care provider and health insurance coverage were also considered potential confounders (Stevens et al. 2005). In addition, we also investigated confounding by other environmental contaminants that have been previously associated with ADHD: lead and environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) indicated by report of living with someone who smokes cigarettes, cigars, or pipes inside the home and by serum cotinine, a metabolite of nicotine (Bellinger et al. 1994; Braun et al. 2006; Fergusson et al. 1988; Weitzman et al. 1992; Williams et al. 1998). We also considered confounding by variables related to conditions during the prenatal and early childhood periods: birth weight, admittance to a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), maternal smoking during pregnancy, and preschool attendance (Botting et al. 1997; Braun et al. 2006; Mick et al. 2002a, 2002b; Milberger et al. 1996; National Institute of Child Health and Human Development 2003). NHANES collects different exposure, outcome, and confounder data depending on the age of the individual. Data on ADHD outcomes, confounder information, and PFC measurements were collected for children 12–15 years of age only; consequently, analyses were limited to this age range.
Statistical analyses. We examined the shape of the relationship between the continuous measures of each individual PFC and parent-reported ADHD using a locally weighted regression smoother (LOESS) in S-Plus (version 8.0; Tibco Software, Inc., Palo Alto, CA). Smoothing allowed us to summarize ADHD odds as a function of PFC exposures without imposing a rigid form of dependence. We selected the optimal span size—the window from which data are drawn to estimate the odds of ADHD—by minimizing Akaike's information criterion (Hastie and Tibshirani 1990). We visually inspected plots of the smoothed data to inform our decision on how to model exposure.
Logistic regression analyses were performed in SAS (version 9.1; SAS Institute, Inc., Cary, NC) using the Proc SURVEYLOGISTIC procedure, which accounts for stratification and clustering within primary sampling units used to select the NHANES sample. Rather than using NHANES sample weights, we adjusted all models for relevant covariates (age, sex, race/ethnicity, and sample cycle). This method is considered to be a good trade-off between efficiency and bias (Graubard and Korn 1999; Korn and Graubard 1991). Other potential covariates were included if they were strongly associated with ADHD in bivariate analyses (p < 0.10) or if they appreciably altered the association between PFC exposure and ADHD [odds ratio (OR) change > 10%]. We included continuous covariates in models as continuous predictors and also explored the use of categorization. A p-value of 0.05 was chosen to indicate the statistical significance of the association between each PFC and ADHD.
Our preliminary investigation of PFC data revealed several children with very high serum PFC levels, particularly PFHxS, PFOA, and PFNA. To ensure that individuals with extreme exposure values were not disproportionately influencing results, we conducted sensitivity analyses excluding observations greater than three times the 75th percentile for each compound (PFOS, n = 0; PFOA, n = 2; PFNA, n = 12; PFHxS, n = 26). Additionally, because the range of serum values varied considerably for the PFCs we assessed, we conducted additional analyses to provide ORs standardized to an increase in units equal to the interquartile range (IQR) for each PFC to provide comparable effect estimates.
We also investigated the impact of all four PFCs in the same model. Because PFC levels are correlated (in these data, Spearman correlations ranged from 0.18 between PFOS and PFNA to 0.74 between PFOS and PFOA), we also performed principal component analysis, a systematic method of reducing the number of correlated observed variables into a smaller number of principal components that account for most of the variance in the observed PFC measures (Burstyn 2004).
Of the 571 study participants 12–15 years of age with complete data, parents of 48 (8.4%) reported that their child had ADHD. Of those, 21 (3.6% of the study population) also reported using prescription medications approved for the treatment of ADHD within the last month. We included one child reported to be taking prescription medication for ADHD but not reported to have been diagnosed with ADHD in analyses as a noncase. Details regarding the total sample size are displayed in the Supplemental Material, Figure 1 (doi:10.1289/ehp.1001898).
Sex and maternal smoking during pregnancy were significantly associated with parental-report of ADHD in bivariate analyses (Table 1). Compared with non-Hispanic whites, Mexican Americans were less likely to report ADHD diagnosis [OR = 0.28; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.11–0.72]. Associations between ETS and ADHD were similar whether ETS was indicated by categorical serum cotinine levels (data not shown) or report of living with someone who smokes cigarettes, cigars, or pipes inside the home. We controlled for ETS in models using report of living in a home with a smoker because data were missing less frequently. ETS was not associated with our stricter case definition of ADHD, having a reported diagnosis and taking prescription medication for the treatment of ADHD, which was similar to what Braun et al. (2006) observed. We also observed a positive association between lead and ADHD similar to that reported previously in a larger NHANES sample (Braun et al. 2006).
Selected population characteristics and bivariate analyses of parental-reported ADHD and covariates.
Table 2 displays the median serum level of each PFC in the study population. Nearly all study participants had detectable serum concentrations of all four PFCs included in our analyses (> 96% for all PFCs). Other PFCs were detected infrequently in this population. Table 3 displays the median serum PFC levels according to categorical covariates. Median serum concentrations were consistently higher in males than females and in children who attended preschool. Similarly, those who lived in a home with a smoker consistently had higher PFC levels. Table 4 displays correlations between continuous covariates and each PFC. With the exception of PFOA, which was weakly correlated with lead, we did not observe evidence of an association between PFCs and lead. Additionally, we observed a small but significant correlation between each PFC and the PIR.
Distribution of PFC levels in the study population (μg/L).
Median serum PFC concentrations (μg/L) by categorical covariates.
Spearman correlations between continuous covariates and PFCs (p-value).
The results of the smoothed analyses suggested that the association between PFC levels and ADHD may be approximately linear over most of the data range; accordingly, we included PFCs in logistic regression models as continuous predictors [see details in Supplemental Material, Figure 2 (doi:10.1289/ehp.1001898)]. We observed a significant (p-value < 0.05) dose–response relationship between PFOS exposure and parent-reported ADHD; the OR for each 1-μg/L increase in serum PFOS was 1.03 (95% CI, 1.01–1.05) (Table 5) after adjusting for confounding by NHANES sample cycle, age, race/ethnicity, sex, ETS, and maternal smoking during pregnancy. Crude estimates of the association between PFCs and ADHD were similar to adjusted estimates. The inclusion of other covariates, including the PIR, did not materially alter the association between PFCs and parent-reported ADHD (data not shown). PFOA and PFHxS levels were also positively associated with ADHD (PFOA: OR = 1.12; 95% CI, 1.01–1.23; PFHxS: OR = 1.06; 95% CI, 1.02–1.11). The odds of parent-reported ADHD also increased with PFNA concentrations, although not significantly (OR = 1.32; 95% CI, 0.86–2.02). Results were similar when we used the stricter case definition of ADHD that required both parental report and medication use (Table 5). The same covariates were evaluated for each case definition.
ORs (95% CIs) for 1-μg/L increase in serum level (n = 571).
Because the range of serum values varied considerably for the PFCs we assessed, we also calculated ORs standardized to an increase in units equal to the IQR for each PFC. An increase in serum PFOS levels equal to the IQR was associated with 1.60 times the odds of ADHD (95% CI, 1.10–2.31; IQR = 15.9 μg/L). For PFOA, the odds of ADHD increased 1.35 times for an increase equal to the IQR (95% CI, 1.04–1.77; IQR = 2.7 μg/L). A 2.9-μg/L increase in serum PFHxS increased the odds of ADHD 1.19 times (95% CI, 1.05–1.34). The IQR effect for PFNA increased ADHD odds 1.15 times (95% CI, 0.93–1.42; IQR = 0.5 μg/L).
Several children had very high serum PFC levels, particularly PFHxS, PFOA, and PFNA. Estimated ORs were slightly higher than those reported in Table 5 when observations with PFC concentrations more than three times the value of the 75th percentile were excluded (data not shown).
Principal component analyses indicated that PFOS, PFOA, and PFHxS all loaded onto a single component that accounted for 58% of the total variability in all four PFC measures. A second component, which primarily represented PFNA exposure, accounted for an additional 22% of the total variability. We repeated multiple logistic regression analyses including both PFNA and the principal component that represented the weighted combination of PFOS, PFOA, and PFHxS. A positive association with ADHD remained for the combined PFC variable and for PFNA (data not shown; PFOS, PFOA, and PFHxS component p-value = 0.02; PFNA p-value = 0.72).
We observed a positive dose–response relationship between parent-reported ADHD and serum PFOS, PFOA, and PFHxS concentrations modeled as continuous predictors. Including PFC levels modeled as categorical predictors of ADHD produced similar results. The estimated effect of exposure on the population level was similar across these PFCs based on IQR analyses, indicating the importance of extending neurotoxicologic research to PFCs other than PFOS and PFOA, which have historically been the focus of research.
Principal component analyses support evidence of a positive association between ADHD and serum PFCs. Controlling for PFNA levels and other covariates, we observed a significant positive association with the principal component representing PFOS, PFOA, and PFHxS, suggesting that there may be different sources of exposure for PFNA and the other PFCs that we assessed. This is an area for future research.
Our results are consistent with animal data that suggest neurotoxic effects of PFC exposures (Fuentes et al. 2007a, 2007b; Johansson et al. 2008). To our knowledge, the report by Fei et al. (2008) is the only other published study of neurodevelopmental outcomes and PFC exposures. Except for gross motor ability, Fei et al. (2008) did not observe statistically significant differences in maternal reports of developmental milestones in infancy related to PFOS or PFOA exposure. The age of individuals in the study populations may explain the difference between our results and those reported by Fei et al. (2008). Because of data availability, we were able to assess only children 12–15 years of age.
Our analyses have a number of limitations. NHANES data are collected cross-sectionally, making it difficult to infer a causal relationship between PFC levels and ADHD. These data do not allow us to speculate on potential development periods of susceptibility to exposure. Although PFCs have a relatively long half-life, there is a lack of information addressing whether current PFC levels are an appropriate surrogate for past levels in the general population (Bartell et al. 2010; Olsen et al. 2007). If the prenatal period and early childhood, when the developing brain may be more susceptible, are the critical periods for insult from PFC exposure, then random misclassification error resulting from the use of current PFC levels as proxy measures of etiologically relevant exposures may have biased our results toward the null.
These analyses are also potentially limited by our reliance on parental report of ADHD. Previous research indicates parental reports of ADHD are highly reliable (Faraone et al. 1995). Examining the combined outcome of reported ADHD and medication use, we improved the specificity of the outcome and increased the likelihood that children included as ADHD cases had been evaluated and treated by health care professionals. Although we identified a much smaller number of cases using the stricter definition (n = 21), and consequently reduced the precision, the point estimates were similar regardless of which case definition was used. Similarly, although we included a large number of terms in models for a relatively small number of outcomes, crude estimates of the association between PFCs and ADHD were similar to adjusted estimates. Analyses of the NHANES population conducted previously have shown that parental report of ADHD was related to other environmental exposures (e.g., lead and maternal smoking during pregnancy) (Braun et al. 2006).
Detailed questionnaire and laboratory measurement data were available for a number of potential covariates in the NHANES data set, and we able to evaluate the potential for confounding by conditions during the prenatal and early childhood periods and other environmental exposures, such as lead and SES, related to ADHD. Data for potential confounders were generally very complete. However, there may still be residual confounding in the association between PFCs and ADHD. We were unable to assess several potential confounders because they were either not publically available (i.e., maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy) or not collected in the NHANES data set (i.e., genetic predisposition for ADHD).
Despite these limitations, our analyses have a number of strengths including the use of a representative sample of the U.S. population. Additionally, we were able to consider the association between PFC levels and ADHD odds over a wide range of exposures. We were also able to estimate associations of PFNA and PFHxS with ADHD; to our knowledge, this is the first assessment of the potential developmental neurotoxicity of these PFCs in children.
To our knowledge, these analyses are the first to assess the association between PFC levels and ADHD. As a whole, our results are consistent with increased ADHD in children with higher serum levels of PFCs. Given the extremely prevalent exposure to PFCs, further investigation into the impact of PFC exposure on ADHD and other neurodevelopmental endpoints is warranted.
Attached Files
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- CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) 2009b. Survey Questionnaires, Examination Components and Laboratory Components 1999-2000. Available: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhanes/nhanes1999-2000/questexam99_00.htm [accessed 14 October 2009]
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- Emmett EA, Shofer FS, Zhang H, Freeman D, Desai C, Shaw LM. 2006. Community exposure to perfluorooctanoate: relationships between serum concentrations and exposure sources. J Occup Environ Med 48(8):759–770.
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- Fei C, McLaughlin JK, Lipworth L, Olsen J. 2008. Prenatal exposure to perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) and maternally reported developmental milestones in infancy. Environ Health Perspect 116:1391–1395.
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- Fuentes S, Colomina MT, Vicens P, Domingo JL. 2007. . Influence of maternal restraint stress on the long-lasting effects induced by prenatal exposure to perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) in mice. Toxicol Lett 171(3):162–170.
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- Mick E, Biederman J, Faraone SV, Sayer J, Kleinman S. 2002. . Case-control study of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and maternal smoking, alcohol use, and drug use during pregnancy. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 41(4):378–385.
- Mick E, Biederman J, Prince J, Fischer MJ, Faraone SV. 2002. . Impact of low birth weight on attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. J Dev Behav Pediatr 23(1):16–22.
- Milberger S, Biederman J, Faraone SV, Chen L, Jones J. 1996. Is maternal smoking during pregnancy a risk factor for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children? Am J Psychiatry 153(9):1138–1142.
- National Institute of Child Health and Human Development 2003. Does amount of time spent in child care predict socioemotional adjustment during the transition to kindergarten? Child Dev 74(4):976–1005.
- Olsen GW, Burris JM, Ehresman DJ, Froehlich JW, Seacat AM, Butenhoff JL, et al. 2007. Half-life of serum elimination of perfluorooctanesulfonate, perfluorohexanesulfonate, and perfluorooctanoate in retired fluorochemical production workers. Environ Health Perspect 115:1298–1305.
- Renner R.. 2001. Growing concern over perfluorinated chemicals. Environ Sci Technol 35(7):154A–160A.
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- Weitzman M, Gortmaker S, Sobol A.. 1992. Maternal smoking and behavior problems of children. Pediatrics 90(3):342–349.
- Williams GM, O'Callaghan M, Najman JM, Bor W, Andersen MJ, Richards D, et al. 1998. Maternal cigarette smoking and child psychiatric morbidity: a longitudinal study. Pediatrics 102(1):e11..
EHP is pleased to announce that "The Prevalence of Antibiotic-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Nasal Carriage among Industrial Hog Operation Workers, Community Residents, and Children Living in Their Households: North Carolina, USA," published in EHP in the April 2017 issue, has been selected by the Children's Environmental Health Network (CEHN) as its October 2017 Article of the Month. (more…)
EHP is pleased to announce that "A Difference-in-Differences Approach to Assess the Effect of a Heat Action Plan on Heat-Related Mortality, and Differences in Effectiveness According to Sex, Age, and Socioeconomic Status (Montreal, Quebec)" has been awarded Honorable Mention as one of the Best Environmental Epidemiology Papers published in 2016. (more…)


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Well, I went out for a bit today. Our one local Irish pub had a "permit" to close down a block of E 17th. The Fire Department Pipes and Drums were the entertainment of the day (they are a Highland band, wearing the MacKenzie tartan). I wore a kilt (khaki) with green hose and a green shirt (the tuba group I play for wears green) and saw one other kilt that I believe was a Fraser. I did get a pint of Guinness. Well, a 12 oz. cup. And got to hang out with a good friend, also a retired cop.
I went home and served up lamb stew and shepherds pie to a group of friends. And had a shot of Bushmills 12.
My heritage is that of an American mongrel. Irish, Scotts, Welch, English and German, to the best of my knowledge.


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Wrapping it up in Dunedin
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Some of the biggest names in education and technology are in San Diego for a summit that puts investors together with education start-up companies. NBC 7's Rory Devine tells us about one program that helps track reading skills and motivates students.
Published at 8:02 PM PDT on Apr 19, 2016


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Whidbey Island Landslide Emergency Response
Assisted Island County with emergency-response actions and long-term planning related to a major landslide.
The Ledgewood Landslide that occurred on March 27, 2013 on the west side of Whidbey Island was one of the largest shoreline landslides in recorded Puget Sound history. The slide created a near-vertical headscarp at the crest of the slide area that was approximately 600 feet wide. The slope failure pushed debris approximately 250 feet into Admiralty Inlet, with an estimated 20 to 30 feet of uplift at the toe. The Ledgewood Landslide occurred within an older landslide complex approximately one mile long, and destroyed one residence, put several others at risk, and cut off access to approximately 14 homes.
GeoEngineers provided a rapid site assessment the day of the slide, followed by an extensive, short-turnaround subsurface exploration and instrumentation program. We also worked with Island County Public Works (ICPW) and emergency personnel to determine appropriate steps to protect public safety.
Within hours after the hillside collapsed, GeoEngineers visited the site with ICPW personnel and began a comprehensive geologic reconnaissance of the landslide area. In consultation with ICPW, we recommended which residences in the slide area should be temporarily or permanently abandoned and assessed when temporarily evacuated residents could return to their homes. We also completed a multi-phase geotechnical investigation of the landslide area and conducted stability analyses to evaluate risks to public safety and infrastructure in the vicinity of the slide. At one point during the field investigation phase, we had five drilling rigs and crews working simultaneously at the site to obtain critical subsurface information. GeoEngineers also contracted for additional LiDAR imagery of the slide area and directed the installation of instrumentation to monitor ground movements and subsurface water levels near the landslide mass.
Landslide monitoring by ICPW staff and GeoEngineers' data review indicates that little movement of the slide mass has occurred since the major slope failure occurred in March 2013. However, the very steep crest of the landslide has retreated episodically since the primary event and represents an ongoing hazard to structures and people in the area. GeoEngineers continues to support ICPW by evaluating the landslide monitoring data and by considering options for improving roadway access to homes that were isolated by the slope failure.


text: Bossa Nova Improvisation 2 Bossa Nova Improvisation 2 by Guy Fenocchi is our second lesson on improvising solos for the jazz standard Blue Bossa. In this lesson, we'll focus on smaller sections of the song so we can use more specific soloing ideas. We'll use a variety of scales and arpeggios to improvise over each different chord of the backing track. Lesson Guide: Bars 1-2 — 1:00 Bars 3-4 — 4:15 Bars 5-8 — 7:32 Bars 9-12 — 11:43 […]Gain access to this course and all of our guitar lessons by signing up for our Premium Lesson Plan or logging in . If you have already logged in, you may need to refresh/reload this page.


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Our team conducted an initial flood Investigation of the Crace catchment to determine attenuation requirements for storm events up to the 100-year Average Recurrence Interval (ARI). They then devised a flood mitigation and stormwater quality strategy involving combined raingardens and detention basins. The raingardens not only allow for water treatment to be decentralised, but also provide high aesthetic value. Additional water quality and quantity measures include gross pollutant traps, bioretention basins and swales.
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Haryana Board of School Education (HBSE) has released 10th 12th Roll No Admit Cards for coming exam which will starts from 10-11 September 2014.
Those schools or students who are waiting for ONLINE ROLL NO for class 10th 12th can download their roll no Admit card/ Hall ticket from the direct link provided below:
1. Click on the direct link provided below.
2. Enter Student ID as user name field & enter password which is student's Date of Birth (use dd/mm/yyyy fomat to fill date of birth).
3. Click on Login button.
4. Select the class 10th or 12th and semester 1 or 2 for downloading Roll No Admit Card.
5. Save and Print the roll no. admit card for 10th or 12th Class.
To download 10th 12th Regular students Roll No Admit Card Hall Ticket, Click on the direct link provided below
To download 10th 12th Re-appear COMPARTMENT students Roll No Admit Card Hall Ticket, Click on the direct link provided below
Official Website: http://www.bseh.org.in/


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How Sports Teams Are Using Data to Change the Game
Mar 22, 2017By Chuck Murphy
In a recent post from our continuing series coverage from the Media Insights & Engagement Conference, we talked about leveraging fan passion in college sports. Today we continue to talk about sports teams and how they're using data to build championship teams. On Day 2 of this Conference, one of the Keynote sessions featured Paul DePodesta,Read Full Article >


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Pune, Maharashtra India (PressExposure) April 01, 2008 -- Surprising News: In the current scenario of a global economic downturn and US recession, questions have been raised about the practicality of outsourcing. Surprisingly, no major shifts in outsourcing patterns have been witnessed and in fact increased outsourcing trends have been predicted to tide over the current recessionary climate. This is because margins and revenues have still to be maintained in times of cost cutting and cash crunch and off shoring continues to be a dependable avenue of cost saving.
Outsourcing is a reality that is here to stay and there is far less resistance to this global phenomenon today as compared to the early 1990s. The consultancy experts at Leo Technosoft, an India-based offshore development and consultancy company, an experienced player in the field reiterate the obvious benefits of outsourcing: ⢠By offloading non-core functions, companies can focus on their core competencies at home and utilize the savings derived from offshoring towards R&D, infrastructure and other mission critical projects ⢠Access to a highly skilled, cost-effective pool of service providers with critical domain knowledge ⢠In the present economic environment where companies attempt to cope with stringent budgets, offshoring offers tremendous cost savings, eliminating the need for additional man-power and training. ⢠Over the years the growing maturity of off shored markets has been proven beyond doubt with all round increase in productivity after the initial hiccups.
Today the benefits of outsourcing go beyond the obvious cost-savings, improved productivity and speedy time-to-market. India in particular has the huge advantage of a large English speaking, technically competent and relatively cost-effective talent pool.
The single most critical factor to ensure a smooth transition & migration of activities to an alternate location through outsourcing is to benefit from the services of a trusted ODC partner. As Mr. Satyen Jain, Director of Leo Technosoft puts it " the key is to identify an ODC partner with a global network of clients, helping start-ups, small and mid-sized companies achieve business goals by offering dedicated ODC services that consists of: ⢠Providing consultancy to make the offshore development centre successful and profitable to maximize ROI ⢠Dedicated, skilled personnel and technical infrastructure (both hardware & software) ⢠Highest levels of privacy and confidentiality of work ⢠On-time deliverables ⢠State of the art communication facilities in a 24/7 work environment ⢠Cost-effective software tools ⢠Extensive experience in handling outsourced projects"
Elaborating further, Satyen amplified his views by giving the example of his own organization. As he says "At Leo Technosoft we ensure that you have a comfortable experience during the whole process of establishing an ODC. Our dedicated offshore development team consists of a pool of talent with multiple skills."
The key to a successful relationship lies in trust, commitment and ROI. Execution of a number of successful projects and the fact that clients come back to the same ODC time and again proves the mettle of an ODC team. Further, experience in partnering with development teams in different geographies and time zones exhibits the versatility of the ODC.
In the course of setting up an offshore centre, a good ODC must provide the services of an exclusive team, wholly committed to a project and must act as a practical extension of the home team. The most up-to-date technologies and processes must support the project, integrating seamlessly with the client company's unique needs. Services must be leveraged according to the client's budgets and time frames.
With an overall economic slowdown predicted in the year 2008, the immediate outcome of outsourcing is bound to be seen in tangible benefits seen in cost savings. In the larger context though, the most important intangible benefit is the tremendous value addition that a company accrues through this process in terms of getting the best expertise, cross border integrated solutions and access to rugged quality assurance.


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Warning: some language (including the F-word), slightly-dependent!Charles, very slight angst, a lot of fluff, Charles/Erik, lots of Charles/Hank FRIENDSHIP, along with Charles/Hank/Sean/Alex being super cute. There will be another little note at the bottom, because I may need to clarify something. Set close to three months after First Class ends, at the very beginning of January, 1963.
Disclaimer: If I owned X-Men, do you think I'd be obsessively writing fanfic?
Alright, Charles. You can do this. This is no different from every other morning.
Except almost every other morning, Hank has been here . . .
But do you want to be completely dependent on him for forever? No. Alright, then.
Charles bit his lip and made a mental note to stop having conversations with himself (he was just so used to hearing things in his head that responding to everything, even his own thoughts, had become perfectly natural to him) and, using his arms, scooted even closer to the edge of the bed, his legs hanging over the edge and dangling uselessly. He'd have to get a new bed, he decided; there was no way a man who couldn't walk would survive on a bed this high up. If he fell off the bed, it'd be completely impossible for him to get back into it, meaning he'd have to trouble one of the boys even more than he already did.
Before he lost his resolve and just called out for Hank, he adjusted the position of the wheelchair to permit an easy slide, and then heaved himself off the bed, aiming his bottom for the chair (the first time he'd tried this, he'd gone much too slowly, trying to climb in perfectly, and had gotten tangled in the bedspread and slipped, only to be rescued from sprawling out onto the floor by a well-placed hand – er, paw – from Hank). He landed with a small thump, perfectly on his mark and in no danger of falling out of the chair. Grinning to himself, he thought, Well, that wasn't too hard, was it?
He glanced at the clock. Seven-thirty AM; interesting, Hank was usually up here by now, as he knew that Charles was an early riser. Casting out his mind, Charles found him in his laboratory, already neck-deep in work with something or another – hmm, looks like more genetic research – ah, yes, he'd asked for a head X-ray from Charles just last week, trying to see if his mutation affected his brain in any way (Charles knew the answer to that particular question was no, as he'd had a handful of brain X-rays over the years, and his brain was large and perfectly normal from an external view, but he decided to let Hank figure it out for himself.)
Hank, my friend, Charles thought, easing his voice into the other's mind. Isn't it a little early to be working on scientific projects? You haven't even had breakfast.
I've been at it all night, sir. I don't seem to need as much sleep or as much food as I used to – well, I need more food, but I don't have to eat as often . . . it's actually quite convenient.
I can imagine it would be – but you need your sleep, my friend. And you still need to eat regularly.
Yes, Professor, Hank thought back respectfully, with the air of a child just saying something he knew would placate an over-protective parent. Are you ready to get up?
Already up, actually. I'm in the chair already – quite an easy thing to do now that I'm confident about it. But getting myself in the shower is still rather . . .
I'm on my way up, Hank thought back, putting down his research and dutifully heading up to Charles's bedroom. As he waited for Hank, he allowed himself to skim just lightly over the other man's thoughts – just enough to get an idea of what he was thinking about, not enough to be really nosy.
Poor Professor X – I've got it so great here – free food and a lab – better than I could hope for anywhere else now – can't believe there's nothing strange at all about his brain . . .
Charles smiled, then slipped out of Hank's mind as he heard the larger mutant's heavy footfalls coming up the staircase. Hank could have been here in twenty seconds or less, with his ability to jump around and his considerable speed, but Charles didn't relish the idea of having all the valuable things in the house shattered – it was bad enough having two lovable-but-goofy teenage boys here without having a giant creature smashing into everything. Not that Charles resented the boys – they were the only reason he hadn't had to hire an aide for help.
Hank's cordial knock came from the door, and Charles humored him by calling, "Who is it?"
"I'm sure you know, Professor."
Charles sighed, smiling. "Just trying to have a little fun. Come in, Hank."
Hank stepped in. Charles was unfazed, having by now grown completely used to his friend's fuzzy blue appearance. "Good morning."
"Good morning, Hank," Charles smiled, wheeling himself towards the other mutant.
"So what's our itinerary?"
"The same as usual – bathroom, shower, then I'll get dressed and go to my study – or maybe the kitchen for breakfast," Charles informed him. Absently, he reached out with his mind, searching for Alex and Sean, but it seemed as though he and Hank were alone in the house. "Where are the other boys?"
"They went shopping – groceries and such," Hank said. "I told them to get up early so they could be home by lunch." A slightly guilty look passed over his fuzzy face, and he glanced away from Charles, resolutely trying to shift the direction of his thoughts.
"They took the convertible," Charles said, more on intuition than from actually reading Hank's mind.
" . . . Yes, they did," Beast said, shaking his head, a little irritably. "I told them to take the van – I promise I'll eat them alive when they come back."
"That won't be necessary – although if they damage the car I might have to turn a blind eye to any cannibalistic activities. That car is worth more than both of them put together," Charles teased, really only slightly serious – the car was worth quite a pretty penny, and he'd been storing it in case it was ever necessary to sell it for money, which he doubted (but who knew – money was a funny thing, after all).
Hank laughed and then stepped around Charles, took hold of the chair's handles, and wheeled him towards the bathroom. Charles closed his eyes, calmed his mind, and resigned himself to his daily routine. Another reason he was glad not to have an aide – he didn't want a perfect stranger seeing him unclothed and vulnerable.
Hank assisted Charles with using the restroom (Charles still had control over this, at least, but it was difficult without functioning legs – he'd made a promise to himself to start trying to do it alone, anyway), looking as though he helped other men do this every day (which he technically did, now).
Charles washed his hands, then moved to unbutton his nightshirt, his fingers flicking easily over the shiny white buttons as he shed the pale blue shirt. Then, he put his hands on the armrests of the chair and lifted himself as high as he could so that Hank could tug the pants down to just above his knees (Charles removed them from there – he was not totally helpless!).
"You've been working on your exercises, I see," Hank said, nodding toward Charles's arms, which were twice as defined as they had once been (not that he'd ever been weak, just less muscular when he didn't have to use his arms to wheel himself around all day).
"I have," Charles replied. "I do them at night, while the evening news is on. You'd know that, if you ever left your lab," he reproached playfully.
Hank lowered his head, feigning deep regret. "But my work –,"
"Is important, I know," Charles said, placing his hands back on the armrest and pushing upwards. "Alright, help me with my shorts, if you please."
Both of them looked away, and Charles reached for a nearby towel with which to cover himself as Hank tugged down his underwear. Even though it had been three months since his injury, Charles still hadn't grown used to having to have help pulling down his underwear, and Hank just seemed to be uncomfortable at the sight of Charles's nudity.
"Thank you, Hank," Charles said, smiling gratefully as he meticulously folded and stacked his clothing for placement into the laundry hamper.
"You're quite welcome, Professor."
"Please," he said, a little tired of having to constantly tell Hank this, "Call me Charles."
"But Sean and Alex call you Professor," Hank pointed out.
"They haven't seen me naked," Charles said, perfectly straight-faced. "Yet."
Hank laughed, and then said, "Alright . . . Charles. Ready?"
"As I'll ever be."
Hank bent down and slid his fuzzy arms underneath Charles, one underneath his legs and the other under the small of his back. He lifted the other grown man without so much as an intake of breath, and Charles could only smile slightly at his friend's strength. While it was a little disconcerting to be picked up when you could only feel one of the hands that held you, it was still rather nice to have someone around who could lift you as though you were nothing but a wisp of air.
He carried Charles from the sink to the shower, which Charles had had installed with a special seat right after he'd come home from the hospital (he must remember to call someone and see about removing the steps that led up to the shower – they were primarily what kept him from being able to get in alone). Hank stepped in to the large cubicle (one of the perks of being wealthy – large showers) and carefully placed Charles onto the seat.
"There you are," Hank said. "I'll just wait in your room."
"Thank you," Charles said again, feeling as if he would never thank Hank enough. "I won't be terribly long."
Hank stepped out and turned to go, scooting the wheelchair from the sink to right next to the shower as he left, and Charles tossed the towel out of the stall before sliding the door closed and turning on the taps.
Instantly sprayed with icy water that rapidly turned scalding hot, and unable to dodge the spray at all, Charles muttered a soft swear and spun the taps until the water had reached a soothing, cool temperature – he had always preferred cool showers as opposed to hot ones, as they were so much more refreshing.
As he washed his hair, he closed his eyes and reflected – so far the day was as normal as ever, no different from the one before and likely the one after. But it had only been two-and-a-half months since that infamous bullet had entered his back and hit his spine, and he was still adjusting to paraplegia after twenty-seven years of having fully functional legs. Wait – was today the day?
Hank, he called out with his mind.
The other man, who had been reading from a short volume of Tennyson which Charles had left on his bedside table, snapped the book closed and jumped. Yes? Do you need something?
No, sorry to startle you – what's today's date? I seem to have lost track.
January 5th, I think.
Ah. Thank you, Charles responded. Feel free to continue reading – if you aren't familiar with Tennyson, you ought to be. Satisfied, he removed himself from Hank's mind and went back to scrubbing his hair (carefully, so as not to tug out any more strands than he could help) and reflecting.
Twenty-eight years, then. I am arguably more dependent on others than I was twenty-six years ago, as a child of two. At least then I could walk.
Absently humming "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow" to himself in celebration of his birthday, Charles finished bathing, turned off the water, slid the door open, and leaned out as far as he could, snagging a clean towel which had been placed right by the shower. He rubbed it over himself, still humming quietly, then clumsily tied it around his waist after a lot of awkward shifting and lifting, before eying the stairs and his wheelchair speculatively.
If I could sit on the stairs, I could lift myself into the chair, he thought to himself, emboldened by a slight birthday cheer and his earlier success of getting out of bed with ease. Might as well try . . .
With arms that no longer tired at the prospect of lifting himself up and down repeatedly, he moved himself from the seat to the slick floor, then raised himself onto the top stair with only slight difficulty. Adjusting his towel so that it was tied more securely, he reached behind him, felt the seat of the chair with his hands, and heaved –
. . . and ended up sprawled on his back staring at the ceiling.
"Fuck!" he growled in a rare fit of anger. The chair had been left with the wheels unlocked, and had slid right away from him when he'd tried to put his weight on the edge of the seat.
Hank swung the door open as Charles was starting to sit up, and his gaze quickly took in the chair, sitting innocently several feet from where he had left it, and Charles, on the floor and flushed with frustration.
"Oh, Charles," he said, stepping forward and reaching out to lift the telepath.
"No," Charles said, holding out a hand to stop him. "If you'll roll the chair to me, please."
Trying to hide his expression of pity, Hank wheeled the chair until it was directly in front of Charles, who reached out and tugged the lever behind the right wheel, which then locked the wheels in place. Charles then put both of his hands on the seat and forced himself upward and onto the seat with nothing but a huffed breath and a look of determination.
"Bravo, Charles, bravo," Hank said, smiling. Charles allowed himself a small smile in return.
"Thank you, Hank," he replied. "I'm working on becoming more independent – that way you won't have to carry me around like a child anymore. I think I'm going to have that shower redone, to make it easier for me to get in and out with less assistance – or, preferably, no assistance. And I'll have an elevator put in for when I need to travel to a different floor."
Hank nodded. "But you know that if you ever need me, I'm here, right?"
Charles reached up and patted Hank on his furry arm at just over his elbow, the highest point Charles could reach on his large friend from his seated position. "I know," he said, before reaching down to unlock the chair's wheels.
"Alright, then," Hank said, before he stepped around Charles and took hold of the chair's handles again, pushing him lightly towards the marble counter. Charles then combed his hair, brushed his teeth, shaved, and did the various other things he needed to remain clean all day (not that he'd be getting very dirty – he rarely ever did, crippled or not) while Hank explained to him about the various things he'd been studying lately – Sean's vocal chords (which were positively incredible), what sort of metals could create a helmet that would block telepathy, and even an updated wheelchair for Charles, which would move more smoothly over grass and thick carpet.
"Will it look good?" Charles queried, wiping his face of shaving cream before he ran his fingers over his jaws to check for any missed spots.
Hank paused. "I didn't really think about it, but I can add some more stylish features if you'd like –,"
"Only joking, Hank. Whatever works the best is perfectly wonderful, thank you," Charles said, smiling as he wheeled himself around and towards the bathroom door (Hank had to help him with getting through there – he'd have to have all the doors in the house made wider, as it was quite difficult for him to wheel himself through them).
Once through the door, he wheeled himself over to his dresser and pulled out a clean pair of undershorts, which Hank helped him slide on, and a white undershirt to go underneath his shirt. He then rolled himself over to the wardrobe, opened it, and began to look through his clothing.
Selecting a black suit jacket and matching pants, with a white shirt underneath, he asked Hank, "Red tie or black?"
"Red. Black is a little too somber," Hank offered, reaching up and plucking one of Charles's numerous red ties off the high rack in the wardrobe. "Is there a special occasion today, Profess—Charles? You hardly ever wear black suits."
"No, no occasion," he replied simply, buttoning his shirt and wanting to add, Can't a man dress up for his birthday?, but deciding against it. There was no need to sound like a five-year-old, telling anyone and everyone that it was his birthday.
"Alright," Hank said as he helped Charles get into the pants, then watched as Charles put on a belt (no need to wear one, really – in fact it was more of a hindrance than a help – but he still felt more normal wearing one), tugged socks and shoes on his numb feet, and then efficiently and expertly knotted the tie around his neck before sliding on the jacket. The last step was to pick his Oxford class ring up off the dresser and slide it on to his finger, then put on his watch, and then Charles was finished.
"Do I look alright, then?" Charles asked, smoothing his still wet hair.
"You handsome devil."
Charles smirked. "I appreciate the compliment. Thank you again, Hank – I couldn't be nearly as mobile as I am without you."
Hank smiled. "It's the least I can do in return for food, board, and lab space."
Charles patted Hank on the arm again and then said, "Alright, well, I'm off to my study – I've got some things to finish reading, the usual. If you need me, that's where I'll be."
"No breakfast? I'm shocked."
"I'll eat a big lunch. Which reminds me – when Sean and Alex get back, let me know, alright?"
Hank nodded, and said as he tapped his head, "Well, I'll be in the lab – just give me a call. Er, thought."
Charles nodded, thanked Hank once more, and wheeled himself out of his bedroom and down the long hallway to his study, thanking whatever gods were listening that the places he tended to visit the most frequently (outside of the library and kitchen) were all on the same floor as his bedroom. He wheeled himself into his study, over to his new, wheelchair-friendly desk (with minor difficulty due to the thick carpet), and took his place behind it, before picking up the psychology book he'd been poring over for the past few days. He opened it, bent his head, and absorbed himself in the pages full of descriptions of complex medical disorders and various essays on psychological trauma and therapy. It was dull work, but someday it could quite possibly help an old friend in need.
He read for what felt like hours, chewing through only twenty long pages (he read every detail thoroughly, trying to commit it all to memory), but when Hank's nearing mental presence jerked him out of his concentration, he looked up and found that it had only been an hour and a half. Rubbing his eyes with one hand, he sat up and waited until Hank got to the door and announced before he could knock, "Come in."
Hank stepped in, holding what appeared to be the mail. "Did I disturb you?"
"No," Charles said, although really he had. His mind detected Sean and Alex downstairs in the kitchen, storing groceries and both feeling a bit sneaky, thinking they had gotten away with taking a joyride in the convertible (which proved that the car must be fine, because Charles knew if it had been damaged in any way, they would have had the good sense to make themselves very scarce). "The post?"
"Uh-huh," Hank confirmed. "A fair bit today – two new scientific journals, one on genetics and the other on biology – ooh, can I borrow these when you're done? Thanks – and some bills, I think, a letter from your associate at Oxford, an ordinary letter, and some kind of package. It's a personal package, though. Any idea what it's for?" If you don't mind me asking, Hank added hastily in his mind.
"A package? It could be for my birthday, I suppose," Charles said curiously, having momentarily forgotten that he'd planned not to reveal that today marked the date of his birth. Although I don't know who would send me a gift . . . Moira would, but she doesn't know me anymore . . .
"It's your birthday?"
"Indeed it is – I'm twenty-eight today."
Hank grinned. "Happy birthday, Charles." Hank's mind immediately started whirring with thoughts of a cake and presents he'd have the boys go and get, and Charles merely shook his head and smiled.
"Oh, and you're perfectly welcome to go and chew Sean and Alex out now. They're still in the kitchen with the groceries."
Hank grinned a little sadistically at the thought of yelling at the boys (particularly Alex, Charles noted) and hurried out, closing the door behind him and leaving Charles alone with the mail.
He put aside the two magazines for later perusal, glanced at the two bills before setting them aside as well, skimmed the letter from his former colleague (whom he'd kept in touch with purely as a means to have someone besides Hank to discuss genetic mutation with – he didn't reveal anything about why he'd left Oxford so suddenly, and he had all mail sent to the box at the post office), before he used the letter opener to slit open the personal letter, which turned out to be a birthday note from his cousin Carol in London – she was a real sweetheart, and they'd kept in touch since Charles had last seen her (when he was studying at Oxford – although they had grown close as small children in England, before the Xaviers moved full-time to America) with birthday notes and Christmas cards. The letter didn't really say anything, only that Carol wished him a happy birthday and hoped he was well. A plane ticket to London was also enclosed (Do come and visit, Charles! I'm dying to see you again, dear!), and Charles supposed he'd either have to go and explain his current state or lie to her and say he was unable to travel (which was really slightly true – it'd be difficult to fly alone, at least).
He put that aside to reply to later, more than eager to tear into the package – it was a thick sort of folder, one of the padded ones, and had a seal on it that was thicker than any Charles had ever seen. There was no return address, only a few stamps and the address for his box at the post office, written in a neat, casual script that was just vaguely familiar.
However, he paused before opening it. Could there be something dangerous in this package? He was not a man that made many serious enemies, but now he did have a handful who might dislike him enough to send him a package full of dangerous snakes or a bomb or something. He cursed his own paranoia, but still lifted the package to his ear and shook. Something solid and a little heavy thumped around lightly, but it didn't seem to be anything dangerous, and he could hear nothing else, so, with slight difficulty due to the incredibly thick seal, he slit open the large envelope and emptied its contents onto the table.
A folded sheet of paper rustled out, followed by a small black box, which landed on his desk with a soft thud. He picked it up, inspecting it – it looked rather like the boxes expensive jewelry came in, small and covered with soft, shiny black fabric. He looked at it further and discovered it had no clasp or pin with which to stay closed, but it had not popped open when it hit the desk, so perhaps there was something internal holding it shut.
Like a proper receiver of a gift, he glanced at the paper first, finding that it had been folded into neat thirds and that someone had written something on the very front (Read this first, Charles), which he resisted the urge to roll his eyes at. Sighing and preparing himself for anything, he unfolded the paper – and almost immediately knew who this was from. For the header read, in thick, bold letters: E M L.
Erik Lehnsherr?
But what is the M for? Why is it bigger than the other letters?
Shaking his head, he glanced at the date written in the top corner – it was dated for a few weeks ago, meaning that its sender was either far away or had waited several days before mailing it. If this really was Erik's stationery (Erik had stationery now?), then it could have been either reason for all he knew.
With one final shake of his head, Charles looked at the page of neat, casual script and began to read.
This letter is intended only for the eyes of Charles Francis Xavier, Ph.D., of Westchester County, New York, in the hopes that it finds him well in both mind and body.
Dear Charles,
Happy birthday. You may be a little surprised to hear from me (and in case your fantastically intelligent mind hasn't figured it out yet, this letter comes to you from Erik Lehnsherr). As a matter of fact, I know you will be quite surprised to hear from me. I hope there is some degree of pleasantry to this shock, as I am writing with good intentions.
I strongly hope this letter finds you well. I know of your mobility issues (from a source that shall remain nameless, although it probably isn't too difficult for you to figure out who's been keeping tabs on you for me) and I know that they are the results of my actions on the beach. (Only a couple of short months have passed, and yet it feels like years since that day, but at the same time I feel as though I have just left the sand and the waves behind.) I want you to know that I am deeply regretful; so full of regret that I don't feel written words can adequately express it. You may not be my partner anymore, my friend or my lover – but you can never walk again, and for that I am truly, truly sorry.
In case you are wondering, I am well. Things have been smooth if rather uneventful for me in the past weeks. Raven is hale and hearty as well, and she sends her warmest regards to her brother. She misses you at times, but she will survive – just as I'm sure you miss her but you, of all people, will carry on. There are times when I find myself missing your company (none of my new associates are any good at chess), and I think of how you would tell me to calm my mind and it helps. Forgive me if I'm being overly sentimental – you can drop this letter into the fire at any time.
Since you are always so dutiful and proper, I know you have read this letter before opening your birthday gift – and if you haven't, shame on you but I suppose it's quite alright – and I know you're probably incredibly curious. I won't tell you what it is in this letter, but know that I made it myself, inscription and all – it was extremely difficult, as the material used is non-magnetic, but I used the task as I would use one of your infuriating training exercises and only improved my skills.
Before I end this letter, I will leave you with a brief offer – I know you will not accept, but I will offer anyways. I am going to keep it short, however, so as not to tarnish your birthday letter.
You know that any time, you can join me. Leave your dreams of a school behind, leave the humans behind, and stand by my side as my equal. Together, we can conquer metal and minds; together, we can be unstoppable. But only together. Apart we are nothing but obstacles in each others' paths. I do not want to ever have to hurt you again, Charles – but if you stand in my way (metaphorically speaking), I will do what I have to.
With that, I close. My offer will last for as long as I live – just reach out with your mind and I will find you, Charles.
Happy 28th birthday, Charles. Enjoy it.
Sincerely yours,
For a moment after he finished the letter, Charles couldn't move or even think. For that brief second, his heart ached so strongly for Erik that it was all he could do not to get teary-eyed. Without even realizing what he was doing, he lifted the letter to his nose and inhaled quickly, imagining he could smell traces of Erik on it, his warm and masculine cologne, his generic and clean-smelling soap, the almost-blood-like scent of metal that sometimes seemed to linger around his hands, as though he'd just finished toying with a hundred pennies (or maybe one antique silver coin).
But no, all he smelled was the light, woodsy smell of good paper. Erik's scent did not float off this paper like some sort of potpourri, and he hadn't kissed the paper lightly but lovingly the way a sweetheart would, the way Charles's fanciful mind tried to imagine he might have. But it was his handwriting, so neat and surprisingly easy to read (perhaps he expected Erik's handwriting to be as cluttered and messy as his mind sometimes was), and then at the bottom, his signature, Erik, with just the slightest flourish on the leg of the 'k'.
Charles folded the paper back up automatically, pressing it to his chest and reaching towards the small box still resting on the desk with his free hand. He picked it up and with a flip of his thumb managed to open it (it seemed to have been held closed magnetically, but his touch opened it easily – ingenuous, Erik, he thought to himself).
Inside on a bed of white silk was a gleaming silver ring, carefully handcrafted by none other than Erik Lehnsherr.
Silver, Charles thinks faintly, really isn't magnetic. He must be growing even more powerful . . . or perhaps he was that powerful all along, and never knew it. He put the letter down and gently picked up the ring, holding it between his index finger and thumb as he searched for the inscription Erik mentioned. When he found it he had to retrieve a magnifying glass out of his desk drawer to read it, but it was there.
Inscribed in plain, tiny letters around the inside of the ring were the simple words, "to cfx, xxviii, from eml."
Charles smiled. To Charles Francis Xavier, 28, from Erik Lehnsherr. Simple and maybe just a tad blunt, but perfectly Erik. He still had yet to figure out whether the M was Erik's middle initial (he found it shocking he didn't know the man's middle name) or something else, but it didn't really seem to matter. He removed his Oxford class ring, placing the sparkling, big ring on his desk, and slid the gleaming silver ring onto his finger.
He eyed his hand appreciatively – the ring did look good against his pale skin, and Erik must have known that. It fit perfectly, and he had no idea how – Erik surely never sized his hand for a ring – but perhaps the other mutant just got lucky.
Charles is still seated at his desk, looking at his hand without really seeing it, completely lost in thought, when he hears his three friends coming up the stairs. They had a cake with them, hastily purchased from a small bakery that was about twenty minutes from the mansion (could they really have gone there and back while he was just sitting there? It had only been a few minutes, surely . . . no, more like an hour and a half . . . how time flies.)
Sean bounded up to the door and knocked loudly, jolting Charles from his reverie. "Come in!" he called automatically.
Sean stepped in. "Hey, hey, hey, Professor. Happy birthday."
Charles felt himself smile blandly. "Thank you, Sean."
Just then, a loud "Shit!" echoed from the hallway.
Charles hand automatically darted to his temple, but it was just Alex, having dropped the cake after stumbling on a stair. "Damn it, damn it," Alex cursed loudly again from the hallway.
"Uh, one minute," Sean said, stepping out of the room hastily and hurrying to the staircase at the end of the hall. "You dropped it!"
"You were the one who had to run ahead to chat up the professor and couldn't help me –," Alex replied irritably. "It's still in the box, it's just a little lopsided now, that's all –,"
"You left it in the box? But he'll know we didn't –,"
"He's a telepath, Sean. Do you really think he doesn't know we didn't make it?"
Hank's growly voice joins them. "Quit bickering like two little girls and come on."
Finding himself nearly laughing, he called to them, "Yes, I'd like to see my presents."
The three young men were there in just a few short seconds, placing the cake on his desk and watching as he peers at it with a smile. Hank set three very hastily wrapped parcels on the desk beside the cake.
"Do you like it?" Sean asked. "We put the writing on it ourselves."
"I put the writing on it," Alex said, giving Sean a look. On the top of the cake, which appeared to be plain vanilla with white icing, was written in blue icing with messy letters, HAPPY BIRTHDAY PROFESSOR X.
Charles grinned, running his hand through his hair, unknowingly causing the silver ring to glint in the light.
"Whoa," Hank said. "New ring?"
"Birthday gift from an old friend," Charles informed him truthfully but evasively. "What's in the packages?"
"Open this one first," Sean said, handing him the gift on top of the small pile. "It's the boring one."
"Hey," Hank growled. Charles smiled and pulled off the newspaper wrapping, finding it to be a hard-backed book entitled An Anthology of Lord Tennyson's Finest Poems.
"Thank you, Hank," Charles said, honestly a little touched. "I do love Tennyson."
Hank grinned and said, "You're welcome.", and Charles reached out and picked up a rather oddly shaped package, finding it to be a pillow from Alex – a rather nice, soft, black one, which he suspected had cost his own pockets quite a bit of money.
"For your chair," Alex said. "You said the other day that sitting at your desk makes your back hurt."
"It's true – the pain is quite annoying. Thank you, Alex. And Sean, is this yours?"
Sean nodded, grinning. "You can tell 'cause of the awesome wrapping job, right?"
The wrapping job – which looked as though he'd tied crumpled, year-old newspaper around a box and run over it with a car – was pretty terrible, but Charles opened the box and actually got a decent laugh out of his present – an absolutely dreadful pinkish-white tie which was patterned with alternating pink and blue birthday cakes. Charles unknotted his dapper red tie from around his neck and put on the birthday tie, feeling younger than he'd felt in quite a long time as he did so.
"Very handsome," Sean said, completely serious except for the mischievous twinkle in his eyes.
"You're the perfect English gentleman," Alex agreed, nodding as though he was speaking on a deeply important matter. "Melted-strawberry-milkshake is your color."
"Thank you so much, boys," Charles said, smiling. "You've made my birthday considerably happier than I thought it was going to be."
"Well, I've got to ask," Hank said, smiling. "What's your favorite part so far?"
Charles allowed himself a very subtle glance at the ring on his finger and the paper in his lap. "Knowing my friends care so much for me," he stated quite simply, confident that it was the truth.
"Now take me down to the kitchen. How about a slice of that cake?"
A/N: Alright, sidenote. Erik's initials - EML - technically mean Erik MAGNETO Lehnsherr, although according to the Wikipedia page he's also known as Max so I'm thinking of that as his middle name. Also, I may turn this into a sort of series, so be on the lookout! Thanks for reading, please review!


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BP Chiang Mai City Hotel
Select your stay dates to check availability at BP Chiang Mai City Hotel
BP Chiang Mai City Hotel
About the Hotel
Property Location
With a stay at BP Chiang Mai City Hotel, you'll be centrally located in Chiang Mai, steps from Wat Chedi Luang and minutes from Sunday Walking Street Market. This hotel is close to Chiang Mai City Arts & Cultural Center and Chiang Mai National Museum.
Make yourself at home in one of the 134 air-conditioned rooms featuring refrigerators and flat-screen televisions. Complimentary wireless Internet access keeps you connected, and cable programming is available for your entertainment. Conveniences include phones, as well as desks and complimentary bottled water.
Rec, Spa, Premium Amenities
Enjoy recreational amenities such as an outdoor pool and a fitness center. Additional features include complimentary wireless Internet access and tour/ticket assistance. Guests can get to nearby shops on the complimentary shuttle.
Grab a bite to eat at the hotel's restaurant, which features a bar, or stay in and take advantage of room service (during limited hours). Buffet breakfasts are available daily for a fee.
Business, Other Amenities
Featured amenities include dry cleaning/laundry services, a 24-hour front desk, and luggage storage. Event facilities at this hotel consist of conference space and meeting rooms. A roundtrip airport shuttle is provided for a surcharge (available on request), and free self parking is available onsite.
Hotel Facilities
- Designated smoking areas
- 24-hour front desk
- Pool sun loungers
- Free WiFi
- Number of meeting rooms - 4
- Luggage storage
- Free shopping center shuttle
- Fitness facilities
- Meeting rooms 4
- Restaurant
- Total number of rooms - 134
- Tours/ticket assistance
- Free self parking
- Number of buildings/towers - 2
- Dry cleaning/laundry service
- Conference space
- Outdoor pool
- Airport transportation (surcharge)
- Elevator/lift
- Safe-deposit box at front desk
- Breakfast available (surcharge)
Room Facilities
- Free bottled water
- Private bathroom
- Free cribs/infant beds
- Flat-panel TV
- Premium bedding
- Desk
- Free toiletries
- Blackout drapes/curtains
- Rollaway/extra beds available
- Free WiFi
- Room service (limited hours)
- In-room massage available
- Air conditioning
- Phone
- Refrigerator
- Cable TV service
- Daily housekeeping
Hotel Policy
Know Before You Go
- This property offers transfers from the airport (surcharges may apply). Guests must contact the property with arrival details 24 hours prior to arrival, using the contact information on the booking confirmation.
- No pets and no service animals are allowed at this property.
The following fees and deposits are charged by the property at time of service, check-in, or check-out.
- Fee for buffet breakfast: THB 120 for adults and THB 60 for children (approximately)
- Airport shuttle fee: THB 100 per person (roundtrip)
- Rollaway beds are available for an additional fee
The above list may not be comprehensive. Fees and deposits may not include tax and are subject to change.Show all hotel policy Show less hotel policy


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On today's video, I make reference to a two year old magazine article that I consider timeless. What it takes to be an entrepreneur, at it's core, is a set of skills and traits that will not change much over time. This particular list of 12 signs that you have what it takes from Startups magazine hit it pretty well.
I'm only going to touch on five and I hope that you check the article out to see if you possess any of these.
- You are scared – much as I admitted on the video below, I was terrified, I am still. You don't want to fail, or go bankrupt. You know most of your friends will stop talking to you, the money will be scarce, you are not going to be an overnight success and yet, you still want to do it. You are on the right track.
- ) You don't ask for permission: like the saying goes, you ask for forgiveness. I am guilty of this. It has to do with reacting quickly to what happens.
- You are fearless – how can you be scared and fearless at the same time? Optimism. I am the eternal optimist. As the bill collectors start calling and the phone dies and you sell everything you own, hold on to that little part of you that knows that everything is going to work out.
- You consider yourself an outsider: I was a tomboy, a nerd, biracial (yes, there is such a thing in Puerto Rico). Now that I live in Florida I am not from here, I am Hispanic, Plus sized and a woman. So many labels just to say that I am different. Am I really? Does it matter? No, use it as motivation.
- You recover quickly – the last three years have been crazy. I keep getting up even though sometimes faith escapes me. My answer to that is, what else can I do? Might as well get back up and do what I can.
There you have it. And now for the video. What do you think your signs, skills or talents are that make you entrepreneurial? Leave your comment below and thanks for watching.