text:
Teenagers constitute a unique societal subset in Western society, with their own way of living, thinking, and communicating. The world might be at their fingertips, but rising teen suicide statistics reveal another side of the happiness coin[1].
So what is it that our young people are lacking? Can happiness be fostered, or even better, taught?
A British professor from Wellington College, Ian Morris, experimented in 2006 with how to teach happiness to young people in school. His aim was to provide young people with the skills they needed in order to live successfully, to increase awareness of themselves and others, and to improve their resilience. The ongoing program is aimed at responding to the students needs. [2]
According to this philosophy, schools should be places of enchantment, wonder and joy. Instead, they are all too often about testing, conformity and exams; about dividing up those who pass from those who don't. A recent study shows that school is the most prominent source of stress amongst 12 to 17 year olds[3]. Maybe it is time for a radical change?
Dr. Kate McReynolds, a Clinical Psychologist from New York University concludes in one of her studies that the predominant factor listed by young people as being integral to their happiness was positive relationships with family and friends. Additionally, religion received a moderately high ranking, with almost no one listing money. According to Dr. Reynolds, if society values the happiness of students, schools should increase the focus on more relevant learning experiences as well as more time with family and friends. According to McReynolds, "time with nature, hanging out with friends, spiritual practices, or leisurely activities are now at odds with today's culture of goal-directed, efficient, wealth-producing efforts."[4]
Though today's society tends to rely heavily on schools for the formation of its youth, it's important to keep in mind that even if our schools and academic environments reform their teachings, family remains the first and most influential environment in which children and teens evolve and develop self-identity. In other words, happiness starts at home.
[1] Cf. Youth suicide fact sheet 2005, http://www.suicidology.org/c/document_library/get_file?folderId=232&;name=DLFE-24.pdf
[2] Ian Morris, happiness teacher at Wellington College in Crowthorne, http://www.teachingexpertise.com/articles/teaching-happiness-at-wellington-college-2926
[3] Kate McReynold, https://great-ideas.org/McReynolds-Happiness.htm
[4] Ibid.
The Brussels based United Nations Regional Information Centre for Western Europe - UNRIC provides information on UN activities to the countries of the region. It also provides liaison with institutions of the European Union in the field of information. Its outreach activities extend to all segments of society and joint campaigns, projects and events are organized with partners including the EU, governments, the media, NGOs, schools and local authorities.
United Nations Regional Information Centre for Western Europe (UNRIC Brussels)
Residence Palace, Rue de la Loi/Wetstraat 155, Block C2,7th and 8th floor, Brussels 1040, Belgium
Tel.: +32 2 788 8484 / Fax: 32 2 788 8485

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South African Journal of Science
On-line version ISSN 1996-7489
Print version ISSN 0038-2353
S. Afr. j. sci. vol.108 n.5-6 Pretoria Jan. 2012
Natural products research in South Africa: 1890-2010
Siegfried E. Drewes
School of Chemistry, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
Having spent some 50 years as an organic chemist with an interest in medicinal plant chemistry in South Africa it was relevant now to ask three questions, (1) when were natural products first utilised, (2) who were the people involved, and (3) what is the status quo? Based on older literature published in the South African Journal of Chemistry, information gleaned from attendance at innumerable chemistry conferences, and relevant literature in university archives, a great deal of information was gathered to answer the first two questions. For example, that the first veterinarian to treat cattle diseases caused by poisonous plants in the Eastern Cape was Dr Jotella Soga in the 1890s. Contributions from other prominent scientists such as Marais, Rindl, Rimington and Warren followed. From about 1940 to the 1990s, researchers concentrated mainly on the isolation of new compounds from local plants for which some indigenous knowledge was recorded. Foreign chemists also arrived and did a fair amount of 'exploitation' of natural products. Thus, the anti-cancer compound combretastatin was first isolated from the indigenous tree Combretum caffrum. Plant chemistry in South Africa has blossomed in the last decade, with many students from previously disadvantaged backgrounds, but with a keen interest in muti or medicinal chemistry, entering the field. Recent findings have rekindled the belief that a major development in natural products would at last emerge from Africa.
Natural products are compounds synthesised in nature. In this review, natural compounds are restricted to those produced by plants. All plants and animals produce primary metabolites (nucleic acids, proteins, sugars and fats) which are used for energy purposes. However, plants also produce secondary metabolites, which are not essential for the life of the plant but serve other useful purposes for the plant. For example, some plants exude poisons to keep predators away, others deck themselves in bright colours to attract insects for pollination, whilst others (fortuitously) generate compounds which can be used to treat or cure human ailments, such as malaria, bronchitis and cancer. To date, about 50% of all commercial medicines (drugs) are derived either directly from plants, or are modifications of plant products. Friedrich Wohler, a prominent organic chemist (and natural products researcher), wrote in 18351:
Organic chemistry just now is enough to drive one mad. It gives the impression of a primeval tropical forest, full of most remarkable things, a monstrous and boundless thicket, with no way to escape, into which one may well dread to enter.
Researchers are thus challenged to find treatments for HIV/AIDS and other fatal diseases, amongst the indigenous medicinal plants of South Africa. South African researchers have taken up this challenge in a vigorous fashion.
Early South African researchers: 1895-1949
Southern Africa is home to over 30 000 species of higher plants and three of the richest floristic regions in Africa, the so-called 'hot spots': the Cape Floristic Region, the Maputaland-Pondoland Region and the Succulent Karoo Region. There are also several smaller regions rich in plants. It is reported that 35 000 - 70 000 tonnes of plant material are consumed in South Africa each year, so it is no wonder then that some plants are close to extinction.
South Africa's indigenous plants are not only used for decorative (e.g. proteas) and commercial (e.g. black stinkwood and tamboti furniture) purposes, but about 3000 species are also used as medicines, mostly by traditional healers. The use of natural products for medicinal purposes took shape in the late 1800s and early 1900s. At this time, two 'industries' were the mainstay of economic growth in South Africa: gold, which had been discovered on the Witwatersrand in 1884, and agriculture - in the form of maize, wheat and related products, together with extensive stock farming. Stock farming was plagued by severe stock diseases which led to the deaths of thousands of cattle and sheep between 1890 and 1929. Poisonous plants grazed by the animals gave rise to diseases with very descriptive names such as slangkop poisoning (caused by Scilla natalensis and related Scilla species), stywe siekte (caused by Crotolaria burkeana), geel dikkop (caused by ingestion of devil's claw, Tribulus terrestris) and vermeersiekte (caused by ingestion of the plant Geigeria aspera). Geigeria aspera led to the death of a million sheep in 1929. The impact of these diseases, coupled with the earlier rinderpest epidemic (in the late 1890s) which not only killed cattle and sheep but also decimated veld animals such as buffalo, giraffe, eland and kudu, placed a great strain on veterinarians and medical personnel.
The saying 'cometh the time, cometh the man' was never truer than during those trying years. Real pioneers in the field who were trying to establish the chemistry of the poisons causing all these diseases were, amongst others, Dr D. Hutcheon2, Sir Arnold Theiler3, Dr M. Rindl4, Dr C. Rimington and Dr J. Roets5. Special mention must be made of Dr J.S.C. Marais6 who solved the mystery of the gifblaar ('poison leaf', Dichapetalum cymosum), which is highly toxic to sheep, with an LD50 of between 0.25 mg/kg and 0.50 mg/kg. Marais isolated the toxic component in D. cymosum - monofluoroacetic acid (CH2FCO2H), which was the first record of a fluorinated compound found in nature. All of these researchers were from the Onderstepoort Veterinary Research Institute and were responsible for this Institute becoming known worldwide.
One of the last remaining mysteries of this era was the active component in Geigeria aspera which caused vermeersiekte. The active component was discovered by Professor Guido Perold7 in 1957 (Figure 1). Perold was then at the National Chemical Research Laboratory (NCRL) of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), and the work that led to the discovery was done in collaboration with colleagues from Imperial College London. Much of this early work appears in the monograph of Professor D.G. Steyn8 and was further reviewed by Mullholland and Drewes9.
At the same time as these early researchers were busy with their work, Dr Jotello Festiri Soga, the son of Rev. Tiyo Soga, was quietly applying his medical and indigenous knowledge to help rural farmers in the Eastern Cape combat cattle diseases rife in that area. Dr Soga obtained his degree at the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Edinburgh in 1886 and was the first Black South African veterinary surgeon. The bust of Dr Soga (Figure 2) today has pride of place in the garden at the Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute.
The turn of the 'stalwarts': 1950-1990
The era between 1950 and 1990 was one in which natural products research changed drastically. No longer were chemical structures unravelled largely by degradation followed by the laborious linking together of the pieces; this period witnessed terms such as 'nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy', 'high-resolution mass spectrometry' and 'high-pressure liquid chromatography' become household words.
However, other changes in the direction of this research now became obvious. No longer was there the same concern with curing livestock diseases - human health, and methods of maintaining health, took centre stage. With the recognition of HIV/AIDS as a widespread disease in 1981, many Western researchers started re-examining natural products as a possible source to combat the pandemic. Traditional healers also became involved in seeking a 'natural' cure, but so far these efforts have come to nothing. Whilst HIV/AIDS has perhaps dominated the scene, natural products have continued to be a fruitful source to alleviate other illnesses which are responsible for the deaths of millions of people, particularly in Africa. These illnesses include malaria, for which Artemisia annua from China has yielded the very valuable artemisinin,10 tuberculosis (which is frequently comorbid with HIV) and cancer, for which interesting developments based on a natural product - the indigenous South African Combretum caffrum tree - are underway.
The research on natural products undertaken between 1950 and 1990 will be discussed briefly. For the first 20 years of this period the field was dominated by the research groups led by Professor Frank Warren (1941-1965, University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg; Figure 3) and Professor Manie de Waal (Pretoria University). Both research groups concentrated on alkaloids and their mode of action as toxic substances.
Another group at the NCRL, under the guidance of Dr Piet Enslin, examined diverse industrial and fundamental applications of natural products, for example, the compound cucurbitacin B. Cucurbitacin B is a livestock poison; it has a very bitter taste and anti-gibberellic activity, that is, it inhibits plant growth and is therefore industrially important.
At the Leather Research Institute, which was affiliated to Rhodes University, Professor Dawie Roux (Figure 4) made great advances in understanding the polymerisation mechanism of tannins (obtained primarily from Acacia species and used in the tanning of leather). In 1968, Roux moved to the University of the Free State where he was ably assisted by Daneel Ferreira (now professor at the University of Mississippi) and a string of talented postgraduate students. Towards the end of this period, there was a clear trend towards the use of natural products for industrial purposes. Thus tannins (a natural product) were utilised as the phenolic component of novel phenol-formaldehyde glues.
In order to show the diversity of natural products which attracted the attention of South African researchers in the years nearing the 1990s, it is of interest to overview the research during this time. In Cape Town, Professor Alistair Stephen continued his long-standing work on polysaccharides (many of these from indigenous Acacia species), Professor Douglas Rivett (Figure 5), at Rhodes University, uncovered unique compounds from the Lamiaceae (our common 'wild dagga' types), Professor David Taylor (ex Ghana) and Professor Dulcie Mulholland (both at the University of Natal, Durban) refined the work on liminoids and Mulholland then made new inroads into the Amaryllidaceae and Hyacinthaceae families. Professor Chris van der Merwe Brink, in Bloemfontein, studied fish poisons from the Pterocarpus genus, whilst Professor Guido Perold at the University of the Witwatersrand performed some elegant structural elucidations of compounds in the Proteaceae.
Then, in 1987, the situation changed: as a result of a 'restructuring' policy within the government, the NCRL in Pretoria ceased to operate as it had done previously. The restructuring meant that a more industrial approach to research would be pursued. This approach had the effect of disbanding the prominent research group now operating under Dr Piet Steyn (Figure 6) together with valuable coworkers such as Drs Cedric Holzapfel, Robert Vleggaar, Wessel T. de Kock, Fanie van Heerden and Kirsten J. van der Merwe.
Cedric Holzapfel went on to become the first Professor of Organic Chemistry at the new Rand Afrikaans University, and Dr Piet Steyn, at this stage of his career a world authority in the field of mycotoxins (food poisons found in stored grains, animal feedstuffs and beer brewed from contaminated grains), relocated to Potchefstroom and later to Stellenbosch.
The 'new democrats': 1991-2010
The period between 1991 and 2010 was the end of an era for some stalwarts, but it rang in the time of the new generation of researchers with their eyes fixed on the stars. In 1994 the new democratic government became a reality, and, coupled with this, came open access to all universities. Various mergers took place and it soon became evident that students from previously disadvantaged universities were keen to advance their knowledge. In particular, there was a renewed interest from Black students to study chemistry insofar as it was relevant to the field of traditional knowledge (i.e. 'muti chemistry'). A good illustration of this interest is personified by two young students enrolling for PhDs at the University of Natal (as it then was) in the field of natural products. These were 'Tiny' Sehlapelo (ex Roma and Queens College, Canada) and Jeff Mashimbye (ex Fort Hare and Rhodes University). Both completed their degrees in 1994. 'Tiny' was responsible for unravelling the structure of the major component in black stinkwood (Ocotea bullata) bark (uNukani in isiZulu).11 The bark is used traditionally, amongst many other uses, to relieve headaches, and has been shown subsequently to have good anti-inflammatory properties, thus confirming the validity of its traditional use.
This interest in studying the chemistry of 'muti' plants has continued beyond the year 2000, as is evident by taking a selection of articles produced by young research students at the 2010 Frank Warren Conference (named in honour of Professor Frank Louis Warren). The articles showed a particularly strong interest in the synthesis of natural compounds with biological activity:
1. Studies towards the synthesis of naturally occurring homoisoflavanones (C.-M. Kuo, University of the Free State).
2. Approaches to the total synthesis of arzanol, a phloroglucinol derivative from Helichrysum (Z. Mkhize, University of KwaZulu-Natal).
3. The development of novel pterin chemistry leading to potential dihydrofolate reductase inhibitors (W. Nxumalo, University of the Witwatersrand).
4. The medicinal and taxonomic significance of major chemical compounds in the roots of Arctopus species (D. Olivier, University of Johannesburg).
Some that got away
Despite the new interest in the chemistry of natural products, and the resultant increase in knowledge, it has to be acknowledged that there were also 'disappointments' - the successful exploitation of several of our indigenous species outside of South Africa. These exploitations include the antibiotic pimaricin (produced by the bacterium Streptomyces natalensis), MckaloaboTM from the plant Pelargonium sidoides and combretastatin from the plant Combretum caffrum.
Pimaricin is a macrolide antibiotic; it is used worldwide as a fungal antibiotic against yeasts and moulds but has no effect on bacterial activity. It can therefore be added to foodstuffs that undergo maturing over time (e.g. in the ripening process of cheeses and fruit). This mould (Streptomyces natalensis) was collected from soils around Pietermaritzburg in 1957 by a group of Dutch microbiologists working for the Royal Dutch Yeast and Fermentation Industries in Delft, the Netherlands. The British patent (Patent No. 944289) was granted on 06 March 1957. The patent application does not mention how many samples were collected before they 'struck gold'.
Pelargonium sidoides
Pelargonium sidoides, a native to South Africa, was first taken to England in 1897 by an Englishman, Charles Henry Stevens, who suffered from tuberculosis.12 Today, the extract of the plant, known as MckaloaboTM is sold all over Europe, but particularly in Germany, as a cure for pulmonary diseases and tuberculosis. The major active components of the plant are known and the product is under patent to Spitzner Arzneimittel, Ettlingen, Germany. Further patents were granted in 2010 to the firm Dr Willmar Schwabe, Germany.
It is ironic that South African scientists did not uncover the potential of P. sidoides, given that it has long been in use by the Zulu people to treat gonorrhoea, diarrhoea and dysentery. The missionary Gerstner13, in his book published in 1939, also claimed that root concoctions of P. sidoides were used traditionally to treat sore throats. Sadly, the commercialisation of P. sidoides was a missed opportunity for South Africa.
Combretum caffrum
The compound combretastatin was first isolated from the root bark of the indigenous tree Combretum caffrum (bush willow) in the early 1980s by Pettit14. Subsequently, other constituents of the plant were isolated, the most active one being combretastatin A-4. Two of Pettit's coworkers at the Arizona State University were Gordon Cragg and Margaret Niven, both students from South Africa. In 2010, Cragg was awarded an honorary doctorate by Rhodes University.
At present, combretastatin A-4 (which is water-soluble as a phosphate derivative) is the most potent naturally occurring combretastatin known. It has been shown to cause vascular disruptions of tumours in cancer patients and Phase 3 trials are currently underway.15
The status quo of natural products research in South Africa
In spite of all the knowledge accumulated from the study of South Africa's indigenous flora, no single-component, commercially marketable drug has emerged from this country. Now is an opportune moment to re-assess the situation and consider future prospects.
Any compound or extract able to compete on the open market should meet with at least three of the following criteria:
1. The chemistry must be well established.
2. The biological activity, whatever its nature, needs to be beyond doubt.
3. The mother plant should preferably be suitable for large-scale cultivation.
4. A synthetic procedure must be in place if cultivation is not an option as a result of low yields.
5. The whole system should be under patent protection.
Current initiatives which meet at least three of these criteria are:
1. The product, or group of products, isolated from Sutherlandia frutescens.
2. Vasorelaxant pyrano-isoflavones from the shrub Eriosema kraussianum.
3. The compound known as rooperol from Hypoxis hemerocallidea, on account of its perceived ability to detect early tumours.
4. The appetite suppressant from Hoodia gordonii which promised so much initially, but has fallen somewhat 'flat'. It needs a second look.
5. Antibacterial substances with good activity against a variety of bacterial infections. The genus Helichrysum is a particularly rich source of these chemicals, as are some compounds from Warburgia salutaris and Gunnera perpensa, to a lesser extent.
6. Marine products derived from a variety of plants and animals.
Sutherlandia frutescens
Sutherlandia frutescens is a popular traditional medicine and derives its common name, 'cancer bush' from its long established (since 1895) use as a cancer tonic. Van Wyk and Albrecht16 currently are working on this plant.
Other uses of the plant include its use as an appetite stimulant (e.g. in persons with HIV/AIDS) and for the treatment of dysentry, kidney conditions, diabetes, internal cancers, liver conditions, uterine-related conditions, and stress and anxiety. The constituents of the plant are a high level of amino acids, canavanine (a non-protein amino acid), the cyclitol pinitol, a variety of flavonols, and triterpene glycosides (cycloartanes).
The published biological acitvities of these compounds confirm the traditional uses of the plant. A whole extract of Sutherlandia (as opposed to a single component), supports its continued use (maybe in a refined form) as a tonic by people with cancer or HIV/AIDS. The situation here is not unlike that of Pelargonium sidoides and 'Mckaloabo'TM (that is, more than one compound is present in the mixture); Mckaloabo is used for the treatment of tuberculosis and is patented by the German company Dr Willmar Schwabe GMBH & Co. It is of interest to note that this company had, at the time of writing this review, released a statement saying 'In order to avoid being the scapegoat in a continuing debate on principles that we cannot resolve, we have decided not to pursue a total of five patents.' In addition, the statement reads 'We have decided to further extend our long-standing social projects in South Africa on a lasting basis by establishing the Umckaloabo Trust - For a Healthy Future'.
It seems that the time is right for South African pharmaceutical companies to grasp the nettle and proceed in a similar way. For example, large-scale cultivation of Sutherlandia is now being pursued by Phyto Nova (Pty) Ltd, although small-scale cultivation and commercialisation of Sutherlandia started as far back as 1990 in the Cape Province.
Vasorelaxant pyranoisoflavones
Studies on the indigenous shrub Eriosema kraussianum were motivated at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), Pietermaritzburg, by the knowledge that indigenous healers in this province have long used an extract of the roots of the plant to combat impotence.
The Zulu name of the plant is uBangalala. Working together with Dr Jabu Dhlamini, a traditional healer, Siegfried Drewes and coworkers isolated two pyranoisoflavones -Kraussianones 1 and 2 - from the roots of the plant.17 In tests for activity against erectile dysfunction, Kraussianones 1 and 2 had comparable activities, but these activities were lower than that of sildenafil citrate (ViagraTM ) - the drug well-known for the treatment of erectile dysfunction, as well as pulmonary arterial hypertension. Because agents such as Viagra act by increasing the influx of blood into the arteries of the corpus cavernosum, it is not surprising that preliminary tests carried out in the Department of Physiology at UKZN Medical School, confirmed the vasorelaxant effects of Kraussianone 1. These tests showed that foetuses of pregnant rats fed on a diet of Kraussianone 1 had greater weights, presumably as a result of increased blood flow (and oxygen) to the foetus.18
The yields of Kraussianone 1 and 2 from roots of Eriosema kraussianum are low, and harvesting is not easy, so the synthesis of these compounds is of paramount importance. Synthesis has, in fact, been achieved,19 which places a very different perspective on the whole project. Already, at this stage, Eriosema extracts are available commercially, but the synthetic material opens up a completely new opportunity.
Professor Marion Meyer, at the University of Pretoria, is actively investigating the activity of novel xanthones isolated from the bark of the tree Securidaca longepedunculata against erectile dysfunction.
Rooperol - the 'cure all' from Hypoxis hemerocallidea
Rooperol is the hydrolysis product from the compound hypoxoside obtained from the rhizome of the plant Hypoxis hemerocallidea (Figure 7), commonly called the 'African potato'.
Traditional healers have been using an aqueous extract of this rhizome for many years to combat aliments such as benign prostate hyperplasia, testicular cancer, cardiac diseases and intestinal parasites. More recently, aqueous extracts have become a bestseller for boosting the immune system; one such over-the-counter product used for this purpose is ModucareTM . Today, more than a dozen products, all containing an extract of Hypoxis, are sold by pharmacies in most areas of the country.
The active component of the plant, rooperol, is also used as an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic and anticonvulsant.20 Recent work by Dr Edith Elliot and coworkers at the Department of Biochemistry at UKZN has cast new light on the ongoing dispute as to whether or not rooperol is an antitumour agent. Unpublished and ongoing work has shown promising results on normal and premalignant breast cancer cells using rooperol as an indicator. Maybe this work on Hypoxis, together with that of researchers at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University in Port Elizabeth (Professor M. van de Venter and colleagues) will finally produce a unique 'drug' from Africa.
Appetite suppression by Hoodia gordonii
Hoodia gordonii is a rare succulent plant (Figure 8) which grows in the Kalahari desert area of southern Africa. Although the effect of Hoodia as an appetite suppressant has long been known to the San inhabitants of the Kalahari, these effects were virtually unknown to the Western world until the early 1960s.
Fanie van Heerden and colleagues21 at the CSIR were able to isolate an active component from Hoodia gordonii named P57. This finding was patented in 1998. (Van Heerden is now a professor at UKZN in Pietermaritzburg.) The CSIR granted a sublicence to Pfizer in order to do further chemical development on P57, but this was relinquished in 2003. Later that year, the CSIR responded to criticism of its appropriation of San indigenous knowledge by signing a memorandum of understanding with the South African San Council.
Today, over-the-counter preparations supposedly containing Hoodia extracts can be purchased and there is a growing demand from the international market for Hoodia material. The plant is cultivated in dry parts of the north-western Cape, as well as in neighbouring Namibia and Botswana. Although the commercialisation of Hoodia was one of the most exciting events of South African ethnobotany, Hoodia's full potential as a product never really reached fruition. But the possibility still exists that it may one day do so.
Antimicrobial compounds with high activity
Here, new antimicrobial compounds from a variety of sources, but mainly from the Helichrysum genus, will be highlighted. The South African representatives of this genus were examined for their chemical constituents from 1955 to 1980. During this period, a German professor from the University of Berlin, Professor Ferdinand Bohlmann, made numerous trips to South Africa. With the assistance of Dr Olive Hilliard, Curator of Bew's Herbarium at the University of Natal (as it was then), they crisscrossed the mountains and dales of Natal and collected numerous Helichrysum species. Bohlmann isolated a host of new compounds and published countless articles in the journal Phytochemistry (see for example, Bohlmann and Mahanta22).
During Bohlmann's time, not a great deal of testing for biological activity was undertaken. This area of phytochemistry has, however, become very active and several authorative publications are now available, for example, van Vuuren23 and Lourens24.
The significance of the research into natural antimicrobial substances is evident from the list of publications shown below. The compounds reported here all have minimum inhibitory concentrations less than 10 μg/mL:
1. 3,5,7-trihydroxyflavanone from Helichrysum aureonitens (Afolayan and Meyer25, University of Pretoria)
2. monomeric and dimeric terpenes from Helichrysum tenax (Figure 9; Drewes et al.26, UKZN)
3. antimicrobial phloroglucinols from Helichrysum gymnocomum (Drewes and Van Vuuren27, UKZN and University of the Witwatersrand)
4. antimicrobial activity of South African medicinal plants (Van Vuuren23, University of the Witwatersrand)
5. acylated phloroglucinol from Helichrysum caespititium (Mathekga and Meyer28, University of Pretoria).
Another new antimicrobial compound was found in the plant Gunnera perpensa. Gunnera perpensa is known as uGhobo in isiZulu, and is used traditionally to expel foetal afterbirth in cows. It has a very simple, but highly active antibacterial benzoquinone in its leaves.29
In her definitive article on the antimicrobial activity of South African medicinal plants,23 Professor Sandy van Vuuren concludes that, to ensure future success in natural products research, interactive phytochemical studies must be incorporated with existing practices in the hope that developments involving combinations may be used as a foundation and driving force in the search for novel chemotherapeutic agents. And so, the challenge has begun.
Marine organisms
In South Africa, a vigorous research programme on investigating marine natural products is headed by Professor
Mike Davies-Coleman at Rhodes University. It is the only programme of its kind in South Africa. Worldwide there is great interest in this area as the deep sea has been the source of an increasing number of novel compounds.
A review such as this is incomplete if it does not point out the tremendous influence which the books on medicinal plants of South Africa by Professor Ben-Erik van Wyk et al.30 (University of Johannesburg) have had on advancing the subject.
A highly abridged version of this article, suitable for high-school learners, has been published by the author in Quest. 2011;7:21-23.
Competing interests
I declare that I have no financial or personal relationships which may have inappropriately influenced me in writing this article.
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2. Hutcheon D. Vermeersiekte or vomit sickness in sheep. Agric J Cape Good Hope. 1902;21:39-40. [ Links ]
3. Theiler A. Stiff sickness in cattle. Agric J S Afr. 1911;1:10-21. [ Links ]
4. Rindl M. Preliminary note on a poisonous alkaloid from the overground portions of the Transvaal yellow bulb Homeria pallida. Trans R Soc S Afr. 1924;12:251-256. [ Links ]
5. Rimington C, Roets J. Chemical investigation of Geigera aspera. J Vet Sci. 1936;7:485-487. [ Links ]
6. Marais JSC. Monofluoroacetic acid, the toxic principle of 'gifblaar' Dichapetalum cymosum. Onderstepoort J Vet Res. 1944;20:67-73. [ Links ]
7. Perold GW. The structure of geigerin. J Chem Soc. 1957:47-51. http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/jr9570000047 [ Links ]
8. Steyn DG. The toxicology of plants in South Africa. Johannesburg: Central News Agency; 1934. [ Links ]
9. Mulholland DA, Drewes SE. Global phytochemistry: Indigenous medicinal chemistry on track in southern Africa. Phytochemistry. 2004;65(7):769-782. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.phytochem.2004.01.014, PMid:15081276 [ Links ]
10. Klayman DL. Artemisinin: An antimalarial drug from China. Science. 1985;228:1049-1055. http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.3887571, PMid:3887571 [ Links ]
11. Sehlapelo BM, Drewes SE, Sandor P. Ocobullenone - A bicyclo[3.2.1] octanoid neolignan from ocotea-bullata. Phytochemistry. 1993;32(5):1352-1353. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S00319422(00)95121-5 [ Links ]
12. Bladt S, Wagner H. From the Zulu medicine to the European phytomedicine Umckaloabo (R). Phytomedicine. 2007;14:2-4. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.phymed.2006.11.030, PMid:17239572 [ Links ]
13. Gerstner JA. A preliminary checklist of Zulu names of plants with short notes. Bantu Studies. 1939;13:46-64. [ Links ]
14. Pettit GR, Cragg GM, Herald DL, Schmidt JM, Lohavanijaya P. Isolation and structure of combretastatin. Can J Chem. 1982;60(11):1374-1376. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/v82-202 [ Links ]
15. Kingston DGI. Tubulin-interactive natural products as anticancer agents. J Nat Prod. 2009;72(3):507-515. http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/np800568j, PMid:19125622, PMCid:2765517 [ Links ]
16. Van Wyk BE, Albrecht C. A review of the taxonomy, ethnobotany, chemistry and pharmacology of Sutherlandia frutescens (Fabaceae). J Ethnopharmacol. 2008;119(3):620-629. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2008.08.003, PMid:18761068 [ Links ]
17. Drewes SE, Horn MM, Munro OQ, Dhlamini JTB, Meyer JJM, Rakuambo NC. Pyrano-isoflavones with erectile-dysfunction activity from Eriosema kraussianum. Phytochemistry. 2002;59(7):739-747. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(02)00035-3 [ Links ]
18. Ramesar SV, Drewes SE, Gathiram P, Moodley J, Mackraj I. The effect of kraussianone 2, a natural pyranoisoflavone from Eriosema kraussianum, in an L-NAME-induced pre-eclamptic rat model. Phytother Res. In press 2011. [ Links ]
19. Selepe MA, Drewes SE, Van Heerden FR. Total synthesis of the pyranoisoflavone kraussianone 1 and related isoflavones. J Nat Prod. 2010;73(10):1680-1685. http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/np100407n, PMid:20718472 [ Links ]
20. Drewes SE, Elliot E, Khan F, Dhlamini JTB, Gcumisa MSS. Hypoxis hemerocallidea. Not merely a cure for benign prostate hyperplasia. J Ethnopharmacol. 2008;119(3):593-598. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2008.05.027, PMid:18602776 [ Links ]
21. Van Heerden FR, Horak RM, Maharaj VJ, Vleggaar R, Senabe JV, Gunning PJ. An appetite suppressant from Hoodia species. Phytochemistry. 2007;68(20):2545-2553. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.phytochem.2007.05.022, PMid:17603088 [ Links ]
22. Bohlmann F, Mahanta PK. [Further phloroglucinol-derivatives from Helichrysum gymnoconum]. Phytochemistry. 1979;18(2):348-350. German. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(79)80100-4 [ Links ]
23. Van Vuuren SF. Antimicrobial activity of South African medicinal plants. J Ethnopharmacol. 2008;119(3):462-472. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2008.05.038, PMid:18582553 [ Links ]
24. Lourens ACU. Structural and synthetic studies of sesquiterpenoids and flavonoids isolated from Helichrysum species. PhD thesis, Durban, University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2008. [ Links ]
25. Afolayan AJ, Meyer JJM. The antimicrobial activity of 3,5,7-trihydroxyflavone isolated from the shoots of Helichrysum aureonitens. J Ethnopharmacol. 1997;57(3):177-181. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0378-8741(97)00065-2 [ Links ]
26. Drewes SE, Mudau KE, Van Vuuren SF, Viljoen AM. Antimicrobial monomeric and dimeric diterpenes from the leaves of Helichrysum tenax var tenax. Phytochemistry. 2006;67(7):716-722. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.phytochem.2005.12.015, PMid:16434071 [ Links ]
27. Drewes SE, Van Vuuren SF. Antimicrobial acylphloroglucinols and dibenzyloxy flavonoids from flowers of Helichrysum gymnocomum. Phytochemistry. 2008;69(8):1745-1749. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.phytochem.2008.02.022, PMid:18406436 [ Links ]
28. Mathekga ADM, Meyer JJM, Horn MM, Drewes SE. An acylated phloroglucinol with antimicrobial properties from Helichrysum caespititium.Phytochemistry. 2000;53(1):93-96. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(99)00424-0 [ Links ]
29. Drewes SE, Khan F, Van Vuuren SF, Viljoen AM. Simple 1,4-benzoquinones with antibacterial activity from stems and leaves of Gunnera perpensa. Phytochemistry. 2005;66(15):1812-1816. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.phytochem.2005.05.024, PMid:16019043 [ Links ]
30. Van Wyk BE, Van Oudtshoorn B, Gericke N. Medicinal plants of South Africa. Pretoria: Briza Publications; 2009. [ Links ]
Correspondence to:
Siegfried Drewes
Postal address: School of Chemistry
University of KwaZulu-Natal
Scottsville 3209, South Africa
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Received: 17 May 2011
Accepted: 01 Dec. 2011
Published: 04 May 2012


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Book Direct with the Owner at Wirrina Cove SA with Accommodation Sunshine Coast Agent in Wirrina Cove, for all your Dining, Dancing and things to do.
Address: Normanville Plaza Shop 6 Andrew Ave, Normanville SA 5204
Address: 69b Main South Rd, Normanville SA 5204
copyright © 2020 Accommodation Sunshine Coast. All rights reserved.


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If you're looking for a wheel that is both stylish in design yet practical from a performance point of view, look no further than the SSW E106 Stella 2 Wheels in MATTE BLACK! These stunning alloy wheels are just one of the exclusive concave designs available at AutoCraze. Whether you're looking at regular tyres to accommodate them or want a massive stretch, these wheels were made for you; truly simplicity at its' finest._x000D_
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Ordered some new rims and tyres for my Ford Courier last week. John went above and beyond to get a great price and also the right style, size and fitment for my fussy requirements. The wheels turned up fitted and balanced and looked a million bucks. I couldn't of asked for a smoother transaction and a better guy to deal with. Thanks a million.
Had been looking at wheels for ages wanting to get great look/fitment. Called up Autocraze and spoke to Mo, he was awesome. Knew his products and put my mind at ease about the fitment. So I got my wheels and tyres (for a great price!) and I'm super happy!
AutoCraze were absolute legends to deal with when I was buying my Speedy Outlaws. Delivery to Queensland was unbelievably quick! Had the wheels fitted within a week of first making contact. Highly recommend!
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Peer-Reviewed Publications
Found 5 resultsTitle
Filters: Author is Chen, Irene G [Clear All Filters]
Parent driver characteristics associated with sub-optimal restraint of child passengers." Traffic Inj Prev. 2006;7(4):373-80."
Effect of increased rear row occupancy on injury to seat belt restrained children in side impact crashes." Annu Proc Assoc Adv Automot Med. 2005;49:229-43."
Acute healthcare utilization by children after motor vehicle crashes." Accid Anal Prev. 2004;36(4):507-11."
Recent trends in child restraint practices in the United States." Pediatrics. 2004;113(5):e458-64."
Shifts in child restraint use according to child weight in the United States from 1999 to 2002." Annu Proc Assoc Adv Automot Med. 2003;47:313-28."


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Hard Reset SONY Xperia M C1905
Today we are going to share an instruction of performing a hard reset and soft reset on SONY Xperia M C1905. How to hard reset SONY Xperia? How to clean all data in SONY Xperia? How to bypass screen lock in SONY Xperia? How to restore defaults in SONY Xperia?
NOW, the following tutorial shows all methods of master reset SONY Xperia. Check out how to manage hard reset by manual settings. Hard Resetting resets your phone to its factory default, so please be careful before performing a hard reset.
How to Hard Reset SONY Xperia M C1905 Step by Step
First method:
- First, turn off the phone by using the Power key.
- Now press and hold together: Volume Up + Home + Power button, until you see the SONY Xperia logo.
- Then select from Recovery Mode menu "wipe data/factory reset" using Volume buttons to navigate and Home button to confirm.
- Choose "Yes — delete all user data" to confirm the whole operation.
- After that select option "reboot system now."
- Well done! The hard reset has just been performed.
Second method:
- Start by turning on the device.
- From the Home, Screen goes to Menu and then to Settings.
- Tap Backup & Reset and then Factory Data Reset.
- In the next step choose Reset device.
- To confirm your choice select Remove everything.
- Awesome, That's all.
Watch Video Tutorial About Hard Reset
In Additional
A factory data reset may help with a blank or frozen screen, apps crashing or freezing, keypad/touchscreen problems, can't hear, device making noises, can't make or receive calls, and the device won't sync.
Perform a factory data reset only if necessary as it removes all data including:
- Google account
- System and app data
- App settings
- Downloaded apps
- Media (Music, pictures and videos, etc.)
For more information, you can visit the official website of Sony Xperia


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Downtown construction projects to test driver patience
Many closures, projects planned between now and December
Drivers who have to go into, through or out of downtown Kansas City over the next few months will have their patience tested.
Road construction projects will close various lanes, highways, bridges and ramps until the end of the year.
This week, the ramps for all directions of Interstate 70 as it loops to the north side of downtown Kansas City will be closed and will stay closed through May.
See the map of construction projects and scheduling
The Missouri Department of Transportation said the work is long overdue and has been staggered to try to minimize traffic issues. However, drivers will definitely notice closed lanes and congestion.
People who drive those highways said they appreciate that MoDOT wants to hurry up and do the work and make the roads better. They said that doesn't mean they'll like the headaches that come with it.
"I just wanted to get out of my car and start walking down the street. Just park the car somewhere and walk. I was literally five blocks away and I was still an hour from my house," said commuter David Cho.
"If we have to make so many changes to the ramps and the streets, and we have blocks and everything in there, then that's making people late," said driver Chiniece Ransburg. "It's taking away other people's time."
See timeline for downtown bridge projects
"I realize that it's important that they do it. However, it is a major pain for sure. I mean, it slows everybody down," said driver David Berry.
Interstate 35 will also be down to two lanes in each direction south of downtown until the end of the year.


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TORRINGTON ROTARY: Two Million Dogs Foundation raises funds for comparative cancer research
TORRINGTON >> In the broad fight against cancer, research is being done to identify common links in canine and human cancer, and 2 Million Dogs is dedicated to support it.
That's the message Rotary's guest speaker, Dawn Osborne, a volunteer for 2 Million Dogs 2 Miles Foundation, told the club's membership today.
"Cancer tumors in dogs and humans have many similarities, in terms of risk factors and biology. In some cases, the biology is exactly the same," she said.
2 Million Dogs Foundation, a volunteer-run, nonprofit organization, is dedicated to raising awareness of the field of comparative oncology and funding for it.
It was founded in 2010 by Luke Robinson of Austin, Texas. After he lost his dog Malcolm to bone cancer, he and two of his Great Pyrenees set out to walk to walk to Boston, Mass., to raise awareness about canine cancer "one mile, one city, and one person at a time," Osborne said.
The cause is "near and dear to my heart," the New Milford resident said, because her beloved husky-Lab, Sunny, battled cancer for three-and-a-half years, undergoing chemotherapy and having her right front leg amputated as a result of bone cancer (osteosarcoma).
"She was the light of my life," she said of her beloved pet, who succumbed last year at the age of 10.
Cancer, Osborne said, is the leading natural cause of death of dogs over age 2. "One out of four dogs will fight the battle, and it affects dogs of all ages, including puppies," she said, noting that the incidence of cancer seems to be greater in some breeds, particularly larger ones.
"The tumors in dogs and humans, especially for bone cancer, act the same way," Osborne said.
Osborne said in an interview after the Rotary meeting that she knew something was wrong with her dog when she saw Sunny with a front leg raised.
"I ran my fingers along her foreleg and felt a hard lump above the wrist," she said. "My veterinarian said it's most likely cancer and that they could amputate."
After Osborne, who is an EMT, consulted with a veterinary oncologist, two-and-a-half inches of bone were removed from one of the leg's two bones. Later medical treatment included a similar removal of bone and chemotherapy.
Treating canine cancer can be costly, and Osborne told the Rotarians she would advise pet owners to get insurance for their companions, although she did not have it to cover Sunny's expenses.
Sunny's spirit bounced back after her chemo and the amputation, Osborne said, and the family traveled around the country with her and hiked with her everywhere, including Mt. Tom State Park.
2 Million Dogs offers "the 10 L's" checklist to help pet owners learn the early warning signs of canine cancer: Lumps, Lesions, Lameness, appetite Loss, Lethargy, weight Loss, Loud odor, Loss of bodily functions, bLoody discharge and Labored breathing.
Two fund-raising efforts to help 2 Million Dogs continue is mission to fight canine cancer are its annual calendar contest and its Puppy Up! Walk. The walk was established with the idea that "if two dogs can walk 2,000 miles, surely 2 million dogs can walk 2 miles" for a good cause.
Osborne organized the walk in New Milford in 2011 and 2012 and noted that this year's event will be held Nov. 3. In addition, she will be holding a hockey fund-raiser in Danbury.
As an example of where the money is going, Osborne noted that 2 Million Dogs Foundation gave $50,000 to Princeton University in January 2012 to help fund its study on canine mammary tumor development and in November it gave $20,000 to the Broad Institute in Boston for an osteosarcoma study.
For more information, visit the Web site www.2milliondogs.org.


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| 6°C Belfast
Michael Sheen has revealed what is in store for his character when his hit show Masters Of Sex returns later this year.
The Welsh actor plays Dr William Masters in the Channel 4 drama about the pioneering research into the science of human sexuality, which was celebrated at television festival Paleyfest in Los Angeles.
The first series of the show ended with the uptight doctor in professional and emotional turmoil confessing his feelings to his research partner Virginia Johnson, played by Lizzy Caplan, and Michael said showing that duality in his character was a highlight.
Speaking on the red carpet, Michael said: "That was one of the things I loved about the storyline for him. He begins season one as the most defended, guarded, invulnerable man in the world and he ends the season standing there in the rain saying how much he needs someone, the most vulnerable man.
"I love that kind journey but as with most people who aren't comfortable with being vulnerable, I don't think that is going to last and in fact the more the pendulum swings one way the more it has to swing the other way, so there is something in him that has to punish everyone who makes him vulnerable."
The show is frank in its depictions of nudity and sexuality and Michael's co-star Lizzy said that initially made her nervous.
Dressed in a long white dress with bright red shoes, Lizzy said: "I was nervous before we started shooting when I was given a rough overview of what was to come, that was intimidating, but as soon as I step into her clothes and her mindset it all makes such sense to me.
"Maybe I would be more uncomfortable if our show was run by hyper sexualised men but it is run by women and I don't feel like one beat of it is gratuitous, even the nudity and the sex, and I stand behind it, if I didn't I don't think I would shoot the scene."
Masters Of Sex returns to Channel 4 later this year.


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Take a look at my Jupiter house!
So, I thought it would be a cool idea to show you all where I'm living here in Jupiter during Spring Training. We got set up with an incredible house that's just a couple of miles from the stadium. So take a look, it's just one reason why I have been loving my time down in Florida so far!
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Eat your hearts of Chicago – no wonder more pro athletes are moving to Florida every year!
Pingback: MLB.com Blogs Central
Ronald Witt Illinois says we have a little thing in America called freedom of speech. I'm behind you!


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Are You Part of an Elite, and Don't Know It?
When we speak of Elites, we usually mean elites of concentrated financial assets/power, as depicted in this chart: (please go to www.oftwominds.com/blog.html to view the chart)
With vast financial resources comes political power, whatever health can be purchased, and various other pleasures unavailable to mere mortals. Being one of the top 1% owners of U.S. assets is certainly an elite status, one that is visible and well-known.
But amongst us regular folk, there are many other elites. By definition, an elite is a minority with some advantages unavailable to the majority. Some of my definitions of elites may surprise you, for you may have been unaware that you are a member of an elite.
Elite #1: government employees with robust pensions and medical benefits. I just returned from a large family gathering and was struck yet again by the great divide between the many cousins employed by government (firefighter, police officer, librarian, teacher, state bureaucrat, congressional aide, etc.) and "the rest of us".
"The rest of us"--even the attorneys among us--do not have equivalent pensions and lifetime healthcare benefits. As healthcare costs skyrocket, public unions have maintained their grip on public finances, while private industry has been free to (or forced to) shed benefits left and right. Many in private employment have been reduced to "ghost benefits"--benefits which are designed to never kick in or which are so circumscribed that they are essentially worthless window-dressing.
For example: huge deductables, limited coverage of family members, and so on.
I have long predicted Battle Royale between the taxpaying public and the public employee unions over the crushing costs of maintaining gold-plated pensions and medical care benefits. To take but one recent entry: Public Employee Pension Greed and the Gutting of Downtowns (February 7, 2007)
If you work for a government agency or school board, you may not feel like an elite, but you are. I have friends who have retired from city libraries and school boards with not even 20 years of service. Please locate a private-sector job which enables you to retire with a handsome pension/benefit package at 55 with less than 15 years service.
"The rest of us" are simply clinging on, hoping to make it to 63 and 65, and hoping there will be some Medicare and Social Security benefits left as this nation enters insolvency on every level.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are 22 million government jobs and 150 million private-sector jobs (138 million hourly/salaried and 12 million self-employed). As the recession deepens globally, unemployment will skyrocket in the private sector and whatever healthcare benefits and 401K pension contributions remain will be subject to a slash-and-burn utterly unknown to public employees--at least for now.
Meanwhile, back at the self-employment ranch, we self-employed are seeing our healthcare premiums jump by 10-20% each and every year even as what's covered shrinks like a puddle on hot summer asphalt. Dental? No way. Eyecare--are you kidding? Office/clinic visit? $50 co-pay, pal. Drug coverage? It's called "cash," buddy. Drug coverage is zip, zero, nada. And this "coverage" costs $750/month and up.
Elite #2: Natural good health. For this elite, the cliche is "50 is the new 30," meaning that for those with good health, middle-age has extended far beyond the previous boundary of "old age"--50 or 55 years of age.
Some recent reader email alerted me to the incredible value of this elite: excellent health. Some people just have extraordinarily robust genes, while the rest of us carry a burden of weaknesses/flaws beyond whatever damage we do to ourselves with unhealthy lifestyles.
For those with poor genes and poor healthcare, as one reader recently put it, "30 is the new 50." For those blessed with natural health and a non-hazardous job, then healthcare really isn't a big factor. We all know people who have never been in the hospital and who die at the end of a long life after a short illness. But for others with chronic/incurable ailments/conditions, then life is a struggle. Lack of healthcare makes this struggle much, much more arduous and life-threatening.
Elite #3: family money. By this I don't mean tens of millions, I mean much more modest means--but means nonetheless. For example, one of my second cousins has been living rent-free in her grandfather's second home while she finished college. Since it's a block from a nice beach, that's more or less a gift of at least $30,000. Since the house has been in the family for decades, it's one of the 25 million homes in the U.S. which is owned "free and clear," i.e. no mortgage. And with Prop 13 in force in California, the property tax on the property is absurdly modest compared with its recently purchased neighbors.
So while the "gift" of free rent didn't cost the elder generation anywhere near its cash value of $30,000+, that cash value was substantial. The young person got to save $25,000 which she can then use for fun stuff like travel--fun stuff which a person without access to family means would have a much harder time saving up for.
The benefits of family money go on and on: a down payment loaned by a relative, the use of a vacation cabin/home, airfare paid by Grandma, the first car given to a young graduate for free, etc. Others are handed the family business--a business which already has assets, income, customers, etc., all the elements which a new entreprenuer has to sweat blood to build--if they succeed. The vast majority of new businesses fail within a few years.
All of this is considered "normal" in many middle-class families, but to those without these extended-family assets, it is anything but normal. Believe me, saving up to buy property without family help is a long, slow, arduous slog which requires years of consistent scrimping and saving--and I don't mean $100 a month or what passes for "savings" nowadays--I mean 50+% of your take-home earnings, each and every month for years on end. And ditto for paying off student loans, auto loans, and all the other costs which those without family support have to pay themselves.
Elite #4: the Remnant. I covered The Remnant, the Pareto Principle and You (June 25, 2008) last month, and here I am using The Remnant as shorthand for that minority of people who have pondered the future and then made plans to improve the odds of their survival and increase their well-being and security. Unlike most elites, membership in this elite is self-selected.
There are many other elites, I'm sure, and no doubt I missed some important ones....
Note: Please pardon my delayed responses to your many emails--I am catching up over the next few days. Thank you for your patience.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Are You Part of an Elite, and Don't Know It?
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Last month, callers to the corporate office of Lifestyle Family Fitness in St. Petersburg, FL, were greeted with this recorded response:
"It's a great day at Lifestyle Family Fitness…"
Those days appear to be numbered. On June 18, LA Fitness, Irvine, CA, announced that it had come to an agreement to buy the assets of the remaining Lifestyle Family Fitness clubs. The sale likely would mean the end of the Lifestyle company, which was founded in 1982.
Jill Greuling, executive vice president of operations at LA Fitness, told Club Industry last month the company was hopeful that the transaction would be completed within the next several weeks, pending the completion of certain requirements in the agreement. On July 2, LA Fitness announced that it had completed the purchase of 32 of the 33 Lifestyle clubs. Completion of the purchase of the remaining club is expected soon.
Greuling also said that of the 33 Lifestyle clubs in Florida, one would be closing. Other Lifestyle clubs may be relocated or closed, but some of them could be expanded or remodeled, Greuling added.
Lifestyle Family Fitness, which last year sold nine clubs to Life Time Fitness, Chanhassen, MN, and closed other clubs in Indiana, Ohio and North Carolina, would be the second company to sell off its remaining clubs within the past 12 months. Last August, Equinox, New York, acquired the remaining four The Sports Club/LA clubs from The Sports Club Co., Los Angeles.
"Apparently, this is a time where some of the club industry's largest club companies are taking advantage of the interest of other sizable firms to exit the industry," says Rick Caro, president of Management Vision, New York.
Bally Total Fitness, Chicago, is down to around 55 clubs after selling 171 clubs to LA Fitness last year and 39 clubs to Blast Fitness, Auburndale, MA, earlier this year.


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House Republicans moved yesterday to correct one of the unintended consequences of ObamaCare, and to challenge Senate Democrats to demonstrate that they want to "fix it rather than nix it." The definition of full-time work in the Affordable Care Act is 30 hours a week, which provides incentives for employers to limit hours for its employees to less than that — and it's not just the private sector responding to that incentive. The House passed a new definition of full-time work that raises the threshold to 40 hours a week, and eighteen House Democrats voted for passage:
Eighteen House Democrats voted with Republicans Thursday to change the definition of full-time work as it relates to the Affordable Care Act, signaling that for some members of President Obama's party the law remains a difficult political issue.
The bill approved Thursday would change the law's definition of full-time work from 30 hours a week back to 40 hours, a move that Republicans say is necessary as employers continue limiting the hours of part-time workers in anticipation of the law's employer insurance requirement.
That prompted a veto threat from the White House, and a further demonstration of cluelessness:
Obama threatened to veto the House bill this week, citing a recent report by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office that said about that1 million people would lose employer-backed coverage and that the number of uninsured would climb by almost 500,000 if the law's work definitions were changed. And most congressional Democrats, buoyed by the new enrollment figures, said Thursday that Republicans were merely bending to the will of companies who are using the new law as an excuse to cut workers' hours and pay.
"It is not Obamacare that decides how much somebody works, it's the person who runs the company," Rep. James McDermott (D-Wash.) said Thursday.
Well, yes … and cost and price signals largely direct those decisions. Democrats made it a lot more costly to give workers 30 hours a week. Did they think that would not have any impact on staffing decisions? This takes the tunnel vision created by static analysis to a ridiculously narrow new limit.
Under normal circumstances, that kind of unseriousness should discredit McDermott and his fellow Democrats. However, Barack Obama and his party have spent the last few years filling the debate with sophistry and flat-out untruths about ObamaCare, so this just adds to the catalogue of discrediting statements. Peggy Noonan addressed this phenomenon today, noting that it comes as part of their effort to avoid responsibility for the easily-predictable consequences of their actions:
Her comments alarmed congressional Republicans but inspired Democrats, who for the next three years would carry on like blithering idiots making believe they'd read the bill and understood its implications. They were later taken aback by complaints from their constituents. The White House, on the other hand, seems to have understood what the bill would do, and lied in a way so specific it showed they knew exactly what to spin and how. "If you like your health-care plan, you can keep your health-care plan, period." "If you like your doctor, you can keep your doctor, period." That of course was the president, misrepresenting the facts of his signature legislative effort. That was historic, too. If you liked your doctor, your plan, your network, your coverage, your deductible you could not keep it. Your existing policy had to pass muster with the administration, which would fight to the death to ensure that 60-year-old women have pediatric dental coverage.
The leaders of our government have not felt, throughout the process, that they had any responsibility to be honest and forthcoming about the major aspects of the program, from its exact nature to its exact cost. We are not being told the cost of anything—all those ads, all the consultants and computer work, even the cost of the essential program itself.
What the bill declared it would do—insure tens of millions of uninsured Americans—it has not done. There are still tens of millions uninsured Americans. On the other hand, it has terrorized millions who did have insurance and lost it, or who still have insurance and may lose it.
Michael Ramirez uses his Pulitzer Prize-winning talent to make a blunter argument at Investors Business Daily:
April Fools, indeed. The Obama administration and Capitol Hill seem chock-full of them, and not just on April 1.
Also, be sure to check out Ramirez' terrific collection of his works: Everyone Has the Right to My Opinion, which covers the entire breadth of Ramirez' career, and it gives fascinating look at political history. Read my review here, and watch my interviews with Ramirez here and here. And don't forget to check out the entire Investors.com site, which has now incorporated all of the former IBD Editorials, while individual investors still exist.


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Low Skew Zero Delay Buffer
FEATURES DESCRIPTION п' п' The PL123-05/-09 (-05H/-09H for High Drive) are high
performance, low skew, low jitter zero delay buffers
designed to distribute high speed clocks. They have
one (PL123-05) or two (PL123-09) low-skew output
banks, of 4 outputs each, that are synchronized with
the input. The PL123-09 allows control of the banks of
outputs by using the S1 and S2 inputs as shown in the
Selector Definition table on page 2. п' п' п' п' п' Frequency Range 10MHz to 134 MHz
Output Options:
o 5 outputs PL123-05
o 9 outputs PL123-09
Zero input -output delay
Optional Drive Strength:
Standard (8mA) PL123-05/-09
High (12mA) PL123-05H/-09H
3.3V, В±10% operation
Available in Commercial and Industrial temperature
Available in 16-Pin SOP or TSSOP (PL123-09),
and 8-Pin SOP (PL123-05) packages The synchronization is established via CLKOUT feed
back to the input of the PLL. Since the skew between …


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VINTAGE GREEN – Polarvue® Gray Lens
Vintage Fitovers sunglasses feature a premium back side Anti-reflective (AR) coating which helps eliminate reflections from the sun that may enter from behind or the side of the sunglass lens. Most importantly, it helps eliminate any bounce-back reflections between the front surface of your Rx glasses and the rear surface of the Fitover sunglass lens. When in need of last-minute, dependable quality and style, JP by Jonathan Paul® has you covered, with a fitover frame perfect for your next outing under the sun. Developed by Jonathan Paul®, the originators of fitover sunglasses worldwide.
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http://mmajunkie.com A knee injury has forced Rick Hawn (11-1 MMA, 3-1 BFC) out of Bellator 49 and his opening-round welterweight-tournament bout with Ben Saunders (10-3-2 MMA, 1-0 BFC).
Hawn announced the news via Twitter.
Bellator officials haven't confirmed the injury or a possible replacement for the eight-man tournament, which kicks off Sept. 10 at Caesars Atlantic City in New Jersey.
According to Hawn, the injury will sideline him at least "a few months." (The Bellator tourney wraps in December.)
Hawn was set to compete in his second Bellator tourney. The fighter, a member of the 2004 U.S. Olympic judo team, was a runner-up in Bellator's season-four tournament and lost to Jay Hieron in the finals. The close split-decision defeat followed an 11-0 start to his career, which included seven knockout wins and earlier tourney victories over Jim Wallhead and Lyman Good.
Bellator's tourney winners earn guaranteed title shots. A victory over Hieron would have earned him a shot at current welterweight champ Ben Askren.
For more on Bellator 49, stay tuned to the MMA Rumors section of MMAjunkie.com.


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Beat the Streak Report: Monday, August 16
We got ourselves a ballgame.
Geoff Croke rode the gravy train all weeekend long, extending his streak
to 40 games after Troy Tulowitzki's mammoth performance Sunday
Our leader is now a mere 17 games away from immortality and a shoe box
full of cash, and is only four games away from unseating Dick George as
the season overall leader and (likely) becoming $10,000 richer.
Can ya feel that? That little BTS tingle you have inside?
No? Just me? OK, then …
Time for Monday's picks:
Oh, hello there …
? Ichiro Suzuki: .438 AVG (7-for-16) lifetime vs. Orioles starter Brad Bergesen
? Miguel Cabrera: .385 AVG (10-for-26) lifetime vs. Yankees starter Javier Vazquez
? Adrian Gonzalez: .444 AVG (4-for-9) lifetime vs. Cubs starter Tom Gorzelanny
Feeling kinda spicy?
? B.J. Upton: .353 AVG (6-for-17) lifetime vs. Rangers starter Cliff Lee
You'll thank me later …
? Jose Reyes: .083 AVG (1-for-12) vs. Astros starter Wandy Rodriguez
? Brian McCann: .091 AVG (1-for-11) lifetime vs. Dodgers starter Chad Billingsley
? Evan Longoria: .143 AVG (2-for-14) lifetime vs. Rangers starter Cliff Lee
Leaderboard time!
Second place is shared between "jeabullseye" and "rockybet" who each sport 25-game streaks.
This is all fine and dandy but WE HAVE A 40-GAME STREAK ON OUR HANDS!
Top MLB streakers
? Scott Podsednik: 12 games
? Alexei Ramirez: 10 games
? Bobby Abreu: 8 games
? Coco Crisp: 8 games
? Ian Stewart: 8 games
27 Comments
Minimum current streak required, entering today, to have a chance at the prizes (assuming season ends Oct 3rd)
Abbreviations: DL=Deadline, CS=Current Streak needed, TS=Target Streak
(*) Playing for a tie? add 1 to DL and minus 1 from CS & TS
BTS Countdown
Top Prize ($3M): TS: 57, CS: 8, DL: Aug 8th
*Consolation ($10K): TS: 44, CS: 0, DL: Aug 21st (pending)
Survivor Countdown {tickets are for 2011 All-Star Game & Homerun Derby}
Top Prize (2 tickets+travel+hotel+$10K): TS: 37, CS: 0, DL: Aug 28th
*Consolation (2 tickets only): TS: 30, CS: 0, DL: Sept 4th (pending)
@Dave Feldman. Mentioned in yesterday's blog but may have been overlooked. I noticed that "richard.jucksch" isn't on the All-Time BTS board and think it was just an oversight. Just FYI.
Up to 15 games now! 57 seems next to impossible. Lots of luck involved……….Going with the man from the Land of the Rising Sun for today's pick……..
I wouldn't be surprised to see 60% or better of the entire BTS world, including the leader, going with Ichiro tonight. Maybe tonight is one to choose someone else & break out the Ichiro voodo dolls?
Ichiro would be a sure pick IF this was last year. Ichiro was read hot. He never violated the "day after o-fer" rule last year. Then again, if it was last year he should have gotten a hit in yesterday's day game. As he was the original day game killer.
Bergseen is either on a fluke period or he is truly becoming the superstar that BAL hoped 2 years ago.
Well, the true answer lies somewhere in between. Ichiro is getting hotter but not nearly as hot and Bergseen is not the batting practice pitcher he was all year during last 2 starts. Actually, he burned a couple of major top picks in his last 2 starts. All those who relied on his poor performance ate his fart.
Everyone's got Ichiro…. including the leader, it looks like I maybe back to 0.
Survivor: Yankees
Home Run BTS: Robinson Cano.
Highest no selections
Beat the Streak:5bass on page 15 with a streak of 13.
Home Run BTS:Hulk81 on page 1 with a streak of 4.
Survivor: ericsonntag on page 2 with a streak of 10.
"… Bergseen is not the batting practice pitcher he was all year during last 2 starts…"
Hopefully he limits base runners else Ichiro will be looking at 5 ABs. Hard enough to get that man out 4 ABs in a row, but of his 0-fers, I doubt many have been with 5 ABs, especially against suspect pitchers. A few Suzuki walks wouldn't hurt too bad.
Thinking Ichiro & Cabrera were the #1/#2 picks today, I opted going for lefty-hitting Wright, hoping I'm not wrong. With Bourn benched and not patrolling the outfield, better chances of balls dropping out there. At least that's what I was thinking.
"Hopefully he limits base runners else Ichiro will be looking at 5 ABs"
So much for limiting base runners. 8 of them in 3 innings, just 2 more within the next 6 guarantees Ichiro's spot comes up at least 5 times.
^Oops: 6 of them, 4 more needed. 5 ABs likely.
""… Bergseen is not the batting practice pitcher he was all year during last 2 starts…"
Hopefully he limits base runners else Ichiro will be looking at 5 ABs. Hard enough to get that man out 4 ABs in a row, but of his 0-fers, I doubt many have been with 5 ABs, especially against suspect pitchers. A few Suzuki walks wouldn't hurt too bad."
I know Ichiro went 0 for 5 on May 26th, which was after an 0 for 4 on May 25th, because I had him that day.
Not sure of any others, but I really have not used him much this year, because he has been so inconsistent.
I never even considered Ichiro today, but instead went with Scott Podsednik.
I see both are 0 for 2 right now, so both forms of analysis are in the same boat, although the Mariners have had 3 extra baserunners through 3 innings.
Well, a little short-lived drama is better than no drama. Leader & others move as Ichiro hits safely in 3 AB.
Wright hit safely, so I guess I'll tune-out for tonight & blog y'all tomorrow.
Oh, go Detroit. Yankees losing would wipe out the Survivor leaderboard.
The leader is skating on a thin ice. He is barely getting through every 3 out of 4 days. Any competent second baseman shouild had that ball today. That was not a hit. They put a hulking football player at a second base thinking he will hit some HRs for them. What a joke.
Sad that Podsednik went 0 for 3, but glad that Cabrera homered in the 9th to extend my HR streak to 2!
Ichiro only 1 for 6.
NYY & HOU lose and they remove top 6 Survivor leaders, resulting in a new leader with a 13-gamer
Following not for Ichiro pickers…
@btsplayer: Wouldn't it be sweet to wake tomorrow & find official scorer changed his hit to an error. I didn't see the game, but GameDay said deflection off fielder's glove. Probably won't be changed since it happened in 4th inning & game is over now + home-field scoring advantage. Well, here's hoping leader falls in next 2-3 days.
I think Dick George has stopped window shopping and is doing some serious scoreboard watching. What do you think?
@pony, ya im all good, but the mlb.com website was acting up on me and wouldn't let me get the stats after games locked. Then I had to go out so I was unable to try again till I got back home.
I can tell you that Ichiro was taken by 1000+ of the top2500 for 43%, (it let me go throught after most of the early games were done, and the reset had already occured)
Yesterday's Top2500 Reset was 33.75% with I. Suzuki killing the most hopes and dreams.
And 8.5% paused.
Highest "No Selection":Pg# 15 with a streak of 13 back to zero.
Bloggers Group Top2500
UserName, Streak, Page#, Rank, Pick
forcook, 15, pg 5, 99, I. Suzuki
jpaul74(bullfrogs), 13, pg 14, 242, I. Suzuki
baseballgirlie13, 11, pg 27, 617, M. Cabrera
gamara21, 8, pg, 87, 1593,I. Suzuki
Dave55, 14, RESET BY A. Rodriguez
darwi 12, RESET BY I. Suzuki
@ponyforkeana: Yes. That would so sweet. The fact is Ichiro wasn't a good pick today. A very iffy pick at best. I wonder if many people just jumped on the sushi because they saw Bergseen's overal record and Ichiro's # against him.
I am at this point worried that the Mr. Southhampton will move past Dick. Even though I am still in the running for the grand prize, I just don't think I can get to 57. But there is a slight miniscule peanut chance of getting to 44. That is more of a realistically unrealistic goal. Those extra 13 or 14 games is like getting that extra number in a lottery.
Hope Mr. 00Liber is fine & in good health. No Top 2500 listing today & blog seems oddly lacking without it.
The guy from Southampton, I'm from Southampton, NY also, but a Yankees fan, Good luck to you. I would like to win this also, obviously haha
@btsplayer: Got a strong feeling Ichiro will be the strong favorite tomorrow night also, including for the leader.
I think I'll double up on NYM tomorrow as I did tonight.
I thought my bong was broken. All good now as my bong called Miguel Cabrera before 9th inning. Me and my bong hit just moved up to 9 games.
@ponyforkeana thanks for spotting that oversight. all fixed
"Probably won't be changed since it happened in 4th inning & game is over now + home-field scoring advantage. Well, here's hoping leader falls in next 2-3 days."
The Mariners were on the road though?
So how is that an advantage?
It seems home-field scoring is less likely to place errors on their home-team players and count questionable hits as hits for their players vs. errors.
"Yesterday's Top2500 Reset was 33.75% with I. Suzuki killing the most hopes and dreams."
Didn't he get a hit?


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Wield a sword of limitless power
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Krabi, ThailandKirsty Turner
There is plenty to see and do in this province, and it is easy to lose yourself here for more than a month as you hop from island to island and beach to beach. Popular activities are sea kayaking and canoeing, whilst diving and snorkelling are always popular in Thailand's crystal clear waters.
Ao Nang is the closest beach to Krabi Town. This area is mainly occupied by large, upmarket beach resorts. You can hire a sea kayak or long-tail boat and explore the uninhabited island of Koh Hong.
Just 6 kilometres away from Ao Nang is the well loved are much talked about Hat Noppharat Thara, which is a famous 3 kilometer long white sandy beach, perfect for taking it easy and soaking up some rays. Elephant trekking is popular in this area, while the hot springs at Khlong Thom are a good place to ease aching muscles. Whilst there, check out the informative Wat Khlong Thom museum.
Railay is perhaps the prettiest beach in this area. This is a great place for rock climbing, and the sunsets at Hat Rai Leh West are spectacular.
There are some interesting limestone cliffs to explore. Tham Phra Nang is named Princess Cave after a local legend. The cave is hidden in the lagoon of Sa Phra Nang (Holy Princess Pool). Climb the cliff top for spectacular views.
Nearby, Tham Phra Nang Nai (Inner Princess Cave) is a series of illuminated caverns of high beauty. A feature point is the unusual 'stone waterfall', which is made of sparkling golden quartz.
Khao Phanom Bencha National Park consists of 50 square kilometres of virgin rainforest and a whole host of pretty waterfalls including Nam Tok Huay To, Nam Tok Huay Sadeh and Nam Tok Khlong Haeng and it is possible to swim in most of the waterfalls. The park is also home to the cave of Tham Khao Pheung, which contains stunning shimmering mineral stalactites and stalagmites.
Another area of natural beauty is the large Than Bok Khorani National Park, where caving is the main activity. Caves of interest here include Tham Hua Kalok, Tham Lawt and Tham Sa Yuan Thong. If you need a break from the beach, there are many interesting temples in the area to explore. Look out for the monastery of Wat Sai Thai, which is a particularly auspicious place and very interesting around Buddhist holidays.
There are many places to get a good meal, and of course seafood is top of the menu. Barbecues can be found all along the beach and western food is widely available. If you are looking to save a few baht, the night markets are generally the cheapest places to eat and these are the best places to find tasty, authentic Thai food.


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- Getting a universal product code -- UPC -- means first joining a group to get assigned a unique identification number.
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Related How-Tos
Universal product codes — UPCs — are the 12-digit numbers that appear under the barcodes on many U.S. products. They are given out by GS1 US, a nonprofit group that sets standards for international commerce.
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But it won't work if you're planning to sell through major retailers because they generally require product makers to have their own identification numbers.