text:
A Faster, Simpler Way to Analyze DNA Replication
Simplifying Cell Proliferation Analysis
Compared to tedious BrdU assays, new, simplified Click-iT® EdU flow cytometry kits make it even easier to detect and quantify DNA synthesis. The new assay kits contain 50% fewer components and a streamlined experimental protocol to make direct S-phase DNA measurement in proliferating cells simpler than ever.
Evaluate Cell Proliferation
The proportion of cells in the DNA synthesis phase provides a reliable indication of the proliferative capacity of a cell population. Click-iT® EdU can be used to evaluate proliferation dynamics in primary human cells (an important experimental model). As shown in Figure 1, for Gibco® Human Skeletal Myoblasts (HSkM) plated at three different densities and grown in differentiation media for 48 hours, higher plating densities correlated with a lower proliferative fraction of cells.
Figure 1. Correlation between HSkM plating density and proliferative fraction. Gibco® Human Skeletal Myoblasts (HSkM) were thawed and plated in low-glucose DMEM plus 2% horse serum at (A) 10,000 cells/cm2, (B) 25,000 cells/cm 2 or (C) 50,000 cells/cm2. These plots show a correlation between cell plating density and proliferative fraction, with the percentage of EdU-positive cells decreasing as plating density increases. Cells were grown for 48 hr at 37°C/5% CO2, then fed a 10 μM pulse of EdU 2 hr prior to analysis. EdU incorporation into newly synthesized DNA was detected using a click reaction with Alexa Fluor® 488 dye azide. Cells were analyzed with the Attune® Acoustic Focusing Cytometer with a 488 nm laser using the standard BL1 (530/30) emission filter.
Detect Variation in Proliferative Cells
Click-iT® EdU can also be used to detect variations in the proliferative fraction of cells due to cell cycle disruption. Figure 2 shows how Click-iT® EdU assays were used with several cultured cell lines to directly measure the percentage of cells in S phase. Dual-parameter analysis of DNA content vs. Click-iT® EdU fluorescence clearly identifies cells in different phases of the cell cycle. The percentage of cells in S phase provides an indication of the degree of cell proliferation.
Figure 2. Dual-parameter analysis of cell cycle perturbation. Gibco® Primary Adult Human Dermal Fibroblasts (HDFa), cervical carcinoma cells (HeLa), and human alveolar epithelial cells (A549) were grown in culture for 48 hr. Cells were either treated with a 500 nM pulse of the antimitotic drug Paclitaxel or left untreated. Cells were treated with 10 µM EdU for 2 hr prior to analysis. Incorporated EdU was detected using a reaction with Click-iT® EdU Alexa Fluor® 488 dye azide. Cells were analyzed using the Attune® Acoustic Focusing Cytometer with 405 nm and 488 nm lasers using standard VL1 (450/40) and BL1 (530/30) emission filters. Dual-parameter density plots of FxCycle™ Violet vs. Alexa Fluor® 488 Click-iT® EdU fluorescence clearly identified cells in the G0/G1, S, and G2/M phases of the cell cycle. Untreated A549 cells had a significantly higher percentage of cells in S phase and a lower percentage in G0/G1 than other cell types, reflecting a higher proliferative index. Upon treatment with paclitaxel, more than 90% of A549 and HeLa cells were arrested in G2 phase due to mitotic inhibition. A similar pattern of arrest was seen with HDFa, with the exception of approximately 26% of cells which remained in the quiescent G0 state.
An Easier Way to Analyze Cell Proliferation
The unique chemistry of assays based on Click-iT® EdU technology enables a simple and efficient method for evaluating cell proliferation. These new assays help researchers to accurately correlate proliferative dynamics with different plating densities, and clearly identify cells in the S phase of the cell cycle. Click-iT® EdU labeling is compatible with most fixation protocols.
For Research Use Only. Not intended for any animal or human therapeutic or diagnostic use.
For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.


text:
Little Tin Soldier book
The Little Tin Soldier by Hans Christian Andersen
Creative Commons BY-NC-ND
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text:
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text:
The Sahara Development Group, Inc. was founded in 1995 by
Dorothy (Dee) Miller. Sahara specializes primarily in Technical Writing, Medical/Regulatory Writing, Courseware Development, and Technical Illustrating services.
In collaboration with various resources, we provide the following services to clients: technical writing, medical writing, regulatory writing, docs to support 510K submissions, illustrating, editing,
courseware development,
project management, specification writing, test script development, SOPs, graphic design, translation services, proposal writing, user interface design,
instructional design,
training (custom), product development, software design.
Sahara Development Group, Inc.
Sahara Press
In response to requests from clients to provide training and quick reference guides, we will be launching a series of manuals that address common issues such as Using FrameMaker, Creating Software Specs, Technical Writing basics, etc.
Web site designed & hosted


text:
Product Name: 3 Non-stick Baking LinersModel No.: KC39975Features: high quality with competitive price Function: 1)suitable for hotel,office,tea shop,home and any indoor place 2)Strenfthening the handle with rivets,safe,sturdy and durable 3)Advanced welding technology,firmly and not easy to get rust and leakage 4)Electronic polishing inside,easy to clean Contact: We will keep online every work day.We will reply your email and fax within 24 hours.You may call us anytime if you have question on our products.
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text:
La Coruña
Sant Antón castle
Town Hall
House Museum
Riazor beach
Torre de Hercules tower
Situated beside the Atlantic Ocean, A Coruña is a historic city whose history has maintained close links with its old fishing and commercial port. The peninsula on which the Old City stands also contains the Tower of Hercules, one of the symbols of the city, which is an interesting Romanesque collection of streets, squares and medieval churches.
The Aquarium Finisterrae, Domus and the Science Museum are a few of the spaces that show the more modern and playful side of the city of A Coruña, which offers one of its most beautiful scenes on the wide Riazor and Orzán beaches. Its attractions are complemented by a cuisine which is famous throughout the country, especially for the excellence of its fish and seafood, and the meat produced in the province.Although A Coruña may have begun as a Celtic settlement, the city began to take on greater historical importance in Roman times, when the port became a key location in navigation routes. This period is attested by the Tower of Hercules, the only working Roman lighthouse in the world, and the symbol of the city. Now an official National Monument, it was built in the early 2nd century, during the rule of Emperor Trajan. It has undergone many changes over the years, the latest in 1791, when Charles III commissioned the architect Giannini to restore the tower and replace its cladding.The port has long been the scene of important historical events, such as the defeat in 1589 of the English privateer Francis Drake thanks to the resistance of the citizens, led by the heroic María Pita.The layout of the medieval town was limited to the peninsula. Its lively streets are lined with fine examples of Romanesque architecture. One of the most beautiful is the church of Santiago. Built in the 12th century, it is the oldest church in the city, with later additions from the 14th and 15th centuries. Inside, the nave is wide, with pointed arches, and a polychromed statue of St. James the Apostle which dates from the 13th century. Thanks to its architectural interest it is an official Historic and Artistic Monument.In the upper part of the old city centre is another church with similar decoration, Santa María del Campo. This former collegiate church was built in the 12th and 13th centuries by the Sailors' Guild. An added attraction is the Museum of Religious Art inside the church, with works ranging from the 12th to the 15th centuries.The convent of Santa Bárbara ( 15th century) and the beautiful square of the same name are an official historic and artistic site. The convent complex, on the site of an earlier chapel to St. Barbara, was enlarged in the 17th and 18th centuries.Baroque A CoruñaThe Baroque style can be seen in other religious buildings. For example, the church of Las Capuchinas, with a lovely façade in the Compostelan Baroque style of the 18th century.Nearby are the churches of San Nicolás and San Jorge, both built in the early 18th century in the Baroque manner. San Nicolás, near the Town Hall, was designed by Domingo de Andrade. San Jorge is notable for a niche in its interior holding an image of the Virgin of Sorrows from the same period.The convent of Santo Domingo is also worth seeing. The slender 18th-century façade conceals an interior chapel dedicated to the Virgin of the Rosary, the patron saint of the city.You should also visit the city's most important civil constructions. The Town Hall is on Plaza de María Pita, the city's central square. It is an elegant, monumental building from the early 20th century, characterised by arcades and galleries, with three towers topped by attractive domes.Close by is the Emilia Pardo Bazán museum house, an aristocratic 18th-century mansion which was the home of this Galician writer, an outstanding figure in Spanish 19th-century literature. Part of the building is now occupied by the Real Academia Gallega.Another must-see in the centre of A Coruña is the Garden of San Carlos, an official historic and artistic site. The walls of the fortress of San Carlos, which dates from 1843, shelter this unique space, home of the Archive of the Kingdom of Galicia. The centre is dominated by the tomb of Sir John Moore, a British general killed in the Battle of Corunna in 1809.The old city centre is encircled by the coastline, where A Coruña combines tradition and modernity. Opposite the port, on Avenida de la Marina, are the characteristic houses with glazed white balconies (19th century) that form one of the most recognisable features of A Coruña and have earned it the title 'Glass City'.The Castle of San Antón, at one end of the port area, was built in the late 16th century for defence, and later remodelled in the 18th century. It is now the Provincial Archaeological Museum, providing an interesting overview of Galician prehistory with various metalwork pieces, objects and tools from the Castro culture.The long seafront promenade offers other outstanding cultural attractions. The Aquarium Finisterrae, near the Tower of Hercules, is one of the largest aquariums in Spain, and also includes interactive exhibitions relating to the sea. Human beings are the central subject of the Domus or House of Man in a futuristic building by the architect Arata Isozaki. Inside, interactive galleries illustrate humanity through a variety of media and art forms. The promenade ends at the wide Riazor and Orzán beaches, the main leisure destination of the local people.You can complete your tour of the museums at the Science Museum in Santa Margarita Park, one of the capital's largest green areas. It is notable for its Planetarium, and the permanent exhibition explains scientific, technological and natural principles interactively.For another interesting walk through the city you can take the Picasso Route, following in the footsteps of the great artist, who lived in A Coruña for almost four years. The stops along the route include the house where he lived, Plaza de Pontevedra (the square where he played and went to school), Riazor beach (which Picasso drew), the Art School (which displays his qualifications), Santo Amaro Cemetery (where his little sister was buried) and the Tower of Hercules (where he often sought inspiration).Cuisine and countrysideThe food of A Coruña combines the best of the coast and the interior. From the coast, the excellent seafood: velvet crab, goose barnacle, spider crab, langoustine, etc. There are also delicious fish dishes such as monkfish caldeirada, hake a la gallega (with onion, garlic and carrot) or grilled sole. Pies are found both on the coast, with fish or seafood fillings, and inland, with meat. Pork is stewed with vegetables to make the famous lacón con grelos, while Galician veal is protected by a Designation of Origin. Any of the magnificent wines of Galicia with Designation of Origin (Monterrei, Ribeira Sacra, Ribeiro, Rías Baixas and Valdeorras) would be a fine accompaniment to these dishes. And for dessert, the famous Santiago cake (with almonds, sugar and flour).Around the capital of A Coruña there are plenty of interesting places to visit, such as Betanzos, an official historic and artistic site; Santiago de Compostela, the capital of Galicia and World Heritage city, or Ferrol.In Santiago de Compostela you can stay at the Parador 'Hostal de los Reyes Católicos' ( 15th century), a National Monument. And the Parador of Ferrol is one of the best places to stay in this seaside town. Some of Galicia's most important ecosystems are in A Coruña, including Fragas do Eume Natural Park and the dunes and lagoons of Dunar de Corrubedo and Lagunas de Carregal y Vixán Natural Parks. The landscapes of the Costa da Morte are also of great interest - the route takes you along the rugged Atlantic coast through towns such as Camariñas, Corcubión and Fisterra.
- Sprawdź wszystkie informacje o ośrodku turystycznym na:
- www.acoruña.es/en
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14 Days Tour in Spain from Madrid
Day 1 Departure from Madrid terminal via La Mancha ...(+Zobacz więcej)
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English Way from Ferrol or A Coruña
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La Coruña,Ferrol,Santiago ...
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text:
All apartments are connected to the central heating, water and sewerage systems. All apartments have centralized fire and security alarms. Each apartment has a manual heat regulation switch and heat meters. Every apartment has a separate ventilation system that ensures continuous flow of fresh air and air conditioning according to the individual needs. Each apartment has an optical cable ensuring high speed Internet connection and digital TV. Original entrance and inner doors of the apartment have been preserved and renovated, as well as an original ceiling moulding has been renewed.
Extra opportunities
We can help you with your Latvian residency permit application when buying a property worth €250,000 or more.


text:
"The First Earth Battalion was the name proposed by Jim Channon, an American soldier who had seen service in Vietnam, for his idea of a new US military to be organised along New Age lines. Such a battalion was never formed.
According to the book The Men Who Stare at Goats (ISBN 0-330-37548-2) by journalist Jon Ronson, Channon spent time in the seventies with many of the people credited with starting the New Age movement and subsequently wrote an operations manual for a First Earth Battalion. Rather than using bullets and munitions, Channon envisaged that this new force would attempt to conquer the hearts and minds of the enemy using positive vibrations, carrying lambs symbolic of peace and employing unconventional but non-lethal weapons to subdue others.The "official" First Earth Battalion T-shirt design
Lethal force was to be a last resort. Members would practise meditation, use yogic cat stretches and primal screams to attain battle-readiness, and use shiatsu as battlefield first aid.
Some ideas proposed in the writings of Channon later found their way into military procedures for psychological warfare. Ronson specifically cites the First Earth Battalion manual's proposal to use music to effect "psychic mind-change" as one. ([1]) However, the American military has adopted loud sound as a psychological weapon, not to win hearts and minds. For example at Waco, Texas, the the repeating the techniques used four years earlier in an attempt to drive Manuel Noriega from his sanctuary, an earsplitting cacophony of noise was played at the compound 24/7, that included the sound of rabbits being slaughtered, chanting Tibetan monks, roaring jet engines, and the Nancy Sinatra hit, "These Boots Were Made For Walking."
Created in 1979 with the purpose of creating "Warrior Monks," soldiers capable of walking through walls, becoming invisible, reading minds and even killing a goat simply by staring at it. Some of the characters involved seem well-meaning enough, such as the hapless General Stubblebine, who is "confounded by his continual failure to walk through his wall." But the Battalion's bizarre ideas inspired some alarming torture techniques being used in the present-day War on Terror. One technique involves subjecting prisoners to 24 hours of Barney the Purple Dinosaur's song, "I Love You," and another makes use of the Predator, a small, toy-like object designed by military martial arts master Pete Brusso that can inflict a large amount of pain in many different ways ("You can take eyeballs right out... with this bit,")"
....This is a true story


text:
Thank you all for your amazing entries to our competition where we asked where YOU play! With the entry period now closed it's time for you to tell us whose entry you liked the most!
After much thought and sifting through all the many many amazing entries to the competition we chose the 50 finalists who we thought most deserved a place in the finals. Thank you to all of you who entered and a huge congratulations to the 50 contestants who made the final cut.
Now the voting is up to you. Which entry is your favourite? Which one makes you smile the most? Or laugh the most? Maybe you just like the way the photo was taken, or you wish you could play there too? Every vote counts, and with such amazing prizes up for grabs may the best entry win!


text:
Snowden says 'no chance' of fair trial in US
Former US spy agency contractor makes comments as US hints at plea-bargain
A portrait of former US spy agency contractor Edward Snowden is displayed behind a screen as he answers users' questions on Twitter. Photograph: Dado Ruvic/Reuters
Former US spy agency contractor Edward Snowden has urged the United States to strengthen its protections for whistleblowers and said he cannot return home from Russia because "there's no chance to have a fair trial".
During an online question-and-answer session, Mr Snowden also denied that he stole the passwords of National Security Agency co-workers, condemned threats to his life made by unnamed US intelligence officials in the news media and decried "indiscriminate mass surveillance" by governments.
Mr Snowden, living in temporary asylum in Russia after stealing and disclosing US government secrets on surveillance programs and other activities, faces criminal charges in the United States after fleeing last year first to Hong Kong and then Russia, where he was granted at least a year's asylum.
His comments, made on a "Free Snowden" website, came as Attorney General Eric Holder said the US would not consider clemency but hinted at the possibility of a plea-bargain.
"If Mr Snowden wanted to come back to the United States, enter a plea, we would engage with his lawyers. We'd do that with any defendant who wanted to enter a plea of guilty," Mr Holder said.
In his online session, Snowden was asked to explain the conditions he needed to return to the United States.
"Returning to the US, I think, is the best resolution for the government, the public, and myself, but it's unfortunately not possible in the face of current whistleblower protection laws, which through a failure in law did not cover national security contractors like myself," Mr Snowden wrote.
He said the law under which he was charged "was never intended to be used against people working in the public interest and forbids a public interest defense." He added that "there's no chance to have a fair trial, and no way I can come home and make my case to a jury."
Mr Snowden (30) was charged last year with theft of government property, unauthorized communication of national security information and giving classified intelligence data to an unauthorized person.
He also disputed a Reuters report in November that quoted unnamed sources as saying he used login credentials and passwords provided unwittingly by colleagues at a spy base in Hawaii to access some of the classified material he leaked to the media.
Mr Snowden called that report "simply wrong," adding, "I never stole any passwords, nor did I trick an army of co-workers."
Barb Burg, the global head of communications for Reuters, said in a statement, "We stand by our story and did not, in any event, accuse Mr Snowden of stealing."
His Russian lawyer said on Tuesday that Mr Snowden needs better security after a news report quoted unnamed US intelligence officials saying they wanted him dead and discussed ways to kill him.
Mr Snowden said he was concerned about this "direct threat to my life" but vowed "I'm not going to be intimidated."
Mr Snowden decried what he saw as a lack of protection for Americans who come forward with evidence of official wrongdoing and called on the United States to put in place greater protection for whistleblowers.
He said current US whistleblower protections are so "weak" and ineffective that they appear to be "intended to discourage reporting of even the clearest wrongdoing."
The documents that Snowden stole and released to the news media exposed the reach of US surveillance activities, including the bulk collection of telephone records of millions of Americans, as part of counterterrorism efforts.
Mr Holder, asked yesterday for his reaction to the notion of Snowden as a whistleblower, said he has "harmed the national security of the United States in ways that I know I can quantify, I can demonstrate, were I allowed to share with you some of the things that I see in my daily intelligence brief."


text:
- 1.mutter
- 3.pussy
- 4.enter the metal world
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Nova Constantine has not received any gifts yet
It depends upon the person, I guess. Some people focus more on the negative things that happen to them.
Either way, though, you get a whole lot of confirmation bias, and God is either blessing them or pissing on them. Either perspective leads a religious person to believe more firmly in a deity. God wins, either way.
Oh wow. I was just glancing through some of your Latest Activity list. So, you broke out of Romania, which is a crazy religious country, despite the secular constitution, and then ended up in England, a largely atheistic country, only to find yourself in a pocket of religious nuts.
Heh heh heh. Almost enough to make you believe in karma or something similarly silly, huh? You must have pissed off someone somewhere.
Welcome aboard! =) Hope you're doing well today...
Welcome, Nova! Glad you could join us. :D
Please consider joining a group to meet people and talk about anything that's on your mind, Hang With Friends. You might also want to look at Geek and Nerd Haven. You might also like Atheist Singles and Atheist Defense Network. After you've searched for stuff that interests you in "Groups" above and in the "Forums", don't forget to look at recent activity which hides along the right margin of the page all the way at the bottom.
Hello Nova
Welcome to this world of rationality, truth and peace, where common sense and science lead to freethinking wisdom --- as you know well as a true atheist. You are a brave girl, and you can at least be reassured that you are right in being an atheist---while your family's view of a supposedly god-led world is all false .
We invite you to make good friends by joining the busy group "ORIGINS: Universe, Astronomy, Life, Earth, Humans, Religion, Gods, Atheism, Evolution, Darwin..." with 680 discussion topics and 3400 members.http://www.atheistnexus.org/group/originsuniverselifehumankindanddarwin
Terry (English; Wiltshire and Oxfordshire)
© 2020 Atheist Nexus. All rights reserved. Admin: The Nexus Group. Powered by


text:
iStar Financial Declares Preferred Stock Dividends
NEW YORK, Aug. 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- iStar Financial Inc. (NYSE: SFI), the leading publicly traded finance company focused on the commercial real estate industry, announced today that the Company's Board of Directors has declared dividends on the Company's Series D, Series E, Series F, Series G, and Series I Preferred Stock. For all five series of Preferred Stock, dividends are payable on September 15, 2006 to holders of record on September 1, 2006.
A dividend of $0.50 per share will be paid on the 8.00% Series D Preferred Stock; a dividend of $0.492188 per share will be paid on the 7.875% Series E Preferred Stock; a dividend of $0.4875 per share will be paid on the 7.80% Series F Preferred Stock; a dividend of $0.478125 per share will be paid on the 7.65% Series G Preferred Stock; and a dividend of $0.46875 per share will be paid on the 7.50% Series I Preferred Stock.
iStar Financial Inc. is the leading publicly traded finance company focused on the commercial real estate industry. The Company primarily provides custom tailored financing to high end private and corporate owners of real estate, including senior and mezzanine real estate debt, senior and mezzanine corporate capital, corporate net lease financing and equity. The Company, which is taxed as a real estate investment trust ("REIT"), seeks to deliver strong dividends and superior risk-adjusted returns on equity to shareholders by providing innovative and value added financing solutions to its customers. Additional information on iStar Financial is available on the Company's website at http://www.istarfinancial.com.
SOURCE iStar Financial Inc.
CONTACT: Catherine D. Rice, Chief Financial Officer, or Andrew G. Backman, Vice President - Investor Relations, both of iStar Financial Inc., +1-212-930-9400


text:
In 2007, Nigeria passed an important milestone: one elected government passed power to another for the first time in the nation's history. Though imperfect, the poll demonstrated powerfully that Nigeria's representative democracy was not a transient phase between periods of military repression but a growing reality.
For 20 years, the MacArthur Foundation has given grants in Nigeria, in the belief that Africa's most populous nation was going through a transition of significance for the whole of sub-Saharan Africa. MacArthur has invested $100 million and supported almost 500 individuals and organizations committed to the vision of a Nigeria that is free and fair, and offers opportunity to all its citizens. We are encouraged by the progress we have witnessed and the people we have worked with to build a better future.
MacArthur's efforts concentrate in three areas:
Not connected to any government or wedded to any ideology, the MacArthur Foundation is dedicated to basic human rights. We strive to further the free expression of ideas, reasoned debate and discourse, and evidence-based research and policy. In all we do, we seek to empower creative and idealistic people whose talents serve the common good.
Our office in Abuja has a staff of Nigerians who know and love their country. We have been privileged to support universities educating a new generation of leaders, groups that co-operate with police and government officials to make the justice system more effective and accountable, and health workers who save lives and share life-saving information. And we are helping to build a robust network of non-governmental organizations that works with the private sector and government to strengthen local communities and move Nigeria forward.
In a decade as president of MacArthur, I have visited Nigeria ten times. At each visit my respect for the nation, and my affection for its people, have grown. Though faced by great challenges, Nigerians are resolutely optimistic, energetic, and hopeful. It is a spirit MacArthur shares, and hopes to foster in practical ways.
I am pleased to present this report, which describes our grantmaking and lists the organizations we support. We welcome your comments and suggestions, and hope to encourage a continuing dialogue with all those who share our commitment to Nigeria, in the country and beyond. We may be reached at [email protected]. Further information is at www.nigeria.macfound.org, where you may also register to receive our free monthly electronic newsletter.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Jonathan F. Fanton
March 2009
Since the restoration of democracy in Nigeria in 1999, the nation's universities have been experiencing a renaissance after years of neglect due to military rule, civil war, and financial crises. States are establishing new universities to meet the bustling demand for higher education, and existing universities are improving and expanding their facilities, infrastructure, research capabilities, and academic programs to address public needs. In addition, investments in faculty training and development are elevating the quality of education at the nation's universities.
MacArthur's support of higher education in Nigeria is based on the belief that robust universities and intellectual freedom are essential to developing and sustaining healthy, economically vibrant, democratic societies. An investment in universities is an investment in the social capital of the country. MacArthur has committed $40 million to Nigerian universities. Grantmaking is directed to areas of highest priority, as identified in conversations with the universities.
MacArthur supports projects to:
MacArthur's involvement in higher education in Nigeria began with a series of planning grants in 2000 to four of the country's leading universities: the University of Ibadan, Bayero University, Ahmadu Bello University, and the University of Port Harcourt. These universities were selected for their quality of leadership, innovation, and national significance. Since its initial commitment, MacArthur has continued to support the development of initiatives at these universities with the belief that they will also serve as models for other universities in Nigeria and Africa as a whole.
To achieve the greatest impact from its investments in Nigerian higher education, MacArthur joined with other international foundations to form the Partnership for Higher Education in Africa in 2000. The Partnership, which now includes the Carnegie Corporation and the Ford, Rockefeller, Mellon, Kresge, and Hewlett Foundations, has contributed over $352 million for higher education to 56 African universities in nine African countries. The majority of MacArthur funding went to Nigerian universities. In 2005, the Partnership pledged an additional $200 million over the next five years to higher education initiatives in Africa. A prime example of the Partnership's ability to pool resources and encourage innovation and transformation on a large scale is its success in greatly increasing the speed of Internet connectivity at Nigerian universities. In addition, the Partnership is helping identify and develop the next generation of African academics to ensure the long-term growth and improvement of higher education in Africa.
For more information on the Partnership, visit www.foundation-partnership.org.
From helping construct a fiber-optic network at Ahmadu Bello University to providing science equipment at the University of Ibadan, MacArthur's support for higher education in Nigeria has focused on building the scientific research capacity of the nation's universities. Strengthening this capacity is central to improving the quality of higher education in Nigeria.
Foundation support has focused on Ahmadu Bello University, Bayero University, University of Ibadan, and the University of Port Harcourt, which collectively and individually reflect the tremendous progress in the nation's higher education system after years of decline. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, government funding for Nigerian universities plummeted as a result of a series of crises. Infrastructure, libraries, and teaching and research suffered. At some universities, graduation rates dropped significantly.
Today, a different picture is emerging. With approximately $6 million in grants from the Foundation since 2000, Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria has been able to develop a robust fiber- optics network on campus, an email system, digitization and automation of library services, and increased access to the Internet and computer technology for students and faculty. The university, which is Nigeria's largest higher education institution, has been able to purchase new science books and journals for the use of staff, students, and researchers in the nine departmental libraries in the Faculty of Sciences for the first time since 1980.
At Bayero University, which has the highest-percentage of accredited programs of any university in Nigeria, MacArthur has provided more than $8.7 million in grants since 2000. These funds enabled the university in agrarian Kano State to establish and equip the Faculty of Agriculture. Currently, MacArthur grants are helping the university set up new departments of nursing and dentistry and strengthen the staff development program, allowing faculty in critical fields including science, medicine, and agriculture to obtain doctoral degrees. The dentistry program will help address the national shortage of dental surgeons, while the nursing program will assist in meeting recent government standards that require all nurses to have bachelor's degrees.
At the University of Ibadan, Nigeria's oldest university, MacArthur has provided more than $11 million in grants since 2000. As the demand for post-secondary education grows in Nigeria, the grants will help expand access to higher education by increasing enrollment in the university's accredited distance learning program. The goal is to more than triple enrollment from 7000 to 25,000 students by 2010. In addition, MacArthur support will help the university equip its Central Research Laboratory, continue efforts to improve staff training, and increase research collaboration with other universities around the world. To strengthen research and learning, the university will also invest in information technology infrastructure and advance library automation.
The University of Port Harcourt serves as a model for fundraising and development for other universities in Nigeria. Since 2000, Port Harcourt has received $4.7 million in grants from MacArthur, much of which has helped develop the university's fundraising capacity through the establishment of the University Advancement Centre. The Foundation's support has also helped make possible private partnerships. The Centre's projects include raising funds to improve the campus water supply and electricity and to construct a 1500-seat auditorium. In addition, through the efforts of Friends of Port Harcourt,a voluntary advisory group, the university was awarded a $1 million donation from Shell Petroleum Development Company to build the Information and Communication Technology Center. The university also has received a $10 million commitment over five years from TotalFinaElf to establish the new School of Petroleum Studies.
The Foundation also helps strengthen Nigerian higher education by working with national organizations, such as the Federal Ministry of Education, the National Commission for Colleges of Education, the Committee of Vice Chancellors, the ICT Forum of Partnership Institutions, and the National Universities Commission. Through this support, MacArthur seeks to spread the benefits of its higher-education initiatives to other institutions. For example, the ICT Forum, a group of 100 research and education institutions in Nigeria, builds capacity in information, communications, and technology for teaching, learning, and community service. The group succeeded in lowering the price of bandwidth for its members from an average of $9 to $2.33 per kbps per month because of the economy of scale.
As a result of various initiatives at universities and other institutions, Nigerian higher education is poised for significant advancements in the quality of technology and research.
For more information, visit the following websites:
Ahmadu Bello University — www.abu.edu.ng
Bayero University — www.buk.edu.ng
University of Ibadan — www.ui.edu.ng
University of Port Harcourt — www.uniport.edu.ng
Nigeria has one of the highest rates of maternal mortality and morbidity in the world. An estimated 59,000 women die each year due to complications from pregnancy or childbirth. Their youth contributes to the high rate of maternal deaths. More than four out of 10 Nigerian girls become mothers before the age of 20, and 21 percent of teenage girls have children.
The country's young population — more than 20 percent of Nigerians are between the ages of 10 and 19 — has contributed to major sexual and reproductive health challenges from early pregnancy to exposure to sexually transmitted diseases.
MacArthur has awarded $34 million in grants to address these issues in Nigeria. The Foundation supports nationwide work, but focuses its initiatives in six states — Borno, Cross River, Enugu, Lagos, Kano and Plateau — where there is a tremendous need for reproductive health information and services. Nigerian partners in these states are working to teach secondary school students about early pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases and to increase community awareness and availability of health services for women.
Grantmaking in Nigeria takes a comprehensive approach, reflecting the belief that women's well-being is central to effective population policy and that individuals should be free to determine and plan the size of their families. People will make wise choices with information and access to adequate health care, and with women treated as equal partners with men in making sexual and reproductive decisions. This approach reflects the recommendations adopted by 189 countries at the landmark International Conference on Population and Development in Cairo in 1994 and the consensus reached in 2000 by United Nations members on the Millennium Development Goal aimed at reducing maternal mortality.
Nigeria and India are part of a $10.7 million project by to stabilize a hemorrhaging woman while she is transported to a medical facility.
MacArthur grantees are central to improving the well-being of women and their families in Nigeria. Healthy Mothers Healthy Nation is working in rural villages in Yobe State to reduce preventable pregnancy-related deaths because of barriers such as low literacy levels, lack of knowledge about family planning, and access to proper obstetric care. And grantees such as the Youth Adolescent Reflection and Action Center, which operates in Plateau State, are helping the government implement a national sexuality education curriculum in public secondary schools across the nation.
Specifically, grantmaking in the area of population and reproductive health in Nigeria supports efforts to:
Seeking to reduce maternal mortality and morbidity, MacArthur-supported projects:
In a nation where almost half of the teenagers are sexually active, Action Health Incorporated has played a leading role in "breaking the culture of silence" around young people's sexuality in Nigeria.
"We moved our country from a point of denial and apathy about the poor status of young people's sexual health indices to a context where universal access to sexuality education for young people is now a national education policy," says Nike Esiet, Executive Director of Action Health Incorporated.
Since its establishment in 1989, the Lagos-based organization has achieved impressive victories in efforts to increase and enhance sexuality and reproductive health education for youth. It played a major role in the adoption of a national policy mandating universal access to sexuality education for young people in the school system. And it is a key participant in the country's quest to establish and implement the federal government's Family Life and HIV/AIDS Education curriculum. Action Health is helping launch that curriculum in more than 300 schools in Lagos State and is working on a pilot program to teach the curriculum nationwide.
The organization uses a multidimensional approach to improve the health of Nigerian adolescents, including:
Action Health has helped the government expand the Family Life Education curriculum to more than half of Nigeria's 36 states. Inadequate resource materials for students and teachers and a limited partnership among key government agencies hindered further progress on the initiative. With a $430,000 grant from the MacArthur Foundation, Action Health is addressing this challenge. The grant is supporting the development of a pilot course to institutionalize the curriculum for every teacher in Nigeria. The two-semester course for teacher-training colleges is being developed in collaboration with the National Commission for Colleges of Education, the government body that accredits teacher-training programs. The course will train both existing teachers and those preparing to enter the field.
Action Health's reach extends across the continent of Africa. The organization hosts and facilitates the Africa Regional Sexuality Resource Centre, which seeks to nurture and build professional capacity in the emerging field of sexuality in Egypt, Kenya, South Africa, and Nigeria — four of Africa's most populous nations. The organization also hosts the secretariat for the African Federation for Sexual Health and Rights.
In recognition of the impact of its work, Action Health received the 2007 MacArthur Award for Creative and Effective Institutions, which honors small but promising and highly effective organizations around the world.
For more information visit www.actionhealthinc.org.
Civil society organizations have played a critical role in helping build a human rights infrastructure in Nigeria by advancing programs that hold the government accountable to the constitution and international agreements and that seek to insert human rights standards into policymaking. Since 1978, MacArthur has contributed $15 million to human rights organizations in Nigeria that monitor and support government initiatives, and defend and promote human rights.
The Foundation's human rights grantmaking seeks to expand and strengthen these organizations nationally as well as locally in the states of Kano, Lagos, Plateau, and Rivers, where advocates are pressing state governments to establish programs that deepen human rights protections. For example, in Lagos, the Legal Defence and Assistance Project is working to improve the nation's criminal justice system by providing legal representation to the indigent. The organization has enlisted 750 lawyers who assist more than 6000 people pro bono each year. It is also establishing a human rights center in Abuja to teach the public about rule of law. In 2008, the Project was the recipient of the MacArthur Award for Creative and Effective Institutions, which honors small but promising organizations around the world.
MacArthur grantee the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project litigates high-impact cases involving violations of human rights treaties that the Nigerian government has signed and incorporated into law, such as the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights. The group has filed a number of cases with the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights, based in Banjul, Gambia and part of the regional human rights system in Africa. Issues range from discrimination against children with HIV/AIDS to public corruption.
The Foundation believes that respect for human rights is fundamental to human security and well-being; that both international and local human rights promotion is necessary for building a universal movement; and that an accessible system of international justice is essential for protecting human rights around the globe.
MacArthur supports programs in Nigeria that:
For more than a decade, the CLEEN Foundation has worked to transform the culture of policing in Nigeria, which had grown corrupt and abusive under years of military dictatorship. The organization has succeeded in reforming the police force and helping build public confidence in this vital institution by setting standards for police accountability. MacArthur has provided almost $2 million in grants to support the organization's efforts, which range from monitoring police misconduct to promoting public oversight of law enforcement.
CLEEN's approach of working within the system rather than agitating from the outside has won it support from police and the ear of government officials. Beginning in 2002, the organization mobilized Nigeria's national police leadership to revive the Police Public Complaint Bureaus. Based at the nation's 36 police command centers, the bureaus help monitor police conduct and have made it easier for the public to protest incidences of police abuse. Since 2002, more than 5000 police officers have been dismissed for misconduct following public complaints and hundreds have been demoted. The increase in the number of complaints against police and punishment for misconduct has served as an important deterrent and helped improve police conduct.
"We have moved the community relationship with the police from the military era, where it was characterized by hostility and violence, to one of collaboration and partnership in crime prevention across Nigeria," said Innocent Chukwuma, Executive Director of CLEEN.
As a result of the organization's work, the Nigerian Police Force adopted community policy as a strategy in 2004. Chukwuma said the strategy requires officers to work with residents to find solutions to common problems and crimes that plague neighborhoods.
As a member of Altus, an international network of criminal justice reform organizations, CLEEN's influence extends beyond Nigeria. Altus works to increase the capacity of non-governmental organizations to improve rights-based policing, bolster the administration of justice, and advance practical understanding of the reform of justice systems. In 2007, under the auspices of Altus, CLEEN was responsible for organizing police station visits by residents in Nigeria and five other African nations. Following the visits, the police stations were scored on issues including community orientation and physical and detention conditions.
Improving police accountability is one aspect of CLEEN's efforts to strengthen rule of law and advance justice in Nigeria. But the organization, based in Lagos State, has also worked on strengthening the electoral process to help safeguard the successful transition from one civilian administration to the other. For example, CLEEN received a grant from the Foundation to measure public perceptions of electoral procedures in the April 2007 general election. CLEEN's survey included more than 22,000 respondents from across the nation; the findings could help guide future election policies and procedures.
The organization's breath of work on behalf of public safety, security and justice in Nigeria was among the reasons why, in 2006, CLEEN received the MacArthur Award for Creative and Effective Institutions. The Award honors small but promising and highly effective organizations around the world.
For more information visit www.cleen.org.
Ahmadu Bello University
Zaria, Kaduna State
$2,500,000 in support of information technology, library development and related university strengthening activities (over three years). (2007)
Bayero University
Kano, Kano State
$3,100,000 in support of staff development and the refurbishing and upgrading of University facilities (over three years). (2007)
$100,000 in support of improving teaching and learning facilities (over two years). (2008)
Council for Advancement and Support of Education
Washington, DC
$197,000 to improve educational fundraising at the four universities supported by the Foundation in Nigeria (over two years). (2008)
Federal Ministry of Education
Garki, Jigawa State
$250,000 for surveying technology needs, conducting performance audits, and improving information technology infrastructure at universities. (2006)
$75,000 to use information and communication technology to improve education. (2008)
Institute for Policy and Economic Research
Abuja, FCT
$150,000 in support of a planning grant to launch a new Institute for Economic and Policy Research. (2007)
International Development Research Centre
Ottawa, Canada
$370,000 in support of supplying discounted bandwidth to a consortium of universities in Africa (over three years). (2007)
International Foundation for Science
Stockholm, Sweden
$3,500,000 to improve the science infrastructure base of universities in Nigeria and Madagascar (over two years). (2008)
Machina Emirate Development Association
Nguru, Yobe State
$30,000 in support of instructional technology and computing at Mai Bukar Memorial Science Boarding School. (2007)
Nigeria ICT Forum of Partnership Institutions
Abuja, FCT
$400,000 in support of improving ICT in Partnership universities (over three years). (2007)
$350,000 to supply affordable and sustainable bandwidth to universities supported by the Partnership for Higher Education and other African research and education institutions. (2008)
Shehu Musa Yar'Adua Foundation
Abuja, FCT
$50,000 for the strengthening of the Olusegun Obasanjo Research Library (over 18 months). (2008)
Society for Research Administrators International
Arlington, VA
$215,000 in support of strengthening Nigerian universities' research capacity through building research linkages. (2006)
South African Institute for Distance Education
Johannesburg, South Africa
$600,000 to improve the use and development of educational technologies within universities supported by the Partnership for Higher Education in Africa (over four years). (2008)
University of Ibadan
Ibadan, Oyo State
$4,000,000 in support of strengthening the human capital, institutional facilities, and governance system of the University (over three years). (2007)
University of Illinois
Champaign, IL
$201,000 in support of improving user access to research and information materials at university libraries in Nigeria (over three years). (2008)
University of Port Harcourt
Port Harcourt, Rivers State
$2,500,000 in support of institutional strengthening (over three years). (2006)
$100,000 in support of fundraising from alumni (over two years). (2008)
Action Health, Incorporated
Yaba, Lagos State
$430,000 in support of Family Life HIV/AIDS Education and pre-service training of teachers in Nigeria (over three years). (2007)
ActionAid International Foundation Nigeria
Abuja, FCT
$250,000 in support of activities towards promoting citizen participation in HIV/AIDS response and maternal mortality mitigation efforts through budget monitoring and advocacy (over two years). (2008)
BAOBAB for Women's Human Rights
Lagos, Lagos State
$400,000 to promote the reproductive health and rights of women whose lives are governed by Shari'a Law (over three years). (2007)
Bayero University
Kano, Kano State
$65,000 in support of institutional strengthening of Minjibir General Hospital. (2007)
Calabar International Institute for Research, Information and Documentation
Calabar, Cross River State
$100,000 to improve and update the quality and content of the Conscientizing Male Adolescents program (over two years). (2008)
Center for Communication and Reproductive Health Services
Bida, Niger State
$300,000 in support of implementation of the Niger State Sexuality Education/Family Life and HIV/AIDS Education (over three years). (2006)
Centre for Development and Population Activities
Washington, DC
$400,000 in support of education and training on maternal mortality reduction (over three years). (2007)
$150,000 to promote best practices in maternal mortality reduction in Nigeria. (2008)
Community Health and Research Initiative
Kano, Kano State
$175,000 to work with 10 local governments and the Kano state government to reposition the commitment to address maternal mortality and morbidity through improved budgetary allocation and service delivery (over 32 months). (2008)
Community Life Project
Apapa, Lagos State
$150,000 to increase access to comprehensive reproductive and sexual health for out-of-school youth in Lagos State (over two years). (2007)
Federal Ministry of Health
Abuja, FCT
$500,000 in support of promoting the use of magnesium sulfate (over two years). (2008)
Girls' Power Initiative, Nigeria
Calabar, Cross River State
$300,000 in support of activities towards scaling up the implementation of the national sexuality education curriculum in Cross River State (over three years). (2007)
Global Health and Awareness Research Foundation
Enugu, Enugu State
$150,000 in support of implementation of Family Life and HIV/AIDS Education in Enugu State (over two years). (2007)
Management Strategies for Africa
Ilford, United Kingdom
$300,000 in support of improving the policy environment for the implementation of reproductive health programs in Nigeria (over two years). (2007)
$83,000 to increase awareness and provide research and data analysis for policy formulation and implementation in Nigeria. (2007)
National Commission on Colleges of Education
Abuja, FCT
$50,000 in support of implementation of the Family Life and HIV/AIDS Education curriculum. (2007)
OneWorld UK
London, United Kingdom
$300,000 in support of developing and implementing computer and mobile phone based sexuality education for Nigerian adolescents (over two years). (2007)
Pathfinder International
Watertown, MA
$100,000 in support of institutional strengthening of facilities promoting safe motherhood. (2007)
Society of Gynecology and Obstetrics of Nigeria
Jos, Plateau State
$250,000 in support of reducing maternal mortality (over three years). (2007)
University of Ibadan Department of Sociology
Ibadan, Oyo State
$200,000 in support of building capacity for monitoring and evaluation of sexuality education programs (over three years). (2006)
Youth, Adolescent, Reflection & Action Center
Jos, Plateau State
$275,000 in support of Family Life and HIV/ AIDS Education in Plateau State (over three years). (2007)
Alliances for Africa
South-West Ikoyi, Lagos State
$200,000 in support of information, communication, and public advocacy on the African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights in Arabic (over three years). (2007)
Palo Alto, CA
$59,000 to support the National Human Rights Commission of Nigeria to implement its Martus software to gather and utilize human rights information. (2008)
Centre for Human Rights in Islam
Kano, Kano State
$25,000 for promoting and protecting universal human rights from an Islamic perspective. (2008)
Centre for Socio-Legal Studies
Abuja, FCT
$183,000 to document the status of justice sector reform, human rights, and juvenile justice in Nigeria. (2008)
CLEEN Foundation
Ojodu, Lagos State
$200,000 to conduct a national electoral survey as a complementary and reliable source of information to official statistics on elections in Nigeria. (2006)
$193,000 in support of a second national electoral survey as a complementary and reliable source of information to official statistics on elections in Nigeria. (2007)
$231,000 to conduct a post-election national survey to measure public perceptions of the electoral process in the April 2007 general elections. (2007)
Global Rights
Washington, DC
$100,000 in support of activities to build the capacity of human rights organizations in Kano State to monitor, document, and report on human rights violations. (2007)
Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law
Port Harcourt, Rivers State
$250,000 to support the use of a paralegal program to document incidences and seek redress for human rights violations by law enforcement officials in Rivers State (over three years). (2008)
Legal Defence and Assistance Project
Anthony Village, Lagos State
$450,000 to strengthen and reform the administration of criminal justice in six states in Nigeria (over three years). (2007)
Legal Research Initiative
Abuja, FCT
$275,000 to incorporate and apply the provisions and practices contained in the United Nations Convention into the operations of law enforcement agencies in Nigeria (over three years). (2007)
National Human Rights Commission
Abuja, FCT
$400,000 to build the capacity to implement the National Action Plan for the promotion and protection of human rights and to document and report on human rights violations in Nigeria (over three years). (2007)
$80,000 in support of hosting a meeting of the Network of National Human Rights Institutions of Africa and National Human Rights Institutions of West Africa. (2008)
Network of University Legal Aid Institutions
Abuja, FCT
$250,000 to expand the scope of clinical legal education and complement official legal aid services in Nigeria (over two years). (2008)
Nigerian Bar Association
Lagos, Lagos State
$300,000 to train and sensitize Nigerian lawyers on the use of regional and sub-regional mechanisms for human rights protection and the review of the Fundamental Rights Enforcement Procedure Rules (over two years). (2007)
Socio-Economic Rights & Accountability Project
Lagos, Lagos State
$150,000 in support of activities to generate new strategies to document and litigate internationally recognized economic, social, and cultural rights before national and regional courts (over two years). (2008)
University of Ibadan Faculty of Law
Ibadan, Oyo State
$250,000 in support of strengthening the human rights and rule of law program. (2007)
West African Bar Association
Lagos, Lagos State
$250,000 to promote and protect human rights through the Economic Community of West African States Community Court of Justice (over two years). (2007)
Action Health, Incorporated
Yaba, Lagos State
$500,000 in support of expanded educational activities to increase the impact of sexual and reproductive health education in Nigeria and the region. (2007)
Legal Defence and Assistance Project
Anthony Village, Lagos State
$500,000 to establish and operate a Law and Human Rights Resource Centre in the Federal Capital Territory Abuja for the purposes of conducting research and training on the rule of law and justice administration. (2008)
Plot 432 Yakubu Pam Street
(Amma House), The Penthouse Opposite National Hospital
Central Business District
Phone: (234-9) 461-4878
Fax: (234-9) 461-4877
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.nigeria.macfound.org
The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
140 S. Dearborn Street
Chicago, IL 60603 USA
Phone: (312) 726-8000
Fax: (312) 920-6258
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.macfound.org
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Kayla Alexander scored 19 points and No. 23 Syracuse exploited 23 Pittsburgh turnovers to defeat the Panthers 80-39 Saturday for its fifth straight win.
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The aim of this site is to give decent advice to students who want a career in web design or development. Sure, there are lots of websites out there that give advice on writing really good code, but not many of them are aimed specifically at young people who are just starting out.
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Kareem Rizk joins ARTSPROJEKT!
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by Kareem Rizk ·
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Kareem Rizk
Born 1982, Melbourne, Australia. Collage and mixed media artist, illustrator and designer. Living and working in Copenhagen, Denmark. Graduate of Monash University with a Bachelor of Design in Visual Communication (2004). Since his shift of focus to fine art and illustration in 2006 and his pursuit of developing his style, Rizk has been cutting and pasting his way towards a unique and contemporary style of collage and mixed media art that has earned him international recognition, as well as continuous success working with numerous galleries, fine art publishers and creative companies all around the world. Collecting mostly old magazines and books but also scraps from torn billboards and street posters, discarded tickets, postcards, brochures and catalogues, Rizk has been sorting through op shops, flea markets, garage sales and city streets around the world to find the images and ephemera that have found their way into his very nostalgic and weathered collage and mixed media works. Working mediums include collage, acrylic, oil pastel, pencil, solvent transfers and acrylic transfers. The work is highly textured and often multi-layered with a nostalgic and weathered quality. Rizk's works can often be vibrant with colour, while others display a very refined or minimal palette. Working methods also extend to digital collage with a very gritty and realistic display of texture and layering. The digital work began as an experiment in blurring the line between handmade collage and digital collage. Other work includes freelance illustration, graphic design and fine art commissions for various clients including art buyers and collectors, editorial publications, galleries, universities, the boutique fashion industry and the music and entertainment industry. Exhibitions include solo shows and group shows in Melbourne, Sydney, Byron Bay, Brisbane, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Washington DC, Miami, Vancouver, London, Berlin, Copenhagen, West Cork (Ireland), Stockholm, Zurich, Barcelona, Madrid and Milan. Rizk's work has been published in numerous art magazines and books and his work is held in private collections worldwide.


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Candidates please be diligent at this time - fraudulent job postings are on the rise during COVID-19.
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By Roger Bernard and Charlene Finck
The Farm Journal Forum drew VIP speakers and attendees to examine hunger solutions and policy moves
From the opening newsmaker breakfast to the final panel, the Farm Journal Forum had an electric feel to it, with an energy matched by the top-level folks who addressed the crowd. Held just two blocks from the White House, the event brought together farmers, agribusiness executives, lawmakers and hunger relief advocates to discuss critical food and farming issues.
The Forum focused on "Securing Global Food Security with Sustainability"—a topic with wide-ranging tentacles that touch our industry from all sides. Food and farming are intrinsically interwoven, something that doesn't always meet the eye.
"We need to build the relationship between hunger and farm policy," explained Lisa Davis, vice president of public policy for Feeding America. "Both agriculture and the hungry need to be protected."
Presenting sponsor of the December event was the Howard G. Buffett Foundation in association with Farmers Feeding the World. Here is a rundown of what the attendees learned.
Senate Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) kicked off the event by giving an update on the issues facing Congress. Roberts isn't pleased with the behind-closed-doors process of putting together a farm bill, especially because the details of the plan have yet to be released.
"We've had a farm bill that wasn't and a super committee that wasn't so super," quipped Roberts, while calling for open hearings as the next step in the development of the new farm bill.
Perhaps what evoked the most passion from Roberts was the unfolding saga of the MF Global bankruptcy. He expressed frustration at the apparent disappearance of up to $1.2 billion in customer funds. It won't be easy for former MF Global chief Jon Corzine, who also served as a U.S. senator alongside Roberts, not to answer questions from senators as they work to get to the bottom of the MF Global meltdown.
Setting the economic stage, Bruce Scherr, CEO of Informa Economics, talked in depth about commodities prices and what they mean to the food and agriculture industries. "This is a different world," he said. "Commodities have achieved an asset class."
Overall, Scherr predicted that the U.S. economy will continue to chug along at a very moderate growth rate, while parts of Europe might slip back into recession.
Making his fifth appearance at the Forum, former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Dan Glickman is now a co-chair of a new organization called AGree. The group describes itself as a bold new initiative designed to transform long-term agricultural, food and rural policy issues. Funded by nine of the world's leading foundations for at least eight years, the organization has the attention of many who wonder and worry about what the policy transformation will entail.
"We used to talk about keeping non-ag out of our sandbox," he admitted. "Those days are over."
He shared that AGree, which is still in its infancy, has three priorities: improving ag productivity, food security and environmental performance here and abroad; enhancing the availability of access to nutritious food; and promoting opportunities for rural communities to succeed.
"It's not an attack on the status quo," Glickman explained, adding that the group wants the industry to get past just going from one farm bill to another.
He was quick to point out that there is a fire wall between AGree's funding foundations and the group's mission. At the same time, the organization is relying on "best-in-class research to direct policy recommendations that elevate the world of food and agriculture to the level it needs to be," Glickman said.
In addition to Roberts, Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) also addressed the crowd, walking them through the behind-closed-doors farm bill process. She noted that the top leaders of the two ag panels "were all involved" in the process as much as they wanted to be and other members of the panel were also briefed on the process.
Moving forward, Stabenow said, she plans to use the farm bill package, which would reduce spending for programs under the committee's control, as the "blueprint" for a more open, regular farm bill process, starting in January.
On individual farm bill issues, Stabenow noted there is no longer support for continuing the $5 billion in direct payments, but there is widespread support for crop insurance. She acknowledged that different regions of the country present challenges in the formulation of farm policy.
As for MF Global, Stabenow pledged that the committee would investigate what happened at the firm and return funds to customers, which have been estimated at $600 million to $1.2 billion. She noted that MF Global's bankruptcy, the eighth largest in U.S. history, has impacted farmers, ranchers, cooperatives, grain companies and elevators.
Hunger and food security. Hunger is a complicated issue with no quick fix, but that isn't stopping the Forum's luncheon keynote speaker, farmer and philanthropist Howard G. Buffett, from devoting his namesake foundation and much of his time to putting an end to the problem. Buffett, president of the Howard G. Buffett Foundation, shared his passion for fighting hunger and increasing agricultural productivity around the globe.
Buffett told the crowd that he farms 14,000 acres in Illinois, Arizona, Nebraska and South Africa. Each of those acres is devoted to fighting hunger—whether it is growing crops for proceeds to be donated to nonprofits dedicated to feeding the hungry or to research ways to increase sustainable food productivity.
Like all farmers, Buffett knows that soil productivity is a building block for yields and is one of agriculture's most important assets. Knowing that and witnessing soil erosion in the U.S. has kept him keenly focused on protecting the soil as a weapon in fighting hunger.
"Soil loss is an economic and production problem now, but someday it will be a food security problem," he said.
As a farmer devoted to philanthropic efforts that follow the "hand-up" approach, Buffett believes that production systems must be developed specifically for farmers in other regions of the world. His farm in Africa is not only using the latest technology available in North America, but also developing systems that use oxen instead of tractors because not many farmers in Africa have the means to purchase machinery. Research dedicated to discovering systems that work is critical, he said.
In closing, Buffett invited farmers to engage in fighting hunger. "A farmer would never allow a neighbor to starve, but the truth is, that's happening," he said. "We [the agriculture community] have a responsibility toward a food-secure world and hunger-free America."
With politics figuring heavily into the food and ag equation, Informa Economics' Jim Wiesemeyer walked the audience through the politics and policy in Washington. Debt reduction figures heavily in the process. Lawmakers drafted a farm bill that would cut $23 billion from farm and nutrition programs, an effort that would end direct payments and a couple of other programs and replace them with a government-delivered program that would provide a revenue-based product to cover shallow losses (a compliment to the current crop insurance program).
As outlined by Stabenow, the many conservation programs and even nutrition programs would be trimmed down. But this would likely be on the administrative side and not in the actual benefits provided to recipients of the programs, Wiesemeyer said.
Despite the challenges facing law-makers, he predicted, "leaders will lead" and eventually set a path to provide a more sustainable future.
Following Wiesemeyer, the Forum hosted Ranking Member of the House Ag Committee Collin Peterson (D-Minn.), who called for the release of the farm bill language, the dairy portion in particular. He also echoed the sentiments of Sens. Stabenow and Roberts on MF Global and called for answers. Peterson said he was preparing legislation that would reset the financial rules to those in place in 1968 as a way to address what happened.
A panel that included Kent Lanclos of USDA's Risk Management Agency, Sam Willett of the National Corn Growers Association and Ferd Hoefner of the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition shared priorities for the new farm bill. Risk management and conservation programs topped the list.
Challenges and solutions. A crowd-pleasing panel closed out the day by addressing the global stress points and solutions for food security. To start things off, David Lambert of Lambert Associates briefed the crowd on the growth in population, water needs and more.
From the domestic side, Davis of Feeding America said that demand at U.S. food banks has grown 46% from 2006 to 2010—and is continuing to grow. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as food stamps and under USDA's purview, needs to be reauthorized via the farm bill. "Efficiency will be a code word used by lawmakers for cuts" to the program, Davis said.
Phil Seng of the U.S. Meat Export Federation pointed out some of the alarming trends he has observed in his years working to expand U.S. market share around the globe. "In Japan, they throw away more food than they produce," he said. In India, "over 40% of fresh produce is destroyed."
Food safety standards are key, Seng added, along with a rise in private standards. "The ceiling had been government-based standards. Now they are considered the floor," he said.
The panelists urged those present at the Forum to get involved at any level, be it local, national or even global. As the attendees headed out the door into a warm Washington evening, they were equipped with plenty of tools and information to help in securing the needs of a growing population. At the heart of it all lies agriculture—a common thread providing the food and fiber for a vibrant world.


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ACParadise Network: American Cosplay Paradise American Cosplay Experience American Cosplay Snapshots
Cosplayer NyuNyu > Costume of Fuu Hououji (Magic Knight Rayearth)
FOR SALE (Costume Only)
Minimum Price: $80
My measurements are 34-27-36 and I'm 5'4.
- Most Recent Photo
- 07-22-2013
- Series
- Magic Knight Rayearth
- Character
- Fuu Hououji
- Special Variation:
- Final Battle Costume (manga)
- Year Completed:
- 2012
- Construction Difficulty:
- Awards
- Judge's Award at Phoenix Comicon 2010
About this Costume
- Construction Details:
I worked pretty steadily on this for 2 months and it was a huge challenge. The hardest part was as you can imagine the sword. It was only my second time making a prop with fiberglass resin. The remade sword was my first time working in wood.
The wig began as a shoulder length wavy wig. I had to cut in and curl bangs. I trimmed the wig shorter and curled the ends with heavy duty hairspray, curlers, pins, and a blowdryer.
The tiara was made twice. The second, improved, version is a headband base covered with a tube of green satin fabric. The gold pieces are sculpted from Paperclay, which was sealed with Mod Podge and sanded before being painted with antique gold Rub 'N Buff. The wings were made from feathers carefully trimmed into shape and everything was glued with Epoxy to the headband. Tip: Make your feathers more durable by coating them with Mod Podge!
The first version of the shoulder pauldron armor was my first experiment with Fosshape, which is an interesting but not entirely amazing material, considering the high cost. I shaped it around a foam form with a steamer. Then it was covered in a gold metallic spandex fabric. The strips hanging down were made from two layers of upholstery vinyl. It attaches with industrial strength velcro. The remade armor is 3mm craft foam, backed with fabric, and coated with a glue mixture. Then I wet sanded it to a smooth finish, finished it with the same Rub 'N Buff, and then coated it with floor wax. It is my own take on this tutorial. I don't like these either and plan to remake it out of a hard plastic!
The dress took a long time! I began with just a bodice and drafted the pattern myself through trial and error. Many seams were added for the white section and mandarin collar. The gold metallic trim had to be cut and handsewn before being carefully machine sewn. It's made from an emerald green dull satin and white bridal satin. The dress is fully lined in matching broadcloth – much of which had to be handsewn in. The skirt is actually made of 15 pieces sewn together! All the seams were carefully topstitched to lay nice and flat. The back opens with an invisible zipper and hook and eye closures.
The gems on the costume were all made from various plastic shapes I found, cut with a dremel and painted, with the exception of the neck gem, which is metal. There are Christmas ornaments, ping pong balls, earrings, and snack containers in here. The remade gems are all cast in clear cast resin, and backed with metallic scrap book paper. This made a great improvement!
The cape is about 1/3 of a circle, gathered at the top. It hooks into the armor and is self lined Casa crepe. Horsehair braid is hidden within the bottom hem to help the cape keep its shape more. Only in one illustration is it a lighter color than the dress, but I liked this contrast so I went with it.
The gauntlets are made from craft foam – same method as the shoulder pauldron armor above. They are also held onto the storebought/modified gloves with a bit of velcro.
The boots are boot covers built from white vinyl and glued down over a pump. Luckily, the artwork has a seam down the middle, so this was perfect!
The sword was the biggest part of the project. FIRST VERSION: I had never made a sword, so my friend Fuu helped me get the project started. First, I did the math to figure out how tall the sword should be in relation to my height. Then I enlarged and printed out a lifesize image of the sword to use as a pattern. It began as a PVC pipe base (I don't recommend this; use wood instead) with insulation foam over it to fill out the bulk of the blade. The foam was then sanded and carved into a rough shape. We used a cheap white foam lying in her garage, again I don"t recommend it, because resin may eat it. So, I covered the whole blade in masking tape before covering it in fiberglass cloth and resin. After this were many bouts of filling (with wood filler, body filler, Paperclay…) and sanding until the surface was smooth. The detail on the hilt was done carefully in craftfoam and paperclay. The handle was made thicker with a cardboard tube. Everything was coated in resin for durability before painting. The gold is antique gold Rub "N buff, and green and grey gloss spray paints were used. Matte grey can be preferable for a blade because metallic coats exacerbate every mistake if the surface isn"t perfect. Also, I felt the gold should stand out on the costume and not silver on the sword, so grey was the best choice!
SECOND VERSION: I kept the hilt from the first version, and replaced the gems with clear cast resin ones. I did some touch up detail filing/sanding, and gave the whole thing new paint. The blade was remade out of wood with much help from Sam. Sam figured out the mechanism to break the seven foot sword into 3 parts so I can actually transport it. It was made from pine. I figured out the proportions, he cut out the basic shape for me at his studio, and we carved and sanded the shape out. Then I had to spend a lot of time with wood putty, primer, and sandpaper to get it smooth before giving it a matte grey coat and assembling the prop altogether. I am very proud of this new sword!!
- Personal Thoughts:
- Why do I torture myself!? MAGIC KNIGHTS!!!
Add a Comment


text:
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Round hook earrings Red with Gold lustre ceramicby Gill Laverick
Código de artículo : GLE012
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OData (Open Data Protocol) is a standardized protocol for creating and consuming data APIs through regular HTTP requests and REST. It is the "ODBC of the Web" and provides a standard solution for very common Web API patterns. For example, OData includes support for queries, paging, and batching, among many other typical requirements.
Creating an OData Endpoint
Microsoft ASP.NET Web API OData adds most of the things necessary to create OData endpoints and easily provide OData query syntax using the ASP.NET Web API (initially introduced in .NET Framework 4.5). ASP.NET Web API 2.2 added many improvements that make it easier to work with OData, including support for OData 4.0. In this article, I provide an example that uses the features provided in Microsoft ASP.NET Web API 2.2 OData.
Creating an OData Endpoint
OData is a standardized protocol for creating and consuming data APIs through regular HTTP requests and REST. One of the most interesting things about OData is that it provides a standard solution for very common Web API patterns. For example, OData includes support for queries, paging, and batching, among many other typical requirements. ASP.NET Web API OData provides many components to make it easy to implement OData services.
ASP.NET Web API 2 was included in Visual Studio 2013 and provided support for OData 3.0. The recently launched ASP.NET Web API 2.2 added support for the newest version of the standardized protocol: OData 4.0. In addition, the newest ASP.NET Web API version includes many interesting improvements related to OData, such as attribute routing, model aliasing, support for Enums, ETags, the
$format query option, and the ability to specify which properties can be sorted, expanded, filtered, or navigated.
I want to work with ASP.NET Web API 2.2 in Visual Studio 2013, so I have to run a few NuGet Package Manager Console commands. I'll explain the steps to create a project that generates an OData endpoint and allows you to run OData queries on a simple
Games entity with support provided by Entity Framework, but you don't have to use Entity Framework to take advantage of ASP.NET Web API OData. You can use a similar structure with other data sources.
Create a new ASP.NET Web Application project in Visual Studio 2013. I'll use
Games for both the project and solution names.
Select the
Empty template and check the Web API checkbox in the New ASP.NET Project dialog box. Then, click OK. Visual Studio 2013 will add the folders and core references for the ASP.NET Web API.
Execute the following commands in the NuGet Package Manager Console to access the latest ASP.NET Web API 2.2. The package follows the Semantic Versioning specification, so it has version 5.2.0. After executing this command, the project will be working with ASP.NET Web API 2.2:
Install-Package Microsoft.AspNet.WebApi -Version 5.2.0 Install-Package Microsoft.AspNet.WebApi.OData
I'll use a simple
Game entity model to represent the data for the OData service. Add a
Game class to the
Models folder. The following lines show the code for this new class. Notice that I use an
int for the key (
GameId). I don't use a
Guid to keep the HTTP requests easier to understand.
namespace Games.Models { public class Game { public int GameId { get; set; } public string Name { get; set; } public string Category { get; set; } public int ReleaseYear { get; set; } } }
Now, it is necessary to build the project because I can take advantage of the Visual Studio 2013 scaffolding, which will use reflection to gather information about the
Game class.
I want to add a Web API 2 OData controller with CRUD actions to allow me to create, read, update, delete, and list entities from an Entity Framework data context. Visual Studio 2013 will generate the class that handles HTTP requests to perform these actions. Right-click on the Controllers folder within Solution Explorer and select Add | Controller…. Select Web API 2 OData Controller with actions, using Entity Framework, and click Add. Enter
GamesController for the controller name and check the Use Async Controller Actions checkbox in the Add Controller dialog box. Select Game
(Games.Models) in the
Model class dropdown list, and click on the New Data Context… button. Visual Studio will specify
Games.Models.GamesContext as the default new data context type name in a new dialog box. Leave the default name and click Add. Finally, click Add when you are back in the Add Controller dialog box.
Visual Studio will create the following
GamesContext class in
using System.Data.Entity; namespace Games.Models { public class GamesContext : DbContext { public GamesContext() : base("name=GamesContext") { } public System.Data.Entity.DbSet<Games.Models.Game> Games { get; set; } } }
The following lines show the generated code for the
GamesController class in
GamesController implements the abstract class
ODataController is the base class for OData controllers that supports writing and reading data using the OData formats. I've replaced the deprecated
[Queryable] attribute with
[EnableQuery]. Sadly, the scaffolding still works with the previous ASP.NET Web API OData version and generates code that includes the deprecated attribute. In fact, in some cases, you might have problems with scaffolding and the newest ASP.NET Web API OData-related libraries. If you notice mixed versions in the packages, you can copy and paste the code to your project instead of following the steps I mentioned before.
[EnableQuery] attribute enables a controller action to support OData query parameters. The controller uses the
async modifier to define asynchronous methods for the
PATCH/MERGE, and
DELETE verbs. In addition, you will notice the use of the
await keyword and many calls to methods that end with the
Async suffix. Microsoft .NET Framework 4.5 introduced asynchronous methods. If you haven't worked with the
async modified in ASP.NET MVC controllers, you can read Using Asynchronous Methods in ASP.NET 4.5 and in MVC 4 to get a feel for it.
using System; using System.Collections.Generic; using System.Data; using System.Data.Entity; using System.Data.Entity.Infrastructure; using System.Linq; using System.Net; using System.Net.Http; using System.Threading.Tasks; using System.Web.Http; using System.Web.Http.ModelBinding; using System.Web.Http.OData; using System.Web.Http.OData.Routing; using Games.Models; namespace Games.Controllers { public class GamesController : ODataController { private GamesContext db = new GamesContext(); // GET odata/Games [EnableQuery] public IQueryable<Game> GetGames() { return db.Games; } // GET odata/Games(5) [EnableQuery] public SingleResult<Game> GetGame([FromODataUri] int key) { return SingleResult.Create(db.Games.Where(game => game.GameId == key)); } // PUT odata/Games(5) public async Task<IHttpActionResult> Put([FromODataUri] int key, Game game) { if (!ModelState.IsValid) { return BadRequest(ModelState); } if (key != game.GameId) { return BadRequest(); } db.Entry(game).State = EntityState.Modified; try { await db.SaveChangesAsync(); } catch (DbUpdateConcurrencyException) { if (!GameExists(key)) { return NotFound(); } else { throw; } } return Updated(game); } // POST odata/Games public async Task<IHttpActionResult> Post(Game game) { if (!ModelState.IsValid) { return BadRequest(ModelState); } db.Games.Add(game); await db.SaveChangesAsync(); return Created(game); } // PATCH odata/Games(5) [AcceptVerbs("PATCH", "MERGE")] public async Task<IHttpActionResult> Patch([FromODataUri] int key, Delta<Game> patch) { if (!ModelState.IsValid) { return BadRequest(ModelState); } Game game = await db.Games.FindAsync(key); if (game == null) { return NotFound(); } patch.Patch(game); try { await db.SaveChangesAsync(); } catch (DbUpdateConcurrencyException) { if (!GameExists(key)) { return NotFound(); } else { throw; } } return Updated(game); } // DELETE odata/Games(5) public async Task<IHttpActionResult> Delete([FromODataUri] int key) { Game game = await db.Games.FindAsync(key); if (game == null) { return NotFound(); } db.Games.Remove(game); await db.SaveChangesAsync(); return StatusCode(HttpStatusCode.NoContent); } protected override void Dispose(bool disposing) { if (disposing) { db.Dispose(); } base.Dispose(disposing); } private bool GameExists(int key) { return db.Games.Count(e => e.GameId == key) > 0; } } }
Notice the use of the
System.Web.Http.AcceptVerbs attribute in the
Patch method to make the action method respond to both the
PATCH and
MERGE HTTP verbs.
[AcceptVerbs("PATCH", "MERGE")] public async Task<IHttpActionResult> Patch([FromODataUri] int key, Delta<Game> patch)
The parameterless
GetGames method returns the entire
Games collection. The
GetGame method with a key parameter looks up a
Game by its key (the
GameId property). Both methods respond to HTTP
GET; and the final method call will depend on the OData query. I'll discuss the effects of the
[EnableQuery] attribute later.
The rest of the supported HTTP verbs use a single method for each verb:
Post), and
Delete). Thus, you can query the entity set (
GET), add a new game to the entity set (
POST), perform a partial update to a game (
PATCH/MERGE), replace an entire game (
PUT), and delete a game (