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We recently met Jan on Twitter, and are delighted to have made her acquaintance. She is a graphic designer and a freelance ebook cover designer. Oh, and she's writing her first novel too!
We've said before that an attractive, professional looking cover is important to help draw the attention of a prospective reader to your ebook. Yep, we know 'never judge…', however every little helps!
We asked Jan to write us a short article with some tips about creating a great looking ebook cover yourself. Here's what she had to say…
Tips For Authors: Create Your Own Cover Design
by Jan Marshall
You've written a book. You've drafted, revised, edited, and honed your manuscript until every page is perfect. Well, every page except one – arguably the most important of all – the cover.
Good covers matter.
Before moving on, I'll remind you quickly that, if you want to be certain of a good result, hire a professional cover designer. It had to be said, I won't nag you though! If you really want to do it yourself, read on.
These are my opinions and not all cover designers will agree with me. Design is subjective. And that's as it should be.
• Check formats (cover sizes) before you start.
• Begin on paper, not on screen, so that you know what you want to achieve and aren't seduced by what's easy or available.
• Aim to create three covers, then choose the best. You don't have to stick with these; you can wander off at a tangent as you work.
• Communicate truthfully the book's contents, not the whole story but as much as potential buyers want to know.
• Look at covers in your genre and analyze how they work. Sticking with genre conventions, make something about your cover better or more striking. (Easy to say!)
• Prioritize information – title bigger than your name unless you're a well-known author.
• Use type sizes and fonts that are easy to read in your target medium, e.g. ebook titles should be clear in thumbnail.
• Leave out anything unnecessary. If you find yourself with empty space, it doesn't have to contain a starburst!
• Be prepared to throw away most of what you create. Resist falling in love with an idea simply because you've spent a lot of time on it.
• Make your cover beautiful, unique, and compelling! Your aim is to hook your reader. You know what that means because you're a writer! Make them want to find out more.
• Feature appropriate and compelling images. Don't settle for something not quite right. If necessary, shoot your own photo.
• Once you've found some images you like… keep looking, then look again, and then some more. You WILL find something better than your first choices.
• Avoid photo library images you've seen before. If you think you've seen it somewhere you can be sure the world and his wife are using it. Be creative. There are other options. Don't settle for the obvious answer.
• Allow search results to lead you in new directions. Keep an open mind.
• If you can't find the right image and decide on a type-only cover, the typography must be excellent. Otherwise, it will just look as if you've forgotten to put the image in.
• If you're not sure what application to use, Photoshop does most of what you need. (There are several free Photoshop-style applications on the web.)
• This isn't a strict rule but, even if you're creating a comp for an ebook, work at high resolution (reduce your file size later). It makes the job easier and produces better results because you'll be dealing with apparent continuous tone rather than pixels. (Keep the layered (.psd) file in case you opt for print later on.)
• Never work on a jpeg and re-save – the quality degrades each time until you're left with a pixelated mess. Return to the layered file, revise, and 'Save a Copy'.
• Use colours and contrast that work in grayscale as well as colour – essential for today's kindle but also useful when your cover's reproduced in a mono journal. (Check by choosing Mode… Grayscale.)
• If necessary, differing designs for paper and ebook are fine.
• Don't overdo Photoshop effects unless they're exactly what you need. Just because dark shadows are the Photoshop default doesn't mean they're convincing. They look heavy and dirty.
(Note: Typeface = a family of fonts, e.g. Times. Font = a weight/style in that family, e.g. Times Bold, Times Italic.)
• Bad typography kills covers even when the image is brilliant!• Use good typefaces. Buy them if necessary.
• Unless you've designed your cover to look quirky and complex (for a specific reason, of course) use one typeface family, two at most (one sans and one serif works well).
• Leave subtitles off ebooks if they're unclear in thumbnail.
• Don't scatter type – keep it tidy.
• Don't distort type more than 15%. 'Thicks-and-thins' can become exaggerated and ugly. If you need a condensed or expanded font, download one that's been designed as such. Dramatically distorted type is one of the most obvious signs of an amateur cover.
• Don't distort type more than 15%. Yep, I'm saying it again because it's important!• Use faux typestyles with care (emboldening, italicizing, etc.) – in some applications they won't print correctly.
• Learn to kern! Well-spaced type is easier to read. Beware, some fonts set badly, with inconsistent character/word spacing. Kern type so that spaces between characters are visually pleasing, Close up word-spacing as much as possible whilst still maintaining the 'separateness' of the words.
Once you're finished, ask for criticism (not praise) from friends. Ask each one to flag something they don't like about your cover, not what they do like. Take on board their comments and then decide for yourself whether they're valid. (If they say there's nothing wrong with it, either you have a good cover or very tactful friends!)
Finally, don't look at your cover for a week. Open it up again and ask yourself whether it's still good. You're the only person you know who will definitely tell you the truth. If it doesn't look as good as it did a week ago, it needs work. Revise it or start again. If it looks better than last week, hey, maybe you've got yourself a good cover!
Good luck!
Thanks, Jan. I'm sure our members will appreciate your practical ebook cover design advice.
Take a look at Jan's website: Jan Marshall: The Book Designer
She's also on Twitter here.
Got an ebook and cover already? Visit us to upload to get involved reading & rating:
iWriteReadRate ebook community (& click on the red word BETA)
Happy writing, reading & rating!
The iWriteReadRate Team
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President Obama Recognizes Verizon's Fleet of Hybrid and Alternative-Energy Vehicles in New Jersey
Verizon is getting national attention for its commitment to energy-efficient vehicles in New Jersey.
Verizon officials showcased some of its newest energy-efficient vehicles in the state to President Barack Obama on April 1 as part of an ongoing corporate campaign to educate lawmakers and other key decision makers about the benefits of green vehicles. Verizon, which has the third-largest corporate vehicle fleet in the nation, was among five companies recognized by Obama for adding substantive numbers of green vehicles.
Verizon provided three of its latest energy-efficient vehicles for the event, which featured alternative-energy trucks and cars operated by some of the nation's largest corporations.
"We're bringing environmentally friendly innovation and advanced technologies to our motor fleet operations in New Jersey and nationally," said James Gowen, chief sustainability officer for Verizon. "By seizing the opportunity to help improve the environment, our vehicles are saving energy, reducing emissions and improving our greenhouse gas profile."
At the event, Verizon displayed a hybrid Chevrolet pickup, an all-electric Chevrolet Volt and a first-of-its-kind hybrid aerial-splicing vehicle - all of which are being used in New Jersey. Over the past few years, the company has added hundreds of hybrid Toyota Priuses, as well as more than 500 compressed natural gas vans and 700 hybrid pickups.
Verizon is also adding more than 260 hybrid vehicles to its New Jersey fleet as part of its ongoing commitment to conserving fuel, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and contributing to improved air quality in the communities it serves across the Garden State.
"I commend Verizon and its employees for their enthusiasm, vision and commitment to the environment," said state Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Robert Martin. "Verizon's new hybrid fleet will save gasoline, reduce emissions and perhaps even inspire people to consider purchasing hybrid vehicles for themselves. Companies such as Verizon are leading us into the future by implementing projects such as this that protect the environment while driving economic growth."
Verizon is the first communications company to engineer and deploy a hybrid fiber-splicing unit. Because of their weight, these vehicles - commonly known as "bucket trucks" - traditionally consume significant amounts of fuel. To reduce fuel consumption, the company incorporated a hybrid engine and innovative onboard batteries that assist in the vehicles' acceleration, and power the bucket lift and lighting units.
"We're replacing less-efficient vehicles with transformational, energy-efficient cars and trucks - a move that will have a long-term impact on reducing and improving fuel consumption and reducing pollutants," said Samuel Delgado, vice president for external affairs, Verizon New Jersey.
Verizon was also the first company in the nation to deploy hybrid pickup trucks on a large scale, in a commercial setting. Last year, Verizon deployed nationally more than 700 of these vehicles - which improve fuel efficiency by 50 percent and reduce carbon dioxide by 43 percent - and plans to purchase up to 300 additional units in 2011.
The company will also add several new all-electric Chevrolet Volts to its fleet in 2011. The Volts can travel up to 350 miles on a single charge.
Verizon has implemented other environmentally friendly programs in its fleet operations, including an energy-saving initiative that requires drivers to turn off vehicles instead of letting them idle. This program saved 1.7 million gallons of fuel in a single year, equivalent to eliminating more than 33 million pounds of CO2.
Verizon's "telematics" program leverages the company's wireless LTE network to integrate fleet global positioning systems and onboard diagnostic data to monitor and further minimize fuel consumption, speeding and poor driver habits that contribute to energy waste and consumption.
Nationally, Verizon now has nearly 2,000 alternative-fuel vehicles in its fleet, and plans to have up to 15 percent of its fleet operating with alternative fuels by 2015.
To learn more about how Verizon is reducing the environmental impact in New Jersey and nationally, visit http://newscenter2.verizon.com/kit/green-press-kit/ or http://responsibility.verizon.com/.
Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, NASDAQ:VZ), headquartered in New York, is a global leader in delivering broadband and other wireless and wireline communications services to mass market, business, government and wholesale customers. Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, serving 94.1 million customers nationwide. Verizon also provides converged communications, information and entertainment services over America's most advanced fiber-optic network, and delivers innovative, seamless business solutions to customers around the world. A Dow 30 company, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of more than 194,000 and last year generated consolidated revenues of $106.6 billion. For more information, visit www.verizon.com.
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New Binky AW 14/15 Nail Polish Collection Review
There are so many nice colours available on the High Street at the moment that I couldn't resist when the lovely PR ladies over at Binky London reached out to me last week and asked me if I fancy to check out their new AW 14/15 collection.
So Here's What I Thought...
Having used and Binky's sparkly Gold Rush*, and being very pleased with it, I had high expectations for this one. Luckily, I wasn't disappointed. I was very delighted when I received a bottle of Mocha Gel* from the brands' new collection which is officially out tomorrow. The collection features dark colours and I particularly like the cobalt blue and the Mocha one, which I'm going to review.
The colour in the bottle looks different to when you actually apply it to your nails. It looks very nice on the nails and I would describe the tone as a milk chocolate one.
The polish has a creamy texture. It is easy to apply and the brush runs smoothly over the nail. One to two coats are enough to cover it evenly and it takes less than 10 minutes for the polish to dry. It has a super glossy finish and my nails remind me of shiny Smarties.
The Mocha Gel nail polish looks very sophisticated and mature. I applied it a few days ago and it hasn't chipped at all which is a big plus as I had a disappointing experience lately, when I tried and tested Nails Inc varnish which chipped after just one day.
You can grab the entire Binky London AW 14/15 collection at your local superstore for £2.95 per bottle from tomorrow, Wednesday 5th November.
Thanks for reading and till next time,


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Here you can learn a little bit about the members who help out on the site. Click on their avatar or username to view their member card or profile page.
Staff members have certain privileges and permissions which enable them to manage content and deal with any issues that may arise. To contact a staff member, click on Start conversation on your Conversations page and add them to the Recipients field.
Current staff members are listed here and can be identified by the [Staff member] banner under their user name.
Known to every one as Bro, he is the founder of Clip The Apex.
What started out as a hobby rapidly evolved into a full time job, almost. One of these days he might even find the time to write something here.
Originally from the West Country but now living in the West Midlands along with his wonderful wife and child, their three cars and a caravan.
He stumbled across Clip The Apex by accident after mistyping "clap the epics" into his search engine. Once registered however it became apparent that this was no ordinary motorsport site and one that was worth hanging around.
Known to be fond of a now defunct British Formula One team, he considers himself to be the site expert on all things Lotus. Others have pointed out to him however, that an "ex" is a has been and a "spurt" is a drip under pressure.
Cider and Toast, or Cat as he is known for short, took on the role of Global Moderator because he thought it sounded good and appealed to his megalomaniac tendencies. Well that and no-one else wanted the job and he felt sorry for Bro.
His heroes are Colin Chapman, Jim Clark, Ayrton Senna, The Wurzels, the Thatchers Cider Company and the bloke who invented toast.
Occasionally, staff members step down and return to their previous lives.
Our former system administrator and developer.
Responsible for designing and coding the Overtaking Database and Fantasy F1 interfaces.
Previously known as Fat Bloke, aka Patrick. A soft Southerner living "oop North" 'cos that's where the work is. My life is aerosols, literally and metaphorically and I'm responsible for that air freshener which makes your house smell sooo lovely.
An F1 fan since the late 70's, I took a serious interest from Alan Jones' championship year in 1980 and onwards. I worked my way here (like many others) from 606 and found the level of discourse more to my liking.
I was asked to be a Moderator as Bro thought I had too much time on my hands and I was logged in too often. For my sins I was then promoted to the role of Administrator.
My favourite driver, you will be astonished to know, is Jean-Pierre Jarier who, as well as being one of the unluckiest drivers in F1, is also very eloquent, as his columns in the now defunct Grand Prix International will testify. Vive la France, vive la République!I also have a confession to make; I'm a closet Sebastian Vettel fan. Deutschland über alles!
Once known as "GordonMurray" on BBC 606 before the idiocy levels were turned up to 11.
I migrated in the opposite direction to my parents from the wilds of Bedfordshire to the capital in the 1980s and have been a regular at London's two finest sporting venues - Brands Hatch and White Hart Lane - for over 20 years. I take an interest in all things four-wheeled and in addition to F1 am an avid follower of international sportscar racing, the BTCC and rallying.
My first hero was Alain Prost but today I don't have any particular team or driver affiliations in F1. I can even, occasionally, see things from Luca di Montezemolo's point of view...For many years I have compiled the overtaking statistics which can be found elsewhere on the siteand, for sins committed in a previous life, I also devised and used to run the Fantasy F1 League game.
Hello, I'm Speshal (my mum told me so) or Ed/Ted to you, and I currently hail from the windy tundra that is Salisbury Plain, where the druids roam and the sheep explode, if the Army are playing war that day.
I too am another 606 refugee and am so very glad I found this place. I have been into all forms of motorsport since I was knee high to a grasshopper after an encounter with a 50cc monkey bike at the village fete aged 5.
Formula One is my first love but I'm of the adage that, if it's got an engine in it I'll watch it. I also love MotoGP, BTCC, Le Mans, Isle of Man TT, and Trials (I venture out on my 1978 Bultago Sherpa for vintage trials when it's not too muddy).An out and out(ed) McLaren fan since the mid 80's - I don't let that get in my way of appreciating great driving (much).
A professional Northerner and typical grumpy teenager, I was previously known as MclarenSupremo. As the name suggests I am a McLaren fan and have always followed them since I first started watching F1 in 2001; how on earth did I keep watching?
Another one of the 606 refugees, I washed up here while looking for a motorsport forum.I spend too much time on here so being a moderator at least served some purpose, and there were also the free biscuits of course.
A quick check of his sparse 606 member history reveals that teabagyokel participated in the BBC's "discussion" on Max Mosley in June 2008. Surely the door to Clip The Apex was opened there...
Either way, he has found a home here, with loud noises from his cage sending other members scurrying to the General Motorsport forum in fear. Some members chase the beast into the Quiz section; few survive with their points intact.
His Fantasy F1 glory days are well behind him, but he runs Team Mate Prediction scores from his hermit's office hidden under the floorboards of Luca di Montezemelo's office.He also has the second highest post count on the site, which his therapist says is healthy.
Hi all, I am The Pits, or at least that is what I am told on a regular basis! I have been loitering around the world of motorsports forums since a dull day at work in 2009 led me to join the BBC 606 site; later, after seeing sense, I migrated to chez Clip when the good ship finally sank.
I have a passion for most things motorsport, specifically, being the geeky/nerdy type I go in for the technical bits. I have been this way ever since watching René Arnoux crash at Monaco, not sure what year, but it was the first thing in F1 that caught my imagination and I have been hooked ever since, despite the stress that has ensued on many occasions!
I have been fairly close to motorsport since I was but a young lad, as I was fortunate enough to have a friend whose father raced, and as such I got to go round the country with them. This meant I was lucky enough to watch many of the big names early on in their careers, even meeting Rowan Atkinson before he dumped his Metro in the gravel on the first lap at Brands!
To complete the nerdy image, I have a fascination with old railways and never miss the opportunity to travel on one of the country's multitude of heritage and narrow gauge railways.Anyhoo, I love the chat and opinions that you guys generate, and look forward to more!
A relative newcomer to Formula One, "Keke" grew up in New Hampshire thinking the Indy 500 was the absolute pinnacle of motorsport. That changed for good in 2007 when he was well and truly infected by the F1 bug.
Fascinated with the sport like never before, "Keke" embarked on a mission to learn as much as possible about the history of Grand Prix Racing, and whenever possible, watch the video footage from the period. What resulted from this quest was an archive of GP coverage from 1980-2010 rivalling only the personal collection of one Bernard Charles Ecclestone.
Fancying himself as an "Overtaking Aficionado", "Keke" takes great pride in the videos produced after each race, summarising the on-track overtaking action gathered from multiple sources. All of which can be found in the various overtaking threads in the Statistics & Analysis forum.Currently favours the only man who can match Keke "The King" Rosberg for sheer excitement on the circuit. That man is of course the 2008 World Champion and unofficial F1 Overtaking Master, Lewis Hamilton. Holds a soft spot for Keke's boy Nico too.
Lightweight studier of the Korean language and general fan of anything east of Europe, Enja was bullied and harassed into joining Clip The Apex by secretive agents whilst eating a Cornetto outside the MI5 building in London.
Originally hailing from Newcastle upon Tyne, he is the self-proclaimed Biggest Fan of Kamui Kobayashi In The World™.
When he's not baking tasty food from his home, he can usually be found shuffling papers for the charity he works at part-time or reading up on his favourite sport, American Football. Enja found Formula One to his liking in 2007 when Lewis Hamilton burst onto the scene and hasn't looked back since; often supporting erratic drivers or those with 'unusual' driving styles.
He has aspirations to visit West Coast America, Japan, and Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory.His favourite non-alcoholic beverage is dandelion & burdock and he admits to having a John Cusack man-crush.
Stephen to his friends, or Mr Jez if we're being formal, he took his forum name from the large cat featured in his avatar, Jerry, whose nickname is itself a mickey take on Fat Les who had the dubious hit single "Vindaloo" a few years ago.
Hailing from North of the border (well, nobody's perfect), after graduating from Strathclyde University with a degree in Electronic and Electrical Engineering, he found himself working at a large mobile telecommunications company whose future is "bright". Ironically working there at the same time as Bro, although their paths did not cross.
His love of F1 comes from his father and several Uni friends and he joined Clip The Apex near the start, as the conversation standard on 606 left a lot to be desired. Foolishly putting his head above the parapet when Bro was looking for additional help, he was once a Moderator.He doesn't have a favourite team or driver as such, just an intense dislike for the favouritism shown at times to the red team by Federation International d'Automobile, or Ferrari International Assistance as he likes to refer to it.


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Christie 70 in. HB HD DLP FA70" HD front access video wall cube with the brightest LED engine
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The Christie Entero HB offers unparalleled 24/7 performance and years of worry-free operation. Plus, with simple, intuitive hardware installation, minimal setup time and effort and modular design for fast and easy servicing if required, the new Christie Entero™ HB control room display cubes exceeds your expectations.
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1Other screen types available.2Depending on environment and wall configuration.3Depending on pedestal type used.
Due to constant research, specifications and features are subject to change without notice.


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The 4th group in summer 2001 (august 17 to 30) consisted in 22 women and children from Slavonski Brod (eastern Slavonia/Croatia) and from several villages bordering on Slavonia on the northern Bosnian side (Republika Srpska). This group was mediated by the "center for peace, non-violence and human rights Osijek", respect. by the "peace team 'lice mira' (= face of peace)" from Slavonski Brod.
Both eastern Slavonia and the "Bosanska Posavina" (= "Bosnian plain", the Bosnian region on the border to Slavonia) were badly destroyed during the war in Croatia and Bosnia. The main part of the population was expelled. The people experienced awful war atrocities, many were murdered, others were abducted and later on killed. The militia of "Arkan", a Serbian criminal who was hired by Serbian nationalists for the war against Croatia and Bosnia and was known for his extraordinary cruelty, had caused havoc in the eastern Slavonian region. The horrible experience of war and violence had stirred up hate and mistrust among the several national re. religious communities (orthodox Serbians, catholic Croats, Moslem Bosniacs).
To counter hate, violence, and nationalism and build up a "culture of peace", the "centre for peace, non-violence and human rights" in Osijek was founded when the war was still on. Aiming at supporting mutual understanding between the enemy groups, the centre has since then organized several projects and activities. In order to reach the surrounding and more remote villages as well, the centre initiated several "peace teams" in the eastern Slavonian area, among them one in Vukovar and one in Slavonski Brod. These teams carried out the project "active listening" last year. Within this project, the peace activists (almost all female) visit single persons or families in their villages to talk with them about their experience, their problems, needs, and wishes, but to ask them about their opinion on the question of living together with other national communities in their village again.
As due to expulsions many Croatian and Bosniac refugees from the "Bosanska Posavina" still live in Slavonski Brod, the peace team there did not only include those Bosnian families in the project, but also expanded the whole "active listening" program into the "Bosanska Posavina".
On the one hand, the activists visited the refugees in Slavonski Brod, most of them wanting to return to their villages in Bosnia, but fearing that they might not be able to deal with the situation in the "Republika Srpska", anxiously wondering how the Serbian population would react to their return. They were as well worried about how to make a living back there and about how to finance the reconstruction of their houses, wondering whether there was any possibility of receiving financial aids.
On the other hand, the peace team visited people in the villages of the "Bosanska Posavina", among them the villages "Zboriste" (formerly mainly Serbian), "Kolibe Gornje" (formerly mainly Moslem), and "Novo Selo" (formerly mainly Croatian.)
In many conversations, it appeared that women and children were the ones most open to take a step towards the "others".
Therefore, the peace team developed the idea of a recreational stay for women and children of all three national communities as a further step of their "reconciliation project". As "Lice Mira" had heard about SEKA from the centre for peace Osijek, and as the activists thought of the SEKA program with its recreational stays including psychological/pedagogic support for the participants as ideal for their needs, they asked us to be included in the summer 2001 schedule. With financial aid of the "Stiftung Sternstunden" foundation and our supporter Ute Pfeifer, we were able to invite the group to stay 14 days in SEKA- House.
The peace team members elected the participants. As essential criteria to get selected, women and older children had to consciously take the decision to participate in this "mixed" vacation, this is to say they had to be ready to take a step towards "the others".
The group finally consisted in seven women (3 Serbs, 2 Croats, 2 Bosniacs) and their 15 children. The Bosniac and Serbian women had already returned to their villages, the Croats were still living in Slavonski Brod, hoping for their return. Women and children of the same national background knew each other at least slightly, because they came from the same village. Some women from different ethnic groups used to know each other slightly before the war, as their villages were only a few kilometres apart. Before the trip to SEKA-House the women had only met once, joined by two women of the peace team, to get to know each other a bit and prepare the common journey. The children had only met on the trip itself.
During the first days of their stay, the women were rather cautious and shy. On the one hand, they were enthusiastic about the beauty of the island, the sea, SEKA-House with its cosy rooms and the nice terraces. They felt like "having won the lottery", as they told us later. On the other hand, it seemed hard on them to believe that all this was real. Especially the atmosphere in SEKA-House, the warm, hearty welcome, "even though you SEKA-women did not know us at all", was almost unbelievable for them. They were afraid we would expect anything from them in return. They could not imagine that what we did was what we just liked to do, only wanting them to feel happy here, and enjoying their happiness.
Therefore, it was especially important to this group that Mirjana Bilan and myself (Gabriele Muller) told the women all about the history of this project: We told them about how the idea arose, about how we installed the project under difficult conditions, and about our personal reasons to do this work. The women listened with great interest. They were moved and thrilled by the fact that women can do the impossible if they really want to. They asked many questions and cautiously started telling us about their experience.
After this evening, the women could accept our empathy and warmth. They were then ready to believe that those were "real" and that there were "no bad surprises waiting behind the corner".
All these women were multiply traumatized - by war, by flight, by the loss of close relatives, and by the long lasting experience o living in surroundings where at any time hostility, hate and violence could burst out again.
The atmosphere in SEKA therefore produced a positive shock.
After this evening, the women were able to relax more and more, as well in terms of dealing with each other. Even though on the first two days the women had rather stayed with women from their subgroup, those groups started dissolving on the third day on the beach. There was still a lot of caution, uneasy topics related to war and persecution were rather avoided, but the women began to talk about ordinary topics such as the children, their family situation and similar things.
With us SEKA workers (Mirjana Bilan, Melita Tumbri (psychologist), Vesna Sobot (educator), and Gabriele Muller) the women did talk about war and flight in private conversations. Other major topics were: the grief about the death of close relatives, the loss of friends who had not come back until then or had emigrated, financial problems of reconstruction, assuring of livelihood (almost no woman had a job), family or marriage problems, problems with the children (s.b.), experience with violence, either in the war or domestic violence, feelings of loneliness and senselessness up until suicidal plans, disappointment, and mistrust towards other people.
When we asked the women about their wishes at the beginning of their stay and mentioned working in the therapy room as a possibility, the women agreed in saying that they mainly wanted to recreate, swim, sunbath, get away from their all day problems and just be together without bigger demands, and get to know each other. We naturally accepted that, as we noticed that the women connected "group work" with their fear of touching uneasy topics they were just not ready to deal with.
The women loved to go for walks in the evenings or gather on the terrace and chat when the children were in the "kucica" (child therapy house). They joked around and laughed a lot, on two evenings they even danced.
After a week, the group had grown together very much, and their different national/religious backgrounds were not noticeable anymore. Some close friendships were established. The women began to talk about personal things - not in the big group, but in groups of 2 or 3 women.
In the second week some women expressed interest in working in the therapy room. Except for one woman, all of them finally took the offer of a first group evening. We started off with the subject "safety in the group", working out rules for the group work. We went on with a motion game on relaxation and energization and the game "chain-pantomime" which lead to a jolly atmosphere.
On another evening, some women wanted to talk about the question "do I have the right to express my feelings?" This topic naturally gave rise to painful feelings, but talking about it finally produced some relief and more openness among the women. To close this session, we did some exercises on getting rid of heavy energies (stamping; shaking and tapping oneself) and afterwards did a motion game to lighten the group atmosphere again.
On the last evening we carried out our ritual called "letting go - getting rid of things." (Now all women without exception participated) which the women experienced as an relief. After that, all women wrote down what they had gained from their stay in SEKA. Those feedbacks show that the women from different national/religious communities have achieved more then to make just one step towards each other. They established a group of close people, wishing to go on getting together. Certainly, the common experience in SEKA will be carried on into the women's and children's surroundings, their families, and their village communities. At the end, some women said that they would like to return to SEKA for a seminar, maybe together with other women from their villages, to go on working on the topics that have not been ready to be treated this time.
We would love to offer such a (maybe 4 days lasting) seminar to this group and other women from those villages. External financial backing would be a prerequisite.
The 15 children of this group, seven girls and 8 boys, were between 2 and 16 years old. Therefore we formed subgroups according to age: One colleague (either Maida Koso, child psychologist, or Vesna Sobot, educator) would dedicate her attention to the smaller children between 3 and 6 years of age, and the other would work with the older ones in the meantime. To our surprise, 14-year-old Besim still loved to play in the children's house, preferably with LEGO and figures. The two-year-old boy was mainly taken care of by his mother; the 16-year-old girl participated only in some of the children's activities such as the photo project.
From the beginning, there was not much tension between the children of different "entities". The eight youngest (up until 6 years) were free from prejudice. Conflicts in this group originated from other things than different group identities.
The 9-year-old and the 13-year-old asked in the children's meeting on the first evening whether we had "war toys" here. We explained to them why we didn't and what kind of project this was: That we wanted our visitors to get along with each other well, that all women and children are equally important here, that we watch out for each other, and that everybody is allowed to say if he or she is not well. We pointed out that sometimes we as well had different opinions on something or wanted to achieve different things, but that this is not bad, because we can always find a solution, just sitting down together to talk about it. After that explanation, the "war toys" topic was finished with. Later on we found out that both boys had witnessed violent attacks on their mothers.
The six older children had experienced war and flight from their home villages. Two children had lost their father. Another child lived alone with its mother, because the father "had left." As this father had been violent, the boy said that he was happy to be alone with his mother now. Nevertheless, the boy was very uncertain and had problems concerning his self-esteem.
Three smaller boys were rather hyperactive and at the beginning very aggressive and ruthless. They behaved contrary, bawled and hit anything near them until their mother gave in. The three little sons were asking too much of her as a single mother, and she was totally exhausted.
Two girls presented symptoms of a slight mental handicap. Another boy had speech impediments and sometimes stuttered which made him angry and caused aggressive behaviour towards other children. One child was very dependent on his mother who further encouraged that.
Generally, all children had difficulties to pay attention, watch out for each other, and accept rules and limits.
This group of children therefore was challenging for us, too. Nevertheless, our daily program tailor-made for children's needs helped us a lot in dealing with them. The trips to the beach (none of the children had been at the seaside before), playing in the sand, looking for seashells and stones, building sandcastles, digging themselves in the sand, learning to swim, jump and dive helped the children to live up to their need of motion and action.
At first, all children were a bit afraid of water but were at the same time fascinated by it. With a little support and equipped with swimming belts, they finally dared to enter the water and became freer and braver day by day. Except for the youngest, almost all children learned to swim, and we very much enjoyed watching them swim, dive and jump or float on the water. Nevertheless, they liked the swimming pool near the beach in Supetar (the island's main town) better than the sea itself. The pool's demarcation and the plain ground without plants made them feel safer.
The children loved the evenings they spent in the children's house as well. They could hardly wait to go into the "kucica" and play with the "aunties" (the SEKA workers) after dinner.
The older children loved to play whole plots with LEGO, developing another episode every evening. The smaller children especially liked role games with our dolls and puppets. In these games, they assimilated all day experiences such as family life, shopping, or birthday parties as well as topics like illness, death, birth, accidents, or arguments. The SEKA workers normally participated in the games playing a role the children had assigned them to (mostly the father's, the mother's, or a victim's part). In this way, the children could either fulfil their needs to be taken care of or act out their aggressions in a harmless way.
In the beginning it was often necessary to settle conflicts among the children. The more the children accepted our rules, the easier it became to settle those problems. Step by step the children learned to pay more attention and watch out for each other, because they realized it was worth the effort. Naturally, there were the three surprises for them as well: the photo- project and the exhibition on the last evening, a boat trip in small groups with "aunty" Mirjana's boat, and the "T-Shirt painting" activity (see group 1).
Taking photos with their "real own camera" was a great attraction for these children as well. The little course improved their ability to concentrate and to perceive and increased their self-esteem due to the exhibition on the last evening. Last but not least, they learned how to handle a camera and take photos.
The boat trip was a dream come true for these children. For days, they had longingly watched the boats at the quays in Supetar and Splitska. They could hardly believe it that they were now to ride on such a boat themselves. They enjoyed this "surprise" proudly and with beaming faces.
The mothers were kept busy with their own problems at first, they were exhausted and hardly had any capacity for the children, neither to play with them nor to have arguments or settle conflicts. They basically ignored their children's behavior as long as they could; only when it became impossible to ignore, they eventually slapped or beat them.
It became clear that next to the offers we made for the children, conversations with the mothers on the children were extraordinarily important. At the very beginning when introducing the house rules, we had pointed out that SEKA was a "place without violence" and had offered our assistance in solving problems with the children and in finding non-violent solutions. Most mothers were happy to take the offer. Caused by acute problems on the beach, it often came to such conversations. We encouraged the mothers to put up necessary limits and make sensible demands, and to consistently keep to them.
Other topics were:
In the end there were major changes to be seen in the relationship between mothers and children: On one hand, the mothers began to do more with their children, to play with them and to enjoy being with them. On the other hand, they increasingly managed to put up limits and keep to them. After a period of outbursts of rage, the children began to accept their mothers' new behaviour what the women felt to be a great relief. One woman said at the end of her stay: "I have learned more about educating children here in 14 days than in the rest of my life so far."


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It won't be easy to find a rhyme for "Mathletes" — as in, "You can't join Mathletes, it's social suicide!"
But that is the challenge for an all-star team making a musical version of "Mean Girls," a 2004 cult teen comedy movie. The show is scheduled to have a world premiere production in the fall at the National Theater in Washington, a spokesman for the musical said on Friday.
The creative team includes the comedic writer and actress Tina Fey, who wrote the film's screenplay; "Saturday Night Live" producer Lorne Michaels, who produced the film and will produce the show with Broadway veteran Stuart Thompson ("The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time"); and the director Casey Nicholaw ("Aladdin," "The Book of Mormon").
Setting to music so many memorable bits of high school banter — "You can't sit with us," "That's why her hair is so big, it's full of secrets" and "On Wednesdays, we wear pink" — will be the composer Jeff Richmond, who is married to Ms. Fey. Nell Benjamin ("Legally Blonde") is writing the lyrics. The musical will have a developmental lab in April.
All of which means this team may not have much time to realize the wishes of the film's star, Lindsay Lohan, who expressed her desire this week to pursue a sequel.
"I have been trying so hard to do a 'Mean Girls 2.' It is not in my hands," she said in a Facebook Live chat with CNN, according to Entertainment Weekly. "I know Tina Fey and Lorne Michaels and all of Paramount are very busy. But I will keep forcing it and pushing it on them until we do it."
"I would love to have Jamie Lee Curtis and Jimmy Fallon in the movie," she added. "I've already written a treatment for it, so I just need a response."


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Matt Wheeler & Vintage Heart Pennsylvania
A man can only offer his own perspective on the world, but in earnestly sharing one's own perspective, a person can create something that resonates in the ears, minds, & hearts of others. That is what Matt Wheeler's music is about.
Contact Matt Wheeler & Vintage Heart
Streaming and Download help


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There is news on the pharma front regarding medications for the treatment of Alzheimer's. A parent of mine suffered through the horror of this disease, and the family suffered, watching the shell that my parent became in the end of her life. So, I watch news of this horrible disease and the drugs being developed to combat it. The cause and progression of Alzheimer's disease are not well understood. Research indicates that the disease is associated with plaques and tangles in the brain. I could spend pages discussing this disease, but I am able to simply say - if you have seen it - you know how horrible it is.
According to the NY Times, whose headline I shamelessly copied, here is the news:
Drugs in clinical trial would qualify for approval if people at very early stages of the disease subtly improved their performance on memory or reasoning tests, even before they developed any obvious impairments. Companies would not have to show that the drugs improved daily, real-world functioning.
From JAMA:
The focus of drug development in Alzheimer's disease has increasingly been earlier disease stages, before overt dementia. This refinement of focus, however, raises important new challenges because the subtleties of cognitive impairment in patients with early-stage Alzheimer's can be difficult to assess. Moreover, the range of focus must extend to healthy people who are merely at risk for the disease but could benefit from preventive therapies. In recognition of these shifting challenges, the FDA has developed guidance for the design and execution of clinical trials involving patients who do not present with dementia.
Despite our growing understanding of the relationship between various disease-based biomarkers and the clinical course of Alzheimer's disease, it remains unclear whether the effect of a drug on one or more such biomarkers can actually predict a meaningful clinical benefit
So the question is - would speeding up the approval process for new drugs to be used at very early stages make sense? Having seen the disease myself every day, I would say yes. What is the downside? Side effects and their severity would (in my opinion) be hashed out early in the approval process, as they always are.
The key to me is the statement - a drug that is administered before the impairments become obvious - that holds promise. Unfortunately, the impairments are gradual, and if like me you are many miles from a family member and the visits are not frequent, by the time you notice the impairments, it's too late to slow the progression with medications that may work.
There are more than 1000 trials involving medications to combat this disease. If there is an expedited approval process, perhaps one or more could help.
Someone tell me the downsides. email me at galawyerblog(at)yahoo.com


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This ring is delicate and light, designed in house and inspired from the magnolia flower. Crafted from sterling silver and plated in rhodium for added luxury and protection against tarnishing. A little piece floral heaven.
This peice is from the Magnolia collection from Pastiche unfolds with effortless beauty. Freshwater pearls glisten like dew drops on the Magnolia's ivory petals, while floral motifs are revealed in silver and gold designs.
THE RING SIZER TOOL Download the ring sizer tool here. Ensure you print the PDF at 100% (DO NOT SCALE). Cut out the tool and wrap around your finger as shown.
USE THE TABLE You can measure the inside diameter of an existing ring to find your ring size in the table below.
|Inside Dia (x)
As a general recommendation, Jewellery should be the last thing you put on before leaving the house and the first thing you take of at the end of the day.
Let perfume and moisturisers absorb into the skin before putting on your Jewellery, simple things like spraying on perfume over jewellery can affect finishes.
Care should be taken when washing hands, as some soaps can contain abrasives that could damage the finish/surface of our rings and cause the plating to be worn away. Excessive exposure to hand sanitizers or cleaning agents can make plating finish wear faster.
When not in use, our Jewellery should be stored in a dark & dry place, such as it's presentation box, or a jewellery case.
This Product is eligible for our 30 day returns policy for orders within Australia.
All Pastiche products come with modern, designed boxes with a sleek finish on the outside and velvet insert to keep your jewellery in the best condition and beautifully presented. Whether this piece is for yourself or a gift for someone special, our packaging will add an extra touch of luxury to the experience.
All Pastiche products come with modern, designed boxes with a sleek finish on the outside and velvet insert to keep your jewellery in the best condition and beautifully presented. Whether this piece is for yourself or a gift for someone special, our packaging will add an extra touch of luxury to the experience.
Bangle is beautiful and wears really well , i have worn it many times
Voyager Ring
Pretty but a bit too small
Night Shade Necklace
Meet your Soul Necklace
It's absolutely stunning and so comfortable to wear. I generally can't wear necklaces for more than an hour because I can either feel the weight on my neck or it causes irritation on my skin but Pastiche - I can wear it all day without even feeling there is something on my neck. Such dainty styles..Can't wear to buy more xx
Absolutely stunning piece , can't wait for lockdown to be over so I can show this off , so unique x
Love this ..elegant can wear it long or short
Earrings were purchased as a gift & were a great success, my friend adored them!
Service & delivery time was exceptional. Would highly recommend
I love this necklace, it's a good size too. I got it when it was on sale, so even better!
I love this piece , very good size and weight, with a dainty twist
I love this bangle it is very pretty and sweet and a very nice sterling silver colour
A lot bigger than I thought it would be. Makes a beautiful statement piece.
Absolutely perfect! Gorgeous product and packaging, speedy delivery. Perfect!


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Premier Roofing Contractors in Rossville, GA
Committed to quality, Burell Built Exteriors is your local choice for a family owned and operated roofing business with decades of experience. Whether your roof was damaged in a storm or it's time for a new roof, our licensed roofers are here to help. We are happy to appraise roof problems and help you find the right solution for your needs, budget, and style, so call our roofing contractors in Rossville, GA today at 865-238-2628 to find out more!
Commercial Roofing Services
For all your business roofing needs, choose the expert roofing contractors in Rossville, GA at Burell Built Exteriors. Whether you want roof repair or a new roof for a warehouse, restaurant, strip mall, or other building, we have it covered. To offer a trusted and durable roof system, we use careful techniques and exceptional materials from trusted manufacturers. From flat roofs to regular sloped roof systems, we have options for any repair or new roof, including:
- Commercial Roof Replacement: When your old roof is starting to fail, schedule a roof replacement before the problem gets any worse or you could face serious trouble.
- Duro-Last Commercial Roofing: A highly durable and long-lasting roof system, Duro-Last is made to suit your roof, meaning less on-site work.
- Green Roofing: In addition to the many eco-friendly and energy efficient benefits that come with green roofing, it also provides a modern style.
- New Construction: With over 20 years of experience, our roofers can deliver quality new roof construction services.
- Slate Roofing: A beloved roofing product for its strength and long lifespan, slate comes in several colors and is a premium option.
- Solar Roofing: Enjoy energy efficiency, a positive public perception, and many other advantages with affordable solar roofs.
- Sprayed Polyurethane Foam Roofs: With superior waterproofing, strength, and energy efficiency, sprayed polyurethane foam is increasingly popular.
- TPO Commercial Roofs: A popular single-ply membrane, TPO is available in various colors, such as white, for better energy efficiency.
Residential Roofing Services
Totally dedicated to your family's safety and happiness, our roofing contractors in Rossville, GA take care of your roof system as if it were our own. Our roofers provide complete residential roofing, including inspections, repairs, replacement, and more. No matter which style of house you have or what budget you're on, our roofers carry a large selection of quality roofing materials. Our contractors also offer repair and installation for your windows, siding, and more. Call 865-238-2628 to speak with one of our certified roofers about what we can do for you, such as:
- Attic Insulation: Quality attic insulation can help dramatically reduce your energy bills in addition to helping your roof last longer.
- Emergency Roofing Services: If you have a critical roof leak or water damage, call us 24/7 for emergency roof repairs you can rely on!
- Insurance Claims: Our experts are happy to provide assistance with insurance claims as well as roof restoration after fire, water, or hail damage.
- Metal Roofing: In addition to its energy efficient advantages, metal roofs are also eco-friendly, fully recyclable, and made of recycled metal.
- Other Roof Systems: No matter which type of roof you have, we have an option for you, from architectural shingles to stunning slate.
- Roof Repair: Contact our contractors today if you need roof repair for worn shingles, missing tiles, rusting metal, or roof leaks.
- Roof Replacement: When your roof has reached the end of its lifespan or is seriously damaged, call us about roof replacement options!
Quality and Service You Can Trust
To withstand wear and tear year after year, your roof requires proper maintenance and prompt repair. To ensure that your roof will last for years to come, we use high quality materials known for their water-resistance and other features. To get your dollar's worth, choose only experienced roofers for your roof repair or installation. At Burell Built Exteriors, we are proud to have over 20 years of industry experience, and we put those skills to work on each project. We work carefully to provide the highest quality work for your residential or commercial roof, backed by our industry-leading guarantees. Don't put off critical roof repairs or replacement, or you might risk more serious problems down the road. Call our roofing contractors in Rossville, GA today at 865-238-2628.


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The Charnos 24/7 tights have three pairs inside the pack, and are available in a choice of 5 colours; barely black, black, champagne, navy and sherry. Fantastic value for money given their durability – with a comfortable cotton gusset, reinforced toe and comfort waistband. Stylish, durable and very affordable.
We send parcels WORLDWIDE from our warehouse in the UK. Most orders leave the same day or next working day. All orders are sent in plain packaging. Standard delivery is just £1.75 for the UK, £5.95 for Europe and £7.50 for the rest of the world. Standard delivery is FREE on UK orders over £25.
If you're unsure about a product you've purchased, you can return it for a refund or exchange at any time within 60 days.
To place an order, ask for advice, or if you have a query about an existing order, please call us on 0207 1188 116 (+44 207 1188 116 from overseas) or email email@example.com.


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In Utah, marketing strategies help businesses inform prospective clients about their products or services. The strategies start with social media postings and ads. The opportunities are more cost-effective than other solutions. Reviewing the steps for marketing on Facebook helps the business owner get the most out of the plans.
Identify the Company's Budget
The business owner must review how much capital is available for marketing. The budget defines what is possible and how much it will cost. Social media is a more cost-effective choice that helps companies market their business without facing high costs. Even if the budget is lower than average, the company can use a social media profile to spread the word quickly.
Set Goals for the Campaign
The next task is to set goals for the campaign and create a plan with milestones. All objectives must be achievable through the plan, and the owner must remain realistic. For instance, the owner must calculate the volume of sales that are possible once the campaign starts. All achievements related to the campaign must be tracked completely.
Target the Preferred Demographic
All campaigns must be driven towards the target demographic. The owner must conduct research and learn what is appealing to the customers and use similar concepts. The ad campaigns must capture the audience's attention and keep them engaged. The business owner evaluates how well the ads are received by reviewing any comments left by visitors.
Create Engaging Advertisements
All advertisements must be engaging and entertaining. The concepts must be fresh and attractive to the audience. Ads that are placed on the social media profile are straightforward and direct. The visitors must be encouraged to click on the ads and explore their options. Businesses could utilize social media advertising choices that generate ad revenue, too.
Monitor the Social Media Profile Daily
The business owner must monitor their social media profiles daily. Select automation software is useful when monitoring the profiles. It sends alerts to the business owner at any time that the followers post a comment or respond. Monitoring the profile helps the business manage its reputation easier.
In Utah, marketing plans are created to spread the word about businesses and what they offer consumers. The strategies help businesses obtain more customers and close more sales. Leads are generated often through interactions on social media. Ads are posted on social media profiles to attract customers, too. Businesses that want to learn more about creating a plan review more details about Facebook Marketing Strategies right now.


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Plymouth pharmacists offer fast track to prescription medicine for minor illnesses without a visit to the doctor
People in Plymouth can get prescription medicine for a range of minor illnesses straight from a pharmacy, without the need to visit a doctor.
Under the Pharmacy First scheme, trained pharmacists in participating branches can give out medication which normally has to be prescribed by a GP for the following conditions:
• Urinary Tract Infections (UTI) for women aged 18-64
• Impetigo
• Nappy rash
• Conjunctivitis for one-year-olds
The scheme aims to make the most of pharmacists' expertise and give local people a fast alternative to visiting the doctor, especially during the busy winter period.
Tom Kallis, a community pharmacist in Devon and project lead for Devon Local Pharmaceutical Committee, said: "This is a great service as it offers anyone with one of these illnesses a fast route to treatment – you usually don't need to make an appointment and you shouldn't have to wait long.
"Nationally, about 18% of GP appointments could have been treated at a pharmacy. We know GP practices are very busy in winter and so this is about providing a convenient alternative.
"The service is generally for uncomplicated cases and the pharmacist will go through a series of questions with the patient in private. If the pharmacist finds 'red flag' symptoms they will refer the patient to their GP to get it checked out.
"It's about making the most of the fact that a community pharmacist is a highly skilled clinician."
Only specially trained pharmacists offer the service – if you want to check it's available at your local community pharmacist, phone ahead and ask about Pharmacy First services.
Prescription charges, with normal exemptions, are payable.
It is hoped the service will be expanded to further ailments in future.


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Whether your business is office based or public facing, you'll want the conditions within your building to be as welcoming and pleasant as possible. If the vents and air duct systems within your commercial property go long periods of time without a high quality clean, they can have a detrimental effect of the environment within your premises. It can be vital for businesses to take care of the air quality they provide for staff and customers, but for those that host guests on a regular basis, this should be a top priority. Here we outline some of the crucial reasons your vents and air duct systems deserve thorough commercial air duct cleaning and maintenance services.
Mold is a Problem That Everybody Recognizes
Mold can form within your HVAC and ventilation units if they are left to go years without and professional clean. These devices handle a lot of dirt throughout the year. Dirt from outdoor, hair, skin cells and grease can all be swept up by air and steam to be absorbed the fans and filters within you ventilation systems. With enough build-up, these collections of bacteria can form spread of mold growth. The biggest threat that mold brings is its appearance and odor. Both aspects are unpleasant features that most people will be quite familiar with. The stains and smell produced by this type of infestation is easy to recognize, and it gives your customers, visitors and staff an immediate impression when it is noticed.
Parts Can Decay From Excessive Dirt Build Up
Not only is visible and odor ridden dirt repulsive, it can be very destructive. Parts that are covered in bacteria are likely to decay much faster than if they were kept clean. Filters, internal fans and other key fragile components are at risk if your vents are left uncleaned for long periods of time.
Expert Commercial Air Duct Cleaning
If your air ducts have gone years without an air quality check, call us today for a quote or to book a call out. Our commercial air duct cleaning services can help to improve the air quality within you building and avoid the risk of blockage and mold growth.


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News, Announcements & Science Updates
CTSC Announcement: Freezerworks Biorepository Sample Management Software is Now Available
Freezerworks, a commercial biobanking software, is now available for use by faculty and staff who manage any type of biological samples at UC Davis. The Freezerworks software can improve research sample management and overall quality of research through its full-featured sample tracking and freezer inventory programs.
Freezerworks sample management software is an important new resource for investigators across the UC Davis campuses.
Additional information is provided in the CTSC Connections Newsletter (p.4). If you are interested in learning more about Freezerworks or how it could enhance your specimen management processes, please contact either Stephanie Soares email@example.com (916-734-7524) or Leslie Solis firstname.lastname@example.com (916-734-3475) at the CTSC Biorepositories Core Resource.
UC Davis Toxicology Students Recommend Research on the Air We Breathe When Land Burns
How do fire-suppression chemicals and pesticides affect wildfire smoke and the health of those who breathe it? UC Davis graduate students discovered that this question cannot be answered based on current scientific evidence and, in a review published in Current Topics in Toxicology, they recommend more studies on the compounds in wildfire smoke.
UC Davis researchers uncover complex relationship between p53 and Rbm38 proteins
Scientists have long known the p53 protein suppresses tumors. However, a recent animal study by UC Davis researchers has uncovered a complicated relationship between p53 and another protein, Rbm38, highlighting how the body calibrates protein levels. Too much Rbm38 reduces p53 levels, increasing the risk of cancer. Too little Rbm38 allows p53 overexpression, causing premature aging. The study was published in the journal PNAS on Dec. 15.
2014 Biotech Times Magazine - Published by the UC Davis Biotechnology Program
The UC Davis Biotechnology Program's annual magazine, The Biotech Times, has just been published and is available online HERE.
Please take a look at some of the many activities that the Program is involved with, including ones that showcase our wonderful DEB (Designated Emphasis in Biotechnology) graduate students. On the cover is last year's NIH/Biotech Fellows having fun during our annual training retreat in Napa.
CVEC PhD Student Featured in Mosquito Research Foundation Newsletter
Mary Danforth, Chris Barker's PhD student in CVEC is featured in the Fall 2014 issue of Mosquito Research Foundation's newsletter.
NIAID Funding Newsletter
Featured articles include Biosafety Stewardship Month, Struggling with Foreign Clinical Regulations, and Microbiomes in HIV-1 Vaccine Responses.
Read the full issue online here.
New Chair and Vice-Chair Named for the Comparative Pathology Graduate Group
We are happy to announce that Dr. Patricia Pesavento has been selected as the new Chair of the Graduate Group in Comparative Pathology and Dr. Brian Murphy will be serving as the new Vice-Chair of the Graduate Group.
Dr. Pesavento is an active member in our group and has been an exceptional mentor since 2008. She is passionate about teaching and mentoring PhD students and will be a fantastic advocate for our group. Her research focuses on naturally occurring diseases of animals, the identification of novel viral pathogens in a variety of animal species and emerging diseases in animals in close interface with humans.
Dr. Pesavento received her PhD from Harvard University and her DVM from UC Davis. She is a board-certified Veterinary Pathologist. She has been at UC Davis since 1996 first as a Veterinary Student and most recently as a Professor in Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology.
Dr. Murphy has been a member of our group since 2008 and has been a wonderful mentor to our students. He has been an active member of the Educational Policy Committee and he is very interested in high level scholarship and focused mentoring for our students. His research is focused on viral transcriptional regulation (especially retroviruses), viral latency and the relationship of virus-host cell interation to pathogenesis.
Dr. Murphy received his PhD and DVM from Washington State University. He is also a board-certified Veterinary Pathologist with special emphases on oral and bone pathology. He is an Associate Professor in Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology.
Congratulations to the 2014-2015 UC Davis ARCS Scholars!
Brad Hobson, Pharmacology & Toxicology (Mentor - Pamela Lein)
Amir Kol, Comparative Pathology (Mentor - Dori Borjesson)
Patricia Gaffney, Comparative Pathology (Mentor - Christina Sigurdson)
NIH Report Warns of Looming Shortage of Physician-Scientists
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) released its much anticipated report of the Physician-Scientist Workforce Working Group into which several AAVMC representatives had critical input. Its findings reinforced the Association's position that DVMs are an overlooked, but critical component of the physician-scientist workforce. Between 2008 - 2012, only 250 DVMs were funded by NIH, comprising only 3 percent of the biomedical research workforce. The findings in this report will be a key part of AAVMC's continuing advocacy at NIH. The Working Group included AAVMC members, James Fox (MIT) and Susan VandeWoude (Colorado State). In addition, Harry Dickerson (Georgia), Michael Lairmore (Davis), and Willie Reed (Purdue) served as Ad Hoc Subcommittee Members.
The full report can be found at http://acd.od.nih.gov/reports/PSW_Report_ACD_06042014.pdf
UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine is committed to training the next generation of clinician researcher that will provide leadership in solving complex and pressing issues facing modern societies. Our faculty are committed to providing students at all stages of their career opportunities to participate in cutting edge research projects at the interface of animal, human and environmental health. Students are encouraged to access several integrated long-term research mentoring and training activities and advanced degree programs that facilitate access to the breadth of research opportunities available not only on UC Davis campus, but also nationally and internationally.
UCD SVM Study confirms mitochondrial deficits in children with autism
(SACRAMENTO, Calif.) — Children with autism experience deficits in a type of immune cell that protects the body from infection. Called granulocytes, the cells exhibit one-third the capacity to fight infection and protect the body from invasion compared with the same cells in children who are developing normally.
The cells, which circulate in the bloodstream, are less able to deliver crucial infection-fighting oxidative responses to combat invading pathogens because of dysfunction in their tiny energy-generating organelles, the mitochondria.
The study is published online in the journal Pediatrics.
"Granulocytes fight cellular invaders like bacteria and viruses by producing highly reactive oxidants, toxic chemicals that kill microorganisms. Our findings show that in children with severe autism the level of that response was both lower and slower," said Eleonora Napoli, lead study author and project scientist in the Department of Molecular Biosciences in the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. "The granulocytes generated less highly reactive oxidants and took longer to produce them."
The researchers also found that the mitochondria in the granulocytes of children with autism consumed far less oxygen than those of the typically developing children — another sign of decreased mitochondrial function.
Mitochondria are the main intracellular source of oxygen free radicals, which are very reactive and can harm cellular structures and DNA. Cells can repair typical levels of oxidative damage. However, in the children with autism the cells produced more free radicals and were less able to repair the damage, and as a result experienced more oxidative stress. The free radical levels in the blood cells of children with autism were 1 ½ times greater than those without the disorder.
The study was conducted using blood samples of children enrolled in the Childhood Risk of Autism and the Environment (CHARGE) Study and included 10 children with severe autism age 2 to 5 and 10 age-, race- and sex-matched children who were developing typically.
In an earlier study the research team found decreased mitochondrial fortitude in another type of immune cell, the lymphocytes. Together, the findings suggest that deficiencies in the cells' ability to fuel brain neurons might lead to some of the cognitive impairments associated with autism. Higher levels of free radicals also might contribute to autism severity.
"The response found among granulocytes mirrors earlier results obtained with lymphocytes from children with severe autism, underscoring the cross-talk between energy metabolism and response to oxidative damage," said Cecilia Giulivi, professor in the Department of Molecular Biosciences in the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine and the study's senior author.
"It also suggests that the immune response seems to be modulated by a nuclear factor named NRF2," that controls antioxidant response to environmental factors and may hold clues to the gene-environment interaction in autism, Giulivi said.
Katherine Watson Selected as 2014 Max Kleiber Graduate Research Prize Winner
This prize is awarded annually in recognition of the most outstanding dissertation in the areas of nutrition and metabolism, and emphasizes the belief that the recipient has demonstrated superior scholary achievement and promise in research. Ms. Watson was selected as the 2014 recipient for this award in recognition of her outstanding dissertation in the areas of nutrition and metabolism. The award also carries a $1,000 award.
Ms. Watson also received the 2014 Loren D. Carlson Prize in Physiology earlier this year.
EPA Grants $800K to study impact of chemical exposures
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently awarded $800,000 to scientists in Professor Pamela Lein's laboratory as part of $3 million in grants to research institutions to better understand how chemicals interact with biological processes and how these interactions may lead to altered brain development. The studies are focused on improving EPA's ability to predict the potential health effects of chemical exposures.
Lein – a developmental neurobiologist and neurotoxicologist in the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine –explains that this particular project will seek to identify adverse outcome pathways (AOPs) for chemicals that cause developmental neurotoxicity by interfering with thyroid hormone signaling. An AOP is a model which predicts the connection between exposures and the chain of events that lead to an unwanted health effect.
CTSC Scholar Meets With Congress
VETERINARIAN MORTEZA ROODGAR, a UC Davis graduate student in comparative pathology and CTSC T32 scholar, is in search of a silent threat lurking in the bodies of 2 billion people. The threat is tuberculosis (TB), and Roodgar is working to develop a more efficient means of diagnosis.
Kate Watson Awarded Carlson Prize in Physiology
Congratulations to Katherine (Kate) Watson on receiving the 2014 Loren D. Carlson Prize in Physiology! The award is the highest honor that the Molecular, Cellular and Integrative Physiology (MCIP) Graduate Group bestows upon a graduate student who demonstrates superior scholarly achievement and promise for teaching and research in physiology.
Watson managed research labs for both the Department of Surgery at UCDMC and the Department of Biomedical Engineering at UC Davis after receiving her B.S. in Neurology, Physiology and Behavior from UC Davis. In 2014 she received her Ph.D. in Molecular and Cellular Integrative Physiology as part of the Veterinary Scientist Training Program (VSTP) that enables students at the School of Veterinary Medicine to graduate with dual DVM and PhD degrees. She is scheduled to graduate from veterinary school in 2016.
"My focus as a veterinary scientist training fellow is to engineer solutions that promote non-invasive diagnostic and therapeutic techniques to advance both animal and human health," Watson said. "By having a foothold in both research and medicine, I hope to enhance communication between physicians, veterinarians and researchers to improve global health initiatives."
As a graduate student in Katherine Ferrara's lab, Watson's work focused on the use of therapeutic ultrasound to induce mild hyperthermia and tissue ablation within solid tumors to enhance chemotherapeutic accumulation and efficacy.
Watson's dedication to research is balanced by her commitment to family and community outreach. In addition to coaching/refereeing soccer for her twin 6 year-old boys, she founded the School of Veterinary Medicine Radiology Club to enhance the diagnostic skills of veterinary students, serves as SCAVMA Vice President, and is an advocate for women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).
The award comes with a prize of $3,000, a certificate commemorating the Prize, and Watson's name will be inscribed on the Carlson Prize plaque displayed in the Carlson Library. It will be announced at the Graduate Studies commencement in June.
Matthew Mellema Receives AAVMC/ZOETIS National Teaching Excellence Award
The Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC) announced today that Dr. Matthew Mellema from the University of California, Davis School of Veterinary Medicine is the recipient of the 2013 AAVMC Distinguished Teacher Award, presented by Zoetis. The honor is considered the most prestigious national teaching award in veterinary medicine.
Dr. Mellema is an assistant professor of emergency and critical care at UC-Davis, where he has taught since 2007. He will receive the award during the AAVMC's 2014 Annual Conference in Alexandria, Virginia, on Friday, March 14, where he will also share his approach, experiences and teaching philosophy with more than 200 conference attendees, including veterinary college deans, faculty and associated dignitaries from throughout the United States and the world.
The AAVMC Distinguished Teacher Award recognizes excellence in professional veterinary medical education and is presented to an educator whose sustained record of teaching excellence and ability, dedication, character and leadership has contributed significantly to the advancement of the profession.
60 Minutes Television Covers CCRC Research
Kimber Stanhope Researches Dietary Sugars: Consequences of fructose consumption not so sweet
PIONEERING STUDIES by nutritional biologist Kimber Stanhope conducted with the Clinical and Translational Science Center (CTSC) are revealing new information about the metabolic effects of sugar consumption, and point to a possible cause-and-effect relationship between fructose intake and cardiovascular disease. Stanhope anticipates that findings from a study she conducted in 2005, and an ongoing investigation that will continue through 2015, may provide important new information for revised nutritional guidelines for safe upper limits of sugar consumption.
Research studies that Stanhope and her colleagues have published in scientific journals attracted the attention of CBS television's 60 Minutes program. Producers at 60 Minutes dispatched a news crew to the CTSC Clinical Research Center (CCRC) at the Sacramento VA Medical Center to observe research subjects participating in Stanhope's current study.
Dr. Paul Russell honored with 2013 Zoetis Excellence in Research Award
Dr. Paul Russell received the 2013 Zoetis Excellence in Research Award at a faculty reception on Oct. 30th. He was recognized for innovative study aimed at understanding mechanisms underlying glaucoma, a clinically prevalent eye disease in both humans and companion animals.
As a researcher in the Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences at UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Russell focuses on determining how biophysical cues of topography and substrate stiffness contribute to the disease process. His seminal findings have revealed how extracellular matrix influences ocular outflow pathways essential for drainage of the eye. He has cleverly fabricated synthetic matrices that model the stiffness of the normal and glaucomic extracellular matrices, which are valuable for identifying new therapies. Dr. Russell's work has been supported by the National Institutes of Health and he has published more than 150 articles.
Dr. Russell earned his Ph.D. in molecular biophysics and biochemistry from Yale University in 1975. After a productive research career at the National Eye Institute of the NIH and two years at the University of Wisconsin, in 2009 Dr. Russell joined the faculty at UC Davis.
The Zoetis Excellence in Research Award was previously known as the Pfizer Award for Research Excellence. The award fosters innovative research on which the scientific advancement of the veterinary profession depends, by recognizing outstanding research effort and productivity. Nominees must be faculty members of the College of Veterinary Medicine or a nationally recognized teaching/research hospital, and the recipient's research accomplishments conducted within the past three years. Nominees are typically the principal investigator in a research program that has attained or is likely to attain national recognition. Zoetis works with leading scientists and research institutes to identify and address the most pressing challenges facing animal health today.
Dr. Munashe Chigerwe recognized for outstanding teaching
Executive Associate Dean John Pascoe awards Dr. Munashe Chigerwe the 2013 SVM Distinguished Faculty Teaching Award.
Dr. Munashe Chigerwe received the 2013 SVM Distinguished Faculty Teaching Award at a faculty reception Oct. 30th for excellence in teaching and student mentoring, sustained efforts in planning and implementing the new professional curriculum, and contributions in educational scholarship.
In accepting the honor, Chigerwe said: "I'm really humbled; I've learned so much from all of you. I come from a country where the village is so important. I consider you a good village. Thank you so much."
Dr. Chigerwe is an assistant professor of food animal medicine and surgery. He received his BVSc from the University of Zimbabwe in 2001 and MPH and PhD degrees from the University of Missouri before joining our faculty in 2009. He is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.
He has proven an exceptional instructor in didactic and clinical teaching settings, receiving the Favorite Large Animal Clinician and Favorite Teacher Awards in 2010 and the Favorite Large Animal Clinician and Favorite Faculty Awards in 2011. Student commentary highlights two important qualities: one focused on student learning and the other on student welfare. Dr. Chigerwe emphasizes mechanistic understanding rather than memorization. He understands what motivates students in terms of teaching style, tests, and studying and his content is always presented clearly and concisely, is easy to follow, with pictures relevant to the topic.
Students comment how well he connects with them, calling on them by name in class, and how his story-telling breaks are not only relevant to veterinary medicine, but to life in general. His interest in student learning has led to a research focus determining the learning skill approaches that students use and the relationship between these skills and curricular design.
Dr. Chigerwe has been actively engaged in the planning, implementation, and teaching of the new professional curriculum, serving as a member of the Curriculum Development Steering Committee (2008-2010) and the Curriculum Committee (2010-2013). He has led the development of content in livestock medicine and surgery for both the Large Animal Stream and Livestock Emphasis.