When it comes to playtime, construction sets are a perfect outlet for curious little minds. The benefits of building extend further than you might think. In addition to being fun, it helps children develop critical life skills, like social interaction, eye-hand coordination, creativity, and problem solving. It also introduces important academic concepts, such as early math and basic engineering/science principles. Just like any toy, building toys may come with potentially unforeseen safety concerns. Knowing the latest trends, technology, and what's appropriate for your child can help encourage their curiosity while keeping them safe.
Nostalgia can play a big part in determining what toys our children play with. As Bob Dylan once said, "the times they are a changin'," and so are the classic toys from your childhood. What was once a simple construction set comprised of blocks (and more blocks) may now be a little more sophisticated. Products like LEGO Boost – a toy that provides the familiarity of classic LEGOs, now uses advanced technology that enables children to build motorized creations, code behaviors, and play through the use of an app. LEGOs have come a long way from basic bricks.
"Connected" means something entirely different for today's construction sets. Connected building toys today offer a lot more than interlocking pieces. Corresponding apps and other internet capabilities add a whole new element to the creative process. One of 2017's hottest Christmas toys, the Star Wars Droid Inventor Kit by litteBits Electronics, brings together building and invention under a wildly popular brand name. The corresponding app guides the droid construction process, and allows tiny inventors to control their constructed creation.
Building encourages thinking outside the box, quite literally sometimes. Construction toys aren't limited to blocks and bricks; building toys extend into the realm of "messy" play with modeling clays and popular items like Playfoam from Learning Resources. This fun, squishy, mess-free product, and others like it, are great for building and stretching imaginations. Plus, bright colors and interesting textures add a sensory element to the learning and building experience.
With all these cool new bells and whistles come a whole new class of safety concerns that vary depending on the age and ability of the child. This is also the case for the potential hazards related to building toys.
For children under the age of three, the size of the various parts plays a big part in terms of safety. Smaller building blocks, batteries, and magnets can become choking hazards and can result in internal damage or even worse. To prevent choking, make sure pieces are large enough that they can't pass through a toilet paper tube. Batteries and connective magnets should be secure in their casing and inaccessible to small hands and mouths to avoid more severe injuries. Keep in mind that although non-toxic, products like Playfoam can present a choking hazard or can be an encouragement to young children to ingest more harmful products.
For older children, different hazards may apply. Building sets with motorized, electric components come with the potential for electric shock or pinching and for hair or clothing to become caught within the moving parts. Sets that allow for different assembly variations can also lead to unforeseen hazards, including projectiles, electric shock, or other safety issues resulting from unintended use. Supervision can go a long way in preventing these kinds of incidents and injuries. Make sure sets are age-appropriate and kept out of sight and reach when not in use.
Finally, toys that incorporate technology, such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or apps, bring online safety issues into the mix. When it comes to connected toys, understand how they work — what information is collected, where it is stored (within the toy, Cloud, or 3rd party), who has access to it, and how it will be used. While connected toys provide the benefits of an enhanced, more personalized experience, hacks that may compromise the privacy, security, and safety of children are a real concern. Ensure that there are built-in security measures, and implement your own precautions prior to play.
Keep in mind that each child is different. What's safe for one might not work for another. When selecting a building set for your child, heed the age recommendation and all warning statements that are present on the packaging. Use them to guide your decisions. Knowing your own child's abilities and strengths will help to keep them safe while allowing them to build, learn, and indulge their curiosity.
UL's team of quality assurance experts supports the toy manufacturing industry's drive to bring safer products to the world market. In addition to UL's unmatched toy safety expertise, our child development experts can determine the most appropriate age grading of toys. Products bearing the UL Toy Safety Certification Mark are held to the highest quality and safety standards for the youngest consumers. Additionally, UL's advisory services continue to help toy manufactures throughout the supply chain, from design reviews and safety assessments. For more information on UL's toy advisory services, contact TOYS@UL.com.


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Marine Day
On the topic of cultures, holidays, japan, philippines
A beach on Chigasaki, the nearest one to my place.
Never been there yet and I probably won't ever be able to go.
Photo from Wikipedia.
Last Monday was Marine Day here in Japan, a national holiday. This year, it was on July 16. I totally forgot about it this time, but now I know why one of my meetings were scheduled for July 17 (Tuesday) and not July 16.
Anyway, the Japanese for "Marine Day" is "Umi no hi," which literally translates to "Day of the ocean/sea." Or Ocean Day or Sea Day. The holiday was instituted to commemorate the Meiji Emperor and his 1876 voyage on the Meiji-Maru, an iron steamship constructed in England in 1874. In 1995, it became a national holiday (i.e. no work and no school!) as a day of gratitude for the blessings of the oceans and to hope for the economic prosperity of maritime Japan. Until 1996, it was known as "Marine Memorial Day," and celebrated on July 20. From 2003, it has been celebrated on the 3rd Monday of July to follow the "Happy Monday Holiday System," which is similar to the practice in the Philippines were national holidays are moved to Mondays, to create a three-day, long, holiday weekend.
Source: Wikipedia.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Participants will be given a name of the product /service an hour before presentation to research and evaluate it. They will be expected to pitch the product/services and show all the necessary details to investors within 30 minutes.
Participants will be given an hour to prepare before pitch time.
The participants must only submit original work.
At the end of the day points from all events will be added up together and the institution which has accumulated highest points will be awarded a rolling trophy. All the event descriptions are approved by the event management committee. The event management committee has the right to make any changes on the given proposal at any time.


explor VR - Virtual Reality brings travel to life!
Imagine being able to test-drive vacations even before departure. With Virtual Reality, anything is possible!
Virtual Reality is a constant in mainstream marketing and when brands harness the power of the visceral experiences VR can offer, they will win the hearts and minds of Millennials.
Take a sneak peek of what awaits in the world. Virtual Reality brings travel to life!
It is easy to become Virtual Reality enabled by downloading the Explor VR app from the Apple App Store, Google play store or Oculus Go store. Search for 'Explor VR' and start experiencing amazing content right away.
The Explor VR app is compatible with all the major Smartphones including iPhone, Samsung, LTE, LG, Motorola as well as the Oculus Go. Any phone that runs on either the IOS or Android operating system, will run the app smoothly.
Once you have downloaded the app, slip the Smartphone into an Explor VR headset, or Google cardboard to start viewing amazing content OR view it in an Oculus Go, the first self contained VR headset.
This technology is easy to use and perfect for any ages and technical ability. It is simple to use, easy to navigate and we are always on hand to help with training and concerns.


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Can we stop calling films 'content' now?
21st October 2019 | by Simon Brew | Comments
A plea to stop talking about films and TV shows in corporatespeak.
In 1887, the Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh completed the first in his series of still life paintings that go by the name Sunflowers. A year later, he'd finish the second of the two series.
When he did so, the paintings became regarded over time as spectacular pieces of art. That said, it's hard not to imagine if he presented said work today, there'd be someone in a decent suit somewhere who would congratulate him on his work, sign his freelance invoice, and leave him to fend for himself. They wouldn't be pictures. They'd be creative collateral, or an impressive paint/canvas interface. Or, shudder: they'd be content.
That word, after all, is permeating. It's infecting lots of areas of life, movies and TV in particular.
Netflix, for instance, doesn't say is has a large collection of films and TV shows to choose from. It has "an extensive global content library". Disney boss Bob Iger, when contrasting the difference between his incoming Disney+ service and Netflix told Vanity Fair that "what Netflix is doing is making content to support a platform, we're making content to tell great stories".
Content. When have we allowed this word to take such hold. People working for magazines and website now don't write articles or write reviews. They create "content". People seem to be making fewer and fewer films, and more and more "content". If you make several films, then congratulations: you're making "greater volume", not 'more movies'.
It's little secret that Hollywood and the movies underwent changes as the 70s went into the 80s. That studios that were once run by traditional moguls who were invested in the movies found themselves increasingly part of global conglomerates who wanted a movie studio on their asset books. The filmmakers were being taken away from the top jobs, in favour of big business executives.
That's where we are today, and the cliché is that movie executives as a consequence are less interested in movies than ever before. Certainly the days of a filmmaker heading up a major studio – as director Joe Roth did with Disney as recently as the late 90s – look set never to return.
But there are movie executives who clearly love films, even if lots of them give the perception that they seem to have to spend half their time in Excel spreadsheets. That notwithstanding, there are movie executives fighting for stories and projects they believe in every single day. It's easy to overlook that.
Yet still, there's a corporate culture that's firmly seeped into the world of film. That, in turn, has brought corporate language with it, and I think this is a backwards step.
When did it become not just respectful, but the norm, to describe a film or TV show as a piece of content? Where did a term enter the lexicon that's so reductive to what's being made? You may think it's pretentious twaddle to describe even massive blockbuster films as art, but I'd content they are. They're labours of love for someone, and they're being reduced to business doublespeak on a press release.
Looking to this winter, would anyone dare call Martin Scorsese's new film, The Irishman, a piece of digital content? You'd think not. But then Netflix's umbrella – as per its own corporatespeak – is just that. A library of content. Not a library of films and TV shows.
Director Brad Bird's Twitter bio explains that "I love all the arts, but I love movies most because they combine so many of them". That's not a man who's making a piece of content. He's making a film, that combines the talents of many people, to turn it into a story that he and those involved hope will be watched and enjoyed. I've heard filmmakers and writers use the word 'content' to describe their work when they're making a cutting point. I've met few who believe that's actually what they're making.
Enough now. I have no power in the world, I accept that. But imagine going to an art gallery, and the advert promising you 'compelling analogue content', with no irony or twist to it at all? That's just what we're doing with screen entertainment now, and I think it all deserves better.
I do accept, of course, that there are very real problems in the world, and I fully accept the material in this short piece isn't that high up the list. But still, just to be on the safe side I Googled 'people who say literally when they mean figuratively' and that threw up 14 million results.
I figure one person fighting against the word 'content' won't hurt. Hence, this. I thank you for reading.
Lead image: BigStock
Tags: Disney, netflix
« More on Jared Leto's unhappiness with the Joker movie
The Laundromat review: the Netflix movie that survived a legal threat »


Iconic, central and a Vancouver treasure, Good Noise is honoured to call historic Christ Church Cathedral home as Gospel Choir in Residence. Good Noise maintains independence as a community choir while being an active part of the musical life of the Cathedral. Weekly rehearsals and the choir's major concerts are held at the Cathedral. Good Noise enjoys musical collaborations with the Cathedral Choir and Vancouver Children's Choir (also in residence), having co-produced major concert events and co-commissioned the dynamic choral/instrumental work, "The Dawning", by renowned composer/musician Paul Halley. Good Noise sings on occasion at Sunday church services and at the very popular annual "Gospel For the City" service on Christmas Eve.
Good Noise has been spreading its infectious joy with audiences since 2004.


Over 4.12 lakh posts were lying vacant in various central government organisations in 2016, the Centre said in a written reply to Lok Sabha on Wednesday.
Out of the total of 4,12,752 vacancies, 15,284 were Group 'A' posts, 76,050 in Group 'B' and 3,21,418 in Group 'C' categories, it said.
The vacancies are based on the annual report on pay and allowances of central government civilian employees' for 2016-17 as on March 1, 2016 published by Pay Research Unit, Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance, the reply said.


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Spider-Man Heat Vision Breakdown
'Annihilation' Suggests an Auteur in the Making
February 24, 2018 6:00am by Josh Spiegel
'Ex Machina' (left) and 'Annihilation' | Courtesy of A24; Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
The ambition of director Alex Garland's latest vastly exceeds that of 'Ex Machina.'
[This story contains spoilers for Annihilation.]
After years of working solely as a writer (both a novelist and screenwriter), Alex Garland shifted into being a director in 2015 with his debut feature, Ex Machina, a chilly morality tale about how two men exploit the technology of artificial intelligence to subjugate women. The film received plaudits and decent box office. While other filmmakers would use success in an independent genre piece to step into the world of big-budget blockbusters, Garland has instead continued to follow in the footsteps of auteurist filmmakers like Stanley Kubrick with his second directorial effort, the disturbing Annihilation.
This Week In Heat Vision breakdown
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The setup of Annihilation is deceptively simple, hearkening back to other great sci-fi films like Alien and The Thing. A mysterious disaster zone known as the Shimmer has sprung up in the swamps of Florida and is slowly expanding; various soldiers on a series of missions have been sent into the Shimmer to detect its origin and motivations, but only one very ill man (Oscar Isaac) has returned. The film depicts the latest, and possibly final, mission, led by a brusque psychologist (Jennifer Jason Leigh) and also including a biologist (Natalie Portman), physicist (Tessa Thompson) and others. Once the team members enter the Shimmer, they find all sorts of fascinating, baffling and bizarre mutations between animal, plant and human — and that's before they begin to worry that they're losing their minds.
Ex Machina and Annihilation have some similarities in the broad strokes; both are moody sci-fi films with splashes of blood and horror, both are inspired in some respect by seminal examples of the genre from decades past, and both feature striking production design and special effects that conjure up unforgettable images. However, Annihilation, in spite of seeming somewhat self-contained like Ex Machina due to the main characters being isolated from the rest of the world for the majority of the film, is a more expansive story that delves far deeper into the lead characters' psyches. There is, in some sense, the suggestion that the people entering the Shimmer are more prone to being subject to alien mutation because of their own broken pasts.
The ambition of Annihilation vastly exceeds that of Ex Machina. The boldness of Garland's adaptation is strongest in its finale, when Portman's character — driven to enter the Shimmer in the hopes of rescuing her husband (Isaac, playing the ill man who was able to exit the Shimmer) — travels to the center of the zone and encounters an alien intelligence that creates a duplicate of her body, mimicking her movement and attempting to attack her. This sequence, which plays out with a booming soundtrack and no dialogue, culminates in an odd fight sequence between Portman and her faceless, feature-less alien mirror image. The setpiece begins with a miniature light show of cosmic beauty that recalls the climax of 2001, in which the lead human is essentially sent through a wormhole by an unseen extraterrestrial intelligence.
Enough elements in Annihilation don't quite fit with each other, so it's not quite as ambitious on the whole as Kubrick's masterpiece of science fiction. For one, the story is structured around a maddening and eventually useless in medias res device in which Portman's character Lena speaks to a man wearing a radiation suit after the mission has ended. Thus, for all of the unnerving and spooky imagery, there is still the knowledge that Lena will progress much further than her compatriots. But while that framing device and its conclusion may be somewhat disappointing, it's only because the movie around that device is so remarkable and seemingly singular, while recalling classic and recent pinnacles of cinematic science fiction, from the aforementioned 2001 to 2013's Under the Skin. The very end may be something of a letdown precisely because the rest of this movie is so fascinating to behold, especially since it's from a major studio and not a scrappy independent distributor.
When Paramount Pictures sold off the international rights to Annihilation to Netflix, the subtext was that the studio might have been cutting its potential losses with the cerebral science-fiction journey. While that may end up being true — opening a week after Black Panther and having more than a few flourishes that owe a debt to 2001: A Space Odyssey means this film probably won't be a huge hit — the movie that was greenlit is still a remarkably effective genre piece that deserves greater attention. Alex Garland has stepped up his game from Ex Machina to Annihilation, leaping well beyond the gender politics of the former to a broader, more ambitious and more expansive film with genuinely haunting imagery. Here's a film that suggests a true auteur in the making.
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Ransomware attacks were at a peak in 2016. At the end of 2017, another threat occurred due to illegal cryptocurrency. The hackers initially began to develop malware to hack the resources in a victim's computer. The hackers decided to focus on producing multiple malware with the help of technical improvements. For example, when the unwary user clicks the malware attached along with his mail, his system is under a ransomware attack.
Generally, crypto mining occurs by mining bitcoins and other cryptocurrency coins. Though there are legitimate ways to produce cryptocurrency just by solving a math problem, hackers choose the malevolent path to mine zillions of bitcoins. The illicit activities of mining cryptocurrencies lead to crypto jacking. It allows hackers to mine bitcoins with computer resources letting them to hack the computers of individuals. According to Bitcoin Energy Consumption Index, one bitcoin transaction uses as much energy as 100,000 visa transactions.
In September 2017, Malwarebytes, a security firm, tracked uptick in the increase of crypto jacking crimes. Hackers do not need to hack the mobiles of individuals. Instead, hacking a particular website gives them access to multiple mobile devices at a time. Recently, due to a third party flaw, a crypto jacking campaign has impacted around 5000 sites including the UK and the U.S. government pages.
The presence of malware can be detected by using up-to-date antivirus and malware detection tools. Using those tools is required to combat system weakness after the malware has sprung out. The response to clicks can be slower when the malware runs as a background in the system. HiddenMiner, one of the worse cases of Cryptojacking, affects Android phones to perform operations that result in overheating and catching fire.
The extensions on each page can close malware for cryptocurrency mining on board. Google recently stopped listing the extensions that cryptocurrencies mine as 90 percent of that software infringed its policies. Although many preventive measures have been taken against illicit cryptocurrency mining, no operating system is immune to crypto jacking campaign. Organizations have to continue to innovate and upgrade existing systems to prevent such threats in the future.


Q: What two things do Uganda, Malta and England have in common?
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Commonwealth Secretariat, the 85th anniversary of the first Commonwealth Games, and international Commonwealth Day (which is today), the Ottawa branch of the Royal Commonwealth Society (RCS) held its inaugural Taste of the Commonwealth event on Sunday, March 8, at City Hall's Jean Pigott Place.
While there weren't any Ugandan, Maltese or English wines to be had (more's the pity) there were plenty from Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Canada. Guests wandered from booth to booth, enjoying regional delicacies like Jamaican patties and Indian pakora bhaji brought in from local embassies while they sipped and savoured.
But Carone stole the show with a full line-up of whites, rosés and reds. The first in the province to plant and make wine from pinot noir, sangiovese and cabernet severnyi, Carone is a pioneer in Quebec winemaking. It also crafts award-winning wines from regional, cold-hardy hybrids. The 'Double Barrel' red kept guests coming back for seconds and thirds, but I preferred the complexities of the pinot noir.
Commonwealth Wine 'Did You Know' ...?
The Knights Hospitaller brought centuries of winemaking to Malta and Cyprus. As both countries are islands, they survived the phylloxera outbreak that decimated most of the world's vineyards in the late 19th century. Their native grapes are Girgentina (Malta) and Mavro (Cyprus).
Ugandan wine is made from hibiscus flowers; in Nigeria, it's made from pineapples or palm sap. Some Caribbean islands also make wine from the region's abundant supply of tropical fruits.
India has the highest growth of wine consumption in the world, and Chateau Indage was the country's first commercial winery.
Boschendal 2013 '1685' Chardonnay (South Africa) - Heavy oak presence, with accompanying notes of cedar and muted citrus. Intense buttery, weighty body, with just enough acidity to keep it stable.
Three Stones 2014 Sauvignon Blanc (Wairn Valley, Marlborough, New Zealand) - Eye-catching brilliance in this almost colourless pour, with a mere tinge of silvery-green. Sharp nose of grapefruit, citrus peel, grass and flint. Light-bodied, with bracing zest and tart lemon-lime flavours. Long, mineral finish.
Creekside 2013 Sauvignon Blanc (Niagara) - Same unblemished clarity as its New Zealand counterpart, but appears more silvered in the glass. The classic aromas are present, but restrained. Instead of being punched in the mouth with acidity, it creeps up slowly on the palate, letting the minerality and citrus notes have their moment first. Finishes ever-so-slightly sweet; overall, a softer, more nuanced version of sauvignon blanc.
Carone 2012 Bin 33 Rouge (Lanaudière, Quebec) - 100% Frontenac, which has a history of being horribly misrepresented in the province. The Rouge is all smoke, licorice and black cherry; full and juicy on the palate, with grippy tannins and a dry finish, comparable to chianti.
Carone 2012 Venice Pinot Noir - Up-front aromas of brandy, currants and blackberries; the fruit follows through, accompanied by a lovely blend of baking spices and a raisined/stewed flavour profile. The finish is supple and elegant.
Carone 2011 Double Barrel - Cabernet severnyi and sangiovese, aged for 12 months in new American oak, then for four more months in spent French barrels. Deep, opaque purple in the glass, with a ruby rim. Complex nose of peppercorns, cloves, cassis and fresh herbs leads into bold fruit and spice on the palate. This is a massive, muscular wine with oomph that would pair well with game meats or any viande saignante (rare meat).
From Frank H. Scheme, Photographer: Read it for a second time and really enjoyed your write-up, Bethany. You have a gift for making us want to read more and to go and purchase a few of those wines!


This silly girl loves forks - and spoons - but mostly forks. It's hard to watch her use a fork, at first, because you're so afraid she's going to poke herself. But then you quickly realize she knows what she's doing - she's very good.
Using a fork is so fun, in fact, that she now insists on having one for all meals - Cheerios included. And if the little buggers won't stay on the fork on their own, she just takes each one and sticks it on the tines until she's got enough for a mouthful. It takes a while to finish breakfast, but that's okay!


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Q: Cocoa Frameworks: Using one framework inside of another I'm building a framework (main) which uses another framework (sub). Main framework will be used then in different apps.
The main framework target builds without errors. However, if I try to build an App which uses the main framework I receive an error -> Class in the main framework cannot find/import the sub framework...
How can I configure main framework so that it will find the sub framework?

A: As I understand you want to create one framework inside another. It is called "Umbrella framework" and it's not a good idea.
Documentations says:

Don't Create Umbrella Frameworks
While it is possible to create umbrella frameworks using Xcode, doing
  so is unnecessary for most developers and is not recommended. Apple
  uses umbrella frameworks to mask some of the interdependencies between
  libraries in the operating system. In nearly all cases, you should be
  able to include your code in a single, standard framework bundle.
  Alternatively, if your code was sufficiently modular, you could create
  multiple frameworks, but in that case, the dependencies between
  modules would be minimal or nonexistent and should not warrant the
  creation of an umbrella for them.

You can use one framework inside another, but both frameworks must be included to your app target and must be copied to /Contents/Frameworks/ directory of your app bundle. Also you must set Installation directory to @executable_path/../Frameworks for both frameworks.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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EDA Awards Festivals
AWFJ to Present EDA Awards at Whistler Film Festival — Jennifer Merin reports
November 27, 2016 October 18, 2018 Jennifer Merin	0 Comments	EDA Awards, Whistler Film Festival
This is the fourth consecutive year in which the Alliance of Women Film Journalists has the honor to partner with Whistler Film Festival to recognize women filmmakers with presentation of EDA Awards for Best Female-Directed Feature Film and Best Female-Directed Documentary at this year's festival, held in Whistler from November 30 to December 4, 2016. Whistler Film Festival nominates narrative features and documentaries for consideration. Selected by AWFJ jurors, the winners will be announced on December 4, at the Whistler Film Festival Awards Ceremony. Read on…
NARRATIVE FEATURE NOMINEES AND JURY
For 2016, the festival nominated six films for the EDA Award for Best Female-Directed Narrative Feature. They are all from Canadian directors. The titles are (in alphabetical order):
Anatomy of Violence – Directed by Deepa Mehta
Before the Streets – Directed by Chloé Leriche
The Death (and Life of Carl Naardlinger – Directed by Katherine Schlemmer
Hunting Pignut – Directed by Martine Blue
The Space Between — Directed by Amy Jo Johnson
The Sun at Midnight – Directed byKirsten Carthew
The EDA Awards jury for narrative films includes Marina Antunes, Katherine Brodsky (Chair), Giulia D'Agnolo Vallan, Laura Emerick and Julide Tanriverdi.
DOCUMENTARY NOMINEES AND JURY
The seven nominated documentaries include (in alphabetical order):
Between – Directed by Sandra Lahnsteiner – Austria
Broken – Directed by Lynne Spencer – Canada
Going Further – Directed by Lindsay Kent, Matt Pidutti, Lindsay Kent, Colby Rex O'neill – Canada/USA
Melody Makers, Should've Been There – Directed by Leslie Ann Coles – Canada
Mr. Zaritsky on TV – Directed by Jennifer Di Cresce and Michael Savoie – Canada/UK/Germany/Italy
Sled Dogs – Directed by Fern Levitt – Canada
The Will to Fly – Directed by Katie Bender and Leo Baker – Australia
The EDA Awards jury for documentaries consists of Cynthia Fuchs, Leba Hertz, Jennifer Merin (chair), Katherine Monk and Dorothy Woodend.
For full descriptions of the nominated films and an overview of Whistler Film Festival's program, visit the Whistler Film Festival Website.
ABOUT THE AWFJ EDA AWARDS FESTIVAL PROGRAM
AWFJ's EDA Awards festival program for 2016 included presentation of the Best Female-Directed Documentary Feature and Best Female-Directed Documentary Short at DOXA Film Festival in Vancouver in May and IDFA in November. AWFJ has presented EDA Awards at Edinburgh International Film Festival, Salem Film Fest, Sheffield Doc/Fest and St. Louis International Film Festival, among others. EDA Awards were also presented for POVs Twentieth Anniversary Celebration at New York's Museum of Modern Art. For more information about AWFJ and/or the EDA Awards, contact Jennifer Merin at awfjinc@gmail.com.
← Maite Alberdi Wins IDFA 2016 AWFJ EDA Award for THE GROWN UPS, with 2,500 Euros Prize
AWFJ Movie of The Week December 2: JACKIE →
Jennifer Merin
Jennifer Merin is the Film Critic for Womens eNews and contributes the CINEMA CITIZEN blog for and is managing editor for Women on Film, the online magazine of the Alliance of Women Film Journalists, of which she is President. She has served as a regular critic and film-related interviewer for The New York Press and About.com. She has written about entertainment for USA Today, The L.A. Times, US Magazine, Ms. Magazine, Endless Vacation Magazine, Daily News, New York Post, SoHo News and other publications. After receiving her MFA from Tisch School of the Arts (Grad Acting), Jennifer performed at the O'Neill Theater Center's Playwrights Conference, Long Wharf Theater, American Place Theatre and LaMamma, where she worked with renown Japanese director, Shuji Terayama. She subsequently joined Terayama's theater company in Tokyo, where she also acted in films. Her journalism career began when she was asked to write about Terayama for The Drama Review. She became a regular contributor to the Christian Science Monitor after writing an article about Marketta Kimbrell's Theater For The Forgotten, with which she was performing at the time. She was an O'Neill Theater Center National Critics' Institute Fellow, and then became the institute's Coordinator. While teaching at the Universities of Wisconsin and Rhode Island, she wrote "A Directory of Festivals of Theater, Dance and Folklore Around the World," published by the International Theater Institute. Denmark's Odin Teatret's director, Eugenio Barba, wrote his manifesto in the form of a letter to "Dear Jennifer Merin," which has been published around the world, in languages as diverse as Farsi and Romanian. Jennifer's culturally-oriented travel column began in the LA Times in 1984, then moved to The Associated Press, LA Times Syndicate, Tribune Media, Creators Syndicate and (currently) Arcamax Publishing. She's been news writer/editor for ABC Radio Networks, on-air reporter for NBC, CBS Radio and, currently, for Westwood One's America In the Morning. She is also a member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association. For her AWFJ archive, type "Jennifer Merin" in the Search Box (upper right corner of screen).


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Economics & Public Finance
Nonprofits & Communities
Notes from a Distant Land—and What We Have in Common
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Essex County Uses Data to Take Action on Income Inequality
CGR Study Maps Food Resources and Examines Barriers
"Eds and Meds" as Economic Drivers in NYS
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On assignment out here in Arizona, I'm led to compare it to my adopted state of New York. First, there's the weather: no snow, warm temps, bicycle-friendly year-round. Out here, of course, that's a normal winter.
The big city dominates state politics. Here the city is Phoenix. With two-thirds of the state's population, the Phoenix metro area carries a big stick. Arizonans living elsewhere complain that they have but a small, quiet voice in state political circles and that the interests of Maricopa County (Phoenix, Tempe, Scottsdale, etc.) rule. We've got our big city, of course: New York City alone accounts for just over 40 percent of the state's population. Add in Long Island and Westchester and Rockland counties, and metro New York's share rises to 61 percent.
Both "big cities" have a dominant political culture, too. By registration, Phoenix metro Republicans outnumber Democrats by about 30 percent. New York is, of course, dominated by Democrats, but by a whopping 6-to-1 ratio, an advantage unimaginable among Maricopa County Republicans.
And just as Upstate New York Republicans fret about Democratic policy and influence in Albany, many in Democrat-dominated Tucson are quick to tell you that those "crazy people in Phoenix" don't represent them. In Tucson's Pima County, Democrats outnumber Republicans by about 20 percent. In Santa Cruz County, host to the busy Nogales port of entry to Mexico, Republicans are outnumbered 3-to-1.
Both Arizona and New York are big states with far-flung outposts. The Center for Governmental Research project that brings me here requires a meeting in Yuma. A 240-mile journey from Tucson, the trip resembles a recent expedition I made to Malone in Franklin County, 243 miles from Rochester. In both cases, the distant locale is separated by a physical barrier; in Arizona, it's the Sonoran Desert. Franklin County is cut off from the rest of the state by the Adirondacks. And both distant regions fret about relevance.
Both states have an international border. Judged solely by the Phoenix-dominated media reports, we might think that all Arizonans view the border with fear and dislike. And that would be a mistake. Just like New York's border counties to the west and north, Arizona's southern counties find the border an economic and cultural bonanza. Residents of Nogales, Ariz., speak fondly of days when the border was a line on the map and a small sign in the street. Festival bands flowed freely back and forth. A 2008 study by the University of Arizona found that Mexican shoppers spend about $2.8 billion in Arizona every year and that this number has been growing over time. In 2010, the value of imports and exports flowing through Arizona ports of entry totaled $16 billion and $10 billion, respectively. About three-quarters of this trade flows through Nogales.
On a previous visit I was given a tour of Nogales, Sonora, and saw firsthand the large and vibrant industrial activity just south of the border. Nogales has avoided the drug-related violence of other Mexican border cities, preserving more of the tourist trade. On balance, this binational region creates significant value for Arizona and its residents. Many resent the national focus on "hardening the border," since it has reduced cultural exchange and made simple trade more difficult.
Both states are influenced by domestic migration. Looking at 2000-08, the period before the Great Recession, New York lost 1.6 million residents (8 percent of its population) to other states, the largest absolute and relative loss in the nation. Arizona, by contrast, was a close second to Nevada in being the largest "receiver" states, and it added more than 700,000 people who moved from other states, about 14 percent of its 2000 population. FYI, Florida was first numerically, adding 1.3 million, about 8 percent of its population. I think we know where lots of those New Yorkers went.
There are social implications of such migration, of course. Only 36 percent of current Arizona residents–versus 64 percent of New Yorkers–were born in the state. I don't know how this influences politics and the social dynamic, but it must be significant.
And, of course, we both have famous sheriffs. Until his fall from grace, we had the Sheriff of Wall Street, Eliot Spitzer. Arizona has Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, the guy who brought chain gangs in striped jumpsuits back to America.
Arpaio starts all woman DUI chain gang - Source: KPHO, Phoenix, AZ.
I've seen them out here, incidentally-groups of prisoners picking up roadside litter while managing the chains that connect them to one another. Now Sheriff Joe has announced that he has evidence challenging the validity of Barack Obama's citizenship. It's not quite Spitzer's campaign against the head of the New York Stock Exchange, but big personalities take on big challenges.
We've got more in common with Arizona than you might think, and certainly our struggles with representative democracy aren't unique. Where we stand is ever influenced by where we sit–and whether we find ourselves in the majority or minority.
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Take a trip along the bicycle track areas on the Taipa waterfront on Avenida dos Jogos da Ásia Oriental or the Lotus Cycling Track along Avenida Marginal Flor de Lotus in Cotai, and you're sure to spot the clusters of trees and other plants along the coastline. You may not know, however, that these are mangrove forests, one of the most ecologically valuable ecosystems in the world. Join us for an exploration of this local treasure, and uncover a world full of mystery and dynamics, the world of mangroves!
The word mangrove originates from the Portuguese word mangue or Spanish word mangle meaning "tree" and the English word "grove" for a group of trees. Known in Chinese as 紅樹林 (red forest), mangroves are a special group of trees, shrubs, and other plants that thrive in coastal saline and brackish waters, particularly along the fringes of estuaries and lagoons. This means that the mangroves are able to tolerate salty water brought about by fluctuations in tides and river flow, ranging from being partially submerged during high tide to exposed at low tide. Other plants would struggle to survive in such a harsh and changing environment, but mangroves have developed many physiological (functioning) and morphological (physical) adaptations that make them quite unique.
These physical adaptations tend to be the most distinguishing features for ordinary people first encountering mangroves. Each forest is a maze of roots and branches wriggling out of very soft, and sometimes smelly, mud. To survive in the changing water conditions along the coast, mangroves like those in Macao have developed "breathing roots" called pneumatophores, which look like fingers protruding above the soil surface. Other mangroves have prop or stilt-like roots which not only allow for "breathing" but also provide support from the impacts of tides and waves.
We don't often think of plants as needing to breathe, but plant roots need oxygen for respiration to stay healthy. This is difficult in a mangrove forest where the soft, water-saturated soil limits gas exchange, making the soil oxygen poor. Pneumatophores allow mangroves to get the oxygen they need, and the widely spread horizontal roots they grow, help anchor the plants in unstable mud.
That mud may not smell very nice – many liken it to the smell of rotten eggs – but it's natural and temporary, not at all a cause of worry. The smell is from sulphur dioxide produced by the anaerobic bacteria that decompose the dead plants and animals in the anoxic, or oxygen poor, soil.
Mangroves have also developed strategies to deal with the salt in their environment. For most plants, even the relatively lower salinity of brackish water would reduce growth at best, and kill at worst. Not mangrove species! They can excrete salts from their leaves or exclude salt from entering their roots when taking in water – some do both. While mangroves would happily grow in fresh water, their ability to tolerate salt gives them a competitive advantage over other types of plants.
Another very interesting adaptation of some mangroves species is the ability of seeds to germinate while still with the parent tree, called vivipary. These candle or pen-shaped seeds can float and attach to sediments, taking root where water is shallow enough. This process helps mangroves propagate and survive in the very unstable intertidal environment.
These remarkable adaptations allow mangrove forests to grow in sheltered tropical and subtropical coastal areas in 123 countries and territories around the world. Did you know that most mangroves – 42 per cent – are found in Asia? The rest are in Africa (20 per cent), North and Central America (15 per cent), South America (11 per cent), and Oceania (12 per cent). Macao, despite its small size and highly urbanised environment, is home to a healthy stand of mangrove forest along approximately four kilometres of the Taipa-Coloane coastline. The majority of these mangroves grow within the 40-hectare Ecological Zone II in Cotai managed by the Environmental Protection Bureau. Some patches can also be found in a small protected area in the eastern side of Coloane as well as Macao Peninsula. It is quite amazing to see an ecosystem like mangroves growing alongside the glitz and glamour of a city like Macao.
But why is the whole 50-kilometre coastline of Macao not covered with mangroves? It is because not all coastal areas are a good fit for these forests. Mangroves can only grow in areas protected from high-energy waves, but they need some tidal activity to bring in nutrients, aerate the soil, and stabilise salt levels in the sediment. That's why we don't see mangroves on the beaches of Hac Sa or Sai Van or along the rocky shores in Coloane.
Now that we know what mangroves are and where we can find them, which species grow in Macao? Mangrove plants are taxonomically diverse, meaning they are not necessarily closely related or belong to the same family, but share similar functions and adaptations. There are more than 70 mangrove species worldwide – each suited to different biogeographical regions, estuary locations, and intertidal positions – and six species right here in Macao.
The smallest of these is the mangrove fern, Acrostichum aureum, which is very sparse and mostly found closer to the land than the sea, together with other mangrove associates. One of the most dominant landward species is Acanthus ilicifolius, a shrub commonly referred to as sea holly because of its spiny stems and serrated leaves. In springtime, these shrubs blossom into a beautiful field of purple and white flowers, a rare natural delight in a city like Macao.
So why are mangroves known as "red forests" in Chinese? Some say that the name originates from the red dye once made from the aptly-named red mangrove, Rhizophora. Although Rhizophora is not present in Macao, the city is home to Aegiceras corniculatum, commonly known as the river mangrove, which has a reddish petiole or leafstalk. There are also grey mangroves, exemplified by Avicennia marina, a very common species that can be seen from the mid- to seaward mangrove margins in Macao.
Kandelia obovata and Sonneratia apetala are both easily propagated, making them popular for mangrove restoration projects. Have you ever seen a plant with long candle or pen-like structures hanging from its branches? This is K. obovata, known locally as "water pen," and its viviparous seeds. While the K. obovata and the other species are native to Macao, the mangrove apple, S. apetala, is another story. Originally from Bangladesh, it came to Macao by way of mainland China. Its resiliency and fast growth rate make the mangrove apple well-suited to restoration, but there are concerns because it is also invasive and might outcompete native species in the area.
So what if there are mangroves here in Macao? Why should we care? Well, for a long time, people didn't care. The soft mud and sulphurous smell gave mangroves a bad reputation; many labelled them "wastelands" of little or no value. But over the years, researchers have shown that mangroves provide a wide range of benefits to the ecosystem and to humans.
The mangroves of Macao contribute significantly to local biodiversity. How can that be with only six plant species? For one, mangroves provide homes and shelter to many plants and animals, both terrestrial and aquatic. Local birds live there, and many migratory birds, including the endangered black-faced spoonbill, winter in the mangroves. They also serve as breeding and nursery grounds for various aquatic animals including fish, crustaceans, and molluscs.
But mangroves do more for humans than provide a great bird-watching experience. They also help make Macao a cleaner, safer environment. Because of its geographic location and hydrographic processes in the area, pollution of the coastal waters can be an issue in Macao. Mangroves, sometimes called "natural wastewater treatment facilities" due to their ability to filter pollutants such as heavy metals, help improve the quality of coastal waters. They trap sediments, leaving water clearer, and uptake nutrients. Their ability to trap pollutants helps protect adjacent areas, lessening the damage to marine life.
Mangroves, together with seagrasses and salt marshes, are also receiving more attention worldwide because of their role in climate change mitigation and adaptation. In a coastal city like Macao, vulnerable to impacts of storm surges, mangroves can help physically protect the coastline by acting as a "green wall," buffering the impact of strong waves. This helps prevent and reduce coastal erosion while also providing a measure of protection to people and property in coastal areas. We need only look back on the devastation wrought by flood waters during Super Typhoon Hato last year to see the value of investing in a natural barrier against storm surge.
Moreover, because of their unique root system and soil conditions, mangroves far outpace terrestrial forests in their ability to capture and store large quantities of carbon. Much of this carbon is stored belowground in the soil and dead roots, minimizing their carbon release into the atmosphere. They also filter air pollution, which can be an issue in Macao, and supply oxygen for the city.
Despite their proven value, mangroves have long been marginalised and face constant threat worldwide. More than 35 per cent are already gone, and an estimated 1–3 per cent of global area is lost each year. This is primarily attributed to human activities such as the clearing of mangrove forests for aquaculture or the impact of rapid development in coastal areas. But there is cause for hope.
Researchers have estimated that rates of decline in some areas in the world have recently lessened because of improved conservation measures, and many communities are investing in restoration. What about Macao and its mangroves? For those who lived here before the rapid modernisation, you may remember how Taipa looked when mangroves occupied the now freshwater wetland in front of the Old Taipa Houses-Museum. During the reclamation, the mangrove plants were transplanted from that area to their current home, Ecological Zone II in Cotai. Our forests are generally in good health, but still vulnerable to pressures from the rapid and massive development adjacent to where they live.
How can we help? We can prevent further destruction of mangrove forests by not polluting their habitat and restoring mangrove forests by planting nursery raised seedlings.
Some parts of the coastlines in Taipa and Coloane are being planted by the government, but there are still other potential sites for restoration around Macao, Cotai, and Coloane. There is hope, that through scientific research, public education and awareness, as well as cooperation of both the government and the local community, Macao's mangroves will continue to thrive and expand.
The next time you visit Macao's coastline, remember these remarkable mangroves and how much they give back to us – and consider what you can do to help protect these natural treasures for years to come.


text:
Disease Markers
Disease Markers / 2017 / Article
AbstractIntroductionMethodsResultsDiscussionConclusionsConflicts of InterestAuthors' ContributionsReferencesCopyright
Find the Essence through the Phenomena: Cardiovascular Diseases and Biomarkers
Renata Rajtar-Salwa, Rafał Hładij, Paweł Petkow Dimitrow, "Elevated Level of Troponin but Not N-Terminal Probrain Natriuretic Peptide Is Associated with Increased Risk of Sudden Cardiac Death in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Calculated According to the ESC Guidelines 2014", Disease Markers, vol. 2017, Article ID 9417908, 5 pages, 2017. https://doi.org/10.1155/2017/9417908
Elevated Level of Troponin but Not N-Terminal Probrain Natriuretic Peptide Is Associated with Increased Risk of Sudden Cardiac Death in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Calculated According to the ESC Guidelines 2014
Renata Rajtar-Salwa,1 Rafał Hładij,1 and Paweł Petkow Dimitrow 1
12nd Department of Cardiology, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kraków, Poland
Academic Editor: Agata M. Bielecka-Dabrowa
Received19 Jul 2017
Revised08 Sep 2017
Accepted26 Sep 2017
Published20 Nov 2017
The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between biomarkers (high-sensitive troponin I [hs-TnI], N-Terminal probrain natriuretic peptide [NT-proBNP]) and calculated 5-year percentage risk score of sudden cardiac death (SCD) in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Methods. In 46 HCM patients (mean age 39 ± 7 years, 24 males and 22 females), echocardiographic examination, including the stimulating maneuvers to provoke maximized LVOT gradient, had been performed and next ECG Holter was immediately started. After 24 hours, the ECG Holter was finished and the hs-TnI and NT-proBNP have been measured. Patients were divided according to 1/value of both biomarkers (hs-TnI-positive and hs-TnI-negative subgroups) and 2/(NT-proBNP lower and higher subgroup divided by median). Results. In comparison between 19 patients (hs-TnI positive) versus 27 patients (hs-TnI negative), the calculated 5-year percentage risk of SCD in HCM was significantly greater (6.38 ± 4.17% versus 3.81 ± 3.23%, ). In comparison between higher NT-proBNP versus lower NT-proBNP subgroups, the calculated 5-year percentage risk of SCD in HCM was not significantly greater (5.18 ± 3.63% versus 4.14 ± 4.18%, ). Conclusions. Patients with HCM and positive hs-TnI test have a higher risk of SCD estimated according to SCD calculator recommended by the ESC Guidelines 2014 than patients with negative hs-TnI test.
The risk factors of sudden cardiac death (SCD) for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) in the ESC Guidelines [1] included echocardiogram, electrocardiographic (ECG) Holter monitoring, and clinical variables. The calculator for sudden cardiac death risk [1] has not included any biomarker. Recently, Kehl et al. [2] reviewed the available data regarding the usefulness of natriuretic peptides and troponins in HCM. Concentrations of natriuretic peptides, and to a lesser extent of troponins, correlate with left ventricular thickness, symptom status, and left ventricular hemodynamics by Doppler measurements (left ventricular filling pressure, left ventricular outflow tract gradient).
Neither ischemic biomarker nor signs and symptoms of myocardial ischemia are included in the calculator [1]. However, ischemic response to stress revealed by echocardiographic methods becomes important prognostic player [3, 4].
Currently used high-sensitivity troponin I (hs-TnI) is an super precise biomarker for the detection of myocardial ischemia. In previous HCM studies, measurements of hs-Tn were only at a resting (without stress in unnatural condition) echocardiography and not timely synchronized with maneuvers to provoke LVOTG by natural stimuli reflecting daily common physical activity for patients [5–8]. Moreover, measurements of hs-Tn were also not timely synchronized with the Holter monitoring. So far, we have used the following protocol: 24-hour cycle—8 a.m., echocardiography with LVOTG provocation by natural stimuli (orthostatic test and Valsalva test [1, 9–13]; the observation was divided into 2 periods: day phase physical activity with probable episodes of provocable LVOTG (unmeasurable) and night phase period as a potential time for rise of troponin, in which the level has been measured after night at 8 a.m. in the next day). Between echocardiography and biomarker sampling, 24-hour Holter electrocardiography (ECG) was recorded and then the measurement of hs-TnI (the biomarker level has a close temporal relationship with findings on Holter ECG). This protocol seems to be reasonable because hs-TnI levels may be a potential cause of life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias occurring during the previous 24 hours.
The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between biomarker concentrations (hs-TnI, NT-proBNP) and calculated 5-year percentage risk score of SCD in HCM.
Consecutive patients with HCM were recruited to the study. Informed consent was obtained from each participant. All patients fulfilled conventional diagnostic criteria for HCM. The criteria for diagnosis of HCM, according to the ESC Guidelines, were the presence of left ventricular (LV) wall thickness of at least 15 mm without any other cause that could lead to ventricular hypertrophy [1, 13]. The exclusion criteria were as follows: sport activity more than recreational, prior myocardial infarction, current symptoms suggestive of coronary artery disease, concomitant neoplasm, infection, or renal failure. Subjects who had a history of alcohol septal ablation or septal myectomy were not included into the present study.
The final sample included 46 patients with HCM (mean ± SD age, 39 ± 7 years; 24 men and 22 women).
Patients on current pharmacotherapy were studied according to the abovementioned protocol. Patients have been asked to perform their common day physical activity and nocturnal resting. This protocol seems to be reasonable because hs-TnI levels may be related with labile, dynamic nature of LVOTG with fluctuating peaks in daytime (provoked LVOTG as a potential cause of myocardial ischemia).
2.1. First Model of Risk Calculation (Only the Current ECG Holter)
For calculating the percentage value of HCM risk score SCD, we assessed the following parameters: episodes of nonsustained ventricular tachycardia (nsVT) in current Holter monitoring (defined as three or more consecutive ventricular beats > 120 beats per minute) and two-dimensional (2D) echocardiography with the assessment of the maximal left ventricular wall thickness in diastole (MWT), left atrial diameter (LAD), and maximal provocable left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) gradient [1]. For the disease history, we check the following binary variables: syncope and family history of sudden death [1]. Finally, we include into the calculator the age of patients [1].
2.2. Second Model of Risk Calculation (All ECG Holter − Current + Previous ECG Holter)
Every patient had at least 3 times 24-hour ECG Holter recordings during life. One ECG Holter is defined as current (simultaneous) with biomarker sampling, and the remaining 2 or more recordings took place in past history. Presence/absence of NsVT was assessed by summing the data of all Holter (previous and current). The remaining parameters used in calculation were identical as in the first model.
The study protocol was approved by a local institutional review board (Komisja Bioetyki Jagiellonian University).
Normally distributed continuous variables were presented as mean ± SD. Differences between two groups were assessed using independent t-test. Categorical variables were assessed using the Fisher exact test and expressed as numbers (percentages). A value of less than 0.05 was considered significant.
The baseline characteristics of HCM patients are displayed in Table 1.
NYHA class 2.3 ± 0.6
CCS class 1.5 ± 0.4
Syncope (n) 15
Sudden death in family history (n) 15
NSVT in current Holter (n) 11
Creatinine, μg/L 82.3 ± 11.6
Maximum LV thickness, mm 22.5 ± 4.2
Resting LVOT gradient, ≥30 mm Hg (n) 8
Provocable LVOT gradient, ≥30 mm Hg (n) 17
Left atrial diameter, mm, mean (SD) 4.83 ± 0.81
Drugs with negative chronotropic properties (n)
β-Blocker 37
Verapamil 5
CCS: Canadian Cardiovascular Society; LVOT: left ventricular outflow tract; LV: left ventricular; NSVT: nonsustained ventricular tachycardia; NYHA: New York Heart Association.
Baseline characteristics of the patients.
Hs-TnI was detected in all HCM patients and patients with abnormal level > 19.5 ng/L were defined as positive troponin subgroup; nonelevated hs-TnI subgroup consisted of negative troponin subgroup. After NT-proBNP measurement, only 3 patients have a normal concentration < 125 pg/mL; thus, subgroup division has been created by a median.
In comparison between 19 patients (hs-TnI positive) versus 27 patients (hs-TnI negative), the calculated 5-year percentage risk of SCD in HCM was significantly greater, both in the first and in the second models (Table 2). In the second comparison between higher NT-proBNP versus lower NT-proBNP subgroups, the calculated 5-year percentage risk of SCD in HCM was not significantly greater in the first model as well as in the second model (Table 2).
First model—current Holter
Hs-TnI negative
Hs-TnI positive
5-year SCD risk in HCM 3.81 ± 3.23% 6.38 ± 4.17%
Lower NT-proBNP
Higher NT-proBNP
5-year SCD risk in HCM 4.14 ± 4.18% 5.18 ± 3.63% NS
Second model—all Holter
Comparison between subgroups of hs-TnI positive versus negative and also between subgroup of lower versus higher NT-proBNT concentration (NS: nonsignificant).
In the current study, patients with HCM and positive hs-TnI test have a higher risk of SCD estimated according to SCD calculator recommended by the ESC Guidelines 2014 than patients with negative hs-TnI test. Level of NT-proBNP is not associated with the calculated 5-year risk of SCD (stratified by calculator).
4.1. Clinical Application of Biomarkers in HCM
In a recent review paper, authors ask the question: NT-proBNP versus troponin: is one better than the other [2]. Although both biomarkers correlate with indices of HCM disease progression, BNP may be a more sensitive indicator of left ventricular hypertrophy than troponin. It was documented that the wall thickness threshold was lower for BNP elevation than for TnI elevation [14]. Moreover, it has also stronger predictors of hemodynamic parameters and clinical symptoms than troponin. Although a correlation between elevated troponin and elevated BNP has been demonstrated [14, 15], it is not a consistent finding [8, 14].
Before our study, a strategy for application of these biomarkers to risk stratification has not yet been investigated. These biomarkers may be most useful when risk markers of SCD indicate intermediate or indeterminate risk.
The impact of stress echocardiography in HCM is limited by lack of standardization and outcome data. ECS guidelines recommend stress echo solely for evaluation of LVOT [3]. However, large-scale registry data show that stress echocardiography positivity for ischemic criteria (such as new wall motion abnormalities and coronary flow velocity reserve) rather than inducible gradients predicts adverse outcome in HCM [4]. In a large study [3], mortality was predicted using criteria for detecting ischemia on stress echocardiography. The investigators proposed that stress echocardiography has a signficant prognostic role in patients with HCM, with ischemic endpoints showing a greater predictive accuracy than hemodynamic endpoints [3].
In a recent review by McCarthy et al. [16], the utility of hs-Tn assessment in arrhythmic disease is only at the initial stage of investigations, but it has been postulated as a valuable screening marker for patients with HCM at high risk of SCD.
Regular training exercise (e.g., fitness activity) has recently been recommended for selected patients with HCM [17]. Based on current observation on the association between tachycardia and elevated troponin level in patients with HCM [18] and phenomenon of troponin release by exercise [19], we suggest that any exercise stress test in HCM patients (performed either for training or diagnostic purposes) should be controlled by troponin level measurements before exercise and 6 and 12 hours after the exercise. Especially predisposed to high LVOT gradient are HCM women > 50 years of age, due to smaller LV cavity size [20]. This subgroup of HCM patients may be particularly at risk to develop high gradient at peak/post exercise period resulting into increased calculated risk in calculator.
Our study has several limitations. First, our study group may appear too small to definitely rule out association between NT-proBNP and SCD HCM risk score. Secondly, the current pharmacological treatment was maintained, and particularly, β-blockers were not withdrawn. In our pilot study, we aimed to make the observation on the correlation between hs-TnI release and timely synchronized findings on ECG Holter and resting/stress echocardiography.
Our preliminary study showed that β-blocker withdrawal might not be safe in troponin-positive subgroup of patients. In future studies, we will attempt to increase the dose and use only one type of a β-blocker to decrease ischemia burden.
We decided to measure hs-TnI levels only once because our pilot study was conducted in an outpatient setting. The optimal protocol, that is, 48-hour profile of troponin measurement with the assessment of troponin with echocardiographic examination every 8 hours, and 48 hours Holter monitoring (recommended by the ESC Guidelines), would require the in-hospital setting for the study and would be more costly. Moreover, only an outpatient-based study provides an opportunity to assess the heart rate during common daily physical activity of patients. At first look, the study by Kubo et al. [5] seems similar to our study; however, we have found essential differences from our investigation in many important points. (i)Kubo et al. (in pre-era of the ESC Guidelines from 2014, authors did not use calculator risk factors for SCD) defined their study as analysis of combined cardiovascular events (with SCD episode [the most fatal end point] only in 4 patients—such number seems to be too small for proper statistical analysis). Our study was not follow-up designed, but focused on relationship between biomarker levels and calculated 5-year percentage risk score only for SCD in HCM. SDC is the most fatal, but an easy preventable complication of HCM (by ICD).(ii)Morphologic/prognostic differences are also important (in Kubo et al., patients had less predisposition for SCD: a benign apical variant 28% versus 0% in our group). The benign morphologic pattern in Kubo et al. paper seems to correspond to the low number of SCD.(iii)In Kubo et al., LVOT gradient was assessed in binary analysis < 30 mmHg or ≥30 mmHg and only in resting conditions. In contrast, we have assessed LVOTG more precisely as a continuous variable, measured both at rest and after provocation (the provocable LVOTG is absolutely needed to measure risk of SCD by ESC calculator).(iv)Kubo et al. did not analyze nsVT in ECG-Holter (which is absolutely needed to measure the risk of SCD by calculator); moreover, nsVT assessment is needed also in the American Guideline from 2011 for risk stratification of SDC. Thus, in a paper by Kubo et al., the lack of ECG Holter analysis is a serious limitation.(v)Kubo et al. did not describe the time period between blood sampling for biomarkers and measurement of echo parameters (nsVT in Holter was not studied). In our study, the time synchrony between echo/Holter and hs-TnI measurement was defined.(vi)Kubo et al. did not analyze NT-proBNP, but only hs-Tn. Our study provides more information about two important biomarker sampling simultaneously with echocardiographic and ECG Holter measurements.
Patients with HCM and positive hs-TnI test have higher risk of SCD estimated according to SCD calculator recommended by the ESC Guidelines 2014 than patients with negative hs-TnI test.
5.1. Clinical Perspective
These findings suggest that hs-Tn may be useful as an additional biomarker for better risk stratification in HCM. Additionally, we have postulated to monitor also the biomarkers of endothelial dysfunction (impaired endothelium-dependent vasodilatation) [21].
The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.
Rafał Hładij contributed to the conception, contributed to acquisition and analysis, and gave final approval. Renata Rajtar-Salwa contributed to the conception and design; contributed to acquisition, analysis, and interpretation; critically revised the manuscript; and gave final approval. Paweł Petkow Dimitrow contributed to the conception and design; contributed to acquisition, analysis, and interpretation; drafted the manuscript; critically revised the manuscript; and gave final approval. Renata Rajtar-Salwa and Rafał Hładij contributed equally to this work.
The authors received a Jagiellonian University Grant.
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Our college football analyst takes an early look at the Camellia Bowl matchup between Appalachian State and Ohio. Go inside in order to find our free college football pick.
The Ohio University Bobcats (8-4) will meet the Appalachian State Mountaineers (10-2) in a Saturday (12/19) bowl game matchup. The opening kickoff at the Crampton Bowl in Montgomery, Alabama is slated for 5:30 PM ET. Current (12/11) college football odds lists Appalachian State as an 8 point favorite.
Appalachian State will be playing its first bowl game since moving to the FBS level in 2013. The Mountaineers were a perennial power at the FCS level, and won three consecutive national championships from 2005 to 2007. After suffering a 41-10 setback at #1 Clemson in week two, they went 9-1 during their final ten regular season games. Unfortunately, their only loss in that sequence came to Arkansas State, and prevented them from winning the Sun Belt Conference crown. The Mountaineers are a well rounded team that ranks #26 in total offense and #13 in total defense.
Considering the amount of injuries that Ohio sustained this season, an 8-4 record deems to be very commendable, and it may have been the best head coaching job of Frank Solich's stellar career. They lost their two top quarterbacks down the final stretch, yet managed to finish the regular season on a three game winning streak. However, two of those wins came against the likes of Kent State and Ball State who went a combined 6-18 in 2015. Keep in mind that Ohio went through a three game losing streak this year against Western Michigan, Buffalo, and Bowling Green University, and were outscored by a cumulative margin of 152-55.
Appalachian State fans travel very well, and that goes all the way back to their days at the FCS level. Being that this is their first ever bowl appearance, I expect the Mountaineer faithful to turn out in large numbers. That's certainly a factor that can't be ignored, and I'll go out on a limb to say Bobcats supporters will be vastly outnumbered in Montgomery. In my humble opinion, Appalachian State has the edge on both sides of the ball in this matchup. I'm going with the favorite for one of my college football picks.


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text:
<?php

class Application
{

    protected $controller = 'home';
    protected $view = 'index';
    protected $params = [];

    public function run() : void
    {
        $url = $this->parseUrl();

        /**
         * If first parameter is set, isn't empty, and exists as controller, set as controller
         * Else if, first parameter is set and is empty, set to default controller
         * Else, prepend default controller to url array
         */
        if (isset($url[0]) && !empty($url[0]) && file_exists(DIR['CONTROLLERS'] . '/' . $url[0] . '.php')) {
            $this->controller = $url[0];

        } elseif (isset($url[0]) && empty($url[0])) {
            $this->controller = $this->controller;

        } else {
            array_unshift($url, $this->controller);
        }

        /**
         * Pull in the controller class and instantiate it
         */
        require_once DIR['CONTROLLERS'] . '/' . ucwords($this->controller) . '.php';

        $this->controller = new $this->controller;

        /**
         * If parameter is set and exists as method in controller class, set as view
         * Else if method doesn't exist, set controller as default controller and set view to _404
         * Otherwise, view remains as default
         */
        if (isset($url[1]) && method_exists($this->controller, $url[1])) {
            $this->view = $url[1];

        } elseif (isset($url[1]) && !method_exists($this->controller, $url[1])) {
            $default_vars = get_class_vars(__CLASS__);
            $this->controller = new $default_vars['controller']();
            $this->view = '_404';
        }

        /**
         * Remove controller and view parameters from url
         */
        unset($url[0]);
        unset($url[1]);

        /**
         * If parameters remain, only pass the values
         */
        $this->params = ($url) ? array_values($url) : [];

        ob_start();
        call_user_func_array([$this->controller, $this->view], $this->params);
        ob_get_flush();
    }

    /**
     * Parse URL
     *
     * Parses parameter string and returns as array
     *
     * @since 1.0.0
     * @access protected
     *
     * @return array
     */
    protected function parseUrl() : array
    {
        if (isset($_GET['q'])) {
            return explode('/', filter_var(rtrim($_GET['q'], '/'), FILTER_SANITIZE_URL));
        }
        return [];
    }

}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub