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ctDNA Reveals Targetable Alterations [News in Brief]

In the plasmaMATCH trial, researchers performed circulating tumor DNA testing on patients with advanced breast cancer and matched those with ESR1, HER2, or AKT1 alterations to targeted therapies. Patients with HER2 and AKT1 mutations experienced response rates greater than 22% with durable benefit.




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Comparative single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) reveals liver metastasis-specific targets in a patient with small intestinal neuroendocrine cancer [RESEARCH REPORT]

Genomic analysis of a patient's tumor is the cornerstone of precision oncology, but it does not address whether metastases should be treated differently. Here we tested whether comparative single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) of a primary small intestinal neuroendocrine tumor to a matched liver metastasis could guide the treatment of a patient's metastatic disease. Following surgery, the patient was put on maintenance treatment with a somatostatin analog. However, the scRNA-seq analysis revealed that the neuroendocrine epithelial cells in the liver metastasis were less differentiated and expressed relatively little SSTR2, the predominant somatostatin receptor. There were also differences in the tumor microenvironments. RNA expression of vascular endothelial growth factors was higher in the primary tumor cells, reflected by an increased number of endothelial cells. Interestingly, vascular expression of the major VEGF receptors was considerably higher in the liver metastasis, indicating that the metastatic vasculature may be primed for expansion and susceptible to treatment with angiogenesis inhibitors. The patient eventually progressed on Sandostatin, and although consideration was given to adding an angiogenesis inhibitor to her regimen, her disease progression involved non-liver metastases that had not been characterized. Although in this specific case comparative scRNA-seq did not alter treatment, its potential to help guide therapy of metastatic disease was clearly demonstrated.




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The tale of two genes: from next-generation sequencing to phenotype [RESEARCH REPORT]

An 18-yr-old man with a history of intellectual disability, craniofacial dysmorphism, seizure disorder, and obesity was identified to carry a de novo, pathogenic variant in ASXL1 (c.4198G>T; p.E1400X) associated with the diagnosis of Bohring–Opitz syndrome based on exome sequencing. In addition, he was identified to carry a maternally inherited and likely pathogenic variant in MC4R (c.817C>T; p.Q273X) associated with monogenic obesity. Dual genetic diagnosis occurs in 4%–6% of patients and results in unique clinical phenotypes that are a function of tissue-specific gene expression, involved pathways, clinical expressivity, and penetrance. This case highlights the utility of next-generation sequencing in patients with an unusual combination of clinical presentations for several pillars of precision medicine including (1) diagnosis, (2) prognosis and outcome, (3) management and therapy, and (4) utilization of resources.




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[Cell Signaling] Store-Operated Calcium Channels: From Function to Structure and Back Again

Store-operated calcium (Ca2+) entry (SOCE) occurs through a widely distributed family of ion channels activated by the loss of Ca2+ from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). The best understood of these is the Ca2+ release-activated Ca2+ (CRAC) channel, which is notable for its unique activation mechanism as well as its many essential physiological functions and the diverse pathologies that result from dysregulation. In response to ER Ca2+ depletion, CRAC channels are formed through a diffusion trap mechanism at ER–plasma membrane (PM) junctions, where the ER Ca2+-sensing stromal interaction molecule (STIM) proteins bind and activate hexamers of Orai pore-forming proteins to trigger Ca2+ entry. Cell biological studies are clarifying the architecture of ER–PM junctions, their roles in Ca2+ and lipid transport, and functional interactions with cytoskeletal proteins. Molecular structures of STIM and Orai have inspired a multitude of mutagenesis and electrophysiological studies that reveal potential mechanisms for how STIM is toggled between inactive and active states, how it binds and activates Orai, and the importance of STIM-binding stoichiometry for opening the channel and establishing its signature characteristics of extremely high Ca2+ selectivity and low Ca2+ conductance.




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[Molecular Pathology] Pharmacologic Approaches for Adapting Proteostasis in the Secretory Pathway to Ameliorate Protein Conformational Diseases

Maintenance of the proteome, ensuring the proper locations, proper conformations, appropriate concentrations, etc., is essential to preserve the health of an organism in the face of environmental insults, infectious diseases, and the challenges associated with aging. Maintaining the proteome is even more difficult in the background of inherited mutations that render a given protein and others handled by the same proteostasis machinery misfolding prone and/or aggregation prone. Maintenance of the proteome or maintaining proteostasis requires the orchestration of protein synthesis, folding, trafficking, and degradation by way of highly conserved, interacting, and competitive proteostasis pathways. Each subcellular compartment has a unique proteostasis network compromising common and specialized proteostasis maintenance pathways. Stress-responsive signaling pathways detect the misfolding and/or aggregation of proteins in specific subcellular compartments using stress sensors and respond by generating an active transcription factor. Subsequent transcriptional programs up-regulate proteostasis network capacity (i.e., ability to fold and degrade proteins in that compartment). Stress-responsive signaling pathways can also be linked by way of signaling cascades to nontranscriptional means to reestablish proteostasis (e.g., by translational attenuation). Proteostasis is also strongly influenced by the inherent kinetics and thermodynamics of the folding, misfolding, and aggregation of individual proteins, and these sequence-based attributes in combination with proteostasis network capacity together influence proteostasis. In this review, we will focus on the growing body of evidence that proteostasis deficits leading to human pathology can be reversed by pharmacologic adaptation of proteostasis network capacity through stress-responsive signaling pathway activation. The power of this approach will be exemplified by focusing on the ATF6 arm of the unfolded protein response stress responsive-signaling pathway that regulates proteostasis network capacity of the secretory pathway.




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Erratum. Therapeutic Inertia Is a Problem for All of Us. Clinical Diabetes 2019;37:105-106 (DOI: 10.2337/cd19-0009)




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Erratum. Diabetes Is Primary: Timely News and Notes for Primary Care Providers. Clinical Diabetes 2020;38:4-8 (DOI: 10.2337/cd20-dp01)




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Establishment of the T1D Exchange Quality Improvement Collaborative (T1DX-QI)

The T1D Exchange established a learning platform by evaluating the current state of care and engaging 10 diabetes clinics in collaborative quality improvement (QI) activities. Participating clinics are sharing data and best practices to improve care delivery for people with type 1 diabetes. This article describes the design and initial implementation of this platform, known as the T1D Exchange Quality Improvement Collaborative. This effort has laid a foundation for learning from variation in type 1 diabetes care delivery via QI methodology and has demonstrated success in improving processes through iterative testing cycles and transparent sharing of data.




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Operative Intervention Does Not Change Pain Perception in Patients With Diabetic Foot Ulcers

Researchers investigated pain perception in patients with diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) by analyzing pre- and postoperative physical function (PF), pain interference (PI), and depression domains of the Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Information System (PROMIS). They hypothesized that 1) because of painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN), a majority of patients with DFUs would have high PROMIS PI scores unchanged by operative intervention, and 2) the initially assessed PI, PF, and depression levels would be correlated with final outcomes. Seventy-five percent of patients with DFUs reported pain, most likely because of painful DPN. Those who reported high PI and low PF were likely to report depression. PF, PI, and depression levels were unchanged after operative intervention or healing of DFUs.




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Li-Fraumeni Exploration Consortium Data Coordinating Center: Building an Interactive Web-Based Resource for Collaborative International Cancer Epidemiology Research for a Rare Condition

Background:

The success of multisite collaborative research relies on effective data collection, harmonization, and aggregation strategies. Data Coordination Centers (DCC) serve to facilitate the implementation of these strategies. The utility of a DCC can be particularly relevant for research on rare diseases where collaboration from multiple sites to amass large aggregate datasets is essential. However, approaches to building a DCC have been scarcely documented.

Methods:

The Li-Fraumeni Exploration (LiFE) Consortium's DCC was created using multiple open source packages, including LAM/G Application (Linux, Apache, MySQL, Grails), Extraction-Transformation-Loading (ETL) Pentaho Data Integration Tool, and the Saiku-Mondrian client. This document serves as a resource for building a rare disease DCC for multi-institutional collaborative research.

Results:

The primary scientific and technological objective to create an online central repository into which data from all participating sites could be deposited, harmonized, aggregated, disseminated, and analyzed was completed. The cohort now include 2,193 participants from six contributing sites, including 1,354 individuals from families with a pathogenic or likely variant in TP53. Data on cancer diagnoses are also available. Challenges and lessons learned are summarized.

Conclusions:

The methods leveraged mitigate challenges associated with successfully developing a DCC's technical infrastructure, data harmonization efforts, communications, and software development and applications.

Impact:

These methods can serve as a framework in establishing other collaborative research efforts. Data from the consortium will serve as a great resource for collaborative research to improve knowledge on, and the ability to care for, individuals and families with Li-Fraumeni syndrome.




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Subtractive Immunization for Mice, Rats, and Hamsters

Subtractive immunization is useful for directing the immune response away from dominant epitopes to allow antibodies against less immunogenic antigens to be developed. It is also useful when there is a need to downplay the response to carriers added to peptides and recombinant proteins, such as Gst and Ig, to aid in production and purification. Subtractive immunization protocols also can be helpful if the target protein is part of a mixture (such as a cell lysate) or present on the surface of transfected cells.




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Repetitive Immunization at Multiple Sites (RIMMS) of Mice, Rats, and Hamsters

The repetitive immunization at multiple sites (RIMMS) protocol capitalizes on the animal's innate immune system, which is genetically preprogrammed to recognize many antigens. By repetitively immunizing the animal, B cells that recognize the antigen are kept continuously expanding until the lymph nodes are harvested for hybridoma generation. This is a good method for making a more diverse repertoire of antibodies or antibodies directed against conformational epitopes.




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Titration of Recombinant Adeno-Associated Virus (rAAV) Genome Copy Number Using Real-Time Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR)

This protocol is used to determine the concentration of DNase-resistant vector genomes (i.e., packaged in the capsid) in purified recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) preparations. The protocol begins with treatment of the vector stock with DNase I to eliminate unencapsidated AAV DNA or contaminating plasmid DNA. This is followed by a heat treatment to heat-inactivate DNase I, to disrupt the viral capsid, and to release the packaged vector genomes for quantification by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using a set of standards (linearized plasmid used for vector production) containing known copy numbers. To accomplish high-throughput titration, the primer and probe sets used in real-time PCR are usually designed to target common elements present in most rAAV genomes, such as promoters and poly(A) signals. This strategy significantly reduces the number of PCRs, controls, and turnaround time. Several important controls should be included in the assay as follows: The first two controls should have a known copy number of the rAAV genome plasmid treated or not treated with DNase I. This control tests the effectiveness of DNase treatment. To control for potential cross-contamination between samples during the preparation process, a blank control containing nuclease-free water only should be processed and tested in parallel. A validation vector sample with a known titer should be included in every assay to monitor interassay variability. Finally, for the PCR run, a no-template control (NTC) is included to indicate cross-contamination during PCR setup.




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A Systematic Review on Cost-effectiveness Studies Evaluating Ovarian Cancer Early Detection and Prevention Strategies

Ovarian cancer imposes a substantial health and economic burden. We systematically reviewed current health-economic evidence for ovarian cancer early detection or prevention strategies. Accordingly, we searched relevant databases for cost-effectiveness studies evaluating ovarian cancer early detection or prevention strategies. Study characteristics and results including quality-adjusted life years (QALY), and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICER) were summarized in standardized evidence tables. Economic results were transformed into 2017 Euros. The included studies (N = 33) evaluated ovarian cancer screening, risk-reducing interventions in women with heterogeneous cancer risks and genetic testing followed by risk-reducing interventions for mutation carriers. Multimodal screening with a risk-adjusted algorithm in postmenopausal women achieved ICERs of 9,800–81,400 Euros/QALY, depending on assumptions on mortality data extrapolation, costs, test performance, and screening frequency. Cost-effectiveness of risk-reducing surgery in mutation carriers ranged from cost-saving to 59,000 Euros/QALY. Genetic testing plus risk-reducing interventions for mutation carriers ranged from cost-saving to 54,000 Euros/QALY in women at increased mutation risk. Our findings suggest that preventive surgery and genetic testing plus preventive surgery in women at high risk for ovarian cancer can be considered effective and cost-effective. In postmenopausal women from the general population, multimodal screening using a risk-adjusted algorithm may be cost-effective.




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Highlights from Recent Cancer Literature




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Celebrating 35 Years of the AJNR: March 1985 edition [35 YEARS AGO IN AJNR]




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Involvement of the Olfactory Apparatus by Gliomas [HEAD & NECK]

SUMMARY:

The olfactory bulbs and tracts are central nervous system white matter tracts maintained by central neuroglia. Although rare, gliomas can originate from and progress to involve the olfactory apparatus. Through a Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act–compliant retrospective review of the institutional teaching files and brain MR imaging reports spanning 10 years, we identified 12 cases of gliomas involving the olfactory bulbs and tracts, including 6 cases of glioblastoma, 2 cases of anaplastic oligodendroglioma, and 1 case each of pilocytic astrocytoma, diffuse (grade II) astrocytoma, anaplastic astrocytoma (grade III), and diffuse midline glioma. All except the pilocytic astrocytoma occurred in patients with known primary glial tumors elsewhere. Imaging findings of olfactory tumor involvement ranged from well-demarcated enhancing masses to ill-defined enhancing infiltrative lesions to nonenhancing masslike FLAIR signal abnormality within the olfactory tracts. Familiarity with the imaging findings of glioma involvement of the olfactory nerves is important for timely diagnosis and treatment of recurrent gliomas and to distinguish them from other disease processes.




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Facial Nerve Arterial Arcade Supply in Dural Arteriovenous Fistulas: Anatomy and Treatment Strategies [INTERVENTIONAL]

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE:

Endovascular treatment of petrous dural AVFs may carry a risk of iatrogenic facial nerve palsy if the facial nerve arterial arcade, an anastomotic arterial arch that supplies the geniculate ganglion, is not respected or recognized. Our purpose was to demonstrate that the use of a treatment strategy algorithm incorporating detailed angiographic anatomic assessment allows identification of the facial nerve arterial arcade and therefore safe endovascular treatment.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

This was a retrospective cohort study of consecutive petrous dural AVF cases managed at Toronto Western Hospital between 2006 and 2018. Our standard of care consists of detailed angiographic assessment followed by multidisciplinary discussion on management. Arterial supply, primary and secondary treatments undertaken, angiographic outcomes, and clinical outcomes were assessed by 2 independent fellowship-trained interventional neuroradiologists.

RESULTS:

Fifteen patients had 15 fistulas localized over the petrous temporal bone. Fistulas in all 15 patients had direct cortical venous drainage and received at least partial supply from the facial nerve arterial arcade. Following multidisciplinary evaluation, treatment was performed by endovascular embolization in 8 patients (53%) and microsurgical disconnection in 7 patients (47%). All patients had long-term angiographic cure, and none developed iatrogenic facial nerve palsy.

CONCLUSIONS:

By means of our treatment strategy based on detailed angiographic assessment and multidisciplinary discussion, approximately half of our patients with petrous AVFs were cured by endovascular treatment, half were cured by an operation, and all had preserved facial nerve function.




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Reliability of CT Angiography in Cerebral Vasospasm: A Systematic Review of the Literature and an Inter- and Intraobserver Study [INTERVENTIONAL]

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE:

Computed tomography angiography offers a non-invasive alternative to DSA for the assessment of cerebral vasospasm following subarachnoid hemorrhage but there is limited evidence regarding its reliability. Our aim was to perform a systematic review (Part I) and to assess (Part II) the inter- and intraobserver reliability of CTA in the diagnosis of cerebral vasospasm.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

In Part I, articles reporting the reliability of CTA up to May 2018 were systematically searched and evaluated. In Part II, 11 raters independently graded 17 arterial segments in each of 50 patients with SAH for the presence of vasospasm using a 4-category scale. Raters were additionally asked to judge the presence of any moderate/severe vasospasm (≥ 50% narrowing) and whether findings would justify augmentation of medical treatment or conventional angiography ± balloon angioplasty. Four raters took part in the intraobserver reliability study.

RESULTS:

In Part I, the systematic review revealed few studies with heterogeneous vasospasm definitions. In Part II, we found interrater reliability to be moderate at best ( ≤ 0.6), even when results were stratified according to specialty and experience. Intrarater reliability was substantial ( > 0.6) in 3/4 readers. In the per arterial segment analysis, substantial agreement was reached only for the middle cerebral arteries, and only when senior raters’ judgments were dichotomized (presence or absence of ≥50% narrowing). Agreement on the medical or angiographic management of vasospasm based on CTA alone was less than substantial ( ≤ 0.6).

CONCLUSIONS:

The diagnosis of vasospasm using CTA alone was not sufficiently repeatable among observers to support its general use to guide decisions in the clinical management of patients with SAH.




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Anoxic Brain Injury Detection with the Normalized Diffusion to ASL Perfusion Ratio: Implications for Blood-Brain Barrier Injury and Permeability [FUNCTIONAL]

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE:

Anoxic brain injury is a result of prolonged hypoxia. We sought to describe the nonquantitative arterial spin-labeling perfusion imaging patterns of anoxic brain injury, characterize the relationship of arterial spin-labeling and DWI, and evaluate the normalized diffusion-to-perfusion ratio to differentiate patients with anoxic brain injury from healthy controls.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

We identified all patients diagnosed with anoxic brain injuries from 2002 to 2019. Twelve ROIs were drawn on arterial spin-labeling with coordinate-matched ROIs identified on DWI. Linear regression analysis was performed to examine the relationship between arterial spin-labeling perfusion and diffusion signal. Normalized diffusion-to-perfusion maps were generated using a custom-built algorithm.

RESULTS:

Thirty-five patients with anoxic brain injuries and 34 healthy controls were identified. Linear regression analysis demonstrated a significant positive correlation between arterial spin-labeling and DWI signal. By means of a combinatory cutoff of slope of >0 and R2 of > 0.78, linear regression using arterial spin-labeling and DWI showed a sensitivity of 0.86 (95% CI, 0.71–0.94) and specificity of 0.82 (95% CI, 0.66–0.92) for anoxic brain injuries. A normalized diffusion-to-perfusion color map demonstrated heterogeneous ratios throughout the brain in healthy controls and homogeneous ratios in patients with anoxic brain injuries.

CONCLUSIONS:

In anoxic brain injuries, a homogeneously positive correlation between qualitative perfusion and DWI signal was identified so that areas of increased diffusion signal showed increased ASL signal. By exploiting this relationship, the normalized diffusion-to-perfusion ratio color map may be a valuable imaging biomarker for diagnosing anoxic brain injury and potentially assessing BBB integrity.




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Erratum [ERRATA]




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Cho thuê nhà 120m2, 4 tầng mặt phố Nguyễn Khang, MT 7,8m, rất tiện kinh doanh. LH ngay 0968844633

Tôi có căn nhà 4 tầng, MT 7.8m tại Nguyễn Khang, Cầu Giấy cần cho thuê. Nhà mới xây 1 năm, 120m2, 4 tầng để thông sàn, MT 7.8m, có thang máy. Khu dân cư đông đúc, sầm uất rất tiên kinh doanh buôn bán, làm văn phòng đều thích hợp. Giá chỉ 75 triệu/tháng. LH ngay chính chủ chị Hằng...




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CHO THUÊ PHÒNG DẠNG CĂN HỘ GIÁ SINH VIÊN QUẬN 12,FULL NỘI THẤT VÀ RẤT AN NINH KHU VỰC

- Phòng theo dạng căn hộ nằm trong khu dân cư An Sương. Gần ủy ban và công an phường, gần chợ, trường mẫu giáo, trường cấp 1 - 3. - Được trang bị đầy đủ, nội thất, trang thiết bị, thang máy, hệ thống nước máy, nóng lạnh, máy lạnh và tivi... - Gần công viên. Lối đi riêng. Riêng tư yên tĩnh. Có thang máy. - Giá phòng: Chỉ từ 4,5 triệu/tháng. - Hợp đồng ở lâu dài có thể bớt lộc c...




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Vốn rất thịnh hành nhưng 15 xu hướng nội thất này lại "kéo tụt" giá trị ngôi nhà

Một số xu hướng nội thất có thể gây phản tác dụng, làm giảm giá trị nhà tới 52%. Đây là kết luận được đưa ra sau một cuộc nghiên cứu do công ty Rated People của Anh thực hiện.




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DHA Corporation




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4 effective investment tactics when real estate market decelerates

Signs of deceleration of the real estate market have appeared quite clearly in many segments since the beginning of this year, according to Tran Khanh Quang, General Director of Viet An Hoa Real Estate Company.




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BÁN ĐẤT THỔ CƯ 100%, NGAY RESORT BIỂN DỐC LẾT.XÂY KHÁCH SẠN, NHÀ HÀNG RẤT TỐT.

BÁN ĐẤT THỔ CƯ 100%, NGAY RESORT BIỂN DỐC LẾT. **Dốc Lết là 1 trong những bãi biển ĐẸP nhất hành tinh. -DIỆN TÍCH: 245.3m2 - NGANG 12M - DÀI 22M. -VỊ TRÍ: Mặt tiền đường Mê Linh - Rộng 12 mét. Đường nhựa. ***Giá bán: 7,5 TRIỆU/M2 . Bao sang tên sổ hồng. CAM KẾT GIÁ THẤP HƠN THỊ T...




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Cập nhật " 5/2020" giỏ hàng 200 căn Vista Verde cần bán giá siêu tốt,có rất nhiều keys coi nhà ngay

Liên hệ ngay phòng kinh doanh tại dự án Vista Verde, văn phòng số 42 khu Failfolane. Điện thoại 070 576 9999 Đức Danh (Viber, Zalo, Whatsapp) hoặc 0906697090 cập nhật 09/05/2020 Chúng tôi luôn có sẵn chìa khoá cho khách hàng coi nhà 24/07. Kể cả chủ nhật. * Các căn 1 phòng n...




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Saigon Garden Riverside Village - Land for sale by Hung Thinh Corporation. Contact: 0938169445

Saigon Garden Riverside Village - Land for sale by Hung Thinh Corporation. Only 21-28million For 1sqm- Name of Project: Saigon Garden Riverside Village - Location: Long Phuoc Ward, District 9, HCM City - Scale: 30 ha (the most prestigious Compound model in the area). - Quantity: ...




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David Kelly’s Curated L&D Content for the Week of 5/4/20

In light of the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, this week’s resources continue to have the dual focus of providing resources that can help us navigate this […]

The post David Kelly’s Curated L&D Content for the Week of 5/4/20 appeared first on e-Learning Feeds.




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David Kelly’s Curated L&D Content for the Week of 4/27/20

In light of the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, this week’s resources continue to have the dual focus of providing resources that can help us navigate this […]

The post David Kelly’s Curated L&D Content for the Week of 4/27/20 appeared first on e-Learning Feeds.






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A Practical Guide to Personalized Video Strategy (+ 5 Interactivity Types For Your Brand’s Videos)

There’s the technical definition of personalized marketing: the collection and analysis of prospect data to implement an enterprise marketing strategy for custom segments And then […]

The post A Practical Guide to Personalized Video Strategy (+ 5 Interactivity Types For Your Brand’s Videos) appeared first on e-Learning Feeds.






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Pratapgarh: बकरी को कुत्ते के काटने पर हुए विवाद में घायल युवक ने तोड़ा दम

तनाव देख पुलिस तैनात, पीएम के बाद आएगा शव




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Pratapgarh: जमीन की प्लाटिंग के विवाद में दो गुटों में तड़तड़ाईं गोलियां, प्रापर्टी डीलर की मौत 

नगर कोतवाली इलाके के दहिलामऊ स्थित चांदमारी मारुतनगर में सई नदी के किनारे विवादित जमीन पर प्लाटिंग और रुपये के विवाद को लेकर दो गुटों में शुक्रवार दोपहर भिड़ंत हो गई। दोनों पक्षों से दर्जनों राउंड फायरिंग हुई। गोलियों की तड़तड़ाहट से लोग सहम गए।




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After the COVID-19 pandemic, older generations should reflect on the need for climate action

The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted a cornucopia of reflections about what is to be learned from it. One of the issues around which this has been the case is climate change.

There are a few ways in which climate change is linked to reflections on the pandemic. One of these links is seeing the pandemic and where there has been relative success in dealing with it as a good case study in the value of scientific advice over politics. The wish is that as a result science might regain a more secure foothold in the debate around climate change. This is generally coupled with a reflection on the extent to which the pandemic might have been even better prepared for and dealt with had early generic warnings about the likelihood of a pandemic been heeded, and also if warnings about the actual pandemic had been acted on earlier than they were at the beginning of 2020. The hope is that this lesson in the consequences of not heeding warnings will rub off on the climate change debate, if not on the most committed climate change deniers.

Another link between the pandemic and climate change is one less reflected on, although I did see at least one article on it, and that is the whole issue of inter-generational ethics that arises. The lock downs associated with COVID-19 tended to be justified on two grounds: One was containing the spread in such a way as to prevent health-care systems from being overwhelmed, and the other had to do with containing the spread of the virus for the sake of the those who were most likely to die from it, namely the elderly, an argument certainly borne out by the statistics even if it is the case that some younger people seem, for reasons yet to be determined, very vulnerable.

And so it was that multitudes of young people have had to put their lives and dreams on hold in order to safeguard the lives of many who are much older than them.  Young people have mostly willingly and without complaint acceded to the moral imperative and practical wisdom of sacrificing things like their personal, educational, athletic, travel, financial and/or employment hopes for the greater good, specifically for the older generation in their society. 

Other groups, like frontline health-care workers, and those newly classified as working in essential jobs, like grocery store workers, have also been asked to make a disproportionate sacrifice. But that is for another article on how their real value has been revealed -- and how that value should be recognized in the post-pandemic world (better wages for one thing). 

Unfortunately, the link between the demands on the young in the pandemic containment strategy and the debate on climate change manifests itself in observing, so far, the unwillingness of populations, and their governments, to demand a reverse moral imperative from older citizens when it comes to sacrifices they might make for the sake of younger and future generations. What are older citizens prepared to sacrifice to safeguard the quality of the lives younger citizens will lead in the coming decades, by substantially reducing our carbon footprint, and seriously dealing with other environmental challenges?

One could argue that, in the case of Canadians, the population has done its part by electing a majority of MPs committed to action on climate change, only to be let down by a government that wants to have its cake and eat it too on climate change by imposing a carbon tax and buying a pipeline. Nevertheless, as we emerge on the other side of the pandemic, hopefully sooner rather than later, it seems to me that there will be a new opportunity for moral reflection on what the generations owe each other. Of course right-wing politicians are always claiming to be worried about passing on fiscal debt to the next generation. But passing on an environmental deficit is a much more real and  serious issue. Part of the moral logic of pandemic containment has been asking one generation to sacrifice for another. It seems only fair then that the political debate about climate change should at some point soon become much more focused on what the older generation can do for the younger generation. Demanding real action from their political leaders, even if it means locking down or at the very least winding down lifestyles that have become ingrained would be a good start. And for those who can afford it, showing a willingness to pay higher taxes to build the infrastructure of a sustainable and livable future would also be in order.     

Bill Blaikie, former MP and MLA, writes on Canadian politics, political parties and Parliament.

Image: John Englart/Flickr

May 8, 2020




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Disintegration Launches June 16 for PS4, Xbox One And Steam

Publisher Private Division and developer V1 Interactive announced Disintegration will launch for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Windows PC via Steam on June 16 for $49.99.

View the story trailer below:

Here is an overview of the game:

Disintegration is a sci-fi, first-person shooter that blends real-time tactical elements to create an entirely new experience. Set in a world ripped apart by famine, scarce resources, and the planet on the brink of destruction, humanity has developed a process to survive its harsh reality known as Integration, in which a human brain is transferred to a robotic armature. From the ensuing chaos, an aggressive, militaristic legion, known as the Rayonne, gain control and begins to impose the once optional process of Integration onto the rest of humanity to consolidate their power.

Players command Romer Shoal, an incredibly-skilled Gravcycle pilot, who leads a small band of outlaws to fight back against an overwhelming Rayonne force. Over the course of a thrilling single-player campaign, players will control a Gravcycle loaded with weaponry, leading Romer and his team across a series of diverse missions packed with action, explosions, and plot twists, to beat back the Rayonne forces and give the last vestiges of humanity hope to prevail.

In addition to the full single-player campaign, Disintegration features frenetic player-versus-player multiplayer where pilots and their crews compete in three game modes and six distinct maps. Players can select from nine highly-stylized “Crews” which lend themselves to different playstyles.

Multiplayer provides a host of cosmetic customizations that can be purchased or earned in-game, including pilot and crew skins, cosmetic Gravcycle customizations, and a variety of banners. In addition to the multiplayer content at release, the team at V1 will be supporting the game post-launch with seasonal content drops.

Key Features:

  • Tactical Gravcycle Combat – Pilot a heavily armed Gravcycle featuring a variety of firepower, maneuverability, and abilities.
  • Riveting Single-player Campaign – From Marcus Lehto, the co-creator of Halo and creative director of Halo: Reach, comes an all-new sci-fi saga. Play as Romer Shoal and confront the Rayonne, a rising global army set on eliminating what remains of humanity.
  • Frenetic Multiplayer Action – Battle across a variety of maps in three intense, team-based five-versus-five multiplayer modes. Choose your favorite Gravcycle and lead your crew alongside your teammates, competing against opposing pilots to win objective-based matches.

A life-long and avid gamer, William D'Angelo was first introduced to VGChartz in 2007. After years of supporting the site, he was brought on in 2010 as a junior analyst, working his way up to lead analyst in 2012. He has expanded his involvement in the gaming community by producing content on his own YouTube channel and Twitch channel dedicated to gaming Let's Plays and tutorials. You can contact the author at wdangelo@vgchartz.com or on Twitter @TrunksWD.

Full Article - https://www.vgchartz.com/article/443412/disintegration-launches-june-16-for-ps4-xbox-one-and-steam/




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Originally published by The Vinyl Factory. “It is a living instrument producing a living sound.” Soulwax, aka David & Stephen Dewaele, explore their love of the EMS Synthi 100 in a new album and book that pay tribute to the bulky hybrid synth. Both will be released via The Vinyl Factory and DEEWEE this May, and […]

The post Soulwax celebrate the EMS Synthi 100 in new trailer appeared first on FACT Magazine.




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