When a large commercial truck is involved in a Maryland truck accident, a chain of events is set in motion that has the potential to result in a major catastrophe. Semi-trucks and other large transport vehicles are designed to carry tens of thousands of pounds of cargo across the nation’s highways. Often, this means traveling on hundreds of miles of open road. Unfortunately, the very design that makes trucks an efficient means of transporting goods also leaves them ill-suited to adeptly respond to sudden changes in the traffic pattern.

Semi-Truck RolloverOne example of a truck driver’s compromised ability to maneuver a large rig is when an accident occurs a short distance ahead of the truck driver. Due to the significant weight of these large trucks – even when they are not fully loaded – a truck driver has a greatly increased stopping distance when traveling at highway speeds. Additionally, the length of a semi-truck prevents a driver from making any spur-of-the-moment evasive maneuvers to avoid an obstacle ahead. When combined, these factors greatly increase the chance of a chain reaction truck accident.

All of this is to say that truck drivers have a difficult job. However, that does not reduce their responsibility to safely operate their vehicle at all times. This may mean slowing down below the posted speed limit or increasing their following distance to beyond what they normally would consider a safe distance. When a truck driver fails to take necessary precautions and ends up causing or contributing to a chain reaction truck accident, both the driver and the driver’s employer may potentially be held liable.

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Most motorists who have spent any amount of time on Maryland highways have probably noticed the frequency of construction vehicles working on or near the highway. These vehicles are necessary to help build and maintain Maryland’s infrastructure; however, when not properly operated or secured, these vehicles can pose a serious risk to motorists and cause Maryland truck accidents.

Construction VehiclesThese large construction vehicles have the potential to cause serious injuries or death when they are not used properly. Indeed, large construction machines are designed to tear down houses, break apart pavement, and move large amounts of earth. Those who use construction vehicles are responsible to operate the vehicle safely, but their duty does not end there. Operators must also ensure that the vehicles are properly secured when they are not being used.

Runaway Dump Truck Kills Two

Earlier this month, a tragic construction vehicle accident claimed two lives, including the vehicle’s operator and another nearby motorist. According to a recent news report covering the accident, the dump truck was parked at a work site that was located atop a hill near a busy roadway. At some point while the dump truck was unoccupied, it began to travel down the hill toward the road below.

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It should come as no surprise that Maryland truck accidents involving large commercial trucks carry the potential to cause major destruction. This is especially the case when the accident involves multiple vehicles or takes place on a crowded highway. Indeed, some of the most devastating Maryland truck accidents involve chain-reaction collisions that begin with one vehicle but end up affecting many others.

Evening City-Scape Determining which driver is responsible in multi-vehicle accidents can be a difficult task, and it is often left up to the courts to decide. Generally speaking, all of the parties who believe they are entitled to compensation will file a personal injury lawsuit against the parties they believe to be responsible for their injuries. In chain-reaction car accidents, this usually results in all of the parties involved in the accident being named in the lawsuit. From there, a jury will hear the evidence from each party and come to a determination regarding each party’s respective percentage of fault.

In Maryland personal injury cases, courts apply a very strict rule when determining which parties in an accident are permitted to recover compensation for their injuries. Under the doctrine of contributory negligence, any party who is even the slightest bit at fault for an accident will not be permitted to recover compensation from any other person involved in the accident. This stands true even if a plaintiff is determined to be just 5% at fault. Thus, the importance of a thorough investigation and diligent preparation cannot be overstated.

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Truck drivers have a lot of responsibility when operating large commercial vehicles across the nation’s highways. They must ensure that they remain alert during their trip, follow all posted traffic signs, and stay very aware of their surroundings, due to the significant blind spots most large trucks have. These difficulties are only compounded when inclement weather rolls in. Indeed, the number of Maryland truck accidents spikes during the winter months, when road conditions are most compromised. Often, weather-related truck accidents are caused in part by unexpected or otherwise dangerous road conditions. However, truck driver error also plays a role in most weather-related truck accidents.

Icy RoadTruck drivers are responsible to account for the current weather and road conditions when operating their rig. This may mean pulling off to the side of the road during an especially bad snowstorm or traveling below the posted speed limit. When a truck driver fails to take these additional precautions, it is not just the weather that is to blame but also the truck driver.

Those injured in a Maryland truck accident have the ability to file a Maryland personal injury lawsuit against the allegedly negligent driver and, in many cases, against the driver’s employer as well.

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Semi-Truck on HighwayThe Facts of the Case

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Semi-trucks and other large commercial vehicles used to transport goods across the country are necessary to the nation’s economy. Most of the time, truck drivers spend their time on highways, bringing goods from one side of the country to the other. These highways with long straightaways, several lanes, and wide shoulders were designed to accommodate large trucks. Of course, Maryland truck accidents still occur on highways across the state.

Dangerous CrosswalkAs truck drivers approach their final destination, however, it is likely that they will need to navigate smaller roads that were not designed for large trucks. These roads may present truck drivers with several difficulties, including limited room to turn, reduced visibility, and crowds of people both in the form of other motorists as well as those on bicycles and on foot.

While driving a large truck on a small city street may be challenging, truck drivers are still held to the same high standard as though they were driving on the open road. This includes refraining from drinking or taking drugs while on the road, following traffic laws and all posted signs, and also maintaining the required amount of rest between trips. When truck drivers fail to take the necessary precautions while driving, and they cause an accident injuring one or more people, they may be held responsible through a Maryland truck accident lawsuit.

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Any motorist who has driven for any length of time on a dirt road knows the potential dangers involved with doing so. Indeed, dirt roads can pose a major hazard to motorists who find themselves needing to use them. Many dirt roads are bumpy and rough and are little more than dusty paths. The dangers of dirt roads are increased when the road is one that is commonly used by large trucks.

Country RoadIn most cases, dirt roads are on private land, and depending on the circumstances, the owner of the road may be responsible for maintaining the road. Landowners owe a general duty of care to maintain their property in a safe manner. Of course, landowners cannot know of all hazards on their property, so generally landowners only are required to address known issues. However, the condition of a dirt road may be exactly the type of hazard that a landowner should address, especially when the condition of the road is suspect.

When a landowner fails to address a known hazard, and someone is injured as a result, the injured party may be able to bring a Maryland premises liability lawsuit against the landowner, seeking compensation for their injuries.

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Whether it be a police car issuing a citation to a motorist or an ambulance responding to the scene of an accident, emergency vehicles are frequently seen on the side of Maryland highways. While these emergency vehicles necessarily must park on the side of the highway for a number of reasons, the reality is that while a vehicle is parked on the side of the highway, the chance of causing a Maryland car accident increases.

Fire TruckOperators of emergency vehicles should follow certain precautions when leaving their vehicles on the side of the highway. For example, emergency vehicles should be pulled as far off the highway as possible to avoid obstructing traffic. When traffic must be obstructed, the operator of the vehicle should make sure that the vehicle’s emergency lights are activated to ensure that passing motorists take notice of the vehicle’s presence. Additionally, traffic should not be obstructed in a manner that leaves approaching motorists with insufficient time to come to a complete stop, such as around a curve or immediately after the top of a hill.

While state and local governments enjoy immunity in some Maryland car accidents, if a government employee acts negligently while carrying out a job-related task, immunity may not attach.

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While there are many causes of Maryland truck accidents, most truck accidents are caused by intoxicated, distracted, or sleepy drivers. Intoxication is such a problem among truck drivers that many states have implemented stricter blood-alcohol content allowances for all commercial drivers. For example, commercial drivers are not permitted to have a blood-alcohol content of .04 or greater, while other motorists are limited at a .08 blood-alcohol content.

Truck on HighwayAlcohol intoxication is certainly responsible for a large share of the total number of truck accidents involving intoxication. However, the use of illegal drugs seems to be increasing among truck drivers over the past few years. In part, this is due to the pressures inherent in the long-haul trucking profession, which places an emphasis on getting cargo to the final destination as quickly as possible. This pressure leads some drivers to take illegal drugs in an effort to stay awake longer and travel more miles per day. Of course, illegal drugs are not without their side effects. Too often, drivers who take stimulants to stay awake find themselves drifting off as the drugs wear off.

Truck Driver Faces Felony Charges for Intoxicated Driving

Earlier this month, two people were seriously injured when the vehicle in which they were traveling was struck by a truck driver who had drifted out of his lane and into oncoming traffic. According to a local news source covering the accident, it was around 4 p.m. as the truck driver was en route to his final destination when he inexplicably crossed over the center line and into oncoming traffic.

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One of the most common causes of rear-end accidents on Maryland highways is when an unaware driver encounters slowed traffic. Most drivers assume that when they are traveling on the highway during non-rush hour times that traffic will continue to move at a quick and reliable pace. However, whether due to road construction or an unrelated accident, traffic patterns are unpredictable and can slow down at any given moment.

Passenger BusWhile an unexpected slowdown can catch any motorist off guard, distracted or sleepy drivers are especially at risk for causing an accident in these conditions, due to their lack of awareness.

German Bus Accident Claims 18 Lives, Dozens of Others Injured

Earlier this month in Bavaria, Germany, 18 people were killed and many others seriously injured when a bus rear-ended a truck that had slowed down for upcoming traffic in an early morning accident. According to a national news source covering the tragic accident, the bus was carrying 48 people, mostly seniors, at the time of the accident.

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Pop Culture

Lynyrd Skynyrd Sues Ex-Drummer to Stop Movie About 1977 Plane Crash

Surviving members of Lynyrd Skynyrd have filed a lawsuit against the Southern rock band's former drummer to halt the production of a movie depicting the 1977 plane crash that killed lead singer Ronnie Van Zant.

Lead guitarist Gary Rossington, Ronnie's brother and current lead singer Johnny Van Zant, and others contend that "Street Survivors: The True Story of the Lynyrd Skynyrd Plane Crash," based on recollections of former drummer Artimus Pyle, violated a 1988 consent order governing the use of the band's name.

The lawsuit and related paperwork were made public on Friday in the U.S. District Court in Manhattan. A trial is scheduled for July 11, court records show.

Image: FILE PHOTO - Members of the band Lynyrd Skynyrd backstage after performing in the 47th annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles
Members of the band Lynyrd Skynyrd backstage after performing in the 47th annual Grammy Awards at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, U.S. on February 13, 2005. Mike Blake / Reuters

Known for such songs as "Sweet Home Alabama" and "Free Bird," Lynyrd Skynyrd went on hiatus after its touring plane crashed in Mississippi on Oct. 20, 1977, killing Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Steven Gaines and four others. Twenty people, including Pyle, survived.

Surviving band members reunited in 1987 to organize a "tribute tour," prompting litigation that led to the consent order.

The plaintiffs, who also include representatives of the estates of Ronnie Van Zant, Gaines and late guitarist Allen Collins, sued after learning that Pyle and co-defendant Cleopatra Records Inc were making the movie.

They said that while Pyle, who left the band in 1991, "is free to exploit his own personal life story," the movie would destroy their right to use the name and history of Lynyrd Skynyrd, causing "incalculable" loss and irreparable harm.

Such a movie "may contain a potentially inaccurate or skewed portrayal of Lynyrd Skynyrd's story as filtered solely through the eyes of Pyle masquerading as the 'True Story' of a defining moment in the band's history," the plaintiffs said.

Pyle could not immediately be reached for comment. It is unclear whether he has hired a lawyer.

Evan Mandel, a lawyer for Cleopatra Records, said in a phone interview: "We are confident that our right to publish this film is guaranteed by the First Amendment."

The case was assigned to U.S. District Judge Robert Sweet, who oversaw the 1988 consent order.


Learn More
This paper extends the classical warping-based optical flow method to achieve accurate flow in the presence of spatially-varying motion blur. Our idea is to parameterize the appearance of each frame as a function of both the pixel motion and the motion-induced blur. We search for the flows that best match two consecutive frames, which amounts to finding the(More)
Despite its compactness, the human eye can easily focus on different distances by adjusting the shape of its lens with the help of ciliary muscles. In contrast, traditional man-made optical systems achieve focusing by physical displacement of the lenses used. But in recent years, advances in miniaturization technology have led to optical systems that no(More)
—A silicon micromachining method has been developed to fabricate on-chip high-performance suspended spiral inductors. The spiral structure of an inductor was formed with polysilicon and was suspended over a 30-m-deep cavity in the silicon substrate beneath. Copper (Cu) was electrolessly plated onto the polysilicon spiral to achieve low resistance. The Cu(More)
We report on liquid-based tunable-focus microlens arrays made of a flexible polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) polymer. Each microlens in the array is formed through an immiscible liquid–liquid interfacial meniscus. Here deionized water and silicone oil were used. The liquids were constrained in the PDMS structures fabricated through liquid-phase(More)
We present single-wall carbon nanotube (SWCNT) incorporated liquid crystal elastomer (LCE) nanocomposites that demonstrate strong, reversible photoactuation. The matrix nematic LCE material possesses reversible thermal deformation, while SWCNTs perform photothermal energy conversion and local heat dissipation upon irradiation. The resultant SWCNT–LCE(More)
We present a microlens array consisting of multiple liquid-based tunable-focus microlenses omnidirectionally fabricated on a hemisphere, resulting in large field of view. Polymer bridge structure is formed between microlenses to reduce the stress and deformation in each lens structure. Each microlens in the array is formed via a water-oil interface at its(More)
— This paper presents a fabrication process that integrates polysilicon surface micromachining and deep reactive ion etching (DRIE) bulk silicon micromachining. The process takes advantage of the design flexibility of polysilicon surface micromachining and the deep silicon structures possible with DRIE. As a demonstration, a torsional actuator driven by a(More)
We demonstrate three-dimensional (3D) surface profiling of the water-oil interface in a tunable liquid microlens using a Shack-Hartmann wave front sensor. The principles and the optical setup for achieving 3D surface measurements are presented and a hydrogel-actuated liquid lens was measured at different focal lengths. The 3D surface profiles are then used(More)
A new modified version called decision feedback complex recurrent neural network equalizer (DFCRNNE) is proposed with the study of complex recurrent neural network equalizer (CRNNE). Based on DFCRNNE, a modified real time recurrent learning (CRTRL) algorithm is developed. Simulation results show that DFCRNNE has better performance than CRNNE based on(More)


Katja Toporski

Home / artists / Katja Toporski

Katja Toporski | “The pieces I present here each contain two fragments of castings in a white material. One is in the form of an hourglass, the other from a 3D model taken by the Rosetta space probe of the Churyumov- Gerasimenko comet. They talk about space, its complex relationship to time, and the human quest for understanding our place in this world. A third component joins those two parts, cylindrical in form, and made of intricately pierced silver. Their pierced out lines follow the lines created by the cave people in the Chauvet cave in Southern France, depicting scenes of wild animals hunting, bearers of the mysteries of cultural expression. While the silver cylinders in the pieces add their own part to the story, silver is also employed to connect all three parts together, acting as the unifying material to all three.”(*)

(*)   Text & pictures provided by the artist

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Matt Kocanda

Senior Advisor

What inspired you to choose wealth management as a career?

I love to both learn and teach. Within wealth management I constantly fulfill my desire to learn something new every day, while also sharing that knowledge with our clients. The pairing of research, teaching, and building relationships are the perfect mix for me.

What’s the most influential book you’ve read and why?

Too Big to Fail by Andrew Ross Sorkin. This is a comprehensive retelling of the events that unfolded during the 2007-2008 financial crisis. Understanding how this crisis formed within the system not only piqued my interest in the financial world, but has been helpful to understand the many aftershocks that rippled throughout the entire economy.

What is the one thing you wish every person knew when making financial decisions?

The long term goal is the most important. In today’s world with news constantly bombarding us, it can be hard to filter out the noise and stay focused on what is most important to you and your family. Making decisions with an eye towards the long term goal allows for the most thoughtful and best decisions to be made.

Where can we find you when you’re not working?

I love to be active and constantly in motion. I find various ways to fulfill that goal, whether I am running with my wife, tinkering around the house with home improvement projects, or spending time with family and friends. I do enjoy occasionally laying on the couch, but you won’t find me there for long!

Why did you choose to be part of the BDF team?

BDF’s strong culture and commitment to excellence is a trait that is unique to this firm. The team is dedicated to helping team members grow and equipping them with experiences that allow us to give the best advice to our clients. I am impressed every single day with the way the firm is focused on challenging the typical thought process in order to continually grow and serve our clients’ complex needs.


Depression detection software?

. Saturday, June 26

woman-online-unhappyDepression is the most common mental illness that, left untreated, can lead to more complex conditions such as anxiety disorders and schizophrenia, and suicide. A person suffering depression may not recognize their state of mind or seek treatment, though those around them will notice the changes in behaviors such eating, sleeping, mood and the lack of participation in what used to be enjoyable activities. Familiar with the symptoms of depression or not, recognition of the illness comes more from observation of patterns of behavior, affect and demeanor than formal training or textbook definitions.

Professor Yair Neuman of Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Israel, noted that depression remains a condition that is largely undiagnosed and created software he calls “Pedisis” that scans blogs for word patterns associated with depression. The initial test of 17,000 blogs returned a 78 percent rate of agreement with a panel of psychologists who reviewed the software’s returned data.

Though there are many online tests available, Neuman asserts that they are often unused. He believes that nothing can replace human intuition and interaction, and that Pedisis will be a valuable screening tool: “If implemented on a widespread basis, a screening process might increase the user’s awareness of his or her condition, and provide recommendations.  If the blogger agrees, he or she could seek professional help.”

However, and as it is with most innovations, there is a downside to a tool that was designed and created to be beneficial in academia:

"The downside is that such software could be used to screen job applicants -- which would really give eliminated bloggers something to be depressed about,” said Mike Elgan of Userology.

As more and more personal information is shared online through social networking of all variations, the software could be used by insurance companies, social service agencies and law enforcement as well, resulting in the refusal of medical coverage, claims awards, guardianship and adoptions and evidential intent.

Big Brother just grew some!


Romantic Restaurants

5 places

Restaurant Weinrot at the Savoy

After dinner go to the Casa del Habano in the restaurant. It offers an exquisite and extensive range of finest Cuban cigars.

Clos Maggiore

Europe, United Kingdom, London

The romantic garden interior is probably what makes it frequently voted the “Most Romantic restaurant” in the UK.

Europe, Italy, Rome

The private terrace of All’Oro in Rome’s historic center is one of Rome’s best-kept secrets. If you’re looking to impress, reserve the small terrace that’s located above the hotel’s rooftop terrace. It offers a marvelous view.

Le Coupe Chou

Europe, France, Paris

Once an old barbershop, the famous Marlene Dietrich has alreay dined here.

Torre de alta mar

Europe, Spain, Barcelona

Chic restaurant in a cable car tower. If James Bond came to Barcelona, he would almost certainly bring his date here.


Cynata & The Rubik of Cell Science

As with the sun rising in the East so have the first two pioneering programs using Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell (iPSC) technology for human clinical study. Independently initiated, but now strategic brethren, the Japanese and Australian efforts to provide a next gen proof-of-concept foundation have all the makings of a new dawn in Stem Cell Science, one that many hope will deliver on unfulfilled expectations for the field.

Methods and mechanics, protocols and parameters - these are but a few of the myriad of defining characteristics that a commercial cell product needs to elucidate in the highly complex rubik of molecular innovation and translational steps. Barcodes if you will of cell product definitions underlying the very nature of scientific clarity and positioning that will pave the road moving forward and deliver safely on The N Factor of human trials with data.

To highlight movement in this direction I’ve addressed a few questions to Dr. Ross MacDonald, CEO of the Australian stem cell company Cynata Therapeutics, on recent progress with their iPSC programs and business plan for this update review piece on the previous conversation I posted last year.

M - Cynata is poised to begin an important sector accomplishment with a first-in-man clinical trial involving a therapeutic product derived from Allogeneic Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs). Can you kindly provide a brief refresh for us on the cell type/technology being used, the target indication and the clinical trial sites prep/patient application/data timelines?

R - We are using a clinical grade, human iPSC as the starting material.  The iPSC cells were obtained from Cellular Dynamics International (CDI).  From these cells we manufacture our finished product, a therapeutic mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) preparation, using our proprietary Cymerus™ manufacturing process.  The target indication is steroid-resistant acute Graft versus Host Disease (GvHD) and the Phase 1 clinical trial is entitled: “An Open-Label Phase 1 Study to Investigate the Safety and Efficacy of CYP-001 for the Treatment of Adults With Steroid-Resistant Acute Graft Versus Host Disease”.  The trial will aim to recruit approximately 16 participants who have undergone a bone marrow transplant or similar procedure, and were subsequently diagnosed with steroid-resistant Grade II-IV acute GvHD.  The study centers are located in the United Kingdom and in Australia and we expect the study should conclude by the end of 2017. GvHD is a potentially fatal disease that often follows a bone marrow transplant procedure and occurs when the immune cells in the donor material (the graft) attack the recipient’s tissues (the host) as “foreign”.

M - Your recent validating announcement that Cynata has signed a definitive License Option and Equity Investment Agreement with FujiFilm reiterates your strategy to develop and partner development programs with leading sector players. Could you review for us this strategy, the determining factors involved in the decision to sign a partner to your lead program at this stage and the synergy with FujiFilm’s Regenerative Medicine divisions moving forward.

R - Cynata’s Cymerus technology enables the economic manufacture of a consistent and robust therapeutic MSC product.  Given the very many potential therapeutic applications for MSCs (noting the >600 clinical trials underway using MSCs) it would not be possible for Cynata on its own to adequately exploit even a small fraction of the potential commercial opportunities.  Moreover, the Australian environment for biotech companies is challenging for those seeking to become a fully integrated, sales and marketing enterprise.  Accordingly, we believe the best path to ensure shareholders derive stellar returns is to partner our technology with those companies that have the resources, expertise, enthusiasm and global exposure to drive commercialisation of our products.  Clearly Fujifilm is a very active participant in the regenerative medicine sector and has shown a willingness to invest very heavily to maximise the chances of success.  They are an ideal partner for Cynata.  We have however left open the opportunity to work with other companies as well.

M - In your press release on the deal with FujiFilm you mentioned that the arrangement included “certain rights to other Cynata technology.” Are you at liberty to detail somewhat the nature of the technology and the rights granted.

R -  No.

M - Currently Cynata has targeted UK/Europe and Australia as its initial trial territories and has received favorable green light feedback from the respective regulators. Could you comment on the developing regulatory framework to commence these types of pioneering iPSC studies in the US and Cynata’s plans for clinical work in the US market.

R - We have already had very positive initial dialogue with the US FDA. We plan to progress these interactions this year, and we will certainly seek to include US centres in our clinical trials as we move forward. The Regenerative Advanced Therapy Designation process, which the FDA has recently introduced, is of great interest to us and potentially has numerous advantages, including accelerated approval, greater interaction with the FDA, assistance with study design, smaller trials, and ability to rely on real world evidence rather than solely data from formal clinical trials.

M - As Cynata is a leader in the development of Pluripotent derived Allogeneic iPSC treatment technology is there a perspective you could share that puts into context the application specific potential for programs that seek personalized treatment options with Autologous iPSC technologies versus Allogeneic iPSC approaches. Is there a case for both, putting aside the cost issues for a moment, with regard to targeted therapeutic potential, safety and immunogenicity?

R - I do think there is a case for both, but as always it will come down to (i) the weight of clinical evidence and (ii) cost. Autologous iPSCs may have a greater role to play in tissue engineering applications, where the aim is directly replace or repair damaged tissue at a site of injury or disease.  With our Cymerus technology we have sought to provide a solution to the practical shortcomings associated with manufacturing an “off-the-shelf” allogeneic MSC product.  We firmly believe that our approach, ie using iPSCs, will yield a huge cost and regulatory advantage, at least insofar as MSC therapeutics are concerned.  The broader applications of iPSC-derived cell therapy products is being hotly debated and much research capital is being expended on developing the “super haplobanks” to make allogeneic products more practical.

M - As previously reviewed, the IP surrounding your technology was invented by scientists at the University of Wisconsin and exclusively licensed to Cynata by the University’s IP management arm, WARF. You note that that these foundational patents are being expanded upon by the filing of additional Cynata patent applications related to progressive discoveries to the underlying technology. Could you provide some specifics at this stage as to the substance of the novel and unique aspects of the invention mentioned, given, I believe, these innovations are as yet unpublished.

R - Indeed we are seeking to build the IP platform with additional patents around new inventions in our Cymerus technology.  As these applications are in the early stages of prosecution we are unable to provide details at this stage.

M - In respect to your other program assets, could you highlight recent developments that pertain to Cynata’s pipeline and any news on initiated research into new indications, such as the positive impact Cymerus™ mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) could have for Asthma suffers.

R - The data we reported late last year in the well-established chronic allergic airways disease model was certainly very exciting and accordingly we have been encouraged to further study the effects of our Cymerus MSCs in related models and potentially into the clinical setting.  We also have active programs underway in cancer (through Harvard/MGH) and in cardiovascular disease (with Westmead Hospital/University of Sydney).  With the success of our recent capital raising the company is now very well positioned to accelerate these ongoing programs as well as to consider other areas where we might be able to quickly build value.

M - Finally, at present Cynata is a publicly traded entity on the Australian securities exchange (ASX). Do you have any plans in the near term to reach out to more investors through a UK or US listing?

R - This is a question that stimulates much discussion around the boardroom tables of Australian biotech companies.  Certainly US and European investors have a very high level of understanding of the potential risks and rewards of biotech and the availability and quantum of capital is typically higher than in Australia.  However, an offshore listing is not for the faint hearted and some recent spectacular fails have made Aussie’s very circumspect. We have an open mind, but would prefer to really build a solid and supportive shareholder base in Australia first and thus have a solid foundation beneath us before we would contemplate a foreign exchange.

M - Thank you Ross for your time and all the best for the upcoming trial. Cheers

The N Factor

The vast majority of patients don’t have any options.

T-Cells in Action

Emily Whitehead

Ref: Related Cancer Blog on Emily Whitehead

The Coming of Age of Pluripotent Science & Musings on a Sonogram

Nature - Andy Potts

Royal Society

     Notes: Program will address many disease states of Retina/Eye
     Notes: Program will address many disease states of Retina/Eye
UWisconsin WaismanGamm/MeyeriRNP/RPEStargardt+Allo
     Notes: Representative of next gen concept using eye "organoids"
NEI/CDI-FujiBharti/MilleriRPEDry AMDAuto
     Notes: US Govt backed program
Cedars Sinai/CIRMShaomei WangiRNPRPAllo
     Notes: Advanced status w/ IND enabling studies
Kyoto UnivJun TakahashiiNCPakinsonsAllo
     Notes: Leading iPSC Parkinson program due to start in 2017
Sloan KetteringLorenz StudereNC/iNCPakinsonsAllo
     Notes: Top tier US hESC/iPSC lab moving to clinic
Scripps/CIRMJeanne LoringiNCPakinsonsAuto
     Notes: Bringing it home full circle w/ CIRM onboard
CynataSlukvin/U WisconsiniMSCGvHD++Allo
Astellas RegMedRobert LanzaiMSCSepsis, Lupus++Allo
     Notes: Leading Japanese program poised to enter clinic in 2017
Novosang-Roslin/SNBTS++Marc TurneriRBCThalassaemia++Allo
     Notes: Leading UK Consortia looking to clinic in 2017
Inserm/PlatODDominique BaruchiPlateletsCancer/Surgery++Allo
     Notes: Leading French program nearing clinic in 2017
Astellas RegMedRobert LanzaiPlateletsCancer/Surgery++Allo
Players in CAR/Immuno SpaceiBloodCellsCancer/ImmuneAuto>Allo

Are we at an inflection point?

A Quad Pregnancy demands care & attention.

Ashley Gardner Quad IVF Reaction cnn

Advocacy for Cures.

The Wild Card of Pluripotency - The Egg

The causality dilemma of what comes first has perplexed our conscious brains and imbued scope to our circular conversations of how. This notion of preconceived programming, intelligent yet evolving, within a time continuum of universal dimensions always brings us back to the intersection of life's origins and its elements. What is consistent in this saga of reality and human perception is that there are new beginnings where The Egg plays a central role - a protagonist of life, without which, for the moment, we wouldn't be.

This thought provoking origin story, fascinating as it is, distracts from the practical issues of the here and now where scientific investigators are just beginning to fathom the power of a woman's fertility process - be it amniotic fluid, menstrual blood, neonatal membrane, umbilical cords or The Egg itself and all the wondrous micro molecules it holds.

Regenerative medicine and those that search for the answers to our ills have long sought the primordial knowledge within the woman's body to the process of reproduction. That sacred temple from which life emerges in all its form and function. The "V" mainframe of life's blueprint in regenerative science. Call it the black box if you like but it holds the holy grail of developmental knowledge for man - the how in practical terms.

While controversial to some the use of Eggs to research and develop cellular solutions is necessary as a player in the age old two step union and potentially as an invaluable starting source for embryonic cells via a non-fertilization development pathway. This process is called Parthenogenesis and is the unique domain of International Stem Cell Corporation ("ISCO").

ISCO was formed as a continuation of scientific endeavors establishing primary cell technology and regenerative therapies for the skincare market. As early leaders in the research business they established the foundation and management reached out to pioneering Russian scientists to employ proprietary techniques in the use of Eggs for parthenogenetically derived pluripotent stem cell lines for therapeutics. The company's focus on chemically activating Eggs to stimulate cell division without fertilizing side-stepped the then burning issue of the use of embryos in science. Independence and solid support from the scientific management team has brought the technology front and center with the start of the first parthenogenetic derived stem cell trial for Parkinson's disease.

Having followed ISCO for some time I reached out the Dr. Russell Kern, ISCO's CSO, for a Q&A on their technology, the data and progress the company has made getting it's lead program into the clinic and to review where things stand overall as they move ahead with proof of concept.

1. The science of parthenogenetic pluripotency, your company’s core focus, is closely linked with SCNT and the early work on developing reprogramming technology using activated human eggs without fertilizing them. To differentiate the two technologies, parthenogenetics versus SCNT, would you briefly review for us the unique science techniques involved here?

In somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT), the nucleus of an oocyte is replaced by the nucleus of a somatic cell¹. Once the somatic nucleus is inserted into the oocyte, the nucleus is reprogrammed by the host egg cell and is stimulated to divide to reach a blastocyst stage. This activated egg is viable and capable of producing an adult organism with all the necessary genetic information. Human embryonic stem cells are isolated from the inner cell mass of the blastocyst for use in cell therapy or disease modeling.

Parthenogenesis consists of the chemical activation of an unfertilized oocyte. The activated oocyte starts to divide to reach a blastocyst like state and eventually becomes diploid but it is not capable of producing an adult organism. Human parthenogenetic stem cells are isolated from the inner cell mass of this blastocystlike state, they are also pluripotent and can be usedfor cell therapy and drug screening.

2. With regard to your therapeutic programs, could you outline the clinical and preclinical work you are engaged in and the rough pipeline schedule you envision moving forward?

ISCO’s Phase I study evaluating the safety and tolerability of ISChpNSCs for Parkinson’s disease is currently being conducted in Australia and we plan to move forward with a Phase II study in Australia and USA.

The company also has a traumatic brain injury (TBI) program in development which uses the same ISChpNSC cells. The program is under preclinical development and we hope to complete it and file for regulatory approval in the near future.

ISCO is also working in osteoarthritis. The osteoarthritis program is an autologous cell therapy. We will use the patient’s own adipose tissue to derive chondrocyte for cartilage repair. We will use our 3D bioprinting technology to print cartilage tissue tailored to patient’s specific needs.

3. The Parkinson’s Disease program is now enrolling patients in Australia for a first in man trial using pluripotent stem cell. This achievement has excited the patient community and raised questions from your neuroscientist colleagues in the field. Would you kindly address the pertinent issues related to those published comments² and speak to the patient community with regard to the proposed trials in development.

a. What is being transplanted, and what is the proposed mechanism of action?

The clinical trial will be transplanting human parthenogenetic stem cells (ISChpNSCs). Human parthenogenetic stem cells are pluripotent stem cells that express all the pluripotent stem cell markers and, more importantly, have the ability to differentiate into all three germ layers, including dopaminergic neurons. The therapeutic potential of parthenogenetic stem cells derived cells have been tested by ISCO and other laboratories in various animal disease models, including Parkinson’s disease (PD).

ISCO’s preclinical work indicates that the proposed mechanism of action of ISChpNSCs is neurotrophic support and cell replacement to the dying dopaminergic neurons of the recipient PD brain. The ISChpNSCs secrete neurotrophic cytokines in vitro and have been shown to significantly increase the levels of these cytokines in vivo³.

ISCO has shown that ISChpNSCs differentiate into dopaminergic (DA) neurons (TH+, FOXA2+, GIRK2+, and DAT+) that secrete dopamine and fire spontaneous action potentials³.

Additionally, in a recent publication from Roger Barker’s lab titled “PAX6 expression may be protective against dopaminergic cell loss in Parkinson’s disease” they found that the transcription factor, PAX6 is expressed in midbrain dopaminergic neurons and concluded that it may be protective against dopaminergic cell loss in Parkinson’s disease.

We have shown that ISChpNSCs also differentiate in situ into DA neurons in two different PD animal models, 6O HDA lesioned rats and MPTP lesioned African green monkeys.  The percentage of ISChpNSCs differentiating into DA neurons in vivo is around 1 to 2% of the engrafted cells, which is enough to have a significant increase in the total number of DA neurons in the substantia nigra and fiber innervation in the striatum.

b. What are the preclinical safety and efficacy data supporting the use of the proposed stem cell product?

ISCO has published and presented its preclinical data at multiple international scientific conferences including International Society for Stem Cell Research, American Academy of Neurology, American Neurological Association, Society for Neuroscience, International Society for Cell Therapy, International Society for Neural Therapy and Repair, and the American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy.

In addition to the 10 rats and the 2 monkey study mentioned in the commentary, we have completed a long term 12 month transplantation study of hpNSCs in 20 MPTP lesioned African green monkeys with moderate to severe clinical Parkinsonian symptoms. The ISChpNSCs were manufactured under current good manufacturing practice (cGMP) conditions and were injected bilaterally into the striatum and substantia nigra of immunosuppressed monkeys. Transplantation of ISChpNSC was found to be safe and well tolerated by the animals. We observed higher behavioral recovery, dopamine levels, innervation and number of dopaminergic neurons than in vehicle control animals.

c. Can arguments concerning ethics, risk mitigation, or trial logistics outweigh concerns regarding the expected efficacy of the cell and constitute a primary justification for choosing one cell type over another in a clinical trial?

The assumption that the study received approval based on ethical considerations is incorrect.

The ISChpNSC line has undergone stringent quality control measures and has received FDA approval to be used for IND submission in clinical trials.

The Australian Therapeutics Goods Administration (TGA), which is FDA’s Australian counterpart and the Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) have reviewed ISCO’s extensive preclinical data and decided to grant approval for its treatment of Parkinson’s disease. The ISChpNSCs are a more practical source of cells than obtaining fetal cells from aborted human fetal brains. ISCO can manufacture an unlimited supply of homogenous populations of ISChpNSCs under cGMP conditions and preclinical studies indicate that they are safe and promote behavioral and biochemical functional improvements in a nonhuman primate Parkinson’s disease model.

d. What is being claimed regarding the potential therapeutic value of the stem cellbased therapy – better control of symptoms or a cure?

ISCO claims that preclinical studies have shown improvement in PD symptoms and increase in brain dopamine levels following the intracranial administration of ISChpNSC.

e. What is the regulatory oversight of the trial and is it guided by input from experts in the field?

The Australian regulatory agency, TGA, is in possession of the criteria and expertise for evaluating preclinical studies and clinical investigators and members of ethics committees are properly disposed to evaluate complex scientific data and thereby weigh risk against potential benefit on behalf of PD patients.

It is worth noting that ISCO’s trial is fully funded by the company with no economic involvement from patients. ISCO’s trial has a five year follow up with a number of safety and efficacy measures, including Fdopa positron emission tomography (PET) scans.

4. In regard to the cell type being used in your PD trial are there any specific inherent advantages or disadvantages in using parthenogenetic derived cells as opposed to other cell types for Parkinson’s Disease?

The derivation of human parthenogenetic stem cells (hpSCs) does not involve the destruction of a human embryo, so they are free of the ethical concerns associated with hESCs. They can be produced in abundant quantities which will be important in treating patients. The hpSCs can be derived homozygous at the HLA loci from both heterozygous and homozygous donors. HLA homozygous lines have the potential to immune match millions of patients in cell based therapy applications if the HLA type is common. For that reason, they are a promising choice for regenerative medicine applications.

Additionally, a recent study comparing the frequencies of coding mutations in human pluripotent stem cells has also found that hpSCs have lower number of de novo coding mutations than iPSCs and NTESCs.

5. In a recent news release there was mention of additional cell types in development, one of which was neurons specifically for the Parkinson’s program, can you elaborate on that?

ISCO is using human parthenogenetic derived neural stem cells (ISChpNSC) for its Parkinson’s and Stroke programs but not neurons.

6. Why is ISCO not part of the consortium called GForce PD, joining the collaborative effort to share development data on Parkinson’s therapeutic research?

GForce PD is formed by nonprofit academic institutions. ISCO, being a for profit biotechnology company, cannot be as open to share research and development data for intellectual property reasons. We try to the best of our ability to share our data with the appropriate forums to the extent that we can without compromising our work. For example, we frequently present preclinical data at multiple international scientific conferences including International Society for Stem Cell Research, American Academy of Neurology, American Neurological Association, Society for Neuroscience, International Society for Cell Therapy, International Society for Neural Therapy and Repair, and the American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy among others.

7. Being a California company have you applied for CIRM support funding for your programs? If so was there a reason CIRM did not approve support funding given the potential?

We were not able to apply for CIRM funding for our clinical trial in the Australia because CIRM funding can only be used to conduct clinical trials in California.

8. Is there an update you can share on the enrollment in Australia for the PD trial? Have you completed enrollment as anticipated? Has Foley started treatment procedures and when do they expect to complete the cohorts?

Enrollment has started and dosing is anticipated to be completed in 2016.

9. You have indicated that the FDA has approved your parthenogenetic cell line for clinical use in the USA. Can you provide an overview of those discussions and the approval process in light of the questions regarding cell line safety data and US trial plans?

The ISChpNSC line has undergone extensive testing and stringent quality control measures and has received permission from the FDA for use in clinical trials under the Investigative New Drug (IND) application procedure. Critical to the approval for clinical use was the data package provided to the FDA in which ISCO summarized the methods, standards and results of the testing performed on the cell line. The data package was developed as a result of the company’s discussions with the FDA to clarify the safety and acceptability of the proposed cell line for therapeutic use in clinical trials for Parkinson’s disease.

10. You’ve highlighted the creation of a parthenogenetic stem cell bank as one of the keys to unlocking the potential to better match patients to your derived treatments, as is the case also with other pluripotent stem cell sources. Can you review the topic and progress made to establish the UniStemCell bank?

UniStemCell bank is the life science industry’s first collection of histocompatible parthenogenetic stem cells available for research and commercial use. ISCO uses its proprietary technique of parthenogenesis to create histocompatible stem cells. These cells have a duplicate set of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genes which significantly reduces the possibility that they will be rejected by an individual’s immune system, making a single cell line suitable for treating millions of individuals. An additional benefit is that a relatively small number of such cell lines could be sufficient to provide “immune matched” cells to a large percentage of the world’s population.

When used for cell based therapies, stem cells face the same HLA matching issues that limit solid organ allogeneic transplants and lead to immune rejection. The risk of rejection is proportional to the degree of disparity between donor and recipient cell surface antigen presenting proteins. ISCO is continuing the development of the UniStemCell bank.

11. Recently haploid stem cells were isolated using parthenogenetic techniques. Can you comment on this development and its impact on your science and intellectual property position?

In the recent paper published in Nature, Sagi and colleagues isolated and maintained for the first time human pluripotent stem cell lines with a normal haploid karyotype. They found that some human parthenogenetic stem cell lines have a small percentage of haploid cells in culture and they were able to isolate these cells and expand them in culture to obtain a population of haploid pluripotent stem cells. These haploid stem cells are useful for studying human functional genomics and development but they are unlikely to be used for cell therapy applications because they spontaneously become diploid, at a rate of 3–9% cells per day, and require constant sorting to maintain a population of haploid cells.

12. Human eggs are required for the creation of parthenogenetic stem cell lines which in some circles raised a red flag on the ethics of use and the safety of women undergoing the now standard IVF fertility treatment stimulation procedure. Can you address this issue, the scope of donations required to establish a working stem cell bank and the need for egg donors moving forward given possible reprogramming technology advances.

Donation of oocytes to ISCO occurs under informed consent (IC), and with the approval and oversight of an institutional review board (IRB), both of which provide assurance that the donor is fully aware of the IVF procedures, risks, purpose, potential benefits and voluntary nature of the donation. Since the donation involves eggs left over from IVF, the donor is at no higher risk for participating than she would otherwise experience from the procedure itself.

A single parthenogenetic stem cell line can be expanded to generate large numbers of cells in the form of Master and Working Cell Banks (MCB and WCB) which are cryopreserved to maintain a viable repository over an extended period of time. The ability to amplify and preserve large populations of clonally derived cells in this manner is advantageous for maintaining consistency of the clinical product, as well as for minimizing the need for a continuous source of donated oocytes. Oocytes do not fall into the controversial category of embryos and hence the ethical concerns associated with the use of embryonic stem cells do not apply to parthenogenetic stem cells.

13. Lastly I’d like to address the issue of the uplist from the OTC and finances. In your recent prospectus it was stated that you will look to uplist to Nasdaq – is that still the case and if so when will that occur? Also, of late you have been largely self funded through Dr. Andrey Semechkin, CEO and Co-Chairman of the company. Could you speak to the issue of choosing to back the company with insider funding support, business development plans for program partnerships and the longer term strategy given the requirements of your core business to bring therapeutic stem cell treatments to market?

Our focus right now is to do great work with our clinical trial in Australia as well as advance our other development programs in the pipeline. We believe that the way the company is structured now makes a lot of good business sense and we don’t have any plans to change things any time soon. Our management is fully committed to see our different programs to fruition and is fully confident in our technology and therefore decided to further invest in the company.

We believe we are well funded to get a few of our programs to the next milestone. At different times of development, the company has had discussions with potential partners and we may very well decide to partner with another company as we prepare to bring products to market. However, currently we are focused on moving our development programs forward.

1. Tachibana, M. , et al. Human embryonic stem cells derived by somatic cell nuclear transfer. Cell 153, 12281238 (2013).

2. Barker, R.A. , et al. Are Stem CellBased Therapies for Parkinson's Disease Ready for the Clinic in 2016? Journal of Parkinson's disease 6, 5763 (2016).

3. Gonzalez, R. , et al. Deriving dopaminergic neurons for clinical use. A practical approach. Scientific Reports 3, 15 (2013).

4. Thomas, M.G. , et al. PAX6 expression may be protective against dopaminergic cell loss in Parkinson's disease. CNS & neurological disorders drug targets 15, 7379 (2016).

5. Gonzalez, R. , et al. Proof of concept studies exploring the safety and functional activity of human parthenogeneticderived neural stem cells for the treatment of Parkinson's disease. Cell transplantation 24, 681690 (2015).

6. Johannesson, B. , et al. Comparable frequencies of coding mutations and loss of imprinting in human pluripotent cells derived by nuclear transfer and defined factors. Cell stem cell 15, 634642 (2014).

7. Sagi, I. , et al. Derivation and differentiation of haploid human embryonic stem cells. Nature (2016).


Message Of The Founder

At this historical moment of launching organizational websites, I want to thank my colleagues, members’ and well wishers of MBPC for their wonderful contribution towards the organization.

MBPC believes that independent media, generous democracy, righteous journalist, liberal human rights and effective GO-NGO-Community coordination are the pre-requisite for national advancement. We may not imagine a fruitful news industry without educated, well trained, responsible and conscientious journalists and professionals. Considering it, the club stresses on skills promotion and moral education of the journalists.

Our Moto is ‘Serving Humanity First’. The club is committed to fight for re-establish a positive and clean image of the news industry, journalists within the society and common peoples in Bangladesh. To do so, MBPC has been working with professional’s of news industries, NGO’s and CBO’s to provide a wide range of services for the betterment of their professional skills as well as socio-economic status.

Our activities contribute towards facilitating access, sharing information and knowledge, building capacity, raising awareness, enhancing reach

Historical Background of MBPC

Considering the impact of news industry towards national advancement and good governance, the news media is recognizes as the fourth pillar of a nation. To meet the demand of the age, there was a substantial increase in the number of print, broadcasts and online media as well as of the journalists in Bangladesh as well as in the world. They need proper professional education, training, logistic support and favorable environment to execute their duties and responsibilities with a level of satisfaction. But unfortunately, due to several causes, a big gap can be seen with an open eye between the expected and the actual situation on the relevant events. For instance, today the journalists as well as the news industries suffers today from the lack of professional skill promotion trainings &  scholarship programs, safe-guarding life, coordination between news industries and local administration and so on. The risks for the journalists are increasing day by day in the form of killing, torture, and harassment etc.

In Greater Mymensingh division, there are 6 district press clubs and 60 upazilla press clubs who are distinct and working as a sole agent. There was no professional forum for the journalist who organizes and brings those clubs under an umbrella. Considering the significance of effective networking among those clubs, Mymensingh Bivagio Press Club (MBPC) has stated its journey since 13 October’2015.

 MBPC is a non-political, non-government, professional journalists platform without any bias to any caste , creed  or endemic .  It’s a professional, social and charitable organization of the people who make,


Futsal (Soccer) Facts

The origin of Futsal can be traced back to Montevideo, Uruguay, in 1930 when Juan Carlos Ceriani devised a five-a-side version of soccer for youth competition. The game is played on basketball-sized courts, both indoors and out without the use of sidewalls. The term FUTSAL is the international term used for the game. It is derived from the Spanish or Portuguese word for “soccer”, FUTbol or FUTebol, and the French or Spanish root word for “indoor” or “room”, SALon or Salle or SALa. Taken literally, Futbol means ‘foot and ball‘(i.e. playing outdoors) and Futsal indicates ‘Futbol in room‘ (i.e. playing indoors).

Futsal is FIFA’s AND AMF official indoor soccer game which is, essentially, a scaled down version of outdoor soccer played indoors. It is a small sided game (5v5) played on a smaller field (roughly basketball court sized) with a smaller (size 3-4) ball. Futsal is played with touchline boundaries. There are no walls in play. This is the game that outdoor soccer players around the globe play when they are indoors to refine and maintain their control skills and touch. It is superior to walled soccer in terms of developing better skills and technique. In traditional Australian walled soccer, players regularly whack the ball (and sometimes their bodies) against the boards which promotes improper technique and too often rewards errant play. In Futsal, players are constantly reminded to play the same quality control game that is required for success in the outdoor game.

The game is frequently referred to as Five-A-Side. Once the ball got rolling, Futsal gained rapid popularity throughout South America, particularly in Brazil. The skill developed in this game is visible in the world-famous style the Brazilians display outdoors on the full-sized field. Pele, Zico, Socrates, Bebeto and other Brazilian superstars developed their skill playing Futsal. While Brazil continues to be the Futsal hub of the world, the game is now played, under the auspices of AMF all over the world, from Europe to North and Central America and the Caribbean, South America, Africa, and Asia and Oceania.

The first international competition took place in 1965, when Paraguay won the first South American Cup. Six more South American Cups were held through 1979, with Brazil winning all of them. Brazil continued its dominance with a victory in the first Pan American Cup in 1980 and won it again the next time it was played in 1984.

The first Futsal World Championship conducted under the auspices of FIFUSA (before its members integrated into FIFA AND AMF in 1989) was held in Sao Paulo, Brazil, in 1982, with Brazil finishing in first place. The Brazilians repeated as champions at the second World Championship in 1985 in Spain, but lost in the third World Championship in 1988 in Australia to Paraguay. In 2016 International Futsal Alliance has been formed with FUTSAL only members from AMF and  FIFA .

Why Futsal?
Futsal is the only indoor game sanctioned by FIFA ,and IFA. If skills development is important, Futsal is recognized as clearly the best form of indoor soccer. But that’s not the only reason.

  • Better Skills Development – Futsal promotes quality touches
  • Safer – Futsal eliminates the injuries associated with wall collisions
  • Less Expensive – Futsal makes quality soccer more affordable

And HFSS offers Futsal competitions. So, there are many reasons to consider Futsal. If you want a better indoor game which is safer and always improving your skills then read on.

Who says Futsal is really that much better?

IFA says Futsal is better. MYSA says Futsal is better. And the Brazilians are among the many nations that swear by it. Pele, Ronaldo and Ronaldinho all credit Futsal for much of their skill and technique development. All the major heads of FFA (Football Federation Australia) and FIFA declared that this is the way to go. even though they don’t have a Futsal program to match AFA .Once you experience Futsal, you will see the reasons.

Is Futsal new?
Futsal is the new rage in Australian Football. However, as is often the case, Australia is just catching on to what the world already knows. Superior football skill is built by simulating the outdoor game indoors with small sided games and a smaller ball. World famous clubs such as Ajax have used this approach for years. Futsal has been around for seventy five years but our interest in football skill development has only recently focused attention on the training techniques used in successful football powerhouses such as Brazil, Holland, Germany, France, and Italy. So, Futsal has been around for many years but interest is just starting to explode in Australia

How does Futsal promote better technique?
Just watch Futsal players fight to keep the ball from crossing the touch line and you’ll immediately begin to see how Futsal develops skill, control, and technique. A small field with lines puts players constantly under pressure from other players and out-of-play boundaries. Players must learn to settle the ball rapidly, chop sharply, shield effectively, pass quickly and move into space.

Compared to walled soccer or large indoor field soccer, Futsal places a greater premium on ball control. There is no reward for errant passes because the other team gets the ball. There is no reward for errant shots because the other team gets the ball. There is no incentive to ‘kick and run’ because the field is too small and packed with players. Players with the ball must use proper technique to maintain control and must seek out other players in space. Players without the ball must move to ‘real’ space and must truly support their team mates.

With Futsal, the emphasis is clearly on control and technique. Without control and technique you cannot expect to succeed in Futsal. And, if Australian players are to be more successful in the international arena, it is clear that we must better train and prepare our youth on proper technique. Playing indoor wall soccer just does not make sense to any serious development program. If you are serious about skills and technique development, Futsal is the superior activity. Futsal promotes better technique and develops skills more rapidly. And if you are serious about the quality of the time you spend playing or watching soccer games, Futsal is clearly better.

How is Futsal better than Walled Soccer?

As a Futsal defender, you can ‘face up’ on an oncoming player just like in outdoor soccer (there is no wall pass to beat you). You can let errant passes go out of bounds to win the ball (the proper result of your opponent’s faux-pas).

Consider some of the key problems with the following typical style Indoor soccer scenarios:

  • Question: In wall soccer, what happens when a child bounces a ball against a wall in order to beat an opponent?
  • Answer: The child advances the ball past a defender when there’s a wall available without the need or effort of feinting, chopping, or chipping. Wall soccer supporters defend this as a useful simulation of passing to a team-mate who subsequently one-times the ball as part of a ‘give-and-go’. Futsal sees this as a lost opportunity to work on skills to beat defenders (i.e. never waste an opportunity to work on the skills required for the outdoor game).
  • Question: In wall soccer, what happens when a child bounces a wall-pass to a team-mate?
  • Answer: The child advances the ball to a team-mate when there’s a wall available without the need or effort of passing. Wall soccer supporters defend this as a useful simulation of passing to a team-mate who subsequently one-times the ball to the forward-most member of a ‘triangle’. Futsal believes the best pass is to a live player. You should be developing dynamic combinations of moving players who move into space. The player with the ball looks for moving team mates and anticipates those movements. Don’t assume a stationary target (i.e. the wall) is always there ready for your pass. You need to be trained on the realities of the outdoor game and your team mates need to learn how to support you.
  • Question: What happens when a child blasts a shot against a wall so an onrushing team-mate can score on the anticipated rebound?
  • Answer: The child creates scoring opportunities when there’s a wall available to either side of the goal without the need to make an accurate shot. While some soccer aficionados label this a useful exercise others feel it is best to practice taking accurate scoring shots.
  • Question: What happens when a child beats a defender by ‘dumping the ball into the corner’ (á la NHL) and chasing it?
  • Answer: The child beats a defender when there’s a wall available without fear of the ball rolling out of bounds without the need or effort of passing or dribbling. Futsal supporters argue that players should always be reinforcing the need to control the ball and keep it in play (i.e. never waste a touch).

It should be apparent that there are serious problems with the above scenarios in terms of developing proper technique for the ‘real’ game of outdoor soccer:

  2. These so-called ‘wall skills’ can account for a frighteningly high percentage of the touches in a game. Therefore, the quality of the time spent in terms of developing useful outdoor soccer skills is limited.
  3. Playing with walls introduces a real danger to the child. What happens when a player pins his/her body against the boards either to advance a ball past a defender (who is also pinned against the boards) or to stop his opponent from advancing? And what can happen when players run at full speed toward the boards? Real horror stories abound.

Is Futsal as much fun as walled soccer?
Absolutely. If you like outdoor soccer, you’ll love Futsal. It is fast paced and exciting. With the field being so small, scoring chances abound and games are often high scoring affairs with many different players scoring goals. Even though the ball may go out of bounds, the ball must be put back in play within four seconds or the opposing team gets possession. This not only encourages better control but it also keeps players moving. You cannot sit back and wait for the ball to rebound off the boards (as in walled soccer) because you must fetch it promptly and kick it back into play within four seconds.

It is interesting and important to note that, unlike outdoor soccer, THERE ARE WALLS IN MOST FUTSAL CENTERS! The walls are typically three to ten feet from the boundary lines. Therefore errant balls rebound quickly back to players who subsequently put the ball back into play within four seconds. So, you experience the speed and continuous play of ‘walled soccer’ along with the benefits of small-sided skills-oriented gaming.

From a developmental standpoint, you satisfy the magic objective of teaching proper technique while having fun. This is, perhaps, the most wonderful achievement of Futsal.

How is Futsal safer?
Eliminating walls makes soccer safer but there are other aspects of Futsal which make it safer as well. Besides fewer broken bones and concussions (which too often occur in hockey-rink walled soccer), there are fewer high speed collisions because the field is shorter. You don’t develop the same full head of steam running for the ball in Futsal and consequently have less of those related injuries. Finally, a game which emphasizes control under pressure versus kick and run inevitably leads to more heads-up play. In general, it is safer by virtue of the fewer injuries due to the nature of the arena and the game.

Is this just an oddball fad?
No. This is the way the world develops great players year-round. None of the successful major playing countries in the world including, Brazil, Italy, Germany, France, Holland, and Spain play indoor soccer in hockey rinks. Now that America is taking soccer seriously and wants to compete at the highest levels, Futsal is dominating the US indoor soccer scene. By playing Futsal, you will be joining the fastest growing indoor league. American has joined Taipei, New Zealand and Australia in a biannual Futsal competition called the Pacific Cup. Australian Futsal Association realise that development will only advance to the next level when our game advances to the same level as the rest of the world. Thus the many pathways offered by AFA for Futsal players in Australia. Before entering another ‘hockey rink’ style league or going to an outdoor Sixes Programme, ask yourself “How important is skills development to my players?” This is the question coaches are asking and the conclusion people seem to be drawing is that Futsal is the wave of the future. It is not a fad, it is the way the world plays and it is here to stay in Australia.

Why the funny ball?
Unlike some myths, a Futsal ball is neither funny nor fuzzy. It is, however, different.
The Futsal ball, also known as a reduced bound or low-bounce ball, is smaller than a normal outdoor soccer ball and heavier. There is an AMF specification for the ball’s size, weight and bounce.

These properties are specifically designed to build confidence and develop skill and technique. When a Futsal ball is received, it virtually ‘sticks’ to the foot. This builds great confidence in tight spaces when rapid passes are being issued repeatedly. Interestingly, that same property which makes the ball easy to receive makes it more difficult to strike. A Futsal ball gradually eliminates the ‘lazy pass’. It is heavier and players rapidly get acquainted with the merits of bending the knee, turning the hips, and striking the ball firmly to propel it. Repeated touches on the ball eventually produce a motion which, when transplanted outdoors with a high bounce ball, translates into a firmer and proportionately longer pass appropriate for the big field.

Many programs around the world also claim that smaller size encourages more precise striking of the ‘sweet spot’ of the ball. If one works during the offseason on striking a Futsal ball, then a larger bouncier ball is struck with greater confidence and authority in the outdoor game.


Monday, October 28, 2013

Work of sight

Jean Luc Godard in Les plages d'Agnes- as seen through Agnes Varda's eyes, by me
Agnes Varda reminisces how Godard gave her the rare privilege of letting her see him without his famed sunglasses.

"I loved his beautiful eyes and his cinema"

This image is a special moment for me as I look at a pair of eyes that I have only mostly seen through or shared a vision with. Being confronted with the eyes of the seeker whose vision you have comfortably shared, through his camera is almost like coming face to face with an alter-reflection , a moment of suspense undone in a film noir.

Godard in this image may as well not be looking, or looking at someplace else, beyond and far behind me. The distant gaze is both projected outside of him and back into his sight . Its like a mirror that reflects the distance it sees. The dark pupils are opaque and yet piercing, infinite and zero at the same time. Staring into the zero or 'shunya' (more complex Sanskrit translation for the 'nought') is at the same time gazing into the infinite, constantly battling the limits of a horizon and wanting to see more.

L'inconnue de la Seine ( 1880's)

The Unknown woman of the Seine , L'inconnue de la Seine , whose death mask became an inspiration for many literary works and speculations is also an image of a woman who could be seeing into the distance, despite her death; a state of forced blindness despite sight where the slightly bulging pupils behind the eyelids perhaps are an indication of the eyes open even when they are closed.

मरने के बाद भी आँखें  खुली रहीं , आदत  जो पड़ गयी  थीं तेरे इंतज़ार की

 Faiz Ahmed Faiz

French writer, literary theorist Maurice Blanchot in his Thomas the Obscure, 1941, speaks fantastically of this dichotomous sight

"It was night itself. Images which constituted its darkness inundated him. He saw nothing, and far from being distressed, he made this absence of vision the culmination of his sight. Useless for seeing, his eye tool on extraordinary proportions, developed beyond measure, and stretching out on the horizon, let the night penetrate its centre in order to receive the day from it. And so, through this void, it was sight and the object of sight which mingled together. Not only did this eye which saw nothing apprehend something, it apprehended the cause of its vision. It saw as object that which prevented it from seeing. Its own glance entered into it as an image, just when this glance seemed the death of all image."

The blinding turmoil of the eye seeing into absolute darkness is an exhilarating moment- one of hitting the opaque surface beyond comfortable reach; of encountering a resistant world of images refusing to reveal itself as anything else but itself. The pendulum keeps oscillating.

#interesting read - Merleau Ponty on The Primacy of Perception

Thursday, October 24, 2013

The potential of beginnings is on my mind.

A dispersal of points. A setting forth.  A series of beginnings and no ends- perhaps a most precarious method of functioning today.  False alarms, panic starts, carburators that refuse to ignite but are in the continuous labour of combustion. Bollywood films with only first halves ( which would spell paradise for the scriptwriter!)

In one of Edward Said’s earlier books, Beginnings: Intentions and methods, he suggested that the literary form of the novel was a step towards a manner of institutionalization [my reading] of the story teller. The novel involves a pre-disposition - the writer who consciously chooses a method of expansion to tell a story. Either the story begins with an intention of being a long one or is an episode that promises to churn more. Either way, a potential is realised in the ‘beginning’ and harnessed further. What of the storyteller who is not keen to know the end, or the one who has foreseen the end too soon and would rather not execute this foresight?
We are left with a folder full of empty word files, others with just two lines or paragraphs, each carrying immense possibilities and a writer who is content in creating these moments of possibility in the unwritten and eventually never writes.

Jean-Luc Godard

The Mobius Strip

I came across this quote as a status update on Facebook a few days ago - "Those who are wise lament neither for the living nor the dead. For death is certain to one who is born; to one who is dead, birth is certain; therefore, thou shalt not grieve for what is unavoidable." These images of the cyclical are all too familiar. What begins ends, what ends, begins. But what if nothing ends and it is completely vital to shift gears and begin elsewhere just to save yourself from one kind of endlessness and begin another. A violent proposition of constantly spiralling out. An asceticism that pushes towards discomfort and constantly escapes the comfort of its routine.

The archaeological site is a site of projected possibilities into both the future and the past. An end point  and a beginning at once, waiting, pausing and pushing the moment of the action just a few more centuries away. Like Apu who decides to miss his train and stay at home one extra day.[Aparajito (1956) Dir: Satyajit Ray]

"Imagining oneself as a child is like running backwards. Imagining oneself ancient is funny, like a dirty joke."

Agnes Varda
The image below is a frame from Agnes Varda’s film Les plages d'Agnes (the Beaches of Agnes) (2008).

For a long time I struggled with this image that has ever since been my obsession. I see in my imagination, the trapeze artist swaying from one trapeze to another, tossing into the sky further and further until one fine day managing to hook onto it with an umbrella and hang in suspension until further notice. The umbrella has a pencil point with which the trapeze artist can write on the sky, draw tails and signatures of acrobat-kin. But the imagination was in a spasm of trying to actualize an impossible image. The sky and the universe as being an ever expanding material that refused to show itself.

Yesterday , while wandering in the Science museum in London, I found this.

The caption reads as follows:
Glass Sphere
This rare example of a celestial sphere belonged to Stephen Demainbray, a lecturer whose collection becae amalgamated with the royal collection. It was designed by Robert Long in 1742. The Instrument was used to demonstrate both the real and the apparent motion of the heavens by turning either the Earth globe or the glass globe. The glass globe is engraved with the major constellations.

Here was an image of the world and its sky- with a beginning, with a circumference. The glass globe as the sky helped me stand outside of it. Made it possible for me to imagine my trapeze artist finally having a surface to fall into. Skyfall was within reach.

The moment of labour is the one suspened in between the two bars - mid–air when she turns and begins her next journey to the other trapeze, without a safety net below her. It is the work of a beginning. A moment of courage that begins by the momentum accrued by her self set in motion by the trapeze pushed by the friend on the other side, her acrobat-kin.

Beginning now.


China Greatvista Chemicals

Calciferol (Vitamin D)

Vitamin D, also called calciferol, is a vitamin that dissolves in the body's fat. Vitamin D is found in food, but also can be made in your body after exposure to ultraviolet rays from the sun. There are several different forms of vitamin D. Each form has a different activity. Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin. It can be dissolved in fat. Vitamin D is carried through the body by fat and stored in fat tissue. Getting too much can be harmful. Vitamin D can be produced in the body, as well as, obtained from the diet.

The major biologic function of vitamin D is to maintain normal blood levels of calcium and phosphorus. Calcium is a mineral in your body that makes up your bones and keeps them strong. Phosphorus is a mineral that helps maintain good teeth and bones and keep muscles and nerves working properly. Vitamin D aids in the absorption of calcium, helping to form and maintain strong bones. Without vitamin D, bones can become thin, brittle and soft. Vitamin D prevents rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults. Rickets causes skeletal deformities. Osteomalacia causes muscular weakness and weak bones.

Vitamin D regulates calcium and phosphorus levels by effects on the intestines, bone, and kidney. In the intestines, calcitriol binds to nuclear receptors which stimulates synthesis of mRNA for intestinal calcium-binding protein (CaBP). Calcium-binding protein increases the rate of mucosal uptake of calcium. Since membrane permeability to calcium is enhanced by vitamin D, a corresponding increased uptake of phosphorus will occur to maintain electrical neutrality. In bone, calcitriol stimulates osteoclastic activity which increases bone resorption to release calcium and phosphorus into the blood. Bone resorption must occur prior to formation and is a requisite first step in the remodeling process. In the kidney, calcitriol increases reabsorption of calcium and phosphorus.

Activation of vitamin D is directly induced by a decrease in serum phosphorus levels. Changes in serum calcium levels affect vitamin D through parathyroid hormone stimulation of renal hydroxylation. Activation of the vitamin is inhibited by increased serum phosphorus levels or increased serum levels of calcitonin. This regulatory effect of serum phosphate levels on vitamin D metabolism makes phosphorus balance an important factor in vitamin D-mediated homeostatic regulation of calcium balance.

The term vitamin D actually refers to a group of steroid molecules. Vitamin D3, also known as cholecalciferol is generated in the skin of animals when light energy is absorbed by a precursor molecule 7-dehydrocholesterol. Vitamin D is thus not a true vitamin, because individuals with adequate exposure to sunlight do not require dietary supplementation. There are dietary sources of vitamin D, including egg yolk, fish oil and a number of plants. The plant form of vitamin D is called vitamin D2 or ergosterol. However, natural diets typically do not contain adequate quantities of vitamin D, and exposure to sunlight or consumption of foodstuffs purposefully supplemented with vitamin D are necessary to prevent deficiencies. There are two forms of the vitamin. Vitamin D2 is derived from ergosterol in the diet, whereas vitamin D3 is derived from cholesterol via 7-dehydrocholesterol. Ultraviolet light (from sunlight) is responsible for the production of both forms of the vitamin. However, in certain parts of the world with limited sunlight there is the possibility that the quantity of vitamin D is not always sufficient. To prevent this possibility milk is now fortified with vitamin D2. A deficiency of vitamin D leads to rickets which is a softening of the bones owing to faulty mineralization.

Vitamin D (calciferol) is named according to the revised rules of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemists (IUPAC). Because vitamin D is derived from a steroid, the structure retains its numbering from the parent compound cholesterol. Asymmetric centers are designated by using the R,S notation; the configuration of the double bonds are notated E for "entgegen" or trans, and Z for "zuzammen" or cis. Thus the official name of vitamin D3 is 9,10-seco(5Z,7E)-5,7,10(19)cholestatriene-3b-ol, and the official name of vitamin D2 is 9,10-seco(5Z,7E)-5,7,10(19), 22-ergostatetraene-3b-ol.

The active form of the vitamin is calcitriol which is synthesized from either D2 or D3 in the kidneys. Calcitriol binds to a protein transcription factor which can regulated gene expression. The outcome is the maintenance of calcium and phosphorus levels in the bone and blood with the assistance of parathyroid hormone and calcitonin. Because the level of calcitriol synthesis ultimately depends on exposure to sunlight, dark-skinned people who live in sun-poor regions historically would often lack vitamin D. Protection from vitamin D deficiency, and thus rickets, might be one reason light-skinned humans evolved in cloudier regions.

Chemical name: (1-a,3-b,5Z,7E)-9,10-Secocholesta-5,7,10(19)-triene-1,3,25-triol
Molecular formula: C27H44O3
Molecular weight: 416.7
CAS No.: 32222-06-3


Yarrow Mazzetti has an obsession with the creation of space and experiences. He is a passionate fabricator known for taking blank canvases and transforming them into an awe-inspiring spectacles. His creations span from art cars and customized adult playgrounds to unique furniture and architectural designs.

In 2012, after building multiple one-of-a-kind art cars, Mazzetti decided to create an entire fleet known today as The Lady Buggies. With 15 in total, The Lady Buggies have covered a lot of ground in their one year of existence. The fleet has appeared at festivals such as Burning Man, Coachella, Electric Daisy Carnival, Lightning In A Bottle and many more.

Aside from art cars and playground environments, the artist has created high-end home and furniture. Mazzetti has designed unique houses on Mexico’s Baja Peninsula, highlighting his incredible talent to blend style and utility beyond imagination.

His skilled technique in design is founded in woodwork. Over the years, Mazzetti has created special wooden pieces for both commercial and residential environments using innovative approaches to a classical craft. It is Mazzetti’s belief that through his art and design work he can captivate and inspire people. It is this belief that continues to fuel his unwavering passion. For more photos of Yarrow Mazzetti’s creations, please visit OverkillMovement.com.


Located in the area of George in the state of Washington is the premier outdoor amphitheater the Gorge Amphitheater. As one of the largest and most significant buildings in area, there is much to be appreciated with the Gorge Amphitheater. However, it is most known for its massive size and for being on the most scenic and unique concert locations in the entire world. Located right along the Columbia River the has a beautiful scenic backdrop that provides a one of a kind setting for any outdoor concert. The amphitheater structure is designed to be simple and straightforward so that the primary focus of the audience can be on the scenery and on the band performing.

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Less Toxic Cleaning Alternatives

First and always—Soap and water, and skip the paper towels, use those dish rags and cleaning rags. They can be used and washed in your washing machine thousands of times saving many natural resources associated with producing disposable cleaning supplies.

Try making this All-Purpose Green Cleaner yourself...

2 cups white vinegar

2 teaspoons of your favorite essential oil (grapefruit or peppermint smell wonderful)

6 drops food coloring (to help remind you there is a cleaning product in the bottle)

tap water

2 tablespoons dish soap (use one with no phosphates)

Supplies: 1 gallon plastic bottle with lid

Add to bottle in this order: white vinegar, food coloring, and essential oil. Fill the rest of the bottle with cold tap water leaving about 2 inches space at the top. Add liquid dish soap (adding soap last prevents bubbles), close lid, and gently tip the bottle back and forth to blend the ingredients.

How to Use: Use as you would any other all purpose household cleaner. Put in a spray bottle and use in kitchen, bathrooms, and for general cleaning. Not for use on glass or windows.

Here is a favorite Non-Toxic Green Cleanser...

Coarse salt (like Morton Kosher salt)

Baking soda

Essential oil (peppermint smells great!)

Plastic shaker bottle (Try recycling an old parmesan cheese shaker bottle)

Plastic funnel

Wire whisk

Instructions: The amount of each ingredient will depend on the size of your shaker bottle. Pour equal parts Borax, salt and baking soda into your container. Empty into a mixing bowl and blend ingredients with whisk to break up any lumps in the baking soda or Borax. Mix in 10-20 drops of the essential oil. Stir well and carefully pour back into shaker container using your funnel.

How to Use: Use as you would any other mildly abrasive cleanser. The coarse salt adds to the scrubbing action and the baking soda and Borax leave a clean finish. Use in kitchen and bathrooms.