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Background: Soft robotic exosuits can facilitate immediate increases in short- and long-distance walking speeds in people with post-stroke hemiparesis. We sought to assess the feasibility and rehabilitative potential of applying propulsion-augmenting exosuits as part of an individualized and progressive training program to retrain faster walking and the underlying propulsive strategy.
Conclusions: The REAL training program is feasible to implement after stroke and capable of facilitating rapid and meaningful improvements in paretic propulsion, walking speed, and walking distance.
Volume 15 - 2021 | <a class="ArticleLayoutHeader__info__doi" href="https://doi.org/10.3389/fnbot.2021.689577">https://doi.org/10.3389/fnbot.2021.689577</a>
This article is part of the Research TopicHow Can Wearable Robotic and Sensor Technology Advance Neurorehabilitation?<a class="Link Link--linkType Link--maincolor Link--medium Link--icon Link--chevronRight Link--right" aria-label="View all 11 articles" href="https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/18728/how-can-wearable-robotic-and-sensor-technology-advance-neurorehabilitation/magazine" target="_self" data-event="customLink-linkType-a_viewAll11Articles">View all 11 articles</a>
Background: Soft robotic exosuits can facilitate immediate increases in short- and long-distance walking speeds in people with post-stroke hemiparesis
We sought to assess the feasibility and rehabilitative potential of applying propulsion-augmenting exosuits as part of an individualized and progressive training program to retrain faster walking and the underlying propulsive strategy
Methods: A 54-yr old male with chronic hemiparesis completed five daily sessions of Robotic Exosuit Augmented Locomotion (REAL) gait training
and progressively challenging walking practice augmented by a soft robotic exosuit and is designed to facilitate faster walking by way of increased paretic propulsion
Repeated baseline assessments of comfortable walking speed over a 2-year period provided a stable baseline from which the effects of REAL training could be elucidated
Additional outcomes included paretic propulsion
Results: Comfortable walking speed was stable at 0.96 m/s prior to training and increased by 0.30 m/s after training
Clinically meaningful increases in maximum walking speed (&#x00394;: 0.30 m/s) and 6-minute walk test distance (&#x00394;: 59 m) were similarly observed
Improvements in paretic peak propulsion (&#x00394;: 2.80 %BW)
and trailing limb angle (&#x00394;: 6.2 degrees) were observed at comfortable walking speed (p&#x00027;s &#x0003C; 0.05)
improvements in paretic peak propulsion (&#x00394;: 4.63 %BW) and trailing limb angle (&#x00394;: 4.30 degrees) were observed at maximum walking speed (p&#x00027;s &#x0003C; 0.05)
Conclusions: The REAL training program is feasible to implement after stroke and capable of facilitating rapid and meaningful improvements in paretic propulsion
the value of exosuits in the context of gait rehabilitation is not clear; the potential for training-related effects that are retained beyond the use of exosuits are not known
&#x0002A;Single-session comparisons of exosuit powered vs
unpowered (or not worn); &#x0002A;&#x0002A;Multi-session evaluations of pre-to-post training effects of REAL gait training
with a focus on the optimization of its outcomes and design elements for subsequent clinical trials
we hypothesized that REAL training would facilitate therapeutic improvements in speed and propulsion measured without the exosuit
REAL gait training, as tested in this initial pilot, consisted of five daily sessions. Each session consisted of 30 min of total walking practice divided into five 6-min training bouts. The first two bouts were conducted on the treadmill, followed by three bouts overground (<a href="#F2">Figure 2C</a>)
The maximum allowable heart rate at each training visit was 85% of the peak heart rate observed during an electrocardiography-monitored graded exercise test completed prior to training
(A) Schematic of soft robotic exosuit with representative force profiles for dorsiflexion and plantarflexion assistance
(B) Laboratory setup for biomechanical evaluation of overground walking
(C) Illustration of Robotic Exosuit Augmented Locomotion (REAL) training
administered by a physical therapist on the treadmill and overground
Anterior-posterior ground reaction force; %bw
The task selection for the REAL gait training program was based on high intensity, task-specific, and progressively challenging walking practice&#x02014;principles which are known to be important in motor learning (<a href="#B38">Guadagnoli and Lee, 2004</a>; <a href="#B47">Kleim and Jones, 2008</a>) and relevant for contemporary robot-augmented rehabilitation interventions (<a href="#B58">Morone et al., 2017</a>)
REAL implements the following design elements:
the participant is directed to walk at or faster than a target training speed (SpeedTarget)
with CWS and MWS being the participant&#x00027;s comfortable and maximum walking speeds measured daily from a 10-meter Walk Test (10mWT)
to maximize training intensity for this consideration-of-concept trial
REAL training was administered every day for five consecutive days
Task-specificity is implemented both at the level of function and impairment. First, the entirety of the REAL training program is based on the direct practice of the task of walking. Second, REAL is designed to target specific gait impairments during walking practice&#x02014;an approach that has been shown to be more effective than interventions that target impairments isolated from the task of walking (<a href="#B60">Nadeau et al., 2013</a>; <a href="#B35">Forrester et al., 2016</a>)
exosuit-augmented walking practice is combined with feedback from a licensed physical therapist
with both aimed at facilitating fast walking speeds through a propulsion-based strategy
the participant is actively engaged in identifying gait pattern goals related to increasing speed and propulsion
with the physical therapist providing summary feedback on how well the target training speeds are achieved
the physical therapist provides strategies designed to increase forward propulsion (e.g.
increasing plantarflexion or the trailing limb angle
or modulating the non-paretic step length)
The study participant was a 54-year old male with chronic left-sided hemiparesis after a right middle cerebral artery ischemic stroke
The participant reported that he routinely walked with a cane and foot-up brace and had limited ability to walk without these devices
This was confirmed at the initial clinical assessment where the Fugl-Meyer Assessment was also completed
yielding a Lower Extremity motor sub-score of 24/34
and lower extremity sensation sub-score of 12/12
Baseline assessments of postural stability during walking and general mobility were assessed through the Functional Gait Assessment (16/20) and the Timed Up-and-Go (TUG) test (14.47 s)
which were both tested without an assistive device or brace
The participant was not receiving any physical therapy at the time of the intervention
A single-subject consideration-of-concept trial with repeated baseline measurements assessed the feasibility and rehabilitative potential of REAL
Enrollment in this study was based on convenience sampling
The study participant was known to the research team through his participation in 44 research visits over a 2-year period during the development phase of our exosuits program
Because gait training was not provided at these visits
the repeated measurements during this period provided a robust baseline assessment of walking speed prior to his participation in REAL training
In addition to the repeated baseline measurements made over this 2-year period
a dedicated pre-training baseline evaluation was completed prior to the five daily sessions of REAL training
A post-training evaluation was completed after
The study was approved by the Institutional Review Boards at Harvard University and Boston University
The soft robotic exosuit used in this study is detailed in previous work (<a href="#B17">Bae et al., 2018a</a>; <a href="#B70">Siviy et al., 2020</a>)
the exosuit consists of functional apparel that is worn on the paretic leg
A shoe insole and calf wrap provide textile attachment points for Bowden cables located in front of and behind the paretic ankle
An actuator unit and battery are secured close to the body center-of-mass using a waist belt
Bowden cables connect to the attachment points on the calf wrap and insole
Retraction of the Bowden cables deliver assistive dorsiflexor and plantarflexor torques during targeted phases of the gait cycle
Shoe-mounted inertial sensors enable gait detection and the delivery of the assistive forces in synchrony with the wearer&#x00027;s gait
Though this force profile was tuned during the first study visit
it was not allowed to vary over time (i.e.
commanded force profile parameters were fixed within and across days)
To examine the therapeutic effects of REAL training
all clinical and biomechanical assessments were tested overground without wearing the exosuit
No assistive device or brace was used in all assessments
data from five comfortable walking speed 10-meter walk tests (10mWT) conducted over a 2-year period were used
Four of these measurements were taken from historical data obtained during the development phase of this project
and the fifth measurement was collected at the pre-training evaluation that immediately preceded the training period
to fully characterize short- and long-distance walking function
maximum walking speed during the 10mWT and 6-Minute Walk Test (6MWT) distance were measured at both the pre- and post-training evaluations
The 10mWT comfortable walking speed served as our main clinical outcome
whereas the 10mWT maximum walking speeds and 6MWT distance were secondary outcomes
Locomotor biomechanics were collected during the pre and post-training 10mWTs using an 18-camera motion capture system (Oqus, Qualysis, Gottenburg, Sweden; 200 Hz) and six instrumented forceplates (Bertec, Columbus, Ohio, USA; 2000Hz) (<a href="#F2">Figure 2B</a>)
Kinematic and kinetic data were filtered using a zero-lag low-pass 4th order Butterworth filter with 10 Hz cutoff frequency
Joint angles were computed using direct kinematics and joint moments and powers using inverse dynamics (Visual 3D
All biomechanical data were time-synchronized and normalized between sequential heel strikes measured using a 30N vertical ground reaction force threshold
Primary biomechanical outcomes included measurements of paretic propulsion (i.e., peak, impulse, and symmetry of the anterior ground reaction forces) and related metrics (<a href="#B44">Hsiao et al., 2015</a>, <a href="#B45">2016b</a>; <a href="#B34">Fickey et al., 2018</a>) such as plantarflexor moment
Secondary measures included gait quality metrics such as stride length
and symmetry of the posterior ground reaction forces)
Percentage of symmetry of propulsion and braking forces were calculated by dividing the value of the paretic limb by the sum of paretic and non-paretic limbs
Viable foot strikes (range: 3&#x02013;6) served to provide the within-subject observations for each biomechanical outcome for each assessment timepoint
All data are reported using median and interquartile range (IQR)
and statistical analyses were performed using custom MATLAB scripts (Mathworks
The study participant tolerated all aspects of REAL training without reportable adverse events. Notably, the participant tolerated wearing the close-conforming interface of the exosuit on the paretic leg over an extended amount of time during high-intensity walking practice without skin irritation or other comfort issues, which are important biocompatibility considerations in soft robotics (<a href="#B29">Cianchetti et al., 2018</a>)
The daily SpeedTarget was achieved for all completed walking bouts
indicating the approach used to compute SpeedTarget was reasonable
The participant completed all five planned training sessions and 19 out of 25 (i.e.
1 treadmill and five overground bouts) were not completed due to minor technical issues related to the exosuit&#x00027;s battery connection and Bluetooth communication
None of these technical issues resulted in walking disturbance and were uneventfully resolved
The participant was able to actively engage with the physical therapist in setting gait pattern goals related to paretic propulsion and was able to self-assess his performance to build on and refine these goals over subsequent training bouts
the participant noted that a daily frequency may present logistical constraints on scheduling but denied cumulative fatigue as a concern
Effects of Robotic Exosuit Augmented Locomotion (REAL) training on 10-m walk test speeds and 6-minute walk test distance
(A) Five comfortable walking speed measurements repeatedly assessed over 2 years prior to the onset of REAL training (four historical timepoints and one pre-training evaluation conducted immediately before the training period)
post-training evaluation comfortable walking speed
(B) Pre-to-post comparisons of 6-minute walk test distance
(C) Time series of anteroposterior ground reaction forces (AP-GRF) of each speed condition; (D) Peak propulsion of each speed condition
Minimal clinically importance difference; &#x0002A;: (p &#x0003C; 0.05)
Similarly, the 10mWT MWS at pre-training was 1.33 (0.12) m/s and, after REAL training, increased by 0.30 m/s. Moreover, 6MWT distance at pre-training was 435 m and, after REAL training, increased by 59 m. These improvements in MWS and 6MWT distance (<a href="#F3">Figures 3A,B</a>) were clinically meaningful, exceeding known MCIDs (<a href="#B64">Perera et al., 2006</a>; <a href="#B73">Tilson et al., 2010</a>; <a href="#B19">Barthuly et al., 2012</a>; <a href="#B71">Tang et al., 2012</a>)
Improvements in propulsion biomechanics complemented the improvements in CWS and MWS (<a href="#F3">Figures 3C,D</a>, <a href="#T1">Table 1</a>). Peak paretic propulsion significantly increased by 2.8 %bw at CWS and by 4.63 %bw at MWS (p&#x00027;s &#x0003C; 0.05), both of which exceeded the known MDCs (<a href="#B27">Campanini and Merlo, 2009</a>)
paretic propulsion impulse increased by 0.58 %bw&#x000B7;s at CWS and by 0.84 %bw&#x000B7;s at MWS (p&#x00027;s &#x0003C; 0.05)
interlimb propulsion symmetry increased for both the propulsion peak (&#x00394;: CWS: &#x0002B;5.12%
MWS: &#x0002B;6.08%) and propulsion impulse (&#x00394;: CWS: &#x0002B;5.97%
At CWS, increases in stride length (0.15 m) and cadence (9.3 steps/min) (p&#x00027;s &#x0003C; 0.05) were observed and exceeded the MDCs (<a href="#B37">Geiger et al., 2019</a>)
Similar gains that exceeded the MDCs were noted during MWS
with stride length increasing by 0.13 m and cadence by 15.5 steps/min (p&#x00027;s &#x0003C; 0.05)
Paretic limb circumduction was significantly reduced at CWS by 3.83 cm (p &#x0003C; 0.05)
No significant changes in hip hiking were noted at either speed
while paretic braking force peak and impulse did not change (p&#x00027;s &#x0003E; 0.05)
peak braking interlimb symmetry was improved at both speeds (&#x00394;: CWS: &#x0002B;3.11%
MWS: &#x0002B;6.05%) and braking impulse interlimb symmetry was improved at CWS (&#x00394;: &#x0002B;2.04%)
clinically meaningful improvements were observed in all tested outcomes
In support of our biomechanical hypothesis
improvements in propulsive biomechanics and other gait quality measures were also observed
These findings support progression from this consideration-of-concept trial to subsequent larger and controlled clinical trials
A key consideration when interpreting the findings of this study is that the repeated baseline assessments conducted over the 2-year period before the onset of REAL training showed stability of walking speed during a time when the study participant was repeatedly exposed to our study team and to the exosuit technology
the subject participated in 44 development-focused study visits that consisted of walking with different versions of the exosuit and in various contexts and conditions
The design of this study allows us to effectively control for the following potentially confounding factors: (i) repeated exposures to walking with the exosuit
(ii) positive social interactions between the participant and our research team
and (iii) increased familiarity with the outcome measurements
simply wearing and walking in an exosuit in our research lab is not a sufficient therapeutic stimulus; the rapid and substantial locomotor improvements observed in this study appear dependent on the progressive and targeted nature of the REAL training program
we posit that the individualized and progressive
approach to targeting walking speed and the underlying propulsive strategy inherent to the REAL training program likely contributed to the rapid increase in walking speed observed after five REAL training sessions
Further investigation of these hypotheses in dose-response studies is warranted
these responses are specific to the subject; larger samples for group-level effects are needed to extend the generalizability of the results
and the combination of verbal cues to increase propulsion with a propulsion-augmenting exosuit holds promise as a powerful intervention synergy
the increase in plantarflexor power was not observed at maximum walking speed; however
similar patterns of change were observed for ankle angular velocity (&#x00394; &#x0002B;13.50%; p &#x0003C; 0.05) and ankle moment (&#x00394;: &#x0002B;5.3%; p &#x0003E; 0.05)
One potential explanation is that the short training period may have been sufficient to train a faster maximum walking speed
but not enough to solidify improved biomechanical profiles at that speed
A longer training duration may prove to be more effective
One concern related to having individuals with post-stroke hemiparesis walk at faster speeds is the potential emergence of gait compensations and the associated negative effects on walking efficiency (<a href="#B50">Lewek et al., 2012</a>; <a href="#B12">Awad et al., 2015b</a>), stability, and fall risk (<a href="#B75">Vistamehr et al., 2016</a>)
the faster walking speeds observed after REAL training were not accompanied by increased compensations
hip circumduction was observed to be reduced at comfortable walking speed
practice across treadmill and overground conditions may enhance salience and learning transfer across environments
An important goal for future clinical trials of the soft robotic exosuit technology is understanding the differential effects of speed-based training with and without exosuit-augmentation
suggests that a potentially valuable additional outcome for future studies of REAL training is the direct measurement of community walking activity (i.e.
Additional lessons learned from this consideration-of-concept trial include the following: adjusting the training frequency to minimize logistical difficulties related to daily training visits
allocating additional time for familiarization to the novel training approach
implementing a formal progression algorithm that systematically defines when and how to progress REAL training
and examining the effects of longer durations of REAL training and the durability of its therapeutic effects
the repeated baseline assessments were obtained at irregular intervals
Given the low variation in walking speeds across these time points
we believe these suitably served the purpose of establishing a stable baseline
pre-to-post training changes in gait biomechanics were not assessed at matched walking speeds
Although there is wide heterogeneity among people post-stroke in the biomechanical strategy used to increase walking speed
future studies that include a speed-matched condition would allow disentanglement of changes in gait biomechanics from changes in walking speed
this study was not designed to discern the rehabilitative benefits that may be unique to the gait augmentation provided by the soft robotic exosuit vs
that of speed-based gait training by itself
rather this study motivates a future controlled clinical trial
This paper describes the development of a novel gait training program augmented by soft robotic exosuit technology
This consideration-of-concept trial provides initial evidence that an exosuit-augmented gait training program centered on high intensity
and individualized training elements is feasible to implement after stroke and capable of facilitating rapid and meaningful improvements in paretic propulsion
This early-stage clinical investigation provides several design considerations and insights that can inform subsequent clinical trials of the soft robotic exosuit technology and next generation robot-assisted gait rehabilitation
The original contributions presented in the study are included in the article/supplementary material
further inquiries can be directed to the corresponding authors
The studies involving human participants were reviewed and approved by the Institutional Review Boards of Harvard University and Boston University
The participant provided his written informed consent to participate in this study
All authors contributed to the design of the study and research questions
The authors declare that this study received funding from the National Institutes of Health (BRG R01HD088619)
the National Science Foundation (CMMI-1925085)
and the American Heart Association (AHA 18TPA34170171)
The funder was not involved in the study design
or the decision to submit it for publication
Patents describing the exosuit components documented in this article have been filed with the U.S
CJW and JB are inventors of at least one of the following patent/patent applications: U.S
CJW is a paid consultant to ReWalk Robotics
The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest
All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations
Any product that may be evaluated in this article
or claim that may be made by its manufacturer
is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher
We were grateful for the research support of Dr
and the study participant for his time and contributions to the development and testing of the soft robotic exosuit technology
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Correlations between measures of dynamic balance in individuals with post-stroke hemiparesis
Immediate effect on ground reaction forces induced by step training based on discrete skill during gait in poststroke individuals: a pilot study
Pre- and post-training median (interquartile range) and p-values for non-paretic limb biomechanical parameters at comfortable and maximum walking speeds
Walsh CJ and Awad LN (2021) Targeting Paretic Propulsion and Walking Speed With a Soft Robotic Exosuit: A Consideration-of-Concept Trial
Received: 01 April 2021; Accepted: 30 June 2021; Published: 28 July 2021
Copyright &#x000A9; 2021 Porciuncula, Baker, Arumukhom Revi, Bae, Sloutsky, Ellis, Walsh and Awad. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the <a rel="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" target="_blank">Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY)</a>
distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted
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distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms
&#x0002A;Correspondence: Louis N. Awad, <a id="encmail">bG91YXdhZEBidS5lZHU=</a>; Conor J. Walsh, <a id="encmail">d2Fsc2hAc2Vhcy5oYXJ2YXJkLmVkdQ==</a>
&#x02020;These authors have contributed equally to this work
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From a religious commune to running her own freelance business
we talk to Ashley Porciuncula about how your past doesn’t have to define you and why you don’t need a degree to succeed as a UX designer
Ashley Porciuncula grew up on the outskirts of San Francisco
but her story isn’t the typical Silicon Valley tale
Raised in a strict fundamentalist Christian sect where the Internet and post secondary education were forbidden
Porciuncula was a rebel who ventured out into the world wide web anyway
“I’ve been designing websites since before my parents wanted to let me on the Internet,” she said
She began by creating websites on Geocities that were full of more glitter and dancing gifs than our collective conscience could handle today
In order to find out what else was out there
she needed to walk away from everything she had ever known and enter the real world
“As I became an adult and I decided to leave behind the life that I was raised in and therefore all of the people with that
She was 22 when she realized what Silicon Valley represented and the opportunities it could open up for her
“I do think that growing up at the heart of where all of this was happening knowing that I could go to my local job board and there would be jobs in startups
the first startups that ever really qualified as startups
I think has been a fantastic asset and I’m quite thankful for that,” she said
Though she feels she entered the field late into the game
Porciuncula hasn’t let her past prevent her from achieving her dreams
Her experience comes from a combination of teaching herself HTML
“I’ve always loved the concept of building something from nothing
Taking an idea and turning it into something that people say ‘wow’ about
then taking that idea and turning it into something that changes people’s lifestyles for the better,” she said
<a href="https://blog.adobe.com/media_3b1d51a27f73491c31d3104ba86d104663b9518b.gif">https://blog.adobe.com/media_3b1d51a27f73491c31d3104ba86d104663b9518b.gif</a>
“I just sort of had to dive in and say this is what I want to do
this is the career I feel is right for me and this is what im passionate about
and I’m going to make it happen regardless of the fact I wasn’t given the normal opportunities as everyone else.”
Porciuncula spent the early part of her early career working in Berkeley
but she was always fascinated by the human side of design
“Now that UI design is taking a rightful backseat to user experience
I’ve found that that’s the perfect niche for me: right between what’s pretty and what’s functional,” she said
let’s get some real results out of it and in the meantime
she moved to Paris to work as a UX designer at Zoetis Animal Health
the animal division of Pfizer Pharmaceuticals
She built applications related to animal healthcare
including one project where she was solely responsible for the UX design of a dog medical application where both pet owners and pets were users
The app extracted data from a device worn on the dogs’ collar
The app was designed in such a way that it would collect data based on the dog’s movement (through the device) and report this data back to its owner in a meaningful way (through the application)
<a href="https://blog.adobe.com/media_08ec27745491a484a30533412b404d7e46eb52be.gif">https://blog.adobe.com/media_08ec27745491a484a30533412b404d7e46eb52be.gif</a>
this time playing an instrumental role in relocating her department to London
she switched to working freelance full-time and now splits her time between London and Bristol
you can imagine why freedom is sort of the biggest thing that I strive for in life,” she said
“I think we all have the ability to curate and mold our lives and our existences into what we want them to be if we decide to take the risks associated with that,” she said
Porciuncula prefers working with small organizations where her UX skills can make a difference
She takes a “teach a man to fish” approach to her work by offering a hybrid design and consultancy service with the intention of leaving teams off “better than she found them.”
“I find a lot of startups don’t have the budget or probably even the need to bring on a UX designer full-time
so they end up going without because they think
I [ said] I want to find the companies who could really use this kind of work because otherwise
they’re not going to have the opportunity to have this insight.”
<a href="https://blog.adobe.com/media_c311ee599bd89ba7964fede2b9841e9946ea0bf8.gif">https://blog.adobe.com/media_c311ee599bd89ba7964fede2b9841e9946ea0bf8.gif</a>
designers often carry the burden of responsibility when it comes to design theory and user thinking
She tries to provide education for dev teams especially so that the team as a whole understands design concepts more thoroughly
“I like to make sure that I’m not just going in giving them new ideas and saying this is what you need to do
but I’m also leaving them with sort of an education about why I made these decisions and how they can continue that thinking when I go,” she said
Porciuncula devotes her spare time to two passion projects in particular. The first is <a href="http://www.encodehealth.com/">Encode Health</a>
where she serves as CTO alongside co-founder Dr
They are trying to create a user-friendly “Intelligent Care Passport,” which is a single healthcare system connecting a patient’s medical files from all points of contact no matter where they seek medical help in the world
“You look at the way that the world is working and somebody is going to make this happen
So the curious question is who’s going to do that and what is it about their plan that sets them apart from everyone that failed in the past?” she said
The second is a project called Consciously Coupled (yes that’s a Gwyneth pun!)
It’s an application that combines psychology and communication tools to help people in long-term relationships strengthen their relationship in a fun
Instead of facilitating the meeting of many people
its whole motivation is to enhance the relationship you have with one
Ashley’s Advice: Believe in yourself and in your skills
Porciuncula’s story doesn’t fit the conventional portrait of a successful UX designer
When asked about how others with unconventional backgrounds can find success in UX
she said people need to first understand and value their worth
yeah but I don’t count because I was given this opportunity by this person
or I don’t count because I didn’t go to school and get the degree
or I don’t count because I spent the first three years of my career going to school and getting the degree and I wasn’t working like this other person was.” she said
then I think a lot more opportunities open up because you’re not quite so shy to reach out and take them
I find that if you tell people that you’re good at what you do and that they need you
And why shouldn’t you feel as deserving as somebody else
Let Porciuncula’s story be a reminder that being a self-taught UX designer isn’t a disadvantage
“Definitely my best advice is if you want to be a creator
“It doesn’t matter if you’re not getting paid for it right away
If the only thing you have access to create for someone is your aunt’s bake sale
Get out there and build your portfolio regardless of whether or not people are ready to give you those opportunities and your portfolio will build itself.”
The design appeases both small private groups and large public functions as large doors can transform the chapel from a still volume to a “mobile space”.    This relationship represents “the passage between two worlds, between the known and the unknown, the light and the darkness.
</a>“As the door opens, a mystery is revealed, and has a dynamic and psychological value, not only showing us a landscape, but inviting us to pass trough it.  When the chapel changes size, the space for the altar turns into the space for the choir, the main nave transforms into the lateral nave and the tabernacle becomes part of the landscape.”
</a>Material wise, the rigid structures are stones, while the mobile body is made of steel, glass and wood in an interwoven design. The reflecting pond, on one of the chapel’s sides, dilutes the massive structure into the landscape, and it also accents and distorts the volume to make its density to fade away.
</a>Check out other projects by Daniel Bonilla <a href="http://www.archdaily.com/tag/daniel-bonilla-arquitectos/">previously featured on AD</a>.
Location: La Calera,  ( Bogotá ) – Colombia.
Architect: <a href="http://daniel-bonilla.com/?utm_medium=website&amp;utm_source=archdaily.com" target="_blank">Daniel Bonilla</a> Design Team: Daniel Bonilla
Ana Lucia Cano Photos: Depending on the photograph: Alberto Fonseca or Natalia Borda
As seen on <a href="http://www.contemporist.com/2010/04/10/porciuncula-de-la-milagrosa-chapel-by-daniel-bonilla-architects/?utm_medium=website&amp;utm_source=archdaily.com" target="_blank">the Contemporist</a>
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It has been 3 years since 58 people were killed during the Route 91 Harvest Festival on the Las Vegas Strip
The city of Las Vegas is remembering the anniversary with a series of events
including a sunrise ceremony and a memorial ceremony
and Subsea Tieback Forum & Exhibition 2013 Advisory Board Chairman presents Sergio Porciuncula (right)
with the Best Presentation award for his presentation on the Chinook Riser Incident – Resuming Production
<a adhocenable="false" target="_blank" href="http://www.subseatiebackforum.com/index.html">Subsea Tieback 2014 Conference information</a><a adhocenable="false" target="_blank" href="http://www.subseatiebackforum.com/register.html">Registration for Subsea Tieback 2014</a><a adhocenable="false" target="_blank" href="http://www.offshore-mag.com/subsea.html">Top Offshore Subsea news and articles</a>
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MONTEVIDEO - As a journalist you have to get out and experience the news on the ground
so it was purely for professional reasons that I went to my local post office in Montevideo to sign up to buy cannabis
The woman working at the counter was in a flap
The electronic fingerprinting gizmo had scanned my thumb and index finger
It listed the things you're not allowed to send by post
you're not allowed to traffick in marijuana
you will soon be able to buy in at the chemist here
I was one of the first people in the world to become a buyer of legal state-vetted pot
by signing up to the national cannabis register
Completing the paperwork to get permanent residency in Uruguay -- a necessary step to become a pot buyer -- can take years
But signing onto the cannabis register took minutes
The register was launched on May 2 -- the last phase of implementation of the most liberal drugs law in the world
in a country of 3.4 million people nestled deep in South America
grown in secret state-regulated plantations
Buyers will identify themselves by their fingerprints and be allowed to buy 10 grams a week at $1.30 a gram
The cannabis law made headlines worldwide when it was launched in 2013 by Uruguay's then president
he became a liberal idol worldwide for his plain lifestyle and progressive reforms authorizing abortion
Cannabis for personal use has been tolerated in Uruguay since 1970
Now step by step the new law has given Uruguayans the legal right to grow it in their homes and to form smokers' clubs
"Grow shops" have sprouted all over the capital Montevideo
But talking the chemists into stocking it took longer
only 16 across the country have agreed to sell it
though officials hope that by the end of July the number will have gone up to 30
A poll at the time the law was passed indicated that two thirds of Uruguayans were opposed to the reform
seemed open to it when I arrived in July 2014
One of the first things I noticed in the street was that herby smell in the air
mate -- a leaf-based infusion -- have announced plans to release a version containing cannabis
"Stop thinking about life," reads the slogan
the sales assistant gave me a receipt on post office letterhead
confirming that I was now on the cannabis register
I photographed it and shared it with friends on Facebook
Others called into question my professional motives
Invited to a Uruguayan friend's birthday party
At another party I was offered marijuana "to take away" like a doggie bag
and like a guilty teenager hid the drug -- from my own kids
Once the tooth fairy had retrieved it at night
I thought I had found the perfect little box
the reek told me it was wrong to store a child's tooth in there
I was one of 568 people who signed up on the first day
according to the Cannabis Control and Regulation Institute
That is on top of the 6,811 already registered as home-growers
interviewed some of the first Uruguayans to sign up to the buyers' register
more efficient and safer," said shop worker Yamila
who has been buying it on the black market until now
That "is very expensive and you don't know what you're taking."
said she was first offered marijuana by her son 20 years ago
"Do you want to kill me?" she said at the time
Aiming to undermine the illegal drugs trade
Uruguay is the first country to legalize consumption of the drug all the way from production to sale
But it is wary of becoming a destination for drug tourists
The "grow shops" have signs in their windows explaining that only Uruguayans or permanent residents are allowed to take advantage of the cannabis law
I got my residency papers a few months ago
So now I will be able to experience this story
The sacrifices one makes for one’s profession…
Agence France-Presse (AFP) is a leading global news agency providing fast
comprehensive and verified coverage of the events shaping our world and of the issues affecting our daily lives
Drawing from an unparalleled news gathering network across 151 countries
AFP is also a world leader in digital verification
With 2,400 staff representing 100 different nationalities
with a unique quality of multimedia storytelling spanning video
The Fogo Cruzado watchdog said 19 people were shot
after incidents in which civilians and police officers accidentally entered favelas in 2024 -- the highest number since it began tracking such incidents in 2016
An Uber driver show his cellphone with a warning from the Waze app that says: This destination is in an area that may have a higher risk of crime
an Argentine tourist who was returning from the Christ statue with his wife and children followed his GPS into the Morro dos Prazeres favela where he was shot
Brazil's Supreme Court is currently weighing whether to maintain five-year-old rules limiting police operations in favelas to reduce the high rate of deaths of residents
Rio de Janeiro Mayor Eduardo Paes says stricter measures governing police operations gave the impression that the city had become 'a resort for criminals,' with gangs and militia expanding territorial control
One victim was visiting Rio de Janeiro's iconic Christ the Redeemer statue
Another hopped into an Uber for a night out in the seaside city
Both ended up shot dead after GPS navigation apps suddenly diverted them into favelas dominated by drug-trafficking gangs locked in an intense battle for territory
Most of the millions of tourists who visit Rio every year enjoy its world-famous carnival
and nightlife without coming close to the gang wars that thrum beneath the surface
recent shootings by jittery men with rifles stationed at the entrances to these urban settlements have cast a fresh spotlight on Rio's security challenges
an Argentine tourist returning from the Christ statue with his wife and children followed his GPS into a favela
He was shot twice and later died in hospital
a Brazilian woman from Sao Paulo was shot in the neck and died after her Uber driver made a wrong turn while taking her to a party
a dashcam video went viral of another Uber driver begging rifle-toting men for mercy after being diverted into the Cidade Alta favela with his terrified passenger in the backseat
"The guys there are afraid it is police or rival gangs," said Brazilian-American lawyer Victor Sarto
who received a scolding at gunpoint when he and a group of friends ended up in a favela after a visit to the Christ statue in 2019
"This obviously has to do with the geography of Rio de Janeiro
And it has to do with the problem of territorial control of Rio de Janeiro
without a shadow of a doubt," said the institute's data director
Rio's favelas -- home to around 1.5 million people -- cling to the steep hills that dramatically frame the city
Others are wedged in between condominiums or alongside major highways
"The scenery changes fast," Rio's state security secretary Victor dos Santos told AFP
"So when someone enters a place like this very quickly
ends up shooting first and only checking later to see who it is."
Uber said in a statement to AFP that its safety technology "may block trip requests from areas with public safety challenges at specific times and on certain days."
A spokesman for Google -- which owns two popular navigation apps -- said the company would not comment on the reported problem of maps diverting users into dangerous areas
Rio has at least four criminal factions vying for territorial power and 20 percent of the metropolitan region is under control of these groups
A longtime resident of Cidade Alta -- where five people were shot and injured after accidentally entering the favela in 2024 -- told AFP "there are rules" that locals know when driving in
These include driving at most "20km (12 miles) per hour...
with the headlights on and a hazard light flashing," he said
Couto rejected the idea of "no-go zones" in the city's favelas
where both poor and middle-class people reside and already battle shoddy transportation links
Rights groups say favela residents also suffer an outsized impact from regular police operations which shut down schools and businesses and barely make a dent against the gangs
But the stricter measures have been criticized by authorities
Rio de Janeiro Mayor Eduardo Paes said the measures gave the impression that the city had become "a resort for criminals," with gangs and militia expanding territorial control and restricting the free circulation of people in some areas
On Wednesday a shootout during a police operation near Cidade Alta led to a common sight: residents of Rio leaving their cars on a major highway to hunker down alongside a central barrier as bullets flew
Local media reported a police helicopter had to make an emergency landing after being hit by gunfire
The security secretary Santos said that the increase of people getting shot as they accidentally enter favelas came as conflict between Rio's armed groups turned "very intense" in 2024
He said criminal factions were no longer just selling drugs but seizing control of valuable services to favelas like internet
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The dire state of the waters in Guanabara Bay again came under the spotlight last month when Rio de Janeiro and the neighboring city of Niteroi presented their candidacy to host the 2031 Pan American Games
The tiny island is a magnet for waste in Guanabara Bay -- the site of one of the world's most postcard-perfect views and a graveyard of failed plans to clean up its toxic waters
which are flooded with raw sewage and chemicals
Two-time Olympic sailing champion Martine Grael and other members of her SailGP racing team were also among around 50 volunteers involved in the clean-up
Fisherman Jose Antonio Crispin recalls the days when he would throw out a net and get a decent haul of fish around Pombeba Island
a small oasis in Rio de Janeiro's iconic Guanabara Bay that is being suffocated by trash
And we can't survive that way," the 60-year-old told AFP
as a team of volunteers including a two-time Olympic sailing champion endured record heat this week to collect hundreds of sacks of plastic waste in a clean-up drive on the island
The tiny island is a magnet for waste in Guanabara Bay -- the site of one of the world's most postcard-perfect views and a graveyard of failed plans to clean up waters flooded with rubbish
Fishermen like Crispin receive a payment for helping in the clean-up initiative to make up for his loss of income
The drive to clean up 80 tonnes of waste suffocating the shores of Pombeba is led by former sailor Juliana Poncioni
director of the Nas Mares ocean conservation organization
Guanabara Bay provided one of the biggest headaches during Rio's hosting of the 2016 Olympics
as sailors complained about floating trash and filthy waters despite a rush of clean-up measures
"What we really want are actions that make a difference," said Grael
Poncioni said emerging patches of sand from under the trash "bring hope," but the untenable situation should also be a wake-up call for politicians
"This problem is not in Guanabara Bay or Brazil or Rio de Janeiro
we produce 400 million tons of plastic per year
A team of researchers from the Biotema environmental monitoring group was also on the island
studying the presence of microplastics -- which have been found on the highest mountain peak
in the deepest ocean trench and scattered throughout almost every part of the human body
(microplastics) are transported to our body
causing toxicity," said team leader Andre Salomao
while placing samples of sand and plastic waste in glass containers
Water and sanitation operator Aguas do Rio in 2021 signed a contract to spend millions of dollars to clean up the bay
When presenting their candidacy for the Pan American games
authorities renewed their commitment to properly treat the wastewater of 10 million residents living around the bay in Rio and other municipalities
Filipino student at the University of Navarre in Spain
about the website he set up to interest young people in the life of Jesus Christ's early followers
we did it because there wasn’t any web page of its kind anywhere
There are approximately 4,500 new Internet websites created daily
We thought it important to bring the way of life of the early Christians closer to the people of today
Catholics can consider this web page as a family album
It is designed in such a way that anyone interested can learn about the life of the early Christians and later tell their friends about it
Josemaria always encouraged people to imitate the life of the early Christians
who with the example of their ordinary lives were able to change the world
we want to echo the catechesis of Pope Benedict
who devotes his Wednesday audiences to the principal figures of early Christianity
obviously it's more difficult to find time
but we try to organize ourselves and manage our time well
We also want to acknowledge the invaluable help of some professors from the university like Professors Pedro Rodriguez
who have always been ready to help us with their expertise since the beginning
Their contributions have definitely facilitated our work
The interest that has been generated among the people who have subscribed has been remarkable
the number of subscribers to the web page has topped 4,000
we have been receiving messages of support and appreciation from all over the world
we help encourage people to live their faith during difficult times or when it is hard to hold one’s ground
keeping in mind the example of the early Christians has helped them a lot
What kind of information does the web page carry
The web page <a href="https://www.earlychristians.org/" style="FONT-STYLE: italic">www.earlychristians.org</a> offers a wealth of information about the life of the early Christian communities
videos and audio files that can be downloaded
It offers lists of books and films related to the world of early Christianity
and audio files of the acts of the early martyrs and the situation of Christianity during the first four centuries
We also have a special section for the Pope’s discourses on the early Christians and related documents
Do you want to interest more people to visit the site
Definitely. I would like to invite everyone interested to subscribe to <a href="https://www.earlychristians.org/" style="FONT-STYLE: italic">www.earlychristians.org</a> and to tell their friends about it
I think it is an attractive way of bringing Christ to our friends
Printed | document generated automatically from <a href="https://opusdei.org/en/article/new-website-wwwearlychristiansorg/">https://opusdei.org/en/article/new-website-wwwearlychristiansorg/</a> (03/24/2025)
Since being appointed manager of Uruguay, former <a href="https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/topic/leeds-united-fc/">Leeds United</a> manager <a href="https://www.hitc.com/topic/marcelo-bielsa/">Marcelo Bielsa</a> has been quite a popular appointment for the South American side
Bielsa has been able to get the best out of <a href="https://www.hitc.com/topic/marcelo-bielsa/">Liverpool</a> forward <a href="https://www.hitc.com/topic/darwin-nunez/">Darwin Nunez</a>
as the former Benfica forward has netted seven times in seven consecutive games for the national team
Uruguay took apart Bolivia 5-0 in the Copa America and <a href="https://www.hitc.com/liverpool-ace-hailed-for-tremendous-performance-for-national-team-hes-netted-7-goals-in-7-games/">Nunez scored yet again</a>
Bielsa was full of praise for a different player
who has gone under the radar for his national team
<a href="https://www.hitc.com/topic/rodrigo-bentancur/">Rodrigo Bentancur</a>, the former <a href="https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/topic/juventus/">Juventus</a> midfielder, has had countless injury problems since his move to <a href="https://www.hitc.com/topic/tottenham-hotspur-fc/">Tottenham Hotspur</a> back in January of 2022, alongside Swedish winger <a href="https://www.hitc.com/topic/dejan-kulusevski/">Dejan Kulusevski.</a>
he has excelled and the 68-year-old Argentine was full of praise for Bentancur’s performances
When asked about the midfield pairing of Bentancur and Real Madrid’s <a href="https://www.hitc.com/topic/federico-valverde/">Fede Valverde</a>
“Scoring always increases self-esteem, especially if they are players who do not have scoring goals as their main quality,” Bielsa told <a href="https://www.espn.com.uy/futbol/mundial/nota/_/id/13840534/marcelo-bielsa-en-conferencia-tras-la-goleada-de-uruguay-a-bolivia-por-copa-america" rel="nofollow">ESPN</a>
at several moments in today’s game he resembled the player who shines at Real Madrid
and that is something very important for us and for him
and I think it is good for him to find the goal.”
Since moving to the <a href="https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/topic/premier-league/">Premier League</a> two and a half years ago
Bentancur has featured in 46 games in the division for Spurs
The injury issues that Bentancur has had to deal with has meant that Pape Sarr and Yves Bissouma has been Ange Postecoglou’s go-to starting midfield pairing
Despite the injury issues, it appears that Postecoglou remains a big fan of the Uruguay midfielder when he told the <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/articles/cm5ppdnjxylo" rel="nofollow">BBC</a> back in December: “The biggest emotion you have is for him
I’ve only been here six months but in that six months you see how hard they work to get back
“He also knows that he hasn’t lost anything as a footballer and that’s the important thing
That has given him the incentive to get back as quickly as possible and make an impact for us.”
There is no doubt that Bentancur is in for a vital season in North London
Alta California Governor Felipe de Neve chose the sites of San Jose and Los Angeles as the first two pueblos in Alta California
He named the Los Angeles settlement El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de Los Ángeles de Porciúncula
“The Town of Our Lady the Queen of the Angels of Porciúncula.”
Governor Neve traveled to the distant town of Alamos in Sonora
the nation of Mexico) to recruit 11 families
The heads of Los Angeles’ eleven founding families were Antonio Clemente Villavicencio
and African origin and were known as los pobladores (the settlers.)
There was also a twelfth poblador named Antonio Miranda Rodríguez who was of Filipino descent
Miranda decided to stay behind with his daughter who had become ill with smallpox
Governor Neve prepared the 44 pobladores for their new homes along El Rio de Nuestra Señora La Reina de Los Angeles de Porciúncula
the 11 families were escorted by four Spanish soldiers
walked nine miles down the dusty trail towards the river and established El Pueblo de Los Angeles (The Town of the Queen of the Angeles.) Today
the great metropolis of Los Angeles &#8211; the most ethnically diverse city in the world
just news.” The latest stories in entertainment and lifestyle
University of Santo Tomas (UST) Bar topnotcher Ephraim Porciuncula Bie on Friday got a&nbsp;P1.250 million cash gift from the&nbsp;DivinaLaw Foundation,&nbsp;according to UST Faculty of Civil Law dean Nilo Divina
Divina said the Foundation also gave Pio Vincent Roura Buencamino
with P530,000.&ldquo;This is not about the money but a fitting tribute for Ephraim
Pio and the entire batch for having brought pride and honor to UST
for motivating further their professors and simply
bringing joy to the entire Thomasian community,&rdquo; Divina said
Last week, the Supreme Court announced that 3,812 out of 10,387 examinees passed the 2023 Bar examinations, with Bie <a href="https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/890408/3-812-applicants-pass-2023-bar-exams/story/" target="_blank">ranking first</a> with a score of 89.2625%
he was able to get an extra reward from Atty
who he called a &ldquo;generous Thomasian benefactor." He said Oben gave Bie P500,000 and Buencamino P100,000
gave Bie and Buencamino P200,000 and P100,000
Divina said Bie had expressed heartwarming messages.&ldquo;But what I recall most distinctly is that &lsquo;he was obsessed in making the Dean and the entire Faculty of Civil Law happy&hellip; His lucky charm is the picture of the Bar Examination Chairperson hung on his wall&rsquo;,&rdquo; he said
The chairperson of the 2023 Bar exams was Associate Justice Ramon Hernando.&nbsp;Divina, meanwhile, advised future Bar takers from UST to work hard.&ldquo;Dream and your dreams will fall short. With hard work and prayers, nothing is impossible,&rdquo; he said.The 2024<a href="https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/891004/sc-sets-2024-bar-exams-in-september/story/" target="_blank"> Bar exams</a> are scheduled on September 8
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Despite this version of the competition being during the winter
there is still more than enough speculation to wet the appetite for Chelsea fans
They were <a href="https://www.thechelseachronicle.com/transfer-news/they-tried-chelsea-have-already-attempted-to-secure-a-deal-for-80m-player-as-well-as-nkunku-journalist/">already linked to stars such as Josko Gvardiol, </a>who is enjoying a sensational tournament at just 20 years of age
One player that the Blues have become linked with since the tournament began is Joao Felix.<a href="https://www.thechelseachronicle.com/transfer-news/report-chelsea-now-given-chance-to-sign-quality-attacker-his-club-want-100m-for-him/"> Reports have claimed that the player is keen on leaving Atletico Madrid.</a>
While Chelsea are reportedly one of a number of linked clubs
they would do far better to look to another Portugal star if they are to strengthen in attack
<a href="https://www.thechelseachronicle.com/transfer-news/report-if-23-year-old-decides-to-leave-chelsea-are-now-the-most-likely-side-to-sign-him/">Rafael Leao was touted for a move </a>to Stamford Bridge this summer
however the Blues couldn’t agree a fee with AC Milan
they will surely have gained encouragement if reports are true that the winger is hesitating to sign a new deal to stay at the San Siro
The journalist went on to claim that Chelsea have made their first bid to sign Leao, <a href="https://www.thechelseachronicle.com/transfer-news/held-talks-chelsea-have-made-60m-bid-for-world-class-attacker-its-already-been-rejected/">however fell way short of the £128m that Milan are hoping for him.</a>
Despite mostly coming off the bench during the World Cup
he showed more than enough glimpses of what he can do
he instantly brought a more direct approach to Portugal’s attack on the left
worrying full backs from a number of nations
He also showed his composure in front of goal. <a href="https://www.thechelseachronicle.com/transfer-news/unbelievable-player-patrice-evra-absolutely-loves-the-attitude-of-23-year-old-attacker-linked-with-chelsea/">The winning goal against Ghana was followed up with by a sensational strike against Switzerland.</a>
With the Blues lacking a regular goal threat or even a creative spark for the majority of this season
the addition of Leao would completely revolutionise their attack
Nunez was one of the stars for his country as they ran out 3-1 winners in Montevideo. The Liverpool man provided two assists and was <a href="https://www.rousingthekop.com/2023/09/09/national-media-rave-about-24-year-old-liverpool-players-power-during-win-last-night/">described as an ‘off-road tractor’</a> by the national media for his powerful performance
It gave the Celeste the perfect start to their World Cup qualifying campaign, something the Liverpool striker acknowledged with his post-match <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cw-Tx3esyC6/?img_index=1" rel="nofollow">Instagram</a> update
winning at home to the joy of everyone,” Nunez wrote
There were several famous faces in the replies
with former Liverpool striker Luis Suarez writing  a heartfelt message of support
but his ‘Flying off’ comment still seemed to stir something within Nunez
you’re crazy brother,” replied the 24-year-old
With the likes of Valverde and Nunez in the team
Uruguay have some real talents to call upon right now
Having started their qualifying campaign well
they’ll hope to kick on and make it to the 2026 World Cup
It will be interesting to note whether the former is still a Liverpool player by the time that tournament rolls around
Having had a troubled year last time out, there were some whisperings that the Reds may look to cash in on Darwin. Thankfully though, this has been dismissed, with the Uruguayan <a href="https://www.rousingthekop.com/2023/09/06/fabrizio-romano-shares-liverpools-stance-on-selling-darwin-nunez-now-after-swap-deal-rumours/">now viewed as being ‘untouchable’</a> by Jurgen Klopp
there was also a possibility of Nunez being joined at Liverpool by his mate from the national team
Throughout the summer, the Reds were linked with the Real Madrid man. There were even claims of enquiries<a href="https://www.rousingthekop.com/2023/07/07/report-liverpool-have-approached-real-madrid-over-signing-their-incredible-77m-player-this-summer/"> being made direct to Madrid</a> and to Valverde himself
Had he been signed for the reported £77m figure <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-12246041/Liverpool-test-Real-Madrid-bid-Federico-Valverde-minutes-limited-Bernabeu.html" rel="nofollow">[Daily Mail]</a>
the 25-year-old would have been a super addition
At least we get to see him link-up with Darwin on the international stage
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As the sun rises over the Amazonian island of Marajo
The recent revival of the rubber tapper trade in this impoverished northern Brazilian region has created <a href="https://www.tuko.co.ke/tags/jobs/">jobs</a> for families who once thrived during the Amazonian rubber boom
A local company called Seringo has enabled Cordeiro and more than 1,500 other rubber tappers to resume their craft
The company produces goods such as footwear while also protecting the forest
For Cordeiro, a wiry 57-year-old, the <a href="https://www.tuko.co.ke/facts-lifehacks/guides/492090-how-find-amazon-package-a-steps/">Amazon</a> is his backyard.
Behind his stilt house on the Anajas River, dozens of natural rubber trees blend with centuries-old trees and palms typical of this island, surrounded by rivers on one side and the sea on the other.
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"I started tapping trees at age seven with my mother, deep in the forest," said Cordeiro, holding his knife, which has a protruding metal piece for making precise cuts in the bark.
With each incision made carefully to avoid harming the trunk, the native Amazonian tree begins to drip its latex into a container placed underneath. As it fills, Renato moves on to the next tree.
Each day, he collects about 18 liters (4.8 gallons), mixing it with vinegar to produce white rubber sheets. These hang on a rope for 10 days to dry before being sold to Seringo, which picks them up from his riverside home.
Cordeiro, a married father of three, beams with pride. After nearly two decades of scraping by through hunting and acai harvesting, he returned to rubber tapping in 2017 to protect what he calls his family heritage — the forest.
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"I longed for this work to return," says Valcir Rodrigues, another rubber tapper and father of five, from a stilt house along the river north of Anajas.
"We want to leave a better world for our children, so we don't deforest," he says.
Rodrigues frequently confronts loggers who invade his land to cut down trees.
"They need to understand how much they harm the forest — and themselves — since many end up in debt to their employers," he explains.
Deforestation surged in Marajo when global demand for Amazonian rubber plummeted as countries like Malaysia began large-scale rubber tree plantations.
Today, however, rubber sustains Rodrigues's entire family. His wife and mother-in-law skillfully craft colorful artisanal goods sold primarily in Belem, the capital of Para state, to Marajo's east.
"I was a civil servant, but the local government never gave me a job. This is my first real trade, and I love it," said his mother-in-law Vanda Lima, a smiling 60-year-old.
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With one of Brazil's worst Human Development Index rankings
"it was necessary to create income in Marajo," says Zelia Damasceno
who co-founded Seringo with her husband to boost the region's bio-economy
Initially focused on promoting artisanal work
the couple realized that rubber tappers were "unsatisfied," extracting latex sporadically for their spouses to use in making crafts
"That's why we envisioned a second purpose — footwear — so they could also earn a living," says Damasceno
about 300 kilometers (200 miles) east of Marajo
Seringo produces 200 pairs of biodegradable shoes daily
made from 70 percent rubber and 30 percent acai powder
The company recently received support from the Para government to expand the number of rubber tappers it calls on in Marajo to 10,000
That is part of a sustainable development program launched ahead of COP30, a UN <a href="https://www.tuko.co.ke/tags/climate-change/">climate</a> conference scheduled for November in Belem
Damasceno admits: "Some young people don't want to follow this path
We must raise awareness about the importance of this work to preserve the forest and their future."