Argentina has escalated its diplomatic battle with Britain over the Falkland Islands by taking steps to sue five UK oil exploration companies.
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Monthly Archives: June 2012
Princess Darien – Carolinas HealthCare System – Video
04-06-2012 09:54 A 0:15 spot with Princess Darien, a cancer patient, sponsored by Carolinas Kids Cancer Research Coalition and Levine Children's Hospital. (0:15)
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Health care reform is topic of June 13 presentation
LEWISTONWhat to expect from the planned changes in health care and what issues will affect peoples care will be discussed at a community presentation called Health Care Reform: What it will mean for our community and small business, from 8 to 9:30 a.m. June 13 in the Community Room of Our Lady of Peace nursing care residence, 5285 Lewiston Road.
The panel discussion and question period will be sponsored by Mount St. Marys Hospital and the Niagara River Region Chamber of Commerce. It will include a discussion of collaborative efforts to share important clinical information to improve the quality and reduce the cost of medical care.
A continental breakfast at 7:30 a.m. will precede the program. Advance registration is required with Fred Caso, St. Marys vice president for community relations, at fred.caso@msmh.org.
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Health care boosts Pittsburgh
PITTSBURGH -- While most of the nation is still trying to claw its way out of the deep economic crater left by the recession, this one-time steel capital is already out -- thanks largely to the relentless growth in health care jobs.
Partly because of the outsized ambitions of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, the health care industry has replaced manufacturing as the regions powerhouse. About 1 in 5 private-sector employees in the Pittsburgh area today work at a hospital, a doctors office or in some other health services business.
But even as the health care boom sped up Pittsburghs recovery, the economic transformation has left many people worried about the side effects.
Among the concerns: overdependence on a rapidly shifting industry, huge nonprofits that dont generate much in tax revenue, and a business model that exacerbates the disparity in income among workers.
And thats not just in Pittsburgh.
This is the U.S. in a microcosm, Eileen Appelbaum, a senior economist at the Center for Economic and Policy Research, said about the rise of health care and the issues that has wrought.
Through April, health care services have added about 770,000 to their payrolls since the start of the economic recovery in June 2009 -- about one-third of all new jobs, according to the U.S. Labor Department.
But, spending for medical care is nearing one-fifth of the U.S. economy, much more than in other developed nations and beyond what governments, businesses and consumers can afford.
Health care has fueled job growth for a generation. When Pittsburghs steel industry began its collapse in the early 1980s, health care employment was a third of manufacturings.
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Health-care venture fund raises $157M, makes first two investments
A venture fund targeting strategic investments in companies that aim to improve delivery of health-care services has made its first two investments after recently raising $157 million.
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Health-care venture fund raises $157M, makes first two investments
Verizon Provides Tips to Help the Transition to Electronic Health Records
BASKING RIDGE, N.J., June 5, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- To help the nation's health care providers move from paper-based records to digitized data, Verizon has outlined tips for transitioning to electronic health records. A digital collection of a patient's medical history, EHRs enable faster, more accurate exchange of patient information among payers, providers and patients while enhancing portability of the information.
"We are committed to empowering the health care ecosystem to embrace heath IT and EHRs as the means to improving patient care while controlling costs," said Peter Tippett. "EHRs serve as the fundamental building blocks to digitizing all future health care data. This digital age will help reduce medical errors and redundant patient testing, while improving access and storage of patient information."
The following tips can simplify the navigation process for health care professionals moving to EHR system.
1) Put the Patient First: By focusing on what will improve patient care, you will be able to receive returned benefits. For example, EHRs can reduce the chances of patients receiving medications they are allergic to, which in turn can prevent lengthened hospital stays or lawsuits.
2) Maintain Security of Patient Information: Protect patient information from hackers. According to the "Verizon 2012 Data Breach Investigations Report," health care and social assistance industry groups represented more than 7 percent of the total breaches Verizon analyzed in 2011.
3) Be Mindful of Compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act: Compliance teams must be aware of the challenges in protecting the privacy of patient information once it goes digital. While smart device users are used to accessing and sharing any information they please, HIPAA requirements must be addressed within the digital transition. The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology has a helpful resource page for health care providers, with information about EHR privacy and security: http://www.healthit.gov/providers-professionals/privacy-security.
4) Evaluate Workflow Integration: Health care organizations must evaluate the impact of EHR integration into their clinical administrative work flow. Typically, not enough time is devoted to the upfront planning with end users to help with continuous work flow.This step will help keep costs and time projections on target.
5) Communicate and Educate: Communicate your EHR program goals to the entire staff. For many, embracing a new technology can be a difficult and unwelcomed challenge. Knowledge is power, and the more staffers know about EHR benefits, the more likely they will be to embrace the technology. Consider hosting training seminars, and establish staff resources such as a frequently-asked-questions sheet.
6) Influence the Influencers: Work with your entire staff, and help early adopters and IT leaders set examples and build proof that the EHRs help improve processes, efficiencies and patient care.
7) Embrace the Consumerization of IT: Various physicians prefer different smart devices. Supporting the devices they prefer can help with the transition to unfamiliar EHR software.
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Verizon Provides Tips to Help the Transition to Electronic Health Records
Pathway Genomics Selected as a “Cool Company” by San Diego Venture Group
SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Pathway Genomics Corporation, a clinical genetic testing laboratory and results interpretation service based in San Diego, has been selected by San Diego Venture Group as one of 30 cool companies to be featured at its 10th Annual Venture Summit on June 6. Selected from a field of over 150 applicants, Pathway Genomics and the other 29 companies will be a prominent part of the event, which draws more than 100 venture capitalists and 500 attendees.
The selection is a reminder that companies like Pathway are at the forefront of a major shift in the way medicine is practiced throughout the world, said Jim Plante, Pathways founder and CEO.
Pathway provides genetic tests for drug responses, nutrition and exercise response, inherited genetic conditions, and risk of many diseases. Pathway consists of more than 40 scientific and medical professionals, including medical doctors, molecular geneticists, and genetic counselors, as well as a world-leading scientific advisory board.
To learn more about Pathways genetic testing services, visit http://www.pathway.com. For more information about San Diego Venture Groups Cool Companies 2012 and its 10th Annual Venture Summit, visit http://www.sdvg.org/venturesummit.
About Pathway Genomics
Pathway Genomics owns and operates an on-site genetic testing laboratory that is accredited by the College of American Pathologists (CAP), accredited in accordance with the U.S. Health and Human Services Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) of 1988, and licensed by the state of California. Using only a saliva sample, the company incorporates customized and scientifically validated technologies to generate personalized reports, which address a variety of medical issues, including an individuals carrier status for recessive genetic conditions, food metabolism and exercise response, prescription drug response, and propensity to develop certain diseases such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes and cancer. For more information about Pathway Genomics, visit http://www.pathway.com.
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Pathway Genomics Selected as a “Cool Company” by San Diego Venture Group
Transgenomic Launches Breakthrough Blood-Based Cancer Gene Testing Technology at 2012 ASCO Annual Meeting
OMAHA, Neb.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Transgenomic, Inc. (TBIO) today announced the commercial launch of its ICE COLD-PCR mutation detection technology, a breakthrough technology enabling unmatched sensitivity and complete DNA mutation detection using the standard sequencing equipment already installed in laboratories around the world. The launch coincides with the 2012 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.
ICE COLD-PCR is capable of identifying mutation frequencies as low or lower than 0.01% which surpasses the limits of currently available mutation detection tests. This extremely high sensitivity enables detection of mutations from virtually any sample type including tissue biopsies, blood, and circulating tumor cells (CTCs). Mutation profiling from blood and CTCs may benefit cancer patients because it avoids the risks of additional surgical procedures while providing an up-to-date picture of any additional mutations the cancer may have acquired throughout treatment.
An ICE COLD-PCR kit for enrichment of KRAS mutations is now available worldwide to molecular diagnostic laboratories for use with standard DNA sequencing equipment. Transgenomic plans to expand the ICE COLD-PCR testing platform to include other therapeutically relevant mutations including BRAF, EGFR, and PIK3CA.
The broad use of ICE COLD-PCR has the potential to revolutionize cancer screening, diagnosis, monitoring, and therapy selection said Craig Tuttle, Chief Executive Officer of Transgenomic. It offers us the ability to accurately perform safer, less invasive, and more frequent assessments of a cancer and its mutations, all through a simple blood draw. Ultimately, the goal is to provide real-time monitoring of cancer progression, resistance mutations and response to therapy. With the proliferation of targeted anti-cancer drugs now available or in clinical trials, ICE COLD-PCR will help determine the right path for each patient at every step of his or her treatment, making precision medicine even more precise.
Mr. Tuttle added: ICE COLD-PCR provides extreme sensitivity and coverage to ensure that mutations are not missed, both are needed for reliable mutation profiling from blood, CTCs, and small sample sizes. Because it is used with the sequencing equipment already installed in labs around the world, we expect broad and sustained adoption of this technology, with kit sales beginning this year. Each of the markets addressed by ICE COLD-PCR diagnosis, monitoring, and disease recurrence is substantial, providing a significant value-creation opportunity for Transgenomic.
ICE COLD-PCR technology was developed in collaboration with the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and is supported by multiple validation studies confirming reproducible mutation detection at very high sensitivity up to 1,000 times more sensitive than traditional PCR techniques. The technology is also being evaluated in an ongoing study with The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center to analyze DNA isolated from CTCs.
About Transgenomic, Inc.
Transgenomic, Inc. (www.transgenomic.com) is a global biotechnology company advancing personalized medicine in cancer and inherited diseases through its proprietary molecular technologies and world-class clinical and research services. The Company has three complementary business divisions: Transgenomic Pharmacogenomic Services is a contract research laboratory that specializes in supporting all phases of pre-clinical and clinical trials for oncology drugs in development, Transgenomic Clinical Laboratories, which specializes in molecular diagnostics for cardiology, neurology, mitochondrial disorders, and oncology, and Transgenomic Diagnostic Tools which produces equipment, reagents, and other consumables that empower clinical and research applications in molecular testing and cytogenetics. Transgenomic believes there is significant opportunity for continued growth across all three businesses by leveraging their synergistic capabilities, technologies, and expertise. The Company actively develops and acquires new technology and other intellectual property that strengthen its leadership in personalized medicine.
Forward-Looking Statements
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Romantic Glamour, A New Interior Design Aesthetic By Cuoco Black, Combines Classicism With Modernism In Designs From …
When interior designer Cuoco Black was asked to design the Gin Lane restaurant in Manhattan's Meat Packing District he suggested that his clients reject the boutique design aesthetic and go for Glamour. When asked to travel to Paris to design a new lounge for three young entreprenuers he carefully blended elements of French culture with accents of futurisim. His goal is to create interiors which ...
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Thoughts From Shawn Rogers of EMA on the Hybrid Data Ecosystem – Video
04-06-2012 15:53 Thoughts from Shawn Rogers of EMA on the Hybrid Data Ecosystem.
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Thoughts From Shawn Rogers of EMA on the Hybrid Data Ecosystem - Video
Green bag 'gift' at zoo on World Environment Day
Kumar added: "We have ordered for adequate number of eco-friendly carry bags. The revenue would depend on the number of people visiting the zoo every day."
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Sustainable Food Leader Alter Eco Joins CommonKindness.com to Create Sustainable Funding for Nonprofits
Alter Eco proudly adds coupons to CommonKindness to help generate new funding for America’s favorite nonprofit organizations. Alter Eco is a world class sustainable food importer that works only with producers who employ contemporary and traditional fair trade and organic farming practices to bring the world wholesome, unique flavors.San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) June 05, 2012 Alter Eco has joined ...
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Stop bauxite mining to save eco-system, says expert
The Hindu conducts awareness programme sponsored by Srinivasa Sales and Service
Ecological balance is crucial to sustainable development and unless the government and people themselves stick to stringent norms of not violating the eco-norms, it will be a planet difficult to live on said speakers at awareness programme for faculty members of PVP Institute of Technology.
The programme, sponsored by the Srinivasa Sales and Service Private Limited in association with The Hindu, brought out some interesting facts that made the teachers think about the environmental issues on the college campus on Monday. The worst part of reducing pollution is not adhering to the implementation schedule or norms, said Acharya Nagarjuna University Department of Environment Head A.V.V.S. Swamy. The government, instead of looking after the benefit of people, was allowing unhindered exploitation of material like bauxite, which acts as a sponge to retain water while it rains and releases slowly, flowing into the perennial rivers.
Bauxite mining would destroy many rivers, he opined. I strongly demand stopping of bauxite mining, the professor said. While 2.5 lakh engineers are produced every year from the state, only 1 per cent work for the State and none bothers about the ecology and does not make a research for sustainable development, he said.
Producing alternative energy is the need of the hour and year-after year the annual environment days come and go and promises are made, but dependence of Petroleum and Coal reserves has not reduced, said Regional Environmental Engineer S. Venkateswarlu. Change in lifestyle has given boost to the GDP, but at the same time it has led to global warming, affects of which the entire world is facing, he opined. The environmental engineer pointed out that massive food wastage at marriages and at home will lead to loss of energy and also production of large amount of garbage. Vast plastic waste was also acting against the protection of nature, he opined. The human lifestyles were moving away from the nature to a large extent and though an effort was being made, it was not sufficient, he opined. The Groundwater Department Deputy Director A. Varaprasada Rao made the faculty members to take an oath to protect the eco-system and conserve water in all possible ways. He gave a PowerPoint presentation on the various aspects of water conservation taking the help of photographs published in The Hindu and other vernacular dailies. Others who attended included Srinivasa Sales vice-president operations commander Gopi, and PVPSIT principal P. Venkateswarlu.
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ThanetGazette commented Thanet beaches closed after sewage leak
click here to continue to article cliquez ici pour lire l'article weiter zum Artikel clicca qui per visualizzare l'articolo weiter zum Artikel ir a la noticia klik hier om door te gaan naar het artikel Yazya devam etmek iin tklayn Tovbb a cikkre
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ThanetGazette commented Thanet beaches closed after sewage leak
Thanet beaches closed after sewage leak
THANET'S beaches have been closed to swimmers after sewage was leaked into the sea following a following a failure at the Southern Water pumping station.
Experts are warning people not to bathe or walk below the tide line as a precautionary measure following the spill from the Foreness Point station.
Thanet's beaches have been closed after sewage leaked into the sea
Beaches were closed on Monday while the water company works around the clock to fix pumps which became blocked following heavy rain.
A Southern Water spokesman admitted that some sewage was continuing to leak from the station and that the situation could get worse if rain returns.
Beach cleaners and litter pickers are working along theThanet coastline to clear beaches of any raw sewage. It is likely that the beaches will be closed to bathers for a minimum of two days.
Thanet council has placed red flags on beaches and RNLI Lifeguards are warning the public.
Jon Griffin, Senior Environment Officer with the Environment Agency said: "The Environment Agency are carrying out a full investigation and are working with Southern Water Services and Thanet District Council to reduce the impact of the spillages as much as possible. We will continue to monitor the bathing water quality over the coming days and will advise Thanet District Council accordingly."
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Good News for Summer: More Certified Clean Beaches and Marinas: 25th anniversary of international Blue Flag program …
TORONTO, June 5, 2012 /CNW/ - This summer, 17 beaches and four marinas will fly the Blue Flag in Canada. Blue Flag is an international eco-label awarded to beaches and marinas that meet high environmental standards.
And as the program marks its 25th year, Canada sees the first certified beaches and marinas outside Ontario. Manitoba, Quebec and Nova Scotia are receiving Blue Flags for the first time. B.C. is next in line, with Harrison Hot Springs Beach in the pilot phase of the program.
To be awarded a Blue Flag, beaches and marinas must meet four sets of criteria: water quality, environmental management, environmental education and safety and services. If a beach has a Blue Flag, people can be assured that it is clean, sustainably managed and great for swimming.
Worldwide there are 3,098 Blue Flag beaches and 646 marinas in 46 countries. Blue Flags have been awarded in Canada since 2005. Internationally, the program is managed by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), based in Denmark. Environmental Defence is the national operator of Blue Flag in Canada.
"More and more communities want Blue Flag recognition," said Brett Tryon, Blue Flag Coordinator for Environmental Defence. "They know it encourages environmental stewardship and engages people with the waterfront. Beach operators and volunteers have worked hard to earn this award and we are proud to see the Blue Flag community continue to grow."
Beaches and marinas flying Blue Flags for the first time this summer are:
They join 14 beaches and 3 marinas in Ontario that have been re-awarded Blue Flags:
"Grand Bend has always been known for its world renowned sunsets," said Mayor Bill Weber of the Municipality of Lambton Shores, Ontario, "but now, the Blue Flag designation lets the world know that our beach and marinas meet the highest standard for water quality, environmental management, environmental education and safety. Meeting these high standards is the result of community and staff support, and we feel it is a very important factor in attracting tourists to our area."
Several beaches are participating as candidates, including Canatara Park Beach in Sarnia, Ontario, Birch Cove Beach in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and Harrison Hot Springs Beach in BC. These beaches could get a Blue Flag as early as 2013.
More details about the Blue Flag program and the certified marinas and beaches can be found on the web site at http://www.BlueFlag.ca.
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Sewage closes Blue Flag beaches
5 June 2012 Last updated at 06:41 ET
More than 20 Kent bathing beaches have been closed after sewage was discharged into the sea.
The closure of all beaches in Thanet was caused by a failure at the Southern Water Foreness Point Sewage Pumping Station after heavy rain.
Spokesman John Crooke said the pumping station discharged water which could otherwise have flooded homes.
Red flags are being flown at the beaches, many of which had recently won Blue Flag awards for cleanliness.
The beaches have been closed since Monday. Visitors have been told not to cross the high tide line.
Thanet District Council said they would stay shut for at least two days as a precautionary measure.
Last month, it was revealed that Thanet had more Blue Flag beaches than any other area in England.
The awards recognise high water quality and facilities.
Beach cleaners and litter pickers are on site whilst officers from the council and representatives from the Environment Agency and Southern Water Services fully assess the situation.
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MSUM right spot to see Venus transit
2004 transit of Venus
This June 8, 2004, file photo shows the transit of Venus, which occurs when the planet Venus passes between the Earth and the Sun. Venus will cross the face of the sun on Tuesday, a sight that will be visible from parts of Earth. This is the last transit for more than 100 years. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu,File)
MOORHEAD Astronomy enthusiasts around the area are gearing up for an event today that wont happen again for another 105 years.
Starting a little bit after 5 p.m., the orbit of planet Venus will take it directly in front of the sun, blocking out a small portion of its light as it crosses between the Earth and the sun a transit of Venus, as astronomers call it.
To the naked eye, though, it wont be that noticeable without special solar eclipse glasses needed to look into the sun.
Unlike last months solar eclipse, which blocked out more than 50 percent of the sun, Venus will only block out roughly 1 percent, said Juan Cabanela, associate professor of physics and astronomy at Minnesota State University Moorhead.
To assist the public with safely viewing the rare solar event, MSUM and the F-M Astronomy Club have scheduled a public viewing with telescopes and other special equipment, which Cabanela said will make the transit absolutely crystal clear.
The event wont happen again until December 2117, but Cabanela said this is actually the second time its occurred in our lifetime, most recently taking place just eight years ago.
The transits occur in cycles, he said, happening twice in eight years, followed by a 105- or 107-year period, depending on the year. The reason for the odd cycles and the rarity of the event, Cabanela said, is because Venus travels around the sun differently than does Earth.
Venus orbit isnt perfectly lined up with ours, he said. When Venus is between the Earth and the sun, its usually a little bit below or above the sun.
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Buenos noches | Bad Astronomy
For no other reason than it is beautiful, here is a picture astronaut Andr Kuipers took of Buenos Aires as the International Space Station sailed into the night over the Atlantic Ocean.
[Click to enmsgrandenate.]
Kuipers took that picture on May 11, 2012. Looking to the west you can see the city lights, as well as the thin green line of the atmospheric aerosol layer. I suspect thats Venus right over the horizon, too. The silhouette is of the Russian Progress 47 capsule which docked with the ISS in April, and will remain there for several more months.
Image credit: NASA/ESA
Related Posts:
- Psychedelic space station stars and cities - Space Station star trails - Southern lights greet ISS and Atlantis - ATV docks with the ISS (this is a must-see picture!)
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Transit of Venus Explained: The Stages of Today's Rare Sun Crossing
Today's historic Venus transit is a marathon event lasting nearly seven hours, but skywatchers who don't have that kind of time can break it down into a handful of key milestones.
Venus treks across the sun's face from Earth's perspective today (June 5; June 6 in much of the Eastern Hemisphere), marking the last such Venus transit until 2117. Few people alive today will be around to see the next transit, which makes the rare celestial sight a premier event in the astronomical and skywatching communities.
The Venus-sun show will begin around 6 p.m. EDT (2200 GMT) and end at roughly 12:50 a.m. EDT (0450 GMT) Wednesday, with the exact timing varying by a few minutes from point to point around the globe.
First contact
Before you even attempt to observe the transit of Venus, a warning: NEVER stare at the sun through binoculars or small telescopes or with the unaided eye without the proper safety equipment. Doing so can result in serious and permanent eye damage, including blindness.
Astronomers use special solar filters on telescopes to view the sun safely, while No. 14 welder's glass and eclipse glasses can be used to observe the sun directly. [How to Safely Photograph the Venus Transit]
With that warning stated, here's a look at the first major stage of the transit of Venus.
The transit officially commences when the leading edge of Venus first touches the solar disk, an event astronomers call "Contact I" or "ingress exterior." This milestone occurs at 6:03 p.m. EDT (2203 GMT) for observers in eastern North America, while skywatchers on the other side of the continent will see it a few minutes later, at 3:06 p.m. PDT.
Second contact and beyond
Next up is "Contact II," or "ingress interior" the moment when Venus moves fully onto the sun's face. This will happen 18 minutes after Contact I. [Venus Transit of 2004: 51 Amazing Photos]
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Transit of Venus Explained: The Stages of Today's Rare Sun Crossing