Budget battle over Naples beaches

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Naples, Fla.- Sand hauling trucks will be barreling down local roads to renourish city beaches for the second time in two years. But, the Vice Mayor of Naples tells WINK News, the beaches need a permanent fix.

"We need to move away from beach renourishment done by truck and going back to off-shore beach renourishment," said City of Naples Vice Mayor, Dee Sulick.

The last renourishment in Collier County was in 2005 and cost about $26 million. At the time, 50% of tourist tax dollars were allocated to beach renourishment. In 2013, county commissioners voted to reduce that amount of money to 41%.

"We are always lacking for funds and looking for moneies," said Vice Mayor Sulick.

Jack Wert, Executive Director of the county's Convention and Visitor's bureau said tourism is up 16% from last year. He says that means extra money for marketing the beaches and for the beaches themselves.

"You need a good product. The beaches are an important part of how we market this destination," said Wert. "But, you need to be able to tell people that you have great beaches too."

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Budget battle over Naples beaches

Government pulls up drum lines

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EPA recommends shark drum lines are not to be implemented along WA beaches. Photo: Aleisha Orr

Drum lines will not be deployed off West Australian beaches this summer.

Premier Colin Barnett said the government did not plan to appeal the Environmental Protection Authority's decision rejecting the state government's shark kill zones proposal.

He said while the State Government would not be appealing the EPA decision, the application for drum lines was still before Federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt.

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"We are accepting the EPA decision here so we are not going to appeal it. That means it will not be possible to have drum lines over this summer. If we were to do so there would clearly be court challenges and you would never get there, the Premier said.

Mr Barnett said it appeared there were different rules for the eastern states, where drum lines are allowed, and Western Australia. The government would now focus on how to deal with rogue sharks that threatened public safety, he said.

"I dont think that drum lines will apply in Western Australia for this summer and probably maybe not again. I would want to have the capacity to deal with an imminent threat and deal with it immediately. A process of conversations going backwards and forwards to Canberra has proven to be totally ineffective."

"I cannot simply walk away and say that's the EPA decision. They only look at the environment. I have to look at environment plus public safety. I don't like drum lines more than anyone else but I had to respond to a situation of seven fatalities in three years."

He said the government would look at putting swimming enclosures at beaches where there were calm waters, for example at Dunsborough.

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Government pulls up drum lines

Astronomy – Ch. 2: Understanding the Night Sky (15 of 23) Why Does the North Star Change? – Video

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Astronomy - Ch. 2: Understanding the Night Sky (15 of 23) Why Does the North Star Change?
Visit http://ilectureonline.com for more math and science lectures! In this video I will explains processional motion and why the North Star changes.

By: Michel van Biezen

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Astronomy - Ch. 2: Understanding the Night Sky (15 of 23) Why Does the North Star Change? - Video

Astronomy – Ch. 2: Understanding the Night Sky (16 of 23) High Noon at the North Pole – Video

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Astronomy - Ch. 2: Understanding the Night Sky (16 of 23) High Noon at the North Pole
Visit http://ilectureonline.com for more math and science lectures! In this video I will describe what high noon looks like at the North Pole through out the...

By: Michel van Biezen

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Astronomy - Ch. 2: Understanding the Night Sky (16 of 23) High Noon at the North Pole - Video

Experiment with these back-to-school science apps

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Experiment with these back-to-school science apps

September 12, 2014 by Stephen Danos

Many developers work tirelessly to provide stunning scientific mobile applications that offer massive sets of information. With these five apps, students of all ages can better grasp astronomy, physics, computer science, chemistry, and human anatomy.

Off the heels of releasing the universally praised Star Walk 2, the developers behind Vito Technology decided not to rest on their laurels. Star Walk Kids, a bright and engaging augmented astronomy app, was designed with preschoolers and kindergartners in mind. Actors narrate facts about space topics, including constellations and planets. Cartoon versions of the former with key informationnumber of stars, Latin names, and brightest starappear on your iPhone or iPad screen. Even cooler, kids can see the location of the International Space Station at all times and the app serves as a fantastic introduction to the Solar System. Star Walk Kids is very easy-to-navigate and sure to improve device literacy among children.

By now, most teachers and parents have heard of or even implemented the STEM educational fields (science, technology, engineering, mathematics). In addition, the annual Hour of Code during Computer Science Week (December 8-14) is a call-to-action that has introduced over 41 million students to computer coding. Apps like Pocket Code, which uses Catrobats visual LEGO-style programming language along with software tools, emphasizes building programs and creative problem solving. Students as young as eight can use the app to create Android apps and games directly on their smartphone or tablet device.

Building bridges in physics class can be equal parts fun and frustrating. The free BridgeBasher app, constructed by Jundroo, allows students to create and test virtual versions of their structures. They can check for weight tolerance, including a progression of trains made of words that increase in heaviness and applying pressure to a bridges joints. These exercises let students see how much strain it takes to collapse their bridges and find out which areas require recalibration.

The Elements in Action app was developed by Touch Press, creators of The Elements: A Visual Exploration and Barefoot World Atlas. The iOS app uses videos to show how 79 out of the 115 elements react in different situations. These little experiments are entertaining and informative, and provide a safe space for observing wild chemical reactions! For example, students can watch a time-lapse of Strontium (Sr) oxidizing to see how its properties change.

The free version of Human Anatomy Atlas offers a lot of great content, including 400 3D bone models and a dozen animations. This mobile app was designed for medical students and doctors, but is very helpful for middle and high schoolers to take in-depth looks at the human bodys systems. This free apps level of detail is unmatched and the 3D display exudes realistic depictions of the human skeleton. If parents are willing to shell out $24.99 they can unlock all 4,000 3D structures, including the brain and muscles, offered by the premium version.

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Experiment with these back-to-school science apps

Hill Climbing Algorithm & Artificial Intelligence – Computerphile – Video

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Hill Climbing Algorithm Artificial Intelligence - Computerphile
Audible free book: http://www.audible.com/computerphile Artificial Intelligence can be thought of in terms of optimization. Robert Miles explains using the evolution #39;s algorithm. http://www.faceb...

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Business benefits of Artificial Intelligence | Interview with Steve Mason, Click Software – Video

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Business benefits of Artificial Intelligence | Interview with Steve Mason, Click Software
For more related content visit: http://www.itproportal.com In this video Steve Mason from Click Software talks about the real world benefits and applications...

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Your Digital Self: Artificial intelligence is creeping into our everyday lives

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We live in an era of intelligent technology. Our watches tell us not only the time, but they also remind us to exercise. Our phones recommend the best places to dine, and our computers predict our preferences, helping us to do our daily work more efficiently.

Still, all of these digital assistants demonstrate only a tiny sliver of artificial intelligence (AI), and its plain to see how were still ages away from Skynet and Blade Runner scenarios.

Or are we? What about Apples AAPL, +0.48% Siri or Cleverbot?

Most of the consumer-level artificial-intelligence applications were interacting with today can barely be classified as such. These apps are usually designed to search for patterns in user behavior and then to react to them in various, albeit predictable, ways. Theyre also programmed to use accumulated data stored in their databases to improve a reaction to inputs, which leads to a better response within predetermined parameters.

One good example is Cleverbot, a light-hearted online AI experiment you can chat with. Although it is fun at times, it can by no means hold a meaningful conversation. Cleverbot may provide a simple back-and-forth correspondence, but should you decide to break the flow of conversation, more often than not, it gets confused and unable to provide suitable feedback.

That is because AI sees chat more like an isolated chess problem, instead of a real conversation. Just as a chess program builds its database of possible moves, Cleverbot has its own database of answers and algorithms from which it picks the most optimal solution for every situation. However, Cleverbot and its ilk fail to grasp higher concepts, like the overall tone of the conversation, wider context, metaphors or emotional overtones.

Although there is a huge potential in whats already been achieved with these existing models, we are still far from developing apps capable of genuinely autonomous artificial thought or knowledge processing. Still, this may change sooner than you think.

Cycorp, an Austin, Texas-based company, is taking a radically different approach to the development of real artificial intelligence. Unlike previously mentioned AI models, which can only use isolated question-answer data models without any genuine understanding of higher concepts behind it, Cycorps Cyc is designed to respond to users input on a wider, semantic level. (The company says its the worlds largest and most complete general knowledge base and common sense reasoning engine.)

Cyc can not only recall the data in its databases, it can also come to knowledge-based conclusions. This ranges from having common-sense knowledge (pigs cant fly), to behaviorally conditioned responses (knowing how to recognize and, thus, interact differently with a nervous or a confused user). All these conditions are taught to Cyc as its knowledge base expands, enabling it to communicate on an almost human level.

What could go wrong, right? The closer we get to building truly semantic and autonomous systems, the more complex the consequences of their abuse and malfunction.

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Your Digital Self: Artificial intelligence is creeping into our everyday lives

Is it time for your business to implement an artificial intelligence strategy?

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For decades the prospect of artificial intelligence (AI) has loomed over the business world. Often warped and distorted by its depiction in fiction, there's been a certain stigma associated with the use and the potential impact of AI. From Skynet enslaving the world to psychotic computers threatening astronauts in 2001: A Space Odyssey, the concept of AI has been taken a long way from the fundamental point of having a software which can independently carry out rudimentary tasks. But there are real benefits it can bring that can make life easier and more enjoyable for workers and citizens alike.

You will often hear business leaders talking about maximizing productivity and driving efficiency in their organizations. Yet, when you look at some of the typical wastage that goes on at companies, a lot of it comes from the standard admin and menial tasks none of us like doing. We recently asked workers, who are often targeted in these productivity drives, if they thought a little automation could help them in their day to day work. Over half said they believe predictive software will be capable of doing 10 per cent of daily admin work in the very near future.

It would seem strange, given the depiction in fiction, that people would be so willing to allow AI into their working lives. Yet when we take a closer look at the results, there is very much a generational difference in willingness to embrace this kind of technology. Millennials -- those who have grown up with Siri and smartphones -- are in general the most in favor of incorporating AI into their future work lives, whilst the over 55s need a bit more convincing. The millennial generation, which might have played games like Halo, from which Microsoft has taken the name of its upcoming rival to Siri, Cortana, have been weaned on the benefits rather than the threats of what AI could bring.

Will AI ever be able to replace workers in all their roles? Highly doubtful. We could be over 100 years away from the day when a cognitive AI service could be totally independent, and even that is a generous prediction. So the idea that people's jobs would be on the line if what is available now were to be brought into our workplace is not really credible.

Even when a genius like Stephen Hawking has his doubts about AI, saying, "Creating artificial intelligence will be the biggest event in human history.... it might also be the last", we are clearly a long way from this happening. In the meantime, we can take advantage of what is and what will be soon available to handle some of the more mundane tasks, allowing us to focus on more important things.

Given this groundswell of opinion and expectation of AI's incorporation into our working lives, it's another consideration CIOs and IT managers should be contemplating as part of their IT strategies in the years to come. When you look at businesses that could benefit most from this, certain industries stand out. Take a big service company which already utilizes automation to share information to the various departments. What if you took the level of automation even further? How much better would it be for all concerned when a customer request is lodged with a company for an engineer to come and fix something that is then automatically built into the engineer's schedule. The parts that are needed will be instantly ordered and ready to go.

At the moment, you can ring a call center and lodge your query. That is then passed onto the service team. That is then passed onto the resource manager. That is then passed onto the engineer. It's quite a prosaic approach when, with a little bit more automation, the whole process could be made far slicker. This can, of course, be accomplished by human intelligence, but when it is something as precise and repetitive as a good chain of command, why not delegate a piece of central AI to better plan the course of events that need to unfold?

The key to success for this will be identifying the areas within a business or industry that could most benefit from automation. For example, if you run a field service team, a lot of data is analyzed and examined before travel routes and staff rosters are created. There are millions of calculations and considerations that need to go into this process, including factors such as equipment, skill sets and staff holidays, as well as day to day occurrences like traffic jams and sick leave. Wouldn't it be better if those calculations were automated and the optimum result was worked out by an AI function -- saving time, reducing cost and eliminating the risk of human error?

Working back from the problem, you can see how one day we can expect more AI products on the market which solve problems that businesses have faced for years. Staff can benefit too, when menial or time-consuming tasks can be taken off their hands. Companies don't tend to employ staff for the accuracy of their admin skills, instead they want them to focus on their primary functions. AI gives businesses and employees the possibility to finally optimize the roles they are doing and potentially take on new skills and functions that will ultimately be to the benefit of the business they are working for.

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Is it time for your business to implement an artificial intelligence strategy?

IBM’s ‘Ninja Particles’ could stop the rise of superbugs

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IBM Research's Jim Hedrick has a great job. His work on polymers -- those repeating chains of macromolecules that make up most things in our world, like the computer or phone you're reading this on -- has led to the creation of substances with Marvel Comics-worthy descriptors. There's the self-healing, Wolverine-like substance that arose from a recycled water bottle and something called "ninja particles" that'll advance the reality of nanomedicine. Both discoveries will inevitably make their way into consumer products in the near future, but it's his team's progress on nanomedicine that Hedrick discussed during my visit to IBM Research's sprawling Almaden lab in San Jose, California.

The inspiration for IBM's foray into nanomedicine is twofold: our growing resistance to antibiotics and the incidence of medical-implant rejection by the human body. With this in mind, Hedrick and his team, leveraging IBM's background in semiconductor research, developed synthetic polymers that mimic the immune system. Using a simple charge, these resultant polymers are capable of hunting down and clinging to specific microbes throughout the body. And, once attached, cause those microbes to rupture as if they'd been hit by an explosive shuriken (or ninja star) -- hence, the name.

Of course, anyone who's seen Innerspace knows there's a certain danger to injecting foreign objects into your body. But Hedrick says we have nothing to worry about. The ninja particles won't pass into other parts of the body. They're also proven to have a low toxicity and, best of all, won't engender a new wave of resistant pathogens (read: superbugs). So when will see the practical fruits of IBM's research? Well, Hedrick tells us the company's already in talks with various partners to apply this nanotech to our modern world in anything from medicine to the deodorant we use daily to the detergents we use to wash our clothes and kitchenware. And that future's not too far off, either -- Hedrick believes we could begin to see these ninja particle-infused products hit retail within a decade's time.

Watch Hedrick explain how IBM's research into ninja particles can help revolutionize the health care industry.

Stay tuned for part three of our inside look at IBM's Almaden research facility.

[Image credit: Laguna Design/Getty]

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IBM's 'Ninja Particles' could stop the rise of superbugs

Profiles International Chief Science Officer to Present Keynote at International Talent Assessment and Development …

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Waco, TX. (PRWEB) September 11, 2014

Talent management solutions provider, Profiles International, announced that Dr. Scott Hamilton, chief science officer at Profiles International, will address hundreds of global business leaders as he hosts certification training, and offers a keynote presentation to attendees at the 2nd International Talent Assessment and Development Conference.

The 2nd International Talent Assessment and Development Conference (ITADC2014) will take place at the Pullman Saigon Center in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, on September 11 and 12.

The event is hosted by Profiles International South East Asia, and managed by National Director Rick Yvanovich. Dr. Scott Hamilton and Deiric McCann, executive vice president of the International Division at Profiles International, will both be featured as keynote speakers.

The ITADC is an annual conference with the goal and mission of helping organization leaders optimize their HR function, boost sales performance, and improve leadership skills. Leaders from around the world will attend and share their knowledge on issues faced by executive leaders, HR specialists, and sales managers. The second annual event of its kind, the conference features three days of presentations and networking.

A highlight of the event will be certification training that outlines all elements of the science behind employment assessments, while attendees will learn from how to utilize assessments for maximum impact in their own organization from Dr. Hamilton himself.

Attendees will also be treated to a personal session titled, "A Psychologist Looks at Leadership Styles in Business."

Learn more by visiting http://www.profilesinternational.com, or http://itadc2014.profiles-sea.com/.

ABOUT PROFILES INTERNATIONAL Profiles International is the best source for talent management solutions, with over 20 years' experience and more than 40,000 clients in over 120 countries. Profiles knows how people work and what motivates them. Their data-driven talent management solutions--built on complex behavioral science, yet simple to administer and read--help organizations find the right people, shape them into a winning team, and lead them to their full potential. http://www.profilesinternational.com

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ONCOblot blood test for cancer goes international

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PUBLIC RELEASE DATE:

11-Sep-2014

Contact: Rebecca Davis info@oncoblotlabs.com ONCOblot Labs

West Lafayette, IN September 11, 2014 The ONCOblot Test, a highly sensitive blood test for cancer, has now expanded into international territories; bringing much needed support for early cancer detection to areas beyond The United States.

ONCOblot believes that these two new alliances with the WA Health Clinic and RCLIN SA will not only increase the awareness of choice and availability of cancer screenings, but offer more hope through a more definitive cancer diagnosis.

The WA Health Care is based out of China with laboratories in Shanghai and Beijing. Their innovative clinic treats patients through bringing medical doctors, professors and scientists in the fields of anti-aging medicine, functional medicine and regenerative medicine together. Through this, WA Health Care provides true focus on the patient as a whole, not just their symptoms. By looking at patients as humans, and not merely the sum of their symptoms, WA Health Care is perfectly aligned with ONCOblot's mission.

RCLIN SA is based out of Switzerland and has clinics in Geneva, Moscow, Kiev and Warsaw. RCLIN's mission is to help patients extend their life and maintain their health. They do this through finding and removing the causes of aging and disease, and by offering patients personalized solutions based on the latest scientific achievements. Their personalized approach is what created such an ideal connection for the ONCOblot Test.

With the combined influence and partnership of both health care facilities, ONCOblot is poised to deftly navigate previously unexplored territories and bring cancer screening awareness to more and more people each day.

The ONCOblot Test is a key component to treating cancer because it gives patients and physicians the insights for successful cancer management. Never before has one test been able to detect cancer on such a microscopic level and provide so much knowledge for early intervention and on-going management. ONCOblot looks forward to spreading this knowledge to territories across the globe.

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ONCOblot blood test for cancer goes international

The Aivee effect

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Dr. Aivee Teos newest clinic combines multi-faceted skin typing with essential treatments to get The Aivee Glow

August 28, 2014The Aivee Clinic officially launches at the SM Mega Fashion Hall. After five years since opening her posh clinic at the Fort, Dr. Aivee Teo elevates her passion for advanced skin care technology and anti-aging treatments with the new clinic concept, The Aivee Clinic. The beauty hub couldnt have been in a better locationstationed alongside global fashion brands. Dr. Aivee Teo, one of the countrys most sought after dermatologists, after all, has as much passion for beauty as she has for fashion. Her success in the business of skin care is widely known, and as a fashion lover, she has constantly been on best-dressed lists. Beauty and fashion truly go hand in hand.

What started out as a practice in the pursuit of beauty, one that thrived purely on word of mouth, has inevitably made Dr. Aivee as one of the major players in the industry. Getting healthy, blemish-free, and luminous skin using non-invasive or minimally invasive methods has always been her technique. And she continues to push the standards with a full integration of beauty and wellness with The Aivee Group.

AIVEE LEAGUE

What is The Aivee Glow? Its a signature look defined as a luminous, radiant, and natural beauty that transcends external perfection. With the new clinic, Dr. Aivee strengthens the four pillars of The Aivee Group: The Aivee Institute (first class center for advanced dermatology, cosmetic surgery, hair restoration, and aesthetic stem cell therapy), Stemcare Institute (premiere center for pain and regenerative medicine using fat stem cells), Aivee Skin Science (research center for developing cosmeceutical and nutriceutical products) and now, The Aivee Clinic (skin-focused approach for no-downtime treatments). The Aivee Group is one well-oiled machine, with all its parts complementing each other toward a holistic beauty goal.

GRADE A

Its no secret that the husband and wife partnership of Dr. Z and Aivee Teo, their love and commitment for each other and their field, has brought them happiness and success. From surviving a long-distance relationship, shuffling back and forth Manila and Singapore to attend to their respective clinics, and always pursuing new ways to rejuvenate skin and provide a sense of well-being. All this while keeping their children close by and rarely being separate from each other. And if youve ever had the privilege of interviewing them together, they really finish each others sentences. Whether thats about their practice or about how they commit to make everything work for their family and business.

This dynamic duo established their anti-aging institute over a decade ago, utilizing maintenance procedures, non-invasive lasers, cutting edge technology such as stem cell therapy and liquid face lifts, and cosmetic surgery. The awareness of the growing needs of their patients and their recent travels to the US and Europe brought them to a new realization. With patients requesting for dramatic makeover programs, twice-a-year rejuvenation therapies and innovative treatments with the least amount or no downtime, SmartSkin became the clear answer as the way to move forward.

The SmartSkin Typing concept is a multi-faceted system with a digital tailor-made evaluation of the skin. By assessing and categorizing skin as oily or dry, sensitive or resistant, pigmented or non-pigmented, wrinkled or tight, you come up with a very specific skin type. From this, a highly customized skin treatment can easily be made. In keeping with the holistic approach, skin experts at The Aivee Clinic can then set the appropriate treatment programprocedures, health supplements, and skin careto achieve that healthy glow.

SKIN TECH

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The Aivee effect