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Tipping fee impasse continues between Jacksonville and two coastal cities

Posted on January 9, 2014 by Danzig

A Jacksonville city councilmans draft bill designed to resolve a bitter landfill fee dispute between the city and Atlantic and Neptune beaches has instead caused more divisiveness as Jacksonville Mayor Alvin Brown described the legislation as unfair and costly for anyone not living at the Beaches.

City Council President Bill Gulliford, who wrote the draft and whose district covers the Beaches, and beaches mayors impacted by the dispute accused Brown and his administration of failing to understand the needs of the coastal communities.

A letter Brown sent to the mayors of the two communities Wednesday said the draft bill does not address several remedies proposed by the city to help resolve an impasse in which Jacksonville says Atlantic Beach and Neptune Beach owe it more than $1.4 million in tipping fees for solid waste dumped at the Trail Ridge Landfill since 2011. Jacksonville Beach does not have such an agreement with Jacksonville.

Jacksonville officials, as part of the consolidated county government, began charging the two coastal communities after the City Council added the fee to the budget. Jacksonville says about $370,000 annually from Atlantic Beach and $200,000 from Neptune Beach pays for using the landfill. But the two smaller cities complained about a variety of problems with the fees, including fears over hidden charges.

The city officials said the proposed bill only covers a proposal for Jacksonville to expand its garbage collection into the two coastal cities.

That proposal would negate the need in the future for the two smaller cities to pay the fee for private contractors to dump residential garbage in the landfill. Jacksonville would charge the cities $12.65 per household for monthly garbage collection by its haulers, the same fee paid by Jacksonville residents.

The $12.65 charge would then be passed on to their residential customers as part of their current garbage fee: $17.78 in Atlantic Beach and $22 a month in Neptune.

But Jim Robinson, Jacksonvilles director of public works, said the reduced charge at the beach would still cost Jacksonville taxpayers about $200,000 a year because of the added travel expense for the citys haulers.

Missing from the bill is a proposal to make up that difference and cut the tipping fees owed to the city in half by granting Jacksonville water quality credits for improvements to quality of the St. Johns River that the Beaches cities produced in part by improvements to their wastewater treatment plants, Robinson said.

Jacksonville has planned to use the credits to meet a commitment it made to the state in 2008 to help the health of the St. Johns River.

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Tipping fee impasse continues between Jacksonville and two coastal cities

Favorite, Family-Friendly Beaches in Ventura

Posted on January 9, 2014 by Danzig

When my family and I want to enjoy the beach while avoiding traffic and crowds, we head to Ventura. Living in north Los Angeles, most Ventura beaches are less than an hour away from our home. In the summer months, Ventura is a great way to beat the heat. In the winter, many of the beaches are far from crowded. As a lifelong So Cal resident, I have been to many beaches along the west coast. As a mother of two, here are a few of my favorite, family-friendly beaches in Ventura.

Emma Wood State Beach

We went here on New Year's Day. I loved the gradual incline to the water. Overall, the atmosphere was tranquil. We went when the tide was out and my kids could splash in the water. I liked that I didn't have to worry about a rip tide or rough waves (at least when I went). This is a camping beach. However, it is open for day use too. We parked near the north part of the beach, along Pacific Coast highway, and had to climb over some big rocks to get down to the beach. I liked how my car was so close to the sand.

Marina Park

I love this park/beach because it has a huge grassy area to have a picnic. When my son was a baby, I brought a canopy so he could nap in the shade. Closer to the water, there is a seaside playground that was updated recently. There are swings, several playground structures and soft rubber "floor." In addition, there is a fun ship with a zip-line attached. Of course, don't forget to dip your toes in the ocean. This area can get crowded in the summer. However, parking is free and I have never had a problem finding a parking spot. There are bathrooms too and some trails to walk along.

Surfer's Point (a.k.a C-Street) and San Buenaventura State Beach

Although Surfer's point and San Buenaventura are two separate beaches, they are connected by a bike trail. While C-Street is not the best for swimming (hence the name Surfer's Point), it is a great place for surfers or anyone who likes to watch the waves roll in. For non-surfer's, there is plenty of sand (and some rocks). Furthermore, I love the giant promenade for walking around, especially during sunset. It's perfect for jogging with a stroller or bringing bikes for a family ride. Another fun activity is to rent a surrey, a "modern carriage," from wheelfunrentals.com. Other highlights include the children's playground in the sand and the pier. There is a restaurant called Eric Ericsson's with some good fish and chips. However, my favorite place to eat is Aloha Steakhouse on the promenade. Go for lunch for special deals. I love the house salad, blackened fish and their fresh bread; plus, the waiters are always nice to my kids.

NASA Observatory Selects Educator Teams for 2014 Science Flights

Posted on January 9, 2014 by Danzig

NASA's Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy, or SOFIA, will become a flying classroom for teachers during research flights in the next few months.

Twelve two-person teams have been selected for SOFIA's Airborne Astronomy Ambassadors program, representing educators from 10 states. Each will be paired with a professional astronomer to observe first-hand how airborne infrared astronomy is conducted. After their flight opportunities, Airborne Astronomy Ambassadors will take what they learn back to their classrooms and into their communities to promote science literacy.

SOFIA is a highly modified Boeing 747SP jetliner fitted with a 100-inch (2.5-meter) effective diameter telescope. The aircraft flies at altitudes between 39,000 and 45,000 feet (12-14 kilometers), above the water vapor in the Earth's atmosphere, and collects data in the infrared spectrum.

"SOFIA offers educator teams unprecedented access to infrared astronomers and the unique capabilities of an airborne observatory," said John Gagosian, SOFIA program executive at NASA Headquarters in Washington. "Previous Airborne Astronomy Ambassadors teams have witnessed SOFIA's world-class astronomical science and have used this experience in hundreds of science, technology, engineering and math teaching opportunities throughout the United States."

SOFIA's Airborne Astronomy Ambassadors for 2014 are:

-- Megan Tucker and Dan Molik, The Palmdale Aerospace Academy, Palmdale, Calif.

-- Barbel Sepulveda, Lincoln High School, and Chris Rauschenfels, Sierra Middle School, Stockton, Calif.

-- Nathan Mahoney, Pine Crest School, Deerfield Beach, Fla. and Hellen Tavora, South Florida Amateur Astronomers Association and Fox Astronomical Observatory, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

-- Marcella Linahan, Carmel Catholic High School, Mundelein, Ill., and Lynne Zielinski National Space Society, Long Grove, Ill.

Computer science: The learning machines

Posted on January 9, 2014 by Danzig

BRUCE ROLFF/SHUTTERSTOCK

Three years ago, researchers at the secretive Google X lab in Mountain View, California, extracted some 10 million still images from YouTube videos and fed them into Google Brain a network of 1,000 computers programmed to soak up the world much as a human toddler does. After three days looking for recurring patterns, Google Brain decided, all on its own, that there were certain repeating categories it could identify: human faces, human bodies and cats1.

Google Brain's discovery that the Internet is full of cat videos provoked a flurry of jokes from journalists. But it was also a landmark in the resurgence of deep learning: a three-decade-old technique in which massive amounts of data and processing power help computers to crack messy problems that humans solve almost intuitively, from recognizing faces to understanding language.

Deep learning itself is a revival of an even older idea for computing: neural networks. These systems, loosely inspired by the densely interconnected neurons of the brain, mimic human learning by changing the strength of simulated neural connections on the basis of experience. Google Brain, with about 1 million simulated neurons and 1 billion simulated connections, was ten times larger than any deep neural network before it. Project founder Andrew Ng, now director of the Artificial Intelligence Laboratory at Stanford University in California, has gone on to make deep-learning systems ten times larger again.

Such advances make for exciting times in artificial intelligence (AI) the often-frustrating attempt to get computers to think like humans. In the past few years, companies such as Google, Apple and IBM have been aggressively snapping up start-up companies and researchers with deep-learning expertise. For everyday consumers, the results include software better able to sort through photos, understand spoken commands and translate text from foreign languages. For scientists and industry, deep-learning computers can search for potential drug candidates, map real neural networks in the brain or predict the functions of proteins.

AI has gone from failure to failure, with bits of progress. This could be another leapfrog, says Yann LeCun, director of the Center for Data Science at New York University and a deep-learning pioneer.

Over the next few years we'll see a feeding frenzy. Lots of people will jump on the deep-learning bandwagon, agrees Jitendra Malik, who studies computer image recognition at the University of California, Berkeley. But in the long term, deep learning may not win the day; some researchers are pursuing other techniques that show promise. I'm agnostic, says Malik. Over time people will decide what works best in different domains.

Back in the 1950s, when computers were new, the first generation of AI researchers eagerly predicted that fully fledged AI was right around the corner. But that optimism faded as researchers began to grasp the vast complexity of real-world knowledge particularly when it came to perceptual problems such as what makes a face a human face, rather than a mask or a monkey face. Hundreds of researchers and graduate students spent decades hand-coding rules about all the different features that computers needed to identify objects. Coming up with features is difficult, time consuming and requires expert knowledge, says Ng. You have to ask if there's a better way.

IMAGES: ANDREW NG

In the 1980s, one better way seemed to be deep learning in neural networks. These systems promised to learn their own rules from scratch, and offered the pleasing symmetry of using brain-inspired mechanics to achieve brain-like function. The strategy called for simulated neurons to be organized into several layers. Give such a system a picture and the first layer of learning will simply notice all the dark and light pixels. The next layer might realize that some of these pixels form edges; the next might distinguish between horizontal and vertical lines. Eventually, a layer might recognize eyes, and might realize that two eyes are usually present in a human face (see 'Facial recognition').

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Computer science: The learning machines

Denny Sanford believes genetic medicine is ‘the medicine of the future’

Posted on January 8, 2014 by ev1

FARGO Denny Sanford was recovering from possibly fatal blood clots in his lungs when he decided to invest $125 million to bring genetic medicine into the mainstream.

Sanford became ill on a hunting trip in south-central South Dakota in October, about 140 miles west of Sioux Falls.

Doctors there suspected he had pneumonia, but Sanfords personal physician, Dr. Eric Larson of Sanford Health, suspected a pulmonary embolism a blood clot in the lungs and arranged for an air ambulance to whisk him to Sioux Falls.

He really saved my life, Sanford said in a telephone interview with The Forum, referring to Larson, an internal medicine doctor and one of the champions of the new genetic medicine initiative Sanford Health announced Tuesday.

Sanford, who is in his late 70s, did not attend Tuesdays announcement, which was made in Sioux Falls, and simulcast to Sanford medical centers in Fargo, Bismarck and Bemidji, Minn.

While recuperating in his namesake hospital in Sioux Falls, Sanford reminded Kelby Krabbenhoft, Sanford Healths top executive, that his team was preparing a genetic medicine proposal.

He invited them to make their pitch two days later, when he was convalescing at home. Sanfords recent medical emergency made him receptive to the idea of placing results of genetic testing tools in the hands of primary care physicians.

It was an opportune time to lay it out on me, Sanford said, chuckling about the timing and his gratitude for the care he received.

I believe that is the medicine of the future, added Sanford, referring to the use of genetic information in tailoring health care. He recently donated $100 million to a stem cell research program in California.

Sanford, a St. Paul native who founded Premier Bank, now has donated more than $1 billion, much of it to Sanford Health, beginning with a $400 million gift in 2007.

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Denny Sanford believes genetic medicine is 'the medicine of the future'

Sanford announces $125 million genetic medicine initiative

Posted on January 8, 2014 by ev1

FARGO Sanford Health is embarking on a major initiative to integrate genetic information with primary care enabled by a $125 million gift from namesake benefactor T. Denny Sanford.

The new effort, announced Tuesday, is billed by Sanford as the first of its kind in the nation to marry genetic screening with internal medicine doctors throughout its clinic system.

The so-called Sanford Imagenetics program will begin offering patients the opportunity for precise genetic testing and genetic counseling later this year.

This is the frontier of medicine, Sanfords top executive, Kelby Krabbenhoft, said in making the announcement. This is whats going to change everything for everybody.

Sanfords gift will allow the health system to hire and train teams of specialists in a collaboration that also will involve academic centers in the Sanford service area for research, and training physicians and other providers.

Each of Sanfords four regional hubs Sioux Falls, S.D., Fargo, Bismarck, and Bemidji, Minn. will have specialists who will work closely with internal medicine doctors.

Sanford already has seven genetic counselors, including two in Fargo, and five medical geneticists.

Through telemedicine and targeted outreach efforts, the program will be available to patients throughout Sanfords sprawling service area that includes North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa and Montana.

A portion of Sanfords gift will be used for a new genetic medicine center at its campus near downtown Sioux Falls, with construction to begin in spring 2015.

We will have the same resources, said Dr. Julie Blehm, a senior internal medicine doctor at the Sanford Medical Center in Fargo. Were going to have the same opportunities.

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Sanford announces $125 million genetic medicine initiative

Mapping the Qatari shows way to prevention of inherited diseases

Posted on January 8, 2014 by ev1

(MENAFN - Muscat Daily) A Weill Cornell Medical College study that analysed the DNA of Qatar's native population has discovered genetic variations that could help doctors target interventions to reduce the prevalence of a variety of debilitating hereditary disorders

Researchers at Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar (WCMC-Q) and Weill Cornell Medical College in New York (WCMC-NY), working with colleagues from Cornell University in Ithaca and Hamad Medical Corporation, identified 37 genetic variants in 33 genes known to play causal roles in a total of 36 diseases, including such devastating conditions as cystic fibrosis, sickle cell anemia and muscular dystrophy. The study points the way to more comprehensive screening for a host of inherited diseases, which could significantly reduce their incidence.

The project titled, 'Exome Sequencing Identifies Potential Risks Variants for Mendelian Disorders at High Prevalence in Qatar' sequenced the DNA of 100 Qatari nationals representing the three major ethnic subgroups of the country the Bedouin (termed Q1 for the purposes of the study), those of Persian-South Asian descent (Q2), and those of African descent (Q3). By analysing the individuals' exomes important sections of the DNA containing the code that is translated into proteins and comparing them to the genetic data of the participants in the worldwide 1,000 Genomes Project (1000G), the researchers were able to identify the variations that cause disease among the Qatari population.

All the conditions targeted in the study were so-called Mendelian diseases'. Named after Gregor Mendel, the 19th century researcher widely regarded as the founder of genetic science, Mendelian diseases are those caused by a single mutated gene and are also known as monogenic disorders.

Dr Khalid Fakhro, postdoctoral associate in genetic medicine at WCMC-Q, and Dr Juan L Rodriguez-Flores of WCMC-NY, were co-lead principal investigators in the study, which is part of a group of research projects investigating the Qatari genome led by Dr Ronald Crystal, chairman of Genetic Medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York. The study has been accepted for publication in the journal Human Mutation, appearing online in December 2013 and in print in January 2014.

Dr Crystal explained the study: ''There are about 3.2bn letters that comprise the human genome and about two percent of those letters code for the actual proteins. This two per cent is found in regions called exomes,'' he said. ''A Mendelian or monogenic disease is caused by a change in a single letter out of the 3.2bn.

''The reason this is relevant for Qatar is that the structure of the society encourages a high degree of consanguineous marriage, so the frequency of these monogenic diseases is quite high,'' he said.

Pre-marital counseling and screening is one method of decreasing the likelihood of children being born with monogenic diseases. Parents undergo screening to see if either or both carry genetic variations that cause disease before having children. The individuals that carry the disorder do not necessarily have the conditions themselves, but may carry them on recessive genes.

Dr Crystal added, ''Disorders are present in all populations around the world, so Qatar is no different. Qatar is only different in that its variations and the frequency with which they occur are unique to its population. By finding out what these variations are and taking appropriate action we can save people from the trauma of some very unpleasant disorders. We're talking here about things like brain malformation, diabetes, blindness, deafness, cardiovascular disorders, inflammatory disorders and many other conditions. While these conditions are not common, they do occur, some are untreatable and many are very difficult to live with, for both the sufferer and their families.''

Currently, pre-marital counseling in Qatar screens for four genetic variations out of the 37 identified by the study, so incorporating the newly discovered variations into the screening process could have a significant impact.

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Mapping the Qatari shows way to prevention of inherited diseases

Sanford donates $125M to launch genetic medicine program

Posted on January 8, 2014 by ev1

Christmas was two weeks ago but Sanford Health received quite the gift Tuesday morning. $125 Million, that's how much philanthropist Denny Sanford has pledged to help launch a brand new system of patient treatment.

A lot of people will probably just look at the $125 Million and be blown away by the amount, but what that money will do is far more amazing. With the gift, Sanford is launching Imagenetics to fighting disease on the molecular level. This is personalized medicine where your DNA helps determine the best course of treatment. This will help cut down on the number of medications, limit side-effects, and could even help doctors treat the condition before symptoms show up. Genetic medicine is already being utilized by Sanford doctors to treat cancers and other conditions, but this will take those practices to the clinic as well.

"This really gets to what we call precision medicine that is using the tools of genetics to precisely take care of you as an individual." Said Dr. H. Eugene Hoyme, a geneticist and president of Sanford Research.

"Once again he's taken what was possible and today has made it practical for everybody. Thank you Mr. Sanford." Said Kelby Krabbenhoft, president and CEO of Sanford Health.

The money will be spread throughout the Sanford Health system to build facilities for genetic research and testing. Those projects are expected to break ground starting in the spring of 2015.

In addition to the donation, Sanford announced partnerships with Augustana College, and the Universities of North Dakota and South Dakota to train the next wave of genomic health professionals. Krabbenhoft says this donation puts Mr. Sanford over the $1 Billion mark in charitable gifts. His largest donation came back in 2007, giving $400 million dollars to Sanford Health.

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Sanford donates $125M to launch genetic medicine program

Nanomedicine – Nanorobots in Medicine – UnderstandingNano

Posted on January 8, 2014 by ev1

Future applications of nanomedicine will be based on the ability to build nanorobots. In the future these nanorobots could actually be programmed to repair specific diseased cells, functioning in a similar way to antibodies in our natural healing processes.

Developing Nanorobots for Medicine

Design analysis for a cell repair nanorobot: The Ideal Gene Delivery Vector: Chromallocytes, Cell Repair Nanorobots for Chromosome Repair Therapy

Design analysis for an antimicrobial nanorobot: Microbivores: Artifical Mechanical Phagocytes using Digest and Discharge Protocol

A Mechanical Artificial Red Cell: Exploratory Design in Medical Nanotechnology

Nanorobots in Medicine: Future Applications

The elimination of bacterial infections in a patient within minutes, instead of using treatment with antibiotics over a period of weeks.

The ability to perform surgery at the cellular level, removing individual diseased cells and even repairing defective portions of individual cells.

Significant lengthening of the human lifespan by repairing cellular level conditions that cause the body to age.

Nanomedicine Reference Material

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Nanomedicine - Nanorobots in Medicine - UnderstandingNano

Leaked files slam stem-cell therapy

Posted on January 8, 2014 by ev1

Massimo Valicchia/NurPhoto/Corbis

Potential patients have offered vocal support for Staminas stem-cell treatment in Italy.

A series of damning documents seen by Nature expose deep concerns over the safety and efficacy of the controversial stem-cell therapy promoted by Italys Stamina Foundation. The leaked papers reveal the true nature of the processes involved, long withheld by Staminas president, Davide Vannoni. Other disclosures show that the successes claimed by Stamina for its treatments have been over-stated. And, in an unexpected twist, top Italian scientists are dissociating themselves from an influential Miami-based clinician over his apparent support for the foundation.

Stamina, based in Brescia, claims that it successfully treated more than 80 patients, mostly children, for a wide range of conditions, from Parkinsons disease to muscular dystrophy, before the health authorities halted its operations in August 2012. A clinical trial to assess the treatment formally was approved by the Italian government last May, and an expert committee was convened by the health ministry to study Staminas method and to recommend which illnesses the trial should target.

Stamina says that its technique involves extracting mesenchymal stem cells from a patients bone marrow, culturing them so that they turn into nerve cells, and then injecting them back into the same patient. But full details of the method have never been revealed, and Vannoni provided the full protocol to the expert committee only in August.

In October, the committees report prompted health minister Beatrice Lorenzin to halt plans for the clinical trial. That led to public protests in support of Stamina, and, after an appeal by Vannoni, a court ruled in early December that the expert committee was unlawfully biased. Some members had previously expressed negative opinions of the method, the ruling said. As a result, Lorenzin appointed a new committee on 28December, reopening the possibility of a clinical trial.

Staminas protocol, together with the original committees report, was leaked to the press on 20 December (Nature has also been shown transcripts of the committees deliberations). The leaked papers reveal that the original expert committee identified serious flaws and omissions in Staminas clinical protocol. It did not apply legally required Good Manufacturing Practice standards, the committee says. The protocol exposed an apparent ignorance of stem-cell biology and relevant clinical expertise, the report argues, as well as flawed methods and therapeutic rationale (see Protocol opinion).

What the expert committee said on Staminas methods.

The report of the original expert committee tasked with looking at Staminas clinical protocol includes the following opinions:

The protocol contains no method for screening for pathogens such as prions or viruses, even though the culture medium used could contain them.

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Leaked files slam stem-cell therapy

Arizona Pain Stem Cell Institute Now Offering PRP Therapy for Joint Arthritis Relief

Posted on January 8, 2014 by ev1

Phoenix, AZ (PRWEB) January 08, 2014

The top Phoenix stem cell clinic in the Valley, Arizona Pain Stem Cell Institute, is now offering PRP therapy for joint arthritis relief. Platelet rich plasma therapy offers the potential for relieving the pain from knee, hip, shoulder and spinal arthritis. For more information and scheduling with the Board Certified Phoenix pain management doctors, call (602) 507-6550.

Platelet rich plasma therapy, known as PRP therapy, involves a simple blood draw. The blood is then spun in a centrifuge, which then concentrates platelets and growth factors for immediate injection into the arthritic joint. The PRP therapy then acts as an attractant for the body's stem cells.

Recent published studies have shown that PRP therapy offers significant pain relief for arthritic knees and helps preserve existing cartilage. One to three injections may be necessary to obtain optimal results, which are performed as an outpatient and entail minimal risk.

In addition to PRP therapy, the Arizona Pain Stem Cell Institute offers several other regenerative medicine treatments for both joint and spinal arthritis. This includes bone marrow and fat derived stem cell injections along with amniotic stem cell rich injections. These injections are offered for patients as part of numerous clinical research studies.

The stem cell injection studies are enrolling now at the Institute. The studies are industry subsidized, with the procedures performed by the Board Certified pain management physicians.

The Arizona Pain Stem Cell Institute is part of Arizona Pain Specialists. With 5 locations accepting over 50 insurances, the pain clinics offer comprehensive treatment options for patients with both simple and complicated pain conditions.

Call (602) 507-6550 for more information and scheduling.

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Arizona Pain Stem Cell Institute Now Offering PRP Therapy for Joint Arthritis Relief

Frostbite Physiology: How Bitter Cold Can Freeze You Down To The Bone

Posted on January 8, 2014 by ev1

As we previously explained in an exploration of the physiology of polar bear plunges, your body reacts to cold outside by constricting blood vessels close to your skin. This shunts blood away from your extremities and toward your core; its your bodys emergency measure to try and protect your vital organs. But this lack of blood flow comes at a cost -- it puts those affected tissues at greater risk for freezing and tissue damage.

In cold conditions -- even those slightly above zero -- frostbite can develop in half an hour or less. In extreme cases with cold and high winds, sometimes it can take even less time. The National Weather Service has a handy (and chilling) chart that illustrates the risk for frostbite based on temperature and wind speed:

Times to develop frostbite, calculated by the National Weather Service. NWS

With so many areas in the Midwest dipping into negative double-digit temperatures, even relatively easygoing winds of 5 or 10 miles an hour may drive frostbite danger zones down to 10 minutes or less. Even in New York City, which experienced a relatively balmy six degrees on Tuesday morning, people are at risk for developing frostbite within 30 to 45 minutes thanks to winds that are gusting up to 50 miles per hour.

Experts say that bundling up is the best protection.

"Prevention really is key," Cleveland Clinic emergency physician Seth Podolsky told NPR. "The more time and the more skin exposed, the worse it is.

Some of the signs of frostbite are skin with a white or grayish-yellow color, unusually firm or waxy skin, and numbness. Blisters and skin discoloration can follow. If your tissue actually freezes, that may lead to gangrene -- dead tissue -- treatable only by cutting away the affected areas.

If you are frostbitten, the best thing to do is to seek immediate medical attention. If you cant immediately get to the doctor, there are several steps that can be taken to mitigate the damage, via the the National Institutes of Health:

- Get into a warm room.

- Put the affected area in warm -- not hot! -- water, or warm using body heat (such as putting a frostbitten hand in your armpit).

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Frostbite Physiology: How Bitter Cold Can Freeze You Down To The Bone

Increased risk of prostate cancer in African-American men; implications for PSA screening

Posted on January 8, 2014 by ev1

PUBLIC RELEASE DATE:

7-Jan-2014

Contact: Vicki Cohn vcohn@liebertpub.com 914-740-2100 Mary Ann Liebert, Inc./Genetic Engineering News

New Rochelle, NY, January 7, 2014African American men have an increased risk of prostate cancer and are two times more likely than Caucasian American men to die from the disease. Despite recent questions about the overall usefulness of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing to detect prostate cancer, should PSA screening be used to detect early-stage disease to help save lives in this at-risk population? The controversy is explored in a Review article in Journal of Men's Health, a peer-reviewed publication from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers. The article is available free on the Journal of Men's Health website at http://www.liebertpub.com/jomh.

In the Review "PSA Screening for the African American Male: When and Why?" Tyler Luthringer, Ilija Aleksic, Vladimir Mouraviev, and David Albala, Associated Medical Professionals of NY, PLLC, and SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, support the American Urological Association's position that early detection of prostate cancer should include multiple parameters to assess personal risk. Together with their physicians, men should decide on an individualized approach to risk assessment and screening, which may include PSA testing and digital rectal examination.

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Increased risk of prostate cancer in African-American men; implications for PSA screening

Infor gets into big data analytics for HR with PeopleAnswers acquisition

Posted on January 8, 2014 by ev1

Infor is buying PeopleAnswers, maker of software companies can use to analyze a job candidates behavioral traits before deciding whether to make a hire. Terms of the deal, which was announced Wednesday, were not disclosed.

PeopleAnswers was developed by a team of behavioral science PhDs, who created a series of algorithms that underpin online tests job applicants take through PeopleAnswers service. The test measures 39 behavioral attributes, such as discipline, ambition, energy and empathy, weighting them according to the particular job role. The test software is available in 16 languages.

Beyond the algorithms and behavioral science know-how, PeopleAnswers has also built up years of historical data, resulting in more reliable analysis of a candidate, said Infor CEO Charles Phillips.

PeopleAnswers customers include Audi, Foot Locker, Neiman Marcus and Hertz, all of which are large companies with many hourly employees, and which can experience seasonally high demand for workers as well as excessive turnover.

About 60 percent of PeopleAnswers customers are using the software as a primary method of ranking and determining who they will offer positions to, according to Phillips. Other customers are using it internally to build promotion lists or put together teams, he said.

PeopleAnswers approach stops job applicants from gaming the tests by giving answers they think a company will want to hear, Phillips said. Its asking your preferences on things, what you like or dont like, he said. Questions dont lead to a particular result. You cant tell why theyre asking the question.

Infor will make PeopleAnswers part of its HCM (human capital management) software suite. It plans to expand PeopleAnswers test coverage into additional verticals over time, according to Phillips.

Phillips is also keen on retaining PeopleAnswers staff.

Its key that we keep all these guys, he said. Theyre hard to replicate. They understand software and data science as well.

Chris Kanaracus covers enterprise software and general technology breaking news for the IDG News Service. More by Chris Kanaracus

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Infor gets into big data analytics for HR with PeopleAnswers acquisition

The American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine (A4M) Concludes Successful Year and Looks Forward to Prestigious …

Posted on January 8, 2014 by ev1

Boca Raton, FL (PRWEB) January 07, 2014

The year 2013 offered unparalleled education, distinguished speakers, informative exhibits, hundreds of Fellowship graduates and knowledge used to eliminate chronic diseases, one diagnosis at a time. In 2013, A4M offered 11 live U.S. events and 12 events held overseas.

In the course of a year, the U.S. events included three Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT) Symposiums held in Las Vegas, San Diego, and Boston; an Inflammation Symposium offered in Fort Lauderdale, FL; an IV Symposium in Dallas TX; Gut/ Brain Symposium in Los Angeles, CA; and two Annual World Congresses held in Orlando, FL and Las Vegas, NV. Over 15,000 healthcare practitioners attended an A4M educational event in 2013.

The 21st Annual Spring World Congress in Anti-Aging & Regenerative Medicine at the Gaylord Palms Resort in Orlando, FL was held April 11-14, 2013. Over 2,500 medical professionals from all over the world gathered for pre-conference workshops, Fellowship modules, the exhibit hall, board certification exams, three days of general conference sessions, distinguished speakers and medical faculty. Among keynote speakers was Pat Williams, co-founder and senior vice president of the Orlando Magic who spoke on the 7 Key Ingredients to Make a Great Leader.

The 21st Annual Winter World Congress on Anti-Aging, Regenerative & Aesthetic Medicine at the Sands Expo Center/ Venetian/ Palazzo Resort in Las Vegas, NV took place December 12-15, 2013. Over 4,000 medical practitioners attended specialty workshops, the exhibit hall housing over 300 booths, general conference sessions, Fellowship modules, board certification exams, and other conference bonuses. Also at this event, A4M introduced the brand new product theater, featuring several exhibiting companies who showcased their latest products via a live demonstration or lecture. In addition, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger was presented with the 2013 A4M Infinity Award for his lifetime of accomplishments, including his leadership role in early funding and support of stem cell research and healthcare reform, among other endeavors. Other notable presenters included Suzanne Somers; Travis Stork, MD; and Judith Reichman, MD.

A4M is excited to announce the 2014 educational calendar offering nine U.S. events, including a brand new location. Several international events will be offered in Canada, Thailand, Dubai, Australia, Malaysia, and Indonesia.

In 2014, A4M will be introducing new modules as part of the Fellowship in Anti-Aging, Regenerative, and Functional Medicine (FAARFM). Module XXIV: Infectious Disease and Module XXV- A & B: Addiction; both be offered at different domestic events this year.

Kicking off 2014 is the symposium on Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT) in San Francisco, CA on March 13-16th. Featured presenters include Thierry Hertoghe, Jennifer Landa, MD, OB/GYN, FAARM; Ron Rothenberg, MD; Pamela Smith, MD, MS, MPH; and Jonathan Wright, MD. Fridays sessions will cover the basics of BHRT and Saturday through Sunday will cover advanced BHRT topics. Fellowship in Anti-Aging and Regenerative Medicine (FAARM) modules offered in San Francisco include Module III: Neurology, Module V: Clinical Intensives, Module VII: Autoimmune Disease, and Module XVI(A): Cardiovascular.

The 22nd Annual Spring World Congress on Anti-Aging, Regenerative & Aesthetic Medicine will take place once again at the Gaylord Palms Resort in Kissimmee. This event will include general conference sessions and exhibit hall; anti-aging board certification exams, and Fellowship modules including Module I: Endocrinology, Module V: Clinical Intensives, Module XII: Toxicology, and Module VI: Functional/ Nutritional Medicine. A complete educational program including speakers and conference bonuses will be released closer to the event.

The 22nd Annual Winter World congress on Anti-Aging, Regenerative & Aesthetic Medicine will take place once again at the Venetian/Palazzo Resort. This event will include general conference sessions and exhibit hall; anti-aging board certification exams, and Fellowship modules including Module I: Endocrinology, Module V: Clinical Intensives, Module XVI(D): Cardiovascular, and Module XXIV: Infectious Disease (NEW!)

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The American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine (A4M) Concludes Successful Year and Looks Forward to Prestigious ...

Could Bleach Facials Become the Next Big Craze?

Posted on January 8, 2014 by ev1

Jan 8, 2014 6:00am

Toxic, flammable, corrosive, keep out of childrens reach are the warnings listed on a bottle of Clorox. But a recent study by researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine suggested the common household cleaning bleach could have anti-aging benefits, following preliminary tests they conducted on mice.

Reports of women having bleach facials are popping up on social media. Some spas offer them with such natural ingredients as honey, lime and lemon juice and cream.

Stanford University School of Medicine said in a statement about the study that if the bleach were found to work similarly in humans, the inexpensive, widely available household chemical could provide a new way to treat skin damage caused by radiation therapy, excess sun exposure or aging.

Watch: Celebs Flock to Facials Made of Ground-Up Jewels

I wouldnt recommend trying the bleach facial at home. We are not chemists, and we cannot produce the exact dilution rate the Stanford scientists used, Dr. Daniel Shapiro, a Scottsdale, Ariz., plastic surgeon, told ABCNews.com.

I think its really difficult to figure out what .005 percent is. Any higher concentration of bleach can burn your skin, he said.

According to the study, published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, a team of researchers led by Dr. Thomas Leung tested the effect of daily, 30-minute baths in the diluted bleach solution on laboratory mice with radiation dermatitis, a skin condition caused by chemo or radio therapy.They found that the animals bathed in the bleach solution experienced less severe skin damage and better healing and hair regrowth than animals bathed in water, said the university statement.

Originally it was thought that bleach may serve an antimicrobial function, killing bacteria and viruses on the skin, said Leung, in a statement.

Vagifacials for the Bikini Line

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Could Bleach Facials Become the Next Big Craze?

Workington Comets duo shine in Australia

Posted on January 8, 2014 by Danzig

Last updated at 11:20, Tuesday, 07 January 2014

New Workington Comets signings Josh Grajczonek and Mason Campton gave good accounts of themselves in the first round of the Australian championship at the weekend.

Josh Grajczonek, on the outside, battles with Sam Masters at Kurri Kurri

Grajczonek, Comets new number one, raced to fifth place collecting 12 points from his five programmed rides, and was unfortunate to miss out on one of the three automatic qualifying places for the A final.

He lost out on that place to Troy Batchelor on countback after both riders had tied on 12 points.

The highlight of Grajczoneks performance was victory over 2012 world champion Chris Holder in his first ride and he added a further victory and three second places to his tally.

But Holder got revenge over the Comets rider in the B final to progress but Grajczonek can feel pleased with his efforts with plenty still to play for with two rounds remaining.

Meanwhile, fellow Comets team-mate Campton enjoyed a successful day scoring six points, including a victory, in what was his first ever Australian championship.

After qualifying the day before Campton, who was riding on his home track of Kurri Kurri, rode to victory in his second ride and added a further three third places to that score to finish in 11th.

Comets team manager Tony Jackson said: Both lads did the Comets and themselves proud.

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Workington Comets duo shine in Australia

Comets outplay Okaw

Posted on January 8, 2014 by Danzig

The Stew-Stras Comets (3-8) came up with a quality win on Friday night in what has been a long season, out-playing Okaw Valley, 54-40.

The highlights of the Comet season to this point were the series with rival Windsor. Stew-Stras won an overtime game for their homecoming. They lost a near overtime game at Windsors homecoming, then beat Windsor in a double OT at the Tri-County tourney.

They havent won much else. But on Friday, they showed their superiority over an Okaw team that has had its ups and downs (3-9).

The Comets broke open a 10-10 tie after the 1st period with a 17-9 run to take an 8-point lead at the break, 27-19. Once the Comets got control they refused to relinquish it. They stretched their lead to double-digits in the 3rd period and bumped it up to a 14-point lead by the closing bell.

Stew-Stras had three players in double figures and Okaw Valley just one.

Brandon Helmuth had a game-high 20 points, including a pair of treys. He also grabbed 10 rebounds for a double-double. Jason Fry followed with 12 points, getting to the line for eight free throws and making four. Mark Jones stepped up to double figures with 11 points. He also had a triple.

Devon Still was the only Timberwolf to get double figures, scoring 13 points and snaring seven boards. Peyton Hagerman followed with just seven points and just one trey. Brody Sparks and T.J. Pieszchalski had five points each.

Neither team was pretty at the line. Stew-Stras was just 13-of-26. They left the door open for the TWolves, but Okaw only made 7-of-19 foul shots, missing 12 in a 14-point loss.

Friday

Stew-Stras 54, Okaw Valley 40

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Comets outplay Okaw

Blue Comets, Wildcats split

Posted on January 8, 2014 by Danzig

RAMSEUR The Eastern Randolph and Asheboro High School varsity boys basketball teams met for the third time this season Friday night having split the first two games.

The Wildcats won the rubber match convincingly, 54-37 at ERHS, while the Blue Comets girls team won the opener 67-45.

We played 32 minutes a smart 32 minutes, Eastern Randolph boys coach Seth Baxter said. Corey Newby was outstanding and having our big daddy (Corey Yahn) back inside is huge. Myquail Watts did a great job getting his hands on some loose balls. This was one of our better games. Im really, really proud of our effort.

The teams started the game trading leads with the Wildcats heading into the second quarter up 17-14. After the squads traded leads again, Eastern Randolph broke loose with a 10-1 run that put the team up 27-19 with just under 1 1/2 minutes to play in the first half.

Down by six at the half, Asheboro went on an early 5-0 run to cut the Wildcats lead to three, but Eastern Randolph responded with 11 straight points and never looked back.

We started feeling sorry for ourselves because we couldnt connect from the free-throw line, said Blue Comets coach Brian Nance, whose team shot 25 percent (5 of 20) from the stripe. That carried over into everything else. Its not like weve become a bad basketball team overnight. Were just in a funk. We need to get back to playing more efficiently.

Newby paced the Wildcats (8-3) with 17 points, while Yahn added 12 and Watts chipped in 12.

For Asheboro (8-5), Emmanuel Jones had 12 points with Robert Bittle scoring nine.

In the girls game, Asheboro started with a 6-0 run, but Eastern Randolph battled back to tie it twice. Another six straight put the Blue Comets up by six and Asheboro headed into the second quarter up 20-14.

The teams traded buckets for the first 3 1/2 minutes of the quarter until a Laycee Baughman 3-pointer sparked a 12-0 run for Asheboro that put the Blue Comets up 40-22. After that, the Wildcats couldnt catch up as Asheboros lead grew to as many as 27 in the second half.

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Blue Comets, Wildcats split

Comets prepare for semifinals

Posted on January 8, 2014 by Danzig

VELMA Velma-Alma dominated its first day of the Black Diamond tournament hosted by Rush Springs.

The girls started off the successful night with a 61-39 victory against Apache. Senior Ariah Johnson led the charge with 15 points, and the Comets never looked back as they took the first-round victory easily.

When youre in a tournament, youre trying to get to the Saturday night finals, and you certainly have to win the first game to get there, Bare said.

The beatdown was preceded by the girls having an off night against Rush Springs on Saturday. Bare was glad the team could play on Monday, because it forced the Comets to move on from their disappointing performance.

They came out against Apache like a different team with a renewed enthusiasm, Bare said. I was really proud of the effort, because Saturday night was as poor of an effort as we had all season, by far.

The good news is that the girls get a chance to redeem themselves against the very same team they struggled against earlier. Rush Springs beat Dibble 57-24 on Tuesday, meaning that the Comets and Redskins will face off on Thursday for a spot in the finals.

Its a big challenge for us to get to play them again, to show ourselves that we can do better than we did Saturday night, Bare said. It will be a tough game. Theyre a good team and well coached.

Velma-Alma boys basketball already dispatched of the Redskins in their bracket. For the second time this season, the Comets pulled off a victory against their northern counterparts with the final score on Monday being 62-41. The scoreline was a little bit deceiving as the visitors led 42-10 at the half.

Senior Jaz Gayanich led all players with 17 points in that first half. His proficiency from all over the court caused trouble for the Redskins as he made three three-pointers, but was also a presence inside.

Jaz has always been a good shooter, but he is just now coming around and hitting more consistently for us, Bare said. Being able to step out is really a tough matchup for some people.

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Comets prepare for semifinals

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