MVP Health Care Introduces Well-Being Connect for Medicare Advantage Members

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ROCHESTER, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

MVP Health Cares Medicare Advantage members now have another way to keep healthy and active. Partnering with Healthways (HWAY), a Franklin, TN-based population health management company, MVP is introducing the new Well-Being Program, offering a comprehensive set of activities and resources to help Medicare members maintain a healthy lifestyle.

The signature piece of the new program is Well-Being ConnectTM, an online portal that allows members to create a tailored approach to accessing and improving their overall health. Along with the new online portal, the program includes popular existing MVP programs, such as wellness classes, the SilverSneakers Fitness Program and outreach designed to help improve the lives of members living with chronic diseases.

The Well-Being Program is currently available to the approximately 85,000 Medicare Advantage members in MVPs service footprint.

This is an informative and fun new way for our Medicare Advantage members to be proactive about maintaining and improving their health, said Patrick Glavey, Executive Vice President of Government Programs for MVP. Our wellness and fitness programs are already so well utilized that we think our members will really embrace these new options for engaging with their health.

The utilization of online technology as a component of an overall well-being improvement strategy represents a significant breakthrough, and we applaud MVP for incorporating this strategy to drive engagement of their Medicare Advantage members, said Ben R. Leedle, Jr., President and CEO of Healthways. Both MVP and Healthways are convinced the real value for members is using Well-Being Connect as the gateway to delivering comprehensive and effectively integrated services.

Well-Being Connect can be accessed by Medicare Advantage members once they log into their MVP account at http://www.mvphealthcare.com. To begin using the new portal, members must first complete the Well-Being Assessment, a confidential questionnaire that evaluates their lifestyle and overall health. Once the assessment is completed, they are provided a full health report and customized action plan, which they are encouraged to share with their doctors.

Completing the assessment provides access to a number of online resources including weight, fitness and medication use trackers; videos and articles; recipes and meal ideas; and tools to help them quit using tobacco.

Additionally, members whose answers on the Well-Being Assessment show that they might benefit from health coaching (for tobacco use, nutrition, physical activity, etc.) will be contacted by Healthways to participate in a coaching program by phone.

For more information about Healthways, visit http://www.healthways.com or http://www.silversneakers.com.

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MVP Health Care Introduces Well-Being Connect for Medicare Advantage Members

Health care reform at heart of Barton, OB-GYN conflict

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*An article in the Oct 10. edition of the Tribune incorrectly stated the number of contracts renewed at Barton Health in the past year. The hospital renewed contracts with 25 physicians in the past year, and around 63 physicians in the past few years.

As the debate on health care reform continues to take center stage across the country, some very real effects of the 2010 Affordable Care Act have already reached California and the Lake Tahoe Basin.

Barton Health's failure to renegotiate the contracts with the two obstetrician and gynecological physician groups has roots in the act, aka Obamacare. The hospital, which expects large cuts in reimbursements during the upcoming years, has been forced to make some changes to streamline their system, Barton's Director of Public Relations and Marketing Monica Sciuto said.

Contract negotiations with the groups fell through after Barton decided to stop managing the Tahoe Women's Care and Emerald Bay Center for Women's Health offices in South Lake Tahoe and Minden, Nev. According to a statement from Chief Medical Officer Dr. Clint Purvance, both practices were losing a significant amount of money the hospital could not provide the exact amount because of privacy issues and they were asked to consolidate physicians and services.

According to Dr. Kelly Shanahan, the obstetrician and gynecologist with the Emerald Bay Center for Women's Health who worked directly on the contract proposals, the doctors were never told the exact amount they needed to cut, but they'd heard the number ranged from $500,000 to $700,000.

Shanahan said the physicians agreed to combine offices in Tahoe and Minden and they laid off one doctor. She said she estimated those savings would cover the practices' losses.

The physician groups' original proposal asked for a base compensation amount in addition to continued management of one Tahoe office, one Minden office and the Barton obstetrician clinic, according to Shanahan.

That compensation amount which neither Barton nor the physicians specified was considerably higher than the current compensation structure, Purvance wrote, and Barton responded with two counter offers: the groups could become an outpatient department or they could accept a daily amount to cover the obstetrician clinic. Management of the practices was not mentioned in the second proposal, Shanahan wrote in an email.

(There was) no base compensation just payment based on productivity, pay for providing coverage of the Barton clinic obstetrical patients at a rate that was half of what Dr Kobalter and I were paid 20 years ago when we were moonlighting as residents, and only payment for roughly half of our malpractice expenses, Shanahan said of the first option.

The physician groups responded by calling for a meeting with Barton's senior administration. Barton replied with their final proposal: there would be a set amount of obstetrician services and no management of the practices, according to Shanahan.

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Health care reform at heart of Barton, OB-GYN conflict

Scott & White Healthcare, Walmart join forces

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TEMPLE, Texas, Oct. 11, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- A unique partnership between Scott & White Healthcare and Walmart will take the Central Texas health care system into new territory, marking its first formal relationship with an international retailer for the purpose of providing health care.

Walmart recently inducted Scott & White Memorial Hospital in Temple, Texas, into the retailer's Centers of Excellence program, along with five other leading hospitals in the nation: Cleveland Clinic; Geisinger Medical Center; Mayo Clinic; Mercy Hospital Springfield (Missouri); and Virginia Mason Medical Center. Scott & White Memorial Hospital is the only Texas health care provider to be designated by Walmart as a Center of Excellence.

The Centers of Excellence initiative offers Walmart associates access to heart, spine, and transplant surgeries at facilities geographically located across the country. Scott & White will receive spine and heart patients at Memorial Hospital starting in January.

"As an integrated delivery system with a reputation for providing quality care and possessing superior diagnostic capabilities, Scott & White's goal is to be among the leaders in transforming health care," said Robert W. Pryor, MD, MBA. "Our partnership with Walmart reflects a mutual commitment to combining quality with value."

The Scott & White partnership with Walmart is an example of the type of industry innovation that can provide high quality care with the potential to reduce health care costs. "Our approach to delivering high quality care is in step with the Walmart philosophy," said Dr. Pryor. "It's about the right care, at the right place, at the right time."

In addition to offering outstanding patient care, Scott & White Memorial Hospital provides a location that Walmart associates may find familiar. The hospital anticipates receiving many patients from New Mexico, Texas, Kansas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Alabama and Florida who are accustomed to smaller-sized communities with convenient access to amenities.

Walmart associates and their caregivers will receive logistical assistance for travel to Temple and housing arrangements for the recovery period. Ongoing care or rehabilitation will be coordinated between the team of Scott & White physicians and advanced practice professionals treating the patient in Temple and the associate's personal physician back home.

About Scott & White Healthcare (sw.org) Scott & White Healthcare is a non-profit collaborative health care system established in 1897 in Temple, Texas. Among the leading health systems encompassing one of the nation's largest multi-specialty group practices, Scott & White provides personalized, comprehensive health care enhanced by medical education and research. Scott & White Healthcare includes 12 hospital sites with two additional announced facilities, and 143 clinics at more than 65 clinic locations throughout Central Texas providing adult and pediatric care in 46 medical specialties. Integrated, high-quality care is delivered by a dedicated staff of more than 12,000 (including 1,000 physicians and scientists and more than 300 specialized health care providers).

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Scott & White Healthcare, Walmart join forces

Despite protests, county hires health-care consultant

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EBENSBURG Over employee protests, Cambria Countys two Republican commissioners approved a $100,000-a-year agreement with a health-care consulting company that says it can assure a $300,000 savings next year in health-care costs.

Thomas Chernisky, the Democratic minority commissioner on the three-member board, cast a dissenting vote after his motion failed to table the agreement until other proposals could be heard and reviewed by the countys health-care committee.

Protesting the agreement were members of the health-care committee made up of 18 union employees and Brian Beppler, the countys human resources director. The committee has saved the county millions of dollars in health-care coverage over several years while doing the same job at no cost as the consultant would do, Patricia Moore, a member, said.

The agreement, which is effective Nov. 1, is with Gallagher Benefit Services Inc., a subsidiary of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. The parent company, which merged with the former Gleason Agency of Johnstown last year, was retained as Cambrias insurance broker last year, also by the same 2-1 vote.

Christopher Gleason Jr., Gallagher area vice president, said that the anticipated increase in cost in the countys health-care coverage is expected to go up as much as 13.5 percent, although Beppler said it might be 8 percent.

Cambria is a self-insured county and has a plan through UPMC. Its health-care cost this year is about $11 million.

President Commissioner Douglas Lengenfelder said Cambria will end up with a $200,000 net savings after paying Gallagher the $100,000 fee in the first year. If Gallagher fails to deliver on the savings, there will be reductions in its fee.

Moore, an assistant public defender, disputed whether the memorandum of understanding with Gallagher does provide the outs that Lengenfelder described.

The committee has saved Cambria $4.27 million in health-care costs since 2007, she said. Between 2009 and 2011, the savings have been

$1 million a year as the committee explored options and looked at employee incentives to cut costs, she said.

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Despite protests, county hires health-care consultant

AMFC to Offer Medicare Advantage Special Needs Plans in Pennsylvania and South Carolina

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--Veteran health care executive John Baackes to lead AMFC's newest line of business

--Enrollment to begin on October 15

PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 11, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AmeriHealth Mercy Family of Companies (AMFC) announced today that it has been approved by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to offer Medicare Advantage Special Needs Plans (SNP) to dual-eligible beneficiaries in select counties in Pennsylvania and South Carolina. AMFC will begin accepting enrollment applications on Monday, October 15, with services to begin on January 1, 2013.

AMFC's newest line of business will be led by veteran health care executive John Baackes, president, Medicare VIP Plans. Baackes reports to AMFC President and Chief Executive Officer Michael A. Rashid.

AMFC will offer AmeriHealth VIP Care in Lancaster, Lehigh and Northampton Counties, and a separate D-SNP product in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia Counties.

In addition, AMFC will offer First Choice VIP Care in South Carolina. This D-SNP product will be open to eligible beneficiaries in Abbeville, Anderson, Berkeley, Charleston, Greenville, Laurens, Lexington, Orangeburg, Pickens, Richland, Saluda and Spartanburg Counties.

D-SNPs are Medicare Advantage plans for dual-eligibles, or individuals whose combination of income, health and age makes them eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid. There are approximately nine million dual-eligibles in the United States. About $350 billion is spent each year on health care for this population.

"Dual-eligibles are an underserved population with significant health disparities," said Rashid. "Our 30 years of experience in Medicaid managed care makes us uniquely qualified to help Pennsylvania's and South Carolina's dual-eligibles manage their health and live more comfortable lives."

About John Baackes

Baackes was most recently CEO of Senior Whole Health, a voluntary health care plan for more than 9,000 low-income seniors in Massachusetts, New York and Connecticut. Senior Whole Health specialized in the dual-eligible market, offering both SNP and Part D plans. He has also served as a senior vice president for Group Health Incorporated and as president of Kaiser Permanente's Northeast division.

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AMFC to Offer Medicare Advantage Special Needs Plans in Pennsylvania and South Carolina

Iverson Genetic Diagnostics, Inc. Announces an Exclusive Licensing Agreement with Johns Hopkins University School of …

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BOTHELL, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Iverson Genetic Diagnostics, Inc. announced today an exclusive licensing agreement with Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine under which Iverson receives global exclusive commercialization rights for molecular diagnostics that are designed to help physicians to assess cardiovascular risk in men and women and infertility risk in women. In this new era of personalized medicine, it is now possible to more accurately determine if the healthy cholesterol fraction, HDL, and its partner protein, scavenger receptor class B type I (SR-BI), affect risk for heart disease in men and women as well as hormonal and fertility outcomes in women. Mutations within the SR-BI gene (SCARB1) are common and work by Annabelle Rodriguez-Oquendo, M.D. at John Hopkins University School of Medicine has suggested that variations within theSCARB1gene show associations with heart disease risk in men and women as well as hormonal and fertility problems in women.

Leroy Hood, M.D., Ph.D., co-founder of the Institute for Systems Biology and a member of Iverson Genetic Diagnostics Board of Directors, commented, The importance of finding gene variants that affect the metabolism of cholesterol, especially the healthy fraction, and hormones--hence causing disease--is incredibly important for personalized medicine. This agreement between Iverson and Johns Hopkins is a wonderful example of a diagnostic test that could significantly improve the health of many patients throughout the world.

DeanSproles, CEO of Iverson Genetic Diagnostics, Inc., stated, We are very pleased to collaborate with Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine on this product and look forward to including the new SR-BI test in the Iversons Physicians LogicTMportfolio later this year.

About Iverson Genetic Diagnostics, Inc.

Iverson Genetic Diagnostics, Inc. is a Nevada C corporation with administrative headquarters in Bothell, Washington, and production headquarters in Charleston, South Carolina. Iverson is establishing a recognizable global brand for providing trusted genetic tests and testing services for the emerging market of individualized medicine and genetics-based molecular diagnostics. The companys mission is to improve patient outcomes through personalized care. Iverson is a fully credentialed laboratory service company focused on providing results within 24 hours for hospitals and physicians. Iversons patented technology, Physicians LogicTM, is our healthcare information resource developed to deploy test results to providers and integrate with various electronic medical record systems in a HIPAA-compliant environment.

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Iverson Genetic Diagnostics, Inc. Announces an Exclusive Licensing Agreement with Johns Hopkins University School of ...

Engineered flies spill secret of seizures

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ScienceDaily (Oct. 11, 2012) Scientists have observed the neurological mechanism behind temperature-dependent -- febrile -- seizures by genetically engineering fruit flies to harbor a mutation analogous to one that causes epileptic seizures in people. In addition to contributing the insight on epilepsy, their new study also highlights the first use of genetic engineering to swap a human genetic disease mutation into a directly analogous gene in a fly.

In a newly reported set of experiments that show the value of a particularly precise but difficult genetic engineering technique, researchers at Brown University and the University of California-Irvine have created a Drosophila fruit fly model of epilepsy to discern the mechanism by which temperature-dependent seizures happen.

The researchers used a technique called homologous recombination -- a more precise and sophisticated technique than transgenic gene engineering -- to give flies a disease-causing mutation that is a direct analogue of the mutation that leads to febrile epileptic seizures in humans. They observed the temperature-dependent seizures in whole flies and also observed the process in their brains. What they discovered is that the mutation leads to a breakdown in the ability of certain cells that normally inhibit brain overactivity to properly regulate their electrochemical behavior.

In addition to providing insight into the neurology of febrile seizures, said Robert Reenan, professor of biology at Brown and a co-corresponding author of the paper in the Journal of Neuroscience, the study establishes

"This is the first time anyone has introduced a human disease-causing mutation overtly into the same gene that flies possess," Reenan said.

Engineering seizures

Homologous recombination (HR) starts with the transgenic technique of harnessing a transposable element (jumping gene) to insert a specially mutated gene just anywhere into the fly's DNA, but then goes beyond that to ultimately place the mutated gene into exactly the same position as the natural gene on the X chromosome. HR does this by outfitting the gene to be handled by the cell's own DNA repair mechanisms, essentially tricking the cell into putting the mutant copy into exactly the right place. Reenan's success with the technique allowed him to win a special grant from the National Institutes of Health last year.

The new paper is a result of that grant and Reenan's collaboration with neurobiologist Diane O'Dowd at UC-Irvine. Reenan and undergraduate Jeff Gilligan used HR to insert a mutated version of the para gene in fruit flies that is a direct parallel of the mutation in the human gene SCN1A that causes febrile seizures in people.

When the researchers placed flies in tubes and bathed the tubes in 104-degree F water, the mutant fruit flies had seizures after 20 seconds in which their legs would begin twitching followed by wing flapping, abdominal curling, and an inability to remain standing. After that, they remained motionless for as long as half an hour before recovering. Unaltered flies, meanwhile, exhibited no temperature-dependent seizures.

The researchers also found that seizure susceptibility was dose-dependent. Female flies with mutant strains of both copies of the para gene (females have two copies of the X chromosome) were the most susceptible to seizures. Those in whom only one copy of the gene was a mutant were less likely than those with two to seize, but more likely than the controls.

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DNA research: Contribution to gene therapy – Important BYU research debunks the idea of "junk DNA"

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Important BYU research debunks the idea of "junk DNA"

The human body contains approximately 50 trillion cells whose length of DNA content compares to 528 million donuts wrapped around the earth 2,500 times.

Until recently, scientists thought 95 percent of that DNA was junk and had no function. BYU microbiology professor Steven Johnson and one of his undergraduate assistants, Elliot Winters, participated in a worldwide collaborative research project, the ENCODE Projectconcluded 80 percent of a persons DNA does perform an important function.

Its the culmination of this international consortium saying all this DNA that we thought didnt have a function actually has a function or has something going on, Johnson said. We dont know exactly what is going on, but its not just junk that is sitting there with no purpose.

The collaborative research project, the ENCODE Project, provides a database of information to those performing genetic research. The research was published in Genome Research, and Johnson and Winters are listed as co-authors.

[/media-credit] Mentored research provides exceptional opportunities for BYU students

We told them exactly how we wanted the cells prepared, and they sent them to us frozen, Johnson said. I taught my undergraduate student, Elliot Winters, this technique that Id developed. Over a course of about four months, we were able to get it to work just right and isolate just the DNA that we wanted to with the nucleosomes.

Winters is not alone in doing mentored undergraduate research atBYU. According to the BYU website,the university gave $1.4 million to 71 faculty members specifically for projects involving undergraduates. Winters identifies his research experience as one of the most important parts of his BYU education.

The reason I started doing it is because I wanted to strengthen my application for medical school, Winters said. Looking back on it, it was one of the most valuable parts of my education.

Winters is only one of many students Johnson employs in his labs. Colton Kempton, a third-year masters student from Safford, Ariz., is currently working with Johnson on more DNA research related to gene therapy.

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DNA research: Contribution to gene therapy - Important BYU research debunks the idea of "junk DNA"

Freedom of Information measure gasps for breath

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Published on 12 October 2012 Hits: 132 Written by Llanesca T. Panti

The Freedom of Information (FOI) bill, which seeks to promote transparency and accountability in government, is barely breathing in the House of Representatives.

This was how Deputy Speaker Lorenzo Taada 3rd of Quezon, the principal author of the FOI measure, described the FOI bills situation after its hearing has been finally set on November 13 instead of the planned hearing on October.

With a November 13 hearing and only having one hearing to speak off from January to October this year, Congressman Evardone has placed FOI in the ICU, in life support, gasping for breath, Taada said in a text message to reporters, referring to Rep. Ben Evardone of Eastern Samar who chairs the House Committee on Public Information.

The FOI measure mandates the state to disclose information and other transactions on matters of public concern and provides access to information being used for decision making or project management as well as transcripts or minutes of official meetings.

Just last Tuesday, Taada said in a press conference that he has already reserved a room that the House Public Information panel can use either on October 15, 16 or 17 considering that Evardone has always been telling him that the House Public Information panel Committee is having a hard time securing a room for a hearing.

If we pass it [in the Committee level] on November 13 and the Speaker allows it to be discussed immediately at plenary together with RH bill, there is still a chance to beat the December deadline, Taada added, referring to Speaker Feliciano Belmonte, Jr. of Quezon City.

Congress will go on a two week Christmas break before resuming in January 2013. From that point, they will only be in session until first week of February to give way to the campaign period for the 2013 midterm elections.

Speaker Belmonte, for his part, disclosed that he has successfully convinced Taada to hold the FOI hearing on November 13 considering that Congress is scheduled to take a Halloween break starting October 20.

I prevailed on Erin [Taada] to agree to November 13 for FOI. Its a fixed date. We may adjourn Tuesday next week, so people wont be around on a Wednesday, Belmonte said.

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Freedom of Information measure gasps for breath

New FSF logo highlights hardware that 'Respects Your Freedom'

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Katherine Noyes, PCWorld

Katherine Noyes has been an ardent geek ever since she first conquered Pyramid of Doom on an ancient TRS-80. Today she covers business and tech in all its forms, with an emphasis on Linux and open source software. More by Katherine Noyes

Back in August the Free Software Foundation launched a new logo program aimed at helping buyers of digital content avoid products encumbered with Digital Rights Management (DRM) restrictions, so it only makes sense to see the advocacy group follow up this week with a similar effort targeting hardware.

Dubbed Respects Your Freedom, the new program offers certification and an official mark that can be displayed on qualifying devices.

The 'Respects Your Freedom' computer hardware product certification program encourages the creation and sale of hardware that will do as much as possible to respect your freedom and your privacy, and will ensure that you have control over your device, explained Joshua Gay, the FSF's licensing and compliance manager, in an announcement on Wednesday.

Free data formats

The FSF actually began work on the certification program about two years ago, including publishing an initial set of criteria and then inviting community feedback.

Now, the full set of specifications for certification are available on the nonprofit's site.

Essentially, to be certified under the new program, a hardware product must run free software, allow users to modify that software, support free data formats, and be usable with free tools.

For those that qualify, the maker can display the Respects Your Freedom certification mark as well as use the FSF name and related materials in press releases and advertising, and benefit from promotion through the FSF's own channels.

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New FSF logo highlights hardware that 'Respects Your Freedom'

KONE to deliver eco-efficient escalators to future New York City subway station

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LISLE, Ill., Oct. 10, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --KONE has been awarded a contract by EE Cruz and Tully Construction to supply nine heavy-duty transit escalators to the future 96th Street Station, as part of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's (MTA) Second Avenue Subway Project. The Second Avenue Subway will reduce overcrowding and delays on the Lexington Avenue line and provide better access for residents of the Far East Side of Manhattan. An estimated 200,000 passengers will use the Second Avenue Subway line daily.

A total of nine heavy-duty transit escalators will be installed to ensure safe and smooth People Flow at the 96th Street Station. The escalators are specifically designed to meet the heavy use and demanding conditions of public transportation. In addition, each escalator will feature an energy-efficient sleep mode which reduces the escalator's speed when no passengers are travelling, allowing the MTA to minimize total energy consumption during inactive periods.

"We are pleased to continue providing our expertise in the mass transit market and eco-efficient escalator solutions to New York City's subway system," said Larry Wash, EVP and Area Director of KONE Americas. "We know our products will continue to provide subway passengers with areliable, safe and energy-efficienttravel experience."

The company's last project with the MTA was awarded in 2011. For this job, KONE provided nine heavy-duty transit escalators and two inclined elevators for the future subway station at 34th Street and 11th Avenue, part of the 7-Line Extension Project. Passenger train service to the new station is scheduled for June 2014.

KONE will install the escalators by late 2015. The Second Avenue Subway project is expected to be complete by December 2016.

For further information, please contact:

Kellie Lindquist, Marketing Manager, KONE Inc., tel. +1 630 955 4202

Previous press releases on KONE's orders in the mass transit market are available at http://www.kone.us including:

- March 5, 2012, KONE awarded escalator project at Washington, D.C.'s Historic Union Station

- October 12, 2011, KONE awarded project at New York City Subway Station

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KONE to deliver eco-efficient escalators to future New York City subway station

North Beaches: Oceanwise is Saturday at GTM

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Oceanwise, an Evening for the Estuaries at the Environmental Education Center at the GTM Research Reserve, South Ponte Vedra Beach, begins at 6 p.m. Saturday. Beer, wine and hors d'oeuvres reception, live music by the Dunehoppers, and silent auction will be featured. Selected chefs from local restaurants prepare and offer a variety of ocean friendly sustainable seafood. Proceeds help support ...

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North Beaches: Oceanwise is Saturday at GTM

Blue Flag beaches more popular

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2012-10-11 22:26

Johannesburg - Tourism Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk launched the annual Blue Flag Season initiative at Grotto Beach in the Western Cape on Thursday.

He said Blue Flag beaches were becoming the beach of choice for holiday makers.

"As the number of Blue Flag beaches increases in South Africa, domestic visitors are increasingly exercising their choices in which beaches they visit."

Ministerial spokesperson Melene Rossouw said Grotto Beach was one of those awarded Blue Flag status this year. This was its 11th flag since the initiative was introduced in the country 12 years ago. Quality monitored The initiative, which began in Europe in 1987, encourages beaches and marina to comply with the European Union's Bathing Water Directive.

It monitors water quality, environmental education and information, management, safety and services.

Over 40 countries were currently participating in the programme, with a total of 3 489 beaches and marinas awarded the Blue Flag status in 2012.

Rossouw said South Africa had 36 beaches and marina being monitored for the initiative, and four of them were awarded full flag status this year.

The tourism ministry was pleased with the progress the country was making in attracting visitors to the beaches. "Travel receipts increased in the second quarter of 2012, rising by R5bn to R83.5bn," Rossouw said.

"Tourist arrivals to our country increased by an overall 10.5% year-on-year during the first quarter and overseas arrivals increased by nearly 18%."

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Hey, Physics & Astronomy Professors? THIS IS NOT OKAY! [Starts With A Bang]

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Its Dr. Evil, I didnt spend six years in Evil Medical School to be called mister, thank you very much. -Dr. Evil, from Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery

Graduate school is hard work, and Ph.D. programs in Physics and Astronomy are some of the most demanding and competitive ones out there. Its well-known that its incredibly difficult to strike a good work/life balance while youre in graduate school, and that between classes, homework, reading, research, and any teaching or service duties you may have, you cannot expect to spendonly40 hours a week on all of your responsibilities, combined.

There is simply too much.

Reading through incredibly dense textbooks is only a small part of what must be done.

But if you are in graduate school for physics, astronomy, or anything else theres presumably one reason that everyone who does it has in common: theres something you want to learn so bad, that youre so passionate about, that you mustlearn it for yourself. And that means jumping through all the necessary hoops, learning how to use the tools you need to, meeting the necessary requirements, and keeping the right people happy. It means doing the things you have to do in order to be able to do the things you want to do.

For me, that thing I wanted to do was this.

Image credit: Matthias Bartelmann.

Cosmology, the Big Bang, the Large-Scale Structure of the Universe, Inflation, Dark Matter and Energy, and everything that goes into and comes from that. That was and is my scientific passion. You may or may not have one; yours may or may not overlap with mine.

Its one of the greatest joys in my life. But it doesnt definemy life, and I always resented the idea which exists at many top Universities around the world that it ought todefine my life. Im not a scientist who lives science, breathes science, eats science, craps science, dreams science, and spends 100% of their time immersed in science. And I dont want to be. I want to be myself, which includes science, but which also includes lots of other parts of being a human being, and having what we colloquially refer to as a life.

A selection of some of my "finer" moments in the non-scientific portions of my life.

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Hey, Physics & Astronomy Professors? THIS IS NOT OKAY! [Starts With A Bang]

Yale finds second diamond planet

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Astronomy has turned up a second diamond planet, and its a relative neighbor to the solar system a mere 40 light-years distant, circling 55 Cancri.

Unlike the diamond planet discovered by Australian astronomers last year, this one didnt even need a pulsars gravity to give it the squeeze. It inherited its mostly-carbon composition from its host star.

Artist's impression of 55 Cancri e - graphite surrounding diamond, then silicon

and a molten iron core. Source: Haven Giguere & Yale University

Designated 55 Cancri e, with a radius twice Earths and eight times the mass, screams around its star in just 18 hours, and the Yale researchers that discovered it estimate its temperature at 3,900F (about 2,150°C).

This is our first glimpse of a rocky world with a fundamentally different chemistry from Earth, said lead researcher Nikku Madhusudhan, a Yale postdoctoral researcher in physics and astronomy (emphasis added). The surface of this planet is likely covered in graphite and diamond rather than water and granite.

The planet was first spotted transiting 55 Cancri last year, providing an estimate of its radius. That, combined with estimates of its mass, allowed the Yale team to estimate the planets chemical composition and come up with the hypothesis that its mostly carbon, existing as graphite and diamond, along with iron, silicon carbide and some silicates. They estimate that as much as one-third of 55 Cancri es mass could be diamond.

The 55 Cancri system is one of the most populous known to astronomy, with at least five planets orbiting it. As El Reg reported back in 2007, one of those planets may be close to the zone where water could exist. 55 Cancri e is the nearest planet to the host, and was first discovered in 2004.

Yales research is to be published in Astrophysics Journal Letters.

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Yale finds second diamond planet

Science Ranch 2012 | Bad Astronomy

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Science Ranch 2012 has wrapped up, and it was way, way too much fun.

Quick background: my wife Marcella and I started up Science Getaways, where we create vacation packages and add science to them. We figured we love learning about the places we visit; their natural wonders, the geography, biology, and more, so why not make it official and put something like this together for other science lovers? At Science Getaways we take vacation packages and add exploration hikes, talks by scientists, star parties yknow, SCIENCE. The point was to get like-minded science afficiandos together and have them get even more out of their time off; thats why we call it a "vacation with your brain".

Our first venture was to the C Lazy U Guest Ranch in Granby, Colorado. Nestled in a valley in the Rockies, its a stunning setting with lots of natural beauty. We invited geologist Holly Brunkal and biologist/ecologist Dave Armstrong to come, with me pulling astronomy duty. In September, a group of science lovers descended upon the ranch for four days of fun, relaxation, and SCIENCE.

I know I may be a wee bit biased, but I think everyone had a lot of fun. The ranch itself boasts a lot of outdoor activities: horseback riding, a ropes course, biking, and more. Marcella and I had to laugh; when we first organized this Getaway, we asked folks if theyd like to ride horses, and only a few said yes. But once everyone got there, nearly every single person went for at least one ride! It was a great way to get out into the hills without a lot of effort helpful in the rarefied air at 2500 meters (8000+ feet) elevation!

The science was, of course, amazing. We learned a lot about the local flora, fauna, and geology of the region. Did you know the Rockies we see today are actually the second Rockies? There used to be a range here in Colorado hundreds of millions of years ago, and they eroded away. Eventually, a new mountain range pushed up, forming todays Rockies.

Driving the lessons home, we went on several hikes to explore the natural world ourselves. At different times during the week we saw moose, bear, elk, pronghorn, mule deer, coyotes, foxes, and chipmunks. At one point we had a handsome young fox poking around nearby too, probably looking for lunch.

Probably the highlight of the hikes was when we all went to a stream bed near the ranch. Over the years its wandered a bit, exposing rock washed down from the hills. Within a few minutes, one of our guests found a fossilized leaf imprint dating back to the Creataceous Era, more than 65 million years ago! Not five minutes later another guest found a lovely specimen of petrified wood. We all started poking around in earnest after that; I found some fascinating samples including anorthositic rock, and a lovely layered sedimentary rock that got baked by a lava intrusion, turning it black as coal.

Of course, there was astronomy. Oh my, was there. The first night we walked outside from the main lounge room, and even before our eyes had properly adjusted to the dark we could see the Milky Way blazing overhead. I had my new Celestron 20 cm (8") telescope, generously donated for the occasion by Celestron, Inc., and we took it a few hundred meters out from the lights of the ranch to observe. We saw a dizzying variety of celestial favorites: globular clusters, planetary nebulae, binary stars, open clusters, galaxies (M 31, the Andromeda Galaxy, was amazing and easily visible to the naked eye), and more. It was chilly, but we still had a lot of folks stick around for hours while we observed. I usually observe from my home where the skies are decent, but being out where its truly dark makes a world ah, a Universe of difference.

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Science Ranch 2012 | Bad Astronomy

What’s on – October 12 2012

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Brighton Dome (01273) 709709: Jack Dee, 8pm Oct 12; Simon Evans – Friendly Fire, 7.30pm Oct 12; Festival of the Spoken Word, 7.45pm Oct 12; Richard Herring – Talking C*ck, 9.15pm Oct 12; Frisky and Mannish – Extra-Curricular Activities, 9.30pm Oct 12; Rob Rouse, 7.30pm Oct 13; Ava Vidal, 7.45pm Oct 13; Seize the David O’Doherty, 9.30pm Oct 13; Marcel Lucont – Gallic Symbol, 9.30pm Oct 13; Mark ...

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What’s on - October 12 2012

World’s First Strong Artificial Intelligence Engine for Mobile Unveiled by Kimera Systems

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PORTLAND, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Kimera Systems (www.kimerasystems.com) today unveiled the worlds first strong Artificial Intelligence engine for devices. Kimeras technology goes beyond context awareness to give the network, devices and apps awareness of user intent and goals, delivering unprecedented improvement in user experience. Kimera has focused its technology on smartphones, and will soon make its software developer kit (SDK) available to app developers.

Weak AI the only AI available today was developed to solve a specific problem; the iPhones Siri and Googles algorithms are examples. Strong AI the technology Kimera is bringing to market works without a specific problem to solve. Instead, it learns to understand the user and environment to discover problems and then solve them.

Kimera makes smartphones smarter, said Mounir Shita, CEO of Kimera Systems. Beyond context awareness, Kimera enables your smartphone to not only understand what youre doing but also why youre doing it, then helps it to adapt to your immediate needs. Though Kimeras technology sounds like science fiction, its already built and working, and our SDK is almost ready for app developers to create smart software agents for your device to adapt to every situation. Kimeras AI service applies to your daily personal and work lives, vastly improving the efficiency in your day so you can focus on whats truly important.

Kimeras strong AI engine continuously models the world, providing any app or device anywhere on the Internet with useful intelligence that lets it holistically adapt to the individual. With Kimera, a smartphone not only knows which app a person needs and when to launch it, it can also adapt that app to specific situations, giving it new, personalized functionality.

Kimeras AI transforms how services are built and delivered to devices. It opens new revenue opportunities for handset manufacturers, wireless operators, developers, and other businesses. Kimera uses smart agents that interface and collaborate in real time with each other and other apps to achieve specific goals for you.

Imagine youve entered a supermarket and the phone in your pocket knows why youre there and what youre shopping for, added Shita. Several smart agents would be invoked, collaborate and present a custom service appropriate for just that day. It might launch a shopping app and create a grocery list specific to that supermarket that not only automatically includes the items you need, but takes into account your familys food allergies, handles prescription interactions, and adjusts for the guests youve invited to dinner. Kimera gives smartphones the capability to understand your intentions and be goal-aware. And trust me, this example only scratches the surface of what Kimeras technology can already do today.

Kickstarter Project

To bring its technology to app developers, Kimera also announced a Kickstarter project. Kickstarter is a funding platform for projects from films, games and music to art, design and technology. Since launching in 2009, over $350 million has been pledged by more than 2.5 million people, funding more than 30,000 projects.

Kimera seeks to raise $300,000 from people eager for a new revolution in mobile, where smart devices actually think. The Kickstarter project begins today and continues through November 18. For more on how you can be involved, visit http://kickstarter.kimerasystems.com/.

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World’s First Strong Artificial Intelligence Engine for Mobile Unveiled by Kimera Systems

Aerospace workforce center will open at Wright State

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An aerospace professional development center will open at Wright State University to fill the gap of employers searching for hard-to-find qualified employees in an industry losing large chucks of its workforce to retirements, officials said.

The center will open at the Wright State Research Institute this month, said state Sen. Chris Widener, R-Springfield.

Its going to be a pretty robust, dynamic center, he said. We felt like employers tell us we have jobs, but we cant find the people properly trained and qualified.

Wright State will work with aerospace and defense contractors and the government on the initiative. A formal announcement is expected today.

Widener said despite fears of automatic, across-the-board defense cuts next January, certain kinds of work will continue to be a priority in military aerospace. Ohio Aerospace Industry President Michael L. Heil said commercial aviation, meanwhile, faces explosive growth.

The aerospace industry faces potential employer shortages as baby boomers become eligible for retirement and fewer younger workers enter the field. More than half the employees at the top 20 aerospace firms are eligible to retire by 2016, said Susan Lavrakis, Aerospace Industries Association workforce director in Arlington, Va.

Thats an awful lot of expertise to replace in any time frame, said Dan Stohr, an AIA spokesman.

Ohio had 15,992 workers in the aerospace industry in March with an average weekly wage of $1,796, according to the latest figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. At Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, however, the states largest single site employer had just over 29,000 employees at the end of 2011.

Aerospace jobs often require a science, technology, engineering or math background and the ability to get a U.S. security clearance to work on national security-related programs. In the Dayton region, theres a shortage of systems, radio frequency and software engineers and cyber-security experts, but it has a fairly healthy supply of workers in the sensors, advanced materials and manufacturing sectors, said Kerry D. Taylor, director of the Ohio Aerospace Hub of Innovation & Opportunity. The new center could help bridge the skills gap in aerospace, he said.

Finding qualified blue and white collar workers is a common refrain among aerospace employers, Heil said.

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Aerospace workforce center will open at Wright State