USC opens new medical school campus in Greenville

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GREENVILLE, SC (AP) -

The University of South Carolina is opening a new medical school campus in Greenville with a charter class of 53 students.

University spokesman Wes Hickman says a ceremony is scheduled for Tuesday.

The school is a partnership between USC and the Greenville Hospital System and becomes one of 136 in the nation.

Hickman says a hallmark of the school is a curriculum designed to educate physicians knowledgeable about America's rapidly evolving health care delivery system.

The school is only one of two in the nation that requires students to complete emergency medical technician training and is only one of a few to be located on the campus of a public health system.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

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USC opens new medical school campus in Greenville

Dr. Hugh Stephenson: Instrumental in developing four-year medical school at Mizzou

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Dr. Hugh Stephenson, who died Thursday (July 26, 2012), helped turn the School of Medicine at the University of Missouri at Columbia into a full, four-year institution.

During the 1950s, he successfully lobbied the Legislature to build a medical school to replace one that provided only two years of training. Students had to transfer to a four-year medical program to finish their degrees.

Dr. Stephenson was a popular professor and the first full-time surgery faculty member at the medical school. In 1958, he performed the university's first open-heart surgery.

The university also credits him for designing the "crash cart" the Mobile Cardiac Resuscitation Unit as well as being one of the first surgeons to implant an automatic cardiac defibrillator for shocking the heart after it goes into arrest.

Dr. Hugh Edward Stephenson Jr. died at his family's summer home in Rehoboth Beach, Del. He was 90 and also had a home in Columbia.

He had been treated for at least 10 years for complications of Parkinson's disease, a family friend said Monday.

Before Dr. Stephenson, university officials had been trying since the early 1930s to build a four-year medical school. There was never enough money during the Depression or World War II.

Dr. Stephenson was from a prominent family in Columbia, where his father was a dentist. He earned his undergraduate degree at Mizzou and studied for two years at the medical school.

Then, he was accepted at the Washington University School of Medicine, which had just three or four slots a year for third- and fourth-year students from Mizzou.

After graduating, Dr. Stephenson served as an Army radiologist in Italy. He was on the faculty at New York University Post Graduate Medical School and was chief surgical resident at Bellevue Hospital there.

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Dr. Hugh Stephenson: Instrumental in developing four-year medical school at Mizzou

Hospital Exec. Says Health Care Reform Act is a Mixed Bag but Will Make NJ Healthier – Video

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30-07-2012 16:40 Health care is changing in New Jersey with fallout from the reform bill and various hospital mergers and acquisitions. President and CEO of Hackensack University Health Network Robert Garrett told NJ Today Managing Editor Mike Schneider that he believes health care reform will make New Jersey healthier and that hospitals need to grow in order to provide a more efficient health care system. For more New Jersey news, visit NJ Today online at

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Hospital Exec. Says Health Care Reform Act is a Mixed Bag but Will Make NJ Healthier - Video

Panel Discusses Health Care Reform Impacts for Idaho

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BOISE Weeks after the U.S. Supreme Court decided to uphold contested elements of the health care reform law, Idaho lawmakers are now facing the difficult task of how to move forward.

On Monday, a 14-member panel met in Boise to hear more about the questions Idaho must answer in the upcoming months. States have until Nov. 16 to submit their exchange plans.

The critical components of the Affordable Care Act require states to decide if they will expand Medicaids eligibility requirements and if they should implement some sort of insurance exchange.

For Idaho, these decisions force lawmakers to work with a law they have adamantly opposed ever since it passed in 2010. Highlights of Idahos rocky relationship with the law include Gov. C.L.Butch Otter suing the federal government for passing the law and legislatures refusing to accept the $20 million offered from the feds to help fund the exchange.

Were looking for ways to keep the federal government out of peoples decision when it comes to health care, said Sen. Dean Cameron, co-chair of the Senate-House health care task force, during a meeting Monday in Boise.

In just a few months, Idaho must submit a proposal on how it will go about setting up an exchange. The online marketplace would allow individuals to shop and compare health insurance coverage, an option currently unavailable for consumers.

States have three options when it comes to setting up an exchange. 1) Create and manage a state-run exchange; 2) Let the federal government develop and control the exchange; 3) Come up with some sort of partnership that splits the responsibilities of the exchange with the federal government.

States can also choose to partner with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services until they come up with their own exchange, said Joy Wilson, health policy director for the National Conference of State Legislatures

There are pros and cons to that option, Wilson said. Kind of depends how comfortable you are having HHS having that big of a role in your insurance market.

However, if Idaho declines to set up its own exchange, the federal governments exchange may not be as ideal for the state, Wilson said.

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Public employee retiree health care strains California budget

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SACRAMENTO (KABC) -- It's not just state pensions putting a huge strain on the state's budget, it's retired state workers' health care benefits. In fact, according to a new report, in just 35 years those benefits will consume the entire state budget.

Public-employee retiree healthcare is yet another cost adding pressure to the state budget. A new report by California Common Sense estimates unfunded liabilities outside pensions, known as Other Post-Employment Benefits (OPEBs), to total than $62 billion.

"One of the things that may have caught many analysts and the state off guard was the rising costs of health care," said Autumn Carter, executive director, California Common Sense.

The report found:

- Costs have doubled every five years since 1999.

- If nothing is done, OPEBs will consume the entire state budget within 35 years.

- And pre-funding health care benefits annually, instead of pay-as-you-go, would save the state $21 billion in the long run.

The state would love to put away money every year for retiree health care costs, just like it does for pensions, but it's unrealistic given California's budget crisis.

"We're cutting K-12 education. We're cutting higher education. We're cutting every program for the poor, every program for children and health care," said Service Employees International Union (SEIU) spokesperson Terry Brennand. "It makes very little sense to take $3 billion more out of the budget, pre-fund this and cut $3 billion deeper."

So the state can only continue to pay for retiree health care using pay-as-you-go, which Common Sense warns could have unpopular consequences.

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Compromise health care bill released

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BOSTON Massachusetts House and Senate negotiators have filed the final version of a bill they say will save up to $200 billion in health care costs over the next 15 years and help guarantee the sustainability of the states landmark 2006 health care law.

The bill rejects a proposed luxury tax for hospitals that charge more than 20 percent above the state median price for a service, but includes $135 million in grants to help community hospitals make the transition to new electronic medical records systems.

Another goal of the bill is to allow residents better access to their own medical records and cut down on unnecessary and expensive repeat medical testing.

Sen. Richard Moore, an Uxbridge Democrat and one of those working on the final bill, said another top aim of the bill is to set a cost growth goal close to the states rate of inflation, far less than current year-to-year increases in insurance and medical costs.

I think its a very good bill, Moore said.

The bill would also encourage the creation of so-called accountable care organizations health care networks that take a more coordinated approach to medicine. There are already five accountable care organizations in Massachusetts.

Such organizations are considered key to the transition away from more piecemeal medical care that rewards doctors for each test or procedure to care that looks at the entire patient and the best way to maintain overall health.

Rep. Steven Walsh, D-Lynn, also worked on the final version of the sweeping bill and said hes confident it will benefit patients, health care providers and business which could see a reduction on the cost of health premiums.

He said the bill should also win the approval of Gov. Deval Patrick, who has also made health care cost control a top priority.

Im very confident that the governor will sign this, Walsh said, noting that every member of the conference committee working on the compromise legislation both Democratic and Republican members signed off on the final bill.

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Jason Silva's Latest 'Awe' Video Is Designed To Blow Your Mind

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"Filmmaker, futurist, epiphany addict" Jason Silva has produced a series of videos that combine natural imagery with philosophy.

Silva contacted us after reading our article on a studyby Melanie Rudd of Stanford Graduate School of Businesson the positive effects on awe.He said his videos were meant to "capture and disseminate AWE itself." We agreed and published his video on patternsto as a demonstration of the theory.

Still the video was only indirectly related to awe. Now Silva has done one better by devoting an entire video to awe. He writes:

As amazing as that study is, it still leaves us with the question, If AWE is good for us, how exactly can we define it? Well this is exactly what my video WILL BE: a visceral representation and explainer of what the study really means....

Check it out:

The Biological Advantage of Being Awestruck - by @Jason_Silva from Jason Silva on Vimeo.

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Jason Silva's Latest 'Awe' Video Is Designed To Blow Your Mind

Smart Freedom Postpaid Plan Services, Prices, and Registration

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Smart Communications recently released what could be their best plan outing of the year: The Smart Freedom Postpaid Plan.

The Smart Freedom Postpaid Plan is the first real postpaid plan that requires no contract. Applying for it is basically walking inside a Smart center and presenting a valid ID. It's that easy.

Applying for the services offered in the Freedom Plan is also as easy. No need for complicated keyword texts or numerous key entries. Just simply text the keyword of your selected service to 9990 (e.g. COMBO400 to 9990)

The following are the services offered in the Smart Freedom Postpaid Plan:

(Related: Globe *143# IMMORTALTXT Promo)

CALL

The Smart Freedom Postpaid Plan now also offers a 10% rebate on your first six months on the plan.

In my personal opinion, the Smart Freedom Postpaid Plans rolls off from the former network leveraging the recently acquired resources from Sun. And although nothing is really revolutionary here, the services are note-worthy. This is their answer to Globe Telecom's *143#.

For more details about the Smart Freedom Postpaid Plan and its pricing and registration, click HERE.

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Smart Freedom Postpaid Plan Services, Prices, and Registration

China Criticizes US Report on Religious Freedom

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China said Tuesday that a U.S. report describing repression of religion in China and elsewhere is a political tool based on groundless accusations that displays Washington's arrogance and ignorance.

The annual State Department report released Monday highlighted what it said was a lack of religious freedom in China as well as Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran and North Korea.

It said there had been "a marked deterioration during 2011 in the government's respect for and protection of religious freedom" in China, and that there was "severe" repression of religious freedom in Tibetan areas and the far western region of Xinjiang, home to a significant number of Muslims.

Tibetan areas of China have seen a surge in self-immolations since 2011, and the report said that tightened restrictions on Buddhist worship contributed to at least 12 of them last year.

The Chinese response came in a commentary published by the official Xinhua News Agency, which said the report was "continuing a notorious practice of blatantly interfering in the internal affairs of other countries."

"The annual report, largely based on unconfirmed media reports and groundless allegations from outlawed groups and organizations with ulterior motives, is nothing but a political tool used by the U.S. government to exert pressure on other countries, mostly deemed as its rivals," it said.

Xinhua said the U.S. was imposing its own standard on religious policies regardless of historic or cultural differences, saying the report was "full of prejudice, arrogance and ignorance."

It said religious freedoms were protected under China's constitution, saying only a few from banned "cults" and illegal "extremist religious organizations" aimed at splitting apart the country were punished.

Xinhua said the self-immolations were politically motivated, and part of a "scheme" by supporters of the exiled Tibetan leader, the Dalai Lama, whom China accuses of trying to separate Tibet from China.

The State Department said the Chinese government harassed, arrested or sentenced to prison a number of people for activities reported to be related to their religious practice.

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China Criticizes US Report on Religious Freedom

Look to the stars at Ocean Pines library

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OCEAN PINES -- Kids of all ages will see stars Friday as Cosmic Adventures brings its traveling astronomy series to the Worcester County Library.

Two programs featuring portable planetariums will be held at the Ocean Pines branch at 10:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.

"Portable planetariums have been around since at least the late 1970s, but computerized versions like I have are more recent; the first came out in 2004," said Greg Anderson, astronomy educator with Cosmic Adventures Traveling Planetarium. "I was working for a science outreach program at Gettysburg College in Gettysburg, Pa., at that time. We offered many science labs to schools, but little in the way of astronomy. About a year later -- in the spring of 2005 -- I had the opportunity to start my own business. I liked working with schools as I had been doing, and a traveling planetarium seemed like it might be unique enough to attract some interest."

Anderson considers himself a lifelong science nut and has a degree in biology, though he admitted his fascination with astronomy is a relatively new one.

"I was always intrigued by the subject whenever I learned more about it in a professional capacity, and I took some formal coursework once I decided to make a go of the business," he said.

"I believe that people of all ages can benefit from knowing more about the universe we are part of. As we put up more lights outside that dim our view of the sky and spend more time inside, we are losing our connection to the rest of the universe. The Cosmic Adventures planetarium gives people a chance to see what they are missing, and -- hopefully -- spark an interest in the real sky."

The program begins with a look at the current night sky, including which stars and planets are visible to the naked eye.

"From there, we'll talk about the constellations and perhaps some deep space objects -- distant galaxies and nebulae," Anderson explained. "I'll also take questions from the audience, so every program is a little different."

The former teacher thinks the program he has developed makes the daunting subject much easier for people to grasp.

"Astronomy is one of the harder subjects to learn about through textbooks, because much of it is abstract," Anderson said. "The planetarium makes it a little more real by immersing its audience in the night sky and allowing them to explore it -- inside and during the day.

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Look to the stars at Ocean Pines library

Badlands National Park plans astronomy festival

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BADLANDS NATIONAL PARK, S.D. Get your telescopes and model rockets ready.

Badlands National Park has announced that it is holding its first-ever Astronomy Festival next month.

The Aug. 17-19 event will include hands-on activities and workshops, including model rocket building and launching, photography and night observations.

Guest speakers include NASA Astronaut Story Musgrave, Dakota Lapse photography Randy Halverson whose time-lapse videos of South Dakota's night sky have gained national attention and nuclear physicist Peggy Norris.

All events will be in the area around the Ben Reifel Visitor Center.

For more information, visit http://www.badlandsastrofest.org.

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Badlands National Park plans astronomy festival

Dassault Systèmes Partners with Washington State to Prepare the Next Generation of Aerospace Innovators

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VELIZY-VILLACOUBLAY, France--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Dassault Systmes (Euronext Paris: #13065, DSY.PA)(DSY.PA), the 3DEXPERIENCE Company, world leader in 3D design software, 3D Digital Mock Up and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) solutions, announced that it has entered into an academic partnership with the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges to promote statewide education of Dassault Systmes 3DEXPERIENCE platform, which is widely used by leading aerospace OEMs. The agreement was signed earlier this month at the Farnborough Air Show in England by Gov. Chris Gregoire and Dassault Systmes Philippe Forestier.

We are extremely appreciative of the competitive academic offering that weve received through this partnership with Dassault Systmes, said Gov. Gregoire. The number of aerospace suppliers in the state of Washington has increased by 30 percent since 2005 and relationships like this are critical for us to continue to attract business to the state. I commend our Department of Commerce for their ongoing hard work to develop and expand such important industry collaborations.

Washington has already invested $4.8 million for aerospace training and apprenticeship programs during Gov. Gregoires administration. With this agreement, the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges is purchasing foundational applications of Dassault Systmes 3DEXPERIENCE platform, including CATIA and ENOVIA. The platform will be implemented during the 2012-2013 academic year, with 34 of the states two-year colleges each having access to the software. In addition to the software, Dassault Systmes will also provide extensive online training for the personnel who will be teaching the courses.

Our community and technical colleges are knowledge-producers for the aerospace industry, said Charlie Earl, executive director of the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges. This agreement means more students can take what they learn in the classroom directly into the workplace, without the need for extensive, on-the-job training.

Now CATIA is going to be available to every community and technical college in Washington, including those that were previously unable to afford it, said Mary Kaye Bredeson, executive director of the Center of Excellence for Aerospace and Advanced Materials Manufacturing at Everett Community College. Its an important tool to prepare students for high-skill, high-wage jobs in aerospace.

Dassault Systmes understands the enormous value of educating the next generation of innovators in 3DEXPERIENCE, said Monica Menghini, executive vice president, Industry, Dassault Systmes. In support of the growing aerospace industry in Washington State and the more than 92,000 workers employed in this sector, Dassault Systmes recently opened a new office in South Lake Union near Seattle. This office will help support the rollout of the 3DEXPERIENCE platform and is the point of contact for the aerospace industry and training program.

This is our first state-wide licensing agreement and we commend the State of Washington for embarking on such an ambitious education program, said Philippe Forestier, executive vice-president of Global Affairs and Communities, Dassault Systmes. This illustrates incredible commitment on their part to developing the most technically proficient aerospace workforce in the world, and we are proud to play a major role in this initiative.

Educators and students interested in the Dassault Systmes software solutions can visit http://www.academy.3ds.com where products and support are offered at special academic pricing.

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Dassault Systèmes Partners with Washington State to Prepare the Next Generation of Aerospace Innovators

Company seeks FDA approval for personal DNA test

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Genetic test maker 23andMe is asking the Food and Drug Administration to approve its personalized DNA test in a move that, if successful, could boost acceptance of technology that is viewed skeptically by leading scientists who question its usefulness.

23andMe is part of a fledgling industry that allows consumers to peek into their genetic code for details about their ancestry and future health. The company's saliva-based kits have attracted scrutiny for claiming to help users detect whether they are likely to develop illnesses like breast cancer, heart disease and Alzheimer's.

The biology of how DNA variations actually lead to certain diseases is still poorly understood, and many geneticists say such tests are built on flimsy evidence.

For years, the Silicon Valley company has resisted government regulation, arguing that it simply provides consumers with information, not a medical service. But now company executives say they are seeking government approval - and the scientific credibility that comes with it.

"It's the next step for us to work with the FDA and actually say, `this is clinically relevant information and consumers should work with their physicians on what to do with it,' " said CEO and co-founder Anne Wojcicki, who is married to Google co-founder Sergey Brin. Google and Brin have invested millions in the privately held company, which is based in Mountain View, Calif.

Wojcicki says the shift in strategy reflects the growing scope of the company's test kit, which now measures the risks of developing more than 115 different diseases.

23andMe said Monday it submitted an initial batch of seven health-related tests to the FDA for review. The company plans to submit 100 additional tests in separate installments before the end of the year. Tests involving family history and nonmedical traits will not be reviewed, since they don't fall under FDA oversight.

Even some of the harshest critics of the genetic testing industry say 23andMe is taking the right approach.

Dr. James Evans of University of North Carolina said he considers much of the information reported by 23andMe, "relatively useless," and "in the realm of entertainment." He believes patients benefit more from pursuing a healthy lifestyle than parsing the potential risks of developing various diseases.

But as test makers begin analyzing larger portions of genetic code, there are rare cases when the findings may help doctors identify patients with a higher risk of treatable health problems, such as aneurysms or colon cancer.

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Company seeks FDA approval for personal DNA test

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Google-Backed 23andMe Asks FDA to Clear DNA Evaluation Service

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HANG LUNG 1H UNDERLYING PROFIT HK$2.5B; ANALYST EST. HK$2.4B

By Anna Edney - 2012-07-30T18:47:12Z

23andMe Inc., the Google Inc.-backed DNA analysis company co-founded by Anne Wojcicki, sought U.S. regulatory approval for a genetic testing service that may help people assess their risk for developing cancer and Alzheimers.

The submission with the Food and Drug Administration will cover seven tests, which 23andMe isnt specifying, Ashley Gould, the Mountain View, California-based companys chief legal officer, said today in a phone interview. The tests are part of a service that tells users whether they carry a disease, are at risk of a disease and would respond to a drug, she said.

The result that you get when you review a report, the FDA wants to ensure thats a valid result, Gould said.

Wojcicki, the wife of Google co-founder Sergey Brin, started 23andMe about six years ago, and her husband used the saliva kit to determine he had a gene that makes him susceptible to developing Parkinsons. The FDA decided in 2010 that services claiming to evaluate a customers risk of disease must be cleared by regulators if the companies sell directly to consumers.

23andMe is working proactively with the FDA to ensure the industry delivers high quality information that consumers can trust, Wojcicki said in a statement on the companys website.

Such types of genetic tests may become a $25 billion annual market in the U.S. within a decade, highlighting the need to identify which work best, UnitedHealth Group Inc. (UNH), the largest publicly traded U.S. health insurer, has said. While UnitedHealth said such tests hold great promise, the insurer in a March report raised concern about accuracy and affordability.

23andMe said it submitted the FDA application today for the least stringent of two types of medical device reviews. The company plans to submit several more applications by the end of this year, Gould said.

DNA Genotek Inc. (OSUR), a company bought last year by OraSure Technologies Inc., makes the FDA-approved saliva kit. Gould said 23andMe is seeking approval of the process for analyzing and interpreting DNA results for patients.

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Google-Backed 23andMe Asks FDA to Clear DNA Evaluation Service

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Controversial criminal DNA collection law stays in place for now

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By Bill Mears, CNN Supreme Court Producer

updated 3:15 PM EDT, Mon July 30, 2012

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

Washington (CNN) -- The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday allowed a controversial state DNA testing law to remain in effect until the justices have time to consider the broader constitutional questions.

Maryland's DNA Collection Act permits police to collect genetic material from those who have been arrested, but not yet convicted.

Chief Justice John Roberts issued the three-page in-chambers opinion, putting a state court's ruling favoring a criminal defendant on hold.

"Collecting DNA from individuals arrested for violent felonies provides a valuable tool for investigating unsolved crimes and thereby helping to remove violent offenders from the general population," Roberts wrote. "Crimes for which DNA evidence is implicated tend to be serious, and serious crimes cause serious injuries. That Maryland may not employ a duly enacted statute to help prevent these injuries constitutes irreparable harm."

The chief justice said there is a "fair prospect" the Supreme Court would ultimately find in favor of the state on the search and seizure questions.

After more legal briefs are filed, the high court in coming weeks will decide whether to hear the case and issue a definitive, binding ruling. Oral arguments would likely not be held until early next year.

A 1994 federal law created a national database in which local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies can compare and share information on DNA matches from convicted felons, but courts have been at odds on just when such samples can be collected and the information distributed.

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Controversial criminal DNA collection law stays in place for now

Posted in DNA