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Data on 2 distant asteroids tease possibility of massive planet – SpaceFlight Insider

Posted on February 25, 2017 by Danzig

Laurel Kornfeld

February 25th, 2017

Using the Gran Telescopio CANARIAS in Spain, for the first time, the dynamical properties of asteroids 2004 VN112 and 2013 RF98were observed spectroscopically. The data suggest a possible common origin and gives a clue to the possible existence of a large planet deep in the Kuiper Belt.Image Credit: IAC

Observations of two extreme trans-Neptunian objects (ETNOs) suggest they were once part of a binary asteroid system that was perturbed by one or more undiscovered super-Earth planets that may still be lurking even further in the outer Solar System.

A team of researchers at the Instituto de Astrofisica de Canarias (IAC) and at Complutense University of Madrid, both in Spain, conducted spectroscopic observations of ETNOs 2004 VN112 and 2013 RF98, faint asteroids that orbit more than 150 astronomical units (AU) from the Sun. One AU is equal to the average Earth-Sun distance of about 93 million miles (150 million kilometers).

Approximately 21 ETNOs in similar orbits have been discovered since 2000.Because these objectsorbits have similar dynamical parameters, several scientists recently proposed they are being perturbed by one or more massive planets orbiting the Sun as far as 700 AU.

Last year Mike Brown and Konstantin Batygin at Caltech predicted the existence of one super-Earth at around 700 AU based on the orbits of seven of the 21 known ETNOs.

The hypothesized outer solar system planet is referred to by some scientists as Planet Nineand by others as Planet X. The latter is the conventional term used to refer to theorized but undiscovered objects.

Using the OSIRIS spectrograph on the Gran Telescopio CANARIAS (GTC), the research team, in cooperation with astronomers Gianluca Lombardi and Ricardo Scarpa, observed the two faint asteroids, successfully determined their apparent magnitudes, identified their compositions, and then refined the orbit of 2013 RF98.

Several striking similarities were found between the two objects. Their spectra used to determine whether their surfaces have ices, silicates, and highly processed carbon compounds were practically identical and very similar to those of two other ETNOs:2000 CR105and 2012 VP113.

The similar spectral gradients observed for the pair 2004 VN112[and]2013 RF98 suggests a common physical origin, said. Julia de Leon, the lead author of a paper on the findings published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. We are proposing the possibility that they were previously a binary asteroid which became unbound during an encounter with a more massive object

Sedna, the only other ETNO to have been spectroscopically observed, did not match the other four and is believed to have a different origin, having likely come from the inner Oort Cloud.

All five are among the seven ETNOs whose orbits led Brown and Batygin to hypothesize the existence of a distant, more massive planet.

To test the theory that these two objects were once partners in a binary asteroid system, the researchers conducted numerous computer simulations measuring how the poles of their orbits would separate once perturbation by a larger object pulled them apart.

The simulations supported the notion that a 10 to 20 Earth-mass planet orbiting between 300 and 600 AU from the Sun could have separated the two asteroids approximately five million to 10 million years ago.

A sequence of images taken with the Gran Telescopio Canarias to identify one of the ETNOs studied, 2013 RF98. The left image shows how the asteroid moved during four consecutive nights. On the right is the visible spectra obtained with the GTC of the two objects, 2004 VN112 and 2013 RF98. The red lines show the gradients of the spectra. Image Credit: Julia de Len / IAC

Tagged: 2004 VN112 2013 RF98 extreme trans-neptunian objects Instituto de Astrofisica de Canarias Planet nine Planet X Sedna The Range

Laurel Kornfeld is an amateur astronomer and freelance writer from Highland Park, NJ, who enjoys writing about astronomy and planetary science. She studied journalism at Douglass College, Rutgers University, and earned a Graduate Certificate of Science from Swinburne Universitys Astronomy Online program. Her writings have been published online in The Atlantic, Astronomy magazines guest blog section, the UK Space Conference, the 2009 IAU General Assembly newspaper, The Space Reporter, and newsletters of various astronomy clubs. She is a member of the Cranford, NJ-based Amateur Astronomers, Inc. Especially interested in the outer solar system, Laurel gave a brief presentation at the 2008 Great Planet Debate held at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab in Laurel, MD.

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Data on 2 distant asteroids tease possibility of massive planet - SpaceFlight Insider

NASA Will Consider Adding Crew to Next-Gen Rocket’s Debut Launch – Space.com

Posted on February 25, 2017 by Danzig

An artist's impression of the Orion capsule in space.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. NASA will take about a month to assess how much extra time, money and risk would be added to the debut flight of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket if a two-member crew was aboard, officials said today.

The launch, called Exploration Mission 1 (EM-1), is currently scheduled to be the first test flight of the SLS booster, which will send an uncrewed Orion capsule into deep space. Under the existing plan, a crew would fly aboard the Orion/SLS system on the EM-2 mission in 2021.

The Trump administration has asked NASA to look at either adding crewmembers to the EM-1 flight or advancing the launch of EM-2, Bill Gerstenmaier, NASA's associate administrator for human exploration and operations, told reporters during a news conference today (Feb. 24). [Photos: NASA's Space Launch System for Deep Space Flights]

Moving up the date of EM-2 is not feasible because of changes that have to be made to the SLS launch platform to accommodate a taller upper-stage motor that NASA plans to have in place for that mission, NASA officials said during the news conference.

Gerstenmaier said he also directed his team to look only at options that would take about one year or less to implement, so that a crewed EM-1 flight could launch in 2019.

"I felt that if we went much beyond 2019, then we might as well fly EM-2 and actually do the (plan) we're on," Gerstenmaier said.

The Orion spacecraft has not been fully upgraded to support human passengers since its first test flight in December 2014 (atop a United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy rocket). Gerstenmaier said he has no estimate on the additional costs of adding life support, an abort system and other hardware that would be needed for EM-1 to fly with a crew.

"This study will determine how much additional time is needed to add crew to EM-1," Gerstenmaier said. "We will definitely have a [later launch date]. We also recognize we'll need to add some additional funding."

The prospective mission would have a two-member crew fly in an Orion capsule on an eight- to nine-day mission around the moon, similar to the flight of Apollo 8 in 1968.

NASA's independent Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel said in a meeting Thursday (Feb. 23) that the reasons for having astronauts fly on EM-1 must be compelling enough to override the additional cost, schedule and safety risks.

"We are not proposing what the outcome of NASA's assessment should be," Patricia Sanders, chairwoman of the Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel, said during the meeting. "But in the assessment, we strongly advise that NASA carefully and cautiously weigh the value proposition for flying crew on EM-1."

Flying astronauts on a rocket's debut flight would be a departure from NASA precedence. Only one previous spacecraft, the space shuttle, made its first flight with crew aboard, and that was launched using the well-tested Saturn V rocket.

"The space shuttle really wasn't built to be flown unmanned, and we would have had to do an awful lot to make that happen," former astronaut Bob Crippen, the pilot on the first shuttle flight, said in an interview with Space.com.

As a winged vehicle re-entering the atmosphere at 25 times the speed of sound, the space shuttle was a far bigger technological leap than the Orion capsule, Gerstenmaier noted.

"This is still pushing the envelope in some areas, but it's not as big a step technology-wise as what we actually did in the case of the shuttle," he said. "We will be very cautious about what we go do. We will do the right thing."

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NASA Will Consider Adding Crew to Next-Gen Rocket's Debut Launch - Space.com

NASA, Palo Alto satellite company team up to explore unique asteroid – The Mercury News

Posted on February 25, 2017 by Danzig

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PALO ALTO Mention the word asteroid and youll probably think about the downfall of the dinosaurs, or perhaps Bruce Willis and Ben Affleck duking it out in the movie Armageddon.

Now, NASA and a Palo Alto-based satellite manufacturer are working to geta spacecraft to an asteroid before one gets to us.

NASAs Discovery Program, aimed at improving our understanding of the solar system by exploring planets, moons and other celestial bodies, announced last month that it had selected two asteroid-centric missions each with a $450 million price cap to launch in the next decade. One of the missions involves sending a spacecraft to Psyche, an asteroid named after the Greek goddess of the soul that is made entirely of metal.

Scientists say metal asteroids are one of the last remaining things in our solar system that they have never seen up close.

Weve looked at rocky planets, gas giants, icy planets, rocky asteroids, comets but never anything like this, said Jim Bell, a professor of planetary science atArizona State University, where a team of scientists is leading the Psyche mission.The scientists believe the asteroid may be the metal core of a planet that was stripped of its rocky outer layers when it was destroyed billions of years ago.

Asteroids rocky space bodies that orbit the sun range in size from 600 miles in diameter to dust particles. Like Psyche, most are in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. NASA estimates the belt contains between 1.1 million and 1.9 million asteroids larger than a half-mile in diameter, plus millions of smaller ones.

Lindy Elkins-Tanton, the Arizona teams principal investigator, recently told Space News that visiting Psyche will allow scientists to literally visit a planetary core the only way that humankind ever can.Psyches metallic iron and nickel composition is similar to Earths core, so studying the asteroid may help scientists understand how planets layers such as cores and crusts separate.

Bell, Elkins-Tantons second-in-command, will be in charge of obtaining color images of the asteroid and figuring out its surface geology from the images.

For Bell, Psyche represents the opportunity to study a world made of metal. We dont know what to expect regarding impact craters or tectonic features, he said. Our predictions are all over the map of Dr. Seuss-like landscapes.

The mission, set to launch from Floridas Kennedy Space Center in 2023, hopes to use data collected from the metallic asteroid to help scientists learn about how planets with cores like Psyche formed during the early days of our solar system.

Erik Asphaug, another investigator on the team, likens himself to a kid in a candy store. Like Bell, he yearns to understand the geology of an entirely metallic body: Was there ever water on Psyche? Is there evidence for chemical processes? Plate tectonics?

Added Bell: Were also trying to figure out what these kinds of asteroids are like, to inform us about others like it that could be a threat to Earth in the future.

The Arizona team says it will take five to seven years for the missions spacecraft to get to the asteroid which is 130 miles in diameter and then it will spend one year collecting data as it orbits the asteroid.

Bells imaging camera, along with a gamma ray neutron detector to detect the asteroids composition and a magnetometer to detect its magnetic fields, will also be making the journey. Information will be relayed back via a radio antenna on the spacecraft that communicates with the deep-space network antennas on Earth.

The responsibility of building the shuttle-bus-size spacecraft that will travel to Psyche falls to Space Systems Loral, or SSL a 60-year-old company that constructs and launches commercial communications satellites for companies such as Sirius XM and DirecTV.

When the company announced it was awarded the missions $127 million contract in early January, SSL President John Celli said years of experience and success in building state-of-the-art spacecraft positioned the company to contribute to the NASA mission.

The spacecraft will be built in conjunction with NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, which will later integrate the scientific instruments and computer brain. Bob Mase, deputy project manager for the Psyche mission at JPL, called it a tag-team effort that leverages both parties strengths.

Harrison Pitman of Made In Space, a Mountain View company that manufactures technology for use in space, said that his company recognizes the importance of reaching resource-rich asteroids like Psyche.

Made In Space, which did not compete for the Psyche project contract, is working on another project aimed at traveling to an asteroid in deep space. The project involves using robotics to convert an asteroid into a self-propelled spacecraft that flies itself back to Earths orbit. Once in orbit, the asteroid can be mined for resources like rare metals that are unobtainable on Earth.

We believe that the insights gained on this Psyche mission and similar missions will provide the groundwork necessary to successfully develop asteroid-mining operations like ours, Pitman said.

The Psyche collaboration also marks a new trend at the nexus of scientific exploration and commercial production.

Al Tadros, a vice president at SSL who has been with the company for 28 years, said the firm has had to make some major adjustments to pull off the asteroid project but is loving every minute of it.

Its a change from communication satellites, which are business- and profit-driven, he said. But like our commercial business, NASA projects demand low risk and on-time delivery.

Tadros said SSL was chosen from more than 20 proposals following an initial selection process, vigorous oral evaluations and an on-site visit from 80 NASA reviewers.

Its pretty cool, Tadros said with a laugh.

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NASA, Palo Alto satellite company team up to explore unique asteroid - The Mercury News

NASA Announces a Single Star Is Home to At Least 7 Earthlike Planets – TIME

Posted on February 25, 2017 by Danzig

The galaxy is getting very crowded. There may be 300 billion stars in the Milky Way, but until just over 20 years ago, we knew of only one of them that was orbited by planets. In the years since, the galactic census has exploded, with more than 4,700 confirmed or candidate planets discovered so far and astronomers concluding that every star in the galaxy is parent to at least one world.

What has always been harder to spot are Earthlike planets relatively small ones with a rocky surface, orbiting their sun at the not-too-close, not-too-far distance that would allow liquid water to exist. Today, however, that changed in a big way, as NASA announced that a single star relatively close to Earth is home to no fewer than seven Earthlike planets. If you're looking for extraterrestrial life, there may be no place better.

The new findings, published in the current issue of Nature , are the result of more than six years of study of the small star Trappist-1 , located just over 39 light years from Earth barely one town over in a galaxy that measures 100,000 light years across. The star got its name from a rough acronym of the telescope in the Chilean desert that has studied it the most: the Transiting Planets and Planetesimals Small Telescope. As the name suggests, the Trappist telescope looks for planets by watching for the portion of their orbit in which they transit or pass in front of their star, causing a tiny but regular dimming in starlight.

Three Earthlike planets were discovered around Trappist-1 early in 2016 using this method. That prompted the astronomers who made the find led by Michal Gillon of the University of Lige in Belgium to bring in some bigger guns. Conducting more surveys with ground-based telescopes in Morocco, Hawaii, South Africa, Spain and Liverpool, as well as with NASA's orbiting Spitzer Space Telescope , the investigators found four more planets. All seven except the outermost one are closely grouped, and all orbit Trappist-1 at the right, cozy distance to sustain biology, at least theoretically.

"The planets form a very compact system," said Gillon during a teleconference prior to the paper's release. "They are very close to their star and are reminiscent of the system of moons that orbit Jupiter. They could have liquid water and life."

In a solar system like ours, very close to the sun is not the best place to live if you're looking to harbor life. Consider Mercury, our innermost planet, where surface temperatures reach 800 F (430 C). Never mind water surviving; at that heat, lead melts.

Trappist-1, however, is nothing like the sun. It's what's known as a red dwarf, a very small, comparatively cool star, barely 11% of the radius of our sun and less than half its 10,000 F (5,500 C) surface temperature. Historically, astronomers ignored red dwarfs in their search for habitable planets. If the only star you know of that has given rise to life is a larger, yellow, so-called M class sun like ours, why look at ones that are so much smaller and cooler? But if you huddle up close to an M dwarf you can soak up all the light and warmth you need. What's more, there are at least three time more red dwarfs in the galaxy than all other classes of stars combined.

If you draw a 30 light-year bubble around our sun, said Harvard University astronomer David Charbonneau in a conversation with TIME, youd take in about 20 sun-like stars and 250 red dwarfs.

Even better, a planet around a red dwarf is often easier to spot than one around a bigger star, since it is larger relative to its smaller parent. "These planets are 80 times easier to study in front of a red star than they are in front of a yellow one," says Gillon.

By no means is life anything like a sure thing in the Trappist-1 system. For one thing, the planets are so close to their sun that they are almost certainly tidally locked, which means that they keep one side forever facing toward the solar fires and one side away, the way the moon does with the Earth. That creates a stark temperature differential in the two hemispheres of the world, with one perhaps too hot for life to thrive and one too cold. Still, if any of the planets has an atmosphere a big if the heat and the cold could mix and moderate, at least in the regions that are forever fixed in dawn or dusk.

Another problem could be in the nature of red dwarfs themselves. They tend to be more volatile than M class stars, producing more solar flares, which blast out heat and radiation an especially dangerous state of affairs for a planet in a tight orbit. But not all red dwarfs are equally turbulent, says Gillon, and Trappist-1 is "a very quiet star."

If there is life on any of the planets, it could be discovered relatively soon. Sending a spacecraft to visit is out of the question, of course. Even traveling at the speed of light, which is nearly 671 million miles per hour (1.1 billion k/h), the ship would take 39 years to make the journey. The fastest spacecraft ever built, the New Horizons probe to Pluto and beyond, is creeping along at about 36,000 mph (59,000 k/h).

Instead, the hunt for life on the newly discovered planets will be conducted by both orbiting and Earth-based telescopes, which will study the spectrum of Trappist-1's starlight as it streams through the atmospheres of any of the planets during their transits. Different chemicals absorb different wavelengths of light and if you know what you're looking for, you can pick out not just the presence but the concentrations of organic gasses like oxygen, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and especially methane. The closer that chemical fingerprint comes to matching that of Earth's atmosphere, the likelier it is something's living on one of the other worlds.

So epochal a discovery could be made within the decade, the Trappist-1 team believes, especially when the James Webb Space Telescope the much more powerful follow-on to the Hubble Space Telescope goes into service in 2018. And if the seven planets don't harbor life yet, they still have plenty of time. Trappist-1 is very young, just 500 million years old, compared to our 4.5 billion-year-old sun. That makes the sun middle-aged with only another 5 billion or so years left to it. Red dwarfs, however, burn through their hydrogen fuel much more slowly.

"Trappist-1 will live for one thousand billion years," says Gillon. If life is going to emerge in the system, it has all the time it needs.

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NASA Announces a Single Star Is Home to At Least 7 Earthlike Planets - TIME

NASA ordered to return historic lunar bag, moon dust to highest bidder – Chron.com

Posted on February 25, 2017 by Danzig

Photo: Courtesy Of Christopher McHugh, Attorney For Nancy Carlson

(Photo courtesy of Christopher McHugh, attorney for Nancy Carlson)

Images from the moon landing

Apollo 11 (Lift off July 16, 1969): Astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin E. 'Buzz' Aldrin, the first men to land on the moon, plant the U.S. flag on the lunar surface on July 20, 1969.

Apollo 11 (Lift off July 16, 1969): Astronaut Edwin E. ``Buzz'' Aldrin Jr. walks on the surface of the moon on July 20, 1969.

Visitors to the Kenndy Space Center in Florida get the opportunity to compare their own foot to a replica of that left by Armstrong when he first stepped on the moon.

Visitors look at the Apollo 11 Command Module Columbia at the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum in July 2003, in Washington, DC.

One of several spacesuits belonging to Armstrong.

Armstrong walks back from the lunar ladder after stepping down on the surface of the moon. He became the first human to set foot on the planet after the lunar module landed.

Neil Armstrong.

In this July 21, 1969 file photo provided by NASA, mission control personnel watch the moon walk by Apollo 11 astronauts, in Houston.

In this July 20, 1969 file photo, the Apollo 11 lunar module rises from the moon's surface for docking with the command module and the trip back to earth. The Earth can be seen rising in the background.

This July 16, 1969 file photo shows the Apollo 11 blastoff to the moon from Cape Kennedy, Fla.

This July 20, 1969 file photo released by NASA shows Apollo 11 astronaut Edwin E. "Buzz" Aldrin, Jr. removing a scientific experiment from the Lunar Module "Eagle" during the Apollo 11 lunar landing mission.

NASA ordered to return historic lunar bag, moon dust to highest bidder

Nancy Lee Carlson will finally get her moon dust back.

A federal judge Friday ordered the Johnson Space Center to return the Illinois woman's lunar collection bag and the dusty specimens left inside from the historic 1969 moon landing.

The bag and its contents - a rare find that a NASA lawyer deemed a "national treasure" - had languished at the space center for more than a year after scientists decided to keep it.

NEW PLANETS: Scientists announce discovery of seven, Earth-size exoplanets 40 light years away

"There are no other lunar bags out there," said Joseph Gutheinz, a former NASA enforcement officer and moon rock hunter who supported Carlson's effort. "It's unique as all get out. And because of that, the value of that bag is incalculable."

U.S. District Judge Vanessa D. Gilmore in Houston ruled that Carlson is the bag's true owner, having bought it at a government auction for $995 in 2015.

The government may have erred in putting the bag up for sale, but government lawyers erred further by not appealing another judge's ruling on ownership, Gilmore concluded.

The bag is set to be covertly returned on Monday.

'Mission Unknown'

When the Apollo 11 capsule splashed down near Hawaii in July 1969, its celebrated crew came bearing loads of soil and rock stashed in specially designed collection bags.

The embroidered and zippered bag now owned by Carlson was among them, covered in microscopic moon dust and rock particles that NASA scientists discovered were difficult to remove.

Decades later, the round bag - about the size of a dinner plate - turned up in the home of a Kansas space museum's director, where it was seized by federal agents in an unrelated criminal case.

COOL HISTORY: Apollo 11 command module going on tour, coming to Houston later this year

The U.S. Marshal's office finally put it up for auction in 2014 as a "flown zippered lunar sample return bag with lunar dust. 11.5 [inches]. Tear at Center. Flown Mission Unknown."

The suggested opening bid was $20,000. Nobody bid on it.

When it went up for auction again in February 2015, Carlson was the highest bidder.

Carlson had watched the moon landing, like so many from her generation, as an awestruck 11-year-old in Marquette, Michigan.

"I just felt great that they left this planet and made it to the moon, but I felt even happier when they got back OK," Carlson said Friday at the Houston federal courthouse.

MORE SPACE EXPLORATION: Venus, once too hot to explore, now within NASA's reach thanks to new tech

Carlson's parents pushed her and her sister to pursue their dreams, and the space program embodied those big dreams, she said.

The package arrived by UPS at her home in Inverness, Illinois, about 50 miles from Chicago. It arrived in a simple cardboard box, with the lunar bag wrapped in brown paper inside. She kept it in her bedroom closet for safekeeping.

A few months later, Carlson contacted Ryan Zeigler, the lunar sample curator at the Johnson Space Center, curious to know if the bag actually contained moon dust. He said he'd be glad to test it if she'd send it to him.

He confirmed that the bag contained lunar dust, and further tests revealed even more: It was an outer decontamination bag for the first lunar samples ever collected on the first manned mission to the moon.

Historical artifact

That's when things got complicated.

Carlson and Zeigler exchanged emails over many months, ostensibly trying to arrange a time for her to retrieve her bag.

She eventually filed a federal lawsuit as part of the government's forfeiture action. A Kansas judge who got the case ruled the bag belonged to Carlson, but said a judge in the Houston region - where the Johnson Space Center is based would have to oversee enforcement of the order.

Federal prosecutors in Kansas did not appeal the decision, presenting further problems for prosecutors in Houston.

DID YOU KNOW? Little-known facts about astronaut John Glenn's historic 1962 mission to space

NASA officials said late Friday that they consider the case closed.

"NASA is obviously disappointed by the decision of the court due to the fact that it was primarily through the unlawful activity of a third party that put this historical artifact into the public domain," according to a statement from William Jeffs, the NASA spokesman for the astromaterials division. "This artifact was never meant to be owned by an individual. Moreover, this artifact is important, not just for its scientific value, but also because it represents the culmination of a massive national effort involving a generation of Americans, including the astronauts who risked their lives in an effort to accomplish the most significant act humankind has ever achieved."

NASA officials have asked Carlson to consider allowing the bag to be displayed publicly.

Her lawyer, Christopher M. McHugh, said she will consider it. But first she wants to get it back in hand.

"Given that this bag is really a national treasure," McHugh told the judge, "I don't think it's possible for Ms. Carlson to just keep the bag at home. That's not going to happen. But I do think a transfer of ownership has to happen."

Carlson is also considering a quiet visit to the Johnson Space Center over the weekend while waiting to pick up her treasure.

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NASA ordered to return historic lunar bag, moon dust to highest bidder - Chron.com

Nano-sized hydrogen storage system increases efficiency – Science Daily

Posted on February 25, 2017 by Danzig

Science Daily

Nano-sized hydrogen storage system increases efficiency
Science Daily
"In this material, the nano-interfaces do just that, as long as the nanoconfined particles are small enough. It's really a new paradigm for hydrogen storage, since it means that the reactions can be changed by engineering internal microstructures.".

and more »

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Nano-sized hydrogen storage system increases efficiency - Science Daily

Vision 2017 | Cancer, heart programs coming to Windber hospital – TribDem.com

Posted on February 25, 2017 by Danzig

WINDBER National publicity and behind-the-scenes upgrades marked the Windber hospital and research institutes first year under new ownership.

More visible developments will come this year as Chan Soon-Shiong Medical Center at Windber and Chan Soon-Shiong Institute of Molecular Medicine expand roles in their parent companys fight against cancer, said Tom Kurtz, president and CEO of both Windber organizations.

New cancer and heart programs are poised for launch at the Windber hospital, and an expanded tissue repository is already bringing additionalcancer studies to the research institute, Kurtz said.

Meanwhile, in-patient volumes are up 40 percent over the past seven months, led by a 110 percent increase in orthopedic surgery, Kurtz said.

We are looking at what is needed in the community in subspecialties, Kurtz said.

We are trying to figure out what people are having to travel out of the community for, and not just keep replicating everything here.

The former Windber Medical Center and Windber Research Institute began2016 with the news that the two nonprofits were to become part of Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiongs Chan Soon-Shiong NantHealth Foundation.

On Jan. 11, 2016, the Windber icons were in the national spotlight when Soon-Shiong announced Cancer MoonShot 2020, predicting that the joint effort of international pharmaceutical, bioscience and insurance companies, working with community-based oncologists, can shave decades off the development of effective cancer-fighting drugs.

The Windber research institute is now the central biorepository for tissue and blood samples being studied by scientistsfrom across the nation, and the Windber hospital will be joining national cancer drug trials and demonstrating the valueof bringing the programs to community hospitals.

Last month, Cancer MoonShot 2020 was renamed Cancer Breakthroughs 2020. The change better reflects progress, Soon-Shiong said.

It will also help end confusion with two other cancer moon shots: The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Centers Cancer Moon Shots and the national Cancer Moonshot that was also launched in January 2016 and was headed by then-Vice President Joe Biden.

Windbers cancer treatment center was to open in 2016, but has been delayed to assure a quality program, Kurtz said.

Leaders are still negotiating with larger clinical partners to help coordinate and oversee treatment and clinical trials, he said.

As part of the nationally renowned Soon-Shiong group, Windber has many options including many of the nations most-respected cancer programs.

We have a lot of different options, Kurtz said.

We want to make sure that what we do with that cancer program is right for the community.

The cancer program will open later this year, Kurtz said, adding that minimal renovations will be required to put medical oncology in either the Joyce Murtha Breast Care Center building or in the former obstetrics unit of the main hospital.

The new heart program is expected to begin in April, led by longtime Johnstown cardiologist Dr. Samir Hadeed.

Hadeed, along with Dr. Cyril Nathaniel and cardiologists of Central Pennsylvania Physicians Group in Everett, will offer a full range of cardiology and vascular services.

A cardiac catheterization lab is being developed in part of the former obstetrics unit and has already been approved by the state Health Department, Hadeed said.

Although Hadeed left Conemaugh Health Systems staff in 2013, he continued his local practice at Johnstown Heart and Vascular Center at 1027 Broad St. in Johns-

town.

He has remained active at Windber and Somerset hospitals and Allegheny Health Network hospitals near Pittsburgh.

I have never been out of the game, he said.

Windbers new program brings value to the region, Hadeed said.

It gives the community options, he said

Having only one program in town is not necessarily the best for the patient or the town.

Both the heart program and the cancer program illustrate the value of Windbers partnership with Soon-Shiong and his network, Kurtz said.

But all decisions about local patient care and services are still being made in Windber, he added.

They are committed to providing some financial assistance with the cath lab and to help us with the establishment of the cancer center here, Kurtz said. Everything else is under our control.

Windber leaders originally decided to seek a national partner to help the hospital get back on its feet financially.

When Windbers board turned over the reins to NantHealth, the hospital was losing about $2.3 million a year.

Kurtz stressed that the local organization does not want to be a drain on Soon-Shiongs network.

As we made an internal decision here, Kurtz said, any kind of financial assistance made by the national organization would have a return on investment.

We have an internal goal to be totally self-sufficient in 36 months.

Along with oncology and cardiology, an upgraded and expanded emergency department remains a top priority. Kurtz said previous designs have been put in the back burner while leadership studies overall needs in light of the new programs and expanded surgical business.

We have to have a campus-wide master facility plan in place, Kurtz said.

Randy Griffith covers health care for The Tribune-Democrat. Follow him on Twitter @photogriffer57.

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Vision 2017 | Cancer, heart programs coming to Windber hospital - TribDem.com

IKEA’s growth means more jobs for Savannah distribution center – Savannah Morning News

Posted on February 25, 2017 by Danzig

Popular Scandinavian furniture retailer IKEA continues to expand its presence in the U.S. Southeast - a plan that bodes well for the Savannah area, even though its poplation isnt large enough to support a store of its own.

Since opening its massive distribution center at the Savannah River International Trade Park off Ga. 21 some 10 years ago, the Swedish company has opened new retail stores in Florida, Charlotte, Atlanta and Texas - most of them served through the port of Savannah. As business grew, so did the distribution center, which currently has 151 employees.

With the announcement last year that the company would open a store in Jacksonville in the fall of 2017, it was almost a given that the Savannah workforce would continue to grow.

Earlier this month, the Georgia Department of Labor announced IKEA will hold a recruiting event in Savannah Monday in anticipation of hiring more than 20 full-time workers for the local distribution center.

But its not all about Jacksonville, said Joseph Roth, public affairs manager for IKEA.

Were doing well across the board, he said, adding that a second Dallas store will open about the same time Jacksonville does and a third Dallas store is expected in late 2018.

The volume through this DC continues to grow. I think its safe to say we would need to add co-workers whether or not we were looking at a new store in Jacksonville, Roth said.

While IKEA has no immediate plans to expand the size of its Savannah DC, the potential is there.

We planned this facility with expansion in mind, Roth said.

Efficiency as important as size

While it may look like a huge warehouse from the outside, a step inside tells a different story, said Savannah distribution center manager Joel Everett.

A well-run DC represents the heartbeat of the logistics industry and ours is no exception, Everett said Friday, adding that the need for speed and execution in moving product has turned the huge facility into the embodiment of high-tech efficiency.

The nearly 800,000-square-foot facility currently supplies 10 of IKEAs 43 U.S. stores, as well as a store in the Dominican Republic, handling an average of 50 container - or tractor-trailer - loads a day.

Product comes in from the ports in containers and goes out to our stores on trucks, Everett said. Our job is to make sure that happens as efficiently as possible.

In the 110-foot-tall area known simply as the silo, an innovative automated storage and retrieval system takes each incoming pallet, scans its label, weighs it, squares it on the conveyer belt and then moves it - via automated shuttle and crane - to its proper place among the long lines of racking stacked 18 bays high.

When its time to ship, the system remembers where that particular pallet is, retrieves it and brings it down for loading. The silo holds up to 82,000 pallets, with each of the 13 automated cranes capable of moving 37 to 40 pallets an hour.

Recruiting co-workers

IKEA, one of Fortunes 100 Best Companies to Work For in 2016, will be recruiting for the Savannah Distribution Center from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday at the Georgia Department of Labors Savannah Career Center, 5520 White Bluff Road. Due to OSHA regulations, applicants must be at least 18 years old.

While previous forklift experience is preferred, it is not necessary. Applicants must, however, be able to sit, stand, lift at least 70 pounds and walk throughout the 800,000-square-foot warehouse. Applicants must be able to speak and write English and work various shifts, including weekdays and weekends.

Potential employees are encouraged to dress appropriately for interviews. Those applicants selected will be subject to a criminal background check.

For more information on the available jobs, or to apply online, visit http://www.employgeorgia.com to create an account and upload - or prepare - a resume. Having an Employ Georgia account will expedite the interview process.

Originally posted here:

IKEA's growth means more jobs for Savannah distribution center - Savannah Morning News

Love in the times of a world war – The New Indian Express

Posted on February 25, 2017 by Danzig

Kangana Ranaut has always had an outspoken and bold image, while Shahid Kapoor has kept to himself. They will be seen in Vishal Bhardwajs Rangoon. Kangana plays a fiesty young actress in British-era 40s, Shahid plays an army officer. She has had a trail of successes with Queen and Tanu Weds Manu; he has hits such as Haider and Udta Punjab. They love to experiment with their roles.

My career has been a rollercoaster one from the beginning, and I have never been off balance. There was a lot of mud-slinging, but then exs will always bitch about you. I have a lot of dreams and goals. I want to do something different and good all the time.

No actor can be satisfied with his achievements. I cant just stop here and say I have got everything I have wanted. Theres a lot more to my life than three National Awards. I have to better, says Kangana.

Shahid says he is at a good stage of his career. The real journey is to bring credibility.

Popularity is something you have to look forward to; you cant run after it.

You need to be a good actor and participate in good cinema.

You need to be taken seriously; you cant be someone who is jumping around.

Theres no longevity in that. Earlier if you wanted to do a music video or photo shoot, you had to go and drop your pictures and give auditions. Today you can upload them on Instagram and be noticed.

Rangoon is Shahids third film with Bhardwaj. When I work with him, I am on my toes. Its been a 10-year journey with him. I met him for the first time for Kaminey, and when two heavy objects meet, there is a collision. Haider was an experimental film. Rangoon is a big film, he says.

The film is set during WW II, and has references to Adolf Hitler. Its a satire and Hitler has been shown in a funny way. Its more of a love story. Its a great script, says Kangana, who plays Julia in the movie. She says there was a lot of detailing in Rangoon.

Vishal has done a lot of research. He took care of all details and created a city dating back to the 40s and even took care of the skyline. I had a lot of discussions with him about my attire, hair, make-up and fabrics I would be wearing. I had to understand that world and the period it was set in.

It was different then. Our country was run by outsiders, and you had to keep that in mind. It is the love story of an actress, and I had to create that period in my mind, how they said their dialogues in those days.

This will be the first time Kangana will be seen doing stunts. I have a few stunt scenes as stunt actresses were popular then. I learnt horse riding. We talk about women empowerment now and appreciate such movies.

There were more women-oriented movies in those days. Women were shown beating up 10 goons. They were superwomen in movies then. Unfortunately in the 80s, the environment changed as money flowed in from the underworld and women were projected as sex objects in movies. Its changing now, she says.

Shahid says he is playing Nawab Malik, an Army officer in pre-independent India. He is a patriot and he has got job in the British Army. He is confused. Its a heroic and likeable character and he does things larger than life.

Explains Kangana: For me its important to understand the psyche of the character Ill be essaying. I dont do superficial roles. It takes me time to understand her physical appearance and dialect of the character. I can go to any lengths for my role, but Aamir (Khan) is a better example of that. Hats off to him for going to that extreme in Dangal.

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Love in the times of a world war - The New Indian Express

Swizz Beatz Dropped an Unreleased Jay Z, Nas, DMX, and Jadakiss Song Friday Night – Complex

Posted on February 25, 2017 by Danzig

Given the cultural impact of Takeover, Ether, and the reconciliation between Jay Z and Nas during the 2005 I Declare War concert, its pretty safe to assume moments involving the Jay andNas move the needle. The proverbial ante is upped when DMXwho shared a now-infamous battle with Jay Z and co-starred with Nas in Bellyis added to the mix. Such was the case Friday night, as Swizz Beatz dropped a previously unreleased collaboration between Jay Z, Nas, DMX, and Jadakiss during his live beat battle with Just Blaze.

For a bit of brief context, before he was making headlines of the more unfortunate variety, DMX had a run during the 90s of four consecutive albums debuting at the No. 1 spot. Jay Z truthfully boasted of having more No. 1 albums than Elvis Presley, and Newsweek confirmed the feat as Blueprint 3 gave Jay his eleventh top album. Nas and Jay are a handful of artists to earn the vaunted five-mic rating from The Source, and Jadakiss is closing in on 20 years in the game as a highly-respected MC.

Swizz hasnt revealed when the song was recorded, and between Nas reference to the synthetic drug bath salts and Jay Z referencing Coming to Americas fictional nation of Zamunda (Hov infamously dressed as Coming to Americas Prince Akeem for Halloween in 2015) its unclear when the track was crafted.

What is rather clear is the reaction to the track, as fans have already attempted to filter the audio and upload it to YouTube as a standalone single. You can stream the entire beat battle via Hot 97s YouTube channel.

Twitter lost its collective mind Friday night and early Saturday morning as both Just Blaze and Swizz Beatz began trending. Busta Rhymes, who was in attendance for the beat battle, had the classic crunch-face reaction upon hearing the track, and at least one viewer who shared the same feeling quickly turned Busta into a meme. Check out some of the more notable Twitter reactions below:

Just Blaze took to Twitter to suggest Timbaland and Pharrellbe featured during the next battle. Twitter might figuratively erupt if such a pairing were to happen. In the meantime, we can hope for an official release of the track between Jay Z, Nas, DMX, and Jadakiss.

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Swizz Beatz Dropped an Unreleased Jay Z, Nas, DMX, and Jadakiss Song Friday Night - Complex

Appealing Social Security Decisions Online – CT Post

Posted on February 25, 2017 by Danzig

Was your Social Security claim denied by the Social Security Administration (SSA)? It is your right to appeal the decision, and now you have an even easier method of doing so. As of December 10, 2016, the SSA allows you to file an appeal online for both medical and non-medical issues to dispute adverse actions or denials of a claim. (Non-medical appeals cover issues such as disputes over Medicare premium rates and cases of overpayment.)

The online appeals process extends to recipients living outside the US. Prior to the online process, appeal options were limited and often impractical for those in other countries.

The SSA online appeal site walks you through the appeal process in a user-friendly fashion. The initial menu allows you to choose between medical decisions or non-medical decisions, as well as allowing you to resume a medical appeal that you had already started.

Before you begin the online appeal process, make sure that you have the necessary supporting documents (forms, medical reports, written statements, and legal documents) to process your appeal. Further information on required documents may be found on the SSA website.

Generally, supporting documents may be uploaded through the website, so make sure you have all of your documents in a suitable electronic form for uploading. However, SSA only accepts original or certified copies of some documents; those will need to be mailed into the SSA (or brought into the SSA office if you prefer but in that case why bother with an online appeal?).

SSA estimates that medical appeals should take from 40 to 60 minutes assuming a suitable Internet connection. Non-medical appeals should take less time, approximately 25 minutes.

The online site for non-medical appeals saves answers automatically as you proceed through the process, but you cannot exit the application and come back to complete it later. The medical appeal site also saves answers automatically, but it does allow you to take a break and return to an appeal that has been saved in progress.

The SSA will contact you if there are any questions or updates regarding your appeal. If you have a personal appointed representative for your SSA claim, make sure that his or her contact information is also included with your submitted information.

You can check the status of your appeal from the submissions page at any time. A simple click of a button will direct you to My Social Security, where you can log in to your personal page (or create one if you do not already have one established).

Keep in mind that the same time limits apply to online submissions as they do to other methods. Generally, you have sixty days from the date of receipt of the letter that informs you about the decision. The SSA assumes that you received the letter within five days of the date on the letter. If you received it later than five days beyond the letter date, keep that limitation in mind.

For any other questions regarding the general appeal process, refer to the Social Security Publication "Your Right To Question The Decision Made On Your Claim".

You still have the traditional options of appealing by phone or in person at your nearest Social Security Administration office, if you prefer. We hope you don't have to dispute a Social Security claim at all, but if you do, at least you have choices on the method to use.

Read our article on what you need to get the Social Security benefits you deserve to learn more about the four levels of appeal and the supporting documents you need to submit for your case to be re-evaluated.

Let the free MoneyTips Retirement Planner help you calculate when you can retire without jeopardizing your lifestyle.

Photo iStockphoto.com/shapecharge

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Appealing Social Security Decisions Online - CT Post

The Mage’s Tale is a Breathtaking New Oculus Touch Dungeon Crawler RPG from inXile Entertainment – UploadVR

Posted on February 25, 2017 by Danzig

The world of roleplaying games (RPGs) is dominated by a few select developers near the top of the pile. Studios like Bioware, Bethesda, and Square Enix obviously come to mind as historical pioneers and juggernauts of massive, sprawling, roleplaying adventure titles, but all of those studios have embraced the modern era of RPG development.

inXile Entertainment on the other hand, along with Obsidian Entertainment and Larian Studios, are keeping old-school RPGs alive.

Less than a week ahead of the release of Torment: Tides of Numenera, themuch-awaited Kickstarter-funded spiritual successor to the legendary Planescape: Torment, inXile have announced a brand new game, this time designed specifically for virtual reality (VR). Even more specifically, designed just for the Oculus Rift with Touch.

Simply titled The Mages Tale, its an immersive, first-person dungeon crawler RPG that takes place in the same universe as The Bards Tale. Stylistically, it brings back Ultima, Wizardry, Might & Magic, and Elder Scrolls 1 & 2 vibes. We can only hope for something with that same level of quality and creativity. At least visually, we can clearly tell that its aiming to keep that breathtaking and beautiful style intact.

When I was a kid our dungeons consisted of playing Dungeons and Dragons on graph paper. From there I graduated to playing classic computer games in black and white like Wizardry, which inspired me to create a full color dungeon crawl with Bards Tale. The window for the players kept getting bigger, the graphics more advanced, and now with The Mages Tale, we are inside the dungeon, said Brian Fargo, dungeon crawler expert and CEO of inXile Entertainment in a prepared statement.

In The Mages Tale, players become conjurors in a quest to rescue your master from the evilGaufroi. There are 11 dungeons ranging from tombs to sewers, scattered with dangerous enemies and tricky puzzles. Youll be equipped with fireball spells, ice javelins, and more, all cast using the Oculus Touch motion controllers.

We dont have an exact release date or price yet, but The Mages Tale is expected to launch this year in 2017 for the Oculus Rift with Touch. UploadVR will be going hands-on with the game at GDC next week.

What has you most interested in this new game? Let us know in the comments below!

Tagged with: dungeon crawler, inxile entertainment, oculus touch, rift, rpg, the mage's tale

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The Mage's Tale is a Breathtaking New Oculus Touch Dungeon Crawler RPG from inXile Entertainment - UploadVR

Pill-sized device could revolutionise medicine by sending health … – The Sun

Posted on February 25, 2017 by Danzig

Patients swallow tiny device which is powered by acid found in the stomach and sends information about temperature and heart rate to your mobile phone

A SENSOR the size of a pill that collects health data from inside your body could revolutionise medicine.

The silver bullet sees patients swallow the small sensor before it starts sending information such as temperature and heart rate to the persons mobile phone.

Diemut Strebe

The tiny piece of technology is powered by acid found inside the stomach and the monitoring of these vital signs could significantly improve medical care.

The sensor was unveiled at the worlds biggest science fair in Boston, USA, where Dr Phillip Nadeau, from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, said: The self-powered pill would monitor your vital signs from inside for weeks.

It sits there making measurements and transmitting them to your phone. The information could be used to help doctors decide what medicine and treatment is best to give their patients.

MIT

The innovation was inspired by a lemon battery which uses citric acid from the fruit to charge up with energy.

MIT, who have been working with the Brigham and Womens Hospital on the project, said the pill can generate enough energy to power a thermometer that sends data wirelessly to a receiver two metres away.

A version of the pill, that powers up when a zinc electrode interacts with stomach acid, was tested on pigs.

The 30mm-long device took six days to travel through the animals digestive system with scientists now aiming to create a smaller version of it for human use.

The star-shaped arms on the pill are designed to help it stay in the stomach but without blocking food that is being digested.

They also hope the device can be used to release medicine by having the arms gradually dissolve = before the device passes out of the body.

Giovanni Traverso, from Brigham and Womens Hospital, said: Taking a capsule once a month could change how we think about delivering medication.

We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368.

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Pill-sized device could revolutionise medicine by sending health ... - The Sun

Lisa Nicole Cloud Shuts Down Her Haters at the Married to Medicine Reunion: 5 Emotional Moments You Need to … – Bravo (blog)

Posted on February 25, 2017 by Danzig

Pour one out for this season of Married to Medicine. As Season 4 came to a close, things got particularly emotional for Lisa Nicole Cloud and her hubby, Darren, as she continued to defend her desire to want more kids. And as she held back tears, it seemed like some fences were mended as Toya Bush-Harris stepped up and extended an olive branch to her pal. We're breaking down some of the buzziest moments from last night inThe Daily DishMorning After.

Lisa Nicole had a big message for her hubby as the season wrapped up: "And what I'm gonna say to you is is you got to stop saying dumb s*** that embarrasses me." Preach, sister.

We didn't know you could read someone based on their teeth and have it get this feisty, but, then again, you learn something new everyday.

Did Tom Schwartz end up going in drag for the Vanderpump Rules Season 5 reunion? Who ended up making a cameo? Only time will tell.

Eileen Davidson and Vince Van Patten are giving us all sorts of relationship goals with their rollerblading dates. "I make my husband carry everything in his backpack. 'Take my phone, take my mirror, take my lipstick.' So I don't have to carry them," the RHOBHwifeexplained about their outings.

We now know what keeps the spark going for Erika Girardi and her husband Joe: "You have to be friends. You have to be friends and you have to have a common ground. You have to like the same things. You have to see the world the same way. You have to have the same interests. And when you are genuinely rooting for the other guy you know Tom is very supportive of me and I am very supportive of him and I think that's what makes it work."

Check back every morning as we'll be recapping the 5 must-see moments from the night before. And don't forget to tune in toThe Daily Dishpodcastto get the latest on what's happening in the Bravo galaxy, currently available oniTunes,Soundcloud,Google Play, and Amazon's Alexa.

Lisa Nicole Cloud Shuts Down Her Haters at the Married to Medicine Reunion: 5 Emotional Moments You Need to ... - Bravo (blog)

The yin and yang of traditional Chinese medicine – EUobserver

Posted on February 25, 2017 by Danzig

Malta, the current holder of the EU council presidency, has signed an agreement with China that would increase the provision of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) to its citizens.

On 17 January, Maltas health minister Chris Fearne and his Chinese counterpart Li Bin signed an agreement in Valletta to increase cooperation. This agreement will see the opening of a new TCM clinic at St Lukes Hospital in Pieta, Malta, and further cooperation between China and Malta to promote medical tourism and conduct joint research.

Minister Fearne noted that 10,000 patients made use of government clinics providing TCM services in 2016. The Maltese government clearly sees the value of using TCM in healthcare practices.

But many in the healthcare community do not share the same enthusiasm. In the treatment of specific diseases and disorders, critics assert that the available data does not support claims made by the TCM community.

Widely practiced in China for over 2500 years, TCM uses herbal medicines and various mind and body practices, such as acupuncture, massage (tui na), and exercise (qigong), to treat or prevent health problems.

In the West, TCM is largely seen as complementary or alternative medicine.

Practitioners of conventional medicine assessing the value of TCM have, on the whole, been highly sceptical.

Effectiveness in conventional medicine is usually tested with double-blind randomised trials of a specific medicine on a specific disease, and compared to existing approved medicines.

Very few TCM studies meet the accepted standards, often due to flawed research designs. Much of the data on TCMs is done in China, and not usually included in systematic reviews in Western literature.

In the case of physical therapies such as medical qigong - a form of exercise that incorporates movement, breathing and meditation that TCM practitioners claim is effective in treating fibromyalgia and arthritis, as well as improving respiratory and cardiovascular functions - it is notoriously difficult to implement a placebo, which is crucial in assessing effectiveness in trials.

The practice, however, continues to grow across Europe, with Belgiums Saint-Pierre Hospital being one of the latest to add qigong classes for patients.

The nature of TCM dictates that there can be a lack of consensus among practitioners on diagnosing a patients condition and on what treatments to use. The Chinese government and TCM practitioner organisations have sought to standardise aspects of the training curriculum and qualifications to respond to this challenge.

But Western medical consensus is that global health would improve further with a greater uptake of conventional medicine in Asia, rather than TCM being more widely used outside.

On the other hand, there is more of an open mind about research into the thousands of chemical compounds estimated to be found in TCM - a potential pharmacological goldmine.

The EU research framework programme has provided funding in this field. A programme called TCMCANCER, for instance, aims to identify compounds from herbal traditional Chinese medicine for cancer treatments.

A number of TCMs are derived from animals and some practices are considered unacceptable in Europe for animal welfare and environmental reasons.

Shark fin used in soup, for example, has traditionally been considered both a delicacy and a means to improve health and vitality. Tens of millions of sharks are killed each year for their fins. Until recently, the EU was the biggest supplier until a ban on shark finning was strengthened to protect various threatened European shark species.

A steady growth in the use of TCMs has been seen in the EU, North America and Australasia in recent decades, especially with a view to maintaining health and well-being in later life.

A number of doctors are strong advocates for TCM and some countries, such as Malta and Belgium, even reimburse treatments.

The EU is responsible for setting the laws for the EU single market in herbal medicinal products, and the assessment of specific products is undertaken by the European Medicines Agency and national regulators.

Products are approved for quality and safety which is important, given that a number of regulators have expressed concerns on standards in the supply of traditional herbal medicines. But regulation of herbal products and its practitioners has also been handled sensitively, in view of cultural beliefs of some European citizens and migrants.

TCM is predominantly seen as complementary medicine. Patients are encouraged not to forego the conventional approach and use herbal or complementary approaches as an additional option, if they wish. Ultimately, this interaction comes down to the individual doctor and patient relationship.

The European Medicines Agency has a list of diseases that require a more thorough, centralised assessment if there are claims that herbal medicine can treat it. This assessment procedure is more in line with conventional medicine. Not surprisingly, this list only contains some of the most serious and potentially fatal diseases, such as cancer, diabetes and dementia.

Healthcare policy for governments is increasingly about patient satisfaction and encouraging engagement in our own health as a form of prevention.

Non-compulsory exposure for both patients and doctors to TCM for wellness, and as complementary medicine, fits with such a strategy.

TCM claims of treating specific diseases require more data, with a more rigorous methodology to penetrate the world of conventional medicine in the EU.

The agreement between Malta and China demonstrates an open-minded approach to the delivery of healthcare, addressing the major criticism of TCM by providing research data to back up its claims.

For a relatively small investment, the Maltese government can build on its positive experiences with TCM in recent years. As such, Malta is to be commended, so long as its use is complementary to conventional medicine and optional on the part of the patient.

However, TCMs should be held to the same standards as conventional treatments - where anecdotal support is insufficient and credible data is demanded.

Steve Bridges is an independent health policy adviser in Brussels. His Health Matters column takes a closer look at health-related policies, issues and trends in the EU.

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The yin and yang of traditional Chinese medicine - EUobserver

SD’s top family medicine physician hopes for improved rural access to health care – WDAZ

Posted on February 25, 2017 by Danzig

Marlys Luebke, a 28-year veteran of the Douglas County Memorial Hospital, was named 2017 Family Doctor of the Year earlier this month. She is the first woman to be awarded the "highest honor for practicing physicians," Luebke said Friday. Luebke is also a 1977 graduate of Parkston High School.

No stranger to the challenges of practicing rural medicine, Luebke believes patient access to speciality doctors in the towns she serves Corsica, Armour and Stickney could improve with the help of expanded telemedicine.

Telemedicine allows health care professionals to evaluate, diagnose and treat patients in remote locations using telecommunications technology such as video.

Luebke utilizes telemedicine at times for and with her patients to consult with doctors in cities like Sioux Falls, but, she said, there are some specialities that simply can't remotely do consultations.

"Some are impossible, such as OBGYN, general surgery and orthopedics, because those are procedure-oriented, whereas some of the other ones are more consultation-oriented," Luebke said. "I wish we could get them all on telemedicine, and maybe someday we will, but I think we've come a long way already."

As a family medicine physician, Luebke treats patients from "womb to tomb and everything in between."

And Nicole Neugebauer said Luebke's passion for patients is obvious both in and out of the office.

A 17-year coworker and patient of Luebke's, Neugebauer said she has seen firsthand on multiple occasions Luebke's dedication to providing the best patient care for Douglas County residents.

"She puts her patients first and is always advocating for them, and that's something she's very dedicated to is the health of her patients," Neugebauer said. "She puts a personal aspect into things, which is really great."

But finding balance between caring for her patients and caring for her family has been Luebke's greatest struggle since starting in medicine. As a woman, she said, it is her natural instinct to be the caregiver for her family, but it is also her instinct to be the caregiver for her patient. Balancing the two and ensuring neither feels neglected is difficult, she said and seemingly impossible at times.

But, with the help of her late husband, Doug, the "juggling act" was made easier.

Doug died last year, but Luebke said he was instrumental in maintaining home life and raising their two children, Austin and Sarah, while she was attending school and working, which demanded the majority of her time.

"He was very supportive and maintained the residence in Corsica while I was in Vermillion and Sioux Falls, and that was seven years of separation during the week and being together on the weekend when possible," Luebke said. "He did a lot of childcare for our family and always was behind me and supported any of my dreams and goals."

Luebke attended college in St. Louis, then medical school from 1982 to 1986 at the University of South Dakota. Following graduation from medical school, Luebke did her residency at the Family Practice Center, now called the Center for Family Medicine, in Sioux Falls, then began her practice at the Douglas County Memorial Hospital.

And Luebke is no stranger to being the first woman to receive an award or honor.

In 1998 and 1999, she served as the first female president of the South Dakota Academy of Family Physicians. She then became a delegate to the American Academy of Family Physicians Congress of Delegates beginning in 2005 and became a voting delegate in 2010, a position she held until 2013. In total, she and Doug dedicated 15 years to the organization.

"I always had the interest in the sciences, and I guess I hadn't really thought about being a physician, per say, but my brother got admitted to medical school and I kind of emulated him," Luebke said. "Nobody else in my family is in medicine so we're kind of the odd ones out in that way."

But she wouldn't have it any other way.

A long-tenured career has had its ups and downs, but Luebke said Friday she wholeheartedly believes family medicine is the only speciality for her.

And being recognized as this the 2017 Family Doctor of the Year, what she considers the highest honor any physician in the state can receive, simply reaffirms her beliefs.

"I would say it has me feeling even more comfortable in what I do," Luebke said. "It's an affirmation that gives you a more positive outlook that maybe you're not out here struggling by yourself, that maybe you are doing something right."

Continued here:

SD's top family medicine physician hopes for improved rural access to health care - WDAZ

Public offered enrollment in St. Luke’s Mini-Medical School – Allentown Morning Call

Posted on February 25, 2017 by Danzig

St. Luke's University Health Network has opened enrollment for its Mini-Medical School, which enables adults and high school students to explore hands-on health topics in four sessions.

The program, being held in partnership with the Da Vinci Science Center, will focus on the body's nervous system while exploring Da Vinci's newest exhibit: Goose Bumps! The Science of Fear.

The registration deadline is 3 p.m. March 13. Sessions will be on Saturdays from March 18 through April 8, with the adult group meeting from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and the teen group meeting from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The location will alternate between Temple/St. Luke's School of Medicine at St. Luke's University Hospital-Bethlehem, and the Da Vinci Science Center in Allentown.

Registration is required and spots are limited. Participants , chosen at random, will be notified on March 14.

More information is at "866-STLUKES (785-8537); sluhn.org/minimedicalschool.

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Public offered enrollment in St. Luke's Mini-Medical School - Allentown Morning Call

Medical school brings a virtual touch to anatomy studies | The … – Sacramento Bee

Posted on February 25, 2017 by Danzig

Medical school brings a virtual touch to anatomy studies | The ...
Sacramento Bee
Touchscreen tables replace cadavers that would be found in a traditional anatomy lab at University of Nevada Las Vegas's new School of Medicine.

and more »

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Medical school brings a virtual touch to anatomy studies | The ... - Sacramento Bee

First-half dominance helps Navy cruise past Liberty, 20-4 – CapitalGazette.com

Posted on February 25, 2017 by Danzig

The Navy women's lacrosse team (3-1) opened up a 13-goal first-half lead en route to a decisive 20-4 victory over Liberty (1-4) on Saturday at Liberty Lacrosse Field in Lynchburg, Virginia.

"Our focus this week was trying to clean up silly mistakes and to generate transition and assisted goals and I think we did a good job of that against Liberty," Navy head coach Cindy Timchal said. "We were able to generate the offense the way we did by having a strong effort on the defensive end by creating turnovers and give our offense a chance to score."

Navy generated its fourth-straight 10-plus goal game in 2017 by recording a season-best 16 caused turnovers. Junior Blake Smith and sophomore Marie Valenti both tallied a game-high three caused turnovers.

Junior Julia Collins continued to give opposing defenses fits, recording her third five-plus point performance with a career-best seven points on five goals and two assists. Sophomore Meg O'Donnell tied teammate Julia Collins' team-high performance with a career-best seven points on five goals and two assists, as well. Senior Morgan Young posted her third hat trick of the year and 14th of her career, tallying five points on four goals and one assist.

Junior Jenna Collins extended her point streak to 15 games, dating back to last season. During her streak, Collins has recorded at least three points in all 15 contests, which includes seven hat tricks.

Navy's offense wasted no time, jumping out to a 5-0 lead in the first 5:17. Julia Collins led the charge with two goals, while freshman Kelly Larkin tallied two points on one goal and one assist.

Liberty cut the deficit to three, 5-2, with 23:06 left in the half. Paige Britton and Kayla Foster scored on back-to-back possessions.

The Mids, then, went on a 10-0 run in the final 21:55 of the half to build a 13-goal lead, 15-2. O'Donnell sparked the run with the first two goals of the run before Julia Collins recorded a natural hat trick in a span of 5:15. O'Donnell then collected her final three goals of the game over a stretch of 9:21.

Navy continued its dominance in the second half, scoring the first three goals over a 6:28 span. Young tallied the final two goals of her four goals during the run.

Liberty's Hannah Quast tallied back-to-back goals to help the Lady Flames cut the deficit to 14, 18-4 with 11:15 remaining.

Navy freshmen Carley Seekamp and Caitlin Blanche (South River) each tallied their first career goals.

Junior Ingrid Boyum tallied four saves on six chances in 40:44 for the win in net. Teammates Gab Harchelroad, Autumn Koh and Vicotria LaVeck combined for one save on three chances in the final 19:16.

Navy continues its two-game road trip with a Wednesday matchup against George Washington.

NAVY @ GEORGE WASHINGTON

Wednesday, 3 p.m.

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Liberty Hill led by basketball royalty – KXAN.com

Posted on February 25, 2017 by Danzig

LIBERTY HILL (KXAN) Liberty Hill basketball team is made from years of hard work. Really. From elementary to high school, this team has indeed grown up together.

Since 4th grade, yeah 4th grade. Its been a while, junior Bethany Mcleod said.

Back to back trips to the 4A state tournament and the expectation to return, this year this family is set on going the distance.

We have so much heart and so much drive. We want it so bad thatwe have a good chance, senior Madeline Cheney said.

I tried to avoid the conversation for as long as I could and by midseason I embraced it. Theyve accepted that role. They understand where they need to be, coach Chris Lange said.

Thats where we want to be at the end of the year and come home proud to our home gym, junior Sedona Prince said.

Home is the key component. Sedona Prince is high school basketball royalty in terms of size and interest. A nationally ranked player college basketball programs around the country covet. Named after the city in Arizona, Sedona decided to stay home with the Texas Longhorns.

Texas was always there and I always loved it very deeply, Prince said.

It wasnt always the easy pick, the 6-7 junior looked around at the likes of Notre Dame and UConn before coming back to Texas coach Karen Aston and her staff.

They let me know that I was one of their biggest priorities and whenever I go up there its just a great atmosphere to be in. They constantly let me know that theyre here for me whatever I want to do theyll support me, theyll help me with it and yeah theyre right down the street, Prince said.

What makes Prince special is the college interest never swayed her support away from her family on the court.

She was always taller than us. By 7th and 8th grade, she was a head taller than everyone and its still been the same. Weve grown and shes grown, junior Kandyn Faurie said.

Definitely helps with the height thingrebounding. I dont know kind of when we get in trouble we just throw the ball up there and she gets it, Cheney said.

With that size it sounds so simple, though it hardly is.

Its not just being tall. Ive had tall post players before, but its being tall and being skilled. Its a real nice luxury to have a player like that surrounded by a bunch of quality players, Coach Lange said

The quality time together is what makes Liberty Hill a state championship caliber team.

Liberty Hill led by basketball royalty - KXAN.com

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