Lunch & Learn on the First Amendment – The Northfield News

Norwich Universitys Sullivan Museum and History Center will host a lunch and learn program on the First Amendment in conjunction with a national, pop-up exhibit commemorating the 225thanniversary of the Bill of Rights.

OnWednesday, Feb. 22, atnoon, The Sullivan Museum and History Centerpresents, A Living Document: The First Amendment, Past, Present and Future, a talk by Austin Gray, attorney and longtime professor of civil liberties and Constitutional law. The event includes a light lunch and is free and open to the public.

Gray, of law firm Gray Law PLLC in Barre, Vt., has been teaching at the university level for 20 years and is one of the founding faculty of the Master of Law program at Champlain College. He also teaches Civil Liberties and Constitutional Law at Norwich University. A graduate of Temple University School of Law, Gray is a member of the Vermont, Pennsylvania and New Jersey Bar Associations.

This presentation is held in conjunction with a new pop-up exhibition from theNational Archives,The Bill of Rights and You,commemorating the 225th anniversary of the ratification of this landmark document. This exhibit spotlights one of the most remarkable periods in American history,explores the origins of the first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution (collectively known as the Bill of Rights), illustrates how each amendment protects U.S. citizens, and looks at how Americans exercise the rights outlined in the amendments. The Bill of Rightsand Youinvites visitors to connect directly with the people, places, and events that mark this historic documents evolution. The exhibit will be on display in the Museums Rotunda throughMarch 15, 2017.

The Bill of Rights and Youco-curator Jennifer Johnson states: "The Bill of Rights represents the Founder's vision that it would be the people, through votes, that could change the Constitution with enough consensus. And when the people desired a Bill of Rights, our first 10 amendments were added to our governing charter."

Visitors are also encouraged to engage in a dialogue by answering the question: What Does Freedom Mean to You? A message board in the Museum Rotunda is available to post your own personal answer.

The Bill of Rights and Youis organized by the National Archives and Records Administration, and traveled by the National Archives Traveling Exhibits Service (NATES). This exhibition was developed in collaboration with the National Archives National Outreach Initiative to commemorate the 225thAnniversary of the Bill of Rights. The exhibition is presented in part by AT&T, Seedlings Foundation, and the National Archives Foundation.

This exhibit is brought to you in collaboration with the Vermont Humanities Council and the Federation of State Humanities Councils. A statewide nonprofit organization founded in 1974, the Vermont Humanities Council strives to make Vermont a state in which every individual reads, participates in public affairs, and continues to learn throughout life.

Norwich Universitys Sullivan Museum and History Center is the only museum in Vermont to be named a Smithsonian Affiliate.Currently, there are two exhibitions focusing on the year leading up the 100thAnniversary of World War One and the 75thAnniversary of World War Two. These exhibits are on display through May 2017 and include various items from the university collection as well as borrowed materials. Some of the artifacts on exhibit include: trench art, World War One and Two posters, patriotic jewelry, artwork, uniforms, medals, objects from the field, weapons and other items from our collection.

The museum is open to the public from 8 until 4 Monday through Friday, but is closed on holidays. Admission is free.For more information about the programs or exhibit, please call802-485-2183or visithttp://academics.norwich.edu/museum.

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Bitcoin: Paying with the cryptocurrency | All media content | DW … – Deutsche Welle


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Researchers at University of Luxembourg develop core component for Zcash cryptocurrency – Science Business

Scientists at the Interdisciplinary Centre for Security, Reliability and Trust (SnT) of the University of Luxembourg have developed an important mathematical algorithm called Equihash. Equihash is a core component for the new cryptocurrency Zcash, which offers more privacy and equality than the famous Bitcoin. Zcash came into operation as an experimental technology for a community-driven digital currency in late 2016. Competing cryptocurrencies

Bitcoin is by far the most recognised and widely used digital currency. It was introduced in January 2009 and has garnered much attention since then. But it is not the only one of its kind. Wikipedia lists nearly one hundred cryptocurrencies boasting more than 1 million US dollar market capitalisation.

One of the newest cryptocurrencies is Zcash, which can be seen as an update to the Bitcoin protocols. In Bitcoin, the transfer of coins is recorded in a global ledger, the so-called blockchain. The validity of the latest transfers in the blockchain is verified about every ten minutes. Verifying the transfers and creating new blocks for the blockchain (the so-called mining) requires a lot of computing power, which is provided by distributed computers worldwide. The miners who allocate the processing power are rewarded with new coins.

Zcash is trying to resolve two main shortcomings of Bitcoin: its lack of privacy for transactions and the centralisation of transaction verification into the hands of a mere dozen miners who have invested in large amounts of specialised mining hardware: Bitcoin is prone to such centralisation because the computational load of the bitcoin mining algorithm can be split into many different small tasks, which can be conducted in parallel. The algorithm is easy to implement in dedicated, energy-efficient and cheap microchips, but not suited to standard hardware. Bitcoin mining today is therefore done on special-purpose supercomputers which are located in places with cheap electricity and/or cheap cooling. Such supercomputers are expensive, costing millions of euros, but provide much more mining power than if one were to use standard PC hardware of the same price.

New algorithm for cryptocurrency

Prof. Alex Biryukov, head of the research group Cryptolux and Dr. Dmitry Khovratovich at SnT have developed the algorithm Equihash which can resolve this problem. Equihash is a so called memory-hard problem, which can not be split up into smaller working packages. It can be more efficiently calculated on desktop-class computers with their multiple processing cores and gigabytes of memory than on special hardware chips. If 10.000 miners with a single PC were active, in Zcash the investment to compete with them would be 10.000 times the price of a PC, while with bitcoin, the investment would be significantly smaller, says Khovratovich. This creates a more democratic digital currency by allowing more users to contribute to the mining process. Khovratovich adds: The strength of a cryptocurrency comes from the fact that the ledger is globally distributed. Our Equihash algorithm reverses the situation back to this more ideal world.

Equihash was first presented at the Network and Distributed System Security Symposium last year one of the top-5 IT security events. Prof. Biryukov comments: Since Equihash is based on a fundamental computer science problem, advances in Equihash mining algorithms will benefit computer science in general. Equihash is so far unique among all the mining algorithms: it is memory-hard on the one hand and very easy to verify on the other. In other words, while mining new coins with Zcash/Equihash is comparatively expensive, hence posing a smaller risk of monopolisation because it requires large amounts of computer memory and hard computational work, checking that the new coins are genuine is memoryless, fast and cheap.

Understanding these advantages, the creators of Zcash chose Equihash as the algorithm for mining coins and verifying transfers. Equihash itself is not limited to use in Zcash and can be used in any cryptocurrency, including Bitcoin.

With our contribution to Zcash, the Cryptography and Security lab (CryptoLux) has shown its strength in innovative research that has immediate applications in the financial technology industry, says SnTs director, Prof. Bjrn Ottersten. We invite students to follow us in this promising field, adds Professor Biryukov: There are still lots of challenging research problems to solve.

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Cryptocurrency exchange BitMex lists Dash – Finextra – Finextra

Dash, the rising alternative to bitcoin, has been added to cryptocurrency derivatives trading platform BitMEX in the wake of its recent software updates and historic 24 hour trading volumes.

Dash Business Development Spokesman Matthew Meek said, After observing the volumes traded on BitMEX for sometime, it was obvious that BitMEX is consistently ranking amongst the top in USD/BTC volume on a daily basis. We felt that having Dash as an offering for BitMEXs users was an obvious choice and one that would also provide Dash with its first derivative based market, which we are excited about.

BitMEX gives retail investors access to the global markets using cryptocurrencies and derivatives. The exchange allows for trading using up to up to 100x leverage on bitcoin, and high leverage on altcoin futures. Since November 2014, the equivalent of over $4.5 billion USD has been traded over BitMEX. Dash joins a growing roster of popular cryptocurrencies listed on the platform, including Bitcoin, Zcash, Ethereum, Ethereum Classic, Monero, Ripple, Augur, Litecoin and Factom.

BitMEX CEO Arthur Hayes said, BitMEX aims to be the largest venue for the trading of any and all digital currency derivatives. As such, Dash belongs in our product offering. BitMEX believes financial privacy is valuable to the cryptocurrency exchange space. The first digital currency that can offer real electronic untraceable cash will be very successful. The Dash team is on the right path towards accomplishing this feat.

Dashs recent price and volume growth is driven in part by its recent software launch of Sentinel, which sets the foundation for the highly anticipated decentralized payments system Evolution. In parallel, Dash just opened its new headquarters at Arizona State Universitys SkySong Innovation Center, the first cryptocurrency in the world with dedicated offices. Dash now sits above Ethereum Classic as the 6th most valuable cryptocurrency in the world.

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Cryptocurrency exchange BitMex lists Dash - Finextra - Finextra

Reciprocity is the Key to Growing Cryptocurrency Communities – The Merkle

With Bitcoin trading well over $1000 right now and its popularity higher now higher than ever, Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies at large still have a long way to go. If one goal of cryptos is to have a wider adoption and use, then something needs to change from the current implementation and advertisement of bitcoin and altcoins.

It seems that the average user of cryptocurrenciesis a miner, a trader/investor, or a technophile. In no way am I suggesting that these users are not important pillars of coins, but it does create an environment which may be daunting for theaverage joe.Lack of guidance, lack of technical knowledge, and skepticism of others could turn away potential new crypto enthusiasts. To draw a parallel to fiat currency, the vast majority of Americans do not know how fractional reserve banking (FRB) works or what the Federal Reserve Bank is, but they use currency generated by FRB and issued by the Fed on a daily basis.

French sociologist Marcel Mauss seminal work The Gift may be able to lend some valuable insight into building the crypto community(ies). Mauss suggests that communities and interpersonal relationships are built on the foundation of reciprocity, gift giving, and social debts. This is to say that the creation of social obligation forges bonds between individuals. He argues that these gifts given usually were self interested. If you give a good or service to someone, they become indebted in some way. It mandates engagement with others.

Ive actually witnessed a similar kind of reciprocal crypto community already: Dogecoin. At the height of active users in the Dogecoin community, they were sending teams to the Olympics, funding a NASCAR sponsorship, and helping provide clean water to less fortunate communities. In addition to these large philanthropic endeavors, dogecoin remained very active among smaller time cyrpto users as well via giveaways and tipping. Since Dogecoin is relatively cheap and rather stable against fiat, members of the community will often give away small amounts of coins to other users to keep everyone excited. Theyll also tip some coins during discussions about anything ranging from the future of the coin to how an individual is feeling that day.

The creation of these social debts created opportunities and obligations to have community members return often and participate. This is where Mauss idea seems obvious to me. Obligation to participate grows a community. For a fair amount of time, Dogecoin was one of the most traded altcoins. Sadly, the same is true about less frequent participation. Dogecoins active members have seen a downtick recently, which have affected popularity and participation.

Bitcoin also used to have an easy way to tip others on the Internet via ChangeTip. This service allowed easy mircopayments between individuals across a plethora of social media and networking platforms. ChangeTip was very popular. It saw over $250,000 worth of tips sent and received with most tips hovering around $1. Despite this, the service shut down in November 2016. Maybe we need a new alternative to ChangeTip?

In no way am I suggesting that everyone start throwing large amounts of bitcoin around at each other in the same way Doge was able to. However I am suggesting that if small crypto tips are not available, that we think of Mauss and gift what we can to newcomers and veterans alike. This can be small amounts of altcoins (if the transaction fees allow), but more so knowledge and guidance. Helping individuals get started with crypto is the single easiest way to create that social obligation, to engender participation. Because participation is likely the most effective way to wider adoption and use.

If you liked this article, follow us on Twitter @themerklenews and make sure to subscribe to our newsletter to receive the latest bitcoin, cryptocurrency, and technology news.

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Top 5 Most Innovative Cryptocurrencies – The Merkle

Bitcoin was the pioneer cryptocurrency as it brought us the blockchain technology that isrevolutionizing the world as we know it. There are, however, a few incredible innovative altcoins with amazing goals. Here are a few of the most innovative cryptos you need to know about.

Steem is a cryptocurrency that is generated through the creation of content in a blockchain-based social media platformcalled Steemit, in which everyone can earn simply by creating and curating content. This means the cryptocurrency may, for some, be a way earn extra cash, while for others it may be a way to monetize growth. New artists, for example, can use it as a platform that helps them support themselves.

NXT is a proof-of-stake cryptocurrency, meaning all the coins were created at the beginning and that it doesnt need an incredible amount of computational power to generate blocks. Instead, it uses an algorithm based on the amount of coins already in the NXT network, and opening you wallet grants you a chance to get proof of stake rewards.

Its code is unique, and NXTs creators even call it a cryptoplatform instead of a cryptocurrency, as it supports a system that allow an infinite number of third-party applications to be created on top of NXT, creating a whole ecosystem around it.

Ripple wants to do for money what email did for communication. Ripple is both an open-source payments system that wants to help people break free from financial networks who restrict access with fees, and a digital currency used within that network. With Ripple, financial transaction fees can be reduced to almost insignificant amounts, and settlements are almost instant.

These characteristics drew in a wide variety of investors, including Google Ventures.Ripple itself, the cryptocurrency, differs from others as it is pre-mined and centralized. Nevertheless, it has already been adopted by a few major financial institutions.

Monero, a cryptocurrency under the CryptoNote platform, takes financial privacy seriously. Transactions arent traceable at all, and that means those who do value their privacy can feel safewhen using this cryptocurrency. So much so, darknet markets such as AlphaBay have already adopted Monero, which led to a surge in its popularity. Furthermore, this cryptocurrency is optimized for CPUs instead of GPUs, which makes it easier for amateur miners to get involved.

Ethereum is currently the second biggest cryptocurrency out there. Its platform is a blockchain-based decentralized virtual machine called the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM), in which people can create decentralized applications (DApps), and in which Gas is used to properly allocate resources in the network.

In the platform, social networking systems that give power to users, online voting and distributed governance tools, and even fully transparent financial applications can be created. Resources in it are paid for in Ether.

The Ethereum project aims to do for human collaboration what the internet did for information, as some of the best uses it can have are still far beyond our imagination, just like Facebook and YouTube were far from peoples imagination when the internet came to be.

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This Blockchain Startup Will Pay You to Help Your Friends Find Love – CoinDesk

"When I looked at the dating industry, I saw it was expensive to reach a critical mass of users and open a niche dating site," says Yonatan Ben Shimon in a Skype call from Tel Aviv.

"That's why dominant sites are one-size-fits-all, but that's not what most of us look for."

Ben Shimon is founder and CEO of Matchpool, a new dating service that aims to bring couples together through the art of matchmakingand a 21st century twist, let the most successful matchmakers earn cryptocurrency rewards for their work.

The unique selling proposition (USP) of the service is to combine elements of traditional matchmaking with the transparency and enforceability of programmable smart contracts.

In short, potential matchmakers start 'pools' subsets of users united by a common interest, like Facebook groups within which all users can private message one another in the hope of finding a match.

Pool owners are able to monetize their matchmaking efforts in a variety of ways, such as by setting a membership fee to join or charging an amount per message sent.

Additionally they can try to maintain group dynamics by setting smart contract-enforced ratios between different user attributes: a 50/50 male-female split, for example, or a balanced age range. Rather than using the everyone-for-themselves, search-and-filter strategy of a site like OKCupid, you might call it a more curated approach to dating.

In a Medium post, Ben Shimon writes that matchmaking is still a common practice in many religious communities, and has been for much of history. But, it's also true that most of us don't live in these kinds of communities anymore.

"I think it does happen, but under the surface," he said. "If you ask a lot of colleagues or friends how they met their husband, they'll say through mutual friends. It's an environment that takes off your layers of protection If a trusted person makes the introduction we suddenly feel a lot more comfortable."

The idea is that pool owners will help to create this atmosphere of trust, at least to some degree, vouching for the users in the pool in a way that fosters genuine conversation instead of the frequently bland or abusive tenor of other popular sites.

Of course, even with the best intentions, trying to engineer social dynamics is pretty tricky, as is launching a dating site (or any other kind of social network) when existing competitors already have a significant network effect.

With these potential challenges ahead, why is Matchpool taking on the additional challenge of creating its own cryptocurrency token to underpin it?

Firstly, Ben Shimon said the company was attracted to the idea of using a blockchain to store data about user interactions because the records in the system are difficult to change, something he hopes will further build the trust network between users.

Secondly, as has been established in many other contexts, cryptocurrency isthought to be an attractive option if the aim is to reward users with small amounts of money on a regular basis, especially compared to conventional payment processors.

And thirdly, Matchpool's 'Guppy' token will be used to attract users, with 20% of the token supply being used to incentivize new signups with a reward which for the time being will only be given to women.

The rationale is that dating sites tend to have higher numbers of men, though its difficult to assess figures across all sites. Research from the Pew Center, though, found that more American men used dating sites than women.

"I believe that if we reward early users with real money in a way that we couldn't do with dollars then we can cheaply overcome the initial barriers that come from the [lack of] network effect," said Ben Shimon, citing PayPal as a company that had employed a similar paid sign-up strategy to rapidly acquire users.

With a token sale (sometimes called an initial coin offering or ICO) scheduled for March, and prospective launch date in May, it wont be long until the effectiveness of this strategy can be judged against results.

But one question remained at the end of the interview: what exactly isBen Shimon's motive for the site anyway?

Could it be that perhaps hes like the Mark Zuckerberg portrayed in "The Social Network", trying to connect crowds of other people as a way of getting closer to the one girl that got away?

For now, he doesn't see it the same.

"You know, thats a tricky question ... I'm not doing it to get one girl."

Love and money image via Shutterstock. App image via Matchpool

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This Blockchain Startup Will Pay You to Help Your Friends Find Love - CoinDesk

Bitcoin Pushing Through Resistance Again – CryptoCoinsNews

Bitcoin is now pushing its way through arc resistance in several timeframes. I think it is reasonable to assume that it will soon get through the arcs to close on the sunny side, giving us buy signals once again.

Here is a 4-hour chart:

As you can see, in this setup it was the top of the 4th square that knocked price for a loop several days ago. But the chart found support at the 3rd arc, retraced back to the 4th arc, faltered for a bit, but is now pushing through.

Of course, it is possible that the 2nd arc of the pair will knock it back down, but that seems a bit unlikely. Far more likely, imho, is that price will get through and target the 5th arc at ~ $1087.

It seems that the 2/19-2/21 timeframe will see price hit the 5th arc. What will likely happen then? Of course, I cant say for sure. However, Chris Carolyns epic work, The Spiral Calendar has called out this time frame as a time window to watch as an energy point in time, so to speak. Truthfully, for several weeks now I had assumed that the 2/21 time frame was going to see a major low, leading to a wonderful time for the bulls. It now appears that it may in fact be a top.

Time will tell if that is true or not. But for now, it seems that a buy signal on the 4-hour chart is likely imminent.

Here is the 2-hour BTCCNY chart (BTCCHINA):Here we can see that price fell after reaching the end of the 2nd square in time, but has since crossed the 3rd arc pair. While price is still looking a bit weak here, the 4th arc is a long way up, when/if price decides to turn up.

Happy trading!

Remember: The author is a trader who is subject to all manner of error in judgement. Do your own research, and be prepared to take full responsibility for your own trades.

Image from Shutterstock.

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Bitcoin Pushing Through Resistance Again - CryptoCoinsNews

Report: India’s Central Bank is Against Bitcoin as Legal Tender – CryptoCoinsNews

Merely weeks after cautioning residents that bitcoin companies werent authorized or licensed to operate in the country, Indias central bank is reportedly not including bitcoin under the purview of regulations for digital payments. In essence, the cryptocurrency will not be legitimized as a legal form of payment or settlement in an economy which is the worlds largest receiver of remittances, anytime soon.

Digital payments and financial technology (Fintech) solutions have caught on rampantly amongst the Indian society in recent times, particularly after a sweeping, unprecedented cash crunch brought on by the governments demonetization drive.

In light of these new innovations, the Payments and Settlement Systems Act of 2007 [PDF], the code by which payment systems are regulated, was amended to include digital payment gateways and platforms. The amended regulations will look to deem physical cash and digital cash as equals, with developments toward interoperability and a unified payments platform as India embraces the digitization of cash.

As it transpires, bitcoin will not be included as a valid payment system under the new act, according to a report in Indian publication The Telegraph.

The prospect of digital currencies being acknowledged by authorities were dealt an early blow when Indias central (federal) government decided against creating a separate regulator for the digital payments industry. The authority to regulate was promptly awarded to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), the countrys central bank. Setting up a separate regulator would have led to one too many financial regulators, according to officials. Globally, the trend is towards unified regulators and the RBI is a strong institution, hence the government chose to go with it, the officials stated according to the report.

The RBI will set up a Payments Regulatory Board, headed by its governor, to oversee and handle digital payment gateways which now fall under the amended regulations.

Digital banking and Fintech platforms are seeing massive adoption in a country with soaring smartphone penetration.

Earlier this month, the central bank issued a public notice, urging caution among bitcoin adopters and users in the country while stating that no exchanges or businesses dealing with the cryptocurrency were licensed by the authority. A week after the public notice, Indias small but growing bitcoin industry came together to form the Virtual Currency Association. The industry group, which consists of Indias biggest digital currency companies and exchanges, has since set out to lobby the government to license and recognize bitcoin trading.

However, the report suggests that attempts by bitcoin players to come under the ambit of the new body are unlikely to succeed as the government and the RBI are not in favour of legitimizing bitcoins as legal tender.

The stance is certain to prove frustrating among bitcoin exchange operators and companies in the industry, particularly when the new regulations allow licensed e-wallet platforms like widely-adopted PayTM to gain access to RBI-controlled remittance infrastructure. Fundamentally, Fintech platforms like PayTM and other e-wallets will gain payment and settlement interoperability with every bank account in a country of over a billion people.

The continuing hardline stance taken by authorities contrasts to approaches taken by other Asian countries.

In December, Philippine authorities revealed that they were considering regulating bitcoin exchange operators after a marked increase in bitcoin remittance in the country. Come January, the regulations were approved before their public release last week. Fundamentally, bitcoin is now recognized as a valid payment method in the Philippines.

In Japan, industry insiders expect to see up to 20,000 bitcoin-accepting merchants in 2017, quintupling the total from 2016, due to the upcoming regulations toward the digital currency industry, expected in June. Tokyo-based bitFlyer, Japans largest bitcoin exchange now sees investors in all three of the countrys mega-banks.Japan recognized bitcoin and virtual currencies as equivalents to fiat cash in early 2016 before proceeding to pass a bill toward the regulation of bitcoin exchanges.

By turning a blind eye toward the bitcoin industry when not shunning it completely, India is missing a trick when it comes to the next generation of simpler, more efficient and faster digital payments.

Images from Shutterstock.

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Comet spotted breaking apart as it swings by Earth – CBS News

A comet appears to be cracking up over our heads at this moment. Comet 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann was seen breaking apart via Slooh telescopes in Chile on Sunday and captured in GIF-tastic glory here:

Slooh Observatory

The slow destruction of this primordial space rock has been ongoing for quite a while. The earliest evidence of its disintegration was first observed on its 1995 visit. During its trip around the sun in 2006,observations by Hubbleand other telescopes revealed Comet 73P was flying by with an entourage of over 40 discernible fragments that had broken off the main structure.

It certainly feels like its only a matter of time before comet 73P is destroyed, disintegrating into a trail of cosmic dust, Slooh astronomer Paul Cox said in a statement.

This is just kind of the way it goes for comets, which are made up of ice, dust and rock. Gravity, solar radiation and solar wind are constantly threatening to pull comets apart on each swing through the inner solar system, a trip Comet 73P makes every 5.4 years.

This means each pass by us could be the comets last. In fact, we might be witnessing its final days right now. It will reach perihelion its closest approach to the sun before whipping around our star to head back out toward Jupiter on March 16. Cox says Comet 73P may be hard-pressed to survive that moment.

This puts the comets nucleus under tremendous stress from the Suns gravitational forces and it appears that this may have been responsible for carving up the nucleus in two, he said.

The sun is known for snuffing out other notable comets in this way, as it likely did to theanticipated Comet ISONa few years ago.

And just for the record, we dont know yet where fragments from the comet might end up. Back in 2006, the internet went wild with rumors that parts of the comet would impact Earth and cause a huge tsunami, although NASA made it clear none of the fragments would pass closer than 20 times the distance between us and the moon.

Fortunately, astronomers are certain to keep a close eye on this crumbling comet, and so will we. Keep looking up.

Solving for XX:The industry seeks to overcome outdated ideas about women in tech.

Crowd Control:A crowdsourced science fiction novel written by CNET readers.

This article was originally published on CNET.com.

2017 CBS Interactive Inc.. All Rights Reserved.

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BOYS BB: Comets fall short in 2 OTs – Kokomo Tribune

ALEXANDRIA Easterns boys basketball team is the defending Sectional 39 champion. Alexandria looks like the favorite to take the hardware this year.

The Comets showed Tuesday they will be ready to battle for a sectional repeat when the tournament opens Feb. 28.

Alex outlasted Eastern 67-61 in two overtimes on the Tigers floor.

Eastern coach Mike Springer liked what he saw from his squad.

Like I told the kids, this is the team the fight, the energy, the determination that I really believe we have, Springer said. Going on the road, playing on [Alexs] senior night, it was a tough game, but our kids battled and they worked together. Im just super proud of each and every one of them.

Down 46-39 late in regulation, the Comets closed on a 9-2 run to force overtime. Sam Querry ignited the comeback with a 3-pointer at 2:21. After Alexs Miller Abernathy missed a pair of free throws at 1:24, Zach Robinson drilled a 3-pointer to make it a one-point game at 1:08.

Abernathy put the Tigers up three with a layup at :30, but the Tigers fouled Robinson on a 3-point attempt at :24. The Comet senior made all three free throws for a 48-all tie. The Tigers missed a shot in the lane in the closing seconds.

In the first overtime, Alex jumped to a 53-50 lead, but Eastern followed with seven straight points. Querry started the run with two free throws and then Robinson had a terrific stretch he took a steal, hit a 3-pointer and then drew a charge. Draeden Graber scored on a breakout for a 57-53 lead at 1:07.

The Comets (7-14) failed to hold the lead. Alexs Matthew Hensley hit two free throws at :58. After Eastern came up empty on a three-shot possession, Alexs Avery Paddock tied it with two free throws at :41. Following an Eastern turnover, Alex missed a shot in the closing seconds.

The Tigers (12-8) dominated the second overtime. Dane Hueston, a 6-foot-6 forward, drilled a pair of 3-pointers to make it 63-57. The Tigers followed with 3 of 4 free throws for a 66-57 lead at 1:21 and they went on for the six-point win.

Alexs nine-point lead in the second OT was the biggest lead by either team in the game.

The first half was tight. Eastern led 8-6 after the first quarter. Alexs Blake Morehead beat the halftime buzzer with a runner, giving the Tigers their first lead, 20-19.

Alex led 32-29 after the third quarter. Eastern committed 10 turnovers in the quarter but was able to stay within one possession.

Alex built a pair of seven-point leads in the fourth quarter, 44-37 at 3:42 and 46-39 at 2:52, before the Comets stormed back.

Robinson led Eastern with 17 points, eight rebounds and four assists. Querry had 17 points and six rebounds. Graber had 16 points, four boards and three assists. The Comets had a 34-26 rebounding advantage.

We had really good effort, Springer said. Defensively, I felt we felt we did a really good job on the glass. We moved the ball well, got good shots on the offensive end.

It was a tough game. Im just proud of the way our kids battled. We were right there [Tuesday], we just came up short. Well go back [today] and see if we can get better.

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BOYS BB: Comets fall short in 2 OTs - Kokomo Tribune

Comets girls advance with 39-28 win over PH-Ashland | Prep Sports … – YourGV.com

Win and advance.

That was the focus of the Halifax County High School varsity girls basketball team in Monday night's 5A North Region Conference 16 Tournament quarterfinal game against Patrick Henry High School-Ashland at Halifax Count High School.

The Comets got off to a good start and got the job done with a 39-28 win over the Patriots, with the win propelling the third-seeded Comets into Wednesday's semi-final round where they will face second seed Albemarle High School in Charlottesville.

A win on Wednesday will send the Comets into the tournament championship game on Friday and guarantee them no worse than a second seed for the 5A North Region Tournament. If the Comets lose Wednesday, they will host a third-place game at Halifax County High School Friday night with the conference's third seed for the region tournament at stake.

Senior guard Malasia Boyd said the win was a big one for the team.

"We feel good about this," Boyd remarked.

"We were here in the same place last year and at the rate we're going, we're looking good. We're progressing each and every day. Learning from this game will help us in the next game."

This marked the second straight year the Comets girls have advanced out of the first round with a win on their home floor.

"Playing on our home court makes a big difference for us," noted Comets Head Coach David Graham after his team's victory.

"Home-court advantage means everything to these girls. The girls played really hard at the end of the regular season and we got the third seed, which was better than what we thought we would get. Hopefully we can go on from here."

The Comets were led in scoring by Tamiara Logan who finished the game with 11 points that included a trio of three-point baskets that came in the first half. Shadajah Davis followed with 10 points, Dee Dee Jeffress chipped in seven points and Brittany Clark tossed in six points among the team's top scorers.

Logan also led the Comets in rebounds with seven and had two steals and two assists. Clark had four rebounds and three steals and Davis pulled in four rebounds.

Halifax County High School got each of the four quarters off to a good start by scoring on the first two possessions of each quarter. On the defensive side, the Comets held the Patriots to seven points or less in three of the four quarters.

"We needed to get 10 or more points per quarter," Graham pointed out.

"We shot the ball well tonight and played extremely good defense."

If there was a downside to the Comets' effort it was turnovers. The Comets had 21 turnovers in the game including nine in the fourth quarter.

"We turned the ball over when they (PH-Ashland) pressed us," Graham pointed out.

"That is the only negative I can say about the game."

The Comets hit six of 15 shots from beyond the three-point arc, with Logan getting half of them.

"I was just feeling it," Logan said.

"I knew I had to put some arch on the ball. That was pretty much it. I also got good passes from my teammates."

The Comets took the lead on their first possession of the game with Logan hitting the first of her trio of 3-point shots to give her team a 3-2 lead. Davis hit a shot from inside the paint on the team's second possession and later knocked down a three-pointer to put the Comets up 8-2 with 5:35 left in the first quarter.

Halifax County High School led 11-5 at the end of the first quarter and got a 3-point basket from Boyd and a layup from Jeffress to grab a 16-5 lead with 5:39 left in the first half. The Patriots closed to within seven points late in the second quarter but a three-pointer from Logan with 32.7 seconds left in the half put the Comets up 22-12 at halftime.

Halifax County High School led by as many as 14 points in the third quarter, which ended with the Comets leading 29-16.

Baskets by Davis and Clark to open the fourth quarter gave the Comets a 33-16 lead with six minutes left in the game. The Comets were never threatened after that.

Now, the Comets head to Charlottesville for Wednesday's semi-final round game against Albemarle High School.

"We've got to go up there and play on their home court," Graham said, "but we're playing pretty well. We're scoring points. If our offense can keep clicking we will be okay."

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Comets’ penalty kill aims to be better – Utica Observer Dispatch

Ben Birnell

The Utica Comets penalty kill has recently had a rough few days.

The month started with Utica allowing one power-play goal on four opportunities to Hartford on Feb. 3. Then, the Toronto Marlies went 6 of 7 in a home-and-home series last week before Springfield added one on three chances Saturday. After stopping three Syracuse power plays Sunday, Utica is 66.7 percent on the penalty kill in the last five games.

When February began, the Comets ranked 11th in the American Hockey League with an 83 percent success rate. Entering Tuesday, the Comets ranked 21st at 80.5 percent.

I think (penalty kill) is always a focus, defenseman Chad Billins said. We just have to learn from our mistakes.

Utica (19-21-6-1 overall) takes on Toronto (24-21-3-1) in a big North Division matchup at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Utica Memorial Auditorium. The Comets know they have to be better against the Marlies, who are among the AHLs top power-play teams.

I dont know if we take any different approach than any other game, said Billins, a member of the Comets penalty kill unit. Obviously, we know their power-play is pretty potent.

Toronto is 14-of-35 (40 percent) against Utica this season. The Comets tied a franchise record Friday, allowing four power-play goals.

Theyve got a good power play, Comets coach Travis Green said. Theyve obviously exposed us.

Green said the Comets will make adjustments, but wont reinvent the wheel. Utica also has upcoming contests against Lehigh Valley and Albany, which has power-play units in the top half of the AHL entering Tuesday.

The 27-year-old Billins, who is in his first season with the Comets, said the team will have to remain disciplined.

Discipline is a big key in any game, but especially against (Toronto), Billins said. I think it is just important to avoid the easy calls. Taking undisciplined penalties, retaliations and stuff like that, thats when they hurt.

Gaunce back to NHL

Brendan Gaunces time with the Comets lasted four games.

The forward was officially recalled by the Vancovuer Canucks on Tuesday and joined the team in Pittsburgh in time for its game against the Penguins.

I felt I made the most of my games in Utica, Gaunce said in Pittsburgh. Im happy to be back here and looking forward (to playing with the Canucks).

The move happened because Bo Horvat is day-to-day after suffering a bone bruise after blocking a shot Sunday in Buffalo. The Canucks are also without Sven Baertschi, who recently suffered a concussion after a nasty hit from Nashvilles Cody McLeod. Entering Tuesday, Gaunce had five assists in 47 games with the Canucks this season.

Gaunce said last week he wanted to score a goal with the Comets. He did that Friday his first since April 16, 2016 while also adding an assist. He also scored in the Comets win Saturday. Gaunce, who also spent time on the team's power-play unit, played on a line with Carter Bancks and Wacey Hamilton.

In his return to the Comets, the 26-year-old seemed to play with confidence.

I thought (Gaunce) was good, Green said. He had a lot of pop in his game. It was probably good for him to get a lot of puck touches and score a goal. Well see what happens.

Making progress

The Comets are 1-5-1-1 in the last eight games. It is part of what has been an up-and-down season for Utica.

Six of those eight games were decided by a single goal. And Toronto added empty-netters, making two games closer than the scores might've appeared. Green has recently seemed pleased with the teams effort.

Im not happy that we havent won games. But, Im really happy with the way were playing, said Green, whose team is winless in its last five home games. Ive really loved our game since the All-Star break. But, in saying that we have to find a way to win.

With 28 regular-season games remaining, the Comets are six pointsbehind fourth-placeToronto in the division. The top four teams in the division make the playoffs. Including last weekends three-in-three, the Comets play 10 contests in 16 days.

I think the biggest key is just not to get too high or too low, get some points and stick to the process, Billins said.

Roll call

Pascal Pelletier, who didnt play in the third period Sunday, is day-to-day with a lower-body injury, Green said. The 33-year-old forward was injured near the end of the second period against the Syracuse Crunch. He did not practice Tuesday.

Joseph LaBate, who has missed the last 17 games with an upper-body injury, practiced Tuesday in a normal jersey. He could return to the lineup soon.

Hes close, Green said of LaBate, who is in his second full pro season.

Forward Derek Hulak (27 consecutive games) and defenseman John Negrin (15 consecutive games) remain week-to-week, according to Green.

New addition

Comets defenseman Colby Robak and his wife, Colleen, became new parents Tuesday.

The couple named their son Cayson Arthur Robak. Everyone appears to be doing well.

The 26-year-old Robak, who wasnt at practice Tuesday, told the O-D that Colleen found the name Cayson while perusing the social media website Pinterest.

Asked if he had given Robak any parenting advice, Green smiled and laughed.

Not yet, said Green, who has three kids.

Follow @OD_Birnell on Twitter or call him at 315-792-5032.

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Comets' penalty kill aims to be better - Utica Observer Dispatch

Comets buried by slow start | Local Sports | commercial-news.com – Danville Commercial News

CHAMPAIGN The Oakwood Lady Comets once again got out to a slow start in postseason play, but this time, couldnt recover, as they saw their season come to an end at the hands of the Monticello Sages 50-41 on Tuesday evening in opening round action of the Class 2A Sectional at The High School of St. Thomas More in Champaign.

Oakwood, who could just muster two points in the opening eight minutes of action, fell behind 11-2 at the end of the first quarter, and was forced to try and play catch-up for the remainder of the game.

I think that the beginning of the game dictated things for the most part, because we had trouble getting into any kind of offensive rhythm as a result, Oakwood head coach Jeff Ford said following the game on his teams slow start.

The Lady Comets recovered some in the second quarter, as they began to see a few shots drop through the hoop, and trailed the Sages 17-10 after one half of play.

But it was the defensive pressure of Monticello that wore thin on the Lady Comets, something that Ford attributed to his teams trouble getting the ball up the court.

I dont know if we have faced that kind of length at any time this season, and I have to give them (Monticello) credit, because that made it extremely tough for us to get any kind of offense going tonight, Ford added regarding Monticellos tough defensive effort.

Katelyn Young scored 12 points to lead Oakwood, while Shaelyn Turner and Rylee Dowers each added 10 points for the Lady Comets, who see their season come to an end at 26-5 overall.

Oakwood was just 9-of-26 from the field, including 5-of-12 from beyond the arc, and excluding that first quarter, they didnt do a bad job from the field on the night. Oakwood struggled from the free throw line, making just 8 of their 18 attempts at the line.

Monticello (22-4) was led in scoring by Zanna Myers, who ended up with 12 points. Emma Reeder and Rachel Lockmiller each added nine points apiece for the Sages, who made 15-39 from the field for the contest, but only attempted four long range shots, making two of those.

Monticello was efficient from the free throw line, making 14-of-18 from the stripe on the night, including several late in the game to seal the victory.

Oakwood committed 23 turnovers, something that Ford attributes to inexperience for his young team.

I think our girls maybe tried to do too much tonight, and with their youth and inexperience, that certainly could have been a factor for the amount of turnovers as well, Ford remarked about his team and their lack of ability to take good care of the ball.

With everyone returning next season for Ford and the Lady Comets, they have the potential to get back in this position once again, and possibly improve with another year of experience.

Monticello will face Bloomington Central Catholic, who defeated Clifton Central 56-52 in a tight affair in the first game of the evening, in the sectional title game on Thursday evening. The winner of that game will advance on to the super-sectional at Champaigns Parkland College next Monday night with the opportunity to advance to the state tournament.

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Panthers pounce early against Comets | Sports | chickashanews.com – Chickasha Express Star

The Amber-Pocasset Panthers got off to a blistering start against the Hinton Comets on Monday. The Panthers opened the game on 10-0 run and never looked back en route to a dominating 67-35 victory over the Comets.

Amber-Pocasset got major scoring contributions from several players, led by Nathan Ratcliff and Hayden Savage. Ratcliff led all scorers with 20 points. Savage finished with 18 points. Travis Clift joined the duo in double figures with 12 points. The three combined for six 3-pointers as well.

Amber-Pocasset's defense was also a major factor in their success. The Comets made just three field goals in the entire first half and reached the 20-turnover mark as well. The Panthers extended that early 10-point lead to a 30-8 advantage at halftime.

After a Savage basket early in the second half, Hinton's Cache Garrett went on a solo 8-0 run to match Hinton's first-half point total and bring the Comets to within 16.

That run was then ended as the Panthers took a 22-point lead into the fourth quarter.

The Panthers started the final eight minutes with the first of four 3-point baskets in the quarter. That came from Savage. A Ratcliff 3-point basket gave Amber-Pocasset a 29-point advantage. Clift would hit the other two for the Panthers.

The playoffs begin on Saturday for the Panthers. They will either host Boone-Apache or Navajo in the district title game.

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Panthers pounce early against Comets | Sports | chickashanews.com - Chickasha Express Star

Second half ‘D’ lifts Comets over Rangers – The Hillsdale Daily News

Matthew Lounsberry mlounsberry@hillsdale.net mlounsberryHDN

READING Jonesville employed a more aggressive defense in the second half of Tuesdays game at Reading, which lifted the Comets to a 57-39 win over the Rangers.

At halftime, I told the guys lets get up a little more and make it tougher, said Jonesville coach Kirk Wright. That created a lot more turnovers in the second half. It really changed the game with more pressure in the second half.

The game sat tied at 23 as both teams exited the locker rooms for the third quarter, and the Comets full court pressure helped them open the frame on a 11-2 run.

It was a pretty physical game, and we kind of got wore out up front, said Reading coach Brett Kerspilo. We made some mental mistakes, and they played really aggressive defense.

We werent able to over come those mistakes. You start missing baskets and it kind of snowballs from there.

The teams went toe-to-toe for the remainder of the third quarter, as Jonesville took a 46-35 lead into the final frame.

The Comets defensive was suffocating in the fourth quarter, as Jonesville outscored the Rangers 11-4 to end the game.

For Reading, Thursday night was another frustrating example of a strong first half followed up by a disappointing second, a trend that has become a theme for their season.

Weve been working on it. What weve struggled with is weve had a quarter where we cant score, Kerspilo said. When we dont score, we lose our energy offensively.

Reading struggled to score early in the game as well, with Jonesville jumping to a 10-2 lead in the opening five minutes of the contest.

The Rangers rebounded to cut their deficit to 12-8 by the end of the first quarter, then took an 18-17 lead with 2:21 remaining in the half.

I always want to have a little more pressure on defense. It seems like we always start a little slow, Wright said.

Both teams ended the second quarter with three-point baskets, making it 23-23 before the Comets second half adjustments led them to victory.

Weve had moments all year where weve been good on defense. Now we need to carry it through a whole game, Wright said.

We can play with anybody if we play right. We have good enough players here. We just need to make sure we finish a game, play four quarters of defense.

Jonesville was led by senior point guard Jake Wilson with 21 points, five steals and four assists. Joel Benn pitched in a strong performance with 14 points, five steals, five rebounds and three assists.

Will Taylor had nine points and two steals, and Seth Young added eight points. Mitchell Beatty contributed three assists and three steals, while Seth Spahr added five rebounds.

Wright was pleased with his teams offensive balance.

Its how weve been playing lately. Our last game, Jake didnt lead us. Jake really is a pass-first guy, and we have other guys who will step up, he said.

If we get three or four guys every game to step up, we have a chance to finish out the season real strong going into districts.

The Comets return home for three straight games, as they look to enter the postseason on a hot streak.

We just have to keep playing every game. Were going home for our next three games in a row, which is huge, Wright said. We have to come out and try to win every game we can and go into districts with momentum.

Reading was led by freshman Nick Affholter with 12 points and seven rebounds. Cole Boyd scored 10 points.

Also for the Rangers, Corbin Hoover scored seven points, Alex Price scored six and Ben Affholter added four points and 11 rebounds.

Kerspilo remains confident in his young squad, and hopes the lessons learned from throughout the season lead to a mature, dangerous team come district play.

Were hungry. Weve just have to put together four quarters. A lot of it is gaining confidence. We just got to have a night where we figure it out, get over that hump, he said.

I think well get it. Im still excited about district. The guys are still into it.

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Second half 'D' lifts Comets over Rangers - The Hillsdale Daily News

Psoriasis has affected absolutely everything in my life – The Irish Times – Irish Times

Marion Morrissey from Co Limerick was diagnosed with psoriasis at 15.

Living with a chronic skin condition can be very difficult as although it may not be life threatening, treatment can be all-consuming and the anxiety caused by such a visible disorder can take its toll.

Up to 140,000 people in Ireland suffer from psoriasis, an auto-immune disorder which causes the skin to reproduce at a rapid pace resulting in itchy, painful scales all over the body, including the scalp and nails.

And if this discomfort wasnt enough, 40,000 will go on to develop psoriatic arthritis which affects the back and joints causing severe pain and immobility.

This month, Arthritis Ireland has launched a campaign entitled More than Skin Deep, which provides expert information on the condition and advice for sufferers.

There is a lot of research going on in Ireland into psoriatic arthritis and its causes, says consultant rheumatologist Prof David Kane.

These are mainly looking at the genes that cause the condition in families and using ultrasound imaging and synovial tissue biopsy of the joints to study patients who have the disease in order to find new targets for treatments.

For immediate pain relief there are a range of painkillers but these do not deal with the underlying inflammation which will ultimately lead to permanent joint damage.

But fortunately there are now a lot of specific treatment options for psoriatic arthritis that will reverse the joint inflammation, reduce pain and prevent joint damage.

Marion Morrissey from Co Limerick knows only too well what it is like to have the condition as she has suffered with it since she was a teenager.

I was diagnosed with psoriasis at 15 so have lived with the condition for more years than I have lived without it and it has affected absolutely everything in my life, says the 39 year old.

My initial diagnosis was of a very dry flaky scalp at the hairdressers. I then went to my GP who diagnosed psoriasis. But that GP (and many others since), didnt have much time or empathy as psoriasis wasnt perceived to be serious as its not usually life threatening.

But my condition got progressively worse until I had almost 75 per cent body coverage. Then when I was 24 I got nail psoriasis which looks like a fungal infection there was no treatment for this but luckily, being female, I could paint my nails. Over the years I have tried every treatment available from conventional to alternative creams, lotions, ointments, sprays, moisturisers, shampoos and PUVA light treatment anything that offered even a glimmer of hope, but none really worked.

Morrissey, who is married with three children and runs her own healthcare training company, http://www.safeaid.ie, was dealt a further blow when the skin condition transferred to her joints.

I developed psoriatic arthritis aged 32 and became really worried about my quality of life, she admits. The pain and stiffness started in my fingers and toes it was really severe especially in the mornings, really affecting my ability to carry out normal daily activities.

My fingers and toes would be hot and throbbing and had a sausage-like appearance so this along with the stiffness and pain made many tasks difficult. Driving was affected as getting a grasp on the steering wheel and pressing on the pedals was hard due to the pain in my toes. Even brushing my daughters hair was a problem as I couldnt hold the brush and this really took its toll emotionally.

The pain and stiffness spread to her knees, ankles, elbows and neck until eventually Morrissey sought help. She was diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis and put on medication and while it took several different drugs to discover which would work best for her condition, her current medication is keeping the pain under control and for the first time in years, she is living life to the full.

I got my official diagnosis from a rheumatologist who gave me steroid injections in my fingers and toes, says Morrissey. But this only worked for a month or so before the symptoms came back. Then I was put on many different types of anti-inflammatory drugs which also just kept things at bay for a while before I got significantly worse.

The pain was so bad at one point that I had to set my alarm for 4am in order to take a cocktail of medication so I could function and get downstairs by 7am. With a new baby and two older children, this was incredibly difficult, particularly as I was also trying to keep my business going.

But 4 years ago I was started on a different drug and I havent looked back since. I have been given my life back and cannot even begin to compare it now to what it was before.

I am totally symptom-free and to date, havent experienced any side effects. I live a very full and busy life both at home and in work and I am very thankful.

My advice for anyone who has just been diagnosed with psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis is to be assertive and keep going until you find the right treatment as the results can be life changing.

Kane says lifestyle changes can also help ease the often crippling symptoms of this condition.

Medication is the cornerstone of treatment for psoriatic arthritis, he says. But patients can also help manage their condition by having a healthy diet, managing their weight to reduce the strain on their lower limb joints, exercising to keep joints and muscles healthy, managing stress levels and seeking help for anxiety and depression.

Anyone who is concerned they may have the condition should raise this with their GP or dermatologist both should be able to spot early signs of psoriatic arthritis.

For more information visit http://www.arthritisireland.ie

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Psoriasis has affected absolutely everything in my life - The Irish Times - Irish Times

Treatment has no sufficient effect in 1 of 5 psoriasis patients – HealthCanal.com (press release) (blog)

More than a decade ago, developments in biologics transformed the treatment of moderate-to-severe psoriasis by providing new ways for better skin clearance rates, low toxicity, and improved quality-of-life for patients. Nonetheless, the study led by Marcus Schmitt-Egenolf shows that despite having an ongoing systemic treatment, 18 percent of patients still had extensive psoriasis lesions and/or suffered impairment of their skin-related quality-of-life.

The study was based on PsoReg, which is the Swedish quality register for systemic treatment of psoriasis.2,646 psoriasis patients who had been receiving systemic treatment for at least three months were included in the study, which analyzed their most recent visit registered in PsoReg. Disease severity was measured either by the physicians clinical assessment and/or by the patients own assessment of their skin-related quality of life.

Compared to the larger patient group, the subgroup of patients with suboptimal therapy-response were younger and had higher BMI. They were also more often suffering from psoriasis arthritis and were more often smokers. The subgroup with higher persisting psoriasis severity also reported worse overall quality-of-life, measured with the standard evaluation method EQ-5D questionnaire.

That almost one in five patients had highly active disease activity, despite ongoing systemic treatment, is concerning, says Marcus Schmitt-Egenolf.

Based on the results, the authors make several suggestions:

Link to article in Journal of Dermatological Treatment

Journal of Dermatological Treatment, article: Real-world outcomes in 2,646 psoriasis patients: One in five has PASI 10 and/or DLQI 10 under ongoing systemic therapy. Authors: J.M. Norlin, P.S. Calara, U. Persson, and M. Schmitt-Egenolf. DOI: 10.1080/09546634.2017.1289147.

Marcus Schmitt-Egenolf, Department of Public Health & Clinical Medicine, Ume University Phone: +46 (0)90 785 2875 Email: marcus.schmitt-egenolf@umu.se

Photo by Mattias Pettersson

Editor: Daniel Harju

Link to news: http://www.umu.se/english/news/.cid279166

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Treatment has no sufficient effect in 1 of 5 psoriasis patients - HealthCanal.com (press release) (blog)

Ai-Ai reveals she’s been battling psoriasis since age 15 | Inquirer … – Inquirer.net

Ai-Ai delas Alas

There is a new liveliness to comedienne Ai-Ai delas Alas gait these days.

She has obviously lost weight and is now often seen wearing outfits that bare more skin, specifically her arms and shoulders.

Ai-Ai disclosed she has been suffering from psoriasisa skin conditionsince she was 15 years old, but that she had learned to cope with the disease.

Ive kept it a secret for a long time, but now that it has become manageable Ive decided to talk about it publicly so I can share what I did to more people, the 52-year-old actress said.

She said she had always worn long-sleeved shirts to hide the red scaly patches on her arms, even during the peak of summertime. This proved to be a big problem when she became an actress.

If work required me to expose my skin, I had to cover everything with makeup, she shared with the Inquirer.

Ai-Ai said she had a major skin flare-up in the middle of 2016, and so she took her usual shots from her doctor. But the medicine did not seem to suit me anymore, so I did some research on the illness through the internet and saw a cookbook for psoriasis. I learned that Ive been eating a lot of the food that psoriasis patients are not allowed to eat, she explained.

These days, her diet consists of less salt and sugar, no meat, no dairy products and all organic vegetables. On some days, I allow myself to have eggs and chicken breast meat. I still eat ice cream but it has to be soya-based. I dont take soft drinks anymore and avoid anything with preservatives.

When time permits, she would also hit the gym and do circuit training for an hour and a half. I run for 30 minutes on the treadmill, too, and do toning exercises with dumbbells weighing 10 pounds, she related.

Ai-Ai said the key was to try to learn as much as you can about the illness youre afflicted with. Psoriasis manifests if ones immune system is compromised, the actress explained, adding that psoriasis awareness is now her advocacy.

A friend who was helping me in the renovation of my house also has psoriasis. I told him to quit or minimize smoking and eat organic food. He followed my advice and now I noticed that hes not wearing long-sleeved shirts anymore. Thats when I realized that I could help others by sharing my experiences with them, Ai-Ai said.

She also influenced her children into eating only organic food, especially when theyre feeling sick. Often, their stomachache would go away. I used to have asthma and suffered from vertigo. I have not experienced any attacks lately.

The actress has lost 27 pounds (12.25 kilograms) since she had a change in lifestyle.

My goal was to shed off only 20 pounds (9.07 kg), but Im still losing weight now. As a result, I feel good about myself. I get to wear all the clothes I want, Ai-Ai declared, recalling to mind a photo recently uploaded on Instagram with her looking slim in a black swimsuit. I feel healthy and beautiful, and thats a good start.

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Ai-Ai reveals she's been battling psoriasis since age 15 | Inquirer ... - Inquirer.net

Travel book: ‘The World’s Most Romantic Destinations’ – San … – San Francisco Chronicle

By Spud Hilton, San Francisco Chronicle

A couple exchanges vows outside an igloo at the Icehotel in Sweden.

A couple exchanges vows outside an igloo at the Icehotel in Sweden.

It would be too easy to whip up a shallow list of the cliches of romance, the places that are the best for smooching, having candlelit dinners, proposing or even saying vows. Fortunately, in The Worlds Most Romantic Destinations, author Abbie Kozolchyk (and Annie Fitzsimmons in the forward) recognize that its just as easy to fall in love with a place, or even the romance of travel itself, than to fall in love with a person. Easier, probably. The list of locations some surprising, some obvious but with a twist seems to encourage readers to touch on all three loves: partner, place and travel itself. Amid the romance, theres plenty of practical information for what to do and how. (And it doesnt hurt to have the wanderlust-churning photos that National Geographic is known for.) Heres a sampling of places where youll love to love with someone you love.

Spud Hilton, shilton@sfchronicle.com

Jukkasjarvi, Sweden

The only official stop on this self-guided tour? The 17th century wooden Sami church, Laplands oldest surviving house of worship, complete with a birch and reindeer-horn organ. If the church starts to give you ideas, remember that theres another one you may want to hold out for: the hotels improbably cozy Ice Church, where you can orchestrate a most dazzling proposal, vow renewal, or if youve come prepared wedding.

Photo: Luca Vaime, Alamy Stock Photo

The entrance door of Kiyomizu Dera Temple during the cherry blossom season.

The entrance door of Kiyomizu Dera Temple during the cherry blossom season.

The Glacier Express winds its way through the Alps snowy mountains.

The Glacier Express winds its way through the Alps snowy mountains.

Dusk settles on the lantern-lit canals of Liijang in Yunan province, China.

Dusk settles on the lantern-lit canals of Liijang in Yunan province, China.

Travel book: The Worlds Most Romantic Destinations

St. Moritz, Switzerland

A mix of natural and man-made beauty, the Muottas Muragl Philosophers Trail is lined with plaques that bear inspiring quotations from such greats as Socrates and Sartre. Along the way, youll find both stunning panoramas and blanket-draped benches to snuggle on. Warm up inside with hot chocolate at the nearby and aptly named Romantik Hotel Muottas Muragl.

Yunan province, China

Of course, the province isnt entirely pastoral. To get the full town-and-country experience, spend a day along the waterways and bridges of the UNESCO World Heritage-designated old town of Lijiang. And at night, watch the partiers who challenge each other from open-air bars on either side of a canal to singing duels. Not your run-of-the-mill utopia, to be sure but fun nonetheless. Call it Shangri-La for Glee fans.

Kyoto, Japan

But if you do nothing else during your time in Kyoto, walk through the celebrated 10,000 torii, or sacred gates, at the Fushimi Inari shrine. Getting enveloped in this orange otherworldliness is one of the citys greatest romantic experiences, and each time you emerge from a series of torii on this two-hour mountainside circuit, a sakura sighting is sure to follow.

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Travel book: 'The World's Most Romantic Destinations' - San ... - San Francisco Chronicle