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Thursday, May 9, 2013

Obama ditches ?doom and gloom? of Washington to make new jobs push

By Agence France-Presse
Thursday, May 9, 2013 19:29 EDT

Barack Obama ditched the ?doom and gloom? of Washington Thursday to seek out dynamic job-creating hotspots of the US economy, which remains broadly sluggish four years into his presidency.

Obama launched a new series of tours to parts of the United States where innovation and investment are creating a new wave of hi-tech jobs, as he tried to pressure Congress to back his economic plans.

He flew to the Texas state capital Austin, where a dynamic local economy of start-ups and hi-tech firms is seen by the White House as an example for the rest of the country and a magnet to bring US jobs back home from overseas.

?One of the reasons to do this trip ? If you watch the news, if you are based in Washington, sometimes you just sense doom and gloom,? Obama said at a tech start-up incubator which pairs young tech entrepreneurs and investors.

Obama said that across America, despite tough economic times still faced by many, dynamic business people and inventors were creating goods and services and ?out there hustling every single day.?

The president also toured a technology-centric high school where students make robots and an Applied Materials Inc. factory that provides services, hardware and software for the global semi-conductor industry.

He said he was determined to ?reignite the true engine of America?s economic growth, a thriving, rising, middle class and a dynamic cutting edge economy? to counter unemployment, which is falling but still at 7.5 percent.

Obama argued that his policies had cleared away the ?rubble? of the worst economic crisis in decades, and that house prices, corporate profits, stock markets and energy production were rising while manufacturing was thriving.

But more needed to be done, Obama said, in a speech that highlighted his frustration at getting his investment plans past Republican lawmakers dedicated to slashing budgets.

?We have got to make sure middle class wages and incomes are also going up. Most families haven?t seen their take home pay rise for years now,? Obama said.

?Sometimes I am going to need constituents to press their members of Congress to just go ahead and do the right thing,? he said, accusing Republicans of stalling his plans for innovation and investment in Congress.

Aides said Thursday?s trip was the first of a number of visits designed to position Obama, as he begins his second term, as fighting for the middle class and as a patron of cutting-edge US industries.

In line with his State of the Union address, Obama also launched competitions for three new Manufacturing Innovation Institutes, which partner business, universities and government to build new manufacturing technologies.

He also called on Congress to back his plan for a $1 billion investment to create a network of 15 of the institutes across the country.

Obama also signed an executive order requiring that troves of government data must be made freely available in open, machine-readable formats to entrepreneurs, researchers, and other innovators.

One example of how government data can power innovation can be seen in the way various websites and smartphone applications use Global Positioning System information and weather information released by the US government.

Republicans however argued that Obama should learn from the success of locals, rather than trying to take his prescriptions, which they see as state interference in the free markets, to Texas.

?I hope the president will come to Texas ready to take a few notes and learn from one of the most successful states in the nation when it comes to job creation and economic growth,? said Texas Senator John Cornyn.

?As the nation?s economy continues to remain stagnant, I hope he?ll see the power low taxes, reasonable regulations, and a business-friendly environment have in driving a Texas economy that continues to grow and put people to work.?

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheRawStory/~3/fFJm9SRCLY4/

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Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Movie monster pioneer Ray Harryhausen dies

Movies

Gael Fashingbauer Cooper TODAY

1 hour ago

Getty Images

Ray Harryhausen, best known for his stop-motion animation in such films as "Jason and the Argonauts" and "Clash of the Titans," has died.

Ray Harryhausen, the special-effects and stop-motion pioneer whose work on fantasy and monster movies delighted millions and inspired a generation of filmmakers, died Tuesday at age 92, his family reports.

"Harryhausen?s genius was in being able to bring his models alive," the family statement read. "Whether they were prehistoric dinosaurs or mythological creatures, in Ray?s hands they were no longer puppets but became instead characters in their own right, just as important as the actors they played against and in most cases even more so."

Filmmakers Steven Spielberg, James Cameron, Peter Jackson, and George Lucas are among those who've credited Harryhausen with lending them inspiration.

Lucas' Industrial Light and Magic's Twitter account sent out a quote from the "Star Wars" creator himself, saying "Without Ray Harryhausen, there would likely have been no Star Wars."

Harryhausen's films included "Mighty Joe Young," "It Came From Beneath the Sea," "20 Million Miles to Earth," "One Million Years B.C.," "The Valley of Gwangi" and "Clash of the Titans."

His foundation's Facebook page notes that "he is perhaps best remembered for his extraordinary animation of seven skeletons in 'Jason and the Argonauts ' (1963) which took him three months to film."

Harryhausen is honored in the 2001 movie "Monsters Inc.," when monsters Mike and Celia go on a date to Harryhausen's restaurant.

"I'm sad to hear that Ray Harryhausen has died," Mike Nelson, former head writer for "Mystery Science Theater 3000," wrote on Facebook. "What a great career. Got to meet him a few times at my Legend Films office, seemed like a wonderful guy. RIP."

Wrote fan Harvey O'Brien on Facebook, "A living legend has become a past master. His name endures in popular culture in spite of the aesthetic and industrial changes to (special effects) in the CGI era, which tells you everything you need to know about his contribution to cinema."

And Di Brown wrote, "If you enjoy film, Ray touched your life. Most of today's major names in film cite Ray as the reason they chose their career path. And many could take a lesson from the unassuming and humble life led by a man who could have been forgiven for being far less so. Our world is diminished by his absence."

Source: http://www.today.com/entertainment/ray-harryhausen-special-effects-pioneer-dies-92-6C9823875

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Tips for Health, Fitness, and Weight Loss with Jogging | Verified Trader

Requiring no special equipment, jogging is one of the simplest exercise you can do and can be done almost anywhere. This form of exercise is the most effective calorie burner and has the most health benefits. Using the following tips will help you as you begin a jogging routine or they can be used to help you get more out of your current routine.

Running with a group or a friend is a great way to keep you motivated and also provides accountability. It?s okay if you prefer to run alone, but having a partner can be very motivational. You are more likely to give it your all when you run with someone else. While talking can become a distraction if you?re not careful, it is fun to have someone to talk to. It might be better to focus on jogging and talk after you?re done. One way to keep running interesting is to run with a partner or group. If you want to start jogging and you haven?t exercised for a long time, it?s a good idea to consult your doctor first. This is critical for those with health problems or who are overweight. While almost everyone could benefit from jogging, your doctor will have specific advice for you based on your medical history. Your doctor will most likely encourage you to try jogging since it can accommodate all fitness levels. You should still talk to your doctor first in case there are special precautions that you need to take.

To get the most out of jogging in the long run, it?s essential to stay healthy and avoid injuries. There are certain injuries that can be caused by jogging even though it is great for your health.

To help you avoid injuries, you need to listen to your body and watch for any warning signs. You want to push yourself but not past the point of over exhaustion. If you are just starting out with jogging, start off slowly and gradually increase your speed and distance. If you feel any sharp pains, stop running, and if the pain doesn?t go away, see your doctor. You can end up doing more harm than good if you push yourself too hard which is why you need to pay attention to how you feel while jogging.

There are many benefits of running, and you can start this activity at almost any age. We?re all human, and sometimes you won?t feel like running ? but do it anyway, and you?ll usually find that once you start, you?ll be glad you did. Be sure to follow proper procedures so your muscles and bones stay healthy and strong.
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Source: http://verifiedtraders.org/tips-for-health-fitness-and-weight-loss-with-jogging/

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New delivery for cancer drugs

May 7, 2013 ? The protein tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) is a powerful weapon in the arsenal to control cancer. Unfortunately, as is the case with many potent cancer therapies, the use of TNF-alpha as an anti-cancer therapy has been severely limited. "It was so toxic that it caused death," and researchers gave up on it, explains Scott McNeil, director of the Nanotechnology Characterization Lab at the Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research.

That was back in the 1990s. Today, TNF-alpha is a prime example of how to safely and effectively deliver toxic substances to cancer cells through the use of nanotechnology.

McNeil's lab, part of the federally funded research and development center operated by SAIC-Frederick for the National Cancer Institute, worked with a drug company to reformulate TNF-alpha by coupling it with gold nanoparticles. Using the nanotechnology-enhanced protein, it appears possible to safely inject up to three times the amount that had been lethal with previous versions. The modified drug has been through a Phase 1 clinical trial and is entering Phase 2.

In McNeil's lab, and for other scientists using nanotechnology for drug delivery, stories like this one are increasingly common. Researchers are looking to accelerate the development of potential nanotechnology drugs for cancer by exploring ways to reduce side effects and make treatments hit their targets more effectively. This can mean using nanotechnology to reformulate drugs that may have failed in previous clinical trials. In some cases, by attaching a nanoparticle to an existing drug, researchers may not only be able to lower its toxicity, but they may also see significant life expectancy gains for patients.

Many cancer drugs are approved based on how long they delay the progression of disease. Some drugs on the market "only improve life expectancy by maybe five weeks," says McNeil. He sees nanomedicine as a potential game-changer for cancer drugs in the future.

McNeil, both a chemist and biologist, has spent the majority of his career working in nanotechnology, but when he was asked to apply his expertise to find better drugs for cancer, he was skeptical. "My professional career was mostly military," says the former Army officer. "I was using nanotech for military applications at SAIC, using quantum dots to see if you scatter things, where they land. I got a call out of the blue in December of 2003 and the message was, 'We want to use nanotech for cancer applications.' I thought, 'What are they thinking? You are going to put a cadmium quantum dot in a human? There is no way!' I discounted it at first and I actually ignored the emails, hoping it would go away."

But it did not go away. In fact, much has changed in the last 10 years. Now, nanopharmaceuticals are beginning to demonstrate their capacity to place the drugs directly in the tumor, where they will do the most good, rather than let them roam freely in the body. A drug is attached to a nanoparticle, which is often a tiny little sphere. To put it in perspective, a nanometer is one billionth of a meter; the width of a single strand of hair is about 10,000 nanometers. The nanoparticle is small enough to flow through blood vessels and into a tumor, where the particle dissociates, and the drug is released. In the end, the goal of nanomedicine is that the only part of the body affected by the drug is the tumor, the area of need.

McNeil's Nanotechnology Characterization Lab was founded in 2004 in collaboration with the Food and Drug Administration and the National Institute of Standards and Technology. There is one thing the lab does not do: develop nanotechnology drugs. Instead, researchers there -- ranging in expertise from cancer biology and toxicology to chemistry, immunology, and physics -- help investigators from around the world create the best drugs possible. "We help investigators get from proof of concept, where they are generating a few tens of milligrams of material and get into clinical trials, where they are going to need kilograms of materials," say McNeil. "That translational research, as we call it, is absolutely germane to getting into clinical trials."

The majority of scientists who apply for assistance from the NCL are seeking FDA approval for their nanotech drugs but they don't have the resources to optimize their formula. The NCL can help. "We help them understand what is involved with their particle because they don't have the tools that we have to be able to characterize," says McNeil. "They may have a nice picture or cartoon of it but until they see our electron micrographs, they don't know what it looks like."

The Nanotechnology Characterization Lab serves two purposes. After a molecule has been through the NCL's assay cascade which consists of a set of tests that evaluate the preclinical toxicology, pharmacology, and efficacy of nanoparticles, the NCL is able to offer an evaluation. "The investigator is going to need $40 million dollars to get into Phase 2 trials. Investigators need to justify the investment. We help them generate data they need to further their work and then we serve as a third-party evaluation." That is crucial, McNeil says, for an investigator seeking funding. "A venture capital company can come to us and say, 'Well, what do you really think of this? Let's see your data, and explain it and defend it.' We, obviously, cannot endorse it but we can discuss the data in the context of what they are trying to do. That really holds a lot of weight."

Consider the example of Abraxane (paclitaxel), which was approved for use by the FDA in 2005. Abraxane, a variably toxic but widely prescribed cancer drug, has been enhanced by attaching it to a nanoparticle, thereby creating a new, targeted treatment. "Because of the size and the binding to a different receptor, that drug now has decreased toxicity compared to the former drug. For the nanoparticle-Abraxane conjugate toxicity is very marginal, at least for immunotoxicity and hypersensitivity," says McNeil.

Since 2005, the Nanotechnology Characterization Lab has characterized nearly 300 different particles. Six of them are in clinical trials. "Depending upon what community you are from, either that is a terrific ratio or that is a poor ratio," explains McNeil. "We view it as a super terrific ratio. A pharmaceutical company can make hundreds of thousands of different drugs and only about one out of 100,000 gets into clinical trials."

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/top_health/~3/XvL8z-jMzNM/130507154945.htm

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Research supports laws that require bicyclists to wear helmets

May 6, 2013 ? Bicycle helmets save lives, and their use should be required by law. That's the conclusion of a study to be presented Monday, May 6, at the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) annual meeting in Washington, DC.

"This study highlights the importance of regulations in the promotion of safe exercise," said lead author William P. Meehan III, MD, FAAP, director of the Micheli Center for Sports Injury Prevention and the Sports Concussion Clinic at Boston Children's Hospital.

About 900 people die each year in bicycle crashes, three-quarters of them from head injuries. Pointing to evidence that shows helmets reduce the risk of injury and death, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that all cyclists wear helmets that fit properly every time they ride. The AAP also supports legislation that requires all cyclists to wear helmets.

To determine if such laws reduce national injury and death rates, Dr. Meehan and his colleagues analyzed data from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System on all U.S. bicyclists younger than 16 years of age who were severely injured or died between January 1999 and December 2009. They compared the injury and death rates in states with mandatory helmet laws to those without.

Results showed that 2,451 children suffered incapacitating injuries or died in bicycle-motor vehicle crashes during the study period. An incapacitating injury was defined as one that prevents a person from walking or normally continuing the activities he or she was capable of before the injury.

States with mandatory helmet laws had significantly lower rates of fatalities/incapacitating injuries after bicycle-motor vehicle collisions than states without helmet laws (2 per 1 million children vs. 2.5 per 1 million children, respectively). Helmet laws continued to be associated with lower rates of fatalities and incapacitating injuries after adjusting for factors known to be associated with lower rates of motor vehicle fatalities, including elderly driver licensure laws, legal blood alcohol limit (lower than 0.08 percent) and household income.

"In conjunction with our previous work on booster seat laws, this study further proves that mandatory safety equipment laws are effective," said Rebekah C. Mannix, MD, MPH, senior author on the study.

Currently, only 21 states and the District of Columbia have laws requiring bicyclists to wear helmets.

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/~3/SwZVKnO1fbY/130506095409.htm

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OpenStreetMap To Give Google Maps A Run For Its Money By Launching Its New ?iD' Editor

Google has become the king of maps because of the technology that it has developed over the past eight years. One competitor, OpenStreetMap, has developed its own tools and built a community of map enthusiasts that now powers services like Hipmunk, Evernote and Foursquare. Today, as promised, the company has released a brand new map editor, code-named “iD,” which was built from the ground up by MapBox. The editor will allow its community, and those who have never edited a map before, to plot out roads, landmarks and everything in between. I’ve had a chance to play with the editor over the past few weeks, and it’s amazing. Google has its own community tool, dubbed Map Maker, which helps the company get into the nooks and crannies of the world that it hasn’t gotten to yet. Now that OpenStreetMap has its own set of tools which makes map editing easy, I expect the service to ramp up the quality of its maps, making it a real alternative for apps and services looking for a service provider. Here’s what OpenStreetMap US Foundation Secretary, Alex Barth, had to say about the release of the editor: Starting today 1 million community mappers gain access to this new editor. It radically flattens the learning curve for existing users and for the two thousand new ones OpenStreetMap adds every day. Investing in core infrastructure like this is a game changer for OpenStreetMap and legacy proprietary data companies won’t be able to keep up with the combination of top notch editing experience and openly licensed database. In short, we will get more people adding more data, faster. Adding and changing roads in an existing map is as simple as dragging and dropping, using iD: The editor itself is open source and built in pure JavaScript with the d3 visualization library. As MapBox has been building the tool, its had involvement from coders around the world already: The editing tool below, which has been what OpenStreetMap has had for its community to use, was not so easy to get the hang of: MapBox CEO, Eric Gundersen, thinks that that the iD editor will kickstart the community, which will lead to more content: “This editor is so easy to use, anyone can start mapping in minutes. This is going to increase both data quality and quantity in OpenStreetMap and that means MapBox is going to have the best

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/4Xs_k-hx6xA/

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Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Fitbit Flex review

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We have truly entered the era of the quantified self. Editorials are shouting it from the rooftops, technologists are snickering "I told you so" and you, dear consumers, are just eating it up. If there's some sort of personal metric you'd like to monitor and view in a pretty little chart, there's a product out there to help you do it. Now, that doesn't necessarily reflect a mature market rather than a fleeting fad. But we'll say this: companies both big and small are offering a number of products for this growing niche and some have built their entire portfolio around a lineup of personal tracking devices. Fitbit is obviously one of those companies and, with the One, Zip and Aria WiFi scale already on the shelves, it's got a pretty robust set of options for those looking to turn their entire lives into a collection of infographics. With the Flex, though, it truly rounds out its offerings with a wearable band in the style of the Jawbone Up and Nike FuelBand.

There are, of course, a number of differences between all of these products -- not the least of which is price. At $100, the Flex undercuts its most direct competitors by at least $30. There's also support for Bluetooth 4.0, which delivers wireless syncing on both Android and iOS. The question is, does the Flex deliver enough at that price point to make it a clear choice?

Gallery: FitBit Flex review