Dodgers starter Josh Beckett, sidelined since mid-May with a nerve issue in his right arm, felt tingling during a light throwing session yesterday, reports Bill Plunkett. Manager Don Mattingly called it ?a little bit of a setback? for the 33-year-old. Dylan Hernandez later tweeted that Beckett will undergo season-ending surgery. More from Hernandez:
Beckett wasn?t having much success, carrying an 0-5 record and a 5.19 ERA through his first eight starts before landing on the disabled list. The Dodgers acquired him in last summer?s mega-trade with the Red Sox, when they also acquired Carl Crawford and Adrian Gonzalez, taking on nearly $250 million in salary. Both Crawford and Beckett have missed a significant amount of time due to injuries in their short time in Los Angeles.
The Clarksvelle Department of Parks and Recreation issues its weekly events report with Independence Day celebration events and special sports opportunities for youngsters of all ages.
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Free Sports Tournaments ?
Get out on the court and show everyone what you?ve got!? Free 5-on-5 basketball and 7-on-7 flag football tournaments will be held as part of the Mayor?s Summer Night Lights program!? These sports tournaments are open to ages 11-14, 15-17, and 18 and up.? Those wanting to play must be at the location no later than 5:45 p.m. to sign up.? Free food and drinks will be provided!
Basketball tournaments will be held at Bel-Aire Park, Summit Heights and the Kleeman Center.? Teams must have five players. The schedule of basketball is as follows:
Bel-Aire Park ? June 24
Kleeman Center ? July 1
Summit Heights ? July 3
Bel-Aire Park ? July 8
Kleeman Center ? July 15
Summit Heights ? July 17
Bel-Aire Park ? July 22
Kleeman Center ? July 29
Summit Heights ? July 31
Bel-Aire Park ? August 5
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Flag football tournaments will be held at Pettus Park.? Teams must have seven players.? Tournaments will be:
June 26
July 10
July 24
August? 7
The 6th Annual Doggie Palooza will be held June 29 after being previously rained out. This free event is from 1 to 4 p.m., at the Heritage Park Bark Park. Bring your pooch for a day full of demonstrations, contests, prizes and more!
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Independence Day Celebration
Join your friends and neighbors? as Clarksville celebrates our nation?s independence with the 6th annual Independence Day Celebration at a new location!?Enjoy the festivities on Wednesday, July 3, at Liberty Park offering food, fun and entertainment for the entire family.? Activities begin at 6 p.m. and will include performances by local bands Brio and The Beagles and will conclude with the city?s largest fireworks display starting at 9:30 p.m.!
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Guests are encouraged to park at the 7-acre grass area adjacent to the park, or at the old Josten?s building, located at 1312 Hwy 48/13. Clarksville Transit System will provide free rides to and from the parking areas beginning at 4 p.m. with the last bus departing from Liberty Park at 10:30 p.m.
Wonder Kids Triathlon
Don?t miss the first-ever Wonder Kids Triathlon, presented by Jack in the Box, to be held August 3!? This event is open to boys and girls ages 3-12 and will take place at the New Providence Pool and surrounding property.
Wonder Kids Triathlon participants will participate in three legs of the event, swimming, biking and running.? Courses vary depending on age:
3-5Yrs: 25m Swim, 300yd Bike, 100yd Run
6-8Yrs:?50m Swim, 600yd Bike, 300yd Run
9-12Yrs: 100m Swim, 1mile Bike, 1/2mile Run
All floatation devices must be Coast Guard approved.
Cost is $25 per child and pre-registration is required with a limit of 100 participants in this year?s event so register early!? Cost covers t-shirt, medal, swim cap and goodie bag.? Registration can be completed at recpro.cityofclarksville.com, at our Community Centers or Main Office, no later than July 29.? Register by July 12 to guarantee correct shirt and swim cap size.
We take a look at three popular Qi wireless charging solutions and put them head to head in Jerry's bedroom
Qi (pronounced Chee, and is totally a word no matter what Words with Friends says) is a wireless standard developed in 2009 by the Wireless Power Consortium. The standard itself covers inductive power transfer over short distances -- up to four centimeters -- and uses a electromagnet embedded in a transmission pad to induce current in a coil on the back of the thing you're charging. In our case, that means a Nexus 4 smartphone.
With big-name device makers like Samsung, HTC, LG, Motorola and Nokia (as well as others) using the standard, it is slowly emerging as the winner in the obscure wireless charging war that goes on in cubicles all over the world. Long live Qi! On a serious note, it's an open standard with over 100 companies in Asia, Europe and North America cooperating to set a good standard that everyone can implement. That's good for business, and good for consumers in the long run. Of course, there will always be companies that buck the trend and take another path, but for now if you're going to spend your hard-earned money on a wireless charger that you should be able to use for the life of multiple devices, Qi charging is the way to go.
Because it's a standard, there are quite a few different companies making the base stations (a fancy term for the charging pad). I took a look at the three most popular and put them head to head to see which one I'd recommend. While I used a Nexus 4 for my tests, these chargers should work for any Qi-compatible phone with a flat back. Jump past the break and see who wins the Qi charger showdown.
Lol, if you hate, you shouldn't use. This App List makes WP different from two others! This is WP and this is what WP users fall in love with WP. And honestly, App List is much more easier to search app. You should try to download about 50 apps on WP,iOS, Android and make a compare. I believe you'll find out how better App List is. Totally disagree with you.
Michael Fallon: "I can assure you, the lights are not going to go out"
The government has dismissed a proposal that big shops and factories could be paid to cut their energy use to prevent shortages leading to blackouts.
Electricity network owner National Grid has suggested large consumers could be asked to lower use between 16:00 and 20:00 on weekdays in the winter.
It was responding to a warning from energy regulator Ofgem that the risk of power cuts has increased in the UK.
Energy Minister Michael Fallon insisted the lights would stay on.
He told BBC Two's Newsnight programme: "I can assure you the lights are not going to go out.
"The latest [Ofgem] assessment has shown that the position is slightly worse than the previous assessment last year.
"The regulator Ofgem has got to make sure, with all the tools at its disposal - bringing some mothball plant back in action and back on line - that the lights stay on and they will."
In an assessment released on Thursday, Ofgem said spare electricity production capacity in the UK could fall to 2% by 2015, increasing the risk of blackouts.
The watchdog said more investment in power generation was needed to protect consumers.
'Tightening margins'
It said: "Ofgem's analysis indicates a faster than anticipated tightening of electricity margins toward the middle of this decade."
The global financial crisis, tough emissions targets, the UK's increasing dependency on gas imports and the closure of ageing power stations were all contributing to the heightened risk of shortages, Ofgem said.
It said measures could include negotiating with major power users for them to reduce demand during peak times in return for payment.
Ofgem also suggested keeping some mothballed power plants in reserve in case of emergencies.
National Grid said it welcomed the Ofgem consultation on the proposed preventive measures and had been working with the Department of Energy and Climate Change.
"This does not mean that disruption is imminent or likely, but Ofgem, DECC and ourselves believe it appropriate to consider what measures could be taken in case margins deteriorate further," National Grid said.
It acknowledged that dealing with tightening margins in the energy industry "sits outside of National Grid's usual system operator role", but added that "given our position in the industry and our experience, we're happy to propose and consult on solutions."
Brandon McLaren play Dales Jakes, a quick-tempered U.S. Customs agent on USA Network's new show "Graceland." You'll remember Brandon as Bennett in "The Killing" and Jamil in "Falling Skies." Photo by Joe DeAngelis
Brandon is an honest guy who prefers to be outdoors whenever possible. He flawlessly transforms into character for his job -- it's like watching a chameleon. Those of you already familiar with Brandon know he has this captivating "look" about him!
What's with the dreds, dude?
I've always wanted dreds, since I as a little kid. I remember being five or six years old and looking at the covers of my dad's Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer records thinking, "Those guys look cool." I can't "take them out." They are permanent. I would have to cut them off. They are pretty easy to maintain. I do it all myself.
How did you transition from living in Canada to attending American university?
I was recruited to play soccer at the University at Albany. At that time soccer was a big part of my life, and I wanted to play at the highest level and still get a good education. That meant playing NCAA Div 1 Soccer. I was born and raised in Vancouver, so going to an American school meant I had to take the SAT, get a student visa, etc. My parents were very instrumental in helping me with the transition. My dad came with me on all my recruiting trips. I also had family and friends in NYC so all the support was there for a smooth transition. I did graduate from SUNY Albany (Magna Cum Laude) with BSC in Human Biology. At the time I was seriously considering going to medical school, and Human Biology was a very good degree for that field.
What process did you take to sign on with your Talent Managers?
Upon graduation from Albany, I moved back to Vancouver, and a lovely woman named Suzanne set me up with some meetings with agents. I only met with one, signed with her, and 11 years later I am still with Natasha Trisko. I also have a manager and agent in Los Angeles, where I currently live. If an audition comes up somewhere other than LA, I self tape and send to casting.
What differences in the industry have you seen since you booked your first role in 2003 in the WB series "The Black Sash" vs. working on today's projects?
"The Black Sash!" Fond memories of that. I was SO excited to be on set. I had one line. Thinking of that makes me smile. My trailers have gotten bigger since that time. I think technology has made a massive difference in the way the business is done. I think we have more access to everything; now I can tape an audition on my phone and email instantly if I really need to. In 2003 if I needed to tape an audition, I would have to go to my agent's office, tape it, then transfer it to a DVD, then send the DVD FEDEX to wherever it was going. This all makes it mush easier for actors to be seen.
When growing up, have you ever felt out of place?
As a kid, I moved a lot so I often felt out of place...leaving friends, new schools, etc. But I feel that was good prep for my life now, because I often have to work in different places.
What's it like doing photo shoots?
For me, photo shoots may be the worst part of the job. Often it is different grooming people than on the production. There usually is food. Call times are almost certainly early. Shoots can be in various locations. Usually if the photo shoot is the art for the show, I stay in character. If you are doing a feature for magazine, then you can be yourself. Sometimes you get direction and usually you have final approval on the photos.
What was it like playing Jack Landors, the red Power Ranger, early in your career?
I had a phenomenal time playing Jack Landors in "Power Rangers." We shot for eight months in New Zealand. It was one of my most memorable life experiences. Before I auditioned for it, I had no idea it was still going on. We had two weeks of intense martial arts training before shooting, and it was one of the most physically demanding things I've ever done. The stunt team on that show is talented beyond words.
Brandon directed his first music video Alma Mater . Brandon's Twitter: @brandojay . Photo by Nate Hoffman
Describe your auditions for Graceland, The Killing and Falling Skies and how you found out you won the roles of these three shows.
I was in Vancouver shooting Falling Skies when the Graceland audition came along. I sent a tape down to LA and found out I was testing soon after. I screen tested in LA and the rest is history.
I read for The Killing in Vancouver, and my callback was in Vancouver as well. Patty Jenkins and Veena Sud were in the room. It was a very pleasant experience.
I sent a tape up to Vancouver for Falling Skies. I was in Los Angeles at the time.
I really enjoy auditioning. I feel that any opportunity I get to act is a plus. I definitely wear different clothes depending on the audition.
Graceland is currently new to the air. Tell us a little something.
I would prefer to know that we are being picked up for a second season. I really enjoy doing the show -- all aspects -- the cast, the crew and the writers; it's been a really great experience all round. We wrapped the first season the first week of March, so we started airing long after we stopped shooting. I pay attention to the ratings, but I also pay attention to the ratings of other shows. I also read some reviews. It's interesting how many different opinions you read about the same 45 minutes of television.
Falling Skies -- your character Jamil died. Was this because you were cast in Graceland or was Jamil going to die anyway?
I suspect Jamil's demise may have had something to do with Graceland. When I booked the pilot, Jamil was killed in the next episode. Falling Skies was a great set to work on.
Favorite type / brand of coffee?
Americano, one sugar, splash of cream. I am really digging this place called Coffee + Food in Hollywood right now. I like the hand feel of an 8 oz cup.
You enjoy Calypso music. What was your first exposure to Calypso?
It's hard to listen to Calypso and NOT feel happy. My parents are from the Caribbean so I have been listening to it for as long as I can remember. I like to listen to it when I cook.
Does it suck having a birthday on July 3rd?
My birthday is on Oct 15. I don't know where July 3 came from.
What's your workout routine?
I run a lot in the Hollywood Hills. I like to get outside in the sun. I'm not a big fan of the gym. Whilst shooting Graceland, I got into Crossfit. I felt Jakes as a character should be a little bigger, and Crossfit helped with that. I also use this NIKE Training app on my phone. It's great for when you are travelling. I dabble in some Yoga as well.
I LOVE food. I eat what I want.
Anything else you'd like to add?
I directed a music video for my younger brother called Alma Mater.
It was my first time directing, and I loved it. My cinematographer Max Topplin is very talented.
Twitter: #AlmaMater /?@almamatermusic1
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Follow Ilana Rapp on Twitter: www.twitter.com/LizardLadyNJ
New gaming entrant BlueStacks has announced it will launch a second game console this fall dubbed the GamePop Mini. Like its recently announced $129 GamePop console, the new machine will play mobile games on a big-screen television. The aim is to disrupt traditional game consoles with cheaper Android and iOS-based titles. But this new mini-console will be ?forever free,? says BlueStacks.
The Campbell, Calif.-based BlueStacks calls this the ?Netflixication of gaming.? This means that it plans to disrupt other game businesses by offering $200 in paid games for free, so long as the user pays a $6.99 monthly subscription fee for the company?s GamePop mobile gaming service. The first console, the GamePop, will be free until June 30 for those who sign up for a subscription preorder. But the GamePop Mini will be always free with a subscription. GamePop preorders started on May 9 and the company says they are stronger than expected.
?We have always planned on having a free console option,? said BlueStacks chief executive Rosen Sharma. ?The biggest value of the GamePop service is its content ? not the box. Hardware costs have come down so fast that we?re able to undercut the rest of the market. With the free promotion we?ve been doing in June, we?re already seeing a ton of adoption. That volume then attracts more developers and therefore more and better content. It?s building momentum.?
The new device will be available for preorder on July and will run the Android 4.2 Jelly Bean version and connect to a TV via a HDMI cable. It will come with a curated group of 500 popular mobile games. Partners include?HalfBrick (Fruit Ninja, Jetpack Joyride), Glu (Blood Brothers), and kids app developer Intellijoy. Sharma said that the two consoles will be able to play the same games and use the same subscription service, but the Mini will have less rendering power than the regular GamePop. He also said that the regular GamePop will have more ports, but he declined to be more specific.
It might be easier to do one console at a time, but Sharma said in an interview with GamesBeat, ?We have always been planning to do this for a long time.?
BlueStacks also came out with its ?Looking Glass? technology earlier this month. Looking Glass will enable iOS-only developers to easily launch on GamePop. Titles such as iOS?s first major franchise, the Fieldrunners series, will be able to come to TVs this way.
?We want to make things as easy as possible for app developers to come on board,? said Ben Armstrong on BlueStacks? developer relations team. ?There is a virtuous circle between great content and volume that we?re having a lot of early success jumpstarting that so far. The launch titles a service comes with are critical.?
The GamePop Mini is slated to ship this winter.
BlueStacks was founded in 2009, and it launched an App Player that converts Android software so that it can run on a computer. The company has raised $15 million from Intel, Andreessen-Horowitz, Radar Partners, Redpoint, Ignition Partners, and Qualcomm. App Player has more than 10 million registered users.
The company was particularly inspired by Japanese carrier KDDI?s subscription mobile app service Au Smart Pass, which gives customers access to hundreds of popular paid apps for just a few bucks a month. In just one year, that service managed to bring in $250 million in revenue for KDDI. GamePop does not plan to sell games on an ? la carte basis.
The company will have a lot of competition this fall, including Ouya, the PlayStation 4, the Xbox One, and other Android gaming solutions for the living room.
Please excuse the format of this project but I am trying to find a regular long term writer and am finding it difficult.
I enclose the text of my dealings with one of the bidders and do not want to have to go through this again. The award will not be confirmed with anyone unless they go through a test. That is not enclosed but if you want a copy I will forward it to you. But if you do NOT want to go through MY test please withdraw your bid.
The reason for this test is that I want to see that your style of English is suitable for my purposes. As you can see below English is not even a second language it is probably 5th.
Please let me know if you want to receive the test.
Project ID: 4655357
I have spent past weeks trying to progress various projects and am continually facing bidders that fake and do not tell the truth so I taking the time to show you an example
writingpool yesterday My current aim is to establish myself as one of the most reliable providers and I believe that the only way to ? more
She/he says she comes from England and after countless requests for a sample I was sent one - originally I was asked to confirm the project without one. This is a bidder with 444 good reviews!!!!!!!
Eventually this is what I received - if you require I will send you the information I sent for a rewrite but I can assure you it is clean and precise and written by a profession journalist. This is what is returned
In today?s time, knowing about the real state affairs is quite hectic and for the authorized access regarding it, costs you an ample. Consider yourself trying to contact the real estate company and it takes an ample of time to get the desired information and the contact numbers. We Belize are the company that will sort out your tribulations in the most beneficial way. We as a leading company has an efficient emailing and networking system to make and contacting with the clients. Belize costs you only $1 to know about the complete database of the desired real estate in Spain. What Belize gives a different impact towards its users is the updated and topical information regarding the real estate. We send regular pamphlet and brochures to our clients that have the authentic information for its users. We have outnumbered our clients to six million and they are growing day by day.
Not only is it NOT a sales letter it is not even sensible English and was certainly not written by any who had even seen those shores let alone lived and worked there.
You have a responsibility to ensure that those bidder are real people that can do what they say they can do otherwise why are you there?
This bidder is NOT from England and NOT English and now boast that she is VERIFIED and I can do nothing
This may be true but if it is then it makes a nonsense of your system
For absolute clarification I will send you a copy of what was sent for clarification and ask for your comments as you recommended her!
Home ? business ? B Grimm to push sales of exported engineering products
THE NATION June 27, 2013 1:00 am
B Grimm Trading, an affiliate of B Grimm, serves as an incubator to facilitate and support B Grimm and its joint ventures. It helps them connect their businesses and market their high quality products.
The company's four business units generated revenue of Bt819 million last year. The main driver was the heat recovery steam generator unit.
The electrical engineering unit is projected to grow by 44 per cent or Bt115 million, led by the expansion of industrial customers especially in the eastern region and increasingly in residential projects in the central area that mainly use the products of Siemens.
The company will launch more electrical products such as magnetic starters from Hyundai and high efficiency motors from KSB and US Motors. It already carries water transfer pumps and water purifiers from Davey Water Products in Australia, transformers from GE, breakers and switchgear from Siemens and other products.
Its mechanical unit is targeted to grow by 10 per cent or Bt240 million on the expansion of its customer base in the oil and gas and industrial segments. It offers the top brands of Patterson's fire suppression and hydronic pumping technology for HVAC applications with efficient performance and energy sustainability, KSB's process pumps for power plants and industry, Zenit's submersible electric pumps for water treatment and Siemens' environmentally-friendly chemical extinguishing systems.
The air-conditioning unit was given the goal of growing by 20 per cent or Bt60 million by providing a full range of air-conditioning products and cooling systems from Carrier and Toshiba. Its services include extensive engineering consultation, design, installation, repair and maintenance to improve comfort and efficiency in homes, offices and factories.
The heat recovery steam generator unit was tasked with increasing sales by at least 120 per cent or Bt1.02 billion given the fast growth of the energy industry in the country.
DAKAR, Senegal (AP) ? President Barack Obama opened a weeklong trip to Africa on Wednesday, a three-country visit aimed at overcoming disappointment on the continent over the first black U.S. president's lack of personal engagement during his first term.
However, the highly anticipated trip threatens to be overshadowed by the deteriorating health of beloved former South African President Nelson Mandela.
Air Force One touched down in the Senegalese capital of Dakar on Wednesday evening. The president, who is traveling with first lady Michelle Obama and daughters Malia and Sasha, is also scheduled to visit South Africa and Tanzania.
The president is expected to be greeted warmly during his trip, despite the underlying sense of disappointment. American flags dotted the roadways as Obama's motorcade sped through this coastal city, and signs welcoming Obama and bearing his picture hung on homes and businesses.
Obama's father was born in Kenya and several of his relatives still live there. But despite his family ties to the continent, Obama spent just one day in Africa during his first four years in office and has focused instead on strengthening U.S. ties with Asia and Latin America.
"Africans were very excited when President Obama was elected and they expected deeper engagement than in the past, both in regard to policy and also in terms of actual visits to the continent, given the president's African heritage," said Mwangi Kimenyi, an Africa analyst at the Washington-based Brookings Institution. "Africans have been gradually disappointed, especially when they look at the focus on Africa by previous presidents, in particular President Clinton and President George W. Bush, who did quite a bit there."
Few major policy announcements are expected during Obama's trip. Instead, the president will focus on promoting democratic institutions, boosting opportunities for Africa's vast youth population and promoting the continent as a growing market for U.S. businesses.
The White House defended the purpose of the trip despite its low policy expectations.
"Presidential trips to regions of the world like Africa bring enormous benefits in terms of our relationship with the countries visited and the countries in the region," spokesman Jay Carney told reporters traveling with Obama on Air Force One. "The trip itself will not be the end point of our engagement, but will enhance it, deepen it and further it."
The president will make two stops at sights that highlight the continent's harsh racial history: Senegal's Goree Island, which was the center of Atlantic slave trade and Robben Island, the apartheid-era prison in South Africa where Mandela spent 18 years of his 27 years in prison.
The White House is closely monitoring Mandela's health, which has added a degree of uncertainty to Obama's travel itinerary. The 94-year-old anti-apartheid leader has been hospitalized for about three weeks with a reoccurring lung infection and South African officials have now deemed his condition critical.
Obama advisers have been reluctant to publicly discuss what impact his condition might have on Obama's trip. There had been no formal plans for the two men to meet, though Obama aides did leave open the possibility of the U.S. president meeting with Mandela's family.
"Ultimately, we want whatever is in the best interest of his health and the peace of mind of the Mandela family," said Ben Rhodes, Obama's deputy national security adviser.
The president had no public events planned Wednesday after his arrival. He was scheduled to spend Thursday meeting with Senagalese President Macky Sall, then meet with civil society leaders at Goree Island.
Top White House economic advisers and U.S. business leaders were traveling with Obama, underscoring the trip's focus on boosting American economic ties with Africa. Six of the world's 10 fastest-growing economies last year were in Africa, according to the World Bank.
While the U.S. has been slow to ramp up its trade with Africa, China, along with India, Malaysia and Brazil, have been building robust economic relationships on the continent. Chinese officials say Beijing's trade with China totaled $200 billion last year. The U.S. Trade Representative said American trade with Africa reached $95 billion in 2011.
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Associated Press writer Nedra Pickler contributed to this report.
The first week of July for those of us here in the States brings a barrage of cookouts, cold beverages and patriotism. In fact, we've dedicated the entirety of this week's double issue to the good ol' US of A. Crammed into the pages of this e-magazine is a first-hand account of the struggle to construct America's most sustainable city, a survey of developments in stateside manufacturing and much more. Eyes-On packs into some US-made bags, Weekly State tallies STEM job growth and IRL returns with more of our everyday gadgets. We'll be taking next week off to recover from the feast of hot dogs and impending firework burns, so be sure to swipe this edition to tide you over until our return.
June 27, 2013 ? Non-invasive brain stimulation may help stroke survivors recover speech and language function, according to new research in the American Heart Association journal Stroke.
Between 20 percent to 30 percent of stroke survivors have aphasia, a disorder that affects the ability to grasp language, read, write or speak. It's most often caused by strokes that occur in areas of the brain that control speech and language.
"For decades, skilled speech and language therapy has been the only therapeutic option for stroke survivors with aphasia," said Alexander Thiel, M.D., study lead author and associate professor of neurology and neurosurgery at McGill University in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. "We are entering exciting times where we might be able in the near future to combine speech and language therapy with non-invasive brain stimulation earlier in the recovery. This could result in earlier and more efficient aphasia recovery and also have an economic impact."
In the small study, researchers treated 24 stroke survivors with several types of aphasia at the rehabilitation hospital Rehanova and the Max-Planck-Institute for neurological research in Cologne, Germany. Thirteen received transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and 11 got sham stimulation.
The TMS device is a handheld magnetic coil that delivers low intensity stimulation and elicits muscle contractions when applied over the motor cortex.
During sham stimulation the coil is placed over the top of the head in the midline where there is a large venous blood vessel and not a language-related brain region. The intensity for stimulation was lower intensity so that participants still had the same sensation on the skin but no effective electrical currents were induced in the brain tissue.
Patients received 20 minutes of TMS or sham stimulation followed by 45 minutes of speech and language therapy for 10 days.
The TMS groups' improvements were on average three times greater than the non-TMS group, researchers said. They used German language aphasia tests, which are similar to those in the United States, to measure language performance of the patients.
"TMS had the biggest impact on improvement in anomia, the inability to name objects, which is one of the most debilitating aphasia symptoms," Thiel said.
Researchers, in essence, shut down the working part of the brain so that the stroke-affected side could relearn language. "This is similar to physical rehabilitation where the unaffected limb is immobilized with a splint so that the patients must use the affected limb during the therapy session," Thiel said.
"We believe brain stimulation should be most effective early, within about five weeks after stroke, because genes controlling the recovery process are active during this time window," he said.
Thiel said the result of this study opens the door to larger, multi-center trials. The NORTHSTAR study has been funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and will be launched at four Canadian sites and one German site later in 2013.
The Walter and Marga Boll and Wolf-Dieter-Heiss Foundations funded the current study.
As we mentioned earlier this week, Dropbox founder and CEO Drew Houston and Sequoia Capital partner Bryan Schreier joined us in the TechCrunch TV studio for a special three-part series on how Houston and Schreier work together on recruiting, growing as a CEO, and building the company.
UCI researchers awarded $2.27 million to create novel diabetes treatmentsPublic release date: 26-Jun-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Tom Vasich tmvasich@uci.edu 949-824-6455 University of California - Irvine
Grants will support islet cell transplantation and insulin sensor projects
Irvine, Calif., June 26, 2013 Two UC Irvine research groups have received $2.27 million from the JDRF to develop innovative methods of treating and possibly curing Type 1 diabetes.
The JDRF, formerly the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, awarded one grant to Jonathan Lakey, associate professor of surgery and biomedical engineering, and Elliot Botvinick, assistant professor of surgery and biomedical engineering; and another to Weian Zhao, assistant professor of pharmaceutical sciences and biomedical engineering. Lakey and Zhao are affiliated with the campus's Sue & Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center.
With $1.27 million in funding over three years, Lakey and Botvinick will try to find a way to successfully transplant encapsulated, stem cell-created pancreatic islets. In Type 1 diabetes, the pancreas cannot produce insulin a hormone key to regulating carbohydrate and fat metabolism in the body making daily insulin treatments necessary.
The pancreas, an organ about the size of a hand, is located behind the lower part of the stomach. It makes insulin and enzymes that help the body digest and use food. Throughout the pancreas are clusters of cells called the islets of Langerhans. Islets are composed of several types of cells, including beta cells that make insulin.
In a previous study, Lakey helped show that transplanted encapsulated islets can create and secrete insulin. A major hurdle, though, is overcoming immune-system rejection of these transplanted islets.
The Lakey-Botvinick team which includes researchers and products from UC Irvine, the University of Oxford, the Netherlands' University of Groningen, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Islet Sheet Medical in San Francisco, Islet Sciences in New York and Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk will explore the use of isolated islets in which the cells are encased in an ultrapure algae membrane.
The encapsulation chemistry allows for selective permeability, meaning that some small molecules, such as glucose and insulin, can pass across the barrier, while large antibodies and immunological molecules are blocked from entering into the space containing the islets.
"Perhaps the greatest challenge in the field of islet transplantation is to make the metabolic benefits available to patients with Type 1 diabetes without the need for chronic immunosuppression," said Lakey, who's also director of UC Irvine Health's Clinical Islet Program. "I believe that this technology has great promise for realizing our goal. And this welcome support from the JDRF should speed our progress."
With the other grant, Zhao and his colleagues will try to develop an insulin sensor for the JDRF's Artificial Pancreas Project, which supports the creation of an automated system to dispense insulin based on real-time changes in blood sugar levels. Central to such a device is a mechanism that can accurately determine blood insulin amounts to provide feedback control for the artificial pancreas.
Existing systems deliver insulin via a pump under closed-loop control using data from a continuous glucose sensor. They are, however, associated with severe risks especially insulin overdose when any of their components malfunction.
Zhao will receive $1 million for the two-year effort, with the potential for further funding if his team comes up with a promising model. "Integrating a real-time insulin sensor into the artificial pancreas system will allow us to precisely monitor and control the levels of both sugar and insulin, ultimately leading to safe and effective management of diabetes," he said.
Other UC Irvine researchers involved in these projects include Bernard Choi, associate professor of surgery and biomedical engineering; Dr. Clarence Foster, clinical professor of surgery and chief of the School of Medicine's transplantation division; and Frank Zaldivar and Dr. Pietro Galassetti with the Institute for Clinical & Translational Science.
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About the University of California, Irvine: Founded in 1965, UC Irvine is a top-ranked university dedicated to research, scholarship and community service. Led by Chancellor Michael Drake since 2005, UC Irvine is among the most dynamic campuses in the University of California system, with more than 28,000 undergraduate and graduate students, 1,100 faculty and 9,400 staff. Orange County's second-largest employer, UC Irvine contributes an annual economic impact of $4.3 billion. For more UC Irvine news, visit news.uci.edu.
News Radio: UC Irvine maintains on campus an ISDN line for conducting interviews with its faculty and experts. Use of this line is available for a fee to radio news programs/stations that wish to interview UC Irvine faculty and experts. Use of the ISDN line is subject to availability and approval by the university.
UCI maintains an online directory of faculty available as experts to the media. To access, visit http://www.today.uci.edu/experts.
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UCI researchers awarded $2.27 million to create novel diabetes treatmentsPublic release date: 26-Jun-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Tom Vasich tmvasich@uci.edu 949-824-6455 University of California - Irvine
Grants will support islet cell transplantation and insulin sensor projects
Irvine, Calif., June 26, 2013 Two UC Irvine research groups have received $2.27 million from the JDRF to develop innovative methods of treating and possibly curing Type 1 diabetes.
The JDRF, formerly the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, awarded one grant to Jonathan Lakey, associate professor of surgery and biomedical engineering, and Elliot Botvinick, assistant professor of surgery and biomedical engineering; and another to Weian Zhao, assistant professor of pharmaceutical sciences and biomedical engineering. Lakey and Zhao are affiliated with the campus's Sue & Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center.
With $1.27 million in funding over three years, Lakey and Botvinick will try to find a way to successfully transplant encapsulated, stem cell-created pancreatic islets. In Type 1 diabetes, the pancreas cannot produce insulin a hormone key to regulating carbohydrate and fat metabolism in the body making daily insulin treatments necessary.
The pancreas, an organ about the size of a hand, is located behind the lower part of the stomach. It makes insulin and enzymes that help the body digest and use food. Throughout the pancreas are clusters of cells called the islets of Langerhans. Islets are composed of several types of cells, including beta cells that make insulin.
In a previous study, Lakey helped show that transplanted encapsulated islets can create and secrete insulin. A major hurdle, though, is overcoming immune-system rejection of these transplanted islets.
The Lakey-Botvinick team which includes researchers and products from UC Irvine, the University of Oxford, the Netherlands' University of Groningen, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Islet Sheet Medical in San Francisco, Islet Sciences in New York and Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk will explore the use of isolated islets in which the cells are encased in an ultrapure algae membrane.
The encapsulation chemistry allows for selective permeability, meaning that some small molecules, such as glucose and insulin, can pass across the barrier, while large antibodies and immunological molecules are blocked from entering into the space containing the islets.
"Perhaps the greatest challenge in the field of islet transplantation is to make the metabolic benefits available to patients with Type 1 diabetes without the need for chronic immunosuppression," said Lakey, who's also director of UC Irvine Health's Clinical Islet Program. "I believe that this technology has great promise for realizing our goal. And this welcome support from the JDRF should speed our progress."
With the other grant, Zhao and his colleagues will try to develop an insulin sensor for the JDRF's Artificial Pancreas Project, which supports the creation of an automated system to dispense insulin based on real-time changes in blood sugar levels. Central to such a device is a mechanism that can accurately determine blood insulin amounts to provide feedback control for the artificial pancreas.
Existing systems deliver insulin via a pump under closed-loop control using data from a continuous glucose sensor. They are, however, associated with severe risks especially insulin overdose when any of their components malfunction.
Zhao will receive $1 million for the two-year effort, with the potential for further funding if his team comes up with a promising model. "Integrating a real-time insulin sensor into the artificial pancreas system will allow us to precisely monitor and control the levels of both sugar and insulin, ultimately leading to safe and effective management of diabetes," he said.
Other UC Irvine researchers involved in these projects include Bernard Choi, associate professor of surgery and biomedical engineering; Dr. Clarence Foster, clinical professor of surgery and chief of the School of Medicine's transplantation division; and Frank Zaldivar and Dr. Pietro Galassetti with the Institute for Clinical & Translational Science.
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About the University of California, Irvine: Founded in 1965, UC Irvine is a top-ranked university dedicated to research, scholarship and community service. Led by Chancellor Michael Drake since 2005, UC Irvine is among the most dynamic campuses in the University of California system, with more than 28,000 undergraduate and graduate students, 1,100 faculty and 9,400 staff. Orange County's second-largest employer, UC Irvine contributes an annual economic impact of $4.3 billion. For more UC Irvine news, visit news.uci.edu.
News Radio: UC Irvine maintains on campus an ISDN line for conducting interviews with its faculty and experts. Use of this line is available for a fee to radio news programs/stations that wish to interview UC Irvine faculty and experts. Use of the ISDN line is subject to availability and approval by the university.
UCI maintains an online directory of faculty available as experts to the media. To access, visit http://www.today.uci.edu/experts.
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AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
T-Mobile has a lot of good phones, but right now, it doesn't have many Android smartphones that cost less than $400. Sure, that may not seem like a lot as you pay it off over time, but not everyone is willing to make such a substantial investment. That's where the Samsung Galaxy Exhibit comes in. It may not be the most exciting new device, but at $216.00 (or $9 per month for 24 months), it's the least expensive option you've got. And for a budget phone, it's a pretty good performer that'll pair nicely with an inexpensive, contract-free plan from T-Mobile.
Design, Network, and Call Quality The Samsung Galaxy Exhibit is a slightly modified version of the unlocked Galaxy S III Mini. Keep in mind, however, that the GS III Mini isn't a shrunken version of the Galaxy S III?the G S III is bigger and badder in every way. But the Galaxy Exhibit has similar software and features, wrapped up in a smaller, more pocketable design.
From the front, the Galaxy Exhibit does look a lot like a miniaturized version of the Galaxy S III, with the same single Home button, the same plastic silver ring around the face, and the same pebble blue color. But at 4.78 by 2.46 by 0.42 inches (HWD) and 4.27 ounces, it's a lot squatter, thicker, and less elegant. The back panel here is made of matte plastic, and a curiously blue metallic embellishment around the camera sensor makes it look like someone forgot to take the protective shipping sticker off of it.
The nice thing about the design is that this phone is a lot easier to handle than a big phone like the Galaxy S III, especially if you have smaller hands. But I found the on-screen keyboard a bit too small and difficult to type on, which isn't usually a problem I encounter on other phones this size. At least it has Swype built-in, which allows you to drag your finger across the keys in order to type out words more easily.
And speaking of size, the Galaxy Exhibit has a 3.8-inch, 800-by-480-pixel TFT LCD. It looks reasonably sharp, though colors aren't particularly brilliant, and it could stand to go a bit brighter. Two backlit capacitive touch keys can be found on either side of the physical Home key. There's a Power button on the right side of the phone, a Volume rocker and microSD slot on the left, and a power port on the bottom.
The Galaxy Exhibit can hit up to HSPA+ 21 speeds on T-Mobile's network, which is a bummer; I'd much rather see support for the carrier's faster HSPA+ 42 or LTE networks. Still, the phone managed to pull in some decent data speeds where I tested it in New York City. Download speeds averaged just over 4Mbps, while uploads hovered around the 2Mbps mark. The phone also supports 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, and you can make calls over Wi-Fi, which is a big plus.
This is a solid voice phone. Calls sound well-rounded through the phone's earpiece, with good volume, and there's an on-screen button to pump up the volume even further once you've maxed it out. There's a faint ringing sound in the background when you pump the volume all the way up, but it isn't terribly distracting. Calls made with the phone sound very clear, though background noise cancellation is average at best. The speakerphone is loud enough to hear outdoors, and calls sounded great over a Jawbone Era?Bluetooth headset. I was able to use the headset to issue voice commands through S-Voice, which is Samsung's answer to Apple's Siri. The phone lasted for a decent 7 hours and 43 minutes of talk time.
T-Mobile's new contract-free plans start at $50 per month, and that gets you all the talk and texts you want, along with 500MB of high-speed data per month, after which your speeds are slowed to 2G. $60 gets you 2GB of high-speed data, and $70 gets you unlimited high-speed data. These are excellent rates compared with competitors like AT&T and Verizon, and complement the Galaxy Exhibit's budget-minded price point.
Processor, Android, and Apps The Galaxy Exhibit is powered by a 1GHz dual-core STE U8420 processor, which is a chip we haven't seem much of. Though the phone feels responsive enough in regular use, it turned in some very average benchmark scores. You'll be able to run most of the 800,000+ apps in the Google Play store just fine, but you aren't going to see the best performance on things like 3D gaming.
The Wall Street Journal reports that in a move similar to Google's request last week, Microsoft has submitted a motion to the secret FISA court to authorize the release of "aggregate data" about the requests it has received. Microsoft published the information it has so far been authorized to reveal a couple of weeks ago, lumping in national security related requests with stats for other criminal warrants and subpoenas. Google and Twitter have been among the loudest requesting the ability to separate national security-related requests like those at the center of the PRISM controversy, however it's been reported that several companies are negotiating for the ability to be more specific.
June 25, 2013 ? Heart failure patients are surviving more often with the heart condition but they are increasingly more likely to be diagnosed with cancer, a trend that could be attributed to increased surveillance, side effects of treatments, or other causes, according to a study published online today in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
"Heart failure patients are not only at an increased risk for developing cancer, but the occurrence of cancer increases mortality in these patients," explained Dr. Veronique Roger, MD, director of the Mayo Clinic Center for the Science of Health Care Delivery and co-author of the study. "These findings underscore the importance of cancer surveillance in the management of heart failure patients."
Researchers conducted the study using medical records from the Rochester Epidemiology Project, which links the inpatient and outpatient records from all providers used by the population of Olmsted County, Minn. The study included 596 patients with heart failure paired with the same number of similar healthy subjects.
The study looked at two 11-year time periods. Patients diagnosed with heart failure between 1979 and 1990 had a 48 percent increased risk of cancer, while patients diagnosed between 1991 and 2002 had an 86 percent increased risk. Roger and colleagues suggest several possible causes for the increased risk of cancer in heart failure patients, including side effects of cardiovascular treatments, or stress from illness or other mechanisms associated with the physiology of heart failure such as inflammation.
Investigators stress the importance of the findings in the treatment and management of heart failure, concluding patients should be monitored closely for signs of cancer.
"These findings also illustrate the importance of multi-morbidity among patients living with chronic diseases and support the concept of providing holistic rather than disease-based care," the authors said.
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Young men are more likely to die of the skin cancermelanoma than young women, regardless of the severity of the tumor, a new study found. This suggests there are fundamental biological differences between melanoma in men and women, the researchers said.
Looking at melanoma cases among a population of young, white men and women over 10 years, the researchers found that men accounted for 40 percent of the cancer cases, but 64 percent of the deaths.
Overall, men were 55 percent more likely to die of melanoma than women of the same age, after adjusting for other factors such as a tumor's type, thickness and location, according to the study published today (June 26) in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
In an editorial accompanying the study in the journal, experts said that the study revealed a "striking disparity" between men and women in terms of survival.
"The findings are so consistent that they imply a fundamental biological difference in 'male' versus 'female' melanoma," wrote editorial authors Dr. David Fisher, a dermatologist at Harvard Medical School and Alan Geller, a lecturer at Harvard School of Public Health.
Previous studies showing a gender difference in skin cancer have focused on older people, in whom skin cancer is more likely to occur. They have found that in older people, male patients have poorer survival from skin cancer than females.
The difference has been attributed to behavioral factors ? for example, the fact that women are more likely to examine their skin and visit doctors, which helps early detection and better survival.
"We thought that it would be novel and interesting to look at a younger population," said study researcher Dr. Susan Swetter, a professor of dermatology at Stanford University. "Younger people don't tend to see a doctor as frequently," she said.
In the study, the researchers included about 26,000 white adolescents and young adults ages 15 to 39, who were diagnosed with melanoma between 1989 and 2009. White people are far more likely to develop melanoma than those of other races.
During the study period, 1,561 patients died from melanoma. Men were more likely to die in each category of the tumor, and each age group, the study showed.
Among patients who had an additional cancer besides melanoma, men were twice as likely to die.
The researchers said women's survival advantage may be due to habits such as better health maintenance or more visits to the doctor, which helps detect tumors when they are smaller and more curable.
However, among those who had the thinnest tumors, men were still twice as likely to die, which suggests that men's disadvantage is due to biological differences rather than behavioral ones, according to the study.
Little is known about the biological differences that might result in different melanoma survival rates in men and women. Some proposed explanations involve the immune system, sex hormones, genetic factors and vitamin D metabolism.
While further studies are needed to investigate these possible biological differences, the dramatic difference in survival calls for behavioral interventions to promote early detection strategies in young men, the researchers said.
Public health messages that warn against risky behavior such as skin tanning are more likely to be heeded by women. Swetter said that such messages should target men too, and emphasize that men are at higher risk of dying of melanoma.
Email Bahar Gholipour or follow her @alterwired. Follow?LiveScience?@livescience, Facebook?& Google+. Original article on LiveScience.com.
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By DIANA DILLABER MURRAY diana.dillaber@oakpress.com, @DDillybar
Teachers and other Pontiac school district employees are being notified that their insurance carrier that is owed almost $12 million in past-due premium payments will terminate coverage as of July 31.
Amy McKeever, president of the Pontiac Education Association, is encouraging employees now covered, including secretaries and administrators, to be at the 5:30 p.m. board meeting Tuesday June 25, to let their concerns be known to the board in public comment session.
With this critical deadline fast approaching, McKeever is calling on the school district to pay what it owes to its health insurance provider so that the 350 school employees and their families covered now can continue receiving health care.
The near- $12 million owned includes the $7.8 million owed the insurance carrier for MEA members, Michigan Education Special Services Association (MESSA), for the entire year of 2012 plus almost $4 million since January of this year.
Gary Fralick, spokesman for the insurance carrier, said, ?It is a sad day for MESSA.
?This is the first time in our 50-year history that we?ve encountered a school district that has completely ignored its contractual obligation and so ignored the health and well being of its employees.
?They?ve been delinquent for more than a year and district officials have repeatedly promised to pay bills on time and time and time again have failed to do so,? Fralick said Tuesday afternoon.
Fralick said MESSA is sending letters this week notifying employees that as of midnight July 31 they will no longer have MESSA coverage, in an effort to give them as much advance notice as possible.
?The tragedy here is there are members with health problems who need health coverage and the district?s ignoring their well-being. The employees are completely innocent,? Fralick said.
Oakland County Circuit Court Judge Shalina Kumar ordered a tax levy to cover the $7.8 million in a settlement agreement. Under a recently ruling by Circuit Judge Martha Anderson, that will be paid by property owners within district boundaries in eight communities. Continued...
The other $3.7 million is owed since January of this year. Until September 2012, the district was obligated for the entire premium. Beginning September 2012, employees began paying about 25 percent of the premiums, which McKeever said has been taken out of their checks bi-weekly since January, but not paid to MESSA.
"MESSA has shown a great deal of patience with the Pontiac School Board," McKeever said. "However, MESSA is a business. How many businesses would continue to provide goods and services if they haven't been paid?
MESSA officials said they have received four checks (from Pontiac schools) starting May 9; one was for a COBRA payment and the other were four regular payments averaging $58,000 of the $500,000 owed for each month.
Among the 350 employees losing their coverage are teachers, secretaries, para-profressionals, administrators, and central office staff, including interim Superintendent Kelley Williams and Tim Gardner, district attorney and human resource director,? McKeever said.
Coverage for other Pontiac school employees such as food service and police authority members, who chose a different carrier, such as food service and police authority members, was canceled earlier, McKeever said.?
?They found out when they couldn?t get their medication,? she said.
The average teacher with MESSA Choice 2 family rate pays $216 bi-weekly for their portion of the premium, which is $20,622 a year. The teacher pays $5,600 and the district $15,000.
Single employees pay $2,759 of the $8,259 total, and two person coverage is $18,560, with the employee paying $7,560 and the employer paying $11,000.
Teachers have $200 to $400 deductible.?
?You are taking it from our checks; where is it going?, McKeever said she has asked school officials.? Continued...
?McKeever has called a general membership meeting for Thursday over the issue.
?We have put up with a lot. We have sacrificed over 15 percent of economics in our contract. We have bought our own classroom supplies, sought assistance from MEA for supplies.
?We are taking on 40-plus kids in the classroom. We have put up with no paper, no copy machines and sought out service of Kinko and other services because we don?t have? books in some of our class rooms,? McKeever said.
?I think enough is enough. This is devastating to our members.?
?As of July what are we going to do?,? McKeever said.?
The board meeting tonight will be held at the Odell Nails Administration Building at 47200 Woodward Ave. in Pontiac, in the school/city complex at Auburn Road.
The 6th Annual Doggie Palooza will be held June 29 after being previously rained out. This free event is from 1 to 4 p.m., at the Heritage Park Bark Park. Bring your pooch for a day full of demonstrations, contests, prizes and more!
Celebration at a new location!?Enjoy the festivities on Wednesday, July 3, at Liberty Park offering food, fun and entertainment for the entire family.? Activities begin at 6 p.m. and will include performances by local bands Brio and The Beagles and will 
Wonder Kids Triathlon participants will participate in three legs of the event, swimming, biking and running.? Courses vary depending on age:
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Public release date: 26-Jun-2013
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