More November Courses from Family Tree University - Genealogy ...

by Jen Thorpe | More from this Blogger

Online courses are a great way to learn more about genealogy. You can take an online genealogy course from Family Tree University from the comfort of your own home and without having to brave the cold weather.

There are several Power Courses being offered in November. What's a Power Course? They are online courses from Family Tree University that have been designed to provide a concentrated dose of genealogy education on a single topic. Several of them are about to start in November. You get a week to go through about two hours of course material. It is presumed that genealogists who take a Power Course already understand the basics of genealogy research.

The Power Courses will be offered twice in November. One session will start on November 5, 2012, and end on November 11, 2012. The second session will begin the next day, November 12, 2012, and end on November 18, 2012. The tuition for any of the Power Courses is $39.99. Some topics include:

Power Course: California Genealogy will include an hour long California Genealogy Crash Course video, and several PDF's that are specific to California genealogy. This is a self-led course.

Power Course: Illinois Genealogy includes an hour Crash Course on Illinois genealogy records and research strategies. It also has three PDF's. Genealogists who are new to Illinois genealogy, and those who are seasoned veterans of it, will learn about helpful tools, sources, and strategies to use when searching for ancestors from Illinois.

Power Course: New York Genealogy Courses includes a video that is a New York Genealogy Crash Course. It also has three helpful state specific PDF guides. Part of the description for this course reads: "With four centuries of history and notably draconian privacy laws, New York can be a challenging place to research." The course will teach you some techniques to help you with your research.

Power Course: Coming to America will be offered twice in November, just like the other Power Courses. Note that the tuition for this course is $59.99. This one comes with a 60 minute video, a 30 minute video, and two helpful PDF guides. It also comes with a 25% off coupon good for Family Tree University's Immigration Master Class.

These are just a few of the Power Courses that Family Tree University is offering in November. There are Power Courses for other states, for getting through your "Brick Wall", and much more.

Image by Col Ford and Natasha de Vere on Flickr

I am currently writing for the Insurance, Deals, Genealogy, and Special Needs blogs.I have also written for the Parenting,Money, Homeschooling, Preschool, Health, Food and Weightloss blogs.

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Source: http://genealogy.families.com/blog/more-november-courses-from-family-tree-university

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University of Leicester Selects Talis Aspire - becomes the latest adopter of reading-list software

Press Release: Talis [October 23, 2012]

Copyright (c) 2012 Talis

Summary	Talis announces today that the University of Leicester has joined 45 others to become one of the latest universities to select the Talis Aspire reading-list management solution - as it seeks to improve the teaching and learning experience for over 20,000 students.

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Talis announces today that the University of Leicester has joined 45 others to become one of the latest universities to select the Talis Aspire reading-list management solution - as it seeks to improve the teaching and learning experience for over 20,000 students.

"Having evaluated what was available and driven by a requirement to provide access to reading-lists, Talis Aspire provided the best solution."

Joanne Dunham, Head of Information and Collections at the university, said: "We want to improve student experience by providing access to reading-lists through the VLE, and ultimately have each course with a reading-list. This can only be achieved by academic colleagues creating reading-lists which we think, or hope, will be driven by student demand."

Ms Dunham further comments: "Drivers for our decision included ? the ease of use to create reading-lists, the rapid development and support, ability to integrate with our book supplier database, and the ability to integrate with our Blackboard VLE. We also hope to improve the acquisition workflow as well as have some additional and meaningful usability data on which resources are being used."

The selection of Talis Aspire follows a period of intensive market review. The library was also keen to review its acquisitions strategy, and to support decision-making with better usage data ? something the Talis Aspire reading-list software provides through its advanced analytics features. In addition, it needed an experienced software provider able to handle complex systems integrations and workflows. The Talis Aspire software will integrate with the Blackboard 9.1 virtual learning environment, the Summon discovery service and the SirsiDynix Library Management System, enabling secure access through Athens MD.

Read more about the University of Leicester and its selection of Talis Aspire

Read more about the University of Leicester Library

About Talis

Talis is a privately owned software company whose mission is to apply technology and data to help transform education. Talis Aspire is a cloud-based service that enables academics and librarians to create, bookmark, manage and track usage of recommended learning resources for students. The data in the Talis system currently consists of over 1.5 million resources (textbooks, journals, documents, videos and web pages), recommended by academics from 45 universities across all subject areas, and used by over 1 million students around the world. The aggregate data and the connections between users, subjects, courses, and resources represent an Education Graph which drives collective intelligence features that put the knowledge of the whole system to work for the user, thus helping to improve both teaching and learning.

Source: http://www.librarytechnology.org/ltg-displaytext.pl?RC=17326

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NFL Trade Deadline: Wide receivers abound, but will the St. Louis Rams buy in?

With Danny Amendola injured the St. Louis Rams lack a go-to wide receiver. Will they make a move ahead of the trade deadline?

The St. Louis Rams have bigger holes to fill than the ones at wide receiver, if we're being honest, but ahead of the NFL Trade Deadline?it's October 30 this year, which is new?you rarely hear a lot about mercurial offensive linemen demanding trades or disappointed teams looking to dump a big o-line contract. So among the skill positions, at least, the prima donna positions, the Rams' immediate move is to upgrade a wide receiving corps that was week even before Danny Amendola nearly broke his collarbone. The prima donnas are available?Dwayne Bowe wants out of Kansas City, and Greg Jennings has a minor case of Wally Pipp's disease in Green Bay. But will the Rams make a move?

The impetus is going to be Steven Jackson, one way or the other. It's hard to imagine the Rams, who spent this past offseason explicitly building a pile of draft picks, trading out of that stack for a veteran. But if they're shopping Jackson?probably for draft picks, but possibly as part of a package for a player?that calculus shifts.

The Rams made a rent-a-receiver move last year, acquiring Brandon Lloyd as part of his contractual obligation to be near Josh McDaniels, and as disastrous as the end of the 2011 season was Lloyd was hardly the problem. The new braintrust, Les Snead and Jeff Fisher, had nothing to do with that move, but in a past life Snead was behind the Falcons' enormously risky trade for Julio Jones and their 2009 acquisition of Tony Gonzalez.

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Source: http://stlouis.sbnation.com/nfl-trade-deadline-2012/2012/10/24/3546856/2012-nfl-trade-deadline-wide-receivers

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2013 Budget Stirs House, Executive Face-Off | OSUN DEFENDER

The battle line seems drawn as Chairman, House Committee on Finance, Abdulmumin Jubrin challenges Finance Minister Okonjo-Iwaela and Central Bank of Nigerian (CBN) Governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi to public debate. Jubrin was the Chairman, Joint Committees of the Legislative Budget and Research of National Planning and Committee on Aids, Loans and Debt that considered the 2013-2015 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP). Victor Oluwasegun and Dele Anofi report.

The Legislative Budget & Research Committee of the House of Representatives is the engine room for the National Assembly?s Budget and Research Office (NABRO). For the first time since the return of democracy in 1999, the office actually did an analysis of the budget (in this case, the 2013-2015 Medium Term Expenditure Framework submitted by President Goodluck Jonathan) as required in the Fiscal Responsibilities Act, 2007. The committee in conjunction with the House committees on Finance, National Planning & Economic Development and Aids, Loans & Debt Management , in its report on the MTEF, recommended that the benchmark be increased from $75 to $80 per barrel of crude oil. This has been a source of conflict between the House and the Executive.

Indication that the battle between the House and the Executive on the 2013 budget may have just have begun, emerged when the Chairman, House Committee on Finance, Dr. Abdulmumin Jubrin challenged the Minister of Finance Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and the Governor of Central Bank, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi to a public debate on the feasibility or otherwise of the $80 benchmark for the 2013 budget.

According to the lawmaker, there seems to be more to it than meet the eye concerning the stiff opposition from the Executive to the slight increment of $5 to the proposed $75 . He said the economic management team of President Goodluck Jonathan must, therefore, be courageous enough to prove beyond doubt why the $80 benchmark should be discarded. Jubrin noted that the only way to convince Nigerians is for both parties (House of Representatives and the Executive) to engage in a public debate for Nigerians to have the benefit of merits and demerits of the contending issue.

Besides, he posited that the Executive must be able to disprove 2013 forecast for international oil price at between $100to $120. According to him, key international forecast agencies, like the Energy Information Agency, the Barclays, the Credit Swiss, the Dutch Bank and the City Group put their projections at between $ 120 and $100 while the average of all their forecast was pegged at between $100 and $105.

He reiterated Speaker Aminu Tambuwal?s emphatic declaration that the 2013 budget would be anchored on $80 bench mark. Jubrin, however, expressed confidence that the Executive would have no better argument against the House?s position. In his words: ?They will not have any superior argument, mark me and if they can, the Executive that I know, would have responded the first time we started talking. They have nothing superior to tell Nigerians than this point we have given. This is a pro-people analysis and position and they don?t have anything to say other than this. I am challenging them to a public debate, the Minister of Finance, the Governor of Central Bank, the DG of Budget Office and others involved in drawing up the document. Let us all face Nigerians a put our facts before them?.

To buttress his argument on the defects inherent in the budget proposal of $75 benchmark by the Executive, the lawmaker regretted that those saddled with the management of the economy seemed to be incompetent and unwilling to consult widely in the process of preparing the document.

?A very important factor that we discovered and which is quite disgraceful is that the position of MTEF is at variance with the position of most of these MDAs. Most of these agencies don?t even know the content of MTEF. We were the ones that gave them copies of the MTEF. So, it is convenient for us to draw conclusion that the MTEF is just a product of one to three people that are saddled with the management of our economy. There wasn?t wide consultation, it is not a national consultation but just a product of few people that believe that they can sit and write policies for this country and write MTEF for this country and write the budget of this country, which is why I said it without mincing my words,? he said.

The lawmaker also urged Nigerians to be wise to the antics of the Executive that would always want to present one aspect of an issue rather than avail the people the opportunity of all aspects to the issue. Contrary to the Executive?s claims that savings, among other parameters, would be badly affected if the benchmark was jerked up to $80, Jubrin said the Executive has not been forthcoming on the true analysis of the situation. While he stressed that the lawmakers were not against savings, he regretted that the country?s economic managers have not been fair to Nigerians through unreasonable savings. He said, ?You know that crude is going for about $110 as it is, if we peg the benchmark at $75, for instance, if the international price of crude as at today is $100 and we peg the benchmark at $75, it means that for every barrel of crude that you sell, $75 will go into financing of the budget and extra $25 should go into savings because this savings is the excess crude account and the Sovereign Wealth Fund. So what we are saying is that we are increasing the benchmark to $80 because we are convinced, after our analysis, that it is safe for us to increase it by $5. The implication of this is that rather than save $25, you will now have $20 to save. All we are taking away from them is just $5 out of the excess to service our budget deficit. So why are they resistant to it? Are we throwing the money in the river or are we taking it to go and share for our people in the villages? No, we are using it to help the economy; rather than taking it and dumping it in that place like European and American banks at a giveaway interest at the expense of the country, we are saying they should take part of it and invest it today which is the bone of contention?.

Another loophole which the Jubrin picked in the budget proposal is the bloated recurrent expenditure which he said the government has not been able address. He expressed disappointment that despite all the noise over cutting the cost of running government, the Executive has not been able to reduce recurrent expenditure to an appreciable level. ?These are part of the problems that we addressed during the MTEF. We had expected that in the MTEF because it is a medium term plan, so it is for 2013 ? 2015, we will receive a systematic and clear-cut strategy to reduce recurrent expenditure drastically but it is not contained in the MTEF. I am so disappointed in the Minister of Finance because we made recommendation about that in the earlier MTEF.

?I had thought that one area where she would have shown her competence is to be able to drastically reduce recurrent expenditure and if you ask them how they intend to reduce it, they will not give you figure but percentage. They are taking advantage of Nigerians because a lot of people are not enlightened about these things. Now, what they are saying is that they have reduced the recurrent expenditure by 3%. Why are they scared of converting it to monetary value? Let people understand from a real perspective of the budget provisions. The implication of this is that they want to continue to promote recklessness in spending and that shows how incompetent they are?,

Jubrin also faulted the claims of the Executive that the $5 increment would put pressure on exchange rate and inflation. He said ?I told all the agencies that came during our engagement during the MTEF deliberations to quantify the impact that a $5 will have on our exchange rate and on inflation; they have not been able to do that. We have also asked them if they have problem with this increment just for the singular reason of reducing the deficit and consequently reducing government domestic borrowing to create space for the private sector but they have not responded. The final reason they always give which is very important is that it will make more money available for the State and Local Government which they will mismanage because they believe that every Nigerian is corrupt and that they are the only people who are credible. I am not holding brief for State Governors but I think it is an insult to all State Governors that being against $5 was because it means more money for State Governors to misuse. I am calling on the State Governors to listen to this and now respond to the Ministry of Finance and the Minister. When we talk this way, they say that we want to bring down the country, shut down the economy.

Jubrin however advised the Finance Minister, Ngozi Oknojo-Iweala to resign her appointment if she cannot manage the economy with the $80 benchmark as the House would not shift ground on its decision. He said for the Minister to undermine the Appropriation Act when it becomes operational would amount to breaking the law. ?The Minister of Finance would have to resign her position If she can not comply with the provisions of the Appropriation Act because that would amount to breaking the law. By the time the budget is passed, it becomes law that everybody must comply with. We are talking from the point of law because our position on the issue of bench mark would be backed by the law and if she cannot relate with it, it would be better for her to resign rather break the law?.

Culled From:The Nation

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• October 22, 2012 -- 2013: Budget Analysing (2) (0)
• October 11, 2012 -- House to Jonathan: 2012 Budget execution poor (0)
• October 24, 2012 -- Sharapova Not Backing Pay Rise For Early Losers (0)
• October 23, 2012 -- 2013 Budget: Chasing Another Round Of Shadow (0)
• October 21, 2012 -- NASS attack on 2013 budget: Presidency fights back (0)
• September 26, 2012 -- Jonathan To Present 2013 Budget Next Week (0)
• November 15, 2011 -- N257.8b for capital projects in Lagos N485b budget (1)
• December 31, 2010 -- Aregbesola presents N88.1 billion budget for 2011, promised efficiency and all-round development (6)
• March 19, 2009 -- ?Oyinlola?s New Tax Regime, Is Anti-people? (0)
• November 17, 2008 -- Ogun Benefits From N15bn FG Poverty Reduction Programme (1)

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Protect Your Portfolio with These Insurance ETFs - Zacks.com

Leading up to the Q3 earnings season, investors were quite uncertain about the direction of American stocks to close out the year. A great deal of worry is certainly baked into the market thanks to a number of political risks regarding the election and the fiscal cliff, while international market weakness sure isn?t helping matters either.

These worries have been confirmed by some degree of weakness to start the new earnings season as a number of companies have seen weakness in their reports. Thanks to this, the average U.S. focused equity ETF, according to XTF.com, has lost about 2.8% in the trailing one month period, underscoring the negative tone many investors are taking towards the market at this time (read Beware These Three Volatile Financial ETFs).

However, while most segments, and indeed broad market ETFs, are facing a wall of worry, there are still a few standout sectors. Particularly, investors have seen some strength in the financial space as a number of large firms in this corner of the market have posted solid earnings despite the overall market gloom.

Given this strong performance of financials as of late, it could be time to cycle into the space for protection during this difficult time. While a broad look at the sector could be a good idea, a concentrated look at one of the more outperforming segments of the space, insurance companies, could be the best way to go.?

In fact, the insurance ETF space has been one of the best performers in the U.S.-centric fund market, crushing many of their competitors in the trailing one month period. According to XTF.com as of October 23^rd, of the top seven best performing U.S. ETFs in the trailing one month period, five are insurance ETFs, suggesting that they have been able to, on average, crush broad market performance in this recent market downturn (see Top Three Mortgage Finance ETFs).

With this strength acting as a nice momentum tailwind, and with more uncertainty likely coming down the pike in the near future, insurance ETFs could be the way to go for investors looking to play the American market with ETFs. For these investors, we have briefly highlighted some of the top performing choices in this intriguing slice of the market below:

SPDR S&P Insurance ETF (KIE) ? This ETF utilizes an equal weight methodology in its strategy, holding 46 securities in its basket and charging a reasonable 35 basis points a year in fees. In terms of yield, the product pays out 1.7% in 30 Day SEC terms, and it receives a Zacks ETF Rank of ?3? or hold, with a medium risk rating (read Does Your Portfolio Need a Financial ETF?).

In terms of holdings, the sector profile is skewed towards property and casualty insurance at 40% of assets, while life & health account for another 20% of the fund. Due to the equal weight methodology, the no one security accounts for more than 2.7% of assets, giving the product a very spread out approach for its exposure to the insurance sector.

PowerShares Dynamic Insurance Portfolio (PIC) ? Another way to target the insurance industry is via PIC and its more ?dynamic? approach. The fund utilizes a variety of investment criteria in order to weight and select securities for its fund, resulting in an ETF that has just 30 stocks in its basket but a net expense ratio of 0.67% (see Zacks Top Ranked Financial ETF: Star in Q3 Earnings).

Investors should also note that volume and yield come in on the low side, so the product probably won?t be much of an income destination, especially after fees. However, the fund?s dynamic allocation system could help the product cycle into better stocks and keep the ETF at a lower risk level, assisting the fund in achieving a Zacks ETF Rank of 3 or Hold and a low risk rating.

Dow Jones U.S. Insurance Index Fund (IAK) ? ETF investors looking for iShares? entrant in the insurance market should look no further than IAK. This ETF tracks the Dow Jones U.S. Select Insurance Index, holding roughly 60 stocks in its basket and charging investors 47 basis points a year in fees.

The ETF is a little more concentrated, putting close to 60% of assets in the top ten securities and just over 50% in property/casualty insurance firms. The yield is moderate at roughly 1.6% a year, while performance has been solid, putting the fund with a Zacks ETF Rank of ?3? or hold, with a medium risk rating.

PowerShares KBW Insurance Portfolio (KBWI) ? For another PowerShares insurance ETF, investors have KBWI, a fund that utilizes KBW?s methodology in order to focus in on the insurance segment. The product only holds 24 stocks in its basket, and is more of a low cost choice, charging investors just 35 basis points a year in fees (read Three Financial ETFs that Avoid Big Bank Stocks).

The ETF also has a decent mid cap holding, while it is relatively well spread out among its top ten, at least considering the small number of securities in the portfolio. The yield is also relatively good at 1.8% in 30 Day SEC terms, helping to give the ETF a Zacks ETF Rank of 3 or Hold and a low risk rating.

PowerShares KBW Property & Casualty Insurance Portfolio (KBWP) ? PowerShares teams up with KBW once again for this ETF, except the focus of the fund is solely on property and casualty insurance providers. This results in a basket of roughly 24 stocks and a slightly higher expense ratio of 0.37% to investors.

The portfolio is also heavier in small cap securities, although two large cap names, Travelers (TRV - Analyst Report) and Allstate (ALL - Analyst Report), account for nearly 18% of assets. Investors should also note that the yield is reasonable for this fund at roughly 1.8% in 30 Day SEC terms, while the fund has been one of the best performing of the group in the time frame, adding just over 4.7% for the trailing one month period.

Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report >>

Follow @Eric Dutram on Twitter

Source: http://www.zacks.com/stock/news/85516/protect-your-portfolio-with-these-insurance-etfs

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Indonesia's Biggest Online Forum Gets a Makeover

Indonesia?s biggest online forum Kaskus has officially launched its new look yesterday after three months of beta testing. The new blue-ish design is welcomed by many users, but they are also lamenting the bugs and problems that are arising with the migration to the new site.

Kaskus seems to be aiming for an overall cleaner and simpler look. This is mainly highlighted with the new site?s homepage, which has removed the numerous columns, features, and banner ads previously plastered all over it. The homepage now shows only two big sections ? the general forum section and the online marketplace. The homepage also shows the current hot threads (trending topics) and newly showcased product reviews.

The site?s C2C marketplace forum particularly has improved too as it now provides more search criteria, including a price range option when searching for new or used items. Kaskus is also showing a banner that teases users that the ?Kaskus Marketplace is Coming Soon.? My guess is that the marketplace feature will provide better product showcase compared to the previous thread format.

The Bugs

Kaskus, however, is notorious for having routine user-overload problems that often make it impossible to access the site for periods of time. It seems that this migration hasn?t helped much. The first biggest problem facing users right now is a reported bad gateway issue which makes it harder to open some redirected pages on the site. I encountered this myself when browsing the site this afternoon.

Other reported problems with the new look are:

• Overall ?lagginess?
• Some records such as threads, customer testimonies, avatars, and achievements did not get transferred and seem to have been lost.
• The threads are still unstable as some users cannot post and edit their new threads even after saving them.
• This is rather minor, but some users also commented on the ugly redirected URLs the new Kaskus has, which have a lot of zero numbers in them, such as the very awkward kaskus.co.id/thread/000000000000000016527164.

The team has a lot of work to do with the bugs, but the latest refresh by Kaskus is definitely a good one overall. I?m particularly intrigued by what other plans Kaskus might have in store for its huge C2C marketplace. We?ll pay attention to how Kaskus progresses and improves in the future.

[Via Kompas]

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About Enricko Lukman

Enricko is a big fan of entrepreneurship. He enjoys debating and discussing a broad range of topics from politics to football. He loyally supports Manchester City F.C., enjoys traveling, and playing video games. For news tips, startup pitches, or feedback, this is his email.

Source: http://www.techinasia.com/kaskus-new-look-bugs/

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Emily VanCamp GQ Photos: Revenge Star Strips Down, Ratings to Increase Expontentially

Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2012/10/emily-vancamp-gq-photos-revenge-star-strips-down-ratings-to-incr/

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Introducing AppyMall: A New Educational App Marketplace

[prMac.com] San Francisco, California - AppyMall, a new marketplace for educational apps, has been launched by Technology in Education, a popular review site, to help teachers and parents find quality children's apps.

AppyMall allows users to search for educational apps by grade level and learning skill, such as math, language arts, or reading. AppyMall divides apps into anchor stores that organize book, game and educational apps into categories such as preschool, elementary school, middle school, speech and language, special needs and apps with lesson plans.

Within each anchor store, apps are sub-categorized by subject and price so that consumers can find relevant learning content quickly. There also is an option for the user to click on the app description to put it on a wish list, or to mark that they own it.

"The AppyMall educational categories are helpful for consumers to pinpoint different areas of educational content. Instead of browsing huge app stores under the blanket terms of 'education' or 'kids,' with AppyMall you can specifically target apps by subject area and grade level," said Lorraine Akemann of Moms With Apps. "This service should be helpful for parents and teachers alike in finding apps."

AppyMall is an offshoot of Technology in Education, a popular review site for educational apps with a Facebook community of more than 15,000.

The need for AppyMall, which categorizes apps by grade level and learning skill, became evident as the Technology in Education team witnessed the frustration of teachers looking for specific types of apps for their classroom, and parents seeking apps to foster learning at home. It also has become an important resource for apps that help special needs children, such as those on the Autism Spectrum.

"AppyMall is a fantastic resource for parents looking for special needs apps. There are so many apps on iTunes now that it is difficult to find apps that target a specific skill or deficit," said Kyle Tomson, president of the Mobile Education Store. "AppyMall not only narrows the search, but it only includes the best apps, ones that you can feel confident will help your child. I use it myself for my children."

The site also has become an important ally for educational app developers.

"Folks at AppyMall go beyond merely reviewing your app. They not only critique, but even suggest critical improvements," said Joy Deep Nath, co-founder of StudyPad. "But what really sets AppyMall apart is its focus on curriculum and the core education value of the app. This helps them create very fine-tuned, but extremely useful categories in education, like apps with lesson plans, apps for special education, etc. It's simply the best place for app discovery."

AppyMall was founded in 2012 to help parents and teachers cut through the clutter of the app marketplace to find quality educational apps for children.

AppyMall, an online educational app marketplace, was founded in 2012 by the Technology in Education team to make it easier for parents and teachers to find quality educational apps. Copyright (C) 2012 AppyMall. All Rights Reserved. Apple, the Apple logo, iPhone, iPod and iPad are registered trademarks of Apple Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries.

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Source: http://prmac.com/release-id-49718.htm

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Tony Laidig on Products and Productivity

Hey Lynn,

Awesome interview! Thanks!

I have been added to Tony's list as I have bought a couple of his products. He sounds like a very sincere guy and I am looking forward to working through his programs. Did he say he had a hundred products? WOW!!! I will have to check out his Facebook page. Thanks for the link.

I hope you are having an AWESOME interviewing Tony day!

smiles,

Source: http://www.clicknewz.com/5465/products-and-productivity/

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A Computer Science Education in Taxonomies and Knowledge ...

Home > News > A Computer Science Education in Taxonomies and Knowledge Organization Systems is an Increasingly More Sound Investment

There are a growing number of jobs in the knowledge organization and Internet taxonomy sectors, and TaxoDiary has written about this before. Olivia Leonardi has taken the topic a bit further in today?s post, delving into the reasons why many students choose KOS programs and offering advice for those looking to break into the field. Leonardi focuses her writing on computer science education, and can most frequently be found authoring features for Online Computer Science Degree.

In an increasingly technical and technology-dependent economy, taxonomies and other knowledge organization systems (KOS) are ever more crucial. Training in this area will provide students with many opportunities for career growth. However, most students have never heard of KOS, nor do they understand how importantly it has impacted the information technology sector and the development of the Internet.

Knowledge organization systems are defined as the models for underlying semantic structures. For example, Google PageRank, the principal innovation behind Google?s search algorithm, is the direct result of KOS understanding and application. In a Wired article entitled ?The Birth of Google,? John Battelle described the process that Larry Page and Sergei Brin went through to invent PageRank.

The idea came from a deceptively simple comparison. Page looked at the system of academic citation and wondered why the web couldn?t be structured in the same way. Every citation at the end of a paper referred to previous studies, connecting research in a semantic structure. He noticed that the more times a paper was cited, the greater its importance in the semantic structure. Applying the same principle to the web, Page came up with an algorithm that could identify and value the links pointing to any given cite, assigning the site a value in the greater semantic domain. Thus, the Internet was organized according to a simplified rendition of the traditional academic system. Both the web and academic system of research are different examples of knowledge organization systems.

As a concept, KOS has become more widely recognized in the last decade. It is now utilized in libraries, museums, bibliographies, bibliographic references, information services, journal articles, metadata, data mining, and knowledge management, to name a few core areas. It should also be noted that the importance of KOS is likely to be recognized by more and more professional groups seeking to construct their own KOS.

Training in the field is still sparse, but there are plenty of ways to get started with a foundational education. The resources provided below are targeted at individuals who want a more advanced, technical understanding of this emerging discipline. The list also includes connections to groups that are currently active, which are potentially sources for further study or even collaboration. More information on knowledge organization systems may be found at a number of reputable online resource centers. Use one or more of the following links to assess the applicability of the discipline to your particular field.

Kent State University hosts a website that includes some information on Networked Knowledge Organization Systems/Services (NKOS), which is directly applicable to Internet applications. The site is updated with calls for papers, conferences, and new developments in the NKOS community.

Technical Foundations is a website dedicated to information science in the higher education sector in the United Kingdom. Due to KOS? increasing importance in information science, the website includes a discussion of KOS and its applications.

There are a growing number of jobs in the knowledge organization and Internet taxonomy sectors, and TaxoDiary has written about this before. Olivia Leonardi has taken the topic a bit further in today?s post, delving into the reasons why many students choose KOS programs and offering advice for those looking to break into the field. Leonardi focuses her writing on computer science education, and can most frequently be found authoring features for Online Computer Science Degree.

Source: http://taxodiary.com/2012/10/a-computer-science-education-in-taxonomies-and-knowledge-organization-systems-is-an-increasingly-more-sound-investment/

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Video: Two-legged robot ?walks? a tightrope

1 day

John Roach , NBC News

Researchers have modified a two-legged hobby-kit robot with the balance and dexterity required to inch its way along a thin?steel wire.?

Japanese robotics researcher Masahiko Yamaguchi, who goes by the name Dr. Guero, modified the $1,800 hobby kit robot with grooves in its feet to catch the wire, akin to the way human tightrope walkers do with their toes, according to Gizmag.?

The arms have fewer moving parts than the original to provide greater stability.

Instead of walking ? that is putting one foot in front of the other ? the robot inches its way across the wire, which is about an eighth of an inch thick. Walking with alternating feet, Dr. Guero notes on his website, should be possible, but will require more work.

No word on whether the robot will walk a wire between skyscrapers akin to Philippe Petit's 1974?stunt between the World Trade Center towers featured in the Academy Award winning "Man on Wire," but given the robot's nerves-of-steel such a feat should be as easy as cruising over table inside a lab.

Visit Dr. Guero?s website (in Japanese) to view more of his creations, including a robot that can ride a bike. ?

? via Gizmag

John Roach is a contributing writer for NBC News Digital. To learn more about him, check out his website. For more of our Future of Technology series, watch the featured video below.

Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/technology/futureoftech/video-two-legged-robot-walks-tightrope-1C6608003

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Google Android 4.0 Portable Gaming System Introduced By MG

More Gaming, better known as?MG?has just released images of its first Google Android 4.0 portable gaming console alongside announcement for pre-orders that will cost buyers $150.

The Android based device features a 4-inch display with a 1GHz cortex A5 processor alongside 1GB RAM and access to the Google Play store for software downloading.

While the gaming console offers only 4GB of build-in storage it also comes equipped with a microSD card slot and an included 8GB microSD card.

The portable gaming console is covered with Gorilla Glass and also offers a user faced 1.3 MP camera. MG is promising 3.75 hours of play time via a 1,880mAh, a play time that might not sit well with heavy gamers who expect more for their gaming marathons.

You may recall that MG unsuccessfully tried to raise enough money for the project via Kickstarter, the company ultimately moved forward without the additional funds.

While buyers can pre-order the MG gaming console for $150 through November 3 that price will increase to $170 starting November 4.

Buyers should receive their new Google Android 4.0 portable gaming console by the first week of November.

With may mobile gamers taking advantage of their own smartphones for their gaming needs it will be interesting to see if MG can carve out a niche for itself. The gaming system does have some advantages over mobile phones, specifically a rounded design that is ergonomically created for mobile gaming.

Here?s a shot of the devices backside:

Source: http://www.inquisitr.com/366736/google-android-4-0-portable-gaming-system-introduced-by-mg/

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French Law Endangers Google?s ?Very Existence?, Threatens Country-Wide News Boycott

What happens if Google boycotts an entire country's news content? We might get to witness such a trade war if Google excludes French news from its search results because of a proposed law that requires search engines to pay for displaying snippets of content. Google believes the law "would threaten its very existence." France complains that Google is raking in advertising revenue off of others' work, while Google counters that they've sent over 4 billion clicks to French sites each month.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/DEn8vKlTHKM/

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A night of humor _ after day of campaign criticism

President Barack Obama talks with Jon Stewart during a taping of his appearance on "The Daily Show with John Stewart", Thursday, Oct. 18, 2012, in New York. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

President Barack Obama talks with Jon Stewart during a taping of his appearance on "The Daily Show with John Stewart", Thursday, Oct. 18, 2012, in New York. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Vice President Joe Biden speaks during a campaign rally at the Culinary Academy Events Center, Thursday, Oct. 18, 2012, in Las Vegas. Biden, on Thursday, derided the campaigns of Republican challenger Mitt Romney and vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan as being built on negative views of "makers" and "takers" in America, with half the population dependent on the other for support. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

Franklin County Auditor Clarence E. Mingo, II, left, and Republican Vice Presidential candidate Paul Ryan enter the room to share a dinner as part of a press event at TAT Ristorante di Famiglia in Columbus, Ohio Wednesday, October 17, 2012. (AP Photo/The Columbus Dispatch, Brooke LaValley)

Vice President Joe Biden speaks during a campaign rally at the Culinary Academy Events Center, Thursday, Oct. 18, 2012, in Las Vegas. Biden, on Thursday, derided the campaigns of Republican challenger Mitt Romney and vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan as being built on negative views of "makers" and "takers" in America, with half the population dependent on the other for support. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

NEW YORK (AP) ? President Barack Obama on Thursday rejected criticism that his administration has offered a confused response to the attack on the U.S. Consulate in Libya, an accusation made repeatedly by Republican challenger Mitt Romney in their campaign for the White House. Of any breakdown that might have led to the killing of four Americans, Obama declared: "We're going to fix it."

On a campaign day where the politics of comedy were to flavor the presidential race, Comedy Central host Jon Stewart got serious in pressing Obama over the government's changing explanation about the Sept. 11 attacks in Benghazi. When Stewart suggested that even Obama would concede his administration's coordination and communication had not been "optimal," Obama said: "If four Americans get killed, it's not optimal. We're going to fix it. All of it."

Romney has pointedly questioned Obama's handling of the matter and his honesty about it to voters. Those accusations led to the fiercest conflict of the presidential debate on Tuesday and will surely come to the fore again on Monday in the campaign's final debate.

Appearing in a taping of Comedy Central's "The Daily Show," Obama insisted information was shared with the American people as it came in. The attack is under investigation, Obama said, and "the picture eventually gets filled in."

The exchange came on a day when Vice President Joe Biden compared the policies of Romney's running mate, Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, to a gun pointed at Americans, and after Romney's son said he was tempted to "take a swing" at Obama when the Democrat questions the GOP candidate's honesty.

Ryan, speaking at a campaign stop in Ocala, Fla., before Biden delivered his comments, accused Obama of sending a divisive message.

"He's basically trying to disqualify his opponent with a sea of negativity," Ryan said. "He's trying to divide this country, pitting people against each other. He's trying to win this election by default. You know what? We're not going to let him get away with that."

The sharpness of the barbs is a reflection of just how tight the race is 19 days out. Hard campaign decisions are being made, state by state.

Romney aides said Thursday that no staff had been dispatched to Michigan or Pennsylvania, where they once suggested he would compete aggressively but has not.

The bickering between campaigns was supposed to take a break Thursday night as both candidates address the Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner, a white-tie gala at New York City's Waldorf Astoria Hotel that has been a required stop for politicians since the end of World War II.

The evening's political dinner is named for the four-term Democratic governor of New York who lost the 1928 presidential race to Republican Herbert Hoover. Smith was the first Catholic to run for president and the dinner named for him is organized by the Catholic Archdiocese of New York for the benefit of needy children.

In keeping with tradition, both candidates prepared lighthearted remarks for the event. That was also the case four years ago when Obama and GOP nominee John McCain poked fun at themselves and each other just a day after an intense presidential debate at Hofstra University on Long Island.

As in 2008, this year's dinner follows a confrontational debate, also at Hofstra, lending an air of drama to the pivot from acrimony to humor.

Democrats are pushing the accusation that Romney is being dishonest, taking up Obama's refrain since Tuesday's debate that the GOP nominee is offering "a sketchy deal."

"I don't think they were just sketchy," Biden said at a rally in Las Vegas. "I think they were Etch-a-Sketchy."

Obama and Biden are to campaign together next Tuesday in Ohio after Monday night's final debate.

On Libya, Obama has faced scrutiny for shifting explanations of what happened. He pushed back on Thursday.

"We weren't confused about the fact that four Americans had been killed," Obama said.

"I wasn't confused about the fact that we needed to ramp up diplomatic security. ... I wasn't confused about the fact that we had to investigate exactly happened so it gets fixed. And I wasn't confused about the fact that we're going to hunt down whoever did it and bring them to justice," the president said.

On another national security issue, Obama said he still wants to close the prison for terrorism suspects at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, a big unmet promise of his 2008 campaign. The effort was blocked by Congress, which passed a law prohibiting the government from moving prisoners to the U.S. for detention or trial.

Earlier, in Nevada, Biden accused GOP vice presidential nominee Ryan of sharing a cynical vision of Americans with Romney.

"Ryan has written a book called the 'Young Guns' with two other members of the House," Biden said. "Unfortunately, the bullets are aimed at you."

Romney campaign spokesman Brendan Buck responded that Biden's "over-the-top rhetoric" was disappointing but not surprising.

"In the absence of a vision or plan to move the country forward, the vice president is left only with ugly political attacks beneath the dignity of the office he occupies," Buck said in a statement emailed to reporters.

The finger-pointing comes after the heated debate this week between Obama and Romney. The GOP nominee's oldest son, Tagg, was asked by a North Carolina radio host Wednesday how it feels to hear the president "call your dad a liar" ? a word Obama never used although he repeatedly said Romney's statements weren't true.

Tagg Romney laughed at the question. "You want to rush down the debate stage and take a swing at him. But you know you can't do that because, well first cause there is a lot of Secret Service between you and him, but also because it's the nature of the process," he said.

Another Romney son, Josh, said on ABC's "The View" on Thursday that his brother didn't mean it but was responding to the emotions that arise in the heat of the campaign.

"That brother has slugged me a couple times. I assure you President Obama has nothing to worry about," Josh Romney quipped. "You really don't like to see your dad get beat up by the media or President Obama or whatever it is, so you take it pretty personally. But I think that was just something he was saying off the cuff and I assure you he didn't mean it."

Their mother, Ann Romney, also appearing on "The View," said the negativity of the campaign is very difficult for their family and she initially didn't want to go through another campaign after losing the 2008 Republican primary. She said she agreed to a second run because she feels her husband is uniquely qualified to bring economic hope and prosperity to America

But she didn't hesitate when co-host Barbara Walters asked whether her husband's political career will end if he doesn't win on Nov. 6.

"Absolutely," Mrs. Romney said. "He will not run again, nor will I."

The president campaigned earlier Thursday in tightly contested New Hampshire and asked the state's voters to give him more time in office to get the economy back on track. "I need your help to finish what we started in 2008."

On the celebrity front, Obama picked up the endorsement of rock star Bruce Springsteen, who also backed the Democrat in 2008 and Thursday campaigned for him in Ohio with former President Bill Clinton.

"For 30 years I've been writing about the distance between the American dream and American reality," Springsteen said, reading from a statement on his music stand. "Our vote is the one principal way we get to determine that distance."

___

Associated Press writers Nedra Pickler and Ken Thomas in Washington, Thomas Beaumont in Norfolk, Va., and Tamara Lush in Ocala, Fla., contributed to this report.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2012-10-18-Presidential%20Campaign/id-a5aa2b85ae8f418da1a273f4ff5f2a68

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Conservative 'Obama' filmmaker resigns from college over relationship

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MechWarrior Online made $5 million off 'Founders Program' | Joystiq

Infinite Game Publishing & Piranha Games
Secure $5 Million in Sales for MechWarrior Online?
Founder's Program

- Publisher IGP Blazes The Path To Global Expansion: Tremendously Successful North American Pre-order Campaign Cements Infinite Game Publishing as Canada's Fastest-Growing Online Game Publisher -

MONTREAL ? October 16, 2012 ? Infinite Game Publishing (IGP), Canada's fastest-growing independent publisher of online games, and MechWarrior Online? developer Piranha Games today announced results of its MechWarrior Online Founder's Program: The pre-order program for MechWarrior Online achieved more than $5 million in sales since it first went on sale in July. Beginning soon, MechWarrior Online will be available for all PC gamers to play at www.mwomercs.com as it transitions into the Open Beta phase.

MechWarrior Online represents the first of three premium online games to be published worldwide by IGP, opening first in North America. Bolstered by high demand for top-quality online digital entertainment, startup publisher IGP has grown its Montreal-based headquarters to more than 50 people in the past year. It continues to recruit top industry talent as it prepares for global expansion.

Russ Bullock, president of Piranha Games, lauded the program's success, "Working together with IGP, we maximized the value for fans participating in the MechWarrior Online Founder's Program by offering three tiers to suit different player's needs. Ultimately the program was a categorical success and we couldn't be happier with the sales and important player feedback we've received."

"The success of the Founder's Program reinforces IGP's vision to help independent developers build exceptional games with the right economic model for the global marketplace," said Nick Foster, CEO of IGP. "We are in a unique position to be able to deliver a pipeline of high quality, innovative content for online game players."

"The Founders are helping us fund, develop and support the game in order to deliver the best online gaming experience," said Kelly Zmak, President of IGP. "The tremendous success of the MechWarrior Online Founder's Program demonstrates how passionate the fans are for the MechWarrior franchise and reflect our management team understanding the rapidly changing online game industry, the fastest-growing sector of digital entertainment."

In addition to MechWarrior Online, IGP has announced two additional free-to-play games this year which have already been labeled as white-hot brands by top industry media: MechWarrior Tactics (www.mwtactics.com) and Sins of a Dark Age (www.sinsofadarkage.com), both of which are currently in late alpha testing and will launch Open Betas later this year.

###

Source: http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/17/mechwarrior-online-made-5-million-off-founders-program/

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How To Pick Winning Lotto Numbers - Discover How To Win The ...

Would you like to know the secret to the way to choose winning lotto numbers? Do you purchase lottery tickets every day? Do not you wish you could just win already? Should you answered yes then you definitely should keep reading this short article. There are actually lots of effortless points that you could do that will give you a greater possibility of winning. All you need to complete is follow a few very simple measures.

One of the first points that you simply will will need commence making sure that you are selecting your personal numbers. In terms of selecting numbers for the lotto it is usually an excellent thought to choose your personal numbers. The cause for this is that it enables you to choose your personal number combinations and put them in any order that you simply want. Once you do a fast choose for the lotto the machine is just selecting numbers at random. This may not enhance your possibility of winning the lottery. So when it comes to selecting lotto numbers it is finest to complete it yourself.

There are many various techniques you are able to go about the way to choose winning lottery numbers. You also will need to don't forget you'll find techniques it is best to steer clear of also. One example is, making your lotto picks from anniversaries or birthdays will not be the most beneficial thought to base selecting your numbers. The most effective factor you are able to do to enhance your probabilities of winning will be to do some analysis.

You will need to take the time to go back and see what numbers are winning one of the most and this can give you a compact advantage. This may enable you to find out what numbers are coming up one of the most. This can be what you need to know to find out what numbers you need to play one of the most.

Next you can expect to need to take into account every one of the various number combinations. There are many them but what you are able to do is commence eliminating lots of these numbers. One particular common instance could be the number combination of 1, 2, 3, 4. There are several lotto players who will pick this set of numbers hoping that one particular day they may can be found in. These numbers are so uncommon that you simply will hardly ever see them come up and you should in all probability just keep away from selecting these numbers. This can be one particular very simple step that will enhance your possibility of winning and enable you to with the way to choose winning lotto numbers.

Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com/Article/How-To-Pick-Winning-Lotto-Numbers---Discover-How-To-Win-The-Lottery-Now-/4218909

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Depression, shortened telomeres increase mortality in bladder cancer patients

Public release date: 18-Oct-2012
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Katrina Burton
kburton@mdanderson.org
713-792-8034
University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center

Epidemiological study shows age-associated biomarker and depressive symptoms affect survival

HOUSTON - Low depressive symptoms and a longer telomere length are compelling factors that contribute to a prolonged life for bladder cancer patients according to researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

In an observational study, a team of MD Anderson researchers analyzed clinical and behavioral data collected from 464 bladder cancer patients, according to research presented at the 11th Annual AACR International Conference on Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research.

"This is the first study of its kind that analyzes bladder cancer outcomes," said Meng Chen, Ph.D., an instructor in MD Anderson's Department of Epidemiology. "Psychological factors are not usually included in epidemiologic studies"

The patients observed were enrolled in an ongoing study of bladder cancer that provides extensive genetic, epidemiologic and psychological data. The collaboration of MD Anderson epidemiologists and psychologists is led by the study's principal investigator, Xifeng Wu, M.D., Ph.D., professor and chair of the epidemiology department.

Patients' information was analyzed according to four different groups. The first group involved patients with long telomeres and no depressive symptoms; the second identified patients who had long telomeres with depressive symptoms; the third had shortened telomeres and no depressive symptoms, while the fourth group had shortened telomeres and depressive symptoms.

Bladder cancer is the fourth most common cancer of men and is usually diagnosed in people over the age of 60. The American Cancer Society estimates 56,000 men and 18,000 women will have a bladder cancer diagnosis in 2012.

Research has identified shortened telomere length as an aging-associated biomarker in several diseases, including cancer. As people grow older, telomeres on the tips of chromosomes, which protect chromosomes from unraveling as cells replicate, shorten and eventually fail, leading to cell death. MD Anderson researchers analyzed blood samples to measure telomere length.

Depressive symptoms were analyzed using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). The self-report scale - one of the most common screening tests used for finding levels of depression - revealed patients who scored at high levels of depressive symptoms have a 1.89-fold risk of dying compared to those with lower levels of depression, who will live a little over three times longer - 200 months vs. 58 months.

The study also revealed the combination of factors, longer telomeres and low levels of depressive symptoms, increased survival for bladder cancer patients by more than six-fold - 31.3 months vs 199.8 months. Those with short telomeres and high levels of depression had a three-fold risk of mortality.

A certain level of stress, which has also been associated with shortened telomere length, is a dominating factor with many cancer patients. "People are not treating the depression directly, but mainly focused on coping with cancer,"said Chen. "This leads to additional stress that increases mortality."

Enhanced stress management should be an integral part of cancer treatment, "Lifestyle behaviors including a healthy diet, regular exercise and smoking-cessation are factors for reducing stress and ultimately depression in cancer patients"." said co-author Jie Lin, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Department of Epidemiology.

Lin also said the new risk factors such as psychological risk factors identified by the team could be included in future risk prediction models. The team is optimistic that this study will encourage clinicians to incorporate behavioral factors into risk models so interventions can be developed to prolong survival for bladder cancer patients.

###

Contributing authors to the work include Jan Blalock, Ph.D., Paul Cinciripini, Ph.D. from the Department of Behavioral Science, and Lorenzo Cohen, Ph.D., from the Department of General Oncology.

About MD Anderson

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston ranks as one of the world's most respected centers focused on cancer patient care, research, education and prevention. MD Anderson is one of only 41 comprehensive cancer centers designated by the National Cancer Institute. For eight of the past 10 years, including 2011, MD Anderson has ranked No. 1 in cancer care in "America's Best Hospitals," a survey published annually in U.S. News & World Report .

---

[ | E-mail | Share ]

?

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.

Public release date: 18-Oct-2012
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Katrina Burton
kburton@mdanderson.org
713-792-8034
University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center

Epidemiological study shows age-associated biomarker and depressive symptoms affect survival

HOUSTON - Low depressive symptoms and a longer telomere length are compelling factors that contribute to a prolonged life for bladder cancer patients according to researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

In an observational study, a team of MD Anderson researchers analyzed clinical and behavioral data collected from 464 bladder cancer patients, according to research presented at the 11th Annual AACR International Conference on Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research.

"This is the first study of its kind that analyzes bladder cancer outcomes," said Meng Chen, Ph.D., an instructor in MD Anderson's Department of Epidemiology. "Psychological factors are not usually included in epidemiologic studies"

The patients observed were enrolled in an ongoing study of bladder cancer that provides extensive genetic, epidemiologic and psychological data. The collaboration of MD Anderson epidemiologists and psychologists is led by the study's principal investigator, Xifeng Wu, M.D., Ph.D., professor and chair of the epidemiology department.

Patients' information was analyzed according to four different groups. The first group involved patients with long telomeres and no depressive symptoms; the second identified patients who had long telomeres with depressive symptoms; the third had shortened telomeres and no depressive symptoms, while the fourth group had shortened telomeres and depressive symptoms.

Bladder cancer is the fourth most common cancer of men and is usually diagnosed in people over the age of 60. The American Cancer Society estimates 56,000 men and 18,000 women will have a bladder cancer diagnosis in 2012.

Research has identified shortened telomere length as an aging-associated biomarker in several diseases, including cancer. As people grow older, telomeres on the tips of chromosomes, which protect chromosomes from unraveling as cells replicate, shorten and eventually fail, leading to cell death. MD Anderson researchers analyzed blood samples to measure telomere length.

Depressive symptoms were analyzed using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). The self-report scale - one of the most common screening tests used for finding levels of depression - revealed patients who scored at high levels of depressive symptoms have a 1.89-fold risk of dying compared to those with lower levels of depression, who will live a little over three times longer - 200 months vs. 58 months.

The study also revealed the combination of factors, longer telomeres and low levels of depressive symptoms, increased survival for bladder cancer patients by more than six-fold - 31.3 months vs 199.8 months. Those with short telomeres and high levels of depression had a three-fold risk of mortality.

A certain level of stress, which has also been associated with shortened telomere length, is a dominating factor with many cancer patients. "People are not treating the depression directly, but mainly focused on coping with cancer,"said Chen. "This leads to additional stress that increases mortality."

Enhanced stress management should be an integral part of cancer treatment, "Lifestyle behaviors including a healthy diet, regular exercise and smoking-cessation are factors for reducing stress and ultimately depression in cancer patients"." said co-author Jie Lin, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Department of Epidemiology.

Lin also said the new risk factors such as psychological risk factors identified by the team could be included in future risk prediction models. The team is optimistic that this study will encourage clinicians to incorporate behavioral factors into risk models so interventions can be developed to prolong survival for bladder cancer patients.

###

Contributing authors to the work include Jan Blalock, Ph.D., Paul Cinciripini, Ph.D. from the Department of Behavioral Science, and Lorenzo Cohen, Ph.D., from the Department of General Oncology.

About MD Anderson

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston ranks as one of the world's most respected centers focused on cancer patient care, research, education and prevention. MD Anderson is one of only 41 comprehensive cancer centers designated by the National Cancer Institute. For eight of the past 10 years, including 2011, MD Anderson has ranked No. 1 in cancer care in "America's Best Hospitals," a survey published annually in U.S. News & World Report .

---

[ | E-mail | Share ]

?

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.

Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-10/uotm-dst101812.php

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Skydiver's feat could influence spacesuit design

FILE - In this Sunday, Oct. 14, 2012 image provided by Red Bull Stratos, pilot Felix Baumgartner of Austria jumps out of his capsule during the final manned flight for Red Bull Stratos. Baumgartner's death-defying jump from a balloon 24 miles above Earth yielded important information about the punishing effects of extreme speed and altitude on the human body - insights that could inform the development of improved spacesuits, new training procedures and emergency medical treatment. (AP Photo/Red Bull Stratos)

FILE - In this Sunday, Oct. 14, 2012 image provided by Red Bull Stratos, pilot Felix Baumgartner of Austria jumps out of his capsule during the final manned flight for Red Bull Stratos. Baumgartner's death-defying jump from a balloon 24 miles above Earth yielded important information about the punishing effects of extreme speed and altitude on the human body - insights that could inform the development of improved spacesuits, new training procedures and emergency medical treatment. (AP Photo/Red Bull Stratos)

FILE - In this Sunday, Oct. 14, 2012 photo provided by Red Bull Stratos, Pilot Felix Baumgartner of Austria celebrates after successfully completing the final manned flight for Red Bull Stratos in Roswell, N.M.?Baumgartner's death-defying jump from a balloon 24 miles above Earth yielded important information about the punishing effects of extreme speed and altitude on the human body - insights that could inform the development of improved spacesuits, new training procedures and emergency medical treatment. (AP Photo/Red Bull Stratos, Balazs Gardi)

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) ? Now that the dust has settled in the New Mexico desert where supersonic skydiver "Fearless Felix" Baumgartner landed safely on his feet, researchers are exhilarated over the possibility his exploit could someday help save the lives of pilots and space travelers in a disaster.

Baumgartner's death-defying jump Sunday from a balloon 24 miles above Earth yielded a wealth of information about the punishing effects of extreme speed and altitude on the human body ? insights that could inform the development of improved spacesuits, new training procedures and emergency medical treatment.

A NASA engineer who specializes in astronaut escape systems said Baumgartner's mission "gives us a good foundation" for improving the odds of survival for professional astronauts, space tourists and high-altitude pilots and passengers.

"What I would hope is that, perhaps, this is just the first step of many, many advancements to come" in emergency bailouts, said Dustin Gohmert, who heads NASA's crew survival engineering office at the Johnson Space Center in Houston.

In an interview after Baumgartner became the first skydiver to break the speed of sound, Gohmert noted that researchers have spent decades working on self-contained space escape systems, with no significant advances since Joe Kittinger in 1960 jumped from 19.5 miles up and reached 614 mph, records that stood until Sunday.

Baumgartner's feat was sponsored by energy drink maker Red Bull, and NASA had no role. But Dr. Jonathan Clark, a former NASA flight surgeon who lost his wife, Laurel, in the space shuttle Columbia accident and dedicated himself to improving crew escape systems, was in charge of Baumgartner's medical team.

And he was thrilled at how much was learned.

By going well beyond Mach 1, or the speed of sound, Baumgartner provided even more data than anticipated. Wearing a pressurized suit and helmet, he accelerated to an astonishing 834 mph and was supersonic longer than expected. The speed of sound at that altitude is close to 700 mph.

"It was Mach 1.24, which is really huge. I mean, that's a much higher level than we'd ever anticipated, so we learned a lot by going faster and higher," said Clark, who teaches at the Baylor College School of Medicine.

Clark said his team is still analyzing all the medical data ? heart rate, blood pressure and the like ? collected from sensors on Baumgartner's body.

During his descent through the stratosphere, Baumgartner went into an out-of-control spin for about 40 seconds, experiencing around 2.5 G's, or 2.5 times the force of gravity, before stabilizing himself.

Baumgartner's technique for righting himself may prove useful for companies like Virgin Galactic that are developing spacecraft that will take tourists up into space and right back down. These enterprises will need to have some sort of emergency escape plan.

NASA's next-generation spaceship, the Orion vehicle intended for deep-space exploration, will parachute home like the old-style Mercury, Gemini and Apollo capsules. The lessons learned from Baumgartner's effort probably won't apply directly to the Orion design, since it will be safer for astronauts to remain in the vessel all the way back to Earth, Gohmert said.

As for the now-ended shuttle program, Columbia was traveling too high and too fast during its 2003 descent for a Baumgartner-style exit to have helped the seven astronauts. The spaceship broke apart about 40 miles up while traveling more than Mach 17, unleashing forces that tore the crew members' bodies apart.

In the 1986 Challenger disaster, the crew capsule shot out of the fireball that erupted during liftoff, but there are too many unknowns to say whether any lessons from Baumgartner's feat might have applied to that tragedy, Gohmert said.

After each accident, NASA improved its efforts to protect crews in an emergency. But by the time the 30-year shuttle program shut down last year, the window for escape was still limited to below about 6 miles and less than 230 mph.

Baumgartner's pressurized suit ? a close cousin of the orange suits used by shuttle astronauts and the suits worn by high-altitude U-2 spy pilots ? was designed for use in a standing, free-falling position, while conventional spacesuits are made primarily for sitting. By all accounts, the new suit performed well.

"I think all of us here in our lab specifically who have dealt with the shuttle suits have looked at this in wonder and amazement, and really appreciated what they did," Gohmert said. "And that efficiency that they brought it forth with is also a model for us to learn from as well."

The suit was made by the David Clark Co. of Worcester, Mass.

"Perhaps in the future, someone might say, 'We want people to be in suits, some type of commercial space thing. We want them to be able to float around better and not in a seated position,'" Dan McCarter, a program manager at the company, said Wednesday.

"Now we know a little more on how to reposition arms and legs on the suit. Of course, we're always doing research and development. ... New knee joints, new elbow joints, lighter hardware. It's nonstop. We are currently working on the next-generation of suit right now for NASA and the Air Force."

The suit Baumgartner used was previously certified to 100,000 feet. "Well, we pretty much say now it's certified to 128,000 feet," McCarter said.

An uncorrected spin could have caused Baumgartner to black out and suffer a deadly stroke. Baumgartner said afterward that he could feel pressure building in his head during the spin, but did not come close to passing out.

His recovery crew had specialized equipment on hand to treat him for a multitude of medical problems he might have suffered. Clark and his team spent years refining the emergency treatments and the mobile gear required. In the end, none of it was needed.

"I tell you, we had a lot of medical support because we were very concerned," Clark said. "We had to be ready for everything."

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Online:

Red Bull Stratos: http://www.redbullstratos.com

U.S. Parachute Association: http://www.uspa.org

Associated Press

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