No more lying about your age: Scientists can now gauge skin?s true age with new laser technique

Dec. 13, 2012 ? Wrinkles, dryness, and a translucent and fragile appearance are hallmarks of old skin, caused by the natural aging of skin cells. But while most of us can recognize the signs of lost youth when we peer into the mirror each morning, scientists do not have a standardized way to measure the extent of age damage in skin. Now a group of Taiwanese researchers has used a specialized microscope to peer harmlessly beneath the skin surface to measure natural age-related changes in the sizes of skin cells.

The results, which are published in the Optical Society's (OSA) open-access journal Biomedical Optics Express, can be used to study the general phenomenon of skin aging and may help provide an index for measuring the effectiveness of 'anti-aging' skin products.

In the study, Chi-Kuang Sun, a distinguished professor at National Taiwan University and chief director of the university's Molecular Imaging Center, along with medical researcher and dermatologist Yi-Hua Liao and colleagues, evaluated 52 subjects ranging in age from 19 to 79 years old. The researchers focused a brief burst of infrared laser light into the skin of the subjects' inner forearms, an area that is generally protected from sun damage, which accelerates natural aging. The beam penetrated to a depth of about 300 millionths of a meter, or approximately where the epidermis (the upper layer of skin) and the dermis (the lower layer) meet.

The researchers used a technique known as harmonic generation microscopy (HGM), which has previously been used to study developing embryos. In the procedure, a concentrated beam of photons is sent into a material. The photons naturally oscillate at a particular frequency, and as they interact with the material, they generate "harmonics" -- vibrations that are multiples of the original frequency, which are characteristic of the material structure and properties. For example, the second harmonic is twice the original frequency and the third harmonic is three times the original frequency. In an imaging system, harmonics can reveal different structures at very high resolution. In their study, the team scanned for reflected second and third harmonic photons, and from those measurements, produced a high-resolution 3-D map of the tissue that revealed structures within the skin cells.

Natural aging, the scanning showed, caused a significant increase in the overall size of cells known as basal keratinocytes -- the most common cells in the outermost layer of skin -- as well as in the sizes of their nuclei. However, other types of skin cells, known as granular cells, did not show a similar pattern. Thus, says Sun, the relative changes in the two types of cells can serve as an index for scoring natural or "intrinsic" skin aging -the aging of skin caused by programmed developmental or genetic factors.

"No one has ever seen through a person's skin to determine his or her age from their skin," says Sun. "Our finding serves as a potential index for skin age."

A skin age index would provide a standardized, quantitative scale that could be used rate the true "age" of skin, from young (less age-related damage) to old (more age-related damage). The scale could give doctors another tool to monitor the overall health of skin -- by investigating whether the skin of certain individuals or populations ages faster or slower than average, tracking the aging of an individual's skin over time, or testing how effective anti-aging treatments are at slowing the rate of skin aging.

Intrinsic, or chronological, aging is different from extrinsic aging, which is caused primarily by sun exposure. "There are a lot of extrinsic factors that can accelerate the aging process, such as smoking, ultraviolet light, and stress," says Sun. The researchers found that the extent of extrinsic skin aging in their study subjects varied depending on occupation, personal habits, and skin type, but because the researchers looked at skin on the sun-protected inner forearm, their findings provide a measure of the primarily genetically-based intrinsic skin aging.

"This could provide an index for someone who cares about the health of their skin and might also provide a test-bed for measuring the effectiveness of 'anti-aging' skin products," Sun says. "Of course," he and Liao joke, "you could set an HGM scanner at the entrance to a bar, so you can know whether a person is over 21 years old and permitted for entry."

Share this story on Facebook, Twitter, and Google:

Other social bookmarking and sharing tools:

---

Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Optical Society of America.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.

---

Journal Reference:

1. Yi-Hua Liao, Szu-Yu Chen, Sin-Yo Chou, Pei-Hsun Wang, Ming-Rung Tsai, Chi-Kuang Sun. Determination of chronological aging parameters in epidermal keratinocytes by in vivo harmonic generation microscopy. Biomedical Optics Express, 2012; 4 (1): 77 DOI: 10.1364/BOE.4.000077

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

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

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/top_technology/~3/GFXEZnrymcM/121213111825.htm

critics choice awards super pac dre kirkpatrick mls superdraft school cancellations bald barbie peoples choice awards

Redbox to launch video streaming service this month

(Reuters) - Redbox kiosks owner Coinstar Inc and Verizon Communications Inc said they will launch a video streaming service later this month to take on video rental giant Netflix Inc .

The companies are set to launch their Redbox Instant video streaming service more than ten months after they first inked a joint venture.

Coinstar shares were up 3 percent at $52.50 on the Nasdaq on Wednesday morning. While Netflix shares were down marginally at $86.24.

The new service, 'Redbox Instant by Verizon' would launch as a public beta later this month, the companies said in a statement.

The service, which combines the Redbox DVD rental kiosk business with an Internet video offering from Verizon, will sell subscriptions starting at $8 per month for unlimited streaming combined with four one-night credits for DVDs.

Redbox Instant would also offer a $9 unlimited streaming option that would allow users to rent Blu-ray discs.

Netflix's pricing currently starts at $7.99 for either streaming only or a single DVD by mail. To get both the streaming and DVD rental package prices start at $15.98.

Coinstar and Verizon had formed their joint venture in February to sell video services in a market that is dominated by Netflix but also has a number of new entrants including Amazon.com Inc's Prime, Hulu Plus and HBO Go.

Redbox Instant subscribers would have access to content from Warner Brothers Home Entertainment and titles from Paramount Pictures , Lionsgate and MGM, through a license deal with cable network Epix.

(Reporting by Himank Sharma in Bangalore; Editing by Supriya Kurane)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/verizon-coinstar-launch-redbox-instant-month-133604638--sector.html

demi moore roy oswalt kevin martin 2012 senior bowl chuck series finale welcome back kotter 2001 a space odyssey

Mobile Gaming Network Applifier Raises $4M Led By Finland's ...

Applifier, which just launched a new platform for gamers to share replays of their best gaming moments, raised a Series B round of funding led by Finland?s Lifeline Ventures.

The $4 million round also included existing investors like MHS Capital and PROFounders along with one more new one in Webb Investment Network. Angel investors like Zynga India general manager Steven Lurie, Anthony Soohoo, Philip Reisberger, David Wright and Tekes, which is the Finnish Funding Agency for Technology
and Innovation, also participated.

Applifier, which started out on the Facebook platform, pivoted largely to mobile platforms over the last year. The company recently launched a new product called Everyplay, which is a way for gamers to share and replay their greatest moments. Everyplay lets gamers share their favorite titles by recording and replaying sessions of games ? like a time they might have gotten a high score.

?This is not something we?re cramming down the throats of users,? said Jussi Laakkonen, the company?s CEO. ?They?re playing games they like and they want to show off and brag. In Supercell?s Clash of Clans, I want to show off my raids.?

Here?s an example replay:

Laakkonen adds that watching replays of friends in mobile games is a much more effective form of video advertising on smartphones. He says this type of advertising monetizes three to five times better than standard video ads, which he estimates would result in a $15 to 20 eCPM for publishers. He adds that on the advertiser side, one might see a cost-per-install of around $2 to $2.50.

The company hasn?t disclosed the size of its platform yet, but says that the product has attracted more than 400 developer sign-ups and will come out with its first titles this holiday season. Applifier faces off against a number of deep-pocketed competitors that are trying to create a platform of games that generates real network effects in lowering the cost of acquiring and retaining users. GREE and DeNA both are multibillion dollar Japanese mobile gaming companies that have collectively thrown about $1 billion at this problem in acquisitions and hiring. Facebook is also emerging as another force in user acquisition for apps with new ads in the mobile news feed while there are older stalwarts like Tapjoy and Flurry.

The company says that its old Facebook products are still growing nicely, with a video advertising network that includes King.com, Zynga and SongPop maker Fresh Planet among its clientele.

Applifier also recently released an easier way to integrate its SDK into games on the Unity platform. Laakkonen says it?s a simple drag-and-drop process that takes two minutes (demonstrated below).

Source: http://techcrunch.com/2012/12/12/applifier-series-b/

bernard hopkins nfl draft grades devils dodgers rachel maddow gia la riots

Drobo's new 5N is a speedy $600 NAS for when you need files, stat

Tragically, we only learned about Drobo's new 5N after we'd hired a warehouse the size of an aircraft hanger to store our latest, 12 million page novel. If you want to avoid our mistake, then the company's latest NAS might end your own storage woes. The new hardware is part of the same family as the 5D and Drobo Mini, except this one ditches the Thunderbolt connection in favor of a single gigabit-ethernet port. Inside, there's space for five 3.5-inch drives, giving you a maximum capacity of 20TB. An mSATA slot for an SSD drive will let you make use of Drobo's "data-aware tiering" feature, which gives applications like Adobe Lightroom and iTunes faster access to your NAS-stored files. The base model will set you back $600 and will be available in "mid December," which we impatiently hope is a euphemism for "tomorrow."

Continue reading Drobo's new 5N is a speedy $600 NAS for when you need files, stat

Filed under: Storage

Comments

Source: Drobo

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/12/13/drobo-5n/

joss whedon ronnie montrose melissa gilbert dancing with the stars dandelion wine cough matt groening brandon phillips

Random Thoughts!: Skimboarding - Water Surfing Option

Have you tried water surfing? Particularly skimboarding? Sounds interesting?

This is the first time that I ever heard of this kind of water surfing or water sports. This could be one of interesting and enjoyable kind of water surfing by the use of skimboards.

I am a Filipino and I am not used to this. However, I try to imagine how skimboard is used, which is similar to a surfboard but this one has no fins as mentioned, which sweep across the water's surface.

The users, I understand, will have so much skills, agility, and presence of mind to be the best.?

By the way, for beach gear or beach products like skimboards, there are online retailer specialized in beach gear including chairs, umbrellas, water sports and wear if you just search them.

Interested skimmers may have the option to select what type of skimboards they are going to use such as wooden skimboards, fiberglass skimboards use of skimboards.

It is said the place like? Laguna Beach, California is noted as the best place for skimboarding. Here in our place like the Philippines, Siargao in Mindanao is considered as the surfing place for there are big waves ideal for surfing games and Tanuan, Leyte is also considered as the skimboarding city of the country.

Now I know water surfing is another form of beach recreation. Everyone doing this water sports is secured in places where there are bodyguards keeping watch for them.

Dangers or accidents do happen. Skimboarders usually get hurt, have fractures and injured their lower limbs. It is therefore necessary for them to wear beach gear to protect themselves.

Preparation is a must also like holding a brief talk about shape and propose best position in riding on skimboard. And this should be conducted before the skimboarders go to shore to do surfing.

image credits: worldclassfilipino.com

Source: http://www.gilcamporazorandomthoughts.info/2012/12/skimboarding-water-surfing-option.html

chris carpenter chris carpenter dick cheney hcg drops reason rally mad hatter azerbaijan

AP Exclusive: ACLU seeks OAS probe of Padilla case

FILE - In this Jan. 5, 2006 file photo, Jose Padilla, center, is escorted to a waiting police vehicle by federal marshals near downtown Miami. The American Civil Liberties Union says it will ask the OAS' human rights commission to investigate the U.S. government for allegedly violating the rights of convicted terrorism plotter Jose Padilla by labeling him an "enemy combatant" a decade ago and subjecting him to interrogation that amounted to torture, including sleep and sensory deprivation in solitary confinement. (AP Photo/J. Pat Carter, File)

FILE - In this Jan. 5, 2006 file photo, Jose Padilla, center, is escorted to a waiting police vehicle by federal marshals near downtown Miami. The American Civil Liberties Union says it will ask the OAS' human rights commission to investigate the U.S. government for allegedly violating the rights of convicted terrorism plotter Jose Padilla by labeling him an "enemy combatant" a decade ago and subjecting him to interrogation that amounted to torture, including sleep and sensory deprivation in solitary confinement. (AP Photo/J. Pat Carter, File)

NEW YORK (AP) ? A civil liberties group asked the Organization of American States' human rights commission Tuesday to investigate the U.S. government for what it says are violations of the rights of convicted terrorism plotter Jose Padilla.

The American Civil Liberties Union says the U.S. violated Padilla's rights when it labeled him an "enemy combatant" a decade ago and subjected him to interrogation that amounted to torture, including sleep and sensory deprivation in solitary confinement.

The watchdog legal group told The Associated Press it had filed a petition to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, which serves as the human-rights investigation arm of the Washington-based OAS.

The U.S. has argued in the past that it is not bound by the commission and views its findings as "only recommendations that the United States can ignore or it can follow," according to Steven Watt, the ACLU lawyer who filed the petition. But the findings could still prove awkward for the U.S., which sees itself as a leader on human rights and is quick to criticize other countries it views as falling short on that front.

Jamil Dakwar, the ACLU's human rights program director, said this is the first-ever petition to be filed to the OAS commission by an American citizen against the U.S. government alleging torture and abuse.

It asks the OAS body to recommend that the United States publicly acknowledge the violations and apologize for its unlawful conduct.

The OAS promotes cooperation among the 35 independent countries of the Americas.

State Department spokeswoman Nicole Thompson referred queries to the Justice Department. Officials at Justice did not immediately respond to requests for comment Monday and Tuesday.

Among the allegations in the ACLU's petition are that:

?Padilla's interrogation included "painful stress positions, sleep deprivation and sensory deprivation, which caused him severe physical and psychological trauma that persists to this day." It characterized these as "physical and psychological torture and abuse."

?Padilla was denied contact with his lawyers or family during interrogation.

?He was not allowed to practice his religion, Islam. The copy of the Quran he was initially allowed was confiscated.

?His mental state deteriorated so badly that he often refused to meet with lawyers or his family, fearing that would result in his return to military custody.

The ACLU said it was filing the petition on behalf of Padilla and his mother Estela Lebron, contending her rights were also violated when she was not allowed to communicate with or visit her son for years. It said her health has suffered as a result.

Padilla, now 42, a one-time Chicago gang member and car thief, converted to Islam and had lived in Egypt for four years prior to his arrest. He was detained in 2002 in Chicago when he flew back to visit his mother. He was designated an "enemy combatant" ? a status applied by the administration of President George W. Bush to al-Qaida and Taliban terror suspects after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. It meant that he was placed in military custody and denied access to the U.S. civilian justice system.

Padilla was initially held as a "material witness" to the Sept. 11 terror attacks. Authorities at the time said he was on a terrorist mission to detonate a radioactive "dirty bomb" in a major U.S. city, but he was held at the Navy brig in South Carolina for more than three years without being charged. Padilla eventually was added to an existing terrorism indictment, and was convicted in U.S. federal court in 2007 of supporting terrorism in Kosovo, Bosnia and Chechnya, and is serving a 17-year sentence.

The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights can undertake investigations of complaints, and in the past has probed massacres in Peru, Colombia and Guatemala. It can also issue "precautionary orders" to ask for the protection of the rights of people in cases under review, and has done so in the case of several Guantanamo detainees who were not U.S. citizens.

"The United States has its obligation under the Constitution and federal law, but it also has its obligations under international law. The U.S. will have to formally respond to the allegations in that petition as if it was filed in a federal court," said Watt, the ACLU attorney filing the petition.

Watt said the OAS commission would probably give the U.S. government about six months to prepare a response, reflecting the legal complexity of the case, which churned through U.S. courts for 10 years and reached the U.S. Supreme Court twice.

The ACLU's filing says those initial accusations against Padilla, according to a sworn U.S. declaration, were based on statements "made by two unnamed suspected terrorists who had been detained and interrogated outside of the United States," one of whom later recanted and the other who had been drugged during interrogation.

In 2004, the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear Padilla's case against Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and other U.S. officials in which he claimed he was being held illegally and denied due process. The high court ruled he should have taken the case to a federal court in South Carolina and that the brig commander should have been the target of the case. In June of this year, the Supreme Court declined to hear another appeal of the case.

In September, the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Padilla's original 17-year sentence was too lenient for a trained al-Qaida operative who also had a long criminal record as a Chicago gang member. The appellate court granted a request by the Justice Department that Padilla be resentenced. Padilla, according to trial testimony, trained at an al-Qaida camp in Afghanistan.

Last month, Padilla's resentencing was postponed until Jan. 29 by a federal judge after his defense attorney, Michael Caruso, argued his client is deteriorating psychologically after years of isolation and needs more time for family visits.

Caruso said Padilla's family in South Florida has only been able to visit him one time since 2008 at the Supermax prison in Florence, Colorado, where he is kept in solitary confinement 23 hours a day and allowed no contact with other inmates. His mother and sisters were able to see him more regularly after he was taken to a Miami detention center to await resentencing.

Caruso called the harsh prison conditions akin to torture, which was rejected by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Frazier. "He is not in some black hole of Calcutta," Frazier said.

Counting time off for good behavior, Padilla's current prison release date is Jan. 4, 2022.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2012-12-11-Padilla-Terror%20Charges/id-72d017baffae4d3ca50c09391a84b76c

9/11 Jerry Lawler godaddy andy murray Samsung Galaxy S3 linkedin linkedin

Mandela 'responding to treatment' for lung infection

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - Former South African President Nelson Mandela, who is 94 and has been in hospital since Saturday for tests, has suffered a recurrence of a lung infection but is responding to treatment, the government said on Tuesday.

The revered anti-apartheid leader and Nobel Peace laureate is spending his fourth day in a hospital in the South African capital Pretoria. He remains a hero to many of South Africa's 52 million people and two brief stretches in hospital in the last two years made front page news.

"Doctors have concluded the tests, and these have revealed a recurrence of a previous lung infection, for which Madiba is receiving appropriate treatment and he is responding to the treatment," the government said in a statement.

Mandela, whose clan name is 'Madiba', was admitted to the Pretoria military hospital on Saturday after being flown from his home village of Qunu, which is in a remote, rural part of the Eastern Cape province.

Until now, South African authorities had given few details about the reason for his latest visit to hospital.

In an interview late on Monday with South Africa's eNCA television channel, Mandela's Mozambican-born wife Graca said the former president's "sparkle" was fading.

When he was admitted to hospital on Saturday, officials stressed there was no cause for concern although domestic media reports suggested senior members of the government and people close to him had been caught unawares.

Mandela, South Africa's first black president and a global symbol of resistance to racism and injustice, spent 27 years in apartheid prisons, including 18 years on the windswept Robben Island off the coast of Cape Town.

He was released in 1990 and went on to be elected president in the historic all-race elections in 1994 that ended white-minority rule in Africa's most important economy.

He used his unparalleled prestige to push for reconciliation between whites and blacks, setting up a commission to probe crimes committed by both sides in the anti-apartheid struggle.

Mandela's African National Congress has continued to govern since his retirement from politics in 1999, but has been criticised for perceived corruption and slowness in addressing apartheid-era inequalities in housing, education and healthcare.

Mandela spent time in a Johannesburg hospital in 2011 with a respiratory condition, and again in February this year because of abdominal pains. He was released the following day after a keyhole examination showed there was nothing serious.

He has since spent most of his time in Qunu.

His fragile health prevents him from making any public appearances in South Africa, although he has continued to receive high-profile domestic and international visitors, including former U.S. President Bill Clinton in July.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/mandela-responding-treatment-lung-infection-090738255.html

printable bracket game change own stacy francis tournament brackets 2012 ncaa basketball tournament walt

Chargers' win not expected to save Turner's job

By BERNIE WILSON

AP Sports Writer

Associated Press Sports

updated 3:47 p.m. ET Dec. 10, 2012

SAN DIEGO (AP) - Chargers President Dean Spanos presented Norv Turner with a game ball after San Diego stunned the Steelers, its first regular-season victory in Pittsburgh in 15 tries.

That's the same Dean Spanos who is expected to fire Turner, most likely along with general manager A.J. Smith, shortly after this dismal season ends.

The 34-24 victory Sunday isn't expected to change anything, other than keep the Chargers mathematically, if not realistically, alive for a wild-card playoff berth at 5-8.

Turner tried to deflect talk of his future Monday, trying to keep the focus on his next opponent, the Carolina Panthers.

After the Chargers lost seven of their previous eight games, the victory over the Steelers left many fans wondering: "Where has that been all season?"

It was San Diego's first victory against a winning team this year.

? 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

advertisement

More newsGrant Halverson / Getty Images

Newton's frustration unleashed

PFT: After a trying season, Cam Newton made a statement on Sunday with a sensational performance to upset the NFL's top team, the Atlanta Falcons.

Source: http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/50151011/ns/sports-nfl/

Chris Lighty JJ Watt johnny depp jerry sandusky raul ibanez completely wrong hayden panettiere

Sleep Apnea Symptoms - Revista Women's Health

Sleep apnea can exist for years without being diagnosed. This is because the sleep disorder manifests itself only during sleep, just when the person suffering from it is totally out of the bounds of consciousness to actually notice the irregularities. On the other hand, his bed partner may take the snoring and snorting as normal occurrences.

An undiagnosed case of sleep apnea, however, can be irritating and fatal all at the same time. Those who have it can experience as simple as fatigue and as life-threatening as heart disease. But the question is, how can one be so sure if he or his loved one is already having bouts with sleep apnea? There are warning signs to look out for, and they come as sleep apnea symptoms.

Red Flag: The signs and symptoms
Sleep apnea requires prompt attention. If the following symptoms surface, a consultation with a doctor or a sleep specialist must immediately take place.

1. Snoring. Not everyone who snores has sleep apnea, but snoring is typical to those who suffer from the sleep disorder. Loud and chronic snoring is ordinarily accompanied by grunts, snorts, gasps for breath, and restless movements.

2. Breathing irregularities. Sleep apnea renders a person to have breath pauses that lead to frequent and brief silences during sleep, but which then break into loud snoring. It is the bed partner who notices these breath intervals.

3. Excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS). It is described as the unordinary and persistent sleepiness. People experiencing EDS normally feel the urge to and sometimes involuntarily fall asleep for brief moments many times during the day and when performing daily itinerary such as eating, talking over the phone, and driving. Over time, EDS becomes a threat to someone?s performance at work and in school because it usually weakens a person?s competency to complete tasks.

4. Daytime fatigue. Due to disrupted sleep, people with sleep apnea normally feel tired as though they haven?t slept the night before. It then results in forgetfulness, lack of concentration, and learning difficulties. Mood changes are also apparent, causing the person to become irritable and anxious.

5. Depression. Although it is not clear how exactly sleep apnea contributes to depression, it is said that people with the sleep disorder are five times more prone to developing depression. Sleep apnea is also reported to aggravate an existing case of depression.

6. Morning headache. People suffering from sleep apnea wake up with morning headache. In fact, statistics says that headaches occur in approximately half of the people with sleep apnea. Headaches at night are also reported.

7. Other symptoms. People with sleep apnea have a frequent need to urinate at night and experience excessive sweating when asleep. Upon waking up, they tend to have a dry throat. Sexual dysfunction is also observed from people with sleep apnea.

Experts suggest that the more sleep apnea symptoms present in a person and the more intense they are, the more severe his case of sleep apnea is. Undergoing sleep test and treatment then is necessary. But because it is hard for a potential patient to observe some of these symptoms from himself, the bed partner is put in a place of greater accountability.

Source: http://revistawomenshealth.com/sleep-apnea-symptoms.html

wisconsin recall wisconsin recall doris day buffalo sabres texas news kim mulkey sarah palin today show

Britain launches genome database for patients' DNA

LONDON (Reuters) - Up to 100,000 Britons suffering from cancer and rare diseases are to have their genetic codes fully sequenced and mapped as part of government plans to build a DNA database to boost drug discovery and development.

Prime Minister David Cameron said on Monday he wanted Britain to "push the boundaries" of scientific research by being the first country to introduce genetic sequencing into a mainstream health service.

His government has set aside 100 million pounds for the project in the taxpayer-funded National Health Service (NHS) over the next three to five years.

"Britain has often led the world in scientific breakthroughs and medical innovations, from the first CT scan and test-tube baby through to decoding DNA," he said in a statement.

"It is crucial that we continue to push the boundaries and this new plan will mean we are the first country in the world to use DNA codes in the mainstream of the health service."

The government said building a database of DNA profiles will give doctors more advanced understanding of a patient's genetic make-up, their illness and their treatment needs. This should help those who are sick get access to the right drugs and more personalised care more quickly.

The database should also help scientists develop new drugs and other treatments which experts predict "could significantly reduce the number of premature deaths from cancer within a generation", Cameron's office said in a statement,

"By unlocking the power of DNA data, the NHS will lead the global race for better tests, better drugs and above all better care," Cameron said.

"If we get this right, we could transform how we diagnose and treat our most complex diseases not only here but across the world, while enabling our best scientists to discover the next wonder drug or breakthrough technology."

Some critics of the project, known as the "UK genome plan", have voiced concerns about how the data will be used and shared with third parties, including with commercial organisations such as drug companies.

Genewatch, a campaign group fighting for genetic science and technologies to be used in the public interest, has said anyone with access to the database could use the genetic codes to identify and track every individual on it and their relatives.

Cameron's office stressed, however, that the genome sequencing would be entirely voluntary and patients will be able to opt out without affecting their NHS care. It added the data would be "completely anonymised before it is stored".

The government's chief medical officer Sally Davies said the new project and the 100 million pounds of funding for it "opens up the possibility of being able to look at the three billion DNA pieces in each of us so we can get a greater understanding of the complex relationship between our genes and lifestyle."

(Reporting by Kate Kelland; Editing by Stephen Powell)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/britain-launches-genome-database-patients-dna-001800246.html

human nature arkansas football blackhawks howard johnson levon helm firelight world peace elbow

Locals hire tugboat to remove rotting whale from beach

Nick Ut / AP

People look at a dead young male fin whale that washed ashore between the Paradise Cove and Point Dume areas of Malibu, Calif., last week.

?

By NBC News staff

Fed up with the stench of a decaying whale carcass that washed up on a Malibu beach -- and with the inaction of government officials -- a local homeowners association took matters into its own hands and hired a tugboat that pulled the body out to sea late Saturday, the Los Angeles Times reported.

The 40-foot fin whale washed up between Paradise Cove and Point Dume, near the homes of celebrities including Barbra Streisand and Bob Dylan.

The whale appeared to have been hit by a ship and had a gash on its back and a damaged spine, according to the results of a necropsy by the California Wildlife Center. It was already dead when it washed ashore.

---

The whale carcass was left decaying for several days while government officials argued over whose responsibility it was to remove it.

Shark bait? Rotting whale on Malibu beach raises fear

"We have not yet been informed of any removal plans," Malibu spokeswoman Olivia Damavandi told NBC News Friday morning.

Burying the carcass on the beach, carving it up and setting the pieces on fire and towing it out to sea where among the removal methods considered, the Times reported.?

On Thursday, authorities said towing the carcass to sea was no longer feasible because it was too decomposed.

But Fire Inspector Brian Riley told the newspaper a homeowners association hired a private tugboat to remove the remains, which were reportedly carried off about 20 miles offshore.

Fin whales are listed as endangered under the federal Endangered Species Act. They can grow to up to 85 feet, weigh up to 80 tons and live for up to 90 years.

More content from NBCNews.com:

Follow US news from NBCNews.com on Twitter and Facebook

Source: http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/12/10/15820232-malibu-residents-hire-private-tugboat-to-remove-rotting-whale-from-beach?lite

jerry lee lewis cesar chavez winning lotto numbers lottery tickets mega lottery sag aftra mega mill

Square Is Rolling Out Digital Gift Cards for Your Phone

Who needs a peice of plastic to give a gift card anymore? Not you if you go through Square. A new update to the Square Wallet app adds digital giftcards you can give right from your phone right to someone else's. And if your gift-target is running iOS 6, it'll show up in their Passbook. More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/GtLRYOY9dnU/square-is-rolling-out-digital-gift-cards-for-your-phone

carrie underwood American Music Awards 2012 oregon ducks oregon ducks rob gronkowski Susan Rice Coughing

Cory Booker considering run for N.J. governor, Senate (cbsnews)

Share With Friends: | | Politics - Top Stories Stories, News Feeds and News via Feedzilla.

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/269516899?client_source=feed&format=rss

justin bieber rashad evans jon jones chuck colson death meteor showers 2012 ufc 145 jones vs evans

Cheryl Cole Suing ?X Factor? For $2.3 Million!

Cheryl Cole Suing “X Factor” For $2.3 Million!

Cheryl Cole is suing the producers of “X Factor” for a whopping $2.3 million after she was fired from the show last year because of her heavy English accent. The 29-year-old singer was mad as hell when Simon Cowell dumped her after just three weeks, without telling her personally before the show ever aired. Now, ...

Cheryl Cole Suing “X Factor” For $2.3 Million! Stupid Celebrities Gossip Stupid Celebrities Gossip News

Source: http://stupidcelebrities.net/2012/12/cheryl-cole-suing-x-factor-for-2-3-million/

the Rumble 2012 Columbus Day 2012 carlina white Sam Champion Engaged Infield fly rule Taken 2 Venezuela Elections

Create a iPhone/Android App using Monotouch/Monodroid and Monodevelop using C# by rosskrwork

Tax Type Tax Rate Tax ID or Company no.

eg. VAT, GST ? Registration no.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/freelancer/d-i-jonline/~3/-yuYn3vldA8/dwayne33_4020961.html

politico fox news new york times Tammy Baldwin house of representatives paul ryan michele bachmann

President Benigno Aquino III on Saturday declared a state of national calamity d...

President Benigno Aquino III on Saturday declared a state of national calamity due to the damage brought about by Typhoon Pablo (international name: Bopha).

"The declaration of a State of National Calamity will hasten the rescue, relief and rehabilitation efforts of the government and the private sector, including any international humanitarian assistance, and will effectively control the prices of basic goods and commodities for the affected areas."

Source: http://www.facebook.com/gmanews/posts/310147712419477

texas relays meniscus the colony kids choice awards ncaa final four 2012 texas chainsaw massacre uk vs louisville

Critic questions way coal firms build slurry ponds

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) ? With a driver and his bulldozer missing in a thick, dark lake of coal slurry, a mine safety expert and critic of the coal industry says regulators are ignoring stricter construction standards that could prevent more failures at hundreds of similar dam-like structures around the country.

For at least a decade, state and federal regulators have allowed coal companies to build or expand the massive ponds of gray liquid and silt atop loose and wet coal waste, said Jack Spadaro, an engineering consultant and former director of the National Mine Health and Safety Academy.

"They're building on top of the existing slurry, and therein lies the problem," Spadaro said. "It's wet and it has no stability. It's creating hazards for all of us downstream."

In all, there are 596 coal slurry impoundments in 21 states. West Virginia has 114, more than any other state, according to the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration. Kentucky has 104, while Illinois is third with 71.

Slurry is a byproduct of washing coal to help it burn more cleanly. Companies have disposed of the dirty water and solids in various ways over the years, injecting it into abandoned mines, damming it in huge ponds like the one at Robinson Run and, less commonly, disposing of it with a costly dry filter-press process.

Spadaro's criticisms follow the Nov. 30 failure of a section of embankment at Consol Energy's Robinson Run mine slurry pond near Lumberport in the north-central part of West Virginia. Two workers escaped after pickup trucks slid into the massive pond, but the dozer and driver are missing.

"Since we're still in recovery mode and have barely begun the investigation, it would be premature to comment at this time," MSHA spokesman Amy Louviere said.

The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection also declined comment on Spadaro's charges, but Bill Raney, president of the West Virginia Coal Association, said impoundment failures are rare.

"These are the most scrutinized and most engineered earthen structures in the world, certainly in this country," he said. "They're monitored routinely. They have lots of eyes looking at them. ... Anytime there's a heavy rainfall, the agencies are out there looking at them."Pennsylvania-based Consol was working to raise the elevation of the impoundment when the accident happened, vice president for safety Tom Barletta said. Once the worker is found, the company will determine what happened "so we can learn from it and prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future," Barletta said.

The pond encompasses about 78 acres and is estimated to hold at least 1.6 billion gallons of wastewater, the equivalent of more than 2,500 Olympic-sized swimming pools.

Impoundments typically hold up over time. But they do fail, and in spectacular fashion.

In 1972, an earthen dam in Buffalo Creek in southern West Virginia collapsed after heavy rain, unleashing 130 million gallons of water, sludge and debris that killed 125 people, injured 1,100 and left 4,000 homeless.

Spadaro dedicated his life to preventing that sort of disaster from happening again and helped write the nearly 40-year-old regulations that are now on the books to guide slurry pond construction. The regulations give the government and coal companies detailed design, compaction strength and other criteria so the structures will withstand internal pressures and additional stress from big rain storms.

The regulations require the operator to do daily, quarterly and annual inspections, while the state must make monthly checks. MSHA relies partly on data provided by the companies to spot problems, which critics see as a weakness in the system.

Spadaro is not the only one to question the soundness of impoundments.

Retired miner-turned-activist Joe Stanley raised concerns over the Brushy Fork impoundment in southern West Virginia last year, but his complaints were dismissed by state regulators, and their decision was upheld by the federal Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement.

Stanley called Bushy Fork "the biggest and the baddest" of all impoundments and said MSHA inspectors routinely found violations during its construction. But fines weren't levied and construction wasn't stopped.

"They just let them keep going, and then they say, 'Well, there's no way to fix this now, so let's just change the plan.' They're hodge-podging this stuff."

He heavily criticized state regulators and said if it weren't for MSHA, "I think all the damn things would fall down. Immediately."

Just two years ago, MSHA said it had improved oversight of impoundments, with better training and a new handbook on dam management.

The agency made the comments on the 10th anniversary of a disaster in Martin County, Ky., when slurry burst through the bottom of the Martin County Coal Corp.'s 68-acre holding pond, sending black goo through an underground mine and into 100 miles of waterways. The spill in 2000 polluted the water supply of more than a dozen communities and killed aquatic life before reaching the Ohio River.

Massey Energy eventually paid $46 million for the cleanup, along with about $3.5 million in state fines and an undisclosed sum to residents.

Spadaro, who helped investigate that accident, believes MSHA could go further, requiring better engineering evaluations of potential weak spots in impoundments.

He claims regulators at all levels continue to go easy on the industry in favor of coal production. Rather than require companies to build new dams on solid earth or dispose of the wastewater and refuse through a drying system, they allow the operators to raise the height of existing dams and ponds.

Federal law, he said, requires impoundments to be stable during all phases of construction.

"Well, if you build a dam on top of 80 feet of fine coal waste that's wet," Spadaro said, "that is not stable material."

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/critic-questions-way-coal-firms-build-slurry-ponds-095912523.html

bobby brown arrested the happening black panthers mauritania mark sanchez obama open mic jefferson county colorado

DeMint to Leave Senate to Run Foundation (WSJ)

Share With Friends: | | Politics - Top Stories News, News Feeds and News via Feedzilla.

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/268879251?client_source=feed&format=rss

rob dyrdek oberon donald driver donald driver robin thicke mariana trench transcendental meditation

Authorities 'confident' bodies are 2 Iowa cousins

This combo made from undated photos provided by the FBI shows cousins Lyric Cook, 10, right, and Elizabeth Collins, 8, who have been missing since Friday, July 13, 2012. Authorities say hunters have found bodies believed to be two young Iowa cousins who disappeared while riding their bikes in July. (AP Photo/FBI)

This combo made from undated photos provided by the FBI shows cousins Lyric Cook, 10, right, and Elizabeth Collins, 8, who have been missing since Friday, July 13, 2012. Authorities say hunters have found bodies believed to be two young Iowa cousins who disappeared while riding their bikes in July. (AP Photo/FBI)

A flower sits near the bike path at Meyers Lake Thursday, Dec. 6, 2012, in Evansdale, Iowa, where cousins Lyric Cook, 10, and Elizabeth Collins, 8, disappeared in July while riding their bikes. Family members are waiting to hear whether the two bodies discovered by hunters on Wednesday are the two missing cousins. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

Law enforcement officials walk down a gravel road near the Seven Bridges Wildlife Area, Thursday, Dec. 6, 2012, in Readlyn, Iowa. Family members of missing cousins Lyric Cook, 10, and Elizabeth Collins, 8, who disappeared in July while riding their bikes in Evansdale, Iowa, are waiting to hear whether the two bodies discovered by hunters in the park on Wednesday are the two missing girls. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

A police car passes a sign Thursday, Dec. 6, 2012, in Evansdale, Iowa, for cousins Lyric Cook, 10, and Elizabeth Collins, 8, who disappeared in July while riding their bikes at nearby Meyers Lake. Family members are waiting to hear whether the two bodies discovered by hunters on Wednesday are the two missing cousins. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

A sign sits attached to a memorial near Meyers Lake where cousins Lyric Cook, 10, and Elizabeth Collins, 8, disappeared in July while riding their bikes, Thursday, Dec. 6, 2012, in Evansdale, Iowa. Family members are waiting to hear whether the two bodies discovered by hunters on Wednesday are the two missing cousins. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

EVANSDALE, Iowa (AP) ? Northeast Iowa residents who have been holding out hope that two young cousins missing for five months might be home for Christmas were grappling Thursday with the news that hunters likely found the girls' bodies.

Autopsies by the state medical examiner's office were still under way, but the remains are believed to be those of Lyric Cook and Elizabeth Collins, who were 10 and 8 when they did not come back from riding their bikes July 13, Black Hawk County sheriff's Capt. Rick Abben said.

The girls' families were stunned by the news that two bodies were found, family friend Sara Curl, who has organized community events to support the families, said Thursday night.

"To be honest we have been trying to keep the positivity going so much this 100 percent blindsided us and it absolutely did them as well," she said. "I don't think that when they were called down there yesterday that they expected to hear the news that they did. so it's really going to take some time to process."

Curl helped organize a vigil for the families Thursday night around a Christmas tree decorated to honor the girls, hoping they would be home for the holiday.

Tammy Marvets, whose husband, Randy, came up with the idea, said her 7-year-old son went to school with Elizabeth and rode the same bus.

"He's pretty upset. He says, 'Mom, I just want to cry.' I said, 'It's OK to cry, honey,'" Marvets said.

Hunters found the bodies Wednesday in a rural wildlife area in northeastern Iowa, about 25 miles from Evansdale, the city of 4,700 where the girls were last seen. Authorities found their bikes and a purse near a recreational lake in the city, and their disappearance sparked a massive search and kidnapping investigation involving the FBI, state and local police.

Abben said at a news conference Thursday that investigators were "confident" the bodies were Lyric and Elizabeth based on evidence found at the scene and a preliminary investigation. He said the bodies were smaller in stature and authorities "have no one else that's missing in this area."

Abben said investigators were leaning toward reclassifying the case as a homicide investigation, but would wait for information from the autopsies before proceeding. He declined to say whether the bodies were concealed, or how long investigators thought they had been there. Relatives have not gone to see the bodies and "there's no reason for them to do so," Abben said.

Officers from several agencies scoured fields, woods and ditches near the Seven Bridges Wildlife Area for any possible evidence in the case. Deer hunters apparently stumbled on the remains Wednesday in the secluded area, which is intersected by the Wapsipinicon River and is a popular spot for hunting and fishing.

Abben said investigators would continue combing the area for clues for several days and the park would remain closed to public access until at least Monday. "We will gather whatever is out there," he said.

The news of the girls' likely deaths hit hard throughout northeastern Iowa, which had rallied behind the girls and their families in the five months since they disappeared. Some residents in Evansdale, which is 90 miles northeast of Des Moines, had been holding out hope that they would be found alive.

"We are all grieving. We hurt for the families and believe me it touches the community deeply because it is a small community," said Jeff Rasanen, pastor of the Faith Assembly of God Church in Evansdale. "It's a sad time. We were just praying for a much better outcome."

In a posting on her Facebook page Thursday, Heather Collins, Elizabeth's mother, said it was not the outcome the family wanted but now "we know our girls are dancing up with our savior." Collins thanked the community for an outpouring of support.

At the girls' schools, additional counselors were made available Thursday for students and others, according to Sharon Miller, the Waterloo schools spokeswoman. Lyric would have been in fifth grade at Kingsley elementary in Waterloo and Elizabeth would have been in fourth grade at Poyner school in Evandsale.

The two were being watched by their grandmother at Collins' home in Evansdale when they went for a bike ride on a Friday summer afternoon. Surveillance footage and witnesses have confirmed that they were riding nearby. After they didn't return, relatives reported the girls missing hours later. A firefighter soon found their bikes near Meyers Lake, and a search that involved hundreds of volunteers and several police agencies ensued.

An FBI dive team brought in special equipment to search the lake days later, and the case was reclassified as an abduction after no sign of the girls emerged. Months passed ? as did each girl's birthday ? without any news as police chased thousands of tips and explored theories about what could have happened. Volunteers held prayer vigils and hung pictures of the girls. An anonymous donor last week pledged $100,000 for information leading to their return and the conviction of those responsible for their disappearance, on top of the $50,000 authorities had announced.

Authorities had asked hunters to look for the girls in remote woods and fields this fall. Jennifer Lancaster, chief law enforcement official for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources in northeastern Iowa, said she believed deer hunters happened to come upon the bodies and called police.

"I think it's the first time someone happened to be in that particular spot," she said. She said she believed anyone who saw the remains would have reported them immediately because "that is certainly a case that has tugged the hearts of many people around northeastern Iowa."

___

Foley reported from Iowa City, Iowa.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2012-12-06-Missing%20Cousins-Iowa/id-f172e6d991674e4481a8f22a0f372d8a

bloomberg bloomberg Daily Caller Staten Island Trick or Treat Amy Weber Happy Halloween!

Hunters find bodies believed to be 2 Iowa cousins

EVANSDALE, Iowa (AP) ? Hunters discovered two bodies Wednesday believed to be the young Iowa cousins who vanished five months ago while riding their bikes, authorities said.

The families of 9-year-old Elizabeth Collins and 11-year-old Lyric Cook were notified of the discovery and are asking for privacy, Black Hawk County sheriff's Capt. Rick Abben said.

He said the bodies were found in a wooded area, but he wouldn't say where, and that they're being sent to the state medical examiner's office for identification.

Appearing to fight back tears during a news conference in Evansdale not far from where the girls were last seen, Abben said: "It's definitely not the outcome that we wanted, obviously."

"This is a difficult thing for us to go through. It's a difficult thing for the community," he added.

The cousins disappeared July 13 near a popular recreational lake in Evansdale, a city about 110 miles northeast of Des Moines. Investigators found their bicycles and a pink purse near the lake hours later, but no sign of the girls.

Abben declined to say if there were any suspects in the cousins' disappearance.

On Wednesday night, about 70 people attended a prayer vigil at the lake, some cradling plastic cups with candles to protect the flames from the cold wind. Some were holding out hope that the bodies weren't those of the missing cousins, though others seemed resigned to the tragic news.

"These were just innocent children. These girls should have been left alone. They should be home safe in their beds, and it's only a coward who would have done something like this," said Barb Collins, a machinist who grew up in Evansdale and helped lead the group in prayer.

Hundreds of volunteers had helped investigators search for girls after they went missing, traipsing through cornfields and wooded areas in and around Evansdale, a city of 8,000 residents. The mayor even flew above in his private plane looking for them.

Days later, an FBI dive team brought in specialized equipment to search the bottom of the lake for the girls but found nothing. Police then classified the case as an abduction.

Investigators had largely been tight-lipped in the months since. An FBI spokeswoman initially said investigators had reason to believe the girls were alive, raising the region's hopes. But other investigators backtracked, saying only that there was no reason to believe the girls were dead.

Authorities had asked hunters to look for the girls in the region during this fall's popular deer hunting season.

Abben said the bodies were discovered around 12:45 p.m. Wednesday, but refused to say where. He said the area was still being processed as a crime scene and could not be compromised.

"Preservation of that scene is paramount," he said.

Abben said he hoped to release additional details Thursday.

Abben said the girls' families wanted to express gratitude to the community for their support but have asked the media to respect their privacy at this time.

Investigators have poured through thousands of tips and chased many different theories in the case.

They looked into Cook's parents, who had criminal records for prior involvement in making methamphetamine. Cook's father, Daniel Morrissey, is being prosecuted for domestic assault and a series of meth and other drug charges, and he backed out of a plea agreement with prosecutors the day before the disappearance. They have denied any involvement.

The region had rallied in support of the girls. Photographs of the cousins seemed to be everywhere in northeastern Iowa: on T-shirts and buttons worn by locals, and on fliers hung on gas station walls and in business windows.

"In the beginning, I helped search, and I've been to many other vigils they had. The community is so involved," said Amanda Mulzac, who lives in nearby Waterloo and attended Wednesday night's vigil. "My heart breaks. It's just devastating."

"At their age I was out by myself, but now it's different," she added. "Hold your babies close."

Local residents had held prayer vigils, even as the months passed and both girls had birthdays. Just last week, an anonymous donor pledged $100,000 for information about the girls' whereabouts, on top of the $50,000 that police had offered.

After Wednesday night's vigil, family friend Sarah Curl said she had seen "a lot of heartbreak" after news broke about the bodies being found.

"We're a tight community that cares about one another, and when something happens to one family it happens to all of our families," she said. "This could have happened to anyone."

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/hunters-bodies-believed-2-iowa-cousins-234557148.html

LaGuardia Airport weather radar the weather channel tony romo national grid LIPA cnn news

NSF launches GROW to accelerate international research collaborations

Public release date: 6-Dec-2012
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Maria C. Zacharias
mzachari@nsf.gov
703-292-8454
National Science Foundation

NSF Graduate Research Fellows offered new opportunities to pursue research abroad

Today NSF Director Subra Suresh announced Graduate Research Opportunities Worldwide (GROW), a new and coordinated effort that will expand and enhance international collaborative research opportunities for NSF Graduate Research Fellows, with initial agreements with science agencies in eight countries.

"Today's graduate students being trained as scientists and engineers in the U.S. will increasingly collaborate and compete with their peers from around the globe throughout their career," said Suresh. "GROW will prepare NSF Graduate Research Fellows (GRFs) to engage successfully in the global research enterprise by connecting them to leading scientists and research infrastructure around the world."

GROW builds on a program NSF has sponsored for several years with researchers in Norway, Finland, Denmark and Sweden. Under GROW, these opportunities are expanded and enhanced, and a streamlined and well-coordinated process has been developed to connect a much larger cohort of NSF GRFs to a number of strategically selected educational and research institutions around the world.

"This program gives an opportunity to promote international cooperation at a very early stage of a scientific career," said Sofie Bjrling of the Swedish Embassy's Office of Science and Innovation. "It creates bonds that can last for a long time and can involve many more persons than the GRF alone. This is of great benefit to science as a whole and really fits into the thinking that science is without borders."

The Fellows, selected through the normal process through the NSF GRF Program and invited to participate in GROW, will be hosted by a science agency in a partner country for a period of three to 12 months. While overseas, they receive a living allowance from the host country as they pursue their research in a host institution. They will also be eligible to receive an international travel allowance from NSF. In addition to the four Nordic countries, GROW plans to include inaugural co-funding partner agencies from Japan, South Korea, Singapore and France. It is anticipated that additional partners from NSF counterpart agencies from other countries will join GROW in the months ahead.

"Having these graduate students step outside their comfort zones personally and professionally will enable intellectual growth and provide a broader perspective on research challenges and opportunities," said Joan Ferrini-Mundy, NSF assistant director for Education and Human Resources.

"GROW supports NSF's broader commitment to address the internationalization of science and engineering and to provide multiple pathways to engagement with top researchers worldwide," noted David Stonner, head of NSF's Office of International Science and Engineering. "GROW joins other recent NSF efforts such as Science Across Virtual Institutes (SAVI) and Partnerships for Enhanced Engagement in Research (PEER) in providing mechanisms to foster international partnerships and address global challenges."

GROW was announced as part of a celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Graduate Research Fellowship Program, NSF's flagship program for graduate students in the science and engineering fields within NSF's mission. The program has been in operation almost as long as NSF itself, making an investment in students with demonstrated potential for significant achievements in science and engineering. Some 40 NSF-selected GRFs have won the Nobel Prize.

The program has continued to evolve over six decades, and is now providing opportunities for students to conduct research that is increasingly interdisciplinary. Today's Graduate Research Fellows can also gain experience and mentoring outside the lab--in entrepreneurship, business, industry or government.

###

More information about GROW is available on the GROW website.

More information about NSF international opportunities is available on the Office of International Science and Engineering website.

-NSF-

---

[ | 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: 6-Dec-2012
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Maria C. Zacharias
mzachari@nsf.gov
703-292-8454
National Science Foundation

NSF Graduate Research Fellows offered new opportunities to pursue research abroad

Today NSF Director Subra Suresh announced Graduate Research Opportunities Worldwide (GROW), a new and coordinated effort that will expand and enhance international collaborative research opportunities for NSF Graduate Research Fellows, with initial agreements with science agencies in eight countries.

"Today's graduate students being trained as scientists and engineers in the U.S. will increasingly collaborate and compete with their peers from around the globe throughout their career," said Suresh. "GROW will prepare NSF Graduate Research Fellows (GRFs) to engage successfully in the global research enterprise by connecting them to leading scientists and research infrastructure around the world."

GROW builds on a program NSF has sponsored for several years with researchers in Norway, Finland, Denmark and Sweden. Under GROW, these opportunities are expanded and enhanced, and a streamlined and well-coordinated process has been developed to connect a much larger cohort of NSF GRFs to a number of strategically selected educational and research institutions around the world.

"This program gives an opportunity to promote international cooperation at a very early stage of a scientific career," said Sofie Bjrling of the Swedish Embassy's Office of Science and Innovation. "It creates bonds that can last for a long time and can involve many more persons than the GRF alone. This is of great benefit to science as a whole and really fits into the thinking that science is without borders."

The Fellows, selected through the normal process through the NSF GRF Program and invited to participate in GROW, will be hosted by a science agency in a partner country for a period of three to 12 months. While overseas, they receive a living allowance from the host country as they pursue their research in a host institution. They will also be eligible to receive an international travel allowance from NSF. In addition to the four Nordic countries, GROW plans to include inaugural co-funding partner agencies from Japan, South Korea, Singapore and France. It is anticipated that additional partners from NSF counterpart agencies from other countries will join GROW in the months ahead.

"Having these graduate students step outside their comfort zones personally and professionally will enable intellectual growth and provide a broader perspective on research challenges and opportunities," said Joan Ferrini-Mundy, NSF assistant director for Education and Human Resources.

"GROW supports NSF's broader commitment to address the internationalization of science and engineering and to provide multiple pathways to engagement with top researchers worldwide," noted David Stonner, head of NSF's Office of International Science and Engineering. "GROW joins other recent NSF efforts such as Science Across Virtual Institutes (SAVI) and Partnerships for Enhanced Engagement in Research (PEER) in providing mechanisms to foster international partnerships and address global challenges."

GROW was announced as part of a celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Graduate Research Fellowship Program, NSF's flagship program for graduate students in the science and engineering fields within NSF's mission. The program has been in operation almost as long as NSF itself, making an investment in students with demonstrated potential for significant achievements in science and engineering. Some 40 NSF-selected GRFs have won the Nobel Prize.

The program has continued to evolve over six decades, and is now providing opportunities for students to conduct research that is increasingly interdisciplinary. Today's Graduate Research Fellows can also gain experience and mentoring outside the lab--in entrepreneurship, business, industry or government.

###

More information about GROW is available on the GROW website.

More information about NSF international opportunities is available on the Office of International Science and Engineering website.

-NSF-

---

[ | 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/2012-12/nsf-nlg120612.php

Dell Levis Fireman Ed Allegiant Air Melissa Rycroft mega millions Cyber Monday Deals 2012