Successful enterprise cloud deployments demand compatibility, scalability and flexibility-elements that cannot simply be added as an afterthought. CloudPlatform incorporates all these architectural features and more. more
She's been dealing with rumors about her sexuality over the years and now Kerry Washington is ready to tackle the gossip head on.
During an interview with The Advocate, the "Scandal" actress discussed the lesbian speculations and even shared her opinion on gay rights.
Check out a few highlights from Miss Washington's interview below. For more, be sure to visit The Advocate!
On supporting the LGBT community:
"When there are crimes against humanity being committed in the world, we are all so vulnerable. We have to look out for and protect each other. You don't have to agree with me, but if you come at me with hatred and slurs, I will block you [on Twitter]."
On lesbian rumors:
"It's interesting how much people long to fill in the gaps when someone in the public eye doesn't share their personal life. I understand their frustration.I like how people will post pictures of me with other women that I adore,hugging on red carpets, and say, 'See.' Are we so uncomfortable with love between two people of the same genders that we immediately label it as sexual? But I've never been bothered by the lesbian rumor. There's nothing offensive about it, so there's no reason to be offended."
On having gay marriage in the "Scandal" storyline:
"Something that brings me great joy is known that 'Scandal's' audience looks like in terms of African-American households and knowing that so many African-American people and families are being introduced to our characters James and Cyrus. It's really exciting that millions of viewers each week are living life with this amazing, complex couple, stepping into their gay marriage and adoption experience, which is such a vital storyline of our show."
In this Oct. 10, 2013 photo, an epinephrine auto-injector is shown that Tyler Edwards, 12, of Hendersonville, Tenn., carries with him because of his allergies. Only 27 states require or allow epinephrine, a drug used to treat anaphylactic shock, to be available in schools. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski)
In this Oct. 10, 2013 photo, an epinephrine auto-injector is shown that Tyler Edwards, 12, of Hendersonville, Tenn., carries with him because of his allergies. Only 27 states require or allow epinephrine, a drug used to treat anaphylactic shock, to be available in schools. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski)
ATLANTA (AP) — The federal government is issuing its first guidelines to schools on how to protect children with food allergies.
The voluntary guidelines call on schools to take such steps as restricting nuts, shellfish or other foods that can cause allergic reactions, and make sure emergency allergy medicine — like EpiPens — are available.
About 15 states — and numerous individual schools or school districts — already have policies of their own. "The need is here" for a more comprehensive, standardized way for schools to deal with this issue, said Dr. Wayne Giles, who oversaw development of the advice for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Food allergies are a growing concern. A recent CDC survey estimated that about 1 in 20 U.S. children have food allergies — a 50 percent increase from the late 1990s. Experts aren't sure why cases are rising.
Many food allergies are mild and something children grow out of. But severe cases may cause anaphylactic shock or even death from eating, say, a peanut.
The guidelines released Wednesday were required by a 2011 federal law.
Peanuts, tree nuts, milk and shellfish are among the food that most often most trigger reactions. But experts say more than 170 foods are known to cause reactions.
The new advice call for schools to do such things as:
—Identify children with food allergies.
—Have a plan to prevent exposures and manage any reactions.
—Train teachers or others how to use medicines like epinephrine injectors, or have medical staff to do the job.
—Plan parties or field trips free of foods that might cause a reaction; and designate someone to carry epinephrine.
—Make sure classroom activities are inclusive.
For example, don't use Peanut M&M's in a counting lesson, said John Lehr, chief executive of an advocacy group that worked on the guidelines, Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE).
Carolyn Duff, president of the National Association of School Nurses, which worked on the guidelines, said many schools may not have policies on food allergies. "And if they do, maybe the policies aren't really comprehensive," she said.
U.S. Rep. Nita Lowey, a New York Democrat who worked on the law that led to the guidelines, said in a statement that they are a big step toward giving parents "the confidence that their children will stay safe and healthy at school."
___
Online:
CDC guidelines: http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/foodallergies/
Associated PressSource: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/bbd825583c8542898e6fa7d440b9febc/Article_2013-10-30-Food%20Allergies-Schools/id-33b7262cc9064170a81e124296422e61![[ Back to EurekAlert! ]](http://www.eurekalert.org/images/back2e.gif){kind=small}
PUBLIC RELEASE DATE: 31-Oct-2013
ShareContact: Leslie Capo
lcapo@lsuhsc.edu
504-568-4806
Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center
New Orleans, LA Dr. R. Adam Noel, Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans School of Medicine, was selected by the American Academy of Pediatrics as one of two recipients of the 2013 Outstanding Achievement Award. The award was presented by the Section on Epidemiology/Council on Community Pediatrics on October 27, 2013, at the American Academy of Pediatrics annual meeting.
An LSUHSC pediatric gastroenterologist, Dr. Noel was honored for his work over the past two years on neodymium, or rare earth, magnets. After seeing several cases in a short period of time in his practice at Children's Hospital resulting from children swallowing these tiny, powerful magnets, he led an international effort to identify the incidence and dangers of these magnets to kids. Dr. Noel was the principal investigator of the first large study on the issue, a landmark study he conducted with the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition that documented a drastic increase in cases and associated illness. His research results contributed to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission's action recalling neodymium magnet adult desk toys and lawsuits to compel companies to stop selling these magnet sets and comply with the recall. His work also led to similar work in Canada and abroad. At the same time, Dr. Noel has worked tirelessly to increase awareness of the dangers of these powerful magnets to protect children and families.
###
LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans educates Louisiana's health care professionals. The state's academic health leader, LSUHSC comprises a School of Medicine, the state's only School of Dentistry, Louisiana's only public School of Public Health, and Schools of Allied Health Professions, Nursing, and Graduate Studies. LSUHSC faculty take care of patients in public and private hospitals and clinics throughout the region. In the vanguard of biosciences research in a number of areas in a worldwide arena, the LSUHSC research enterprise generates jobs and enormous economic impact. LSUHSC faculty have made lifesaving discoveries and continue to work to prevent, advance treatment, or cure disease. To learn more, visit http://www.lsuhsc.edu and http://www.twitter.com/LSUHSCHealth
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: 31-Oct-2013
ShareContact: Leslie Capo
lcapo@lsuhsc.edu
504-568-4806
Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center
New Orleans, LA Dr. R. Adam Noel, Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans School of Medicine, was selected by the American Academy of Pediatrics as one of two recipients of the 2013 Outstanding Achievement Award. The award was presented by the Section on Epidemiology/Council on Community Pediatrics on October 27, 2013, at the American Academy of Pediatrics annual meeting.
An LSUHSC pediatric gastroenterologist, Dr. Noel was honored for his work over the past two years on neodymium, or rare earth, magnets. After seeing several cases in a short period of time in his practice at Children's Hospital resulting from children swallowing these tiny, powerful magnets, he led an international effort to identify the incidence and dangers of these magnets to kids. Dr. Noel was the principal investigator of the first large study on the issue, a landmark study he conducted with the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition that documented a drastic increase in cases and associated illness. His research results contributed to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission's action recalling neodymium magnet adult desk toys and lawsuits to compel companies to stop selling these magnet sets and comply with the recall. His work also led to similar work in Canada and abroad. At the same time, Dr. Noel has worked tirelessly to increase awareness of the dangers of these powerful magnets to protect children and families.
###
LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans educates Louisiana's health care professionals. The state's academic health leader, LSUHSC comprises a School of Medicine, the state's only School of Dentistry, Louisiana's only public School of Public Health, and Schools of Allied Health Professions, Nursing, and Graduate Studies. LSUHSC faculty take care of patients in public and private hospitals and clinics throughout the region. In the vanguard of biosciences research in a number of areas in a worldwide arena, the LSUHSC research enterprise generates jobs and enormous economic impact. LSUHSC faculty have made lifesaving discoveries and continue to work to prevent, advance treatment, or cure disease. To learn more, visit http://www.lsuhsc.edu and http://www.twitter.com/LSUHSCHealth
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.
NEW YORK (AP) — Picking the guy who will play Rocky Balboa onstage was no easy task. Just ask Sylvester Stallone, who helped cast Broadway veteran Andy Karl.
"Having gone through literally hundreds, maybe thousands, of prospects, Andy was one of our first choices and he just had it," Stallone said last month during a sit-down with the actor who will be playing his most famous character.
"He has what it takes — there's no arrogance, there's a natural humility about him, and that's what is important," Stallone said.
"No matter how threatening he may look, you're going to like him, it just comes through. And that's not so easy to find. Tough guys are a dime a dozen; a sensitive tough guy, pretty rare."
The musical "Rocky" will open on Broadway at the Winter Garden Theatre in March 2014. Based on the Oscar-winning 1976 film by Stallone, the musical features a score by "Ragtime" veterans Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens, and a story by Thomas Meehan, who wrote "The Producers" and "Hairspray."
Karl's Broadway credits include "The Mystery of Edwin Drood," ''Jersey Boys," ''9 to 5," ''Legally Blonde," ''The Wedding Singer" and "Saturday Night Fever." Margo Seibert, making her Broadway debut, will star as Adrian, Balboa's love interest.
The musical stays close to the film, which charted the rise and romance of amateur boxer and debt collector Rocky Balboa, who gets his shot against undefeated heavyweight champion Apollo Creed.
The film made famous the image of Balboa running up the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the quote "Yo, Adrian!" The trumpet-laden funky theme "Gonna Fly Now" and the anthem "Eye of the Tiger" will be in the Broadway version.
The director is Alex Timbers, who directed Broadway's "The Pee-wee Herman Show" and directed and wrote the book for "Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson." The boxing choreography is being done by Steven Hoggett, who choreographed "American Idiot," ''Peter and the Starcatcher" and "Once."
___
Online: http://www.rockybroadway.com
PUBLIC RELEASE DATE: 31-Oct-2013
ShareContact: Denise Henry
henryd@uakron.edu
330-972-6477
University of Akron
The National Institutes of Health is supporting the work of a University of Akron researcher who may hold the key to improving the effectiveness of cancer treatments. The agency has awarded UA's Hossein Tavana a two-year, $511,000 grant to fund his ongoing efforts to improve the testing and effectiveness of anticancer drugs.
Tavana, an assistant professor of biomedical engineering in the College of Engineering, has developed a method to generate 3-D cultures of cancer cells (spheroids) that better model tumors in the body. These improved models have the potential to dramatically improve the screening and discovery of effective chemotherapeutics, Tavana says.
In support of this novel and promising technology, the NIH awarded Tavana its R21 grant, which is defined by the NIH as a developmental research grant intended to support "exploratory, novel studies that break new ground or extend previous discoveries toward new directions or applications."
Drug testing on 2-D cultures of cancer cells, in which thin layers of cells are treated on a flat dish, does not adequately predict how the drugs will behave in the 3-D environment of the body, Tavana says.
Three-dimensional cultures, on the other hand, in which cancer cells aggregate into spherical clusters, better mimic tumors, allowing for more efficient and cost-effective drug screening and discovery, he adds.
This in turn allows researchers to determine which drugs will best treat particular forms of cancer, eliminating the need to treat patients with a battery of drugs in the hope of finding something that works, Tavana explains.
"Rather than throwing a bunch of different drugs into a patient's body, we can say, 'This particular patient, based on this test, will most likely benefit from this chemo drug.'"
Whereas other labs are generating 3-D cancer cell spheroids, or aggregates, one at a time, Hossein's unique method allows him to generate 384 spheroids "robotically and in a single step," drastically expediting drug testing.
The robot, equipped with rows of pipettes, dispenses cancer cells into 384 small wells, or miniature test tubes, each of which contains a liquid that provides nutrients to the immersed cells, allowing them to aggregate as they would in the body, resulting in 384 physiologic tumor models.
Tavana and his research team are currently testing cell lines cells that have been made immortal so they can be reused over and over of triple negative breast cancer cells and skin cancer. Next year they plan to use primary, patient-derived cells, which will allow them to test drugs under more realistic conditions.
###
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: 31-Oct-2013
ShareContact: Denise Henry
henryd@uakron.edu
330-972-6477
University of Akron
The National Institutes of Health is supporting the work of a University of Akron researcher who may hold the key to improving the effectiveness of cancer treatments. The agency has awarded UA's Hossein Tavana a two-year, $511,000 grant to fund his ongoing efforts to improve the testing and effectiveness of anticancer drugs.
Tavana, an assistant professor of biomedical engineering in the College of Engineering, has developed a method to generate 3-D cultures of cancer cells (spheroids) that better model tumors in the body. These improved models have the potential to dramatically improve the screening and discovery of effective chemotherapeutics, Tavana says.
In support of this novel and promising technology, the NIH awarded Tavana its R21 grant, which is defined by the NIH as a developmental research grant intended to support "exploratory, novel studies that break new ground or extend previous discoveries toward new directions or applications."
Drug testing on 2-D cultures of cancer cells, in which thin layers of cells are treated on a flat dish, does not adequately predict how the drugs will behave in the 3-D environment of the body, Tavana says.
Three-dimensional cultures, on the other hand, in which cancer cells aggregate into spherical clusters, better mimic tumors, allowing for more efficient and cost-effective drug screening and discovery, he adds.
This in turn allows researchers to determine which drugs will best treat particular forms of cancer, eliminating the need to treat patients with a battery of drugs in the hope of finding something that works, Tavana explains.
"Rather than throwing a bunch of different drugs into a patient's body, we can say, 'This particular patient, based on this test, will most likely benefit from this chemo drug.'"
Whereas other labs are generating 3-D cancer cell spheroids, or aggregates, one at a time, Hossein's unique method allows him to generate 384 spheroids "robotically and in a single step," drastically expediting drug testing.
The robot, equipped with rows of pipettes, dispenses cancer cells into 384 small wells, or miniature test tubes, each of which contains a liquid that provides nutrients to the immersed cells, allowing them to aggregate as they would in the body, resulting in 384 physiologic tumor models.
Tavana and his research team are currently testing cell lines cells that have been made immortal so they can be reused over and over of triple negative breast cancer cells and skin cancer. Next year they plan to use primary, patient-derived cells, which will allow them to test drugs under more realistic conditions.
###
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.
BRUNSWICK, Ga. (AP) — Spared from a possible death sentence by a deal among lawyers, A Georgia man convicted of beating his father and seven others to death inside the mobile home they shared was sentenced Thursday to life in prison without possibility of parole.
Guy Heinze Jr. was sentenced less than a week after a Glynn County jury found him guilty of malice murder for the Aug. 29, 2009, slayings. Prosecutors spared 26-year-old Heinze from a possible death sentence last week as part of a deal with defense attorneys that allowed them to avoid a hung jury.
Under Georgia law, Heinze faced an automatic life sentence once the death penalty was off the table. The only thing Superior Court Judge Stephen Scarlett had to decide was whether the defendant would ever be eligible for parole.
Heinze's attorneys have insisted he is innocent.
In a frantic 911 call made the morning the bodies were discovered, Heinze cried out: "My whole family is dead!"
Heinze's trial almost ended with a hung jury last week during the third day of deliberations. But prosecutors last Friday dropped the death penalty in a deal with Heinze's lawyers to allow the trial judge to dismiss one juror and replace him with an alternate. A guilty verdict was returned four hours later. Afterward, prosecutors said only that there had been "a situation" with the dismissed juror that contributed to the deadlock.
Prosecutors said Heinze had been smoking crack cocaine when he killed his father and the other victims, all members of an extended family. They said he killed the first victim in a dispute over a bottle of prescription painkillers he wanted to steal, then killed the others to avoid getting caught.
Each of the victims died from multiple crushing blows to the head from what police believe was a shotgun barrel, jurors heard. Autopsies showed they suffered a combined total of more than 220 wounds. The murder weapon was never found.
Although the attack happened in the middle of the night and most of the victims were found in bed, defense attorneys argued a single assailant couldn't possibly have inflicted such carnage. They insisted that Heinze would not kill loved ones over a bottle of weak prescription pills and that police ignored evidence and alternate suspects in a rush to accuse him.
Heinze had told police he found the victims' bodies after returning from a late night away from home.
The dead included Heinze's father, Guy Heinze Sr., 45. Rusty Toler Sr., 44, was slain along with his four children: Chrissy Toler, 22; Russell D. Toler Jr., 20; Michael Toler, 19; and Michelle Toler, 15. Also killed was the elder Toler's sister, Brenda Gail Falagan, 49, and Joseph L. West, the 30-year-old boyfriend of Chrissy Toler. Her 3-year-old son, Byron Jimerson Jr., ended up the sole survivor but suffered severe head injuries.
Heinze told police his father went to live with the elder Toler's family when they were both teenagers. The suspect said he considered Rusty Toler Sr. to be his uncle, and the man's children were his cousins.
Associated PressSource: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2013-10-31-Mobile%20Home%20Slayings/id-6c59fb2807e44cd69bf71f116f9fbefdIt's the job of celebrities to wear costumes for a role, but even in their downtime, they still love to dress up -- especially during Halloween! Even before they were stars, celebs like Kate Bosworth and Channing Tatum had fun getting into the spirit of the holiday, and we've got the pictures they shared in their yearbooks to prove it! Check them out:
Source: http://www.ivillage.com/celebrity-yearbook-photos-halloween-costume-edition/1-a-550750?dst=iv%3AiVillage%3Acelebrity-yearbook-photos-halloween-costume-edition-550750Google+ isn't trying to compete with Facebook, and that could be making it a lot better in some ways. "Google+ doesn't need to make a sudden change that is going to bring in advertisers quickly but upset users, or report every user that comes and goes in a quarter, for example," noted tech analyst Trip Chowdhry. Google can invest in changes that "will make it fantastic for a core group of users."
Google has introduced a slew of changes that will make it easier to enhance and share digital media on Google+.
It unveiled the new features at a Tuesday event in San Francisco, where it also revealed that Google+ now has 540 million active monthly users who upload 1.5 billion photos each week.
Several of the Google+ updates are aimed toward helping users work with those photos, which range from grainy cellphone shots to professionally produced images.
Users can enhance them with several new filters, or digitally edit them with Snapseed and an HDR Scape filter. Unlike Instagram's tools, the new Google+ editing features won't force cropping or condensing of images.
The new Auto Awesome feature has several components designed to better capture action. Users can turn a series of action photos, such as a person skateboarding, into a strobe-effect image that pieces together all the captured elements. Users can also put those shots into a reel-style movie, adding effects like a soundtrack and transitions.
The updates make it easier for users to search their photos using keywords such as "beach" or "concert."
Google has also updated Hangouts, the video chat application on Google+, adding automatic lighting adjustments and the ability to share locations via Google Maps.
SMS messaging is now integrated into Hangouts.
Users can schedule Hangouts On Air, which are broadcast publicly, and use a watch screen to promote the conversation.
"The improvements to Google+ Hangouts are cool, especially the dedicated watch page for Hangouts," Internet marketing expert Brian Carter told TechNewsWorld. "From a business perspective, the ability to use Hangouts instead of other webinar or screen-sharing apps is disruptive for the companies that charge for this. Hangouts haven't had all the components they need, though, and the watch page helps."
This product refresh isn't going to suddenly make Google+ the new Facebook or Twitter -- but that's not what Google is aiming to do with its social space, said Carter. The company knows it has a smaller core group of users, and is rolling out incremental updates that cater to them.
"There are definitely a lot of people who want Google+ to succeed," he noted. "These improvements are a way for the Google and Android folks to stay on par with what the Apple folks have. But the Auto Awesome Movie and other photo enhancement techniques are more than that -- they're not imitations -- so it's nice to see that the Google and Android product and programming teams are thinking ahead about making the user experience more awesome."
Google+ is in a unique position in that it has the freedom to go after that smaller crowd and invest more in user experience, said Trip Chowdhry, senior analyst for Global Equities Research. Facebook has to prove to investors that its site is the preferred social network for consumers, shareholders and advertisers, but Google's social platform is only a small portion of its overall business.
"Google+ doesn't need to make a sudden change that is going to bring in advertisers quickly but upset users, or report every user that comes and goes in a quarter, for example," Chowdhry told TechNewsWorld. "Google has the cash to take a bold, long look at Google+, look into what certain consumers really want that is a little different from what they're getting somewhere else, and invest in changes that might not get it to a billion users worldwide, but will make it fantastic for a core group of users." 
Members of the Oneida Nation met with representatives from the NFL on Wednesday to discuss the growing call to change the Washington Redskins name. Host Michel Martin finds out how the meeting went from the Nation's representative, Ray Halbritter.
You might see more (good) phones and tablets with Intel inside, now that the company has started shipping its new LTE-capable XMM 7160 chip to manufacturers. We say "new," but it's actually been a long time coming -- the company first revealed the radio in early 2012 and officially announced it in ...FILe - This Sept. 22, 2013 file photo shows actress Claire Danes at the 65th Primetime Emmy Awards at Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles. Danes has been tapped to host the 20th anniversary Nobel Peace Prize concert in December. The Emmy-winning “Homeland” actress will host the Dec. 11 event in Oslo, Norway. (Photo by Dan Steinberg/Invision/AP, File)
FILe - This Sept. 22, 2013 file photo shows actress Claire Danes at the 65th Primetime Emmy Awards at Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles. Danes has been tapped to host the 20th anniversary Nobel Peace Prize concert in December. The Emmy-winning “Homeland” actress will host the Dec. 11 event in Oslo, Norway. (Photo by Dan Steinberg/Invision/AP, File)
NEW YORK (AP) — Claire Danes has been tapped to host the 20th anniversary Nobel Peace Prize concert in December.
The Emmy-winning "Homeland" actress will host the Dec. 11 event in Oslo, Norway.
The concert will celebrate the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, which was awarded the prestigious honor earlier this month.
The watchdog agency works to eliminate the world's chemical weapons and received the prize days after OPCW inspectors started arriving in war-torn Syria to oversee the dismantling of President Bashar Assad's chemical arsenal.
The Nobel Peace Prize concert typically attracts top celebrities. Past luminaries have included Paul McCartney, Rihanna, and Tony Bennett. The lineup for this year's concert has yet to be announced.
___
Online: nobelpeaceprizeconcert.org
Associated PressSource: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/4e67281c3f754d0696fbfdee0f3f1469/Article_2013-10-30-People-Claire%20Danes/id-5c4d03938a2b4828a13fcfc9c7c88ea4PUBLIC RELEASE DATE: 30-Oct-2013
ShareContact: Kallie Huss
onepress@plos.org
415-568-3162
Public Library of Science
Tuberculosis was present in Europe as early as 7000 years ago, according to new research published October 30th in the open-access journal PLOS ONE, by Muriel Masson and colleagues at the University of Szeged.
A disease called Hypertrophic Pulmonary Osteopathy is characterized by symmetrical new bone formations on the long bones. Based on the archaeological record, it has been suggested that tuberculosis might have caused HPO thousands of years ago. HPO is a rare find in the archaeological record, making it difficult to verify this hypothesis.
In this study, the authors examined seventy-one human skeletons from a 7000-year-old site in the south of Hungary. They found numerous cases of infections and metabolic diseases, and some skeletons showed signs of HPO and therefore potentially tuberculosis. They focused on one skeleton in particular to verify this hypothesis, and analyzed the ancient DNA and lipids from its bones to do so. Both tests confirmed the presence of the bacterial complex associated with tuberculosis.
This is one of the earliest known cases of HPO and tuberculosis to date, and helps shed new light on this European community in prehistoric times. Masson adds, "This is a crucial find from a fantastic site. It is not only the earliest occurrence of fully-developed HPO on an adult skeleton to date, but also clearly establishes the presence of Tuberculosis in Europe 7000 years ago."
###
Citation: Masson M, Molnr E, Donoghue HD, Besra GS, Minnikin DE, et al. (2013) Osteological and Biomolecular Evidence of a 7000-Year Old Case of Hypertrophic Pulmonary Osteopathy Secondary to Tuberculosis from Neolithic Hungary. PLoS ONE 8(10): e78252. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0078252
Financial Disclosure: The study was supported by Leverhulme Trust Project Grant F/00 094/BL (GSB, DEM, OY-CL, HHTW). The United Kingdom National Environmental Research Council provided funding for the mass spectrometry facilities at Bristol (Contract no. R8/H12/15; http://www.lsmsf.co.uk). Additionally funding was provided by the Hungarian Scientific Research Fund Grant no. 78555. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.
Competing Interest Statement: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
PLEASE LINK TO THE SCIENTIFIC ARTICLE IN ONLINE VERSIONS OF YOUR REPORT (URL goes live after the embargo ends): http://dx.plos.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0078252
Disclaimer: This press release refers to upcoming articles in PLOS ONE. The releases have been provided by the article authors and/or journal staff. Any opinions expressed in these are the personal views of the contributors, and do not necessarily represent the views or policies of PLOS. PLOS expressly disclaims any and all warranties and liability in connection with the information found in the release and article and your use of such information.
About PLOS ONE: PLOS ONE is the first journal of primary research from all areas of science to employ a combination of peer review and post-publication rating and commenting, to maximize the impact of every report it publishes. PLOS ONE is published by the Public Library of Science (PLOS), the open-access publisher whose goal is to make the world's scientific and medical literature a public resource.
All works published in PLOS ONE are Open Access. Everything is immediately availableto read, download, redistribute, include in databases and otherwise usewithout cost to anyone, anywhere, subject only to the condition that the original authors and source are properly attributed. For more information about PLOS ONE relevant to journalists, bloggers and press officers, including details of our press release process and our embargo policy, see the everyONE blog at http://everyone.plos.org/media.
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: 30-Oct-2013
ShareContact: Kallie Huss
onepress@plos.org
415-568-3162
Public Library of Science
Tuberculosis was present in Europe as early as 7000 years ago, according to new research published October 30th in the open-access journal PLOS ONE, by Muriel Masson and colleagues at the University of Szeged.
A disease called Hypertrophic Pulmonary Osteopathy is characterized by symmetrical new bone formations on the long bones. Based on the archaeological record, it has been suggested that tuberculosis might have caused HPO thousands of years ago. HPO is a rare find in the archaeological record, making it difficult to verify this hypothesis.
In this study, the authors examined seventy-one human skeletons from a 7000-year-old site in the south of Hungary. They found numerous cases of infections and metabolic diseases, and some skeletons showed signs of HPO and therefore potentially tuberculosis. They focused on one skeleton in particular to verify this hypothesis, and analyzed the ancient DNA and lipids from its bones to do so. Both tests confirmed the presence of the bacterial complex associated with tuberculosis.
This is one of the earliest known cases of HPO and tuberculosis to date, and helps shed new light on this European community in prehistoric times. Masson adds, "This is a crucial find from a fantastic site. It is not only the earliest occurrence of fully-developed HPO on an adult skeleton to date, but also clearly establishes the presence of Tuberculosis in Europe 7000 years ago."
###
Citation: Masson M, Molnr E, Donoghue HD, Besra GS, Minnikin DE, et al. (2013) Osteological and Biomolecular Evidence of a 7000-Year Old Case of Hypertrophic Pulmonary Osteopathy Secondary to Tuberculosis from Neolithic Hungary. PLoS ONE 8(10): e78252. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0078252
Financial Disclosure: The study was supported by Leverhulme Trust Project Grant F/00 094/BL (GSB, DEM, OY-CL, HHTW). The United Kingdom National Environmental Research Council provided funding for the mass spectrometry facilities at Bristol (Contract no. R8/H12/15; http://www.lsmsf.co.uk). Additionally funding was provided by the Hungarian Scientific Research Fund Grant no. 78555. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.
Competing Interest Statement: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
PLEASE LINK TO THE SCIENTIFIC ARTICLE IN ONLINE VERSIONS OF YOUR REPORT (URL goes live after the embargo ends): http://dx.plos.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0078252
Disclaimer: This press release refers to upcoming articles in PLOS ONE. The releases have been provided by the article authors and/or journal staff. Any opinions expressed in these are the personal views of the contributors, and do not necessarily represent the views or policies of PLOS. PLOS expressly disclaims any and all warranties and liability in connection with the information found in the release and article and your use of such information.
About PLOS ONE: PLOS ONE is the first journal of primary research from all areas of science to employ a combination of peer review and post-publication rating and commenting, to maximize the impact of every report it publishes. PLOS ONE is published by the Public Library of Science (PLOS), the open-access publisher whose goal is to make the world's scientific and medical literature a public resource.
All works published in PLOS ONE are Open Access. Everything is immediately availableto read, download, redistribute, include in databases and otherwise usewithout cost to anyone, anywhere, subject only to the condition that the original authors and source are properly attributed. For more information about PLOS ONE relevant to journalists, bloggers and press officers, including details of our press release process and our embargo policy, see the everyONE blog at http://everyone.plos.org/media.
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AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about Thursday:
1. OBAMA VOWS TO CURE HEALTH CARE WEBSITE
"There's no excuse" for the dysfunctional rollout, he declares. "And I take full responsibility for making sure it gets fixed ASAP."
2. NSA REPORTEDLY ACCESSES YAHOO, GOOGLE DATA CENTERS
The latest revelations trigger legal questions, including whether the agency may be violating federal wiretap laws.
3. WHAT HASN'T HAPPENED SINCE 1918
The Boston Red Sox claimed their third World Series title in 10 years with a 6-1 win over St. Louis, clinching the title at Fenway Park for the first time since 1918.
4. AFTER PUSHING OUT US MILITARY, IRAQ BACKTRACKS
American weapons, training and manpower are needed to help fight a bloody resurgence of al-Qaida, a top official says.
5. WHAT'S STAYING THE SAME AT THE FEDERAL RESERVE
The Fed — while seeming to signal that the economy is improving — will continue to buy $85 billion a month in bonds.
6. JEWISH BOOKS, PAPERS FOUND IN IRAQ RAISE OWNERSHIP QUESTIONS
A sample of the trove will be displayed this fall in Washington. But plans to return the material to Iraq are meeting opposition.
7. STUDY: GETTING YOUR BELL RUNG SHOULD MEAN A TIME OUT
A report reveals gaps in what is known about the risk of concussions in youth sports, but urges athletes to stay on the sidelines whenever they suffer one.
8. HOW DO YOU 'LIKE' ME NOW?
Mobile advertising spurs a 60 percent quarterly revenue increase for Facebook, beating Wall Street's expectations.
9. SMOKE 'EM IF YOU GOT 'EM — AND YOU'RE 21
The New York City Council votes to raise the tobacco-purchasing age from 18 to 21, higher than all but a few places in the U.S.
10. WHO STOLE THE SHOW AT THE VATICAN
As the pope delivers a homily, a little boy climbs onto the papal chair — and at one point even clings to the pontiff's legs.
You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
Steam now proudly claims 65 million users -- a 30 percent improvement over the past 12 months. Follow the link for more information about Steam Machines, SteamOS and the Steam Controller.
Are you the proud owner of a Tesla Model S? If so, you can now delight in a quick, free recharge, courtesy of Tesla Motors' Supercharger Corridor. At least six of the locations between San Diego and Vancouver are open for business, putting most Californians within just 200 miles of a Supercharger. Continue reading to learn more about supercharger locations and upcoming demonstrations.
Though Nintendo reported a loss for the previous quarter, the company still managed to sell another 300,000 units of the Wii U. It's a far cry from its goal of 9 million units by March of 2014, but it's better than nothing, right? Read on to find out about why we think the handheld market is still Nintendo's best bet for success.
Sprint's looking to shake things up with Sprint Spark, an LTE service that aims to deliver 50-60 Mbps speeds to its users, with potential to get faster over time. The rollout begins today, so click through to find out when, where and on what devices you can expect to benefit from these supercharged cellular waves.
PUBLIC RELEASE DATE: 30-Oct-2013
ShareContact: Steve Yozwiak
syozwiak@tgen.org
602-343-8704
The Translational Genomics Research Institute
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. Oct. 30, 2013 A pilot study led by the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) and the Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center at Scottsdale Healthcare shows that, even for patients with advanced and rapidly transforming cancer, researchers can find potential therapeutic targets using the latest advances in genomic sequencing.
Sequencing spells out, or decodes, the billions of letters of DNA and other genomic data so that clinicians can discover what genetic changes might lead to cancer.
Better optics and faster computers, which are the hallmarks of today's Next Generation Sequencing (NGS), are leading to genomic analysis that enables development of new drugs that target specific genetic mutations. However, because patients' tumors often contain multiple abnormalities, their cancer often progresses beyond initial targeted therapies.
Researches showed that the most cutting-edge NGS whole genome sequencing (WGS), and even more advanced whole transcriptome sequencing (WTS) can reveal larger numbers of targets in an individual's tumor, and that these "could be addressed using specific therapeutic agents, and perhaps reduce the chance of progression," according to the pilot study published today in the scientific journal PLOS ONE.
The study A Pilot Study Using Next Generation Sequencing in Advanced Cancers: Feasibility and Challenges reported results on nine patients evaluated at the Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center Clinical Trials at Scottsdale Healthcare, a partnership of Scottsdale Healthcare and TGen.
"Patients with advanced cancer often exhaust treatment options. Targeting a single abnormality is not sufficient to prevent progression," said Dr. Glen Weiss, an Associate Professor in TGen's Cancer and Cell Biology Division and the study's lead author.
"We demonstrate the feasibility of using NGS in advanced cancer patients so that treatments for patients with progressing tumors may be improved," said Dr. Weiss, who previously was affiliated with Scottsdale Healthcare, and now is affiliated with Cancer Treatment Centers of America Western Regional Medical Center in Arizona.
For all nine patients, WGS was used to compare their germline DNA from white blood cells (the DNA an individual is born with) to the DNA from their tumor cells. For six of these patients, researchers also used WTS to sequence their total RNA isolated from the tumor, and compare that to total RNA from non-patient controls.
"Based on our findings, we found it was feasible to perform these advanced NGS technologies for patients in a clinical trial situation," said Dr. Daniel Von Hoff, TGen Distinguished Professor and Physician In Chief; Chief Scientific Officer for the Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center Clinical Trials; and one of the senior authors of the study.
In addition to identifying as many genomic changes as possible, a secondary objective of this pilot study was to develop a workflow process from tumor biopsy to treatment.
"This process must occur in a short enough timeframe in order for patient to benefit from this additional information in developing a treatment plan," the study said.
Some of the challenges include: NGS reporting delays, communication of results to out-of-state participants and their treating oncologists, and chain of custody handling from fresh biopsy samples for CLIA (Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments) target validation.
The study also showed that WGS and WTS both have advantages, and that newer technological strategies may capture the best of both.
"With improved efficiencies that decrease the time to get NGS results and at reasonable costs, we can envision how NGS might be applied more globally to advanced cancer patients," said Dr. John Carpten, TGen Deputy Director and also a senior author of the study. "Even during the relatively short time that this study was enrolling, we observed significant improvements in sequencing analyses and lower costs."
The study was funded by the National Foundation for Cancer Research (NFCR).
"We must be able to identify all causes of cancer. Working with TGen, we are pursuing this goal at a level that is unmatched," said NFCR President Franklin C. Salisbury Jr. "The world needs to know that, through the use of 21st Century medicine, we are on our way to conquering cancer."
###
The study is available at: http://dx.plos.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0076438.
About the Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center at Scottsdale Healthcare
The Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center at Scottsdale Healthcare in Scottsdale, Ariz. offers comprehensive cancer treatment and research through clinical trials, diagnosis, treatment, prevention and support services in collaboration with leading scientific researchers and community oncologists. The Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center at Scottsdale Healthcare, Scottsdale Healthcare Research Institute, Scottsdale Healthcare Osborn Medical Center, Scottsdale Healthcare Shea Medical Center and Scottsdale Healthcare Thompson Peak Hospital and related entities are part of the non-profit Scottsdale Lincoln Health Network. For more information, visit http://www.shc.org.
Press Contact:
Jamie Grim
Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center at Scottsdale Healthcare
480-323-1387
jgrim@shc.org
About TGen
Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) is a Phoenix, Arizona-based non-profit organization dedicated to conducting groundbreaking research with life changing results. TGen is focused on helping patients with cancer, neurological disorders and diabetes, through cutting edge translational research (the process of rapidly moving research towards patient benefit). TGen physicians and scientists work to unravel the genetic components of both common and rare complex diseases in adults and children. Working with collaborators in the scientific and medical communities literally worldwide, TGen makes a substantial contribution to help our patients through efficiency and effectiveness of the translational process. For more information, visit: http://www.tgen.org.
Press Contact:
Steve Yozwiak
TGen Senior Science Writer
602-343-8704
syozwiak@tgen.org
About Cancer Treatment Centers of America
CTCA is a national network of hospitals focusing on complex and advanced stage cancer. CTCA offers a comprehensive, fully integrated approach to cancer treatment and serves patients from all 50 states at facilities located in Atlanta, Chicago, Philadelphia, Phoenix and Tulsa. Known for delivering the Mother Standard of care and Patient Empowerment Medicine, CTCA provides patients with information about cancer and their treatment options so they can control their treatment decisions. For more information about CTCA, go to http://www.cancercenter.com.
Press Contact:
Jennifer Vogel
Office: 623-207-3241
Cell: 480-599-0104
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: 30-Oct-2013
ShareContact: Steve Yozwiak
syozwiak@tgen.org
602-343-8704
The Translational Genomics Research Institute
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. Oct. 30, 2013 A pilot study led by the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) and the Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center at Scottsdale Healthcare shows that, even for patients with advanced and rapidly transforming cancer, researchers can find potential therapeutic targets using the latest advances in genomic sequencing.
Sequencing spells out, or decodes, the billions of letters of DNA and other genomic data so that clinicians can discover what genetic changes might lead to cancer.
Better optics and faster computers, which are the hallmarks of today's Next Generation Sequencing (NGS), are leading to genomic analysis that enables development of new drugs that target specific genetic mutations. However, because patients' tumors often contain multiple abnormalities, their cancer often progresses beyond initial targeted therapies.
Researches showed that the most cutting-edge NGS whole genome sequencing (WGS), and even more advanced whole transcriptome sequencing (WTS) can reveal larger numbers of targets in an individual's tumor, and that these "could be addressed using specific therapeutic agents, and perhaps reduce the chance of progression," according to the pilot study published today in the scientific journal PLOS ONE.
The study A Pilot Study Using Next Generation Sequencing in Advanced Cancers: Feasibility and Challenges reported results on nine patients evaluated at the Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center Clinical Trials at Scottsdale Healthcare, a partnership of Scottsdale Healthcare and TGen.
"Patients with advanced cancer often exhaust treatment options. Targeting a single abnormality is not sufficient to prevent progression," said Dr. Glen Weiss, an Associate Professor in TGen's Cancer and Cell Biology Division and the study's lead author.
"We demonstrate the feasibility of using NGS in advanced cancer patients so that treatments for patients with progressing tumors may be improved," said Dr. Weiss, who previously was affiliated with Scottsdale Healthcare, and now is affiliated with Cancer Treatment Centers of America Western Regional Medical Center in Arizona.
For all nine patients, WGS was used to compare their germline DNA from white blood cells (the DNA an individual is born with) to the DNA from their tumor cells. For six of these patients, researchers also used WTS to sequence their total RNA isolated from the tumor, and compare that to total RNA from non-patient controls.
"Based on our findings, we found it was feasible to perform these advanced NGS technologies for patients in a clinical trial situation," said Dr. Daniel Von Hoff, TGen Distinguished Professor and Physician In Chief; Chief Scientific Officer for the Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center Clinical Trials; and one of the senior authors of the study.
In addition to identifying as many genomic changes as possible, a secondary objective of this pilot study was to develop a workflow process from tumor biopsy to treatment.
"This process must occur in a short enough timeframe in order for patient to benefit from this additional information in developing a treatment plan," the study said.
Some of the challenges include: NGS reporting delays, communication of results to out-of-state participants and their treating oncologists, and chain of custody handling from fresh biopsy samples for CLIA (Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments) target validation.
The study also showed that WGS and WTS both have advantages, and that newer technological strategies may capture the best of both.
"With improved efficiencies that decrease the time to get NGS results and at reasonable costs, we can envision how NGS might be applied more globally to advanced cancer patients," said Dr. John Carpten, TGen Deputy Director and also a senior author of the study. "Even during the relatively short time that this study was enrolling, we observed significant improvements in sequencing analyses and lower costs."
The study was funded by the National Foundation for Cancer Research (NFCR).
"We must be able to identify all causes of cancer. Working with TGen, we are pursuing this goal at a level that is unmatched," said NFCR President Franklin C. Salisbury Jr. "The world needs to know that, through the use of 21st Century medicine, we are on our way to conquering cancer."
###
The study is available at: http://dx.plos.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0076438.
About the Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center at Scottsdale Healthcare
The Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center at Scottsdale Healthcare in Scottsdale, Ariz. offers comprehensive cancer treatment and research through clinical trials, diagnosis, treatment, prevention and support services in collaboration with leading scientific researchers and community oncologists. The Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center at Scottsdale Healthcare, Scottsdale Healthcare Research Institute, Scottsdale Healthcare Osborn Medical Center, Scottsdale Healthcare Shea Medical Center and Scottsdale Healthcare Thompson Peak Hospital and related entities are part of the non-profit Scottsdale Lincoln Health Network. For more information, visit http://www.shc.org.
Press Contact:
Jamie Grim
Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center at Scottsdale Healthcare
480-323-1387
jgrim@shc.org
About TGen
Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) is a Phoenix, Arizona-based non-profit organization dedicated to conducting groundbreaking research with life changing results. TGen is focused on helping patients with cancer, neurological disorders and diabetes, through cutting edge translational research (the process of rapidly moving research towards patient benefit). TGen physicians and scientists work to unravel the genetic components of both common and rare complex diseases in adults and children. Working with collaborators in the scientific and medical communities literally worldwide, TGen makes a substantial contribution to help our patients through efficiency and effectiveness of the translational process. For more information, visit: http://www.tgen.org.
Press Contact:
Steve Yozwiak
TGen Senior Science Writer
602-343-8704
syozwiak@tgen.org
About Cancer Treatment Centers of America
CTCA is a national network of hospitals focusing on complex and advanced stage cancer. CTCA offers a comprehensive, fully integrated approach to cancer treatment and serves patients from all 50 states at facilities located in Atlanta, Chicago, Philadelphia, Phoenix and Tulsa. Known for delivering the Mother Standard of care and Patient Empowerment Medicine, CTCA provides patients with information about cancer and their treatment options so they can control their treatment decisions. For more information about CTCA, go to http://www.cancercenter.com.
Press Contact:
Jennifer Vogel
Office: 623-207-3241
Cell: 480-599-0104
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.
More than one year after husband Rupert Sanders was caught cheating with Kristen Stewart, Liberty Ross is still trying to cope with life after scandal. The 35-year-old British model speaks out on her now estranged husband's public affair and their subsequent divorce filing in the December issue of Vanity Fair.
"It was horrible," Ross tells the magazine. "It was really the worst, really the worst."
"I have no words to describe what we went through," she says. "But I think, for me, something always has to completely die for there to be a rebirth. And, for me, I feel like I'm going through a rebirth."
PHOTOS: Ruper Sanders cheats on Liberty Ross -- all the shocking photos
Director Sanders, 42, was caught cheating with his Snow White and the Huntsman star Stewart, 23, on July 17, 2012. Us Weekly broke news of the affair with exclusive photos, released on July 24.
Though the scandal may have left Ross speechless, her Academy Award-winning composer brother, Atticus, had plenty to share with Vanity Fair about what his sister went through. "It was f---ing crazy," he says. "To some extent at that moment, Rupert was in denial, and Liberty didn't know what was going to happen . . . I'm texting people because I know this is going to be huge. I knew this had all the makings of what our world has become. This is going to be f---ing big, and Liberty needs to be protected."
Rupert Sanders was caught cheating with Kristen Stewart on July 17, 2012.
Credit: FameFlynet
The day after photos of his fling were released, Sanders issued a public apology to his wife of 11 years and their two children. "I love them with all my heart," he said in the statement. "I am praying that we can get through this together." But Ross tells Vanity Fair that she already made her decision to divorce. "I'm not a quitter. I've done everything I could to be the perfect wife and mother and really support my husband," she says. "But I just didn't have any more to give, you know?"
Reflecting on their marriage, Ross also admits to the magazine that they weren't perfect even before the affair. "I knew that I wasn't feeling 100 percent right," she explains. "I found myself on a roller coaster, like, I'm going to keep things moving, keep things going. I'm going to keep up this amazing [facade], everyone looking at me and Rupert, thinking, Oh, wow, you guys have it all . . . Really, I had times when I felt very lonely, very disconnected from Rupert. We'd lost our real connection."
PHOTOS: Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson's crazy year after scandal
But Ross tells Vanity Fair that she does forgive Sanders. "We were together for 16 years, and that in itself is really beautiful," she says. "And we've created two exceptional lives together." The estranged spouses are parents to daughter Skyla, 7, and son Tennyson, 5. Ross filed for divorce from Sanders in January 2013, and it has yet to be finalized. At the time of the affair, Stewart was in a longtime relationship with Twilight costar Robert Pattinson. Their relationship also ended nearly one year later in May 2013.
For more of Ross' interview, pick up the December issue of Vanity Fair on newsstands nationwide Nov. 5.
