As popular as Apple's iOS operating system for iPhones and iPads is, it functions largely the same as it did when it was first introduced more than six years ago.
That normally wouldn't be a big deal, but as mobile OS usage eats into normal PC OS usage, it's becoming more apparent that Apple still has a lot of work to do when it comes to productivity, content creation, and multitasking.
Kontra of Counternotions, a really smart anonymous blogger who comments on Apple design a lot, has a new post on the multitasking issue in iOS.
Here's the key paragraph that demonstrates just how difficult it is to work between multiple apps:
In iOS, this involves double-clicking the Home button, swiping in the tray to find the other app, waiting for it to (re)load fully, locating the app view necessary to copy, double-clicking the Home button, finding the previous app in the tray and waiting for it to (re)load fully to paste the previously copied material. That?s just one operation between two apps. Composing a patient review for a doctor or creating a presentation for a student can easily involve many such operations among multiple apps.
What a pain.
Kontra has a temporary solution that Apple could implement in its next version of iOS, which is expected to launch as early as this summer. Apple could add what Kontra calls a "multi-slot clipboard" that would let you copy multiple items at once before plugging them into another app. It seems like such a feature would be easy for Apple to add without confusing users. Plus it'll give Apple another full year to figure out a more robust way to multitask.
But even as Apple lags behind, some of its biggest competitors are already addressing multitasking on the touchscreen in their latest smartphones and tablets.
Microsoft's new Windows 8 operating system, which was designed primarily for touchscreen devices, has a unique multitasking feature that lets you "snap" any app to the side of your display. It's also very easy to cycle between apps in Windows 8 by swiping your finger from the left to right side of your screen.
Samsung's Galaxy Note 10.1 and 8.0 Android tablets also let you run two apps at once in a split screen, although there are only about 20 apps that utilize that feature right now. Some of Samsung's Galaxy smartphones like the Galaxy S III let you run multiple apps at once in separate windows.
Finally, BlackBerry's new operating system, BlackBerry 10, has the best multitasking function we've ever seen on a smartphone. Swiping from the bottom to the top of the screen reveals the apps you have running in the background, making it incredibly easy to switch between them.
Yes, adding a more robust multitasking solution to iOS could alienate and confuse some people who have become familiar with the operating system over the years. Just look at all the confusion Microsoft caused with its radical new Windows 8 design.?
But if tablets are going to eventually replace regular laptops and PCs for most users, multitasking and productivity are two very important things Apple will have to expand on.
In the winter, thousands upon thousands of the common roach fish migrate to nearby streams throughout Europe.
By Joseph Castro LiveScience
From birds to crustaceans, numerous animal species migrate each year to find more food, pleasant weather or the perfect place to breed. But at least one species ??a freshwater fish called the common roach ??migrates to avoid getting eaten, new research suggests.
Researchers used identifier tags to track the seasonal movements of the common roach (Rutilus rutilus) for four years. These fish live in freshwater lakes throughout Europe and are partially migratory ??that is, during winter, up to 80 percent of the fish migrate to nearby streams, while the rest stay put.
"It's a bit of an overwhelming sight to come across these streams in wintertime, and you suddenly realize that there are thousands upon thousands of fish in this restricting area," said lead researcher Christian Skov, a fish ecologist at the Technical University of Denmark.
Cormorant birds (Phalacrocorax carbo) are known to prey on roach living in both lakes and streams. However, 92.5 percent of the tags retrieved from cormorant pellets came from roach that last swam in lakes specifically, the researchers found. Moreover, the longer the fish stayed out of the lakes, the more likely they were to escape becoming bird food, suggesting that the fish reduce their predation risk from the birds by migrating into streams. [The 10 Most Incredible Animal Journeys]
Jes Dolby
Researchers attached passive integrated transponder tags to more than 2,200 roach fish living in two lakes in Denmark. Then they set up antennas (shown here) to pick up signals from the tags.
Lakes vs. streams The idea that some animals migrate to escape predation isn't new, but evidence for this behavior is hard to come by. In 2010, scientists discovered predation was partially involved in the breeding migrations of Arctic shorebirds: birds that traveled farther north were less likely to have their nests ravaged by foxes and other predators. But little other evidence for this kind of phenomena exists.
In the new study, Skov, along with colleagues from Sweden and Switzerland, attached passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags to more than 2,200 roach living in two lakes in Denmark. Every tag had a unique identifier code, allowing the team to distinguish each individual fish. At the inlets and outlets of each stream, the researchers set up antennas, which picked up signals from the PIT tags. "We knew the position of all of these tagged fish, allowing us to calculate how many days they spent in the stream and how much time they spent in the lake," Skov told LiveScience.
The researchers also knew cormorants roosted and bred near the lakes, while preying on roach, among other fish. With a device not so different from a minesweeper, they combed the cormorants' habitat, searching for tags that were pooped out. [The 10 Weirdest Animal Discoveries]
Analyzing the data from the tags, they saw a large variation in the amount of time the fish spent out of the lakes. Some fish spent five months in the streams, while others would visit the streams four or five times in a single winter. "But there was a consistent pattern," Skov said. "The longer (the fish) spent in the stream, the smaller their probability of predation."
For example, in 2008, small fish that stayed in Lake Loldrup the entire winter had about a 20 percent chance of getting eaten, but this probability dropped to about 10 percent if they stayed out of the lake for 100 days. Large roach (around 10 inches, or 25 centimeters, in length or more) showed the same trend, but overall were more likely to get eaten than small fish ??they had a 40 percent chance of being preyed upon if they stayed in Lake Loldrup for the full 2008 winter.
Interestingly, the choice to migrate wasn't risk free. During winter food becomes scarce in the lakes, but there's practically nothing to eat in the streams, Skov said.
Why some, but not all? Given how much safer the streams appear to be during the chilly months, one can't help but wonder why some roach stay behind in the lakes. The researchers don't have the full picture yet, but their previous research has uncovered clues.
In one study they found that physically fit fish were more likely to migrate than those in poor physical condition. The researchers also found that the fish's personality matters, as bold fish?are more likely to migrate than shy fish. "So it's pretty complicated why some fish stay behind," Skov said.
Skov thinks the research will help scientists understand what drives migration and how different migrations evolve. "Here's support for one of the most underexplored ideas as to why animals migrate," he said, adding that he's interested in seeing how adaptive the roach's behavior is and if the fish would continue to migrate when there's no cormorant threat.
Future research may even show that other animals migrate to escape predators. "I could easily imagine that's the case," Skov said.
The research was detailed online Tuesday?in the journal Biology Letters.
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Copyright 2013 LiveScience, a TechMediaNetwork company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Feb. 28, 2013 ? Using new technology at the telescope and in laboratories, researchers have discovered an important pair of prebiotic molecules in interstellar space. The discoveries indicate that some basic chemicals that are key steps on the way to life may have formed on dusty ice grains floating between the stars.
The scientists used the National Science Foundation's Green Bank Telescope (GBT) in West Virginia to study a giant cloud of gas some 25,000 light-years from Earth, near the center of our Milky Way Galaxy. The chemicals they found in that cloud include a molecule thought to be a precursor to a key component of DNA and another that may have a role in the formation of the amino acid alanine.
One of the newly-discovered molecules, called cyanomethanimine, is one step in the process that chemists believe produces adenine, one of the four nucleobases that form the "rungs" in the ladder-like structure of DNA. The other molecule, called ethanamine, is thought to play a role in forming alanine, one of the twenty amino acids in the genetic code.
"Finding these molecules in an interstellar gas cloud means that important building blocks for DNA and amino acids can 'seed' newly-formed planets with the chemical precursors for life," said Anthony Remijan, of the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO).
In each case, the newly-discovered interstellar molecules are intermediate stages in multi-step chemical processes leading to the final biological molecule. Details of the processes remain unclear, but the discoveries give new insight on where these processes occur.
Previously, scientists thought such processes took place in the very tenuous gas between the stars. The new discoveries, however, suggest that the chemical formation sequences for these molecules occurred not in gas, but on the surfaces of ice grains in interstellar space.
"We need to do further experiments to better understand how these reactions work, but it could be that some of the first key steps toward biological chemicals occurred on tiny ice grains," Remijan said.
The discoveries were made possible by new technology that speeds the process of identifying the "fingerprints" of cosmic chemicals. Each molecule has a specific set of rotational states that it can assume. When it changes from one state to another, a specific amount of energy is either emitted or absorbed, often as radio waves at specific frequencies that can be observed with the GBT.
New laboratory techniques have allowed astrochemists to measure the characteristic patterns of such radio frequencies for specific molecules. Armed with that information, they then can match that pattern with the data received by the telescope. Laboratories at the University of Virginia and the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics measured radio emission from cyanomethanimine and ethanamine, and the frequency patterns from those molecules then were matched to publicly-available data produced by a survey done with the GBT from 2008 to 2011.
A team of undergraduate students participating in a special summer research program for minority students at the University of Virginia (U.Va.) conducted some of the experiments leading to the discovery of cyanomethanimine. The students worked under U.Va. professors Brooks Pate and Ed Murphy, and Remijan. The program, funded by the National Science Foundation, brought students from four universities for summer research experiences. They worked in Pate's astrochemistry laboratory, as well as with the GBT data.
"This is a pretty special discovery and proves that early-career students can do remarkable research," Pate said.
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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by National Radio Astronomy Observatory.
Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.
Journal Reference:
Daniel P. Zaleski, Nathan A. Seifert, Amanda L. Steber, Matt T. Muckle, Ryan A. Loomis, Joanna F. Corby, Oscar Martinez, Kyle N. Crabtree, Philip R. Jewell, Jan M. Hollis, Frank J. Lovas, David Vasquez, Jolie Nyiramahirwe, Nicole Sciortino, Kennedy Johnson, Michael C. McCarthy, Anthony J. Remijan, Brooks H. Pate. DETECTION OF E-CYANOMETHANIMINE TOWARD SAGITTARIUS B2(N) IN THE GREEN BANK TELESCOPE PRIMOS SURVEY. The Astrophysical Journal, 2013; 765 (1): L10 DOI: 10.1088/2041-8205/765/1/L10
Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.
Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.
What makes a healthy and lasting long-term gay relationship successful:
6. They enjoy a sensual and sexual camaraderie that helps them to meet their erotic potential.
The happiest couples tend to report enjoying nonsexual affection in their daily lives through spontaneous touch, verbal strokes, holding hands, cuddling, and massage. They also understand the importance of maintaining a passionate sexual connection through regular pleasuring sessions and keeping their erotic lives energetic and enjoyable. Even for those couples in "open relationships", the sexual relationship with their partner remains an important component of intimacy for them and they find ways to meet each other's needs, even when one isn't necessarily in the mood.
7. They have a supportive network of family and friends who honor their relationship.
Having the backing and encouragement of loved ones can be a great impetus for reinforcing a gay couple's commitment. Surrounding themselves with positive and affirming people can be a great boost.
8. They are comfortable with their sexuality and not afraid to show it.
Sexual identity struggles and internalized homophobia can really drag a relationship down unless both men tend to be in the same boat with their levels of outness. Confident and successful gay couples are comfortable being in relationship with each other no matter the setting or public domain. Whether it's trying out a mattress at the local bedding store or attending a social function in a mixed-orientation crowd, these couples feel secure enough in their identities and relationship to combat any potential homophobia they may face by proudly being themselves. Being able to be free and uninhibited is a truly liberating feeling for a gay couple.
9. They possess the following in their partnership: trust, commitment, honesty, openness, flexibility, loyalty, dedication and devotion, quality time, sensitivity, nonjudgmental attitudes, loving and unafraid to express their feelings and passionate side, etc.
These are obvious hallmark characteristics that typify a healthy relationship, but gay men in particular are vulnerable to power struggles, competition, and issues surrounding intimacy and closeness due to male socialization in their man-to-man relationships. Successful couples are aware of these pitfalls and work hard to embrace a holistic masculinity that counters the stereotypes they've been engrained with.
10. They place a high premium on their lives together and are focused on not taking each other for granted.
Successful gay couples realize that the busyness of life can very easily put their relationship on the back shelf, but they don't let it! They ensure that they devote quality time together, schedule special "date nights" with each other, and are attentive to each other's needs. They make sure they are diligently working toward their shared relationship vision, validate their partner in the ways he likes it most, and make sure to show through words and actions how much they appreciate their guy being in their lives.
Conclusion
So how did you and your partner do? These are only some of the qualities that comprise a healthy gay relationship and it's up to you and your man to define the parameters of what that would look and feel like for your unique relationship.
Use these tips as a springboard to discuss how things are going in your relationship to gauge your strengths and areas for growth and craft an action plan to make things even better between the two of you.
?
? Dr. Brian Rzepczynski, The Gay Love Coach
The suggestions and feedback offered in this column are but one perspective of multiple approaches to dealing with problems or challenges. Information provided in articles and advice columns should not be used as a substitute for coaching or therapy when these services are needed. None of this information should be your only source when making important life decisions. This information should not be used for diagnosing or treating a particular problem, nor should it take the place of a consultation with a trained professional. It is your responsibility to consult a professional prior to making any life decisions.
Dr. Brian Rzepczynski, contributing author to GAYTWOGETHER, is one of the leading love coaches for the gay community. As a licensed dating and relationship coach, Dr. Brian Rzepczynski, DHS, MSW has over 18 years experience as a psychotherapist and life coach specializing in helping GLBT individuals and couples develop and maintain successful and fulfilling intimate relationships. He holds a doctorate degree in human sexuality from the Institute for Advanced Study of Human Sexuality and a master?s degree in clinical social work from Western Michigan University. He also runs a successful private therapy practice, Personal Victory Counseling, Inc. http://thegaylovecoach.com
By Kailee Bradstreet Mon, Feb 11 2013 1:08 pm | Comments
After much anticipation, AWSM is now shipping its new ?SKATE TOOL, which should hit retail soon. The tool fits every truck in the business and retails for $16.99.?Here is a quick video from Joey Brezinski?on how it works:
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - Absa Group, the South African bank majority owned by British lender Barclays Plc, posted a worse-than- expected 9 percent drop in full-year earnings on Tuesday after bad debts spiked. Absa, the first of South Africa's top four banks to report earnings this season, said diluted headline earnings per share totalled 1,224.6 cents in the year to end-December, from 1,350 cents a year earlier. That was worse than the 6.3 percent decline to 1,265 cents forecast by StarMine's SmartEstimate, which gives more weight to forecasts from top-ranked analysts. ...
Click the photo to jump right to pictures of the inaugural flight of American Airlines' 777-300ER jet.
Editor's Note:Chris Sloan, an aviation expert and the executive producer of the Travel Channel series "Airport 24/7: Miami," rode the inaugural flight of American Airlines' 777-300ER from Dallas to Sao Paulo at his own expense.
He was kind enough to share photos from the experience with us, as well as his take on the flight and what it means for American Airlines. You can read his story on the airline and flight below, check out photos of the inaugural flight, and find out even more about the experience on his blog, Airchive.com.
Click here to jump right to photos on board the jet >>
On January 31, 2013 American Airlines launched their first Boeing 777-300 ER into service with attention that rivaled any airline?s launch of a new type in recent memory. On the face of it, even though American became the first operator of the 777-300 in America, this event would almost seem overkill if for that reason alone.
After all, American began 777-200 flights back in 1999 and the first 777-300 was first delivered to an airline, Cathay Pacific back in May, 1998. The first 777-300ER entered service nearly 10 years ago with Air France. Boeing?s two stretch variants of their venerable cash cow, the 777, easily have become the type?s most popular versions with over 680 orders and deliveries between them out of the entire 777 program?s 1,380 orders and deliveries (as of December, 2012). I
n an era of smaller airliners, American ?inaugurated the 777-300, the largest new airliner by a U.S. carrier since the last Boeing 747-400s entered service with U.S. airliners in the late 1990s.
This inaugural, flight 963, from Dallas/Ft. Worth to S?o ?Paulo, Brazil in the author?s view is one of the most significant in the airline industry in years because it is about something much bigger than just the launch of a new airliner, it?s about the re-birth of a proud American institution that happens to bear the name of our country ? American Airlines.
American Airlines problems are well known. After becoming the world?s largest airline with its 2000 acquisition of TWA, the 2000s were not kind at all to the Silver Bird. TWA and American merged during an economic downturn and by most accounts, the merger was anything but an unqualified success. American shed most of TWA?s assets, routes, staff, and many of its aircraft.
On September 11th, 2 of American?s airliners, their crew, and passengers were forever lost in the atrocities of this horrible day. As if things couldn?t get any worse, the world?s airline industry hemorrhaged with the U.S. legacy carriers losing more money during this time then they had profited in their entire history. All of them declared Chapter 11, with the exception of American. Under the category of ?no good deed goes unpunished?, this decision would come back to haunt American for years. The competitors were able to re-organize, upgrade service, rebrand their images, get their costs under control, renew their fleets, expand their route structure, and finally in the case of Continental/United and Delta/Northwest consolidate into mega-carriers that dwarfed American.
American was left with a barrage of serious problems: a revolving door in the executive ranks, fractious management and labor relations, dwindling market share, increasingly massive financial losses as their competitors recorded profits, devastating operational problems of which many were self-inflicted, an aging fleet, outdated and stripped down in-flight passenger service, soaring operating expenses, declining bookings, and a very unsympathetic press that at times almost seemed on a witch hunt.
Like Pan Am and other failed airlines there were a few bright spots: the extremely profitable Latin American hub, the North Atlantic / London Heathrow joint-venture with British Airways, the strong and dominant hubs particularly at DFW and Miami, strength on the highly profitable trans-continental services particular JFK-LAX, and many proud employees across all positions who still believed their company could once again live up to American?s 1980s advertising claim that they were ?Something Special in the Air?.
But the headwinds seemed to far outweigh the tailwinds and finally on November 29, 2011 American filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy becoming the last U.S. legacy carrier to do so. On top of that, US Airways began aggressively pursuing a merger, securing an agreement with the pilots unions. Then came the 2012 ?Summer of Discontent? with flight cancellations and operations disruptions that sent customers into the arms of their competitors and who can forget the seats onboard a few 757s becoming unbolted during flights. It would have been understandable for the once proud Eagle to fold its wings. If the one unthinkable collapses of majors like Pan Am and Eastern occurred, could American meet the same fate?
It may be hard to remember, but since the beginning of commercial aviation: American was an innovating pace setter in the industry, and generally a profitable one at that. In many ways, American virtually wrote the history of the airline industry: American introduced the airliner that changed aviation, the Douglas DC-3. The first non-stop transcontinental services were flown by American in 1953 and then they pioneered the first regularly scheduled domestic jet services in 1959. Their legendary CEO C.R. Smith, along with an American 707 Astroliner, appeared on the cover of Time Magazine for this honor.
American was the launch customer for other airline types such as the Douglas DC-10 (which was based on their specifications) and the blazingly fast Convair 990. American even leased to NASA and maintain the 747s used to ferry the Space Shuttle. Of even greater significance, American introduced the first airline computer reservation system, Sabre, back in 1961. In 1981, they created the world?s first frequent flyer program, still known as AAdvantage. Under their controversial but genius CEO Robert Crandall, American became the leader in dynamic pricing and computerized yield management as well as cost control, which made the airline very profitable. They were even the first airline to introduce a wireless app back in 1999 on the Palm Pilot, long before they were in vogue. Along the way, they acquired numerous airlines such as Trans Caribbean, AirCal, RenoAir, and finally TWA.
With that spirit of innovation and comeback even in the face of severe turbulence, American chose to move forward even before the Chapter 11 filing. On January 19, 2011 American became the first U.S. airline to order the Boeing 777-300 ER, the world?s most successful twin-engine airliner. Initially ordering 2 and then upping the order to 10 with options to covert other Dash 200s, AA would initially use the 777-300 ER on super high density premium routes to South America and London from their major hubs at DFW, MIA, LAX, ORD, and JFK. London Heathrow was announced as the initial destinations, but perhaps in a nod to the importance of Latin America and particularly economically booming Brazil, S?o Paolo became the inaugural destination.? The first 2 777-300ERs delivered are scheduled to only be deployed on this route through March until London Heathrow is added until March.
On July 20, 2011 American ordered $13 billion worth of 460 narrow-body Boeing and Airbus aircraft, the largest commercial aircraft order in history. This fleet renewal, designed to replace the aging MD-80s, 757s, and 767-200s, consists of 200 aircraft from the Boeing 737 family: The 737-700, 800, 900ER, and the new ultra fuel-efficient 737 Max (which it launched). From Airbus, a company previous management had vowed never to do business with again, American ordered 260 aircraft from the Airbus A320 family including the 320, 320 Neo, and new 321 which would become the new Transcontinental Flagship with a game changing cabin experience?beginning in November, 2013.
Reportedly, the airline gained even better terms in negotiations during bankruptcy. Even after the bankruptcy filing AA continued other upgrades such as Wi-Fi across the domestic fleet and international satellite Wi-Fi for international flights, new Boeing Sky Cabin equipped 737s at the rate of approximately 3 per month, Samsung Galaxy tablets for use by premium passengers for in-flight entertainment and by flight crew for a myriad of flight information, in-fight streaming of movies and video content, and innovative new pricing options called ?Choice?.
The long in the tooth vintage 1980s and 90s era cabins received much attention as well new extended legroom Main Cabin Extra, a new transcontinental Flagship Business and First Class product with lie-flat seats, a new long-haul Business and First Class product debuting on today?s 777-300 flight, and new leather seats in economy. Power on demand throughout all new aircraft and cabins would become the exception rather than the rule. American also confirmed its order for the arrival of 787-8 and 787-9 Dreamliners commencing in 2014-15.
Unlike many airlines that wait for exiting from bankruptcy before announcing upgrades, American announced many of these changes from the outset of its reorganization and continued throughout the proceedings even during the USAirways merger discussions.
Almost 2 years after placing the order, on December 11, 2012 Boeing delivered the first 777-323ER to American. The plane, sans fanfare was ferried in its still anonymous scheme from Everett?s Paine Field to the DFW base and quickly placed in a hanger. A second 777-300ER (N718AN) was delivered quietly on December 19th with the next 8 following in 2014.
These planes were delivered a bit late, reportedly due to the new Zodiac UK First Class seats not being ready in time postponing the inaugural from early January 2013 to January 31. A 3rd 777-300ER was delivered in early January while its stable mates made a few proving trips, including the MIA hub to test the IFE and Satellite Wi-Fi.
After a tough fall, American began to gather momentum in its operational and financial results. It reported revenue of $24.9 billion in 2012, the highest in company history and a full-year operating profit of $494 million, excluding special items, a $749 million improvement over 2011. These were impressive, especially given the operational issues of the Summer and Fall and losses cased by Hurricane Sandy.
Now read about the unveiling of American Airlines' new brand >
SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Texas Gov. Rick Perry is visiting California, and he hopes to return home with something more than a Disneyland souvenir.
The former Republican presidential candidate starts meeting with business leaders Monday, trying to persuade them to move jobs to Texas. He will visit the San Francisco Bay area, Los Angeles and Orange County through Wednesday.
The trip follows a radio ad in which Perry criticized California's business climate. Perry has been touting his state's low taxes and lax regulations.
California Gov. Jerry Brown says California has been adding more jobs than any other state. Non-farm payrolls increased by nearly 226,000 jobs in 2012.
He also wondered whether Perry might have a change of heart after arriving: "A lot of these Texans," Brown says, "they come here, they don't go back."
Opened in 1999 on a 1,400-acre estate rich with scenery and history, the Forum Health Club and Spa capped development of the most complete resort in Wales. Combining exceptional golf, leisure, and convention facilities, the Celtic Manor Resort includes a 400-room hotel and three championship golf courses.
Crossing the Severn estuary on a dramatic new bridge, you can?t miss the Manor. An in-your-face newly built megalith dominating the M-4 motorway, the resort is all about thinking big. Canadian telecommunications tycoon Terry Matthews invited golf course designer Robert Trent Jones Sr.?both were born in Wales?to launch the project in 1995. At the resort?s center is a refurbished nineteenth-century manor house. Set into a hillside, the hotel?s soaring central atrium links three wings of bedrooms to the spa and leisure club, and to a high-tech convention center.
The Forum Health Club and Spa surpasses many European resorts. Taking up most of the hotel?s lower floor are a 20-meter swimming pool, fifty-person whirlpool with underwater sound and light beneath a constellation of fiber-optic stars, and luxurious changing rooms with sauna and steam room, plunge pool, and whirlpool. The sixteen therapy rooms are spacious and well-equipped for a range of treatments by Clarins, Elemis, and Guinot, including sports massage and skin care for men. Perhaps the most interesting feature is the spa?s rasul chamber, where mud-caked guests socialize as they steam out impurities under a star-studded dome.
Spacious and elegantly appointed, the Forum?s wide corridors, high ceilings, and light-filled exercise studios are a pleasant environment, even when the weather isn?t. The fifty-four-station gym allows you to watch TV or enjoy music while you work out on cross-trainers, steppers, bikes, rowers, free weights, and treadmills. Personal trainers are on hand, and scheduled sessions of yoga and aerobics are held in a wood-floored studio. The gym also offers fitness assessment and counseling packages from Fitech. Kids up to age fifteen have their own Hideaway Club, with gym,?swimming pool, whirlpool, computer, and cinema. Taking care of the entire family are an Aveda concept hair salon, run by local-TV celeb Philip Mungeam, and a spa cafe.
Accommodations: 400 luxury rooms, thirty-two suites in contemporary hotel, most with balcony. All have private bath and shower, air-conditioning, speaker phone with voice mail, desk with fax modem and dual voltage power, CD player, TV. Amenities include hair dryer, trouser press, iron and board, tea- and coffeemakers, robe, toiletries. Library lounge.
Meals: A la carte menu in two restaurants and spa cafe. Also available at golf clubhouse, conservatory and terrace, games room and library, and piano bar.
Facilities: Two indoor swimming pools and whirlpools, sixteen treatment rooms including hydrotherapy, dry flotation bed, rasul chamber, two fitness centers with cardiovascular and strength equipment, aerobics/dance studios, men?s and women?s changing rooms with sauna/steam rooms, plunge pool. Hideaway Club for kids. Admission is free to hotel guests.
Services & Special Programs: Skin care, facials, massage, G5 machine massage, body wrap, aromatherapy, Cathiodermie, hair and nail care; jet shower, hydrotherapy tubs. Fitness evaluation, personal trainers.
Best Spa Package: Elemis aromatherapy, top-to-toe, two-hour treatment for $80, plus gratuity. Spa Energizer package with room, treatments, meals for two, $416-$603 daily (three-night minimum).
What?s Nearby: Cardiff Bay, Wentwood Forest, Caernarfon Castle, Tintern Abbey.
If you have thousands of dollars in required home improvements staring you in the face, you may wonder if going the DIY route could make them a bit more affordable. You can do it on your own, but it?s important that you know how to do so. The article below will give you some valuable ideas on how to make the right choices.
If you are a homeowner with central air and heat, try upgrading after seven years. Newer central heat and air conditioning systems can reduce energy consumption by as much as 20%. Older heating and cooling systems are also not nearly as quiet as new ones.
Improvement Project
Using bowls of lemons or a bouquet of flowers are simple ways to spruce up a kitchen. Arrange some flowers into an classy vase or place some colorful fruits in a bowl. This cheap fix can lighten up any kitchen quickly. Fresh flowers can make your kitchen appear more lively.
TIP! Put a peephole in outside doors! Know who is knocking on the door without having to open it! An inexpensive, easy to install option for home security is a door peephole. A drill is required and you can finish the project in less than a day.
If your home improvement project is taking place near or around the kitchen, fireplace or anything else with a gas line, find the shutoff switch prior to starting. Be extremely careful if you are going to work near any gas installation. You would not want to have an explosion or fire put a damper on your home improvement project.
When making improvements on your home, you should make sure that things are personalized without becoming too different than other properties in the area. You don?t want the house to stand out so much that it becomes awkward. This can make selling your place very hard.
Be certain to highlight the selling points of your house. Don?t block any of your windows that have a view. Whatever you wish to do, you really have to show off the main selling points. When you do this, potential buyers are able to easily see the special features of your home.
Houses that have an inviting view often sell for more than comparable house without such a view. Always remember that the premium price brought by the view might not be thought of as a smart investment. But, because beauty is often in the eye of the beholder, the impact of your house?s view on its value may vary from potential buyer to buyer.
TIP! Always check with your contractor so that you fully understand any guarantees he makes on his work. Having a guarantee from your contractor ensures that they will fix any problems that arise quickly.
Wallpaper and art additions can make a bathroom look better. Wallpaper trim is not expensive, and the wide range of designs can complement any decor that you can imagine. In addition, it?s easy to install. Add some nice, inexpensive artwork and you can completely transform your bathroom.
Appliance Paint
Appliance paint can be used to update the appearance of your kitchen in just hours. Update your appliances with black, white or metal colored appliance paint. Instead of buying new appliances, buy spray paint. This can dramatically improve the style of your kitchen in just a day?s time.
If you?d like to make an old bathroom look modern and new, look into buying matching metal fixtures. There are complete sets out there that include a full array of hardware: drawer pulls, cabinet knobs, towel racks, curtain rods, and even toilet paper holders. In many cases, a coordinated set of hardware comes in a single, handy package. Installing one of these sets is a simple one-day (or even one-afternoon) project.
TIP! Avoid removing necessary items during construction. It is essential to investigate what is behind your walls prior to tearing them out.
Hire an interior designer if you can afford it. they will help you get the best look at the best price for your budget. You don?t have to renovate alone; you can hire a pro.
Analogous color schemes could be used in your home to create a restful feel. Analogous colors sit next to each other on a color wheel, such as red and orange, green and yellow or violet and blue. A room featuring an analogous color scheme, tends to be more restful and relaxing, so it is suitable for a family room or bedroom.
If you are researching contractors for your home improvement project, make sure you find out if they have the licenses that are required by your state. You can find this out through government websites, or by making a few phone calls. Unlicensed contractors can be scam artists or they could have done something wrong to have their license revoked.
Stay on an even keel! Make sounds easier to stand in your house. A loud, unbalanced fan blade usually just needs some minor adjustments. Tighten the screws attaching the blades and blade holders to make sure your fan is properly secured. When tightening the screws, it is a good idea to clean the fan blades in order to remove any dust that could unbalance your fan.
TIP! Compost to reduce your garbage amount. It is easy to start a compost pile; simply designate a spot in your back yard and start putting compostable garbage such as coffee grounds, vegetable peels and eggshells there.
When you are thinking about home improvements, have you considered the condition your porch is in recently? Your porch makes the first impression on any guest who is visiting your home. Keep your porch clean and add tasteful enhancements. Flowers, nice furniture and great lighting can be used to dress up an otherwise boring and bland porch. This will pay off in real dollars, as a nice porch increases the value of a home.
Avoid contractors who offer bonuses for cash payments, as they are involved in illegal acts. You will not have documentation if you pay with cash, so it will make it difficult to prove your case in court if you run into problems with the contractor.
Deck making and painting are two home improvement projects that you could do outdoors that could have big effect to your house?s value. So consider doing these projects when working outside of your home. If you have a deck, you have a great place for relaxing and entertaining in the warm months of the year.
Does your vinyl floor covering have a bubble in it? If so, then pop it! It is a simple way to release all of the air. This part of the fix is only temporary, however. To keep the floor from coming back up, you will need to add some glue under the slice to secure the vinyl to the floor. Glue, prepackaged in syringes, is perfect for this job.
TIP! If you plan to hire a professional to work on your home, always get references. Think of this as hiring someone to work for a business.
Window Frame
It is important to measure your windows correctly before you buy new blinds and attempt to install them. Ill fitting blinds will not hand properly and will not look good. Blinds can be installed inside your window frame as well as outside your window frame.
Replacing an old roof can prove to be expensive for any homeowner. Talk to at least three different roofers to secure estimates ? and call their references. There are many different styles of roofing materials available today, from lightweight tiles to traditional shingles. Have your contractor help you make a decision.
Motion detector lights are a good option to consider if you are planning to install exterior lights on your property. Motion sensor lights make your home more secure because they light up when potential criminals enter the property. You will also see lower electric bills.
TIP! Plumbing and electrical issues should be fixed before you begin doing cosmetic improvements. As these repairs will actually cause damage to your home, you should do them first.
Taking on a home improvement project can be a great opportunity to improve specific skills, as well as adding customized elements to your project that reflect your taste. You?ll find that you can do some amazing things as home improvement projects that won?t break your bank account. Sometimes, you?ll need an expert and this article can help you figure out when to call them.
At the center of this image from NASA's Curiosity rover is the hole in a rock called "John Klein" where the rover conducted its first sample drilling on Mars. The drilling took place on Feb. 8.
By Mike Wall, Space.com
NASA's Curiosity rover has drilled into a Martian rock and collected samples, marking the first time any robot has ever performed this complicated maneuver on the surface of another planet.
The 1-ton Curiosity rover used its arm-mounted drill to bore a hole 0.63 inches (1.6 centimeters) wide and 2.5 inches (6.4 cm) deep in a section of sedimentary bedrock on Friday. The activity paves the way for the first-ever analysis of fresh Martian subsurface material and provides the last major checkout of the robot's gear and instruments, researchers said.
"The most advanced planetary robot ever designed now is a fully operating analytical laboratory on Mars," John Grunsfeld, associate administrator for NASA's Science Mission Directorate, said in a statement Saturday. "This is the biggest milestone accomplishment for the Curiosity team since the sky-crane landing last August, another proud day for America."
Curiosity will process the sample over the next few days, researchers said. The rover will use some of the material to scour its sample-handling hardware clean of any residues that may remain from Earth before transferring any powder to the analytical instruments on the rover's body. [Curiosity Rover's Amazing Mars Photos]
"We'll take the powder we acquired and swish it around to scrub the internal surfaces of the drill bit assembly," said Curiosity drill systems engineer Scott McCloskey, of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, Calif. "Then we'll use the arm to transfer the powder out of the drill into the scoop, which will be our first chance to see the acquired sample."
Drilling so deep into a Red Planet rock is a complex and unprecedented maneuver, so the mission team worked its way up to the first effort in a steady, stepwise fashion.
About two weeks ago, Curiosity began assessing the target rock, which is part of an outcrop called "John Klein" that was exposed to liquid water long ago. The rover first pressed down on the rock with its arm-mounted drill in a series of "pre-load" tests. It then used the drill's percussive action to hammer the outcrop without spinning the drill bit, which cleared the way for a recent "mini-drill" that bored into rock but didn't collect samples.
Getting Curiosity ready for all these steps ? and for yesterday's successful full-up drilling run ? also took a lot of prep work here on Earth, researchers said.
"Building a tool to interact forcefully with unpredictable rocks on Mars required an ambitious development and testing program," said JPL's Louise Jandura, chief engineer for Curiosity's sample system said Saturday. "To get to the point of making this hole in a rock on Mars, we made eight drills and bored more than 1,200 holes in 20 types of rock on Earth."
Curiosity landed inside Mars' huge Gale Crater on the night of Aug. 5 to determine if the area has ever been capable of supporting microbial life. Along with its 10 science instruments and 17 cameras, the rover's drill is considered key to this quest, for it allows scientists to peer deep into Martian rocks for evidence of past habitability.?
Follow Space.com senior writer Mike Wall on Twitter @michaeldwall?or Space.com @Spacedotcom. We're also on Facebook?and?Google+.?
? 2013 Space.com. All rights reserved. More from Space.com.
Grounds crews clear the tarmac at LaGuardia Airport in New York Friday, Feb. 8, 2013. Airlines scratched more than 3,700 flights in the Northeast through Saturday as snow began falling in what was predicted to be a huge blizzard that could dump 1 to 3 feet of snow from New York City to Boston and beyond. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Grounds crews clear the tarmac at LaGuardia Airport in New York Friday, Feb. 8, 2013. Airlines scratched more than 3,700 flights in the Northeast through Saturday as snow began falling in what was predicted to be a huge blizzard that could dump 1 to 3 feet of snow from New York City to Boston and beyond. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Several professional and college sports teams were forced to rearrange their travel plans as a massive storm swept through the Northeast, dumping a few feet of snow in some areas.
The NBA's New York Knicks were stuck in Minnesota after playing the Timberwolves on Friday night, hoping to try to fly home sometime Saturday. The San Antonio Spurs were also staying overnight in Detroit after seeing their 11-game winning streak fall to the Pistons, awaiting word on when they might be able to fly to New York for their game Sunday night at Brooklyn.
"We can't get there tonight ? we know that," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "So we're going to stay here tonight and try to get there (Saturday). Hopefully, we will be able to get there, but at this point, we don't know."
Airlines canceled more than 5,300 flights through Saturday, and New York City's three major airports and Boston's Logan Airport closed.
The Brooklyn Nets planned to take a train home instead of flying from Washington D.C. after losing to the Wizards on Friday night.
Knicks coach Mike Woodson said before a 100-94 victory that his team initially planned to fly home after the game, but the flight had already been postponed. New York is scheduled to play the Los Angeles Clippers at Madison Square Garden on Sunday.
The NHL's Boston Bruins pushed back the start of Saturday's game against the Tampa Bay Lightning by six hours because of the blizzard. The game originally slated for 1 p.m. was rescheduled for 7 p.m., but Boston was expected to be one of the cities hit hardest by the storm.
The storm had dumped more than 2 feet of snow on New England by early Saturday and knocked out power to 650,000 customers. The National Weather Service said up to 3 feet of snow is expected in Boston, threatening the city's 2003 record of 27.6 inches.
The Bruins and Lightning each already had road games scheduled for Sunday night.
The New Jersey Devils were still scheduled to host the Pittsburgh Penguins at 1 p.m., while the New York Islanders were slated to play at home against the Buffalo Sabres at 7 p.m.
Two Ivy League men's college basketball games that were scheduled for Saturday night were moved back to Sunday because of treacherous travel conditions.
Dartmouth will play at Cornell at noon on Sunday in Ithaca, N.Y., and Harvard will visit Columbia at 2 p.m. Sunday in New York. Dartmouth played at Columbia on Friday night, and Harvard played at Cornell. Two other Ivy League games were still scheduled to be played Saturday night, with Yale visiting Princeton and Brown playing at Pennsylvania.
Aqueduct also called off Saturday's card because of the storm. The track and Belmont Park were expected to remain open for wagering on out-of-town races, with racing scheduled to resume Sunday.
Before we start a long and fun stretch of MMA, Cagewriter will be off from now through Tuesday. I'll return on Wednesday, Feb. 12 to talk about the latest episode of "The Ultimate Fighter," the upcoming Bellator and UFC fights, and whatever other craziness may come up in MMA. In the meantime, follow Yahoo! Sports MMA and enjoy one of the few slow times that happen in MMA.
We invest in great people. That's why clients trust us with their real estate investments! At Pinnacle, we consider our employees our most valuable asset. In fact, our number one key business objective is to attract and retain the best talent in the industry! At Pinnacle, the key to our continued success and competitive advantage is our people.
We offer a total compensation and benefits package to help with your needs today and build for your future tomorrow. We recognize that each employee is an individual with individual needs, lifestyles, and interests. Our benefits package was created with the flexibility to support employees who are at different places in their lives and careers.
Pinnacle values diversity and is committed to equal opportunity in employment. We offer a safe, healthy work environment for employees through a commitment to maintaining a drug-free workplace. Pinnacle has ongoing employment opportunities at our headquarters in Seattle, our more than 40 branch office locations nationally and our many managed communities throughout the country.
Pinnacle is the national leader in third-party fee management of investment real estate encompassing multi-family, commercial space, affordable housing and military housing. Pinnacle is built on four basic principles:
Quality people
Strong customer service
Solid market knowledge
Superior systems and support capabilities
At Pinnacle, success is about more than having a healthy bottom line. Guided by our principles and values, we are committed to making Pinnacle an amazing and unique place to work for each member of our team.
About the job..
As a Business Manager at Pinnacle, youll put your outstanding leadership and savvy business skills to work at one of the most respected apartment companies in a management opportunity that offers real leadership, innovation and support. Our Business Managers are the cornerstone of our team. Theyre responsible for keeping our communities in the top-notch condition our residents have come to expect, building motivated and trustworthy teams who consistently deliver a notably higher level of service and maximizing the operating performance of our community. Be ready to be busy! This challenging position includes:
Operations. Ensuring the smooth running of our community in a fast-paced environment. Overseeing all operations including maintenance, capital improvements, lease administration, budgeting, forecasting, reporting, collections, evictions, vacancy anticipation, marketing, lease renewals, service contracts, expense control, audits, etc.
Customer service. Providing superior customer service and communication to our residents and prospects to enhance customer satisfaction and increase renewals, revenue, reputation and profitability.
People development. Developing, mentoring, leading, and managing a high-performing, cohesive team, including leasing, customer service, maintenance and management personnel, in order to maximize their engagement and minimize turnover.
Marketing. Driving revenues with your thorough understanding and analysis of competition and development of creative marketing programs.
Leading by example. Instilling, maintaining and modeling the Pinnacle mission to be the best national management company.
Essential Responsibilities:
Supervise day-to-day operations of entire on-site team, ensuring that all Pinnacle policies and procedures are being followed.
Maintain effective on-site staff through interviewing, hiring, and terminating as necessary.
Maintain a positive living environment for community residents through prompt conflict resolution and consistent follow-up.
Manage and maintain all aspects of overall community budget and finances
Work with leasing staff to ensure that leasing/marketing goals are being met.
Maintain positive relations with all community vendors.
Coordinate special projects as requested by Investment (Regional) Manager.
Personal Competencies:
A competitive spirit
High-energy
Demonstrated leadership and strategic thinking skills
Supervisory experience
Warm, friendly and service-oriented philosophy
High degree of flexibility and tolerance for change
Ability to train, develop, lead and mentor
Superior written and verbal communications skills
Extremely computer literate
Organized and detail-oriented
Customer-service driven
Able to multitask
Financials experience/experience working with a budget
Qualifications:
Minimum of a high school diploma, Bachelors degree preferred
3+ years of on-site property management experience
Excellent oral and written communication skills
Experience in supervisory role and managing staff
Experience in writing and maintaining budgets
Proficient in Yardi property management software or other similar property management software.
General office, bookkeeping and sales skills
Computer literate, including Microsoft Office Suite
Pinnacle has grown to become America's largest apartment manager through many different successes. Yet, in today's ultra-competitive market, each success must fuel the next and speed is essential in the ongoing race to lead the industry.
If you are ready to work hard and be empowered and encouraged to innovate, contribute ideas and discover solution to provide current and potential residents with unparalleled, world class customer service please click Apply Online.
New technology may help doctors monitor concussions, aging, and neurological function Public release date: 7-Feb-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Kristen Kusek kristen.kusek@wyss.harvard.edu 617-432-8266 Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard
Harvard's Wyss Institute develops a computer tablet application that could rapidly assess neuromuscular performance at the bedside
Boston, MA, Feb. 7, 2013 Doctors routinely track their patients' hand-eye coordination to monitor any neuromuscular deficits, particularly as patients age or when they are injured -- but the tests they have been using to track this kind of information may be subjective and qualitative.
Researchers at the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University, the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, and Hebrew SeniorLife, Boston (BIDMC), recently completed the first clinical study of a new rapid neuroassessment device they developed to quantitatively measure neuromuscular performance, as reported online in yesterday's Journal of Gerontology: Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences.
In the study, 150 healthy people from the Boston area aged 21 to 95 used a stylus to follow a moving target around a circle on a computer tablet. As every person performed this tracing task, proprietary computer methods developed at the Wyss Institute measured people's deviations from the circular path, which the researchers then analyzed as a function of age, sex, and handedness. Using this approach, a number can be obtained that can show differences in performance between various individuals or conditions. An older person performs quite differently on the tracing exercise, for example.
"This new tool may hold great potential to augment existing protocols in a doctor's neuromotor assessment toolbox," said Wyss Senior Staff Engineer Leia Stirling, Ph.D., who led the study. "It is portable, repeatable, quick to administer, and easy to perform."
Whereas current methods to assess a patient's neuromuscular function include subjective descriptions of a patient's reflexes and cognitive status, the tracing tool could add a slew of new information displayed as a "score". For example, doctors can record a "score" for "complexity," which relates to how well a person can adapt to changes, and "motion fluidity," which relates to how long the patient pauses during the task. Older subjects involved in the study had lower complexity and motion fluidity scores.
Wyss Core Faculty member Ary L. Goldberger, M.D., who is also the Director of the Margret & H. A. Rey Institute for Nonlinear Dynamics in Medicine at BIDMC, introduced the idea of studying complexity in the human body. "We have demonstrated in earlier studies that a loss of complexity is potentially associated with a range of human health issues from congestive heart failure and sleep apnea to aging," he said.
The team envisions a day when the technology which they informally called "NeuroAssess" -- might be used on the playing field and in doctor's offices worldwide. "One day it might sit next to the thermometer and pressure cuff in the doctor's office," Stirling said. "Just as your blood pressure is recorded during every visit, so could your neuromuscular score be tracked over time to determine progress through recovery and rehabilitation." The same technology could be used to assess off-target neurological side effects in human clinical trials.
Now that the baseline data have been collected from the healthy population of study subjects, the next goal is to determine NeuroAssess' potential to become a quantitative assessment tool for groups of people with neuromuscular pathologies, such as those who suffered concussions or have multiple sclerosis.
The team is currently conducting a study with athletes in the Boston area to determine the sensitivity of the technology in diagnosing concussions.
"The interdisciplinary team who masterminded this new technology represent the best of the Wyss Institute model, which makes it possible for scientists, engineers and clinicians who don't traditionally work together to sit down, dream up game-changing technologies, and more easily and quickly translate them into products for high value applications," said Wyss Founding Director Don Ingber, M.D., Ph.D.
###
http://wyss.harvard.edu/viewpage/415/
The work was funded by the Wyss Institute, the National Institutes of Health, the G. Harold and Leila Y. Mathers Charitable Foundation, and the James S. McDonnell Foundation. In addition to Stirling and Goldberger, the team included Lewis A. Lipsitz, M.D., Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, Chief of Gerontology at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, and Director of the Institute for Aging Research at Hebrew SeniorLife; Mona Qureshi, Wyss Clinical Research Manager; Damian G. Kelty-Stephen, Ph.D., Wyss Staff Research Scientist; and Madalena D. Costa, Ph.D., Wyss affiliate, Instructor in Medicine at Harvard Medical School and Associate Director of the Margret and H. A. Rey Institute for Nonlinear Dynamics in Medicine at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.
About the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University
The Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University uses Natures design principles to develop bioinspired materials and devices that will transform medicine and create a more sustainable world. Working as an alliance among Harvards Schools of Medicine, Engineering, and Arts & Sciences, and in partnership with Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Brigham and Womens Hospital, Boston Childrens Hospital, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Massachusetts General Hospital, the University of Massachusetts Medical School, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Boston University and Tufts University, the Institute crosses disciplinary and institutional barriers to engage in high-risk research that leads to transformative technological breakthroughs. By emulating Natures principles for self-organizing and self-regulating, Wyss researchers are developing innovative new engineering solutions for healthcare, energy, architecture, robotics, and manufacturing. These technologies are translated into commercial products and therapies through collaborations with clinical investigators, corporate alliances, and new start-ups. The Wyss Institute recently won the prestigious World Technology Network award for innovation in biotechnology.
About Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
BIDMC is a patient care, teaching and research affiliate of Harvard Medical School and currently ranks third in National Institutes of Health funding among independent hospitals nationwide. BIDMC is clinically affiliated with the Joslin Diabetes Center and is a research partner of the Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center. BIDMC is the official hospital of the Boston Red Sox. For more information, visit www.bidmc.org
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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.
New technology may help doctors monitor concussions, aging, and neurological function Public release date: 7-Feb-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Kristen Kusek kristen.kusek@wyss.harvard.edu 617-432-8266 Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard
Harvard's Wyss Institute develops a computer tablet application that could rapidly assess neuromuscular performance at the bedside
Boston, MA, Feb. 7, 2013 Doctors routinely track their patients' hand-eye coordination to monitor any neuromuscular deficits, particularly as patients age or when they are injured -- but the tests they have been using to track this kind of information may be subjective and qualitative.
Researchers at the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University, the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, and Hebrew SeniorLife, Boston (BIDMC), recently completed the first clinical study of a new rapid neuroassessment device they developed to quantitatively measure neuromuscular performance, as reported online in yesterday's Journal of Gerontology: Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences.
In the study, 150 healthy people from the Boston area aged 21 to 95 used a stylus to follow a moving target around a circle on a computer tablet. As every person performed this tracing task, proprietary computer methods developed at the Wyss Institute measured people's deviations from the circular path, which the researchers then analyzed as a function of age, sex, and handedness. Using this approach, a number can be obtained that can show differences in performance between various individuals or conditions. An older person performs quite differently on the tracing exercise, for example.
"This new tool may hold great potential to augment existing protocols in a doctor's neuromotor assessment toolbox," said Wyss Senior Staff Engineer Leia Stirling, Ph.D., who led the study. "It is portable, repeatable, quick to administer, and easy to perform."
Whereas current methods to assess a patient's neuromuscular function include subjective descriptions of a patient's reflexes and cognitive status, the tracing tool could add a slew of new information displayed as a "score". For example, doctors can record a "score" for "complexity," which relates to how well a person can adapt to changes, and "motion fluidity," which relates to how long the patient pauses during the task. Older subjects involved in the study had lower complexity and motion fluidity scores.
Wyss Core Faculty member Ary L. Goldberger, M.D., who is also the Director of the Margret & H. A. Rey Institute for Nonlinear Dynamics in Medicine at BIDMC, introduced the idea of studying complexity in the human body. "We have demonstrated in earlier studies that a loss of complexity is potentially associated with a range of human health issues from congestive heart failure and sleep apnea to aging," he said.
The team envisions a day when the technology which they informally called "NeuroAssess" -- might be used on the playing field and in doctor's offices worldwide. "One day it might sit next to the thermometer and pressure cuff in the doctor's office," Stirling said. "Just as your blood pressure is recorded during every visit, so could your neuromuscular score be tracked over time to determine progress through recovery and rehabilitation." The same technology could be used to assess off-target neurological side effects in human clinical trials.
Now that the baseline data have been collected from the healthy population of study subjects, the next goal is to determine NeuroAssess' potential to become a quantitative assessment tool for groups of people with neuromuscular pathologies, such as those who suffered concussions or have multiple sclerosis.
The team is currently conducting a study with athletes in the Boston area to determine the sensitivity of the technology in diagnosing concussions.
"The interdisciplinary team who masterminded this new technology represent the best of the Wyss Institute model, which makes it possible for scientists, engineers and clinicians who don't traditionally work together to sit down, dream up game-changing technologies, and more easily and quickly translate them into products for high value applications," said Wyss Founding Director Don Ingber, M.D., Ph.D.
###
http://wyss.harvard.edu/viewpage/415/
The work was funded by the Wyss Institute, the National Institutes of Health, the G. Harold and Leila Y. Mathers Charitable Foundation, and the James S. McDonnell Foundation. In addition to Stirling and Goldberger, the team included Lewis A. Lipsitz, M.D., Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, Chief of Gerontology at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, and Director of the Institute for Aging Research at Hebrew SeniorLife; Mona Qureshi, Wyss Clinical Research Manager; Damian G. Kelty-Stephen, Ph.D., Wyss Staff Research Scientist; and Madalena D. Costa, Ph.D., Wyss affiliate, Instructor in Medicine at Harvard Medical School and Associate Director of the Margret and H. A. Rey Institute for Nonlinear Dynamics in Medicine at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.
About the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University
The Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University uses Natures design principles to develop bioinspired materials and devices that will transform medicine and create a more sustainable world. Working as an alliance among Harvards Schools of Medicine, Engineering, and Arts & Sciences, and in partnership with Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Brigham and Womens Hospital, Boston Childrens Hospital, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Massachusetts General Hospital, the University of Massachusetts Medical School, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Boston University and Tufts University, the Institute crosses disciplinary and institutional barriers to engage in high-risk research that leads to transformative technological breakthroughs. By emulating Natures principles for self-organizing and self-regulating, Wyss researchers are developing innovative new engineering solutions for healthcare, energy, architecture, robotics, and manufacturing. These technologies are translated into commercial products and therapies through collaborations with clinical investigators, corporate alliances, and new start-ups. The Wyss Institute recently won the prestigious World Technology Network award for innovation in biotechnology.
About Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
BIDMC is a patient care, teaching and research affiliate of Harvard Medical School and currently ranks third in National Institutes of Health funding among independent hospitals nationwide. BIDMC is clinically affiliated with the Joslin Diabetes Center and is a research partner of the Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center. BIDMC is the official hospital of the Boston Red Sox. For more information, visit www.bidmc.org
[ | 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.
LAS VEGAS -- MGM Resorts International is asking the Nevada Supreme Court to speed up a decision that's holding up the demolition of a flawed hotel tower on the Las Vegas Strip.
MGM filed a brief Wednesday asking the court to expedite its ruling on whether the company must do more structural testing. MGM said the building poses a safety risk and must be demolished as soon as possible.
The Harmon Hotel is a joint project with Dubai World and was intended to open with 46 stories in 2009 as part of the $8.5 billion CityCenter development. Construction was halted at 26 floors after inspectors found flaws in steel reinforcements.
A trial is set for 2014 to decide whether MGM or contractor Perini Building Co. is responsible for $500 million in damage claims.
? 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Opened in 1999 on a 1,400-acre estate rich with scenery and history, the Forum Health Club and Spa capped development of the most complete resort in Wales. Combining exceptional golf, leisure, and convention facilities, the Celtic Manor Resort includes a 400-room hotel and three championship golf courses.
Before we start a long and fun stretch of MMA, Cagewriter will be off from now through Tuesday. I'll return on Wednesday, Feb. 12 to talk about the latest episode of "The Ultimate Fighter," the upcoming Bellator and UFC fights, and whatever other craziness may come up in MMA. In the meantime, follow ![[ Back to EurekAlert! ]](http://www.eurekalert.org/images/back2e.gif){kind=small}
Public release date: 7-Feb-2013
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