শনিবার, ৩১ ডিসেম্বর, ২০১১

Jared's top apps of 2011

 

Android Central

Applications come and go on a daily basis, some for testing purposes, others because they are new and shiny and well I think I have to have them.

Only a few applications make the daily use category, so hit the break to find out which those are!

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Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/0RJ4px6VTXo/story01.htm

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Omni Sport Bulletin - Afghan Judo Atheletes Prepare for London

Int-warning Sorry, currently our video library can only be watched from within the United States

Hulu is committed to making its content available worldwide. To do so, we must work through a number of legal and business issues, including obtaining international streaming rights. Know that we are working to make this happen and will continue to do so. Given the international background of the Hulu team, we have both a professional and personal interest in bringing Hulu to a global audience.

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Source: http://rss.hulu.com/~r/HuluRecentlyAddedVideos/~3/X4Ck6NMKaLg/omni-sport-bulletin-afghan-judo-atheletes-prepare-for-london

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শুক্রবার, ৩০ ডিসেম্বর, ২০১১

Can foreign tourists help US economy?

Agustina Ocampo is the kind of foreign traveler businesses salivate over.

The 22-year-old Argentine recently dropped more than $5,000 on food, hotels and clothes in Las Vegas during a trip that also took her to Seattle's Space Needle, Disneyland and the San Diego Zoo. But she doubts she will return soon.

"It is a little bit of a headache," said Ocampo, a student who waited months to find out whether her tourist visa application would be approved.

More than a decade after the federal government strengthened travel requirements after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, foreign visitors say getting a temporary visa remains a daunting and sometimes insurmountable hurdle.

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The tourism industry hopes to change that with a campaign to persuade Congress to overhaul the State Department's tourist visa application process.

"After 9/11, we were all shaken and there was a real concern for security, and I still think that concern exists," said Jim Evans, a former hotel chain CEO heading a national effort to promote foreign travel to the U.S.

At the same time, he said, the U.S. needs "to be more cognizant of the importance of every single traveler."

Tourism leaders said the decline in foreign visitors over the past decade is costing American businesses and workers $859 billion in untapped revenue and at least half a million potential jobs at a time when the slowly recovering economy needs both.

While the State Department has beefed up tourist services in recent years, reducing wait times significantly for would-be visitors will likely be a challenge as officials try to balance terrorist threats and illegal immigration with tight budgets that limit hiring.

"Security is job one for us," said Edward Ramotowski, managing director of the department's visa services. "The reason we have a visa system is to enforce the immigration laws of the United States."

Anti-immigration proponents argue travel to the U.S. is already too accessible and that allowing more visitors would put the nation at greater risk.

"Everybody would like to find a way to admit as many people as possible to visit here providing that they visit and then go home," said Jessica Vaughan, director of policy studies at the Center for Immigration Studies, an anti-immigration group based in Washington, D.C.

"A lot of consular officers underestimate how much people want to come and live here," she said.

Nearly 7.6 million nonimmigrant visas were issued in 2001, compared with fewer than 6.5 million in 2010. The number of visa applicants also dropped sharply after 2001. Those combined forces pushed the U.S. share of global travelers down to 12 percent last year, from 17 percent before 2001.

The proposed immigration overhaul has largely been driven by the U.S. Travel Association, the tourism industry's lobbying giant, and has been endorsed by business titans such as the National Retail Federation, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, and Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. Republicans and Democrats in Congress are backing the proposed changes through six bills in the House and Senate.

Geoff Freeman, the travel association's chief operating officer, said the State Department should be required to keep visa interview wait times at a maximum of 10 days.

"Every day a person is waiting for that interview is a day a person cannot be here supporting the American economy," he said.

For most foreigners, taking a last-minute business or leisure trip to New York, Los Angeles, Miami or other U.S. travel hubs would be nearly impossible. The average wait time for a visa interview in Rio de Janeiro, for example, was 87 days, according to the State Department.

The Government Accountability Office, a nonpartisan agency that audits federal programs, concluded that wait times are likely much longer than reported because some department employees artificially reduce the wait times by not scheduling interviews during high-demand periods.

The vast majority of visitors enter through the country's visa waiver program, which allows travelers from 36 nations with good relationships with the U.S. to temporarily visit without a visa. Travel proponents want to add nations whose residents are unlikely to illegally move to the U.S., including Argentina, Brazil, Poland and Taiwan.

Tourists from the rest of the world, including India, China, Mexico and other nations with affluent travelers looking to use their passports, must obtain a nonimmigrant visa. The process can be expensive and time-consuming.

People living far from a visa processing center must arrange travel to the interview location, not knowing whether they will be approved. Roughly 78 percent of all tourist visas were approved so far in 2011.

Tourism proponents want the department to embrace videoconferencing as a way to interview more people quickly. The department has no plans to implement videoconferencing interviews because of safety and technological concerns, Ramotowski said.

In-person interviews weren't the norm before 9/11, when consular officials had the authority to approve travelers based on an application alone. Since then, however, screenings have become more strenuous, with fingerprint checks and facial recognition screening of photographs.

The State Department has made moves to boost its tourist services in recent years, transferring employees from underworked offices to bustling embassies and consular posts. Many visa processing centers are also operating under extended hours.

Other proposed changes include granting more multi-entry visas and charging premium fees to tourists who want a visa right away, similar to the premium passport fee charged to Americans with last-minute passport requests. The tourism industry also wants more visa processing officers and to allow travelers to submit applications in their native language.

"We can't afford to treat them in a way that gives them an impression that maybe they aren't welcome," said Rolf Lundberg, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's top lobbyist.

To help make the U.S. appear more welcoming, Congress approved last year a $200 million annual marketing campaign.

In Las Vegas, where travelers to the Strip have traditionally kept Nevada's economy afloat, tourism and government leaders are desperate to keep businesses open and create jobs in a state with the nation's highest unemployment rate.

"The industries affected by tourism are all behind it," said Republican Rep. Joe Heck of southern Nevada, who has sponsored a bill in the House that would require shorter visa interview delays, among other measures. "We need the jobs."

Ocampo, who spent her vacation shopping at upscale boutiques and visiting family in California, said she would be more eager to come back if she knew her business was wanted.

"Everyone wants to visit the Statue of Liberty and Disneyland," she said.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45802686/ns/travel-news/

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Top-ranked Syracuse beats Seton Hall 75-49 (AP)

SYRACUSE, N.Y. ? A year ago as a raw freshman with little stamina, Fab Melo watched most of Seton Hall's stunning triumph over then-No. 9 Syracuse from the bench.

On Wednesday night, that was a distant memory.

Melo had a career-high 12 points and school-record 10 blocks and top-ranked Syracuse stifled Seton Hall at every turn in a 75-49 victory in the Big East opener for both teams.

"I wasn't surprised," said the 7-foot Brazilian, who is 30 pounds lighter than when he arrived on campus and in the best shape of his life. "I've put a lot of work in. I'm still working hard to get better and I'm sure you'll see better things from me. You're going to be more surprised."

Melo, who had his first career double-double, pulled in seven rebounds. A year ago against the Pirates, he had two points, two rebounds and no blocks in 4 minutes of a 90-68 loss.

Syracuse (14-0, 1-0) gained control in this one with a staunch defensive performance in the opening half, limiting Seton Hall to 5-of-27 shooting (18.5 percent) in building a 34-15 lead.

The Orange finished with 17 steals and 15 blocks, forced 23 turnovers, and limited the Pirates to only one steal ? by Fuquan Edwin, the national leader entering the game with 3.3 per game.

"I thought our defense was as good as it's been all year," Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim said. "It was an incredible defensive effort."

Dion Waiters had 15 points and Brandon Triche added 11 for Syracuse, which won easily despite a subpar performance from leading scorer Kris Joseph, who missed all six of his shots and did not score.

"That's a great team right there, man," said Joseph, who had four steals and four assists. "If I can go scoreless and we still win by these many points, it's a great sign."

The victory was the 870th of Boeheim's career, putting him within six of fourth-place Adolph Rupp of Kentucky and nine of third-place North Carolina's Dean Smith on the Division I list.

Jordan Theodore had 14 points but only two assists for Seton Hall (11-2, 0-1), which had an eight-game winning streak snapped. Herb Pope, fourth in the nation in scoring at 20.3 points per game, had just four points and nine rebounds, and Edwin finished with three points ? all on free throws ? on 0-of-11 shooting.

Last January, Jeremy Hazell led a long-range Seton Hall barrage with 28 points as the Pirates hit seven 3s in building a 13-point halftime lead.

The tables were turned this time.

With Hazell gone, Pope is the focus of the Pirates' attack. He has eight double-doubles, tops in the nation, and had only failed to reach double figures in scoring once, in the Pirates' win at Longwood on Friday night when he finished with eight in 29 minutes.

The Syracuse defense clamped down on the big guy, who was 2 of 9 from the field and committed six turnovers.

"I contributed too many turnovers," Pope said. "I didn't execute the game plan as far as getting the big kid (Melo) off his feet, going into him. I helped him have a stellar game."

Etan Thomas held Syracuse's block record with nine. He did it three times, the last in 2000.

Syracuse leads the nation with 11.2 steals per game and a turnover margin of 8.6, and the Orange's penchant for creating mistakes was on full display in the first half. Seton Hall committed 15 turnovers and Pope led the way with five, scoring just two points on a driving dunk and missing the other five shots he attempted.

"We haven't had a home game in a while," Seton Hall coach Kevin Willard said with a pained smile. "Maybe we thought we were wearing white jerseys. We kept throwing it to them."

Melo, who played 25 minutes, closed the first half with a stunning block of Pope under the basket at the buzzer. It was his eighth block of the half and he did it to Pope again early in the second after scoring two straight baskets. Melo converted a miss by Triche and scored off a nice feed underneath from Joseph to boost the lead to 42-20 with 16:19 left.

"The staff deserves an unbelievable amount of credit and I think Fab deserves an unbelievable amount of credit for transforming his body," Willard said. "That kid is a pleasure to watch."

A 3-pointer by Scoop Jardine boosted the lead to 50-26 at 13:35.

The Pirates missed their first six shots and Syracuse gained a 6-1 lead when Triche followed his own miss and fed Melo for a dunk.

Consecutive baskets by Waiters, the second a steal and dunk, boosted the lead to 12-3 as the Orange began to steadily pull away. When Theodore hit a 3 from the left wing at 8:05, he had 10 of Seton Hall's 12 points.

Syracuse finished just five blocks shy of the school record set Jan. 11, 1992, against Miami, and Willard was more than happy to get out of the Carrier Dome.

"It's tough. You can't really prepare for this type of game, especially when they're at home," Willard said. "You can't sit there and say, `What could we have done if we had made passes?' We could have made a lot of passes. We're still going to get our butt kicked tonight."

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/sports/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111229/ap_on_sp_co_ga_su/bkc_t25_seton_hall_syracuse

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বৃহস্পতিবার, ২৯ ডিসেম্বর, ২০১১

China tests 500 kmph super high-speed train

BEIJING | Tue Dec 27, 2011 2:27pm EST

BEIJING (Reuters) - China launched a super-rapid test train over the weekend which is capable of travelling 500 kilometers per hour, state media said on Monday, as the country moves ahead with its railway ambitions despite serious problems on its high-speed network.

The train, made by a subsidiary of CSR Corp Ltd, China's largest train maker, is designed to resemble an ancient Chinese sword, the official Xinhua news agency reported.

It "will provide useful reference for current high-speed railway operations," it quoted train expert Shen Zhiyun as saying.

But future Chinese trains will not necessarily run at such high speeds, CSR chairman Zhao Xiaogang told the Beijing Morning News.

"We aims to ensure the safety of trains operation," he said.

China's railway industry has had a tough year, highlighted by a collision between two high-speed trains in July which killed at least 40 people. Construction of new high-speed trains in China has since been a near halt.

In February, the railways minister, Liu Zhijun, a key figure behind the boom in the sector, was dismissed over corruption charges that have not yet been tried in court.

(Reporting by Sabrina Mao and Ben Blanchard; Editing by Yoko Nishikawa)

Source: http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/scienceNews/~3/Zt7lpJNz_cU/us-china-train-idUSTRE7BP04L20111227

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Chinese Paper Pins iPad 3 Launch on Steve Jobs? Birthday

A Chinese newspaper is spreading the word that Apple?s third-generation tablet computer will be unveiled on February 24th, the day Apple?s iconic co-founder, Steve Jobs, was born.

Citing a story by the Economic Daily News, Focus Taiwan reports that the iPad 3 will make a splash in the market as it is the first major product to be unveiled by Cupertino next year.

That sounds just about right to us, including the fact that industry sources said the first shipment of the iPad 3 could exceed 4 million units.

Makers in the supply chain have been forced to raise their yield rates and, because the tablet is a new device, ?the sources said all OEM and ODM makers have exercised great caution in ensuring the smooth operations of their production lines,? according to the Taiwanese paper.

The Economic Daily News? sources specifically said (text reproduced by the aforementioned Focus Taiwan) that ??main assembler Hon Hai Precision Industry's iPad division will only allow its employees to take five days off during the Lunar New Year holiday, while staff at the company's other divisions will have a longer holiday,? in order to meet the iPad 3 delivery date.

Aluminum case manufacturer Catcher Technology is also mentioned in the report. Catcher was in the news two months ago when Chinese regulators prompted the company to shut down production amid pollution reports.

Catcher, whose operations are now back online, said that at least some of its employees will have to work overtime during the Lunar New Year holiday in China.

Other suppliers, such as battery maker Simplo Technology, connector maker Amer International Group and optical lens supplier Genius Electronic Optical Co. are also reportedly telling their staff to prepare for longer shifts.

Source: http://news.softpedia.com/news/Chinese-Paper-Pins-iPad-3-Launch-on-Steve-Jobs-Birthday-242885.shtml

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মঙ্গলবার, ২৭ ডিসেম্বর, ২০১১

Lifestyle And Environmental Factors Associated With Cancer Risk

Main Category: Cancer / Oncology
Also Included In: Alcohol / Addiction / Illegal Drugs;??Smoking / Quit Smoking
Article Date: 25 Dec 2011 - 0:00 PST

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(AP) ? You know Dasher and Dancer and the rest of the gang. But do you recall, the most "Perfect Christmas Crowd-Bringer" of all?

That's how executives at Montgomery Ward originally described Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, who first appeared in a 1939 book written by one of the company's advertising copywriters and given free to children as a way to drive traffic to the stores.

Curious to know more about how Rudolph really went down in history? It's all in the pages of a long-overlooked scrapbook compiled by the story's author, Robert L. May, and housed at his alma mater, Dartmouth College.

May donated his handwritten first draft and illustrated mock-up to Dartmouth before his death at age 71 in 1976, and his family later added to what has become a large collection of Rudolph-related documents and merchandise, including a life-sized papier-mache reindeer that now stands among the stacks at the Rauner Special Collections Library. But May's scrapbook about the book's launch and success went unnoticed until last year, when Dartmouth archivist Peter Carini came across it while looking for something else.

"No one on staff currently knew we had it. I pulled it out and all the pieces started falling out. It was just a mess," Carini said.

The scrapbook, which has since been restored and catalogued, includes May's list of possible names for his story's title character ? from Rodney and Rollo to Reginald and Romeo. There's a map showing how many books went to each state and letters of praise from adults and children alike.

The scrapbook also chronicles the massive marketing campaign Montgomery Ward launched to drum up newspaper coverage of the book giveaway and its efforts to promote it within the company.

Near the front of the scrapbook is a large colored poster instructing Montgomery Ward stores about how to order and distribute the book. An illustration of Rudolph sweeps across the page, his name written in ornate script. There are exclamation points galore. "The rollinckingest, rip-roaringest, riot-provokingest, Christmas give-away your town has ever seen!" ''A laugh and a thrill for every boy and girl in your town (and for their parents, too!)"

Rudolph is described as "the perfect Christmas crowd-bringer," if stores follow a few rules, including giving the book only to children accompanied by adults. "This will limit 'street urchin' traffic to a minimum, and will bring in the PARENTS ... the people you want to sell!"

The response was overwhelming ? at a time when a print-run of 50,000 books was considered a best-seller, the company gave away more than 2 million copies that first year and by the following year was selling an assortment of Rudolph-themed toys and other items.

But lest this become a story about corporate greed, it should be noted that in 1947, Montgomery Ward took the unusual step of turning over the copyright to the book to May, who was struggling financially after the death of his first wife.

"He then made several million dollars using that in various ways, through the movie, the song, merchandising and things like that," Carini said. "I think it's a great story because it shows how corporations used to think of themselves as part of civil society and how much that has changed."

May eventually left Montgomery Ward to essentially manage Rudolph's career, which really took off after May's brother-in-law Johnny Marks wrote the song (made famous by Gene Autry in 1949), and the release of a stop-motion animated television special in 1964.

Both the song and movie depart significantly from May's original plot, however. In May's story, Rudolph doesn't live at the North Pole or grow up aspiring to pull Santa's sleigh ? he lives in a reindeer village and Santa discovers him while filling Rudolph's stocking on a foggy Christmas Eve.

"And you," Santa tells Rudolph, "May yet save the day! Your wonderful forehead may yet pave the way!'"

May's story is written in verse, similar to "The Night Before Christmas" by Clement Clarke Moore, and opens, "'Twas the day before Christmas and all through the hills/ The reindeer were playing ... enjoying the spills."

"It's lovely to hear it read out loud, it really comes alive," Virginia Herz, one of May's daughters, said in a phone interview this week.

As a small child, Herz, who declined to reveal her age, didn't think there was anything unusual about growing up in a house surrounded by Rudolph merchandise. It wasn't until she was older that she realized her father's job of "taking care of Rudolph" was a bit different. She tells her grandchildren that their great-grandpa wrote a story about Rudolph, not that he created the character.

"As I child, that's how I felt. I knew my dad had written a wonderful book about Rudolph and now there were Rudolph toys and other things all around us," she said. "But it was no different than the guy next door who sold cars, or the guy down the street who was a painting contractor."

She acknowledges the myths that have become entwined in Rudolph's history ? including the notion that May wrote the story as a Christmas gift for his older daughter, Barbara, when his wife was dying of cancer and that a Montgomery Ward manager "caught wind of the little storybook." In reality, Montgomery Ward assigned May to write a Christmas book around the same time his wife was ill, Herz said.

"''What's out there on the Internet is a softer telling," she said. "My dad was aware of it and considered it appropriate. There's the softer, romantic version and the more fact-based version."

Herz said her father would be thrilled to see how his creation and its many incarnations have become part of American culture.

"I think he would be startlingly amazed," she said. "It really is an eternal part of Christmas. He would have been amazed."

WJW-TV

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2011-12-23-Rudolph's%20Scrapbook/id-0fbc1e645a394899be7306ffe3b796ca

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Event Network, Inc. Selects Microsoft Dynamics NAV and LS Retail Solutions

United States, Dec. 22, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Radiant Technologies, Inc. announced today that Event Network, Inc., a leading cultural attraction retail operator in North America, has selected Microsoft?Dynamics NAV and LS Retail as their enterprise resource planning (ERP) and retail operations software systems. Radiant Techonolgies will support Event Network through the process of implementing Microsoft Dynamics NAV and LS Retail for all national operations. They will also focus on their aggressive growth strategy, which includes providing the best guest experience and achieving the maximum retail potential for their partners? cultural attractions.

"Radiant Technologies, together with LS Retail, have years of experience in helping retail operators like Event Network implement solutions critical to their business," said Tony Da Silva, Radiant?s vice president of sales. "We look forward to a successful partnership with Event Network, as well as delivering exactly what the customer needs within their budget."

Event Network was struggling under the weight of managing multiple disparate systems, including financial management, store replenishment planning, POS, and inventory management. With the Microsoft Dynamics NAV and LS Retail solutions, Event Network will benefit from a single architecture that provides a single unified view of the company?s operations across all of its departments. They will also gain complete visibility into the company?s financial health, including real-time store sales performance, and will reduce redundancies and inefficiencies in their business processes.

About Event Network

Cultural attractions are an important part of the fabric of our communities. Event Network has become the leading cultural attraction retail operator in North America. They elevate the guest experience and achieve the maximum retail potential of their partners? cultural attractions. They support their partners? missions and enhance their brands by delivering a world-class, seamlessly-integrated retail experience. They guarantee their partners a higher return from retail than they have ever achieved on their own or with another third-party operator. They provide exemplary guest service. They are experienced, creative and passionate. Through continuous improvement and excellent partner relationships, Event Network will build an enduring enterprise.

Radiant Technologies, Inc.
Tel: +1 (866) 997-2342
Fax: +1 (619) 330-2930
info@radiant.us.com
www.thesunisshining.com

?LS Retail ehf.
Tel: +354 5509000
Fax: +354 5509010
Email: info@LSRetail.com
Website: www.LSRetail.com

Event Network
Tel: +1 (858) 222-6100
Fax: +1 (858) 222-6101
Email: jerry.gilbert@eventnetwork.com
Website: www.eventnetwork.com

Source: http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/news.html?ref=rss&d=241453

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শুক্রবার, ২৩ ডিসেম্বর, ২০১১

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PFT: If Giants beat Jets, Eagles-'Boys means nothing

Dallas Cowboys v Philadelpia EaglesGetty Images

Still nine games back with 43 to go, I need a minor miracle to catch Rosenthal.? But I?m not going to start pulling out Hail Mary-type maneuvers by doing something like Picking the Chiefs to beat the Packers.

I mean, that would be kooky.

Rosenthal and I emerged from that crazy, upside-down Week 15 at 9-7 each.? For the year, he?s 151-73.? I?m 142-82.

Texans at Colts

Florio?s take:? Not long ago, it was presumed that the Colts would beat the Texans.? That was before the Colts lost Peyton Manning ? and before the Texans found their defense.? The ongoing absence of defensive coordinator Wade Phillips makes this one less of a sure thing for Houston, but the Colts surely won?t be looking to risk losing the Andrew Luck pick.

Florio?s pick:? Texans 28, Colts 13.

Rosenthal?s take: The Texans were reminded last week that their margin for error isn?t huge with T.J. Yates at quarterback. But that won?t be a problem this week. Houston?s defense will want to make amends after getting manhandled against Carolina. Expect 35 rushing attempts by the Texans.

Rosenthal?s pick: Texans 26, Colts 10.

Browns at Ravens

Florio?s take:? The Browns are one of the few inferior teams the Ravens managed to beat on the road.? This time, the Browns come to Baltimore, where the team that used to play in Cleveland has lost once in the last two seasons.? With the division title only two wins away, the Ravens won?t be blowing their chance to play a postseason game at home for the first time in the John Harbaugh/Joe Flacco tenure.

Florio?s pick:? Ravens 31, Browns 17.

Rosenthal?s take: Seneca Wallace looked like a slight upgrade from Colt McCoy.? Peyton Hillis is slightly healthier and more effective than he was earlier in the season.? So I?ll predict the Browns will make this slightly more interesting than the last time these two teams played.

Rosenthal?s pick: Ravens 27, Browns 17.

Broncos at Bills

Florio?s take:? Tebowmania takes Buffalo, where the Bills have seen a 4-1 start disintegrate, via seven straight losses.? With a trip to New England looming, this one gives the Bills their last, best shot at winning another game.? Though a playoff berth seems inevitable for the Broncos, it?ll have to wait until Week 17.

Florio?s pick:? Bills 24, Broncos 20.

Rosenthal?s take: Timing is everything. If the Bills started the season at 0-7, losing by an average of 18 points per week, Chan Gailey would be on the hot seat. But the Bills started fast before the bottom fell out, so no one has noticed that Buffalo is arguably the worst team in football at the moment.

Rosenthal?s pick: Broncos 23, Bills 16.

Buccaneers at Panthers

Florio?s take:? The Panthers have gotten better on the fly.? The Bucs have fallen apart, with eight straight losses.? Though anything can happen when teams from the same division square off, the Bucs haven?t made much of anything happen this year.? The Panthers won?t need to annex Puerto Rico or any other U.S. territories to win this one on Saturday.

Florio?s pick:? Panthers 34, Buccaneers 23.

Rosenthal?s take: The Bucs also have an argument for the worst team of the second half.? They?ve lost eight straight, with the last three by 21 points per game. Tampa is no longer even the up-and-coming ?Youngry? team in the division with the cool franchise quarterback; that?s now Carolina.

Rosenthal?s pick: Panthers 36, Buccaneers 23.

Cardinals at Bengals

Florio?s take:? One of the best games of the weekend will unfold before another way-less-than-capacity crowd in Cincinnati.? The Cardinals have won six of seven, and the Bengals still find themselves in the thick of things in the AFC wild-card chase.? But the Bengals have lost some of their punch in recent weeks, barely beating a pair of bad teams and losing four games to playoff contenders.? The Cardinals may not make it to the postseason, but it won?t be because they failed to handle their business.

Florio?s pick:? Cardinals 20, Bengals 17.

Rosenthal?s take: A legitimate quarterback controversy between Kevin Kolb and John Skelton is a surprising development. Arizona winning six of seven games in insane final possession fashion is even more surprising. The streak of luck ends against a Bengals team that was the surprise of the early season.

Rosenthal?s pick: Bengals 28, Cardinals 24.

Raiders at Chiefs

Florio?s take:? Chiefs players want to win for interim coach Romeo Crennel.? If they?d wanted to win as badly for former head coach Todd Haley, Crennel wouldn?t have the job he currently holds.? Kyle Orton and company keep making an unlikely push to the playoffs, as the Raiders continue to wonder how good they could have been if Darren McFadden hadn?t injured his foot the last time they played the team from Kansas City.

Florio?s pick:? Chiefs 24, Raiders 17.

Rosenthal?s take: Suddenly this game means a great deal. Both teams are trying to stay alive in the AFC West race. Romeo Crennel is trying to win a job. Hue Jackson is trying to justify his trade for Carson Palmer. Unfortunately, I fear that all the drama in the AFC West race will be over after this week.

Rosenthal?s pick: Chiefs 30, Raiders 20.

Dolphins at Patriots

Florio?s take:? Yes, the Dolphins aren?t as bad as they were when they lost seven straight games.? Yes, the Dolphins played the Patriots tough in Week One.? But the Patriots are two home wins away from the No. 1 seed for the second straight year.? Defensive warts and all, the Pats won?t be choking ? at least until they host the Jets or the Ravens in January.

Florio?s pick:? Patriots 35, Dolphins 23.

Rosenthal?s take: The Dolphins are 5-2 in their last seven games. The defense that got strafed in Week One by Tom Brady has improved greatly. Karlos Dansby, Kevin Burnett, and Vontae Davis are all playing much better for Miami. This is a dangerous game for the Patriots as they try to lock up the No. 1 seed.

Rosenthal?s pick: Patriots 26, Dolphins 24.

Giants at Jets

Florio?s take:? I?ve said for days that, if there were a way for both teams to lose this one, that?s what would happen.? (Maybe that means a tie is coming.)? The Giants have the better team on paper, but on paper the Giants shouldn?t have lost five of six games.? Recent trends have the Jets pulling things together and getting to the playoffs and the Giants completing a slide out of postseason contention.? Though all reason and common sense points to a Giants win, neither team?s performance this year has meshed with reason and common sense.

Florio?s pick:? Jets 17, Giants 14.

Rosenthal?s take: The Giants don?t have much if they don?t have a pass rush. And they don?t have much of a pass rush right now. At least the Jets have one reliable strength: Their pass defense. That should be enough to stop a Giants team that relies too much on Eli Manning.

Rosenthal?s pick: Jets 22, Giants 17.

Rams at Steelers

Florio?s take:? Against any other team, the question of whether the Steelers would use Ben Roethlisberger or Charlie Batch at quarterback would matter.? But these are the Rams.? The 2-12 Rams.? The hopelessly hapless Rams.? The Steelers would be likely to win this one even with one of the St. Louis backup quarterbacks taking the snaps for the home team.

Florio?s pick:? Steelers 20, Rams 3.

Rosenthal?s take: Charlie Batch is 37 years old. He was once teammates with Barry Sanders. At some point, the Steelers are going to roll him out there, and he just won?t be able to play the position anymore. Batch looked rough in his brief appearance two weeks ago. On the plus side: The Rams look rough every week.

Rosenthal?s pick: Steelers 16, Rams 6.

Jaguars at Titans

Florio?s take:? Though the Titans lost to the winless Colts last week, the Jaguars have been looking even worse in recent weeks, notwithstanding the contributions of Maurice Jones-Drew.? So with Matt Hasselbeck, Jake Locker, or even Vince Young at quarterback, the Titans should be able to take care of business ? despite the fact that the Jaguars pulled off the win the last time around.

Florio?s pick:? Titans 27, Jaguars 14.

Rosenthal?s take: Analysts have crushed Blaine Gabbert for his weak pocket presence all year. So interim coach Mel Tucker overcompensated by calling Gabbert ?courageous? and ?super-tough? this week. The Jaguars might be better off with a coach that recognizes Gabbert?s faults and tries to improve upon them.

Rosenthal?s pick: Titans 27, Jaguars 17.

Vikings at Redskins

Florio?s take:? Last year, the Vikings played their butts off against the Redskins in D.C., hopeful of helping Leslie Frazier lose the ?interim? tag.? This year, most Vikings don?t seem to care about Frazier or anyone else.? On a weekly basis, it shows.? It?s likely to show again on Saturday.

Florio?s pick:? Redskins 23, Vikings 10.

Rosenthal?s take: The Vikings feel like a 3-13 team, but their last win is more likely to come next week against the Bears. The Redskins feel exactly like a 6-10 type of team. They will hit their magic number on Sunday. This ?analysis? made more sense in my head.

Rosenthal?s pick: Redskins 26, Vikings 17.

Chargers at Lions

Florio?s take:? Norv Turner?s team has launched another impressive late-season run.? But the Lions have rediscovered their explosiveness on offense.? It?s time for Detroit to nail down its first playoff berth in more than a decade ? and to do so not by the skin of their teeth but by flexing some Motown muscle.

Florio?s pick:? Lions 35, Chargers 17.

Rosenthal?s take: Both quarterbacks in this game are playing very well.? Matthew Stafford saves his best stuff for the fourth quarter, while Philip Rivers has simply been on fire for three weeks. The Lions are 4-5 since beating the Bears on Monday Night Football. I?m not convinced they can beat good teams. The Chargers finally are a good team.

Rosenthal?s pick: Chargers 33, Lions 30.

Eagles at Cowboys

Florio?s take:? Jerry Jones fears the Eagles.? And for good reason.? Philly has found its groove, perhaps too late.? But not late enough for the Dream Team to complete a sweep of America?s Team.

Florio?s pick:? Eagles 33, Cowboys 27.

Rosenthal?s take: I predicted the Eagles would miss the playoffs at the beginning of the year. Despite a 6-8 record, they are somehow still alive and look like the best team in the division. I?m trying not to fall for it. It?s all part of an elaborate plan for Andy Reid to torture Eagles fans in the most painful way possible.

Rosenthal?s pick: Cowboys 30, Eagles 27.

49ers at Seahawks

Florio?s take:? The Jim Harbaugh-Pete Carroll rivalry is renewed, weeks after we?d all forgotten about it.? But even if the Seahawks can?t get the help they need to make it to the playoffs, they can throw a wrench into the Niners? plans for an easier path to Indy by killing Harbaugh?s shot at a bye.

Florio?s pick:? Seahawks 23, 49ers 17.

Rosenthal?s take: This is a dangerous game for the 49ers on a short week. Seattle?s defense continues to improve, while Tarvaris Jackson is playing his football of the season. (Without both his starting wideouts.) Both teams play a style designed to keep the game close. That favors the home team.

Rosenthal?s pick: Seahawks 17, 49ers 13.

Bears at Packers

Florio?s take:? Not long ago, this looked like it could be one of the best games of the year.? Now, it?ll mainly be an opportunity for the Packers to get the bad taste out of their mouths that came from losing to the Chiefs.

Florio?s pick:? Packers 35, Bears 13.

Rosenthal?s take: Josh McCown was coaching high school football four weeks ago. On Christmas night, he?ll show that he?s better than Caleb Hanie, and that it doesn?t really make a difference. The Packers have solved bigger injury problems than a few missing tackles.

Rosenthal?s pick: Packers 31, Bears 14.

Falcons at Saints

Florio?s take:? The Falcons beat the Saints in New Orleans last year.? Somehow.? This year, the Saints are unstoppable in the Superdome, thanks to a record-smashing season from Drew Brees.? But the Falcons have the firepower to keep it interesting.? Get your popcorn ready.? And your abacus.

Florio?s pick:? Saints 45, Falcons 38.

Rosenthal?s take: Exactly three points decided the last four games in this series. Atlanta will do enough to remind everyone the Saints? defense really hasn?t improved much. But the Falcons won?t do enough to hand New Orleans their first home loss of the year.

Rosenthal?s pick: Saints 34, Falcons 31.

Source: http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/12/22/if-giants-beat-jets-eagles-cowboys-becomes-meaningless/related/

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Migrant ship sinks off Indonesia; over 200 missing

An asylum seekers who survived a wreck is taken into an ambulance in Trenggalek, East Java, Indonesia, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2011. Rescuers battled high waves Sunday as they searched for asylum seekers still missing after their wooden ship sank off Indonesia's main island of Java. (AP Photo)

An asylum seekers who survived a wreck is taken into an ambulance in Trenggalek, East Java, Indonesia, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2011. Rescuers battled high waves Sunday as they searched for asylum seekers still missing after their wooden ship sank off Indonesia's main island of Java. (AP Photo)

Asylum seekers who survived a wreck take a rest at a temporary shelter in Trenggalek, East Java, Indonesia, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2011. Rescuers battled high waves Sunday as they searched for asylum seekers still missing after their wooden ship sank off Indonesia's main island of Java. (AP Photo)

Asylum seekers who survived a wreck walk outside their temporary shelter in Trenggalek, East Java, Indonesia, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2011. Rescuers battled high waves Sunday as they searched for asylum seekers still missing after their wooden ship sank off Indonesia's main island of Java. (AP Photo)

(AP) ? Rescuers battled high waves Sunday as they searched for 200 asylum seekers still missing after their wooden ship sank off Indonesia's main island of Java. So far only 33 people have been plucked alive from the choppy waters.

Two were children, aged 8 and 10, found clinging to the broken debris of the boat five hours after the accident.

"It's really a miracle they made it," said Kelik Enggar Purwanto, a member of the search and rescue team.

Survivors told authorities they were fleeing economic and political hardship in Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran and Turkey, said Lt. Alwi Mudzakir, who was heading the operations.

They were heading to Australia in search of a better life.

Mudzakir, a maritime police officer, blamed Saturday's accident on overloading, saying the vessel ? packed with 250 men, women and children ? appeared to have been carrying more than twice its capacity.

When the boat became unsteady 20 miles (32 kilometers) off Java's southern coast, people started panicking, causing it two sway violently back and forth, until finally, it capsized.

Indonesia, a sprawling archipelagic nation of 240 million people, has more than 18,000 islands and thousands of miles (kilometers) of unpatrolled coastline, making it a key transit point for smuggling migrants.

Those on the ship that sank Saturday had passed through the capital, Jakarta, three days earlier without any legal immigration documents, according to police.

An unidentified group loaded them onto four buses and brought them to a port, promising to get them to Christmas Island, an Australian territory in the Indian Ocean.

Local television showed a half-dozen survivors at a shelter in Trenggalek, the town closest to the scene of the sinking, some with dazed, empty expressions as they sat on the floor drinking and eating. Several others were taken to a nearby hospital in critical condition.

One of the men, Esmat Adine, earlier told the official news agency Antara that when the ship started to rock, triggering the panic, people were so tightly packed they had nowhere to go.

"That made the boat even more unstable, and eventually it sank," said the 24-year-old Afghan migrant, adding that he and others survived by clinging to parts of the broken vessel until they were picked up by local fishermen.

He estimated that more than 40 children were on the ship.

At Prigi, the nearest port, several members of the national search and rescue team were getting ready to head out to sea, local television footage showed.

Empty body bags could be seen on board.

Mudzakir said so far 33 people have been rescued. Many of them, according to Purwanto, the search and rescue official, were suffering from severe dehydration and exhaustion.

But they and others were giving up hope of finding more survivors, saying weather was bad and four fishing boats, two helicopters and a navy war ship already involved in the operation were battling 4-meter- (13-foot-) high waves.

"They have scoured a 50-mile radius but haven't found anything," Mudzakir said.

Given the strong current, high waves and extreme weather, there was little chance anyone would be able to survive more than 24 hours at sea, he added.

It's not uncommon for asylum seekers, many of whom travel in overcrowded, rickety boats, to die before they make it to Australia.

Last month, a ship carrying about 70 asylum seekers from Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan capsized off the southern coast of Central Java province, and at least eight people died.

___

Associated Press writer Niniek Karmini contributed to this report.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2011-12-18-Indonesia-Ship%20Sinks/id-f33a7f8f27cd456686cf6fe2a6c07d07

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Fly Or Die: The Leapfrog LeapPad

Erick and I are both parents so we know from tablets. The $99 LeapPad from Leapfrog is cool, to be sure, and fun if junior's aunt or uncle is picking it up, but we both found it lacking, especially when compared to other devices. Obviously if you don't want the wee ones slobbering all over your iPad, this is a huge winner. Otherwise, the lack of apps, especially for geeks like us, was disheartening.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/DFq9JzNAAvo/

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Musical based on 'Because of Winn-Dixie' planned

In this undated image released by Boneau/Bryan-Brown, Taran the Irish wolfhound is shown. Plans are under way to create a musical based on ?Because of Winn-Dixie? with songs by Duncan Sheik and Taran on stage. (AP Photo/Boneau/Bryan-Brown, Kim Tyler)

In this undated image released by Boneau/Bryan-Brown, Taran the Irish wolfhound is shown. Plans are under way to create a musical based on ?Because of Winn-Dixie? with songs by Duncan Sheik and Taran on stage. (AP Photo/Boneau/Bryan-Brown, Kim Tyler)

(AP) ? Plans are under way to create a musical based on Kate DiCamillo's book "Because of Winn-Dixie" with songs by Duncan Sheik and a real dog on stage.

Producers said Thursday they plan a workshop reading for the project this spring, followed by an out-of-town engagement and perhaps a spot on Broadway down the line. They've even found their star: Taran, an Irish Wolfhound, has been cast in the title role.

The musical, based on the 2000 novel, tells the story of a 10-year-old girl who gains confidence and rekindles her relationship with her father, thanks to a stray dog she finds one day at a Winn-Dixie supermarket. The novel was made into a film in 2005 starring Jeff Daniels, Cicely Tyson, Dave Matthews and Eva Marie Saint.

In addition to Sheik, who won a Tony Award for writing the music for "Spring Awakening," the producers have tapped Nell Benjamin to write the lyrics and story. She earned a Tony nomination of "Legally Blonde."

John Tartaglia, who made his debut as a puppeteer with "The Muppets" at age 16 and earned a Tony nomination for his puppetry in "Avenue Q," will direct the project. The budget estimate is between $6 million and $7 million.

The animal director will be Bill Berloni, who has trained dogs for more than a dozen Broadway shows and discovered the original Sandy for "Annie." He found Taran, who was adopted from a breeder in Connecticut. The musical will also have about 15 human actors.

The producers are Gerald Goehring, Michael F. Mitri and Dorothy Berloni.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/4e67281c3f754d0696fbfdee0f3f1469/Article_2011-12-15-Theater-Because%20of%20Winn-Dixie/id-591f6f41016149f882d9e166837829a2

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শনিবার, ১৭ ডিসেম্বর, ২০১১

Metabolomx test detects lung cancer from breath

Metabolomx test detects lung cancer from breath [ Back to EurekAlert! ] Public release date: 15-Dec-2011
[ | E-mail | Share Share ]

Contact: Justin Jackson
jjackson@burnsmc.com
212-213-0006
Burns McClellan

Test also differentiates between types and stages of lung cancer; study results for Metabolomx' colorimetric sensor array published in the Journal of Thoracic Oncology

Mountain View, CA December 15, 2011 Metabolomx, a diagnostic company focused on the detection of the metabolomics signature of cancer from exhaled breath, today announces publication of results from the first clinical study demonstrating a breath test that can both detect lung cancer and differentiate between types of lung cancer in humans. This seminal study, conducted at the Cleveland Clinic and led by Dr. Peter Mazzone, used Metabolomx' first-generation colorimetric sensor array, and reported accuracy exceeding 80% in lung cancer detection, comparable to computerized tomography (CT) scan. Further, the study found that Metabolomx' first-generation colorimetric sensor array could identify the subtype of lung cancer (small cell versus adenocarcinoma versus squamous cell) with accuracy approaching 90%.

The availability of a low-cost, non-invasive metabolomic breath signature for lung cancer is particularly timely given the recently announced results of the National Cancer Institute's National Lung Screening Trial (NLST) calling for wider CT screening of high-risk citizens. The breath signature, which reports active tumor metabolism, is thought to provide complementary information to CT, potentially helping clinicians distinguish benign from malignant lung nodules.

The sensor detects the unique pattern of volatile organic compounds (the "metabolic biosignature") present in exhaled breath. The article, "Exhaled Breath Analysis with a Colorimetric Sensor Array for the Identification and Characterization of Lung Cancer," is appearing in the current, online issue of the Journal of Thoracic Oncology (JTO), the official Journal of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer.

James R. Jett, MD, Pulmonary Medicine and Medical Oncology, National Jewish Health and Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Thoracic Oncology, stated, "The JTO is dedicated to publishing the best in clinical research that may one day make a real difference in the care of patients. The currently reported results, should they be confirmed in additional clinical testing, provide a provocative challenge for us to look more closely at 'biosignatures,' as described in the journal article, that may be complementary to detection modalities such as CT scan. The advent of the NLST results demonstrating the value of CT heightens the need for non-invasive, low-cost companion diagnostics, and a metabolomic breath test, if born out in continuing studies, is a candidate to play that role in early lung cancer detection."

"The Cleveland Clinic results just published by the Journal of Thoracic Oncology, the reference journal for lung cancer, demonstrate the broad potential for use of breath analysis in the early detection of lung cancer," commented Paul Rhodes, PhD, Founder and CEO of Metabolomx. "These results show that the first generation of our breath test technology compares well with CT scans. Detection of the metabolomic signature of lung cancer in exhaled breath is non-invasive, rapid, and inexpensive, and will become a valuable adjunct to help assess an indeterminate CT, and may come to have a central role in early detection and differentiation of lung cancer, while lowering costs to the healthcare system."

The article was authored by Peter J. Mazzone, MD, MPH, Cleveland Clinic; Xiao-Feng Wang, PhD, Cleveland Clinic; Yaomin Xu, PhD, Cleveland Clinic; Tarek Mekhail, MD, MSc, Florida Hospital; Mary C. Beukemann, Cleveland Clinic; Jie Na, MS, Cleveland Clinic; Jonathan W. Kemling, PhD, University of Illinois, Chicago; Kenneth S. Suslick, PhD, University of Illinois, Chicago; and Madhu Sasidhar, MD, Cleveland Clinic. Initial results from this study were presented at the American College of Chest Physicians conference in November 2010.

Dr. Mazzone commented, "Our research shows that breath testing may help identify patients with lung cancer, as well as provide us with information that can help with treatment decisions, such as the type of lung cancer, its stage, and prognosis. The accuracy of these non-invasive tests can be further augmented when combined with existing clinical predictors, such as health status and age."

Metabolomx has begun trials of its next-generation sensor array system in an ongoing lung cancer study at the Cleveland Clinic. The Company expects their current generation system to be over 100 times more sensitive at detecting breath chemicals, which are often present in very low concentrations, than the system used in the published study.

About the Study

The study, conducted at the Cleveland Clinic and led by Dr. Peter Mazzone, was designed to develop an exhaled breath biosignature of lung cancer using Metabolomx' colorimetric sensor array and to determine the accuracy of breath biosignatures of lung cancer characteristics with and without the inclusion of clinical risk factors. Breath samples were drawn from 229 individuals, 92 with biopsy-proven, untreated lung cancer and 137 either at a risk for developing lung cancer or with indeterminate lung nodules. Logistic prediction models were developed and statistically validated based on the color changes of the sensor. Age, sex, smoking history, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were incorporated in the prediction models.

Key Study Results

  • Approximately 81% accuracy for the detection of lung cancer without regard for subtype
  • Approximately 83%, 85%, and 89% accuracy in discriminating patients with adenocarcinoma, squamous cell, and small cell lung cancer versus controls, demonstrating that the breath test can differentiate lung cancer subtype - the first diagnostic announced to do so.
  • An ability to differentiate Stage I/II from Stage III/IV (approximately 79% accuracy) indicating the ability to identify lung cancer at the earliest stages.

###

About Metabolomx

Metabolomx has developed and owns all worldwide rights to the foremost breath test for cancer. By engaging some of the brightest minds in the fields of artificial and biological olfactory sensor arrays, neural processing and product development, Metabolomx has developed and tested an artificial olfactory sensor technology that recognizes the molecular fingerprint of the disease signature in breath. Metabolomx' technology is enabling the non-invasive, rapid, inexpensive and early diagnosis of lung cancer and other cancers. Metabolomx is located in Mountain View, CA. For additional information on the Company, please visit www.metabolomx.com.

Contacts

Media on behalf of Metabolomx
Justin Jackson
Michelle Szwarcberg
Burns McClellan
Tel: +1-212-213-0006
Email: jjackson@burnsmc.com
mszwarcberg@burnsmc.com


[ Back to EurekAlert! ] [ | E-mail | Share 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.


Metabolomx test detects lung cancer from breath [ Back to EurekAlert! ] Public release date: 15-Dec-2011
[ | E-mail | Share Share ]

Contact: Justin Jackson
jjackson@burnsmc.com
212-213-0006
Burns McClellan

Test also differentiates between types and stages of lung cancer; study results for Metabolomx' colorimetric sensor array published in the Journal of Thoracic Oncology

Mountain View, CA December 15, 2011 Metabolomx, a diagnostic company focused on the detection of the metabolomics signature of cancer from exhaled breath, today announces publication of results from the first clinical study demonstrating a breath test that can both detect lung cancer and differentiate between types of lung cancer in humans. This seminal study, conducted at the Cleveland Clinic and led by Dr. Peter Mazzone, used Metabolomx' first-generation colorimetric sensor array, and reported accuracy exceeding 80% in lung cancer detection, comparable to computerized tomography (CT) scan. Further, the study found that Metabolomx' first-generation colorimetric sensor array could identify the subtype of lung cancer (small cell versus adenocarcinoma versus squamous cell) with accuracy approaching 90%.

The availability of a low-cost, non-invasive metabolomic breath signature for lung cancer is particularly timely given the recently announced results of the National Cancer Institute's National Lung Screening Trial (NLST) calling for wider CT screening of high-risk citizens. The breath signature, which reports active tumor metabolism, is thought to provide complementary information to CT, potentially helping clinicians distinguish benign from malignant lung nodules.

The sensor detects the unique pattern of volatile organic compounds (the "metabolic biosignature") present in exhaled breath. The article, "Exhaled Breath Analysis with a Colorimetric Sensor Array for the Identification and Characterization of Lung Cancer," is appearing in the current, online issue of the Journal of Thoracic Oncology (JTO), the official Journal of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer.

James R. Jett, MD, Pulmonary Medicine and Medical Oncology, National Jewish Health and Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Thoracic Oncology, stated, "The JTO is dedicated to publishing the best in clinical research that may one day make a real difference in the care of patients. The currently reported results, should they be confirmed in additional clinical testing, provide a provocative challenge for us to look more closely at 'biosignatures,' as described in the journal article, that may be complementary to detection modalities such as CT scan. The advent of the NLST results demonstrating the value of CT heightens the need for non-invasive, low-cost companion diagnostics, and a metabolomic breath test, if born out in continuing studies, is a candidate to play that role in early lung cancer detection."

"The Cleveland Clinic results just published by the Journal of Thoracic Oncology, the reference journal for lung cancer, demonstrate the broad potential for use of breath analysis in the early detection of lung cancer," commented Paul Rhodes, PhD, Founder and CEO of Metabolomx. "These results show that the first generation of our breath test technology compares well with CT scans. Detection of the metabolomic signature of lung cancer in exhaled breath is non-invasive, rapid, and inexpensive, and will become a valuable adjunct to help assess an indeterminate CT, and may come to have a central role in early detection and differentiation of lung cancer, while lowering costs to the healthcare system."

The article was authored by Peter J. Mazzone, MD, MPH, Cleveland Clinic; Xiao-Feng Wang, PhD, Cleveland Clinic; Yaomin Xu, PhD, Cleveland Clinic; Tarek Mekhail, MD, MSc, Florida Hospital; Mary C. Beukemann, Cleveland Clinic; Jie Na, MS, Cleveland Clinic; Jonathan W. Kemling, PhD, University of Illinois, Chicago; Kenneth S. Suslick, PhD, University of Illinois, Chicago; and Madhu Sasidhar, MD, Cleveland Clinic. Initial results from this study were presented at the American College of Chest Physicians conference in November 2010.

Dr. Mazzone commented, "Our research shows that breath testing may help identify patients with lung cancer, as well as provide us with information that can help with treatment decisions, such as the type of lung cancer, its stage, and prognosis. The accuracy of these non-invasive tests can be further augmented when combined with existing clinical predictors, such as health status and age."

Metabolomx has begun trials of its next-generation sensor array system in an ongoing lung cancer study at the Cleveland Clinic. The Company expects their current generation system to be over 100 times more sensitive at detecting breath chemicals, which are often present in very low concentrations, than the system used in the published study.

About the Study

The study, conducted at the Cleveland Clinic and led by Dr. Peter Mazzone, was designed to develop an exhaled breath biosignature of lung cancer using Metabolomx' colorimetric sensor array and to determine the accuracy of breath biosignatures of lung cancer characteristics with and without the inclusion of clinical risk factors. Breath samples were drawn from 229 individuals, 92 with biopsy-proven, untreated lung cancer and 137 either at a risk for developing lung cancer or with indeterminate lung nodules. Logistic prediction models were developed and statistically validated based on the color changes of the sensor. Age, sex, smoking history, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were incorporated in the prediction models.

Key Study Results

  • Approximately 81% accuracy for the detection of lung cancer without regard for subtype
  • Approximately 83%, 85%, and 89% accuracy in discriminating patients with adenocarcinoma, squamous cell, and small cell lung cancer versus controls, demonstrating that the breath test can differentiate lung cancer subtype - the first diagnostic announced to do so.
  • An ability to differentiate Stage I/II from Stage III/IV (approximately 79% accuracy) indicating the ability to identify lung cancer at the earliest stages.

###

About Metabolomx

Metabolomx has developed and owns all worldwide rights to the foremost breath test for cancer. By engaging some of the brightest minds in the fields of artificial and biological olfactory sensor arrays, neural processing and product development, Metabolomx has developed and tested an artificial olfactory sensor technology that recognizes the molecular fingerprint of the disease signature in breath. Metabolomx' technology is enabling the non-invasive, rapid, inexpensive and early diagnosis of lung cancer and other cancers. Metabolomx is located in Mountain View, CA. For additional information on the Company, please visit www.metabolomx.com.

Contacts

Media on behalf of Metabolomx
Justin Jackson
Michelle Szwarcberg
Burns McClellan
Tel: +1-212-213-0006
Email: jjackson@burnsmc.com
mszwarcberg@burnsmc.com


[ Back to EurekAlert! ] [ | E-mail | Share Share ]

?


AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.


Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2011-12/bm-mtd121411.php

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