Samsung boosts storage of high-capacity SSDs to a hefty 2 TB

 

Samsung has announced 2 TB versions of its high-capacity SSDs Samsung looked to usher in the consumer adoption of solid state drives (SSDs) back in 2013 with the launch of its speedy EVO series. It continues to forge ahead with its high-capacity vision for consumer-oriented, flash memory storage solutions with the addition of a pair of 2TB SSDs to its lineup. The newest members of Samsung's SSD family are powered by the company's proprietary 3D Vertical NAND (V-NAND) technology, which it first unveiled in 2013. This brings the total range of products in its SSD lineup to 20, ranging in capacity from 120 GB up to the whopping new 2 TB options. The drives are housed in the same 7 mm, 2.5-in aluminum casing as previous models and comprise 32 layers of 128 GB 3D V-NAND flash chips and an improved MHX controller to better support the 2 TB format. Also inside are four 20 nanometer-class 4Gb LPDDR3 DRAM chips. Samsung has launched two versions, the 2 TB 850 EVO and 2 TB 850 PRO. The PRO variants have traditionally promised slightly better read/write speeds and reliability. Though Samsung is yet to release technical details on the new drives, it is guaranteeing the PRO model for 10 years or 300 TB written, and the EVO model for five years or 150 TB written. The 2 TB 850 EVO is expected to cost US$800 and the 2 TB 850 PRO $1,000. There's no official release date yet, but they will be available to buy in 50 countries. Samsung also says that it has plans to extend the 3D V-NAND SSD lineups to include mSATA and M.2 form factors. Source: Samsung

NIST Seeks Comments on Plan to Simplify Access to Its Research Data and Publications

 

From NIST Tech Beat: July 8, 2015 Contact: Jennifer Huergo 301-975-6343 Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) generate data and author publications that lead to advances in diverse fields such as materials science, medicine, forensic science, cybersecurity and firefighting. Results of NIST research also help U.S. industries improve their products, comply with regulations and compete internationally.  Because NIST research data and publications represent a valuable national resource, the agency always has emphasized broad dissemination of this information, but the options for public access have changed with time and technology. Recent direction from the White House has led NIST to develop a formal plan to manage public access to its data resources. The new data access plan was developed with input from other federal agencies and from two public meetings at the National Academy of Sciences on public access to federally supported research data and publications. The document outlines new responsibilities and procedures to ensure NIST materials are made available to the public. A notice published in the Federal Register asks for feedback from potential users of NIST’s research data and publications and to answer specific questions about best practices, challenges and prioritizing public access to data, as well as specific input on how to improve the plan.  The plan applies to research data generated beginning Oct. 1, 2014, and publications published after Oct. 1, 2015. Research funded by NIST through grants, contracts and other agreements will have public access requirements incorporated into the award terms and conditions. Datasets will be made discoverable through Data.gov, home of the U.S. government’s open data. Journal articles and other publications that currently are available through the publishers’ websites or the NIST website will now also be available at the National Institutes of Health PubMed Central and the Government Publishing Office’s Federal Digital Systems.  To view the NIST Plan for Providing Public Access to the Results of Federally Funded Research and learn more about open data at NIST, visit www.nist.gov/data. Comments will be accepted through August 21, 2015, and will help to inform NIST’s policies and procedures.

Our Global Voices

 

Bridging the Mind and Heart: Lessons from Guinea on the International Health Regulations Posted on July 6, 2015 by Dana Pitts, MPH, Health Communicator, Division of Global Health Protection Emergency room nurse and Ebola survivor Marie Claire Tchecola with blog author Dana Pitts and a Guinea contact tracing team in Matoto In the field, especially during outbreaks, people are the bridge between policy and action. But in global public health, we often use policy-heavy language that lacks personal connection. We talk about “building capacity.” We talk about “implementing the International Health Regulations.” But what does it all really mean?  Sometimes we overlook the association between public health policies and the people who work every day, sometimes in nearly impossible circumstances, to make them a reality. One of the core requirements under the International Health Regulations (IHR) is that countries have the human resources – the people – they need to respond to public health threats when they occur.  I can think of no better example to illustrate the importance of this than what I saw happen in Guinea last fall, at the height of the Ebola outbreak. The personal side of global health policy First Lady Michelle Obama greets recipients of the State Department 2015 International Women of Courage Award During the Ebola epidemic in West Africa, countless healthcare workers have put themselves in harm’s way to help control the disease and provide care and comfort for those sick with Ebola. One of these public health heroes, Ebola survivor and Guinean emergency room nurse Marie Claire Tchecola, was recognized by the U.S. Department of State in March as a 2015 International Women of Courage awardee, along with nine other women from around the world. The award honors women who have shown exceptional courage and leadership in advocating for human rights, women’s equality, and social progress—often at personal risk. I had the privilege of working with Marie Claire during my November deployment to Guinea. As a health communication specialist working in global health at CDC, the work I do in Atlanta supports our agency’s global health security goal of helping the nearly 70% of the world’s countries that are unprepared to effectively detect, assess, report and respond to potential public health threats.[1] Although our programs have a clear and compelling link to the IHR, it’s often difficult to communicate that goal with heart. Marie Claire’s story is one among many from the Ebola epidemic that shows us how we can take the ideas behind a framework like the IHR and put them into practice. A passion for people Marie Claire grew up in a small Guinean village. She is the first woman in her family to receive an education. She told me she could have been a doctor but chose nursing, “because you can affect more people.” Because only the doctors at Donka Hospital—Conakry, Guinea’s largest hospital—were supplied with gloves, Marie Claire was exposed to the Ebola virus while treating a patient in July 2014. Once she identified her own symptoms, she quickly checked herself into an Ebola treatment unit to avoid spreading the disease to other patients and to protect her colleagues. In addition to fighting the disease itself, Marie Claire also fought the stigma she experienced during and after her illness. She and her two daughters—one who is deaf from a childhood seizure—were evicted by her landlord and thrown out on the street. She has since returned to Donka Hospital to continue her work as an emergency room nurse, which includes triaging and testing patients who may have Ebola. Working from the inside out U.S. Ambassador to Guinea, Alexander Mark Laskaris, speaking at Ebola event in Susu, a local dialect When responding to an emergency, the people who can make the largest impact are those who live in the community. And these people want and need to be trained to meet their own emergencies. To accelerate this kind of training, we used a small US Embassy grant with International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), an NGO specializing in fair elections, to develop a series of Ebola “conversations” (question and answer sessions) within communities throughout Guinea. The goal of the meetings was to build community trust of healthcare workers and contact tracers in all of Conakry’s Communes. IFES had held massive voter education just before the Ebola outbreak and offered CDC its ready-made network of influencers and trainers to conduct joint trainings alongside local educators. The uniqueness of this partnership lay in its ability to spread information through people who were already trusted by the community. CDC and its partners created a dynamic, flexible social mobilization campaign, which began within Conakry’s five Communes and later was duplicated throughout Guinea. Marie Claire, along with the U.S. ambassador and other local leaders – including Dr. Mamadou Diallo, a respected imam and physician – worked with CDC to share critical Ebola messages with audiences. These conversations also gave us a sense of the issues Guineans needed addressed and allowed us to test our messages. Practice makes perfect Marie Claire commands attention at the Matoto Ebola event During her first meeting, in Matam, in a room filled with dignitaries and residents, a reserved and shy Marie Claire barely spoke above a whisper. However, Marie Claire had a compelling story to tell and, as a healthcare worker and survivor, she was the perfect person to help reach communities with critical messages about Ebola. We just had to help her learn how to say them with greater impact. We began working with Marie Claire on how to better reach her audience. Sometimes, training one great trainer can have a ripple effect that reaches far and wide. It was clear Marie Claire had these capabilities. Soon, Marie Claire’s fear of stigma was replaced with confidence and clear messages as her public speaking skills took off. The next six town hall meetings reached over 1,000 people in crowded rooms and were broadcast throughout Guinea. They showed a different side of Marie Claire (photo). In Matoto, the U.S. Ambassador opened the meeting by speaking in one of Guinea’s local languages. A member of the Guinean Parliament and members of the area’s contact tracing team joined him. Questions lasted for several hours and ended with Marie Claire boldly encouraging people to not hide those who are ill and to be honest when coming to a healthcare clinic. The audience literally sat on the edges of their seats listening to Marie Claire’s testimony (photo). We want to be trained In March, when Marie Claire came to the United States to receive the International Women of Courage Award, she visited CDC and I had the opportunity to see her again. While at CDC, she met with a small group of infection control experts who looked to Marie Claire’s unique experience to help them find ways to improve training and outreach. One asked her, “What can we do better in a public health setting?” Marie Claire appeared eager to give her answer. Through her experience with the meetings and her work in the emergency room, she possessed a unique understanding of the value education can bring. “Training,” she said. “Without it, we’re going out to battle without weapons; we are powerless. Policy saves lives Audience captured by Marie Claire’s testimony When we talk about the important goals of the IHR, such as building capacity in countries or growing the public health workforce, it can be hard to show what this really means for a country. What we are really talking about is not just saving the lives of people like Marie Claire, but also empowering future disease detectives, healthcare workers and educators to save the lives of their fellow countrymen. The IHR tell us very clearly that a trained and prepared workforce is key to strengthening public health. Identifying and working with people who can help improve conditions in countries like Guinea is one of the main missions of the IHR and global health security. This is exactly what Marie Claire asked for. Let’s continue our battle to give it to her and her colleagues. Investing in people is an important part of policy and a crucial step toward avoiding the next outbreak. [1] Katz R, Dowell S. Time for an International Health Regulations Review Conference. Lancet Global Health 2015. Published Online May 8, 2015. July 2015. Vol 3(7), e352-353 Posted on July 6, 2015 by Dana Pitts, MPH, Health Communicator, Division of Global Health Protection Categories global health security IHR, International Health Regulations

NuSTAR Stares at the Sun

 

Flaring, active regions of our sun are highlighted in this new image combining observations from several telescopes. High-energy X-rays from NASA's Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR) are shown in blue; low-energy X-rays from Japan's Hinode spacecraft are green; and extreme ultraviolet light from NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) is yellow and red.

All three telescopes captured their solar images around the same time on April 29, 2015. The NuSTAR image is a mosaic made from combining smaller images.

The active regions across the sun’s surface contain material heated to several millions of degrees. The blue-white areas showing the NuSTAR data pinpoint the most energetic spots. During the observations, microflares went off, which are smaller versions of the larger flares that also erupt from the sun's surface. The microflares rapidly release energy and heat the material in the active regions.

NuSTAR typically stares deeper into the cosmos to observe X-rays from supernovas, black holes and other extreme objects. But it can also look safely at the sun and capture images of its high-energy X-rays with more sensitivity than before. Scientists plan to continue to study the sun with NuSTAR to learn more about microflares, as well as hypothesized nanoflares, which are even smaller.

In this image, the NuSTAR data shows X-rays with energies between 2 and 6 kiloelectron volts; the Hinode data, which is from the X-ray Telescope instrument, has energies of 0.2 to 2.4 kiloelectron volts; and the Solar Dynamics Observatory data, taken using the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly instrument, shows extreme ultraviolet light with wavelengths of 171 and 193 Angstroms.

Note the green Hinode image frame edge does not extend as far as the SDO ultraviolet image, resulting in the green portion of the image being truncated on the right and left sides.

Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/GSFC/JAXA

Last Updated: July 8, 2015

Editor: Tony Greicius

Impact of smoking on California's economy in decline at $18.1 billion per year

 

Today Nicotine & Tobacco Research publishes the third in a series of studies on the cost of smoking in California, one of the first US states to implement a comprehensive tobacco control program. Researchers estimated expenditures for smoking-attributable costs (healthcare, lost productivity from illness, and lost productivity from premature mortality) for the year 2009. The total cost came to $18.1 billion, amounting to $487 per California resident and $4,603 per smoker. In two previous studies, conducted in 1989 and 1999, the annual financial impact of smoking on California's economy was tallied at $7.6 billion and $15.8 billion, respectively. Nominally, the figures show a 15% increase in the last decade, but inflation-adjusted totals show a very different picture: the total cost of smoking in 1999 expressed in 2009 constant dollars was $20.8 billion. Real costs have actually decreased by over 13%. Many recent changes in smoking behavior are thought to have contributed to this decline. Adult smoking prevalence in California has fallen from 21.6% of adults in 1989, to 18.7% in 1999, to 13.6% in 2009. In 2010, that number fell again with just 11.9% of the state's adults smoking. Additionally, among those who continue to smoke, there has been a downward trend in smoking intensity -- more smokers fell into the category of "nondaily" smokers, and both nondaily and daily smokers reported smoking fewer cigarettes per day, on average. Population shifts in the state, including a greater proportion of Hispanic and Asian Californians, are also worth noting, as these two population groups both have relatively low smoking prevalence. While an $18.1 billion cost of smoking is still quite an economic burden for California to bear, the results of this study show that, overall, the state's tobacco control efforts have yielded positive results. "The California tobacco control program has been very effective," says Dr. Wendy Max, the study's lead author, "but there remains work to be done, especially in light of the changing landscape of tobacco products." Story Source: The above post is reprinted from materials provided by Oxford University Press USA. Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. Journal Reference: Wendy Max, PhD et al. The Cost of Smoking in California. Nicotine & Tobacco Research, July 2015 DOI: 10.1093/ntr/ntv123

FDA approves new drug to treat heart failure

 

For Immediate Release   The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Entresto (sacubitril/valsartan) tablets for the treatment of heart failure. The drug has been shown to reduce the rate of cardiovascular death and hospitalization related to heart failure. It is a condition in which the heart can't pump enough blood to meet the body's needs. Heart failure generally worsens over time as the heart's pumping action grows weaker. The leading causes of heart failure are diseases that damage the heart, such as heart attacks and high blood pressure. “Heart failure is a leading cause of death and disability in adults,” said Norman Stockbridge, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Division of Cardiovascular and Renal Products in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. “Treatment can help people with heart failure live longer and enjoy more active lives.”  Entresto was reviewed under the FDA’s priority review program, which provides for expedited review of drugs that are intended to treat a serious disease or condition and may provide a significant improvement over available therapy. It was also granted fast track designation, which supports FDA’s efforts to facilitate the development and expedite the review of drugs to treat serious or life-threatening conditions and fill an unmet medical need. Entresto was studied in a clinical trial of more than 8,000 adults and was shown to reduce the rate of cardiovascular death and hospitalizations related to heart failure compared to another drug, enalapril. Most patients were also receiving currently approved heart failure treatments, including beta-blockers, diuretics, and mineralocorticoid antagonists.  The most common side effects in clinical trial participants being treated with Entresto were low blood pressure (hypotension), high blood potassium levels (hyperkalemia), and poor function of the kidneys (renal impairment). Angioedema (an allergic reaction usually appearing as swelling of the lips or face) was also reported with Entresto; black patients and patients with a prior history of angioedema have a higher risk. Patients should be advised to get emergency medical help right away if they have symptoms of angioedema or trouble breathing while on Entresto. Health care professionals should advise patients not to use Entresto with any drug from the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor class because the risk of angioedema is increased. When switching between Entresto and an ACE inhibitor, use of the two drugs should be separated by 36 hours. Health care professionals should counsel patients about the risk of harm to an unborn baby. If pregnancy is detected, use of Entresto should be discontinued as soon as possible. Entresto is manufactured by Novartis, based in East Hanover, New Jersey. The FDA, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, protects the public health by assuring the safety, effectiveness, and security of human and veterinary drugs, vaccines and other biological products for human use, and medical devices. The agency also is responsible for the safety and security of our nation’s food supply, cosmetics, dietary supplements, products that give off electronic radiation, and for regulating tobacco products.

Peroni Illustrations by Riccardo Guasco

 

Posted: 29 Jun 2015 05:00 AM PDT

L’illustrateur italien Riccardo Guasco a collaboré avec la marque Peroni afin de créer cette série d’illustrations célébrant la bière Nastro Azzurro. La thématique de ces illustrations reste fidèle à l’univers de la marque et reprend tous les codes de la marine et de l’Italie, tels que les pizzaïolos, les sirènes et les matelots.

 

BBC unveils final design for pocket-sized micro:bit computer

 

The pocket computer has a programmable array of 25 red LED lights, two buttons, and a built-in motion sensor. (Credit: YouTube / ARM) The BBC showed off the final design for its micro:bit computer this week. The pint-sized computer, which has a Raspberry Pi feel, will be given out to one million schoolchildren in the UK in October of this year, giving them the opportunity to learn how to code at an early age. “We happily give children paint brushes when they’re young, with no experience – it should be exactly the same with technology," Sinead Rocks, Head of BBC Learning said. "It’s our most ambitious education initiative for 30 years. And as the micro:bit is able to connect to everything from mobile phones to plant pots and Raspberry Pis, this could be for the internet-of-things what the BBC Micro was to the British gaming industry.” The final device is a little different than the prototype we saw in March. The pocket computer has a programmable array of 25 red LED lights in a 5 x 5 array, two buttons, and a built-in motion sensor. Rather than use a watch battery, like the previous version, the final model will require the use of an add-on power pack to work without a power outlet nearby. That power pack will take AA batteries, making the device simple to power, but also a bit too hefty now to be used as a wearable device. Other features include a built-in compass (magnetometer) so the device can tell which direction its facing, five input and output rings to connect the micro:bit to other devices using cables, and Bluetooth connectivity to connect to other devices wirelessly. Children who receive the device will be able to learn simple coding for the device from a special micro:bit website, which will give children the ability to virtually test drive their creations before transferring them over to the micro:bit. Sample projects include using the LEDs to create patterns and letters. The micro:bit will be passed out free in October to children age 11 and 12 who are currently enrolled in Year 7 in school, courtesy of a number of partners for the project, including Microsoft and Samsung. After that initial run, the computers will go on sale in the UK and elsewhere by the end of the year.   Source: BBC

10 Benefits of Potassium for Your Brain & Heart

 

Potassium is a mineral that you don’t want to run low on for any stretch of time. It’s essential for basic functions of the body, and low levels can take a toll on both your brain and heart. Here are the top ten benefits of potassium so you can make sure you’re getting enough each day.

1. Better Brain Function

Your brain does its best work when your potassium level is maintained. Go a long time without enough potassium and your brain could end up paying the price. It’s best to avoid the situation altogether by ensuring you’re getting adequate potassium.

In order to get the best and most noticeable results, try to get the recommended amount of potassium each day, which is 3.5 grams. It may involve cutting out processed food and stressing fresh fruits and vegetables, but it’s worth the effort and will pay dividends in the form of better brain health.

How Potassium Helps: Potassium helps send more oxygen to your brain, which lets it do its job better. When you don’t get enough you’re limiting the amount of oxygen that makes it to your brain and you’ll experience the side effects, which may be subtle at first but will worsen until the problem is corrected.

2. Better Muscle Function

Your muscles do a lot to help you get through your day, and if they’re not firing on all cylinders it’s going to be hard to get through your daily activities without feeling fatigued. Whether you’re trying to build lean muscle mass or just trying to keep your muscles healthy for life, potassium plays a role.

One symptom of low metabolism is muscle weakness and damage, so in order to keep your muscle as healthy as possible, look to foods that are high in potassium, and stock up on them each time you’re at the grocery store. These include bananas of course, as well as avocados, raisins, and dried apricots.

How Potassium Helps: Potassium helps keeps your muscles healthy by working at the cellular level to repolarize the cells of your muscles, helping to repair them faster and more efficiently.

3. Lower Risk of Heart Problems

Taking in a sufficient amount of potassium will put you at a lower risk of developing heart problems like stroke and heart disease. If you’ve already been diagnosed with a heart problem, you’ve likely been told to watch your level of potassium.

What’s interesting is that many of the foods that are rich in potassium also contain antioxidants and other minerals that will help your heart and lead to greater overall healthiness. To complete your heart health profile be sure you’re getting adequate amount of exercise each day, such as a walk, strength training, or yoga.

How Potassium Helps: Your cardiovascular system benefits from reduced blood pressure, which puts less strain on the arteries and heart. In their more relaxed state, your heart and arteries can function better, resulting in more energy in the present, and a longer life going forward.

4. Maintains Fluid Balance

Getting enough potassium each day helps keep your internal fluids balanced correctly. Potassium is just one part of the equation, and you’ll want to make sure you’re getting all of your important minerals to maintain a balance of electrolytes in your bloodstream.

You’ll want to watch how much sodium you’re taking in, since many of the foods found in restaurants, fast food joints, and pre-packaged foods contain a lot of low-grade salt. Making your own food gives you control over how much sodium it contains. Calcium is another mineral to watch in order to maintain a healthy fluid balance in the body.

How Potassium Helps: Potassium, as well as calcium and sodium help make up the electrolyte balance in the body. Drinking enough water is essential for the right fluid balance, and you’ll want to determine the right amount of water for your body size and weight and be sure to drink it daily.

5. Stronger Bones

Potassium is one key to the healthy bone puzzle that you don’t want to forget. Calcium generally gets the most attention when it comes to essential minerals for bone health, but you’ll need to keep an eye on more than just one, including potassium.

The body is a system of complex subsystems all working together to keep you moving. Bones don’t rely on just one mineral, but an array of vitamins and minerals in order to thrive. You probably don’t pay much attention to your bones until they start having problems, so it’s best to be proactive and help them stay healthy long before any problems arise.

How Potassium Helps: Along with calcium, phosphorous, manganese, and other key minerals, potassium works to keep your bones strong and healthy. Bones need the right minerals in order to continue to stay hard and prevent diseases like osteoporosis, making potassium a very beneficial item indeed.

6. Reduced Stress Levels

We could all use a little less stress in this modern world of ours, and a proper potassium level is key to handling the triggers of everyday life. You may not even notice when you’re low on potassium and it’s causing excess stress because it may seem normal to you now, or you may have labeled yourself as a stressful person.

Because potassium is used by every cell in your body to continue on with its function, it only stands to reason that when you’re not getting enough you won’t be able to cope as well with stress.

How Potassium Helps: Potassium benefits you by keeping your stress down and helping to regulate your blood pressure. You’d be surprised at how much less stressed you’ll feel when your blood pressure is at a healthy level. It also helps to relax your muscles, which keeps you from tensing up and exacerbating the situation.

7. Improved Blood Pressure Numbers

High blood pressure is definitely something to be concerned about, and there’s a reason why your doctor checks it each time you go in for a check-up. Getting the right amount of potassium each day will help lower your blood pressure, and should be used in conjunction with a blood pressure conscious diet and lifestyle.

There are several serious conditions that high blood pressure is a precursor for, including heart attacks, strokes, and diabetes. Don’t leave yourself susceptible to these potentially life-ending conditions. Focus on your potassium intake until it becomes a habit.

How Potassium Helps: Potassium relaxes blood vessels, allowing blood to flow more freely and bringing down your blood pressure. Of course it is not the only factor in keeping your blood pressure where it needs to be, so consult with your healthcare professional to discuss diet and lifestyle changes you can make to keep it in a healthy range.

8. Increased Metabolism

Potassium helps knock out a sluggish metabolism and gets it back on track to natural levels of effectiveness. If you’ve ever had trouble losing weight while dieting, it could have been due to a slow metabolism brought on by, or worsened by, low potassium levels.

Getting enough potassium sets the stage for other minerals to do their job. Think of the vitamins and minerals you take in each day as a team designed to help you perform at your best. In order for the team to work properly, each team member must show up and do their job. Miss one component and it all works inefficiently and tends to break down.

How Potassium Helps: Potassium helps the body break down and metabolize foods by helping the other minerals you take in do their job. It’s a team player that is a vital component to your body’s metabolism.

9. Improved Nervous System

Your nervous system benefits greatly from regular consumption of foods rich in potassium. You may not be able to spot this benefit when you start getting more potassium, but running a shortage of potassium will produce symptoms that are identifiable.

This is a complex system that is responsible for sending signals throughout your body, and helping you interact with the world around you. It’s not something we generally give much attention to, and if you treat it right with adequate potassium from the foods you eat, it will treat you better in return.

How Potassium Helps: Potassium gets your nervous system to function the way it should by helping the tissues in your body on a cellular level. When your nervous system is happy, you’ll find that your health and wellbeing improve over time.

10. Prevents Muscle Cramps

One sign that you might be low on potassium is that your muscles are cramping for no apparent reason. If you’ve overused a muscle and it cramps up on you, that is understable, and may not be the result of too little potassium. But if you experience muscle cramps in muscles that haven’t been pushed to their max, you may want to put some attention on your potassium intake.

Muscle cramps may not be a huge problem, but preventing them with potassium is easy enough. Muscle cramps and twitches can also be used as an early sign that your potassium levels are low. Take action to correct this imbalance and you should see an improvement in symptoms.

How Potassium Helps: Potassium keeps muscles from cramping by helping the tissues relax. When you get an unexplained muscle cramp be sure to up your potassium intake and see if that makes it go away.

Creative Product Designs

 

 

Added 2012-10-25 by Daniel Nelson.

In these new galleries we present great product and industrial designs that are modern, creative and beautiful. Designs where form and function works perfectly together.

 

Imaging could improve treatment of people with COPD

 

Images in representative patients with mild-to-moderate or severe COPD are shown. Credit: Radiological Society of North America Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) provide important information on the symptoms and exercise capabilities of people with mild-to-moderate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), according to a new study published online in the journal Radiology. Researchers said the findings point the way to better treatment for some COPD patients. COPD is a progressive disease of the lungs that affects approximately 65 million people worldwide, according to the World Health Organization. Diagnosis often involves spirometry, a lung function test in which the patient takes a breath and exhales forcefully into a tube connected to a machine. This test, which produces a figure called the forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), has limitations. "COPD is a very heterogeneous disease," said study co-author Grace Parraga, Ph.D., from the Robarts Research Institute in London, Ontario, Canada. "Patients are classified based on spirometry, but patients with the same air flow may have different symptoms and significant variation in how much regular activity they can perform, such as walking to their car or up the stairs in their home." FEV1 does not necessarily reflect the whole picture of the lungs, but airways disease and emphysema can be directly measured with imaging. Dr. Parraga and colleagues set out to develop a way to explain COPD symptoms and exercise capability. For the study, they performed conventional CT and inhaled noble gas MRI, a technique for visualizing air spaces in the lungs, on 116 people with COPD, including 80 with milder disease. The patients also underwent lung capacity testing, filled out a quality of life questionnaire and took a six-minute walk to measure their exercise tolerance over a short period of time. The results showed that in mild-to-moderate COPD patients with modestly abnormal FEV1, MRI measurements of emphysema were strongly correlated with exercise limitation, while both CT and MRI measurements of emphysema helped explain symptoms. The implications of the findings are significant for patients with mild COPD and abnormal FEV1, according to Dr. Parraga. "FEV1 doesn't tell the whole story," she said. "With lung imaging, we can look at patients with mild disease much more carefully and change treatment if necessary." Findings associated with COPD include emphysema, or damage to the air sacs in the lungs that prevents people from getting the oxygen they need, especially during exercise. While no cure exists for emphysema, there are steps people can take to mitigate symptoms. Emphysema is under-recognized as a source of COPD, Dr. Parraga said, and as a result, patients may be getting suboptimal treatment. "One in four hospital beds in Canada is occupied by a COPD patient, and many of them return to a hospital because they're not being optimally treated," Dr. Parraga said. "Our study shows that when COPD symptoms and exercise limitations are discordant with FEV1 measurements, we should consider using lung imaging to provide a deeper understanding of the patient's disease and to help improve their quality of life." The researchers plan future studies to see if imaging can help explain symptoms and disease control in people with asthma, another common lung disease, and cystic fibrosis, a hereditary disorder that damages the lungs and digestive system. Story Source: The above post is reprinted from materials provided by Radiological Society of North America. Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. Journal Reference: Grace Parraga, Ph.D et al. COPD: Do Imaging Measurements of Emphysema and Airways Disease Explain Symptoms and Exercise Capacity? Radiology, July 2015

Second severe allergic reaction can occur hours after first

 

Parents of kids with severe allergies know how scary a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) is. New research offers clues as to why some kids can have a second, related reaction hours later -- and what to do about it. A study in the Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, the scientific publication of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI), examined records of 484 children seen in an emergency department (ED) for anaphylaxis. The researchers tracked whether there was a second, follow-up reaction. Delayed reactions occur when the initial symptoms of an allergic reaction go away but then return hours later without exposure to the substance that caused the reaction. "We found that 75 percent of the secondary reactions occurred within six hours of the first," said Waleed Alqurashi, MD, lead author of the study. "A more severe first reaction was associated with a stronger possibility of a second reaction. Children aged six to nine, children who needed more than one dose of epinephrine and children who do not get immediate epinephrine treatment were among the most likely to develop secondary reactions." Children who developed a second reaction had evidence of anaphylactic shock in the ED, required multiple doses of epinephrine and required multiple other therapies to treat the first reaction. At least half of the second reactions were considered serious, and also required treatment with epinephrine. "The key message here for parents, caregivers and first-responders is to administer epinephrine at the first sign of a severe allergic reaction to prevent anaphylaxis from worsening," said allergist James Sublett, MD, ACAAI president. "Anaphylaxis symptoms occur suddenly and can progress quickly. Always have a second dose with you and, when in doubt, administer it too. Anaphylaxis can be fatal if left untreated." The early symptoms may be mild, such as a runny nose, a skin rash or a "strange feeling," but these symptoms can quickly lead to more serious problems, including trouble breathing, hives or swelling, tightness of the throat, nausea, abdominal pain or even cardiac arrest. An emergency room visit for anaphylaxis should be followed up with a visit to an allergist, as allergists provide the most comprehensive follow-up care and guidance. Story Source: The above post is reprinted from materials provided by American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI). Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. Journal Reference: Waleed Alqurashi, Ian Stiell, Kevin Chan, Gina Neto, Abdulaziz Alsadoon, George Wells. Epidemiology and clinical predictors of biphasic reactions in children with anaphylaxis. Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, 2015; DOI: 10.1016/j.anai.2015.05.013

Breast cancer routinely overdiagnosed in Norway

 

For every life saved by Norway's Breast Cancer Screening Programme, five women are over-diagnosed, and have to go through an operation to remove a tumour that otherwise never would have caused problems. The Norwegian government spends NOK 574 million per screening round to check women between the age of 50 and 69 for breast cancer. An ongoing debate between Norwegian and international researchers and doctors considers the wisdom of offering periodic breast cancer screenings. On task from the Ministry of Health and Care Services, the Research Council of Norway has done a research-based evaluation of the country's Breast Cancer Screening Programme. Disparity in research results The evaluation was led by Professor Roar Johnsen at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology. Together with NTNU postdoctoral fellow Signe Opdahl and the rest of the steering committee, they have gone through all studies done on mammograms in Norway since 2008. The conclusions of these studies, however, are inconsistent. One report shows that mammograms have reduced the amount of cancer deaths by 10 per cent, while another claims as much as 36 per cent. The evaluation that is now being presented is based on all of these different studies. Uncertainty in the numbers Here are a few of the conclusions in the evaluation: Breast cancer deaths have been reduced in Norway by roughly 20 to 30 per cent as a result of the screening programme. The screening results in overdiagnosis of 15-20 per cent. For every 27 women who avoid dying of breast cancer, 142 women are overdiagnosed and treated unnecessarily. There are a lot of uncertainties in these numbers, because the studies that the evaluation looked at are all very different, and because factors such as the use of mammograms at private clinics and hormone treatment during menopause are things that most studies have not been able to consider. From a social perspective, the balance between cost and effect is within the level that health authorities consider to be acceptable for health care services. Achieving the goal of the Breast Cancer Screening Programme "The goal of the Breast Cancer Screening Programme was to reduce breast cancer mortality rates by 30 per cent. Depending on how you look at it, our estimates show that this goal may have been reached. But it has taken a huge toll in the form of overdiagnosis," says Johnsen. In 2013, Swiss authorities were advised to end their breast cancer screening programme, while England was advised to continue theirs.. Most Western countries have some kind of screening programme available. Up to each individual to decide "One challenge we face is that if a small tumour that is most likely benign is discovered, we can't take the chance of not treating it. This means that women have to go through unnecessary cancer treatment, with all of the social and personal costs that entails. More money should be given to research so that we have more knowledge about which tumours do and do not need treatment. Each individual woman needs to consider the pros and cons from her side when she decides if she wants to participate in the Breast Cancer Screening Programme," says Johnsen. About three quarters of women between 50 and 69 years of age choose to participate in screening. The evaluation was given to the Norwegian Minister of Health and Care Services Bent Høie on 5 June. "We have now presented the basis for a political decision," Johnsen concludes. Story Source: The above post is reprinted from materials provided by The Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). The original item was written by Anne Sliper Midling. Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.

A power plant for the Internet: our newest data center in Alabama

 

Every time you check your Gmail, search on Google for a nearby restaurant, or watch a YouTube video, a server whirs to life in one of our data centers. Data centers are the engines of the Internet, bringing the power of the web to millions of people around the world. And as millions more people come online, our data centers are growing, too. We’ve recently expanded our data centers in Iowa, Georgia, Singapore and Belgium. And today we’re announcing a new data center in Alabama—our 14th site globally. This time, we’re doing something we’ve never done before: we’ll be building on the grounds of the Widows Creek coal power plant in Jackson County, which has been scheduled for shutdown. Data centers need a lot of infrastructure to run 24/7, and there’s a lot of potential in redeveloping large industrial sites like former coal power plants. Decades of investment shouldn’t go to waste just because a site has closed; we can repurpose existing electric and other infrastructure to make sure our data centers are reliably serving our users around the world. At Widows Creek, we can use the plants’ many electric transmission lines to bring in lots of renewable energy to power our new data center. Thanks to an arrangement with Tennessee Valley Authority, our electric utility, we’ll be able to scout new renewable energy projects and work with TVA to bring the power onto their electrical grid. Ultimately, this contributes to our goal of being powered by 100% renewable energy. In 2010, we were one of the first companies outside of the utility industry to buy large amounts of renewable energy. Since then, we’ve become the largest corporate renewable energy purchaser in the world (in fact we’ve bought the equivalent of over 1.5 percent of the installed wind power capacity in the U.S.). We're glad to see this trend is catching on among other companies. Of course, the cleanest energy is the energy you don’t use. Our Alabama data center will incorporate our state-of-the-art energy efficiency technologies. We’ve built our own super-efficient servers, invented more efficient ways to cool our data centers, and even used advanced machine learning to squeeze more out of every watt of power we consume. Compared to five years ago, we now get 3.5 times the computing power out of the same amount of energy. Since the 1960s, Widows Creek has generated power for the region—now the site will be used to power Internet services and bring information to people around the world. We expect to begin construction early next year and look forward to bringing a Google data center to Alabama. Posted by Patrick Gammons, Senior Manager, Data Center Energy and Location Strategy