Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/279029848?client_source=feed&format=rss
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Thursday, January 24, 2013
Into deep space: second U.S. firm takes aim at mining asteroids
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla., Jan 22 - A team of entrepreneurs and engineers unveiled plans on Tuesday for a space mining company that would tap nearby asteroids for raw materials to fuel satellites and manufacture components in orbit.
Deep Space Industries, based in Santa Monica, California, said its inaugural mission is targeted for 2015, when it would send a small hitchhiker spacecraft called "Firefly" on a six-month expedition to survey an as-yet-unidentified asteroid.
The 55-pound (25-kg) satellite, about the size of a laptop computer, would be launched as a secondary payload aboard a commercial rocket carrying a communications satellite or other robotic probe.
About 1,000 small asteroids relatively close to Earth are discovered every year. Most, if not all, are believed to contain water and gases, such as methane, which can be turned into fuel, as well as metals, such as nickel, which can be used in three-dimensional printers to manufacture components, David Gump, chief executive of Deep Space Industries, said.
Gump is a co-founder of three previous space and technology start-ups, including Astrobotic Technology, which is focused on exploration and development of lunar resources.
"There is really nothing in the business plan that Deep Space Industries is pursuing that cannot be done with technology research already accomplished in laboratories across the planet," said John Mankins, a former NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory manager who is the start-up company's chief technical officer.
"The technology may not have been used in space for the exact purposes that we propose, but the fundamental technologies are really at hand," Mankins said.
Company officials, who unveiled their plans at a press conference at the Museum of Flying in Santa Monica, California, that was also webcast, did not comment on their financial backing except to say they were looking for investors.
Deep Space Industries is the second company to unveil plans to mine asteroids, rocky bodies of various sizes that orbit the sun. So far about 9,500 asteroids have been found in orbits that come near Earth. Small fragments of asteroids regularly pass through the planet's atmosphere, lighting up the night sky as they incinerate and occasionally surviving to become meteorites.
Last year, Planetary Resources, a Bellevue, Washington-based company backed by high-profile investors including Google executives Larry Page and Eric Schmidt and advisers like filmmaker James Cameron, announced a program that would begin with small, low-cost telescopes to scout for potentially lucrative asteroids.
Firefly, as well as a follow-on line of planned asteroid sample-return satellites called Dragonfly, would be based on miniature research spacecraft known as CubeSats that are built from commercially available, off-the-shelf electronic components.
The cost of a Firefly mission would be about $20 million, half of which the company expects will come from government and research institute contracts and half from corporate advertising, sponsorships and other marketing ventures, said Gump.
The follow-on Dragonfly missions, scheduled to begin in 2016, would entail returning 50 to 100 pounds (23 to 45 kg) of material from select, high-value asteroids, an endeavor that would take two to three years.
In addition to selling samples, Deep Space Industries wants to grind up some of the material, extract metals and other valuable commodities and develop the technology to produce fuel and components, such as solar cells, in space.
The company said it has a patent pending on a three-dimensional printer called a "Microgravity Foundry" that uses lasers to deposit nickel in precise patterns in zero gravity.
On Earth, similar printers produce three-dimensional components by depositing layers of nickel metal powder. The process is somewhat like the buildup of ink on paper in a traditional ink jet printer.
Gump said the patent was filed within the past 18 months and is not yet listed in publicly accessible databases.
The ultimate goal is to build a fleet of robotic ships to extract resources for fuel and to mine valuable minerals from asteroids.
"We're at an early stage," said Gump. "It'll probably be 2019 or 2020 before we'll have commercial quantities of propellant for sale."
(Editing by Jane Sutton and Leslie Adler)
(This story corrects name and location of museum in 8th paragraph)
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/deep-space-second-u-firm-takes-aim-mining-005050424--sector.html
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Sheryl Crow addresses Lance Armstrong revelations
Sheryl Crow (Getty Images)It was only a matter of time before Sheryl Crow was going to have to publicly address Lance Armstrong?s doping confession ? and that moment came in a new interview with ?Entertainment Tonight.?
As one would expect, the 50-year-old didn?t seem all that eager to discuss her controversial ex-fianc?, whom she dated from 2003 to 2006 and didn?t stay in touch with after their split. But the ?First Cut Is the Deepest? singer addressed the cyclist?s admission to Oprah Winfrey last week that he cheated to help win a record-setting seven Tour de France titles.
[Related: Memorable Quotes From Part 1 and Part 2 of Lance Armstrong's Interview With Oprah Winfrey]
"I think that honesty is always the best bet and that the truth will set you free," Crow said to ?ET? in an interview that airs Tuesday. ?It must be really hard walk around knowing you are not telling the truth about something. So I always contend that the truth is the best way to go.?
Crow, who was promoting her upcoming gig as a guest mentor on ?The Voice,? noted that she watched ?bits and pieces? of Armstrong?s interview with Winfrey. She also said, ?To carry around a weight like that would be devastating in the long run.?
Crow famously dated Armstrong after he split from his wife, Kristin, and was by his side during his last two Tour wins. While it remains unclear about exactly how much Crow knew about Armstrong?s cheating, she reportedly was interviewed during the federal investigation into Armstrong?s doping activity and shared information she was privy to.
Crow with Lance Armstrong and three of his children at the 2005 Tour de France.
During an interview with Katie Couric in September, after Armstrong was stripped of his titles but before he finally confessed, Crow ? who is now a single mom of two adopted sons ? said that his fall from grace was difficult to watch.
?I know how hard he worked to win those titles, and you know, it was hard to watch,? Sheryl admitted on ?Katie.? ?I felt bad. I felt bad for him, I felt bad for his family, and I kinda felt like the rest of America. He is a hero that we watched and looked up to and admire.?
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Wednesday, January 23, 2013
healthfinder.gov - Blood Test Might Spot High-Risk Breast Cancer ...
TUESDAY, Jan. 22 (HealthDay News) -- A new blood-based genetic test may predict the presence of dangerous BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutations in women, a new study finds.
These mutations significantly boost the risk for breast or ovarian cancer, which often develop at an early age in women with the mutations.
The screen could provide a quick, affordable alternative to current genetic testing and may help women and their doctors make decisions about ways to reduce cancer risk, according to the authors of the study, published Jan. 22 in the journal Cancer Prevention Research.
"The current tool for mutation detection is gene sequencing [mapping], which is expensive, time-consuming and, in many cases, lacking clear and decisive clinical decision-making information," study author Dr. Asher Salmon, a breast cancer specialist at the Hadassah Hebrew University Medical Center in Israel, explained in a journal news release.
"In many cases, the current sequencing tool identifies a mutation, but we do not know if the mutation is neutral or harmful," Salmon noted.
The researchers developed the multiple gene expression profile test after analyzing mutated BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes from blood samples taken from otherwise healthy women. They said that the test is highly accurate, affordable and quick.
"In wealthy societies, it can become a screening tool for identifying individuals with a very high susceptibility for carrying a mutation," so that they can be sent on to more rigorous, full DNA mapping, Salmon said. "In societies in which sequencing is not feasible, this test can substitute for it with a very high accuracy rate."
The effectiveness of the test in different racial/ethnic groups will be assessed in a large study in Europe and North America, the researchers said.
More information
The U.S. National Cancer Institute has more about the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes.
SOURCE: Cancer Prevention Research, news release, Jan. 22, 2013
Copyright ? 2013 HealthDay. ?All rights reserved.
HealthDayNews articles are derived from various sources and do not reflect federal policy. healthfinder.gov does not endorse opinions, products, or services that may appear in news stories. For more information on health topics in the news, visit Health News on healthfinder.gov.
Source: http://healthfinder.gov/News/Article.aspx?id=672569
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Know About Importance of Fitness Equipment
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Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Brittany Ferries First for Bureau Veritas
Leading international classification society Bureau Veritas has issued the first of its new voluntary SEEMP notations to the 1,500-passenger and 500-car cruise ferry Cap Finist?re, operated by France?s Brittany Ferries.
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Higher efficiency, lower costs and less environmental impact are all benefits for Brittany Ferries and for everyone in the transport chain.
?Proactive ship owners like Brittany Ferries are voluntarily investing in eco-friendly technologies and operational practices,? says Martial Claudepierre, Marine Environmental Leader, Bureau Veritas. ?Recognizing those efforts and investments in the market place is vital to encouraging more widespread adoption of energy saving and CO2 emission reduction practices.
?The ability of passengers and freight operators to choose the best environmentally performing ship for any voyage, and the ability of owners to operate their ships at the maximum possible environmental efficiency, will redefine the shipping industry?s environmental landscape. From research and development through to procurement and retrofitting, industry experts are focusing their minds on finding the most effective technologies for saving energy, reducing emissions and mitigating fuel bills.?
Claudepierre adds, ?To help transport operators choose the right ship, and to help owners operate effectively, there has to be a clear standard. That is why we at Bureau Veritas have developed a voluntary SEEMP Additional Notation. It builds on the IMO Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plan. The SEEMP Additional Notation provides ship users, charterers and regulators with a tool to optimise and also make visible the environmental performance improvement of ships in terms of emissions of GHG and NOx and SOx, and will help owners to assess the potential impact of environmental investments. In this way, it will be possible to make a clearer estimate of the payback period for green investments such as trim and hull optimisation, new propeller systems, optimised maintenance periods for hull and propeller cleanings, and general fuel consumption reduction measures.?
Bureau Veritas introduced the SEEMP Notation scheme in July 2012. It covers a wide variety of ship types and is a powerful tool for creating meaningful energy management measures on new or existing ships, as well as helping owners target green investment effectively. ?This notation demonstrates to authorities, Port Sate Control and other stakeholders that the development and implementation of the Ship Efficiency Management Plan complies with the requirements of the IMO Guidelines,? notes Claudepierre.
Bureau Veritas deploys sophisticated software tools to back the notation. ?Realistic goals for energy consumption reduction can be determined or planned using BV?s SEECAT energy transfer simulation model of the energy usage on board the ship,? explains Claudepierre.
Frederic Pouget, a member of the board of Brittany Ferries, says, ?Brittany Ferries has always been proactive on environmental issues. As a leading ferry company we believe that the SEEMP notation will contribute towards saving energy and reducing emissions. For us, the SEEMP notation is a further positive step in our energy management policy and a good way to certify all the efforts we have been making in this regard for a number of years.?
Source: http://www.marinelink.com/news/brittany-ferries-veritas350904.aspx
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Memory Fitness: Keeping on Track | Blog on Memory Fitness
Thanks for your interest and support! 2013?is the beginning of the second year of the weekly Memory Fitness Matters blog. Tips to deal with those everyday memory frustrations included suggestions focused on the basics needed for memory, important strategies and brain aerobics for challenging your brain. The concept of a 7 day memory fitness plan?was introduced to a wide variety of audiences including several programs for those interested in successful aging strategies.
As you look ahead, what are your goals? Perhaps the blogs have helped to increase awareness of your habits and the impact they have on your ability to maximize your? functioning day to day. That continues to be my goal into 2013 but there will be an additional focus.
Whenever I present programs on Memory Fitness Matters or Creating a 7 day Memory Fitness Plan, there are more than a few questions on the topic of Alzheimer?s disease.? It seems most attendees have someone close to them with memory changes beyond those with normal aging. Since my work as a speech-language pathologist, currently in home health care, offers me daily experiences in this area, one of the weekly blogs each month will touch on topics related to those concerns. My goal is to provide practical suggestions for safety, communication, activity modification?and quality of life.
Visit Communication Connection for articles and blogs on eldercare concerns and products developed to encourage conversation and activity participation. Looking forward to the opportunity to help maximize the quality of your days as well as mine.
?The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn the more places you?ll go.?? Dr. Seuss
Kathryn Kilpatrick received her Master's degree in Speech-Language Pathology in 1968 from the University of Massachusetts. She has worked in a variety of settings, primarily in Ohio, including hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and for decades in the area of home health care. Kathryn is president of Memory Fitness Matters (www.memoryfitnessmatters.com) and Communication Connection(www.connectionsincommunication.com). She offers memory coaching for all ages and has a geriatric consulting practice. She is a national motivational speaker and author of more than 30 products to enhance communication and connection as well as a Memory Fitness Toolkit. Kathryn brings her decades of experience as a speech-language pathologist to all those wanting to enhance their quality of life, particularly when there are communication, memory and cognitive challenges. Her websites offer information on a wide variety of topics related to elder care concerns as well as memory fitness and successful aging.Source: http://connectionsincommunication.com/blog/2013/01/memory-fitness-keeping-on-track/
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