Saturday, October 26, 2013

ACS Publications: Large-scale digitization, open availability of data to ACS Legacy Archives Journal

ACS Publications: Large-scale digitization, open availability of data to ACS Legacy Archives Journal


[ Back to EurekAlert! ]

PUBLIC RELEASE DATE:

23-Oct-2013



[


| E-mail

]


Share Share

Contact: Michael Bernstein
m_bernstein@acs.org
202-872-6042
American Chemical Society





The Publications Division of the American Chemical Society (ACS) announced today the completion of a comprehensive undertaking to digitally convert and conserve the Supporting Information for its broadly subscribed ACS Legacy Archives journals collection.


This initiative was part of the Society's commitment to broaden the online accessibility of the Supporting Information and data associated with the ACS Legacy Archives -- a premium collection of nearly half a million original research articles published in ACS journals between the years 1879 and 1995. The digitization effort has generated new Supporting Information files for 40,000 ACS original research articles, and in total comprises 800,000 pages of highly valuable data and underlying research information.


The recently digitized research material is openly available to any visitor of the ACS Publications website and can be readily downloaded from the abstract page of any ACS Legacy Archive journal article that contains Supporting Information.


The ACS Legacy Archives continues to be one of the most important sources of research information for chemists worldwide. Supporting Information is often essential to understanding the relevance and context of the original research article. The digital conversion of this additional Supporting Information enables easy access to tabular data, illustrations and diagrams, spectroscopic and crystallographic results, detailed experimental procedures, software programming code, biological test data, mathematical derivations and more.


Among the extensive collection of the newly available digital information are many noteworthy examples of data that supported published scientific breakthroughs, such as:


"This significant investment by ACS Publications will benefit the end user scientist as well as the library community that has long supported our efforts with the ACS Legacy Archives," said Brandon Nordin, Vice President, Sales, Marketing, and Digital Strategy for ACS Publications. "It preserves and makes broadly accessible a significant amount of the 20th century's primary research data for the global community of chemists. With indexed metadata and full text search of the files associated with published journal articles, this digital offering vastly increases the online discoverability and integration of this information into current researcher workflows helping scientists to advance their studies by providing additional context, relevance and a sound basis for comparing results. The availability of this digital material will also eliminate the need for librarians and their patrons to purchase this information via microfiche format, and will give researchers immediate access to the data they need."


###


For more information visit pubs.acs.org/legacyarchives or email libraryrelations@acs.org.


About ACS Publications


ACS Publications manages the scholarly publishing program of the world's largest and most influential scientific society. Every year approximately 40,000 articles authored by research teams from the community of scientists are selected for publication within the more than 40 peer-reviewed journals from ACS Publications. Noted for their high quality, rapid time to publication, seminal and high impact, and prevalent citation in future research, ACS journals are available in print, online, and mobile formats at more than 5,000 academic, business and corporate institutions worldwide. In addition, over 163,000 ACS members have flexible options for access to the research published in ACS journals as a benefit of membership. ACS editors are all independent active scientific researchers, highly published in their respective fields of inquiry. ACS Publications supports more than 400 editorial offices at leading research universities and government-funded laboratories throughout the world to ensure the integrity, global reach and expertise of its peer-review process. ACS Publications also publishes Chemical & Engineering News the Society's flagship news periodical covering the global chemical enterprise and related sciences.


The American Chemical Society is a nonprofit organization chartered by the U.S. Congress. With more than 163,000 members, ACS is the world's largest scientific society and a global leader in providing access to chemistry-related research through its multiple databases, peer-reviewed journals and scientific conferences. Its main offices are in Washington, D.C., and Columbus, Ohio.


To automatically receive news releases from the American Chemical Society, contact newsroom@acs.org.


Follow us: Twitter Facebook




[ 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.




ACS Publications: Large-scale digitization, open availability of data to ACS Legacy Archives Journal


[ Back to EurekAlert! ]

PUBLIC RELEASE DATE:

23-Oct-2013



[


| E-mail

]


Share Share

Contact: Michael Bernstein
m_bernstein@acs.org
202-872-6042
American Chemical Society





The Publications Division of the American Chemical Society (ACS) announced today the completion of a comprehensive undertaking to digitally convert and conserve the Supporting Information for its broadly subscribed ACS Legacy Archives journals collection.


This initiative was part of the Society's commitment to broaden the online accessibility of the Supporting Information and data associated with the ACS Legacy Archives -- a premium collection of nearly half a million original research articles published in ACS journals between the years 1879 and 1995. The digitization effort has generated new Supporting Information files for 40,000 ACS original research articles, and in total comprises 800,000 pages of highly valuable data and underlying research information.


The recently digitized research material is openly available to any visitor of the ACS Publications website and can be readily downloaded from the abstract page of any ACS Legacy Archive journal article that contains Supporting Information.


The ACS Legacy Archives continues to be one of the most important sources of research information for chemists worldwide. Supporting Information is often essential to understanding the relevance and context of the original research article. The digital conversion of this additional Supporting Information enables easy access to tabular data, illustrations and diagrams, spectroscopic and crystallographic results, detailed experimental procedures, software programming code, biological test data, mathematical derivations and more.


Among the extensive collection of the newly available digital information are many noteworthy examples of data that supported published scientific breakthroughs, such as:


"This significant investment by ACS Publications will benefit the end user scientist as well as the library community that has long supported our efforts with the ACS Legacy Archives," said Brandon Nordin, Vice President, Sales, Marketing, and Digital Strategy for ACS Publications. "It preserves and makes broadly accessible a significant amount of the 20th century's primary research data for the global community of chemists. With indexed metadata and full text search of the files associated with published journal articles, this digital offering vastly increases the online discoverability and integration of this information into current researcher workflows helping scientists to advance their studies by providing additional context, relevance and a sound basis for comparing results. The availability of this digital material will also eliminate the need for librarians and their patrons to purchase this information via microfiche format, and will give researchers immediate access to the data they need."


###


For more information visit pubs.acs.org/legacyarchives or email libraryrelations@acs.org.


About ACS Publications


ACS Publications manages the scholarly publishing program of the world's largest and most influential scientific society. Every year approximately 40,000 articles authored by research teams from the community of scientists are selected for publication within the more than 40 peer-reviewed journals from ACS Publications. Noted for their high quality, rapid time to publication, seminal and high impact, and prevalent citation in future research, ACS journals are available in print, online, and mobile formats at more than 5,000 academic, business and corporate institutions worldwide. In addition, over 163,000 ACS members have flexible options for access to the research published in ACS journals as a benefit of membership. ACS editors are all independent active scientific researchers, highly published in their respective fields of inquiry. ACS Publications supports more than 400 editorial offices at leading research universities and government-funded laboratories throughout the world to ensure the integrity, global reach and expertise of its peer-review process. ACS Publications also publishes Chemical & Engineering News the Society's flagship news periodical covering the global chemical enterprise and related sciences.


The American Chemical Society is a nonprofit organization chartered by the U.S. Congress. With more than 163,000 members, ACS is the world's largest scientific society and a global leader in providing access to chemistry-related research through its multiple databases, peer-reviewed journals and scientific conferences. Its main offices are in Washington, D.C., and Columbus, Ohio.


To automatically receive news releases from the American Chemical Society, contact newsroom@acs.org.


Follow us: Twitter Facebook




[ 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/2013-10/acs-apl102313.php
Category: Bud Adams   david wilson   Nfl Fantasy   Espn College Football   Reza Aslan  

Ailing Serena rallies, makes WTA final vs Li Na

Serena Williams of the USA returns a shot to Jelena Jankovic of Serbia during their semifinal tennis match at the WTA Championship in Istanbul, Turkey, Saturday, Oct. 26, 2013. The world's top female tennis players compete in the championships which runs from Oct. 22 until Oct. 27.(AP Photo)







Serena Williams of the USA returns a shot to Jelena Jankovic of Serbia during their semifinal tennis match at the WTA Championship in Istanbul, Turkey, Saturday, Oct. 26, 2013. The world's top female tennis players compete in the championships which runs from Oct. 22 until Oct. 27.(AP Photo)







Serena Williams of the USA returns a shot to Jelena Jankovic of Serbia during their semifinal tennis match at the WTA Championship in Istanbul, Turkey, Saturday, Oct. 26, 2013. The world's top female tennis players compete in the championships which runs from Oct. 22 until Oct. 27.(AP Photo)







Li Na of China shouts after defeating Petra Kvitova of Czech Republic during their semifinal tennis match at the WTA Championship in Istanbul, Turkey, Saturday, Oct. 26, 2013. The world's top female tennis players compete in the championships which runs from Oct. 22 until Oct. 27.(AP Photo)







Jelena Jankovic of Serbia returns a shot to Serena Williams of the USA during their semifinal tennis match at the WTA Championship in Istanbul, Turkey, Saturday, Oct. 26, 2013. The world's top female tennis players compete in the championships which runs from Oct. 22 until Oct. 27.(AP Photo)







Jelena Jankovic of Serbia returns a shot to Serena Williams of the USA during their semifinal tennis match at the WTA Championship in Istanbul, Turkey, Saturday, Oct. 26, 2013. The world's top female tennis players compete in the championships which runs from Oct. 22 until Oct. 27.(AP Photo)







(AP) — Serena Williams, in obvious discomfort and walking slowly during changeovers, struggled past Jelena Jankovic 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 on Saturday and will play Li Na in the final of the WTA Championships.

Li advanced to her first WTA Championships final by sweeping 2011 winner Petra Kvitova 6-4, 6-2, setting up a showdown Sunday between the two oldest players in the tournament.

It's only the second time in the history of the event that two players over 30 — Williams at 32 and Li at 31 — have made it to the last four. The season-ending tournament brings together the top eight players in the world.

It was not clear what was bothering Williams. She did not move well on the court and frequently held her head wrapped in a towel during changeovers. Williams tried to keep the points short and often winced.

Jankovic was unable to take advantage of whatever was bothering Williams, who is one win from her fourth WTA Championship and 11th title of the year.

Williams wasted a match point and failed to serve out the match at 5-2, and Jankovic won two straight games. Williams squandered two more match points before finally closing it out with a smash.

By reaching the final, Li will improve two places to a career-high No. 3 ranking. It's the highest ranking for an Asian woman.

Like Williams, the Chinese player is unbeaten in four matches, after failing to advance from the group stage in the previous two years.

Kvitova, the youngest player in the tournament at 23, trailed 3-0 before tying the match at 4-4.

But a backhand winner from Li broke Kvitova again and she closed out the set with a service winner.

Kvitova had no reply to Li's forehand and was broken again in the second set to fall behind 3-2. After saving a break point, Li hit an ace to go up 4-2.

Kvitova dropped serve again and netted a backhand on Li's second match point for her 29th unforced error.

Li improved her career record to 4-3 against Kvitova, who won Wimbledon in 2011 — the same year Li won the French Open.

Associated PressSource: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2013-10-26-WTA%20Championships/id-a8923f50a60e48c99f45c7e91ae0e386
Similar Articles: Andre Rison   Bum Phillips   cleveland browns   New Girl   EverQuest Next  

Patients, firms shop for better health care deals


Paul Freeman drove 600 miles last year to save himself — and his employer — thousands of dollars on his surgery.

Freeman's insurer covered his travel costs and the entire bill because a medical center in Oklahoma City could remove the loose cartilage in his knee for about 70 percent less than a hospital closer to Freeman's Texhoma, Okla., home.

At first, the community bank CEO hesitated because he thought the lower price would mean lower quality. But he knew if he didn't make the roughly 10-hour roundtrip trek, he'd pay about $5,000 out of pocket.

"You immediately think, 'Oh they're going to take me into a butcher shop and it's going to be real scary,'" Freeman, 53, says, noting that instead he had a "wonderful experience."

People shop for deals on everything from cars to clothes to computers. Why not for health care, too?

Insurers, employers and individuals are shopping around for health care as they try to tame rising health care costs. Companies are doing things like paying for workers to travel if they agree to have a surgery performed in another city where the cost is cheaper. They're also providing online tools to help people search for better deals in their home market.

And some patients are bargain-hunting on their own. Through a website called MediBid, people who pay out of pocket are soliciting doctors, hospitals and medical centers to bid to perform knee surgeries and other non-emergency procedures.

Patients who shop for care represent a tiny slice of the roughly $2.7 trillion spent annually on health care in the U.S., said Devon Herrick, an economist who studies health care for the National Center for Policy Analysis. But he and other experts expect this trend to grow, especially as more companies offer insurance plans that require employees to pay thousands of dollars before most coverage starts. These so-called high-deductible plans also will be among the cheapest options available on the public exchanges set up as part of the health care overhaul to enable millions of uninsured people to shop for coverage.

Advocates say all the shopping will help control medical spending.

"We waste an enormous amount of money in this country by overpaying for health care," says John Goodman, an economist and CEO of the National Center for Policy Analysis. "The only way to get rid of waste is to have people compete in a real marketplace."

Searching for health care deals is a big change for many patients who're used to paying whatever their insurer didn't. Just figuring out an appropriate price for a procedure can be difficult for the average person.

Surgeries and other major procedures have different prices based on a variety of factors, including whether it's performed in a big city where care can cost more or in a hospital. And the portion that patients pay can vary widely. A lot depends on the type of insurance coverage and other factors like the leverage a provider has in negotiating rates.

For instance, a patient in Detroit with high-deductible health coverage provided by an employer could pay $920 or $2,791 out of pocket for a colonoscopy, according to research done by health care technology firm Castlight Health. Same patient. Same insurance coverage. Only difference: Where the procedure is performed.

"You can be a highly educated consumer now and still not understand what bill is going to hit you," says Dr. Giovanni Colella, CEO of Castlight, which designs an application that insurers or employers can give to patients to help them shop for health care based on price and quality.

It's also tough for patients to measure quality versus price. "You may find something (more expensive), but it doesn't mean it's better, safer, or more efficient," says Arthur Caplan, a medical ethicist at NYU Langone Medical Center.

Insurers and employers are encouraging workers to become more educated. They say quality is a priority when they ask patients if they want a better deal.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the largest private U.S. employer, provides health coverage for 1.1 million employees and their dependents. It runs a voluntary Centers of Excellence program that sends people to one of six hospital systems around the U.S. for certain heart, spine and transplant surgeries at no cost to the patient.

Wal-Mart spokesman Randy Hargrove says the program can save a patient between $5,000 and $10,000 in out-of-pocket costs, depending on their coverage. He says so far, dozens of patients have used the program that includes care providers at nationally-recognized places such as the Mayo Clinic.

The retailer also recently said it would start offering no-cost knee and hip replacement surgeries for employees who travel to one of four U.S. hospital systems. Wal-Mart is doing this through a national Employers Centers of Excellence Network that it joined with other big companies like the home improvement chain Lowe's.

Premera Blue Cross Blue Shield, Alaska's biggest health insurer, started a program in January that will pay expenses for some of its members to fly to Seattle for some procedures that come with huge price breaks. For instance, a knee surgery that costs $27,100 in Alaska can be performed for $13,000 in Seattle, according to the insurer.

A Premera spokesman says only a couple of people have used the program so far, but the insurer expects use to pick up as it includes more members next year.

Some patients are deal-hunting on their own. The website Medibid, which launched in 2010, connects patients who are paying out of pocket with doctors who bid to provide care. The website's founders say they've helped about 1,800 people find care.

Patients register with the site and pay either $25 per request or $4.95 a month for a year so they can post their medical needs on the site to solicit bids. Care providers, who register and pay fees of either $24.90 per month or about $250 annually, respond to patients with a bid.

Tess St. Clair, Medibid's chief operating officer, says the site helps people weigh their health care options: "The hardest thing for an American to do is ask the question, 'How much will this cost?' and get an answer."

Dr. Keith Smith, with the Surgery Center of Oklahoma, bids often on Medibid requests. Smith says his physician-owned center can offer better rates than some competitors because it doesn't charge a high facility fee like many hospitals do. The center competes on price and cuts out insurers.

Smith says this approach forces it to offer good care: The center cannot hide in an insurer's network and continue to receive patients regardless of the job it does.

"If we started cutting corners and worrying about our pocketbook before doing the right thing, we're going to lose our business," he says.

Rick Matthews, a motivational speaker, saved money on his hernia surgery last year by putting it up for bid on Medibid and having the procedure at Surgery Center of Oklahoma. Matthews, 62, decided to use Medibid after he learned that the care would cost about $20,000 without insurance at a hospital close to his Milaca, Minn., home.

Matthews pays for health care through a Christian cost-sharing ministry in which members chip in to help cover medical bills. He didn't want to stick them with a big bill. A doctor on Medibid said the surgery would cost about $3,600, including removing a cyst on his knuckle.

Counting costs for the roughly 1,400-plus mile roundtrip drive, Matthews figures the cost was about $4,500 — more than 70 percent off the original estimate.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/patients-firms-shop-better-health-care-deals-173653959--finance.html
Tags: Pauly D Baby   engadget   sam bradford   Scott Carpenter   Julie Chen  

Prince George Arrives at Baptism, Kanye West Video of Kim Kardashian Proposal: Top 5 Thursday Stories


Prince George arrived for his royal baptism with Kate Middleton and Prince William at St. James' Palace in London, and video of Kanye West's epic proposal to Kim Kardashian emerged: See Us Weekly's top 5 stories from Oct. 23 in the roundup!


1. Video: Prince George Arrives at Royal Baptism With Kate Middleton, Prince William


Baby Prince George's big day! Proud parents Kate Middleton and Prince William were seen arriving with 3-month-old son Prince George at St. James' Palace in London with big smiles on Wednesday, Oct. 23. As the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, both 31, pulled up in a dark blue sedan and made their way inside the courtyard, a tiny cry could be heard from the guest of honor.


2. Kanye West Proposes to Kim Kardashian: Watch the Epic Video!


Talk about pulling out all the stops! Video has emerged of Kanye West's over-the-top surprise birthday proposal to Kim Kardashian -- including the actual moment the Yeezus rapper got down on bended knee to ask the mother of his daughter North for her hand in marriage! 


3. Prince George, Prince William Christenings: Compare Royal Father and Son's Photos!


Like father, like son! Throwback Thursday comes a day early to mark the royal christening of 3-month-old baby Prince George-- with flashback pictures from his dad Prince William's special moment in 1982, where proud parents Prince Charles and the late Princess Diana looked on. Lady Di marked the occasion of William's christening in a floral pink and white printed dress and a pink hat.


4. Exclusive: Minka Kelly, Chris Evans Split: What Went Wrong


Maybe the third time's the charm? After breaking up back in 2007 and reuniting in 2012, Minka Kelly and boyfriend Chris Evans have split for a second time, sources reveal in the new issue of Us Weekly.


5. Katharine McPhee, Smash Director Michael Morris Kiss, Make Out; Both Married to Other People


Sounds like a plotline plucked right out of Smash! Katharine McPhee was spotted kissing and making out with Michael Morris, her director on defunct NBC musical drama Smash, as attested in surprising new photos taken in L.A. over the weekend. The rub? Both McPhee and Morris are married to other people. McPhee, 29, wed producer Nick Cokas, 47, back in 2007. Morris and In Plain Sight actress Mary McCormack have been married for a decade and share three young daughters together.


Source: http://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/prince-george-arrives-at-baptism-kanye-west-video-of-kim-kardashian-proposal-top-5-thursday-stories---20132310
Tags: Celia Cruz   brandon marshall   constitution day   Derek Medina   Amanda Berry  

Killer apps that could keep you healthy

Killer apps that could keep you healthy


[ Back to EurekAlert! ]

PUBLIC RELEASE DATE:

24-Oct-2013



[


| E-mail

]


Share Share

Contact: Eric Francavilla
eric.francavilla@pnnl.gov
509-372-4066
DOE/Pacific Northwest National Laboratory



Student-developed mobile apps help keep you from getting sick




RICHLAND, Wash. For those wanting to keep their distance from health threats like E. coli-contaminated lettuce or the flu, there are two upcoming apps for that.


The Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory hosted a competition this summer where graduate students designed two mobile apps to fight the threats of food-related illnesses and the flu. The apps are called FoodFeed and FLU (pronounced 'flu you'). The Defense Department's Defense Threat Reduction Agency provided funding to PNNL to develop web-based analytics and mobile apps as part of its Biosurveillance Ecosystem (BSVE) program.


"Much of the information we need to fight health threats already exists as public data, websites and observations from people on the streets," said Court Corley, data scientist and lead investigator at PNNL. "What we need is all that information in one place, so we can put it in the hands of people. Mobile apps do that."


FoodFeed


Designed for an Android operating system, FoodFeed alerts users about threats that come from food whether it's from a grocery store or restaurant.



The app has three tabs, one of which is a news feed of articles and alerts on food recalls, illness outbreaks and other breaking consumer-safety information. For example, someone shopping at the grocery store could check the news tab and notice the cilantro in their cart has been recalled due to a possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination.


Another tab shows health code violations at restaurants. Users can search for restaurant records hopefully before ordering read the details of specific violations, and compare restaurant ratings to the average number of violations in the area.


The last tab provides general information on the risks associated with food, such as the recommended temperature to cook beef and what harmful bacteria can be found in raw chicken.


Users can look after their friends' stomachs too. They can share information from FoodFeed on social media or report suspected food poisoning to the local health department.


FLU


Designed for iOS, FLU lets users share if they have influenza or flu-like symptoms. Their voluntarily submitted information can help create localized outbreak maps.




To use the app, users create a customized avatar that visually displays symptoms the users submit. For example, if a user reports a fever of 101 F, their avatar's face turns red. When a user has been diagnosed with the flu by a doctor, they can update their avatar to hold a balloon that looks like a germ.


A user can choose to make their avatar visible to others including health departments in the form of an interactive map. And for those afraid of losing friends every time they have the sniffles, users can share information anonymously.


Not only would the information benefit local health departments, but users can see how many people are sick in their area or search other areas too. Planning a road trip? The number of sick people could help you decide between Portland and Seattle, for instance.


Making the apps


As a key player in the White House's National Strategy for Biosurveillance, PNNL proposed this first-of-its-kind competition at the laboratory as an answer to a national call for improved biosurveillance tools.


"Whether it's a natural disaster or a disease outbreak, a public health event can come out of nowhere," said Chrissie Noonan, a PNNL research analyst and mentor to the students. "We're asking how we can stay ahead of the curve, and one answer is to develop mobile tools."


The 10-week competition brought seven graduate students with strong mobile-app development skills from schools across the nation to the laboratory. There, they received a crash-course on biosurveillance from industry experts. Along with help from Noonan and Corley, Michael J. Henry, a visual analytics researcher, guided the students as their lead mentor.


"These students came from different backgrounds with diverse experience," Henry said. "It was their creativity that brought a fresh perspective to solving biosurveillance problems."


Each student pitched app ideas, and then the teams chose to develop FoodFeed and FLU based on input from their mentors.


The apps could rest in your hand soon. PNNL is working to license the apps and make them public in the next few months.



###


[ 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.




Killer apps that could keep you healthy


[ Back to EurekAlert! ]

PUBLIC RELEASE DATE:

24-Oct-2013



[


| E-mail

]


Share Share

Contact: Eric Francavilla
eric.francavilla@pnnl.gov
509-372-4066
DOE/Pacific Northwest National Laboratory



Student-developed mobile apps help keep you from getting sick




RICHLAND, Wash. For those wanting to keep their distance from health threats like E. coli-contaminated lettuce or the flu, there are two upcoming apps for that.


The Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory hosted a competition this summer where graduate students designed two mobile apps to fight the threats of food-related illnesses and the flu. The apps are called FoodFeed and FLU (pronounced 'flu you'). The Defense Department's Defense Threat Reduction Agency provided funding to PNNL to develop web-based analytics and mobile apps as part of its Biosurveillance Ecosystem (BSVE) program.


"Much of the information we need to fight health threats already exists as public data, websites and observations from people on the streets," said Court Corley, data scientist and lead investigator at PNNL. "What we need is all that information in one place, so we can put it in the hands of people. Mobile apps do that."


FoodFeed


Designed for an Android operating system, FoodFeed alerts users about threats that come from food whether it's from a grocery store or restaurant.



The app has three tabs, one of which is a news feed of articles and alerts on food recalls, illness outbreaks and other breaking consumer-safety information. For example, someone shopping at the grocery store could check the news tab and notice the cilantro in their cart has been recalled due to a possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination.


Another tab shows health code violations at restaurants. Users can search for restaurant records hopefully before ordering read the details of specific violations, and compare restaurant ratings to the average number of violations in the area.


The last tab provides general information on the risks associated with food, such as the recommended temperature to cook beef and what harmful bacteria can be found in raw chicken.


Users can look after their friends' stomachs too. They can share information from FoodFeed on social media or report suspected food poisoning to the local health department.


FLU


Designed for iOS, FLU lets users share if they have influenza or flu-like symptoms. Their voluntarily submitted information can help create localized outbreak maps.




To use the app, users create a customized avatar that visually displays symptoms the users submit. For example, if a user reports a fever of 101 F, their avatar's face turns red. When a user has been diagnosed with the flu by a doctor, they can update their avatar to hold a balloon that looks like a germ.


A user can choose to make their avatar visible to others including health departments in the form of an interactive map. And for those afraid of losing friends every time they have the sniffles, users can share information anonymously.


Not only would the information benefit local health departments, but users can see how many people are sick in their area or search other areas too. Planning a road trip? The number of sick people could help you decide between Portland and Seattle, for instance.


Making the apps


As a key player in the White House's National Strategy for Biosurveillance, PNNL proposed this first-of-its-kind competition at the laboratory as an answer to a national call for improved biosurveillance tools.


"Whether it's a natural disaster or a disease outbreak, a public health event can come out of nowhere," said Chrissie Noonan, a PNNL research analyst and mentor to the students. "We're asking how we can stay ahead of the curve, and one answer is to develop mobile tools."


The 10-week competition brought seven graduate students with strong mobile-app development skills from schools across the nation to the laboratory. There, they received a crash-course on biosurveillance from industry experts. Along with help from Noonan and Corley, Michael J. Henry, a visual analytics researcher, guided the students as their lead mentor.


"These students came from different backgrounds with diverse experience," Henry said. "It was their creativity that brought a fresh perspective to solving biosurveillance problems."


Each student pitched app ideas, and then the teams chose to develop FoodFeed and FLU based on input from their mentors.


The apps could rest in your hand soon. PNNL is working to license the apps and make them public in the next few months.



###


[ 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/2013-10/dnnl-kat102413.php
Tags: jay cutler   breast cancer awareness   The Blacklist  

Kanye West All Smiles at Hollywood Film Awards Before Kim Kardashian Proposal: Picture


It was the beginning of a very very good night for Kanye West! Shortly before he proposed to Kim Kardashian in San Francisco, the rapper, 36, was hundreds of miles south in Hollywood to present the first trophy of the night at the Hollywood Film Awards. With guests like Julia Roberts, Sandra Bullock, Jake Gyllenhaal, Matthew McConaughey and many others looking on, West was unusually cool, calm and serene presenting the Breakout Director Award to 12 Years a Slave helmer Steve McQueen.


PHOTOS: His most obnoxious moments


After quickly noting to the crowd that he planned to head back to San Francisco immediately after the show, the "Black Skinhead" emcee (in a black blazer and white shirt) tamely gushed about his love and respect for McQueen, whose film is one of the most acclaimed buzzed -bout of the season.


PHOTOS: Kimye's cutest moments


Afterwards, West boarded a private jet and quickly headed to AT&T Park in San Francisco, where Kim was with family and friends (including sisters Kourtney and Khloe); he projected "PLEEESE MARRY MEEE!!!" on the stadium screen. A surprised and overjoyed Kardashian, celebrating her 33rd birthday that day, quickly said yes.


PHOTOS: Who said it -- Miley or Kanye?


The pair share daughter North West, 4 months.


Source: http://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/kanye-west-all-smiles-at-hollywood-film-awards-before-kim-kardashian-proposal-picture-20132210
Tags: carrie   WWE   Dreamchasers 3   Eiza Gonzalez   Ichiro Suzuki  

This Week in Time Capsules: Huey Lewis and the Canoes

This Week in Time Capsules: Huey Lewis and the Canoes

This week in our time capsule news round-up we have questions about the World Series of 2213, the retro-futuristic death of a monorail in Australia, and a bunch of 1988 music that's scheduled to be unearthed 75 years from today.

Read more...


    
Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/6O4TP_oabOo/@barrett
Similar Articles: Josh Freeman   Gta 5 Online Not Working   abigail breslin   monday night football   Breaking Bad Season 5 Episode 10