HALIFAX — The revelation that the embattled QuadrigaCX cryptocurrency exchange recently lost track of more than $460,000 in crypto-coins has left some industry observers reeling with disbelief.“I’m totally gobsmacked … that such a thing could happen,” says Manie Eagar, CEO of Vancouver-based DigitalFutures, a business development consultancy that focuses on digital currency and blockchain technologies.“Whoever took over the reins and is acting as the custodian of these funds should have at least done due diligence to avoid whatever happened.”The court-appointed monitor overseeing the search for $260 million in cash and cryptocurrency owed to QuadrigaCX users revealed on Tuesday that the exchange had access to $902,743 in online digital assets, stored in so-called hot wallets as of Feb. 5.However, Ernst and Young said that on Feb. 6 someone working for QuadrigaCX “inadvertently” transferred 103 Bitcoins valued at $468,675 into a so-called cold wallet that remains beyond the reach of the company.Meanwhile, lawyers were expected to gather Thursday in a Halifax courtroom, where a judge will decide who will represent QuadrigaCX’s creditors.Insolvency expert Tim Hill said the case is highly unusual, given that QuadrigaCX has no offices, no employees and no bank accounts.“We certainly haven’t seen anything like this in Nova Scotia — and nothing in Canada that I’m aware of,” he said in an interview.The Vancouver-based exchange was shut down Jan 28 amid a flurry of speculation about the sudden death of its CEO and lone director, 30-year-old Gerald Cotten, who led his five-year-old virtual business from a home north of Halifax.Court records say Cotten, who died suddenly on Dec. 9 while travelling in India, was the only person with access to the digital keys needed to access $190 million worth of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.As well, the insolvent company owes about 115,000 affected users another $70 million in cash.“Transferring funds to wallets they can’t retrieve money from is really mind-blowing,” said Samir Saadi, professor of finance at the University of Ottawa’s Telfer School of Management.“They know they don’t have access to those cold wallets and they still managed to make that terrible mistake … It tells us a lot about the company’s practices. There’s no backup plans — nothing.”The selection Thursday of representative counsel, which will be overseen by Nova Scotia Supreme Court Justice Michael Wood, is part of a court-ordered insolvency process that was set in motion when the virtual company was granted protection from its creditors on Feb. 5.The purpose of the federal law is to allow insolvent companies owing more than $5 million to continue to operate while drafting a plan to pay off creditors, thereby avoiding bankruptcy.The court order includes a standard 30-day stay of proceedings, which means creditors are prohibited from filing lawsuits against QuadrigaCX until the order expires. An extension is widely expected to be granted by the court on March 5.Hill, a Halifax lawyer who specializes in insolvency and debt restructuring, said the law firms that will be selected as representative counsel will be paid by QuadrigaCX’s parent company, Quadriga Fintech Solutions.“There’s a real danger here that there’s going to be no money to pay these guys,” said Hill, a member of BoyneClarke’s business litigation team and a former registrar in bankruptcy. “Unless they can move quickly to identify some assets, some money, this may not go on too long. People need to be paid.”The representative counsel will speak for the creditors in court, but there’s nothing stopping creditors from hiring their own lawyers.Lawyers from across the country have expressed an interest in the case.Much of the actual money that is owed to creditors is in the form of bank drafts, which the company has failed to deposit in a financial institution because regular banks remain leery of dealing with cryptocurrency businesses.“That’s obviously going to be a challenge, but at some point the court will be asked to assist with that,” Hill said. “The court has very broad authority in these matters.”One user of the platform, Tong Zou of Orillia, Ont., submitted an affidavit to the court, saying he is owed $560,000.The professional software engineer said he had been using QuadrigaCX since 2017.His statement was part of an application to the court to have two law firms — Toronto-based Bennett Jones and Halifax-based McInnes Cooper — appointed a representative counsel.“After speaking with various affected users, I know that the affected users are very worried, confused and in need of assistance,” Zou said in the affidavit.He said he was aware of several other users who are owed more than $100,000 — but he said they have chosen to remain anonymous.Michael MacDonald, The Canadian Press
Drakes video director Torontos Karena Evans steps in front of the camera
She credits the trailblazers who came before her for kicking open the doors for black women — for instance Selma director Ava DuVernay and Beyoncé music video creator Melina Matsoukas.It feels like this revolution where you’re seeing a shift in the characters being presented on screen and the people behind them that are telling it.– Karena Evans, actor and music director“It feels like this revolution where you’re seeing a shift in the characters being presented on screen and the people behind them that are telling it,” Evans said.As she chases another part of her career in the acting world, she says she feels a “responsibility to ensure the stories I’m telling are inclusive and representative.”It’s a thought Evans revisits often while discussing her role in Firecrackers, a Canadian production that debuted at the Toronto International Film Festival this month. The female-driven storyline follows two best friends planning to escape their dilapidated Ontario small town in pursuit of bigger ambitions in New York.The trip is derailed on the eve of their departure when an ex-boyfriend steps in to extinguish the arrangements.Firecrackers is directed by newcomer Jasmin Mozaffari who offers a bold examination of the financial walls that trap young women in lower class regions of the country. Evans plays one-half of the friendship alongside lead actress Michaela Kurimsky.Shedding her directorial tendencies and opening herself to suggestion by outsiders is always a struggle, Evans said, but she credits Mozaffari for making the creation of Firecrackers feel natural. The actors were given time to learn about their characters and shape their backstories.“Trusting the director, trusting the cinematographer, trusting everyone around me — that’s the hardest part,” she said.“I could just completely close my eyes and fall back, that’s how much I trust Jasmin. As soon as I was in that space with her it was a complete energy shift.” Toronto’s Karena Evans, who directed music videos for superstar Drake and Grammy nominee SZA, is co-starring in Firecrackers, which debuted at TIFF this month. (Alexander Shabazz via CP) LEAVE A REPLY Cancel replyLog in to leave a comment Living the dream as a young, black female director is an experience Karena Evans doesn’t take for granted.Over the past year, the 22-year-old Toronto filmmaker stood behind the camera on music videos for superstar Drake and Grammy nominee SZA. Those projects would be considered a career high for almost anyone, but Evans also recognizes that as a visible female minority, she probably wouldn’t have been considered for those sorts of directing jobs even a few years ago.“For me, it’s just understanding that it hasn’t always been like that,” Evans said of the opportunities presented to her as a director. Advertisement Login/Register With: Twitter
Advertisement Advertisement Facebook Directing Drake’s videosWhen Evans is directing a music video she takes a different collaborative approach that puts the performer first.In the case of Drake, she proved herself with God’s Plan, a music video that featured the Toronto rapper handing out nearly $1 million US to Miami residents.The video attracted plenty of attention and it wasn’t long before Drake hired Evans to direct another three videos, including his reunion with fellow cast members of Degrassi: The Next Generation in the music video for I’m Upset.“My service in music videos is and was to the artist and their brand,” Evans said.When you don’t have a formula for everything you do, and you approach each story and artist and each video uniquely, you get some good results from it– Evans, on directing music videos“When you don’t have a formula for everything you do, and you approach each story and artist and each video uniquely, you get some good results from it.”While Drake has expressed interest in filmmaking, and currently attached himself as an executive producer to a number of projects, Evans said she hasn’t offered him any advice on the craft.“He knows stories, whether that be for his own brand or universal stories,” she said.“Whatever he does will be super beneficial to that story and that team of people that are telling it.” Evans has directed several Drake videos including God’s Plan. (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
HIDCO set to commemorate 158th birth anniversary of Tagore
Kolkata: Housing and Infrastructure Development Corporation (HIDCO) will organise a programme to celebrate the 158th birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore on Thursday, May 9.Apart from holding the main programme on May 9, HIDCO will also hold programmes on every Saturday and Sunday in May, except May 18 and 19. The State Information and Cultural Affairs department will organise a programme on Cathedral Road outside Rabindra Sadan. The programme He Antaratara will start at 7 am on May 9 at Rabindra Tirtha, when veteran Rabindra Sangeet exponents including Chitralekha Chowdhury, Dipak Rudra, Ashish Bhattacharya, Enakshi Chattopadhyay and Abhirup Guha Thakurata will perform to pay their respects to the bard. Also Read – Bengal family worships Muslim girl as Goddess Durga in Kumari PujaThe other singers who will be present at the event are Prabuddha Raha, Suman Panthi, Sayan Bandyopadhyay, Anindya Narayan Biswas, Chandrabali Rudra Dutta and Sinjini Acharya Majumdar among others. Well known elocutionist Pranati Thakur will recite excerpts from the poems of Tagore. Elocutionists Bijoylakshmi Barman, Sovanshundar Basu, Urmila Sen, Arumoy Bandyopadhyay and Soumitra Mitra among others will also recite excerpts from Tagore’s poems. Also Read – Bengal civic volunteer dies in road mishap on national highwayThe evening programme will start at 5 pm, where a chorus song will be presented by Barasat Gitisudha. Rabindra Sangeet will be presented by Ankita Ghosh, Indrani Saha, Arpita Bandyopadhyay, Mandira Ghosh, Mahua Chakraborty, Sinjini Chakraborty and Sutapa Dutta Bhandari among others. Elocutionists including Srimanti Dasgupta, Partha Mukhopadhyay, Mahua Majumdar and Debashis Roy among others will also take part in the event. On May 11, Gitabitan Praktani consisting of the past pupils of Gitabitan will present a chorus directed by Chanda Sengupta. Ektara Pathsala will present a chorus recitation directed by Sovanshundar Basu and presented by Nristi Abritti Sanstha. At 6.15 pm, Thespians will present Tagore’s famous drama Bisarjan, which has been directed by Partha Mukhopadhyay. On May 25 at 5.45 pm, well known elocutionist Bratati Bandyopadhyay will present Nahi Samanya Nari, a chorus recitation directed by her. At 6 pm, Rabindra Sangeet exponents Aditi Gupta, Prabuddha Raha and Subhadeep Chakraborty will take part in a programme. This will be followed by a dance drama. Similar programmes will be held subsequently on May 26, June 1 and June 2 as well.
More action needed to curb threat of nuclear terrorism UN watchdog warns
“Out of 128 States Parties, only 11 so far have accepted the amendment,” UN International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Mohamed ElBaradei told the Agency’s annual General Conference in Vienna. “I would urge all States Parties to do so,” he said referring to an amendment to the International Convention on the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism, aimed at preventing nuclear and radioactive materials from falling into the hands of terrorists. The Amendment on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material seeks to strenghtent hese safeguards. “With the renewed interest in nuclear power generation, comparable attention and commitment must be given to ensuring the nuclear safety and security infrastructure that must go with it,” Mr. ElBaradei added, noting that three strong factors are driving a renewed global interest in nuclear power – steady growth in energy demand, increasing concerns about energy security, and the challenge of climate change. “In my view, the role of the Agency is not so much to predict the future as to do its utmost to plan and prepare for it,” he stressed in a wide-ranging review of the Agency’s work. Although the IAEA’s nuclear security work has clearly improved overall nuclear security, “much remains to be done in shaping the nuclear security framework, in building up-to-date security systems and in dealing with the legacy of past lax security,” he said. “This is not a problem that can be solved overnight; it takes time and resources to achieve a sustainable, internationally acceptable level of nuclear security.” Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called for new levels of international cooperation in addressing security and environmental challenges. “The activities of the IAEA are more important than ever to advance safe and peaceful uses of nuclear energy, promote non-proliferation and disarmament, and reduce the risks of nuclear terrorism,” he said in a message delivered by UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Sergio Duarte.Mr. ElBaradei reiterated many of the points he made to the Agency’s Board of Governors last week on Iran’s nuclear programmes, noting that the IAEA has been able to verify the non-diversion of declared nuclear materials and has been given additional information and access needed to resolve a number of long outstanding issues, such as the scope and nature of past plutonium experiments. Many countries see the programme as a means to obtain nuclear weapons but Iran’s says it is solely for nuclear power generation. But Iran has not suspended enrichment related activities as called for by the Security Council, although it has agreed on a work plan with the Agency for resolving all outstanding verification issues. “Naturally, Iran’s active cooperation and transparency is the key to full and timely implementation of the work plan,” he stressed. “If the Agency were able to provide credible assurance about the peaceful nature of Iran’s past and current nuclear programme, this would go a long way towards building confidence about Iran’s nuclear programme, and could create the conditions for a comprehensive and durable solution.” Laying out a seven-point framework for the use of nuclear energy based on lessons learned and current reality, he called for:robust technological development and innovation in nuclear power and nuclear applications;a new multinational framework for the fuel cycle to assure supply and curb proliferation risk; universal application of comprehensive safeguards allowing for unannounced on site inspections; recognition of the linkage between non-proliferation and disarmament with deep cuts in existing arsenals; a robust international security regime; an effective and universal nuclear safety regime, a cornerstone for any expansion in the use of nuclear power; and sufficient funding for the Agency to meet its increasing responsibilities. Mr. ElBaradei also dwelt on the Agency’s other multi-faceted tasks, from helping to eradicate the disease-bearing tsetse fly in Zanzibar by using the sterile insect techniques and helping countries improve radiotherapy and nuclear medicine programmes to aiding Bangladesh in dealing with arsenic poisoned groundwater and enhancing various types of grain from North Africa to the Andes mountains of Peru. 17 September 2007Stepping up his fight to reinforce nuclear security and prevent nuclear terrorism, the head of the United Nations atomic watchdog agency today called on all countries to ratify an international agreement strengthening the protection of nuclear materials.
UN relief agencies laud dedication of Iraqi health workers
The World Health Organization (WHO) continues to be extremely impressed by the level of dedication the Iraqi health staff bring to their work even in these circumstances, spokesperson Fadela Chaib told the daily briefing in Amman, Jordan, on UN humanitarian activities. This level of dedication by doctors, nurses, support staff including cleaners, cooks, maintenance workers and drivers was saving lives, she added.She said social and working conditions in many areas, including Baghdad, were extremely challenging. Public transportation was not functioning, basics such as electricity and water were in short supply, and security was unstable, making movement difficult and even dangerous. Food was not always available, and due to looting and dwindling stocks, health workers had to cope without the very basics – oxygen cylinders, surgical instruments and anaesthetics.But despite all this, they continued their commitment to support the public health system, Ms. Chaib said. In Baghdad, surgical staff who could not work in their own hospitals because they had been looted or damaged, travelled to other hospitals to carry out essential surgeries there.Based on an UN inter-sectoral assessment, Ms. Chaib cited the acute shortage of water in Nassiriyah in the south, both in the community and in the health facilities, as of special concern. Electricity, water and re-stocking drugs for chronic diseases were reported as the most urgent priorities. Due to lack of water and difficulty with sanitation, the risk of diarrhoea remained high. But considering that Nassiriyah was badly affected during the war, the health sector continued to operate very well even at the peak of the conflict, she added. Health staff ensured basic care was maintained throughout the period, illustrating the dedication of staff to maintaining services for the Iraqi people. The World Food Programme (WFP) said the arrival of its first convoy in Baghdad yesterday afternoon highlighted the complexity of the operation. A trip that should take only two days took four due to the lack of security and the need to prepare a secured warehouse in the city. The convoy had 1,400 tons of food, enough for half the population of Baghdad for just one day.“In a very short time we will need to send more than six times this quantity every day from Jordan,” spokesman Khaled Mansour said. To reach the target of having enough food for 27 million Iraqis as of May, more warehouses needed to be secured, more mills and silos needed to be functioning, thus requiring a regular supply of water, electricity and the return of the skilled staff of the Ministry of Trade, he added. For its part, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said there had been a huge increase in child diarrhoeal cases in Baghdad, where some hospitals experienced shortages of water, anti-diarrhoeal drugs and injectable and oral antibiotics.The UN High Commissioner for the Refugees (UNHCR) said another 100 people had reached the border with Jordan, bringing the total in a makeshift frontier encampment to more than 1,050. The agency again called on the occupying powers to ensure security for civilians inside Iraq and the equitable distribution of aid.
New Hampshire governor blocks bill that would have OKd images of babies
New Hampshire governor blocks bill that would have OK’d images of babies on beer bottle labels FILE – In this Jan. 15, 2015 file photo, bottles of founders Brewing Breakfast Stout are displayed in North Andover, Mass. New Hampshire Gov. Maggie Hassan on Tuesday, June 2, 2015, vetoed a measure that would have allowed some images of minors to grace alcoholic beverage labels in the state as long as they didn’t encourage young people to drink. State Rep. Keith Murphy, who runs a popular tavern, sponsored the bill because he wanted to be able to buy Breakfast Stout, crafted by Founders Brewery Co. in Grand Rapids, Mich. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola, File) CONCORD, N.H. – Sorry, baby, your picture isn’t going to be on the front of any beer bottles in New Hampshire.Democratic Gov. Maggie Hassan on Tuesday vetoed a measure that would have allowed some images of minors to grace alcoholic beverage labels as long as they didn’t encourage young people to drink.Republican state Rep. Keith Murphy, who runs a popular tavern, sponsored the bill because he wanted to be able to buy Breakfast Stout, crafted by Founders Brewery Co. in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The beer’s label depicts a chubby, Norman Rockwell-esque baby scooping oatmeal into his mouth.Hassan said allowing the images could undermine the state’s efforts to fight underage drinking.“Substance misuse, including alcohol misuse, continues to be one of the major public health and safety challenges facing us as a state,” Hassan said in her veto message. “Moreover, statistics suggest that New Hampshire has among the highest rates of underage drinking in the country.”Murphy said the veto is an overreach and noted that neighbouring Massachusetts, Maine and Vermont sell the beer. He also pointed out that a New Hampshire-produced craft beer, Smuttynose Baltic Porter, would have to come off the shelves because its label shows Father Time and a baby.The federal government already prohibits alcohol labeling or advertising that targets minors.Murphy’s bill would have given the state’s Liquor Commission discretion to approve or deny labels. He said he could understand the commission denying a label showing college kids partying but not the Breakfast Stout depiction.“No reasonable person would believe that this label is intended to appeal to minors in any way,” he said.But the director of enforcement and licensing for the New Hampshire Liquor Commission, James Wilson, said when the bill was introduced in January that the commission already has a “bright line standard” for labeling and was opposed to Murphy’s proposal. by Rik Stevens, The Associated Press Posted Jun 2, 2015 2:57 pm MDT Last Updated Jun 2, 2015 at 10:10 pm MDT AddThis Sharing ButtonsShare to TwitterTwitterShare to FacebookFacebookShare to RedditRedditShare to 電子郵件Email
Row rumbles on as Siptu rejects DAAAer Lingus offer
A DISPUTE OVER staff pension funds at Dublin Airport is set to continue as Siptu has rejected an offer by Aer Lingus and DAA, while the airline has accused the trade union of releasing “wildly inaccurate details” to the media in relation to talks.Describing the companies proposals as “derisory”, Siptu organiser Dermot O’Loughlin said the trade union’s two pension committees decided against accepting the offers given “the scale of the pension deficit”.Following a meeting at the Irish Congress of Trade Unions this morning, they have written to the Labour Relations Commission (LRC) seeking its assistance to obtain “a very significant improvment on the monies offered by both companies”.“The pension committees have also asked the LRC to urgently comment on the status of this negotiation process,” added O’Loughlin.Aer Lingus said it regrets Siptu’s decision to release what it called “wildly inaccurate details to the media” in relation to talks aimed at resolving the funding issues within the Irish Airlines Superannuation Scheme.“Such wild inaccuracy has the potential to destabilise the progress of current talks,” said a spokesperson. “Aer Lingus remains committed to finding an appropriate solution to the issues with the IASS and continues to engage with all the parties involved in the LRC process.”Siptu had claimed that Aer Lingus offered to provide between €9 million and €15 million to resolve the crisis but refused to inject any lump sums unless staff accept very significant productivity measures. The airline denies those figures.DAA also called the union’s statement that the DAA had agreed to provide €33 million without any preconditions and a further €10 million if secondary pension matters are resolved “a misrepresentation”.A spokesperson for the company said, “SIPTU’s claim that DAA’s offer is derisory is a misrepresentation of the facts. Based on actuarial advice, our offer will deliver a substantial pension for DAA staff at retirement.”Workers have previously threatened industrial action over the issue but plans were put on hold to enter last-minute talks with the LRC last week.Earlier: Dublin Airport workers withdraw strike action for Monday>
Going out for New Years Eve tonight Heres the forecast
PLANNING ON HEADING out tonight?Perhaps more than any other celebration in Ireland, going out on New Year’s Eve is very much dependent on the weather. If the weather is ok – i.e. not raining Biblically – then it’s possible to consider spending time outside tonight in the run-up to the final minutes of 2013. If it’s miserable then it’s just another incentive to stay at home or beside the nearest radiator.So what’s the forecast for tonight?Well, there’s mixed news from Met Éireann. The good news is that earlier warnings of thunderstorms tonight seem to have passed.The less good news is that heavy rain showers are going to hit most counties from this afternoon. Boo. However all is not lost: Met Éireann says the rain will clear in most places and – wait for it – most of the country will stay dry tonight, except along parts of the west coast (sorry).It’s going to be chilly enough with temperatures dropping to between 1 and 3 degrees, but sure it’s December so we all knew that anyway.Today’s weather (via Met.ie)So in short: bring a coat, but you might get away without a brolly. Have fun.What are you planning to do tonight? Let us know in the comments. Read: Photos of the best and worst weather in Ireland this year >
Wreathlaying ceremony on 39th anniversary of DublinMonaghan bombings
A WREATH-LAYING ceremony will take place in Dublin today to honour the victims of the 1974 Dublin and Monaghan bombings.Thirty-four people, including an unborn baby, were killed and more than 300 people were injured when a series of car bombings hit the capital and the town on 17 May, 1974. It marked the greatest loss of life in a single day during the Troubles.Three explosions occurred in Dublin during rush hour and another occurred in the town of Monaghan 90 minutes later. No warnings were given ahead of the attacks. The ages of the dead ranged from five months to 80 years, and most of the victims were young women.Responsibility for killings was claimed by the UVF in 1993 but no-one has ever been charged in relation to the atrocity.Justice for the Forgotten, an organisation formed in 1996 to seek justice for the victims, has organised a public wreath-laying ceremony on Dublin’s Talbot Street at 11.30am today. An anniversary Mass will take place in St Francis Xavier Church, Upper Gardiner Street, at 1pm.Justice for the Forgotten has appealed to the people of Dublin to show their solidarity with the bereaved families and injured survivors by attending these commemorative ceremonies.Talbot Street showing the destruction of the second car bomb. (Image: Wikicommons)Read: Britain ‘does not intend’ to hand over Dublin-Monaghan filesRead: Sinn Féin tables motion urging UK to release Dublin-Monaghan filesRead: Victims ask UK to release Dublin-Monaghan bombing files
Cancer de la peau un nouveau traitement autorisé aux EtatsUnis
Cancer de la peau : un nouveau traitement autorisé aux Etats-UnisL’Agence américaine des médicaments (FDA) a donné son accord pour la commercialisation d’Erivedge, de l’entreprise Genentech. Celui-ci vise à traiter la forme la plus courante de cancer de la peau. C’est un pas en avant dans la lutte contre le cancer avec l’arrivée sur le marché américain d’un tout nouveau traitement, l’Erivedge (Vismodegib). Lundi, l’Agence américaine des médicaments (FDA) a en effet émis un avis favorable pour la commercialisation de ce médicament conçu par l’entreprise Genentech, partie du groupe helvétique Roche. Présenté sous forme de comprimés à prendre une fois par jour, Erivedge est destiné à traiter des adultes atteints de carcinome baso-cellulaire, la forme la plus courante de cancer de la peau qui touche chaque année près de 800.000 personnes aux Etats-Unis. Plus précisément, le traitement est destiné aux patients dont le cancer de l’épiderme est avancé mais qui ne peuvent pas bénéficier d’une intervention chirurgicale ou d’un traitement radiologique. Erivedge est ainsi le premier traitement approuvé par la FDA pour traiter des carcinomes baso-cellulaires métastasés, souligne l’agence fédérale qui a autorisé cet anti-cancéreux selon une procédure accélérée afin que les malades en bénéficient plus rapidement.En outre, ce médicament s’adresse également aux patients dont le cancer de la peau a formé des métastases, précise la FDA dans un communiqué. Erivedge agit sur un mécanisme moléculaire (Hedgehog) actif dans la plupart des cellules basales cancéreuses qui forment une membrane séparant le derme de l’épiderme de la peau.Des traitements efficaces plus rapidement développés À lire aussiPourquoi certains s’évanouissent-ils à la vue du sang ?”Notre compréhension de certains mécanismes moléculaires impliqués dans le cancer tel Hedgehog nous permet de mettre au point des traitements ciblant certains cancers”, explique le Dr Richard Pazdur, directeur des produits d’hématologie et de cancérologie au centre d’évaluation et d’approbation des médicaments de la FDA. Cité par l’AFP, il ajoute également : “cette approche est de plus en plus suivie, permettant potentiellement de développer plus rapidement des traitements plus efficaces contre le cancer”.Avant que l’Erivedge ne soit proposé à la commercialisation, son efficacité a fait l’objet d’un seul essai clinique qui a porté sur 96 patients atteints d’un carcinome baso-cellulaire localisé ou métastasé. D’après les résultats obtenus relayés par la FDA, les effets secondaires sont notamment des maux musculaires, des spasmes, des pertes de cheveu et de poids, des nausées, de la fatigue et une perte du goût sur la langue. Par ailleurs, le traitement est formellement interdit aux femmes enceintes. Il est de ce fait autorisé mais avec une mise en garde contre le risque potentiel de décès d’un foetus ou d’importants défauts de naissance. Le 1 février 2012 à 11:29 • Maxime Lambert
Spring Brewfest to feature 42 brewers keep money flowing to local charities
Perhaps the best thing about Vancouver’s pair of Brewfests is that they raise more and more money for local charities.“I can’t believe it’s been eight years of Brewfests, and it just keeps getting more successful,” said organizer Cody Gray. “Last spring was our best Spring Brewfest yet. We donated $7,500 to charities from spring alone. Then, last August was the best Summer Brewfest yet. We donated another $18,000. Last year was our best year.”Maybe the crowds can keep the trend going in 2019, setting more records for charity support through the sampling of local microbrews. Spring Brewfest is coming right up.“We’re sticking with local charities,” Gray said. A primary beneficiary used to be Northwest Battle Buddies, he said, but that Battle Ground effort to match service dogs with traumatized veterans has grown so successful, “it’s gone nationwide. So we’ve decided to shift” to some other local charities, some of them veteran-related and some not.Gray said the charities benefiting from this year’s Spring Brewfest are no-kill animal shelter Second Chance Companions and the educational Mount St. Helens Institute; and the Clark County Veterans Assistance Center, the local branch of Disabled American Veterans in downtown Vancouver.“As a former combat veteran, it’s important to me to take care of the guys and girls who come home from war and need help,” Gray said. “Unfortunately, we still have a problem with humans wanting to kill each other. I’m an anti-war combat veteran, can you tell?”
Officials lift boil water notice for parts of Miami
MIAMI (WSVN) – Officials have lifted a boil water notice that was issued for parts of Miami.According to officials, residents living in the area of Northwest 29th Street and North Miami Avenue are no longer under a boil water advisory.The warning was issued as a precaution due to crews working on a new main sewer line.Copyright 2019 Sunbeam Television Corp. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Zillow uses VR to try to make online real estate more authentic
Tags E-commerce Virtual Reality Virtual Reality Apps Zillow’s 3D Home tool lets real estate agents show immersive VR views of homes for sale. You click arrows at the bottom to navigate from room to room or select rooms from the right side of the page. Screenshot by Stephen Shankland/CNET Real estate is getting a bit more virtual with 3D immersive tours at Zillow, a major player in online home sales.The company added a feature called 3D Home to its site and app Monday that lets you step from virtual room to virtual room as you’re shopping online. Real estate agents can capture the imagery using an iPhone or Ricoh’s 360-degree cameras like the Theta V and Theta Z1.The result, Zillow hopes, is you should get a better feel for what might well be one of the most expensive purchases in your life. Virtual reality has limited mainstream appeal, even among gamers, but it still holds potential for when you want to be transported to a different realm.”One of Zillow’s core goals has been to make buying and selling homes dramatically easier,” said Josh Weisberg, Zillow’s product leader for 3D and computer vision. “Giving a buyer or renter an immersive or authentic sense of what a home is like is a big step toward making the overall real estate transaction more seamless.”Think of it as the Tinder profile photo problem but for houses. Everybody wants to look their best in an online dating profile, but it’s a problem when would-be dates don’t find out soon enough you’re not a 10/10. If expectations are too far from reality in real estate, negotiations are a waste of time for both buyer and seller.For now, stepping through the 3D home is like using Google Maps’ Street View: you see arrows that let you click or tap around to different rooms. You won’t be swooping through a 3D zone like you might in a VR video game.
Zillow’s 3D Home tool captures imagery from iPhones or Ricoh Theta 360-degree cameras and processes it. That includes HDR processing for tricky exposure situations like nighttime views. Screenshot by Stephen Shankland/CNET Later, Zillow hopes to speed up the virtual room display and make it smoother to virtually travel around, with better reconstructions of the perspectives between camera positions. And the company expects to add an ability to automatically generate floor plans, another useful addition for buyers and sellers.Zillow’s 3D Home tool is designed to be easy for photographers to use so home sellers and their agents can add the 3D views affordably to ordinary homes for sale, not just luxury mansions, Weisberg said. Photographing a 3,000-square-foot home takes about 10 or 15 minutes, with shots taken for each room.The idea is to make 3D home tours more accessible to people who don’t have expensive photography setups, which can involve lots of labor and expensive gear. Now the Zillow app captures the imagery, processes it into a 3D map then presents it online.”The overwhelming major of home sales are under $1 million, so it’s been a struggle,” Weisberg said. “If you’re a buyer of one of these homes, you don’t get access to these more immersive experiences.” Share your voice 1 Comment
US corporate sector welcomes Indian budget says itll attract FDIs
The American corporate sector believes that the Budget is trying to make positive structural changes.ReutersThe Union Budget 2019, presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, has been widely hailed by the American corporate sector who believes that the budget is not only inclusive but will also attract foreign investments.President of the US India Strategic and Partnership Forum (USISPF), Mukesh Aghi said, “The budget is inclusive and policy decisions are encouraging for American companies.”Aghi told news agency PTI, “It is good news for companies like Apple. The Budget opens up the Indian market, and encourages US companies to invest more, at the same time it ensures prosperity and growth for the lower sections.”He also added saying that the Budget is trying to make positive structural changes.”We are pleased to see a 2019-2020 Budget that delivers a forward-looking and reform-minded approach for the Modi government’s second term,” Nisha Desai Biswal, president of US India Business Council, said as quoted by PTI.USIBC welcomes proactive measures to double farmers’ income, liberalise FDI in a number of sectors and allow 100 per cent FDI for insurance intermediaries, and increase FPI investment limits — all reforms USIBC has actively supported, she said.USIBC members will be encouraged by the Budget’s focus on skilling Indians, with an emphasis on jobs in data analytics, artificial intelligence, and robotics, Ms Biswal said.”Goals like transforming India into a global space and aviation hub also demonstrate the longer-term thinking of the new government. We look forward to working with Prime Minister Modi and the Government of India to make these priorities, and the larger vision for a modern India a reality,” Ms Biswal said.”This is a visionary budget from the first woman Finance Minister of India marked with a long-term 10-year plan while retaining focus on immediate priorities,” said Karun Rishi, president of USA-India Chamber of Commerce said.The focused impetus for sustainable job creation via targeted investment in infrastructure will have a ripple effect on secondary and tertiary employment.The mission to provide housing to all by 2022 has the potential not just for growth in downstream sectors such as cement and steel but also for overall job creation in these vital industries, he said.It is a relatively cautious Budget, considering the government’s election mandate, noted Rick Rossow from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) think-tank.”I expected some bigger ideas, but instead we saw a continuation of key programmes such as infrastructure development, expansion of social programmes in rural areas, and nods to big campaigns like Digital India and Make in India,” Rossow said.From a foreign business perspective, it was a mixed bag, he said.”On the positive side, several sectors were listed for foreign investment reforms including insurance, media, and single brand retail,” he added.”Customs duties are to be reduced in some narrow areas like speciality chemicals and capital goods for electronics manufacturing. But in a range of other sectors, customs duties will be increased including auto parts, video recorders, metal fittings, and more. This Budget is not going to alleviate the current state of trade tensions between the US and India,” Rossow said.Lauding the fiscal deficit target of 3.3 per cent for FY 2020, Rishi said that much will depend on the execution and global economic factors.The budget strikes a reasonable balance between addressing the objective of inclusiveness and laying the path for Prime Minister Modi’s vision of a USD 5 trillion economy by focusing on infrastructure spending incentivising affordable housing and providing growth capital for PSU banks, he said.Setting up the National Research Foundation (NRF) chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and co-chaired by Principal Scientific Advisor K Vijay Raghavan to fund, coordinate and promote research in India will be a game changer, Rishi said.”The NRF’s focus on promoting and funding multi-disciplinary, multi-institutional, multi-investigator led research by having robust industry-academia collaboration could tremendously benefit the biopharma and healthcare industry in India. Indian and global patients can look forward to cutting edge innovative medicines coming out of India in the next five to ten years,” he said.Stating that USA-India Chamber of Commerce has been encouraging structured research in India for over 12 years, Rishi said the current setup is not efficient.The NRF can correct the deficit in research, he asserted.As per data released by the central government, India’s research and innovation investment vis-a-vis global standards in terms of percentage of GDP is quite less (0.68 per cent) in comparison to the United States (2.8 per cent), China (2.1 per cent), Israel (4.3 per cent) and South Korea (4.2 per cent).”If India aims to emerge as a global research and innovation hub, apart from just increasing the funding, we also need to have a central systematic mechanism to fund and monitor research and innovation outcomes, especially in the fields of national importance.””Under the guidance of top leadership, the NRF has the potential to make India a global partner in BioPharma Research and Development. A 15.4 per cent increase in allocation to the healthcare sector compared to the previous year’s revised budget is a remarkable step,” Rishi said.(Inputs from agencies)
Trump Democrats spar as government shutdown looms
US Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (2nd R), alongside US Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn ®, Republican of Texas; US Senator John Barrasso (L), Republican of Wyoming; and US Senator Orrin Hatch (2nd L), Republican of Utah, speaks after a meeting between US President Donald Trump and the Republican Senate Caucus at the US Capitol in Washington, DC. Photo: AFPUS President Donald Trump clashed with Democratic leaders in dramatic fashion Tuesday, heaping pressure on Congress to craft a compromise on federal spending or face a crippling government shutdown in 10 days.Hours after the president suggested a funding deal with Democrats may be impossible, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and top Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer pulled out of a planned White House meeting with Trump that they said would be fruitless.“Given that the president doesn’t see a deal between Democrats and the White House, we believe the best path forward is to continue negotiating with our Republican counterparts in Congress instead,” the pair said in a statement.Trump shot back that he was not surprised the Democrats rejected his offer, saying they were “very far apart” on several issues like immigration.“They’ve been all talk and they’ve been no action. And now it’s even worse, now it’s not even talk,” Trump declared during the meeting, which went ahead with Republican congressional leaders-an empty chair on either side of the president underscoring the absence of their Democratic counterparts.The rare public rejection of White House talks ratcheted up tensions in Washington over a 2018 spending bill that must pass by a December 8 deadline, and served as a stinging rebuke to a president who often mocks his rivals on Twitter.The spat heaps pressure on Congress to craft a compromise or face a crippling government shutdown next month.And it muddied the waters on the same day Trump headed to Congress to urge fellow Republicans to unite behind his tax overhaul, a controversial bill that he wants on his desk by year end.Trump lunched with Senate Republicans for an hour, answering questions from Ron Johnson and Susan Collins, who have concerns about the bill.Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, addressing reporters afterwards, acknowledged the challenge in getting at least 50 of his chamber’s 52 Republicans on board, likening it to solving “a Rubik’s Cube.”‘Chuck and Nancy’Behind the tough talk, Trump needs Schumer and Pelosi to rally their party’s votes to keep government running through the next 10 months.But the self-styled master dealmaker Trump derailed Tuesday’s plans for a bipartisan White House meeting on the challenge ahead when he hit the two top Democrats-whom he called “Chuck and Nancy”-in a morning tweet.“Problem is they want illegal immigrants flooding into our Country unchecked, are weak on Crime and want to substantially RAISE Taxes,” he added. “I don’t see a deal!”Schumer later said Democrats would meet with Trump “any time, anywhere, any place,” so long as he was serious about a deal.“But there is an alternative; when the president stays out of it we seem to do much better.”The White House expressed disappointment at the no-show, urging Democrats to “put aside their pettiness” and “grandstanding,” and saying Trump’s invitation remained open.High priceBut McConnell did not hide his irritation at the snub, calling it “a lack of seriousness” about the prospect of a looming government shutdown.In 2013, a similar spending feud caused 850,000 government officials to be sent home temporarily, and as much as half a percentage point was shaved off economic growth.Trump has staked much of his fragile political reputation on being a good steward of the economy, so failure could be damaging. But Democrats are demanding a steep price for their support.They say funding for Trump’s border “wall” must be stripped out, and Trump must honor the Obama administration’s pledge to allow migrants brought to the country as children to remain.The issue, as tricky as it is, is not the only problem on Trump’s plate.Tough sleddingIn December, a “debt ceiling” deadline is also looming-if missed, the US government could be hurtling towards a technical default in the new year.And beyond the spending fight, Trump’s primary task will be to pass tax cuts, which Republicans see as absolutely vital to keep voters and donors happy.Having so far failed to pass health care, immigration or infrastructure reforms, Trump faces a party revolt if he cannot make tax cuts law.With the party controlling the White House and both chambers of Congress, the task should be straightforward. But little is straightforward in Washington these days.The administration has struggled to convince the public that the tax cut will help middle-class families, and a Harvard-Harris Poll showed a majority of voters oppose the bill.Democrats portray the proposals as good for big business but bad for ordinary Americans, while half a dozen Republican senators have publicly expressed doubts about the plan, which the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office projects would increase the national debt by $1.4 trillion by 2027.The White House argues the cuts will boost growth, in turn increasing tax revenue, although most economists disagree.
4000 detained in Kashmir since autonomy stripped
Kashmiri refugees in Pakistan-administered Kashmir take part in an anti-Indian protest rally in Muzaffarabad on 18 August, 2019. Photo: AFPThousands of people have been detained in Indian Kashmir over fears of outbreaks of unrest after New Delhi stripped the restive region of its autonomy two weeks ago, government sources told AFP.A magistrate speaking to AFP on condition of anonymity said at least 4,000 people were arrested and held under the Public Safety Act (PSA), a controversial law that allows authorities to imprison someone for up to two years without charge or trial.”Most of them were flown out of Kashmir because prisons here have run out of capacity,” the magistrate said, adding that he had used a satellite phone allocated to him to collate the figures from colleagues across the Himalayan territory amid a communications blackout imposed by authorities.Authorities have repeatedly declined to provide a tally of how many people have been taken into custody, apart from confirming more than 100 local politicians, activists and academics were detained in the first few days after the state was stripped of its semi-autonomous status.They said the “few preventive detentions” were made to avoid a “breach of the peace” in a region that has fought an armed rebellion against Indian rule for three decades.Jammu and Kashmir government spokesman Rohit Kansal said previously there was “no centralised figure” for the total number of people detained.But AFP spoke to numerous government officials in Kashmir’s main city of Srinagar, including police and security personnel, who confirmed the sweeping arrests.A police official who asked to remain anonymous told AFP “around 6,000 people were medically examined at a couple of places in Srinagar after they were detained”.”They are first sent to the central jail in Srinagar and later flown out of here in military aircrafts,” he added.Another security official said “thousands are jailed” but that the figure did not include other residents whose detentions at police stations had not been recorded.- Protesters injured -The revelations came as eight people were injured during weekend protests in Srinagar with authorities reimposing heavy restrictions to quell any unrest.Authorities were gradually easing a massive movement and communications lockdown imposed two weeks ago.But clashes in a dozen locations around Srinagar on Saturday saw restrictions brought back in some locations, the Press Trust of India news agency reported, citing unnamed officials.Authorities have previously denied or played down reports of any violence and stressed that most of the Muslim-majority Kashmir Valley has been peaceful.State government spokesman Kansal told reporters late Saturday that eight people had been injured in the clashes but did not provide further details.A senior government official told AFP earlier Sunday that more telephone exchanges would return to normal operations “by the evening”.Schools in some areas would reopen on Monday, officials said.In the Hindu-majority city of Jammu, authorities cut mobile internet services on Sunday and warned locals not to circulate messages or videos on social media that they said were fake, PTI reported.New Delhi’s shock decision has sparked public anger and frustration and there have been several rallies in Srinagar attracting thousands of demonstrators.
Outdoor Gear Company Patagonia Brews Up a New Sustainable Beer
Stay on target You might turn to Patagonia if you were in the market for a rugged duffel or a breathable, waterproof jacket. But did you know you can also turn to Patagonia if you’re in the mood for an ice-cold beer?You most definitely can. Like many of Patagonia’s other products, the beer that bears their name was crafted with sustainability in mind.If an eco-friendly beer is your goal, traditional annual grains aren’t a great choice. That’s why Patagonia turned to the Land Institute in Salina, Kansas. They’ve developed a perennial grain called Kernza.The Long Root Pale Ale is made with organic Chinook, Mosaic and Crystal hops, and the Long Root Wit is brewed with coriander and orange peel. (Photo Credit: Patagonia Provisions)Kernza develops dense roots as long as ten feet, which helps prevent soil erosion. It doesn’t require as much water and also does just fine without pesticides or fertilizer and sequesters carbon.The downside is that Kernza wasn’t something that brewers had any experience with. Fortunately, craft brewers tend to love experimentation.Patagonia found a willing partner in Portland’s Hopworks Urban Brewery back in 2016. It took a big of figuring, but eventually Hopworks landed on a recipe that checked all the boxes. The original Long Root Ale has received plenty of positive reviews from beer drinkers over on Beer Advocate.This week, Hopworks and Patagonia unveiled their second brew. It’s a Belgian-style wit that marries the traditional coriander and orange peel with the decidedly untraditional Kernza.Patagonia hoped that its Kernza-based beers would inspire other breweries to start working with perennial grains. At least three have gotten on board: St. Paul, Minnesota’s all-organic Bang! Brewing, Minneapolis-based Fair State Brewing Cooperative and Blue Skye Brewery and Eats, which just happens to be located in Salina near the Land Institute.Back in 2015, a Kernza plot produced about half what a spring wheat plot would. That might not seem great, but remember than Kernza comes back year after year. There’s no tilling to do at the end of the season and no re-seeding in the spring.Yields are better today, too… so don’t be surprised if you see Kernza beers popping up in taprooms sooner than later.More on Geek.com:Dogfish Head Unveils Beer That Can Develop Kodak Super 8 FilmSupreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg Inspired a BeerFinally, Someone Made a Beer That Tastes Like Lucky Charms Fiber-Based Six-Pack Can Rings Offer Eco-Friendly Alternative to PlasticEven More Kellogg’s Cereal Gets Re-Born as Craft Beer 
Buy This Comic Gravetrancers 1
Buy This Comic: DEATH ORB #1Buy This Comic: MAN-EATERS #1 Stay on target “On a journey to track down the grave of their estranged father, Maribel and Anthony find their way to the Malort Cemetery, a strange, seemingly abandoned field of mostly unmarked tombs. There they encounter an eccentric clan of grave-robbers who’ve devised a highly-addictive drug made from human remains–and the fresher the corpse, the stronger the dose. What started out as an attempt to reconnect with the past becomes a descent into a psychedelic, neon-colored nightmare, will Maribel and Anthony find their way through the hallucinogens or will they become the next hit?”GRAVETRANCERS #1 (W): M. L. Miller (A): James Michael Whynot (C): Dee Cunniffe (L): Jim CampbellI think I’ve written for Geek long enough for you guys to know that I’m really into some bonkers comics. The crazier things get inside a story with art, colors, and letters to boot always have me on board as a fan. Graverancers #1, written by M. L. Miller, with art by James Michael Whynot, Dee Cunniffe on colors and lettering by Jim Campbell, checks every box on that criteria list. Black Mask publishers a comic from these creators who give us enough to keep us engaged, but hooked to know what happens next.via Black MaskM.L. Miller writes a narrative that will creep you out to the core. He never holds back on how low it can (and potentially could) get for one second. He weaves together a story that’s not only mysterious and questionable, but ghastly and realistic. You can tell that he won’t be holding back in order to protect you. Miller based Gravetrancers off of a real-life case where a cemetery was making a profit off reselling plots when they dumped the bodies in a hole in the back of the lot. Miller takes the inspiration and moves it into a narrative that’s sometimes uneasy and tense. I know I’m using a lot of negative words to describe it, but these are not negative words. It’s honestly quite the opposite.Gravetrancers #1 will make you feel uncomfortable. However, that shouldn’t sway you from the comic. Miller lays out some harsh truths, especially for his two main puzzling characters, Maribel and Anthony. They’re trying to either piece together or let go of the past. Either way, they’re trying to find some truth, some closure, but with the events unfolding, you’re not sure if they’re gonna get it. The uncertainty of the fates of these characters leaves you guessing.Miller balances out these harsh truth with a compelling story that leaves you on edge, diving into issues of family, crime, secrets and most importantly, drugs. He secures you within the hallucinogenic grip of the story, but you’re not sure if any of these people (or you) will make it out alive.via Black MaskJames Michael Whynot does a remarkable job in bringing this eerie and menacing narrative to life with his pencils and inks. With Whynot’s art, you almost feel like you’re tripping out with characters in the story. You’re not sure what you’re seeing. You’re not sure of what’s happening. But you look deeper into the panels to make sure you’re not missing anything. While his art overall is top-notch, the last couple of pages of the comic show you what Whynot can do. The details into one of our main characters trips and the hellish existence they find themselves in truly stand on its own just with his art.Dee Cunniffe are so metal. Within this comic, that metal stands out. He combines a hardcore and brutal type tone to this comic. It bleeds with vivid and trippy colors or neon blues, pinks, greens, yellow and more. Cunniffe also invokes that feeling of being uneasy with his colors. He excels highlighting those all too anxious moments with a mixture of dark and light neons. Jim Campbell knows how to place to allow you to follow the story. He never fails to move your eyes from panel to panels flawlessly. Campbell brings everything together to create this unsettling, but stirringly impressive comic.via Black MaskGravetracers #1 fills you with an unreliable story, sinister imagery and an overall sense of “what did I just read,” but it will leave you coming back for more. Gravetracers #1 is now available on Comixology and your local comic shop.12/13/17 Releases – In addition to Gravetrancers #1, here’s a list of other new titles that came out this week that you should be reading.Giants #1 by Carlos and Miguel Valderrama (W, A, L) Dark HorseThere’s Nothing There Vol. 1 (M+) by Patrick Kindlon (W), Maria Llovet (A), Jim Campbell (L) Black MaskJudas #1 by Jeff Loveness (W), Jakub Rebelka (I), Colin Bell (L) BOOM! StudiosBrave Chef Brianna SC by Sam Sykes (W), Selina Espiritu (I), Sarah Stern (C), Jim Campbell (L) BOOM! StudiosRumble #1 by John Arcudi (W), David Rubin (A), Dave Stewart (L)Let us know what you like about Geek by taking our survey.
This 96 Discount Offer On The AWS Certified Architect Developer Bundle 2019
Cloud technology is the new big deal. Its importance is increasing at an exponential rate primarily due to the increase in data dependency. Almost all jobs now depend on huge amounts of data and hence cloud technology and cloud architects are in increasing demand. Wccftech is going to help you become an expert in this technology by providing an amazing discount offer on the AWS Certified Architect Developer Bundle 2019.AWS Certified Architect Developer Bundle 2019 featuresThe bundle includes 7 extremely comprehensive courses that will allow you to become in expert in a matter of days. Each course has been designed by a professional with years of experience in relevant fields. With the help of this bundle you will be able to earn the AWS certifications and become a professional. You will be able to stand out from the crowd and earn big bucks. It is a great line of career, so if you have interest in learning, this is the place to begin. Here are highlights of what the AWS Certified Architect Developer Bundle 2019 has to offer:DevOps on AWSLearn How to Setup Your Infrastructure on The CloudAWS Fundamentals for BeginnersCatalyze Your Cloud Education with a Beginner-Friendly Look at This Top Cloud Services PlatformAWS Certified Developer Associate: Practical GuideStudy to Pass the AWS Certified Developer Associate Exam On Your First TryAWS Certified Solution Architect 2019Study to Earn One of Today’s Most Valuable IT CertificationsAWS MasterClass: Storage & CDN – AWS S3 & AWS CloudFrontLearn Cloud Computing, Storage, & CDN Services in AWS-S3, EBS, EFS, & CloudFrontAWS MasterClass: DevOps with AWS Command Line InterfaceUse AWS CLI to Automate Your AWS Cloud ServicesAWS MasterClass: Monitoring & DevOps with AWS CloudWatchUse AWS CloudWatch & SNS to Keep a Close Eye on Your AWS CloudOriginal Price AWS Certified Architect Developer Bundle 2019: $984.93Wccftech Discount Price AWS Certified Architect Developer Bundle 2019: $35 Share Tweet Submit
World War I German Zeppelin Raids Helped Enable Todays MRI Systems
Related Content News | Image Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT) | July 16, 2019 AAPM 2019 Features More Than 40 Presentations on ViewRay’s MRIdian MRI-guided Radiotherapy ViewRay Inc. announced that the company’s MRIdian System is the focus of more than 40 abstracts selected by the… read more Feature | Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) | July 09, 2014 World War I German Zeppelin Raids Helped Enable Today’s MRI Systems MRI imaging benefits from the legacy of post-WWI legislation Technology | Contrast Media | July 15, 2019 FDA Approves Bayer’s Gadavist Contrast for Cardiac MRI in Adult Coronary Artery Disease Patients The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Gadavist injection for use in cardiac magnetic resonance… read more News | Neuro Imaging | July 05, 2019 Delta T1 Maps Provide Quantitative, Automated Solution to Assess Brain Tumor Burden Imaging Biometrics LLC (IB) a subsidiary of IQ-AI Ltd., is highlighting a recently published study in the American… read more This August marks the 100th anniversary of the start of World War I in 1914. A few months after the start of the war, in early 1915, the Germans began using Zeppelins in the first application of strategic bombing over British cities. Zeppelin raids continued over Russia, Belgium, France, Italy and Britain for the duration of the war. These raids ironically paved the way for U.S. government policy that guaranteed access to the cryogenic gas required to operate today’s magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems. The Achilles heel of the Zeppelin was its use of explosive hydrogen gas, which made these massive craft prone tospectacular fires when they were shot down. This led the United States to look at using rare and expensive helium when it developed its own Zeppelin air fleet after WWI. Since the United States is one of the primary sources for helium, the supply was limited and its military application was considered very important, the U.S. government created the Federal Helium Reserve in the 1920s to regulate and protect the helium supply. Although the threat of mass bombing raids by Zeppelins has long passed into the pages of history, the legacy of the legislation they helped create is still in existence and aids today’s MRI market. Last October, the U.S. Congress passed legislation toreauthorize, extend and improve operations of the Federal Helium Reserve in Texas. Today the need for this bill is more to guarantee the helium supply for high-tech applications, with much of this going toward MRI systems. Helium is a critical component for cooling MRI magnets. The systems must be regularly replenished with helium in order to maintain normal operating temperatures.Congress’ approval of HR 527, the High Tech Jobs Preservation Act, was seen as a big step toward providing greater assurance of access to domestic supplies of refined helium. The approval was applauded by both the National Electrical Manufacturers Assn. (NEMA) and the Medical Imaging and Technology Alliance (MITA), with both organizations including key MRI systems vendors.Today, the Federal Helium Reserve provides about 42 percent of U.S. crude helium and about 35 percent of the world’s demand. The bill authorizes the reserve to sell helium to private entities. If Congress failed to act on any helium legislation, the Federal Helium Reserve would have ceased operations. U.S. users of helium acquire much of their supply via industrial gas refining companies associated with the reserve.Helium’s medical uses go beyond MRI, including lung tissue visualization, heart catheterization methods and medical lasers. Outside medicine, it is essential for the aerospace industry, aluminum helium arc welding, and computer chip and optical fiber manufacturing. It is also used in national defense applications such as rocket engine testing and purging, surveillance devices, air-to-air missiles and scientific balloons.In a statement during debate on the bill last fall, the White House said a shutdown of the program would cause a spike in helium prices that would harm many U.S. industries and disrupt national security programs. “The passage of this legislation will safeguard patient access to critical MRI scans that are used to detect, diagnose and treat disease, facilitate medical research at academic institutions around the country that are spearheading life-saving innovations, and prevent a needless disruption to the U.S. economy that would have put millions of jobs at risk,” said Gail Rodriguez, executive director of MITA, in a statement. Read the 2016 article, “Huge Helium Discovery Safeguards Future Supply for MRI Scanners.” FacebookTwitterLinkedInPrint分享 Technology | Neuro Imaging | August 07, 2019 Synaptive Medical Launches Modus Plan With Automated Tractography Segmentation Synaptive Medical announced the U.S. launch and availability of Modus Plan featuring BrightMatter AutoSeg. This release… read more Technology | Interventional Radiology | August 16, 2019 Profound Medical Receives U.S. FDA 510(k) Clearance for Tulsa-Pro Profound Medical Corp. announced it has received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to… read more News | Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) | August 01, 2019 | Jeff Zagoudis, Associate Editor FDA Issues Draft Guidance on Medical Device Safety in MRI Environment The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a new draft guidance titled Testing and Labeling Medical Devices for… read more Two brain metastases from primary lung cancer are contrast enhanced in the brain of a 61-year-old male. Speakers at AHRA 2019 will state that ProHance and other macrocyclic MR agents present a very low risk to patients. Images courtesy of Bracco Images of regions of interest (colored lines) in the white matter skeleton representation. Data from left and right anterior thalamic radiation (ATR) were averaged. Image courtesy of C. Bouziane et al. News | Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) | August 06, 2019 Canon Medical Introduces Encore Orian MR Upgrade Program Canon Medical Systems USA Inc. is helping to provide low-cost patient care solutions for its customers with the launch… read more Feature | Contrast Media | July 18, 2019 | By Greg Freiherr How To Manage Risk in the MR Suite Macrocyclic contrast agents have the best safety profile of all the magnetic resonance (MR) contrast media that are n read more News | Focused Ultrasound Therapy | July 10, 2019 Insightec’s Exablate Neuro Approved With GE Signa Premier MRI in U.S. and Europe GE Healthcare and Insightec announced U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval and CE mark for Insightec’s… read more News | Neuro Imaging | August 16, 2019 ADHD Medication May Affect Brain Development in Children A drug used to treat attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) appears to affect development of the brain’s… read more 