Seeing the aurora in a new light: Sounding rocket to help scientists study Northern Lights

Feb. 1, 2013 ? On a cold February night in Poker Flat, Alaska, a team of scientists will wait patiently for the exotic red and green glow of an aurora to illuminate the sky. Instead of simply admiring the view, this group from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center of Greenbelt, Md., and The Aerospace Corporation of El Segundo, Calif. will launch a sounding rocket up through the Northern Lights. The rocket could launch as early as the night of Feb. 2, 2013, but the team has a two-week window in order to find the perfect launch conditions.

Armed with a series of instruments developed specifically for this mission, the VISIONS (VISualizing Ion Outflow via Neutral atom imaging during a Substorm) rocket will soar high through the arctic sky to study the auroral wind, which is a strong but intermittent stream of oxygen atoms from Earth's atmosphere into outer space. Although the rocket will survive only fifteen minutes before splashing down in the Arctic Ocean, the information it obtains will provide answers to some long-standing questions, says Doug Rowland, who is the VISIONS principal investigator at Goddard.

VISIONS will study how oxygen atoms leave Earth's atmosphere under the influence of the aurora. Most of the atmosphere is bound by Earth's gravity, but a small portion of it gets heated enough by the aurora that it can break free, flowing outwards until it reaches near-Earth space. The atoms that form this wind initially travel at about 300 miles per hour -- only one percent of the speed needed to overcome gravity and leave Earth's atmosphere.

"This oxygen would normally never gain enough energy to leave the atmosphere," says Rowland. "On the other hand, at very high altitudes, satellite experiments have measured oxygen atoms moving faster than 50 miles per second. These experiments have shown that if oxygen can reach these high altitudes, there are plenty of ways for it to gain even more energy, in which case the oxygen atoms can escape near-Earth space entirely. What we don't know is how the oxygen gets enough energy to fight against gravity and reach the higher altitudes where these slingshots are active."

To find out what is doing the heavy lifting to kick start the oxygen, Rowland and his team are waiting to launch the rocket during the active phase of an aurora, which only lasts from 20 to 30 minutes. Auroras indicate a dramatic increase in the energy input to the upper atmosphere, creating a golden opportunity for the rocket to study the escaping oxygen, and learn more about what gives the oxygen the energy it needs to escape from Earth.

The VISIONS mission will highlight the advantages of using a sounding rocket instead of a satellite to gather the new information. In addition to being smaller and less expensive, sounding rockets provide vertical profiles of the auroral environment, on both the upleg and downleg portions of their parabolic trajectory, with speeds much less than those of orbiting satellites. Further, rockets can be launched from the right place at just the right time to study the aurora -- unlike a satellite that can only encounter an aurora when it flies through it by chance.

To solve the mystery behind the auroral wind, the sounding rocket will use four unique instruments. The key instrument is Goddard's MIniaturized Low-energy Energetic Neutral Atom imager, known as MILENA, which will directly observe the oxygen flowing out of the atmosphere.

In the past, scientists have only been able to study the up-flowing oxygen on a small scale -- because the oxygen is electrically charged, it is confined by Earth's magnetic field, and instruments can only measure the oxygen close to its source region. The revolutionary MILENA instrument, however, contains twin imagers that can observe the oxygen further along on its journey, after it has stolen an electron from a neutral gas atom in the atmosphere. This allows the oxygen to break free from its magnetic prison and travel a long distance, where it can be detected remotely. By mapping the oxygen, MILENA acts as a type of camera that builds up a picture of the auroral wind using oxygen atoms instead of light.

Although the MILENA instrument itself is new, it already has a successful history. The instrument was modeled after a similar imager known as MINI-ME (for Miniature Imager for Neutral Ionospheric Atoms and Magnetospheric Electrons) that flew on the NASA/U.S. Dept. of Defense FASTSAT (Fast Affordable Science and Technology Satellite) mission, which ended in Nov., 2012, after two years on-orbit.

The other instruments aboard VISIONS, including the Rocket-borne Auroral Imager (RAI), the Fields and Thermal Plasma (FTP) instrument, and the Energetic Electron Analyzer/Energetic Ion Analyzer (EEA/EIA), will work with MILENA to detect where the auroral activity occurs and measure the auroral energy that heats the oxygen. Goddard is providing MILENA and the FTP, while the RAI and EEA/EIA instruments are provided by The Aerospace Corporation of El Segundo, Calif.

NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Va., including the NASA Sounding Rocket Operations Contract (NSROC), is providing the rocket and payload support systems. The Poker Flat launch range is operated by the University of Alaska, Fairbanks, under contract to NASA.

Although the VISIONS mission will last only 15 minutes, Michael Collier, a planetary scientist at Goddard who is the MILENA instrument lead, said the information gathered in its short trip will be crucial.

"What we're doing is launching into a specific period of intense geomagnetic activity," Collier said. "With VISIONS, it may be the case we're not getting a whole lot of data, but we get the data we want."

All they have to do is wait.

Share this story on Facebook, Twitter, and Google:

Other social bookmarking and sharing tools:

---

Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by NASA.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.

---

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130201093128.htm

2012 nfl draft kevin durant jazz fest zurich classic selena lamichael james lamichael james

Beer, bike fest on Rec board agenda | PalisadeTribune.com

Bill Hoffmann

The Palisade Park and Recreation Advisory Board at its January meeting decided to start planning for an annual beer festival, including a short-course bike race, to start in 2014.

In other discussion at the Jan. 24 meeting, the board members reviewed the board?s first Christmas family and children gift basket give-away. The board also heard about plans for an adult and collegiate rugby tournament planned at Peach Bowl Park in September. Also, the board proposed organizing a volunteer neighborhood and park watch program.

A beer festival would extend the tourist season for business in Palisade, Cody Butters, town board trustee and liaison to the park and recreation board, said at the meeting. Butters, who is a district manager for the AC Golden Brewing Company, also reported that her proposal for a beer festival went well at the town board meeting on Jan. 22. The town board agreed the town could sponsor the event and provide staff support.

Butters and the board agreed to schedule the event for the end of September or the first part of October. The beer festival would be held Saturday afternoon and a bike race held either Saturday morning or on Sunday.

The park and recreation board agreed to hold the beer fest at Memorial Park while the bike race would go through downtown. The board agreed to consult with residents in the planning. Butters said an entrance fee for the beer fest would be $25 to $30. The festival would attract a minimum of 1,500 people, she estimated. The bike event might be a Cruiser Ride or a Criterium, a bike race on a short course run on closed-off town streets.

Butters assigned ?homework? to board members to suggest good names to consider for the beer festival and the bike event.

Gift Baskets
Sarah Brooks, town recreation/events coordinator, reported that the board?s Christmas gift basket donations to families and children ?went very well.? Butters said baskets were donated to eight families with 23 children. Brooks noted that gifts for the baskets were received from park and recreation board members, the Palisade Police Department, and members of the community who dropped off books and toys they purchased.
Brooks said she and Butters shopped for items at Walmart, and that Walmart donated a $100 gift card to match. Brooks and Butters spent about $800 which included cash donations and gift cards.
Brooks reported that the gifts were delivered in boxes to Taylor Elementary School on Dec. 21. Contents included nonperishable foods, books, toys, coloring books, crayons, board games, stuffed animals, balls, and clothing.

?Palisade PD handed out boxes to the families dressed in uniform and told families they were available if they needed additional help, an ear for listening, or encouragement for the kids to stay active in school,? Brooks said in a report to the board.
?Mike Nordine (Palisade?s interim police chief) noted that after the most recent school shooting, Sandy Hook, the parents and school staff were happy to see the officers take active interest in Taylor students and safety,? Brooks reported.

Riverbend Park
Brooks described two projects underway at Riverbend Park. A wastewater diffuser is being installed in the river at the east end of the park, and a portion of the river bank is being rebuilt and stabilized at the west end of the park. The river bank was eroded during heavy spring runoff in 2011.

Brooks said the projects have required temporary closure of portions of a trail and area in the park. She hoped people would stay out of the project areas, but she hoped the closures would not last long.
Brooks also reported that a Palisade High School shop teacher, who is to retire, has budget funds that he can use ?to spend on students and give back to the community.? Brooks said the funds will be used to build foot bridges across the drainage ditch in Riverbend Park and to be used to build two composters in the Community Garden. In addition, the funds will be used to build a couple of additional raised garden boxes at the garden.
In other business, Brooks reported that the Colorado Forest Service invited Palisade to participate in a state-wide Arbor Day poster contest for children in grades 1 to 5. The park and recreation board will judge the posters on March 28. National Arbor Day is April 26.

Brook said the town also will hold a mini-Arbor Day event to display entries and announce winners in the grades and the overall winner. The event will conclude with the planting of a tree at the new fire station or at the Community Garden in honor of the overall winner.

Neighborhood Watch
The board took a step toward establishing a volunteer neighborhood watch program for parks and neighborhoods. Park board member Carolyn McKinley said kids have time in the summer and that some kids spend the time in wrong ways. McKinley proposed a volunteer program. Trustee Butters said it was, ?a good idea.? She suggested announcing the program in the spring town newsletter and in the press.
Brooks noted that Peach Bowl Park and the Skate Park experience the most vandalism. She suggested that volunteers could make their presence known between 7 and 9 p.m. during the week. Brooks also said volunteers could visit parks on weekends, 8 to 10 p.m.
Chair Rick Fox commented that there has been a lack in the past few years of ?community policing.? Fox said it is a powerful way for officers to interact with people informally.
Trustee Butters invited board members to attend the ?meet and greet? for the final candidates for the vacant Palisade police chief post. The event will be held Thursday, Jan. 31, at 5:30 p.m. at the Memorial Community Center.

Rugby tournament
Brooks reported that the Grand Junction Rugby Club has scheduled an adult and collegiate tournament in Peach Bowl Park on Sept. 28 and 29. Brooks said 300 to 400 people in the valley would come, and that visitors could watch for free. Colleges from around the state would participate. She said she hoped it would be an annual event.

Brooks said the town was asked about starting a Rookie Rugby Team. It would be the town?s first youth sport program, she noted.

In other discussion, Brooks said the Community Garden needs a lot of work, such as a straw bale wall, trees, and fencing. The town might seek smaller grants of $3,000 to $5,000 for the work, she said.

Brooks also said that she, Palisade Community Development Director Becky Levy; and Palisade Trustee Bennett Price are interested in obtaining outdoor fitness equipment for the parks.

They would seek grants of $3,000 to $5,000 to fund the first circuit of three pieces. Brooks said outdoor fitness equipment in parks is a newer concept nationwide in the past five to 10 years.
?We could be the first park in the valley to have these fitness stations,? she commented.
Board member Winslow Robertson asked if the town could seek grants for Riverbend Park improvements, such as for a performance stage. Brooks said funding could be sought.

Brooks also noted that the Division of Wildlife is interested in a partner to build a ?boulder park? at Riverbend Park that could be used during the annual Outdoor Heritage Days. Brooks said ?bouldering? involves climbing a wall without ropes, and that gym mats and shoes are used. Brooks said the town could offer bouldering camps in the summer.

Brooks announced a Bike Rodeo will be held on April 6 at the Memorial Park, 9 a.m. to 12 noon. Volunteers are needed to run stations, and adults and big kid bikers are needed to demonstrate bike safety, she said. Adults can bring their bikes to learn bike maintenance, including changing tires, she said.
Brooks showed board members one of the Trail Emergency Service Marker signs that the county will install along the Riverfront Trail between Palisade and Fruita.

Brooks said the signs will help people using the trail to explain their location in reporting an emergency.
Brooks said she wants to bring a 5K Run to Palisade, although not this year. It could be held in the fall or in the spring during the town Health Fair, she said.

Brooks said Board Member Rondo Buecheler asked the board to write to the BLM and ask to include Palisade?s bikes trails and trail development in its documents. The Palisade Rim Trail had not been included.

Source: http://palisadetribune.com/beer-bike-fest-on-rec-board-agenda/

shawn johnson Tony Sly Lauren Perdue tagged Heptathlon London 2012 shot put London 2012 Track And Field

Being Led Home | Barnstorming

photo by Josh Scholten

Nothing was helping.? Everything had been tried for a week of the most intensive critical care possible.? A twenty year old man, completely healthy only two weeks previously, was holding on to life by a mere thread and nothing and no one could stop his dying.

His battle against MRSA pneumonia precipitated by a brief influenza-like illness had been lost.?? Despite aggressive hemodynamic, antibiotic and ventilator management, he was becoming more hypoxic, his lungs collapsing and his renal function deteriorating.?? He had remained unresponsive during the ordeal due to intentional sedation for his time in the ICU.

The intensivist looked weary and defeated. The nurses were staring at their laps, unable to look up, their eyes tearing. The hospital chaplain reached out to hold this young man?s mother?s hands.

After almost a week of heroic effort and treatment, there was now clarity about the next step.

Two hours later, a group of family and friends gathered in the waiting room outside the ICU doors. Most were the age of their friend; they assisted each other in tying on the gowns over their clothing, helped distribute gloves and masks. Together, holding each other up, they waited for the signal to come in after the ventilator had been removed and he was barely breathing without assistance. They entered his room and gathered around his bed.

He was ravaged by this sudden illness, his strong young body beaten and giving up. His breathing was now ragged and irregular, the sedation preventing response but not necessarily preventing awareness. He was surrounded by silence as each individual who had known and loved him struggled with the knowledge that this was the final goodbye.

His father approached the head of the bed and put his hands on his boy?s forehead and cheek.? He held his son?s face tenderly, bowing in silent prayer and then murmuring words of comfort. It was okay to let go. It was okay to leave us now. We will see you again. We?ll meet again.? We?ll know where you can be found.

His mother stood alongside, rubbing her son?s arms, gazing into his face as he slowly slowly slipped away. His father began humming, indistinguishable notes initially, just low sounds coming from a deep well of anguish and loss.

As the son?s breaths spaced farther apart, his dad?s hummed song became recognizable as the hymn of praise by John Newton, Amazing Grace.? The words started to form around the notes. At first his dad was singing alone, giving this gift to his son as he passed, and then his mom joined in as well. His sisters wept and sang. His friends didn?t know all the words but tried to sing through their tears. The chaplain helped when we stumbled, not knowing if we were getting it right, not ever having done anything like this before.

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.

Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come;
?Tis Grace that brought me safe thus far
and Grace will lead me home.

Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.

When we?ve been here ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun.
We?ve no less days to sing God?s praise
Than when we?ve first begun.

And then he left us, his flesh and heart having failed, to enter into a new life of joy and peace.

His mom hugged each sobbing person there?the young friends, the nurses, the doctors humbled by a powerful pathogen. She thanked each one for being present for his death, for their vigil kept through the week in the hospital.

This young man, stricken by a common virus followed by a devastating bacterial pneumonia, was now lost to this mortal life, having profoundly touched so many people in his dying. His parents? grief in their loss, so gracious and giving to the young people who had never confronted death before, remains, even now a few years later, ?unforgettable.

This was their promise to their son as they let him go, as he was lost to them: that he would be found, that he was deeply loved.
This was their sacred gift to us who witnessed this love in the letting go: such Grace will lead us all home.

?

Source: http://briarcroft.wordpress.com/2013/01/31/being-led-home/

yahoo news nbc news cnn news Connecticut shooting Nancy Lanza school shootings cbs news

Video: NOLA prepares for first post-Katrina Super Bowl

>>> let's now move to jenna wolfe down in new orleans with what you need to know about the big game . jenna?

>> reporter: if anyone knows how to host a party, it is new orleans . it's the tenth year they're hosting the super bowl . from the crossover, she knows something about new orleans and the game. been out all night.

>> all night.

>> there's a buzz in the city, michelle, isn't there?

>> we've got super bowl leading into mardi gras . the streets are busier, earlier in the day, late nights, early mornings. it's a long week.

>> is it me or does music just play 24 hours in this town?

>> it's not just here.

>> that's right.

>> all over the city, there's music, all kinds of music coming from everywhere. i saw lil' wayne last night to ra rascal flats .

>> your jewelry looks amazing.

>> thank you. i brought you, so you were impartial, ravens and san francisco . you don't have to do anything to earn them.

>> thank you. what does the fan need to know about this game?

>> john and jim harbaugh playing each other, their parents will be a nervous wreck. two teams that not necessarily expected to be here at the beginning of the season. if you haven't heard about ray lewis by now, i don't know what to do.

>> no, you do. you will.

>> people will call in sick monday. be ready for that.

>> give me one good bit of trivia.

>> super bowl xlvii , tenth time in new orleans . first one post katrina. don't say anything about home runs and you should be safe.

>> or goals, hockey, anything like that?

>> touchdowns.

Source: http://video.today.msnbc.msn.com/today/50664435/

toys r us kohls target target walmart best buy sears

Precarious positions?

Spotlight will be on Ramirez, Chapman and Madson, among others, when camps open

Stephen Dunn / Getty Images

The Dodgers' 2013 success may hinge on Hanley Ramirez's ability to stick at shortstop.

Opinion

By Tony DeMarco

NBCSports.com contributor

updated 9:15 p.m. ET Jan. 31, 2013

Tony DeMarco

Differentiating from among at least 10 legitimate 2013 pennant contenders isn't easy. Who even confidently can pick five playoff teams in each league at this point?

Take your pick: Revenue sharing; excellent management by front offices not blessed with high payrolls; traditional big-spenders caught in relative down phases; all of the above. Whatever the combination of factors, there appears to be that much balance at the top these days.

All of which makes these spring position questions -- among many others -- that much more important:

1. Can Hanley Ramirez still play shortstop? Yes, the health of Matt Kemp -- and to a lesser degree, Carl Crawford -- will directly impact the Dodgers' chances of translating their $200 million plus payroll into a post-season appearance.

But Ramirez's dual role at the most-important defensive position and projected No. 5 hitter behind Kemp and Adrian Gonzalez makes his success critical.

Ramirez isn't the offensive force he was as recently as his 2008-09 Silver Slugger seasons, as his yearly OPS numbers are in decline. Still, among shortstops, only Troy Tulowitzki should have better power numbers.

But those two aren't at all confused defensively, with Tulowitzki always near the top while Ramirez's metrics have been below league average throughout his career. And Ramirez, listed at 6-2, 230 pounds, will play this season at age 29.

Ramirez's ability to handle shortstop also affects the Dodgers' third-base situation, and possibly Dee Gordon's future in the organization. The current plan is Luis Cruz at third base, but the fact that there's interest in Scott Rolen tells you the Dodgers aren't sold on Cruz's short-term viability as a regular. If Ramirez ends up at third, Gordon could resurface, assuming he makes enough contact at the plate to take advantage of his speed.

Not helping matters is the fact that Ramirez could miss a chunk of the Dodgers' camp due to World Baseball Classic participation for the Dominican Republic. And he probably won't be playing much shortstop for that squad, as Jose Reyes also is on the roster.

2. Is Bruce Rondon ready to be the Tigers' closer? GM Dave Dombrowski has assembled a better overall roster than last year's AL pennant winners. Victor Martinez's return and Torii Hunter's addition should make a very good offense even better. The rotation is deep enough that trading Rick Porcello is a serious possibility. There's no salvaging that infield defense, but Hunter will make the outfield defense better.

But Jim Leyland says that championship teams almost always have dominant closers, and admits he doesn't know at this point just what he'll do with that role. The job likely is Rondon's to lose, but there isn't a clear, proven alternative if he does.

There are many examples of hard throwers quickly emerging as closers early in their careers, and Rondon -- whose fastball regularly exceeds 100 mph -- throws as hard or harder than any of them.

But there's no way of knowing at this point whether Rondon -- a 6-3, 265-pound 22-year-old with six years in the Tigers' system -- can be this season's Aroldis Chapman, or will be just another hard-throwing rookie with a history of some command issues.

Rondon's 2012 numbers at the top three levels of the Tigers' system speak to his potential: 53 IP, 32 hits, 66 strikeouts, 2.54 K/W ratio, 1.094 WHIP. But he's pitched only eight innings above the Double-A level, so perhaps his emergence won't occur until later in 2013.

3. Can the Braves' projected third-base time share of Chris Johnson and Juan Francisco succeed? The Uptonification of the Braves arguably has created the NL's most dynamic outfield. But what's being underplayed in all the anticipation of watching Justin Upton, B.J. Upton and Jason Heyward, left-to-right, is this sobering fact:

The Braves lost Michael Bourn, Chipper Jones and Martin Prado from their 2012 regular lineup. So if there is going to be a net gain in the Braves' offense in 2013, this third-base time share needs to be productive.

Specifically, the Bourn-Jones-Prado trio in 2012 produced 33 HR, 189 RBIs, 235 R, 60 SB, .287 BA, .361 on-base. There will be more power from the Uptons and Johnson/Francisco, but a loss in on-base percentage, batting average and probably steals.

Johnson projects as the regular third baseman. He put together his best big-league season in 2012 at age 27, and at least one projection of his 2013 season is very similar: .273, 14 HR, 70 RBIs, 57 runs, 4 steals, .306 on-base percentage.

Francisco, entering his 25/26 season, remains potential unfulfilled, but appears to be nothing more than a low-average, 20-25-homer type with regular playing time -- which he isn't likely to get in this situation, barring injury.

4. Who plays shortstop for the Cardinals? Look up and down their projected 25-man roster, and you just don't see many potentially troubling issues. And few, if any, organizations have more quality prospects on the verge than the Cardinals do with Trevor Rosenthal, Shelby Miller, Oscar Taveras and Carlos Martinez.

But right in the middle of the diamond -- and at the top of the lineup -- the question remains: What impact will Rafael Furcal have coming off an elbow injury at 35? The elbow isn't expected to be an issue, but even so, Furcal's 121 games played last season marked his highest total since 2008.

Pete Kozma filled in nicely down the 2012 stretch, but is a .236 career minor-league hitter. Ronny Cedeno has been signed for insurance, but can be overexposed rather quickly. Will the Cardinals be forced to deal from their surplus of prospects if Furcal can't go 100-plus games?

5. Can Aroldis Chapman convert to the rotation? Some think the Reds should just leave well enough alone and keep Chapman as one of the game's top two overpowering closers along with Craig Kimbrel.

But dominant No. 1 starters being as rare as they are, this is worth a shot. However, it won't come without ramifications -- and it very well could have an overall adverse affect on the Reds' 2013 season while being a huge positive for Chapman's long-term development.

The Reds were very fortunate to have their five-man rotation make 161 starts in 2012. It's highly unlikely they approach that number again, so that's an argument on the side of Chapman's conversion. That said, Chapman's innings total will be limited to 160 or so, creating that ongoing drama.

The projected bullpen does appear very deep without Chapman -- Jonathan Broxton, Sean Marshall, Sam LeCure, Logan Ondrusek, Jose Arredondo, Alfredo Simon, Mike Leake, J.J. Hoover, Tony Cingrani. But Broxton's strikeout rate fell in 2012, and his health remains a concern.

Dusty Baker and Bryan Price will have plenty to deal with, don't you think?

6. Is Ryan Madson healthy enough to close for the Angels? An underperforming back end of the bullpen damaged the Angels' early 2012 results almost as much as Albert Pujols' slow start and Mike Trout being stuck in Salt Lake City until late April. They got the bullpen straightened out with Ernesto Frieri's acquisition and emergence, but still fell short of the postseason.

GM/former big-league reliever Jerry Dipoto knows bullpens as well as anybody, and improved his with the signings of Madson and Sean Burnett to replace Jordan Walden (traded for Tommy Hanson) and LaTroy Hawkins. But ultimately, Madson's comeback after missing all of 2012 due to Tommy John surgery last March will be how Dipoto's dealings will be judged. Madson, who took a one-year guaranteed deal for only $3.25 million (plus up to another $3.5 million in roster and games-finished incentives) could be ready by Opening Day. And if he regains his 2011 form -- 2.37 ERA, 32 of 34 save opportunities, 60.2 innings, 62 strikeouts, 1.15 WHIP -- the Madson-Frieri-Burnett-Kevin Jepsen-Scott Downs quintet looks post-season-worthy.

? 2013 NBC Sports.com? Reprints

advertisement

More newsStephen Dunn / Getty Images

Precarious positions?

??DeMarco: Can Hanley Ramirez still pick it at shortstop full-time? The Dodgers' 2013 success may hinge on the answer, and the issue tops our list of spring questions.

Rotoworld: Trout tops fantasy rankings

Angels outfielder Mike Trout's ability to contribute in statistical categories across the board?earns him the top spot this year in Rotoworld's fantasy baseball rankings.

Source: http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/50657228/ns/sports-baseball/

southern miss rod blagojevich rod blagojevich uconn ncaa march madness mario williams vcu

Diabetes distresses bone marrow stem cells by damaging their microenvironment

Jan. 31, 2013 ? New research has shown the presence of a disease affecting small blood vessels, known as microangiopathy, in the bone marrow of diabetic patients. While it is well known that microangiopathy is the cause of renal damage, blindness and heart attacks in patients with diabetes, this is the first time that a reduction of the smallest blood vessels has been shown in bone marrow, the tissue contained inside the bones and the main source of stem cells.

These precious cells not only replace old blood cells but also exert an important reparative function after acute injuries and heart attacks. The starvation of bone marrow as a consequence of microangiopathy can lead to a less efficient healing in diabetic patients. Also, stem cells from a patient's bone marrow are the most used in regenerative medicine trials to mend hearts damaged by heart attacks. Results from this study highlight an important deficit in stem cells and supporting microenvironment that can reduce stem cells' therapeutic potential in diabetic patients.

The research team, led by Professor Paolo Madeddu, Chair of Experimental Cardiovascular Medicine in the School of Clinical Sciences and Bristol Heart Institute at the University of Bristol, investigated the effect of diabetes on bone marrow stem cells and the nurturing of small blood vessels in humans.

The new study, published in the American Heart Association journal Circulation Research, was funded by the British Heart Foundation (BHF).

The researchers have shown a profound remodelling of the marrow, which shows shortage of stem cells and surrounding vessels mainly replaced by fat, especially in patients with a critical lack of blood supply to a tissue (ischaemia). This means that, as peripheral vascular complications progress, more damage occurs in the marrow. In a vicious cycle, depletion of bone marrow stem cells worsens the consequences of peripheral ischaemia.

Investigation of underpinning mechanisms revealed that exposure of bone marrow stem cells to the high glucose level typical of diabetes mellitus impacts on "microRNAs," which are tiny RNA molecules controlling gene expression and hence biological functions. In particular, microRNA-155, that normally controls the production of stem cells, becomes dramatically reduced in bone marrow cells exposed to high glucose. Diabetes-induced deficits are corrected by reintroducing microRNA-155 in human stem cells. The authors foresee that microRNAs could be used to regain proper stem cells number in diabetes and fix stem cells before reintroduction into a patient's body.

Professor Paolo Madeddu said: "Our study draws attention to the bone marrow as a primary target of diabetes-induced damage. The research suggests that the severity of systemic vascular disease has an impact on bone marrow causing a precocious senescence of stem cells. More severe bone marrow pathologies can cause, or contribute to, cardiovascular disease and lead to worse outcomes after a heart attack, through the shortage of vascular regenerative cells. Clinical evidence indicates that achieving a good control of glucose levels is fundamental to prevent vascular complications, but is less effective in correcting microangiopathy. We need to work hard to find new therapies for mending damaged microvessels."

Professor Costanza Emanueli, Chair of Vascular Pathology and Regeneration at the University of Bristol and co-author of the paper, added: "MicroRNAs represent an attractive means to repair the marrow damage and generate "better" stem cells for regenerative medicine applications. We are working at protocols using microRNA targeting for enhancing the therapeutic potential of stem cells before their transplantation to cure heart and limb ischaemia, which are often associated with diabetes mellitus. More work is, however, necessary before using this strategy in patients."

The findings advance the current understanding of pathological mechanisms leading to collapse of the vascular niche and reduced availability of regenerative cells. The data provides a key for interpretation of diabetes-associated defect in stem cell mobilisation following a heart attack. In addition, the research reveals a new molecular mechanism that could in the future become the target of specific treatments to alleviate vascular complications in patients with diabetes.

Professor Jeremy Pearson, Associate Medical Director at the BHF said: "Professor Madeddu and his team have shown for the first time that the bone marrow in patients with diabetes can't release stem cells which are important for the repair of blood vessel damage commonly found in people with the disease.

"If we could restore the ability of the marrow to release stem cells there is potential to reduce the effects of diabetes, and prevent the devastating consequences of the condition such as blindness and amputation. Understanding more about injured blood vessel repair will also aid in the fight to mend hearts damaged after a heart attack, a vital research area we fund through our Mending Broken Hearts Appeal."

Share this story on Facebook, Twitter, and Google:

Other social bookmarking and sharing tools:

---

Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by University of Bristol.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.

---

Journal Reference:

1. G. Spinetti, D. Cordella, O. Fortunato, E. Sangalli, S. P. Losa, A. Gotti, F. Carnelli, F. Rosa, S. Riboldi, F. Sessa, E. Avolio, A. P. Beltrami, C. Emanueli, P. R. Madeddu. Global Remodeling of the Vascular Stem Cell Niche in Bone Marrow of Diabetic Patients: Implication of the miR-155/FOXO3a Signaling Pathway. Circulation Research, 2012; DOI: 10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.112.300598

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/health_medicine/genes/~3/aCcjThUyzhI/130131163015.htm

greta van susteren tony parker the five year engagement chris kreider correspondents dinner 2012 white house correspondents dinner 2012 whcd

Report: University of Texas could save $490M

Associated Press

Posted on January 29, 2013 at 3:26 PM

Updated yesterday at 4:34 PM

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) ? University of Texas President Bill Powers has released a new report suggesting ways the school could generate $490 million in savings and revenue over the next decade.

Among the recommendations presented Tuesday is raising room-and-board fees for students who already are facing mounting tuition costs.

The report says the university also could save money by streamlining business costs and doing a better job commercializing its research and technology.

The report was prepared for the university by a group of business leaders. Powers endorsed the goal of saving money, but says the school will be cautious about changes that could increase student expenses.

Texas lawmakers slashed nearly $1 billion from higher education in 2011 and schools are under pressure from Gov. Rick Perry to rein in tuition rates.

Source: http://www.wfaa.com/news/texas-news/188886061.html

the secret world of arrietty cee lo allen iverson jr smith chris anderson rondo suspended bay bridge