New subtype of ataxia identified

Apr. 29, 2013 ? Researchers from the Germans Trias i Pujol Health Sciences Research Institute Foundation (IGTP), the Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), and the Sant Joan de D?u de Martorell Hospital, has identified a new subtype of ataxia, a rare disease without treatment that causes atrophy in the cerebellum and affects around 1.5 million people in the world.

The results have been published online on April 29 in the journal JAMA Neurology.

The cause of ataxia is a diverse genetic alteration. For this reason it is classified in subtypes. The new subtype identified described by the researchers has been called SCA37. The study has found this subtype in members of the same family living in Barcelona, Huelva and Madrid and Salamanca (Spain). The finding will allow in the medium term that these families and all who suffer the genetic alteration identified will have personalized therapies and diagnostics prior to the development of the disease. The study was funded by La Marat? de TV3 (the Catalan public TV) in 2009, dedicated to rare diseases.

The cerebellum is a part of the brain located behind the brain that, among other functions, coordinates the movements of the human body. When it is atrophied, movement disorders appear, and when the ataxia evolves, the patients suffer frequent falls and swallowing problems. Progressively, they end up needing a wheelchair. Until now, there have been identified more than 30 different subtypes of ataxia, the first of which was described in 1993 by Dr. Antoni Matill, head of the Neurogenetics Unit, IGTP, and Dr. Victor Volpini, head of the Center for Molecular Genetic Diagnosis at IDIBELL.

The publication of this paper has been possible thanks to the collaboration of the Hospital de Sant Pau, Universitat Pompeu Fabra and the Pitie-Salp?tri?re Hospital in Paris.

Particular eye movements

The first symptoms of ataxia may develop during the childhood or adult stage, depending on the subtype. The SCA37 subtype, the first cases of which were identified by Carme Serrano, neurologist at the Sant Joan de Deu Hospital, Martorell (Barcelona), is expressed at 48 years on average. One of the features of SCA37 subtype is the difficulty for vertical eye movements. Besides the patients identified in Spain by Dr. Serrano and Germans Trias and IDIBELL researchers, there are evidence of the existence of more people affected with this subtype of ataxia in France, Holland and Britain, and for this reason it seems to be a quite prevalent subtype of ataxia in Europe.

All SCA37 patients have a common genetic alteration in the portion 32 of the short arm of chromosome 1, wherein there are a hundred genes. Currently, researchers are sequencing it with new generation technologies to find the specific mutation that causes ataxia. When it is found it will be possible to make an accurate diagnosis in family members who do not yet have developed symptoms. Also, it will be possible to investigate the biological mechanisms that cause ataxia in order to develop and implement personalized therapies, with drugs or stem cells therapy.

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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by IDIBELL-Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS.

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

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Journal Reference:

1. Carmen Serrano-Munuera et al. New Subtype of Spinocerebellar Ataxia With Altered Vertical Eye Movements Mapping to Chromosome 1p32. JAMA Neurology, 2013 DOI: 10.1001/jamaneurol.2013.2311

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/z64szTe0ND4/130429164819.htm

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Creating a Winning Mobile Strategy for Your Business

Think about how much the Internet has changed the way we communicate and collaborate, shop and socialize, the business models it has disrupted as well as the new ones it has created. And now we?re seeing the next evolution of the web in the palm of our hands, on our mobile phones.

Over the past 6 months, I?ve become an evangelist for mobile. I?ve seen how much I?m increasingly using my phone and I?m sure you have too ? and so have your potential customers.

Did you know that:

I especially love that last number, because it represents an incredible opportunity for marketers and business owners to capture conversions right then and there, as potential customers are searching on their phones for your brand or product.

To help you, I?m going to share with you five tips you can use now in your business to take advantage of this age of mobile that we are in.

#1: Understand Your Users

As with any marketing campaign, you first need to understand who your target audience is and, in this case, how they are using mobile.

Review your website analytics to see how many people are currently accessing your site from mobile devices. Even if it?s not very many right now, expect that number to go up dramatically in the next year. In just the past year, one of my client?s saw website traffic from mobile double from 16% to 32%.

After reviewing your analytics, think about who your customer segments are ? their demographics, buying habits, and psychographics. Would they be searching for your particular company or product, or would it be a more general inquiry or true local search?

Then survey or talk to some of your customers. Find out how they are using or would use your site on their phones. What kind of information would they be looking for and at what stage in the buying process?

#2: Design for All Devices

Once you?ve identified your customers and what they would want to do on your site, then see how well your current site enables them to accomplish their goals.

Ideally, your website should work equally well no matter what the device ? whether someone is viewing it on a desktop, laptop, iPad, Kindle, iPhone, Android, Blackberry, or any other device that comes along. 40% of users have turned to a competitor?s site after a bad mobile experience.

On your site, you can use what is known as responsive design ? this means that no matter the size of the device, the website will respond with an appropriate layout, text size, and size of images. The content is the same on all devices; it?s just arranged differently.

If you need to have very different content on mobile versus desktops/laptops (based on what you sell and who your target audience is), then you?ll want to consider creating a separate site just for mobile.

Even if you?re not quite convinced that your customers are searching for your site on their phones, consider the emails you are sending to them as well as your Twitter and Facebook posts. Do they contain links to pages on your site? If so, what kind of experience are people having when they get to your site? Over 40% of emails are opened on a mobile device and Americans now spend more time on Facebook?s mobile site and apps than on the Facebook.com website.

#3: Claim Your Local Listings

If you have any type of local business ? a store, an office where you meet clients, any physical location ? you need to make sure that you claim your local business listings with Google Places, Bing, CitySearch, Yelp, FourSquare, and other sites related to your market.

Once you claim your listing, complete the profile information and ask your customers to submit reviews on Google, CitySearch, and Yelp. The reason is that if someone searches for your type of business, the ones that have local profiles will show up in a map and will be listed first, right under the ads, with buttons the user can click on to call you, get directions, or visit your website. Think about ? you will be on Page 1 of the search results without having to buy an ad.

Notice that these listings show the number of reviews for each business as well as prominent buttons to call, get directions, and visit the website.

#4: Target Your Ads and Landing Pages

After you have optimized your site for all devices and claimed your local listings, strongly consider spending part of your budget on mobile advertising. A third of all paid search clicks will be on mobile by the end of this year.

Currently, the ad rates are lower, in fact as much as 50% cheaper, on smart phones than on desktops, yet the clickthrough rate is nearly double on smart phones.

Be sure to target your ads ? you can do so based on geo-location as well as intent. You can also use offers as part of Google AdWords ? they are an excellent way to increase conversions and foot traffic.

Also remember that your landing pages need to be optimized for mobile: large buttons for click to call; if you have a form, make it very short and easy to fill out on a phone.

#5: Create Mobile Content

Finally, create your own mobile content. Use apps like Twitter?s Vine, Videolicious, and Magisto to create videos you can share either with individuals or with your entire social network.

These tools are great for creating quick, engaging, and fun content. You can create product demos, behind the scenes shots, sneak peeks, and intros to new prospects and clients.

Remember to be yourself. People will want to follow you and see what you?re doing because it?s interesting and real, not sales-y. Once they get to know you virtually ? your interests, your humor, your quirks ? then they?ll be more likely to want to do business with you.

I love to cook, so here?s a Vine video I made. I also shoot Vine videos when I?m at conferences and events, but I wanted to show a more personal side with this video.

Example Vine Video

?

Conclusion

Right now, there is a tremendous opportunity for you to stand out from your competitors and to capture the mobile advantage, using the tips I just outlined.

Remember in the late 1990?s when businesses started to realize that they needed a website ? that consumers were increasingly expecting them to have an online presence? We are now at that stage with mobile. However, this time around, consumers are not going to be quite as patient. They expect the companies they do business with to have a mobile-friendly website, to not make them click and wait and squint and peck to find what they are looking for when they visit your site.

I?m going to leave you with this call to action: browse to your website on your mobile phone and see how it looks and how well it works. Then, make it a top priority to develop a mobile strategy now that fits your users? needs and your business goals.

About The Author
Carol Morgan Cox teaches in the Internet Marketing Bachelor?s degree program at Full Sail University, where she is the Course Director for Internet Business Models and Fundamentals of Digital Entrepreneurship. Carol also owns InterMedia Solutions, an Internet marketing and technology company whose clients have included Fortune 500 companies, small businesses and start-ups, community organizations, and political candidates.

You can follow her on Twitter @CarolMorganCox.

Source: http://www.marketingpilgrim.com/2013/04/creating-a-winning-mobile-strategy-for-your-business.html

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Samsung continues on U.S. warpath as Best Buy micro-stores roll out

MADRID, April 25 (Reuters) - Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina said the 10-match ban given to his team mate Luis Suarez for biting an opponent was 'absurd' and 'excessive'. Uruguay international Suarez was punished on Wednesday by the English Football Association (FA) after he bit the arm of Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic at the weekend. "He knows he is in the wrong, and that it was a mistake, but the 10-game punishment seems absurd to me, excessive and unfair," Spanish international Reina was quoted as telling radio station Cadena Cope by sports daily AS on Thursday. ...

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/samsung-continues-u-warpath-best-buy-micro-stores-164013829.html

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Paltrow named World's Most Beautiful Woman

By Gael Fashingbauer Cooper , TODAY

People

Gwyneth Paltrow is People magazine's "World's Most Beautiful Woman."

She has an Oscar, a rocker husband, two children, and now the title of World?s Most Beautiful Woman. Gwyneth Paltrow, 40, graces the cover of People magazine?s Most Beautiful People issue.

?I can?t believe it,? Paltrow said of the magazine?s honor. ?I kept thinking, ?This can?t be true.? I?ve never been more surprised or flattered.?

Adele, Beyonce, Jennifer Lawrence, and Kristen Stewart are among the many other stars who made People?s "Most Beautiful" list.

Paltrow works out two hours every day, and says her regular workouts can be ?a nightmare,? but that she pushes herself to do them by viewing staying in shape as part of her job. ?Let?s face it, it?s much easier to just chill out and watch TV,? she said.

Although her new cookbook, ?It?s All Good,? stresses a strict diet, Paltrow admits that after a careful day of watching what she eats, she lets herself eat whatever she wants for dinner. ??Because I want to enjoy my life and I love pasta,? she told the magazine.

She also talked to the magazine about her marriage to Coldplay rocker Chris Martin. ?I never make him feel hemmed in or like he?s in trouble,? she said. ?And on a personal level, as friends, we really get along.?

She also addressed some untrue Internet claims, saying she doesn?t ban her children from eating carbs or eat naked in front of a mirror. ?It?s all so silly,? she said of the rumors.

She spoke honestly about a miscarriage she had, saying ?To this day, I feel like I?m missing that kid,? and allowed that she still thinks about possibly adding another child to her family.

The actress will reprise her role as Tony Stark?s assistant and love interest, Pepper Potts, in ?Iron Man 3? which opens May 3. But Paltrow told People that because of her children, she has cut back to making only one movie per year, and she looks for something that won?t take her away from her family.

Asked what her biggest ?aha moment? was, Paltrow said it was when she met her daughter, Apple. ?I looked into her eyes and I was like, ?What was I doing until this moment??? she said.

Neilson Barnard / Getty Images for Tiffany & Co.

Related content:

Source: http://todayentertainment.today.com/_news/2013/04/24/17892727-gwyneth-paltrow-named-worlds-most-beautiful-woman-by-people?lite

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Jump-Start Your Productivity with the "Path of Highest Enjoyment"

Staring at a daunting list of tasks is rough, but staring at that first item can be just as bad. If that first task is just too unnerving to start, Lifehack.org recommends switching to a task that you find more enjoyable.

Lifehack calls this the "path of highest enjoyment:"

I found one of the easiest and most effortless ways to complete my projects is to be flexible in my project management approach. For example, most people will finish the tasks in their to-do list in sequential order. Task 1 comes first, followed by Task 2, then Task 3, etc. Sounds straight forward and easy, doesn?t it?

I did this for a long time until I realized it wasn?t the most effective method. For example, some days I would procrastinate on a project because I felt like doing Task 3 rather than Task 1. Yet by the project management rule, I needed to do Task 1 first before I could do Task 3.

On the other hand, when I give myself flexibility over what to do (while maintaining within the confines of the project), working on the project becomes like a big adventure. This approach makes me feel like I?m in a candy store and I get to pick whatever candy I want.

Sometimes, this isn't an option, and you need to get things done in sequence (or in order of importance and urgency). But when a project is feeling a bit slow, this (like structured procrastination) can at least help jump-start your productivity. Hit the link for more tips on finishing what you start.

10 Essential Tips to Finish What You Start | Lifehack

Photo by Justin See.

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/WmnJMd2Ak_o/jump-start-your-productivity-with-the-path-of-highest-476967006

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Fallout for states rejecting Medicaid expansion

WASHINGTON (AP) ? Rejecting the Medicaid expansion in the federal health care law could have unexpected consequences for states where Republican lawmakers remain steadfastly opposed to what they scorn as "Obamacare."

It could mean exposing businesses to Internal Revenue Service penalties and leaving low-income citizens unable to afford coverage even as legal immigrants get financial aid for their premiums. For the poorest people, it could virtually guarantee they remain uninsured and dependent on the emergency room at local hospitals that already face federal cutbacks.

Concern about such consequences helped forge a deal in Arkansas last week. The Republican-controlled Legislature endorsed a plan by Democratic Gov. Mike Beebe to accept additional Medicaid money under the federal law, but use the new dollars to buy private insurance for eligible residents.

One of the main arguments for the private option was that it would help businesses avoid tax penalties.

The Obama administration hasn't signed off on the Arkansas deal, and it's unclear how many other states will use it as a model. But it reflects a pragmatic streak in American politics that's still the exception in the polarized health care debate.

"The biggest lesson out of Arkansas is not so much the exact structure of what they are doing," said Alan Weil, executive director of the nonpartisan National Academy for State Health Policy. "Part of it is just a message of creativity, that they can look at it and say, 'How can we do this in a way that works for us?'"

About half the nearly 30 million uninsured people expected to gain coverage under President Barack Obama's health care overhaul would do so through Medicaid. Its expansion would cover low-income people making up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level, about $15,860 for an individual.

Middle-class people who don't have coverage at their jobs will be able to purchase private insurance in new state markets, helped by new federal tax credits. The big push to sign up the uninsured starts this fall, and coverage takes effect Jan. 1.

As originally written, the Affordable Care Act required states to accept the Medicaid expansion as a condition of staying in the program. Last summer's Supreme Court decision gave each state the right to decide. While that pleased many governors, it also created complications by opening the door to unintended consequences.

So far, 20 mostly blue states, plus the District of Columbia, have accepted the expansion.

Thirteen GOP-led states have declined. They say Medicaid already is too costly, and they don't trust Washington to keep its promise of generous funding for the expansion, which would mainly help low-income adults with no children at home.

Concerns about unintended consequences could make the most difference in 17 states still weighing options.

A look at some potential side effects:

?The Employer Glitch

States that don't expand Medicaid leave more businesses exposed to tax penalties, according to a recent study by Brian Haile, Jackson Hewitt's senior vice president for tax policy. He estimates the fines could top $1 billion a year in states refusing.

Under the law, employers with 50 or more workers that don't offer coverage face penalties if just one of their workers gets subsidized private insurance through the new state markets. But employers generally do not face fines under the law for workers who enroll in Medicaid.

In states that don't expand Medicaid, some low-income workers who would otherwise have been eligible have a fallback option. They can instead get subsidized private insurance in the law's new markets. But that would trigger a penalty for their employer.

"It highlights how complicated the Affordable Care Act is," said Haile.

?The Immigrant Quirk

Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer, a Republican, called attention this year to this politically awkward problem when she proposed that her state accept the Medicaid expansion.

Under the health law, U.S. citizens below the poverty line ? $11,490 for an individual, $23,550 for a family of four ? can only get coverage through the Medicaid expansion. But lawfully present immigrants who are also below the poverty level are eligible for subsidized private insurance.

Congress wrote the legislation that way to avoid controversy associated with trying to change previous laws that require legal immigrants to wait five years before they can qualify for Medicaid. Instead of dragging immigration politics into the health care debate, lawmakers devised a detour.

Before the Supreme Court ruling, it was a legislative patch.

Now it could turn into an issue in states with lots of immigrants, such as Texas and Florida, creating the perception that citizens are being disadvantaged versus immigrants.

?The Fairness Argument

Under the law, U.S. citizens below the poverty line can only get taxpayer-subsidized coverage by going into Medicaid. But other low-income people making just enough to put them over the poverty line can get subsidized private insurance through the new state markets.

An individual making $11,700 a year would be able to get a policy. But someone making $300 less would be out of luck, dependent on charity care.

"Americans have very strong feelings about fairness," said Weil.

Medicare and Medicaid chief Marilyn Tavenner, also overseeing the health overhaul, told the Senate recently that cost is a key question as the administration considers the Arkansas deal. Private insurance is more expensive than Medicaid.

But Tavenner said the Arkansas approach may be cost-effective if it reduces the number of low-income people cycling back and forth between Medicaid and private coverage, saving administrative expenses. "We are willing to look at it," she said.

___

Associated Press reporter Andrew DeMillo in Little Rock, Ark., contributed to this report.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/fallout-states-rejecting-medicaid-expansion-072613081.html

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Garmin nüvi 3597LMTHD

The Garmin n?vi 3597LMTHD ($379.99 direct) is the best automotive GPS navigation device you can buy today. While the market for standalone devices has stagnated and even contracted in recent years, there's still plenty of demand?especially at bargain prices. That's not the 3597LMTHD's mission; instead, it advances the state of the art with its magnetic mount, glass capactive screen, and beautiful 3D lane assistance, so it's our Editors' Choice for high-end GPS devices. If you're willing to shell out the cash, the n?vi 3597LMTHD is the best add-on car navigation device you'll find.?

Design and Screen
The n?vi 3597LMTHD measures 5.4 by 3.1 by 0.5 inches (HWD) and weighs 6.8 ounces. The housing is a little thinner and more tapered than last year's 3590LMT, and is nicely finished in a textured silver aluminum. The package contains the device itself, a vehicle suction cup mount, a combination power cable and traffic receiver, a USB cable, and a Quick Start manual.

The new magnetic mount is one of the best things about the 3597LMTHD; it grabs strongly enough to hold the device in place on the windshield or dashboard, but it also lets go easily for when you want to take the unit with you after parking the car. Unlike other devices, you don't have to snap it in and out of a holder with a clasp, or line it up with a docking connector; you just place it on, and pull it away when you're done. Plus, the power cable plugs into the mount, not the device, so you can leave the mount wired up and ready to go in the car.

The big 5-inch glass capacitive display supports multi-touch, so you can pinch and zoom map graphics and other data. It features a sharp 800-by-480-pixel resolution and is bright and colorful. Unfortunately, the glass shows plenty of reflections, especially with the top down on the Mini Cooper convertible I tested with; it was very difficult to see from certain angles. There's also a built-in accelerometer for using the 3597LMTHD in either horizontal or vertical orientation, which is an unusual and welcome feature in a standalone GPS.

You get free lifetime map updates, which include routes, POIs, and navigation info up to four times per year for the life of the device. Garmin used to charge a lot of money for map updates, but with the advent of always-updated GPS apps on cell phones, the company ended the practice.

Performance, Other Features, and Conclusions
The user interface is a little different than before; Garmin has increased the size of the upcoming turn and distance icon on the top left, which is a good move. You still see a large speed limit sign, plus your speed, ETA, and current road along the bottom, while the top right features an oversize bar for the next turnoff road. The unit warns you of upcoming school zones and other road hazards, and you can display nearby gas stations, ATMs, and restaurants, and navigate to them with a single tap.

In the menu system, there's an Apps subcategory that lets you hook into Garmin's ecoRoute HD dongle, among other things, and you can run voice-activated searches, which were hit-or-miss in my testing, as is often the case with this feature.

Map graphics look great; the 3597LMTHD inherits the terrain renderings of the prior 3590LMT and 3790T models, and also displays many buildings in Manhattan in 3D. You also get split-screen, photorealistic 3D lane assistance, which shows you how to exit up ahead on the right, while continuing to update the standard 3D map on the left. Both views are a little small as a result, but it's a very useful feature to have.

In my tests, voice prompts sounded smooth, clear, and full, and were loud enough to compensate for the top being down on the convertible. The?3597LMTHD also uses natural language processing when possible, so that it says "turn left at the light" instead of the name of the next street.

Real-time traffic software also gets a boost; you can now bring up a large display on the right that indicates an upcoming delay, how far along in the trip it is, how long the delay is, and how much time a suggested reroute would save.?Garmin says you'll get roughly two hours of battery life out of the 3597LMTHD. That's basically only good for taking it out of the DC jack in order to use it for an emergency cell phone charge, but that's fine.??The n?vi 2597LMT also offers voice-activated Bluetooth hands-free calling.

Unfortunately, while the?3597LMTHD showcases many recent advances on Garmin's part, it's still $380, and is limited by the current state of consumer GPS technology. The 3597LMTHD lost position a few times, particularly in Manhattan, thanks to the well-documented "urban canyons" problem with GPS location. Sometimes, the 3597LMTHD thinks you're in one lane about to follow its directions, when you're in fact in an adjacent lane?say, a service road, or after a major split, where half the traffic will turn off and head somewhere else. I would follow the unit's directions, only to later miss a turn it wanted me to take, because it never indicated which side of the median I should be on. In addition, real-time traffic works fairly well on major highways, but it's still not perfect, and the?3597LMTHD missed some congestion on secondary roads and New York city streets during my test period.

Having said all of that, the Garmin?n?vi 3597LMTHD is a top pick, as long as you are willing to pay a premium for the best, and as long as you understand that even the best consumer GPS devices have yet to solve certain issues while on the road. The Garmin n?vi 2597LMT swaps the capacitive touch screen for a plastic resistive one that isn't as sharp, the casing is made of plastic instead of aluminum, and it switches to a standard. non-magnetic mount, but otherwise it has the same features and performs very similarly to the 3597LMTHD, but for $130 less. Finally, the?Magellan SmartGPS, offers smartphone data connectivity, a cloud-based account, and a similar glass capacitive touch screen also for $130 less, although its interface is far more cluttered and complex.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ziffdavis/pcmag/~3/xiyCd7ZHlM8/0,2817,2417666,00.asp

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