March 14, 2012, 8:04 a.m.

First Bell starts this spring-like Wednesday morning with some good news: Mimi Yen, a student at Stuyvesant High School, was a top finalist in the prestigious Intel Science Talent Search for her studies of microscopic worms.

Mimi, 17, who lives in Brooklyn, was awarded third-place honors and a $50,000 prize Tuesday night after the final round of the competition in Washington. In a news release, the Intel Science Talent Search folks, who call the annual event the nations most elite and demanding high school research competition, described her work as a study of evolution and genetics, which focuses on microscopic worms, specifically looking at their sex habits and hermaphrodite tendencies.

The news release goes on to say:

Mimi believes that through research such as hers, we may better understand the genes that contribute to behavioral variations in humans. Mimi was born in Honduras and is fluent in Cantonese. She plays French horn and volunteers to prepare and deliver meals to people with serious illnesses.

In January, SchoolBook profiled Mimi and the two other students from New York City who made the Intel finals Huihui Fan, 17, from Staten Island, also from Stuyvesant, who studied how to genetically improve the shape of crop plants roots; and Danielle Goldman, 17, of the Bronx High School of Science, who studied anxiety disorders among young people.

Mimi responded to an e-mail from Elbert Chu, the reporter for that profile, the day before the finals in Washington, saying: The week is winding down now were going to be meeting our senators tomorrow and then were headed to the gala for the awards ceremony.

She went on to say: Ive been making notes of the week thus far, just in case any future finalists from Stuyvesant need some guidance. Its been really fun all the other finalists are such interesting people. Although the judging interviews were pretty brutal, they were also incredibly humbling makes me realize just how much more there is to learn.

Congratulations to Mimi, as well as Huihui and Danielle. And kudos, as well, to a student from Westchester County, who took fifth place and was awarded $30,000 in the competition: Benjamin van Doren of White Plains, who investigated a poorly understood behavior of nocturnal migratory birds, called morning flight, which has potential implications for the growing wind power industry.

In other news this Wednesday, The Daily News reports that Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo is trying to drum up public support for the deal he brokered in January with the teachers unions that established the framework for a new teacher evaluation system.

View post:
SchoolBook: Brooklyn Student Takes Third Place in National Intel Competition

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

From medical treatments to alternative energy solutions, innovation has been top of mind in our nations capital this week. Honoring high school seniors with exceptional promise in math and science, Intel Corporation and Society for Science & the Public (SSP) recognized the winners of the nations most elite and demanding high school research competition, the Intel Science Talent Search.

Nithin Tumma, 17, of Fort Gratiot, Mich., won the top award of $100,000 from the Intel Foundation for his research, which could lead to more direct, targeted, effective and less toxic breast cancer treatments. He analyzed the molecular mechanisms in cancer cells and found that by inhibiting certain proteins, we may be able to slow the growth of cancer cells and decrease their malignancy. Nithin is first in his class of 332, a varsity tennis player and a volunteer for the Port Huron Museum, where he started a restoration effort for historical and cultural landmarks.

Second place honors and $75,000 went to Andrey Sushko, 17, of Richland, Wash., for his development of a tiny motor, only 7 mm (almost 1/4 inch) in diameter, which uses the surface tension of water to turn its shaft. Born in Russia, Andrey worked from home to create his miniature motor, which could pave the way for other micro-robotic devices. Andrey, a long-time builder of small boats, recently filed for a Guinness World Record for the smallest radio-controlled sailing yacht.

Third place honors and $50,000 went to Mimi Yen, 17, of Brooklyn, N.Y., for her study of evolution and genetics, which focuses on microscopic worms, specifically looking at their sex habits and hermaphrodite tendencies. Mimi believes that through research such as hers, we may better understand the genes that contribute to behavioral variations in humans. Mimi was born in Honduras and is fluent in Cantonese. She plays French horn and volunteers to prepare and deliver meals to people with serious illnesses.

These finalists join the ranks of other notable Science Talent Search alumni who over the past 70 years have gone on to win seven Nobel Prizes, two Fields Medals, four National Medals of Science, 11 MacArthur Foundation Fellowships and even an Academy Award for Best Actress.

We invest in Americas future when we recognize the innovative achievements of our nations brightest young minds, said Intel President and CEO Paul Otellini. Hands-on experience with math and science, such as that required of Intel Science Talent Search finalists, encourages young people to think critically, solve problems and understand the world around them. Rather than simply memorizing facts and formulas, or repeating experiments with known outcomes, this competition engages students in an exciting way and provides a deeper level of understanding in such important but challenging subjects.

Other top honors from the competition include:

Fourth Place: Fengning (David) Ding of Albany, Calif. received a $40,000 award for his work on representation theory of Cherednik algebras, a topic in theoretical mathematics that sheds light on deformations of important symmetries, which are related to conservation laws.

Fifth Place: Benjamin van Doren of White Plains, N.Y. received a $30,000 award for investigating a poorly understood behavior of nocturnal migratory birds, called morning flight, which has potential implications for the growing wind power industry.

See the original post:
Teenager Unlocks Potential Pathways for Breast Cancer Treatments, Wins Intel Science Talent Search

March 14, 2012, 8:04 a.m.

First Bell starts this spring-like Wednesday morning with some good news: Mimi Yen, a student at Stuyvesant High School, was a top finalist in the prestigious Intel Science Talent Search for her studies of microscopic worms.

Mimi, 17, who lives in Brooklyn, was awarded third-place honors and a $50,000 prize Tuesday night after the final round of the competition in Washington. In a news release, the Intel Science Talent Search folks, who call the annual event the nations most elite and demanding high school research competition, described her work as a study of evolution and genetics, which focuses on microscopic worms, specifically looking at their sex habits and hermaphrodite tendencies.

The news release goes on to say:

Mimi believes that through research such as hers, we may better understand the genes that contribute to behavioral variations in humans. Mimi was born in Honduras and is fluent in Cantonese. She plays French horn and volunteers to prepare and deliver meals to people with serious illnesses.

In January, SchoolBook profiled Mimi and the two other students from New York City who made the Intel finals Huihui Fan, 17, from Staten Island, also from Stuyvesant, who studied how to genetically improve the shape of crop plants roots; and Danielle Goldman, 17, of the Bronx High School of Science, who studied anxiety disorders among young people.

Mimi responded to an e-mail from Elbert Chu, the reporter for that profile, the day before the finals in Washington, saying: The week is winding down now were going to be meeting our senators tomorrow and then were headed to the gala for the awards ceremony.

She went on to say: Ive been making notes of the week thus far, just in case any future finalists from Stuyvesant need some guidance. Its been really fun all the other finalists are such interesting people. Although the judging interviews were pretty brutal, they were also incredibly humbling makes me realize just how much more there is to learn.

Congratulations to Mimi, as well as Huihui and Danielle. And kudos, as well, to a student from Westchester County, who took fifth place and was awarded $30,000 in the competition: Benjamin van Doren of White Plains, who investigated a poorly understood behavior of nocturnal migratory birds, called morning flight, which has potential implications for the growing wind power industry.

In other news this Wednesday, The Daily News reports that Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo is trying to drum up public support for the deal he brokered in January with the teachers unions that established the framework for a new teacher evaluation system.

Original post:
Brooklyn Student Takes Third Place in National Intel Competition

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Disruptive Innovations and Unsustainable Costs Propel Life Sciences Companies Into the Behavioral Change Business

Students in the seventh through 12th grades entered more than 130 projects that were on display last week at the Bay Model in Sausalito during the annual Marin County Secondary Science Fair.

Students developed a hypothesis, tested that hypothesis through data collection and analysis, and then developed conclusions based on their investigations.

The program is coordinated by the Marin County Office of Education.

Grand prize winners were:

Behavioral science: Liza Mansbach, 10th grade, Redwood High School, "The Effect of BMI on Ability to Estimate Calorie Values in Foods."

Engineering science: Conner Addison, 10th grade, Redwood High School, "The Effect of Turbine Blade Design, Angle of Attack and Wind Velocity on Turbine Power and Efficiency."

Environmental science: Kobe Peery, seventh grade, Saint Mark's School, "Do Darker Colors Attract and Sustain More Heat?"

Life science: Anna Knowles and Sarah Melbostad, 12th grade, Sir Francis Drake High School, "Why do Bristlecone Pines Have Twisted Trunks?"

Math and computer science: Parker Snipes, seventh grade, Saint Mark's School, "Probability and Risk."

Physical science: Eric Bryan, 10th grade, Redwood High School, "Harnessing the Power of Anaerobic Redox: The Effect of the Temperature and Electrode Size on the Electrical Production and Growth Rate of the Electrical Production of a Microbial Fuel Cell."

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More than 130 projects judged in annual Marin secondary school science fair

Nikki Bacolod to collaborate with a Malaysian singer; new songs will be distributed in Asian countries

Ikinagalak ng Viva contract artist na si Nikki Bacolod ang pagkapili sa kanya ng Malaysian recording executive na si Julfekar Ahmad Shah upang makabilang sa piling mga singers na nais bigyan ng break sa nasabing record executive sa Malaysia.

Si Nikki ay runner-up ng Search for a Star in A Million talent search noong 2005 at nakagawa na siya ng album under Viva Records kung saan pumirma siya ng kontrata matapos siyang magwagi. Bagamat mas kilala siya bilang singer, pinasok din ni Nikki ang acting, na isa rin sa kanyang passion kaya tila nalimutan niya ang pagkanta. Pero masaya siya sa oportunidad na dumating sa ngayon na makapag-recording sa Malaysia.

Kasama ni Nikki na nabigyan ng break na mag-record para sa Dream Millennium Art Label sina Bryan Termulo, newbie teen singers Hai Zel and Grendel Ramos, and the Pinoy rock band Frio. Nakatakda silang magrecording ng mga awitin sa Bahasa Malaysia at Pinoy na idi-distribute sa iba't-ibang bansa sa Asia. Ipinakilala sila sa isang pre-listening presscon noong Martes sa Patio Carlito Restaurant sa may Quezon City.

"Masaya naman po ako kung paano ako inalagaan ng Viva. Natutuwa po ako kais binigyan din nila ako ng break sa acting," sabi pa ni Nikki. "Hindi naman po nakaramdam na pinabayaan ako ng Viva dahil sunud-sunod din naman ang projects ko sa kanila."

Nakasama si Nikki sa mga drama shows tulad ng Diyosa, Rosalka, Imortal, at Pangarap na Bituin. Nakalabas din siya sa Maalaala Mo Kaya.

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[Music] Nikki Bacolod to collaborate with a Malaysian singer; new songs will be distributed in Asian countries ...

Public release date: 9-Mar-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Barbra Gonzalez barbgo@rsmas.miami.edu 305-421-4704 University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science

LONDON (March 8, 2012) -- Ecotourism activities that use food to attract and concentrate wildlife for viewing have become a controversial topic in ecological studies. This debate is best exemplified by the shark dive tourism industry, a highly lucrative and booming global market. Use of chum or food to attract big sharks to areas where divers can view the dwindling populations of these animals has generated significant criticism because of the potential for ecological and behavioral impacts to the species. However, the debate has been largely rhetorical due to a lack of sufficient data to make any conclusions either way.

Five University of Miami (UM) Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science researchers, Drs. Neil Hammerschlag, Jerald S. Ault and Jiangang Luo, and graduate students Austin Gallagher and Julia Wester, combined efforts to tackle this issue. In a paper published in the British Ecological Society's Functional Ecology titled, "Don't bite the hand that feeds: Assessing ecological impacts of provisioning ecotourism on an apex marine predator," the team conducted the first satellite tagging study to examine the long-term and long range movement patterns of tiger sharks (the largest apex predator in tropical waters) in response to dive tourism. Video commentary is available at http://youtu.be/9iFl7BxbnXQ.

"We studied two separate populations of tiger sharks: one that originated in Florida and the other in the Bahamas," says Hammerschlag. At the Bahamas site, nicknamed Tiger Beach, chum is widely used to attract sharks for dive tourism purposes. In contrast, shark feeding for ecotourism in Florida waters is illegal.

The team hypothesized that Tiger Beach sharks would exhibit restricted movements around the dive site, especially when compared to tiger sharks tagged in Florida. However, what they discovered was totally different -- Tiger Beach sharks did not exhibit restricted movements near the dive site. Instead, the Bahamas sharks occupied an area over 8500 km2 in size almost five times greater than Florida tiger sharks.

"Not only did we discover that ecotourism provisioning did not affect tiger shark behavior, we found that tiger sharks undergo previously unknown long-distance migrations up to 3,500 km into the open Atlantic. These apparent feeding forays follow the Gulf Stream, an area of high biological productivity that concentrates shark prey," said Ault.

"Given the economic and conservation benefits we believe managers should not prevent shark diving tourism out of hand until sufficient data were to demonstrate otherwise," added Hammerschlag.

Shark finning, the practice of catching a shark, slicing off its fins and then disposing of the body at sea, is resulting in immense shark population declines worldwide. Fins are sold to support the growing demand for shark fin soup, an Asian delicacy. In a 2011 study by UM's Gallagher & Hammerschlag, they showed that shark dive tourism generates more money to local economies than does killing the sharks.

###

Continued here:
Bite the hand that feeds...

FORT WORTH, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

At a time when the Pentagon is considering plans to cut the military by close to 500,000 servicemembers, men and women in uniform are worrying about employment prospects for out-of-work veterans.

Recent survey findings from the First Command Financial Behaviors Index reveal that 70 percent of middle-class military families (senior NCOs and commissioned officers in pay grades E-6 and above with household incomes of at least $50,000)are only somewhat confident or not confident in employment opportunities for veterans. Only one in four survey respondents believe there will be sufficient jobs in the civilian workforce for unemployed veterans.

Military families are not particularly encouraged by government solutions, either. Three out of five servicemembers are aware of the VOW to Hire Heroes Act, a new law that provides employers with tax credits for hiring out-of-work veterans. But of those familiar with the VOW Act, nearly half are not confident that it will increase job opportunities in the civilian workforce.

In addition to concerns for out-of-work veterans, many servicemembers are worried about their own careers in the armed forces. The Index reveals that 37 percent of respondentsare concerned about their future in the military. Top concerns include downsizing of the armed forces, cutbacks to pay and benefits and overall job security.

These anemic confidence levels underscore the high unemployment rates we have seen among veterans today as well as proposed plans for defense cutbacks and downsizing tomorrow, said Scott Spiker, CEO of First Command Financial Services, Inc. When active-duty servicemembers see highly trained and tested veterans struggling to find meaningful work, they are justifiably worried about the thousands of vets who will be entering the civilian workforce in the next few years.

About the First Command Financial Behaviors Index

Compiled by Sentient Decision Science, Inc., the First Command Financial Behaviors Index assesses trends among the American publics financial behaviors, attitudes and intentions through a monthly survey of approximately 530 U.S. consumers aged 25 to 70 with annual household incomes of at least $50,000. Results are reported quarterly. The margin of error is +/- 4.3 percent with a 95 percent level of confidence. http://www.firstcommand.com/research

About Sentient Decision Science, Inc.

Sentient Decision Science was commissioned by First Command to compile the Financial Behaviors Index. SDS is a behavioral science and consumer psychology consulting firm with special vertical expertise within the financial services industry. SDS specializes in advanced research methods and statistical analysis of behavioral and attitudinal data.

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Servicemembers Worried about Job Prospects for Out-of-Work Vets, First Command Reports

On March 6, eight middle school students from Lexington and Rockbridge County won awards at the Shenandoah Regional Science Fair at James Madison University.

Three eighth graders from Lylburn Downing Middle School - Harrison Branner, Caroline Connelly and Diego Velasquez - all got gold medals in their categories. Branner also received the Naval Science Award for Earth and Planetary Science awarded by the Office of Naval Research for his Hair Hygrometers Experiment. Connelly competed in behavioral and social science with her experiment on The Effect of Emotion on Perception. Velasquez studied depth perception and competed in the Medicine, Health, and Nutrition Science category.

Spencer Hough and Jackson Beacham were each awarded a silver medal in the engineering category. Hough investigated windmill design and Beacham worked with bilge keels.

Toree Baldwin also received a silver medal in Medicine, Health, and Nutrition Science for her project on Fingerprint Genetics.

Katherine Bowles represented LDMS in the very competitive category of physics with a study on Storing Tennis Balls.

Audrey Johnston is the eighth grade science teacher at LDMS who guided all the students through their independent projects. It was the most awards ever for a group of LDMS students.

Two Maury River Middle School students also received awards.

There were also two winners from Maury River Middle School. Jennifer Hildredth won a bronze medal in the Environmental Science category. Kayleigh Addington received a special award from the Virginia Section of the American Water Works Association, which comes with a $200 savings bond for her project in the earth and planetary science category.

Over 100 middle school students from public and private schools were in the competition.

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Local Middle School Students Win Awards at Regional Science Fair

NEW HAVEN, Conn., March 7, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Prometheus Research, a leading provider of data management services for behavioral and biomedical research, announced today that it has been selected by the Georgia Institute of Technology to support their $10M National Science Foundation (NSF) "Expeditions in Computing" Award. Prometheus Research will create a web-based data management infrastructure, based on the extensible RexDB platform, to support research associated with the computing grant. The RexDB-based system will allow collaborators to acquire, curate, and access data and files generated by multiple modalities for the measurement and analysis of behavior in children. The application will be HIPPA-/HITECH-compliant and securely available to remote team members.

"This phase of work will meet the immediate needs of acquiring and sharing data generated by social-interaction protocols, as well as provide a platform to reliably manage future data collected fromquestionnaires," said David Voccola, Chief Operating Officer at Prometheus Research.

Prometheus Research's domain expertise in autism and related disorders makes it an ideal partner for the Georgia Tech team.Prometheus has supported or collaborated on some of the largest and most ambitious autism research endeavors in the world, including the Simons Simplex Collection (SSC) and the National Database for Autism Research (NDAR). The tools and processes they've helped develop in the areas of study governance, data collection, data curation, data distribution, and data persistence are now considered best practices for collaborative research, and are already in use at places like the Yale Child Study Center (CT) and the Marcus Autism Center (GA).

"Georgia Tech is working with Prometheus as part of our NSF Expeditions in Computing Award project to develop novel computational modeling and data analysis techniques for capturing and measuring behaviors relevant to diagnosing and treating autism," said James M. Rehg, professor in the Georgia Tech School of Interactive Computing and principal investigator for this project. "Georgia Tech has selected Prometheus to develop a foundational, first-of-its-kind data management system capable of managing the high-bandwidth media assets associated with the research project, such as video and audio, along with more traditional survey and scientific data sets."

About Prometheus Research

Prometheus Research provides data management services and web-native data-management software to biomedical researchers investigating autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders. Its team specializes in designing and building systems capable of accelerating complex interdisciplinary research and of multiplying the value of hard-won research data. Prometheus staff are consummate innovators, and Prometheus technology powers some of the most ambitious and important research endeavors in autism, including the Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative (SFARI). Many of these innovations also are made available to the open source software community, most notably HTSQL, an instant Web interface for databases, and the Research Exchange Database, RexDB.

For more information go to http://www.prometheusresearch.com or call us at +1 (800) 693-9057. Reach us by e-mail at Lux@PrometheusResearch.com

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Georgia Tech Selects Prometheus Research for Expedition in Computational Behavioral Science

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Posted March 6, 2012

Former Symantec architect holding several patents in behavioral technology joins local, venture-backed Ziften Technologies

AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Ziften Technologies recently announced the appointment of Luca Loiodice to the executive team. In his new role, he leads the Research and Core Technology group at the Austin-based enterprise software company.

Mr. Loiodice brings to Ziften almost two decades of experience as architect and developer of machine learning and predictive modeling applications. Throughout his career, he has delivered numerous groundbreaking products in the areas of systems management, security, and online-advertising.

"We are extremely pleased to have Luca on board," says Mark Obrecht, Ziften's President and Chief Executive. "His knowledge and skill set are among the finest I've seen, and he will be the driving force behind the research and development that drive Ziften forward."

Prior to joining Ziften, Mr. Loiodice developed a machine-learning recommendation engine for content at Demand Media. At Microsoft, Mr. Loiodice was architect and supervisor of a machine-learning application reputation service to protect millions of end users against malware. He was previously an architect at Symantec, where he designed and implemented the industry's first anti-phishing detection product.

As a founder at i-Stilo, he developed an information security application providing policy-based scanning and filtering of e-mail. Mr. Loiodice also served as Vice President of Product Development at venture-backed Click Forensics (now Adometry), where he pioneered click fraud detection technologies.

Mr. Loiodice began his career at IBM/Tivoli, where he was responsible for the architecture of IBM's flagship systems management solution for Windows. He holds numerous patents in the behavioral detection of online threats and has a BS in Computer Science from the University of Bari, Italy.

About Ziften Technologies

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Ziften Announces Vice President of Research and Core Technology

Yale scientist and Haskins Laboratories chief executive officer Philip Rubin has been appointed to key roles at the White House and the National Science Foundation.

Rubin has been named assistant director for social, behavioral, and economic sciences in the Executive Office of the Presidents Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). He will also serve as a senior advisor in the National Science Foundations (NSF) Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences (SBE) directorate.

At OSTP, Rubin will focus primarily on a range of executive branch activities in the social, behavioral, and neurological sciences. He will have leadership responsibilities in an interagency initiative that will identify policy options for improving clinical treatments for brain injuries; applying new insights into cognition and learning to the domains of education and learning; and accelerating the development of therapies for neurological diseases.

Over the years Dr. Philip Rubin has provided outstanding leadership and vision at Haskins Laboratories, said Haskins Laboratories president and director of research Kenneth Pugh. He is a dear friend and a mentor to me and others, and I am confident that he will do extraordinary things in his important new roles at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and the National Science Foundation.

In addition to his role at Haskins Laboratories, which is affiliated with Yale University, Rubin serves as an adjunct professor in the Department of Surgery, Otolaryngology, in the Yale University School of Medicine, and is a research affiliate in the Department of Psychology at Yale. Rubin is the former Chair of the National Academies/National Research Council (NRC) Board on Behavioral, Cognitive, and Sensory Sciences, which focuses on the intersection of cognitive science and public policy.

He was the chair of the NRC Committee on Field Evaluation of Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences-Based Methods and Tools for Intelligence and Counter-Intelligence, and a member of the NRC Committee on Developing Metrics for Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Research. He was also a member of the Executive Committee of the Federation of Associations in Behavioral & Brain Sciences. From 2000 through 2003 Rubin served as the director of the Division of Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences at the NSF.

Rubin is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the Acoustical Society of America, the American Psychological Association (APA), the Association for Psychological Science, an elected member of the Psychonomic Society and Sigma Xi, and a member of a number of other professional societies. In 2010 Rubin received APAs Meritorious Research Service Commendation. He is married to Joette Katz, Connecticuts Commissioner of the Department of Children and Families. Rubin and Katz serve as fellows at Yales Trumbull College.

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Yale scientist tapped to serve key roles at the White House and NSF

HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

MeadWestvaco recently selected ODIN, LTD. Industrial Demolition and Asset Recovery, LLC as "Contractor of the Year" for 2011 for ODINs stellar safety program.

We are pleased to receive this award, said Terry Pattarozzi, health and safety manager at ODIN, LTD. A commitment to safety extends from the owners of the company to the managers and field supervisors.

This special recognition was accomplished by meeting MeadWestvaco's continued effort for safety excellence. MeadWestvacos safety criterion involves operating and working safely, focusing constantly on accident prevention. The contractor should exhibit a belief that taking steps to safeguard the work environment can prevent all injuries and occupational illnesses. Throughout the MeadWestvaco Asset Recovery Project ODIN, LTD., employees dedicated themselves to working safely.

ODIN believes that all injuries and occupational illnesses can be prevented, said Pattarozzi. All employees are responsible for their safety and the safety of those working around them. Every person on an ODIN project has the duty and authority to stop working if they believe a safety hazard exists.

ODIN, LTD., practices a behavioral-based safety program, using behavioral science to prevent and solve safety issues. All field employees are required to submit multiple weekly observations to management. ODINs safety program requires a buy-in from all employees. This not only prevents safety, but empowers each member of the ODIN team to keep their working environment safe. Each submission is taken very seriously and management makes changes to prevent an accident before one occurs. ODIN is extremely proud that it has not had a fatality or lawsuit in its 40 years of operation.

ABOUT ODIN, LTD.

We specialize in heavy industrial demolition using the latest techniques and technology for safe and economical results. Whether the plan is to shut down an entire plant or just a process line, a definitive plan must be in place. Let our demolition experts help you determine the scope, complexity and the best, most economical and safe way forward. Our approach to demolition is to minimize the amount of materials going into landfill by channeling as much material and equipment as possible for reuse or recycling. We assign a safety manager to each project to ensure all safety rules and regulations are regarded.

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ODIN, LTD. Is Awarded 2011 Contractor of the Year

As if getting in medical school wasnt hard enough. The Medical College Admissions Test is extending the five and a half hour test to seven hours, creating the largest revision to the test since 1991. The changes, which will take effect in 2015, will create additions to the behavioral social sciences and advanced science concepts in biochemistry and critical thinking sections on the test. In addition to the changes, the writing section of the test is being removed. Kaplan Test Preps director of pre-heath programs, Dr. Jeff Koetje, said changes to the test were implemented in order to align the test material with the current state of medical education and ultimately better prepare students for med school. A lot has changed in medicine and the sciences in the last 20 years, Koetje said. In basic sciences and especially in molecular biology there have been a lot of advances in the in-treatment programs and the way it applies directly to patients. Koetje explains that in addition to these advances, the relationship between doctors and patients has shifted, causing doctors to adopt a more holistic approach in patient care. Theres been a shift in culture of medicine in holistic approach to patient care, Koetje said. In the past, doctors have been criticized. Theres a real commitment on the part of physicians in cultural values and people who have language issues and different social economic backgrounds. Koetje said doctors are often faced with critical decisions on continuing medical treatment with patients who cannot afford care or do not have health insurance. Since the addition to the behavioral science portion will test students on this new holistic approach in medicine, Koetje said pre-med students should expect to take more social science classes to be better prepared for the test. Its not something you necessarily gain overnight, Koetje said. It has to be trained. In a survey conducted by Kaplan in January, about 95 percent of students described their current pre-med education as intense. Koetje said students might find it difficult to fit in the extra course work needed to prepare for the new MCAT, but taking the right classes is vital. Alex Galvin, senior in chemistry, has already taken the test, and she said students should talk to their advisers to prepare for the test changes. I would say just talk to the professional advisers and do your research before you take the exam, Galvin said. Make sure you do really well in your classes before you start and really focus on the big knowledge before taking the exam. Galvin plans to retake the MCAT in late March and is studying four to six hours a week. She said the hardest aspect of the MCAT is not the test-taking itself, but rather the anxiety of the impact the results have on a students future. I think the hardest part is kind of getting over the impact that it has on your chances on getting into school, Galvin said. Really its one of the biggest things to consider. You really have to get past that to even think about what is on the exam. According to Kaplan research, 43 percent of students who applied were accepted into med school across the country. Koetje said that despite the tedious changes in the test, he doesnt expect pre-med students to change their academic courses. Pre-med students are a tenacious bunch, especially the ones who wanted to be doctors since they were five, Koetje said. This is not going to deter someone who has had the goal for a long time. Its going to make it more important to manage the undergrad experience and really take full advantage of study opportunities. For information about MCAT changes, including updates and study tips, students can visit Kaplans website http://www.kaptest.com/mcat.

Originally posted here:
MCAT to add new test sections in 2015 | News

Click photo to enlarge

Salinas High student Audrey Mu os, 14, speaks with Frank Martin, a plant pathologist with the USDA Agricultural Research Service, during the Monterey County Science and Engineering Fair.

A Carmel High School freshman won the grand prize at the annual Monterey County Science Fair Sunday at CSU Monterey Bay.

Ailis Dooner, student of science teacher Jason Maas-Baldwin took the prize and first place for her project in the pharmacology/toxicology senior division, titled "The Effects of Ambient Nitrate and Phosphate on Intracellular Zooxanthellae of Aggregating Anemone."

First runner-up for grand prize was Jimmy Lin, senior at Robert Louis Stevenson Upper School, first place in biochemistry/molecular biology, for "Investigating the Inhibitory Effect of Resveratrol on Ovarian Cancer Cells." Second runner-up was Aradhana Sinha, a junior at Salinas High School, first place in plant biology for her project,

"Triforine Sensitivity in Lettuce: Year Two."

Prizes were awarded in 22 junior and 14 senior categories, with 24 top projects becoming eligible to participate in the California State Science Fair. The top three senior division projects may be eligible to participate in the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, which will be held in Pittsburgh, Pa., in May.

The students entered 375 projects in the fair, said fair director Ginny Brown of the county Office of Education.

Other first-place winners at the fair were: Austin Aldrich and Ari Freedman, eighth grade, Carmel Middle School,, applied mechanics and structures; Trevor Bianchi and Andrew Grogin, eighth grade, All Saints Episcopal Day School, materials science; Michael Bigley and

Victoria Kvitek, eighth grade, Santa Catalina Lower School behavioral and social sciences; Sarah Levi and Amanda Radner, eighth grade, All Saints Episcopal Day, product science - biological; Mary Liu, eighth grade, Buena Vista Middle School, environmental science; Jenna Mazza, eighth grade, Santa Catalina Lower School, applied mechanics and structures.

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Carmel freshman wins top science fair prize

SALT LAKE CITY -- Several weeks from now, March 26- 29, will be a demanding time for 900 junior high school and high school students from across Central Utah, who have been selected to compete in the prestigious Central Utah Science & Engineering Fair at BYU.

Students were chosen from more 100,000 eligible project submissions across Central Utah territories including Alpine, Jordan, Nebo, Provo, Wasatch and private and charter schools.

David van Dijk, lead science instructor for Pleasant Grove High School and moderator for the Alpine School District Science Fair held at Pleasant Grove High School for the past nine years, said that only 75 out of more than 200 project submissions at the district level were selected to receive a medal, certificate of recognition and the opportunity to go on to compete at the regional level.

Winter Wester and Mina Park, both Willow Creek Middle School 9th graders in Lehi, Utah, were selected as a group project to move on to Central Utah Science & Engineering Fair, after winning over several other high caliber projects from competing 9th-12th graders.

Their project, The Impact in Spatial Recognition Between Virtual and Physical Environmental Dimensions, competed for the category of Behavioral Science, and was lauded by judges at the district level for their ingenuity in devising a research study around a problem that had not been previously evaluated at the academic scholarly level.

More particularly, their research study showed the effects of two dimensional top-down maps when used in a three- dimensional virtual environment by a sample population of 30 individuals who either had experience playing video games and/or board games, or had no experience with gaming.

The girls developed their own custom virtual 3D maze that users could navigate while being timed and tracked. Their sample population was selected from a group of top-tiered male and female technologists and sales/marketing/accounting executives for Deseret Digital Media, the technology group responsible for operating KSL.com and DeseretNews.com, among other high profile web sites.

While celebrating their hard-won victory over double scoops of ice cream from JCWs near Thanksgiving Point, Winter and Mina described how their science fair project enabled them to interact with professionals in an active workplace with whom they would otherwise never have the opportunity.

Winter said she and Mina were scared and nervous to test so many adults. However, after conducting the first couple of tests, they said they realized how enjoyable a process it was to perform scientific testing and discover new findings from the data.

Eric Bright

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Utah students put KSL technologists to the test

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By JUDY SHERARD

jsherard@dailynews.net

Some students proved their hypotheses, others didn't.

However, all of them discussed their findings with the judges Saturday at the Fort Hays State University Regional Science and Engineering Fair.

Each project is judged by three judges who are FHSU faculty, students and community members.

Project categories are biochemistry, medicine and health, botany, chemistry, consumer science, Earth and space science, engineering and inventions, environmental science, mathematics and computer science, physics and physical science, social science and behavioral science, and zoology.

There were 68 entries this year from students in fourth through 12th grade, said Ann Noble, director of the fair.

That number is the largest to date, said Paul Adams, FHSU physics professor.

"In the younger students, it's really exciting to see their interest," Noble said. "In the high school students, it's just amazing what they can do, and what they research. They're our next leaders, and I really like to see their ideas."

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Light bulbs go off for science students

Beginning in 2015, Northwestern's nearly 300 annual medical school hopefuls will face a Medical College Admission Test that is broader in scope. The revamped test will consume a nearly seven-hour time frame and place more emphasis on areas beyond the natural sciences, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges, the organization in charge of conducting the test.

The changes mark the first major amendments to the test since 1991.

Currently, the exam's four sections cover physical sciences, verbal reasoning, writing and biological science. The 2015 version will add behavioral science and biochemistry content and sections on critical analysis and reasoning, and retain a biological science section.

Although the new exam will not debut until 2015, current undergraduates could soon see corresponding changes in their courseloads, said Russell Schaffer, senior communications manager for Kaplan Test Prep. The shift in focus will require students to begin planning for the MCAT by taking relevant courses and deciding on the medical track as early as freshman year.

"Current college students will feel the impact in their education now," Schaffer said.

Despite the more rigorous timeline the new test presents, Weinberg sophomore Laura Ledvora said she supports the MCAT revisions because they emphasize a more complete medical world view.

"Doctors need to be well-rounded and educated in areas other than the sciences so that they are educated about how society works and know how to connect with people," Ledvora said. "This knowledge is necessary to form a good physician-patient relationship."

Medical school admissions officers hope the changes will provide more holistic information regarding applicant qualifications. In 2011, medical schools were faced with a record 43,919 applicants, and the applicant pool has grown yearly for the past decade, according to the AAMC.

Officials at top medical schools have expressed divided opinions about the changes. Brenda Armstrong of the Duke University School of Medicine told U.S. News and World Report that she fears requiring students to decide on medicine sooner will exclude non-science majors interested in medical school. Others are encouraged by the reforms, believing they will better align the MCAT with medical admissions standards.

NU's Feinberg School of Medicine adminstrators were unavailable for comment Monday.

The changes were finalized Feb. 16 after three years of deliberation and decision-making by the AAMC. The changes come at a time when many medical schools are implementing extensive curriculum reform. The revised MCAT will likely be in place until 2030.

katiemclaughlin2015@u.northwestern.edu

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MCAT changes require curriculum shift

Newswise — It is estimated that half of all deaths in the United States are linked to behavioral and social factors such as smoking, diet and physical inactivity. Despite these causal links, of the $2 trillion spent annually on health care in the U.S., only 5 percent of that is devoted to addressing behavioral and social risk factors.

The MU School of Medicine will enhance training in behavioral and social sciences with a new $500,000 grant from the National Institutes of Health. The awardwill help medical students learn how to provide culturally competent care, address public health issues and become lifelong learners who are committed to professional development.

“When I went to medical school, I was trained that my job as a physician was to understand my patient’s illness, determine a diagnosis and recommend a treatment,” said Linda Headrick, MD, senior associate dean for education and faculty development at MU’s medical school. “Now, my job doesn’t stop there. In order to be an effective physician, I need to understand all factors as determinants of health.”

The Institute of Medicine reviewed curricula at U.S. medical schools and developed recommendations for better training in behavioral and social sciences. While MU has implemented many of the recommendations, the new NIH grant will help students further interact with patients of different backgrounds and address social and behavioral factors that are linked to health outcomes.

For example, MU medical students are already exposed to clinical simulations that use bilingual actors who pretend to be patients. The actors simulate various health conditions, share cultural beliefs and sometimes communicate with students via an interpreter. The exercise builds communication skills so students can adapt better to patients with different languages and backgrounds. The new NIH grant will help MU’s medical school make similar learningopportunities available more often during the four years that medical students train to become physicians.

The NIH grant will also expand MU’s use of narrative-based learning. By writing about their experiences as physicians in training, medical students gain a better understanding of the needs of patients and families. Physicians also are encouraged to write about their interactions with patients, families and colleagues as a way to identify opportunities for improvement throughout their career.

“Narrative-based reflection encourages students to think critically about things that are important in their medical training experiences,” said Headrick, leader of the grant project at MU. “Helping students develop habits of reflection using writing allows them to process experiences in a healthy way. The students learn from those experiences, and it helps them develop into the highly competent and compassionate doctors they want to become.”

MU students currently record narratives during their first three years of medical school. MU’s medical school also created a unique Legacy Teachers Program to recognize that patients are among the best and most memorable teachers for physicians. Each year, MU medical students participate in the Legacy Teachers Program by submitting essays, artwork or poetry that describe how patients contributed to their lifelong development. Participating patients, patient’s families and students are recognized at an annual luncheon that attracts hundreds of supporters.

Indiana University School of Medicine is a collaborative partner in the new NIH grant project. Medical education leaders from both institutions will share expertise and training methods with each other. MU and Indiana University also have joined several other institutions in forming a nationwide consortium to improve behavioral and social science training in medicine.

“An exciting part of this effort is that the emphasis on behavior and social science aligns so well with the values of our school and the key characteristics of our graduates,” Headrick said. “We have an opportunity with this grant to strengthen learning processes, share best practices with our partners, and help our future physicians deliver effective patient-centered care.”

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Training Grant Targets Behavioral and Social Factors Linked to Health

Schroeder accepts MBU director role

CARTERVILLE —Julia Schroeder, Ph.D., has assumed the role of director of Missouri Baptist University at John A. Logan College. She most recently served as vice president for instruction at Logan.

MBU currently offers bachelors degrees in criminal justice, applied science and behavioral science, along with the MBA and Master of Arts in Counseling programs at Logan. The partnership provides Southern Illinois residents with the opportunity to seamlessly complete a four-year degree or graduate program.

Ribbon cutting set at Liaison Technologies

CARBONDALE — Carbondale Chamber of Commerce will host a ribbon cutting at 3 p.m. Monday at Liaison Technologies, 1075 Reed Station Road, Ste. B, in Carbondale. Liaison Technologies is a global integration and data management company.

SIU Chancellor Rita Cheng will speak, as well as Saluki Innovation Lab Executive Director Kyle Harfst. Refreshments will be served, and tours of the new facility will be provided. The event is open to the public.

Garden named after SI Elder Law

MARION — Hospice of Southern Illinois recently announced that Tiffanny and Chris Sievers from the Marion-based SI Elder Law have taken the lead commitment toward the creation of a memory garden on Halfway Road in Marion.

Construction on SI Elder Law Memory Garden will begin once the $60,000 goal has been acquired to meet all expenses. To learn about additional naming opportunities, visit http://www.hopsice.org — How Can I Support — Memory Garden.

First National Bank awarded top rating

PINCKNEYVILLE — First National Bank in Pinckneyville was awarded an A rating by Weiss Ratings, a leading independent assessor of U.S. financial institutions.

The bank was cited for its “exceptional financial strength” and “excellent financial stability.” Fewer than 2 percent of banks of any size nationwide meet these criteria, according to Weiss.

Aisin plants recognized for safety

MARION — For the sixth consecutive year, Marion Aisin plants were recognized for their safety performance. Aisin Mfg. Illinois, Aisin Light Metals and Aisin Electronics Illinois were presented safety achievement awards at the Aisin North American Presidents’ Meeting for their safety programs and 2011 safety results. The award recognized the North American plants that achieved safety performance targets.

Aisin Light Metals and Aisin Electronics were the recipients of the President’s Award for achieving zero recordables. This is the third year in a row Aisin Electronics has achieved zero recordable injuries. Aisin Mfg. Illinois received the Platinum Award for achieving only one recordable injury.

B and A Travel receive Disney distinction

CARBONDALE — B and A Travel Service, with facilities in Carbondale and Marion, recently was designated by Disney Destinations as Southern Illinois’ Authorized Disney Vacation Planner for 2012.

This designation is based on the company’s support in selling Disney vacations, as well as its superior service and specialized knowledge on Disneyland, Walt Disney World, Disney Cruise Line and Adventures by Disney.

— The Southern

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