Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have developed and published a new protocol for communicating with biometric sensors over wired and wireless networks—using some of the same technologies that underpin the web. The new protocol, called WS-Biometric Devices (WS-BD), allows desktops, laptops, tablets and smartphones to access sensors that capture biometric data such as fingerprints, iris images and face images using web services. Web services themselves are not new; for example, video-on-demand services use web services to stream videos ...

Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have developed a novel way of producing light pulses that are "superluminal"—in some sense they travel faster than the speed of light.* The technique, called four-wave mixing, reshapes parts of light pulses and advances them ahead of where they would have been had they been left to travel unaltered through a vacuum. The new method could be used to improve the timing of communications signals and to investigate the propagation of quantum correlations. According to Einstein's special theory of relativity, ...

A new study by a team including scientists from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) indicates that thin polymer films can have different properties depending on the method by which they are made. The results* suggest that deeper work is necessary to explore the best way of creating these films, which are used in applications ranging from high-tech mirrors to computer memory devices. Thin films spread atop a surface have many applications in industry. Inexpensive organic solar cells might be made of such films, to name one potential use. Typically ...

Every second, lightning flashes some 50 times on Earth. Together these discharges coalesce and get stronger, creating electromagnetic waves circling around Earth, to create a beating pulse between the ground and the lower ionosphere, about 60 miles up in the atmosphere. This electromagnetic signature, known as Schumann Resonance, had only been observed from Earth's surface until, in 2011, scientists discovered they could also detect it using NASA's Vector Electric Field Instrument (VEFI) aboard the U.S. Air Force's Communications/Navigation Outage Forecast System (C/NOFS) ...

Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have developed a prototype bioreactor—a device for culturing cells to create engineered tissues—that both stimulates and evaluates tissue as it grows, mimicking natural processes while eliminating the need to stop periodically to cut up samples for analysis. Tissue created this way might someday be used to replace, for example, damaged or diseased cartilage in the knee and hip. Conventional methods for evaluating the development and properties of engineered tissue are time-consuming, destructive ...

In this month's grammar post we are taking another look at some frequently confused homophones. All of the homophones below have been recently spotted, used erroneously, in business communications or copy! Click here for our first homophones blog post, and here for our second. insure / ensure You only insure something in the legal sense - dealing with an insurance company. If you want to make sure something happens you will ensure it. Hence: You insure your car to ensure you will not lose out financially if it is stolen or damaged. precede / proceed If something ...

Radiologists and nuclear medicine physicians recommended additional imaging about 30% of the time in oncologic PET/CT reports, with about half of those recommendations being unnecessary, a new study shows. The study, conducted at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, included 250 patients. The study found that there were 84 recommendations made for additional imaging. When study reviewers examined the patients' records, they concluded that 43 of those recommendations were unnecessary, said Atul Shinagare, MD, one of the authors of the study. No adverse patient outcome ...

Short term follow-up of patients who have had a negative (benign) MRI-guided vacuum assisted breast biopsy may not be necessary, a new study indicates. The study, conducted at Yale New Haven Hospital in Connecticut, included 144 patients with 176 lesions that were followed anywhere from three months to 36 months. The study found no malignancies on follow-up MR imaging, said Jaime Geisel, MD, one of the authors of the study. Two patients had suspicious findings at follow-up and underwent a second biopsy six months after the initial biopsy; one yielded benign results and ...

Newly diagnosed breast cancer patients should undergo a preoperative MRI exam even if their breasts are not dense, a new study indicates. The study found no difference between the usefulness of 3T breast MRI in detecting additional malignancies and high risk lesions in dense versus non-dense breasts. "There are currently no guidelines that define the role of breast density in determining if a preoperative MRI should be performed. However, anecdotally, we know that preoperative MRI exams tend to be ordered more frequently in younger patients and/or patients with dense ...

The Balearic islands of Mallorca, Ibiza, Minorca and Formentera, along with mainland cities such as Barcelona, Valencia and Marbella can now be added to Europe's established 'charter' destinations. With the longest summer season in Europe, and reliable sunshine from April through until late Autumn, these exclusive destinations can now add as much as 75 days to the European cruising season - This now brings a season that incorporates Easter through until the famous "Club closing parties of Ibiza" and the late Autumn sunshine on the southern Iberian peninsula. ...

Advanced imaging has been identified as one factor that contributes to the overall rising cost of healthcare in the US. Unnecessary or inappropriate imaging utilization magnifies the cost burden associated with advanced imaging studies like MRIs and PET/CT scans. Though these studies often provide the best clinical information for making a diagnosis or planning treatment, experts suspect that a significant number of unnecessary studies are performed. Determining the rate of unnecessary imaging can help guide both policy-makers and physicians to develop guidelines that would ...

Comorbidities are common among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and a number of these comorbidities are independently associated with an increased mortality risk, according to a new study. "We followed 1,664 COPD patients recruited from five pulmonary clinics in the United States and Spain for a median of 51 months," said lead author Miguel Divo, MD, a physician in the Pulmonary and Critical Division at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Instructor in Medicine at Harvard Medical School. "Among the 79 comorbidites we observed in these patients, ...

An over-the-counter natural remedy derived from honeybee hives arrests the growth of prostate cancer cells and tumors in mice, according to a new paper from researchers at the University of Chicago Medicine. Caffeic acid phenethyl ester, or CAPE, is a compound isolated from honeybee hive propolis, the resin used by bees to patch up holes in hives. Propolis has been used for centuries as a natural remedy for conditions ranging from sore throats and allergies to burns and cancer. But the compound has not gained acceptance in the clinic due to scientific questions about ...

Impress your audience with new Animated PowerPoint Templates! SmileTemplates.com create ready-made templates for help create presentation within 30 minutes. Templates available for category such us: business concepts, medical, technology, education, etc. Prove to all, that you are leaders, market conquerors! Use Animated PowerPoint Template and achieve the success! Give your presentation the "WOW" factor PowerPoint templates that will make your presentation look impressive and stunning. Simply include your texts, images and contents into already pre-designed ...

YouDeserveToBePampered.com has teamed up with the Digital Ad Portal to produce Networking @ The Hilton Vaughan, a monthly networking event for business owners and marketing professionals who wish to "mingle" with small to large business owners who have made the leap and are investing in "place based marketing" and social media solutions. According to O'Neil McLean, President, Digital Ad Portal, "We bring leaders into a room, discuss the trends driving the industry—and introduce you to best practices for growing your business and brand." In ...

Dandruff is a scalp issue that effects millions of men and women around the World. The most recognized form of treatment for dandruff is medicated shampoo that can be found at mass retail locations. While these treatments can be effective, often people look for natural solutions to problems like dandruff. Scalpure is a company that makes the scalp the focus when developing and manufacturing products. The Scalpure Pure Rejuvenation Mask is a product that is getting rave reviews from trichologists and stylists because of how much it is helping their clients with scalp issues ...

DirectAvenue, which specializes in short form direct response television advertising (DRTV), has chosen to express their commitment to education and collaboration within the direct marketing industry by sponsoring Response Expo 2012. DirectAvenue's logo will be featured on water bottles provided throughout the event. In anticipation of the event, President, CEO and Founder Scott Kowalchek stated: "DirectAvenue looks forward to being a sponsor of the Response Expo again this year. It will be great to listen and learn from this year's Keynote Speaker John Foley, a ...

Paraffin candles are the most commonly burned candles but they are also the most dangerous to our health. Paraffin is an inexpensive sludge waste product that is derived from petroleum. It is bleached then texturized with carcinogenic substances. Once burned, paraffin candles release toxins into the air that are known as carcinogens. These toxins are then inhaled by anyone in the same room and linger in the areas that they are burned in. In addition, their soot leaves a residue on walls, discoloring fabrics and ceilings. In fact, soot from paraffin candles contain many ...

GoldKey Security Corporation announced today that GoldKey USB Security Tokens have passed the FBI vetting process to provide Advanced Authentication as part of the CJIS Security Policy compliance strategy for the City of Marysville, WA, Police Department. The recent Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Security Policy has mandated the use of Advanced Authentication for all law enforcement personnel accessing CJIS, a computerized information system that is part of the FBI's National Crime Information Center. CJIS is utilized by state, local, and federal law enforcement ...

The California Orthopedic Association has honored Dr. James T. Caillouette, Surgeon in Chief at Hoag Orthopedic Institute in Irvine, with the association's prestigious 2012 Founders' Award, an honor given once a year to an individual who has exemplified the group's high standards for leadership in the field of orthopedics. Among the numerous accomplishments credited to Dr. Caillouette by the association was his leadership in the merger of two state-of-the-art surgical centers and other entities into Hoag Orthopedic Institute, one of only a few such health care models ...

Lucky Lukie and Andie Starz of Cash Castle Productions founded in 2010 have adopted a lightning fast digital delivery system to download beats to their customers' email. The breakthrough technology is fully automated and makes browsing and selecting beats a user-friendly experience. When a client downloads an instrumental, they receive the license and download link instantly. The variety of Hip Hop beats in their online catalog is high-octane fuel for beat seekers. The sound of this producer duo has a grainy analog vibe, as if they recorded on that good ole Ampex ...

Indiana Criminal Practice Rules, Courtroom Quick Reference joins a growing lineup of legal reference materials for Indiana practitioners, including Indiana Court Rules 2012. This book is the newest edition to Summit Legal Publishing's Courtroom Quick Reference series. Combining the full text of the Indiana Evidence Rules, Indiana Criminal Procedure Rules, Federal Evidence Rules, restyled in December 2011, and Federal Criminal Procedure Rules, this edition is an invaluable tool for criminal attorneys in Indiana practicing in both state and federal courts. All material in ...

Arch Tags, a U.S based company that creates colorful accessories for the sole of high-heels, is now offering its products to worldwide wholesale retailers looking to increase revenue for up-and-coming fashion trend. "I had no idea how well Arch Tags was going to be received by the fashion industry," says CEO Alexandra Pappas. "I am proud that I can now offer this to retailers around the world." Arch Tags offers more than 30 designs for wholesale purchase ranging from $7 - $10 USD each in price. Each tag is custom made and allows the wearer ...

The historic Lenox Lounge, a fixture in Harlem since 1939, located on Lenox Avenue between 124th and 125th streets, has been home to some of the hottest jazz in the city from Billie Holiday and Miles Davis to Frank Sinatra and John Coltrane, and it's also been a favorite hang for many African-American writers, including James Baldwin, Ralph Ellison, Zora Neale Hurston and Langston Hughes, to name a select few. That melding of voice and music - spoken word and jazz - is the inspiration for Blazing Tongues: The Singers & Writers of Lenox Lounge, set for May 8 and 11 ...

Hollywoodsportsbook (www.hollywoodsportsbook.eu, formerly http://www.hollywoodsportsbook.com) a leading online entertainment gaming site since 1997, today announced a new promotion that will last all of May. Robert Evans, Hollywood's Director of Operations says "YES...You may win a Free Play a day in May... Every day in May one lucky player will receive a $150 Free Play just by logging into their account. What a great way to play in May with Free Plays on us!" Hollywood will randomly choose a winner each day whom will be notified by an electronic pop up ...