REDMOND, Wash. (AP) ? Microsoft is dealing with a worldwide outage in an online service that stores data for a wide range of business customers.
The software maker says its Azure service went down shortly before 4 p.m. EST Friday. The breakdown prevented Azure customers from accessing files kept in Microsoft's data centers.
Microsoft Corp. didn't say what crippled Azure, in a Friday statement acknowledging the problem. The company, based in Redmond, Wash., says it is working to fix the problem.
Azure's failure illuminates the pitfalls of storing important information in remote data centers. Online storage, often called "cloud computing," is growing in appeal because it allows workers to pull up data, wherever they are, to an Internet-connected device.
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) ? The company that operates a medical helicopter that crash-landed outside an Oklahoma City nursing home early Friday, killing two people onboard and critically injuring a third, had just recently undergone an exhaustive accreditation process, officials said.
Wichita, Kan.-based EagleMed LLC just received its three-year accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Services in October, said Eileen Frazer, the commission's executive director.
The company's review included an analysis of maintenance records of all its aircraft and crew, including pilots.
A three-man crew was onboard the helicopter when it crashed while headed from Oklahoma City to Watonga, 70 miles away, to pick up a patient, said Fire Department Battalion Chief Marc Woodard. No one on the ground was seriously injured or killed.
Two men in the helicopter, including the pilot, were killed, Nursing home workers were able to pull the lone survivor from the wreckage, and he was taken to a hospital, Woodard said.
Officials at Integris-Baptist Medical Center, where the helicopter was based, identified those killed as pilot Mark Montgomery and flight nurse Chris Denning. Paramedic Billy Wynn was in critical condition Friday evening at the University of Oklahoma Medical Center, Integris President Bruce Lawrence said in an email to employees.
A spokesman for EagleMed did not return telephone messages on Friday.
The crash occurred between the St. Ann Retirement Center and the St. Ann Nursing Home, which are operated by the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City. Witnesses said there were two explosions.
"I was awake and I heard this boom and it shook my bed," said Betty Steel, who lives in a retirement village adjacent to the nursing home.
Rachel Njafuh said when she arrived for work at the nursing home, flames and smoke were pouring from the wreckage.
"My colleagues pulled a man from the (helicopter) just before a second explosion," she said.
Oklahoma City received a dusting of snow from a large storm system that has been moving eastward through the nation's midsection this week. Woodard said the skies were clear Friday morning when the helicopter crash-landed in the northwest of the city.
"I think the pilot did a miraculous job landing it where he did," Woodard said. "It's 65 feet from a nursing home on one side and 150 feet from a retirement village on the other."
Federal Aviation Administration investigators were at the scene within hours, combing through the helicopter's charred remains. An investigator from the National Transportation Safety Board was en route late Friday afternoon, an NTSB spokesman said.
One person on the ground suffered minor injuries and was treated at the scene, said Lara O'Leary, a spokeswoman with Emergency Medical Services Authority.
In July 2010, an EagleMed helicopter crashed in a field in Kingfisher, about 50 miles northwest of Oklahoma. The helicopter's pilot and a nurse onboard the aircraft were killed in the crash.
On that flight, the EagleMed helicopter was headed from Oklahoma City to pick up a patient at a hospital 90 miles away. The National Transportation Safety Board has not yet released a probable-cause report from the 2010 crash.
___
Sean Murphy can be reached at www.twitter.com/apseanmurphy
Nickelodeon Launches The "Nick App" - New Immersive, Interactive Platform For iPad
Available Today in App Store, the "Nick App" Features Over 1,000 pieces of Nick Content, Including Original Short-Form Video, Games, Full-Length Episodes; Allows Kids to Watch and Play Nick in a Whole New Way
NEW YORK, Feb. 21, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Nickelodeon today announced the launch of the Nick App, a branded experience that allows kids to interact with Nick in unprecedented ways. Available initially for iPad, the Nick App features a moveable tile layout that can be swiped in any direction, promoting discovery and exploration and offering kids instant and on-demand access to more than 1,000 pieces of Nickelodeon-themed content. It includes short-form videos of original skits, sketch and comedic bits; behind-the-scenes clips and photos from Nick stars and animated characters; as well as kid polls and newly created games at launch.
Full-length episodes of Nickelodeon's current top shows also will be available via subscriber authentication through participating TV providers. The Nick App is free of charge, available from any U.S. location with high-speed internet connection.
"The Nick App creates a new platform unlike anything else available to kids today," said Steve Youngwood, EVP and General Manager, Digital, Nickelodeon Group. "The Nick App is the one place where kids can watch and play Nickelodeon and experience the complete fun and funny of our brand, wherever and whenever they want."
The Nick App will add new content daily, and kids will be able to put selected content into a "favorites" drawer to watch whenever they want. True to the spirit of Nickelodeon, the app offers an array of funny interactive elements, as well as a featured "Do Not Touch" button that triggers an array of disruptive comedy and surprises.
Additionally, the Nick App will also serve as a creative sandbox for Nickelodeon, incubating new original animated and live-action content that will attract repeat viewing, launch shareable content and spin-off new series for television. Nickelodeon will also launch a Nick Jr. preschool version of the app later this year.
Content highlights of the Nick App include: ? An offering of HTML5 games at launch, with a new game added every week; ? Music and remixes, including an original SpongeBob SquarePants remix, created by electronic music artist Pogo, for launch; ? Weekly videos offering tips and previews of new Nick games; ? Short-form content featuring Nickelodeon's live-action stars performing skits, comedic music videos, parodies and more; ? "On the Road with BTR," a docu-reality series that gives kids an inside look at the daily lives of Big Time Rush; ? Nick Studio 10, a new live, daily afternoon show where four kids challenge each other to make funny content every day, will be featured in the app and air on Nickelodeon beginning this spring.
Full-length episodes in the Nick App can be accessed by households that subscribe to a TV service package with Nickelodeon from any one of eight distributors, including AT&T U-verse, Bright House Networks, Cablevision, DIRECTV, RCN, Suddenlink, Time Warner Cable and Verizon FiOS, which collectively reach almost 50 million homes.
The Nick App is ad-supported and currently available free for iPad via the App Store, and will roll out on additional devices in the coming months.
Nickelodeon, now in its 33rd year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The company includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, online, recreation, books, and feature films. Nickelodeon's U.S. television network is seen in almost 100 million households and has been the number-one-rated basic cable network for 18 consecutive years. For more information or artwork, visit www.nickpress.com. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIA, VIAB).
Queen's study shows psychotropic drug dispensing increases on entry to care homesPublic release date: 21-Feb-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Claire O'Callaghan c.ocallaghan@qub.ac.uk Queen's University Belfast
A study by Queen's University Belfast has found that the dispensing of psychotropic drugs to older people in Northern Ireland increases on entry to care homes.
According to the study, due to be published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, antipsychotic drug dispensing in older people more than doubled from 8.2 per cent before entry to care homes to 18.6 per cent after entering care.
The study was carried out by researchers from Queen's Centre for Public Health in the School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences. It analysed prescribing data for over 250,000 people, aged 65 years and over living in Northern Ireland from 2008 to 2010, and looked at drug uptake within the older population during the transition from community to care.
The study revealed that psychotropic drug use was higher in care homes than the community, with 20.3 per cent of those in care homes dispensed an antipsychotic in January 2009, compared with 1.1 per cent of those in the community.
Lead researcher on the Queen's study, Aideen Maguire, who is based in the Centre of Excellence for Public Health Northern Ireland said: "Although drug dispensing is high in older people in the community, we have found that it increases dramatically on entry to care. This study showed that the high uptake of psychotropic drugs observed in care homes in Northern Ireland cannot be explained by a continuation of drug use initiated in the community prior to entering care.
"With an ageing population globally it is important that we look at the reasons behind this type of increase following admission to care. Antipsychotic uptake in Northern Ireland is similar to that in the rest of the UK and Ireland, and this study highlights the need for routine medicines reviews especially during the transition into care."
Other key findings of the study included:
Of the 250,617 people studied, 6,779 (2.7 per cent) experienced a transition into care during 2008-2010.
The psychotropic drugs prescribed to patients included in the study were being prescribed for the first time for many.
Six months after admission, 37.1 per cent of all new residents had received at least one prescription for a hypnotic drug, 30.2 per cent for an antipsychotic, and 24.5 per cent for an anxiolytic.
1.1 per cent of those living in the community were dispensed at least one prescription for an antipsychotic in January 2009, (7.3 per cent for a hypnotic, and 3.6 percent for an anxiolytic).
Hypnotic drug dispensing increased from 14.8 per cent to 26.3 per cent after entering care.
This study shows that use of psychotropic medication in a small proportion of residents of care homes was a continuation of a prescription that had been started before entry, but one in six individuals with no history of psychotropic drug use in the six months before entry had been exposed to at least one antipsychotic prescription within six months of entering care.
Professor Carmel Hughes from the School of Pharmacy at Queen's added: "This is an important study of national and international relevance, as with an ageing population, quality of care for older people is an ongoing public health concern.
"The number of older people entering care across Ireland is predicted to increase in the next 10 years, and studies further predict a 69 per cent increase in the Irish population aged over 65 years from 2006-2021, and a 40 per cent increase in the those aged over 65 years in Northern Ireland in the same time frame. With a globally ageing population, it is vitally important that we look at the reasons behind the increase in the prescription of psychotropic drugs in care homes."
###
For further information on the Centre for Public Health and Centre of Excellence for Public Health Northern Ireland is available online at
http://www.qub.ac.uk/research-centres/CentreforPublicHealth/
For media enquiries please contact Claire O'Callaghan on +44 (0) 28 9097 5391 or 07814415451 or at c.ocallaghan@qub.ac.uk
Notes to Editors
1. Aideen Maguire is available for interview. Interview bids to Claire O'Callaghan on +44 (0) 28 9097 5391 or 07814415451 or at c.ocallaghan@qub.ac.uk
2. A photograph of Aideen Maguire has been issued to picture desks and is available on request.
3. Audio interview clips of Aideen Maguire and an online 'WhatQneedtoknow' video will be available at http://www.qub.ac.uk/home/ceao/Qtv/
4. The full report is available for 'early view' at http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jgs.12101/pdf
5. Other studies have looked at drug uptake in care and in the community separately.
[ | E-mail | Share ]
?
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
Queen's study shows psychotropic drug dispensing increases on entry to care homesPublic release date: 21-Feb-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Claire O'Callaghan c.ocallaghan@qub.ac.uk Queen's University Belfast
A study by Queen's University Belfast has found that the dispensing of psychotropic drugs to older people in Northern Ireland increases on entry to care homes.
According to the study, due to be published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, antipsychotic drug dispensing in older people more than doubled from 8.2 per cent before entry to care homes to 18.6 per cent after entering care.
The study was carried out by researchers from Queen's Centre for Public Health in the School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences. It analysed prescribing data for over 250,000 people, aged 65 years and over living in Northern Ireland from 2008 to 2010, and looked at drug uptake within the older population during the transition from community to care.
The study revealed that psychotropic drug use was higher in care homes than the community, with 20.3 per cent of those in care homes dispensed an antipsychotic in January 2009, compared with 1.1 per cent of those in the community.
Lead researcher on the Queen's study, Aideen Maguire, who is based in the Centre of Excellence for Public Health Northern Ireland said: "Although drug dispensing is high in older people in the community, we have found that it increases dramatically on entry to care. This study showed that the high uptake of psychotropic drugs observed in care homes in Northern Ireland cannot be explained by a continuation of drug use initiated in the community prior to entering care.
"With an ageing population globally it is important that we look at the reasons behind this type of increase following admission to care. Antipsychotic uptake in Northern Ireland is similar to that in the rest of the UK and Ireland, and this study highlights the need for routine medicines reviews especially during the transition into care."
Other key findings of the study included:
Of the 250,617 people studied, 6,779 (2.7 per cent) experienced a transition into care during 2008-2010.
The psychotropic drugs prescribed to patients included in the study were being prescribed for the first time for many.
Six months after admission, 37.1 per cent of all new residents had received at least one prescription for a hypnotic drug, 30.2 per cent for an antipsychotic, and 24.5 per cent for an anxiolytic.
1.1 per cent of those living in the community were dispensed at least one prescription for an antipsychotic in January 2009, (7.3 per cent for a hypnotic, and 3.6 percent for an anxiolytic).
Hypnotic drug dispensing increased from 14.8 per cent to 26.3 per cent after entering care.
This study shows that use of psychotropic medication in a small proportion of residents of care homes was a continuation of a prescription that had been started before entry, but one in six individuals with no history of psychotropic drug use in the six months before entry had been exposed to at least one antipsychotic prescription within six months of entering care.
Professor Carmel Hughes from the School of Pharmacy at Queen's added: "This is an important study of national and international relevance, as with an ageing population, quality of care for older people is an ongoing public health concern.
"The number of older people entering care across Ireland is predicted to increase in the next 10 years, and studies further predict a 69 per cent increase in the Irish population aged over 65 years from 2006-2021, and a 40 per cent increase in the those aged over 65 years in Northern Ireland in the same time frame. With a globally ageing population, it is vitally important that we look at the reasons behind the increase in the prescription of psychotropic drugs in care homes."
###
For further information on the Centre for Public Health and Centre of Excellence for Public Health Northern Ireland is available online at
http://www.qub.ac.uk/research-centres/CentreforPublicHealth/
For media enquiries please contact Claire O'Callaghan on +44 (0) 28 9097 5391 or 07814415451 or at c.ocallaghan@qub.ac.uk
Notes to Editors
1. Aideen Maguire is available for interview. Interview bids to Claire O'Callaghan on +44 (0) 28 9097 5391 or 07814415451 or at c.ocallaghan@qub.ac.uk
2. A photograph of Aideen Maguire has been issued to picture desks and is available on request.
3. Audio interview clips of Aideen Maguire and an online 'WhatQneedtoknow' video will be available at http://www.qub.ac.uk/home/ceao/Qtv/
4. The full report is available for 'early view' at http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jgs.12101/pdf
5. Other studies have looked at drug uptake in care and in the community separately.
[ | E-mail | Share ]
?
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
Feb. 20, 2013 ? Tomatoes grown on organic farms accumulate higher concentrations of sugars, vitamin C and compounds associated with oxidative stress compared to those grown on conventional farms, according to research published February 20 in the open access journal PLOS ONE by Maria Raquel Alcantara Miranda and colleagues from the Federal University of Ceara, Brazil.
In their study, the researchers compared the weights and biochemical properties of tomatoes from organic and conventional farms. They found that tomatoes grown on organic farms were approximately 40% smaller than those grown by conventional techniques, and they also accumulated more compounds linked to stress resistance.
According to the authors, organic farming exposes plants to greater stress than conventional farming. They suggest that this increased stress may be the reason organic tomatoes had higher levels sugars, vitamin C and pigment molecules like lycopene, an anti-oxidant compound -- all of which are associated with the biological response to stress. Based on these observations, the authors suggest that growing strategies for fruits and vegetables should aim to balance plant stress with efforts to maximize yield and fruit size, rather than trying to eliminate stress to increase yields.
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Journal Reference:
Aurelice B. Oliveira, Carlos F. H. Moura, En?as Gomes-Filho, Claudia A. Marco, Laurent Urban, Maria Raquel A. Miranda. The Impact of Organic Farming on Quality of Tomatoes Is Associated to Increased Oxidative Stress during Fruit Development. PLoS ONE, 2013; 8 (2): e56354 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0056354
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.
Is it possible to remember all of one's passwords without the aid of a biometric Bluetooth flash drive? Possible, sure, but it's certainly getting harder and harder as the number of services we depend on continues to increase exponentially. Arkami has been floating its solution around for a bit, showing off its progress at CES and the like, and now the company is ready to get the public involved (or, the public's money, rather) by way of a newly opened Kickstarter campaign for myIDkey. The thumb drive stores passwords across various services, letting you take 'em on the run. There's a fingerprint scanner on-board, which unlocks the device, and a microphone, which lets you search for specific ones by voice. Plug the drive into your PC and it will autofill your passwords as needed, and if you're unlucky enough to lose it, you can instantly deactivate its contents.
Peep the source link below to check out -- and, perhaps, support -- the company's $150,000 campaign.
Yachts and other craft cannot access a scenic island because an old span on a bridge cannot be opened.
By Donal Hickey
The growth of marine tourism in south Kerry is being stymied because of problems with the bridge, linking Valentia Island with the mainland and built more than 40 years ago, it has been claimed.
However, there is no government funding to resolve the problem, estimated to cost more than ?500,000.
Raising the issue at a Kerry County Council meeting, Fianna F?il Cllr Paul O?Donoghue deplored a lack of action in tackling the issue: ?This is very disappointing at a time when we?re trying to create jobs in south Kerry. The problem was identified over 10 years ago, consultants were engaged to do a survey and plans were submitted to the Dept of Transport, but no progress has been made.
??At the same time, we?re advocating the promotion of marine tourism, but the fact that the span doesn?t open is making it less attractive for people to come to our coastline.??
Independent Cllr Johnny Healy-Rae said he was ?blue in the face? from people approaching him about the problem.
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Public release date: 21-Feb-2013
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