Gizmorama
October 6, 2010
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Add flair to your wardrobe with a beautiful Yin Yang Necklace!
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Good Morning,
A rather admirable story concludes today's issue. The article
describes the plans made by the Obama administration to in-
stall solar panels on the roof of the White House. Hopefully
this will inspire others to invest in eco-friendly alterations
to their lifestyles.
Until Next Time,
Erin
Questions? Comments? Email me at: mailto:gizmo@gophercentral.com
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First stem cell clinical trial described
DETROIT - Fetal stem cells have been injected into the spines
of six Lou Gehrig's disease patients as part of the first
clinical trial of its kind, scientists say. The trial, headed
by Dr. Eva Feldman, a University of Michigan neurologist who
is pioneering the research under way at Emory University in
Atlanta, is among several being showcased at the World Stem
Cell Summit in Detroit, The Detroit News reported Monday.
The treatment is being used on patients who can no longer
walk, Feldman said, and it's been shown to be safe Other
clinical trials that will be highlighted at the summit in-
clude one starting this month by California-based Geron
Corp., which began enrolling patients with spinal cord in-
juries in the first stem cell trial using embryonic stem
cells. The gathering will hear of clinical trials to treat
diseases, regenerative medicine against aging, ethical les-
sons learned and more, its organizers say. The summit is
bringing together researchers, industry leaders, government
officials and advocates from 30 countries, the News reported.
More than 100 experts will present findings on research ef-
forts using adult and embryonic stem cells to treat disease
to an expected 1,200 attendees through Tuesday. The confer-
ence began Sunday. The summit opened with a public education
day at the Detroit Science Center to explain the science with
microscopes to peek at stem cells, educational packets for
teachers and games for children, the Detroit Free Press said.
Wayne State University researcher Graham Parker helped pre-
sent "Stem Cells 101" to children including his own daughter
Rebecca, 7. The summit comes amid continuing opposition to
embryonic stem cell research as opponents continue efforts
to stop the work with legislative attempts and a federal
lawsuit seeking to ban federal funding. Michigan was chosen
to host the summit because voters in 2008 approved Proposal-
2, which allowed researchers to do embryonic stem cell re-
search. "This is an exciting time in stem cell research,"
said Sean Morrison, director of the University of Michigan
Center for Stem Cell Biology. "On one hand, we are finally
starting to deliver on some of the opportunities created by
Proposal 2 and the world is coming to see what's happening
in Michigan," he said. "On the other hand, the federal courts
could soon do serious damage to the field by blocking federal
funding. It never seems like we get off the roller coaster."
Robot legs for the paralyzed coming
SAN ANTONIO - An Israeli company says it hopes to have a
wearable "walker" on the market by the second half of 2011
that will allow paralyzed people freedom of movement. The
ReWalk, developed by Argo Medical Technologies, consists
of lightweight leg supports with motorized hip and knee
joints, equipped with tilt sensors and a computer worn as
a backpack, the San Antonio Express-News reported Monday.
Once strapped in, the wearer leans forward, and tilt sensors
signal the computer to move the motorized joints of one
"leg" and move it forward. As the wearer continues to lean,
the other leg takes a step and the process of walking begins.
In an eight-week trial beginning in August, patients have
spent several hours at a time three or four times a week
testing the ReWalk. One of the trial participants, Elaine
Loyola, was a gymnast and cheerleader at a Texas high school
when she was paralyzed from her rib cage down at age 16 in a
2008 one-car rollover accident. She says she'd love to some-
day own a ReWalk. Her mother is already teasing her about
planning fundraisers, she says. "I tell friends that the
ReWalk is like an early version of the cellphone," she says.
"They used to be big as a brick. Today, they're small and
sleek, like an iPhone."
Scientists conclude 10-year marine census
WASHINGTON - A decade-long Census of Marine Life by 2,700
scientists from 80 countries has been completed and revealed
thousands of new species, its U.S. founders say. The initi-
ative launched 570 expeditions that produced more than 2,600
academic papers and collected 30 million observations of
120,000 species. Researchers found a possible 6,000 new
species, 1,200 of which have been formally described, The
Washington Post reported Monday. The project has "defined
what is unknown" about the ocean and shed light on how it
functions, said Jesse Ausubel, program director for the
funding Alfred P. Sloan Foundation and the vice president
of the census. "The oceans are richer than we imagined, more
connected than we imagined, and they're more altered," he
said. The project has established a baseline for key ocean
areas, including regions of the Gulf of Mexico damaged in the
BP oil spill. As of 2009, researchers had identified 8,332
species in the area of the gulf nearest to the spill, prov-
iding authorities with what Ausubel called "a checklist" from
which they can compare a year or two from now. Ian Poiner,
chairman of the project's scientific steering committee said
that, in the end, the census sought to answer a basic but
daunting question: "What did live in the ocean, what does
live in the ocean and what will live in the ocean?"
Obama to put solar panels on White House
WASHINGTON - The Obama administration said Tuesday it will
install solar panels and a solar hot water heater on the roof
of the White House residence. U.S. Energy Secretary Steven
Chu and Council of Environmental Quality Chairwoman Nancy
Sutley said the installations will be part of a project to
show that solar energy is ready for installations in homes
nationwide, the Department of Energy said. "This project
reflects President Obama's strong commitment to U.S. leader-
ship in solar energy and the jobs it will create here at
home. Deploying solar energy technologies across the country
will help America lead the global economy for years to come,"
Chu said. "President Obama has said the federal government
has to lead by example in creating opportunity and jobs in
clean energy," Sutley said. The Department of Energy said it
will begin to take competitive bids to choose the company
to perform the installations. Consumers who use solar energy
would able to effectively lock in the price of electricity
they will pay in the years ahead, as the home solar programs
are expected to last around 30 years, the department said.
Financial incentives are also available, including a 30
percent federal tax credit and additional state, local, and
utility incentive opportunities, the department said.
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