Freeze-dried heart valve scaffolds hold promise for heart valve replacement

ScienceDaily (Feb. 15, 2012) ? The biological scaffold that gives structure to a heart valve after its cellular material has been removed can be freeze-dried and stored for later use as a tissue-engineered replacement valve to treat a failing heart, as described in an article in Tissue Engineering, Part C: Methods, a peer-reviewed journal from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. (www.liebertpub.com). The article is available free online at www.liebertpub.com/ten

Shangping Wang and colleagues from Leibniz University, Corlife, and Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany, studied various strategies for freeze-drying porcine heart valves. After the cellular material was removed, they freeze-dried the heart valve scaffolds with or without sucrose and hydroxyl ethylene starch, and then compared the stability and elasticity of the freeze-dried scaffolds to assess the effectiveness of these lyoprotectants in preventing degradation of the scaffold. They report their findings in the article ?Freeze-dried Heart Valve Scaffolds.?

?Advances in heart valve technology are essential for improvement of patient care," says John Jansen, DDS, PhD, Methods Co-Editor-in-Chief and Professor and Chairman, Department of Biomaterials, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Center, The Netherlands. "The authors have discerned critical methods for heart valve scaffold preservation that may fundamentally change the way that heart valve reconstruction is performed."

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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., Publishers, via AlphaGalileo.

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

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Journal Reference:

1. Shangping Wang, Tobias Goecke, Carsten Meixner, Axel Haverich, Andres Hilfiker, Willem Frederik Wolkers. Freeze-Dried Heart Valve Scaffolds. Tissue Engineering Part C: Methods, 2012; : 120107012347001 DOI: 10.1089/ten.TEC.2011.0398

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120215082812.htm

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Obama wants $2.1 billion for NASA's Florida spaceport (Reuters)

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (Reuters) ? President Barack Obama's proposed 2013 budget for NASA boosts spending at the Kennedy Space Center, which bore the brunt of job layoffs at the end of the space shuttle program last year, the center director said on Tuesday.

The president's $17.7 billion budget request for NASA for the year beginning October 1 includes $2.1 billion for the Florida spaceport, an increase of $323 million over this year's budget.

"During these austere times when other centers went down, for us to go up I think says a lot about the importance of what we're doing and where we're going," Kennedy Space Center director and former astronaut Bob Cabana told a National Space Club Florida Committee meeting in Cape Canaveral on Tuesday.

The center's proposed budget increase won't mean more NASA jobs, however. Cabana told reporters he expects Kennedy Space Center's workforce to remain at about 7,500 employees through 2013. That number includes about 2,050 civil servants.

More than 8,000 contractors, mostly in Florida, were laid off when the shuttles were retired last year.

In addition to closing out the shuttle program, which will cost NASA about $71 million in 2013, the Kennedy Space Center is overseeing efforts to seed a new commercial human space transportation industry in the United States.

The shuttle program's end left only Russia with the means to fly astronauts to and from the International Space Station, a $100 billion research outpost that orbits about 240 miles above the Earth.

Russia charges the United States about $60 million per person for rides on its Soyuz capsules.

To break the monopoly, NASA has invested $365.5 million since 2010 in six companies, including Boeing, privately held Sierra Nevada Corp and Space Exploration Technologies, which are all developing passenger spacecraft.

Another round of awards, expected to total more than $300 million, is due to be announced this summer.

The goal of the program is to have at least one and preferably several commercial space taxis able to fly to the space station before the end of 2017.

The Kennedy Space Center also oversees the agency's launch services program, which purchases rides for science and communications satellites.

The Florida spaceport is in the early phases of reconfiguring the shuttle launch pads, equipment and processing facilities to accommodate other users, such as Space Florida, a state-backed agency working to boost space-related business.

Last year, Space Florida took over one of the shuttle's processing hangars and leased it to Boeing, which wants it for its space taxi work.

NASA's 2013 spending plan includes $41 million for the Kennedy Space Center's planned multi-purpose launch facility.

Another $404 million would go toward upgrading ground support systems in preparation for launches of NASA's new heavy-lift rocket. The so-called Space Launch System, which is based on shuttle fuel tanks and booster rockets, is being designed to carry astronauts and cargo to the moon, Mars, asteroids and other destinations beyond the space station.

The first crew test flight, which would use an early version of the rocket, is targeted for 2021. Obama has called for a mission to an asteroid in 2025 and a human expedition to Mars in the mid-2030s.

(Reporting By Irene Klotz; editing by Todd Eastham)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/space/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20120215/sc_nm/us_usa_space_florida

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Best Outdoor Basketball

How do you find the Best Basketball Ball? What makes a good outdoor basketball good? What features and questions should you ask before buying an outdoor basketball? Choosing a good quality basketball is important, especially if you find yourself playing the game of basketball outdoors. Most courts are made of concrete or just tarmac, and if you're really lucky, you may find yourself on long lasting linoleum. But the rough surface of the tarmac or concrete requires an outdoor basketball to be tougher and made of a stronger rubber compound than the more fragile leather indoor balls.

The best rubber basketball should consist of an inner tubing or bladder which is wrapped in synthetic fibers to give it its elasticity. Without these fibers (and some of the cheap balls are without them) your ball will be much lighter and won't last as long.

You want an outdoor basketball to be made of rubber or a durable synthetic composite. This will offer the best grip, even on dusty or wet surfaces. You want a basketball which sticks and offers optimum grip to your hand, while you dribble it. Of course you have to be able to adjust the pressure within the ball to ensure full inflation and optimum bounce balance. A well balanced basketball can ensure many hours of playing fun.

A well balanced ball also ensures that the playability and traction on the court is optimized. With a balanced ball passing and shooting of the basketball around the court is much easier. This will make tricks and dunks easier too. Make sure you invest in a quality basketball pump to be able to "fine tune" your basketballs air pressure and bounce.

The best street balls are good for different weather and all outdoor basketball surfaces, offering materials which are more durable and offer versatility. As the best outdoor basketballs are more versatile,cheap basketball shoes online,?they can of course be used on indoor courts as well, providing decent performance. If an outdoor ball has been used outdoors, and then indoors, ensure to wipe it with a wet cloth before, to remove any dirt or dust it may have attracted. The best rubber basketball will be much cheaper than any indoor leather ball you'll find. And most shops will offer a wide range of the best basketball ball brands, such as Spalding, Molten, Fiba and more, to ensure you'll find the best basketball for every budget.

Source: http://leisure.ezinemark.com/best-outdoor-basketball-7d33fff1ec4e.html

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Official: Prison fire in Honduras leaves 272 dead

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras (AP) ? A fire swept through a prison in Honduras, killing at least 272 inmates, many of them burning to death in their cells, authorities said Wednesday.

Lucy Marder, chief of forensic medicine for the prosecutors' office, gave the death count to reporters in a radio news conference.

The head of the national prison system, Danilo Orellana, said the fire broke out Tuesday night at a prison in the town of Comayagua, 90 miles (140 kilometers) north of the Central American country's capital, Tegucigalpa. The prison held about 800 inmates.

Comayagua fire department spokesman Josue Garcia said he saw "hellish" scenes while trying to put out the fire. He said "some 100 prisoners were burned to death or suffocated in their cells."

Garcia said many prisoners were trapped because the guard who had the key to their cells could not be located.

Officials are investigating the cause of the blaze. Orellana said two theories are that it was triggered by rioting prisoners or by an electrical short-circuit.

Hector Ivan Mejia, spokesman for the security ministry, said it was feared that many other inmates escaped during the fire.

Radio reports from Comayagua said the prison was destroyed by the flames.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2012-02-15-LT-Honduras-Prison-Fire/id-9ffbf0f505b34e318a89cb83b19fe763

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Home Improvement | Browsing For Furniture Stores Canada Has ...

If you have been looking for a Canadian furniture store, then perhaps you will be happy to know that there are quite a few stores in most cities in every province of the country. There are a few ways you could go about your shopping. If you do not know where to begin, the internet can be an excellent place to begin, however if you are unsure of it there is always the reliable yellow pages.

With a multitude of stores to select from, sometimes it can be a trial and error experience, however friends and family always seem to give some very sound advice when it comes to store selection. This can be a good thing because your friends and family will generally know your general style, especially if this will become a frequent shopping place for you and your family.

Furniture stores can cater to many specific tastes and even if you love the style of something on the show floor, you might be able to get it in difference colors or fabrics or wood grains. Sometimes people like certain brands and most stores carry specific brands, so you may have to do some research on where the brand that you are looking for is sold at.

You may find some fairly interesting pieces in such an industry. Items like paintings, floor rugs, lighting fixtures are commonly found in many stores. As well as counter tops, cabinetry, tiling, hardwood flooring, and many other things that you will need for any redecorating purposes or renovation projects.

Some only contain certain rooms and pieces specific to that room, although many others might feature a larger variety of pieces for multiple rooms. Kitchens, living rooms, bedrooms and even bathrooms could potentially be located all within one store. It certainly depends on what you are looking for, you will most likely find a store where you can accomplish all your shopping needs. Many items can be ordered for a specific style, color scheme or in certain wood tones or have a certain fabric throughout for a more cohesive look.

Often when looking for a store in your area, obviously price and quality will be a selling feature. You might want to consider the location of the store in relevance to your home and whether they will deliver the pieces to your home and at no additional costs. Some places may even have a free haul away to help you with getting rid of old pieces that either do not function correctly or that you have no more uses for.

There might be more than one store that meets your criteria, and sometimes it is best to go look at the items that they have on display and ask questions to the sales associates. Shopping around before you make a commitment can be a bonus. This can ensure that you will be completely satisfied with your purchases. A sales associate may even be able to tell you what style particular pieces are and help you find other ones that might be more suited to that style type.

You might even be able to find out from a helpful sales associate if there are any sales that will be forth coming on a particular piece in the near future. Shopping for your furniture in Canada can be a breeze when you know what you are looking for and how to get it. Do not be afraid to ask people where they like to shop, often it will be a good sign of where you might be able to get the best deals, or get the most helpful or friendliest service. You may even be able to get a specific sales associates name and possibly a better deal in the long run.

About Author Adriana J Noton : When trying to find that last piece of furniture to complete your room, consider looking for furniture stores edmonton. Boasting fine craftmanship and durability, furniture stores london are growing in reputation.http://www.surplusfreight.ca

Article Source:?http://www.bharatbhasha.net
Article Url: http://www.bharatbhasha.net/home_improvement.php/341506

Article Added on Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Source: http://www.bharatbhasha.net/home_improvement.php/341506

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YC-Backed SendHub Lets Businesses Text Their Customers, And Teachers Text For Free

Y Combinator and Start Fund-backed startup SendHub, which offers a simple SMS solution for businesses, is killing it...and it never "officially" launched. Instead, the company soft-launched a couple of months ago with zero fanfare, and already has several hundred customers, 40% of which are active monthly users, sending some 30,000 SMS text messages per month. Although generating revenue through its premium services for businesses, SendHub is also making teachers' lives easier, by providing them with free tools to communicate with students and parents via SMS.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/UCYNiblQ2SU/

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NC Supreme Court hears student bra search case

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) ? A student who had to pull her bra away from her body so school officials could check whether she was hiding drugs must have been humiliated and frightened by the unreasonable search, her lawyer told the North Carolina Supreme Court on Monday. An attorney for the state argued the search was minimally invasive.

The state's high court heard oral arguments in the case involving a student known only as T.A.S ? unidentified in court because she was 15 years old when the "bra-lift search" occurred at the Brunswick County Academy in 2008. The justices will decide whether the search violated the Constitution's protection against unreasonable searches.

"It is unconstitutional for our daughters to be treated this way by the public schools of North Carolina," attorney Geeta Kapur told the state's highest court.

Sandra Robinson, the principal of the alternative school for students with disciplinary problems, called for the searches after a general tip from other students that prescription pills were coming into the school. She got no more details on what kind of pills or who was bringing them, but knew students usually would hide drugs and other contraband in their underwear, including bras, and their socks and tongues of their shoes.

During the search, students passed through metal detectors, then waited in the lunchroom before being brought one-by-one to a classroom to be searched. The female students had to pull out their shirts and place their thumb underneath the bra to pull it out, allowing any hidden drugs to fall out. Attorneys said there's no evidence the boys participated in a similar search.

Only the principal testified at trial, and she didn't witness the search, which occurred in front of three adults, two of them men.

Assistant Attorney General LaToya Powell said the search was minimally invasive because no skin was shown. "By doing this, absolutely no body parts were exposed," she said.

During the search, a white powder identified as Percocet and drug paraphernalia were found on the student. The student asked a trial judge to prevent the evidence from being used, but the judge refused. She pleaded guilty in March 2009 to two drug-related misdemeanors.

A divided state Court of Appeals ruled 2-1 in favor of the student, finding the search was "degrading, demeaning and highly intrusive." The state appealed that decision.

Powell said the search was not unreasonable because there was "a compelling governmental need" that outweighed the rights of individual privacy, she said. The school's primary responsibility "was to promote the health and safety of students," she said.

Although she said in her brief that students at an alternative school have a lower privacy right than those at other schools, Powell told the justices that wasn't the case. Under questioning by Justice Mark Martin, she said students at alternative schools have the same rights as those at traditional schools.

Kapur argued that two men should not have watched the search because it that violates the Brunswick County school board policies. "We don't know what happened in that room," she said. "We don't know if the two men saw her breasts or positioned themselves to see her breasts."

Justice Paul Newby asked if the issue of exposure was contested on appeal. It was not, Kapur said.

But in the end, she said: "Who was looking ... whether anyone saw any private parts ... is irrelevant to Fourth Amendment rights" against unreasonable searches.

___

Martha Waggoner can be reached at http://twitter.com/mjwaggonernc

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2012-02-13-Bra%20Search-Students/id-4541a72544b0412693ee0580abedd5ba

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