Vitamin D improves mood and blood pressure in women with diabetes

June 25, 2013 ? In women who have type 2 diabetes and show signs of depression, vitamin D supplements significantly lowered blood pressure and improved their moods, according to a pilot study at Loyola University Chicago Niehoff School of Nursing.

Vitamin D even helped the women lose a few pounds.

The study was presented at the American Diabetes Association 73rd Scientific Sessions in Chicago.

"Vitamin D supplementation potentially is an easy and cost-effective therapy, with minimal side effects," said Sue M. Penckofer, PhD, RN, lead author of the study and a professor in the Niehoff School of Nursing. "Larger, randomized controlled trials are needed to determine the impact of vitamin D supplementation on depression and major cardiovascular risk factors among women with Type 2 diabetes."

Penckofer recently received a four-year, $1.49 million grant from the National Institute of Nursing Research at the National Institutes of Health to do such a study. Penckofer and her Loyola co-investigators plan to enroll 180 women who have type 2 diabetes, symptoms of depression and insufficient levels of vitamin D. Women will be randomly assigned to receive either a weekly vitamin D supplementation (50,000 International Units) or a matching weekly placebo for six months. The study is titled "Can the Sunshine Vitamin Improve Mood and Self Management in Women with Diabetes?

About 1 in 10 people in the United States has diabetes, and the incidence is projected to increase to 1 in 4 persons by 2050. Women with type 2 diabetes have worse outcomes than men. The reason may be due to depression, which affects more than 25 percent of women with diabetes. Depression impairs a patient's ability to manage her disease by eating right, exercising, taking medications, etc.

Many Americans do not get enough vitamin D, and people with diabetes are at especially high risk for vitamin D insufficiency or deficiency. Reasons include limited intake of foods high in vitamin D, obesity, lack of sun exposure and genetic variations.

The pilot study included 46 women who were an average age of 55 years, had diabetes an average of 8 years and insufficient blood levels of vitamin D (18 ng/ml). They took a weekly dose (50,000 International Units) of vitamin D. (By comparison, the recommended dietary allowance for women 51 to 70 years is 600 IU per day.)

After six months, their vitamin D blood levels reached sufficient levels (average 38 ng/ml) and their moods improved significantly. For example, in a 20-question depression symptom survey, scores decreased from 26.8 at the beginning of the study (indicating moderate depression) to 12.2 at six months (indicating no depression. (The depression scale ranges from 0 to 60, with higher numbers indicating more symptoms of depression.)

Blood pressure also improved, with the upper number decreasing from 140.4 mm Hg to 132.5 mm Hg. And their weight dropped from an average of 226.1 pounds to 223.6 pounds.

Penckofer is internationally known for her research on vitamin D, diabetes and depression. In October, she will be inducted as a Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing for her scientific contributions in improving the health and quality of life of women with chronic disease. And she recently was appointed as the first nurse researcher to the Chicago Diabetes Center for Translational Research.

Co-authors of the study are Todd Doyle, PhD, Patricia Mumby, PhD, Mary Byrn, Mary Ann Emanuele, MD and Diane Wallis, MD.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/~3/DPhOiwJotg4/130625091841.htm

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White House urges Moscow to expel Snowden to US

Light shines through a cabin window on seat 17A, the empty seat that an Aeroflot official said was booked in the name of former CIA technician Edward Snowden, shortly before Aeroflot flight SU150 takes off from Moscow to Havana, Cuba, Monday, June 24, 2013. Snowden, who has admitted to leaking National Security Agency secrets, was expected to fly from Russia to Cuba and Venezuela en route to possible asylum in Ecuador, but AP reporters on the flight never saw him get on board. (AP Photo/Max Seddon)

Light shines through a cabin window on seat 17A, the empty seat that an Aeroflot official said was booked in the name of former CIA technician Edward Snowden, shortly before Aeroflot flight SU150 takes off from Moscow to Havana, Cuba, Monday, June 24, 2013. Snowden, who has admitted to leaking National Security Agency secrets, was expected to fly from Russia to Cuba and Venezuela en route to possible asylum in Ecuador, but AP reporters on the flight never saw him get on board. (AP Photo/Max Seddon)

White House press secretary Jay Carney gestures during the daily press briefing at the White House in Washington, Monday, June 24, 2013. Carney said the U.S. assumes that Edward Snowden is now in Russia and that the White House now expects Russian authorities to look at all the options available to them to expel Snowden to face charges in the U.S. for releasing secret surveillance information . (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

A TV screen shows a news report of Edward Snowden, a former CIA employee who leaked top-secret documents about sweeping U.S. surveillance programs, at a shopping mall in Hong Kong Sunday, June 23, 2013. The former National Security Agency contractor wanted by the United States for revealing two highly classified surveillance programs has been allowed to leave for a "third country" because a U.S. extradition request did not fully comply with Hong Kong law, the territory's government said Sunday. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu)

Graphic shows key locations in the life and career of former NSA contractor Edward Snowden; 3c x 5 inches; 146 mm x 127 mm;

Journalists show passengers arriving from Hong Kong a tablet with a photo of Edward Snowden, a former CIA employee who leaked top-secret documents about sweeping U.S. surveillance programs, at Sheremetyevo airport, just outside Moscow, Russia, Sunday, June 23, 2013. The former National Security Agency contractor wanted by the United States for revealing two highly classified surveillance programs has been allowed to leave for a "third country" because a U.S. extradition request did not fully comply with Hong Kong law, the territory's government said Sunday. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

WASHINGTON (AP) ? President Barack Obama says the United States is following legal channels on how to bring National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden back to the U.S. He says the administration is working with other countries to make sure "the rule of law is observed."

Obama made his remark at the White House.

He was asked by a reporter if he had discussed Snowden's situation with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Obama did not respond directly to that question.

Earlier, White House spokesman Jay Carney said the United States assumes Snowden is in Russia, where he fled after leaving Hong Kong. Carney said Snowden's departure from Hong Kong after the United States requested his extradition damaged U.S.-China relations.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2013-06-24-NSA-Surveillance/id-1fb31b9e69634382879fd1fc98c87148

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iOS 7 beta 2 released, brings its magic to iPad

We got to see quite a bit of iOS 7 back at WWDC 2013, but we only saw it working on an iPhone. Well, we've got some good news for big screen Apple devs, as a new iOS 7 beta's been released OTA and it now works on the iPad. Of course, the new beta also brings the usual nebulous "bug fixes and improvements" for all devices, and among those improvements is the addition of the Voice Memos app and Siri's new voices in English as well. It's available now, so if you're in the beta, you best get to downloading!

Filed under: Software, Apple

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Source: TUAW

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/06/24/ios-7-beta-2/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget

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Monsters University Wins Weekend Box Office

Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2013/06/monsters-university-wins-the-weekend-box-office/

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Studies find methane in Pa. drinking water

PITTSBURGH (AP) ? New research in Pennsylvania demonstrates that it's hard to nail down how often natural gas drilling is contaminating drinking water: One study found high levels of methane in some water wells within a half-mile of gas wells, while another found some serious methane pollution occurring naturally, far away from drilling.

The findings represent a middle ground between critics of the drilling technique known as hydraulic fracturing who claim it causes widespread contamination, and an industry that suggests they are rare or nonexistent.

The contamination from drilling is "not an epidemic. It's a minority of cases," said Rob Jackson, a Duke University researcher and co-author of the study released Monday. But he added the team found that serious contamination from bubbly methane is "much more" prevalent in some water wells within 1 kilometer of gas drilling sites.

Methane is an odorless gas that is not known to be toxic, but in high concentrations it can be explosive and deadly.

The Duke paper, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, is an expansion of a 2011 study that attracted widespread attention for its finding that drilling was polluting some water wells with methane. The new study includes results from 141 northeastern Pennsylvania water wells. It found methane levels were an average of six times higher in the water wells closer to drilling sites, compared with those farther away. Ethane, another component of natural gas, was 23 times higher in the homes closer to drilling.

Some of the methane was at dangerous levels. The study found 12 homes with levels above the recommended federal limit of 28 milligrams per liter, and 11 of those water wells were closer to gas drilling sites. Jackson said the researchers believe that faulty drilling can cause methane pollution, but that natural causes can, too. Eighty percent of all the water wells they tested contained some level of methane, including many with no nearby drilling.

In 2011, Pennsylvania strengthened rules for the steel casing and cement around the top of a gas well that are meant to protect water supplies from contamination, but some older wells weren't drilled to those standards.

There was some good news, Jackson said: The Duke researchers haven't found any evidence that chemicals from hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, have contaminated water wells.

"We're not seeing the things that people are most afraid of," Jackson said, referring to the chemicals used in fracking.

The research is important because gas drilling has recently boomed in large parts of Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia and is being closely studied by officials in New York, where there's a moratorium on hydraulic fracturing for gas.

To get at the natural gas trapped deep underground, drillers crack open rock with a high-pressure mix of water, fine sand and chemicals pumped into wells. The industry has brought a windfall of royalties and jobs to some communities, but also concerns about air and water contamination.

The situation is complicated because Pennsylvania has many layers of oil, gas, and coal-bearing rock as well as natural faults. All those can enable gas to seep naturally into water wells, even in areas without drilling.

One researcher who now consults for oil and gas companies and other clients questioned some of the Duke findings.

Fred Baldassare, who worked for the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection for 25 years, said the study doesn't present an accurate picture of the whole state because the Duke team went to areas where residents had complained about drilling contamination, rather than doing a random sample. Baldassare runs a research company called Eschelon Applied Geosciences.

Baldassare said that overall the Duke researchers "make a case for stray gas migration caused by gas well drilling activity."

The second water study was published online last week by the U.S. Geological Survey. It found that some Pennsylvania water wells in areas with no nearby drilling are naturally contaminated with high levels of methane. It also found that 85 percent of the samples had radon levels higher than federal safe limits.

One well sample, taken at a hunting club, had such high natural methane levels, it could have been flammable, said hydrologist Ronald Sloto.

"They knew they had a major water quality problem, they didn't know what it was," Sloto said.

The USGS took samples from 20 wells in Sullivan County, in northeastern Pennsylvania, in order to establish a pre-drilling baseline for water quality.

Sloto said his study and the Duke paper confirm that pre-drilling water testing is an absolute necessity for homeowners.

"Once you have drilling you can't get a baseline, it's too late" to determine if drilling caused water problems or if they were already there naturally, Sloto said.

The Marcellus Shale Coalition, an industry group, had no direct comment on the Duke findings.

"Private water well quality and construction, as well as methane migration, is a longstanding public health issue in Pennsylvania, dating back decades," CEO Kathryn Klaber said in an email.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/b2f0ca3a594644ee9e50a8ec4ce2d6de/Article_2013-06-24-Gas%20Drilling-Water/id-a9b7667574284e3ea22d6e12963e036c

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'Monsters University' Box Office: Pixar Film Beats Out 'World War Z'

"Iron Man 3" (May 3)

Tony Stark is back in "Iron Man 3," which picks up after the events of last summer's "Marvel's The Avengers." Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Ben Kingsley, Rebecca Hall, Jon Favreau, Guy Pearce and Don Cheadle all star. Shane Black replaces Favreau behind the camera as director.

"The Great Gatsby" (May 10)

F. Scott Fitzgerald's classic novel gets the Baz Luhrmann treatment: 3-D and a soundtrack by Jay-Z. (Go all-in, however, on Joel Edgerton's mustache.)

"Peeples" (May 10)

Craig Robinson and Kerry Washington star in the comedy "Peeples," produced and presented by Tyler Perry. (Tina Gordon Chism wrote and directed the film.)

"Star Trek Into Darkness" (May 17)

Chris Pine, Zoe Saldana, Zachary Quinto, Simon Pegg, Anton Yelchin, John Cho and director J.J. Abrams all return for "Star Trek Into Darkness," the highly anticipated sequel to 2009's "Star Trek." Boldly go, especially with newcomers Alice Eve (as a potential love interest for Kirk) and Benedict Cumberbatch (as a terribly evil villain).

"Frances Ha" (May 17)

Co-written by Noah Baumbach and star Greta Gerwig, "Frances Ha" focuses on Frances (Gerwig), a young woman navigating life and love in New York. "This is a celebration for me," <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/01/frances-ha-new-york-film-festival_n_1928478.html" target="_blank">Baumbach said at the New York Film Festival last year</a>. "One idea for the movie was that we could make it like a great pop song, so that as soon as it's over, you want to play it again." Just as an FYI: You will.

"Epic" (May 24)

From "Ice Age" director Chris Wedge comes an action-adventure about good and evil and all that stuff. What you'll want to note is the bananas vocal cast: Beyonce, Pitbull, Steven Tyler, Josh Hutcherson, Amanda Seyfried, Aziz Ansari, Christoph Waltz, Chris O'Dowd and Jason Sudeikis.

"The Hangover Part III" (May 24)

It all ends. Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis, Justin Bartha, Heather Graham, Ken Jeong, John Goodman and Melissa McCarthy star.

"Fast & Furious 6" (May 24)

The movie that will make you believe a car can drive through the cockpit of an exploding plane.

"Before Midnight" (May 24)

The third film in Richard Linklater's "Before" franchise (following "Before Sunrise" and "Before Sunset"), "Before Midnight" is one of 2013's best movies thus far. Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy reprise their roles, respectively, as Jesse and Celine.

"Now You See Me" (May 31)

Magic bank robbers! No, really: "Now You See Me" is about magicians who rob banks. The cast is impressive here: Jesse Eisenberg, Mark Ruffalo, Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine, Isla Fisher, Melanie Laurent, Woody Harrelson and Dave Franco.

"After Earth" (May 31)

Will and Jaden Smith star in this post-apocalyptic thriller from M. Night Shyamalan.

"The East" (May 31)

Alexander Skarsgard, Ellen Page and Brit Marling star in this "Fight Club"-y thriller about environmental terrorists and the law enforcement agent (Marling) who infiltrates their ranks.

"The Kings Of Summer" (May 31)

Formerly called "Toy's House," "The Kings Of Summer" focuses on three friends who build a house in the woods after running away from home. Think "Stand by Me," "The Goonies" and "The Tree of Life," but with Ron Swanson as co-star. (Nick Offerman plays one of the boys' dads.) This excellent indie debuted at Sundance.

"The Internship" (June 7)

Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson reunite for the first time since 2005's "Wedding Crashers" for "The Internship," a comedy about two middle-aged guys taking internships at Google. Is it OK to say that this looks really funny? Cool, thanks.

"The Purge" (June 7)

One week after "Before Midnight," Ethan Hawke also stars in the horror thriller "The Purge," a film about home invasions on steroids.

"Much Ado About Nothing" (June 7)

Joss Whedon takes on Shakespeare in this modern-day adaptation of "Much Ado About Nothing." A charming diversion with no superheros in sight.

"Man Of Steel" (June 14)

You'll believe a man can fly. Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Michael Shannon, Kevin Costner, Diane Lane and Russell Crowe star.

"This Is The End" (June 14)

Seth Rogen, James Franco, Danny McBride, Jonah Hill, Craig Robinson, Jay Baruchel, Michael Cera, Emma Watson and dozens of other stars play themselves ("themselves") in Rogen's directorial debut, an all-out, R-rated apocalypse comedy. (Rogen co-wrote and co-directed with Evan Goldberg, his "Superbad" collaborator.) "This Is The End" has the most lol-worthy trailer of the year. (NSFW, of course.)

"The Bling Ring" (June 14)

Sofia Coppola's take on the notorious Burglar Bunch, a group of Los Angeles teens who robbed from stars like Paris Hilton. Emma Watson and this movie for all the wins.

"Twenty Feet From Stardom" (June 14)

This Sundance hit focuses on famed back-up singers like Darlene Love.

"Monsters University" (June 21)

Mike and Sully are back in this prequel to "Monsters, Inc." Expect bank.

"World War Z" (June 21)

Originally set for release last December, "World War Z" finally arrives in theaters this June. Will the Brad Pitt film overcome a troubled production (including last-minute rewrites and reported fights between Pitt and director Marc Forster) and find its audience? Since zombies are so hot right now ("Zoolander" reference), don't bet against that happening.

"The Heat" (June 28)

"The Heat" was supposed to come out on April 5, but Fox was so happy with the film that the studio moved Paul Feig's comedy into the heart of the summer. The red-band trailer, shown here, helps explain that decision. (It's the best.) Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy star.

"White House Down" (June 28)

Channing Tatum (as wannabe Secret Service agent) and Jamie Foxx (as the President of the United States) team up to stop the U.S. government from crumbling from the inside. Roland Emmerich ("Independence Day") directs. Yep, in.

"I'm So Excited" (June 28)

Get excited: This is Pedro Almodovar's first film in two years.

"Despicable Me 2" (July 3)

"Despicable Me 2"; or, ka-ching, ka-ching, ka-ching. (It's going to make a lot of money.)

"The Lone Ranger" (July 3)

Disney's $250 million gamble: will audiences want to see "The Lone Ranger" with Johnny Depp when Johnny Depp isn't playing "The Lone Ranger"? (He's Tonto.) Gore Verbinksi (the "Pirates" franchise) directs, so don't be surprised if the answer is yes.

"Kevin Hart: Let Me Explain" (July 3)

Sleeper hit potential: Kevin Hart's last concert film, "Kevin Hart: Laugh At My Pain," earned a surprise $7.7 million at the box office in 2011.

"The Way Way Back" (July 5)

From Oscar-winning screenwriters Nat Faxon and Jim Rash ("The Descendants"), "The Way Way Back" looks like the type of charming indie that Fox Searchlight normally releases during the summertime. That's probably why the studio spent $10 million to acquire the film -- co-starring Steve Carell, Sam Rockwell, Maya Rudolph and more -- at the Sundance Film Festival in January.

"Grown Ups 2" (July 12)

Because you've always wanted to see a deer pee on Adam Sandler's face.

"Pacific Rim" (July 12)

Robots vs. monsters! Guillermo Del Toro directs what will be your geeky cousin's favorite movie of 2013.

"Crystal Fairy" (July 12)

Michael Cera play an American jerk searching for a mystical high in this Sundance comedy.

"The Conjuring" (July 19)

This movie is so scary that the MPAA gave it an R-rating despite a lack of violence or bloodshed. Translation: Too scary.

"R.I.P.D." (July 19)

Jeff Bridges and Ryan Reynolds star in this high-concept adaptation of the graphic novel of the same name. <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0790736/" target="_blank">From IMDb</a>: "A recently slain cop joins a team of undead police officers working for the Rest in Peace Department and tries to find the man who murdered him."

"Red 2" (July 19)

Since "Red" left so many unanswered questions. (Hey, Helen Mirren!)

"Turbo" (July 19)

<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1860353/?ref_=sr_1" target="_blank">Fun with real log lines</a>: "A freak accident might just help an everyday garden snail achieve his biggest dream: winning the Indy 500."

"Girl Most Likely" (July 19)

Kristen Wiig, Darren Criss and Annette Bening star in this comedy-drama about a New Jersey native (Wiig) who returns home to live with her mother (Bening) after faking a suicide attempt.

"The Wolverine" (July 26)

Hope it's better than "X-Men Origins: Wolverine."

"Blue Jasmine" (July 26)

Woody Allen's annual film stars Cate Blanchett, Bobby Cannavale, Alec Baldwin, Louis C.K. and Andrew Dice Clay.

"Fruitvale" (July 26)

The Sundance Film Festival Grand Jury Prize winner for 2013 tells the story of Oscar Grant (played by Michael B. Jordan, pictured), a Bay Area resident who was shot and killed by police on New Year's Day in 2009.

"2 Guns" (Aug. 2)

Denzel Washington and Mark Wahlberg team up to star in what should be the best movie ever.

"300: Rise Of An Empire" (Aug. 2)

Because you've always wanted to see a sequel to "300." <strong>UPDATE</strong>: MOVED TO 2014.

"The Smurfs 2" (Aug. 2)

This again.

"The Spectacular Now" (Aug. 2)

Another Sundance favorite, "The Spectacular Now" is an excellent coming-of-age drama that recalls "Say Anything." Shailene Woodley and Miles Teller lead the film, and will become superstars after this release.

"Percy Jackson: Sea Of Monsters" (Aug. 7)

Surprise! This actually looks pretty fun.

"Elysium" (Aug. 9)

Matt Damon and Jodie Foster star in Neill Blomkamp's first film since 2009's "District 9." Get excited now.

"Planes" (Aug. 9)

Featuring the voices of Dane Cook and Val Kilmer.

"We're The Millers" (Aug. 9)

Jennifer Aniston, Jason Sudeikis and Ed Helms star in this comedy about a pot dealer who uses a family to transport his drug supply into the United States from Mexico.

"In A World" (Aug. 9)

Lake Bell won the Waldo Salt screenwriting award at Sundance this year for "In A World," a comedy about a vocal coach with dreams of becoming a voice-over artist.

"Kick-Ass 2" (Aug. 16)

Chloe Moretz, Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Jim Carrey star in this sequel to "Kick-Ass."

"Ain't Them Bodies Saints" (Aug. 16)

Rooney Mara and Casey Affleck star in "Ain't Them Bodies Saints," another film that made waves at this year's Sundance Film Festival.

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/23/monsters-university-box-office-pixar-world-war-z_n_3486945.html

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Planetary Resources Kickstarter Meets Its Initial Goal

While (I believe) current space treaties prohibit any COUNTRIES from claiming planetary bodies, it is not clear if a an individual or company can claim the resources on them.

The U.N. should allow (and someday protect and enforce!) property rights.

This might open up a huge wave of investment and exploration. Say (perhaps like shipwreck salvage rights) one could claim the exclusive mineral rights to a (piece of a) celestial body. Even if it weren't permanent, like only a 100 year lease, many people might be tempted (look at what the British did with Hong Kong; their administration help turn it from a fishing port into one of the world's great cities even though they knew they'd have to give it back to the Chinese. So a completely regulation/tax free environment on an asteroid might be useful (once prices to LEO become more reasonable, go Space X!).

This has been mentioned as one of the possible ways to help get Africa out of its misery, if property rights could be accurately (right now it's a complete mess) determined and assigned it would become a source of capital that their people could buy and sell; in short it would open up a huge source of capital. Along with the proper controls (I know, that's the big problem) it could permanently stimulate their economies in a big way. (I understand the Chinese, in order to lock down property boundaries in their rural districts have been using google maps and satellite photos. Once properly recorded the villagers and make transactions confident in knowing that they have enforceable contracts).

Source: http://rss.slashdot.org/~r/Slashdot/slashdotScience/~3/0Ke-zrPU3Ss/story01.htm

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