Archimedes collaborates with HHS and CMS to provide unprecedented access to health data

Public release date: 1-May-2013
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Contact: Edie DeVine
edie.devine@gcihealth.com
415-365-8543
GCI Health

Contact: Peter Alperin
peter.alperin@archimedesmodel.com
415-999-6768
Archimedes, Inc.

Contact: Steven Randazzo
Steven.Randazzo@hhs.gov
202-260-6568
US Department of Health and Human Services

Collaboration provides access and allows users to make decisions based on data

San Francisco, CA May 1, 2013 Archimedes, Inc., a healthcare modeling and analytics company, announced today that it has begun collaborating with the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to provide unprecedented access to synthetic CMS claims data. The collaborative efforts will feature the use of Archimedes' ARCHeS Simulation and Analytics software suite to provide easy to use analytic support to analyze the Medicare Data Entrepreneurs' Synthetic Public Use File (DE-SynPUF). Data entrepreneurs and researchers will be able to use the synthetic data to develop research protocols that will ultimately help users make informed decisions based on the data.

"HHS is committed to furthering the power of data and we have entered into this important collaboration to help maximize the availability and use of the Medical DE-SynPUF dataset," said Bryan Sivak, Chief Technology Officer at US Department of Health and Human Services. "We believe the Archimedes technology will help interested parties gain access to this data in an easy-to-use platform that will allow them to customize their analysis queries, yielding more meaningful results."

Access to CMS Linkable 2008-2010 Medicare DE-SynPUF provides researchers and data entrepreneurs a glimpse into the wealth of information contained in the CMS claims data. The challenge has been the ability to deliver big data, like the DE-SynPUF set in an easy-to-use format that provides a straightforward method for analysis. Archimedes' ARCHeS Population Explorer (ARCHeS PE) will allow users to quickly query and analyze the dataset to understand the rates of various outcomes for specific Medicare populations, such as those with a particular health condition, age criterion, medication use, or a combination of these factors. Access to the Medicare DE-SynPUF datasets are made freely available through Archimedes' tools via http://www.healthdata.gov and Archimedes' website at http://www.archimedesmodel.com/free-applications.

"Our continued collaboration efforts with organizations like HHS, and its subsidiary agencies, are crucial for us to realize our vision of revolutionizing medicine worldwide through mathematics," said David Eddy, M.D., Ph.D., founder of Archimedes and pioneer in the area of evidenced-based medicine. "Our modeling and analytics tools can help researchers, life-science organizations, government agencies, payers, and providers use the data to make informed decisions for the benefit of their constituents. The beauty of ARCHeS PE is that you do not need to be a statistician in order for you to benefit from the data."

The full potential of ARCHeS PE can be experienced in a training session immediately preceding Health Datapalooza IV, the fourth annual national conference born from government efforts to liberate health data and addresses the effective use of health data by companies, startups, academics, government agencies and individuals. Commentary from Dr. Eddy on Health Datapalooza and its implications is available at http://youtu.be/X9C9hBIjCfw. All attendees will receive training and a one month free subscription to all of the ARCHeS Simulation and Analytics software suite. Visit http://healthdatapalooza.eventbrite.com/# to confirm attendance.

###

About DE-SynPUF

The CMS Linkable 2008-2010 Medicare Data Entrepreneurs' Synthetic Public Use File (DE-SynPUF) is a set of free downloadable files containing a subset of the data fields contained in inpatient, outpatient, carrier, and prescription drug event (PDE) claims and the beneficiary summary files. The files represent a synthetic 5% sample of 2008 Medicare beneficiaries and their claims from 2008 to 2010. All data has been completely de-identified so patients' records are totally confidential.

About ARCHeS

ARCHeS can be used to answer a wide variety of questions and analyze problems related to cardio-metabolic risk, COPD, nephropathy, and CHF. Archimedes recently expanded ARCHeS by adding new tools for big data analysis and visualization that enable data sources such as electronic health records (EHRs), clinical trial data, Archimedes Model simulation output, and claims data to be combined into a single analysis platform. Free access to basic ARCHeS functionality is available via Archimedes' website, http://archimedesmodel.com/free-applications. ARCHeS Population Explorer (ARCHeS PE) is an analysis and reporting tool that enables users to dive into multiple sources of data and easily compare them apples to apples and oranges to oranges. Users explore the results in real time, defining populations and analyzing their outcomes over time. ARCHeS PE makes it easy to make changes to the composition of the population and immediately see the effects on health outcomes or costs.

About Archimedes, Inc.

Archimedes Inc. is a healthcare modeling and analytics organization. Its core technology - the Archimedes Model - is a clinically realistic, mathematical model of human physiology, diseases, interventions, and healthcare systems. Archimedes continually validates the Model by comparing the results of simulated trials to the results of multinational clinical trials and cohort studies. Through products such as IndiGO and ARCHeS, Archimedes helps people understand the implications of their decisions. For the last 15 years, Archimedes has assisted health plans, health systems, medical groups, patients, pharmaceutical companies, researchers, and other organizations in the United States and Europe answer questions related to health and economic outcomes research, policy creation, clinical trial design, and performance improvement. Archimedes, a Kaiser Permanente Innovation, is based in San Francisco, California. For more information about Archimedes and its product offerings, please visit the company's website at http://www.archimedesmodel.com.

---

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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.

Public release date: 1-May-2013
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Edie DeVine
edie.devine@gcihealth.com
415-365-8543
GCI Health

Contact: Peter Alperin
peter.alperin@archimedesmodel.com
415-999-6768
Archimedes, Inc.

Contact: Steven Randazzo
Steven.Randazzo@hhs.gov
202-260-6568
US Department of Health and Human Services

Collaboration provides access and allows users to make decisions based on data

San Francisco, CA May 1, 2013 Archimedes, Inc., a healthcare modeling and analytics company, announced today that it has begun collaborating with the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to provide unprecedented access to synthetic CMS claims data. The collaborative efforts will feature the use of Archimedes' ARCHeS Simulation and Analytics software suite to provide easy to use analytic support to analyze the Medicare Data Entrepreneurs' Synthetic Public Use File (DE-SynPUF). Data entrepreneurs and researchers will be able to use the synthetic data to develop research protocols that will ultimately help users make informed decisions based on the data.

"HHS is committed to furthering the power of data and we have entered into this important collaboration to help maximize the availability and use of the Medical DE-SynPUF dataset," said Bryan Sivak, Chief Technology Officer at US Department of Health and Human Services. "We believe the Archimedes technology will help interested parties gain access to this data in an easy-to-use platform that will allow them to customize their analysis queries, yielding more meaningful results."

Access to CMS Linkable 2008-2010 Medicare DE-SynPUF provides researchers and data entrepreneurs a glimpse into the wealth of information contained in the CMS claims data. The challenge has been the ability to deliver big data, like the DE-SynPUF set in an easy-to-use format that provides a straightforward method for analysis. Archimedes' ARCHeS Population Explorer (ARCHeS PE) will allow users to quickly query and analyze the dataset to understand the rates of various outcomes for specific Medicare populations, such as those with a particular health condition, age criterion, medication use, or a combination of these factors. Access to the Medicare DE-SynPUF datasets are made freely available through Archimedes' tools via http://www.healthdata.gov and Archimedes' website at http://www.archimedesmodel.com/free-applications.

"Our continued collaboration efforts with organizations like HHS, and its subsidiary agencies, are crucial for us to realize our vision of revolutionizing medicine worldwide through mathematics," said David Eddy, M.D., Ph.D., founder of Archimedes and pioneer in the area of evidenced-based medicine. "Our modeling and analytics tools can help researchers, life-science organizations, government agencies, payers, and providers use the data to make informed decisions for the benefit of their constituents. The beauty of ARCHeS PE is that you do not need to be a statistician in order for you to benefit from the data."

The full potential of ARCHeS PE can be experienced in a training session immediately preceding Health Datapalooza IV, the fourth annual national conference born from government efforts to liberate health data and addresses the effective use of health data by companies, startups, academics, government agencies and individuals. Commentary from Dr. Eddy on Health Datapalooza and its implications is available at http://youtu.be/X9C9hBIjCfw. All attendees will receive training and a one month free subscription to all of the ARCHeS Simulation and Analytics software suite. Visit http://healthdatapalooza.eventbrite.com/# to confirm attendance.

###

About DE-SynPUF

The CMS Linkable 2008-2010 Medicare Data Entrepreneurs' Synthetic Public Use File (DE-SynPUF) is a set of free downloadable files containing a subset of the data fields contained in inpatient, outpatient, carrier, and prescription drug event (PDE) claims and the beneficiary summary files. The files represent a synthetic 5% sample of 2008 Medicare beneficiaries and their claims from 2008 to 2010. All data has been completely de-identified so patients' records are totally confidential.

About ARCHeS

ARCHeS can be used to answer a wide variety of questions and analyze problems related to cardio-metabolic risk, COPD, nephropathy, and CHF. Archimedes recently expanded ARCHeS by adding new tools for big data analysis and visualization that enable data sources such as electronic health records (EHRs), clinical trial data, Archimedes Model simulation output, and claims data to be combined into a single analysis platform. Free access to basic ARCHeS functionality is available via Archimedes' website, http://archimedesmodel.com/free-applications. ARCHeS Population Explorer (ARCHeS PE) is an analysis and reporting tool that enables users to dive into multiple sources of data and easily compare them apples to apples and oranges to oranges. Users explore the results in real time, defining populations and analyzing their outcomes over time. ARCHeS PE makes it easy to make changes to the composition of the population and immediately see the effects on health outcomes or costs.

About Archimedes, Inc.

Archimedes Inc. is a healthcare modeling and analytics organization. Its core technology - the Archimedes Model - is a clinically realistic, mathematical model of human physiology, diseases, interventions, and healthcare systems. Archimedes continually validates the Model by comparing the results of simulated trials to the results of multinational clinical trials and cohort studies. Through products such as IndiGO and ARCHeS, Archimedes helps people understand the implications of their decisions. For the last 15 years, Archimedes has assisted health plans, health systems, medical groups, patients, pharmaceutical companies, researchers, and other organizations in the United States and Europe answer questions related to health and economic outcomes research, policy creation, clinical trial design, and performance improvement. Archimedes, a Kaiser Permanente Innovation, is based in San Francisco, California. For more information about Archimedes and its product offerings, please visit the company's website at http://www.archimedesmodel.com.

---

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?

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.

Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2013-05/gh-acw042613.php

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NBA Draft 2013: Early-entry deadline decisions shift NBA, NCAA landscape

Published Tuesday, Apr 30, 2013 at 11:09 am EDT Last updated 1 hour and 47 minutes ago

On both sides of the basketball divide?NBA and NCAA?Sunday was a fascinating day. Despite a relatively weak NBA draft, and despite the fact that next year?s crop looks impressive, at least nine potential first-round picks pulled their names from consideration and opted to return to college.

In order to see their decisions from both lenses, we talked with an NBA scouting director about what the players involved can do to boost their draft stock next season, and had SN?s college hoops writer Mike DeCourcy weigh in on what each player?s return will mean for the college game.

Marcus Smart, PG, Oklahoma State

If he had entered: Smart would have been a Top 5 pick, and depending on how the lottery shook out, would have had a shot at being the first player selected.

Scout?s view: ?He is a big (6-4) point guard who sees the floor and is an outstanding defender. He carried that team last year and he will have to do that again. He will be a starter from Day 1 in the NBA. But if he is going to improve his stock, the big thing is definitely his shooting, that was his weak point. He has a good stroke and he should become a good shooter, it?s just being generally more efficient.?

DeCourcy?s take: Of those who returned, Smart needed it least and might have the toughest time improving on his most recent season. Oklahoma State has its key players in place, but the Cowboys remain a bit short and light in the frontcourt. They signed an athletic JC center, Gary Gaskins, and he?d have to be one of the few such recruits to find instant success. Smart can do it all, but he can only do so much.

Alex Poythress, SF, Kentucky

If he had entered: Poythress was a bit of a mystery man last season, and front-office execs were not quite sure where he would land?he had a chance to go late in the lottery but was more likely in the 15-20 range.

Scout?s view: ?He has got talent. He just needs to show it every night. He made the right call going back, because the big question is whether he can play out on the perimeter. He hasn?t really answered that, and he isn?t big enough to play the 4.?

DeCourcy?s take: Ideally, Kentucky did not want to be trapped in a season in which there were no veterans around to show the gifted freshman what it takes to be a successful collegian. But is Poythress really that guy? He never became fully engaged with John Calipari?s demands to work hard and invest in the game. Poythress has talked the talk since the season ended, however.

Willie Cauley-Stein, C, Kentucky

If he had entered: Because Cauley-Stein is a big man in a draft that is mostly small, he probably would have been drafted anywhere from No. 10-20. That would have been based entirely on potential, because Cauley-Stein wasn?t especially productive (8.3 points, 6.2 rebounds) as a freshman.

Scout?s view: ?I like what he showed after (Nerlens) Noel went down. You?d like to see him grow a little bit offensively and really take command on defense. I am not sure what his upside is in the post, but if he can get a little going in terms of back-to-the-basket stuff, he is going to be valuable. He runs the floor very well, and he is going to be a very good defender.?

DeCourcy?s take: It is difficult for most any big guy to make an immediate impact upon stepping up from high school to college. Cauley-Stein thus provides Kentucky with the foundation of a successful inside game, enabling recruit Dakari Johnson to gradually adjust to the college game. Cauley-Stein will be a strong defensive presence for the Wildcats and can be a target in the low post.

Mitch McGary, PF, Michigan

If he had entered: McGary is a late bloomer whose production in the NCAA tournament had him shooting up draft boards in March. He would have gone in the middle of the first round.

Scout?s view: ?He just needs to back up what he did in the tournament. He is a high-energy guy he has a great build, he is not a skinny kid you need to put weight on. He is going to rebound and defend his spot, and he can hit midrange jumpers. I want him to be more assertive and show that he can score 15, 16 points and get eight or 10 rebounds every time out.?

DeCourcy?s take: He plays hard, runs well, catches everything, shoots it great, scores inside and passes like a wizard. He obviously will not be as gifted as freshmen such as Andrew Wiggins and Julius Randle, but there?s a chance he could be as effective a player as anyone now that he?s discovered what he can achieve with his wide array of skills. And, honestly, Michigan will need more from him than when Trey Burke was running the show.

Glenn Robinson III, SF, Michigan

If he had entered: Robinson is an adept scorer, and if he had put together good workouts as a perimeter player, he was slated to go in the late teens or early 20s.

Scout?s view: ?I would say it starts with ballhandling with him. He has the potential to be a good midrange shooter but he has to get better at working toward his spots. I would show him film of Paul Pierce, over and over. He needs to develop his left hand and be able to control his movements better?you know, stop-and-start, get your defender off balance, and get your shots that way.?

DeCourcy?s take: Robinson played exclusively at power forward as a freshman and might now get more opportunity to show he can defend quicker players. But the small forward position is one of the trickiest in any offense, especially for one who has yet to show he is an exceptional 3-point shooter or driver of the basketball. Robinson might find himself less comfortable on the perimeter than he expects.

Gary Harris, SG, Michigan State

If he had entered: After Smart, Harris probably had the best shot to wind up high in the draft, sure to go in the lottery, maybe even the Top 10.

Scout?s view: ?He developed quickly, that was a surprise. Everything you?d hoped he would do, he did?he put on weight, he played good defense, he was not afraid to shoot. He had some injury issues that might have slowed him down at different parts of the year, so just staying healthy and bumping up the production will be enough to keep him in the lottery.?

DeCourcy?s take: Harris had a quietly magnificent freshman season, limited perhaps only by the relatively low volume of shot attempts for someone with such impressive accuracy and also his own need to become more active attacking the goal. He didn?t attempt even 100 free throws, which will have to improve if MSU is to be a title contender. And Keith Appling will need to pass Harris the ball more.

James Michael McAdoo, PF, North Carolina

If he had entered: There wasn?t really a consensus on McAdoo heading into the offseason, but he was likely to be a No. 15-20 pick.

Scout?s view: ?Is he more than an athlete? That?s what I want to see from him. More of a face-up game, knocking down the 12-to-15 footers. He has so much raw athleticism that he is worth a high pick. But he is going to have to play away from the basket more in the NBA, and that will be the challenge for him to show he can handle it.?

DeCourcy?s take: The weirdest thing about McAdoo?s sophomore season is how little credit he received for playing out of position, battling bigger players?and still dramatically improving his production. What part of operating as a lean 6-9 center sounds appealing? Carolina should be a bigger, more conventional team and McAdoo might have a chance to be an actual power forward. He?ll be a very good one.

Doug McDermott, SF, Creighton

If he had entered: McDermott?s shooting probably would have earned him a spot in the late first round, though he might have slipped to Round 2.

Scout?s view: ?I thought he would have been a first-rounder, but maybe not. There isn?t much he is going to do as a senior that we haven?t seen. He is an incredible shooter. But the other stuff?size, athleticism?that?s not going to change. They?re going to be the question marks no matter what.?

DeCourcy?s take: It?s unlikely he?s coming back to as good a team as either of the past two Creighton squads. Guard Grant Gibbs and center Gregory Echenique were seniors last season, and both will be difficult to replace. The Blue Jays also will be taking a significant step forward into the Big East, where the tough challenges will come more regularly. They?ll need him to live in the 25-point neighborhood again.

Adreian Payne, PF, Michigan State

If he had entered: Scouts were intrigued by Payne?s versatility?he is a legit big man (6-10) who can shoot, plays solid defense and has improved drastically in three years at Michigan State. He was likely to go in the early 20s.

Scout?s view: ?I thought he should have come out. He has done a tremendous job there, he has put on a lot of muscle, he has gone from being almost nothing offensively to being a pretty good shooter. Draft-wise, I don?t know how much more he can accomplish by going back to school. If they?re a good team, though, that will benefit him.?

DeCourcy?s take: His return is the final piece, and the most essential, to Michigan State ranking with Kentucky, Louisville, Duke and maybe some others as genuine challengers for the NCAA championship. Michigan State needs an elite big to compete with the others, and Payne is the one they?ve got. He?ll still be primarily a stretch-4, but with greater responsibility to command the lane on D.

Source: http://aol.sportingnews.com/nba/story/2013-04-30/early-entry-deadline-marcus-smart-doug-mcdermott-nba-draft-2013-magic-bobcats

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Federal safety net health care coverage for kids with diabetes varies significantly by state

Public release date: 30-Apr-2013
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Mary F. Masson
mfmasson@umich.edu
734-764-2220
University of Michigan Health System

New study from University of Michigan found patchwork coverage for children with diabetes

Ann Arbor, Mich. Federal funding for health care coverage of children with diabetes varies significantly from state to state across the United States, according to new research from the University of Michigan.

The new research, published earlier this year in the Journal of Pediatrics, examines a public program for children with chronic diseases called the Children with Special Health Care Needs program, which is funded through Title V of the Social Security Act of 1935, and provides federal support and serves as a safety net for children with chronic diseases.

In the study, researchers found geographic disparities in access to coverage for medical services and medications, says lead author Joyce M. Lee, M.D., M.P.H., associate professor of pediatrics at C.S. Mott Children's Hospital. Detailed state-by-state descriptions are available in this interactive map: http://diabetessafety.net/

"States administer Title V programs individually, defining their own medical and financial criteria for eligibility," Lee says. "This has resulted in a patchwork safety net for children with chronic disease, which could have an impact on future health outcomes.

"We performed this study because we wanted to better understand the safety net that exists for kids with diabetes. This is increasingly important, because the overall burden of diabetes in children is rising in the U.S., and diabetes imposes a large financial burden on families who must manage the disease."

Lee and her co-authors found that children with diabetes were eligible for Title V programs in just 32 states, which at a minimum would provide assistance with coordination of care for these children.

However, only twenty-six states (51%) provided medical coverage to pay for visits with health care professionals and medications like insulin. Only 24 states also covered diabetes supplies (for example, glucometer strips, syringes).

"If children do not have access to a private health plan, and they do not qualify for income-based programs like Medicaid, unfortunately children in many states will not have access to the basic elements of care, simply based on geography," Lee says.

Title V programs are unique because they designate eligibility based on diagnosis of a chronic disease. Although Title V programs have financial eligibility requirements, in at least 10 states, these income limits were more generous compared with the federal limits for Medicaid or State Children's Health Insurance Program.

Title V programs may serve as the insurer of last resort or provide secondary coverage for children with private or public insurance, particularly in children who are underinsured.

"We hope this research will further highlight the need for uniformity of health benefits for children across states. Kids who live in different states should not have differential access to the care they need," Lee says.

###

Additional authors: Sarah J. Clark, M.P.H., Peter Wolfgram, M.D., Jaimie Sarrault, B.S.

Disclosures: None

Citation: doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2012.12.009

About the University of Michigan's C.S. Mott Children's Hospital:

Since 1903, the University of Michigan has led the way in providing comprehensive, specialized health care for children. From leading-edge heart surgery that's performed in the womb to complete emergency care that's there when you need it, families from all over come to the University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children's Hospital for our pediatric expertise. In 2013, C.S. Mott Children's Hospital was ranked eighth in the nation in Parents Magazine's 10 Best Children's Hospitals ranking. To learn more, go to http://www.mottchildren.org.

---

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?

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.

Public release date: 30-Apr-2013
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Mary F. Masson
mfmasson@umich.edu
734-764-2220
University of Michigan Health System

New study from University of Michigan found patchwork coverage for children with diabetes

Ann Arbor, Mich. Federal funding for health care coverage of children with diabetes varies significantly from state to state across the United States, according to new research from the University of Michigan.

The new research, published earlier this year in the Journal of Pediatrics, examines a public program for children with chronic diseases called the Children with Special Health Care Needs program, which is funded through Title V of the Social Security Act of 1935, and provides federal support and serves as a safety net for children with chronic diseases.

In the study, researchers found geographic disparities in access to coverage for medical services and medications, says lead author Joyce M. Lee, M.D., M.P.H., associate professor of pediatrics at C.S. Mott Children's Hospital. Detailed state-by-state descriptions are available in this interactive map: http://diabetessafety.net/

"States administer Title V programs individually, defining their own medical and financial criteria for eligibility," Lee says. "This has resulted in a patchwork safety net for children with chronic disease, which could have an impact on future health outcomes.

"We performed this study because we wanted to better understand the safety net that exists for kids with diabetes. This is increasingly important, because the overall burden of diabetes in children is rising in the U.S., and diabetes imposes a large financial burden on families who must manage the disease."

Lee and her co-authors found that children with diabetes were eligible for Title V programs in just 32 states, which at a minimum would provide assistance with coordination of care for these children.

However, only twenty-six states (51%) provided medical coverage to pay for visits with health care professionals and medications like insulin. Only 24 states also covered diabetes supplies (for example, glucometer strips, syringes).

"If children do not have access to a private health plan, and they do not qualify for income-based programs like Medicaid, unfortunately children in many states will not have access to the basic elements of care, simply based on geography," Lee says.

Title V programs are unique because they designate eligibility based on diagnosis of a chronic disease. Although Title V programs have financial eligibility requirements, in at least 10 states, these income limits were more generous compared with the federal limits for Medicaid or State Children's Health Insurance Program.

Title V programs may serve as the insurer of last resort or provide secondary coverage for children with private or public insurance, particularly in children who are underinsured.

"We hope this research will further highlight the need for uniformity of health benefits for children across states. Kids who live in different states should not have differential access to the care they need," Lee says.

###

Additional authors: Sarah J. Clark, M.P.H., Peter Wolfgram, M.D., Jaimie Sarrault, B.S.

Disclosures: None

Citation: doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2012.12.009

About the University of Michigan's C.S. Mott Children's Hospital:

Since 1903, the University of Michigan has led the way in providing comprehensive, specialized health care for children. From leading-edge heart surgery that's performed in the womb to complete emergency care that's there when you need it, families from all over come to the University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children's Hospital for our pediatric expertise. In 2013, C.S. Mott Children's Hospital was ranked eighth in the nation in Parents Magazine's 10 Best Children's Hospitals ranking. To learn more, go to http://www.mottchildren.org.

---

[ | 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.

Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2013-04/uomh-fsn043013.php

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Amped Wireless' TAN 1 WiFi adapter for Windows 8 arriving for $60

Amped Wireless' long-gestating TAN 1 may look like a chocolate bar, but you'd probably regret dunking it in your coffee. The high-powered WiFi adapter connects over USB to Windows 8 laptops and tablets, promising to triple the range of your device's built-in wireless gear. After what seems like an age, the hardware is finally making its way to stores, and will set you back $59.99 when it goes on sale tomorrow.

Filed under: Wireless

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Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/7_BF_5a_Ya8/

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Accused Colorado gunman's lawyers may enter insanity plea over his objections

By Keith Coffman

DENVER (Reuters) - Lawyers for accused Colorado theater gunman James Holmes are questioning the constitutionality of the state's insanity defense law, court records released on Tuesday show, and raising the possibility that they may enter an insanity plea over his objections.

Public defenders for Holmes, 25, said in a filing that there is "significant uncertainty and confusion" in Colorado law surrounding an insanity defense in the context of a case where prosecutors are seeking capital punishment.

That puts defense attorneys in a quandary, they wrote, because they cannot vouch for "the cognitive ability of their mentally ill client to understand complex legal concepts that few lawyers understand."

"That is one reason why Colorado's insanity statute provides a mechanism for entering (an insanity plea) over the objections of a defendant in some circumstances."

Holmes is charged with multiple counts of first-degree murder and attempted murder for opening fire inside an Aurora, Colorado, cinema in July during a midnight screening of the Batman film "The Dark Knight Rises."

The shooting rampage killed 12 moviegoers and wounded 70 others. Prosecutors said they will seek the death penalty for the California native if he is convicted.

The judge overseeing the case at the time entered a standard not guilty plea for Holmes in March, but said public defenders could change that to not guilty by reason of insanity if they show sufficient cause.

Holmes' lawyers previously sought to have the state's insanity defense law declared unconstitutional, arguing that it could require Holmes to divulge information that could be used against him at trial and at sentencing if there is a conviction.

Such disclosures, they argued, violate his constitutional right against self-incrimination, but the judge rejected that argument as premature.

Prosecutors last week outlined the aggravating factors that make Holmes eligible for the death penalty, including lying in wait, killing a child under age 12, and committing murder in an "especially heinous, cruel or depraved manner."

(Editing by Dan Whitcomb and Stacey Joyce)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/accused-colorado-gunmans-lawyers-may-enter-insanity-plea-030242243.html

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Venezuelan lawmakers hurt during punch-up in parliament

By Mario Naranjo and Eyanir Chinea

CARACAS (Reuters) - Fistfights broke out in Venezuela's parliament on Tuesday, injuring a number of legislators during an angry session linked to the South American nation's bitter election dispute.

The opposition said seven of its parliamentarians were attacked and hurt when protesting a measure to block them from speaking in the National Assembly over their refusal to recognize President Nicolas Maduro's April 14 vote victory.

Government legislators blamed their "fascist" rivals for starting the violence, which illustrated the volatile state of politics in the OPEC nation after the death of late socialist leader Hugo Chavez last month.

"We knew the opposition came to provoke violence," Maduro said of the incident. "This must not be repeated."

The 50-year-old Maduro, who was Chavez's chosen successor, defeated opposition candidate Henrique Capriles by 1.5 percentage points. Capriles, 40, has refused to recognize his victory, alleging that thousands of irregularities occurred and the vote "stolen."

The vote exposed a nation evenly divided after 14 years of Chavez's hardline socialist rule.

"They can beat us, jail us, kill us, but we will not sell out our principles," one of the opposition parliamentarians, Julio Borges, told a local TV station, showing a bruised and bloodied face. "These blows give us more strength."

One assembly worker, who asked not to be named, told Reuters the trouble began when opposition legislators shouted "fascist" at the National Assembly leader and unfolded a protest banner reading "parliamentary coup."

Government parliamentarians attacked them. Laptops and tables were hurled in the ensuing melee, with one legislator hit over the head with a chair, the witness said.

Workers later had to show their phones to see if they had photos or videos of the incident, the assembly employee added.

'DEFENDING CHAVEZ'S LEGACY'

Government parliamentarian Odalis Monzon said she and some colleagues were attacked and beaten. "Today again I had to defend the commander's (Chavez's) legacy," she said.

The fracas came after the government-controlled assembly passed a measure denying opposition members the right to speak in the chamber until they recognized Maduro as president.

"Until they recognize the authorities, the institutions of the republic, the sovereign will of our people, the opposition deputies will have to go and speak (to the private media) but not here in this National Assembly," said Diosdado Cabello, the head of parliament.

Both sides accused each other of starting the incident, which took place behind closed doors without media present.

In a video that pro-opposition private TV station Globovision broadcaster said it obtained from a parliamentarian, various assembly members could be seen hitting each other and scuffling to cries of "stop" from others.

In another potential flashpoint for Venezuela, the government and opposition are planning rival marches in Caracas on Wednesday to commemorate May Day.

Venezuela has been on edge since the April 14 presidential election. At least eight people died in violent protests the day after the vote. There have been scores of arrests in what the opposition is calling a wave of repression.

Maduro has accused the opposition of planning a coup.

Former colonial ruler Spain this week offered to mediate in Venezuela's political tensions. But Maduro rejected that.

"Stop sticking your noses in Venezuela. Spanish foreign minister, get out, you impertinent man. Venezuela is to be respected," he said in a speech, referring to Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo.

(Additional reporting by Marianna Parraga; Writing by Andrew Cawthorne; Editing by Paul Simao and Stacey Joyce)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/venezuelan-lawmakers-hurt-during-punch-parliament-012228956.html

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Here?s an LED flashlight that you can use underwater

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Source: http://the-gadgeteer.com/2013/04/29/heres-an-led-flashlight-that-you-can-use-underwater/

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