When hackers break into the databases of the great and good—like Adobe
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Monday, November 4, 2013
Massive Credential Hacks Are the Crosswords of the Future
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On The Air This Week, We're Exploring Digital Childhood
This week, we'll explore the touchscreen generation.
Alex Couros/Flickr
This week, we'll explore the touchscreen generation.
Alex Couros/Flickr
We are really excited to start a new team-centered, theme-driven reporting effort. ("We" refers to your NPR tech reporting team — Steve Henn and Laura Sydell out in the Bay Area, and me, here at NPR's headquarters in Washington.)
As much as we can, we will craft our tech and culture coverage around a certain theme each week, meaning each of us will report one story as part of the theme and you'll hear those stories on our flagship shows. At the conclusion of each week, they'll get mashed into a whimsical podcast you can download.
For our first attempt at a theme week, we chose "raising digital natives," or, more simply, technology and our kids. It's especially good timing — the American Academy of Pediatrics this morning released updated guidelines on whether parents should allow screen time, relaxing previous rules. (We'll link to it when the group publishes it.)
And the non-profit Common Sense Media is out with new numbers showing that among children under two, that 38 percent had used mobile devices like iPhones and tablets. For children 8 and under, the average amount of time children spend using mobile devices has tripled since a similar survey two years ago.
The comedian Louis C.K.'s rant about parents, kids and cell phones hits on some of the struggles:
Team Coco/YouTube
Louis C.K.'s rant against kids and cell phones.
What struck us was how well Louis C.K. expressed his fears about what all this technology was doing to his kids. So many of us are trying to help kids navigate this stuff. So this week, we want to have a conversation with you through our stories on the air and here on the blog.
If you're a parent or a kid, or a friend of parent or a kid or were a kid once — we are going on a ride through a digital childhood. On the air, I'll be reporting on babies and screen time — how early is too early? Steve Henn will explore the complex design thinking behind your kid's favorite video games and Laura Sydell takes a closer look at ask.fm, which critics fear is making it easier for teens to be bullied online.
But we want to hear from you: What's your approach to technology and your children? What do you want to learn more about when it comes to the way children and teens are coming of age in our tech-obsessed culture?
There's likely much more material to be mined, so, help us shape what our reporting looks like going forward. Email me, leave a message in the comments or tweet us @NPRAllTech.
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Kerry in Egypt on first visit since Morsi ouster
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry prepares to board his aircraft at Andrews Air Force Base near Washington, Nov. 2, 2013. Kerry is in Cairo pressing for reforms during the highest-level American visit to Egypt since the ouster of the country’s first democratically elected president. The Egyptian military’s removal of Mohammed Morsi in July led the U.S. to suspend hundreds of millions of dollars in aid. It seems the State Department expected a frosty reception for Kerry ahead of Monday’s scheduled start of Morsi’s trial on charges of inciting murder. (AP Photo/Jason Reed,Pool)
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry prepares to board his aircraft at Andrews Air Force Base near Washington, Nov. 2, 2013. Kerry is in Cairo pressing for reforms during the highest-level American visit to Egypt since the ouster of the country’s first democratically elected president. The Egyptian military’s removal of Mohammed Morsi in July led the U.S. to suspend hundreds of millions of dollars in aid. It seems the State Department expected a frosty reception for Kerry ahead of Monday’s scheduled start of Morsi’s trial on charges of inciting murder. (AP Photo/Jason Reed,Pool)
CAIRO (AP) — Secretary of State John Kerry says that U.S.-Egypt relations should not be defined by assistance.
At a joint news conference following a meeting with Egyptian Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmy, Kerry said that the suspension of aid to Egypt is not a punishment. He was referring to the legal requirements for withholding more than $1 billion in assistance after the Egyptian military in July toppled the democratically elected government.
Kerry said the topic was mentioned only briefly in his meeting with Fahmy and that he believed Egyptian authorities understood that rationale.
Kerry made an unannounced trip to Egypt Sunday on the first leg of a nine-day trip to the Mideast and Europe. This is Kerry's first trip to Egypt since the military's action.
Associated PressSource: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2013-11-03-United%20States-Egypt-Kerry/id-b82776f9c7404fac89f69440ed262974Similar Articles: Origami Owl elizabeth berkley carrie underwood Wentworth Miller mila kunis
NYC stop-frisk ruling halted by appeals court
NEW YORK (AP) — A federal appeals court block of a judge's ruling that found the New York Police Department's stop-and-frisk policy discriminated against minorities may be short lived, depending on the outcome of next week's mayoral election.
The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said Thursday that the ruling by U.S. District Judge Shira A. Scheindlin would be on hold pending the outcome of an appeal by the city, a fight that could be dropped if Democrat Bill de Blasio, who is leading the polls by 39 points, has his way.
De Blasio has said he would drop objections to the decision, which had called for a monitor to oversee major changes to the police tactic.
His Republican rival, Joe Lhota, said the city's next mayor must push forward with the appeal.
"For the next 60 days, we don't want an outsider coming in who doesn't know anything about crime fighting, putting the lives of our police officers and the lives of the public on the line," Mayor Michael Bloomberg said Friday on his weekly WOR Radio show.
Police officers have "had their names dragged through the mud over the past year and I think they deserve a lot better than that," Bloomberg said. "We want them to understand that we support them and we are in conformity with the requirements of the law."
The topic became an election flashpoint, resonating nationwide. Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly was shouted down over the tactic by students during a speech at Brown University earlier in the week.
"This is indeed an important decision for all New Yorkers and for the men and women of the New York City police department who work very hard day in and day out to keep this city safe," Kelly said Thursday.
The three-judge panel also took the unusual step of removing Scheindlin from the case. It said she ran afoul of the code of conduct for U.S. judges by misapplying a related case ruling that allowed her to take the case, and by giving media interviews during the trial. It noted she had given media interviews and public statements responding to criticism of the court. In a footnote, it cited interviews with the New York Law Journal, The Associated Press and The New Yorker magazine.
In the AP interview, Scheindlin said reports that Bloomberg had reviewed her record to show that most of her 15 written "search and seizure" rulings since she took the bench in 1994 had gone against law enforcement was a "below-the-belt attack" on judicial independence. She said it was "quite disgraceful" if the mayor's office was behind the study.
Scheindlin said in a statement later Thursday she consented to the interviews under the condition she wouldn't comment on the ongoing case.
"And I did not," she said.
Scheindlin said some reporters used quotes from written opinions that gave the appearance she had commented on the case but "a careful reading of each interview will reveal that no such comments were made."
In 2007, Scheindlin told the same lawyers who had argued a similar case before her to bring the stop and frisk case to her, because she said the two were related. Not long after, the current case was filed by the attorneys.
The appeals court said a new judge would be assigned at random to handle further decisions and said it would hear arguments in March on the formal appeal by the city. That judge may choose to make alterations to Scheindlin's rulings, but it would be unlikely.
Scheindlin decided in August that the city violated the civil rights of tens of thousands of blacks and Hispanics by disproportionally stopping, questioning and sometimes frisking them. She assigned a monitor to help the police department change its policy and training programs on the tactic.
Stop and frisk has been around for decades, but recorded stops increased dramatically under Bloomberg's administration to an all-time high in 2011 of 684,330, mostly of black and Hispanic men. Four minority men who said they were targeted because of their races filed a lawsuit, and it became a class-action case.
To make a stop, police must have reasonable suspicion that a crime is about to occur or has occurred, a standard lower than the probable cause needed to justify an arrest. Only about 10 percent of the stops result in arrests or summonses, and weapons are found about 2 percent of the time.
Scheindlin heard a bench trial that ended in the spring and coincided with a groundswell of backlash against the stop-and-frisk tactic. She noted in her ruling this summer that she wasn't putting an end to the practice, which is constitutional, but was reforming the way the NYPD implemented its stops.
The Center for Constitutional Rights, which represented the four men who sued, said it was dismayed that the appeals court delayed "the long-overdue process to remedy the NYPD's" stop-and-frisk practices and was shocked that it "cast aspersions" on the judge's professional conduct and reassigned the case.
___
Associated Press writer Jake Pearson contributed to this report.
Associated PressSource: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2013-11-01-Stop%20and%20Frisk/id-71368bb7a29d42e28d01a3420cd0b712Similar Articles: dexter 911 Memorial justin timberlake
Meet Lesson.ly, A Training-As-A-Service Startup That Is Clocking Quick Revenue Growth
If you work for a large company, you likely dealt with an onboarding process. Perhaps little quizzes or pamphlets. I recently enjoyed this precise exercise while joining TechCrunch a few months ago, given that our corporate boss AOL is a fan of all things ancient.
The gist is that corporate training is a pain in the ass for the poor schmuck on the receiving end, as well as for those who have to get new recruits up to speed. Lesson.ly wants to change that by providing a flexible, online software solution to help businesses train new employees. Corporate training-as-a-service is the play. The company likes to think of itself as the ”MailChimp of teaching and learning software.” I tend to dislike “X for Y” comparisons, but in this case it fits well enough to bear repeating.
The sexiest thing online? No. But it’s an interesting pain point to solve, and one that likely has a wide market, given the ubiquity of corporate training.
As a service, Lesson.ly is currently functional, and attractive, though not as deep in its feature set as it needs to be. Lesson.ly was founded last July, and only left beta this March, so that is to be expected.
Companies using the product can create courses for their employees, assign each to various individuals, track their progress, and quickly view scoring. Creation of lessons is the biggest friction point for Lesson.ly users, so the company does hold some customers hands when getting their material in place.
Of course, companies can quickly white-label their tests, keeping their brands on top.
Lesson.ly caught my eye because I know its founder, Max Yoder, who formerly founded Quipol. I covered Quipol when Yoder was focused on it. It’s transformed into a side project for now.
The company raised a single round of funding this July, led by Gravity Ventures. Also participating in the funding was Collina Ventures and a few angels. Lesson.ly declined to disclose the size of the round, but did note that it is seeking additional capital.
I spoke with Yoder about the progress of his young company. Given its model and market, the scorecard for Lesson.ly is revenue and customer growth. According to Yoder, his company has grown its revenue 245 percent month-over-month since January of this year.
Now, if you start from a very small number — remember that Lesson.ly is a corporate infant — it isn’t hard to chart aggressive figures. Lesson.ly’s service starts at $100 per month for a company with the need to train up to 25 people. Naturally, it charges more if you need more capacity.
Lesson.ly has three full-time employees, though it is in the process of adding two salespeople. I suspect that Lesson.ly’s first round was modest in size, and the company now needs growth capital to hire customer-facing denizens, as well as backend workers.
The company has big plans. I asked Yoder how long it would take for Lesson.ly to reach a run rate of $1 million, and he replied that it would take around 12 months. So, come next November, we’ll have a very simple measuring stick for the firm. Yoder also stated that he expected the company’s customer base to triple in the next six months.
We expend quite a lot of our total bandwidth covering companies with exploding user bases, huge valuations, and zero revenue. Yoder and his small crew are betting that they can take a business model that has been proven to work, apply it to a sleepy, even dull, sector, which is interesting. And if the company can scale its revenues as quickly as it hopes, it could join Nexmo among the ranks of the profitable young tech companies.
Still, Lesson.ly is small enough that it could topple over and be blown away. That said, from what I have seen inside the small, Indianapolis-based firm, that doesn’t seem too likely.
Top Image Credit: Flickr
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Apple confirms it's 'unclear' whether there will be enough Retina iPad minis to meet demand
While Apple CEO Tim Cook may have put one rumor to rest during today's earnings call, he basically confirmed another one: When asked about the availability of the iPad mini with Retina display, Cook said that the new model will start shipping "later in November," but that it's "unclear whether we'll ...Category: Dusty Baker national coffee day Jeff Daniels reggie bush lsu football
Etsy's New Policy Means Some Items Are 'Handmade In Spirit'
Rae Padulo creates handmade ceramics, like these holiday ornaments, for her Etsy-based company, mudstar ceramics. She's disappointed with the site's new policy to allow outsourced manufacturing. "There's nothing wrong with factory-made," she says, but "that's not what Etsy started out to be."
Courtesy of Rae Padulo
Rae Padulo creates handmade ceramics, like these holiday ornaments, for her Etsy-based company, mudstar ceramics. She's disappointed with the site's new policy to allow outsourced manufacturing. "There's nothing wrong with factory-made," she says, but "that's not what Etsy started out to be."
Courtesy of Rae Padulo
Under online marketplace Etsy's new policies, vendors can now use an outside manufacturer to help make their goods.
That is not going down well with some longtime sellers, who are calling the new policies a turnaround from the site's original mission.
"Their moniker is, you know, a place to buy handmade. It doesn't say a place to buy factory-made," says Rae Padulo, a potter who began selling dishes and ornaments on Etsy in 2009.
"There's nothing wrong with factory-made — it's just, that's not what Etsy started out to be," she says. "It started out to be a place where you could get something special, something one-of-a-kind, something made by a human being."
Padulo says Etsy is abandoning makers of handcrafted goods, who, like her, only have one pair of hands.
Etsy CEO Chad Dickerson says the company is still behind lone artisans — they make up most of its one million sellers. Still, it wants to support those whose businesses are growing, and under the old rules, that was difficult. Successful vendors were frustrated that they couldn't get enough help with their work.
"We heard from a wedding seller, for example, who said that when wedding season came around she was in a state of mild panic attack, because she just reached her limit and was working, you know, 18 hours a day," Dickerson says.
Under the new policy, anyone who wants to work with an outside manufacturer has to apply and be vetted by Etsy, which makes sure the arrangement meets its ethical guidelines.
Alexandra Ferguson started her pillow business on Etsy several years ago working from home. She's since expanded her line to makeup cases made out of organic cotton with recycled felt lettering.
Ferguson's business has tripled in the last two years. She now works out of a small factory in Brooklyn with 11 employees.
Ferguson says she's proud to be creating manufacturing jobs in New York City. "That Etsy is now encouraging and embracing that growth, to say it doesn't matter how many employees you have — you can have 25, you can have 50, you can have 100 — just means we've now been given free rein to hire as much as we need to sustain our growth," she says.
But not all vendors want to grow their businesses like Ferguson did, especially those who were attracted to the site's small business ethos.
And some of its rivals are hovering, hoping to attract disappointed vendors. Padulo says she's heard from the CEO of a site called Zibbet.
"He sent an email to every account and said, 'I make a commitment: We will only sell handmade items on this site. We will never sell manufactured items,' " Padulo says. "It's music to a lot of sellers' ears, you know?"
Padulo says she's enjoyed being part of Etsy but may close her shop after the holidays.
Dickerson says he hates to lose sellers because of the new policy. But in the eight years that Etsy has been online, the creative world has changed. For example, some sellers are creating jewelry using 3-D printing.
"Those are handmade, I think, in spirit, even though they're designed on a computer and printed," he says.
He says Etsy sellers can now turn their hands to whatever innovation comes next.
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iPad Air Smart Case vs. Smart Cover: Which should you get?
2013 iPad buyers guide: How to pick the perfect Smart Cover or Smart Case for your iPad Air!
Along with the brand new iPad Air, Apple has also released two different accessories designed to protect and preserve it - Smart Covers and Smart Cases. Smart Covers attach via magnets and protect only the screen. Smart Cases wrap around and protect both the back and the screen. The cover leaves more exposed, but is lighter and sleeker. The cover keeps more safe, but at the expense of added bulk. So, if you've got an iPad Air, and you're interested in one of Apple's accessories, which one should you get - Smart Cover or Smart Case?
iPad 4 Smart Cover vs. iPad Air Smart Cover
Apple has changed the way full sized Smart Covers work with the iPad Air. Previously, from the iPad 2 to the iPad 4, the full-sized iPad Smart Cover had a metal hinge that hooked onto the iPad along the long, left edge, and four folds that could be rolled up into a typing or viewing stand. With the iPad Air Smart Cover, Apple has gone the way last year's iPad mini Smart Cover. The metal hinge is now covered by the material, and the four folds have been reduced to three.
When standing, the change results in a less upright angle - the iPad Air leans back more than the iPad 4 did with its version of the Smart Cover.
The difference isn't as noticeable when in the typing position. Both the iPad Air and iPad 4 present similar angles.
The change from 4 to 3 folds is a mixed bag. It results in a simpler, pyramid structure with no overlap, but at the same time it seems a little less secure. If you're careful, the end result is the same. If you're rushed, the tri-fold can be a little more difficult to nail immediately.
The metal hinge on the original full-sized Smart Cover was nice, but it did cause scratches for some people, both on their iPad's edge, and on other gear - like laptops - they may have in the same pocket of their bag.
Overall, the iPad Air Smart Cover feels like an improvement over the original Smart Cover, but one with its fair share of caveats.
iPad Air Smart Cover vs. Smart Case
Both the Smart Cover and Smart Case are extremely well built and are lined with micro fiber to help keep your iPad Air safe and clean. The two major differences between the Smart Cover and the Smart Case are these: The Smart Cover is made of polyurethane and protects only the screen. The Smart Case is made of aniline-dyed leather and also protects the iPad Air's sides and back. The Smart Cover comes in black, pink, yellow, blue, green, and - exclusive to Apple Stores - (PRODUCT) RED. The Smart Case comes in brown, beige, black, yellow, blue, and (PRODUCT) RED.
The black, blue, yellow, and red look universally good. The beige, like with the iPhone 5s case, is too fleshy for my tastes. Brown and pink look just okay.
The viewing angles, when standing, are fairly similar between Smart Cover and Smart Case, though my Smart Cover did recline to a greater degree.
Typing angle between the iPad Air Smart Cover and Smart Case were likely similar.
The protection provided to the back of the iPad Air by the Smart Case is nice, including the embossed Apple logo which only Apple is legally allowed to put on accessories, of course.
However, the Smart Case also adds considerable bulk compared to the Smart Cover. Because it's covering both sides, it makes the overall package thicker.
The iPad Air Smart Case does feel like it fits better, both in terms of sizing and magnetic seal, than the overly floppy iPad 3/4 Smart Case Apple released in June of 2012.
But the cost of protection is inevitably size.
Who should get the iPad Air Smart Cover?
You can go completely naked for even less bulk, or use a protective film, but the Smart Cover is an excellent compromise of good looks, good protection, and good functionality. If all you want to do is protect the screen of your iPad Air, without a lot of bulk, but with something that's easily removable and has ability to stand it up for typing or viewing, and you don't care that it's polyurethane instead of leather, you want the Smart Cover.
Who should get the iPad Air Smart Case?
There will no doubt be full on armor cases for the iPad Air, ironic as that might sound, and soon. However, if you like the Smart Cover-style magnetic closure and roll-up stand, but really don't want to risk any damage to the back of your tablet, and you like leather better than polyurethane, you want the Smart Case.
Know what you're getting?
If you've made your choice, here's where to go to buy online, including some alternatives offered by Amazon.
Still can't decide?
If you're really stuck between a cover and a hard case, head on over to your local Apple Store or authorize reseller and check out both in person. Also be sure to hit up the iMore iPad Accessory Forum with any questions you might have. It's filled with expert help, and the best community discussion on the net.
Once you've decided between the iPad Air Smart Cover, Smart Case, something else, or nothing at all, let me know!
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- iPad vs. Galaxy vs. Nexus vs. Kindle vs. Surface: Which tablet should you get?
- iPad Air vs. MacBook Air: Which Apple portable should you get?
- iPad Air vs. Retina iPad mini vs. iPad 2 vs. iPad mini: Which iPad model should you get?
- Silver vs. space gray: Which iPad Air and Retina iPad mini color should you get?
- 16GB vs. 32GB vs. 64GB vs. 128GB: Which iPad Air or Retina iPad mini storage capacity should you get?
- AT&T vs. Verizon vs. Sprint vs. T-Mobile: Which iPad carrier should you choose?
- Rogers vs. Bell vs. TELUS: Which Canadian iPad Air or Retina iPad mini carrier should you get?
- AppleCare+ vs. insurance vs. nothing: Which iPad Air or Retina iPad mini protection plan should you get?
- iPad Air Smart Case vs. Smart Cover: Which should you get?
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All You Need To Know About The All Tied Up World Series
Kolten Wong of the St. Louis Cardinals slumps as Boston Red Sox first baseman Mike Napoli celebrates Sunday night. Wong was picked off at first base to end the game and the Cardinals' hopes of winning. Boston's 4-2 victory means the World Series is tied at 2-2.
Elsa/Getty Images
Kolten Wong of the St. Louis Cardinals slumps as Boston Red Sox first baseman Mike Napoli celebrates Sunday night. Wong was picked off at first base to end the game and the Cardinals' hopes of winning. Boston's 4-2 victory means the World Series is tied at 2-2.
Elsa/Getty Images
The score Sunday night was:
Which means the World Series is:
Tied at two games apiece.
The big moment Sunday:
Came in the sixth inning, when Boston outfielder Jonny Gomes hit a three-run homer.
The big mistake:
Came in the ninth inning, when St. Louis pinch runner Kolten Wong took too big a lead off first base and was picked with a throw from Boston pitcher Koji Huehara. That ended the game with the potential tying run at bat. On Twitter, Wong tells Cardinals fans that "I'm sorry ... I go out everyday playing this game as hard as I can and leaving everything on the field."
Wong's mistake means that for the second night in a row, there was (in the words of NPR's Tom Goldman) an "are you kidding me?" ending:
Saturday's game, as we reported, finished like no other World Series game ever has, apparently — with umpires saying that Boston third baseman Will Middlebrooks had obstructed St. Louis' Allen Craig on the basepath. The umps then ruled that Craig was safe at home plate, giving the Cardinals a 5-4 win.
Game 5 is tonight, starting just after 8 p.m. ET on Fox. If it's another close one with dramatics in the ninth inning, there will again be a lot of very tired fans Tuesday morning.
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Suspect tells police he acted alone in LAX shooting
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The gunman charged in the deadly shooting at Los Angeles International Airport lay bloodied and handcuffed on the floor of Terminal 3 after being gunned down by police, but he replied to critical questions that helped authorities lock down the scene.
Paul Ciancia, 23, was hauled away moments later on a stretcher and later heavily sedated for medical reasons, but not before he told investigators he had acted alone when he opened fire in the terminal, a law enforcement official who has been briefed on the investigation told The Associated Press on Sunday.
Ciancia, an unemployed motorcycle mechanic who recently moved to Los Angeles from the small, blue-collar town of Pennsville, N.J., also told police a friend had dropped him at LAX on Friday just moments before he shot a Transportation Security Administration officer at point-blank range and wounded three other people, including two more TSA workers.
Officials do not believe that the friend knew of the shooter's plans. Ciancia arrived at the airport in a black Hyundai and was not a ticketed passenger.
Ciancia was under 24-hour armed guard at the hospital Sunday after being shot four times, the official said. He was sedated for medical reasons, the official said, adding that one gunshot to the mouth blew a molar out of his jaw.
Ciancia is facing charges of murder of a federal officer and committing violence at an international airport. The charges could qualify him for the death penalty. It wasn't immediately clear when he would make a first court appearance given his medical condition.
In court documents and interviews, authorities spelled out a chilling chain of events, saying Ciancia walked into the airport, pulled a .223-caliber assault rifle from his duffel bag and fired repeatedly at 39-year-old TSA officer Gerardo I. Hernandez. He turned back to see Hernandez move and returned to finish him off, according to surveillance video reviewed by investigators.
He then fired on two other uniformed TSA employees and an airline passenger, who all were wounded, as he moved methodically through the security checkpoint before airport police shot him as panicked travelers hid in stores and restaurants.
It wasn't clear why Ciancia targeted TSA officers, but what he left behind indicated he was willing to kill any of them that crossed his path, authorities revealed.
The shooter's duffel bag contained a handwritten letter signed by Ciancia stating he'd "made the conscious decision to try to kill" multiple TSA employees and that he wanted to "instill fear in their traitorous minds," FBI Agent in Charge David L. Bowdich said.
"Black, white, yellow, brown, I don't discriminate," the note read, according to a paraphrase by a law enforcement official briefed on the investigation. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly.
The screed also mentioned "fiat currency" and "NWO," possible references to the New World Order, a conspiracy theory that foresees a totalitarian one-world government.
The letter also talked about "how easy it is to get a gun into the airport," the law enforcement official said.
When searched, the suspect had five 30-round magazines, and his bag contained hundreds more rounds in boxes.
U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, said on CNN's State of the Union on Sunday that Ciancia's actions show how difficult it is to protect travelers at a massive airport such as LAX.
The terminals are open and easily accessible to thousands of people who arrive at large sliding glass doors via a broad ring road that fronts the facility and is designed to move people along quickly.
"It's like a shopping mall outside the perimeter, it's almost like an open shopping mall," McCaul said.
The FBI has served a search warrant on a Sun Valley residence where Ciancia lived, Ari Dekofsky, a spokeswoman for the FBI's Los Angeles field office, said Sunday. Agents are still interviewing people, she said.
Authorities believe the rifle used in the shooting was purchased in Los Angeles. Ciancia also had two additional handguns that he purchased in Los Angeles, but which weren't at the crime scene, a law enforcement official said. The official, who has been briefed on the investigation, was not authorized to speak publicly and requested anonymity.
The purchases themselves appeared legal, although authorities were still tracing them, and it's unclear if the shooter used his own identification or someone else's, the official said.
"He didn't buy them on the street. He didn't buy them on the Internet," the official said. "He bought them from a licensed gun dealer — the rifle and the two handguns."
Hernandez, a three-year veteran of the TSA, moved to the U.S. from El Salvador at age 15, married his sweetheart, Ana, on Valentine's Day in 1998 and had two children.
The other two TSA officers wounded in the attack have been released from the hospital. On Sunday, the TSA identified them as James Speer, 54, and Tony Grigsby, 36.
Brian Ludmer, a Calabasas High School teacher, remained in fair condition at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center with a gunshot wound to the leg. Two other people suffered injuries trying to evade the gunman, but weren't shot.
The FBI was still looking into Ciancia's past, but investigators said they had not found evidence of previous crimes or any run-ins with the TSA. They said he had never applied for a job with the agency.
___
Associated Press writers Alicia Chang and Gillian Flaccus in Los Angeles contributed to this report.
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Sunday, November 3, 2013
Benchmark Partner Peter Fenton On Investor Luck, Tech IPOs And More
This past week, we were lucky enough to sit down with Benchmark partner and Twitter board member Peter Fenton backstage at TechCrunch Europe to talk about his magic touch.
Of all the investors in the Valley, Fenton is one of the elite VCs who has the most number of companies that are in the process of going public or will be going public in 2014. This group includes Twitter, Zendesk, Zuora, New Relic and a number of others. We asked Fenton what his secret was in picking the companies that had the legs to be a public company.
Fenton admits that luck has an important role in some of his successes and bets. He shared that he falls in love with the companies he invests in, with the passion coming from seeing the dynamic of a mission-based company and how the employees are growing with the startup. He adds that the current dynamic in this climate is to focus on an IPO vs. an exit (M&A was more popular in the previous generation of technology companies, he says).
Check out the video above for more.
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Obama: Vote for McAuliffe is vote for progress
ARLINGTON, Va. (AP) — President Barack Obama is telling Virginians to choose progress by voting for Democrat Terry McAuliffe in Tuesday's election for governor.
Obama spoke at a rally for McAuliffe in Arlington, just outside the nation's capital, in the final days of a bitter campaign for governor.
Obama painted Republican Ken Cuccinelli as beholden to an extreme tea party ideology that, according to the president, shut down the government and hurt Virginians.
Obama said McAuliffe knows how to push though obstacles and cares deeply about equality. The president urged McAuliffe's backers not to get complacent at the end of the race.
Cuccinelli is telling his supporters that Obama's visit highlights McAuliffe's support for Obama's unpopular health care law.
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Militant's death brings little joy in Pakistan
FILE - In this file image taken on Oct. 4, 2009, Pakistan's new Taliban leader Hakimullah Mehsud, center, operates light machine gun with his comrades in Sararogha in Pakistani tribal area of South Waziristan along Afghanistan border. Intelligence officials said Friday, Nov. 1, 2013 that the leader of the Pakistani Taliban Hakimullah Mehsud was one of three people killed in a U.S. drone strike. (AP Photo/Ishtiaq Mahsud, File)
FILE - In this file image taken on Oct. 4, 2009, Pakistan's new Taliban leader Hakimullah Mehsud, center, operates light machine gun with his comrades in Sararogha in Pakistani tribal area of South Waziristan along Afghanistan border. Intelligence officials said Friday, Nov. 1, 2013 that the leader of the Pakistani Taliban Hakimullah Mehsud was one of three people killed in a U.S. drone strike. (AP Photo/Ishtiaq Mahsud, File)
FILE - In this file photo taken Sunday, Oct. 4, 2009, new Pakistani Taliban chief Hakimullah Mehsud, left, is seen with his comrade Waliur Rehman, front center, during his meeting with media in Sararogha of Pakistani tribal area of South Waziristan along the Afghanistan border. Intelligence officials said Friday, Nov. 1, 2013 that the leader of the Pakistani Taliban Hakimullah Mehsud was one of three people killed in a U.S. drone strike. (AP Photo/Ishtiaq Mehsud, File)
Pakistani men, who were displaced with their families from Pakistan's tribal areas due to fighting between the Taliban and the army, sit on a roadside on the outskirts of Islamabad, Pakistan, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2013. The Pakistani Taliban confirmed the death of their leader, Hakimullah Mehsud, in a U.S. drone strike Saturday, a day after he was killed, as the group's leadership council met to begin the process of choosing a successor. (AP Photo/Muhammed Muheisen)
A Pakistani child, who was displaced with their family from Pakistan's tribal areas due to fighting between the Taliban and the army, plays on a wooden cart left in an alley of a poor neighborhood on the outskirts of Islamabad, Pakistan, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2013. The Pakistani Taliban confirmed the death of their leader, Hakimullah Mehsud, in a U.S. drone strike Saturday, a day after he was killed, as the group's leadership council met to begin the process of choosing a successor. (AP Photo/Muhammed Muheisen)
An elderly Pakistani man, who was displaced with his family from Pakistan's tribal areas due to fighting between the Taliban and the army, wraps himself with a shawl while sitting outside a mosque on the outskirts of Islamabad, Pakistan, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2013. (AP Photo/Muhammed Muheisen)
ISLAMABAD (AP) — The Pakistani Taliban leader killed in a recent U.S. drone strike was behind hotel bombings, assaults on political rallies, beheadings of policemen and suicide attacks on soldiers. But his death elicited little joy in the country where he wreaked most of his havoc and instead stirred widespread anger and suspicion.
At the time of Friday's strike targeting Hakimullah Mehsud, the Pakistani government was engaged in efforts to negotiate a peace deal with militants. Frustrated at years of military campaigns that have failed to end the bloodshed, many Pakistanis had high hopes for this latest peace effort and blame the U.S. for fouling it up.
Mehsud "should have been given the chance to negotiate, and now the consequences have to be borne by Pakistan, not the U.S.," said Syed Ahmed, a small business owner in the southern port city of Karachi.
Also contributing to the anger are fears of a bloody backlash, plus a web of complex conspiracy theories, including the idea that militants such as Mehsud are American or Indian pawns intent on weakening Pakistan.
For years, Pakistan has been fighting militants in the tribal areas that border neighboring Afghanistan, with thousands of civilians and security forces dying in bombings and shootings at the hands of militants.
Mehsud, who had a reputation as an especially ruthless warrior, was the leader of the Pakistani Taliban, or the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, as it calls itself. The TTP is an umbrella group encompassing militant organizations across the tribal areas. It has called for the overthrow of the Pakistani government, the implementation of hard-line Islamic law and an end to cooperation with the Americans in Afghanistan.
In many ways, people across Pakistan are echoing what they are hearing from politicians and top government officials. During a news conference Saturday, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan lashed out repeatedly at the U.S., which he said was trying to scuttle peace talks.
Imran Khan, the former cricket star who now leads a key opposition party, threatened to close NATO supply lines in retaliation for the drone attack.
The U.S. and Pakistan are wary allies in the war against militancy. Suspicion in Pakistan against America runs deep, fueled by a perception that Pakistan's militancy problems were foisted on it by the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan, which pushed militants into the tribal areas of northwestern Pakistan. Many Pakistanis question why Pakistan, a predominantly Muslim country, is at war with other Muslims and its own citizens.
Amir Sultan, a salesman at a garment business in Islamabad, said whenever Pakistan starts efforts to make peace with the Taliban, America sabotages it.
"It is an American agenda to destroy Pakistan," he said. "It is in America's interest to pit Muslim against Muslims."
There is also suspicion that the U.S. and neighboring India — a longtime enemy — are directly promoting and funding militants as a way to weaken the country. In the eastern city of Lahore, where that feeling is especially prevalent, lawyer Masood Wattoo blamed the U.S. and India for a recent string of bombings in the northwest, including a suicide attack on a church full of worshippers.
"It was the handiwork of America and India," he said.
In the southern port city of Karachi, Ahmad Jan suspected the U.S. and India were behind at least some of the militant groups operating across Pakistan.
"The TTP is a terrorist organization. Whoever challenges the writ of the state can't be our friends, but obviously they have the support of our enemies," he said.
Commanders from the group have been meeting to choose a successor to Mehsud, but no decision has been officially announced.
Mehsud's death has roused fears of a backlash of bombings and shootings. The militant group has already vowed to take revenge as it did after its deputy was killed in May in another drone strike.
In the northwestern city of Peshawar, which has taken the brunt of many attacks, anxiety about another wave of violence has been palpable.
"We fear more bloodshed and more destruction because these people can't attack America or shoot the drones down. Therefore only we, the poor Pakistanis, have to face the revenge, even though we had nothing to do with this," said Muhammad Tahir, a university student.
"Hakimullah's death," he added, "will make the situation more difficult for us."
___
Associated Press writers Asif Shahzad in Islamabad, Riaz Khan in Peshawar, Adil Jawad in Karachi and Zaheer Babar in Lahore contributed to this report.
Associated PressSource: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2013-11-03-AS-Pakistan-Militancy/id-ace338c3aa534b2e8467cd7510f2f706Tags: grand theft auto 5 Al Jazeera America
Khloe Kardashian Wishes Kendall Jenner a Happy 18th Birthday
The Kardashian clan sticks together, no matter what they go through. A hurting Khloe Kardashian celebrated her sister Kendall Jenner's 18th birthday on Sunday (November 3), offering her little sis heartfelt best wishes.
The 29-year-old "Keeping up with the Kardashians" starlet spoke to her sister on Twitter, writing, “Happy birthday Kendall!!!!! 18 years ago my life was changed forever because of you!”
"The joy and peace you bring to so many lives are just a few of the rare gifts your spirit possess," she continued. "I couldn’t be prouder of the woman you are becoming."
Khloe concluded her message, "Happy birthday to my best friend, my roommate, my puppy sister, my heart ❤. Sisters by blood, best friends by choice."
The elder Kardashian also included a fun and loving collage of the sisters growing up together.
Source: http://celebrity-gossip.net/khloe-kardashian/khloe-kardashian-wishes-kendall-jenner-happy-18th-birthday-954617
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Megan Hilty Marries Brian Gallagher in Las Vegas Wedding! (Photos)
‘Sean Saves the World’ star Megan Hilty married her boyfriend Brian Gallagher in Las Vegas at the Venetian chapel. She shared the news and pictures via Twitter and Instagram! People was the first to report on the Las Vegas wedding of the 32-year-old former ‘Smash’ star Megan Hilty and the 33-year-old Broadway actor and singer Brian Gallagher, noting that it was an “intimate ceremony.” After the story broke, Hilty Tweeted: “I married the love if my life tonight at The Venetian Chapel in Las Vegas!!!!! @BrianGGallagher @VenetianVegas #HeLikedItSoHePutaRingOnIt” She also posted photos on Instagram which you can see above and below, as the couple display their wedding rings. US Weekly has a few more details directly from Hilty who said: “We shared a perfect weekend with our family. To us it’s more about the marriage than the actual wedding, which is why we decided to skip the whole engagement thing. We couldn’t be happier!” She went on to explain that the attendees were only their immediate family whom the called a week before the ceremony was to take place. “We invited everyone but didn’t expect anyone to show up since it was so last minute but they did! It was [...]Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RightCelebrity/~3/bcfrWlSIALk/
Category: miami dolphins peyton hillis Canelo Vs Mayweather nbc sports robin thicke
Category: miami dolphins peyton hillis Canelo Vs Mayweather nbc sports robin thicke
GossipCenter's Weekly Wrap Up: October 28-November 3
Halloween week brought tricks and treats in the celebrity world. See what caught our eye here at GossipCenter below!
Heidi Klum Goes Geriatric at Halloween Bash: She is known for her annual Halloween party, and this year, the "Project Runway" hostess was barely recognizable as an older version of herself. As for what inspired the costume, Heidi explained, "There was so much talk about me turning 40 this year and what it felt like to be older. I thought, really? I will show you old!"
Kim Kardashian Sues Over Engagement Video: Upset that her private moment was broadcast to the world, bride-to-be Kim is suing YouTube co-founder Chad Hurley for leaking the engagement video online. The reality star released a statement saying that Hurley was not even invited to her surprise birthday party, and that he must have somehow bamboozled his way inside. When he was granted permission to stay, reports say that Hurley signed a confidentiality agreement and was also photographed holding the contract.
Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher Settle their Divorce: After a two year battle, Demi Moore and Aston Kutcher are married no more. The former couple settled their divorce, with both parties "satisfied" with the terms.
Chris Brown Heads to Rehab: After his latest brush with the law last week in Washington, DC, Chris Brown has decided to go to rehab. According to reports, the rapper will stay at a facility in Malibu for up to three months to work on anger issues.
Kerry Washington is Pregnant!: After a surprise wedding this summer, Kerry Washington and her hubby Nnamdi Asomugha are expecting their first child. The "Scandal" star, who sported a small baby bump on "Saturday Night Live" is said to be about four months along.
Source: http://celebrity-gossip.net/gossipcenter-weekly-wrap/gossipcenters-weekly-wrap-october-28-november-3-954400
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Egypt changes venue for trial of ousted president
Supporter of Egypt's ousted President Mohammed Morsi march during a protest a day before the trial of the former president taking place at a police academy in an eastern Cairo district, in Egypt, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2013. Morsi has been held in undisclosed destination since his ouster on July 3. He stands accused of incitement to murder. Arabic on the poster at left reads, "bring back the soldiers to the front lines." (AP Photo/Eman Helal)
Supporter of Egypt's ousted President Mohammed Morsi march during a protest a day before the trial of the former president taking place at a police academy in an eastern Cairo district, in Egypt, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2013. Morsi has been held in undisclosed destination since his ouster on July 3. He stands accused of incitement to murder. Arabic on the poster at left reads, "bring back the soldiers to the front lines." (AP Photo/Eman Helal)
A supporter of Egypt's ousted President Mohammed Morsi raises his four fingers which has become a symbol of the Rabaah al-Adawiya mosque, where Morsi supporters held a sit-in for weeks last August but was violently dispersed later, during a protest a day before the trial of the former president taking place at a police academy in an eastern Cairo district, in Egypt, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2013. Morsi has been held in undisclosed destination since his ouster on July 3. He stands accused of incitement to murder. (AP Photo/Eman Helal)
A supporter of Egypt's ousted President Mohammed Morsi holds an old presidential campaign poster of him with Arabic that reads, "Mohammed Morsi, president for Egypt, 2012, resurrection is the will of the people," during a protest a day before the trial of the former president taking place at a police academy in an eastern Cairo district, in Egypt, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2013. Morsi has been held in undisclosed destination since his ouster on July 3. He stands accused of incitement to murder. (AP Photo/Eman Helal)
Egyptian military soldiers stand guard near a protest the day before the trial of the former President Mohammed Morsi taking place at a police academy in an eastern Cairo district, in Egypt, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2013. Morsi has been held in undisclosed destination since his ouster on July 3. He stands accused of incitement to murder. (AP Photo/Eman Helal)
Supporters of Egypt's ousted President Mohammed Morsi hold a poster of him with Arabic that reads, "yes to legitimacy, Morsi is my president," right, and "we support Rabaah with legitimacy," left, during a protest a day before the trial of the former president taking place at a police academy in an eastern Cairo district, in Egypt, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2013. Morsi has been held in undisclosed destination since his ouster on July 3. He stands accused of incitement to murder. (AP Photo/Eman Helal)
CAIRO (AP) — Egyptian authorities on Sunday moved the trial of the ousted Islamist president to a new location at another end of the capital, a move apparently aimed at thwarting mass rallies planned by the Muslim Brotherhood in his support when it opens on Monday.
Facing charges of incitement of violence with 14 others in connection to clashes last December, Mohammed Morsi has been held at an undisclosed location since his July 3 overthrow by the military. The trial will be his first public appearance since then, possibly enflaming an already tense political atmosphere as animosity between Morsi's Islamist supporters and Egypt's security establishment steadily deepens.
"For (the Islamists) it will be like taking revenge on the police and the military," said lawyer Khaled Abu-Bakr, representing three victims of the December clashes. "I really hope that no blood is spilled tomorrow," he added.
The change of the venue was announced at a tumultuous news conference by appeals court judge Medhat Idris, who threw his statement in the air and stormed out of the room when Morsi supporters shouted in protest at the change.
He later told The Associated Press by telephone that the trial will not be aired live. Other details about the proceedings, including where Morsi will be held during them, remain secret.
A security official said Morsi will probably be taken back to the place he has been held instead of being transferred to a normal prison after the first session, for fear his supporters would turn the prison into a "focal point of endless protests."
The new venue is a heavily fortified police academy in an eastern Cairo suburb, already used for the trial of another former president — Hosni Mubarak — toppled in a 2011 uprising. He is accused of failing to stop the killing of protesters.
Egypt witnessed one of its worst bouts of violence in decades on Aug. 14, when security forces violently cleared protest camps set up by Morsi supporters, sparking days of unrest that left more than 1,000 dead. Since then, violent incidents have multiplied: a suicide car bomber tried to assassinate Interior Minister Mohammed Ibrahim in September, and dozens of members of the security forces have been killed in a string of drive-by shootings, explosions and car bombs. Churches have been torched, and in an attack in Cairo last month, five Copts and one Muslim were killed in drive-by shooting at a church.
Both government officials and Morsi's supporters forecast bleak scenarios for Monday, with each side accusing the other of plotting killings, including that of Morsi himself.
A senior Interior Ministry official told the AP his ministry had received information that Brotherhood supporters will engage in acts of violence, "including assassinations of top religious figures, suicide attacks and targeting military facilities."
"We expect a kind of hysteria and rioting when Morsi shows up in court," he added.
A Brotherhood-led group has called for mass rallies, while the interior minister has ordered the deployment of large numbers of security forces to guard the trial venue.
In recent statements, a coalition led by Morsi's Brotherhood described the trial as a "farce" and reiterated that it regarded him as the "elected, legitimate president" of Egypt. "This is a naive tool to break our will and our determination," it said Sunday.
Shaimaa Awad, a member of the group's political party, said it envisages several scenarios for the day of the trial. One of them, she said, sees the authorities bringing in Morsi for a swift and a secretive session. The second scenario, she said the group fears, is that authorities exploit the protests in order to create chaos and "liquidate Morsi."
"There is real fear Morsi would be assassinated during violence, and protesters depicted as trying to break into the courtroom," she said.
"We know our presence could backfire, but we cannot simply not go. We have to be there. When you know that your president is brought in to be humiliated, you ought to be outside to show that he is not alone," she added.
Meanwhile, a newspaper known for close ties to the military published what appeared to be the first pictures of Morsi from his detention. Daily el-Watan published a transcript of remarks it says were made by Morsi and captured on video, describing him as being "in total denial" and saying "I am the president of the republic, in accordance to the constitution." Later in the day, it posted a video showing Morsi wearing a blue track suit, sitting on a chair and speaking calmly
The paper quoted him as saying: "I will represent myself in front of any court ... I am not involved in killings of the protesters ... I will tell judges that."
A military official said the video was leaked to the paper in order to give his supporters a first glance of the former president to lessen the impact of the shock of his first public appearance.
Meanwhile, in Egypt's restive northern Sinai Peninsula, troops killed three alleged militants Sunday, a military official said, discovering rocket launchers, mortars, and rocket-propelled grenades in an abandoned house in the city of Rafah. Hours later, suspected militants killed two soldiers in a drive-by shooting at a check point near the Suez Canal city of Ismailia, a security official said.
Officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the press.
International rights groups have called for fair trial for Morsi.
In a Sunday statement, London-based Amnesty International said Morsi's trial is a "test" for the Egyptian authorities, who must grant him the "right to challenge the evidence against him in court," said Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui, Amnesty's Middle East director.
Morsi is being tried along with 14 other Brotherhood members and allies including top leaders Mohammed el-Beltagy and Essam el-Erian.
Morsi's family considers the trial illegitimate and will not attend, his son Osama told The Associated Press. Awad said they feared they would be mistreated and humiliated.
___
Tony G. Gabriel and Sarah el Deeb contributed to this report from Cairo
Associated PressSource: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2013-11-03-Egypt/id-c1f863deeb1c439d9fe1182a59bc8232Similar Articles: Kelly LeBrock Michael Girgenti
Nanotube-based sensors can be implanted under the skin for a year
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PUBLIC RELEASE DATE: 3-Nov-2013
[
]
ShareContact: Sarah McDonnell
s_mcd@mit.edu
617-253-8923
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
CAMBRIDGE, MA -- Nitric oxide (NO) is one of the most important signaling molecules in living cells, carrying messages within the brain and coordinating immune system functions. In many cancerous cells, levels are perturbed, but very little is known about how NO behaves in both healthy and cancerous cells.
"Nitric oxide has contradictory roles in cancer progression, and we need new tools in order to better understand it," says Michael Strano, the Carbon P. Dubbs Professor of Chemical Engineering at MIT. "Our work provides a new tool for measuring this important molecule, and potentially others, in the body itself and in real time."
Led by postdoc Nicole Iverson, Strano's lab has built a sensor that can monitor NO in living animals for more than a year. The sensors, described in the Nov. 3 issue of Nature Nanotechnology, can be implanted under the skin and used to monitor inflammation a process that produces NO. This is the first demonstration that nanosensors could be used within the body for this extended period of time.
Such sensors, made of carbon nanotubes, could also be adapted to detect other molecules, including glucose. Strano's team is now working on sensors that could be implanted under the skin of diabetic patients to monitor their glucose or insulin levels, eliminating the need to take blood samples.
Sensors for short and long term
Carbon nanotubes hollow, one-nanometer-thick cylinders made of pure carbon have drawn great interest as sensors. Strano's lab has recently developed carbon nanotube sensors for a variety of molecules, including hydrogen peroxide and toxic agents such as the nerve gas sarin. Such sensors take advantage of carbon nanotubes' natural fluorescence, by coupling them to a molecule that binds to a specific target. When the target is bound, the tubes' fluorescence brightens or dims.
Strano's lab has previously shown that carbon nanotubes can detect NO if the tubes are wrapped in DNA with a particular sequence. In the new paper, the researchers modified the nanotubes to create two different types of sensors: one that can be injected into the bloodstream for short-term monitoring, and another that is embedded in a gel so it can be implanted long-term under the skin.
To make the particles injectable, Iverson attached PEG, a biocompatible polymer that inhibits particle-clumping in the bloodstream. She found that when injected into mice, the particles can flow through the lungs and heart without causing any damage. Most of the particles accumulate in the liver, where they can be used to monitor NO associated with inflammation.
"So far we have only looked at the liver, but we do see that it stays in the bloodstream and goes to kidneys. Potentially we could study all different areas of the body with this injectable nanoparticle," Iverson says.
The longer-term sensor consists of nanotubes embedded in a gel made from alginate, a polymer found in algae. Once this gel is implanted under the skin of the mice, it stays in place and remains functional for 400 days; the researchers believe it could last even longer. This kind of sensor could be used to monitor cancer or other inflammatory diseases, or to detect immune reactions in patients with artificial hips or other implanted devices, according to the researchers.
Once the sensors are in the body, the researchers shine a near-infrared laser on them, producing a near-infrared fluorescent signal that can be read using an instrument that can tell the difference between nanotubes and other background fluorescence.
Monitoring glucose
Iverson is now working on adapting the technology to detect glucose, by wrapping different kinds of molecules around the nanotubes.
Most diabetic patients must prick their fingers several times a day to take blood glucose readings. While there are electrochemical glucose sensors available that can be attached to the skin, those sensors last only a week at most, and there is a risk of infection because the electrode pierces the skin.
Furthermore, Strano says, the electrochemical sensor technology is not accurate enough to be incorporated into the kind of closed-loop monitoring system that scientists are now working toward. This type of system would consist of a sensor that offers real-time glucose monitoring, connected to an insulin pump that would deliver insulin when needed, with no need for finger pricking or insulin injection by the patient.
"The current thinking is that every part of the closed-loop system is in place except for an accurate and stable sensor. There is considerable opportunity to improve upon devices that are now on the market so that a complete system can be realized," Strano says.
###
The research was funded by a grant from Sanofi-Aventis, and also partly by the National Institutes of Health, the National Cancer Institute, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, a Beckman Young Investigator Award, and the National Science Foundation.
Written by Anne Trafton, MIT News Office
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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.
PUBLIC RELEASE DATE: 3-Nov-2013
[
]
ShareContact: Sarah McDonnell
s_mcd@mit.edu
617-253-8923
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
CAMBRIDGE, MA -- Nitric oxide (NO) is one of the most important signaling molecules in living cells, carrying messages within the brain and coordinating immune system functions. In many cancerous cells, levels are perturbed, but very little is known about how NO behaves in both healthy and cancerous cells.
"Nitric oxide has contradictory roles in cancer progression, and we need new tools in order to better understand it," says Michael Strano, the Carbon P. Dubbs Professor of Chemical Engineering at MIT. "Our work provides a new tool for measuring this important molecule, and potentially others, in the body itself and in real time."
Led by postdoc Nicole Iverson, Strano's lab has built a sensor that can monitor NO in living animals for more than a year. The sensors, described in the Nov. 3 issue of Nature Nanotechnology, can be implanted under the skin and used to monitor inflammation a process that produces NO. This is the first demonstration that nanosensors could be used within the body for this extended period of time.
Such sensors, made of carbon nanotubes, could also be adapted to detect other molecules, including glucose. Strano's team is now working on sensors that could be implanted under the skin of diabetic patients to monitor their glucose or insulin levels, eliminating the need to take blood samples.
Sensors for short and long term
Carbon nanotubes hollow, one-nanometer-thick cylinders made of pure carbon have drawn great interest as sensors. Strano's lab has recently developed carbon nanotube sensors for a variety of molecules, including hydrogen peroxide and toxic agents such as the nerve gas sarin. Such sensors take advantage of carbon nanotubes' natural fluorescence, by coupling them to a molecule that binds to a specific target. When the target is bound, the tubes' fluorescence brightens or dims.
Strano's lab has previously shown that carbon nanotubes can detect NO if the tubes are wrapped in DNA with a particular sequence. In the new paper, the researchers modified the nanotubes to create two different types of sensors: one that can be injected into the bloodstream for short-term monitoring, and another that is embedded in a gel so it can be implanted long-term under the skin.
To make the particles injectable, Iverson attached PEG, a biocompatible polymer that inhibits particle-clumping in the bloodstream. She found that when injected into mice, the particles can flow through the lungs and heart without causing any damage. Most of the particles accumulate in the liver, where they can be used to monitor NO associated with inflammation.
"So far we have only looked at the liver, but we do see that it stays in the bloodstream and goes to kidneys. Potentially we could study all different areas of the body with this injectable nanoparticle," Iverson says.
The longer-term sensor consists of nanotubes embedded in a gel made from alginate, a polymer found in algae. Once this gel is implanted under the skin of the mice, it stays in place and remains functional for 400 days; the researchers believe it could last even longer. This kind of sensor could be used to monitor cancer or other inflammatory diseases, or to detect immune reactions in patients with artificial hips or other implanted devices, according to the researchers.
Once the sensors are in the body, the researchers shine a near-infrared laser on them, producing a near-infrared fluorescent signal that can be read using an instrument that can tell the difference between nanotubes and other background fluorescence.
Monitoring glucose
Iverson is now working on adapting the technology to detect glucose, by wrapping different kinds of molecules around the nanotubes.
Most diabetic patients must prick their fingers several times a day to take blood glucose readings. While there are electrochemical glucose sensors available that can be attached to the skin, those sensors last only a week at most, and there is a risk of infection because the electrode pierces the skin.
Furthermore, Strano says, the electrochemical sensor technology is not accurate enough to be incorporated into the kind of closed-loop monitoring system that scientists are now working toward. This type of system would consist of a sensor that offers real-time glucose monitoring, connected to an insulin pump that would deliver insulin when needed, with no need for finger pricking or insulin injection by the patient.
"The current thinking is that every part of the closed-loop system is in place except for an accurate and stable sensor. There is considerable opportunity to improve upon devices that are now on the market so that a complete system can be realized," Strano says.
###
The research was funded by a grant from Sanofi-Aventis, and also partly by the National Institutes of Health, the National Cancer Institute, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, a Beckman Young Investigator Award, and the National Science Foundation.
Written by Anne Trafton, MIT News Office
[
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/2013-11/miot-nsc110113.php
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