Challenge will spur collaboration between health researchers and technologists

Newswise A competition to create a personal sensor system that measures air pollution and a persons physiological response to it will offer cash awards to finalists, federal officials announced today. The goal is to help researchers, communities, and physicians better understand the connection between air quality and health.

The My Air, My Health Challenge is sponsored by the National Institutes of Healths National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Details of the competition, developed in conjunction with crowdsourcing firm InnoCentive, are available at http://www.challenge.gov.

Competitors will propose designs for sensors that can be easily worn or carried. In addition to gathering data on chemical and/or particulate air pollutants, these sensors will measure health parameters, such as heart rate and breathing. The proposals should also address how to make a wide array of collected data available to a broad spectrum of researchers, public health institutions, and other interested parties.

Up to four finalists will each receive $15,000 and will be invited to develop their proposals into working prototypes, to demonstrate how their systems can be integrated for practical use by people, and health and environmental agencies. One finalist will be awarded $100,000 for the most effective solution for integrating physiological and air quality data that is usable and meaningful to long-term health outcomes.

The announcement was made by NIEHS Director Linda Birnbaum, Ph.D., and EPA Science Advisor Glenn Paulson, Ph.D. It was one of several competitions unveiled during this weeks Health Data Initiative Forum. The Health Data Initiative is a public-private collaboration, launched by HHS and the Institute of Medicine, which encourages innovators to utilize health data to develop applications that raise awareness of health system performance and spark community action to improve health.

Were all different, and our bodies react in different ways to pollution and other harmful toxins in our environment, said Birnbaum. We believe pairing health researchers with technology innovators will help us get the tools we need for a more complete picture of what people are breathing and how it might affect their health.

Paulson said, This competition provides an opportunity to tap into the ingenuity of Americans to build technology to improve health. In the future, these types of personalized devices will enable people to make better informed choices about their own health and their environment.

Those interested can learn more about the competition during a webinar, which will take place June 19 at 4 p.m. EDT. For additional information about the webinar and the My Air, My Health Challenge, visit http://www.challenge.gov.

The NIEHS supports research to understand the effects of the environment on human health and is part of NIH. For more information on environmental health topics, visit http://www.niehs.nih.gov. Subscribe to one or more of the NIEHS news lists (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/releases/newslist/index.cfm) to stay current on NIEHS news, press releases, grant opportunities, training, events, and publications.

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NIH, EPA Announce Competition to Develop Personal Air Pollution and Health Sensors

Disna MUDALIGE

We must ourselves carve out solutions for the problems created by us. Instant or ready made solutions may not be available for them. The problems which have become complicated due to long years of negligence and inaction would be impossible to be solved overnight. However, saying that, it is not prudent for all of us to just sit and worry assuming that nothing can be changed. If you wish to bring about a change leading to a long lasting solution, you must at least begin somewhere.

ILO Green Jobs National Project Coordinator Shyama Salgado

This line of thought I believe suits the efforts of 'garbage' or as now referred 'solid waste' management in Sri Lanka. As estimated the daily waste generation in our country amounts to about 6,700 tons. However, as reported only about 2,800 tons of waste is being collected daily. The per capita solid waste generation in Sri Lanka is 0.4kgs.

The solid waste has become a real menace in the Western Province. The daily waste collection from the Western Province is over 1,600 tons. Local Government Authorities (LGAs) in Sri Lanka are responsible for collection and disposal of waste generated by the people within their territories. This provision is made in the Local Government Act.

However, LGAs alone are unable to cope with this menace due to lack of financial, technological and human resources and knowledge. The assistance of the Central Government and NGOs concentrating on this aspect is much needed for this task. The efforts of the International Labour Organization (ILO) Green Jobs Project in Sri Lanka to push forward the country for a positive change in the solid waste sector with the coordination of all relevant stakeholders is praiseworthy in this light.

The ILO launched its Green Jobs in Asia programme in Sri Lanka in the last half of 2010. Sri Lanka chapter is one among five Asian countries where this project operates. The other four countries are Indonesia, Philippines, Bangladesh and Nepal. In the Sri Lankan project, we have focused the waste sector, while Bangladesh project focuses on solar paneling, Philippines on green constructions and Indonesia on eco-tourism. Globally we look at eight key sectors. They are fisheries, agriculture, forestry, fishing, energy, resource-intensive manufacturing, recycling, building and transport, Green Jobs National Project Coordinator Shyama Salgado explained.

This timely project addresses the issues in the solid waste sector in a more planned and practical manner. The most common method of disposing the solid waste collected is open dumping, which has led to numerous environmental and health issues. Production of compost from the municipal waste is one recommended option for the LGAs to follow. However, to initiate such a project, the waste should be separated into bio-degradables and non-biodegradables. About 55 to 60 percent of the waste collected in Sri Lanka consists of bio-degradable parts.

Waste can be separated during the collection and at the dumping site. For that, the LGAs must be provided with necessary equipment and trained workers. The ILO under the Green Job project extends its support to selected LGAs to convert the waste into a valuable resource through value addition.

It also concentrates on the welfare of lower level workers in the waste sector such as waste collectors and separators of whom the majority are informal workers.

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Seethawakapura UC’s success story in garbage disposal

NASHUA, N.H.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Skillsoft today announced a new solution that helps professionals develop and strengthen their personal productivity and time management skills. Personal Productivity Improvement is offered through Skillsofts award-winning Business Skills Library. The series, which is available through Skillsofts cloud based learning solutions, offers interactive courses, searchable full-text digital books, job aids, and videos of CEOs and globally respected business thought leaders. To further foster personal productivity and any time anywhere learning, many of these elements can be accessed through mobile devices. The Personal Productivity Improvement series builds on Skillsofts history as a pioneer in the field of learning, its long history of innovation and as a provider of solutions for its customers worldwide, spanning global enterprises, government, education and small to medium sized businesses.

Personal productivity and effective time management are essential best practices for every employee in todays business environment of constrained resources and strict project deadlines, said Russ Howard, director, content programs, Skillsoft. This new personal productivity series is aimed at business professionals seeking tips and tools for managing their work day, becoming more organized, establishing priorities, and staying on top of key tasks. This new offering, and other Skillsoft learning solutions, enable professionals to optimally manage their time, and improve their productivity both in the workplace and in their personal lives.

Skillsofts engaging learning assets also include Personal Productivity Improvement: Workspace Management. This interactive experience introduces ways in which an organized workspace can bolster productivity. Specific guidelines for organizing workspaces in the most efficient manner possible are also introduced. Personal Productivity Improvement: Self-Organization and Overcoming Procrastination, covers techniques to help you get organized and accomplish more. It discusses self-management, how to recognize and overcome procrastination and how to eliminate time wasters. The third asset in the series deals with task management and the breaking down of projects into smaller more manageable tasks. Personal Productivity Improvement: Managing Tasks and Maximizing Productivity reviews priority setting and ways you can use organizational tools to stay on top of key tasks and projects.

Tweet This: .@SkillSoft announces Personal Productivity Improvement #learning solution to improve time management and efficiency http://bit.ly/Kv1RrO

For time management specifically, Skillsoft is now offering free access to an ExecBlueprint to jumpstart professionals personal productivity and time management training. The ExecBlueprints are an executive-focused collection that provides best practices insight on strategic business issues, helping to formulate planning and action. Providing unique perspectives from industry leaders, the ExecBlueprints collection helps executives stay current and informed on those issues that have a direct impact on success. The ExecBlueprint, Making the Most of a Non-Renewable Resource: Seven Essential Time Management Strategies by John Grant, L. Randolph Lowry, Stanley (Stan) C. FeuerbergandMark Daley is available at http://www.Skillsoft.com/online/fy12/courseware-innovations/?srcID=PR.

In addition, Skillsoft offers on-demand, instant access to the complete text of thousands of best-in-class books, book summaries, research reports and best practices by leading business publishers. Skillsofts time management and personal productivity learning assets include:

Through its Leadership Development Channel (LDC), Skillsoft also offers best-selling business authors, experts and executives discussing personal productivity and time management, including Laura Stack, David Allen and Peter Bregman. Stack, a well-known time management and productivity expert that works with international leaders, entrepreneurs, salespeople, and professional services firms on improving output, lowering stress, and saving time in the workplace, will be hosting a free webinar on June 20 based on her book What To Do When There's Too Much To Do. For more information please visit: http://learning.skillsoft.com/LP=62?elqCampaignId=146&srcID=TimeMgt_wb_Press_Release.

To learn more about Skillsoft's Business Skills Library and specific assets such as The Importance of Time Management and Personal Productivity Improvement series please visit: http://www.Skillsoft.com/online/fy12/courseware-innovations/?srcID=PR.

About Skillsoft

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Skillsoft’s New Personal Productivity Improvement Series Helps Professionals Get in the Zone

Story Topics Human Interest Story Entertainment_Culture William Shatner Jane Fonda Tina Fey Follow Us On Facebook Follow @washtimes Question of the Day Are you concerned with the growing federal debt? Yes No Undecided Other Login to Vote

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NEW YORK (AP) - Tina Fey, Jane Fonda and William Shatner are now award winners in the book world.

On Tuesday night, Fey received Audie Awards for Audio Book of the Year and best Biography/Memoir for her narration of her million-selling Bossypants. Fonda won in the Personal Development category as the reader of her own Prime Time. Shatner was cited in Humor for Shatners Rules. An audiobook about the Titanic, The Watch That Ends the Night, won for Distinguished Achievement in Production.

Hope Davis narration of Ann Patchetts State of Wonder won for literary fiction and Will Pattons reading of James Lee Burkes Feast Day of Fools won for mystery. The awards, in more than 25 categories, were sponsored by the Audio Publishers Association.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Tina Fey big winner at Audie Awards

ST. LOUIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Investing services company Scottrade, Inc., today announced four Client Education Conferences designed to help self-directed investors and traders learn strategies and how to use the variety of tools available through Scottrade. The events are part of the companys continued commitment to client education.

The four-city conference series begins in Los Angeles (June 30), then travels to Houston (July 21), Tampa, Fla. (Aug. 18) and ends in New York City (Oct. 20).

With our new presentation topics this year we are helping clients execute their investment strategies whether they are long-term investors, traders or interested in learning about options investing, said Kristin Grupas, Scottrades assistant director of client education. Scottrades aim is to help our clients become better investors. Through these large conferences, coupled with our small-group in-branch investment seminars and our online resources, we are helping people overcome barriers to achieve success.

Guest presenters at the events include industry professionals from Learning Markets, LLC, and the Chicago Board Options Exchange. Scottrade operates more than 500 branch offices across the country and local branch associates will available to meet with clients before and after each presentation, provide one-on-one tutorials and answer specific questions about investing online.

Three learning tracks for investors, traders and those interested in options investing are designed to help clients expand their knowledge in areas most relevant to them. Presentation topics include:

Scottrade compliments its in-person client education with a robust online offering of educational resources through the Scottrade Knowledge Center, including live webinars, calculators, videos and how-to instructions on topics ranging from investing basics, trading stocks online to understanding technical analysis. The Scottrade Online Community provides a forum for clients to ask questions and share strategies with one another.

For more information or to register to attend one of the Scottrade Client Education Conferences, visit http://www.scottrade.com/events or visit a local branch office.

About Scottrade, Inc.

Investors who enjoy online stock trading will find value and personalized customer service at online investing firm Scottrade, Inc. Founded in 1980, Scottrade enables customers to learn about online trading tools, stock market research and how to buy stocks online, many at just $7 per trade. With more than 500 nationwide branch offices, Scottrade has the largest branch network among online brokerage firms. To learn more about one of FORTUNE magazines 100 Best Companies to Work For, visit about.scottrade.com or http://www.scottrade.com and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Flickr. Member FINRA/SIPC.

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Scottrade Announces National Client Education Conference Schedule

THUNDER BAY, Ontario, June 6, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- /NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES/

Contact North | Contact Nord, Ontario's distance education and training network has released a new report describing how public colleges and universities across the country are providing extensive and innovative online learning opportunities for their students and positioning Canada as a global online learning hub.

Online Learning in Canada 2012: At a Tipping Point, is the first in what will become a regularly updated check-up on the state of online learning in this country. With the report, Contact North | Contact Nord hopes to provide a national perspective on the latest developments in online learning in each of the provinces and territories -- something that hasn't been done in more than a decade.

"The release of Online Learning in Canada marks the first time in many years that an organization has published such a cross country check-up on online learning," said Maxim Jean-Louis, President -- Chief Executive Officer, Contact North | Contact Nord. "We invite colleagues across Canada to contribute to this 'work-in-progress' which we hope will stimulate collaboration and sharing in the field of online learning amongst provinces and territories across Canada, with the ultimate goal of providing a higher quality learning experience for all students."

The report estimates that there are currently between 875,000 and 950,000 post-secondary student registrations in online courses in Canada and that number is growing. According to the report, Canada's strength in online education lies in:

"This cross country check-up further reminds us that there remains a need for a Canada-wide strategy for online learning," noted Dr. Tony Bates, a Canadian and international expert in online learning. "Such a strategy could position Canada to successfully compete with other international jurisdictions and Online Learning in Canada provides us with a good background for the discussion."

The full Online Learning in Canada 2012: At a Tipping Point report can be downloaded on the Contact North Contact Nord website. Contact North Contact Nord is inviting post-secondary institutions in other provinces and territories to visit its website to share updates and information on new developments in online learning that can be included in future editions.

For more information:

CONTACT NORTH | CONTACT NORD

Louise Gaudrault Marketing & Communications Coordinator Tel: 1-855-345-5035 (toll-free) louise@contactnorth.ca http://www.contactnorth.ca

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New Report From Contact North Shows Online Learning is Thriving Across Canada

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Trends in education: Online learning opportunites

JACKSON, Miss.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Bomgar, the secure remote support solution for the mobile enterprise, today announced that B Virtual has selected its secure and comprehensive remote support solution to provide world-class technical support to the growing number of home-based employees and online education programs. Founded in 2008, B Virtual provides outsourced support products and services to three distinct market segments: traditional technical IT support, support for online learning management systems (LMS) used by educational institutions offering online programs of study, and proctoring services for online exams.

Already familiar with Bomgar, B Virtuals chief operating officer, Tim Dewey, was approached by an LMS client about proctoring exams that students were taking online. Students who take courses online usually dont live anywhere near the institution putting on the program, said Dewey. When the end of the semester arrives and its time for students to take exams, the school needed a way to ensure the integrity of the exam session, just as a proctor would do by monitoring a live exam on campus.

Dewey knew from the start that Bomgar was the right solution to support online proctoring, because of its capabilities. I knew everything the solution could do. To ensure the integrity of the exam session, B Virtuals proctors watch the student on a webcam and need complete access to the students computer to ensure that the student does not have unauthorized applications running, multiple monitors open or someone else taking the test remotely. There are a number of Bomgar features we use to get connected and monitor the students machine. At the end of the day, what we can accomplish with Bomgar is the differentiation point for us. All of the ts have to be crossed and all of the is have to be dotted from the institutions perspective to make this an authentic, proctored environment. Bomgar makes that possible, stated Dewey.

One Bomgar feature that B Virtual uses extensively is canned messaging. With this feature, the B Virtual proctors can send prewritten consent forms and exam instructions to the students via Bomgars web-based chat tool. Dewey explains that having the instructions prewritten saves time and improves accuracy. Bomgars recording capabilities also support B Virtuals ability to ensure exam integrity. We are able to see the students desktop and everything they are doing, so we can prevent unauthorized activities, such as a student taking a screenshot to record some of the exam questions, said Dewey.

The need to support non-traditional students is a rising trend among higher education organizations, said Scott Braynard, VP of public sector at Bomgar. Having the ability to provide remote support to all students, whether they are on campus or studying remotely as part of an online program, increases productivity and success of both students and IT support teams.

Bomgar supports B Virtuals other two business segments as well. For traditional IT support and LMS clients, B Virtual is able to expand resources available to support technicians. The client may have five or six employees in their call center. We make it possible for them to have eight or nine technicians supporting users without having to bring them in-house.

With its unique approach and leading-edge offerings, B Virtual needed a remote support solution that was as innovative and flexible as its business model to deliver the highest-quality technical and online proctoring services to its client organizations. For Dewey, Bomgars feature-rich and flexible solution was at the head of the class.

For a full case study about B Virtuals use of Bomgar, please visit: http://www.bomgar.com/customers.

For more information about Bomgar, please visit: http://www.bomgar.com.

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B Virtual Supports Leading-Edge Online Education Revolution with Bomgar’s Remote Support Solution

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WASHINGTON, DC--(Marketwire -06/05/12)- Health 2.0 today announced the winners of the Washington D.C. Health Data & Innovation Week Code-a-Thon: Preventing Obesity, sponsored by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) and Kaiser Permanente. The event was held at the Kaiser Permanente Center for Total Health in Washington D.C. The center showcases advances in care delivery and offers a forum for innovators, thought leaders, policy makers and other industry stakeholders to work together to improve quality, safety and cost effectiveness of care.

Teams comprised of students, software developers and researchers participated in the two-day event that required contestants to use publicly available data to create online tools and applications to enhance quality of care and prevent obesity.

"The judges had an especially difficult time choosing a winner and extended passes to the Health 2.0 fall conference to the second place team to encourage further development of its app," said Indu Subaiya, Co-Chair and CEO of Health 2.0.

School Fit won first place for developing an app that uses physical fitness data from the California Department of Education to measure and publicize the fitness of children in public schools. The app allows communities to recognize and collaborate to address obesity problems in schools. The team earned $4,000 and two passes to the Health Data Initiative Forum III and the 2012 Health 2.0 Annual Fall Conference.

Healthy Plate placed second by creating a mobile app that educates and improves nutritional literacy by displaying the nutritional information about the user's food they intend to purchase by portion, recipe or grocery list. It won $3,000 and two passes to Health 2.0's annual conference.

The LessBadd and SMS2Live teams tied for third place. Both teams received $1,000.

About Health 2.0Health 2.0: The conference. The media network. The innovation community. The Health 2.0 Conference is the leading showcase of cutting-edge innovation transforming the health care system and is the premiere platform connecting IT innovators to established health care providers. Health 2.0 covers the broadest spectrum of the technology revolution that is shaking up every sector of health care. Learn more at http://www.health2con.com.

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Health 2.0 Announces Winners of the Washington D.C. Health Data & Innovation Week Code-a-Thon: Preventing Obesity