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January 3, 2017

Obese Parents Linked to Child Development Issues, Study Finds

Researchers have found a correlation between child development issues and obese parents.

Currently, two out of three Americans are clinically obese and researchers are examining the impact of obesity on the human body. Last week, researchers discovered a link between dopamine in the brain and obesity, which in turn impacts physical activity. Now, according to a study published by researchers from the National Institutes of Health, children of overweight mothers were more likely to have child development delays.

Published in the journal of “Pediatrics”, researchers discovered that children from obese mothers were more likely to have problems controlling movement of small muscles. In addition, children of obese fathers were also more likely to have issues with problem solving tasks.

Researchers examined over 5,000 New York State mothers. Then, researchers had the mothers fill out a questionnaire over the course of 3 years.

Scientists involved in the study found that children with obese mothers were nearly 70% more likely to have problems with their fine motor skills. In addition, 75% of children with overweight fathers had problems interacting with others. Furthermore, children with two obese parents were 300% more likely to have problem solving issues by the time they turn 3 years old.

Why is this happening? Well, researchers have not discovered why a link exists. But, the researchers explain that studies with animals suggest obesity impacts the development of the fetal brain. In addition, researchers also assert that obesity could impact genes in sperm.

The cycle of obesity

This is worrying considering, 20% of pregnant women in the United States are currently overweight or obese. Studies have shown that people are no longer going hungry but, are more likely to become obese. Not to mention, obesity can lead to several health issues including: cancer, type-2 diabetes, and stroke.

Moreover, scientists has found that children with intellectual development issues are at an increased risk for obesity. In turn, creating a vicious cycle of obesity from one generation to the next.

3 Potential Projects Google Will Advance in 2017

Business

Reginald Edward

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January 3, 2017

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3 Potential Projects Google Will Advance in 2017

With 2016 in the books, Google is a moving forward from its internal reorganization and is getting ready to unleash a few advancements. These developments will create new opportunities for the company and its customers for years to come. While Waymo, the company’s autonomous driving spinoff, is set to make a splash in the new year. Some technology analysts have started to look deeper into Google’s pipeline to see what else they have on the cards.

Google Android — Stock Photo: MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA/USA – JUNE 30: Android Nougat replica in front of Google office on June 30, 2016. (Asif Islam / Shutterstock.com)

Three potential advancements which might see further advancement in 2017 including increased integration of Chrome and Android, improvements to Google Assistant, and TV. Advancements in each of these three areas will address strategic opportunities which have cropped up over the years. This is not to say that Google does not have a solution currently available; but rather that the internet behemoth is not currently the dominant player.

In the past year, Microsoft has made great strides to create a seamless experience for desktop and mobile users. This is not to say that Edge is a superior browser. In fact, Microsoft’s replacement to the long-running Internet Explorer market share is dwarfed by Google’s Chrome. However, Microsoft efforts do pose a threat to Chrome’s dominance. The key advantage for Google is the popularity of the company’s Android mobile operating system.

The leg up is by no means permanent. While Microsoft won the ‘browser wars’ in the 1990’s. Remember Netscape? Google could build a better product which ultimately came out on top. The irony being that dominance may tend to breed complacency and Android/Chrome integration might be a way to break out of this trap.

Virtual Assistants ended up being the tech toy which won Christmas 2016. Unfortunately for the search engine giant, its Google Home ended up playing second fiddle to Amazon’s offering. While questions of privacy and security surround these devices, consumers are interested. This creates a massive opportunity to extend its reach through an entirely new category – one which could be even more groundbreaking than mobile. However, Google is currently playing catch up to Amazon and while the market is still young, it should seek to leverage its Artificial Intelligence (AI) and application ecosystem to gain share.

The last opportunity is television, which is another market where Google is not on the cutting edge – despite the overwhelming advantage YouTube enjoys. The irony being that YouTube brought streaming video into the mainstream. But that early advantage has been lost of companies like Netflix and Hulu which have raked in billions on monthly membership fees.

Part of the problem has been finding content providers willing to partner with Google. As of 2016, Sony was the only major company to partner with Google on Chromecast. This presents a tremendous opportunity for the company. Maybe Google will enter talks to partner with Netflix, or it could seek to cobble together agreements with the networks and companies like HBO. Either way, it must do something or TV will be lost as Netflix and Amazon solidify their positions in this space.

Shares of Google were trading up 1.67% as part of a broader rally on the first day of the new trading year.

Chrysler and Google Join Forces for an Android UConnect System

Business

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January 2, 2017

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Chrysler and Google Join Forces for an Android UConnect System

Chrysler has announced a partnership with Google’s Android for an updated infotainment system.

Google is taking their relationship with the seventh-largest car manufacturer in the world one step further. The company is already partnered with the company to unleash their self-driving car technology. Now, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles announced on Tuesday that they will be collaborating with Google for a new entertainment system powered by Android.

Currently, UConnect is featured in dozens of Chrysler automobiles. The system provides a features including Wi-Fi hotspots, vehicle health reports, emergency assistance, voice texting, personal commands, and many other features. But, Google’s partnership with the automaker aims to take the UConnect system to another level.

Chrysler’s UConnect System

Stock Photo: DETROIT – JANUARY 15 : A Chrysler 300 M on display at The North American International Auto Show January 15, 2013 in Detroit, Michigan. (Darren Brode / Shutterstock.com)

The UConnect system will allow for cars to be able to download applications. In addition, Uconnect owners use their car in the same way people traditionally use their phones.

According to press release, Android’s UConnect will provide integration of popular Android apps such as Pandora, Spotify and Google Maps. In addition, the new UConnect system will feature Android’s latest version of 7.0 Nougat. Also, the first installation of the system will be unveiled during CES 2017.

Director of Android Engineering, Patrick Brady, explained that Google is focused on using Android’s technology to “create powerful infotainment systems designed for the digital age.”

This announced of a partnership with Google’s Android system illustrates Google’s growing relationship with the car company.

Last December, Google’s self-driving car company, Waymo, announced they will be partnering with the automaker. Waymo’s CEO, John Krafcik, explained that Waymo’s self-driving technology will be installed within several Chrysler Pacifica minivans. The new Chrysler minivan will feature Google’s self-driving technology and an all new system of sensors, computers and updates.

Uber Could Replace 98% of NYC Taxis With Fewer Cars, Study Finds

Business

Jonathan Antonio

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January 2, 2017

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Uber Could Replace 98% of NYC Taxis With Fewer Cars, Study Finds

Ride sharing is becoming a growing business. It took Uber five years before reaching 1 billion rides. But, six months later Uber, hit 2 billion rides and the company is continuing to grow. In fact, Uber has partnered with McDonald’s to provide delivery service to consumers in major Florida cities. In addition, General Motors has created a plan to rent cars to Uber drivers for only $179 per week. Now, MIT researchers have developed a new algorithm that could disrupt the entire taxi industry using Uber’s ride-sharing technology.

Researchers discovered that 3,000 four passenger cars could replace 98 percent of all New York City taxis. In fact, researchers suggests ride-sharing apps like Uber and Lyft have the potential of eliminating large-scale traffic, pollution and energy usage in New York City.

Research led by MIT Professor Daniela Rus of MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory also found that the average wait-time would be less than 3 minutes.

Future of ride-sharing

Rus explained in a statement that ride-sharing carpooling would help transport multiple people at a time resulting in fewer trips, and ultimately, less money.

New York City Taxi — Stock Photo: NEW YORK CITY -MARCH 25: Times Square, featured with Broadway Theaters and animated LED signs in Manhattan, New York City. USA. (Luciano Mortula / Shutterstock.com)

“A system like this could allow drivers to work shorter shifts, while also creating less traffic, cleaner air and shorter, less stressful commutes.”

Currently in New York City, there are approximately 14,000 taxis. But, nearly all of the city’s transportation demands could be replaced by only 2,000 ten-person vehicles, according to the algorithm.

Researchers were able to make this discovery by examining 3 million taxi rides. Researchers then rerouted the cars based on incoming requests. In addition, researchers had inactive cars moving to areas with high demands.

With that being said, researchers argue that ride-sharing programs are unable to handle the algorithm’s predictions. At the moment, ride-sharing applications need to be designed so that multiple requests can be sent at one time before an algorithm can design an efficient route. Consequently, that makes the real-world application of their algorithm difficult, according to Rus.

Uber — Stock Photo: CHIANG MAI,THAILAND – AUG 7, 2016 : Samsung Galaxy S6 with uber app on the screen (Chonlachai / Shutterstock.com)

“A key challenge was to develop a real-time solution that considers the thousands of vehicles and requests at once,” says Rus. “We can do this in our method because that first step enables us to understand and abstract the road network at a fine level of detail.”

Teens Are Using E-Cigarettes For More than Just Nicotene

Business

Brent Edward

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December 31, 2016

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Teens Are Using E-Cigarettes For More than Just Nicotene

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has revealed that U.S. adolescents are using refillable e-cigarettes for products other than nicotine.

E-cigarettes are becoming more and more popular among middle and high school students.

A 2015 study examined e-cigarettes and tobacco use among adolescents. Published in the journal of “Pediatrics”, Thomas A. Willis and his research team found that e-cigarettes are being used U.S. youth who would normally not try tobacco products.

In fact, a 2016 study, “Youth-Targeted E-cigarette Marketing in the US”, examined how e-cigarettes were marketed in the U.S. The study found that many of the advertisements were directed towards adolescents. In fact, Alisa Padon and her team discovered the ads frequently tied e-cigarettes to emotions including: happiness (68%), friendship (41%), sex (24%), and success (24%).

What’s worrying is that most addictions typically start during adolescence. Now, with the rise of synthetic cannabis in urban areas, new research by the CDC is suggesting that middle and high school students are filling up their e-cigarettes for something more than just nicotine.

The E-Cigarette CDC Report

Published in the “Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report”, researchers show that 16% of high school students reported using e-cigarettes in the last month. However, adolescents who choose to vape, report filling their e-cigarette for more than just nicotine.

The CDC explained that one third of e-cigarette users are not smoking nicotine. In fact, among Connecticut high school students, 18% of e-cigarette users revealed they used cannabis in an e-cigarette.

Moreover, the CDC also reported e-cigarettes as being popular among young white and Hispanics in comparison to black students. Not to mention, blu being the most reported e-cigarette product among U.S. youths.

The health agency suggests a continued effort to prevent and reduce the use of e-cigarettes, among U.S. kids. Furthermore, the CDC recommends continued regulation of the distribution and marketing of tobacco products.

US Cities Suffer Job Loses As Trump Praises Sprint Deal

Business

Reginald Edward

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December 30, 2016

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US Cities Suffer Job Loses As Trump Praises Sprint Deal

As Donald Trump praises a deal with Sprint to create more jobs, U.S metropolitan cities face major job losses.

On Thursday, Donald Trump announced the creation of 5,000 new US jobs, after making a deal with Sprint.

Under President Obama’s administration, approximately 2.4 million jobs were added in the United States in 2016. Also, the unemployment rate fell from 5.0% to 4.9%. Overall, the 1.7% employment growth nationwide was scattered favoring some sectors over others.

It’s important to point out that most cities (areas with populations with 2,500 or more) added jobs during 2016. Consequently, many small cities saw employment rates increase. However, in many metropolitan areas there were fewer job opportunities.

It’s clear that people born and raised in densely populated areas are realizing that they must relocate to go where the jobs are. Furthermore, the cost of living in metro areas keeps going up. Meanwhile, public services keep going down.

New York City Jobs — Stock Photo: New York, NY – May 10, 2016: A homeless man sleeps while holding a sign for help, food, and money on the sidewalk as busy evening commuters walk by in midtown Manhattan. (BravoKiloVideo / Shutterstock.com)

For example, in New York State, the new census estimates the state had a net loss of 187,000 people to other states. This puts New York at the top of the census for what statisticians call “domestic migration loss.” The state’s population is considered stagnant at 20 million only because of new births and foreign immigrants. While the number one reason for moving to states like Florida is the weather, the number two and three reasons are taxes and jobs.

Investors, politicians and job seekers are interested in the loss of jobs, especially as it relates to different sectors of the economy. The hardest hit sectors in recent past years were construction, mining, manufacturing, information technology and oil/gas.

It is logical that these sectors were hit hard: construction has always pulled back when the economy is slowing down, mining has been a dying sector for years given it is a “dirty” source of energy, manufacturing has moved offshore where labor is cheaper, robots are replacing workers and oil/gas has suffered do to the unrest in the Middle East and South America.

Oil Industry — Stock Photo: Coalinga, California USA – April 29, 2011: Pumpjacks under amber sky in late afternoon at the Guijarral Hills oil fields ( B Christopher / Shutterstock.com)

However, the energy sector will continue to provide a large percentage of jobs considering that electricity in the United States is produced by a variety of ways.

For example, according to the US Energy Information Administration the United State’s power comes from various energy sectors including: coal (33%), natural gas (33%), nuclear (20%), hydro power (6%), renewables (solar, wind, etc.), petroleum (1%), other gases (1%).

Robots could put millions out of a job

But, the rise of artificial intelligence and robots may continue to hurt American jobs. Earlier this week, Amazon won a patent that would allow for drones to deliver packages from a flying warehouse. While, Amazon did not comment on the specifics, the company has been actively working on Artificial Intelligence to improve shipping and indirectly cut jobs. In addition, Amazon announced Amazon Go. Amazon Go is a retail shopping center that features cashier-less stores. This is a major tech disruption that could put over 3 million Americans out of a job.

In addition, Google announced their own self-driving car company called Waymo. The company’s CEO, Mark Fields, explained that the company plans on expanding their self-driving technology to the trucking industry. If self driving cars took over the trucking industry, then more than 8 million people could be out of a job.

Pentagon Warns Soldiers About Energy Drinks Health Risks

Business

Brent Edward

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December 30, 2016

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Pentagon Warns Soldiers About Energy Drinks Health Risks

US Department of Defense is warning soldiers to avoid drinking too many energy drinks.

While many soldiers are returning from the war on terrorism with PTSD, the US Department of Defense is asking for soldiers to cut back on too many energy drinks.

Posted on the official U.S. Defense Department Science blog, the U.S. Army provided warnings for soldiers to follow regarding energy drinks.

Some of the warnings included monitoring caffeine intake. For example, the Pentagon suggests for soldiers to add up the amount of caffeine they are consuming. In addition, to avoid consuming more than 200 mg every four hours.

The Army also warns soldiers that caffeinated drinks contains a lot of sugar and can cause weight gain. Furthermore, in the report the Army suggests that soldiers should avoid mixing alcohol and energy drinks.

Do energy drinks actually help soldiers perform better?

A 2010 CDC study found that approximately 6% of young men in the military consume energy drinks every day. However, service members who consumed more than three or more caffeinated drinks a day were more likely to fall asleep on the job.

Moreover, a 2016 study published in the “Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research” titled “Effects of energy drinks on economy and cardiovascular measures” explained how caffeinated drinks impacted the body. Researchers found “no performance benefits” in the study. In addition, subjects in the study did experience higher blood pressure rates.

Stock Photo:NEW YORK-OCTOBER 5: Red Bull van parked on the Broadway street on October 5, 2010 in New York, USA. Red Bull is the most popular energy drink in the world, with 4.5 billion cans sold each year. (Laszlo Halasi / Shutterstock.com)

But, it is reasonable to believe that caffeinated drinks make soldiers feel better about themselves. A 2016 study published in the “Journal of Psychopharmacology” titled “Effects of the Red Bull® Energy Drink on cognitive function and mood in healthy young volunteers” examined the impact of Red Bull on the cognitive functions of young adults. The results of the study found Red Bull improved memory, accuracy and speed of working memory. In addition to improving alertness and reducing tiredness.

Facebook Will Face Several Challenges in 2017

Business

Reginald Edward

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December 30, 2016

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Facebook Will Face Several Challenges in 2017

What goes up, must come down. While Facebook was an investor favorite in 2015, the company has lagged the broader market this year. However, that has not stopped user growth which breached 1.2 billion active users in 2016. Even with the growth, there are some storm clouds on the horizon for the company.

From an investor standpoint part of the concern is about the sustainability of the company’s revenue growth. This includes fears of an advertising slowdown as well as inability to monetize the company’s assets. Another issue is trust, which has taken a hit in recent months given the rise of fake news which many believe impacted the U.S. election and ended the year with a false positive Safety Check alarm earlier this week.

Facebook Advertising

Regarding advertising, the company has been busy trying to jam ads into user’s feeds, but some analysts note that Facebook is running out of real estate. Granted they can shift to video adds, but the ‘ad load’ metric appears to be nearing maximum capacity. As such, the company needs to find a way to rebalance advertising while making sure that the users remain engaged with the Facebook on its multiple platforms.

Facebook Nasdaq — Stock Photo: NEW YORK – MAY 18: Sign announcing Facebook IPO is flashed on a screen outside the NASDAQ stock exchange at the opening bell in Times Square on May 18, 2012 in New York City. (lev radin / Shutterstock.com)

Then there is the constant dialogue on how to monetize Facebook. This has dogged the company since its founding and while post-IPO Facebook has largely proved its critics wrong, observers continue to remain concerned.

Some of these concerns may be well founded. The company paid $19 billion for WhatsApp in 2019, but it would appear that the acquisition has done little to benefit Facebook’s bottom line. This concern is not without merit. WhatsApp currently boasts more than 1 billion users, but to date, the company has resisted copying some of the methods adopted by other messaging services, such as Line Company of Japan.

Oculus Rift

Stock Photo: SAN FRANCISCO – MARCH 20: Oculus VR unveiling the second version of The Rift, its Virtual Reality headset for PC just before being bought by Facebook at GDC 2014 on March 20, 2014 in San Francisco, CA (Barone Firenze / Shutterstock.com)

In addition, there is Oculus. While Virtual Reality (VR) holds great promise, the technology has yet to reach the mainstream. Furthermore, consumer VR is likely to become a battlefield as smartphone manufacturers move into the space. That being said, tremendous opportunity remains in the space – these include applications such as education, training, tourism, and healthcare.

The future of Facebook

The final challenge is the question of how Facebook will win back trust. In fairness, the company has become a victim of its own success. The social media platform was never meant to be a source for news. But given the size of the platform, the news media had no choice to set up Facebook feeds. This opened the door for fake news, much of which is given credibility when it is shared by someone’s connections. Such news stories led to triggering the company’s Safety Check, as mentioned earlier.

Leaks Shed Some Light on the Next iPhone

Business

Jonathan Antonio

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December 30, 2016

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Leaks Shed Some Light on the Next iPhone

It is almost impossible for Apple to keep details of its upcoming iPhone under wraps. Part of the challenge is the global supply chain, which includes manufacturers in Asia, Europe, and the U.S. Another challenge is the ravenous interest in details on the iPhone by its fans – even after almost a decade on the market.

For instance, reports of leaked information on the upcoming iPhone 7S raised quite a few eyebrows on Friday. Granted the days before New Year’s tend to be a slow news period. But if you are a regular follower of Apple, then you know that entire careers have been built on tracking developments in the company’s iPhone platform.

As such, Friday’s DigiTimes report was viewed as confirmation that Apple will offer a ‘supersized’ iPhone model in 2017. According to reports, the updated iPhone platform will include three phones – 4.7-inch, 5.5-inch, and a 5.8-inch version. The latter is larger than the existing ‘Plus’ versions of the iPhone which were first introduced with the iPhone 6.

The reports of the larger iPhone 7S are more than just speculation. According to reports from DigiTime, shipments of a 5.8-inch TFT-LCF panels have been clocked from factories. The report also claims that Samsung will be the exclusive manufacturer for the larger iPhone with capacity to deliver nearly 20 million panels per month.

This highlights the curious relationship between Apple and Samsung. While they are largely known for their competition in the smartphone space, Samsung is also one of the leading suppliers of OLED in the world. As such, it makes sense that Apple would tap Samsung as their supply chain partner for this project.

Steve Jobs iPhone — Stock Photo: LONDON – OCTOBER 9: Shrine to Steve Jobs outside the Regent Street Apple Store on October 9, 2011 in London. Jobs, former CEO of Apple, died on October 5, 2011 after battling Pancreatic cancer. (photocritical / Shutterstock.com)

Reports of a larger iPhone are a far cry from the direction taken by Apple when founder Steve Jobs was in charge. Mr. Jobs was known for his derision of the oversized screens, but customers tend to like the larger screens. This is evidenced by the success of larger phone sizes by companies such as Samsung, LG, and the Chinese headset maker, Huawei.

Even though Apple has begrudgingly added larger phones to its repertoire, critics note that the iOS experience has yet to be optimized for the bigger screens. While it is unclear how this would happen, some point to the need for the company to update its developer tools to offer support for the full range of Apple products – from Apple Watch to iPhones and iPads to Macs. This does create challenges for the company and might explain why Apple has been slow to offer multiple screen options for its popular smart phone line.

Research May Explain Why Obese People Are Physically Inactive

Business

Brent Edward

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December 30, 2016

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Research May Explain Why Obese People Are Physically Inactive

Researchers have discovered a link between low dopamine levels and physical inactivity in obese mice.

Are people obese because they are not physically active? Or are people physically inactive because they are obese? The results of a new study may explain how the brain affects or affected by obesity in humans.

Danielle M. Friend and Kavya Devarakonda and their team of National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases researchers discovered a correlation between basal ganglia malfunctions and physical inactivity.

Published in the journal of “Cell Metabolism” Friend and Devarakonda explained that after examining obese mice they found dopamine levels were lower than regular mice.

Obesity is commonly linked to physical inactivity. Without moving around animals and humans are more likely to gain weight. However, Friend and Devarakonda hypothesized that low levels of dopamine in the brain is the reason why people are inactive and therefore, obese.

To test their hypothesis, researchers removed dopamine receptors in the brain of mice and found those mice exhibited less physical activity.

But, researchers found that physical inactivity did not actually lead to weight gain. In fact, even without the receptors they were not more likely to gain weight than the control group of mice. Furthermore, researchers argue that obesity causes physical inactivity and that physical inactivity does not cause people to become obese. In turn, diet has more of an impact on weight gain than physical activity.

Ultimately, researchers have discovered a biological connection between the basal ganglia in the brain and physical inactivity in individuals with obesity.

What is the basal ganglia?

The basal ganglia in the brain is responsible for movement, learning, and cognitive functions. Two major diseases associated with the basal ganglia include Huntington’s disease and Parkinson’s disease.

In addition, research has also shown that basal ganglia plays a role in motivation. In 2008 Liane Schmidt published a study in the “Journal of Neurology”. Her team discovered damage to the basal ganglia affected the self-driving behavior associated with motivation.

The cycle of obesity

Chrysler’s UConnect System

Future of ride-sharing

The E-Cigarette CDC Report

Robots could put millions out of a job

Do energy drinks actually help soldiers perform better?

Facebook Advertising

Oculus Rift

The future of Facebook

What is the basal ganglia?

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