Experts urge caution in the use of brain science in court

LONDON, Dec 13 (Reuters) - Understanding the growing scientific workings of the brain in the future may change the way criminals are viewed by the law, but British experts advise extreme caution for the moment on the use of lie detector tests, brain scans and genetic data in the courts.

In a report released Tuesday by the national authorities in the UK, Science Academy, the Royal Society, scientists and lawyers looked at the scope of neuroscientific evidence to "read minds" in an attempt to find the truth or to explain why a person acted in a particularly violent or sadistic manner.

He claims that murderers can be identified by imaging studies of their brains before committing the crime, or that a gene for psychopathy or violent behavior, are "completely far from reality," they said.

But they do suggest that neuroimaging and genetics of behavior, along with existing techniques in the future can be used as part of risk assessments to determine how long someone sentence to serve, or if an inmate should receive parole.

"No question in neuroscience provides some startling revelations about human behavior, but we can not get ahead of us," said Nicholas Mackintosh, professor of experimental psychology at Cambridge University in Britain, who chaired a panel of the Royal Society for on the subject.

"Understanding how the brain gives us an idea of ​​the mental processes underlying human behavior, and how the law relates primarily to regulate people's behavior makes sense that they can influence others at some point in the future . "

At a briefing on the report, Mackintosh said a growing number of defense lawyers in the United States and other countries were beginning to use neuroscientific evidence in criminal cases, particularly in cases of murder and other violent crimes .

BRAIN psychopath

Roger Brownsword Law School King's College London, who worked on the report, said that the admissibility of such evidence should be properly analyzed and lawyers, judges and experts that should explain in detail their strengths and weaknesses.

"It is clear that some neuroscientific evidence could be very disruptive in court," he told the press conference. "The jury could easily be influenced by this. ... So the threshold of admissibility has to be pretty high."

British scientists published a study in 2009 found that psychopaths who had committed serious crimes such as murder and rape had faulty connections in the brain that appear in the functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scans.

"To the extent that neuroimaging data suggest that differences in the brains of psychopaths ....( we ask) that brain imaging may be useful?" Said Mackintosh. "The answer is that we have no idea because it has not done the research, but is at least something worth thinking about."

However, he stressed that "having a psychopathic brain is not a general defense against any criminal charge, and that's because it has absolutely force you to behave in a criminal ... simply increases the probability."

Functional neuroimaging experiments with students have also shown differences in brain activity when they are told the truth and when they lie, Mackintosh panel said in its report.

However, experts warned that the use of functional magnetic resonance imaging in defense of suspects in serious crimes, or to detect lies between the defendants or witnesses, is fraught with difficulties - including the fact that people can quite easily be taught to beat the lie detectors.

Yahoo! comedy channel launches in online

SAN FRANCISCO: Yahoo! is adding a channel to its lineup of comedy line-up, kicking with a "CrazyStupidPolitics" show starring Bill Maher lives in Silicon Valley in February.

"Special Bill Maher is a groundbreaking event not only for Yahoo! and Bill, but the Internet as the first, live online free transmission," said Erin McPherson, director of Yahoo! Video.

Channel offerings include video clips of Saturday Night Live TV writer Mike O'Brien and others as well as content partners including online fun hit or Die.

"I'm excited to be doing something new to take up a position to show a web giant like Yahoo!," Maher said in a statement. "My goal is to make people say 'Oh, not in all media di'int on earth."

Yahoo! takeover target has been to become a platform for personalized digital content from the Internet was first pioneer in the field beyond Internet search using Google.

Australia prohibits Apple Samsung tablet in victory

An Australian court put a temporary ban on the tablet Samsung Galaxy last following a complaint by Apple that features touch-screen tablet made ​​use of the patented technology by Apple. Apple tablets Samsung previously blocked in Germany.

REUTERS - An Australian court slapped a temporary ban on the sale of Samsung Electronics 'tablet last team to Australia on Thursday, handing his rival Apple another legal victory in the two companies' global patent war.

The final resolution of the case can take months and the ruin of the Australian market viability of the tablet Galaxy - the best competitors for the iPad from Apple, which dominates global sales of tablets.

Two technology companies have been engaged in a fierce battle in 10 countries involving patents smartphones and tablets since April, Australia's dispute with focus on touch screen technology used in tablet Samsung Galaxy.

The Federal Court, in granting the temporary ban, ruled Samsung had a case pending in at least two of Apple's patents. The prohibition applies to sales of 10.1 tablet Samsung Galaxy until the court itself on the issue of basic patents.

"I am convinced that it is appropriate to grant an injunction, however, I propose once again the opportunity for a final hearing earlier on the topics presented in this application," said the judge Annabelle Bennett of the court.

Australia's decision follows a successful legal move by Apple to block the sale of its Samsung tablets in Germany and some smartphone models in the Netherlands. That occurs before important audiences in the United States and South Korea.

"The ruling could further extend Apple's dominance in the tablet market as it expands the ban on sales of Samsung's latest products," said Lee Seung-woo, an analyst at Shinyoung Securities in Seoul.

"But it's hard to predict that all other jurisdictions similar decisions Samsung negative and the company has the ability to make an elastic rebound, as shown in the smartphone market with its Galaxy S model."

Appeal option

Samsung left open the possibility of appealing against the decision and noted that it will continue with the patent application itself against Apple related to wireless technology from Samsung.

"We are disappointed with this decision and Samsung are seeking legal advice about your options," he said in a statement.

"Samsung will continue its lawsuit against Apple's claim to ensure that innovative products are still available for consumers," he said.

Australia court hearing the issue of patents could take months and Samsung to lose strength gifts Christmas season there.

In his ruling, Judge Bennett Samsung offered the opportunity for a quick decision on patent litigation.

However, Samsung has so far been reluctant to agree to an expedited hearing in Australia, despite the risk of being lost in the Christmas sales, because it says it needs time to prepare an adequate defense against Apple's case.

In short, Samsung has indicated that lack of Christmas in Australia could be a minor problem for the company to rush the defense and run the risk of defeat in a key patent ruling.

Samsung may appeal against the decision of the temporary ban of 14 days from the publication of the written statement on Friday.

Exposed snooping software on smartphones

A security researcher has uncovered a hidden agenda within the smartphone, called Carrier IQ, which tracks user activity, including the content of the texts received or online searches. The software company denied that records sensitive data.

AFP - A security researcher intelligent bright light in a hidden program that follows the activity on Android phones, BlackBerry and Nokia.

Trevor Eckhart explains the operation of the IC Carrier in a video available online, Wednesday from the California company behind the software defended it as a tool for mobile network operators.

"Our software is designed to help mobile network providers diagnose critical problems that lead to problems such as dropped calls and battery drain," said Carrier IQ in a press release.

The company denied the keystroke tracking software or registered users of smartphones.

However, the video carrier IQ software Eckhart was buried in a record button pressed Android smartphone, the Internet search queries, text messages and locations.

Eckhart writes a text message "Hello world!" only to instantly appear on a record carrier IQ apply an Android phone.

The software was difficult to find in the device and can not be turned off, according to his show.

IQ company had tried to silence Eckhart with a letter of cease and desist threatening legal action, but retracted after lawyers for the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) came to his defense.

"Legitimate and truthful Research Mr. Eckhart is protected both by the doctrine of fair use and First Amendment," wrote EFF attorney Marcia Hofmann senior, in a response to the letter Carrier IQ.

Eckhart wanted details about why the Carrier IQ software was aspirated information on the use of smartphones and shared it with.

Stem cells High-grade saw an increase in research trials

British scientists have made ​​the first human embryonic stem cells of a grade high enough for use in patients and deposited in a bank of stem cells for public development in human trials by pharmaceutical companies and researchers by 2014.

A team from King's College London said Monday they had submitted two clinical quality stem cell lines in the UK Stem Cell Bank (UKSBC), which will test and validate them before offering them to researchers.

This could accelerate the path to new stem cell treatments for conditions such as blindness, serious injury or heart disease.

"This first batch of cells is the culmination of nearly 10 years of research. This is an important step, "said Peter Braude, who led the team of the King.

The cells are the first to be grown completely free of animal products, known as "xeno-free," and developed specifically for clinical quality and public use.

The hope is that the cells will be grown and processed by the bank stocks to feed the cells to human trials and, in addition, treatment of patients.

The cells have the potential to become the "gold standard" lines of development of new therapies based on stem cells for use in trials in patients with regenerative medicine, Braude told reporters at a briefing.

It may be several years before the treatments are fully developed and licensed, but the cells could be used in human trials of potential therapies by 2014, the team said.

Stem cells are master cells of the body, the source of all other cells. Scientists say they could transform medicine, providing treatment against blindness, spinal cord and other injuries, as well as generating cells of damaged organs.

Human Embryonic Stem (HES) cells can be grown in the laboratory indefinitely while retaining their ability to develop into different specialized cell types such as nerve or heart muscle cells, which can then be used in clinical trials.

British bank of stem cells has already more than 90 lines of level of stem cell research for use in laboratory studies, but does not yet have clinical category xeno-free lines for use in human trials.

"In the future, patients hoping for the benefit of regenerative medicine for serious medical conditions caused by illness, injury and aging can expect progress on improving the remedies and improvement hES therapy cell, "said Dusko Ilic, professor of stem cell science to the King.

Some companies, like Pfizer and Advanced Cell Technology, already conduct or are about to start human trials using hES cells - which are harvested from embryos - to test their potential to repair spinal cord and eye disorders such as macular degeneration.

But the lines of hES cells for these first tests have been reclassified to "research grade" to "clinical grade" for specific short-term clinical studies in the areas of selected diseases.

Braude said it is not considered appropriate for the future of cell therapy because of the cost of further testing and rehabilitation, and potential risks.

"While it might be reasonable to additional risks for these first pioneering studies, it is not reasonable to accept these risks to the long-term future," he said. "Therefore, the highest standard of xeno-free lines are urgently needed."

Team Braude cells were grown from frozen embryos donated by patients who had in vitro fertilization (IVF) and did not want to use their remaining embryos stored. The embryos would otherwise be discarded, Braude said.

Glyn Stacey, director of the UKSCB, said the front lines of clinical grade is an "important resource" and a first step towards the objective of the bank to provide a range of clinical tests contours in the next three years.

"The testing process is rigorous and not all cell lines received will be up," he said

Microsoft to open "App Store" in February

Windows store opens in late February when Microsoft releases a test version of its next-generation operating system Windows 8.

It will take Apple and Google in the booming market program of fun, hip or functional built for smartphones, tablets or computers.

"I think we'll do great," Windows Web Services Vice President Antoine Leblond said as he gave developers a preview release and store it in an art gallery in San Francisco.

"The scope of Windows is absolutely huge and can not be matched," he said, noting that the Microsoft operating system powers more than half a billion computers worldwide.

Independent developers understandably focus their limited resources to programs for platforms that offer the most potential customers, and Windows does not exceed gadgets Apple and Google Android in this regard.

"There are more Windows PCs (personal computers) that there are cars on the planet," said Leblond. "The number is staggering."

However, Windows has a meager presence when it comes to smartphones and tablets, where third-party applications such as games are usually purchased.

Applications written for the Windows platform Store will work on all devices powered by Microsoft software, which means programs can be downloaded on smartphones or tablet computers as they hit the market.

Microsoft declined to discuss reports that the tablets based on Windows 8 are under development.

Store for Windows was launched as an optional welcome to Apple App Store, with its applications through a rigorous selection process and sometimes enigmatic before approving them for virtual shelves.

"Today, one of the most frustrating things for building applications are the constraints on the way you can do and what you can sell," said Leblond.

Apple requires applications for iOS devices to perform financial transactions such as subscriptions or sales in-house, with the iPhone, iPhone, iPod and Macintosh computer manufacturer taking 30 percent of income.

Store for Windows platform will be mechanisms for in-app purchases, but developers are free to choose the methods of processing financial transactions, according to Leblond.

"Developers create applications to the App Store only to have Apple stand between them and the client while taking 30 percent," he added.

"We will not get in the way of your application and your business model," said Leblond.

Microsoft demonstrated Windows applications from the renowned British newspaper The Daily Telegraph and eBay auction online titan that processed payments or subscriptions with their own tools.

"This is not an application you may have about the iPad," Leblond said, referring to the program Daily Telegraph.

"Apple would sit between them and their customers and take a cut of 30 percent, we will not do."

Store for Windows will allow developers to set their own prices for applications in a range of $ 1.49 to $ 999.99 "because a thousand dollars is just too much for an application," he added.

The online store will also support free applications that make their money from advertising.

Microsoft will take 30 percent of revenue from sales of applications. After selling an amount of $ 25,000 for an application, the developers rises to 80 percent.

Developers get to keep all the money transactions of the application.

Leblond has calculated that the cost recovery of $ 50,000 to develop a small typical application would require 0.01 percent of computer owners purchased the software on Windows.

"It's nothing," he said. "It is easy." Store Windows feature only free applications when it opens in February. Developer Information is available online at dev.windows.com.

The End of the World in 2012 ? (Video Attached)

The world would be destroyed with the coming on 2012.12.21 said, scientists have predicted. But it's not possible for them to express their opinion against opinion, confirmed by now.

Research undertaken by Sven Gronemeyer about Mayan calendar, 1300 years before this prophecy is found in the inscription. But the scenario that we are mistaken, gives an explanation.

A Germany, Australia Central American Civilization at the University of La trope is explored further.

YOU REALLY HATE MANKIND, because you show at the end a moon like rock hitting the earth and blowing it to bits, one asteroid killed all the dinosaurs millions of years ago but you know all life on this world didn't die because if it did we the human species wouldn't exist today. even though this film is just make believe there are millions of people who are getting a bit nervous about 2012 and SHOWING FILMS LIKE THIS DOESN'T HELP THEM AT ALL .YOU WANT THE WORLD TO END! YOU HATE HUMANS