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New Approach to Genetic Testing Results in First Use of Crizotinib in MET Fusion Lung Cancer

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University of Colorado Cancer Center study published today in JCO Precision Oncology tests for alterations in many genes simultaneously, matching stage IV lung cancer patient with life-saving drug

AURORA, Colo. (PRWEB) August 30, 2017

There are many ways a gene can be altered and there are many genes that, when altered, can cause cancer. Testing individually for each possible alteration in every cancer-related gene is not feasible as it would require hundreds of individual tests and many, many thousands of dollars. A University of Colorado Cancer Center case study published today in the journal JCO Precision Oncology highlights an alternative: Use testing that can look for gene alterations in many genes simultaneously. The technique results in the first published report describing successful targeting of MET fusion in a lung cancer patient.

In this study, researchers examined the tumor sample from a late-stage lung cancer patient using an assay that detects gene fusions in dozens of genes. The test identified a rare fusion involving the gene MET, leading researchers to treat the cancer with the targeted therapy crizotinib, which inhibits MET signaling (among other kinds of signaling). Now more than 8 months after the start of the targeted treatment, the patient who was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer continues to show an almost complete response.

“The way we approach the workup and treatment of stage IV lung cancer patients includes broad molecular profiling, so that’s what we did,” says the patient’s oncologist, Terry Ng, MD, senior fellow in clinical and translational research in thoracic oncology at CU Cancer Center and the CU School of Medicine.

Among the tests used for this molecular profiling was a relatively new assay called Archer FusionPlex, developed by a Boulder-based biotechnology company ArcherDX, and validated for clinical testing by the Colorado Molecular Correlates Laboratory (CMOCO), an advanced molecular diagnostics laboratory which is part of the Department of Pathology at the University of Colorado. Instead of testing for alterations in individual genes – for example, testing separately for changes to known oncogenes ALK, ROS1 or EGFR – the test explored an entire class of genetic changes, testing simultaneously for “gene fusions” in 53 cancer-related genes.

In these gene fusions, pieces of one gene accidently become attached to pieces from another. This creates “chimeric proteins” – new proteins made from parts of each – that can drive cancer growth. Two well-established examples of this in lung cancer are fusions involving genes ALK and ROS1. The gene MET has also been identified as a partner in cancer-causing fusions, and, in fact, other changes to the MET gene including mutation of MET, amplification of MET, and something called exon-14 skipping mutations have already been targeted by investigational drugs in lung cancer clinical trials. However, testing for MET fusions has been uncommon.

“The frequency of MET fusions is very low in lung cancer, well below one percent. You would never test for them individually. You need an assay that looks at many things simultaneously to catch these rare events,” says Kurtis Davies, PhD, lead assay development scientist CMOCO.

Adding to the challenge is that identifying a MET fusion gene requires not only testing for MET, but testing in a very specific way.

“A lot of tests say they cover MET, but that doesn’t mean they pick up this particular alteration. Depending on how you sequence MET and what regions you sequence, you may or may not find this alteration,” says Robert C. Doebele, MD, PhD, CU Cancer Center investigator and associate professor of Medical Oncology at the CU School of Medicine.

In 2016, the patient who is from out-of-state, planned to spend three months in Denver visiting her daughter. She had previously been diagnosed with lung cancer and knew that while in Colorado she would need care from a local treatment team.

When she came to University of Colorado Hospital, “We could see her tumors growing,” Ng says.

The team at CU Cancer Center requested a sample of the patient’s tumor that had been removed during an earlier surgery, and used that sample for molecular testing.

“At CU, in addition to the tests that most community centers would use, looking for things like EGFR, PD-L1, ALK and ROS1, we do a broader panel. We look for KRAS, MET amplification, MET exon 14 skipping mutations, RET gene rearrangements, BRAF-V600 mutations, HER2 mutations and more. All those things were negative. But one other thing that we do is this RNA-based next-generation sequencing assay called FusionPlex. This NGS platform looks for gene fusions in 53 cancer-associated genes. The assay is unique in that is you don’t need to know a gene’s fusion partner to identify that there is a gene fusion,” Ng says.

This is how the team identified the patient’s MET fusion. The next step was deciding how to treat it.

“A lot of people don’t know that the drug crizotinib was originally designed to be an inhibitor of the MET gene product,” Davies says, pointing out that the drug’s first FDA approval was not against MET but against ALK-positive lung cancer and was more recently approved to treat ROS1-positive lung cancer. “But the reality is that most drugs in this class hit many targets. Sometimes that’s detrimental – it hits things you don’t want to hit. This is an example of a case when it’s beneficial.”

In the current patient, this strategy of targeting MET with crizotinib showed dramatic results.

“Her first scan showed an almost complete response, a total absence of lung nodules,” Ng says. Side effects included increased fatigue, “but overall nothing that was life-threatening or would keep her from continuing the drug,” says Ng.

According to Doebele, the takeaway from this study is twofold. First, “This study shows the importance of broad molecular testing and also shows the importance of better transparency from commercial laboratories on what they cover,” he says. And second, “This case report and another describing the use of crizotinib with MET translocation in gliobastoma suggest this is a reasonable non-FDA approved way to treat these patients. However, the approach needs to be studied in clinical trials, and we hope this case shows that MET translocations should be included in trials of drugs evaluating efficacy of MET inhibitors.”

As for the patient, Ng says, “She came in to visit us the other day, and she told me that she felt so lucky to have come to see us in Colorado. Otherwise, she never would’ve discovered this Achilles heel in her cancer.” Reported by PRWeb 7 hours ago.

Railway Board Chairman Lohani calls on employees to ensure maximum safety

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Railway Board Chairman Lohani calls on employees to ensure maximum safety Railway Board Chairman Ashwani Lohani has called upon railway employees across the country to always ensure the highest level of safety in train operations and instill a renewed sense of confidence in railway passengers.

He emphasized that safety should always remain principle focused area.

In a letter sent to all railway employees, Lohani stressed the need to resolve to bring about an all-round improvement in the working of the railways so that we are able to satisfactorily meet the hopes, expectations and aspirations of the vast multitude.

Referring to the committed workforce of Indian Railways, Lohani said that the sincerity, dedication and professional capability of the railway employees, both officers and staff is indeed unparalleled. It is the men on the field who, regardless of their personal inconveniences and hardships, ensure that the wheels of the Nation keep moving surely and safely. This is what makes the Indian Railways the most visible symbol of dynamic delivery in our country.

He also pointed out that there is need to deal with the evils of corruption, sexual harassment at work places and alcohol abuse while on duty. These are social evils and need to be dealt firmly with an iron hand, he added.

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The Maharashtra Regional Meteorological Centre on Tuesday issued a heavy rainfall warning for next three days in the state.

The special weather forecast bulletin said that the active monsoon condition is likely to see Maharashtra experiencing a heavy spell for the next three days. This includes-

Day 1- August 29 to August 30- rainfall likely at most places in the districts of konkan, Madhya Maharashtra and Vidarbha and at many places over Marathwada.

Day 2-August 30 to August 31-rainfall likely at most places in the districts of Konkan: at many places over districts of Madhya Maharashtra and Vidarbha and at a few places in the districts of Marathwada.

Day 3-August 31 to September 1- rainfall likely at most places in the districts of Konkan, at a few places over districts of Madhya Maharashtra, Marathwada and Vidarbha.

'Heavy to very heavy at a few places with extremely heavy falls at one or two places likely to occur in districts of North Konkan, Thane, Palghar, Raigad. Heavy to very heavy with extremy hevy atat ione or two places likely over districts of Nasik, Nandurbar, Dhule Jalgaon, Ahmednagar, Pune,' the bulletin said.

Heavy to very heavy at a few places with extremely heavy falls at one or two places over South Konkan namely Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg in districts of south Madhya Maharashtra namely Satara, Kohlapur, Sangli and Solapur and in the districts of west Vidharba during August 29 and August 30,' the bulletin added.

Meanwhile, the Maharashtra Government has issued orders for all offices to allow employees to leave in wake of heavy rains and the IMD warning.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also visited the State Disaster Management Control room to oversee the present scenario.

Talking to ANI, Fadnavis said, 'I have talked to BMC disaster management cell and the Mumbai police over the hotline. Mantralaya staff have been told to leave early due to heavy rain.'

Requesting the people to follow traffic advisories issued by the government, Fadnavis said people can also tweet or call to the Mumbai Police for any kind of assistance. 'The police will come to your rescue,' he added.

As various regions of Maharashtra are receiving incessant downpour since yesterday, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has informed that there would no relief for the state in the coming hours and heavy showers are expected to continue.

The traffic in Mumbai has come to a standstill owing to the heavy downpour. Subsequently, train services are suspended temporarily between Elphinstone Rd-Dadar on all lines w.e.f 1.30 p.m.

The famous KEM Hospital has shifted at least 30 patients to the upper wards after one of its corridors got flooded by water from Parel Village.

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The Income Tax Department today questioned RJD chief Lalu Prasad's wife Rabri Devi and son Tejashwi Yadav in connection with its alleged benami assets probe against them and others in land deals worth Rs 1,000 crore.

Officials said the two were summoned by the department and the Investigating Officer (IO) of the case recorded their statements after they appeared today at the I-T office here.

They said the two are being questioned about the alleged benami assets that the department suspects have been created by them along with their other family members.

A special I-T team from Delhi has flown to Bihar capital to assist the IO of the case and take the probe forward, they said.

The department had earlier questioned Prasad's MP daughter Misa Bharti and her husband Shailesh Kumar in this case.

The department had served notices of attachment of assets in June to Lalu, Rabri, Tejashwi ( former Bihar Deputy Chief Minister) and Lalu's daughters Chanda, Ragini Yadav, Bharti and son-in-law Kumar.

It had attached about a dozen plots and buildings in Delhi and Bihar including a farm house and land in the Palam Vihar area, a residential building in the upmarket New Friends Colony area of south Delhi, nine plots on a 256.75 decimal land area in Phulwari Sharif area in Patna, where a shopping mall was being constructed, among few others in the same area in Bihar's capital.

The department has said these alleged benami assets bear a "deed" value of about Rs 9.32 crore but the taxman has estimated their current market value at Rs 170-180 crore.

Benami properties are those in which the real beneficiary is not the one in whose name the property has been purchased.

The Lalu family has called these cases to be borne out of "political vendetta" againt them.

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Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday visited the State Disaster Management Control (SDMC) room here and took stock of the situation arising out of the heavy rainfall that has crippled transport services and thrown the normal life out of gear in the metropolis.

As Mumbai reeled under heavy showers and more downpour is predicted by the IMD, the Maharashtra government has allowed its employees in Mantralaya (secretariat) and other departments to leave early. It has also appealed to the private companies to do the same.

"I chaired a review meeting of officials in the disaster management unit to ascertain the situation that has arisen from the heavily rainfall in Mumbai," Fadnavis said.

"I have spoken to BMC officials. The civic body has received several complaints related to tree falling and some related to waterlogging," he said, adding the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is looking into these complaints.

The chief minister said he spoke to the Mumbai Police Commissioner and was informed that traffic has been diverted at 25 places due to waterlogging.

"We have advised (private) offices to allow their employees to leave for their homes early today. We have issued similar orders for government employees," Fadnavis said.

He said as Mumbai was under CCTV surveillance, vehicular movement can be monitored from the traffic control room and the police commissioner's office.

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An alert motorman avoided a major accident, when he applied the emergency brakes right before the train could hit the debris from a landslide in Aasangaon early this morning.

While nine coaches and the engine of the Nagpur-Mumbai Duronto Express derailed in the incident, no injuries were reported at the time of going to press. The incident, sources said, occurred due to a sudden landslide following heavy rain.

*Also read: 9 coaches of Nagpur-Mumbai Duronto Express derail near Asangaon, passengers safe*

The Mumbai-bound train was heading for CST, when around 6.36 am, a sudden landslide between Aasangaon and Vasind, caught motorman, Virendra Singh, off-guard. Despite poor visibility due to the downpour, Singh managed to apply the brakes on time, averting a major incident.

Four coaches derailed completely and collapsed on the tracks, while the others slipped out. Railway officials said that had the coaches toppled, the passengers could have been at a greater risk.

According to sources, this particular train uses Linke Hofmann Busch (LHB) coaches, which also helped prevent major damage. The specialty of LHB coaches is that they do not climb over each other because of a type of centre buffer couplings.*Motorman Virendra Singh*

Rescue work began immediately at the spot. A rescue train was first brought to help stranded passengers. This train then dropped passengers at a spot near Vasind highway. From there, buses were arranged to take passengers to Kalyan.

However, heavy rain and traffic led to congestion at the spot. "Passengers had to walk for almost 1 km from the tracks to reach to the buses," said Justin Rao, a passenger.

When contacted, Sunil Udasi, chief public relations officer, said, "The train driver, who took charge of the train from Igatpuri, did a great job of applying the emergency brakes."

Following the incident, local trains on the CR route were affected. "Railway services from Titwala to CST continued without any hassle, but there were no train services between Titwala and Aasangaon," said AK Jain, chief PR, CR.

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As rain continued to lash the city, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) issued warnings to the civic body and fishermen. BMC was told to be prepared for water-logging, while fishermen were advised not to venture into the sea for the next 24 hours at least. The heavy rain is here to stay for another four days, the IMD has said.

"Heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely to occur at one or two places over the districts of Konkan, namely Greater Mumbai, Thane, Palghar, Raigad, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg.

Heavy rainfall warnings have been issued for the next four days," states the letter issued by IMD's Mumbai division. It further states, "Winds will have speeds of 45 to 50 kmph temporarily touching 60 kmph in gusts/squalls. The sea will be rough with westerly to northwesterly waves."

According to the BMC disaster management department, there is water-logging at chronic spots such as Andheri subway, Hindmata in Parel, but no flood-like situations reported anywhere across the city.

Traffic has been moving slowly on the eastern freeway and Western Urban Road till Kherwadi. Khan Abdul Gafar Khan Road and Worli sea face has some water-logging issues resulting in traffic congestion.

Traffic has also been crawling at Kama Lane Ghatkopar East, Military Road in Marol Maroshi, Aurora Junction and Kurla Depot. This will continue all day.

Train services, too, were affected, but not majorly. A K Jain, CPRO, Railways, said, "Local train services are running slow by 5-10 minutes."

Flights have been delayed by 15-20 minutes, but no flights have been cancelled, said airport officials.

http://images.mid-day.com/images/2017/apr/19india-rainfall-s.jpgHeavy rains lashed the coastal districts of Karnataka leading to rivers and lakes overflowing, affecting daily life, India Meteorological Department (IMD) officials said on Tuesday.

Coastal districts of Kodagu, Udupi and Dakshina Kannada have received "heavy rainfall" measuring up to 11.7 cm, according to IMD officials.

Due to the rain, the roof of a mud house collapsed in Vijayapura town in Bengaluru Rural district, leading to the death of three people.

"In the early hours of Monday, a couple and their baby lost their lives as the roof of their mud house crashed down," an official from Vijayapura's Superintendent of Police office said.

Kodagu, which lies about 250 kms to the west of Bengaluru towards the coast, received a high amount of 11.7 cm rainfall.

"Due to the rains, we have declared a holiday for the schools and colleges in the district," the Deputy Commissioner of Kodagu district Richard Vincent D'Souza told IANS.

"These rains were also much needed to allow Cauvery river to be replenished."

The rains that the state has been receiving are normal and have "no link" to the cloud-seeding that the state government has been undertaking, said IMD Bengaluru Director Sundar M. Metri.

"These rains are due to the low pressure that has developed in the districts. One cannot link it to the cloud-seeding activity that is going on," Metri told IANS.

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*Also read - Mumbai: No more traffic jams on CST Road and MTNL junction!*

According to The Times of India, the elevated road will be built from Bharat Diamond Bourse to Vakola Junction. It is expected that with the construction of this road, traffic at two junctions namely the Bandra-Kurla Complex and Santacruz-Chembur Link Road will be unclogged.

*Also read - Mumbai: Rs 743 crore flyover to cover up BMC's failure to clear encroachers on SCLR*

Presently preparations are being made to connect BKC to Eastern Express Highway to Chunabhatti via flyover. Apart from this, there is the coastal road project, which is slated to be constructed between Cuffe Parade and Marve. A similar stretch from Marveto Ghodbunder in Thane via Bhayander has been proposed by the MMRDA.

*Also read - CST-Kurla traffic chaos: MMRDA to clear illegal encroachments on BKC stretch*

The 35-km Marve-Bhayander-Ghodbunder Road is an extension of the proposed coastal road for which a consortium has been appointed in order to prepare a project report. Furthermore, four consultants have been appointed for the Wadala-Ghatkopar-Mulund-Thane-Kasarvadavali Metro-4 Corridior.

*Also read - Mumbai: SCLR to get elevated road support to ease traffic*

Additionally, a 33.8-km tunnel-flyover road from Thane to Belapur Road to National Highway-4 near Shil Phata has also received some impetus.

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Sarahah is the new go-to 'sahara', especially for those facing mental and sexual distress. The anonymous messaging app, developed earlier this year in Saudi Arabia, and targeted for the vicious comments it was attracting from users thanks to the anonymity feature, has turned into a handy tool for Mumbai's psychiatrists. The experts mid-day spoke to say they have received as many as 500 queries related to relationship woes, sexual dysfunction, and depression.

*Doc says*
*This definitely sounds like an anxiety disorder with depression. It's better you meet a therapist close to where you live or online.*

With the Internet and social media becoming increasingly vitriolic, it's comforting to know that people are putting technology to good use as well.

The app Sarahah, created by Saudi developer ZainAlabdin Tawfiq, has gone viral with 5 crore downloads on Android alone. And it is now being used by city doctors to help those suffering from mental and sexual ill health as it allows the people to remain anonymous, thereby making them feel more free and comfortable to share their problems.

*Doc says*
*We all are here to help you. Feeling suicidal is a painful situation, but there is a solution to it; together, we can find a solution to your problems and make your life better. Please seek help from any friend, psychiatrist, clinical psychologist or a psychiatric social worker. You can also call any suicide helpline, such as Samaritan or iHELP.*

*Behind closed doors*
Consulting psychiatrist and psychotherapist Dr Milan Balakrishnan, like hundreds of other social media-savvy people, downloaded the app out of curiosity, but soon, he started getting queries from people suffering from depression due relationship turmoil, sexual problems and other issues.

*Doc says*
*I understand your problem, though getting aroused by the sound of someone's coughing is unheard of. Still, it is something that can be tackled. Considering the uniqueness of the problem, the solution also needs to be tailored for it. So, I will advise you to visit your nearest psychiatrist or clinical psychologist for help.*

"I got the app out of curiosity; I never expected that so many suffering from mental health issues would start writing to me to help them out. My app buzzes every hour. This made me realise that so many are coming forward because it's anonymous," he said.

Later, two more psychiatrists - Dr Ajish Mangot from Satara and Dr Ambrish Dharmadhikari from Goregaon West - joined to counsel people. So far, the three doctors have received more than 500 messages on the app.

*Doc says*
*There is no simple answer to this. You need to work on your self-esteem through therapy.*

*Cries for help*
"Most of the messages we are getting are related to relationships. If the symptoms are severe, we advise the patients to visit a psychiatrist in person for therapy or counselling," Dr Balakrishnan said.

In some cases, people are even posting links of articles giving tips to get over break-ups, loneliness and anxiety.

This flood of messages seeking help once again highlights the stigma surrounding visiting a psychiatrist in person and openly speaking about mental and sexual health.

"People are scared to approach a psychiatrist for their mental health problems. We often get messages from Facebook users, but they too are afraid about the doctor coming to know about them through their profiles. So, we started using this app and the response has been tremendous. Everyday, we get 10-15 messages from patients," said Dr Dharmadhikari.

*Masked help*
Sarahah has been created by Saudi developer ZainAlabdin Tawfiq; the app, which allows one to send messages to people anonymously, has touched 5 crore downloads on Android alone. It is available in English and Arabic for iOS and Android users.

*5 cr*
Number of times the app has been downloaded on Android phones

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Anshul Chhatrapati, son of journalist Ramchandra Chhatrapati, who was killed for exposing the Dera Sacha Sauda chief, expressed satisfaction over the judgment.

Anshul said, "The verdict of the court is satisfactory. We have been saying since long that this man (Ram Rahim Singh) is enemy of our society and doing such heinous crime. We are happy that the judicial system has put a stamp that this man is guilty, no matter what the punishment is."

Anshul's father, Ramchandra Chhatrapati, a journalist from Sirsa, was the first to publish the anonymous complaint of one of the female followers of Ram Rahim Singh.

The murder case is pending before the special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court in Panchkula and hearing of final arguments is likely to be held next month. Reported by Mid-Day 6 hours ago.

Black lawyers must be 'conscience of the nation,' association president says

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Juan Thomas was a senior in college, a bit adrift and unsure where life might take him next, when he woke up to the news one morning that Carol Moseley Braun had beaten serious odds to win the 1992 primary for Illinois' U.S. Senate seat. The Aurora native decided then that he would return to his... Reported by ChicagoTribune 32 minutes ago.

Wilmington company sues former partner following work for Salix, Valeant

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Wilmington-based Archer Healthcare – formerly known as AOS Research – has filed a Computer Fraud and Abuse Act lawsuit against a former joint-venture partner: Aurora, Colorado-based Questra Med Communications. The suit follows the duo’s work for Salix Pharmaceuticals and Valeant Pharmaceuticals. In a complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina, Archer alleges that Questra Med and its current president “on multiple occasions and without authorization”… Reported by bizjournals 8 hours ago.

Aurora Health Care's first-half income slips

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Aurora Health Care’s operating income decreased 11.6 percent in the first half of 2017 as the cost of salaries, benefits and supplies outstripped a revenue increase. Reported by bizjournals 4 hours ago.

Where Are Canadian Marijuana Stocks Headed From Here?

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Will companies such as Canopy Growth Corp. (TSX:WEED), Aphria Inc. (TSX:APH), and Aurora Cannabis Inc. (TSX:ACB) outperform in the long-run or be left behind? Here's my take. Reported by Motley Fool 3 hours ago.

UCHealth opens 51-bed hospital in Longmont

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UCHealth on Thursday opened the 51-bed Longs Peak Hospital in Longmont, creating hospital competition in a growing part of Boulder County and further growing the Aurora health system’s facilities in communities on the outskirts of the Denver metro area. The 210,000-square-foot hospital at 1750 E. Ken Pratt Blvd. includes a Level III trauma center, four operating rooms, a birth center, a Level II special-care nursery and an intensive-care unit. It also will offer an around-the-clock pharmacy,… Reported by bizjournals 5 minutes ago.

The Southern Lights are back, and will make you want to move to Tasmania

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Australia's own version of the Northern Lights has been cranking this week, with the Aurora Australis weaving its way across skies in Tasmania.

The Southern Lights, as they're more commonly known, have been appearing in the sky over Hobart for the past week, prompting a significant amount of Instagram posts and well-deserved smuggery from Tasmanians and New Zealanders.

SEE ALSO: These glowing images of the Southern Lights are too beautiful for words

It's a good time to live in Tasmania if you're into highly Instagrammable light phenomena — the Southern Lights made a cameo in the state, and also locations across New Zealand, in March 2017. Read more...

More about Australia, Northern Lights, Southern Lights, Aurora Australis, and Stargazing Reported by Mashable 5 hours ago.

Nanoleaf delivers music syncing for its Aurora smart lights

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Nanoleaf delivers music syncing for its Aurora smart lights Nanoleaf's WiFi-connected Aurora smart lights are notable for their modular, customizable design plus the ability to program colorful displays via an app or control them with Apple HomeKit, Android and Amazon Alexa. Now, it's nearly ready to ship a c... Reported by TUAW 59 minutes ago.

Cavalcade Tour of Homes Helps Local Veterans

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2017 Cavalcade Tour of Homes Partners with Local Charities to Help Veterans

Aurora, IL (PRWEB) September 01, 2017

The Northern Illinois Home Builders Association (NIHBA) will host the 2017 Cavalcade Tour of Homes over two weekends from September 7 through September 17, 2017. The largest home tour in Illinois, the Cavalcade Tour of Homes features 22 homes in five counties built by 17 different NIHBA builders.

According to NIHBA President, Court Airhart of Airhart Construction, this year's charitable partners for the Cavalcade Tour of Homes are the Midwest Shelter for Homeless Veterans and the Naperville Responds For Veterans. These outstanding charities will receive 40-percent of the event's ticket proceeds.

There are nearly 21 million veterans in the United States with more than 660,000 of these veterans living in Illinois. Organizations like the Midwest Shelter for Homeless Veterans and Naperville Responds For Veterans work to help support and advocate for the brave men and women who have served our country selflessly.

Midwest Shelter for Homeless Veterans

Founded in 2000, the Midwest Shelter for Homeless Veterans (MSHV) has a mission to "provide veterans and their families with housing and supportive services that lead to self-sufficiency." No veteran should ever be left homeless, jobless, or alone battling mental-health issues or poverty. The MSHV works with area veterans providing transitional housing and supportive services via homes like the Larson Home, while the Miller Home for male veterans and Tammy's Trace for female veterans offer affordable housing.

The MSHV also runs Freedom Harbour, the Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) program created specifically for chronically homeless veterans. The organization provides these veterans with one-bedroom apartments in their local community. Other services available through the Midwest Shelter for Homeless Veterans include the Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF), which provides homeless prevention services and rapid rehousing services for homeless veterans, the Veterans Employment Program, and the Freedom Commissary. The latter is a free thrift store located at the MSHV's administrative site. Veterans receive vouchers to use at the store for items like clothing and household goods.

In addition to supporting the Midwest Shelter for Homeless Veterans with a ticket purchase to the 2017 Cavalcade Tour of Homes, donations are accepted via the organizations website at http://www.helpaveteran.org or MSHV may be contacted at 630-871-VETS (8387) for information about volunteering.

Naperville Responds For Veterans

The Naperville Responds For Veterans (NRFV) works to assist those veterans and their families struggling and living in crisis. A non-profit organization, the NRFV raises donations of money as well as building materials and professional labor plus they coordinate repairs and construction for veterans who need help. When possible, the NRFV donates homes as well. No one, including our veterans and their families, should be living in residences that are unsafe and in dire need of repair.

The NRFV formed after the success of the organization Naperville Responds to Katrina. Several Naperville area home builders, realtors, and leaders determined their community needed to help out the men and women veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. The NRFV works to provide construction related home repair services for these veterans and any other veteran in the community. The organization has fixed and updated homes for veterans by repairing leaking roofs, adding wheelchair ramps and widening doorways to accommodate those wheelchairs, plus performing renovations to ensure the veteran's homes are ADA accessible.

Approximately 90-percent of all monies raised by Naperville Responds For Veterans go to assist veterans in the community. To help support the NRFV as a volunteer or with a donation, please visit them online at http://www. nrfov.org/donate, email the organization at info(at)nrfov(dot)org, or call at 331-684-7899.

Support Veterans By Attending the Cavalcade Tour of Homes

The 2017 Cavalcade Tour of Homes will feature a diverse group of stunning homes that are not to be missed. From the Wyndermere Estate in Plainfield (Steward Ridge Neighborhood) to The Bennett House in Geneva and the Ashwood Park Townhome in Naperville, this tour has a variety of home styles to see. Guests on the Tour will enjoy elegant, old-world designs as well as contemporary architecture and classic homes. The Tour is a great way to see a huge group of beautiful homes by amazing local builders, but it's also the perfect way to support our veterans and honor their service and sacrifice.

2017 Cavalcade Tour of Homes Hours and Tickets

Hours of the Tour are Thursday and Fridays from 4:00-8:00 p.m., Saturdays 10 a.m.-6:00 p.m., and Sundays Noon-6:00 p.m.

Anyone interested in attending the 2017 Cavalcade Tour of Homes may purchase tickets via the event website at http://www.cavalcadetourofhomes.com.

Contact the NIHBA at office(at)nihba(dot)com for additional information. Reported by PRWeb 53 minutes ago.

There are now 39 companies testing self-driving cars on Californian roads

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There are now 39 companies testing self-driving cars on Californian roads There are now dozens of companies that can legally test self-driving cars in California, which is quickly evolving into a mecca for the new transportation technology.

Samsung became the latest firm to get permission from California's Department of Motor Vehicles (DOV) on Thursday as it looks to keep up with rivals like Google and Apple.

The DOV added Samsung to an online list of companies that can legally test self-driving cars on public roads across The Golden State. As a result, Samsung will be able to test a Toyota Prius and two Audi A3s, according to a DOV spokesperson cited by The Financial Times.

Samsung made its ambitions in the autonomous car market clear in March this year when it acquired automotive supplier Harman International for $8 billion (£6 billion).

The South Korean tech giant was given permission to test self-driving cars in its home country in May.

Samsung did not immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment.

There are now almost 40 companies with permits to test self-driving cars in California. Others include BMW, Honda, Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, Tesla, Waymo (owned by Google parent company Alphabet), and Drive.ai.

*Here is the full list:*

1. Volkswagen Group of America
2. Mercedes Benz
3. Waymo
4. Delphi Automotive
5. Tesla Motors
6. Bosch
7. Nissan
8. GM Cruise LLC
9. BMW
10. Honda
11. Ford
12. Zoox, Inc.
13. Drive.ai, Inc.
14. Faraday & Future Inc.
15. Baidu USA LLC
16. Wheego Electric Cars Inc.
17. Valeo North America, Inc.
18. NextEV USA, Inc.
19. Telenav, Inc.
20. NVIDIA Corporation
21. AutoX Technologies Inc
22. Subaru
23. Udacity, Inc
24. Navya Inc.
25. Renovo.auto
26. UATC LLC (Uber)
27. PlusAi Inc
28. Nuro, Inc
29. CarOne LLC
30. Apple Inc.
31. Bauer’s Intelligent Transportation
32. Pony.AI
33. TuSimple
34. Jingchi Corp
35. SAIC Innovation Center, LLC
36. Almotive Inc
37. Aurora Innovation
38. Nullmax
39. Samsung Electronics

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