breast cancer
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Students develop a smart bra for early breast cancer detection
Students from the Swiss university EPFL have developed a smart bra designed to detect breast cancer in its earliest stages. They believe it's the first piece of clothing that can be used for cancer prevention. They even claim that it's comfortable and that the tech is "nearly imperceptible."
Google's AI can detect breast cancer more accurately than experts
DeepMind, a UK-based artificial intelligence company purchased by Google in 2014, has turned its sights to the problem of breast cancer detection. Although breast cancer is the most common type of cancer among women, detection is difficult due to high rates of false positives (when a mammogram is judged to be abnormal even when no cancer is present) which cause distress and can lead to unnecessary medical interventions. DeepMind had developed an AI model which can identify breast cancer from scans with fewer false positives or false negatives (when cancer is present but isn't detected) than experts.
IBM AI helps predict breast cancer a year before it appears
IBM isn't just using AI to predict diabetes. Its researchers have developed an AI model that can predict malignant breast cancer within a year with an 87 percent accuracy rate comparable to human radiologists. While there are already AI prediction methods that rely on either mammogram images or medical records, IBM's stands out by using both -- and it's potentially more reliable as a result.
MIT AI model is 'significantly' better at predicting breast cancer
MIT researchers have invented a new AI-driven way of looking at mammograms that can help detect breast cancer in women up to five years in advance. A deep learning model created by a team of researchers from MIT's Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) and Massachusetts General Hospital can predict -- based on just a mammogram -- whether a woman will develop breast cancer in the future. And unlike older methods, it works just as well on black patients as it does on white patients.
Play Ms. Pac-Man on iOS in October and help fight breast cancer
Want to fight breast cancer using your iPhone or iPad? Bandai Namco is making it as easy as downloading a new in-game map for one of the company's many Pac-Man and Ms. Pac-Man titles from the App Store in the month of October. The new maze is priced at US$0.99 and all proceeds go directly to the National Breast Cancer Foundation. The download -- called "The Hope Maze" -- is shaped like the iconic pink ribbon of breast cancer awareness, and can be downloaded on any of the following Pac Man titles: Pac-Man Ms. Pac-Man Pac-Man Lite Ms. Pac-Man Lite Ms. Pac-Man for iPad Ms. Pac-Man for iPad Lite
The Pac-Man family fights breast cancer during October
Bandai Namco is teaming up with the National Breast Cancer Foundation this month by offering special pink mazes for its mobile Pac-Man games. The mazes will cost $1 each, with 100 percent of proceeds going to the NBCF. Bandai Namco is calling the initiative, which will last until the end of the month, the "Ms. Pac-Man Pink Ribbon Campaign." If you have an iOS device, the list of compatible games is as follows: Pac-Man, Ms. Pac-Man, Pac-Man Lite, Ms. Pac-Man Lite, Ms. Pac-Man for iPad and Ms. Pac-Man for iPad Lite. If you're rocking an Android device, your options are limited to Ms. Pac-Man and Pac-Man + Tournaments. "We are very excited about our new partnership with BANDAI NAMCO and the Ms. PAC-MAN Pink Ribbon Campaign," NBCF founder and CEO Janelle Hail said in a related press release. "By encouraging their gamers to Join the Pac, we can reach more women than ever with our message of hope. The funds they raise will allow us to provide early detection services for women in need in all 50 states." [Image: Bandai Namco]
SteelSeries Siberia v2 Pink Edition benefits breast cancer research
SteelSeries has released a special edition of its Siberia v2 headset, which is not only much pinker than the standard Siberia v2 (or the rest of the company's product range, for that matter), but is also the only headset on offer from the brand that comes with a built-in higher purpose.Ten percent of every $89.99 Siberia v2 Pink Edition purchase will be donated to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Not only will you look remarkably stylish during your next raid, but you'll also get to enjoy the warm inner glow that comes with doing good for humanity. For bonus warm fuzzies, patrons can donate additional funds on top of the 10 percent that's donated automatically.The Pink Edition Siberia v2 features all of the same bullet points as the original, including 50mm drivers and a retractable, uni-directional microphone.
Join the Guild Wars community for Pink Day in LA
You've probably noticed a lot of people wearing pink lately. October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, and the Guild Wars community is getting in on the act. It's all well and good to sport a little bit of pink on your clothing, but it's even more fun to jump in and help out. The Gaming World Entertainment Network is doing just that by hosting Pink Day in LA today. The group is taking over the Lion's Arch international districts of Guild Wars in an event that will raise money for the Canadian Cancer Society and distribute a mountain of great prizes to participants. Prizes are both in-game and real-world, and several real-world prizes are non-Guild-Wars-related, so even if you're not a fan of the game, you can still participate. A donation of $10 to the Canadian Cancer Society counts as your entry in the prize drawing, so check out all of the information on the Pink Day in LA site. The front page has a donation button and simple instructions about how to make sure you are entered after you donate. The event itself is from noon until 6 p.m. MST in the international districts of Lion's Arch, so don't miss out! Finally, if you really want to get into the spirit of things, ArenaNet has a bonus for you. The developers have created a special pink dye vendor to hang out in LA during the event, so be sure to pay a visit while you're there!
Microsoft kicks out a pink mouse for Breast Cancer Awareness Month
If you've been following your NFL broadcasts, you'll have noticed an entirely unusual hue infiltrating your typically macho sport -- in most clashes this weekend players on both teams could be seen sporting pink paraphernalia alongside their usual uniform colors. This courageous act of pinkification was in aid of the US National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which Microsoft is also supporting in its own small way. That small way is called the Wireless Mobile Mouse 4000, which will retail from now until the end of September of next year for $40 and contribute a $4 donation per sale to the Komen for the Cure charitable fund. Hey, it's got BlueTrack if you need to feel manly while buying one! [Thanks, Andrew]
Breast cancer vaccine proves successful in tests on mice, moves on to human subjects
Here's a cause for optimism, albeit the cautious kind. Researchers at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute have managed to isolate a human protein that plays part in the development of breast cancer, and have produced a vaccine against its creation that has delivered an impressive success rate in testing on mice. In a test group of genetically cancer-prone rodents, none of those injected with á-lactalbumin developed the potentially deadly disease. The progress of this drug trial to testing on humans has been met with reservation by cancer research groups, who remind us that we're years away from knowing if it will actually work on our species. Still, this is quite the little breakthrough and we hope all goes according to plan.
Pink for Tink gets official Mythic support
Finding out that you have cancer of any variety is always a bombshell, and for Warhammer Online player Trish, it became doubly difficult as she discovered that her breast cancer returned as of April this year. Feeling the urge to support Trish -- who goes by several variations on the word "Tink" in WAR -- her friends, guild and the surrounding Badlands server community created a "Pink for Tink" movement to raise awareness and offer encouragement. This eventually led to the creation of a pink-themed guild specifically for this cause, with several blogs which have been reporting on its growth. As Tink's husband wrote on their blog, "One sort of expects close friends and family to express support, but to have strangers (including your "enemies") stand behind you in solidarity is touching in a very different way." This past Tuesday, Mythic lent their support by adding a couple "very special dye vendors" into the game: Alda Tinkengruber (Order) and Grobbik Bigtink (Destruction). These vendors are selling "Slaneesh Pink Dye" and "Light Purple Dye" for a limited time for players who want to support Tink, enjoy the unusual shades, or both. It's always a terrific sign when both developers and players can join together for a selfless cause such as this, and we hope Tink emerges victorious. You can read more about the new dyes over on the WAR Herald.
Game and film artists come together for 'beautifulgrim' charity auction
Mythic Entertainment's Mike "Daarken" Lim and Dreamworks' Leif Jeffers aren't the type of gentlemen to sit around idly while a friend is in need. When Lim's girlfriend (Cat) was diagnosed with breast cancer earlier this year at the age of 25, the two quickly hatched a plan to help her wade through the sea of medical bills that a bilateral mastectomy and 16 weeks of chemotherapy can quickly accrue. That plan quickly turned into an art auction named "beautifulgrim." Artists from all over the game and film industries have contributed to the project -- from Blizzard and Rockstar on the gaming side to Pixar and Disney on the film side, to name only a few. Lim is hoping to hold the auction "sometime next Spring" in either San Francisco or New York City, though plans are still a bit up in the air. " We are still in the process of looking for a venue, so the date and location of the opening reception is still unknown," Lim told us. He also encouraged people to check out some of the already submitted works on the project's Facebook page. Any money earned in the auction beyond what Cat requires will be given to "a breast cancer related charity to be determined by the artists in the coming weeks." Though you only have one day left to tell Lim if you'd like to contribute, final art for the show isn't due until February 1. We wish them the best of luck. %Gallery-80292%
Azeroth United and Raid for the Cure running charity giveaways
Halloween is over and we're headed towards Thanksgiving, which means it's the time of year that charities everywhere ask you to open up your hearts and wallets and support some good causes. Azeroth United, the recently-formed community for WoW players, just revealed the prizes in their "Hearts, Hands, and Voices" charity giveaway. They're officially supporting Child's Play (they got mentioned on the main website), and your donation there (of $10 or $20) will get you into two tiers of giveaways, featuring prizes of all kinds from all over the WoW community. Sounds like a great chance to both support a good cause and maybe even win some free stuff. And from our old friend John "BigBearButt" Patricelli comes news of a "Raid for the Cure" -- on Saturday, November 14th, a group of players from both factions will walk in-game on the Kael'thas server from Darnassus to Ratchet (and on to Booty Bay) to raise awareness and funds for the Susan G. Komen for the Cure charity. Pink shirts will be handed out at the event, and making a donation of any kind over on the WoW page for the charity will enter you in a raffle to win a guest appearance on the Sidhe Devils Gone Wild podcast (a member of that guild has been dealing with breast cancer, and the in-game run is in support of her and her cause).
Jersey sales in Home support breast cancer awareness charity
The sentence following this sentence will be completely unprecedented for this humble news blog: We completely endorse the practice of spending real-life money on virtual articles of clothing -- provided that clothing is the jersey seen above. Sure, black and pink jerseys may not be your style, but when you purchase that shirt in PlayStation Home's EA Sports Complex, the entirety of your $2.00 goes to the charity of New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees, the Brees Dream Foundation, which raises money for breast cancer awareness. Though altruism is its own reward, we'll sweeten the pot even further: Anyone seen wearing this jersey will be granted amnesty from our Quincying, which has grown increasingly violent over the past few months. Trust us, it's a worthwhile investment.
Latest PETA game wants breast cancer animal testing to go tits up
Here's the dilemma: We want to make fun of PETA's latest game, but the problem is that after clicking on pixelated breasts for 10 minutes, we feel that any entitlement to mock it has escaped us like gushing silicone from a popped implant.The lesson in here somewhere is that PETA believes researching and testing breast cancer drugs on animals is "wrong." We're guessing the 192,370 women who'll be diagnosed with the disease this year would disagree, so perhaps it's best to enjoy this method without subscribing to the madness.
Dell Promise Pink laptops fight breast cancer
It slipped under the radar this past week, but Dell and Susan G. Komen for the Cure announced a partnership that'll see Dell donate $5 to the foundation for every new Promise Pink laptop it sells. Most of Dell's line is available in the new hue, including the various Inspiron Studios and Minis, the XPS m1330 and m1530 -- hell, even the Latitude E4200 for all you trendster suits out there. Dell's committed to raising at least $250,000 through the program, so it apparently thinks these are going to be quite popular -- we'll know for sure if this dude trades up to Promise from Flamingo.[Via Coolest-gadgets]
Toshiba reveals "pink" Portege M800 to help with breast cancer, probably won't sell any
Look, we hate to be crude -- after all, you won't find any bigger proponents for bulking up the breast cancer research fund than the team here at Engadget -- but Toshiba might have a tough time selling its latest Portégé M800. We mean, just look at it. We're not exactly sure how it gets off calling this thing "pink," but the 13.3-inch machine will be sold (or just stocked) exclusively at Best Buy Canada for $799.99. As for specs, you're looking at a 4.6-pound chassis, 2GHz T3200 CPU, 2GB of DDR2 RAM, a 250GB hard drive, Intel's GMA4500M integrated graphics, a dual-layer DVD writer, Bluetooth / WiFi and a built-in 1.3-megapixel webcam. $40 of each sale will be contributed to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, though we'd probably recommend picking up something a touch less ugly and just mailing in a donation yourself.[Via ChipChick]
Nintendo fighting breast cancer with limited edition Pink Ribbon DS Lite
While we normally hear about new DS Lite SKUs fairly far in advance, Amazon sneaked a new version of Nintendo's money-printing handheld onto their virtual shelves today -- a Polar White console adorned with the universal logo for breast cancer awareness, a pink ribbon. The handheld retails for the standard price of $129.99, though Nintendo has agreed to donate $5 from every purchase to a cancer research charity, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, promising a minimum donation of $100,000. Sure, it may not be the most stylish DS Lite model to date -- but it's certainly the most altruistic.[Via DSF]
Sony intros VAIO CR / SR bundles in support of breast cancer research
It's crazy to think, but October is merely days away. That also means that Breast Cancer Awareness month is just around the bend, and Sony's being ultra proactive by announcing two new pink laptop bundles to support breast cancer research. First up is the Cosmopolitan Pink VAIO CR pack, which features a 14.1-inch LCD, 1.3-megapixel camera, Core 2 Duo CPU, Bluetooth, a built-in DVD burner and a matching case / mouse. If that's a tad large and / or underpowered for your tastes, you can check the Glossy Pink VAIO SR, a 4-pound rig with a 13.3-inch LED backlit display, up to 320GB of HDD space and a "Switch" mode that gives users the ability to toggle between high performance and power saving modes on the fly. The two bundles start at $870 and $1,399, respectively, though you can CTO them both 'til your wallet cries uncle. %Gallery-32744%
3D mammograms increase breast cancer detection by 23 percent
Scientists have developed stereo mammograms -- breast X-rays taken with special cameras and at multiple angles -- that they say can help them increase detection of breast cancer by 23-percent while decreasing false alarms by 46-percent. By overlaying images taken at different angles or using 3D glasses, Researchers at the Mayo clining say they can now see behind dense tissue that would normally block potential problem areas. Since early detection is a key factor in beating breast cancer, this is an exciting new development.[Via Slashgear]
