$3 million fine on German automaker, BMW

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has announced on Friday, February 10, that the German automaker, BMW, has to pay $3 million in fine as the company has not told about the safety defects earlier than expected and in its full form.

“It’s critical to the safety of the driving public that defects and recalls are reported in short order,” said NHTSA Administrator David Strickland. “NHTSA expects all manufacturers to address automotive safety issues quickly and in a forthright manner.”

NHTSA said, "As part of today's settlement, BMW of North America, LLC and its parent company Bayerische Motoren Werke AG agreed to make internal changes to its recall decision-making process to ensure timely reporting to consumers and the federal government in the future."

Further Reading:
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Steve Jobs' FBI file has no surprises

According to the reports, Steve Jobs FBI file, which was conducted in 1991 at the request of White House, has nothing new that may produce a wave of astonishment in the people aware with the history.

From SayPeople,

The FBI file was conducted and compiled in 1991 as a part of a background check at the request of the White House, considering him for a political appointment. The final report came after interviews with more than 35 people, who knew him. They “characterized Mr. Jobs as a deceptive individual” or “described his personal life as being lacking due to his narcissism or shallowness” but even then they recommend him as a position in federal government requiring trust and confidence.

Further Reading:
SayPeople

Racial differences of kidney transplantation

Researchers have published online in the American Journal of Transplantation blacks have 59% less rates of kidney transplantation in the southeastern center.


From SayPeople,

Researchers worked on 2291 patients at Emory transplant center as well as those from the United States Renal Data System and the United Network for Organ Sharing, from 2005 to 2007 followed through May 2010, and found “racial disparities” in access to transplant evaluation, referral, wait-listing and eventual transplant. “Of 2291 patients, 64.9% were black, the mean age was 49.4 years and 33.6% lived in poor neighborhoods.” Among them 57.3% were male and 16.1% were without any health insurance coverage. 

Researchers have found that black patients constitute about 56% of the waiting list but only 44% of those got eventual transplantation. They have found the biggest inequalities in the time between diagnosis and referral, i.e. 283 days for blacks and 84 days for whites, and time spent on the waiting list, i.e. 727 days for blacks versus 374 days for whites. However, according to researchers at the national level blacks get equivalent rate of transplantation as whites.

Further Reading:
SayPeople 

Mitsubishi is introducing 40.2 mph speed elevator

Mitsubishi is introducing the world's fastest elevator in the tallest tower of China i.e. Shanghai Tower, which is designed by U.S. architectural firm Gensler.


From SayPeople,

In order to reach the maximum speed and safety Mitsubishi has used a rope of high-intensity steel strands wrapped in plastic with its bullet-like elevator. This elevator has an additional property of “green technology” i.e. its motors have built-in converters that can regenerate electricity causing reduction in the consumption by 30%. Mitsubishi has used several mechanisms to minimize vibrations and to control air pressure.

Shanghai Tower is 632 meter in height and will open in 2014.

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Tesla Motors' Model X electric vehicle

Elon Musk, CEO and Co-founder of Tesla Motors, has revealed Tesla Model X electric vehicle at the Tesla Design Studio in Hawthorne, Calif. on February 9, 2012.

From SayPeople,

This model will be offered with a 60 or 85 kWh battery. It will be powered by dual electric motors and projected to have a range of 220-270 miles on full charge depending on battery pack. 

Musk said that the Model X will "redefine the upscale SUV market." According to Musk, car is unique because of two features; one is the presence of falcon wing doors, so that the car users could get access to the 2^nd and 3^rd row with ease. The other feature is as mentioned before is the presence of dual electric motors, one for the front wheels and the other for the rear wheels. This will help to get optimized all wheel drive capability.

It will come in market in the year 2014.

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SayPeople 

Mars exploration budget would be reduced in the next fiscal year

“President Obama will submit NASA’s Fiscal Year 2013 budget request to Congress on Feb. 13.” as reported by NASA.

From SayPeople,

Current Mars budget is $581.7 million and there is proposal of $300 million reductions in NASA's $1.5 billion planetary science budget including more than $200 million in those reductions are for Mars program. 

It is expected that the two proposed missions to explore Mars in 2016 and 2018, which NASA would complete with Europeans, will not be completed.

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Rare brain disorder in Marin County

Two new cases of rare brain disorder have been reported in Marin County. One of the patients in that cases has been died.

According to Marin County Health Department that death was not the result of mad cow disease. Moreover, they have reported that the chances of getting infection are very rare and so there is no public threat.

"We have no evidence that suggests a causal linkage between the suspect cases nor is there any evidence to suggest a risk in food supply," the state public health department said in a statement.

Mad cow disease is also known as bovine spongiform encephalitis and is one of the rare disorders or diseases.

Further Reading:

SayPeople