Health Beat: Paper test for Ebola

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What looks like dots on a simple piece of paper could be the key to quickly diagnosing Ebola and other infectious diseases.


"It's bio-based diagnostics," said Keith Pardee, research scientist at the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University. "Potentially, they could identify people more rapidly and define the outbreak more easily."


Known as a paper-based gene circuit, researchers at Wyss Institute at Harvard University developed the test that uses a patient's blood or saliva and a piece of blotting paper embedded with genetic information.


Each spot is a potential diagnostic test for Ebola or any other infection, bacterial or viral


"It's just like pH paper or a pregnancy test, with the advantage that we can sort of rapidly reprogram those tests to look for Ebola or look for some other emerging pathogen," Pardee explained.


The test can tell the difference between strains of infections and could one day be used at your home to diagnose a flu or cold.


"And that can help inform you as to whether you should go into the doctor to seek medical treatment or take antibiotics, things like that," said Pardee.


It's a simple test with a huge impact.


The portable paper diagnostic test costs between four and 60 cents to make. It can be freeze-dried and used up to a year later out in the field or anywhere in the world.


Pardee and his researchers hope to solve some of the key technological challenges within a year and then make the test commercially available. Once available, results will take only 30 to 60 minutes.


DOWNLOAD and VIEW research summary and an in-depth interview with the doctor






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DA: Stepfather may have abused corpse

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Ri Edwards for a look at the roads. >>> jaciel cordoba: We begin this morning with shocking new details about the death of a woman from Lehigh County who police say was killed by her stepfather.>> eve tannery: The District Attorney investigating her death has revealed more about the possible "sexual authorities say was behind the death. 33-year-old Jessica Padgett was found buried behind the shed of Gregory Graf, her stepfather.. on Friday in Allen Township, Northampton County. Police say she of the head.. and that Graf admitted to the shooting. District Attorney John Morganelli says there was a possible "sexual motive" behind the crime. Last night, he elaborated on that theory on the Nancy Grace show. >> d.a. john MORGANELLI:"We believe that there was a sexual motive behind this. And at sexual motive is still being developed. But it's either during or prioro the murder.. or a desire, perhaps, to have sex with a deceased body. >> eve tannery: Morganelli says there is no evidence that Padgett and






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Gregory Graf, charged in brutal murder of stepdaughter, heading to trial

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A Northampton County man is heading to trial on charges he brutally murdered his stepdaughter, and abused her corpse.


Gregory Graf, 53, of Allen Township, waived his preliminary hearing Friday afternoon.


Investigators say Graf shot and killed his stepdaughter, Jessica Padgett, 33, back in November.


Officials say Padgett left work at the Duck Duck Goose Daycare in Northampton on Friday, November 21, to send a fax from Graf's home office in Allen Township, where he lived with Padgett's biological mother. The mother was on vacation at the time.


Padgett wasn't heard from again, and when Graf's home and office were searched on November 26, police said they found Padgett's body behind a shed.


Investigators say Graf shot and killed Padgett, then videotaped himself sexually abusing her corpse.


On Friday, District Attorney John Morganelli said he showed the tape of Graf engaging in the sexual act with Padgett's corpse to Graf's attorney, John McMahon.


McMahon then decided to waive the hearing. He says he's looking into a mental health defense.






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DA seeks death penalty in killing of school teacher

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Prosecutors will seek the death penalty against one of two people accused of sexually assaulting and killing an elementary school math teacher.


Lancaster County District Attorney Craig Stedman said Friday that Thomas Moore, 25, tortured Nicole Mathewson and killed her after committing multiple felonies.


Those factors, Stedman said, are aggravating circumstances that warrant capital punishment.


Moore's 16-year-old co-defendant, Marcus Rutter, can't face the death penalty because of his age, Stedman said.


Moore and Rutter are charged with homicide, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, burglary, robbery and other offenses in the Dec. 15 killing at Mathewson's home on North Franklin Street in Lancaster.


Moore's lawyer has said his client isn't responsible for Mathewson's death.


Mathewson, 32, taught sixth-grade math at Brownstown Elementary School near Ephrata. Police said she'd been home alone, and Moore and the teen didn't know her.






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Jury left to decide fate of woman accused of killing baby

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A mother's fate is now in the hands of a Lehigh County jury.


Wendi Stanford, formerly of Allentown, is charged with killing her 2 month old son in 2003.


She smiled to her family as she headed into the courtroom. But that smile was short lived as the prosecution once again showed the jury graphic pictures of her dead son.


During closing arguments Friday morning, the prosecuting attorneys told the jury they're speaking on behalf of Dillon Harbin.


They say, back in November of 2003, Stanford shook the infant repeatedly and then bashed his head onto bedroom furniture to stop him from crying.


They told the jury it's outrageous and ridiculous that Stanford blamed the boy's death on her 2 year old daughter, whom Stanford claimed dropped the baby a few feet onto a carpeted floor a few days before.


The defense painted a picture of a simple mother, with only a 10th grade education, who would never harm her child.


They don't dispute how the baby died but told the jury Stanford didn't do it and suggested it could have been her now ex-husband Geoff Harbin or his father. Both men lived inside the Walnut street home.


The defense said the case hinges on Harbin's word, who told police a decade after his son died, he saw Stanford slap the boy a month before his death.


During the prosecution's closing arguments Stanford could be seen repeatedly shaking her head repeating, "that's not what happened."


The case is now in the hands of the jury.


WFMZ's Bo Koltnow is at the Lehigh County courthouse and will have a complete story on 69News beginning at 4.






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Wendi Stanford trial goes to jury

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News at Noon starts right now. >>>eve tannery: First at noon... a mother's fate is now in the hands of a Lehigh County Jury. Wendi Stanford.. formerly of Allentown... is charged with killing her 2 month old son in 2003. WFMZ's Bo Koltnow is live outside the Lehigh County Courthouse with the details.>> Eve, Wendi Stanford smiled to her family as she headed into the courtroom. But that smile was short lived as the prosecution once againshowed the jury graphic pictures of her dead son.>>REPORTERDuring closing arguments the prosecution told the jury they're speaking on behalf of Dillon Harbin. They say... back in November of 2003 the 2 month old boy's mother Wendi Stanford shook him repeatedly..and then bashed his head onto bedroom furniture to stop him from crying. Then telling the jury it's outrageous and ridiculous that Stanford blamed the boy's death on her 2 year old daughter, whom Stanford claimed dropped the baby a few feet onto a carpeted floor..a few days prior.painted a picture of a simple mother, with only a 10th grade education, who would never harm her child. They don't dispute how the baby died but told the jury Stanford didn't do it... and suggested it could have been her now ex-husband Geoff Harbin..or his father..both of whom lived inside the Walnut street home. The defense said the case hinges on Harbin's word...who told police a decade after his son died.. he saw Stanford slap the boy a month before his death. During the prosecution's closing arguments Stanford could be seen repeatedly shaking her head repeating "that's not what happened." The case is now in the hands of the jury. Live in Allentown Bo Koltnow






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Sunrise Chef: Girl Scout Cookie Crunch

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If you love Girl Scout cookies, you'll love these new ways to enjoy them!


The Girls Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania have partnered with ArtsQuest for the inaugural "Girl Scout Cookie Crunch," taking place Sunday, Feb. 8 at SteelStacks in Bethlehem.


Participating restaurants will prepare dishes using Girl Scout cookies.


Girl Scout Thin Mint Bars


Ingredients:

Crust:

2 – 8oz boxes – Girl Scout Thin Mints

4 oz. soft butter




Filling:

8oz cream cheese

½ cup granulated sugar

1 large egg

1tsp vanilla extract

1 sleeve - Girl Scout Thin Mints

Cut each cookie into 4 equal pieces.


Directions:

Using a food processor fitted with a blade, add thin mint cookies to the processor and grind cookies into fine crumbs. Grind in batches and place in a separate bowl.


Blend in 4 oz of soft butter into the thin mint crumbs. Mix with your hands until the mixture resembles small peas. Reserve 1 cup of the crumbs for topping.


Press the remaining crumbs into the bottom of a 9x13 baking pan sprayed with a baking release spray.


In a stand mixer fitted with a paddle, add cream cheese, sugar and vanilla. Blend together until light and fluffy. Blend in the egg. Fold in the quartered thin mint cookie pieces into the cream cheese mixture.


Pour cream cheese mixture over the crust in the 9x13 pan. Spread out batter evenly.


Top with remaining crumbs. Bake at 350°f, 35-40 minutes. Cool completely before cutting.


Girl Scout Peanut Butter Truffles


Ingredients:

2 – 8 oz boxes – Girl Scout Peanut Butter Sandwich Cookies

2 – 3 oz blocks of cream cheese

4 Tbsps. soft butter


Granulated peanuts for garnishing


2 – 12 oz bags of chocolate chips, melted for dipping.


Directions:

Using a food processor fitted with a blade, add peanut butter cookies to the processor and grind cookies into fine crumbs. Grind all the peanut butter cookies in batches and place in a separate bowl.


In a stand mixer fitted with a paddle, add cream cheese and butter. Blend together until light and fluffy. Add the ground cookie crumbs to the cream cheese and butter mixture.


Mix together on low speed until all the ingredients come together. Remove dough from mixer. Scoop truffle mixture into balls using a portion scooper.


Roll the portioned truffles between hands to make them round and smooth. Place on cookie sheet and refrigerate for 30 minutes.


In another separate bowl, place chocolate chips and microwave on 30 second intervals. Stir between each interval until the chocolate is melted.


Remove truffles from refrigerator and dip each truffle individually into the melted chocolate using tongs, skewers or forks.


Place each dipped truffle on top loose granulated peanuts until the chocolate has set. Serve.


Store in the refrigerator until you’re ready to serve.


Salted Caramel Delite Cheesecake


Crust:

8 Caramel Delites cookies

1 sleeve, about 20 Shortbread cookies

1 cup chocolate covered pretzels

3/4 cup sugar

1/2 cup melted butter


Caramel:

Put cookies and pretzels in food processor to make crumbs. Add sugar and mix. Add melted butter and mix well. Press into sprayed 10" springform pan.

1/3 cup butter

1/3 cup heavy cream

3/4 cup brown sugar

Mix in saucepan over medium to low heat. Whisk until thickened, about 10 minutes. Add sea salt.

Set aside to cool.


Cheesecake:

5- 8oz. cream cheese

1-3/4 cup sugar

3/4 cup milk

5 eggs

8 oz. sour cream

2 tsp. vanilla

1/4 cup flour




Mix cream cheese in mixer bowl. Add remaining ingredients, 1 at a time, mixing well on low speed and scraping bowl. Scoop out about 1 cup batter and mix with caramel. Put remaining batter into crust.

Drop caramel mixture on top of cheesecake and swirl through with a knife. Bake in water bath at 310* for 2 hours. Turn oven off, but leave cheesecake in for about 4 hours until completely cooled. Top with Caramel Delite cookie.






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Girl Scout Cookie Crunch

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Melanie Wilson think the>>> melanie falcon: This we're cooking with the Girls Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania who've partnered with Artsquest for the inaugural "Girl Scout Cookie Crunch". Participating restaurants will be dishes using girl scout cookies. Eve is in the kitchen right now with Nicole Frederick from g-s-e-p and helping her cook is Lehigh University's executive pastry chef Joe Feiertag Good morning in Sports >>> melanie falcon: It's time to head back over to the kitchen this morning, where we're with the Girls Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania who've partnered with Artsquest for the inaugural "Girl Scout Cookie Crunch".>> eve tannery: Matt is in the kitchen right now with Nicole Frederick and Lehigh University's executive pastry chef Joe Feiertag Good morning guys! >> Lisa Del.icio.us and smells delicious good morning how are you i i write so we continue with our peanut butter theme. i write which means analysis but let's be honest peanut butter and chocolate. i can't figure anything so do small balls rolling it into the ground to the right which Makes it now at the cream cheese butter to create or delete and eight right now And it is okay look at that thing too little tool you have is a My goodness arts let's let's talk about the event February 8 that still stacks Right with any cookie they want to use right on. and while they all are all that's also What are you and i know is why how do you think that you okay why is lemon chicken i mean, you know, i can see that you So this is a little bit of you to be in a rehabilitation with this Reaganite Roland of the ball in dividend of the air for melting the chocolate. Oh that the thing so tickets do we just find that you can get them at the door okay Okay oh spots. yeah and busing would make a return again as easy as possible as it is a expect nothing less now i must ask you guys what's your favorite Girl Scout cookie is a tough day after Lemonades and finance and those are popular ones once. i like the caramel delights personally but i don't turn on any box you as yet as the ammunition be a pretty big crowd for this event) in February 8 it still stacks and so as we move on through the next segment would Reagan be doing for that marginal marks coming up earmarks quest i had already right and walk through how we have we did how we came up with the final product right guys keep working looks great. More






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Firefighters battle blaze at home in northwest Reading

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Reading firefighters are working to save a home from going up in flames.


Crews were dispatched shortly after noon Friday to 325 W. Windsor St. in the northwest section of the city.


Initial calls from the scene reported a fire in a front bedroom and that everyone inside was able to get out safely.


A 69 News crew is on the scene. Refresh this page for updates as information becomes available.






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Uber gets green light to start ride service in Pa

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A popular ride service has been given the green light to start in Pennsylvania.


The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission Thursday approved the compliance plan filed by Uber subsidiary Rasier-PA LLC.


This gives the company a two-year license for "experimental service" to operate throughout Pennsylvania, with the exception of Philadelphia.


Uber can start its applications-based service immediately.


According to a release, the PUC "continues to maintain that a legislative solution for Transportation Network Companies (TNCs) such as Uber is the best answer for Pennsylvania."


Uber riders connect to drivers through cell phone apps, and arrange pickup and dropoff direclty through the driver.


The company was founded in 2009 and has service in more than 200 cities today throughout the world.


It's not clear which cities in Pennsylvania will establish service right away.






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MLB pitcher who lives in Berks will play closer to home in 2015

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Right-hander Chad Billingsley and the Philadelphia Phillies have agreed to a $1.5 million, one-year contract.


Billingsley can earn an additional $3 million based on innings under Thursday's deal plus $2 million based on starts and $1.5 million based on time on the active roster.


Billingsley, 30, of South Heidelberg Township, Berks County, had Tommy John surgery on his right elbow on April 24 and spent all of last season on the Los Angeles Dodgers' disabled list. He also had an operation on his right flexor tendon on June 24.


Billingsley averaged more than 12 wins and nearly 180 innings per season from 2007-12. He is 81-61 with a 3.65 ERA in 190 starts and 29 relief appearances for the Dodgers, who selected him in the first round of the 2003 amateur draft with the 24th pick.


A 2009 National League All-Star, he has pitched in six postseason games for the Dodgers, three against the Phillies.


Billingsley would earn $250,000 each for one, 30, 60, 90, 120 and 150 days on the active major league roster, and $250,000 apiece for 13 starts and each additional two through 27. He would get $750,000 each for 120, 140, 160 and 180 innings.


"As has been the case throughout this off-season, we have attempted to create as much starting pitching depth as possible at both the major and minor league levels," said Ruben Amaro, the Phillies' senior vice president and general manager. "Given Chad's track record, we feel he is an excellent candidate to bounce back as a productive starting pitcher."


Billingsley's deal also includes award bonuses, among them $50,000 for comeback player of the year.


He will wear #38.


Billingsley and his wife, Tiffany, have spent part of baseball's off-seasons volunteering their time at the Animal Rescue League of Berks County and helping to raise money for the animal shelter.






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Chad Billingsley agrees to $1.5 million, 1-year deal with Philadelphia Phillies

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Right-hander Chad Billingsley and the Philadelphia Phillies have agreed to a $1.5 million, one-year contract.


Billingsley can earn an additional $3 million based on innings under Thursday's deal plus $2 million based on starts and $1.5 million based on time on the active roster.


Billingsley, 30, of South Heidelberg Township, Berks County, had Tommy John surgery on his right elbow on April 24 and spent all of last season on the Los Angeles Dodgers' disabled list. He also had an operation on his right flexor tendon on June 24.


Billingsley averaged more than 12 wins and nearly 180 innings per season from 2007-12. He is 81-61 with a 3.65 ERA in 190 starts and 29 relief appearances for the Dodgers, who selected him in the first round of the 2003 amateur draft with the 24th pick.


A 2009 National League All-Star, he has pitched in six postseason games for the Dodgers, three against the Phillies.


Billingsley would earn $250,000 each for one, 30, 60, 90, 120 and 150 days on the active major league roster, and $250,000 apiece for 13 starts and each additional two through 27. He would get $750,000 each for 120, 140, 160 and 180 innings.


His deal also includes award bonuses, among them $50,000 for comeback player of the year.






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Miguel Torres, on trial for murder, tells jury his side of story

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Jurors in the Miguel Torres murder trial are hearing from the defendant himself.


Torres is on the stand in a Berks County courtroom right now, testifying in his own defense.


Torres stands accused of shooting his estranged wife, Barbie Torres, to death as she left work in downtown Reading on Sept. 12, 2005.


Torres then fled the country and remained on the run, becoming one of America's most wanted fugitives until his capture in Italy in March 2013.


During opening statements on Monday, Torres' attorney, Robert Kirwan, told the jurors his client would take the stand during the trial and tell them his side of the story.


"You're going to hear from him and tell what really happened that day," Kirwan said.


Chief Deputy District Attorney Jonathan Kurland rested his case Friday morning, having called numerous witnesses over the past several days, including Torres' daughter, Barbie Torres' lover, and detectives who investigated the homicide.


A jury from York County is hearing the trial because of the extensive publicity the case has received in Berks.


WFMZ's Ryan Hughes is in the courtroom. Refresh this page for updates as details of Torres' testimony become available.






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Lehigh Valley Pet Expo

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weekend! Stay with us. >>> melanie falcon: Pets are taking over in Allentown this weekend. The Lehigh Valley Pet Expo is back at Ag Hall at the Fairgrounds.. and it's bigger than ever. This morning we have a live preview for you.. Gail Mirabella is standing by with more. Good morning. >>1. What's the Pet Expo all about? 2. Is there your first time at the Lehigh Valley one? 3. What's your act all about? 4. Who'd you bring with you today? 5. Let's see some tricks/a little bit of your show! --- Doors open this afternoon at 4:00. Again it's at Ag Hall in Allentown.. and runs through Sunday. You can get tickets at the door or online. For more information log on to horse and pet expo.com.






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