Monthly Archives: May 2012

Personality Genes May Affect Your Longevity

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The 1993 movie Grumpy Old Men played up a common stereotype about those who live well beyond their golden years. With lines like, "Do me a favor. Put your lip over your head... and swallow," they're not the nicest lot. But a study published in the May 2012 issue of Aging found that those who lived to be 100 generally had a "positive attitude towards life and emotional expression." It also found that those positive traits are located in your genes.

But the study is a long way from proving that a positive outlook causes these centenarians to live longer, said Dr. Nir Barzilai, one of the study's researchers. "There are personality changes and physiological changes that make a lot of elderly people become just more agreeable personalities," Barzilai said. "It has nothing to do with what got them to be 100."

Researchers looked at a group of more than 500 Ashkenazi Jews age 95 to 107, and 700 of their offspring. They're a favorite in longevity studies because they're genetically homogenous (40 percent of Ashkenazim derive from just four Jewish mothers). By creating a personality trait index focusing on levels of neuroticism, positive attitudes toward life and emotional expression, researchers found that the group was less likely to have high levels of neuroticism and were more likely to be extroverts. The same was true of their children, creating an argument for personality genes.

"My own interpretation from the study is that, yes, this is the personality were seeing [but] we still have to figure out if its important," Barzilai said. "The most interesting thing for me is to see if the longevity genes influence the personality."

Yet the health benefits of a sunny disposition can't be denied, the study notes:

The study's findings hew closely to what other researchers have found regarding the link between personality genes and longevity. The George Centenarian Study, the Swedish Centenarian Study and a study done in Japan found that centenarians had a more positive outlook than those in their respective mixed-age population.

The next step for the researchers is a study that will look at people who are the offspring of centenarians and those who aren't "to see the association between longevity phenotype and genotype and personality," Barzilai said. "Then well see if personality is part of living longer. Well watch them until theyll die to see if theyre personality changed or if it was personality that was part of what was important for longevity."

For readers who think they should change their attitudes so they can live longer, Barzilai has this to say: "Yes, everybody [should] become nicer," he laughed. But those are his thoughts "just as a citizen though, not as a responsible scientist."

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Personality Genes May Affect Your Longevity

Council committees discuss suspending longevity pay

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PARKERSBURG - City council members, acting in committees, unanimously agreed to suspend the employee longevity pay program for another year.

The committees also agreed to look at across-the-board pay raises for employees and a reclassification of positions that could result in base pay raises greater than the annual longevity raises traditionally doled out.

"We want a system our employees can count on," said personnel committee chairwoman Sharon Lynch. "We want to retain our employees."

"We want to do something better than longevity," Mayor Bob Newell said.

Both the personnel and finance committees met Tuesday and agreed to the continued suspension of longevity pay for city employees. The suspension will not affect the previously approved 20-cent-an-hour pay increase approved by council earlier this year.

Discussion bogged down between the committees with regard to across-the-board pay raises. Members of the personnel committee wanted to see how much money they have to work with for possible base pay raises for employees.

Lynch submitted possibilities that included an increased base rate, plus a 1 percent increase on the base. The committee could reach no consensus to act.

Members of the finance committee voted to postpone discussion on base wages until the personnel committee had a figure.

"How much money do we need?" finance committee chairman Jim Reed asked.

"We are all in agreement that this needs to be done," said finance committee member Nancy Wilcox. "We need to know where the revenue is coming from forever."

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Council committees discuss suspending longevity pay

Longevity goal of Pacers coach

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INDIANAPOLIS Pacers coach Frank Vogel hopes to steal the script from his NFL neighbors.

Five days after Indiana ended its longest playoff run in seven years, Vogel told reporters he believes if the progress continues at this rate, the Pacers could become the NBAs version of the Colts perennial championship contenders for nearly a decade.

I think weve built something thats sustainable here around a young group of guys, and I think were going to have a chance every year for the next five to seven years, Vogel said Tuesday. I think thats what the Colts had for about eight to 10 years where every year might not be a Super Bowl year, but they were always in the mix.

Pacers fans would certainly take it after enduring the misery of the previous six seasons.

Following the 2004 brawl in Detroit and the subsequent retirement of star guard Reggie Miller, the combination of legal woes and playoff failures left loyal fans dismayed. Many stayed home and opted to follow a Colts team that won seven division crowns, two AFC titles and a Super Bowl championship between 2003 and 2010.

Now, the tables may be turning again with the Colts rebuilding and the Pacers emerging as one of the NBAs best young teams.

This season proved just how good the Pacers could be.

Indiana finished with the third-best record in the Eastern Conference (42-24) and closed the regular season with 12 wins in 15 games. It rebounded from an inexplicable stumble in Game 1 to win four straight against Orlando, giving the Pacers their first playoff series win in seven years. Then, after taking a 2-1 lead against Miami in Round 2 and being on the verge of pulling a huge upset, Indiana fans spent May tracking developments at both the Indianapolis 500 and Bankers Life Fieldhouse with equal vigor, just like the good old days.

And playoff games were actually sold out.

Despite losing the last three games to Miami, this seasons success has renewed hope in Indianapolis.

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Longevity goal of Pacers coach

Center for Productive Longevity Seeking Best Stories on Entrepreneurship and Inspired Living From People 55+

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BOULDER, CO--(Marketwire -05/30/12)- The Center for Productive Longevity (CPL), which serves as the bridge between people 55 and older and opportunities that enable them to continue in productive activities, is organizing a nationwide competition to select the best entrepreneur success story and inspiring life story from people 55 and older.

The Later-Life Story Contest begins on June 1, 2012 and ends on August 31, 2012 with the winner in each category selected by a panel of three independent judges. Each winner will receive $1,000 and a specially designed trophy. The best stories will be posted on the CPL website throughout the duration of the contest. The winners will be announced on October 1, 2012 and will be posted on the CPL website (ctrpl.org) under "Success Stories".

CPL created the contest to stimulate discussion and dialogue about how people 55 and older can continue adding value to their extended lives in an era when they are living 30 years longer than people did at the beginning of the 20th century. The Later-Life Story Contest is intended to achieve three objectives:

1) Stimulate people to continue leading meaningful and rewarding lives after reaching the age of 55. Baby Boomers were acculturated to believe that when they reached a certain age (55, 60, 65), they were over the hill and out of the game. Many of them need to understand that, with their increased longevity, they have the opportunity to become entrepreneurs or lead inspirational lives.

2) Demonstrate that older people can remain productively engaged and live inspiring lives into their latter 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s and beyond. There are 78 million Baby Boomers who began reaching traditional retirement age of 65 in 2011 and will continue to do so each year through 2029 at the rate of 4.2 million per year. These are people with experience, expertise, seasoned judgment and proven performance (referred to as EESP). Many of them have also acquired some accumulated wisdom. At a time when unemployment is high and economic growth low, creating a new business is a bright spot on a gloomy employment horizon. Stories about how older entrepreneurs have successfully taken the new-business route may stimulate others to do so. Stories about how people 55 and older have led inspirational lives may have a similar impact.

3) Change the pervasive national mindset that when people reach a certain age, they should move to the sidelines. This thinking encourages older workers to shed the wrinkles, hide the years, and pretend to be younger than they are. With people living substantially longer lives, Americans must recognize and find ways to enable this large and growing talent pool to continue adding value.

"We look forward to learning about the trailblazers around the country and to celebrating their stories," says William Zinke, 85, Founder and President of CPL. "We believe that this contest can achieve these three objectives and look forward to sharing success stories with the public."

We have selected three highly qualified judges for the competition:

All have had substantial experience regarding the productive engagement of people 55 and older.

To submit a story, visit http://www.ctrpl.org/laterlifestorycontest and complete a submission form. Entrants must be over the age of 55, have a compelling story to share, and be willing to have it posted on the CPL website for viewing by the general public and for possible publication. Stories may also be emailed to James R. Hooks, Director of Marketing and Technology, at jhooks@ctrpl.org.

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Center for Productive Longevity Seeking Best Stories on Entrepreneurship and Inspired Living From People 55+

Defense to explore DNA, mental health in Utica woman’s death

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Even though police say Craig Ingersolls DNA links him to the body of a Utica woman who was killed more than five years ago, that doesnt necessarily mean he sexually assaulted and strangled her, his defense attorney said Wednesday.

As Ingersoll, 30, of Herkimer Road, spends the next month considering whether he will plead guilty in connection to the 2007 death of 29-year-old Jennifer Bennett, Assistant Public Defender Luke Nebush said the circumstances surrounding Ingersolls DNA will be open to discussion.

Where the DNA was found is also a critical issue in this case, Nebush said, without clarifying exactly where Ingersolls genetic material was located on either Bennetts body or clothing, or anywhere else.

Nebush also would not comment when asked whether the circumstances of Bennetts death leave any room to be interpreted as an innocent accident.

Ingersoll pleaded not guilty Wednesday morning in Oneida County Court after he was indicted last week on charges of second-degree murder and first-degree criminal sexual act.

He is due back in front of Judge Barry M. Donalty on Tuesday, June 26, to either accept or reject the prosecutions plea offer.

In the meantime, Nebush said he expects to further review additional evidence provided by Assistant District Attorney Laurie Lisi and to look further into Ingersolls psychiatric background.

Thats something were going to explore, to determine whether any psychiatric issues actually exist, Nebush said.

Ingersoll is accused of killing Bennett sometime between Jan. 7 and 9 in 2007 while using forcible compulsion during a sexual assault on the woman.

After Oneida County sheriffs investigators spent years trying to identify unknown Bennetts killer, Ingersoll unexpectedly became the prime suspect several months ago after a statewide DNA database for previously convicted criminals matched Ingersolls DNA with DNA that was found with Bennetts body behind a Deerfield Fire Department pavilion on Jan. 11, 2007.

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Ember Therapeutics Expands Scientific Leadership to Advance Metabolic Pipeline

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BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Ember Therapeutics, Inc., a company harnessing breakthroughs in brown fat biology and insulin sensitization to revolutionize the treatment of metabolic disease, today announced the appointment of Jasbir Seehra, Ph.D., to chief scientific officer; also, Jeff Saunders, Ph.D., joins Ember as vice president, small molecule drug discovery. Drs. Seehra and Saunders will advance the companys work in translating its world-class biology into a proprietary pipeline of groundbreaking therapies for metabolic diseases, including Type 2 diabetes and obesity.

Both Jas and Jeff have extensive, proven track records leading drug discovery efforts and translating promising science into clinical programs, said Lou Tartaglia, Ph.D., president and interim chief executive officer of Ember Therapeutics and partner at Third Rock Ventures, LLC. Jas has already played a key role at Ember as part of our world-class team of scientific advisors, and his expertise will be instrumental as we work toward meeting the critical need for novel therapeutic approaches in the metabolic disease space. Im looking forward to working closely with Jas and Jeff as we accelerate and advance our brown fat biology and selective insulin sensitization programs toward the clinic.

Dr. Seehra has served as an advisor on Embers scientific advisory board since the companys launch last year. With greater than 25 years of experience developing innovative small molecule and biologic drugs, Dr. Seehra served as chief scientific officer of Acceleron Pharma, Inc., which he co-founded in 2003. He has also served as vice president of biological chemistry at Wyeth and led the small molecule lead discovery effort at Genetics Institute, Inc., where he successfully built the institutes small molecule drug discovery capabilities, including medicinal chemistry, high throughput screening and structural biology. Dr. Seehra has authored numerous publications and is an inventor on 33 patents. Dr. Seehra received his B.S. and Ph.D. in biochemistry from the University of Southampton in England. He completed his postdoctoral work at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

With its innovative and proprietary programs, key intellectual property and unparalleled team of scientific co-founders, Ember has rapidly positioned itself at the forefront of the emerging area of brown fat biology, said Dr. Seehra. I am enthusiastic about the impact Ember can have on the lives of patients affected by metabolic disease and committed to working with the team to realize the potential of Embers unique therapeutic programs.

Dr. Saunders has extensive experience leading small molecule discovery and development for emerging biotechnology companies. Prior to joining Ember Therapeutics, Dr. Saunders served as the vice president of chemistry at Agios Pharmaceuticals. Previously, he worked as a consultant at Elixir Pharmaceuticals, where he managed all chemistry and related intellectual property. Prior to that, Dr. Saunders held the position of principal investigator at Vertex Pharmaceuticals, where he worked for 14 years as chemistry head and project head for multiple programs. Previously, he was a research scientist at the Squibb Institute for Medical Research. Dr. Saunders received his B.A. in chemistry from Hope College in Michigan and his Ph.D. in synthetic organic chemistry at the University of South Carolina. He held a National Institutes of Health postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania.

About Ember Therapeutics, Inc.

Ember Therapeutics is a product-focused company harnessing breakthroughs in brown fat biology and insulin sensitization to revolutionize the treatment of metabolic disease. Todays rising epidemic of obesity and Type 2 diabetes coupled with the lack of innovation in the industrys metabolic disorder treatment pipeline underscores the need for novel, peripherally-acting treatments with improved safety profiles. Embers unique approach leverages recent research breakthroughs in brown fat biology to develop a pipeline of proprietary biologics and small molecules designed to amplify the bodys innate ability to efficiently burn fuels like glucose. Embers expertise is also driving the development of the next generation of highly selective insulin sensitizers that have robust anti-diabetic effects, but lack the serious side effects of currently approved insulin sensitizers. Ember is a private company launched in 2011 by renowned scientific founders, an experienced leadership team and Third Rock Ventures. For more information, please visit http://www.embertx.com.

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Ember Therapeutics Expands Scientific Leadership to Advance Metabolic Pipeline

Memoir tracks the life, decline and death of a family farm

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Public release date: 30-May-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Diana Yates diya@illinois.edu 217-333-5802 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. There is no sentimentality in Robert Switzer's modestly titled new book, "A Family Farm: Life on an Illinois Dairy Farm." Switzer, an emeritus professor of biochemistry at the University of Illinois, begins with a quote (from Victor Davis Hanson's own book on farming) that "the American yeoman farmer is doomed," and describes the internal and external forces that led to the demise of his family's farm in northwest Illinois.

The story of the Allison-Switzer farm (named for Switzer's maternal grandparents, who bought the 121-acre property in 1916, and his father and mother, who took it over after her parents retired in 1946) is just one of millions of such stories, Switzer writes.

"In 1900, 42 percent of the U.S. population lived on farms; by 1990 that number had dwindled to less than 2 percent," he says in the book's prologue. This transition occurred largely as a result of economic and technological changes made possible by the aggressively optimistic borrowing, investing and expansion that some farmers were willing to embrace in the latter half of the 20th century. Many other farmers, who had stared down economic catastrophe in the 1920s and '30s, were unwilling to take on new big risks, and their farms generally gave way to the forces favoring consolidation and the mass-production of agricultural commodities. (Watch an audio slide show about the book.)

Switzer's book is not a treatise on the evolution of American farming, however.

"The characters in this story are not statistical stick figures illustrating the decline of a Midwestern family farm," he writes. "They are my family. The details of their lives provide an intimate portrait of a once common way of life, now almost entirely vanished from the American countryside."

This portrait includes details normally left out of family memoirs: his maternal grandmother's hostility to her daughter's intellectual and educational aspirations; his grandfather's recurrent narcolepsy, a lifelong handicap brought on by severe heatstroke suffered while working in the fields as a teenager; Switzer's mother's depression and unhappiness with farm life; and his father's inability to recruit his sons to the profession.

The book also offers an account of the changes that occurred over the 76 years the family owned the farm, from the early days of kerosene lamps, hand milking and horse-drawn plows, to the gradual though never fully realized modernization of equipment and farming techniques.

Switzer begins with the gritty details of his grandparents' daily life. Charlie and Mabel Allison milked their cows twice daily in a drafty barn. They lived in an oversized and poorly insulated farmhouse with no modern conveniences. They grew corn, hay, oats and barley to feed their livestock and themselves. Charlie carted fresh milk to a nearby cheese factory every morning. Mabel kept a vegetable garden and orchard, and canned produce for the winter. The couple raised chickens and sold their eggs.

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Memoir tracks the life, decline and death of a family farm

Servicemembers Value Trust and Knowledge in Financial Planners, First Command Reports

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FORT WORTH, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Servicemembers who work with a financial planner cite financial know-how and moral fiber as the top qualities to look for when picking a planner, according to the First Command Financial Behaviors Index.

Recent survey findings from the First Command Financial Behaviors Index reveal that roughly three quarters of middle-class military families (senior NCOs and commissioned officers in pay grades E-6 and above with household incomes of at least $50,000) picked trustworthy, knowledgeable and honest as the most important attributes they seek in a planner.

Financial planning is a profession built on personal relationships with people you trust, said Scott Spiker, CEO of First Command Financial Services, Inc. These survey findings underscore the unique combination of economic and emotional assistance provided by financial planners as they coach servicemembers and their families in the fiscal behaviors associated with financial security and success.

The top attributes military families look for in a financial planner are:

* Trustworthy (75 percent) * Knowledgeable (73 percent) * Honest (72 percent) * Positive word of mouth or referral (55 percent) * Willing to listen (53 percent) * Many years of experience (48 percent) * Confident (43 percent) * Personal Relationship (41 percent) * Understanding (41 percent) * Low price for services (30 percent) * Patient (30 percent) * Optimistic (13 percent) * Bold (5 percent)

Notably, the cost of planning services is not a significant consideration when choosing a planner. Just three out of 10 respondents picked low price for services as the most important attribute to look for in a planner.

Financial planning is not a commodity that consumers shop for based on price alone, Spiker said. Consumers are willing to pay for planning services when they feel the planner has technical expertise and personal integrity. Through one-on-one service, financial planners provide a sense of security to men and women in uniform as they pursue their long-term goals and life-time dreams.

About the First Command Financial Behaviors Index

Compiled by Sentient Decision Science, Inc., the First Command Financial Behaviors Index assesses trends among the American publics financial behaviors, attitudes and intentions through a monthly survey of approximately 530 U.S. consumers aged 25 to 70 with annual household incomes of at least $50,000. Results are reported quarterly. The margin of error is +/- 4.3 percent with a 95 percent level of confidence. http://www.firstcommand.com/research

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Servicemembers Value Trust and Knowledge in Financial Planners, First Command Reports

360 Degree Glebe Markets Sydney – Video

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28-05-2012 09:44 ?GET YOUR FREE TRAVEL SECRETS ? We take you on a 360 degree tour of the Glebe Markets located in Sydney. These markets are renowned for trendy 2nd hand vintage clothing and other knick knacks. There are also some "to die for" food stalls as well that you shouldn't miss! Hope you enjoy this tour. glebe markets sydney, sydney markets, what to do in sydney, markets in sydney, 360 video

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360 Degree Glebe Markets Sydney - Video

World Heritage Tours – Video

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29-05-2012 16:20 This webinar by Peter Langer welcomes you to the World Heritage Tour series, a collection of tour packages that enable you to visit an extraordinary assortment of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. This special line of journeys has been artistically tailored to offer you to discover some of mankind's highest achievements and explore nature's greatest wonders. Since 1978, Bestway Tours & Safaris has been pioneering tours to the home of so many civilizations and strives to give an understanding of the cultures and peoples who live there. As we travel in small groups, we bridge cultural divides through real people to people contact. The main focus of our tours is the pursuit of knowledge and a better understanding of the world we live in. Our journeys cover not only heritage sites, but also present to you cultural diversity, awe-inspiring scenery and genuine interaction with the local people of the places we visit. Our philosophy of Journeys Sans Frontières symbolizes the breaking of political and traditional boundaries. Our goal is to constantly innovate and provide you with a level of service that exceeds your expectations. This epitomizes our whole existence and allows us to go beyond where most travel companies will NOT take you. The pages that follow should give you an idea of the vast variety of tours we have on offer to this part of the world. For a complete listing, more detailed itineraries, dates and prices please visit and http://www.worldheritagetours.com. We ...

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World Heritage Tours - Video

TripAdvisor Awards WaterColor Inn & Resort Certificate of Excellence

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WaterColor Inn & Resort’s list of accolades and awards keeps growing. The most recent is the prestigious 2012 Certificate of Excellence from TripAdvisor, the world’s largest travel site. TripAdvisor boasts more than 60 million reviews and opinions monthly by real travelers.Santa Rosa Beach, FL (PRWEB) May 29, 2012 TripAdvisor reports their travelers consistently commended WaterColor Inn & Resort ...

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TripAdvisor Awards WaterColor Inn & Resort Certificate of Excellence

11 Easy Ways to Slash Travel Costs

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Traveling on a budget doesn't mean you have to compromise on comfortable accommodations and decent flight times. In fact, savvy travelers already know how to maximize their travel budget and take advantage of low prices on travel packages, airline tickets, and other travel-related expenses. Planning ahead will usually give you the upper hand when it comes to playing the vacation-booking game, and there are several tricks and tactics you can use to slash those costs even further. Whether you're dreaming of a trip to the Bahamas or looking to book an overseas adventure, make sure you're aware of all of the different deals, discounts, and specials available to your destination of choice.

Here are 11 tips to help you slash travel costs with ease:

1. Fly in to Alternate Airports

Don't overlook the opportunity to fly in to an alternate airport when you are heading to a major city or other hub with multiple airports. Flights to alternate airports can end up being slightly less expensive than flying into a larger, international airport in the same city. In some cases, you might also be closer to your final destination and be able to skirt traffic. Just make sure to calculate taxi fares from all airports, so you aren't paying extra for ground transportation when flying in to an alternate airport.

2. Book and Fly on the Right Day of the Week

Shop for airfare on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, says Travelzoo's Senior Editor Gabe Saglie. Most airlines publish their sale fares on Tuesday--this is when competition to match those fares begins each week. You're also likely to find a better deal when you fly on a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Saturday. This might mean you have to wait a few days to secure that vacation package, but you could end up saving a significant amount of money on those airline tickets.

3. Book Group Travel with a Rewards Card

Earn bonus miles when booking a group trip by paying for travel expenses using a travel rewards credit card. The best travel rewards card program will allow you to earn extra miles under your own account, and you can have the group members pay you directly in cash for their portion of the trip. Buying airline tickets with a rewards credit card is a smart move for most--especially if you travel frequently and are planning on taking another trip in the near future.

4. Plan Ahead for Holiday Weekends

Holiday weekends will be among the priciest times to fly, so unless you're heading to a destination specifically to celebrate the holiday, steer clear of those long weekend trips to save some money. The weekend before or after a major holiday weekend usually commands lower rates and fares.

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11 Easy Ways to Slash Travel Costs

Anthony Bourdain, World-Renowned Chef, Author And Television Personality, Joins CNN/CNNI To Host New Weekend Program

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NEW YORK, May 29, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- World-renowned chef, bestselling author and Emmy winning television personality Anthony Bourdain will join CNN as host of a new weekend program, creating a signature showcase for the network's coverage of food and travel. The announcement was made by CNN Worldwide Executive Vice President and Managing Editor, Mark Whitaker.

"For more than a decade, Anthony Bourdain has been a trailblazer in educating Americans about different cuisines and cultures around the world, as well as an outspoken commentator on social trends ranging from the rise of celebrity chefs to the impact of fast food chains to the spread of vegetarianism and veganism," said Whitaker. "Examining the world through the prism of Tony's unique expertise and passions continues CNN's long-standing commitment to international reporting and to promoting global understanding."

Launching in early 2013, the show will be shot on location and will examine cultures from around the world through their food and dining and travel rituals. Slated to air domestically on Sundays in prime time with repeat airings on Saturday nights, it will mark a further step in broadening and distinguishing CNN's weekend programming from its traditional weekday news coverage.

The series will be produced by Zero Point Zero Production with Executive Producers and Founders Chris Collins and Lydia Tenaglia, along with Executive Producer Sandy Zweig. The Emmy award winning Zero Point Zero Production has been working with Anthony Bourdain for over a decade, producing Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations, The Layover, A Cook's Tour, and Decoding Ferran Adria.

Bourdain, whose reporting has taken him from the culinary capitals of Europe, Asia and North and South America to such historically war-torn or isolated regions as Vietnam, Mozambique, Uzbekistan and Romania, will also offer commentary on other CNN programs and platforms, domestically and internationally, providing insights into current events and debates around food and health and other cultural conversations.

"I'm really looking forward to coming over to CNN. I think the world is going to get a whole lot bigger for me," said Bourdain. "I hope that old fans and new ones will be excited about what's coming down the road."

Bourdain has been the host of the award-winning Travel Channel series Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations since 2005. He previously hosted A Cook's Tour on the Food Network and has appeared on Bravo's competition series Top Chef and written for HBO's New Orleans-based drama Treme. He is also the author of critically acclaimed non-fiction and fiction books, including the New York Times bestsellers "Kitchen Confidential" and "A Cook's Tour." He now oversees his own line of books from Ecco, a division of HarperCollins, the first three of which are scheduled to be released in 2013.

Bourdain's many accolades include Emmy awards for programs on Haiti and Laos, and an Emmy nomination for an episode of Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations, which was shot in Beirut during the 2006 Lebanon War.

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Kaspersky discovers super-complex Flame malware

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It seems that super-complex computer malware is fast becoming the weapon of choice for governments around the world. The Russian anti-virus firm Kaspersky has revealed the existence of a new piece of malware it calls, one of the most complex threats ever discovered. The so-called Flame malware is believed to have been operating since August 2010 at least.

The last of this breed of malware was the Stuxnet worm that was designed to damage the equipment in Iranian nuclear facilities. Flame, on the other hand, is not designed to cause damage to vital system, but to gather a huge amount of data silently. An infected system will begin monitoring network traffic, taking screenshots, recording audio from the system microphone, and logging keystrokes. All this is done very carefully to avoid detection.

Flame is not as single-purpose as Stuxnet, but is far from a wide-scale infection. The 20MB virus has been detected on about 600 systems belonging to individuals, businesses, schools, and government agencies. The Flame malware is about 20 times larger than Stuxnet was, making it very difficult to analyze, but researchers feel confident that this threat was designed with government backing. The question of which government is currently up in the air.

Nations that have been targeted by the malware include Syria, Egypt, Israel, Iran, Sudan, and Saudi Arabia. Though, Iran was hit the hardest by far. Unfortunately, that group of targets does not narrow down the perpetrator much; those countries are of interest to many intelligence agencies around the world.

Kaspersky is careful to point out that while August 2010 is the earliest confirmed instance of Flame, it could have been operating even before that. Because this malware is modular, it could continue to evolve long into the future.

via BBC

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Kaspersky discovers super-complex Flame malware

CHOC Children’s Research Project Awarded $5.5 Million Grant from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine

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ORANGE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

A CHOC Childrens research project, under the direction of Philip H. Schwartz, Ph.D., senior scientist at the CHOC Childrens Research Institute and managing director of the facilitys National Human Neural Stem Cell Resource, has been awarded a $5.5 million grant from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM). The grant will be used to develop a stem cell-based therapy for the treatment of mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS I), a fatal metabolic disease that causes neurodegeneration, as well as defects in other major organ systems.

Based on a number of medical and experimental observations, children with inherited degenerative diseases of the brain are expected to be among the first to benefit from novel approaches based on stem cell therapy (SCT).

Dr. Schwartz explains, While uncommon, pediatric genetic neurodegenerative diseases account for a large burden of mortality and morbidity in young children. Hematopoietic (bone marrow) stem cell transplant (HSCT) can improve some non-neural symptoms of these diseases, but does not treat the deadly neurodegenerative process. Our approach targeting the effects of the disease on organs besides the brain with HSCT and neurodegeneration with a second stem cell therapy specifically designed to treat the brain is a strategy for whole-body treatment of MPS I. Our approach is also designed to avoid the need for immunosuppressive drugs to prevent rejection of the transplanted cells.

This research is designed to lead to experimental therapy, based on stem cells, by addressing two critical issues: early intervention is required and possible in this patient population; and teaching the immune system not to reject the transplanted cells is required. This research also sets the stage for efficient translation of this technology into clinical practice, by adapting transplant techniques that are standard in clinical practice or in clinical trials, and using laboratory cell biology methods that are easily transferrable to clinical cell manufacturing.

Nationally recognized for his work in the stem cell field, Dr. Schwartz research focuses on the use of stem cells to understand the neurobiological causes of autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders.

Named one of the best childrens hospitals by U.S. News & World Report (2011-2012) and a 2011 Leapfrog Top Hospital, CHOC Children's is exclusively committed to the health and well-being of children through clinical expertise, advocacy, outreach and research that brings advanced treatment to pediatric patients.

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CHOC Children’s Research Project Awarded $5.5 Million Grant from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine

UCI researcher wins large research grant

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A UC Irvine stem cell researcher won a $4.8-million grant to fund research toward a treatment for multiple sclerosis.

The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine awarded immunologist Thomas Lane, of the campus' Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center, an Early Transitional Award last week to create a new line of neural stem cells to treat multiple sclerosis, according to a UCI press release.

"I am delighted that [the California Institute] has chosen to support our efforts to advance a novel stem cell-based therapy for multiple sclerosis," Peter Donovan, director of the research center, said in the release.

Lane is collaborating with Jeanne Loring, director of the Center for Regenerative Medicine at the Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, and Claude Bernard, a multiple sclerosis researcher at Monash University in Australia.

The research project "really embodies what [the California Institute] is all about, which is bringing science together to treat horrible diseases like multiple sclerosis," said Lane, who is a professor of molecular biology and biochemistry.

Multiple sclerosis is a central nervous system disease that causes inflammation and a loss of myelin, a fatty tissue that insulates and protects nerve cells.

The three are working on a stem cell treatment that will stop myelin loss while promoting the growth of new myelin to mend damaged nerves.

Loring creates the neural stem cells, said Lane, while he is testing the therapeutic effects the cells have on multiple sclerosis cells in animals.

The stem cells are already having a positive effect and the scientists are trying to understand why. They hope to identify the cells that have the most promise before going to clinical trials.

"I really want to thank the [California Institute] for allowing, and for funding, us," Lane said.

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UCI researcher wins large research grant

Ottawa’s latest brain gain brings promising new stem-cell therapy

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OTTAWA Dr. Bernard Thebaud believes he can use the healing juices from stem cells the much ballyhooed future of modern medicine to rejuvenate the lungs of premature babies.

The renowned neonatologist and scientist has proven his treatment works in rats in Edmonton, and in a baboon in San Antonio, Texas. Next, he will design clinical trials to test his pioneering therapy in babies in Ottawa.

Dr. Thebaud is the latest recruit to the Sprott Centre for Stem Cell Research at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute.

Lured here from the University of Alberta, Dr. Thebaud hopes that within five years he can take his research from bench to bedside by launching the first clinical trials in newborns.

He believes his therapy, derived from stem cells isolated from discarded umbilical cords, can help people suffering from other lung diseases, such as asthma and fibrosis.

In an interview, the 47-year-old, who is originally from France, said Ottawa was the only city where he could do this research.

To get this work into patients, I need to be around a critical mass of top stem cell biologists, he said.

I dont want to be too clich, but if you are in the computer business you go to the Silicon Valley; if you are in oil in gas you have to be in Alberta; if you are in stem cells, Ontario is the province. And Ottawa is where they read, breathe, sleep and eat stem cells.

To land Thebaud, three Ottawa institutions had to team up.

When he formally starts in the fall, he will be a Senior Scientist at the Ottawa Hospital and CHEO research institutes, a pediatrician at CHEO and Ottawa Hospital, and a professor in the faculty of medicine at the University of Ottawa.

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Ottawa’s latest brain gain brings promising new stem-cell therapy

SpaceX successfully blasts off to Space Station

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William Atkins Tuesday, 22 May 2012 21:52

Science - Space

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The SpaceX Dragon space capsule was successfully launched early in the morning of Tuesday, May 22, 2012, for its historic mission to the International Space Station the first trip to the ISS for a commercial space vehicle.

Then, at 3:44:38 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) the calm was disrupted as the9 first-stage engines of the Falcon 9 burst alive beginning an historic flight of the first commercial spacecraft to the Space Station.

The rocket was released from launch complex 41 (LC-41) at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, which is located next to the Kennedy Space Center, in Florida, and quickly thrust the Dragon spacecraft upward into the sky

SpaceX mission controllers reported no significant problems leading up to the launch and the first-stage engines burned normally for about three minutes.

They then shut down in a pre-programmed sequence after sending the spacecraft on a northeasterly trajectory. The first stage then fell away, as one Merlin second-stage engine burst to life and continued the Dragons trip to the International Space Station.

The second-stage rocket burned for about 9 minutes, 14 seconds, as its remaining fuel was exhausted. A few seconds later, the Dragon space capsule separated from its second stage, alone for the remaining trip to the Space Station.

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SpaceX successfully blasts off to Space Station