Monthly Archives: June 2012

PIK3CA Gene Patent for Predicting Response to Targeted Therapy Issued – Exclusively Licensed to Transgenomic

Posted on by

OMAHA, Neb.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Transgenomic, Inc. (TBIO) announced that the US Patent and Trademark Office has issued patent number US 8,137,919 entitled Method of Determining the Sensitivity of Cancer Cells to EGFR Inhibitors including Cetuximab, Panitumumab and Erlotinib. The patent was exclusively licensed to Transgenomic by the Montefiore Medical Center (Bronx, NY, US) and includes all tumor types and targeted therapies that may be influenced by PIK3CA mutation status.

Montefiore inventors Drs. Sanjay Goel and John Mariadason have demonstrated that key mutations in the gene PIK3CA are powerful predictors for the efficacy of EGFR-targeted therapies such as cetuximab (Erbitux), panitumumab (Vectibix) and erlotinib (Tarceva). These findings were published in the June 2012 issue of Clinical Colorectal Cancer by the same researchers and have been reproduced in other independent studies.

Assays using Transgenomics proprietary SURVEYOR Scan, REVEAL ICE COLD-PCR and BLOCker-Sequencing for complete detection of PIK3CA mutations have been developed. The extremely high sensitivity of Transgenomics REVEAL ICE COLD-PCR technology enables the use of virtually any sample type including blood and circulating tumor cells. Non-invasive testing allows for more frequent and accurate profiling of a cancer as it responds to treatment and gains additional mutations.

The recent issuing of this important patent is a significant milestone in the continued development of our genetic biomarker intellectual property portfolio, said Craig Tuttle, CEO of Transgenomic. Since exclusively licensing this patent we have been able to effectively apply our high sensitivity mutation detection technologies, such as SURVEYOR Scan, REVEAL ICE COLD-PCR and BLOCker-sequencing, to PIK3CA assays in order to be able to detect genetic variations in very low mutant load samples, such as plasma, serum and circulating tumor cells.

Tuttle added that, The number of genes associated with the effectiveness of targeted cancer treatments is increasing; our strategy is to provide a complete portfolio of best-in-class kits for clinically relevant mutations using our proprietary and extremely sensitive technologies. These assays will also be available through our CLIA and Pharmacogenomics laboratories to support clinicians and pharmaceutical research and trials.

About Transgenomic

Transgenomic, Inc. (www.transgenomic.com) is a global biotechnology company advancing personalized medicine in cancer and inherited diseases through its proprietary molecular technologies and world-class clinical and research services. The Company has three complementary business divisions: Transgenomic Pharmacogenomic Services is a contract research laboratory that specializes in supporting all phases of pre-clinical and clinical trials for oncology drugs in development. Transgenomic Clinical Laboratories specializes in molecular diagnostics for cardiology, neurology, mitochondrial disorders, and oncology. Transgenomic Diagnostic Tools produces equipment, reagents, and other consumables that empower clinical and research applications in molecular testing and cytogenetics. Transgenomic believes there is significant opportunity for continued growth across all three businesses by leveraging their synergistic capabilities, technologies, and expertise. The Company actively develops and acquires new technology and other intellectual property that strengthen its leadership in personalized medicine.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this press release constitute forward-looking statements of Transgenomic within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such statements. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, those with respect to management's current views and estimates of future economic circumstances, industry conditions, company performance and financial results, including the ability of the Company to grow its involvement in the diagnostic products and services markets. The known risks, uncertainties and other factors affecting these forward-looking statements are described from time to time in Transgenomic's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any change in such factors, risks and uncertainties may cause the actual results, events and performance to differ materially from those referred to in such statements. Accordingly, the Company claims the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 with respect to all statements contained in this press release. All information in this press release is as of the date of the release and Transgenomic does not undertake any duty to update this information, including any forward-looking statements, unless required by law.

Original post:

PIK3CA Gene Patent for Predicting Response to Targeted Therapy Issued – Exclusively Licensed to Transgenomic

Bulls will prevail – all in good time

Posted on by

Turbulent times on global sharemarkets look set to continue, but there is light ahead, writes Matthew Kidman.

The most common question I get asked is how the world will pan out once we get through the current mess? Futurism is a dubious occupation but a task we all like to dabble in. When it comes to sharemarkets the best approach is to go region-by-region identifying the key dynamics.

The United States is still the largest and most critical global sharemarket. There can be no new bull market without America leading the charge and I am confident it will find its feet again and retain world leadership.

In the short term the US is in for a rocky ride, dealing with the looming $750 billion reduction in government stimulus. Coined the ''fiscal cliff,'' this involves the end to a series of tax breaks and the start of savage spending cuts, which are due to kick in early next year. Economists forecast this could deduct a staggering 3 per cent to 5 per cent off economic growth. Avoiding this would seem difficult given the political divide and the approaching presidential election. If nothing is resolved by August this could get hairy and trigger another wave of selling on the sharemarket. No doubt the Federal Reserve and its captain, Ben Bernanke, will be ready to counter with more cash manufacturing, all making for a bumpy ride until December.

Advertisement: Story continues below

Beyond 2012 it is easier to build a more bullish case for the US. The housing crash from 2006 to 2009 threw the world into a tailspin and there is little hope for a sustained recovery without housing playing a central role. Despite the lowest interest rates in history the residential construction industry can't get out of the basement. Housing starts continue to languish at about half traditional levels of more than 1 million a year, leaving US consumers, the engine of world growth, spluttering. At some stage over the next two years the backlog of homes from the great overbuild will disappear, jump-starting residential activity and firing up consumption. The lack of construction jobs since 2008 is almost singularly responsible for the present high unemployment.

US politicians are not willing to attack government debt. Therefore the only way out is via a dramatic step-up in economic growth on a re-invigorated housing industry. This, coupled with high productivity, cheaper energy prices and a growing and relatively young population will get the US back on track. It must be made clear that endless stimulus packages from the government and Federal Reserve are not the answer.

By contrast, Europe has no hope. Putting aside the debt calamity, the continent is sinking to a second-tier economic zone. Europe is the equivalent of a 70-year-old retired person deciding to take out the biggest mortgage of her life. There is no chance of paying it back. The entire continent, particularly the southern rim, has negligible productivity growth, no population growth and an ageing population.

If the debt crisis is adequately dealt with, Europe could easily provide the catalyst for a jump in global equity markets; however, this will not be sustainable and a never-ending recession will take hold, not unlike Japan.

China is a completely different story. Talk of a hard or soft landing is ridiculous given the country is going to grow at an astonishing rate of between 6 and 8 per cent over the next 12 months.

Read the rest here:

Bulls will prevail - all in good time

Freedom Works pushing tea party groups to endorse Mack

Posted on by

In a heated conference call with dozens of Tea Party supporters throughout the state late Sunday, Florida's disparate Tea Party groups debated whether or not to endorse Republican Connie Mack in the Florida U.S. Senate primary.

The call, organized by Freedom Works, the conservative non-profit based in Washington, D.C., became very heated as several tea party backers urged the group to stay out of the primary while the Freedom Works supporters wanted to endorse Mack of Cape Coral, said Henry Kelley, chairmanof the Fort Walton Beach Tea Party.

"The general consensus was not whether we should back Mack or LeMieux but why are we moving into the middle of a primary,'' Kelley told the Herald/Times. He said he supports LeMieux, in part because of Mack's refusal to debate,but expects most Tea Party members to support the Republican nominee. "Why would you jump in when there are only 60 days left?"

Documents written by Easton Randall of the Freedom Works Foundation show that the organization prefers Mack over LeMieux because of his voting record and his "penny plan" to cut federal spending 1 percent a year. Download Tea Party Florida_Senate_Race_BriefDownload Tea Party Mack Florida_6-10

To confuse matters further, Mack has been endorsed by the Tea Party of Florida, the Orlando-based third party group started by activist Doug Guetzloe but which isnot supported by othergrassroots tea party activists around the state.

"That group was anathema to tea party groups throughout the state,'' said Tim Curtis, chairman of the Tampa 912 Project and a local tea party organizer.

He said thatmanygrassroots groups opposed to endorsing a candidate because it woud violate their tax exempt status under theIRS status while others do not believe that a single endorsement can represent their diverseviews.

"We are not monolithic,'' said Curtis, who is a registered Democrat. "There is a great, hugh, gynormous diversity of opinion within the tea party groups and 912 groups throughout the state...,We have shared principles values views and vision of the nation and upon those tings we do speak with one voice."

Freedom Works isthe conservative non-profit advocacy group based in Washington, D.C. that was founded by former conservative congressmanDick Armey. Its affliate, the Tea Party Express, is finishing a two-month bus tour of the nation in Florida this week. It held a rally in Tallahassee on Sunday attended by Gov. Rick Scott.

Link:

Freedom Works pushing tea party groups to endorse Mack

Freedom since bankruptcy

Posted on by

Raymond Cyrus "R.C." Hoiles bought The Orange County Register in 1935 and made it the flagship of what was to become Irvine-based Freedom Communications Inc., once the 12th largest media company in the country with more than 100 papers. The Hoiles family, however, lost its financial interest in the company in April 2010 after Freedom emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization. The company has gone through dramatic change in the two years since then:

Sept. 1, 2009: Freedom Communications Inc. files for bankruptcy reorganization.

April 30, 2010: Freedom emerges from bankruptcy. A group of investors and banks take control of the company.

June 29, 2010: Mitch Stern, a former Fox television executive, is named Freedom chief executive officer.

Oct. 3, 2011: Michael Henry, Register general manager, is named interim publisher succeeding Terry Horne, who retired.

Nov. 2, 2011: Freedom announces the sale of its eight television stations to Sinclair Broadcast Group for $385 million. The sale left Freedom free of the $325 million in debt it had when it emerged from bankruptcy.

Jan. 12, 2012: Freedom announces the sale of The Tribune in Seymour, Ind. to Indiana-based Home News Enterprises LLC. Terms were not disclosed.

Jan. 31, 2012: Freedom announces the sale of the News Journal in Clovis, N.M. to Clovis Media News. Terms were not disclosed.

April 2, 2012: The sale of Freedom's television stations to Sinclair Broadcast Group Inc. closes.

April 17, 2012: Register editor Ken Brusic also takes on the title of interim publisher, succeeding Michael Henry, who left to become chief financial officer of The Denver Post.

Continued here:

Freedom since bankruptcy

Freedom Communications to be acquired

Posted on by

IRVINE, CA, June 11, 2012 Freedom Communications Holdings, Inc. announced today that it has agreed to be acquired by 2100 Trust, LLC in a merger with a subsidiary of 2100 Trust.

At the time the transaction closes, Freedoms businesses will consist of its flagship Orange County Register, the Barstow, CA Desert Dispatch, The Gazette in Colorado Springs, CO, the Marysville, CA Appeal-Democrat, The Porterville Record in Porterville, CA, the Victorville, CA Daily Press and The Yuma Sun in Yuma, AZ and their associated non-daily publications along with specialty publications and digital properties. The Company had previously announced sales of its other newspaper assets and broadcast properties, which sales have closed or are expected to close within the next few weeks.

It is expected that the transaction, the value of which was not disclosed, will be completed in about 30 days. All current Freedom employees at the operating locations will transition to the new ownership, said Mitchell Stern, Freedoms Chief Executive officer.

While providing the value that our shareholders have sought, this transaction also ensures Freedoms communities that our newspapers serve will continue to receive the outstanding service that has been our hallmark, Stern said. Our employees will be able to continue the community journalism at which they so excel.

The new owners have a long-standing interest in community journalism and understand the critical role that newspapers, despite all the changes of recent years, continue to play in providing the information that people need and cant find anywhere else, said Mark McEachen, Freedoms Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer.

R. C. Hoiles founded Freedom after acquiring what was then the Santa Ana Register in 1935. The company eventually grew to be one of the largest media companies in the country with 100 daily and weekly newspapers, numerous news websites and specialty publications and eight broadcast stations.

"We couldn't be more pleased with the opportunity to lead the hard-working and talented employees of Freedom Communications in serving these communities. We believe that newspapers are essential to the fabric of our lives and are excited to own and grow these unique institutions," said Aaron Kushner, 2100 Trust's Chief Executive Officer.

About Freedom Communications

Freedom Communications Holdings, Inc., headquartered in Irvine, CA, is a national privately owned information and entertainment company of print publications and interactive businesses. The Companys print portfolio includes approximately 100 publications, including 20 daily newspapers, weekly newspapers, plus ancillary magazines and other specialty publications. The Companys news, information and entertainment websites and mobile applications complement its print properties. For more information, visit http://www.freedom.com.

About 2100 Trust, LLC

The rest is here:

Freedom Communications to be acquired

Freedom Communications to be Acquired by 2100 Trust

Posted on by

IRVINE Freedom Communications Holdings, Inc. announced today that it has agreed to be acquired by 2100 Trust, LLC in a merger with a subsidiary of 2100 Trust.

At the time the transaction closes, Freedoms businesses will consist of its flagship Orange County Register, The Porterville Recorder in Porterville, CA, the Barstow, CA Desert Dispatch, The Gazette in Colorado Springs, CO, the Marysville, CA Appeal-Democrat, the Victorville, CA Daily Press and The Sun in Yuma, AZ and their associated non-daily publications along with specialty publications and digital properties. The Company had previously announced sales of its other newspaper assets and broadcast properties, which sales have closed or are expected to close within the next few weeks.

It is expected that the transaction, the value of which was not disclosed, will be completed in about 30 days. All current Freedom employees at the operating locations will transition to the new ownership, said Mitchell Stern, Freedoms Chief Executive officer.

While providing the value that our shareholders have sought, this transaction also ensures Freedoms communities that our newspapers serve will continue to receive the outstanding service that has been our hallmark, Stern said. Our employees will be able to continue the community journalism at which they so excel.

The new owners have a long-standing interest in community journalism and understand the critical role that newspapers, despite all the changes of recent years, continue to play in providing the information that people need and cant find anywhere else, said Mark McEachen, Freedoms Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer.

R. C. Hoiles founded Freedom after acquiring what was then the Santa Ana Register in 1935. The company eventually grew to be one of the largest media companies in the country with 100 daily and weekly newspapers, numerous news websites and specialty publications and eight broadcast stations.

The Porterville Recorder was acquired by Freedom Communications in 1974 and over the past 38 years weve continued to grow by knowing our customers exceeding well, said Recorder publisher Paula Patton. Knowing what is important to them; being recognized as an active, involved and caring member of the community; and being the indispensable source of local news and information delivered over multi-platforms has always been and will continue to be our goal as we move forward.

We couldnt be more pleased with the opportunity to lead the hard-working and talented employees of Freedom Communications in serving these communities. We believe that newspapers are essential to the fabric of our lives and are excited to own and grow these unique institutions, said Aaron Kushner, 2100 Trusts Chief Executive Officer.

About Freedom Communications

Freedom Communications Holdings, Inc., headquartered in Irvine, CA, is a national privately owned information and entertainment company of print publications and interactive businesses. The Companys print portfolio includes approximately 100 publications, including 20 daily newspapers, weekly newspapers, plus ancillary magazines and other specialty publications. The Companys news, information and entertainment websites and mobile applications complement its print properties. For more information, visit http://www.freedom.com.

Read the rest here:

Freedom Communications to be Acquired by 2100 Trust

The Fraser Institute: Tax Freedom Day is June 11, One Day Later Than Last Year as Canadians Work Longer to Pay Taxes

Posted on by

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire -06/11/12)- Monday, June 11 is Tax Freedom Day, the day Canadians have finally earned enough money to pay all the taxes they owe to all levels of government for the year, according to the Fraser Institute's annual calculations.

Tax Freedom Day arrives one day later than in 2011, when it fell on June 10.

"This underscores a worrying trend across the country of governments increasing taxes," said Charles Lammam, Fraser Institute associate director of tax and budget policy and co-author of Canadians Celebrate Tax Freedom Day on June 11, 2012.

Despite tax increases, the report notes that Tax Freedom Day would have come 12 days later this year if, instead of running deficits, governments covered their current spending with even greater tax increases.

"We need to remember that the budget deficits incurred by Ottawa and the provinces must one day be paid for by taxes and could mean a later Tax Freedom Day in the future."

Tax Freedom Day is an easy-to-understand measure of the total tax burden imposed on Canadian families by federal, provincial, and local governments. If Canadians were required to pay all taxes up front, they would have to give governments each and every dollar they earned prior to Tax Freedom Day.

To celebrate Tax Freedom Day and bring attention to the array of taxes Canadians pay, the Fraser Institute produced a satirical R&B song and music video (watch it on YouTube or at http://www.fraserinstitute.org). Canadians can also calculate their personal Tax Freedom Day using the Fraser Institute's Personal Tax Freedom Day Calculator.

A later Tax Freedom Day

The federal government and several provinces increased taxes in 2012, which contributed to the later Tax Freedom Day. For example, the federal government increased Employment Insurance (EI) premiums; Quebec increased its provincial sales tax, health tax, and gas and mining taxes; British Columbia raised its health tax; New Brunswick increased its financial corporation capital tax and property transfer tax; Manitoba raised tobacco taxes, gas taxes, and its financial corporate capital tax, in addition to expanding the list of items covered by its provincial sales tax; and Ontario introduced a new tax bracket for high-income earners and canceled a scheduled decrease in the general corporate tax rate.

Tax Freedom Day also arrives later in 2012 because Canada's economy is improving. When the economy recovers from a recession and incomes increase, a family's tax burden also tends to increase because of Canada's progressive tax system, which imposes higher taxes as Canadians earn more money. Household consumption also rises, which results in an increase in the amount of sales and other consumption taxes families pay.

Read more here:

The Fraser Institute: Tax Freedom Day is June 11, One Day Later Than Last Year as Canadians Work Longer to Pay Taxes

The Fraser Institute: Quebecers Celebrate Tax Freedom Day on June 17, Four Days Later Than 2011

Posted on by

MONTREAL, QUEBEC--(Marketwire - June 11, 2012) - Tax Freedom Day falls on Sunday, June 17 in Quebec, four days later than in 2011, according to the Fraser Institute's annual Tax Freedom Day calculations.

"The provincial government's decision to hike the QST to 9.5 per cent from 8.5 per cent is one of the main reasons for the later arrival of Tax Freedom Day this year," said Filip Palda, Fraser Institute senior fellow and professor at the Ecole nationale d'administration publique.

"As a result of the tax hike, the average Quebec family will pay $491 more in sales taxes in 2012. Had the government not raised the QST, Tax Freedom Day would have fallen two days earlier, on June 15 rather than June 17."

Quebec celebrates the second latest Tax Freedom Day among all Canadian provinces, ahead of only Newfoundland and Labrador. The complete report is available at http://www.fraserinstitute.org.

On Tax Freedom Day, the average Quebec family has earned enough money to pay the taxes imposed on it by all levels of government over the course of the year. If Quebecers were required to pay all of their taxes up front, they would have to pay governments each and every dollar they earned prior to Tax Freedom Day.

"Quebec families face among the greatest tax burdens nationwide. For perspective, families in Ontario celebrate Tax Freedom Day on June 10, a full week earlier than those in Quebec," Palda said.

When calculations of tax rates are averaged across Canada, Tax Freedom Day falls nationally on June 11.

Tax Freedom Day varies from province to province, depending on the taxation levels of provincial and local governments. Alberta continues to enjoy the earliest Tax Freedom Day on May 22, followed by Prince Edward Island on June 2 and New Brunswick on June 6. Manitoba's Tax Freedom Day falls on June 7 followed by British Columbia (June 8), Ontario (June 10), Saskatchewan and Nova Scotia (June 12), and Quebec on June 17. Newfoundland and Labrador has the latest Tax Freedom Day, June 21.

While all but three Canadian provinces (Newfoundland and Labrador, BC, and Alberta) experience a later Tax Freedom Day in 2012 than in 2011, Quebec experiences the largest delay in its 2012 Tax Freedom Day, coming four days later than in 2011.

Reasons for a later Tax Freedom Day

See original here:

The Fraser Institute: Quebecers Celebrate Tax Freedom Day on June 17, Four Days Later Than 2011

Freedom Communications to be Acquired By 2100 Trust, LLC

Posted on by

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

Freedom Communications Holdings, Inc. announced today that it has agreed to be acquired by 2100 Trust, LLC in a merger with a subsidiary of 2100 Trust.

At the time the transaction closes, Freedoms businesses will consist of its flagship Orange County Register, the Barstow, CA Desert Dispatch, The Gazette in Colorado Springs, CO, the Marysville, CA Appeal-Democrat, The Porterville Record in Porterville, CA, the Victorville, CA Daily Press and The Sun in Yuma, AZ and their associated non-daily publications along with specialty publications and digital properties. The Company had previously announced sales of its other newspaper assets and broadcast properties, which sales have closed or are expected to close within the next few weeks.

It is expected that the transaction, the value of which was not disclosed, will be completed in about 30 days. All current Freedom employees at the operating locations will transition to the new ownership, said Mitchell Stern, Freedoms Chief Executive officer.

While providing the value that our shareholders have sought, this transaction also ensures Freedoms communities that our newspapers serve will continue to receive the outstanding service that has been our hallmark, Stern said. Our employees will be able to continue the community journalism at which they so excel.

The new owners have a long-standing interest in community journalism and understand the critical role that newspapers, despite all the changes of recent years, continue to play in providing the information that people need and cant find anywhere else, said Mark McEachen, Freedoms Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer.

R. C. Hoiles founded Freedom after acquiring what was then the Santa Ana Register in 1935. The company eventually grew to be one of the largest media companies in the country with 100 daily and weekly newspapers, numerous news websites and specialty publications and eight broadcast stations.

"We couldn't be more pleased with the opportunity to lead the hard-working and talented employees of Freedom Communications in serving these communities. We believe that newspapers are essential to the fabric of our lives and are excited to own and grow these unique institutions," said Aaron Kushner, 2100 Trust's Chief Executive Officer.

About Freedom Communications

Freedom Communications Holdings, Inc., headquartered in Irvine, CA, is a national privately owned information and entertainment company of print publications and interactive businesses. The Companys print portfolio includes approximately 100 publications, including 20 daily newspapers, weekly newspapers, plus ancillary magazines and other specialty publications. The Companys news, information and entertainment websites and mobile applications complement its print properties. For more information, visit http://www.freedom.com.

Read the original:

Freedom Communications to be Acquired By 2100 Trust, LLC

Epson launches first eco-solvent printers

Posted on by

Posted by Marlon Magtira - Sat. Jun 09, 2012 1:20 am

-

Epson SureColor SC-S30670

Global digital imaging and printing solutions provider Epson introduces SureColor SC-S30670next-generation 64-inch eco-solvent wide format printer designed to offer the lowest cost of ownership to print for pay and in-house print service providers.

Ideal for the production of posters, signs, banners, backlit panels, vehicle wraps, and exhibition displays, the Epson SureColor SC-S30670is the first ever eco-solvent-based printer to use the proprietary Epson Micro Piezo Thin Film Piezo (TFP) print head engineered to deliver double the nozzle density with 720 nozzles per color offering higher quality print output at a much faster speed in its class.

With the new printer, Epson also launches a new set of eco-solvent inks the cost-competitive four-ink Epson UltraChrome GS2.

Combined with Epsons advanced Look-Up Table (LUT) Technology and the superior Micro Piezo TFP print head, the printer produces high resolution, high quality and vibrant prints for outdoor signage, wallpaper or advertising posters.

The Epson SureColor SC-S30670 is the best-in-line signage printer for businesses prioritizing total cost of ownership and performance as Epson provides an extended two-year warranty for all machine parts, while the new ink set enables greater flexibility on media choice thereby reducing printing cost, said Donna V. Ferro, general manager of Epson Philippines Corporation (EPC), in a statement sent to Dateline.ph.

The newly formulated Epson UltraChrome GS2 eco-solvent inks will have light-fastness for up to three years, including yellow color, which is often the weakest ink in the ink set, therefore delivering long-lasting prints Ferro said.

As results may vary using other brands of media, light-fastness is measured using Epson internal testing standards, using selected media from 3M and Avery Dennison Corporation, according to Ferro.

More here:

Epson launches first eco-solvent printers

Goa to India this Winter and Avoid the Rainy Season

Posted on by

LONDON, June 11, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

Goa really is paradise on Earth. Swaying palm trees, white sandy beaches and sparkling waters are the three key elements that attract nearly 2 million visitors annually to Goa's sunny shores. The influence of Portuguese colonial rule can still be seen everywhere: in the stunning ancient architecture; and in the East-meets-West cuisine, which combines coconut milk, palm vinegar and chillies with the refined flavours of Lisbon.

Holidays to Goa from Cosmos guarantee you vibrant colours, delicious aromas and a more westernised version of traditional India. Goa embraces both its past and the modern present to provide travellers with an unforgettable holiday. Goa has many beautiful beaches, some secluded and isolated, where you can get away from it all and wander where your heart desires. Other beaches host Full Moon Parties, or bars and restaurants that are brimming with excellent seafood. Whichever way you choose to soak up the sun, Goa has the paradise beach for you.

A popular destination for sun worshippers, Goa has a warm climate with temperatures averaging 30C for most of the year. The rainy season lasts from June to September, during which time most of the facilities and beaches are closed. From November to April, there is hardly any rain, and Goa becomes a summer haven for visitors of all ages. Christmas is a great time to be in Goa, as the weather is glorious and the atmosphere is suitably festive. Tinsel is everywhere and fireworks grace the evening sky. Why brave another cold and grey British Christmas again?

But there's a lot more to Goa than just beautiful beaches and perfect weather. Goa is full of culturally and historically significant sites. You can explore two World Heritage sites, the Bom Jesus Basilica and the convents and churches of old Goa. There are also many excursions available, including trips to the waterfalls and forests to feed and swim with monkeys, and ride and bath elephants. There's also the option of an island cruise to see dolphins, and a trip to the 14th century city, Hampi, to see India's archaeological delights.

The unique history and culture of the place makes it a fascinating holiday destination for families and backpackers alike. For more information, check out the Cosmos blog for a quick guide to the cultures and customs of Goa.

Cosmos

Operating for over 50 years,Cosmos Holidaysis one of the oldest and best established brands in UK tour operating, and provides holidays to over 780,000 customers in 65 destinations annually. Visithttp://www.cosmos.co.uknow to book a holiday toGoafrom 520.

For more information contact Robert Foulkes atRobert.Foulkes@Monarch.co.uk, or on+44(0)1582-398122.

See more here:

Goa to India this Winter and Avoid the Rainy Season

Double take! World's strangest beaches

Posted on by

Nicolas Raymond

Canada's Prince Edward Island has more than 500 miles of beaches, and about half have red sand due to high iron oxide content.

By Heather Eng, Travel + Leisure

Slideshow: See where to find the world's strangest beaches

To say that Americans love beaches is an understatement. Approximately 85 percent of us visit a beach on vacation, according to Stephen P. Leatherman, akaDr. Beach, director of Florida International Universitys Laboratory for Coastal Research. Theres nothing like them, says Leatherman. Youve got sand, water and waves, plus cool, fresh air. Plus theres the nostalgia factor: everyone loved sand as a kid.

Quirky beaches just add another layer to the enjoyment. And the fact that only Mother Nature created these strange beaches is perhaps whats most astounding. No human hands were involved just the perfect geologic storms of air, water, temperature and pressure.

Continued here:

Double take! World's strangest beaches

Beatty et al. (2012): OSU Astronomy Coffee Brief – Video

Posted on by

11-06-2012 11:04 This is an OSU Astronomy "Coffee Brief" for the Beatty et al. (2012) paper titled "KELT-2Ab: A Hot Jupiter Transiting the Bright (V=8.77) Primary Star of a Binary System" posted on the astro-ph archive on June 10, 2012. For more details, see the paper at: Movie made by Thomas Beatty (OSU Astronomy).

Here is the original post:

Beatty et al. (2012): OSU Astronomy Coffee Brief - Video

A moment of science | Bad Astronomy

Posted on by

When I was five years old, my entire life changed.

It was a good change the best, really and it happened in a single moment, all at once, irrevocably and utterly. And all I did was look through a telescope.

Wanna know more? Then go read a short article about this I wrote for Slate magazine. They asked me to write about the state of science education, and what can be done to improve it. Thats a huge topic, vast, and in some ways impenetrable. So I poked at it a bit, looking for some leverage, and told the editor that while I dont know how to fix our broken science education system, I know what worked for me personally. And I know it works for thousands, millions of others.

All it took was a moment of science. Go read the article for more.

But wait, theres more! I tweeted a link to the Slate article, and my friend (and newly minted PhD) Nicole Gugliucci asked others what their moment of science was. Its a good question! What was yours? Leave a comment here, or tweet it with the hastag #momentofscience. Im about go on travel for a day, but on Wednesday Ill collect and post them!

Read more:

A moment of science | Bad Astronomy

The softly glowing night sky | Bad Astronomy

Posted on by

Theres a lot more going on over your head than you know.

For example, the atmosphere of the Earth thins out gradually the higher you go, and when you get to about 100 kilometers (60 miles) up, different physical processes become important. One of them is called chemiluminescence light produced by chemical processes. This can make the upper atmosphere glow in different colors. Its faint, and best seen from space where we conveniently keep several astronauts. Neuroscientist and amateur video maker Alex Rivest has collected pictures of this airglow taken by astronauts and made this eerie and beautiful time lapse video:

Alex took the original astronaut pictures and enhanced them somewhat to bring out the faint airglow. You can see it in lots of pictures taken from the space station, and Ive commented on it many times. One thing Ive been meaning to do, though, is find out what the physical process is thats causing the air to glow, and why it creates different colors you can clearly see green, yellow, and red glow in many of the pictures!

Alex comes to the rescue on that as well. On his blog, he discusses how he made the video and why the air glows (based on a somewhat terser explanation at the Atmospheric Optics website).

The way this works is simple in general, though complicated in detail much like everything else in the Universe! Basically, during the day, in the upper atmosphere ultraviolet light from the Sun pumps energy into oxygen molecules (called O2; two oxygen atoms bound together this is the stuff we breathe). This energy splits the molecules apart into individual atoms, and these atoms have a little bit of extra energy we say these atoms are in an excited state. Like a jittery person whos had too much coffee, they want to give off this energy. They can do this in a couple of ways: they can emit light, or they can bump into other atoms and molecules and react chemically with them.

If you have an excited oxygen atom sitting in space all by its lonesome, it can either dump that energy by emitting green light or red light. Usually, itll emit green light in less than a second after becoming excited, and itll emit red light on much longer timescales, like minutes. This is important, so bear with me.

At a height below about 95 km, the atmosphere is thick enough that collisions between atoms happens all the time. In fact, an excited oxygen atom doesnt have to wait very long (usually microseconds) before another atom or molecule bumps it. If collisions happen faster, on average, than about once every 0.1 seconds, then an oxygen atom doesnt have enough time to emit green light before getting smacked by another atom or molecule. When that happens, the other atom can steal its energy, and no green light is emitted. So below that height we dont see any green emission.

At heights of 95 100 km or so, collisions happen less frequently, giving the oxygen atom time to blow out a green photon (a particle of light). So at that height we do see the green glow. This layer is thin, like the shell of a bubble, and we see it as an arc due to limb brightening (which you can read about here if you want details). In the picture above, you can see it as a very thin green arc above the diffuse yellow glow (which Ill get to; hang tight). Normally it wouldnt be very bright, but looking along the edge of the shell is like looking through a very long slab that stretches for hundreds of kilometers. The light builds up, making it bright enough to see.

Higher up, above 100 km, the oxygen atoms are much farther apart because the density is lower. The odds of two of them colliding are a lot lower, so the time between collisions can be pretty long, long enough to give the oxygen atoms time to emit red photons. Thats why we see that red glow higher up, where the air is ethereally thin.

The rest is here:

The softly glowing night sky | Bad Astronomy

The ups and downs of Saturn pictures | Bad Astronomy

Posted on by

When I look at Cassini images of Saturn with its multitude of rings and fleet of moons I am inspired, moved, and even awed.

And sometimes I laugh. When I saw this image, for example, I actually chuckled to myself. Why?

[Click to encronosenate.]

This gorgeous shot was taken on December 30, 2011 and released just today as the Cassini Image of the Week. It shows Saturns gorgeous rings seen nearly edge on, and the tiny moon Epimetheus, only 113 kilometers in diameter, next to them.

Its a lovely image to be sure, and my very first thought was; I wonder if Epimetheus is closer to us than the rings, or farther away? If were looking down on the rings, from the north, then Epimetheus is closer to us. But if were looking up from underneath the rings, Epimetheus is on the other side of the rings. I could mentally switch my perspective back and forth, but I couldnt tell which view is correct! This prompted my chuckle, as I wryly smiled at my brains confusion (I love optical illusions).

So take another look: are we looking down on the rings, or up? Hint: the Sun is shining from the north, down on the rings.

Its a bit of a conundrum, isnt it? Just by looking its almost impossible to figure out! If youre familiar with Cassini pictures, the rings look subtly different if they are illuminated from above and youre looking at them from underneath, and vice-versa. But its hard to tell. And to be honest, I wouldnt have known without reading the caption for the image.

The answer is were looking up. The Sun is shining down on the top of the rings, and were looking up from underneath, putting wee Epimetheus about 1.5 million kilometers (900,000 miles) from Cassini when this picture was taken. If it helps, hold up something round like a DVD and look at it from underneath. As another helpful guide: in the image above, the part of the rings at the top of the picture are closest to you, the bottom farther away, and Epimetheus father still.

And I bet that even knowing that, some of you are having a hard time picturing it. Our brains are funny things, easily fooled when theres symmetry in a picture, especially when that picture shows an unfamiliar object. Im sure Carolyn Porco can just glance at something like this and figure out everything she needs to understand the geometry! Im not so sure I couldve.

Read the rest here:

The ups and downs of Saturn pictures | Bad Astronomy

Astronomy students host car wash to oppose NASA cuts

Posted on by

LAS CRUCES Members of the New Mexico State University Astronomy Department worked to halt proposed cuts to NASA's planetary exploration budget Saturday by hosting a car wash to raise funds and, more importantly, awareness about the issue.

Motorists traveling on East Lohman Avenue were heralded by a shiny, silver robot to a parking lot beside the nearby AutoZone store where several graduate students and professors from NMSU's Astronomy Department educated drivers on the proposed cuts that they say will be devastating to the nation's future in space exploration, all while making sure their vehicles were sparkling clean.

Part of a nationwide campaign, car washes, bake sales and even shoe-shining events were held by planetary sciences students and faculty, engineers, scientists and space enthusiasts throughout the country Saturday in an attempt to raise awareness about the proposed budget cuts, explained Chas Miller, a graduate student in NMSU's Astronomy Department. Similar fundraisers took place in Houston, Orlando, San Francisco and Boulder, Colo., to name a few.

"The proposed budget would bring about a 20 percent cut in one year for planetary exploration programs," he said.

Like many of the cities were fundraisers were held Saturday, "There is a long history of space exploration in southern New Mexico," said Nancy Chanover, associate professor at NMSU's Astronomy Department.

Charging a mere $1 donation for each car wash, organizers of Saturday's

Sharing information on space exploration and research with patrons, volunteers asked residents to support the cause by signing letters that will be sent to Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, a member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies, that urge the lawmaker to work to fully restore planetary exploration funding.

"Sen. Hutchison is the closest representative (of the subcommittee) to Las Cruces," Miller explained. "We're not asking for more funding, we're just asking that she work to keep the planetary exploration budget as stable as possible."

The proposed cut would lower funding for NASA's planetary exploration program from $1.5 billion to $1.2 billion in the 2013 fiscal year.

Although patrons weren't required to sign the letter to have a car washed during the event, an hour into the afternoon fundraiser, volunteers had already obtained more than 15 signatures.

Read the original here:

Astronomy students host car wash to oppose NASA cuts

New Cloud-Based Assortment Intelligence Solution from Upstream Commerce Aims To Transform the Way Retailers Merchandise

Posted on by

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Upstream Commerce today unveiled the latest tool in its Retail Intelligence Suite -- Assortment Intelligence -- a powerful tool allowing retailers to track assortment changes at competitors' websites in real-time, and adjust their own product-mix accordingly.

The Upstream Commerce Retail Intelligence Suite is a cloud-based Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solution that uses advanced artificial intelligence, semantic analysis, data-mining, and image-recognition algorithms to give retailers comprehensive, real-time competitive price monitoring and analysis, as well as product and assortment intelligence.

With the new Assortment Intelligence tool, retailers can view, compare and analyze the overlap between their own and their competitors assortments; identify competitors products that they dont currently carry (but may wish to add); and identify products which they may currently carry exclusively (for which they could elect to command higher prices).

Historically, retailers have relied on personal experience and manual tracking to optimize their assortment relative to their competitors. The manual approach is no longer practical in todays intensely competitive, highly dynamic markets.

Increasingly savvy consumers are forcing retailers to alter pricing strategies, so it is imperative for multichannel retailers to be opportunistic and flexible with their pricing so they dont miss opportunities, said Gartner research vice president Kevin Sterneckert. Retailers today need every technological advantage they can get to track competitors pricing and assortment in real time.

Assortment composition is far too critical a merchandising decision to leave to the non-real-time, highly variable nature of human assessment, judgment, and action, said Upstream Commerce CEO, Amos Peleg. Assortment Intelligence transforms classic manual merchandising by giving retail owners, executives, managers and buyers actionable and timely product assortment insights.

Assortment Intelligence, the newest tool in the Upstream Commerce Retail Intelligence Suite, builds on the company's already advanced pricing intelligence capabilities to expand the arsenal retailers can employ to compete more effectively and increase their sales and profit margins.

Upstream Commerce boasts an impressive number of customers worldwide, including some who top the Internet Retailer 500 list. The company currently tracks millions of products, and has billions of quality intelligence data points going back two years in some verticals.

About Upstream Commerce

More here:

New Cloud-Based Assortment Intelligence Solution from Upstream Commerce Aims To Transform the Way Retailers Merchandise