Monthly Archives: June 2012

Popeye’s right: spinach makes you stronger

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CARTOON character Popeye is right to down a can of spinach when he wants his biceps to bulge, according to a Swedish study showing why the leafy vegetable makes us stronger.

Researchers at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm said they had conducted a study showing how nitrate, found naturally in spinach and several other vegetables, tones up muscles.

For the study, to be published in the Journal of Physiology, the research team placed nitrate directly in the drinking water of a group of mice for one week and then dissected them and compared their muscle functions to that of a control group.

"The mice that had been on consistent nitrate had much stronger muscles," they said.

The nitrate used "was equivalent to a human's consumption of about 200 to 250 grams of spinach a day, so it's a very easily obtained amount", one of the researchers at the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Andres Hernandez, said.

While no effect could be seen in the so-called slow-twitch muscles used for moderate exercise and endurance, the scientists saw a clear change in the fast-twitch muscles used for strength and more high-intensity exercises, Mr Hernandez said.

The tricky question was determining why this happened.

The researchers discovered that the nitrates had prompted an increase in two proteins, found naturally in the muscles, that are used for storing and releasing calcium, which is vital to making muscles contract.

The protein increase in turn led to higher quantities of calcium released in the muscles, Mr Hernandez said, noting: "If you have more calcium released, you have a stronger contraction."

In human terms, consuming nitrates from, for instance, spinach increases the muscle strength available for things like lifting weights or sprinting up a steep hill.

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Popeye's right: spinach makes you stronger

iWorx Introduces a High Performance, Single Channel Data Acquisition System with Analytical Software for Embedded OEM …

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DOVER, N.H.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

iWorx, a developer of advanced physiology research tools, has introduced the IX-100BE Data Acquisition System with LabScribe2 Software that provides high resolution/low noise recording of biopotential signals for OEM applications. With one isolated input channel and a low voltage stimulator, the system is ideal for embedded biomedical and life science applications where only one biopotential recording channel is required.

The iWorx IX-100BE uses a 16-bit A/D converter to sample data over its full input range of 1V at speeds up to 200 kHz. The recorder also offers a wide selection of low pass and high pass filters and gains and is safe for human connection. The recorder incorporates a software programmable 16 bit, 5V stimulator (DAC). Parameters for the stimulator, such as pulse width, frequency and amplitude, may be changed on-the-fly. Standard protocols include Pulse, Train, and Step; protocols can be customized as well.

The iWorx IX-100BE recorder is controlled by LabScribe2 software, a powerful recording and analysis software package. LabScribe2 has an intuitive, user-friendly interface for setting up acquisition screens, calibrating signals and analyzing data. Up to 128 channels of data can be displayed simultaneously at sampling rates as high as 200,000 samples/second. A comprehensive set of analytical routines have been pre-configured making data analysis and interpretation quick and easy.

More information on iWorx IX-100BE Data Acquisition System can be found at http://www.iworx.com. Contact iWorx Systems, Inc., 62 Littleworth Road, Dover, NH 03820 (T) (800) 234-1757, (F) (603) 742-2455, billm@iworx.com.

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About iWorx iWorx advanced research solutions include high performance recording hardware, software, and components that accelerate metabolic, cardiovascular, neuromuscular and respiratory physiology research. In addition to data acquisition systems, iWorx offers a full selection of signal conditioners, stimulators, transducers, electrodes, cables, and general-purpose laboratory equipment and accessories.

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Barilla Center For Food And Nutrition Announces Appointment Of New Advisory Board Member

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BANNOCKBURN, Ill., June 25, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --The Barilla Center for Food and Nutrition (BCFN) is pleased to announce the appointment of Ellen Gustafson to its external Global Advisory Board. As a pioneer in social entrepreneurship and sustainable food systems, Gustafson is the Founder and Executive Director of the 30 Project, an organization connecting global hunger and obesity and crowd-sourcing long-term food system change.

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Gustafson is also the Co-Founder and a Board member of FEED Projects and the FEED Foundation, a company and non-profit that creates products that have helped provide more than 65 million school meals to children globally. Previously, Gustafson was a U.S. Spokesperson for the U.N. World Food Program.

"We are honored to welcome such an inspiring and accomplished individual to our Global Advisory Board" said Guido Barilla, President of the BCFN and Chairman of the Barilla Group. "Ellen's significant commitment to addressing global hunger and obesity will allow her to contribute an invaluable perspective as we continue to advance our goals at the BCFN."

Established in 2009, the BCFN is a think tank dedicated to exploring global issues related to food and nutrition from a multi-disciplinary perspective. In its first three years, the BCFN has investigated a broad range of topics through published articles, indices and white papers, educational webinars, and public forums, including its annual International Forum of Food and Nutrition that will be held on November 28-29, 2012 in Milan, Italy. Most recently, the Center published a new book with the Worldwatch Institute called Eating Planet 2012, to which Gustafson contributed a written interview about improving access to nutritious foods around the world.

The activities of the BCFN are guided by an Advisory Board composed of experts from diverse but complementary sectors from climate change to economics. The BCFN Advisory Board proposes the issues and contributes to the analyses under investigation by the Center. Gustafson joins the ranks of seven other distinguished Board Members who bring unique perspectives to the Center.

"I am thrilled to be working with the Barilla Center for Food and Nutrition on our joint objective of improving the nutrition of the world," said Gustafson, the newly appointed BCFN advisor. "BCFN's multi-disciplinary approach and commitment to real, open and honest dialogue about the pressing global food issues we face will help put forth strong science and smart recommendations for improving the world's food systems."

For more information about the BCFN, the Advisory Board or Eating Planet, visit: http://www.barillacfn.com

About the Barilla Center for Food & Nutrition: Barilla Center for Food & Nutrition (BCFN) is a think tank founded in 2009 with the goal of analyzing major global issues connected with food and nutrition. For more information, visit: http://www.barillacfn.com/en

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COPAN Partners with INPECO to Offer Track System for Continuous Feeding of Specimens into …

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MURRIETA, Calif. - While attending the 112th American Society for Microbiology General Meeting, COPAN is announcing strategic partnership with INPECO for the connection of its track system FlexLab 3.6 for continuous feeding of standardized tube specimens to COPAN's WASP: Walk-Away Specimen Processor.

With over 500 systems placed worldwide, INPECO's track has been successfully implemented in the main specialties of the clinical laboratory everywhere. INPECO's vision of total lab automation fits perfectly with COPAN's vision for WASPLab, and with this partnership INPECO is looking forward to expanding its track system to the Microbiology lab to achieve full lab automation. Lab automation reduces human manipulation wherever possible to manage workload, avoid safety issues, as well as the risk of mistakes, assuring a full traceability of the biological sample. With this in mind, the ideal solution for the laboratory is to load all the tube specimens in specimen reception or accessioning area, and then use the specimen's barcode to determine which instrument the tubes are carried. In the case of WASP, the INPECO track will automatically manage tube specimens, from loading to storing and disposing. Specimens can be loaded onto the track system in two ways: specimens loaded in a hopper and automatically placed into buckets or specimens manually placed into the bucket holders prior to sending them to WASP.

"Standardization of microbiology specimens to tubes and automatic loading of such tube specimens via a conveyor track system sent from the point of reception limits the number of visits to the WASP to just loading and unloading plates. When used with WASPLab, the only visit to the WASP is to load fresh culture plates," says Norman Sharples, COPAN Diagnostics' Executive VP. "The addition of a track is particularly appealing to large laboratories, as it allows them to greatly improve efficiencies by streamlining specimen handling with less human manipulations and interventions," says Sharples. "The unique open platform of WASP allows this type of modularity, highlighting again that WASP is forward compatible and can converge with other technologies easily," concludes Sharples.

About COPAN Group

With a reputation for innovation in preanalytics, COPAN is the leading manufacturer of collection and transport systems in the world. COPAN offers a complete line of automation and a range of microbial sampling products used for traditional culture analysis and molecular diagnostic assays. For more information, visit http://www.copanusa.com

SOURCE COPAN Group

CONTACT: Gabriela Powers, Global Marketing Manager, 1-800-216-4016, Gabriela.powers@copanusa.net

Web Site: http://www.copanusa.com

Alloys used where metal must form hermetic seal with glass or ceramic (vacuum/power tubes, lamps); or where specific expansion must be met over a certain temperature range (hermetic sealing, optoelectronics, optical/laser benches, composite tooling).

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Sleep And Longevity: 5 Ways Sleep Keeps You Young

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By Shelby Freedman Harris, Psy.D. for YouBeauty.com

We know about the benefits of a good nights sleep -- better memory, attention, concentration and a reduced risk of heart attack and stroke. Sleep improves our mood; it makes us feel like we can do more in the day and gives us a better outlook on life. But in addition to helping us live productive lives, sleep is key to feeling and looking youthful. Here are five surefire ways.

1. You Look More Attractive To Others In a 2010 study published in the British Medical Journal, a group of Swedish investigators looked at whether sleep-deprived people were perceived as less healthy, less attractive and more tired than after a normal nights sleep. Twenty-three healthy adults were photographed after a normal nights sleep (about eight hours) and again after a night of sleep deprivation (31 hours of wakefulness!). The photos were presented to 65 untrained observers who rated them. Results indicated that sleep-deprived people appear less healthy, less attractive and more tired when compared to photographs taken after a full night's sleep.

More from YouBeauty.com: Sleep And Your Skin Tricks to Get a Good Night's Sleep QUIZ: Are You Getting Beauty Sleep?

The authors proposed that humans may be sensitive to sleep-related facial cues, and that these cues may affect your social life in big ways. For example, if someone is well-qualified for a job but hadnt slept well for a few nights, employers might perceive the candidate as being less healthy and more tired -- putting the candidate at risk of not getting hired.

What exactly is going on during those precious sleep-filled hours at night thats keeping us looking and feeling young? A lot.

2. You Stay Fitter As we wrote in Sleep More and Fit Into Your Skinny Jeans, sleep helps you manage your weight. Consistently getting less sleep than you actually need per night leads to slow and steady weight gain. This weight gain can impact how others view you (unhealthy, tired) and how you may view yourself (tired, unmotivated). If you sleep more, youll find it easier to lose weight and will even have more energy to exercise. It is also commonly accepted now that exercise helps us feel younger both physically and mentally.

3. Your Skin Glows Skin grows a lot in our sleep. We develop nearly 30 times more skin while asleep than when awake. Notice those dark circles and bags under your eyes after a poor nights sleep? The skin of a healthy sleeper is more elastic, supple and taut. The more you get a full nights sleep, the more youll have that youthful glow.

4. You're Quicker To Move, And Learn Our mind and bodies learn new things while we sleep. Studying the night before a big test and then getting a full nights sleep can solidify the material in your brain. Pulling an all-nighter without sleep can actually make it more difficult to learn new material. But more than just brain cells learn and grow throughout the night! Our muscles, ligaments and tissues all learn new routines to help us physically maneuver throughout the world --whether it is to help with balance, new dance moves or picking up a new sport.

5. You Boost Your "Youth" Hormones Finally, human growth hormone (HGH) has its highest production during slow-wave sleep. HGH is a key player in keeping us looking young even after weve finished growing. HGH is produced by the pituitary gland and is in high levels during childhood and adolescence. After weve grown, HGH levels drop off and stay at low, steady levels during adulthood. Deficiencies in HGH can lead to reduced muscle mass, slower metabolism, more belly fat and sagging skin. Sleep more, and youll likely increase your HGH levels.

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Sleep And Longevity: 5 Ways Sleep Keeps You Young

DNA given after rugby rape claim

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Steve Tew

South African police are waiting for the results of forensic tests before deciding whether to press rape charges against one player in the New Zealand Under 20 rugby team.

South African media initially reported four members of the team were accused of raping a 22-year-old woman in a room at the Southern Sun Hotel Newlands in Cape Town after the final on Friday evening (SA time).

Earlier in the evening, the team had lost 22-16 to South Africa in the Junior Rugby World Championship final.

"An allegation of rape is as serious as it comes", NZ Rugby Union chief executive Steve Tew told Radio New Zealand today.

The team and management did not leave South Africa until they got permission from authorities and would continue to co-operate fully, he said.

He confirmed at least one player provided DNA samples for the investigation.

There were protocols for teams when they were on trips away, but breaches sometimes occurred, he said.

"But unfortunately, when you have that many young men away on tour some things happen that you'd prefer not to and now we're dealing with the consequences."

South African police officer Colonel Vish Naido told Radio New Zealand the woman told police she had been drinking and had little memory of what happened.

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DNA given after rugby rape claim

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DNA match results in arrest of Port St. Lucie man

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PORT ST. LUCIE

A DNA match stemming from blood left on curtains three years ago during a home burglary helped police arrest a local man in connection with the case, according to a detective and records obtained Monday.

Ruben Toussaint, now 21, was arrested earlier this month on charges including burglary of an unoccupied dwelling and grand theft stemming from the June 2009 incidents, saidPort St. Lucie policeDetective Christopher Fulcher.

At the time, a woman living in a home in the 5800 block of Northwest Hann Drive told police she had returned from visiting her sister and noticed her residence had been burglarized, a report states.

A sliding door was shattered and some electronics were reported stolen. Police noticed what appeared to be blood on a curtain and took portions for DNA testing.

Fulcher said that in March 2011 Toussaint was arrested in Port St. Lucie in connection with battery on a law enforcement officer and resisting without violence. In November, Fulcher said, Toussaint was convicted of those charges.

"Once convicted, they took a DNA sample from him and placed it into this national database or databank," Fulcher said. "DNA from the curtain ... hit on that in the system."

Fulcher said Toussaint wasn't a suspect at the time of the 2009 burglary.

"We didn't even know who he was," Fulcher said.

Fulcher said Toussaint, who at the time lived near the burglarized home, denied being in the residence.

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DNA match results in arrest of Port St. Lucie man

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Too Much Math Turns Biologists Off, Study Finds

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Don't be fooled by their PhDs -- biologists struggle with math too.

But University of Bristol researchers were surprised to find just how strong that aversion to equations is. In a study published Monday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, they found that lots of math expressions in the main body of a research paper meant it was cited less by other scientists.

In fact, for each additional equation in a given paper, the number of times it was cited in other papers went down by 28 percent.

"The biologists I know don't like maths, but I only expected an effect of maybe five percent," co-author Andrew Higginson said in a telephone interview.

To gauge the dampening effect of math on biology papers, Higginson and his colleague Tim Fawcett measured equation density by counting the number of mathematical expressions in a research paper and dividing by the number of pages. They then looked at the number of times the paper was cited.

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Higginson says that in the U.K., the required math for undergraduate biology students will generally focus on statistics.

But "theoretical models aren't statistical, they're like calculus. And it's possible to to get a PhD without doing calculus," Higginson says.

While most biology research is empirical - relying on observation and experimentation - theoretical models, such as an equation modeling population changes in foxes and rabbits as the former preys on the latter, allow researchers to better interpret their observations and to test predictions.

To bridge the divide, Higginson and Fawcett think it's primarily important for biologists doing theoretical work to explain their models in a way that's easily understood by a wider audience.

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MARC travel award announced for the 2012 GSA Yeast Genetics and Molecular Biology Meeting

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Public release date: 25-Jun-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Fran Yates fyates@faseb.org 301-634-7109 Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology

Bethesda, MD FASEB MARC (Maximizing Access to Research Careers) Program has announced the travel award recipient for the 2012 Genetics Society of America (GSA) Yeast Genetics and Molecular Biology Meeting in Princeton, NJ from July 31 August 5, 2012. These awards are meant to promote the entry of underrepresented minority students, postdoctorates and scientists into the mainstream of the basic science community and to encourage the participation of young scientists at the 2012 GSA Yeast Genetics and Molecular Biology Meeting.

Awards are given to poster/platform presenters and faculty mentors paired with the students/trainees they mentor. This year MARC conferred 1 award totaling $1,850.

The FASEB MARC Program is funded by a grant from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, National Institutes of Health. A primary goal of the MARC Program is to increase the number and competitiveness of underrepresented minorities engaged in biomedical and behavioral research.

The following has been selected to receive a FASEB MARC Travel Award for her poster/platform presentation:

Dr. Jennifer Gallagher, Stanford University

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FASEB is composed of 26 societies with more than 100,000 members, making it the largest coalition of biomedical research associations in the United States. Celebrating 100 Years of Advancing the Life Sciences in 2012, FASEB is rededicating its efforts to advance health and well-being by promoting progress and education in biological and biomedical sciences through service to our member societies and collaborative advocacy.

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MARC travel award announced for the 2012 GSA Yeast Genetics and Molecular Biology Meeting

GW announces creation of Computational Biology Institute to conduct integrated research

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Public release date: 25-Jun-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Latarsha Gatlin lgatlin@gwu.edu 202-994-5631 George Washington University

Keith Crandall, a renowned biologist and population geneticist, has been named founding director of the George Washington University Computational Biology Institute. This newly created position will further strengthen GW's role as a leader in science and research in the region and nationally.

As director, Dr. Crandall will define the scientific vision of the Computational Biology Institute and direct the development and implementation of research plans and organizational structures, with the goal of hiring new faculty as well as integrating existing faculty and resources across the university. He will also serve as professor of biology.

"This is the beginning of a true interdisciplinary initiative at George Washington that I expect will positively impact virtually all colleges and schools," said Leo Chalupa, vice president of research at GW. "I believe that Dr. Crandall's recruitment as the founding director of the Computational Biology Institute will be the driving force towards more cross-campus research in many fields including computer science, evolutionary biology and personalized medicine." Personalized medicine is a medical model in healthcare that allows practitioners to tailor medical decisions to the individual patient using genetic or other information.

The George Washington University is one of the first universities to establish an institute dedicated to computational biology. The institute will focus on large-scale integrative bioinformatics and genomics. Informatics are used to answer important biological questions using massive amounts of data, including genetic and molecular data. Many disciplines are becoming more data-intensive, creating a need for the development of new computational tools and approaches that aid in the integration, interpretation and understanding of complex datasets.

To meet this challenge, the institute will foster creation of new positions in computational biology research, enhancing and synergizing disciplines at George Washington such as the biological, biophysical and biomedical sciences as well as computation disciplines such as computer science, math and statistics. The institute will also build upon existing partnerships with regional research centers of excellence, including Children's National Medical Center, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Janelia Farm, INOVA hospital system, Naval Research Laboratory, Virginia Tech-Arlington and the National Institutes Health intramural research program.

"I feel it a great honor to join the George Washington University faculty and direct the new Computational Biology Institute," said Dr. Crandall. "We have an amazing opportunity in this new genomics era to be world leaders in developing and implementing computational approaches to broad questions from biodiversity crisis issues to translational medicine. With the exceptional faculty and outstanding leadership at GW, the institute is sure to be a huge success."

Dr. Crandall comes to George Washington from Brigham Young University where he has served as a faculty member since 1996 and chair of the biology department since 2007. He is a recipient of the Alfred P. Sloan Young Investigator Award, the National Science Foundation Career Award, the National Institutes of Health James A. Shannon Director's Award and a Fulbright Scholar Award to Oxford University. He is past president of the Society of Systematic Biologists.

A recipient of more than $18 million in grant funds, Dr. Crandall brings to George Washington two grant awards. He is the lead investigator and one of 11 researchers from 10 institutions across the country working on a component of the ground-breaking "Open Tree of Life" project funded by the National Science Foundation. Dr. Crandall also is serving as part of a team of researchers studying the affects of the BP oil spill on coastal ecosystems in the Gulf of Mexico.

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GW announces creation of Computational Biology Institute to conduct integrated research

Mannatech Presents Product Science at the 9th Annual International Society of Sports Nutrition Conference and Expo

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COPPELL, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Mannatech, Incorporated (NASDAQ: MTEX), the leading innovator and provider of naturally sourced supplements based on Real Food Technology solutions, recently presented product research at the 9th Annual International Society of Sports Nutrition Conference and Expo, which was held in Clearwater, Fla., on June 22-23, 2012.

The open-label human clinical trial showed that intake of Mannatech products resulted in statistically significant improvements in numerous self-reported measures of physical and mental health, quality of life, memory, and elbow and knee pain reduction.* The 15 retired football players who participated in the study took Mannatechs Ambrotose complex powder, Omega-3 with Vitamin D3, Ambrotose AO capsules, PhytoMatrix caplets and PLUS caplets.

The study was authored by Dr. Robert Sinnott, Dr. Rolando L. Maddela, Dr. Sejong Bae and Dr. Talitha Best. Dr. Sinnott is the CEO and Chief Science Officer at Mannatech, and Dr. Maddela is the Clinical Research Administration Manager at Mannatech. Dr. Bae is a Professor in the Department of Biostatistics at the University of North Texas Health Science Centers School of Public Health in Fort Worth, Texas; Dr. Best is a Research Fellow in the Nutritional Physiology Research Center, Sansom Institute for Health Research, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia.

The International Society of Sports Nutritions annual conference and expo brings together scientists, physicians and athletes interested in sharing the latest science evaluating nutritional and behavioral approaches to optimizing human health and performance. More information about the meeting can be found here: https://www.sportsnutritionsociety.org/CONBrochures/issn9thannualco.pdf

*This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

This study was funded by Mannatech.

About Mannatech

Mannatech, Incorporated, develops high-quality health, weight and fitness, and skin care products that are based on the solid foundation of nutritional science and development standards. Mannatech is dedicated to its platform of Social Entrepreneurship based on the foundation of promoting, aiding and optimizing nutrition where it is needed most around the world. Mannatechs proprietary products are available through independent sales Associates around the globe including the United States, Canada, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Austria, Denmark, Germany, Norway, Sweden, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, Estonia, Finland, the Republic of Ireland, Czech Republic, the Republic of Korea, Mexico and Namibia. For more information, visit Mannatech.com.

Please note: This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements generally can be identified by use of phrases or terminology such as believe, intend or other similar words or the negative of such terminology. Similarly, descriptions of Mannatechs objectives, strategies, plans, goals or targets contained herein are also considered forward-looking statements. Mannatech believes this release should be read in conjunction with all of its filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and cautions its readers that these forward-looking statements are subject to certain events, risks, uncertainties and other factors. Some of these factors include, among others, Mannatechs inability to attract and retain Associates and Members, increases in competition, litigation, regulatory changes and its planned growth into new international markets. Although Mannatech believes that the expectations, statements and assumptions reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cautions readers to always consider all of the risk factors and any other cautionary statements carefully in evaluating each forward-looking statement in this release, as well as those set forth in its latest Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, and other filings filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, including its current reports on Form 8-K. All of the forward-looking statements contained herein speak only as of the date of this release.

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Mannatech Presents Product Science at the 9th Annual International Society of Sports Nutrition Conference and Expo

Sexuality Expert Dr. Rich Blonna Releases New Sexual Self-Help Book; Will Speak at ACBS Conference

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HILLSBOROUGH, N.J., June 25, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Dr. Rich Blonna, author, professor, life coach, and sex expert, will give two presentations on how to unleash the power of your sexual mind at the 10th World Conference of the Association for Contextual and Behavioral Science (ACBS) in Washington, D.C., to be held from July 22-25, 2012. His talks are adapted from his new book, Sex-ACT: Unleash the Power of Your Sexual Mind with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Dr. Blonna is the first practitioner to apply Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to improving one's sex life.

"Don't let the word 'therapy' in the title scare you. The presentations and book are for people like you who enjoy sex but feel something is missing. My work targets healthy folks who want to enhance their sex lives, deepen their relationships, and have more sexual fun," said Dr. Blonna, a full-time tenured university professor with over 25 years of experience teaching human sexuality, stress management and health counseling.

"Your most important sexual organ is not between your legs. It is between your ears with your thoughts, feelings, mental images, and self-talk - plus your values and goals about your personal sexuality and your relationships," said Dr. Blonna, a sex expert. "Bringing the right mind-set to your sexuality gives you the power to fantasize, play, create, and relate."

Blonna's presentations and book help you start to develop the right mind-set by answering such key questions such as:

The Association for Contextual and Behavioral Science (ACBS) is the professional society for Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). The 10th World Conference of ACBS will bring together therapists, counselors, coaches, and other practitioners from around the world who integrate Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) principles and practices into their work with clients.

Dr. Blonna also will do a book signing, which offers sex tips for everyday people on Monday evening, July 23 from 8:30-9:30 p.m., in the Grand Ballroom of the Bethesda North Marriott Hotel and Conference Center.

His website is: http://www.drrichblonna.com

To see video tips on how to unleash the power of your sexual mind go to: Sex-ACT Podcast

About Dr. Rich Blonna

Dr. Rich Blonna is a Nationally Certified Coach (CPC), Counselor (NCC), Distance Counselor (DCC), and Health Education Specialist (CHES). He is the author of four textbooks, two trade paperbacks, and several journal articles.

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Sexuality Expert Dr. Rich Blonna Releases New Sexual Self-Help Book; Will Speak at ACBS Conference

OXIS Announces the International Launch of Online Sales for ErgoFlex(TM)

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BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., June 25, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- OXIS International, Inc. (OXIS) (OXI.PA) today announced the international commercial launch of its proprietary, clinically proven, joint health product, ErgoFlex(TM) (www.ergoflexbest.com). A study published last month in the peer reviewed journal of Preventive Medicine clearly demonstrated ErgoFlex's ability to reduce pain, increase range of motion and significantly improve the quality of life from people who suffer from joint pain.

Unlike any other antioxidant available to consumers, our catalyst ingredient in ErgoFlex, EGT, is referred to as the "intelligent antioxidant" because it is the only antioxidant having a dedicated transport mechanism in the body to deliver it through the cell membrane and even into the mitochondria, the energy producing area of the cell. Additionally, when other powerful antioxidants are also present, the body preferentially utilizes ergothioneine.

OXIS holds the exclusive patent to manufacture EGT, which has received full GRAS (safety) approval. OXIS' marketing partner, engage:BDR, has been developing a comprehensive, full digital advertising campaign for a pipeline of OXIS' proprietary EGT(TM) dietary supplements and anti-aging personal care products.

"This is a major step forward in demonstrating the company's focus of delivering our proprietary EGT(TM) based products direct to consumers. Our partners at engage:BDR have an outstanding track record executing on direct-to-consumer product campaigns and ability to deliver our product message to a much-targeted audience that will make for a very successful launch. I am anticipating significant revenue ramp-up with ErgoFlex with additional products to follow soon," said David Saloff, Chairman and CEO of OXIS International.

"OXIS International's team has demonstrated tremendous expertise in product development, one such being the EGT product line which we're extremely excited to deliver to the market," said Ted Dhanik, president, engage:BDR.

About OXIS International, Inc.

OXIS International, Inc. develops technologies and products to research, diagnose, treat and prevent diseases of oxidative stress/inflammation associated with damage from free radical and reactive oxygen species (ROS). The company holds the rights to several therapeutic classes of compounds in the area of oxidative stress, including EGT(TM) (99% pure L-ergothioneine), known as the intelligent antioxidant.

About engage:BDR

engage:BDR provides advertisers cutting-edge marketing solutions, advanced technology and custom programming by integrating display, video and branded entertainment into a single network. Whether it's driving qualified traffic and leads or building awareness and engagement, engage:BDR is committed to providing innovative solutions to reach consumers and deliver the highest quality results to their partners. Headquartered in Los Angeles, engage:BDR attracts a list of top name partners and customers including Ask.com, Bose, CBS Interactive, eHarmony, Live Nation, Sony Pictures among others.

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OXIS Announces the International Launch of Online Sales for ErgoFlex(TM)

Vesagas: The cultural anatomy of RH bill

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Vesagas: The cultural anatomy of RH bill

Emmys 2012: 'Grey's Anatomy's' Sandra Oh on Cristina's Emotional Season

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ABC

"Grey's Anatomy's" Sandra Oh

Sandra Oh has five Emmy nominations under her belt for her role as Grey's Anatomy's meticulous Dr. Cristina Yang, but it's the ABC medical drama's recently concluded eighth season that the actress feels has provided her best material yet.

This past season on the Shonda Rhimes-created show, Cristina faced the emotional fallout from an abortion when her marriage to Owen (Kevin McKidd) crumbled after the couple swept their baggage under the rug for too long. The story arc, which slowly progressed over the season's 24 episodes, culminated with an emotional scene in which the stoic doc threw a bowl of cereal in her husband's face before they were able to address his infidelity and begin moving on.

As if that weren't already enough, the drama also concluded its year with a plane crash that left claimed the life of one of Seattle Grace's own and left Cristina, Meredith, Derek, Mark and Arizona stranded and facing injuries both big and small. The Hollywood Reporter caught up with Oh to discuss Cristina's challenging moments of the season, saying farewell to two castmembers and the benefits of filming on location.

STORY: 'Grey's Anatomy' Recap: Who Met Their Maker in the Deadly Season Finale?

The Hollywood Reporter: This season has been particularly grueling for Cristina: an abortion, a broken marriage and infidelity, all topped off by a plane crash. Which scene did you grapple with the most? Sandra Oh: It has been an extremely challenging year that has had a lot of ups and downs, both challenging and exhilarating. A lot of the scenes that Kevin McKidd and I did of Owen and Cristina arguing in their apartment was like its own story line. We would shoot all our scenes for a day or two straight, and that was extremely challenging because emotionally and physically it becomes really exhausting. Our finale was extremely challenging physically and emotionally. So, I'd say two things -- our finale and those apartment scenes where Cristina and Owen lock themselves in and just go at it.

Cristina tosses a bowl of cereal on him, which isn't a reaction that Cristina is typically prone to. Wasn't that good? Kevin had to have cereal thrown on him eight, 10 times for that one because we did a bunch of angles. There is that one shot -- and we only did it once -- which was his close-up, which was also my best and most direct hit. He was a great sport about that. Mark Jackson directed that episode, so we had special effects make a soft bowl because I'm not actually throwing an actual ceramic bowl at him. But that was real milk and Grape Nuts. I really liked that scene because that's her first actual moment of connection with him after he tells her the truth. Even though it's physical and it's violent, it's also a connecting moment between them where she looks at him and connects again.

PHOTOS: Spoiler Alert! From 'Game of Thrones' to 'Mad Men' -- TV's Most Shocking Deaths

Cristina rarely expresses so much emotion, which she did a lot of this season. It was a slow burn that started with the season premiere and carried throughout the season, which is different that the Grey's we've seen in the past. You see her express her emotions with only two people: her best friend Meredith and her husband Owen. To see someone being pulled apart so intensely, which honestly most everyone goes through in their life in some ways, if you're lucky you're completely pulled apart and then you have to pull yourself together, which hopefully will be the exploration within hopefully the next season. It's not like we played this in a couple of episodes; we've played this throughout the entire year, and the reality of the resentments building and things not being dealt with building and betrayals happening is closer to real time in the way that we played it. Being on a show for this long, you don't have to do things boom-boom-boom because you have eight years of history and developing the character. So you can take your time with things and let it soak in, in a different and deeper way. I'm super-proud of this year. Having been on a show eight years, for me to have the richest storyline now, I'm extremely grateful.

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Emmys 2012: 'Grey's Anatomy's' Sandra Oh on Cristina's Emotional Season

Kevin McKidd talks 'Brave,' 'mooning' scene, Scotland & 'Grey's Anatomy' future (Video)

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Kevin McKidd of "Grey's Anatomy" fame was happy to return to his roots with Disney-Pixar's new animated film, "Brave," which is set in the Scottish kingdom of DunBroch.

In the movie, the 38-year-old actor and native of Scotland plays two characters - Lord MacGuffin and his son, Young MacGuffin. The lord and two others, Craig Ferguson's character, Lord Macintosh, and Robbie Coltrane's Lord Dingwall, present their boys to compete for the hand of Princess Merida, the film's heroine, played by Kelly MacDonald. Billy Connolly plays her father, King Fergus.

McKidd disguises his Scottish accent when he plays former US Army trauma surgeon Dr. Owen Hunt on "Grey's Anatomy," ABC's it medical drama series.

"In 'Grey's, I have to be American, I have to be quite controlled. Owen Hunt's a tortured guy and he's very serious a character," McKidd told OnTheRedCarpet.com, while talking about "Brave." "It's nice to be kind of wild and zany and Scottish for a while."

In the animated film, the male characters wear traditional kilts. In one scene, Lord Dingwall moons Lord MacGuffin and others by lifting his up in front of them, yelling: "Feast your eyes!"

"They just kind of said, 'Now he's gonna show his [butt] to you,'" McKidd said. "And I was like, 'What?' That was a lot of fun. The shame is none of us got to really hang out together, you know, Craig [Ferguson] and Billy Connolly. We're all doing separate sessions. I would have loved to have been doing all that together."

McKidd says he owns two kilts in real life and that he was taught to dance traditional Scottish dances when he was a child.

"We were taught that in PE, physical education, in Scottish school," he said. "Every boy and girl [is] taught those dances for kind of like a month and a half, at Christmas time, when it's so cold you can't go outside. You're in the gym hall and you get taught all those dances. So it's like riding a bicycle for me."

"It's so much fun, I can't tell you how much fun that dancing is for me," he added. "It's such a social thing. It breaks down so many barriers. I'm very proud of my heritage."

McKidd began his on-screen career in the 1990s. He and Macdonald both starred in the 1996 movie "Trainspotting," which deals with the drug scene in Edinburgh. The film helped launch the Hollywood career of main star and fellow Scotland native Ewan McGregor.

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Kevin McKidd talks 'Brave,' 'mooning' scene, Scotland & 'Grey's Anatomy' future (Video)

Research and Markets: Republic of Korea Neurology Devices Market Outlook to 2018 – Interventional Neurology …

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DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/bwd77m/republic_of_korea) has announced the addition of GlobalData's new report "Republic of Korea Neurology Devices Market Outlook to 2018 - Interventional Neurology, Neurological Diagnostic Equipment, Neurostimulation Devices and Others" to their offering.

GlobalData's new report, Republic of Korea Neurology Devices Market Outlook to 2018 - Interventional Neurology, Neurological Diagnostic Equipment, Neurostimulation Devices and Others provides key market data on the Republic of Korea Neurology Devices market.

The report provides value (USD million), volume (units) and average price (USD) data for each segment and sub-segment within six market categories - CSF Management, Interventional Neurology, Neurological Diagnostic Equipment, Neurostimulation Devices, Neurosurgical Products and Radiosurgery.

The report also provides company shares and distribution shares data for each of the aforementioned market categories. The report is supplemented with global corporate-level profiles of the key market participants with information on company financials and pipeline products, wherever available.

This report is built using data and information sourced from proprietary databases, primary and secondary research and in-house analysis by GlobalData's team of industry experts.

Scope:

- Market size and company share data for Neurology Devices market categories.

- Annualized market revenues (USD million), volume (units) and average price (USD) data for each of the segments and sub-segments within six market categories. Data from 2004 to 2011, forecast forward for 7 years to 2018.

- 2011 company shares and distribution shares data for each of the six market categories.

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Research and Markets: Republic of Korea Neurology Devices Market Outlook to 2018 - Interventional Neurology ...

Research and Markets: Smart Textiles & Nanotechnologies: Applications, Technologies & Markets Report Provides Market …

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DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/z6snfm/smart_textiles_and) has announced the addition of the "Smart Textiles & Nanotechnologies: Applications, Technologies & Markets" report to their offering.

Textiles are getting smarter, and much of this is being enabled by nanotechnology. Smart Textiles and Nanotechnologies: Applications Technologies and Markets provides the most in depth look to date at the impact of nanotechnology on the global textile industry.

Detailed market figures are given from 2012-2022, along with an analysis of the key opportunities, illustrated with 98 figures and 30 tables.

With over a billion Bluetooth enabled devices on the market, ranging from smartphones to set top boxes, and new technologies such as energy scavenging or piezoelectric energy generation being made possible by the use of nanotechnologies , there are opportunities for the textile industry in new markets ranging from consumer electronics to medical diagnostics.

Market Scope:

This report provides an in-depth presentation of recent developments in nanotechnology in textiles and provides market opportunities to 2022. The market is segmented by:

- Clothing & Apparel

- Home Textiles

- Military Textiles

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Research and Markets: Smart Textiles & Nanotechnologies: Applications, Technologies & Markets Report Provides Market ...

FDA urges testing of nanotechnology in food, sunscreen

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Mary Godleski / AP

By Emily Main Rodale.com

Chemicals, minerals, and other materials 40,000 times smaller than a human hair are being added to an astonishingly high number of consumer products, from peanut butter to socks to sunscreen. And in an unusual departure from its usual innocent-until-proven-guilty approach in regulating consumer goods, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a new statement saying that such tiny technology needs more safety testing before it's used in consumer goods.

Related:The 20th Anniversary Of FDA's Biggest Mistake

At issue here is nanotechnology, the science of constructing materials so small they're invisible to most microscopes. In addition to making things like iPhones and solar panels possible, nanotechnology has been used in sunscreens, where nano-size particles of titanium dioxide and zinc oxide prevent white residues, and in food packaging, in which materials like nanoparticles of silver prevent food spoilage.

Although the technology has been in widespread use for the past decade, scientists still have very little to go on with regard to whether products that contain nanoparticles are safe. Some studies have shown that nanoparticles in cosmetics or personal care products can be absorbed by the skin and make it into your brain, causing oxidative stress (essentially, rotting of your brain cells) while others have found that ingested nanoparticles can damage the colon. Because it damages aquatic organisms and can build up in fish and other species, the Environmental Protection Agency regulates nano-silver, used in a large number of products claiming to be antibacterial, as a pesticide. The nonprofit Friends of the Earth has also warned that overuse of nanosilver can lead to antibacterial resistance and the rise of superbugs, such as MRSA.

Now, at least, the FDA has said that companies who use nanoparticles in food packaging, food additives, or other food-contact applications have to prove the technology is safe before unleashing this tiny technology on the public. Rather than falling under the category of "generally recognized as safe," as nearly all food additives do, nanoparticles will have to undergo additional safety testing, and companies will have to show documented safety records.

Related: The Supermarket Food Label You Need To Fight For

Unfortunately, the same will not hold true for cosmetics. The agency has said that cosmetics containing nanoparticles--sunscreens, lipsticks, lotions, and the like--will be regulated as all cosmetics are, which, in FDA parlance, essentially means not at all.

Even more unfortunately, the same law that allows cosmetic companies to sell untested products also allows companies to be vague on ingredient labels. Any material used in a lotion or lipstick, for instance, can be nanosize without the company informing you of that.

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FDA urges testing of nanotechnology in food, sunscreen

Penn State Hershey Medical Center Selects Avantas for Healthcare Enterprise Labor Management Solution

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LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

(HFMA ANI Booth # 1661) Avantas, a leading provider of strategic labor management technology, services and strategies for the healthcare industry, today announced that Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center and its associated Medical Group has selected its consulting services and solutions in an effort to improve labor performance across the entire university-based enterprise.

Penn State Hershey will partner closely with Avantas to ensure efficient operations across the entire organization while optimizing its largest expense, labor, through the implementation of Avantas proven Healthcare Enterprise Labor Management (HELM) methodology. As a large, educational health system, our labor management issues are incredibly complex and represent a very large cost for the enterprise, said Sherry Kwater, Chief Nursing Officer, Penn State Hershey. After careful consideration, we chose Avantas because we believe that implementation of its HELM model will help us achieve efficiencies and cost-savings across our entire enterprise including 58 practice sites within The Medical Group; all while continuing to provide high quality patient and family centered care to the residents of central Pennsylvania.

This implementation will be rolled out across three distinct phases, the first of which is currently underway. During this phase, Avantas labor management experts will provide in-depth analysis of the health systems labor workforce and operational practices. This includes identifying utilization trends, designing strategies based on demand information, outlining the workforce demographic, identifying trends in staff dissatisfiers and quantifying high-margin opportunities. Subsequently, Avantas will work with Penn State to re-design its resource plan and integrate proprietary, customized predictive analytics. We are excited that our HELM approach to labor management that we have been touting for years is finally becoming an accepted industry model, as evidenced by recent market demand for our consulting services and technology, said Chris Fox, Senior Vice President of Growth and Innovation, Avantas. When a premier academic medical center like Penn State Hershey invests in Avantas at this level, it is great validation of the value of our model.

HELM represents a disruptive innovation for the healthcare industry, challenging organizations to rethink what is possible with regard to labor management in all departments. The approach is comprehensive and sophisticated combining the science of workforce planning, demand forecasting, operational best practices, and a complete set of scheduling and staffing tools. Avantas has leveraged unique client experiences across large, multi-site healthcare organizations to detail effective methodologies that help them rise above departmental silos and implement a consistent and effective way to integrate labor across the enterprise.

To learn more about Avantas and its industry leading labor management solution and services, please visit booth # 1661 at HFMAs 2012 Annual National Institute at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Convention Center in Las Vegas June 25 & 26.

About Penn State Milton S. Hersey Medical Center

Founded in 1963 through a gift from The Milton S. Hershey Foundation, Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center is one of the leading teaching and research hospitals in the country. The 491-bed Medical Center is a provider of high-level, patient-focused medical care. The Medical Center campus also includes Penn State College of Medicine (Penn States medical school), Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute, and Penn State Hershey Childrens Hospitalthe regions only childrens hospital. The Medical Center campus is part of Penn State Hershey Health System, which also includes the Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute, Penn State Hershey Rehabilitation Hospital, and other specialty facilities.

About Avantas

Avantas is an Omaha, Neb.-based company devoted to serving the healthcare industry. Its proprietary scheduling and productivity solution, Smart Square, is the only comprehensive labor management platform developed by healthcare professionals for healthcare professionals. Additionally, its consultation services provide its clients tailored best practice labor management strategies designed to drive substantial and sustaining cost and quality improvements across the enterprise. For more information, please visit the Avantas website at http://www.Avantas.biz.

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Penn State Hershey Medical Center Selects Avantas for Healthcare Enterprise Labor Management Solution