Eric Dane's McSteamy To Exit Grey's Anatomy

Grey's Anatomy creator Shonda Rhimes has revealed that Eric Dane's McSteamy a.k.a. plastic surgeon Dr. Mark Sloan is checking out of the show.

Leaving

"We're a big family here at Grey's with a long history together and Eric will always remain part of our family," she said in a statement. "I wish him the best and I look forward to watching him as he continues to steam up the big and small screen."

Indeed, it was Eric's decision to leave the show after six years to pursue other opportunities.

How will McSteamy exit the show after making such a memorable entrance (um, he came out of the shower with just a strategically placed towel!)? Shonda did not spill the beans on the details but an insider dished that Eric will return for several episodes of the upcoming Season Nine to get a proper send-off.

For those keeping count, Eric is the latest to leave the show in the wake of the Season Eight cliffhanger finale. Chyler Leigh, who plays Dr. Lexie Grey and Kim Raver, who portrays Dr. Teddy Altman, will also not be returning to the show. The rest of the cast however are coming back for two more years.

Link:
Eric Dane's McSteamy To Exit Grey's Anatomy

Eric Dane quits Grey's Anatomy

Actor Eric Dane has quit hit US medical drama Grey's Anatomy.

The star, who portrayed Dr Mark 'McSteamy' Sloan in creator Shonda Rhimes' show since 2006, has decided it's time to hang up his scrubs.

"I am extremely grateful to everyone at Grey's, (US network) ABC and Shondaland for the experience and memories I have had over the course of this run. It has been wonderful to work alongside and learn from a creative force such as Shonda Rhimes," he told TVLine.com.

Rhimes has branded Sloan "one of the most beloved characters on Grey's Anatomy" and adds, "(Dane) did not come to this decision lightly, but after much consideration and conversations, he and I have decided that this is the right time for his storyline to end.

"We're a big family here at Grey's with a long history together and Eric will always remain an important part of our family. I wish him the best and I look forward to watching him as he continues to steam up the big and small screen."

The ninth season of the show, which will be Dane's last, is set to debut in the US in September.

Continue reading here:
Eric Dane quits Grey's Anatomy

Shocker! Eric Dane leaving 'Grey's Anatomy'

Grey's Anatomy fans will have to say goodbye to McSteamy! The infamous Mark Sloan, played by actor Eric Dane, is reportedly leaving the hit ABC series, much to the dismay of female fans everywhere.

We last saw Sloan in a hospital bed close to death at the end of season 8 and, although creator Shonda Rhimes hints that this isn't the last we are going to see of the dreamy doc, a statement from Dane himself proves otherwise.

"I am extremely grateful to everyone at Grey's , ABC and Shondaland for the experience and memories I have had over the course of this run. It has been wonderful to work alongside and learn from a creative force such as Shonda Rhimes," Dane says in a statement to TV Line.

At the end of season 8, Dane's character was clinging to life after a horrible plane crash that killed his love, Lexie (Chyler Leigh). E! Online spoke with Rhimes after the finale, who said, "They're still out there in the forest, and we don't know if they are going to be OK," she teased. "We left it open for a reason becauseI hate to say this, but just because you saw people alive at the end of the finale doesn't mean they're going to be alive when the season starts up. We are completely jumping off into the unknown next season."

Rhimes also claims that Dane's decision to leave the show was a tough one. As "one of the most beloved characters on the show," Dane had many conversations with Rhimes before they finally decided that it was time for McSteamy's story line to end.

The ninth season of Grey's Anatomy begins Sept. 27 on ABC. We can only imagine what will happen this season!

INFDaily

See original here:
Shocker! Eric Dane leaving 'Grey's Anatomy'

Next Space Station Crew to Try 'Fishy' Science

When the next Russian-built Soyuz capsule launches to the International Space Station in October, it will deliver three new crewmembers to the orbiting outpost. But the trio of spaceflyers will be sharing their ride with some special cargo: 32 small fish for a science experiment at the space lab.

NASA astronaut Kevin Ford and Russian cosmonauts Evgeny Tarelkin and Oleg Novitskiy are scheduled to launch to the International Space Station on Oct. 15 from the Baikonour Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Their Soyuz TMA-06M capsule will also be carrying 32 medaka fish a type of fish native to Southeast Asia to the orbiting complex.

"They'll be on our Soyuz with us 32 fish, plus the three of us," Ford told reporters in a news briefing Thursday (July 26).

The medakas will become part of an experiment carried out on the station to investigate the effects of microgravity on fish. The astronauts aboard the outpost will monitor changes in the fish as they live in orbit. [7 Everyday Things that Happen Strangely In Space]

"When we come onboard, one of the first items will be to get these fish transferred and into their habitat and get the experiment underway," Ford explained.

The fish will stay in a special aquatic habitat that is being delivered to the space station by a robotic Japanese cargo freighter. The Japanese unmanned H-2 Transfer Vehicle-3, or HTV-3, launched into orbit on July 20, and will arrive at the space station tomorrow (July 27).

Scientists are particularly interested in how the skeletal systems of fish change in the near weightless environment aboard the space station, said Julie Robinson, an International Space Station program scientist.

It has long been known that exposure to microgravity for extended periods of time can carry negative consequences, including loss of muscle and bone density. To prevent lasting harmful effects, space station astronauts adhere to rigorous exercise regimens, and doctors on the ground closely monitor their health.

But experiments such as the one with medaka fish do not hold potential benefits for only spaceflyers. The results of these types of studies can have far-reaching effects on Earth, too.

"It's an experiment, essentially, for osteoporosis," Ford explained.

See more here:

Next Space Station Crew to Try 'Fishy' Science

Sally still rides

With the nation's space shuttle fleet retired and humans of all races and genders permanently in space aboard the International Space Station, the thrill, novelty and danger of space flight has receded a bit from the public imagination.

The death this week of Sally Ride, the first American woman in space, offered a reminder of a time when each new flight was marked by great anticipation and milestones were marked not only by scientific advancement, but by human progress.

In the months leading to Ms. Ride's first flight, billboards across the land proclaimed the event with the famous line from "Mustang Sally" - "Ride, Sally Ride!"

That bravado hearkened to the earlier days of the program, when astronauts were converted test pilots and perceived as devil-may-care cowboys.

Ms. Ride was anything but. She was a scientist, the holder of four degrees from Stanford University, including a Ph.D. in physics.

Although her realm was science, she also embraced he role as a pioneer and used it to advance the cause of women in the sciences. She founded Sally Ride Science, a company dedicated to getting more women and girls involved in science study and enterprise.

Ms. Ride's death of pancreatic cancer is a loss to that cause and a reminder of what has been lost by the nation's diminished commitment to human space flight - the potential not just for scientific advancement bt for human greatness.

Read the original post:

Sally still rides

Sally Ride gave nation pride in human progress

With the nation's space shuttle fleet retired and humans of all races and genders permanently in space aboard the International Space Station, the thrill, novelty and danger of space flight has receded a bit from the public imagination.

The death this week of Sally Ride, the first American woman in space, offered a reminder of a time when each new flight was marked by great anticipation and milestones were marked not only by scientific advancement, but by human progress.

In the months leading to Ride's first flight, billboards across the land proclaimed the event with the famous line from "Mustang Sally" - "Ride, Sally Ride!"

That bravado hearkened to the earlier days of the program, when astronauts were converted test pilots and perceived as devil-may-care cowboys.

Ride was anything but. She was a scientist, the holder of four degrees from Stanford University, including a Ph.D. in physics.

Although her realm was science, she also embraced he role as a pioneer and used it to advance the cause of women in the sciences. She founded Sally Ride Science, a company dedicated to getting more women and girls involved in science study and enterprise.

Ride's death to pancreatic cancer is a loss to that cause and a reminder of what has been lost by the nation's diminished commitment to human space flight -- the potential not just for scientific advancement bt for human greatness.

Visit link:

Sally Ride gave nation pride in human progress

President of American College of Emergency Physicians to Keynote 10th Annual Advanced Emergency & Acute Care Medicine …

PARSIPPANY, NJ--(Marketwire -07/27/12)- David Seaberg, MD, FACEP, president of the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP), will be the keynote speaker at the 10th Annual Emergency and Acute Care Medicine Conference. The conference will be held Sept. 5-8, 2012, at the Sheraton Atlantic City Convention Center Hotel in Atlantic City, N.J.

Dr. Seaberg is dean and professor at the University of Tennessee College of Medicine, Chattanooga, and attending emergency physician at the University of Tennessee College of Medicine, Erlanger Health System, Chattanooga, Tenn. His keynote address is titled, "Emergency Medicine in the Era of Healthcare Reform."

Featuring nationally known emergency medicine lecturers, the conference offers a variety of courses on critical emergency medicine topics, including stroke, sepsis, pediatrics, risk management and acute pain management. Separate educational tracks for physicians, mid-level providers, nurses and healthcare executives are being offered. Hands-on skills labs for advanced airway and ultrasound will be presented, as well as a 2012 Life Long Learning and Self-Assessment (LLSA) review course.

This year's nursing track will cover a variety of emergency medicine topics and features national lecturers, including Deena Brecher, MSN, RN, ACNS-BC, CEN, CPEN, president-elect of the Emergency Nurses Association.

A complimentary hospitalist track will be offered to Society of Hospitalist Medicine members in good standing.

The American College of Healthcare Executives track, co-sponsored by the New Jersey chapter of the American College of Healthcare Executives and Emergency Medical Associates, will provide participants with six complimentary face-to-face category I credits.

All emergency medicine residents and fellows are provided complimentary admission as part of Emergency Medical Associates' commitment to education in the field of emergency medicine.

The deadline for online registration is Sept. 3. Visit http://www.bestemconference.com for more information or to register. Onsite registration is available each day of the conference. Follow BestEMConf on Twitter for up-to-the-minute conference information.

About Emergency Medical AssociatesEmergency Medical Associates (EMA) is a physician-led, physician-owned medical practice that specializes in emergency, hospitalist and urgent care medicine. Dedicated to providing exceptional solutions for the measurable success of our hospital partners, EMA is recognized for clinical excellence, quality service and sustained improved patient satisfaction. For more information, visit http://www.ema.net, http://www.facebook.com/EMANews or http://www.twitter.com/EMANews.

Continued here:

President of American College of Emergency Physicians to Keynote 10th Annual Advanced Emergency & Acute Care Medicine ...

Sennen Responds to Liberty's "Open Letter"

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire -07/27/12)- Sennen Resources Ltd. (SN.V) (Sennen or the Company) notes Liberty Silver Corp.'s (Liberty) 'Open Letter to Sennen shareholders' (the Letter) issued on July 26th 2012. For clarity, this unsolicited and hostile offer by Liberty was initiated without any prior discussion with Sennen management, and consequently, without providing Sennen any prior opportunity to conduct meaningful due diligence on Liberty. Liberty's stated intention to remove the directors of Sennen and, subject to certain conditions, delist the Company's shares in order to access the Company's treasury contradicts their newly stated desire of "concluding a friendly deal with Sennen". Sennen shareholders are advised that Liberty's offer is a 'hostile' take-over attempt.

Sennen's Board of Directors, as is their fiduciary duty, is conducting, in conjunction with its advisors, a reasoned assessment of the Liberty offer in the interests of the Sennen shareholders. The Special Committee of the Board of Directors convened to review the Liberty offer, which is made up of three independent directors, expects to make its recommendation to Sennen's Board of Directors, who will in turn make its recommendation to shareholders, on or before July 31st 2012. This recommendation will be set out in a news release and contained in a Director's circular that will be mailed to all shareholders. This process, although expensive and time consuming, must be carried out to comply with applicable securities and corporate laws.

Sennen wishes to acknowledge the overwhelming response by way of unsolicited communications from many shareholders both prior and subsequent to the Letter, which to date has been one of unanimous rejection of Liberty's hostile offer for a myriad of corporate and technical reasons. Shareholders are urged to take no action whatsoever until the Board of Directors has made its recommendation.

Sennen has approximately $13.5M in the treasury and no debt. The Company's management and Board of Directors combined have over 125 years of relevant experience in the mining and mineral exploration industry. The Company continues to explore opportunities that are increasingly becoming available to cashed up companies such as Sennen, while dealing effectively with the unsolicited Liberty offer. In the current market environment, Sennen's good track record, experienced management and approach to creating and preserving cash has provided the Company with a significant advantage over most of its peers. The Company is not short of "cash, commitment or talent", and is now in a perfect situation to take advantage of the solvency crisis that many junior exploration companies find themselves in.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV") nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) has reviewed, nor do they accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of, this release.

Read this article:

Sennen Responds to Liberty's "Open Letter"

Indian Islands Challenge Supreme Court: End "Human Safaris"

Survival International Press Release

July 24, 2012

Indian Islands Challenge Supreme Court Move To End Human Safaris A ruling by Indias Supreme Court which would have drastically curtailed the notorious human safaris in the Andaman Islands is being ignored by the islands authorities.

Earlier this month Indias Supreme Court imposed a 5-kilometer buffer zone around the Jarawa Reserve, to help reduce the exploitation of the tribe by tourists.

The ruling puts an end to tourist resorts near the Reserve, and closes other commercial attractions such as the Islands mud volcano and limestone caves. However, at the time of going to press, more than two weeks on, the volcano and caves remain open.

Activists have welcomed the ruling as, even though it did not close the Andaman Trunk Road (ATR) that runs through the Reserve, it would significantly reduce the amount of traffic using it.

At least 250 vehicles use the road through the Reserve on a daily basis, and many are tour operators, transporting visitors from the south of the islands. Officially they are travelling to see the volcano and caves, but for many their real reason for taking the trip is for the human safari en route. If enacted properly, the new buffer zone will significantly minimise the number of tourists on the road, as there will be little reason for tour operators to use the ATR.

However, the Andaman administration is refusing to close the volcano and cave sites, having appealed for the Supreme Court to exclude them from its recent order.

The Andaman administration has now filed a plea to the Supreme Court for an eight-week suspension period so it can submit plans for a new buffer zone. It is believed that these will not include the cave and volcano.

Survival Internationals Director Stephen Corry said today, The Supreme Court missed an opportunity by leaving the ATR open - the main artery to Indias human safaris. However the decision to close the caves and mud volcano is a positive step and would deny tour operators the chance to run human safaris by stealth. If the mud volcano and limestone caves remain open, hundreds of tourists will continue to drive through the reserve every day ogling at the Jarawa. The Andaman administration must demonstrate its commitment to ending these tours by closing the cave and volcano.

Link:

Indian Islands Challenge Supreme Court: End "Human Safaris"

Health care law cuts funds used to treat illegal immigrants

All contents Copyright 2012 The Denver Post or other copyright holders. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed for any commercial purpose.

Advertise / Media Kit | Archives | Careers | Contact Us | Ethics Policy | E-mail Alerts | Mobile | Privacy Policy | Web Feeds | RSS | My Yahoo | Repurposing Denver Post content - Guidelines | Site Map | Home Delivery | Terms of Use

Our other sites: Viva Colorado | Boulder Daily Camera | Boulder's Colorado Daily | Broomfield Enterprise | Sterling Colorado Journal-Advocate Estes Park Trail-Gazette | The Lamar Ledger | The Fort Morgan Times | Brush (Colorado) News-Tribune

See the rest here:

Health care law cuts funds used to treat illegal immigrants

Coventry Health Care Reports Second Quarter Earnings

BETHESDA, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Coventry Health Care, Inc. (CVH) today reported consolidated operating results for the quarter ended June 30, 2012. Operating revenues totaled $3.5 billion for the quarter, with net earnings of $91.7 million or earnings per diluted share (EPS) of $0.65. These results include a one-time $7.7 million, or $0.03 EPS, impairment charge resulting from the write down of intangible assets due to the non-renewal of the Companys Kansas Medicaid contract effective January 1, 2013.

Our second quarter results reflect strong performance in our Government Programs businesses including significant improvement in our Medicaid operations and sequential growth in our Medicare products, said Allen F. Wise, chairman and chief executive officer of Coventry. We remain on track for our full year consolidated 2012 EPS guidance and, although there remains a great deal of work to be done, I am encouraged by the financial and operational progress that we have made in our Kentucky Medicaid business.

Second Quarter 2012 Consolidated Highlights

Selected Second Quarter 2012 Highlights

2012 Full Year Guidance

Mr. Allen F. Wise, chairman and chief executive officer of Coventry, will host a conference call at 8:30 a.m. ET on Friday, July 27, 2012. To listen to the call, dial toll-free at (888) 334-3001 or, for international callers, (719) 325-2460. Callers will be asked to identify themselves and their affiliations. The conference call will also be webcast from Coventrys Investor Relations site at http://www.coventryhealthcare.com. Coventry asks participants on both the call and webcast to review and be familiar with its filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. A replay of the call will be available for one week at (888) 203-1112 or, for international callers, (719) 457-0820. The access code is 4038961.

This press release contains forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are defined as statements that are not historical facts and include those statements relating to future events or future financial performance, including the guidance herein. Actual performance may be significantly impacted by certain risks and uncertainties including those described in Coventrys Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, Coventrys Quarterly Report for the quarter ending March 31, 2012, and Coventrys subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Among the risk factors that may materially affect Coventrys business, operations or financial condition are the ability to accurately estimate and control future health care costs; the ability to increase premiums to offset increases in the Companys health care costs; general economic conditions and disruptions in the financial markets; changes in legal requirements from recently enacted federal or state laws or regulations, court decisions, or government investigations or proceedings; guaranty fund assessments under state insurance guaranty association law; changes in government funding and various other risks associated with our participation in Medicare and Medicaid programs; our ability to effectively implement and manage our Kentucky Medicaid program, including the implementation of appropriate risk adjustment revenue and management of the associated medical cost and the effect on our MLR; a reduction in the number of members in the Companys health plans; the Companys ability to acquire additional managed care businesses and the Companys ability to successfully integrate acquired businesses into its operations; an ability to attract new members or to increase or maintain premium rates; the non-renewal or termination of the Companys government contracts, unsuccessful bids for business with government agencies or renewal of government contracts on less than favorable terms; failure of independent agents and brokers to continue to market the Companys products to employers; a failure to obtain cost-effective agreements with a sufficient number of providers that could result in higher medical costs and a decrease in membership; negative publicity regarding the managed health care industry generally or the Company in particular; a failure to effectively protect, maintain, and develop our information technology systems; compromises of the Companys data security; periodic reviews, audits and investigations under the Companys contracts with federal and state government agencies; litigation, including litigation based on new or evolving legal theories; volatility in the Companys stock price and trading volume; the Companys indebtedness, which imposes certain restrictions on its business and operations; an inability to generate sufficient cash to service the Companys indebtedness; the Companys ability to receive cash from its regulated subsidiaries; the Companys certificate of incorporation and bylaws and Delaware law, which could delay, discourage or prevent a change in control of the Company that its stockholders may consider favorable; and an impairment of the Companys intangible assets. Coventry undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements.

Coventry Health Care (www.coventryhealthcare.com) is a diversified national managed health care company based in Bethesda, Maryland, dedicated to delivering high-quality health care solutions at an affordable price. Coventry provides a full portfolio of risk and fee-based products including Medicare and Medicaid programs, group and individual health insurance, workers compensation solutions, and network rental services. With a presence in every state in the nation, Coventrys products currently serve approximately 5 million individuals helping them receive the greatest possible value for their health care investment.

Selling, general, and administrative

Here is the original post:

Coventry Health Care Reports Second Quarter Earnings

AI and the ancient game of Go give new insight into expertise

Go is a game that has been played in China for over 2000 years.

Using a traditional Chinese board game and artificial intelligence, researchers at the University of Sydney and Charles Sturt University have gained new insight into how expertise develops.

The findings, published this month in Nature's scientific reports (PDF, 1.5MB), will improve our understanding of how we think and help to develop more flexible artificial intelligences.

"In a rare achievement we used artificial neural networks, made up of hundreds of thousands of neurons each, to model how an expert rapidly evaluates a situation and narrows their choices down to the best options," said lead author Dr Michael Harr from the University's School of Psychology.

"As a species we are specialists, we can become experts in the most remarkably abstract tasks, but it has proven to be incredibly difficult to reproduce this because we understand it so poorly. This research has taken a significant step in our understanding by replicating the unconscious mental processes of experts in an artificial neural network and applying it to one of the most complex games we play today."

The researchers used thousands of records of professional and amateur matches of Go, a game for two players which originated in China over 2000 years ago.

"Using the data from these matches we replayed the amateur and professional games using our artificial neural networks," said Dr Harr.

"What we were able to do is model the mental processes that experts develop by using simplified versions of biological networks. Critically the networks we modelled not only change the way players think about the game, but they can literally change the way players unconsciously 'see' the game."

This is the first time that these subtle changes in how experts perceive their environment have been modelled. They are critically important for experts to recognise and use but are overlooked by non-experts.

"Importantly and impressively it is all done unconsciously using 'templates'. This refers to the library of patterns an expert builds to swiftly and efficiently cross-match the information they are receiving to identify what is important - before they have any conscious awareness that they are making those decisions, let alone how they made them."

View post:

AI and the ancient game of Go give new insight into expertise

Research and Markets: UK Aerospace Sector: Industry Profile

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/nxh93b/uk_aerospace_secto) has announced the addition of the "UK Aerospace Sector: Industry Profile" report to their offering.

This industry profile helps to gain an insight into the evolution of the industry and competitive dynamics prevalent in the market. It discusses the significant developments in the industry and analyzes the key trends and issues. The profile provides inputs in strategic business planning of industry professionals.

This profile is of immense help to management consultants, analysts, market research organizations and corporate advisors.

Key Topics Covered

Industry Snapshot

This section gives a holistic overview of the industry. It starts with defining the market and goes on to give historical and current market size figures. It also clearly illustrates the major segments of the market which would be discussed later on in the report.

Industry Analysis

It involves a comprehensive analysis of the industry and its market segments. This section discusses the key developments that have taken place in the industry. It also identifies and analyzes the driving factors and challenges of the industry. A description of the regulatory structure tells us about the major regulatory bodies, laws and government policies.

Country Analysis

The rest is here:

Research and Markets: UK Aerospace Sector: Industry Profile

A $6.7 million federal grant to UMass Medical to battle health disparities

By Kay Lazar, Globe Staff

Researchers at the University of Massachusetts Medical School say they will use a new $6.7 million grant to battle significant health disparities in the region by using a grassroots approach that features patients telling their stories to inspire others.

The school announced Thursday that it was awarded a five-year grant from the National Institutes of Health to establish a new Health Equity Intervention Research Center with scientists from UMass Boston.

Low-income patients, and those from certain minority groups, including African Americans and Latinos, often suffer disproportionately higher rates of diabetes, cardiovascular disease and other illnesses. The Umass researchers aim to test various cultural approaches to reduce health disparities.

Lead investigator Dr. Jeroan Allison, vice provost for health disparities research at UMass Medical School, said obesity is one of the most stubborn health problems in the Worcester area, a region with a large low-income population, and that can trigger a cascade of other health issues, such as diabetes and heart problems.

One of three programs the new research center will focus on is helping low-income, new moms lose excess weight after their pregnancies by increasing physical activity and improving their diets. The program will include nutritionists, peer leaders and encouragement from patients who have been successful in losing weight and who will share their stories, Allison said.

When someone looks like you and you see yourself in their world, you sort of enter their world and become more open and receptive to the idea, Allison said. It taps into the community itself as a source of wisdom, as opposed to putting all the authority on the physicans.

The idea of using storytelling comes from Allisons earlier work in Alabama that found that patients could better control their blood pressure if they heard stories from other patients who were successfully controlling their hypertension.

We found story telling to be amazingly effective, often as successful as prescribing a drug, Allison said.

The grant money will also be used to fund two other programs. One, in the Springfield area, will focus on the high rates of teen pregnancies and HIV in the Puerto Rican community by encouraging conversations between mothers and children about sexuality.

Here is the original post:
A $6.7 million federal grant to UMass Medical to battle health disparities

Focus turns to state investigator in UCLA lab death case

Criminal proceedings against UCLA chemistry professor Patrick Harran took a bizarre turn Thursday when the defense alleged in court papers that the state's chief investigator in the accidental death of a lab worker committed murder as a teenager in 1985.

The investigator, Brian Baudendistel, denied it.

"It's not true," he told The Times earlier this week. "Look, it's not me."

Baudendistel, a senior special investigator for the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health, was instrumental in building the criminal case against Harran and UCLA with a 95-page report that blamed both in the death of 23-year-old Sheharbano "Sheri" Sangji. She suffered fatal burns when a experiment burst into flames in December 2008.

Sangji, who graduated that year from Pomona College in Claremont with a bachelor's degree in chemistry, had worked in Harran's organic chemistry lab for less than three months. She was transferring about 1.8 ounces of t-butyl lithium from one sealed container to another when a plastic syringe came apart in her hands, spewing a chemical compound that ignites when exposed to air. The synthetic sweater she was wearing caught fire and melted onto her skin. She died 18 days later.

From the outset, UCLA and Harran have cast her death as a tragic accident and said she was a seasoned chemist who was trained in the experiment and chose not to wear a protective lab coat.

In late December, however, the Los Angeles County district attorney's office charged Harran and the UC regents with three counts each of willfully violating occupational safety and health standards. After months of plea negotiations, the defendants are due back in Superior Court on Friday to be arraigned or to announce if any deals have been struck.

In his filing, which includes a motion to quash Harran's arrest warrant, his defense attorney, Thomas O'Brien, signaled that he would seek to put Baudendistel's credibility on trial. The filing states that a judge would not have relied on the investigator's report in issuing a warrant for Harran if the investigator's juvenile record had been known.

"Incredibly, the affidavit failed to disclose ... that at age 16, Investigator Baudendistel murdered a man in cold blood during a failed drug deal and almost certainly lied or deliberately misled the District Attorney within the past two months about his involvement in that heinous crime," the filing states.

If the warrant were quashed, Harran's lawyers contend, it would mean that "no prosecution was properly brought" against Harran within the three-year statute of limitations. That could mean the charges would have to be dropped.

Read the original:
Focus turns to state investigator in UCLA lab death case

Former students sues school over "C+"

ALBANY, Calif. (KGO) -- A former Albany High School student is taking legal action for a "C+" he received in chemistry. Bowen Bethards say he was earning an "A" in the class until the teacher refused to let him make up missed work.

Based on grades, Bowen is a good student. In his first two years at Albany High School, he received only two "Bs," the rest were "As", which is why he was so devastated when he received a "C+" in chemistry, a grade he and his mother say, he didn't deserve.

Bethards is a year away from college and dreams of going to UCLA. But the "C+" he received in chemistry his sophomore year at Albany High could jeopardize his chances.

He and his mother Laureen are now suing the chemistry teacher, the principal and the district.

"They allowed a rogue teacher to deny him what he had worked so hard for and what he had earned to basically steal from him," Laureen Bethards said.

She says the whole ordeal began when Bowen missed a lab to attend an adoption hearing of his younger sister. Bethards says the teacher, award-winning, district veteran Peggy Carlock initially agreed to let Bowen make-up the lab, but then changed her mind and gave him a failing grade for lab work.

Bethards says because of that, Bowen's "A+" in chemistry turned into a "C+" for the semester.

"If Laureen is a helicopter mom, she's a Black Hawk attack helicopter and we're going to get justice," family attorney Daniel Horowitz said.

District officials have since changed Bowen's "C+" to a "B", but the Bethards family wants either an "A+" or the opportunity to make up the missed work. They are also seeking $10,000 from the district and damages for severe emotional distress.

Bowen's mom says there is much at stake.

Continue reading here:
Former students sues school over "C+"

Onyx Pharmaceuticals and Sarepta Therapeutics Showing Investors Strong Gains in 2012 – Biotech Industry Booming

NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire -07/26/12)- The Biotechnology Industry has been soaring in 2012 as companies -- both large and small -- have shown impressive growth. The SPDR S&P Biotech ETF (XBI) and the First Trust NYSE Arca Biotech Index ETF (FBT) year-to-date are up 38 percent and 37 percent, respectively, outperforming the broader market by a wide margin. The Paragon Report examines investing opportunities in the Biotechnology Industry and provides equity research on Onyx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (ONXX) and Sarepta Therapeutics Inc. (SRPT).

Access to the full company reports can be found at: http://www.ParagonReport.com/ONXX http://www.ParagonReport.com/SRPT

Despite having to negotiate a more challenging regulation process biotech companies have continued to show investors strong gains in 2012. The FDA Amendments Act of 2007 forced regulators to increase standards for approvals of new drugs, introducing mandatory risk evaluation and mitigation strategies. According to a Pharmaceuticals & Biotechnology report from IMAP, several pharmaceutical firms have altered their drug portfolios from primary care driven blockbusters towards specialties such as oncology, immunology and inflammation, where the medical need is "so high that prices are more easily accepted by the regulators."

Paragon Report releases regular market updates on the Biotechnology Industry so investors can stay ahead of the crowd and make the best investment decisions to maximize their returns. Take a few minutes to register with us free at http://www.ParagonReport.com and get exclusive access to our numerous stock reports and industry newsletters.

Onyx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a global biopharmaceutical company engaged in the development and commercialization of innovative therapies for improving the lives of people with cancer. The company recently announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have granted accelerated approval of Kyprolis. Shares of the company are up over 70 percent year-to-date.

Sarepta Therapeutics -- formerly AVI BioPharma -- is focused on developing first-in-class RNA-based therapeutics to improve and save the lives of people affected by serious and life-threatening rare and infectious diseases. Shares of the company soared over 140 percent after they released positive clinical results for their lead drug candidate eteplirsen.

The Paragon Report has not been compensated by any of the above-mentioned publicly traded companies. Paragon Report is compensated by other third party organizations for advertising services. We act as an independent research portal and are aware that all investment entails inherent risks. Please view the full disclaimer at: http://www.paragonreport.com/disclaimer

Follow this link:
Onyx Pharmaceuticals and Sarepta Therapeutics Showing Investors Strong Gains in 2012 - Biotech Industry Booming

Eric Dane's McSteamy To Exit Grey's Anatomy

Grey's Anatomy creator Shonda Rhimes has revealed that Eric Dane's McSteamy a.k.a. plastic surgeon Dr. Mark Sloan is checking out of the show.

Leaving

"We're a big family here at Grey's with a long history together and Eric will always remain part of our family," she said in a statement. "I wish him the best and I look forward to watching him as he continues to steam up the big and small screen."

Indeed, it was Eric's decision to leave the show after six years to pursue other opportunities.

How will McSteamy exit the show after making such a memorable entrance (um, he came out of the shower with just a strategically placed towel!)? Shonda did not spill the beans on the details but an insider dished that Eric will return for several episodes of the upcoming Season Nine to get a proper send-off.

For those keeping count, Eric is the latest to leave the show in the wake of the Season Eight cliffhanger finale. Chyler Leigh, who plays Dr. Lexie Grey and Kim Raver, who portrays Dr. Teddy Altman, will also not be returning to the show. The rest of the cast however are coming back for two more years.

Read more from the original source:
Eric Dane's McSteamy To Exit Grey's Anatomy

Eric Dane quits Grey's Anatomy

Actor Eric Dane has quit hit US medical drama Grey's Anatomy.

The star, who portrayed Dr Mark 'McSteamy' Sloan in creator Shonda Rhimes' show since 2006, has decided it's time to hang up his scrubs.

"I am extremely grateful to everyone at Grey's, (US network) ABC and Shondaland for the experience and memories I have had over the course of this run. It has been wonderful to work alongside and learn from a creative force such as Shonda Rhimes," he told TVLine.com.

Rhimes has branded Sloan "one of the most beloved characters on Grey's Anatomy" and adds, "(Dane) did not come to this decision lightly, but after much consideration and conversations, he and I have decided that this is the right time for his storyline to end.

"We're a big family here at Grey's with a long history together and Eric will always remain an important part of our family. I wish him the best and I look forward to watching him as he continues to steam up the big and small screen."

The ninth season of the show, which will be Dane's last, is set to debut in the US in September.

Excerpt from:
Eric Dane quits Grey's Anatomy