Monthly Archives: July 2012

Dementia app now available on Android

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The world's first mobile application aimed at reducing people's dementia risk is now available for Android phone users.

BrainyApp, which was developed by Alzheimer's Australia and Bupa Health Foundation, has been downloaded more than 200,000 times worldwide since it was made available for iPhone and iPad in November last year.

Alzheimer's Australia national president Ita Buttrose said Android phone users had inundated the organisation with requests to access the mobile app since its launch.

'We have had enquiries from people and other Alzheimer's associations from around the world, including The Netherlands, South Africa, Mexico and Iceland, wanting to know when the Android version will be available,' she said in a statement on Monday.

'It is extremely encouraging to see that so many people want to make active lifestyle changes to reduce their risk of developing dementia.'

The free mobile app tests your brain-heart health, tells you areas that you should focus on, suggests activities you might do and lets you track how these activities have affected your health.

You can also access information about dementia and play challenging brain training games'.

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Dementia app now available on Android

Industrial Nanotech, Inc. Announces Second Quarter 2012 Sales of $402,107

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NAPLES, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Industrial Nanotech, Inc. (Pink Sheets:INTK), an emerging global leader in nanotechnology based energy saving and sustainable solutions announced today that the Company achieved a strong increase in sales in the second quarter of 2012 with sales of $402,107.47. The increased revenues were lead by international sales of their Nansulate(R) industrial line of patented and award winning coatings, which provide the combined benefits of energy saving thermal insulation and protection of plant and equipment against corrosion and severe service environments. Sales to oil & gas industry and government building projects contributed to the increase, as well as manufacturing facility orders both internationally and in the United States. Consumer and commercial orders for their Nansulate(R) EnergyProtect building insulation and Nansulate(R) Crystal roof insulation coatings also contributed. Second quarter 2012 sales represent an increase of 195% over second quarter 2011 sales.

Were encouraged by our second quarter 2012 results, which we believe continue to validate the strength of the Nansulate(R) product line and its position as a leading versatile energy saving technology, with unmatched characteristics of thermal insulation and surface protection, said Francesca Crolley, V.P. Business Development Industrial Nanotech, Inc.Weve seen increased demand in industry, particularly oil & gas, textile, and paper manufacturing, as well as government projects for mold resistance and lead encapsulation, and for our clear cool roof coating in both consumer and commercial markets. The U.S. market is also beginning to show stronger resolve for energy savings in buildings and factories and our domestic sales are also increasing as a result. Our second quarter results and our favorable industry trends are also due to the dedication and efforts of our distributors and independent representatives worldwide who promote Nansulate(R) energy saving and protective solutions in over 31 countries. We have a number of ongoing activities from which we anticipate this strong growth to continue, including opening new OEM markets, the launch of our new fast-cure Nansulate(R) Diamond industrial insulation coating, and the addition of a number of international distributors over the next few months. We anticipate a continued strong increase in sales revenues as corporate strategies initiated in 2010 and executed diligently over the past two years begin to produce the intended results.

About Nansulate(R)

Nansulate(R) is the Company's patented product line of award winning, specialty coatings containing a nanotechnology based material and which are well-documented to provide the combined performance qualities of thermal insulation, corrosion prevention, resistance to mold growth, chemical resistance and lead encapsulation in an environmentally safe, water-based, coating formulation. The Nansulate(R) Product Line includes industrial, residential, agricultural and solar thermal insulation coatings. Additional information about the Company and its products can be found at their websites, (www.inanotk.com) and (www.nansulate.com). Blog: http://www.nansulate.com/nanoblog, Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/NanoPioneer, Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Nansulate.

About Industrial Nanotech Inc.

Industrial Nanotech Inc. is a global nanoscience solutions and research leader and member of the U.S. Green Building Council. The Company develops and commercializes new and innovative applications for sustainable nanotechnology which are sold worldwide.

Safe Harbor Statement

Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: This release includes forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that involve risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, the impact of competitive products, the ability to meet customer demand, the ability to manage growth, acquisitions of technology, equipment, or human resources, the effect of economic and business conditions, and the ability to attract and retain skilled personnel. The Company is not obligated to revise or update any forward-looking statements in order to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date of this release.

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Industrial Nanotech, Inc. Announces Second Quarter 2012 Sales of $402,107

At 46, Ohio businessman heading to medical school

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A 46-year-old Ohio businessman inspired by the service of others is heading to medical school to become a doctor working in an urban setting.

Ive been inspired by the differences Ive seen other people make in the inner city, Bill Downing told The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer.

Pastors, doctors, nurses, social workers, urban pioneers. I felt I needed to invest the rest of my active career on a fulltime basis.

He will enroll at Cleveland State University in the fall in its new joint program with Northeast Ohio Medical University to provide doctors in underserved urban neighborhoods.

Rev. Duane Crabbs, who founded South Street Ministries in Akron with his wife, Lisa, 15 years ago, has worked with Downing for six years and calls him humble and a man of great integrity.

He understands that to impact in a substantial way there has to be a commitment to community, Crabbs said.

After graduating from Bowling Green State University, Downing began working full time at the familys Downing Enterprises in Copley Township near Akron. The company makes trade show exhibits and checkout counter displays.

Five years later, he enrolled at Harvard Business School and received a masters in business administration and now serves as chairman and CEO of the company.

A member of Grace Church in Bath, he began volunteering in urban Akron areas about 10 years ago. Thats how he met Crabbs and became active in his ministry.

About three years ago, Downing began thinking about a new career focused on helping those in the inner city.

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At 46, Ohio businessman heading to medical school

Soon-to-open Cooper Medical School ready to take its place in history

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All Cooper Medical School needs is students.

Gov. Chris Christie and a bevy of politicians, higher education officials and community leaders will gather Tuesday in Camden to cut the ribbon on New Jerseys first new medical school in nearly 35 years.

The school, part of Rowan University, will be housed in a new $139 million state-of-the-art building diagonal from Cooper University Hospital in the citys Lanning Square neighborhood. Its first class of 50 future doctors arrives next month.

As workmen buzzed around the lobby completing the building last week, founding dean Paul Katz said the incoming students are poised to make history.

"There is only one charter class ever in this school," Katz said. "And you have a certain responsibility and obligation to create the traditions and legacies that everyone will build upon."

Cooper Medical School has been decades in the making. Since the 1970s, South Jersey leaders have been pushing to bring a four-year allopathic medical school to Camden to help spur the revitalization of the troubled city.

In the end, it was South Jersey political power broker George Norcross, head of Cooper University Hospitals board, who helped lead behind-the-scenes efforts in Trenton to make the medical school a reality.

In 2009, Gov. Jon Corzine, who had been treated at Cooper after his near-fatal car accident two years earlier, signed an order giving the school the state money and approvals it needed to get started.

Cooper Medical School is opening amid great upheaval in New Jerseys higher education system. The states other three medical schools, which are all part of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, are scheduled to be transferred to other universities under a higher education reorganization approved by the Legislature last month.

Under the plan, UMDNJs New Jersey Medical School in Newark and Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in Piscataway-New Brunswick will become part of Rutgers University in July 2013. UMDNJs School of Osteopathic Medicine in Stratford will be taken over by Rowan.

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Soon-to-open Cooper Medical School ready to take its place in history

American Chemical Society's highest honor goes to pioneer of 'Lego-like' molecules

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Public release date: 22-Jul-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Michael Bernstein m_bernstein@acs.org 202-872-6042 American Chemical Society

WASHINGTON, July 23, 2012 Peter J. Stang, Ph.D., distinguished professor of chemistry at the University of Utah and editor of the Journal of the American Chemical Society (JACS), has been named winner of the 2013 Priestley Medal by the American Chemical Society (ACS). It is the highest honor bestowed by the world's largest scientific society.

The award recognizes Stang's cutting-edge research that has had far-reaching implications for many areas of science, including drug development and more efficient ways to produce gasoline and home heating oil. The annual award includes a gold medallion designed to commemorate the work of Joseph Priestley, who lived from 1733 to 1804, and is best remembered for his 1774 discovery of the gas that would later be named "oxygen."

"Stang is a pre-eminent organic chemist with an international reputation and seminal, creative contributions to a broad spectrum of chemistry," said Gabor Somorjai, Ph.D., of the University of California, Berkeley. Somorjai nominated Stang for this award.

Last year, Stang won a National Medal of Science, which is the highest U.S. honor for a scientist or engineer. He received the award from President Barack Obama in a White House ceremony, where he was honored "for his creative contributions to the development of organic supramolecular chemistry and for his outstanding and unique record of public service."

Stang has pioneered the field of supramolecular chemistry, which is the study of how molecules come together and build new substances with complex 2-D and 3-D architectures. The molecules could have uses as drug-delivery vehicles and as key players in making oil refining faster and more efficient.

"It's like a Lego set with individual building units," said Stang. "You can make complicated structures and systems."

Stang has been editor of JACS, the ACS flagship journal, since 2002. As editor, Stang revitalized and enhanced JACS, culminating in an increase in citations and its Impact Factor. The most-cited journal in chemistry, JACS has received 408,307 total citations and has an Impact Factor of 9.907, as reported in the 2011 Journal Citation Reports by Thomson Reuters. JACS is one of more than 40 ACS peer-reviewed journals.

"For many years, Stang has been a force to be reckoned with in the ACS," said Harry B. Gray, Ph.D., who is at the California Institute of Technology. "He brought new ideas to make sure our flagship journal continues to attract the most important work in chemistry. He has done a fabulous job, and chemistry is better for it."

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American Chemical Society's highest honor goes to pioneer of 'Lego-like' molecules

Biotechcorp updates diplomatic corp on industry developments

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Posted on July 23, 2012, Monday

PLATFORM FOR OPPORTUNITIES: The meeting provided opportunities for both parties to explore collaboration opportunities available in Malaysia and their home countries.

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Biotechnology Corporation (BiotechCorp) recently held a networking lunch with foreign diplomatic corps to provide them with the latest highlights pertaining to the biotechnology industry.

The event was attended by foreign ambassadors, diplomats, as well as members of the foreign trade from the United States, Canada, Italy, Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, Azerbaijan, South Africa, Uruguay, Swaziland, China, and the Philippines.

In a statement, BiotechCorp said the meeting provided opportunities for both parties to explore collaboration opportunities available in Malaysia and their home countries.

BiotechCorp chief executive officer Datuk Dr Mohd Nazlee Kamal was quoted as saying in the statement that the event served as an ideal platform for the corporation to promote foreign direct investments in biotechnology.

It also helped create market access for local biotech products and services, particularly for BioNexus status companies and strengthen networking between BiotechCorp and Diplomatic Corps, he added. Bernama

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Biotechcorp updates diplomatic corp on industry developments

Research and Markets: Japanese Biotechnology Sector: Industry Profile

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DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/7bbdj3/japanese_biotechno) has announced the addition of the "Japanese Biotechnology 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.

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

This section presents the key facts & figures of the country. It also discusses the political environment and the macroeconomic indicators. It analyzes government stability and economic growth of the country.

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Research and Markets: Japanese Biotechnology Sector: Industry Profile

Research and Markets: European Directory of Biotechnology Companies 2012-2013

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DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/lmdmn2/european_directory) has announced the addition of the "European Directory of Biotechnology Companies 2012-2013" report to their offering.

The European Directory of Biotechnology Companies 2012-13 is one of the most comprehensive and accurate Directory of companies and executives in the biotechnology industry that have ever been published. It contains more than 2,000 biotechnology companies and 5,000 executives working in the industry throughout Europe.

This powerful Directory is your connection to key decision-makers in the biotechnology industry in Europe.

No other European directory keeps you abreast of the thousands of personnel changes taking place due to company mergers, acquisitions, consolidations, and staff turnover. This Directory is a must-have for anyone who needs to find contacts in the biotechnology throughout Europe.

This Directory will enable you to:

- Pinpoint key executives

- Profile a market

- Build new business prospects

- Generate new customers

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Research and Markets: European Directory of Biotechnology Companies 2012-2013

Computer Model Maps Organism's Entire Lifespan Completed

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July 22, 2012

Image Caption: The Covert Lab incorporated more than 1,900 experimentally observed parameters into their model of the tiny parasite Mycoplasma genitalium.

redOrbit Staff & Wire Reports Your Universe Online

In what is being called a breakthrough effort for computational biology, researchers from a pair of US universities have successfully completed a software model of an organisms entire lifespan.

The research, which was led by Stanford University Assistant Professor of Bioengineering Markus Covert, used data obtained from over 900 previous scientific papers in order to account for every molecular interaction that occurs during the life cycle of the single-celled Mycoplasma genitalium, Max McClure of the California institution said in a July 19 report.

Coverts team, which also included scientists from the J. Craig Venter Institute (JCVI), then completed a computerized model of the worlds smallest free-living bacterium, which typically lives in the human genital and respiratory tracts, John Markoff of the New York Times wrote on Friday.

According to Stanford, their work, which is detailed in the journal Cell, fulfills a longstanding goal for the field. Not only does the model allow researchers to address questions that arent practical to examine otherwise, it represents a stepping-stone toward the use of computer-aided design in bioengineering and medicine.

Likewise, Markoff reports that experts believe the research represents a tremendous advance in the development of computerized laboratories, which theoretically could conduct thousands of experiments much more quickly than currently possible. It could also help the medical field in their fight against cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, and other serious diseases, while speeding-up the early stages of screening for new compounds and aiding the research of molecular biologists in the process, the Times reporter added.

This achievement demonstrates a transforming approach to answering questions about fundamental biological processes, James M. Anderson, director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Division of Program Coordination, Planning and Strategic Initiatives (DPCPSI), said in a statement. Comprehensive computer models of entire cells have the potential to advance our understanding of cellular function and, ultimately, to inform new approaches for the diagnosis and treatment of disease.

The model presented by the authors is the first truly integrated effort to simulate the workings of a free-living microbe, and it should be commended for its audacity alone, a pair of independent commentators, Peter L. Freddolino and Saeed Tavazoie, both of Columbia University, wrote in an editorial accompanying the article, according to Markoff. This is a tremendous task, involving the interpretation and integration of a massive amount of data.

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Computer Model Maps Organism's Entire Lifespan Completed

NewsdeskHuman energy to power portable electronics

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NewsdeskHuman energy to power portable electronics

Technology created by researchers from The Auckland Bioengineering Institute (ABI), which makes it possible to convert human movement into battery power, could in the future enable people to charge their electronic devices while they walk.

This is because artificial muscle generator technology developed by the ABIs Biomimetics Lab can scavenge latent energy from human motion to directly power devices and put power where it's needed.

Dr Tom McKay, Dr Ben OBrien, Dr Todd Gisby, Associate Professor Iain Anderson and other researchers from the Lab, have been working on the artificial muscle generator technology for the past six years.

Artificial muscle, the main component of the generator, is made of a rubbery material that has mechanical properties similar to human muscle and is capable of generating electricity when stretched.

Dr OBrien says: The advantage that we have over our competitors is in the small and soft circuitry that we have developed which controls the artificial muscle. Previously, artificial muscle generators were seen as unpractical to power portable electronic devices because they required bulky, rigid and expensive external electronics.

Our artificial muscle generators because of their circuitry are lightweight, inexpensive and compact so in the future they could easily be incorporated into clothing where they could harvest energy from the wearers movement, he says.

It means that people would not have to worry about the batteries on their portable devices dying out and because it would reduce the number and size of batteries required, it would mean less batteries ending up in our landfills.

Several international companies are interested in the Biomimetric Labs artificial muscle generator technology and in March this year the research was named runner-up in the Excellence in the Field of Environmental Technology Research category at Monacos CleanEquity investment conference.

The CleanEquity Monaco 2012 conference, sponsored by Prince Albert II, was conceived to accelerate cleantech innovation and implementation and provide expert intelligence on emerging clean technologies.

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NewsdeskHuman energy to power portable electronics

Human energy to power portable electronics

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Technology created by researchers from The Auckland Bioengineering Institute (ABI), which makes it possible to covert human movement into battery power, could in the future enable people to charge their electronic devices while they walk.

This is because artificial muscle generator technology developed by the ABI's Biomimetics Lab can scavenge latent energy from human motion to directly power devices and put power where it's needed.

Dr Tom McKay, Dr Ben O'Brien, Dr Todd Gisby, Associate Professor Iain Anderson and other researchers from the Lab, have been working on the artificial muscle generator technology for the past six years.

Artificial muscle, the main component of the generator, is made of a rubbery material that has mechanical properties similar to human muscle and is capable of generating electricity when stretched.

Dr O'Brien says: "The advantage that we have over our competitors is in the small and soft circuitry that we have developed which controls the artificial muscle. Previously, artificial muscle generators were seen as unpractical to power portable electronic devices because they required bulky, rigid and expensive external electronics."

Our artificial muscle generators because of their circuitry are lightweight, inexpensive and compact so in the future they could easily be incorporated into clothing where they could harvest energy from the wearer's movement, he says.

"It means that people would not have to worry about the batteries on their portable devices dying out and because it would reduce the number and size of batteries required, it would mean less batteries ending up in our landfills."

Several international companies are interested in the Biomimetric Lab's artificial muscle generator technology and in March this year the research was named runner-up in the Excellence in the Field of Environmental Technology Research category at Monaco's CleanEquity investment conference.

The CleanEquity Monaco 2012 conference, sponsored by Prince Albert II, was conceived to accelerate cleantech innovation and implementation and provide expert intelligence on emerging clean technologies.

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Human energy to power portable electronics

Zetasizer µV Used In Measuring Protein Structural Transition

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National Autonomous University of Mexico uses dynamic light scattering for allosteric transition characterization

Using the Zetasizer V dynamic light scattering (DLS) system from Malvern Instruments, Professor Mario L. Calcagno and his team at the Biochemistry Department of the Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Nacional Autnoma de Mxico (UNAM, the National Autonomous University of Mexico) have been able to distinguish allosteric transition [structural rearrangements] in a single E. coli protein. Characterizing protein allostery is challenging because of its sensitivity to experimental conditions, however, a quantitative description of allosteric transition is important in understanding and controlling metabolic and other biochemical processes.

We use the Zetasizer V to characterize the size of proteins and how they interact to produce multimeric forms or even supramolecular arrangements of the protein such as viral capsids [shells], said Dr Ismael Bustos-Jaimes, from Laboratory of Physical Chemistry and Protein Engineering at UNAM commented The Zetasizer V allows us to work with sizes in the range of 1 nm to 500 nm and follow each assembly and stability parameter, such as pH, temperature and ionic strength, guiding us to the optimal production conditions for these virus-like particles.

The sensitivity of the Zetasizer V has additionally allowed my colleague, Prof Calcagno, to analyze allosteric transitions explained Dr Bustos-Jaimes. The size of the hexameric glucosamine-6-phosphate deaminase protein from E. coli changes its shape to a more compact form upon allosteric-activator binding, and this change can be measured.

The Zetasizer V software is user-friendly and in addition to measuring particle size it delivers information about the quality of sample preparation. This is very important when you work with molecules which are prone to uncontrolled aggregation, said Dr Bustos-Jaimes.

The UNAM team studies allosteric transitions and the assembly of virus-like particles (VLPs) for use in diagnostics and disease control. VLPs are biological nanoparticles that resemble natural viruses but contain no genetic material. As non-infective agents, they are suitable for use in the analysis of viral infection mechanisms, vaccine production, tissue-specific drug delivery and as biological nanomaterials.

The Zetasizer V is part of a range of Zetasizer dynamic light scattering systems from Malvern Instruments. For more information, visit http://www.malvern.com/zetasizer

About Malvern Instruments Malvern Instruments is a market leader in measuring performance controlling material properties. These include particle size, particle shape, zeta potential, molecular weight, size and conformation, rheological properties and chemical identification. Malvern delivers the systems, support and expertise that ensure the analytical integrity and productivity needed to drive research, development and manufacturing.

Malverns measurement solutions for scientists, technologists and engineers advance continually through customer collaboration. Complementary materials characterization systems deliver inter-related measurements that reflect the complexities of particulates and disperse systems, nanomaterials and macromolecules. Combining intelligently implemented technologies with in-depth industry applications knowledge and support, Malvern provides customers with the competitive advantage they demand.

Headquartered in Malvern, UK, Malvern Instruments has subsidiary organizations in all major European markets, North America, China, Japan and Korea, a joint venture in India, a global distributor network and applications laboratories around the world. For more information, visit http://www.malvern.com

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Zetasizer µV Used In Measuring Protein Structural Transition

Greenhouse Nutrition Workshop Offered

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BROOKINGS SDSU Extension will host an informative workshop for specialty crop producers on Nutrition for Greenhouse Crops, July 28, running from 8 a.m. to noon at the Sioux Falls Regional Extension Center.

High quality plants are critical to the profitability of greenhouse growers.

Producing a quality crop in the greenhouse is dependent on the overall nutrition of the plants, said Geoffrey Njue, SDSU Extension Specialty Crops Field Specialist.

During the workshop, Njue will discuss the importance of regular monitoring of the growing media pH and EC in the overall nutrition of your plants, and we will demonstrate how to test for pH and EC. He will also discuss how to identify and how to correct nutrient disorders.

For more information and to register for this event, contact Geoffrey Njue, Specialty Crops Field Specialist at 605-782-3290 or Geoffrey.njue@sdstate.edu.

The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of yankton.net.

We encourage your feedback and dialog, all comments will be reviewed by our Web staff before appearing on the Web site.

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Greenhouse Nutrition Workshop Offered

Basey, Samar recognized for nutrition effort

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Monday, July 23, 2012

THE Philippine Association of Nutrition (PAN) awarded Basey, Samar for its outstanding implementation of Pabasa sa Nutrisyon.

The award was received by Basey Municipal Nutrition Action Officer Praxedes Estorninos during the 65th PAN Annual Convention early this month held in Makati City.

Get updates on President Benigno Aquino III's address to nation.

The award was presented by Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Dr. Florentino Solon, former executive director of the Nutrition Center of the Philippines (NCP).

Estorninos said that the Pabasa has now covered all 51 barangays with participants ranging from 30 to 200 mothers, more than the target of only 10 to 12 audience.

The initiative kicked off in Barangay Magallanes last 2010 and the last village to hold its culmination rites next week is Barangay Palaypay.

Our conduct of Pabasa has been successful with the support of the municipal mayor and all members of the Municipal Council. They were present in graduation ceremonies in different barangays, Estorninos said.

The local nutrition official said that the Pabasa has contributed to the reduction of prevalence of malnutrition in the area from 22.3 percent in 2010 to 13.4 percent in 2012. Through sessions, mothers were able to know on how to arrest malnutrition using locally available food.

The National Nutrition Council Regional Program coordinator Carina Santiago said the Pabasa sessions is a participative gathering of mothers informally discussing health and nutrition, and encouraging each other to apply good health and nutrition practices in their homes.

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Exclusion of DNA in missing persons database draws criticism

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A national database to help identify missing persons and unidentified remains is more than a year away, but families and experts say that DNA is the missing piece of the puzzle that the initiative needs.

Judy Peterson has been a proponent of such a database since her daughter, Lindsey Jill Nicholls, went missing in 1993.

I think the DNA databank is just the missing piece, she said from her home in Sidney, B.C. I believe it will happen, I just cant understand why its taking so long.

Ms. Peterson started a petition in 2003 called Lindseys Law, calling for DNA from missing persons and unidentified remains to be added to the National DNA Data Bank, which was set up in 2000 to help police with their investigations.

Melanie Alixs son Dylan Koshman went missing in Edmonton in October, 2008 and she too has been petitioning the government for such an addition to the data bank.

Id give my life to find my son, she said from her home in Moose Jaw, Sask.

Ms. Alix and her husband gave DNA samples to police in Edmonton after her sons disappearance, but they were not accessible to law enforcement in other provinces because there is no national DNA database for missing persons and unidentified remains.

A new index called the National Centre for Missing Persons and Unidentified Remains would store descriptive information on these cases and allow for them to be compared nationally for the first time when it launches in late 2013, but it wont include DNA.

The federal government has been resistant to amending the National DNA Data Bank to include the thousands of missing persons and hundreds of unidentified bodies across the country. It cites privacy concerns and high costs.

Ray Boughen, Conservative MP from Saskatchewan, said that costs could be lowered if DNA from these cases was voluntarily incorporated into the existing database for convicted offenders and crime scenes.

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Exclusion of DNA in missing persons database draws criticism

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Chinese students touring Midwest make Q-C stop

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At age 13, Ruiyang Xiao already knows that when it is time for college, he will study biology or a science-related field.

Soft-spoken but not shy, modest but highly intelligent, Xiao said he loves biology, animals and entomology.

Speaking through an interpreter Sunday, Xiao was one of 24 elite students from China visiting Black Hawk College as part of an 18-day tour of the Midwest for credit in a natural resources studies course.

The course is being offered through the Environment & Public Health Network for Chinese Students and Scholars. The organization is a network that connects students, scholars, business and government institutions in China, the United States and other countries to improve the environment and public health.

The idea is to begin a 10-year relationship between the people of the Mississippi and Yangtze river basins using culture, conservation and commerce as diplomatic tools that support a renewal of the Shanghai Communique in 2022.

Mary Shuda of the Quad-City Chinese Association helped to plan the Quad-City leg of the trip for the students, who range in age from 13 to 17.

The educational program is called Rivers as Bridges. Shuda said the students will learn scientific procedures in field research, wet labs and hands-on experiments in natural resources sciences with study about air, water, biology, soil, fisheries, wildlife and wetlands.

This was Xiaos first trip to the United States. Ive been to Canada, Turkey and Malaysia, he added.

Im from Beijing, and got to go to the Olympics, Xiao said. His favorite sports are badminton, table tennis and basketball.

Yiyang Yu, 13, also from Beijing, is in the second year of middle school.

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Chinese students touring Midwest make Q-C stop

What’s up with that job?

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What does a biological technician actually do all day?

Working in a biology-related business or research facility, biological technicians help biologists conduct tests and procedures that involve living organisms and organic substances. The work can vary greatly: A biological technician might help a biologist in a university conducting genetic research or work for a pharmaceutical company developing a new medicine.

What kind of cash are we talking about here?

The national median wage for biological technicians is $39,480, or $18.76 per hour; in New York, pay is slightly higher. Entry-level wages are usually far lower; those with four-year degrees and seniority will earn more than $50,000 yearly.

What do you have to do to get this job?

A two-year associate degree or a four-year bachelors degree is required. You should have a solid background in chemistry, biology and math, and be very detail-oriented. Most biological technician jobs require proficiency with computers and other technological know-how. Completing an Internship while in school will increase the chances of employment after graduation.

Okay, tell me the bad part.

Some of the duties for entry-level biological technician jobs are rote and not terribly exciting. Biological technicians often work with toxic materials, chemicals, infectious organisms and even radioactive materials, all of which carry risks.

Whats the upside?

Biological technicians may be involved with projects on the cutting edge of biological discovery and scientific advancement. Most technicians work more independently after a few years on the job, and can advance to supervisory positions.

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What’s up with that job?

SL wins Silver, Bronze and Merit at IBO 2012

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Priyanka Kurugala

Four Sri Lankan students won Silver, Bonze and Merit awards at the International Biology Olympiad (IBO) 2012 concluded last week in Singapore.

Pramith Ruwanpathirana of Royal College, Colombo won a Silver, Prasan Thurul Warnakula of Joseph Vas College, Wennappuwa won a Bronze and Janidu Gunarathna of Royal College, Colombo and Madhushani Rodrigo of Vishaka Vidyalaya, Colombo secured Merit awards, Sri Lankan Biology Olympiad Coordinator, Institute of Biology, Prof Hiran Amarasekera said.

Over 230 pre-university Biology students and 205 jury members from 59 countries participated in the competition, he said.

Silver medallist, Pramith Ruwanpathirana obtained the best results in the Bio Science stream in the 2011 GCE A/L examination. Bronze medallist, Prasan Thurul Warnakula has not yet completed the GCE (A/L) examination. Other students intend to follow Medical degree courses in Sri Lanka.

The IBO is an internationally conducted competition, where students worldwide compete for medals. The first International Olympiad was held in Eastern Europe in 1959 in Mathematics.

The remaining disciplines are as follows: Physics (1967), Chemistry (1968) and Informatics in (1989). Biology had its first Olympiad in 1990. Science Olympiads as compared with sports are held annually and intended for secondary school students.

The level of questions is above the standard for secondary school education in the world. Theoretical/practical question papers are 5 hours long, each demanding persistence, determination and discipline.

Gold medals are awarded not only to the top achiever, but to the top 10 percent of participants. The Olympiad offers an opportunity for international exchange.

Students were selected out of 2,300 participants in the Sri Lankan Biology Olympiad competition, conducted by the Institute of Biology, in collaboration with Sri Lankan universities and the Education Ministry, in September last year. Professors Hiran Amarasekera and H G Nandadasa from the Sri Jayewardenepura University and Prof M J S Wijeyaratne from the Kelaniya University participated as jury members.

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SL wins Silver, Bronze and Merit at IBO 2012

Zetasizer µV Used In Measuring Protein Structural Transition

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National Autonomous University of Mexico uses dynamic light scattering for allosteric transition characterization

Using the Zetasizer V dynamic light scattering (DLS) system from Malvern Instruments, Professor Mario L. Calcagno and his team at the Biochemistry Department of the Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Nacional Autnoma de Mxico (UNAM, the National Autonomous University of Mexico) have been able to distinguish allosteric transition [structural rearrangements] in a single E. coli protein. Characterizing protein allostery is challenging because of its sensitivity to experimental conditions, however, a quantitative description of allosteric transition is important in understanding and controlling metabolic and other biochemical processes.

We use the Zetasizer V to characterize the size of proteins and how they interact to produce multimeric forms or even supramolecular arrangements of the protein such as viral capsids [shells], said Dr Ismael Bustos-Jaimes, from Laboratory of Physical Chemistry and Protein Engineering at UNAM commented The Zetasizer V allows us to work with sizes in the range of 1 nm to 500 nm and follow each assembly and stability parameter, such as pH, temperature and ionic strength, guiding us to the optimal production conditions for these virus-like particles.

The sensitivity of the Zetasizer V has additionally allowed my colleague, Prof Calcagno, to analyze allosteric transitions explained Dr Bustos-Jaimes. The size of the hexameric glucosamine-6-phosphate deaminase protein from E. coli changes its shape to a more compact form upon allosteric-activator binding, and this change can be measured.

The Zetasizer V software is user-friendly and in addition to measuring particle size it delivers information about the quality of sample preparation. This is very important when you work with molecules which are prone to uncontrolled aggregation, said Dr Bustos-Jaimes.

The UNAM team studies allosteric transitions and the assembly of virus-like particles (VLPs) for use in diagnostics and disease control. VLPs are biological nanoparticles that resemble natural viruses but contain no genetic material. As non-infective agents, they are suitable for use in the analysis of viral infection mechanisms, vaccine production, tissue-specific drug delivery and as biological nanomaterials.

The Zetasizer V is part of a range of Zetasizer dynamic light scattering systems from Malvern Instruments. For more information, visit http://www.malvern.com/zetasizer

About Malvern Instruments Malvern Instruments is a market leader in measuring performance controlling material properties. These include particle size, particle shape, zeta potential, molecular weight, size and conformation, rheological properties and chemical identification. Malvern delivers the systems, support and expertise that ensure the analytical integrity and productivity needed to drive research, development and manufacturing.

Malverns measurement solutions for scientists, technologists and engineers advance continually through customer collaboration. Complementary materials characterization systems deliver inter-related measurements that reflect the complexities of particulates and disperse systems, nanomaterials and macromolecules. Combining intelligently implemented technologies with in-depth industry applications knowledge and support, Malvern provides customers with the competitive advantage they demand.

Headquartered in Malvern, UK, Malvern Instruments has subsidiary organizations in all major European markets, North America, China, Japan and Korea, a joint venture in India, a global distributor network and applications laboratories around the world. For more information, visit http://www.malvern.com

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Zetasizer µV Used In Measuring Protein Structural Transition

Israel adult stem cell trials – hope for ALS patients?

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TEL AVIV (Reuters) - A clinical trial of ALS patients conducted by BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics shows its adult stem cell therapy is well-tolerated, appears to be safe and does not present undue risk, according to an interim safety review. Moreover, in some patients signs of stabilization of the disease were detected. Israel-based BrainStorm is developing NurOwn for the treatment of amyotrophic ...

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Israel adult stem cell trials - hope for ALS patients?