Monthly Archives: July 2012

Ron Paul Takes Up Internet Freedom

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Libertarians say they have an issue that's perfect for the 21st CenturyInternet freedom. And many of them are counting on libertarian hero Ron Paul and his son, Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, to carry the theme into the future.

The two Pauls are expected to place their personal imprimatur on the Internet issue soon. Campaign for Liberty, a libertarian group supported by Ron Paul, has already issued a manifesto opposing more government regulation of the Internet. "Around the world, the real threat to Internet frreedom comes not from bad people or inefficient marketswe can and will always route around thembut from governments' foolish attempts to manage and control innovation," the Campaign for Liberty manifesto says.

[Read the U.S. News Debate: Should There Be an International Treaty on Cyberwarfare?]

The group also plans to continue pushing for auditing and eventually ending the Federal Reserve, which has for many years been a goal of Ron Paul, the GOP congressman from Texas who has been seeking the Republican presidential nomination this year.

The Internet issue is expected to be particularly popular among young people, who have been a big part of Ron Paul's grass-roots support system.

In a related development, Libertarian Party presidential nominee Gary Johnson, the former two-term governor of New Mexico, is asking supporters to demand that he be included in national presidential polls. This is part of his campaign to push his way into the presidential debates this fall. He needs 15 percent in a series of national polls in order for him to appear side by side with President Obama and presumptive GOP nominee Mitt Romney. A recent Gallup poll gave Johnson only 3 percent nationally; other surveys have excluded him from consideration.

Johnson says his philosophy is simple: he is "pro-choice with regard to everything."

Ken Walsh covers the White House and politics for U.S. News. He writes a daily blog, "Ken Walsh's Washington," and is the author of "The Presidency" column for the U.S. News Weekly. He can be reached at kwalsh@usnews.com and on Facebook and Twitter.

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Ron Paul Takes Up Internet Freedom

Gene Discovered By Scientists Linked To Facial Abnormalities

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Editor's Choice Main Category: Genetics Article Date: 09 Jul 2012 - 12:00 PDT

Current ratings for: Gene Discovered By Scientists Linked To Facial Abnormalities

The finding was published in The American Journal of Human Genetics and was conducted by Dr. Hyung-Goo Kim, molecular geneticist at the Medical College of Georgia at Georgia Health Sciences University and his team.

The researchers discovered the PHG21A mutated gene in patients with Potocki-Shaffer syndrome, a rare disorder that can result in significant abnormalities, like a small head and chin as well as intellectual disability.

The researchers conducted experiments in zebrafish, which developed similar head and brain abnormalities to those found in humans and discovered that their findings were confirmed when they suppressed the PHF21A gene in zebrafish.

Dr. Kim explained:"With less PHF21A, brain cells died, so this gene must play a big role in neuron survival."

To reconfirm their finding, the team inserted the gene back into the malformed fish, which subsequently became normal. The gene was also found in the craniofacial area of normal mice. Even though it is impossible to cure humans just by re-inserting the normal gene as is possible in zebrafish, the researchers believe that their finding will, in the future, allow genetic screening and possibly early intervention during fetal development, as well as treatments to increase PHF21A levels. In addition, the finding provides more insight into a better understanding of face, skull and brain formation.

The team focused on the gene when they used a distinctive chromosomal break found in patients with Potocki-Shaffer syndrome as a starting point. Chromosomes, i.e. packages of DNA and protein, are not supposed to break. However, when they do, they can damage nearby genes. Co-author of the study, Dr. Lawrence C. Layman, who is Chief of the MCG Section of Reproductive Endocrinology, Infertility and Genetics, explained: "We call this breakpoint mapping and the breakpoint is where the trouble is."

Damaged genes can no longer retain their optimum function. In PHF21A's case for instance the functionality is reduced to about half of the norm.

Layman continues: "When you see the chromosome translocation, you don't know which gene is disrupted. You use the break as a focus then use a bunch of molecular techniques to zoom in on the gene."

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Gene Discovered By Scientists Linked To Facial Abnormalities

The health of America

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Health care reforms put forward by U.S. President Barack Obama have passed constitutional scrutiny. In an anxiously awaited, bitterly divided 5-4 ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled the week before last that the bulk of the bill, put into law in 2010, can go into effect.

The decision upholds the most important piece of social legislation put forward in the United States for decades, but in a sad commentary on the static perspective of many Americans, the overwhelming majority of the commentaries and analyses have focused on the politics of the decision, rather than on its impact on health care in the country.

Experts and specialists have long called for reform of the U.S. health care system. President Bill Clinton tried to implement change in his first term in office nearly two decades ago, but that effort failed miserably. By the time Mr. Obama took office, the U.S. was spending 17.6 percent of its GDP on health care more than any other developed country an amount that had steadily risen from 12.4 percent in 1990.

While U.S. politicians claim that theirs is the best health care system in the world, statistics tell another story: Average life expectancy in the U.S. is below the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) average; its infant mortality rate is 43rd among nations; the U.S. has the highest rate of obesity among the 34 developed nations, a fact that anticipates more disease, such as heart disease and diabetes, later in life; health spending per person is more than twice that of other wealthy nations that have universal health care; and perhaps most damning of all, an estimated 50 million people do not have health insurance, while it is reckoned that half of all bankruptcy filings in the U.S. are the result of health care bills.

Yet, almost immediately after Mr. Obama signed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), more than half the state governments in the U.S. filed suits to overturn the law. They alleged that the law's mandate that individuals buy health insurance or pay a fine was an unconstitutional assertion of federal government power that it could not force individuals to take part in economic activity. They also charged that the law's expansion of Medicaid a program for low-income individuals was coercive insofar as a state's failure to abide by the new rules would forfeit federal Medicaid funds.

On June 28, the last day of the court's term, the decision came down. As anticipated, it was a 5-4 decision. Surprisingly, the swing vote was Chief Justice John Roberts, a conservative who was anticipated to have opposed the law.

Instead, he wrote the majority opinion that concluded that while the government could not compel people to engage in economic activity such as mandating them to buy insurance it could tax people who did not. (That the government preferred to not call its actions "a tax" was irrelevant; long-standing judicial principles urge judges to find reasons to support legislative action.) A 7-2 majority struck down the expansion of the Medicaid program, agreeing that such action was overly coercive.

The decision prompted predictable responses. Republicans, who have opposed the law since it was first proposed (even though they backed individual components such as the mandate during the Clinton effort), continued to insist that it was a socialist program that constituted government over-reach, would hurt the economy and would harm the provision of health care in the U.S.

Leaders of the party, including Mr. Mitt Romney, the presumed GOP presidential candidate who will challenge Mr. Obama in the November elections, have vowed to repeal the law on the first day of the new administration.

On the other side of the aisle, Democrats exulted in the constitutionality of Mr. Obama's signature legislative proposal for his first term in office.

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The health of America

Research and Markets: Gene Therapy Market to 2018 – Product Development Slowed by Clinical Failures, Close Regulatory …

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DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/kxltqj/gene_therapy_marke) has announced the addition of the "Gene Therapy Market to 2018 - Product Development Slowed by Clinical Failures, Close Regulatory Surveillance and High Compliance Standards" report to their offering.

Gene Therapy: the Next Big Step in Cancer Treatments.

The fight against cancer is leading a new movement in gene therapy, as the failure of conventional cancer therapies is fuelling demand for new treatments, according to a new report by healthcare experts GBI Research.

The new report* states that gene therapy technology is still in its nascent stage, and high levels of regulatory surveillance in clinical development is affecting progress. However, the increasing potential of upcoming treatments and shortcomings in traditional therapies is gradually leading to broader acceptance of gene therapy in medicine.

Therapies such as chemotherapy and hormone therapy control the progression of diseases, but are often associated with severe side effects, such as nausea, hair loss and abnormal blood cell counts. Once administered, the drugs induce systemic action throughout the body, and patients often die due to the side effects of treatment rather than the cancer itself. The inability of these conventional therapies to cure diseases has created a significant unmet need in the treatment of cancer, as well as Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), autoimmune diseases, and viral infections.

Targeted therapies such as monoclonal antibodies, stem cell therapies, Ribonucliec Acid (RNA) therapies and gene therapies have initially shown better efficacy and safety profiles compared to chemotherapies.

Gene therapy has several promising drug candidates, which are likely to drive the growth of the gene therapy market if clinical trials are successful. Collategene by AnGes MG, Cardium Therapeutics' Generx, and Vical Incorporation's Allovectin-7 are in development for a wide range of cancer indications, and are expected to compete in the oncology therapeutics market as the market acceptance of gene therapy improves over time.

Companies Mentioned

- ReGenX Biosciences

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Research and Markets: Gene Therapy Market to 2018 - Product Development Slowed by Clinical Failures, Close Regulatory ...

Freedom Total Knee® System Now Available in China

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Total Knee Replacement system engineered to address the needs of Asian patients now approved in China. Maxx Medical seeking China-based orthopedic medical device distributor partnersPlymouth Meeting, PA (PRWEB) July 09, 2012 Maxx Medical, Pvt. Ltd., a global medical device company, today announced that its award-winning Freedom Total Knee® System ("Freedom Knee") has recently received State Food ...

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Freedom Total Knee® System Now Available in China

Letter: Act violates freedom of religion

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Freedom of religion is a right, but more than just the right to attend the church of our choice. It also assures that government does not force anyone to act contrary to their conscience. The Health and Human Services Act violates this right.

Catholics believe that sexuality is a gift, offering us an amazing opportunity to participate in Gods creative power. Use of contraception reduces this beautiful gift to a mere act of pleasure, one in which our human desires and selfishness are deemed more important than the higher order of Gods plan. The HHSA mandates that all insurance policies provide coverage for contraception, forcing the Catholic Church and its affiliates (social services, hospitals, schools/colleges) to act in direct contradiction to their beliefs.

The HHSA would also require the Catholic Church to provide coverage for some abortive services. Worse than being asked to sanction the artificial prevention of a pregnancy, is asking Catholics to sanction the termination of an innocent human life. We believe that from the moment a life begins at conception, no one has the right to take that life except the author of life himself. Pro-choice gives an unborn baby no choice. No Catholic (or person of conscience) can sanction, or pay for, that.

Freedom is intended to foster dignity, not encourage depravity. Whose dignity is fostered by either contraception or abortion? I am a Catholic, proud that my faith teaches that Gods laws supersede those of humans. I applaud our leaders for taking this unpopular, yet unwavering, stand.

In doing so, they are not imposing judgment or beliefs on anyone. Rather they are asking that the standards of the world not be imposed on us. May God give us the grace to continue to show his compassion to individuals, while remaining uncompromising in our principles.

GERRY MacLEOD

Greenville

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Letter: Act violates freedom of religion

Freedom Steel Buildings Sets Sail To The Caribbean

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Building projects throughout the Caribbean countries have been on the rise since January and the demand for personalized consultations has been answered with Freedom Steel sending their project managers on an island tour through the Caribbean for the month of July. Responding to repeated requests for onsite meeting to discuss building details, Freedom Steel representatives will be available on ...

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Freedom Steel Buildings Sets Sail To The Caribbean

Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches Welcomes MetLife Producer Scott Storick

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WEST PALM BEACH, FL--(Marketwire -07/09/12)- Scott Storick, of Storick and Associates, an office of MetLife, joins the prestigious Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches. Founded in 1913 by local business leaders as the Board of Trade, an association committed to ensuring the continued growth and prosperity of the County. The Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches strives to support projects that lead to a stronger economy and an improved quality of life.

As a unified voice for businesses, the Chamber accomplishes collectively what no one business can do alone, dealing with the many issues that affect the community's quality of life.

"I am excited to be a part of such an amazing group of people," says Storick. "Being new to South Florida, I'm always eager to meet people who are as committed to helping their community as I am and I look forward to a long successful future here."

The Chamber's strength is derived from its diversity and number of members. These members make the Chamber one of the most effective and respected business associations in the state, providing both input and the manpower to see that the needs of area businesses are met by the city, county and state governments.

Scott Storick is managing director of Storick and Associates, an office of MetLife. Storick is a Chairman's level producer with a rapidly growing list of South Florida clients. Storick and Associates specializes in life insurance, retirement planning, and annuity products.

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Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches Welcomes MetLife Producer Scott Storick

OCEANSIDE: Astronomy buff? Exposition set for Saturday

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Star gazers from across Southern California will be treated to an appearance by Geoff Norkin of the Science Channel's "Meteorite Men" at the annual Southern California Astronomy Exposition to be held Saturday at Oceanside Photo & Telescope.

Norton will display meteorite samples and talk about his experiences searching for meteorites.

Also scheduled to participate in the free day-long event is Stephen Ramsden, director of the Charlie Bates Solar Astronomy Project, a nonprofit group that teaches children about the sun through lectures and telescope observations.

The exposition is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday at Oceanside Photo & Telescope, 918 Mission Ave.

More information is available at http://www.optscae.com

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OCEANSIDE: Astronomy buff? Exposition set for Saturday

Riding the Wave of Artificial Intelligence

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Cognitive Code CEO, Leslie Spring, is seeing his world explode, in a good way. Since the emergence of Siri, the world has awoken to the realities of how artificial intelligence will take on a major role in the way we search and organize our lives. Spring, who’s been building his company to provide the tools for an AI-powered space, is now seeing his work in voice/data recognition and computation ...

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Riding the Wave of Artificial Intelligence

Canadian Aerospace Industry Posted Increased Revenues, Employment in 2011

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FARNBOROUGH, United Kingdom, July 9, 2012 /CNW/ - The Aerospace Industries Association of Canada (AIAC) today released performance results for Canada's aerospace industry in 2011:

"The aerospace industry's performance for 2011 demonstrates the important contribution this sector continues to makes to the Canadian economy," said Jim Quick, President and CEO of AIAC. "The considerable increase in R&D investments reaffirms aerospace's position as one of Canada's largest industrial contributors to research and development."

Over 60 percent of respondents to AIAC's annual survey agreed that there is considerable room for the industry to grow in Canada in coming years, forecasting hiring increases of up to 15% by 2016. AIAC's members have indicated, however, that the changes to the SR&ED tax credit proposed in this year's federal budget may have a significant negative impact on future R&D investment decisions and weaken the aerospace industry's growth.

"2011 was a successful year for Canada's aerospace industry," said Quick. "In a highly competitive global market, we must continue to build on these achievements. The ongoing Aerospace Review will be the cornerstone to maintaining our industry's competitive edge and remain a world leader in this growing high-tech industry."

For more information on the aerospace industry's performance in 2011, please visit http://www.aiac.ca/resources-and-publications/industry-statistics

The AIAC is the national association representing Canada's aerospace manufacturing and services sector. As the world's fifth-largest aerospace industry, Canada's aerospace sector generates than $22 billion and employed 87,000 Canadians. Nearly three quarters of Canadian aerospace products are exported. AIAC represents the interests of 500 aerospace companies across Canada.

Maryse Harvey Vice-President Public Affairs Aerospace Industries Association of Canada 613 760-4562 mharvey@aiac.ca

Kristen VanderHoek Director of Communications Aerospace Industries Association of Canada 613 232-4297 x225 kvanderhoek@aiac.ca

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Canadian Aerospace Industry Posted Increased Revenues, Employment in 2011

Lockheed Martin And Marshall Aerospace Sign Agreement To Increase C-130 Hercules Refurbishment Capability

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FARNBOROUGH, England, July 9, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Lockheed Martin (LMT)has signed an agreement authorizing Marshall Aerospace to become the world's first commercial company to install C-130 Center Wing Boxes (CWB). Marshall Aerospace is also the first C-130J Heavy Maintenance Centre (HMC) in the world.

"As we see the C-130J Super Hercules global fleet expanding, and the demand for the C-130J remaining strong, we need to expand our specialized support network around the world," said Jim Grant, Lockheed Martin's vice president for Air Mobility, at today's signing ceremony. "Marshall Aerospace has unique capability in maintenance, repair and overhaul across all variants of the C-130 platform, including the C-130J Super Hercules, and we are proud of our relationship with them that has spanned many decades."

Steve Fitz-Gerald, CEO of Marshall Aerospace, said: "We are delighted and extremely proud of our longstanding relationship with Lockheed Martin. It is an honour to become the world's first commercial Original Equipment Manufacturer-approved servicecentre forC-130J CWB replacement. Together with our existinguniqueC-130J HMC status, the enhancement of CWB replacement approvalwill position usperfectlyfor long termC-130J global fleet sustainment. This is a significant milestone for Marshall, andbuilds on our solid reputation for providing innovative engineering solutions."

Many C-130s around the world can have their service life extended by having the Center Wing Box replaced. As the main load-bearing component of the C-130's airframe, it is this structure that usually determines the overall operational life of the aircraft.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company that employs about 123,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The Corporation's net sales for 2011 were $46.5 billion.

For additional information, visit our websites:http://www.lockheedmartin.com http://www.codeonemagazine.com

About Marshall Aerospace

Marshall Aerospace is the United Kingdom's leading independent aerospace company and is renowned and respected worldwide for its quality of service, engineering excellence, flexibility and reliability. As an independent service provider, the company specialises in the conversion, modification, maintenance and support of military, civil and business aircraft; and its capabilities include engineering design, manufacture and test; and the provision of personnel, training and advice.

Marshall Aerospace holds many type approvals, granted by national and international authorities, airlines, airframe manufacturers and defence agencies, which enable the company to design and certify modifications and perform maintenance on a number of civil and military platforms. The company has one of the largest aerospace engineering teams in the UK - covering all aspects of design, test, certification and support, in civil and military regulatory environments - and is recognised for its innovative solutions and ability to deliver on-time and to-cost.

For further information, please visit http://www.marshallaerospace.com

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Lockheed Martin And Marshall Aerospace Sign Agreement To Increase C-130 Hercules Refurbishment Capability

Sikorsky Aerospace Services Awarded Exclusive International Distribution of Northrop Grumman's NAVEX-12 Air Navigation …

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LONDON, July 9, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --FARNBOROUGH AIR SHOW --Sikorsky Aerospace Services (SAS) today announced an exclusive sales and distribution agreement with Northrop Grumman Corporation's Italy-based subsidiary, Northrop Grumman Italia (NGI), to equip BLACK HAWK utility aircraft with its NAVEX-12 Air Navigation System. Certified to military standards, the NAVEX-12 provides a lower weight, more reliable, fiber-optic air navigation system for BLACK HAWK utility helicopters. With OEM compatibility, NAVEX-12 will enhance SAS' strategic upgrade program for revitalizing helicopters eventually sold through the U.S. government's Excess Defense Articles (EDA) program. Sikorsky Aerospace Services is the worldwide aftermarket division of Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp. (UTX).

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120709/NE36779 )

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20080904/NETH086LOGO )

"We are excited to work with NGI and bring new opportunities to the BLACK HAWK market worldwide. This distribution agreement enables us to provide upgraded solutions and effectively manage material obsolescence for UH-60A and UH-60L helicopters," said Frank DiPasquale, SAS Vice President, Sales & Strategic Relationships. "SAS is continually augmenting its upgrade program, and this capability is part of our strategic international focus to increase foreign military sales."

NAVEX-12 is a lightweight Fiber-Optic Gyroscope Attitude Heading Reference System (FOG AHRS) designed as an upgrade solution to replace older mechanical Vertical Gyros compatible with Sikorsky's H-60A and H-60L platforms. Equivalent to the LISA-200 AHRS used by the U.S. Army, the Sikorsky-approved NAVEX -12 system offers both digital and analog interfaces, increased maintainability and improved reliability.

Additionally, this agreement allows SAS to offer the NAVEX-12 for installation on other rotary- and fixed-wing aircraft.

"This new relationship with Sikorsky Aerospace Services is a cornerstone in an ongoing endeavor to expand our presence in the high-technology navigation products sector," said Marco Clochiatti, Managing Director and General Manager of Northrop Grumman Italia. "We will work with SAS to meet the needs of the worldwide military community through superior product performance that offers outstanding reliability and significant total lifecycle cost savings."

Northrop Grumman (NOC) is a leading global security company providing innovative systems, products and solutions in aerospace, electronics, information systems, and technical services to government and commercial customers worldwide. Please visit http://www.northropgrumman.com for more information.

Sikorsky Aerospace Services provides comprehensive support to rotary- and fixed-wing operators around the world. It offers its military and commercial customers a full portfolio of support services, including material distribution, maintenance, overhaul & repair, aircraft modifications and life-cycle support. Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., based in Stratford, Conn., USA, is a world leader in helicopter design, manufacture and service. United Technologies Corp., based in Hartford, Conn., USA, provides a broad range of high-technology products and support services to the aerospace and building systems industries worldwide.

For more information about UTC's presence at the Farnborough Air Show, visit the http://www.utcaero.com Web site.

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Sikorsky Aerospace Services Awarded Exclusive International Distribution of Northrop Grumman's NAVEX-12 Air Navigation ...

Houlihan Lokey Continues Expansion of Aerospace-Defense-Government Banking Coverage

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WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Houlihan Lokey, the international investment bank, today announced that Linda Maxwell has joined the firms Aerospace, Defense and Government (ADG) investment banking group.Ms. Maxwell is based in Washington, D.C. and reports to Anita Antenucci, Senior Managing Director and Head of the ADG Group.

Ms. Maxwell joins following a 12-year career at Jefferies & Company, where she was most recently chief strategist at Jefferies Quarterdeck, the firms Aerospace & Defense Investment Banking Group.In this role, Ms. Maxwell led business strategy for the firms aerospace and defense client base, having led more than 30 transactions involving many of the world's largest aerospace and defense contractors including Boeing, General Dynamics, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and Raytheon.Prior to Jefferies, Ms. Maxwell spent more than a decade at Raytheon Company where she held a number of roles across business development, systems engineering, and engineering manufacturing and design. Ms. Maxwell holds both M.S. and B.S. degrees in mechanical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology as well as an MBA from Harvard Business School.

In addition, Roger Christopher has joined the firms ADG Group.He is also based in Washington, reporting to Ms. Antenucci. Mr. Christopher joins from KPMG Corporate Finance where he was a vice president involved in sellside M&A engagements in the defense sector. Previously, he was a vice president at Stifel, Nicolaus and Co. in the firms Aerospace, Defense and Government Services Investment Banking Group. While at Stifel, he completed more than 15 transactions, including M&A and public and private debt and equity placements. Mr. Christopher holds a B.S. in electrical engineering from The Cooper Union and an MBA from the Darden Graduate School of Business Administration at the University of Virginia.

Having worked with Linda previously, I am excited to be partnering once again with one of the most experienced bankers in the aerospace and defense sector, said Ms. Antenucci. Linda and Roger bolster our 23-person industry group. We are unique in our size, scope and depth of experience. Their breadth of banking and engineering experience will be invaluable to providing the world-class service our clients have come to expect from us.

These appointments follow the March hire of Ryan OToole and June hire of Jeff Lassiter, both in Los Angeles. The team currently has one of the deepest pools of talent in the sector with 23 investment banking professionals globally.

Houlihan Lokeys AerospaceDefenseGovernment (ADG) Group has announced over 36 transactions since 2010 with an aggregate value of more than $5 billion. In 2011, the group was named the No. 1 M&A advisor by Thomson Reuters for all U.S. aerospace, defense and government transactions. Recent transactions include the $1.88 billion sale of SRA International, Inc., for which the team was awarded the Information Technology Deal of the Year from the M&A Advisor; the sale of Heath Tecna to Zodiac Aerospace, S.A.; and the sale of DS3, a subsidiary of EADS North America, among others. The group is hosting its 10th Annual AerospaceDefenseGovernment Conference Opportunities in a Post-Election Environment on November 8, 2012, in Washington, D.C.

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Houlihan Lokey Continues Expansion of Aerospace-Defense-Government Banking Coverage

XCOR Aerospace And Midland Development Corporation Announce Establishment Of XCOR's New Commercial Spaceflight R&D …

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MIDLAND, Texas, July 9, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --The Midland Development Corporation (MDC) and XCOR Aerospace jointly announced today the establishment of XCOR's new Commercial Space Research and Development Center Headquarters that will be created over the next eighteen (18) months. XCOR manufactures reusable rocket engines for major aerospace prime contractors and is the designer, manufacturer and operator of the Lynx, a winged fully reusable, high performance suborbital space vehicle that is designed to safely carry two persons or scientific experiments to the edge of space and back up to four times per day.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120709/LA37055)

"This is a great day for Midland and a huge step forward for the State of Texas. Visionary companies, like XCOR, continue to choose Texas because they know that innovation is fueled by freedom," Gov. Perry said. "Whether on the cutting edge of biotech, communications, commerce or privatized efforts to serve the needs of the next generation of space explorers, you can find Texas at the forefront of the movement."

XCOR will be establishing their new R&D center on the flight line at Midland International Airport (MAF) in a newly renovated 60,000-square-foot hangar, which will include office space and a test facility. The renovation is expected to commence in early 2013, and be completed by the late autumn.

"XCOR will be upgrading an existing hangar at Midland International Airport," stated Marv Esterly, director of airports at MAF. "This new R&D facility has the potential to open the door to even more economic development at our airport and for our community."

"We are pleased to be establishing our R&D Center in Midland, Texas, where the weather, surrounding landscape, the airport, and the local & state government environment are ideally situated for the future growth and the ultimate realization of a fully reusable orbital system," said Andrew Nelson, chief operating officer of XCOR Aerospace. "With future suborbital operational sites on the East and West Coasts of the United States and around the world, plus a manufacturing and test facility geographically separate from our R&D facility, Midland will truly be at the heart of XCOR's innovation engine."

"The decision to establish XCOR's Research and Development Center Headquarters in Midland came after intense competition from other locations," stated Pam Welch, executive director of MDC, "once the technical and operational needs of XCOR were met, the final factors influencing the decision to locate R&D to Midland included the friendly business climate, a predictable regulatory environment, and the State of Texas tort reform initiatives. These factors allowed XCOR to see a long term future happening in Midland."

Laura Roman, MDC chairman, stated "Today we celebrate the economic diversity that XCOR's Research and Development Center Headquarters will bring to Midland along with the $12,000,000 of new payroll and capital investment over the next five years to our community with an estimated average annual wage of over $60,000 per job."

In parallel with the XCOR facility renovation, the City of Midland is applying to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for a Commercial Space Launch Site designation for MAF, an estimated 12 to 18 months process. Upon completion of the licensing process and the hangar renovation, the XCOR presence will begin to ramp up.

The FAA spaceport designation will also be an important economic development tool because of the potential growth in the commercial space sector as NASA relies more on commercial service providers for launch capability and the space tourism market evolves. Marv Esterly, noted, "When our application is approved, the MAF will be the first "Primary Commercial Service Airport" to be granted this designation, and the combination of the two makes Midland attractive to other commercial space companies."

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XCOR Aerospace And Midland Development Corporation Announce Establishment Of XCOR's New Commercial Spaceflight R&D ...

Aerospace company to open plant in Stillwater

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STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) -- A Belgian aerospace company announced plans Monday to open a plant in Stillwater, creating up to 600 jobs and investing up to $100 million by 2015.

Gov. Mary Fallin made the announcement Monday as she attended the Farnborough International Air Show in the United Kingdom. ASCO Inc. will build in the former MerCruiser manufacturing facility on Perkins Road in Stillwater.

"Oklahoma has one of the strongest aerospace sectors in the U.S., and we are quickly becoming an international destination for the industry," Fallin said. "Today's announcement is one more indication that our commitment to pro-business policies is helping to attract jobs and businesses to the state."

Officials said the company will initially invest $60 million and employ 250 people by 2014. The second phase of development would bring an additional $30 million to $40 million in capital investment and another 350 jobs by 2015.

"Oklahoma was the best location for our facility," ASCO CEO Christian Boas said. "The state is centrally located in North America and has an existing aerospace industry, which is thriving."

The company designs and makes aircraft components and assemblies for Airbus, Boeing, Bombardier and Embraer commercial jets.

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Aerospace company to open plant in Stillwater